˘ˇˆ - The Pioneer · 2019-08-30 · The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will ... about...

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T he faltering Indian econo- my plunged to a seven- year-low in terms of GDP growth rate which has come down to 5 per cent for the April-June quarter of 2019- 20. The GDP figure was announced soon after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced mega merger of public sector banks to arrest the growth deceleration. Both the announcement may have been prescheduled, but the fact remains that in the know of the GDP calculations, the Government has swung into action and announced a series of measures to deal with the alarming decline in the economy. Sitharaman, who had last week announced tax sops and measures for sectors such as auto, announced merger of ten banks into four new sets of banks — Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will combine to form the nation’s second-largest lender; Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank will merge; Union Bank of India will amalgamate with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank; and Indian Bank will merge with Allahabad Bank. The GDP collapsed due to a sharp fall in the manufactur- ing sector and sluggish agri- culture output, according to official data released on Friday. The previous low was record- ed at 4.9 per cent in April-June 2012-13. The gross value added (GVA) growth in the manu- facturing sector tumbled to 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of this fiscal from 12.1 per cent expansion a year ago. Similarly, farm sector GVA growth remained subdued at 2 per cent as compared to 5.1 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Construction sector GVA growth too slowed to 5.7 per cent from 9.6 per cent earlier. However, mining sector growth climbed to 2.7 per cent from 0.4 per cent a year ago. “GDP at Constant (2011- 12) Prices in Q1 of 2019-20 is estimated at 35.85 lakh crore, as against 34.14 lakh crore in Q1 of 2018-19, showing a growth rate of 5 per cent,” the National Statistical Office (NSO) said in a statement. Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), which is a barometer of investment, at constant (2011-12) prices was estimated at 11.66 lakh crore in the first quarter as against 11.21 lakh crore a year ago. The decline in the growth was by and large anticipated but few had expected such sharp collapse in the economy. Several foreign rating agencies have already cut India’s growth forecast and pegged it below 7 per cent for the ongoing fiscal. China, which is in the midst of an intense trade war with the US, has done far bet- ter than India despite the adverse economic climate. China’s economic growth was 6.2 per cent in April-June quar- ter of 2019, which was the weakest expansion in 27 years. It is obvious that the “dragon” remains way ahead of India. The RBI had marginally lowered the GDP growth pro- jection for 2019-20 to 6.9 per cent from 7 per cent projected earlier in the June policy, and underlined the need for addressing growth concerns by boosting aggregate demand. “Real GDP growth for 2019-20 is revised downwards from 7 per cent in the June pol- icy to 6.9 per cent — in the range of 5.8-6.6 per cent for first half of 2019-20 and 7.3-7.5 per cent for the second half — with risks somewhat tilted to the downside,” RBI had said in the monetary policy statement. The continuous fall in the GDP shows that the country has still not recovered from the disastrous fallout of the demon- etisation which sucked out liq- uidity from the system and slowed down consumption in various sectors. The hasty implementation of the GST, which had to be tinkered with several times since its incep- tion, is also seen as a major cul- prit for pulling down the GDP. The falling economy has led to flight of foreign invest- ment from the country and weakening of Rupee. Post- Budget, the stock market has seen major correction and the foreign institutional investors continued to dump shares despite the Government announcing a series of steps to placate them. Beset with such grim sce- nario, the Government on Friday unveiled a mega plan to merge 10 public sector banks into four as part of plans to cre- ate fewer and stronger global- sized lenders as it looks to boost economic growth from a five- year low. The bank merger exercise, seen together with the previous two rounds of bank consolida- tion, will bring down the num- ber of nationalised public sec- tor banks to 12 from 27 in 2017. This, the Government feels, will make bank balance sheet stronger with greater capacity to lend. Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank merger will merge into Punjab National Bank to create a bank with 17.95 lakh crore business and 11,437 branches, Sitharaman told a news con- ference here. The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will create the fourth largest public sector bank with 15.20 lakh crore business and a branch network of 10,324. Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank’s merger with Union Bank of India will create India’s fifth largest public sector bank with 14.59 lakh crore business and 9,609 branches. The merger of Allahabad Bank with Indian Bank will create the seventh largest pub- lic sector bank with 8.08 lakh crore business with strong branch networks in the south, north and east of the country, she said, adding that Bank of India and Central Bank of India will continue to operate as before. Last year, the Government had merged Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda, creating the third- largest bank by loans in the country. After the mergers, the country will have 12 pub- lic sector banks, including State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda. Also, Indian Overseas Bank, Uco Bank, Bank of Maharashtra and Punjab and Sind Bank, which have strong regional focus, will continue as separate entities. The Finance Minister also unveiled governance reforms in public sector banks, saying their boards will be given autonomy and enabled to do succession planning. Also, bank boards will be given flexibility to fix sitting fee of independent directors, she said, adding that non-official directors will perform role analogous to independent directors. “To make management accountable to board, board committee of nationalised banks to appraise performance of general manager and above including managing director,” she said. Continued on Page 4 P rime Minister’s Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra on Friday stepped down from his post after serving Prime Minister Narendra Modi since the latter took office over five years ago. However, Modi requested Misra to continue for two weeks, praised him for his outstanding service, and said Misra taught him a lot when he was new to New Delhi in 2014. The PM wished Misra for the “new phase” of his life. “Nripendra Misra is among the most outstanding officers, who has a great grasp of public pol- icy and administration. When I was new to Delhi in 2014, he taught me a lot and his guid- ance remains extremely valu- able,” Modi wrote on Twitter. After serving the PMO “assiduously and diligently” for over five years and making an indelible contribution to India’s growth trajectory, Misra will be embarking on a new phase of his life, said Modi. “My best wishes to him for his future endeavours,” said the PM. In a statement, Misra said, “It has been a privilege to serve the country under Modi. I am deeply grateful to him for this opportunity and the com- plete confidence he has placed in me. “It is now time for me to move on, even as I remain devoted to public causes and national interests. I thank all colleagues, within and outside the Government, friends and my family for this support. I wish Modi, the PM, success as he leads our country into a bright future.” Speculation is rife that Misra may be considered for the posts of Governor or Lt Governor. There are also talks about him joining politics. Former Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty in the Prime Minister’s Office. It is widely believed that Additional Principal Secretary PK Mishra will be elevated to the post of Principal Secretary to the PM and Sinha would be posted in place of PK Mishra. T he Supreme Court said on Friday evening that the woman law student, who had gone missing after levelling harassment allegations against former Union Minister and BJP leader Swami Chinmayanand and was found staying with her friends in Rajasathan, did not want to go to her home State Uttar Pradesh. The judges had an in-cam- era interaction with the woman who was brought to the apex court by the UP Police on its direction. “The woman wants to be in Delhi till her parents come here,” a Bench comprising jus- tices R Banumathi and AS Bopanna said in an open court hearing. The Bench said the woman will be in the national capital for four days and the apex court registry will ensure her safe stay. The top court directed Delhi Police Commissioner to ensure safe travel of the woman’s parents from UP’s Shahjahanpur to Delhi to meet her. The SC said that the woman has told it she had left Shahjahanpur with her three college mates in order to pro- tect herself. The apex court said that the woman has told them that she would not go back to UP until she meets and talks to her parents. The SC said that it would hear the matter again on September 2 and till then the woman will not talk or meet anyone except her parents. The Bench said that the woman has told them that after meeting and talking to her parents she will take decision on her future course of action. The Bench directed that a Delhi Police team should be sent to Shahjahanpur at the ear- liest to safely bring the woman’s parents here. The top court concluded the hearing and said police team which will go to bring the woman’s parents to Delhi will continue to provide them secu- rity till further orders. C entral Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Member Akhilesh Ranjan, who was overlooked for the post of the Board’s chairman, has written to the Government seeking voluntary retirement from ser- vice, sources said on Friday. They said Ranjan, who recently submitted a report on the new direct tax code to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, has sought retire- ment from service owing to “family and personal reasons.” They, however, added that the IRS officer “would have continued” in the service had he been elevated to the post of CBDT chairman. The Government on Thursday gave a one-year extension to CBDT Chairman PC Mody, who was set to retire on August 31. Ranjan was next in the succession line for the CBDT chief. Continued on Page 4 A submission by P Chidambaram and its endorsement by the CBI that they were in “mutual agree- ment” on keeping him in police custody till September 2 left a Delhi court fuming during the hearing on the Congress leader’s custodial interroga- tion in the INX Media corrup- tion case on Friday. “Then you both discuss and decide how much custody is required. What is the use of this court,” the judge said. The remarks came after senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Chidambaram, told the court that the accused as well as the prosecution had agreed in the SC on the extension of the period of his custodial inter- rogation till September 2, when the SC would hear the INX Media case. During the arguments, Krishnan said, “We agreed before the Supreme Court for the extension of his custody till Monday. We are opposing the custody more than that period.” “You are not going to decide the period of the cus- tody Mr counsel. This is for the court to decide. Are you oppos- ing the plea for further custody or not?,” Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar asked Krishnan. Continued on Page 4 M assively hunted for Chinese medicines, Tokay Gecko, an endangered species of lizards usually found in North-East India can now have a certain level of protection from exploitation with the wildlife global summit bringing it under the Appendix II list. Appendix II means that the animal or its body parts cannot be traded unless it can be shown that it wouldn’t threat- en their chances of survival. Tokay Geckos were not previ- ously protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the treaty that governs the international wildlife trade. A senior Union Environment Ministry official said at the recently concluded 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations, CITES approved our proposal to bring the lizard under Appendix II. Philippines, the European Union and the USA too had supported our proposal, he added. The CITES Secretariat has temporarily concluded that regulation of the international trade in Tokay Geckos may be required to counter further decline. Given the patchy nature of both trade and pop- ulation data of Tokay Geckos, a listing would help in gather- ing data on these aspects, the official added. Geckos are listed in Schedule III of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, as a “highly endangered animal”. However, this has not much helped to curb its smuggling. According to various reports and seizures from time to time by wildlife officials, hundreds of locals in the northeastern States smuggle Tokay Geckos to centres of Chinese medicine across Asia to be used for its reported med- icinal values. Also, they sell the lizards to international wildlife traffickers. It is believed that the Gecko’s parts are used in tra- ditional Chinese medicine to treat cancer, asthma, diabetes, skin disorders and a range of ailments, though there is no scientific proof to substantiate the purported medicinal prop- erties of this reptile species. Besides North-East India, these reptiles are found in Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, throughout Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia, New Guinea. While the overall volume of the Tokay Gecko trade/smuggling is not clearly known, last year, global wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC estimated that Indonesia alone has been exporting 1.2 million dried Tokay Geckos annually. In recent years, Taiwan has imported 15 million Geckos from different countries. TRAFFIC also warned that the wild population of the Tokay Gecko in Southeast Asia was in grave danger as it is hunted to meet demand in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and other Asian countries. T he agricultural growth has dropped to 2 per cent in the first quarter of 2019-20, down from 5.1 per cent during the same period last fiscal, as per the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Crops, including fruits and vegetables, account for about 53 per cent, the livestock products 32 per cent, and forestry and fisheries 15 per cent share of Gross Value Added ( GVA includes taxes, but excludes subsidies) in agriculture, forestry, fishing sector. As per the latest kharif crops cultivation report, sow- ing of kharif crops is expected to be lowered by 17.67 per cent till date. Both Skymet and CRISIL Research have pro- jected lower kharif yield due to flood and excessive rain. According to officials of Agriculture Ministry, the growth rate in agriculture sec- tor has dropped to 2 per cent in the first quarter due to slowdown in economy. “Extreme weather seems to have an impact on farmer incomes and growth rate. Due to this, consumption has been reduced. The slowdown in economy impacted the food- grain production in the current crop year. This also means India is no longer the fastest growing major economy in the world,” said officials.Besides, floods and excessive rain in 15 States including Maharashtra, Odisha, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, besides weak rain in West Bengal and the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, are expected to affect the kharif crop this year. High-intensity rain in August is likely to increase pest attack on maize and paddy. Besides, over 240 districts have received less rain this year which has impacted the agriculture growth rate. According to the Agriculture Ministry report, 1,009 lakh hectare land are under cultivation of kharif crops so far as against the 1,029 lakh hectare last year due to delay rain, excessive rain and floods in several States. The RBI annual report released on Thursday said that it was difficult to diagnose the reason or nature of India’s slowdown. “The diagnosis is difficult, these conditions are hard to disentangle cleanly, at least in the formative State,” the RBI report said. RNI Regn. No. CHHENG/2012/42718, Postal Reg. No. - RYP DN/34/2013-2015

Transcript of ˘ˇˆ - The Pioneer · 2019-08-30 · The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will ... about...

Page 1: ˘ˇˆ - The Pioneer · 2019-08-30 · The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will ... about him joining politics. ... recently submitted a report on the new direct tax code

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The faltering Indian econo-my plunged to a seven-

year-low in terms of GDPgrowth rate which has comedown to 5 per cent for theApril-June quarter of 2019-20. The GDP figure wasannounced soon after FinanceMinister Nirmala Sitharamanannounced mega merger ofpublic sector banks to arrest thegrowth deceleration.

Both the announcementmay have been prescheduled,but the fact remains that in theknow of the GDP calculations,the Government has swunginto action and announced aseries of measures to deal withthe alarming decline in theeconomy.

Sitharaman, who had lastweek announced tax sops andmeasures for sectors such asauto, announced merger of tenbanks into four new sets ofbanks — Punjab National

Bank, Oriental Bank ofCommerce and United Bank ofIndia will combine to form thenation’s second-largest lender;Canara Bank and SyndicateBank will merge; Union Bankof India will amalgamate withAndhra Bank and CorporationBank; and Indian Bank willmerge with Allahabad Bank.

The GDP collapsed due toa sharp fall in the manufactur-ing sector and sluggish agri-culture output, according toofficial data released on Friday.The previous low was record-ed at 4.9 per cent in April-June2012-13.

The gross value added(GVA) growth in the manu-facturing sector tumbled to0.6 per cent in the first quarterof this fiscal from 12.1 per centexpansion a year ago. Similarly,farm sector GVA growthremained subdued at 2 per centas compared to 5.1 per cent inthe corresponding period of theprevious fiscal.

Construction sector GVAgrowth too slowed to 5.7 percent from 9.6 per cent earlier.However, mining sector growthclimbed to 2.7 per cent from0.4 per cent a year ago.

“GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q1 of 2019-20 isestimated at �35.85 lakh crore,as against �34.14 lakh crore inQ1 of 2018-19, showing agrowth rate of 5 per cent,” theNational Statistical Office(NSO) said in a statement.

Gross Fixed CapitalFormation (GFCF), which is abarometer of investment, atconstant (2011-12) prices wasestimated at �11.66 lakh crorein the first quarter as against�11.21 lakh crore a year ago.

The decline in the growthwas by and large anticipatedbut few had expected suchsharp collapse in the economy.Several foreign rating agencieshave already cut India’s growthforecast and pegged it below 7per cent for the ongoing fiscal.

China, which is in themidst of an intense trade warwith the US, has done far bet-ter than India despite theadverse economic climate.China’s economic growth was6.2 per cent in April-June quar-ter of 2019, which was theweakest expansion in 27 years.It is obvious that the “dragon”remains way ahead of India.

The RBI had marginallylowered the GDP growth pro-jection for 2019-20 to 6.9 percent from 7 per cent projectedearlier in the June policy, andunderlined the need foraddressing growth concernsby boosting aggregate demand.

“Real GDP growth for2019-20 is revised downwardsfrom 7 per cent in the June pol-icy to 6.9 per cent — in therange of 5.8-6.6 per cent forfirst half of 2019-20 and 7.3-7.5per cent for the second half —with risks somewhat tilted tothe downside,” RBI had said inthe monetary policy statement.

The continuous fall in theGDP shows that the countryhas still not recovered from thedisastrous fallout of the demon-etisation which sucked out liq-uidity from the system andslowed down consumption invarious sectors. The hastyimplementation of the GST,which had to be tinkered withseveral times since its incep-tion, is also seen as a major cul-prit for pulling down the GDP.

The falling economy hasled to flight of foreign invest-ment from the country andweakening of Rupee. Post-Budget, the stock market hasseen major correction and theforeign institutional investorscontinued to dump sharesdespite the Governmentannouncing a series of steps toplacate them.

Beset with such grim sce-nario, the Government onFriday unveiled a mega plan tomerge 10 public sector banksinto four as part of plans to cre-ate fewer and stronger global-sized lenders as it looks to boosteconomic growth from a five-year low.

The bank merger exercise,seen together with the previoustwo rounds of bank consolida-tion, will bring down the num-ber of nationalised public sec-tor banks to 12 from 27 in2017. This, the Governmentfeels, will make bank balancesheet stronger with greatercapacity to lend.

Oriental Bank ofCommerce and United Bankmerger will merge into PunjabNational Bank to create a bankwith �17.95 lakh crore businessand 11,437 branches,Sitharaman told a news con-ference here.

The merger of SyndicateBank with Canara Bank willcreate the fourth largest publicsector bank with �15.20 lakh

crore business and a branchnetwork of 10,324. AndhraBank and Corporation Bank’smerger with Union Bank ofIndia will create India’s fifthlargest public sector bank with�14.59 lakh crore business and9,609 branches.

The merger of AllahabadBank with Indian Bank willcreate the seventh largest pub-lic sector bank with �8.08 lakhcrore business with strongbranch networks in the south,north and east of the country,she said, adding that Bank ofIndia and Central Bank ofIndia will continue to operateas before.

Last year, the Governmenthad merged Dena Bank andVijaya Bank with Bank ofBaroda, creating the third-largest bank by loans in thecountry. After the mergers,the country will have 12 pub-lic sector banks, including StateBank of India and Bank ofBaroda. Also, Indian OverseasBank, Uco Bank, Bank ofMaharashtra and Punjab andSind Bank, which have strongregional focus, will continue asseparate entities.

The Finance Minister alsounveiled governance reforms inpublic sector banks, sayingtheir boards will be givenautonomy and enabled to dosuccession planning.

Also, bank boards will begiven flexibility to fix sitting feeof independent directors, shesaid, adding that non-officialdirectors will perform roleanalogous to independentdirectors.

“To make managementaccountable to board, boardcommittee of nationalisedbanks to appraise performanceof general manager and aboveincluding managing director,”she said.

Continued on Page 4

��� 789�.8:0�

Prime Minister’s PrincipalSecretary Nripendra Misra

on Friday stepped down fromhis post after serving PrimeMinister Narendra Modi sincethe latter took office over fiveyears ago. However, Modirequested Misra to continue fortwo weeks, praised him for hisoutstanding service, and saidMisra taught him a lot when hewas new to New Delhi in 2014.

The PM wished Misra forthe “new phase” of his life.“Nripendra Misra is among themost outstanding officers, whohas a great grasp of public pol-icy and administration. WhenI was new to Delhi in 2014, hetaught me a lot and his guid-

ance remains extremely valu-able,” Modi wrote on Twitter.

After serving the PMO“assiduously and diligently”for over five years and makingan indelible contribution toIndia’s growth trajectory, Misrawill be embarking on a newphase of his life, said Modi. “Mybest wishes to him for hisfuture endeavours,” said thePM.

In a statement, Misra said,

“It has been a privilege toserve the country under Modi.I am deeply grateful to him forthis opportunity and the com-plete confidence he has placedin me.

“It is now time for me tomove on, even as I remaindevoted to public causes andnational interests. I thank allcolleagues, within and outsidethe Government, friends andmy family for this support. Iwish Modi, the PM, success ashe leads our country into abright future.”

