Sunday, 27 nov 2016

facebook.com/easterntoday

@easterntoday

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

cmyk

cmyk

www.eastern-today.com

Classified at Rs: 10/- per word

Call Jutish Kamal : 9863941475 Gourav : 8399934707

ASSENG/2015/64205

BSF MARTYR SHAMBU SATMURA CREMATED WITH FULL MILITARY HONOUR

Open Martial Art Championships held to motivate disabled sportspersons Guwahati, Nov. 26 (ANI): To motivate youngsters and empower disabled children, the First Para Taekwondo state level and the 11th district level Open Martial Art Championship was held in Assam’s Jorhat district under the aegis of Taekwando Association of Assam in association with Jorhat Taekwando Association recently.

About 40 disabled children from different districts of the state participated in the championship. Besides, the Jorhat branch of Childline, a civil society organisation working for children welfare, was also inaugurated during the championship.

“This is for the first time that an organisation like ‘Prerona’ has organized such martial arts championship to boost the talent of the intellectually disabled children. And with my 32 years of experience in martial arts, I am judging the championship. We are very happy because in the entire country the intellectually disabled children are benefitted from such kind of championships and Jorhat hosted a similar championship,” Hiten Borah, President of Prerona, told ANI. “I appreciate the initiative

by Prerona, especially the teachers and the guardians who are training the children to be physically fit and make them socially responsible,” he added.

Sayera Rehman, Proprietor of Prerona told ANI, “It is a project under the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare. It is under the Child Line Foundation, we the Prerona, is a collaborative agency for a child line project for Jorhat district. We are starting this project to help each and every child who is abandoned. We have a team coordinator and a rescue team and with the help of the team we will go forward.”

(ANI)

Vol. II

Issue 130

Dibrugarh, Sunday, November 27, 2016

Katrina Kaif sets the temperature soaring in a white swimsuit

P5

Price -

Ashok : 9706289816

P3

Pangaree Ambush

Army ups the ante; yet to make significant breakthrough though Laxman Sharma Digboi Nov 26

Following the arrest of Jatin Konwar (19) of Haldibari village of Bhimpather area under Digboi Police Station in Tinsukia District here on 26th November by Indian Army during the course of their militant hunt operation in and around Pengaree area , the security forces belonging to various wings of Indian Army cordoning and sanitising the entire vulnerable pockets of Tinsukia District to nab the culprits involved in incident of ULFA ambush on 19th last on Pengaree-Digboi road passing through Upper Dehing reserve Forest. According to reliable sources at various rural locations, the ongoing combing operation which is being carried out by the joint security forces has been intensified with the use of military helicopters and other services being pressed into to realize the end. It is pertinent to mention here that the security agencies including the paramilitary forces have been striving hard since 19th November to trace the

militants.

The Security Forces are finding it tough given the fact that the chilly and foggy winter is acting as impediments. It may be remembered here that three soldiers belonging to Pengaree based 15 Kumaon regiment of Indian Army were martyred in ULFA led ambush in Pengaree. Meanwhile the combing operation has invited fair amount of criticism from media houses of harassing the people by the Security forces.

However, SP Tinsukia MJ Mahanta categorically repudiating the media content to this effect that the criticism is unfair and it has been blown out of proportion. “I walk not less than 20-30 kms a day from rural habitat zone to deep impregnable reserve forest without any untoward and unpleasant conflict heard, seen or entangled with the locals of the area in any way,” Mr Mahanta added terming the act as strategy of the miscreants to make an issue to distract the forces’. “We ensure that the objective is realized without jeopardizing the existing peace and sustain zero loss of human

resources on any sides including the civilians,” he further added.

Meanwhile, responding to the Eastern today on the unexpected delay caused in realizing the end, a well placed official engaged in the militant hunt operation in Lakhipather area in Digboi belt told that the thick and extensive vegetation cover has been the blessings for the hiding militants particularly the Manipuri outfits who are articulate and adaptable in the jungle managing life for several days.

“

I walk not less than 20-30 kms a day from rural habitat zone to deep impregnable reserve forest without any untoward and unpleasant conflict heard, seen or entangled with the locals of the area in any way”. “We ensure that the objective is realized without jeopardizing the existing peace and sustain zero loss of human resources on any sides including the civilians.

MJ Mahanta, SP Tinsukia

However, hinting at the consequence despite geographical challenges, he told that the operation is heading to a productive result.

However, the interrupted operation continues across the vulnerable hideouts of the district including Bhimpather,Kherjan,Dhekiaja n,Mulukgaon,Haldibari and Tamoli Bongaon, Lakhipather, Talpather, etc that are interlinked and has porous route with Pengaree –Digboi Reserve Forest where the ambush had taken place.

DM declares proposed Chief Minister Sonowal directs govt to Bandh call in Capital make all payments and receipts digitally Complex illegal A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 26 Nov

ET Bureau Itanagar, 26 Nov

The Deputy Commissionercum-District Magistrate of Itanagar-Capital Complex, vide an executive order has declared the 12 hours bandh call proposed by the Arunachal Youth Organization(AYO) on November 28 as illegal.

The DC has also directed the said organization to refrain/ desist from enforcing the proposed bandh and to call off the proposed bandh.

The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police Capital Complex have already

deployed sector magistrates along with sufficient police force at all the sectors of the Capital Complex, including the market areas to ensure that the bandh is not enforced.

All the market communities, including petrol pumps have been directed to ensure that the shops/ petrol pumps remain open and run their business as usual.

All the transport unions have been directed to ensure that all commercials vehicles ply as usual.

The station superintendent has also been directed to ensure that their vehicles ply as usual.

With an aim to ensure digital payment a way of life in Assam, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today directed to make all payments and receipts in the State Government digitally in a time bound manner.

The Chief Minister discussed with representatives of RBI, all major Bankers, BSNL and important departments of State Government on various measures to be adopted for digital payment in the state in a meeting held at Brahmaputra State Guest House today.

In tandem with the Chief Minister’s directive, it was decided in the meeting that the Departments will examine the possibility of amending relevant Acts and Rules so that enablers for digital payment such as availability of POS machine etc. could be made compulsory. Departments will also explore the possible incentives for digital payments and disincentives for cash payments.

As regards nongovernmental entities like private hospitals, educational institutions, shops and establishments, Contd. on Page 2

fiesta which will include likes of Royal Thai cultural troupes from Thailand and Thai Embassy New Delhi, singing sensation from Bollywood also a music composer and lyricist Sona Mohapatra, DJ Arshad and a local band from Itanagar.

Chow Bilaseng Namchoom Namsai, November 26

Namsai district is all set to host the 3 day cultural extravaganza of Poi Pee Mau Tai 2111, the New Year of Tai communities with a theme ‘Say No to Drugs’ from November 29 to December 1.

The event will be organised by the Poi Pee Mau Celebration Committee under the aegis of Tai Khampti Development Society (TKDS) and in collaboration with the district administration.

cmyk

Pages- 12

Boxer MC Mary Kom called on Chief Minister Pema Khandu

P12

Namsai all set Tai New Year Celebration

The Poi Pee Mau festival is an annual event to showcase the Tai community traditional and rich cultural heritage in all its ethnicity, diversity and grandeur. It is more significant as it falls in the last part of the year and provides an occasion to bid adieu to the old year and welcome the New Year with renewed hopes. It has also become occasions for us to reflect on where we are headed as society. This festival has become a global festival to

5.00

Other major attractions during the 3-day celebrations would also include poy fungfai (releasing of wish balloons), traditional cultural competitions, games & sports, literary activities, food court for food aficionados, beauty contest and traditional attire show.

showcase rich Tai community culture and tradition.

To look at a way to approach substance use in minors and within the youth of the community with compassion and love and to show that the

community is behind them, the organizing committee with an aim to create more agents for positive social change and to gain attention of the young minds has put up several hoardings with different messages in the festival ground

that will raise awareness and educate on rampant substance abuse affecting young people.

Notable performers from various places of the country and abroad are line up to perform during the three day

Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union MoS Home Kiren Rijiju have consented to grace the festival as Chief Guest and Special Guest on November 30 next.

The Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein will be the Chief Guest on November 29 who will be accompanied by Contd. on Page 2

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a meeting with senior officials of banks, BSNL and Government departments in Guwahati.

Taga and Jamoh took stock of ongoing projects under Industrial growth center in Pasighat Maksam Tayeng Pasighat, Nov 26: To take stock of all the ongoing projects under Industrial Growth Centre, Niglok, Ruksin Sub-Division here in East Siang district today, the Minister Industry, Textile, Handloom & Handicraft, Tamiyo Taga and local MLA cum Parliamentary Secretary, Agriculture, Er. Tatung Jamoh accompanied by DDI, ADTH, Project Manager, IGC Niglok and host of public leader inspected the site.

While visiting the ongoing projects under IGC Niglok all of which has already been sanctioned and under execution, Taga directed the concern officials to ensure quality and completion of the work with time bound manner.

Projects amounts like Rs. 3 crore for Sainik School infrastructures, installation of

a 132/33 kv switch yard by Power Grid Corporation, WRD projects, jungle clearance, boundary wall for nearly 4 KM, dry port for railways etc has already been sanctioned out of which some are already under execution and some are under process.

Taga and Jamoh directed the concerns officials to speed up the work and ensure quality.

The duo also inspected the

packet water unit, Zale and interacted with the staffs and manager of the enterprise Mongol Taga who told the visiting dignitaries that nearly 35,000 litres of drinking packet water are being produced per day if uninterrupted power supplied.

Contd. on Page 2

cmyk

PAGE 7

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

P2

Sonowal : Rs 78.4 crore package for Rohmoria to be sanctioned soon A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Nov 26: In a show of determination to save Rohmoria, the region well known for flood and erosion, CM Sarbananda Sonowal has assured he will take up the matter with the Central Government for the release of pending

fund allotted to fight perennial floods and erosion menace. . On Friday, at Chief Minister’s office in Guwahati a high level meeting was held to sort out the problem of flood and erosion. Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has prioritized

Chief Minister Sonowal directs govt to make all payments and receipts digitally Contd. from Page 1 all concerned departments would issue necessary advisory or directions so that digital payment becomes a norm within a fixed time frame.

Further to ensure smooth digital transaction, the Chief Minister directed BSNL and IT Department to work on the shadow areas and address the issue in a time bound manner to improve connectivity.

The Chief Minister also instructed Banks and concerned departments to carry out sensitization drive for

representatives of Gaon Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies upto ward members about the advantages of digital payment in a mission mode through a committee at the district level under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners in addition to DCC and DLCC mechanism.

The State Government in coordination with Banks and all stakeholders will also initiate a mission mode campaign including social media intensively so that the common men participate in the process of digital payment easily and effectively.

HOROSCOPE Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

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.

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.

Emotionally, things might get rather tense for you as others tend to demonstrate a selfish attitude, Cancer. Selfishness doesn't always have to be considered a negative. Sometimes it's healthy and necessary to take a more self-centered stance.

You need to take care of yourself at all times. So don't try to pick a fight when other people also demonstrate this behavior.

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.

Virgo

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

Your opinions might be the topic of conversation all day, Scorpio. You have a very strong will and you aren't afraid to express it. Today you will get that chance. Feel free to enlighten others with your tremendous wealth of knowledge. Take control of the conversation and accept the mental challenge of trying to win other people over to your side. Whether you're successful or not, you will have fun trying.

Sagittarius

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.

Capricorn

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

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.

the problem of flood and erosion. Sonowal said that very soon Assam will get a package of Rs 16,000 crore for flood and erosion and for Rohmoria Rs 78.4 crore will be sectioned soon.

The remaining sectioned amount of Rs 78.48 crore under the Integrated

Flood and River Bank Erosion Management for laying geo bags on this stretch on the remaining 6.4km from Gorpora to Bogoritolia will be released soon.The people of Rohmoria under Lahowal constituency are facing the wrath of constant erosion for the

past several years and every year due to erosion the people have to lose their agriculture land.

The entire Rohmoria region since 1997 has been under the grip of severe erosion by the mighty Brahmaputra.

The erosion has so far wiped out 38 revenue

villages, eight schools, one police station, six tea estates, one PWD road and one sericulture farm.

Nearly 2,000 families have been displaced and around 23,000 bighas of land has been lost in the erosion. Subsequently, a number of anti-erosion measures were taken up

in the region but with little success. The members of The Flood Erosion Resistance Struggle Forum Tinsukia and Dibrugarh were present in the meeting. “We are happy that Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has taken the

matter seriously and assured us that very soon the pending amount will be release for construction of erosion affected area in Rohmoria,’’ said Binod Kedia , chief adviser of Flood Erosion Resistance Struggle Forum.

Rintu Goshwami: Tasa abetting corrupt officers involved in Jorhat corruption ET CORRESPONDENT, JORHAT, 26 NOV: "Kamakhya Prasad Tasa MP of Jorhat is abetting corrupt officers involved in Jorhat corruption" said Rintu Goshwami, senior advocate and a conscious citizen of Jorhat, in a press meet that held in Jorhat Press Club on Saturday. The press meet was organized by a few conscious people to stand against corruption.

"Tasa, who rose to fame of sloganeering of not compromising with corruption, is now abetting corruption," alleges Rintu Goshwami in the press meet. The senior advocate also mentioned about the massive cor-

ruption which allegedly happened in the General Caste Development Council. Goshwami even alleged Police of not taking enough measures to curb the menace. "How it is possible that Pravat Kalita, the chairman of

General caste development is still absconding," questioned Goshwami.

"When Anjanav Chaliha and Bubul lekharu were in charge at Jorhat, a massive corruption took place" said Goshwami in the press meet. He also

alleged that the present Sonawal’s government is promoting these corrupt officers.

Rintu Goshwami also mentioned that he has filed numbers of applications under RTI act 2005, but the Planning Office, un-

der DC Jorhat is not furnishing complete information.“They feared that if the whole truth comes out, many kingpins of this scam, who are very strong and influential person, will go behind bars" said Goshwami.He further added that the letter he received from planning officer is written that cash book, minutes of meeting utilization certificates, cash memo are not available in their office. Speaking of corruption of to untied fund he mentioned that it had been revealed that huge amount of money had been paid to Pravat Dutta, Ujjal joti Bora

and Pankaj Bilash Kaushik against some schemes which were not approved by Government and these payments were made without supporting documents. Goshwami also mentioned that Jorhat Municipality is marred by corruption."The Jorhat Municipality Board favours contractors" said Goshwami in the press meet.Goshwami also mentioned that, current DDC of Jorhat Dijen Singh, is the only person who helped the CM vigilance team, who was investigating massive corruption held in Jorhat.

Two day workshop Villagers decry illegal encroachment along NH36 in Assam-Nagaland border in East Karbi Anglong. concludes A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Nov 26: Two day workshop on spoken English was concluded at Dibrugarh Hanumanbax Surajmall Kanoi College here today. The workshop was inaugurated by DHSK principal Sashi Kanta Saikia on Nov 25, 2015.

Sashi Kanta Saikia spoke about the importance of English language in today’s world. He added that in

maximum countries English was used by the people and everybody should learned the language. Pratik Choudhury, HOD, English department also shared his view over the importance of English language. Other teachers from the college also present in the inaugural function and expressed their views over the English language.

Workshop on competitive exam in DHSK A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Nov 26: Two day workshop on competitive exam will organize at Dibrugarh Hanumanbax Surajmall Kanoi College from November 27 to 28, 2016.

Altogether, 120 students have enrolled their names for the workshop.

Principal Sashi Kanta Saikia informed that various colleges from upper Assam will participated in the workshop. Eminent councilors Bhusan Khelkar and Madhuria Khelkar from pune, Maharashtra will give training to the students.

Over 800 Bigha of village land encroached by a former Karbi millitant leader Augustine Kramsa.

ET Correspondent Bokajan, November 26: The All Naharjan Village Committee today in a public meeting held under 21 Borjan Mouza condemned the illegal encroachment of a 800 Bigha stretch of village land by a former rebel leader Augustine Kramsa.

The meeting also discussed the mysterious circumstances under which Kramsa was provided a 'Periodic

Patta' of the said land by the KAAC Revenue Officer without prior knowledge of the villagers and their headmen.

"The village was established back in the year 1922 and was registered in 1953.

There are about 300 families living in the village and the land belongs to us but Kramsa have illegally obtained a 'Periodic Patta' of the our land from the KAAC

authorities. He have cleared the land using excavators and have set up a model village titled 'Kramsa Model Village' and thereby selling land to Naga occupants for Rs 50000 per Bigha." Said a village headman.

It needs to be mentioned here that, Augustine Kramsa was a former leader of Karbi Millitant outfit- United Peoples' Democratic Solitary (UPDS). He later

moved with the outfit breakaway fraction- Karbi Longri NC-Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF). Kramsa's fortune had seen a meteoric rise since KLNLF laid down arms in 2007. He with the blessings of the politicians and the top bureaucrats managed to set up a 'Weigh Bridge' along NH36 in Assam Nagalnd interstate border raising illegal toll unabated from the truckers plying to and fro the state of Nagaland and Manipur.

Despite making media headlines periodically, nothing seems to have changed as yet. It exposes the critical lapses in the administrative set up and the police machinery as well. The BJP leaders who talked of 'Parivartan' is also at solitary to Kramsa's illegal practices as none was seen present to aid the panic ridden villagers at this hour of need.

News from Arunachal Pradesh Taga and Jamoh took stock of ongoing projects under Industrial growth center in Pasighat Contd. from Page 1

Earlier, Parliamentary Secretary, Agriculture, Er. Tatung Jamoh accompanied by Executive Engineer, PWD Er. Tameng Jamoh, AE, RWD, Er. Karsing Moyong along with public leaders inspected the ongoing road

projects along Sika TodeSika Bamin, NH-52 to IGC Niglok via Lingka village and also visited Guest House, Ruksin construction. As a local MLA, Er. Jamoh appealed the concern contractors to maintain quality of the road as its for the convenience of local populace only

Namsai all set Tai New Year Celebration Contd. from Page 1

MLA Chongkham Chow Tewa Mein, MLA Namsai Chow Zingnu Namchoom and dignitaries from Thailand.

The Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and MLA Namsai Chow Zingnu Namchoom are closely monitoring the overall development of the festival ground like conceptualizing, designing, execution and supervision

of structures and related infrastructure, including exterior and interior decoration, development of site, infrastructure service, general ambiance etc. and related event management work including arranging sports/adventure activities.

They have been also conducting several rounds of review meeting with the district administration and the festival celebration committee to ensure smooth conduct of the festival.

DC Roing Inaugurates “Skills to Succeed” Training Course under AMYAA NGO ET Bureau Roing, 26 Nov: AMYAA NGO starts “Skills to Succeed” training course for School Drop-out and School going Students of Lower Dibang Valley District at AMYAA Training Hall. This Skill development programme is been precisely supported by QUEST Alliance, Bengaluru. The “Skills to Succeed” a concept of ACCENTURE is implemented through Quest Alliance through the partnership of AMYAA NGO in the State. This skill development course is one of its first kind in the state where the target youth enrolled in the centre will go through 3 (Three) Months ‘blended’ (mix of audio visual and facilitator led content for delivery of curriculum) foundational courses comprising of Communicative English, Life Skills, Career Development, Work Readiness and Customer Interaction Programme along with do-

main curriculum such as Entrepreneurship, Retail Management and Eco-Tourism. It seeks to seek engaging learning experiences for the students.

Deepak Schinde, Deputy Commissioner, Roing inaugurated the training of the first batch of students. In his message he said that Skills to succeed is a new concept to him as well and added that normally skill develop-

ment commonly refers to different trades like Carpentry, Weaving, Plumbing, and Electrician etc where individuals engage themselves in learning specific skills.

He said that Skills to succeed as introduced by Quest Alliance through AMYAA NGO in the state is of much needed skills to be equipped by youth seeking for job and opportunities in the society.

