Tuesday, 10 january 2017

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Vol. II

PASSENGERS HIT HARD AS BUS SERVICE ALONG NH-2 REMAIN SUSPENDED

P5

Issue 171

Dibrugarh, Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Deportation of 17 Bangladeshi immigrants from Assam postponed

Price -

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Pages- 12

PAGE 11

Media fraternity of Arunachal visits Wakka

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Fire devour 21 sheds in Karsingsa A Staff Reporter Karsingsa, Jan 9

A massive fire annihilated at least 21 sheds of vendors at Karsingsa Daily Market line, when a fire broke out at the wee hours of Monday.

On receiving the news, Urban Development Minister Nabam Rebia and APAMB Chairman Ngurang Pinch rushed to the site and consoled the members.

Speaking to reporters, Rebia said that he has spoken to Chief Minister Pema Khandu who is currently in Gujarat, about the fire incident at Karsingsa, and that the CM has assured to provide immediate relief to the victims. It was also informed that the CM has issued instructions to the state chief secretary for immediate assessment and action thereof.

Pinch assured to rebuild the shops through his board, and requested Karsingsa ASM Kipa Taniang to arrange for a local engineer and immediately propose an estimate so that he could begin the process for approval and sanction of fund at the earliest.

The daily vegetable and

A massive fire annihilated at least 21 sheds of vendors at Karsingsa Daily Market line, when a fire broke out at the wee hours of Monday meat vendors, most of whom are women, said that selling their produce and items were the only means of livelihood.

Karsingsa ASM Kipa Taniang, ZPM Kipa Aruni and former ASM Kipa Chapo have also appealed to the state government to provide

immediate relief to the victims.

When contacted, ItanagarCapital complex Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kumar Singh said that Banderdewa CO Pama Bagang has visited the fire incident site at Karsingsa and is making assessment to provide

immediate relief to the victims from the district administration’s side.

The victims whose goods were damaged include Bamang Yajik, Yura Yaniang, Chelo Maya, Bagang Yache, Tuku Yami, Pani Yaza, KIpa Yaniang, Menu Bagang,

Kyolang Juju, Tadar Yatung, Bedik Yadik, Kipa Yaram, Takio Siku, Tamuk Yani, Chelo Yapung, Bagang Yakia, Yapu Yakli, Chelo Yapung, Kipa Kecha, Kipa Pyome and Kipa Yaji, while the market line belongs to Kipa Pyome, Kipa Yaje, Jeena KIpa and Tania Kipa.

Indian Youth Congress gheraos RBI office in Guwahati ET Bureau Guwahati, Jan 9

Indian Youth Congress, lead by its general secretary, i/c Northeast, Indirani Mishra today gheraoed RBI office guwahati and staged dharna demanding the Apex bank (RBI) to disclose the quantum of black money unearthed

since November 8 last.

suffered due “demonetization” move.

to

Also continuing its attack on NDA government over demonetization issue, the arunachal youth congress has asked the Modi to remove all restrictions on cash withdrawal with immediate effect and sought compensation to farmers, who have badly

Many prominent figures of congress including former chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi along with congress frontal youth congress heads of north east participated in the dharna, participated by more than 500 youths.

Arunachal stall receives wide appreciation from all Saffron brigade seeks combing of every including from Modi at Gujarat Global Summit- 2017 house to arrest perpetrators involved in The Prime Minister went around the stall and spent maximum time in appreciating the traditional handlooms, organic agriculture and horticulture products, orchids and historical tourist sites.

ET Bureau Ahmedabad, Jan 9

Arunachal Pradesh today drew hundreds of visitors to its stall at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2017 and received rave appreciations from all including Prime Minister NarendraModi.

He was extremely happy to visit the Arunachal stall and congratulated Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein for putting up a grand show in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

Arunachal stall with the theme of organic agri,horticulture, heritage, textile and culture was one of the 9 stalls of about 200 stalls visited by Modi along with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani here today.

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan. 9

Three Hindu organization under the banner of Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagran Manch and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad today burnt Pakistani and ISIS flag in protest against the hoisting of Pakistan flag at Amaraguri Chapori (Sandbar) on Sunday. The organization today took out a protest rally from Amolapatty and demanded stringent action against the culprit.

A Pakistani national flag hoisted atop of a bamboo pole in Amaraguri Chapori on the Brahmaputra river bed was found yesterday. Two black banners were also found with the word ‘JIHAD’ written across was seized by police.

Hindu Jagran Manch, Dibrugarh District Town Secretary Abhijit Sanyal said, “We demand the district administration to search every house and within 48 hours the culprits should be nabbed.’’ He further added, “If the

administration fails to meet our demands then we will intensify our movements.”

Sanyal said, “If police conduct the search operation then they may found many weapons which were used for anti-social activities.’’

Police said that they are investigating the incident terming it as an act by miscreants trying to disturb the peace of the society. “We have not arrested any person till now but our investigation is on,’’

said a police official.

Abhijit Dey, one of the activists of Bajrang Dal said that they would not tolerate the hoisting of Pakistani national flag on Indian soil. “We condemned the incident and appeal the administration to take strict action against the culprits,’’ he said.

A memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister through Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh seeking search operation of every house in the area.

Contd. on Page 3

conditions and remove the sufferings we have been facing for the past six years.”

The Itanagar Traffic Wardens (ITW) embarked on an indefinite whistle down strike on Monday A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Jan 9

promotion opportunities, along with job security to all wardens, and incentives.

The Itanagar Traffic Wardens (ITW) have embarked on an indefinite whistle down strike since Monday at the tennis court in Indira Gandhi Park, Itanagar, demanding enhancement of salary, regularization of jobs,

Raising slogans against the authority for turning a deaf ear towards their demands for which they have been fighting for the past six years, protesters threatened to intensify and continue their agitation if their demands were not met within the stipulated time.

Addressing reporters, ITW president, Tarak Habing Charom said, “Capital Complex is the only place where traffic wardens were receiving Rs 7000 per month.

Despite our service to the city, the job profile and employment contracts have given us only duties and hardly any rights”, while going on to add that “we demand equal pay for equal job

Terming their jobs as tough, stressful and more demanding than most other jobs, Charom said, “It is very unfortunate that despite our dedicated services, we receive salary less than the traffic wardens at Assam or other parts of the country. We also have our families and children back at home. What is the purpose of doing a job which cannot fulfill our daily needs”, he rued.

Charom further urged the government to stop exploiting traffic wardens and provide all benefits at par with traffic wardens working in other states.

Contd. on Page 3

AACWA objects Govt's decision to convert the CM's Bungalow to a state guest house A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Jan 9

Stating its objection on the state government’s decision to convert the Chief Minister’s Bungalow to a state guest house, the All Arunachal Contractor ’s Welfare Association (AACWA) termed the decision “very immature”.

“When the state government has no funds for important projects and lacks funds for salaries of various contractual staffs like SSA and RAMSA, then where will the fund to construct another multi crore Chief Minister Bungalow come from?”, said AACWA general secretary Nabam Akin Hina.

It also said that the state government should not take any “childish” decision as per its wishes.

Further, the AACWA also urged the state BJP Government to instruct its finance commissioner and

allied officers to be punctual in their office duty and clear all files of authorization for release of genuine bills at working departments.

It claimed that the officials are not attending offices regularly and in turn creating unnecessary delay and objection while attending to the files. “Due to this behavior many genuine contractors are facing financial crisis”, said AACWA general secretary Nabam Akin Hina.

Accordingly, the association urged the state government to implement single bids in the upcoming PMGSY tendering system to avoid unnecessary harassment to registered contractors. Hina said that many contractors who have already submitted all relevant documents for qualifying works were again required to submit the same documents during tendering, which was entirely baseless.

Contd. on Page 3

Assam CM announces a cash incentives of Rs. 50 Lakhs to Srimanta Sankardev Sanskritik Samaj at Bengaluru ET Correspondent Guwahati, Jan 9

As a sequel of initiatives that the State Government has been putting in to propagate the philosophy and teachings of Srimanta Sankardev especially at the national and international forum, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced a cash incentive of Rs. 50 lakh to Srimanta Sankardev Sanskritik Samaj at Bengaluru to set up a Namghar in the capital city of Karnataka.

In fact the cash assistance has been doled out keeping in view the cultural and spiritual need of the people living in Bengaluru and spread the teachings of the Gurujona in Karnataka.

It may be noted that Assam Government has already initiated a step of setting up of Namghar in New Delhi along with other places of the country and asked Resident Commissioner, Assam Bhavan, New Delhi to look for a suitable land for the purpose.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister

Sonowal has asked Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary to represent Assam in the 8th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 got under way on Monday. Patowary has been asked to project Assam Government’s bid to a sustainable log-term growth and inclusive development before the Summit. Patowary would also exploit the avenues to draw the attention of the potential investors in view of Assam’s ease of doing business and other business friendly ventures.

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Itanagar Traffic Wardens embark on an indefinite whistle down strike

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hoisting Pakistan National Flag

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

P2 Aries You might not be able to accomplish what you'd hoped today, Aries. Some minor but irritating conflicts could occur within a group. You might find this exasperating, as petty squabbles interfere with reaching the group's objectives. You could be called on to use your intuition and sensitivity to spread oil on troubled waters. Be direct, fair, and clear, and try not to let your irritation show.

Taurus A temporary upset with a partner might distract you so you can't function as effectively as you normally do. Don't let your anger get the best of you. The situation is probably due to a lack of communication, and could be cleared up with explanations, understanding.

Gemini Unexpected responsibilities could interfere with plans to take a trip of some sort.

Someone might need your help, and you may well have to put your own activities on hold for a while. This could be frustrating, Gemini. It only delays whatever you're doing but doesn't stop it. Take care of whatever you need to do and then continue with your plans. You will feel better if you do.

Cancer An unexpected development might interfere with your plans to attend a social event, group activity, or get-together with your partner. This isn't going to sit well with those you've been planning to meet, Cancer. It's going to be frustrating for you, too, but it has to be done. It's best if you just postpone your plans and take care of business. Your friends will forgive you.

Leo Arrangements for a get-together you're planning to host could go awry, with everything turned upside down and nothing happening the way you planned. This isn't going to halt your plans, Leo, but it's going to require more effort to get things back on track and make it happen.

Virgo Your usually abundant energy may experience a sudden setback today, Virgo.

Work pressure could create stress that leaves you feeling exhausted and out of sorts. This will pass. You should be strong and healthy and so able to overcome it quickly. It's going to drive you crazy to not feel as active as you usually are. Relax and spend a day resting.

It won't hurt you in the long run.

Libra A trip through exclusive boutiques or antique shops might have you throwing financial caution to the wind and buying luxury items you hadn't planned for.

This is all right - up to a point. Take care not to buy more than you can use. Don't go to the opposite extreme and be too miserly either. You've worked hard and deserve a treat or two.

Scorpio Unexpected visitors might throw you into a dither. You could panic over how to dress, what to say, and what to serve. Don't make yourself crazy, Scorpio. Follow your heart and go with the flow. Spontaneity is the best policy. Your guests will enjoy yourselves more if you worry less about being the perfect host.

Sagittarius Some rather disconcerting information may come to light today. This could throw you into a daze, as it isn't anything that you expected. This isn't necessarily bad news, Sagittarius.

In fact, it might be great news, but it may be something you never expected in a million years. Work through the shock and try to view it from all sides.

Capricorn Even though everything is going well for you, Capricorn, a sudden upset of some kind, probably involving money, could throw you into a momentary panic. You may wonder if your good fortune is going to end as quickly as it began. This probably isn't the case. The situation is temporary. With a little effort.

Aquarius Upsets regarding your career or the activities that take up most of your time are likely to negatively affect your selfconfidence. Don't fall into this trap, Aquarius.

Pisces New scientific or archaeological discoveries could temporarily shake your faith in your spiritual path, Pisces. You may suddenly doubt something you've always accepted. This could propel you to study, primarily to reaffirm your faith.

You're likely to find that your discoveries don't invalidate your ideas, but actually confirm them. Write down your ideas so you can put things in proper perspective.

Dibrugarh Airport: Runway extension Srimanta Shankardeva Sangha's 87th Annual to be completed by June, 2018 A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 9: The tussle between Airport Authority of India and the army over a plot of land to be utilized for extension of the runway of the Dibrugarh Airport is over and that work on erection of boundary wall for the extended portion of the runway is going on at present. “Active role played by A. K. Sharma, the Regional Executive Director of the Airports Authority of India is understood to be instrumental in overcoming this hurdle, which had stalled the project for several months since July last,” said Airport Director of the Dibrugarh Airport, Nawnit Kumar Gupta.

It may be mentioned here that extension of the runway to 7500 feet and construction of an isolation

bay are parts of the same project, which is being executed by civil engineering firm Vishal Construction Company. “The firm is required to complete the work and hand over the same to the Airports Authority of India by 30 June, 2018,” the Airport Director informed.

It is also gathered that work on another project at the airport comprising construction of a hanger capable of accommodating an Airbus 320 type aircraft and also a state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control complex having an ATC tower of double the height of the existing tower at the airport is going to commence soon.

The airport, while switching over to modern machinery and equip-

ment, has recently acquired two world class fire tenders from Austria valuing around rupees 6 crores apiece. The Airport Director further informed Borkakoty that the number of passengers to and from the airport has been showing an upward trend and that airlines operating flights to Dibrugarh are continually getting a good patronization from the surrounding industrial environment and domestic and foreign tourists. It is learnt that around one thousand outgoing plus incoming passengers use the airport daily and that potential exists for at least another 500 passengers at the airport and that as and when the Bogibeel Bridge is completed the demand might increase to even 2000 to 2500 passengers per day.

Experts against building of dams in NE Region ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Jan 9: "As a part of Himalayan foot hill, the North East India is highest seismic hazardous zone.

So, no big dam should be proposed to be constructed in this region,” stated Dr. Bhagawat Pran Duarah, the Professor of Geology in Guwahati University, in a symposium held in Lakhimpur yesterday on Big Dam issue. He added that if such dam is proposed, a comprehensive study should be conducted before the execution of the construction work. This study should be based on the geological and ecological experiences of the local people. In reference to his speech he cited the example of the Yangtze Dam of China which was constructed in 2006. He said that the Chinese Government had taken ninety years in order to study whether the dam would be constructed or not. It is to be noted that the Symposium on the topic 'Big Dam and Future' was organised by the Lakhimpur District Committee of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Parishad in the Conference Hall of the Hotel Sharnaj in the District. The Symposium was inaugurated by Sailen Baruah, a journalist and an Anti-Big Dam activist in a short inaugural program which was anchored by scientist Dr. Prabal Saikia. District President of the organisation Sudipta Hajarika delivered welcome speech prior to this program. In the technical session, in addition to Duarah, Neeraj Vagolikar, a big dam specialist and a member of 'Kalpabrikshya', a writer; Pradip Kumar Bhuyan, an IIT Specialist and Shyam Prasad Biswas, Professor of Dibrugarh University and a member of Big Dam Expert Committee delivered their speech. In their discussion, they commented on the geological and ecological study, advantages and

disadvantages of Big Dam, alternatives of Big Dam, its impact on biodiversity etc. Gopinath Das, the State president of the organization chaired the session. Vaggolikar strongly criticised the reports regarding the Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Project which was constructed at Gerukamukh locted in Dhemaji Arunachal border area. He commented that the reports were not free from flaw. On the other hand, PK Bhuyan was in the opinion that alternative way should be under taken instead of big dam as it is a strong threat to the public life and the property.

Professor Biswas also termed the big dam a destroyer of bio-diversity. After detailed discussion, five resolutions were taken in the program.

Firstly, regarding dam related issues, the Assam Govt. should have to extend their well-planned scientific strategy keeping sustainability in mind. If possible, Government should constitute separate ministry. Secondly, Considering bio-diversity and socio-cultural threats along with local economy the Lower Subansiri Hydro Electric Project should be modified as sufficient downstream study which had not been done so far. Thirdly, dam related all document should be made available in public domain in vernecular language maintaining 100% transparency. Fourthly, a complete Brahmaputra basin commutative impact should be done before planning a project. Human right should be protected adequately by the project. Keshav Krishna Chatradhara, an anti-big dam activist, Professor Swapnali Chetia Gogoi, Journalist Kumud Baruah, District Secretary of MASS Raju Singha also highlighted their views on the issue in the symposium.

One dead Latamakori Tiger found at Teok ET correspondent TEOK 9 JAN: One dead “Latamakori Tiger” was recovered at Jogduar Gayan gaon of Teok revenue circle area under Jorhat district this morning. The dead wild animal was found in a crop field. The actual cause of the dead of the “Latamakori Tiger” is not known. Having known the unfortunate incident, the local animal lovers brought it to the notice of Jorhat Forest officials. The incident bore sorrow among the animal lovers.

One killed in road mishap Tapas Samaddar Rangia, Jan 9: One man indenitideid as Sikander Ali of Goroimari died on the spot when a speeding truck knocked him down on Monday at Jorshimulu near Chhaygaon under Kamrup district. According to the police the truck driver fled after knocking the pedestrian to death. Police rushed to the spot and recovered the dead body. The body was handed over to the family members after postmortem. Police filed a case in Jorshimulu police station

132/33 KV power substation foundation stone laid by MLA Rajkhowa ET Correspondent TEOK, 9 JAN: Renupoma Rajkhowa , MLA of Teok laid down the foundation stone of a high powerful 132/33 KV power substation of POWERGRID corporation of India Ltd here today near Kaliapani Tiniali of Teok , under Jorhat district. In her speech the honourable MLA informed that the high powerful 132/33 KV power substation will bring a respite to all people in the area especially people for the East Jorhat and the greater Teok area.

Among present were Teok Circle officer Mr Rakesh Chettry, Teok town committee Chairperson Md Rafique Uz Zaman, Power grid officials S.N.Dey, AEGCL’s Upper Assam DGM Mr

Samir Borkotoky, APDCL’s Jorhat Electrical Circle DGM Manoj Goswami.

