Wednesday, 11 january 2017

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ASSENG/2015/64205

Vol. II

ANSAM PRESIDENT, 2 OTHERS PULLED UP, FREED

Issue 172

Dibrugarh, Wednesday, January 11, 2017

The world at a crossroads

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Price -

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked this morning by Arunachal Pradesh Government and NDDB in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein

Taking advantage of its participation in the ongoing Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2017, Arunachal Pradesh is all set to kick-start a 'White Revolution' in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) based at Anand, Gujarat. NDDB was set up in 1965 with the basic objective of replicating the famous Amul model throughout the country.

After a fruitful meeting with NDDB officials at Anand, about 100 kms from Ahmedabad, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked this morning by Arunachal Pradesh Government and NDDB in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.

While Chief Secretary Shakuntala D Gamlin signed on behalf of the state government, NDDB was represented by its Chairman Dilip Rath. Also present during the signing ceremony were Parliamentary Secretary P D Sona, Principal Secretary Satyagopal and Secretary to CM Sonam Chombay.

As per the MoU, NDDB will conduct a survey/study related to milk production and consumption and identify areas

ET CAPSULES Imoinu Festival celebrated with fervour across Manipur ANI Imphal, Jan. 10 : Carrying the legacy of Indian culture forward, traditional worship of Imoinu, believed to be the deity of wealth among the Meetei ethnic, is widely performed every year across the state with much fanfare.

The yearly festival falls on Wakchingi Tarainithoini Panba of Meitei lunar calendar.

The festival is marked by lighting candles and putting colourful lights in and around households, in front of establishments and along the streets.

Offerings are made to Goddess Emoinu including vegetables, fruits, and sweets.

All the Meitei households in the state are kept neat and clean during the festival.

RBI says it recommended demonetisation of Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes on government's 'advice' New Delhi, Jan 10 : Contrary to popular belief, it was the government which had "advised" the Reserve Bank to junk Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 7 and the board of the central bank the very next day recommended the demonetisation.

In a 7-page note to Parliament's DepartmentRelated Committee of Finance headed by Congress leader M Veerappa Moily,

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Contd. on Page 3

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked this morning by Arunachal Pradesh Government and NDDB in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein. of intervention in Arunachal Pradesh. Based on the survey, the Board will prepare a comprehensive five-year dairy development plan and provide technical support to establish fair and transparent milk procurement system for milk producers of the state.

NDDB will also provide technical support in terms of establishment of dairy infrastructure, cattle feed and mineral mixture plant etc besides providing training and capacity building of farmers, executives, farmers, leaders, supervisors, dairy technicians, etc.

Mineral mapping of the state will also be done to find out the status of mineral deficiency

in soil and based on that the Board will formulate composition of area specific mineral mixture.

NDDB began its operations with the mission of making dairying a vehicle to a better future for millions of grassroots milk producers. The mission achieved thrust and direction with the launching of "Operation Flood", a programme extending over 26 years and which used World Bank loan to finance India's emergence as the world's largest milk producing nation.

Operation Flood's third phase was completed in 1996 and has to its credit a number of significant achievements.

The Anand model of Amul

fame, adopted by NDDB, has been immensely successful as it involves people in their own development through cooperatives where professionals are accountable to leaders elected by producers. The institutional infrastructure -- village cooperative, dairy and cattle feed plants, state and national marketing -- is owned and controlled by farmers. Anand Pattern cooperatives have progressively, linked producers directly with consumers.

In another significant development, the state government signed another MoU with the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC),

As per the MoU, NDDB will conduct a survey/study related to milk production and consumption and identify areas of intervention in Arunachal Pradesh. Based on the survey, the Board will prepare a comprehensive five-year dairy development plan and provide technical support to establish fair and transparent milk procurement system for milk producers of the state.

Government of Gujarat, as a part of the Investment Promotion Activity for Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2017.

With an objective to encourage commercial and economic cooperation between both the states, the MoU paves way for the GIDC to facilitate Department of Industries, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, to obtain necessary permissions, registrations, approvals, clearances, etc from concerned departments of Gujarat as per existing policies, rules and regulations of the state government.

Unfair distribution of CGI Sheets alleged; BDO Bordumsa clarified, terms allegations as manipulated Laxman Sharma Bordumsa, Jan 10

Following the uploading of some photographs and videos depicting the distribution of CGI Sheets to a section of local beneficiaries on a recent evening after 4 pm from the Block Office Go-down in social Medias by the activists of All Bordumsa Singpho Students Union (ABSSU), Diwan Gamlin the Block development Officer of Bordumsa who was the In charge of the ADC Bordumsa reacted here this morning terming the act as 'manipulated' and informed that 'all was well and carried out in the interest

of the beneficiaries'.

Mr Gamlin told that CGI Sheets were being distributed to the BPL beneficiaries of various rural pockets of Bordumsa Circle and on recent evening sheets were being dispatched to the valid beneficiaries from the official site.

According to him, local youth of the area entered the premises and tried to obstruct the employees and the beneficiaries in the proceedings on the ground of suspicion, took snapshots and videos and uploaded in the social media to malign his image. Briefing the entire incident as 'valid, legal and fair' Mr Gamlin told that he would call for the explanation to this

effect and may prosecute the perpetrators as per law governing defamation and IT Act. When asked about the nature of scheme, time protocol set for the distribution of governmental materials, Mr Gamlin told that disbursement of goods and services to the people under government schemes is always governed by set deadline within which the benefits to the beneficiaries must reach for effective, efficient and quick realizations of the objectives.

Meanwhile, the activists of the ABSSU told this reporter here this afternoon that concerned material was being

collected under the candle light after 4 pm from the office godown and to ensure transparency they inquired the employees and one Umakanta Sawasi of Kusumpatherr village regarding the disbursement and time of the event at which none could answer as expected. According to Ongla Umbon, everyone has the right to know the source, destinations and the nature of the schemes being implemented and the distrusting agency to ensure that the materials under the government schemes reach the beneficiaries without any prejudice.

Contd. on Page 3

Manipur lad breaks world record in Limbo Skating Chandrakala Choudhary New Delhi, Jan. 10 (ANI)

height of 30 cm from ground level and with one meter gap between the cones.

Tiluck Keisam, an 8-yearold boy from Manipur, has set a benchmark by achieving a world record in farthest distance in Limbo Skating under bar at Siri fort stadium in New Delhi.

Tiluck is a class III student of Bluebells School International in Delhi, and has been skating since 2013. He has won nearly 75 medals in several competitions. Besides, placing his name in the Limca Book Records, Tiluck is also a Guinness book of world record holder.

The child prodigy, currently,

He covered 145 meters in 41 seconds with cones under the bars which were set at the

is the farthest distance Limbo Skater under bars in the world.

Tiluck exprssing his happiness said that finally he broke the world record.

Tiluck’s father, Ricky Keisam, feeling proud of his child said that he always told his son to give his best and keep on trying till he suceeds.

Tiluck’s coach, Rohtash Dinodia, said that he is very talented and we are giving him

enough training so that he can give his best in the world skating.

We also want him to represent India in the Asian Games, he added.

The little wonder has a gruelling training regime and practises for seven hours daily.

Tiluck was also adjudged as the overall best Limbo Skater for the year 2014-15.

Pages- 12

PAGE 12

Wild elephants trample man to death at Margherita

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Arunachal Pradesh all set to kick-start a ‘white revolution’ ET Bureau Ahmedabad, Jan 10

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Paklu Taipodia from Arunachal crowned as Eastern India Miss Fitness-2017 A Staff Reporter Nagoan, Jan 10

Arunachal Pradesh has won its maiden championship title through Paklu Taipodia, who beat all her competitors in the women's division to be crowned as Eastern India Miss Fitness-2017.

Taipodia won the gold medal for the state at the 7th Eastern India Bodybuilding Championship held at Nagaon Assam on January 8 last.

Weightlifter turned bodybuilder Taiopodia is born to Marpak Taipodia and Mippu Taipodia of Lika village of Likhabali, West Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh.

Competing at the 7th Eastern India Bodybuilding Championship, Taipodia outshined the participants of 12 states of Eastern India, which included Odhisa, Jharkand, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura.

Ahead of this achievement, she attained 5th position at the Senior National Bodybuilding Championship-2016 and was state champion-2016 in the women's division.

Taipodia won the gold medal for the state at the 7th Eastern India Bodybuilding Championship held at Nagaon Assam on January 8 last.

Meanwhile, Hora Malik, chairman of the Sports Authority of Arunachal, Dani Salu Secretary, Sports and

Youth affairs and Techi Jovae president of Arunachal Bodybuilding Association congratulated Taipodia for her wonderful achievement.

ABVP protests against hoisting of Pakistani flag in Dibrugarh A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Jan 10

District unit of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today took out a Tiranga rally in protest against the anti- nationalist activities in Dibrugarh. Seventy feet Tiranga (Indian Flag) was designed for the rally which started from DHSK Commerce College. Around two hundred activists holding banners participated in the protest rally and shouted 'Bharat Mata Ki Jay'.

A memorandum was submitted to Chief Minister through Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh seeking stringent punishment against the culprits.

"Its un constitutional and anti-national act and we would not tolerate Pakistani flag hoisted in Indian land. We demand for proper inquiry and stringent action against the anti-nationals,'' said Shiva Rajak, ex-state Joint secretary of ABVP. He added it's a plan of separatist group and antinationals to divide India. "We condemned such act and urge

the police department to act quickly and nab the culprits who were involved in such anti-national act,'' he said.

Soilen Gogoi, ABVP State President and Ram Kinkar Mahanta, 'Think India' State Convener participated in the rally.

On Sunday, Pakistani national flag was found hoisted atop a bamboo pole in Amargaguri Chapori on the Brahmaputra River bed and other two black banners were also found from the same place.

Demography, democracy, demand are India's strengths: PM Modi at Vibrant Gujarat Summit ET Bureau Gandhinagar, Jan 10

India's strength lies in demography, democracy, and demand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, inaugurating the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit here.

Calling 'democracy' India's biggest strength, the Prime Minister said, "Some people say democracy cannot deliver effective and fast track governance, but we have seen in last two and a half years, it is possible to deliver quick results as well."

Extolling the success of the Make in India campaign as the biggest brand that India has ever had, PM Modi said, "We have become the sixth largest manufacturing country in the world."

PM Modi elaborated that the

NDA government was voted to power in 2014 to herald a change in the malpractices of the previous regimes.

"Our government was elected first and foremost on the promise to provide clean governance and end the prevailing regime of corruption and nepotism," he said.

The former chief minister of Gujarat then enlisted the ways in which the government has worked to further India's development.

"We're bringing a paradigm shift in India's polity and economy: from relation based governance to system based governance; from favouritism to level playing field; from informal to formal economy," PM Modi said.

Highlighting on the ease of doing business in India, PM

Modi said, "Every day, we're further rationalising our policies and procedures to make it simple for businesses to establish and grow. India is today among the most open economies."

Earlier today, the Prime Minister held bilateral talks with several heads of state and ministers who have converged here for the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

The 8th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit is being held here on January 10-13 with the central focus of "Sustainable Economic and Social Development".

This time, the state expects to receive investment proposals of more than Rs 25 lakh crore during the Summit, which was launched by PM Modi when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

P2 Aries Doubts about a friend's motives could plague you today, Aries.

This person seems to be acting strangely and isn't communicating. This probably has little if anything to do with you. This person has issues that he or she is having trouble with.

There are others who are in a better space whose company you will enjoy at this time. Get together and enjoy the amiable atmosphere.

Taurus A friend or family member might act strangely and seem distracted. You may wonder if he or she is upset with you.

This probably isn't the case. This person has issues that need attention. Allow them some space. A romantic partner might have to break a date tonight.

Gemini Too much reading might have you experiencing eyestrain and possibly headaches, Gemini. It might help to have your eyes checked, but it's probably just too much stress. You might have some trouble focusing on whatever work you do today, but this is only a temporary condition. You should be back to your normal self tomorrow. Stay home tonight, listen to music, and take it easy.

Cancer Doubts about business and financial matters might weigh on your mind now, Cancer, so much so that they invade your dreams. The dreams are only a reflection of your worries - they aren't prophetic. Your situation is probably better than it seems on the surface. Lack of information clouds the issue. Check the facts and judge them for yourself before making yourself crazy.

Leo A scheduling conflict may come up today, Leo. A business engagement could interfere with a social event. You might doubt whether you can attend both, but if you plan carefully, it should be OK. Someone at home might not be communicative, which could cause a little worry.

Virgo Confusing communications could be the pattern for today, Virgo. Some paperwork you need to do for a task might be delayed - hung up in the mail or filed in the wrong place. It might take a while to locate it, but it should turn up eventually. There might be some strange messages for you, and you may not be sure whether or not you should return the calls.

Libra Today you could doubt the amount of money you might get from a business transaction. If you can, verify this before starting anything. You aren't being told something. Personal relationships, particularly love and romance, should be stable and rewarding now, although today you may not have much time to spend with those you care about. Hang in there.

Governor appeals all govt functionaries to render their best to stimulate development of Assam ET Bureau Guwahati, January 10: Governor of Assam Shri Banwarilal Purohit convened a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, Joint Police Commissioner and heads of different departments of Kamrup (Metropolitan) District and took stock of the development works along with prevailing law and order situation in the District at Circuit house in the city today.

Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (M) Dr. M. Angamuthu drew the attention of the Governor of different development projects being undertaken in the district.

GMC Commissioner Sanjiv Gogain Barua gave a detailed overview of GMC’s activities especially the steps it has undertaken for garbage disposal.

The Governor asked the GMC Commissioner to see to the viability and formulate a scientific plan for garbage disposal so that garbages can be converted into useful energy.

Joint Commissioner of Police, Satyen Gogoi briefed the Governor on law and order situation and different steps that the city police have been undertaking to keep the crime graph at the lowest ebb. The General Manager

of BSNL, Sandeep Govil apprised the Governor of the ongoing and upcoming projects under BSNL to ensure a seamless communication system in the city.

Shri Purohit said, “After assuming gubernatorial post, I have been taking keen interests to stimulate development of Assam and therefore intended to meet all the officers to get first hand information of the state.” He also urged upon the officers to work for the benefit of the needy and be punctual at their office and maintain total transparency in the professional and personal life.

Pointing out to the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the Governor said that under his dynamic leadership the State is marching ahead and will script an era of development for all sections of the people. He also sought cooperation from all the officers and staff to help the government bring about much desired development in the State.

The meeting also took a pledge on Swachhata Abhiyan and vowed to undertake all possible measures to ensure cleanliness in and around the city.

NSD like school Wild elephants of drama to be trample man to death at Margherita set up in Assam PTI Guwahati, Jan 10 : Assam government has decided to establish a state school of drama on the lines of National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, state Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said here today.

"The government will establish a state school of drama on the lines of National School of Drama to provide proper training to young artistes where they can hone their dramatic skills," Sonowal said.

Dead body of Dhan Bahadur Tamang who was trampled to death by Wild Elephants today Powai Bangaon Photo send by Mithun Baruah from Margherita Mithun Baruah Margherita, Jan 10: One Dhan Bahadur Tamang(60) of Powai Bangaon was today trampled to death by a Group of Wild Elephants when he went to collect firewoods from a nearby forest. Powai Bangaon falls under Digboi Forest Division of Margherita Forest Range office. The inciden triggered tension at Margherita Region and people blames the Forest Department of inactiveness towards their duty. The family members of the deceased have demanded Rs 5 Lakhs compensation from the forest department.

28th Road Safety Week 2017 Celebrated at DHSK College A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh Jan 9 : Along with the rest of India, the 28th Road Safety Week 2017 is also observed in Assam from 9th to 15th January, 2017. In Dibrugarh, Road Safety Week was organized at DHSK College, Dibrugarh by the District Road Safety Committee, Dibrugarh in association with the Dibrugarh District Journalists Association and Information and Career Guidance Cell of DHSK College. The slogan for this year's Road Safety Week is "Your safety secures your family.

Please be caution on road". The program started with a welcome address by the Principal of DHSK College Dr Sashikanta Saikia. The Principal outlined that due to increase in road accidents in India it's high time that we understand the gravity of the situation and urged the student community to abide by the road safety rules.

He also thanked the Dibrugarh District Journalist Association for organizing this important program in the

college. Mr. Sayod Rafikul Mannan the District Transport Officer, Dibrugarh spoke in detail about the history of the celebration of Road Safety Week and asked the students to spread road safety message to their fellow countrymen. He said that the pedestrians have got the maximum rights on our streets. Mr. Sanjiv Baruah, Traffic Police Inspector, Dibrugarh Sadar Police Station also spoke on the occasion and outlined the dos and don'ts as far as road safety is concerned. Mr Baruah also answered to queries raised by students and teachers along with other invitees in a very lively interactive session.

Mr Jyotirmoy Hazarika, Working President of Dibrugarh District Journalist Association also spoke on the occasion. He said that we need to change our mindset as far as road safety is concerned. He cited example of south-east Asian countries where pedestrians are given due importance on

the streets. Mr Iqbal Ahmed, Member, RTA Board, Dibrugarh while speaking on the occasion said if the youths of our country while driving vehicles can keep their adrenaline in check then the number of accidents will come down significantly. Mr Ahmed however said that frequency of street accidents in Assam is relatively less than other states in India.

Other dignitaries who were present on the occasion include Mr. Debangshu Dutta MVI, Dibrugarh, Mr Ramesh Shyam and Mr Mujibur Rahman Enforcement Inspector, Dibrugarh, Mr. Muktamoni Hazarika Assistant General Secretary, DDJA, Mr. Manjit Borah Ex General Secretary, DDJA, Mr. Mrinal Kumar Baruah Ex Member, DDJA among others. The program was hosted by Mr. Ratan Hazarika General Secretary, DDJA and the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr Bhaskar Das Coordinator, Information and Career Guidance Cell, DHSK College.

Scorpio

You might get a lot of mixed messages from friends, relatives, and colleagues, Sagittarius. They may say one thing while you sense that they mean something else. Insist on hearing how they really feel. This can prevent a lot of resentment later. New businesses could open in your neighborhood that you might want to check out.

Aquarius Some unsettling news about your work situation might reach you today and make you worried, Aquarius. You might question your future in this field and possibly consider a change. Consider it, by all means, but this isn't the day to make a final decision of any kind. Wait until you're in a more secure frame of mind.

