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 Vol No: XXIII  Issue No. 210  06.09.2018 (Thursday)  Daily  Jammu Tawi  Price 3/-  Pages-12  Regd. No. JK|306|2017-19

SAC for completion of all pending projects by 2019
Rs 8000 Cr to give fillip to infrastructure development;
NL CORRESPONDENT
SRINAGAR, SEPT 05
With a view to providing
fillip to the developmental
activities across the State,
the State Administrative
Council (SAC) which met
here today under the
chairmanship of Governor,
Shri Satya Pal Malik
approved an amount of Rs
8000 crores for completing
all languishing projects in
the state. For this purpose,
the SAC approved the
establishment of a new
NC to boycott local bodies poll ; Police arrests Intruder killed in Rajouri
infrastructure company,
the Jammu and Kashmir
Infrastructure
Development Finance
Corporation (JKIDFC). The
JKIDFC has been
authorized to raise a loan
not exceeding Rs 8000
crores from various
financial Institutions
including State/
Nationalized Banks for
completion of these
unfunded, languishing
projects.
Advisors to Governor, B B
Vyas, K Vijay Kumar &
Approves 40 new Degree Colleges in
JK, restructuring, unbundling of PDD,
Separate JVC for 850MW Ratle Power
Project; Dispenses with oral test for
Medical Officers
or have been left
incomplete due to one or
the other reason. Some of
them have been
Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, languishing for over 5
Chief Secretary B V R years resulting not only in
Subrahmanyam and blocking of funds spent on
Principal Secretary to them but also in cost
Governor, Umang Narula escalation and time
were present at the overruns. A tentative
meeting. assessment by the State
A persistent difficulty Planning, Development
encountered in the and Monitoring
development process has Department (PD&MD)
been the large number of indicated that incomplete
languishing and unfunded projects worth over Rs
projects. These
developmental projects
10000 crores were at
various stages and that
which are at different over Rs 6000 crores would
stages of execution are be required to complete
either inadequately funded all of them in one go. The
State Planning department
has further analyzed that
six departments namely
PW(R&B), PHE/I&FC,
School Education, Higher
Education, Youth Services
and Sports, Health and
Medical Education and
Tourism taken together
accounted for nearly two
thirds of the total
unfunded burden; the
projects in these 6
departments alone
account for nearly Rs.
4000 crores.
SAC took note of the fact
that the completion of
these projects in a
business as usual manner
would take
P2
Nehru's follies created
Kashmir problem: Doval
JAMMU TAWI, SEPT 05
(KIP)
The current scenario,
political as well as
security, is not conducive
for senior functionaries in
the Government to could
land people in trouble who
comment on separate
constitution when the
writs challenging the
validity of Article 35-A are book on Sardar Patel,
pending in the supreme
court.
The Apex Court adjourned
the hearing and deferred
the hearing because of the
ensuing Panchayat
elections.
Having a separate
Constitution for Jammu
and Kashmir was
probably an "aberration", NL CORRESPONDENT
National Security Adviser SRINAGAR, SEPT 05
Ajit Doval has stressed
that sovereignty can never
be compromised.
Doval's remarks come at
a time the Supreme Court
is hearing pleas
challenging the
constitutional validity of
Article 35-A, which
provides special rights
and privileges to
permanent residents of
J&K. At the launch of a
Doval said "his
contribution is not about
the merger of states, it is
only a means to an end...
to make a sovereign state
Linking Article 35A with local
elections disastrous: Mufti
Former Jammu and
Kashmir Chief Minister
Mehbooba Mufti
Wednesday termed the
on
in which sovereignty of
people was established in
Constitution, applicable to
the whole of it."
The first mistake was to
refer the case of tribal
invasion to the UN
security Council by
former Prime Minister,
J.L. Nehru. and he had
believed that super
powers may help him but
except the Soviet Union
none sided with India and
the result is UN
resolutions which people
and Pakistan want to
implement.
panchayat and urban
bodies' elections was a
disastrous idea, which has
further alienated the
people and complicated
the situation on the
ground."

Asks Delhi to clear stand on Art 35A Hizb OGW in

SRINAGAR, SEPT 5, CNS
NC Party President Dr
Farooq Abdullah
Wednesday chaired the
party's Core Group
meeting at party
Headquarters Nawa -e-
Subah Srinagar.
The core Group had a
detailed discussion about
the prevailing situation of
the state with particular
reference to Article 35 A of
the Constitution. It was felt
that any tinkering with Art
35 A would prove
disastrous not only for our
state but for the entire
country.
The role of the central
government and the
present dispensation in
J&K before the SC goes
clearly against the wishes
and aspirations of the
people of the state. They
shall strike at the very
basis of relationship
conveniently ignore that between the state and the
this provision was Union.
incorporated in the Recently announced Urban
Constitution after Local Body polls and
thorough discussion Panchayat elections came
between the then state under discussion. The core
government and group felt that this
Government of India and decision was taken in a
was made a part of the hurried manner without
Delhi Agreement 1952. It taking into consideration
was also approved by the the prevailing situation
states Constituent created by the powers that
Assembly as envisaged be by unnecessarily
under Art 370 of the fiddling with Art 35 A.
Constitution. It was The core group
resolved that J&K National unanimously decided that
Conference would fight J&K National Conference
tooth and nail all sinister will not participate in
attempts aimed at these elections unless and
interfering with this until Government of India
constitutional guarantee in and the state government
any manner, whatsoever. clears its position in this
Such attempts, if allowed, regard and P2
Centre's plea in the Earlier today, National
NL CORRESPONDENT Official sources said that Supreme Court, linking Conference (NC) president
RAJOURI, SEP 05 during wee hours an decision on Article 35 A Farooq Abdullah speaking
Kishtwar Army on Wednesday
intruder was spotted and
accordingly challenged.
with panchayat and urban
bodies' elections, a
at a press conference
revealed that his party will
claimed that it killed an "The intruder opened fire disastrous idea. "not participate in the
KISHTWAR, SEPT 05,
intruder when an on troops closing in and Mehbooba tweeted, "The upcoming panchayat and
CNS
infiltration bid along LoC the Army retaliated central government's plea urban local bodies polls
in Rajouri District of effectively." in Supreme Court to link until the Government of
Jammu Kashmir Police In the exchange
Jammu was foiled. P2 the decision on 35A with India and P2
Wednesday claimed that
they have arrested a top
over ground worker of
Hizbul Mujahideen.
Police while identifying
the arrested over ground
worker as Touseef Ahmad
Gudna alias Abu Bakar
claimed that he was
involved in reviving
militancy in Kishtwar
district of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Gudna's name came to
the fore during
interrogation of the two
Hizbul Mujahideen
activists who were
arrested on July 1. P2

Army steadfast behind all its men
who have conducted operations
in J&K, northeast: Rawat
NL CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, SEPT 05
The armed forces and the
Defence Ministry are
steadfastly behind all
officers who have
conducted operations in
Jammu and Kashmir and
the north east, Army Chief
Bipin Rawat said Tuesday.
His comments come in the
backdrop of nearly 700
Army officers and soldiers
approaching the Supreme
Court against the alleged
participate in local body, Panchayat polls'
dilution of the Armed
Forces (Special Powers)
Act, also known as AFSPA.
Sources said if the
officials lose the case, it
will be a major
embarrassment.
They said the Army chief,
during an interaction with
officers last week, had
disapproved of the Army
personnel approaching
the Apex Court.
When asked about this,
Rawat declined to
comment, P2
'BJP reacts to NC decision 'not to
SRINAGAR, SEP 05 (KNS) Chairman Farooq
As the main opposition
Abdullah really means
that they are not
party National Conference
participating in these
announced that it will not
elections then he should
participate in the
also announce that his
Panchayat elections
party will not participate
unless the conflict
in upcoming parliament,
regarding Article 35 A is
Assembly elections.
resolved, Bhartiya Janta
"Those who have faith in
party Wednesday said that
democratic process
the National conferenceshould participate in these
was never in favour of elections. NC during their
holding Panchayat, Urban
previous government with
elections in the state to
the congress had failed to
establish democracy at conduct these elections
the grass root level. .Actually they do not want
The party also said that if
to establish democracy at
National Conference
the gross root P2

UN Resolutions on Kashmir redundant as

events changed its demographic character
NL CORRESPONDENT
JAMMU TAWI, SEPT 05
The former Union Minister,
Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta
has ridiculed the rant for
plebiscite to decide the
future of Kashmir although
it was termed as
redundant even by the
then Secretary General of
UNO, Mr. Kofi Anan several
years back.
This much talked UN
resolution was adopted in
1948. The first and
foremost part of the said
resolution was that
Pakistan would vacate the
J&K held areas and
restore the pre-1947
position. But it was never
done. The entire
population complexion
was changed. There were
over 35 percent Hindu,
Sikh and other minorities
in what is now ironically
called as Azad Kashmir. In
this part not a single
member of the minority
community has been left.
They were massacred and
what so ever left, were
forced to have conversion,
Prof. Gupta added and
further pointed out that in
wake of Indus Water
Treaty in 1962, Pakistan
has unauthorisedly raised
huge structure on the river
Jehlum, known as Mangla
Dam. This submerged the
historic city of Mirpur and
hundreds of adjoining
villages. Because of this
massive structure to
benefit Pakistan lakhs of
people of PoK had to desert
from PoK and they
migrated even to UK and
gulf countries.
Not only the demographic
character has been
changed over the years but
also so many cantonments
of permanent nature have
been constructed and
above all over fifty training
centers for training of
terrorists have been set up
there to carry on proxy war
against India for about
three decades now. This
has caused great loss of
life and the social fabric to
the extent that lakhs of the
natives have been forced to
leave the Vale of Kashmir
to become refugees within
their own country. But it is
height of bigotry that
cronies of Pak in Kashmir
still continue to harp for
plebiscite to decide its
future. They P2
 2 CITY the northlines
Jammu | Thursday | Sept 06 | 2018

Congress holds protest, submits
memorandum on Rafale Deal
JAMMU, SEP 05 Organized by DCC Jammu
Urban under the
A massive protest presidentship of Vikram
demonstration was held at Malhotra & DCC Jammu
Jammu today by the Rural led by its President
Congress party over Rafale Hari Singh Chib & incharge
deal seeking JPC probe into Vice-President PCC Raman
the matter alleging biggest Bhalla, a large number of
ever defense scam. senior leaders took part in
Led by AICC Secretary In- the protest march including
charge J&K Shakeel Ahmad leaders of DCC, Block
(MLA) & President JKPCC Presidents, Ex-Ministers,
G.A. Mir, a large number of Ex-Legislators and Frontal
senior congress leaders and Organizations of the party.
workers held a protest Prominent among them
demonstration at Shaheedi include Former Dy. CM Tara
Chowk Jammu and marched Chand, Ex-MP Madan Lal
towards the office of DC Sharma, Former Minister
Jammu raising slogans and Vice-President PCC
seeking JPC probe into the Mula Ram, R.S. Chib, Kanta
Rafale deal, carrying Bhan, Ravinder Sharma,
banners and play cards, in Rajnish Sharma, Balwan
favour of the demand. Singh, Yogesh Sawhney, Th.
Manmohan Singh, Namrata
Sharma, Ch. Shah Nawaz,
Indu Pawar, Th. Shiv Dev
Singh, Ch. Gharu Ram, Prof.
Gharu Ram Bhagat, Y.V.
Sharma, K.L. Gupta,
Kuldeep Raj Verma, Vinod
Sharma, S.S. Shangari, Shiv
Kumar Sharma (INTUC), S.
Gurdarshan Singh, Pawan
Raina, Shashi Sharma,
Neeraj Gupta, Manjeet
Singh Jatt, Sukhdev
Choudhary, Suresh
Bargotra, Jai Singh, Ch.
Dwarka, Vijay Malhotra,
Gourav Chopra, Madan Lal
Mlager, Dr. Ramakant
Khajuria, Mian Nazir
Ahmad, Nassar Masih,
Michal Wazir, Kamlesh
Basih, Som Dutt Sharma,
Hoshiar Singh, Ricky
Dalotra and others.
The party submitted a
Memorandum to president
of India through DC Jammu.
Accusing the Modi
government of Keeping the
country in dark over Rafale
deal, hundreds of Congress
workers Led by AICC
Secretary In-charge J&K
Shakeel Ahmad (MLA) &
President JKPCC G.A. Mir,
said that "This protest was
an expression of the
mounting frustration felt by
the people of India and
complete failure of the
government on the pressing
issues of not only
malpractice in the Rafale
deal, but also
unemployment, inflation,
farmers exploitation.
Jagti Migrants protest implicating Stress Management
Durga Krishan in false case
JAMMU, SEPT 05
The Migrants putting up at
Jagti Migrant township
organised and held a
candle protest March at
Jagti Migrant township
today from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M.
in protest of implicating of
one Durga Krishan in a
false and fake complaint
lodged by one Sunil
Pandita, S/o Sh. Makhan
Lal Pandita, R/o Jagti
Colony against him
thereby falsely alleging
attempts of sexual assault
on a minor girl by Durga
Krishan Bhat. The
protestors have said that
as per eye witnesses
nothing has happened
but Sunil Pandita on his
lecture at IMS
personal grudge with
Durga Krishan Bhat has
JAMMU, SEPT 05 in attitude and behavior. The
programme was organized
managed implicating this
Suggesting management by Global Helping Hand
innocent Durga Krishan
students to adopt element of under the mission "Gyan Ka
Bhat in a false case of
positivity in their lives to Abhishake" in collaboration
sexual assault of a minor
combat stress, Former Head with Alak Sahiba Trust
girl by lodging fake and
of Department Blood Bank, Jammu at IMS Jammu run by
frivolous complaint in Government Medical College Jamwal Group of Educational
Police Station Nagrota (GMC) and Yoga expert, Dr T Institutions today. Anil Bhatt,
where in an FIR has been R Raina today delivered a Bureau Chief of PTI Jammu,
lodged against Durga lecture on "Stress who was Chief Guest of the
Kumar Bhat. The Management, Holistic Health function, also spoke on the
protesters have and Science of Yoga at IMS occasion on growing stress
demanded on spot Jammu. He called upon the from the misuse of the social
verification and students to adopt Yoga, which media platforms and new age
recording statements of is an ancient Indian digital life and digital
the Migrants of Jagti to
philosophy of life based on society.Jatin Bhat Chairman
prove the facts for scientific foundations, which of Global Helping Hand
exonerating Durga
will harmonizes physical, stressed upon the young
Krishan Bhat of the false mental and spiritual well generation to work for better
allegations levelled beings. He said that it brings society devoid of stress and
against him for ends of out dormant potential of believe in service of the
justice. human being, positive change humanity.