Speculation is rife thatMisra may be considered forthe posts of Governor or LtGovernor. There are also talksabout him joining politics.

Former Cabinet SecretaryPK Sinha has been appointedas Officer on Special Duty inthe Prime Minister’s Office. Itis widely believed thatAdditional Principal SecretaryPK Mishra will be elevated tothe post of Principal Secretaryto the PM and Sinha would beposted in place of PK Mishra.

���� 789�.8:0�

The Supreme Court said onFriday evening that the

woman law student, who hadgone missing after levellingharassment allegations againstformer Union Minister andBJP leader SwamiChinmayanand and was foundstaying with her friends inRajasathan, did not want to goto her home State UttarPradesh.

The judges had an in-cam-era interaction with the womanwho was brought to the apexcourt by the UP Police on itsdirection.

“The woman wants to be inDelhi till her parents comehere,” a Bench comprising jus-

tices R Banumathi and ASBopanna said in an open courthearing.

The Bench said the womanwill be in the national capitalfor four days and the apex courtregistry will ensure her safestay. The top court directedDelhi Police Commissioner toensure safe travel of thewoman’s parents from UP’sShahjahanpur to Delhi to meet

her. The SC said that thewoman has told it she had leftShahjahanpur with her threecollege mates in order to pro-tect herself.

The apex court said thatthe woman has told them thatshe would not go back to UPuntil she meets and talks to herparents.

The SC said that it wouldhear the matter again onSeptember 2 and till then thewoman will not talk or meetanyone except her parents.

The Bench said that thewoman has told them thatafter meeting and talking to herparents she will take decisionon her future course of action.

The Bench directed that aDelhi Police team should besent to Shahjahanpur at the ear-liest to safely bring the woman’sparents here.

The top court concludedthe hearing and said policeteam which will go to bring thewoman’s parents to Delhi willcontinue to provide them secu-rity till further orders.

���� 789�.8:0�

Central Board of DirectTaxes (CBDT) Member

Akhilesh Ranjan, who wasoverlooked for the post of theBoard’s chairman, has writtento the Government seekingvoluntary retirement from ser-vice, sources said on Friday.

They said Ranjan, whorecently submitted a report onthe new direct tax code toFinance Minister NirmalaSitharaman, has sought retire-ment from service owing to“family and personal reasons.”

They, however, added thatthe IRS officer “would havecontinued” in the service hadhe been elevated to the post ofCBDT chairman.

The Government onThursday gave a one-yearextension to CBDT ChairmanPC Mody, who was set to retireon August 31. Ranjan was nextin the succession line for theCBDT chief.

Continued on Page 4

���� 789�.8:0�

Asubmission by PChidambaram and its

endorsement by the CBI thatthey were in “mutual agree-ment” on keeping him in policecustody till September 2 left aDelhi court fuming during thehearing on the Congressleader’s custodial interroga-tion in the INX Media corrup-tion case on Friday.

“Then you both discussand decide how much custodyis required. What is the use ofthis court,” the judge said.

The remarks came aftersenior advocate DayanKrishnan, appearing forChidambaram, told the court

that the accused as well as theprosecution had agreed in theSC on the extension of theperiod of his custodial inter-rogation till September 2, whenthe SC would hear the INXMedia case.

During the arguments,Krishnan said, “We agreedbefore the Supreme Court forthe extension of his custody tillMonday. We are opposing thecustody more than that period.”

“You are not going todecide the period of the cus-tody Mr counsel. This is for thecourt to decide. Are you oppos-ing the plea for further custodyor not?,” Special Judge AjayKumar Kuhar asked Krishnan.

Continued on Page 4

��������/���� 789�.8:0�

Massively hunted forChinese medicines, Tokay

Gecko, an endangered speciesof lizards usually found inNorth-East India can now havea certain level of protectionfrom exploitation with thewildlife global summit bringingit under the Appendix II list.

Appendix II means that theanimal or its body parts cannotbe traded unless it can beshown that it wouldn’t threat-en their chances of survival.Tokay Geckos were not previ-ously protected underConvention on InternationalTrade in Endangered Species of

Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),the treaty that governs theinternational wildlife trade.

A senior UnionEnvironment Ministry officialsaid at the recently concluded18th meeting of the Conferenceof the Parties to the UnitedNations, CITES approved ourproposal to bring the lizardunder Appendix II. Philippines,the European Union and theUSA too had supported ourproposal, he added.

The CITES Secretariat hastemporarily concluded thatregulation of the internationaltrade in Tokay Geckos may berequired to counter furtherdecline. Given the patchynature of both trade and pop-ulation data of Tokay Geckos,a listing would help in gather-ing data on these aspects, the

official added.Geckos are listed in

Schedule III of India’s Wildlife

Protection Act, 1972, as a“highly endangered animal”.However, this has not much

helped to curb its smuggling.According to various

reports and seizures from timeto time by wildlife officials,hundreds of locals in thenortheastern States smuggleTokay Geckos to centres ofChinese medicine across Asiato be used for its reported med-icinal values. Also, they sell thelizards to international wildlifetraffickers.

It is believed that theGecko’s parts are used in tra-ditional Chinese medicine totreat cancer, asthma, diabetes,skin disorders and a range ofailments, though there is noscientific proof to substantiatethe purported medicinal prop-erties of this reptile species.

Besides North-East India,these reptiles are found inBhutan, Nepal, and

Bangladesh, throughoutSoutheast Asia, including thePhilippines and Indonesia,New Guinea.

While the overall volumeof the Tokay Geckotrade/smuggling is not clearlyknown, last year, global wildlifetrade monitoring networkTRAFFIC estimated thatIndonesia alone has beenexporting 1.2 million driedTokay Geckos annually. Inrecent years, Taiwan hasimported 15 million Geckosfrom different countries.

TRAFFIC also warnedthat the wild population of theTokay Gecko in Southeast Asiawas in grave danger as it ishunted to meet demand inChina, Hong Kong, Taiwan,Vietnam and other Asian countries.

������������ ��� �������������� ���������������������

�����)����� 789�.8:0�

The agricultural growth hasdropped to 2 per cent in the

first quarter of 2019-20, downfrom 5.1 per cent during thesame period last fiscal, as perthe data released by theMinistry of Statistics andProgramme Implementation.

Crops, including fruits andvegetables, account for about 53per cent, the livestock products32 per cent, and forestry andfisheries 15 per cent share ofGross Value Added ( GVAincludes taxes, but excludessubsidies) in agriculture,forestry, fishing sector.

As per the latest kharifcrops cultivation report, sow-ing of kharif crops is expectedto be lowered by 17.67 per centtill date. Both Skymet andCRISIL Research have pro-jected lower kharif yield due toflood and excessive rain.

According to officials ofAgriculture Ministry, thegrowth rate in agriculture sec-tor has dropped to 2 per centin the first quarter due toslowdown in economy.“Extreme weather seems tohave an impact on farmerincomes and growth rate. Dueto this, consumption has beenreduced. The slowdown ineconomy impacted the food-grain production in the currentcrop year. This also meansIndia is no longer the fastestgrowing major economy inthe world,” saidofficials.Besides, floods andexcessive rain in 15 States

including Maharashtra,Odisha, Kerala and AndhraPradesh, besides weak rain inWest Bengal and theMarathwada region ofMaharashtra, are expected toaffect the kharif crop this year.High-intensity rain in Augustis likely to increase pest attackon maize and paddy. Besides,over 240 districts have receivedless rain this year which hasimpacted the agriculturegrowth rate.

According to theAgriculture Ministry report,1,009 lakh hectare land areunder cultivation of kharifcrops so far as against the1,029 lakh hectare last year dueto delay rain, excessive rain andfloods in several States.

The RBI annual reportreleased on Thursday said thatit was difficult to diagnose thereason or nature of India’sslowdown. “The diagnosis isdifficult, these conditions arehard to disentangle cleanly, atleast in the formative State,” theRBI report said.

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Page 2: ˘ˇˆ - The Pioneer · 2019-08-30 · The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will ... about him joining politics. ... recently submitted a report on the new direct tax code

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The CBI, in association withthe Vigilance Officers of

various Government depart-ments, Ministries andOrganisations, on Friday, con-ducted over 150 joint surprisechecks (JSCs) at various places of suspected corrup-tion across India.

"The searches are primar-ily being conducted at suchpoints and places of corruptionwhere common citizens orsmall businesspersons feelmaximum pinch of corruptionin Government machinery.This special drive will sensitiseall stakeholders about possibleavenues of corruption a com-mon citizen faces, while seek-ing services from such departments. It also strives toidentify and highlight pointsand places vulnerable to cor-ruption," the CBI said in astatement.

The departments coveredby under the searches include— Railways, coal mines andcoalfields, medical/healthcareorgainisations, Customs, FCI.Other departments such aspower, municipal corporations,ESIC, transport, CPWD,Directorate of Estates, FireServices, sub registrar office,GST Department, Port Trust,National Highways, DAVP,Airport Authority of India,Public Sector oil companies,DGFT, Public Sector banks,ASI, Shipping Corporation,BSNL, steel PSU, mines and minerals.

These JSCs will be followedby extensive campaign by CBIbranches all over India to makecommon citizens aware of howthey can reach out toGovernment departments andredress their complaints.

Various cities/towns wherethe JSC are being conductedinclude — Delhi, Jaipur,Jodhpur, Guwahati, Shillong,Chandigarh, Srinagar, Chennai,Madurai, Kolkata, Bhuba-neswar, Hyderabad, Bangalore,Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Bhopal,Raipur, Nagpur, Jabalpur,Patna, Lucknow, Ghaziabad,Dehradun, Ranchi,

Visakhapatnam, Guntur,Vijaywada, Cochin, Kollam,Hanamakonda, Karimnagar,Chirmiri, Secunderabad, Katni

— Bina, Vadodara, HimmatNagar, Dhanbad, Kasauli,Samastipur, Danapur andMokama.

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The Adjudication Authorityunder Foreign Exchange

Management Act (FEMA) hasheld controversial Kashmiribusinessman Zahoor AhmedShah Watali guilty for contra-ventions of provisions ofFEMA and thereby imposedpenalty to the extent of �62lakh in a case of operating non-resident savings accounts inHSBC Bank at New Delhi inunauthorised manner.

Investigation under FEMAwas initiated against Watalion the basis of information ofcertain suspicious foreignexchange transactions. Duringinvestigation, it was revealedthat that Watali was maintain-ing Non-Resident SavingAccounts (both NRE and NROaccounts) in HSBC Bank,Greater Kailash-I in the nation-al capital.

At the time of openingthese accounts, Watali hadsubmitted documents like. thecopy of the Passport issued atWashington DC, resident visaamong others claiming himselfas a Non-Resident Indian,whereas during this period heneither remained outside Indiafor more than 182 days in thepreceding financial year norwas his intention to remainoutside India for an uncertainperiod. During the period 2003to 2009, Watali received inward

remittances to the tune of �.62,93,711.

He continued holding ofthe accounts and allowedremittances in this accountand violated the provisions ofFEMA, 1999 and Regulation ofthe Foreign ExchangeManagement (Deposit)Regulation, 2000.

Earlier, in another PMLAterror funding case, HafizSayeed (Founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-Ud-Dawa)and Mohammad Yusuf Shahalias Salahuddin (Head of ter-ror group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen) property worthRs 8.94 crore of Watali, was

attached for his involvement infund raising and as a financialconduit for Hurriyat leaders.

Watali along with other

nine accused are undergoingjudicial custody at Central Jail,Tihar in connection with theterror funding probe.

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Congress has demanded thata financial emergency be

declared in the country and awhite paper be released on the"shrinking economy and risingfrauds". The grand old partyaccused the BJP government ofdestroying the credibility of thecountry's economy and bank-ing system and demanded thatit should declare the names of

wilful defaulters, along with thedetails of their non-performingassets (NPAs).

Congress leader PriyankaGandhi Vadra too attacked theGovernment over an RBIreport showing bank fraudshave gone up by 15 per centyear-on-year in 2018-19, askingwho is the guarantor allowingsuch "big bank frauds".

"The Congress demandsthat a financial emergencyshould be declared in the country. We reiterate that theBJP government should release a white paper on theshrinking economy and risingfrauds.

It is getting clearer by theday that the country is headingtowards a major recessionaryphase. This is a classic case ofrecession under expansionarytrends, as whenever there arethree continuous quarters ofgrowth recession (reductionin growth quarter-on-quarter),the chances of slipping into afull-blown recession are sig-nificantly higher," saidCongress spokespersons JaiveerShergill and Gaurav Vallabh ata special AICC Press briefing.

They added that once theJune 2019 quarter numberswere announced, it would beclear that India was witnessinga reduction in growth for fiveconsecutive quarters.

Vallabh said the problemsthat this phenomenon put forthwere that natural recovery didnot occur and the country hadto solely rely on monetary pol-icy actions, while the short-term stimulus remained short-term and only helped inassuaging wounds.

"The questions we want toask the government are what isits response to the prolongedreduction in growth? Does ithave any clue of what is actu-ally wrong and who's respon-

sible for the same," Shergill said.As a responsible opposi-

tion, the Congress wanted thegovernment to immediatelyissue a white paper on the stateof economy, he added.

He also alleged that fraudsin the banking system shot upby 74 per cent to � 71,543 crorein the 2018-19 financial year,compared to frauds worth �41,167 crore committed in the2017-18 financial year.

Priyanka said the number of cases of fraudsreported by banks saw a jumpof 15 per cent year-on-yearbasis in 2018-19, with theamount involved increasing by73.8 per cent in the year, theReserve Bank of India's annu-al report showed.

"Country's biggest bankinginstitution RBI is saying thatbank frauds are increasingright under the nose of the gov-ernment. In 2018-19, this thefthas increased," PriyankaGandhi said. "Banks havebeen duped of � 72,000 crore.But, who is the guarantor whois allowing such big bankfrauds to occur," the Congressgeneral secretary asked.

��� 789�.8:0�

Congress leader RahulGandhi on Friday criti-

cised Prime MinisterNarendra Modi for not visit-ing flood-hit areas in Keralaand said the State was await-ing a relief package. His criti-cism came through a tweet asModi said that Kerala was"special" to him and he visit-ed Guruvayur Sri KrishnaTemple in the state after win-ning his second term.

"Dear Mr Modi, Afteryour visit to Guruvayur - ahuge flood visited Kerala,causing death and destruction.A timely visit then wouldhave been appreciated. Keralais suffering and still awaits arelief package, like those givento other flood hit states. Thisis unfair," Rahul Gandhi post-ed.

In his tweet, Gandhi, whowas on a four-day visit to hisLok Sabha constituencyWayanad, which is among theworst-affected areas in thestate, also tagged a post by thePrime Minister Office's han-dle.

The PMO tweet said,"Kerala is also special for me,personally. I have had numer-ous opportunities to visitKerala. One of the first thingsI did after the people blessedme yet again with a bigresponsibility is visiting theGuruvayur Sri KrishnaTemple: PM." The prime min-ister made the commentswhile addressing the 'MalayalaManorama News Conclave'in Kochi via video link fromthe national Capital.

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Aday after launching the'Fit India movement',

Prime Minister Narendra Modion Friday said that Ayush andYoga were its strong pillars evenas he attributed his health toYoga, Pranayama andAyurveda.

Addressing a programmeon Ayush and Yoga here, hesaid that there are "profession-al hazards" related to politics interms of health, which are to betaken care of with the help ofNaturopathy and Yoga.

The Prime Minister saidthat to transform the healthcaresystem of the country and todevelop a healthy society, thereis a need to think holisticallyand integrate the traditionaland modern medicines for sus-tainable development and bet-ter health solutions.

The Prime Minister saidthat the government has set atarget of setting up � 1.5 lakhhealth and wellness centresacross the country of which12,500 will be AYUSH centres.

Four thousand such centreswill be established this yearitself, he said.

The main focus of thesecentres will be empowering thecommunity for self care byimbibing AYUSH basedhealthy food and lifestyle, socialbehaviour and use of medici-nal plants for primary health

care.He also gave away Yoga

Awards to the winners forOutstanding Contribution forPromotion and Developmentof Yoga in New Delhi andexpressed happiness that 'Sowa- Rigpa' has become the sixthmember of the AYUSH fami-ly after Ayurveda, Yoga andNaturopathy, Siddha, Unaniand Homeopathy.

Pitching for linking tech-nology with tradition in thepractice of Ayush medicine,Modi also stressed for the needto create a homogenous systemby creating an "Ayush grid" onthe lines of one nation, one taxand one nation, one mobilitycard. He said this will removesilos in the area of Ayush.

During the ceremony,Modi released 12 commemo-rative postal stamps to honoureminent scholars, practitionersand Great Master Healers ofAYUSH Systems.

These commemorativepostal stamps highlight thegreat work and acknowledgethe achievements of the GreatMaster Healers of AYUSH

Systems. He also launched ten

AYUSH Health and WellnessCentres located in Haryana. Hesaid the government was work-ing towards bringing in moreprofessionals in the field ofAyush and necessary steps arebeing taken to that effect.

AYUSH Minister ShripadYesso Naik said that Yoga is aninsurance of health for whichwe don't have to pay money.

Winners of the year 2019yoga awards were SwamiRajarshi Muni of Life Mission,Gujarat in Individual-Nationalcategory, Ms. Antonietta Rozzi,Italy in Individual-International category, BiharSchool of Yoga, Munger, Biharin Organisation-National cat-egory, and Japan Yoga Niketan,Japan in Organisation wonawards under InternationalOrganisation category whilewinners of 2018 yoga awardswere bagged by VishwasMandalik, Nasik, Individual-National category and theYoga Institute, Mumbai,Organisation under theNational category.

��������� �������789�.8:0�

It's not only the persons withhaemophilia — a bleeding

disorder — who need constantmedical and emotional help,their caregivers too need earlyaccess to support service tohandle bleeding episodes,chronic pain, job status and thepresence of inhibitors in thepatients, psychologists and doc-tors say.

Ironically, haemophiliapopulation's need ofPsychosocial Support (PSS) isunderestimated due to myths,stigma and lack of knowledge.

To deliberate the issuethreadbare, two-day nationalconference on mental healthand bleeding disorders is beingheld here from Saturday whichwould be attended by healthexperts, psychologists and rep-resentatives from governmentand haemophilia sector amongothers.

Dr Nita Radhakrishnan,Assistant Professor,Department of PediatricHematology Oncology,SSPH&PGTI, Noida, explained

that since haemophilia is anuncommon genetic bleedingdisorder that disrupts bloodclotting, patients and caregivers have tough time dealingwith the burden.

Caring for a child withchronic pain has a high over-load, she added.

Those suffering fromhemophilia have prolongedbleeding mostly in their joints.It is caused by the absence of acertain blood clotting factor inthe blood.

Prolonged bleeding mayoccur after sustaining an injuryor can happen on its own. Atthe conference, VinitaSrivastava from Union HealthMinistry will throw light on thesteps the Government is takingfor the welfare of sector whileVikash Goel, President,Haemophilia Federation willdwell on country's perspectiveon psychosocial support inbleeding disorders.

Neelam Kumari, nursefrom SSPH&PGTI, Noida willshare nurse's role when takingcare of persons withhaemophilia.

Interventions to support

the psychosocial needs ofpatients and their families,such as offering informationand assistance, clarifyingdoubts, and teaching copingstrategies to minimize theimpact of disabilities, may helpto maximize patient outcomesand improve quality of life fortheir families, said Dr RichaMohan, psychologist and direc-tor of Empowering Minds, anorganisation engaged inempowering the sector.

