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PAGE 11 US AMBASSADOR VISITS TRIPURA Kashmir: CPI(M) demands judicial probe into killing of 'civilians' Jammu, Dec 03: The CPI(M) in Jammu and Kashmir today demanded a judicial probe into the killings of "civilians" at Dooru and Chancer in South Kashmir by security forces, saying such incidents have put a "question mark" on the "credibility" of the administration.

"We demand a judicial probe into the alleged twin killings of civilians in Dooru belt of Anantnag district and Chancer belt of Kulgam district by security forces," Senior CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami told reporters here.

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Obama meets UN Secretary-Generaldesignate Antonio Guterres Washington, Dec 03: Outgoing US President Barack Obama has said that the United Nations is a "linchpin" of the post-World War II order as he met the UN Secretary-General- designate Antonio Guterres at the White House here.

P10

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Keep the black money deposited in your account: PM to Jan Dhan holders PTI Moradabad, Dec 3

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he is working on a formula on how to send the corrupt to jail who deposited their money in Jan Dhan accounts of poor after demonetization and ensure this money goes to the poor households.

Responding to criticism over long queues outside banks and ATMS since the note ban decision on November 8, he accused his rivals of trying to "spread disinformation and despair" and said "this will be the last queue for the people who have been standing in line for the last 70 years for their daily needs".

"All those who are Jan Dhan account holders, you should not return the money that others have put in your accounts. If you promise to do so, I am working hard on

and wheat in the past. This is the last queue to end all those queues," he said to applause from the crowds.

The PM said only the honest can queue up outside the banks to deposit the money, while the corrupt are standing outside the houses of poor.

to devise a formula to send all those who deposited their money illegally into your accounts to jail and to ensure the money goes to the poor households," Modi said addressing a public rally here.

Jan Dhan accounts were opened under a special campaign for providing banking facilities to the poor launched by the Modi Government in August, 2014.

He said the corrupt rich are not doing any favour, as they have looted this money from the poor in all these years.

"I salute the people of the country for standing for long hours in queues.

"I want to ask those politicians who are crying over these long queues.

"You kept the entire nation in queues for 70 years after independence, as one had to stand in lines for even sugar, kerosene

PM Narendra Modi at a rally in UP's Moradabad said demonetization will end all problems.

Modi said he was being hounded by his rivals as "culprit" on the note ban issue and pledged that this fight against the corrupt and corruption shall not stop "come what may".

"I am being hounded as if I have committed some crime by waging a battle against graft. But, what can my opponents do to me? I am a fakir (hermit)...jhola ley kar chaley jayenge (I will exit with my little belongings)," he said.

Modi was addressing BJP's Parivartan Yatra to mobilise public support ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar

Pradesh.

Tearing into the opposition, he said, "Some call me a culprit.... Is it a crime to fight corruption which is at the root cause of all ills prevailing in the country for the past 70 years?"

Without naming any party, Modi made a subtle reference to Congress when he said that the 1.25 crore people were his leaders and he had no high command.

"You are my leader...I have no high command," he said.

His attack against the opposition came in the backdrop of their protests inside and outside Parliament on noteban, where the Winter Session has so far been almost washed out with the uproar eclipsing the proceedings every day.

Talking tough, Modi said corruption will not go on its own and has to be wiped out.

Assam Rifles convoy ambushed, 1 soldier killed, 9 others injured PTI Longding, 3 Dec:

In an ambush in Wakka, Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday, one Assam Rifles soldier was killed and 9 others were injured. The convoy of the Assam Rifles

was ambushed by armed militants. The attack took place 20 km from Indo-Myanmar border.

Defence PRO Lt Colonel Chiranjeet Konwar said the militants ambushed the convoy of 16 Assam Rifles stationed

in the district near Wakka at around 1.45 PM killing one jawan on the spot while injuring nine others. He, however, could not divulge the name of the deceased nor the group involved in the ambush.

“Search operation is going on in the area and efforts were

being made to evacuate the injured jawans,” he added.

Unconfirmed reports from Longding said the ambush was carried out jointly by NSCN (K) and ULFA (Independent) cadres.

The search operations are still on.

“ Soon, workers to get wages only through bank a/cs, cheques ” PTI Hyderabad, 3 Dec

The Payment of Wages Act would be amended soon so that workers get all payments through bank accounts or cheques, Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya said on Saturday.

"All payments to workers will

be given through bank accounts or cheques. No cash transaction will be made," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

The idea is to prevent exploitation of workers in payment of wages, he added.

Dattatreya said he would first issue an executive order for the purpose.

"First, I will give executive

order. Next, the Act will be amended," he said.

The Union minister, who held a meeting of the State-Level Bankers Committee of Telangana to review the campaign on opening bank accounts for workers, said his ministry has organised 45,000 camps and opened 10,35,000 accounts.

All payments to workers will be given through bank accounts or cheques. No cash transaction will be made: Bandaru Dattatreya Dattatreya said he would first issue an executive order for the purpose

Tayeng inspects developmental projects at Namsing circle Staff Reporter Pasighat, Dec 03

To take stock of all the ongoing and newly completed projects under Namsing Circle, Mebo Sub-Division today, local MLA cum Advisor to Chief Minister, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Lombo Tayeng inspected Namsing CO HQ office building, recarpeting road projects and dilapidated road between Tarotamak river and Gadum village.

Pasighat MLA cum Advisor to Chief Minister, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, Lombo Tayeng inspected Namsing CO HQ office building, re-carpeting road projects part of Arunachal and hence need attention. While on the part of EE, PWD, Er. Tameng Jamoh said that, his department will ready the estimate as directed on time for a CC road. Jamoh also said that, his department is putting all out effort to give a quality road and ongoing road re-

carpeting along Mebo Dhola Road is in full swing.

Informing about the ongoing project inspection, Addl. Dy. Commissioner, Mebo, Yemling Tayeng who accompanied MLA during the day said that, till date CO Office Namsing was

temporarily functioning from Mebo HQ and it will get shifted soon as per direction of local MLA. All the developmental projects under Mebo Sub-Division are in full swing and Mebo administration is keeping monitoring it., added ADC Tayeng.

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While inspecting the newly completed Namsing CO Office building, Tayeng directed the Circle officer to start functioning from the CO HQ so that public of Namsing circle needn’t travelled to Mebo SubDivisional HQ. On inspecting the dilapidated road condition between River Tarotamak and Gadum village, he directed EE, PWD to prepare a estimate report so that this stretch of road are also get constructed soon. Tayeng also said that, this Mebo-Dhola Road is being used by almost entire eastern

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

P2 Aries It could be that you feel a bit of pressure today to start or create something that you aren't quite ready for, Aries. There is hesitation on your part that indicates you should take it slowly and learn more of the facts before you jump into the fray. Position yourself in such a way that you take control of the situation rather than become a victim of it.

Preliminary meet to arrange proposal for a ‘special package’ from Centre

Taurus Move forward with your plan of attack today, Taurus.

There's an anxious rumble within you that's urging you to get going with a current plan. You have all the facts you need, so don't hesitate any longer.

The power of the word is with you. You will be smooth, collected, and confident even in the most nerve-wracking situations. Words will flow off your tongue with ease.

Gemini There may be too much fiery energy in the day to make you feel comfortable with the situation, Gemini.

Instead of trying to resist this powerful force, it would be better if you embraced it. Use this day to draw out some of your inner flame and let it radiate toward the people you care about the most. This is a day to take action on your feelings instead of swallow them without a word.

Cancer People are apt to try to hit you square on the head with their ideas and thoughts today, Cancer, so be ready for the onslaught of information that may come your way. There's a distinct advantage to listening to the whole spiel before you react with your own facts and emotions. The problem is that you're going to be tempted to argue instead of calmly resolve the matter.

Leo Anchor yourself in practical matters before you try to prove your point to others. There's a great deal of primal energy rising within you today and searching for some sort of outlet. Be aware of overextending yourself when it comes to issues of the mind. You may be so anxious to prove your point that you end up losing sight of the reality of the situation.

Virgo Don't take no for an answer today, Virgo. Know what you believe in and stick with it.

There's a distinct advantage to holding true to your inner nature. Don't let others throw you off course with their views on how things should be done. Be confident and don't worry about taking things over the top. There's no such thing as excess today.

"The more the merrier" should be your motto.

ET Bureau Itanagar, 3 Dec: Chief Minister Pema Khandu today emphasized on road connectivity to usher development and welfare projects in remote border areas of the state so that migration of local populace to urban areas, making the border strategically vulnerable, is checked.

Convening an important meet on ‘Special Package for Border Areas’ here this afternoon, the Chief Minister along with Minister of State, Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju and state Home Minister Kumar Waii in presence of Joint Secretary, Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Pradeep Gupta and Chief Secretary Shakuntala D Gamlin took stock of the proposals being submitted by concerned state government departments to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for special dispensation.

The proposal for seeking a ‘special package’ for border area development was mooted in 2014 but got delayed due to various factors.

Khandu asserted that further delay in going ahead with the proposals would deprive timely development of remote border areas of the state and urged officials of the concerned departments to submit their proposals immediately.

“We have lost enough time. We can’t wait anymore,” he said.

The state government is seeking

special assistance from Centre in the sectors of health, education, rural connectivity, power (including solar and alternate resources), drinking water and civil supplies.

The Chief Minister strictly advised officials not to include projects in their respective proposals that are already being covered under ongoing central government and state government flagship programmes and schemes.

“Please avoid duplicity and take up projects that are not covered in any ongoing schemes and programmes for special dispensation,” he said.

Khandu assured MoS Home of judicious implementation of all funds granted by the Centre for developmental projects and asserted that corruption in any form will not be tolerated.

Rijiju admitted that road connectivity in border areas is of utmost importance and said he has been pushing for relaxation of norms specifically for Arunachal Pradesh in implementation of PMGSY which is based on population.

“The Union Home Ministry will pursue with the concerned ministry for connecting each registered village under PMGSY by relaxing its norms for the state,” he said.

The MoS informed that the Home Ministry is also mooting proposals for a frontier highway and an industrial corridor for Arunachal Pradesh.

“We are proposing the frontier

highway to connect all towns along the international border and the industrial corridor to connect all the foothill areas. These roads along with the ongoing transArunachal highway in the middle belt will become the main lifelines of the state around which other arterial roads would come up solving the connectivity hurdle forever,” he explained.

Rijiju urged the state government to complete its exercise of submitting proposals immediately so that MHA can pursue the same with concerned ministries for sanction.

The same was reiterated by the Joint Secretary, Border Management, Home Affairs, Pradeep Gupta.

Gupta clarified that concerned departments taking care of health, education, rural connectivity, power, drinking water and civil supplies have to finalize their proposals justifying their request for funds and submit to MHA. “We will then send the proposals to the line ministries for examination. Then MHA will place the proposal in the union Cabinet for special dispensation,” he informed adding that with the keen interest of MHA and pursuance of the state government the proposal would likely be approved.

Gupta urged the state government officials to follow up with their respective proposals till approval by the Cabinet.

“MHA is with the state government in this venture and will take up all issues related to this special package with the line ministries,” the Joint Secretary assured.

A meeting in this regard is slated to be held at MHA by second half of this month.

Meanwhile, concerned departments of Health, Education, Rural Development, Power, Hydropower, APEDA, PHE & WS and Civil Supplies gave power-point presentations highlighting the details of their respective proposals.

MEANWHILE IN PASIGHAT ....

Libra Be a pioneer thinker today, Libra. There's a noble courage in your thoughts, so don't let this quality go to waste. You will be surprised at how cutting edge you can be when you put your mind to it. Take a walk by yourself and contemplate the next major move that you'd like to make in your life. Feel free to brainstorm bold ways to execute this plan.

Scorpio Be aggressive and forceful when it comes to exerting your will, Scorpio. Let others know that you won't be a pushover.

Your opinions are extremely important, and they need to be heard by the people who matter the most. Have faith that whatever you say has the power to come true, especially when you enlist the help of those around you. Opportunity lies in joining hands with others.

Sagittarius Today may be one of those days in which you come to a four-way stop and no one knows whose turn it is. Don't sit and wait for everyone else to go first, Sagittarius.

If you know it's your turn, be bold and make your move. It wouldn't be a bad idea to signal others that you're going ahead. People might not be used to you taking such an aggressive role.

Pasighat joins in observation of World AIDS Day on December 1st. With the theme-Hands up for HIV prevention, the students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Pasighat along with other student communities joined in General Hospital, Pasighat AID awareness rally. Photo by Maksam Tayeng

MT KANGTO EXPEDITION

Successful Mt. Kangto Expedition at the Border areas in East Kameng District by ITBP & IMF was flagged-in today at ITBP Frontier Hq. Itanagar by Minister of state for Home, Kiren Rijiju. The expedition is likely to open up for future mountain expeditions & adventure activities. The young CM of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu and his colleagues also encouraged the team.

Saint Claret College, Ziro receives A Grade in NAAC Accreditation NAAC-accredited colleges of Arunachal Pradesh Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat; Indira Gandhi Government College, Tezu; Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar; Government College, Bomdila; Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar; Donyi Polo Government College, Kamki Rang Frah GC, Changlang

ET Bureau Ziro, 3 Dec : Saint Claret College at Ziro has been accredited with Grade “A” with a cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.02 by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

This is the first time that an institute of higher education in Arunachal Pradesh has been accredited with “A” Grade in the very first cycle of quality assessment and accreditation, and the SCCZ is also the only private college in the state to have completed the process of accreditation.

Saint Claret College had received accreditation from NAAC in May 2015. However, the stakeholders were left dissatisfied with the modus operandi of the visit by the then Peer Team. Being convinced that the college deserved a much more comprehensive and fair assessment as per the

NAAC protocol, SCCZ appealed to NAAC for a review.

NAAC admitted the review appeal and ordered a re-visit by a fresh team, which took place from November 10 to 12 this year. The latest results, announced by NAAC on December 2 became the official accreditation result of SCCZ, valid up to 2021.

Each cycle of accreditation is valid for five years, on completion of which, the institute must apply fresh for the next cycle of accreditation.

Currently, Arunachal Pradesh has nine institutes of higher education that have been accredited, of which eight are governmental institutions; and SCCZ is the only private college in the list.

The principal, in his message to staff and students, gratefully recalled the support and guidance of Rajiv Gandhi University and

the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, as well as the contribution of former principals, faculty, and graduates in building up the college, and congratulated the present Claretine family for their commitment and hard work that made the result possible.

Apart from Saint Claret, the National Institute of Technology, Itanagar, is the other college in the state to have received Grade ‘A’ in its first assessment.

Other NAAC-accredited HEIs of Arunachal Pradesh include Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat; Indira Gandhi Government College, Tezu; Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar; Government College, Bomdila; Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar; Donyi Polo Government College, Kamki and Rang Frah GC, Changlang.

Capricorn People would be foolish to challenge your thinking now, Capricorn. The power behind your words is volatile, and you may find yourself going to extremes in order to get your point across.

Be careful about making promises you can't fulfill. It could be that you're so adamant about your point of view that you make up hyperbolic situations just to get your ideas across.

Aquarius Your old ways of thinking have carried you quite far, Aquarius, but you may now find that it's time to seek a new platform for your ideas. Look for more adventurous ways to express yourself. Break out of the old mold and try something new. Once you start in a brand new direction, there will be a great deal of support encouraging you to continue along that way.

Pisces One quick phone call to a friend may turn into a long discussion about the meaning of life, Pisces. Be conscious of the fact that there's a great deal of momentum building in your mind now.

Once the dam breaks, you may soon have a giant flood on your hands. Be careful about releasing all this energy at once, even though you may not seem to have a choice.

WINTER EDUTAINMENT INFORMATION & CAREER GUIDANCE CELL DHSK COLLEGE &

ACADEMY OF CIVIL SERVICES Presents

15 Days High Level Coaching on UPSC/APSC Exam (Batch-1) and Bank Exams (Batch-2)

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DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

P3

All Adivasi Students Association of Assam, Lamagaon Unit formed at Margherita Mithun Baruah Margherita, 3 Dec: All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) Lamagaon Unit was formed on Wednesday with 31 members Committee at Lamagaon Playground under Margherita Sub division. Sharika Dung, a Social worker of Lamagaon presided over the meeting where Ujjal Mundu, Organising Secretary of AASAA Margherita Regional delivered the aims and objectives of AASAA. With 31 committee mem-

Achiever's Award to Tea Industrialist Sanjiv Gogoi of Golaghat Amit Nagori Golaghat , Dec 03: Golaghat 's leading tea industrialist and social activist Sanjiv Gogoi's Sanjiv Tea Industry has been conferred with Fastest Growing Company Excellence Award on November 30 at International Achiever Conference held at New Delhi . Sanjiv Gogoi was awarded for his sincere efforts and contributions towards economic and social development . In the ceremony several cabinet ministers and judges of the Supreme Court were present .

bers AASAA Lamagaon unit was formed where Amross Purty was selected as President, Chothas Baraik as Vice President, Roshan Mundu as Secretary, Avinash Kerketta as Assistant Secretary,Dilip Induwar as Organising Secretary and Ram Nag as Finance Secretary.

