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CENTRE RUSHES 4,000 TROOPS TO MANIPUR

Vol. II

Issue 153

Dibrugarh, Thursday, December 22, 2016

The Jayalalithaa mystique

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In a circular issued to banks on Wednesday, the RBI said it was revoking the restrictions after review. In a sharp U-turn by the Reserve Bank of India, the restrictions imposed on bank deposits exceeding Rs 5000 in old notes have now been withdrawn by the central bank. In a circular issued to banks on Wednesday, the RBI said it was revoking the restrictions after reviewing the case. On Monday, the RBI announced that deposits in old notes will be limited to Rs 5000, and those exceeding the sum will come under scrutiny. “Tenders of specified bank notes (SBN) in excess of Rs. 5,000 into a bank account will be received for credit only once during the

remaining period till December 30, 2016,” RBI said. It said that customers would have to answer questions such as why they couldn’t deposit the demonetised currency so far. Only after receiving a

Bank Association's President says RBI's new notification is ridiculous ANI New Delhi, Dec. 21

The president of All India Bank Employees Association, Vishwas Utagi, on Wednesday dubbed the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) new notification of not depositing an amount beyond Rs. 5000 as ridiculous, adding that the government is forcing bank officials to become investigating or income tax officers.

Now, citizens can make deposits of more than Rs 5,000 but only to KYC-compliant accounts. They won't be questioned.

The RBI today withdrew a directive issued earlier this week that barred deposits of more than Rs 5,000 in defunct notes.

once till December 30. The Central Bank gave relaxation to those who hold 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) compliant accounts. "We are the bank officers, we cannot verify from where the money has come. We can only accept and reject the deposits. There is nothing mentioned in the note, either black or white, that whether it is tax evaded or not. The bank cashier can verify only one thing whether it is a fake or a genuine note," he added.

"I think this is the 59th such notification or instruction from the Reserve Bank of India to the banking system, which is ridiculous. Prime Minister had said you can deposit till December 30, and now very ridiculously a proposal from RBI says you cannot deposit beyond Rs. 5000, and that too with two witnesses from the bank officials," Utagi told ANI.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday partially reversed the rule that restricted people from depositing over Rs. 5000 in old bank notes more than once till December 30.

The RBI had, earlier in the day, withdrawn its rule issued on Monday that restricted people from depositing over Rs. 5000 in old bank notes more than

Earlier on Monday, the RBI had announced that deposits in old notes will be limited to Rs 5000, and those exceeding that sum will come under scrutiny.

The relaxation will, however, apply to "fully KYC compliant accounts" where KYC pertains to customer information details.

satisfactory reply would the bank credit the amount to the individual’s account, RBI said. It also added that deposits less than Rs 5000, but cumulatively exceeding the limit, will also be duly scrutinised. And the money deposited would be only credited to KYC

complaint accounts, it said. RBI set December 30 as the deadline for making the deposits. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, however, clarified that deposits made in one go would not attract questions from bank and tax authorities, but repeated deposits by same account holder might raise questions. This further compounded the confusion over the initial notification issued due to the contradicting statements coming from the government and RBI. The fresh directive by the RBI came under heavy criticism from the Opposition, with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi tweeting “RBI is changing rules like the PM changes his clothes”.

Former Assam Congress Minister Robin Bordoloi Joins Bharatiya Janata Party PTI Guwahati, Dec 21

Robin Bordoloi, former Congress minister and son of the first chief minister of undivided Assam Gopinath Bordoloi, today joined BJP. "BJP is doing good work, both at the Centre and the state. I appreciate their work and that is why I have joined them. I want to work for the people," said Robin Bordoloi after joining BJP at a function in Guwahati. The three-time Congress MLA alleged that he did not get his due respect and position in Congress. In 2001, Robin Bordoloi, an ex-Army officer, was elected as MLA from Dispur constituency by defeating the then chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta by more than 30,000 votes. He had served as minister of state (Independent) for sports, youth welfare, relief and rehabilitation in the first cabinet of Tarun Gogoi and was instrumental in bringing the 33rd National Games to Assam and creating sports

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ET Correspondent Namsai, Dec 21: 42nd Annual School Week Celebration of Government Higher Secondary School, Namsai was inaugurated by MLA-cum-Parliamentary Secretary Planning Chow Zingnu Namchoom today on 21st December 2016 at School's playground. The ceremony began with display of marchpast display by four houses and followed by display of 'go as you like'. On his short speech, he advised the students beside study, to take part in in cocurricular activities. The Parliamentary Secretary further advised the students to unearth their hidden talent and inculcate discipline in India. The function was attended by C.K Mounglang ZPC, Shri B.Talukda,SDO Namsai, Shri.Talom Pabin DDSE Namsai,Ngos, public and various students leaders.

Organizing the happiness program at Tezu Dangwimsai Pul opined that the Art of Living happiness program is a great service initiative which will contribute immensely in building a joyful and healthy society. She exhorted people to come forward and benefit from organizing and participating

in such programs.

Conglomeration of NGOs led by Green Arunachal Foundation demands an apology from Chief Secretary Gamlin for her “anti-Arunachal” letter A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Dec 21

A conglomeration of nongovernmental organisations, led by the Green Arunachal Foundation (GAF) today demanded an apology from state Chief Secretary Shakuntala D Gamlin within the next two weeks for the alleged “anti-Arunachal” letter she wrote to the Secretary of Civil Aviation on June 22, 2016. Speaking to reporters today, GAF chairman Takam Tatung said that the chief secretary has to issue an apology to the entire state, along with a clarification on the letter sent to the Secretary of Civil Aviation, which suggested a change in the airport establishment site from the already selected site at Hollongi to BanderdewaKarsingsa. “The CS Office has to be neutral in its decisions, but the letter clearly shows that the land owners and the people of Arunachal are being deprived of what should rightfully be there’s”,

he added. Terming the incident unfortunate, Arunachal Civil Society chairman Patey Tayum said that the lands of the affected people and of all the indigenous people of the state are in jeopardy now with the “illogical letter”. “She’s the daughter-in-law of the state, and she is aware of the ground realities of its people. It is sad that she has not understood what the consequences of her letter could be for the people of Arunachal”, Tayum said. On the chief secretary’s remarks that the proposed land at Hollongi belongs to the Chakmas, the GAF, supported by Greenfield Airport Land Affected Peoples’ Forum of Hollongi, All Nyishi Students’ Union, Arunachal Civil Society and All Papum Pama Students’ Union, collectively questioned the CS to clarify on it as well. Tatung said that an area for their settlement was provided when the Chakmas came in 1968-69, but it does not include the entire stretch of the proposed airport site.

Also perturbed that Chief Minister Pema Khandu has not held any Cabinet meeting on the issue or issued necessary directions to the chief secretary, the NGOs collectively demanded that the chief minister hold a special review meeting to establish an airport anywhere within Arunachal Pradesh. “As per the Vision Document 2020, every state in India has to have an airport by the year 2020. There are merely three years left. We wonder how the government is going to achieve the target in such a short span of time?” the members said, while also adding that “the authorities are least bothered about the people of the state and are more concerned with their chairs.” Demanding early compensation for landaffected people and establishment of an airport at any location within the territory of Arunachal Pradesh, the organisations reiterated their demand for an apology from the chief secretary or face a series of democratic movements from the organizations.

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Robin Bordoloi, a former Army officer, is a three-time Congress MLA and minister from Assam.

infrastructure internationals.

Robin Bordoloi was elected as MLA from Guwahati East in 2006 by defeating the then state BJP President Ramen Deka and was re-elected from the same constituency in 2011. He also contested the Lok Sabha election on a Congress ticket in 2009, but was defeated. Robin Bordoloi

held numerous positions in Congress, including General Secretary of Assam PCC and was a AICC member. Robin Bordoloi's father Gopinath Bordoloi was a Prime Minister of undivided Assam before independence and later Chief Minister of the Indian state of Assam, and also a leading Indian independence activist. Gopinath Bordoloi was also awarded the Bharat Ratna.

Art of Living happiness program held at Tezu ET Bureau Tezu, Dec 21

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ET CAPSULES Namchoom inaugurates Annual School Week Celebration of Govt. Hr. Sec. School

PAGE 12

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RBI withdraws Rs 5000 deposit limit for KYC-compliant accounts ET Bureau New Delhi, Dec 21

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The participants expressed great pleasure and hope that the road to happiness and healthy life is easier with the practice of Sudarshan Kriya practice. All the ladies who attended the course participated with punctuality.

changed me to some extent regarding thoughts process and opinion on life and living,” said course participant, Mamuli Mihu. "I will try my best to continue and follow the knowledge I learned during this happiness programme in my future," she further added.

"I really like to do Sudarshan kriya as I feel relaxed and rejuvenated. The guidance in five golden keys of happiness for life

Jome Kadu felt the yoga program very effective not only for physical fitness but also for mental fitness and of course for spiritual

upliftment. Art of Living teacher, Dr Rama Tewari guided the participants to maintain regularity of practice to reap better results. The whole world is gaining from yoga and the simple people of Arunachal are in better position to achieve higher levels of achievements she added. The local organizers thanked the Lohit district Administration for support rendered.

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DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

P2 Aries Today is excellent for you, Aries. You will find that things flow naturally in the very way you've visualized. You might even find that things actually go much better than you had envisioned! Go about your endeavors confidently. The whole world isn't out to get you. In fact, people are probably too concerned with themselves to even bother with what you're doing.

Taurus Be careful about the way your words come across to others, Taurus. You might not realize how much other people's feelings are affected until it's too late. Consider backing off for a while and taking a break from your normal performance. Practice your lines at home. You may be in a bit of a funk, but the good news is that you will snap out of it very soon.

Gemini Today could be the day you've been waiting for, Gemini. Realize that you have the gentle, sincere nature necessary to sweet-talk your way through any situation. Indeed, if there is something that needs resolution, now would be a good time to smooth things over. People will be more receptive to your good nature and nurturing qualities.

Jorhat Police Arrests Absconding Pravat Kalita from Delhi Hotel ET Correspondent Jorhat, Dec 21: A joint team of Jorhat Police and Delhi Police arrested Pravat Kalita, Chairman of General Caste Development Council from a hotel in Dariaganj in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. Pravat Kalita was accused of swindling lakhs of money from General Caste Development Council. Earlier an FIR was lodged by Virender Mittal, District Commissioner of Jorhat and against Pravat Kalita of General Caste Development Council and former ADC of Jorhat, Anjanav Chaliha. A case has been registered (2452/16) under 409/419/ 420/34 IPC. On 14 of November, Chaliha had been arrested by Jorhat Police on corruption charges that that hit the General

Pravat Kalita was arrested from Priya Lodge of New Delhi on Tuesday evening. Photo by Nekib Ahmed Caste Development Council and other development works of District administration. Earlier, Pravat Kalita managed to flee away for

quite sometime. Pravat Kalita was arrested from Priya Lodge of New Delhi on Tuesday evening after one and a half month of man

National seminar for promoting regional languages in teaching and learning

Cancer Something is urging you to take action, Cancer. You may feel a restlessness in the air that makes you want to get up and go. The problem is the place you need to go may not be obvious at first. Tender emotions may get in the way of decisive action. Realize that your destination is inside your heart. We all go through moody periods. This could be one for you.

Leo You will find that your emotions are much more under control today, Leo. You're able to strike a happy balance and avoid extraordinary extremes that scare others away. In fact, quite the opposite is true. People will be attracted to you as you provide a life raft on turbulent waters. Your sensitivity is strong and you're able to immediately fix on the status of any situation.

Virgo Things may seem a little cloudy today, Virgo, but this is no reason to be blue. It could be that you need to make adjustments before you can smoothly relate to others. Take this opportunity to attend to things that you normally wouldn't think of. See things from the perspective of someone in another walk of life. Realize the fun of just staying home and falling asleep on the couch.

Libra Try not to see the negative in everything today, Libra. Concentrate on the positive. You will pick up subtle signals from others that can be very helpful as you gather data throughout the day. As you proceed through it, keep in mind that everything need not be a race to the finish line. Enjoy where you are now. There's no reason to rush to the next activity if you're having fun.

Scorpio

The seminar had four technical sessions which were chaired by four eminent scholars in the field. A Staff Reporter language. Er. J.S. Rawat of the MHRD unDibrugarh, Dec. 21: As part of the Gov- derlined the need of using proper vernacuernment of India’s initiative towards pro- lar terms while speaking in regional lanmoting regional languages in teaching and guages instead of English terms. learning, a MHRD Sponsored National Seminar on the “Use of Technical Termi- The seminar had four technical sessions nology in Political Science” is being orga- which were chaired by four eminent scholnized by the Department of Political Sci- ars in the field. Dr. Anushabdha, Associate ence, Dibrugarh University, from 21 to 22 Professor, Department of Hindi, Tezpur UniDecember, 2016. While inaugurating the versity spoke on the types and nature of techseminar Professor Mukut Hazarika, Dean, nical terminologies and drew attention on School of Education, Dibrugarh University the need and possibility of higher education underscored the importance of a seminar of in medicine and engineering and the like in this kind which concentrates on the use of regional languages. Dr. Jayanta Krishna technical terminology in Social Sciences. Sarma, Associate Professor, Department of Dr. Dibyajyoti Dutta, Coordinator of the Political Science, Gauhati University underSeminar, in his Welcome Address provided lined the difficulties in translating terms due a short history of the glossary making ef- to the possibility of distortion of meanings forts in Political Science in Assamese lan- during translations. Elaborating the need of guage. In his Keynote Address Dr. S.A. an extensive glossary in each discipline, Dr. Ansari of the MHRD highlighted the im- Dwijen Deka, Associate Professor, Departportance of the proper use of scientific and ment of Political Science, Rangia College, technical terms in regional languages en- Rangia noted that the use of the dictionary listed in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Con- is not enough to justify the meaning of stitution. A book titled “Fundamental Glos- words. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Utpal sary in Political Science-English-Hindi- Saikia, Assistant Professor, Kalabari ColAssamese” published by Commission on lege, Kalabari, underscored the importance Scientific and Technical Terminology of the use of appropriate words and their (CSTT) was also released in the programme. role in social development. In his Book Release Address, Professor Ananda Bormudoi, a noted educationist of The seminar was well-attended by particithe State, lauded the effort of the Govern- pants from different educational institutions ment of India to promote such a glossary of Assam along with faculty members from which is the first of its kind in any Indian Dibrugarh University.

ET Bureau Tinsukia, 21 Dec: Vodafone India on Tuesday rolled out its 4G service in Tinsukia, Assam. The company in a statement said that it will launch its 4G services across major towns and cities of Assam and North East Circles by March 2017. Vodafone SuperNet 4G service in Assam is built on 1800 MHz band having a strong fibre backhaul, the company said. In a bid to expand 4G user base, the company is offering free upgrade to 4G for customers along with free 4G SIM. With the launch, the company has introduced a host of offers for its customers where it’s offering host of data packs starting from Rs 8 for 30 MB. The telco is offering existing customers twice the data on buying greater than 1GB packs. Also, all 4G RED customers will get double data on their purchase of data packs. “We are delighted to launch Vodafone SuperNetTM 4G in Tinsukia. Assam is a key market for Vodafone India and as one of the leading telecom service providers our 5.5 million customers in Assam & North East circles have a lot to look forward to,” said Alok Verma, Business Head–Assam and North East Circle, Vodafone

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India. “After successfully launching 4G services in Itanagar and Tinsukia, we will soon expand our Vodafone SuperNetTM 4G services across the entire state as well as other parts of Assam & North East Circles in a phased manner. We invite our data savvy customers in Tinsukia to make the most of the bonanza of special benefits being offered and enjoy the best mobile internet experience,” he added. Vodafone will allow 4G international roaming across 12 countries including UK, UAE, New Zealand, Turkey, Ireland, Singapore, Albania, Netherlands, Romania, Germany, Greece and Czech Republic, and will be adding more countries. The company has invested Rs 150 crore in H1,FY 17 to to upgrade and modernize its network. In the Assam and North East circle, Vodafone has a retail footprint with 290 Vodafone branded stores. The telco had earlier stated that the nine circles of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, Gujarat, UP (E) and West Bengal, contribute to under 70% of its data revenues.

terest in the welfare of the local population.

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Vodafone launches 4G service in Tinsukia

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Dangri Kumar Army Camp inaugurates drinking water plant

Try to curb your tongue today, Scorpio. There's no reason to lash out. You will find that the more sensitive your approach, the farther you will get in your pursuit of your goals. Today might find you feeling moody, and your emotions could be running away with you. Get in touch with your feelings rather than push them away. They're probably trying to tell you something important. Your thinking is clear today, Sagittarius, and you will find that generally things are running smoothly. Your perspective on everything is very much in line with where you need to be at this time. In other words, you're doing everything exactly right. Be yourself and let other people adapt to your way of thinking. There's no need to keep hiding the truth of who you really are.