He added that the course

mainly deals with soft skills as mentioned above are very essential for a person to come out of himself/herself and prepare oneself fit to plunge into the competitive world of works. He interacted with the Students and got the positive responses about the course.

He encouraged the students to come out of the fear of failure and fear of being foolish before friends for committing mistakes while making efforts to improve.

He appreciated the initiative of AMYAA for introducing the “Skills to succeed” targeting mainly the unemployed youth of the state.

R. K. Paul Chawang, Secretary AMYAA made a PowerPoint presentation on activities report of AMYAA (2015-16) and introduced the concept of “Skills to succeed”. The Inaugural programme was colored by cultural dances and songs.

It was attended by the facilitators of AMYAA and 28 trainees of the centre.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

P3

CHF, Pasighat clinches overall championship Skills add value to life: Wangham in 3rd inter-collegiate youth festival Staff Reporter Pasighat, Nov 26: The three-day mega cultural and literary event for the 3rd Inter-Collegiate Youth Festival 2016 at College of Horticulture and Forestry, CAU, Pasighat organized by Central Agricultural University, Imphal came to a colourful end today. All constituent colleges have been participating in the three-day extravaganza with vigour and enthusiasm. Altogether 18 events were organized and the participants showed their talents and competitiveness in every field. Ultimately, College of Horticulture and Forestry, CAU, Pasighat clinched the overall championship and College of Fisheries, CAU, Tripura bagged the runner-up trophy.

Lok Sabha MP, Ninong Ering, while attending the closing ceremony as Chief Guest regretted that he missed most of the colourful

events due to his participation in the winter session of the parliament. While lauding each and every participants, Ering encouraged the students of the north-east to strive hard and become exemplars to the rest of India.

He emphasized that education means attitude, action, language, behavior, and personality of the student. While, SP East Siang, Pasighat, Pranav Tayal, IPS, gracing the programme as Guest of Honour complimented the participants and advised them to refrain from drugs abuse and alcohol which has be-

ET Bureau Itanagar, Nov 26 : Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, MC Mary Kom, also a boxer and mother of 3 called on Chief Minister Pema Khandu today at his secretariat office.

Mary Kom is in Arunachal to attend Mrs Arunachal-2016, which is scheduled to be held today organised by Ngurang Learning Institute (NLI).

The Chief Minister extended a warm welcome and greetings to Mary Kom, who was accompanied by husband Onler Kom along with Patron of Mrs Arunachal-2016, Ngurang Pinch and organiser Ngurang Reena.

The husband-wife duo was gifted with traditional dresses from various Arunachal tribes.

Five-time world boxing champion expressed her delight on her second visit to Arunachal. “I am here be-

cause I love Arunachal. We are neighbours. We are brothers and sisters,” she said.

Mary Kom’s visit to Arunachal is also about sharing her life’s struggle as a woman; on how she fought hard beating all odds to ultimately become the world boxing champion.

“Even my father didn’t approve of my career in boxing during initial days,” she said.

“I never gave up on my struggle. I knew what men could do, also women could.”

In her appeal to woman of Arunachal, Mary Kom insisted on standing up to fight for their own rights. “If we women do not support and help each other then who will support our cause.”

She is now determined to win a gold medal for her country in Olympic Games, a dream she says has remain unful-

come a menace these days.

Dr. Pushpita Das, Dean, College of Home Science, Tura, Meghalaya expressed her joy in witnessing the colourful participation and healthy competition. She told the young students that seeing their activities made her early days alive again and thanked them for it.

Meanwhile, Dr. A.K. Pandey, Dean, College of Horticulture & Forestry, Pasighat was the limelight of the day as his college clinched the championship trophy apart from organizing the event within a week’s time. Everyone was in

praise of his leadership and the college as a whole for being such a team. Dr. Pandey, said every journey has its destination and narrated that whatever additional quality present in the student definitely it has to pay in their future.

Prof. S.S. Nagra, Director of Instruction, CAU & Chairman, Organizing Committee presented a brief report on the 3rd Inter-Collegiate Youth Festival 2016 to MP, Ninong Ering and everyone present. He was very happy that there was almost equal gender participation in the

events and expressed his gratitude to Prof. M. Premjit Singh, Vice-Chancellor, CAU, Imphal for his ever encouragement and support throughout the event, even in his physical absence due to other preoccupied schedule. The event ultimately came to a conclusion with Dr. Y. Bedajit Singh, Deputy DI, by thanking everyone for their support and participation throughout the event and wishing to see again in the next Inter-Collegiate Youth Festival at another location and time.

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, 26 Nov : Speaking as chief guest at the Passing-out Ceremony of 42 hospitality trainees at Don Bosco Youth Centre, Parliamentary Secretary of Power, Thangwang Wangham congratulated the trainees for successfully completing the three-month residential hospitality training.

Saying that skills add value to life, Wangham expressed happiness over the successful training and more especially for the predominance of youngsters from his constituency in the training.

Incidentally, 30 of the 42 trainees are from Longding district.

Wangham lamented the

fact that a large number of trainees have to go outside the state as the state is unable to provide employment and is losing out on manpower. He expressed the need to develop the hospitality and tourism sectors of the state which would not only provide employment but also bring income to the state.

Guest of Honour, Ronel Kumar executive director of NHPC regretted that Arunachal is not making use of all its full potential, especially its natural resources and called upon the youth to come out and take the state forward in all spheres.

Earlier, Father Mathai, Parish Priest, Catholic Church, Itanagar, threw

APWWS West Siang submits Boxer MC Mary Kom called on Chief Minister Pema Khandu representation

filled.

Chief Minister Khandu expressed delight on her visit to

Arunachal and wished her luck to win a gold medal for the country. He also hoped

Mrs Arunachal-2016 pageant

Chief Minister Pema Khandu appeals people to discourage polygamy

ET Bureau ITtanagar, Nov 26 : Chief Minister Pema Khandu today appealed the people to discourage 'polygamy' in the state, which is customarily practised here.

Speaking during the Mrs Arunachal-2016 pageant organised by Ngurang Learning Institute (NLI), which was graced by Rajya Sabha MP MC Mary Kom here at Dree ground, the Chief Minister said he personally do not favour polygamy and wished to see the end of such practise in the state.

The issue of polygamy came in the backdrop of discussion on applicability of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in tribal state Arunachal with respect to women's right. This was highlighted in her earlier keynote address by noted women activist, Jarjum Ete. Also the majority contestant of the beauty pageant were women who have suffered due to polygamy and domestic violence.

Khandu observed that women in tribal society of Arunachal normally held respectable position when compared to other societies from rest of India. He,

however, said this could depend on communities, where they follow different customs.

The Chief Minister said that in the interest of women and to give them equal status in society, assured to initiate dialogue with various women organisations to discuss on implementation of UCC in the state.

Also he promised that budget for the coming financial year will be 'women-friendly', which will be prepared in consultation with various women organisations.

Khandu said he wish to see the

budget to promote women's empowerment and women's power.

Further, the Chief Minister said the budget will also accommodate the interest of all tribal communities and community based organisations will be made to play important role in its preparation.

Khandu thanked the organisers of the event and appreciated it as noble and unique initiative.

In her key-note address, Ms Ete spoke on UCC and the differing opinions in its implementation. She also spoke on women's inheritance rights in tribal society, where today they are given only movable properties as inheritance.

Earlier in his welcome address, patron of Mrs Arunachal-2016, Ngurang Pinch appealed people to encourage women's inheritance right.

A 5-minute video presentation on NLI and its founder, Ngurang Meena on her struggle as women activists were narrated. Meena is known for her role in fighting for women's right in traditional patriarchal society.

The event also saw pageant judges - Everester Anshu Janshempa, first DSP of state Techi Henyir and Adult Education activist Toko Mina being felicitated. Also present was North East first everester, Tine Mena.

Awareness campaign on Demonetisation at Nampong ET Bureau Nampong : Nov,26 : Directorate of Field Publicity, Govt. of India, Min. of I & B, Nampong Unit was organized two days an awareness campaign on Demonetization at Nampong area of Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.

Field Publicity Officer, Nampong S.K. Deori has explained the attended gathering on Demonetization that old notes has been withdrawn only Rs.500/- and Rs.1000/- and new notes introduced of Rs,2000/- and Rs.500/- by the Banks. As per the direction of

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) the people should deposited

their old notes up to the 30th Dec'2016 and also deposited

will be extended only at RBI up to 31st Mach/2017.

Deori has highlighted during the demonstration campaign that increasing of bank deposit it will resulting lower interest loan under the 'MUDRA' for poor, women and dalit entrepreneurs. He advised to the gathering that the people who would willing to desire to avail the loan under the 'MUDRA' they can easily get the loan in lower interest from the banks and along with this campaign distributed the publicity materials on Demonetization to the gathering.

that women of the state will be greatly inspired by her success story.

Aalo, Nov 26 : In a representation submitted to the District Administration and DMO, the Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS), West Siang unit of Aalo, demanded the posting of ENT, anesthesiologist and gynecologist doctors for the general hospital, which has recently been upgraded.

The APWWS team, headed by its president Marbom Riba Bagra and general secretary Hoksum Ori also demanded medical equipments like X-ray machines, C T scan machine, operation equipments and ambulance, with basic lifesavings

facilities to avoid referring most of cases to Pasighat General Hospital even after the upgrade of Aalo General Hospital.

They also demanded infrastructure, manpower and emergency medicines, which are seldom available in the hospital.

“Poor patients cannot afford to chase after costly private laboratories which are mushrooming around the general hospital. Lack of these basic facilities is the reason for deaths within the hospital and while evacuating patients to Pasighat”, they said.

(DIPRO)

light on the various skilltraining activities of DBYC and thanked the Department of Skill Training and Employment Generation, Department of Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs and NHPC for the assistance they offer to DBYC in skilling young people.

At least 28 of the 42 trainees will be placed at Le Pondi, Pondicherry, Poovar Island Resort, Trivandrum and Paloma Backwaters Resort, Allepy, while the rest have opted for local placements.

Trainees and children of Don Bosco Literacy Centre presented songs and dances on the occasion.

KKWS distributes relief material to fire victims, conducts cleanliness drive ET Bureau Aalo, 26 Nov : The Kargu Kardi Welfare Society (KKWS), Basar unit handed over relief materials to Y Gadi, whose house was completely gutted in a devastating fire on the fateful night of November 23 last at Tirbin.

The relief materials were handed over through engineer Puluk Gadi. Later, the society also conducted a cleanliness drive at CHC Basar as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

P4

Sonitpur BJP slams KMSS over Patanjali Mega Park row Shambhu Boro Tezpur, Nov 26: Coming down heavily on the vicious stand against the proposed Patanjali Mega Herbal and Food Park at Ghoramari AIDC complex near Balipara in Sonitpur by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samittee (KMSS) the Sonitpur district committee of BJP today warned the peasant’s body not to go against the developmental venture like the proposed Ghoramari Patanjali Project.

It is to be mentioned here that few days back KMSS opposed the proposed project pointing out that it is project is a project not for the interest of the local people but it is only for the interest of the anti-Assamese element like Ramdev.

Moreover, besides this the peasant’s body has been raising question over the recent incident of death of the wild elephant falling into one of the trenches dug for the construction work of the

big budget project.

However, vehemently criticizing the superfluous stand of the KMSS against the project, the Sonitpur District unit of saffron party in a press meet in their office premises today said that a section of unscrupulouselement-motivated organization like KMSS is illogically standing against the prosperous scheme like Ghoramari Patanjali Herbal and Food Park, thereby showing their destructive

‘State govt planning to revamp craft industry’

attitude which is very unfortunate.

Sonitpur District Committee BJP, Mrinal Saikia addressing the press meet said, “It is very sad for us that due to the trench in the construction site the wild elephant died, for which the Patanjali authority must be blamed as before digging of the trench they had better to take precautionary measure as it was known to them that it is wild elephant zone, but as shouted by KMSS

it does not mean that the project having large scale opportunity of employment generation for the region should not come up. It is nothing but a destructive thinking of those anti-people elements.” Saikia said warning the peasants’ body to stop their so stand against project.

He also said that instead of settling down the entire issue within an amicable environment some sections with vested interest have been seen try-

ing to politicize the issue.

Condemning vehemently the allegation against the Yug Guru Baba Ramdeva leveled as an “Unlawful person” by KMSS Saikia also said that “Professional Protest Organization” like KMSS has no any right to say against the people’s interest oriented project that is supposed to be come up very shortly in the area. “Internationally acclaimed person like Baba Ramdeva who has been

UPDS, but is yet to be materialize” said Moniram Ronghang former chairman of UPDS. After more than a decade of armed struggle for separate Homeland for the Karbi’s a tripartite agreement with the Government of India, Assam government and UPDS was signed on November 25, 2011 at New Delhi. General Secretary Ananda Terang, Asst.

General Secretary Langtuk Hanse, Publicity Secretary Lukas Phangcho and Matthew Engleng was among those who attended the observance.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 26 Nov: The Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University today has performed Street Plays on two topics entitled “Error 404” and “Awareness on the demonetisation”.

The students have come out on the streets within the University campus and attract a large number of passer-by today afternoon.

One of the plays “Error 404” demonstrate the misuse of social sites, such as facebook, twitter, google, you tube, wikipedia that has overturned the whole functioning of world to-

Rare surgery performed days back. Elaborating on the patient and the surgery, Dr Das said that the patient was suffering from the peculiar condition for last many years but was unaware about his condition till the time it attained a big size when the tumour started compressing his lung and heart and he started suffering from breathlessness for the last few months.

“He couldn’t undergo the

operation immediately due to lack of financial support but looking at the debilitating condition of this young man, the GNRC management decided to subsidize the cost of the operation greatly, following which he could undergo this surgery. Technically the operation was very demanding and required lots of planning and skill as the tumour was very big,” Dr Das said.

Skill development programme at IIT-G

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 26 Nov: Saying Assam has lot of potential in indigenous crafts and it needs to be highlighted at the global level to bring benefits to the craftsmen and project Assam’s culture to the global audience, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today said that the government is mulling various steps in this regard. While meeting a group of craftsmen from Ukhrul District, Manipur at Brahmaputra State Guest House today Chief Minister Sonowal made the observation that Assam’s traditional crafts should be marketed properly for deriving maximum economic benefits to the people involved.

Reiterating that there are many artisans and craftsmen in most interior of villages, Sonowal said that the government is planning to connect production with the markets where there is lot of demand for craft items. For this purpose “Indigenous Crafts Melas” are going to be organized at different parts of the state so that the talented craftsmen from rural areas of entire Northeast can be given exposure and their products can attract interest from prospective buyers. Highlighting the need to explore newer avenues of economic benefits to the people, Chief Minister said that people should opt for cultivating medicinal plants for reaping higher

dividends.

The Chief Minister also said adequate steps would be taken to enhance the skills of the traditional craftsmen so that the artisans can take advantage of modern technology to upgrade their skills. Skill Development Centers would also help create a skilled workforce that would bring positive change to economic scenario of the state. Saying that this would help in realizing Prime Minister’s great vision for encouraging entrepreneurship and employment generation, Sonowal underlined the importance of facilitating traditional crafts for creating a self sustainable rural economy.

tribution of the local people but, following various reasons it remained a useless spot. But the dream of turning the area into a frontline industrial area to reflect the expectation of employment generation among the unemployed youths of the greater area , the internationally acclaimed agencies like Patanjali has come up to the area. “It is a very welcome step which should be appreciated by all irrespective of party.” He maintained.

UPDS former leaders Journalism Dept in Guwahati express displeasure over University spread awareness govt failure to fulfill MoS on Demonetisation

Sushanta Roy Diphu November 26: Ex-UPDS welfare society, Diphu observed the 5th Anniversary of the signing of Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) with Government of India, at its Office, yesterday.

Former UPDS leaders expressed their displeasure over Government of India for failure in implementing the MoS after five long years.

“There is a strong political conspiracy to destabilized the MoS accord Chief Minister Sonowal met craftsmen from Ukhrul, Manipur at Guwahati. as the government promET Bureau in Assam. Making a are very friendly and hos- ised to cancel all the Guwahati, November strong pitch for invest- pitable and any business pending cases against the 26: Assam Governor ment in Assam Shri venture in the State will Shri BanwarilalPurohit Purohit said, “Land of always be accepted in inaugurated the first Au- Assam is very virgin for right earnest in the State tomotive Components investment as the State and everybody should ET Bureau Manufacturers Associa- holds tremendous poten- come forward to comple- Guwahati, Nov 26: Setion (ACMA) Aftermar- tial for the expansion of ment this noble cause. nior consultant and ket Expo- North East auto industries as the ?Apart from the partici- cardio-thoracic surgeon of with the theme ‘Make State is gateway to the pation of 80 leading GNRC Hospitals Dr Quality and Innovation South East Asian coun- component manufactur- Bikash Rai Das and his in India’ on Saturday at tries”. ers who are showcasing team successfully reManiram Dewan Trade ?Emphasising that his their spare parts tech- moved an unusually huge Centre in the city. ‘one point agenda’ that is nologies and products, lung tumour weighing ?The two day expo being bolstering the develop- over two thousand dis- three kgs from the left side held for the first time in ment of Assam, Shri tributors from the entire of the chest of a 30-yearold male patient from Assam has been Purohit urged upon the north east have also Dhemaji district. organised by the ACMA entrepreneurs to come made their footfalls vis- The patient recovered well in association with the forward and utilise the ible in the expo. More- and has been discharged Ministry of Heavy Indus- State’s conducive invest- over an awareness from the hospital a few tries and Public Enter- ment climate coupled programme will also be prises and is supported with the State’s progres- featured as a part of the

by Guwahati Motor Parts sive ‘ease of doing busi- expo.

Traders Association. The ness’ posture. He how- ?Director General of expo has been organised ever, cautioned that ACMA Vinnie Mehta, to provide a platform for ‘commerce without mo- President of ACMA interface between the rality is a sin’ and asked Ratan Kapur, Director of manufacturers, traders the business houses to Ministry of Heavy IndusBureau and customers. show their social respon- tries and Public Enter- ET Guwahati, Nov 26: Under ?Speaking at the event sibility and undertake prises Pravin L. Agrawal Skill India Initiative, India has Governor Shri Purohit some welfare functions. along with a host of other exhibited a focused approach made a fervent appeal to ?Shri Purohit also said dignitaries were present toward technical education by setting up an E&ICT (Electhe participants to invest that the people of Assam at the event.

Assam holds potentials for development of auto industries: Governor

able to acquire popularity for working for the great cause of the common masses across the nation never can go against the people as told by the negative minded cadres of the KMSS.” He rued adding it is a noble venture to give a new face lift to the region reflecting employment generation to the unemployed people of the belt.

He further said that the Ghoramari AIDC complex came into force in 1995 with the great con-

tronics and Information, Communication Technology) Academy at IIT Guwahati for skill development for the graduating students. The assessment and certification will be done

by E&ICT Guwahati.

Under these programmes, all key stakeholders of the knowledge delivery ecosystem, primarily-government, industry, training providers and academia are working in a coherent and focused approach.

The primary objective of the

academy is to provide training programme on industry-specific processes and best practices to the young generation, stated a press release here today.

As an empanelled member of the academy, Damyant Software is conducting a training programme from December 7 to 12 at IIT Guwahati on Mobile Application Development.

The training programme has been designed keeping in mind the current industry requirements in mobility segment. Mobility has been the core focus of most enterprises across several verticals. Damyant Software trains on industry specific

processes and best practices, to make faculty and students hands-on in this specialty, where the quality of the programme is monitored by IIT Guwahati.

Registration is open from November 21. Participants may log on to E&ICT, IIT Guwahati website and fill up the application form or can send scanned copy of the filled-up form to eictacad@iitg.ernet.in andinfo@damyant.com. It needs mention here that skill development is a multi-level, multi-party initiative, involving a large number of participants.

day.