Ramanus Lakra General Secretary of AASAA Tinsukia District Committee who was present at the meeting said that from the 68 years of India Independence both the Central and

State Government have cheated and exploited Adivasi People of Assam in the name of Development. AASAA from the beginning have demanded to give Rs 330 daily wages to all Tea Garden workers of Assam but all in vain, said Ramanus Lakra.

Adivasis are ST Community people but both the BJP Government at the Centre and State is playing dirty politics with us and hence in the coming days we shall be bound to start Democratic Agitation

if the daily wages of Tea Garden workers doesn't increase to Rs 330 and if ST Status is not granted to Adivasi Community People of Assam, he added.

Milton John Kujur Adviser of AASAA Margherita Regional Committee also spoke about the present Government Atrocity towards the farmers, workers and general people of our country. Ujjal Mundu Organising Secretary of AASAA Margherita Regional Committee donated a plot of land for AASAA lamagaon unit office.

Kenduguri Branch of Coaching on UPSC/APSC and Sahitya Sabha detaches from Assam Sahitya Sabha other Competitive Examinations A herd of wild elephants crossing a Highway at Golaghat. Photo by Amit Nagori

ET Correspondent Jorhat, 3 Dec: The Kendugiri Branch Sahitya Sabha of Assam Sahitya Sabha take firm steps to boycott Assam Sahitya Sabha till the suspend of controversial Chief Secretary of the organisation Dr. Paramananda Rajbonshi.

Interacting with The Eastern Today, Prashanta Kumar Baruah, and President of Kenduguri Branch Sahitya sabha said "Assam sahitya Sabha is one of the apex organisation in the field of assamese literature, so we can't afford to

have people like Rajbonshi in the prime seat".

Speaking against Dr. Rajbonshi he also added that many scams were in his turner which humiliates the organisation.

After the suicide of Rajendra Nath Dutta, the retired head assistant of Central office of Assam Sahitya Sabha and in which Rajbonshi was alleged of abetting his suicide, the Kenduguri branch decided not to take part in any activities of the organization.

"Only after his suspensions, we shall participate

any activities of the organization” added Prashanta Kumar Baruah.

It should be mentioned that detaches of Kenduguri Sahitya Sabha greadully begins to put an impact in the centennial anniversary, which will be held in Jorhat court field on 26 and 27 December 2016.

On the other hand, Jorhat Police was supposed to submit case Dairy of Rajendra Nath Dutta suicide case today, which was delayed due to further investigation as reported by Jorhat Police.

NE rebel groups likely to join hands for ‘sovereignty’ cause Agencies Guwahati, 3 Dec: All militant groups of the northeast — barring Garo National Liberation Front (GNLF) of Meghalaya — are set to come under the umbrella group United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW) next year to fight jointly for the 'sovereignty' of their respective states.

At present, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent), National Democratic Front of Boroland (Songbijit) and Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO) are under UNLFW, a twoyear-old organization led

by SS Khaplang. The

JUMBOS MARCH

Meitei rebel groups, on the other hand, operate under the Coordination Committee (CorCom).

The GNLA, which works out of the Garo Hills in Meghalaya, works closely with UlfaI but is yet to join any umbrella group.

The initiative to unite all rebel outfits of the region has been taken by Ulfa-I 'military chief and vice-chairman' Paresh Baruah. "We should be able to bring all the groups under UNLFW early next year. GNLF's joining is not yet being considered," Baruah told TOI. Two Meitei groups — KYKL and KCP — recently left the CorCom because of 'internal problems' but Baruah is certain that CorCom

would resolve its problems and all its constituent groups would join UNLFW. The other CorCom members are People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Progressive), Revolutionary People's Front and United National Liberation Front.

Taking a step towards the ultimate unification of the groups, CorCom and Ulfa-I had already formed a 'joint command' and ambushed a convoy of the Army in Tinsukia district in Assam on November 19, killing three jawans and injuring four others.

They also carried out a second attack on the Army in Chandel district

of Manipur on November 26 and injured five jawans.

Operation Barak, as the attacks were codenamed, is the first instance of Meitei groups carrying out a terror strike in Assam and Ulfa-I operating in Manipur.

"Operation Barak, named after the Barak river that flows from Manipur to Assam, is a symbol of friendship between the two states," Baruah said.

The plan to make UNLFW bigger indicates a possibility of heightened militancy in the region in the coming days. This could increase pressure on security forces, particularly in Manipur which goes to the polls early next year.

PROTESTS AGAINST NOTE BAN

Members of CPI(M) protests at Golghat against demonetisation today. Photo by Nekib Ahmed.

at DHSK College ET Bureau Dibrugarh 3 Dec: Dibrugarh Hanumanbax Surajmall Kanoi College has been regularly organizing various career counselling and coaching programmes not only for the students of the college but also for students of nearby colleges to equip them for various competitive examinations. With this objective recently a two day career counselling workshop for 5th semester students was organized at DHK College on 27 & 28 November, 2016 by the Dibrugarh district administration in collaboration

with the Information and Career Guidance Cell of the College where students of six colleges including the host college participated. Dr. Bhushan Kelkar an alumnus of IIT Bombay and Ms. Madhura Kelkar both from Pune were the resource persons of the workshop and they covered wide ranging topics like MOOCs, mind map, psychometric test, resume writing, interview skills, mock interview, spoken English and internships. The participants expressed that they were immensely benefitted from the workshop

and thanked the district administration and DHSK college authority for arranging such a career counselling programme for them. It may be mentioned that Dr. Bhusan Kelkar has trained hundreds of civil service aspirants in India and has also provided his valuable career counselling in many foreign countries including USA, UK, and China etc.

In the mean time the Principal of DHSK College Dr. Sashi Kanta Saikia has informed that a 15 day high level coaching on UPSC/APSC and

other competitive examinations organized by the Information and Career Guidance Cell of the college in collaboration with Academy of Civil Services Dibrugarh will be held from 6-20 December, 2016.

The organizers informed that efficient resource persons from Kerala will conduct the workshop and expressed the hope that the participants will be immensely benefitted attending the same. Interested candidates may contact the Information and Career Guidance Cell of the College, Dr. Saikia informed.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

P4

Brig. R. Borthakur, SM (Retd.), Chairman (I/C), Assam Public Service Commission addressing a Press Conference on 3-12-2016 at the APSC Office at Khanapara

Assam Governor takes stock of the National Highways of the State Guwahati, December 03: Attaching top priority to develop the existing National Highways and major road conditions in the state, Assam Governor Shri Banwarilal Purohit convened a high level meeting with all stake holders at Raj Bhavan in Guwahati today.

Attended by the Additional Chief Secretary Mines & Minerals Deptt. Ravi Capoor, Secretary to the Governor of Assam Gokul Mohan Hazarika, Commissioner & Secretary Environment and Forest Samir Kumar Sinha, Addl.

PCCF (Planning) A.M.Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests Akash Deep Baruah, Deputy Commissioner Kamrup Vinod Seshan, Deputy Commissioner Cachar S Vishwanathan, Deputy C o m m s s i o n e r K a r i m g a n j P.K.Mahanta, Commissioner &Special Secretary PWD(NH Works) Ajay Bordoloi, Chief General Manager NHAI Raj Chakraborty, General Manager NHIDCL M.K.Jain along with other high officials of the concerned departments. The meeting decided to prepare a road

map for expeditious repairing of the roads of on-going projects of the state particularly the Barak Valley region and reduce the inconvenience of the commuters.

The Governor said that road is the pre-requisite of development and life line for tourists, health services, transport etc.

He added that the all road projects in the National Highway in Assam be taken in the right earnest including other development works. The Governor said, “The weather in Assam does not allow ample time to the De-

Rangia Hard core robbers nabbed Tapas Samaddar Rangia Dec 2: Two Hard core Dacoit who were involved in a robbery case committed at Pakorkona near Alikash under Hajo Police Station on July 15’ 2016 were nabbed by Pranab Kumar Pegu, SDPO Rangia from Balisatra near Rangia on Saturday evening acting on a tip off.

Chandi Charan Das the owner of Kamrupa Theatre along with 5 others robbed the cash carry-

ing Van of different post office of Kamrup district. They looted about 21 lakhs at gun point.

Police arrested Chandi Charan Das and Dwipen Das both from Dihina village under Police Station Hajo today. The other culprits were B h u b a n e s w a r Mazumder, Karuna Barman, Bhikheswar Barman and Padum Das. Police recovered one Motor cycle ( NO. AS 01 MB 6350), 3 mobile phones, cash Rs 25000 and an identity card of

All India Freedom Fighter Association Assam unit as President of the Association.

It is a matter of great surprise that a hardcore Dacoit of 41 years collect the Identity Card of Freedom Fighter Association. Police is interrogating both the dacoits in Rangia Police Station for further information. It is alleged that some employee of a particular Post office informed the dacoits about the cash carrying Van.

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLE PERSON

partments to execute the sanctioned projects.

Therefore the Government projects in Assam should be planned, sanctioned and should be allotted to the agencies between April to August so that the actual works in the field start the work immediately after the monsoon season, in the interest of prompt and efficient execution of the development works”.

He asked the DC, Karimganj to clear the pending land acquisition payment for Karimganj bypass sites within 10 days so that the roads could be built at the earliest. Security should be

ensured to all the contractors and workers who are working in the field, the Governor ordered.

In order to maintain the durability of roads, the Governor said the transport department should enforce strict rules so that overloaded trucks can not ply. All rules and regulations should be adhered to in letter and spirit. The Governor also asked all the departments to work in close co-ordination to reap rich dividends from the congenial atmosphere to promptly complete the construction related projects in the State.

Trafficked mother, son of Guwahati flee from New Delhi Guwahati, Dec 03 : A young woman who was sold to traffickers in the name of giving a well-paid job in New Delhi managed to flee from their grip.

Her two-year-old son who also accompanied her was reportedly sold near a Dargah in the country capital was later rescued with the help of a Delhi-based NGO and was brought to Guwahati.

Hailing from Guwahati, the 25-year-old mother told that a person known as Majibur offered her a job of high salary in Dimapur.

Accordingly, she and her son moved for Dimapur, but Majibur took them to New Delhi. She was kept in a hotel and then sold to some people whom she had never seen before in life. Though she repeatedly asked about her son, she didn’t get any posi-

tive reply from them.

She stayed there for four days and later somehow came out from there and reached Guwahati in the second week of November.

On the other hand, her husband – Karim Ali said he didn’t have any idea about his wife moving out of the state for a job.

He alleged she used to live with her parents along with their son at Noonmati area in Guwahati following some disputes with her mother-in-law.

He came to know his son was old in Delhi on November 25.

He tried to lodge complaints at two police stations about their missing, but they didn’t take their case.

Police said they are investigating the matter.

NGO activists claimed that Assamese girls are still brought to New Delhi and sold off.

Assam to aim at becoming an ODF State within the year ET Bureau Guwahati, 3 Dec: The Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Parameswaran Iyer, visited Assam to review the progress of Swachh Bharat (Rural).

He called on the Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, and complimented him for prioritising sanitation in the overall State policy agenda. The Chief Minister said that the State is fully geared up to realise the Swachh Bharat

dream of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He emphasised the importance of involving people and children to ensure sustainability of sanitation.

The Secretary also held discussions with the Chief Secretary and senior officials of the Public Health Engineering Department of Assam.

He assured complete Central support to the State. The Chief Secretary mentioned that the

State would attempt to achieve an ODF (open defecation free) status within a year and also underlined the State's focus on behaviour change, technology of toilets and addressing sanitation issues of plantation labourers. Discussions on focussing on school sanitation also took place. Later in the day, the Secretary joined the Video Conference meeting of the Chief Minister with the DCs and motivated and guided them.

State Election Commission hints delayed poll Political parties demand well-timed KAAC election Sushanta Roy Diphu, December 3: Horendra Nath Bora, State Election Commissioner (SEC) of Assam has hint that the election for the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council under all probability will be held towards the end of January 2017. The SEC informed media personnel that due to the engagement of the government officials in the by-election of Baithalangso, preparation of the final electoral roll of KAAC will take time.

paredness. He clued-up that a poll schedule will be announced soon. He mentioned that a strike off list of voters whose name have been removed from the voters list of the KAAC poll has been published featuring around 7 thousands names throughout the district, to meet up the claims and objections of the voters whose names have been deleted from the list at list 15 days time will have to be given as per statuary regulation, final voters list will be published on December 30.

The SEC further informed that he has held a review meeting in this connection with all government officers, police and representatives of various political parties of both East and west Karbi Anglong today to take stock of the poll pre-

It may be mentioned here that the occupancy of the present KAAC executive committee will end on January 13, 2017 and as a standard carry out election process will have to be over within first week of January so that the

new body can be ushered into office on time.

BJP, East Karbi Anglong district committee through a memorandum to the SEC has demanded holding of the election within first week of January 2017. The memo signed by, party president Roton Teron, general secretary Amarsing Tisso, Ajit Dey, vice president Bharat Kumar Timung has mentioned that “ postponement of election on any pretext may lead to the situation which would be against the sentiment of majority voters of the district”.

Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong Adil Khan, DIG Central range Akliesh Kumar Sing who were present during the press briefing mentioned that maximum representative of other political parties has also stressed for timely election.

World disability day observed at Tezpur ET Correspondent Tezpur, Dec 3: North Assam Handicapped Association, Tezpur and in Association with Department of Psychiatric Social Work, LGBIMH, Tezpur, Department of Social Work, Tezpur University, Missionaries of Charity, Tezpur, District Legal Service Authority and Sacred Heart Disability Centre, Gutlung, celebrated the “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” day with a daylong programme at District Library auditorium here today.

Minister for Social welfare etc. Naba Kumar Doley addressing a meeting held in Kahilipara in the occasion of ‘International Day for Differently able person’ on December 3, 2016.

The programme began with the inauguration of a cleanliness drive programme by the secretary of North Assam Handicapped Association, Utpal Bhuyan. It was fol-

lowed by unfurling of flag of the Association at the District Library Campus by the President of the Association, Mridul Kumar Bora and inauguration of plantation programme by the Vice president of the Association, Riaz Ansari.

A cultural procession participated by various cultural troops including Boro Dance, Bihu Dance, Jhumur Dance etc. was also taken by throughout the town.

At 11 Am a symposium “Importance on Social Existence of the Differently Abled Persons and Role of the Society and the Government” was held.

The symposium organized with the theme “Achieving Seventeen Goals for the Future we want” con-

ducted by the President of the North Assam Handicapped Association, Mridul Kumar Bora was graced by Dr. Indrajit Benarjee, LGBRIMH, Sister. Rose Merina of Tezpur Charity of Missionaries, Deepsikha Carpenter, Department of Social Work, Tezpur University among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Deepsikha Carpenter said that all concerned including the common civil society and the government should stand for the wellbeing of the especially abled section of the society. “It is often seen that negligence towards this section begins from the family, it is very unfortunate that a disabled person is given less importance than a normal person or

severely neglected thereby making a difference which act directly hurts this section. We should stand against such an attitude.”

She said urging the government agencies to get involved with the welfare of the physically handicapped people with sensitivity. Sister Rose Merina in her speech stated that physically handicapped people should not be termed as such as they too have talent in some fields which is not seen in a normal person.

ers. Addressing the gathering, Prakash Mahanta spoke on the importance of the day and stressed on doing needful for the physically disabled section in practical sense by the agencies concerned of the government. “Simply celebrating the world disability day on December 3 every year, we cannot do anything in the name of welfare of this section rather we will have to be sensitive enough in curving out special agenda for their welfare.” He said.

The open session presided over by Santanu Mahanta was attended by senior journalist Prakash Mahanta, Samsera Hazarika, from office of the Social welfare, Sonitpur District, CDPO, Rubi Kalita among oth-

In the programme people having contribution in various fields including the Tezpur based journalists were felicitated. Various cultural performances performed by the handicapped children mesmerized the audience.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

REST OF

Say 'cheese' for Sikkim's new global flavour sensation ANI Gangtok, Dec. 3 : Sikkim's cheese making industry, known for producing some of India's finest varieties of cheese, is no longer confined to the Indian borders as it is stamping its mark globally.

Dentam, a scenic village in Sikkim, is dotted with cheese spread manufacturing units which have slowly but steadily going places.

One of the most famous plants here is a dairy unit producing Sikkim Alpine Cheese Spread. The product has scored over similar products of major dairy firms and has made forays in national and international markets.

Set up in 1996 under the Diary Development Programme of the IndoSwiss Project Sikkim

(ISPS), Sikkim Alphine Cheese Spread is striving to produce quality cheese and paneer (cottage cheese), extracted from quality cow's milk under hygienic environment.

Manufactured by Sikkim Diary Products Pvt. Ltd, Sikkim Alphine Cheese Spread is the second product to be launched by the unit after Alphine Cheese Gouda - rated as best in the country.

"Earlier we were facing difficulties in marketing.

Cheese was prepared but the demand was too less here. So later we collaborated with Gujarat cooperative Amul. Now whatever amount of cheese is prepared it is exported," Harish Chandra Poudyal, Accountant, Sikkim Alphine Cheese Spread said.

