ˆ˙ !, ˘ˇ %./ /&&/ + ./012’ /3 2* ˛ˆ :ˇ 046.7 6)#A 35 ’.3 ... · the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, ... from Opposition benches pointed out to the change in the marshals’

�� !

�� !"� ��# �� $�� %� �� &��'(�� %� ��&�� ! �"

��# �� $� ��$�� !� ��(�)� ��*+�� ,(�) +-��./0�1�� !�

�� %%�� &'()*�� # �� 22��)�� %�� &�� )�##��3�� !

��

�� 45�046.781)1'+7

After marathon meetingsbetween the top leaders of

the Congress and the NCP thatsaw them arrive at “completeunanimity” on all issues relat-ing to Government formationin Maharashtra, the politicalscene will shift to Mumbai,where the senior leaders of thetwo parties will meet Shiv Senapresident Uddhav Thackerayon Friday evening to hammerout a power-sharing deal forthe “Maha Vikas Aghadi”Government in the State.

“Maharashtra will get aGovernment tomorrow. At themeeting scheduled, the threeparties will put a stamp on thenew Government. We (thethree parties) may meetGovernor Bhagat SinghKoshyari jointly on Saturdayand stake claim to form aGovernment in Maharashtra,”a confidant Shiv Senaspokesperson Sanjay Raut saidin New Delhi on Thursday.

Ahead of Friday’s meeting,Uddhav — accompanied by hisMLA-son Aditya and Shiv Senaspokesperson Sanjay Raut —met NCP president SharadPawar at the latter’s “SilverOak” residence in southMumbai late on Thursdaynight. At the meeting, Pawaris understood to have briefedUddhav on what transpired atthe meetings that the NCP andCongress leaders held duringthe last two days. They alsoreportedly discussed various

issues relating to theGovernment formation.

Apart from Pawar, hisnephew and former DeputyChief Minister Ajit Pawar andNCP MP Supriya Sule werepresent. What surprised manyin the State political circles asto what was the urgency thatprompted Uddhav to meetPawar, immediately after thelatter arrived from New Delhi.Raut had earlier in the after-noon confirmed in the nation-al Capital that both he andCongress-NCP leaders had

spoken to Uddhav over tele-phone and spoken to him oncertain issues relating to theGovernment formation.

After the top leaders of theCongress and the NCP for-malised the CommonMinimum Programme (CMP)and worked out modalities forthe Government formation,the Congress WorkingCommittee (CWC) onThursday granted in-princi-ple approval to the party toform a new Government inMaharashtra along with its

pre-poll partner, NCP, and theShiv Sena.

After the CWC meeting,which was chaired by partychief Sonia Gandhi, sourcessaid that the Congress and theNCP would work out finerdetails of the Government for-mation in Maharashtra duringtheir meeting with the Senapresident on Friday.

Former Maharashtra ChiefMinister Prithviraj Chavaninformed the media after ameeting that there was a “com-plete unanimity” on all issues

and when the alliance partners,which would include the Sena,announce their CMP, then thepower-sharing formula wouldbe disclosed.

The major engagement onFriday will be a crucial meet-ing to be held in the eveningbetween the Congress-NCPleaders with Shiv Sena presi-dent Uddhav Thackeray and afew of his senior party col-leagues. Apart from seniorCongress leaders, NCP presi-dent Sharad Pawar is alsoexpected to remain present atthis meeting.

On their part, seniorCongress and NCP leadershave kept Uddhav in the loopon what transpired at the meet-ing between the seniorCongress and NCP leaders atthe meeting on Wednesday.

Given the unanimitybetween the Congress and theNCP on all issues relating to theGovernment formation andthe fact that the Shiv Sena is notin mood to impose any majorconditions, it is quite likely thatthe three parties will hammerout a power-sharing pact forthe “Maha Vikas Aghadi”Government in Maharashtra.

There will be two compo-nents for the power-sharingformula that will be discussedat Friday’s meeting. The firstcomponent will be formalisa-tion of the CMP which will bean easy task for all the threeparties. The second componentwill be the power-sharingarrangement among the three.

As per the power-sharingarrangement devised by theCongress and the NCP at thenational Capital, the Shiv Sena(with 56 MLAs) and the NCP(54 MLAs) will get 15 min-istries each, while the Congress(44 MLAs) will get 12 min-istries in accordance with anapproximate ratio of 4 MLAs:one Ministry.

Both the NCP and theCongress have agreed to givethe Chief Minister’s post to theShiv Sena. Though there hasbeen a speculation that theNCP has been insisting on theChief Minister’s post beingrotated equally between it andthe Shiv Sena, the two partieshave not yet broached the issuewith the Shiv Sena.

Given the mood prevailingin both the Congress and theNCP, they would not be averseto giving the Chief Minister’spost for full five year period.But, the two parties, especial-ly the NCP, will demand theirpound of flesh in terms ofimportant ministries for for-going the Chief Minister’s poston a rotational basis.

If the Chief Minister’s postgoes to the Shiv Sena for fullfive years’ period, then therewill be two Deputy ChiefMinisters — one each from theNCP and the Congress. Therewill be discussion on the shar-ing of the major Ministries likeHome, Urban Development,PWD, Revenue, Co-operationand Finance.

Continued on Page 4

�� 45�046.7�

Political firestorm eruptedover controversial BJP MP

Pragya Thakur’s inclusion inParliament consultative com-mittee on defence.

The 21-member commit-tee, headed by DefenceMinister Rajnath Singh, alsoincludes National Conferenceleader and parliamentarianFarooq Abdullah who is under-going detention in Jammu &Kashmir post re-organisationof the erstwhile State into twoUnion Territories after scrap-ping of the Article 370 thatgranted special status to J&K.The committe comprise 12members from the Lok Sabhaand nine from the Rajya Sabha.

The BJP strongly defendedher presence on the panel andasserted the Bhopal MP canhelp in “framing right method-ology” so that innocents are not“victimised” the way she wasdone by the Congress-led UPAGovernment.

Hitting back at theCongress which criticised

Thakur’s inclusion in the par-liamentary panel, BJP MPMeenakshi Lekhi said the partyseems to have lost its faith indemocracy and forgotten thatThakur is an elected memberof Parliament. People knowthat Thakur was falsely impli-cated by the Congress-led UPAGovernment, said Lekhi, whois in the panel.

Thakur, a first-time MPfrom Bhopal, is an accused inthe 2008 Malegaon blasts case,and is currently out on bail. Sheis facing trial for multiplecharges under the UnlawfulActivities (Prevention) Act.

Thakur’s nomination tothe panel triggered a politicalrow as the Congress attackedthe Government, saying it wasunfortunate for the countrythat an MP accused of “spread-ing terror” has been nominat-ed as member of a defence-related committee.

Continued on Page 4

�� 45�046.7

In a partial rollback of themilitary-like uniforms,

Marshals in the Rajya Sabhawere seen without their cap onThursday. On the first day ofthe Winter Session on Monday,their new attire had invited crit-icism from some ex-Army offi-cers and Opposition leaders.

On Thursday, as soon asthe House assembled to take upthe Zero Hour, some membersfrom Opposition benchespointed out to the change in themarshals’ uniform. To thisChairman M Venkaiah Naiduremarked, “As I have said,nothing reflects like Army...(thereview) process is on.”

Following criticism, Naiduhad on Tuesday ordered reviewof the new military-style uni-form of marshals in the House.

“I have decided to ask theSecretariat to revisit the same,”the Rajya Sabha Chairman hadsaid on Tuesday.

Their new uniform hadsparked off criticism, includingfrom former Army chiefGeneral Ved Prakash Malik,who had described the attireillegal and a security hazard.

Continued on Page 4

�� 45�046.7

The pollution level in Delhiinched towards “severe”

due to wind losing steam, a dipin temperature and a rise inhumidity on Thursday. DwarkaSector 8 crossed “severe pluscategory” with Air QualityIndex (AQI) at 729, and AnandVihar recorded seasons’ high-est PM 10 at 1,729.

Experts said the situation islikely to worsen in the next 24hours, while some relief isexpected from Saturday.

System of Air Quality andWeather Forecasting andResearchn (SAFAR) warned

people against outdoor physi-cal activities. “If asthematics,keep relief medicine handy,”said SAFAR in health bulletin.

“The main factors workingtowards the deterioration of airquality is extremely low windspeed and strong near-surfaceinversion during the night.Low ventilation is leading tothe accumulation of pollutantsnear the surface,” SAFAR said.

An expert at SkymetWeather, a private forecaster,said moderate winds fromNovember 23 would bringsome relief but it will be tem-porary as another western dis-turbance from November 25will again slow dowm wind.

“There are chances of goodrain on November 25 and 26.If that happens, pollutants willbe washed away. A long-termrelief is expected only afterNovember 28,” he said.

Continued on Page 4

��

��!��"��!�� !��

"�� #�� $� �� %�

��#�� 45�046.7�

Abus marshal saved a four-year-old girl from the

clutches of a kidnaper in aCluster bus, earning praisefrom the Delhi Governmentwhich promised to reward himfor his exemplary service. Lateron the child was united withher parents.

Arun Kumar, 24, a marshaldeployed in the bus on route728, saved the child from a 17-year-old boy who had alleged-ly kidnapped the child fromNizamuddin Railway station.The boy had boarded the busat Palam flyover around 11 amon Wednesday. Kumar said hebecame suspicious of the boy’scredentials after he found thatthe girl was weeping bitterly.

The marshal questionedthe boy and his answers onlyaroused his suspicion of himbeing a kidnapper. With thehelp of the bus conductor, thedriver and other passengers, he

overpowered the accused andtook him to the police station.

“Realising that somethingwas amiss as the girl was cry-ing, I alerted the bus driver andalso informed conductorVirendra. The driver closedboth the bus doors to stop thekidnapper from fleeing. Thedriver then took the bus toDhaula Kuan police station,”said the bus marshal, whose actwas praised by Delhi ChiefMinister Arvind Kejriwal.

Continued on Page 4

�� #��$��

&��#�� '�� #�� 45�046.7

India on Thursday askedPakistan to provide consular

access to two of its nationalsIslamabad has arrested andsought their safe repatriation.The arrest of two Indians,Prashant Vaindam and DhariLal, as reported by Pakistanimedia, came as a surprise asIndia had informed Pakistanmonths back that they mayhave crossed over inadvertent-ly, External Affairs Ministry(MEA) Spokesperson RaveeshKumar said here at a briefing.

Kumar said India hadinformed Pakistan inDecember last about Lal’s pos-sible crossing over to thatcountry, while informationabout Vaindam was conveyedin May 2019.

“We hope that these twoIndian nationals do notbecome victims of Pakistanipropaganda,” Kumar said.

Following the reports inPakistani media about thearrests, India approachedPakistan and requested it forimmediate consular access tothe incarcerated Indians there.

“We also requested fortheir safety and security andalso early repatriation,” he said.

Continued on Page 4

�� "��(�� ')��'*�( ��$ ��#��'+

�� !��" �!#

9 ��0�� !� �8�� ,��%� ��-

��

�./"01�2'

)��5+/�.7��:64;�1)�#64�7��)6:� 3�/4+��)/4�+6674�

��!� �8�� 8

<6��#�� * +=>��,,&� ?=?<+��4@��+��

��:� ��046.7��6)#A�35 '.3�+6��'.)'+�4�5+/

/+�#.7�/+7�)/ #.+�07�+/.�04./+0)� .B04/+'+0�C7(+B5+0+

,-�� !,��%."/�� !"��#$%��

� 0� �� #� �11�12%34�� %"�5

�/&�&/��+D /7#AB�1)�.*�+ �7 �+�+7�

�/"3�2*7�07+� 3�:+#4�'*04�.�7��2� �08�� 4� � 30+B

��

�� !��"��#�� $��%&&'''(� ��)'&&%*'&&'*++��,,��-��).%/&�!��-0$1��,��#�%('&/'&�2��)'&('%*3453''6*3455''��7#��8��$(&'�(&&!��%�/��92��:�;��)��10<!2<�=1<�;�� (�'';��)��)��>��)��, �61�,�� !��)��#��6��)��?��8�� -��)*��.��!��!��#��.�@ �<��8�� %((�'&��A��)'+((%(/*�**/�(/*�***�(/*�**+�

�� !��"�� #�� $��%��&�� '�� "��(��

�� !!"�!#$%

�� 45�046.7

A30-year-old cab driver waskilled allegedly after his

scooty hit a divider on OkhlaEstate Road in southeast Delhi.The incident occurred onWednesday late night.

The victim identified asVerma Kumar, a resident ofIndra Kalyan Vihar in Okhla,was on his way to attend a partyon Wednesday, when he metwith an accident.

According to ChinmoyBiswal, the DeputyCommissioner of Police (DCP),South-East district, onWednesday around 11.51 pm, apolice control room (PCR) callwas regarding accident at OkhlaEstate road.

"After receiving the call, anEmergency Response Vehicle(ERV) was dispatched to thespot but injured was not foundat the spot, however, one dam-aged scooty was found there.

"Later, information was alsoreceived from Apollo Hospitalregarding Verma kumar whowas declared brought dead. Hewas admitted in hospital bypassersby," said the DCP addingthat a case under section279/304A of Indian Penal Code(IPC) has been registered atGovindpuri police station.

"During initial investiga-tion, Verma's wife told policethat he had left home at 4 pm onWednesday to go at some party.There is no eyewitness of theincident so far. The spot inspec-tion suggests that Verma gothead injury when his scooty hitthe divider on road. Furtherinvestigation is going on," saidthe DCP.

�� 45�046.7

With the arrest of two crim-inals, the Delhi Police on

Thursday busted a syndicateinvolved in illegal weaponsmanufacturing and smugglingin Uttar Pradesh and thenational Capital.

Police said they have alsorecovered two semi- manufac-t u r e d'desi katta' (country-made pis-tols), firearms making tools and40 barrels (unfinished), 50trigger springs, three drillmachines , one air blower,three gripper machine, onepunching die, iron rods andwielding electrodes from aroom in village Radhana,

Meerut, where accused used tomanufacture arms.

The accused have beenidentified as Asif Ali (24), a resident of Aamroha, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Istkar(55), a resident of villageRadhana in UP.

According to ChinmoyBiswal, the DeputyCommissioner of Police(DCP), South-East district,earlier on September 22 thisyear, an arm smuggler,Masroor, was arrested, whoduring interrogation revealedthat he used to buy the illegalfirearms from Aasif Ali andthen supply the same in dif-ferent areas in Delhi.

"Raids were conductedsubsequent to the disclosuresmade by the arrested accusedMasroor to catch the accusedAsif Ali who used to supplyfirearms to Masroor but hemanaged to conceal himself.On November 19, the policeteam succeeded in its efforts to

catch the accused Asif Ali fromISBT Sarai Kale Khan," said theDCP.

"During interrogation, theaccused Asif revealed that heused purchase illegal firearmsfrom Istkar in village Radhana.On his instance Istkar wasarrested from his home. Istakarwas manufacturing illegalweapon in a room in his houseat village Radhana. Police alsorecovered several parts of DesiKatta 315 Bore parts of 312 Bore,some machines, tools and otherarticles of making illegalfirearms from the possession ofthe accused," said the DCP.

"It was also revealed thatAsif used pay �2500 to accusedIstkar for each firearms andfurther Asif used to sell it toMasroor for �4000. Masroorwould supply them in Delhi.The accused Istkar revealedthat he used to prepare twofirearms in a day and it costaround �500 per firearms,"said the DCP.

�� 45�046.7

Several students fromJawaharlal Nehru University

(JNU), Delhi University andJamia Millia Islamia, under thebanner of Akhil BharatiyaVidharthi Parsihad (ABVP),were stopped by police atParliament Street on Thursday.The students were protestingagainst JNU’s proposed hostel feehike.

However, the scufflebetween Delhi Police, CentralReserve Police Force (CRPF)ensued after the protesting stu-dents climbed and jumped overthe barricades mounted atParliament Street resorting policeto detain them.

Around 160 students includ-ing Delhi University StudentsUnion (DUSU) President AkshitDhaiya, and ABVP’s stateSecretary Siddharth Yadav weredetained by police on ParliamentStreet. According to AshutoshSingh, a member of ABVP, thestudents began their protest

march from Mandi House. "They were marching

towards the office of HumanResource Development (HRD)Ministry in Shastri Bhawan butwere stopped in midway," saidSingh. The ABVP is demandingscrapping of the high-powercommittee set up by the HRD

Ministry following the agita-tion by JNU students againsthostel fee hike.

‘All we want is a completerollback of fees hike. The tem-porary relief by administrationis just a lollipop,’ said RajivMittal, a protestor.

‘Besides, the rollback of hos-

tel fee hike, we also want thatsome of the other issues per-taining to dress code, timerestrictions on library hoursmust also be looked into," saidKrishna, another protestor.

Gajender, a research schol-ar said, "We have raised objec-tions to certain rules imposed bythe administration in the hostelmanual. Earlier we didn’t have topay for electricity, water and san-itation but with this new rule, wewill have to end up spendingmore money."

Students of the JNU havebeen protesting for the past sev-eral days demanding a completerollback of a proposed hike inhostel fees, along with recon-vening of the Inter-HallAdministration meeting thathad passed the proposed fee hikeon October 28.

�� 45�046.7

As the air quality in thenational Capital keeps fluc-

tuating from ‘severe to verypoor and poor level’, hospitalsin Delhi are flooded withpatients complaining of skin related problems. Dermatologists atvarious hospitals said they arewitnessing almost 30 per centsurge in skin related allergies,itching, rashes and prematureageing.

Dr VK Sharma Professor and Head ofDepartment (HOD) ofDermatology (AIIMS) said thatlong exposure to pollutionleads to early ageing of skin,pigmentation, skin irritationand other skin related prob-lems.

"The number of patientswith skin problems has gone

up. It is proven by research thathigh level of PM 2.5 present inthe air leads to inflammation ofskin," he said, adding that dueto high pollution level, patientsexperience skin allergy andaggravation.

Air quality in the national capital entered thevery poor category again onWednesday and is likely toturn severe over the next two days due to prevailing calm winds and increased incidents of farm fires.

"While our skin is meant towork as a protective layer andward off environmental haz-ards, the current levels of pol-lution is way too much for it toendure, resulting in variousskin problems and prematureageing," said Dr Ajaya Kashyap,Medical Director of KASMedical Centre

He said that in last fewdays, we have seen 30 per centincrease in number of patientsvisiting here with skin relatedissues and also for anti-ageingtreatments.

Explaining the link between pollution andpremature ageing, Dr Kashyapsaid "Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalancebetween the free radicals andantioxidants, and inflammationare the major reasons behindskin damage and prematureageing.

"Unfortunately, pollutionaccelerates both these procedures, leading to break-outs, irritations, eczema, aller-gy, pigmentations and evenwrinkles. The patients we arereceiving, report black spotsand fine lines coming up ontheir faces in a fortnight or so,"he said.

��

$ �%��&'(��%��)��%� *��% ��

�� !��"��"��!��"��

��*�� +,�%� ��)��-�. �!��" /�0��1��

�� 45�046.7�

Sanjay Baru, mediaadvisor to the former

Prime MinisterManmohan Singh andalso alumnus ofJawaharlal NehruUniversity on Thursdaysupported the protest byJNU students againstthe hostel fee hike andsaid it is important tosave public universitiesso that students canstudy at affordable costs.

In a video shared by formerJNU Students' Union presidentN Sai Balaji, Baru, a JNU alum-nus and author of the book,'The accidental prime minister',said, "At a time when almost

every year we are spendingalmost six billion dollars onIndians studying abroad, it isextremely important to savepublic universities."

"Jawaharlal NehruUniversity is one of the bestpublic universities according toHuman Resource Department

(HRD) ministry's rank-ing and it is important toensure that good stu-dents can study ataffordable costs," he said.

Besides, FatimaNafees, mother of miss-ing JNU student, NajeebAhmed, visited the uni-versity on Thursday andmet a visually challengedstudent, who wasallegedly lathicharged bythe police during theprotests against hostelfee hike.

Fatima Nafees, mother ofNajeeb met Shashi BhushanPandey at the campus andexpressed solidarity with thecause of the protesting students.Pandey had claimed that hewas baton charged by police onMonday depsite telling themthat he is visually challenged.

��!#�!�#��"��$"��!��%&��'��(�� !��

�� E�

��4�(��#��!��

�� !!"�!#$%

�� 45�046.7

Accusing Union MinisterRam Vilas Paswan of polit-

ical vendetta to malign thegood work done by the DelhiGovernment and to create anissue just before the DelhiAssembly elections, Delhi JalBoard Vice Chairman DineshMohaniya on Thursday allegedthat Paswan acted “irresponsi-bly” and “tabled a fake report”in Parliament about the waterquality in Delhi.

Mohaniya alleged that“gross irregularities” have sur-faced in the process of watersample collection in the city.“We have come to know that aLok Janshakti Party workercollected water sample from ahouse and not BIS officials. It’spolitics in the run-up to elec-tions. An issue is being madeout of it,” Mohaniya said.

He said according to mediareports, people at two placesdenied that water samples weretaken from their houses. Watersamples have been collectedfrom the house of LJP vice

president. It is petty politicsahead of the assembly electionsin Delhi, he alleged.

“A fake report has beentabled in Parliament andPaswanji has acted irresponsi-bly,” Mohaniya alleged. TheDJB vice chairman said anindependent agency has againcollected samples from these 11places and the results will beput in the public domain with-in 48 hours.

He assured residents not to

one be panic about the waterquality in Delhi. “DJB furtherplans to collect large number ofsamples from various parts ofthe city and media also will beinvited while collecting thesamples. We work transpar-ently and as per the standard ofprocedure, therefore the DJBassessment of water quality ishighly reliable and as per theWHO norms “, he added.

“Every year, DJB testslakhs of water samples follow-

ing World Health Organisation(WHO) norms. Third partytests including those of theCentral government PSUs val-idate the tests done by DJB.Even the samples taken by theBJP ruled MCDs also passedthe quality tests”, Mohaniyaadded.

“We have been workingwith full transparency. On theother hand, the BIS report isgeneric. It lacks details aboutparameters and prescribednorms,” he claimed.

Earlier on Thursday,Paswan addressed a press con-ference where he said that hedid not collect samples but BISofficials did, Mohaniya said.Paswan should tell if BIS offi-cials misguided him on theissue. He should fix responsi-bility on them, he said.

He said 2,300 areas inDelhi had been facing water-related issues before the AAPcame to power. The numberhas reduced to 117 now, headded.

Earlier in the day, the AAPRajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singhalso joined issue and demand-

ed the resignation of Paswanfor giving out a “false” report.“

“False investigation, falsereport. Paswan has proved thathe is not eligible to be the min-ister. He should resign from hispost and tender an apology forlying,” he tweeted in Hindi.

AAP senior leader SanjaySingh asked the Union minis-ter on whose provocation helied and defamed Delhithrough his allegations. “Thereport on Delhi’s water quali-ty as disclosed by Paswan iscompletely fabricated as thepeople whose name is in thelist, have claimed that nobodyvisited their houses to collectany such samples,” he said.

Singh also asked Paswanon whose directions he is “lyingand from where did Paswan getthe report”.

The Centre and the citygovernment have been tradingallegations since Paswanreleased a BIS report onNovember 16 that said watersamples collected from 11places in the city failed quali-ty tests.

�� 45�046.7

The Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) on Thursday

claimed that the Centre was“under pressure” to bring a Billto regularise unauthorisedcolonies of Delhi in the WinterSession of the Parliament dueto the continuous demands ofDelhi Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal.

The Union Cabinet onWednesday approved a Billwhich provides for a legalframework to grant owner-ship rights to the people livingin unauthorised colonies inthe city, a move that will ben-efit 40 to 50 lakh people. Theproposed Bill is aimed at recog-nising general power of attor-ney (GPA), will, agreement tosell, purchase and possessiondocuments, which will be aone-time relaxation for thispurpose for the residents ofthese colonies.

Senior AAP leader and

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singhsaid that now the party wantimmediate ordinance on thismatter and the registry shouldstart immediately. “The peopleof unauthorised colonies havebeen cheated earlier also in thesame way and we do not wanta repeat of such an act again bythe BJP,” he said.

The bill will also providefor registration charge and stamp duty on last trans-action and also address theissue of income tax liability onaccount of less than circle ratecharges.

�� 45�046.7

South Delhi MunicipalCorporation (SDMC)

signed a ‘Memorandum ofUnderstanding’ (MoU) withSBI (State Bank of India) andAllahabad Bank to provide lifeinsurance cover to its sanitationworkers and contract employ-ees under Pradhan MantriJiwan Jyoti Beema Yojna(PJJBY).

SDMC CommissionerGyanesh Bharti said that thepremium amount of Rs330 perperson will be deposited annu-ally by the civic body. “Theemployees need to fill only req-uisite form and submit thesame to the concerned depart-

ment, which will complete the necessary formalities,” hesaid.

The Commissioner fur-ther said that under thisscheme, employees will have topay nothing to get its benefit.SDMC also asked these banksto explore reasonable healthinsurance schemes also forthese employees, he said.

He said that after consid-ering all other affordable healthinsurance schemes, we willimplement them in future forthe betterment of the employ-ees.

With the move, about14000 contractual and dailywagers will be covered underthe insurance scheme.

�� 45�046.7

Amid a raging controversyover the quality of Delhi’s

drinking water, posters havecome up at ITO questioningthe AAP Government on thehigh number of diarrhoea andcholera cases registered in thecity in the last four years.

According to a Bureau ofIndian Standards (BIS) reportreleased by Union MinisterRam Vilas Paswan onNovember 16, all water samplescollected from Delhi failed aquality test.

Refuting the findings of thereport, Delhi Chief MinisterArvind Kejriwal, who is also the chairman of the DelhiJal Board, has accused Paswanof misleading people on theissue.

“The Delhi Jal Board chair-man should answer how 21,88,253 cases of diarrhea wereregistered in Delhi in the lastfour years if the water is clean,”read one of the posters.

�� 45�046.7

With the arrest of fourcriminals, the sleuths of

Delhi Police Crime Branch onThursday claimed to have bust-ed a gang of highway robberswho used to target cab driversand passengers in the nationalCapital.

Police have also recoveredtablets used for drugging vic-tims, three country-made pis-tols along with four cartridges,one app based cab used in com-mission of crime and fourrobbed mobile phones from thepossession of the accused.

The accused have beenidentified as Hashim (25),Satyabir Pandey (36), SachinPaswan (22) and Majid Salmani(22), all residents of Loni near

Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh(UP).

According to Dr G RamGopal Naik, the DeputyCommissioner of Police (DCP),Crime Branch, on November20, specific inputs were receivedthat the gang members of‘Hasim Gang’ would come toAnand Vihar ISBT, Delhi tocommit a robbery.

“Acting on the inputs atrap was laid on the spot. Aftera few hours, four personsarrived in a cab but sensing thepresence of the police team theytried to flee away. But, they wereoverpowered by the team aftera brief scuffle. During thesearch of the accused persons,three loaded country made pis-tols and eight live cartridgeswere recovered from their pos-

session,” said the DCP. “During interrogation, the

accused revealed that afterreleasing from prison in August2019, Hashim, the gang leader,wanted to make quick moneyfollowing which he plannedrobberies along with SatyavirPandey and others,” said theDCP.

“The accused SatyavirPandey was working as a driverof app based cab owned by hisneighbour and is well versedwith the cab business. Theyplanned to loot the app basedcab and use the same for furthercommitting robberies of pas-sengers,” said the DCP.

Explaining their modusoperandi the DCP said that theaccused used to phones andlater these phones were used to

book app based cab near ISBTs,Railway Stations, etc. The usedto board the cab, overpower thedriver, abduct him, rob hisbelongings, and confine him attheir place after drugging him,”said the DCP.

“The bookings sent by thecompany of the driver would beaccepted by the robbers tocommit further robberies of thepassengers. After committingthe robberies of the innocentpassengers and drivers crimi-nals used to dump the driverand cab at lonely places onhighways,” said the DCP.

“The accused are alsofound previously involved inseveral cases of robbery andarms act registered across thecity. Further investigation isgoing on,” said the DCP.

�� 45�046.7

Days after the report ofBureau of India (BIS)

claiming that Delhi Jal Board(DJB’s) water is not drinkable,the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)staged a protest in front ofChief Minister ArvindKejriwal’s residence.

BJP members collected 500samples from different loca-tions and accused Kejriwal forforcing people to drink pollut-ed water in name of free sup-ply by ruling Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) Government.

Recently, KejriwalGovernment announced freewater and electricity for Delhiresidents however the find-ings of BIS report has forcedpeople to give a cross check onthe quality of water being sup-plied by DJB.

Delhi BJP unit chief andMember of Parliament (MP)from North East Parliamentaryconstituency, Manoj Tiwarisaid that Kejriwal is forcingpeople to drink this pollutedwater in the name of free sup-ply by his Government.

According to a Bureau ofIndian Standards (BIS) reportreleased by Union MinisterRam Vilas Paswan onNovember 16, all water samples

collected from Delhi failedquality tests.

While AAP governmenthas always projected it as peo-ple’s government Leader ofOpposition (lop) VijenderGupta said, “What kind ofgovernment which has left thepeople of the capital to die.”

BJP leaders collaboratedand circled AAP governmentaccusing them for not provid-ing clean air and water, thebasic needs require for thesurvival. “Water is indispens-able for life and the governmentwhich cannot supply potablewater is worthless,” said formerDelhi BJP Satish Upadhyay.

General secretary KuljeetSingh Chahal asserted Kejriwalhas no right to continue inpower. Pradesh GeneralSecretary Ravinder Gupta said,“ Problem of drinking pollutedwater is serious threat in DelhiKejriwal is busy in self praise.” “People are very much scaredbecause the water being suppliedis stinking like sewer water.How this government is work-ing that the people are cravingfor clean drinking water,” the BJPleader questioned.

Meanwhile, city is facingdouble whammy due to foul airand polluted water impactinghealth of its citizen.

��%�� (��#�� -�1!� 4��

�� !" #$�%!��%�!&" #'�!��(�%&)��%"�*�+*� )�"

+-��%�� 0!��%�� %�� %� ��2�0�� !#

�� 45�046.7

A19-year-old boy hasbeen arrested by

Delhi Police for alleged-ly stabbing his sister’shusband to death innational Capital. Policesaid the boy was inrelationship with a mar-ried woman and he was scold-ed over this by his brother-in-law following which the boystabbed his brother in-law withknife on November 17 inDelhi’s Najafgarh area.