-hunt. "We had been looking for Pravat Kalita for around one and a half month and at last we are able to arrest him from a hotel of Dariyaganj area of New Delhi," said Tulumoni Duwarah, the officer in charge of Jorhat Police. On the other hand, the apprehended Pravat Kalita reached Jorhat on Wednesday evening. While speaking to media, he said that he was innocent."I am innocent, it is completely a political conspiracy," said Pravat Kalita.He also stated that he had been hiding as he was preparing his case to appeal to the High Court for bail.Pravat Kalita has been produced before Jorhat Session Court on Wednesday and was subsequently given police remand for five days.

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Dangari Kumar Army Camp of Dao Division today conduct inauguration of water supply plant at Tingkhong. ET Correspondent Naharkatiya, Dec 21: As part of the project Operation Sadhbavana, the Indian Army under takes various campaigns to develop literacy, women empowerment, public

health and relief and rehabilitations in Assam. The Army's Sadhbavana drive is an informal approach mechanism for the officers and soldiers to interact with and show genuine concern and in-

In 1992 when army operation was ordered to suspend temporarily the concept “Operation Sadhbavana” emerged where units deployed in those areas undertook small scale civic action programs. Keeping this tradition, the Dangari Kumar Army Camp of Dao Division today conduct inauguration of water supply plant at Tingkhong in Lower Primary School which was witnessed by Goan Borah of Tingkhong and principal of the school along with student, teachers and local public. The school staff with the students expresses their gratitude and welcomed such activities conducted by the army from time to time.

13 National Book Fair at Duliajan Bihutoli. Photo by Surajit Gogoi

Listen to what other people say to you today, Capricorn. There are valuable experiences waiting around the corner. The important thing to do now is recognize opportunities when they arise. The road to success isn't always well marked. Take a chance on the road with no signs at all. You have the courage and pioneering spirit to pursue the adventurous route, so go for it.

Aquarius Your emotions may be more in tune with the world around you today, Aquarius. You could even feel a bit psychic. Go with your hunches. You will find that rational thinking may not be the best way to handle situations right now. Be the sensitive one who feels things before taking action. Discuss the issues with others and combine your resources for a more powerful alliance.

Pisces You might second-guess yourself today, Pisces. Voices in your head are louder than usual, and you could be the one putting the brakes on your own train. Your intuition is trying to break through. See what you can do to slow down the chatter that continues to dictate the narrative throughout the day. Do more feeling instead of thinking. Give your mind a rest.

Forest department on Wednesday rescued two Lesser Adjutant Storks from Mohanbari area in Dibrugarh. Photo by Manoj Pandey

DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

MLA Ering interacts office bearers of APYC

GOING CASHLESS

Discusses series of issues, including Demonetization ET Bureau, Itanagar, DEC 21: While interacting with the office bearers of Arunachal Pradesh Youth Congress (APYC) today at its office, Ninong Ering, MP (east) A.P, assured to strengthen the party along with all the senior party leaders in the state. In his brief speech, he exhorted all the youths to work with all dedication;

commitment and loyalty which will make the party come back to the power. He informed the youths that the Congress party is the oldest and the largest political party in the country and the dream of "Congress Mukh Bharat" of BJP was impossible and just a distant dream. He also dwelt at length on the effect of unplanned declaration of De-

monetization by Modi Govt. He informed that the dictatorial decision of PM Modi is anti-national. “Farmers, working class, middle class business communities and corporate houses except few are the sufferers. Many have lost their lives. The demonetization is nothing but a political decision keeping in mind the upcom-

ing assembly elections to be held in some states in next year," Ninong alleged. Meanwhile, Jikke Tako, the president of APYC submitted two-point memorandum to the MP for the maintenance of office of the APYC and to take up with the appropriate authority the case of Lt. Haa Tama, who died in Jaipur, Rajasthan, reported thrown from a 3-sto-

ried building. He assured to look into the maintenance of office with available sources and also assured to take up the case of Lt. Haa Tama for speedy delivery of justice to the victim and the bereaved family. Later the MP visited the bereaved family and expressed his condolence and assured all possible support for delivery of justice.

Jagmeet Gill And Chandan Sen Win Maruti Suzuki Rally Of Arunachal In The Vitara Brezza ET Bureau

The team covered a total distance of over 700 km

Dambuk, 21 Dec: It was Jagmeet Gill and Chandan Sen in the new Vitara Brezza who conquered the fifth leg of Maruti Suzuki National Super League TSD Rally Championship 2016 (MSNStrdRC) - Rally of Arunachal concluded in Dambuk. The team covered a total distance of over 700 km from Itanagar to Dambuk to win the title as they competed against a total of 40 participants. Commenting on the occasion, Vinay Pant, Asst. Vice President, Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India said, "The adrenaline-charged TSD rally championship has witnessed some extremely enthusiastic rallyists, exuding zest and passion." It was for the first time that North East India was chosen for any Maruti Suzuki motorsport activities and the TSD rally coincided with the Orange Festival of Adventure and Music that added to the excitement of the participants. The win-

The TSD rally coincided with the Orange Festival of Adventure and Music It saw participants in the Maruti Suzuki Swift, S-Cross, Gypsy

Final results with total penalties First- Jagmeet Gill and Chandan Sen- 00:07:18 Second - Ali Ajgar and Mustafa Mohd- 00:08:41 Third - Sachin Singh and M Prakash- 00:12:48 ning ceremony was also graced by the Honourable Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Mr. Pema Khandu

at the Orange Festive in Dhambuk. The rally saw participants team up in the Maruti Suzuki Swift, S-Cross, Gypsy as well as the Vitara Brezza, the newest offering from the automaker in the UV space. Speaking on his victory, Jagmeet Gill said, "It was one of the quaintest destinations I have been to. We are glad to have conquered the undulating terrain and witnessed the music festival on the sidelines too. We are looking forward to the

final leg in Gujarat and maintain the winning streak." The Maruti Suzuki National Super League TSD Rally Championship is yet another feather in the cap for Maruti Suzuki motorsports in India. With cross country rallies like Raid de Himalaya, Desert Storm and Dakshin Dare as part of Maruti Suzuki's motorsport activities, the National Super League TSD Rally Championship only adds to the exciting events in Indian motorsport. The MSNStrdRC is a small format

“Eepuk” an audio CD released at Rayang A Staff Reporter PASIGHAT, Dec 21: In a small yet formal ceremony being attended by local MLA cum Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Er Tatung Jamoh, ZPM and other PRI leaders of Ruksin area beside host of singers, a Mising audio CD titled “Eepuk” was released by wife of MLA Jamoh, Mrs. Yakiam Mingki Jamoh at the resident of Takin Taying, Rayang village, near Ruksin today. While speaking on the audio CD release occasion, Mrs Jamoh appreciated the effort of singers and production team for having coming out with very touchy and beautiful audio songs which will be very popular this Year end and New year eve. She also gave

her best wishes for Christmas, Donyi-Polo Day and New Year to everyone and appealed the people to stay united for communal harmony as this area bordering Assam has close proximity with the people other side

of the border. Songs of the ‘Eepuk’ audio CD are Eepuk, Bhogum silung, Marjuli, Ekum Sangha, Kombong Polo, Kashmir and Doyen etc. Singers are Yubraj Doley,

Smt Noyantora Taying, Bikash Pegu, Purnima Patir and Porma Doley. Music Directors are Pormashwar Basumotary and Akash Saroh, informed the sources this evening.

Arunachal's youth club organises cricket tournament to popularise sport in the hill state Itanagar, Dec 21 : In a bid to popularise cricket in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, a Cricket Tournament is being organised by Singchung Youth Club, reported one of my former students through a Facebook post. The event was opened by Sawan Phinya, the Chairperson of Singchung Youth Welfare Association, in the presence of Fagos Ratan Pakyong, General Secretary of All Arunachal Gorkhali Janakalyan Samiti, who was the

guest of honour. At the opening ceremony of the tournament held on December 20, the local tribal dances were staged to make the opening colourful and gala in the presence of another local dignitary Passang Tseringand Dorjee Wangdi Glow. According to Jimbu Marphew, General Secretary of both All Bugun Students Union and Singchung Youth Welfare

Association, the tournament would generate awareness among Singchung youths in the field of sports.

December 20 was won by Dahung team by 46 runs played against the Upper Singchung.

"This tournament will provide environment where all the players will experience some form of achievement in the field of cricket at least" said Netan Cp Phiang, Chairperson of the organising committee of the tournament.

The other participating teams are OMC, Sinchung Brothers, Singchung Youth Club, Wanghoo, Tenga Youths, Tenga Yankees, 14 BRTF, 91 RCC, CIHCS Dahung, Rama Lingam, etc. The final match will be played in the first half of January 2017, it is learned.

The opening match on

TSD rally championship that lasts over a span of three days and has been designed to encourage more and more motorsport enthusiasts to participate in the events. TSD rallies are already conducted in Indian National Rally Championship (INRC)

MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju along with the NITI Aayog CEO attended the NDRF workshop on cashless transactions. "All Paramilitary Forces are taking a lead role. Going cashless will push India's $2 trillion economy faster towards our target of $10 trillion economy within a decade", said Rijiju

Union WCD Minister Assures Financial Assistance for Anganwadi Centres in Arunachal PTI Itanagar, 21 Dec: Union Women & Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has assured financial assistance to Arunachal Pradesh against proposal submitted for infrastructure development of 6225 anganwadi centres in the state. Her assurance came when state’s Women and Child Development (WCD) Parliamentary Secretary Gojen Gadi accompanied with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju called on

her in New Delhi on Monday, an official statement said on Tuesday. Gadi drew her attention that the state government had submitted proposals worth over Rs 31.15 crore under normal integrated child development scheme to meet basic requirements for 201617, like pre-school kits, uniform and other necessities for anganwadi centres and requested for early release of fund. In a separate memorandum,

Gadi informed that the children students in existing 6225 anganwadi centres throughout the state have been studying without bench and desks for the last many years and exhorted her to sanction fund for at least 10 sets of benchdesk for each anganwadi centre. After consulting with senior officers of her ministry present, Gandhi pointed out that there would be no dearth of funds for any genuine cause and assured that whatever possible would be sanctioned during this fiscal, the stateme

DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

Youths hold the key to nation building and talent development : Sonowal ET Correspondent Guwahati, Dec 21: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called upon the youths to work together to unite the society and unite the Nation and work towards for a strong nation. Interacting with the youths at the State Headquarter level National Integration Camp at Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phukan Stadium in the city today, Chief Minister Sonowal said, “To make the nation prosper on all fronts we need to work hard and utilise the immense inherent potentiality and possibility of the Nation and position

National level workshop on Road Safety at Guwahati ET Bureau Guwahati, Dec 21: A National level workshop on Road Safety will be organised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, jointly with the Transport Department, Assam at the Kalaguru BishnuRabha Hall, Cotton College, Panbazar, Guwahati tomorrow from 9.30 AM onwards. Sarbanada Sonowal Chief Minister, Assam along with Shri Chandra Mohan Patowary, Minister, Transport, Industry & Commerce etc. will attend the programme.

Asam Sahitya Sabha in a fix over tenure extension ET Correspondent Guwahati, Dec 21: The Asam Sahitya Sabha is ready to hold discussions on the 'debatable' issue of extending the tenure of the sabha's central committee, district committees and branch committees by a year. As uncertainty looms over the peaceful conduct of the centenary celebrations of the prestigious literary body, to be held in Sivasagar early next year, president of the organization Dhruba Jyoti Borah on Tuesday said the sabha is ready to reconsider its decision to extend the tenure. Several organizations and sabha branches had demanded resignation of the president and secretary general, alleging misuse of power and extension of their tenure by a year 'illegally' this year. Borah said the sabha is ready for a CBI probe into the allegations. "We appeal to various parties, organizations and intellectuals to guide us for steering Sahitya Sabha through the right path. The sabha wants to resolve the issues through discussion in the upcoming representative meet, without any conflict," Borah said. The sabha has invited several former presidents of the organization to seek their guidance in the ongoing crisis. None of them turned up at the scheduled meet, however. The reception committee of the centenary celebrations of the sabha had recently decided to ban the entry of the secretary general of the prestigious literary body Rajbongshi at the centenary celebrations of the sabha.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

mind’ manifests into a ‘swacch environment’, Sonowal asked the participating youths, to contribute to make Swachh Bharat Campaign a success. It may be mentioned that the five day National Integration Camp chrishtened ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ witnessed participation of 15 states which has been organised by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangthan and sponsored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Vice President of the Camp Dilip Saikia also spoke on the occasion.

Court orders police enquiry to probe fertilizer scam Sushanta Roy Diphu, Dec 21: Following seizure of 80 bags (50 KG each) of government subsidized fertilizer from a Manipur bound truck by Khatkati police on National Highway 39 near Assam Nagaland border last month, the Court has oordered both police and Karbi Anglong district administration to penetrate deep into the issue apprehending a large extent of foul play. According to findings the officer on duty in the check gate stopped the fertilizer laden truck no MN-01-6171 around 8.30 PM and on verification of the transit document (challan) it was detected that the paper bears seal and signature of the Nagaland authority; when the truck has not passed through that gate. The document was not sealed or signed by Assam Sales Tax check gate of Bokajan, on the top of that the paper mentioned that the goods have been dispatched from Guwahati and destined for Imphal but the driver of the vehicle claimed that the quantity of fertilizer has been lifted from a local

warehouse of Bokajan owned by one Akshai Kumar Jaiswal. The truck and the goods were taken into police custody suspecting attempt of smuggling government subsidized fertilizer beyond its designated area. Khatkati police subsequently filed a case in Diphu court (GR case no 925/16 under section 411/420 of IPC vide Khatkati police case no 118/16). Justice Naba Kumar Deka Barua considering the cognizance of the case ordered the District Agriculture Officer, Karbi Anglong, Diphu to file a detail report on November 22, 2016 mentioning the quantity of various category and quantity of subsidized fertilizer procured by the dealer and his process of distribution among the farmers who are entitled for receiving government subsidy. In the reply furnished by Mohesh Rajbonshi, District Agriculture Officer some shocking facts have revealed, the officer mentioned that his office does not have any record as to whom the subsidized fertil-

izer should be sold. He also mentioned that the Akshai Kumar Jaiswal obtained his dealership registration (no 1124, dared 08/ 3/2011) from Director of Agriculture, Assam, Khanapara, Guwahati 22. His report has clearly mentioned that in every category of fertilizer government contributes subsidy ranging from Rs.617.30 to Rs. 548.70 (per bag of 50 KG). Akshai Kumar Jaiswal whose farm is suspected to be involved in illegal trade has procured 13257.4 metric tons of assorted subsided fertilizer from the government approved depot and has sold 10970.2 metric tons fertilizer within a span of 5 years (April 2012 to August 2016). According to the dealers statement the government has spent approximately Rs. 5,228,836.128 against the distributed fertilizer from its exchequer. The alarming fact which is suspected both by the police and the court is that the concern department doesn’t maintain any list of beneficiary or the actual names of the farmers who should re-

ceive subsidized fertilizer nor the dealer; it is also not clear whether the dealer has a mandatory condition on his dealership registration like the material should be sold only to the particular farmers, whether there is any restriction of area, whether he can sale it for industrial use ( like tea gardens or ply wood factory, etc) in other states like Nagaland and Manipur. It is hard to believe that the essential substance for agricultural based economy of Assam does not have any control over its sale or distribution. Question also arise if in a small town like Bokajan a single dealer can go around with such huge quantum of government subsidy it will be beyond anybodies imagination the actual mammoth dimension of the whole gamut; a proper investigation by a joint team of various enforcement agencies is the need of the hour to probe the scam. Meanwhile Justice Deka Barua has ordered the Superintendent of Police Karbi Anglong to conduct a detail enquiry and submit report to the court.

