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PAGE 12 WEGO EXPLORES FILMING LOCATIONS FROM 2016 MOVIE RELEASES

Vol. II

Issue 126

Dibrugarh, Wednesday, November 23, 2016

The age of posttruth politics

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Pages- 12

Ashok : 7002919002

How to Feel Confident Before an Exam

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Bye-election in Assam & Arunachal

BJP hold sway Pradan Baruah wins Lakhimpur while Dr. Mansing Rongpi wins Baithalangso LAKHIMPUR LOK SABHA CONSTITUENCIES Pradhan Baruah : BJP: 5, 51,663 votes

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES WISE Nowboicha BJP 55,306 Congress 81,384

Dr. Hema Hari Prasanna : INC: 3, 61,444 votes

Lakhimpur Amiya Kumar Hundique : CPI (M): 42,667 votes BJP 63147 Congress 37,732 Dilip Moran : Independent: 20,613 votes Pradan Baruah Ranjit kakoti/Susanta Roy/ Amar Jyoti Borah Lakhimpur/Diphu, Nov 22

In a major shot in the arm and passing his first litmus test since taking over as the chief minister of Assam, the BJP on Tuesday won the by-election to both Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituencies as well as to Baithalangso Legislative Assembly seat, defeating the nearest Congress rivals by huge margins.

Dhakuakhona BJP 64,650 Congress 38,276

Hem Kanta Miri : Socialist Unity Center of India Majuli (Communist) 12,402 votes BJP 52,654 Congress 19,094 NOTA: 16,438 voters Dhemaji BAITHALANGSU 45TH HAYULIANG BJP 70,849 Congress 38,935 A S S E M B LY (ARUNACHAL Jonai CONSTITUENCY PRADESH) BJP 97,347 Congress 52,613

Dr. Mansing Rongpi : (BJP) : 72160 votes Rupam Sing Ronghang : (INC): 55560 votes

Contd. on Page 4

Dasanglu Pul: (BJP): 5,326 votes Yompi Kri : (Independent): 4,384 votes

Doom Dooma BJP 38,197 Congress 34,351 Chabua BJP 57,603 Congress 25,635 Sadiya BJP 51,283 Congress 33,024

The victory indicates people’s unconditional support for the Government’s fight against corruption: CM Sonowal A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 22 Nov

Thanking all citizens of the State for decisively voting the BJP alliance candidates to victory in the byelection, results of which have been declared today, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the mandate signifies people’s faith in the efforts of the present dispensation for bringing a tangible change in their lives.

Contd. on Page 4

Dasanglu Pul wins Huyuliang Pul’s victory is NEDA’s victory: Tapir Gao

Bishnu Rana Tezu, 22 Nov

North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) candidate Dasanglu Pul of BJP won the Hayuliang Assembly by-poll after defeating her lone rival Yompi Kri, an Independent candidate, by 942 votes. It was a historic first for the state BJP because the party has never ever won a bye poll election.

Pul, who was contesting on a BJP ticket, polled 5,326 votes while Kri, wife of PHED & WS Chief Engineer Lapalum Kri could secure 4,384 votes in the by-poll held on November 19.

The winner is the youngest of three wives of former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul. The by-poll was necessitated due to his alleged suicide.

A total of 108 voters opted for NOTA, Chief Electoral Officer Kaling Tayeng said, adding an estimated 72 per cent electorates exercised their franchise in the election.

The overall Bye – poll was peaceful and no report of violence in the entire

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, 22 Nov

Dasanglu Pul electioneering process.

Meanwhile, M Riba DEO extended gratitude to both candidates and the entire public of Anjaw district in extending whole hearted support and cooperation to the DEO and other election officials for a peaceful and violence free election.

The strength of BJP, alliance partner of PPA-led NEDA government, has now risen to 12.

People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) has 43 MLAs, Congress three and Independents two in the 60-member House.

State BJP President Tapir Gao who led the election campaign from the front at the ground while congratulating Mrs Pul on her win dedicated the victory as a tribute to former Chief Minister late Kalikho Pul. “On my behalf and on behalf of the party members, I congratulate Mrs Pul on winning the contest.

However this victory is a tribute to former chief minister late Kalikho Pul as much as to the thousands of BJP Karyakartas who have made it possible”, he said.

Claiming the victory as stamp of approval for the newly formed NEDA government under the leadership of dynamic chief minister Pema Khandu, Contd. on Page 4

The ‘Chalo Loku’ begins at Deomali with pomp and grandeur Lomhom Tangha Deomali, 22 No

the Deomali circle. The main attraction of the festival was the eye-catching arrangement of food stalls comprising cuisines from almost all the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.

The “Chalo Loku” the greatest festival of the Noctes of Arunachal Pradesh began at Deomali General Ground today amidst remarkable pomp and grandeur. Additional Deputy Commissioner, B Puriok who was invited as the Chief Guest in the first day has declared the grand opening of the 4 days festival with great joy and enthusiasm among the people of the Deomali town.

The evening session was mesmerized by the musical bands from Tinsukia, Assam who have stole hearts of a many music lovers throng in huge numbers from across the whole circle.

Various dance troops has participated in the festivals from across the nook and cranny of

Additional Deputy Commissioner, B Puriok who was invited as the Chief Guest in the first day has declared the grand opening of the 4 days festival with great joy and enthusiasm among the people of the Deomali town.

The Chalo Loku organising Committee headed by the President, Wangphoon Lowang and its General Secretary, Thatwang Boi have put lots of

efforts to keep everything ready for the festive occasion. The organising Committee where Lommey Shin as Asst General Secretary and Phongson Pungjung as Vice president will spearhead the entire affairs of the Chalo Loku till the end on 25th November.

Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Chowna Mein has consented to grace the famous Chalo Loku at Deomali this year.

The festival is expecting a huge tourist’s turn out from across the country in the next 4 days till the time the festival culminate on 25th November 2016 with DCM as the Chief Guest.

Pengaree militant attack

“I was forced to cook and feed 12 armed militants”, admits apprehended youth in Digboi said that right after the incident of militant attack on Army on 19th last, a group of twelve youths with sophisticated arms and ammunitions and carrying bags on their back entered his house the following night on 20th and forced our family members to provide them food.

‘Upon insistence at around 10.30 pm by the armed youths, we had no other option but to fulfil their demand and get rid of them as soon as possible not even knowing who they actually were’ said Mr Konwar.

Finally after three days of intense operation to hunt militants in and around Pengaree area by Indian Army, the security forces apprehended a youth identified as Jatin Konwar (19) son of Biren Konwar, a resident of Haldibari village of Bhimpather area under Digboi Police Station in Tinsukia District here this morning in connection with Pengaree ambush incident of 19th last on Pengaree-Digboi Road.

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According to sources, based on confirmed tip off available with the army the youth was apprehended early this morning from his residence and handed over to Digboi

Jatin Konwar Police Station investigation.

for

Revealing many details to the Eastern Today, Mr Konwar

Sharing with the media house, Mr Konwar told that the armed group stayed for just 1 hour in their residence and disappeared in the darkness.

Contd. on Page 4

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Laxman Sharma Digboi, Nov 22

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

P2 PMC gears up for 3rd round of Assam governor visits Jagannath temple in Dibrugarh SCM, urges release of pending funds Rs. 2 Cr meant for preparation of proposal for SCM Pasighat still pending

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Nov 22: Assam governor Banwarilal Purohit visited the Sri Sri Jagannath temple in Khanikar area of Dibrugarh on Tuesday. The temple is a replica of the famous Jagannath temple in Puri and was built under the initiative of former Assam governor late JB Patnaik.

The 90-feet tall temple built in a sprawling complex spread over 6 bighas, 7 km from Dibrugarh town is second biggest Jagannath temple after the Puri temple.

During his 25-minute visit to the temple, the governor said that the temple is one of the biggest tourist attractions of the region. He also lauded the effort of the temple committee for finishing the temple in a record time of 19 months in 2014.

Secretary of the Jagannath Mandir Trust Shiw Kumar Bagaria, ADC Hemanta Kumar Das and temple committee members accompanied the governor.

Maksam Tayeng PASIGHAT, Nov 22: After missing in the 1st and 2nd phase of Smart City Mission (SCM) race in the recent past, the Pasighat Municipal Council (PMC) is now gearing up for the preparation of 3rd round of competition which will take place somewhere in March 2017.

Assam governor Banwarilal Purohit visiting the Sri Sri Jagannath temple at Khanikar in Dibrugarh on Tuesday.

Photo by manoj pandey dibrugarh

HOROSCOPE Aries

Are you feeling scattered, Aries? It's possible that you're wondering about a million different things today. Are you strong enough to assume your family duties? Are you attractive?

Are you important? Of course, all these questions simply distract you from your anxiety. Don't worry. The next few weeks will be less stressful.

Taurus

Perhaps you notice some weariness today, Taurus. You have been much more active than usual for the past few weeks. You've been meeting new people, having new experiences, attending meetings, and perhaps even taking short trips. In the long run, will any of it further your goals? That's the question you have to answer today.

Gemini

Are you tired, Gemini? It's no wonder. You're so eager to be useful that you've run yourself ragged over the past few weeks. As you may have noticed, the world is so apathetic now that every movement requires enormous effort on your part. Why not settle down and rest today? That would be the wisest and most reasonable thing to do. You will still be needed tomorrow.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

The planets are moving you into a new cycle, Cancer. Soon you will be in a new "story." You will have to take stock of what you've learned in previous weeks. Who you are is related to the degree of peace you have in your life and whether or not you've been able to resolve some conflicts.

Did you learn your lessons well? Without a doubt, you have a gift for calming tense situations.

Have you done the cleaning that the planetary configurations asked you to do in recent weeks, Leo? If this is the case, today you should start to feel less weighed down by the conventions in your life. You've undoubtedly solved some of the problems in your relationships. You will feel as if you're in a kind of renaissance through the next cycle.

The social agitation that has been in your life for the last three weeks is coming to an end, Virgo. The celestial energy will help you learn some lessons and prepare for the next cycle. It would be great if you had some success and honors, because this would help you confront the coming weeks. It will be a time of meditation and feeling a little bit disconnected from the world.

This is the end of the first stage in your "socialization," Libra. Are you satisfied with the people you've met? You can usually make the most out of these encounters, but did your political savvy let you down? Did it lead you in directions you didn't want to go? Take advantage of this pause to catch your breath and figure out where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow.

This is the end of the voyage you've been on over the past few weeks, Scorpio. You undoubtedly saw some interesting sights.

Whether you were on an inner or outer voyage, the cosmic energy will bring you to a safe harbor. Unpack your bags carefully, as they're filled with treasures and souvenirs. You will want to put them around the house as happy reminders of how much you've grown.

After the events of the last few weeks, do you still want to continue acting like the same person? This is always a good question to ask with a celestial atmosphere like today's. People generally feel that they have a chance to get out of old systems and relationships. But people always hesitate to do this because of a fear of the future. Don't waver. Take the next steps!

The day ahead should give you an opportunity to analyze the events of the past three weeks, Capricorn. You will draw many important conclusions about your love life. You may conclude that matters have evolved little, if at all. This is discouraging, to be sure, but don't place too much trust in appearances.

Remember, things aren't always as they seem.

If you feel as though you aren't making sufficient progress toward your goals, use this day to correct your aim. Are you disappointed with your love life? You may have devoted a great deal of energy to it lately without seeing much payoff. Wait a few more days before you make any drastic decisions about the future, Aquarius.

Are you feeling somewhat annoyed today? This is hardly surprising since the day inspires you to take a long, hard look at what's happening with your life. It's as though you suddenly realize that decisions you make may have impacts that reach far and wide. But don't let that stop you from committing yourself to a course of action, Pisces. Be adventurous!

Bio-Diversity Expedition by UGC-DDU Kaushal Kendra, Tengakhat College ET Bureau Dibrugarh, 22 Nov: The NATURE CLUB, Deen Dayal Upadhay Kaushal Kendra, Tengakhat College, Dibrugarh organized a 35 Kilometer long Expedition on Sunday by walking from its campus to Dighalibill wetland, Sasoni by raising the slogan “KNOW OUR NATURE-PROT E C T BIODIVERSITY” to create awareness about conservation of nature in its originality among students at Dighalibill.

The Expedition was attended by 20 students from Bachelor of Vocation Course of UGCDDU Kaushal Kendra.

It started with welcome address by Mr.Radheesh Gopalan, Coordinator of DDU Kaushal Kendra and Team Leader of the expedition team at morning 5am. The expedition team passed through Tengakhat, Nakhangia and crossed the river by boat at Bamunighat and entered Mothawani of Sasoni. After a brief interaction with the villagers of Mothawani the team entered to Dighalibill via Nakhatia sonowal village. In Dighalibill they observed

the present condition of the bill and safety measures, issues related to the biodiversity conservation of wetland with local fishermen those who are depending upon the wetland for their livelihood.

Nature Club-DDU KK, Tengakhat College, started in September, 2016 is held every week to create awareness of the natural environment in the After reaching the day long expedition, in his conclusion note Mr.radheesh Gopalan added “Looking forward the DDU Kaushal Kendra will continue to promote environmental education as a part of its social contribution activities by organizing programs like Nature Study Camp, River Expeditions and soon.”The Bio-Diversity Expedition was a grand success in order to create awareness about the conservation of natural wetlands and its importance in villages’ day to day life to provide livelihood and it concluded with vote of thanks by Ms.Krishna Sonowal.

Tightening the belt to get the berth this time around, PMC has already started mobilization activities after learning from its earlier past two failed attempts where Pasighat was expected to make it in the 1st phase on the consideration of border state, virgin location with sizable population for effective implementation etc.

PMC led by Chief Councilor, Kaling Doruk, presently camping at state capital Itanagar has met Chief Minister, Pema Khandu, Minister, UD & TP, Nabam Ribia, Minister, Textile & Handicraft, Tamiyo Taga, Minister RD & Panchayati Raj, Tanga Byaling, Secretary, UD, TP and ULB, Director, TP & ULB etc and sought for their active back up in the preparation. While appealing the Chief Minister for consideration of Smart City proposal of Pasighat Town, PMC has also urged the state government to release the pending funds totaling an amount of Rs. 2 Crore sanctioned by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India for preparation of smart city proposal and to conduct other citizens’ consultation programmes.

PMC, in the letter further stated that, they have already participated in the

first and second round of the smart city proposal preparation and now gearing up for the third round, but lack of funds are paralyzing the preparation and due to which release of funds at this hour is very urgent.

PMC has also approached Chief Minister for appointment of fresh consultant for Smart City Mission, Pasighat as the previous DDF Infra, New Delhi has failed to deliver on its commitment and expertise which have hampered the chances of Pasighat making into the race. However, Chief Councilor, Kaling Doruk has said that, terms of DDF Infra as per the MoA has also expired and we are looking out for fresh and committed one. According to PMC sources, Chief Minister was also apprised and appealed for sanctioning of more funds for Pasighat Town’s avenue plantation, construction of drainage, parking plot, other civic amenities etc. to which CM has responded and has

directed the Chief Secretary to call a meeting of PMC along with TP & ULBs. It is worth mentioning here that, amount of Rs. 2 crore released from MoUD, Govt. of India for preparation of proposal for Smart City Pasighat was not used for the purposes it was sanctioned as the said amount was never sent to Pasighat from concern department/s.

Though some of the officials declined to comment and shrunk off from furnishing exact details whenever questions were asked from media, some sources said on anonymity that, the held up of funds for preparation of proposal for Smart City Pasighat was due to tussle within two departments, Urban Development and Town Planning. The accuracy of the exact reason as quoted for non release of Rs. 2 crore for Pasighat SCM can’t be made out, but the subsequent amount sanctioned after Pasighat was also shortlisted among the 98 smart cities a year

ago on 27th August 2015 was not used for the purpose for sure. To make the proposal get prepared and with the hope of getting the sanctioned amount anytime soon, some lakhs of funds (around 30 lakhs) available in municipality was diverted and used. But the amount meant for the SCM proposal preparation never reached Pasighat due to which the concern consultant didn’t put their best.

Today, the people of Pasighat and its region has almost lost the hope of seeing their Town/city making into the race as despite huge enthusiasm and public participation, Pasighat missed in the 1st and 2nd round of competition. But hope, state government led by young Chief Minister, Pema Khandu will put adequate emphasis upon helping Pasighat getting the required funds and other logistic help so that this oldest town of the state gets to board in the 3rd round of wagon (competition).

PROTEST AGAINST BAD ROAD CONDITION

Sangrami Juva Satra Parisad blocked the BG Road at Sivasagar Today in protest against the dilapilated condition of the road. Photo by Firuz Ahmed

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ET Correspondent Margherita, 22 Nov : National Hero Veer Birsa Munda football tournament final match was today played between Dirok Tea Estate and Powai Tea Estate at 15 Number line Field, Dirok Tea Estate in Margherita. A total of 12 teams participated in the football tournament. In the

final match Dirok Tea Estate won by 1 goal against Powai Tea Estate where Bikash Horo of Dirok Tea Estate was adjourned as the Best Player and Ambul Kachap of Dirok Tea Estate won the highest scorer throphy.

Manoj Dhanowar Principal of RD College Digboi,Aikon Thomung

Assistant Manager of Dirok Tea, Amar Tanti Organising Secretary of ACMS Margherita Branch, Milton John Kujur Adviser of AASAA Margherita Regional Committee and Ramanus Lakra General Secretary of AASAA Tinsukia District Committee were present to witness the final match.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

P3

10 to represent state in national Judo championship A Staff Reporter Itanagar, 22 Nov: The Arunachal Judo Association is sending a team of 10 members to participate in the ensuing National Cadet & Junior Judo Championships 2016 – 17 scheduled from November 24 to 28 at Saifai in Uttar Pradesh.

The team of 10 includes Yamyum Khocha, Kabin

Doyom and Yari Maying in the girls’ cadet and will participate in the 15 to 18 years category in their own weight categories.

spective weight categories, while Nikja Tadu and Rahul Mipi will participate in the men’s junior above 15 years to below 21 years category.

In the boys 15 to 18 years category, Namdu Lapung, Bate Manyu, Kato Ngadong, Kamdon Boi and Mirem Tayeng will represent the state I n their re-

The Arunachal Judo team will be lead by Rahul Mipi and the team will leave on November 22 for Saifai, Uttar Pradesh.

Ramesh Linggi, president

of Arunachal Judo Association, Tabia Chobin, principal of Sangey Lhaden Sports Academy, Karbia Dodum Assistant Director of Youth Affairs and Tagru Magong general secretary of Arunachal Judo Association have wished the team success and to maintain true sportsmanship spirit during the competition.

GJCC Pakam conducts workshop on Galo script ET Bureau Aalo, 22 NOV : One day workshop on Galo Script (Modified Roman Script) was organized by the Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee Pakam, in collaboration with Galo Language Development Committee (GLDC) headed by Dr Takop Zirdo, under the aegis of Galo Welfare Society at Pakam Secondary School on November 21 last.