The accused has been iden-tified as Naushad, a resident ofDelhi’s Najafgarh area. Policesaid that they have also recov-ered the knife used in com-mission of crime.

According to AntoAlphonse, the DeputyCommissioner of Police(DCP), Dwarka district, onNovember 17, a police controlroom (PCR) call was receivedregarding a quarrel atNajafgarh’s Prem Vihar area fol-lowing which a police team wasdispatched to the spot.

“When the police teamreached the spot, they foundthat a person was stabbed withknife and was taken to DeenDayal Upadhyay (DDU)Hospital. In his statement, theinjured Riyaz ( 27), alleged thathis brother-in-law Naushadwas in illicit relationship witha married girl who was living

nearby in the same locality.Everyone in family was againstthe illicit relationship,” saidthe DCP.

“He further alleged thatwhen he objected for his behav-iour and his illicit relationship,he became aggressive andstabbed him on his chest with

a knife and ran away.During the treatment,Riyaz succumbed tohis injuries and a caseunder section 302 ofIndian Penal Code(IPC) was registered atNajafgarh police sta-tion and investigationwas taken up,” said theDCP.

“After receiving specificinputs regarding the accusedNaushad, a trap was laid andaccused was arrested fromPrem Vihar area. Police havealso recovered the knife used byhim in commission of murderat his instance from his hideout,” said the DCP.

/�*�)�� *�*� ��

%��%�#�� !��&��$��

� ��$��EE��#1� ��

�01#��1 )��'7�+��'��

�� ##��#��$' ��

�� "��,�� -+�3%��% �� !��" /�0��1��

��*�� $��% �� " /�0��1��

&( ��)�*��

#%)*�,�� !!"�!#$%

�� 0�6�� !"� ��#��7 �� =F� �� !

�� 0��0��$�� !"�+�� #��(�� 7��,#(7-��+��' �� %�� &� �� !�(��' �� FG��#(7� �� 2H�� +�� A�A�C�� *�� !

�0�� "�0(� �� #��,#��-�� A��,+��-��C�� #��,#��-�� %/�� 0��+��&�� 7��6�� : �� ,��76:-�� !

��00�� !"� �� ,/�� -�'��=I2>�� /�� !)�� .��1��.��C�� !

7$��6$��8�� !"� ��7��+��#�� +��4�� *� �� %A��'��A��&�� #�� #��/�� ,##/ -�� #��:��7�� !�

�� 45�046.7

Without offering any time-frame for cleaning river

`Ganga` the Government inthe Lok Sabha on Thursdaysaid the drive is a continuousprocess and it has sanctioned305 projects at an estimatedcost of over �28,600 croreunder the plan as the house onThursday witnessed membersraising questions on economyand Citizenship bill with ShivSena seeking `Bharat Ratna`for Hindutva ideologue VeerSavarkar.

Shiv Sena memberRajendra Gavit demanded`Bharat Ratna`, the highestcivilian honour bestowed bythe Union Government, forSavarkar and tribal icon BirsaMunda.

Rajendra Gavit made thedemand during the Zero Hour.His short speech was mostlyconfined to contributions ofMunda as he sought the hon-our for him and then made amention of Savarkar as well.

“Freedom fighters like VeerSavarkar be also given Bharat

Ratna,” he said.Members questioned gov-

ernment on the ̀ Ganga` clean-ing projects with Minister forJal Shakti Gajendra SinghShekhawat saying there hasbeen improvement in the qual-ity of water of the River Ganga.

Replying to a question dur-ing Question Hour, the minis-ter said a total of 305 projectshave so far been sanctioned atan estimated cost of Rs.28,613.75 crore, out of which109 projects have been com-pleted and rest are at variousstages of implementation.

The central governmentlaunched the Namami GangeProgramme with a total bud-getary outlay of Rs 20,000crore for five year period till 31December 2020 to accomplishthe twin objectives of effectiveabatement of pollution, con-servation and rejuvenation ofNational River Ganga and itstributaries. He also said Gangain 2019 has shown improvedwater quality trends as com-pared to 2014. The minister didnot offer any time-frame forcleaning of the river.

�� 45�046.7

Humans forcing monkeys tomove away from their for-

est habitats and compellingthem to migrate to cities like‘Vrindavan’, ‘Mathura’ andDelhi for food and shelter fig-ured in the Lok Sabha onThursday with members askinggovernment to find a perma-nent solution to the `man-monkey conflict.`

The issue of monkey’s`intruding` presence at reli-gious places and in LutyensZone in the national capital wasraised in the lower house byBJP MP Hema Malini who saiddeforestation has led to mon-keys moving to the cities. Shesuggested that the Governmentcould develop a monkey safarithere in ‘Vrindavan’ and‘Mathura’.

TMC MP SudipBandyopadhyay recounted thatduring his visit to Mathura amonkey deftly lifted his spec-tacles without the MP evennoticing it but returned itwhen he offered him a fruitjuice. He said moneys were

drinking and eating food avail-able to them in the cities whichis not good for their health.

RLJP leader Chirag Paswanalso joined her in raising theissue saying that in Delhi mon-keys do not allow children toplay outside their houses.Paswan, however, went on toadd that monkeys have beenforced out of their naturalhabitats by humans.

He said both sides canearn peace if forests are devel-oped moneys stay back there.“ This has happened becausewe have destroyed forests”, hesaid.

Raising the issue duringZero Hour, the MP fromMathura, said large-scale pres-ence of monkeys at religiousplaces was a matter of concernand the government should dosomething about it.

“People in Vrindavan andMathura in my constituencyhave been hit by the menacewith monkeys snatching itemsfrom pilgrims,” she said. Theactor-turned-politician alsosaid sterilization attempts havemade monkeys “violent”.

��#��# ��

$�� )�"��4 )�*�

�� 45�046.7

As many as 38 lakh challansinvolving a total amount of

�577.5 crore have been issuedsince the implementation of thenew motor vehicles law, RoadTransport Minister NitinGadkari said on Thursday.

However, in a reply to theLok Sabha, Gadkari said the“challans are being referred tocourts. Actual revenue is notavailable”. “As per informationavailable in the database of NIC(Vahan, Sarathi), 38,39,406traffic challans in 18 states andunion territories were issued,”according to the reply.

The challans involved atotal amount of�5,77,51,79,895, Gadkari said.

�� 45�046.7

Twice the toll amount will becharged from December 1

for passing through FASTaglanes without the tags at tollplazas on national highways,Union Minister Nitin Gadkarisaid on Thursday.

From December 1, tollpayments will be made onlythrough FASTags under theNational Electronic TollCollection (NETC) pro-gramme, the flagship initiativeof the Ministry of RoadTransport and Highways.

However, there will be onehybrid lane, where usual tollwill be charged from non-FASTag vehicles.

“Double the toll amount willbe charged from December 1 fortravelling through FASTag laneswithout tags on 537 toll plazas onnational highways across India,”Road Transport and HighwaysMinister Gadkari said here.

He said 537 toll plazashave become 100 per cent elec-tronic toll collection compliantincluding 17 where FASTagswill be read through hand-helddevices. The Government hadalready decided that fromDecember 1, toll paymentswill be made only via FASTagunder the National ElectronicToll Collection (NETC) pro-gramme, the flagship initiativeof the Ministry of RoadTransport and Highways.

�� 45�046.7

As many as 566 nationalhighway projects are run-

ning behind schedule owing toissues ranging from land acqui-sition, forest and wildlife clear-ances to poor performance ofcontractors, Road Transportand Highways Minister NitinGadkari told Parliament onThursday.

“Construction work onGolden Quadrilateral hasalready been completed, how-ever 566 projects are behindtheir completion schedule.These projects are delayedmainly due to land acquisi-tion, utility shifting, non-availability of soil or aggregate,poor performance of con-tractors,” Gadkari told the

Lok Sabha in a written replyto a question.

The Minister’s revelation toParliament is a big setback tothe highway development pro-gramme in the country that hasthrown shining example ofperformance despite sluggishperformance by several othersectors of the economy. In thepast, success of the road devel-opment projects had providedopportunity for chest-thump-ing by Ministers in the rulingparty.

Gadkari said that on theirpart, action was routinely beentaken against contractors thatreported delays under the pro-visions of the contract.

The Minister also said thatin order to fast-track theseprojects, various steps such as

streamlining of land acquisitionand environment clearances,premium rescheduling, closecoordination with other min-istries, among others have beentaken.

“Some of the ongoingNational Highways Projectshave been delayed due to var-ious reasons such as delays inland acquisition, pre con-struction activities, law andorder issues, contractors’ cashflow problems, poor perfor-mance of contractors,” Gadkariadded.

Regular meetings are heldwith project developers, Stategovernments and contractorson expedite the delayed pro-jects and various steps havebeen taken in this regard, hesaid.

5�677�� ,��5

+,,-.��*�!��/��

0��"�!1$��#��0�23�� !��-.�

2��& ��4��2��$&��

�56��0�(� ��!��%�� 63�03�

Britain's Opposition LabourParty on Thursday

launched its manifesto for theDecember 12 General Electionwith a pledge to institute anaudit into the country's colonialpast, which would include anapology to India for theJallianwala Bagh massacre inAmritsar 100 years ago.Former British Prime MinisterTheresa May had stopped shortof a formal apology earlierthis year when she expressed“deep regret” for the colonialera attack on Vaisakhi to coin-cide with its 100th anniversarythis year.

In the 107-page manifestotitled ‘It's Time for RealChange' launched by Labourleader Jeremy Corbyn, theparty has pledged to go furtheron the issue and apologise.

The document also com-mits Labour to constitute ajudge-led inquiry into Britain's"injustices of the past", includ-ing a public review of the

country's role in OperationBlue Star – referred to as the“Amritsar massacre”.

“We will issue a formalapology for the JallianwalaBagh massacre, and hold apublic review into Britain'srole in the Amritsar massacre,”notes the manifesto under thesub-head “EffectiveDiplomacy”.

In 2014, declassified UKgovernment documents hadrevealed that British militaryadvice was given to Indianforces prior to Indian Armyintervention at the GoldenTemple. There have been callsfor a public inquiry into theexact nature of that advicefrom some British

Sikh groups over theyears.Further down the samesection, the Labour Party goeson to elaborate its plans to pri-oritise conflict prevention andbuild peace and makes a spe-cific reference to the Kashmirconflict in the sub-continent.“The Conservatives have failedto play a constructive role in

resolving the world's mostpressing humanitarian crises,including in Kashmir,

Yemen and Myanmar, andthe escalation of tensions withIran,” the manifesto notes.

Labour has come underpressure from Indian diasporagroups for an emergencymotion passed at its party con-ference in September, whichimplied a call for internationalintervention in the region.

The manifesto seems tohave kept the wording on thesubject limited to a mentionamong other humanitariancrises such as in Iran, Yemenand Myanmar. As part of widerplans for a “NewInternationalism”, the party saysthat within its first year ofbeing elected to the UKParliament, it would “conductan audit of the impact ofBritain's colonial legacy tounderstand our contributionto the dynamics of violence andinsecurity across regions previ-ously under British colonialrule”.

From Page 1“My salute to bus marshal

Arun Kumar. People like youare pride of Delhi. Our 13,000bus marshals are providingsecurity to lakhs of passengers.People are having faith in thesafety inside the buses,”Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

Gahlot said a missingcomplaint was also registeredon the same day by the toddler’sparents at Nizamuddi Policestation. “Bus marshals havebeen deployed by the DelhiGovernment in both the shiftsacross all the buses across thecity. We have often been askedquestions about the need toappoint bus marshals, and ourmotive behind appointing thebus marshals has been ful-filled”, the Transport Ministersaid.

Also, Gahlot said the num-ber of pick pocketing and eve-teasing cases in DTC buseshave decreased significantlyduring past 20 days, ever sincemarshals were deployed. “Wehave also come across incidentswhere the bus marshals havecaught pick-pockets duringtheir duties. Such incidentshave gradually decreased onthe routes infamous for pickpocketing and public nui-sances,” said Gahlot.

According to the trans-port department, around 20pick pockets have been caughtby the marshals deployed in thebus.

The marshals have alsorecovered purse, mobile phonesand cash from the pick pock-ets. Such incidents have beenlargely observed in North andnorth east Delhi such as

Dariyaganj, Timarpur, ZakirHussain College NizamuddinRailway Station and Azadpur.

Earlier, marshals have alsore-united a child with his par-ents who was lost in BadarpurBorder. Currently there areabout 5,000 bus marshalsdeployed in the DelhiTransport Corporation (DTC)and cluster buses. However, theGovernment’s target is todeploy 13,000 bus marshals.

Kejrwal and Deputy ChiefMinister Manish Sisodia alsoapplauded the marshal.

“I am proud of the busmarshal Arun and conductorVirendra for saving a childfrom the kidnapper. Both willbe honoured by DelhiGovernment.

Within three weeks ofdeploying the bus marshals,have caught ten pickpocketersin cluster buses. I also salute thepassengers who came forwardand helped in rescuing thegirl and set an example of a trueIndian,” said the CM.

�� 55From Page 1

“Since then, we did not getany response to our note ver-bale,” he said.

The duo was apprehendedin the eastern city ofBahawalpur in Punjab ofPakistan.

The MEA hoped that thearrested Indians do not becomevictims of Pakistani propagan-da. Pakistan is known to fabri-cate adverse evidence againstarrested Indians, brands themeither terrorist or spy, andeven awards death penaltythrough sham trial by their mil-itary courts without theaccused being given consularaccess or legal rights to defendthemselves, according tosources.

The case of Indian nation-al Kulbhushan Jadhav is a casein point where he was award-ed death sentence by aPakistani military court with-out him being given consularaccess. On India’s petition, theInternational Court of Justicehad ruled that Pakistan mustgive consular access to Jadhavand review the death penaltyorder.

On April 10, 2017, Jadhavwas sentenced to death by aField General Court Martial inPakistan. The InternationalCourt of Justice on July 17 thisyear rejected India’s appeal forJadhav’s release but orderedPakistan to suspend the exe-cution. The ICJ had ruled thatPakistan will have to review the

entire process of trial and con-viction of Jadhav and provideIndia with consular access.

The arrested accused arenot tried in civilian court as thesame will attract media glareand expose Pakistan’s duplici-ty in planting evidence againstsuch Indian citizens.

On Monday, Pakistaniauthorities had produced twoIndian nationals in court forentering Pakistan without legaltravel documents. WhileVaindan hails from Hyderabad,Telangana, Lal is a resident ofMadhya Pradesh.

Vaindan had been missingsince April 29, 2017 and Indiahad officially informedPakistan Foreign Ministry asearly as May this year sharingphotographs and other per-sonal details. Vaindan’s familyhad even lodged complaintwith the police in Hyderabad.India had also informedPakistan besides Vaindan, Lalcould also have inadvertentlyentered Pakistan.

&��#�� 77

From Page 1Uniforms of Rajya Sabha

marshals were restyled withnavy blue, with shoulderinsignias, gold buttons andgold aiguillette — ornamentalbraided cord worn on army oracademic uniforms. Thepeaked cap was like those wornby Army officers of the rank ofBrigadier and above. Earlier,the marshals wore white band-hgalas with a safa.

The issue was first raised inthe Parliament on Monday byCongress MP Jairam Rameshwho asked Naidu if he wasimposing the Martial Law.Naidu, who was in the Chairhad, however, dismissed theobjection and said, “Don’t raiseinsignificant queries at such asignificant hour.”

Customarily, the presid-ing officer of the House isflanked by two marshals whomarch ahead of the chairmanto announce the commence-ment of proceedings and alsoassist the chair in organisingthe desk and bringing up orderpapers.

"�� #�� $� ��77

From Page 1The AQI in several parts of

Delhi turned severe due to highhumidity and calm winds.

The AQI for Rohini (410),Anand Vihar (413), NehruNagar (403) and Bawana (404)entered the “severe” zone.Neighbouring Ghaziabad (412)also recorded “severe” pollutionlevels, while the AQI in GreaterNoida (395) and Noida (394)bordered “severe” zone.

According to the IndiaMeteorological Department(IMD), very low wind speed dueto a western disturbance andhigh humidity due to shallowfog in the morning led to accu-

mulation of pollutants.“There are chances of good

rain on November 25 and 26. Ifthat happens, pollutants will bewashed away.

Otherwise, a long-termrelief is expected only afterNovember 28,” MeT said inofficial statement.Patparganj,Sonia Vihar, Narela, Rohini,Mundka, Okhla Phase - II,Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium,Karni Stadium tagged under theworst zone in terms of air qual-ity.

Concentration of othergases pollutants - carbonmonoxide, nitrogen dioxide,and benzene also were high.

�%�- .*� "�!"%/� #0*%1%"%.� ��!/!""!)

From Page 1“Modi has not been able to

forgive her from the heart’ butshe has been given the respon-sibility on important issuessuch as the country’s defence.That is why if there is Modi,anything is possible,” Congressspokesperson Randeep SinghSurjewala said in a tweet.

The Bombay High Courtgranted Thakur bail on healthgrounds in April 2017 after theNational Investigation Agency(NIA) dropped charges againsther under the MaharashtraControl of Organised CrimeAct.

Thakur has often hoggedheadlines for her controversialstatements. Her statementthat Mahatma Gandhi’s assas-sin Nathuram Godse was a“patriot” had led Modi to assertthat he would not be able toforgive her for the comment.

The BJP had even served

her a show-cause notice for thestatement.

She had also earned theOpposition’s ire over her com-ment that then MaharashtraATS chief Hemant Karkarewas killed in the 26/11 Mumbaiterror attacks due to her “curse”.She had also attributed thedeaths of BJP leaders SushmaSwaraj and Arun Jaitley to‘marak shakti’ (killing power)used by BJP’s political adver-saries.

The parliamentary panelon defence also includesMinister of State for DefenceShripad Yesso Naik, BJP’s JPNadda and NCP leader SharadPawar.

The consultative commit-tee also includes TMC’sSougata Roy and DMK’s ARaja. Besides the 21 MPs, thecommittee also has Arjun RamMeghwal and VMuraleedharan, both Ministersof States its ex-officio members.

��!��"��!��55

From Page 1The crucial Assembly

Speaker’s post will go to theCongress in all likelihood.Senior Congress leaderPrithviraj Chavan is being dis-cussed as the next Speaker. Thesecond choice will be anotherformer Chief Minister AshokChavan.

Before the Friday meetingwith the Congress-NCP lead-ers, Uddhav will brief his partyMLAs about the ongoing talkswith the Congress and NCPleaders during the past fewdays. All the Sena MLAs havebeen asked to come fully pre-pared with their identity cards,the election certificates issuedby their respective poll return-ing officers and other relevantdocuments which may berequired in the coming days.

It remains to be seen ifUddhav, who is tipped to thechief ministerial candidate ofthe Maha Vikas Aghadi, will beelected as the leader of the ShivSena Legislature Party in placeof Eknath Shinde, who had ear-lier been elected as the Sena’sLegislature party leader.

Informed sources in the

Congress and the NCP said thetwo parties have been insisting,informally though, on Uddhavbeing the Chief Ministerinstead of Eknath Shinde.

“We do not want theGovernment to be remote-controlled from outside. Itwould be easier to run theGovernment - both in terms ofcredible face and decision-making process if UddhavThackeray becomes the ChiefMinister,” a senior NCP leadersaid.

On the other side, theCongress and NCP leaders willhold talks with their pre-pollalliance partners -- the PeasantsWorkers Party (PWP),Samajwadi Party, SwabhimaniPaksh, CPI(M) -- in Mumbaion Friday morning, ahead oftheir meeting with the ShivSena president.

At 4 pm, the Congress hascalled a meeting of its newly-elected MLAs for electing theirLegislature Party leader. Itremains to be seen as to whowill be the Congress LegislatureParty (CLP) leader. The choiceis between current StateCongress president BalasahebThorat and former ChiefMinister Ashok Chavan. Giventhat he is being talked as the

next Speaker of the StateAssembly, it remains to beseen if Prithviraj Chavan alsobe in the fray for the CLPleader’s election.

The national Capital thisweek saw marathon meetingsbetween the top leaders of theCongress and the NCP toexplore the possibility of forg-ing an alliance with the ShivSena, a party whose ideology ispoles apart from the duo. TopCongress leaders Ahmed Patel,Jairam Ramesh andMallikarjun Kharge, its Stateleaders Prithviraj Chavan,Balasaheb Thorat and NaseemKhan, and NCP leaders PrafulPatel, Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar,Jayant Patil and Nawab Malikwere part of the meeting.

“The NCP and theCongress have completed dis-cussions on all issues. There iscomplete unanimity on allissues. Decision will be takenon Friday on what the archi-tecture of the alliance will be.The final decision will beannounced in Mumbai,”Chavan said.

He further said that onlyafter all the issues are dis-cussed and cleared by the threeparties, the alliance will movetowards staking claim to form

the Government.When asked whether the

Chief Minister’s post will berotational and what will be theseat sharing formula, Chavansaid, “All discussions in publicdomain is purely speculative”.

On Wednesday, theCongress-NCP alliance gave itsmost categorical indicationabout joining hands with archrival Shiv Sena, with PrithvirajChavan expressing confidenceof forming a “stable”Government soon in the Stateafter a marathon meeting ofsenior leaders of the two par-ties here.Raut, who hasemerged as the key leader tohold discussions with NCP-Congress combine, said to fur-ther discuss the modalities ofGovernment formation, anoth-er round of meeting among thethree parties will be held inMumbai. He also told reportersthat there are no plans of anymeeting between Congresspresident Sonia Gandhi andShiv Sena chief UddhavThackeray this week.

The Shiv Sena still remainstight-lipped on who will be theChief Minister from it. “You willcome to know about it verysoon. But all Shiv Sainiks andpeople of the State want Uddhav

Thackeray as Chief Minister,”Raut said. On NCP’s demandthat the Chief Minister’s posthas to be on rotational basis,Raut said he “did not” have anyinformation on that.

NCP sources said the ChiefMinister’s post is most likely tobe on a rotational basis, withthe first half to be given to theShiv Sena and the latter to theNCP. The Congress is likely tohave the Deputy ChiefMinister’s post for the full five-year term, they said.

Responding to a questionon Congress’s concern that theShiv Sena has to mellow downits hardline stance, Raut saidthe country and itsConstitution is based on secu-larism. “When we accept thatthen you don’t distinguishbetween farmers, unemployed.Chhatrapati Shivaji took care ofevery religion and caste. SoMaharashtra does not have toimport new ideas,” he said.

He also said Shiv Senafounder Bal Thackeray hadpublicly advocated that oathswearing on religious books incourts should be stopped andreplaced by the Constitution.“So don’t teach us the meaningof the world secular,” Rautsaid.

��77

I Ashok Kumar Mishra S/OSarvanand, R/O 355, NayaKatra, Chandni Chowk, Delhi-110006, Have Changed MyName To Ashok Sharma For LicNo. 113791797

PD(8684)C

◆ ◆CHANGE OF NAME

� ��#��

#�� !#�2�� !!"�!#$%

�� 0 �� 45�046.7

The water war in Delhi con-tinues unabated with Union

Consumer Affairs MinisterRam Vilas Paswan on Thursdaycoming out with a team of 32technical experts and askingDelhi Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal to name his own teamof experts (non political person)to conduct a joint inspection totest Delhi’s quality of waterwhich the Bureau of IndianStandards (BIS) has termed asundrinkable.

Paswan said a list of 32technical experts from BIS hasbeen given to Delhi Jal Boardto take samples of drinkingwater to test quality standards.“The committee comprisingtechnical experts from the BISand the Delhi Jal Board(DJB),should be set up immediatelyto take samples from across 70constituencies and all wards inthe national capital by end ofthis month,” Paswan added.The Union Minister askedDelhi Chief Minister to makeBIS mandatory if he thinkswater supplied in the nationalcapital is 100% pure.

On Wednesday, the AAP

announced that it will also setup 32 teams to collect drinkingwater samples from across thecity and the test results will beput in public domain within amonth even as the issuereached the Parliament withVijay Goel displaying a bottleof water in the Rajya Sabhaleading to sharp exchangeswith opposition.

Rejecting the nominationof Dinesh Mohania, MLA, vicechairman of DJB, Paswan saidthe nominee should be a “non-political” individual and thewater samples should be test-ed at a Govt accredited labo-ratory and that the reportsshould also be made public.

Kejriwal wrote to Paswanon Wednesday nominating

Delhi Jal Board (DJB) vice-chairman Dinesh Mohaniyaand member Shalabh KumarSharma for the joint commit-tee to be formed by the UnionGovernment to test water qual-ity in the national capital.

Paswan also took a swipe atKejriwal for targeting the study.“I haven’t done quality check,country’s reputed institutionBureau of Indian Standards(BIS) has done it. BIS hasdeveloped around 25,000 qual-ity standards for various prod-ucts and services ,” Paswansaid. The Minister accusedKejriwal for politicising thewater quality issue, saying“baseless allegations” are beingmade against him and chal-lenged the Delhi Chief Minister

to make BIS standard manda-tory if water supplied in thenational capital is 100 per centpure.

“Kejriwal is committingmore mistakes to hide one mis-take. He is making baseless alle-gations against me,” Paswan said.

He also criticised Kejriwalfor raising questions about thecredibility of the Bureau ofIndian Standards (BIS), anautonomous body that hasdeveloped around 25,000 qual-ity standards for various prod-ucts and services.

BIS officials on Thursdayclaimed that they indeed tooka sample from one Deepak Rai’shouse. BIS officials claimed tohave call details and securityentry made by the BIS teamwhich collected the water sam-ple.

The Union minister andKejriwal have been involved ina war of words over waterquality in the city after Paswanshared findings of a BIS study,which suggested that Delhi’stap water had failed qualitytests. According to the study,Delhi, along with Kolkata andChennai, failed in almost 10out of 11 quality parameters ofdrinking water.

� ��0�� 0��

�� 45�046.7

Both Houses of Parliamenton Thursday witnessed

MPs cutting across party linesraising the issue of air andwater pollution in the Capital.

In the Rajya Sabha, theissue turned into a politicalslugfest between BJP and AAP,with BJP MP Vijay Goel flash-ing clippings of newspaperswith advertisements of airpurifiers and also displayingmini oxygen cylinder. In theLok Sabha which devotedafternoon for on the debate onthe matter, many MPsdemanded a stringent law toprevent for air pollution. Theyalso accused “Delhi-centric”people to blame only farmersfor stubble burning whileignoring the “much bigger”pollution created by the city’sindustrial units and construc-tion waste and large number ofdiesel vehicles.

In Rajya Sabha, brief dis-ruptions happened during thedebate on pollution in Delhi

and NCR. Members from the BJP

and the opposition led by theAAP and supported byCongress, SP and others wereinvolved in heated exchangesfor around 10 minutes, whenRajya Sabha assembled afterlunch to discuss about risingpollution levels.

After Union Minister ofEnvironment, Forest andClimate Change PrakashJavadekar read his statementinforming about the stepstaken by the Centre on theissue, BJP member Vijay Goelalleged that the DelhiGovernment is not takingproper action to tackle pollu-tion.

He also alleged corruptionby the Delhi Government indistributing 50 lakh masksamong the people and said theresidents of the national capi-tal are also forced to drink bot-tled water as tap water was notsafe.

Goel displayed clippingsof newspapers with advertise-

ments of air purifiers and alsodisplayed mini oxygen cylin-der. This was opposed by AAPmembers Sanjay Singh andSushil Gupta. They were sup-ported by other oppositionparties including Congress, SPand others.

During the second day ofdebate in Lok Sabha, Unionminister Babul Supriyo beltedout a few lines of the popularBollywood song ‘Hawa ke sathsath, ghata ke sang sang’ in LokSabha to drive home the pointthat the Government is takingsteps for “cleaner” air. CongressMP Shashi Tharoor suggestedthat a legislative framework beadopted to implement theNational Clean AirProgramme (NCAP), whichproposes multiple measuresto combat air pollution. Hesaid political differences shouldbe kept aside as there was aneed to work together toaddress this “toxicity”. “A leg-islative approach needs to beadopted to implement theNCAP,” he said.

BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy,Bhagwant Mann (AAP) andAnupriya Patel(Apna Dal) saidthat farmers should alone notbe blamed for stubble burning,considered as one of the mainreasons for air pollution in thenational capital region, anddemanded that they should beencouraged to grow cropswhich do not leave stubble.Rudy pointed out that theremany reasons for the increasedpollution in Delhi because ofuncontrolled industrial waste,existence of toxic exiting unitsand more vehicles in affluentfamilies. “It is unfair to blamefarmers alone.

They should be helped tochange the pattern of growingand find financial models onstubble etc,” he said. Rudywho is also a Pilot said thatmany of his foreign pilotfriends have already cancelledtrip to Delhi in Decemberand narrated how USGovernment implementedstrict laws to prevent air pol-lution in metros.

"�� -%4��!��#� .��

�� 45�046.7

The Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind,the largest body of Muslim

clerics, has backed filing of areview petition in the SupremeCourt against its verdict on theAyodhya issue and has reject-ed the offer of five acre plot forthe construction of the Babrimosque saying nothing cansubstitute the original mosque.The Jamiat’s articulation comesafter the outfit’s NationalWorking Committee onThursday passed resolutions tothe effect.

The Committee’s meeting

was held under the chairman-ship of Maulana QariMohammad UsmanMansoorpuri, the PresidentJamiat Ulama-i-Hind, to delib-erate upon whether to file areview petition against theSupreme Court verdict onBabri mosque and whether toaccept five acre plot as analternative land for the mosque.

The meeting also discussedother issues concerning thecountry and communityincluding followers’ entry intoASI-managed mosques andwakf properties.

“The working Committee

of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUH)holds the recent SupremeCourt verdict on Babri mosqueunjust and overwhelminglyone-sided. It has confirmedthat the mosque was not builtafter demolishing any templebut there existed a mosque forseveral hundred years whichwas demolished and now thecourt has paved the way forconstruction of a temple overits site. As such the judgmentis the darkest spot in the historyof free India,” the Committeeresolved.