Conference in Golaghat

Amit Nagori Golaghat , Jan 9: Srimanta Shankardeva Sangha's 87th Annual Conference is scheduled to be held in Golaghat . A citizens meet was held at Golaghat Amateur Theatre Society yesterday to discuss the various plans and programmes for this annual meet . This year the 86th Annual Conference of the Sangha will be held at Gohpur in Sonitpur district . After that the 87th Annual conference is scheduled to be held in Golaghat next year . In the citizens meet yesterday

leading citizen of Golaghat Dr. Ajit Baruah suggested that the place for this annual conference should be named after Gopika Ballav Goswami . He suggested that instead of Raibahadur Gopika Ballav Goswami the place should be renamed as Vaishnav Pandit Gopika Ballav Goswami Kshetra . In the meeting MLA of Khumtai LAC Mrinal Saikia expressed his happiness for the location Ahom Pathar where the 87th Annual Conference is scheduled to be held as it is under his constituency and the MLA as-

sured all kinds of helps necessary to organise this grand event .

Meanwhile the ' Dharmadhwaja' of Srimanta Shankardeva Sangha will be brought to Golaghat on February this year after the end of the 86th Annual meet at Gohpur. Srimanta Shankardeva Sangha Golaghat Branch has appealed all the people irrespective of caste , community , religion to help and co operate to organise this annual conference in Golaghat and make it a successful event .

Two Months of Demonetization: Still lacks Normalcy Amit Nagori Golaghat , Jan 9: Two months have been passed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic Demonetization initiative .

The PM stated that situation will become normal within fifty days . But now after sixty days still normalcy does not prevail in most of the areas specially tea garden areas in the state

. The tea garden labourers have to suffer a lot due to this demonetization move .

In Golaghat the first ATM post demonetization was set up at Dholaguri Tea Estate but still there are many tea gardens without any ATM. The labourers face difficulty to get their daily wages through online way .

Also the business of weekly markets in tea garden areas

are now getting declined .

The labourers stated that this sudden initiative of the Modi Government has effected their traditional economic life and due to lack of knowledge and awareness most of them are having difficulty in online transactions . Also lack of low denomination notes in ATMs are creating another big trouble for them .

Army conducts Free Health check-up camp A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 9: As part of Operation Sadbhavana, a free Medical, Dental and Eye Check-up Camp was conducted by Dibrugarh Army Camp under the aegis of Dao Division at Bakul Majgaon, District Dibrugarh here today. The Camp was inaugurated by Gaon Burah Bakul Majgaon. Apart from doctors, eye specialist and dentists from Indian Army, doctors and specialists of Assam Medical College & Hospital, Dibrugarh contributed their free services in the camp for the benefit of the local populace. A total of 812 patients, which included 176 cases of eye care, 76 cases of dental care and 560 cases

of general patients were provided with medical care. Free medicines and health advice were also provided to the patients. The medical camp

was highly praised by local populace of village Bakul Majgaon and they requested for more such camps to be organised.

Pragati Motors achieves milestones as it celebrates ten years of its existence ET CORRESPONDENT JORHAT 9 JAN: One of noted automobile dealers in Jorhat, Pragati Motors celebrated its 10th anniversary at its Jorhat office, situated at Jorhat Pulibor on Monday. In the simple ceremony held in Jorhat office premises of Pragati Motors, S. N. Barman Vice President of sales, Ritesh Vashist Zonal Manager, Prashanta Shekhar, Jayanta Dutta of Paragati Motors and many other dignitaries were present. In his speech S. N. Barman said, “We are delighted to have been asso-

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Delivering his speech Jayanta Dutta Director of Pragati Motors said, "Today with immense pride and utmost privilege we celebrate a ten years’ old association with Tata Motors."

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Media fraternity of Arunachal visits Wakka Meeting on district task force on A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Jan 9: The state media fraternity on Sunday managed to reach out to fire affected people of Wakka village in Longding district with the relief amount put together by Arunachal Press Club (APC) and Tezuvian.

An elderly woman was charred to death and at least 54 houses and two churches were gutted in a devastating fire at Wakka village on December 22 last.

The relief amount was collected in a two-day donation camp jointly organised by Arunachal Press Club (APC), Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and Arunachal Electronic Media Association (AEMA) on December 26th and 27th respectively. Similar camp was set up by group of youths and officers under the banner of Tezuvian at Tezu in Lohit districts to help out the affected people. The total relief amounts collected by both APC and Tezuvian were Rs 274281/- (Two Lakh Seventy Four Thousand Two Hundred Eighty One).

A five member state media team led by APUWJ President

immunization (DTFI) on intensified Pulse polio iradication (IPPI) and mission indradhanush held at Khonsa

Amar Sangno, Sanjay Mosing from Echo of Arunachal, Jackson Tayeng from Eastern Sentinel, Tagu Ningee from Arunachal Age and Raj Pradhan of Northeast Live accompanied by former Longding Zilla Parishad Member (ZPM) Yabom Lukham reached Wakka on Sunday and distributed the relief amounts equally among the affected people. The amount was handed over to Village Chief Longham Wangham who later

gave away the cash amount to the affected people in presence of media team and villagers.

Addressing the fire affected people, APUWJ President Amar Sangno informed that Wakka inferno pained the entire state and people from all walks of life stood for them.

APUWJ President further added the relief amount was love from people of Arunachal irrespective of tribes and region including the Non-APST people who generously do-

nated for Wakka fire victims.

Wakka Village Chief Longham Wangham informed that thirteen houses have been rebuilt so far after the ravaging fire accident. The village chief also added that relief materials were still pouring in from different NGOs and they have set up a Village Committee to receive and distribute the materials to affected people. He disclosed that 11 youths have been engaged in each house in rebuilding as a part of village tradition.

Arunachal stall receives wide appreciation from all including from Modi at Gujarat Global Summit- 2017 Contd. from Page 1

Touted as the biggest of the biennial business summits, which was conceived and launched by Modi when he was Gujarat chief minister in 2003, the eighth edition will see more than 6,000 delegates participating in eight seminars and business-tobusiness and business-togovernment meetings.

Two truck-loads of various exhibits were transported from Arunachal to Gujarat with an aim to attract potential investments in myriad

sectors in the state.

Khandu has been putting enormous effort in luring corporate giants for investing in the state and Arunachal’sparticipation in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit is one such platform to showcase the rich potentials of the state to the investors.

Ministers of Portugal (António Costa) and Serbia (Aleksandar Vucic), and Deputy PMs of Russia (Igor Ivanovich Shuvalov) and Poland (Mateusz Jakub Morawiecki). Memorandum of Understanding worth Rs 30 lakh crore are expected to be signed during the summit.

A high level investment summit and a state seminar of Arunachal will be conducted tomorrow.

State guests to be present at the inaugural ceremony on Tuesday include Presidents of Kenya (Uhuru Kenyatta) and Rwanda (Paul Kagame); Prime

After the inauguration, Modi will chair the CEO Roundtable on Transforming India. John Chambers, chairman of global technology giant Cisco; Bertrand-Marc Allen, president of Boeing International; and CEO of French electricity giant EDF,

Jean-Bernard Levy are among the international CEOs to be in attendance.

From India, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and other leading industry captains will be part of the CEOs Roundtable as well as the inauguration ceremony.

The Centre is putting its weight behind the summit.

Besides the Prime Minister, 11 union ministers including Arun Jaitley, Manohar Parrikar, M Venkaiah Naidu, PiyushGoyal, Nitin Gadkari are expected to attend the event.

Itanagar Traffic Wardens embark on an indefinite whistle down strike Contd. from Page 1 Also placing his opinion, ITW secretary, Loma Tapa said that successive governments have exploited them and made hollow promises. “We have been placing demands to the

government to fulfill few basic rights of ours for the past few years, but the government has not paid any heed towards our genuine demands, compelling us to hold such mass agitations”, Tapa said.

Vowing not to return to his

duty until their demands are met, Tapa further added “we will continue our fight till the issue is taken to its logical end”.

About 190 traffic wardens were appointed by the ADM to regulate traffic here at Capital Complex and deployed in various locations across the

Capital Complex. They have been hired through external agencies to help manage traffic and assist public in easing traffic jams. The recruitment drive for traffic wardens started from 2011, and since then the employees still do not hold permanent positions.

AACWA objects Govt's decision to convert the CM's Bungalow to a state guest house Contd. from Page 1

It also appealed to the PWD as registering

authorities of enlistment of contractors, to instruct all working departments to float tendering of single bids system.

The association also expressed its surprise that the maintenance of Highway of twin capital road is nil these days, and

urged on the Highway Department to take care of the roads assigned to them by the state government.

Khonsa, Jan 9 : The District Task Force For Immunization Meeting on Intensified Pulse Polio Iradication and Mission Indradhanush MI Phase IV was organized by the District Health Society, Tirap khonsa for successful conduct and implementation of Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization and Mission Indradhanush of both the programmes at DCs Chamber here today , the 9th Jan'2017.

The Meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Tirap in the Presence of MLA Sawin.

Dr.N.Lowang, DMO Tirap in presence of DD (ICDS), DDSE Representative, CDPO, Medical Superintendent DH khonsa, MOICs and DPMU staffs Presented the PPT on IPPI and MI. Dr.N.Lowang, DMO Tirap in her welcome speech, Thanked DC for his continuous support and co-operation. She highlighted that the IPPI rounds for 2016-17 sessions will be launched on 29th January'2017 and MI to be Launched on 7thfebruary'2017.

DMO Began the Power Point Presentation by giving an overview outline of the Meeting Agenda, the Purpose of these pragrammes targeting Pregnant women and Children, which is a continuous process to completely rule out the case of Polio and left out cases. DMO also presented the detailed information of the programme of

the previous year (2015-16) performance, micro plan and action plan for forth coming IPPI programme and Mission Indradhanush. She briefed the house that Routine Immunization is carried out throughtout.

She directed to improve the surveillance programs with complete implementation.

Polio End Game strategy and its objective were explained in detail, the aim of it is for routine inspection be implemented and prevent re-infection , to be able to have a fully equipped response team in case of any detection of any polio cases. she said that the successful implementation of IPPI and MI-IV depends on joint efforts of the Health Department and other key departments.

DC and DMO appealed to all the departments to cooperate for the successful implementation and achieve the target set as per plan. The health department was directed to detail vaccination teams for all remote areas especially, so that no children will be deprived from immunization.

MOICs of CHCs and PHCs were asked to clear all doubts to ensure formulation of error free Micro plan plan.

During the interaction session planning and issues for vaccinators and supervisors training and overview of operational guidelines for Mission Indradhanush with MOs as well as many other important issues related to IPPI and MI were discussed in length by all the members.

DC very keenly enquired and participated about the effects and impacts of these vaccines .

He also questioned as to whether any cases for AFP were reported .He suggested for a planned training schedule to be prepared for all the Mobilizers who would be involved during these programes.

It was also mentioned that the frointline workers be trained thouroughly.He advised to put thought and to broaden the thought while planning and implementation, to take into consideration in a very especial way in areas with AEFI

cases. To reach out to build the trust of the beneficiaries. DC suggested to appoint and plan incharges for different areas of target for better implementation. To take up the AEFI case in Lazu during phase-II MI and to deliberate on it and work it as a case study , to leave no room for such cases.

MLA Sawin while Taking part in the discussion appreciated the meeting the efforts put in by all towards the success of the programmes. He raised concern for Cases of Tuberculosis found in his Jurisdiction and therefore asked the Medical Unit to Arrange such Awareness camps and campaigns for TB as well. DC assured to explore these concerns and also to include TB during these campaigns,esp during MI campaigns and camps.

At the end of the presentation she urged all the officers attending the meeting to cooperate and extend all possible help for successfully conduct of the IPPI and MI Programme.

All Nyishi Students Union observes that Tarasso HS School lacked proper infrastructure

ET Bureau TARASSO, 9 JAN : On a visit to Government Secondary School, Tarasso on January 8 last, the central executive members of the All Nyishi Students' Union (ANSU), led by vice president Joram Bath and convenor Tana Dozi Tara observed that the school lacked proper infrastructure, particularly toilets and retaining wall.

The members said that there is only one bathroom for around 400 students, including both girls and boys, and faculty members.

The ANSU questioned the concerned authorities on why there were no separate bathrooms, even if small, for girls, boys and faculty.

Accordingly, it demanded immediate construction of bathrooms for students and faculty members within

February and March 2017, under the aegis of sanitation and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The ANSU also urged that

the authorities immediate construct a protection and retaining wall for Government Secondary School, Tarasso, which is located close to a river bank.

The team said that the river is eroding the soil of the school and also tends to overflow during the rainy season, damaging the school land.

Arunachal’s strategic marginality Suraj Gogoi and Prasenjit Biswas On the eve of the New Year the tranquil strategic border state of Arunachal Pradesh witnessed yet another change in its political scenario. Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who had been ruling the state since September with 33 associate MLAs of the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal Pradesh, switched allegiance and joined the BJP. Just a day or two earlier there was a report by the Comptroller and Auditor-General that the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited had paid contractors who were allegedly closed to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju. Reacting to this, the minister had quipped that those who were making such baseless allegations would be taught a lesson.

Politicians of Arunachal Pradesh changing colours is nothing new, but what comes as a surprise is that there had been one too many last year. A Congressman all along, Khandu has been in power since September last year and playing musical chairs after changing side from the Congress to the largest regional Peoples’ Party of Arunachal Pradesh. And now he has shifted to the BJP. This time around, however ,the

game was controlled by the powerful ruling party leaders at the Centre. What is new in the game is not just the purchasing power of the MLAs, but how political names and banners are created and contorted to fall in line with patrons from New Delhi. Politics of patronage work out by shifting allegiances from the regional to national parties and in the process, reassert one’s own family, kinship and group-identity over another.

This is politics of attrition and new alliances without any foundation of ideological and political commitments. This is an absolute and open-ended form of belonging as far as political colours are concerned, and it is so very fuzzy that party allegiances are subsumed within graft and power play.

This is also strategic political positioning without marginalising the prospect of running another day as and when the political climate changes. One could visibly see here that the foundation of such a shift is very weak.

It is dangerous and rewarding at the same time. Dangerous because there is no manifesto or a commitment to which a party contests an election and

rewarding to those closely associated with agents of such a move, in the short run.

Is this shift so simple? If not, how does one explain such phenomena that have been common place in the state for many years? One way to look at it is by understanding these shifts as a practice of “strategic marginality”. This notion appears in social science literature in order to explain the behaviour of “marginal”, “runaway” and “fugitive groups” who maintain a very ambivalent relation with the state. It is as if they are entirely not submissive to the state, nor they are against it as long as they get benefits. In a way, the “‘strategic marginality” is their ideology which aims at their way of conducting politics.

It is one of a kind of shifting political subjectivity. It is their way of negotiating the local and the dominant centres of power.

Arunachal is thus a place that is home to unique cultural forms, multiple articulations of centre-periphery, changing contours of identity among each group that are formed due to a complex arrangement of inter-ethnic, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation markers. The shifting location of political allegiance informs us that it is a special case, which has to be taken into account when one speaks of the nature of ethnic

politics.

The rise of the Khandu family in the Tawang area and their huge wealth explains why the centrepoint of Arunachal politics these days is moving around Tawang. It is also the site of the proposed Nyamjang Chu dam to be built in the public-private model showing the prospect of huge investment and contract works. To generalise, across Arunachal Pradesh there are MoUs for 138 dams that is going to bring some crores of rupees worth of investment. Politics in Arunachal revolves around calculations of gained out of these investments. Added to this, the Khandu family’s promise for setting up of two autonomous councils — Mon and Patkai — to be led by groups like Monpas, Noctes and Wangchus acted as a booster for rise in family fortunes. Not only financial prospects for the super-rich Khandu family, but an expansion of their social support base in these very marginalised districts of Tawang, Anjaw, Tirap and Changlang, which together cover almost half of Arunachal Pradesh’s land area. It also means immense control over local natural and cultural resources that give leaders a pecuniary and social edge over others.

Local political elites like

Khandus have been at the forefront in leveraging them to the highest echelons of power.

When Khandu got a majority after Congress returned to power in 2016 following the Supreme Court verdict, it looked like Congress taking away the cake from the BJP’s plate. Kalikho Pul, who allegedly committed suicide on 9 August, was a defector and CM for a short time early last year and was ejected by Pema Khandu after the Supreme Court judgment. When Pul took over from Nabam Tuki by a massive defection from Congress to the Peoples’ Party of Arunachal Pradesh, there were reactions from the state’s dominant ethnic group of Nyishis against replacement of a powerful Nyishi chief minister by an obscure Pul who belonged to the Miju or Kaman Mishmi tribe. The Nyishi students’ body raised objections to holding of power by a smaller tribe, a large number of who still lives in Myanmar and China.

chequered political lineage, what is also talked about is that almost 95 per cent of the total deposits in State Bank of India in Tawang is owned by the Khandu brothers, both of whom are MLAs.

As far as Khandus are concerned, they belong to another small and powerful Monpa tribe whose members live in Bhutan, Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh. Nevertheless, Pema Khandu’s father Dorjee Khandu had been a chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for two terms until his unfortunate death in a helicopter crash in April 2011. Apart from this

One of the fall-outs of this kind of ethnic competition is that territories are divided in terms of ethnic identity and loyalty. Geographically, eastern Arunachal is inhabited by Apatanis, Khamtis, Idu Mishmis, Wangchus and Noctes et al are closer to Assam and yet not being able to overcome relative deprivation. Nyishis, being at the cen-

Inter-ethnic relationship in Arunachal Pradesh often borders on power relations. The state’s most powerful Nyishis are still to come to terms with the rise of Monpa Buddhists and others. This also signifies a new set of power equations in this beleaguered play of politics in Arunachal Pradesh. The emerging ethnic equations in the state involve an alternative combination of Monpas, Adis, Apatanis and Mishmis as opposed to Nyshi political clout.

The BJP’s entry into this politically unstable scenario of ethnic reconfigurations make it more polarising as there is a renewed competition for garnering a larger ethno-political space between ethnic and tribal communities.

tre of the territory, seemingly got all the advantages of state funding and hence could control most of the governments from the late 1970s. Contrarily, western Arunachal is inhabited by Monpas, Sherdukpins, Akas, Buguns and Mishmis who now hold a counter-weight to central Arunachal communities. They are able to forge new equations with the eastern side as well.