In fact a recent Europeanstudy "The burden of bleedsand other clinical determi-nants on caregivers of childrenwith haemophilia (the BBC

Study)," which was publishedin the journal Haemophiliatoo recommends early access topsychosocial support servicesto help caregivers.

Caring for a child withhaemophilia, particularly whencoping with poor joint health,leads to emotional stress, achanged perception of thechild, and the need for moremedical management, said thestudy.

"Almost from the time oftheir child's diagnosis, parentsof children with hemophiliaface additional stresses such asbleed recognition, treatment,including pain managementand uncertainty about thefuture," it said, adding thathealthcare professionals "areknown to have poor recogni-tion and understanding of painmanagement" in children withhaemophilia.

The researchers focusedon the difficulties parents feelwhen dealing with their child'sbleeds, a time they say ismarked by a "loss of controland additional stress," particu-larly when hospital visits arerequired.

��� 789�.8:0��

CPI(M) general secretarySitaram Yechury, who

returned from Srinagar onFriday after the Supreme Courtallowed him to go there,claimed the situation on theground was "completely con-trary" to what the Governmentwas saying.

Yechury, who went toSrinagar to meet his ailingparty colleague MohammedYousuf Tarigami, refused toelaborate, saying he would sub-mit a detailed report to theapex court.

The CPI (M) leader, whohad filed a habeas corpus peti-tion in the Supreme Courtseeking Tarigami to be pro-duced before it, was grantedpermission to visit the formerMLA in Srinagar. The courthad, however, said Yechuryshould not indulge in any kindof political activity during hisvisit to Srinagar.

"I visited Tarigami andenquired about his health. I willfile an affidavit in court regard-ing his health condition and alsoreport on what I saw there,"Yechury told reporters here,adding that during the drivefrom the airport to Tarigami'shouse, he saw that the situationon the ground was "complete-ly contrary" to what the BJP-ledGovernment was saying.

The Left leader said afterhe landed at the Srinagar air-port, he was told by officialsthat he would have to returnthe same day, but he con-vinced them that he couldonly leave the next day aftergetting a status report on hiscolleague's health condition ashe had to report to the apexcourt about it.

"I met him (Tarigami) onThursday and again on Fridaymorning and all I can say thatin this condition, he needsperiodic reviews. He was get-ting treated at the AIIMS andhe needs to go there for treat-ment," Yechury said.

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The CBI has taken over theinvestigation into the alleged

sexual exploitation of minorgirls in a shelter home in Deoria,Uttar Pradesh and another relat-ed case for obstructingGovernment officials while res-cuing the victims from theNGO's premises.

The agency has registeredtwo FIRs against Director Girija

Tripathi and SuperintendentKanchan Lata Tripathi of theMaa Vindhyavasini MahilaEvam Balika Sanrakshan Grihain Deoria. The move comesover a year after the UttarPradesh Government recom-mended a CBI probe.

In August last year, author-ities rescued 24 girls from theshelter home, which had 42inmates. A medical examina-tion of the victims confirmed

the sexual abuse of 34 inmatesout of 42.

The two FIRs originallyregistered by the Uttar Pradeshpolice which have now beentaken over by the CBI relate towrongful confinement, traf-ficking, sexual harassment, sex-ual assault, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge ofhis duty under IPC, provisionsof the Protection of Children

from Sexual Offences andJuvenile Justice (Care andProtection of Children) Act,2015 among others.

The issue at Deoria's shel-ter home surfaced in the back-drop of the alleged sexual abuseof young girls at a state-fundedshelter home in Bihar'sMuzaffarpur which led to apublic outcry. The Muzaffa-rpur's case also being probed bythe CBI.

��� 789�.8:0�

Senior Karnataka Congressleader D K Shivakumar on

Friday appeared before theEnforcement Directorate (ED)for being questioned in amoney laundering case.Shivakumar arrived at theagency's headquarters here inthe evening for recording hisstatement under thePrevention of MoneyLaundering Act (PMLA). InSeptember 2018, the ED had

registered the money laun-dering case againstShivakumar, Haumanthaiah,an employee at KarnatakaBhavan in New Delhi, andothers.

The ED case was been filed after taking cog-nizance of a charge sheet(prosecution complaint) filedby the Income TaxDepartment against him lastyear before a special court hereon charges of alleged tax eva-sion and Hawala transactionsworth crores of rupees.

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Confusion over an abbrevi-ation led NIA to summon

leading cardiologist UpendraKaul in a terror funding caserelated to banned terror groupJKLF leader Yaseen Malik.Kaul appeared before theagency on Friday.

Documents seized fromMalik had mentioned a figureagainst abbreviation INR andthe NIA presumed it to beIndian Currency but ques-tioning cleared air as the termreferred to InternationalisedNormalised Ratio with refer-

ence to blood test reports. "I explained to them that thefigure mentioned was relatedto his (Malik's) blood reportsand not money. The officerswere convinced and that's all,"Kaul said after the question-ing. Kaul has been cardiologistof Malik for over two decades.

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Page 3: ˘ˇˆ - The Pioneer · 2019-08-30 · The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will ... about him joining politics. ... recently submitted a report on the new direct tax code

RAIPUR | SATURDAY | AUGUST 31, 2019chhattisgarh 03

STAFF REPORTER nRAIPUR

On the occasion of Pora-Teeja Tihaar on Friday, a

magnificent celebration and fes-tivities were organised at ChiefMinister Bhupesh Baghel'sRaipur- based residence.

Women enthusiasticallyparticipated in the fun activi-ties held on the occasion suchas kabaddi, phugdi and jalebidaud.

Women also exchangedgreetings of Pora-teeja. Theyalso danced to the songs per-formed by folk singer Mamta

Chandrakar. Raichuli Jhulawas also arranged at thevenue. Chief Minister alsoenjoyed the swing ride withhis daughter.

Stage and the tent weredecorated in traditional man-ner for Pora-Teeja, as per theculture of Chhattisgarh. The

decoration was done by stu-dents of Indira Kala SangeetVishwavidyalay. Stage wasadorned with bhittichitraartifacts, chiraijhala, saju lau-thi, phundra, toran, andcolourful curtains.Traditional jewelry such aspaijan, kakni, lachcha, santi,

kardhan, soota, bichhiya,karanphool were also used inthe decoration.

Rural scenery wascreated using bullock cart,naagar and wheels.

Tijaahirin women at theprogramme were served'karubhaat' and other

authentic Chhattisgarhidishes such as thethri,khurmi, doodh fara, tasmai,moong and urad bara. Theywere also given presents. Onthe occasion, many publicrepresentatives and a largenumber of women werepresent.

Teeja-Pora Tihaar celebrated at CM’s houseSTAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR

The Congress party has onceagain reaffirmed their faith

on Devti Karma and decided tofield her in the upcomingDantewada by-polls.

“Devti Karma will beCongress party’s candidate inthe Dantewada by polls. Hername was finalized in a meet-ing of All India CongressCommittee (AICC) held inNew Delhi,” Shailesh NitinTrivedi, the ChairmanChhattisgarh CongressCommunication Departmentinformed.

Notably, Dantewada seathad gone vacant following thedeath of BJP legislator BhimaMandavi who was killed alongwith four policemen when animprovised explosive device(IED) blew up their vehiclenear Shyamgiri village inDantewada on April 9, thisyear.

Mandavi the loan BJP leg-islator from tribal dominatedBastar region had defeatedDevti Karma by a thin marginof 2172 votes in the 2018 stateassembly elections.

Devti Karma wife of lateMahendra Karma -who waskilled in the deadly JheeramGhati massacre along witharound 32 people including thethen state Congress party’s topleadership- had registeredvictory from Dantewada seatin the 2013 state assemblyelections.

Congress reaffirms faithin Devti Karma forDantewada by-polls

STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR

Health Minister T.S. Singhdeo onThursday unveiled a booklet

containing strategic plan for eliminatingtuberculosis (TB) by 2013. The targetyear set by the Chhattisgarh govern-ment is two years ahead of the Centre.

The strategic plan for a TB freeChhattisgarh would be achieved bycommitment, contribution and coordi-nation of various state government

departments, Singhdeo said in aprogramme held at Raipur MedicalCollege Auditorium.

State government would also takeassistance of doctors of private hospitalsin the mission to eliminate TB. Facilitiesof free testing of the decease will bemade available in private hospitals also.

The treatment would be done underAyushman Bharat, MukhyamantriSwasthya Bima Yojana, and ‘PoshanAahar’ schemes.

C’garh prepares strategicplan to eliminatetuberculosis by 2023

STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR

State’s former chief ministerand JCC-J supremo Ajit Jogi

on Friday threatened legal actionagainst the state government,terming the FIR against him forholding invalid caste certificate‘unconstitutional.’

Notable, an FIR was regis-tered against him late Thursdaynight at Civil Lines police station

in Bilaspur.On behalf of District

Collector Tehsildar, Bilaspurlodged a written complaintquestioning Jogi’s ST status. Ahigh power caste scrutinycommittee recently revoked theformer CM’s caste certificates.

Civil lines police, Bilaspurregistered the FIR undersections which are non-bailable.

Meanwhile, in a pressconference here at SagaunBungalow, Jogi termed theaction of the police prejudicedand said it was ‘illegal’ and‘unconstitutional’.

“The Scheduled CasteScheduled Tribe and OtherBackward Caste Act-2013 underwhich the FIR was lodged wasframed in the year 2013 and mycaste certificate was issued farearlier in the year 1986”, heclaimed.

“How come a case beregistered on matter whichwasn’t a crime when it wascommitted,” Jogi argued.

Jogi further said that he wasgoing to drag the district andpolice administration Bilaspuras well as the chief minister andthe state government in thecourt for illegal action againsthim.

Ajit Jogi terms FIR againsthim ‘unconstitutional’Threatens to drag district administration

and state government to courtSTAFF REPORTER nDANTEWADA

Five Naxals, all carrying cashrewards on their heads gave

up arms before police in theinsurgency-hit Dantewadadistrict, police said here onFriday.

The cadres, including awoman, turned themselves inbefore senior police and CRPFofficials at Dantewada town, alocal police official said.

Of the surrendered, ShantiIsta (35), who was active as amember of military platoon no.24 of Maoists, was the mostdreaded one, he said.

Shanti was involved in majorNaxal attacks including theNilawaya attack during last yearassembly election in which threesecurity personnel and the cam-eraman of Doordarshan werekilled, the official said.

The equally hardcore,Jairam Mandavi (20), a memberof Hadnwada LOS (localorganisation squad) of Maoists,

was also allegedly involved indeadly attacks on security forcesin the district, he said.

Rest of the surrenderedcadres identified as MahruramBanjam, in-charge of Pallewayamedical team of Maoists, NareshNetam (20) and Mangal Ista(20), both active as head ofChetna Natya Mandli (CNM, acultural wing of Maoists), hesaid.

While Shanti and Banjamwere carrying reward of `2 lakheach on their heads, remainingthree cadres were carryingreward of `1 lakh each, headded.

In their statements, they saidthey were disappointed with theMaoist hollow ideologyand hardships of the jungle,” hesaid.

A cash of `10,000 were alsogiven to each of the surrenderedrebels as immediate financialrelief and they will be furtherprovided assistance as per thesurrender and rehabilitationpolicy of the state, he added.

Five Naxals give uparms in Dantewada

In urbanareas womenin goodnumbers arecomingforward andadoptingyoga.However, inrural areasthey are stillhesitant inaccepting itSTAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR

Women in Raipur areincreasingly becoming

health conscious and arejoining yoga sessions in largenumber to keep them healthyand fit.

“In urban regions womenin good numbers are comingforward and adopting yoga.However, in rural region theyare still hesitant in accepting

it,” said Dr RadhikaChandrakar from RawatpuraSarkar University Raipur.

According to DrChandrakar, who holds a PhDin yoga, events like‘International Yoga Day’ and‘Fit India Movement’ havegiven a real boost to theancient Indian science of men-tal and physical exercises.

In past four to five years

even parents have becomeaware of yoga and they aresuggesting their children toperuse courses in yoga ratherthan plain graduation courses,she said.

“I have been constantlypracticing yoga for over a yearand it has really improved myheath,” said Nandani Upadhyaya resident of DD Nagar localityin Raipur.

Notably, recently during ameeting of ‘Chhattisgarh YogCommission’ chaired by statecabinet minister Anila Bhediyathe state government haddecided to create acomprehensive annual yogacalendar. It was also decidedthat periodic yogacompetitions will be heldChhattisgarh to give yoga apush in the state.

Women in Raipur adopting Yoga

Women performing yoga at Raipur’s Surya Appartment Katora Talab

STAFF REPORTER nRAIPUR

Chief Minister BhupeshBaghel formally inaugu-

rated Suposhan Abhiyan onFriday at his residence dur-ing Teeja-Pora celebration.

He distributed Suposhankits to all the women whohad come to attend the pro-gramme from various partsof the state.

Suposhan Kit includedseasonal fruits, dates, pulses,chickpeas, spinach etc.

Baghel informed thewomen about the impor-tance of this suposhan kit. Itis noteworthy that as a spe-cial initiative for malnutri-

tion eradication, SuposhanAbhiyan is being conductedin few districts. On the occa-sion of 150th birth anniver-

sary of Mahatma Gandhi onOctober 2 this year,Suposhan Abhiyan will belaunched at state-level.

The State governmenthas set the target to eradicatemalnutrition from the statein next three years.

On the occasion,Women and ChildDevelopment Minister AnilaBhendiya, Scheduled Caste,Tribal, Backward Class andMinority DevelopmentMinister Dr Premsai Singh,Food and Culture MinisterAmarjeet Bhagat, Memberof Rajya Sabha ChhayaVerma, MLAs- KuldeepJuneja, Vikas Upadhyay,Sangita Sinha, Ex-Mayor DrKiranmayee Nayak andmany other public represen-tatives were present.

STAFF REPORTER n BIJAPUR

ADistrict Reserve Guard (DRG)head constable was injured when

an improvised pressure bomb, laid byNaxals, went off in Bijapur district onFriday, police said.

“The explosion took place nearGorna village under the Bijapur police

station area when a DRG team was outon an anti -Naxal operation,” a localpolice officer informed.

When the patrolling team reachednear Gorna, located around 450kmfrom state capital Raipur, head consta-ble Neela Udde inadvertently steppedon the pressure improvised explosive

device (IED) planted by Naxals, trigger-ing the blast that caused injuries in hislegs, he said. The head constable wasimmediately shifted to a local hospital,police official said, adding a searchoperation was underway in the area.The DRG is the state police's counter-insurgency force.

DRG Jawan injured inpressure mine blast

CM launches ‘Suposhan Abhiyan’during Pora-Teeja celebration

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The Himachal PradeshAssembly on Friday passed

a Bill against conversion byforce, inducement or throughmarriages solemnised for the“sole purpose” of adopting anew religion. The Oppositionsupported the HimachalPradesh Freedom of ReligionBill, 2019, which was passedunanimously with a voice vote.Replying to the discussion,Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakursaid a new stringent legislationwas required as “forced con-version”, especially in Rampurand Kinnaur, was “on the rise”.

The Bill seeks to repeal theHimachal Pradesh Freedomof Religion Act, 2006, which ison similar lines. The new Billproposes stiffer punishments--up to seven years in jail com-pared to the three years underthe existing law.

The Bill prohibits conver-sion by misrepresentation,force, undue influence, coer-

cion, inducement, marriage orany fraudulent means. Anymarriage for the sole purposeof conversion will also bedeclared null and void underSection 5 of the Bill.

While participating in thediscussion on the Bill, Congresslegislators Asha Kumari,Sukhvinder Sukhu and JagatSingh Negi and lone CPMMLA Rakesh Singha soughtchanges in some clauses.

Answering to Sukhu’s sug-gestion, Thakur said the 13-yearold act was not so effective. TheGovernment decided to bringa new legislation instead ofamending the already-existingact as it had only eight sectionsand it would not have been niceto add about ten more sectionsto it, the Chief Minister said.

According to the Bill, any-one seeking to convert willneed to give a month’s notice tothe district magistrate, statingthat the person is converting onhis own. The provision figuredin the 2006 law as well and was

challenged in court.The priest who performs

conversion ceremony will alsogive a month’s notice in advance.Those reconverting to their“parent religion” are exemptedfrom this provision. Replying toNegi’s suggestion, the ChiefMinister said everyone wasworried about untouchability,but provisions in theConstitution against untouch-ability were already there.According to the new Bill, ifDalits, women or minors aremade to convert, the jail termwill be from two to seven years.

Law Minister SureshBhardwaj, Rakesh Pathaniaand Rakesh Jamwal from thetreasury benches also partici-pated in the discussion.

Section 10 of the Bill statesthat no person or organisationviolating the provisions will beallowed to accept any donationor contribution of any kindfrom within or outside thecountry. The Bill will nowbecome an act after its notifi-cation following assent by theGovernor.

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Emphasising the need towork with a holistic

approach to transform thehealthcare system of the coun-try, Prime Minister NarendraModi on Friday said besidespreventive care, the CentralGovernment is giving specialemphasis on generating newinfrastructure facilities.

Addressing the people at aprogramme organised inPanchkula through video con-ferencing from VigyanBhawan, Delhi, the PrimeMinister said a decision hasbeen taken to open 75 newmedical colleges in the countrywhich would not only ensurebetter treatment facilities to thepeople but also create 16,000additional seats of MBBS.

Modi inaugurated tenAyush Health and WellnessCentres in Haryana under theAyushman Bharat Yojna bypressing the remote button.With this, Haryana has becomethe first State in the country tohave got ten Ayush Health andWellness Centres in under theAyushman Bharat Yojna.

He also released postagestamp on 12 Master Healers of

AYUSH and presented YogAwards for making outstand-ing contribution in the pro-motion of yog.

Congratulating the peopleof Haryana after inaugurating

10 Ayush Health and WellnessCentres in Haryana throughdigital link, he said that bothpreventive as well as health care facilities are available onthese centres.

He said that there is a tar-get to set up 12,500 AyushHealth and Wellness Centres inthe country of which 10 havebeen inaugurated in Haryanaon Friday.

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Acontingent of 20 Soldiers ofUnited Arab Emirate

(UAE) Army successfully com-pleted a drill course at IndianMilitary Academy (IMA) onFriday. The one and half monthcourse had commenced onJuly 15.

On Friday, a closing cere-mony of the course was held atKheterpal auditorium in whichthe Commandant of the IMA,Lieutenant General S K Jhagave away the certificates andmementos to all the trainees.Warrant Officer, AhmadMohammad Yousuf HaiderAlblooshi was awarded thetrophy for being adjudged asthe best student in the drillcourse. The Commandant alsoaddressed the gathering andconveyed his best wishes andcommended the soldiers forhaving successfully completedthe course.

He added that this initia-tive and military cooperationwill strengthen the bondbetween the two friendlynations.

The Deputy DefenceAttache of UAE, Col FarahAida Helai Almazrouei alsoattended the ceremony.

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From Page 1

Ranjan is stipulated toretire in April next year.

A 1982-batch IndianRevenue Service officer, Ranjanwas appointed to the CBDT inNovember last year. Beforethis, he was posted as a princi-pal chief commissioner of I-Tin Delhi.

The CBDT is headed by achairman and can have a max-imum of six members. It hastwo vacancies at present.

On August 19, Ranjan,

along with other experts andmembers, submitted theirreport on the new Direct TaxCode to Sitharaman. The offi-cer was the convenor of the taskforce.