Pisces You're a logical person, Pisces. When insights come to you through ESP, you tend to doubt their validity. Don't do this. If a feeling is particularly strong, go with it.

Don't write it off because it seems illogical. Life isn't always predictable. If you give yourself permission, you can trust your intuition about nearly anything.

He pointed out that Assams Vaishnava saint Srimanta Sankardeva had used the medium of drama to propagate his message of unity and harmony in society and theatre activists of today must take inspiration from his ideals.

He handed over a cheque of Rs three lakh to Assam Natya Sanmilan (ANS) and announced that a land would be allotted to it for setting up its permanent office at Guwahati.

Orientation Program held ET Correspondent Golaghat, Jan 10 : One day Orientation Program on Teaching Learning and Evaluation was held in Don Bosco College Golaghat today . In the program Dean of Patkai Christian College Nagaland Dr Ranjan Kumar Behera was present as a resource person who interacted with the faculty members in his own style and suggested measures to adopt new technology and skills for better perspective of the students.

Naharani Army Camp inaugurates Toilet Blocks

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Addressing the closing ceremony of the 55th session of Assam Natya Sanmilan in Tinsukia, Sonowal said, "Theatre is an important art form that reflects the

Artistes serve as the voice of people and society and the government was committed to protect their interests, the Chief Minister said.

In the program Father Jose Palely , Father Matthew C Paul M. Arch were also present . It was a well organised program .

Business transactions that could take place in your home or perhaps involve the home might seem a bit unclear today, Scorpio. Before agreeing to anything, read the fine print and verify all the facts about what you're signing.

Use your intuition. It's very high at this time. Family members might be confused about events in their lives, but they'll get over it.

Today you might not feel secure about your financial situation, Capricorn, and get a little nervous. Disconcerting information in the news about the general state of the world economy might have planted some unsettling seeds in your mind. On the whole, you should be pretty financially stable now, and this trend is likely to continue. Check out the facts before giving in to panic.

The NSD is an autonomous theatre training institute under the Ministry of Culture.

strengths and weaknesses of society and the young generation must be inspired to take up this art and make meaningful contribution to the society through it."

Students are offered free books by the MLA, Kamakhya Prasad here at a function at Jorhat.

Photo by Nekib Ahmed.

Bikul Bikash Gogoi Tinkhong, Jan 9: Naharani Army Camp as a part of Operation Sadbhavana, under the aegis of Dao Division has inaugurated 4 X Toilet Blocks with Water Supply at Tinkhong Higher Secondary School, Tinkhong, under Dibrugarh District. It may be noted

under Operation Sadhbavana the Indian Army from time to time organises population friendly activities such as medical camp, awareness campaign against drugs addiction, motivating youths to join Army and Government jobs, infrastructure improvement and other

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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

Governor wishes Sarok Greetings ET Bureau Itanagar, Jan 10: The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh V. Shanmuganathan extended his warm greetings to the people of the State on the festive occasion of Sarok. He expressed his hope that the festivity will usher in peace and harmony for all and good harvest in the year ahead.

On this joyous occasion, I join my Aka brethren in offering our prayers to Almighty to bless each one of us with his choicest blessings, the Governor said in his message.

Pema Khandu extends festival greetings ET Bureau Itanagar, Jan 10: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has greeted the people of Arunachal on the auspicious occasion of Sarok festival.

Extending his warm wishes particularly to the Aka community, Khandu hoped that Sarok festival would bring prosperity, happiness and strengthen the communal ties in the state.

While calling for preserving the rich cultural heritage, CM called the elders to pass on the age-old traditions to the younger generation to maintain its continuity.

P3

AINJCEU calls off proposed bandh Bhalukpong, Jan 10 : The proposed bandh called by the Arunachal Indigenous NEEPCO Job Contract Employees’ Union (AINJCEU) scheduled from January 12 onwards has been called off following the intervention of Parliamentary Secretary (PHE & WS) Kumsi Sidisow.

A meeting to this effect was held at Bhalukpong today, in which executive members of the Aka Elite Society, agitating employees’ union leaders and Sidisow, who is also the local MLA, unanimously decided to call off the proposed strike.

Sidisow informed that under his persuasion and support of West Kameng Deputy Commissioner Dr Sonal Swaroop, the NEEPCO authorities have assured to consider the demands of the agitating employees

the locality have to be sorted out in the greater interest of the locals of the area as was incorporated in the MoU. These employees are working since the land agreement and construction way back in 2004 with meager payments, and therefore these employees need to be regularised to have job security”, Sidisow added.

within the next three weeks.

Accordingly, he has requested the union leaders of NEEPCO employees to reconsider their democratic movement till then.

Talking to reporters, Sidisow said that the problems of the agitating NEEPCO employees are genuine and so are the demands of the 20 employees working on con-

ET Bureau Itanagar, Jan 10 : In another case of racial attack, a youth from Arunachal Pradesh was admitted to NIMHANS hospital in Bengaluru in a critical condition after being attacked by miscreants on January 7.

Khuadun Khangham, who is from Ozakho village in Kanubari sub-division of Longding district, was admitted to hospital at 1.30 am on the fateful day, said Kanubari MLA Gabriel Denwang Wangsu.

"Initially, it was presumed to be a case of hit-andrun. However, after a series of enquiries, it has been confirmed that the nature of injuries was not

of any accident but a planned racial attack," added Wangsu.

Khangham (25) was working at a restaurant in Bengaluru.

Wangsu informed Delhi Police IGP Robin Hibu, requesting him to initiate necessary action and communicate with Karnataka Police. "After initial investigation, it is emerging that Khangham was thrown out of a running vehicle," Wangsu said, quoting policemen from Bangalore. He said according to Karnataka Police, it was a case of assault.

Chief minister Pema Khandu has been requested to speak to his

Bangalore Bangalore counterpart, Wangsu said. He added that students of the northeast in Bengaluru will meet the DGP on Monday.

Arunachal DGP Sandeep Goel has informed the commissioner of police of Bengaluru who immediately directed additional commissioner of police Hemant Nimbalkar to look into the matter, the MLA said. Police in Bengaluru have promised proper investigation into the case.

Wangsu has appealed to people of the state to extend financial assistance to Khangham who, belongs to a poor family, to continue his treatment.

on behalf of the state government, NDDB was represented by its Chairman Dilip Rath.

dairy infrastructure, cattle feed and mineral mixture plant besides providing training and capacity building of farmers, dairy technicians and others.

Mineral mapping of the state would also be done to

find out the status of mineral deficiency in soil and based on that NDDB would formulate composition of area specific mineral mixture, the release said. While Chief Secretary Shakuntala D Gamlin signed the MoU

The state government signed another MoU with the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), as part of the investment promotion activity for Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2017. With a view to encouraging economic cooperation between the two states, the MoU paves way for the GIDC to facilitate Arunachal Pradesh Industries Department to obtain permissions, registrations, approvals and clearances from departments of Gujarat as per existing policies, rules and regulations of the state government, the release added.

Unfair distribution of CGI Sheets alleged; BDO Bordumsa clarified, terms allegations as manipulated Contd. from Page 1

Terming 'transparency as the essence and pivotal parameter in all governmental sponsored socio-economic schemes' Sindunong Singpho the Chairperson Bordumsa

Anchal told who claimed to be unaware of the distribution of the sheets in is jurisdiction that day told that no one opposes the distribution but everyone has the right to information centering round the said anomalous episode. The benefits under the schemes

must be distributed uniformly and fairly maintaining total transparency to ensure effective administration of service to the people.

However, Umakanta Sawasi of Kusumpather village of Bordumsa Circle who had come to collect and

carry the said CGI Sheets on two mini vehicles had filed a complaint to the ADC Bordumsa narrating the entire episode thus demanding the administrative interference terming the online allegations on social media as baseless maligning his image.

RBI says it recommended demonetisation of Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes on government's 'advice' Contd. from Page 1

the RBI stated that the government had on November 7, 2016 "advised the Reserve Bank that to mitigate the triple problems of counterfeiting, terrorist financing and black money, the Central Board of the Reserve Bank may consider withdrawal of the legal tender status of the notes in high denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000."

“The matter is pending for consideration since 2011 as the project is about to be commissioned later this year. Before commissioning the project, the problems of

“After the intervention of the local MLA and Deputy Commissioner, we have decided to call off the bandh for the next three weeks”, the general secretary added.

Arunachal youth attacked in Bengaluru

Arunachal inks pact with NDDB to boost dairy sector ET Bureau Itanagar, Jan 10 : Arunachal Pradesh today signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Dairy Development Board at Anand in Gujarat to kick-start a 'white revolution' in the state. As per the MoU signed in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, NDDB would conduct a survey related to milk production and consumption and identify areas of intervention in Arunachal Pradesh, an official release said here. Based on the survey, NDDB would prepare a five-year dairy development plan and provide technical support to the state to set up a milk procurement system. NDDB would also provide technical support in terms of establishment of

tract basis. These 20 employees are also the local land owners for the proposed 600 MW Kameng hydel project at Kimi, Bichom and Tenga dams.

AINJCEU general secretary Saden Yanjisow claimed that NEEPCO has been befooling them time and again. “We have been working on contract basis since 2004 with a meager wages and there is no job security despite assurances on 10 August, 2016 to consider our demand for job regularisation

by December 2016, which was neglected again”, Yanjisow said.

He also informed that the union had met Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijuju twice at New Delhi and were given assurances, but when the NEEPCO headquarter at Shillong was contacted, no line of progress was seen.

As the union had received no confirmation even after several attempts to pursue the case, the union claimed that it was left with no option but to go for an indefinite project bandh on 600 MW Kameng hydel project in West Kameng district from January 12 next.

The RBI's Central Board met the very next day to "consider the government's advice" and after "deliberations" decided to "recommend to Central Government that the legal tender status of the banknotes in the high denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 be withdrawn."

Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi met within hours of that recommendation on

November 8 and banned circulation of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes.

Some ministers have thus far maintained that the government had only acted on RBI recommendation of demonetisation.

In the note to the panel, the RBI said it had been in the last few years working on introduction of new series of banknotes with improved security features to secure them against counterfeiting.

In parallel, the government had been taking steps to curb black money and combat terrorism.

"There were reports by intelligence and enforcement agencies that availability of high denomination banknotes made it easier for black money hoarders and counterfeited notes in high denominations were being used for terrorist financing," the RBI said.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

'New Karbi outfit spreading tentacles' ET Bureau Guwahati, Jan 10 : At a time when majority of Karbi militant outfits are joining the peace process, People's Democratic Council of Karbi-Longri (PDCK) is trying to spread its tentacles in the hill district, said sources in Assam Police.

Believed to be formed recently under the guidance of NDFB's hardliner faction leader IK Songbijit, PDCK has reportedly launched a recruitment drive in the region.

Once under the shadow of militant outfits like United People's Democratic Solidarity, Dilip Nunisa faction of Dima Halim Daogah and the Jewel Garlosa faction of DHD, Karbi Anglong district witnessed 'winds of change' when these outfits either disbanded or joined peace talks. Many other outlawed groups like Karbi National Volunteers, Karbi People's Front and Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front, too, followed the same path over the years.

"Ever since the genocide of Adivasis in 2014, Songbijit got reportedly unpopular among the Bodos for his barbaric ways. Sidelined and pushed to Myanmar, the rebel leader formed PDCK with Karbi youths drawn from the NDFB faction," a source said.

Many Karbi youths were recruited in the NDFB(S) faction when Songbijit was heading it and police suspect that these youths helped him to form the new outfit.

Police alleged that Songbijit was trying to capitalize on the vacuum created by the ceasefire agreements.

"Songbijit is definitely trying to cash in on the vacuum. In the past, all Karbi insurgent outfits had the objective of securing statehood for the Karbis.

However, PDCK is talking about sovereignty. The outfit is backed by NSCN-K and Ulfa (Independent)," the source added.

Security sources said the insurgent group was raised in Myanmar in October last year. "Over 60 cadres under IK Songbijit, who headed PDCK, are in Myanmar training camps. The outfit, however, is trying to lure local youths," said another source.

Police are maintaining sharp vigil and are scrutinizing several suspected 'profiles' on various social networking sites.

"Songbijit has been using social networking sites to issue extortion notes to many while he was heading NDFB(S). We suspect a similar modus operandi is being used by PDCK," said a top police officer.

Artists are the backbones of the society: CM Sonowal ET Correspondent Guwahati, Jan 10 : Stating that drama is an important art form that reflects the strengths and weaknesses of the society, Chief Minister today said that young generation must be inspired to take up this art and make meaningful contribution to society through it. Taking part in the closing ceremony of the Assam Natya Sanmilan's 55th Tinsukia Session at Gopinath Bordoloi Playground here as the chief guest, Chief Minister Sonowal today said that the artists are the backbones of the society because they serve as the voice of conscience for the people and government is committed to protect their interests.

While handing out a cheque of Rs 3 lakh to Assam Natya Sanmilan, Chief Minister Sonowal announced that a plot of land would be allotted to Sanmilan for setting their permanent office at Guwahati which would augment the drama movement

Rangia Children rescued ET Correspondent Rangia Jan 10: Two children were rescued from Dibrugarh bound down Kamrup Express at Rangia Railway station on Tuesday evening by Railway Protec-

The Assam government yesterday through an executive order No HAD. 265/ 2011/79-A dated January 9, 2017 extended the term of the Executive Committee of Karbi Anglong Autono-

ET Correspondent Rangia Jan 10: Rangia Police with the help of Soalkuchi police nabbed 2 most notorious dacoit acting of tip off from Barjhar and Rangia. According to the police Dipankar Deka alies Tiklu was apprehended from Barjhar Guwahati and Tiklu alies Rekib Ali from Rangia. The operation was lead by Amar Ghosh TSI Rangia and Bhaskar Malla Patowary oc Soalkuchi. One 9mm pistol 2 live cartridges and one megzines were also recovered from their possession.

According to the police they were involved in the incident of snatching of Rs 1 lakh at Rangia Bhatkuchi on 22nd December 16 on the gun point. One Lohit Das, employee of Shuvam Oil co. was also injured seriously as the miscreants shoot at the employee.

They were also involved in various crime including highway robbery, truck dacoity and snatching of money on gun point in entire state. Police is interrogating them at Rangia police station for further information.

tion Force ( RPF) . The children were then handed over to the Child line Rangia branch.

The children were sent to Children home of Ulubari Guwahati

Minister Narendra Modi's motto of "Sabka Sath Sabka Vikash" Sonowal said that the government is committed to inclusive growth of the society where even the poorest of the poor is uplifted through honest service delivery and compassion.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the state in a big way.

Sonowal also informed that a State School of Drama in the lines of National School of Drama would be set up in the state so that a proper training to the young artists can be provided where they would be enabled to hone their dramatic skills. Stating that drama as an art form has robust reach which must be utilized to send out messages of harmony and unity, Sonowal announced that the government is going to institute an award in the name

of the doyen of Assamese drama Brajanath Sarma from next year to honour a personality who has contributed immensely to the field of Assamese drama. Government will also install a statue of the doyen at Sarbhog in Barpeta soon, the Chief Minister added.

Chief Minister Sonowal also said that today's modern world demands excellence in every sphere but for achieving excellence humanity cannot be allowed to lose out. Referring to Prime

Guwahati High Court keeps its ruling in abeyance on KAAC election Sushanta Roy Diphu January 10: Five year term of the present body of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous will be over on Friday and all hell has brake up since yesterday centering the issue, wheather election will be conducted in time or its occupancy will be extended by the authority . Assam State Election Commission has expressed its disability to conduct election in time on the other hand Governor of Assam who is the constitutional head of all autonomous councils of the state has extended the period of the KAAC; and to exacerbate the political scenario Guwahati High Court in response to a PIL case ordered the SEC to conduct election in time, however has reserved its final judgment till today.

Rangia 2 Notorious Dacoit nabbed

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mous Council for a period of six months with effect from January 13. The order has been given based on Governor’s powers conferred by Paragraph-1(6A) of Sixth Schedule to Constitution of India, extended the date of first sitting after completion of fresh poll to be conducted by State Election Commission, Assam whichever is earlier.

The extension came after the SEC expressed its indisposition to conduct election within January 13 as the final electoral roll could not be published on December 31, 2016. The government has extended the term of the present council led by CEM Tuliram Ronghang in the middle of protest from Congress and Hills State Democratic Council (HSDC).

Earlier the parties sought Governor’s interference for holding the election.

Beforehand on December 24, last the Division bench comprising Chief Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Manojit Bhuyan of Gauhati High Court issued notice to

Assam government and SEC show causing the authorities in this issue following a PIL filed by the Karbi Students Association, Student and Youth Council and individual, Bidyasingh Rongpi. Date of hearing of the case was fixed on January 4, 2017 which was later extended till January 10, but the Court agreed to receive an official declaration from Assam government and SEC on the matter today and kept in abeyance its judgment which was due today. It may be mentioned here that the KAAC has been administered by both elected Executive Committee or by a appointed administrator of the Assam Governor after expiry of its term in numerous occasion and in maximum cases when either Congress or ASDC (Autonomous State Demand Committee) was in power in present context it will be interesting to watch what the Court settles on, whether supersede SEC’s argument and Governors ruling or remains with its previous view.

Dr. Hira’s release Stolen Tipper truck demanded recovered, two arrested

Sushanta Roy Diphu January 10: Teachers, staff and students of Rukasen College, Bakaliaghat around 60 kilometer from here have damned the incident of kidnapping of Dr. Molan Chandra Hira the Principal of Thongnokbe College Dokmoka a neighboring locality on 5th January.

Dr.Hira is a senior educationist of the district, he has dedicated his best period of life for

augmentation of higher education in Karbi Anglong district, faculty teachers, students and employees of the college has demanded release of Dr. Hira on human ground unconditionally.

Meanwhile All Assam Students' Union Bakaliaghat unit has also condemned the whole occurrence and has appealed the government to take initiative for securing released Dr. Hira from the abductors.

Lessons in road safety for Kamrup-M students ET Bureau Guwahati, Jan 10: The Kamrup (Metro) district administration has decided to give road safety lessons to students of all schools and colleges in the district.

As part of Road Safety Week, deputy commissioner M Angamuthu met the headmasters and principals of educational institutes in the city on Monday.