As it is believed that ethnic equations too are power equations, the emerging ethnic gambit, too, is driven by a share of finances and governmental powers. In the new ministry of the BJP, there are representations from Khamti, Memba, Sherdupkun and Mishmis and of course, from his own tribe, Monpas. One of the biggest challenges is how this ministry will negotiate and share power with Nyishis and other eastern Arunachali tribes, on which its stability depends. Noctes and Wangchus, being part of the larger Naga tribes do demand their share of power, which also needs to be addressed.

The typical political patronage that is received in terms of bonanza from the Centre in return to loyalty and allegiance to the ruling party does not alone ensure stability of the new government. The recent visit of the RSS chief and a propagation of Hindutva ide-

ology does not ensure emergence of a Hindu pan-ethnic identity beyond tribal and ethnic allegiances. For now, the BJP’s hold might initiate a process of unity on the basis of Hindutva, but indigenous religions of Arunachal and their multiple rituals keep ethnic identities intact and alive. The BJP’s pan-Indian politics cannot exactly negotiate the fine ethnic differences and their multiple expressions of specificity, thereby leaving open the game of realignment to political exigency.

What turns out is the Khandus’ strategic positioning of a Buddhistic identity above the tribal that breaks rigid ethnic boundaries and yet, it cannot overcome the dichotomy between local and national identities. Within this hiatus, the re-alignment of western and eastern Arunachali tribes opens up a new political chessboard, at whose bottom lies the traditionally powerful Nyishis. The game could now be played from outside the board and not just on the board.

(Suraj Gogoi is a researcher at National University of Singapore and Prasenjit Biswas is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at North Eastern Hill University, Shillong)

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

P4

Sarma gives nod to Deportation of 17 Bangladeshi immigrants from Assam postponed infrastructural projects ET Bureau Guwahati, Jan 9 : The deportation of 17 Bangladeshis from Assam, scheduled on Monday morning, has been postponed because district authorities in southern Assam did not get clearance from the union home ministry, police said. The exercise is likely to be carried out on Thursday.

The 17 were then taken back to a detention camp in Slichar, headquarters of the neighbouring Cachar district, more than 300 km away from Guwahati. Three of the 17 deportees are Hindus, believed to have been hounded out of Bangladesh.

“The delay in deporting these people who illegally entered Assam over the past few years is because of reasons beyond our control.

We hope to complete the formality on Thursday,” Pradip Ranjan Kar, superintendent of police of Karimganj district, told Hindustan Times on Monday.

The 17 were among 54 people from Bangladesh

Last year, on October 13, southern Assam officials had deported 10 Bangladeshis.

This followed bilateral meetings between the two governments in 2015 – first in January at Silchar and then in October at Srimangal in Bangladesh’s Maulvibazar district.

The deportation process of 17 Bangladeshi nationals from Assam has been postponed to Thursday

and Myanmar who were caught after illegally entering India during the past few years. They had been languishing in a detention camp in Silchar Central Jail mainly due to the lack of communication with officials of these two neighbouring countries until 2015.

“Their deportation followed two rounds of talks between officials of border districts of Assam and Bangladesh. We had handed them over to the Karimganj police at 5 am for deportation via the Border Security Force (BSF),” Cachar district police chief Rakesh Roushan said.

“The 17 people will be deported from Steamerghat at Karimganj town (bordering Bangladesh).

Personnel of the Border Guards Bangladesh will be receiving them at Zakiganj (Bangladesh part of the border check post),” said A Asthana, deputy inspector general (DIG), BSF, looking after the Karimganj sector.

Among those to be deported to 11 districts of Bangladesh are Bhagabati Goala, 50, from Madhabpur district, Rahul Das, 23, from Habiganj district and Mou Das, 18, from Sunamganj district.

The deportation comes amid a raging controversy in Assam over the BJP’s decision to grant citizenship to non-Muslim “refugees” from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Assam is particularly wary of becoming a haven for Hindu Bangladeshis if the BJP succeeds in amending the Citizenship Act. “The BJP says it will drive out illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

Then, it contradicts its position through its move to grant citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindus by amending the Citizenship Act,” three-time former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of the Congress wondered.

The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the BJP’s ruling

partner in Assam, is angry too.

“Assam shouldn’t be made a dumping ground by being forced to accept nonMuslim immigrants,” senior AGP leader and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said.

A few weeks ago, Mahanta petitioned President Pranab Mukherjee against the Centre’s move.

While other parties define non-Muslims from Banadesh as illegal immigrants, BJP says they are refugees and victims of partition, who fled to India in the face of torture and religious persecution. As per the Assam Accord of 1985, the immigrants, irrespective of faith, who entered Assam after March 24, 1971, will be deported.

The Accord was signed in August 1985 by the Rajiv Gandhi government with the All Assam Students Union (AASU) that spearheaded an often violent six-year agitation for ejecting foreigners from Assam.

BJP State President visits BSF arrests one Bangladeshi Haflong on a mission to infiltrator strengthen the party ET Correspondent Guwahati, Jan 9: Troops of Guwahati Frontier of Border Security Force apprehended one Bangladeshi national yesterday from the International Boundary under Dhubri district of Assam..

ET Correspondent Haflong, Jan 9: With the aim to strengthen the party in Dima Hasao and also as a part of his visit to all the constituencies of Assam, State BJP President Ranjit Das who took the charge of State BJP very recently along with State General Secretary (Organisation) Phanindra Sarma, Vice President BJYM in charge Dima Hasao Palash Lahon, local MLA B B Hagjer and other leaders from state visited Haflong on Sunday and Monday.

The team led by State President held series of meeting with the Dima Hasao BJP leaders, Chief Executive Member, Debolal Gorlosa and Executive Members of NCHAC, workers at Circuit House, Land Mark and at Cultural Institute Hall.

At the Cultural Institute Hall on Monday, a Party workers meet was held wherein State BJP President Ranjit Das, State General Secretary (Organisation) Phanindra Sarma, Local MLA B. B Hagjer, Dima Hasao BJP District President, Deben Thaosen,CEM, NCHAC Debolal Gorlosa, Chairperson, NCHAC, Ranu Langthasa, EMs Subrata Thaosen, Amendu Hojai, Samuel Changsan, S T Jem Hrangkhol and all the booth level committee members were present.

Phanindra Sarma in his speech appealed to all the Booth Level Committee leaders to reach out the grass root masses with the message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is trying hard for the development of all and ideology of BJP and strengthen the party as number one political party. He also said to be prepared for the NCHAC election supposed to be held in 2018 and to work hard to get absolute majority for the BJP party.

MLA B B Hagjer said though he confident to get majority in the NCHAC election but the party worker should be more active in grass root level since they are people who could bring an absolute majority to the party in the election. He also said the party has been trying its best for the development in Dima Hasao.

CEM, Debolal Gorlosa in his speech said though BJP ruled NCHAC for few months only but did many more development activities in the district which would help the people which was not earlier by the previous government. He said he was confident enough to bring BJP in power if election is held now even. Appealing to the people of Dima Hasao Gorlosa said for the betterment of Dima Hasao only BJP to be brought in

absolute majority.

State BJP President, Das who was also the Speaker of Assam Assembly held corruption responsible for the instability in the NCHAC therefore; people should give mandate to the BJP to bring BJP in the NCHAC. Regarding the development he said Prime Minister is very much concerned for the development of all the people of country irrespective caste creed and religion. He appealed to the workers to make BJP party stronger and spread the message of development in grass root level. In respect of road communication he said he along with the CEM, BJP District President, EMs and all the BJP leaders would meet Nitin Gadkari, Union Surface Road and Transport Minister to appraise him about the road condition of Dima Hasao and also request him give special status for the district of Dima Hasao.

Earlier, Deben Thaosen, Dima Hasao BJP District President offered his heartfelt thanks to the visiting president and state general secretary and welcomed all the guests as they have given importance to the Dima Hasao by visiting the district in spite of their busy schedule. They were also felicitated with traditional scurf and waist coat.

A p p r e h e n d e d Bangladeshi was national identified as Mazum Ali, (28 yrs), S/o Aynul Haque, R/O VPO - Uttar Jhaukutti, PO Narayanpur, PSKachakata, DistKurigram (Bangladesh).

BD taka 6,350/- and one Mobile Phone with two SIM card (Gramin Bangla, Airtel) were also recovered from his possession by the troops of Border Security Force,

Patamari, while he was illegally crossing International Boundary from Bangladesh to India. Apprehended Bangladeshi National and seized items were handed over to local police for legal action..

Beside, BSF troops of Guwahati frontier seized 45 cattle heads having approximate value of Rs 2,44,880/- and miscellaneous items worth Rs. 69,450 /- on the intervening night of 8/9 Jan 2017.

BSF troops are always alert towards the issues of trans-border crimes & illegal infiltration and are making all out efforts to prevent commission such crimes.

Sushanta Roy Diphu, Jan 9: Himanta Biswa Sarma Minister of Finance, Health, and Government of Assam today formally kicked off several infrastructural projects in Karbi Anglong from Karbi Anglong Sports Association (KASA) ground today afternoon.

Sarma officially stated that the construction of 45 crore multi discipline sports complex will be completed within 12 months in the KASA ground where he also addressed a mammoth rally of BJP workers and sports personnel. The Minister inaugurated the new office building of the Joint Director of Health Services and inspected the progress of the 250 crore worth Diphu Medical College which is all set to be commissioned within this year.

He also announced the launch of 25 crore worth Donkamukam sports complex , state of the art auditorium at Hamren, West Karbi Anglong , double lane road at Diphu town and

Himanta Biswa Sarma Minister of Finance, Health, and Government of Assam Diphu river project which includes cleaning of the river and developing the waterfront.

Addressing the rally the Minister announced that henceforth TET (Teachers Eligibility Test) for the candidate of Karbi Anglong district will be conducted by Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council who will also appoint the teachers and will be their pay master. The Minister announced that from now on SIU will not be necessary for the job

seekers of this district who are applying for 3rd and 4th grade service under the KAAC. The Minister urged all the elected public representatives to distribute application form of Atal Amrit Yogana to help cancer or similar patients from the central government scheme.

The meeting was attended

by Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Tuliram Ronghang, 4 BJP MLAs of the district all the KAAC EM and government officials

DC urges organisers of Rabindra Mela to take steps to attract visitors and tourists ET Correspondent Silchar, 9 Jan: Hailakandi Deputy Commissioner Moloy Bora urged the organizers of Rabindra Mela to keep the immediate and nearby surroundings clean to attract visitors and tourists alike to generate businesses in a big way.

Making a round of the various stalls put up at the Rabindra Mela Ground in Hailakandi town yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Bora harped on cleanliness under the Swacch Bharat Mission by appealing the organizers to put up dustbins in front of the stalls and in suitable locations.

Bora assured the full support and cooperation of the

administration in making the Rabindra Mela a grand success. He also appealed to the people to participate wholeheartedly in the Mela to keep the rich heritage alive.

Conceptualized by former MLA of Katlicherra, late Santosh Kumar Roy, 35 years back, the Mela organized every year to perpetuate the ideals of literary icon Rabindranath Tagore, was formally inaugurated by former Minister Gautam Roy, who is also the president of the mela committee, on January 1.

The organizers have lined up a series of programmes which include cultural

events, drawing competition, Rabindra Sangeet competition, dance and recitation competitions. Besides, artistes from three districts of Barak Valley are regaling the audience with performances every evening.

It may be mentioned that besides Rabindra Mela, two other melas vis-à-vis Gandhi Mela coinciding with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Mela observed on the birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose held in Silchar and Karimganj respectively, too, are gaining in popularity with the rolling of years.

Thali demonstration against demonetization at Haflong

Hailakandi district observing Road Safety Week ET Correspondent Silchar, 9 Jan: Deputy Commissioner, Hailakandi, Moloy Bora said his administration is observing the Road Safety Week from today to create awareness about traffic rules and urged people to adhere to the guidelines to avoid mishaps.

The 28th Road Safety Week is being observed from today till January 15 with a view to create awareness about road safety measures.

The theme for this year's Road Safety Week is ‘Your safety secures your family’.

District Transport Officer, DN Das said the Road Safety Week is being launched by display of banners and public announcements through loud speakers.

Das said various other activities will be undertaken throughout the week to create awareness, including display of banners related to road safety, public announcements, and meetings with various public departments to discuss road safety-related issues. “We are trying to spread the

message across as many diverse groups of people as possible," said Das. Awareness programmes will be conducted to sensitize youngsters on the importance of road safety, said Das. Eyesight testing camps will be organised by the Joint Director of Health Services for drivers free of cost, he said.

A workshop on road safety among commercial drivers will be organised on January 10, besides training on safe driving will be imparted by the enforcement wing.

Das announced that enforcement drives would be conducted on all modes of vehicles throughout the district by enforcement wing and traffic personnel. Checking of auto emission testing stations and driving schools will be carried out by motor vehicle inspectors, he said.

The week-long campaign will come to an end with a procession displaying colourful banners on road safety tips, Das added.

Correspondent, Haflong, Jan 9: The Dima Hasao Mahila Congress committee organised a thali demonstration in front Rajeev Bhawan here at Haflong against the demonetization from 11.30 am on Monday.

All the members of Dima Hasao Mahila Congress

committee taking part in this demonstration were shouting against the Prime Minister’s demonetization beating thalis while demanding compensation for the poor people who have allegedly suffered a lot due to demonetization.

Talking to media Himadrika

Bathari said, “We are protesting against the demonetization since even after 50 days nothing was done as promised by the PM rather due to dogmatization people have been suffering a lot. We demand immediate relief and compensation to the affected due to the demonetization.”

BSNL plans to connect 1518 gram panchayats in Assam with optical fibre cable Guwahati, Jan 9 : BSNL plans to connect 1,518 gram panchayats with Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) this year in Assam to ensure rural connectivity.

“We have emphasised on rural connectivity and 5,200 kms of OFC will be laid this year to cover 1,518 gram panchayats, which accounts 70 per cent of the total gram panchayats in the state,” BSNL Chief General Manager MK Seth said in a talk show conducted by All India Radio, Guwahati.

Seth said that Kshetri Gaon Panchayat in Kamrup district is likely to become the first digital gram panchayat of the

country, an AIR release said on Monday.

BSNL will provide three thousand hot spots at important places and has already initiated steps for automatic hook up points through wireless network, he said.

High-speed network will be installed in Guwahati by March this year and, “BSNL has taken steps for automatic hook up point through wireless network. There would be 3000 access points (hot spots) at important points,” he said Following demonetisation, BSNL has tied-up with SBI and will soon launch an e-wal-

let called Mobicash.

Assam IT department’s Joint Secretary Fakaruddin Ahmed said that a target has been set to make one lakh people digitally literate by March and 25 lakh by 2022.

“We have already trained 65,000 people so far and our target is to make 25 lakh people digitally literate by 2022 for which Assam government has taken a holistic approach,” he said.

Assam government has set the target to provide television, internet and telephone connection through a single connection to provide financial benefit to the people.

REST OF

NORTHEAST P5 Passengers hit hard as bus service Abducted chief, chairman found shot dead along NH-2 remain suspended

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

Imphal, Jan 9 : Chief of Nongkham Gamnom village Otkhomang Mate and local Church chairman Tilpao Haokip who were abducted by some unidentified persons were found dead at the playground of N Satang village today.

Meanwhile several civil society organisations based at Moreh have called a bandh along Imphal-Moreh road from 8 am tomorrow till 12 midnight.

On learning about discovery of the two dead bodies, leaders of different communities of Moreh and personnel of Moreh police station started for the spot where the dead bodies were found in three Shaktiman trucks.

Kangpokpi, Jan 9 : The prolonged suspension of services of Senapati bound passenger buses along National Highway between Imphal and Senapati has caused tremendous hardships to the daily commuters across the State.

Passenger bus service of Senapati came to a grinding halt ever since the torching of a passenger bus (Koubru Express) which plied along National Highway 2 between Senapati and Imphal on December 19 last, in a suspected ‘Tit for Tit’ incident, by UNC economic blockade volunteers at Taphou Naga village near Mt Everest Higher Secondary School in Senapati district along with one Tata Sumo.

Even after twenty days of the torching incident there is no sight of Senapati bound passenger buses resuming service till today inflicting untold hardships on many commuters across the State and the area people in particular.

DHQs from Kangpokpi DHQs and the same amount on return from Senapati to Kangpokpi DHQs. Earlier passengers paid only Rs 10 per head when passenger buses were in service.

Meanwhile, a huge cash door has been opened for diesel auto service between Kangpokpi and Senapati in the absence of passenger bus service.

Passengers have to pay a whopping fare of Rs 70 per head to reach Senapati

Commuters heading for the State capital from Senapati side are compelled to travel by diesel autos plying between the two district headquarters and stop at Kangpokpi DHQs to catch Kangpokpi – Imphal bound passenger buses while passengers coming from Imphal

side by Kangpokpi bound passenger bus have to catch diesel autos to go to Senapati.

A passenger narrated to the media at Kangpokpi DHQs the hardships and grievances they encounter while paying a huge amount as fare stating that innocent commuters have to bear the brunt of the ‘Tit for Tat’ game.

Another passenger strongly condemned all those who have inflicted such untold misery on the innocent commuters along Imphal-Dimapur road owing

to the non-service of passenger buses between Senapati and the State capital via Kangpokpi DHQs. A businessman said the suspension of service of Senapati bound passenger buses has tremendously affected his business and he again has to hand out a handsome amount on hiring diesel auto between Senapati and Kangpokpi DHQs. It is imperative now for all the communities in the State to refrain from directly and indirectly affecting the innocent public during any form

of protest due to one reason or the other as it has become intolerable for the public to remain the worst sufferers in any dispute among any communities in the State, opined an aged woman traveller. While the agitating communities in Senapati have assured to ensure that no such incident would repeat in the future, the decision of the Senapati-Imphal bus association to suspend service could not be ascertained as no communication could be made till the time of filing this report.

Sources informed that the Moreh SDPO approached the Myanmar authority to let the community leaders and State police pass through Myanmar territory and retrieve the bodies but the Myanmar authority denied them permission.

Subsequently, local people and the police team took the lengthier road inside Indian territory which took them three hours to reach the

spot.

Fatal bullet injuries were seen on the bodies of Otkhomang Mate s/o late Doukhothang Mate and Tilpao Haokip s/o late Holkhojam Haokip.