The cheese is exported to Singapore under the name of Amul. With this, the product is slowly expanding to more international markets, generating more revenues and creating more job opportunities.

Currently, a 12-member team of people oversees the work and production at the dairy unit. At least 2,000 litres of quality cow's milk are procured in a day to produce the products.

"My job is to make cheese.

It takes lot of time to make cheese. It takes around 57 hours. The process involves receiving the milk and pasteurizing it. Once again it is heated and left for half an hour to cool down to 31 degrees.

Then we keep it for cooling and then it turns into curd in 30 minutes. Then

US ambassador visits Tripura Agartala, Dec 03: The U S Ambassador to India Richard R Verma arrived here on Friday on his maiden two day visit to Tripura.

After arriving in the state capital the US Ambassador made a courtesy call on Chief Minister Manik Sarkar at civil secretariat on Friday evening and during the courtesy meeting Chief Minister handed over a memento to Verma.

On Saturday morning, Richard Verma visited Tripureshwari temple at Udaipur and offered prayer before the Goddess. After returning to Agartala Verma visited Tripura government state museum at Ujjayanta Palace to know about the history of Tripura. In the afternoon he observed the beating the Retreat program by the border guards of India and Bangladesh at Akhaura check post. Ambassador

U S Ambassador to India Richard R Verma.

Verma oversees one of the largest U. S. Mission in the world including four consulates across India.

Earlier, on December 1 the U S Ambassador arrived at Kohima on his maiden visit to attend Nagaland's 53rd Statehood Day. US Consulate Media in a release said this visit was part of Ambassador Verma's familiarization tour through North East

India from November 29 to December 3 and during this trip Ambassador Verma underscored several key aspects of the strong US-India partnership.

He attended the Hornbill Festival in Naga Heritage Village Kisama near Kohima on December 2 before coming to Agartala to understand and celebrate Naga traditions and the state's unique culture. (Agencies)

curd cutting is done for 20 minutes, followed by draining of the unwanted things in curd and mixing the useful one with 40 percent pasteurised water and cooking it at 36 degrees. Then it is left untouched for an hour and again drain and the remaining part is kept for moulding," Deepak Chettri, Worker said.

Setting up such projects in rural areas alleviates and uplifts the living standards of the people and boosts the economy of the state and region as a whole.

Sikkim's cheese is being exported to different parts of the world and in the process, this industry is creating employment opportunities for the youth and in turn contributing to the state's development.

Committee for Joint Naga Civil Societies stages protest in Delhi over economic blockade in Manipur ANI New Delhi, Dec.3 : Expressing concern over the grave situation in Naga areas caused due to the economic blockade called by the United Naga council, the Committee for Joint Naga Civil Societies, Delhi, organised a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar here.

Appealing to the Centre to deal with the situation quickly, the committee highlighted their struggle for the inclusion of Naga territories and population in Manipur and condemned the unprecedented arrest of the UNC President Gaidon Kamei.

The convenor of the committee, Lakpachui Shiro, said, "The Manipur Government is not interested in resolving this issue. We know that there has been a counter blockade and volunteers from the dominant community have been vandalising the properties and targeting our innocent civilians, but we don't see

of Calcutta. The lady in white managed to survive but internal scars remained as the severe brain injury rendered her incapable of sleep and rest-may be more, as is being increasingly evident now.

Her task was made easier by the long series of follies and foibles committed by the ruling left front and fast-changing demographic character of Bengal. 'Sarda Mata's mother party, Congress had already reduced itself to a non-entity as avaricious leaders vied with one another to grease palms and distribute favours to the faithful facilitated by the ruling dispensation. Since 1998 'Sarda Mata' had covered considerable ground and had finally edged out left front, capitalising on the latter's land acquisition disaster worsened by alienation of core vote banks.

But the Lady in White had exposed herself within a year of assuming the reins of power as the surfeit of Chit Fund scams broke out in full dimension. But her legendary survival skills came in handy even as close party colleagues took turns to confinement in jails-presumably with indulgence from Delhi.

The proverbial sword of damocles however hangs heavy still though chargesheets remain to be filed.

She had come back to power with a larger majority, despite having

ditched the Congress ally midway, on the strength of a fine blend of strong arms tactics and electoral malpractices , bolstered by demographic dividend.

A heady en core of electoral triumph coupled with decimation of lifelong bete noire , the Marxists , turned out to be a toxic cocktail even as BJP seemed to be lurking in the wings to disturb the applecart. It was in this context that Modi's demonetisation drive proclaimed on November 8 had presented a challenge : 'Sarda Mata's ambition of leading a combined opposition to unseat Modi, preventing CPI (M) from taking the initiative and capturing the towering position as the embodiment of dissent against the 'Hindutwa Party' emerged as the topmost priorities.

Within moments of the momentous announcement on November 8 night the 'Queen of Chit Funds' who had promoted the growth of shady ponzy outfits through cronies had scented trouble and became hyper-active. Her make-believe world of rapid progress towards the country's top slot stood in danger of being appropriated by Modi as an icon of honesty.This had to be forestalled along with a presumed windfall gain for the 'Hindutwa party' which is emerging in her backyard West Bengal. Two successive depu-

any efforts from the state government to control the counter blockades which is targeting innocent civilians.

The Manipur government has been discriminating us and sidelining us in every aspect and that can be forgettable but he cannot force us to starve. It is painful for us to see our children and parents suffering due to the economic blockade."

"Last time, the Ministry of Home Affairs invited us for tripartite talks, but the Manipur Government did not turn up giving excuses which are not even logical.

Whereas, the UNC came for the discussion and the state government is not ready to solve the issue. They are just trying to create communal and social tension among the people so that they can come back to power by creating a huge situation of polarisation," he added.

"The United Naga Council is not a criminal organisation; it represents every Naga. We have 18

Naga tribes and they have sovereign authority. Gaidon represents the voice of Nagas as far as our land is concern, our tradition and customary laws are concern. He cannot be simply dismissed. Therefore, he has every right to assert what is important for the Nagas and aspirations of the Nagas.

We condemned the arrest of the president by the Manipur Police as this is an insult for us," Shiro said.

He further informed that the committee earlier had met Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju and apprised him about the ongoing situation. They said the Centre has every right to intervene in the present crisis in Manipur and look for ways to resolve it.

However, in total disregard of the four Memoranda of Understanding signed between the Naga people and the Government of Manipur, no Sadar district or Jiribam district shall be created without

the consent of the Nagas, but Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has forcedly imposed it.

The UNC has called for an economic blockade on the two national highways NH-2 and NH-37 passing through the Naga areas in Senapati and Tamenglong districts respectively.

Further, the committee urged for the immediate and unconditional release of the UNC leaders and reiterated that the UNC leaders are not criminal but leaders of the Naga people.

Meanwhile, efforts are on to meet Prime Minister Modi to make an impression that the land, identity and politics of the Nagas are subjects of the current ongoing political talks between Govt of India and the NSCN. India must rein in its institutional agencies like the state of Manipur and stop them from creating any problems to the Naga-India political talk.

Mizoram-HPC(D) peace Workshop on skill development talks in mid-December for youth in Imphal Aizawl, Dec 3 : Mizoram government and the Manipur-based militant outfit, Hmar People's Convention (Democratic), would hold the third round of peace talks by mid-December, a state home department official today said.

The exact date would be finalised in a meeting on Monday, Additional Secretary for Home Lalbiakzama, who headed the state government delegation in the previous rounds of meeting, told PTI. Earlier, rounds of talks were held in cordial atmosphere with both the sides being optimistic about the outcome of the parleys.

Several grounds have been covered during the previous rounds when according higher autonomy and power to the Sinlung Hill Development Council (SHDC) was deliberated, he said.

The SHDC was established in the north eastern part of the state adjoining Manipur where a large number of Hmar community people are living in a compact area, in accor-

dance with the provisions of the agreement between the state government and the erstwhile underground HPC in 1994.

The HPC (D) was formed after the surrender of the HPC cadres to the authorities, by some leaders who were not satisfied with the terms of the agreement and continued to demand a separate autonomous district council under the Sixth schedule of the Constitution.

The six-member HPC (D) delegation led by Lalthalien said that the outfit dropped the demand for a separate autonomous district council.

The first round of talks was held in Aizawl on August 10 and the second round on October five.

The peace talks in 2013 were derailed by disagreement on the period of extension of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) after which a spate of violence was experienced in the state resulting in the deaths of three policemen and one Hmar militant. (PTI)

Sarda Mata' in the light of coup in and invasion of Bengal , politics of surrealism Agartala, Dec 03: She had reportedly obtained a fake doctorate degree from a non-existent US university at a cost but when her political bete noire , the group of CPI (M) MPs, had pointed this out in Loksabha she went ballistic and rushed to the well of the house in a belligerent mood in late 1984.

The then speaker promptly intervened to save the day for the 'Sarda Mata'. Politics down the annals of history has often been shaped by prevailing circumstances that spawn unlikely leaders who later turn out to be men or women of straw. The litany of cheap gimmicks that 'Sarda Mata' would have to perform in the coming years were many and she had crossed another big milestone by trying to commit suicide by tying a piece of warm cloth-'Chadar', to be precise-around her neck in a public programme in Calcutta.Yet she moved on as all populists who abound with reckless courage do.

But our 'Sarda Mata' had plodded on, never again claiming she had a doctorate, but seemed to be progressing as anti-incumbency mood kept on intensifying in West Bengal.

She had shot into instant fame after a goon Lallu Alam had hit her on the head during a protest programme way back in 1984 in Rash Behari area

P5

NORTHEAST

tations with the president proved abortive and so did attempts at rabble rousing with pathological contrarian , Kezari. The meeting at Lucknow alongside Akhilesh yielded little as the younger leader was much less enthusiastic about running down the demonetisation move per se. The next stop-over was at Patna with tainted Lalloo Yadav, already convicted by supreme court for corruption and enjoying a free run on parole or bail, but Nitish with his impeccable image of honesty was nowhere in sight. 'Sarda Mata' had hurled the choicest epithet of 'Gaddar' at Nitish and returned to home-turf, deeply frustrated and intensely concerned over how to protect the slippery border vote bank comprising the largest gang of fake currency runners into India.

Abject failure to read public mood deepened the frustration as 'Sarda Mata' accused a private airlines of having conspired to assassinate her by delaying landing of her hovering flight as if the pilots and crew of the private flight had been on a suicide mission like that of infamous Al Qaida. Gross dishonesty and hyperbole fell flat on hard facts. The next fodder was a routine and regular army exercise, conducted in co-operation with state police, and 'Queen of Chit Funds' had to spend a fruitless night

in 'Nabanna' guarding democracy against an alleged coup-de-etat.

But as facts tumbled out that the routine exercise had been conducted in all states of the federation over the past fifteen years and the senior military officials challenged 'Didi' and her cohorts to prove the absolutely baseless charge of extortion, the bottom seemed to have fallen off the grand design.A number of Indian navy's ships had been sighted floating in the Bay of Bengal, ostensibly signalling an invasion of Bengal by Modi-led Centre ! But the pansy opposition still smarting under the impact of demonetisation shock kept on whining and whimpering within the hallowed precincts of the parliament and disrupted proceedings at national cost.

Indian political system now seems to have turned truly surreal where no order or method is traceable in the cacophony of falsely righteous protests. But the 'Sarda Mata' appears to have run out of steam and been orphaned by a lost world of cozy consensus based on peaceful co-existence of corrupt and anti-national elements in the society including those niggling at the vitals of Mother India. (Agencies)

ANI Imphal, Dec. 3: A workshop on skill development was organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in Manipur at Durbar Hall here.

The Governor, Dr. Najma A Heptulla and Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh attended the workshop as Chief Guests.

Members from around 16 different skill sectors from the field of Agriculture, Tourism and Hospitality, Beauty and Wellness, Healthcare, Textiles and Handlooms, Handicrafts and Carpets, Telecom, Food Processing, IT and ITeS, Automotive, Security, Construction, Logistics, Apparel, BFSI and Rubber introduced to harness the human resources of the state.

The Governor in her

speech said that she has been in the state, hundred days since she took over the Governorship of the state and understood all the problems and issues of the state.

"Since, it is topographically not possible to establish large scale industries in the state; we have trained people to develop small scale industries like tourism, health care, handloom and handicrafts etc," Dr. Heptulla said.

She further said that Manipur has unique bio diversity, the black rice and orchids of the state are not found in other parts of the country and these can be developed as a small scale industry.

"We have to get people busy with work as it may help in cutting down 'bandhs' and blockades.

For this, we need skilled people; there should be job creation because the final focus is Job. If there are no jobs available, we shall face a problem of unemployed skilled people," she added.

Lastly, the Governor pledged to work for the betterment and development of the state.

The workshop was also attended by T. Manga Vaiphei, Minister of Labour and Employment as Guest of Honour, Vishal Sharma, Chief Program Officer, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDS), Dr. Suhel Akhtar, IADS, Additional Chief Secretary, Dr. Harmit Singh, Jt. Secretary and officers from Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Trucks stranded at Mao reach Imphal Imphal, Dec 03: Around 230 loaded trucks stranded at Mao Gate for the past many days on account of the indefinite economic blockade have finally reached Imphal.

The stranded trucks started moving a little past last midnight and they were escorted by CRPF and IRB personnel.

A strong police force led by an ADGP also moved to Mao to assist the CRPF and IRB personnel in escorting the stranded vehicles.

Moreover, army and other paramilitary forces too assisted in ensuring troublefree movement of the convoy.

The convoy which reached Imphal today included trailer trucks loaded with CI pipes and high voltage power transformers, passenger buses and vans.

A large number of MR/IRB, army and paramilitary forces kept a tight vigil along T Khullen-Mao section of Imphal-Dimapur highway for the whole night.

The enhanced security measures were put in place in accordance with a directive of the High Court of Manipur.

The ADGP who moved from Imphal together with a strong police team stationed himself at Senapati district

A team of the Transporters and Drivers Council too waited for the arrival of the strand so as to provide due assistance in case any of the trucks required any assistance.

headquarters and monitored the security measures taken up along the highway section.

Even though no untoward incident was reported, a number of economic blockade supporters were lying in ambush at different points of the highway to attack the trucks heading for Imphal but they were deterred from launching any attack on account of the overwhelming number of security forces.

A team of the Transporters and Drivers Council too waited for the arrival of the strand so as to provide due assistance in case any of the trucks required any assistance.

TDC president H Ranjit said that the council has

not taken any decision to suspend transportation of goods along National Highways.

Nonetheless, he expressed keen desire for the Government to take up adequate security measures and provide compensation for trucks damaged in the course of the ongoing economic blockade.

Ranjit also appealed to all concerned to refrain from vandalising vehicles as done at Noney and setting ablaze of vehicles as witnessed at Khumbong.

He also appealed to all blockade supporters and those imposing counter economic blockade not to victimise drivers and helpers. (Agencies)

Registered FIR being uploaded in police website, SC order Agartala, Dec 03: Following a landmark order passed by the supreme court, the police authority across the country have started registering First Information Report (FIR) on crimes in their departmenal websites all over the state. The order passed earlier had been effec-

tive from November 15 2016. T r i pur a pol i ce have also initiated the process by uploading FIRs in their district websites linked with main police website titled 'tripurapolice.gov.in'.

Any citizen keen to view the actual uploading of the FIRs may log on to the main Tripura police

website and then switch on to district websites to see police station-wise uploading of all FIRs since the month of November. The legal fraternity as well as the common citizenry has welcomed the apex court's order and uploading of FIRs on police websites. (Agencies)

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

Today's quote

“

Lots of times you have to pretend to join a parade in which you're not really interested in order to get where you're going.

– Christopher Darlington Morley

A dampening of economic activity?

P

rime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to abruptly withdraw legal tender status for Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 notes to save the country from "the grip of corruption and black money" has had one predictable side effect: a dampening of economic activity.

With cash availability significantly impaired as a result of the sudden withdrawal of the high-value banknotes that constituted more than 86 per cent of the currency in circulation as of March 31, a palpable impact has been felt across the entire economy.

A snapshot of manufacturing from the Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index released on December 1 revealed that demonetisation had slowed buying activity and production across the board, and led to the weakest expansion in orders in four months. The survey indicated that producers of consumer goods are among the worst hit, a signal that a key engine of India's world-leading pace of economic growth - private consumption demand appears to be sputtering on account of the cash shortage. That the impact is likely to extend beyond the current quarter appears certain, according to the downward revisions of growth projections announced by brokerages and credit rating agencies. The median reduction in GDP growth estimate for the year by the 13 forecasters indicates that the pace of growth will be slower by at least 50 basis points, with two of them dialling back the number by one percentage point or more.

Data released by the government on November 30 put GDP growth in the July-September period at 7.3 per cent, as the agriculture sector's performance was buoyed by an almost normal south-west monsoon.