The play witnessed the views, opinions and comments on the recent burning issues like demonetisation, citizenship bill (2016), surgical strike, etc. that went viral in the social sites. The play has tried to suggest the public present to use the social sites morally. It is not these social media that are responsible for any misconception in the society but the people who use them are responsible.

Whereas, the other play tried to aware the public about the regulation of new currency.

This includes the procedures about the exchange of old currency with the new ones, the necessary steps like filling up a form and the related information. Through the street play, the people are also warned of the opportunists who are running their own business of profit in the name of exchanging old with the new currency of high denomination. The street plays hold the placards like- ‘Need of the hour, Bring Media transparency’, ‘You are, what you share’; and slogans like ‘stop corruption’, ‘Time to self-aware’ , etc.

Papon hails demonetisation move, hopes it will achieve desired results Guwahati, Nov 26 :Singer and composer Angaarag ‘Papon’ Mahanta is the latest Bollywood personality to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

The Bollywood singer said in Guwahati that despite inconveniences faced by people following a shortage of currencies in ATMs and the serpentine queues seen in banks, demonetisation will be great for the country if it achieves desired results.

“People are facing some inconvenience as a result of

the move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. But it’s a good move and will be great for the country if the aim behind the move is achieved,” Papon told NEWS LIVE in an exclusive interview.

Papon further said he has also been forced to make some adjustments following the demonetisation move and has not been making unnecessary spending.

“After many years, I am putting a check on my spending. Austerity is now the newest buzzword,” Papon added.

Bangladesh youth held in Karimganj ET Bureau Silchar, Nov 26: Police on Friday nabbed a Bangladeshi youth for sneaking into Indian territory in Mubarakpur in Karimganj district.

The arrested youth, Taufiq Ali, 20, is a resident of South Surma in Sylhet division of Bangladesh.

Members of a riding squad of Karimganj Police spotted Ali trying to cross a broken section of the barbed wire border fence in Mubarakpur on Friday. He was accompanied by another youth who managed to escape.

Ali was interrogated, presented before a court and taken into custody on the same day.

Drive against old city buses, trekkers ET Bureau Guwahati, Nov 26: Friday was the last day for trekkers and buses which have been in use for more than 10 and 15 years, respectively, to ply on city roads.

According to a Gauhati high court order, such vehicles can no longer be used post November 25.

The district administration and the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) have started a massive operation to implement the order properly.

There are 1,159 trekkers

10 years and around 200 buses are older than 15 years.

A meeting chaired by RTA chairman and Kamrup (Metro) deputy commissioner M Angamuthu on Friday resolved to bring about the change on city roads within a month.

Image for Representation purpose. and more than 1,000 buses in and around the city. Of

these, 650 trekkers have been marked as older than

"Today (Friday) was the last day for owners to change their vehicles. We have started a massive operation to nab the violators," district transport officer of Kamrup (Metro) Gautam Das told media.

Schoolbuses which are more than 15 years old are also under the authorities' scanner.

On Friday, at least three buses were seized for violating norms. Das said, if found guilty, the owners would be fined and their vehicles would be seized.

"Most of the owners have obeyed the order and changed their old buses with new ones. We have asked trekker owners to do the same. Strict action will be taken against violators," added Das.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

NORTHEAST

P5

BSF martyr Shambu Satmura Manipur refuses to yield cremated with full military honour under Naga pressure Agartala, Nov 26: Thousands of people gathered at the resident of martyr BSF jawan Shambu Satmura (34), who was killed in mine blast laid by Pakistan at Jammu and Kashmir on November 22 when his mortal remain was brought at his native village at Subashnagar in Agartala on Friday afternoon.

Later, martyr Sambhu Satmura's body was brought at Battala cremation ground amidst thousands of people, para-military officials and jaweans, civil authorities and politicians to pay their last tribute on Friday and raised anti-Pakistan slogans

Tourism Minister Ratan Bhowmik, local MLA Ramu Das, several top officials, local political leaders reached there and paid tribute to slain trooper amongst the large gathering.

as they demanded that India should take some stringent steps against militant groups

and Pakistan.

The body of martyr BSF jawan Sambhu Satmura,

Governor lauds state govt's decision on women quota Dimapur, Nov 26: Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya appreciated the decision of the state government to grant 33% reservation to women in the local self government, despite stiff opposition from the male counterparts.

According to PRO, the Governor was hopeful that the state government strong determination to do justice as per the amended constitutional provision to empower women in the political decision making body would strengthen the democracy.

"Democracy assures equal rights to all the people regardless of sex, creed, caste and financial status", the

governor said.

Acharya also lauded the Naga Mothers Association (NMA) for raising a "logical and honourable voice" in their demand for equity.

Further, Governor said that women in the state were not lagging behind in any field of economic and social activities. Instead, he said Naga sisters and mothers were in the forefront in many fields like performing cultural and social activities, education, business etc.

Acharya also said that women's participation in politics has all good reasons to address the problem of corruption. He also made a strong pitched for

separate police stations, bank branches and many other public oriented institutions for women.

While congratulating NMA for raising voice against Naga men for their double speak on women reservation, Acharya said: "they have only been contradicting the Naga customary law of gender equity and mutilating the age old custom of equality of sexes".

On the demonetization issue, Governor appreciated the steps taken by Prime Minister and said that things will be normalised shortly. He said that the present situation of shortage of currency was temporary. (Agencies)

HC orders status quo on hawkers' eviction Shillong, Nov 26: The High Court of Meghalaya on Friday ordered status quo with regards to the single bench order of the court for eviction of hawkers in the city.

During a hearing on the appeal filed by the Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers and Street Vendors Association, the division bench of the High Court enquired about the steps taken by the State government in terms of the Act of 2014.

To this, it was pointed out that the Chief Secretary has constituted a task force to deal with the matter and that a substantial number of hawkers and street vendors have been removed following the impugned order.

However, the court's queries as regards to the constitution and meetings of the town vending committees evoked uncertain responses and the court was unable to find whether the committees were properly constituted and the tasks undertaken under the binding provisions of the law as also the orders of the courts.

During the course of submissions, the division bench also enquired about the cleanliness of the city. To this, the counsel for the Municipal Board made the submissionafter taking instructions from its Chief Executive Officer who was present in the court. The counsel submitted that "requisite instructions have been

issued to the employees of the Municipal Board and garbage collection is being regularly carried out".

In this regard, ND Chullai submitted on instructions from the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, who was present in the court, that "situation is improving".

"Such nature of submissions on behalf of the respondents being cursory, cryptic and of no meaning at all, we expressed reservations that the officers related with the government were seeking only to employ uncertain phraseologies rather than attending to the requisite tasks and responding categorically to the queries raised," the court said.

When the court enquired about the opinion of the senior government advocate as also the counsel for the appellant, they indicated their reservations about the cleanliness of the city, which is supposed to be ensured by the municipal bodies.

Looking to the seriousness of the matter, the division bench permitted the counsel themselves to have a look at the relevant areas in the city before making further submissions in the matter.

The court also directed the Chief Secretary to take note of the requirements for the city's cleanliness for which he may issue specific directions for compliance. He was also asked to take the compliance reports and make a specific report to

the court.

The court also said the Chief Secretary should be free to take appropriate action against any erring officer found absent from duty and should also monitor the work of the task force and the town vending committees. The task force is expected to report to the Chief Secretary every alternative working day.

"After taking such reports and issuing further direction as considered necessary for proper implementation of the Act of 2014, the Chief Secretary should submit his comprehensive report to this Court," the order said.

As it was pointed out during the course of submissions that a substantial number of hawkers and street vendors have been removed following the eviction order, the identification of genuine hawkers and street vendors is still a matter of uncertainty, and it was also left open for the Chief Secretary to suggest the modes and modalities for identification of genuine hawkers and street vendors, who may be entitled for rehabilitation.

The court also said the East Khasi Hills DC should survey the relevant areas and take photographs, draw an inspection report and produce the photographs along with the inspection report on the next date.

The matter has been listed after two weeks. (Agencies)

85% rural households in State get toilets Shillong, Nov 26: Narendra Modi's 'Swachh Bharat' message is spreading fast in the State where about 85% of rural households have been covered under the Prime Minister's pet project.

R.K Pandey, the nodal officer for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the State, said so far 3,49,910 toilets have been constructed with a mission to eradicate the problem of open defecation.

Pandey, however, added that the toilets constructed so far do not come under the

Swachh scheme only and some of these are included in other schemes, including Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan.

The nodal officer said plans are afoot to construct 61,700 more toilets under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan scheme within the financial year of 2017-18. The timely completion of the project depends on the availability of funds.

Meghalaya targets to construct toilets for 4.11 lakh households under the scheme. The much-hyped Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was launched in

2014 and it is one of India's most ambitious civic programmes with an aim to make a country, which accounts for 60% of the world's open defecation, clean.

Under the programme, the PHE department is focusing on several sectors, besides creating awareness among people for changing their attitude, eradicating water-borne diseases and providing training to the masses on cleanliness and hygiene. (Agencies)

who died in a landmine blast along the Indo-Pak border at Jamia Wali Gali of Sawjian sector in Poonch district, was flown to Agartala from Kashmir on Friday.

From airport the coffin was taken to the martyrs' house in a BSF vehicle at around 12 PM. Hundreds of people stood on both sides of the road to show their solidarity and pay tribute to the brave heart. The family members broke in tears as the coffin rapped in the Tricolor was brought inside the house. Tripura Tourism Minister Ratan Bhowmik, local MLA

Ramu Das, several top officials, local political leaders reached there and paid tribute to slain trooper amongst the large gathering.

Then the coffin of the martyr in a vehicle escorted by hundreds of youths in motor bike and security forces moved towards the cremation ground at Battala area of Agartala Large number of BSF officials including IG Tripura Frontier J B Sangwan and several DIGs and Commandants of BSF attended the wreath laying and gun salute programme at the Battala crematorium. (Agencies)

NSF wants cap on fees in all edn institutions Dimapur, Nov 26: Naga Students Federation (NSF) Friday appealed to the state government to recommend a ceiling fee structure in all educational institutions.

This was contained in an appeal letter submitted to the Nagaland chief secretary by NSF officer bearers.

The signatories, NSF president Subenthung Kithan and secretary education Imtiyapang said many schools and colleges in the state were charging exorbitant fees from the students, since there was no proper

guideline from the government and the responsible department to monitor the same.

NSF viewed that educational institutions instead of giving equal opportunity charged exorbitant rate from the students, thereby imposing hardships to the weaker section of the society.

In this regard, the student body, urged chief secretary to take up the issue seriously in the interest of the student's community.

(Agencies)

Imphal, Nov 26: Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said on Saturday that law will take its own course while dealing with United Naga Council President Gaidon Kamei and Information Secretary S. Stephen, who were arrested by police on Friday.

"Legal process has already started regarding these two UNC leaders and there is no question of releasing them unconditionally," Ibobi said.

The UNC on November 1 imposed an indefinite economic blockade to protest against the government's move to create two new districts.

Ibobi said efforts were on to arrest the other absconding members of the UNC who have been charged with imposing the blockade.

The UNC and other Naga groups have called for a 24 hour "total shutdown" from Friday evening demanding

the unconditional release of the two leaders.

Naga leaders said the protest against the proposed new districts of the Sadar Hills was a "political issue" and there was no justification regarding the arrest of the two UNC members.

On the other hand, Manipur has been reeling with the shortage of all items, including fuel, since November 1.

Petrol brought by a few tankers is rationed and a liter is sold at Rs 300 in the black market.

According to officials, charges are being framed against the two UNC leaders in the light of the Supreme Court's directives regarding the blockades.

The Manipur High Court on Friday took a view of the blockade and directed the government to ensure the movement of vehicles along the two highways.

Ibobi said the condition of the NH 37 which skirts

SAKHI: One-stop centre launched in Kohima

Test for recruitment of graduate and PG teachers on December 4 in Tripura Agartala, Nov 26: Two separate examinations for appointment of graduate and post graduate teachers are going to be held for the first time in Tripura on December 4,2016.The Controller of Examinations of the Teacher's Recruitment Board, Tripura in a press release said the Selection Test for Graduate Teacher (STGT) and Selection Test for PostGraduate Teacher (STPGT) will be conducted in two separate centres in Agartala.All the candidates has been asked to download their admit card from the Board's website www.trb.tri pura.gov.in between November 25 and December 1. The candidates also have been asked to contact the office of the

board within 4 pm December 2 if there is any printing mistake or discrepancy in the admit card.Name of the examination centre will e available in the admit card.

The examination for the Selection Test for Graduate Teachers will be held from 9.30 am to 12 noon and the Selection Test for Post-graduate Teachers will be held from 1 pm to 3.30 pm. All the candidates have been asked to report in the examination centre one hour before the examination time. All the candidates must carry the admit card for the concerned examination, a photo identity card and ball point pen.

Candidates will not be allowed to carry anything except these items inside the examination hall, the release said. (Agencies)

Nagaland, will be improved before the onset of the rainy season.

In the past, some Naga groups had also imposed blockades against Manipur making it impossible to transport anything along the NH 2 which passes through Nagaland.

Ibobi said: "On Friday nearly 400 trucks and oil tankers brought various items from Assam to Manipur, and the situation will soon be normalised."

In accordance with the high court order, Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore and Director General of Police (DGP) L. M. Khoute have been making arrangements to ensure the movement of the vehicles.

Officials fear the UNC and the All Naga Students' Association Manipur may intensify their agitation.

The police are making arrangements to escort the stranded trucks. (IANS)

Kiyanilie Peseyie Kohima, Nov 26: "SAKHI": one-stop centre for women affected by violence was on Friday launched in Kohima by minister of social welfare, Kiyanilie Peseyie on the occasion of International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women, at SIRD Auditorium. The chief guest also launched 'Mission Effloresce' and '1st Generation Women Entrepreneurs'.

In his address, Peseyie said it was time for the governments, International organizations and non- governmental organizations to raise public awareness and to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.

To address these crucial challenges, the minister said the Centre introduced various schemes including the universalisation of women helpline scheme (181) and one-stop centres across the country and the first centre

launched in June this year at Dimapur.

Peseyie said launching onestop centre was very appropriate as it was intended to provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence both in private and public spaces, under one roof. He said the objective of the scheme was also to facilitate immediate, emergency and non-emergency access to a range of services including medical, legal, psychological and counselling support under one roof to fight against any forms of violence against women.

Peseyie also lauded the Nagaland state social welfare board (NSSWB) and the state resource centre for women for launching the "Mission Effloresce" and the "First Generation Women Entrepreneurs".

Secretary social welfare, Dellirose M. Sakhrie, in her key note address, said vio-

lence against women was a human rights violation, which continued to be a global pandemic.

She disclosed that out of total population of female, only 11.5% accounts for total reported crime against women, many go unreported, adding that women in Nagaland were no exception to this social menace.

On the occasion, NABARD assistant general manager Bendang Aier; chairman and founder, Oranda-global APAX CXO and global women leaders forum, Ajay Kumar Dhir; NSSWB & mission director SRCW, Daisy Mezhiir; DC Kohima and district level management committee of OSC chairperson Rovilatuo; social welfare director, T. Merang Aier, and representative from SIDBI also addressed the gathering.

The programme was chaired by T. Merang Aier, welcome address by Bano Vinito chairperson NSSWB, special songs were presented by Pelenuo Yhome and Kenei Mere, while closing remark and vote of thanks was proposed

by Dr. Buno Zetsuvi director women's studies centre, NU. The programme was jointly organized by department of social welfare, NSSWB, state resources centre for women, women studies centre Nagaland university and Nagaland development foundation.

(Agencies)

HDR son, Shullai relative & 6 others file nominations Medical team arrives to conduct

Shillong/Nongstoin/ JowaI, Nov 26: Eight more KHADC and JHADC by-poll candidates, including the son of Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh, filed their nomination papers on Friday.

Nathaniel Osbert Rymbai, the minister's son, filed his nomination papers as a Congress candidate from Sohiong-Nongspung constituency. Independent candidate Pret Mawlong also filed his nominations from the same constituency.

NCP candidate Ricky Shullai, who is a relative of former MDC Sanbor Shullai, and KHNAM's Bankhraw Singh Kharbuli, filed their nominations from LabanMawprem constituency.

The process of filing nominations started on Monday and the last date is November 28 before 3pm. Scrutiny of papers will be done on the same day. The by-poll is scheduled for December 13 and counting is on December 16.

Three BJP candidates, including a former police official, filed their nominations in West Khasi Hills.

Denestar Pariong, a former inspector of police who opted for voluntary retirement in 2007, filed his papers from RambraiJyrngam constituency. He was accompanied by district BJP head F. Marwein, state vice-president of BJP Mahila Morcha Pelcy Snaitang and former MDC of Nongstoin T. Wanniang, among others.

Councellor Wahlang and Thunder Warjri of the BJP filed nominations from Nongkhlaw-Mairang and Pariong-Mawthadraishan, respectively.

Wahlang told media persons that demonetisation will help in the country's development and the ongoing currency pangs will ease with time.

Warjri, on the other hand, said he would fight for the rights of land owners and for preserving Khasi customs and tradition.

Independent candidate Lotsing Lakuna of Syndai village under War East constituency under the JHADC filed his nomination papers on Friday in Amlarem. He is supported

by Independent local MLA Stephanson Mukhim. (Agencies)

free medical camps in state Dimapur, Nov 26: A 54member medical team led by Dr.Palep landed in Dimapur on November 25.

According to DIPR report, the team comprising of 36 doctors from various departments and other paramedical technicians drawn from various parts of the country would be conducting free medical camps in seven districts of Nagaland--Dimapur, Kohima, Wokha, Peren , Mon, Mokokchung and Phek.

Chief medical officer Dimapur Dr.Vikato along with local doctors, nodal officers, representatives from district administration and DPRO and team welcomed the visiting doctors on arrival at Dimapur airport.

The team halted at Police guest house Chumukedima and after short briefing by the CMO Dimapur the team, divided into sub teams, left for their designated districts accompanied by the nodal officers.

It may be noted that the free medical camp was initiated by the Governor of Nagaland P.B. Acharya. The general public has been advised to avail advantage of the camps.

Free medicines will also be distributed to the needy patients. Patients can register

Medical team along with CMO Dimapur and other officials on arrival at Police Guest House Chumukedima Dimapur. themselves at their respective district hospitals.

Meanwhile, a 15-member medical team will be conducting 3- day free medical camp at Dimapur district Hospital on November 26, 28, and 29 starting 9:30 a.m. DIPR report informed that cancer detection and cardiac screening will also be done with 2D echos (sonography of heart) during the camp.

Medical superintendent Dimapur Civil Hospital also informed that specialists in medicine, Gynae; ENT will also be available. The public have been informed to

register at the OPD to avail the free medical services.

Free medicines will also be distributed, it added.

Peren: In Peren, the medical team will be conducting free medical camp at District hospital for five days starting November 26.

Patients will be given free consultation and free medicines. The team includes Dr. Rajan Powle, Surgeon, Dr. Bharat Chetan Desai, GP, Physician Ashok B. Mishra, Gynaecologist, Dilip Soundale and Dental Surgeons Chetan Desai and Dr. Hailumbe Ipuing.

(Agencies)

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

Today's quote

“

Life is a play that does not allow testing. So, sing, cry, dance, laugh and live intensely, before the curtain closes and the piece ends with no Applause."