In his keynote address, Dr Zirdo dwelt on the genesis of the Galo script that dates back to the year 2000. He said that many of intellectuals made vicious efforts on development of the Galo scrip in the past and all these deciphered scripts were brought under the scanner of linguistic specialist Professor Tabu Tait at NERIST. It was in the year 2004 that a Language Selection Committee, headed by Tabom Bam and other intellectuals of the Galo society selected the present script based on wider acceptability, easy writing and digital friendliness and approved in the Legislative Assembly in 2008 for implementation.

The scrip gives scope to write as you speak and speak as you write to be on our language.

Dr Zirdo also highlighted initial problems, shortcomings, modifications from time to time and expressed his deep gratitude to Dr Mark Post, who played a crucial role for the development the script and other intellectuals, senior members and workers who were behind it.

He exhorted the teaching community of Galo belts to learn the language and spread it far and wide to have a language of their own.

Dr Zirdo also pointed out level of endangerment and vulnerability trends through power point presentations and called

upon all parents to learn the language and impart it to present generation.

Engineer Kirba Sora, Ego Riba, Ili Riba, Noto Ado and Yadam Loyi were the resource persons and gave tips on the script in the day long technical session that followed.

Indian Badminton Team manager from Arunachal finally recovered his passport from Chinese Embassy A Staff Reporter New Delhi, 22 Nov: After repeated intervention from the Ministry of Home and Ministry of External Affairs, officials of the Chinese Embassy called on Anand Khare, an official of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) at the Embassy office today and handed over Indian badminton team manager Bamang Tago’s passport.

Tago had e-earlier mailed a letter to the Chinese Em-

bassy on Monday, requesting safe and secure return of his national identity (passport) by today, failing which, he had also cited that he would have to resort to file an FIR to recover his passport.

“I went with Anand Khare to the Embassy office today as the original receipt copy was with me, but I was not allowed to enter inside and my passport was handed over to Khare”, Tago said, adding

that he has informed the office of the Union MoS for Home Affairs and the MEA about the recovery of his passport by Khare.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang apologies to the people of India for his “misleading and fabricated” statement.

However, Tago went on to question on how a Spokesperson of China could make false statement. Why are the Chinese returning my passport after the tournament is over? Is it not denial or discriminatory?

Thanking Kiren Rijuju, MOS for home and MEA officials for their timely intervention in recovering his passport, Tago appealed to the Government of India to take up the visa issue of Arunachal seriously and amicably so that Arunachalees do not suffer again.

He also demanded that

District level science exhibition held ET Bureau ZIRO, 22 NOV: The district level science exhibition for school children on the theme "Science, Technology and Mathematics for Nation building" was held in Government Higher Secondary School, Hapoli on November 19 last, with the exhibits of Apul Maga of VKV, Ziro and Pumin Tao of VKV, Yazali coming in at first and second place.

The winners will now represent the district in the state level.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Principal of GHSS Hapoli, Hibu Tama informed that school children from across the district participated in the ex-

hibition. He also exhorted the students to keep themselves equipped with sci-

entific knowledge for success in life.

Cash prizes and participa-

tion certificates were also awarded to the best exhibits.

State Development Council meeting concludes; Govt to engage all stakeholders in budget making ET Bureau Itanagar, 22 Nov: The State Development Council (SDC) meeting, a prerequisite procedure for developmental projects, its implementation and financial matters, was conducted today at Banquet Hall here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Pema Khandu in presence of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who also holds the portfolios of Planning and Finance.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister categorically conveyed that the Prime Minister has given him specific instructions on transparency and that he is duty bound to adhere to the orders.

“It is our collective duty to restore the image of governance in our state. Therefore, I humbly submit to each one of you to exercise caution and restraint and ensure judicious use of public money by following all codal formalities. The government is duty bound to ensure this and needless to say, we shall deal with any violation with exemplary action,” he said.

Regretting that this year due to several unavoidable circumstances the SDC could not be held in time, the Chief Minister, however, emphasized that the single mandate for the Government is to meet the aspirations of the common citizens by bringing in transparency in governance, and providing basic infrastructure, especially in remote rural areas. It was a collective decision of the Government to hold the SDC meeting by all means.

Khandu informed that the Union Government has made certain structural

changes in the budgeting exercise to be followed from the fiscal year 201718. The key changes are i) The Railway Budget has been subsumed within the General Budget and therefore no separate Railway Budget will be presented in the ensuing Budget session, ii) The Plan-Non Plan distinction has been dispensed with and now budget will be classified only in revenue and capital heads; and iii) The Union Budget session has been pre-poned and likely to be presented in the first week of February, instead of the traditional last week of February.

Pointing that the cascading impacts on the states are therefore to be anticipated and necessary preparatory works initiated, he said the State Government is therefore planning to hold the budget Session for 2017-18 in the last week of February 2017, just after celebration of the State hood Day. Khandu proposed to make certain important structural changes which would align the government’s development agenda with that of the Union Government. These, in a nutshell, would be participatory budget preparation by engaging all stakeholders to give suggestions in budget formulation for FY 2017-18, a detailed prebudget exercise from 1st week of December 2016 by the Finance Department for holding wide consultations with all stakeholders including all concerned departments and by January end, the Finance Department will submit the draft budget to be placed before the Assembly. After passage of the state budget in the Assembly, the departments shall initiate procedures for implementation of the budget allocated to them.

ØBy January end, the Finance Department will submit the draft budget to be placed before the Assembly. After passage of the state budget in the Assembly, the departments shall initiate procedures for implementation of the budget allocated to them. ØProjects taken up with the normal state funds shall stand lapsed, if not completed by 31st March ØThere shall be participatory budget preparation by en- 2017. gaging all stakeholders to give suggestions in budget formulation for FY 2017-18, a detailed pre-budget exercise Ø Payments will be from 1st week of December 2016 by the Finance Depart- made on physical progress ment for holding wide consultations with all stakeholders and adherence to codal including all concerned departments formalities.

Khandu said the developmental activities which have so far been taken up in SDC meeting will form part of the budget document to allow departments’ sufficient lead time to plan and execute works and leave no room for uncertainty and delay. Further, the State Development Council will be responsible for holding quarterly meetings to review, monitor the implementation and the financial performance of each department would be closely monitored in order to maintain tight fiscal discipline.

In the present financial year, as the departments have only 3-4 months for implementation of the schemes and projects, the Chief Minister advised all to project their respective requirements which can only be completed in this fiscal after following all codal formalities.

He made it clear that projects taken up with the normal state funds shall stand lapsed, if not completed by 31st March 2017.

Payments will be made on physical progress and adherence to codal formalities.

“These schemes shall not be carried forward in Part V and shall be reflected in the next budget as ongoing scheme. However, CSS projects shall continue in the old system,” Khandu informed.

Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein who is also the Minister of Finance & Planning in his speech at State Development Council 2016-17 informed that the plan size for the current financial year is Rs. 6569 Crores. However, allocation under Normal Development Activities for various departments under Plan allocation has been finalized at Rs. 1459.88. He informed that the major chunks of plan size has been break up for funding state share of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Negotiated loan, SIDF and for completion of projects of State importance which are incomplete due to delinking of JNNURM,

SPA or cost overruns.

He appealed to exercise financial prudence while placing the proposals by various departments and called for judicious use of the State’s financial resources due to meagre resources.

He informed that though the 14th Finance Commission recommendations were very encouraging for the state but the actual remuneration of Share of Central tax by Finance Ministry has not been as per the recommendation and there is gap of Rs. 2240 Crores between the recommendations and actual realization for the last financial year and current financial year. He said such a huge gap has certainly had an adverse impact on the Planning process of a resource crunched State like ours.

However, he informed that the Chief Minister has taken up the matter with the Prime Minister and Union Finance Minster and hoping of a fruitful outcome.

He also said that the State’s Share of Central taxes will be largely utilized for meet-

ing up the additional fund requirement for implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendation which will cause 23.55% increase in overall emoluments for employees which is going to make a huge financial impact on our State’s resources thereby leaving very limited resources for Capital investments.

While observing that the spatial distribution of development activities by various departments have not been equal across the state in the successive AOP/SADA, the State Government decided to have an ‘Assembly Constituency centric approach’ for development and therefore, Rs. 10 Crores was allocated for development of each assembly constituency to ensure balanced development across Arunachal Pradesh.

He said that the State Govt is committed to provide matching State share against the centrally sponsored schemes and therefore, has kept adequate provision for the same. We have already released Rs. 62 Crores as state share and another Rs 40 Crores will be released soon.

He further informed the State Government has taken a bold initiative towards egovernance and the Department of IT & Communication in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre and making efforts to put our State as one of the forerunners in the Country.

“This will not only improve efficiency but will also bring governance closer to the people and make it more transparent” he added.

He also informed that to make the disbursement of stipends hassle free for the students, all stipends and

other scholarships provided by the State Government will be brought under the ambit of Direct Benefit Transfer. This will also enable us to avoid duplicity and pilferage of public money.

However, he reiterated that the Health & Education are priority sectors and the State Government is making all efforts to strengthen them and informed that the State Government proposes to conduct an independent study to analyse the activities under SSA, NRHM and ICDS so that corrective actions can be taken by the Government.

Emphasizing on connectivity of border area, he informed that the State Government is constantly pursuing with the Govt of India for special package to strengthen the basic infrastructures in border areas and proposals for a special package in the sectors of Health, Education, Power, Food & Civil Supplies and Drinking water has already been submitted to Government of India. The proposal is being monitored and coordinated by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

He also underscored the importance of effective monitoring citing that it is critical for successful implementation of projects and judicious use of funds and called to make monitoring a bed rock of management.

He called upon all the Cabinet Colleagues, Commissioners and Secretaries to conduct regular monitoring of all the State Plan schemes, program and Policies.

He also asked all departments to prepare and maintain an Inventory of Assets and submitted to the Planning department which will be uploaded on the website of Planning department and

help in effective monitoring.

He also called to rationalize Chief Minister’s Flagship schemes and to keep its flag flying and urge upon all the Cabinet Colleagues, Commissioners and Secretaries to implement the CM flag ship schemes effectively.

While sternly calling for execution and completion of projects in a time bound manner, he underline that no work should be executed without observing codal formalities as laid down by General Financial Rules (GFR), CVC guidelines and CPWD manual.

Stressing on timely submission of Quarterly Progress Reports, Utilization Certificates and Completion Certificates, DCM informed that Government of India has taken a serious note on the delay in submission of QPR, UCs and CCs by Government of Arunachal with regards to Centrally Sponsored Scheme which has led to undue delay in the release of subsequent instalments adversely affecting the progress of several projects.

He called upon the Commissioners and Secretaries to utilize the online portal as many line Ministries have already opened their online portals for submission of QPR, UC and CC and to upload all required documents online.

He also informed that Planning department will release Rs. 6 Cr to concerned DCs for establishment of Drug de-addiction centres in various districts.

The SDC meeting was attended by the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Commissioners, Secretaries and other senior functionaries of the state government.

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People in Assam have accepted DC distributes Rabi crops seeds to farmer the Demonetization: CM to PM A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 22 Nov: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal who is on a two day visit to New Delhi today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament House and discussed with him on a spectrum of issues ranging from demonetization to law and order situation in Assam.

Chief Minister Sonowal apprised Prime Minister Modi of different steps that the State Government has taken with the help of the Reserve Bank of India to facilitate smooth flow

of new currency notes in every nook and corner of the State in the wake of demonetization of high currency notes. He also informed the Prime Minister that the State Government machinery with the help of RBI, SBI and other Banks has made adequate steps to ensure smooth flow of new currency notes to all sections of people including tea garden workers.

Moreover, Sonowal apprised the Prime Minister that the people of Assam cutting across all class

welcomed the bold step taken by the Prime Minister in banning high value notes of Rs. 500 and Rs 1000 denomination which ‘is a step forward towards cracking down on corruption and hording of black money’.

Sonowal also informed the Prime Minister of the progress of NRC work and Indo-Bangla border fencing. Modi also assured all help from the Centre in successfully completing these exercises for the betterment of Assam. The meeting which lasted for

about 30 minutes also figured the issues like ease of doing business in Assam and State Government’s efforts in facilitating investments and the prevailing law and order situation in the State.

Prime Minister Modi assured all help from the Centre in the State Government’s bid to maintain a robust law and order and protecting life and property of all sections of the people of the State. MPs RameswarTeli and RP Sharma were also present in the meeting.

Pradan Baruah wins Lakhimpur while Dr. Mansing Rongpi wins Baithalangso Contd. from Page 1

While BJP's Pradan Baruah won the Lakhimpur seat by a margin of 1, 90,219 votes, the saffron party's candidate for Baithalangso constituency Dr. Mansing Rongpi defeated his Congress rival by over 16,000 votes.

Pradhan Baruah who defeated Congress candidate Dr. Hema Hari Prasanna Pegu bagged 5, 51,663 votes while Dr. HHP Pegu got only 3, 61,444. On the other hand CPI (M) candidate Amiya Kumar Hundique achieved 42,667 votes while Independent candidate Dilip Moran got 20,613 and Socialist Unity Center of India (Communist) candidate Hem Kanta Miri 12,402 votes.

A total of 16,438 voters pressed the 'None of the above'(NOTA) button considering none a deserving candidate for their betterment.

Out of the 9 LACs of Lakhimpur HPC, the winner and the loser candidate achieved votes as follows: Nowboicha:

BJP-55,306; Congress81,384; Lakhimpur: BJP63147; Congress-37,732; Dhakuakhona: BJP64,650; Congress-38,276; Majuli: BJP-52,654; Congress-19,094; Dhemaji: BJP-70,849; Congress38,935; Jonai: BJP97,347; Congress-52,613; Doom Dooma: BJP38,197; Congress-34,351; Chabua: BJP-57,603; Congress-25,635; and Sadiya: BJP-51,283; Congress-33,024.

Pradan Baruah expressed his gratitude to all leaders and workers of his parent party BJP and its allies Asom Gana Parishad, Bodoland People's Front and Ganashakti for their support.

The Election Department officials in Guwahati said while Pradan Baruah of the BJP cornered 5,51,663 votes, Congress' Dr. Hema Hari Prasanna Pegu could got only 3,16,444 votes in Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency.

Similarly, BJP candidate Dr. Mansing Rongpi bagged 72,160 votes,

while his nearest Congress rival Rupon Sing Ronghang could poll only 55,560 votes.

Polling in both the constituencies was held on November 19 and it recorded about 60.83 per cent voting.

While the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after former Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal relinquished his membership of the Lok Sabha to become the Chief Minister of Assam earlier this year, the Baithalangso seat became vacant after Congress legislator Mansing Rongpi resigned from the Assam Legislative Assembly to join the BJP. Dr. Man Sing Rongpi the BJP candidate who had won in May from Congress banner from the same seat set a rare precedence in Assam's electoral politics by resigning from the state legislature; he joined the BJP as primary member and now wins the Baithalangso assembly seat for BJP. East Karbi Anglong BJP General Secretary

Amarsing Tisso who campaigned extensively in the mountainous areas of Baithalangso assembly segment said that people has total faith in BJP and its leadership and the victory is the best answer of our party to all BJP opponents.

Tuliram Ronghang, Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council who was the chief campaigner of BJP apart from the bigwigs have thanked the people of the constituency for supporting BJP, " I expect that in the coming days people of Baithalangso will keep on supporting BJP to root out Congress from the hills of Assam" Ronghang said.

The strength of the BJP in the Assam Assembly rose to 61 after Rongpi's victory in Baithalangso, but will again come down to 60 because its Lakhimpur Lok Sabha by-election winner Pradan Baruah is an MLA from Dhemaji, a seat which he will have to vacate soon.

"I was forced to cook and The victory indicates people's feed 12 armed militants", unconditional support for the Government's fight against admits apprehended corruption: CM Sonowal youth in Digboi Contd. from Page 1

It may be mentioned here that the villages including Bhimpather, Kherjan, Dhekiajan, Mulukgaon, Haldibari and Tamoli Bongaon are the forest villages bounded by thick reserve forest on all sides.

Pengaree -Digboi Reserve Forest where the ambush had taken place shares a common boundary with Bhimpather area including Haldibari village.

Initially Arbind Konwar (15) his younger brother was apprehended and in lieu of him later security forces apprehended Jatin for necessary formalities and investigation to determine the further course of action. Meanwhile, team of Assam Police led by DGP IPS Mukesh Sahay, has been interrogating the apprehended youth. The youth was taken to

Tinsukia for further investigation.

However, following the arrest of Mr Konwar by security forces the villagers of Bhimpather area mostly comprising the fear-stricken women folk thronged the Digboi Police Station and wanted to take the apprehended youth back home terming him innocent. Later, after receiving assurance from the police regarding the safety of Mr Konwar, the villagers returned home peacefully.

Meanwhile, the security agencies belonging to various wings of Indian Army including the Madras, Kumaon, CRPF and Assam Rifles have been carrying the intensified form of Counter-Insurgency operation in the entire vulnerable belt touching Tarani, Talpather, Ratonipother, Bhimpather, Tamuli Bongaon , Mulukgaon and Mungongpother.

Pul's victory is NEDA's victory: Tapir Gao Contd. from Page 1

Gao acknowledged and appreciated the team effort of CM Khandu, Deputy CM Chowna Mein, Home Minister Kumar Waii and the entire cabinet members and parliamentary secretaries.

'This wouldn't have been possible without wholehearted support and cooperation of the alliance partner, People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) Chairman, Kameng Ringu and President Kahfa Bengia, Gao un-

derlined.

Further, he rated this historic victory as sign of days to come. 'Lotus would bloom more and more; Prime Minister Modi's leadership is not only accepted by the tribal but is being hailed as the golden period of the tribal of the frontier state, 'added Gao. 'Once again, I thank and congratulate the people of 45Hayuliang Assembly Segment for electing our nominee Smti Pul and for the peaceful conduct of the entire election process,' said Gao.

Contd. from Page 1

In his thanks giving message, Sonowal further said that the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unleashed a jihad against corruption and in tandem with the Union Government, State Government has also been taking firm steps to root out all corrupt practices from Government establishments.

The huge margin of victory of both the BJP led

Alliance candidates indicate people's unconditional support for the Government's fight against corruption and the welfare measures adopted during last six months of its tenure, Sonowal added.

Noteworthy to mention that while BJP alliance candidate Pradan Baruah won the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency, Dr. Mansing Rongpi retained his seat as BJP candidate from Baithalangsu Assembly constituency.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 22 Nov: Deputy Commissioner, Hailakandi, Moloy Bora formally distributed Rabi crops seeds to farmers under RKVY 2016-17.

At a ceremonial distribution function organized at the District Krishi Bhawan here today, Deputy Commissioner Bora urged the farmers to make proper use of

the Rabi crops seeds provided by the State Government for optimum production.