From Page 1 up of the Commercial & Survey Wing of PDD, creation of

office space for Tradeco, Staff transfer etc will be
the chairmanship of Governor Shri Satya Pal Malik decided
to open 40 new degree colleges in a phased manner across
people who are being forced as their hostages but with the
terror being created with killings and abductions of the
undertaken. the state, including the 26 degree colleges already innocents, he alleged that no civilized world can approve

SAC for completion of all

This initiative by the PDD is a first step towards sanctioned. all this.
unbundling of PDD and setting a roadmap for clearing the While acknowledging the need for opening up of more Prof. Gupta ridiculed the boycott call of the election of the
liabilities on account of outstanding power purchase bills. colleges in un-served areas to provide access to hitherto basic democracies by the separatists and observed these

pending projects by 2019

over a decade. Recognizing the need of the citizens for
essential infrastructure, it decided to approve a special
scheme that would enable nearly Rs 8000 crores of
developmental funds to be made available in one go, to be
used not only for completion of unfunded/languishing
infrastructural projects in the State but also for any other
new infrastructure projects, which was a priority for the
state.
In order to ensure proper and fool proof operationalization
of the scheme and selection, authorization, monitoring and
regulation of projects under it, the SAC also approved the
constitution of a High-Powered Committee (HPC)
comprising Administrative Secretaries of Finance,
Planning, PWD and PHE besides the concerned Secretary
of the department whose projects were being considered.
It also directed that a stringent set of guidelines be put in
place to ensure that only the deserving projects and those
which are essential from public standpoint be funded
under this scheme. The process would include the accord
of Administrative approval and all relevant Technical
sanctions before a project could be considered for sanction
under the scheme besides strict adherence to a totally
transparent and competitive, e-tendering process.
SAC further ordered that all projects would have to be
completed strictly within the specified timelines and a pre-
agreed penalty shall be imposed on the executing agency in
case of any delay or slippage.
The new company, JKIDFC would be registered by Friday
i.e 07.09.2018, and work on the unfinished/languishing
projects would start immediately within a week.
The direction of the Hon'ble Governor is that funding on
this scale for languishing projects such as bridges, roads,
drinking water schemes and buildings has never happened
before and therefore, all departments should implement
works in a speedy, time bound manner to finish them,
preferably by May, 2019.The State Administrative Council
(SAC), which met here today under the chairmanship of
Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded approval for
operationalization of the Jammu and Kashmir State Power
Trading Company Limited (Tradeco) and issuance of SRO
notification regarding PDD Transfer Scheme (Phase-I)
Rules, 2018.
Advisors to Governor, B B Vyas, K Vijay Kumar & Khurshid
Ahmad Ganai, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam and
Principal Secretary to Governor, Umang Narula were
present at the meeting.
It is pertinent to mention that the Central Electricity Act of
2003, applicable to whole of India (except J&K) mandated
promotion of competition and efficiency in the power
sector by operating it as a prudent commercial enterprise.
One of the key steps towards this goal was "unbundling" of
the generation, transmission and distribution
undertakings in the States into separate corporate entities
and running these on sound business lines.
The J&K Electricity Act, 2010 was enacted to provide a
frame work similar to the Central Electricity Act of 2003.
Consequently, J&K SPDC was approved as a Nodal Agency
to act on behalf of the Government of J&K for the
unbundling exercise to be completed in 2012 itself.
In 2012, Cabinet accorded sanction to the unbundling of the
Power Development department into four successor
companies i.e (i) Jammu & Kashmir State Power
Transmission Company Limited (Transco), (ii) Jammu and
Kashmir State Power Trading Company Limited (Tradeco),
(iii) Jammu Power Distribution Company Limited (Jammu
Discom), and (iv) Kashmir Power Distribution Company
Limited (Kashmir Discom).
Even though the successor companies have already been
incorporated, the operationalization of these companies
could not take place till date due to various reasons.
The operationalization of Tradeco is proposed to be
completed in two phases. The first phase is planned to be
implemented immediately and would involve Tradeco
carrying out functions/responsibilities related to power
trading like purchase entire power requirement for JKPDD
and perform activity of bulk supply of power, trading of
surplus power, etc. The second phase will be initiated once
other successor companies (Transco, Jammu Discom and
Kashmir Discom) become operational.
For making the Tradeco functional, activities like winding
It will also reduce the cost of purchasing power by bringing
in efficiency and taking advantage of discounts. The
introduction of personnel with specialized skills in the
power purchase sector will lead to optimization of the cost
of supply of power and ensuring immediate financial and
operational benefits to the Department.The Administrative
Secretary PDD will be the Chairman of Tradeco In a
significant decision, the State Administrative Council
(SAC), which met here today under the chairmanship of
Governor, Shri Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the
formation of a separate Joint Venture Company, having
Government of India (Central PSU) and Government of J&K
(J&KSPDC) as the two partners owning defined shares in
the Company, for the object of development of the 850 MW
Ratle Hydro Electric Project (HEP) and its transfer to the
State of J&K within a period of seven (07) years from the
start of commercial operation of the project.
SAC further accorded sanction to the submission of 05
Models of Joint Ventures based on ownership proportion
with 15-25% free power (including Local Area Development
Fund) to the Ministry of Power, Government of India for the
purpose of arriving at the best suitable Joint Venture
Model. The analysis of the models has revealed that all of
these will be favorable to Jammu and Kashmir with
majority ownership remaining with State (ranging from
51% to 90% State ownership).
The hydro power projects, with long gestation periods,
coupled with relief & rehabilitation issues and higher
initial capital investment, have not remained attractive
investment portfolios for private investors. Secondly, most
of the major civil construction agencies in the country are
presently facing financial stress and tend to avoid such
investments. To minimize risk in investments,
construction agencies feel more comfortable to work as
contractors and not owners in development of hydro
power.
In view of the strategic importance of accelerating
development of hydro power projects on western rivers as
per provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, the Government
of Jammu and Kashmir proposed development of the
project in joint venture mode between Jammu and Kashmir
State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) and
Central PSUs. An earlier Joint Venture was established for
PakalDul, Kiru&Kwar HEPs (CVPP ltd).
The Project shall cater to the energy requirements of the
State in particular and the country as whole, in addition to
providing gainful employment and bringing developmental
activities in the project area.
The 850 MW Ratle HEP has been conceived as a run of the
river project, located on River Chenab near Drabshalla
village in Kishtwar District and lies in between Dulhasti
HEP on its upstream and Baglihar HEP on its downstream.
Among the bigger upcoming projects in Chenab valley, this
project is considered as the most conveniently located and
most amenable to expeditious development. It can be
completed in about 5 years and would benefit the State a
lot. The last attempt at promoting it as a PPP project with a
35-year concession period failed. The Joint Venture is the
best route now to realize the potential of the Ratle HEP.The
State Administrative Council (SAC), which met here today
under the chairmanship of Governor, Shri Satya Pal Malik
approved amendment in the Jammu and Kashmir Health
and Family Welfare (Gazetted) Service Recruitment Rules,
2013, in so far as it relates to dispensing of 'oral test' for
selection to the posts of Medical Officers in the Health and
Medical Education Department.
The SAC further directed the Health and Medical
Education Department to immediately formulate and
finalize the eligibility/selection criteria for the posts of
Medical Officers, including the standard of written test in
consultation with the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service
Commission.
The Health & Medical Education Department is one of the
essential services departments and Medical Officers are
the cutting-edge level functionaries and backbone of the
Health Department. The decision to dispense with oral test
will enable fast track recruitment of these Medical Officers
in the larger public interest, which in turn will further
improve the patient care across the State including in far
flung and remote pockets.
There are over 1000 vacancies of Medical Officers, which if
filled fast, will improve the health services in the State.The
State Administrative Council which met here today under
deprived sections of the society and increasing the
enrolment at college level which is the need of the hour, the
SAC decided to constitute a Committee under the
chairmanship of Principal Secretary, Finance with
Principal Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring,
Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education and Secretary,
School Education as its members to finalize the phasing of
sanctioned colleges, and examine the feasibility of likely
locations for new colleges; keeping in view the prescribed
norms besides factors like enrolment, student-teacher
ratio, faculty deployment, geographical conditions and
financial requirement.
Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the
Higher Education Department will seek approval of the
Competent Authority to the operationalization of the
sanctioned and new colleges in a phased manner.The SAC
also endorsed the opening of Degree College at Drass done
with prior approval and concurrence of Finance and
Planning Departments. It also welcomed the opening of
Model Degree Colleges at Villgam in Kupwara and Paddar
in Kishtwar Districts under RUSA 2.0 for which necessary
orders to modify the sanction from State Plan to RUSA 2.0
was also directed.
SAC decided that opening of two Administrative Staff
Colleges, one each at Srinagar and Jammu, after due
examination of the level, scope and location of the
Administrative Staff Colleges will be done by the
aforementioned Committee The phasing of opening up of
new Colleges shall be subject to and supported by
adequate funds with faculty and staff to enable the new
colleges to have good standards from inception.
The increase in colleges is essential so that more and more
youth get the benefit of college education and the gross
enrolment rises further from the current 26%. This would
be the best way for youth to get gainful employment and
lead prosperous, happy lives.
Intruder killed in Rajouri
of fire, the intruder was killed and his body handed over to
local police.
A police official said that the identity of the slain intruder
has not been ascertained.
Linking Article 35A with local
elections disastrous: Mufti
the state government make their position clear on Article
35A inside and outside the court."
The comments from the former chief minister of the state
have come just days after the apex court deferred, until
January 2019, the hearing on a clutch of petitions
challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35A.
The Article disallows people from residing in the state,
buying or owning immovable property in the state, settling
permanently, or getting state government jobs.
Army steadfast behind all its men who have
conducted operations in J&K, northeast: Rawat
saying the matter was sub judice.
"This case is sub-judice and I would not like to speak on
that," he told reporters in response to a question.
Police arrests Hizb OGW in Kishtwar
Gudna, a close associate of Hizb ul Mujahideen
Mohammad Amin alias Jehangir, was also involved in a
militancy-related case registered in police station
Parimpora in Srinagar last year, said a spokesman. (CNS)
UN Resolutions on Kashmir redundant as
events changed its demographic character
take effective steps for the protection of Art 35 A in and
have little regard for human values and continue their
outside the Courts. (CNS)
trade on human blood and sufferings of the peace loving
polls were just to empower the people at the grass root
level for preparing and executing the developmental
activities. But it sounds strange that separatists do not like
even this betterment of the masses.
Gupta maintained that legally and constitutionally J&K is
an integral part of India and Pakistan has no locus standii
except that of being an aggressor. But much of the
problems in Kashmir were the result of the follies and
blunders committed by Congress leadership especially by
Jawahar Lal Nehru to pamper certain dubious characters
even at the cost of national interests.
He said that the valley alone is not the entire J&K but it was
an irony that certain zealots were creating the hell of
situation to endanger peace and tranquility but at the
instance of their masters across the borders. Their designs
should be defeated.
'BJP reacts to NC decision 'not to participate
in local body, Panchayat polls'
level," BJP National Vice President and Kashmir affairs
incharge Avinash Rai Khana told KNS over phone from
New Delhi.
He said that Municipality elections form the very basic
structure of democracy at the ground level. Elections to
urban local bodies will boost the democratic fabric in the
state by providing administration at the door step of
common individual. "But let me tell you that these so called
leaders are never well wishers of the common people,"
Khana maintained.
He said that political parties should always support any
process that strengthens the democratic process at the
grassroots level. "If NC chairman really means that they
are not going to participate in these elections, then let he
also announce that his party will not participate in the
upcoming parliament, Assembly elections," he said.
The BJP top leader further said that as far as BJP cadre is
concerned, they are always ready to help people and pave
the way towards development and normalcy. "We are fully
prepared for elections. Be they municipal elections,
panchayat elections, Parliament elections, or for that
matter, state assembly elections," he said.
Khana said that the BJP has already started its campaign.
"We have already started the campaigning. We will contest
in all urban local body polls across the state. We are fully
prepared and the basic structure for setting up an
organisation is in place," he said.
He added that the recent killing of a BJP worker has only
"made the party stronger" in its resolve to contest the
elections. On 22 August, militants barged into the house of
BJP worker Shabir Ahmed Bhat, in Pulwama, and killed
him.
J&K has 78 urban local bodies, which includes two
municipal corporations in Jammu and Srinagar.
Earlier, when the BJP-PDP government was in power,
former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had announced that
panchayat polls would be held in February and polls to the
ULBs urban local bodies would follow. The panchayat polls,
last held in 2011, could not be conducted due to security
concerns and the imminent tourist season.
Based on the State government's request, the Centre had
mobilised around 40,000 Central Armed Police Forces
(CAPF) and put them on standby.
It is to mention here that National Conference Wednesday
said that it will not participate in the Panchayat and ULB
elections unless and until the GOI clears its position with
regard to Art 35-A.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, NC President
Farooq Abdullah said the party won't contest the panchayat
and municipal polls slated later this year as the situation
was not conducive for the polls. He said the decision was
taken in the party's core group meeting today. (KNS)
NC to boycott local bodies poll ; Asks
Delhi to clear stand on Art 35A

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 3 STATE the northlines
Jammu | Thursday | September 06| 2018

48th Shri Navkundiya Maharudra Yagya to

Alexander Memorial School celebrated Teachers' Day start on Sept 13 at Baba Sidhgoria Temple
NL CORRESPONDENT management also graced impressive speeches Teachers' in melodious
JAMMU TAWI, SEP 05 the solemn occasion. The were delivered by the voice and the whole NL CORRESPONDENT Baba Kuldeep Ji said that Ahuti and Bhandara will
school campus wore a Head Boy and the Head campus echoed with JAMMU TAWI, SEP 05 Shiv Mahapuran Katha be organised at 12 noon
Teachers' Day was festive look. Some Girl highlighting the great joy. The dance will be held from 15th on September 23,
celebrated by the members of the 'Golden remarkable achievement 'Yashoda Maiya' received The 48th Shri Navkundiya September to 2018.Baba Ji also
students and staff of Pillar' who attended the of Dr. S. Radhakarishnan a thunderous applause Maharudra Yagya, Hawan 23rdSeptember while informed that
Alexander Memorial function, were the star as a Teacher, from the audience. The Pujan, Sant Samelan and other programes will accommodation and food
School, Jammu with great attraction for the young Educationist, Philosopher, atmosphere was charged Shri Shiv Mahapuran commence from for Pandits and Mahatmas
zeal and gaiety. The students.In the second Administrator, 1st Vice with the fragrance of joy Katha by Shradeyya Shri September 13, 2018.The will be arranged daily by
senior students of class half the programme President and 2nd and the faces of the Subash Shastri Ji is being religious programme will the Baba Sidhgoria
X managed the first half started with the President of India. The students were wreathed organised by Shri Shri start on 13th September 8 Ashram Paloura at the
and took the classes. customary prayer by students of different in smiles. Master Umar Baba Kuldeep Ji Paloura am with Jal Yatra followed temple premises. While
They played the role of Rev. Udai Singh, classes presented a Nazir of class XI, Miss Wale at Baba Sidhgoria by Mandap Pujan and Kuldeep Shastri,
teachers. It was Presbyter-in-Charge, St. colourful programme Adeeba Naz of class VI Temple, Paloura, Jammu Yagya from 8 am to 12 Panjtirthi Jammu will be
heartwarming to see Paul's Church, Jammu starting with Guru and Master Anugrah of from 13th September Ji said that it was great noon on September 13. the Yagya Acharya the
them teach their juniors followed by welcome Vandana and comprising class VI conducted the (Thursday) to pleasure and a matter of Shiv Mahapuran Katha managing committee
and maintain proper address by the Principal, songs, dance, skits, proceedings. The vote of 23rdSeptember 2018 pride that the from 1 pm to 5 pm daily members include Satish
discipline.Johnny William Mrs. Esther William. The modeling and poem thanks was presented by (Sunday) where all the 48thMahayagya is being from September 15 to Sharma, Narwal Wale,
(IPS) Former IGP and Portrait of Dr. Sarvapalli recitation etc for the Shriya Sharestha of class devotees will take part in organised and invited all 23rd September. Vikram Singh Badwal,
President, Alexander Radhakrishnan was entertainment of their XII. The programme Mahayagya and listen the devotees to get The Shoba Yatra from Kachi Chawni, Rajinder
Memorial Educational garlanded and rich floral teachers and guests. The came to an end with the Shiv Mahapuran Katha immersed in the religious Paloura will start at 3 am Singh Bahu ( Smailpur)
Society and several other tributes were paid to school choir presented singing of the National during the programme.In fervour during the and culminate at 7 am on and Ravi Kumar Magotra,
members of the him. Short but the song 'We Love You - Anthem. a statement Shri Kuldeep Mahayagya.Giving details September 23 while Puran Patoli.