That this came after two successive years of drought helped boost the area sown. Still, a moot question relates to gauging the impact the cash shortage is likely to have had in rural areas both from a consumption perspective and in terms of the potential disruption caused to farming operations. Given the less-than-adequate penetration of formal banking channels, economic activity in small towns and villages is largely cash-based, and it remains to be seen how the agrarian economy will recover in the short to medium term from this disruption. While the biggest contributor to gross value added, the services sector, is expected to sustain a hit, small and micro enterprises that conduct a sizeable part of their business through cash transactions are also bound to be impacted. And with the external environment yet to revive, the RBI and the government have their task cut out to ensure that the economy doesn't slide into a protracted slowdown.

Right vs far right in France F

rench President François Hollande's decision to not make a bid for a second term in office is unsurprising. In the last leg of a term marred by economic uncertainty, high unemployment rates, workers' strikes, infighting within the ruling party and personal scandal, Mr. Hollande's approval ratings are abysmally low - as low as 4 per cent in some polls.

Moreover, several former cabinet colleagues have said they would run against him in the Socialist Party primaries. It would have been humiliating for a sitting President to go through the primaries to win party nomination. Now, with Mr. Hollande deciding to keep out, the Socialists have the opportunity to put up a united fight under another candidate, most likely Prime Minister Manuel Valls, in the April presidential elections. Still, the left is likely to find it difficult to win back popularity in a campaign in which the agenda is largely being set by the conservatives and the far right. Mr. Hollande's administration must share some blame for this. In 2012 he campaigned as an aggressive socialist, aligning himself with the unions and promising a left alternative to conservative Nicolas Sarkozy's unpopular regime. But in office, he drifted to economic liberalism, offering tax breaks to corporations and setting out to overhaul labour laws, which pitted him against his allies on the left. His policies failed to revive the economy; he is also seen to have failed on the security front, with massive terrorist attacks in several French cities over the past year.

Mr. Hollande could neither retain his support base nor win over the other side of the spectrum, shifting the political mood in the country to the right. But the question is, who will cash in on this? Polls suggest Francois Fillon of the Republican Party and Marine Le Pen of the National Front will emerge the leading candidates out of the first round of the election, to face each other in the May 7 run-off. Mr. Fillon is a social conservative with a liberal economic agenda, and wants to overhaul the public sector, rein in unions and sack civil servants. He has the backing of a large organisational machinery, whereas Ms. Le Pen is an insurgent candidate. But so was Donald Trump. Over the past few years, Ms. Le Pen has transformed the NF from a fringe far-right group to an almost mainstream party with some grassroots support. It now controls at least a dozen town halls and is consolidating support among the white working class, especially in the rust belt of the north and east. Like Mr. Trump, she presents herself as an anti-establishment outsider with a protectionist economic agenda. With the left in disarray and established conservatives divided, Ms. Le Pen's chances cannot be ruled out.

P6

Making of a legislative court Anuj Bhuwania The Supreme Court order on the national anthem relies exclusively on Fundamental Duties. This is not a coincidence as it closely follows the spirit of the Emergency-era 42nd amendment The Supreme Court of India, on November 30, gave an order that the national anthem will have to be played before feature films at cinema halls all over the country, and that those present in these halls are obliged to stand up to show respect. Similar orders on respecting the national anthem have been delivered by two High Courts in recent years. Indeed such an order is not in any way an aberration in the post-Emergency trajectory of the higher judiciary. A few months back, the Madras High Court mandated that Thirukkural be taught in all schools in Tamil Nadu. Currently, in another case, the Supreme Court is considering making yoga compulsory in schools. While patriotism, education and health may all perhaps be desirable goals, what is common here is the court compulsorily prescribing highly specific modes of pursuing these lofty aims. Such judicial decisions have three other common attributes.

First, all such cases are in the PIL (public interest litigation) jurisdiction. Second, they rely on Fundamental Duties and/or an expanded notion of Directive Principles, with a barely concealed contempt for Fundamental Rights.

Third, the judges do not feel any need to justify their decisions in legal terms.

Invitation to legislate While PIL was defined by its dilution of locus standi, two new ways of conceptualising standing in PIL were initially envisaged: representative standing and citizen standing. The first would be in a case similar to a class-action suit, except with a non-class member representing the

larger group. A petitioner under citizen standing, on the other hand, was to stand for the entire citizenry of India rather than individual victims of injustice. While both categories have been present since the inception of PIL, there has been a definite trend away from representative standing towards citizen standing. A PIL of the kind filed by the petitioner Shyam Narayan Chouksey is of the latter kind and is really an invitation to legislate. In fact, an order of this sort could only be made under the PIL jurisdiction, as it enables any citizen to come to court professing public concern on any issue, asking the court to act upon it. It should also not be surprising that Mr. Chouksey has had repeated success with the same judge over the same issue.

The impulse to legislate as well as allegations of soliciting petitioners with their pet issues go back to the hallowed days of PIL under Justice P.N. Bhagwati.

Passing far-reaching interim orders without any urgency, like in the anthem case, rather than in reasoned judgments is also unexceptional. Being a frankly legislative court, the Supreme Court does not feel the need to give any reasons, as legal scholar Tarunabh Khaitan has argued. Such are the occupational hazards of PIL. The order of November 30 declares: "Be it stated, a time has come, the citizens of the country must realize that they live in a nation and are duty bound to show respect to National Anthem which is the symbol of the Constitutional Patriotism and inherent national quality. It does not allow any different notion or the perception of individual rights, that have individually thought of have no space. The idea is constitutionally impermissible."

The only statutory provisions the order relied on are Fundamental Duties.

These Duties are, perhaps not coincidentally, currently in vogue even out-

side the judiciary. Last week, when November 26 was celebrated as 'Constitution Day' for the first time, the exclusive focus of the University Grants Commission (UGC) directive to all universities and colleges for the occasion was to make students and teachers engage in activities propagating the Fundamental Duties.

A radical reshaping No such Duties, however, existed in the original Constitution adopted on November 26, 1949. These provisions were incorporated by the 42nd amendment to the Constitution during the Emergency. It was passed by a Lok Sabha which had already finished its term of five years. This amendment radically reshaped the Constitution, amending as many as 59 Articles. The legacy of the 42nd amendment was partially undone by later amendments. But it could not be repealed in toto, and much of it remains in the Constitution, most prominent being its insertion of 'Socialist' and 'Secular' in the Preamble. This is unfortunate as the 42nd amendment should be undone in its entirety for the damage it has done to Indian democracy. To take a less conspicuous example, it froze delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, the logic being States with higher population increase ought not to be 'rewarded' with more seats. Population control was thus deemed to be a more important principle than 'one

person, one vote.' As a result, the average Lok Sabha seat in Rajasthan today represents a much larger population than one in Kerala.

The official aims of the 42nd amendment included giving Directive Principles "precedence over those Fundamental Rights that had frustrated the Principles' implementation."

Indira Gandhi had carried out a campaign for overriding Fundamental Rights with Directive Principles ever since her electoral victory in 1971. Commitment to Directive Principles was precisely what was implied by her infamous call for a 'committed judiciary' during this period. Article 31C was inserted in the Constitution in 1971 through which any law declared to be implementing the socialistic directive principles of Articles 39(b) & 39 (c) could no longer be declared invalid even if they violated Articles 14, 19 or 31. This immunity was extended to all Directive Principles by the 42nd amendment in 1976. A similar immunity was to be granted to laws implementing Fundamental Duties, though this was not carried through. This approach then prevalent was pithily criticised by constitutional lawyer H.M. Seervai: "It was an unfounded assumption… that the Directive Principles were to secure social justice and the Fundamental Rights were mere selfish individual rights."

An enduring legacy It is important to understand that this is precisely the implicit logic of the national anthem order this week: pesky Fundamental Rights have to be made subservient to the higher ideals of national integration and/or social revolution. This mode of argument, in which alleged Constitutional goals trump Fundamental Rights, has been embraced by the judiciary and is an enduring legacy of Mrs. Gandhi's populism of the 1970s. The apotheosis of Directive Principles was accepted in the judicial discourse of the post-Emergency period. While the 42nd amendment to Article 31C was struck down in 1980, even this judgment mirrored Mrs. Gandhi's language in astonishing fashion.

What makes the order on the national anthem so representative of PIL's orientation is the fact of its open hostility to the Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution. It has long been a popular misconception that PIL emerged as a corrective to the court's capitulation to violations of civil liberties during the Emergency. In fact, the post-Emergency court has been steadfast in its support of such state lawlessness. In the infamous Habeas Corpus case of 1976, the court had upheld the constitutionality of the draconian Maintenance of Internal Security Act. Far from departing from this dark legacy, the Supreme Court has since repeatedly upheld an entire alphabet soup of repressive statutes from the National Security Act in 1980 to the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 1997. The populist spirit of the Emergency was never departed from by PIL and is entirely in conformity with its history. The underlying sense of judicial purpose in the post-

Emergency period was derived not from entitlements drawn from rights, but from the goals of the Constitution. The courts had implicitly accepted the language of legitimation that Mrs. Gandhi's formulation of 'committed judiciary' offered. As Professor Upendra Baxi pointed out in 1980, the court referred to 'the people' more frequently in 1977-79 than in 1950-77.

Even the so-called rights revolution of the postEmergency court has involved an ever-expanding bunch of unnamed rights flowing from Directive Principles being read into Fundamental Rights. The 'right to life jurisprudence' under Article 21 has been extrapolated to include all kinds of socio-economic rights. The only right it seems to exclude is the literal mandate of Article 21, a negative right against any deprivation of life or personal liberty by the state in an illegal manner. While this Article became a receptacle for all manners of positive rights, the all-important civil right it was meant to embody no longer gets the respect it is due. Rights are meant to lead to remedies, but the proliferation of rights under Article 21 exemplifies what legal scholar Clark Cunningham called 'Rights without Remedies' and 'Remedies without Rights', that is, bare enunciation of unnamed rights without any chance of enforceability and its converse, grant of reliefs like state compensation as largesse without fixing responsibility.

The court's deference to legislative wisdom in the case of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, abdicating its classic function of judicial review, contrasts neatly with orders such as the national anthem one, where the court happily legislates. With PIL, the postEmergency Supreme Court is very rarely a court for judicial review and far more often, the court for judicial populism.

Inclusive society for sustainable future Ranjan K Baruah Out of 7 billion people around the world, over 1 billion people have some form of disability, that’s 1 in 7. There are more than 100 million disabled persons are children and children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence than non-disabled children. It is interesting to know that 80% of all people with disabilities live in a developing country and 50% of disabled persons cannot afford health care. So far 153 countries signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

These facts tells us how important is to take up the issue and work for solution. I have been discuss-

ing an issue which is related to disability in all my youth programmes.

Whenever I talk of education as career then I mention about special education and its importance. We must make a society inclusive of all where every human being could get their rights.

A disability is a condition or function judged to be significantly impaired relative to the usual standard of an individual of their group. The term is often used to refer to individual functioning, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment, mental illness, and various types of chronic disease. This usage has been described by some disabled people as being

associated with a medical model of disability.

Persons with disabilities, “the world’s largest minority”, have generally poorer health, lower education achievements, fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities. This is largely due to the lack of services available to them (like information and communications technology (ICT), justice or transportation) and the many obstacles they face in their everyday lives.

These obstacles can take a variety of forms, including those relating to the physical environment, or those resulting from legislation or policy, or from societal attitudes or discrimination.

Every year 3rd December

Believe what you feel On this day, Morrie says that he has an exercise for us to try. We are to stand, facing away from our classmates, and fall backward, relying on another student to catch us. Most of us are uncomfortable with this, and we cannot let go for more than a few inches before stopping ourselves. We laugh in embarrassment.

Finally, one student, a thin, quiet, dark-haired girl whom I notice almost always wears bulky, white fisherman sweaters, crosses her arms over her chest, closes her eyes, leans back, and does not flinch, like one of those Lipton tea commercials where the model splashes

into the pool..

For a moment, I am sure she is going to thump on the floor. At the last instant, her assigned partner grabs her head and shoulders and yanks her up harshly.

"Whoa!!" several students yell.

Some clap. Morrie finally smiles.

"You see", he says to the girl, 'you closed your eyes, That was the difference. Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them too - even when you're in the dark.

Even when you're falling".

is observed as International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).

The theme for this year’s International Day is “Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want”.

This theme notes the recent adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role of these goals in building a more inclusive and equitable world for persons with disabilities.

On this day message Secretary-General of United Nations Ban Ki-moon has said that "Let us work together for the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in an inclusive and sustainable world that embraces humanity in all its diversity."

What is important is to have barrier free envi-

ronment. Evidence and experience shows that when barriers to their inclusion are removed and persons with disabilities are empowered to participate fully in societal life, their entire community benefits. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) recognizes that the existence of barriers constitutes a central component of disability. Under the Convention, disability is an evolving concept that “results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”

Accessibility and inclu-

sion of persons with disabilities are fundamental rights recognized by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and are not only objectives, but also pre-requisites for the enjoyment of other rights. It is also responsibility of each and every one of us to be a voice and speak for the rights of the people with special needs. Let us work together for the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in an inclusive and sustainable future that embraces humanity in all its diversity.

(With direct inputs from UN publication. Feedback may be sent to b k r a n j a n @gmail.com)

The Army in Bengal The deployment of the Indian Army at toll plazas in West Bengal raises some serious questions, especially in the wake of the strong opposition of Ms. Banerjee to demonetisation. One wonders whether this is an act of political vendetta by the Central government. The defence forces are meant for the preservation of the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. Any attempt to use them to settle political disagreements would be unfortunate.

Deepak Baruah Jorhat, Assam

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

Pak diplomats say unable to withdraw salaries, threaten retaliation Pakistan has threatened that in case the matter is not resolved soon, it may consider retaliatory action against salary disbursal for Indian diplomats there.

New Delhi, Dec 03: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with India over its diplomats in the High Commission allegedly not being allowed to withdraw their salaries, which is paid in US dollars, by the bank.

Asserting that not allowing its officials to withdraw their salaries was in breach of Vienna Protocol, Pakistan has also threatened that in case the matter is not resolved soon, it may consider retaliatory action against salary disbursal for Indian diplomats there.

RBL Bank, an Indian private bank, holds the salary account of the Pakistan High Commission staff.

"We are not allowed to withdraw our own salary.

It is not a demonetisation issue. It appears that it is done more at the instructions of the Indian government," a senior Pakistan High Commission said.

Image for Representation purpose.

While there was no official reaction to Pakistan's protest from Indian side, officials here maintained that the matter is between the bank and the depositor and government has no role to play. Diplomats can draw their tax free salaries in dollars and only have to give reason for the withdrawal beyond USD 5,000.

According to Pakistan High Commission officials, they are not being allowed to withdraw their salaries and have been asked for 'letters of purpose' for withdrawal of any dollar amount. Incidentally, demonetization has led to a sharp spike in demand for dollars and other foreign currency, making it scarce. (PTI)

Deputy CM Sukhbir to promote Punjab as a tourist destination at Heart of Asia conference

Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir singh Badal.

Amritsar, Dec 03: Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal will promote Punjab as a tourist destination at the twoday Heart of Asia conference which begins in Amritsar on Saturday. He is keen to promote the culture of the state before the delegates from different countries and one centre of attraction is the Heritage Street running from Town Hall building to the Golden Temple Plaza. The one kilometre stretch of Heritage Street begins at the old Town Hall building, which now houses the Partition Museum, goes towards Jallianwala Bagh and up to the Golden Temple. Bright lamp posts, buildings with

Rajputana and Mughal architectural domes and jharokhas, LED lights illuminate the facades. The signboards for all shops have been aesthetically unified like the markets of Jaipur.

"The heritage street project was completed in a record time. This is not the end of the project. It is just a beginning of the total beautification and transformation which the holy city would witness during the course of next five years," the Deputy Chief Minister said.

The Punjab Tourism and Heritage Promotion Board had announced a competition for architects to revamp the Golden plaza three years ago. The area

was then developed as an urban space where pilgrims could congregate.

The project, besides the 'jaali work' facades and the Town Hall renovation, also includes work on the complex sanitation and electrical systems. All wires, which were overhead earlier, have been channelled through an underground tunnel.

The project includes the revamping of sarais along the old Grand Trunk Road and would amount to over Rs 1,000 crore, Navjotpal Singh Randhawa, CEO of the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation, said.

The project, however, did not come without its challenges, especially from resistant shopkeepers.

The street has a greater presence of the police and is devoid of any wandering hawkers or large crowds.

Being attended by nearly 40 countries and leading groupings like the European Union, the annual conference of the Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process will deliberate upon various challenges facing Afghanistan, including revival of a peace process in the conflict-ridden country. (PTI)

RBI seen cutting interest rate by 0.50% on December 7: HDFC CEO New Delhi, Dec 03: At a time when the country is undergoing a demonetisation drive, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its next policy meeting on December 7, may cut the main interest rate by 50 basis points, feels Keki Mistry, Vice Chairman and CEO of HDFC. In an interview to BTVi, Mistry said: "My sense is that in the RBI policy, I would expect to see an interest rate reduction. I would have said 25 basis points cut is normally what is warranted. However, to give a further impetus to growth and the economy and taking into account relatively low inflation that we are seeing, it could be possible that RBI could look at a 50 basis points cut."

"One point is that the US rates are rising. We are expecting that the US Fed will increase rates in December. So in a situation where US is increasing rates, we will be reducing rates and, therefore, the gap between the two interest rates (in the US and India) will fall.