“In such a situation we can-not expect any better award

from the concerned judges.Rather, there is possibility offurther damage.

Therefore, the WorkingCommittee considers that fil-ing a review petition will not befruitful. Nevertheless since sev-eral Muslim organizationsavailing their constitutionalrights have decided to file areview petition, Jamiat does notoppose them and hopes that itdoes not produce any negativeeffect,” according to the Jamiatresolution.

The Working Committeeof Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind alsoseeks to clarify that nothing can

substitute the mosque.Therefore, the five acre plot inAyodhya in an alternative placeas a substitute to the mosquemust not be accepted, it said.

The outfit’s resolution alsolauded Muslims for displayingpatience as peace loving citi-zens during in the face of test-ing times.

The Jamiat also took aswipe at the Sunni Wakf Boardsaying the chairman of UPSunni Wakf Board has playeda role of Mir Jaafar for theMuslim of India in theR a m j a n m b h o o m i / B a b r iMosque case.

��/ ��3��%/�3%3� #&"%4%�*2�"% !"/!*5(%

�� 45�046.7

To ensure pan-India, widercoverage of farmers’

income support scheme --Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi (PM-Kisan),the Centre has now roped inCommon Service Centre(CSC) to speed up the enrol-ment process. The Ministry ofAgriculture has tied up withCSC, a special purpose vehicle(SPV) under the Ministry of ITand Electronics, to fulfil the tar-get of enrolling 14 crore mar-

ginal farmers across India.PM-Kisan is 100 per cent

income support scheme fund-ed by the Centre which waslaunched in December 2018.Under the scheme an incomesupport of �6,000 per year isprovided to all farmer familiesacross the country in threeequal installments of �2,000each every four months.

“CSC has been roped in bythe Ministry of Agriculture toexpedite the coverage of thescheme. Over 3-lakh CSCsspread across length and

breadth of the country will nowstart enrolling famers eligiblefor PM-Kisan scheme.

Farmers can now visitnearby CSCs to get enrolledand avail the scheme’s benefit.CSCs have also been given themandate to make any changesin previous enrolment.

Any farmer who is alreadya beneficiary and wants tomake changes in his enrollmentform like address or nomineecan visit CSCs to get it done,”said CSC CEO Dr DineshTyagi.

3��?6�#�#�� 1�A��

��%��#��1�� 8��

�� !!"�!#$% #�� !#�6

�� A36A+ +

Hours after Narendra ModiGovernment gave its in-

principle approval to the strate-gic disinvestment of five pub-lic sector units, Bengal ChiefMinister Mamata Banerjee saidthe step was a prelude to “dis-investment of India,” and calledfor an all-party meeting totide over the economic crisisthat India was currently in.

Speaking to reporters atBehrampore, Banerjee onThursday said that such knee-jerk strategies will at best pro-vide for a temporary pain reliefand not a complete eradicationof the financial crisis that Indiawas in.

She said “such steps canonly give you temporary reliefby bringing in some funds butit will never handle the prob-lem permanently,” and advisedPrime Minister Narendra Modito call an all-party meeting toget over the crisis.

“Instead of such hasty stepsto sell Government units whichis nothing but a temporarymeasure the Prime Ministershould call an all-party meet-ing so as to devise a permanentsolution to the ongoing crisisthat India is facing … I hopethe Prime Minister will consultthe experts during this hour ofcrisis,” Banerjee said adding “ifthe Government continues totake such reactive measuresthen one day they will end upselling all the PSUs … they willfinally sell the whole country… they will disinvest the wholeIndia.”

Earlier the Union CabinetCommittee on Economicaffairs had given in-principleapproval to the strategic disin-vestment in five State-runcompanies, including a sale ofthe Government’s entire stakein Bharat PetroleumCorporation Ltd (BPCL), whileretaining its ownership ofNumaligarh Refinery Ltd

(NRL) through another publicsector company.

The Chief Minister alsoattacked the Centre for tryingto digitise India. “I am notagainst digitisation but the waythey are trying to make Indiaa cashless society it will notaugur well for the economy infuture,” she said reminding the“horrible experience of demon-etization.”

She said demonetisation isstill haunting India as “a largenumber of people are left withvery little cash. They are facing

problems in small businessesand farming … and now theGovernment is experimentingwith reckless steps of disin-vestment. Such steps should bereconsidered.”

Suggesting that theGovernment should consider“public-private partnershipinstead of going for a sale andtransfer of ownership Banerjee said, “theGovernment has to preserve itsassets for public welfare other-wise a day will come when theGovernment will be left with

no company. Rather than fac-ing that situation, theGovernment may considergoing for the people pubicpartnership model in busi-ness.”

Saying that TrinamoolCongress never approved ofdisinvestment and merger ofcompanies she said some com-panies by rationalisation ofemployees “employment hascome to a halt in several sec-tors. People are not spendingbecause they don’t have anysavings,” Banerjee said the waythe Union Government wastaking merging banks andtransferring headquarters likeit did in the case of UnitedBank of India “it is creatinghuge problem for State runschemes.”

“A whole lot of stateschemes run through UBI. Ifthe headquarter doesn’t remainin this state what will be thefuture of those schemes?” sheasked.

�� 45�046.7�

Questioning ̀ legitimisation`of anonymous donations

to political parties by way ofelectoral bonds and the pri-vatisation of State-owned firms,the Opposition Congress onThursday staged walkouts fromboth the Houses sayingGovernment has made cor-ruption "official".

The Rajya Sabha wasadjourned till noon asOpposition parties includingthe Congress protested after theChair did not allow discussionon the issues. In the Lok Sabha,the Congress membersreturned to their seats afterSpeaker Om Birla assured themthat they will be allowed toraise issues during Zero Hour.

Soon after laying of listedpapers by Ministers on the tableof the House, Rajya SabhaChairman M Venkaiah Naidu

said he has received noticesfrom several members to sus-pend business and take updiscussions on the RBI’s objec-tion to electoral bonds, and dis-investment of PSUs. "They (thenotices) do not warrant sus-pension of other business and(notices) taken upon priority,"he said.

However, Congress mem-bers were on their feet and heldprotests. Naidu said it was theprerogative of the Chair todecide which discussionsshould be taken or not. Thisdid not pacify the protestingCongress and other oppositionparty members. The house wasadjourned till noon.

In the Lok Sabha, CongressMP Manish Tewari raised theissue during zero hour. Hesaid, “despite reservationsexpressed by the Reserve Bankof India and the ElectionCommission, the Government

went ahead with the scheme”.Congress members laterwalked out of proceedings.

Tewari said anonymity ren-dered to the donors was notacceptable. Speaker Om Birladid not allow Tewari to go fur-ther with his comment whenhe mentioned ‘PMO’ whileraising the issue. Tewari wasreferring to some documents inhis possession.

Under the electoral bondsscheme, the Government hasoffered complete anonymityto those making donations. Adonor could now anonymous-ly buy a bond, and deposit itwith the political party of his orher choice. eom "This is a bigscam.

The country is being loot-ed. Please allow us to speak,"Congress leader in Lok SabhaAdhir Ranjan Chowdhurysaid.

1��9��

Thiruvananthapuram:The Kerala Governmenton Thursday decided toban single use plasticproducts from Januaryone. A decision in thisregard was taken at a cabinetmeeting chaired by ChiefMinister Pinarayi Vijayan.

After considering the envi-ronmental and health issuesrelated to mounting plasticwaste, the Government decid-ed to ban the single-use-plas-tic products in the state fromJanuary 1, 2020, a Governmentpress release said.

Plastic carry bags andsheets, cooling films, plasticplates, cups, thermocol andStyrofoam-based fancy items

and others havebeen banned.Single-use plas-tic can be usedonly once beforeit is either

thrown away or recycled and ismainly used by the food pro-cessing and food delivery,retailers for packaging andselling finished goods, phar-maceuticals and agriculture.

"Single-use plastic cups,plates, spoons, forks, straws,stirrers, bowls, plastic flags,water pouches, juice packs,pet bottles (under 300 ml),plastic garbage bags, PVC flexmaterials, plastic packets,among others have beenbanned," Vijayan said. PTI

Wayanad (Ker): A 10-year-oldgirl died after being bitten bya snake inside her classroom, asthe State Government sus-pended a teacher for allegedlapse in rushing her to hospi-tal, officials said on Thursday.

The fifth standard studentShehala Sherin was taken tohospital over an hour after theincident at around 3 pm onWednesday, students of theGovernment vocational high-er secondary school at SulthanBathery in Wayanad districtalleged.

Her parents rushed her tofour hospitals where no anti-venom was administered andthey were told to take the childto the Kozhikode Medical col-

lege hospital, which is about 90km from Sulthan Bathery, offi-cials said.

Shehala’s father said shedied before reaching the med-ical college.

Chief Minister PinarayiVijayan said the incident wasunfortunate and assured strongaction against those responsi-

ble for the lapse in savingthe child’s life.

"The teachers are sup-posed to educate the chil-dren on how to react in suchsituations. But in this case,the teachers, despite repeat-ed requests from studentsfailed to take the child tohospital," the Chief MinistersaidThe students have claimed

that the girl was taken to thehospital after the parentsreached the school, he said.

"Her death was unfortu-nate. We stand by the family.Strong action will be takenagainst those responsible forany lapses in their duty,"Vijayan added. PTI

Agartala: With the final Brurepatriation process hitting adeadlock, the TripuraGovernment has written tothe Centre, saying it couldaccommodate up to 500 fami-lies in the State if adequatefunds were sanctioned for thecause.

In a letter to the UnionHome Minister Amit Shah,Chief Minister Biplab Deb saidthe final repatriation processwas scheduled to end onNovember 30, as per theagreement signed between theCentre, Governments ofMizoram and Tripura, and therepresentatives of Bru migrants,but only 144 of 4,447 familieshave returned to their home

state so far.Thousands of Bru families

fled Mamit, Kolasib and Lungleidistricts of Mizoram in 1997 andmoved to Tripura in the wake ofan ethnic conflict.

The Centre, along with thegovernments of Tripura andMizoram, had been trying torepatriate them to their homeState over the past one decade,with little success. Several Brufamilies have refused to returnto Mizoram, citing security con-cerns and inadequate rehabili-tation package. Some have alsosought a separate autonomouscouncil for the community."Strong reluctance has beennoticed on the part of Brumigrants to return to Mizoram.

The repatriation process hasnot been successful. So far, only144 families (699 persons) haveshifted to Mizoram in the cur-rent phase of repatriation.

"The State Government is ofthe view that Bru refugees whowish to stay in Tripura may beallowed to do so The Ministryof Home Affairs (MHA) maygive them a suitable package atpar with what is being offered tothose returning to Mizoram,"Deb wrote to Shah onSunday.The chief minister, how-ever, pointed out that availabil-ity of land is likely to be a majorconstraint in Tripura andrequested the MHA to think of a suitable solution. PTI

Lucknow: The Uttar PradeshState Law Commission onThursday submitted a report toChief Minister YogiAdityanath, suggesting a newlaw to check forcible religiousconversions.

"The report was submittedalong with a draft legislation,Uttar Pradesh Freedom ofReligion Bill, 2019," law com-mission secretary SapnaTripathi told PTI.

The report was preparedafter going through pre andpost-independence laws in thecountry and neighbouringcountries like Nepal, Myanmar,Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan

besides keeping in mind courtjudgments.

"The commission is of theview that existing legal provi-sions are not enough to checkreligious conversions and onthis serious matter, a new lawis needed like in 10 otherstates," the report said.

The 268-page reportincluded recent newspaperclippings regarding forcibleconversions, internationalcovenants on the right to reli-gion, anti-conversion laws inneighbouring countries andIndia.

It also deals with the con-stitutional framework of the

right to freedom of religion inIndia, anti-conversion laws ofvarious states, along with acomparative study, recom-mendations of the law com-mission of India and extractsfrom important apex courtand high court judgmentsbesides proceedings of the UPLegislative Assembly.

It said states like MadhyaPradesh, Odisha, ArunachalPradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat,Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh,Jharkhand, Himachal Pradeshand Uttrakhand had made spe-cial laws to ban conversions byforce, fraud, marriage or allure-ment. PTI

Jammu: The Jammu & Kashmirunit of BJP on Wednesday target-ed the Opposition for questioningthe Centre’s claim of "total nor-malcy" in Kashmir post abrogationof Article 370 provisions and saidit is "back to its usual trick of emo-tional exploitation" of people.

It also recommended a "highlevel inquiry" into the alleged lackof facilities at MLA hostel follow-ing complaints by the relatives ofpoliticians detained there after itwas turned into a sub-jail.

"The return to normalcy inKashmir does not suit their (oppo-sition’s) narrative of opposing theGovernment’s decision of August5 and hence they continue in usual

mode of denial and victimhoodunmindful of their role in thepast," BJP spokesperson Brig (retd)Anil Gupta said in a statementhere.

Reacting to the discussion onthe Kashmir situation inParliament and the statements ofthe National Conference and thePDP casting doubt over theGovernment’s claim of "total nor-malcy" in Kashmir, Gupta said,"The opposition is back to its usualtrick of emotional exploitation of people based on false propa-ganda instead of factual data andwith statements laced withsuperlative adjectives to createan impression that hell has beenlet loose in Kashmir." PTI

Bengaluru: Ruling BJP inKarnataka on Thursday expelledfrom its primary membershiprebels Sharath Bachegowda andKaviraj Urs, contesting the com-ing Assembly bypolls as indepen-dent candidates, for anti-partyactivity.

In separate letters to bothSharath Bachegowda fighting fromHoskote Assembly constituencyand Urs from Vijayanagara, BJPsaid, their contest against the par-tys official candidate was beingconsidered as anti-party activity.

BJP on Wednesday had askedthe party rebels to withdraw theircandidature by Thursday, the lastday for the process.

As the two did not withdrawtheir candidature, the sent the let-ters, a copy of which has beenreleased to the media.

After the BJP gave the Hoskote

ticket to disqualified Congresslegislator M T B Nagaraj, SharathBachegowda has jumped into thefray as an independent.

JD(S) has decided to supporthim and has not fielded a candi-date.

Son of BJP MP fromChikkaballapura B N Bachegowda,he had remained adamant oncontesting with repeated attempts

by the party leadership topersuade him to back outin vain.

Sharath Bachegowda,who was also secretary ofBJP Yuva Morcha, had ear-lier been appointedChairman of KarnatakaHousing Board by ChiefMinister BS Yediyurappa inan attempt to "pacify" him.

Yediyurappa hadrecently indicated the party

has even decided to expel him, ifhe doesn’t withdraw from thecontest.

Nagaraj as Congress candidatehad defeated Sharath Bachegowdain 2018 assembly polls by over7,000 votes.

Urs has filed his nominationas independent candidate fromVijayanagara, rebelling against theBJPs decision to field Anand

Singh, another disqualified MLA.The partys decision to expel

Urs comes after repeated attemptsto "pacify" him.

With winning at least six seatscrucial for the Government’s sur-vival, BJP has fielded 13 of the 16disqualified legislators, who joinedthe party, asits candidatesfrom theirr e s p e c t i v econstituencies in the bypolls.

Among the 15 constituenciesgoing to bypolls, 12 were held byCongress and three by JD(S),whose coalition Government col-lapsed due to rebellion by the dis-qualified MLAs. The Congress andJDS, contesting the bypolls on theirown, have vowed to defeat thedefectors (the disqualified MLAs)and said people would teach thema lesson. PTI

Lucknow: Amid reports ofdifferences in the UP SunniCentral Waqf Board over thefiling of a review petition in theAyodhya case, Muslim bodychairman Zufar Farooqi saidmembers can discuss the issuein their November 26 meeting.

"I have been authorised totake a decision on behalf of theboard but if any member hasobjection to it, he can raise itin the meeting scheduled forNovember 26 here," Farooquisaid.

The Sunni Central WaqfBoard will take a decision onwhether to accept land forbuilding a mosque in Ayodhyaat its meeting on November 26.Earlier, Farooqui had said that

they would abide by the apexcourt decision and would notfile a review petition.

Responding to mediareports about some membersof the board favouring thereview petition, Farooqi, who

has opposed the suggestion,said he had been authorisedthrough a resolution to take adecisions on behalf of theboard.

"But most decisions aretaken on the basis of the major-

ity view and if there is anymember who has any objec-tion, it can be raised in themeeting," Farooqi said.

Meanwhile, the All-IndiaShia Personal Law Board hassupported the AIMPLB standof filing a review petition anddeclining the offer of five acresfor the construction of amosque.

Their spokesman MaulanaYasoob Abbas said the Shiaboard was with the All-IndiaMuslim Personal Law Board inevery manner. "If there is anydoubt or complaint on theverdict, we have the legal rightto file a review petition and weshould not abstain from it,"Abbas said. PTI

��7��8� ��0��$0�� 0�� !� 7�� 6��@�� !�� 1�� 4@��+��7��*�� !

�� #��8�� !� C��7��*�� #�� @�� C�� 7��#�� !�� C��7��*�J�� J� �� /#4�!

�%2�� !� 0��4��#�� 2I�� /��E��,# �#�� 4��4�� )��-!�7�� 7��+�� 2II��5�� K�15!�

� � ��0�� !� )�� 1�� 5 ��:��0�!�1�� 0��'��#�� $�� !

159�%6�� 12%3�� !�+� ��=?�� .2�'�� )��=I2>��1�� 4@��+��C1��/��!�

��0�� $ �� !�# ��/�� A��#��1��C�� *��J��J�� !

Bengaluru: leader H D Kumaraswamy onThursday indicated his party would takea call on its role, in case the ruling BJPin Karnataka loses majority after theresults of December 5 by-elections to 15

Assembly constituen-cies in the State. He also said the "maintarget" of his party was

to defeat the disqualified legislators,whose rebellion had led to the collapseof the Congress-JDS coalitionGovernment.

"In a democratic setup a Governmentshould have clear majority. In December 5 bypolls, if BJP doesn’t winthe required number of seats and get lim-ited to two or three seats, they will losemajority, they will have to resign and theGovernment will have to go,"Kumaraswamy told reporters in

Mysuru.Responding to a question about his

party’s role if BJP fails to win enough number of seats to retain itsmajority, he said, "What will happen then,we will see later, why should I say it now?How should I know about the

developments that will happen later?..."

"Whether this government will havemajority or lose it will depend on thebypoll results, let the results come out, wewill discuss it later," he said adding "let’sdiscuss it on December 9 (bypoll resultsdate)."

The BJP needs to win at least six seatsin the bypolls to 15 constituencies to remain in a majority inthe 224-member assembly, which wouldstill have two vacant seats-- Maski and RR Nagar. PTI

�� /7�+�+/

Shops and businesses were shut and public transportremained largely off the roads in most parts of Kashmir

on the second consecutive day on Thursday, after posterswarning shopkeepers against opening their establishmentsappeared in some areas.

The posters calling for shutdown also appeared a daybefore Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Parliamentthat normalcy had returned to the Valley.

Officials said the shutdown was observed in Srinagarand Ganderbal districts in central Kashmir, Anantnag,Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts in south Kashmirand in some areas in the north.

Shop owners did not open their establishments dur-ing the morning hours they did over the past few weeks,they said. Public transport remained largely off the roadsin the city and elsewhere in the valley. However, a few auto-rickshaws and inter-district cabs were plying, the officials said.

D�)#.�� 4��#+�3�6B��7C4�B3) 41�3/+/B/4674:�'B�'/7��7��7��314�:)�0��') 7 �5766��4C4/

.+�064� .4��/3'641��4/1+�4� 6B*

6�� 2��$��!��#��

&( �7��#��2 �� &�! ��$)��*�� !1:�;�� < ��0��5 ��%��

��779��

)*��+�� ,-�#��"��.��% .�"��"��/�,� �� .��0#"!

�� ,��"� ��% �� %)��%��

�� *�� 2��"� ��-�� !��" �!#

��)��#%�*($$%*�*#%)��)�!-%' !" :�%!#1%"* !#*

��*��%�� 89��:��* ��

)��#��!��(��1

!��%�� %� 6''+��;��:� +�%�*��*

�1&�!&�.��2"!.��"��,��(�'"��"��.��3��0�!��+� ��

#�� !#�;�� !!"�!#$%

J a i p u r :RajasthanC h i e fM i n i s t e rA s h o kGehlot onThursday attacked UnionHome Minister Amit Shah overthe issue of National Register ofCitizens (NRC), saying he isnow stressing on implementingit across the country to avoidembarrassment following fail-ure of the exercise in Assam.

“The NRC has failed inAssam. Even the state unit ofthe BJP has opposed it. Everyparty is criticising the imple-mentation of NRC in Assam.The NDA spent crores on it andthe result has been a failure,” hetold reporters here.

Responding to a questionthat Shah has announced inLok Sabha that the NRC will beimplemented across the coun-try, Gehlot said, “The Congress,the BJP and all other parties aresaying what has happened inAssam... The result which hascome out after spending croresof rupees is in front of everyone. Amit Shah’s is talkinglike this to avoid embarrassment.” PTI

�� )5+.+ 7

The Assam Public Works(APW), the original peti-

tioner in the Supreme Court onupdating the National Registerof Citizens (NRC), onThursday welcomed UnionHome Minister Amit Shah’sannouncement that the NRCwould be updated again in theState along with the rest of thecountry.

The Congress, however,opposed the move claimingthat the BJP wants a freshNRC update without thesupervision of the SupremeCourt, as it wants to exclude asection of genuine Indian citi-zens from the religious minor-ity community and includeillegal migrants from a lin-guistic minority group.

Shah had announced inRajya Sabha on Wednesdaythat the NRC update processwill be carried out afresh inAssam concurrently with therest of India. On the same day,senior Assam ministerHimanta Biswa Sarma said theState Government has request-ed Shah to dismiss the NRC inthe current form.

“The Union HomeMinister’s announcement has

come as a ray of hope to theindigenous population ofAssam. We are definitely hope-ful but not excited about it. Wewill express our happiness onlywhen the Home Minister’sannouncement fulfils the gen-uine aspirations of the people,”APW president Abhijeet Sarmasaid here.

The updated final NRCwhich validates bonafideIndian citizens of Assam, wasreleased on August 31 exclud-ing names of over 19 lakhapplicants in the state.

In 2009, the APW — anon-governmental organisa-tion — had filed a petition inthe Supreme Court that led tothe start of the updation exer-cise of the NRC in 2015.

Assam, which had faced aninflux of people fromBangladesh since the early 20thcentury, is the only state hav-ing an NRC, which was firstprepared in 1951.

“An official’s bias and vest-ed interests led to the publica-tion of a flawed NRC.... Namesof genuine Indian citizens wereleft out while those of illegalimmigrants were included inthe final NRC,” the APW chiefclaimed.

The APW has submitted apetition in the apex court high-lighting the alleged discrepan-cies in the final NRC.

“We will file another peti-tion in the Supreme Courtsoon demanding an IT audit ofthe software used for preparing

the NRC data,”Sarma added.

After the finalNRC was publishedon August 31, theAPW had wonderedwhether the softwareused in the updationexercise was capableof handling so much data and if itwas examined by anythird partyI n f o r m a t i o nTechnology expert.

Opposing theidea of a fresh NRC

updation exercise in Assam,senior Assam Congress leaderDebabrata Saikia alleged thatthe BJP wants to keep theNRC issue simmering to fur-ther its agenda of polarizationalong religious lines.

The final NRC was pub-lished under the supervision ofthe Supreme Court and, “sig-nificantly, the apex court hasaccepted the validity of the finalNRC”, Saikia said.

“Shah’s announcementabout a fresh NRC update inAssam indicates that the(Narendra) Modi Governmentis unwilling to accept the deci-sion of the Supreme Court,”Saikia, the leader of the oppo-sition in Assam Assembly,claimed.

The NRC was updated byengaging over 50,000 employ-ees of the Assam Governmentand spending over �� 1,200crore of tax-payers’ money, hesaid adding that about 3.29crore people of the State wentthrough a great deal of troubleto collect documents and par-ticipate in the exercise.

“I would like to appeal tothe Supreme Court not toallow the Modi Government tocarry out another NRC updateexercise in Assam” so thatpeople do not have to facerenewed harassment, Saikiasaid.

The All Assam Students’Union (AASU), the signatoryto the Assam Accord, has alsofiled a petition in the SupremeCourt alleging flaws in thefinal NRC and its hearing willbe held on November 26.

The AASU is a signatory tothe Assam Accord, a 1985 doc-ument that provided for “detec-tion, deletion and deporta-tion” of illegal foreigners fromAssam.

AASU Advisor SamujjalBhattacharya said they werenot satisfied with the finalNRC but have full faith in theSupreme Court and “we haveapproached the highest court toredress the grievances of peo-ple of Assam”.

Hyderabad: AIMIMpresident AsaduddinOwaisi on Thursdayhit out at the NDAGovernments plan toconduct NRC acrossthe country, allegingthat the exercise is onlygoing to cause hard-ship to people, espe-cially minorities and“the weak”.

Khoda pahaad, niklachooha. Now BJP wants todisown it, but find one all overIndia,” the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)chief tweeted.

The proverb suggests a bigeffort for little gain.

Literally, it means findinga mouse after digging a moun-tain.

“Modi wants all Indians toyet again stand in line, detain-ing undocumented Indians &leaving minorities & the weakat the mercy of babus. Nowherein the world are people putthrough such hardship, hesaid.

He was referring to reportsover the Assam Governmenturging the Centre to scrap the

updated NRC in the State, thecost of conducting it all overthe country and other aspectsof the issue.

Assam Finance MinisterHimanta Biswa Sarma onWednesday said the state gov-ernment has requested theCentre to reject the final updat-ed National Register of Citizens(NRC) in the state.

Welcoming Union Homeminister Amit Shah’s state-ment in the Rajya Sabha thatthe NRC process will be carriedout across India, Sarma said theState Government is happythat the Centre has “listened totheir heart” and that the exer-cise will begin after theCitizenship (Amendment) Billhas been passed. PTI

�� 0��6'�� #�� <��<�� #��=#<<#>��0� �!��" �!#

$�#�� #.4��+7

The movies in which theystarred together were some

of the all time hits in Tamil.Even when both of themdeclared their political dreamsin 2018, nobody in Tamil Naduhad thought that they wouldjoin hands to forge an allianceto fight the election.

Rajnikanth and KamalHaassan were two differentpoles of Tamil films as well ascultural sphere. WhileRajnikanth was known for hismannerisms and style, KamalHaassan projected himself as atotal actor of global standards,though he was no differentfrom the former in style andsubstance.

When Kamal Haassan asthe early bird in launching hispolitical outfit Makkal NeethiMeiam, Rajnikanth choose toplay the wait and watch game.Haassan went to the extent oftaunting and ridiculingRajnikanth from all availableplatforms for the latter’s softapproach towards NarendraModi and Amit Shah. KamalHaassan went to the extent oflambasting the Hindutva partyand declared himself as a sec-

ularist to the core. Though the candidates

fielded by him finished poorfourth and fifth in the 2019 LokSabha election, Kamal Haassandid not lose heart and declaredthat he would stage a comeback by taking up public issues.But when six of his top rungleaders deserted him andjoined the BJP, the actor sawthe writing on the wall that pol-itics was a different game andhe needed extra adrenalin totake his rivals head on.

He made an announce-ment recently that he wouldnot hesitate to join hands withRajnikanth for the sake ofTamil Nadu. In a State which islooking for a third alternativeother than the AIADMK andthe DMK, the announcementby Haassan and the warm wel-come accorded to it byRajnikanth was a once-in-a-lifetime development. Thepolitical narration of TamilNadu has undergone a change

with the declaration of thefilm stars to work together.

Though the DMK leader-ship is yet to go public with theparty’s reaction to the comingtogether of the two super stars,the AIADMK has pooh-poohed the development as thescript of a Tamil potboiler.“Rajnikanth is yet to launch hispolitical outfit while Kamalhaassan was taught a lesson bythe Tamil Nadu voters in theLok Sabha election.

It is not that easy to launcha political party, sustain it andwin election,” said UdayaKumar, Tamil Nadu Ministerfor revenues.

Chief Minister EdappadiPalaniswami was more aggres-sive in his reaction. “BothRajanikanth and KamalHaassan would meet the fate ofShivaji Ganeshan, the superstar of yesteryears who had tobite the dust following therejection of his party by theTamil Nadu electorate.It is noteasy for film actors to establishas mass leaders like M GRamachandran and JJayalalithaa, two personsknown for their charisma andnot by the image of superstars,” said Palaniswamy whilereacting to the developments.

Hyderabad: Union Minister GKishan Reddy on Thursdaysaid the Centre would takesteps to ensure that the strik-ing TSRTC employees get jus-tice.

“Union Transport MinisterNitin Gadkari has assured thathe will speak to the ChiefMinister, and do justice to theworkmen by speaking to theTelangana Government ontheir problems..” Kishan Reddytold reporters in Delhi.

Reddy, Lok Sabha member

from Secunderabad here, andother BJP MPs from Telanganamet Gadkari in the nationalcapital.

The RTC employees’unions was confident that jus-tice would be done when thematter was referred to thelabour court, employees unionleader Aswathama Reddy toldreporters on Wednesday.

The Telangana High Courthad directed the Commissionerof Labour to take a call onwhether the ongoing strike by

the unions of TSRTC should bereferred to the Labour Court ornot, in two weeks to decide thelegality of the stir.

Aswathama Reddy hopedthat the state governmentwould take steps to refer theemployees problem to thelabour court.

A formal response had notcome till Thursday eveningfrom either the RTC manage-ment or the State Governmenton the employees’ unionsstance to resume duties. PTI

Mumbai: The Congress should not back theShiv Sena and the NCP in Government for-mation in Maharashtra if it is not going to getthe chief minister’s post on a rotational basis,Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said onThursday.

Athawale’s comments came amid reports theShiv Sena and the NCP may share the ChiefMinisterial post for two-and- a-half years in theGovernment that the Congress is likely to joinas the third player and may get the deputy ChiefMinister’s post.