Lakhimpur Commerce College organizes UGC National Seminar on "Eight Decades of N.E. Cinema" ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Dec 21: A UGC sponsored national level seminar on “Eight Decades of North Eastern Cinema and Beyond” is being organized by the Information & Career Guidance Cell of Lakhimpur Commerce College. The twoday long national seminar is scheduled to be held on 30th and 31st January, 2017 at the college in collaboration with Lakhimpur Cine Club, North Lakhimpur. This was stated by Dr. B.S. Behera, the Principal of Lakhimpur Commerce College in a press release today. The seminar will see participation by prominent film makers, film critics and

Change in leadership in NCHAC is apparent ET Correspondent, Haflong Dec 21: Following the resignation of six Executive Members belonging to Bharatya Janata Party of N C Hills Autonomous Council and again the withdrawal of resignation by one Executive Member, the present Government led by Debolal Gorlosa as CEM has been reduced to minority with anticipation of apparent change in leadership. The Executive Members like Prakanta Warisa, Fleming Syla Rupsi, Denis Teron, Laltatlansang Hmar, Haikambe Jeme and S T Jem Hrangkhol had submitted their resignations to the Chief Executive Member but later S T Jem Hrangkhol has withdrawn his resignation. During last 2013 June 3rd the N

the country as a capital of human resources in the world map”. Sonowal also urged upon the youths to take responsibility in popularising ‘Digital India’, ‘Make in India’, ‘Skill India’, ‘Start up India’ so that people at large can reap rich dividends from these programmes. In view of demonetisation of high currency notes, Sonowal asked the participating youths to adopt e-banking, pytm etc as the transaction modes and popularise them for the promotion of ‘plastic currency’. Emphasising that a ‘swachh

C Hills Autonomous Council was formed by Congress led Debojit Thaosen but on 24rth October BJP government was formed by Niranjan Hoaji as CEM of NCHAC. During February 2016 again congress formed the NCHAC with Debojit Thaosen as CEM then again Debolal Gorlosa became the CEM of BJP led NCHAC on 11.6. 16. Insider of the present BJP led NCHAC said though there has been flipping of members from one party to another, the change in leadership or change in ruling party is not happening. On the other hand, the lobby which is contemplating to form alliance government of AGP-BJP hinted to have majority members with them.

film personalities of international fame from the North East region. The organizing committee is calling for research papers for presentation at the seminar from collegeuniversity faculty members, research scholars, film critics, media persons, interested public and students on the sub-themes: Changing identities in North Eastern Cinema, Period films in India – research and creative license, Experimenting with themes, narratives, genres, acting and techniques in Indian/North Eastern Cinema, Stereotypes – representations or misrepresentations in North Eastern Cinema, Resurgence of re-

gional cinema in India and North East, The Subaltern Cinema in North East, India and beyond, Cinema as a national unifying factor in India and the periphery, Metaphors and Symbols in Cinema, Film Noir and Contemporary Indian Cinema, Socio-cultural histories and imaginaries in Indian Cinema, Documentary – reframing reality, Literature and cinema, Gender and Feminism in Indian/North Eastern Cinema, Children Film in India/North East, Film Censorship in India, Campus films and media schools in India/North East, State Focus—Cinema of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,

Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim and North Bengal, The North Eastern Cinema in ethnic languages. However the sub-themes are not exclusive, the organizers say. Abstract of research papers in not more than 250 words are to be sent by 17th January, 2017 and full papers in not more than 2500 words by 27th January, 2017 to Sazzad Hussain, Coordinator, National Seminar Organizing Committee, Lakhimpur Commerce College, North Lakhimpur-787001, Assam, Phone:+913752-243841, +9194350-25877, Email:sazzad.hussain2@gmail.com.

Sainik School, Goalpara kicks off its Annual Athletics Meet ET Bureau Goalpara, Dec 21: The Annual Athletics Meet of Sainik School Goalpara for the session 2016-17 got off to a flyer at the school athletics ground on 20 Dec 2016. The Meet was inaugurated by Abhinava Sinha, APS, Superintendent of Police, Goalpara District. Declaring the Meet open, the officer upheld the spirit of sportsmanship and motivated the young and vibrant cadets to showcase their marvels on track. Capt (IN) Edwin Jothi Rajan, the Principal felicitated the Chief

Guest. The glory of the Meet was truly felt when the crowd burst into thunderous eruption as the elated torchbearing cadets lighted the Olympic cauldron after a smart march-past and oath taking by the cadet participants. The sporting arena was turned into a sight of exuberance as the school athletic ground buzzed with cadet athletes brimming with enthusiasm, vigour and determination to earn laurels for their respective houses. The cadets and

spectators cheered the athletes and spurred them to go beyond their best to break the previous school records. The cadet athletes belonging to Senior, Junior and Sub-Junior Division will represent their respective houses in various events viz. 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 100m hurdles, 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay. The Closing Ceremony will be held on 23 Dec 16. A large number of parents are expected to witness the Closing Ceremony.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal hold a meeting with Lt. Gen AS Bedi, GOC, 4 Corps at Dispur. They discussed many issues and decided to work together to further strengthen security in the region.

Father hangs son, hangs himself later Tapas Samaddar Rangia, Dec 21: In a bizarre unfortunate incident, one Golok Saloi, a carpenter by profession, (30) of village NaKuchi under Rangia police station hanged his only son of 3 years and then he hanged himself from the same bamboo tree in the back yard of his room. The unfortunate incident occurred at the

wee hours today. According to the local people, Golok Saloi took his only son Shayanjyoti for his usual morning walk. But instead of going outside for morning walk he hanged the little son from the bamboo tree and also hanged himself from the same bamboo tree later. After getting information about the dreadful unfortunate incident, thou-

sands of people thronged to the spot. Police also rushed to the spot after being informed. They recovered the dead body and sent to GMCH for post mortem. The cause of the twin murder is yet to be ascertained but it is alleged that poverty got the better of Saloi. The entire village mourned the untimely death of the father – son duo

TATA Sumo mysteriously burnt ET Correspondent Teok, 21 Dec: A TATA Sumo bearing registration number AS01-L-2725 was burnt down by unknown person at Teok Uttar Dulia Gaon under Teok police station last night. The incident took place when the vehicle was parked at the owner’s house at Uttar Dulia gaon. The alleged incident took place last mid night. “I came to know about the burning when a numbers of local villagers informed

me about the incident,” Paras Moni Das, the owner of the vehicle said. Inves-

tigation is on by Teok police and a case has been registered against the act.

Demonetization Woes: Bank of Baroda officials harassing customers for written explanations

ET Correspondent Bokajan, Dec 21: Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetization, the changing guidelines rolled out by the RBI have created confusion amongst people and the bankers as well. of late to give a testimony of that, officials of the Bank of Baroda, Deopani Branch under Bokajan sub-division has been allegedly carrying an independent practice of questioning tenderers for deposits below Rs 5000. The uninformed Manager Nameshwar Chintai has also been allegedly harassing customers for unnecessary written explanations stating valid reasons as to why the amount was not deposited earlier. “The manager asked me for a written statement and a copy of my Pan Card and Voter I-Card as part of formality other than the

listed guidelines. When i protested, he abused me verbally and refused to accept the cash," said a customer on conditions of anonymity. The PM announced demonetization of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on November 8 and said that people can deposit this notes in their bank accounts till December 30. Since then, RBI and the Finance Ministry have been changing on guidelines that have left people confused and livid. The RBI circular has issued a fresh guideline on Monday to limit cash deposits of demonetized notes over Rs 5000, has turned the situations worse as many were waiting for the rush in the banks to ease out to avoid long queues. The RBI circular stated that tenders of Specified Bank Notes

(SBNs) in excess of Rs 5000 into a bank account will be received for credit only once during the remaining period till December 30, 2016. The credit on such cases shall be afforded only after questioning tenderers, on record, in the presence of at least two bank officials, as to why this could not be deposited earlier and after receiving a satisfactory explanation. However, RBI has withdrawn the guideline on Wednesday after being severely criticized by peoples who broadly supported demonetization. It also needs to be mentioned that late last year, the former manager of the same bank was transferred based on the complain of a customer after he refused to accept denomination of Rs 10.

DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

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Centre rushes 4,000 troops to Manipur New Delhi, Dec 21:The Centre has rushed around 4,000 paramilitary personnel to Manipur in the wake of violence following economic blockade on National Highways connecting the state. While around 1,500 paramilitary personnel were rushed in to Manipur in last two days, around 2,500 paramilitary were dispatched to the state last week, a senior Home Ministry official said on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister's decision to create new districts is not guided by administrative necessities, but pure political game," alleged Naga leader L Siro, pointing out that the Chief Minister's move came at the end of his tenure and months ahead of elections. The creation of new districts, political observers said, is aimed at appeasing the Kuki and other smaller tribes like Vaipeis and Gangtes and could help Chief Minister Ibobi Singh brave the strong anti-incumbency wave.

The security personnel were sent to the Northeastern state keeping in view the security situation in the state in the wake of violence following the economic blockade imposed by the UNC on two National Highways since November 1.

lives and property of civilians and urged the Centre to impose President's Rule immediately.

Meanwhile, the United Naga Council on Tuesday charged the Congress government in the state with utter failure to protect the

"We met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday and urged him to dismiss the Ibobi Singh govt and impose President's Rule

CCTV surveillance to be extended in city Shillong, Dec 21: More localities in the city will soon come under surveillance as East Khasi Hills police have decided to install 30 more CCTV cameras. The police department has submitted a proposal to the headquarters for bringing more areas in the city under its hawk eyes after the already installed cameras helped it check crime to a great extent. East Khasi Hills SP M. Kharkrang said on Monday, "It has helped us in preventing and detecting many crimes, besides nabbing those involved in hit-and-run cases." The District police sent the proposal to the police headquarters earlier this year and are still awaiting approval. At present, 30 locations in Shillong are under the surveillance of CCTV cameras and till April this year, the cameras led to the detection of as many as 188 cases of crime, including instances of drunken brawls and wrong parking. The project is being implemented by the North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach and the State Police have been laying emphasis on installation of CCTV cameras after miscreants set on fire two people in the city during the ILP agitations that rocked the State in 2013.

Social activist writes to Prez IMPHAL, Dec 20 : Social activist and BJP intending candidate from Tamei AC Wilubou Newmai has written to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking immediate intervention in the prevailing issues and impose President’s Rule in Manipur in order to control the fragile situation. There is political crisis, crime rate has shot up and the administration is in total disarray. The State is heading towards chaos, anarchy and destruction, Wilubou said. He said that if necessary decision is not taken at the earliest, there is a fear of largescale trouble in the State. He urged the President to intervene and restore peaceful atmosphere of the State.

in the state," UNC leader L Adani told reporters. During the meeting,the Home Minister told the delegation that "he knows the situation there and will do the needful". "However, he did not elaborate," Mr Adani added. "Whatever is

happening in Manipur, is due to the mess created by the CM. Initially, we had opposed the creation of two new districts- Sadar Hills and Jiribam. Now, he has added insult to the injuries by creating seven new districts. Nagas are hurt" he said.

The UNC said the ongoing conflict and the state govt's actions could also jeopardise in the Government of India's talks for final agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM). (Agencies)

MCI derecognises NEIGRIHMS degrees Shillong, Dec 21: In a major blow to the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Science (NEIGRIHMS), the Medical Council of India (MCI) has decided not to recognise various PG degrees awarded by the institute under the affiliation of North Eastern Hill University. The post-graduate committee of MCI has decided to put various medical degrees conferred by NEIGRIHMS under 'not to recognise' list.

In a meeting held recently, questions were raised about the eligibility of professors and staff at the PG departments of the institute. Also, three departments Anesthesiology, General Surgery and Radio diagnosis - are under scanner for shortcomings. When contacted, NEIGRIHMS Director Prof. Prithwis Bhattacharya said there was a deliberate attempt to malign the institute and "some people are deliberately trying to plant vari-

ous issues for vested interest". On derecognition of degrees under NEIGRIHMS, the director said the institute has got a notice in this regard. "They have given us a notice over some lacunae and we have to comply with all the issues when they come for the next examination," he said and added that NEIGRIHMS has already taken necessary measures to address all shortcomings. The MCI team that visited

NEIGRIHMS recently had pointed out that the Anesthesiology department is short of one faculty member but the institute has submitted evidence that all members of the faculty were regular employees, Bhattacharya said. The MCI team had also said there was no senior resident doctor at the institute but during inspection, NEIGRIHMS submitted necessary evidence about the presence of senior residents, the director clarified.

Clinical ambushes on Imphal-Moreh route which claimed the lives of 3 cops What were the AR men doing, asks Kim Gangte IMPHAL, Dec 20: Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress (MPTC) president Kim Gangte has questioned how it was possible for armed men, suspected to be NSCN (IM) cadres, to clinically lay multiple ambushes and kill three police personnel along the Imphal-Moreh stretch of the National Highway on December 15 when the said stretch of the highway is choc-a-bloc with Assam Rifles posts and personnel. Speaking to media persons at the party’s office at Mahabali today, Kim Gangte said that security should have been beefed up as the Chief Minister and other Ministers were scheduled to visit and inaugurate Tengnoupal district. Given such a situation, the Assam Rifles personnel posted along the said stretch of the highway should have been on extra alert, she said and expressed surprise that the attackers managed to slip away without so much of a resistance

from the security personnel. The MPTC president further said that although the creation of seven new districts for administrative convenience is a welcome step, it would be very unfortunate for the people if it had been politically motivated. “The Government’s decision to create seven new districts is a good step, but it is hard not to get suspicious of the Government’s move

NORTHEAST

in the light of the coming Assembly election,” she added. She said that if the decision to create the seven new districts turned out to be politically motivated, then it would be a huge disappointment for the people of the State. Speaking about the economic blockade imposed by the UNC, Kim said that the State Government should

try to bring an amicable solution to the issue at the earliest so as to ease the suffering of the people. She appealed to the UNC call off the blockade taking into consideration the hardships faced by the people. Kim further appealed to the Central Government to take up necessary actions and to instruct the State Government to contain the situation. She accused the Central Government of neglecting Manipur regardless of the political party holding power at the State. The State Government should exercise its full authority and power to deal with the crippling issues and bring peace and stability to the region, she added. The State and Central Government should take up appropriate steps to solve the raging issue and the State Government should make special arrangements for a meeting with the civil societies in order to bring a peaceful and fruitful solution, she added.

Roy Barman stated that the existing act and rules have no scope to protect the interest of the depositors and the government has failed to execute it. "The amendment is an indication to allure NBFCs to start unscrupulous business in the state and attract deposits from the common people. The government will allow NBFCs to do the business, whatever be the form. Since our intention is to protect the depositors, let us unanimously decide not to allow any NBFC in Tripura," said Roy Barman. He also pointed out that lottery business in Tripura has been banned by the state government after some scams. Likewise, the government should issue a ban on any kind of business by NBFCs in the state.

Criticising the government's move against NBFCs in 2013, Roy Barman alleged that administrative raids were carried out against such unscrupulous institutions but it did not freeze their accounts and assets or seized any documents. Therefore, by doing such raids, the administration had given an opportunity to the fraudulent companies to flee. He alleged that even after specific cases of cheating against Rose Valley, the Northeastern Development Finance Corporation had paid Rs 33.68 lakh as capital investment subsidy to the company based on the state government's recommendations. On the other hand, Nath talked about 114 NBFCs which had looted more than

Shillong, Dec 21 : After the council by-polls got over, District Council Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong, pointing out the example of KHADC chief P.N Syiem who is still holding the dual posts, said on Tuesday that the seven legislators should have continued to hold the posts of MDCs. "There was no bar on the part of MLAs to continue to hold the posts of MDCs if one goes by the example of the KHADC chief since the Election Commission ruled that there was no 'office of profit' angle in MLAs holding the post of MDCs," Tynsong told reporters. Prestone said he is unaware of the reason that prompted the MLAs to resign as MDCs. He also said even if some MDCs contest and win the Assembly polls in 2018, they need not relinquish the posts of MDCs at least till 2019 in line with the case of

When contacted, NEIGRIHMS Director Prof. Prithwis Bhattacharya said there was a deliberate attempt to malign the institute and "some people are deliberately trying to plant various issues for vested interest".

The MCI team that visited NEIGRIHMS recently had pointed out that the Anesthesiology department is short of one faculty member but the institute has submitted evidence that all members of the faculty were regular employees, Bhattacharya said.

On derecognition of degrees under NEIGRIHMS, the director said the institute has got a notice in this regard. "They have given us a notice over some lacunae and we have to comply with all the issues when they come for the next examination,"

The MCI team had also said there was no senior resident doctor at the institute but during inspection, NEIGRIHMS submitted necessary evidence about the presence of senior residents, the director clarified.

the KHADC chief. However, the District Council Affairs Minister cautioned that once the Centre approves the pending amendment to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, this will ultimately ensure that one person can hold only one elected post. He said the State will have to wait for the passing of the amendment to the Sixth Schedule to prevent dual posts and also the recurring district council by-elections if the MDCs get elected to the Assembly. "We had followed up the matter with the Centre and the Chief Secretary had also met the concerned officials in Delhi," Tynsong said while adding that all district councils had submitted their views on the amendment. According to Tynsong, besides ending the dual posts, the amendment will also ensure increase in the number of seats in the councils and

also an effective anti-defection law. "In the absence of an antidefection law, the councils have now become sort of party less due to the shifting of allegiance of members who were elected from various political parties," Tynsong said. Prestone, however, justified the government enacting the dual posts Act, 2015, by saying, "The original prevention of disqualification (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Act, 1972, was meant only for legislators and there was no need to include CEMs or MDCs of councils in the Act. Hence we deleted the entry No. 9 of the Schedule related to MDCs in the Prevention of Disqualification (Members of Legislative Assembly of Meghalaya) Act, 1972, which was very much necessary since the councils are totally different entities under the Constitution of India."