"The target group of this year's Road Safety Week will be school and college/university students. To spread awareness on the issue, a meeting will be convened with the headmasters and principals in coordination with the inspector of schools to formulate an action plan and make a schedule for imparting road safety education to stu-

dents," said Angamuthu, who is also the chairman of the Regional Transport Authority.

The necessary resources will be provided by the state transport department and traffic police. Among others, around one lakh handbills containing basic road rules and safety norms written in Assamese and English will be distributed among students.

Angamuthu said road accident rate is highest among the age group of 17 to 35. That's why sensitizing students is very important, he added. He also asked PWD (roads) to identify the accident-prone areas and take necessary action. The district administration has also adopted special measures to curb drink-driving.

The Road Safety Week will continue till January 15.

ET Correspondent Bokajan, Jan 10: In a major crackdown, the Khatkhati police thwarted a bid to smuggle a stolen tipper truck in a regular checkpost over NH 39 along Assam Nagaland interstate border in East Karbi Anglong.

As reported, the police personnel manning the checkpost intercepted the vehicle moving towards Nagaland and on verifying the documents, the registration number was found fake. On further investigation, it was known that the vehicle was lifted from Bijay Nagar area of Guwahati and was brought for sale into the state of Nagaland. Two peraon viz.

Ajay Mahato and Nazrul Haque have been arrested in connection.

Interestingly, the Khatkhati police was looking for Ajay Mahato in connection with a car theft racket busted last year involving a elite businessman of Bokajan and recovery of 5 luxurious SUVs. on the other hand, Nazrul

Saying that the Assam has a glowing legacy in the field of drama left behind by doyens like Jyotiprasad Agarwala, Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Brajanath Sarma and Phani Sarma Chief Minsiter Sonowal urged the Assam Natya Sanmilan to revitalize the drama movement in the state and to depict the future idealistic Assam to the young generation of state through their art. Referring to Srimanta Sankardeva, the Chief Minister said that he used the medium of drama to propagate his messages of unity and harmony in the society and the present day dramaticians must take inspiration from his ideals.

Assam to look for investors at Gujarat Global Summit ET Bureau Guwahati, Jan 10 : Assam government in a bid to hunt to hunt for investors in the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit beginning next Monday to set up organic industrial units in the state.

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has deputed the state’s industry and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary to attend the summit and interact with prospective investors by highlighting Assam government’s policy of ease of doing business and other business-friendly measures adopted by the new government in the state in order to spur industrial growth.

Patowary has been asked to project Assam Government’s bid to facilitate sustainable long-term growth and inclusive development before the Summit.

Meanwhile, as part of the on-going initiative that the

State Government has been putting in to propagate the philosophy and teachings of Vaishnavite religious and cultural reformer Srimanta Sankardev especially at the national and international fora, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has announced a cash incentive of Rs. 50 lakh to Srimanta Sankardev Sanskritik Samaj at Bengaluru to set up a Namghar (prayer hall) 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 Sankardeva 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.

Platinum Jubilee festival of Lakhimpur Girls' HS School begins

ET Correspondent Lakhimpur; Jan 10: On the auspicious occasion of completing seventy five glorious years, the Platinum Jubilee of Lakhimpur Girls' Higher Secondary School has begun from today in a colorful and festive environment. Being a pioneer institution in expanding women education in the district the school has left no stone unturned in order to bring intellectual amelioration since the day of its foundation.

As a part of the three day long agenda of the program, Beena Dutta, the Principal cum Chief Secretary of the Reception Committee stamped a good beginning to the festival by unfurling the flag at 8am. Then the exstudents of the school

hoisted 75 flags as mark of completing 75 years.

It was followed by the inauguration of an iron gate donated by the exstudents of 1993 batch, the half statue of Lilawati Bordolai, one of the pioneer founder ladies of the school and Nirada Das Memorial Gate donated by her son Dr. JN Das. A colorful Cultural Procession was brought out at 11am and it was inaugurated by ASP Rashmi Rekha Sarmah. Cultural artist Megh Ranjani participated in the procession. In an another program held at 2pm, warm felicitation was given to those who were involved in the foundation of the school. A book releasing program was held at 2.30 pm. Bishwa Baruah, the Ex-Presi-

dent in charge of Asom Sahitya Sabha released a book written by Hiranya Dutta while Dr amiya Rajbonshi released a book by Geetanjali Gogoi. At 3.30pm, a symposium on " The Role of Woman Education in the Development of the Society was held in the 'Get To g e t h e r ' o f t h e gurdians. It was inaugurated by Inspector of School Mridul Kumar Bhuyan. Ex-Principal of Lakhimpur PGT College chaired the program in which Scientist Uddhav Bhorali, Principal of Lakhimpur DIET Gobin Borah and ExElementary Education Officer Jibon Dutta made effective discussion on the topic.

BSNL to connect 1500 gram panchayats ET Bureau Guwahati, Jan 10 : BSNL is planning to connect 1,518 gram panchayats with optical fibre cable (OFC) this year in Assam

Haque- a driver by profession have confessed his involvement stating that he was suppose to deliver the truck to a sema naga person of Dimapur in lieu of Rs 12000. Nazrul even revealed that he had earlier delivered a truck bearing registration number AS 01BC 6748 as per instruction of the owner Shymal Chakraborty who was unable to pay off his auto loan debts due to financial crisis.

It needs to be mentioned that the officer incharge of Khatkhati Police Station

Mr Dipak Bora have recovered a total of 28 stolen vehicles including imported SUVs, trucks and excavators among others since February 2016. The Khatkhati police checkpost incidentely happens to be the last police check into the state of Nagaland and has been functioning round the clock to put in place a visible policing machinery along this border. In addition, the checkpost has been keeping a tab on the movement of criminals and anti social elements since past 3 decades.

to ensure rural connectivity.

"We have emphasised on rural connectivity and 5,200 km 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," said BSNL chief general manager M K Seth.

Four held for attacking trader ET Bureau Guwahati, Jan 10 : Police on Monday arrested four persons for having fired at a trader in Jalukbari in December.

The four - Piyush Das, Balen Baishya, Jonali Rabha and Kuhilata Patgiri - were arrested

from Hatigaon, Bhetapara area for having shot at Jiten Kalita on NH-37 on December 17.

Kalita had survived.

Kalita, a mobile recharge service distributor, had been on his way back from Boragaon when six men on three motorcycles gheraoed him on the

highway and asked him to hand over his bag of cash.

"When he resisted, one of them shot a bullet at his right leg before fleeing. Kalita was carrying Rs 36,000 but the attackers could not take away the money," a policeman said.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

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BJP MLA hits back at Dy CM Bandh in Nagaland, IMPHAL, Jan 10 : Lone BJP MLA Thongam Bishwajit has stated that Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who is desperate for the post of Chief Minister has become hysterical.

Reacting to the Deputy Chief Minister’s different statements published in different sections of the media recently, Bishwajit told media persons at their Nityaipat Chuthek office today that Gaikhangam is one of the three Congress representatives who are desperate to take over the Chief Minister’s post.

But he is also aware that there would not be any more Congress Government in the State. That was why, he was mouthing a volume of blatant lies, said the BJP MLA. The massive recruitment drive carried out by the Congress Government was aimed at amassing huge amount of money for they know that they would not ever come back to power, Bishwajit said.

It was highly questionable whether the recruitment drives were carried out in the interest of public or in their personal interest.

Bishwajit who is also gen-

eral secretary of BJP Manipur Pradesh remarked that recruitment of candidate(s) who did not appear in written tests and selection of candidates who were close to Ministers have become the talk of the day.

The BJP MLA expressed strong suspicion that appointment orders were issued after the election model code of conduct had come into effect by manipulating the dates of issuing the appointment orders.

Reacting to the Deputy Chief Minister’s assertion

that it looked like the economic blockade was imposed at the instigation of BJP and NSCN-IM, Bishwajit rubbished the allegations.

Such unrelated statement was unbecoming of a veteran politician, he decried.

If Congress leaders are convinced that BJP has nexus with NSCN-IM, they must give evidence and if they cannot give evidence, they should keep quiet.

The BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre has already declared that blockades are illegal and uncon-

stitutional. The Central Government also sent a large number of Central forces to assist the State Government.

If the State Government cannot open the National Highways in spite of the large number of forces sent by the Central Government, they should step down, Bishwajit said.

Had the Congress leaders rushed to Delhi on the issue of the protracted economic blockade just as they did when they suspected something was coming from the Centre, people would

have certainly appreciated them.

It was rather disheartening that some Congress leaders were making irresponsible statements which only created confusion and division among the masses.

Bishwajit said that he and the BJP Manipur Pradesh president took part in the party’s National executive meeting held recently.

Informing that they also met many Central leaders, the BJP MLA stated that the Central Government was working hard to get the economic blockade lifted.

Meanwhile, a large number of trucks including oil tankers have reached Imphal from Jiribam.

While people have been standing in queues before oil pumps overnight for a few litres of fuel, the same is available abundantly in black markets. One need to investigate the origin of the fuel sold in black markets, Bishwajit continued.

While rejecting the assumption that the Central Government intended to defer the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly election, Bishwajit asserted that BJP is ready to fight the election tomorrow itself.

ANSAM president, 2 Recommendations others pulled up, freed of fifth pay panel likely by July

SENAPATI, Jan 10 : A highly volatile situation was witnessed in the whole of Senapati town today affecting normal life severely for a brief period following the detention of leaders of All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) by 34 Assam Rifles. They were released later but only after the furious Naga public intervened.

According to reports, at around 2 pm today, ANSAM president Seth Shatsang, finance secretary of the association Joseph Adani and executive secretary AC Thotso were ‘arrested’ by the Assam Rifles personnel fromTaphou area of Senapati town.

Reports said that volunteers of United Naga Council (UNC) and ANSAM were enforcing the economic blockade when the incident happened.

ANSAM president Seth Shatsang informed Newmai News Network that they had been noticing trucks with the label ‘On Army Duty’ plying along the highway which they realized later on that they were ‘fake’ labels.

These trucks often tail the

army convoy, Seth Shatsang further alleged. The ANSAM president clarified that military/army convoys do not come under the purview of the economic blockade. “However, we will not allow those trucks with fake labels,” he asserted.

On Monday at around 2 pm the economic blockade supporters halted some trucks traveling along with an army convoy. This had prompted the blockade supporters to examine those trucks. However, in no time the 34 Assam Rifles personnel came from Henbung post and whisked away the ANSAM leaders from the area.

On learning about the incident, Naga frontal organization leaders and the public rushed to the Henbung Assam Rifles post and intervened. The three ANSAM leaders were released shortly later.

Back in Senapati town, as the news of the detention of the ANSAM leaders spread, all the shops and other business establishments promptly closed. In no time, a large number of people gathered at the traf-

Shillong, Jan 10 : The fifth state pay commission may give its recommendations to revise the pay and other allowances of the State Government employees by July.

An official source said on Monday that though the deadline to complete the task is one year after the pay panel was notified in August last year, the pay commission may submit its recommendations by fic point in the heart of the town and held a meeting on July. the matter.

Sources quoting Assam Rifles sources revealed that the incident happened due to a communication gap.

After the release of the ANSAM leaders, they were taken to Senapati traffic point where a public meeting was held . The ANSAM president addressed the gathering there on the incident.

The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) has come out strongly against the detention of Seth Shatshang and the two office bearers of ANSAM, finance secretary Joseph and education secretary AC Thotso.

“Had it not been for the timely intervention of the Naga people, it would have been unpredictable as to what would have come of it,” said TKS in a statement.

‘The action of the Assam Rifles shows nothing but complete disregard for the ongoing Naga movement,” said the student body and condemned the detention of the ANSAM leaders.

Once ‘opulent’, Julius languishes in single cell Shillong, Jan 10 : Julius Dorphang’s life has turned full circle. From a gun-toting HNLC cadre to walking the corridors of power to the single cell at Sadar police station, the Mawhati legislator, who is one of the main accused in the rape of a 14-year-old girl, has been on a roller coaster ride.

Now, away from the lavish and colourful life of a politician, the MLA will spend his days locked within the four walls of the police cell with

a common toilet and without any special treatment.

The absconding MLA was arrested from Guwahati on Friday night and is in fiveday police custody till January 11. On January 4, the court issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him.

The MLA, like other accused, is given lunch and dinner with a simple menu of rice, dal and vegetable.

He has a blanket to himself and is sleeping on the floor.

Police said so far Dorphang

did not have many visitors except his sister who met him at the police station on Saturday.

The police have also turned down his family’s request to send home-cooked food due to security reasons.

Dorphang has been booked for rape under Section 366 (A) of the IPC read with Section 3 (a)/4 of the POCSO Act and under Section 5 of the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act.

The source also added that there will be hearings by the commission shortly to know the grievances of the federation of employees and others who had submitted their memorandum regarding the pay hike.

The commission is on right track as the panel had already held several meetings and also called for records from the State Government.

The pay commission consists of former chief secretary P.J Bazeley as its chairman with two members, former NEC secretary Uttam K. Sangma and former Education of-

ficial Lambha Roy. The last revision of pay took effect from January 1, 2007, with the cabinet approving an overall pay hike of 32 per cent for all its employees.

There are more than 90,000 government employees, including teachers of deficit schools and colleges, and the number of pensioners is over 20,000.

Sources said the suggestion of the cabinet was to increase the pay either by 20 per cent, 22 per cent or 25 per cent, which will be examined by the fifth pay commission.

The fifth pay commission may also look into the Seventh Central Pay Commission that had recommended 23 per cent hike in salaries of central government employees.

An additional expenditure of Rs 100 crore will be incurred per month by the State Government, which at present spends Rs 400 crore per month, if the fifth pay panel recommends hike in the salary by 25 per cent.

no nomination filed

Kohima, Jan 10 : No candidate filed nomination papers for the upcoming urban local bodies election in Nagaland on Monday, the last day for filing nominations, as a bandh called by tribal organisations affected normal life in the state, officials said.

Tribal bodies called the bandh following the extension of deadline by the State Election Commission (SEC) for candidates to file nomination papers to six municipal and town councils here.

The SEC said, a total of 558 candidates have filed their nominations for the February 1 polls and those were filed for one municipal council and 25 town councils till January 7, the original last date for filing of nominations. Scrutiny of all

the 558 nomination papers will be taken up on Tuesday. These candidates are from the NPF (268), Congress (31), BJP (79) and 180 Independents and they also include 171 women. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is January 17. As no nomination was filed for six other councils till January 7 due to bandhs called by various bodies, the SEC had extended the deadline for those places till 3 pm on Monday. Still, no nomination was filed during the day as bandh supporters were on the streets to prevent the candidates from reaching the Returning Officer’s office.

The six councils with zero nomination are Kohima and Mokokchung municipal councils, and Tuensang, Mon, Medziphema and Changtongya town coun-

cils. Though normal life was affected due to the bandh, no untoward incident was reported, police said.

At Kohima, Angami Youth Organisation, under the aegis of its parental body Angami Public Organisation, enforced the bandh, Ao Senden did it in Mokokchung Municipality and Changtongya Town Council in Mokokchung district. In Tuensang district too, Chang Khulei Setshang and Tuensang Village Citizen Union backed the bandh.

The organisations have given a boycott call against holding of polls to the urban local bodies in the state with a 33-per cent reservation for women, claiming that it infringed on the special rights guaranteed under Article 371A of the Constitution. (PTI)

Tribal bodies urge candidates to withdraw nominations Dimapur, Jan 10 : Sumi Hoho (SH), Chakhesang Public Organization and two Ao village councilsKhar and Longchemdanghave also urged the candidates to withdraw their nominations for the February 1 civic polls.

SH: While acknowledging those candidates for paying heed to the call of the Hoho by refraining from filing nominations, SH has asked those candidates who filed nominations for Zunheboto Town Council to withdraw their candidature in the larger interest of the Sumis and the Nagas in general.

In a press statement, SH president Toniho Yepthomi and general secretary Vihuto Asumi alleged that despite appeal to all intending candidates to refrain from filing nominations, NPF candidates led by working president Huskha Yepthomi and MLA Hukavi Zhimomi ignored the Hoho’s appeal and went ahead with their entourage and security forces and forcefully filed nominations.

In this regard, SH warned that the the two leaders would be solely held responsible if any complications may arise in future causing hindrances or infringement upon the practices and rights of Sumi people.

Meanwhile, Sumi Hoho reaffirmed to stick to its resolution to oppose the ULBs elections till the existing Municipal Act was thoroughly reviewed and

ensure that Nagas’ social practises and customary procedures are protected.

It also affirmed that it would never accept and would not compromise that infringe Article 371A. On 33 % reservation, the Hoho viewed that at “par with men, women too, competent and desirous can go ahead for open contest from anywhere if they wished to and hold any position as men does”.

KVC, LVC: Khar Village Council (KVC) and Longchemdang Village Council (LVC) have served seven-day deadline to the 13 candidates in Mangkolemba Town Council to withdraw their nominations by January 16.

In this regard, both the councils convened a meeting with the candidates who have filed nominations. However, only 11 of them turned up for the meeting, as two were out of station. Confirming this to Nagaland Post, KVC chairman said that it would initiate action against the candidates who failed to withdraw within the given date.

CPO: Chakhesang Public Organization (CPO) has directed all the candidates who had filed nominations to the municipal/town council election to withdraw their nomination papers on or before January 12.

This was decided at the CPO executive council meeting of the 35th general session held on January 9 at Yoruba village according to a joint state-

ment issued by CPO president Kekhwengulo Lea and general secretary Mutsivoyi Kotso. The resolution was a reaffirmation of the CPO emergency meeting held on January 3, 2017 to direct all candidates to withdraw their nomination papers.

CPO also warned that in the event of non-compliance, defaulters would be ex-communicated for a period of seven (7) years as per Chakhesang customary law as deemed fit as adopted at Pfutsero.

In order to ensure withdrawal, CPO directed respective village council chairman, colony chairman and GB’s to co-ordinate with the CYF and to complete the process before the stipulated given time.

CPO appealed to the state government to review its decision and defer the civic polls.

It also appealed on the JACWR to consider the appeal made by various tribal organisations and withdraw the SLP in the greater interest of the Naga people. CPO appealed on NMA to gracefully review the application in the Supreme Court.