Bora cautioned the farmers not to misuse the Rabi crops seeds. The Deputy Commissioner said apart from adding revenue to the State’s coffers, the farmers must also double their income through higher production.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed surprise that despite abundant fertile land, agriculture produce has to be imported from outside the district. Bora exhorted upon the farmers to make the district selfsufficient on the food front and assured the administration’s all help and support. “We must aim to make Hailakandi

district the State’s multifaceted granary,” he added.

Earlier, District Agricultural Officer, AR Ahmed, while explaining the objective of the meeting, said that the district has a stock of 600 quintal of potato tubers, 183.50 quintal of peas, 50 quintal seeds of mustard and seeds of other Rabi crops.

CBSE directive to furnish Aadhaar for JEE worries students in Assam ET Bureau Guwahati, Nov 22: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)'s recent directive making the furnishing of Aadhaar cards compulsory for students appearing for the Joint Entrance Exam (Main) has flummoxed youngsters here.

The state is yet to be included in the Aadhaar network. The application process for Aadhaar card can only begin after the completion of the ongoing process to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Aadhaar cards have not been issued to any resident of the state till now.

The application process for the JEE (Main), which will be held on April 2, is set to begin from December 1 but engineering aspirants from the state have no idea what to do.

Sources in the CBSE on Monday said many students had approached the board to solve the problem.

"A new notification might come out soon exempting engineering aspirants of Assam from the Aadhaar rule. The matter will be discussed at the highest level very soon," said a source in the board.

The JEE (Main) secures admission to undergraduate engineering programmes in

the NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded technical institutions of the country.

Students wanting admission in the IITs and ISMDhanbad have to appear for another exam, the JEE (Advanced).Several thousand students have taken the JEE (Main) from Assam in the past couple of years.

The All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) reacted strongly to the CBSE notification and called for immediate clarification. Aasu president Dipanka Kumar Nath demanded that the government should take urgent steps to exempt students from Assam.

"In the state, the Aadhaar

card system is yet to start.

The process of updating the NRC is going on under the instruction and supervision of the Supreme Court. People of Assam will get their Aadhaar cards only after completion of the NRC update. The CBSE should immediately relax the norms for the students from the state," Nath said.

A manager of a city-based coaching institute said he was hopeful that CBSE would relax norms for students from Assam as they cannot possibly get the document between December 1 and January 2, 2017, which is the period for applying for the entrance test.

Arterial roads of Guwahati fail 'walkability' test ET Bureau Guwahati, Nov 22 : The city is among 20 across the country that have been chosen for the first leg of the Centre's Smart City scheme but Guwahati's roads leave a lot to be desired.

A newly published report on the 'walkability' of Maniram Dewan (MRD) Road and Rajgarh Road has revealed that the two arterial roads do not meet the standards laid down by the Indian Road Congress which is the apex body of highway engineers in the country.

Both roads fare poorly as far as feasibility of walking, infrastructure and safety are concerned.

The report - 'A Walkability Study of Two Major

Roads of Guwahati' - was prepared by the Centre for Environment Education, a national institution with a mandate to promoting environment awareness, Sustainable Urban Mobility Network India and Sustainable Energy Foundation.

Half of the respondents who took part in the survey said the roads were unclean and hard to walk on. All the particpants of the survey use the road daily. Another 75% said policing was very poor on Rajgarh Road at night while 40% complained about non-functional street lights.

MRD Road, on the other hand, has street lights every 40 to 50 meters but

most (around 40%) are kept switched off or are not working. Eight per cent of the respondents also revealed that they had been victims to thieves and eve-teasers on these two roads.

Encroachment by vehicles, both parked and mobile, lack of hygiene, very few walking paths or footpaths, lack of maintenance, blockage by drains and dustbins, encroachment by street vendors, absence of signage in critical places and lack of amenities for the physically challenged were some of the biggest problems faced by walkers.

MRD Road is considered a 'main collector' road and has many important institutions like schools, pub-

lic works department, a park, a petrol pump, restaurants, bus stops along with connecting roads and lanes. "There is a need to strongly monitor encroachment of walking paths. Experts from different fields were part of the study and their recommendations were all forwarded to relevant departments," said Simanta Kalita, programme coordinator of CEE, Assam.

The experts who were roped in for the study said more walkability surveys were required for the entire city to make pedestrians realize their rights.

They also suggested that authorities concerned should make pedestrianfriendly policies.

44 years old found dead with his private part chopped Agencies Guwahati, Nov 22 : A 44year-old man was found dead with his private parts almost chopped on Monday.

Nageswar Sahani, a resident of the Gandhinagar area (about 120 kilometres from here), had been missing from his Laokhowa Road quarters since Sunday. He was found dead at least a kilometre away from his

house on Monday morning.

"It is possible that some sharp weapons were used to hurt his private parts, and that caused his death," a Nagaon Police official said after preliminary investigations were concluded. No weapons have been seized from the scene. According to police, the body was found in the backyard of the residence of a local named

Bijoy Giri. Police could identify the body after recovering Sahani's mobile phone and identity cards.

Nothing was discovered stolen from the deceased.

Sources reveal that Sahani was originally from Bihar.

His wife stays in Dhing.

"We have already detained two persons, Manoj Ram and Maina Das, in connection to the case.

Though the reason for his murder is yet to be ascer-

tained, he was seen with the duo on Sunday evening. Quizzing is on," the official added.

Sahani was sharing quarters with three of his colleagues from the vehicle dealer's firm where he has worked for almost eight years. On Sunday, he left the house at around 11 am, after having breakfast.

Police have completed the inquest and are awaiting his call detail records.

Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) organizes a 2 day international workshop to study River Bank Erosion A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 22 Nov: River bank erosion is a global problem where hectares of land are swallowed by rivers causing loss to life, property, economy and social as well as cultural values of that region. To undergo the challenge of implementing sustainable techniques for controlling River Bank Erosion, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) organized a 2 day international workshop on 22nd and 23rd November 2016 to explore the Best Practices on river bank erosion control measures using Bioengineering techniques so as to enable ASDMA to adapt & adopt sustainable measures for mitigation of River Bank Erosion in Brahmaputra.

The workshop has been organized with the objective of understanding the causes, factors, situations responsible for Brahmaputra river bank erosion hazard, to analyze the success/ limitation of present erosion control mechanism implemented

by Water Resources Department/ Brahmaputra Board and other organizations and to analyze the Best practices on river bank erosion control using BioEngineering techniques through case studies/field experiences. This workshop is the outcome of the interest shown by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Minister of Assam who directed ASDMA to explore low cost ecofriendly measures for erosion control so that the

same can be implemented by the State Government for mitigating the river bank erosion problem of Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

The workshop was graced by Shri. V.K. Pipersenia, Chief Secretary, Government of Assam and other high officials of the Government of Assam. ASDMA explored the possibility of roping in institutions of national and international repute who have demonstrated effective intervention in addressing river bank erosion problem.

This had culminated in holding this workshop with experts from USA, Japan & Bangladesh who shared their bioengineering interventions in mitigating river bank erosion

problem.

Prof. Shariful Islam, BUET, Bangladesh spoke on Bio-engineering techniques using Vetiver system for slope stabilization and Shri. Gearge Koshy, Principal Consultant, Earth and Water, Chennai and Shri. Shantanoo Bhattacharya highlighted the application of Biomimic systems to control bank erosion. A critical review on Prevention River bank Erosion by Using Plant and vegetation was given by Prof. Arup Kumar Sarma, IIT, Guwahati. Mr. Hidetoshi Yokota, General manager, Bridgetone Corporation, Japan and Dr. Shigeti Endo, Bridgetone Corporation, Japan also gave a Presentation on Disaster Prevention Challenge with

cascading Recycle application of Tire Derived Geo-Materials. A presentation on Indigenous Technology and recycle materials aided cost effective erosion protection measures was given by Prof. Hemanta Hazarika, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. Prof.

Arvind Phukan, Former Professor, Alaska University, USA and Consulting Engineer, gave a presentation on River Bank Erosion and restoration using Bio engineering or Nonstructural Techniques in the Brahmaputra river.

The participants from various line departments like Water Resource, Soil Conservation, PWD, Environment and Forest, Brahmaputra Board, Geological Survey of India,

FREMMA, North East Space Application Center and NGOs attended the workshop. Padmashri Jadav Molai Payeng, The eminent environmental activist who is popularly known as the “Forest Man of India” was also present to share his opinion and knowledge on River bank erosion and Mitigation strategies.

The learning from the workshop is expected to help Government of Assam in understanding the feasibility and applicability of adopting bioengineering measures in mitigating the river bank erosion problem of Brahmaputra and its tributaries and also to take up pilot projects at erosion prone sites for demonstration of its effects.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

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CPI (M) win by-polls with higher percentage of votes, Despite win CPI (M) loses vote in Barjala (SC) but gains in Khowai LF committee congratulate people for victory Agartala, Nov 22: Tripura Left Front committee congratulated the people of Barjala and Khowai assembly constituencies for giving massive victory of LF candidates in the by-election results, which was declared on Tuesday morning.

Addressing a press meet here at CPI(M) headquarters at Melarmath area of Agartala on Tuesday afternoon, CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar said that the victory in the by-elections reflect the people's faith in peace, brotherhood and development of Tripura state government.

Giving details of the polled votes in both assembly constituencies, Dhar added that in 25-Khowai assembly constituency CPI(M) candidate Biswajit Datta got 24,810 votes,

In 4-Barjala assembly constituency, winning CPI (M) candidate Jhumu Sarkar got 15,769 votes from total cast votes. which is 66.9 percent of total cast votes. The winning margin of CPI(M) candidate is 16,094 votes compared to its nearest rival Trinamool Congress, which got only 23.5 percent votes. In Khowai , BJP only got 6.8 percent

votes, while Congress got only 1.8 percent votes.

In 4-Barjala assembly constituency, winning CPI (M) candidate Jhumu Sarkar got 15,769 votes from total cast votes, which is 44.84 percent votes and winning margin

of CPM candidate stands at 3374 votes Whereas nearest rival BJP candidate got 35.24 percent votes, TMC got 16.18 and Congress secured only 3.06 percent votes.

The Barjala assembly constituency, which was earlier lost with less vote to opposition Congress during the 2013 assembly elections, the peace loving people of the constituency have once again expressed their faith on CPI (M), said Dhar adding that to honour the people's mandate the LF will strengthen its movement against all communal and divisive forces to make Tripura a developed state of the country.

Dhar added that among the by-elections of two ADC's village committee (VC) seats, CPI (M) won the Rajghat VC seat under

Lefunga block of West Tripura district, while the number-6 seat of Sindhukpathar VC under Satchand block won by opposition Congress with few vote margin.

'As mandate reflect that people has maintained their faith on peace, stability and developmental activities run by LF government despite negative campaign from cross section of society and different political parties, we hoped that in coming days the peace loving people of the state will maintain their faith on Left Front', said Dhar.

In the press meet CPI (M) central committee member Goutam Das and leaders of the LF committee members were also present.

(Agencies)

Agartala, Nov 22: Despite fairly comfortable victories in the twin by-elections to Barjala (SC) and Khowai , the ruling CPI (M) have reasons to worry about the growth , particularly of BJP in Tripura . This proposition is illustrated by the pure statistical data . In the Barjala (SC) constitutency CPI (M) candidate Jiten Das had secured 17,467 votes while BJP had obtained a paltry 511 votes. But the table seems to have considerably turned following the emergence of NDA in power in Delhi as also in neighbouring Assam . In the just-concluded by-election to the Barjala (SC)

constituency CPI (M) candidate Jhumu Sarkar has secured 15,769 votes-a neat 1698 votes less than in 2013. The BJP this time has secured 12,395 votesa big leap from its showing in 2013-and snatched the second position.

However , the electoral profile in Khowai is much more comfortable for CPI (M) as the party has secured a whopping 24,810 votes-a clear rise of 2118 votes from 2013 election when the party candidate, late Samir Deb Sarkar had got 22,692 votes. The BJP which secured third position in Khowai got 2528 votes as compared with only 232 votes obtained in

2013. Trinamool came second in Khowai by securing 8716 votes.

While this provides pain and pleasure for the ruling CPI (M), Trinamool Congress in Tripura, illusorily strengthened by the influx of 6 Congress MLAs, appears to be confronting an existential crisis. Erratic Mamata Banerjee's bloated ego and espousal of the black money cause including telephonic contact with Sitaram Yechudi seem to have dealt a death blow to the fledgling Trinamool in Tripura. The upcoming assembly polls of 2018 seem to be heading for an absorbing contest. (Agencies)

Governor of Nagalan lays foundation stone of Dayanand Vidya Niketan School

Non co-operation of banks abort NMA leaders slam central scheme for self-employment anti-reservationists Agartala, Nov 22: Willful non co-operation of the nationalized banks is aborting an attractive scheme designated as 'Stand-up India' by the central government for self-employment of unemployed youths.

The scheme, launched on April 16 this year, targets unemployed youths belonging to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and women who are required to submit a viable and detailed self-employment scheme . The banks were entrusted with the responsibility for sanctioning loans of Rs 10 lakh-Rs 1crore on the scheme, if found viable, without any guarantee.

According to findings of the state level bankers committee (SLBC) meeting held on September 20 this year , only 17 targeted youths from SC, ST and Women had been sanctioned RS 3.01 crores on the basis of specific schemes , found to be viable, though many applications had been filed. The minutes of the SLBC meeting noted that the bank branches had been instructed to expedite loan

sanctions on viable schemes and fulfill the quota. Speaking directly highly placed sources in the banking sector said that the figure 17 in regard to loan sanctioned was only the figure for the first quarter-that is, April to June. 'Actually till November 87 cases have been sanctioned loans but out of this 56 applicants have been disbursed loans under this scheme' said sources. However, the guideline of the scheme stipulates that a bank branch is to sanction and disburse at least one loan each to a member of SC, ST or Woman applicant in a year and since Tripura has altogether 497 bank branches altogether 1491 cases at the very least should be disposed in a year but this is unlikely to happen in the current financial year.

But many youths who have failed to secure the loans despite having submitted viable schemes, alleged that it is difficult to even speak to bank officials on loan matters who cite preoccupation with other urgent

works. Moreover, the banks employees never upload the details of schemes and procedure for deriving benefit from it with other details like loans drawn by customers and the schedule of recovery on their websites which is mandatory.

'They cite many other excuses to sit over the loan application for inordinately long and it is only when there is political intervention that matters are slightly expedited; even when loans are actually sanctioned the bank officials hardly ever visit the project or scheme sites and thus themselves fail to create an urgency in the customer or loanee to refund the loans' said a frustrated loan applicant Subhash Shikdar. He added that neither the nationalised banks nor the state government shows any interest in popularising the schemes and creating public pressures on banks to do their assigned jobs. 'Unless there is agitation and pressure on banks they will continue to go their own sweet ways at the cost of people' said Subhash. (Agencies)

Nuklutoshi inspects ongoing 4-lane project

Nuklutoshi with officials at one of the worksites Dimapur, Nov 22:Nagaland minister of National Highways, Mechanical and Elections, Nuklutoshi, on Monday visited the ongoing earth cutting works on DimapurKohima four-lane project at Sechu Zubza, Peducha and Perhima along NH-39.

Interacting with the officials of the construction companies, the minister told them to put the quality work on top priority and reminded that NH-39 was not only the lifeline of Nagaland but also neighbouring state like Manipur and other ASEAN countries. "This is the ASEAN Highway number one," he said and further asked the companies to give best quality road.

Nuklutoshi expressed contentment with the road construction works that was being carried out in a massive scale.

The minister assured that his department would always be ready to extend any possible help as and when needed. He also reminded that NH-39 was the only road accessible to the state capital Kohima and insisted that the ongoing works should be completed as scheduled.

Nuklutoshi also inspected

the manpower and other excavators used for the earth cutting works at Pherima. He asked them whether they would be sufficient for such large scale construction works. The officials from the construction companies informed that there should be not any problem. They said more excavators would be arriving.

When queried whether there was any disturbances from any quarters, the officials said they had been carrying out their works day and night very peacefully with the support from locals.

The minister was accompanied by commissioner and secretary NPWD Himato Zhimomi, state quality control board, department officials and official from NHIDCL. Himato advised the construction companies to speed up their earth cutting works before the next monsoon else it will be a problem for the people.

When asked whether they had sublet works to any other parties, NHIDCL manager Rishinandan said no work was sublet, adding that he was in-charge of monitoring the entire works of four lane works of

Dimapur-Kohima National Highway.

Concerning sinking area in various locations along Kohima-Dimapur highway, the officials informed that an expertise team from Chennai and Assam University would be arriving soon to take stock of the situation and said precautionary measures would be taken.

Two construction companies M/s Ramky-ECI (JV) and M/s Gyatri are carrying out works in three sectors of the DimapurKohima NH. The company officials briefed the minister and his tem that national highway traffic would not be disturbed and assured to maintain well before the start of the Hornbill festival.

The companies would be maintaining the existing road during the construction. They would also maintain the four-lane road for four years after completion.

M/s Ramky -ECI (JV) is carrying out construction works in two sectors -- one from km 123.840 to Km 138.775 (road length of 14.93 km) at an estimated cost of Rs 387 core while the other from Km 138.775 to Km 152.49 (road length of 13.72 km) at an estimated cost of Rs 339.55 crore. M/ s Ramky ECI (JV) project manager G.V.P Rao said 50 % of the earth cutting will be completed before next monsoon.

M/s Gyatri is carrying out work from Km 152.49 to Km 166.700 (road length 14.21 km) at an estimated cost of Rs 340 crore. M/s Gyatri project manager A. Murali Krishna said 85% of earth cutting will be completed before next April. (Agencies)

Dimapur, Nov 22: NMA president Abeiu Meru and advisor Dr. Rosemary Dzuvichu, reiterated that Article 371A under the constitution of India, provided guarantee by which no Act of Parliament can override "social practices" of Nagas unless the Nagaland Legislative Assembly reaffirms such an Act. Responding to the series of press statements from various tribal hohos and others over the issue of holding polls with 33% women reservation in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) vis-Ă -vis Article 371A and also bypassing the NLA resolution in 2012; the two women leaders maintained that women not being second to men in Naga society was an irrefutable part of Naga customary law.

They said "many Naga leaders"

who commented on women reservation appeared to be "in total oblivion" on gender equality in Naga customary law which means translation of opportunities for both men and women in sharing on a 50:50 basis.

Thus, they said if political leaders and tribal hohos deny "this equitable share" they would be "committing irreparable injury, not only to Naga customs, but the very letter and spirit of Article 371A(1)(a).

Despite "this inviolable Naga custom of gender equality" the two said women have not been able to occupy even a small space leave aside equal space in electoral politics(civic bodies, assembly or parliament).

(Agenciess)

NPF whip to MLAs unprecedented: NPCC Dimapur, Nov 22: Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has said that the 5point bizarre whip issued by the chief whip of the NPF to its members ahead of the NLA session was "unprecedented and unparalleled in the annals of Indian parliamentary democracy".