Till the time of filing this report, the dead bodies have not yet reached Moreh.

Notably, the village chief and the Church chairman were abducted by some unidentified persons at around 7 pm of January 6 and they were taken toward IndoMyanmar border.

Meanwhile, denizens of Moreh expressed dissatisfaction with Myanmar authority for not allowing them to pass through their territory to retrieve the dead bodies.

Meanwhile, in connection with the twin murder of S Doukhomang Mate and Tilpao Haokip, a joint meeting attended by members of various organisations including Hill Tribal Council, Meitei Council Moreh, Kuki Chiefs Association (Moreh Block) and women leaders was held today and the meeting resolved to impose

a bandh along Moreh road tomorrow from 8 am to 12 midnight.

The 16-hour bandh will be also imposed in Moreh town, reports our correspondent.

Condemning the death of S Doukhomang Mate and Tilpao Haokip, Mate Tribe Union demanded the kidnappers to issue a clarification immediately. The union also urged the authority concerned to look into the matter and take up stern action against the guilty.

The Chingshanglak Rilram Yekkul Area and the Nongkam Satang Village Authority have strongly condemned the murder of S Otkhomang Mater and Tilpao Haokip.

While the Nongkam Satang Village Authority appealed to all organisations including UG groups not to continue such inhuman act in future, the Chingshanglak Rilram Yekkul Area demanded immediate clarification from all concerned regarding who killed the duo and why.

Loaded trucks reach Imphal, more to arrive

16 years on, legislators yet to get a permanent House Shillong, Jan 9 : The legislators do not have a House of their own for the last 16 years. This is a clear example of how a project can drag on in Meghalaya, a State known for pending projects and beautiful ideas which romance at the realm of dreams and never become a reality.

It was on January 9, 2001, that the heritage Assembly building was gutted by fire.

After the incident, the Assembly session was conducted first at State Central Library and subsequently at Arts and Culture building at Rilbong.

On the eve of the 16th anniversary of the destruction of the old Assembly, Opposition leader Donkupar Roy said it is unfortunate that the government failed to construct the Assembly on time.

“The State should have got a new Assembly, but the government failed to execute the project and it is very unfortunate. There should have been determination on the part of the government to complete the project on time,” he added.

According to the former chief minister, anything the government decides should be executed and there

should not be any second thought.

“We should stick to whatever we decide. The case of the Assembly is that there were too many changes in the selection of sites for the construction of the Assembly,” the UDP president said.

With the change in Speaker in the past, the government had selected a new site for construction of the Assembly.

The sites selected were the old spot at Police Bazar, Mawdiangdiang, Barik, Upper Shillong and Tara Ghar, the erstwhile official residence of the Meghalaya chief minister. Several times, designs of the Assembly also changed due to the change of sites.

“Many projects are pending like the Assembly construction and it is a lesson for all of us that we should stick to our decision without any change in the plan,” Roy said.

According to the UDP leader, the delay in the construction of the Assembly building will cost the exchequer dearly.

Moreover, Roy pointed out

that before declaring any project, the State government should consider about having adequate funds.

As far as the Assembly building is concerned, it is not only the responsibility of the Assembly Secretariat, but also of the State government, he added.

The government will now construct the new Assembly at New Shillong Township at Mawdiangdiang and 80 acres of land near the building of Civil Defence and Home Guards was allotted for this.

When contacted, Assembly Speaker A.T Mondal said the status of the project is that as many as 13 firms had participated in the expression of interest for the work related to the design of the new Assembly.

“We are in the advanced stage of asking the consultants to make their presentations,” the Speaker said.

According to the Speaker, a few among the 13 participants may not be qualified as per the selection procedures.

The efforts to construct the new Assembly in the past resulted in wastage of public money due to several procedural lapses.

After the fire incident, the then Assembly Speaker E.D Marak and the High Power Committee of 2001-02 allotted the construction work at the cost of Rs 26.62 crore to a firm run by Caroline Pala without calling tender to construct the new Assembly at Police Bazar. The firm also carried out soil testing.

Later in 2004, when there was a change of plan by the High Power Committee to construct the Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang, the same firm was allotted work at the cost of Rs 20.55 crore, yet again without calling tender and the Assembly Secretariat paid over Rs 2.14 crore to the firm though the entire building was not constructed.

These observations figured in the report of the CAG and the Assembly Secretariat was criticised for the lapses as the tender was called only for consultancy work.

The High Power Committee in 2005 changed the site from Mawdiangdiang to PWD Complex at Barik point following protests.

As per the CAG report, in 2005, the Assembly Secretariat asked the same firm to

stop the work at Mawdiangdiang.

The CAG said after the firm submitted a bill of Rs 2.14 crore on March 10, 2005, for works already carried out at Mawdiangdiang, the Assembly Secretariat paid the amount to the firm in December 2009.

Earlier, on December 8, 2006, when the current PWD Minister Martin M. Danggo was the Speaker, the then Meghalaya Governor M.M Jacob laid the foundation stone for the new Assembly building in Upper Shillong incurring an expenditure of Rs 33 lakh in the presence of J.D Rymbai, who was the chief minister then.

The reason to abandon the area was that there were protests from several quarters since the area was an agricultural land.

Later in 2010, the GAD had handed over the land measuring 6.5 acres at Tara Ghar for the construction of the new Assembly, but a PIL by environmentalists resulted in a stay on the matter as the contention was that greenery will be lost once the Assembly comes up at Tara Ghar.

Total bandh in Kma, Mkg and Tsg MOKCHUNG, Jan 9 : As a countermeasure to the state government’s decision for extending the date of filing nominations in places where total boycott was in force, apex bodies like the-Angami Youth Organization (AYO), Ao Senden, including Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS) and Tuensang Village Citizen Union (TVCU) have called for a total bandh in their respective jurisdictions on Monday to protest against the state government’s decision.

On Saturday, AYO announced that the total bandh would be imposed in Kohima and Mediphema town areas from 7 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.

Ao Senden: Slamming the NPF-led DAN government for having total disregard and hurting the sentiments

of the Naga people by further extending the time of filing nominations till January 9, the Ao Senden, to protest against the state government’s decision has also called for a total bandh in Mokokchung on January 9 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A joint statement issued by acting Ao Senden president, C. Angang and acting secretary, Tally Lkr pointed out that the state government’s decision to extend the date of filing nominations has been viewed by the Senden as a direct insult and disrespect to the people.

During the bandh no vehicles or public movement would be allowed. However, police, paramilitary, medical, magistrate on duty, media and other emergency services have been exempted

from the purview of the bandh.

While expressing regret for the inconvenience caused, the Senden at the same time sought support and cooperation of the people during the bandh.

Questioning the “sinister design” of the state government’s decision to extend the dateline, the Senden alleged that such arbitrary decision was made only in the interest of few vested individuals who wanted to file their nominations.

Meanwhile, volunteers of the Ao Senden continued to stand vigil in front of DC’s office, Mokokchung on Sunday. However, after the State Election Commission had clarified through media that Sunday was a non-working day, the vol-

unteers dispersed for the day.

Later, the Senden officials and others held a meeting.

CKS & TVCU: The Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS) and Tuensang Village Citizen Union (TVCU) have also resolved to strictly impose a total bandh in Tuensang starting from January 8, 6 p.m. to January 9, 4 p.m. to boycott the filing of nomination for Municipal & Town Council elections in Tuensang, stated CKS president, M.P. Nokshang through a press note.

However, district administration, paramilitary forces, medical, fire & emergency service have been exempted from the purview of the bandh.

CKS and TVCU further remind all intending candidates to refrain from filing

their nominations and warned that violators would be penalized as per CKS & TVCU resolution adopted on January 5, 2017. The organizations have also appeal to the general public for co-operation.

Changes to AYO bandh In partial modification to the bandh called on January 9, Angami Youth Organization (AYO) president Neinguvoto Krose and vice president Peter Rutsa stated that, in Kohima town, partial bandh would be activated exclusively under the mentioned areas in the ‘bandh zone’- TCP gate to North PS jn. including D. Block area. Vehicular/pedestrian movement have been restricted in the periphery of the main town area.

Imphal, Jan 9 : At least 154 loaded trucks have reached Imphal from Jiribam together with security escorts amidst the UNC’s ongoing indefinite economic blockade.

The loaded trucks which were escorted by CRPF and State police started moving from Jiribam in the wee hours today.

The loaded trucks which have reached Imphal included 92 oil tankers, 41 LPG bullets and some other trucks loaded with essential items.

Meanwhile, with regard to the reports about setting ablaze a truck which was heading toward Tamenglong near Kotlen

under Keithelmanbi police outpost, police sources have clarified that the truck caught fire due to mechanical failure and it was not a case of arson.

The driver of the truck confirmed that the truck caught fire due to mechanical failure and it had nothing to do with the ongoing economic blockade or counter blockade.

Meanwhile, our Jiribam correspondent reports that around 519 loaded trucks have left Jiribam for Imphal while 614 trucks stranded in Jiribam are waiting for security escorts.

The loaded trucks included 49 petrol tankers, 78 diesel tankers, 11 kerosene tank-

ers, 54 LPG bullet tankers, 9 FCI trucks, 131 trucks loaded with cement, four trucks loaded with medicines and 188 trucks laden with essential commodities.

One driver, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that earlier security escorts would try to escort as many trucks as possible.

However, ever since CRPF took over the charge, only 500 loaded trucks are being escorted in a single trip.

If CRPF can escort more than 500 trucks at a time, it would not only ease the difficulty of the drivers but also help the general public who are suffering the brunt of UNC’s economic blockade, added the truck driver.

Lotha bodies ask candidates to withdraw nominations WOKHA, Jan 9 : The Lotha Hoho (LH) along with all its frontal organizations on Sunday “unanimously decided and resolved that all the intending candidates, who had filed nomination for the ULBs election (Wokha and Bhandari towns), are to withdraw their nominations, immediately.”

This was also stated in a joint press statement issued

by LH chairman Mhao Humtsoe and general secretary Mhondamo Ovung.

The decision was made during a meeting called by LH at Wokha Town Hall with the general public of Wokha town and surrounding villages on Sunday-- attended by representatives of all Lotha frontal organizations including-- Lotha Eloe Hoho, Lotha Youth Hoho, Lotha Students’ Union, Kohima Lotha Hoho, Dimapur Lotha Hoho,

Wokha Village Council, Longsa Village Council, all colony unions and youth organizations of Wokha town.

The resolution for withdrawal of candidatures was moved by raising of hands by a majority of those present at the meeting.

There were also suggestions from various quarters that a joint withdrawal petition could be submitted to the concerned authorities to actualize the resolution for withdrawal of candidatures.

LH said the public and leaders also deliberated on the various provisions of the Nagaland Municipal Act 2001, which infringe on the provisions of Article 371A, of the Constitution. Many of the leaders including some candidates, agreed to support the decision of the Naga organizations and to

safeguard the provisions of Article 371A, for the good of the Naga future generation, LH stated.

A total of 55 (22 Women) candidates have filed their nominations for Wokha district’s two Town Councils: 33 (13 Women) for Wokha Town Council (WTC) and 22 (9 Women) for Bhandari Town Council (BTC).

Of the 33 candidates for WTC, 12 (5 Women) are from NPF, 13 from BJP (5 Women), and 8 (3 Women) are Independents. Interestingly, 2 women (1 BJP and 1 Independent) are the only candidates who have filed their nominations in one unreserved ward.

Of the 22 candidates for BTC, 8 (2 Women) are from NPF, 8 (3 Women) from BJP, 3 (2 Women) from INC, and 3 (2 Women) are Independents.

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

Today's quote Be who you are and say what you “feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

– Bernard M. Baruch

The slowing economy That India's economic momentum has slowed down is now beyond doubt. Advance GDP estimates and gross value added (GVA) for the current fiscal year from the Central Statistics Office clearly reveal the extent of the slowdown. While GDP growth is now pegged at 7.1 per cent, compared with a 7.6 per cent pace in 2015-16, GVA is forecast to expand at 7 per cent this year, easing from the 7.2 per cent posted 12 months earlier. And as the Chief Statistician emphasised, these projections were based solely on data from the first seven months through October and do not factor in the impact from the withdrawal of high-value banknotes and the consequent cash crunch. A closer look at the sectoral GVA projections throws into relief the areas of concern: Mining and quarrying is estimated to shrink 1.8 per cent this year after expanding 7.4 per cent a year earlier, while electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services - collectively an indicator of broader economic activity - is slowing to 6.5 per cent from 6.6 per cent. More worryingly, the sevenmonth numbers establish that two key engines of the economy, manufacturing and services, are losing momentum faster than was anticipated, and this could spell trouble for the coming quarters. This is especially so when seen in the backdrop of demonetisation and what the Reserve Bank of India referred to as the "short-run disruptions in economic activity in cash-intensive sectors such as retail trade, hotels & restaurants and transportation, and in the unorganised sector" and "aggregate demand compression associated with adverse wealth effects".

There is a silver lining in the CSO data, though. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in April projected that growth could accelerate this year to 8 per cent to 8.5 per cent subject to a 'normal' monsoon. The improvement in rainfall has manifested both in the CSO's projection for the 'agriculture, forestry and fishing' sector, which is estimated to expand 4.1 per cent this fiscal compared with the previous period's 1.2 per cent, and in rabi sowing data from the Ministry of Agriculture. Preliminary reports from the States show the total area sown under the rabi crop as on January 6 stood at 602.75 lakh ha, up 6.5 per cent from last year.

If farmers countrywide can tide over the acute cash shortage resulting from demonetisation and ensure that the sowing translates to strong growth in output, we could see rural consumption provide some cushioning from the slowdown. Nonetheless, in the Union budget due next month, the Centre will have to work in a substantial fiscal fillip to help rekindle economic momentum.

Unclogging the cities The move to make New Delhi's iconic Connaught Place a pedestrian zone from February, and keep out cars and other vehicles from its middle and inner circle roads, during a three-month trial programme is an inspiring attempt to reconquer public space. Urban design in India is the preserve of State governments and local bodies, which have failed spectacularly to provide a safe, comfortable and accessible experience for walkers. The pilot project in the national capital represents a refreshing change, taking a leaf out of the book of global cities that have pedestrianised their landmarks, often in the face of conservative opposition. Prominent examples are Times Square in New York and the route along the Seine in Paris, and the curbs on cars in central avenue in Madrid. Contrary to apprehensions that restrictions affect commercial activity, the experience around the world has been quite the opposite: better walking and public transport infrastructure and availability of food plazas attract more people, improving the local economy.

In America, pedestrian injuries decreased after vehicles were removed from Times Square, beginning seven years ago. Globally this has been the trend too when cities curb car use and clean up the air. Such examples should convince the Ministry of Urban Development that it is moving in the right direction, and if anything, this needs to be extended to other cities.

Keeping powered vehicles out of core areas, expanding pavements for pedestrians and facilitating the use of bicycles is today a high-priority goal for mayors and urban governments the world over. In the intermediate phase, many cities find it rewarding to levy a stiff congestion charge on personal vehicles entering designated areas. This is a mature idea and needs to be trialled in India, under its ongoing smart cities programme. It should be mandated by law that all proceeds would go towards funding walking, bicycling and emissions-free public transport infrastructure. The importance of such a levy is evident from a study by Transport for London in 2014-15, that found the British capital losing £5.5 billion a year in financial costs arising from congestion. Measures to unclog cities are often posed, wrongly, as detrimental to the economy and efficiency. While cars will continue to remain relevant for longer-distance travel, dense urban areas need relief from excessive motorisation. Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu has favoured people-centric ideas for Connaught Place, including aesthetic features such as water fountains and areas for relaxation. These are not expensive to put in, and State governments must extend the template to all cities and towns, acknowledging the wider social benefits.

EDITORIAL P6 Revisiting a passage from India K.C. Singh The challenge before India lies in the way it taps its widespread disapora's financial and intellectual capital. For this it needs to adopt a wise, pro-active, secular, non-jingoistic tone January 9 commemorates the day Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915, after honing satyagraha, or peaceful protest, against the colonial and racist regime there. In 2002, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee decided to celebrate it annually by holding events including bestowing awards on prominent members of the Indian diaspora. The 15th edition of Pravasi Divas this year is now on in Bengaluru.

When as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in 2002 I was asked to recommend one name for the Pravasi awards, I refrained from doing so, fearing a single pick from many deserving ones might create speculation regarding my motives and heartburn among those bypassed.

Since then it seems the process has gone the way of the Padma awards, where hectic lobbying and politics trump merit.

"Diaspora" is an omnibus phrase which brackets people of Indian origin who have emigrated since the 19th century to all corners of the world. Roughly it falls into two categories: preand post-Independence.

The latter further subdivides into migration to the West, including Australia and New Zealand, and workers in the West Asian countries - numbering over seven million - who began flocking there following oil cartelisation by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries after the Arab-Israel war of 1973 and the steep rise in oil prices.

The Indian in West Asia The last can be examined

first. The earnings bonanza allowed the hereditary rulers of West Asia to unleash a spending and construction boom. Despite cycles of economic expansion and contraction, as oil prices rose or fell, the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have learnt to live with the perils of single commodity dependent economies. Some such as Dubai, with almost depleted oil reserves, have remodelled themselves as entrepôt for regional trade and a destination for tourism and convivial living, besides emerging as a financial centre. Both Abu Dhabi and Qatar are modelling themselves as centres of culture and sports, civil aviation hubs and more spartan living. They also have poured earnings each year into sovereign funds to act as a cushion during the low oil price years.

But they face two new challenges. One, the shale oil revolution in the United States combined with slower global growth and environmental concerns may have already pushed the world into a post-OPEC phase and perennial low oil prices. Two, the entire region to the west of India up to the Mediterranean is now swept by Shia-Sunni contestation and the challenge posed by radical Islam. Thus instability may persist for decades.

Therefore, Indians in GCC countries, ranging from skilled and unskilled workers to those holding executive jobs or running businesses, may have to face more challenging circumstances of economic slowdown, "Arabisation" or more jobs to locals, and threats from terror-related events. Indian workers, particularly the vast majority from Kerala, are still the favoured ones of the locals but are under pressure from more skilled workers from countries such as the Philippines or cheaper labour from Nepal, etc. In India, the Union and State governments have failed to up-

grade skills of Indian workers going to West Asia.