CPO also applauded the “steadfastness” of APO, Ao Senden and other tribal Hohos on ULB election issue and expressed solidarity to work together till the demand is fulfilled. Further, The organization also urged the State government to call for consultative meeting with the tribal Hohos at the earliest.

Blockade crisis features at AILU meet IMPHAL, Jan 10 : The present crisis arising out of the ongoing indefinite economic blockade called by United Naga Council (UNC) has been put up at All India Lawyer’s Union Meet, said vice-president of All Lawyer ’s Union Manipur State Committee, M Jagajit.

to the prolonged economic blockade.

Addressing reporters at the office of CPI (M) at Governor road today, Jagajit said that the State has been reduced to a war like situation due

Though Manipur is a part of India, the strife-torn State has been ill-treated, he rued.

Jagajit reminded that High Court of Manipur

He regretted that instead of overcoming the deadlock over the economic blockade, the State Government and the Centre are blaming each other, leaving the general public in the lurch.

had asked the State Government to take up effective measures to restore normal transportation of goods on the National Highways at the earliest.

The State Government under Section 8B of National Highway Act, 1956 ought to take up legal action against those who are causing hindrances along the National Highways, he pointed out.

Maintaining that the Framework Agreement signed between the Gov-

ernment of India and NSCN (IM) should be made public, he asserted that there is a need to closely monitor the Framework Agreement as it threatens the territorial integrity of the State.

The meet unanimously agreed that the Centre should try to bring an emicable solution to the economic blockade as soon as possible otherwise many unwanted incidents may arise out of it, he informed.

He also informed that a seven-member delegation of All Lawyer ’s Union Manipur State Committee took part in the All India Lawyer’s Union Meet which was held at Madurai, Tamil Nadu from December 27 to 29.

Resolution of the matters placed by All Lawyer’s Union Manipur State Committee will be taken during the All India Lawyer’s Union Meet for North Eastern States to be held in Agartala on March 10, Jagajit added.

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

Today's quote It isn't enough to talk about “peace.

One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Oiling cashless wheels The threat by petroleum retailers to stop accepting credit and debit card payments led to a late-night intervention on Sunday by the Centre, with Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Petroleum, declaring that the protest action had been put off till January 13. Fuel dealers raised a red flag on the decision by certain banks to levy the merchant discount rate (MDR) of up to one per cent on card payments. After the demonetisation exercise began, the government had waived the service tax on the MDR surcharge from December 8 for card-based payments up to ?2,000 and got banks to waive the MDR charges on debit cards till December 31, 2016. By Monday, the Petroleum Minister said that neither the consumer nor the dealers, operating on thin margins, would bear the MDR for fuel refills even after January 13. Stakeholders, he said, will absorb the cost, but it is still not clear who will bear the cost of going cashless - banks are not out of line in expecting some revenue in return for facilitating transactions through point of sale (PoS) devices. Since November 8, public sector banks have been advised by the Centre to charge a maximum of ?100 a month as PoS device rentals from small merchants, and the move has benefited 6.5 lakh of the 15 lakh PoS devices. Public sector oil marketers were asked to offer a 0.75 per cent discount to customers using non-cash means to tank up. The Railways, public sector insurers and others have been asked to offer discounts or charge lower rates for cashless transactions; so more such spats could occur, although the Centre has promised to foot the bill for some of these subventions.

Petroleum outlets are particularly important for a cashlite economy push as they handle nearly ?2 lakh crore of cash a year. Queues at banks have eased, but the weekly withdrawal limits haven't been lifted. In a situation where people are cash-strapped and the government is nudging them towards alternatives, the uncertainty of the sort created at fuel pumps should be avoided as it could lead to a crisis of confidence. Last February the Cabinet had given the nod for rationalising MDR charges. An expert panel to recommend legislative and other changes was constituted in August and it mooted greater transparency in fees for digital payments, protection for private data of consumers, a mechanism to ensure they will not be liable to pay for unauthorised transactions or system errors, and the creation of a new payments regulator. To build confidence in a less-cash economy, people nudged into a new way of life need clarity and consistency in policy along with a visible road map to secure their confidence. Lucky draws alone won't suffice.

A blow to reformists in Iran The death of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and powerful cleric who was widely considered a leading "moderate" in Iran's polity, is a major blow to the reformists in the country. He had a complex and long tenure as a political leader, emerging as a revolutionary who participated in the overthrow of the Shah regime, heading Parliament in post-Revolution Iran and later being elected twice as President. He rebuilt an economy devastated in the near-decadelong war against Iraq. While in power, Rafsanjani promoted a liberal economic policy that moved Iran away from statism, pursued a realist foreign policy that sought to protect Iranian geopolitical interests and minimise tensions with the West. He was ruthless as an administrator, presiding over the suppression of dissent by arresting and executing several prominent liberals and leftists. Out of power, Rafsanjani was seen as a powerful moderate cleric with an array of business interests; he enjoyed the support of the bazaar, which acted as a buffer in the war of wits between the reformists and hardliners.

In recent years reformists have sought to establish the rule of law and better relations with the West, while hardliners have emphasised the supremacy of theocracy and conservative values, flowing from the guardianship of the clerics who led the revolution.

In this milieu, Rafsanjani threw in his lot with the reformists in 2009 following allegations of widespread fraud in the presidential election that was won by former president and hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Since then, Rafsanjani went through a difficult political period, as he was seen to be at loggerheads with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who continues to support hardliners.

Thwarted from becoming a presidential candidate in 2013, he rose to prominence again as the centrist candidate Hassan Rouhani he supported emerged victorious in the 2013 elections. Rafsanjani played a pivotal background role in the signing of the landmark nuclear deal between the P-5+1 countries and Iran. Hardliners have shown little inclination to go back on the deal that restricts any weaponising programme by Iran, but Rafsanjani's death and a more volatile world order with the rise of Donald Trump in the U.S. suggest there could be challenges to the deal in the near future. Considering that reformists face stiff challenges presented by the theocrats who control the publicly owned media, the judiciary and other clerical supervisory bodies, they will certainly miss Rafsanjani. Even till the ripe age of 82, he managed to straddle various generations of pre-and post-revolutionary Iran and was a difficult figure for hardliners to overcome politically.

P6

The world at a crossroads M.K. Narayanan The outlook for 2017 is anything but optimistic, with a sluggish global economy, widening terror footprint, and geopolitical realignments as the U.S., Russia and China jostle for spheres of influence The policy outlook for 2017 appears not too promising. Geopolitical risks will remain high. No improvement in the present unstable global order appears likely.

New terror patterns will increase the lethality of terror attacks. Digital disruption and cyberthreats are poised to grow.

The economic outlook, likewise, appears pessimistic, with the global economy caught in a low-growth trap.

Widening inequality and increasing unemployment will worsen this situation.

After a decade of economic lows, the prevailing sentiment in the marketplace will be uncertainty.

In some ways, the 21st century has, so far, proved to be a disaster for the 'status quoist West', which failed to recognise the implications of the shift in economic power to the East, even as some countries of Asia turned into new engines of growth. Chinese President Xi Jinping was possibly one of the few world leaders to recognise the nature of the tectonic shift taking place, and came up with the 'One Belt, One Road' initiative, accompanied by huge investments in infrastructure to connect China with Europe and the world.

Dominant factors What are the prospects for 2017? History and nationalism will continue to

dictate the course of events; given the exponentially accelerating nature of the changes that are occurring, it will, however, play out differently. For one, unpredictability and a desire to change the status quo, primarily economic circumstance, will increase.

For another, populism will increasingly determine 'political-speak'. Third, mistrust of institutions and institutional power will grow, and personal charisma and expediency will dominate. Additionally, concepts such as exceptionalism and military superiority may gain more traction - U.S. Presidentelect Donald Trump's slogan 'America first' and his statements expressing a need for the U.S. to increase its nuclear arsenal; Russian President Vladimir Putin's references to the need to increase the country's nuclear military potential; and Mr. Xi's emphasis on Chinese 'exceptionalism', alongside strengthening of its military, are reliable indicators of this.

The Trump effect The year may well see a return to the era of insular policies, and strengthening of the anti-outsider syndrome. Opposition to free trade and open borders will also be more manifest.

The 'enigma' that is the U.S. President-elect exacerbates this situation. Anticipating what he might do could be hazardous at this time. Yet, unpredictability was Mr. Trump's not-so-secret 'weapon' in overcoming the odds in his bid for the presidency of the U.S., and the world should prepare for the unexpected.

Most analysts believe that President Trump will roll back quite a few of the cli-

mate change initiatives agreed to by President Barack Obama. It is, however, more difficult to anticipate how the new President will deal with Russia or China. U.S.-Russia relations are at their nadir today. Retrieving this situation will require resort to a series of unorthodox steps. A Trump presidency may be better suited than a conventional one to circumvent the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Cold War logic, arrive at concessions regarding Ukraine and the Crimea, and limit cyberwarfare between the two countries. Additionally, Mr. Trump's idea of a 'Coalition of the Willing' to fight the Islamic State in West Asia may find resonance in Moscow, giving an opportunity for further reduction of tensions between the two countries.

Asia and Europe Reaching a modus vivendi with China may prove more problematic. Talk of a 'trade war' between the U.S. and China is in the air, and the President-elect's strong words about China's trade practices make matters difficult. For the present, Mr. Trump has served notice of his intention to pursue a hard line on trade with China by choosing two China critics - Peter Navarro and Robert Lighthizer - to handle trade matters.

Whether unorthodoxy will pay off in trade negotiations remains to be seen. The Chinese tend to be patient and could even absorb a Trump 'first strike'.

In the geopolitical arena, the competition for influence in Asia between the U.S. and China will continue in 2017. It is possible, how-

ever, to envisage both countries taking steps to prevent a total breakdown of relations, and of being able to find common ground to accommodate mutual concerns in the South and the East China Seas. This may leave many of the East Asian and Southeast Asian countries unhappy - given China's aggressive postures towards them - but may not inhibit Washington.

The U.S. reaction - under Mr. Trump - to certain new alignments forged during 2015-2016 could be a pointer to what the future holds in 2017. Most important would be the U.S. reaction to the 'strategic congruence' established between China and Russia (likely to be cemented during 2017), aimed at countering U.S. moves in Asia. As Russia and China fine-tune their economic and security interests in 2017, a moot question would be whether Russia will acknowledge China's de-facto supremacy in Asia, in return for according Russia a special position in Eurasia.

2017 could turn out to be a defining year for Europe.

Brexit, and the decision of the U.K. to leave the European Union, has already led to widespread concerns about Europe's future. The year may see many of the issues coming to a head.

Grappling with an existential crisis already, Europe is simultaneously confronting other dangers such as polarisation and the threat to its liberal and democratic policies and image. The migrant crisis found Europe unprepared for the consequences of such mass inflows. Many cities in Europe, for instance, seem to have lost the ability to main-

tain law and order or contain the consequent surge in violent crime. These problems could be further compounded during 2017.

The terror threat Terrorism will continue to remain a grave threat during 2017. 2015 and 2016 were two of the worst years in terms of fatalities across Asia, Africa and Western Europe - the highest in almost five decades. The portents for 2017 are none too propitious.

The year has begun inauspiciously. At least 25 people were killed in a suicide attack in Baghdad on December 31. Another 39 New Year revellers were shot dead in a nightclub in Istanbul. Twelve people were killed in a terror attack in a crowded Berlin Christmas market, in an incident very reminiscent of the July 2016 attack in Nice, France.

A sharp increase in 'lone wolf' and 'copycat' terror attacks is likely and will result in an increase in fatalities in 2017. Russia, which has not witnessed serious terror attacks for some time, could again come into the crosshairs of Chechen and other terror outfits. Southeast Asia may witness many more terror attacks following a call by the Hizb-utTahrir to retaliate for the treatment meted out to Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. North and East Africa, where terror outfits like Boko Haram and AlShabaab, as also the AlQaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), have been on a rampage during the past two years, will not see any respite in 2017. India, for its part, cannot hope for, or expect, any reprieve from terror attacks from across the border.

India and the

neighbourhood The Asian region will see heightened tensions between China and India, China and Japan, and India and Pakistan in 2017. The overall military power balance is unlikely to shift decisively - Asia already has one of the largest concentrations of military capabilities (China, India and Pakistan) with substantial presence of the U.S. and Russian militaries. However, the accelerated pace of development of China's military in 2017, including its acquisition of new weapon systems, will be of increasing concern to countries of East, Southeast and South Asia.

For India, a deepening of the China-Pakistan military entente in 2017 will add a further dimension to the overall threat from Pakistan.

Relations with Islamabad remain embittered, but in addition India may have to contend with a more aggressive and determined Pakistan, feeling greatly buoyed by the progress achieved on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the new outreach to, and growing ties, with Russia.

India's position in Afghanistan in 2017 may well see a downturn, with new equations emerging in the region. With the U.S., China and Russia backing Pakistan's moves for 'flexible ties' with Taliban - ignoring India's objections New Delhi's interests are set to suffer.

Meanwhile, both Nepal and Sri Lanka could see a turbulent 2017. India's ability to leverage matters in both countries, however, remains strictly limited.

In short, as 2017 dawns, the world and India are at the crossroads.

High costs, meagre gains Amartya Lahiri , Devashish Mitra On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his ambitious demonetisation policy initiative to attack the scourges of corruption, black money and fake currency. He also spoke eloquently in his December 31 address about the need for purifying the nation of these scourges. The desirability of this policy goal is well-understood and incontrovertible. How effective has demonetisation, as a policy, been in achieving its stated goals? How efficiently has it been implemented?

In terms of effectiveness, the move undoubtedly prevents further circulation of existing counterfeit currency in the two demonetised denominations (Rs 500 and Rs 1,000).

However, it doesn't necessarily eradicate the problem since counterfeiters will be hard at work trying to replicate the new notes, which, by all existing reports, are no less prone to counterfeiting. More importantly, the size of this problem was

small to start with (around 0.025 per cent of all notes in circulation, according to recent Indian Statistical Institute estimates).

The move also doesn't do anything to punish the originators of fake money.

How effective has demonetisation been in dealing with black money and corruption? As pointed out by many, both black money and corruption are flow concepts. The move does nothing directly to the flow creation of black money and corruption, other than through its signaling of possible future moves.

Black wealth is a stock that reflects all past creation of black money, cash being just one of several ways of holding it. If 90 per cent of the demonetised cash is returned to banks, back-ofthe-envelope calculations suggest that the demonetisation will likely net about two per cent of the black wealth stock or one per cent of GDP in government revenues. The revenue gain could be a bit

higher if the income tax department successfully performs the Herculean task of levying penalties on those who laundered their black wealth held in cash by depositing it in banks. The Central Board of Direct Taxes, with its chronic staff shortage, must now examine all cash deposits in excess of Rs 250,000 as well as examine cases with no returns filed.

The reported depositing of large cash holdings in many separate small parcels through paid intermediaries and the use of tax-sheltered agricultural workers to launder undeclared cash makes matters more difficult.

On the cost side, anecdotal evidence suggests that the biggest negative output and employment effects have been on the heavily cash-dependent informal sector which accounts for 80 per cent of employment and 45 per cent of GDP. Studies have shown this sector's strong linkages with the formal sector, which often outsources its tasks to the former to reduce costs. According to a recent Washington Post article, the demonetisation exercise

The little wave The story is abut a little wave, Then along comes another wave. bobbing along in the ocean, hav- It sees the first wave, looking ing a grand old time. He's enjoy- grim, and it says to him: "Why do ing the wind and you look so sad?" The first the fresh air - until wave says: "You don't unhe notices the derstand! We're all going to other waves in crash! All of us waves are front of him, crashgoing to be nothing! Isn't it ing against the terrible?" shore. "My God, The second wave says: this terrible", the "No, you don't understand. wave says. "Look You're not a wave, you're part of what's going to happen to me!" the ocean."

has negatively impacted various small and mediumsize industrial clusters, which, in total, employ 80 million workers. For example, the cellphone manufacturing hub of Noida has experienced a halving of output, with a quarter of employees sent back to their villages.

On balance, the costs (which the PM in his speech called "sacrifices" for a noble cause) are very high in terms of output, employment and the disruption caused in the lives of lawabiding citizens, especially when compared to the rather meagre gains. With the costs already being felt and benefits predicted for the future, there is much greater uncertainty about the latter than the former.

Probably the biggest negative of demonetisation has been its implementation, as manifested in the chronic shortages of new notes, their flawed composition with an under-supply of Rs 500 notes, the repeated changes in regulation on withdrawals and deposits, etc.

In our opinion, the best way to summarise the

demonetisation move is through the insights from the path-breaking work of Jagdish Bhagwati. In a piece on trade distortions Bhagwati co-authored with V.K. Ramaswami (1963), he made the trenchant point that the optimal intervention instrument attacks the source of the distortion directly. In the case of black money, demonetisation attacks one of the many ways of storing it rather than attacking the problem directly.

At the same time, it creates other distortions in the form of costs mentioned above.

Consequently, it fails the Bhagwati test. Other policies, such as income tax audits based on computerised algorithms, slashing stamp duty rates on real estate transactions and raids based on information generated by suspicious transactions, are more direct policies (closer to the targeted distortion) which don't create by-product distortions.

These policies would rank much higher than demonetisation by the direct application of the Bhagwati criterion.

In the days since the demonetisation announce-

ment, the narrative has subtly changed; the goal is now to turn India into a cashless economy. Even here, demonetisation fails the Bhagwati test of targeting the source of the problem directly. The low usage of digital payment methods in India is largely because of widespread financial exclusion and the absence of reliable digital infrastructure. An optimal approach to encouraging digital payment methods would be to correct these issues directly.

The Nobel laureate Jan Tinbergen demonstrated that policy success requires that policy instruments are not outnumbered by targets. In trying to attack so many targets at once, demonetisation fails the Tinbergen principle, also emphasised in the work of Bhagwati and Ramaswami.

Last, but not the least, the increase in invasive "babu" power (for example, bank officials interviewing depositors) will lead to serious inefficiencies, a prediction based on a straightforward application of Bhagwati's seminal work on directly unproductive activities.

From passage to gateway While Pravasi Bharatiya Divas acknowledges Non Resident Indians and People of Indian Origin, there has not been much in return - in the form of these PIOs and NRIs investing in.