TKS bares fangs at Ibobi

Imphal, Dec 20 : Taking serious note of the prevailing situation in the State, the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) today said that the incidents that have unfolded during and after the bandh called by Khwairamband women on December 16 to protest the ambush on State security personnel by unknown armed groups at various places, have exRs 5000 crore from the state. posed the communal and Rose Valley and few others biased stand of the State have big assets in Agartala Government. but the state government has taken any steps against them nor has made arrangements to repay the depositors. "The state government should promise to pay back the money to people who were cheated by the NBFCs over the past decade. No amendment of act or rule is required except action from the government. The discussion on amending law is nothing but allowing cheat fund companies to come in again," Nath said. In response, Sarkar stated that the amount of money looted by NBFCs have not yet been ascertained by the special investigation team constituted by the high court. So far in connection to three cases.

he said and added that NEIGRIHMS has already taken necessary measures to address all shortcomings.

Seven MLAs should have continued till 2019: Prestone

Tripura govt bows to oppsition, withdraws depositors' bill AGARTALA, Dec 21 : The Tripura government withdrew the Tripura Protection of Interest of Depositors (In Financial Establishment) Amendment Bill, 2016, following demands from the opposition Congress and Trinamool legislators. Chief minister Manik Sarkar, however, said the Left Front government doesn't have any problem to ban NBFC business in Tripura unless it is repugnant to other laws. While proposing to pass the bill, finance minister Bhanu Lal Saha said some stringent provisions were incorporated in the bill to restrict the entry of nonbanking financial companies (NBFC) in the state. However, opposing the bill, both Congress MLA Ratan Lal Nath and Trinamool Congress legislator Sudip

Anesthesiology, General Surgery and Radio diagnosis - are under scanner for shortcomings.

In a statement issued to the press today, TKS said that police personnel stood as mute spectators while private vehicles travelling along the Imphal-Ukhrul road were attacked with stones, iron bars, catapults and air guns. Over 20 vehicles were burnt by the bandh supporters and the State Government was nowhere in sight, it said adding that even the Central Government has preferred to look the other way.

Security personnel from Imphal East and Assam Rifles personnel also refused to extend assistance to the passengers under one pretext or the other, alleged TKS.

and passengers harassed. Suppressing news is akin to saying that there is no law and order problem, added TKS and appealed to the media to directly interact with the victims.

On December 18, the Tangkhul community had issued a proclamation warning all not to harm anyone from other community residing in Tangkhul areas, said the statement and added that despite this, Meitei people, who have had no problems living in Tangkhul area so far, began their exodus from Ukhrul district with the help of State security forces while Assam Rifles have provided them shelter inside their camps. Therefore the State security forces and the Assam Rifles are playing a dangerous game and creating communal distrust, it added.

Chief Minister O Ibobi and his gang have widened the communal divide, said TKS and added that the Meitei-Naga divide was never so much pronounced as when Ibobi became the Chief Minister.

To worsen the situation, media houses have not been without biases, alleged TKS and added the media kept denying that vehicles have been burnt

Two Nagas lost their lives at Mao in 2010, said TKS citing examples and added that another two lives were lost at Ukhrul in 2014. These are but just two examples, added TKS. The situation has come to such a pass that it now warrants President’s Rule, said TKS and reiterated their stand against the declaration of the seven new districts. Maintaining that the Nagas have had enough, TKS called for total separation from the State Government.

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

Today's quote

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Believe in what you do and think hard about what kind of changes you want your work to make.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ceci Bastida

Demonetisation - an unkind postscript In November, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Urjit Patel, said there was a 'confluence of thought' in the government and the central bank to deal with black money by removing existing Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes as legal tender. Now, just about ten days before the deadline to deposit these bank notes into accounts, a similar confluence of ideas has led to a stunning decision to make it harder for people to do so. The new caveats, announced on Monday, restricting deposits over Rs.5,000 (roughly $70) are not just difficult to fathom but also constitute an unfair change in the rules of the game. Those opting to disclose unaccounted income under the new amnesty scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, face no restriction on depositing old notes. But anyone depositing Rs.5,000 or more into a bank account will have to satisfactorily explain to two bank officials why this was not done earlier. However, the Finance Minister has suggested that such explanations will not be required for anyone making a deposit for the first time. Apart from the human tendency to act only when a deadline nears, there could be genuine reasons for people not to have queued up at banks till now - including their faith in the Prime Minister, as well as the Finance Minister's statements that they had till December 30 to do so. Overstretched bankers may somehow cope with this latest diktat. But implementation is likely to be arbitrary as each bank branch may come up with its own ground rules, just as they are doing in the case of cash withdrawal limits. Nevertheless, tasking them to record and flag for audit purposes deposits amounting to just 1.66 per cent of the personal income tax threshold is tantamount to outsourcing the taxman's job to the banker for no ostensible revenue pay-off. Initially, the Centre said deposits up to Rs.2.5 lakh would not be questioned, but later held that all deposits could be scrutinised - even though the Income Tax Department will struggle to complete scrutiny of lakhs of accounts within the legally stipulated two-year deadline. The Prime Minister had said exchange limits for old notes would be enhanced from November 25; instead, the exchange facility was stopped altogether. By December 10, Rs.12.44 lakh crore, or 80 per cent of the old notes, was back in the system, and by December 30 most, if not all, could well return. Perhaps spooked by that prospect, the Finance Ministry suggested that double counting may have skewed the numbers, but bankers have dismissed that possibility. The latest flip-flop to make deposits difficult appears to suggest that the government is itself in panic mode over its bold gambit.

Angela Merkel's challenge It is hard now to remember a time when German Chancellor Angela Merkel was not in the thick of a political storm in Europe. However, Monday's suspected terror strike in Berlin that claimed at least 12 lives along with a spate of incidents in July, all with a bearing on Germany's liberal immigration policies, present a qualitatively different challenge to Europe's most powerful politician. As she seeks election for a fourth term next September, Ms. Merkel's political and diplomatic acumen could be put to the toughest test yet in a world still coming to grips with the implications of Britain's vote to leave the European Union (EU) and the U.S. presidential election result. Her measured approach to the deepening debt crisis in the eurozone saw her being pilloried by some of her conservative colleagues as indulgence of a profligate Greece, even as the German-backed multilateral mission that negotiated the bailouts was greeted by angry Greek protesters carrying placards bearing the swastika. But the Chancellor, seen hitherto as cautious if not indecisive, was spontaneous and firm in her response to the tragic drowning of many Syrians at the height of the refugee crisis in 2015. Her open-hearted open-doors policy towards the hundreds of thousands who managed to cross the choppy waters of the Mediterranean, describing Islam as integral to Germany, may have alienated even some of her closest European allies. Paradoxically, Ms. Merkel's continued leadership of the 28-nation EU seems ever more critical given the rise of xenophobic and anti-immigrant forces across the continent. Matters are not helped by the fluid political scenario in the other staunchly integrationist founder-member of the EU, France, which is headed for presidential election in 2017. The prospects of Ms. Merkel rallying the forces of the political centre at home will depend on her capacity to counter the populist Alternative for Germany party, anxious to cash in on tragedies such as the Berlin attack. As for the European and international stage, there are clear signs of the Chancellor's moderate political instincts to uphold the values of a pluralistic democracy underpinned by the rule of law. In a letter she wrote to congratulate Donald Trump, Ms. Merkel remained unequivocal. Among the values Germany and the U.S. shared, she wrote, were "democracy, freedom, as well as respect for the rule of law and the dignity of each and every person regardless of their origin, skin colour, creed, gender, sexual orientation or political views." It is hardly surprising that Ms. Merkel's views resonate across the Atlantic alliance, and much beyond.

The Jayalalithaa mystique She understood where to be flexible and where to be rigid. While scrupulously avoiding tampering with the politics of caste, she imparted a new meaning to welfare economics. As the midnight hour approached on the night of December 5-6, doctors at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, made the formal announcement regarding the demise of six-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa. With this announcement, a remarkable era in Tamil Nadu politics came to an end. Part of the formidable lineup of outstanding women leaders of India, viz. Indira Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati, Jayalalithaa helped define the true meaning of 'woman power'. Imperious elegance, however, distinguished her from the other three leaders. In the immediate aftermath of her demise, it was no surprise that people across the State, and elsewhere in India, should wax nostalgic about the achievements of a departed leader who had braved all odds to succeed. What gave her a special place in the heart of Tamil womenfolk, and captivated their imagination, was her posture of 'Davidic' defiance of all detractors. These ranged from the male-dominated political plurality, to those who cavilled at her gender and her caste. She walked tall among the many contemporary leaders on the Indian political scene. Secrets of success Notwithstanding the many controversies that surrounded her tenure, few will contest or fail to acknowledge her many achievements, specially those concerning the welfare of the girl child and women, health care of the deprived, and the 'revolu-

tion' wrought by her signal programmes such as 'Amma Canteen', 'Amma Water', 'Amma Salt', etc. - all made available at affordable prices. These programmes not only gave her a largerthan-life image but also invested her with a kind of 'maternalistic charisma'. It also helped obliterate some of her 'excesses', including the charge that she deliberately cultivated a personality cult, which required even her very senior Cabinet Ministers, apart from sycophants of every description, to genuflect before her. None of this can, however, erase the fact that she was paranoid when it came to criticism of her actions or policies. She maintained a tight control over the administrative and security apparatus, and was unforgiving of anyone who deviated even the slightest from her set prescriptions. She kept her 'eye on the ball' at all times, which possibly was the secret of her success. As far as the people of Tamil Nadu were concerned, the balance sheet of her years in office was positive - a sentiment that led to her truly epic victory in the 2016 Assembly elections. This, in itself, was no mean achievement. There is, however, much more to the Jayalalithaa mystique than this. Political pundits need to ponder how she managed to successfully navigate between the Scylla of caste and the Charybdis of gender, in a State where consciousness of such differences has been extremely high. That she was a highcaste single woman breaking into, and breaching, a male stronghold tends to make her achievements even more spectacular. The political inheritance Over the years, it had be-

come evident that politics in authority even while enlargTamil Nadu had undergone ing the many unique welfare fundamental changes since measures introduced by the heyday of the Non-Brah- MGR during his tenure in min/Self-respect Movement office. under Periyar (in the early Jayalalithaa was hardly a part of the 20th century). By believer in political experithe middle of the 20th cen- mentation. In this respect tury, even as the Dravida she differed from leaders like Kazhagam was undergoing Buddhadeb Bhattacharya a seminal split leading to the (the former Chief Minister of formation of the Dravida West Bengal) or for that Munnetra matter the Kazhagam erstwhile M.K. Narayanan S o v i e t (DMK) in 1949 under Union's C.N. Annadurai, it had be- Mikhail Gorbachev (with his come obvious that many of Glasnost and Perestroika). the goalposts were shifting. She could avoid their fate Within a few years of the by taking care not to overformation of the DMK, reach through radical politiAnnadurai drifted away cal changes and shifts. She from Periyar's rather con- scrupulously avoided tamstrained approach to Indian pering with the politics of federalism, advocating a caste, realising the fundamore enlightened form of mental importance of the federalism. Contrary to caste arithmetic in Tamil Periyar's viewpoint, Nadu politics. In particular, Annadurai also saw consid- she took care not to disturb erable virtue in cooperative existing equations involvCentre-State relations. ing major caste groups, understanding that she was an Further changes occurred 'outlier' as far as dominant with the formation of the castes in the politics of AIADMK under M.G. Tamil Nadu were concerned. Ramachandran. The latter's While maintaining the suadvent as Chief Minister premacy of the caste strucbroke at least one glass ceil- ture, she essentially coning, viz. universal accep- fined herself to providing a tance of a non-Tamil, and new twist and imparting a someone belonging to a for- new meaning to 'welfare ward caste, at the apex of economics'. the State pyramid. Taking The elite across the counover the mantle of her men- try have not taken kindly to tor (MGR), Jayalalithaa was what they pejoratively refer to carry this several stages to as 'freebies' doled out by further. Jayalalithaa while in office. What they fail to recognise Status quoist on caste is how much these 'soft' Jayalalithaa, implicitly, welfare measures contribwas a good student of his- uted to not merely enhanctory. She realised - much in ing her personal image, but the manner of the leadership keeping under control any of the Chinese Communist kind of popular discontent Party - the inherent dangers over her so-called 'highof weakening of controls handedness'. As many of over the party, and too these schemes began to be much liberalisation in ideo- copied by governments in logical and other matters. other States in the country, She revelled in magisterial her model of welfare meacontrol over the levers of sures became the touch-

stone against which steps, policies and programmes of other State governments were assessed. There were many differences between the mentor and the disciple. MGR was paternalistic. Jayalalithaa was far more 'iron-willed' and believed in crushing dissent at the earliest opportunity. She was conscious of the inherent weakness that derived from her caste and gender, which left her little room for manoeuvre. Where she proved more adept than her mentor was in successfully managing the 'revolution of rising expectations' of the lower tiers of her electoral support, without having to compromise on her basic policies and principles. In this sense, perhaps, her contribution was comparable to that of leaders like Annadurai who helped integrate Dravidian consciousness with India's federal polity. Finger on the pulse Right through her tenure as Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa eschewed any kind of rigid doctrinaire approach vis-Ă -vis either politics or policies. Often portrayed as disdainful of the masses, she seemed to sense the people's mood and the pulse of the masses better than leaders of other political parties such as the DMK led by the nonagenarian M. Karunanidhi. Political debates often seemed to convey an impression of a single woman without any obvious support battling a 'macho world' of male enemies. How she converted this into an existential conflict between the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led by her and the DMK led by Karunanidhi and his family

is worthy of deeper study by political analysts and researchers. Jayalalithaa's true success lay in the image she created of being against the 'status quo', while the ageing leadership of the DMK (M.K. Stalin's presence notwithstanding) appeared risk-averse and wallowing in the same brand of politics it had practised since the mid-1950s. In real terms, Jayalalithaa was 'individualistic' rather than a 'statist'. Even more than organisational strategising she perfected redistributive and welfare policies and populist mobilisation. She had incredibly persuasive communication skills when it came to the masses, specially women voters, and combined this with a certain magisterial control over political opinion. While the two main Dravidian parties had few differences regarding their commitment to State autonomy and fiscal federalism, Jayalalithaa seemed to give a new shape to the social reform movement. Moving ahead of MGR's political philosophy, she could adjust to the prevailing winds of change sweeping through the corridors of an aspirational India. She understood where to be flexible and where to be rigid caste-based reservation and the caste arithmetic were crucial - but she did see that there was somewhat great scope for trimming the AIADMK's sails to the winds from the North and the East, and thus create a new political brand. Generations of Tamils will possibly remember her best for her evocative slogan, "Makkalal Naan Makkalukaga Naan (I am by the people - I am for the people)".

Questions about an appointment The blame for the Centre's unnecessary and dangerous effort to scuttle the long-held convention of appointing the most senior among eligible officers as Chief of the Army Staff cannot be laid at the doorstep of the political executive alone. A significant part of it should go to the Army leadership, which has been betraying significant nepotism and lack of conviction on a range of issues in recent times. The government has justified the appointment of Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat superseding two commanders saying he had superior professional capabilities. It argues that the prerogative to select the military chief lies with the executive and the decision has been taken purely on merit. Those close to the present government also argue that a factor taken into consideration was the ease of doing business with the new chief. None of those arguments, however, addresses the concern that the decision could be seen as an unnecessary and dangerous political meddling in the work-

ing of a professional military. Arguments in favour of merit do not hold much water here. Disparity within the Army The impending political intervention, with excuse of merit, was in the air for sometime. The appointment of Lt. Gen. Rawat suits not just the political leadership but also the present chief, Gen. Dalbir Suhag, and his comrades from the infantry. Both are from the Gorkha Rifles. The two officers who are senior to Lt. Gen. Rawat and lost out to him - Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi and Lt. Gen. P.M. Hariz - are from armoured corps and mechanised infantry, respectively. The unwritten part of the Indian Army's contemporary history is the deep divisions among the senior leadership between infantry and other arms. This has worsened under the outgoing chief, who has aggressively promoted those from infantry, especially from the Gorkha regiments. Gorkha Rifles officers today occupy an unusually large number of crucial posts at the senior level.

And the recent promotion myopic security perspeclist from Major General to tives and unwise political Lieutenant General also saw moves. Leading the Indian had a noticeably large num- Army is a privilege as well ber of officers from Gorkha as a heavy responsibility. Mediocrity and merit regiments. This situation finally reflects on the force, It might sound Orwellian, even if it is not intended. but perceived mediocrity is The Army leadership has sometimes better than been unusually silent, or at merit. It is true especially least according to available when it comes to military promotions in public records, as the Kashmir a political sysJosy Joseph tem like ours. situation beAt all levels of gan to spin out of control in military prorecent times after years of motions, mediocrity has steady improvement. The several chances to creep in, Army has lost at least 63 and it makes regular appearsoldiers in Jammu and Kash- ances. Sometimes they apmir this year so far, which is pear as deliberate conspiramore than the casualty fig- cies, at other times as an inures of the last two years competent leadership playand among the highest in a ing safe. decade. Under the existing norms, The relative peace at- the Vice Chief and the seven tained in Kashmir since Army Commanders are eliheavier Army deployment gible to be considered for in the late 1980s had come the post of Chief of the at the cost of thousands of Army Staff. The Ministry of lives - at least 6,000 secu- Defence sends a panel of rity personnel deaths, ac- the three most senior cording to reliable data- among them to the Appointbases. The Army leadership ments Committee of the has a responsibility to en- Cabinet, chaired by the sure that its men do not end Prime Minister, which finally up being cannon fodder to decides the successor.