Yogi, Boria communities feel
obliged to Backward Commission
NL CORRESPONDENT
JAMMU TAWI, SEP 05
The members of Yogi and
Boria community called on
State Backward
Commission Members,
Prof. Virender Gupta and
Adv. Onkar Seth at Jammu.
They expressed their
gratitude and thanks to the
Commission for taking
keen interest in taking up
their long pending issue of
their inclusion in Other
Backward Classes (OBC)
category. They, in
particular, praised the
present Chairman of the
Commission, Jeet Lal
Gupta, who acknowledged
the genuineness of the case
of Yogi and Boria
communities and prepared
the case in consultations
with the members of the
Commission and submitted
the same to the
government with
f a v o u r a b l e
recommendation. The
members of the
communities were greatly
obliged to Prof. Virender
Gupta and Adv. Onkar Seth
for pursuing their case
vigorously.
Yogi Community President
Gyan Chand accompanied
by its members Tarsem
Chand, Girdhari Lal,
Bhadur Singh, Des Raj,
Baba Jita, Angrez Chand,
Sukhdev Kumar, Shinda Pal
and Boria Community
President Sunita Mehra
alongwith members Mohan
Lal, Ram Chand, Pinki Devi
were among the persons
who called upon the
member. The
Jogi/Yogi/Nath community
was declared as one of the
backward classes by the
Mandal Commission and
they have population of
40,000 to 50,000 in the
state. The people of
Boria/Bouria/Bowaria
community are working as
manual labourer in the
vegetable/fruits mandies of
the state and put up in
extremely poor and
unhygienic conditions.
Both these communities
were struggling for their
inclusion in the Backward
Classes since 1996, but due
to insensitive attitude and
slackness on the part of the
authorities, their
grievances were not
addressed.Prof. Virender
Gupta and Adv. Onkar Seth
assured those called on
them that the Commission
and they in person shall
put their efforts to
persuade the Government
for issuing the order about
the inclusion of their
communities in the Other
Backward Communities.
Employee protest enters 10th day NSF in MAM PG College
nominates President
JAMMU, SEP 05
Protest of employees working under salary Head-2211
today entered 10th day. The President Sushil Sudan of
Jammu Kashmir Medical Employees Federation Neelam
Kumar of Jammu Kashmir Female Multipurpose Health
Worker Welfare Association appeal to the employees
working under Salary Head 2210 to support and
participate in the struggle. In the protest, leader of the
association addressed their demands and condemned
behavior of higher authority towards the employees of
family welfare working under Head 2211 and again
decided the Dharna / strike will continue till the
permanent solution of salary head 2211 is resolved. The
demands of the association are Delinking the CSS Salary
from the funding sources (Corpus-delinking) and release
the pending salary since March 2018.Clear the DPC of NL CORRESPONDENT Sajid Kabir, Sahil Sharma Ravinder Bali, Amandeep
FMPHW as LHV etc. since pending last 5 years. Job JAMMU TAWI, SEP 05 and Riyaz were appointed Singh and others were
functions of FMPHWs must be fixed at par with other
as Vice-President. elected members.
working categories of Health Sector. Upgradation for the Under the Chairmanship of Manpreet has been Addressing the meeting,
post of FMPHW on the analogy of Pharmacist, Lab. Tech.
Dr.Vikas Sharma, National appointed as General Dr.Vikas Sharma
X-Ray Tech, Dental Tech. and Ophth. Tech. Creation of
Secular Forum (NSF) State Secretary. Sonil President NSF, welcomed
post of LHVs in New PHCs. Seniority list of FMPHWs be
nominated Surjeet Kumar C h o u d h a r y, H a n i s h all the members in the
published in the Official Website of the Health
as its President in MAM PG Sharma, Akash, were organization and hoped
Department for bringing transparency in promotions.
College and checked out appointed as Secretary. that they will work united
50% quota to be allotted in favour of trained LHVs at par
the problems that are Arvind Bali appointed as for the organization.
with MMPHSs promoted as Health Educators.
being faced by the Press-Secretary. Vikas Others who spoke on the
Amendment of SRO20 dated 20-04-1992 which is pending
in the Administrative Department for the last 27 yrs. The students. In meeting they Chand was appointed as occasion include
Prominent who take part in the protest included framed a body for MAM PG Cashier. Sahil thappa Papinder Singh,
S/Sh/Smt. Neelam Kumari, Surya Akhter, Sapna Gupta College, for the year 2018- was appointed as
Pushpinder Singh, Anshu
General Secretary, Kamlesh, Jeevan Jyoti, Kuldeep Kour, 19. Tushar Dadwal was Publicity Secretary and,
Sharma and Ishtaq Naik.
Jagjeet Kour, Nirmal Kour, Gayatri Devi, Varinder Kour, appointed as Sr. Vice- Ajay, Sanjay Balgotra,
Jagbir Kour, Manjeet kour, Pooja devi Shashi bala, Anchal President. Japneet Singh Gurjeet singh, Ramneek
Devi, Kamla devi, Soma Devi, Pushpa Devi, Rani Devi, was appointed as Singh, Raja Singh,
Urmil Devi, Mamta Devi, Sunita Devi, Sh. Vinod Sharma, Chairman. Anshu Sharma Taranjot Singh,Manpreet
S. Parfulat Singh, S. Harpal Singh, S. Tajinder Singh, as Convenor. Rayees Singh Chaswal, Abhay,
Yougal Bakshi, Madan Sharma and Vishal Patil ors. Mughal, Rajinder Chib, Amit, Sandeep Singh,

Don't misled people over Article 35 A : Kavinder Gupta
NL CORRESPONDENT
JAMMU TAWI, SEP 05
Reacting to National
Conference leader Farooq
Abdullah's statement who
on Wednesday said "his
party will not participate
in local body elections
unless the Centre and the
state government clears
NC changing narrative to distract
people from ills of 35A: Brig Gupta
NL CORRESPONDENT
JAMMU TAWI, SEP 05
NC is deliberately trying to
change the narrative and
mislead the people of the
state by adding a new
dimension of constitution of
separate regional and sub-
regional councils in order
to divert their attention
from all-important issue of
legality of Article 35A of the
Constitution of India stated
Brig Anil Gupta, State
Spokesperson of Bharatiya
Janata Party in a press
release issued by the Party
today. Having miserably
failed in its propaganda to
convince the people by
creating a fear psychosis
about the loss of identity
and job opportunities in
case of Article 35A being
declared invalid by the
Supreme Court, its leaders
are now trying to confuse
the people with the old
idea of regional councils
stated the press release.
The idea of the regional and
sub-regional councils is
neither new nor the original
idea of NC. While in power
for so long the NC never
ever gave any importance
to this idea but all of a
sudden has started
championing its cause. It is
basically aimed at diverting
the emerging ground swell
about repealing of Article
its position on Article 35 A
and takes effective steps
for its protection in and
inside the court." Former
Deputy Chief Minister and
MLA Gandhi Nagar said
that it is not good on part
of National Conference
Leadership to correlate
the issue of article 35 A,
which is still Sub-judice,
35A that is gaining
momentum in different
parts of the state accused
Brig Gupta who further
added by stating that the
regional councils were no
substitute for repealing
unjust, illegal, divisive,
a n t i - w o m e n ,
discriminatory and
inhuman 35A. These
councils do not enjoy any
residuary powers without
which the justice cannot be
done to the aggrieved
residents of this state. The
ensuing ULB and Panchayat
elections have sent shivers
down the spine of local NC
leadership which had been
playing a second fiddle to
their Kashmiri bosses
ignoring the people of
LehLadakh and Jammu
according to the
spokesperson.
Questioning the NC
leadership, Brig Gupta
asked "Will the constitution
of regional councils remove
gender inequality and
restore right of inheritance
of the affected people? Will
it grant the citizenship
rights and associated
privileges to the West
Pakistan refugees? Will it
remove the discrimination
being faced by the Valmiki
samaj, Bazigars and the
Gurkhas? Will it suppress
or encourage separatism?"
People of the state are not
250 KVA transformer
and the recently forward to participate in near GHSS Paloura inaugurated
announced Local Bodies the electoral process. If
NL CORRESPONDENT
elections. The elections to these elections do not JAMMU TAWI, SEP 05
these basic units of local take place, then
administration are must approximately Rs 4,400 Member Parliament Rajya
for the development of the crore financial grant Sabha Shamsher Singh
state. Every regional as would lapse in our state, Manhas today inaugurated
well as National in the he said. He urged all the a transformer of 250 KVA
state should welcome the main political parties of near Govt. Hr. Sec. School,
decision of state the state, not to play with Paloura accompanied by the inhabitants of the area. unelectrified across the
Government and come the sentiments of the Executive Engineer Sanjay Bhartiya Janata Party is country. Ex- Sarpanch
people of Jammu and Sharma along with having keen interest to Balbir Singh Manhas
Kashmir on pretext of
Article 35 A. Gupta also
concerned authorities. He
released Rs. 7.82 Lac out of
mitigate the problems of
the public.
thanked MP for the
fulfillment of their demand.
criticised the role of
Hurriyat Leaders and
cautioned them to refrain
his MPLAD fund for the
said work. While
addressing the gathering
He also said that the
Centre govt. has already
On the occasion BJP's
Ashok Singh Chib, Joginder
taken a lot of initiative to Singh, Bahadur Singh,
as gullible as the NC from instigating people on Manhas said that it was the electrified the maximum Uttam Singh, Kuldeep &
leadership thinks them to the issue. long pending demand of villages which is others were also present.
be and they would never
fall prey to their deliberate
manipulations, asserted
Brig Gupta.
SKUAST-J celebrated Teacher's Day
The people are convinced
that NC is a Kashmir-
centric party and its local
leadership is only shedding
crocodile tears while their
loyalties lie somewhere
else. The declining graph of
the party in successive
elections is indicative of the
determination of local
people to never trust them
again said Brig Gupta. "How
a party that has repeatedly
ditched the people of
Jammu , stabbed them in NL CORRESPONDENT celebrated as tribute to
their back and hurt Dogra JAMMU TAWI, SEP 05 the valuable contribution
pride can ever imagine to made by the teachers to
emerge as their voice PG Students from Division the society by imparting
again!" summed up the of Biochemistry SKUAST- knowledge and shaping
press release. Jammu organized the the carrier of the students.
function on the Moreover, it is the birthday
Power shutdown occasion of teacher's
day. Head of the
of great teacher Dr.
Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan
JAMMU, SEP 05 Division Dr. Sanjay who was the strong
As per Superintending Guleria addressed the believer of education and
Engineer Electt, Maintt & RE students and faculty was one of the well known
Circle-Kathua to carry out the members on this diplomat, scholar and
work for stringing of 120 sq occasion. Dr. Moni former President of India.
MM LT AB cable at various Gupta Assoc. Students that indulged
locations, the shutdown of 11 Professor, Dr. Ramesh themselves in various
KV-II feeder is being observed. Bali, Dr Kamlesh Bali cultural activities include
During the shutdown, the and President Neha Sharma, Anshu Wali,
power supply to Kalibari, Teaching Association Sweeta, Kalpana, Kanika,
Shiva Nagar and Flour Mill Dr. Vikas Sharma also Navneet, Khalid, Manoj,
shall remain affected from spoke on the occasion. Zahid, Sonam , Pooja ,
September 06 to 08 from 9 am They told that Shilpa , Amrinder and
to 12 noon. teacher's day is Rashmi Chalotra.
 4 HILL DISTRICT the northlines
Jammu | Thursday| September 06| 2018

Chugh reviews functioning Training for ROs AROs, Nodal Cong leader pays tribute
of Forest Dept Officers held at Udhampur on Teacher's Day
were issued to expedite
the pending works at the
earliest. The PCCF
reiterated that progress in
respect of Financial and
physical target should be
achieved without any
delay.
Speaking on the occasion
Chugh said that protection
of forest and its
conservation and
management through
afforestation would be
departments priority.
Climate change is a big
challenge that the state of
Jammu Kashmir is facing
and mitigating the effect of
climate change is another
NL CORRESPONDENT circle Mohandas,
Conservator of Forest West area where the efforts are
NL CORRESPONDENT
UDHAMPUR, SEP 05
To ensure smooth conduct
of upcoming election of
Urban Local Bodies (ULB)
in the district, the
District Election
Authorities organized a
one day training
programme for Returning
Officers (ROs), Assistant
Returning Officers (AROs)
and Nodal Officers held
under the chairmanship of
Deputy District Election
Officer, Udhampur Sapna
Kotwal here today.
Dy DEO asked all the ROs
& ARO's and Nodal Officers
to work in synergy and
coordination to ensure
free, fair and transparent
upcoming Urban Local
Bodies election.
Training on use of EVM and
election related material
was imparted on the
occasion. The trainees
took keen interest in the
training programmes and
were advised to strictly
follow the set guidelines of
ECI for smooth conduct of
ULB polls.
Earlier, Dy DEO, briefed
about the preparations and
activities being carried out
in the district for upcoming
Municipality elections.
During the training
session, District level
master trainers gave
power point presentation
to participants regarding
scrutiny, filling up of
nominations, rejection of
nominations, qualification
of nominations and
completion of polling NL CORRESPONDENT the only profession which
process till the conclusion JAMMU, SEP 05 gives rise to all other
of the declaration of the professions.
results. Paying tributes to India's He said that teachers have
Among others, GM DIC, second President Dr. greater responsibility
Suram Chand Sharma, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan towards the nation and
on his birth anniversary,
ACD, Noor Alam, ACR, Sub they should discharge
Former minister and
Divisional Magistrate, their duty with missionary
Ramnagar, Farrukh Qazi, Congress leader Sham Lal spirit. He asked them to
SDM, Dudu Abdul Sattar, Sharma said there is no shape the career of
besides RO's ARO's, Nodal better service to the nation students in such a way
Officers and Master than spreading knowledge that they become good
trainers were present on and enlightening citizens to take future
the occasion. someone's life with the challenges.
light of education.
On this occasion, Principal

Kailash Yatra to commence from

JAMMU, SEP 05 The Former Minister was
required, he added. He Sham Ved Sharma said
circle Dr Jitender, addressing a gathering of
said that the removal of that he expressed his
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest students, teachers and

Sep 6 with maiden chopper service

encroachment and parents during Teachers' views on the role of
Conservator of Forests Chenab Circle T.B Singh
(PCCF) Jammu Kashmir, and all the DFOs of Jammu reduction in forest damage Day celebration organized teacher in providing true
are other areas which by Universal higher purpose of education. He
Suresh Chugh today took region participated in the motivated them and asked
would be addressed in NL CORRESPONDENT routes which converge at per passenger. The secondary School,Shama
stock of the working of the meeting. them to take pledge that
DODA, SEP 05 Rishi Dul at Kailash. helicopter will have a one Chak.
forest department in During the meeting, up-to- time bound manner. He District Administration way flying time of 8 Terming teaching as the we will always be
Jammu region in a meeting date division wise asked all the officers to
The Kailash Yatra, 2018, Doda will introduce minutes. It is expected that best vocation in the world, dedicated to our
held at Forest Headquarter progress in respect of work with full dedication
will commence from 6th Helicopter service this the helicopter service will Former Minister said there profession and impart
Jammu. CAPEX and District, FDA, and zeal and any laxity on September, 2018. year for the first time on give a major boost to the is a teacher behind every conceptual and quality
Chief Conservator forest Forest protection works any part would be dealt According to district trial basis. Yatra tourism in the region. successful person and it is education.
Jammu Sameer Bharti, and FCA cases were with strictly, he administration Doda, the The helicopters will
Conservator of Forest East reviewed and directions emphasized.
He said that Forest
Charri for the Yatra will be
taken from Vasuki Nag
operate from Degree
college Bhaderwah Sainik School celebrates Teachers' Day
Dr KC Sharma attends
Department is a 200-year- temple, Bhaderwah, to (helipad) to Rishi Dul (the
old department and has a Kailash Kund at an altitude final base camp of Yatra). garlanded the portrait of
Legacy of disciplined of 13000 feet. The service will be Dr. Sarvepalli

TAC at Balasore, Odisha working for management The Yatris will come to the available only from 6th Radhakrishanan and lit the
of forests on scientific main temple at Kailash September to 9th 'Lamp of Knowledge' to
Kund from districts of September. inaugurate the function. In
lines and that legacy and
NL CORRESPONDENT MSRIT Banglore, Dr. Vipin discipline has to be Udhampur and Kathua by The one-way fare for the ceremonial gathering,
foot through different chopper will be Rs 2950 cadets and teachers
JAMMU, SEP 05 Kumar Director NIF maintained in our working.
delivered short speeches
Ahmadabad, Dr. Shalini
Dr K C Sharma NCSTC
National & International
Smanla Deptt. of P & SM,
VMM College New Delhi, Army celebrates teacher's day on 'teachers-students
relationship'.
On this momentous
Awardee Udhampur J&K,
attending 1st Technical
Prof. Balram Pani
Principal, Delhi University in Poonch, Rajouri occasion, the Principal
felicitated the academic
Advisory Committee , Mrs Najeema faculty and addressed the
Poonch and Rajouri districts
meeting at Balasore, Unnikammu NCSTC staff and cadets of the
paid rich tribute to the great NL CORRESPONDENT
Odisha, Department of National Awardee, Kerala leader, Dr Sarvepalli school. Commending the role played by
Science & Technology Agri. University, Prof. S. K JAMMU, SEP 05
Radhakrishnan. Principal teachers in shaping the personality of
Government of India and Tripathi Deptt. of Forestry, and teachers were given a each cadet, the principal also
Teachers' Day was celebrated at Sainik
approved 22 projects for Mizoram University, warm welcome in the school emphasized the cadets to realize their
School Nagrota on Sep 5. The
the country concerning Aizawl, Dr. Ridhi Shukla by students for their special responsibilities towards the nation. As a
celebration began with senior cadets of
policy initiatives & ASH, Navrangpura, contribution to their lives. tradition, cadets of Class XII took up the
NL CORRESPONDENT students of Army Goodwill Class XII welcoming the teachers and
implementation Ahmedabad, & Dr The students of senior role of their favourite teachers and
School, Potha, Govt Higher the Chief Guest, Capt (IN) A
mechanism and extending Thoudam Regina Devi D/O RAJOURI, SEP 05 classes acted as teachers
Muthuraman, Principal with bouquets
engaged the classes. The celebration
DST support for promoting Zoology, Gargi College New Secondary School, Daraba, and experienced what it concluded with a special lunch for the
Army celebrated Teacher's Govt Degree College, takes to fulfill this onerous and warm greetings. The Principal
communication of Delhi, Dr ABP Mishra, staff and cadets at Cadets' Mess.
Day on the occasion of birth Mendhar, Govt Secondary responsibility of being a
scientific and technological Scientist DST, under
Minerva School celebrates Teacher's Day
centenary of Nation's School, Mendhar, Govt teacher. The students in
knowledge with a view to chairmanship of prof. second President, Dr Higher Secondary School, elated mood presented a
involve & empower people Krishna Mishra IIIT Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan , Jhullas, Govt Middle, colorful cultural programme
to enable them to take Allahabad & discussed 73 who, apart from being a School, Kotli, Govt Middle and paid gratitute to the students of class X,
informed decision. projects out of which 22 great leader, was also one School, Naili, Govt Higher teachers. The students also followed by enlightening
Decision was also taken in were approved by the of the most renowned and Secondary School, participated in singing, of lamp, by Principal
searching "unknown committee in two day influential scholars of our Thanamandi, Govt High dance and quiz Mam and staff members.
Innovative & creative" meeting held on 30-31 country. School, Baisali and Govt competitions on the
The Principal, teachers and High School, Sandot in Flowers were also
people from anywhere August 2018. occasion.
offered to the portrait of
particularly the grass root

BJP ready for elections in state: Raina

Dr. Sarvepalli
innovators from villages
Radhakrishnan.
and small towns along
A symposium was
with other member NL CORRESPONDENT the greater good of the Municipal Committees or Urban Local Bodies and organized for the
participants were Prof. N JAMMU, SEP 05 state and its residents, Panchayat elections.Raina Panchayat Elections will students of classes X
Ramanan Formerly
ULB elections are must in said that strengthening the help in the release of funds and IX. Students spoke
Director & UGC-BCR
Reacting to the statement the state of Jammu & democracy at grass root amounting to Crores of NL C ORRESPONDENT with a special assembly about the significance of
Faculty Fellow, Madras
given by Dr. Farooq Kashmir.Raina said that level will give justice to Rupees, still lying pending KATHUA , S EP 05 conducted by the Teacher's Day.
University Chennai, Prof.
Abdullah that National BJP is all set to contest the each individual in the state. due to lack of Panchayat
Baljinder Singh PIME &
Conference will boycott the elections in all the three All those who are running elections in the state.Raina Teacher's Day was
Research Chandigarh,
Urban local Bodies (ULB) regions of the state i.e. away or shying away from further added that, what celebrated at Minerva
Prof. H S Singh Pro. VC,
elections in the state, BJP Jammu, Kashmir and elections, should rethink come may, BJP is ready to Public School in Kathua.
CCS University Meerut,
State President Ravinder Ladakh, whether it their cowardice contest the elections any The program was lead off
Prof. T. V Suresh Kumar
Raina (MLA) said that for Municipal Corporation, decision.Raina said that time.