Instead of reaching out to Indians in the West, the government needs to focus on diaspora in Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius and the Carribean region which were populated by the British with indentured labour. These countries also offer attractive visa policies to Indian citizens which need to be reciprocated so that the connections are strengthened.

A grievance some overseas Indians have is that they cannot get their OCI cards due to the lack of records. Some desire tracing their ancestry and extended families as they were taken away from India forcibly. But there is no help in India for this here. One way to do this is to hire genealogists who can trace family trees. The government must also be aware that the diaspora keenly watches domestic policies. If they get a whiff of the idea that they are unwelcome because of issues such as religion, they will only stop with acquiring an OCI card. They will not bother having an emotional and comprehensive connect and engagement with India.

Rahul Choudhury Shillong, Meghalaya

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

P7

Uber launches Movement, boon for urban planners Uber hasn't driven over 2 billion trips across 66 countries and 545 cities for nothing. Along the way, the SanFransisco-based transport network firm has aggregated traffic data and route management insights which it now plans to deploy in helping make "cities more efficient".

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 M.K. Seth said in a talk show conducted by All India Radio, Guwahati.

Uber on Sunday announced a website called Movement to "provide access to anonymized data from over 2 billion trips to help improve urban planning around the world". It allows users to analyse vehicle movement, travel duration estimates, and other route details over customisable date-ranges.

According to the website, Movement aims to provide city officials with "detailed historical insights [that] make it possible to measure the impact of road improvements, major events, new transit lines, and more"; help planners and policymakers "[conduct] complex analysis on transportation patterns [...] for better decision making around future infrastructure investments"; as well as inform the general public in due time.

Now, when city infrastructure planners sit down to decide whether to introduce a new lane, or build a

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.

Uber Movement leverages GPS data collected from thousands of their anonymous vehicles across 545 cities. | Photo: Screengrab stop-sign, or permit the construction of an office complex — within a Traffic Analysis Zone — they will have access to useful information about how it might affect the movement of traffic in the pertinent area, thanks to Uber's GPS-extracted information.

According to The Verge, an Uber official said: “As Uber drivers move through a city, they’re constantly collecting information.

Bitcoin nears record high as it becomes ‘safe haven’ asset

We’re generating this data, and it’s super valuable to people. There’s no reason not to share it.”

Uber's app records commute times, between 'checkin' and destination, for each trip — also collecting information about travel times, traffic patterns, road events (like closures, rush hours, etc.) within smaller segments of the journey.

Uber will also take care

to prevent private data from becoming exposed as a result of this transparency. The "anonymised data" means that the maps would be stripped of any information on passenger behaviour or personal identifiability.

The service is currently available for select cities — Sydney, Washington D.C., Manila — and will be rolled out to other cities in "the weeks ahead".

What's in it for Uber?

Question is: Uber's competitive advantage in the ride-sharing industry comes from its ability to map traffic demand. Why would it relinquish this clout by making the data open to all? Can this move preempt onerous data requests in future as well as give them deeper access to city planning that might ease service delivery?

The unit broke the $1,100 barrier on the Bitcoin Price Index, an average of major exchanges, to continue a dizzying rise that made it the best performing currency of 2016.

It has fluctuated wildly since it was created in 2009 and lost three quarters of its value when it plummeted from its previous BPI high of $1,165.89 in 2013.

And news of a major bitcoin theft by hackers in August 2016 sent its price plunging by more than 20 per cent.

But analysts say its volatility will ease as volumes grow and point to a strengthening U.S. dollar and tightening currency and capital controls, as well as the rise of the digital economy, as major factors.

The chaotic withdrawal of high value bills in India and restrictions on buying foreign currency in China as the yuan slides against the dollar have

also stoked demand, analysts say.

Exacerbating the rocketing demand is a tightening supply of fresh bitcoins.

The currency was always meant to have a finite number created, and more than three quarters of the planned 21 million bitcoins have already been “mined”.

Encrypted digital coins are created by supercomputers and then traded online or exchanged for goods and services.

Vinny Lingham, a bitcoin expert and CEO of U.S. digital identity protection startup Civic, cited the strengthening dollar and uncertainty in emerging markets around U.S. Presidentelect Donald Trump as boosting the currency’s value. He has predicted bitcoin will be worth about $3,000 by the end of 2017.

“Bitcoin is reacting as a safe haven,” he said.

Bitcoin now has a total market capitalisation of about $18 billion — far more than other so-called “crypto-currencies” although a fraction of the value of other globally traded commodities.

High-speed network will be installed in Guwahati by March this year and “BSNL

F o l l o w i n g demonetisation, BSNL has tied-up with SBI and will soon launch an e-wallet called Mobicash.

Assam IT department’s Joint Secretary Fakaruddin Ahmed said that a target has been set to make one lakh people digitally liter-

ate by March and 25 lakh by 2022.

“We have already trained 65000 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.

Google Doodle honours inventor of worldwide standard time

Google has honoured Sandford Fleming, a Canadian inventor and engineer of Scottish birth known for his invention of worldwide standard time, with a Doodle.

Wen Ku, head of the Information and Communication Development Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said the 4G industrial chain has taken shape in China, with strengthened research and development capabilities.

This August 3, 2016 photo shows a man walking past a display cabinet containing models of Bitcoins in Hong Kong.

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.

has taken steps for automatic hook up point through wireless network. There would be 3000 access points (hot spots) at important points,” he said

China’s 4G users touches 734 million High-speed network 4G has become popular in China as the number of its users shot up to 734 million last year, a senior official has said.

Bitcoin neared record highs on Thursday with the surging digital currency tipped to become a new safe haven asset as the world grapples with growing economic uncertainty.

BSNL to connect 1500 gram panchayats through OFC in 2017

A total of 734 million 4G mobile users are there in China and 5G commercial operations will be launched in 2020, state-run Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.

Wen said the ministry will promote the formation of a global unified 5G standard and push forward the use and innovation of 5G-based mobile internet and the Internet of Things to lay a

“Today’s Doodle reflects Fleming’s legacy on this, the 190th anniversary of his birth,” Google said in a statement on Saturday.

foundation for 5G commercial operations in 2020.

August.

China has 710 million Internet users as of June 2016, accounting for 51.7 per cent of its total population, exceeding the global average by 3.1 per cent, according to a report released by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) in

According to the report, almost 92 per cent of mobile Internet users in China use instant messaging apps and almost 80 per cent use news apps. Mobile search, online music and videos, as well as online payments were also among the most popular mobile applications.

After customers, Reliance Jio now plans to reward its employees Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio Infocomm is planning to roll out stock options for its employees, which could be a reward for the pace at which subscribers are being added as well as a talent retention and attraction strategy of the company, a person familiar with the matter said.

The stock options programme is currently in the planning stage and could be rolled out later this year, the person added. The company, which launched 4G services last September, did not respond to emailed queries on the subject.

employee's salary. These are over and above the compensation, and act as a talent retention tool.

Jio's parent Reliance Industries, too, has discussed with compensation experts the option of Esops for senior executives. The company is believed to be in the process of launching the programme, and 1015% of senior executives' compensation could be in the form of Esops.

Reliance Jio, with its 30,000-plus permanent employees, will possibly introduce stock options initially for senior executives, another person said. All leading telcos such as Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone India have employee stock option (Esops) plans.

"In case of Jio, the percentage may be similar to the parent firm. But since Jio is unlisted, it could be given in the form of stock appreciation rights," said the head of a compensation consulting company.

Stock appreciation rights are a bonus given to employees which equals the rise in a company's stock value. Employees do not have to pay the exercise price and hence, can receive proceeds from stock price increases, without coughing up anything.

Esops are usually given once a year and can range between 10% and 200% of an

Since its official launch in September, Jio, with its free voice and data offer, has at-

tracted about half a million subscribers a day and is believed to have already added over 65 million customers. It has been quite the disruptor in the sector with its tariff plans that offer free voice calls and cheap Internet. This has forced incumbent telcos to slash tariffs as well.

Analysts say the biggest challenge for Reliance Jio would be to ensure that subscribers who have signed up do not migrate to rival telcos, once the free offer ends. And this is where Esops will come in handy, especially, in retaining key people tasked with customer retention.

"In India, and indeed globally, telecom majors offer Esops to senior ranks. This move will help Jio retain employees for a longer period," said a telecom analyst for a top consulting firm who did not want to be named.

In October, Jio had handed out 7-15% increments to junior and middle-level employees and 5-10% to seniors — slightly better than industry average of 7-12%

It is widely believed that Fleming missing a train in Ireland due to a mistake printed in a timetable ultimately led to his brilliant idea that altered time as we know it.

Fleming was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, in 1827. This was a period when regions used solar time to set their own clocks.

Solar time worked well enough until trains came along and the need for standardised time arose.

Following his missed train in 1876, Fleming proposed a worldwide standard time at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Institute on February, 8, 1879.

He advocated for dividing the world into 24 time

zones beginning at the Greenwich Meridian and spaced at 15 degree intervals.

His proposal gave way to the International Prime Meridian Conference which convened in 1884 and was attended by 25 nations.

It was here that Fleming’s system of international standard time was adopted.

Fleming was also known for helping build the Intercontinental Railway, serving as chief engineer of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and designing Canada’s first postage stamp.

Rumored Moto X (2017) listed as ‘Moto G5 Plus’ on OLX Recently, images and specifications of Motorola's upcoming Moto X (2017) smartphone were leaked online. Now, the same device has been listed on a classifieds website with the moniker Moto G5 Plus.

The listing, available on OLX's Romania website by a user, also displays images and specifications of the smartphone. For the uninitiated, the device will replace the Moto G4 Plus smartphone, launched last year.

According to the post, the Moto G5 Plus bears model number XT1685 and runs the Android 7.0 Nougat OS. As per the specifications listed, the smartphone has a 5.5inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) resolution. The smartphone listed is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 625 processor that is clubbed with a 4GB RAM. Other specifications displayed include a storage capacity of 32GB and a 3,080mAh battery.

On the camera front, the smartphone has a 13MP rear and 5MP front camera as per the listing. The smartphone

also displays a "Motorola confidential property, not for sale" mark on it. As per the OLX Romania user, the smartphone will on sale sometime in March this year.

It has an approximate Rs 26,000 price tag on it which, as of now, cannot be taken as the official price of the smartphone.

The same smartphone, had recently showed up on a render video. The latter highlighted two important features - a 3.5mm audio jack,

and a microUSB port. Below the display, there is a 'pillshaped' Home button, which may come embedded with a fingerprint sensor.

As for the camera the large bump, which characterizes Motorola's latest set of smartphones in the Z series, is still visible but appears to be a little larger.

Interestingly, both the OLX listing as well as the render video do not shed light on the smartphone's dualcamera setup or stereo frontfacing speakers.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

Puducherry govt told me to be mere figurehead: Kiran Bedi PTI Hyderabad, Jan 10 : In signs of widening rift with Congress government in Puducherry, Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today said that it wants her to be just a "figurehead" though the rules assign her responsibilities of an administrator and made it clear she won't back down.

Sticking to her announcement about quitting the post on May 29 next year, Bedi said she took the decision as she is discharging her duties for a "cause and not a tenure" and will "set in motion the needed practices" so a "third year may not be needed at all".

"It (L-G's role) is of an administrator. And a functioning Lt Governor.

Not a figurehead, as they (Congress government) want me to be. For they said so in their last meeting. I told them please read my responsibilities as specified as an admin-

Lt Governor Kiran Bedi. istrator," she told PTI here in an interview.

Amid growing differences between her and the Congress government in Puducherry, Bedi had last week said she would quit the post on completion of two years in office.

Asked what prompted her to make the announcement well in advance, Bedi noted she took oath as L-G on May 29 (last year) as it is her mother's birthday, and

said she decided to give this responsibility a similar departure date.

"I said two years because I wanted to let it be known that I am here (as L-G of Puducherry) for a cause and not a tenure, or waiting for extensions.

"I will set in motion the needed practices. Third year may not be needed at all. Such a decision gives a sense of urgency to my team and personal freedom to me," she said.

EC gives directions to poll-bound states on political hoardings, ads

EC gives directions to poll-bound states on political hoardings, ads.

PTI New Delhi, Jan 10 : The Election Commission has asked the poll machinery in the five poll-bound states to either cover or remove photographs of political leaders on all hoardings and advertisements which seek to project the achievements of any living political functionary or political party.

The commission gave these fresh directions by reiterating its instructions issued on December 12, 2004 after the chief electoral officer of Goa raised

the issue after the election schedule was announced on January 4.

The poll watchdog said photos in advertisements or hoardings of similar type should also be removed or "covered suitably" so that spirit of its instructions is fully complied with.

It, however, made it clear that hoardings put up by the government which convey general message to the masses on family planning or social welfare schemes "may be allowed to be displayed".

"However, all those hoardings, advertisements which seek or purport to project the achievements of any living political functionary or political party and which carry their photos or name or party symbol should be removed forthwith... "...No political party or functionary can use public resources and incur or authorise expenditure from public exchequer to eulogise himself or itself or enhance his/its own or any political leader's image," it said.

The poll panel made it clear that such images or hoardings "undoubtedly amount to their individual/ party election campaign at public cost".

Between February 4 and March 8, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur are going for Assembly polls and the Model Code of Conduct came into force on January 4 when the schedule was announced.

Kargil records its coldest night of the season PTI Srinagar, Jan 10 : The night temperature at most places in Kashmir division went further down the freezing point with Kargil, in Ladakh region of the state, recording its coldest night of the season at minus 12.4 degrees Celsius.

Nearby Leh town was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir as it registered a low of minus 13.9 degrees Celsius - down by over two degrees from yesterday's minus 11.4 degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological Department here said.

The official said the famous tourist spots of Gulmarg and Pahalgam were the only places in Kashmir division where the mercury marked improvement.

Gulmarg - the ski-resort in north Kashmir -- recorded the minimum temperature of minus 12.0 degrees Celsius, slightly up from the previous night's minus 12.4 degrees Celsius, he said. The resort was the coldest place in the Valley.

The mercury in Pahalgam hill resort, in south Kashmir, settled at minus 6.2 degrees Celsius - up three degrees from minus 9.2 degrees Celsius the previous night, the official said.

Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir --

P8

NATION Referring to Puducherry being "in a debt trap", Bedi said she will take necessary steps for financial prudence.

"Whatever is within my responsibility I shall exercise with maximum financial prudence. Precious resources must go where they are needed most.

"Puducherry is in a debt trap. We have to check its further decline," said Bedi, who was here to attend the valedictory ceremony of the 35th All India Police Equestrian Championship as chief guest.

Bedi's January 7 statement to quit post at the end of two-year tenure came a day after eight Congress MLAs shot off a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh complaining about her style of functioning, in the backdrop of her cancelling an order of Chief Min-

ister V Narayanasamy banning officials from using social media for official communication.

The former IPS officer had initiated several measures, including to check crime and corruption and for a garbage-free Puducherry.

Differences between the Lt Governor and the government had occasionally come in the open, though Narayanasamy had maintained the ties were cordial.

In an apparent reference to Bedi's direct interactions with government officials, Narayanasamy had in the past said the elected ministry should not be overlooked.

In August last year, Bedi had reportedly threatened to quit her post and leave Puducherry over alleged lack of cooperation from officials for her Clean Puducherry Mission.

Akhilesh meets Mulayam; sends reconciliation signals

UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

PTI Lucknow, Jan 10 : UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday met his father and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav here, sending signals of a rapprochement between the bickering factions in the ruling party.

The 90-minute one-to-one meeting at Mulayam's residence took place against the backdrop of the SP patriarch yesterday declaring his son as the chief ministerial candidate of the party.

In signs of reconciliation, Akhilesh walked down to his father's bungalow next door the houses are interconnected - for the crucial meeting, the

outcome of which will definitely have a bearing on SP's electoral prospects in the pollbound state.

Party insiders said Akhilesh's warring uncle Shivpal Yadav and Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh, often described as an outsider in the Yadav clan, were not present at today's fatherson meeting.

After the meeting, Akhilesh proceeded to the Chief Minister's residence without responding to media questions.

Today's meeting was held after a significant climbdown by Mulayam, who had last night said, "Akhilesh will be the Chief Minister after the election, there is no confusion about it."

Kejriwal confident of LG's nod on minimum wage hike

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

PTI New Delhi, Jan 10 : Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said the minimum wages will be increased to Rs 15,000 by end of this month.

Speaking after inaugurating a complex of 148 toilets at Kalkaji in south Delhi, the chief minister said the initiative to raise minimum wages is awaiting Lt Governor's assent.

"We are sure of receiv-

ing Lt Governor's nod and we will be able to increase the wages to Rs 15,000 by the end of this month," Kejriwal said.

The AAP government had last year sent a proposal to LG under which minimum wage for an unskilled labourers was raised from Rs 9,568 to Rs 14,052.

Kejriwal said a total of 945 toilets have been inaugurated across Delhi

Indian, Sri Lankan fishermen repatriated PTI Rameswaram (TN), Jan 10 : Fifty-one Indian and three Sri Lankan fishermen were today repatriated to their respective countries in line with the decision taken at a recent ministerial-level talks held in Colombo, a Fisheries official said.

Sri Lankan Navy handed over the 51 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, arrested over the past few months, to Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Palk Bay. Similarly, three Sri Lankan fishermen, released from the Puzhal Prison in Chennai on January 8, were handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy at the IMBL, Ramanathapuram District Fisheries Deputy Director Kasinatha Pandian said.

The trio had drifted into Indian waters off Dhanushkodi recently after their boat ran out of fuel and were arrested.

The Tamil Nadu fishermen would arrive at Karaikal coast from where they would be taken to their respective destinations, offi-

Indian, Sri Lankan fishermen repatriated. cials said.

The 51 fishermen from Tuticorin, Pudukottai and Ramanthapuram districts were arrested by the Lankan Navy while fishing in their territorial waters between November and December, 2016 and lodged in prisons in the island nation.

They were released on January 6 as per the decision taken at a high-level meeting between the two countries in Colombo where the vexed issue of fishing rights in the Palk Bay was discussed.

Agriculture Minister Radha

Kargil records its coldest night of the season. recorded a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius further down from the previous night's minus 2.3 degrees Celsius.

The official said the mercury went down in Qazigund the gateway town to Kashmir Valley - and settled at a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius.