Charlie Chaplin

Appointing a Lokpal By admonishing the Union government for delaying the appointment of a Lokpal, the Supreme Court has sent across a timely message that efforts to cleanse the economy must be matched by equally strong measures to cleanse public life too. There can really be no excuse for the failure to establish an institution even three years after passing the relevant law. The only reason for the delay in the appointment of the Lokpal is that a minor amendment to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, to enable the leader of the largest party in the opposition in the Lok Sabha to join the five-member selection committee, is yet to be passed. A parliamentary committee has endorsed the amendment, which is on the same lines as the mechanism for the selection panels for the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Chief Information Commissioner. The court has indicated that it will not allow the institution to remain inoperative indefinitely, evoking apprehension on the Centre's part that a judicial direction may be given to get the amendment passed or an ordinance promulgated. The Centre needs to re-examine its own options on implementing the Lokpal Act. The law now provides for a five-member panel to select the anti-corruption ombudsman, comprising the Prime Minister, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice of India and an eminent jurist. The hitch is that there is no recognised LoP in the lower House.

The question now is whether the Centre is right in claiming the Congress floor leader cannot hold that post because its bench strength is well short of the required 55.

The rule that the Speaker can recognise as LoP only the leader of the principal opposition party that has 10 per cent of the total number of Lok Sabha seats is based on precedent. It was a ruling by Speaker G.V. Mavalankar, cited in the 'Directions for the Functioning of the Lok Sabha', with respect to recognising a group as a 'parliamentary party'. The only legal provision defining the 'Leader of the Opposition' is a 1977 law concerning the office-holder's salary. The definition says the LoP shall be the leader of the party in opposition with "the greatest numerical strength" and "recognised as such by the Speaker". Therefore, there is nothing in law that prevents the Speaker from recognising the present Congress Parliamentary Party leader as the LoP. Instead of waiting for the amendment, the Speaker can adopt the solution of recognising the CPP leader and expedite the Lokpal's formation. It just needs political will and some magnanimity.

The gathering crisis in Seoul Hundreds of thousands of angry citizens have been taking to the streets every weekend in South Korea, against the continuation in office of President Park Geun-hye. The crisis of confidence in Ms. Park's leadership exploded after her aide Choi Soonsil was arrested over allegations that Ms. Choi covertly exercised illegal authority over critical government decisions. She has also allegedly extorted $69 million from the giant industrial conglomerates, or chaebols, in the form of donations to two charitable foundations. Ms. Park has stood her ground and clung on to the presidency, even as she sacked at least eight of her aides in an unsuccessful attempt to regain public trust. Yet, pressure is mounting as the opposition parties are circling the wagons over impeaching her for breach of the Constitution. An impeachment motion would require two-thirds support in the 300-seat National Assembly. Opposition parties enjoy a combined majority there, and say they have secured the backing of more than 29 lawmakers of the ruling Saenuri party, the minimum number required to push this through. If they succeed, this would be the first time in 12 years that South Korea's National Assembly has impeached a president.

History also matters in the broader context of the unravelling relationship between the South Korean government and the chaebols. What began as a storied macroeconomic strategy of "picking winners" from amongst competing industrial groups, a paradigm that produced the Samsungs and Hyundais of today, is under a cloud. On November 8, prosecutors raided the Samsung offices over allegations it had transferred $3.1 million to a company owned by Ms. Choi in Germany. The hard-fought democracy that South Koreans won in 1987, driven by "people power" protests similar to the ones seen in Seoul this month, is in need of revitalisation. The pressure to establish a more sustainable model of governance is immense, not least because South Korea finds itself at a strategic crossroads on the global stage.

Whoever succeeds Ms. Park as President - and it might well be soon-to-retire UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon - would have to address sky-high tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea, and manage an economy that is at risk of slowing. Ties are cooling with China, South Korea's largest trading partner, and Beijing is hostile to the prospect of deploying the U.S.-made antiballistic missile system THAAD in the peninsula. Further, the rhetoric of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on economic protectionism and reviewing relationships with treaty allies does not help the South Korean cause. One way or another, the ball is in Ms. Park's court, and she has the opportunity to bring the turmoil to a quick end.

ong mentally?

P6

When ministers think aloud Rakesh Sood A 'no first use' nuclear weapons policy suits India's interest. Shifting to a first-use policy would mark a shift from deterrence towards nuclear war fighting Since the dawn of the nuclear age in 1945 there has been an ongoing debate centred on defining an appropriate role for nuclear weapons. Everybody agrees that these weapons are enormously destructive and should not be used. The question is whether the best way to prevent their use is to consider these as weapons for war fighting (just like conventional weapons but only more destructive), or to see them as qualitatively different, meant exclusively for deterrence. Different countries possessing nuclear weapons have evolved their doctrines based on the historical experiences shaping their world views, their threat perceptions and security obligations.

Indian conceptualisation of weapons India is no exception and on January 4, 2003, it issued a statement regarding the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security on operationalising India's Nuclear Doctrine. This statement summarised the key principles: "a) building and maintaining a credible minimum deterrent; b) posture of 'No First Use', nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or on Indian forces anywhere; c) nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage; d) non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states; however, in the event of a major attack against India, or Indian forces anywhere, by biological or chemical weapons, India will retain the option of retaliating with nuclear weapons...."

The two key elements - a "credible minimum deterrent" and "no first use" were first articulated by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Parliament on May 27, 1998, days after India had undertaken a series

of five nuclear tests in Pokhran and declared itself a nuclear weapon state. Mr. Vajpayee stated that India did not see nuclear weapons as weapons of war; that their role was to ensure that India is not subjected to nuclear threats or coercion; that India will not engage in an arms race; and that India believes in a "no first use" policy and remains ready to discuss this with other countries, bilaterally or in a collective forum.

These elements were further developed in the draft report of the National Security Advisory Board released by then National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra on August 17, 1999.

The 2003 statement, with some minor (but significant) changes, was consistent with what India had maintained since 1998. These were reiterated in Parliament on September 5, 2008 by the then External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, and were critical to the Nuclear Suppliers Group's decision to grant an exceptional waiver to India.

The BJP manifesto in 2014 had declared that it would "study in detail India's nuclear doctrine and revise and update it, to make it relevant to the challenges of current times, (and) maintain a credible minimum deterrent that is in tune with changing geostrategic realities". This generated speculation that India was preparing to change its "no first use" policy but it was put to rest in August 2014 when in a series of interviews, Prime Minister Narendra Modi categorically stated that there was no change in policy and "no first use" remained India's nuclear doctrine.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's unexpected response to a journalist at a book launch function in Delhi on November 10, 2016, reopened the issue when he said about India's no-firstuse policy: "Why should I bind myself [to it]? I should say I am a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it (a nuclear weapon) irresponsibly." He added that these were his individual views, but since he is a member of the Cabinet Committee on Security as also a

member of the Political Council of the Nuclear Command Authority, the Ministry of Defence felt it necessary to follow up with a statement that this "was his personal opinion", and not official position: "What he said was that India, being a responsible power, should not get into a first use debate".

Debating the 'No First Use' A nuclear doctrine serves multiple uses - it determines the nuclear posture, provides guidance for deployment and targeting, chain of command and control, communication and signalling to adversary and, in the ultimate, the use of nuclear weapons. Naturally, the last would happen once deterrence has failed. So far, the nuclear triad (aircraft, landbased mobile missiles and sea-based assets) which is to guarantee India's assured retaliation remains a work in progress. Mobility for the land-based missiles is being ensured through canisterisation but the sea leg of the triad will take time before India is able to field adequate numbers of nuclear submarines with long-range nuclear-tipped

missiles (SSBNs and SSNs).

Some delays are inevitable as we seek to master the complex technologies involved.

India's doctrine does not mention any country, but it is no secret that the Indian nuclear arsenal is to counter threats from China and Pakistan. China has maintained a 'no first use' policy since 1964 when it went nuclear, and the Chinese leadership has always considered nuclear weapons as political weapons.

Pakistan has adopted a firstuse policy to ensure fullspectrum deterrence; in other words, it envisages a tactical, operational and strategic role for its nuclear weapons. Since it maintains that its nuclear arsenal is exclusively against India, it seeks to counter India's conventional superiority at all levels. Recently, it has developed tactical nuclear weapons to hedge against a conventional military strike under the Cold Start doctrine.

The conventional criticism against a 'no first use' policy is that India would have to suffer a first strike before it retaliated. This criticism is valid but only highlights the need for India to ensure

that deterrence does not fail, and that there is a clear communication to the adversary of the certainty of punitive nuclear retaliation.

This can happen when India's nuclear arsenal, its delivery systems and its command and control enjoy assured survivability.

Does this imply that till then, it is preferable for India to shift to a first-use policy? That might be an attractive option if India was certain that in a first strike, it could take out all of Pakistan's (or China's) nuclear assets so that it would escape any nuclear retaliation. That is highly unlikely, today and in the future. Even the U.S. with its vast arsenal, both conventional and nuclear, is unsure about denuclearising North Korea which has a much smaller arsenal and capability.

Implications of a policy change Shifting to a first-use policy also has implications for the size of the arsenal, deployment posture, alert levels, delegation of command and control, defining redlines which would trigger a nuclear response and escalation management along the nuclear ladder. In short, it would mark a shift from deterrence towards nuclear war fighting. Further, declaring a first-use policy would create an incentive for either side for pre-emption because of the 'use it or lose it' syndrome brought on by hair trigger alerts. In short, it would lead to greater instability. The same instability would govern a situation of nuclear ambiguity. Given the short distances, it is impractical for India to envisage a 'launch on warning' posture even it developed and deployed a highly effective early warning system.

A shift towards nuclear war fighting also blurs the dividing line between conventional and nuclear. Today, the biggest conventional bomb in the U.S. arsenal is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) with an explosive yield of

15 tonnes equivalent of TNT. This is one-thousandth of the 16kt bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, and today's nuclear devices are hundreds of times larger.

Tactical nuclear weapons can be smaller but will remain much larger than the MOP, with the addition of long-lasting radiation fallout. Weapons designers are working on 'dial-a-yield' systems and pure fusion devices without radiation fallout, but till that time, blurring the nuclear and conventional dividing line is inadvisable.

The difference with Pakistan There is another key difference. Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is totally under the military's control, and by and large, the military approach to any weapon system is to find a use for it; it is difficult for the military to possess a weapon system and then conceive of a doctrine that aims at deterring its use.

Deterrence is a product of 'technical capability' and 'political will'. In dealing with Pakistan, India has to define who is to be deterred and find ways of demonstrating the requisite political will even as we build up our technical capabilities. Israel is a classic example of a state possessing advanced technical capabilities and also having demonstrated political will. Yet, this has failed to deter rocket strikes and terror attacks on Israeli territory.

This is not to suggest that India's nuclear doctrine cannot be changed. It should be periodically reviewed and updated, possibly every decade or so, taking into account technological developments and changes in the security environment.

This is, however, not a simple issue of changing a few words here or there and casual remarks can only add to confusion.

Ultimately, deterrence is a mental construct which requires clarity in its planning. Even ambiguity needs to be a calculated ambiguity. Only then will the doctrine serve to reassure the Indian people even as it deters the adversary in order to safeguard India's security.

'There Is No System In Place To Deal With Such An Emergency' in the country. As sis also suggests that in lack of adequate and low from the government they are - are making those Sharbani Chattoraj chants per data released by RBI, India, there is a huge gap cost telecommunication which happens to be in sacrifices precisely so that Reams have been written both for and against demonetisation; so much so that it has been the reigning topic of discussion over chai and samosa since the day it has been announced. That is all we can afford to buy, really, because we are keeping our Rs. 100 notes for emergencies and getting change for the Rs. 2000 is a problem only for those fortunate enough to have one or two in their possession. While the aim of curbing black money is laudable and deserves all our support, the execution of the demonetisation drive could have been better.

India has historically been and continues to be a cashintensive economy. Some estimates even suggest that more than 95% of transactions (volume) and 65% (value) are in cash.

Number of of PoS (point of sale) machines is not even one-tenth of the estimated number of mer-

in India, as on August 2016, all banks put together had only 2,02,801 ATMs and 14,61,672 PoS machines(machines on which you can use credit and debit cards to make payments instead of cash).

India has roughly 26 million credit cards and 697 million debit cards.

Considering that the techsavvy generation owns at least 4-5 cards per individual, and the fact that many of the cards issued remain inactive or are used less than five times a year, the reach of what are called alternate channels of payment is much lesser than the number of cards issued would suggest. In fact, as reported by Live Mint in April this year, India's average number of card transactions per inhabitant at 6.7 is one of the lowest in the world. In Australia, the number stands at 249.3, in Canada it is 247.9, in the UK it is 201.7, Brazil 54.8, and it is 16.6 in Mexico and 14.4 in China. Data analy-

between number of ATMs and number of POS machines.

According to 'Card Acceptance Infrastructure A Concept Paper' released

by Reserve Bank of India earlier this year, use of debit cards at ATMs (i.e., primarily for withdrawal of cash) constitutes an overwhelming 88% of all debit card transactions, and "usage of debit cards at PoS machines accounts for only around 12% of total volume and 6% of total value of debit card transactions." RBI noted with concern that the growth of card acceptance infrastructure was lagging far behind the growth of the number of debit and credit cards in the country. Such growth as has been seen in the growth of necessary infrastructure was mainly concentrated in urban metro areas. RBI has gone on to list out the reasons for this - high cost of acquiring business, low utilisation of cards,

infrastructure (needed even for the much-innews Paytm), insufficient awareness, lack of incentives to merchants for accepting cards, and the perceived cost of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR).

In such a situation, suddenly declaring 85% of cash available in the market as illegal is causing tremendous hardship to the lowest strata of the society which is going largely unreported or reported as one-off instances of 'collateral damage', a dangerous phrase one does not want to hear in association with our own citizenry.

Somewhere in the public discourse on this matter, a more disturbing development is creeping into mainstream media. That is the dissolution of the distinction between the State and the Government. The nation-state of India, to which we belong and which gives us our national identity, is distinct

The fence There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day

that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.

He said "you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one." You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.

power at any given point of time. Simply put, governments may come and go, but the State - the idea of India - endures and provides the framework for our democratic polity. Now, however, if one has any objection, any dissenting point of view, any critique of the actions of the Government, immediately one is branded as anti-national and scoffed at, ridiculed and abused for not supporting the anti-corruption drive of the Government.

The fourth estate, the media, is supposed to be the watchdog of democracy. In a country with democratic values, we are supposed to have the right to express our opinion in a civilised manner.

Dissent is supposed to be a cherished right of the citizenry in a democracy. Our soldiers, who are being often highlighted as patriots making supreme sacrifices for our country - which

our cherished democratic values may flourish.

Expressing a minority opinion has almost become equal to a criminal offence. Never mind that the real criminals are those dealing in black money.

Never mind that a miniscule percentage of the black money transactions are actually in cash.

Never mind that money and cash are not synonymous words. Never mind that we have equated hoarding with black money, forgetting the essential definition of black money being money (not cash) obtained through illegal activities. Never mind that in our country, a large number of legal, genuine transactions which used to happen in cash are stuck now because a whopping 86% of the cash in circulation became useless one fine day. Never mind that there is no system in place to deal with such an emergency.

Because that is what it is, an emergency.

Ground zero in Kashmir It was shocking to have Jean Drèze compare Burhan Wani with freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh was a giant, a revolutionary and was secular by faith. I admit that the situation in Kashmir is complicated and all of it can't be blamed on Pakistan but such an irrational and baseless comparison will only inspire more Kashmiri youth to tread on the path of terrorism.

Rajat Rakhit Amolapatty, Dibrugarh

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

BUSINESS

P7

Equities halt free-fall; Sensex Modi's demonetisation move above 26K, Nifty crosses 8K 'gamble', will set precedent: media

PTI Mumbai, Nov 26 : After four weeks of losses, domestic equities staged a mild recovery from sixmonth lows, with both key market indices Sensex and Nifty reclaiming the psychological 26,000 and 8,000 levels, respectively.

Foreign investors constant offloading Indian stocks over potential US rate hike next month and cash-crunch shock in most of the sectors due to government's demonetization drive played the part in market momentum with key index tumbling to sixmonth low of 25,717.93.

While, market witnessed short-covering ahead of November derivative expiry amid higher global cues acting bulwark against the persistent losses enduring the inher-

Image representational purpose ent domestic market strength during the week.

Stocks once again lost viability on rupee volatility as it plunged to a fresh lifetime record low of 68.86 against dollar during November expiry day -- pulling the market once again

to end below the key 26,000-level.

However, the weekend saw the the first day of December series starting on a positive note with recovering rupee after RBI intervened heavily to arrest the currency's fall, while

the US Thanksgiving holiday break stopped the dollar relentless surge as well as helped to pause sucking of FII capital from emerging markets.

Domestic traders lapped up beaten-down but fundamentally strong stocks amid firm global cues supported by positive Fitch Ratings on India's GDP growth.

Market sentiment revived to some extent after the rating agency forecast India's economic growth to accelerate next fiscal on the back of reforms and monetary policy easing.

Besides, the fall in rupee value also lifted the IT and pharma stocks.

During the week, the Sensex gained 166.10 points, or 0.64 per cent, to settle at 26,316.34. It hovered in the range of

26,343.95 and 25,717.93 during the week.

The Sensex has lost 1,926.94 points, or 6.86 per cent, in last four weeks.

The Nifty 50 index during the week rose 40.20 points, or 0.50 per cent, to end at 8,114.30 after shuttling between 8,122.25 and 7,916.40.

The broader market index fell by 618.95 points, or 7.12 per cent, in last four weeks.

The buying was led by IT, teck, metal, consumer durable, healthcare, FMCG, realty sectors, followed by shares of smallcap and midcap companies shares.

While selling was witnessed in bankex, auto, PSUs, power, capital goods and oil&gas counters.

Jewellers shut Demonetisation among 3 most important economic reforms: Tata shops for 16th day PTI New Delhi, Nov 26 : After calling for special relief measures for poor hit by demonetisation, industrialist Ratan Tata today termed the move as one of the three most important economic reforms that will help fight black money.

Tata, who is locked in a bitter boardroom battle over control of the Tata Group with his successor Cyrus P Mistry, said the government's bold implementation of the demonetisation program me needs the nation's support.

"Demonetisation is amongst the three most important economic reforms in India's history, along with delicensing and GST," Tata said in a tweet.

The Prime Minister's recent focus on mobile and

Ratan Tata digital payments will also greatly facilitate the transition from a cash-driven economy to a cashless economy, which in the ling term will enormously benefit the poor and underprivileged, he added.

"The government's firm resolve to fight and eliminate black money needs the support and cooperation of all like minded citizens of India who would like to see more equitable distribution of the nation's

resources in a new India of tomorrow, based on merit and equal opportunity," Tata said.

He added that the parallel black money economy in India has fueled tax evasion, money laundering and corruption.

"The Prime Minister has displayed enormous courage in waging war on the black market economy in the country through the implementation of a major demonetisation program me," Tata said.

Earlier this week, the noted industrialist had asked the the government to consider special relief measures, similar to those employed at the time of national calamities, for the poor so as to lessen their hardships of currency crunch following demonetisation of high value notes.

China gold premiums hit 3-year high on possible import ban

Cash crunch was forcing retail consumers to trim purchases, while jewellers were waiting for prices to fall next month, traders said.

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Gold premiums in top consumer China jumped to the highest in nearly three years this week, on worries over a supply shortage that traders said were due to Beijing's efforts to restrict import licenses.

China's net gold imports via main conduit Hong Kong fell 15% from a year earlier to 61.075 tonnes in October.

"While we don't have the exact numbers, we hear that they (Chinese government) have limited the number of importers," said Dick Poon, general manager at Heraeus Precious Metals in Hong

Kong. There has been no official announcement from China on restricting licenses to import gold.

China allows only 15 banks to import gold, including three foreign lenders.

Potential restrictions on gold imports could have to do with limiting the outflows of the Chinese yuan, said Zhirui Ji, an analyst with Thomson Reutersowned metals consultancy GFMS. The yuan touched an 8 and a half-year low this week.

Gold premiums in China against the international benchmark rose to about

$25 an ounce this week, the highest since January 2014, compared with a premium of $10 last week, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The premiums could stay high, as gold retailers and manufacturers might replenish stocks for the Chinese New Year in January, taking advantage of spot prices hitting nine-month lows at around $1,171 an ounce.