Alexander and Diogenes Now when Alexander [the Great] appeared before the Greek leaders in Corinth they greeted him warmly and paid him lavish compliments- all of them, that is but one. A funny fellow, a philosopher named Diogenes. He had views not unlike those of the Buddha. According to him, possessions and all the things we think we need only serve to distract us and get in the way of our simple enjoyment of life. So he had given away everything he owned and now sat, almost naked, in a barrel in the market square in Corinth where he lived, free and independent like a stray

dog. Curious to meet this strange fellow, Alexander went to call on him. Dressed in shining armour, the plume on his helmet waving in the breeze, he walked up to the barrel and said to Diogenes: 'I like you. Let me know your wish and I shall grant it.' Diogenes, who had until then been comfortably sunning himself, replied: 'Indeed, Sire, I have a wish.' 'Well, what is it?' 'Your shadow has fallen over me: stand a little less between me and the sun.' Alexander is said to have been so struck by this that he said: 'If I weren't Alexander, I should like to be Diogenes.'

In recent memory, except on one occasion in 1983, the most senior eligible officer has been appointed. In 1983, the Indira Gandhi government decided to make Lt. Gen. A.S. Vaidya the Army chief, superseding Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha. Among the reasons speculated was the latter's firm professional mind, and his rumoured advice against an armed intervention against Sikh militants lodged in Amritsar's Golden Temple. A few months after Lt. Gen. Sinha resigned, the Army under Gen. Vaidya launched Operation Blue Star, with disastrous consequences that played out over several years. The professional and apolitical nature of the Indian military has played a vital role - a role that has not been documented enough in India's stability as the world's largest democracy. While its neighbours have struggled with military dictatorships and the constant undermining of civilian governments by Army HQ, in India the very professional and skilled military has helped in the creation

of a unique template of democratic governance despite the country's huge economic and sociopolitical challenges. Unlike in Pakistan and Bangladesh, in India the military has never aspired to be an arbitrator of power. One of the factors for the politicisation of the military in these countries has been meddling by the political class in its professional running. India's civilian governments, and its political class at large, on the other hand, have studiously heeded the military's professionalism. Military officers have not felt the need to pay extraconstitutional obeisance to political leaders to secure the top post. It is against this backdrop that the appointment of Lt. Gen. Rawat, by all accounts a highly competent officer, must be explained by the Narendra Modi government. As disconcerting as a professional military losing a battle must be its senior Generals queuing up for a rendezvous with wily politicians.

Trump and the world The United States has always been unpredictable in its foreign policy, especially towards India, and the election of Donald Trump takes this unpredictability to the next level ("The world according to Trump", Dec.20). India is drifting towards the U.S. and this is placing strains on our ties with Russia. In the 21st century, foreign policy is not only a tool with which to ensure peaceful existence in the world but is also a instrument to usher in social and economic transformation. We should follow a simple rule. In foreign policy we don't have permanent friends or permanent enemies but only permanent interests. Peace is still elusive in Afghanistan, so there is a strong possibility that U.S. policy towards Pakistan is going to be more or less the same. India should tread cautiously. Alex Kujur Moranhat, Assam

DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

10 Things You Should Never Do Perfect 15-minute workout After a Fight with Your Husband for a sculpted arms and abs! It's completely normal-and healthy-for couples to argue. You're two separate people, and you're going to have different opinions sometimes. But what you might not realize is that how you act post-spat can be as important to your relationship as what you say in the heat of the moment. Here are 10 reactions to avoid, whether you're totally over it or still working on that whole forgive-and-forget thing. 1. DON'T GIVE HIM THE COLD SHOULDER. If you need some space after a fight, that's OK-as long as you tell him. "One of the biggest mistakes people make after an argument is stonewalling," says Rachel A. Sussman, a licensed psychotherapist and relationship expert in New York City. If you brush him off or ignore him, he may think you're punishing him, which may make him hold back on telling you how he feels in the future. Instead, say, "My emotions don't recede as quickly as yours, but give me 24 hours and I'm sure things will be fine. If not, we can discuss more." 2. DON'T KEEP HIS WORDS IN YOUR ARSENAL. You know "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"? Whatever your partner says during a fight should stay there. "List-makers never tell their partners what bothers them in the moment," says Michelle Golland, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles who works with couples. So if he says something during the fight that bugs you, tell him his words are frustrating you. If his fighting words

annoy you the next day, give yourself some breathing room instead of approaching him again so soon. Bringing up an argument too often can lead to talking in circles, not a resolution. 3. DON'T JUST SAY, "I'M SORRY" IF HE'S STILL HURT. That says, "I'm sick of this. Leave me alone. I want to do something else," says Laurie Puhn, a couples mediator and creator of the Fight Less, Love More program based on her bestselling book. "What you want to say is, 'I'm sorry for…' and explain what you're talking about. The second part of the apology is, 'In the future, I will…' and fill in the blank with how you won't make the mistake again." 4. DON'T MAKE EXCUSES FOR WHY YOU FOUGHT. There are a million things on which you could blame an argument: a bad day at work, a headache, a restless night. In fact, a University of California, Berkeley, study says that couples who don't get enough sleep are more likely to fight. Still, passing the blame isn't fair

to your or your partner. "Fights are about information," says Dr. Golland. "If you're angry, sad or hurt, that's information your husband needs to know." The next time you have a bad day at work, "warn your husband before you get home," suggests Dr. Golland. That way, he knows that you may be more irritable. 5. DON'T WALK AWAY IF HE RE-APPROACHES THEARGUMENT. If it's been only a few minutes since your fight, tell your husband you're open to any questions or hearing about lingering frustrations after he's had time to think. If he wants to revisit the issue after a few days, though, don't turn your back on him. "Non-verbal communication is as loud as yelling," says Dr. Golland. If you find yourself walking away, apologize, return and hear him out. "Reflect back what he's telling you: 'So you're saying [fill in the blank]. Correct?' Check in to make sure you're getting it right." 6. DON'T KEEP GETTING IN JABS. Still reeling from a fight?

That doesn't give you the right to mutter not-so-sweet nothings. "Never call a person a name. It's hard to recover from that," says Sussman. So if you fought about your vacation budget, don't say he's cheap when you're looking at your friend's photos from her trip to Greece. Name-calling only "makes him come back swinging with insults," says Sussman. Instead, ask him to talk through what's still bothering you once you've calmed down. Say something like, "I know you're concerned we don't have the money, but here's a budget I made," suggests Sussman. 7. DON'T HAVE MAKEUP SEX IF YOU'RE NOT FEELINGIT. You both said "I'm sorry" and meant it-but now he's trying to get some, and all you can think is, Seriously? "It's not that they don't realize you had a fight," says Sussman. "Many men want to have sex to feel close." If going at it is the last thing on your mind, let him down gently. "Say, 'Thank you for feeling like you want to be close to me, but I'm not in the moodright now," she suggests. "Hug him, and tell him that maybe you can have sex tomorrow." Don't just roll over and refuse him without an explanation. "That will hurt his feelings," says Sussman. 8. DON'T FOCUS ON WHAT CAUSED THE FIGHT. Your energy is better spent on the solutions for the problem. Puhn uses this example: Say your husband forgot to bring cash to a cash-only event. You had a tiff about it, but then you went to an ATM and the is-

sue was resolved. Enjoy the night instead of replaying your partner's screw-up in your head. "The difference between a bad fight and a good fight is whether or not you reached a solution," says Puhn. On the other hand, if his forgetfulness is consistent, try saying, "I'm noticing that you aren't carrying cash much these days. What's going on there?" It's a less judgmental way to get at the issue than, "Ugh! Not again!" 9. DON'T SAY, "I DIDN'T MEAN IT." "Saying this is like trying to use an eraser on permanent marker," says Puhn. "It inflames the situation because your husband will say: 'Yes you did!'" Going back and forth on what you said or didn't say, meant or didn't mean, keeps you focused on the past instead of working toward a solution for the future, which is the goal of any disagreement. If he says, "I didn't mean it," say, "You didn't mean it, but the result was that I felt this way. So in the future, please do XYZ." 10. DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP THAT YOU HAD AFIGHT. Everyone wants a partner who's invested-and fighting can be a sign that you're both still working at the relationship (a positive thing!). Puhn says she knows a couple is doomed when they say, "We used to fight a lot, but now we raise our hands and walk out." It's not that they don't disagree on things. "It means they're letting the relationship go, which is what happens before they leave or find an affair," says Puhn. So feel good that you both still care enough to get to the bottom of your issues.

5 Foods That Boost Sex Drive

Avocados

Avocados have long been considered sexual enhancers; the Aztecs used them as sexual stimulants and forbade virgin women from leaving their houses during the avocado harvest in fear that they might become sexually overwhelmed by the powers of the avocado. This fruit is high in folic acid, which breaks down protein and boosts energy. Avocados contain a good amount of monounsaturated fat - the healthy fat - that is necessary for hormone production. In addition, they're rich in vitamin B6 and potassium, both of which boost male hormone production and give you enough energy to last in the bedroom.

Hot Peppers

Oysters They're the classic aphrodisiac: oysters have been consumed by individuals for years to boost libido. Casanova himself is rumored to have eaten dozens of raw oysters each day, and for good reason, too. Oysters increase dopamine, a hormone that boosts libido, and zinc, which proliferates testosterone and sperm production. Not to mention, some people find the act of eating oysters quite erotic. Others are bothered by the texture, so maybe the next food is a better choice…

These hot and fiery vegetables are a great way to spice up your sex life. They've got the right amount of kick to increase blood flow and circulation, and the side effects of consumption are pretty similar to those associated with sex; sweating, increased heart rate, and a tingling sensation. Cayenne and chili peppers are also good sources of capsaicin - the molecule that gives peppers their hotness - and help your body release endorphins to get you feeling frisky. Whip up some guacamole (avocado!) and add a few peppers for the ultimate prebedroom party.

A toned body seldom goes out of fashion or good health. Given the present day times, when our lives have become much too hectic, it is a task in itself to take time out to focus on fitness, proper diet and nutrition. With an intention to help everyone get the maximum benefits and make time for fitness amongst their busy routines, I am sharing a special workout for arms and abs, which can be done under 15 minutes. In addition to toning arms, shoulders and abs, the workoutprimarily trains the core strength of the body! Hence, follow this regimen, not only to tone up your abs and arms, but to gain a stronger, healthier and fitter body! Following are few tips by Kiran Krishnakumar, Delhi based fitness trainer: Warm up with plank to dolphin Plank to Dolphin movement warms up the core of the body, along with arms and abs, hence setting the right tone for the rest of the workout. Warmed up shoulders are able to better endure the push-ups, which is the next exercise in the regimen that we are getting at. The method is fairly simple, begin with a forearm plank, make sure that the arms are parallel to each other, with palms flat on the floor. Now, by raising the hips and back, try and form an inverted V with your body. Pause; breathe normally, slowly lowering your bank, resuming the first position

of the forearm plank. Repeat for a minute for the best results. Push-ups never go out of fashion There's only one exercise that works amazingly on shoulders, arms and abs! So Push-ups are a complete win for any fitness enthusiast. However, since we were doing planks before, we can change the traditional push-ups slightly. Begin with the high plank position as stated in the previous exercise, keeping your spine long and shoulders above the wrists. Lower the body by bending your elbows, getting your body closer to the ground. If need be, drop to your knees. Pushing your way back up through the palms, try and straighten your arms. Continue the same for a minute at least for best results. Include shoulder taps to planking This one change tests the core strengths of the body and helps in strengthening the same. Start with the high plank position, with your feet placed hip-distance apart. Now, tap each shoulder with the opposite hand. Channelize your glutes and core strength to maintain stability, while keeping hips still. Continue the same exercise for a minute, to enjoy the best results. Work the sides with forearm side plank You cannot really have a complete core workout without training the sides. The side plank is not only challenging, but gives your body the extra amount of oomph it de-

serves. Start the forearm side plank on your left side and make sure your left elbow is resting comfortably on the floor below your shoulder. Raise your right arm to put it behind your head. Rotate your torso in a way that you right elbow comes close to the left hand. For best results, don?t let your hips fall, utilizing all your gluten and core strength to maintain the posture. Revive your abs with bicycle crunches This is quite a simple exercise and yet works wonderfully in toning the mid-rib section of the body. Emphasize on making the opposite knee and arm meet, or come the closest possible. While going through multiple repetitions in quick succession, ensure that your back is kept straight. To support the torso, you may put your hands behind your head or under your hips and continue with the same movement. Hold the boat pose The quintessential boat pose works on the abs and is perhaps the best test of endurance and fitness. With your chest lifted and belly drawn in, feet lifted up legs facing the ceiling, forming a complete V in the process, hold the position. Ideally, you should be able to hold the position for a minute at least. However, need not push yourself too much in the beginning; try and achieve the hold of over a minute within the first few weeks of getting started!

Roast Pork Belly

Bananas Ingredients For Roast Pork Belly: 1 kg pork belly 2 tsp shaahi jeera (Cumin seeds) 3 Tbsp olive oil

Chocolate Bananas contains bromelain, an enzyme that may increase sex drive and reverse impotence in men (bromelain is also found in pineapple). Bananas are high in potassium and riboflavin, which increase the body's energy levels, so that makes them a great snack to eat before a "workout." In addition, bananas are great for anyone who gets pre-date butterflies because they help relax the nervous system. With all of these great benefits, it's no wonder monkeys are so obsessed with them.

While this may seem too good to be true, there's truth behind the libido boosting effect of our fifth food. Chocolate contains a compound called phenyl-ethylamine, which is produced in the brains of people who are in love. When it's consumed, the body releases serotonin (the same hormone released during sex) and an array of endorphins. Now, this doesn't mean that you should go eat a few candy bars before sex; only choose chocolate that contains at least 60% cacao. Better yet, try dipping strawberries (or any other fruit that's high in vitamin C) in melted dark chocolate to add even more oomph to your bedroom festivities.

1 1/2 apples (roughly sliced)

1 onion (roughly sliced) Fennel seeds

Method For Roast Pork Belly: Take the pork belly, and add olive oil, shahi jeera, salt, pepper Layer the baking tray with chunks of apples and onions. Place the pork on top of the apple and onion layer. Sprinkle fennel seeds and salt on top of the pork belly. Carefully pour hot water into the baking dish, avoiding any contact with the top skin of pork belly. Place the pork into the oven which has been preheated at 250°C. When the pork is done, take it out of the oven and drain the remaining pork fat in a separate bowl. Place the meat on a plate. Transfer the left over apples, onions, water and fat into a pan and place it on heat. Add water, butter and bring the sauce to boil.

Cinnamon Salt and pepper

Add salt, pepper and cinnamon. Sieve the sauce in a bowl.

To Serve: Serve the pork belly, roast vegetables with honey and sesame seeds along with some apple sauce.

DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

NATION UP CM presents supplementary budget amidst Oppn sloganeering

PTI Lucknow, Dec 21 : In the last session of the present Assembly, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today tabled second supplementary budget and sought Vote on Account for the first five months of next financial year amid the Opposition sloganeering. Akhilesh, who is also the finance minister of the state, tabled the second supplementary budget of Rs 1,683 crore for the current financial year amidst Opposition party shouting slogans since the morning. He also sought a Vote on Account of Rs 1.35 lakh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav crore for the first five months of the financial year 2017-2018 in proportion to the estimated budget size of Rs 3.64 lakh crore.

Earlier in the day, Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey had to adjourn the House for entire question hour after Opposition, including the BJP and BSP,

PM not keen to strike at root of corruption, black money: CPI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi PTI Hyderabad, Dec 21 : The CPI today charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi with not being keen to strike at the root of corruption and black money, alleging that he "does not speak about Lokpal, whistleblowers' protection, black money stashed in foreign banks and unpaid huge loans of corporates". "Modi does not speak about Lokpal which the Parliament discussed and decided, whistleblowers' protection, and black money stashed in foreign banks about which he spoke before elections," CPI (Communist Party of India) National Secretary D Raja told PTI here. "There is no attempt to recover the huge (unpaid) loans taken by corporate houses which remain as NPAs. They want to help corporate houses, finding many le-

gal ways to justify nonperforming assets. They (government) are not keen to recover the money," the Rajya Sabha member said. "But in case of farmers, and students who take education loans, government outsources the recovery mechanism. In Tamil Nadu, it led to suicides also. So, Modi is not keen to strike at the root of black money and corruption," the leader said. He said the Finance Ministry and RBI go on issuing circulars and guidelines one after another, respectively, and it seems there are contradictions between the two. "Moreover, it also shows lack of preparedness and clarity on how the policy can be implemented," he said. Raja, who was here to attend the three-day national council meeting of his party, said the

demonetisation move lacked logic or rationale. "They say Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 are high denomination notes; what about Rs 2,000?, what's the logic?" he asked. "They have created financial chaos and financial turmoil in the country, and are subjecting common people unimaginable miseries and suffering," he alleged. "How many people died (while waiting in queues outside banks or ATMs to collect money after demonetisation announcement) everybody knows. December 30th is the last day (to deposit old notes). After that what?, nobody knows, government is not clear; RBI, Finance Ministry...what's the coordination because Reserve Bank being an autonomous apex bank, what is its role, nobody knows," he said. "There is utter confusion and lack of clarity on these policies," Raja said. The demonetisation move, he said, has hurt the economy as a whole. Agricultural, cooperative and manufacturing sectors have taken a hit. "Unemployment is growing. Even big companies are laying-off (employees). Modi promised he will create many jobs, now it's not only job-less growth; growth has become a challenge," Raja said.