The north Kashmir town of Kupwara recorded a low of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius down nearly two degrees from minus 3.6 degrees Celsius yesterday.

Kokernag, in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, compared to yesterday's minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, the of-

ficial said.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' considered the harshest period of winter, when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

The region witnessed heavy snowfall of the season last Friday.

'Chillai-Kalan', which, began on December 21 last year, ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'ChillaiBachha' (baby cold).

armed men.

Eleven traders of Assam were kidnapped by militants from near the same spot about three months ago.

TMC MPs continue sit-in protest against Modi govt New Delhi, Jan 10 (PTI) Trinamool Congress MPs continued their protest against the Modi Government over the arrest of party MPs in chitfund scam cases and demonetisation here.

Raising slogans like "Modi hatao desh bachao", about 30 TMC MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha staged a sit-in near the party office at South Avenue for the second day.

The leaders questioned "why BJP leaders and others have not arrested in chit fund scam".

Every aspect of economy has been affected adversely due to demonetisation, said senior TMC leader Saugata Roy while addressing the protesters.

TMC, which is opposing the demonetisation drive, has intensified the agitation against the Modi government after the arrest of party MPs Tapas Paul and Sudeep Bandopadhaya in the alleged Rose Valley chit fund scam.

Mohan Singh had headed the Indian delegation at the January 2 talks during which Sri Lanka also agreed to consider returning a large number of fishing boats while India decided to set free three Lankan fishermen.

Meanwhile, around 2,000 fishermen from this island town returned without catch this morning after they were allegedly chased away by the Sri Lankan naval men while fishing off Katchatheevu last night, Rameswaram Fishermen's Association representative Sagayam said.

J-K: Oppn stalls Assembly in protest against Speaker's remarks

Eleven traders abducted in Meghalaya PTI Tura, Jan 10 : Suspected militants today abducted eleven traders, but eight of them managed to escape their clutches, near Gasuapara in South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.

The traders, most of whom were from Assam and travelling to conduct business near the village of Gasuapara, were waylaid at about 6.30 AM, a police official said.

Eight traders managed to escape from the captors, he said.

The three traders who were taken at gun point by unknown militants, are all from Dalu in West Garo Hills district and have been identified as Tamal Dey (38) of Killapara, Dulan Mahanta (36) also of Killapara and Durgapada Dutta (35) of Chaipani.

"We rushed a team to the spot and were still awaiting details.

Poor connectivity is causing problems. We can have a better idea of the people behind the kidnapping once we are able to confirm the details from the area," Superintendent of police, South Garo Hills Anand Mishra said.

Incidentally, its was the local MLA who informed the police that some traders might have been kidnapped after some vehicles were waylaid by

with an aim to make Delhi open-defecation free.

"The initiative will provide safe and secure environment for everyone, particularly women. We have formed a dedicated maintenance team to ensure the toilets remain clean," said the Chief Minister.

Health Minister Satyender Jain and MLA Avtar Singh from Kalkaji were also present on the occasion.

Kejriwal also promised that pucca houses will for slum dwellers in five years without pushing them to outskirts.

"We would ensure people live a life of dignity and liberty and also make sure such houses will be constructed in their same locality," he said.

The Delhi government plans to provide 10,000 toilet seats before March 2017.

J-K: Oppn stalls Assembly in protest against Speaker's remarks.

PTI Jammu, Jan 10 : Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today as the opposition cornered the Speaker over his remarks on slogans raised yesterday by Congress MLAs. Speaker Kavinder Gupta had said the opposition had lowered the prestige of the House by raising antinational slogans of "Kashmir banega Pakistan (Kashmir will become Pakistan)" yesterday.

Strongly denying the charge, the opposition members disrupted the question hour by resorting to sloganeering while some of them trooped into the Well of the House ask-

ing the Speaker to take back his remarks.

Congress Legislative Party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora denied that any "anti-national" slogans were raised or unparliamentary language used against the Speaker.

Jora, however, said that the party had accused Gupta of being communal and an RSS man.

CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami said no member in the House had resorted to such slogans, adding that such remarks should not have come from the Chair.

He also requested the Speaker to take back his remarks.

Jora had yesterday said the Congress MLAs were raising slogans like "PDP

ka kya farman, Kashmir banega kabristan (what is PDP's call, Kashmir should become a graveyard)" and "PDP ki kya pehachan, Kashmir banega Nagpur (what is PDP's identity, Kashmir will become Nagpur, a reference to RSS headquarters)".

He had said these remarks were misinterpreted by the Speaker, while threatening to move a no-confidence motion against him along with other opposition parties.

Intervening in the house, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said the opposition members should not raise any question mark on the Chair by using certain words. "The opposition should not say so," he said, requesting the Speaker to give a proper ruling and resolve the issue.

Amid the uproar and protests which continued for more than 40 minutes, the speaker said, "If I have heard anything in wrong connotation I take my words back."

On this, Jora thanked the Speaker for showing magnanimity by taking back his words and restoring order in the House.

DIBRUGARH,WEDNESDAY,JANUARY11

BUSINESS Sensex to touch 29,000 by Dec this year:Deutsche Bank PTI New Delhi, Jan 10 : Indian equity markets are expected to move in a narrow range during the year and the benchmark Sensex is likely to touch 29,000 by the end of 2017, says a Deutsche Bank report.

According to Deutsche Bank's India Equity Strategy Report, 2017 is expected to be a year of uncertainty and the market is likely to be volatile and uncertain in the first half and recover in the second half.

"We expect the market to move in a narrow range during 2017, with recovery likely in the latter part of the year," Deutsche Bank said in a research note adding, "We are set-

Image for representational purpose. ting December 2017 Sensex target of 29,000 (around 8 per cent upside) implying PE of 16.4 times on 2017-18 EPS," the report said.

It also said that the market is likely to mirror the movement seen in the fourth quarter of 2016,

unless the Union Budget surprises positively with a tax induced fiscal stimulus.

Global factors that are likely to dictate trend in the markets include US President-elect Trump's economic policies, outcome of the French and

German elections, how the UK manages 'Brexit' and the path of CNY. Domestically, verdict of five state elections in March, Union Budget in February, developments over rollout of GST and other executive actions hold key to earnings and sentiments, the report said.

The Budget is scheduled to be presented on February 1 and the election verdict will be out on March 11, 2107.

In the second half, domestic factors will take over as the key market determinants, particularly the rollout of the GST, and this may likely emerge as the single biggest determinant for economic growth and corporate

earnings in the second half of 2017-18.

Regarding the monetary policy stance of the government, the report said that significant monetary accommodation by the Central Bank is not likely during the year owing to elevated oil/commodity prices, strengthening dollar, and rising global bond yields.

On December 7, the central bank kept interest rate unchanged despite calls for lowering it and also lowered the economic growth projection by half a percentage point to 7.1 per cent in the first policy review post demonetisation.

The central bank will hold its next monetary policy meet on February 8.

Detroit Motor Show: All-New Rupee gains 17 Toyota Camry makes debut paise against dollar in early trade

Detroit Motor Show: All-New Toyota Camry makes debut.

Mumbai, Jan 10 : In December, Toyota released a teaser image of the new Camry, giving us an idea of the popular sedan's sporty ambitions. The cat's out of the bag now, and, as you can see, the popular sedan has been reborn in a more radical avatar. Here's a quick overview of the all-new car: Design Based on Toyota's TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, the new Camry features a sleeker and wider profile, while the structure itself is now more rigid. It also features a double-wishbone rear suspension to improve handling and ride quality, while a new fourpoint engine mounting system helps keep noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels in check.

The overall height has dropped by over 24mm, while the hip-points at the front and rear have been lowered by 24mm and 30mm respectively. A lower hip point, shoulder line, roof line and bonnetheight help lower the centre of gravity - a major design goal kept in mind while developing the new car. The wheelbase has also been increased by nearly 51mm to 2,825mm,

with the length x width x height dimensions coming in at 4,859mm x 1,839mm x 1,440mm respectively.

The US-spec Camry will be available in four variants - LE, XLE, SE and XSE. The new Camry's "Sport" SE and XSE grades wear a noticeably different body style than the entry level LE and XLE grades, highlighted by the more aggressively styled side-skirts, 19-inch black machined-finish alloy wheels (XSE only), rear boot-lip spoiler and aggressive bumpers with the rear bumper featuring an integrated diffuser.

Interior On the inside, the dashboard makes the use of soft-touch trim elements and features a cockpitstyle layout i.e. the gauges are angled towards the driver. The new Camry also features Toyota's latest Human Machine Interface that integrates a variety of information through three interlinked displays a 10-inch color Head-Up Display (HUD); a seveninch multi-information display within the instrument cluster, along with an eight-inch audio/navigation display and climate control panel that sits flush in the centre console.

Powertrains

The all-new Camry features new petrol powertrains, including a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder mill and a 3.5-litre V6, both of which, come paired with a new 8-speed automatic gearbox. The 2.5-litre engine is also available with the next-generation Toyota Hybrid System, which features a CVT. In the case of the hybrid, the battery pack has been moved from the trunk to under the rear seat, again, to ensure a low centre of gravity.

Safety All variants gets 10 airbags as standard as well as Toyota's Star Safety System, which includes a reversing camera, vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control (TC), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist (BA) and anti-lock brakes (ABS). Other features include lane-departure alert with steering assist, radar guided cruise control, automatic highbeams and blind spot detection.

The new Camry will be assembled in Toyota's plant in Georgetown, Kentucky. With the new model, Toyota will be looking to continue the Camry's streak as the USA's best-selling car - a crown it has held for 15 years in a row.

Overall, Camry sales in the USA since it was first launched back in 1983 have surpassed 10 million units. Despite sedans losing their popularity to crossovers/SUVs, the Camry remains one of the most important cars for Toyota globally. It is currently manufactured in 10 plants worldwide, with over 18 million sold worldwide.

Expect it to make its debut in India no sooner than 2018.

Gold tops Rs 29,000-mark, hits over-mth high on global cues PTI New Delhi, Jan 10 : Gold prices reclaimed the Rs 29,000mark by surging Rs 330 to trade at over one-month high of Rs 29,030 per 10 grams, tracking uptrend in the global bullion market and increased buying by local jewellers.

Silver also shot up by Rs 350 to Rs 40,750 per kg due to increased offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Bullion traders said that sentiment got a boost after gold moved up in global markets as weakness in the dollar raised demand for the precious metal as a safe haven.

Globally, gold rose 0.43 per cent to USD 1,185.90 an ounce in Singapore.

Besides, increased buying by jewellers at domestic spot market supported the upmove, they added.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity

Gold tops Rs 29,000-mark, hits over-mth high on global cues. climbed Rs 330 each to Rs 29,030 and Rs 28,880 per ten gram, respectively, a level last seen on December 5 when it had closed at Rs 29,050.

The precious metal had shed Rs 40 on Monday's trade.

Sovereign, however, remained unaltered at Rs 24,200 per piece of eight gram in limited

deals.

Following gold, silver ready also rebounded by Rs 350 to Rs 40,750 per kg and weeklybased delivery by Rs 305 to Rs 40,600 per kg.

On the other hand, silver coins maintained steady at Rs 71,000 for buying and Rs 72,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

P9 Rs 3-4 lakh crore of evaded income deposited in banks post demonetization

Image for representational purpose.

New Delhi, Jan 10 : The government has found that an estimated Rs 3-4 lakh crore of taxevaded income could have been deposited during 50-day window provided to get rid of junked Rs 500/1000 notes.

A senior official said Income Tax Department has been asked to scrutinise details and send notices to depositors of of Rs 3-4 lakh crore on which tax could have been evaded.

The official said cash deposits of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh per account, totalling to Rs 42,000 crore, are found to have common PAN, mobile num-

ber or address. The same would be looked into in detail by the Income-Tax Department.

More than Rs 10,700 cr cash deposited in different bank accounts in North Eastern states since November 9, the official added.

The I-T department and Enforcement Directorate are looking into over Rs 16,000 crore deposited in different accounts of cooperative banks. The deposits of more than Rs 13,000 crore in Regional Rural Banks have also been disseminated.

Nearly Rs 80,000 cr of repayment of loans done in cash post

demonetisation.

"Starting from November 8, 2016 various reports were called for from the banks based on different threshold of cash deposits made by different categories of persons. The reports were collated and analysed based on intelligence which has been available in the Government data bases," the official said.

So far, Rs 25,000 crore have been deposited in cash in dormant bank accounts post demonetisation.

The 50-day deadline to deposit the junked Rs 500/1,000 notes in banks came to an end on December 31.

People still have time to exchange the currency notes at designated RBI counters till March 31 after giving valid reasons for not depositing defunct notes in their accounts by December 30.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a surprise announcement on November 8 declared the Rs 500 and 1,000 notes invalid.

AppleFest on Flipkart: Great deals on iPhone7, iPhone 6, other Apple products start today Image for representational purpose.

PTI Mumbai, Jan 10 : Rupee strengthened by 17 paise to 68.04 against the dollar in early trade at Interbank Foreign Exchange on fresh selling of the US currency by exporters and banks.

Further, forex dealers said, weakness in the dollar against some other currencies overseas, supported the rupee.

Moreover, a higher opening in the domestic equity market influenced the ru-

pee uptrend, they added.

On Monday, the rupee had tumbled by over 25 paise to close at 68.21 against the US dollar on renewed worries over fall in the country's economic growth coupled with concerns regarding quarterly earnings due from this week.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex recovered by 139.09 points, or 0.52 per cent, to 26,865.64 in early trade.

Abolish long-term capital gains tax on real estate, gold: Pai PTI Hyderabad, Jan 10 : Tech investor T V Mohandas Pai today pitched for abolishing capital gains tax on sale of land and property, and gold if held for more than three years, amidst reports that real estate and the yellow metal generate the largest quantum of black money.

Stating that time has now come to tackle the sources of black money after demonetisation, the former Chief Financial Officer of IT major Infosys Ltd said registration charges on land and property across India annually are estimated at around Rs 1 lakh crore.

"Assuming an average rate of five per cent, the gross value registered could be around Rs 20 lakh crore. Even assuming that around 20 per cent of the consideration is paid in cash with black money, the black money used could be Rs 5 lakh crore a year, some with withdrawal from bank accounts.

The main reason for this is to avoid income tax and lower registration charges," Pai told PTI. Pitching for abolishing capital gains on sale of land and property if held for more than three years, he noted that the revenue from long term capital gains around three years ago was less than Rs 10,000 crore and on indirect taxes of nearly Rs 9 lakh crore, around one per cent.

"By this move (abolishing

tax), citizens will be incentivised to register the correct amount, and over five years, use of black money can be almost eliminated. This one move will clean up real estate more than the 'Benami Law'," he said.

Pointing out that gold is "another big store of black money", the chairman of Manipal Global Education Services and Aarin Capital Partners said India imports around 800 tonnes of yellow metal every year costing Rs 2.25 lakh crore (around USD 30-32 billion).

Pai, a member of Board of Directors of National Stock Exchange of India Ltd, estimated that India today has around 25,000 tonnes of gold with around 5,000 tonnes in bars and coins, and the jewellery trade could be worth around Rs 5 lakh crore every year with may be 50 per cent in cash.

The former Chairman of SEBI Primary Markets Advisory Committee suggested that in Budget 201718, capital gains on sale of gold be abolished if held for more than three years.

"The income tax received on gold sales is minuscule but what this (abolishing tax) will do is to make the trade largely honest and ensure that gold becomes more an investment than a store of black money in urban areas. It will also bring in gold into the market as local supply reducing imports, increase trade and create a true gold market in India," he pointed out.

New Delhi, Jan 10 : AppleFest opened on Flipkart on Tuesday, January 10, which will last up to January 13. The AppleFest is offering deals on iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6, Apple Watch.

Discounts will be also be available on Apple accessories, like back cover, lightning cable, also on Apple keyboards and mouse.

Flipkart is offering additional 5 percent discount on going cashless on iPhone 6 purchases through credit and debit cards.

Here's a look at the top deals from the AppleFest on Flipkart: Apple iPhone 7 The online marketplace is offering Apple iPhone 7 (128GB) Jet Black at 7 percent off for Rs 65,000 on Flipkart. One can even buy the device at no cost EMI and users will get Rs 5,000 off + extra 3,000 off on exchange. A buyer of Apple iPhone 7 (128GB) Jet Black is eligible for exchange discount up to Rs 23,000.

Similar offers are available on sale of iPhone 7 (32GB) Rose Gold, Apple iPhone 7 (128GB) Rose Gold. Users purchasing via Axis Bank

AppleFest on Flipkart: Great deals on iPhone7, iPhone 6, other Apple products start today.

Buzz credit cards will get an extra 5 per cent off.

Apple iPhone 7 Plus Apple iPhone 7 Plus (128GB) Jet Black option can be bought at Rs 82,000. An exchange discount up to Rs 23,000 and additional Rs 3,000 off on regular exchange value is available.

Similar offers are available on Apple iPhone 7 Plus (128GB) Rose Gold option, Apple iPhone 7 Plus (256GB) Jet Black variant, Apple iPhone 6 (16GB) Space Grey Apple iPhone 6s Plus (32GB) Silver, Gold and Rose Gold colour options can be bought at Rs 56,999 respectively. Users will get Rs

23,000 off on exchange and additional Rs 3,000 off on regular exchange value. Axis Bank Buzz credit card users will get an extra 5 per cent off.

Apple iPhone 5s Apple iPhone 5s (16GB) Space Gray variant can be bought at Rs 19,999. The iPhone 5s (16GB) Silver colour variant is also available for the same price.

There's exchange discount of up to Rs 15,000.

Some of Apple smartwatches have up to Rs 10,000 off, Apple accessories like mouse and keyboard are on up to 25 percent off and cases and charges are selling on up to 50 percent sale.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 set to launch in India on January 19

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 set to launch in India on January.

New Delhi, Jan 10 : Xiaomi is going to launch the next generation of its one of the most popular Redmi series, that is Redmi Note 4 in New Delhi on January 19.

The Redmi Note 4 was launched in China in August 2016 in two variants - 2GB of RAM/ 16GB inbuilt storage model and 3GB of

RAM/ 64GB storage model.

In Indian currency, the 2GB of RAM/ 16GB model priced around Rs 9000, while the 3GB of RAM/ 64GB model priced at around Rs 12,000.