The new code which seeksto replace the existing I-T Act.

In a similar pattern, formerfinance secretary S C Garghad applied for voluntaryretirement from service lastmonth after he was shiftedfrom the high-profile charge tothe power ministry as its sec-retary.

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From Page 1

At this juncture,Chidambaram intervened, say-ing he was opposing theCentral Bureau ofInvestigation’s (CBI) plea.

“We are opposing the cus-tody. But since both my coun-sel and their (CBI) counselmade a mutual agreement inthe apex court to keep me there(in CBI custody) till Monday,we cannot hide that truth from

this court.“There is simply no justi-

fication to put me in custodyand ask the same questions.The same three files are beingshown to me again and again,”the former Union minister toldthe court.

The court then extendedthe period of Chidambaram’scustodial interrogation tillSeptember 2, noting that “theaccused is willing to join theprobe till Monday”.

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From Page 1Post consolidation, boards

will be given flexibility to intro-duce chief general managerlevel as per business needs. They will also recruitchief risk officer at market-linked compensation to attractbest talent.

Sitharaman had last weekunveiled the first of threeplanned stimulus packages thatincluded a reduction of taxes,

improvement of liquidity in thebanking sector (formal andshadow), increasedGovernment spending on autoand infrastructure, and accel-erated refunds of goods andservices tax (GST).

This was followed by lib-eralisation of foreign invest-ment rules in four sectorsincluding coal mining, contractmanufacturing, single brandretail and digital media.

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Prime Minister NarendraModi on Friday advised

Har yana Chief MinisterManohar Lal Khattar to tryout a newly launched Ayushhealth centre to get somethingfor his sore throat, which hemight have got while talkingat public meetings.

He made the remark in alighter vein while inaugurat-ing 10 Ayush health and well-ness centres in Haryana,through video-conferencing from New Delhi after pre-senting the Yoga Awards.

Khattar was listening tothe speech in Panchkula,where the Har yanaGovernment had organised a

function. Several BJP MLAsand other party leaders werein attendance.

Modi said a hectic tour ofvillages in the run up to theHaryana Assembly polls hasaffected Khattar's throat.

"These days the Haryanachief minister is touring vil-lages and he is working veryhard.

I am seeing that he wasunable to speak, this is theprofessional hazard we face.During poll time, even I haveto go through this," the PrimeMinister said.

"But I will tell you onesecret, I do yoga, pranayamand bank upon Ayurveda, Imake full use of these there-fore I am able to manage.

Now that Ayush and wellnesscentres have been inaugurat-ed in Haryana, I will tell Khattarji to get his throattreated there," said Modi jokingly as Khattar burst intolaughter.

Khattar expressed hisgratitude to the prime minis-ter for inaugurating the cen-tres. Polls in Haryana are duei nOctober and Khattar is tour-ing the state as part of his 'JanAshirwad Yatra', which wasflagged off from Kalka onAugust 18 by Union DefenceMinister Rajnath Singh.

Yatra will culminate onSeptember 8 in Rohtak, whereModi will address a rally.

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Quality Control of Indiaand PHD Chamber of

Commerce and Industryorganised its 6th regionalQuality Conclave (QC) onFriday on the theme of“Creating and Sustaining aQuality Culture.”

The speakers said on“Quality Culture to enhanceperformance, ContinuousImprovement and InnovationManagement, Achieving ‘ZeroDowntime’– EnablingPredictive Maintenance forPrescriptive Maintenance”respectively.

Inaugurating the conclaveAdditional Director General,UIDAI, Deo Shanker said,“Conclave is a platform toshare and gain from expertsand participants. Qualitybegins and ends with the indi-vidual. Quality people do qual-ity work. In short quality is theexpression of human excel-lence. So always focus on qual-ity.”

Speaking on the occasionas Chief Guest, Chairman-cum-Managing Director, HECLtd, MK Saxena, said, “I amthankful to QCI and PHDCCIfor organising the QC inRanchi.” He highlighted theimportance of sustainability.Saxena emphasised on theimportance of sustainabilityand regular improvement inthe quality of services andproducts through a competentresearch and developmentdepartment that will help inmaintaining relations with thecustomers.

Addressing the gathering,CEO National Board forQuality Promotion, CK Biswas,said “Main purpose of organ-ising this Conclave in Ranchi isthat we want to make people ofthis region aware about theimportance of quality. Invest in

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Hong Kong activist JoshuaWong and another core

member of a pro-democracygroup were granted bail onFriday after being charged withinciting people to join a protestin June, while authoritiesdenied permission for a majormarch as they took whatappears to be a harder line onthis summer's protests.

The organizers ofSaturday's march, the fifthanniversary of a decision byChina against allowing fullydemocratic elections for theleader of Hong Kong, said theywere calling it off after anappeals board denied permis-sion.

It was unclear whethersome protesters would stilldemonstrate on their own.

The police commander ofHong Kong island, Kwok PakChung, appealed to people tostay away from any non-autho-rized rallies, warning that thosecaught could face a five-year jailterm.

He told a daily news con-ference that he was aware ofsocial media messages urgingpeople to take strolls or holdrallies in the name of religion.Kwok urged the public to"make a clear break with all actsof violence and stay away fromlocations where violent clash-es may take place."

Police have been rejecting

more applications for ralliesand marches, citing violence ator after earlier ones.

They also are arrestingpeople for protests earlier thissummer, a step they said was anatural development as inves-

tigations were completed.Andy Chan, the leader of a

pro-independence movement,was arrested at the airportThursday night under suspi-cion of rioting and attackingpolice.

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Agas mask lovingly adjust-ed, a hand squeezed before

approaching police lines and afrantic search through swirls oftear gas - Abby and Nick’s rela-tionship has blossomed on thebarricades during Hong Kong’slong summer of protest.

Most of the frontline pro-testers driving the months-long pro-democracy demon-strations are students -- so-called “braves” facing pepperspray, rubber bullets and arrestin defence of their city’s values.

Like Abby and Nick --who are keeping their realnames under wraps -- manyare young, bookish and shouldbe on the fast-track to well-pay-ing jobs in the city’s financialservices sector.

Instead a political awak-

ening has thrust them onto thefrontlines. For endless weeksthey have fended off tear gasand run from police batoncharges, an unlikely band ofrebels -- labelled “rioters” byHong Kong police and “ter-rorists” by China -- who haveforged tight bonds over a longholiday of demonstrations.

Nick, 20, met Abby, a yearhis junior, at university in Juneas debate on an extradition billto China began to fizz.Opposition to the bill fueledmass rallies. Peaceful protestgave way to pitched battles withpolice.

The pair have since spenthours together on the barri-cades facing riot police -- datesof sorts, spiced up by adrena-line and fired by the injusticeat the city government’s refusalto give ground.

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British Foreign SecretaryDominic Raab defended

Friday his government’s deci-sion to suspend parliamentand rejected suggestions thatthe move will prevent law-makers from debating thecountry’s departure from theEuropean Union as concernmounts that a costly and dam-aging Brexit without any agree-ment is now more likely.

Britain is due to leave theEU — the first country ever todo so — on Oct. 31; a movethat has divided the countryand shaken the European pro-ject to its foundations.

On Wednesday, British

Prime Minister Boris Johnsongot Queen Elizabeth II’sapproval to suspend parlia-ment, a move widely criticizedby his political opponents whosee it as a maneuver to givethem even less time to block achaotic no-deal Brexit.

Johnson previously hadrefused to rule out such amove, but the timing of thedecision took lawmakers —many of whom are on vacation— by surprise.

At talks with EU foreignministers in Finland, Raab saidthat “the idea that this is somekind of constitutional outrageis nonsense. It’s actually law-ful. It’s perfectly proper. There’sprecedent for it.”

“We’ve been talking aboutnothing but Brexit. We’re goingto get a chance to scrutinize allaspects of Brexit between nowand the end of October,” he toldreporters.

His counterparts expressedconcern thata no-deal exitfrom the blocappears morelikely, butmost declinedto commenton the gov-e r n m e n t ’smove, sayingit is a matterfor Britain toresolve.

“It’s a

debate that concerns the Britishgovernment and parliament,”said Belgian Foreign MinisterDidier Reynders. Meanwhile,he said, Britain’s Europeanpartners are still waiting fornew proposals to resolve the

standoff over the divorce agree-ment, notably the so-calledbackstop clause which aims toavoid the return of bordercontrols between Ireland inthe EU and Britain’s NorthernIreland.

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Opponents of Prime Minister BorisJohnson’s move to suspend parlia-

ment in the final weeks before Brexitlost the first of several legal bids to stophim on Friday.

Scottish judge Raymond Dohertyrejected the request for a temporaryinjunction pending a full hearing in thecase on September 6. “I’m not satisfiedthat there’s a need for an interim sus-pension or an interim interdict to begranted at this stage,” Doherty said inhis ruling. Queen Elizabeth II hasalready given the go-ahead to shutterparliament between mid-Septemberand October 14 -- just two weeks beforethe Brexit date of October 31.

The move was widely seen as lim-iting the time for parliamentarians to

move against Johnson, who has saidBritain must leave the EU with or with-out a deal.

Legal bids to halt the suspensionhave also been launched in Belfast andLondon. Former prime minister JohnMajor, a strong supporter of EU mem-bership, has said he will seek to join theLondon legal action.

Johnson announced the surprisedecision Wednesday to dismiss parlia-ment — known as proroguing — nextmonth for nearly five weeks. The movesent shockwaves through British poli-tics, triggering a furious outcry frompro-Europeans and MPs opposed to ano-deal exit.

Wrong-footed, Johnson’s oppo-nents labelled the suspension of par-liament a “coup” and a “constitutionaloutrage”.

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Britain has come up with “nothingcredible” to replace the controversial

Irish backstop in its deal to leave the EU,Ireland’s foreign minister said Friday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson wantsthe backstop -- the fallback provisionsfor the border between EU memberIreland and UK-ruled Northern Ireland-- to be scrapped completely.

With the clock ticking down to theOctober 31 departure date and Johnsoninsisting he will not postpone, the EUis pressing Britain to come up with work-able alternatives.

“We all want to get a deal but at themoment nothing credible has come

from the British government in the con-text of an alternative to the backstop,”Simon Coveney said as he arrived for ameeting of EU foreign ministers inHelsinki.

“If that changes, great. We’ll look atit in Dublin but more importantly, it canbe the basis of a discussion in Brusselsbut it’s got to be credible.” After talks withhis British counterpart Dominic Raab onthe sidelines of the Helsinki meeting,German Foreign Minister Heiko Maassaid London must come up with ideassoon.

“I have once again made it clear thatit is now necessary for time reasons toput the (proposals) on the table as soonas possible,” Maas told reporters.

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Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu law-maker in the US Congress who

is running for the presidency, hassaid that she will not contest as anindependent candidate if she fails towin the Democratic presidentialnomination, according to a mediareport.

Gabbard, 38, an Iraq war vet-eran who has been serving as the US

Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd con-gressional district since 2013, saidthat she will be going to focus onmoving campaign forward, contin-uing this grassroots campaign, con-tinuing to deliver the message to theAmerican people and ask for theirsupport, CNN reported.

“I will not,” she told the network.“No, I have ruled that out.”

Gabbard, however, was failed toqualify for the next Democratic

debate in September after making itto the first two debates. She reachedthe fundraising threshold, but did notmeet the Democratic NationalCommittee’s (DNC) polling mini-mum to qualify, the report said.

She claimed on Thursday thatthere is “no explanation or trans-parency around why certain polls arequalifying while other very crediblerecognized polls are somehow notqualifying.”

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Some people spend the better part oftheir lives on providing education tostreet children; some on extending

medical aid to the poor. Some devote them-selves to collecting clothes for, and distrib-uting the same, among pavement dwellersand some to running relief organisationsthat help those hit by natural calamities likefloods and cyclones. Some live to demandceaselessly that all stray dogs be killed.

The urge to kill — and even perpetratemass murder — is as much a part of thehuman psyche as the one to extend succourto the unprivileged and the distressed. Thewars, genocides and other violent activi-ties and crimes like murders, that haveoccurred throughout history, bear this outand underline the fact that hatred is as cen-tral, and sometimes more powerful, anemotion as love and compassion.

The most extreme form of the desire tokill is to perpetrate it on a mass scale, whichis genocide. Only a handful of people can per-petrate the latter as it would require statepower or an organisation like Hitler’sSturmabteilung (SA, the original Nazi para-military body), to do it. More, given the oppro-brium that has come to be attached to geno-cides, which are now regarded as crimesagainst humanity. Anyone calling for theslaughter of any community or class of peo-ple would find himself/herself shunned anddenounced. One, therefore, should not be sur-prised if people redirect their genocidalinstinct to stray dogs and, in the process, gainthe bonus of being able to project themselvesas protectors of human beings from death andfrom rabies numbering, according to the threefigures most commonly cited, 30,000, 25,000and 20,565 respectively.

The question is: Where do these figurescome from? The first two appear inAssessing the burden of rabies in India:WHO-sponsored national multi-centricrabies survey 2003 by the Association forPrevention and Control of Rabies in India(APRCI), which states, “However, from1985, India continues to report every year25,000 to 30,000 human rabies deaths,which today accounts for 60 per cent of theglobal report of 50,000 (WHO, 2002).”

The survey further states, “The abovefigure of 25,000 was an estimate worked outon the projected statistics of isolation hos-pitals in the country in 1985…” What wehave then is not an actual figure but an esti-mate and that, too, arrived at on the basisof not actual but “projected” statistics. Oneis reminded here of the famous statement,attributed to Charles Darwin, “A mathemati-cian is a blind man in a dark room lookingfor a black hat which isn’t there.”

As to the figure of 30,000 deaths, WHO’sWorld Survey of Rabies No. 34 for the year 1998cites this as the number of rabies deaths inIndia in that year. The survey’s annexure 3,showing “global trends and distribution bycountry and continent”, had the entry “mostparts” against India in the column under the

heading, “Geographical distrib-ution.” The space against India inthe column under the heading“Trends” was left blank. WHO’sWorld Survey of Rabies No. 35 forthe year 1999 describes the geo-graphical distribution of the inci-dence of rabies in India as beingconfined to “limited areas.” Theentry in the column under theheading of “Trend” is “Decrease.”How can, in the course of oneyear, the incidence of rabies in thecountry contract from “Mostparts” to “Limited areas?” Evenmore glaring is the fact that the1999 survey does not give any fig-ure for the number of humandeaths for rabies in India thatyear! Clearly, the figure of 30,000appears far from credible.

This brings us to theAPCRI’s survey with its figure of20,565 human deaths fromrabies every year. Again, it is amere projected estimate andnot the total of recorded deathsfrom hospitals in various parts ofthe country. Also, it is based oncritical inputs, which are them-selves of questionable validity.The survey, for instance, states,“For estimating rabies incidence,the current reported incidence ofthree cases per 100,000 popula-tion (or 30,000 for one billionpopulation, WHO 2002) wasconsidered. Based on this, as perthe planned precision of 90 percent confidence level and 10 per-missible error, about 9.1 million

or 10 million (round figure) pop-ulation coverage from 21 med-ical coverage with marginal cov-erage variations due to local fac-tors was envisaged.”

As seen, the estimated annu-al figure of 30,000 rabies deathsin India needs to be viewed withserious reservations. It is at besta conjecture of uncertain valid-ity. This in turn raises seriousquestions about the acceptabili-ty of the APCRI’s survey and itsconclusions. These questionsappear all the more warrantedgiven the official figures onrabies’ deaths. Since 2005, theUnion Government’s Ministry ofHealth and Family Welfare’sCentral Bureau of HealthIntelligence (CBHI) has beenannually publishing a NationalHealth Profile for the country.According to its 2018 edition,there were 97 cases of humandeaths from rabies in 2017.According to the relevant preced-ing annual National HealthProfiles, there were 86 humandeaths from rabies in 2016, 113in 2015, 125 in 2014 and 132 in2013. Nor were the figures evenremotely approaching 30,000,25,000 or 20,565 in earlier years.There, for example, were 386, 365and 485 deaths from rabies in1997, 1998 and 1999 respective-ly. The number was 486 in 2000and 488 in 2001.

The argument that the ver-tiginous difference between the

actual numbers recorded andthe incredibly higher estimatedones in circulation is due tounder-reporting of humanrabies deaths, holds little water.No amount of under-reportingcan explain such a massive dif-ference and certainly not whenthe reach of the print and elec-tronic media extends to everypart of the country and reportsof human-animal conflict fea-ture regularly.

Besides, the methodologyof the APCRI’s survey raisesserious questions. These includeidentification by respondents,without laboratory verification,of rabies cases which could beas many as five years old in ruraland three years old in urbanareas. The chances of people notbeing able to correctly recall thesymptoms of the disease killinga person, and attributing torabies deaths caused by otherdiseases, are very real, particu-larly when almost all of therespondents are not medicalpractitioners.

These grossly exaggeratedfigures serve only to whip upmass hysteria against stray dogs,boost the sales of anti-rabiesvaccines and spread disinfor-mation about India abroad,undermining its standing as aninvestment destination.

(The writer is ConsultantEditor, The Pioneer, and anauthor)

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Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “Opening up for what?”(August 30). The announce-ment allowing 100 per centForeign Direct Investment (FDI)in commercial coal miningsounds good. However, its exe-cution will be crucial. TheGovernment failed to open theindustry to competition despiteliberalisation of the economyyears ago because of bureaucrat-ic indecision.

The Union Cabinet had alsoapproved policies for openingcoal mining to private minersand partially removing restric-tions on the sale of coal pro-duced at the so-called captivemines but these, too, have notbeen implemented.

It is a paradox that with theworld’s fifth-largest reserves offuel, we imported over 40 percent more coal during January toApril this year compared to lastyear. That the dip in globalprice of coal should dictate thepace of our self-sufficiency in avital sector as coal is but a fig leafover goal clarity.

R Narayanan Navi Mumbai

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Sir — Saint Teresa’s selfless anduntiring service to the poorest ofthe poor, orphaned and sick peo-ple on the streets of Kolkata isincalculable and worthy of studyand praise. Blessed with profoundempathy, unwavering commit-ment and unshakable faith, sheturned her back to worldly plea-

sures and focussed on servingmankind at a young age of 18.

After years of service as ateacher and mentor, she experi-enced a call within her religiousfaith that changed her course oflife, making her what she isknown as today.

Who would’ve thought that afragile nun from Albania couldmake it to India and care for thenaked, the disabled and the dis-

eased? St Teresa made Indiaproud by spreading the messageof peace, compassion and solidar-ity all across the world.

Today, because of theMissionaries of Charity, manynew-born babies, who are aban-doned by their parents and left onthe streets to die, are seeing thelight of the day.

Jubel D’Cruz Mumbai

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Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “Opening up for what?”(August 30). A cyclical slow-down seems to have hit theIndian economy. TheGovernment has taken two cru-cial decisions pertaining to theeconomy. First came the FinanceMinister’s announcements to perkup investments. This was fol-lowed by an RBI transfer ofmoney to the Government.

In yet another move to boostthe economy, it announced newForeign Direct Investment (FDI)rules for coal mining, contractmanufacturing and digital media,while considerably easing rulesfor single-brand retail.

All these measures point tothe fact that the Government isfinally taking note of the down-fall in the economy. However, thebuck must not stop here. TheGovernment must pursue eco-nomic reforms with the same zealto bring out the best from entre-preneurs.