Media cell, NPCC said that NPF has taken a leaf out of fascist principle of glorifying a leader and assigning dictatorial power when it was unable to stem the chorus of censure against the DAN government by the head of the state, NPF ally BJP and the people at large.

NPCC said the growth of fascist tendency has shocked the entire stakeholder of the state across political spectrum. In normal circumstances, it said a whip is issued by all political parties to its elected members in accordance with parliamentary practices and procedure before each session of parliament and state assembly.

However, the whip issued by the NPF chief whip smack of a threat by a dictator to its subjects to fall in line or face the consequences, NPCC stated.

It pointed out that the first point-whip itself was "an indication of a diktat of the worst kind sternly warning NPF MLAs that absence during voting to be considered as violations of the directives". In other words, NPCC said it was "a veil threat to the NPF MLAs that absence at the time of voting will face disqualification".

NPCC said TR Zeliang appeared to have been gripped by fear psychosis, notwithstanding the feat of stitching an "opposition mukh" government.

"The lack of congress MLAs has failed to ease his predicament, and presence of overcrowded NPF MLAs has taken a toll on him and suddenly chose to browbeat its own MLAs, by issuing a whip to stem expose his wrongdoing," NPCC said.

However, NPCC said the presence of a lone Independent MLA in NLA has made "TR Zeliang nervous, paranoid and ostensibly sending shivers down his spine and making Zeliang gravitate towards fascism and issue a draconian whip which was unheard of before".

NPCC said "the most comical and the weirdest of the 12th Session of the NLA is the directive given by the chief whip wherein TR Zeliang, the leader

of the house will give indication- nay wink at all NPF MLAs, whether the statement made by independent MLA is favorable or inimical to the government".

Such directive has implied that the ruling NPF MLAs were incapable of ascertaining what is favorable and what is inimical, it said.

Warning legislators not to issue any "statement or criticize, which would cause embarrassment or lose of face of NPF or DAN government" during the NLA session, was the final nail in the coffin of NPF MLAs, NPCC stated.

As criticism and dissent was an integral to parliamentary democracy, NPCC said no government can avoid or escape this reality. However, TR Zeliang has made desperate attempt to bring all criticism and disagreement within the ambit of 10th scheduled, which entails disqualification of a member from the House, NPCC pointed out.

Terming it as outrageous, condemnable and contrary to the responsibility bestowed upon elected representative and parliamentary procedures and practices prevalent in India, NPCC said the manner in which a party treats an elected representative was downright insult to the people of the constituency he represents.

This is a pointer to the fact that all is not well with TR Zeliang's dispensation, an indication that there is still something more to hide and further exposing his culpability, while trying to cover up his wrongdoings, added NPCC. While making it known that Congress was not trying to poke its nose in the internal matters of NPF, NPCC however said the manner in which a whip was issued in the form of a threat would only demean the elected representative regardless of party affiliation.

The muzzling and stifling of freedom of expression on the floor of house, an article of faith for all elected members, would only retard the growth of democratic ethos in a state like Nagaland, where electoral outcome is based on muscles, money, threat, intimidation and diktat of armed groups and village authorities in equal measures, the party said. (Agencies)

Governor of Nagaland P.B. Acharya speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Dayanand Vidya Niketan School at Purana Bazar, Dimapur Dimapur, Nov 22: Governor of Nagaland, P.B. Acharya attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of Dayanand Vidya Niketan School at Purana Bazar, Dimapur on November 21.

According to DIPR report, Acharya said that Nagaland was known for producing the best chilli and ginger. Therefore, he requested Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, founder of MDH, to invest in Nagaland.

He said that people nowadays, being obsessed with learning English, are forgetting the culture and languages of India so that Hindi should be given more importance as it was considered the common linking language of India.

He also stressed that the university and educational institutions should provide quality education so that the students could be the job creators instead of job seekers. Minister of School Education & SCERT, Yitachu said that Hindi was of equal importance which could break the language barrier.

IMDH: Acharya had also visited Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH) Mokokchung to inaugurate the first of its kind in the hospital, the colposcope machine on November 17.

Medical Superintendent, IMDH, Dr Medem and senior gynaecologist, Dr Ademla said the Colposcope machine, worth Rs. four lakh was purchased from IMDH welfare fund to help reduce morbidity and mortality associated with cervical cancer. Dr. Ademla said that Colposcope was used in screening of women for cervical cancer and studies the cervical cells under high magnification and identifies abnormal and precancerous changes in them.

This is not the first time, the IMDH Mokokchung was purchasing urgent needed machine but has been engaged in acquiring machines from their own fund to provide better health care in the hospital.

PRO 5 Assam Rifles: Meanwhile, in a press

note by PRO 5 Assam Rifles stated that governor during his visit to Zunheboto from November 19 to 20 arrived in a special helicopter which landed at the Assam Rifles helipad. He was welcomed by local MLAs and Commandant of 5 Assam Rifles. Governor attended public meetings including a meeting with heads of all department, senior citizens, Mothers Association, Sumi Hoho and stayed at 5 Assam Rifles campus.

On November 20, he visited the district jail where he met and interacted with the inmates.

Later he had meetings with Ex-Servicemen, Bharat Scouts & Guides and Red Cross Society. He also took stock of security situation in a meeting with heads of all security agencies. Before his departure he addressed the troops and families of 5 Assam Rifles. He appreciated the dedication and good work of Assam Rifles and applauded the role of the force to ensure unity and integrity of the nation.

(Agencies)

Hi-tec supervision of MGNREGA projects ordered Agartala, Nov 22: Central Government has decided to go for hi-tec supervision of centrally sponsored schemes being implemented in the states and has already issued necessary order for Geotracking of all the projects implemented under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

It is learnt that a total of 64290 projects has already been implemented in Tripura under MGNREGA scheme since the introduction of the project and necessary adjustments also has been submitted before the concern authorities of the central government.

The instruction for Geo tracking was issued following allegation that many of these projects has not been implemented

on the ground and the large scale irregularities has been taken place.

There are also allegations that in many cases several bills have been raised against one implemented project. Such allegations are received mostly on works like levelling of play ground, digging of pond, construction of roads etc.

Earlier also several instruction was issued by the central government like putting up of sign boards on every sites of the projects so that people can learn about the projects being implemented in their areas and keep watch on them. But it has failed to give desired results.

An official said not only Tripura, similar allegations has been received from most of the states prompting the centre to go

for Geo-tracking of the projects which is being expected to be a full proof system to prevent malpractices. 'If it proved insufficient there are scopes for further improvement', he said.

It is learnt that central government has already sent necessary app's and software's to all the blocks of the state necessary for Geo-tracking.

According to sources the Rega Masters will be asked to take photographs standing on the site of the project with this special app's which will give total geographical picture of the sites.

Each of the blocks also has been asked to give total internet support to the Rega masters so that they can send the pictures to the concerned central authority. (Agencies)

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

Today's quote

“

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lessons from a disaster Railway network that caters to about seven billion passenger trips a year poses extraordinary management challenges, the most important of which is to ensure that all journeys end safely. The derailment of the Indore-Patna Express in Kanpur Dehat, with the death toll at least 146, is a stark reminder that India's strained railway system can be unpredictably risky. The distress of the families of passengers who died and those left injured can never be fully compensated by the announcement of ex-gratia compensation by the Railway Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office and State governments; at the same time, confidence in the system has suffered a severe blow. The Ministry, which has recorded an average of 50 derailments a year over the past four years and a peak of 63, needs to engage in a sustained effort to win back public confidence. There are several elements to safety, of which the integrity of the tracks, signalling, engines and coaches need to be rigorously audited. Internal investigations by the Commissioners of Railway Safety have found human error to be responsible for 70 per cent of serious rail accidents, which underscores the importance of training and adherence to strict operational discipline. In the Patna Express accident, the focus is on whether there were flaws in the track, the speed at which the late-running train was being driven, and the role played by coach design in leading to high fatalities.

Millions of people board a train in India every day.

They need an assurance from the Ministry that it is learning from its mistakes. Specialist committees headed by Anil Kakodkar on safety and Bibek Debroy on restructuring have recommended major reforms, such as the creation of a statutory safety authority, speedy replacement of ageing coaches with modern LHB design, and revamped management that keeps its focus on core train operations. In his budget this year, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu promised that all zonal railways would have ultrasound flaw detection machines by March 2017 to test track quality. It is important to know whether such a test was done on the Indore-Kanpur-Patna route.

After an accident it is the quality of medical facilities that determines a victim's chances of survival. Many terrible mishaps occur in rural areas that have no hospital facilities worth the name, no trauma specialists or intensive care. Upgrading district hospitals should be a priority. More immediately, the Railway Ministry should ensure that bureaucratic procedures do not come in the way of victims getting the best treatment and aid.

DRS clears the test India has a fascinating history with the Decision Review System. It was involved in its conception, was one of the first two countries to put it to trial, and then became the only nation to refuse to use it in bilateral engagements. The DRS was a result of the Sydney Test of 2008, in which consistently poor umpiring created a fractious atmosphere, leading to some of the ugliest scenes cricket has seen. The administrators realised that the umpire, the person with the greatest responsibility on the field, was the least empowered. Television had begun to provide access to information the umpire would have benefited from, but did not; yet he was judged on it. India and Sri Lanka were the first to audition it in a three-Test series in 2008. But it was this very experience that shaped much of India's opposition: the argument was that the technology wasn't faultless and it allowed room for unskilled human intervention. While the rest of world cricket embraced the DRS, with a vast majority of players and virtually every umpire taking the view that it improved the game beyond measure, India held out for perfection. This it was able to do because of the influence it wielded in the sport's administration. But a change in the power equation at the top and the generational turnover of cricketers saw the position soften.

The agreement to trial the DRS during the series against England was viewed by many as a welcome end to intransigence. But to make so sweeping an assessment is to be dismissive of India's reservations. Two significant developments altered matters. The technology grew more sophisticated: the frame rates of the cameras improved manifold, from 75 frames a second in 2011 to 340 now, providing more data for the path of the ball to be predicted; a sound-based edge detection system, allied to slow-motion cameras, helped establish the first point of impact on the pad, greatly reducing human intervention. These were direct answers to India's questions. The clincher was an independent audit of the system by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It helped to a great extent that Anil Kumble was involved in a lot of this. He was India's captain in Australia and Sri Lanka in 2008, the head of the ICC's cricket committee when the process of evaluating the DRS began, and later the national coach. An intelligent, open-minded man with a degree in engineering, Kumble's voice carried great weight. It remains to be seen if India continues to use the system after the England series. But the signals are that it has accepted it.

There is no doubt that the DRS needs even more refinement and greater standardisation. But with India now on board, the chances are better of the evolution of an even more robust system that protects cricket from umpiring errors.

P6

The age of post-truth politics It isn't just the U.S., the climate of blatant lies has permeated politics worldwide. Perhaps it is not that truth is irrelevant for politics but what is needed is a theory of truth that fits politics Looking at the theatre of politics around us today, it is difficult not to give in to a sense of cynicism. Perhaps more than any other theme in contemporary politics, it is the prevalence of lies that characterises the current condition. This is not restricted to the multiplicity of lies that defined the American election; the climate of blatant lies has entered into the way politics is conducted across the world today.

The proliferation of public lying The U.S. election was explicitly about brazen lies and also about the indifference of the voters to obvious lies. We seem to be more used to lies in the Indian political scene but here too the scale and the obviousness of lies seem to be increasing. In Bengaluru, in response to the massive 'Steel Beda' movement against a proposed 6.7-km steel flyover, the government and a minister repeatedly offered obvious obfuscation, those which they well knew could be disproved in a matter of minutes. By brazenly misrepresenting facts, the minister was acting as if politics could not be expected to speak truth.

Mechanisms which seemingly would have afforded protection against public lying have failed. Audio and video recordings of crimes

are quickly dismissed by claiming that they are fabricated. Perhaps never before has it been so difficult to retain any meaningful notion of truth in the public space.

The public discourse of politics is increasingly fractured. There have been violent disagreements over the truth of the 'surgical strikes' across the border and although the public is supposed to consume these reports, they are not expected to have a judgment on their veracity. We have had the spectacle of not knowing whether leaders of the government and leading political parties are alive or not, or what kind of illnesses they suffer from.

Ironically this world of lies and deception is supported and made possible through assertions of one truth or the other. Each party bases their lies on claims that they are speaking the truth while their opponent is lying! Thus not only is there a cynical use of lying, there is also a cynical use of truth to ground these lies - this is the contemporary condition which has been to a large extent caused as much by media and technology as by a fall in standards of public probity.

An inbuilt incompatibility?

But then politics has always had a close relationship

with lies. Politics and truth apparently do not go well together. Harold Pinter in his Nobel Prize in Literature lecture in 2005 spoke on "Art, Truth and Politics" and argued, "The majority of politicians, on the evidence available to us, are interested not in truth but in power and in the maintenance of that power. To maintain that power it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives. What surrounds us therefore is a vast tapestry of lies, upon which we feed."

A report by an advertising agency with inputs from the U.S., U.K. and India in 2012 found that 72 per cent in these three countries agreed that truth was hard to find in politics these days. In all these countries, politicians as a group came last in a list that ranked different professions in terms of speaking the truth.

Interestingly, just above them in the list of truthful people are car salesmen and the advertising community.

In 1967, the philosopher Hannah Arendt wrote an influential essay in the The New Yorker titled "Truth and Politics" where she powerfully articulated the problem in the following manner: "No one has ever doubted that truth and politics are on

rather bad terms with each other, and no one, as far as I know, has ever counted truthfulness among the political virtues. Lies have always been regarded as necessary and justifiable tools not only of the politician's or the demagogue's but also of the statesman's trade… Is it of the very essence of truth to be impotent and of the very essence of power to be deceitful?" Arendt's suspicion that "it may be in the nature of the political realm to be at war with truth in all its forms" was particularly true of the fascist Nazi regime which she had first-hand account of but was also extended to politics in general.

In contrast, there was Gandhi for whom politics was primarily defined through truth. Gandhi also showed how a fundamental engagement with truth could lead to profound political action. This engagement with truth and politics was very much a part of the freedom movement in India and also of the early stages of politics in our country.

Shrinking space for debate So what really is the problem between politics and truth today? Is truth really anathema to politics? Perhaps politics has nothing to do with truth. The main purpose of democratic politics

seems to be only to convince others of something or the other. Politicians have to convince the citizens but the citizens also have to be prepared and ready to be convinced of that position. Almost always, the obstacle to being convinced is not something called the truth but only one's commitment to certain beliefs.

All the public debates in recent times illustrate this most powerfully. It was impossible to even conduct a conversation about certain topics without it degenerating very quickly into a shouting match. In recent times, the reaction to the Jawaharlal Nehru University incidents, the Rohith Vemula case, the discussion on uniform civil code and many such instances shows clearly that public reasoned debate is impossible in our country if such debate is to be based on some notion of truth. It has become impossible to convince the other side by invoking notions of evidence and truth.

However, these public disagreements and taking positions are as much a part of what it is to be political. What is ironic is that political disagreements are couched almost always in the language of truth. We disagree with each other because we do not want to rethink our funda-

mental beliefs but express this always not in terms of ideology but truth. Our fights get out of control because we make it a fight about two opposite truths and not about two opposite opinions.

Rethinking truth for politics We not only think truth is essential when we discuss politics but we also tend to think that the truth we hold is the only truth that is possible. The answer to this conundrum is simple: it is not that truth is irrelevant for politics but what is needed is a theory of truth that fits politics. Each domain of human action creates its own notions of truth and we often use different types of truth in our social transactions. The nature of factual truth, scientific truth, religious truth, artistic truth is different and we negotiate around these truths in each of these domains. Thus, the problem about truth in politics is not that there is no possibility of truth, but that we have to come to an agreement as to the nature of truth that we need in order to 'do' politics. Perhaps that truth is a deep sense of personal truth based on principles of compassion and attempts to understand our 'opponent' instead of a truth based on socalled factual judgments of the other.

There is aggression…and then there is aggression Stting next to the genial, self-effacing Arthur Ashe in the old press box at Wimbledon more than two decades ago, and watching a match between a baseliner and a player who was not only relentlessly aggressive but seemed to believe that a single lost point would at once consign him to hell although he was losing and losing badly - I turned to Ashe and said, "All the aggression doesn't seem to have helped."

Ashe paused, smiled and said: "There is aggression and aggression and aggression in sport, particularly in a sport than pits one man against another and does not involve body contact," I nodded in agreement and then said that I had seen Bjorn Borg put his opponents through a kind of Chinese torture with the expression of a Buddhist monk talking about nirvana. That kind of serenity can almost scare you to a point where you think you belong to some other - less cognitively endowed - species.

"Yeah, Bjorn had that aura around him,'' said Ashe.

Inscrutable super-Swede The man who won Wimbledon five times in a row was a silent assassin.

Sometimes, the superSwede, the greatest teen icon of his times in sport gave you the impression that he was letting the match slip away, and moved on to

another court.

Then you went back to check what was going on in the great man's drawing room - the centre court -only to find out that Borg was serving for the match.

"I have not seen too many like him,'' said Ashe, the 1975 Wimbledon champion.

There were times when you walked into the centre court press box at Wimbledon, looked at the expression on Borg's face, and thought that he was losing badly while in fact he was a few points away from victory.

The super-Swede's face was so expressionless, and gave so little away, that you believed that he was a mobile Rodin masterpiece built by a silicon valley start-up rather than a predator hunting down opponents with an almost blood curdling brand of self-belief.

Two years later, I was sitting with an ecologist on the old No.2 court where the spectators believed that the favourite would certainly lose - it is called the graveyard of the seeds - when the lady I was in conversation with turned to me and said that sport has turned warlike…almost.

"You know what my attitude is," said the woman from New York. "There is too much naked aggression and violence in sport. I stopped watching it. But tennis is an exception."

It was a huge 'U' turn by her because we were until then talking about pre-historic societies and how violent they were - the violence being both intra-species and inter-species.

Nirmal " B u t cricket is fine, I guess," she said. "I don't mind my husband sitting up in his bed and watching his favourites win or lose.''

At once I was reminded of what Groucho Marx said about cricket. "I like cricket because it doesn't seem to matter whether you win or lose."

Say that today to Virat Kohli or Steve Smith at a party and they'd just turn the other way while questioning your sanity. Kohli's aggression - a school-boy brat like quality, an in-your-face, wear-it-on-your-sleeve variety to start with - has now been transformed into a rather more civilised variety.

Mature and mellowed While Kohli can never acquire a choirboyish innocence, he has mellowed and seems to know that an entire nation's sporting image stands on the team's sportsmanship. This is why he calmly applied himself to the task of saving matches as we saw the other day in the first Test against England.

But it - winning and losing - has certainly mattered

Virtually no competition While professional soccer is still struggling to find a firm foothold in the United States, in the 1970s the North American Soccer League marked the brave first attempt to introduce the game to American sports fans. While most teams had only limited success at best, one did manage to break through to genuine mainstream popularity - the New York Cosmos.