The smartphone was launched in Gold, Grey, and Silver colours and bears a fingerprint scanner on the rear panel.

Features of Redmi Note 4: The phone has dual-SIM (Micro+Nano), runs on MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow Sports a 5.5-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) 2.5D curved glass display with a pixel density of 401ppi Powered by a deca-core MediaTek Helio X20 coupled with Mali-T880 MP4 GPU. The device sports a 13megapixel rear camera with PDAF (phase detection autofocus), an f/2.0 aperture, and dual-tone LED flash. The 5-megapixel front camera sports an 85-degree wide angle lens. The smartphone supports expandable storage via microSD card (up to 128GB) in a hybrid dual-SIM card configuration.

The Redmi note 4 sports a fingerprint scanner and an infrared sensor.

Connectivity options include GPRS/ EDGE, 3G, 4G with VoLTE, Bluetooth, GPS, Micro-USB, and Glonass.

Redmi Note 4 is powered by a 4100mAh battery, measures 151x76x8.35mm, and weighs 175 grams.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

S Korean dies after setting himself ablaze over Japan deal AP Seoul, Jan 10 : A South Korean Buddhist monk has died days after he set himself on fire to protest the country's deal with Japan on former Korean sex slaves, a Seoul hospital said today.

The monk, 64, set himself ablaze Saturday during rallies against impeached President Park Geunhye. In his notebook found at the scene, he criticised Park's 2015 agreement to settle an impasse over Korean women forced to be sex slaves for Japanese troops during World War II in return for an apology from Japan's prime minister and a pledge of millions of dollars.

The monk was pronounced dead last night of multiple organ failures caused by his burns, according to the Seoul National University Hospital.

Disputes over sex slaves are a legacy of Japan's 1910-45 colonial occupation of the Korean Peninsula. Many in both North and South Korea,

S Korean dies after setting himself ablaze over Japan deal. divided at the end of the Japanese rule, still harbor bitter resentment against the Japanese period.

Park's Japan deal prompted criticism because it was announced without approval from surviving former sex slaves.

Under the agreement that both countries described as "final and irreversible" at the time of its singing, Japan promised to fund a Seoul-based foundation aimed at supporting the victims.

South Korea, in return, said it would refrain from criticising Japan over the

P10 Trump appoints his son-in-law as senior advisor

INTERNATIONAL

issue and try to resolve a Japanese grievance over a bronze statue representing the wartime sex slaves that had been placed in front of its embassy in Seoul.

The future of the deal was thrown into doubt earlier this month after Japan said it would recall its ambassador to South Korea and suspend economic talks in response to the placing of another such statue in South Korea's second-largest city of Busan. Seoul's Foreign Ministry said the decision was "very regrettable.

PTI Washington, Jan 10 : US President-elect Donald Trump today appointed his son-in-law Jared Kushner as his senior advisor that would make him one of the most powerful individuals in the incoming White House team, a move that could be challenged under the 50-year-old anti-nepotism law.

During the grilling presidential election campaign, Trump had publicly acknowledged the important role being played by 35-year-old Kushner, the husband of his daughter Ivanka Trump.

"Kushner has been a tremendous asset and trusted advisor throughout the campaign and transition and I am proud to have him in a key leadership role in my administration," Trump said in a statement.

"He has been incredibly successful, in both business and now politics. He will be an invaluable member of my team as I set and execute an ambitious agenda, putting the American people first," said the President-elect.

A widely respected businessman and real estate developer, Kushner was instrumental in formulating and executing the strategy behind Trump's historic victory in November.

"Kushner has chosen to forego his salary while serving in the administration," the Presidential Transition Team said in a statement.

The incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said that Kushner is "a visionary with a rare ability" to communicate with and assemble broad coalitions of support.

Jack Ma meets Trump; pledges to market US products in China?

PTI Beijing, Jan 10 : Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba's founder Jack Ma has met President-elect Donald Trump and pledged to support one million small American firms by selling their products in China and other Asian markets amid SinoUS tensions over trade and Washington's growing ties with Taiwan.

Ma's meeting with Trump yesterday in New York is being seen as a back door diplomacy by China to blunt his criticism that Beijing is gaining much from the business ties between the world s top two economies while Washington is getting a raw deal.

During the meeting, Ma pledged to help one million small- to-medium enterprises in the US to sell products and services to China and Asia through his multi billion dollar e-commerce

platforms which would also ensure a million jobs in America, state media here reported.

Besides tensions over Trump's aggressive comments questioning One China policy, China has outlined dangers of a potential trade confrontation between top two economies of the world after the President-elect appointed China's bitter critic Peter Navarro to lead the newly created White House National Trade Council.

Speaking with press after meeting Ma, Trump said, "We had a great meeting...and (he's) a great, great entrepreneur, one of the best in the world."

Trump said that together with Ma, they will do great things for small businesses, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post owned

by Ma reported.

Ma said the two shared

Troops shoot dead Palestinian attacker in West Bank: Israeli Army AFP Jerusalem, Jan 10 : Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank shot dead a Palestinian who attacked them with a knife overnight during an operation to arrest suspected militants, the army said on Tuesday morning.

A military statement said that no soldiers were injured in the incident at Al-Fara Palestinian refugee camp, northeast of the city of Nablus.

"An assailant, armed with a knife attempted to stab soldiers on operational activity to arrest suspects," the English-language statement said.

"Forces called the attacker to halt and, upon his continued advance, fired toward him, resulting in his death."

It added that others in the camp hurled explosives and shot at the soldiers.

Since October 2015, 248 Palestinians, 40 Israelis, two Americans, a Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese have been killed, according to an AFP count.

A man walks next to a newly erected concrete barriers in an area of the West Bank.

Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out attacks, according to Israeli authorities.

Others were shot dead during protests or clashes, while some died in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Many analysts say Palestinian frustration with the Israeli occupation and settlement building in the West Bank, comatose peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have

helped feed the unrest.

Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a leading cause.

The Al-Fara incident comes less than 48 hours after a Palestinian rammed a truck into troops visiting a Jerusalem tourist site, killing four soldiers in a stark reminder of tensions despite a recent lull in violence.

The attacker was shot dead at the scene.

"His entrepreneurial mindset will be a great asset to the team as well as his open mind, adaptability and keen intellect," he said.

Trump's transition team said there is no legal problem with having Jared Kushner serve in the White House because an anti-nepotism law en-

acted in 1967 does not apply to the president's staff.

"It is an honour to serve our country. I am energised by the shared passion of the Presidentelect and the American people and I am humbled by the opportunity to join this very talented team," Kushner said.

25 dead, 1 million Indian-origin doctor in US to affected by floods pay USD 250,000 in fraud case in Thailand

Jack Ma meets Trump; pledges to market US products in China? "ideas about how we can improve trade".

"We talked about supporting one million small businesses to sell on our platform to China and Asia, especially Southeast Asia, where we are pretty big," Ma said.

He said that in the US midwest there is a lot of high quality fruit and wine that have great market potential in China.

By helping support small businesses in the US to expand online in China, Alibaba is likely to create an estimated one million jobs in the US, the Post report said, citing recent eMarketer report which stated that Chinese consumers are expected to spend more USD 150 billion on foreign goods by 2020.

Ma s meeting with Trump signals that Trump, whose tough stance on China has cast dark clouds over ChinaUS trade relations, left a door open for pragmatic cooperation with Chinese companies, Chinese experts said.

"This is a sign that Trump is leaving the door open for pragmatic cooperation with Chinese firms, which he thinks could help the US economy and create jobs," Bai Ming, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation told state-run Global Times.

US President-elect Donald Trump.

Kushner's appointment would put him in position to exert broad sway over both domestic and foreign policy, particularly Middle East issues and trade negotiations.

The outgoing Obama Administration said it is for the President-elect to choose his team.

"I'll let President-elect Trump select whomever he would like to have around him. Obviously that's what he will do.

What I can tell you is that President Obama and all of those of us who served on his senior staff here in the White House went to great lengths to comply with the strict ethical requirements that the American people expect of people who are entrusted with so much authority," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

25 dead, 1 million affected by floods in Thailand.

AP Bangkok, Jan 10 : Authorities say at least 25 people have died in severe flooding in southern Thailand since New Year's Day, leaving businesses paralysed and thousands of tourists stranded.

The Interior Ministry said in a report today that the main highway connecting the south with the rest of the country was swamped.

It said 12 provinces

have been hit by unseasonal rains and surface runoff since January 1, affecting more than 1 million people.

One of the main airports and schools in the south remained shut.

The Meteorological Department forecasts more heavy rain in the region, which has popular beaches and resorts that attract millions of foreign tourists every year.

PTI New York, Jan 10 : An Indian-origin dentist in the US is among five other physicians who have agreed to pay USD 250,000 for not rendering paedriatic dental services and making false claims in a government funded programme to help poor children.

As part of the settlement agreement Akhil Reddy, Christopher Steven Villanueva, Trung Minh Tang, Mauricio Dardano, Gabriel Shahwan agreed to pay USD 250,000 each to resolve the governments' claims against them individually.

They are owners or part owners of MB2 and the dental practices included in this settlement, and practice dentistry in Texas. Frank Villanueva, MB2's head of marketing, also will pay USD 100,000 to resolve his alleged personal liability, the US Justice Department said.

"The settlement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protect the Medicaid programme

and the patients it serves from unscrupulous providers," said US Attorney Parker.

"Providers who waste taxpayer dollars by billing for services that were not provided, or were otherwise improper, will be held accountable," Parker said.

As part of this settlement, MB2 have entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).

This settlement resolves allegations that between January 2009, and December 2014, MB2 and affiliated dental practices submitted claims to the Texas Medicaid Fee for Service Program for single-surface fillings in children that were not provided.

Medicaid is funded jointly by the states and the federal government. The state of Texas paid for part of the Medicaid claims at issue and will receive approximately

half of the settlement amount.

This settlement illustrates the government's emphasis on combating health care fraud and marks another achievement for the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) initiative, which was announced in May 2009 by the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Justice Department said.

The partnership between the two departments has focused efforts to reduce and prevent Medicare and Medicaid financial fraud through enhanced cooperation. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act, it said.

Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered a total of more than USD 31.8 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than USD 19.3 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs.

Venezuela opposition renews assault against president AFP Caracas, Jan 10 : Venezuelan opposition lawmakers sought to trigger early elections by passing a key censure motion against President Nicolas Maduro, who is ruling over a national economic crisis and consequent food shortages.

The opposition majority in the National Assembly legislature on Monday declared that Maduro effectively "abandoned his post" by failing to stem the "economic devastation" in the oil-rich country, according to the speaker of the legislature, Julio Borges.

However, the Supreme Court, which has consistently sided with Maduro, was expected to overrule the motion. It has stated that "the National Assembly is not qualified to remove the president."

The opposition blames Maduro for an "unprecedented economic crisis" that has prompted deadly riots and looting amid shortages of food and medicine.

And it plans to hold a session Tuesday on the grounds of Vargas Hospital, one of the 320 public health facilities wracked by shortages. "People need to know that we are there with them," Borges said.

Maduro has blamed the crisis on a US-backed con-

Julio Borges, the head of the opposition-dominated National Assembly, said it had approved a declaration that President Nicolas Maduro had effectively "abandoned his post". spiracy against his socialist policies inherited from his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

The opposition wants to hold early elections, saying the situation is too serious to wait until Maduro ends his term in 2019.

"An electoral end to Venezuela's crisis is needed.

So that the people can express themselves through a vote," Borges said.

The lawmakers' declaration accuses Maduro of trampling citizens' rights and "breaking with the constitutional order."

Maduro's ruling party brass laughed off the opposition

drive in the assembly.

"When they demonize the president's actions, they are implicitly acknowledging that he is in fact governing.

It's just another comic opera," quipped pro-Maduro lawmaker Pedro Carreno.

- More protests? Under Venezuela's constitution, the National Assembly can force the president's replacement by declaring he has "abandoned his post."

Elections are then meant to be held within 30 days.

But Maduro has easily swatted down the opposition's other maneuvers against him so far.

His grip on the courts, elec-

toral council and military has allowed him to stymie a series of opposition strategies: a recall referendum, legislative onslaught and street protests.

The Supreme Court five months ago declared null all acts passed by the opposition-dominated parliament.

It maintains that Maduro is exercising his constitutional prerogatives.

Political analyst Diego Moya-Ocampos of the London-based research group IHS said the opposition's motion will not succeed as long as the Supreme Court remains loyal to Maduro.

"And we will have to wait and see whether it will be accompanied by a strategy of pressure from the street to escalate the protest," he said.

Other analysts said the opposition -- itself divided -would do better to focus on local and state elections due this year.

Venezuelans, meanwhile, must queue hours to buy rationed food and supplies at shops. Soaring inflation has driven up the prices of what goods are available.

Maduro has launched a series of measures to tackle the crisis, with limited success.

Last month, he announced that new, higher-denomination banknotes would be

printed to spare Venezuelans handling unwieldy wads of bills.

That triggered chaos as Maduro tried to withdraw the prevalent 100-bolivar bill from circulation before replacements had arrived.

He said in televised comments on Monday that he now aimed to launch the new series of banknotes on January 16.

- Church blames government The two sides have held Vatican-mediated talks from October to try to ease the crisis. But the negotiations broke down last month, with the opposition accusing the government of bad faith.

Catholic Church leaders on Monday blamed the failure of the dialogue on the government.

"The government is principally responsible for the failure of the talks," Diego Padron, head of the Venezuelan Episcopal Council, told reporters.

"There was not the will to reach an accord."

The council's secretary general Victor Hugo Basabe added: "Regrettably we have a government that is not able to fulfill its commitments... and a fractured opposition that does not know how to put the Venezuelan people's interests before its own."

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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

P11 Rayudu slams ton as Dhoni, Yuvi take India to 304/4

Ambati Rayudu.

PTI Mumbai, Jan 10 : Ambati Rayudu struck an unbeaten century, Mahendra Singh Dhoni blasted 40-ball-68 and Yuvraj Singh (56, off 48 balls) also scored half-

century as India A scored 304 for 4 in the first warm-up game against England, here today.

Another comeback man Shikhar Dhawan hit 63 off 84 balls while left-

arm seamer David Willey took 2 for 55.

Brief Scores: India A 304/4 (Ambati Rayudu 100 retd out, MS Dhoni 68 no, Yuvraj Singh 56, David Willey 2/55) vs England.

Sharapova to make comeback after doping ban in Stuttgart Berlin, Jan 10 : Fivetime Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova will return to competitive action following a 15-month doping ban at the Stuttgart Grand Prix in April.

The Florida-based Russian was originally banned for two years after testing positive for meldonium at last year's Australian Open.

The former world number one admitted she had used meldonium for years and was not aware it had been banned since the start of 2016. Her suspension was later cut to 15 months on appeal.

"I could not be happier to have my first match back on tour at one of my favourite tournaments," Sharapova, who won the

indoor clay event three years running from 2012, said on the tournament website.

"I can't wait to see all my great fans and to be back doing what I love."

She will return to action in time to contest the season's second Grand Slam at Roland Garros.

The French Open begins on May 22.

Cook expected to make way for Root as captain New Delhi, Jan 10 : Reports in The Telegraph on Tuesday (January 10) suggest that Alastair Cook will resign as England captain when he meets Andrew Strauss, the Director of Cricket of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), later this week. The current vice-captain Joe Root will be announced as his successor.

Cook looked a dispirited man towards the end of the recent Test series in India, devoid of energy and ideas, particularly in the last two matches where India made scores of over 600. It was thought some time off over Christmas would help refresh and rejuvenate, but it appears that Cook has decided it is the right time to go.

Should the Essex opener step down, his 59 Tests in charge, the most for any England captain in history with 24 wins, 22 defeats and 13 losses suggest he was a tough and decent leader, but not a great one. There were notable achievements during his tenure, including a fine Test series win in India in 2012, Ashes wins in 2013 and 2015 and an away series victory in South Africa last year.

However, set against that were some rather abject failures including England's first ever Test defeat to Bangladesh in October last year, a

Recent reports on Tuesday suggest that Alastair Cook will resign as England captain when he meets Andrew Strauss, the Director of Cricket (ECB) later this week. drawn series in the West Indies and the 5-0 whitewash at the hands of Australia in 2013/14. That defeat brought an end to Kevin Pietersen's international career, partly at Cook's instigation, which was the most controversial and difficult period of his captaincy.

Many called for Cook's resignation the following summer after further poor displays against Sri Lanka, but a series win against India helped stave off those demands, and Cook

continued for another two years with some success helping to form the nucleus of a side with plenty of potential that Root will inherit.

If Cook resigns, there is no suggestion that he would not continue as a player and, at 32, and with 11,000 Test runs behind him, the lefthander has plenty of cricket left. With young Haseeb Hameed expected to open the batting next summer, Cook's class and expe-

rience will be vital in helping the 19 year-old settle in to his first home summer.

Root's first Test as captain would be against South Africa in the beginning of July and the Yorkshireman would have seven Tests before next winter's Ashes series in Australia to bed into the role. He has precious little captaincy experience, except for a handful of games for Yorkshire but he remains the obvious candidate for

the job.

At 26, he would be the youngest permanent England captain since Michael Atherton, which some may regard as a risk but in truth, Root is the standout choice.

England's management will hope the captaincy does the same for Root's game what it's done for Australia's Steve Smith and India's Virat Kohli who have been in terrific form since taking charge of their respective sides.

Warner aims to improve poor sub-continent record Melbourne Stars prevail Kristen Beams

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New Delhi, Jan 10 : David Warner, the Australian opener, believes there is 'no excuse' for him during the upcoming daunting tour of India despite sporting an underwhelming record in the subcontinent.

The 30-year- old averaged just 24 in India during an embarrassing whitewash in 2013 and struggled in Sri Lanka last year averaging 27 as Australia were humiliated 3-0. Conversely, Warner is almost impregnable in Australia where he averages nearly 60 and is currently in white hot form after outrageous centuries in Melbourne and Sydney against Pakistan.

Boasting plenty of experience in Indian conditions through the Indian Premier League, Warner was confident he could turn around his disappointing record in the subcontinent. "My first experience over in India back in 2013, the wickets were difficult and challenging," he told Foxsports on Tuesday (January 10). "Now, there is no excuse. I've had the experience over

there. I've played IPL over there. The wickets will be a bit different from the IPL, but the training facilities and the heat will be the same. I know what I'm going to get now and what to expect.