Gourang NaryaniUjjain

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Page 7: ˘ˇˆ - The Pioneer · 2019-08-30 · The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will ... about him joining politics. ... recently submitted a report on the new direct tax code

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Over the last few years, nationalism hasbeen the subject of discussion in practi-cally every sphere of our society. While

a healthy debate on the subject is always wel-come, invariably we find this discussion onnationalism spinning out of control and evolv-ing into arguments and political slugfests. Thisblame game certainly does not bode well for ournation and society. Nationalism is a process thatbinds a country and should promote love andharmony among the citizens. It cannot be a cat-alyst to cause cultural, social, economic, geo-graphical, historical or religious rift in the coun-try. On the contrary, it is supposed to safeguardthe interests of the common man and should bea catalyst in the progress and prosperity of thenation.

As per Chanakya, “The key to happiness isprosperity.” As per him, it’s the duty of the headof the nation to ensure prosperity of citizens.However, I doubt if this can be achieved by clash-es of ideology or by demeaning each other.

Chanakya further elaborates on the fourduties of the State. These duties are to expandfacilities in wealth and resources, to guard thegains that have been obtained, to increase/expandwhat has been obtained/achieved, to equally dis-tribute the resources and wealth among the peo-ple of the country. A great State must focus onthese four principles and be guided by them.

India remained subjugated under foreignrule for a long period but never let go of its spir-itual identity that propagated universal broth-erhood, love, tolerance, humanity, compassionand truth. Though India is an amalgamation ofmyriad religions, castes, creeds, cultures and lan-guages, our spiritual identity has kept us unifiedand finally led us to liberty. India’s freedom fight-ers contributed immensely to the struggle forIndia’s independence but by and large our fightfor liberty had a unique, amazing and dominantidentity — non-violence. Perhaps it was becauseIndia’s DNA had non-violence and tolerancedeeply embedded in it. Our respect for our diver-sities is the key to keeping India united.

It’s incumbent upon the leaders of thecountry to work towards providing better ser-vices and infrastructure to the citizens. The lead-ers must work for more equitable distributionof resources and improvement of infrastructure.People should be free to choose and pursue tra-ditions, lifestyle, language, religion and so on.This liberty to choose is the fundamental cor-nerstone of a conflict-free society and shallensure that India stands tall among the nationsof the world. Clashing on language, religion, race,colour and gender will shatter the idea that isIndia.

Being the guardian of the East, it’s incum-bent upon India and Indians to symbolise unityin diversity. India must give out a message thatit looks at the world as one brotherhood popu-lated by men and women without conflict of cast,creed or colour. If a section of people tries to tiedown or define another section of people intoboundaries, the consequences shall be disastrous.Every human being aspires to establish individ-uality and in pursuit of individuality shall trylevel best to break the barriers imposed by oth-ers. A nationalism governed by boundaries shallnever let a nation stand united.

India is a large and diverse coun-try and can progress only if the cornerstones and principles of theConstitution are respected and adheredto. The profusion of aggressive slogansand the naked display of might that weare witnessing today are damaging thenation. Hitler is a glaring example ofwhat happens when a leader propagatesracial superiority. History is witnessthat his actions and thought processvirtually destroyed Germany whilepursuing his ridiculous racial agenda.

It’s imperative that citizens be leftfree to decide their slogan, whether itwill be “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, “VandeMataram”, “Jai Hind”, “Jai Bharat” or“Hindustan Zindabad.” Eventually theyall convey the same sentiment. A citi-zen serving the nation by adhering tothe principles of the Constitutiondeserves the freedom to decide how toexpress love and respect for the nation.If a citizen has been responsibly fulfill-ing his duties towards the country, thenhe has the right to expect that politi-cal parties and their leaders shall ful-fill their obligations towards him andthe nation to the best of their abilities.Good governance certainly does notmean misleading the citizens and com-plicating core issues and deficiencieswith aggressive slogans.

True nationalism lies in providingemployment to the youth of the nation,ensuring a better minimum supportprice to the farmers, creating a simpli-fied tax regime for the traders, provid-ing protection to women, promotingcommunal harmony, ensuring freedom

of Press, securing and safeguarding theborders of the nation and most impor-tantly respecting the tenants of theConstitution. Political parties and lead-ers should be judged and evaluated bythese guiding principles of nationalism.Sports, cinema, telecom revolution,ease of transport, availability of region-al food pan-India, migration of stu-dents from different regions to univer-sities across the nation are a few fac-tors that have been great catalysts inunifying the nation. 1985 saw threemajor revolutions — automobiles, tele-vision and communication — furtherunifying the citizens.

It’s important to understand thatIndia can best progress following thetraditional progressive principles of cul-ture. Chanakya’s principle is that everycitizen is free to live life in accordancewith his/her beliefs and principles andif need be to lay down one’s life to safe-guard them. Let’s consider the twomain religious sects of the nation,Hindus and Muslims. Since timeimmemorial, the followers of SanatanDharma are free to worship idols orwhatever form of God they choose.Sanatan Dharma stresses on freedomto pursue personal beliefs. On the otherhand Islam is founded on the basictenet of equality as it accords a uniformstatus to all Muslims.

Ilama Iqbal has summed it upbeautifully in the following lines whichstate that all are equal in the eyes of theAlmighty — “Sultan and slave stoodside by side. Then there was no servantnor master, nothing did them divide.”

These fine traditions make India acountry that accords its citizens com-plete personal freedom.

If we reflect on the struggle forIndia’s Independence, different peopleand parties took different paths in theirfight for liberty but no one branded theother anti-national. Even those who didnot participate in this noble cause werenot criticised. Sadly, in today’s Indiathere is a mad rush to certify nation-alists and nationalism. It is not enoughto be a nationalist; one has to be a cer-tified nationalist. The question is dothose certifying qualify as nationalists?Fact is, as compared to today’s lead-ers, those during the Independencestruggle and nascent years of the for-mation of our nation were men andwomen of true character and patri-ots. When I say character, I mean thatour freedom fighters never market-ed their nationalism. For them, serv-ing the nation was a privilege and nota tool to grab power. Citizens of Indiashould be driven and inspired by thenationalism of both RabindranathTagore and Mahatma Gandhi. Theyboth propagated a nationalism encom-passing humanity and compassion.

Practising true nationalism, today’spoliticians should work towards creat-ing a fear-free nation and societywhere the rights of the citizen aresacred and protected. In conclusion, Istate that those who agree with mythoughts are as much nationalist asthose who disagree with me.

(The writer is a national spokesper-son, Indian National Congress)

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Many Indian cities have limitedmunicipal revenues and hencethey fail to provide urban infra-

structure and services, which in turn, comein the way of harnessing their potential ascritical drivers of economic growth anddevelopment. However, the problem ofmunicipal revenue deficit is not insur-mountable and can be addressed byincreasing existing local taxes and strength-ening the revenue-raising capacity ofmunicipal bodies or Urban Local Bodies(ULBs) by broadening sources. Suchfinancially sound ULBs would then attractprivate investors. Property Tax (PT),levied on ownership of any building andland within the municipal area by ULBs,is a significant source of revenue envisagedfor the development and maintenance ofurban areas. However, PT collections aresignificantly lower and roughly constitute0.2 per cent of India’s GDP, while in coun-tries like Canada and the US, they con-tribute up to 3 to 4 per cent. Even a mod-est increase in PT can help ULBs raise rev-enue and enhance development.

The potential of PT is under-utilisedbecause of under-assessment, poor collec-tion and widespread exemptions. Mostproperties are valued on the basis of gross

Annual Rental Value (ARV). Owing to theuse of discretionary and corrupt practices,prevailing PT rates hardly correspond totheir actual market value and yield very lit-tle tax revenue. Wide prevalence of theRent Control Act has capped potential rentincreases to a maximum of 25 per cent ofthe 1948 benchmark and has given orig-inal tenants the right to pass property onto their heirs, preventing any futureincrease in rent.

In fact, assessed values have beenfound to be approximate 8-10 per cent ofthe market value, with varying tax rates fordifferent kinds of properties. Globally, PTis generally around one to two per cent ofthe market value of the property. However,given the under-assessment of marketvalue in India, the PT rates would be mere-ly a fraction of that. Deficiency in tax man-agement is also pronounced and ULBsgenerally do not have any system in placeto count the actual number of taxableproperties under their jurisdiction oreven carry out reforms and technologicalupgradation to the collection system.

On an average, only 37 per cent of thetax demanded is collected, with the corre-sponding figures being as low as 55 per centfor a city like Mumbai. In spite of penal pro-

vision for delayed payments or non-pay-ments, ULBs rarely bring any penal actionagainst defaulters, highlighting the role oflocal political economy and poor commit-ment. Further, exempted properties con-stitute approximately 10 per cent of totalurban properties and about 11 per cent ofassessed properties. Interestingly, PT ischaracterised as the tax everyone loves tohate because its visibility and other char-acteristics make people particularly awareof it and, therefore, any reform initiativesentail significant local political challengesand administrative difficulties. Primarily,PT reforms involve four key areas ofintervention — broadening of tax base,assessing property valuation, setting tax rateand collecting taxes.

Past experiences have shown that awell-functioning tax system applies a lowtax rate across a broad taxbase. Up-to-dateinformation on properties are required fortaking tough decisions like what to tax orexempt and whom to make liable for thistaxation. ULBs, presumably endowed withlocal knowledge of land and property use,are best placed to develop such physicalcadastre. Harmonising existing propertyrecords with data from utility companies,records from Government departments

and digitising these dynamic databases canbe useful for bringing a higher number ofproperties under the tax net and enhancedevelopment. Serious rethinking on PTexemptions is required to minimise rev-enue loss. Sometimes exemptions are jus-tified for providing tax incentives toattract businesses. However, such incen-tives, as evident from experiences in UScities, may turn out to be counter-produc-tive with a deterioration of the tax baseand financial health of the ULBs. This inturn results in lower levels of urban ser-vice delivery.

Two distinct assessment methodolo-gies in India — value-based assessmentand area-based assessment (with the for-mer being divided into rental and capitalvalue approaches) — have failed to cap-ture the real value of properties. Non-availability of extensive data on markettransactions of properties (or the corre-sponding from revenue departments)makes the valuation under capital valueapproach inaccurate.

Cities like Bengaluru, Chennai,Hyderabad, Indore, Kolkata, Patna andPune have introduced the Self-AssessmentSystem as a reform measure. Self-assess-ment, if supported by a proper legal frame-

work, is genuinely an appealing procedurefor our cities with little administrativecapacity.

However, the possibility of underes-timation could produce significant rev-enue losses. Fair initial assessment andperiodic re-evaluation of propertiesreflecting changes in value could be use-ful for addressing PT inelasticity andvolatility. While most ULBs follow a pro-gressive PT rate structure, Bengaluruand Ludhiana have a flat tax rate, with dif-ferentiation between residential and non-residential units and lower rates forowner-occupied as compared to rentedhouses. Differential tax rates increase com-plexity as well as administrative costs.Given the low administrative capacity ofULBs, a single rate may be the best optionfor policymakers. It is crucial to allowULBs to set the tax rate as that wouldmake them accountable for tax decisionsat the municipal level, leading to improvedmunicipal services with accountability.

Such PT reforms may result in majortax shifts. Attendant political resistanceand public resentment can be mitigatedby strengthening the linkages betweenlocal taxes and local expenditure andinvolving citizens at each stage of the

design and implementation of municipaltax policy processes. Undoubtedly, peo-ple are happier to pay taxes when theyrelate them with improvements in servicedelivery and when they are consulted andkept informed about the reform process-es and a firm, predictable policy.

Phase-in mechanism, in which taxchanges are spread out over several yearsalong with improved services, can also beused to make tax reform acceptable andsustainable. Instead of tax rebate, tax defer-ral schemes, that defer tax increases untilthe property is passed to someone else, canalso be used to help asset-rich but lowerincome people. It is important to makepeople aware about PT payments byshowcasing various costs and benefits ofcompliance or non-compliance.

The Centre’s push for urbanisationand competitiveness among cities (SmartCities Mission), rankings (SwachhSurvekshan), ratings (credit ratings ofULBs), should also prioritise empower-ment of ULBs through capacity develop-ment to harness PT as a primary sourceof revenue.

(Chattopadhyay is Assistant Professorof Economics at Visva Bharati Universityand Kumar is Director of IMPRI)

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Page 8: ˘ˇˆ - The Pioneer · 2019-08-30 · The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will ... about him joining politics. ... recently submitted a report on the new direct tax code

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Fresh restrictions wereimposed in the city and

other parts of the KashmirValley as a preventive measurein view of Friday congrega-tional prayers which passed offpeacefully, officials said.

Restrictions under Section144 of the CrPc wereannounced on public addresssystem. People have been askednot to venture outside andbarricades have been placed.

Public transport remainedoff the road and motorists facedhardships as several roads ,leading to religious places, andother vulnerable areas remainedout of bounds. Heavy deploy-ment of security personnel weremade across sensitive places toprevent assembly of people afterthe Friday prayers. Concertina

wires were rolled out to blockentry and exit routes of down-town areas of Srinagar.

Normal life remained dis-rupted across the KashmirValley for the 26th consecutiveday, with markets closed andpublic transport off the roads.

While landline telephone

services have resumed in manyparts of the valley, mobile tele-phone services and all Internetservices continue to remainsuspended since 5 August afterthe Centre's move to abrogateArticle 370, that provided spe-cial status to Jammu &Kashmir, and bifurcate the

State into two union territories. Meanwhile, Governor,

Satya Pal Malik, visited Kargilon Friday to meet and interactwith the representatives of thepeople of Kargil to understandtheir concerns following theformation of the UnionTerritory of Ladakh.

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Srinagar: Incoming mobileservices have been restored forpost-paid subscribers inKashmir Valley's Kupwara dis-trict, officials said on Friday.

All post-paid subscribersof state-run BSNL, Jio andVodafone in the northKashmir border district willbenefit from the decision, theysaid.

According to the officials,there was a technical issue inallowing outgoing mobile ser-vices and it would take sometime to overcome the problem.

Services for pre-paid sub-scribers, who don't get month-ly bills, have not been openedyet, they said.

Landline, mobile andinternet services were sus-pended on August 5 when thecentre revoked Jammu &Kashmir's special status underArticle 370. PTI

������������&���������������������:������ Jammu: The US-made Apache

AH-64E attack helicopters willbe inducted into the Indian AirForce at Pathankot in Punjabon September 3, an official saidon Friday.

The first four of the 22 heli-copters was handed over to theair force by US aerospace majorBoeing on July 27.

The IAF is organising aninduction ceremony of ApacheAH-64E helicopters at thePathankot air force station onSeptember 3, DefenceSpokesman Lt Col DevenderAnand said.

Air Chief Marshal B SDhanoa will be the chief guestfor the event, he said.

The delivery of the firstbatch of Apache helicopters tothe IAF at the Hindan air basecame nearly four years after amulti-billion dollar deal for thechoppers was sealed.

The AH-64E Apache isone of the world's most

advanced multi-role combathelicopters, and is flown by theUS Army. The IAF had signeda multi-billion dollar contractwith the US Government andBoeing Ltd in September 2015for 22 Apache helicopters.

Additionally, the DefenceMinistry in 2017 approved theprocurement of six Apachehelicopters along with weaponssystems from Boeing at a costof �4,168 crore for the Army.

This will be its first fleet ofattack choppers.

By 2020, the IAF will oper-ate a fleet of 22 Apaches, andthese first deliveries are aheadof schedule.

The AH-64E Apache forthe Indian Air Force complet-ed successful first flights in July2018. The first batch of IndianAir Force crew began theirtraining to fly the Apache in theUS in 2018. PTI

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Kochi: Union Information andBroadcasting Minister PrakashJavadekar on Friday said theBJP-led Government at theCentre was committed toensuring media freedom andrecalled party leaders' fightagainst Emergency in 1975 toprotect press freedom.

Noting that there are morethan one lakh publications, over700 TV channels, many weband news portals in the coun-try, the Minister said because ofsocial media platforms, nobodycan be stopped from commu-nicating with another.

That is the power of com-munication, he said.

"During students move-ment days, we fought againstEmergency in 1975 and went tojail to protect media freedom.

"That commitmentremains today and forever toprotect the freedom of media,"the minister said at an event -- "New India: Government andMedia" at the Manorama NewsConclave here which was ear-lier inaugurated by PrimeMinister Narendra Modi viavideo conference from Delhi.

Javadekar further saidresponsible freedom is theessence of a democratic societyand explained that responsiblefreedom does not mean regu-

lated freedom but beingresponsible while enjoying free-dom.

Asserting that theGovernment was committed tomedia freedom, freedom ofexpression and protests, hesaid, "Freedom is the essence ofdemocracy and we will ensurethat a vibrant democracy wantsall these freedom. That we willensure."

The Union Minister, how-ever, said it must be also under-stood that in a democraticcivil society, freedom has to beresponsible.

"Responsible freedom isnot regulated freedom; it is self-regulation using our ownmethods," he said.

Javadekar said incidents ofmob lynching are occurring inthe country due to rumoursspreading on social media.

This happens due toabsence of an authority or self-regulatory mechanism in socialmedia, he said.

The Minister said theessence of the Narendra ModiGovernment's concept of NewIndia is "corruption-free NewIndia, terror-free New India,casteism-free New India, com-munalism-free New India,poverty-free New India anddirt-free New India." PTI

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Army Chief General BipinRawat on Friday directed

the local commanders toremain in a state of 'high alert'in order to meet emergingsecurity challenges 'effectively'in the wake of increased infil-tration attempts from across theLine of Control.

Soon after his arrival inSrinagar, Army Chief wasbriefed by the localCommanders on the existingCease Fire Violations, groundsituation and the measurestaken.

Accompanied by the ChinarCorps Commander Lt Gen KJSDhillon, Army Chief also visit-

ed various formations and unitsdeployed along the Line ofControl to boost morale of thefoot soldiers on ground zero.

According to officialsources, Pakistan has activatedmultiple launch pads along theline of control to push heavilyarmed infiltrators inside theIndian territory.

In the last one month,more than 270 infiltration bidshave been attempted by theseinfiltrators with the active sup-port of Pakistan army regularsdeployed in the forward areasclose to the line of control.

Ministry of Defence PROin a statement said, "during hisvisit Army Chief General BipinRawat appreciated the robustcounter infiltration grid whichhas neutralised multiple infil-tration attempts of terrorists".

"He shared intelligencereports of a large number ofterrorists ready to infiltratefrom multiple launch padsacross the Line of Control. Heexhorted all troops to be readyfor any contingencies",

Defence PRO said. During his interaction with

the soldiers on ground, helauded them for their high lev-els of morale and motivation.

Meanwhile, one local resi-dent of Digwar area of Poonchreceived bullet injury on hisright shoulder in Pak firing lateThursday night. The injuredyouth,identified as Mohd Zafarwas shifted to the district hos-pital in Poonch where he wasprovided first aid. Doctors areexpected to remove bullet dur-ing separate surgery. A closerelative of Zafar told reporters,he was sleeping in his housewhen he was hit by Pakistan fir-ing around 11.00 pm lateThursday night.

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Kota (Rajasthan): A 45-year-old man was killed by at leastfive people in Rojjya village ofJhalawar district, followingwhich the accused, whichincludes two women, werebooked, police said on Friday.

On seeing BhanwarlalGujjar grazing his cattle in afield on Thursday afternoon,five people attacked him withsticks, iron rods and sharpweapons which causing griev-ous injuries, SHO of BhaltaPolice Station SatyanarayanMalav said.

He was immediatelyrushed a nearby hospital,where doctors declared himbrought dead, he said.