It was the brainate soccer fan who Warner Communica-

child of Steve Ross, a passionwas also a major executive at tions.

Max Ross told his son Steve: "In life there are those who work all day, those who dream all day, and those who spend an hour dreaming before setting to work to fulfil those dreams. Go into the third category because there's virtually no competition".

a hell of a lot from the days of Dr. W.G. Grace; now it matters so much that tens of thousands of them (NRIs) do not mind losing sleep whenever and wherever the national team is Shekar playing.

But sport, and verbal and other kinds of violence, have a very complicated relationship going back centuries.

"Sport legitimises violence…the mugger in the parking lot is a villain.

The mugger on the playing field a hero," said the writer Don Atyeo.

You can sledge your heart's content on the ground, then walk out with a wicked smile at your prey, score a century the next day, and all is forgotten.

"I enjoy hitting a batsman more than getting him out.

It doesn't worry me in the least to see a batsman hurt, rolling around screaming and blood on the pitch," said the Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson.

That Thomson's view has changed a bit since then and now it is not germane to the question we are dealing with. Post-career, many players undergo a mellowing down process. But the point is about what a slightly more erudite human being had to say on the subject.

"Sport is war minus the shooting," wrote George Orwell and those words

have been quoted about as many times as Muhammad Ali's "I am the greatest."

Orwell said it when the world was a lot different than it is today.

But the question is this: Has naked no-holds-barred aggression gone up in this generation or has it slid down?

Changing times Earlier this year, the Australian opener David Warner put things in perspective. Said Warner: "Back in the day when you see these battles with the fast bowlers, the batter would play and miss and the bowler would say something, These days it has taken the spark out of it a little bit - love getting into a contest with the bowler; If he gets you out he gets the last laugh, but if you get on top of him, you can."

Of course, those who believed that Bodyline ain't cricket and Douglas Jardine was killing the very soul of the sport - and thought that Australia should cut off diplomatic ties with Britain had they been living today, would probably have hailed it as a tactical masterstroke.

And they will, up to a point, agree that how Kohli has behaved on the field is due to a kind of legitimate aggression and, so far, he has not bragged about or indulged in any abusive manner that was not integral to captaincy.

But the same cannot be

said of Harbhajan Singh in Australia a few years ago when he got into a tussle with Andrew Symonds. Few believed he said what he said he did on the field truthfully after the match was over.

One of the most memorable displays of selfassertiveness, vigour and forcefulness that was so full of positive and laudatory aggression on the field of play, came from India's greatest all-round cricketer when he made an unforgettable 175 against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup. Kapil Dev. Like other greats in Indian cricket such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble, Kapil internalised his aggressive instincts.

He expressed it only with the bat or ball, without any need to use words or deeds that were against the spirit of the great sport they played with such wonderful grace, passion and success.

Recently, the Association of Tennis Professionals banned the teenaged Greek Nick Kyrgios for six weeks because he had conducted himself "contrary to the integrity of the game."

They set an example that others would do well to follow. But ultimately, it is a fact that strictly professional expression of aggression, one of the noble variety, works in sport - even though its despicable opposite too delivers sometimes.

Off the rails The ghastly train accident in Kanpur Dehat district of Uttar Pradesh shows that the railway bureaucracy has ignored most of the recommendations of earlier committees that were set up to look into the issue of safety. For example, the Anil Kakodkar committee that was set up in 2012 came up with 106 recommendations on safety; these included the creation of a railway safety authority. It is inexcusable that the accident can now be blamed on either mechanical or manual flaws. Having trains travel at an average speed of around 60 kmph appears to be reasonable and heavens will not fall. We do not need bullet trains that entail huge investments of crores of rupees. A sizeable amount of the Railway budget must be spent on passenger safety in terms of creating more passenger terminals, computer-controlled track maintenance and supervision, and the extensive use of Linke Hofmann Busch coaches to reduce accidents.

Dwijen Gogoi Gaurisagar, Assam

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

P7

Wego explores filming locations from 2016 movie releases Which destinations played starring roles on the big (and little) screen Rajashree Anadhara

Bengaluru, 21 November, 2016 - As 2016 comes towards a close and the final credits for the year are about to roll, popular travel search site Wego.co.in, reflects on some new destinations that starred in some of this year's most popular film releases.

"At Wego, we've examined film tourism in the past and witnessed how movies and television have contributed directly to attracting and increasing visitors based on the location they were filmed in," said Dean Wicks, Chief Flights Officer for Wego. "In 2016, we've had an array of film releases which have created quite a diverse range of new destination stars, and I expect their unique personalities to feature in a variety of travel itineraries in the near future."

Here's some destinations, and specific filming locations, that took centre stage in 2016:

Doctor Strange, Nepal

The Revenant, Canada

Hell or High Water, New Mexico

The visceral and raw western, frontier vibe come alive amongst the peaks of Kananaskis Country which is part of the Canadian Rockies, near Calgary.

Other scenes were shot at the Indian reserve at Stoney Nation and the Fortress Mountain Resort, just down the road from the beautiful Banff ski resorts.

Global warming was cited as a reason for the completion of the film shoot moving south to the ice fields of Argentina.

An acclaimed, modernday western that premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival, the film was set in West Texas but largely filmed in New Mexico. Scenic shots were filmed in the A l a m o g o r d o Va l l e y, where the shifting dunes of the White Sands National Monu-

ment meet the cactispotted cottonwoods and plains of the Rio Grande rift.

Other scenes were shot in Guadalupe County and the state's other more rustic locations many of which retain the feel and atmosphere of the old west.

The Legend of Tarzan, Gabon With twists of moral crusades and Eastern mysticism, the big action takes place in the Kathmandu Valley with the bustling commercial hub of Thamel and the gold-tipped stupas of Swayambhunath as a backdrop. The UNESCO-attested Pashupatinath

Not quite as wild as viewers might expect, the 2016 remake was shot mainly at the Warner Bros. Studios in Hertfordshire, England. A huge 100 foot collapsible pier and a working, tropical waterfall were created in the sound stages, however a six week session of filming did take place in Gabon in Central Africa.

For those inspired to seek out the real jungle experience visit the wilds of the Minkébé National Park to see gorillas and mountain elephants in some of the last remaining virgin rainforest in this part of Africa.

Temple also featured heavily.

The film's star, Benedict Cumberbatch, spoke of how filming on location in Nepal provided him with a detail he wouldn't otherwise been able to achieve, shifting his mindset into the world of the mystical and strange.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople, New Zealand

Westworld, Utah The backcountry featured in this sci-fi western include the breathtaking vistas of the quintessential American west - hoodoos, canyons and red-hued tabletop mountains.

Most notable locations include Fisher Valley and Castle Valley, northeast of Moab. The first is famed for the rugged Fisher Tower; tall pillars of rock that look a little like creatures and

strange objects.

Castle Valley is known for its ribbed, rock bluffs and red, rocky mountains that resemble giant natural castles.

Manchester by the Sea, New England

We know the beauty of New Zealand well as the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings films, and in this film local director TaikaWaititi does its natural beauty great justice.

Filmed mostly in the North Island Volcanic Plateau and

the Waitakere Ranges near Auckland. The Plateau is where you'll find the gushing geysers and mud pools of the Taupo Volcanic Zone and the outdoorsy town of Rotorua, with the Hobbiton movie set close by.

Waitakere Ranges are lined

with majestic black sand beaches and famed surfing spots, TeHenga and Piha.

Its hills are also the location of the 77 km Hillary Trail, named in honour of Edmund Hillary; the first man (and New Zealander) to climb Mt Everest.

La La Land, Los Angeles Possibly one of the most locationfilled films on the list, La La Land featured a whopping 60 individual filming locations to breathe a real sense of authenticity into the movie.

The reasonably far flung reaches of the Hollywood Hills and Santa Monica Mountains were included which ensures a good view of the famed Hollywood sign. Cultural cen-

With the somewhat haunting atmosphere of tre Pasadena and the striking Colo- New England, filming rado Street Bridge also feature. was undertaken in the towns of Gloucester and The urban ruggedness of Angels Salem.

Flight, a disused funicular railway in Bunker Hill provides some contrast, It's an historical area and there's a metaphor-loaded mo- and Gloucester exudes ment when Gosling and Stone (the an authentic artsy vibe film's leads) ascend to the stars, which and is filled with gallerwas suitably filmed at the Griffith ies. On the town's outObservatory. skirts is the awesome Hammond Castle.

Salem is well known thanks to its witching

history, and was also the setting for Arthur Miller's play The Crucible. Home to the timber House of the Seven Gables made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel of the same name.

You can take tours related to witchcraft and visit the Pioneer Village deep in the woods; America's first living museum that recreates the life of Puritans and the first English settlers on the coast.

About Wego Rams, Iceland With an already elevated profile thanks to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty which featured Iceland's stunning countryside, Rams was filmed on location in the remote northern valley of Bárðardalur.

Mother nature is harsh and beautiful in this quiet, rural region - visit t h e breathtakingGoðafoss, a 12 meter dramatic waterfall and watch the

awesome Northern for this 18th century roLights dance across the mance, with its hearty sky. country pubs and stunning cliff walks.

Eyjafjördur Fjord carves its way inland Newbridge Estate was from the sea, and the the primary filming locoastal city of Akureyri cation with its Georgian is filled with cozy cafes architecture, regal garand seafood eateries. dens and the ancestral Love & Friendship, home of the Cobbe famDublin] ily. It's also where the famed Cobbe portrait of Filmed just outside of Shakespeare was found Dublin, Donabate, a - said to be the last resmall coastal town in maining image of the Fingal was the backdrop bard.

Wego.com provides award winning travel search websites and top ranked mobile apps for travellers living in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airline, hotel and online travel agency websites.Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether from an airline or hotel direct, or with a third party aggregator website.Wego was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Singapore with regional operations in Dubai, Bangalore and Jakarta. Investors include Tiger Global Management, Crescent Point Group and SquarePeg Capital. Each month Wego sends flight and hotel booking referrals worth US$1.5B to travel partners.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

NATION PM has created a new normal, will clean and expand economy: FM

New Delhi, Nov 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created a "new normal" of white transactions with crackdown on black money, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today, asserting that demonetisation will lead to a jump in private investment and more public spending on welfare measures.

Addressing BJP parliamentary party over the fallout of the decision, he took a dig at Rahul Gandhi saying on the one hand the Congress leader says the demonetisation decision was selectively leaked to BJP top brass and on the other he claims "that even Finance Minister, that means I, was also not aware".

Speaking at length, Jaitley explained all aspects of the move and said, "Demonetisation has direct relation with poor, with poverty and with

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. poverty alleviation" and said once the replacement of currency reaches a reasonable level, the restrictions will be eased.

Explaining the likely positive outcomes of this move, Jaitley said the country annually borrows Rs 4-5 lakh crore and after this move and these funds can be used for public spending for development of rural areas and uplift of poor.

About Rs 8 lakh crore will be collected from income tax this year and Rs 8.5 lakh crore from indirect tax but despite that another Rs 4-5 lakh crore is required to bear expenses for running the country, he said. "..so if the honest tax paying system establishes in the country...then do we need to borrow money...and in the case these borrowings of about

Jindal in HC for refund of Rs 1185cr additional levy New Delhi, Nov 22: Delhi High Court today sought the government's response on Jindal Power Ltd's plea for refund of over Rs 1185 crore paid by it as additional levy for taking part in the coal auction and challenging the provisions of the Coal Mines Act which makes such levy mandatory.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice V Kameswar Rao issued notice to the ministries of Coal and Law and Justice seeking their replies

by February 13 next year on Jindal's plea.

In its petition, the company also assailed a 201213 report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to the extent it calculated that there was a net gain of Rs 295 per metric tonne (PMT) of coal to allottees who op-

erated the blocks.

The CAG report had also estimated a financial gain of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to prior private allottees.

Jindal has said it was allocated Gare Palma IV/ 2 and IV/3 blocks at Raigarh in Chhattisgarh to meet its requirement for running a 1000 mega watt power plant there.

The Supreme Court on September 24, 2014 had cancelled allocation of 214 coal blocks, including those of Jindal.

In its plea, the company has contended that it had paid under protest a total of Rs 1185,20,33,280 as additional levy for participating in the auction process.

It had sought refund of the entire amount claiming that the government's letters demanding payment of the amount was

illegal and without any authorisation.

The company contended that the government cannot impose any such levy without first adjudicating the issue and sought that the provisions in the Act which provided for such levy be declared ultra vires of the Constitution.

It opposed the figure of Rs 295 PMT calculated as net gain by CAG, alleging that the report of the auditing body "fails to show any intelligible differentia of coal alloted or nature of mines".

The petition further claims that the CAG audit was carried out without any direction from the President, Governor or Administrator, as required under the law and sought that the report be declared as unlawful and ultra vires. (PTI)

Opposition running away from debate on demonetisation: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad New Delhi, Nov 22: Accusing opposition parties of "running away" from a debate on the demonetisation issue in Parliament, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said it only shows they are not serious in the fight against corruption. Prasad said there should be a debate on the issue and the government is willing to listen to the Opposition's viewpoint and also respond.

"But let me ask a counter ques-

tion, why is the opposition running away from a debate?

Should we presume that they have nothing concrete to offer or they are not willing to hear our response?" he wondered.

The minister claimed that the measure to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes is being supported by the entire country, adding that the government has taken proactive steps for farmers or families to help them manage circumstances like weddings.

"Running away from a debate clearly shows, they are not serious in the fight against corruption. We have the people of India on our side," he alleged.

Hitting out at the Congress, Prasad said that the party is losing all moorings of statesmanship.

"Do we do politics everywhere? Then I am entitled to ask a counter question, are you serious in the fight against corruption or not? In the fight against black money or not?

Today, the backbone of Maoists has been broken, the backbone of terrorists has been broken," Prasad claimed, adding that demonetisation is already showing positive results.

Prasad also took a swipe at AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, saying he has nothing left to govern in Delhi and he is always bent on opposition. "But we are worried about why Mamata\ (Banerjee) ji is doing.

Why Left?

"They are supposed to have articulated issues of propriety and probity in public life and this far-reaching change is going to implement in a very, very profound way," he added. (PTI)

Narayanasamy to be inducted as member of Assembly tomorrow Pondicherry , Nov 22: Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who won the Nellithope Assembly bypoll, will be inducted as a member of the House tomorrow.

He would be inducted as memberby the Speaker V Vaithilingam in the latter's chamber in the Assembly premises at 11 am, official sources said.

The 69-year-old senior Congress leader, who was Minister of State in

the Prime Minister's Office in the second UPA government after serving as MoS Parliamentary Affairs in UPA-I, was sworn in as Chief Minister on June 6, though he was not a member of the Assembly.

A John Kumar of the Congress had vacated the Nellithope seat on September 15 to enable Narayanasamy to contest a by-election before December 6 deadline for

getting elected to the House.

Narayanasamy defeated AIADMK's Om Sakthi Segar in the bypoll, held on November 19, by a margin of 11,144 votes.

While Narayanasamy polled 18,709 votes, Segar got 7,565 votes.

With his election, the strength of the Congress in the 30-member Assembly has been restored to 15 while its ally DMK has two members. (PTI)

Rs 4-5 lakh crore annually can be utilised in rural areas for poverty alleviation and other similar measures," Jaitley added.

Terming the decision as historic, he said that Modi with his courageous step has created a new normal of white transactions. "...what was normal from last 70 years that this much in cash and this much in cheque... but now Prime Minister has created a new normal," he said.

"Today every honest citizen feels that a premium has been given for his honesty. In long term this landmark step will increase the size of official economy and reduce the shadow economy," he said.

Giving rationale behind this move, the Finance Minister said in developed countries currency is normally 4 per cent of GDP but in India it is 12 per cent of the GDP. Therefore, most trade

happens in cash and is out of banking system. As a result black money, fake currency, and non-compliance of tax are attached with it, he added.

"Today you see lakh of crores of rupees which was in cash has come into banking system. This is low cost money. Now banks will have capacities to provide more loans for infrastructure development, agriculture and private sector... banks have also started reducing interest rates," Jaitley added.

The cessation of legal tenders Rs 500 and 1000 is followed by remonetisation so that alternative currency should reach people.

"Once this remonetisation reaches reasonable level, we will take back all restrictions but till then there will be a difficult for some days," Jaitley said.

(PTI)

Bengal bypolls results a ' revolt' against demonetisation: Mamata Banerjee

Banerjee said her party won so massively as "the people have voted for those working in the people's interest.

Kolkata, Nov 22: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has described Trinamool Congress' victory in the state bypolls as "people's revolt" against demonetisation and urged all political parties to start a wave of protests.

"People have revolted.

This is symbolic. It is a vote against demonetisation. In a democracy, people vent their anger through votes," Banerjee told mediapersons on Tuesday.

The TMC retained the Tamluk Lok Sabha and Monteshwar assembly seats by huge margins and also established a massive lead in the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency.

Banerjee said her party won so massively as "the people have voted for those working in the

people's interest.

"This huge victory is the victory of common people. I congratulate them for the result," Banerjee said at the airport on her way to Delhi. "I want people across all political parties to start a wave of protest" against demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, the chief minister said.

TMC candidate Dibyendu Adhikari won Tamluk Lok Sabha seat defeating his nearest CPI(M) rival Mandira Panda by 4.97 lakh votes. TMC candidate Saikat Panja registered a massive victory in Monteswar Assembly bypoll by defeating his nearest CPIM rival Md Osman Gani Sarkar by 1,27,127 votes. TMC's Parthapratim Roy has taken a lead of over 3.2 lakh votes over his nearest rival of BJP. (PTI)

Flying licence of Air Pegasus suspended New Delhi, Nov 22: The civil aviation regulator, DGCA has suspened the flying licence of the grounded regional carrier Air Pegasus after the Bengaluru-based carrier failed to give assurance on resumption of its operations.

The order for suspension of the Air Operator Permit (AOP) or flying licence of Air Pegasus was issued on November 8, 2016, according to the DGCA. Air Pegasus has not been operating its services since July 27 following huge losses and its failure to pay lease rentals to the aircraft lessors.

Earlier on October 5, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had issued a show cause notice to Air Pegasus, asking why its AOP should not be suspended for its failure to carry out operations.

As per Section 15(2)(b) of

Schedule XI of the Aircraft Rules 1937, DGCA may cancel or suspend permit of an airline for such period as it thinks fit, if it is satisfied that the holder of the permit has failed to establish a safe, efficient and reliable service.

The regulator had given 15 days time to the regional carrier to respond to its notice.

Before suspending operations for an indefinite period, the carrier flew from Bengaluru to at least seven destinations in southern India.

"Capability to operate services is one of the conditions to secure flying permit. However, all three aircraft of Air Pegasus are grounded and its capability (to run the services) has degraded," the official said.