The Congress and the NCP are at presentin the process of forging ties with the Shiv Senato form the Government in the state, which is under President’s rule since November12. The Shiv Sena, which contested the October21 Maharashtra Assembly polls with the BJP,walked away from its ally over the issue of shar-ing the Chief Ministerial post on a rotationalbasis for two-and-half years. The BJP had reject-ed the Shiv Sena’s demand for rotational ChiefMinistership. PTI

Mumbai: A complaint of“cheating” has been filedagainst Shiv Sena chief UddhavThackeray and two other lead-ers in Maharashtra’sAurangabad district for seekingvotes in the name of Hindutva,but not forming Governmentwith pre-poll ally BJP, an official said onThursday.

A written application inthis regard against Thackerayand two other party leaders wassubmitted at the BegumpuraPolice Station in Aurangabaddistrict, around 325km fromhere, by a BJP supporter,Ratnakar Choure, onWednesday night, the officialsaid.

“We received the applica-tion for the same and have for-warded it to Special Branch,” hesaid.

According to the com-plainant, during the campaignfor the October 21 Assemblyelection, Thackeray, newly-elected Sena MLA PradeepJaiswal (Aurangabad Central)and the party’s former MPChandrakant Khaire soughtvotes for the Sena-BJP alliance

in the name of protectingHindutva.

On their appeal, the com-plainant said he and his fami-ly members, voters in the ofAurangabad Central con-stituency, cast their voters infavour of Jaiswal, the Sena -BJPalliance candidate from theseat.

With an aim to bring theSena-BJP alliance to power inthe state, BJP supporters of theconstituency also voted forJaiswal, following which hewon, Choure said.

After the results, the Senasnapped ties with the BJP (fol-lowing differences over power-sharing formula) and did notform Government with its pre-poll ally, he said in the appli-cation. PTI

Mumbai: Shiv Sena MLA Abdul Sattar onThursday warned that heads of those who try topoach his party’s legislators will be broken.

Sattar, who represents Sillod constituency inAurangabad, said poaching or buying out leg-islators was not legal in a democratic set up.The legislator made the remarks even as the ShivSena, NCP and Congress are working out a coali-tion in Maharashtra, which is placed under thePresident’s rule since November 12.

“BJP will not be able to poach any MLA. Butthose who try to poach MLAs will have theirheads broken, and as a special case, we will makearrangements to treat them at a hospital,” Sattarsaid.

“Poaching or buying out legislators was notlegal in a democratic set up. It is not some retailshop to (buy MLAs out),” he added. The BJP andShiv Sena contested the October 21 Assemblyelections together and won 105 and 56 seatsrespectively. The two parties, however, fell outafter the Shiv Sena persisted with its demand ofsharing the Chief Ministerial post for two-and-half years on a rotational basis. PTI

�*):*�;�'-,-*�*<�

?��:� ��"��/�� "%��%� %�� %

D�/#��+�� '(�� *

�%)�!� � �� "!#�*��"" #$��4 # <��/��!#�#1 �

��)��%�� 0�� )��!�/!��:2��"

5�� 16+�"��

� �� *�)�� 6':6'� % ��:��

��# .�"��2�"��4��0�$�,�!�-�0��"�2/$��!��"��+!��2�'��

/�� 9��"��

The 1980s were the infamous yearsof Gen Zia-ul-Haq’s murky coldwar machinations in Afghanistanand the “shariasation” of Pakistanthat muddied the cultural air of the

Pakistani military for posterity. After Gen Zia’smysterious death in an air crash, his bête noire,Gen Mirza Aslam Beg, took over the PakistaniArmy and was dutifully accused by Gen Zia’sson, Ijaz-ul-Haq, of being complicit in the con-spiracy to kill his father. It was only after thissuccessively controversial Chief of Army thatthe Pakistani military got a rare profession-al at the helm of affairs in the form of GenAsif Nawaz Janjua.

The thoroughbred and third generationsoldier from fifth Punjab Regiment (Sherdils),Gen Janjua was trained at the Royal MilitaryAcademy Sandhurst, the UK. He was a no-nonsense combatant, who had earned hisstripes as the “soldier’s soldier” for his vastexperiences in the field. He stayed away fromthe political intrigues of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi axis and could not tolerate overt-ly political, Machiavellian and bigoted col-leagues like Lt Gen Hamid Gul (also knownas the “father of Taliban”). The hardcore sol-dering instincts of Gen Janjua militatedagainst the wheeling and dealing style of somePakistani military staff, who partook shadypolitical initiatives. Prominent among themwas a mediocre though ambitious Brigadier,Pervez Musharraf, whom Gen Janjua aptlyand prophetically labelled “tricky Mush.”

The patent Pakistani saga of the longnight of the Generals soon consumed theupright Gen Janjua as he died a mysteriousdeath. Slamming it as “murder”, his familymembers suspected certain disgruntled col-leagues, who could not match up to his exact-ing standards. Providentially, “tricky Mush”was to become more famous later as hedeposed his one-time mentor, Nawaz Sharif,and ensconced himself as the Chief Executiveand then the President of Pakistan.

The incorrigibility, recklessness andruthless ambitions of “tricky Mush” were soonto emerge in his misadventures in Kargil,where he apparently kept even his own PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif in the dark. This devi-ously planned military operation happenedin the backdrop of reconciliatory movesbetween India and Pakistan, which includ-ed the Lahore Bus initiative, where democ-ratically-elected leaders on both sides wereseemingly thawing the freeze. The shame ofthe Kargil result notwithstanding for GenMusharraf, he was soon to manipulate whathe himself called a “counter coup.” He ban-ished the man, namely Sharif, who hadsuperseded two other senior officers tomake “tricky Mush” the Pakistani MilitaryChief as he had postured himself as the mostapolitical bet. He punished a senior generalin the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) aftercoming under intense pressure to admit apresidential referendum which he won washeavily rigged.

Almost immediately, Musharraf set about

re-scripting the official narrativepertaining to his Kargil debacleand was forced into officiallyreneging his past alliances withthe Taliban and supposedlyjoined the global “war on terror.”However, “tricky Mush” hadunprecedented standards ofduplicitousness, which wereinevitable in his blow-hot-blow-cold belligerence at the Agrasummit, as indeed, his continuedpatronage of terror outfits waseither India or Afghanistan-fac-ing.

Musharraf ’s continueddeceitfulness in handling terrororganisations frustrated and riledthe Americans to start taking uni-lateral and direct strikes viadrones. The US got increasinglyconcerned about Musharraf ’scommitment to nail the mostwanted terrorist, Osama binLaden. Former US PresidentBarack Obama had forewarnedof expecting any change in thePakistani fate with Musharraf ’spatent grandstanding and mega-lomania as the only leader capa-ble of doing the needful by say-ing, “I argued for years that weneed to move from a ‘Musharrafpolicy’ to a ‘Pakistan policy.’”

In 2011, Osama bin Ladenwas found just half a mile awayfrom the Kakul MilitaryAcademy in the garrison town ofAbbottabad when the Americanjournalist David Ignatius evenalluded to the said “safe house”to be arranged by the PakistaniIntelligence, on the orders of GenMusharraf. Former White HouseChief of Staff Leon Panetta, who

was aware of the Pakistaniinvolvement, unambiguouslystated the reason to keep the mis-sion a secret as, “It was decidedthat any effort to work with thePakistanis could jeopardise themission. They might alert the tar-gets.” A former CIA official,Bruce Riedel, had quoted formerInter-Services Intelligence (ISI)chief, Gen Ziauddin Khawaja, assaying that Musharraf “knewbin Laden was in Abbottabad.”Osama bin Laden had movedinto the Abbottabad compoundwhen Musharraf was in powerand had lived there ever since.

Brazenly, Musharraf was leftlamenting that the US had “vio-lated” Pakistan’s sovereignty byconducting the Osama bin Ladenraid, while meekly washing hishands of any complicity.However, by then, Musharraf hadlost all credibility inside andoutside of Pakistan. Had it notbeen for the timely interventionof the Pakistani military, “trickyMush” would have been convict-ed for various wrongs after hav-ing been disobliged by all polit-ical parties, including NawazSharif ’s Pakistan Muslim League(N), Benazir Bhutto’s PakistanPeople’s Party (PPP), which ques-tioned his role in her murder, oreven Pakistan Prime MinisterImran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which spurned hisattempts to coopt him as hisPrime Minister.

Today, Musharraf is desper-ate to remain relevant and makesoutlandish (though often true)statements that may earn him a

following among extremist ele-ments in Pakistan. But that doesnot behove a former leader of anation, let alone a professionalsoldier. Recently, he belligerent-ly stated the obvious and theworst kept Pakistani secrets byadmitting that they had trainedKashmiri militants and that ter-rorists like Osama bin Laden andJalaluddin Haqqani were“Pakistani heroes.”

Recent video clips releasedby a Pakistani politician,Farhatullah Babar, whereMusharraf is seen stating theobvious — the disingenuousnessof Pakistani double-speak onterrorism — confirms it yetagain. While civilian politicianshave not exactly covered them-selves with glory, military men inPakistan like Gen Zia and GenMusharraf have done far moresystemic and institutional dam-age with the ISI directly undertheir charge.

The Chairman of the USJoint Chief of Staff, Gen JosephDunford, had told the UnitedStates Senate Committee onForeign Relations during aCongressional hearing in 2017, “Ithink it’s clear to me that the ISIhas connections with terroristgroups.” Till date, the likes of“tricky Mush” are responsible forthe sort of infamy that theyafford on the institution of thePakistan military, and by thatextension, Pakistan as a nation.

(The writer, a military veter-an, is a former Lt Governor ofAndaman & Nicobar Islands andPuducherry)

)�� *��%��(

�� +�� %��"�� (��,�� -$./�0 ��*��#��1��

�� 2#��%��$./��3��$��4��5��-3$450��&��$./�� *�� (�� %��,��6�78��976:(97�� 6;�<=>�9=��3�� (��?� ��@#�� %��(��(��$./��#��(�� #� ��&�� A�� %��

#��$./��(��(��+��&��@#�� 3$45�� 9B��?�+�� (��=�6��%��@+�� %�� (��

#��*��%��976>��(�� (��(

��(��5��.��C�� (��1��2�� D��1��2��E��

�� (��&�� ;9�+��)��*��.��&�� !��4��?��- !40��.��.��@E�� 3��(�� D��(�� &�� (�� D��.��!��(�� D�� (��(��"��#�� !4��.��6:;6��6:��?�� *��3��3��(��)�� !��*�� 6:;6�

#�� !4�� @#��(� ��(��(��$��6:87��6:;6��.��68��/��)��!�� 3 �� (��6:;6�� )��@3�� !4��?��&��.��&��@3�� D��&��)��3�� @+��3�� 4�� (��3�� +��3F$�� (��.��&��(��(��(� �� )�� 3��(�� 3��.��3F$��?��)��D��?�� (��#�3F$�� 3�� 87 ��(�� +��3F$��

��

Sir — This refers to the article,“Power shift in Colombo”(November 20) by Ashok KMehta. Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s vic-tory wasn’t surprising. As onewho has lived in Sri Lanka formore than 10 years as an expatri-ate banker during the real prob-lem days, Sri Lanka’s path over theyears has been interesting. TheEaster Sunday bombings did playa major role in a return of fearand, perhaps, resulted in thedesire for a stronger leader.Perhaps, in these circumstances,people chose to have a strongmanrather than backing a sober, peo-ple-oriented democrat.

Tharcius S FernandoChennai

��

Sir — The brouhaha over theappointment of Firoz Khan asAssistant Professor of Sanskrit atthe Banaras Hindu University(BHU) is unacceptable. Like in anyother university, Khan wasappointed as per the guidelines setby the University GrantsCommission (UGC). He holds a

doctorate in Sanskrit literatureand has been awarded by theRajasthan Government. Moreover,our Constitution guarantees notjust equal education opportunitiesfor students but also equal expo-sure for teachers. Students mustend the protest.

M Shadab Bengaluru

��

Sir — The recent war of wordsbetween actor Rajinikanth andthe ruling party leaders in TamilNadu and the unexpected turn ofevents — actor-turned politicianKamal Haasan expressed hisintention to join hands with

Rajinikanth — point at the heavydose of “masala” in store for thepeople of the State.

Rajinikanth is known to be ahighly disciplined man, straightforward, honest, spiritual andcommitted. He is not the one whowould bow before corruption.From his earlier statements andhis hesitation to begin a party

unlike Haasan, one thought theactor had no interest in politics.

Haasan has his own ideologyand if Rajinikanth joins him,won’t there be a clash between ide-ology and principles? It would bebetter if Rajinikanth came out withhis own plan to mitigate the suf-ferings of the poor and the down-trodden and then step into thepolitical arena alone like actors-turned-mass leaders MGR andJayalalithaa, who worked withthe help of grassroots supportersand created a niche for themselves.

M Pradyu Kannur

��

Sir — It is unfortunate that keymainstream political leaders inJammu & Kashmir remaindetained since the abrogation ofArticle 370. Does theGovernment fear that they willspeak the truth? India is a demo-cratic nation. The rulingGovernment must maintain thespirit of federalism.

KshitijVia email

� = " � . & 3 � � � � � & / �

5556��".� "��!6��#�� !� �8�� L 9 ��0�� L ��!� �8�� 8

!�# !#�� !!"�!#$%

�=

�3��!��

)7��8��

�� !�1��

7M�� !

#�:�,-�=N+��'��

7��M�� M�� !

�!��-�),>!=!-&� ��=N0��6��

� � � � � 7 � � �

� � � � � � � � � ��

��

�� (��)��,(�)-��

�� !�3��FI�� (�)�� 2I�III�� !�7�� !� �� !�5��@�� !� ��C��#�� (�)��1(��A�� !7�� !

�� $�� @�� O� �� $�� !�7��

� ��*�� @�� 2!FK�� !�� !�7�� 1�� .��/�� 0�� (�)�� !

��<!�#! -*)��

30+B�1)�.+//+:�7�04��4/+ 4� 3

/41+7��/464C+� +�0�1+A4�3) 6+�07�.

, .3)�.�3: 4� /)4-

� + 414� �� .+ 1+B�4+/��.71�+

:366357��+13��

4; /417� 46414� ��7�

�+A7� +�!�') .+ �034��3

'4.3C4�+:3/14/�64+04/3:�+��+ 73��64

+63�4�+�/3:4��73�+6

�36074/

��"" ��*�)�� : �--�=,-*>!*)��=?:��! +'*�

�� %��'(�� 16+!� � �� !�+�� !

�!<�)� ��=N+��

%�� #�� 7��!��8�� #��9��

6�� 2��#��!�

,��%��"

��1 ��+�� !� ��'(�� /#�� !

��@#A:�)�=� ,�'=�-�=BN��B��

"��99�� !��

��

Seema was just 14 when she left her home inWest Bengal in the hope of a better life. Butall her dreams of becoming economically

independent and pulling her family out of pover-ty were shattered when she found herself in abrothel in Mumbai. Luckily for the teenager, shewas rescued two years after being trafficked. Buteven after Seema returned home, her ordeal did-n’t end. Stigma and the fear of local traffickers, whothreatened her with sexual violence if she daredidentify them to the police, impacted her deeplyand she never resumed her studies.

Among all States of India, West Bengal has thedubious distinction of topping the list in child traf-ficking as 34 per cent of all victims are from here.According to recent National Crime RecordsBureau (NCRB) numbers, of these, 86 per centwere girls who were trafficked for commercial sex-ual exploitation. In fact, the National Family HealthSurvey (NFHS-4) found that every third woman,since the age of 15, has faced gender-based vio-lence of some form in the country.

Studies show that women and girls, who sur-vive rape and other sexual violence, face signifi-cant barriers to obtaining justice and critical sup-port services. Besides stigma, one of the biggestobstacles is lack of information and awareness. Arecent report on sex trafficking in West Bengalfound that about 59 per cent adolescents did notknow how to protect themselves from trafficking,and 72 per cent did not know about services thatcould help them. Even when they do seek justiceand other medical services, they often sufferhumiliation at police stations and hospitals, espe-cially if they belong to socially and economical-ly marginalised communities.

What can the media do in such a scenario?Does it have a role to play? Can it use its influ-ence to shift the discourse on violence againstwomen, human rights and empowerment? Canit help survivors like Seema? How can the mediabe leveraged to change perceptions and end gen-der-based violence?

These are some of the questions that came upat the International Conference on Population andDevelopment (ICPD+25) Summit held in Nairobirecently. Hosted by Centre for Women’s GlobalLeadership under its Journalism Initiative onGender-Based Violence (JiG), in partnershipwith the United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA) Regional Syria Response Hub and theDart Centre for Journalism and Trauma, the ses-sion focussed on the importance of the media ineither shifting or perpetuating attitudes towardgender-based violence in the context of theICPD.

“Violence against women is a human rightsviolation. Violence is about silencing us and themedia is about breaking the silence. The mediahas a critical role to see that this silence is brokenand women’s voices are amplified,” said IngKantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs ofCambodia.

Phavi pointed out that the Government ofCambodia was committed to the ICPD+25 goalof zero sexual and gender-based violence by ensur-ing prevention and care services for all women andgirls. However, the persistence of social stereotyp-ing and social attitudes towards women prevent-ed them from seeking help and services. This iswhere the media can help as it continues to playa crucial role globally in key conversations. The

way gender-based violence (GBV) iscovered and reported in the news mediacan influence the way our communitiesperceive the issue,” she said.

Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, anaward-winning journalist from Samoa,agreed. “The media is a powerful toolin fighting GBV because they not onlyreport on society but help shape publicopinion and perceptions,” she contend-ed. The Chief Editor of JiG, Jackson saidthat the language used by the media wascritical and it had to be careful not tonormalise sexual harassment, objectifywomen or blame survivors.

Studies have shown that genderinequalities tend to get reinforced bymedia content that contributes to thenormalisation of sexual assault andother forms of sexual violence. There isa tendency to reproduce stereotypes thatassociate violence by men as a symbolof their masculinity and power. Manynews reports of violence against womentend to represent women as victims andas responsible for the violence.

Unfortunately, this is what has hap-pened in Syria, according to JafarIrshaidat, communications specialist,UNFPA, Syria. “We found that themedia could play a harmful role in gen-erating stereotyping and perpetuatingcertain myths about GBV. Their newsreports also harmed survivors directlyby disclosing their identities and shift-ing the blame away from the perpetra-tors. So we are working with the mediaon how they can change the narrative,”he said. This is where women journal-ists are making the difference. In India,one of the important examples of howthe media used its influence to impactpositive change was seen by thereportage, by women journalists inparticular, around the Delhi gang-rapein December 2012. This led to publicmobilisation and the enactment of theCriminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013.This mandated the compulsory filing of

First Information Reports (FIRs) inpolice stations, something that wasneglected earlier. It also criminalised var-ious kinds of attacks on women, includ-ing stalking, acid attacks and stripping.

“Women journalists have made sig-nificant contribution to changing thenarrative and defending human rightsthrough their reporting on gender-based violence,” stated KrishantiDharmaraj, Executive Director, Centrefor Women in Global Leadership(CWGL). The CWGL, a global women’srights organisation based out of RutgersUniversity is the founder and coordina-tor of the ‘16 Days of Activism AgainstGender-Based Violence’, an interna-tional campaign used by activists aroundthe world to eliminate of all forms ofGBV.

“Women journalists who cover sto-ries about gender-based violence arehuman rights defenders in their ownright. They often face challenges, includ-ing misogynistic attacks online andoffline, as a result of their work.

“They also face the challenge ofdealing with their own trauma as theyhelp another girl or woman secure jus-tice,” says Sarah Macharia, Global MediaMonitoring Project (GMMP). TheGMMP is the largest and longest-run-ning research and advocacy initiative ongender equality in the world’s newsmedia.

Implemented collaboratively withgrassroots and national-level women’srights groups, other civil society organ-isations, associations and unions ofmedia professionals, university studentsand researchers around the world, theGMMP aims to advance gender equal-ity in and through the media by gath-ering evidence on disparities in portray-al, representation and voice of womencompared to men.

The latest GMMP study showed adecline in stories that focussed on gen-der violence, including issues such as

rape, sexual assault, family violence,female genital mutilation and traffick-ing. At the same time, there were pro-gressively higher proportions of womenas sources in GBV stories.

“In 2005, women were 38 per centof the people seen, heard or spokenabout in the stories, compared to 46 percent in 2015, a rise of almost 10 pointsin 10 years. At least three quarters ofthose who experience gender-basedviolence are women and yet, they con-stitute less than one half of people inter-viewed or are the subject of these sto-ries,” said Sarah Macharia, GMMPcoordinator.

However, even women journalistsare reporting fewer of the stories.Macharia pointed out that in 2010,women journalists reported 41 per centof the stories, compared to 30 per centin 2015, a fall of 11 per cent in five years.

Last year, a survey conducted by theInternational Women’s Foundation andTroll Busters found women journalists,who experienced online abuse, report-ed short-term and long-term emotion-al and psychological effects. About 40per cent had avoided reporting certainstories as a result of these incidents.

In India, the #MeToo movement hasbeen a catalyst to tackle GBV violencein the media with many women jour-nalists coming out to share their storiesof sexual assault and harassment.However, hardly any media organisationhas provided physical security, legaladvice and psychological support towomen journalists affected by sexualviolence and sexual harassment.

Women journalists face a triple risk:Risk as every other woman; the samerisks as their male colleagues and risksthat impact them specifically becausethey are women journalists. Unlessimpunity for attacks on women journal-ists ends, these risks will continue toimpact their work.

(The writer is a senior journalist)

:��*��!�58�;<1<$��*��'1��!��!��=<��!��;<1+$��11��!��

�#��+* * �>8 � � � � � � � � � �

9�� !��"�2+!'��.+#��

��97 ��

��

��

9:��

6+� �B4+/��+�)/C4B

#3�0)# 40�'B� .4

7� 4/�+ 73�+65314�*�

:3)�0+ 73��+�0 /366�')� 4/�:3)�0�5314�(3)/�+67� ��

5.34;�4/74�#40

3�67�4�+')�4�/4�3/ 40

�.3/ � 4/1�+�063�� 4/1

413 73�+6�+�0��B#.363�7#+6

4::4# �!+'3) �

FI��4/�#4� �.+0�+C37040/4�3/ 7��

#4/ +7�� 3/74�+��+�/4�)6 �3:

.4�4�7�#704� �

D�� E��

�� #��(��#�� &��(�� <7�� 9799�#��(� (�� (��-�)0��(��#�� &�� (��

!�� *��D��%��-*D%0��)��D��%��-)D%0��(��E��(��(��)��.��(��.�� (��(��#��(��4��.��-/53�0�� (��#��)��%��D��(��)�� 9799��%�� (�� #��"�� 9799�#�4��(��.�� <�>8��

��96�� (��-A�D0�� (��?��-.CG�0��(��)�� *D%��)D%��(��)�3��(��)�� 4��.��%��D�� 4��%��(�� "��(�� (��"��4��%��*�� C��A��*�� 4��

*��-��(�� 0��(��)�� )��(�� %��

$��($��$��-$$$0�� (��)��(��#�$$$�� -C+.0�

#�� "�� (��#��987�� $��67(69�� 9799�#�4�� *�� )��/��$�� (��)��(��#�� (�� .��%��/53��

�� )��D��(�� )��%�� A��!��H��-!�H0��(��4��

-�� 0

We celebrated the fifthanniversary of the historicUN resolution on ending

child marriage yesterday. Hence, thetime is ripe to assess how far India hassucceeded in its goal of reducing thenumber of child brides. The UN res-olution, which came into effect in2015, is fundamental to buildingstrong international standards thatrecognise child marriage for what itis: A violation of fundamental humanrights. According to a UNICEFreport released in 2014, titled EndingChild Marriage: Progress andProspects, child marriage is most com-mon in South Asia and sub-SaharanAfrica, with South Asia accountingfor 42 per cent of all child brides

worldwide. Of these, one in three isfound in India, yet the nation was notamong the 116 countries that sup-ported the UN Resolution. In fact,barring Afghanistan and theMaldives, other South Asian nations,too, ostensibly failed to ratify the res-olution, despite persistently battlingthe challenge of child marriage andits concomitant adverse impacts. Apeek into history throws up anotherironical picture.

The Elizabethan and Jacobeaneras, spanning the mid-16th to early17th centuries in England, weresome of the most conservative peri-ods in history, replete with tales ofdocile women and chauvinistic men.Yet early marriages were rare.Although the minimum legal mar-riageable age was 12 years for girls and14 for boys, records reveal that themean marriage ages ranged from 25for women to 27 for men.

Historians assert that in medievalEngland, the primary reason for latemarriage among labourers and themiddle class was financial. Young

couples could barely afford a roof overtheir heads and had to keep theirromantic impulses in check till theirearnings reached subsistence level,well into their mid-20s.

In 20th and 21st century India,poverty is again the overarching rea-son for the anomaly in conjugal well-being, but its outcome is the exactopposite. In a 2011 research papertitled Delaying Marriage for Girls inIndia: A Formative Research to DesignInterventions for Changing Norms,UNICEF found that poverty inRajasthan was the biggest reason forfathers pushing their daughters intoan early marriage.

These data are ratified by theIndia Human Development Survey(IHDS), conducted by the NationalCouncil of Applied EconomicResearch (NCAER) in collaborationwith the University of Maryland,USA, in 2004-05 and 2011-12. TheIHDS includes a household moduleas well as a module administered to33,510 married women aged 15–49years. A ray of hope offered by data

from the UN and other agenciespoints to the declining rate of childmarriages in India between 1991-2011. The IHDS, too, found that anincreasing proportion of womenwere delaying marriage, but themean age of marriage for women inthe country continues to remainlow. As of the second wave of IHDSreleased in 2011-12, almost 41 percent of the women in the age groupof 15-32 years were married between16 and 18 years of age.

An analysis of data from theNational Family Health Survey,(NFHS-I) along with IHDS-II, indi-cates that the percentage of womenin the 20–24 age group, who weremarried before 18, declined from 56.8per cent in 1992–93 (NFHS-I) to 36.2per cent in 2011–12 (IHDS II).

However, the number of childmarriages and its prevalence amonggirls remains very high even inrecent times. According to the 2011census, 7.4 million people were mar-ried before the age of 18 years, 88 percent of whom were girls. Uttar

Pradesh (UP), Andhra Pradesh, WestBengal, Rajasthan, Bihar,Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh,together contributed to 70 per centof child marriages in the country, withfour districts of Rajasthan —Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Tonk, andAjmer — and Lalitpur from UP, being“hotspots” for the occurrence ofchild marriages in India.

Says an elderly resident of Tonk,himself married at the age of five,“There are a lot of child marriages inour community due to poverty andpoor literacy. My wife came to staywith me when I was 15 and she wasjust 12.” Citing his personal experi-ence, he avers that child marriage isantithetical to marital happiness andhealth, as it puts a major burden ofresponsibilities on the boy and entailsnumerous health problems for thegirl. Child marriage has been foundto have negative consequences on theyoung bride’s health, economicopportunities and her children’shealth. Early marriage negativelyaffects the bride’s autonomy over con-

traceptive use, resulting in a higherlikelihood of early and high-riskpregnancies. It also put her at risk ofsexually transmitted infections andintimate partner violence. Childmarriage also makes young girlsmore vulnerable because it leads tolower education attainment anddiminished opportunities to developsocial networks. Another UNICEFreport of 2005, Early Marriage: AHarmful Traditional Practice, pointsout that at 67 per cent, India has thehighest levels of domestic violenceamong women married by the age of18. What does the future hold forthese girls-women in a society con-fronted with unprecedented socialand economic challenges and a rapid-ly transforming anthropological anddemographic landscape?

According to Heather Hamilton,Global Coordinator of Girls NotBrides, a global partnership of morethan 1,300 civil society organisationsfrom over 100 countries, committedto ending child marriage, “The UNresolution situates child marriage

firmly within the post-2015 develop-ment agenda, recognising the need toend child, early and forced marriage.”

Alex George, Senior Consultantfor Child Rights, at Child RightsFocus advocates effective policyenforcement and stronger legalactions. The Prohibition of ChildMarriage Act, 2006, which makes itillegal for girls to marry before the ageof 18 and for boys under 21 years, alsomust be implemented stringently.

Actions, however, speak louderthan words. A small village in Tonkhas been taking the lead in monitor-ing child marriage and leading dis-cussions with other communitymembers on its damaging effects.

Last year, the village was declaredchild bride-free under the UNICEF’sLaadli Samman (Honour yourdaughters) campaign. A small stepbut with a gigantic portent for girlsto thrive and live their dreams beforebeing shackled in premature matri-mony.

(The writer is Editor at NCAER.Views expressed are personal.)

% ��/-� ��!��#��&''�(�%)*��$��'�)�+��,��-%##%�)�.��.#��%)��$��'�+)�(/�0�(��- ((%��1�2�(��$�� *��2��/� (��.�(�'�)��2�0$�-�0�(��*%(#��3��

&)�$( ��( ��$��4��5�)* #�� 6 ��$ )��5%$ (��! $ ( �$�( � )��! �$/ ��( ��$��*��$�(� -�+)��,��.�(�'�)��2�'$%#��- ((% *��%)��)�%

��4��

�� !!"�!#$%

5556��".� "��!6��#

��0�� 0�� #�� #��

� �� 0�� +C��# #��

�#��

�# � �� # � �� 0�� +C0 �� #�� #�#��

�� !!"�!#$% /!#%+?�

7��$�� # ��

�� !�3�� 2K��=I2>�� 0��A��7��0�� P�#�� # �� /�� P��0�� # �� .+6�' ��C�� 0�� 0�� #�/�+��!�3�� C1#�� 0�� ,./-��+'��1�,+10-��)'��1�,+30-�0��# ��,+10-��'��C�� .+6�� C�� !�

�� 0 ��

�� !� �� 7�� !�. ��@�� 5��4�� !�: �� /�� !� �� @�� !�+�� !�A�� /��!

�� $ D��

�� !�+�� @�� )��7�� /�� #��,)7/#-� ��7�)�� )��!�C��#�� )�� 1��C��4@�� !/��/��0��# �� :��/�� )�� !�+�� N�6�� )��0��1��N�� @�� 4@�� !

�� 45�046.7

India Inc on Thursday wel-comed the Government’s

decision to defer receipt ofspectrum auction installmentsdue from telecom serviceproviders, saying the move willprovide headroom to the sec-tor currently facing stress, gen-erate job opportunities anddrive consumer demand.

The Government onWednesday doled out a �42,000crore relief to debt-laden tele-com companies after it agreednot to take any payments forspectrum they use for the nexttwo years.