The body was handed overto his family after post mortemand a case has been registeredagainst Kalulal Gujjar, BalwantGujjar, Parvat Singh Gujjar,and two women NanibaiGujjar and Dhapubai Gujjarunder relevant sections of theIndian Penal Code (IPC),police said. PTI

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All these years, ATMsmeant Automated Teller

Machines installed by Banksfor the benefit of customersto withdraw and depositmoney without visiting thebranches. Over a period oftime, the Banks themselvesstarted describing them asAny Time Money machines.There was a time in TamilNadu when the prosperity ofa city/town/village was mea-sured by the number ofATMs installed by theBanks in these places.

But the Kelagampattivillage near Harur inDharmapiri district, theATM denotes Any TimeMilk. A hi-tech milk dis-penser in the village installedby an entrepreneur has takenthe village by storm. Themachine dispenses undilut-ed, unprocessed and unadul-terated ‘desi’ milk round theclock on reasonable rates tothe villagers who were hith-erto depending on milkfrom private dairies.

Not any more. They aregetting quality milk at ratesranging from �10/-, �20/-,�50/- and �100/- from theseunmanned machines. Allthat the customers have todo is to insert the currencynote of required denomi-nation into the ATM. Thereis only one condition; the

customers have to bring theirvessels to collect the milkfrom the dispenser as no plas-tic packet us served from themachine.

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Rae Bareli (UP): Four per-sons, including a telecomengineer, were allegedlythrashed by locals on the sus-picion of being child-lifters indifferent incidents in this dis-trict of Uttar Pradesh, policesaid on Friday.

Amar Kumar Verma (35),an engineer working in a pri-vate telecom company, wasallegedly attacked by a mob ofaround 50 people when hewas returning from Kesaruavillage within the LalganjKotwali police station limitsafter checking a mobile toweron Wednesday, they added.

A case was registered on a complaint from Vermaand some villagers werearrested. PTI

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Bareilly (UP): Mistaken for"child lifters", a visiting DelhiPolice team in plain clothesescaped mob fury here after thelocal police came to their res-cue, officials said on Friday.

The incident took place onThursday when the team fromDelhi's Welcome police stationreached Bhura village in

Bhojipura area here in con-nection with a dowry caseprobe, they said.

"The Delhi Police teamwas in plain clothes due towhich some confusion mighthave arisen," DeputyInspector General (DIG) ofPolice, Bareilly Range, RajeshPandey, said. PTI

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Amid intense speculationthat former Chief Minister

and Maharashtra SwabhimaniPaksha (MSP) founder chiefNarayan Rane might merge hisparty with the ruling BJP onSeptember 1, Chief MinisterDevendra Fadnavis said hereon Friday that the MSP’s merg-er with his party would nothappen unless and until hetook the Shiv Sena leadershipinto confidence in the matter.

When his attention wasdrawn to a report in a sectionof the regional that Rane wouldmerge MSP with the BJP at aparty function at Solapur to tobe attended by party’s nation-al president Amit Shah,Fadnavis said: “Unless the

issue is discussed the issue withthe Shiv Sena and take itsleaders into confidence, theBJP will not take a decision onthe MSP’s merger with ourparty”.

Quoting Rane, a fewregional newspapers had saidrecently that he would take adecision on his joining the BJPalong with his former MP-sonNilesh Rane and sittingCongress MLA-son NiteshRane, in the next 10 days.Friday’s newspapers that SrRane would merge his partyMSP with the BJP at its rally tobe held in Solapur onSeptember 1.

Sr. Rane was elected toRajya Sabha with the supportof the BJP on March 15 lastyear.

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The family members of ateenaged girl, who died at a

Government hospital duringtreatment five weeks after shewas brutally gangraped, refuseto accept the victim girl’s bodytill arrests were made in thecase, even as the NCP workersstage a protest in front of theChunabhatti police station innorth-central Mumbai.

On a day when the NCPMP Surpriya Sule-led scores ofparty men to Chunabhattipolice station to demand aninquiry by the SpecialInvestigation Team (SIT) intothe alleged gangrape, the victimgirl’s family members refused totake the body and perform lastrites till the police arrested thefour culprits behind the crime.

Talking to media personsafter staging a dhana in front ofthe Chnnabhatti police station,Supriya charged that the con-duct of the both state govern-ment and the local policeappeared “suspicious” anddemanded that an impartialinvestigations be ordered underthe SIT. Meanwhile, theMaharashtra State Commissionfor Women (MSCW) hasordered the Chunabhatti PolicStation to submit its detailedinvestigation report by Saturday.

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Alleged Trinamool workerson Friday attacked the

vehicle of Bengal BJP presidentDilip Ghosh and heckled himeven as he tried to meet thepublic at the Lake Town area ofnorthern Kolkata, sources said.

Ghosh who had recentlystarted a public relation exer-cise under a scheme called“Chai pe Charcha,” meeting thepeople at various localities wasallegedly heckled by a mob ofTMC supporters who wouldnot allow the senior saffronleader to hold such meetings intheir area.

Ghosh who went to LakeTown along with his support-ers was surrounded by a TMCmob that raised “go back” slo-gan against the saffron leadereven as a scuffle between thetwo sides ensued forcing theState BJP chief to beat a hastyretreat.

His car was given a chasefor quite distance, even as theTMC supporters assaulted the

local BJP men until the policeintervened, locals said.

Commenting on the earlymorning skirmish StateMinister and TMC leader SujitBasu who is also the localMLA said “TMC was notinvolved in the incident,”adding “the people who wereprotesting against some out-siders who were trying to pol-lute the area chased them (BJP)away.”

Ghosh in his part“thanked” the TMC for “givingme additional publicity.Returning from a morningwalk I had settled down in a teashop sharing tea with somepeople when some TMC goonsattacked me making it news. Ithank them for giving me thispublicity as they do on everyoccasion.”

Meanwhile in a similarincident a BJP MLA fromBongaon was attacked by theTMC workers giving him someminor injuries, sources saidadding his car was also dam-aged in the attack.

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The Mamata BanerjeeGovernment on Friday

took the effective step to curbmob lynching by passing theAnti-lynching Bill. After thismove, Bengal became the thirdState after Manipur andRajasthan to pass the Anti-lynching Bill.

While both the Congressand the Left supported theBill the BJP abstained allegingthe new law would be used tosettle scores.

Chief Minister MamataBanerjee who had continu-ously been critical of the BJP-ruled States and the Centre fornot taking action against peo-ple accused of mob lynchingsaid in the Assembly that herGovernment had to introducethe Act as the Centre hadfailed to discharging its duty bymaking a comprehensive lawagainst lynching.

She said “the CentralGovernment did not bring any

law to prevent lynching where-as it should have taken the firstinitiative. It should havebrought a law against lynching.As they failed to do so we arebringing this law in our State tocurb mob assault of innocentpeople.”

Insisting that there was aneed to raise public awarenessagainst mob lynching she saidthe people should stand upagainst such crime. “This is asocial evil and all of us have tocome together to fight againstthis evil. Though the SupremeCourt has given a directive tomake appropriate laws no lawhas been framed as yet,” shesaid reminding “no one has anyright to take other people’slives.”

On a separate issue theChief Minister attacked theCentre for targeting theOpposition leaders so as to fin-ish the entire Opposition andset up a one-party rule in thecountry saying “today they aretargeting the senior Opposition

leaders like Chidambaram andSharad Pawar who dared toquestion their policies, tomor-row they will do it to the entireOpposition parties.”

It was high time theOpposition parties united onan emergency basis in order tocheck the dictatorial attitude ofthe BJP Government she said.

When asked to commenton the BJP’s ambiguous standon the anti-lynching laws whenthe Congress and the Left thetwo arch enemies of the ChiefMinister backed the Bill, BJPleaders said they would notsupport the Bill as it would beused to target the innocentpeople and settle politicalscores.

The Bill stipulates a rigor-ous life imprisonment for lifeand a fine up to �5 lakh for theaccused in case the victim diesafter public lynching.

In case of serious injuriesin a mob lynching the accusedwill get a punishment of up to10 years and a fine of �3 lakh.

������ �.����������������Bengaluru: Senior Congressleader DK Shivakumar onFriday said the ED has issuedfresh summons asking him toappear before it in a moneylaundering case and termedthe action a 'conspiracy' todefame him and his party.

The former Karnatakaminister said the EnforcementDirectorate has asked him toappear before it in Delhi onFriday by 1 pm and he wasconsidering all legal options.Shivakumar told reporters thathe will face it "legally, politicallyand socially".

On whether he was feelingtargeted by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and HomeMinister Amit Shah, he said"whoever has done... I wishthem best... I have done myduty for the party. I'm proud todo my job. Whatever is in myfate will happen."

The ED move comes after

the Karnataka High Court onThursday dismissedShivakumar's petition chal-lenging the summons issued tohim in the money-launderingcase registered by the agencyagainst him and a few otherson the basis of an alleged taxevasion and hawala transac-tions case.

Shivakumar indicated thathis "instrumental role" inensuring safe stay of GujaratCongress MLAs in a Karnatakaresort during the Rajya Sabhapolls in 2017, amid allegationsthat the BJP was trying topoach them, was the reason forthe searches and subsequent I-T and ED action on him.

"When the ED summonscame (earlier), I had said thatthis is an Income Tax case, EDhas nothing to do with it, Ihave had no foreign transac-tion or was cheating the gov-ernment, and have been pay-

ing taxes, there was no con-spiracy involved," Shivakumarsaid.

Ahead of his travel toDelhi the Congress leader saidthat he had sought time andapproached the court chal-lenging the summons, but yes-terday it dismissed his appli-cation.

Stating that he was yet toreceive copy of the court order,he said, when he arrived homelast night, ED officers fromDelhi and Bengaluru cameand issued the summons ask-ing him to appear at 1 pm inDelhi on Friday.

"I cannot attend by 1 pm asI had family and personalcommitments, but I willrespect the summons and go toDelhi to appear before ED. Ihave all the right to use all mylegal options to protect myselfand respond to this conspira-cy," Shivakumar said. PTI

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Kishanganj (Bihar): FiveBangladesh nationals have beenarrested here while trying tocross over to their native coun-try, a senior Border SecurityForce (BSF) official said.

The Bangladeshis, all resi-dents of Thakurgaon district ofthe neighbouring country,claimed that they have beeneking out a living at Kulgam inJammu and Kashmir and theyarrived Kishanganj onWednesday evening, BSF DIGAmritlal Tirkey said.

Although Kishanganj rail-

way station is barely 30 km fromthe international border, theychose to stay back and plannedto leave on Thursday morning,he said. "We had, in the mean-time, received information aboutthe Bangladeshis and their plansto cross the border. When BSFpersonnel spotted them, they gotscared and began to run awaybut were eventually caught"Tirkey said. They have beenidentified as Bakkar (20), MohdJaleel (22), Mohd Rubel (20),Mohd Mehboob (20) and MohdMasoom (19), he said. PTI

Guwahati: Nabarun Guha shuf-fles uneasily in his chair, signs ofworry writ large on his face.

The journalist has visited the

NRC Sewa Kendra (NSK) twicefor hearing after his name didnot appear in the interim andfinal draft, and is uncertain

whether he will be able to makeit to the final Register of Citizenswhen it is published on Saturday.

Guha is a grandson ofrenowned historian, economistand poet of Assam AmalenduGuha and his family has livedin upscale Ulubari locality ofGuwahati since 1930. All in thefamily but Nabarun figure in thedraft NRC. "My parents havepassed away, so the question ofinclusion of their names doesnot arise. My father's name wasin the electoral rolls of 1966 and1970. I used his legacy codesand showed my linkage to himthrough my voter ID card. Stillmy name was not included,"Guha said.

"It really baffles me. I don'tknow whether my name will befinally included or not. If a mis-take can happen twice, it canhappen for a third time aswell," Guha told PTI, his fur-rowed forehead betraying theanxiety. Guha is not alone.Lakhs of households acrossAssam are on edge a day beforethe publication of the hugelycontentious NRC, which willdetermine bonafide Indian cit-izens as well identify illegalimmigrants from Bangladesh.

Monowara Begum, 45, adomestic help, is waiting for theNRC on a wing and a prayer.

Though she and her hus-band Lal Bahadur Ali figured inthe draft NRC, the names of allher four children--Laili, Anna,Monirul and Sahidul were miss-ing.

"I am so worried that I can-not sleep at night. I just don'tknow what will happen if theirnames are not there in the finallist," she said despairingly.

When reminded of thegovernment's assurance thatnobody whose name does notappear in the list will bedetained and that they canappeal before a foreigners tri-bunal, a sob tore at her throat.

"We have already spent ourhard earned money for attend-ing hearings. If we have to go totribunals now, we will have tosell our land and home," shesaid.

Ganesh Rai of SolmariKalyanpur village in Goalparadistrict belongs to the indige-nous ethnic Rajbangshi com-

munity but apprehends he wouldfail to make it to the final NRCas he has been declared a (doubt-ful) D-Voter. He had voted in the2016 assembly elections andnever received any notice abouthis changed status, which wasrevealed to him during aninquiry at a NSK.

Many Bodos and tea tribepeople in Bodoland TerritorialArea Districts (BTAD) are notoverly worried. They assert theyare indigenous people of Assamand nobody can uproot themfrom their land.

"We are the sons of the soil.If we are not included in theNRC, then who will be?" is thecomman refrain among the eth-nic communities here.

Amid criticism from polit-ical parties over alleged faultyinclusions and exclusions, theNRC will be in public domain onSaturday, and state authoritieshave clamped prohibitory ordersin vulnerable areas, including inGuwahati, under section 144CrPC to enforce public order.

This has been done toensure the normal functioning ofoffices, movement of public andtraffic flow, officials said.

Section 144 Cr PC pro-hibits assembly of more than fivepersons, any agitation, demon-stration or procession incitingcommunal violence, carrying offirearms, ammunition, explosivesubstances or weapons in pub-lic places or vehicles, as well asuse of loud speakers.

Ahead of the publication offinal NRC, Assam Chief MinisterSarbananda Sonowal on Fridayasked people not to panic andsaid the state government willtake all possible steps to helpgenuine Indians prove their cit-izenship and provide legal assis-tance. "No one should be wor-ried. No one should panic.Government is here to take careof everyone. Even those who willbe excluded from final list will getenough opportunity to provetheir Indian citizenship," he toldPTI in an interview.

Assam has seen a huge

influx from other places, partic-ularly Bangladesh, since theearly 20th century. It did not stopeven after Independence, with alarge number of illegal immi-grants from Bangladesh, bothHindus and Muslims, settlingthere. Identification, detentionand deportation of such immi-grants was a major demandover which the All AssamStudents Union (AASU)launched a 6-year movementwhich ended with the signing ofthe Assam Accord in 1985.

Though the Supreme Courthad ordered updating the NRCin 2013 to identify bonafide cit-izens and weed out illegal immi-grants, the actual exercise beganin February 2015.

The part publication of draftNRC was done on the midnightof December 31, 2017, and thecomplete draft was published onJuly 30, 2018.

A total of 2,89,83,677 peopleout of 3,29,91,384 applicantswere found eligible for inclusionin the register. PTI

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Mathura: Two toddlers diedand eight others were taken illat a Government-run orphan-age, prompting the districtadministration to order a probe.

The authorities have takensample of the milk being fed tochildren at the Rajkiya ShishuSadan here, Mathura DistrictMagistrate Sarvagya RamMishra said on Friday.

Ten children of thenorphanage fell ill on Wednesdaywith two of them dying of

diarrhoea within the last threedays, Mishra added.

Of the ten ailing children,four serious cases were referredto Agra medical college, whilerest are being treated inMathura district hospital here,he said.

He said despite the bestpossible treatment, two childrenbelow one and half years of agecould not be saved and theydied in Agra, the district mag-istrate added. PTI

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Mumbai: A 2008 Malegoanblast victim on Friday opposedthe prosecution's plea to thespecial anti-terror court hereto hold in camera trial of the"communally sensitive" case,saying terror has no religion.

"A terrorist is a terrorist.Why make it communal?What has the terror got to dowith religion?" said victim'scounsel B A Desai, opposingthe NIA's plea to hold in cam-era trial of the case on theground that it was a "commu-nally sensitive" one.

The victim's counsel alsoopposed the NIA plea, con-tending that he feared a col-lusion between the prosecu-

tion and the accused if the trialis held in camera.

"We want the trial to beheld openly as we fear collu-sion between the prosecutionand the accused. The prose-cution is protecting theaccused, not the victims bywanting to make it in camera,"he argued.

Several media persons andone of the blast victims havefiled applications opposingthe NIA plea for in cameraproceeding.

While media persons havesaid in their application thattheir fundamental rights willbe violated if the trial is held incamera, the victim's counsel

Desai said his client fear col-lusion between the prosecutionand the accused persons.

BJP MP from Bhopal,Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakurand Lt Col Prasad Purohit areamong the accused in the2008 Malegaon blast case.

The blast, which tookplace on September 29, 2008,killed six people and injuredover 100 others when a bombattached to a motorcycle wentoff near a mosque.

The trial court has so farexamined around 130 wit-nesses in the case. The prose-cution has named 475 wit-nesses.

The accused have been

charged under various provi-sions of the UnlawfulActivities (Prevention) Actand the Indian Penal Code.

NIA counsel AvinashRasal argued that when thecase is of a serious and sensi-tive nature, it is necessary totake precautionary measures."We are not saying the mediashould not publish any newsarticle on the trial. We are onlysaying when the trial pro-ceedings are on, there shouldbe no interference. The mediacan take necessary informa-tion from the NIA's investi-gating office present in courtfor writing their article," Rasalsaid. PTI

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Attribut ingthe slow-

down in GDPgrowth todomestic andglobal factors,Chief EconomicAdviser K VSubramanian onFriday said theGovernment istaking varioussteps to booste c o n o m i cexpansion.

The gross domestic prod-uct (GDP) data released by theNational Statistical Office ear-lier on Friday showed thatgrowth in the first quarter ofthe current fiscal slipped to anover six-year low of 5 per cent.

“The slowdown in growthis due to endogenous andexogenous factors,”Subramanian said while com-menting on the data.

He said the Government istaking all steps to revive theeconomy and expressed confi-

dence that the country wouldbe on a high-growth path “verysoon”.

The Government remainscommitted to its fiscal glidepath, he added.

“The Government is alive

to the situation and has takenseveral measures includingmega merger of banks(announced during the day),”he emphasised. FinanceMinister Nirmala Sitharamanon Friday announced merger of10 public sector banks intofour, thus bringing down thenumber of state-run lenders to12 from 27 in 2017.

Besides this, the ministerhad announced a slew of mea-sures last week, including stepsto increase liquidity in thecritical NBFC sector.

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The rupee appreciated by 38paise to close at a two-week

high of 71.42 against the USdollar on Friday led by a rallyin domestic equities andrenewed hopes of the US-China trade talks.

At the interbank foreignexchange, the rupee opened upat 71.76 and gained furtherstrength to touch a high of71.38 against the US dollar.

The domestic currencyfinally settled with a gain of 38paise of 0.53 per cent at 71.42,a level not seen since August 16.

The BSE Sensex ended263.86 points, or 0.71 per cent,higher at 37,332.79. Similarly,the broader NSE Nifty rose74.95 points, or 0.68 per cent,to close at 11,023.25.

The rupee sentimentrevived as concerns over US-China trade friction recededafter China said it will not retal-iate against the latest US tariffs,dealers said. A fall in crude oilprices also supported the rupeemove. Brent crude futures, theglobal oil benchmark, declined0.38 per cent to $60.85 per bar-rel. The dollar index, whichgauges the greenback’s strengthagainst a basket of six curren-cies, rose 0.05 per cent to98.55.