Air Pegasus had started operations in April 2015.

(Agencies)

P8 Govt considering to empower NIA to take up probe abroad New Delhi, Nov 22 : A proposal has been mooted by the government for arming National Investigation Agency (NIA) with a provision to register a case and investigate if an Indian is killed or injured in a terror act overseas.

This information was shared by Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir while replying to written questions in the Lok Sabha today.

"A proposal to enable the NIA to take up investigation of scheduled offences committed beyond India is being put out for public

consultations," he said in a brief reply to a question asked by BJP member Anurag Thakur whether government is considering to grant powers to NIA to conduct probe on attacks on Indians and properties abroad.

Such a proposal is available with probe agencies like FBI and Scotland Yard and federal agencies of Germany and Israel who can carry out parallel probe abroad when their nationals are killed in a terror attack.

FBI had registered separate cases in 1995 kidnap-

ping of foreign tourists in Kashmir, IC-814 hijacking case and Mumbai terror attack as its citizens were either injured or killed in these terror acts.

According to officials, such a proposal will depend on relations to the particular country where the crime has taken place.

A senior official said once such a provision is included in the NIA Act, it would help the agency in quickly moving a request to the foreign country for allowing its team to carry out a probe.( PTI)

India should rethink its submarine building plan: Manohar Parrikar Referring to the existing 30-year submarine building plan that envisages construction of 24 submarines Defence Minister said India need a longer term plan till 2050.

New Delhi, Nov 22: Calling for a rethink of its submarine building programme, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Tuesday said India should look for greater numbers than the existing plan of constructing 24 such vessels.

Referring to the existing 30-year submarine building plan that envisages construction of 24 submarines, including both nuclear and conventional, Parrikar said India needed a longer term plan till 2050.

The existing plan ends in 2030.

He also said that the strategic partnership model is in the last stage and once brought out, the ministry will fast-track the P75 India project under which six more conventional submarines are to be built. He rued that unlike the ongoing nuclear submarine project, the indigenisation on the Scorpene projects is very low (30-40 per cent).

Parrikar emphasised on the need to retain skill and skilled people engaged in submarine construction and said the focus should

Defence Minster Manohar Parrikar and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba during the commissioning ceremony of INS Chennai in Mumbai

also be on maintenance.

"We need to rethink about the real requirement based on our projection‌ We also need to assure that the skilled manpower and skills developed need to be retained," he said.

The minister noted that prime contractors are chosen through stringent criteria aqnd are nurtured through award of contracts on sustained basis so as to retain the industrial base skills, capabilities and technology.

He said that Russia has built 595 submarines till date while the US has constructed 285 submarines.

On strategic partnership, he said, "It has already been approved and the drafting of the chapters is underway. Approval is needed by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and probably by the Cabinet as well as it has financial implications," he said. Parrikar also called for a higher level of indigenisation in submarine-building.

"Indigenisation in Scorpenes is not up to the mark, but in the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme (nuclear submarines) it is over 70 per cent," he said. (PTI)

Bypolls: BJP retains Lok Sabha, Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh Congress had seized on the currency scrapping issue which came by its way in the midst of the campaign, claiming that it had caused serious inconvenience to the people even in tribal-dominated areas.

BJP leaders exuded confidence of retaining both the ST seats, arguing that the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes would not affect the party's prospects.

Bhopal, Nov 22: The BJP Tuesday retained Shahdol Lok Sabha and Nepanagar Assembly seats in the byelections in Madhya Pradesh, defeating the Congress which had brought to the campaign the demonetisation issue along with local themes against the ruling party.

In Shahdol (ST), BJP's Gyan Singh defeated Himadri Singh of Congress by a comfortable margin of over 60,000 votes, belying the latter's hopes of wresting the seat to add to the party's tally in the Lok Sabha. Gyan

Singh bagged 4,81,398 votes while his Congress rival polled 4,21,015 votes, an election official said.

The BJP's victory margin, however, fell substantially from 2,41,301 in the 2014 general elections in Shahdol. The BJP also defended the Nepanagar Assembly seat where its contestant Manju Dadu trounced nearest Congress rival Antar Singh Barde by a margin of 42,198 votes. The ruling party sharply increased its winning margin in Nepanagar to 42,198 votes as against 22,178 in the 2013

Assembly polls.

The Shahdol LS bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJP's Dalpat Singh Paraste, who had wrested the seat for his party from Congress' Rajesh Nandini Singh in 2014. Taking it as a prestigious battle, especially after its defeat in RatlamJabua last year, the BJP in Shahdol fielded Gyan Singh, a tribal leader and minister in the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Cabinet, while the Congress put its bet on Himadri Singh.

Congress had seized on the currency scrapping issue which came by its way in the midst of the campaign, claiming that it had caused serious inconvenience to the people even in tribal-dominated areas. BJP leaders, however, exuded confidence of retaining both the ST seats, arguing that the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes would not affect the party's prospects.

Chouhan himself had campaigned in Shahdol to ensure his party's victory as he considered it crucial to defend the seat after its failure to retain the RatlamJhabua LS constituency in a bypoll held in November last year. (PTI)

J&K govt waives off school fee of girls Jammu, Nov 22: With an aim to provide free education to all girls, the Jammu and Kashmir government today ordered waiving off their school fees in the state-run educational institutions upto higher-secondary level.

"In order to encourage en-

rolment of the girl students in the schools and to further incentivise their education, sanction is hereby accorded to waive off school fee charged from the girl students in the state-run educational institutions upto higher secondary level with

immediate effect," an order issued by Commissioner Secretary of Education Department, Shaleen Kabra said here.

The step comes as a fulfilment of the announcement in the budget of PDP-BJP government this year. (PTI)

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

EDUCATION

P9

How to Feel Confident Before an Exam the exam!

Eat before the exam Don’t skip breakfast to study. Make sure you eat something an hour or two before taking the test.

Choose protein-filled snacks and avoid sugar, which can give you quick energy that may run out in the middle of the exam. ØEat something even if you feel nauseous - try crackers or toast to settle your stomach. ØAvoid caffeine and energy drinks, which can increase anxiety.

Get a good night’s sleep before the test Studies have shown that you will do better on an exam if you get enough sleep than if you spend all night studying.

Even a pop quiz generates a little anxiety in most students, and some students find exams completely terrifying. But test anxiety can be decreased by thorough preparation, mental and physical relaxation, and help from others. Knowing that you've done everything you can to prepare can help you feel more confident before going into an exam.

Preparing for the Exam Make a study schedule To make sure you don’t leave studying to the last minute, create a schedule for when you will study during the days or weeks before the exam. For example, you could commit to studying for one hour a day right after school for one week before the exam. rMaking a study schedule can help you to avoid allowing other activities to interfere with studying. rPlan to study for about 45 minutes at a time. It’s difficult to concentrate for more than 45 minutes. You may find it easier to concentrate if you take short breaks once an hour. rIf the test will cover a lot of material, consider using the “chunking” technique.

Break your topic into sections so that you can focus on each one comfortable instead of trying to cover all of the material in every study session. You can then plan your study sessions

process of creating this summary will prompt you to identify the most important information that you need to know for the exam, which will help you to study more efficiently. If the exam is open-book, this summary sheet can also be a helpful guide to your notes or textbook while you’re taking the test. rKeep your learning style in mind when creating your study tools. For example, if you are a more visual learner, you may retain more information by drawing diagrams or mindmaps.

Prepare based on the kind of test you’re taking You’ll need to prepare differently depending on whether your exam will require you to write an essay or answer multiple choice questions. Make sure you know what kind of test you’ll be taking and prepare accordingly. rIf you are taking a standardized test, take a few practice tests to familiarize yourself with the structure and timing of the test. For national standardized tests like the SAT, you will be able to find copies of previous versions of the test which you can take for practice. r If you will be taking an essay exam, practice writing essay responses while you study. It can be helpful to time yourself so that you know you’ll be able to com-

pared and ready to go the night before to avoid test day anxiety. rIf you’ll be using a calculator or other electronic device, check the batteries and/or bring a spare with you. rFind out which optional items you are allowed to bring, such as snacks or your textbook for an openbook test.

Reducing Test Anxiety Think positively Scientific research has shown that our expectations can affect our performance.

If you expect to do well on the exam, you will still have to study; but if you expect to do poorly, studying may not be enough to help you do well. rPractice self-affirmation the process of transforming your thoughts to focus on the positive and downplay the negative. For example, remind yourself that you worked hard to prepare for this test. rChallenge your negative thoughts. For example, if you think that doing badly on the exam will ruin your life, tell yourself that this is not true. Then replace that thought with a more accurate one - failing a test may hurt your grade, but it’s not the end of the world. r If you’re having a hard time quelling negative

r Research shows that some anxiety can actually help your test performance.

Remind yourself that manageable levels of anxiety can increase your alertness and energy. rTo combat anxiety that arises when you’re first given the exam, make sure to read over the entire test before beginning. Look for “easy” questions - when you’re prepared, you shouldn’t have trouble finding them. Finding the questions you’re sure you know the answers to will help to remind you that you do know the material.

Visualize success While you’re studying, imagine yourself taking the test and answering the questions with confidence.

Imagine yourself getting the test back with the grade you want. While visualization can’t replace preparation, it can help you to feel more confident, which can improve performance. rVisualization works because your brain and body react to visualization as if you were actually experiencing the event you’re imagining. Your brain forms and strengthens connections as a result - in this case, between test taking and success.

Calm your body Fear releases adrenaline, preparing the body to deal with danger. Your heart rate and breathing speed up and you may feel shaky, sweaty, and/or dizzy. Anything you can do to counteract these physical reactions will help you think more clearly and feel more confident. Remember to use these techniques during the test if you feel anxious. Calming techniques include: r Breathing. Breathing exercises can help you to relax, including slow, abdominal breathing and ‘equal breathing’ - equalizing the time you spend breathing in and breathing out. r Stretching. You don’t have to do a full yoga routine to get the benefits of stretching. Try stretching your arms above your head and behind your back to release shoulder tension; standing forward bends can release back and neck tension.

around specific sections of the material.

Create, revise, and review your study tools Choose tools that fit the subject matter and your learning style. Options include flash cards, outlines, timelines, charts, and sample test questions. rCreate a one-page summary with the most important ideas, equations, or methods for the exam. The

plete the essay during the allotted test period. r If your test involves a lot of memorized material, remember that you probably won’t remember everything on the first try. Memorization and recall improve with repetition.

Collect your supplies the night before the test Make sure that you have everything you need -- pencils, pens, a calculator, your notes -- to take the test pre-

thoughts, try distracting yourself using humor.

Watch a funny movie or TV show, read a funny book or comic. You can even try to remember all of the jokes you know.

Maintain perspective Remind yourself that your grade on this one test will not determine your success or failure in life. Even an extremely important test such as the bar exam can be taken again if you don’t pass.

rRelaxing your muscles.

You may not even be aware that you’re holding tension in your muscles. To become aware, try a body scan, which involves focusing on each body part for a few seconds, starting with the toes and moving up progressively to the top of your head. rWalking. Moving your body will help clear your mind. Just remember to pay attention to your surroundings -- don’t spend the whole walk worrying about

ØIf the test is later in the day or the evening, or if you just couldn’t get a full night’s sleep, take a nap.

Research has shown that a short nap - less than an hour - can improve alertness, memory, creativity, productivity, and mood, and can decrease stress.

Leveraging Your Test-Taking Support System Ask questions. Don’t just rely on your books and notes. If you have a question as you study, ask your teacher, parent, or tutor.

You’ll feel more confident knowing you got the answer to your question from the most reliable source. ØDon’t forget to ask your teacher what materials will be covered. For example, ask if the exam will be based on homework, reading assignments, and/or on class discussion. ØIf you are having trouble understanding a topic, you can also ask a librarian to help you find other resources that you can use for clarification.

Form a study group Make sure you study with other students who are serious about studying. You’ll feel more confident if you have worked with other students to make sure you are studying the right information and understanding the material. ØInvite students at a variety of ability levels into the group. Students can learn from teaching each other. ØThe members of a study group may benefit from sharing class notes. Different students may have taken note of different information during class - compiling and verifying this information from a number of students can help ensure you know the material that will be on the exam.

Rely on your support group Friends and family may not be able to help you understand calculus or learn French, but they can help you to feel more confident. ØAsk a member of your support group to let you explain the material that will be on the test to them. You need a solid understanding of a concept to be able to explain it to someone who doesn’t know much about it. If you can explain the Second Law of Thermodynamics or the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire to your grandmother, you may feel more confident that you have a grasp of the material. ØFriends and family may also be able to help you in peripheral ways. For example, if you know you tend to sleep through your alarm clock, ask a reliable member of your support group to call you to make sure you’re awake.

How to Do Internet Research The internet has made researching a topic easier than ever before. Instead of making a trip to the library, people with internet access can simply pull up a search engine, type, and click away. But, in addition to making it easier to access information, the web has also made it easier to access misinformation. However, by following some simple rules, you can avoid being fooled or misinformed by a phony, inaccurate, or biased web source.

Knowing Where to Begin Decide where to start your search If your employer, college, or university provides you with a search engine or directory, begin there. If you have access to a library database of research articles, such as EBSCOhost, start there.

Library databases provide you with access to peerreviewed research, which is the gold standard for academic study. “Peer-reviewed” means that top experts in the field have reviewed the research to make sure it is accurate, trustworthy, and informed before publishing it. Even if you’re just trying to learn something for your own personal benefit, academic research will provide you with the most up-to-date, reliable information. mYou can usually access these databases through your home library’s website. Some academic and universities libraries may require a password if you are accessing them remotely (from somewhere other than in the library itself). mIf you don’t have access to a library, try using Google Scholar for your searches. You can find academic research through this search engine, and Google Scholar will show you where you can find free copies of the articles online.

Look for subject-specific databases Depending on the area of your research, you have several options for online databases specific to your field. For example, if you are looking for research on education, the ERIC (Education Resources Information Center) is sponsored by the United States Department of Education and provides peer-reviewed research and informational materials on education topics. If you’re looking for medical or scientific research, PubMed, sponsored by the United States National Library of Medicine, is a great place to start.

Use regular search engines with caution Search engines crawl the web indexing pages by reading the words and phrases that appear on those pages. From there, the process is automated.

Each search engine has an algorithm that’s used to rank results for specific

searches. This means that no human is vetting the accuracy of the results. The “top” result is simply the result of an algorithm. It’s not an endorsement of the content or quality of the result. m Most search engines can be “gamed” by savvy websites in order to ensure their content comes up first.

Moreover, each search engine has its own algorithm, and some tailor their results based on your browsing history. So the “top” result on Google will not necessarily be the “top” result on Yahoo, even with the exact same search phrasing. mBe aware that simply because you find information online doesn’t make it credible or authoritative.

Anyone can make a webpage, and the amount of poor, unverified, and just plain wrong information often outweighs the good stuff online. To help you sift through the useless stuff, talk to your teacher or librarian, and use library or academic search engines when possible.

Choose your keywords carefully For any given inquiry, there are an almost limitless number of potential word and phrase choices you could enter into a search engine. Therefore, it’s important to think carefully about what you hope your search will find, as well as try multiple different search combinations. mIf you’re using an academic search engine, such as your library’s search feature, try using a combination of keywords and Boolean Operators, or words you can use to narrow down your search: AND, OR, and NOT. mYou can use NOT to exclude keywords from your search. For example, you could search for “feminism AND China NOT Japan.” You would not get any results that included Japan.

Narrow when necessary If you’re researching a topic about which you’re relatively uninformed, begin your search with broad terms, then use the information culled from that first search to begin narrowing your search. mFor example, in your search for “total yearly amount spent on welfare programs in U.S.,” you’ll quickly discover that there are several different public assistance programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Use that information to decide which program(s) you’re interested in, and then perform a new (more specific) search, such as “total yearly SNAP expenditures in U.S.” Evaluating for Credibility Check the source’s affiliations Checking who owns or sponsors the website will help you figure out whether it is credible or not. For example, the Mayo Clinic website is owned by the

Mayo Clinic, one of the most prestigious hospitals in the world. It is a notfor-profit organization, so it is not out to make money from its content.

Its articles are written by medical professionals.

These are good clues that information you find on this site will be credible.

On the other hand, a “health” website that has a storefront or lots of ads, and doesn’t have any institutional or professional affiliations, won’t be as credible. mIf you’ve never heard of a source, the first place to look is the “About Us” (or similar) portion of the website. If that doesn’t provide you with a good idea of who’s producing the web page, try conducting an internet search for the site itself. Often news articles, Wikipedia entries, and the like that reference a source will include information about its affiliation(s), ideology, and funding. When all else fails, consider using a web domain search engine to discover who owns the website. However, if you’ve had to go to that length, chances are good that the site is too obscure to be trusted.

Look for reliability and accuracy There are many sources out there that claim to be fact-based but aren’t.

Websites that appear to have a clear agenda are usually not good sources, because they may ignore or misrepresent evidence that disagrees with their position. m Look for the site’s sources. A credible internet site will cite its sources. A really great site may even link out to the original research articles so you can track them down. If you can’t find any references for the information provided, or if the references are out of date or poor quality, it’s a good sign that your site isn’t reliable. m Watch for bias.

Highly emotional language, inflammatory rhetoric, and informal writing are all signs of potential bias in your source.

Most academic writing tries to steer clear of these and aim for impartiality and objectivity as much as possible. If your website uses emotional language like “Manipulative big pharma companies are out to keep you broken and unhealthy to line their own pockets!” it’s a good sign that there is bias present. mReview each website for grammatical errors and broken links. If the website is credible and reliable, grammar and spelling should be accurate and all links should take you to the appropriate landing page. Websites with numerous grammatical errors and broken links may be copying their information from another source or may not be legitimate.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

Pakistan Supreme Court approached to elevate Raheel Sharif as Field Marshal Islamabad, Nov 22: A week ahead of Raheel Sharif's retirement as Pakistan Army chief, a lawyer has approached the Supreme Court challenging a lower court's dismissal of a plea seeking direction to the government to elevate the powerful General to the rank of Field Marshal.

Terming the extension or conferring of the Field Marshal title as greatest national interest, a petitioner on Monday requested the court to set aside the Islamabad High Court's earlier order.

Appellant Adnan Mazari, who is a Rawalpindi Bar Association (RBA) member, made Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the government and the Defence

Ministry as respondents.

Gen. Raheel (60), will retire on November 29 after a three-year stint.

Mr. Mazari contended that the IHC's order is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional without taking into consideration the merit of the said post which is globally recognised and Pakistan is no exception.

"That the exemplary, outstanding and professional performance during peace and war time with total dedication and devotion by attaining the highest standards and mastery in battlefield our present COAS (Chief of Army Staff) needs national appreciation, award and recognition; and in our constitution of Pakistan no tenure/period of COAS is

enshrined anywhere," the appellant contended.

The appeal stated that Pakistan recorded a substantial decrease in terrorism last year, with 45 per cent less attacks and 38 per cent less deaths reported in the year than the previous year, according to the report of the 'Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2016.