The only issue, he said, for the RBI is to keep the Indian currency rate in check. "As the gap keeps falling, it will put some pressure on the currency. So that is something the RBI may want to watch out for, because if the cur-

BUSINESS

P7

India keen to invest in energy sector in Qatar: PM Modi After the talks, India and Qatar inked five pacts including in the field of visas, cyberspace and investments.

New Delhi, Dec 03: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed India's keenness to invest in hydrocarbon projects in Qatar during talks with his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani on key issues of energy, trade and security. Modi and the Qatari Prime Minister, who is here on his first visit, discussed enhancing cooperation in defence and security, in particular in cyber security and agreed on joint action to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing.

After the talks, the two sides inked five pacts including in the field of visas, cyberspace and investments.

Modi said the visit of the Qatari Prime Minister showed the growing bilateral ties with Qatar, which India has always regarded as a "valued partner".

The two leaders acknowledged that the current level of trade and investment was much below potential, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson

Vikas Swarup said, adding Modi highlighted the tremendous opportunities available for Qatari investment in India's infrastructure and energy sectors.

On energy cooperation, Prime Minister Modi said, "We should go beyond the buyer-seller relationship to include Joint Ventures, Joint Research and Development and Joint Exploration.

"Indian companies were ready to invest in both upstream and downstream projects in Qatar in the hydrocarbon sector."

Not only an important trading partner for India in the Gulf region, Qatar is also the largest supplier of LNG to it, accounting for 66 per cent of the total imports in 2015-16.

On his part, the Qatari leader invited India's participation in infrastructure and investment opportunities coming up in the wake of Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022. He also welcomed Indian investment in the port sector of Qatar.

"He (Modi) outlined the

Demonetisation: 27 bank officials suspended, six transferred for violative activities

Image for representation purpose.

New Delhi, Dec 03: Even as the Modi government is leaving no stones unturn to fight against corruption especially by means of the demonetisation move, 27 bank officials have been reportedly suspended due to violative activities related to it.

According to an official statement from the Finance Ministry, 27 officials of various PSBs have been suspended and 6 officials transferred for involving in transactions violative of RBI instructions related to demonetisation.

"Some cases have come to notice of officials involved in carrying out transactions which were irregular and violative of Resrve Bank of India`s instructions," the Finance Minis-

try said in a statement.

"Action has been taken in such cases and 27 officials of various public sector banks have been placed under suspension and six officials have been transferred to non-sensitive posts," the statement said.

While all efforts are being made to facilitate genuine transactions, illegalities will not be tolerated and appropriate action will be taken against individuals involved in irregular and unauthorised activities, it said.

The ministry also lauded the long hours of work put in by bank officials in managing transactions, after the demonetisation of Rs 500/1,000 notes was announced from November 8 midnight. (PTI)

On energy cooperation, Prime Minister Modi said, "We should go beyond the buyer-seller relationship to include Joint Ventures, Joint Research and Development and Joint Exploration." various measures taken by his government to open up the Indian economy and welcome FDI. The two leaders identified civil aviation as a priority sector for enhancing cooperation," Swarup said.

Prime Minister Modi recalled that India imports eight million tonnes of urea per year and said "we would welcome a longterm arrangement with Qatar for the supply of

urea", the spokesperson said.

It was also conveyed that India could also meet Qatari needs in the area of food security, he said.

The two leaders also discussed the regional situation, particularly in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Swarup said five agreements were signed in areas such as visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports; technical coop-

eration in cyber space and combating cyber crime, letter of intent regarding negotiations on an agreement on grant of e-visa for businessmen and tourists, and an MoU between the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of Qatar and CII. Additionally, another MoU aimed at encouraging greater collaboration and exchange in the field of national ports management was also signed.

Earlier, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on the visiting dignitary.

While the visa pact will allow holders of diplomatic, special and official passport of the two countries to visa-free travel between the two countries, the 'protocol on technical cooperation in cyber space and combating cyber crime' "adds an important dimension of bilateral technical cooperation in cyber space and combating cyber crime to the existing framework agreement in the field of security signed on 10 November, 2008". (PTI)

Demonetisation: 30% of unorganised jewellery market could perish Mumbai, Dec 03: India's jewellery market, estimated at $45 billion (or Rs 3 lakh crore), which is 85 per cent unorganised, may see a shift due to demonetisation and introduction of the goods and services tax (GST). As Titan's Managing Director Bhaskar Bhat explains, the ban on highvalue notes coupled with the GST, will compel the unorganised market to formalise.

In a conference call today, Bhat said as much as 15-30 per cent of the unorganised jewellery market could perish if they were unable to organise their businesses in the new environment. "The unorganised jewellery market could be squeezed because it will not be able to manage increased compliance," he said addressing investors on the effects of demonetisation.

Almost 85-90 per cent of transactions in the unorganised jewellery market in India take place in cash as opposed to the organised market where cash transactions are to the extent of 40 per cent. Unorganised players, Bhat said, would have to switch to credit card-based sales, as was the trend on the organised side.

Other organised players such as Orra and Gitanjali are in agreement. Vijay Jain, founder director and chief executive, Orra, said: "While the next 1215 months will be challenging for both organised and

Gold bracelets are on display as a woman (L) makes choices at a jewellery showroom on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold buying festival, in Kolkata. unorganised players, in the long-term the organised market will gain from the new taxation and payment environment.

What we are seeing happening to jewellery today is what happened to apparels around 2025 years ago. At that time, you had apparel stores scattered all over, which slowly but steadily began organising themselves. Something similar could happen in jewellery."

Mehul Choksi, chairman and managing director, Gitanjali Group, said in seven years the organised market could double to around 30 per cent from 15 per cent now, a big shift given that the conversion rate from unorganised to organised prior to demonetisation was low.

Abneesh Roy, senior vice-president, research, institutional eq-

uities, Edelweiss, said: "Small players could either become franchisees of organised chains or may simply choose to transform or reinvent themselves.

My guess is that they will be associated with the retail trade in some way since jewellery as a business has been in their family for generations."

India is the world's largest consumer of gold at nearly 700 tonnes a year, a third of the total gold mined in the world. In 2015, the government introduced a sovereign gold bond scheme that allowed people to swap their gold for an interestbearing bond.

Additionally, it was also made mandatory for consumers to declare their PAN in the case of jewellery purchases above Rs 2 lakh. (Agencies)

Weekly roundup: Sensex settles lower, but smallcaps inch up; FII outflows continue The BSE Midcap index rose 0.1%, while the BSE Smallcap index surged 0.4%

Image for Representation purpose. rency weakens a lot then that puts inflationary pressure on the economy... particularly in the context of the fact that all prices have started going up," he added.

Talking about the demonestisation drive of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 bank notes that started on November 8, he said it would be difficult to gauge how much currency would be deposited by the end of December.

"We don`t know how much money is likely to come in. It is all conjecture at the moment.

If people say some Rs 11 lakh crore has come in, we have to see. The official figure, I understand, is Rs 8.4 lakh crore," he said.

"What we have to understand

is that when something like demonetisation is announced, everybody who had any amount of currency notes with them of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, including people like you and me, would have gone to the bank and deposited the money," Mistry said "So, therefore, the collections that we would get in the first two-three weeks was obviously going to be abnormally high than what you will see in the latter part of the period. So my sense is let`s wait till December 31, only then we will know how much money actually comes back into the system. There is no point making an assumption now," he added. (IANS)

New Delhi, Dec 03: Due to heavy selling pressure witnessed in the last trading session, the market settled the week lower. Key economic data such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the September quarter, Nikkei India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for November along with decline in November auto sales data disappointed the investors as they continued to take stock of the impact of cash crunch on the economy.

During the week ended December 2, the S&P BSE Sensex lost 86 points, or 0.33%, to settle at 26230.66, while the broader Nifty50 slipped 27 points, or 0.34%, to close the week at 8,087.

Midcap and Smallcap stocks inched up. The BSE Midcap index rose 0.1%, while the BSE Smallcapindex surged 0.4%.

"Despite the market starting the week on a positive note, and continuing its recovery process for most sessions of the week, the headline indices settled lower," said Rohit Gadia, Founder & CEO, CapitalVia Global Research.

"Going forward, 7,950 mark on Nifty is pivotal one and until a break below this level, the mar-

Image for representation purpose. ket will keep moving higher after brief consolidation at this level. We change our medium term outlook to moderately positive. Sustaining above the crucial 8,200 level will change the outlook bullish and a move above 8,400 will improve the outlook further," he added.

Sectors and stocks The week saw BSE IT index dropping 1.7%, followed by the BSE Bankex index (down 1.5%), the BSE Metal index (down 1.4%), the Bank Nifty Jan fut (down 1.3%) and BSE Teck (down 0.8%). The BSE

Consumer Durables and BSE Oil&Gas index shed 0.7% and 0.2%, respectively.

Among stocks, Hindalco plunged 6.5% for the week.

BPCL plummeted 5%, Asian Paints and Tata Motors tanked 4.3% each, while Bank of Baroda and Kotak Bank slumped 4% and 3.8%, respectively.

Gainers included Eicher Motors (12.5%), Bharti Infratel (8.5%) Bosch (8.1%) and Grasim (6%).

FII outflow continues Foreign institutional investors

(FIIs) have been continuous sellers since November 9, a day after the government announced demonetisation. FIIs have pulled out Rs 18,800 crore in the previous 17 sessions, one of their longest unbroken selling streaks.

Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs 190 crore on Friday, provisional data provided by stock exchanges showed. Domestic investors, too, were net sellers to the tune of Rs 419 crore.

Important events of the week ¢ Economic growth rose slightly to 7.3% in the second quarter of the current financial year from 7.1% in the first quarter and that too when it was pushed up by the government expenditure. ¢ Manufacturing growth decelerated sharply in November with the Nikkei/ Markit Manufacturing PMI falling to 52.3 in November from October's 54.4, its biggest month-on-month decline since March 2013. ¢ The government, on Friday, increased the ceiling of special bonds that can be issued to mop up excess liquidity in the system to Rs 6 lakh crore, from the earlier Rs 30,000 crore - a fallout of the

note ban. ¢ States on Friday refused to budge from their stand on division of administrative powers between them and the Centre under the proposed goods and services tax (GST), putting road blocks in the way of introducing the new indirect tax system from April 1, 2017.

MARKET NEXT WEEK: Investors will react to solid US jobs data, which has strengthened the prospects of rate hike

by US Federal Reserve later this month. Investors will also eye developments in Italy, which heads to the polls on Sunday to pass or reject reforms that Prime Minister Matteo Renzi says are needed to move the country forward.

RBI's policy review on December 7 will also be a focal point for investors reeling from the government's clampdown on high-value currency bills and capital outflows.

"Several important events and data are lined up ahead so volatility is here to stay. In such scenario, participants should focus more on the money management aspect and let the markets stabilize," said Jayant Manglik, President, Retail Distribution, Religare Securities.

(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

Kashmir: CPI(M) demands judicial probe into killing of 'civilians' MLA MY Tarigami alleged that the administration has "distorted the facts behind the innocent killing."

Jammu, Dec 03: The CPI(M) in Jammu and Kashmir today demanded a judicial probe into the killings of "civilians" at Dooru and Chancer in South Kashmir by security forces, saying such incidents have put a "question mark" on the "credibility" of the administration. "We demand a judicial probe into the alleged twin killings of civilians in Dooru belt of Anantnag district and Chancer belt of Kulgam district by security forces," Senior CPI(M) leader and MLA Kulgam M Y Tarigami told reporters here.

"Killing of Assadullah Kumar, an employee of Fisheries Department at Chanser in Kulgam on Friday evening is one more addition to the long list of brutalities committed by those claiming to be protectors of law," he said.

"How long will this spree of bloodshed and lawlessness continue? A citizen has a legitimate right to seek answers from those who are at the helm of affairs," the CPI(M) leader said.

He alleged that Kumar was

Kashmir CPI (M) have demanded a judicial probe into the alleged twin killings of civilians in Dooru belt of Anantnag district and Chancer belt of Kulgam district by security forces. killed in a fake encounter which cannot be "covered up on the pretext of cross-firing."

"If the government has nothing to conceal or to shield the misdeeds of the guilty, why it hesitates to conduct judicial probe in all civilian killings so that culprits are brought to the justice?" he said.

Te r m i n g t h e s l o g a n s 'vishwas and vikas' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "mere m a n t r a s " , Ta r i g a m i claimed that the people have lost faith in the government.

"Mere sloganeering does not make any sense and both the dispensations at the Centre and the state shall have to take concerted and concrete steps to restore the faith of the people by making law enforcing agencies accountable," he said.

The CPI(M) has consistently been demanding a probe by a judicial commission headed by retired Supreme Court judge to inquire into the killings of civilians and maiming of youngsters by pellet guns and PAVA shells, he said. (PTI)

Long queues for cash continue at banks and ATMs, toll collection resumes

An out of order ATM Mumbai, Dec 03: People in Mumbai and suburbs continued to queue up before banks and ATMs to withdraw cash even as the resumption of road toll after over a three-week gap on Saturday resulted in vehicles crawling near plazas, especially due to the weekend rush.

While several banks have limited cash withdrawal due to the shortage of currency in their chests, a number of ATMs are not in operation.

Queues were seen outside many banks and a limited number of ATMs which were dispensing cash, as people lined up to take out some money to meet their start-of-month commitments.

As toll booths resumed their operations from 12 am on Saturday long queues were seen on all the toll plazas, including the MumbaiPune Expressway, old highway between the two cities and Vashi toll booth on Sion-Panvel highway.

On November 9, a day after the Prime Minister announced scrapping of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, toll collection on national highways was suspended considering the shortage of change, which would cause difficulties to commuters.

Although the toll booth operators claimed that adequate arrangements had been made for digital payment, the paucity of change and weekend rush led to

long vehicular queues at the booths. Security arrangements, including the deployment of traffic police, has been made to clear the roads.

A motorist at Mulund toll booth, said, "First I stood in a long queue to withdraw cash from bank and ATMs and now I am waiting here in traffic queue to pay a toll."

Amin Sheikh, on a day-long trip out of the city, said, "The main concern is that Rs 2,000 note is not being accepted by anyone, including the toll collectors.

They insisted on Rs 100 note, when I gave him new Rs 2,000 note. As I did not have Rs 100 note, I finally offered him Rs 500 note."

An employee at suburban Dahisar toll point said, "People are mostly giving Rs 2,000 note for Rs 35 toll payment, which is creating problems. Hope this situation ends when we issue electronic cards to people."

A spokesperson of IRB Infrastructure, which collects toll from 60 points across the country, said, "We have put in place system for digital payment, including installing credit card, debit card swipe facility to collect the toll at different points and lanes access the county."

"Apart from this, the PoS (Point of Sale), Paytm and MobiKwik facilities have also been arranged to collect the toll at different

points and lanes access the county," he said.

The spokesperson for toll collector also said that they would soon install Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), a computerised system which is integrated with electronic equipment installed in the toll plazas.

(Reopens BOM6) "It reads the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is stuck on the vehicle's windscreen and opens the barrier to let the vehicle pass when it approaches the Plaza by deducting a certain amount," said the spokesperson.

Abhay Tiwari, who paid toll at Vashi booth, said, "It's good that digital facility is being set up here to collect the levy, but I feel that Rs 500 notes should continue to be accepted at toll booths until December 30. Government changing its decisions so frequently is not good for people."

As banks would be closed tomorrow, several people made a beeline to withdraw the cash at banks and ATMs. "Banks would be closed tomorrow and I don't know whether the ATMs would be operational. I want at least Rs 10,000 today and I hope bank would not run out of money when my turn comes," Darshan Sampat from neighbouring Thane city said, while waiting in a queue outside the Bank of Baroda.

However, a Mumbai resident Saurabh Srivastava expressed satisfaction that his bank was allowing to withdraw full permissible limit of Rs 24,000.

"Standing in queue again, 3rd time in last 3 weeks.

Thankfully they are allowing full 24K withdrawal," he tweeted.

Sushila Kothari, a homemaker from Parel area said, "Now it does not bother me anymore. Now I am used to standing in bank and ATM queues. But the government should have continued the facility of exchange the money.

(Agencies)

One should be careful in making allegations against army: Guv Kolkata, Dec 3:West Bengal Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi today virtually disapproved of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees remarks on the deployment of army at toll plazas, saying one should be careful while making allegations against a responsible organisation like the army.

"Every person should be careful while making allegations against a responsible organisation like army," Tripathi told reporters.

Trinamool Congress legislators and ministers had yesterday staged a protest outside the Raj Bhavan here, demanding immediate withdrawal of army from toll plazas but could not meet the Governor as he was away.

TMC leaders are scheduled to meet Tripathi today.

The presence of army personnel at toll plazas had triggered a row with Banerjee questioning if it was an "army coup", drawing a stinging condemnation from the Centre which said

P8

NATION

the remark showed her "political frustration".

Banerjee had claimed that the army personnel were taking money from the vehicles which they are not supposed to do.