The Union Cabinet head-ed by Prime Minister NarendraModi approved giving BhartiAirtel, Vodafone Idea Ltd andReliance Jio an option to availa two-year moratorium onpayments they were supposedto make in yearly installments

for the spectrum bought inauctions.

This is a great break-through in the economicreform system and will have apositive impact on the growth and development oftelecom sector and the econo-my as a whole, PHD Chamberof Commerce and IndustryPresident DK Aggarwal said.

Deferment of spectrum auc-tion installments will provide apronounced relief to stressedtelecom service providers lead-ing to their continuous opera-tions, ease their cash outflow andgive them window to makepayments for statutory liabilities and interest on bank loans,Aggarwal said.

As the telecom sector isone of the major growth driverof economy, this move is wel-comed as it will generateemployment opportunities forthe potential workforce, driveconsumer demand sentimentsin the economy, provide furtherimpetus and pave way toachieve USD 5 trillion econo-my going forward, he added.

�� 45�046.7

As part of a Government-mandated outreach pro-

gramme, public sector banksdisbursed a record �2.5 lakhcrore of loans during the festivemonth of October, the FinanceMinistry said on Thursday.

In a bid to boost con-sumption and revive the econ-omy, Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman had in Septemberasked banks to reach out tocustomers and signal their will-ingness to lend following allprudential norms.

Under her direction, out-reach camps or loan melaswere conducted across 374 dis-tricts across the country duringOctober 2019.

State-owned banks dis-bursed a record �2,52,589 crore

of loans during the month. Asmuch as �1,05,599 crore wasgiven towards new term loanswhile �46,800 crore was dis-bursed as new working capitalloans, the Department ofFinancial Services said in astatement.

So fresh lending, includingnew term loans, was 60 percent of the total disbursement,it said. “This is a turnaroundstory. Banks are fully capi-talised and in a position tomeet any kind of credit require-ment,” Finance Secretary RajivKumar said.

Two years of sustainedefforts by the government haveturned around the public sec-tor banks, he added.

Credit to NBFCs duringthe month of October 2019 was�19,627.26 crore, the state-

ment said.As per the Finance

Minister’s directive, outreachprogrammes were conductedby banks in participation withprivate banks and NBFCs in226 districts from October 1-9 in Phase-I and 148 districtsfrom October 21-25 in Phase-II, it said.

Public sector banks active-ly reached out to their cus-tomers in these camps andmade concerted efforts towardsactivities such as sanctioning ofloans as per prudential norms,opening of accounts along withAadhaar, mobile seeding ofaccounts and popularising theBHIM app, it said.

The drive also simultane-ously galvanised similar out-reach efforts in individualbranches of banks, it added.

�� 45�046.7

Prime Minister NarendraModi on Thursday exhort-

ed auditors to develop techni-cal tools to check frauds andimprove efficiency inGovernment departments aswell as play a role in makingIndia a USD 5-trillion economy.

Modi also emphasised thatthe government wants to moveto evidence-backed policymaking by 2022 and the theComptroller of AuditorGeneral (CAG) can contributeas a think tank by focusing onbig data analysis.

“We must challenge thefrauds. Both internal and exter-nal auditors need to find inno-vative methods to catch frauds.We must need to encourage thecore values of auditors for thesame,” Modi said whileaddressing a conclave of theCAG on transforming auditand assurance in a digitalworld. He said a lot of attemptshave been made in the last fewyears to control frauds in gov-ernmental organisations.

Stressing the need to makeevidence-based policy formu-

lation an integral part of gov-ernance, the prime ministersaid auditors must resort totechnical tools to iron out anychances of fraud in organisa-tions and give a new identity tonew India.

Modi, who addressed theCAG conclave for the secondtime since 2016, said India ismoving towards a USD 5-tril-lion economy target and “you(auditors) have a big role in thesame. Whatever you will dodirectly affect our policy making, efficiency, deci-sion-making, business, invest-ment, ease of doing businessand more”.

He also asked the CAG tothink from the perspective ofa think tank and not just froma point of view of an auditorwhose job is to find faults.Digital audit and digital gov-ernance can strengthen insti-tutional memory for severalorganisations, he said addingthat audit firms around theglobe are moving towardscrowd-based solutions.

The CAG should also adoptthe best global practices andinstill them into the Indian

system, while working on thecountry-specific tools. “CAGaudits several internationalorganisations and provides tech-nical support to other countriesas well. You can start an organ-isational mechanism throughwhich the teams that audit suchfirms can share their experi-ences and share best practices inthose countries/organisations,”the PM said.

In order to improve effi-ciency and transparency, Modisaid the auditors should organ-ise a hackathon that will helpfind solutions to many issuesbeing faced.

The apex auditor shouldalso focus on process audit forbetter efficiency, he said addingthat the CAG must come for-ward as a catalyst for good gov-ernance and not restrict itselfto statistics and steps.

“You are working towardsconverting CAG to CAG+,and this has helped the nationas well,” he said while appreci-ating the new initiatives takenby the Government auditor.

Earlier, Modi unveiled astatue of Mahatma Gandhi inthe CAG complex.

�� 45�046.7

Trai on Thursday asked telcosto submit, on a monthly

basis, lists of permanently dis-connected mobile numbers onthe authority’s website in a bidto enable companies which usesubscriber mobile numbers foridentification and authenticationto keep their systems updated.The latest move by the TelecomRegulatory Authority of India(Trai) is aimed at ensuring thatbanks, insurance companiesand others would have a readylist (without names) of mobilenumbers that are disconnected.

This, in turn, will preventservice delivery platforms from using those numbers for any authentication pur-pose, say through one timepassword.

“And whereas a mobile

number, when surrendered orpermanently disconnected,after a certain time period getsre-allocated to some other cus-tomer, but many service deliv-ery platforms/ systems are notupdated by the earlier cus-tomer, who may either not beusing the service regularly andhence do not find a reason toupdate his mobile number, ordue to lack of awareness ofpotential danger due to mobile number reuse, thuscreating huge potential of anidentity/profile take over on re-allocation of a mobile number,”Trai said in a statement.

There is no platform/sys-tem available by which banksand other stakeholders can getthe information about perma-nently disconnected numbersand deregister them.

“...Therefore, in order to

make available the MobileNumber Revocation List(MNRL) to the stakeholders fortransparency and efficiencyand to enable the interestedparties to clean up their data-bases thereby not sending onetime password etc. To someoneother than their customer...,”Trai added.

MNRL, the digitally-signedlist of permanently discon-nected mobile numbers, wouldbe published on Trai’s websiteevery month, allowing variousagencies to independentlydownload and easily clean uptheir database using their ownworkflows, it said. For instance,it said, a bank could downloadthe list, check each number andif it is one of their customers’,they can flag it and let the cus-tomer update with a currently-operated number.

�� 45�046.7

Prime Minister NarendraModi’s highly ambitious

Bullet train project of theNational High Speed RailwayCorp (NHSRCL) betweenMumbai-Ahmedabad may hita roadblock if the Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena combine comesto power in Maharashtra.

Modi and Japanese PrimeMinister Shinzo Abe had jointly laid the foundationstone for the Bullet train pro-ject in Ahmedabad inSeptember 2017.

A senior NCP source toldIANS that “during the firstmeeting of the three parties inMumbai last week, discussionswere held on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet train project inwhich we informed the leaders

that according to Central gov-ernment, the Maharashtra gov-ernment would be bearing�5,000 crore of the total �1.08 lakh crore cost.”

“And then we came to aconclusion that once we formthe Government in the statethen we will inform the CentralGovernment that the StateGovernment will not bear thecost of the high speed train pro-ject and will spend the samemoney on some other pro-peo-ple schemes,” he said.

The party source said thatthe State Government willspend the amount for farmers’welfare.

The 508-km Ahmedabad-Mumbai high speed train project is slated to be complet-ed by 2023.

The NHSRCL, which isresponsible for undertakingthe construction, has, till date,acquired over 48 per cent of theland for the project and alsofloated tenders for severalworks.

New Delhi: Niti Aayog ViceChairman Rajiv Kumar onThursday urged India Inc toassess and review the impact oftheir CSR initiatives.

Speaking at the ‘CSRImpact Conclave’ here, Kumaralso said that companies should focus on nutrition andinnovation as part of theirCSR mandate.

“India has excellent exam-ples of CSR. Going forward, thecorporate CSR should focusmore on two additional areaslike nutrition and innovation asa part of their CSR mandate,”he said.

Kumar added, “I think cor-porate must find a way to dowell by doing good. ‘Doinggood’ must be integrated inbusiness practices in line withconscious capitalism by mak-ing self-interest a very small part of our way of doingbusiness.”

The gap between the socialgood and the corporate goodshould be studied, he added.He also urged the National CSRNetwork to work with the NitiAayog for an objective impactassessment of the five years ofthe CSR initiative. IANS

New Delhi: Gold prices on Thursday declined by �53 to �39,007per 10 gram in the national capital on marginal appreciation inrupee, as per HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the pre-cious metal had closed at �39,060 per 10 gram.

Silver prices also witnessed a marginal correction of �20 to�45,830 per kg as compared to �45,850 per kg on Wednesday.“Spot gold prices for 24 Karat in Delhi were trading down by �53on marginal rupee appreciation. The wedding demand is set tocheer spot gold markets in India,” HDFC Securities Senior Analyst(Commodities) Tapan Patel said. PTI

Sethurathnam Ravi (S Ravi)is the former BSE Limited

Chairman and Founder andManaging Partner of CharteredAccountants’ firm Ravi Rajan& Co., an advisory and accoun-tancy firm, headquartered inNew Delhi, India. In his tenurespanning more than threedecades, S Ravi has gainedextensive experience in thefield of banking and finance,financial and managementconsulting; including mergersand acquisitions, valuations,rehabilitation & restructuringof companies and turnaroundstrategies, auditing of compa-nies and banks among others.He spoke to The Pioneer’sKushan Mitra on the recentdecision by the FinanceMinistry to merge severalPublic Sector Banks.

What according to you is thebiggest challenge of the bank-ing mergers announced by theFinance Ministry?

There are some challengesthat come across, the biggest ofcourse is the emotional uncer-tainty that will play on theminds of the bankers them-selves. When you have spent anentire career in one place it canbe very unsettling to leave. Thesecond thing is uncertainty onthe career front, because some-one will suddenly be droppedinto a new ecosystem especial-

ly for those coming from thesmaller bank. That is a very bigchallenge, there will be a lot oflearning and reevaluation thatwill need to take place.

What about the customer,they also get emotionallyattached to a bank?

The customer will have tolook at it is a very different wayand that will need to be artic-ulated by the new banks. Seewhat has happened to the PMCBank and smaller banks arefeeling the pressure. The choicefor the customer is stark, wouldthey want to stay with an iden-tity or move to a newer bankwhere their money is safe? SoI believe customers will moveto safer banks.

So you believe that customersafter having seen what hap-pened to PMC bank will behappier to accept the merger?

I think customers haveseen that the government haspumped in a lot of money intothe banks and they will see thatthe government is supportingthese banks. From a customerviewpoint you feel safer andeven as borrowers, the small-er, weaker banks were notextending credit and now thatsituation should change. Atthe same time, the powers willbe realigned. Hypothetically, aGeneral Manager in United

Bank had authority over just�50 crore, now as part ofIndian Bank, he or she canmanage �200 crore. The deci-sion making will become a lotfaster and that should help the small to medium segmentof businesses.

And with the reassurance ofno job losses things will alsobe smooth?

A branch consists of 8-12people and those jobs are goingnowhere because the brick andmortar will remain the same,some banks might havebranches next to each other sosome realignment might hap-pen, but people will not losejobs. Also, the skillsets ofbankers are changing, there willbe a lot of demand for theyounger people who are moreaware of aspects like digitalbanking. Also, you have toremember that other thanHDFC bank, most private sec-tor banks in India have hadtheir own challenges, so youmust not think that it is onlythe PSU banks in trouble.

What about the subsidiariesof many of these banks? Like Can Fin Homes ofCanara Bank?

Almost all these sub-sidiaries are either joint-ven-tures or already partially divest-ed. Keep in mind when these

were set up a decade ago, theinvestments were made at par.Now the banks will get a goodpremium for them. And manyof the subsidiaries were innon-banking areas like insur-ance, pensions, these are notyour core business. In housingfinance, the banks themselveswere capable, so why werethey set up? To access a new tal-ent pool and new investments.It is a competitive market insectors like housing finance,and if teh banks can unlockgood value by divesting thefirms, they should.

So do you also believe thatbank employees have realisedthat a larger bank is also bet-ter for them in the long run?

See this is the single mostimportant aspect, the emo-tional aspect. The bankemployees have to be takencare of, how do hold theirhands through the entireprocess. I would set up task-forces for all these major chal-lenges. There is another hugechallenge as well, in the ITspace, just to collect and sani-tise data. The margin money isdifferent for different types of borrowers in differentbanks, now collecting that datais important and should havea dedicated taskforce behind it and then finally takea decision.

� �� .*�)��*��"��%�

2�#��#��!��;5+�� !��6!�

!�� :4�� *�� *��% ��*��*"*�)�

�!�&*� &%*:+�2��* �1%"�" %* ��

�/0�� ! �!��$��!��!��

��(��$� �(��( �� >�� (��#

-��8��8�!��%24��!�

8�%��-% �2��!�!��

��

&��&��

/!#%+??�� !!"�!#$%

�� 45�046.7

Industry body Ficci onThursday hailed the centre’s

go-ahead to the sale of itsstake in BPCL, SCI andConcor, saying that the movewould strengthen the perfor-mance of these companies andbring in fresh investments forboth modernisation andexpansion.

“It is encouraging to see thegovernment take further steps topush the reforms agenda aswell as address some of the crit-ical pain points of industry.The decision to undertakestrategic disinvestment andtransfer management controlin entities like ShippingCorporation of India (SCI),Bharat Petroleum CorporationLimited (BPCL) and ContainerCorporation of India (Concor)are welcome,” Ficci PresidentSandip Somany said in a state-ment.

Further, the decision to givegreater operational authority tothe board of National HighwaysAuthority of India (NHAI) andenabling it to securitise user feereceipts for raising long-termfunds from banks is anothermajor positive, Somany said.

“The roads and highwayssector will get a further fillipthrough this move; and given itsmultiplier impact, we hope tosee other related sectors alsowitnessing improvement in their

performance,” Somany added.The decision to set up a uni-

fied regulatory body to supervisethe activities of financial servicesproviders in the InternationalFinancial Services Centre (IFSC)will add to the ease of doingbusiness for firms that set up abase in IFSC and Ficci welcomesthis single window facilitation,he said. Another notable deci-sion of the government is therelief provided to the telecomsector by way of deferment ofreceipt of spectrum auctioninstalments due from telecomservice providers for the year2020-21 and 2021-22, the indus-try body said.

“This move should providesome headroom to the telecomsector in the country as it is see-ing a lot of stress. We mustensure the viability of the sectorand Ficci hopes that this is thefirst step in that direction withmore support in the offing fromthe government,” according toSomany.

Finally, on the labour code,the industry body noted theapproval accorded by the gov-ernment to the IndustrialRelations Code.

“This forward movement isnoteworthy and we hope that withthis move we have moved furtherahead on having in place balancedlabour regulations in the countrythat take account of the interest ofboth the employers and theemployees.”

��

Meanwhile, Oil MinisterDharmendra Pradhan onThursday hinted that publicsector firms such as Indian OilCorporation (IOC) may not beallowed to bid for buying gov-ernment stake in BharatPetroleum Corporation Ltd(BPCL), for which a buyer mayhave to shell out as much as�90,000 crore.

“Since 2014, we have a clearvision that the government hasno business to be in business,”Pradhan told reporters here.“We have examples of 2-3 sec-tors such as telecom and avia-tion where ushering in privateparticipation has led to cus-tomers benefiting from pricecuts, efficiency, and better ser-vice. And yesterday (onWednesday), several reformistdecisions were taken.”

Pradhan, however, did notsay if IOC or Oil India Ltd,which already has a stake in therefinery and also supplies crudeoil to it, will take over the unit.

Asked if public sector unitswill be allowed to bid for thegovernment’s 53.29 per centstake, he said: “Nitty gritty anddetails of the disinvestmentprocess will have to be workedout but when I say the govern-ment has no business to be inbusiness, it is indicative of pos-sible future course of action.”

�� 1)1'+7

Equity indices slipped intothe red on Thursday asthe government’s latest

reforms push failed to stemprofit-booking amid the pro-tracted US-China tensions.

After a choppy session,the 30-share BSE Sensex ended76.47 points, or 0.19 per cent,lower at 40,575.17. Similarly,the broader NSE Nifty closed30.70 points, or 0.26 per cent,down at 11,968.40.

Kicking off the country’sbiggest privatisation drive, theUnion Cabinet on Wednesdayapproved sale of the govern-ment’s stake in five PSUs. TheCentre also doled out a �42,000crore relief to debt-laden telecomcompanies after it agreed not totake any payments for spectrumthey use for the next two years.

However, trading sentimentremained risk-averse after theUS-China trade negotiationswere further complicated by a USlegislation supporting HongKong protestors.

Majority of the sectoralindices also succumbed to prof-it booking amid elevated valu-ations, traders said.

Tata Steel was the top loserin the Sensex pack, dropping3.35 per cent, followed by BhartiAirtel down 2.52 per cent, YesBank 2.43 per cent, ONGC 1.98per cent and ITC 1.96 per cent.

Shares of Bharat PetroleumCorp Ltd (BPCL) and ShippingCorp of India (SCI) tumbled onThursday after the Cabinetapproved sale of government’sstake in these companies.

Shipping Corp stockdropped 6.29 per cent to closeat �64.05 on the BSE. During thetrade, it declined 7 per cent to�63.50. The scrip of BPCLplunged 5.66 per cent to close at�513.80. During the day, ittanked 6.15 per cent to �511.10.Both BPCL and Shipping Corphad hit their respective 52-weekhighs in early trade. ContainerCorp stock fell 0.49 per cent to�575.15. In intra-day, it dipped0.78 per cent to �573.45.

During the early trade thesescrips had shown mixed trend.

In the biggest privatisationdrive ever, the Union Cabinet onWednesday approved sale ofgovernment’s stake in blue-chipoil firm BPCL, shipping firmSCI and cargo mover Concor aswell as decided to cut share-holding in select public sectorfirms below 51 per cent toboost revenue collections thathave been hit by slowing econ-omy.

The Cabinet Committee onEconomic Affairs (CCEA)approved sale of government’sentire 53.29 per cent stake alongwith transfer of managementcontrol in the country’s second-biggest state-owned refiner

Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd aftertaking out Numaligarh refineryfrom its fold.

It also approved the sale ofan entire 63.75 per cent gov-ernment holding in ShippingCorp of India (SCI) and a 30.8per cent stake in ContainerCorp of India (Concor).

The government currentlyholds 54.80 per cent in Concorand will retain 24 per cent stakepost sell-off but without any vetopowers or management say,Disinvestment Secretary TuhinKanta Pandey said.

On the other hand, HULgained 1.15 per cent, L&T 0.89per cent, Bajaj Auto 0.82 per centand SBI 0.81 per cent.

“Concerns over delay inUS-China trade deal and Fedminutes fuelled negativity inmarkets across the globe. Whiledomestic blue chips are findingit difficult to maintain positivi-ty due to excessive valuation.

“Focus will be on next week’sQ2 GDP data which is expect-ed to be below the 5 per centreported in Q1. At the same time,Nifty50 is trading at one yearforward P/E of 19x and 26x on12 month trailing basis whichdoes not provide much leeway toperform in the short-term,” saidVinod Nair, head of research atGeojit Financial Services.

Sectorally, BSE metal, oiland gas, telecom, energy, basicmaterials, consumer durables

and auto indices tumbled up to2.23 per cent.

Realty, capital goods, finance,IT and teck notched up gains ofup to 0.45 per cent. Broader BSEmidcap and smallcap indicesslipped up to 0.73 per cent.

Elsewhere in Asia, boursesin Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyoand Seoul settled in the red amidreports that the US-China tradedeal was unlikely to be signedthis year.

European equities were alsotrading on a negative note intheir respective early deals.

Meanwhile, the Indian rupeepared initial losses and settled 5paise up at 71.76 against the UScurrency on Thursday amidsoftening crude oil prices andweakening of the greenback vis-a-vis other currencies overseas.

Forex traders said the rupeerebounded after China said itwill strive to reach ‘phase one’trade deal with the US.

At the interbank foreignexchange market, the rupeeopened at 71.83 against the USdollar. During the day, thedomestic unit fluctuated betweena high of 71.72 and a low of 71.89and finally ended the day at 71.76against the US dollar. OnWednesday, the domestic unithad settled at 71.81.

Brent crude futures, theglobal oil benchmark, slipped0.51 per cent to USD 62.08 perbarrel.

New Delhi: Corporate India wit-nessed merger and acquisitiondeals worth USD 1.5 billionthrough 28 transactions inOctober, registering a 45 per centdecline over the same month lastyear, a report said on Thursday.

According to GrantThornton’s latest M&ADealtracker, there were 28 M&Adeals worth USD 1.5 billion inOctober this year, while in thesame period last year 47 suchdeals were announced worthUSD 2.8 billion.

While the overall M&Adeal value and volume inOctober declined as comparedto the year-ago period, on amonth-on-month basis, therewas an increase, showing signsof improved sentiments.

“This was driven by the cor-porate tax cut, which hasimproved both investor senti-ment and confidence. This alsoresulted in the average deal sizemore than doubling from USD24 million in September 2019 toUSD 55 million in October2019,” the report said.

The energy sector domi-nated October’s M&A in termsof values with 64 per cent con-tribution to total M&A deals,driven by the largest bet onIndia’s clean energy with TotalSA’s 37 per cent stake acquisitionin Adani Gas for USD 0.9 billion.Other sectors that attractedmajor deals during Octoberinclude pharma, automotive,banking and energy. PTI

� ��#�� (��%��

� �#��0��&�� -�,��

7��7��*��1P+��FK��3��

Script Open High Low LTPZEEL 337.85 353.20 320.30 345.25IBULHSGFIN 210.00 235.00 204.90 231.65RELIANCE 1547.50 1556.30 1528.60 1537.25IDEA 7.77 8.13 6.21 6.64YESBANK 66.60 67.20 63.90 64.25BPCL 549.70 549.70 511.10 513.80RBLBANK 346.25 363.35 333.40 334.80LT 1404.00 1417.50 1386.20 1393.00NCC 67.20 70.00 61.60 62.00SBIN 329.80 333.00 326.65 331.35AAVAS 1701.45 1746.00 1679.50 1691.60BHARTIARTL 443.90 443.90 422.45 426.25MARUTI 7125.25 7203.80 7007.00 7019.25INDUSINDBK 1475.00 1500.15 1438.30 1446.30KOTAKBANK 1604.90 1605.00 1587.05 1595.35TATAMOTORS 167.95 170.10 163.05 164.20TATASTEEL 399.55 399.55 383.50 385.20RNAM 362.00 385.40 360.70 380.60ICICIBANK 497.00 503.70 491.25 498.25HDFCAMC 3647.90 3795.90 3646.00 3769.95ABCAPITAL 86.00 99.85 85.40 95.80AUROPHARMA 444.00 448.65 426.80 429.60INFY 714.05 721.40 710.80 713.75ADANIPORTS 367.00 376.20 367.00 372.25SRTRANSFIN 1150.00 1150.00 1120.95 1129.45ASIANPAINT 1723.15 1733.55 1711.05 1719.80HDFCBANK 1271.80 1287.55 1268.20 1283.15DISHTV 18.54 19.38 14.90 15.83BANKBARODA 99.40 100.45 98.35 98.60TCS 2110.00 2126.75 2108.15 2117.05DLF 214.25 218.85 209.00 216.80HDFC 2201.40 2216.45 2186.65 2211.10JINDALSTEL 139.30 140.45 135.15 136.05ADANIPOWER 60.90 63.40 60.05 61.50ADANIENT 205.80 208.95 202.00 205.55VEDL 142.75 142.75 138.70 139.00INFRATEL 260.00 260.00 231.45 241.80AXISBANK 748.00 748.05 735.10 737.15CONCOR 605.00 605.00 573.45 576.70ITC 251.50 251.50 245.10 245.70BAJFINANCE 4137.45 4156.40 4114.60 4123.05HDFCLIFE 576.00 592.00 573.25 589.15NTPC 118.00 118.00 114.85 115.10SUNPHARMA 450.00 454.25 443.85 447.20HINDUNILVR 2026.95 2060.25 2017.55 2049.65LICHSGFIN 418.60 422.00 412.00 412.85ASHOKLEY 83.15 84.25 82.15 82.45CASTROLIND 151.65 160.75 151.15 152.05SBILIFE 943.05 945.45 916.00 929.45L&TFH 99.80 99.85 95.60 95.95JUBLFOOD 1588.00 1615.00 1560.00 1591.95BERGEPAINT 485.00 487.00 478.00 481.20CANBK 225.90 226.50 220.85 221.80IRB 81.00 89.35 80.65 85.30SUNTV 501.00 515.65 474.00 480.25SCI 69.80 69.80 63.50 64.05MFSL 512.00 521.20 500.30 507.30MOTHERSUMI 132.30 132.30 121.40 122.50INDIGO 1427.50 1443.50 1384.45 1400.90BHEL 56.00 57.10 54.50 55.40PNB 63.90 64.75 63.10 63.25HINDPETRO 302.50 302.50 285.00 287.00SAIL 37.90 37.95 36.10 36.20SIEMENS 1540.00 1550.80 1524.65 1543.70DMART 1823.00 1850.00 1812.95 1819.95CIPLA 484.70 492.00 476.80 485.50GICRE 247.95 275.00 242.70 267.75LUPIN 785.00 787.65 769.00 770.75JUSTDIAL 563.55 563.55 544.45 547.95M&M 563.00 563.00 550.45 551.60JSWSTEEL 247.90 248.95 244.10 245.40IGL 423.30 438.55 412.05 418.85MGL 1036.00 1052.55 1025.50 1042.50EICHERMOT 21690.00 21978.20 21453.75 21957.30HINDALCO 190.00 192.85 188.05 188.60DRREDDY 2837.65 2885.00 2810.70 2879.15TATAGLOBAL 306.45 311.90 301.20 301.90TITAN 1160.00 1170.15 1144.15 1148.20BAJAJFINSV 9084.00 9115.10 9031.15 9050.60ICICIGI 1354.00 1379.75 1335.25 1374.55HEROMOTOCO 2473.50 2499.90 2436.00 2442.20ONGC 134.90 135.00 130.65 131.00FEDERALBNK 88.50 89.45 87.45 87.85APOLLOHOSP 1429.10 1462.00 1427.40 1455.15IOC 131.05 131.75 128.35 128.90BANDHANBNK 531.55 537.05 520.00 533.90BANKINDIA 74.80 74.85 72.85 73.10GRASIM 795.00 798.00 776.00 778.70ESCORTS 672.00 675.85 650.35 652.10TATACHEM 646.00 650.00 637.70 638.75GAIL 124.80 124.80 121.40 121.90BIOCON 265.00 265.00 253.55 254.20PFC 119.80 119.80 114.00 115.05WOCKPHARMA 278.10 280.00 263.80 265.00UCOBANK 21.30 22.20 19.00 21.14COFFEEDAY 55.65 55.65 51.00 55.60HCLTECH 1131.55 1148.20 1131.55 1136.40DHFL 21.15 21.15 19.15 21.15MCX 1160.00 1168.00 1136.20 1148.30GLENMARK 359.15 359.20 348.15 349.60BATAINDIA 1686.00 1690.60 1633.60 1638.30RECLTD 144.25 144.35 137.95 138.20PEL 1779.10 1792.20 1753.80 1764.55CEATLTD 955.00 973.75 946.30 949.05UPL 552.60 559.80 542.00 544.25IDFCFIRSTB 43.00 43.70 42.75 43.05TECHM 772.20 780.10 762.65 764.70GRAPHITE 304.05 306.30 298.25 301.60BAJAJ-AUTO 3154.35 3210.00 3144.25 3188.95

ULTRACEMCO 4110.00 4115.00 4065.00 4075.40KNRCON 256.00 288.00 247.65 250.15DABUR 469.10 473.50 462.25 464.10OMAXE 192.00 192.00 181.05 181.70RAJESHEXPO 700.45 712.40 698.50 708.15COALINDIA 201.00 203.40 195.95 196.65GODREJPROP 868.00 874.45 845.05 859.60NBCC 38.00 38.10 36.75 37.25TVSMOTOR 454.60 460.80 447.30 448.45PVR 1780.00 1809.00 1763.40 1796.05JISLJALEQS 11.20 11.50 11.00 11.20BEML 962.00 972.95 949.10 952.15IBULISL 63.20 69.80 63.20 66.45BOSCHLTD 15195.00 15894.75 15195.00 15795.20TEJASNET 104.90 114.10 98.20 101.70SPICEJET 111.45 111.95 107.35 107.70COLPAL 1538.25 1546.20 1508.95 1512.25UNIONBANK 58.40 59.05 57.40 57.60PETRONET 277.90 284.30 271.00 272.55PIDILITIND 1332.00 1336.00 1296.00 1299.55RPOWER 3.32 3.61 3.29 3.61BRITANNIA 3143.70 3143.70 3063.00 3071.50TATAMTRDVR 77.00 78.20 74.65 75.35MANAPPURAM 167.80 168.85 160.85 161.80INFIBEAM 44.05 50.85 44.00 49.15HAVELLS 673.80 675.50 651.10 654.60ITDC 390.20 390.20 375.30 375.30JAICORPLTD 100.00 101.65 98.20 98.90GODREJCP 715.00 729.30 707.00 725.50UJJIVAN 296.00 298.60 290.15 291.10MUTHOOTFIN 696.00 704.05 685.50 687.00JUBILANT 534.00 540.75 518.80 523.80NMDC 102.30 102.30 99.25 99.65BOMDYEING 78.80 79.20 76.25 76.65TATAELXSI 816.00 822.75 795.75 798.70BHARATFORG 457.05 457.80 445.70 450.30CADILAHC 249.50 255.75 247.70 254.20DIVISLAB 1760.85 1779.55 1738.20 1745.45TV18BRDCST 22.90 24.85 22.80 23.15ICICIPRULI 504.50 504.50 497.30 499.55RAYMOND 724.00 724.00 687.70 692.60IBVENTURES 142.55 150.45 141.65 149.70SPARC 159.45 165.00 157.50 159.85POWERGRID 195.10 196.80 194.00 195.55DBL 418.00 436.55 412.25 414.50WIPRO 250.00 250.00 246.95 247.50DELTACORP 198.00 200.75 193.40 194.60NESTLEIND 14230.00 14271.20 14129.05 14167.60KEC 280.00 294.20 276.15 279.50