Fest "SANGAM 18-19" commences at Bhaderwah Campus, JU

NL CORRESPONDENT
BHADERWAH, SEP 05
Bhadarwah Campus,
University of Jammu in
collaboration with Indian
Army based at Bhadarwah
is organising five days
Chenab Valley Youth
Festival "SANGAM 2018-
19", which commenced at
Bhadarwah Campus this
morning.
The SANGAM 2018-19,
with the tag line 'Lets Build participation of more than
Our Nation' was
inaugurated by Chief
Guest, GOC Delta Force
Maj Gen Rajiv Nanda along Campus, University of
with Guest of Honour, DDC Jammu, Islamia Faridia
Doda, Simrandeep Singh
and Special invitee
Phuntsog Ladakhi, Yoga
Instructor of International Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban,
fame, in presence of
Commander 4 Sector RR
Narinder Jit Singh , Prof.
GM Bhat Rector ,
Bhadarwah Campus, CO
RR, SP Operation Doda
Ravinder Pal Singh, MLC
Naresh Kumar Gupta and
ASP Rajinder Singh.
Besides of large number of
Civil and Military
dignitaries, SDPO
Bhadarwah, officials of
Civil Administration, Police
Department, CRPF,
Prominent Citizens of
Bhadarwah, Principals and
Teachers Of Colleges/
Schools were also present
on the occasion.
The Mega event witnessed
1100 students and
teachers from 32 Colleges
including Bhadarwah
College Kishtwar,
Government Degree
Colleges of Bhadarwah,
Kilotran, Marwah and
Chatroo, beside 10
Colleges from Kashmir
Valley and one from Leh,
hence becoming the first
Campus of the state where
the students from all the
three regions viz Jammu,
Kashmir and Ladakh are
participating. For the first
time Colleges from
Kashmir and Ladakh
region are participating in
this mega event.
Students showcased their
skills in dancing and
singing on the day of
opening Ceremony of the
event.
Speaking on the occasion,
GOC Delta Force Maj Gen
Rajiv Nanda congratulated
the Army and Bhadarwah
Campus for organising this
colourful bonanza. "The
cultural programme
presented by the students
depicted mutual harmony
and brotherhood which is
an integral part of the
culture of Chenab region,"
he said adding that the
people of this region
especially youth should
rise above the communal
politics and secure a
bright future for
themselves and for this
region.
"Youth festival is an
appropriate platform to
showcase talent. We hope
the festival is successful
and every year we can
increase the stature and
scale of the programme.
The university has put in
all efforts to make the
programme successful,"
GOC added.
Maj Gen while
emphasising on the youth
of this region said that the
youth should play a vital
role in making this region
a hub of higher learning.
DCC Doda Simrandeep
Singh in his address
praised the Armed Forces
and Bhadarwah Campus
for organizing such
constructive activities in
the region which help in
diverting the energies of
the youth in proper
direction thus helping in
weaning them away from
anti-social activities.
Rector Bhaderwah
Campus Prof. GM Bhat and
CO 4RR in their welcome
address congratulated the
youth of Chenab Valley for
embarrassing education
and knowledge leading to
self development and
enriching the society. A
total of thirty five different
competitions viz Debate,
Sketching, Clay Modelling,
Photography, Athletics,
Chess, Badminton for girls,
Quiz, Painting, Marathon,
Volleyball, Kabaddi and
Cricket etc will be
conducted during the five
days of Youth Festival.
Several educational and
motivational lectures will
be also delivered by
various dignitaries
including Rector,
Bhadarwah Campus,
University of Jammu.
Notice
I, Dev Raj, S/o Sarban
Kumar, R/o Sinki
Chapri Tehsil & Distt.
Samba do hereby
declare that correct
name of my father is
Sarban Kumar which
was wrongly written
as Sarban in the
school record of 8th class Mark sheet which was issued by
Office of the Chief Education Officer, Samba under the Roll
No. 110108 and 10th class Mark sheet as well as diploma
which was issued by The Jammu & Kashmir State Board of
School Education under the Roll No. 6109158 instead of
Sarban Kumar. Now I am applying for the correction of my
father's name as Sarban Kumar. Objection, if any convey to
the concerned education department within 7 days after
publication of this notice.
Notice
I, Smt. Neeru (Existing Name of Spouse as per NOK in
Record/service documents) spouse of No. 13761519Y Hony
Hav. Gotam Chand (Name of Husband) R/o Vill. Sarain, P/o
Nai Kali,, Tehsil & Distt. Samba (J&K) have changed my
name from Smt. Neeru (Existing name of spouse as per
NOK in Record/service documents) to Smt. Neeru Devi
(Proposed/Adopted New name)
Parbhakar
5 STATE the northlines
Jammu | Thursday| September 06| 2018

DDC chairs DLRC meeting, reviews
banking progress
NL CORRESPONDENT
KATHUA, SEP 05
DDC Kathua, Rohit
Khajuria today convened a
meeting to review the flow
of credit, performance of
banks in key areas relating
to deposits, advances
under priority sector,
Government Sponsored
Schemes, lending for the
quarter ended June 2018,
here at DC Office Complex.
During the meeting, DC
reviewed the progress of
CD ratio, cases under
PMEGP - KVIB / KVIC / DIC
/ NULM, NRLM Handloom/
Handicraft, with special
emphasis on credit linkage
of beneficiaries under
these schemes. He
emphasized upon banks to
simplify the systems and
disseminate information
regarding welfare schemes
among general
public/farmers/skilled
persons to facilitate them
for setting up new units of
economic activities.
He impressed upon the
banks and line
departments to ensure
effective coordination in
their working. He desired
that potential under
agriculture and allied
activities be exploited fully
to achieve the benchmark
achieve national level of 60
percent. He advised that
branch-specific Action
Plans should be devised for
better focus on increase in
CD ratio. The Chairman
advised all banks to adopt
multi level approach for
continuation of Gram
Swaraj Abhiyan to cover
maximum number of
persons under social
security schemes like Jan
Dhan Yojana, Suraksha
Bima Yojana, Jeevan Jyoti
Yojana and to issue RuPay
year 2018-19, informed the
house that Rs. 119.39
crores have been
disbursed under priority
sector and Rs. 122.34
crores under non-priority
sector, thereby recording
16.90% achievement of ACP
as on June 30, 2018.
Further, under social
security schemes 114181
accounts opened under
PMJDY, 2840 individuals
have been covered under
Atal Pension Yojana, 28077
individuals has been
covered under Jeevan Jyoti
Bima Yojana, 50125
individuals has been
covered under Suraksha
Bima Yojana and 12983
accounts under PMMY
have been opened/financed
as on 30th June 2018.
Prominent among others
APS Kaluchak celebrates "BJP will win
Teachers' Day Municipal elections"
NL CORRESPONDENT Sabha and Lok Sabha
JAMMU, SEP 05 Election.He said that in
Kashmir valley the Local
S. Varinderjeet Singh, Body Cell of BJP is working
Incharge All Cells BJP & very well and this time on
Member of Disciplinary Srinagar BJP will break all
Committee which records in Municipal and
addressing members of Panchayat Elections.He
NL CORRESPONDENT students to follow. She Local Body Cell said that in appealed to all the
JAMMU, SEP 05 urged them to lead a the upcoming Municipal workers that we should
healthy and disciplined life Elections BJP will win with work together with unity
Teachers' Day was and create a healthy huge majority. BJP will win and prepare for elections
celebrated in APS environment. She also more than 60 seats in and make BJP victorious
Kaluchak with great gusto lauded the contribution Jammu Municipal with huge margin. He said
and vehemence. On this made by the teachers of Corporation and will win that he has full faith in
occasion a special the school and for their every Municipal party members and the
assembly was conducted unprecedented role in the Committee.He said that people of J&K that they
where the students dissemination of the party is working very will make BJP win with
mesmerised their knowledge. hard from the post one huge margin.Deepak
facilitators with cultural The facilitators were year for Municipal and Gupta, Malvinder Singh,
feast. Dance, music and conferred upon with gifts Panchayat Elections and Tarsem Sharma, Sudhir
role play made the day as a token of appreciation our workers are ready on Jamwal, V.K. Sethi,
explicable and were indeed towards their unparalleled booth level and will defeat Darshan Singh and others
the icing on the cake. The involvement in teaching- every party and emerge as were present in the
students left no stone victorious as like Vidhan meeting.
learning process.
unturned to ensure that

Plantation drive launched in Samba

procedures so that
maximum beneficiaries are
credit linked under various
schemes for generation of
employment amongst the
needy and poor people.
He asked all banks to hold
awareness programmes to
Free ortho camp held at Kurukeshtra
KURUKSHETRA SEP 05
As many as 100 people
attended a free knee & hip
related problems camp at
Apna Hospital today. The
camp was organized by
Alchemist Hospital,
Panchkula. During camp
Dr. Sandeep Kumar Jindal,
consultant- orthopedics
and joint replacement,
Alchemist Hospital
provided free consultation
to the patients having knee
and hips related
problems.The patients
were also benefited with
50% discount on X-ray and
of 18 percent. The
Chairman exhorted upon
the banks to exploit all
resources at their disposal
and come out with
concrete action plan to
increase present CD-ratio
of 41.94% drastically to
free physiotherapy
consultation by Dalbir
Singh, physiotherapist at
Alchemist Hospital
Panchkula. He advised
patients about exercises
for relieving pain related to
knee and hip
problems.Making aware
about the knee
replacement surgery
benefits, Dr. Sandeep said,"
The surgery aims to relieve
pain, restore patient
independence and return
him or her to work and
other daily activities. Knee
replacement patients
recover quickly. Patients
Debit Cards to all eligible who attended the meeting the teachers enjoy every
account holders, thereby were ADDC, Shubra minute. The importance of
initiating the process of Sharma, GM DIC, Rajinder the day was highlighted
DIGIDHAN Mission. when the teachers were also maintain the
Sharma, ACD, Sukhpal
LDM, S K Kandroo felicitated with the best ecological balance", the
Singh, representatives of
presented the teachers award for their DDC maintained.
achievements under RBI, NABARD, J&K Bank,
commitment and She asked the students to
Annual Action Plan for the SBI, PNB, JK Grameen
dedication to the cause of aware the society
Bank, Reliance General education. Ms Hem Lata regarding the importance
Insurance, NRLM, KVIB,
DIC, KVIC and senior
officers of various
Vishen, Principal APS
Kaluchak laid emphasis on
moral and ethical values,
of saving green gold and
making the Samba district
green and clean.
are able to walk the first departments. which she expected the She thanked 129 Infantry
day after surgery. Bn (TA) ECO JAKLI and
Generally, patients are
able to return to driving in Missing girl recovered Kokuyo Camlin for their
active support
organizing the event and
in
four to six weeks and NL CORRESPONDENT and continuous search,
routine activities. hoped that similar
KATHUA, SEP 05 police team led by ASI programmes would also be
Meanwhile Alchemist Som Raj under the
Police Post Nagri, Kathua directions of Incharge organized in future.
Hospital is one of the NL CORRESPONDENT planted. The major part of The locals of the area
leading centers for joint solved missing case , Police Post SI Vikas
recovered the major girl Jasrotia today succeeded SAMBA, SEP 05 the drive was carried out hailed the initiative of the
replacement surgeries, by RDD, Education, Health, district administration, 129
within 48 hours from the in tracing the missing girl
with the team of expert time of reporting. from Ludhiana Punjab in On the occasion of ICDS, IWMP and Transport Infantry Bn (TA) ECO JAKLI
renowned orthopedic On 03/09/2018 a the intervening night of Teacher's Day, the District department at the and Kokuyo Camlin for
surgeons. It has complaint was received 4/5-09-2018. Administration Samba in identified locations which organizing the plantation
consistently delivered high at Police Post Nagri about After completing all legal collaboration with 129 include Panchayat Ghar, drive.
quality results in knee missing of one major girl. formalities, she was Infantry Bn (TA) ECO JAKLI Anganwari Centres, health Among others, Brig. J.S.
replacement, hip Police instantly lodged a handed over to her launched a mega centres, CFCs, educational Budhvar, CO Armed
missing report and family. plantation drive, here institutions, along road Sharief Chouhan, CO
replacement and shoulder
started search to trace The swift action of today. side, canal and ponds. Nandu Kumar,SSP, Dr.
replacement comparable out the missing girl. Kathua Police was largely District Development Speaking on the occasion, Koushal Sharma, ADDC
to the world's best centers. After strenuous efforts appreciated by people. Commissioner Samba, the DDC urged the Pankaj Magotra, ADC Arun

300 liquor nips seized, Skill enhancement workshop at JU-Day 2

bootlegger arrested NL C
NL CORRESPONDENT
KATHUA, SEP 05
Incharge Police Post Nagri
along with his team today
on tip off conducted raid in
village Khokhyal and
seized 300 liquor nips of
illicit liquor in illegal
possession of one Dev Raj
S/o Dhyan chand R/o
Commissioner Food Safety to sensitize PDD meets Governor
street food vendors on sanitary, hygiene
making and its various schemes under the State &
Khokhyal Kathua.
Police registered a case
under relevant sections,
arrested the accused and
investigation taken up.
Kathua police requests
people of the area to come
forward and make this
drive against illegal liquor
menace people's
Commissioner Secy
movement.
large number of urban, poor, unemployed,
skilled/semi-skilled population with
small financial inputs, knowledge and
practice.
It was decided that a special drive of
training and sensitization of 500 street
food vendors will be undertaken on
ORRESPONDENT
JAMMU, SEP 05 usages on the cloth.
Dr. R. S. Sharma, Director,
To promote and enhance Industries & Commerce,
the skills of Samba prints J&K Government, Jammu
(Calico Printing) as a part
of intangible heritage of
Jammu region, second day
graced the occasion with
his presence to encourage
the participants and the
of the workshop was very
interesting and
organizers for their skill
enhancement initiatives in
encouraging for the the city of temples. He
participants to know about appreciated the efforts of
the organic colours derived Indian National Trust for
using alum, resin, kashish, Art and Cultural Heritage
harad powder, etc. (INTACH), Jammu Chapter,
Sajidbhai Udaipuri and Centre for women's
other trainers from Studies (CSW), University
Ahmadabad explained the of Jammu, Centre for
features of organic colours, History & Culture of
its availability and Jammu & Ladakh Regions
properties in the block (CHCJLR), University of
printing and dying Jammu and Department of
technology to the Handicrafts for organizing
participants in very this kind of skill
thorough and detailed enhancement program of
manner. They also the national repute. He
acquainted the further explained to the
participants with the participants about various
process of organic colours
the central Government
and their incentives which
are available for the benefit ornamental and fruit were
of young entrepreneurs
specially trained in their
respective fields such as
Calico printing. The
process of registration and
other allied work and
information is available
online.
S.M. Sahni, Convenor,
INTACH-Jammu Chapter,
Prof. Anita Billawaria,
Director, CHCJLR & Dean,
Faculty of Social Sciences,
University of Jammu, Prof.
Suman Jamwal, Director,
CWS, University of Jammu,
Dr. Priyanka Katoch, Ms.
Saranjit Kour, Mr.
Abhimanyu Dev Singh
Billawaria, Joginder Pal
Sharma, Handicraft
Training Officer,
Department of Handicraft NL CORRESPONDENT
were also present.
Sushma Chouhan who was
the chief guest on the
occasion inaugurated the
plantation drive.
During the drive, about
40000 plants of different
species including flowers,
ARTO Baramulla conducts
vehicle checking drive
BARAMULLA, SEP 05
A special naka was laid by
Assistant Regional
Transport Officer (ARTO)
Baramulla Dr Zubair
wherein more than 110
vehicles were checked
during the day.
Following the reports of
overloading and traffic
norms violation, ARTO
Baramulla on Wednesday
participants to plant more
and more trees to save the
environment from global
warming, pollution and
other anti-environmental
effects. "Such initiatives
would bring major relief to
the environment besides it
conducted vehicle
checking and checked 110
Vehicles among which 14
vehicles were compounded
and 20 Vehicles challaned
for various violations
committed against traffic
rules. He was
accompanied by Inspector
Parvaiz Ahmad and other
officials from Motor
Vehicles Department
(MVD) Baramulla
Meanwhile, the inspection
Manhas, ACR, Wasim Raja,
ACD, Aijaz Qaiser,
Additional SP, Raja Adil,
other district officers
besides a large number of
students and locals were
also present on the
occasion.
team informed the people
about their duties towards
observing traffic norms
and road safety rules while
travelling. The ARTO said
that it was prime duty of
the commuters to raise
their voice against
overloading and use of
mobile phones by the
drivers at the time of
driving.
Further with a view to
check rising pollution
levels in the district, the
team also checked the
pollution checking centres
in the district.
ARTO said "if any centre is
found lacking the proper
infrastructure for checking
vehicle exhaust emission-
based pollution, it will be
shut down,"
ARTO also informed that
teams have been
constituted that would go
around the district to
check all the pollution
control centres.