The army had rebutted her allegations that its personnel were deployed at toll plazas without informing the state government and were collecting money, saying the exercise was being carried out in coordination with Kolkata Police. (PTI)

India keen to invest in energy sector in Qatar: PM Modi After the talks, India and Qatar inked five pacts including in the field of visas, cyberspace and investments.

New Delhi, Dec 03: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed India's keenness to invest in hydrocarbon projects in Qatar during talks with his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani on key issues of energy, trade and security. Modi and the Qatari Prime Minister, who is here on his first visit, discussed enhancing cooperation in defence and security, in particular in cyber security and agreed on joint action to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing.

After the talks, the two sides inked five pacts including in the field of visas, cyberspace and investments.

Modi said the visit of the Qatari Prime Minister showed the growing bilateral ties with Qatar, which India has always regarded as a "valued partner".

The two leaders acknowledged that the current level of trade and investment was much below potential, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, adding Modi

highlighted the tremendous opportunities available for Qatari investment in India's infrastructure and energy sectors.

On energy cooperation, Prime Minister Modi said, "We should go beyond the buyer-seller relationship to include Joint Ventures, Joint Research and Development and Joint Exploration.

"Indian companies were ready to invest in both upstream and downstream projects in Qatar in the hydrocarbon sector."

Not only an important trading partner for India in the Gulf region, Qatar is also the largest supplier of LNG to it, accounting for 66 per cent of the total imports in 2015-16.

On his part, the Qatari leader invited India's participation in infrastructure and investment opportunities coming up in the wake of Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022. He also welcomed Indian investment in the port sector of Qatar.

"He (Modi) outlined the various measures taken by

Venkaiah condemns 'coup' allegations, says don't drag Army into controversies Hyderabad, Dec 03: Taking exception to the Trinamool Congress' "coup" allegation after the Army's presence at toll plazas in West Bengal, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said it is not in the national interest to drag the armed force into controversies.

"What is a coup ? And then, dragging the Army into controversy; it is not in the national interest. It is totally condemnable whoever has done it. Not only Trinamool, unfortunately, Congress and others also, without knowing the full truth, they try to make it a big issue and what happened at the end? It has boomeranged on them.

"So, let's not drag Indian Army, which is the pride of our nation, into these controversies," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

faced inconvenience following demonetisation, the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said initial difficulties would be there when there is a transition.

"In any transition, in every transformation, there will be some initial difficulties. That is why we said temporary pain for long-term gain. That is why the Prime Minister said, 'give me 50 days'," he said.

The idea of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to transform the entire economic system and check problems like terrorism, hawala transactions and other such offences, he said.

"He (Modi) wants to transform the entire economic, financial system in the country. He wants to weed out black money, he wants to

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu The presence of the Army in West Bengal to which the Trinamool has taken exception was a routine drill and there was nothing new in it, he said.

"It is a routine drill which is to happen every year. This year also it happened in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur and Assam. It happened in Bengal last year. It happened this year also. There is nothing new. There is nothing like deploying Army, coup, nothing like that. They are doing a false campaign," he said.

The presence of army personnel at toll plazas in West Bengal had kicked up a storm with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remaining at the State Secretariat overnight in protest, asking was it an "army coup".

A false campaign was on over different issues as well, including that there was a shortage of salt, that gold would be seized and that emergency would be imposed with Army being brought in, Naidu alleged.

"Do not indulge such false campaign...about demonetisation also," he said.

Acknowledging that person

tackle terrorists, separatists and also people who are funding, aiding terrorism and also take care of the hawala operators and people who are hoarding money. That is the idea of the Prime Minister," he said.

The citizens are applauding the Prime Minister's move despite the difficulties they faced as they have become aware of the government's intentions, Naidu said.

Naidu expressed regret over Parliament not functioning properly during the ongoing winter session.

"Parliament should work.

People want Parliament to work. I (government) propose, you (opposition) oppose, let the House dispose.

That should be the spirit," he said.

The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, who spoke at a workshop on capacity building for working Urdu journalists of Telangana at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) earlier, deprecated the practice of sensationalising news.

"There is no sense in sensationalism. Journalists should be sensitive to social issues and problems," he said. (PTI)

On energy cooperation, Prime Minister Modi said, "We should go beyond the buyer-seller relationship to include Joint Ventures, Joint Research and Development and Joint Exploration." his government to open up the Indian economy and welcome FDI. The two leaders identified civil aviation as a priority sector for enhancing cooperation," Swarup said.

Prime Minister Modi recalled that India imports eight million tonnes of urea per year and said "we would welcome a longterm arrangement with Qatar for the supply of urea", the spokesperson

said.

It was also conveyed that India could also meet Qatari needs in the area of food security, he said.

The two leaders also discussed the regional situation, particularly in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Swarup said five agreements were signed in areas such as visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports; technical coopera-

tion in cyber space and combating cyber crime, letter of intent regarding negotiations on an agreement on grant of e-visa for businessmen and tourists, and an MoU between the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of Qatar and CII. Additionally, another MoU aimed at encouraging greater collaboration and exchange in the field of national ports management was also signed.

Earlier, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on the visiting dignitary.

While the visa pact will allow holders of diplomatic, special and official passport of the two countries to visa-free travel between the two countries, the 'protocol on technical cooperation in cyber space and combating cyber crime' "adds an important dimension of bilateral technical cooperation in cyber space and combating cyber crime to the existing framework agreement in the field of security signed on 10 November, 2008". (PTI)

IAS officer D K Ravi committed suicide: Karnataka government Ravi was known as an "upright" officer and his death had led to national outrage and state-wide protests.

Belagavi, Dec 03: The Karnataka government on Friday told the Assembly that IAS officer D K Ravi, whose 'mysterious' death had raised a storm in the state, had committed suicide under "mental pressure". 35-year old Ravi was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his room at a flat in Bengaluru under suspicious circumstances in March last year.

Bowing to public pressure, the state government had handed over the probe into the incident to CBI. Ravi was known as an "upright" officer and his death had led to national outrage and state-wide protests.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra tabling the CBI report on behalf of the Home Minister in a statement said, "CBI, after completing the investigation, had on November 24 submitted the report to Assistant Commissioner, Bengaluru South Sub-Division and Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

"It had been communicated (by the magistrate) to the government about accepting the CBI report

D K Ravi and closing the case on November 26 as per section 176 of CrPC (Inquiry

by Magistrate into cause of death).

"As documented in the CBI report, the opinion expressed by medical experts, forensic science lab report and statement of evidence recorded during the investigation, was that IAS officer D K Ravi committed suicide under mental pressure," Jayachandra said.

As Jayachandra read out the Home Minister's statement, Opposition Leader Jagadish Shettar accused the government of handing over the investigation

to CBI late, "after evidence was destroyed".

The family of Ravi, who had taken on the sand and land mafia besides ordering crackdown on tax evaders, had suspected foul play into his death and demanded an inquiry by the central agency.

Opposition BJP and JDS had also launched an offensive against the Siddaramaiah government.

Initially, the Congres-led state government had said a CID inquiry would be adequate in the incident, but later yielded to calls for CBI probe. (Agencies)

Demonetisation: Government employee dies in ATM queue in West Bengal

The police said nobody extended a helping hand and he remained unattended for 30 minutes Hooghly, Dec 03: A state government employee who was returning home in Kolkata from his place of posting died while standing in a queue in front of an ATM counter near Bandel station in Hooghly district on Saturday. The employee, Kallol Roychoudhury (56), was returning to his Behala home in South Kolkata from Cooch Behar in North Bengal where he was posted.

He got down at Bandel station from Paharia Express this morning with his colleague and was supposed to catch another train to come to Kolkata.

But then, he decided to withdraw some money from an ATM counter at Station Road near the station.

He stood in the queue at 7.35 am, became unwell after 20 minutes and fell down.

The police said nobody extended a helping hand and he remained unattended for 30 minutes.

Later, the security personnel of the ATM called a doctor who pronounced him dead and advised the security man to take Roychowdhury's body to a hospital.

Some vendors took Roychoudhury's body to Chinsurah Imambara Hospital where doctors pronounced him brought dead.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the incident as "unfortunate" and asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking note of it.

"Unfortunate death toll continues‌ This morning Kallol Roy Chowdhury collapsed and died in front of SBI ATM at Bandel station. My condolences to the bereaved family. Is Modi babu listening?" she said in a tweet.

Two elderly persons had died yesterday in South 24 Parganas district of the state while standing in a queue to withdraw money. (PTI)

EDUCATION

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

Few career options for Commerce Graduates While the BFSI sector is the major employer for commerce graduates, opportunities are growing across key segments such as IT, healthcare, BPO/ITeS, e-commerce and startups. Here are some of the emerging career options commerce graduates can consider:

Financial analysis Financial analysts are sought-after in the IT, manufacturing, banking, consulting, BPO and KPO sectors. The job profile includes managing accounting transactions and system interfaces into the general ledger and providing analytic support to business initiatives.

Skills required: Analytical and problem-solving skills are essential along with knowledge of SAP Average salary: Rs 35 lakh per annum

Financial planning

Financial planners predominantly work in the financial services sectors of banking, insurance, financial and investment consulting services. The job requires preparing financial plans and coordinating with sales teams to understand the client requirements/ goals to create suitable plans.

Additionally, financial planners also need to coordinate with their organisation's research team to understand the market and various products that are offered to their clients.

Skills required: Financial planning, communication and leadership Average salary: Rs 2.5-5 lakh per annum Market research Professionals in this field are required to conduct secondary research, compile, manage and analyse data. Currently, sectors such as IT/ telecom, BFSI, manufacturing and healthcare are offering numerous opportunities in this area.

Skills required: Logical and analytical skills, creativity (in terms of presenting data in a graphical format), proficiency

in MS Excel and PowerPoint Average salary: Rs 35 lakh per annum

Digital media Students interested in pursuing a career in digital media strategy can pursue a short course in the same along with a commerce degree. The job of a digital media strategist includes creating and managing digital content (audio, visual, text). It requires a good mix of communications skills and technical knowledge.

Skills required: Design skills, ability to create and manage digital media promotions and ad campaigns with research and analytical competencies Average salary: Rs 3-6.5 lakh per annum Sales & marketing With business expansion on the cards across key sectors, sales and marketing executives are in huge demand especially in the banking/in-

surance, IT and manufacturing sectors.

lem-solving, analytical and reasoning skills

Profiles in the sales industry typically require creating leads, networking, building and managing database of clients and customers. Within marketing, the focus today is on digital marketing over traditional marketing.

Average salary: Rs 2-5 lakh per annum

Skills required: Aspirants with good communication and interpersonal skills are desired Average salary: Rs 36 lakh per annum (plus incentives)

Data analytics The role of data analysts has become increasingly critical in business sustenance.

Not only IT but non-IT sectors (including BFSI) are also hiring data analysts in large numbers. Data analysts collect and interpret data, analyse results and create reports. Interested graduates can take up a short course or diploma in emerging niche roles.

Skills required: Prob-

PAGE 9

Top 4 Best Commerce Colleges In India 2015 Rank College Name

Shri Ram College of Commerce

Social work The non-profit/ NGO sector is growing at a fast pace in India. Commerce graduates can look for opportunities in fundraising departments and business development teams where they can utilise their accounting, finance and economic skills.

Skills required: Problem-solving, communication and time management Average salary: Rs 1.5-3 lakh per annum

Lady Shri Ram College for Women

Loyola College, Chennai

Besides the above, commerce graduates can prepare and appear for the exams held for the positions of probationary officers (PO) and clerical jobs conducted by nationalised banks.

Lastly, BCom graduates can also opt for higher education - MCom, MBA, CA and CFA courses to increase their career prospects.

Enhancing skills

Christ University, Bangalore

Exam aid

What it takes to clear the IAS Exam AK Mishra

In a competitive corporate world, employers are always on the lookout for candidates who can deliver more than what is expected out of them. In keeping with this trend, students are now pursuing specialised certificate courses alongside their degree programmes to develop specialised skills that will complement their academic qualifications.

Subject covered: Data type, operators, control statements, iterative statements, arrays, strings, structures, pointers, methods, recursion, file handling, classes, objects, inheritance, overloading, virtual function, static function, handling, multithreading, applets, introduction to J2EE, looping, strings, lists , dictioneries, tuples, OOPs, classes, inheritance, etc.

Students who wish to pursue such Eligibility: These courses in the field of courses are available IT can consider the for beginners or profollowing options: fessionals from other fields who wish to learn various programming language.

For Java related courses, one needs to Courses available: have prior knowledge C programming, C++, of C++ or OOPs. Core Java and Python

Programming Courses

Duration: Four to eight weeks

Duration: weeks

knowledge of operatSix ing systems

Web TechSystem Adnology ministration Courses available: ASP.Net with Courses availVB, ASP.Net with C#, able: System adminJ2EE, PHP with istration under linux, MySQL system administration windows server Subject covered: Web server controls, Subject covered: HTML, classes and objects, server obCommands, shell jects, sessions, cook- and AWK programies, ASP objects, man- ming, user adminisaging user sessions tration, file system and applications, data administration, disk interface, C# coding, quota administration, event handling, network administraJDBC, RMI, JSP, da- tion, different servers tabase, beans, basics, like mail server, file PHP-MySQL con- server, installation nectivity, etc. and user administration, MMC, IIS, acEligibility: Candi- tive directory serdates must know ba- vices, etc. sic computer concepts and a programEligibility: Candiming language dates should have

Duration: Four to six weeks Apart from these, students can also opt for courses in software testing and android programming.

Software testing course require candidates to have basic knowledge of C programming and database.

The android programming course enables the learner to create applications using SQLite database. The course covers Java, client-server application development using Java, web component developer (WCD), struts 2.0 and android. Both the courses spread across three months.

Getting through civil services examination is the dream of many aspirants.

A candidate who gets into the Indian Administrative Services gets exposure to diverse roles such as that of a commissioner, chief secretary, collector, cabinet secretary or can head public sector units. The opportunity to bring about positive changes in the lives of millions draws aspirants' to the career.

It is therefore no surprise that close to four and a half lakh students appear for the UPSC examination each year. However, only a few hundred candidates manage to crack the exam. So it becomes imperative to understand what are those qualities that set those few apart from the rest?

Self-discipline A strong sense of selfdiscipline is essentially required and key to success in achieving any goal. IAS preparation may involve 912 months of intensive study and this cannot be achieved without having a set routine. Good management and optimal

utilisation of the time are the essential components of self-discipline. There are many parts of general studies that are important in clearing the CSE; however, a deep understanding of sociology is important if you're looking to clear IAS. Self-discipline does not imply studying the prescribed course books every day. Aspirants should have burning desire to know what's happening in the world around them and keep themselves abreast with the news on magazines, television and newspapers. Needless to say, a keen interest in reading is also a great quality to have for IAS aspirants.

Leadership Through all the three stages of examination, UPSC primarily checks a candidate's leadership quality. Coherent and organic approach to preparation will get candidates through the preliminary (stage I) and main (stage II) but the interview will observe the candidate's personality. IAS officers should be endowed with an ability to articulate their

point of view to their superiors and peers conclusively besides having a high emotional intelligence. They are goal-oriented and able to influence others to devote themselves to the same goal.

This is what makes the dynamic and effective leaders in their unique field of work. To exhibit traits of a good leader, aspirants should have good interpersonal as well as communication skills.

Strong Resolve Even before starting their preparation, candidates start scoping their chances of getting through the examination, which proves to be a deterring factor for most of the aspirants. Hence, it's pertinent to stamp out this mental block before preparation. An aspiring IAS candidate should have strong resolve to become an officer and influence the lives of his/her countrymen. It would also be futile to engage yourself in preparation due to peer pressure or your parent's insistence.

(The author is director, Chanakya IAS Academy)

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

P10

INTERNATIONAL

Obama meets UN Secretary-General- 38 miners killed in designate Antonio Guterres explosions in China

Washington, Dec 03: Outgoing US President Barack Obama has said that the United Nations is a "linchpin" of the postWorld War II order as he met the UN SecretaryGeneral- designate Antonio Guterres at the White House here.

"From the perspective of the United States, the UN is a critical partner in almost everything that we do," Obama told reporters as he met Guterres at the Oval Office yesterday.

"It is a linchpin of the postWorld War II order, and through Democratic and Republican administrations, our partnership with the United Nations has allowed us to help resolve conflicts, to provide development assistance where it's sorely needed, to tackle big transnational

Outgoing US President Barack Obama . challenges like refugee flows or, more recently, like climate change," Obama said.

"At a time when those challenges are mounting and there's great uncertainty around the world, having an effective partner in the United Nations

Secretary General will be critically important," he said welcoming Guterres.

Obama said he has emphasised to current Secretary General Ban Kimoon how important the US considers the UN but also how important it is, to make sure that the UN

China lodges protest after Trump call with Taiwan president

Trump breaks US policy with Taiwan call.

Beijing, Dec 03: China lodged a diplomatic protest on Saturday after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone with President Tsai Ingwen of Taiwan, but blamed the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its own for the "petty" move.

The 10-minute telephone call with Taiwan's leadership was the first by a U.S. president-elect or president since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, acknowledging Taiwan as part of "one China".