In India, the world's second biggest consumer, premiums dropped due to subdued demand after the government scrapped highvalue notes.

Cash crunch was forcing retail consumers to trim purchases, while jewellers were waiting for prices to fall next month, traders said.

Dealers charged a premium of up to $3 an ounce on Friday over official domestic prices that include a 10% import tax. That compared with up to $12 an ounce last week, the highest in two years. "Retail demand has fallen, especially in rural areas, due to the cash crunch," said Daman Prakash Rathod, director at MNC Bullion, a wholesaler in Chennai.

"People are expecting some government measures to dampen gold demand". (PTI)

January next year.

An email sent to NSE did not get an immediate response.

Exchanges desirous of starting operations in the GIFTcity have to set up a company first and get the regulator's nod. Thereafter they need to submit an application through form F to the development commissioner (DC). After approvals from the DC and the regulator, GIFT special economic zone (SEZ) will issue a final letter of allotment for allocation of space in the SEZ for carrying out the approved operations.

PTI New Delhi, Nov 26 : Gold and jewellery establishments in the national capital remained closed for the 16th day today after the Income Tax Department conducted surveys following reports of alleged profiteering and efforts at tax evasion in the wake of government's demoneti sation move.

The survey operations

were carried out on November 10 in at least four locations in Delhi-NCR region, including Dariba Kalan, Chandni Chowk and Karol Bagh.

The government on November 8 announced the demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes to flush out black money.Most of the jewellery houses have been closed since November 11 in the national capital.

Defending INR: RBI wades into currency pool, and swims rupee to safety

Image for representation purpose.

Mumbai, Nov 26: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) heavily intervened in the currency market on Friday to strengthen the Indian rupee from its record low level reached on Thursday.

Some recovery in the local stock markets, as well as broad-based dollar weakness, helped rupee gain back some of its value.

The rupee closed at 68.47 a dollar, from its previous close of 68.75 as the central bank intervened at multiple points whenever rupee showed some depreciation pressure, said several currency dealers who did not wish to be named.

The local currency had opened at 68.66 a dollar and depreciated as much as 68.70 a dollar before the RBIstarted intervening in the market.

"There was heavy selling (of dollar) by the RBI to defend the rupee. Besides, it removed some of the rupee liquidity from the system, At a recent press conference, too," said a senior currency Gujarat chief minister Vijay trader with a foreign bank Rupani had enquired about who did not wish to be the progress made by ex- named. changes in setting up their Some of the recovery in ruexchanges at the GIFT city. pee was also led by dollar Prime Minister Narendra giving up some of its gain Modi will inaugurate BSE's against global currencies. international exchange at All major currencies in the GIFT-City on January 9 on region gained against the the occasion of Vibrant dollar, but rupeegained the Gujarat Global Summit-2017. most in the day. The local BSE had signed a pact with currency gained 0.40 per GIFT in January 2015 to set cent intraday, while Japaup the two entities at the nese yen rose 0.38 per cent. rupee would GIFT city, including an inter- That from its national clearing corporation. strengthen Thursday's low was pre(Agencies)

NSE to set up international exchange at GIFT city Mumbai, Nov 26: National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) has applied for setting up a new company which will function as an international exchange in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT). This will be a fullyowned subsidiary of NSE. The exchange is hoping for an approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) next month and is in the process of taking up space in the GIFT authority-promoted centre. Similar to rival BSE, the exchange is looking to kickstart operations in

Image representational purpose

dicted in the foreign nondeliverable forwards (NDFs) market. The market was showing that rupee should scale back from the record low 68.87 a dollar level it had reached on Thursday.

But a poll of 10 currency market participants by Business Standard said rupee could test 70 a dollar in the coming days, but should retract to 68-69 level. The US Federal Reserve will meet mid-December and is widely expected to increase rates from the near zero level.

After Donald Trump's victory in US presidential polls and the Fed saying that the rate cuts could be in December, Asian currencies have suffered. In a month, rupee has fallen 0.49 per cent, more or less the same as other Asian currencies. Japanese yen, in this period, has fallen 1.76 per cent. (NDF is a cashsettled, short-term forward contract in a thinly traded or nonconvertible foreign currency against a freely traded currency, where the profit or loss at the settlement date is calculated by taking the difference between the agreed upon exchange rate and the spot rate at the time of settlement, for an agreed upon notional amount of funds. The gain or loss is then settled in the freely traded currency. A forward contract is a customized contract between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specified price on a future date. (Agencies)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi PTI Beijing, Nov 26 : Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move as "very bold", China's official media today said it was a "gamble" that would create a precedent irrespective of whether it succeeds or fails and China will draw lessons from its impact on corruption.

"Modi's move is very bold. We cannot imagine what would happen in China if the country bans its 50 and 100 yuan notes," said an editorial in the state-run Global Times titled 'Modi takes a gamble with money reform'. 100 yuan is China's highest currency note.

"To prevent a leak of information jeopardising the implementation of the demonetisation reform, the roll out of the plan had to be kept confidential.

Modi is in a dilemma as the reform aims to render the black money useless but the process goes

against the governance principle of winning support of the public before initiating a new policy," the editorial said.

"As more than 90 per cent of transactions in India are made with cash, banning 85 per cent of the currency in circulation brings a lot of trouble to people's daily life" sparking fierce criticism including from "former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who termed it as organised loot", it said.

"Demonetisation can crackdown on corruption and shadow economy but it is obviously unable to solve the deeper social and political issues that help breed the aforementioned problems," the editorial said.

However, it stated that as far as the root causes of corruption exist, the problems will always resurface.

"In other words, the Modi government wishes to turn a long and arduous

reform into a one-off deal," it said.

"Demonetisation is a gamble for Modi. He bet on both the execution ability of the government and the tolerance level of the Indian society, hoping that the benefits of this reform can outrun the negative social impacts and low morale," the editorial said.

It asserted that the "Western-style" democratic system of India allows little room for such bold moves.

"However, he is really carrying it out, and will create a precedent no matter he succeeds or fails," it said.

"Reform is always difficult and requires more than just courage. Modi's demonetisation came with good intention but whether it can succeed depends on the efficiency of the system and the cooperation of the entire society. More and more people are growing pessimistic about the ability of Modi's government to control the process," the editorial said.

Noting that China's reform and opening-up has been going on for nearly 40 years, the editorial said it had ups and downs but remained largely stable.

"Its success is based on broad public support," it said.

"The strong execution capabilities of the Communist Party of China are built on the consensus of the entire country. By observing India's reforms we will draw lessons, which would in turn help us understand our own reforms," it said.

Assocham urges govt to ease cash limits for logistic fleet operators Industry body has also urged govt to review weekly cash withdrawal limit of Rs 50,000 from current accounts New Delhi, Nov 26: As India Inc supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi's battle against black money, Assocham has urged the government to consider among other relief measures, increasing the cash withdrawal limits for logistic and transport fleet owners since they need hard cash for meeting expenses for crew members including truck drivers and cleaners.

Drawing inputs from various sources, a latest Assocham study on Transport and Logistics has noted that close to 10 per cent of the en route expenses of trucks on trunk routes are accounted for by drivers and other support crew for the journeys which take seven to eight days on a single trip.

"The entire expenses of the drivers and other crew are to be met by cash. In the wake of the demonetisationof high value notes, the fleet owners are facing problems of operations," said Assocham.

While the fuel accounts for 52-66% of the total trip expenses, another 25-40% is to be accounted for sub heads like tolls, octroi, speedy clearance at check posts etc.

"Traditionally, all this money was required in

Presently, there are 177 inter-state check posts and 268 toll barriers on national highways. cash. The driver also acts as a petty cashier. The note ban has come as a bottleneck to the transportbusiness," it added.

Assocham has also urged the government to review the cash withdrawal limit of Rs. 50,000 from the current account per week and raise it to minimum Rs 4-5 lakh, which is bare minimum.

Besides, the fleet owners face other problems which need to be resolved for improving the overall efficiency of the fleet owners and ease of doing business.

"Faster turnaround of trucks alone in the absence of check posts may improve

the operational efficiency of the road transport sector," it added.

Presently, there are 177 inter-state check posts and 268 toll barriers on national highways.

The Assocham study suggested that to promote seamless inter-state freight flows; green channel should be adopted for transit of secure/sealed containerised cargo.

About 75 per cent of trucking firms own small fleets of less than five trucks. The industry has largely been operating in an unorganised sector and has not really taken to the main stream.

L&T Hydrocarbon planning stock market listing in 3 years Chennai, Nov 26: L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering, subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, plans to list itself on the stock exchange in the next three years.

The company is an integrated oil and gas services provider, with a focus on construction and engineering.

Subramanian Sarma, managing director, said in addition to the 2019 target year for listing, another aim was to raise annual revenue from the present Rs 9,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore in another five years.

It hopes to close the current financial year with 10 per cent growth and to increase the margin to around eight per cent, from the earlier 7.1 per cent.

The international business contributes to around 50 per cent and the company hopes to increase this to 60 per cent.

It plans to look at North Africa and some of the Asia-Pacific markets. it is currently focused on West Asia.

On Friday, it unveiled a hightech spool base facility at Kattupalli, near here. These are being employed on a turnkey contract from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for a subsea installation, by a consortium of J Ray McDermott SA, Berlian McDermott & L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering. L&T has 25 per cent stake in the consortium, with the balance held

by McDermott. It is a $370 million order.

Sarma said it was the first time that the high-end technology required for deepwater operations was being transferred in India, through McDermott.

T K Sengupta, director-offshore at ONGC, said the aim was to commence production by mid-2017 and achieve the full capacity of two billion cubic metres a year by end-2017.

This 91 km of pipeline laying from the onshore terminal to the offshore deepwater field involves 55 km of shallow water lay and 36 km of deepwater lay.

The installation has to ensure an operating life of 25 years in a harsh marine environment. A project of this magnitude is being done in deepwater for the first time in India, said Sengupta.

(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

CJI & Law Minister differ over appointment of judges New Delhi, Nov 26: Differences between judiciary and government continued to be aired in the open with Chief Justice of India T S Thakur today saying there is shortage of judges in high courts and tribunals requiring government intervention, a view Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad strongly disagreed with.

"500 judges posts are vacant in the high courts.

They should be working today, but they are not. At present, there are several vacant courtrooms in India but no judges available.

A large number of proposals are still pending and hope the government will intervene to end this crisis," Justice Thakur said while addressing an All India Conference of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

Disagreeing with the CJI, the Law Minister said the government has made 120

Chief Justice of India T S Thakur today saying there is shortage of judges in high courts and tribunals requiring government intervention. appointments this year which was the second highest since 1990. The highest number of appointments of 121 were made in 2013, Prasad said.

"We respectfully disagree with him (CJI). This year we have made 120 appointments. The second highest of 121 is of 2013.

Since 1990 there have

P8

NATION

been only 80 appointments. 5,000 vacancies are there in the lower judiciary in which the government of India has no role to play. That is something only for the judiciary to take care.

"As far as infrastructure is concerned, that is a continuous process. Where the larger issue of appoint-

ment is concerned, there is a Supreme Court decision of making the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) more transparent, objective, reasonable, fair and the government stand is pending for the last more than three months and we are yet to hear from the Supreme Court," he said.

The CJI said that "manpower deficit" was also present in the tribunals which also faced the problem of lack of infrastructure leading to pendency of cases for five to seven years, apart from making apex court judges averse to heading such quasi-judicial bodies.

"State of affairs in the tribunals is giving me the impression that you (tribunals) are no better. You are suffering from the same kind of deficit, manpower deficit. You cannot set up a tribunal, you cannot set up a bench at so many places because there are

no members."

"If the total strength of this tribunal is 65 and if you have 18 or 20 vacancies then it means that you are short by a large number.

The working is going to be affected and that is why you have cases that are more than five years and seven years old," he said adding "the least that you (government) must do is to ensure that these tribunals run with full strength."

The CJI also said the tribunals "are not equipped and are lying empty and today a situation has come that no retired Supreme Court judge wants to head the Tribunal. I am pained to send my retired colleagues there".

"Government is not ready to give proper facilities.

Vacancy apart from infrastructure is a major concern for the Tribunal," he added. (PTI)

Delhi take on Goa in final home match New Delhi, Nov 26 :Their last match loss halted the momentum of an impressive campaign a bit but Delhi Dynamos would look to reassert themselves as strong title contenders when they take on bottom-placed FC Goa in their final home game of the Indian Super League football here tomorrow.

Delhi are one of the most impressive sides in the ISL this season but with three matches left to be played, they are placed fourth with 17 points from 11 matches. A win tomorrow will put Delhi a foot on the play-offs.

For Goa, if they win tomorrow, they can mathematically still qualify for the semifinals. But, they have a remote chance now after their 1-2 loss against Atletico de Kolkata at home in their last match.

They are now at the bottom of the eight-team league table with 11 points from 12 matches.

Delhi head coach Gianluca

Zambrotta said that it would be foolish to be complacent against Goa in his side's quest for a semifinal berth.

"If we win this game then Delhi will be in a good position to qualify for playoffs. I am not getting into the mathematical calculations, just preparing for this match and trying to win. Like always, we will strive to win," said Zambrotta at the prematch media interaction.

Delhi have been strong at home this season and are the only side not to lose a home game. They were winless at home in their first three matches but Zambrotta's side eventually gained momentum, winning two of their next three matches.

The clash against Goa tomorrow will be the last home game in the league stage for Delhi and Zambrotta knows his side must remain focused.

"At the moment, this is one of the most difficult games for us. It will be a

mistake to think they (Goa) are last.

That will be a bad attitude.

The players must stay focused and determined," said Zambrotta.

The 2006 World Cup winner said he would take one game at a time, and that anything more than qualification for the play-offs would be a welcome bonus.

"My philosophy is to take one match at a time. Tomorrow, we have our last home game and we must play well for our fans.

In all honesty, if we win against Goa, we will be in a much better position to make the playoffs, but I don't worry about how many points we are going to win or lose in a game.

My job is to prepare the team in the best way possible.

"Our primary target is to qualify for the playoffs. If we finish on top (at the league stage), that will be an added bonus," said the 39-year-old. (PTI)

Bhoomipujan of Coastal Road Showcause notices proj by next monsoon: Uddhav to 20 JNU students, Amarinder confident of 2/3rd PTI Mumbai, Nov 26 : The 'bhoomipujan' of Mumbai civic body's ambitious nearly 30 km long Coastal Road project will be done by monsoon season next year, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said today.

"We are committed towards providing a happy and stress- free life to Mumbaikars. Today is a day of satisfaction as the initial works of the Coastal Road project that was dreamt by residents of Mumbai has been started," Thackeray told reporters after conducting a survey of the coastal road.

He said a survey of the soil at the seabed is being done and that the rocks present on the ocean floor will be used in the tunnel work of the project.

"The most important part is that there will be no dis-

turbance to the beauty of Girgaum Chowpatty as part of this project. The tunnel that will start from Chowpatty will end near Priyadarshini park, and thus, there will be no traffic disturbance when the project work is going on," he said.

Thackeray said from Priyadarshini park, the coastal road will pass through Bandra Sea Link upto Gorai.

"The 'bhoomipujan' (ground breaking ceremony) will happen by the monsoon season next year. The pre-qualification bids for coastal road project has also been started," he said.

Meanwhile, Brihanm umbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ajoy Mehta said that international companies have shown their interest in the project.

The project will cost around Rs 14,000 crores and the tender process will be completed by March 2017, he said.

Mehta said the first phase will include development of a road between Princess street and Bandra Sea Link, the work of which will be completed by 2019.

The second phase will include a sea link between Bandra and Kandivali.

"A third phase, the road of which will be built upto Ahmedabad, has been proposed," he said.

Mehta said the Navy, Coast Guard, Maritime Board, and the state Environment department has given a clearance for the project and a clearance from the Union Environment ministry is soon expected. (Agencies)

Nitish Kumar says he has taken principled stand "I support demonetisation as I'm convinced that it will help in the fight against black money," Kumar said addressing a function to mark Prohibition Day in Patna.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Patna, Nov 26: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday said he has taken a principled stand on demonetisation as he is convinced that the step will help fight black money and laughed off reports of his meeting with BJP President Amit Shah as background to his support. "I support demonetisation as I'm convinced that it will help in the fight against black money," Kumar said addressing a function to mark Prohibition Day in Patna.

With political meaning being derived from his stand on demonetisation which is different from those of Congress, RJD and other non-BJP parties, Kumar said he has taken a principled stand as in his opinion scrapping of high

value bank notes would help in diluting black money. "Is this the first time that I have taken a principled stand which might be politically different from others on an issue on which I'm convinced?"

Kumar, who had reminded the media on Friday that he had supported Pranab Mukherjee for presidentship despite being a member of NDA. "Will those hoarding black money be able to deposit the entire volume in bank accounts? Reserve Bank could issue new notes against a quantity of black money which would not find way to banks during the current drive," he said expressing views on demonetisation raging in national politics.

Kumar, who is also JD(U) Na-

tional President, laughed at reports appearing in a section of media here which attributed his support to demonetisation to his secret meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah at a farmhouse recently.

"Had the reporter who gave this news taken me to the farmhouse where I met Amit Shah?" he said and lamented over such "baseless news which hitherto was prevalent only in social media platform".

Kumar, who has described the Centre's demonetisation decision as "sahshik" (courageous), said in addition to scrapping of higher denomination currencies, attack on benami properties and prohibition could lead to creation of "kala dhan mukt Bharat" (black money free India).

He said when he spoke of benami properties it includes real estate as well as stocking of gold and diamonds with the help of ill-gotten wealth. "I will urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi that this is the right time to immediately hit at benami properties as well clamp liquor ban for better results against black money," he said. Kumar, who has taken prohibition in a mission mode in Bihar, said it is well known that people involved in liquor trade have amassed huge benami properties. (PTI)

One shot dead, three injured in a clash over minor dispute Muzaffarnagar, Nov 26: A 25-year-old man was shot dead and three others were seriously injured in a clash between two groups over a minor dispute at Hasanpur Luhari village in Shamli, police said today.

The incident took place

yesterday when there was a scuffle between the groups and it escalated, leading to firing and stone-pelting by both sides, Circle Officer Anand Verma said.

The deceased was identified as Gulzar.

Gulbahar, Shehzad and

Waseem were injured in the clash and were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, Verma said.

Police brought the situation under control and extra security force was deployed in the area.

(PTI)

including Kanhaiya

The JNU administration has issued showcause notices to 20 students, including sedition accused Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid.

New Delhi, Nov 26: The JNU administration has issued showcause notices to 20 students, including sedition accused Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid, seeking explanation for the alleged "illegal confinement" of Vice Chancellor and other officials in the varsity building.

A group of agitating students had confined the VC and other senior officials in the administrative building for over 20 hours last month alleging inaction on the administration's part in locating missing student Najeeb Ahmad.

Najeeb (27), a student of School of Biotechnology and a native of Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, went missing on October 15 following an on-campus scuffle allegedly with the members of ABVP, the night before.

"Twenty students, including Kanhaiya and Umar, have been sent notices over the illegal confinement and have been asked

to depose before the Proctorial committee which is probing the issue after a complaint was received from the university's Chief Security Officer," a senior varsity official said.

JNU students and teachers have been agitating against the university administration and the Delhi Police for their failure to locate the missing student.

On the directive of Union home minister Rajnath Singh to Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma, an SIT was formed last month to trace the missing student.

The SIT failed to get any actionable clues in the matter. The case was later transferred to Delhi Police's Crime Branch.

The university panel probing the incident of October 14 following which Najeeb went missing had found ABVP members guilty of assaulting him.

However, no disciplinary action has been taken yet.

(Agencies)

4 arrested with heroin worth Rs 1.20 cr Lucknow, Nov 26: Four persons were arrested and Rs 1.20 crore-worth of heroin was seized from their possession at the Polytechnic crossing here.