Congress-led governments have been particularly guilty, allowing the Kerala lobby in the Union cabinet to drive India's GCC policy.

Often ministers have had kin located there, compromising their ability to act independently.

As a rising power, India's prestige suffers when its citizens are seen doing menial jobs. Moreover Indian strategic options get limited fearing reprisal against workers. That is why for decades India has let its citizens be subjected to local labour rules that are medieval and regressive, such as employer seizing the travel documents of the worker on arrival. Similarly, it should not require tweets to the Minister of External Affairs to get simple consular acts performed. Their safety and security as indeed sanctity of their contracts must be addressed by local missions, which should be accountable for any slipups.

Triumph over adversity

India has a largely positive record dealing with the diaspora that left India as indentured labour in the 19th century - in the period from 1833 to 1917 - particularly for the Caribbean where labour shortages ensued following the abolition of slavery. Coincidently, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, J.S. Khehar, hails from East Africa.

The expulsion of Indians from Uganda by Idi Amin in the 1970s tested Indian diplomacy and its ability to protect the diaspora. India passed the buck to Britain as the guarantor of their safety as most held British documents. Mauritius, with Indians constituting the largest group and 48.5 per cent of the population being Hindus, has seen the community consolidate political power, with strategic support from Indian governments. Located strategically in the Indian Ocean, this country has been an asset for India, safeguarding the Southern maritime flank.

Contrariwise, India was unable to support 49 per cent

of Indo-Fijians in their desire for a multi-ethnic government when, in 1987, Lt. Col. S. Rabuka overthrew the elected government. Their numbers have shrunk since then.

Persons of Indian origin have headed governments in some Caribbean countries such as Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, the two nations with huge IndoCaribbean populations.

Generally, Indian policy in the past has been to not be seen as meddling in their internal affairs sensing that it may be counterproductive. Two vital links have been religion and cricket. But India has been unable to build on that base by boosting investment and business links and better connectivity. That raises the question, which even China is beginning to pose now: to what extent would India be willing to go to protect the diaspora when it runs into political turbulence in their countries of abode?

A blur between loyalties Finally, the issue of diaspora in the U.S., the United Kingdom and Canada. With rising numbers and greater earnings, they are becoming more proactive to rally in support of Indian interests.

Their lobbying in the U.S. with politicians worked famously to swing the Congressional vote for the U.S.Indian nuclear deal in 2006.

While the U.S. leads as the country with the highest number of Indian origin persons numbering around four million, the U.K. and Canada are next with 1.45 million and 1.2 million, respectively. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been active in spreading its message of Hindutva in all of them. During NDA-I, the Vajpayee government even unprecedentedly appointed a special ambassador in the U.S. for diaspora affairs, raising protocol issues with the U.S. State Department. Thus he had to be located in New York with notional attachment to the Indian mission to the UN, as no country will accept

two ambassadors.

That absurdity died with that government, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Madison Square Garden show took the same to another level. There was a blurring between the loyalties that Indian origin persons holding U.S. nationality owe to their adopted nation and their innate love for India. The danger with this kind of public and Hindutva-fed ritual is that it may create a majority community backlash and divide the diaspora.

For instance, Sikhs are the largest component of the diaspora in Canada, at 34 per cent compared to 27 per cent Hindus, with the rest being Muslims and Christians. That is why Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joked that he had more Sikhs in his cabinet this includes his Defence Minister - than Mr. Modi.

Sikhs are at the number two spot in the U.K and the U.S. The Wall Street Journal estimates that there are 15.6 million persons born in India living abroad. This number has grown by 17.2 per cent since 2010. The Chinese diaspora is 50 million strong, with 32 million settled in Southeast Asia.

For China, this community became the bridge to integrate their economy to global supply chains once Deng Xiaoping opened Chinese doors in the 1980s.

They also funded investment in Chinese economic zones.

Undoubtedly, the Indian diaspora's remittances in the past have been of vital assistance to Indian foreign exchange reserves.

But the challenge now is to go to the next stage - of harnessing not just their financial but also their intellectual capital. The Modi government needs to market not Hindutva-laced faux nationalism but a new way of dealing with each of the three groups - wisely, pro-actively, and in a secular nonjingoistic tone.

The forgotten thesis Abhijit Guha A century has passed since Dr BR Ambedkar (1891-1956) wrote a perceptive article on caste. It is shameful that the original of this article remained unnoticed in academic discourses on caste. The distinguished French anthropologist Louis Dumont (1911-1998) in his book, Homo Hierachicus (1966), viewed caste as the typical expression of the Indian mind and culture in which hierarchy and inequality were deemed to be natural. This ran counter to the modern western notion of equality and democracy. The anti-Dumont scholars like the American anthropologist Mckim Marriott gave more emphasis on the local and regional variations in caste perceptions. In the 1950s, the noted Indian sociologist, MN Srinivas, propounded a theory of social mobility within the caste system through a process which he termed 'Sanskritization'. Earlier, the famous Bengali anthropologist who was at one time the personal secretary of Mahatma Gandhi proposed a theory of 'Hindu Method of Tribal Absorption'. The Marxist scholars, on the other hand, viewed the caste system as a kind of class formation.

An interesting feature of these discourses is the absence of the

contributions of one of the most original thinkers on the caste system. He was none other than Ambedkar, who was not only a scholar but was also one of the greatest policy makers of Independent India. His views on caste were also neglected in the anthropology and sociology curricula in Indian universities and colleges.

Ambedkar is still a nobody in the anthropology syllabi in the midst of his 125th centenary grandstanding all over the country. The students of anthropology, sociology, history and political science are familiar with such distinguished brains as Louis Dumont, HH Risely, JH Hutton, LSS O'Malley, GS Ghurye, DD Kosambi, Nirmal Kumar Bose, Ramkrishna Mukherjee, MN Srinivas, Surajit Sinha, Andre Beteille, Rajni Kothari, Mckim Marriott, Ronald Inden, Bernard Cohn, Nicholas Dirks, and Romila Thapar... but not about BR Ambedkar. He has been regarded only as a leader of the Dalits and one of those who framed the Constitution. However, he was not given the status of a scholar in the discourses conducted by social scientists. GS Ghurye, who had introduced the discipline of sociology, in his famous book Caste and Class in India (1957) mentioned the name of Ambedkar only once on page 226 and that too as 'the leader of the Scheduled Castes' al-

What love is all about It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman, in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry and that he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs, and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redressed his

though he discussed the importance of endogamy (marriage within a social group) in analysing the cast system, which was first pointed out by Ambedkar in his 1916 essay.

Neither Indian nor Western anthropologists nor for that matter social scientists gave academic importance to Ambedkar's views on caste.

Ironically, he remained an untouchable to the higher castes and European discourses on caste in India. As early as 1916, he had made a novel attempt to explain the caste system in a presentation at an anthropology seminar convened by Dr Alexander Goldenweizer (1880-1940) at Columbia University on 9 May 1916.

Ambedkar was then 25 and a doctoral student. His paper was titled Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development. It was a pure and detached academic exercise on the nature of the caste system in India and there was no comment on the personal experiences of the writer. The text of this paper was first printed in: Indian Antiquary Vol. XLI (May 1917) and then long after in Vol. I of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar: Writings and Speeches (1979), edited by Vasant Moon and published by the education department of the Government of Maharastra, It was an erudite presentation on the existing anthropological and sociological literature on caste.

wound. While taking care of him, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for awhile and was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, and hadn't recognized him in five years. I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled and patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

The style was as lucid as it was argumentative. In the first part of the paper, Ambedkar dealt with the works of four famous scholars like Emile Senart (1847-1928), John Nesfield (1836-1919), SV Ketkar (18841937) and HH Risley (18511911) and without being biased towards these well-known authorities, he pointed out the shortcomings of all these scholars in understanding the essential feature of the caste system.

But his method of criticism was quite interesting. While criticising the authorities, Ambedkar noted the positive aspects of their contributions.

It is important to review these definitions. Viewed separately, the definitions of three of the writers include too much or too little: they are neither complete nor correct. They have missed the central point in the dynamics of the caste system. Their shortcoming lies in trying to define caste as an isolated unit by itself, and not as a group within, and with a definite relationship with the system of caste as a whole. Yet collectively all of them are complementary to one another, each emphasizing what has been obscured in the other. [Ambedkar (1917): 1979:7].

Looking at caste as a system in which each jati is part of the whole was definitely a step forward in social and cultural anthropology as early as 1917 and Ambedkar was not ready to

accept caste as a system of 'division of labour' which minimised competition among occupational groups. For him the system is a division among the labouring classes rather than division of labour. A closer reading of this article reveals that Ambedkar used the Morganian social evolutionary methodology to approach the basic principle behind the caste system.

He observed that marriage outside one's own immediate kingroup ~ represented through clan exogamy ~ was the fundamental and universal feature of human society and in India the state of 'tribal exogamy' has survived whereas in the modern world there is no such system.

To quote from the original, with the evolution of history exogamy has lost its efficacy, and barring the nearest blood-kin, there is usually no social bar that restricts the choice of the bride or groom. But in India, the law of exogamy is a positive injunction even today. Society still clings onto the clan system, even though there are no clans.

This is evident in the law of matrimony which centres around the principle of exogamy. Not that Sapindas (blood-kin) cannot marry, but a marriage within the same gotra is regarded as sacrilege.

This is the logical foundation on which Ambedkar advanced his arguments to elucidate the caste system. He cogently ar-

gued that since in India exogamy was the stronger rule, endogamy has been an alien concept in the country. Then how was the caste system so entrenched in India? The manner in which Ambedkar addressed this anomaly is the most interesting part of the original paper. Before going into the details I would quote him again: "Nothing is therefore more important for you to remember than the fact that endogamy is foreign to the people of India.

The various gotras are and have been exogamous: so are the other groups with totemic organisation. It is no exaggeration to say that with the people of India, exogamy is a creed and none dare infringe it, so much so that, in spite of the endogamy of the castes within them, exogamy is strictly observed and that there are more rigorous penalties for violating exogamy than there are for violating endogamy…Consequently in the final analysis creation of castes, so far as India is concerned, means the superposition of endogamy on exogamy".

Additionally, Ambedkar explained that since the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas were the most privileged classes, they began to "enclose" themselves to safeguard their privileges. Later, other groups also emulated the higher classes and the system spread over regions.

Demonetisation's narrative In the two months of turmoil following demonetisation, the lesson most of us have learned is how to live as far as possible in a cashless way and to the best of one's ability. The positive effect of demonetisation can be seen in banks where the initial rush has reduced to to a large extent. People have taken things in their stride. We are on the way to becoming a transparent economy as demonetisation has hit black marketeers. Only time will tell whether the government's move has been a grand success or otherwise.

Khirod Ojha Moranhat, Assam

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

P7

Paypal vs Paytm: Here's what experts have to say This voicecontrolled smart lamp can play music, order pizza

Ge has built a new voice controlled, LED `smart' lamp that can listen and talk to you, just like the way Amazon Echo does. In fact, GE says it comes with almost everything the Echo offers -only with the added benefit of lighting.

The lamp is powered by Alexa, Amazon's voice controlled technology that's behind all Echo products.

Amazon opened up the technology to third party developers in 2015 through a program called Alexa Voice Service. GE took advantage of it, making this the first lighting device to embed Alexa's voice technology.

Users can tell the lamp to play music, order pizza, or give the latest news, all through voice commands.It also comes with its own speaker, but it's not as powerful as the Echo's, which makes it closer to the smaller Echo Dot. GE says the device isn't meant to compete with the Echo, but provide another option to customers, helping expand the broader voice controlled device ecosystem.

By stripping out the real brain behind the Echo, and giving others access to it, Amazon has let anyone build their own hardware product powered by Alexa, paving the way for the Alexa ecosystem to become the go-to platform for voice-controlled devices.

GE's new device comes from C by GE, a new connected light bulb product line launched earlier this year

by GE Lighting. It will be available for pre-orders in early 2017. The price isn't finalized yet.

In similar news, Vivaldi recently launched a new version of their namesake browser that can help users change the colour of their smarthome lighting products.

We're giving users the ability to go beyond the browser and into the smarthome by integrating with Hue color lights from Philips," said the company.

As to how to go about it, here's how the company explains the steps: After enabling Hue in Vivaldi Theme Settings, a tap on the Philips Hue Bridge confirms the connection. Selecting which lights Vivaldi should control, the browser will synchronize your physical surroundings with the color of the web.

Indian legal experts pointed to a shade of unhealthy competition in global payments company PayPal's opposition to local digital wallet leader Paytm over the latter's trademark application to register its logo.

intellectual property, at law firm Khaitan & Co. "It seems that considering the popularity of Paytm recently (thanks to demonetisation and the government's push for digital payments), PayPal may have decided to file an opposition on the last day of the deadline," he added.

California-based PayPal, founded by Silicon Valley bigwigs such as Elon Musk and Peter Thiel in 1998, registered a notice of opposition with the registrar of trademarks on November 18, contesting that there were similarities between the logos of the two brands.

The complaint came on the final day of the fourmonth timeframe for registering opposition to sixyear-old Paytm's advertisement of its trademark application, filed on July 18.

"Paytm has been around for some time now and

Vaibhav Parikh, partner at Nishith Desai Associates, said PayPal's move seemed to stem from competitiveness.

PayPal could have objected to the use of the mark by initiating legal proceedings.

This wasn't done. Whilst filing of oppositions is fairly normal in the industry, in the

present case, it may also be a competitive move," said Samuel Niranjan, counsel,

ET reached out to the lawyer representing PayPal in the matter, but he did not comment. Paytm and PayPal India said they don't want to comment.

PayPal's main contention in the notice, which is available online, is that the mark sought by Paytm is "deceptively and confusingly similar" to PayPal's. It accused

Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) smartphone was launched in November 2016. The phone comes with a 5.50-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels.

The Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) is powered by 1.4GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor and it comes with 3GB of RAM. The phone packs 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 128GB via a SD card card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Asus

6.0.1 and is powered by a 4100mAh non removable battery. It measures 151.40 x 76.24 x 8.30 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 175.00 grams.

REVIEW Good

Bad

Ø Good design and build quality

ØHybrid SIM slot

ØVibrant display

ØFingerprint sensor can be iffy

ØCapable cameras

ØWeak gaming performance

ØLong battery life

ØNo Gorilla Glass

ØGood audio quality

ØA bit expensive

ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) packs a 16megapixel primary camera

on the rear and a 8megapixel front shooter for selfies.

The 16-year old student from Delhi `whitens' her teeth using an app called Retrica.

Clicking a good selfie may not be as im possible as getting a decent photo on your Aadhar card but it's certainly not easy.

Hunt for the right background and the most flattering light so that the dark circles don't show, then angle the phone at 45 degrees overhead to hide that double chin. But now there's no need for all that selfie gyaan, thanks to photo editing apps which not only put your best face forward but also give you a facelift in the process.

On the flip side, one runs the risk of looking too touched up. For example, BeautyPlus Me gives you an almost unnatural white pallor, which may not work if you are already light, skinned. "These apps work best for selfies and display pictures because if you zoom in you can see how distorted the image has become," says Karan Nath, a 23-year-old from Bengaluru.

times.

So what's the secret behind its success? In a country obsessed with fair skin, it does what bottles of skin cream and lotion can't -deliver lighter skin at the touch of a button. Some more taps on the screen airbrush away pimples and blemishes, and a quick swipe gives you a sculpted jawline and takes away a few inches from the waistline.

Little wonder that Jain de-

It also goes on to say in its notice that both marks begin with the term 'Pay', citing that consumers tend to remember the first mark more than the second syllable and that it could cause "a likelihood of confusion."

Rahul Dev, patent and trademark attorney at Tech Corp Legal, argued with the US company's logic. "Personally, I find PayPal's argument difficult to stand the test of law as no single party can own exclusive rights to use the generic word 'pay' in the sector pertaining to financial services. If you review the brand names like 'PayPal', 'Paytm', 'PayU', etc, these can be clearly differentiated by their customers without much confusion."

Asus Zenfone 3 Max5.5 ZC553KL smartphone goes on sale at Rs 17,999

The Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) runs Android

The Asus ZenFone 3 Max (ZC553KL) is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts Micro-SIM and Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, USB OTG, FM, 3G and 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Compass Magnetometer, Prox-

Selfie-beautification apps a hit in India

Among the most popular is BeautyPlus Me, a selfie retouch app developed by Chinese firm Meitu. After lengthening legs and widening eyes of millennials back home, Meitu -which listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and has been valued at $4.6 billion -is now helping Indians spice up their online appearance.

In 2016, it was the number one trending app on Google Play in India. According to Ravish Jain, country manager Meitu, the app, available in 12 Indian languages has had more than 1 million downloads since it launched here in July.

Worldwide, it has been downloaded a billion

the Alibaba-backed Indian company of "slavishly adopting the two-tone blue colour scheme of its logo."

scribes it is a "one-touchbeautification solution aimed at women in the age group of 18 to 35".

Apps like Snapchat and Instagram have long allowed people to apply filters and adjust contrast and brightness but selfie editing apps BeautyPlus Me, Lumyer, Retrica and PicsArt go a step further by enabling users to play around with their features and figure in order to fit the current beauty para-

digm.

For Neha Rani, a 23year-old working with Accenture in Bengaluru, the apps are like a dream skin doctor. "I have acne and I used to hate getting my pictures clicked. But now, I can edit away the pesky pimples," says Rani, who has three photo-editing apps on her phone.

Ishita Kaushik saves on trips to a dentist by using photo-retouching apps.

To test its makeover magic, we decided to give it a try. The home page of the app is in baby pink and gives an idea of its intended audience. As soon as you click a selfie, a default wand with sparkles appears on the image and seconds later, to a sweet tinkling sound, your face can be several shades lighter. There are 10 more editing options that range from eye brightening and removal of dark circles to making the image taller. The final image may not look exactly like you but for many, it's the way they hope to look.

imity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor and Gyroscope.

About Asus ASUSTeK Computer Inc., known as ASUS, is Taiwanese multinational computer hardware and Electronics Company was founded in 1989 in Taiwan. ASUS is one of the world's largest computer hardware companies. Its products include desktops, PC peripherals, laptops, smartphones, tablets and hybrid devices. The company has made Android phones powered by Intel and Qualcomm SoCs.