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The I-Tdepart-

ment onFriday dis-m i s s e ds o c i a lm e d i ar e p o r t sw h i c hclaimed that the Governmenthas extended the due date forfiling of income tax returns(ITRs) by a month and advisedtaxpayers to complete theprocess by the set deadline ofAugust 31.

“It has come to the noticeof CBDT that an order isbeing circulated on socialmedia pertaining to exten-sion of due dt (date) for filingof IT Returns. It is categori-cally stated that the said orderis not genuine. Taxpayers areadvised to file Returns withinextended due dt (date) of31.08.2019,” the Income-Taxdepartment said on its officialTwitter handle.

The handle,@IncomeTaxIndia, is operat-ed by the Central Board ofDirect Taxes that frames pol-icy for the I-T department.

The clarification cameafter a fake order dated August29 started doing the rounds onvarious social media plat-

forms, including Twitter andWhatsApp groups, claimingthat the government hasextended the due date for fil-ing income tax returns forindividuals (financial year2018-19) by a month tillSeptember 30.

The I-T department alsoput up a photo of the fakeorder on its Twitter handle andput a red cancellation crossacross it making clear that thecontents are not genuine.

On July 23, theGovernment had extended thedue date for filing income taxreturns by individuals forfinancial year 2018-19 by amonth till August 31. Theearlier deadline was July 31.

Individuals, includingsalaried taxpayers, and enti-ties- who do not need to gettheir accounts audited — arerequired to file their ITRs forfiscal 2018-19 (assessmentyear 2019-20) by Saturday,August 31.

���� 789�.8:0�

State Governments need tocapitalise their credit

institutions to get access tolong-term finance and havebetter control over theircredit flow, a Niti Aayog offi-cial said.

The states have no con-trol over the long-termf inance r ight now butnobody is stopping themfrom recapitalising financecorporations which will allowthem to on-lend at attractiverates to entrepreneurs, NITIAayog Special SecretaryYaduvendra Mathur said.

“States can’t just wait thatsomething will come fromthe Centre then we will moveahead. It is a proactive worldnow and a proactive world isabout choice, taking actionsand the State Governmentsare choosing to take bigcourse correction action.

“We need the StateGovernments to have accessto one of the factors input,which is credit, long-termcredit which the StateGovernments right now haveno control,” Mathur said atthe ‘Indian States Summit

2019’ organised by the IndianChamber of Commerce here.

He said that the stategovernments need to seri-ously invest in their creditinstitutions and have a betterhold on their credit flow.

Nobody is stopping thestate governments f romrecapitalising their financecorporations, and throughthis, they can on-lend at anattractive rate to their entre-preneurs, Mathur said.

Right now the states haveno control over the avail-ability of long term credit.Land, labour, electricity, basicinfrastructure are under thecontrol of states but when itcomes to financing or capitalneeds, they have no role toplay as banks are owned bythe central government,Mathur said.

Also, there are issuesrelated to ease of doing busi-ness are of great concernwith respect to states, how-ever, policy tweaking hashappened over the past sev-eral years on the exportpotential of states.

Earlier, the role of thestate governments was ratherminimal in designing the

national export strategy.The Commerce Ministry,

other central government agen-cies were really not into greaterdialogue with state govern-ments. But now every state gov-ernment is being asked to pre-pare its own export strategy. Asa result, about 17-18 statesgovernments have come out inthe public domain with theirexport strategies, the NITI offi-cial said.

“The Commerce min-istry, DPIIT, NITI Aayog —we are all engaging with thestates and have discussedexport index to rank thestates.

Mathur said that the stategovernments need to supporttheir industries so that theycan compete in the globalmarket because unless theyare channelised to the glob-al value chain, India will notbe able to deliver the resultsthat are desired to a reach a$5 trillion economies.

“So we will encouragestate governments to designtheir own industrial policiesand supporting structure sothat they can compete glob-ally and realise their exportpotential,” he added.

���� 789�.8:0�

Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman on Friday said

the profitability of public sec-tor banks has improved andtotal gross non-performingassets have come down to Rs7.9 lakh crore at end-March2019 from Rs 8.65 lakh crore atend-December 2018.

She also said liquidity sup-port to NBFCs and housingfinance companies hasimproved as the partial creditguarantee scheme has beenexecuted. An infusion of Rs3,300 crore has already beenmade and another Rs 30,000crore is in the pipeline.

Addressing her secondpress conference to announcesteps to boost the economy, thefinance minister said thereforms initiated in the publicsector banks (PSBs) have start-ed showing results as 14 ofthem posted a profit in the firstquarter of the current fiscal.

The minister also said thatto avoid Nirav Modi like fraudsin the PSBs, the SWIFT mes-saging system has now beenlinked with the core bankingsystem.

��� � 789�.8:0�

The National Company LawAppellate Tribunal

(NCLAT) has dismissed a pleaby capital market regulatorSebi challenging the approvalgiven by NCLT Guwahati tothe resolution plan of AssamCompany India Ltd.

A three-member benchheaded by NCLATChairperson Justice S J

Mukhopadhaya also gave a goahead to the Securities andExchange Board of India (Sebi)to take steps against promoters,directors or officials of AssamCompany India if they arefound violating listing laws.

Sebi had challenged theNCLT order of September 20,2018, approving the resolu-tion plan of Abu Dhabi-basedBRS Ventures Investments forAssam Company.

��� 789�.8:0�

Addressing the 61st annualgeneral meeting of the

company, th e chairmanBijendra Kumar presented areport card of the company forthe financial year 2018-19.

The Directors’ Report andthe Audited Balance sheet ofyour company for the periodended 31st March, 2019 havealready been provided to theshareholders of the company.With your permission, I takethem as read.

During the year underreview, NMDC has achievediron ore production and salesof 32.4 million T respectively

and Profit After Tax (PAT) of�4,642 crores. Net-worth ofyour company was �25,952crore as on 31st March 2019.The Company has declaredDividend@ 552% i.e. �5.52 pershare for FY 2018-19 involvingan outgo of �1,690 crore.

In the year under retro-spect, NMDC performedexceedingly well in most of theparameters despite suspensionof operations at Donimalaimines. It is heartening to notethat your company stands firmin difficult situation and otherprojects of the companyresponded well to achieve sucha performance with the help ofall stakeholders.

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���� 789�.8:0�

The Government on Fridaysaid it will infuse about

�55,000 crore in public sectorbanks to enhance their capitalbase so that they can acceler-ate lending in a bid to bolstergrowth.

This was the second set ofmeasures announced byFinance Minister NirmalaSitharaman to prop up theeconomy and at least one moreis expected next week.

The announcementformed part of theGovernment’s mega plan tomerge 10 public sector banksinto four with a view to creat-ing fewer and stronger global-sized lenders with robust bal-ance sheets.

All the anchor banks in theconsolidation process will getcapital support. As a result,Punjab National Bank will get�16,000 crore, Union Bank ofIndia �11,700 crore, CanaraBank �6,500 crore and IndianBank �2,500 crore.

Besides, Bank of Barodawill get �7,000 crore, IndianOverseas Bank �3,800 croreand Central Bank of India�3,300 crore.

This are indicative figuresand the actual capital infusionmay vary depending on banks’assessment, Sitharaman toldreporters here.

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New Delhi: Supporting Mahindra Group’s commitment towardsthe environment, more than 4.5 million people have joined itsmaiden citizens’ movement initiative, #CelebrateDifferently.Mahindra Group recognised that organisations alone cannot driveexponential impact to combat climate change, hence the citizenmovement was brought to life. The three months long campaignhas culminated with engagement (likes, shares and commentson the hashtag) from 4.5 million citizens on #CelebrateDifferently.Under the Mahindra Hariyali initiative, Mahindra Group willnow plant equivalent number of trees over the next four yearsto #RiseAgainstClimateChange. Planting trees, including improv-ing forest management, conservation, and regeneration, will helpoffset India’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. PNS

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Page 11: ˘ˇˆ - The Pioneer · 2019-08-30 · The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will ... about him joining politics. ... recently submitted a report on the new direct tax code

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���� 789�@&,<

Fifteen-year-old American sensationCoco Gauff set up an eye-catchingUS Open showdown with defend-

ing champion Naomi Osaka whileRafael Nadal’s path to the title eased fur-ther on Thursday as he received awalkover into the third round.

Reigning Wimbledon championSimona Halep, meanwhile, crashed outearly in New York for a third year run-

ning, blowing a match point in a tensethree-set loss to 116th-ranked TaylorTownsend.

Gauff, who made a remarkable runto the fourth round at Wimbledonbefore falling to Halep, defeatedHungarian qualifier Timea Babos 6-2,4-6, 6-4 to become the youngest playerin the last 32 at a US Open since AnnaKournikova in 1996.

“It has been amazing. I’m just sohappy to get through,” Gauff said as

chants of her name rang out aroundLouis Armstrong Stadium.

“I had to dig really deep today. I’mjust proud of the way I fought and I’mglad it was all worth it in the end.”

Asked about her impending clashwith world number one Osaka,Gauff said her primary focus is onFriday’s doubles match with 17-year-old partner Caty McNally.

“Saturday, I’m going to thinkabout the match, but tomorrow(Friday) I’m worried about mydoubles match,” she said.

Three-time US Open championNadal advanced without striking a ballwhen injury-plagued Australian ThanasiKokkinakis pulled out of their scheduledevening tie on Arthur Ashe with a rightshoulder problem.

The Spanish 18-time Grand Slamwinner will meet South Korean quali-fier Chung Hyeon for a spot in the last16.

His path to a fourth title, alreadyhelped with “Big Three” rivals NovakDjokovic and Roger Federer on theopposite side of the draw, cleared fur-ther having already seen four top-10rivals dumped out in the first round.

Alexander Zverev, the sixth seed, isthe highest-ranked player remaining onhis side of the draw, as the German sur-

vived a second successive five-setmarathon by outlasting AmericanFrances Tiafoe 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 toequal his best US Open run.

'LONG JOURNEY'Townsend upended women’s fourth

seed Halep 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), theRomanian consigned to another prema-ture exit at Flushing Meadows, havingbeen knocked out in the opening roundin 2017 and 2018.

“I was not inspired at all today, butI fought. I thought when I came backthat I will take it and I will win it. Butsometimes it goes the other way,” Halepsaid.

Townsend recovered from wastingtwo match points to then save one andforce a tie-break she dominated toclaim her first win over a top-10 play-er.

“This means a lot. It has been a longjourney,” said a tearful Townsend, whomatched her run to the French Openthird round on her Grand Slam debut in2014.

Top seed Osaka proved too strong for53rd-ranked Magda Linette ofPoland, sweeping to a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

“I feel like I had mymoments where I played real-ly well,” Osaka said. “I thinkthe main thing for me was that

I was able to adjust whenever I figuredout something was going wrong, so Ithink I’m heading in the right direction.”

Men’s fifth seed Daniil Medvedev,coming off a maiden Masters title inCincinnati, was struck down by crampduring a 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 win overBolivia’s Hugo Dellien.

Stan Wawrinka, the 2016 US Openchampion, beat Jeremy Chardy in foursets and is on a fourth-round collisioncourse with Djokovic, while Australian28th seed Nick Kyrgios rolled past104th-ranked French wildcard AntoineHoang 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Andrea Petkovic knocked out Czechsixth seed Petra Kvitova 6-4, 6-4, while15th seed Bianca Andreescu and two-time runner-up Caroline Wozniackialso progressed.

���� 789�@&,<

Simona Halep said she was“not inspired at all” in

Thursday’s US Open loss to116th-ranked American quali-fier Taylor Townsend as her mis-erable run in New York contin-ued.

The reigning Wimbledonchampion saved a pair of matchpoints but then failed to convertone in the final set of a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) defeat.

“I was not inspired at alltoday, but I fought. I thoughtwhen I came back that I will takeit and I will win it. But some-times it goes the other way,”Halep said, digesting anotherearly Flushing Meadows exit fol-lowing first-round losses in2017 and 2018.

“I’m used to it. It’s the thirdyear. I’m disappointed. I hadexpectations from myself thatI’m confident and I feel thegame. But today was different. Iwas very close. I had match ball.But, you know, sometimes ithappens.

“She played really well. Shereally deserved to win it becauseshe gave everything and she did-n’t think of losing. She went all

the way with 100 percent belief.”Fourth seed Halep, whose

best US Open run came whenshe reached the semi-finals in2015, admitted she struggled tocope with Townsend's commit-ted serve-and-volley approach.

“Never, never. I never playedwith someone coming so oftento the net,” Halep said.

“She was way more inspiredthan me. Many balls I hit on the

sides, she was there. That’s whyI say I was not inspired. I playedall the time where she was.”

Halep had not dropped a setin three previous meeting withTownsend, whose victory overthe Romanian represented herfirst over a top-10 player.

The most recent of thoseclashes came last March inMiami, where Halep impartedsome friendly advice toTownsend after she inflicted a 6-1, 6-3 defeat on her.

“After we played together,she came in the locker room andshe asked me what she has toimprove to be better. So she didit today,” Halep said, with a wrysmile. “Next time I will not sayanything.

“I played few times againsther, and I knew how she’s play-ing,” she added.

“But today she changed.She went for all the balls to thenet. So it was a little bit differ-ent. At one point I lost therhythm in the second set, and Ididn’t really know what I have tochange. Even the touch, I didn’thave it.

“But always when you playwith a top player, you havenothing to lose.”

���� 789�@&,<

World number one Naomi Osaka is ready tojoin Kei Nishikori for mixed doubles at the

Tokyo Olympics, but first she needs to practicedoubles for the first time ever.

Defending champion Osaka advanced to thethird round of the US Open on Thursday bydefeating Poland’s Magda Linette 6-2, 6-4.

The 21-year-old Japanese star was asked afterthe match about Nishikori, a former US Openrunner-up, saying he would see if she was inter-ested in joining forces for mixed doubles at nextyear’s Olympics.

Osaka, the reigning Australian Open cham-pion also, is excited by the prospect, but also morethan a bit intimidated.

“The thing is anyone that knows my doublestrack record knows that I’m down,” Osaka said.

“I would play. I would definitely play withhim. I just, I would actually need to prac-tice doubles for the first time in mylife.”

The pride Osaka would feel inplaying for her homeland is tem-pered by the massive responsibilitysuch a “Dream Team” would carry.

“Because you cannot play mixed doubles withKei Nishikori and lose in the first round of theOlympics in Tokyo,” Osaka said.

“That would be the biggest — like, I wouldcry. I would actually cry for losing a doublesmatch. Definitely I think that would be so his-toric in a way. And I would love to do it. But Ineed to practice my doubles.” Osaka had a fanamong the spectators who burst into tears at justseeing her.

“I’d rather people don’t cry. It kind of makesme emotional, too,” Osaka said.

“It’s really crazy for me. The past year hasbeen, like, insane. I think it’s moments like thatthat sort of make me realize it.

“I’m really grateful and I’m honestly reallyhumbled by it, because I know as a kid I had myfavorite players. They’re kind of still playing rightnow. Yeah, it’s crazy.”

OSAKA'S PAL KOBEAmong those lucky enough to sit in Osaka’s

players’ box for the match were five-time NBAchampion Kobe Bryant, the retired Los AngelesLakers star guard, and former NFL quarterbackColin Kaepernick, whose kneeling protest becamea national symbol for champions of social justiceand racial equality.

“I did want to play well,” Osaka said of herspecial guests. “It’s just funny to me. Last year com-pared to this year, there’s no way Kobe would sitin my box Kaepernick, too. It’s just crazy who yourun into in life.

“For me, it wasn’t pressure. It was just like Ireally didn’t want them to sit in the sun too long,

honestly. That was the thing that was on my mind.I was like, I don’t really want to play a third set.”Bryant, a two-time Olympic champion, is a friendand adviser for Osaka.

“I know Kobe. This is actually the first timeI’ve ever met Colin,” Osaka said. “Kobe gives mereal-life advice. He’s someone I look up to as anathlete and also as a person. I’m really gratefulthat I even have the opportunity to talk to himand stuff.”

Asked what causes she supports with a nodto Kaepernick’s protest move, Osaka’s was sim-ple and admirable.

“It’s going to sound corny as heck, but I justbelieve in being nice to people. Treat people likehow you want to be treated,” she said.

“I don’t know how anyone’s day has been. Idon’t know the circumstances that led to thembeing the way they are. So for me I would neverjudge a person, especially when I haven’t walkedin their shoes.

“Someone told me that for me to take one sec-ond out of my day to sign someone’s ball couldbe the highlight of their day, and they could havehad a really bad day. I took that really into per-spective. Just want to spread kindness and pos-itivity even though sometimes I don’t do that onthe court. But I’m working on it.”

���� 789�@&,<

India’s Divij Sharan made afirst-round exit from the US

Open with partner Hugo Nysafter losing in straight sets toRobert Carballes Baena andFederico Delbonis, here.

The Indian and his partnerfrom Monaco lost 4-6, 4-6 tothe players, who are bothranked outside top-100 brack-et.

Sharan and Nys did not getany break-point in the 72-

minute clash while their rivalsbroke them once each in boththe sets to move to the nextround.

“We probably needed toput more pressure on their ser-vice games. Delbonis madesome really good returns in thegames we got broken. It’s obvi-ously a tough loss as I wouldhave liked to do better in thelast slam of the year,” Divij said.

“I’ll look to regroup andwork towards doing well in theremaining tournaments of the

year.”This is the second time this

season that left-handed Sharanhas made a first-round exitfrom a Grand Slam, losing atthe same stage at the AustralianOpen also. The result meansthat he is likely to drop a rungto 48 when the new rankingswill be issued after the conclu-sion of the last Grand Slam ofthe season.

Reaching the Wimbledonquarterfinals in 2018 remainshis best show at the Majors.

Rohan Bopanna andLeander Paes are also in themen’s doubles draw with theirrespective partners.

Bopanna and his Canadianpartner Denis Shapovalov areup against French fourth seedsPierre-Hugues Herbert andNicolas Mahut.

Paes has paired withArgentina’s Guillermo Duranand they will open their cam-paign against Serbia’s MiomirKecmanovic and Norway’sCasper Ruud.

���� ,�&�.8�-�78�,&

Asian Games medallist AbhishekVerma won the Gold while teen

sensation Saurabh Chaudharyclaimed the Bronze as Indian shoot-ers dominated the podium in themen’s 10m air pistol event of theongoing ISSF World Cup here.

Verma, a part-time lawyer, shot244.2 in the eight-man final onThursday, while the 17-year-oldChaudhary’s 221.9 was good enoughto get him the Bronze after five Goldmedals this year.

The Silver medal went to Turkey’sIsmail Keles, who aggregated 243.1 inthe season’s fourth ISSF World Cupfor rifle and pistol shooters.

India are now placed at the topof the medals tally with two Gold, oneSilver and a Bronze.

India have already exhaustedthe maximum Olympic quotas avail-able per country in this event, withboth Verma and Chaudhary secur-ing the sports in the previous quali-fying events.

In the qualification round onThursday, Chaudhary was fourthwith 584 points and Verma enteredthe finals in fifth position with 582

points, while Gaurav Rana was 44thwith 571.

Verma, who won Bronze in theJakarta Asiad last year, andChaudhary ended the second day ofcompetitions on a high note for India.

For a change, Chaudhary had tosettle for a Bronze this time — hissixth ISSF World Cup medal of theyear. He had earlier won a phenom-enal five Golds.