He added that this is the second consecutive year in which Pakistan has seen reduction in terrorism.

Gen. Raheel will retire on pass on the baton of command of the army to the next army chief at a ceremony by the end of this month. Gen. Raheel in January had said that he would not seek extension amidst speculation that he may get an extension.

(Agencies)

Pak committed to discouraging regional arms race: Sharif Karachi, Nov 22: Pakistan discourages any arms race in the region today, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said, underlining that the country is exploring the way forward for peace and stability in South Asia.

Addressing at the inauguration of the ninth International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) here, Sharif said Pakistan was committed to discouraging arms race and promoting "the motto of arms for peace, which has always been the tagline of IDEAS".

He expressed Pakistan's commitment to regional peace, saying that, "we will explore the way forward for peace and stability in the world in general and our region in particular".

Sharif said the environment for foreign investment was encouraging in the country in view of improved lawand order situation, besides power projects being completed on time.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan had achieved self-reliance in defence production and mentioned that IDEAS-2016 was a demonstration of the collaboration of local and foreign technologies.

'No Hindus will be left after 30 years in Bangladesh' Dhaka, Nov 22: Barakat was addressing the book launching ceremony at Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University.

From 1964 to 2013, around 11.3 million Hindus left Bangladesh due to religious persecution and discrimination, he said. It means on an average 632 Hindus left the country each day and 230,612 annually.

From his 30-year-long research, Barkat found that the exodus mostly took place during military governments after independence.

Before the Liberation War, the daily rate of migration was 705 while it was 512 during 1971-1981 and 438 during 1981-1991. The number increased to 767 persons each day during 1991-2001 while around 774 persons left the country during 2001-2012, the book says.

DU teacher Prof Ajoy Roy said the government grabbed the properties of the Hindus during the Pakistan regime describing them as enemy property and the same properties were taken by the government after independence as vested property.

According to the book, these two measures made 60% of the Hindus landless.

Retired Justice Kazi Ebadul Haque said the minorities and the poor were deprived of their land rights. For example, when a shoal rises in a river the local leaders register them in the name of poor people, but the same leaders file a case and take the land under the possessions showing the court's stay order.

The deprived people remain deprived, he said, adding that the land management system should be reformed.

Dhaka University teacher Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed said that the government has to ensure that the indigenous people would not be affected or harmed.

"The government must ensure that the people do not think about leaving the country for once."

No accurate estimation of indigenous people Discussing on a separate book of Prof Barkat Political Economy of Unpeopling of Indigenous People: The case of Bangladesh published yesterday, former NHRC

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif He said over 2,000 weapons system and equipment on display at the exhibition reflected broad-based participation of the country's public and private sector in defence production, supported by research and development.

The Prime Minister said the country's defence products were state-ofthe-art and stood fully tested by its armed forces.

"Our defence products have made their mark in many countries of the world," he said, adding there still existed many opportunities for further growth and exploration of new markets.

He said Pakistan was fast emerging producer of quality defence products.

The Prime Minister invited foreign companies to expand their business linkages with Pakistan in the field of defence production.

Later, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the exhibition, flanked by Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Mohammad Zakaullah and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman.

34 countries and a total of 418 companies are participating in IDEAS 2016, including 261 foreign and 157 Pakistani companies.

The exhibition will continue till November 25.

(PTI)

for questioning at national police headquarters.

But his spokesman Ruhut Sitompul said Mr. Purnama would continue to cooperate with police, who have ordered the governor not to leave the country.

"Our country is a country based on the law. Our President told us not to interfere with the police and to respect the law," Mr. Sitompul told AFP. President Joko Widodo met political figures this week to bolster support before further rallies planned in coming weeks by religious groups.

"The government is committed with all its force to prevent the growth of radicalism in our country," Mr. Widodo told reporters on Tuesday.

The massive demonstration earlier this month turned violent as hardliners torched vehicles and attacked police, forcing Mr. Widodo to cancel a trip

abroad to manage the crisis.

Police have vowed to crack down on hardliners who try to use future rallies to stoke violence.

The naming of Mr. Purnama as a suspect means authorities believe they have enough evidence to consider filing charges.

He stoked anger in September when accusing his opponents of using a Koranic verse, which suggests Muslims should not choose non-Muslims as leaders, in order to trick people into voting against him.

Mr. Purnama apologised for the remarks but pledged not to pull out of the Jakarta election in February, despite the growing controversy.

Rights groups have urged authorities to drop the case and repeal the blasphemy laws. These have been used to prosecute and imprison members of religious minorities, according to Human Rights Watch.

(Agencies)

US strongly condemns Kabul mosque bombing Washington, Nov 22: Strongly condemning the terrorist attack at a mosque in Kabul, the US today said it remains committed to the people of Afghanistan on building a more stable, prosperous and peaceful country.

"The US strongly condemns the terrorist attack today at the Baqir-ulOlum Mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, which killed

Eminent economist and researcher Dr Abul Barkat says that there will be no Hindus left in the country three decades from now. chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman said that there was no accurate estimation of the indigenous peoples living in the country.

He mentioned that at least 22 indigenous groups had disappeared from the country.

Prof Mizanur also urged Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma to inform the indigenous peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts about the 1997 Peace Accord.

In his speech, Bangladesh Adivasi Forum President Santu Larma agreed that the implementation of the

Peace Accord was not the only solution to the crises in the CHT region.

He added that the current stance of the ruling party would not solve the disputes through different reform programmes, rather they want to hinder the process. "We need a people-oriented government. But the reality of state mechanism does not allow this to happen."

Santu Larma, also chairman of the CHT Regional Council, claimed that over 50 indigenous groups were on the verge of extinction, but they want to

live with dignity with the remaining indigenous groups.

Prof Ajoy Roy observed that in his book Prof Barkat had used the word adivasi even the government does not recognise them as indigenous peoples.

Prof Barkat dedicated the book to his childhood friends who belonged to "Buno" indigenous group, but now remain traceless, Prof Ajoy Roy said, adding that he too had met the group in a small forest in Faridpur.

"I have not heard about them since long ‌ May be they were forced to leave the place by the land grabbers and have gone to India and took a different name."

Prof Mizanur said although the prime minister had taken stance in favour of the indigenous peoples, the ruling party leaders were involved in heinous activities against them.

Addressing the programme as chief guest, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon urged rights activists to stand by the side of the indigenous peoples.

(Agencies)

17 killed, 37 injured Offshore quake causes tsunamis, nuclear worries in Japan in multiple vehicle Nov 22: Coastal 240 kilometers (150 miles) move still-radioactive fuel pile-up in China Tokyo, residents fled to higher southwest of the epicenter. rods and debris and what Beijing, Nov 22: The accident took place on Beijing-Kunming expressway yesterday due to snow and rainy weather.

The injured people are in stable condition after treatment, local officials said today. Local police, firefighters, doctors and officials were involved in the rescue operation, staterun Xinhua news agency reported.

Most of the vehicles involved in the collision, that killed 17 people and injured 37, were large trucks, the report said.

Around 200,000 people die on Chinese roads each year, the World Health Organisation says. In a bid to improve road safety, the government recently cracked down on the overloading of trucks.(PTI)

Unesco heritage site Boudhanath Stupa reopens after Nepal earthquake A year and a half after a colossal earthquake destroyed hundreds of its treasured historic sites, Nepal on Tuesday celebrated the restoration of the iconic Buddhist monument topped in gold that towers above Kathmandu.

Jakarta governor faces grilling over blasphemy allegations Jakarta, Nov 22: Jakarta's Christian governor was questioned by police on Tuesday for the first time since being named a suspect in a blasphemy investigation seen by critics as a test of religious tolerance in Indonesia.

Police are pursuing allegations that Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok, insulted the Koran, a criminal offence that carries a jail sentence in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.

The allegations have sparked much anger among Muslims - both moderate and hardline - with more than 100,000 taking to the streets of Jakarta earlier this month demanding Mr. Purnama be prosecuted.

Mr. Purnama - Jakarta's first non-Muslim leader in half a century and a member of Indonesia's ethnic Chinese minority - declined to comment as he arrived

P10

INTERNATIONAL

dozens of innocent civilians, many of them worshipers, and wounded more than 40," said Ned Price, spokesman of the National Security Council at the White House.

This cowardly attack was clearly intended to stoke sectarian tensions in Afghanistan, he said.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the vic-

tims of this attack and fully support efforts to bring those responsible to justice," he added.

"The United States and our international partners remain committed to the people and Government of Afghanistan as we work together to build a more stable and prosperous peaceful Afghanistan," Price said.

(Agencies)

Nov. 20, 2016. Buddhist monks circle around the Boudhanath Stupa during during the final day of its purification ceremony in Kathmandu, Nepal Kathmandu, Nov 22: The Boudhanath Stupa, one of the Unesco-enlisted heritage sites in Nepal which was severely damaged in an earthquake last year, was reopened for public on Tuesday after completion of its reconstruction.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', inaugurating the 36metre-tall Boudhanath Stupa for the public in Kathmandu, thanked India as well as China for extending financial support for the reconstruction of the ancient Buddhist shrine, Xinhua news agency reported.

Cabinet ministers, highranking government officials and foreign diplomats were among those present at the inauguration ceremony. The Boudhanath Stupa is the first heritage site to be renovated following the devastating earthquake that hit the Hi-

malayan nation on April 25 last year.

The quake claimed over 9,000 lives, left thousands injured and destroyed or damaged a large number of buildings. The reconstruction, which began two months after the quake, was completed earlier this month at a cost of Nepali Rs 230 million ($2.1 million).

Reconstruction of other heritage sites is still underway or in the early stages, authorities said. Buddhist monks performed purification rituals after the completion of renovation on November 18.

Boudhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal, is considered the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet, making it the centre of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu. Thousands of domestic and international tourists visit the shrine annually. (Agencies)

ground as a powerful earthquake sent a series of moderate tsunamis toward Japan's northeastern shore Tuesday and fueled concerns about the Fukushima nuclear power plant destroyed by a much larger tsunami five years ago.

Lines of cars snaked away from the coast in the predawn hours after authorities issued a tsunami warning and urged residents to seek higher ground immediately. The warning was lifted nearly four hours later.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck in the same region that was devastated by a tsunami that followed a much larger magnitude 9.0 quake in 2011, killing some 18,000 people. The U.S. Geological Survey measured Tuesday's quake at 6.9.

It was the largest earthquake in northeastern Japan since the 2011 one and some large aftershocks the same day.

The operator of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant said there were no abnormalities observed at the plant, though a swelling of the tide of up to 1 meter (3 feet) was detected offshore.

At least 12 people were reported injured, and Japanese TV images showed items scattered on the floor in a store, and books that had fallen from shelves in a library. The earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo,

The Japan Meteorological Agency described it as an aftershock of the massive 2011 quake. It warned that another large earthquake could hit in the next few days and urged residents to remain cautious for about a week.

"Aftershocks could continue not only for five years but as long as 100 years," Yasuhiro Umeda, a Kyoto Universiismologist, said on a talk show on Japanese broadcaster NTV. The meteorological agency said the bigger the earthquake, the longer the aftershocks last, though it didn't say how long.

In some areas, water could be seen rushing up rivers, which funnel tsunamis to a greater height, but it remained well within flood embankments. It was eerily reminiscent of the 2011 disaster, when much larger tsunamis rushed up rivers and overflowed, wiping away entire neighborhoods.

The first tsunami waves hit about one hour after the earthquake. The highest one, 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) in height, reached Sendai Bay about two hours after the quake.

The plant was swamped by the 2011 tsunami, sending three reactors into meltdown and leaking radiation into the surrounding area.

The plant is being decommissioned but the situation remains serious as the utility figures out how to re-

to do with the melted reactor cores.

Plant operator TEPCO said a pump that supplies cooling water to a spent fuel pool at the nearby Fukushima Dai-ni plant stopped working, but that a backup pump had been launched to restore cooling water to the pool. Both plants are run by Tokyobased TEPCO. Naohiro Masuda, head of TEPCO's decommissioning unit, said he believes that the pump was shut off automatically by a safety system ty seas the water in the pool shook.

He said decommissioning work at the destroyed Daiichi plant had been temporarily suspended because of the earthquake.

For many, the early morning jolt brought back memories of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

"I remembered 3/11," Kazuhiro Onuki said by phone, referring to the March 11 date of the 2011 disaster. "It really came back. And it was so awful.

The sways to the side were huge. But nothing fell from shelves."

The 68-year-old former librarian is from Tomioka, a town that became a no-go zone because of radiation contamination. He was staying at what he calls one of his temporary homes on Tuesday.

"I felt again that we should not have nuclear power," he said. (Agencies)

Palestinian wielding knife shot dead in West Bank: Israel Police Jerusalem, Nov 22: A Palestinian was shot dead at a West Bank checkpoint on Tuesday after walking towards guards with a knife in his hand, Israeli police said. "A Palestinian attempted to cross the checkpoint using the vehicle lane and approached security guards brandishing a knife," police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement.

"The terrorist was neutralised," she added, later confirming he had been killed.

There were no Israeli ca-

sualties. Palestinian security sources identified the dead man as Jihad Khalil, 48, from near Nablus in the northern West Bank.

The incident happened at the Qalandia checkpoint between the northern West Bank and Jerusalem, which is used by thousands of Palestinians every day.

The heavily fortified checkpoint is a hated symbol of Israeli occupation for Palestinians and has seen a number of attacks during an upsurge of violence over the past

year.

Since October 2015, 240 Palestinians, 36 Israelis, two Americans, a Jordanian, an Eritrean and a Sudanese have been killed, according to an AFP count.

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 Gaza.

The violence has calmed significantly in recent months. (Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

P11

BUSINESS

Data breach: 73 SBI cardholders Sebi may allow FPIs to invest in unlisted NCDs reported fraud withdrawals SBI has informed that it has blocked about 6 lakh cards, MoS for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar said New Delhi, Nov 22: As many as 73 cardholders of the country's largest bank State Bank of India had reported fraudulent withdrawals aggregating Rs 39.18 lakh till November 4 following data breach that hit millions of debit/ATMs. State Bank of India has informed that it has blocked about 6 lakh cards, Minister of State for FinanceSantosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

"SBI has also informed that 73 cardholders have complained about claims aggregating to Rs 39.18 lakh up to November 4, 2016," he said.

The state-owned lender said however that its "systems" are robust and its debit cards are not at risk.

The Reserve Band had earlier said it came to its notice on September 8 that

About 32.14 cards of public and private sector bankswas breached details of certain cards issued by some banks had been possibly compromised at ATMs linked to the ATM Switch of one of the service providers.

About 32.14 cards of public and private sector bankswas breached. Following the data breach, 19 banks had recalled the compromised cards.

Replying to several related

questions, Gangwar said that RBI has informed the matter was under investigation.

Independent investigation by a forensic auditor approved under Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) framework is under process.

RBI has been carrying out IT examination of banks from 2015. (PTI)

CBDT allowed Rs 4,500 cr of irregular benefits to infra companies: CAG

Image for representation purpose.

New Delhi, Nov 22: Government auditor Comptroller and Auditor General on Tuesday said I-T department has provided "irregular" tax benefits to infrastructure companie swithout verification, which have cost the exchequer over Rs 4,500 crore.

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) did not have any established mechanism to assess the impact of revenue foregone on account of deductions under Section 80 IA on the economy and industrial growth of the country, it said.

The Income Tax department has "irregularly" allowed deductions to various companies engaged in infrastructure business which have tax effect of Rs 4,524 crore, CAG said.

This included Rs 1,766.74 crore tax benefit availed by Reliance Ports & Terminals Ltd for construction of captive jetties at Port Sikka in Bihar. The other major companies that availed of such benefits include JSW Energy (Rs 340 crore), Reliance Infrastructure (Rs 51.88 crore), Tata Power (Rs 36.99 crore) and Gujarat Fluro

Chemicals (Rs 22.75 crore).

"There is no existing system to ascertain from the sponsoring ministries as to whether the tax holidays have had the desired impact on the growth of the economy," CAG said.

It adding that in the absence of such a mechanism the auditor failed to ascertain whether the very purpose of tax holidays has been achieved.

CAG mentioned in its performance audit of the Revenue Department that CBDT may evolve a mechanism for proper linkage between tax benefit allowed by the I-T department with the actual investment made by the assessee to assess the impact of tax holiday.

In order to encourage investment in infrastructure, the government provides tax holiday to companies under Section 80 IA for deduction in respect of profits and gains of companies engaged in infrastructure development at 100 per cent for a certain period.

The report, tabled in Parliament, is based on test audit conducted by CAG between 2012-13 and 2014-15. (PTI)

Defence Ministry to review blacklisted firms, develop new policy

Manohar Parrikar speaking at Vikas Sankalp Meet at Panjim New Delhi, Nov 22: The Defence Ministry will review all cases of blacklisted firms as it prepares a new list of such entities following the new policy unveiled by it which is a mixture of heavy fines and graded banning. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said that the Director General (Acquisition) will draw up a list as required under the new policy and hence old cases will also be looked into.

"That does not mean they will be taken out. Don't interpret‌ they will be examined. What is the status, how many years they have been blacklisted for and why they were blacklisted," Parrikar told PTI on the sidelines of a semi-

nar.

He said that as per the new policy, there has to be a new list. "So the list will have to be re-ascertained," the Minister said.

The review will include about a dozen firms that came under blanket blacklisting in the previous regime, a move which the forces were unhappy about as it proved detrimental to their modernisation plans.

Some of the firms like Singapore Technologies have approached the courts seeking removal of blacklisting.

Singapore Technologies' argument is that it has been wrongly blacklisted since no contract was ever awarded to it and neither is it mentioned in the charge sheet filed by the CBI in

connection with a bribery case involving the then Ordinance Factory Board chief.

Under its new liberalised blacklisting policy for arms companies, India will now be open to doing business even with a banned firm if there is no alternative available to its weapon system or equipment in the market.

This can be done on the grounds of national security, operational military readiness and export obligations, after the vice-chief of the Service concerned, the chief of the integrated defence staff or the additional secretary (defence production) signs a certificate to that effect and gets permission from the "competent authority", who is the Defence Minister.

Another key element of the new policy is that unlike the blanket ban of 10 years, the government has said that ban on serious defaulters will be for minimum five years.

The policy does not mention the maximum time period for ban.

Called the 'Guidelines of the Ministry of Defence for Penalties in Business Dealings with Entities', the policy, which has been in the works for long, aims to ensure probity and transparency in defence deals without affecting the modernisation plans.

(PTI)

New Delhi, Nov 22: With an aim to deepen capital markets, regulator Sebimay consider allowing foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to invest in unlisted nonconvertible debentures and securitised debt instruments in its board meeting on Wednesday.

In a slew of proposed reform measures, the regulator also plans to tighten corporate governance rules on profit-sharing agreements between promoters and private equity funds as part of its efforts to safeguard minority shareholders in markets.