Lenovo Yoga Book 2-in-1 Running Chrome OS Set to Launch in 2017 With the introduction of Android apps into the ecosystem, Chrome OS is now fast becoming the preferred choice for many.

Looking at this rise in interest, Lenovo has also announced that it will launch its Yoga Book 2-in1 with Chrome OS next year.

Lenovo's Vice President and General Manager of the Android and Chrome Computing Business Group, Jeff Meredith, confirmed this news to Laptop Mag. The Chinese PC giant has been selling the Yoga Book in two options already - Windows 10 or Android pre-installed.

Now, a third Lenovo Yoga Book running on Chrome OS option will also be made available starting 2017.

"We've had a lot of in-

terest. It's an interesting idea for education, especially with the form factor.

Over time, we probably see the Android and Chrome versions melding together, especially based on the fact that we've now seen Chrome roll out the Google Play store capability into Chrome. We'll probably maintain the three distinctive products throughout this year at least," Meredith said speaking of the Chrome OS-powered Yoga Book.

There is no tangible time frame announced for the release of this new variant, but it is confirmed that Lenovo is working on it.

Meredith has also confirmed that all the features, including the Real Pen, will work the same way as on Android. Lenovo launched the Yoga Book

2-in-1 at IFA this year, and made it available in India last week. The laptop claimed to be the "world's thinnest 2-in-1" is priced at Rs. 49,990, and is exclusively available on Flipkart. In India, only the Windows variant has been launched, and the Android variant hasn't arrived yet.

Key highlights of the Lenovo Yoga Book hybrid laptop include a first-ofits-kind Halo keyboard and Real Pen input. It features a 10.1-inch full-HD (1200x1920 pixels) IPS display at 400 nits brightness, powered by a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z8550 processor with 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM. The Lenovo Yoga Book hybrid packs 64GB of internal storage that is expandable via microSD card (up to 128GB).

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

NATION 'Will present Motor Vehicles Bill in Budget Session'

PTI New Delhi, Jan 9 : Government today said it would try to present the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill which proposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic norms in the upcoming Budget session, soon after it receives it from Parliament's Joint Select Committee.

"The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill is with the Joint Select Committee of the Parliament. I am hopeful that after we receive it (Bill), we will soon try to present it in the coming session of the Parliament," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said here.

He was speaking at an event marking the begin-

Minister Nitin Gadkari. ning of the Road Safety Week.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2016 proposes harsh penalties for violation of traffic norms, including up to Rs 10,000 fine for drink driving and Rs 2 lakh com-

pensation for hit-and-run cases.

The Bill also has provision of up to Rs 10 lakh compensation in the case of road fatality.

It includes penalties in the range of Rs 1,000-4,000 for over-speeding. Be-

'Pakistan, separatists thwarted peace process'

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

PTI Jammu, Jan 9 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today blamed Pakistan, and the separatists for derailing the dialogue process by shutting doors on the All Party Delegation, saying the preparations for the Valley unrest were done beforehand.

The preparations for the five-month long unrest in Kashmir were made in advance and when the triggers like separate Kashmiri Pandit Colony and Sainik Colony did not work, the killing of Burhan Wani triggered the unrest, she said.

"The Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Lahore and it was followed by Pathankot terrorist attack and today in Jurian. Entire nation had their eyes on those (separatists) doors and the nation was breathless to see the outcome and several

senior leaders went to meet them. They could have opened the doors," Mehbooba said while replying to the discussion on the Kashmir unrest in the state Assembly.

She said that had the separatists opened their doors, it could have led to the start of a dialogue.

"A message would have gone and they (separatists) would have told the All Party Delegation what they have done in the past and what steps have they taken to resolve the issue," she said.

Referring to the unrest in Kashmir, which left several people dead and many injured, the chief minister said that the unrest took place under a "well-planned conspiracy".

"Earlier they used the issue of separate Kashmiri Pandit Colony and then Sainik Colony to trigger the unrest but when they

failed, this (Burhan Wani's killing) provided them the trigger they wanted to instigate unrest," Mehbooba said.

"Preparations (for the unrest) were made in advance as from the very next day slogans were being raised in the mosques and large number of CDs was distributed," she said.

"Some elements" used small kids as shield and pushed them inside security force camps and police stations, she added.

It is easy to say that security forces could have exercised restrain but when a mob attacks a police station with petrol bombs, stones and axes, it becomes difficult to exercise restraint, Mehbooba said.

Claiming that said that the injured were not allowed to go to hospitals, she said that pregnant ladies were asked to show their baby bumps to prove their pregnancy to got the hospitals.

"Many school children did not go to the school in uniform as they feared they would be attacked.

Several students who went to give examinations were accompanied by their mothers who were carrying doctor's prescriptions to show them (protesters) that they were going to see the doctors.

They were so much scared," she added.

Restrictions should be removed: Mamata on note ban PTI Kolkata, Jan 9 : Maintaining opposition to demonetisation, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today said that millions of people were facing hardships and demanded lifting of restrictions.

"Restrictions should be removed. Hardships being faced by millions due to #DeMonetisation", she said in a tweet.

"Trinamool Congress is organising nationwide protest against Modi babu's shameless flopshow #NoteBandi," she wrote in another tweet.

Banerjee said that that protest dharna is being held for three days from today in Bengal, Bhubaneswar, Punjab, Kishanganj (Bihar),

sides, driving without insurance will be punishable with Rs 2,000 fine and/or 3-month imprisonment while driving a twowheeler without helmet will attract Rs 2,000 fine and 3-month suspension of licence.

The provisions also include that the guardian or owner will be deemed guilty in the case of road offence by juveniles and registration of the vehicle will be cancelled.

The Budget session of Parliament is likely to begin from January 31.

Gadkari, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, were among those who also participated in the walk at India Gate to mark the

beginning of the Road Safety Week.

The Minister further said that out of the 5 lakh road accidents that take place every year, around 1.5 lakh people die.

He added that it was rather unfortunate that road accidents increased 4.6 per cent this year, when it should have declined.

"There is one accident in every one minute and in every four minutes, there is one death," he said.

In the coming days, driving centres would be opened in rural areas on a large scale, he added.

The Minister further said that the government is planning to come up with intelligent traffic system across the country.

Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand and Delhi.

TMC activists staged a protest in front of Reserve Bank of India office here as well as the CBI office besides many places in the districts.

TMC leader and state minister Sobhandeb

Chattopadhyay told reporters here that the party chief instructed them to be on the streets until they achieve their goal.

"This is not the end of our agitation. More protest programme will be announced," he said.

Kejriwal alleges financial irregularities in corporations

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

PTI New Delhi, Jan 9 : Amid piling garbage on east Delhi roads due to the ongoing sanitation workers' strike, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today accused the MCD councillors of pocketing funds meant to pay salaries to the workers.

"BJP playing dirty politics with Delhi. Their council-

lors siphoned (off) funds meant for salaries of MCD employees and then throw garbage on Delhi roads," Kejriwal tweeted.

The chief minister's outburst came a day after the government announced an advanced payment of Rs 119 crore to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC).

However, the unions of the agitating workers have described as "too little" the assistance offered by the government.

The BJP-ruled MCDs, on the other hand, have been demanding the implementation of the Fourth Finance Commission's recommendations that propose a greater share of revenue to the civic bodies.

The indefinite strike by sanitation workers of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, which entered its fourth day today, has left the trans-Yamuna region reeling under a garbage crisis.

East Delhi generates a large quantity of garbage, with the Ghazipur landfill site receiving 2,500 tonnes of waste on an average daily.

I'm SP chief, party symbol should stay with me: BJP leader moves EC, demands Mulayam to EC BSP be barred from fighting polls

Mulayam Singh Yadav.

PTI New Delhi, Jan 9 : Asserting that he remains Samajwadi Party president, Mulayam Singh Yadav today told the Election Commission that the convention called by Akhilesh Yadav camp was "unconstitutional" and that the party's electoral symbol of 'cycle' should remain with his camp.

Accompanied by his loyalists Amar Singh and Shivpal Singh Yadav, Mulayam also contested the affidavits of party leaders submitted by the party faction owing allegiance to his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Min-

ister, alleging they were forged and asked the EC to get them verified.

Party sources said he also told the EC that Ram Gopal Yadav, who had called the convention in which Akhilesh was made the party president, was expelled from the outfit before that and, therefore, the meeting was unconstitutional as per SP's constitution.

He also said that while there was a resolution appointing Akhilesh as party president and another one appointing him as its mentor, there was no resolution removing him from the party chief's post.

PTI Lucknow, Jan 9 : A BJP leader has moved the Election Commission against BSP chief Mayawati accusing her of seeking votes in the name of caste and demanded that her party be debarred from contesting elections.

BJP's UP executive member Neeraj Shankar Saxena moved a petition against Mayawati on Saturday demanding that her party be debarred from contesting polls and filing of FIR against her for "flouting" Supreme Court directives.

"Mayawati during her press conference on December 24 and January 3 presented caste-wise details of ticket distribution clearly stating that her party has given tickets to how many Muslims, backwards, SCs and others," Saxena told PTI.

BSP chief Mayawati.

Besides, her party men are distributing booklets titled "Muslim samaj ka sachcha hitaishi kaunfaisla aap karein" in all the constituencies, he claimed, adding this too was against the SC directives that votes cannot be sought on the basis of caste, community or language.

On January 3, Mayawati had said in a press conference that of the 403 seats, 85 are reserved

PTI New Delhi, Jan 9 : Continuing with the protest, TMC MPs today staged a demonstration here raising slogans against the Modi government's demonetisati on drive and arrest of party legislators in the alleged Rose Valley scam.

"We condemn conspiracy in the name of investigation and we condemn atrocities in the name of 'notebandi'," TMC leader Derek O'Brien told PTI as 34 Trinamool Congress MPs began the 'dharna' at South Avenue.

The sit-in in the national capital, which will continue till 6 PM, is part of TMC's

nation-wide protest against the Modi government.

Similar protest is being held today and will continue for three days in Bengal, Bhubaneswar, Punjab, Kishanganj, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand against the note ban and the suffering that is being caused to the people, according to a TMC statement.

TMC has intensified its protest against the Modi government's demon etisation drive after the arrest of party MPs Tapas Paul and Sudeep Bandopadhaya in the alleged Rose Valley chit fund scam.

PTI Muzaffarnagar, Jan 9 : Jat Reservation Action Committee chief Yashpal Singh has appealed to the people of Uttar Pradesh to not vote for BJP in the Assembly elections in February, claiming that the party failed to failed to fulfil his community's quota demands.

Singh made the remarks while addressing a rally here yesterday in which Jat leaders from leaders Haryana,

Delhi, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan were present.

He said that Jat voters will teach a lesson to BJP in the polls for not delivering on its promise in Haryana and the lives lost during the quota stir.

The committee's Punjab chief claimed that the voters would take revenge of Haryana in the Assembly polls starting February 11.

for the SCs and 87 tickets have been given to Dalits, 97 to Muslims, 106 to OBCs, 66 to Brahmins, 36 to Kshetriyas and 11 to Kayasthas, Vaishyas and Punjabis.

The SC in its ruling last week had said religion and caste cannot be used to seek votes and made it clear that religion has no role in the electoral process and that it is just a secular activity.

Srinagar-Jammu highway reopens after three days

TMC MPs on sitin in Delhi over demonetization

People will teach BJP lesson in UP polls: Jat leader West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

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Image for representational purpose.

PTI Srinagar, Jan 9 : The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only allweather road link connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, was today thrown open for traffic, three days after heavy snowfall had led to its closure.

"The national highway

has been thrown open for traffic after the road was cleared-off snow and debris left behind by landslides at few places," an official of the Traffic Department told PTI. He said while vehicles stranded due to the closure of road were allowed to proceed towards Srinagar yester-

day, fresh traffic was allowed to ply this morning.

"Traffic was allowed to ply on both ways on the highway," the official said.

Life was thrown out of gear in Kashmir Valley on Friday due to heavy snowfall which continued at some places till yesterday as well.

The season's heaviest snowfall had affected airtraffic at Srinagar airport here as well leading to suspension of flight operations for two days.

The air traffic resumed yesterday.

The snowfall along with rains led to landslides at few places along the highway which forced its closure.The snow and the debris were cleared-off yesterday following improvement in the weather.

Jawahar Bagh violence: Another round of probe from Jan 16 PTI Mathura, Jan 9 : The single-member judicial commission investigating the Jawahar Bagh episode, that left 29 dead in Mathura, will hold a fresh hearing from 16 to 24 January.

The commission's chief and former Allahabad High Court judge Mirza Imtiaz, and secretary

Pramod Kumar Goyal will arrive in Mathura on January 16, an official release said.

The commission has to submit a report in this connection to the Uttar Pradesh government on March 31.

Twenty-nine people - including then SP (City) Mukul Dwivedi and Station House Officer

(Farah) Santosh Yadav were killed during clashes on June 2, 2016 between police and the supporters of cult leader Ram Vriksh Yadav who had encroached upon the 270-acre Jawahar Bagh, a government land.

The probe commission was formed on June 6 and its tenure has been extended thrice.

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

FM cites higher tax mop up to dismiss economic slowdown fears PTI New Delhi, Jan 9 : Dismissing concerns of slowdown due to demonetisation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said both direct and indirect tax collections have shown robust increase during the AprilDecember period, indicating uptick in economic activity including manufacturing.

He said direct tax collection was up 12.01 per cent at Rs 5.53 lakh crore in April-December 2016 as compared to revenue in the year-ago period, while indirect tax receipts soared 25 per cent to Rs 6.30 lakh crore.

Giving the break-up, he said excise collection was up 43 per cent at Rs 2.79 lakh crore, while service tax rose 23.9 per cent to Rs 1.83 lakh crore in the first nine months of the current fiscal. Customs duty receipts were up 4.1 per cent at Rs 1.67 lakh crore.

Indirect tax collection in December was up 14.2 per cent year-on-year, he said.

During the month, which witnessed the

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. demonetisation process, the excise collection was up 31.6 per cent, Jaitley said, adding that this category is directly linked to manufacturing.

Service tax receipts in December were also up 12.4 per cent. Customs revenue dipped 6.3 per cent as gold imports came down.

"Tax collection data is real and not an estimation," Jaitley said, while dismissing apprehensions of slowdown in following currency squeeze post demonetisation.

When compared with tax collections in November,

indirect tax receipts in December 2016 were up 12.8 per cent, he said.

"Since there has been a considerable debate in the public space as to the impact of currency squeeze in the months of November and December, the data of these two months becomes relevant," Jaitley said.

VAT collections in most states too have shown an increase and they also received taxes in the old currency in November.

"In my opinion, all well administered states have seen rise in VAT collection even in November," he said.

Demonetisation just a bump; India to maintain 7% growth: Cisco PTI Jaipur, Jan 9 : Describing demonetisation as only a "bump", Cisco Executive Chairman John Chambers today said India is well-positioned to maintain GDP growth rate of over 7 per cent for the next few years and it should be a "top ally" for the US in the Asia Pacific region.

Allaying fears that the new Trump administration could make policy decisions that adversely impact the Indian IT companies, he said: "I think India should be our top ally in Asia Pacific. And the two countries have so much in common, including being the largest and most powerful democracies. I am optimistic."

Chambers, who also dons the hat of USIBC Chairman, is leading one of the largest delegations of US

businesses at the 8th Vibrant Gujarat to be held later this week.

Asked if a sudden policy change like demonetisation had adversely impacted the way foreign businesses view India, he said: "If there is one GDP in this world I would bet on, it's India and this (demonetisation) will be a bump... Very few people in the financial world say this isn't the right thing to do. What it basically does is, it builds a foundation for every citizen in this country to participate truly in a digital world.

"Does it bother me? It's actually reverse... I know that innovation by definition is disruptive and uncomfortable and there are bumps. I think the country (India) is moving remarkably fast and it's moving with a strategy

Sensex gains 24 points on positive Asian cues

iPhone turns 10 today, Tim Cook says the best is yet to come

iPhone turns 10 today, Tim Cook says the best is yet to come.

New Delhi, Jan 9 : "Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone,'Steve Jobs told the crowd at Macworld on January 9, 2007, "and here it is', said Jobs pulling out the first iPhone to show the audience. iPhones celebrate its 9th anniversary of what the company calls the 'gold standard' for smartphones iPhone. iPhones had revolutionised phones with three products in one - "a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revo-

lutionary mobile phone and a breakthrough internet communications device."

Apple has sold over one billion units of iphones since the first launch, which has been the key driver of Apple sales so far. "iPhone is an essential part of our customers' lives, and today more than ever it is redefining the way we communicate, entertain, work and live," said Tim Cook. "iPhone set the standard for mobile computing in its first

decade and we are just getting started. The best is yet to come, Cook added."

Apple has released several iPhone models:iPhone 7,iPhone 7 Plus,iPhone SE, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 4S, iPhone 3 and more. "iPhone is how we make voice and FaceTime calls, how we shoot and share Live Photos and 4K videos, how we listen to streaming music, how we use social media, how we play games, how we get directions and find new places, how we pay for things, how we surf the web, do email, manage our contacts and calendars, how we listen to podcasts, watch TV, movies and sports, and how we manage our fitness and health. iPhone has become all of these things and more. And I believe we are just getting started", said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

PAC can call PM on cash ban if RBI's reply not satisfactory PTI New Delhi, Jan 9 : The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament can call Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of demonetisation if it is not satisfied with the answers given by top finance ministry officials and the RBI Governor Urjit Patel, to whom a detailed questionnaire has been sent.

A PAC meeting on this issue has been called on January 20th, in which the RBI Governor Urjit Patel, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das will be present.

"We have not yet received answers for the questions we have sent to them. They will reply few days before the January 20th meeting. Their replies will be discussed in detail," PAC Chairman and senior Congress leader K V Thomas told PTI. Asked if the PAC would call the Prime Minister if replies were not satisfactory, he said: "The committee has all right to call anybody involved in the matter. But that will depend on the outcome of the January 20th meeting. We can call PM on demonetisation issue if members unanimously decide."