Paytm accuses 7 more customers of cheating it PTI New Delhi, Dec 21 : Based on allegations of digital wallet company Paytm, CBI has registered a fresh case against seven purported customers of the company alleging that they had cheated it to the tune of Rs 3.21 lakh through 37 orders spread over last two years. CBI has filed FIR against seven customers listed by the company in its new complaint and unknown officials of Paytm. The company, which has named seven customers in its complaint, has not identified any of its officials despite mentioning that its employees facilitating refunds have been assigned specific login id and passwords, making it easier to identify those who pro-

Paytm accuses 7 more customers of cheating it cessed which refunds. "During routine reconciliation of accounts, the complainant company found that in 37 cases where refunds were made in the wallet or bank account of customers, delivery of orders were successfully made to the same cus-

tomers," the complaint from M Sivakumar, Manager Legal of the company, said. CBI has registered case under provisions of criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery besides invoking provisions of Information Technology Act. .

created pandemonium demanding resignation of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan over controversial remarks on Bulandshahr gang rape and dismal law and order. The situation did not change even after the Assembly reassembled and before it was adjourned for the day, the CM hurriedly tabled supplementary budget and interim budget and the house paid tributes to its former chief minister Ram Naresh Yadav, who died following prolonged illness last month. Interestingly, the CM who plans to contest the

coming elections on the plank of development has proposed Rs 1,000 crore for land acquisition and construction of Samajwadi Purvanchal Expressway project between Lucknow and Ghazipur and another Rs 4,500 crore for other state roads in the supplementary budget. Besides, Rs 100 crore have been proposed for strengthening the publicity set-up of the state's information department and Rs 6 crore for additional construction at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Azam Khan's native Rampur.

Former Bihar Minister S P Tarun passes away PTI Patna/Biharsharif, Dec 21 : Former Bihar Education Minister and veteran Congress leader Surendra Prasad Tarun passed away after prolonged illness. He was 88. Tarun who breathed his last at Patna Medical College and Hospital last night. He is survived by two sons. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over Tarun's demise and announced a state funeral for him. Kumar directed his ministerial colleague Shrawan Kumar to represent the state government at the funeral, an official

statement said here today. A native of Panditpur village of Nalanda, Tarun, a two-time former MLA from Atri in Gaya and Hilsa in Nalanda district, was the minister of state for education in the Congress government of Bindeshwari Dubey from 1985-1988. He also worked for Press Trust of India as its Rajgir correspondent in the past. In his condolence message, the chief minister described the departed leader as a prominent politician and social worker. State Rural Development and Parliamentary Affair Minister Shrawan Kumar also condoled the death of Tarun.

Demonetisation chaos will help us retain power: Akhilesh Yadav Lucknow, Dec 21 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav feels the days of caste-based politics in the state are over and now the two Ds — development and demonetisation problems — will work in favour of the Samajwadi Party in the upcoming assembly polls. According to him, his family feud is no more a factor and all issues have been changed post demonetisation. “That is a thing of past now. We are working together to win the elections. Issues have changed and post demonetisation nobody remembers that (family feud) now. All the other issues have been left behind and demonetisation has emerged as the key issue,” he said. He asserted that Uttar Pradesh will vote for his work, image and not on caste equations. “Our work in last five years and the problems people are facing due to demonetisation will lead us to victory in upcoming elections. Jo kataarein ATM ke bahar lagi hai wo polling booth ke bahar lagegi (polling booths will see long queues like ones outside ATMs now,” Akhilesh told PTI in an interview. When asked who he considers the bigger rival — BJP or BSP, he said people of Uttar Pradesh have lost faith in both of them. “BJP has done nothing for Uttar Pradesh in last two and a half years. The Prime Minister was elected from UP, home minister and defence minister are also representing UP. They have maximum number of MPs from UP but they have given nothing to the state apart from Adarsh Gaon Yojna and nothing is happening on that front also,” he said. “As far as BSP is concerned, people are not interested in getting elephants installed everywhere,” he added. His father and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has already ruled out any pre-poll alliance with Congress but Akhilesh said it will be premature to predict anything as of now. “Of course the party president will take a call on that but I believe that we will get 300 plus seats if we enter into a pre-poll alliance with Congress. I know that netaji (Mulayam) has said there will be merger, no alliances but there is still time for the elections and you must wait and watch. Politics is full of sur-

prises and you never know what will happen tomorrow,” he said. “I do not have any doubt on getting an absolute majority but we can get 300 plus seats if we fight together. Samajwadis believe that Congress is their best friend when it is weak,” he said. SP had gained absolute majority in 2012 winning 224 seats. BSP had won 80, BJP 47 and Congress 28. Akhilesh does not believe there is too much focus on Muslim voters. “If I am talking about development, they (Muslims) should also get benefited by it. I am giving them their right. If we explain this, nobody will have any objection. Those who want to do communal politics will not be successful in UP. Politics has changed and it is no more based on caste equations,” he asserted. “People are connected through media and social media and they are aware of what is happening in the world. They want politics of development and positivity, not of hatred,” he added. On the law-and-order issue, he said he is leaving no stone unturned to restore faith of the people. “I have sent my teams to New York, Singapore and Houston to study their police system. We have also started ‘dial 100 scheme’ which will be implemented in a phase-wise manner.” On party tickets, he said, “Ticket distribution is not in my hand. I can only give my suggestions and will do that. Everyone is aware of my views on that. National president of the party will take a call on that,” said Akhilesh, who stayed away when his father launched the party’s poll campaign last month from a stronghold of the erstwhile Quami Ekta Dal (QED) led by Mukhtar Ansari. He had opposed the merger of the QED with his party but Mulayam and uncle Shivpal Yadav overruled the young chief minister later. Asked whether he got a ‘free hand’ to work during his tenure, Akhilesh said he feels more matured and experienced now. “Last time I was new in politics and became chief minister with the blessings of netaji. I am more matured and with age I have also gained experience. I have fulfilled all the promises I had made in my manifesto. I have initiated schemes on which Samajwadis can do politics for next 10-15 years. In my next innings I will work harder to make UP number one state,” he said.

P8 EC to ask I-T authorities to look into finances of 200 parties

Image for representational purpose. PTI New Delhi, Dec 21 : The Election Commission is set to write to the Income Tax authorities asking it to look into the finances of over 200 political parties it has 'delisted' over a period of time for not contesting elections. The Commission has, over a period of time, identified various parties which have not contested polls since 2005 and has 'delisted' over 200 of

them. The poll panel believes that most of them exist on papers to help people convert their back money into white by accepting donations. In the next few days, the Commission will send the list of the delisted parties to the income tax authorities seeking action against relevant laws if they are found to be involved in money laundering.

While the poll watchdog has the mandate to register a political party, it lacks power under electoral laws to deregister any party. As its demand to get power to deregister a party is pending with the Law Ministry, the Commission used its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to delist parties for being dormant and not contesting elections for a long time. There are over 1780 registered, but unrecognised political parties in the country. Besides, there are seven national parties -- BJP, Congress, BSP, TMC, CPI, CMI-M and NCP -- and 58 state parties. Seeking to stem flow of black money in elections, the Commission has proposed a slew of electoral reforms but most are pending with the government.

PM Modi to visit Varanasi tomorrow, interact with booth-level workers Varanasi, Dec 21 : With the crucial assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh just around the corner, the BJP's grassroot level cadre in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency here shall be looking forward to receiving from him the mantra for electoral success during his tour of the ancient temple town tomorrow. Interaction with nearly 20,000 booth-level party workers at the Diesel Locmotive Works (DLW) premises forms a major part of the Prime Minister's itinerary here. Modi's visit, which could be the last to his parliamentary constituency before the poll schedule is announced and the Model Code of Conduct comes into force, also includes flagging off of quite a few projects. These include laying of foundation stones for a cancer centre and a super-speciality hospital at the Benares Hindu University where Modi will also spend some time at the "Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav" (national cultural festival), a weeklong event organized by the Union Ministry for Culture where artistes from across the country, some of them of international repute, have been performing. From BHU premises,

Interaction with nearly 20,000 booth-level party workers at the Diesel Locmotive Works (DLW) premises forms a major part of the Prime Minister's itinerary. Modi will leave for a brief tour of Kabir Nagar locality, named after the 17th century mystic and poet, and inspect underground cabling and heritage lighting work, which is being carried out as part of the IPDS (Integrated Power Development Scheme) and HRIDAY (Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana) schemes. Thereafter the Prime Minister will reach DLW, where his political engagements will be preceded by laying of foundation stone for a 150bed ESIC (Employee's

State Insurance Corporation) super speciality hospital and inauguration of a trade facilitation centre and a crafts museum besides launching of a number of schemes and projects under the Textiles Ministry. This would be Modi's first tour of his parliamentary constituency since demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, that has drawn much flak from the opposition as the shortage of currency caused inconvenience to traders, salaried groups, artisans and unskilled daily wage earners alike.

BJD, BJP supporters clash during shutdown PTI Bhubaneswar, Dec 21 : Activists of ruling BJD and BJP fought a pitched battle today during a shutdown called by the rival party demanding the removal and arrest of Bhubaneswar Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena over a sex clip purportedly featuring him. As BJP workers were busy enforcing the dawn-to-dusk bandh by staging road blockades and picketing, BJD members, mostly from its student wing, took out a motorcycle rally protesting the shutdown, leading to scuffles between rival groups near Master Canteen

and Ram Mandir square, police said. The stretch of road between Ram Temple and Sriya Square virtually turned into a battlefield as BJD activists tried to confront BJP workers. The groups' members attacked each other with sticks and indulged in stone-pelting. A few vehicles were also damaged during the clash, police said. Normal life in the city was hit by the shutdown. While shops and business establishments remained shut, vehicular movement was disrupted as BJP workers blocked roads and burnt

tyres at several places including Khandagiri, CRP Square, Jaydev Vihar, Kalpana Square and Patia. Offices also recorded thin attendance. Commissioner of Police Y B Khurania and DCP Satyabrat Bhoi rushed to the spot to control the situation. Around 50 people were held in different areas for indulging in violence. BJP had called the bandh demanding that the Mayor be arrested over the sex clip purportedly featuring him and his alleged role in the death of an engineering student, Asutosh Mohanty alias Rishi. .

DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

CBDT asks I-T to ensure better collection of revenue arrears PTI New Delhi, Dec 21 : Concerned over 60 per cent shortfall in cash collection from arrear demands, the CBDT has asked the Income Tax department to pull up its socks and ensure it achieves the target in this regard as the current fiscal is running out fast. While the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the policymaking body for the I-T department, has fixed a target of Rs 53.98 crore to be collected during the 2016-17 financial year as part of the revenue stuck in arrear demands, only Rs 19.68 crore has been collected till the end of November. The figure makes it clear that only about 37 per cent of the target, under this head, has been achieved till now. "The level of performance in this critical result area of the

Image for representational purpose. department's work is completely non-acceptable. Three quarters of the financial year are already over and not even 50 per cent of the target has been achieved which itself was fixed at a fraction of the total arrears outstanding," CBDT Chairman Sushil Chandra wrote in a recent communication to all his regional heads. Chandra asked the top brass of the department on ground to "take all measures for stepping up cash

collection out of arrears as well as current demand so that not only the target set in this regard is met but significant contribution is also made towards achievement of the overall budget target of the regions (across the country)". The CBDT boss has also sought collection of all due recoveries from all the regions that will boost the overall tax collection at the end of the current financial year on March 31 next year.

Govt limits charges on electronic fund transfer

Govt limits charges on electronic fund transfer PTI New Delhi, Dec 21 : In order to encourage digital transactions, the Finance Ministry today asked PSU banks to restrict fees on payments through IMPS and UPI to the extent that is applicable for NEFT fund transfer of over Rs 1,000. As per RBI norms, NEFT transfers of up to Rs 10,000 attract Rs 2.5 fee. From Rs 10,000-1 lakh the fee is Rs 5; on Rs 1-2 lakh it is Rs 15, and beyond Rs 2 lakh it is Rs 25. Service tax is charged in addition to this. For Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) transactions above Rs 1,000, the ministry said a further discount of 50 paise on these rates shall apply. USSD is mobile short code message and used mainly for banking ser-

vices on feature phone. The USSD fee is Rs 1.50, which has been waived till December 30, 2016. In order to further promote digital and card payments, the ministry has issued a direction in public interest to all Public Sector Banks, said an official statement. In accordance with this "these banks shall not charge fees for transactions settled on Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in excess of rates charged for National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) for transactions above Rs 1000, with service tax being charged at actuals", it said. IMPS is an interbank electronic instant mobile money transfer service through mobile phones. The UPI app enables customers to make online as well as offline payment to merchants from their bank accounts, without typing

card or net banking/wallet details and IFSC code. This direction will apply for all transactions up to March 31, 2017. "For USSD transactions above Rs 1,000, a further discount of fifty paise on these rates shall apply," it added. In order to promote digital transaction, Niti Aayog has announced two schemes - Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana', to be launched on December 25. The schemes will cover small transactions between Rs 50 and Rs 3,000. Transactions using RuPay, USSD, UPI and Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) will be covered under this scheme; payments made through credit cards and e-wallets would not be covered. In line with the central government's objective of promotion of payments through cards and digital means over payments in cash, the Reserve Bank has recently rationalised customer charges for transactions up to Rs 1,000 settled on IMPS, UPI and USSD from January 1-March 31, 2017. RBI has also rationalised the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for debit card transactions up to Rs 2,000 for the 3-month period.

PTI New Delhi, Dec 21 : Government is likely to revise downwards the disclosures made under the black money amnesty scheme to about Rs 55,000 crore as one Hyderabad-based realtor and his associates have defaulted on tax payments after declaring more than Rs 10,000 crore unaccounted income. The Hyderabad-based real-estate businessman had declared a black money of Rs 9,800 crore in the Income Disclosure Scheme (IDS) that closed on September 30. Two or three more persons associated with the realtor had declared Rs 2,000- 3,000 crore. "All of them have failed to deposit the first instalment of tax which was due on November 30," a senior government official said. Soon after the default, the Income-Tax Department

launched search on the premises of the defaulters. "While the Income Tax Department will take necessary actions, we will revise the total black money declared in IDS," he said. The declarations by the realtor and his associates were included in the revised Rs 67,382 crore declarations under IDS announced by the government. "The declarations will come down to about Rs 55,000 crore," the official said. Earlier this month, the Finance Ministry revised upwards black money disclosed under Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) to Rs 67,382 crore from Rs 65,250 crore estimate announced previously. The revised number would have got the government a little over Rs 30,000 crore in tax. The revised number had not included Rs 13,860

Image for representational purpose. crore declared by an Ahmedabad-based businessman Mahesh Kumar Champaklal Shah and Rs 2 lakh crore by a Mumbai-based family. "We did not take on record the two declarations as they looked suspicious as it was filed by persons of small means. Background checks including scrutiny of their previous income tax re-

turns revealed that they did not have the means to disclosure such a huge income," the official said. Soon after the fourmonth IDS closed, the government had on October 1 announced that 64,275 declarants had declared Rs 65,250 crore of black money. After final reconciliation the revised figure of

actual declarations received and taken on record was Rs 67,382 crore made by 71,726 declarants. The revised declarants taken on record included the Hyderabad-based realtor and his associates, the official said, adding that the realtor alone was supposed to pay Rs 1,100 crore of first instalment of tax by November 30 which he failed. The IDS, announced in the Budget, gave opportunity to holders of illegal wealth to come clean by paying a total 45 per cent tax on the so far hidden assets. Government had given the option to the declarants of paying tax amount in three instalments up to September 30, 2017. The first instalment of 25 per cent was due on November 30. "Most of the declarants have paid the first instalment," the official added.