NL CORRESPONDENT
SRINAGAR, SEP 05
In order to sensitize street food vendors
with regard to health, hygiene, food
handling, food safety, personal hygiene,
cart hygiene, cleaning and chemicals,
pest control, garbage disposal and
entrepreneurship, a meeting was chaired
by Commissioner, Food Safety, Dr Abdul
Kabir Dar, in which among other officers,
Manager, Corporate Affairs, Nestle India
Harvinder Singh Ranhotra, also
participated.
Realizing the fact that street food vendors
are not only a source of traditional food
but have also bearing on the tourism
sector of the State, besides it is an
important source of employment for a
11/12th of October, 2018 both at Srinagar
and Jammu.
State Commissionerate of Food Safety,
Nestle India Ltd. and NASVI (National
Association of Street Vendors of India)
have joined hands to start this innovative
programme. The training programme
shall be held across J&K in a phased
manner and the participants will be
provided with Food Safety Kits and
certificates on successful completion of
the said training.
Commissioner, Food Safety, J&K
instructed all the enforcement authorities
for starting a special drive for registration
of street food vendors and also vigorously
start checking of all the food business
outlets including street vendors so as to
provide wholesome and safe food to the
public.
DDC Pulwama reviews local
sports competition arrangements
NL CORRESPONDENT and programmes in power
SRINAGAR, SEP 05 sector like schemes of
Saubhagya, UJALA, PMDP, NL CORRESPONDENT On the Occasion, District Sports Officer
Sh. Hirdesh Kumar, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya PULWAMA, SEP 05 briefly informed the meeting about the
Commissioner Secretary Gram Jyoti Yojana. format of Programme, procurements of
Power Development Governor directed that all District Development Commissioner equipment 's and requirement of funds for
Department met Governor works pertaining to (DDC) Pulwama Ghulam Mohammad Dar the organizing of sports events in the
Satya Pal Malik at the Raj electrification of the un- today chaired a meeting of officers district. It was said that District level
Bhavan here today. electrified households, regarding conducting of District level competition will be kick-started at DPL
Sh. Kumar briefed should be prioritized and sports competitions under "Peace and Pulwama and DPL Awantipora.
Development" for the year 2018-19. Speaking on the Occasion, DDC said that
Governor about the position emphasised that the work
The meeting was attended by Additional Govt has launched various programmes
of energy access and should be expedited on all
Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Tral and including sports competitions under
availability and the demand the projects covered under "Peace and Development" for the youth to
Awantipora, District Youth Services and
and supply position of Centrally Sponsored SportsOfficer Pulwama, District Youth provide an opportunity for the
Power in the State, to-date Schemes for their timely Coordinator NYK, Dy Sp, Pulwama, development of their personality and
status of various schemes completion. Awantipora and other concerned officials. skills.
6 OPINION the northlines
Jammu | Thursday | Sept 06 | 2018

Should Rahul's visits abroad Why the case against Robert Vadra will boomerang on the BJP
have a domestic agenda?
SANJUKTA BASU untraceable since then, against instead of a private person filing had to be removed from the
Robert Vadra, husband of Priyanka FIR? Moreover, this is only an FIR, website.

T
he BJP government came to Gandhi alleging that Vadra bought there is still a long way to go b) After shifting goal posts for over
power mainly on an anti- some land by forging cheques and before any of the charges can be two years in their attempt to
leadership strength in the past. corruption plank. For about a other documents. proved, and Vadra can be put justify demonetisation, the
credentials. Ever A former union minister year leading up to the 2014 general Details of the allegations are not behind bars, so what's the Modi jai Reserve Bank of India's damning
since Narendra reflected the predicament election, Narendra Modi important, suffice it to say that jaikar for? report has finally conclusively
Modi won the of the Congress when he relentlessly campaigned against these were exactly the same It is puzzling why the Modi proved that it was a failure.
general elections pointed out the party the incumbent UPA government allegations against Vadra which government failed to take action c) Fuel prices are rising and the
in 2014 and faces the ignominy of raking up core issues such as fuel were first hurled in 2013 by the ex- against Vadra. In 2013, the body of value of rupee against dollar is
became the prime being out of reckoning in prices, jobs, infrastructure, bureaucrat turned anti-corruption 'evidence' against him seemed to falling on a daily basis, every day
T R RAMACHANDRAN minister, there has no less than 200 out of the growth, development and so on. crusader turned full time be quite large, starting with the being a new high and new low.
been no looking back for 543 seats in the LokSabha At the forefront of the campaign politician in the race for chief testimony of whistleblower Ashok d) BJP's own minister admitted

T
R Ramachandran,
Rahul Gandhi,
domestic agenda,
Congress, Germany,
England
There is discernible
desperation in Congress
president Rahul Gandhi
focussing on the domestic
agenda during his forays
abroad, particularly in
Germany and England
recently, whipping up a
storm at home. The
agenda for these visits is
painstakingly prepared to
catch the attention of the
Indian diaspora and
others as well as whipping
up frenzy at home.
This is unlikely to turn the
tide for the oldest political
party in the country
desperately seeking to
revitalise itself. The
mentoring apart, Gandhi
is prone to committing
gaffes, especially when
the spontaneity of
questions about the
prevailing situation with
specific reference to the
RSS as the ideologue of
the BJP has invariably
caught him on the wrong
foot. While in England, he
compared the RSS with
him and the BJP. The
saffron colour is splashed
across the country's map
with the Lotus party in
power in no less than
twenty states in the
country.
While the Congress
believes in the secular
and liberal values of
Democracy, the Lotus
party is nurtured by ultra-
nationalist Hindu ideology.
From all accounts, the
Congress appears
nowhere near giving the
BJP a credible fight going
by the current popularity
ratings showing Modi way
ahead compared to any
other leader. Impartial
observers believe Gandhi
has fallen into the familiar
trap of Hindu-Muslim
narrative where the BJP
enjoys a definite edge
suiting its vote bank
politics.
He needs to think out of
the box in infusing
confidence in his party
with the single point
objective of seeing the
back of Modi and, in turn,
the BJP from retaining
power for a second
consecutive term on the
with general elections
barely eight months away
next year. At the same
time, Gandhi is trying
hard to bolster his image
while preparing for the
long haul. The Opposition
desperately needs to get
its act together rather
than working in fits and
starts.
The BJP, at its meeting
with their chief ministers
last week, affirmed that
Modi should get a second
term as the Head of
Government.
It has become imperative
to evolve sound policy
rather than alluding to
populism. The question is:
Can the non-BJP
Opposition, where every
leader believes he/she has
the potential of being the
prime minister, firm up its
stand along with making
public its policies and
programmes for the
nation's all round
development rather than
making wild and
unachievable pledges?
(The writer is a senior
journalist and
commentator.)
however was a massive anti-
corruption drive and rightly so
because no amount of efficient
governance will truly develop the
nation unless there is a will and a
way to eradicate corruption.
Corruption is the cancer in the
nation's body, hard to diagnose,
harder to treat and it eats away
the nation's wealth.
Octogenarian Shantonu Sen
belonged to the first batch of CBI
officers who joined the
organisation at the time of its
inception in 1963. He served for 33
years, and retired as the joint
director of CBI. He knows a thing
or two about bureaucratic and
political corruption.
In a recent interview when asked
about the possible reasons why
there has not been any progress in
the anti-corruption drive as
promised by the BJP government,
including the promise of Lokpal,
he said, "nearabeltalayekabarjaye"
[which roughly translates to 'how
many times does a vulnerable
person fall into the trap?'] is
debatable, but the Indian voters
have already fallen into the trap a
bit too many times all in the name
of anti-corruption drive."
In a breaking news development
this week, a FIR was filed by a
mysterious person, who remains
ministership of Delhi, Arvind
Kejriwal, followed by BJP and
other political leaders across
parties, catapulting him into the
Indian political scene as a key
factor.
It's time for Indian voters to bite
the corruption bait once again.
Bold media headlines and prime
time TV debate vilifying Robert
Vadra relying upon a mere FIR
makes for great optics, phonetics
and semiotics for the distressed
voter who is traumatised by
decades of corruption and
presently crushed under the rising
fuel prices and falling value of
rupee. Indian voters are ready to
go empty stomach for nights and
stand in ATM queues to get hold of
their own money as long as they
are made to believe that the pain
they are undergoing is meant to
eradicate corruption of the rich
people. But they are often unable
to think through important
questions like why is media
creating a hype around an FIR
containing same allegations which
were first known five years back
but remained unsubstantiated?
Why has there been no action in
these five years? If this is a real
corruption case against public
officials then why is the present
government not initiating action
Khemka, IAS officer from Haryana
cadre, who first exposed the
discrepancy in Vadra's land deals
and later got a plum posting in
Haryana, or rebel Congress MP
Rao Inderjit Singh, who demanded
a detailed investigation against
Vadra claiming he had enough
evidence to nail the latter.
Several media organisations also
conducted their own
investigations and came up with
their own 'evidence' and
'testimonies'. Like a dramatic
symphony, the music was getting
louder and louder moving towards
a climax but as soon as the 2014
elections were over, there was a
sudden dull thud of a damp squib,
and a pin drop silence thereafter.
The charges have now returned
once again to capture the
imagination of Indian voters
gearing up for the Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand
elections this year, and the
general elections next year. Look
at the timing of the FIR. In the last
few months, here is what has been
happening in 'new India':
a) A government-backed forum
presented a back series GDP
report that showed India grew at
10.8 per cent in 2006-07 under PM
Manmohan Singh's leadership,
which was so embarrassing that it
there are no jobs in the country.
e) The Maharashtra Anti-
Terrorism Squad (ATS) has
unearthed a major terror plot by
Hindutva group Sanatan Sanstha,
which is also allegedly linked to
the murder of Gauri Lankesh, and
three other rationalists. The ATS
is now preparing a fresh dossier
seeking a ban on Sanatan Sanstha.
f) There is massive social unrest in
the country with mob lynching,
communal hate, caste-based
agitations led by Dalits, Marathas,
Patidars among others and a
growing fear of fascist onslaught
as journalists are being made to
quit, fired or silenced; human
rights activists are put in jail
without valid grounds.
g) Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is
winning hearts at home and
abroad as he keeps showing the
contrast between him and Modi,
and positions himself as the real
alternative to hate.
In such trying times, unless BJP
blinds the Indian voters with the
kaleidoscopic dream of the rich
corrupt man going to jail, their
empty stomachs and angry minds
will ask questions.
Thus the 'Return of Mango People's
Favourite Dream - Vadra booked,
next in line is the Italian family.
Hell Yeah!'

Petrol hike has potential to play havoc

the Muslim Brotherhood.
Both are socio-cultural
organisations backed by
political parties. It was
clearly a pointer to
Raisina Hill in the national
capital. The Congress
strategy is to concentrate
on having alliances in as K R Sudhaman excise duty on petrol and diesel more than prices, sound economics, but also sanctions on Iran. India alone is not the
many States as possible tripled between 2013-14 and 2017-18. substantially hiked taxes to mop up victim; several other emerging economies

targetting the country's
plurality and secularism
by promoting a certain
religious political ideology.
Gandhi insists this is
fraught with danger as an
organisation is either
secular or not. Religious
fundamentalism comes in
direct clash with
secularism. He observed
"it is very dangerous in
the 21st century to
exclude people" while
accusing the BJP of doing
just that with tribals,
Dalits and minorities from
the development narrative
which entailed serious
consequences.
Muslim Brotherhood is an
Egypt based organisation
known for advocating
Muslim solidarity and
ultra-Islamic approach. At
the same time, Gandhi's
advocacy of dynastic
politics failed to do him
any good about his
having the potential of
keeping the BJP at bay.
Once the seemingly
improbable agenda of
dethroning Modi is
achieved, the rest like
who will be the prime
minister is expected to fall
in place.
NCP supremo Sharad
Pawar has echoed similar
views that the single point
agenda is to see the back
of Modi. Who will be the
prime minister will be the
prerogative of the party
which emerges the single
largest in the proposed
non-BJP coalition
arrangement. The
Congress is itself to blame
for its organisation
crumbling because of the
party High Command's
overbearing attitude. Its
problems are self inflicted
resulting in lack of leaders
having a mass base in the
States which was its
T
he unusual spurt in diesel and petrol
prices as a result of deadly cocktail of
surging global oil prices and falling
rupee value signals danger to the economy,
now on the path to recovery clocking 8 per
cent GDP in the first quarter of this
financial year. Surging fuel prices have the
potential to destablise the economy as it is
inflationary, can widen current account
deficit, already hit by falling rupee and
impact strained fiscal deficit if tax cuts are
resorted to rein-in prices. It is certainly a
dilemma for the NarendraModi
government, which appears to have not
managed fuel prices well when compared
to the previous UPA government.
Notwithstanding surging global oil prices
and falling rupee, one of the reasons for
high domestic fuel prices is the high taxes
both at the centre and states as petrol and
diesel are considered to be milch cows for
revenue mop-up. Petrol and diesel prices
touched a new high early this week. Petrol
touched a maximum Rs 86.56 a litre and
diesel Rs 75.54 in Mumbai. The petrol price
included Rs 19.48 excise, dealer
commission of Rs 3.63 and state VAT of Rs
16.83…
According to government data, the central
During the same period state VAT
increased more than 38 per cent. The
excised duty on petrol increased from Rs
9.48 per litre to Rs 21.48 in four years. In
case of diesel it increased more than four
times from Rs 3.56 to Rs 15.33. In other
words, every Rs 100 spent on petrol nearly
Rs 46 goes to central and state government
by way of taxes and in case of diesel it is
nearly Rs 36.
Analysts say the government taps this one
source of tax to virtually cripple the budget
of common man as both the Centre and
states together mop up around Rs 5 lakh
crore alone from this one source. There are
also studies to show that $10 per barrel
hike in global crude oil prices reduces GDP
by 0.3 per cent and aRs 10 per cent hike in
domestic fuel prices push up inflation by
0.5 per cent.
During UPA, the government drastically cut
taxes in fuel prices as well as import duty
on crude to zero per cent to ensure the
suffering of common man was minimized
as crude oil prices surged and touched a
high of $147 a barrel at one point of time.
Whereas BJP led NDA government used
falling oil prices as opportune moment to
not only totally dismantle administered
additional revenues to narrow fiscal deficit.
This also helped to find additional
resources for government programmes,
some of which are good and many were
wasteful revenue expenditure.
The central government raised excise on
fuel nine times in 3-4 years to earn high
revenue from one commodity. In fact, the
Centre gave tax sops worth Rs 5.75 lakh
crore to corporates, which is not investing
adequately in recent years to step up
industrial production and economic
growth. In such a scenario why should
common man suffer when corporates are
piling up cash. There is certainly some
justification in the opposition charge that
the BJP is encouraging crony capitalism.
With rupee crossing Rs 71 to a dollar, the
fuel prices will only go up unless the taxes
are reduced to provide relief to common
man. India imports about 80 per cent of its
crude oil, and falling rupee will make it that
much more costlier. This will also worsen
burgeoning current account deficit at over
2.5 per cent of GDP.
With crude oil hovering around $75 a barrel
from a mere $33 a barrel in 2015, there are
forecasts that it could go up further with
threats of cut in oil production and US
and South Asian economies, which are
dependent on imports for its energy
requirement, have also been affected. But
fuel prices in these countries, including
China, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, are
much lower than India as taxes are much
lower.
The per litre price of petrol in United States
is Rs 53.88 equivalent, in Pakistan, it is Rs
65.2 equivalent, Sri Lanka, Rs 69.14
equivalent, Nepal Rs 71.25 and Beijing Rs
70.49. All these countries had much less
fuel prices than India. It was time India
looked at the possibility of bringing petrol
and diesel under Goods and Services Tax
so that incidence of tax is reduced and
cascading effects minimized for the benefit
of common man. Also it is time the
government explored opportunities of
getting tax revenue. Widening tax base and
taxing rich farmers’ income could be some
of the options. Of course, keeping tax rates
high on tobacco and alcohol is not that
exploitative as they are sin goods injurious
to health. But keeping the tax rates high on
fuel is a sin that hits people in every walk
of life, particularly the poor.
(The writer is a freelance journalist. Views
are personal.)