They were arrested in a joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force yesterday.

The team stopped a SUV car coming from Barabanki at the the crossing here and seized 1,200 gm of heroin worth Rs

1.20 crore in the international market, sources in the STF said.

The accused told police that they supplied the contraband to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi after treating the raw material, which was obtained from Malda in West Bengal, they said.

A case has been registered and a probe is on in the matter, the sources said. (PTI)

100 ft national flag hoisted at CSIR-IICT in Hyderabad Hyderabad, Nov 26: A 100 ft national flag was today hoisted on the occasion of Platinum Jubilee year of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) at Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, one of the premier research laboratory in the city.

The flag stands tall at 100 ft in the sprawling campus of CSIR-IICT. The tri-colour flag measures 30 X 20 ft, a

release from IICT said.

Girish Sahni, Director General of CSIR and Secretary, DSIR hoisted the tri-colour in the presence of IICT Director S Chandrasekhar and staff as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations of CSIR. As a mark of respect, a Guard of Honour was offered to Sahni by security personnel, IICT school children along with police band. (PTI)

majority in Assembly polls

Patiala, Nov 26: Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh today exuded confidence that the party would come to the power in the state with two third majority as he kicked off the second phase of his road show.

Reaching out to people of Patiala district, he promised to waive off farmer debts and vowed to protect the water of Punjab at all costs.

Amarinder expressed confidence that the party would form the next government in Punjab with 2/ 3rd majority in the 2017 assembly polls.

On allocation of tickets, the PPCC chief said the scrutiny committee will meet on November 29 and 30, followed by a meeting of the Congress Election Committee on December 3, to discuss the matter.

He said winnability would be the sole criteria in the candidate selection, and denied any major dispute in the party on ticket distribution.

To a question on the possibility of former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu joining the Congress, Amarinder said Sidhu was currently shooting in Mumbai and would be with the party once back.

Joined by wife and former union minister Preneet Kaur, Amarinder made several halts along the way as he kicked off his high-tech bus roadshow from Shambu border in Ghanur.

Talking to media along the roadshow route, he said once in power, Congress will take over the liabilities of the farmers and

Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh.

pay their capital and interest.

On demonetisation, former Punjab CM reiterated that while the objectives of the initiative were fine but the implementation was totally "unplanned", causing "extremely hardships" to the common people.

Describing SYL as a major election issue, Amarinder said this region (Rajpura, Ghanaur and surrounding areas) was faced with a dire water crisis and the SYL canal could not be allowed to be built at any cost.

Rejecting as an "outright lie" the Badals' allegation that he had carried a silver 'tasla/kassi' for the foundation laying ceremony of SYL, Amarinder said he had carried a silver 'tasla' only once - during the 1984 kar seva at the Golden Temple.

He dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on the Indus water treaty as "political posturing" ahead of the elections.

Modi had yesterday said the waters of Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers that rightfully belong to India will be stopped from going

waste in Pakistan and he will ensure that farmers here utilise it.

Rejecting the Aam Aadmi Party's charges of a nexus between the Congress and the Akalis, Amarinder said he still had some cases pending against him in Ludhiana and Mohali.

He said AAP, in any case, was not an organisation but a group of "greedy perverts who were only interested in exploiting people for money and sex."

Asked if the Congress could also consider a Dalit as deputy chief minister, in view of Arvind Kejriwal's promise on the same, Amarinder said the AAP leader was in the habit of "telling lies", and as far as Congress was concerned, a decision on deputy chief ministership would be taken by the party high command at the time of government formation.

The chief ministerial candidate would also be announced at the appropriate time, he added.

Asked about how strong the AAP candidate pitted against him was, Amarinder asked, "Who is Balbir Singh? I don't know about him. (PTI)

Smriti Irani Pays Rs 100 to Cobbler, Who Demanded Rs 10 for Slipper Repair Coimbatore, Nov 26: Union minister Smriti Irani on Saturday paid Rs 100 to a cobbler here for getting her slippers repaired and the latter, who had demanded only Rs 10 for the job, happily put in additional stitches on it with the incident going viral on the social media.

The Union Textile Minister's slipper strap had snapped as she alighted from a flight to address a session at Isha

Foundation here, BJP sources said.

She was looking for a cobbler and found one near Perur, around 16 kms from the airport, on her way to Isha Foundation.

Irani, along with Tamil Nadu BJP general secretary Vanathi Srinivasan, got off the vehicle. She handed over the slipper to the cobbler and sat on a stool.

The cobbler asked for Rs 10 for the stitching job.

Irani placed a Rs 100 currency note near his cash box and said, "Change venda (change not needed)," repeating what Vanathi told her.

The cobbler put in a few additional stitches on the Union minister's slipper.

The incident has gone viral on the social media with the netizens appreciating Irani's gesture.

(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

EDUCATION P9 HOW TO CRACK UPSC IAS PRELIMS EXAM

The Civil Services Preliminary examination to be conducted by the Union Public Services Examination is believed to be the toughest stage in the whole process of an IAS selection. Out of 100 candidates, who write the Prelims, 97 may not clear prelims owing to two main reasons: " Only a few vacancies " Lack of right approach The exam is scheduled to be held on August 7. The total number of applicants is 9.5 lakh out of which the number of candidates who qualify for second stage (mains) will be only around 15,000. Around a million applicants fight to find a place in the top 15000 positions which makes prelims stage certainly not a cake-walk. But, if you are a serious

candidate, embrace right strategies, guidance and study material, self-study is enough.

Out of the 9.5 lakh applicants, only half sit for Prelims!

Out of the 9.5 lakh candidates, who register for Civil Services Prelims Exam, usually, only half of them take the Preliminary exam on Dday. This is still a bigger number considering the number of vacancies.

Around 15,000-16,000 candidates (12-13 times the number of vacancies) will be selected for next round, i.e. Civil services Mains exam. This means only the top 3 per cent of candidates will get through the exam.

How to Prepare for Civil Services P r e l i m i n a r y Examination?

So, it's important to map

out a potent strategy so that you clear the IAS prelims and be in top 15000. Clearing prelims will turn out to be a cakewalk if the aspirant gets proper guidance and orientation.

1. GS Paper 1 is the key now: Revise every subject!

Till 2014, scoring high in GS Paper 2 (popularly known as CSAT) was the easiest and fastest way to crack Civil Services Prelims. Putting less effort as compared to GS Paper 1, aspirants used to score high in this paper and cleared prelims. But, with changes in the UPSC pattern in 2015 this strategy won't work in the future.

On the basic level, covering every subject of civil services preliminary exam is the best approach to clear prelims now.

It's not

recommended to give priority to any particular book or area thinking that questions will come from that source. Likewise, it's equally important not to miss easy questions from traditional subjects like Economics, Geography, History and Polity. At least, brushing up NCERT books and previous years' question papers would be a good idea if you are timecrunched. Keeping an eye on tight competition, areas like culture and environment should also be mugged up. Current affairs preparation should be done considering the latest schemes and bills launched by the government.

2. Take, Clear IAS prelims mock exams: This is one area which tells apart successful candidates from those who fail to crack prelims.

Mock tests are integral part of regular preparations of successful candidates.

By revising the attempted tests you get a chance to identify your mistakes.

Writing mock tests arm you with confidence which is the key to success in any examination.

3. Invest on the right books for UPSC Civil Service Preliminary Exam: Picking up recommended books and right study material is of utmost importance. The NCERT books are thought to be must-read by experts as well as successful candidates, as they clear up doubts at fundamental level and help candidates in scoring higher marks at both stages of Civil Services Examination Prelims and Mains.

4. Follow our Prelims

cum Mains Approach: For GS Paper 1, an ideal strategy would be to cover GS Mains and Prelims syllabus in detail first that would give the concept clarity about all major topics. The type of questions asked in Prelims and Mains are different, but there are many areas where there is overlap too. An integrated prelims-cummains approach is

catching on among civil services aspirants which rely on clearing prelims and mains in a single attempt. Good knowledge of overlapping and nonoverlapping areas in the UPSC GS syllabus for Prelims and Mains certainly gets you competitive mileage over your peers.

5. Go with a relaxed mind on the exam day: All your efforts will go in

vain if you lose your cool on the exam day. It's pertinent to read questions carefully and make sure that you do not make silly mistakes. In a relaxed state of mind, you will be able to answer questions accurately and in less time. Count on your abilities and be confident that you can clear civil services preliminary exam, and you will.

10 Sutras to Crack IAS Mains Examination

1. What makes one successful and another failure in Mains?

All the candidates are having books, all the candidates are dedicated to work and most of them attend coaching institutions, take guidance from seniors and friends but what makes one success and another failure. Students say they studied for 18 hours and still they couldn't make mains. Others say they studied only for 8-9 hours and could make mains.

Why these differences.

The difference between successful candidates and the failure candidates is same as difference between ordinary and extra-ordinary persons.

One who is able to make mains never counts the hours and how many books he/she has read. But they know what to read, what not to read, how much to read, how to use when required writing the answers. Civil Service exam never wants one to be ideal. It requires creativity, innovativeness within the candidates, who lack to use his/her knowledge properly they feel tough to clear the exam. Before starting the preparation find out properly what to read, what not to read, what types of question are asked from particular topics. After taking guidance from others put your own strategy, don't follow their strategy it may not be suitable for you, Better strategy makes one success in mains.

2. Going through Syllabus This year there is change in the syllabus of GeneralStudies and also optional paper. Don't get tense when somebody says there is change in syllabus. Civil Service exam tries to select candidates who are creative and innovative and aware of day to day life.

Accordingly, syllabus has been changed.

First go through General Studies syllabus thoroughly and try to be perfect with the syllabi. If you know syllabus, 20% of your work is over. It helps you what to read and what not to read. Don't neglect

the added syllabus.

Always questions will be asked from the new syllabus. Try to think what type of questions may come from particular topic. What is the relevance of particular topic in today's life?

In the same way go through the added topics of both optional and try to cover them first. Old candidates may know other parts of the syllabus only added syllabus they have to be perfect. New-comers have to know whole syllabus before starting their studies.

3. Having balanced approach towards Optional Candidates have to select too optiona1 for mains.

Most of the candidates take one optional same for both prelims and mains. Some may have different optional papers for prelims and two different optionals for mains. Both the optional papers should be given same weightage. Don't neglect the optional which you were having for prelims.. Don't think already that you have studied for prelims and can give less time for mains.

There are many students who are unable to score more than 300 marks in first optional but easily they can score more than 300 marks in second optional. This is because way of approach for study differs. Student might know concepts but unable to use where it is required. Therefore study both optionals simultaneously. Marks of both optional are important to be successful in exam.

Considering question number 1 and 5 is equally important Question number 1 and 5 play very important role in getting good score. From both the optionals we have 480 marks for these questions.

Therefore, practice writing short answers while preparing. Study previous year questions and analyze what type of questions has been asked from particular topics. Try to cover all the points within 200 words.

Read the questions properly and answer according to the nature of the question. While

studying try to note down topics where short notes can be asked and write points for that topic and keep. That will help during revision.

4. Exclusive skills for presenting answer After the prelims exams and till the exam date everyone study. But, in Civil Service main exam only studying is not important. But here important is how one is using his knowledge to write particular paper within three hours. What one writes during these three hours makes one topper and anther failure.

Here how much you studied it doesn't matter, but how you are using your knowledge to write particular answer.

Therefore while studying, always think what type of questions may be asked from particular topics and what points to be included to make different from others.

Many times we hear students saying they have done their exams very well.

Question paper was very easy. But still they are unable to make mains.

Why? When question paper is given they never try to read full question. If they come across the words they know they start writing answers. They might have written wrong answer also. There they make mistakes. First, study questions properly and understand what has been asked. Then think what to be written for that answer.

Write up to the point answers. While writing 60 marks answers follow one strategy. When you read question, take always last page of your answer booklet and start writing the points what all to be included in that answer.

Because while writing suddenly you may forget the points, these points give hints to continue the answer and make to be within the track. .

Don't repeat the paragraphs. If graphs, piecharts, flow charts are required draw them to make examiner know what you have written. Always follow word-limit. If you think you know more about that

answer and start writing more on that answer, you cannot complete the paper within a given time. Always try to give positive points.

Don't mention anybody's name. Write such type of inputs which makes your answer different from others.

5. Current Affairs Current Affairs play leading role in the Civil Service main exam.

Students try to buy many current affairs magazine and they think they studied more instead of that studied from one magazine and be a regular reader of newspaper. Whatever you read, try to make note of it, It helps to revise. Without revising you cannot remember the points. Study previous years question paper and try to analyse what type of questions have been asked from current affairs. See whether there is any change in asking questions from one year to another.

General Studies first paper contains national affairs, social issues, geographical issues and etc. And General Studies second paper includes international affairs, economics, science and technology, statistics.

All these topics are related to current affairs. Therefore concentrate more on current affairs. The students having stronghold on current affairs are able to score more than 300 marks in General Studies. Current Affairs also play leading role optional. Same of the optionals like Public Administration, Political Science, Science, and Sociology require current trends. Therefore one must be aware what type of current affairs is required for particular topic. Here one should remember only reading current affairs never give marks. Try to revise it again and again and you will be able to recollect during the exam.

Preparing current affairs should be continuous process and don't think some days can be allotted for it.

6. Two marker questions and 20 words Always small things make great thing happen. That means, too marker questions are very important to score more than 300 marks in General Studies. Usually students think, it's only two marks, they can write them without any strategy. But when you really sit for writing you will understand how much difficult are those. To write these questions you must evolve good strategy.

While reading newspaper you may come across some personalities, places and terms try to write on them

about in 20 words. Keep on practicing. If answer is written up to the mark you can get full marks. If you ask any topper, he always says that he gave importance to two markers.

To make yourself different from others, prepare your own strategy in order to study these two marks questions. Go through previous years questions and try to write yourself for those questions. While reading any newspaper, magazine or book, note down the words and write on that topic.

In exam hall, write up to the point. This can come only by practice. Questions will be from Indian polity, economies, history, culture, science and technology, geographical concepts, personalities.

While studying, make different note on different topics thus it helps to revise properly.

7. Selective Study All the candidates who are preparing for civil service main examination know the importance of selective study. Being selective is how much useful in preparation how it makes one comfortable.

When students, who are preparing for examination, see the vast syllabus, they find themselves in confusing state. It is like throwing one into the sea; that means syllabus is so vast if they sit for preparing simply without making any selection. One needs complete one year to read whole syllabus. By that time exams are on the head, candidates are not fully prepared in each topic and after reading the entire syllabus they are not even in position to tackle anyone question perfectly.

Therefore, selective study is very important in civil service preparation. One should know what to study, what to be given more importance, what not to be studied and etc.

Once study whole syllabus completely. They should take some 3-4 previous year question .papers and study the topics thoroughly. This help to decide on which topics frequently questions are asked and on which topic analytical questions are coming, on which topic short questions are coming and so on. By going through previous year question paper one can understand what to study' in current affairs. This makes one to be selective while reading newspapers.'

Otherwise one has to spend more time on newspapers.

Syllabus of optional subjects are also vast, sp candidates often have many books to cover the topics but they cannot read all of

them so here also being selective is very important.

Try to read standard books and recollect the points what you have read and how it is useful in writing the answers.

Selective study hopes you to answer any question asked on that topic.

Most of the toppers follow strategy of being selective.

It is not wise to waste time in reading which is not required for the exam. One should have proper approach towards study the optional subjects to get success at mains.

8.

Importance of Compulsory Papers English and any other Indian language and one essay paper are compulsory for civil service main examination. Its nature is of qualifying nature so often candidates think that hey easily can write them and clear these papers. But after each result actually we see that many students are unable to clear language papers.

Even some candidates await their result positively and actually they did very well at their exam

topics of essay at least once, and then select which topic you feel comfortable. Then take last page of your answer booklet and note down all the points you know so that you will not forget the main points while you writing the essay. Then arrange the points in accordance with their importance and there should be continuation of paragraphs. . .

Always write common language, don't use complicated words and don't bring optional concepts into the essay.' Essay paper also marks the assessment of your personality. Therefore be careful while choosing the topics and while writing the essay paper.

9. 2600 Marks to be covered in 100 days Civil Service Main Examination is an examination of 2600 marks.

In that two compulsory language papers have 300 marks each. They are qualifying papers and are important to clear the main examination.

After preliminary examination there will be 150 days

Don't try to read more books. Read fewer books and gain more from them.

Read only one or two newspapers and follow anyone book on current affairs.

Reading more books make you what to remember or not. (b) Be selective while reading a newspaper. From the beginning of your preparation build the habit of reading what is important from the exam point of view.

Spend only 45 minutes to 60 minutes for newspaper daily. (c) Always plan your studies. For a week and also for a day. This helps to complete the syllabus within a time. (d) In the name of selective study don't leave what to be studied. Don't go only for popular topics study what may be asked in the mains. (e) Prepare your own notes.

But don't spend more time in preparing notes. Make point-wise notes which can be reversed very easily with less time. (f) Don't run from difficult

but finally language papers create a big hurdle. So never underestimate these too language papers and do not neglect them. Here their importance is more. Without qualifying these papers, you cannot at mains. Therefore, they cannot be neglected.

These are considered as first step to clear mains.

Therefore, be perfect with grammar, essay writing, precise writings.

The students who are getting good marks in essay can definitely get success in mains. Essay paper plays important role in getting good rank. This paper is for 200 marks. One Who writes good essay can get up to 140 marks. This makes great difference between an ordinary student and an extra-ordinary student. To write essay one should have comprehensive thinking.

While preparing, don't prepare a few topics. Prepare general way. Select topics like global warming, social change, and developmentoriented topics, globalization, terrorism, democracy' and prepare on these' topics in general way.

Particular topics won't be asked in the exam. But whatever you have studied can be used in anyway while writing essay. Read all the

available for preparing for mains; But while choosing second optional and collecting books candidates waste some 40 to 50 days.

Only reaming will be 100 days to go far mains. these 100 days are crucial for everyone. Aspirants have to cover some 100 topics in optional and some 100 topics in General Studies.

To achieve one's goal within 100 days, one has to follow proper strategy. Planning is very important to complete studies. 100 days can be split into two parts: first 80 days for studying and remaining 20 days for revision. Main examination requires how you analytically think over the .topic. Therefore, revision helps one to know how one can recollect the points. Study all the subjects simultaneously. Equal weightege should be given to all the papers. According to your comfortability with subject allot your time for study and make planning every week. Change the planning according to the topics to be covered.

Planning helps to use 100 days fruitfully to achieve the goal.

10. What to follow: during preparation and in examination hall (a) Read limited books.

topics. Get clarified from somebody else and simply don't leave difficult topics.

Don't give importance to what you know. Give less time for what you know and more time for studying difficult topics. (g) Make more and more practices for writing answers. Don't be lazy. At least p1ake the habit of writing points to be included in that answer. (h) While writing answer in examination hall, I don't cross the word-limit. If you cross the word I limit, you cannot manage to write all the answers. (i) Statistics carries 40'marks in General Studies. Give importance to this section while II preparation and also in the examination hall. In the examination hall, keep last 20 minutes for statistics and don't take it first. Practice makes you to solve the problem within a time limit. ( J ) L a s t point is very important. Don't be hurry while reading the question paper. Read slowly word by word and you can understand what is asked.

Otherwise, there is a chance of writing wrong answer. Therefore, follow questions' properly.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

South Sudan government agrees to deploy regional force, again Juba, Nov 26: The South Sudan government has agreed to accept the deployment of a UN-mandated regional force in Juba after months of hesitation, a spokesman said.

"I would like therefore to inform the people on behalf of the transitional government of national unity that your cabinet has resolved unanimously to allow the deployment of the regional protection force anytime from now," deputy Information Minister Akol Paul Kordit said late Friday.