GMRINFRA 21.00 21.35 20.50 20.70APOLLOTYRE 168.00 168.10 164.90 165.25NIACL 148.50 155.55 147.00 153.65PCJEWELLER 31.50 31.50 30.45 30.60ORIENTBANK 60.00 60.00 57.65 58.30PAGEIND 22942.00 22942.00 22050.00 22193.60MARICO 355.00 359.35 353.20 356.75SUNTECK 390.00 390.00 376.05 379.10EQUITAS 89.65 90.10 87.80 88.20AVANTI 524.90 535.00 516.70 523.45TATAPOWER 55.75 56.15 54.60 54.80NAUKRI 2594.95 2618.15 2550.10 2573.80M&MFIN 331.00 333.30 327.30 328.75IRCON 429.80 443.90 427.40 432.30EXIDEIND 188.45 191.35 187.00 187.85PNBHOUSING 572.85 575.25 551.00 556.15GREAVESCOT 137.40 138.00 132.55 133.20RALLIS 178.00 187.00 176.60 181.25HEG 1016.00 1022.30 997.00 1009.75NATIONALUM 42.65 42.65 41.15 41.25VOLTAS 708.20 708.25 700.25 703.60POLYCAB 947.00 950.00 934.90 949.40RITES 306.00 311.15 302.95 305.85VENKYS 1702.60 1712.40 1626.85 1671.75IBREALEST 67.00 70.45 64.70 70.30MRF 63145.40 63336.55 62421.15 62534.95HEXAWARE 339.50 347.75 337.85 339.00RELINFRA 31.60 33.65 31.60 31.60AMARAJABAT 744.75 750.15 737.30 745.95SRF 3216.00 3224.00 3135.00 3144.25STAR 402.50 403.70 395.30 400.45GAYAPROJ 89.20 91.20 69.40 69.40MOTILALOFS 738.35 764.00 730.00 745.00COCHINSHIP 415.00 424.55 411.40 414.15

OFSS 3044.95 3047.45 2928.60 2973.00ADANIGREEN 99.00 99.20 96.40 96.95CORPBANK 27.45 27.45 24.95 24.95NETWORK18 25.65 30.60 25.55 27.70DALBHARAT 844.45 856.65 840.00 852.80INDIACEM 77.80 80.45 77.40 77.95ACC 1484.00 1494.50 1470.75 1473.15CAPPL 344.00 345.25 295.75 306.65ASHOKA 96.30 102.10 93.65 93.95BALKRISIND 842.50 854.80 841.55 843.45SUVEN 305.00 307.50 293.45 294.60CARERATING 480.75 480.75 475.00 476.95FORCEMOT 1015.10 1020.00 998.20 1013.55CANFINHOME 396.00 402.00 393.25 396.60PFIZER 4065.00 4135.00 4044.00 4127.80VBL 750.00 750.00 726.40 732.10QUESS 532.25 532.25 516.80 520.10SWANENERGY 101.95 102.60 100.85 101.45GODFRYPHLP 1155.00 1179.00 1147.40 1153.60AJANTPHARM 1004.00 1024.95 989.60 1006.15SHREECEM 20330.70 20724.85 20250.55 20378.10INDIANB 124.30 124.30 120.00 120.75GRANULES 129.10 132.00 128.65 130.45BDL 343.00 362.00 341.00 349.20HSCL 61.50 65.80 59.40 65.00STRTECH 123.65 124.35 120.00 120.45NIITTECH 1638.00 1638.00 1491.05 1496.85NOCIL 103.90 105.35 102.60 103.15LINDEINDIA 654.25 658.30 625.15 627.90RVNL 24.35 24.40 23.90 23.95EDELWEISS 126.10 130.90 123.75 124.30DEEPAKNI 348.45 355.00 346.00 351.103MINDIA 22360.10 22773.55 22360.05 22589.30BEL 111.60 111.60 109.80 110.40ABBOTINDIA 12650.00 12760.00 12350.00 12382.30HINDCOPPER 41.45 41.50 38.55 38.95BLISSGVS 137.75 138.70 135.70 138.40ATUL 4157.45 4183.00 4136.35 4162.10RELCAPITAL 17.15 18.80 17.15 17.15CUMMINSIND 562.00 574.35 557.55 561.15FORTIS 142.30 143.00 139.20 140.15UBL 1225.55 1245.80 1223.80 1226.75NAVINFLUOR 920.15 920.15 901.40 903.30WELCORP 136.55 137.90 135.20 136.40ITI 89.80 89.80 86.60 86.90GODREJAGRO 465.65 477.70 465.65 474.55OBEROIRLTY 517.10 519.00 501.50 507.00JAGRAN 47.55 53.50 47.55 50.90ASTRAZEN 2683.20 2770.00 2676.20 2692.50WHIRLPOOL 2283.10 2288.10 2161.00 2203.30ALBK 25.20 25.25 24.05 24.25SADBHAV 138.00 140.30 119.00 120.55HINDZINC 213.00 215.65 210.25 214.60MINDTREE 719.00 722.15 707.45 710.10ERIS 411.40 419.95 411.00 417.45ADANITRANS 268.25 271.20 257.70 263.60TORNTPOWER 288.40 292.70 285.15 285.90PERSISTENT 670.00 690.00 667.35 687.35INTELLECT 159.30 159.85 152.55 154.05GNFC 193.00 193.80 190.25 190.70JBCHEPHARM 380.00 391.85 370.00 389.00AUBANK 817.85 826.00 811.20 817.15DCAL 121.00 123.50 118.55 120.15ENGINERSIN 104.95 104.95 103.20 104.10DCBBANK 177.10 181.50 176.00 178.80FSL 41.00 41.65 40.15 40.25CHAMBLFERT 158.70 158.75 151.55 152.55ABFRL 214.40 215.60 209.00 210.05TATACOFFEE 81.50 83.50 79.45 82.70IDBI 33.85 34.15 33.30 33.35KEI 534.50 543.00 516.05 520.45OIL 159.20 159.25 154.40 154.95TATAINVEST 820.00 849.35 820.00 832.10LALPATHLAB 1594.00 1617.00 1576.80 1581.35CHOLAFIN 318.25 321.00 316.10 317.40CUB 213.95 215.95 213.00 214.55SUZLON 2.40 2.45 2.35 2.41RCF 50.55 50.55 48.90 49.05IPCALAB 1151.40 1151.40 1114.00 1120.45PNCINFRA 200.00 201.95 189.70 191.95ADANIGAS 147.05 147.35 146.00 146.30INDOSTAR 193.80 208.45 190.75 195.70CROMPTON 254.50 254.50 250.25 252.15IDFC 34.05 34.30 33.35 33.60GLAXO 1663.00 1681.65 1646.30 1656.55TRIDENT 60.20 61.60 58.70 61.20LTI 1726.70 1730.75 1689.00 1693.00REPCOHOME 288.90 292.65 285.00 289.20AMBUJACEM 202.00 202.00 200.45 201.00PTC 56.40 56.40 55.20 55.75EIHOTEL 148.90 149.55 147.25 148.10GUJGAS 194.25 197.80 193.00 193.90GSFC 71.00 71.90 70.50 71.05INDHOTEL 152.00 153.90 150.95 151.50ADVENZYMES 179.45 183.60 173.90 175.40ESSELPRO 150.25 155.00 147.70 153.95ANDHRABANK 19.75 19.80 18.80 19.00GODREJIND 446.35 451.00 435.25 436.00PIIND 1459.75 1459.75 1415.25 1431.55KTKBANK 75.00 75.00 73.50 73.70GILLETTE 7000.05 7025.20 6927.15 6961.65SUDARSCHEM 396.90 396.90 386.25 388.40BALRAMCHIN 144.65 147.25 143.90 145.90RAIN 102.50 105.45 101.10 102.25BBTC 1114.00 1115.00 1093.20 1097.60GICHSGFIN 151.45 157.30 149.50 155.50SOUTHBANK 11.20 11.27 10.88 11.00NESCO 627.00 628.55 613.00 614.75LTTS 1445.10 1450.05 1421.35 1443.15RADICO 309.00 311.95 304.05 307.05

REDINGTON 119.70 119.70 111.65 112.25KAJARIACER 525.95 525.95 514.95 519.70COROMANDEL 470.40 471.15 461.00 463.65FINOLEXIND 567.25 577.95 565.15 565.95TATAMETALI 576.60 576.80 571.00 571.65METROPOLIS 1440.40 1444.95 1425.95 1440.90PHILIPCARB 124.25 124.60 122.25 122.70IEX 143.70 145.00 142.80 144.85HUDCO 43.40 43.40 42.05 42.20RELAXO 569.00 577.25 560.65 571.30KANSAINER 537.75 538.55 526.65 532.40SANOFI 6907.50 6997.00 6858.25 6899.05FINEORG 2058.10 2110.00 2041.00 2048.45CENTRUM 23.40 23.50 22.00 22.90ZENSARTECH 186.90 192.00 184.00 189.90TORNTPHARM 1747.00 1763.25 1729.00 1738.55GSPL 217.00 219.30 214.50 215.05VGUARD 228.60 230.00 226.95 227.30PGHL 4274.00 4352.00 4258.00 4269.55MPHASIS 908.20 908.20 882.00 889.35BAJAJCON 236.20 240.60 234.10 235.25PGHH 11042.00 11206.00 10884.00 10912.15PRESTIGE 298.70 300.15 290.15 291.70TIMETECHNO 58.45 58.45 52.55 53.50LAKSHVILAS 19.45 20.20 19.15 20.20AEGISLOG 180.00 187.00 179.00 184.75HEIDELBERG 189.80 189.80 187.00 187.40BIRLACORPN 637.20 644.40 621.00 637.10VINATIORGA 1898.65 1900.00 1885.00 1889.90JKTYRE 67.50 68.35 66.80 67.75MAHSCOOTER 4804.00 4830.00 4730.00 4769.00NATCOPHARM 556.50 572.50 553.65 555.45IFCI 8.00 8.00 7.30 7.33RAMCOCEM 806.00 806.00 788.95 791.30VIPIND 445.55 445.55 436.55 438.55CENTRALBK 21.85 22.80 21.70 21.80KRBL 190.45 204.10 187.00 199.70ASTRAL 1082.60 1083.15 1053.80 1063.60MEGH 52.20 53.30 51.85 52.10MOIL 142.25 143.50 142.25 143.05BALMLAWRIE 198.00 198.00 194.00 194.30JSWENERGY 71.80 72.50 70.05 70.25BAJAJELEC 310.50 319.00 306.30 310.85GESHIP* 307.55 308.60 295.95 298.10LAXMIMACH 3350.00 3365.00 3310.00 3316.75MINDAIND 344.35 359.00 344.35 352.30HIMATSEIDE 127.40 137.90 126.60 135.35NLCINDIA 54.50 54.50 53.15 53.30GALAXYSURF 1529.60 1560.75 1525.00 1534.75TRENT 497.40 498.00 491.15 493.20AKZOINDIA 1937.40 1963.05 1932.00 1947.95CYIENT 398.35 400.00 395.00 398.60DEEPAKFERT 96.50 98.50 96.35 97.00ZYDUSWELL 1490.00 1516.55 1462.00 1507.05FDC 201.70 201.95 191.60 193.65SOBHA 400.00 401.00 393.00 396.40ECLERX 419.25 422.45 416.15 419.55NH 297.35 304.35 295.80 299.95TIMKEN 851.50 855.75 823.70 828.25WESTLIFE 356.60 358.50 347.00 348.95MMTC 18.85 18.95 18.10 18.25ITDCEM 59.90 60.45 58.35 60.05WABAG 165.15 169.50 162.55 165.85FLFL 401.00 415.75 401.00 414.45HAL 802.00 827.00 793.10 803.00SYNDIBANK 29.50 29.85 28.70 28.80HFCL 17.45 17.45 17.10 17.20GSKCONS 8700.35 8844.05 8700.10 8820.75IOB 10.10 11.26 10.10 10.93ALKEM 2085.00 2100.00 2060.00 2094.90TEAMLEASE 2615.00 2615.00 2455.60 2469.45NHPC 23.65 23.70 23.30 23.40ABB 1458.00 1458.00 1436.00 1439.60SJVN 24.90 24.90 24.55 24.60JAMNAAUTO 45.70 45.70 43.55 43.90SHANKARA 312.00 325.50 307.80 309.35EMAMILTD 322.00 322.30 312.15 312.85APARINDS 447.05 488.00 446.40 465.10JPASSOCIAT 2.13 2.15 2.07 2.14MAXINDIA 76.00 82.00 76.00 79.90CHENNPETRO 136.45 137.20 133.80 136.65SUPREMEIND 1143.55 1143.55 1123.20 1136.20IFBIND 681.20 681.20 661.40 667.60J&KBANK 33.70 33.70 33.00 33.05ISEC 306.95 306.95 300.00 300.25WELSPUNIND 53.85 54.85 53.35 53.95PARAGMILK 150.10 150.55 145.30 147.05BASF 947.00 965.90 937.80 948.25SREINFRA 9.00 9.26 8.70 8.91BAYERCROP 3748.10 3866.00 3746.05 3798.90BAJAJHLDNG 3710.10 3718.45 3681.90 3691.95JMFINANCIL 93.25 93.60 92.20 92.55FCONSUMER 22.85 23.10 22.30 22.65KPRMILL 670.05 672.00 660.60 660.95FINCABLES 359.65 359.90 354.65 355.60APLLTD 550.00 557.55 543.50 546.50FRETAIL 327.60 334.45 327.60 333.20NILKAMAL 1294.00 1342.75 1294.00 1318.40EIDPARRY 191.00 191.00 184.60 185.65JSL 39.45 39.45 38.45 38.65BLUESTARCO 793.65 798.60 788.00 790.00CGPOWER 14.58 14.58 13.80 13.89CREDITACC 777.00 784.70 769.50 776.90JYOTHYLAB 181.00 181.00 177.00 177.35IIFL 153.00 153.00 144.00 144.85GET&D 173.75 179.00 170.00 170.50LEMONTREE 61.00 61.00 58.60 58.80INOXLEISUR 361.25 363.85 357.70 361.00MAGMA 37.50 38.95 37.10 38.95THOMASCOOK 149.00 149.70 143.80 145.40

HONAUT 27550.00 27750.00 27295.00 27690.75ALLCARGO 93.85 97.55 93.60 96.20UNITEDBNK 9.21 9.46 9.06 9.30JINDALSAW 81.05 81.75 79.30 79.55TAKE 97.75 97.75 95.70 96.00APLAPOLLO 1535.80 1570.95 1528.80 1551.85TCNSBRANDS 699.75 704.85 687.60 695.50SCHNEIDER 67.10 67.25 65.70 66.10CENTURYPLY 172.05 172.05 169.15 169.75TIINDIA 457.00 463.10 449.90 450.75KALPATPOWR 450.30 465.50 446.60 459.80VSTIND 4400.00 4488.95 4394.65 4426.05GDL 90.15 92.20 90.15 90.60CRISIL 1516.00 1520.80 1501.50 1515.05MRPL 48.45 48.45 47.45 47.60ENDURANCE 1095.15 1108.50 1089.00 1091.85PRSMJOHNSN 67.00 68.70 66.50 66.65WABCOINDIA 6200.05 6243.95 6200.00 6201.75THYROCARE 563.00 563.00 556.80 560.30JKLAKSHMI 283.95 284.10 280.00 281.95MAHABANK 12.85 12.97 12.47 12.68PHOENIXLTD 709.90 726.40 709.90 717.60JKCEMENT 1175.00 1176.25 1163.75 1166.45TTKPRESTIG 6051.00 6051.00 5951.15 5973.10SYMPHONY 1188.00 1196.45 1175.00 1185.80JSLHISAR 72.75 73.65 70.60 70.85SUNDRMFAST 472.75 472.75 463.65 468.00THERMAX 1025.00 1030.00 1011.00 1014.75MAHLIFE 385.00 390.85 380.40 384.30GEPIL 699.55 707.80 686.60 690.95ASTERDM 149.55 150.95 145.00 145.05SYNGENE 327.70 329.95 325.00 326.65DCMSHRIRAM 316.35 316.50 310.80 312.75MINDACORP 94.30 94.65 93.00 93.55GRINDWELL 600.95 602.00 586.75 589.90JSWHL 2179.00 2251.75 2125.00 2214.05ORIENTELEC 193.30 193.30 185.20 187.80SUPRAJIT 175.80 177.90 171.45 176.45TVTODAY 295.70 297.20 292.10 294.55SOMANYCERA 175.00 183.30 175.00 180.70DHANUKA 316.50 316.50 302.00 307.05GHCL 204.90 207.70 204.90 205.90CARBORUNIV 308.95 314.60 305.00 305.85EVEREADY 53.25 54.70 52.75 54.25LAURUSLABS 337.35 340.95 326.60 332.15NBVENTURES 65.00 65.30 63.35 63.60SHK 115.00 115.40 111.20 112.15BLUEDART 2220.00 2220.00 2111.00 2125.95VARROC 437.10 443.60 437.00 439.75SONATSOFTW 301.15 303.20 299.60 302.65LAOPALA 141.00 144.85 139.15 141.35GPPL 85.60 85.95 84.90 85.35HERITGFOOD 315.60 318.00 312.00 313.60GUJALKALI 406.50 418.00 402.65 405.80TRITURBINE 115.00 115.00 96.50 96.65VMART 1695.75 1707.30 1675.80 1700.60STARCEMENT 97.55 97.55 96.50 96.95MAHINDCIE 144.80 147.25 144.80 146.25MHRIL 220.00 221.25 215.80 216.55JCHAC 2000.70 2000.70 1953.05 1970.05RATNAMANI 957.75 970.00 938.10 963.95GMDCLTD 58.90 59.20 58.30 58.40VTL 897.45 899.85 869.05 881.95INOXWIND 33.90 33.90 32.00 32.20CHOLAHLDNG 489.45 490.50 484.60 486.95UFLEX 199.00 201.00 199.00 199.55HATHWAY 19.95 20.25 19.90 20.10ORIENTCEM 75.20 77.00 74.80 75.95AIAENG 1647.00 1647.00 1632.00 1633.50CCL 219.70 219.70 208.20 211.35SKFINDIA 2290.00 2290.00 2177.35 2182.80TVSSRICHAK 1800.80 1887.00 1785.85 1792.45SHILPAMED 299.00 301.25 295.05 301.10CERA 2444.50 2476.00 2440.00 2457.25MAHLOG 396.50 397.05 394.15 394.90LUXIND 1339.10 1339.10 1303.00 1311.60MAHSEAMLES 377.55 382.10 375.85 377.40TNPL 180.05 180.70 178.55 180.35DBCORP 142.90 142.90 140.00 140.75RCOM 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.63SCHAEFFLER 4362.95 4362.95 4324.05 4327.40MASFIN 725.20 726.50 720.00 722.45SOLARINDS 1049.70 1049.90 1044.30 1045.00GULFOILLUB 864.00 864.00 859.00 859.25CHALET 345.05 375.35 345.05 371.80SHOPERSTOP 348.90 350.50 347.00 347.05SIS 942.75 950.65 939.40 945.85SFL 1320.00 1320.00 1320.00 1320.00SHRIRAMCIT 1332.90 1332.90 1331.20 1331.20

��

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY 50 12025.65 12028.20 11956.90 11968.40 -30.70ZEEL 337.70 364.00 320.20 343.00 36.00EICHERMOT 21550.00 21998.00 21450.00 21940.00 450.20DRREDDY 2828.00 2890.00 2810.20 2879.15 40.50ADANIPORTS 368.00 376.25 368.00 371.80 5.10HINDUNILVR 2027.00 2059.95 2017.00 2047.00 20.50SBIN 329.25 332.85 326.55 331.95 3.15LT 1405.00 1417.90 1385.00 1392.50 11.70ICICIBANK 498.10 503.80 491.25 499.00 4.00BAJAJ-AUTO 3152.40 3209.00 3144.00 3186.65 24.25HDFCBANK 1270.25 1287.00 1268.35 1281.95 8.60CIPLA 482.60 492.30 476.60 485.00 2.40HDFC 2202.00 2216.00 2186.20 2210.40 9.45TCS 2112.00 2126.60 2107.40 2117.40 8.85HCLTECH 1138.60 1148.50 1131.55 1135.50 2.70POWERGRID 195.80 196.95 194.00 196.00 -0.10INFY 715.50 721.45 710.50 712.15 -0.85ASIANPAINT 1727.90 1734.85 1711.00 1719.00 -4.50KOTAKBANK 1603.45 1604.90 1587.50 1595.15 -4.30BAJAJFINSV 9085.00 9117.00 9032.00 9050.00 -29.25NESTLEIND 14240.00 14280.15 14121.10 14180.00 -48.65BAJFINANCE 4140.00 4160.00 4112.00 4121.00 -17.55RELIANCE 1545.00 1556.00 1528.55 1540.50 -7.15INFRATEL 243.95 245.65 231.30 239.60 -1.30WIPRO 248.40 249.50 247.00 247.25 -1.65SUNPHARMA 450.00 454.45 443.60 447.05 -2.95TECHM 775.00 780.00 762.80 765.00 -6.40HINDALCO 190.20 192.90 188.05 188.90 -1.85HEROMOTOCO2477.00 2499.90 2436.55 2441.90 -28.60ULTRACEMCO 4110.00 4110.00 4064.00 4064.00 -50.05JSWSTEEL 248.00 248.95 244.15 245.30 -3.40TITAN 1163.00 1170.00 1144.00 1146.60 -16.25INDUSINDBK 1480.10 1502.05 1437.60 1448.00 -21.30GRASIM 795.30 797.00 775.30 777.40 -12.25BRITANNIA 3113.00 3113.00 3061.65 3065.00 -51.30M&M 560.50 562.65 550.20 550.90 -9.55VEDL 142.00 142.35 138.80 139.00 -2.45NTPC 117.40 117.40 114.80 114.95 -2.10AXISBANK 749.00 749.00 734.30 735.35 -13.40IOC 131.40 131.80 128.40 128.55 -2.35TATAMOTORS 166.95 170.10 163.00 164.30 -3.10UPL 553.20 559.80 542.00 542.55 -10.30MARUTI 7150.00 7200.00 7004.80 7017.00 -135.75ITC 251.40 251.40 245.05 245.65 -5.05GAIL 124.50 124.50 121.40 121.85 -2.65ONGC 133.70 134.50 130.60 130.80 -2.90BHARTIARTL 442.50 442.50 422.20 426.85 -10.45YESBANK 66.90 66.90 63.80 63.80 -2.05TATASTEEL 399.00 399.15 383.25 385.75 -12.95COALINDIA 203.00 203.65 195.80 196.20 -6.85BPCL 549.00 549.00 511.00 512.10 -32.50

��

��

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY NEXT 50 28360.80 28360.80 28099.30 28132.60 -113.35IBULHSGFIN 209.50 235.30 204.55 232.70 24.50GICRE 248.30 275.00 242.15 268.80 21.70BOSCHLTD 15060.00 15895.00 15060.00 15849.95 790.25HDFCAMC 3646.60 3796.50 3646.60 3761.50 135.45NIACL 148.50 155.45 146.95 152.95 4.90HDFCLIFE 576.40 592.35 573.00 589.55 14.85DLF 213.40 218.90 209.00 216.70 4.60CADILAHC 249.00 255.90 247.70 254.10 4.65GODREJCP 714.00 732.00 706.75 725.00 11.75BANDHANBNK 530.00 537.50 521.00 534.00 8.30ICICIGI 1350.50 1380.00 1335.10 1375.00 18.00UBL 1229.60 1245.95 1222.50 1227.05 5.00BAJAJHLDNG 3713.95 3718.00 3680.00 3714.00 11.95MARICO 356.90 359.25 353.05 356.40 1.05SRTRANSFIN 1133.50 1144.50 1120.05 1129.00 2.50HINDZINC 214.25 215.80 210.00 214.00 0.40SHREECEM 20290.00 20574.95 20216.60 20318.05 28.10MCDOWELL-N 612.10 617.55 607.05 609.80 -1.80DMART 1829.80 1849.90 1810.00 1820.85 -5.35BANKBARODA 99.35 100.50 98.35 98.60 -0.30AMBUJACEM 201.60 202.20 200.30 200.95 -0.65SIEMENS 1548.00 1551.60 1524.10 1536.05 -7.15CONCOR 603.00 603.00 573.25 575.15 -3.00NHPC 23.65 23.75 23.30 23.35 -0.15ASHOKLEY 83.00 84.20 82.15 82.40 -0.60PEL 1774.30 1795.00 1753.75 1761.60 -12.70ICICIPRULI 503.30 504.90 497.30 499.60 -3.70ACC 1487.00 1495.00 1471.00 1471.50 -12.25BERGEPAINT 485.50 487.45 478.05 481.00 -4.20PGHH 11020.00 11097.25 10850.00 10919.00 -97.65LUPIN 783.95 787.95 768.70 770.10 -7.75SBILIFE 942.45 945.45 916.00 929.95 -9.75DABUR 470.00 473.90 462.40 463.75 -5.05PNB 64.00 64.75 63.10 63.20 -0.70PETRONET 277.00 284.35 270.95 271.80 -3.55DIVISLAB 1763.55 1779.95 1740.10 1740.10 -23.50INDIGO 1426.65 1443.05 1385.00 1406.00 -20.65NMDC 102.30 102.30 99.15 99.70 -2.10COLPAL 1539.40 1545.50 1508.10 1509.00 -33.25PIDILITIND 1330.55 1334.50 1296.00 1297.85 -30.25PFC 117.50 117.70 113.80 114.85 -3.10HINDPETRO 302.00 302.00 284.85 287.20 -8.70HAVELLS 671.65 675.70 651.00 651.05 -20.60AUROPHARMA 444.00 448.70 426.60 429.60 -13.95BIOCON 263.75 263.95 253.35 254.25 -8.55OFSS 3065.00 3065.00 2926.20 2963.00 -101.55L&TFH 99.20 99.40 95.60 95.70 -3.35PAGEIND 23004.00 23004.00 22050.00 22199.05 -796.50IDEA 7.75 7.95 6.15 6.65 -0.40MOTHERSUMI 132.20 132.20 121.40 123.25 -9.05

�� !!"�!#$% )!"�&?�

��7�

5��E�� $�� :��7��$�� '�� G�� !

� ��F�� #��=&,� ��'��M�� 5�� 7�� !

� �� =&,� ��7��M�� 1��'�� M��E�� M�� !

�� #�� :=��+�� M�� !0! �� +��C��M�� !

�� #��#��$�*��))�,�&=:� ��7�7�� ?I�� 1��!

�� # ��):(*(�� :�� M��'�� '�� +�� !

�� C3�')/��,�3) .+:/7#+-

Residents call this drought-stricken community a “for-

gotten town”.The flat, dusty roads to

Vosburg are surrounded bywithered fields. The streamsfeeding the community of a fewthousand people have gonedry. Signs warn drivers of wan-dering cattle and sheep butthere are none in sight.

The months-long droughtis affecting most of southernAfrica. The United Nationsestimates that more than 11million people now face crisislevels of food insecurity inplaces like Zimbabwe andMozambique, where twocyclones wiped out crops ear-lier this year.

Among the hardest hitareas is South Africa'sNorthern Cape province,where many farmers are strug-gling to keep their families andanimals alive while revenuefalls and debt piles up.

Commercial sheep farmerLouis van der Merwe, 64, brokedown as he described losingmore than 400 sheep and 450springboks in the past twoyears because of the worstdrought he has seen in 45

years of farming.Some animals died of

hunger. Others were sent pre-maturely to the slaughterhouseto reduce the number to feed.With tears running down hisface, Van der Merwe said henow relies on donations ofanimal feed so the rest can sur-vive.

“If we didn't have hope, wewould not be here anymore,” hesaid. “We have to have hopeand faith. There are a couple oftimes when we have felt it is notworth it.” Two of his fellowfarmers have killed themselvesdue to the stress, Van derMerwe said.

Northern Cape provincewill need over USD 28 millionin drought relief over the nextthree months to assist 15,500affected farms, according tofarmers' organization Agri-SA.

So far, South Africa's gov-ernment has pledged USD 2million.

The World Food Programsays southern Africa hasreceived normal rainfall in justone of the past five growingseasons, with small-scale farm-ers feeling it most.

Some like 55-year-oldGertruida Buffel, have resort-ed to sharing their own foodwith their animals.

�� 63�03�

Pakistani Prime MinisterImran Khan has been con-

ferred with a LifetimeAchievement Award at anawards ceremony in the UK tocoincide with the 550th birthanniversary celebrations forGuru Nanak.

The awards, hosted at theMayor of London's headquar-ters by the UK's All PartyParliamentary Group (APPG)for British Sikhs and LondonAssembly Member OnkarSahota alongside British Sikhgroups, honoured achieve-ments across different fields.

London Mayor SadiqKhan, Deputy Mayor for SocialIntegration and MobilityDebbie Weekes-Bernard andAPPG for British Sikhs Chair,Labour Party politician PreetKaur Gill, were among some ofthe speakers at the event, co-hosted by the Sikh Networkand Sikh Federation UK –British Sikh groups known forpro-Khalistani affiliations.

“I invite Sikhs from allaround the world to come toPakistan,” said SahibzadaJahangir, Imran Khan'sspokesperson for trade andinvestment in UK and Europe,as he accepted the LifetimeAchievement Award on behalfof the Pakistani Prime Minister.

Colombo: Sri Lanka's contro-versial Rajapaksa clan onThursday tightened its grip onpolitical power with PresidentGotabhaya Rajapaksa swear-ing-in his elder brotherMahinda as the prime minister,amidst apprehensions amongthe minority Tamils andMuslims on the new dispensa-tion's policies.