Education is a great equaliser, but is Hr Education Commission of India up to the task?

AMITI PANDE Tightening the screws on higher great equaliser and hence reformer. college dropouts in the US and also So is the story of great reformation, that from all over the world and boast of
education is only going to reap The East understood that acquisition those who graduate do not turn up for by 2030 the average per capita income world class education and university

H
ow about eating some stats
and facts. Just some food for
thought, I promise.
By 2030, the inequality, in terms of
disparity in income and so living
standards, will be at its lowest since
the mid-19th century. Let's go back in
time to the period post-1980 when it
all began.
The developed world i.e. the "West"
grew at 1.5% per annum and the
developing countries saw a growth
rate of 3%; implying about 350
million poor in India and 650 million
poor in China increased their
incomes by 700% in a span of 36
years. No mean feat considering both
the countries account for 40% of the
world population and so rise in their
respective growth rates can cause
tectonic shifts on the world stage.
What caused this growth?
In one word: Education. In two
words: human capital. In a sentence:
Catch-up of the "East" with the West
in terms of education, therefore
acquiring the required set of skills,
seeing a rise in income and finally
causing improvement in world
inequality.
India realises very well that the way
to the top is education.
benefits that go on to shape the
future of our nation. On June 28th,
2018 the government announced that
the University Grants Commission
(UGC) will be dissolved and in its
place will come the Higher Education
Commission of India (HECI). What
this institution hopes to do by being
the sole regulator of education
standards is to ensure quality in
education imparted by setting
benchmarks of academic
performance. The HECI will keep a
constant check on institutions will
full autonomy to pull strings, in case
violation of standards takes place.
I am glad to learn that the
government, though in its last leg of
term, realises that the overhauling of
education will have to be done from
bettering the standards of bodies
that govern it, rather than omitting
and editing chapters in NCERT
books and constantly proving history
wrong.
The HECI Act is expected to be
tabled in the Parliament's Monsoon
Session. How effectively it is
implemented and whether the
benefits it announces actually take
shape remains to be seen.
This is the advent of education as the
of education is acquisition of wealth.
It was widely understood that the
twin emotive issues of poverty and
inequality can only be undone by
investing in education. Of course,
there are many other factors than just
education contributing to the rise in
the developing world. But the factor of
education alone is such an important
one that it towers over rest. It equips
one with the ability to improve life's
circumstances and increase
possibilities. And that has happened.
The magnitude of middleclass and
college-attendees in the East has
quadrupled. And the two enjoy a
mutually rewarding relationship.
Expansion of college education has
directly led to expansion of the middle
class. Here comes another fallout of
global education - the change in control
and gradual shift in power. This is shift
is from the Westernised upper class
elite to the domestic middleclass elite of
the east.
Not to forget, the West has provided us
with some help too.
There was a time when America's
growth rates and markets skyrocketed -
from 1986 to 2000 - defying all warnings.
What we are witnessing now is reversal
of fortunes: the ever-increasing rise in
jobs too often. It's the classic case of
stagnation and misfortune of the
college-educated western worker. They
do not attain skills and so their wages
remain stuck at a constant minimum
subsistence level. Here comes in the
educated skilled worker from the east
and swoops the job away.
Advantage education.
The world has also witnessed a steady
rise in the number of billionaires in the
East. This is can be explained by two
factors. First, the average per capita
incomes have increased threefold in the
East since 1980, when all the reform
based initiatives came in. Second,
simply put, size. When China and India
alone match the populations of 174
countries, the cupboard of growth can
be understood very well if the remaining
members of the east are to be added.
Even a small but constant percentage
increase in this group can lead to a large
increase in the overall world number.
The crucial role education has played by
helping the poor countries move
towards convergence with the rich
countries is its most valuable gift to the
world. 15 years from now the two
largest economies will be India and
China. And we come back to 2030, with
the year we began.
of India and China clubbed, is likely to life, higher education is primarily
be somewhere near $23,000 mark. With handled by and is the responsibility of
a size of about 40% of the world the states. Blunders like clubbing
population, if the steep rise in universities and colleges in the same
education, income, growth and fortune bracket as "higher educational
is to be added to it, it becomes one of the institutions" and applying common
greatest transformations of all time. rules, setting up an advisory council
The transformation of rapid decline in chaired by the Union Minister as
poverty, with rapid increase in the proposed by section 24 of the bill,
incomes of developing countries, thereby mixing education with politics,
coupled by stagnation of the West; are ominous signs of things to come.
Look no further than the East! Not only does it violate the principles
Coming back to HECI and the current of governance but also severely
government's plan to repeal the damages the ideals on which good
University Grants Commission (UGC) education stand.
Act, alarming dimensions to it have It is time to build a human economy
emerged. The recent feedback on that does not benefit just a privileged
HECI does not look too bright. On few, and is not controlled by an
studying its clauses closely, facets of authoritarian charge at the Centre that
license raj are brought back to keeps all powers vested within itself.
memory. As John Rawls rightly said: "All social
For starters, the legislation seeks to primary goods - liberty and
empower the Centre even more and opportunity, income and wealth, and
that at the expense of states and bases of self-respect - are to be
Universities diminishing their distributed equally unless an
autonomy and reducing them to mere unequal distribution of any or all of
puppet institutions solely at the helm these goods is to the advantage of the
of the Centre.
In countries like (Disclaimer: The views expressed here are personal
USA, Australia opinions of the writers. The information, facts or opinions
and China that appearing in the articles do not reflect the views of The
harbour students Northlines and it does not assume any responsibility or
liability for the same)
7 KASHMIR the northlines
Jammu | Thursday| September 06| 2018

Advisor Kumar listens to DC Bandipora takes stock of DDC Ramban reviews

public grievances at Srinagar Muharram arrangements Muharram arrangements providing Inverters, Water
Several delegations, individuals register their issues for redressal tanks, sanitary complexes
and other amenities which
PEC/BME will be permanent assets
operators/Supervisors for these Imambaras and
working for Aadhar Project will save a lot of
in J&K requested for expenditure incurred
continuation of their every year on hiring of NL CORRESPONDENT departments to ensure that
Aadhar services contract. GenSets, Tanks and other RAMBAN, SEP 05 the arrangements
Meanwhile, many public basic facilities. pertaining to their
deputations from various The organizations of District Development Departments are put in
districts of Kashmir NL CORRESPONDENT 40 double-battery community were Commissioner Ramban, place well in time.
NL CORRESPONDENT besides dozens of other BANDIPORA, SEP 05 inverters, 100 water tanks represented by Aga Syed
division met the Advisor Showkat Aijaz Bhat today Municipal authorities were
SRINAGAR, SEP 05 delegations flagged several of 1000 litres capacity
and put forward various Murtaza, Sayeed Sajjad, convened a joint meeting directed to ensure
issues faced by them and District Development each and 30 Community
issues of public Shabroz Ahmed Mir, of officers and cleanliness in and around
As part of State sought their redressal. Commissioner Bandipora, Sanitary Complexes at all Sayeed Nissar and
importance. representatives of Shia Imambargah Chanderkot.
Administration's initiative A delegation of All J&K Dr Shahid Iqbal Imambaras. Meanwhile,
Several individuals also Ghulam Rasool in addition Associations, here to The DDC directed the
to resolve the people's Government Pharmacists Choudhary reviewed the water supply through
met the Advisor and to the representatives and review the arrangements Tehsildar Ramban to
grievances, Advisor to Association sought arrangements put in place tankers, installation of
registered their grievances members of various being put in place for personally monitor the
Governor, K Vijay Kumar, Advisors intervention in by the district LED lights, blacktopping of Imambaras.
and demands, which smooth conduct of arrangements so that the
held a public durbar at conducting DPC for administration for roads, provision of
mainly include proper Later, the DDC along with Muharram. devotees do not face any
Governor's Grievance Cell clearance of their cases Muharram. He approved additional ration supply,
water and power supply, SSP and other officers The meeting discussed inconvenience.
at Church Lane, here and some other service several measures for firewood, healthcare
flood relief, health visited various locations various issues projected by Among others ADC, Dr.
today. related issues. providing amenities to facilities already finalized and inspected the work
services, road connectivity the representatives of Shia Gurvinderjeet Singh, ACR,
Several public delegations, The delegation of HDF Imambaras in a meeting were also reviewed in the done by PMGSY and PWD
etc. associations for the Vevaik Puri, CPO, Uttam
deputations and Workers met the Advisor convened at Sumbal. meeting.
Advisor K Vijay Kumar division for resurfacing the smooth conduct of Singh, CMO, Executive
organizations met the and requested for their SSP Bandipora, Sheikh The DDC directed the roads in Sumbal area Muharram. Engneers of PHE,
Advisor and apprised him engagement and gave them a patient Zulfkar Azad, SDM Syed departments to put in particularly for Muharram DDC directed PHE and Tehsildar, District
of their grievances, issues regularization, political hearing and assured that Naseer Ahmed, Additional their best efforts for procession routes. PDD to ensure President Shia Federation
and demands and sought migrants presented their their grievances/demands SP Ajaz Mir, Nodal Officer ensuring proper It is also pertinent to uninterrupted power and J&K, Murtaja Ali,
their early redressal. issues before the Advisor would be examined and Dr Iftikhar Ghazi, SDPO arrangements during mention here that as a water supply. Besides, Secertary Anjuman-e-
The deputations included and requested for a the concerned Sumbal, ExEns of PHE, Muharram especially long-term measure for health department was Imamia Chanderkot,
delegation of All J&K suitable accommodation. departments will be asked PDD, PWD, I&C, CMO, potable drinking water solving issue of water tasked to ensure Khaleel Ahmed Shah and
Government Pharmacists A group of casual labour's to redress all of their Tehsildars and district supply, power supply scarcity in these areas the availability of healthcare other members of Shia
Association, HDF workers, working in CAMPA put genuine concerns. officers from all along with backup, district administration has facilities federation attended the
casual labours working in forth their concern and He assured the departments attended the sanitation, healthcare, approved 27 hand pumps. He asked the concerned meeting.
CAMPA, PEC/BME sought Advisor's delegations that issues meeting apart from security, communication

DDC Anantnag convenes meeting on

operators/Supervisors intervention for representatives of Shia and basic infrastructure.
pertaining to the other
working for Aadhar Project regularization of their community drawn from The representatives of
departments out of his
in J&K, Political Migrants, services. Besides, various areas. Shia community highly
India Post Payments Bank services
charge will be forwarded
to the concerned for their In a first, the district appreciated the gesture of
Srinagar police timely redressal. administration is providing district administration for
NL CORRESPONDENT be opened instantly through security schemes available

organizes PCPG meeting DDC Bandipora flags off 50 ANANTNAG, SEP 05

The District Development

their respective mobile
apps just by providing
details like Aadhaar
for the needy, but need of
the hour is to create
awareness among general

students for Bharat Darshan Tour Commissioner, Anantnag

Mr. Mohammad Younis
Malik, today convened a
Number with KYC
verification, also doorstep
banking service is one of
public and close
coordination among various
banks and government
NL CORRESPONDENT meeting of the officers of the most distinct features of departments so that
BANDIPORA, SEP 05 Department of Posts (DoP) the IPPB, thereby making it beneficiaries are benefitted
Anantnag, representatives very accessible. at the right time. He further
District Development of various banks and other Speaking on the occasion, said that IPPB and other
Commissioner (DDC),
district officers, regarding DDC Anantnag stressed banks can play a vital role
Bandipora, Dr Shahid
Iqbal Choudhary today India Post Payments Bank upon the proper in making cashless
NL CORRESPONDENT meeting. (IPPB) services, launched by dissemination of the transactions easy and
SRINAGAR, SEP 05 During the meeting, the morning flagged off a
group of 50 students the Hon'ble Prime Minister information regarding the accessible for the common
participants discussed on 1st of September 2018. IPPB, so that benefit public.
Srinagar police organizes and raised many issues representing all blocks of
the district including On the occasion experts reaches upto the grass root Among others the meeting
PCPG meeting including the route plan
Srinagar, Sep 5: In view during the Muharram Gurez,Tulial, Hajin and from Department of Posts level. He stressed on the was attended by Postmaster
of the forthcoming month processions in the area Sumbal for a Bharat (DoP) Anantnag detailed need to aware the general Head Post Office Anantnag,
of Muharram-ul-Haram, a and availability of Darshan Tour. about various services public about the latest Lead Bank Manager
Police Community essential commodities SSP Bandipora Shiekh being provided by IPPB for technology and techniques Anantnag, District Social
Partnership Group and essential services Zulfkar Azad, and Officers the general public. regarding the sustainable Welfare Officer Anantnag,
Meeting was organized during the holy month of of Education and YSS were Threadbare discussions cashless transactions, so Chief Horticulture Officer
by Jammu and Kashmir Muharram-ul-Harram. present on the occasion.
were held regarding the that maximum could be Anantnag, District
Police at Police Station The participants in the Speaking on the occasion,
the DDC stressed upon the effective implementation of achieved in minimum time Agriculture Officer
Lalbazar. The meeting meeting unanimously the (IPPB) services. frame. Anantnag, DPO Anantnag
was chaired by SDPO decided that such students to take full
advantage of the tour and themselves. students to visit various The experts informed the The DDC added that there and representatives of
Hazratbal Shri Rameez meetings shall be
make utmost efforts to SSP while addressing the places in Delhi and Agra. meeting that the IPPB will are dozens of social various banks & Traders.
Rashid Bhat- JKPS. organized in future also.
share their experiences students said that all He said the tour will be of be like any other bank but
Respectable citizens
from Lalbazar,
Bagwanpora, Zari
Besides, all the contact
numbers of Police
Stations were provided to
with the fellow students.
He also exhorted upon
boarding, lodging, to and five days. its operations will be on a
fro air ticket and other All the 50 Students were smaller scale without Welfare scheme for workers
Mohalla, Botakadal and
near by areas
them and advised to
contact police station in
them to be sincere with
their studies and make
better career for
logistic facilities are being provided special uniform involving any credit risk
provided by Jammu & track suites and capes and is expected to reach
Kashmir Police to facilitate before boarding the police
in unorganized sector soon
participated in the case of any exigency. customers mainly through
bus for the tour. The NL CORRESPONDENT Administrative Secretary
is their mobile phones rather
Div Com-K reviews Muharram
students' group SRINAGAR, SEP 05 Technical Education
headed/escorted by DSP than traditional bank Department,
DAR Abdul Rashid Khan. branches. The accounts can The Governor's Administrative Secretary

arrangements at Hassanabad, Zadibal Dr. Farooq Abdullah Chairs Administration today