His announcement came after lengthy deliberations during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir, but no details were given about when and where the force would be deployed.

Following an outbreak of

fighting in July, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of an additional 4,000 troops from East Africa with a stronger mandate than the 13,000-strong UN peacekeeping mission UNMISS. Kiir initially opposed the deployment of additional troops as a breach of national sovereignty but later agreed to their deployment on September 4.

Since then his government has been accused by the UN of dragging its heels and failing to take concrete action. The Security Council has threatened to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan if the government blocks the deployment.

In October UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said the Juba government had

proposed "significant limitations" to the new force which it said should only protect UN compounds and installations.

"These limitations clearly contravene the intention of resolution 2304" setting up the force, wrote Ban. The UN wants the regional force to be authorized to use all necessary means to ensure security in Juba, including at the airport and to help protect UN premises.

Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda will contribute infantry troops to the new force and Rwanda has also offered to deploy tactical helicopters, which South Sudan has in the past opposed.

Kordit said the force will "bring peace in this country, to end the suffering of the people of South Sudan."

(Agencies)

60,000 flee massive fires raging across Haifa; arson suspected

A picture taken on November 24, 2016 shows a bushfire raging in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa.

Kabul, Nov 26: Some sixty thousand people were evacuated from their homes in Haifa as a wave of wildfires threatened the bay metropolis, bolstered by high winds and dry conditions that have contributed to a spate of blazes across the country this week.

Residents of a total of 11 neighborhoods in the city were told to leave their homes, as fires in at least five locations consumed homes and businesses. By late afternoon, more than 100 people in the Haifa area had been treated for fire-related injuries, mostly smoke inhalation.

Israel Police chief Roni Alsheich said some of the fires were set by arsonists, "presumably with nationalist motives," but most were not. He said some suspects were in custody.

Top Arab MK Ayman Odeh called the arsonists "enemies of us all."

Greece, Russia, Cyprus and Turkey were among the nations that sent firefighting planes and other equipment to help fight the fires.

During the afternoon another brush fire broke out in the Horeshim Forest in the Sharon region. The nearby community of Nirit was evacuated.

A fire that started at the Sha'ar Hagai Junction, on

the outskirts of Jerusalem, was reportedly sweeping toward a gas station in the area, and Modiin's two train stations were closed due to a blaze in the central-region city. Earlier, police had briefly closed Route 443, the main approach road to Modiin, due to a fire in the area.

"The fire is not under control; residents should quickly evacuate," the Haifa fire chief said, as eyewitnesses described firefighters having little success in checking the onslaught of the flames.

Firefighting planes from several countries were being brought in and the army's Home Front Command called in soldiers and rescuers to aid with the effort.

In the Haifa's Romema neighborhood, a large apartment tower was seen going up in flames.

Houses and a kindergarten in Haifa's Ramot Sapir neighborhood were evacuated, police said, as the city's entire fire service tried to control a blaze threatening to spread from the surrounding forests into the suburb.

Israeli TV broadcast pictures of paramedics frantically moving elderly people out of a nursing home in the Romema neighborhood of Haifa as black smoke billowed

overhead.

Firefighters also worked to try and keep flames from nearing a gas station close to the city's Paz bridge. Route 22 running through the area was closed.

The Magen David Adom rescue service said 36 people had been treated for injuries by early afteroon, a number that continued to rise through the day; 35 of those were lightly hurt and one war hospitalized in moderate condition.

"We're in a state of war," Haifa fire service spokesman Uri Chibutro told Channel 2 news.

Major traffic jams were reported as residents in affected neighborhoods attempted to move to safer ground.

Earlier, an Israel fire service spokesman told The Times of Israel arson was suspected in Haifa based on circumstantial evidence, but nothing had been confirmed.

Firefighters have been struggling since Tuesday to keep pace with a spate of brush fires that have popped up around the country, several of which have damaged homes and put people in the hospital for smoke inhalation.

In the West Bank settlement of Talmon, residents were also evacuated Thursday, along with 300 pupils of a local school, as flames encroached on buildings, police said.

Several cars and structures in the Ramallah-area settlement have already suffered serious damage, according to police. On Wednesday, a fire broke out between the settlement and the neighboring settlement of Dolev, though firefighters said early Friday that the blaze had been brought under control. (Agencies)

4 suicide bombers, 2 soldiers killed in attack on Pak army camp Peshwar, Nov 26: Four heavily-armed suicide bombers attacked a mosque at an army facility in northwestern Pakistan's tribal region near Afghan border today, triggering fierce clashes that left all militants and two soldiers dead.

The militants attacked Mohmand Rifles Headquarters in Ghalanai in Mohmand Agency, one of seven tribal districts, and reached the mosque, where residents and a large number of recruits had gathered for an early morning prayer.

The attackers were wearing suicide jackets and opened fire while attempting to enter the mosque.

"They were taken on and contained in the outer courtyard of mosque. Security forces surrounded the attackers and killed all of them," the army said in a statement.

Officials said 15 troops were also injured in the attack.

Condition of five of those injured was stated to be critical.

"Security forces valiantly defeated suicide attack on Ghalani Camp in Mohmand agency killing all four suicide bombers," army spokesman Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted.

He said two soldiers were also killed in the attack.

Te h r e e k - e - Ta l i b a n

P10

INTERNATIONAL

Pakistan's breakaway faction Jamaat-ul Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group was designated as a terrorist entity by Pakistan's interior ministry early this month.

After the attack, district administration imposed curfew in Mohmand and started search operation for militants.

Mohmand was once a stronghold of militants but it has become largely peaceful due to repeated operation by the army.

However, militants sometime sneak into the Pakistani areas from porous border with Afghanistan and carry out attacks, according to officials. (Agencies)

Taliban leaders may have moved to Afghanistan from Pakistan If confirmed, the move would be a sign of the Taliban's confidence in their fight against the US-backed government in Kabul.

Kabul, Nov 26: After operating out of Pakistan for more than a decade, the leaders of Afghanistan's Taliban movement may have moved back to their homeland to try to build on this year's gains in the war and to establish a permanent presence. If confirmed, the move would be a sign of the Taliban's confidence in their fight against the US-backed government in Kabul. It could also be an attempt by the militants to distance themselves from Pakistan, which is accused of supporting the movement.

The Taliban's leaders have been based in Pakistani cities, including Quetta, Karachi and Peshawar, since their rule in Afghanistan was overthrown in the 2001 US invasion after the 9/11 attacks. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the leadership shura, or council, relocated to Afghanistan "some months ago," although he would not say

to where.

One Taliban official said the shura had moved to southern Helmand province, which the insurgents consider to be part of their heartland and where most of the opium that funds their operations is produced. The official refused to be identified because of security reasons.

Other Taliban sources said the justice, recruitment and religious councils had also moved to southern Afghanistan. The statements could not be independently confirmed.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's office said it had no confirmation that any such move had taken place. "No intelligence confirms that the Taliban has shifted its shura to Afghanistan," said Haroon Chakhansuri, Ghani's spokesman. "We still believe they are still operating in their safe havens outside Afghanistan."

Mujahid, however, said Kabul officials were

Taliban fighters in the Shindand district of Herat province, Afghanistan.

aware of the moves, prompted by battlefield gains that the insurgents believed would put them in a strong position once talks with the Afghan government aimed at ending the war were restarted.

Dialogue broke down earlier this year.

The insurgents have spread their footprint

across Afghanistan since international combat troops scaled down in 2014. They have maintained multiple offensives and threatened at least three provincial capitals in recent months: Kunduz, in northern Kunduz province; Lashkah Gar, in Helmand in the south; and Tirin Kot in Uruzgan.

The US military has conceded the insurgents have gained ground, although definitive breakdowns are difficult to verify. This year, Afghan security forces are believed to have suffered their worst losses since 2001, with the military estimating 2016 fatalities at more than 5,000 so far. (PTI)

Taliban celebrate Chinese media lauds Indian PM graduation of the latest Modi's 'bold' demonetisation move Nov 26: Calling implementation of the de- "Demonetization is a brain-washed recruits Beijing, Indian Prime Minister monetization reform, the gamble for Modi. He bet

Kabul, Nov 26: The Taliban militants group in Afghanistan released several photographs which purportedly show the graduation of scores of new brain-washed recruits as the group has been unleashing deadly attacks across the country since the regime was toppled down in 2001.

The group released the latest propaganda photographs amid reports that the leadership of the group is considering options to resume peace talks with the Afghan government and foreigners.

According to the group, the pictures were taken during the training of the militants in Khalid Bin Walid Training Camp, showing the Taliban fighters brandishing weapons and taking part in target practice.

The camouflaged militants appearing in the photographs are believed to have undergone a 45-day training course in the camp to learn military skills and strict implementation of Sharia law.

According to a statement released by the group "150 graduates had 'shone brightly on the battlefields and have been touted by military commanders for

their military skill."

This comes as the Haqqani terrorist network released a similar video late last year which purportedly showed a training camp run by the terror group along with advertisements of the Taliban group's relationship with al Qaeda terrorist network.

The network leaders assumed key posts following the death of Taliban found and Supreme Leader Mullah Mohammad Omar.

The Haqqani terrorist network is accused of staging numerous cross-border attacks from their base in North Waziristan, including the 19-hour siege at the US Embassy in Kabul in September 2011.

Haqqani network was formed in the late 1970s by Jalaluddin Haqqani. The group is allied with alQaida and the Afghan Taliban and cooperates with other terrorist organizations in the region.

The network is considered the most lethal insurgent group targeting the NATOled coalition security forces and Afghan personnel in Afghanistan.

The US Department of State designated the HQN as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on September 7, 2012. (PTI)

S. Korea police deployed ahead of anti-Park rallies Seoul, Nov 26: Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take part in street protests across South Korea on Saturday to demand President Park GeunHye resign over a corruption scandal or face impeachment.

Police said 25,000 officers had been deployed in Seoul and roads leading to the presidential Blue House had been blocked as organizers predict up to 1.5 million people will rally for the fifth weekend in a row.

Another half a million people are expected to demonstrate in provincial cities.

The weekend rallies have been growing in size over the past month, drawing an estimated one million people two weeks ago, and are among the largest seen in South Korea since the pro-democracy protests of the 1980s.

So far they have been largely peaceful, with families, high school students, workers and farmers participating, chanting slogans and carrying candles.

Park has apologized over

the influence-peddling scandal involving her longtime confidante Choi SoonSil, who has been arrested for fraud and abuse of power, but has defied calls to step down.

Choi is also accused of interfering in government affairs, despite holding no official position.

Park has seen her approval ratings plunge to a record low for a sitting president as top advisers and some of the most powerful companies in the country are caught up in the snowballing scandal.

Choi, 60, allegedly leveraged her relationship with Park to coerce donations from large conglomerates, including SK, Lotte and Samsung, to non-profit foundations which she set up and used for personal gain.

A parliamentary vote to impeach Park could take place as early as next week as a growing number of ruling party politicians back the opposition-led campaign to oust the president.

(Agencies)

Narendra Modi's decision to demonetise Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes as a 'bold move' and a 'gamble', the Chinese media said Saturday that the former has created a precedent with this move irrespective of the fact that the whole process succeeds or fails.

"The Western-style democratic system of India allows little room for such bold moves. However, he is really carrying it out, and will create a precedent no matter he succeeds or fails," said an editorial in the Global Times.

"Modi's move is very bold.

We cannot imagine what would happen in China if the country bans its 50and 100-yuan notes. To prevent a leak of information jeopardizing the

rollout of the plan had to be kept confidential. Modi is in a dilemma as the reform aims to render the black money useless but the process goes against the governance principle of winning support of the public before initiating a new policy," read the editorial.

The article pointed out that demonetisation can crack down on corruption and shadow economy but it is obviously unable to solve the deeper social and political issues that help breed the aforementioned problems.

As far as the root causes of corruption exist, the problems will always resurface. In other words, the Modi government wishes to turn a long and arduous reform into a oneoff deal, it said.

on both the execution ability of the government and the tolerance level of the Indian society, hoping that the benefits of this reform can outrun the negative social impacts and low morale," it said The editorial said that even though Modi's demonetisation move came with good intention but whether it can succeed depends on the efficiency of the system and the cooperation of the entire society as pthe eople are growing pessimistic about his government's ability to control the process.

The editorial also said that China will draw lessons by observing India's reforms, which in turn would help the country understand its own reforms. (Agencies)

PoK officials asked to be ready for rapid response against India

Recently tensions have simmered along the ?LOC with firings from both sides of the border causing casualties.

Muzaffarabad, Nov 26: Stating that India has changed its strategy, Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider has asked the officials to be prepared to meet any eventuality.

"All government officials, particularly those in the district administration, are required to remain on their toes for a rapid response to any emergency," the Dawn quoted Haider as

saying to the participants of a meeting.

The meeting was held at Kashmir House in Islamabad to review the situation along the LoC. A decision was also taken during the meeting to facilitate the affected population with the available resources.

Haider said that they would divert whatever resources they have for the rehabilitation of the population, which serves as the

first line of defence.

He said that he has got assurance from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of the Centre's support to deal with the situation.

Haider said that necessary arrangements have been made for relocation but the people living along the LoC have shown no sign of evacuating their homes.

Haider further said that necessary arrangements had been made for relocation in the event of utmost danger of women and children from vulnerable areas.

It was decided in the meeting that all means of communication in the vulnerable areas would be kept operational at all times.

Haider asked the district administrations to ensure that tents, blankets and other items were immediately provided to the displaced families.

Constructing alternative safe routes in Neelum valley was also decided during the meeting.

Iran detains 3 railroad staff over deadly train collision Tehran, Nov 26: Iran's judiciary is saying authorities have detained three employees of the state railroad company over Friday's train collision, which killed 45 people.

The Saturday report by Mizanonline.ir, the judiciary news website, says authorities are continuing

to investigate the incident.

The accident took place about 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of the capital Tehran, when a moving passenger train slammed into a second train that was parked at a station.

Several of the train cars caught fire, and the official IRNA news agency

said Saturday that some of the victims were so badly burned that the bodies had to be identified through DNA testing.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. (Agencies)

cmyk

cmyk

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

P11 Ghosh scores late to dampen Chennai’s semis hopes India restrict England to

Chennai, Nov 26: Chennaiyin FC played out a dramatic 3-3 draw in Hero Indian Super League 2016 with NorthEast United FC in front of more than 25,000 spectators at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday. Dudu opened the scoring in the 34thminute before Nicolas Velez equalised four minutes later. Another goal by the Nigerian made it 2-1 at the break but Velez levelled again six minutes after the restart. Dudu completed his hat-trick nine minutes from full-time but Shouvik Ghosh headed a late goal in injury-time to share the spoils.

Chennaiyin went close to breaking the deadlock in the sixth minute when Davide Succi sent a shot fizzing wide of the target and the despairing arms of Subrata Paul. John Arne Riise also went close for the hosts seven minutes later when a thunderous deflected free-kick was tipped over the crossbar

by Paul in goal.

NorthEast registered their first shot on target in the 22nd minute when Romaric tried his luck from a free-kick that forced Karanjit Singh into a save. Another free-kick by the Ivory Coast midfielder three minutes later found the head of Mailson Alves but Karanjit was per-

fectly positioned in goal to make the save.

Emiliano Alfaro was then played in on goal shortly after with an incisive pass from Velez. The Uruguayan striker managed to get his shot on target but Karanjit got down low to his left quickly to deny the visitors again.

The Highlanders were beginning to grow into the game but were set back in the 34th minute when Mehrajuddin Wadoo produced a quality cross from the right on the overlap. Dudu lost his marker, Didier Zokora at the near post, to head Wadoo’s cross into the back of the net

Match Awards: Club award: Shared by both clubs

Fittest Player of the Match: Raphael Augusto Winning Pass of the Match: Bernard Mendy Swift Moment of the Match: Nicolas Velez ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Siam Hanghal

Hero of the Match: Dudu tute Bernard Mendy was somehow bundled into goal by the Nigerian at the near post again, making it 3-2 with a little under 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

Tempers flared towards the end of the game with NorthEast pushing hard for a last-minute equaliser. Velez saw an attempt of his own cleared off the goal-line by Eli Sabia in stoppage-time before turning provider from a corner in the dying minutes of the match for Ghosh, who powered his header past Karanjit and made it 3-3 at full-time.

With the draw, NorthEast went to 15 points from 12 games, while Chennai’s semis hopes took a big beating as they now have 15 points from 13 games. (Agencies)

Juan Martin del Potro brings Argentina level in Davis Cup final Zagreb, Nov 26 : In a battle of big servers, Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro beat Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5 on Friday to leave the two teams tied at 1-1 following the opening singles matches in the Davis Cup final.

Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion who is capping a comeback after two injury-hit years, made the crucial break in the 11th game of the fourth set with a spectacular return of Karlovic’s serve.

Del Potro broke the Croat in the opening game of the match and then held on to his serve to take the opening set. In the second, the Argentine appeared poised to clinch the tie-break after having a double set point, but Karlovic saved both and then sent the home crowd into frenzy as he forced two successive errors from Del Potro.

Del Potro cruised through the third set to get back into control.

“After losing the second

Juan Martin del Potro levelled matters in the Davis Cup final after Marin Cilic gave Croatia the lead. (Source: Reuters)

set, I was a bit frightened,” Del Potro said. “Ivo was playing real well, but I managed to regain composure.”

Karlovic, who at 37 became the oldest man to play singles in a Davis Cup final in nearly a century, served 35 aces while Del Potro had 15.

“After winning the second set, I was hoping to continue like this, but my level went down a bit and his level went higher,” said Karlovic who

returned to the team after a four-year absence.

Doubles are played Saturday while reverse singles are scheduled Sunday, with team captains refusing to reveal which pairs they will use.

Croatian team captain Zeljko Krajan said he was satisfied with the result after the opening singles.

“Overall today I have to say I’m satisfied,” Krajan said. “It was hard to be-

lieve that we could have two wins today. We remain positive and optimistic.”

Argentina is the only nation in the Davis Cup’s 116-year history to have reached four finals without winning the title. Croatia is targeting its second title after beating Slovakia in the final in 2005.

Croatia won the opening singles rubber after Marin Cilic struggled past Argentina’s Federico Delbonis 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 62.

Cilic, the 2014 U.S. Open champion, looked like cruising to the expected easy victory until Delbonis broke the Croat twice in the third set, which ended on a Cilic double fault.

“I struggled on my return,” said Cilic, the highest-ranked player in the final at 6th position. “His (high) toss on his serve is a bit specific and it gave me problems.”

“I never said the match would be easy. After all, this is the final,” Cilic said.

Delbonis started the fourth set 3-0 with a double break,

and Cilic conceded the set on serve by netting an easy smash.

But after a bathroom beak, Cilic came back renewed and broke Delbonis to start the fifth set on the indoor hard court at Arena Zagreb.

Cilic suddenly rediscovered his serving groove, and didn’t give Delbonis a chance.

“I took a short break, talked to the coach,” Cilic said. “I was determined to start playing better.”

Cilic broke again in the seventh game, and served out after 3 1/2 hours, two hours longer than most expected.

Cilic served 17 aces in the match watched by some 12,000 fans, including thousands of Argentinians who outshouted the home supporters. Among them was former Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona.

“His serve was the key,” Delbonis said. “In the first two sets, he was serving unbelievably. When I started making some returns, things changed.”

Record-breaker Wayne Rooney waits to deliver Hammer blow Wayne Rooney needs just one more goal now to draw level with Bobby Charlton as Manchester United's highest scorer in all competitions

cmyk

Manchester , Nov 26 : It is a sign of Wayne Rooney’s recent troubles that he is not guaranteed to make Manchester United’s starting line-up against West Ham on Sunday despite breaking a club record this week.