Mahinda Rajapaksaassumed duty in his new capac-ity on Thursday itself. The 74-year-old leader will function asthe prime minister of the care-taker cabinet until the generalelection in August 2020.

“I'm honoured to havetaken oaths as Sri Lanka's newPrime Minister. I look for-ward to serving all Sri Lankansas we take our country forwardwith a new vision to furtherdevelop and protect it for futuregenerations,” the new prime

minister tweeted, reaching outto all Sri Lankans.

Mahinda Rajapaksa tookthe oath as the new prime min-ister at the PresidentialSecretariat, three days afterGotabhaya Rajapaksa wassworn in as the president.Former prime minister RanilWickremesinghe, former pres-ident Maithripala Sirisena andother political leaders werepresent on the occasion.

“I wish to congratulate andextend my warmest wishes toHon Mahinda Rajapaksa,Prime Minister of theDemocratic, Socialist Republicof Sri Lanka,” PresidentGotabhaya Rajapaksa tweeted.

This is MahindaRajapaksa's second innings asthe prime minister. He waspremier for a brief period in2018 amidst a major politicalturmoil in the country. PTI

�� C74��+

The UN nuclear watchdogon Thursday urged Iran to

explain the presence of urani-um particles at an undeclaredsite, as a landmark deal aimedat curbing Tehran's atomicactivities threatens to collapse.

The International AtomicEnergy Agency (IAEA) said ina report made public last weekthat its inspectors had “detect-ed natural uranium particles ofanthropogenic origin at a loca-tion in Iran not declared to theagency”.

The agency's acting headCornel Feruta said IAEA andIranian officials would meet inTehran next week to discuss thematter, adding that the UNbody had not received anyadditional information.

“The matter remains unre-solved... It is essential that Iranworks with the agency toresolve this matter promptly,”he told IAEA member states ata meeting of the agency's boardof governors.

A diplomatic source toldAFP that the IAEA would senda high-ranking technical dele-gation to Iran next week.

The particles are under-stood to be the product of ura-nium which has been minedand undergone initial process-ing, but not enriched.

While the IAEA has notnamed the site in question,diplomatic sources have previ-ously said the agency askedIran about a site in theTurquzabad district of Tehranwhere Israel has alleged secretatomic activity in the past.

Sources say the IAEA tooksamples from the site in the

spring and that Iran has beenslow in providing answers toexplain the test results.

The 2015 deal betweenIran and world powers hasbeen faltering since last yearwhen the United States pulledout and started to reinstatepunishing sanctions on Tehran,leaving the other signatoriesstruggling to salvage the agree-ment.

Over the past few months,Iran has breached several partsof the deal it signed with the USas well as Britain, China,France, Germany and Russia,in which it committed to scal-ing back its nuclear programmein exchange for sanctions relief.

But Britain, France andGermany have said they areextremely concerned by Iran'sactions in stepping up its ura-nium enrichment and otherbreaches.

Enrichment is the processthat produces fuel for nuclearpower plants but also, in high-ly extended form, the fissilecore for a warhead.

On Monday, the IAEAconfirmed Iran's stock of heavywater for reactors has sur-passed the 130-tonne limit setunder the agreement.

Heavy water is not itselfradioactive but is used innuclear reactors to absorb neu-trons from nuclear fission.

Heavy water reactors canbe used to produce plutoniumfor nuclear weapons as analternative to enriched urani-um.

The IAEA has also said oneof its inspectors was briefly pre-vented from leaving Iran, call-ing her treatment “not accept-able”.

Birmingham: British opposi-tion Labour leader JeremyCorbyn on Thursday sets outhis party's manifesto for nextmonth's election, promisingthe most radical plan forchange for decades.

The party's programme ofpledges includes nationalisa-tions, a huge investment inpublic services and corporatereform, which Corbyn insistsare “fully costed” and deliver-able.

On Brexit, the key issue ofthe December 12 election, hehas promised to strike a new exitdeal with the European Unionand hold a second referendumon Britain's membership.

Opinion polls show Labourtrailing Prime Minister BorisJohnson's Conservatives butthe opposition is still hoping togalvanise voters like it did inthe last vote in 2017.

Ahead of the manifestolaunch in Birmingham, centralEngland, Corbyn claimed theprogramme was “full of popu-lar policies that the politicalestablishment has blocked fora generation”.

He repeated the attacks onthe rich and powerful thathave been a feature of Labour'scampaign so far, arguing thatafter nine years of Tory aus-terity measures, it was “time forreal change”. AFP

�� 0)'+7

AUS aircraft carrier's passagethrough the Gulf is the lat-

est demonstration of the super-power's enduring military pres-ence in the West Asia aimed atreassuring allies, experts andofficials say.

In a potent symbol of mil-itary might, the AbrahamLincoln carrier and its atten-dant warships cruised throughthe Strait of Hormuz this week.

The voyage came afterUnited States President DonaldTrump wrote in a tweet lastmonth that “going into theMiddle East is the worst deci-sion ever”.

But since then, the USmilitary has taken action toemphasise its long-standingpresence in a region where theUS has deep strategic interests.

It conducted massive train-ings, announced the deploy-ment of more troops and cre-ated a maritime coalition head-quartered in Bahrain to protectshipping in the troubled Gulfwaters.

The Abraham Lincoln'stransit through the strait, whichearlier this year was rocked bya string of attacks thatWashington and its allies blameon Iran -- accusations Tehranfirmly denies -- was the first fora US carrier since April.

“This show of force is partof a 'say-do' gap that is emerg-ing between verbal US securi-ty guarantees in the region andactual American inaction,” saidAndreas Krieg, a professor atKing's College London.

“It is a desperate attempt toreassure allies in the ArabianGulf.”

For more than sevendecades, the United States has

played an important role in theconflict-ridden region, servingin particular as a defender ofGulf monarchies against exter-nal threats, most notably Iran.

But Trump's tweet and hiscalls for Gulf leaders to pay fortheir security suggested a moveto redefine the relationship --born on an American battle-ship in 1945 when Saudi KingAbdul Aziz bin Saud and USPresident Franklin D. Rooseveltfirst held talks.

There was further dismaylast month when the USwalked away from its Kurdishallies in Syria, opening a doorfor Turkey to launch a militarycampaign against the Kurdsthat was divisive even inWashington.

The apparent shift in USpolicy comes at a time of ris-ing hostility with Iran.

Since May, tensions in theGulf have increased withattacks against tankers, fol-lowed by drone and missilestrikes on key Saudi oil facili-ties.

Iran was blamed, butdenied involvement.

Despite the attacks on itsally and having one of its owndrones shot down, the US hasavoided equivalent retaliation.

Sending the carrierthrough Hormuz “is certain-ly supposed to send a messageof defiance and strength aftermonths of being humiliatedby Iranian escalation”, saidKrieg.

The strait, which separatesIran and the United ArabEmirates, is a chokepoint for athird of the world's seaborneoil. The shallow waterway isjust 50 kilometres (30 miles)wide, making it a vulnerableshipping lane.

�� 5+�.7�� 3�

President Donald Trumpsought on Wednesday to

distance himself from USenvoy Gordon Sondland as hemade an explosive appearancebefore an impeachment hear-ing, while also asserting that histestimony had exonerated himentirely.

“I don't know him verywell. I have not spoken to himmuch,” Trump told reporters atthe White House, after theambassador to the EU testifiedthat he followed the presi-dent's orders in seeking a “quidpro quo” deal with Ukraine.

In an October 8 tweet,Trump had described hisambassador to the EuropeanUnion as “a really good manand great American.” Trumpwent on to read from notes onSondland's ongoing testimony,saying it demonstrated he didnot pressure UkrainianPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyto investigate his political rivalJoe Biden. “It was a very shortand abrupt conversation that hehad with me,” Trump said.

“'What do you want fromUkraine,'” the president quot-ed Sondland as asking him.

“Here is my response, thathe gave. Just gave. Ready? Youhave the cameras rolling?”“Here is my answer: 'I wantnothing. I want nothing. Iwant no quid pro quo. TellZelensky to do the right thing,'”added the president, who reen-acted the exchange severaltimes to the reporters gatheredon the South Lawn.

“Then he says: this is thefinal word from the President ofthe United States. I want noth-ing.” “I would say that means it's

all over,” Trump said.Democrats are investigat-

ing Trump for allegedly abus-ing his office by pressing a for-eign power -- Ukraine -- tointerfere on his behalf in the2020 US election.

In his testimony, Sondlandsaid he was ordered by Trumpto seek a “quid pro quo” deal inwhich Ukraine would probe

Biden in exchange for a WhiteHouse summit.

Sondland said he “neverreceived a clear answer” on whythe White House suspendedsecurity aid to Ukraine, whichis battling Russian-backed sep-aratists, but that he also “cameto believe” it was tied to theinvestigations sought byTrump.

?=8�� (�� 9

#�@��#�� 3%��%��

��)�"*- �* �%@/(*�%* #�(� �!"%�**("%�� %*

'��7��

2�� !�>��

D �� M"�)A6��

!��"��;��'��5��!��"��'!��0�!��0"��

��4�)�� *"/0%)��*� �� /0%)��%% �� * ��4�) �!��" ��

�� !��%�� %�)�� * ��$ ��#�� " �.��*�� @�� %��.�� A��"��!��%��)�� ?�� %��A�� !�3� ��

Washington: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says there is clear evi-dence that President Donald Trump has used his office for hispersonal gain. She says doing that “undermined the national secu-rity of the United States.”

The California Democrat says lawmakers involved in theHouse impeachment inquiry haven't decided what charges theymight bring against Trump.

She says they don't know if they'll try hearing from additionalwitnesses.

Pelosi also says she doesn't want to hold up the inquiry towait for federal courts to decide whether some witnesses can tes-tify. She says the House investigation “cannot be at the mercy ofa court.” AP

�"%* &%#��"(/�(#&%"/ #%&#�� !#��*%(" �+�*�+*�%�!*

�� !!"�!#$%

+�� #�� !

'�� 7�� KI�� 7�� :��:�� 7�� !

%7�� &��!

$��$�� &)��-#*):�! ��)B�#� �*-=�!

1 �� 3��'��0 ��,�� -�� %�� &��7��4��!

%5��7��*�� 7�� &��4�� M��!

��%5�� $�� !&

0��/'%%#!#��' #$(�"!�%*�-��) ��$ 1%/%�-%*��%�#&!��!"�(# �+�!"%��+ #1%*��$%�/+�%%�-

#�!�-%-�"��%"�#&%@��!"% �A�)�#��!��'%(�"!�%*�-��) ��!)/%�-%' #&! �%1%�! �%" !"/�#%)- -�)�*�:�%�!%@�%" %#% #��#&��A�#%%&�!#!)/�'%*("%�-��!#�+!##%�) �- �/*�#&-�"��%"*�-��-��%#$%�#& #*� "%/%�!:" #$!(��#%)�*�%�A.B��" #��

1 1� �+?�

0� #%/��#:" #$�%!��%�!$%�-%".

0�!** : � �+! �� . �� 0��

5�� ( �� % �� !5��

�� $��!�5�� !�� !�5�� !&

�� #��C��+��M�� 2>>K!�/ ��

5��!

Early to mid 1990s were astrange time to grow up.

No matter how much wemight complain about thestate of the economy nowa-days, India was pretty muchbankrupt back then. Therewere very few cars on the roadbut for those of us who livedin leafy South Delhi coloniesand were exposed to an extentto Western influences, whichbecame more pronouncedafter cable TV landed on ourshores and older shows byHanna-Barbera, the Americananimation studio filled manyof our screens. One of theshows was called The Jetsonsand even though it depicted a1960s version of what weexpected the future to be,there were these concepts offlying cars and three-dayworkweeks, neither of whichcame true.

And as 2020, a year wherewe thought, as children atleast, that space travel wouldbe a normal thing, the futurehas turned out to be rather dif-ferent. I am not making avalue judgement here, thefuture is just not what Iexpected it to bewhen I was inClass 6.

That bringsme to cars. Backin 1991, thereweren’t too manyof them. And whilewe can rave aboutclassic designs andthe good old days, makeno mistakes, the cars of todayare a million times better andsafer than the cars we droveduring that time. Cars thosedays were extremely mechan-

ical. There were no processorsanywhere. The steering andthrottle controls were linkeddirectly to the wheels and theengine. As for safety, well, theMaruti Suzuki Omni still sur-vives from that era. If you lookat the ‘A-Pillars’ on that car(those are the pillars that holdthe windshield in place), you’dsee that compared to anyother modern car, they’rebarely there.

When I started driving inthe mid-1990s, sneaking outin my mother’s Maruti-800,entertainment was a cheap,off-brand tape player whereretrieving magnetic tape frominside by using a pencilbecame a bonafide skillset.The steering didn’t even have

a horn in the middle. Therewere two buttons on the sideand that was a major upgradefrom the older HindustanAmbassadors, which mygrandfathers owned with ametal ring between the huband the steering.

This brings us in a nicesegue to the new Audi A6.This car, once called the Audi100, has always been the com-pany’s large executive sedanand is now in its eighth itera-tion. The old A6, which didfairly well, initially suffered insales compared to theMercedes-Benz E-Class andBMW 5-series because it real-ly got a bit old compared tothose two models. Whichmakes the quantum leap in thelatest model quite dramatic,

though not from theoverall profile

front. Audi’s

designers have retained the A6signature straight window lineand from the front, Audi’sdesign language is clear. Thedramatic change is inside,which is one heck of a car toplay around with.

I was only in the A6 forhalf a day but I would love tospend more time exploring thefeatures of what this car cando. The touchscreens, forexample, have tactile feed-back. While they’re touch-screens, you feel like you’repressing something solid. Thescreens are not reflective andeven though Audi’s ‘VirtualCockpit’ has been around fora few years, it seems better laidout in this new car. Sure, thecar has not gone down Volvo’sminimalist route, but thescreens, those dedicated to theventilation controls, feel justright. Everything about thisnew Audi feels like you are

controlling a spaceshipfrom a sci-fi but

you’re not in a filmbecause you haveJohnny Jhakaascutting across inhis motorcyclein front of you.Yet sitting insidethis car, you

genuinely feel likeyou have been trans-ported into the future.Sure, we are not flying

missions into space every sec-ond day and we have not beenback to the moon since 1972but this just feels right. Thesteering wheel, for example,has one of the coolest designsand a positively nice layoutwith everything being whereit is supposed to be, includingthe horn.

How does it drive? Well,Audi, burned heavily by thedieselgate fiasco, is only intro-ducing the A6 in India in the45TFSI garb. It means that ithas a 240-horsepower twolitre petrol engine, which isn’ta bad thing given that carmak-ers expect an impending waron diesel. And while the throt-tle pedal now has a computerbetween the engine and yourright foot, when you press it,this car can move very fast andget to high speeds even faster.There were times I felt that thetraction control kicked in a bittoo hard, especially aroundtight turns, but I was drivingin urban conditions. Thismakes the close to nine kilo-meters a litre real-world fueleconomy figures I got quiteimpressive indeed. Ride andhandling were excellent,although I must add the caveatthat I only sat in front while onthe move, because this carreally feels better behind the,and I repeat, very nice steer-ing wheel. That said, when Idid sit at the back, you realisethat the eighth-generation A6feels almost as large inside asa slightly older A8.

So would I buy one? If Iwas driving myself, almostcertainly even though thefully-loaded ‘TechnologyEdition’ I was driving costs fivelakhs more than the standardone. But the technology isworth it if are not being dri-ven around. Sure, some fea-tures like the lane-assist haveto be disabled in city condi-tions, although it is useful onthe highway and you miss aheads-up display, which wouldhave really been icing on thecake, but this package is a real-ly nice one and the latest A6is a car I can imagine drivingfor days on end.

They say it right. Wearing awatch will never go out ofstyle. With rapid develop-

ment, almost all products that peo-ple used have changed but thisdoesn’t seem to be applicable towristwatches. However, it is nolonger a piece of machinery to tellthe time but has become more ofa style statement. So the oft-repeated phrase that developmentof technology is a threat to theclassical and traditional watchescan be debunked straight away.Watch designers strongly believethat the classical wristwatcheswill always be about individuali-ty.

As for the trends, the marketseems to be literally explodingwith a variety of options, whetherit comes to colours, surface tex-tures and the interplay of case andstrap materials, which have rarelybeen used as boldly since the 1960sand 1970s. Indeed, many brandsand their designers are recallingthe styles from those eras,reworked in new ways by addinga bit of digital touch.

�� Retro is the new cool. Archival

designs have seen a resurgencesince last year, a trend which seesno signs of abating. Designs havethe imprint of the time whenwatchmakers were keen on mak-ing a statement.

William Besse, InternationalSales Director, FrederiqueConstant, observes the same trend.He feels that youngsters are opt-ing for their grandparents’ watch-es. “This generation wants tobring the golden era back. Theyconsider them to be more classicand elegant and that is why thestraps are back. They have a veryclear dial. I feel, youngsters under-stand that sometimes it’s impor-tant to know where you are head-ed without reflecting on where you

come from. Understanding yourheritage, your roots and yourancestry is an important part ofcarving out your future,” says he.The brand has recently launchedits latest collection of LadiesClassics Quartz timepieces.

But it is not the only one in thegame. There is Carl F Bucherer’sManero Flyback with its rose goldcase and vintage racing silhouettewhich almost has an heirloomquality. However, those who wouldprefer a classical racing style with-out going over the top, there is theTAG Heuer Autavia with thebright brown dial.

The micro-trend of the 90shas become prominent. Heroproducts from 40s-70s, thegolden age of wristwatches,are being reimagined andrecreated for a new genera-tion smitten by great designwith a vintage touch.

For the purest exam-ple of old is the new new,there is Patek Philippewith a 1955-vintage'triple calendar'Calatrava modelfeaturing no lessthan five handsrunning off itscentre post.

#�� It is not just

enough to display timeor look good, brands areputting their minds tothe material that goes intomaking a watch. So there aremilitary-grade alloys, ultra-hard composites, near-mag-ical metals and even silicon.

Zenith Defy LAB saw aproduction of silicon balance.The brand also uses its Aerolithcase material — essentially alu-minium foam — but is far fromthe oddest case material out there.Carbon and ceramic has often

been used in watches but GirardPerregaux’s hybrid carbon fibreand fibreglass which is light, toughand colourful is what makes it spe-

cial.

#��0�� Whereas Johnson

Verghese, VP, MD, FossilIndia, feels smartwatches

have really picked upand is something thatwill keep growing in

the years to come.“The market has

w i t n e s s e dt r e m e n d o u schanges in theway watcheshave been

designed, mar-keted and bought.

From traditionalwatch pieces to

smartwatches that offerthe world on the wrist to

hybrid watches that weredesigned for consumerswho wanted the best ofboth worlds, the marketnow has timepieces forevery user’s varied require-

ments and preferences,” sayshe and adds that watches are notdesigned just with the purpose oftelling time but also to complimentthe look of a fashion consciousconsumer. As fashion accessories,

they add to the style quotient ofone’s outfit and have created anotable space for themselves in themarket. A shift has been registeredfrom the usual gold and silverbracelets to newer additions likerose gold and other colours whichare getting popular as it is possi-ble to create an entire spectrum ofcolours with metal with new tech-nology. “The trend can be attrib-uted to two main factors — shiftin global fashion trends which isreflected in watches and anincreased consumer demand forvariety,” he feels. Well, even theclassics have been converted intosmartwatches today. Michael Kors

being the most chosen example.

�� Adding to the blue and green

mix that the year kicked off with,watches are now available in apractical rainbow of colours. Thestandard collections are goingbeyond black, blue and white.There are some seriously coolsalmon dials while Tutima hasmaroon brown ones. Rolex hasadded some light blue marble inthe mix.

��Johnson Verghese shares that

metal and leather straps have

always been the key options inthe wristwatch category.Depending on the look and com-fort level that a consumer aims toachieve — formal, casual orsporty, the aforementioned caterto either of the requirements.“However, utility-driven designsare on the rise, silicone straps andmesh straps with easy-to-domagnetic buckles make theirway to the market space.Interchangeable straps have alsoemerged as one of the latesttrends where consumers like toswitch between metal and leatheror between different colourstraps,” says he.

3�� +B)�.7 �.+/1+

3��! ��

*�" +!��"��.�4�"$�!�"��,�!!��0��!�!��!��9�(��;�((�"��!��"��.�<9;�=�!��"��3�8�"��(+��(��8!��#'��(�!��!��"��.��!�6��0"�5��"��!��2�"�"��,�!��"��(��/� !�,�+��!"'+�"��0�� !�2!��,0+#��"��#"��!��!�06��#"��5�..&��2��0�!"�2�"��.+�"�2��+��"��"��0�!� !�#"��"�">��37"!�#��(��3�9��"�!��"��!��"��,9�(��;�((�"3�!��"$��0��0��!�!��!��'�0�.,��,�8�"��(+��(��,!�#�8!�!��")�(�0"3��%��+�"$��8"!��!3�*�" +!��"��.4�"$�!�"��<*�4=��!�,��!�7��!#�3�"��"��0��..�!6�!�,��!��!#��"��!��+��0��#��2��,�0��0��..�!3�*�43�8!�9�� )�(�0"3�"�50"�0�0��.(��'�+��(��/�� 0&'!��("�2 ��"�"�"��"$��6�7��"�3�?�(��/��$"�"��# ��'�!��!.��)+��0"��0+#��"�#�0��# 0��"��,!��0"�("�2�� !��.��$�.� #��'��!�� ,�!��..�,�!#��,�.",�6�7��0�� (��%��"$�.��+'@��."(��$"!��#��3��#"��3�5�#��/��!"20��3"��!&,�"�0��"�.�2+�3��+�.��!��"��!#�#��3)+��0"�#��9�"��6��#��#�'��50�'�."�$��0��+��".��+!�#"��"��'��#��+!�'��"��3��+!�2",��5"..��'��#��+!2.�!�6��"��!�#"��!��,��0�� "�.��+�0��%�!��!�"��!��5�!(��0��0��5�!.��/��(��"��,,��+6A!��"��(��% !��0"�� !��"��"��2!��"�+��*�" +!��"��.�4�"$�!�"��"�3�?*�4��#'!��0��"��.��,��+��&��!��.��!�"�2��+ 0�.��0�0"20��!��,��0�.�!.��!"2�+!��##"�#��5�..��0�� "�� +!�+�.��!�"�2��$�!��0��+!��,��.",��"#�6A

A)�.+��17 /+

��,��$��! ��

� ��

)��7��4�4��

1 1� �+&'�(�?,

�� 0��

● ' �� !��"�2II��

● 6 ��"�==I��

● ��

● +�� "�2I��

● 0�� "�K��

● :��

# ��

● ' �� !�� !�

● +�� @!� ��+�� !

● �� !

● �� "�� !� ��":��/0��% ��B

��;��9�� 0�� ● #�� ,��-"�2��● ��"�Q��● �� "�?��● '� ��"�=��● �� "�=�● $��"�?I��

1��%� �� &

��7��!�7�� 7�� )�� :�� @�� "� �� !��-�� =!'��2�=II�� ,��@��-��!��2=�� 2=��)&��+�� K=��!

�� !!"�!#$%

/�� '�� !��'��

�� !�7�� !��-�� =F��!��2="?I�� ?"?I��=!'��2>II��@��,� �� -R�=?II��@��,�� -��)&�� /�� '��. ��:��!

�4�� .��# ��

�� !�5��=I�� *�� @�� !��=!'��2=I ��!��22�� 2I"?I��-�� =F��)&�� 4�� , ��A��C��A�� -!

:�� !�7��1��

��%�%��&�7��"��$��"�� "�� "��=!'��2�HII�� -�� 0��2K��)&�� =>��!

�7��8B4��0�� ● #��"�2II��● �� $�� "2II��● #� ��"�2��● #� ��"�2��● #� ��"�28=��● ��"�28=��● �� "�?8F��● �� ● #�� ● 3�� ● ��"�2��

# ��● ' ��!�● �� $�� !�● '��E��,��-!● +��$�� !● +�� $��!�● 1��$��E�� 2K��!�● � �� !� ��":��!��**��!�� "��B

:��

�� !� �� S�/�� !�=!'��KII�,� �� -��!��22�� 22��)&��06:�� C��A��!

$!"$%(* " = & = �� ' ��3��5��

��7��!�7�� ' �� ' ��!� �� A��&�' �� !��!��H"?I�� 2="?I��=!'��2�=II�,� �� -��)&��+��?� ��,#��.��06:�1��A��1��-!

By 2050, many scientists esti-mate that the world food

supply will increase sharply fromtoday’s level to meet anticipateddemand from a global populationof nine to 10 billion people.Meanwhile, the coming decadesare expected to bring higher andmore variable temperatures,increasingly severe droughts,floods and storms, and condi-tions that will make achievingfood security more complicatedand uncertain than ever before.

Emerging biotechnologiesare opening new niches in thefood landscape that can helpfeed the world’s burgeoning pop-ulation with fewer resources inmore extreme and unpredictableenvironments. With debate overthe impacts of meat productionintensifying, we have been track-ing US attitudes related to plant-based alternatives throughMichigan State University’s FoodLiteracy and Engagement Poll.The results reveal a growingappetite for plant-based meatamong consumers, especiallymillennials and Generation Z.

# ��6�� Many scientists and advo-

cates recommend eating lessmeat as a way to make modernlifestyles healthier and more sus-tainable. Most recently, the wide-ly publicised EAT-Lancet Report,produced by an internationalteam of health, agriculture andsustainability experts, recom-mended consuming less thanhalf an ounce of red meat per day.

Americans are among theworld’s top meat consumers. TheWorld Economic Forum esti-mates that in 2016 Americans atean average of 214 pounds of meatper person. By contrast,Argentinians averaged 190pounds and Europeans averaged152.5 pounds per person.

Rising concern about cli-mate change has spurred a flur-ry of Silicon Valley biotech star-tups focussed on plant-basedalternative meats. Although veg-gie burgers and vegetarian“meats” frequently comprised ofsoy, beans and lentils have beenaround for decades, this new gen-eration of products has the sus-tainability benefits of being madeentirely of veggies, but taste evermore convincingly like meat.

In 2018, the US Food andDrug Administration approvedthe plant-based “ImpossibleBurger,” which relies on an ingre-dient from genetically modifiedyeast to incorporate “haem,” aniron-containing molecule intothe product, allowing its meats to“bleed.” In an endorsement of

sorts, vegetarian CNET reporterJoan E Solsman found it to be soclose to real beef that it “grossedher out.”

Fast-food chain WhiteCastle’s “Impossible Slider” wonseveral awards at the 2019Consumer Electronics Show inLas Vegas. In 2019, Burger Kingintroduced the “ImpossibleWhopper” to rave reviews, andon September 20 the ImpossibleBurger became available for pur-chase in California grocerystores, competing with BeyondBurgers and other plant-basedofferings from Beyond Meat.

��# �With these products gaining

wide media coverage, it’s no sur-prise that the latest results of ourbiannual, nationally representa-tive survey of over 2,100 peoplesuggest perspectives on meatalternatives are shifting rapidly.In February 2018, 48 per cent ofrespondents said they wereunlikely to “purchase foods thatlook and taste identical to meat,but are based on ingredients thatare produced artificially.” BySeptember 2019, that number hadfallen to 40 per cent.

Our survey found that duringthe previous 12 months, 35 percent of respondents had con-sumed plant-based meat alterna-tives. Of that group, 90 per centsaid they would do so again.Among those who had not yeteaten plant-based meat alterna-tives, 42 per cent were willing totry them, while 30 per cent of thatgroup remained unwilling.

We also identified very signif-icant generational differences inattitudes. Nearly half (48 per cent)of respondents under 40 werealready eating plant-based meats,while just 27 per cent of those aged40 and over had tried these prod-ucts.

These results closely paralleleda 2019 survey commissioned byImpossible Foods, which foundthat over half of millennial andGeneration Z respondents con-sumed plant-based meat at leastonce a month, compared to justone-fifth of US adults ages 55 andup.

More companies are introduc-ing meat alternatives across thecountry. Food giants Kellogg andHormel will soon launch theirown new plant-based productlines, called “Incogmeato” and“Happy Little Plants” respective-ly.

The new generation of plant-based meats aren’t intended tosubstitute for other vegetarianproducts already on the market ortarget a specific set of health-con-scious consumers. They have beendesigned to reduce the globalimpact of beef while appealing toeveryone.

With millennials are expectedto become America’s largest livingadult generation, their willingnessto embrace plant-based meatproducts suggests continued suc-cess for this emerging biotechnol-ogy. It also has implications foragriculture, the food industry,food security and environmentalsustainability around the world.

C��D!��

Afew years back, I wason my way home fromDelhi to Bageshwar in

Uttarakhand. We had startedearly without breakfast, deter-mined to hit Almora bylunch, but we lost time steadi-ly and pangs of hungerbecame unbearable just afterwe crossed Haldwani. This iswhen my son suggested thatwe take a detour and havelunch at Naukuchiyatal,where he said he had oncetasted dal, which was out ofthis world. To cut a long story,we reached this dhaba andwere fortunate to savour thesublime lentils. The shopowner, who doubled as thecook, modestly deflected allpraise by informing us thatthe magic was worked by thesoil where the lentil grew andthe water from the springused to boil them. Of course,the freshly ground turmeric,coriander seeds too had con-tributed their bit. Ever sinceI have been intrigued by thequery what role do soil andwater actually play in shapingthe flavour profile of anydish — an internationallyrenowned ‘signature delicacy’like Hyderabadi Dum kiBiryani, Galauti kebab inLucknow or street side snackslike Banarasi chaat and localsweets lesser known thanBengali chhena-based ones?

Geographical indicatorsare usually exclusive tags forproduce unique to a region,be it vines, whiskies, tea or

coffee. In the Indian context,fruit and betel leaves, too,qualify for this distinction.Terroir is the French wordthat defines the micro climac-tic region where the soil andwater combine to impart adistinct personality to theproduce — grapes, aromaticrice and more. While most ofus are ready to concede this,when it comes to cookedfood, the answer is not easy.

So much depends on therecipe — traditional orimprovised — skill of the per-son cooking, vessels usedand the supporting cast ofsweetening and souringagents, aromatic substancesand spices common or exot-ic. Indian cuisines create asymphony, combining dif-ferent notes and micro notes,that draw a hard to pierce veilover ‘soil and water.’