China's Foreign Ministry said it had lodged "stern representations" with what it called the "relevant U.S. side", urging the careful handling of the Taiwan issue to avoid any unnecessary disturbances in ties.

"The one China principle is the political basis of the China-U.S. relationship," it said.

The wording implied the protest had gone to the Trump camp, but the ministry provided no explanation.

Speaking earlier, hours after Friday's telephone call, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointedly blamed Taiwan for the exchange, rather than Trump, a billionaire businessman with little foreign policy experience.

"This is just the Taiwan side engaging in a petty action, and cannot change the 'one China' structure already formed by the international community," Wang said at an academic forum in Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry quoted him as saying.

"I believe that it won't change the longstanding 'one China' policy of the United States government."

In comments at the same forum, Wang noted how quickly President Xi Jinping and Trump had spoken by telephone after Trump's victory, and that Trump had praised China as a great country.

Wang said that exchange had sent "a very positive signal about the future development of Sino-U.S. relations", according to the ministry's website. Tai-

wan was not mentioned in that call, according to an official Chinese transcript.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office also called the conversation a "petty" move

by Taiwan that does not change the island's status as part of China. Beijing is resolute in opposing independence for Taiwan, it added.

Trump said on Twitter that Tsai had initiated the call he had with the Taiwan president. "The President of Taiwan CALLED ME today to wish me congratulations on winning the Presidency. Thank you!" he said.

Alex Huang, a spokesman for Tsai, said: "Of course both sides agreed ahead of time before making contact."

WAYWARD PROVINCE Trump and Tsai noted that "close economic, political and security ties exist between Taiwan and the United States", the Trump transition team said in a statement. Taiwan's presidential office said the two discussed strengthening bilateral interactions and establishing closer cooperation.

China considers Taiwan a wayward province and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under its control. Relations between the two sides have worsened since Tsai, who heads the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, was elected president in January.

Chinese state media downplayed the possibility of a major blow-up in Beijing's relations with Washington as Trump prepares to assume office.

Influential state-run tabloid the Global Times said in an online editorial that if Trump really overturned the "one China" principle upon assuming office it would create such a crisis with China he'd have little time to do anything else.

"We believe this is not something the shrewd Trump wants to do."

China's official Xinhua news agency said Trump needed to know Beijing can be a "cooperative partner" as long as Washington respects China's core

interests, including the issue of Taiwan.

"China and the United States are not destined rivals," it said in an Englishlanguage commentary.

Washington remains Taiwan's most important political ally and sole arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, the irony of which was not lost on Trump.

"Interesting how the U.S. sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call," Trump said in another tweet.

Trump has eschewed tradition in other calls with foreign leaders since he won the U.S. election, prompting the White House to encourage him to make use of the diplomatic expertise and counsel of the State Department.

Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said on CNN that Trump was "well aware of what U.S. policy has been" on Taiwan.

Administration officials said Trump's team did not alert the White House about the call ahead of time. The White House also said after Trump's call that "longstanding policy" on China and Taiwan had not changed.

Advisers to the Republican president-elect have indicated that he is likely to take a more robust policy toward China than Obama, a Democrat, and that Trump plans to boost the U.S. military in part in response to China's increasing power in Asia.

However, details of his plans remain scant.

Trump lambasted China throughout the U.S. election campaign, drumming up headlines with pledges to slap 45 percent tariffs on imported Chinese goods and label the country a currency manipulator on his first day in office.

Earlier this week, Trump spoke to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and praised him, according to the Pakistani leader's office, as a "terrific guy".

Islamabad and Washington have seen relations sour in recent years over U.S. accusations that Pakistan shelters Islamist militants who kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, a charge denied by the South Asian nation.

Trump also invited Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte to the White House next year during what a Duterte aide said was a "very engaging, animated" phone conversation. Duterte has openly insulted Obama, who canceled a planned meeting with him in September. A statement issued by Trump's transition team made no mention of the invitation. (Agencies)

operates efficiently, that money is well-spent.

"We live in a dangerous world. We are all aware of that. We have seen a multiplication of conflicts. Old conflicts seem never to die," Guterres said, adding that it is true the international community has lost a lot of its capacity to prevent and to solve conflicts.

"On the other hand, the globalisation that has been an extremely important driver of economic growth, the reduction of poverty in many parts of the world has also left people behind. This has been the cause of unrest and instability in many parts of the world," he said.

"The human rights agenda that is so dear to us all, we also see many difficulties in relation to it, when na-

tional sovereignty sometimes tends to make it difficult for human rights to be effective and to be promoted," he said.

The UN Secretary-General designate said that in all areas the leadership of the United States is absolutely crucial.

"And in all these areas, I believe that we need a UN that is more effective, more cost-effective, more able to serve the people with a very strong reform-minded approach," he said.

"The US has always been a driver for reforming the UN, and I'm deeply committed to pursue that objective to make sure that the UN can be a positive partner in the efforts that the US is leading," Guterres said. (PTI)

Beijing, Dec 3 : At least 38 workers have died in two separate coal mine explosions in China this week, officials said today.

In the latest incident, 17 people were confirmed dead and many others remained trapped after a blast at a coal mine in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region today, officials said.

The explosion took place around midday at Baoma Mining Co Ltd in Yuanbaoshan district in the city of Chifeng, staterun Xinhua news agency

reported.

The government has launched a search and rescue operation.

In another incident, 21 workers trapped in a coal mine in China after an explosion on Tuesday were today declared dead while search is on for one survivor still trapped underground.

They had been declared dead, Xinhua quoted local officials as saying.

The workers were trapped after an explosion on Tuesday at the private coal mine in Qitaihe City, Heilongjiang province.

Malaysia Defends Rally Against 'Ethnic Cleansing' in Myanmar

Protest outside Lanka parliament over local polls Colombo, Dec 03:Thousands of Oppositionbacked protestors today staged demonstration outside Sri Lankan parliament, demanding the holding of local elections soon.

Supporters of joint opposition blocked traffic for several hours and attempted to move towards parliament complex, forcing police to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters.

The demonstrators led by loyalists of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa were demanding local government elections which were due last year, but postponed to devise a new electoral system.

The police were forced to close the road near Parliament as a result of the protest. However, the police later used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters, local media said. (Agencies)

Four arrested in China coal mine blast incident Beijing, Dec 03: Chinese police Saturday arrested four persons, including the owner of a coal mine, after 21 workers trapped in the mine four days ago were confirmed dead.

Among the four suspects are three managers, the emergency rescue headquarters said in a statement. The workers were trapped after an explosion on Tuesday at the private coal mine in Qitaihe City, Heilongjiang province.

Of the 22 miners trapped, 21 were confirmed dead

and one remained missing.

Rescuers retrieved the 21 bodies last night and search operation for the missing miner is on. Staterun CCTV reported the workers could not be reached by rescuers due to presence of poisonous gases even as insurance firms began contacting the families of the workers to settle claims.

Initial enquiries showed that the blast was an accident and the mine was unlicensed, police said.

(Agencies)

Bangladeshi activists of several Islamic groups attend a protest rally against the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, after Friday prayers in Dhaka.

Kuala lumpur, Dec 03: Malaysia's government on Saturday defended plans for a protest rally to condemn what it called "ethnic cleansing" of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority, saying it has an obligation to ensure that its neighbor takes steps to prevent the crisis from deteriorating.

Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to attend the rally at a Kuala Lumpur stadium on Sunday. Myanmar has warned Muslim-majority Malaysia not to interfere in its internal affairs.

In a strongly worded statement, Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said the high number of Rohingya refugees in the country and other neighboring nations has made the crisis "no longer an internal matter but an international matter."

"The fact that only one particular ethnicity is being driven out is by defi-

nition ethnic cleansing.

This practice must stop, and must be stopped immediately in order to bring back security and stability to the Southeast Asian region," it said.

U Zaw Htay, the deputy director general of Myanmar president's office, was quoted by the Myanmar Times as saying that Malaysia should respect a non-interference policy observed by the 10member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

He said the protest appeared to be a calculated political decision to win the support of Muslim Malays in Malaysia.

Malaysia's Foreign Ministry rebutted the claim, saying the crisis was not a religious issue but an immediate humanitarian concern. It said Malaysia has repeatedly offered its assistance to Myanmar to find a just and durable solution to the persecution of

Mass anti-Park protest in Seoul ahead of impeachment vote Seoul, Dec 03: Hundreds of thousands of protestors gathered in Seoulfor the sixth-straight week on Saturday to demand the ouster of scandal-hit President ParkGeun-Hye ahead of an impeachment vote in parliament.

The latest in a series of massive anti-Park demonstrations in the South Korean capital came just hours after opposition parties filed an impeachment motion that will be put to a vote by MPs on Friday.

Whether the motion is adopted or not, Park is firmly on course to become the first democratically-elected South Korean president not to complete a full, five-year term.

The 64-year-old stands accused of colluding with an old friend who has been formally indicted for attempted fraud and abuse of power.

The only real questions that remain are precisely when she will go, and whether she will step down or be removed.

The protestors who have taken to the streets in their millions in recent weeks want her out immediately, but the political establishment is struggling to find a similar unity of purpose.

The impeachment motion introduced in the early hours of Saturday morn-

ing carried 171 signatures -- accounting for every legislator from the three opposition parties and independents.

In order to secure the two-thirds majority required for impeachment in the 300-seat national assembly, it will need the support of more than two-dozen lawmakers from Park's ruling Saenuri Party.

Just a week ago, the backing of enough Saenuri rebels had seemed assured, but a rather confused resignation offer by Park on Tuesday strengthened the hand of her loyalists who insist she be allowed to step down voluntarily.

The party has now proposed she resign in April -a timeline it justifies as more conducive to a calm and steady preparation for an early presidential election.

Observers say the Saenuri rebels are likely to fall in line with the proposal and vote against the motion on Friday -- much to the opposition's annoyance.

"If the motion fails to pass due to a lack of cooperation from the ruling party, it must take responsibility for all the consequences", the main opposition Democratic Party's floor leader Woo Sang-Ho said.

The prospect of an April

State-run CCTV reported the workers could not be reached by rescuers due to presence of poisonous gases even as insurance firms began contacting the families of the workers to settle claims.

Meanwhile, Chinese police today arrested four persons, including the owner of the private coal mine and three managers, the emergency rescue headquarters said.

Initial enquiries showed that the blast was an accident and the mine was unlicensed, police said.

(PTI)

departure for Park will do little to assuage the widespread public anger that has driven the mass protests in Seoul and other cities.

"Park is lying when she said she would step down voluntarily. Impeachment is the only option left for stripping her of the office," said Goh Du-Hwan, a 45-year-old accountant.

Goh was among hundreds of activists who gathered for an early protest outside the Saenuri Party headquarters ahead of Saturday's mass rally.

"I don't regard Park as our president any more. She must go now," added Chung Do-Sook, 54, a former English instructor.

Even if impeachment were approved by the assembly on Friday, Park would likely remain in office for some considerable time.

An adopted motion would still require approval of the Constitutional Court -- a process that could take up to six months, with no guarantee of how the bench would rule.

The only other impeachment was of then-president Roh Moo-Hyun in 2004. On that occasion, the court rejected the motion and there was a strong public backlash

against those who supported it.

Saturday's main demonstration was set to culminate -- as on previous Saturdays -- in a candlelit march in the direction of the presidential Blue House.

Police said they had deployed around 20,000 officers to control the event.

A similar rally the previous week drew what organisers claimed was a record 1.5 million people.

Police put the turnout at 270,000.

The scandal that has engulfed Park and paralysed her administration has focused on her friendship with long-time confidante Choi Soon-Sil. Choi has been charged with meddling in state affairs and using her Blue House connections to force dozens of conglomerates to donate around $70 million to two foundations she controlled.

In a first for a sitting South Korean president, Park has been named a "suspect" by prosecutors investigating Choi.

As president, Park cannot be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason, but she would lose that immunity once she steps down. (Agencies)

Rohingya.

Malaysia has summoned the Myanmar ambassador over the issue, and withdrew from two scheduled friendly football matches against Myanmar this month.

Hundreds also protested outside the Myanmar Embassy last week to denounce the Rakhine "genocide."

Myanmar's Rakhine state, home to Rohingya Muslims in the predominantly Buddhist nation, was the scene of intense ethnic violence in 2012 that left hundreds dead and drove 140,000 people into camps for the internally displaced, most of them Rohingya.

The latest outbreak was triggered by attacks on Myanmar border posts on Oct. 9 that killed nine police officers. The identity and motives of the attackers are unclear, but in response, the government began military sweeps, sparking a major confrontation in midNovember when villagers resisted troops.

The government has cut off access to the area to aid agencies, diplomats and journalists.

Many of the estimated 1 million Rohingya, who face widespread discrimination and are excluded from Myanmar citizenship, have lived in Rakhine for generations but are treated as illegal settlers from Bangladesh. (Agencies)

Pak. to send envoy to meet Trump team Islamabad, Dec 03: Pakistan has decided to send an envoy to the US to hold meetings with Donald Trump's transition team, two days after a "productive" telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the President-elect.

Pakistani Prime Minister's special assistant for foreign affairs Tariq Fatemi will visit the US this weekend to meet officials of the Trump transition team.

Fatemi's meeting with officials of Trump transition team was confirmed by Jalil Abbas Jilani, Pakistan's Ambassador to the US. "Besides meeting members of the transition team, Fatemi will meet officials of the outgoing Obama administration," said Jilani.

US President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to take the oath on January 20 but he has already set up a provisional team, encouraging foreign leaders and officials to visit his headquarters in New York for familiarisation meetings.

Fatemi, who is coming on a two-week official visit, is also expected to meet some members of this team and in Washington, "he will also meet new US lawmakers elected last month," Jilani told a news briefing at the embassy.

"This is a very important visit as much has happened in Washington since the November 8 elections," Jilani said.

The development came days after a telephonic talks between Trump and Sharif.

(Agencies)

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DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

P11 Match Awards Club

award:

Shared by both clubs

Fittest Player of the Match: David Addy

Winning Pass of the Match: Cafu Swift Moment of the Match: Tony Doblas

ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Udanta Singh

Hero of the Match: Gerson Vieira

Mumbai cement pole position after 0-0 against Delhi Mumbai, Dec 3 : Mumbai City FC and Delhi Dynamos FC played out a 0-0 draw in their last league stage game of Hero Indian Super League 2016 in front of more than 7,000 fans at the Mumbai Football Arena on Saturday.

The draw saw Mumbai cement top spot with 23 points from 14 games, while Delhi are currently second 21 points from 14 games and will now have to wait for the result of the game between Kerala Blasters FC and NorthEast United FC to find out in which position they will qualify for the semis.

It was a slow start to the game with the first shot on

goal coming in the 22nd minute courtesy of Mumbai’s marquee player Diego Forlan. A good crossfield pass by Cafu found the Uruguayan striker on the left with time and space to attack.

His shot though was punched away by Toni Doblas from the danger area. Cafu then cut in from the right flank before having a go at goal himself soon after but his shot flew over the crossbar.

Delhi started to see more of the ball and grow into the game as the match approached the half hour mark but couldn’t create any clear-cut chances on goal. Mumbai’s Krisztian

Vadocz tried his luck from distance in the 36th minute but the Hungarian dragged his effort wide of goal.

Bruno Pelissari tried to curl one in at the near post from a direct free-kick six minutes before half-time but the Brazilian’s attempt for the Lions went over the crossbar. Sehnaj Singh had the last chance of the half in stoppage-time. His shot, however, was tipped over the crossbar by Doblas as both teams headed into the tunnel after a goalless half.

Pelissari had Delhi’s first attempt of the second half in the 53rd minute but his shot was blocked by Mumbai’s defence and

went behind for a corner.

Forlan took a shot with his weaker left-foot from distance 12 minutes later to no avail as it went over the crossbar for a Mumbai corner.

The hosts came closest to taking the lead in the 72nd minute when Cafu unleashed a shot from range that rattled the crossbar.

Delhi went straight up the other end seconds later and hit the woodwork themselves as Pelissari’s shot struck the post.

Sony Norde came off the bench and found himself in a good position with the ball at his feet inside the box after a scuffed shot

by Forlan found its way

to the Haitian winger.

Norde though couldn’t steady himself and make a proper connection with the ball, allowing Delhi to clear the danger.

Mumbai had a glorious chance of winning the game seven minutes from full-time after a wellworked free-kick by Forlan made its way to Gerson Vieira, who was inside the six-yard box with the goal at his mercy.

Delhi’s defence, however, did just about enough to thwart the threat. Udanta Singh had the last chance of the game in the final minute of normal time after cutting in from the right and firing a low left-footed effort. His shot though was wide of the target as the penultimate league stage match of Hero ISL 2016 ended goalless.

Maxwell fined for disrespectful remarks against Matthew Wade IANS Sydney, Dec 3: Australia skipper Steven Smith on Saturday said allrounder Glenn Maxwell has been fined for 'disrespectful' comments on his limited-overs teammate Matthew Wade.

Maxwell, who was recalled to the One-Day International (ODI) squad for Sunday's match against New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), on Thursday said its painful for him to bat behind wicketkeeper Wade for

Glenn Maxwell

Victoria in Sheffield Shield match.