"It was a tough time in Sri Lanka. We weren't good enough there and didn't bat long periods," he added. "Our batting unit needs to bat 150 overs. If we do that, we will post some good totals."

After a horrid start to the summer losing consecutive Tests to South Africa, Australia impressively rebounded winning seven straight matches across the formats including a Test series whitewash over Pakistan.

However, Warner admitted the tour of India would be a crux series for Australia's new-look team.

"India is so important on their home soil. England played very well with the bat and the ball and just weren't good enough," he said. "That's how good India is in its own backyard. It's about

in last over thriller

Ben Hilfenhaus scored a quickfire 24-ball 32 to lift his side to a two-wicket win with three balls to spare.

New Delhi, Jan 10 : With both Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars coming into this game on the back of comprehensive wins in their last outings, the pressure was more on the Strikers, who had won only two out of their five games so far. On Tuesday (January 10) at the Western Australia Cricket Ground (WACA) in Perth, the Stars were vying for a spot in the top-three and eventually, it did happen for them, albeit with a lot of drama unfolding in the run chase. The Strikers failed to hold their nerves as they allowed Ben Hilfenhaus to take the game away - with 32 runs off just 24 balls - from a position where the game was tilted more in their favour.

Chasing 153 to win, Rob Quiney started his knock in the top gear, cracking three boundaries off Ashton Agar in the first over while setting the tone for their reply.

Dunk, who top scored with the bat earlier in the game, also picked up the first wicket by sending Luke Wright back into the hut cheaply. Quiney followed soon after, as he holed out to long on, in the last over of the powerplay. Kevin Pietersen walked in at No. 3, only to see Peter Handscomb and Marcus Stoinis depart in back to back overs, leaving Stars at 62 for 4 in nine overs.

The slower bowlers, Michael Neser and Ish

Sodhi, bowled a few tight overs in the middle before David Hussey failed to convert his start into a substantial score, leaving Pietersen stranded at the other end.

Evan Gulbis took some pressure off the big-hitting Pietersen with a boundary and a six during his short stay at the crease, before Pietersen was found short of his ground while scurrying through for a second run in the 14th over.

Just when the match was headed in the favour of Strikers, Ben Hilfenhaus turned the tide in his side's favour, scoring 18 runs in the 18th over, with two fours and a six.

With 11 needed to win in the last two overs, Gulbis perished after his knock of 22, followed soon by Scott Boland in the penultimate over bowled

by Ben Laughlin. However, the Stars managed to eke out eight off that over to draw closer to a win.

In the last over, with only three needed to win, Hilfenhaus shepherded his team to a twowicket win with three balls to spare. While the end result might look comfortable, the 33year-old pacer pulled a rabbit out of the hat in what was truly a thrilling victory.

Earlier in the match, Strikers, who were put in to bat first, got off to a flying start with Ben Dunk hitting three boundaries in a space of four balls of the first two overs, to set the ball rolling in what was nothing less than a must-win affair for the side.

Jake Weatherald, his opening partner, didn't last long as he was dismissed in the fourth over, by Boland, who went on to have a brilliant day at the office later.

Dunk looked the most dangerous of the lot, striking five boundaries during his stay, until Liam Bowe removed the left-hander off the final ball of his first over, as he tried to smash a flighted ball over cover.

The veteran Brad Hodge and Tim Ludeman got together at the crease and there was a phase which lasted for seven overs, where the duo failed to hit a single boundary. In that phase, the Strikers could only score 35 runs in six overs and to make matters worse, they lost both Hodge and Ludeman in the same over of Boland.

While Hodge missed a slog to see his stumps disturbed, Ludeman failed to clear the long on fence.

Kieron Pollard and Jono Dean came together at the crease with six overs remaining, with Dean assuming the role of the aggressor while unleashing a flurry of boundaries to lift the team's run rate. It took the efforts of Boland again to put the Stars back on track, as he removed Dean in the 18th over, who topedged a pull to square leg.

Hilfenhaus's penultimate over drove the final nail in the coffin as he conceded only four runs, before sending the dangerous Pollard back in the hut.

Eventually, the Strikers finished with a tricky 152 for 8 in their 20 overs, courtesy a six off the final ball by Sodhi. While the Strikers failed to up the ante in the second half of their innings, it was largely due to some disciplined bowling

by Stars that didn't let them off the hook.

Brief Scores: Adelaide Strikers 152/8 in 20 overs (Ben Dunk 35, Tim Ludeman 26; Scott Boland 4-30, Ben Hilfenhaus 2-21) lost to Melbourne Stars 153/8 in 19.3 overs (Ben Hilfenhaus 32*, Kevin Pietersen 32; Ben Laughlin 3-19, Ish Sodhi 2-25).

leads Stars to vital win

The win takes Stars to the third spot in the table.

New Delhi, Jan 10 : Melbourne Stars captain, Kristen Beams, backed up her decision to chase and registered bowling figures of 3 for 12 to set up a six-wicket win over Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday (January 10) in the Women's Big Bash League. Following the win, the Stars have now moved up to the third spot in the table.

Beams removed Tammy Beaumont, the Adelaide Strikers opener, in her first over and then took two wickets in her last over to account for Sarah Elliott and Tegan McPharlin, the opposition's captain and wicketkeeper.

Natalie Sciver and Gemma Triscari shared four wickets between them and courtesy regular strikes, Adelaide Strikers could only manage 94 on the board in the allotted twenty overs, despite Bridget Patterson strok-

ing an unbeaten 22 off 24 balls.

In response, Stars lost Jess Cameron to Megan Schutt off the first ball of the innings but Emma Inglis rallied on, hitting 25 off 18 balls, with three out of her five boundaries coming off a single Sophie Devine over.

With Inglis becoming Schutt's second victim of the match, the match looked delicately poised, especially at 56 for 4 in the eleventh over. Katie Mack and Anna Lanning then stitched an unbeaten 40-run stand to take the Stars home with nineteen balls to spare.

Brief scores: Adelaide Strikers Women 94/9 in 20 overs (Bridget Patterson 22*, Sophie Devine 13; Kristen Beams 3-12) lost to Melbourne Stars Women 96/4 in 16.5 overs (Katie Mack 31*, Emma Inglis 25; Megan Schutt 2-14) by 6 wickets

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David Warner.

going there with the game plan. If plan A doesn't work then it's important you have plan B. It can be tough times in India.

"They have slow pitches and little things can become big things if you don't address them straight away," he added. "It will be tough, we know that. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Warner said stopping superstar Indian captain Virat Kohli would be an enormous challenge for Australia. "We all know he's a fantastic player in all three formats. I think he's the only batsman in the world to average over 50 in T20s, onedayers and Tests," he said. "We need to go about our business and doing what we do best.

There is no need to target anyone. He is a good player. We will let him play his way and we will do our thing and beat them like that."

There has been much conjecture over scheduling and the clash of formats due to the rise of Twenty20 cricket. An upcoming example is Australia playing a T20 match against Sri Lanka in Adelaide on February 22, while the first Test against India starts on February 23.

Warner said he was unhappy with the scheduling conflicts. "For me, it's about going out there and playing the game and not worrying too much about that," he said. "In saying that, it is very, very poor scheduling. To have your Test team going away to play a Test match and one-dayers overseas, it doesn't make any sense to us. I don't like it."

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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

P12 Premier League big Mahi maar raha hai: Dhoni guns get favourable of old destroys England in FA Cup draws his last match as captain London, Jan 10 : Hold- Wolverhampton Waners Manchester United and Premier League leaders Chelsea were both handed favourable home draws on Monday against second-tier opposition in the fourth round of the FA Cup. United host nearby Wigan Athletic, the 201213 FA Cup winners, at Old Trafford while Chelsea will also be strong favourites to go through when they play Brentford at Stamford Bridge in a west London derby.

Wigan are just one place off the foot of the Championship and in a relegation battle. Brentford are mid-table.

If Plymouth Argyle can pull off a shock in their home replay with Liverpool their reward will be a home tie with

derers, also of the Championship.

Manchester City travel to either Bolton or Crystal Palace and local pride will be at stake when Derby host Premier League champions Leicester City.

Tottenham Hotspur will expect to beat Wycombe Wanderers, of the fourth tier, at White Hart Lane, but Arsenal face a potentially tricky away trip to either Southampton or Norwich City.

Sutton United, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, will play home to Cambridge or Leeds if they win their replay against AFC Wimbledon.

The ties will take place January 27-30.

Premier League big guns get favourable FA Cup draws.

MS Dhoni does the talking with his bat.

Mumbai, Jan 10 : MS Dhoni, playing his last match as a captain showed his class with the bat scoring an unbeaten 68 off 40 balls, while hitting eight sixes and two fours in the process in a practice game for Indian A against England at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Asked to field first, the hosts scored 304 for four in their stipulated quota of overs while the maverick captain blasted 23 runs off the last over of the innings bowled by Chris Woakes. He plundered

two sixes and two fours in that over to bring back memories of the longhaired aggressive Dhoni of old.

Earlier, India A were given a solid platform by Delhi batsman Shikhar Dhawan (63 off 84 balls, 8x4, 1x6) and discarded Indian middle order bat Ambati Rayudu (100 off 97 balls, 11x4, 1x6).

Rayudu, after scoring his century was called back to the pavilion, paving way for Mahi to enthral the crowd and he did not disappoint.

From there on it was all

Yuvraj and Dhoni show.

The left hander never looked out of touch as he scored with a strike rate of more than hundred while displaying exquisite sense of timing.

When he went back to the pavilion, he had already scored 56 off 48 balls (6x4, 2x6).

Yuvraj had already fired the warning shots that he and Dhoni may turn back the clock and play with freedom like they used to do in their younger days. This was just the trailer, movie is still left to bee seen.

Baghdatis battles Marin's losses to Saina were through in Auckland most painful: Coach Auckland, Jan 10 : Marcos Baghdatis shrugged off injury concerns to reach the second round of the ATP Auckland Classic with a tough straight sets win over Frenchman Adrian Mannarinoon Tuesday.

The eighth-seeded Cypriot showed no sign of an ankle injury that forced him to retire from last week's Qatar Open, moving freely in his 64, 6-4 win at the Australian Open warm-up tournament in New Zealand.

But the world number 36, a former Australian Open finalist, struggled with a misfiring serve, going down a break to Mannarino early in the first set.

He immediately broke back and the pair went toe-to-toe, with Mannarino fending off one set point during a 41-shot rally but eventually succumbing.

Baghdatis said it was good preparation for the seasonopening Grand Slam in Melbourne.

"I was solid through the baseline, I think I could improve on my serve a bit," he said.

Taiwan's Lu Yen-hsun beat rising star Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (11/9) in a rollercoaster match that saw the world number 61 squander four match points before finally downing the towering Russian.

Lu said he refused to be in-

timidated and stayed on the attack, even when facing two match points in the third-set tie-breaker.

"If I had the chance I just tried to go aggressive... I know he's a tough guy and I tried my best. I'm happy to go through," said Lu, who reached the only final of his 16- year career in Auckland three years ago.

Fifth-seeded Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas crashed out in a straight sets defeat to Joao Sousa of Portugal.

With the tournament's top four seeds given a bye into the second round, RamosVinolas was the highestranked player on display in the opening round. But he failed to perform as Sousa ran away with the first set 6-1, then snuffed out a RamosVinolas comeback to take the second 7-5.

"I played a great match, happy to be in the second round here finally," said Sousa, who has fallen at the first hurdle in Auckland twice previously.

Australian-born Briton Brydan Klein battled through to a 6-1, 6-7 (6/7), 7-6 (7/3) win over Argentina's Facundo Bagnis, while American qualifier Ryan Harrison breezed past Spain's Guillermo GarciaLopez 6-1, 6-2.

New Zealand's last local hope Artem Sitak lost to France's Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-2.

Marcos Baghdatis.

PTI New Delhi, Jan 10 : He has plotted the downfall of many top shuttlers in his pursuit to produce an Olympic champion in Carolina Marin but Spanish coach Fernando Ravis says some of the matches that the current World No. 1 lost to Indian star Saina Nehwal were the most painful as it left him frustrated as a coach.

"There were many difficult moments during the last eight years of her training.

We always had to get the best out of the defeats. Some of the matches she lost to Saina were really painful. I had Saina so much analysed that I hated it when she lost to her," Ravis, who has been involved with the Spanish national set up since 2004, starting immediately after the Athens Olympics, said.

"But it has always been a matter of extracting the right information from the match and also how she has been feeling on court and make it right for next time. Players will make mistakes but what is important is to make them aware when and where they make the mistakes," he added.

Ravis said it was the men's doubles gold medal match at Beijing Olympics which motivated him a lot.

"It was very hard to begin it. Yesterday I was watching the men's doubles match where Kido was playing. He doesn't know but Kido and Hendra Sitiawan winning the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics final inspired me a lot to be willing to work as hard as I needed to be sitting at the chair in an Olympic final. So that was the match which made me have the hunger, grit, passion and perseverance to work everyday to realise this dream," he said.

"We had a lot of setbacks in

Saina Nehwal. these eight years. When I presented a plan what I wanted to achieve in 2020, people told me crazy and that gave me the motivation to prove them wrong.

The problem in Spain is that we don't have enough coaches and I can't take care of all the players. That is a main problem which we have to solve in future and not only in singles but also doubles if we have to be competitive in team events."

Asked about the decline of Chinese badminton, Ravis said: "I think they have been too good for too long and when you are too good for too long you don't question your methods, may be they need more time to realise that."

Interestingly, Marin had a difficult time against India's doubles specialist Ashwini Ponnappa who grabbed the opening game from the twotime former World Champion.

Asked about the match, Ravis said: "It was pressure.

She is a human being and she was feeling pressure.

She has emotions and some of them are negative. She was playing a wrong tacti-

cal game but she eventually managed to win the trump match against Ashwini."

Talking about his journey, Ravis said: "I saw a potential champion when I saw her as 13 years old. We got lucky that her parents allowed her to go to National centre and I could shape her according to my coaching philosophy. I always believed that we can deliver. So I have been studying a lot to be far ahead of her badminton knowledge and so that I can give good coaching. I think all credit should go to her."

On the Premier Badminton League, where he is coaching the Hyderabad Hunters, Ravis said: "It is a great chance for the Indian players to development and get to know the different coaching tactics. I have realised that the training and approach is completely different. How I have to interact with Indians or Europeans or Malaysians is completely different. I hope we have the PBL with all the best players in future. PBL is doing a great job not only for Indians but for the world badminton.

Ronaldo lambasts media campaign against him Madrid, Jan 10 : Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo claimed he had to overcome media "campaigns" against him to win FIFA's inaugural "The Best" prize for the world's best player in 2016.

Ronaldo lifted the award at a star-studded ceremony in Zurich on Monday after a glittering year on the pitch saw him lead Madrid to Champions League glory and captain Portugal to their first ever major international triumph at Euro 2016.

However, Ronaldo's year was blighted by reports from an international consortium of media organisations in December that claimed a huge data leak involving 18 million documents

showed the Portuguese hid 150 million euros ($160 million) from image rights in the British Virgin Islands.

Ronaldo, 31, has strongly denied all claims of wrongdoing.

"There were many doubts, many campaigns against me from inside and outside football," Ronaldo told Spanish radio station COPE. "They wanted to hit me from all sides and the truth is The Best was The Best and that is me, so I am very happy.

"They wanted me to feel bad, but as I have said 'he who owes nothing, fears nothing in life'. As always, I have shut up a few mouths once again."

The Spanish tax authorities have committed to investigating the allegations against Ronaldo

and a series of other Spanish-based sports stars named in the "Football Leaks" investigation.

However, the four-time World Player of the Year insists he is calm and believes justice will be done in his favour.

"It bothers me because when you do things well, when you help a lot of people and I am going to mention the award for charity work, which is one of the best awards I have in my museum.

"I have helped so many people and you do so many good things, but people want to hit you to camouflage the bad things that others do.

"It bothered me and it continues to bother me, but justice is always done in the end and so we are going to wait and see what happens."

Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ranji Trophy final, Gujarat vs Mumbai Day 1 cricket score: MUM 228, GUJ 2/0 Mumbai, Jan 10 : Defending champions Mumbai, who topped Group A and became the first team to enter the lasteight, are chasing history against Gujarat in the final of the 83rd Ranji Trophy at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore today.

Mumbai have won the Ranji Trophy on 41 of the 45 occasions they have reached the final and Aditya Tare's boys start as favourites against Gujarat.

Catch cricket score and highlights of Day 1 of the Gujarat vs Mumbai vs Ranji Trophy final here.

Mumbai and Gujarat met once the group stages of the Ranji Trophy. The match had ended in a tame draw but Gujarat had

taken the first-innings lead.

Gujarat have reached the Ranji Trophy final for the first time in 66 years. It was in Indore that they lost the only previous final they had featured in - against Holkar.

However, Gujarat, who crushed Jharkhand to reach the final, won't be pushovers as they have experienced Parthiv Patel, RP Singh and the prolific Priyank Panchal in the side. But Gujarat will miss the services of paceman Jasprit Bumrah, whose 6/23 helped dismiss Jharkhand for 111 in the second innings of the semifinal.

Bumrah has been picked in the ODI and

T20 squads that will take on England and will thus have to report for national duty.

Gujarat Team PK Panchal, MB Patel, RH Bhatt, JJ Bumrah, IH Chaudhary, CT Gaja, CJ Gandhi, SB Gohel, MC Juneja, RB Kalaria, BH Merai, HP Patel, KP Patel, Parthiv Patel, DJ Raval, RP Singh Mumbai Team V V D a b h o l k a r, T U Deshpande, RH Dias, AA Girap, VKD Gohil, AA Herwadkar, SS Iyer, ED Kerkar, SD Lad, AM Nayar, BS Sandhu, SM S h a i k h , P P S h a w, Aditya Ta r e , SN Thakur, PG Waghela, SA Yadav

Mumbai's young batsman Prithvi Shaw has been a revelation this season and played a match-winning innings against Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy semifinal. He has carried forward the good form into the final, scoring a half century (71) on Day 1. Catch live cricket score of Gujarat vs Mumbai Ranji Trophy final here.

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