Sensex losses RCom strikes tower deal with spill over, IT Brookfield Infra, to cut debt stocks hurt

Sensex losses spill over, IT stocks hurt

Mumbai, Dec 21 : The sensex fell for the sixth day on Wednesday, this time about 66 points, to end at 26,242, dragged down by major IT stocks such as Infosys and TCS amid mixed global cues. Infosys fell 0.66 per cent and TCS 1.07 per cent. The index, which had lost 389.84 points in the previous five sessions, dropped another 65.60 points, or 0.25 per cent, to end at 26,242.38 -- its lowest closing since December 7. It shuttled between 26,396.00 and 26,213.51. The 50-share NSE Nifty edged down by 21.10 points, or 0.26 per cent, to end at 8,061.30, after moving between 8,112.55 and 8,053.25. The volume remained low in view of the approaching holiday year ending. "Though firm Asian markets lent support in the early hours, traders chose to cash in, quickly erasing the gains ... Markets would now look forward to tomorrow's GST panel meet for signs of emerging consensus and the likelihood of further delays in rollout," said Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services. FMCG, IT, technology, Rupee recovers 11 paise in early trade capital goods and ing in the domestic equity dollar's value against healthcare sectors led the market influenced the ru- other global currencies. fall by up to 0.95 per pee uptrend, they added. Meanwhile, the bench- cent. However, buying Tuesday, the rupee fell by mark BSE Sensex was interest was witnessed in 16 paise to hit a two-week trading higher by 86.16 select sectors like realty, low of 68.03 against the points, or 0.32 per cent, consumer durables, American currency, fol- at 26,394.14 in early power and PSU. Sun Pharma got the biglowing a sudden rise in the trade Wednesday.

Rupee recovers 11 paise in early trade Mumbai, Dec 21 : The rupee recovered by 11 paise to 67.92 against the US dollar in opening trade Wednesday at the inter-bank foreign exchange on fresh selling of the American currency by exporters and banks amidst higher opening in the domestic equity market. Forex dealers said that besides selling of the American currency by exporters and banks, weakness in the dollar against other currencies overseas supported the rupee. Further, a higher open-

BUSINESS P9 IDS disclosure figures to be revised lower to Rs 55,000 cr

gest blow, down 2.25 per cent, followed by ITC 1.44 per cent. TCS, Wipro, Tata Motors, Axis Bank, L&T, Hero MotoCorp, Infosys, HUL, GAIL and Dr Reddy's all fell. Maruti Suzuki, M&M, Lupin, NTPC, ONGC, PowerGrid, ICICI Bank and Adani Ports rose, which minimised the impact. Coming to Asia, the stocks ended mixed. Japan Nikkei closed lower by 0.26 per cent on Wednesday, coming off a one-year high hit the previous day as investors shuffled their positions before the holiday season. However, Hong Kong's Hang Seng firmed up 0.37 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index 1.11 per cent. Europe opened lower in early trade, with Frankfurt falling 0.20 per cent and Paris 0.40 per cent. London's FTSE traded down by 0.20 per cent. As many as 15 scrips out of 30-share sensex pack ended lower. The FMCG index weakened 0.95 per cent, followed by IT 0.75 per cent, technology 0.74 per cent and capital goods 0.40 per cent. The broader market saw a mixed trend, with midcap index falling 0.16 per cent and small-cap edging up 0.03 per cent. Foreign funds net sold shares worth Rs 685.93 crore on Tuesday, according to provisional data.

PTI New Delhi, Dec 21 : Reliance Communications (RCom) today signed binding agreements with Canadabased Brookfield Infrastructure and institutional partners to sell its tower business for an upfront cash payment of Rs 11,000 crore. RCom will "also receive B Class non-voting shares in the tower company, providing 49 per cent future economic upside from the business based on certain conditions", the company said in a statement. RCom will utilise the cash proceeds solely to reduce debt, it said. The tower business will be demerged into a separate company, to be 100 per cent owned and independently managed by Brookfield Infrastructure. The deal represents the largest-ever investment by an overseas financial investor in the infrastructure sector in India.

RCom strikes tower deal with Brookfield Infra, to cut debt The Anil Ambani-promoted RCom, and brother Mukesh Ambani's 4G telecom venture Reliance Jio will continue as major longterm tenants (of the tower company). "RCom expects significant future value creation based on growth in tenancies from accelerating data consumption," the statement added. Giving details, RCom said the combination of

its wireless business with Aircel and monetisation of tower operations will together reduce the company's debt by Rs 31,000 crore (USD 4.6 billion), or nearly 70 per cent. "RCom will continue to hold 50 per cent stake in Aircel JV and 49 per cent upside in tower business to be monetised at an appropriate time to further reduce debt significantly," it added. .

Gold gains on positive global cues, jewellers' buying

PTI New Delhi, Dec 21 : Snapping two-day losing streak, gold regained some sheen by rising Rs 100 to 27,950 per 10 gram at the bullion market today on a firm global trend and increased buying by jewellers in the domestic spot market.

Silver too rebounded, gaining Rs 650 to Rs 39,650 per kg on increased offtake by industrial units and coin makers. Traders attributed the recovery in gold prices to a firm trend in the overseas markets and increased buying by domestic jewellers.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity recovered by Rs 100 each to Rs 27,950 and Rs 27,800 per 10 gram, respectively. The metal had lost Rs 80 in the previous two sessions. The was in line with gold rising 0.38 per cent to USD 1,136.40 an ounce and silver by 0.47 per cent to USD 16.15 an ounce in Singapore. Sovereign, however, remained steady in domestic market at Rs 24,000 per piece of eight grams. Silver ready gained Rs 650 to Rs 39,650 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 630 to Rs 39,675 per kg. Silver coins, however, remained unaltered at Rs 70,000 for buying and Rs 71,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

12 Indian fishermen arrested for 'poaching' in Lankan waters PTI Colombo, Dec 21 : At least 12 Indian fishermen were arrested and their two trawlers seized by Sri Lankan Navy in the early hours of today for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters, a day after seven others were detained on similar charges. The fishermen, all hailing from Tamil Nadu, were arrested south of Talaimannar in the north. They have been handed over to the fishing inspectorate in Mannar and their two trawlers have also been seized, the Navy said. Indian fisheries department officials said three groups of fishermen from Pamban near Rameswaram were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel for fishing off Talaimannar and were detained at the police station there. 20 fishers who had set out for fishing from Pamban in two mechanised boats and a country boat were rounded up by the Lankan authorities while they were fishing in the

south sea using the banned fishing nets, Rameswaram Fisheries Department Assistant Director Gopinath said. While fishermen in one of the boats managed to get away in their boat, 12 others were caught and taken to Sri Talaimannar, Lanka, he said. Today's arrest comes a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam asked the Centre to send a "firm message" to the island nation over continued apprehension of the state's fishermen. The incident also comes a day after seven persons from Pudukottai district were detained for allegedly fishing in their waters and taken to Kangesanthurai Port, along with their boats. On Monday, Lankan fisheries minister Mahinda Amaraweera had said that there has been a 50 per cent drop in recent times in 'poaching' by Indian trawlers in Sri Lankan waters due to enhanced patrolling by the Navy and coast guard.

Tamil group in US urge Obama to delist LTTE PTI Washington, Dec 21 : A Tamil diaspora group in the US has appealed to President Barack Obama to de-proscribe the LTTE as a terror outfit in the country, saying this could give a "little relief" to the community which faces problems while travelling abroad. The group 'Tamils for Obama' claimed that the LTTE has been defunct with no activities since 2009. In a statement, the group have said that many Tamils are "suffering" because of the listing of the LTTE as a terror group in the US. "Because of the listing of Tamil Tigers, it creates pain for many US Tamils when they travel to abroad and when they return to the US," the statement said. "They have to go through many hours of interrogation. Some US Tamils have asked us to convince

Obama to help us by removing Tamil Tigers from the list. Obama can give Tamils a little relief by delisting the Tamil Tiger during this Christmas and giving season. There is no reason to keep them on the list," it said. The group said it was a "mistake" by the George Bush's administration to support the Sri Lankan "genocidal war against the innocent Tamils". The Tamil groups also hope that the European Union would also de-list the LTTE. The US banned the LTTE in 1997 followed by India, UK and the EU. The UN has estimated that 40,000 people died, many of them civilians, during the three-decade-long civil war that ended in 2009. It was under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's tenure that the Sri Lankan forces defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the separatist group that waged armed insurgency against the government.

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INTERNATIONAL

Obama moves to tie Trump's hands on Arctic, Atlantic drilling AFP Washington, Dec 21 : The White House blocked new leases for oil and gas drilling in sections of the Arctic and Atlantic, a highstakes bid to forestall exploration and tie Donald Trump's hands. With Trump is bringing a strident pro-oil stance to the White House, the outgoing administration has launched a rearguard action. President Barack Obama announced he was placing swaths of the Arctic and Atlantic "indefinitely off limits to future oil and gas leasing." The protection covers an area of the Arctic roughly the size of Spain or Thailand and 31 sea canyons

in the Atlantic. A senior administration official said that there was a "strong legal basis" for the move, and suggested Trump could not revoke the decision without an act of Congress. The move, based on a law from the 1950s, was taken in tandem with the Canadian government and introduces an additional headache should Trump try to row it back. Obama said in a statement that the measures would "protect a sensitive and unique ecosystem." He also warned that the risk of oil spills "are significant," and the ability "to clean up from a spill in the region's harsh conditions is limited."

President Barack Obama The Hawaii-born president's second year in office was dominated by the catastrophic

Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which poured millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The spill could not be stopped for 87 days, devastating wildlife and fishing-dependent communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama. The American Petroleum Institute, an industry lobby group, warned that Obama's decision "blocking offshore exploration would weaken our national security, destroy goodpaying jobs, and could make energy less affordable for consumers." Obama's eight years in office have resulted in a tidal wave of new environmental legislation, protecting marine ecosystems, curbing carbon emissions and boosting renewable energy. Obama rushed through

ratification of the Paris Climate Accord in record time to make sure that it could not be shelved by the incoming administration. Many rules have been finalized, making them difficult to roll back. States like California have also introduced their own climate-friendly legislation. But Obama's agenda is likely to come under sustained assault from the Trump administration. The business tycoonturned-commander-inchief has named Exxon boss Rex Tillerson as his secretary of state and Scott Pruitt, a climate change denier, as head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

At least 26 killed in Congo Venezuela reopens Colombia, protests, rights group says Brazil border crossings AP Kinshasa, Dec 21 : Security forces in Congo killed at least 26 demonstrators Tuesday and arrested scores more amid protests against President Joseph Kabila's hold on power, a rights group said. The deaths were the first reported since Kabila's mandate ended at midnight. Military and police forces were firing live bullets, raising fears that more people have been killed, Human Rights Watch said. Its researcher Ida Sawyer said on Twitter that the killings took place in the capital, Kinshasa, the southern city of Lubumbashi and else-

tionally barred from seeking another term, but a court has ruled that he can remain in power until new elections, which have been delayed indefinitely. They were meant to be in November, but the ruling party says it needs more time until 2018, at least. The leader of Congo's largest opposition party, Etienne Tshisekedi, urged peaceful resistance to what he called Kabila's "coup d'etat." In a statement posted on YouTube on Tuesday, he called the president's actions "treason" and appealed to the Congolese people and the international community to no longer recognize

spread unrest in the vast Central African nation that has trillions of dollars' worth of natural resources but remains one of the world's poorest and most unstable countries. After Kabila's mandate ended, people blew whistles and rattled pans as part of a protest meant to symbolize the "end of the match." The political negotiations that stalled over the weekend failed to reach an agreement on a date for new elections or the release of political prisoners. Both are key demands of the opposition parties, along with the dropping of

At least 26 killed in Congo protests, rights group says where. Residents told the group that Republican Guards were carrying out door-to-door searches and arresting youths. Protesters burned the headquarters of the ruling party in Kinshasa. Kabila, who took office in 2001 after his father's assassination, is constitu-

Kabila's authority. Political talks between the ruling party and opposition, which stalled over the weekend, were expected to resume on Wednesday with mediators from the Catholic church. The political impasse has fueled fears of wide-

AFP Seoul, Dec 21 : South Korea's ruling conservative party today faced an imminent split over the impeachment of scandalhit President Park GeunHye, a development that would seriously undermine its presidential election chances. More than 30 lawmakers of the Saenuri Party, who have been at odds with Park, have vowed to leave, arguing the party's current leadership refuses to embrace reforms despite the corruption scandal and impeachment crisis. "We've reached a conclusion that conserva-

tives' reform through the Saenuri Party is impossible", Yoo Seung-Min, an eminent lawmaker among the dissenters told journalists. A split would also complicate a possible run by outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who had been widely expected to compete as a centre-right candidate on the Saenuri ticket. Thirty-five lawmakers have agreed to break away from the party on December 27, the group said, adding they will try to convince more parliamentary members to join them. Their departure will

criminal charges against opposition leader Moise Katumbi, who fled the country as authorities announced plans to try him. Katumbi's supporters say the charges of hiring mercenaries are politically motivated, as he had been a leading presidential candidate.

Venezuela reopens Colombia, Brazil border crossings

AFP Caracas, Dec 21 : Thousands of Venezuelans crossed into Colombia to buy food and medicine after their government partially reopened the border following a messy crackdown on what it called currency hoarders. The border with Brazil was also partially reopened, officials in Brasilia said. "Thank God the border is open again," 29-year-old Christian Sanchez told AFP. "A lot of people have come to shop on the other side because we can't find food, diapers for our babies, medicine," he said. Sanchez was preparing to enter a pedestrian crossing over the Simon Bolivar Bridge linking the cities of San Antonio in Venezuela and Cucuta, Colombia. But while foot traffic was permitted, trucks carrying needed goods remained blocked. Venezuela also reopened its main border crossing

with Brazil after talks between officials at the Brazilian embassy and Venezuela's foreign ministry, officials in Brasilia said in a statement. The crossing is open for pedestrians, but only within limited hours for vehicles. Local press reported that some 200 Brazilians, mostly local tourists, were prevented from returning home when Venezuela closed the border. President Nicolas Maduro had ordered the borders with Colombia and Brazil closed on December 12 as part of a currency reform that involved removing the 100-bolivar note from circulation. He alleged that "mafias" abroad were hoarding the banknotes to suffocate the Venezuelan economy. Yesterday, he also accused the United States of causing the cash crisis by infiltrating his government. "Is it not the case that the gringos have bought key people in key positions in

order to harm the people?" he said without identifying which institutions he believes to have been affected. "I think so." Looting and clashes broke out over the weekend as many people were left without cash. At least three people were reported killed and around 300 arrested. The state of Bolivar was hardest hit by the unrest. A curfew has been in force there since Saturday, and more than 3,000 troops are patrolling the streets. Maduro eventually reversed course, saying the currency will remain legal tender until January 2 while new, higher denomination bills are printed and circulated. Late on Monday, he and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos spoke by telephone and agreed to reopen the border "progressively," according to Venezuelan information minister Ernesto Villegas.

parties in passing a motion to impeach Park this month. Park is accused of colluding with her friend Choi Soon-Sil to strongarm large companies like Samsung into handing over tens of millions of dollars to two dubious foundations Choi allegedly controlled and plundered. Park is also accused of ordering aides to leak state documents to Choi, who has no official title or security clearance, and allowing her to meddle in some state affairs, including the appointment of top officials. The case is now being

considered by the constitutional court, which has up to 180 days to rule on the validity of the impeachment that charged Park with multiple criminal and constitutional violations -- ranging from bribery to abuse of power. If the justices confirm impeachment, Park will be permanently removed and elections must be held within 60 days -meaning a ballot could be held as early as late March. The split will drastically reduce the chances of the conservative party winning the presidential election.

World Bank approves USD 1.5 billion in aid S Korean ruling party faces split over impeachment for war-torn Iraq PTI Washington, Dec 21 : The

World Bank has announced an additional USD 1.5 billion aid package for Iraq, to help the war-torn country implement reforms, improve public services and boost its economy. The package includes loan guarantees from the UK for about USD 372 million, and from Canada for about USD 72 million. “Despite an ongoing war and low oil prices, Iraq is undertaking bold transformational reforms that will safeguard economic stability and lay the foundations for longer term private sector development and inclusive growth for all

Iraqis,” said Ferid Belhaj, World Bank director for the Middle East. The reforms also will help to expand social safety nets “to reach the most vulnerable segments of the population,” he said in a statement yesterday. The bank also approved USD 41.5 million for a program to improve management of the country’s public funds. With the new package, the World Bank engagement in Iraq rises to nearly USD 3.4 billion, including support for reconstruction of areas recently recovered by government forces and a transport corridor investment.

S Korean ruling party faces split over impeachment

leave the party with some 90 lawmakers within the 300-seat parliament and relegating it to second place behind

the liberal Democratic Party within the National Assembly. The group crossed party lines to join opposition

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DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

SPORTS

P11

Shahid Afridi sad Lodha committee not giving us time for last two months: Thakur about detention of his fan in Assam

Shahid Afridi PTI Karachi, Dec. 21: Shahid Afridi has expressed disappointment about the detention of a fan wearing a jersey with the Pakistan allrounder's number embossed on it during a cricket match in Assam. "It is shameful that such an incident should take place. It is sad that politics is being played with cricket," Afridi was quoted as saying by Jang newspaper. According to reports, Ripon Chowdhury was apprehended by local po-

lice following a complaint filed by the youth wing of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). The police are said to have arrested the youth and lodged a case under section 120(B), 294 of the Indian Penal code. Afridi said he would appeal to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to look into the matter. "Such incidents highlight intolerance and should be condemned. Because if there are fans of Pakistan cricket players in India the same is the case in

Pakistan where there are fans of Indian players," Afridi said. "Cricket fans should only be seen as cricket lovers in both countries." In a similar incident in February, a Pakistani fan of Indian Test captain Virat Kohli was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for hoisting the Indian flag on the roof of his house, before the court granted him bail in Okara, Punjab. Afridi said that cricket should be kept away from politics.