"Everyone was disap-

pointed in his comments, I've expressed that with him myself and spoke to

the team," Smith was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"One of our values is respect and having respect for your teammates, opposition, fans and media.

"I thought what he said was very disrespectful to a team mate and his Victorian captain.

"The leadership group got together and we decided to fine Glenn. We thought that was a sufficient punishment," Smith added.

The skipper also said that Maxwell is upset with

this whole development but he is trying to focus on his game against the Kiwis.

"He was "shattered" when he heard his punishment. I don't think he (Maxwell) thought the words came out the way they actually did," Smith said.

"We've moved on from that now. We've fined him and expressed our disappointment towards what he said and moving on and trying to focus on this game tomorrow," the skipper added.

Kerala Blasters, NorthEast to battle for semis spot

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IANS Kochi, Dec 3: Kerala Blasters FC and NorthEast United FC face a desperate battle to secure the last semi-final spot when they lock horns in an Indian Super League (ISL) match here on Sunday.

The Blasters need only a draw to qualify for the semi-finals and should be at an advantage since they are playing at home where they have won four matches in a row.

"We just play. I don't

know how to play for a draw. We play to try and win the game. As the game develops, obviously people make decisions.

The coaches will try and change (approach).

"As the game develops, the consequences will become apparent but certainly at the start, we are going in to win, trying to win. That's the only way we can approach," Kerala Blasters manager Steve Coppell said during the pre-match media interaction here on Saturday.

Kerala have been strong at home, winning four matches in a row while their away performance has been patchy.

Coppell admitted that Kerala had their "pants taken off" against Mumbai City FC -when they lost 0-5 -- but they can find comfort in home surroundings, especially at a time when Kochi has been awarded the right to host this year's final.

"I think it's the best atmosphere at any of the

grounds we have played.

There is the biggest crowd, the best atmosphere. It's a wise decision by the league to select Kochi.

"Kerala loves football, the people love their football and whether we are in the final or not, I am sure the people here will embrace the final and make it a great spectacle for everyone watching," Coppell said.

If the Blasters are entertaining any hope of playing the final at home even with midfielder Mehtab Hossain suspended, they must stop NorthEast United FC. The visitors have never made it to the knock-out stage in the previous two seasons and will be determined to qualify for the first time in three attempts.

"I am sure tomorrow we will have a fantastic atmosphere. It's hard for the team which will be out but this is the best side of football. You can say we played enough quality football to be already

qualified. (But) football is not only performance, it's about results.

"Tomorrow we will be here for one thing: result, and as you know, performance is forgotten and result remains forever. I hope we can have a great game," NorthEast manager Nelo Vingada said.

Vingada is aware that the Blasters will have an added advantage because they will be backed by the home crowd, but is confident of his team's chances.

"Kerala has an advantage with so many fans supporting them, but that will not be enough. Who can win the game are the players inside the field.

I know it will be hard for us because we must win but we are here to win," he said.

Interestingly, the two teams were the first to play each other this season as ISL 2016 kicked off in Guwahati on October 1 with NorthEast United clinching a solitary goal victory at home.

Assam batsman saves match against Jharkhand Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Dec 3: The third day was good for Assam after a disastrous start in second innings by the openers. On the the third day the boys played a good cricket and drawn the match against Jarkhand in the Vijay Merchant U-16 trophy at Dibrugarh District Sports Association stadium here today.

Assam scored 238 for seven in 125 overs. On yesterday Assam were 23/3 in 17 overs . Nibir Deka top scored with 71 off 169 balls, hitting ten boundaries and Captain Danish Das scored 29 off 162 balls. Atul Kumar Singh contributed 58 off 170 balls with nine boundaries. Rituraj Biswas remained unbeaten on 23.

For Jharkhand, Manishi, Suraj Kumar and Pankaj Yadav took two wickets a piece by giving away 55, 45 and 76 runs.

In the first innings, Jharkhand were all out for 209 in 67.5 overs. In reply, Assam were bundled out for 65 in 44.5 overs. Jharkhand bagged three points while Assam should happy with one point.

Tinsukia Railway beat Town club Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Dec 3: Tinsukia Railway Divisional Sports Club registered five wickets victory over Tinsukia Town Club in the A-division cricket league tournament organized by Tinsukia district Sports Association at Tinsukia district Sports Association stadium today. Altogether, five teams participated in the tournament.

Opting to bat first,

Tinsukia Town Club piled up 168 before being bowled out in 33.3 overs. Anup Bujel top scored with 75 off 91 balls and Sanjib Baruah contributed 20 off 30 balls.

For Tinsukia Railway, Abhilash Gogoi scalped three for 39 in 6.3 overs. Bijen Dutta nad Bimal Goswami took two wickets a piece conceding 10 and 26 runs respectively.

In run chase, losing five wickets Tinsukia Railway scored 169 in 30.2 overs. Amarjit Nag smashed 54 off 36 balls while Abhilash Gogoi chipped in with 36 off 55 balls. Bimal Goswami scored 29 and Bijen Dutta contributed 25 runs.

Sunil Bhargav took three for 15 in 7 overs for Tinsukia Town Club.

Raja Mazumdar and Manjit Sharma scalped one wicket each.

Sachin Tendulkar bats for two pitches in single Ranji game PTI New Delhi, Dec 3: As Indian domestic cricket circuit tries to reinvent itself, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar suggested that every Ranji Trophy game should be played on two different pitches to prepare a better Test team for overseas assignments.

He also had an interesting take on how to make bilateral Test series engaging - by having backto-back home-and-away rubbers so that the strength of two teams remains mostly constant but the conditions change to make for a bigger challenge.

However, it is Tendulkar's suggested innovations of two different pitches for a single Ranji match which will make anyone sit up and take notice.

"I have thought a lot about neutral venues in Ranji Trophy (which is being experimented this season). I have a suggestion which can be radical.

When we go to places like Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa, we play with kookaburra balls which swings early.

Think about a young Ranji batsman playing with SG Test in India and then facing difficulty overseas," Tendulkar spoke at Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

"Let us have the first innings on a green top with kookaburra balls which would give openers a challenge. Even bowlers will have something. Our spinners will also learn how to bowl with kookaburra on Green tops," Tendulkar explained.

His next suggestion was even more interesting.

"Now let there be a pitch adjacent to the green top which would be a rank turner. Now the second innings will be played on that track with the SG Test ball which would also help our batsmen play against quality spin bowling. We have been too focussed on playing pace in overseas conditions but we should not forget how to play spin bowling.

"Don't forget even overseas teams are losing to us in India. May be they

Sachin Tendulkar would start using SG in their domestic matches."

For Tendulkar, two pitches, two balls in two innings of a match takes curator preparing designer pitches out of the equation and also nullifies the toss factor.

"A captain would start thinking that winning the toss will give him only 10 percent advantage that is his right to choose first.

But if he chooses to bowl on green top he should remember that he would need to bat on a Turner in the fourth innings," he said making it clear that it may or may not click.

In fact, BCCI president Anurag Thakur was among the audience listening with rapt attention.

About the dwindling crowd in Test cricket, Tendulkar blamed lack of rivalry in the longest format that has caused affected the interest in the sport not to forget the emergence of Twenty20.

"When we grew up we had rivalries like Sunil Gavaskar vs Imran Khan, Viv Richardsvs Jeff Thomson and then (Brian) Lara vs Glenn McGrath or Steve Waugh vs Curtly Ambrose. West Indies team in '80s and '90s generated interest.

"The target then was to beat the West Indies.

Australia was an incredible players. Nine world

class and if 3-4 could close the game. That is missing," he lamented.

Asked what could be a solution, Tendulkar said: "Look we went to England in 2014 and lost the series. Now England are down in this series and since 2014, they have lost a couple of players.

"My suggestion is to have back to back matches against same the side home and away. Let us play two Tests in India and then two Tests in England. Same set of players but different venues.

Obviously there will be some changes in terms of form and injuries but core will be same. That will be a fair contest."

He was all praise for the current Indian team led

by Virat Kohli.

"This team reminds me of our times between 20002011. They have a quality pace and spin attack.

We believe that it is the best team in the world.

Soon rest of the world will follow us." Tendulkar, who has been promoting Olympic Sports, also spoke about some discussions he has had with Sports Authority of India to popularise various events.

"During IPL, we can have athletics events and then during ODIs when you have packed houses.

That will also encourage the athletes."

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Mumbai cement pole position after 0-0 against Delhi

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DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

P12 There was enough talk about the big clash between Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam-starrer Kaabil and Shah Rukh Khan-Mahira Khan's Raees at the box office.

Both the big ticket films were set to release on January 26. But now, the makers of Kaabil have announced that the film will release on the evening of January 25, a day before its scheduled release.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed the news via twitter. He posted, "#Kaabil and #Raees won't clash on *same day*‌ Rakesh Roshan to release #Kaabil *one day earlier* - 25 Jan 2017 - from 6 pm onwards."

Another statement from the makers reads "Rakesh Roshan's Kaabil

will be releasing in theatres across India on 25th January 2017 (evening) and will be in theatre from the 6pm show onwards."

Kaabil is produced by Hrithik's father Rakesh Roshan under their home banner FilmKraft Produc-

tions, and directed by Sanjay Gupta. It was set to clash with director Rahul Dholakia's Raees.

A Telugu poster and a Tamil trailer of Kaabil were also released.

Rakesh Roshan and Hrithik Roshan shared the same on Twitter.

Confirming the latest change in the release date, Rakesh Roshan shared the Telugu poster of the film. He tweeted, "Experience the warmth of a beautiful love story called #Kaabil on 25th Jan. #KaabilTeluguPoster @FilmKRAFTfilms."

Kahaani 2 audience reaction: This is an out-and-out Vidya Balan show Kahaani 2 has opened to a positive response on Day One of its release. While cinema halls were not packed to their capacity in the morning show, people appreciated the suspense drama starring Vidya Balan and Arjun Rampal in the lead. We visited Fun Cinemas in Andheri, Mumbai, which saw about 90 people turning up to watch the first show and they were largely happy with the film.

"The suspense is quite good and right till the end it kept us guessing and engaged. Nowhere does the film dips in pace and there is no unnecessary song and dance drama. It's tightly knit and made for an exciting watch.

Sujoy Ghosh has done a good job," said a member of the audience.

While the suspense arrested the attention of some people, there were others at another multiplex who felt it was quite predictable. Said a viewer, "The film had a predictable end as you can guess what was really happening."

Performance wise, it was the redoubtable Vidya Balan

who led from the front. The actor wowed audience with yet another power-packed performance. Said a female viewer, "Vidya amazingly internalises the victim's pain to make it her own and that makes us empathise too.

Full marks to Vidya for her brilliant portrayal."

"Vidya is one actor who doesn't need to cake up her face with makeup and look pretty to act. She just knows how to act well and Kahaani 2 proves that yet again," opined another viewer.

Handsome hunk Arjun Rampal's cop act also drew good praise. "He has a good role. He looks good and delivers a measured performance. But this is and out-andout Vidya Balan show," remarked another viewer. There were mixed reactions when asked to draw comparisons between Kahaani and Kahaani 2. While majority felt Kahaani was way better, there were a few who gave Kahaani 2 bigger thumbs up.

Deepika Padukone to take a break from Padmavati, accompany Vin Diesel for xXx promotions

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Deepika Padukone is a girl in hurry. From shooting schedules, promotion duties and accepting awards, she had her December and January all chalked out. The actor who is busy shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmavati opposite Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor will have to stop playing the queen for a while. The reason?

She has to slip in black lycra and wield some guns and kick some butt.

According to the reports, Deepika will be taking a break from the magnum opus to promote her first Hollywood project in which she shares the screen with Fast and Furious actor, Vin Diesel.

Deepika does not want to miss on the marketing of her Hollywood debut in India or abroad. She was earlier seen promoting the movie on the premiere episode of Salman Khan's much talked about television reality

show, Bigg Boss 10. She even released the special Indian trailer of xXx on the show. Instead of focussing on Vin Diesel who has a huge fan following across the world, the special trailer gives a glimpse into the daredevil avatar of Deepika.

And, now since the release date of her Hollywood debut is round the corner, from mid-December, she will be all geared up to promote the movie after completing

the first schedule of Padmavati's shooting.

Rumour has it that Deepika will also be leaving for the US to attend the film's world premiere.

"It is her wish to keep herself completely free from mid-December until the release on January 19. The first schedule of Padmavati wraps up mid-December," said a source close to Bollywood Hungama. If the reports are to be believed then Vin Diesel wants his co-star, Deepika to accompany him across the globe promotions of their muchawaited, xXx: The Return Of The Xander Cage.

Directed by DJ Caruso, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage is a sequel to the 2002 film xXx and 2005 film xXx: State of the Union. The film also stars Ruby Rose, Samuel L Jackson, Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa. It will release on January 19, 2017.

Sunny Leone trumps PM Narendra Modi, Salman Khan to emerge most searched personality Sunny Leone has done it again. The adult star-turned-Bollywood actor has trumped Prime Minister Narendra Modi and superstar Salman Khan to become the most searched personality for the fifth consecutive year in India, as revealed by YahooIndia. She is a step ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjiwal came on number three. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan managed to clinch the fourth rank. Every year, the website releases its Year in Review list, which reveals the people, events and stories that managed to grab the attention of Indians in the last 12 months.

The Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor, however, topped the list of Top 10 Most Searched Male Celebrities.

The actor delivered a massive hit this year with Sultan opposite Anushka Sharma, who also ranked on the 10th position in the list of Top 10 Most Searched Female Celebrities. The second most searched male celeb was not another Khan but stand-up comedian and TV personality Kapil Sharma. He is followed by Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Tanmay Bhat, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.

Bipasha Basu, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Pratyusha Banerjee, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Radhika Apte, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma were the actresses who followed in the list after Sunny Leone. With Bipasha's wedding high on interest, she managed to trump Deepika, Katrina and Priyanka as the second most searched female celeb. Strangely, Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt didn't make it to the list.

Dear Zindagi box office collection day 7: Alia Bhatt, Shah Rukh Khan's film beats demonetisation, earns Rs 47 cr

A lia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Dear Zindagi completed one week at the box office and despite mixed reviews, the film seemed to have done quite well. Dear Zindagi is Gauri Shinde's second film and although the film couldn't reach up to the standards of English

Vinglish, the faces of glamorous stars like Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan helped it earn as much as Rs. 47 crore in one week. "#DearZindagi has a good Week 1‌ Fri 8.75 cr, Sat 11.25 cr, Sun 12.50 cr, Mon 4.25 cr, Tue 4 cr, Wed 3.25 cr, Thu 3 cr. Total: ? 47 cr," Bollywood

analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted. "#DearZindagi *Weekend 2* is crucial. The biz will give an idea of its lifetime biz. India biz," Taran Adarsh added later.

Dear Zindagi was made at about Rs 22 crore budget and is a much smaller release given it has SRK playing an important role.

Released on 1200 screens, the film has earned more than the lifetime collection of Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish.

For Dear Zindagi, Gauri Shinde had decided not to promote the film in a stereotyped manner with teasers and trailers. Instead, she released four takes from the film before its release and the fifth take was uploaded on YouTube five days after its release in theatres.

Dear Zindagi is the story of Kaira, a cinematographer, who practically has everything in her life but still suffers from insomnia and feels empty within.

She takes help from psychologist Jehangir Khan who does not believe in curing a patient within the four walls of a consulting room. During the sessions, Kaira learns to accept life the way it is and manages to see the light even in the darkest of times.

Jolly LLB 2: Akshay Kumar reveals first look, film to release on February 10, 2017 A

kshay Kumar has revealed the first look of his much-awaited movie Jolly LLB 2. We have to say that Akshay has nailed the look of a small town lawyer.

What stands out is his complete new avatar for the role. Be it carrying a tiffin box to the office or wearing a pair of sports shoes or riding a scooter, the film's new poster has reinvented the look of a common man. So will we see Akshay Kumar in a funny avatar once again?

The film starring Akshay as a lawyer will release on February 10, 2017. Akshay t o o k t o Tw i t t e r a n d shared," And here is the first look of #JollyLLB2 as promised. Ready to meet this Jolly good fellow on 10th Feb. 2017?" The film will release on February 10, 2017.

Remember, how Akshay entertained us all with his impeccable comic act in films like Hera Pheri and Housefull? Well, Akshay seems to do it again over here. The actor is seen smiling. What also caught our eye is this- The State vs. Jolly LLB 2-written on the poster. Going by this

line, one can expect some really gritty courtroom arguments filled with hilarious moments.

Written and directed by S u b h a s h K a p o o r, J o l l y LLB 2 is mostly shot in Lucknow. Jolly LLB 2 is a sequel to 2013 courtroom drama Jolly LLB starring Arshad Warsi and

Boman Irani. The film saw a small time lawyer played by Arshad struggling to win a case defended by the high-profile lawyer Boman Irani.

Arshad also faces threat by local goons everytime he tries to collect an evidence or finds out the truth.

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Editor: Prahlad Hammey

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Kaabil's release date preponed, will not clash with Shah Rukh Khan's Raees