Sebi also plans to reduce minimum angel fund investment for venture capital firms to Rs 25 lakh from the current Rs 50 lakh to boost the early-stage startup ecosystem.

The regulator may allow the angel funds to make overseas investments up to 25 per cent of their investible corpus, in line with

other alternative investment funds. The move will make such funds to spread their risk by investing across geographies.

These proposals are likely to be discussed in the board meeting of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Wednesday, sources said.

The regulator plans to allow FPIs to invest in unlisted non-convertible debentures and securities debt instruments. RBI has also recently relaxed its rules for allowing such investments by FPIs. The move comes after Sebi's board, in September, allowed well-regulated FPIs to directly trade in corporate bonds, without going through any broker or any other intermediary.

Prior to that, FPIs could trade in Indian markets only through brokers (registered with exchanges as their members).

The move is aimed at

Jewellers shut shops for 12th straight day after income-tax surveys

Sales persons wait for customers at a gold jewelry showroom in Chandigarh.

New Delhi, Nov 22: Gold and jewellery establishments in the national capital remained closed for the 12th day today after the Income Tax Department conducted surveys following reports of alleged profiteering and tax evasion by traders and other operators in reported conversion of demonetised notes.

The survey operations were carried out on November 10 in at least four locations in Delhi-NCR region, including Dariba Kalan, Chandni Chowk

and Karol Bagh.

The government on November 8 announced the demonetisation of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes to flush out black money.

Most of the jewellery houses have been closed since November 11 in the national capital.

According to the sources, the officials of Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI), an arm under the Finance Ministry, has sent notices to these jewellers seeking details of the gold sales. (PTI)

Air India to operate additional flight on Mumbai-Nagpur route Flight number AI 1627 Boeing 777 will depart Mumbai on November 24 at 0730 hrs and arrive at Nagpur at 0900 hrs.

Air India will operate an additional flight from Mumbai to Nagpur.

Nagpur, Nov 22: National carrier Air India will operate an additional flight from Mumbai to Nagpur. Flight number AI 1627 Boeing 777 will depart Mumbai on November 24 at 0730 hrs and arrive at Nagpur at 0900

hrs, Air India, Nagpur Station Manager, Alice Paul said on Tuesday.

Similarly, flight AI 1628 will depart from Nagpur at 1600 hrs on December 1 and land in Mumbai at 1730 hrs, Paul said.

(PTI)

RBI sets rupee reference rate at 68.2317 against US dollar New Delhi, Nov 22: The Reserve Bank of India today fixed the reference rate of the rupee at 68.2317 against the US dollar and 72.4348 for the euro. The corresponding rates were 68.2575 and 72.3530 yesterday. According to an RBI statement, the exchange rates

for the pound and the yen against the rupee were 85.1668 and 61.46 per 100 yens, respectively, based on reference rates for the dollar and crosscurrency quotes at noon.

The SDR-rupee figure will be based on this rate, the statement added.

(PTI)

Image for representation purpose. boosting foreign inflows in Indian markets and deepening and widening the corporate bond market.

Sebi is planning to make it mandatory for promoters and top executives of firms entering into special profitsharing deals with private equity funds to obtain prior approval from the

company's board and shareholders. It plans to add a provision to listing agreement that will require disclosures and prior approval of shareholders.

In case of existing profit sharing agreements, such agreements would need to be informed to the stock exchanges for public dis-

semination.

Also, Sebi plans to align its definition of startups with other regulations. As per Sebiguidelines, angel funds can invest in startups that have been incorporated during the preceding three years from the date of such investments. This may be changed to five years.

Investment by an angel fund in a venture capital is locked in for three years.

This is likely to be changed to one year. There are plans to amend the upper limit of the number of angel investors in a scheme to 200 from the current 49.

Angel funds, a sub-category of AIF, encourages entrepreneurship in the country by financing startups at a stage where such firms find it difficult to get capital from banks and financial institutions. Currently, 266 AIFs are registered with Sebi. Of which, 85 are registered as angel funds. (PTI)

Queues get shorter, but cash crunch pinches Mumbaikars Mumbai, Nov 22: Even as the queues outside banks and ATMs are getting shorter and less time being taken to withdraw money in Mumbai, the problems because of the cashcrunch continue to pinch the common man.

Imtiyaz Khan, a Bandra resident said, "Initially, people had to spend 4 to 5 hours in the queues to get or exchange the money and now it is taking only 20 minutes.

But withdrawal limit of Rs 2,000 is making things difficult."

An RTI activist Manoranjan Roy, who has been demanding ban on high denomination notes since 2012 to curb the menace of black money, said the last 10-12 days have

been very difficult for all sections of society, including bank staff.

"This (chaos) was bound to happen as it was not well planned. After being in the queues for long, people are getting one note of Rs 2,000 and that is creating further problem because people are unwilling to accept this note of high denomination," Roy said.

He feared that the Rs 2,000 notes will again pave the way for black money.

However, Charkop resident Bhalchandra Pawar, who works in advertisement agency, claimed that everything is being streamlined.

"Now the queues have definitely gone signifi-

cantly down to half as compared to earlier days.

Government's decision to use indelible ink to mark customers has proved to be a good tactic," he said.

A senior officer working in Western Railway said, "This is the time when all should come forward and support the move to cleanse the menace of black money which had become detrimental to the health of our country."

"We should not mind being in queue, especially when the matter relates to nation building. Please think that when you are standing in queues for changing or withdrawing money, you are standing in queue to change the nation," he said. (PTI)

Bill Gates funds development of odour-free toilets for India Washington, Nov 22: Sick of smelly toilets, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has funded the development of an odour-blocking perfume that smells like poop as part of an ambitious effort to develop stink-free toilets and improve poor sanitation across India and Africa.

The billionaire philanthropist's 'The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation' partnered with a Swissbased perfume company 'Firmenich' to create a poop smell blocker with the hope to make smelly toilets a thing of past and make a difference in communities with poor sanitation.

Noting that one billion people had no access to toilets and defecate in the open, 61-year-old Gates said human waste is dumped untreated, seeping into water and food supplies, leading to many diseases and slow economic growth.

"Beyond the tremendous human suffering, it's a problem that slows economic development. In India alone, poor sanitation costs nearly USD 55 billion each yearmore than 6 per cent of GDP," Gates wrote on his Gates Notes blog.

"Millions of new toilets are being built around the world to help end open defecation, including in India where a massive new toilet construction program is currently underway. This is great news.

"Unfortunately, many of

Microsoft founder Bill Gates these new toilets, especially the pit latrines, don't get used because they smell bad and people continue to relieve themselves in the open. This is a worrying trend that threatens to undermine the progress that's been achieved in global sanitation," he said.

While pleasant fragrances are often used to cover tough odours, Firmenich decided to try a different and "more sophisticated approach" to get rid of the toilet stink.

It managed to isolate the four chemical compounds that are responsible for the terrible smell in toilets, and recreated the odour using synthetic compounds.

It used the "poop perfume" to develop fragrances that block certain olfactory receptors in our noses, making us unable to register these bad smells.

The approach is similar to noise-cancelling headphones which many people

use to block out jet engine noise on flights, Gates wrote.

"I had an opportunity to experience the odour-blocking fragrances in action. I was invited to push my nose into a glass sniffing tube and breathe in a mixture of the poop perfume. It smelled pretty good. There was no evidence of repulsive odour I had experienced earlier," he said.

"The question now is whether this technology is good enough to make a difference in communities with poor sanitation. That's why Firmenich is launching pilot projects in communities across India and Africa to understand whether the fragrances will make toilets and pit latrines more inviting for users," Gates said.

He said the company also needed to determine if it is better to distribute the fragrance as a spray, a powder, or something else.

"The ultimate goal is to make the product affordable and easy-to-use," he said. (PTI)

Rupee recoups 7 paise against US dollar Mumbai, Nov 22: The rupee edged higher by 7 paise to 68.09 against the US dollar at the forex market in early trade on Tuesday on fresh selling of the American currency by exporters.

Besides, the dollar's weak-

ness against some currencies overseas and early gains in the domestic equity market supported the rupee, dealers said.

On Monday, the rupee had lost 3 paise to close at 68.16 against the

American currency on the back of sustained dollar demand from importers amidst fall in stocks.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex was trading higher by 260.79 points, or 1.01 per cent, at 26,025.93 in early trade on Monday. (PTI)

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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

P12 Romaric’s late strike brings NorthEast back in semis scramble

Virat Kohli shoots up to career-high 4th in ICC Test Player Rankings

Virat Kohli Romaric’s late strike brings NorthEast back in semis scramble

Guwahati , Nov 22 : NorthEast United FC kept their semi-final hopes alive as they edged FC Pune City 1-0 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday. Romaric scored the winner with an absolute screamer of a free kick in the 81st minute to earn all three points in front of more than 18,000 rapturous home fans.

The hosts began the game strongly but it was Pune who looked more likely to score. Momar Ndoye caused a lot of flutters in the NorthEast backline with his runs down the left flank, while Emiliano Alfaro brushed the side-netting with his free kick at the other end as both teams tried to find their feet in the opening few minutes.

Pune were clearly the better team as they dominated the proceedings. Jonatan Lucca found himself in acres of space just outside the box but he wasted the golden opportunity by putting it over the bar.

The Stallions continued to pile on the pressure but failed to find the back of the net as another opportunity went begging after an unmarked Eduardo Ferreira failed to connect with the ball.

NorthEast earned backto-back corners but they weren’t able to do much with them as Pune continued attacking with great alacrity. Anibal Rodriguez cut past two men before seeing his shot deflected away, while Gustavo Oberman hit his attempt straight

Hockey India League to begin on January 21 in Mumbai

Malaysia to pull out of F1 after 2018

PTI New Delhi, Nov 22: The fifth edition of the Hockey India League (HIL) will begin on January 21 with a clash between Dabang Mumbai and Ranchi Rays in Mumbai.

The semifinals will be played on February 25 while the final is scheduled for February 26.

"The Finals weekend as is tradition will be hosted at the defending Champions home ground, in this case the Jaypee Punjab Warriors stadium at Chandigarh," a press relase stated.

FIH President and HIL Chairman Narinder Dhruv Batra said, "It has not just been a great spectacle for fans and players, but also a great model to demonstrate sustained growth for the sport. We hope to raise the bar again this season, by increasing reach to more fans via innovative mediums as well as better revenues for players and sponsors."

"At the heart of its concept, the Hockey India League benefits our Indian players development immensely by allowing them to play alongside some the best players in the world hence learning new techniques that go a long way during the hockey season," Batra concluded.

AFP Kuala Lumpur, Nov 22: Malaysia will discontinue its Formula One Grand Prix race after 2018 due to falling revenues, a government minister said, waving the checkered flag on one of Asia's longest-running F1 races.

The economic problems besetting the sport are taking too much of a toll and Malaysia will not renew after its current contract expires in two years, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz told local media on Monday.

The race's future had been up in the air after officials said last month they were reassessing their commitment to the event amid ebbing television viewership and anaemic ticket sales.

"We spend 300 million ringgit ($67 million) per year but are not getting 300 million back. There are no returns on the F1 Grand Prix," Nazri told state-run Bernama news agency.

He noted that attendance had declined despite the high cost of staging the race, which has been held at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur since 1999.

"I think the people have lost interest," he said. The race has faced intensifying competition, particularly from the glittering night grand prix in neighbouring Singapore, just as energy-exporting Malaysia has seen its government revenues sapped

towards Subrata Paul at the other end. A few yellow cards were flashed as the Highlanders were able to keep a leash on the Stallions with the score standing 0-0 at halftime.

Nicolas Velez ran through the Pune defence to earn a corner as NorthEast began the second half on a positive note. But it was only a flash in the pan as a dull passage of play ensued with both teams being guilty of making scruffy passes. The game sprung back to life past the hour mark when Katsumi Yusa’s shot was kept away from danger and the ensuing rebound by Romaric was blocked.

Pune too were not to be left behind as Lenny

Rodrigues unleashed a thunderbolt from distance but unluckily for his side it only rattled the post.

Velez could have claimed the winner soon for NorthEast but missed a great opportunity with only a man to beat. Pitu then volleyed in a shot from point-blank range but it was expertly dealt with by Paul in goal for the Highlanders.

The deadlock was finally broken late into the game when Ferreira handled the ball outside the box.

Romaric did the rest as he fired it past Edel Bete to make it 1-0 for the Highlanders nine minutes from time. Pune immediately went in search for the equaliser. Pitu fired it straight towards the keeper as the hosts held on to their advantage, en-

Match Awards: Club

award:

NorthEast United FC

Fittest Player of the Match: Nicolas Velez

Winning Pass of the Match: Emiliano Alfaro

Swift Moment of the Match: Subrata Paul

ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Lenny Rodrigues

Hero of the Match: Romaric

suring a victory and valuable three points in the process.

Malaysia to pull out of F1 after 2018 by weak world oil prices and slowing economic growth.

Formula One races are often run at a loss but they are attractive to many cities because of their prestige and exposure to global audiences. Malaysian officials have said Sepang, which can accommodate 120,000 fans, drew just 45,000 to last month's grand prix, and added that race-day TV ratings were also poor.

In comments on Twitter last month, Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin stressed the competition from other events outside of Malaysia.

"F1 ticket sales declining, TV viewership down. Foreign visitors down b/c (because) can choose Singapore, China, Middle East. Returns are not as big," he said.

Official figures show For-

mula One has shed 200 million TV viewers globally since 2008.

In September, US firm Liberty Media announced a takeover of F1, including a new chairman and plans for greater penetration in the United States to try and right the ship.

The Sepang race, known for its tropical downpours and sauna-like conditions, is Asia's second-oldest next to the Japanese Grand Prix, which dates back to 1976.

But Singapore, which hosted the first F1 race under floodlights in 2008, quickly outstripped Sepang in terms of spectators.

Sepang, located in vast oil palm fields one hour's drive from central Kuala Lumpur, has also failed to match the lively entertainment and concerts at Singapore's downtown race, officials have said.

This year's Singapore race

saw an average of 73,000 spectators attend for each of the three days of the race weekend.

State oil firm Petronas, the race's title sponsor which also backs the championship-leading Mercedes team, has been particularly hard hit by the oil price slump.

Malaysian politics are also in a volatile phase as Prime Minister Najib Razak spars with former premier Mahathir Mohamad, who is calling for Najib's ouster over a moneylaundering scandal.

Mahathir's son recently quit as the Sepang circuit's chairman. By contrast, Malaysia's MotoGP at Sepang is consistently popular and this year's race was sold out.

Sepang agreed last month to extend the MotoGP until at least 2021.

PTI Dubai, Nov 22: India captain Virat Kohli reached a career-high fourth position in the ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen after producing a man of the match performance in the second Test against England which India won by 246 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Kohli is currently topranked in Twenty20 Internationals and has also held the top position in One-Day Internationals, but has never moved above 10th place in Tests.

However, his sublime knocks of 167 and 81 in Visakhapatnam have helped him jump 10 slots and cross the 800-point mark for the first time, becoming only the 11th India batsman to do so.

For his efforts in Visakhapatnam, Kohli has earned 97 points. The 28year-old from Delhi now trails second-ranked Joe Root of England by 22 points. Another strong

performance in the Mohali Test, which begins on Saturday will mean he will edge closer in his quest to top the batting table.

Middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has gained one place to reach ninth rank after scoring 119 and one, while the England pair of wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow and allrounder Ben Stokes have also made significant gains.

Bairstow has moved up four places to reach 12th position after scoring 53 and 34 not out, while Stokes has moved up five slots to 28th position after scoring 70 and six.

In the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, India fast bowler Mohammad Shami has gained five places to reach a careerhigh 21st rank and leftarm spinner Ravindra Jadeja has moved up one position to sixth place.

For England, Stuart Broad (up one place) and

Moeen Ali (up four places), have achieved fifth and 23rd positions, respectively.

New Zealand's eightwicket win over Pakistan in a low-scoring first Test in Christchurch did not result in much upward movement for batsmen.

New Zealand's BradleyJohn Watling has gained two places to take 36th place, Henry Nicholls has moved up three slots to reach 79th position and debutant opener Jeet Raval has entered the rankings in 60th position after knocks of 55 and 36 not out.

In Test bowling ranking, another New Zealand player to make a fine entry was pace bowler Colin de Grandhomme, who was named player of the match for taking seven wickets in Christchurch.

Grandhomme, who represented Zimbabwe in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2004 in Bangladesh, has entered in 61st position.

Chawrasia, Chikka look to impress at World Cup of Golf IANS Melbourne , Nov 22: Indian veteran S.S.P. Chawrasia hopes to extend his successful season with a memorable debut alongside young S. Chikka at the $8 million ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf which starts on Thursday.

Chawarasia flew into Melbourne for the prestigious 28-nation team competition at Kingston Heath Golf Club in confident mood after winning his fifth title on the Asian Tour and a second one this season at the Resorts World Manila Masters a fortnight ago.

With 24-year-old Chikka also in good form, thanks to three recent top-10s on the Asian Tour, the Indians are quietly confident of challenging for the World Cup of Golf trophy.

"Winning obviously makes your confidence go higher.

I feel really good and I'm looking forward to the week.

Chikka will also win very soon, he's a great player and I'm sure the win will come next year," Chawrasia, who won the Hero Indian Open earlier in March, said in an Asian Tour release.

Chikka is still a greenhorn as per as world class events are concerned but he is keen to quickly establish himself on the international front with a solid showing in his World Cup of Golf debut.

They got their week off onto a strong note by jointly winning a charity shoot-out with New Zealand's Ryan Fox and Danny Lee at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Tuesday

S.S.P. Chawrasia afternoon.

"Playing in a top field, we're happy to be competing with them and it's a great opportunity for us to go out there and do our best. We're in good form, so we're looking forward to the week," said Chikka.

"After S.S.P. picked me as his partner, a lot of people have said that I've been given a great opportunity to play in the World Cup at such a young age. We want to go out there and try to make our country proud."

Chawrasia said winning in the Philippines, which was his first title outside of India, was like getting a monkey off his back and he hopes to ride on his rich vein of form.

"This is a really good course, I'm really enjoying myself here. My partner is playing good golf this year, so I think I've picked the right partner. We want to do our best and at the same time, we want to enjoy ourselves too and there's a top

field with the likes of Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler playing as well," said Chawrasia.

"Back home last week, everyone was giving us encouragement especially after I won in Manila. Everyone is pushing us to succeed, which is a good thing as we're getting a lot of support from our fans."

While Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa, Australia's Scott and Marc Leishman and the American pairing of Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker will start as favourites, Chawrasia does not want to start thinking of matters that he cannot control.

"We won't focus on the other teams. We'll go out there to enjoy ourselves.

We'll have a clear mind, play our own games and if we play well, we can beat the other teams. I don't think I'll be telling Chikka what to do as he's a rising star," said Chawrasia.

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Editor: Prahlad Hammey

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