In a meeting with the PM after demonetisation announcement made on November 8, Thomas said, "I had met him and he said that the situation will be normal after 50 days by Decem-

Image for representational purpose.

PTI Mumbai, Jan 9 : The benchmark BSE Sensex rose around 24 points in opening trade on Monday as investors made selective buying in blue chip stocks amid a better trend in other Asian bourses.

The 30-share index, which had lost 119.01 points in the previous session, recovered 23.86 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 26,783.09, with metal, capital goods, FMCG, PSU, banking and oil&gas stocks leading the recovery.

The NSE Nifty also rose by 19.20 points, or 0.23 per cent, at 8,263.

Brokers said, besides a better trend at other Asian bourses which were tracking a strong lead from New York where two of the three main indexes closed at record high on Friday, se-

lective buying by domestic institutional investors and retail investors influenced the sentiment.

Meanwhile, the country's GDP growth is estimated to slow down to 7.1 per cent in the current fiscal, from 7.6 per cent in 2015-16, mainly due to slump in manufacturing, mining and construction sectors, the government data released on Friday showed, without factoring in 'volatile' postdemonetisation figures.

Among other Asian markets, Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.26 per cent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.02 per cent. Japanese financial markets are closed on Monday for a public holiday.

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.32 per cent higher in Friday's trade.

Rupee again breaches 68-mark, sheds 24 paise

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ber-end. But it does not looks like."

So, PAC decided to call the top officials involved in the decision making process this month, he said, adding that the demonetisation has impacted the country's economy.

"The PM is misleading the country to satisfy his ego. He is trying to justify his wrong decisions. He has done in a callous manner by introducing Rs 2,000 notes," he said.

"In a country where there is a call drop problem and telecom facilities are not smooth, how can PM expect e-transactions would take place on mobiles.

Do we have sufficient infrastructure?" he questioned.

Asked what kind of question-

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naire been sent to the RBI chief and top finance ministry officials, Thomas said that the PAC has raised questions on all aspects of demonetisation.

Among key questions sought are, who were involved in the decision-making?, how much money has come back into banks after demonetisation?, is there a law that can restrict people's access their money?, how much money has been pumped back into the system?, if black money issue has been addressed and the impact on the economy and poor?.

The PAC, which scrutinises the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), takes suo motu note of the important matters.

Munbai, Jan 9 : The rupee again broke below the 68-mark by depreciating 24 paise to trade at 68.20 against the dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange, due to increased demand for the American unit from importers and banks.

Moreover, sustained capital outflows and dollar's strength against some other currencies overseas also weighed on the local unit but a higher opening

in the domestic equity market limited the rupee's fall, forex dealers said.

The rupee had closed steady at 67.96 against the US dollar on Friday amid renewed selling in the domestic equity against the backdrop of sustained capital outflows.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex recovered by 23.86 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 26,783.09 in early trade.

Image for representational purpose.

Image for representational purpose. and vision," he added.

On the government's digital push and growth of Indian economy, Chambers said Internet will facilitate 3-5 times the economic impact at a much faster pace seen previously.

"A year from now your GDP will be stronger dramatically because of the

changes. And you are the envy of the world...

I think GDP growth is sustainable at 7 per cent...this is not PM's goal...but I think above 7, and it is not out of the question to be 8, 9 or 10," he said.

India, Chambers added, used to be known as a slow follower but now it

is getting known as a fast innovator.

Cisco and BPM major Genpact have unveiled the Global Center of Excellence in the city as part of the US-based firms Lighthouse City project.

Hosted and operated in Genpacts facility in Jaipur, the centre will serve as an innovation lab for Genpact and its partnering technology firms to rapidly test and deploy the latest smart technology advances from Cisco to help it become a fully responsive, smart and connected city.

Cisco has identified Jaipur as the first smart and connected Lighthouse City in South Asia in addition to cities in other regions, including Hamburg (Germany), Barcelona (Spain) and Adelaide (Australia).

'Jaipur next destination for startups after Bengaluru' PTI Jaipur, Jan 9 : Projecting Rajasthan on growth trajectory, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today said the state capital is emerging as the next destination for startups for which the government is providing supporting environment.

"Bangalore (now Bengaluru) is a great place for startups but Jaipur is next place for startups. Incubation center which supports startups is now in the policy of the government of Rajasthan," Raje said.

"We are making Rajasthan strong, aggressive and a progressive state. Women are our new strength and they are going to unleash new energy," she said, while asking all stakeholders to work together.

She was speaking at a programme here organised by Cisco which has collaborated with the state government to train girls in information and communication technology (ICT).

Cisco announced a series of initiatives under its Jaipur Lighthouse City programme initiative to help accelerate the digital transformation of the state.

Chief Minister Vasundhara.

"Digitisation opens up unprecedented opportunities for every country, state and city. The impact of digitisation is all encompassing citizen-centric services for enhanced quality of life, smart secure communities, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital skills and education for all," John Chambers, Executive Chairman of Cisco said.

"The digitisation will bring many benefits to the state and its citizens," he said.

The CM further highlighting the importance of the collaboration said, such partnerships and relations are significant in the era of cut-throat competition.

"Cisco has partnered with six cities in the country and with this collaboration,

Jaipur can become the lighthouse not only in the country but in the south Asia," she told reporters after the programme.

The networking giant also announced video-enabled digital classrooms in women colleges to cover 10,000 women students over one year, both in rural and urban areas in the state which will facilitate training and development of IT skills.

As part of its 'Connected Learning' initiative, Cisco in collaboration with the State Institute of Education Management And Training (SIEMAT) has deployed virtual classrooms across 12 institutes in the state to provide training through digital classrooms.

250 Indian IT firms to showcase products at Hyderabad event PTI Dubai, Jan 9 : An IT event where over 250 Indian firms will showcase their products to foreign buyers will be held in Hyderabad next month, an Indian export promotion body hosting the flagship show said here.

The 17th edition of Indiasoft, the flagship IT event of Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) will be held in Hyderabad from February 13-14 and is expected to attract over 400 foreign buyers.

Close to 250 Indian ICT firms of various sizes will display their products and solutions at the event, according to a statement released by ESC here.

This premier IT show,

being held in different cities every year and is supported by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

"The show will have several new facets keeping in view the focus laid by the government to usher in a digital revolution in the country. Also, care has been taken to align the IT capabilities of the nascent state of Telengana with the focus of the show so as to enable the IT companies in the state to display their products and solutions to gain a foothold in the export market," Kamal Vachani, regional director of ESC for the Middle East, said.

"Keeping in tune with the focus laid down by the government for promoting startups in the digital

domain, we expect a lot of small and mid-size companies to participate at the show to familiarize themselves with the requirements of the foreign buyers," said Deepak Sareen, Executive Director, ESC. According to him, ICT landscape globally is undergoing a change and Indian IT scenario would have to adapt to the changing needs of the overseas clients.

ESC is hosting a large delegation from Middle East at INDIASOFT 2017.

"We expect that this year's show will have more business focus on account of the radical changes taking place across the world for digitisation and gradual penetration of internet," Sareen said.

DIBRUGARH, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

Singapore demands return of army vehicles from HK AFP Singapore, Jan 9 : Singapore today demanded the immediate return of nine armoured troop carriers impounded

by Hong Kong while in transit from Taiwan, calling the seizure illegal under international law.

The November seizure of the Terrex vehicles by Hong Kong customs has triggered a row also involving China, which has sovereignty over Hong Kong and considers Taiwan a renegade island awaiting reunification.

The vehicles were being shipped home from military exercises in Taiwan, where land-starved Singapore has for decades trained its troops.

Following the seizure China lodged a diplomatic protest with Singapore over its military cooperation with the island.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said Singapore had repeatedly told the Hong Kong government that the vehicles and other equipment "belong to the government of Singapore and are therefore immune from any measures of constraint.

"Accordingly we have requested the Hong Kong authorities to return our

Singapore demands return of army vehicles from HK.

property immediately," he told parliament.

The vehicles are protected by sovereign immunity even if shipped by commercial carriers, Ng said.

"They cannot legally be detained or confiscated by other countries."

Ng said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had written to Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung on the issue, and Hong Kong authorities had replied that the investigation would take time.

Hong Kong seized a total of 12 containers, saying they carried "suspected controlled items".

The Singapore military has reviewed its shipping procedures to ensure its equipment will not be "taken hostage en route"

in the future, Ng added.

Ties between China and Singapore are already strained over Singapore's perceived support for Southeast Asian nations disputing China's extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea. A 1974 agreement allows Singaporean troops to train in Taiwan alongside Taipei's forces, and it sends up to 15,000 troops a year to the island.

Hong Kong is semi-autonomous after being handed back by Britain to China in 1997 and enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland, but there are increasing fears over Beijing's interference. China controls foreign affairs issues under the 1997 agreement.

Clinton will never run for office again: aide

Hillary Clinton.

PTI Washington, Jan 9 : Hillary Clinton will not run for any elected office again after losing to Donald Trump in the US Presidential polls, her Indian-American aide Neera Tanden has said amid reports that the former secretary of state could run for the post of New York Mayor.

"I think she's going to figure out ways to help kids and families. That's been what she's been focused on her whole life, and a lot of issues that are affecting them, over the next couple of years," Tanden told CNN.

"But I don't expect her to ever run for any elected office again," she said.

Tanden, a close ally of 69-year-old former secretary of state and the head of the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, was responding to an article in New York Times that Clinton could run against incumbent New York mayor Bill de Blasio.

"I don't expect her to run for this and I don't expect her to run for other office," Tanden said yesterday.

"I think her job is to -what she's thinking about

right now is how to help those kids and families as she has her whole life," she said.

If Clinton were to run -and win -- it would put her on another collision course with PresidentElect Donald Trump, who has been shaping his government from Fifth Avenue's Trump Tower, the report said.

Clinton has largely remained out of the public eye since losing a bitterly fought campaign against the former reality star and businessman in the November vote.

She has given few clues to what her next role will be, leaving a void in which speculation has run rife.

A New York challenge would see her take on fellow Democrat de Blasio, whose popularity has plummeted since he took over from Michael Bloomberg in 2014. The next mayoral election is in November.

Clinton was most recently seen on Sunday at the final performance of the "The Color Purple," on Broadway with her husband, Bill, and daughter, Chelsea.

US, North Korea trade warnings over potential ICBM test AP Pyongyang, Jan 9 : With Donald Trump getting ready to take office as president, North Korea is talking about launching a newly perfected intercontinental ballistic missile.

Officials in Washington are saying that if Pyongyang launches anything that threatens the territory of the US or its allies, it will be shot down.

North Korea has not explicitly said it will conduct an ICBM test in the immediate future, and it is safe to assume US policy has always been to shoot down any missiles that threaten its territory.

But the recent barb trading could suggest Pyongyang and Washington are feeling each other out ahead of Presidentelect Trump's inauguration on January 20.

A successful ICBM

launch would be a major step forward for North Korea and a serious concern to Washington and its allies. Kim Jong Un announced in his annual New Year's address that the country had reached the "final stages" of ICBM development.

Trump himself responded with a tweet two days later, saying the possibility of the North developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching the US "won't happen!"

Upping the ante, the state's KCNA news agency quoted a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying yesterday that Pyongyang reserves the right to conduct a test whenever it sees fit.

"The ICBM will be launched anytime and anywhere determined by the supreme headquar-

President-elect's son-inlaw.

The talks covered foreign policy issues and will have helped prepare for May's visit to the White House which is expected next month, the report said.

Today, Johnson will meet Congressional leaders in Washington, including Speaker Paul Ryan, Senator Bob Corker and Senator Mitch McConnell.

"Following the successful meeting last month between the prime minister's chiefs of staff and President-elect Donald Trump's team, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is undertaking a short visit to the US for meetings with close ad-

Baghdad, Jan 9 : A senior Iraqi military commander says special forces battling the Islamic State group in Mosul have reached the Tigris River, pushing deeper in the eastern part of the militantheld city.

Lt. Gen. Abdul-Amir R a s h e e d Ya r A l l a h said in a statement late Sunday that it's the first time the Iraqi forces have made it to the riverbank since the military operation began in mid-October.

The operation, backed

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. visers to the Presidentelect and senior congressional leaders," a spokesman for Johnson's office said.

"The discussions will be

US, North Korea trade warnings over potential ICBM test. ters of the DPRK," the unnamed spokesman was quoted as saying.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Also yesterday, on "Meet the Press," US Defense Secretary Ash Carter called the North's missile and nuclear weapons development a "serious

threat." .

He said the US military would shoot down any missiles launched by the North that appeared to be headed toward American territory or the territory of any US allies.

Beyond the rhetoric, however, the KCNA report suggested Pyongyang is hoping Trump will take a new

approach toward relations.

Throughout his tenure, Obama followed a policy of "strategic patience," which essentially focused on punitive sanctions while ruling out any significant talks or contacts until North Korea made the first move toward denuclearisation.

The KCNA report slammed US Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for saying last week that sanctions must be maintained to keep the pressure on Pyongyang.

"Anyone who wants to deal with the DPRK would be well advised to secure a new way of thinking after having a clear understanding of it," KCNA quoted the foreign ministry official as saying.

Iraqi troops I and Trump 'opposites reach bank of in some ways': Obama Tigris River in battle for Mosul

by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, has also taken out all five bridges over the Tigris in Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city He says troops now control the area and the eastern bank of one of the bridges.

Fighting resumed last month after a twoweek lull due to stiff IS resistance and bad weather. Since then, Iraqi forces have recaptured new areas in the city's eastern half.

Boris Johnson meets Trump team in US PTI New York, Jan 9 : British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has met Donald Trump's close advisers and congressional leaders here in the first formal meeting between a UK minister and the President-elect's team.

Johnson, a former mayor of London who had campaigned for Brexit, held talks with senior members of Trump's team yesterday as part of building ties with the incoming US administration, Financial Times reported.

He met Trump's inner team including chief strategist Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, the

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focused on UK-US relations and other foreign policy matters," CNN reported.

Johnson, a member of the UK's Conservative Party,

may find Trump's team more in line with his views and style than that of US President Barack Obama.

In the run-up to the November 8 US presidential elections, the British Foreign Secretary had defended Trump from criticism in Europe.

Trump said earlier this weekend that Theresa May, who became British Prime Minister after the resignation of David Cameron in the wake of the Brexit vote, would visit him in the coming months.

"I look very much forward to meeting Prime Minister Theresa May in Washington in the Spring.

Britain, a longtime U.S. ally, is very special!" Trump has tweeted.

Donald Trump and US President Barack.

PTI Washington, Jan 9 : In rare praise for Donald Trump, US President Barack Obama has said the President-elect is "very engaging and gregarious" and not lacking in confidence but acknowledged that they were "opposites in some ways".

"He is somebody who I think is very engaging and gregarious. I have enjoyed the conversations that we have had.

He is somebody who I think is not lacking in confidence," Obama said.

"You have to have enough craziness to think that you can do the job. I think that he has not spent a lot of time sweating the details of, all the policies that I think that can be both a strength and a weakness. I think it depends on how he approaches it.

"If it gives him fresh eyes, then that can be valuable.

But it also requires you knowing what you do not know and putting in place people who do have the

kinds of experience and background and knowledge that can inform good decision- making. I think it is fair to say that he and I are sort of opposites in some ways," Obama said.

After the November 8 general elections, Obama and Trump have had several talks over phone after their first meeting at the Oval Office days after the elections.

"The conversations have been cordial. He has been open to suggestions. The main thing that I have tried to transmit is that there is a difference between governing and campaigning, so that what he has to appreciate is, as soon as you walk into this office after you have been sworn in, you are now in charge of the largest organisation on earth," Obama told ABC News.

"You cannot manage it the way you would manage a family business.

You cannot manage it the way you would manage a Senate office as I was a senator before I be-

came president and so you have to have a strong team around you. You have to have respect for institutions and the process to make good decisions because you are inherently reliant on other folks.

"So when I talked to him about our intelligence agencies, what I have said to him is that there are going to be times where you have got raw intelligence that comes in and, in my experience over eight years the intelligence community is pretty good about saying.

Look, we cannot say for certain what this means," the US President said.

He said that "there are going to be times where the only way you can make a good decision is if you have confidence that the process is working and the people that you put in charge are giving you their very best assessments".

Not lacking in confidence, Obama said, is probably a prerequisite for the job.

Priyanka Chopra opts for golden outfit at the Globes PTI Los Angeles, Jan 9 : Priyanka Chopra marked her debut at Golden Globe Awards on a glittering note by choosing a "hand-embroidered" golden Ralph Lauren gown with a plunging neckline for the event.

The 34-year-old "Quantico" actress teamed the outfit with a statement neck piece.

Priyanka, who normally opts for a clean hairdo, took a chance by leaving her hair open. She, however, stuck to her trademark bold lips.

"Collection gold, one-of-akind hand-embroidered evening dress.

Priyanka Chopra. #GoldenGlobes," read a post on Ralph Lauren's official Twitter page.

The actress took to stage along

with Jeffrey Dean Morgan at the Golden Globes to present an award to Billy Bob Thornton.

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Lionel Messi.

New Delhi, Jan 9 : The Liga giants have prioritised Wednesday's Copa del Rey game against Athletic Bilbao over the event in Zurich, with Cristiano Ronaldo tipped to beat the Argentine Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez and their Barcelona team-mates will NOT be attending Monday's FIFA's 'The Best' awards ceremony.

Messi is one of three finalists for the 'Best Player' award, joining Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann and favourite and current Ballon d'Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo on the shortlist.

Neymar, Suarez and Andres Iniesta were

named among the other 21 candidates late last year, but all four have not travelled to Switzerland due to their commitments ahead of facing Athletic on Wednesday.

An official club statement said: "With the aim of prioritising the preparation of Wednesday's match against Athletic Club, FC Barcelona has decided that players recognised for 'The Best' FIFA Awards, held this afternoon in Zurich, will not attend.

"Barcelona is thankful to FIFA and the president Gianni Infantino, but they consider important the game against Athletic Club and they

want their players to rest."

Luis Enrique, originally shortlisted for the 'Best Coach' award before the final three of Claudio Ranieri, Fernando Santos and Zinedine Zidane was announced, will also not attend.

In their place, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, vice-president Jordi Mestre and other board members such as Silvio Elias and Oscar Grau, Albert Soler, Robert Fernandez and Raul Sanllehi will travel.