Take for instance the

Bikaneri bhujiya or Jodhpurimirchi bada or kachauri. Canone be certain that theirallure is engendered solely bysoil and water? Deep fryingskills handed down genera-tionally are an integral part ofproducing the irresistible sev.The recipe for namkeenresembling Bikaneri bhujiyachanges in Ratlam in MadhyaPradesh and Bhavnagar inGujarat. It is more than thechange of place that trans-forms the taste. The mastercraftspersons have playedaround with cloves, pepper-corn, tomatoes or a blend ofspices to carve out a separateniche for their products. Ofcourse, no one from Indorewill admit that the deep friedGirode and oh so sweetMakke ki kees can be enjoyedanywhere else where the cli-mate is different from theirbeloved Malwa. Down South

similar claims are made onbehalf of lighter than a whiffidli in Udupi or karimeenpolichattu in Kumarakomharpooned as per demand inthe Vembnad Lake.

The seduction of myriadHyderabadi biryanis is over-powering primarily due toslow cooking in tightly sealedutensils over charcoal-firedstoves and using choicestcuts of well-marinated meat— kid not lamb. Long-grained rice and aromaticspices are all imported notlocally grown.

It’s the same story withthe melt-in-the-mouthAwadhi kebab. The finelyminced meat is smoked, ten-derised and cooked on alagan aka mahi tawa. Not toforget the trade secret propri-etary spice mix used both toflavour the patties and sprin-kled over to enhance theexperience.

Sweets are no different.Surely it’s the quality of thefull fat milk or curds thatexert the decisive influenceon how the peda, barfi orkalakandi is going to taste.Almora in Uttarakhandboasts of a singori that essen-tially is kalakand wrapped ina delicately fragrant leaf of atree that grows on the hillsidenearby. Old timers also claimthat the ‘original’ singoriowed all its fame to unadul-terated khoya supplied by thevillagers in Lodhiya. Onemay argue that the fragrance

of the leaf and the granulartexture of the khoya were thegifts imparted by the localsoul and water but that wethink would be like stretch-ing the rubber band to break-ing point.

Food has a complex rela-tionship with memory.Personal nostalgia of a timeand place as well as deliciousdelights shared with agree-able companions manymoons ago impart uniquequalities that are not neces-sarily based on fact. Weallow ourselves to be mes-merised by the spells caste bylegend and lore about theextraordinary properties ofspecial soil irrigated by spe-cial water to return to thatfabulous dal fromNaukuchiyatal Tal. It wascooked in a brass pot with anarrow mouth and the spiceswere lovingly ground byhand on a slab of stone.Water undeniably con-tributed a lot to the lentils asit does in other locations toScotch and Darjeeling beingbrewed but let’s not forget theoak Sherry casks and thequality of the first or the sec-ond flush hand picked “twoleaves and a bud” by experts.Doesn’t Milton remind us soaptly that “They also servewho stand and wait,” remain-ing invisible most of thetime.� ��":@3 ��"��

��E�� !�� %

,//1�/,�3�=�=�"3�!�� %�� %��%�� %��%��B�.�$�@�$��!�� "��*��%��

�0��#��!�$�.+�"��8�!��$��

��#��!��#��

��!��

# ��● 5�� 2I��!�● .�� !�+�� !● �� T�� @�� !�1�@��!� ��":��2��@�� #��B

�� !!"�!#$% *�!"�?2

�� 45�046.7

Blue Tigers head coach IgorStimac was left disappoint-ed after his team failed to

win any of the two 2022 WorldCup qualifiers away gamesagainst Afghanistan (1-1 draw inDushanbe) on November 14and Oman (0-1 defeat inMuscat) on November 19 to vir-tually get out of reckoning aberth and the Croatian tacticianon Thursday cited injury to keyplayers like Pronay (Halder),Adil (Khan) and Rahul Bheke asthe main reason behind thecountry’s early exit.

Speaking at the sidelines ofthe launch of the 13th edition ofthe Hero I-League which startsfrom November 30 and will betelecasted on DSport, Stimacsaid, “In regards to the last twogames we played, we came backhome bit disappointed with theresults. But that didn’t under-mine our fate and believe inwhat we do. We faced big diffi-culties in regards to opponents,climate differences which are notsomething we are trying tomake an excuse. But the injuryproblems were something wefind it most difficult at themoment. Losing the mostimportant players in regards tostamina, to character, not hav-ing Sandesh (Jhingan) andBorges (Rowllin) there, missingPronay (Halder) in first coupleof games, also having earlyinjury during the game againstOman were the obstacles, bigenough, to stop us from gainingbetter results.”

The team is at fourth spot inGroup E table with three pointsfrom five matches. They haven’twon a single match out of thefive played so far in this secondround of the qualifiers.

But the coach said his teamhas done better than the previ-ous one which was coached byEnglishman Stephen

Constantine, who resigned afterIndia’s group-stage exit in theAsian Cup earlier this year.

“When we look back at theresults we need to be positiveand the simple reason is the factsare there — in the last WorldCup qualifiers, there were fiveconsecutive defeats, now wehave two defeats and threedraws.”

“In the last qualifiers afterfive games we were with zeropoints now we have three points.And we have more games tocome and we are on our way toachieve what we promise we aregoing to lurk on, that is compet-ing at the 2023 Asian Cup doingbetter than before once we getthere and preparing teams forthe future and going into nextWorld Cup (2026) qualifierswith much better and higherexpectations, That’s the work weare providing at the moment,building up for the future andgiving opportunities to youngand new players who are manyin this team in regards to AsianCup to gain experience andbecome our future stars,” he said.

Discussing about theinjuries to Pronay, Adil andRahul during Oman tie whichaffected India’s game plan thecoach said, “Pronay had sufferedshoulder relocation after one

dual in the second minute andit took us ten minutes to warmup on us for an unexpected sit-uation which occurred there, wecouldn’t let Pronay coming outand staying there with ninemen in such an importantgame.”

“The second injury was toAdil Khan, who was ok beforethe game and there was noinjury risk. I had an individualmeeting with him before thestart and told him that if thereis any doubt in his mind abouthe can or he can’t, I will leavehim out. But he said, ‘No, I amok, I can start the game coach,I don’t feel any pain, no doubt atall’ but when you go into thegame, you make few tackles, fewdifferent movements and allthat, the pain starts comingback and unlucky for us, hecouldn’t keep playing longer.”

“And at the end, in the sec-ond half there was Rahul Bhekealso, who received another bigpain in his groin which was anold injury he was facing, theseare the things you are notexpecting to happen especiallyin early stages of such an impor-tant game,” he added.

There is a lot of talk aboutIndia’s inability of scoring goalsin the games and when quizzedabout that, Stimac expressed his

unhappiness at the clubs for notplaying Indian players as strik-ers in the domestic leagues.

“Can you mention to meone player with Indian passportplaying as striker and scoringgoals in the leagues? Why areyou expecting that we are goingto score goals in the internation-al games if we don’t have a sin-gle striker in the league?”

“And I don’t work with theplayers on a daily basis, I workwith them five days before thegame, but the good and impor-tant thing is that we are creatingchances.”

“India is not anymore teamwho is going somewhere andfearing someone. No way. Indiawherever it goes, it goes withoutfear, it goes to play football andface it’s opponent, never mindwho that is. And we are going towin the games to try to do that,we are not holding back insideof our box and fighting for ourlives, we are there trying to playfootball whoever it is, on theopposite side. This is what webuilding upon, New Brave India— India with a heart, with thecourage to play football, nevermind facing problems withdefeat because that’s the only wayupgrading your game, bringingand developing new quality intoyour team.”

�� 45�046.7

Indian record goal scorer SunilChhetri remains an irreplaceable

part for the team feels head coachIgor Stimac as the former Croatiandefender referred Indian captainas ‘valuable’ to his side.

Currently the second highestinternational goal scorers amongactive players, only behindPortugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (99),Chhetri is the most-capped play-er and also the all-time top scor-er for the Indian national team,with 72 goals in 115 appearances.

The 35-year-old forward hasbeen in prolific form in 2019 aswell scoring seven goals in 11games but since netting India’sonly goal in the 1-2 loss to Omanin September, he has not found thetarget in the last three matches ofthe 2022 World Cup qualifyingcampaign.

And on Thursday when askedif he (Stimac) has found any play-er in India who can replaceChhetri in the future, he said, “Iam trying to do everything possi-ble so that Sunil keeps scoringgoals. You are all mentioningreplacing Sunil, I don’t know whyyou saying that. He is not goinganywhere. He is there, alive and fitand doing his best in to keep scor-ing goals.”

“He had some great chances ifyou remember one in the gameagainst Afghanistan, which nor-mally he scores nine out of tentimes. It didn’t happen that day butthat doesn’t mean something haschanged in his game.”

“He is very valuable to us, hisbody is like 29-year old, so as long

#�� *�� #� �� FF��*��% �� %%� � ��%��F&�� $�� #�4�� !��" ��

The 52-year old formerCroatian coach is hopeful thatwith time Indian football willrise to the next level and will beable to rub shoulders with thebest in Asia and the world.

“I am a very realistic per-son, in regards to expectationsmines are not different to yours.And I said in the beginning thatif we all stick together and pos-itive it will be easier for all of usto gain better results. There arealways some negative com-ments because of higher expec-tations but we got what we got,we cannot go beyond that. It’sa long process, it will take time,you know all the problems weare facing, we need to be patientand need to be altogether with

a strong belief and faith inwhat we do and that’s theonly way we can come tothe successful path. That’sthe way and the approachwe are having and that’show we work and operate.”

He also had a word ofencouragement for the ILeague players and saidthat he will be keepingclose tabs on Indian play-ers in the league and theirgood performance canearn them national teamcall up.

“I am here to showthat the Hero I League isfor us as much importantas Indian Super League(ISL). I am here to give mysupport to all the playersthat are going to participatein the upcoming seasonand to send them the mes-sage that all those who arehaving Indian passport arethe possible candidates forsenior Indian nationalteam. I am here to tell themalso that all the Indiansenior players camethrough I League and that’sthe way. It’s upon themhow they going to perform,how they going to presentthemselves and how theygoing to represent theirclubs. There is anothermessage I’ll send to them,‘I will come to watch thegames live whenever I can’to support once againwhatever they do. To showthem that they should notfeel lonely and forgottenbecause they have greatimportance for Indianfootball future.”

23�420��?38-6�4

��%% ��0��"� %�"�� #�� A��) ��

as he is training like he is, behav-ing like he is and giving his bestto the national team he will be withus, I can assure you about that,”Stimac said of his team’s captain.

However, the coach said thatthe current team also has playerswho can score goals and he ishopeful of them stepping up andgetting the job done for India.

“But I hope at the same timethat I will have chance to find outfew more like Sunil Chhetri, I hopethat once Jobby Justin starts play-ing games, he will start scoringgoals, so I can have him in thenational team. I hope a few otherplayers like Seiminlen Doungelfrom FC Goa will start playing incentre-forward position in fewgames and Manvir Singh startscoring goals. So we have differ-ent options because they are a dif-ferent kind of players. I am veryexcited about all that,” he added.

�!�� %��

�� 13)� �1+)��+�)7�

New Zealand targeted thewicket of “freak” Ben

Stokes on Thursday as theybattle to get back into the firstTest against England at MountMaunganui.

The honours were evenwhen the New Zealand-bornStokes went to the middle justbefore tea on day one withEngland 120 for three.

But by stumps, withStokes in imperious form, thescore had doubled andEngland will resume on Friday

on 241 for four, with the 28-year-old all-rounder unbeatenon 67.

“He’s a special talent. He’sa bit of a freak at times,” NewZealand short-ball specialistNeil Wagner said after Stokesclubbed his bouncers fourtimes to the boundary.

Stokes and Joe Denly (74)put on 83 for the fourth wick-et to lift England after theyhad slowly accumulated runs

through the first two sessionsagainst a New Zealand bowl-ing tight lines.

Earlier England’s top threeplayed their part in getting asafe start with Surrey pairRory Burns (52) and DomSibley (22) putting on 52 forthe first wicket before Burnsand Denly added 61 for thesecond.

Captain Root, however,took 21 balls to get off themark with a two and thenwafted at a wide next deliveryfrom Wagner and was caughtbehind.

�� '/7�'+�4

Australia seized the advantage on theopening day of the first Test when they

bowled Pakistan out for 240 just beforestumps at the Gabba in Brisbane onThursday.

After the visitors resisted stubbornly inthe first session, reaching 57 for no wick-et at lunch, pace trio Mitchell Starc (4-52),Josh Hazlewood (2-46) and Pat Cummins(3-60) tore through the Pakistan battingorder to put the home side in charge at theclose of play.

Australia seized the initiative afterlunch when they reduced Pakistan from 75for none to 78 for four, then 94 for five.

Pakistan were rescued from disaster by

Asad Shafiq, who played a lone hand, scor-ing 76 well-made runs.

Shafiq came to the crease with his side75 for two, then saw Haris Sohail (1) andBaba Azar (1) fall for the addition of only

two runs.But good partnerships of 49 between

Shafiq and Mohammed Rizwan, whomade 37, and then 84 with Yasir Shah (26)enabled the visitors to achieve a respectablescore.

Rizwan, who was counter-attackingfearlessly, fell controversially with Cumminsappearing to have just overstepped themark, only for TV umpire Michael Goughto give the benefit of the doubt to the bowler.

Pakistan had earlier caused a major sur-prise when they left out experienced seam-er Mohammad Abbas, opting instead forpacemen Shaheen Afridi, Imran Khanand 16-year-old Naseem Shah, who wereimpressive in their lead-up game againstAustralia A.

�� ) 7+��

India’s young shooters touched anothersensational high with Manu Bhaker,

Elavenil Valarivan and Divyansh Panwarwinning Gold medals in their respectiveevents for the country’s best-ever show inthe ISSF World Cup Finals here onThursday.

The 17-year-old Manu fired her way to

the Gold with a junior world record in thewomen’s 10m air pistol event, while the 20-year-old Elavenil claimed the top honoursin the women’s 10m air rifle competition.

Later, another teen sensationDivyansh, who is all of 17, finished on topin the men’s 10m air rifle competition with

a final score of 250.1. India are currentlytop of the table with three Gold medals,followed by China (two Gold, one Silver,one Bronze).

Manu shot 244.7 to notch up the topprize in the prestigious season-endingtournament. The Haryana girl beat a classyfield for her maiden WCF Gold.

Elavenil shot a score of 250.8 to edgepast Taiwan’s Lin Ying-Shin (250.7).Romania’s Laura-Georgeta Coman fin-ished third with a score of 229.

Divyansh then ensured that womendidn’t hog the limelight completely with hisstellar performance. He qualified third forthe final with a score of 627.1.

In the final he steered ahead ofHungary’s Istvan Peni (250) and Slovakia’sPatrik Jany (228.4) to clinch the top prize.

��)"��*��"��*��+,��-�,�) +��+,-��.�� /)��+

;�.��!"�

2��

��+�)�� A� <�� #D!��

+�� )��F��"%�" ��

��=�>*�� F��"%�" ��

�(**% C%!#�"!��::�

�� A36A+ +

Indian cricket will finallyembrace the pink revolu-tion after initial reluctance

when Virat Kohli’s seeminglyinfallible galacticos lock hornswith a deflated Bangladesh intheir maiden Day/Night Teststarting here today.

It took India a new BCCIregime under maverick formercaptain Sourav Ganguly to takethe pink ball plunge, a goodseven years after theInternational Cricket Councilapproved the format to reviveinterest in Tests.

Ganguly convinced theBangladesh Cricket Board toagree to a Day/Night Test justa few days before their teamwas to land in India.

The bone of contentionwas the SG pink ball, whichmany still believe is difficult tosight after sunset. Add to it thedew factor, which playersbelieve aggravates the bowlers'problems.

But Ganguly found Kohlion the same page and the cur-rent Indian captain took just“three seconds” to agree tothe Board President’s idea.

So far, the build-up to theTest has been smooth. A sell-out crowd for the first four dayshas been managed, somethingthat has been the primary goalof playing the traditional for-mat under lights.

Amid all the hype, there isalso the small matter of Indiabracing up for a 12th successivehome series victory.

The challenge for the play-ers would be when the dewcomes in to play after the sunsets early and it remains to beseen how both the teams andthe groundsmen cope with thepink ball.

The Cricket Associationof Bengal has made all effortsto turn the match into a carni-val for fans with several gim-micks. So, there are pink-ballmascots, Army paratroopers todeliver the match ball and agalaxy of sports and politicaldignitaries, includingBangladesh Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina, are also expect-ed at the venue.

The menacing pace attackof Mohammed Shami, IshantSharma and Umesh Yadavwrapped up the Indore Test

inside three days with aninnings and 130 runs victory —the 10th innings win for India.

The pace attack along withthe blazing form of the new-found opening duo — Rohit

Sharma and Mayank Agarwal— has been the story of theseason in Indian cricket.

Already at the top of theWorld Test Championshipstandings, India would look to

consolidate their position afteranother series victory.

While a handful of Indianplayers have pink-ball experi-ence, having played threedomestic seasons of DuleepTrophy under lights, theBangladeshi squad would befacing the challenge for the firsttime.

Bangladesh have struggledin batting and only MushfiqurRahim posted a 50-plus scorein the Indore Test.

Having been handed thecaptaincy after Shakib AlHasan’s suspension for failureto report corrupt approaches,Mominul Haque is strugglingto handle the pressure, madeworse by his batsmen’s contin-uing flop-show.

In such a gloomy scenario,the skipper may find someinspiration from his pacers,especially Abu Jayed, whoimpressed in the Indore Test.

SQUADSIndia: Virat Kohli (c), RohitSharma, Mayank Agarwal,Cheteshwar Pujara, AjinkyaRahane, Wriddiman Saha(wk),Ravichandran Ashwin,Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant,Mohammed Shami, IshantSharma, Umesh Yadav,Hanuma Vihari, KuldeepYadav and Shubman Gill.Bangladesh: Mominul Haque(c), Liton Das (wk), MehidyHasan, Nayeem Hasan, Al-Amin Hossain, EbadotHossain, Mossadek Hossain,Shadman Islam, Taijul Islam,Abu Jayed, Imrul Kayes,Mahmudullah, MohammadMithun, Mushfiqur Rahim,Mustafizur Rahman.

�� !!"�!#$% *�!"�?6

�� A36A+ +

The pink ball feels like a“heavy hockey ball” to

Virat Kohli, who isextremely wary of the chal-lenges its weight, hard-ness and colour could posewhile fielding.

“One thing that sur-prised me was the fieldingsessions. In the slips ballshit so hard it almost feltlike a heavy hockey ball, allthose synthetic ball thatwe're used to play with inthe younger days,” Kohlisaid on the eve of thematch.

“It's purely because ofthe extra glaze on the ball,it is definitely much moreharder. For some reason itfelt heavy and even thethrows took a lot moreeffort than the red colourto reach the wicketkeeper.”

India had their firstbrush withthe SG pinkball afterthey wrappedup the open-ing Test insidethree days inIndore.

India had asession underlights at the EdenGardens onWednesday.

“I think dur-ing the day, highcatches will be verydifficult. With thered or white ball youhave the idea of whenthe ball reaches you butwith the pink ball if youdon’t look at it your palmsare gone.

“Fielding ses-sion for me was farmore challenging.People are going tobe surprised howchallenging pink ballcan be.”

Visibility in twilighthas also been cited as oneof the biggest challengesthe historic match couldpose.

“Not having a great

visibility and the ability topick that colour makes iteven more difficult. Thedecision making has to bevery precise like the idea ofoff stumps. Even when wepractised yesterday we feltas if the ball is far but it hitsyou very quickly.

“The extra glaze of theball is making it travelfaster. It hits the hand

hard. It should exciteeveryone. Sometimeyou have to changethe template. I think

we have to be veryprecise and our

skills will betested in

this Test.”

�� A36A+ +

Bangladesh captainMominul Haque on

Thursday rued that his teamdidn’t get a practice game toprepare before taking onIndia in their first-everDay/Night Test.

“We did not get anyopportunity to play a prac-tice match and at thatmoment (when it wasdecided) we could not doanything. The only way toprepare for us was bypreparing mentally. But def-initely, if you play any Testmatch with the pink ball,you have to play practicematches,” Mominul said on

the eve of the Test here.The current Bangladesh

team have no pink ballexperience even at thedomestic level and theyonly had four sessions,including two in Indore,before their first ever D/NTest.

“It’s new for everyone.We had very good prepara-tion we hope we can capi-talise on that. We will lookfor the opportunities and weare excited to play the firstever pink ball Test for thecountry,” the skipper said.

The skipper urged hisbatsmen to be more carefulwhile facing the pink ball,which is likely to have more

lateral movement on a greenwicket.

“It”s about being strongmentally and have to bemore patient. The idea is toplay session by session. It’sabout learning from thepast.”

Mushfiqur Rahim wasthe lone half-centurion inBangladesh innings as theycrashed to an innings and130-run defeat inside threedays in Indore.

“We made some mis-takes in the first innings.There was no partnership inthe top order. We did nothave proper shot nd go for-ward. We hope to rectify ourmistakes,” the skipper said.

� 0� �� Former openerGautam Gambhir feels theIndia and Bangladesh cap-tains need to be innovativewhile handling their pacerswith the pink ball, includingusing them frequently underlights for more effectiveness.

“...Captains will nowneed to use their fast bowlersdifferently,” said Gambhir,who had led India Blue to thefinal of the Duleep Trophy

tournament which wasplayed under lights in

2016, on ‘Star Sports’. “In red ball crick-

et they use themearly in the morningbut in the day and

night matches they will

probably have to use themunder lights as well as it willbe of more help as comparedto if it’s a 1 pm start.”

The India opener saidit will be a challenge to pickthe wrist spinners.

“One thing I realizedwas under the lights it wasreally difficult to pick thewrist spinner becausesometimes if you don't pickit in the hand and you pickit in the end once youwatch the scene,” he said.

But once, its artificiallights and has a blacktheme as well so I am surewrist spinners will play ahuge role under the lights.”

PTI

��"��$� )��2.��0�"$��,!�#�� 11 #��9�

�3�"��/"3��2�@�A

D�� *

7��7� �*�� M�� !�7�� @�� *�� !&�C $��

��# "�� !��

/ ��*��#��%�� "��!��+�� +��#D!��

��G�� #�� #

�� 0 � &''�,,9

+�� K� K� �� 2II!II��6�� ? =� 2� UU!UU��V�� =� 2� 2 KI!II� ��+�� =� 2� 2� KI!II�� ?� 2� = ??!??4�� ? 2� =� ??!??5��7�� ? �� ?� II!IIV�� 2� �� 2� II!II

�� KG>�?�� 5��7��0�� =I2U�2GK2F��H�� 4��5��7��'�� =I2G�FH=� ��6��0�� =I2G�2H

KH� 4��V��+�� =I2G�2H�UH V�� +�� 4��E�� =I2G�2H�>?� 5��7��6��'�� =I2H

H�F> 0��'�� ,5��7��-��0�� =I2U�2GU�=? ��#��,+��-��6��'�� =I2H�2>

<�#�@4<@�!./@�

?I=<� +E��+��,��-��5��7��0�� =I2U�2G=F? +��# ��,4��-��5��7��'�� =I2G

��0 ��

� ��0��

��

�� %� ��(�� - ��

��;��/��*��

��*��

��1+0/70

Great Britain rested AndyMurray and squeezed into

the Davis Cup quarter-finals onThursday after clinching an all-or-nothing doubles rubber tobeat Kazakhstan.

Britain will face Germany inMadrid today night in the lasteight. Also, Serbia will faceRussia and Spain take onArgentina.

The British team knewdefeat would ensure an early exitjust as France, the tournament’stop seeds, had already crashedout a few hours before at thehands of Serbia and NovakDjokovic.

It made the gamble to leaveMurray out of the singles all themore bold, even if the Scotappears to be struggling for fit-ness after his lengthy duel withHolland’s Tallon Griekspoor onWednesday.

Instead, the three-timegrand slam champion wascheering from the side as KyleEdmund played brilliantly to seeoff Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-3before Dan Evans was beaten 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 by Alexander Bublikto leave the tie in the balance.

But Jamie Murray and hispartner Neal Skupski, makinghis Davis Cup debut, held theirnerve to prevail 6-1, 6-4 overBublik and Kukushkin, whomight have felt the strain afterreturning to the court followingtheir singles.

Djokovic booked Serbia’splace in the quarters as he easedpast Benoit Paire to send Francecrashing out.

Djokovic beat Paire 6-3, 6-3 after Filip Krajinovic won aclose encounter 7-5, 7-6 (7/5)against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga togive Serbia a 2-0 advantage,making France’s doubles victo-ry irrelevant.

�� /3C704�#4�

The Indian women’s cricket team complet-ed a 5-0 series whitewash over the West

Indies after half centuries from VedaKrishnamurthy and Jemimah Rodrigues,complemented by the bowlers’ clinical show,steered the side to a 61-run triumph in thefifth and final T20 International in Guyana.

Rodrigues (50) and Krishnamurthy (57not out) shared 117 runs for the third wick-et as India Women scored 134 for 3 afterelecting to bat.

Rodrigues needed 56 balls for her 50,which was studded with three boundaries,while Krishnamurthy’s unbeaten 57 came off48 deliveries, which included four hits to thefence.

In the West Indies run chase, the IndianWomen bowlers produced a disciplinedperformance to restrict the hosts to 73 for 7in their allotted 20 overs.

Opener Kyshona Knight was the top-scorer with 22 while Shemaine Campbelleremained not out on 19.

For India Women, off-spinner Anuja Patilgrabbed two wickets for just three runs whileRadha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Pooja Vastrakarand Harleen Deol took a wicket each.

JEMIMAH, REKHA RISE IN RANKINGS�� India’s Jemimah Rodrigues onThursday jumped to the fourth position inthe batting chart, while slow left-arm spin-ner Radha Yadav is placed second amongbowlers in the latest ICC Women’s T20IPlayer Rankings.

Besides Rodrigues, young Shafali Vermaalso made significant progress, after playingstellar roles in a stunning 5-0 series sweep.

Rodrigues moved up three places tofourth position and teen sensation Vermagained 57 slots to reach 30th position as Indialeapfrogged the West Indies to fourth posi-tion in the ICC Women’s T20I TeamRankings.

Another India batter to advance is VedaKrishnamurthy, who move from 61st to 49th.

There are now three Indian bowlers inthe top five as left-arm spinner Radha Yadavhas moved up from fifth to second spot.

Deepti Sharma, who took eight wicketsin the series, has retained her fourth positionwhile Poonam Yadav is fifth.

�� )/+

Opener Shikhar Dhawan’s (24 off 22 balls) leanpatch continued but Delhi still managed to

register a comfortable 77-run win overMaharashtra in their opening Super Leaguematch of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tour-nament here on Thursday.

Delhi made 167 forfive after being invited tobat and then produced adisciplined bowling effortto bundle outMaharashtra for 90 in17.2 overs. Part-time off-spinner Nitish Rana stolethe show with the ballwith figures of four for 17.

Meanwhile in theother two matches,Punjab thrashedJharkhand by 109 runswith skipper MandeepSingh top-scoring withan unbeaten 81.

At the LalbhaiContractor Stadium,Baroda defeatedRajasthan by 15 runs. For Baroda, opener AdityaWaghmode stuck a quick-fire 88.

While in the last game, riding on blazingfifties by K L Rahul and skipper Manish Pandey,defending champions Karnataka thrashed TamilNadu by nine wickets to begin their Super Leaguecampaign on a winning note.

Karnataka chased a stiff 159-run target in just16. 2 overs as Rahul (69 not out off 46 balls) andPandey (52 not out off 33 balls) hammered apedestrian Tamil Nadu attack in the premierdomestic T20 tournament.

Earlier, put into bat, Tamil Nadu posted adecent 158/7 on the board with their skipperDinesh Karthik leading from the front with abrisk 43 off 29 balls.

#�� % �� %�"��*��A��#��!8'��*"9F�� 6�' +��#D!��

@��:8��3;<�

�� A36A+ +�

Afit-again BhuvneshwarKumar on Thursday

returned to the Indian teamsfor next month’s T20 andODI series against WestIndies, while all-rounderShivam Dube was rewardedwith a maiden call-up in the50-over format.

A side strain and a ham-string injury forced seamerBhuvneshwar to come backmidway from the tour ofWest Indies in August.

The Indian squad bears afull-strength look with skip-per Virat Kohli back at thehelm and his deputy RohitSharma also not opting for abreak.

Kohli coming back meantthat Sanju Samson, who was

included in the last series asspecialist batsman had to goout without getting a match.It is learnt that Samson was-n’t seen as a back-up keeper.

Senior opener ShikharDhawan, despite his poorrun of form, gets another goat the top while in-formspeedster Mohammed Shamiand left-arm spinner KuldeepYadav were back in the short-est format after some time.

Another veteran KedarJadhav has also managed tohold on to his ODI placedespite the presence ofShreyas Iyer and ManishPandey in both squads.

Seamer Deepak Chahar,who recently had a brilliantT20 series against Bangladeshwas recalled in the ODI squadafter he played in last year’s

Asia Cup in the UAE.His younger cousin

brother Rahul was, however,dropped from the squad withthe seasoned Kuldeep back inthe mix with his partner incrime, Yuzvendra Chahal,who made his shortest formatcomeback in the last series.

Krunal Pandya, who hadbeen a regular feature in theT20 setup for a year has beendropped, with RavindraJadeja back after a break.

The pace bowling depart-ments in both squads bear afamiliar look withBhuvneshwar and Shamileading the way. It is expect-ed that Jasprit Bumrah willjoin the duo soon and, alongwith Deepak, could be themain four pacers in white ballformat.

+��#%�� "��%��,��2 �� 2�� *��% �� %� � �� %� �� A��#�� +��#D!��

+��2��%*�)� �A�� 8��7��

&��"��%��A��

Documents

ˆ˙ !, ˘ˇ %./ /&&/ + ./012’ /3 2* ˛ˆ :ˇ 046.7 6)#A 35 ’.3 ... · the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, ... from Opposition benches pointed out to the change in the marshals’