Earlier in the day, Chinki Yadavcame close to making it to the finals,finishing just a point behind the finalqualifying mark in the women’s 25mPistol event.

She shot a 294 in the Rapid Fireround, ending up with a solid 584 toclaim 10th spot.

Switzerland’s Heidi Gerber, whobagged the eighth and final qualify-ing spot, shot 585 even as Hungary’sVeronika Major claimed her thirdISSF World Cup Gold of the year inthe event.

Annu Raj Singh, making a come-back to the Indian team, shot 579 toend in 25th spot while AbhidnyaAshok Patil shot 572 to finish 53rd.

Indian shooters in the non-com-petition Minimum QualificationScore section also had a great day.

���� :&7.&7�

Alexis Sanchez joined Italian giants Inter Milan ona season-long loan deal from Manchester United,

both clubs announced on Thursday.Sanchez, 30, has endured a miserable time in

Manchester since joining the Red Devils in January2018 as reportedly the highest paid player in thePremier League.

The Chilean scored just five goals in 45 appear-ances for United and has not featured so far this sea-son.

“Alexis Sanchez is officially an Inter player. TheChilean has joined the Nerazzurri from ManchesterUnited on a loan deal that will last until 30 June 2020,”Inter said in a statement.

Sanchez will join forces with a former Unitedteammate Romelu Lukaku, who moved to Italy in a65-million-euro move earlier this month, as Inter hopeto end Juventus’ eight-year domination of Italian foot-ball in Antonio Conte’s first season in charge.

Lukaku scored as Conte’s reign as Inter coach gotoff to a perfect start with a 4-0 win over Lecce.

However, reviving Sanchez’s fortunes will be a big-ger ask of Conte’s management after 18 months in thedoldrums at Old Trafford.

United have cut their losses on the formerBarcelona and Arsenal star, but are still reportedly setto pay a large chunk of Sanchez’s £400,000 a weekwages after his form and fitness deserted him over thepast two seasons.

���� +8,:�7�

Ex-Germany goalkeeper OliverKahn will join Bayern

Munich’s board in January to begroomed to replace club chair-man Karl-Heinz Rummenigge,the Bundesliga giants announcedon Friday amid a backroomupheaval.

The appointment of Kahn,who played for Bayern from1994 until 2008, was approved byBayern’s board late Thursday, justhours after club president UliHoeness, 67, officially informedthe club that he is stepping downin November.

Current chairmanRummenigge, 63, will eventual-ly hand the reins to Kahn onDecember 31, 2021, after show-ing his successor the ropes, whileformer Adidas boss HerbertHainer is poised to replaceHoeness as club president in theNovember elections.

Kahn, a former captain ofboth Germany and Bayern whomade more than 600 appear-ances for the club, will sign a five-year contract and will join theclub’s board from January 1,2020, serving a two-year appren-ticeship before taking over fromRummenigge.

Hoeness sees Kahn as the“perfect solution” to replaceRummenigge as the 50-year-oldhas served as “an importantplayer in the history of the club”after he won the Bundesliga titleeight times and was part of theteam which won the ChampionsLeague in 2001.

Kahn “carries the DNA ofthe club in him”, added Hoeness,who stressed how important it isto have a former Bayern playerdirecting the club at boardroomlevel.

“It would be very difficult toestablish someone in the positionwho has not played football at ahigh level,” said Hoeness, whoadded that Kahn made “an excel-lent” impression on the boardduring Thursday’s meeting.

“When you’re talking to big-name players, like RobertLewandowski or JoshuaKimmich... It’s important thatthey take it for granted youknow how to stop a ball.” Kahnsaid it was a “great honour” to beaccepted onto the board and feels“deeply connected with the club,it has strongly shaped my life”.

After retiring 11 years ago,Kahn has earned an MBA ingeneral management and builtup his own business while serv-ing as a TV expert for broadcast-er ZDF.

���� �08:68�

Frank Lampard’s first season atChelsea remains a work in progress

but the emergence of MasonMount and Tammy Abrahammeans there are already signif-icant positives to be drawnfrom the new era at StamfordBridge.

Lampard — whose side faceSheffield United at home thisweekend — promised to pro-vide opportunities to youngplayers when he returned tohis old club this summer.

The former midfield-er’s position was partlydriven by the transferembargo imposed on theclub, but also a belief inthe reserves of talent at in theclub’s academy that have toooften been overlooked byLampard’s predecessors.

And if early season formis anything to go by, Mount

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and Abraham could be features ofthe Chelsea line-up for some time

to come.Mount has been at Chelsea

since the age of six and havingspent last season on loan

with Lampard at DerbyCounty in theChampionship, his abili-ties are well known to themanager who hasdemonstrated great faith

in the player by starting him inall three of Chelsea’s league

games so far.Mount has responded with

goals in his last two games, andwas joined on the scoresheet inlast weekend’s 3-2 win atNorwich City by Abrahamwho struck his first two goalsfor the club at Carrow Road.

Abraham showed hispotential by striking 37 goals

during Aston Villa’s promotion-winning season before returning

to Chelsea this summer.

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Page 12: ˘ˇˆ - The Pioneer · 2019-08-30 · The merger of Syndicate Bank with Canara Bank will ... about him joining politics. ... recently submitted a report on the new direct tax code

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Australia captain Tim Painebelieves Steve Smith’s returncould be decisive in their quest

to retain the Ashes.Paine’s men were on the brink of

going 2-0 up with two to play only forEngland all-rounder Ben Stokes’ stun-ning 135 not out to condemn them toa dramatic one-wicket loss in the thirdTest at Headingley last week.

Smith, however, missed that matchwith concussion after being hit by a92mph bouncer from Jofra Archer inthe drawn second Test at Lord’s.

The 30-year-old is now set to playin next week’s fourth Test at OldTrafford provided he comes throughthis three-day tour fixture unscathed.

“Without Steve Smith playing Idon’t think we were given any chanceof winning that Test match, I thinkmost people wrote us off in that Test,so we’re tracking ok,” Paine toldreporters after Thursday’s close.

Australia were 77-0 withoutloss at stumps in reply toDerbyshire’s first-innings 172.

Marcus Harris was 52 notout and stand-in skipper UsmanKhawaja, playing against hisold county, 18 not out.

Both batsmen have strug-gled in the Ashes and onecould make way for Smithwhile the other partnersDavid Warner at the top ofthe order at Old Trafford.

“Steve Smith is going tocome back in and play. Soobviously someone from thelast Test is going to missout,” said Paine, who replacedSmith as Australia captainafter the ball-tampering scan-dal.

“There’s no doubt about that.You have the best player in theworld coming back into yourline-up.”

He insisted Australia had“moved on” from a remarkablereverse at Headingley.

“We had some honest conversa-tions and we now we made someerrors as a team and as individuals, butwe can’t be holding onto that,” he said.

“We’ve moved on, we’re ready forManchester, the group’s in a reallygood spot,” added Paine, looking tolead Australia to their first Ashesseries win in England for 18 years.

Stokes was dropped late in his

Headingley innings by Harris.And with England needing to two

to win, Stokes might have been lbw tooff-spinner Nathan Lyon — who theball before had missed a clear chanceto run out Jack Leach.

But umpire Joel Wilson ruled inEngland’s favour and, although replayssuggested Stokes would have been lbw,Australia were unable to challenge thedecision as they had run out of reviews.

Paine, asked how Australia couldbest dismiss all-rounder Stokes, who

also made 115 not out at Lord’s,replied: “Hold our chances would be agood start.

“I think Nathan Lyon in the last twoTests alone would have got him out fiveor six times had we held our catches orreferred our lbws.”

“Lyono’s still a huge weapon againsthim,” added Paine, rested from theDerbyshire match.

“But he (Stokes) is a world-class player, he puts bowlersunder pressure andmakes them do thingsand captains dothings that youwouldn’t normallydo.

“That’s a hugeweapon Englandhave got and onewe’ve got to try andcontain in the last twoTest matches.”

Mitchel l Starc,Australia’s World Cupspearhead but yet to feature inthis Ashes, took three lateDerbyshire wickets in one over.

Paine, however, said there wasmore to the left-arm fast bowler thanjust cleaning up the tail.

“He’s been working on his lengthand I think he showed some reallygood control in his first spell.”

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England star James Anderson has been ruled outof the remainder of the Ashes series with a calf

injury, the England and Wales Cricket Boardannounced on Friday.

Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker, has not bowled in the series since breakingdown with the injury after sending down just fourovers in Australia’s 251-run win in the first Test atEdgbaston.

There had been hopes the 37-year-oldLancashire paceman would be fit for the fourth Testat his Old Trafford home ground starting onWednesday.

But after bowling during a second XI matchagainst Durham this week he has been declaredunfit for the final two Tests of the series.

“England and Lancashire seamer JamesAnderson has been ruled out for the rest of theSpecsavers Ashes series,” said an ECB statement.

“Whilst bowling in the ninth over on Thursdayin Lancashire’s second XI four-day friendly againstDurham at Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club,Anderson became aware of right calf pain follow-ing on from 20 overs he had bowled on Tuesday.

“He immediately sought a medical assessmentfrom Lancashire and was withdrawn from the

remainder of the game,” the statementadded.

“Further review with the ECBmedical team has confirmed that hewill be unavailable for the remain-ing two Specsavers Ashes Tests.”

Anderson has taken 575 wicketsin 149 Tests at 26.94.

His tally is the most byany quick bowler, withAnderson fourth in theall-time list of leadingTest wicket-takers.

England have nowadded Somerset quickCraig Overton into a 13-man squad for thefourth Test.

Overton is nowback in a Test squad forthe first time sinceMarch 2018 when heplayed in England’s lossto New Zealand at EdenPark, Auckland.4th Test squad: RoryBurns, Jason Roy, Joe

Root (capt), Joe Denly,Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow

(wkt), Jos Buttler, ChrisWoakes, Jofra Archer, StuartBroad, Jack Leach, Sam Curran,Craig Overton.

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Last season’s runners-upArsenal were placed in

the same section asEintracht Frankfurt in thedraw for the Europa Leaguegroup stage in Monaco onFriday, while ManchesterUnited face a long trip toKazakhstan.

Unai Emery’s Arsenalside lost to Chelsea in thefinal in Baku after Eintrachthad been eliminated by thesame side on penalties in thelast four.

Ten-time Belgian cham-pions Standard Liege andPortugal’s Vitoria Guimaraes

are also in Group F.United, Europa League

winners in 2017, will faceAstana of Kazakhstan aswell as Partizan Belgradeand former finalists AZAlkmaar of the Netherlandsin Group L.

Wo l v e r h a m p t o nWanderers, the third Englishteam in the draw, will takeon Turkish side Besiktas inGroup K.

In their first Europeancampaign since 1980,Wolves have already comethrough three ties just toreach the group stage,including defeating Torino5-3 on aggregate in the play-

offs.Nuno Espirito Santo’s

team will also take on Bragaof Portugal and SlovanBratislava of Slovakia.

While all three PremierLeague sides will be fanciedto progress to the last 32, thedraw was far less kind on thetwo Scottish representatives.

Scottish championsCeltic meet Italian Cupholders Lazio and FrenchCup holders Rennes inGroup E as well as CFRCluj, the Romanian side towhom they lost inChampions League qualify-ing.

Celtic were in the samegroup as Rennes in the2011-12 Europa League andtook four points against theFrench club.

Meanwhile, StevenGerrard’s Rangers will takeon former European Cupwinners Porto andFeyenoord as well as Swisschampions Young Boys inGroup G.

Rangers reached thegroup stage for the secondseason running after edgingout Legia Warsaw in theplay-off round.

The opening groupgames will be played onSeptember 19. This sea-son's final will be held in thePolish city of Gdansk onMay 27, 2020.

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Barcelona coach ErnestoValverde has admitted he

cannot wait for speculationabout Neymar to end when thetransfer window closes onMonday.

Valverde also confirmedthat Lionel Messi will notrecover from his calf injury intime to face Osasuna in La Ligaon Saturday.

Messi tore his calf onAugust 5 and his absence mighthave accelerated Barca’s chasefor Neymar, although reports inSpain on Friday suggested theymay be unwilling to meet ParisS a i n t - G e r m a i n ’ sdemands.

With three days leftbefore the market shuts,there is still timefor a last attempt,with Barcelonadirector JordiBordas sayingon Tuesdaythat an agree-ment was“closer”.

“I amvery muchlooking for-ward to theday the trans-fer window clos-es,” said Valverde in

a press conference on Friday.“We can all then rest and

know this is the squad that wehave.

“On the issue of Neymar, Ihave nothing more to say. Heis a player from another team,we respect other clubs andwe’ll see what happens.”

Messi has yet to play thisseason, despite returning totraining with the first team lastweek.

Barcelona have deniedtheir captain has suffered a set-back and hope to have him

available for theleague game athome to Valencia

on September 14,before their

Champions Leagueopener away toB o r u s s i aDortmund threedays later.“The process of

recovery continues as nor-mal,” Valverde said. “It is truethat now the margins aresmall and we hope that for thegame against Valencia hemight be available.

“Then we start theChampions League andwe hope to have him back

for that but we will see howhe progresses in these twoweeks with the injury.”

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Former India batsman Ambati Rayudu hasexpressed his willingness to come out of

retirement and represent Hyderabad in allthree formats, a little less than two monthsafter he drew curtains on his cricketing career.

Rayudu, who announced his retirementafter being ignored for the 2019 World Cup,wrote to Prof Ratnakar Shetty of the BCCI,who is also one of the members of theCommittee of Administrators (CoA) of theHyderabad Cricket Association (HCA),expressing his willingness to play forHyderabad again.

“Ambati Rayudu has conveyed his desireto withdraw his earlier decision of retirementand made himself available for HCA in all for-mats of the game,” Shetty said on Friday.

The 33-year old cricketer had sent an e-mail to HCA on Thursday, stating that hewould like to come out of retirement and playin all formats for Hyderabad. He had alsothanked Chennai Super Kings, India greatVVS Laxman and Hyderabad selectioncommittee chief Noel David for their sup-port.

An emotional Rayudu had also statedthat he had taken the retirement decision inhaste.

Shetty said the decision taken by Rayuduwas a hasty one and it was good that he hasrealised it and chosen to withdraw it now.

“I was surprised when he took the deci-sion to retire which I feel was a hasty deci-sion,” Shetty, a veteran BCCI administrator,said.

He also said it is good that Rayudu hadrealised his mistake after being spoken to bysenior players including former India starLaxman.

“It is good that he (Rayudu) has realisedhis mistake after being spoken to by seniorplayers including VVS Laxman and hasdecided to withdraw his retirement decision,”Shetty added.

“He has a lot of cricket left in him andhis presence will help the youngsters inHyderabad CA,” the veteran administratorpointed out. “Ambati (Rayudu) is known tome since 2000 when he was a part of theunder-15 team and was a promising talent.It is good that he’s back.”

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Asuccessful away outingagainst world No 2

Belgium will definitely boostthe confidence of the Indianmen’s hockey team ahead ofthe Olympics qualifiers, feelsexperienced goalkeeper PRSreejesh.

The Indian team is com-ing off a successful OlympicTest event in Tokyo where theywere crowned champions afterthrashing New Zealand 5-0.

The world No 5 Indianmen’s team will next tourBelgium in September beforethe all-important OlympicQualifiers in November.

“The tour of Belgium is amassive series for us. They arethe No 2 side in the world andif we perform well againstthem then it will be a big con-fidence boost for us ahead ofthe FIH Olympic Qualifiers.Hopefully, we will win theseries at their home turf,”Sreejesh said.

Talking about the successat the Test event, the 31-year-old, who was rested alongwith several senior players,said the team has the right bal-ance for the upcoming FIHOlympic Qualifiers.

“It’s been amazing to seethe way our team has per-formed in the last couple ofmonths. Our victory in theOlympic Test event showedthat we have an excellentbench strength. The team hasthe right balance at the

moment and we are confidentof booking a place in the2020 Tokyo Olympics,” hesaid.

Like their male counter-parts, the Indian women’shockey team also returnedtriumphant from the Testevent after beating hosts Japan2-1 in the final.

Analysing the team’s per-formance, goalkeeper Savitasaid on-field communicationwas key to the team’s successat Tokyo.

“We were extremelypleased with our performanceat the Olympic Test Event.Being unbeaten was a veryheartening performance andespecially playing toe-to-toewith world No 2 Australiagave us a lot of confidence.The players are communicat-ing very well on the field andtherefore we have been able towin tournaments,” she said.

The Indian women’s team,ranked 10 in the world, willtake on England in Septemberahead of the FIH OlympicQualifiers.

“We have gained momen-tum at the right time with vic-tories. However, we cannot getcarried away with the resultsand need to continue to focuson improving our game.

“Playing the world No 4England side will be a toughchallenge in a five-matchseries, but if we continue tocommunicate well on the fieldthen we will surely producegreat results,” Savita said.

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Out-of-form senior openerShikhar Dhawan has been

included in the India A side for thelast two unofficial one dayersagainst South Africa A to get backsome form after a wretched tour ofthe West Indies.

The veteran left-hander, whomade a comeback from a hand frac-ture sustained during World Cup,totalled 65 runs across five interna-tional games that included threeT20s and two ODIs.

He had scores of 1, 23 and 3 inthe T20 Internationals, while hemade 2 and 36 in the two complet-ed ODIs.

“The All-India Senior SelectionCommittee on Friday decided to

add Mr Shikhar Dhawan to India Asquad for the fourth and fifth one-day against South Africa A,” the

BCCI said in a release.However, it was another setback

for Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay

Shankar, who is now out of the ‘A’series with a thumb injury.

“Vijay Shankar has been ruledout of the series owing to an injuryto his right thumb,” the press relasestated.

Shankar was forced to leave theWorld Cup campaign midway whenhe sustained a toe injury due to ayorker bowled by Jasprit Bumrah.He recently made a comeback in theTamil Nadu Premier League(TNPL) and was included for the Aseries.

However, this injury again pegshim back and with Mumbai’sShivam Dube showing more qual-ity with the willow, it may be atricky road for the Chennai all-rounder to regain his place in thetop-grade.

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Australia star Steve Smith was outfor just 23 in his first innings since

being felled by England fast bowlerJofra Archer and suffering concussionin the second Ashes Test.

Smith took to the crease in thethree-day tour game at Derby onFriday, coming in with Australia 179-2 in reply to Derbyshire’s first innings172.

He played his opening ball fromHamidullah Qadri defensively andlater slogged the off-spinner for four.

But his 38-ball knock came to anend when he sliced a drive off MattCritchley, a leg-spinner whose previ-ous 59 first-class wickets had come atan expensive average of 51.86. Qadri,running in from the cover boundary,held a well-judged catch.

Australia were then 237-3 in the

70th over.Smith, who was in the middle for

47 minutes, faced 38 balls and strucktwo fours.

But the only five balls he faced thatweren’t from a slow bowler came frommedium-pacer Anuj Dal.

Smith kept his pads on after walk-ing back into the pavilion and soonafterwards headed into the nets in thecompany of Australia opener DavidWarner, not playing against Derbyshire.

Warner, using the ‘dog-thrower’device to simulate fast bowling, sentdown deliveries to Smith.

This was former his first matchsince being hit on his unprotected neckby a 92 mph bouncer from Archer dur-ing the drawn second Test at Lord’s.

But against Derbyshire he wasbatting with a stem guard neck protec-tor on his helmet despite previouslysaying he felt uncomfortable using one.

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