Barcelona trail Athletic 2-1 in their Copa del Rey tie, with the second leg taking place at Camp Nou.

Gionee signs up Virat Kohli as brand ambassador their strength of retail representatives to 20,000.

Arvind R Vohra, Country CEO, Gionee India, said, "India is one of the fastest growing young economies in the world and Gionee takes immense pride in having India's biggest youth icons Virat Kohli and Alia Bhatt as its brand endorsers. With the two of the most loved icons in India our motto of Making Smiles is bound to create a new benchmark across billions of young hearts."

Virat Kohli Mumbai, Jan 9 : Smartphone brand Gionee has named Virat Kohli, captain of the Indian cricket team, as their new brand ambassador.

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Kohli will soon be seen in the upcoming campaign of Gionee, and will also be actively involved in a host of innovative marketing and customer experience initiatives of the brand.

Earlier Gionee had

roped in actor Alia Bhatt as its brand ambassador and Kohli will be joining her in helping the brand to amplify its presence in India.

Gionee, operating through its two manufacturing units in India, claims of clocking 1.20 crore customers in India. It has set an ambitious target of 2.5 times growth in 2017. For the same, it will be establishing 500 brand stores in India along with doubling

Kohli added, "I play my game with dignity and passion and apply the same rule in choosing my partnerships.

Gionee comes across as a brand that is fueled by passion, determination and focus to innovate and perform and with all of this have its heart in the right place by giving back to society. Thus, I feel and believe that this association will go a long way. I am very excited to start this journey with Gionee."

Gujarat chasing history against mighty Mumbai Indore, Jan 9 : A gritty Gujarat eyeing their maiden title will pose a stiff challenge for record champions Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy final, beginning at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Tuesday.

Both Mumbai and Gujarat go into the title clash in high spirits, having overcome a fighting Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand respectively in the semifinals.

While 41 times champions Mumbai are expected to last the distance, it will be a stern test of character for Gujarat who are in their first final in 66 years with the baggage of never winning the prestigious domestic trophy.

However, Gujarat have given enough signs that they are a team improving gradually, having won the Vijay Hazare last season and Syed Mushtaq Ali in 2012-13.

If Gujarat can display the same courage and determination that got them out out of the woods earlier in the tournament, they have a fair chance of stopping defending champions Mumbai from pocketing another title.

The Parthiv Patel led side has already suffered a blow with their frontline pacer Jasprit Bumrah being unavailable for the big game due to national duty. The 23-year-old needs to be in Pune ahead of the first ODI against England on January 15.

Bumrah alongside veteran pacer R P Singh were the stand out bowlers in the semifinal against Jharkhand. His career-best six for 29 in

Gujarat chasing history against mighty Mumbai the second innings paved the way for a 123-run victory after Gujarat had conceded the first innings lead.

In Bumrah's absence, Mehul Patel, who has taken six wickets in three matches this season, is expected to share the workload with RP Singh and Rush Kalaria.

There will also be an air of familiarity when the teams meet tomorrow as they had faced each other in the group stage.

Gujarat walked away from that game in Hubbali in November with a psychological win as they took the all important first innings lead by bowling out Mumbai for 422 in response to

their first innings total of 437.

The game also saw Gujarat opener and tournament's leading scorer Priyank Kirit Panchal score his first double hundred of the season. He ended up amassing 314 in the following game and his tournament tally now stands at 1270 runs at a staggering average of 97.69.

It goes without saying his performance will be pivotal to Gujarat's chances in the final.

Panchal will be expected to give his team another good start alongside in-form opener Samit Gohel, who has slammed close

ICC T20 Rankings: Kane Williamson joins Virat Kohli as 2nd batsman in Top 5 of all formats

Kane Williamson joins Virat Kohli as 2nd batsman in Top 5 of all formats New Delhi, Jan 9 : After the conclusion of New Zealand - Bangladesh T20 series, ICC revealed the latest T20 rankings as New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has become the second batsman after Indian skipper Virat Kohli to feature in the top-five of the ICC rankings for all three formats by climbing to fourth in the latest Twenty20 list.

Williamson led his side to a 3-0 win over visiting Bangladesh, scoring 73 not out, 12 and 60 to finish with a series aggregate of 145 runs. For this consistency, he has been rewarded with a jump of

two places which has put him in fourth position.

Williamson already occupies positions in the topfive of Tests and ODIs. He sits in fourth place in the Test rankings, while he is ranked fifth in ODI rankings.

Kohli is the only other batsman in the world who presently features in the top five of all three formats. He is the numberone ranked batsman in T20Is, second-ranked in ODIs and ranked number-two in Tests.

Interestingly, both Kohli and Williamson captained their respective sides in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup

2008 in Malaysia. India won the tournament when they defeated South Africa by 12 runs (DLS method).

Also, in the bowlers' standings, South Africa's Imran Tahir continued to lead the charts ahead of India's Jasprit Bumrah.

Meanwhile, New Zealand have retained their status as the number-one ranked T20I side. For their 30 success, they have earned one point which has lifted them to 129 points. India are currently placed second in the list.

to 900 runs this season at 68.38 including a record breaking 359 not out against Odisha in the quarterfinals.

Another batsman who has made telling contribution to Gujarat's rise is Manpreet Juneja, having collected 628 runs in nine matches at 48.30. His 81 in the second innings against Jharkhand came under severe pressure after his team was in a spot of bother.

While Gujarat have overcome testing times enroute to the final, the Mumbai team too is in a good space after the sixwicket win against Tamil Nadu.

Mumbai have been hit by injuries through the season

but their solid bench strength has stepped up and taken them this far in the competition.

Drafting in teenager Prtihvi Shaw for the crucial semifinal proved to be a masterstroke as the opener repaid the faith with a 120 off 175 balls in the second innings on his firstclass debut.

It was thanks to his class and calmness that belied his age, Mumbai overcame a tricky 251-run target with little difficulty on the fifth and final day.

The batting load so far in the season has shared by Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Aditya Tare. Their leading wickettaker with 27 wickets has been left-arm spinner Vijay Gohil.

Australian Open 2017: South Africa's Kevin Anderson withdraws after failing to recover from injury Paris, Jan 9 : South Africa`s Kevin Anderson withdrew from the Australian Open on Sunday after failing to recover from injury, the 30-yearold announced on Twitter.

Anderson, a former world number 10 who is now down at 67 after suffering ankle and shoulder injuries in 2016, hasn`t played since October, when he lost in the first round at Vienna.

"Unfortunately I have just made the very tough decision to withdraw from the Australian Open. I am really sad to miss one of

my favourite events each season," wrote the 2.03m (6ft 8in) player who is South Africa`s only player in the top 100.

"I am still recovering from an injury sustained last year but things are looking much better and I will be back in competition soon."

Anderson reached the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The season`s first Grand Slam event of 2017 gets under way in Melbourne on January 16.

South Africa`s Kevin Anderson

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Upbeat Melbourne Stars look to trip Adelaide Strikers

Stars' think-tank will hope for Pietersen to scorch the MCG with his batting prowess.

Sydney, Jan 9 : After stumbling to a gutwrenching last-ball defeat against Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Stars turned around their ebbing fortunes with a 46-run win against Melbourne Renegades at the Docklands. Now, Stars will look to build on the convincing win against Renegades when they take on Adelaide Strikers at the hallowed turf of Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday (January 10) in the Big Bash League 2016-17.

With 22 runs required off seven, and five off the final ball, Eoin Morgan transformed a futile situation by thumping Ben Hilfenhaus for a six to carry Thunder to a heartstopping win against Stars. Stars, who could only eke out 20 runs in their last five overs against Thunder, rectified their mistakes with a fine all-round show against Renegades and posted.a

Swedish court convicts coach of Ibrahimovic doping slander Stocholm, Jan 9 : A Swedish court on Monday convicted a former national athletics coach of slandering football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic by suggesting he took steroids when he played for Italian club Juventus in 20042006.

During a public debate on doping in April, Ulf Karlsson hinted at drug use when he said the striker had "put on 10 kilos (22 pounds) of muscle mass ... in one year."

Karlsson had pleaded innocent to slander, but the Karlstad court found in favour of Ibrahimovic, ruling that the remarks had been damaging to the player's reputation.

Karlsson was ordered to pay a fine of 24,000 kronor (2,500 euros, $2,645).

"Even if his remarks do not contain a direct accusation that Zlatan Ibrahimovic had taken steroids, the court finds that these remarks, given the context in which they were made, cannot be taken any other way than to give the impression that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would have taken steroids during his time at Juventus," the court wrote in its verdict.

The much-travelled Ibrahimovic, 35, also played for clubs including Ajax, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before joining Manchester United last July.

well-earned victory.

Kevin Pietersen played with a touch of poise and imagination to crunch a 46-ball 73 against Renegades, while Adam Zampa and Micheal Beer shared six spoils between them. The Stars' think-tank will hope for Pietersen to scorch the MCG with his batting prowess. Rob Quiney and Luke Wright, too, can serve up a dose of pyrotechnics and the duo has been in fine form this season.

On the bowling front, Zampa has been the heart and soul of the Stars' set-up. In the recent past, he has shown time and again that he can withstand onslaughts and pick up wickets. Unfortunately for Stars, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner and Zampa won't be available for the Twenty20 fixture as the trio has been selected to play for Australia against Pakistan in a five-match

One-Day International series.

On a positive note, Peter Handscomb returns to T20 action with his Test commitments for Australia coming to an end for the home summer. Ben Hilfenhaus suffered at the hands of Morgan during the nerve-shredding game against Thunder.

However, he has chipped in with wickets at crucial stages of the tournament to pick up six scalps so far.

Just like Stars, Strikers too are struck in the midtable muddle. Both teams have four points each, but Stars have played one match less and have a superior net run-rate of +0.844 compared to Strikers' -0.138. As a result, they slot in at No. 4 on the table with Strikers taking the sixth place.

Brad Hodge, the captain of the side, will cast his eyes on another clinical show after they posted a comfortable five-wicket

win against Hobart Hurricanes in their last match.

In the batting department, Hodge has continued to show an admirable measure of nuance and deliberation with the willow.

Ben Dunk, on the other hand, has landed the big blows, evidenced by his 49-ball 79 in the game against Hurricanes. However, other than the duo, only Jake Weatherald has notched up a fifty. Now, that is a cause for concern for Strikers.

The visitors will certainly hope that Kieron Pollard, the sturdy all-rounder, will lift his game for the crucial tie. With a wide range of power-packed shots as the centerpiece of his methods, Pollard could make a telling difference to the side's fortunes.

Chris Jordan (nine) and Billy Stanlake (six) have been the chief wicket-takers for them. Stanlake, the towering giant, has troubled the batsmen with pace and bounce. His impressive show for Strikers helped him earn a maiden call-up into the Australian ODI set-up. Hence, he won't be available for Tuesday's game. In his absence, the onus will be on Ben Laughlin to provide the breakthroughs. To make matters worse for the Strikers, Jordan is set to miss the game due to a hamstring issue.

When: Melbourne Stars vs Adelaide Strikers, 22nd Match, January 10, at 07:40 PM Local Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Team News: Melbourne Stars: Liam Bowe, the bespectacled 19-year-old left-arm legspinner spinner, middle-order batsman Handscomb, former Renegades pacer Gannon and Seb Gotch make it to set-

up. Gotch, the middle-order batsman, has played only five List A games.

However, he has been a consistent run-getter for the Victorian Premier Cricket Club.

Adelaide Strikers: With Travis Head, Jordan and Stanlake missing from action, Tim Ludeman, Wes Agar and Ish Sodhi have been drafted into the unit by the Strikers.

What they said: "Jordan has a left hamstring strain which occurred during the Hurricanes match," said Strikers' Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager John Porter. "We are working with the England cricket team support staff to manage Jordan's fitness to ensure that he will be fit for their T20 series against India beginning January 26."

Squads: Melbourne Stars: Luke Wright, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen, Rob Quiney, David Hussey(c), James Faulkner, Sam Harper(w), Adam Zampa, Ben Hilfenhaus, Scott Boland, Michael Beer, Seb Gotch, Evan Gulbis, Peter Handscomb, Jackson Coleman, Marcus Stoinis, Tom Triffitt, Daniel Worrall Adelaide Strikers: Jake Weatherald, Brad Hodge(c), Ben Dunk(w), Jonathon Dean, Travis Head, Kieron Pollard, Chris Jordan, Tom Andrews, Ben Laughlin, Billy Stanlake, Liam O'Connor, Michael Neser, Jake Lehmann, Alex Carey, Wes Agar, Kelvin Smith, Craig Simmons, Kane Richardson, Adil Rashid, Tim Ludeman, Jon Holland.

Ashwin bowled only leg spin to Steve Smith at nets, says Zampa

"I don't think he (Ashwin) wants to give too much away," Zampa said.

Sydney, Jan 9 : Promising Aussie leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who is eyeing a place in the national cricket team for the four-Test tour to India, has revealed that World No. 1 Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin likes to keep the secrets of his trade under wraps.

The 24-year-old Zampa, who shared the dressing room with Ashwin and his national team captain Steve Smith during last year's Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Rising Pune Supergiants, said the Chennai offspinner bowled only leg spin to Smith at the nets.

"I think the way Ashwin bowled in the nets, you ask someone like Smithy

(Smith) or guys that you can tell he's going to come up against in international cricket. I think there was one net session to Smithy where he just bowled leggies for an hour," Zampa was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"I don't think he (Ashwin) wants to give too much away," the leggie added.

Zampa, who has often been compared with legendary leg-spinner and current India coach Anil Kumble for bowling quicker through the air instead of relying on spin and guile, isn't perturbed by the criticism.

"I know a lot of people say 'he doesn't spin the

ball enough' and all that junk. I don't really see a difference if the ball goes under the bat, over the bat or next to the bat," he said.

"People have a lot of criticism on that side of my game but there's other ways of taking wicket than being a big spinner of the ball."

"A lot of people have been talking about my firstclass statistics and all those things, but if I was given the opportunity, the way I bowled in Sri Lanka particularly and I know it's Twenty20 cricket but during the IPL, the respect I've gained from those countries and the players now I think I would suit that role," he added.

Dhoni's captaincy swansong; Yuvraj, Nehra in focus too

Thanks to HIL, I can pay university fees, says Aus forward

Thanks to HIL, I can pay university fees, says Aus forward.

New Delhi, Jan 9 : Hockey India League (HIL) has been a financial boon to the players world over and is set to change the life of Australian forward Tom Craig, who intends to pay for his university fees with earnings from the upcoming event.

"That amount of money makes a massive difference to any hockey player,

you'd think. Certainly, for me, I appreciate the opportunity that the HIL brings as far as professionalizing the game, and this money will most likely go straight towards my university fees," said Craig, who was bought by the Kalinga Lancers for USD 67,000.

Craig's ability to counter-attack is top notch and hockey lovers will get to see his de-

lightful skills at the HIL beginning on January 21.

"I remember watching on TV when the first series of HIL was played, and absolutely loved it," says Craig, who made his debut for the Australian men's team in 2014 for the Test Series against India.

"Most young Australian hockey players have plenty of interest in the HIL, and I am no exception. It's such an

exciting tournament and I cannot wait to be involved.

India is a fantastic country and the crowds are brilliant.

There's so much to look forward to," stated the 21-yearold ahead of his debut season.

Craig will be part of the Kalinga Lancers which is led by legendary German hockey star Moritz Fuerste. He will also have fellow Australians Glenn Turner, Matthew Dawson, Andrew Charter and Aran Zalewski joining him in the Lancers' camp.

For Craig, playing against his own teammates will be most exciting during the league. He says, "Every team has a wealth of unbelievable talent, but I would have to say I love playing against my Australian teammates the most, so I'm looking forward to that."

Ahead of a challenging season for his home team Australia, Craig feels his exposure will mean that he goes back with some valuable lessons. "This season hopefully exposes me a bit more to the world's best players, which will be such a valuable learning opportunity. We start the season fairly hard with the international team so a good few months in India playing good hockey will, with any luck, leave me sharper than what I would be without it," Craig added.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

PTI Mumbai, Jan 9 : His stellar reign as India's national skipper is over but Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have captain written against his name one last time when the talismanic wicketkeeper-batsman leads out India 'A' against England in the first practice match here tomorrow.

Dhoni took the cricketing world by surprise when he announced his decision to step down from leadership last week, giving Virat Kohli the reins of captaincy in all three formats of the game.

However, he would be leading India A in the first of two warm-up games scheduled for the tourists at the Brabourne Stadium.

But the match itself is expected to be watched by just a handful of spectators as heavy police presence is expected to keep away the fans.

The game is being held under the cloud of the Supreme Court's sacking of the top BCCI President Anurag Thakur and Sec-

retary Ajay Shirke, making most of the senior functionaries of the body ineligible to cling to their posts.

While there have been reports of the disgruntled and ousted Board officials trying to persuade some BCCI-affiliated units from hosting games of the England tour, CCI has decided to go ahead and conduct both the warm-up games in right earnest.

As such there is no immediate threat to tomorrow's first day/night warm-up game as well as the second game featuring another India A squad to be led by Ajinkya Rahane on January 12 which is to be held as a day game.

The focus on the first game will be not only on Dhoni but also on recalled limited over specialists -Yuvraj Singh and Ashish Nehra -- who were both members of the triumphant squad led by the Ranchi superstar that regained the 50-over World Cup in 2011.

This is the first and last competitive game all these

three ageing stalwarts will have before the six-match, 3 ODIs and 3 T20s, limited-overs series between India and England commencing on January 15 at Pune.

While Dhoni and Yuvraj have been included for both the ODI and T20 International series, Nehra has found himself back in only the T20 squad.

All three players have had a lengthy break from cricket going into the warm-up match against the Eoin Morgan-led England squad.

The injury-prone 37-yearold Nehra has not played during the entire domestic season so far for Delhi, and thus will be keen to get quickly into the groove and also assess his match fitness.

The 35-year-old Yuvraj last played for India in t h e Wo r l d T 2 0 i n Mar ch 2016 and has not played ODIs since December 2013, losing his place in the 50-over game after averaging just 18.53 in his last 19 matches.

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Editor: Prahlad Hammey

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