The United captain became the Red Devils’ all-time leading European scorer on Thursday with a fine finish to set up a 4-0 Europa League victory over Feyenoord. He needs just one more goal now to draw level with England great Bobby Charlton as United’s highest scorer in all competitions. Yet in a television interview after the Feyenoord game Rooney, who has struggled for form this season, launched into an attack on the British media.

Rooney, who was on England duty at the time, faced heavy criticism this month after photographs appearing to show him drunk at a wedding party were published in a newspaper. Although he apologised for “inappropriate” behaviour, Rooney has since downplayed the incident.

The forward feels he has been harshly treated, but perhaps there is a sense that he has a point to prove too.

Rooney has started just one

Wayne Rooney has started just one of United’s last seven Premier League games. (Source: Reuters)

of United’s last seven Premier League games, with manager Jose Mourinho preferring Juan Mata or Paul Pogba in the withdrawn role behind main striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

While there is satisfaction in breaking club records, it does little to dispel the sense that, at 31, Rooney’s best days may be behind him. Winning a starting spot on Sunday would go some way to dispelling that notion.

Another United player seeking to disprove his critics is midfielder Henrikh

Mkhitaryan, who started a club game for the first time since September when he played against Feyenoord.

The Armenia captain’s lack of opportunities under Mourinho since his £26 million pre-season move from Borussia Dortmund has been a source of bafflement for many fans.

However, the manager is adamant that Mkhitaryan has not been frozen out.

“He just needs now to replicate this kind of performance in the Premier League,” Mourinho said.

“The Premier League is dif-

ferent — he needs one more step. Obviously now, confidence levels are higher.

This performance gives him the right to believe that he can play the next match again and he needs to replicate this kind of performance in the Premier League with more physicality and more aggression.”

With just one win in their last six Premier League games, United have slipped to sixth and need rapid domestic improvement.

They do, at least, have Ibrahimovic available in attack, the forward having

268/8 at stumps on Day 1

missed last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal because of suspension.

Last weekend’s agonising late defeat at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur left West Ham just one point and one place above the relegation places.

It also raised questions over the long-term future of manager Slaven Bilic. “I feel the pressure of course, because we are not delivering and performing enough to get points to feel happy,” said Bilic. “But I see the improvement, I see the team that is hungry and alive and the points were there for us in a very difficult away game.

That’s what I’m concentrated on and not to make mistakes like we did against Spurs.”

He added: “It’s still very tight. With a win against To t t e n h a m w e w o u l d have been 12th or eleventh, but we are in the position we are.

“Yo u c a n s a y i t ’s s t i l l early days, but we have to start picking up the points. We can say we were unlucky or we deserve more, but the table doesn’t lie.”

Hammers central defender Winston Reid is suspended but Bilic hopes to have midfielder Pedro Obiang back in his squad.

India restrict England to 268/8 at stumps on Day 1 IANS Mohali, Nov 26: Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow (89) saved England's blushes as the visitors reached 268/8 at stumps on the opening day of the third Test against India at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) I.S. Bindra Stadium here on Saturday.

At stumps, tailenders Abdul Rashid (4) and Gareth Batty (0) were at the crease.

Bairstow fell 11 short of what could have been his fourth Test century when off-spinner Jayant Yadav trapped him in front just before the day's play ended. His 177-ball knock included six boundaries.

Despite losing his partners at the other end, Bairstow played the sheet anchor's role well to bring up his half-century in 76 balls.

Coming together at the fall of Moeen Ali (16), Bairstow forged a 57-run stand with Ben Stokes (29) before being separated by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja after the lunch break.

Stokes, who went in for an ambitious drive was cleverly foxed by Jadeja leaving the rest to stumper Parthiv Patel, who lost no time in stumping the English all-rounder.

The fall of Stokes brought in part-time stumper Jos Butler, who was recalled to the England side in place of a struggling Ben Duckett.

Buttler and Bairstow then added 69 runs to help restore some measure of respectability to the England scoreboard.

Just when the partnership

looked threatening, Jadeja once again struck after the tea break to dismiss Buttler, who looked set to reach his half ton.

Buttler, who consumed 80 balls, went in for a flashy drive off Jadeja, only to find India skipper Virat Kohli's safe hands at mid-off. His knock included five hits to the fence.

Bairstow then survived a futile review from India to forge another crucial stand of 45 runs for the seventh wicket with Chris Woakes (25) before Jayant found him plump in front from around the wicket.

Woakes then departed in the penultimate over of the day to leave England reeling at 266/ 8.

The day mostly belonged to the Indian bowlers, who stuck to a tight line and length as England lost the plot right in the first session of play.

For the hosts, Jadeja, Umesh Yadav and Jayant took two wickets each while pacer Mohammed Shami and senior offie Ravichandran Ashwin bagged one wicket apiece.

Earlier, inspired by a disciplined bowling effort, India reduced England to 92/4 by lunch.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, England lost opener Haseeb Hameed (9) before skipper Alastair Cook (27) and Joe Root (15) took them past the 50-run mark.

But the hosts quickly turned it around with three quick wickets of Cook, Root and Moeen Ali (16) just before the lunch break to put the visitors on the backfoot.

Teenaged opener Hameed, who survived 31 balls, was the first casualty for the English side when a short of a good length delivery from pacer Umesh Yadav hit his gloves to give an easy catch to Ajinkya Rahane at gully.

Root then joined Cook in the middle but failed to impress before succumbing leg before to off-spinner Jayant Yadav as the visitors were reduced to 51/2.

Cook, meanwhile failed to capitalise on the two dropped chances -- dropped on 4 by Ravindra Jadeja and then on 23 by Ravichandran Ashwin - both off pacer Mohammed Shami.

His 42-ball vigil at the crease was cut short by a short and wide delivery from Ashwin, which resulted in a thin edge for stumper Parthiv Patel.

Cook batted fluently for his 27, which was laced with six hits to the fence.

Tottering at 51/3, Kohli immediately brought back Shami into the attack and the Bengal pacer responded beautifully by packing off left-hander Ali. Back for his second spell, Shami induced Ali with a short delivery, which resulted in a top edge only to be caught at fine leg by Murali Vijay.

Ali looked confident in the middle hitting Jayant Yadav for a consecutive four and a six during his 45-ball stay.

Thereafter, Bairstow and Stokes survived a few anxious moments to take England to 92/4 when the umpires signalled for the lunch break.

India lose 2-3 to NZ, crash out of title race PTI Melbourne, Nov 26 : Indian men's hockey team lost 2-3 to New Zealand in a hard fought encounter to crash out of the title clash at the four-nation Invitational Tournament, here today.

The loss means India will now play Malaysia for the third-fourth place classification match tomorrow.

India's both goals came from the sticks of dragflicker Rupinder Pal Singh (18th minute and 57th). The Indians started on an attacking note and had the better share of the possession in the first quarter.

In the first 15 minutes, India penetrated the opponent circle many a times but failed to get a clear shot at the goal. In fact, it was New Zealand who came closest when Nick Ross; reverse hit from the top of the box was kept away by an alert Akash Chikte in front of the Indian goal.

India's best opportunity in the first quarter came from a penalty corner but Rupinder Pal Singh's flick was cleared by Black Sticks captain Shea McAleese.

The Indians picked up the pace in the second quarter and pressed hard. The move paid dividends in the

India lose 2-3 to NZ, crash out of title race 18th minute when Akashdeep Singh earned a penalty which was dully converted into a goal by Rupinder.

Despite repeated efforts from both the sides the scoreline remain unchanged as India went into halftime with a one goal cushion.

After the change of ends, New Zealand had the first shot at the goal but once again Chikte came to India's rescue to deny Matt Rees-Gibbs at the far post.

Nikkin Thimmaiah then shot high from top of the box, after a superb bit of improvisation.

The final quarter was action packed as New Zealand hit back with two

quick goals, first by Nick Ross in the 47th minute before Jacob Smith gave them the lead in the next minute.

Trailing for the first time in the game, India went all out attacking and in the process left gaps in their backline which New Zealand exploited to extend their lead through Hugo Inglis' strike in the 57th minute.

Rupinder, however, pulled one back with a penalty corner conversion almost from the restart to take goals tally to five in the tournament.

In the final minutes, India created several opportunities to draw level but New Zealand did enough to hold on to the lead.

cmyk

Ghosh scores late to dampen Chennai’s semis hopes

and make it 1-0 to Chennai.

NorthEast weren’t behind for too long though thanks to some individual brilliance by Velez.

The Argentine picked up the ball a few yards from the penalty area in the 38th minute before running at Chennai’s defence and finishing with aplomb past a helpless Karanjit to restore parity.

Succi had a header on goal for the Chennai two minutes later but Paul saved comfortably.

The NorthEast custodian had no chance in stoppage-time at the end of the first half, however, when a low cross by Jerry Lalrinzuala from the left was expertly converted with an angled left-footed finish by Dudu at the near post to make it 2-1 for Chennai at half-time.

The visitors got back on level terms again six minutes into the second period when a halfclearance found its way to Velez on the edge of the box.

Velez hit the ball first-time and beat Karanjit in goal to make it 2-2 and silence the home support.

Both sides kept probing the opposition defences in search of the winner with the match becoming increasingly stretched as the half wore on.

NorthEast suffered a huge blow in terms of personnel in the 77th minute when Paul had to be replaced by TP Rehenesh in goal after picking up an injury.

Things went further south for the Highlanders four minutes later when Dudu completed his hat-trick to become the only player to score a hat-trick for two different teams. A low cross from the right by substi-

cmyk

cmyk

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

P12 Seeing stars in Sobo

Behl, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani cheering on.

The bar opened at 8 pm and the buffet, boasting of delicacies from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab, started after the performances wrapped up and the dance floor beckoned the guests.From each handcrafted food card to the glassware, everything had been handpicked by Nita herself.

"Usually, at any celebrity party the hosts make you feel like you should be honoured to be invited. But Mukesh and Nita are gracious hosts who only invite people they know and not celebrities they want to collect. As soon as you enter their home, you are welcomed warmly by the atten-

tive couple," asserts Suhel Seth, one of the guests at the bash, admitting that he only sipped on diet coke throughout the evening. "When they noticed, they insisted I have a drink. Nita goes out of her way to make every guest feel wanted in her home and that's why everybody keeps coming back for more," adds Suhel, a regular guest at Ambani parties.

Bride-to-be Isheta has assisted American TV host and senior journalist, Charlie Ross, before taking over as editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post in India. "Young and lively Isheta has impeccable media credentials. She makes her parents proud. Raj and Dipti are chilled out parents, and since the family is easy-going, the kids are

very rooted. It's heartwarming to see how well the present generation of youngsters gets along. The camaraderie is evident at events like these," informs Suhel.

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao chat ted with John Abraham and his wife Priya Runchal. Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan met with warm hugs and praise for each other's work. Sachin and Anjali Tendulkar's son, Arjun, towered over his parents in a black suit."He didn't talk much and stayed close to his parents," an onlooker pointed out. Kriti Sanon, Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor, came solo and bonded with fellow guests over wine.

Akash Ambani and Raj Thackeray joined Alia, Karan and Hiroo Johar for a quick laugh about movies. Post midnight, the guests started to stroll out.

Nita personally escorted SRK to the exit, where she posed with him for the photogs, before being joined by Ranveer and Deepika.

Alia kissed her Dear Zindagi co-star and Deepika goodbye before she left the venue. When SRK bid the couple good bye and headed towards his car, Ranveer offered his girlfriend, Deepika, his hand and the two walked towards the car together.

Soon they were speeding off in the direction of the actress's SoBo home.

Tannishtha Chatterjee: I am an artiste, not an activist

"I don't think doing Parched for me was about helping me get into mainstream Bollywood. I feel we did the film because we believed in the story.

Since Ajay Devgn produced it, it was easier for us to promote the film.

"It has nothing to do with me as an individual wanting to make it in the mainstream genre, but the collective idea of the film and what it was talking about."

Directed by L e e n a Yadav, the film also starred Radhika Apte and Surveen Chawla. 'Parched' traced the tale of four women who struggle with their

individual boundaries to face their demons and stage their own personal war.

Citing the example of the Marathi blockbuster 'Sairat', the 36-year-old actress says cinema shouldn't be 'preachy' but rather subtle on what it wants to convey to the audience.

"We shouldn't 'teach' our audience, that's also dumbing down. We should just create characters which break stereotypes, like 'Sairat' did.

There was not a single speech which said honour killing is bad, or caste system is bad.

"It just told a story and broke stereotypes in the way gender was portrayed there, the male character was not a hero who fought goons. He was in touch with his feminine side and you love those characters.

The moment you start preaching, people will run away."

and Nita Ambani's lavish, private bash at their home on Thursday evening was to celebrate the upcoming wedding of their niece, Isheta, daughter of sister Dipti and Raj Salgaoncar, with Neeshal, brother of luxury diamond merchant, Nirav Modi, in December in Goa. Bollywood biggies brushed shoulders with politicians and business tycoons who had zipped down from different parts of the city and across the country, including Goa, Pune, Delhi and Kolkata. India's leading businessman Hars hvardhan Neotia jetted in from the City of Joy and leading lawyer Harish Salve flew in from the Capital too.

"It was one of the finest and most extravagant parties of this year. The floral arrangements were spectacular and the entrance had a studio-like set-up for guests to get clicked. The winding staircase also made for another picture perfect spot," informed one of the guests, adding that by 9:15 pm, all the invitees were inside the ballroom, ready for the function to kick off.

All the nine Ambani children, including Mukesh and Nita's trio, Akash, Isha and Anant, and Anil's sons, Jai Anshul and Anmol, danced to chartbusters with Jackie Shroff, Sonali Bendre with hubby Goldie

Tannishtha Chatterjee says even though she has done meaningful cinema which aims to bring about a change, she is still an artiste and not an 'activist'.

"I feel I am an artiste, not an activist. I am part of different stories through different films and the roles that I play. But I try and bring about a slight change because we grow up with stories which remain in our mind," Tannishtha told .

The actress says there is a huge onus she feels for herself as an artiste while choosing roles as they can form stereotypes easily.

"If we keep hearing stories about a macho man killing people all around right from the childhood, we think that's what men

should do. If we hear different stories, about men and women, we won't have stereotypes in our minds. As an artiste, that's the only job that I have."

Her last Bollywood film 'Parched' saw Ajay

Devgn backing the movie, but Tannishtha says for her it was not an opportunity to get into the mainstream film industry.

Priyanka Chopra's Thanksgiving treat for 'Baywatch' fans

cmyk

Priyanka Chopra is busy juggling her international television career,

Hollywood projects and her production house but the actress doesn't forget

her fans amidst all this.

On the occasion of Thanksgiving, the gor-

geous actress shared yet another motion poster teasing her fans. Taking to her social media handle, she wrote, "Happy #Thanksgiving everyone! Many things to be grateful for... including this crazy family! @BaywatchMovie #Baywatch." Take a look!

PeeCee, who plays the antag o n i s t Vi c t o r i a Leeds in this action drama opposite Dwayne Johnson, is thrilled to be a part of the 'Baywatch' legacy. The movie releases on May 19 next year.

Katrina Kaif is easily one of the most gorgeous actresses of Bollywood today. If anyone thinks otherwise, they only have to look at the recent picture that the 'Baar Baar Dekho' actress posted on her Facebook account.

Katrina shared a picture where she looks ethereal in a white swimsuit as she strikes a sexy pose on a beach in Maldives. The endless ocean and the pinkhued sky serve as the perfect backdrop for the picture. Through her Facebook post, the actress revealed that she is currently in the island country of Maldives for a photo shoot for Harper's Bazaar Bride. She also added how it took her 3 planes and a 12-hour-long journey to finally reach her destination.

All we can say is that the long journey doesn't seem to have taken its toll on Katrina - she looks beautiful as ever. Don't you agree?

Hrithik Roshan is the third hottest man on the planet after Tom Cruise and Robert Pattinson, says an online poll Hrithik Roshan can wake up this morning and say hello to the 'Most Handsome Man in the World' as he looks into the mirror.

Yes, that's right, the Greek God of Bollywood has been announced the third most good looking man on the face of earth in an online poll by a website, Worldstopmost.com The poll listed out Top 10 most handsome faces in the world for the period 2016-2017.

'Bang Bang' star Hrithik Roshan sits pretty on the third slot in this poll. Guess who's on the top two

slots?

Well, it's Hollywood hotties Tom Cruise and Robert Pattinson.

Duggu is joined by the league of extraordinarily hot gentlemen such as Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt among others on the list.

Bollywood star who made the cut to this poll. It's none other than Salman Khan, he finds himself in seventh position.

Yuvraj Singh personally invites PM Modi for his wedding

Akshay Kumar lends support to martyr's family yet again

A

fter the Uri attacks, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is doing everything he can to help the men in uniform and their families. The buzz among the families of soldiers is that he is turning out to be a messiah for many of them, who haven't got any financial support after losing their loved ones who were away from home, fighting for their country.

Last week, three army jawans were martyred in an encounter with suspected ULFA terrorists near Digboi in Tinsukia, Assam. N K Narpat Singh was one among them, he left behind his wife and three daughters.

When this news reached the actor through his friends in the army, he

immediately volunteered to help. Not only did Akshay speak to N K Narpat Singh's wife and offered condolences, but also supported her financially by transferring Rs 9 lakh in her account.

Even though the actor has a hectic schedule because of his shoots in different cities and countries, he is in constant touch with his friends in the army and police. Akshay has told them to keep him posted on cases that require his help. He had earlier ensured that he will do his bit and he has kept his word.

This is not the first time Akshay has stood by a martyr's family. In October, he donated Rs 9 lakh to martyred BSF jawan Gurnam Singh's family.

Ranveer-Deepika shut down break-up rumours, step out hand-in-hand from bash

C

ricketer Yuvraj Singh, who is all set to tie the knot with fiancee Hazel Keech on November 30, has personally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his wedding reception to be held in Delhi. In fact, at the time of going to press on Thursday, Yuvraj was at the Parliament with his mother Shabnam, to personally hand over the wedding card to the PM. Interestingly, Modi had also attended Yuvraj's bestie Harbhajan Singh's wedding reception last year.

Meanwhile, as the wedding date draws closer, the family is busy putting things together for the elaborate nineday affair.

While the reception guest list is a closely guarded secret, the who's who of politics, showbiz and sports are expected to attend the Delhi reception on December 7.

Yuvi's family friend revealed that apart from the Prime Minister, the Ambanis, Bachchans and the groom's highprofile cricketer friends are also on the list.

The celebrations will kick-start on November 28, when the couple's families will reach Chandigarh for the Gurudwara wedding on November 30. While Harbhajan will definitely make his presence felt, close friend Virat Kohli and a few other members of the Indian cricket team are also expected to attend the Sikh ceremony as team India will be in Mohali at the time for their ongoing test series against England. The mehendi will happen on the November 29.

On December 1, the action will shift to a Goa temple, where Hazel's family has arranged a Hindu wedding.

Even this will be a strictly private affair. On December 7, the newly-weds will throw a lavish reception party in a Delhi five star. The couple plans to go for a honeymoon in Hawaii, soon after.

For all those who were worried that Bollywood's golden couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone might have called it quits, here's something to cheer you up. The two seem very much together! Don't believe us?

Well, Ranveer and Deepika were spotted at the bash hosted by Mukesh and Nita Ambani on Thursday night at their residence. The lovebirds even stepped out of the party, walking hand-in-hand and looking deeply in love as ever.

The 'Befikre' actor, dressed in a suit, was seen escorting his ladylove to the car.

Over the last few weeks, rumours were rife that all was not well in their paradise. During the promotions of 'Befikre,' Ranveer's rather awkward responses on being asked about his love life only added fuel to the fire. But now, the couple has shut down rumours in style. So all you Ranveer-Deepika shippers, breathe easy - all's right with the world again.

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 Tele : 0373 - 2327517

Editor: Prahlad Hammey

cmyk

M ukesh

Katrina Kaif sets the temperature soaring in a white swimsuit