Bolivia blames airline for footballers' plane crash AFP La Paz, Dec. 21: The Bolivian airline that owned the airplane that crashed in Colombia, killing 71 people including most of a Brazilian football team, is fully responsible for the accident, an official has said. The Bolivia-based LaMia airlines plane slammed into t he mountains outside Medellin on November 29, killing most of Brazili an football team Chapecoense Real as they travelled to a match. "The evidence is conclusive, the direct responsibility of this event falls on the pilot and the airl i n e c o m p a n y, " P u b l i c

Wo r k s a n d S e r v i c e s Minister Milton Claros yesterday said at a press conference. A harrowing recording has emerged of the pilot radioing the control tower to report he was out of fuel. Six people survived the crash. Investigations are ongoing, but Colombia's civil aviation safety chief has said the plane disregarded international rules on fuel reserves. Bolivia has suspended the airline's permit and arrested its manager and his son, who is an official in the civil aviation authority. Claros said administrative and criminal

sanctions were being drawn up against Bolivian airport official Celia Castedo. Other civil aviation officials will also face sanctions, he said. Castedo, who fled to Brazil claiming persecution, has "direct responsibility" for authorising the flight and for notifying her superiors of the flight's problems one day after the accident via email, Claros said. Last week an attorney for the plane's copilot said that pilot Miguel Quiroga had not completed the training hours required to operate a commercial flight.

PTI Jaipur, Dec. 21: BCCI President Anurag Thakur said there are few recommendations by justice Lodha Committee which the Board members feel are not practical to implement but they have not been able to convey the same as the body has not given them time for last two months. "The matter is subjudice and I have full faith in the Indian judicial system. We have called meetings time and again to implement justice Lodha committee recommendations. More than 85 per cent recommendations have been implemented," Thakur told reporters here. "The members do not agree to implement

BCCI President Anurag Thakur three-four recommendations as they are not practical. To convey this, we sought time but the committee is not giving us time for the last two months," he added. Thakur further said: "Be-

fore the recommendations, we have brought many reforms in the BCCI which is the best run organisation in the w o r l d t o d a y. O u r teams have performed well in so many tour-

naments. "We are the number one team in Tests, number two in T20s and number three in ODIs. Look at the performance of our junior team where they have

finals of the Asia Cup. Our womens team have won the Women's Asia Cup. "So where are shortcomings? Pressure is being created unnecessarily on us," he added. Commenting on Rajasthan Cricket Association, Thakur said that the association is suspended due to one individual and its members have to take a decision on it. He said that the RCA would not get one day match till this is suspended. The BCCI President also congratulated India skipper Virat Kohli and his team for their victory over England in the five-Test series, saying the Indian team has made the England team lick the dust.

Bangladesh call up Miraz, Subashis, Tanveer for first New Zealand ODI Dhaka, Dec. 21: Having burst onto the scene with a captivating show in the Test series against England, teenage off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz has forced his way into the Bangladesh squad for the first One-Day International (ODI) of their New Zealand tour. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) o n Tu e s d a y a l s o named pacer Subashis Roy and leg spinner a l l r o u n d e r Ta n v e e r Haider as the new faces among Bangladesh's ranks, reports bdnew s24.com. Selectors recalled maverick left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman after he missed out the Tigers' last two outings through injury. Paceman Rubel Hossain was also in-

cluded in the 15-strong line-up. Bangladesh will play a three-match ODI series against the hosts beginning on December 26, marking their first overseas series in about two years. The team will also play a warm-up game on T h u r s d a y. T h e f i r s t ODI squad: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (captain), Ta m i m Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mosaddek Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Ta s k i n Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Subashis Roy, Tanveer Haider. London, Dec 21 (IANS) Capital football club Chelsea's defender Nemanja Matic is hoping that young striker Michy

Batshuayi will deliver in the absence of suspended Diego Costa, when they face Bournemouth in the English Premier League (EPL) on December 26. League leaders Chelsea will be without the suspended duo of striker Costa and midfielder N'Golo Kante for the match. Both the players have played every EPL game this season. But for Bournemouth, head coach Antonio Conte will have to change his starting XI. Belgian international Batshuayi is yet to start in an EPL league game since moving to Chelsea from Marseille in the summer. But Matic believes the 23year-old is more than capable of leading their attack in the absence of Costa, who has fired 13 goals in the league so

far. "He is a great player, he works very hard every day and has a lot of quality for sure," Matic told chelseafc.com on Tuesday. "We won't have Diego against Bournemouth but I hope Michy will be the man to decide the game. If he does that it will be good for us. He is a great striker, for sure, that is why Chelsea bought him. I'm sure if he gets a chance to score in the next game, he'll take it." The seasoned Serbian also felt that Batshuayi's overall game will only have improved having trained with Spaniard Costa on a daily basis. "Of course he has benefited from working with him,' said the Serbian. "It was the same with me seven years ago. It was very good for me to see how

Frank Lampard played, how Michael Ballack played and Michael Essien. "So it is good for Michy and a good experience for him to see Diego's movement." Asked how they will cope with such a situation in the absence of two key players, he said: "We have to cope with that, you have situations like this during the season, but other teams also have their problems. "Of course, they are both important players for us but the next game we play is at home and we have to do our best to get three points," Matic added. "Everyone is important in football because you never know who is going to play the next game. I'm happy because in training you can see every player is physically ready."

Margherita Cricket Pre- Praful Patel re-elected AIFF president mier League Season 2 Higher Secondary School field today. The first match was played between Raka Warriors Vs Margherita Black Diamond today. Raka Warriors decided to bat first and scored 123 runs

by losing 5 wickets. Ricky Ahmed Scored 32 runs and M Shankar Rao scored a blistering 23. Margherita Black Diamond Ranjit Hazarika took 2 wickets. Margherita Black Dia-

mond managed to score only 113 runs by losing all wickets where Ranjit Hazarika scored 38 runs. Raka Warriors won by 10 runs. Ricky Ahmed of Raka Warriors was declared Man of the match.

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All Assam Inter District Junior and Senior Athletic Championship tournament at Sivasagar. Photo by Firuz Ahmed

Incumbent Praful Patel FIFA Regional Developmental Officer, South and Central Asia, Shaji Prabhakaran were also present on the occasion. "On behalf of the AIFF, I can assure you of the highest standard of ethics and transparency," Patel said after being re-elected. "I thank all of you for your support and am grateful for your continuous support. I take pride in the fact that I have been given the honour of heading one of the most professional

sports bodies in the country." The Special General Meeting (SGM), which was also held unanimously, approved the proposed amendments to AIFF's constitution. The amendments aimed to bring the AIFF constitution in line with the FIFA and the AFC constitutions, clarifying and modifying certain definitions to avoid anomalies and ambiguities, striving for more transparency in governance by in-

cluding independent members in committees like finance and audit, development and judicial committees. The amendments will also ensure that the composition of the AIFF Executive Committee will be of 20 members, including two women members. The committee would also include a former player, who has represented India in a minimum of 25 official international matches.

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ET Correspondent Margherita, Dec 21: Margherita Cricket Premier League Season 2 organized by Margherita Marine Club began today at the Margherita Public

IANS New Delhi, Dec. 21: Incumbent Praful Patel was unanimously elected the president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held here on Wednesday. The electoral process was completed in the presence of the appointed returning officer Justice Bipin Chandra Kandpal (retd.) who declared that Patel was elected for the term 2017-2020, an AIFF release said. "I declare Mr. Praful Patel unanimously elected as the President of the All India Football Federation. All nominated persons for the posts of Executive Committee members have also been elected unanimously, subject to the final outcome of the pending court proceedings. Congratulations to all of them," Justice Kandpal said. Dilip Kumar Singh also attended the AGM as an observer on behalf of the government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, while Kuldeep Vats was the observer on behalf of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Purushottam Kattel, the International Relations Officer of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and world governing body

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DIBRUGARH, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22

P12 Ashwin, Jadeja occupy top two Jhalukpara boys' in Final spots in ICC Test bowling chart

Ashwin, Jadeja occupy top two spots in ICC Test bowling chart

PTI Chennai, Dec. 21: Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have made it a rare instance of two Indian bowlers topping the ICC Test rankings. Jadeja's maiden 10wicket match haul

CA withdraws approval for use of Russel's coloured bat IANS Sydney, Dec. 21: Cricket Australia CA) on Wednesday announced that it has withdrawn its approval for the bat used by Andre Russell in Tuesday nights Big Bash League (BBL) match against the Sydney Sixers, as the ball was discoloured after being hit. "The Match Officials provided feedback to CA that the bat used by Andre left black marks on the match ball. As a result, we have decided to withdraw our approval for Andre to use the bat that was used last night as the colour solution used by the manufacturer was discolouring the ball," Head of the BBL Anthony Everard said in a statement. "Should Andre, or any other BBL or WBBL player for that matter, wish to use a bat with a different colouring solution to the one used last night that doesn't result in the discolouration of the match ball, they will be permitted to do so subject to Cricket Australia being satisfied that the bat won't compromise the integrity of the game, which we believe discolouring the match ball does," added Everard. Under the BBL Clothing and Equipment Regulations, a player can use a coloured bat subject to CA approval. The bat must be the same colour as the club's primary colour, or black.

against England in the Chennai Test on Tuesday propelled him to the second position. The left-arm spinner's performance has earned him 66 points and brought him within eight points of star off-spinner Ashwin, who is already

occupying the number one position. This is just the second time the top two spots in the bowlers chart is occupied by Indian players, with the pair emulating left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi and leg-spinner Bhagwath

Chandrasekhar, who were ranked one and two in 1974. Jadeja grabbed 10 for 154 in the fifth and final Test and finished with 26 wickets in the five-match series, while Ashwin ended with 28 wickets, as India completed a 4-0 se-

ries victory over England, culminating with an innings and 75 runs win in Chennai. Jadeja, who leapfrogged Josh Hazlewood, James Anderson, Dale Steyn and Rangana Herath, has also gained a place to reach his career best third rank in the list of all-rounders, which is also headed by Ashwin. Meanwhile, Indian pace bowler Ishant Sharma has moved up two places to the 23rd position. In the Test Batsmen's list, India's K.L. Rahul and Karun Nair have also made huge gains. Rahul's knock of 199 has helped him gain 29 slots to reach a career-best 51st spot, while Nair's unbeaten 303 in only his third Test innings has lifted him 122 places to 55th position. On Tuesday, team India had ended the year as the No.1 ranked Test side after comprehensively winning the five-Test series against England. The series win has helped India gain five points and they have now moved to 120 points in the last Test team rankings update of 2016, 15 points ahead of second placed Australia.

Players in action during a match between Lengerijan Tea Estate Football Club and Dibrugarh Railway Division Sports Club during the ongoing 13th Capt Jintu Gogoi, Veer Chakra Memorial Football Tournament in Dibrugarh in Wednesday. Photo by Manoj Pandey Dibrugarh

Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, dec. 21: Jhalukpara Boys' Club defeated Cricket Club of Dibrugarh by 15 runs in the first semifinal of the senior division cricket tournament organised by Dibrugarh District Sports Association at DDSA stadium here today. Opting to bat first, JBC piled up 141 in stipulated 35 overs before being bowled out. Tausif Ahmed scored 30 off 42 balls, hitting one boundary and one maximum

and Wasim Ahmed contributed 19 off 43 deliveries with the help of three boundaries. Vatsal Bawari and Sandeep Sharma chipped in with 15 and 14 runs respectively. Kalyan Gogoi scalped three wickets for 29 runs in 6 overs and Phanindar Sonowal picked up two wickets for 27 runs in 7 overs for CCD. Chasing the target, CCD were bowled out for 126 in 33.4 overs. Antanu Sharma scored 38 off 48 balls with six boundaries

and one maximum while Saurav Bhagwati contributed 17 off 23 balls, laced with three fours. Wasim Ahmed picked up four wickets for 18 runs in 6.4 overs. Vatsal Bawari took three wickets for 28 runs in 7 overs while Sandeep Sharma scalped two wickets. Wasim Ahmed adjudged man of match. Tomorrow, Dibrugarh Cricket Coaching Centre will lock horn with Duliajan Cricket Academy in the second semifinal.

Team needs Cook's power and runs, not his leadership: Vaughan Mary Kom, Vikas Krishan get awards at AIBA 70th anniversary gala

PTI London, Dec. 21: Alastair Cook's captaincy has come under severe criticism after Englandsuffered a 0-4 drubbing at the hands of India and former skipper Michael Vaughanfeels that the team now needs the opening batsman's power and runs at the top of the order rather than his leadership. "When you are captain, and the team is losing, you do not enjoy the game. It drags you down. You wake up in the morning not really wanting to go out and play. Cook somehow has to rediscover that zest and energy to play the game. The team needs his power and runs at the top of the order more than his leadership," Vaughan wrote in his column in 'Daily Telegraph'. Vaughan also believes that it is high time that Cook sit down and ask himself if he is the right man to lead the team. "Nobody can accuse him of not giving everything. But to pick up a Test team that is on a losing streak to take on South Africa and the West Indies next summer, and then to Australia, he has to be absolutely committed to being captain. He has to sit down and ask himself is he the man to energise this England side for seven Test matches in the summer and win the Ashes

Michael Vaughanfeels down under or has he taken it as far as he can? "If he feels he is the man to lead them next year then he needs to bring together that core group of players who appear in all formats and ask them to drive the team in a different direction. He can't have any inkling he wants to go. He can't suddenly lose the first Test against South Africa in July and think 'oh no what have I done? Why have I carried on?'" 42-year-old former cricketer said England have been playing their worse cricket under Cook. "Will the England team play any better or worse if he goes? I can't see how they can play worse. It is not just this defeat. They have been playing like this for a while. Cook cannot have enjoyed his cricket this

year. It has been an incredibly tough year for the Test team," said Vaughan. He said that the same intensity and positive approach that coach Trevor Bayliss has instilled in the ODI team has to be put into the England Test team also. "I am worried a lot of our eggs are going into the one-day basket. We are not a good enough team to focus on just one or the other. We have to keep our eye very closely on all formats of the game because if we let one of them drift we will be found out, like we have in Test cricket this year." Vaughan said nobody expected England to win the series in India but they should have showed the mental toughness. "Mental toughness is sometimes playing the way the game dictates even if it is

against your natural instincts. Mental toughness is fighting through tiring times, and staying the distance and keeping performance levels up to the end of the fifth day of the last Test of a series," he insisted. "In seven of their last eight series England have lost the last match. When you reach the last day of the series and have two sessions to bat out with 10 wickets in hand, the mentally tough thing to do is play the situation and game in front of you. Just see out the Test. "In India they consistently collapsed or produced soft dismissals, and the e x c u s e w a s made that England do not have a world class spinner. It is nothing to do with not having a world class spinner if you can't bat out the last two sessions of the day with 10 wickets in hand," said Vaughan. Over the last two years England have lost 14 times and Va u g h a n e x p l a i n e d : "Tactically England went on the defensive too soon. Go back to the last day at Rajkot when they batted slowly instead of trying to set a target, or the first night in Vizag when they did not attack enough with the second new ball, or the last innings in that match when they blocked and blocked. Those mistakes were nothing to do with the lack of a world class spinner."

The legendary M C Mary Kom PTI New Delhi, Dec. 21: The legendary M C Mary Kom and former Asian Games gold-medallist Vikas Krishan shone bright at the International Boxing Association's 70th anniversary gala in Montreux, Switzerland, picking up different awards for their performances. While five-time world champion and Olympic bronze-medallist Mary Kom was presented the AIBA Legends award for her trailblazing boxing career, Vikas was handed the APB (AIBA Pro Boxing) Best Boxer trophy.

"I would like to thank AIBA President Dr Wu for giving me this award along with APB Director Mr Mirko Wolf. We had no federation for the last four years but now we have one and all of them are working hard and I hope we will do well in the future," Vikas, who competed in two APB bouts this year, said after receiving his trophy. Mary Kom was picked for the honour for her decorated career during which she also won multiple Asian Championships gold medals besides the spectacular feat of five world titles. She was christened 'Magnificent

Mary' by AIBA after her fourth world title back in 2008 and was also one of the eight brand ambassadors for the event this year. The 33-year-old Manipuri recently decided to move back to the 48kg category after four years in 51kg. Her move came amid speculation that 48kg could be among the weight categories that would get a place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics roster. Vikas, meanwhile, won a bronze medal in the Olympic qualifying tournament besides finishing a quarterfinalist in the main event in Rio.

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