NL CORRESPONDENT
SRINAGAR, SEP 05
Divisional Commissioner
Kashmir Baseer Ahmad
Khan accompanied by
senior officers of divisional
administration today
visited Hassanabad and
Zadibal areas and took
stock of the facilities made
available by the
administration for hassle
free observation of
Muharram congregations.
The Divisional
Commissioner conducted
a meeting in the premises
of ImambaraHassanabad
and issued instructions to
the concerned officers for
monitoring the
arrangements.
The meeting was told that
FCS&CA has kept
available additional ration
supply in various Shia
Muslim areas in Srinagar
district which include 8500
litres of K-oil, additional
quintals of additional
sugar quota besides one
vehicle with gas cylinders
would be made available
each day for 4433 Shia
families during the
Muharram days.
The Divisional
Commissioner was also
informed that adequate
arrangements for
providing medicare to the
people are in place and
the department has kept
available 32 ambulances
equipped with necessary
medicines, doctors and
para-medical staff.
He directed the concerned
departments to ensure un-
interrupted power and
drinking water supply,
availability of essential
commodities like food
grains, sugar, LPG,
ensuring adequate
quantity of firewood for
distribution and
availability of ambulances,
first aid kits, doctors and
para-medical staff during
the Muharram days.
He directed LAWDA to
clean the historical
springs at Hassanabad
area immediately.
Later, Div Com visited
ImambaraZadibal and took
stock of arrangements
made in connection with
auspicious days of
Muharram at Zadibal area.
Divisional Commissioner
stressed on the officers to
extend all facilities to the
people especially in the
Shia dominated areas.
IG Traffic was asked to
draw a route plan for Shia
dominated areas for
hassle free movement of
transport during
Muharram days.
Div Com instructed the
Commissioner Srinagar
Municipal Corporation to
ensure cleanliness around
Imambaras
fromSeptember 07 twice a
day on daily basis and
directed them to replace
damaged street lights
immediately.
Khan directed the Roads &
Buildings Department to
ensure repair and
macadamization of all
roads leading to
Imambaras.
He instructed PHE
department to provide
24x7 water supplies in
Shia dominated area
besides deploy additional
water tankers during the
Muharram congregations.
Additional Fire Tenders
were also deployed in
these areas.
On the occasion, the
Divisional Commissioner
asked the Divisional
Administration to make all
the necessary
arrangements for smooth
conduct of all the
remembrance functions
and procession related to
Muharram.
District Development
Commissioner, Srinagar,
Dr Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Farooq Abdullah
IG Traffic Kashmir Basant Wednesday chaired the
Rath, Principal GMC Dr
Samia Rashid,
Commissioner SMC Peer
Hafizullah, Vice Chairman Subah Srinagar.
LAWDA A.H. Shah, Joint
Director of Information,
Kashmir, Mohammad
Ashraf Hakak, Chief
Engineers of PHE, PDD,
R&B, Deputy Director
FCS&CA, Deputy Director felt that any tinkering India and the state
Health Services, RTO
Kashmir, SSP Traffic, SP
North and other concerned our state but for the and take effective steps
officers accompanied the
Divisional Commissioner
Kashmir.
constituted a committee to
formulate welfare
Social Welfare Department
and Administrative
Secretary School
schemes for the workers Education Department.
NC Core Group meeting in unorganized sector.
According to an order
The terms of reference of
the committee shall be to
issued by the General formulatecomprehensive
Administration welfare scheme(s) for
Department, the unorganized workers by
Administrative Secretary, taking a holistic
Finance Department will view/review of various
be the chairman of the schemes available to
Committee. workers/labor class
The members of the through different
Committee include departments of the State.
Administrative Secretary, The committee shall be
Planning, Development serviced by the Labour &
and Monitoring Employment Department
Department, and shall submit its
Administrative Secretary report/recommendations
Labour and Employment within a period of three
Department, months.
NL CORRESPONDENT and Panchayat elections
SRINAGAR, SEP 05 came under discussion.
The core group felt that
NC Party President Dr this decision was taken in
a hurried manner without
taking into consideration
party's Core Group the prevailing situation
meeting at party created by the powers
Headquarters Nawa -e- that be by unnecessarily
fiddling with Art 35 A.
The core Group had a The core group
detailed discussion about unanimously decided that
the prevailing situation of J&K National Conference
the state with particular will not participate in
reference to Article 35 A these elections unless
of the Constitution. It was and until Government of
with Art 35 A would prove government clears its
disastrous not only for position in this regard
entire country. for the protection of Art
Recently announced 35 A in and outside the
Urban Local Body polls Courts.
8 Travel
Thailand is a major travel destination, and as a
result, much of its once-untouched landscape
and island culture has been modernised. Yet,
it still seems remarkably easy to get 'off the
beaten track' in Thailand. This is due, in large
part, to the fact that many first- and second-
time visitors simply choose not to (as
knowing the language quickly becomes a
legitimate necessity and the transportation
infrastructure degenerates aggressively
farther from the tourist hotspots). The
majority of the wonders to be seen in Thailand
have become top tourist traps by default, so
getting off the beaten path is an undertaking
for a different kind of thrill—the experience
of true Thai life, synced with the ebb and flow
of the weather and seasons. This makes
exploring and experiencing the 'unseen'
Thailand a great opportunity to break from
the hustle of 9-5 culture, and to often find
more eco-friendly and fulfilling experiences.
Travel till you run out of English
speakers
This seems pretty obvious, but what acts as a
deterrent to most travellers is a fantastic guide
to determine your level of off-track-ness. Yes,
it will mean you'll need to learn a few key
phrases (such as 7-Eleven yoo nai
krap—where
is the 7-Eleven?),
keep some key photos on your
phone (you know, like a bathroom door), or
perhaps have a pencil and paper handy for
notes and drawings; but the only way to get
properly remote and utterly off the beaten
track is to cut yourself off from the world, you
and more importantly, all the other tourists
are comfortable with. This will not only help
you accomplish your travel goals and
facilitate that proper adventure, but it will
also seriously help the local economy, which
suffers in areas not immediately adjacent to
key tourist destinations.
Travel by motorbike
One of the easiest ways to traverse Thailand
and the easiest way to find the path-less-
travelled is by motorbike. Even on well-worn
circuits (like the 3-hour stretch from Chiang
Mai to Pai via Route 1095) becomes very
much an individualised experience as you
TRAVEL
8 ways to get off
the beaten track in
Thailand
You know you're on the right track when the
Wikipedia page for Isaan lists 'Buddhist monks' as
the first subcategory under 'Notable natives or
residents'. Literally translating to 'north east
direction', this massive section of north-
eastern Thailand is home to a
third of the
native population, but only sees about 0.31% of the
nation's overall annual tourists. Sure, there are
some key tourist hotspots in Isaan, but even those
tra get routinely skipped over by the
vel farther
week- to week-and-a-half traveller
north and with the freedom a starting in Bangkok.
motorbike provides. Additionally, the
Perhaps you'll hit up the Mekong
motorbike is probably the most ideal way to riverside in Sangkhom to do a little
explore the multitude of islands surrounding
hammock lounging. Perhaps you'll
Thailand. Yes, some may get a little hairy if go to Nakhon Phanom province to
you're an inexperienced biker (like the
see the oldest temple in Thailand
rougher and steeper roads to the better (That Phanom), before reaching
beaches on the northern and eastern edges of
Loei province at the northern tip of
Ko Pha Ngan), but by and large, the best (and Isaan, to explore its many peaceful
most cost-effective) way to set out is on a
river towns. Regardless of where
motorbike—particularly since the cost of you wind up, Isaan has it
motorbike freedom is about 600 baht
all—national parks, mountains and
($18.61) daily out of Chiang Mai, and fuel rivers (often with accompanying
only 39.27 baht ($1.22) per gallon.
temples, like the Wat Phu Tok
Go north (east) mountain temple and Erawan shrine), ruins, and a
Generally, the northern half of Thailand is the
near-endless sea of rice paddies.
best place to leave the souvenir stalls behind
Moreover, Northern Thailand is something of a
and enter the true 'land of smiles'. Some key
hub for backpackers and long-holidayers. As the
regions to visit when planning your trip off
nexus between Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar,
the beaten path are Isaan and North.
Northern Thailand is a cultural blend of the three,
and time should be allotted to teasing apart the
Laotian and Burmese influences on Thai
regions. Backpackers gravitate to the north to
lose themselves in the legendary trekking and
motorcycling circuits (such as the well-
known ones in Chiang Mai, and the lesser-
travelled ones in Nan), so it's a perfect place to
get outdoorsy and carve your own path.
The remote Nan province in particular,
right at Laos border, is a great place to
explore between its three major towns
and six national parks.
Follow the coast
Thailand's beach culture is justifiably
legendary, considering its 2,000
miles of coastline and 85-degree
summer days. This becomes
incredibly evident when travelling to
any of the many heavily populated
beaches, such as the majority of the
Krabi coast. But follow that coast a
little farther, and you'll discover
beaches that don't make to the 'top
10' lists, but wind up more beautiful
in their isolation. Take Railay
Beach in Southern Thailand, for
example. It's a killer beach, and
many make a day trip out there for
sun, surf, cave exploration, and
climbing. As a result, it's also
become home to a dozen or more
luxury resorts and is now super
touristy. Follow the coast north a
bit, however, and you'll wind up at
Tonsai Beach—just as sweet, less
than a third as populated. Plus,
Tonsai is super laid-back, and a great
place to grab a freshly ground chai or coffee
and learn some slacklining or fire dancing.
Explore the islands
Thailand has a ton of islands. For example, the
island group in Phang Nga Bay comprises 67.
Some islands are big enough to house full
resorts, while others (many of which are
privately owned and readily and cheaply
available for rent) are much smaller and have
accommodations for only a few, but are as off-
the-beaten-track as they are ideal getaways
for a peaceful and remote stay. Among the
the northlines
Jammu | Thursday | Sept 06 | 2018
best are the islands in Trat province off the
Andaman coast. Take Ko Kut, which has
been described as 'so off-the-beaten-path
you might get bored', or Ko Chang, the
second largest Thai island after Phuket and
the last 'cheap' island—large enough to
find some solid secluded spots.
Don't rule out any day trips
Many incredible Thailand experiences
remain incredible because they don't, at
the very first glance, seem quite as
appealing. Take Doy Din Dang pottery
studio, 7 mi north of Chiang Rai. Meaning
'Red Clay Hill', Doy Din Dang is a pottery
studio in the middle of jungle nowhere,
and is home to Somluk Pantiboon—an
internationally renowned master potter.
He gathers every material he uses from the
land and supplies a lot of the ceramic ware
you'll encounter at local restaurants. You
can also sample some home-grown coffee
that's supposed to be quite epic, so all
around, it's an awesome trip that would
likely never have occurred to you in the
shadow of white temples and giant golden
buddhas.
Alternatively, check out Bo Klua salt wells
outside of Nan. They're thought to have
been in use for over 800 years and tap into
brine from ocean water trapped
underground for millennia. The water is
pulled up to the surface and boiled off to
access the salt. Again, totally remote and
not terribly exciting at first glance, but an
awesome way to get utterly off the tourist
grid.
Ask the locals
If you must start your trip in one of the
huge touristy cities in Thailand, fear not,
there are still some amazing 'unseen' areas
and neighbourhoods well within the city
limits. Want to find where all the locals
hide when the sea of tour buses shows up?
Ask someone (and enjoy the benefit of
being able to communicate with them in
your native language). Of course, be wary,
as some locals in the tourist districts will
have their own agendas, but for the most
part, you're likely to discover some legit
locals-only spots by talking to the
notoriously friendly people of Thailand.
Want some peace? Try spending a stint at a
wat and explore the Buddhist culture of the
country. For something altogether
different, have someone direct you to the
part-store, part-museum Papaya Vintage
Shop in Bangkok, or go to Phang Nga in
Phuket on your own between tours.
Finally, when you've exhausted all the
resources within the city, venture just
outside them—for example, to Amphawa,
just west of Bangkok, where you'll find a
kickass floating market on weekends.
Travel slow
The best way to get off the beaten track in
virtually any destination is to give yourself
enough time to do so.
Sometimes this means
having enough time to find
that fork in the road that
takes you to San
Kamphaeng Hot Springs
outside Chiang Mai.
Sometimes it means
having enough time to let a
two- or three-day stay at
Wat Suan Mokkh become
a week-long experience.
The only way to find what
you're looking for, to touch
those furthest obscure
regions, is to be around
long enough to identify what those regions
are, and the idiosyncrasies that define each
and its inhabitants. If you've come to
experience true Thai living, you really
have to give yourself the opportunity to
live it—slow down, stay awhile.
 9 NATION the northlines
Jammu | Thursday | September 06| 2018

Yug Gupta case: Shimla court gives death
penalty to 3 for 4-year-old boy’s murder
Shimla, Sep 05
A local court in
Himachal Pradesh’s
Shimla awarded the
death penalty to three
men on Wednesday
four years after they
kidnapped and
murdered a four-year-
old boy for ransom.
The district and sessions
court had held Chander
Sharma, Tajender Singh
and Vikrant Bakshi guilty
under Sections 302, 347 and
201 of the Indian Penal Code
on August 6. Sharma, a son
of grocery store owner, is a
student of law at Himachal
Pradesh University, Singh
owns a cosmetics shop and
Bakshi is an engineering
student.
Yug Gupta, the son of
businessman Vinod Gupta,
was kidnapped and
murdered in the Kelston
area of Shimla four years
ago. Yug’s skeletal remains
were found inside a water
tank in the Kelston locality
Five days later, 20 kg magnet locates car that Tamil Nadu health minister, police chief
on August 22, 2016, leading
to widespread protests
across the town. The child
was tortured, starved and
forced to consume liquor
before he was thrown into
the tank, police said.
After Yug went missing, a
case of abduction under
Section 363 of the Indian
Penal Code was registered
on June 16, 2014, following
which an investigation was
initiated. Police questioned
more than 200 people in the
case. The case was
transferred to the criminal
investigation department in
August 2014 after local
police failed to trace the
killers.
Investigators said Sharma
lured Yug, his The three men were
neighbour, by arrested on August 22, 2016.
offering a An angry crowd thrashed
chocolate and Sharma and Singh at the
kidnapped him district courts complex
on June 14, when they were taken there
2014, from Ram for a court hearing in
Bazaar area. He August last year.
then took him to How the case unfolded
Singh’s godown June 14, 2014: Yug was
just above the shop of Yug’s kidnapped from Ram
father. Later, he was Bazaar
bundled in a cardboard box June 16: Abduction case
and taken to Sharma’s registered
rented house at June 17: Family receives
Ramchandra Chowk in ransom letter demanding
Singh’s vehicle. ?3.6 crore
According to the June 21: Yug was thrown
investigation, Sharma, who into a municipal
knew Yug’s father, hatched corporation water tank
the conspiracy to kidnap August 14: Case transferred
the child for ransom. The to CID’s crime branch
accused demanded Rs 3.6 August 22, 2016. CID crime
crore from his father. They branch arrests all the three
had made ransom calls to accused
the child’s family even after August 22: Child’s skeletal
killing him. A video grab on remains recovered from
Bakshi’s mobile phone, in water tank
which Yug was seen October 25: CID’s crime
pleading for his life, led to a branch files chargesheet in
breakthrough in the case. court
India soars above global average in hiring female airline pilots
New Delhi , Sep 05
When Shweta Singh
wanted to become a pilot in
India 20 years ago, she had
to first persuade her
parents to let her pick an
uncommon profession for
women, then deal with
unwelcoming male
colleagues in the cockpit.
Today, she says, it would
be a much easier career to
embrace. More Indian
women want to become
pilots, and more benefits
await them: union-
mandated equal pay, a safe
workplace, day care
services and a booming
aviation sector.
India has the highest
proportion of female
commercial pilots in the
world at 12 percent,
despite the country’s
patriarchal society, which
typically frowns on women
in such jobs.
“It was difficult,” Singh
said, recalling her early
days of being a pilot. “It
was a male-dominated
area and not easy to break
into.”
But society is changing,
said Singh, a senior trainer
at Jet Airways Ltd on
temporary assignment to
India’s aviation regulator
as deputy chief flight
operations inspector.
The percentage of female
pilots in India is twice as
high as in most Western
countries, including the
United States and
Australia. Globally, less
than 5 percent of pilots are
women, according to the
International Society of
Women Airline Pilots.
Demand for pilots globally
is surging. Planemaker
Boeing Co estimates a
need for 790,000 new pilots
globally over the next 20
years, double the current
workforce, as air travel
rises.
India is the world’s fastest-
growing aviation market,
with domestic capacity
growing 22 percent in the
first half of the year, so
airlines there are under
particular pressure.
Recruiting more women is
an obvious way to help
solve the pilot shortage,
but social constraints have
worked against that, said
Maria Bucur, a professor of
history and gender studies
at Indiana University.
“The training and stressful
work needed to become
and work as a pilot require
choices of women that go
against most of the
gendered expectations our
society has of them at that
age: to have babies,” she
said.
Equal rights
Because pilot pay is based
on seniority and flying
hours under union
helping
“constructively
them
stay
engaged with the
profession.”
At SpiceJet Ltd, 12 percent
of pilots are women,
including some
department heads, and
there is a mandate to grow
that to 33 percent in the
next three years, chairman
Ajay Singh said this year at
the Farnborough Airshow
in Britain. The company
also gives women a fixed
monthly flying schedule.
Because everyday safety
can be a concern for
women in India, airlines
offer a pick-up and drop-
off service from 6 p.m. to 6
a.m. Women are
accompanied by an armed
guard - a practice
introduced after a horrific
rape in New Delhi in 2012.
“It is the safest job. Women
are more protected here
than in any other place,”
Singh said.
Changing society
A year after graduating
from flight school in 2002,
Rupinder Kaur struggled
to find a job and wondered
whether spending 2

plunged into Assam river carrying five people raided by CBI in multi-crore Gutka scam
Assam, Sep 05
Five days after a vehicle
carrying five persons
plunged into a river in
Assam’s Sivasagar
district, rescuers found it
on Wednesday with the
help of a 20 kg magnet,
officials said in
Dikhowmukh.
Decomposed bodies of five
members of the family
were also found inside the
four-wheeler which was
recovered around 300
metres away from the
accident site at Dinchial
village.
The five have been
missing after their vehicle
plunged into Dikhow river
after breaking a dyke on
Saturday evening. Divers
of the State Disaster
Response Force (SDRF),
the National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF),
Army and Navy have been
searching for the vehicle.
The 20 kg magnet brought
from neighbouring
Dibrugarh district got
stuck to the bumper of the
car and SDRF diver
Pranjal Doley found a tyre
near it, SDRF search team
leader Jiten Doley told
reporters. “He then tied a
rope to it and came up to
inform the team members
that the car has been
found,” the SDRF leader
said.
It took around two hours
to lift the vehicle from the
bed of the river to its bank
and five decomposed
bodies were found inside
it, he said.
The victims were
identified as Guwahati
based businessman Haren
Bora (52), his wife Phunu
Bora (45), daughters
Simpi Bora (22) and
Munmi Bora (18), and
mother Ponou Bora (86).
The family was travelling
from Sivasagar to
Guwahati.
An eight-member team of
Indian Navy deep divers
were flown in from Vizag
to assist the rescue
operation being carried
out by first response
SDRF followed by NDRF
and a 10-member team of
Army para-commando
divers, district
administration sources
said.
Chennai, Sep 05
Officials of the Central
Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) were on Wednesday
searching 40 places in
Tamil Nadu’s capital
Chennai in connection with
the multi-crore gutka scam
in which a minister and top
state police and
government officials are
alleged to be involved.
The houses of health
minister C Vijayabaskar,
Tamil Nadu director
general of police TK
Rajendran at Mogappair,
former commissioner of
police S George near
Maduravoyal and other
police officers are among
those being searched.
The case is related to a raid
by the income tax
department in the offices,
residences and godowns of
a gutka manufacturer in
Tamil Nadu in 2016. During
the investigation by the
department, the gutka
manufacturer had alleged
that he paid huge sums of
money as a bribe to a
minister, two top police
officers and others in return
for being allowed to sell the
banned tobacco products in
and around Chennai.
The Tamil Nadu
government has banned the
manufacture and storage of
gutka -- a tobacco product.
However, the product was
reportedly available in the
market with the alleged
connivance of police
officers and others. Several
political parties had
demanded a probe by CBI
into the scam but the
AIADMK government did
not agree.
agreements, it is one of the
rare professions in India
where there is no gender
pay gap.
The starting salary,
including flying allowance,
for pilots there is $25,000
to $47,000 a year
depending on the airline
and type of aircraft. That is
similar to the starting
salary for corporate
lawyers or architects.
About 13 percent of the
pilots at IndiGo, operated
by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd,
are women, up from 10
percent five years ago, the
company said. Some of
IndiGo’s 330 female pilots
are also managers.
The company provides day
care and says it offers
pregnant women office
duties and an allowance
equivalent to what they
would have earned flying,
million rupees to get her
flying license had been the
“biggest blunder” of her
life.
It took a year, she said, but
she finally landed a job at
a regional airline, Air
Deccan.
Now, with India’s aviation
market booming, finding
work is easier, says Kaur,
37, a pilot at IndiGo
working on secondment
with India’s aviation
regulator as a flight
operations instructor.
“In India it is generally a
rat race, where you choose
a profession based on
what the majority of
people are doing,” she
said, adding that airlines
should ensure women
make up a certain
percentage of their
workforce, especially in
piloting.

Group of Ministers discusses SC dismisses plea seeking ban on

recommendations to check lynching Malayalam novel ‘insulting Hindu women’
New Delhi, Sep 05
A Group of Ministers (GoM),
headed by Home Minister
Rajnath Singh, discussed on
Wednesday the
recommendations of a panel
set up to suggest ways to
check incidents of lynching,
officials said.
One of the key
recommendations of the
committee of secretaries,
headed by Union Home
Secretary Rajiv Gauba, is to
put to task country heads of
the social media platforms
sites. This was the first
meeting of the GoM and the
ministers were briefed
about the recommendations
of the committee, a home
ministry official said.
The panel is also believed to
have recommended
tightening of law by
inserting clauses in the
Indian Penal Code and the
Code of Criminal Procedure
through parliamentary
approval.
The GoM is expected to hold
further meetings over the
next few weeks to finalise its
recommendations and
would subsequently the
same to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi for a final
decision, the official said.
The members of the GoM
are External Affairs
MinisterSushma Swaraj,
Transport Minister Nitin
Gadkari,Law MinisterRavi
Shankar Prasad and Social
Justice and Empowerment
Minister Thawar Chand
Gehlot. Home Minister
Rajnath Singh heads the
GoM.
The GoM and the committee
of secretaries were set up
after nearly 40 people were
lynched in nine states in the
past one year. In July, the
Home Ministry had issued
advisories to states and
union territories following
Supreme Court’s directives
to check incidents of
lynching.
The Centre had also asked
them to appoint an officer in
each district at the level of
Superintendent of Police,
set up a special task force
to gather intelligence, and
closely monitor social
media to prevent mob
attacks on suspicion of
being child-lifters or cattle
smugglers.
In its communique to states
and UTs, the ministry had
said incidents of violence
and lynching by mobs in
some parts of the country
fuelled by various kinds of
rumours and unverified
news such as child lifting,
theft, cattle smuggling etc,
are a matter of serious
concerns.
Such instances of persons
taking the law in their hands
run against the basic tenets
of the rule of law, it had said.
“All state governments, UT
administrations and their
law enforcement agencies
are requested to implement
the directions
theSupreme Courtin letter
of
and spirit,” it said.
New Delhi, Sep 05
The Supreme Court on
Wednesday dismissed the
petition seeking a ban on
the Malayalam novel
‘Meesha’, authored by S
Hareesh.
Welcoming the verdict,
Hareesh said, “I am happy
the verdict upholds a
writer’s creativity and free
thinking. Hope it will
encourage free flow of
ideas.”
The judgment pronounced
by a bench of Chief Justice
Dipak Misra and Justices
AM Khanwilkar and DY
Chandrachud said,
“Subjective perceptions
about a book should not be
allowed to enter legal
arena when it comes to
censorship”.
The petitioner N
Radhakrishnan
objected to a dialogue
had
between two characters in
the novel, which he
claimed ‘insulted Hindu
women.’
Hareesh was forced to
withdraw Meesa, being
serialized in a weekly, last
July after threats from
suspected right-wing
groups. The writer, also a
Kerala Sahitya Akademi
winner, said he was really
pained over a concerted
Supreme Court to deliver
verdict on Section 377 tomorrow
campaign against his novel
and forced to withdraw it.
The novel depicted rigours
of caste system that
existed in Kerala half a
century back. The writer
had said some people
circulated excerpts of the
book on social media and
started a virulent
campaign alleging he hurt
religious sentiments.
They reportedly took
exception to a
conversation between two
characters in the novel
who are discussing
reasons behind young
women dressing up in
their best attire and
looking pretty when they
go to temples. One of them
observes: “They are
consciously announcing
that they are willing for an
intimate relationship.”
He was trolled and abused
on social media and was
also threatened he would
be taught a lesson the way
poet Kureepuzha
Sreekumar had been.
Sreekumar was attacked
allegedly by Sangh Parivar
supporters a couple of
months back.

For 8 days IAS officer toiled at Kerala Bill suggests armed force for protection of New Delhi, Sep 05 provision dealing with This 2009 judgement of the
Ganga, punitive measures for polluters The Supreme Court is likely minors and animals should high court was overturned in

relief camp without revealing who he was New Delhi, Sep 05

Thiruvananthapuram,
Sep 05
For eight days, Kannan
Gopinathan worked at
relief camps in flood-
ravaged Kerala, spending
two of those carrying large
packages on his head while
offloading relief material
from trucks in the port city
of Kochi. On the ninth day,
he was recognised as an
IAS officer and he quietly
left, as discreetly as he had
arrived and helped.
Gopinathan, a 2012 batch
IAS officer serving as
district collector in the
union territory of Dadra
and Nagar Haveli, had
arrived in Kerala on August
26 as the state battled
devastation from deadly
floods. He was on an
official visit to hand over a
cheque for Rs one crore
from Dadra and Nagar
Haveli for the Kerala chief
minister’s relief fund.
Once that engagement was
over, the 32-year-old took a
bus from state capital
Thiruvananthapuram. Not
to his home town
Puthupally, but to one of
Kerala’s worst-affected
areas, Chengannur, where
he went from camp to
camp helping distressed
people forced to abandon
their homes and seek
shelter.
He is reluctant to talk
about it. “I didn’t do
anything great. I was just a
visitor. You have to talk to
officers who live in the
midst of the affected since
the flood hit the state.
They are real heroes,”
Gopinathan said,
describing as
“embarrassing”, the
moment when he was
recognised and people
clamoured to click selfies
with him. He was spotted
while volunteering at a
relief camp at the Kerala
Books and Publications
Society office, by a senior
currently posted in
Kerala.
to pronounce its verdict on
pleas challenging the validity
of the Indian Penal Code’s
The draft Bill for protection of the Ganga has suggested
section 377 criminalising
provisions like having an armed force with the power to
consensual gay sex on
arrest those who pollute the river, and imprisonment and
fine for offences varying from commercial fishing to Thursday.
construction of illegal structures in active flood plains, an A five judge constitution
official said. bench, headed by Chief
The draft bill, which has been circulated to different Justice of India Dipak Misra,
ministries for consultation, envisages constitution of had reserved its verdict on
National Ganga Council and a National Ganga July 17.
Rejuvenation Authority to enforce the law, another official The Centre, which had
said. initially sought adjournment
The Bill also lays down provisions of imprisonment of 2- for filing its response to the
5 years for offences like commercial fishing, polluting the petitions, had later left to the
river and construction of illegal structures in active flood wisdom of the court the issue
plains, the official said. The official added the Armed of legality of the penal
Ganga Protection Corps (GPC) personnel will have power provision with regard to the
to arrest those who pollute the river covering offences aspects of criminalising
like obstructing the flow of the river to commercial consensual unnatural sex
fishing. According to the draft bill, the official said, the between two consenting
GPC personnel will be provided by the Ministry of Home adults.
Affairs and will be deployed by the National Ganga The Centre had said that the
Rejuvenation Authority. other aspects of the penal
be allowed to be remain in
the statute book.
Section 377 refers to
‘unnatural offences’ and says
whoever voluntarily has
carnal intercourse against
the order of nature with any
man, woman or animal, shall
be punished with
imprisonment for life, or with
imprisonment of either
description for a term which
may extend to 10 years, and
shall also be liable to pay a
fine.
The issue of section 377 was
first raised by an NGO, Naaz
Foundation, which had in
2001 approached the Delhi
High Court that had
decriminalised sex between
consenting adults of the
same gender by holding the
penal provision “illegal”.
2013 by the apex court which
had also dismissed a review
plea. It had in 2013 restored
the criminality of the sexual
relationship between
persons of the same sex,
after the Delhi High Court’
had decriminalised it in 2009.
The five-judge bench on July
10 had made it clear that it
was not going into the
curative petitions and would
adjudicate on fresh writ
petitions in the matter.
The writ petitions were
opposed by the Apostolic
Alliance of Churches, Utkal
Christian Association and
some other NGOs and
individuals including Suresh
Kumar Kaushal who had also
challenged the 2009 verdict
of the high court in the apex
court.
 10 SPORTS the northlines
Jammu | Thursday | September 06| 2018

Poonch Taekwondo
meet concludes
JAMMU, Sep 05
Organised by Poonch
District Taekwondo
Association, the Ist
District Championship
concluded with well
attended valedictory
function at Indoor Sports
Complex, Poonch.
As per the reports
reaching here, around 200
young school students
different parts of the
district took part in the
competition held under
the guidance of coach,
Rajinder Singh.
In the closing function,
District
Commissioner
Development
(DDC)
Poonch, Rahul Yadav was
chief guest while district
police chief (SSP), Rajiv
Pandey was guest of
honour.
Both the special guests
presented medals to those
winners of various age
and weight categories.
Khalida Jabeen and Toyab
Khan adjudged as best
players of the
championship.
Speaking to the gathering,
the chief guest was all
praise for coach, Rajinder
Singh for training young
boys and girls in a short
span time.
Prominent among others
present were Nissar
Hussain, Nirdosh Kumar
Sharma (Incharge
Stadium), Anwarul Haq
(Additional SP Pooch) ,
Mohan Sharma (DySP
DAR), Bisham Dubey
(DySP OPS), Anuj Sharma,
Premparkash Luthra,
Narinder Singh, Narjeet
Singh, Surinder Singh,
Narinder Singh, Iftkhar
Bazmi, Ramparksh
Sharma, Rajinder Singh,
Saurav Sharma, Pawan
Kumar and DK Raina.
The technical penal for
this competition included
Anuj Sharma and Rajinder
Singh, Jatinder Paul,
Valpreet Singh and
Sarvjeet Singh.
BSF School excels in Sahodaya Judo meet Rajinder bags U-19
medal in different weight
categories of under-14 age sprint gold in Udhampur
group.
Medals Winners: Utkarshi UDHAMPUR, Sep 05
(gold in 50kg), Kashish Rajinder Kumar of Higher
Rajput (silver in 40kg), Secondary School Garhi
Aditri Thakur (siver in bagged 100 mts gold in the
45kg), Ritesh Tickoo inter-school under-19 boys
(bronze in 45kg). Other athletics meet of district
participants from the Udhampur held under the
school were Arrihant, banner of Department of
Summit Choudhary and Youth Services and Sports
Tanushka. (DYSS) at Sports Stadium,
The medal winners and here today.
JAMMU, Sep 05 held at JK Public School, their coach, Rameshwar Second place went to Arun
The BSF School (Primary Kunjwani, here. Singh Jamwal were Kumar of HSS Jaganoo
Wing) excelled in the just The Judo team of the felicitated by the Head while Raghuveer Singh of
concluded Sahodaya inter - school won one gold, two Master of the BSF Primary HSS Boys Udhampur
School Judo championship silvers and one bronze Schoolo, Gaytri Kotwal. remained third. Udhampur, Ist; Arun Boys Udhampur, Ist; Arun
Earlier, around 120 boys Sharma, HSS Jaganoo, 2nd Sharma, HSS Barolla,2nd
Bronze for junior shooters, seniors drawn from different
educational institutions of
and Mankesh Sharma,
HSS Garhi, 3rd. 800 mts:
and Rashid Mohd, HSS
Garhi, 3rd.
misfire at World Championships the district turned up for
the annual competition
Rohit Kumar, HSS Barolla,
Ist; Tushar Singh, HSS
The competition officiated
by the technical penal
Changwon, Sep 05 then shot a combined 435 in the finals to held under the supervision Tikri, 2nd and Vishav Dev comprising Raj Kumar
Divyansh Singh Panwar and Shreya fetch the third place Wednesday. The of district officer, Sudesh Singh, HSS Boys Gupta, Raman Kumar,
Agarwal netted a bronze in the 10m air rifle Italian pair of Sofia Benetti and Marco Kumar. Udhampur, 3rd. 1500 mts: Vinod Kumar, Rishi Kumar,
mixed team junior event but India’s senior Suppini won gold, while Iran’s Sadeghian The Results: 200 mts: Sandeep Singh, HSS Anju Bala, Bandana
shooters drew a blank on day four of the Armina and Mohammed Amir Nekounam Aniket, Ist; Kamalpreet Barolla, Ist; Surinder Sharma, Rakesh Medi,
ISSF World Championships in Changwon claimed the silver in the event. Another Singh, APS, 2nd; Anil Singh, HSS Tikri, 2nd and Ajeet Singh, Veena Kumari,
on Wednesday. Divyansh and Shreya first Indian pairing of Elavenil Valarivan and Kumar, HSS Boys Saleem Mohd, HSS Boys Asha Meenakshi, Rakesh
took the fifth and final qualification spot Hriday Hazarika finished 13th with a score Udhampur, 3rd. 400 mts: Udhampur, 3rd. 5000 mts: Kumar, Rajesh Sharma and
among 42 teams with a score of 834.4 and of 829.5 in the same event. Mandeep Singh, HSS Boys Parveen Ahmed Khan, HSS Jagdish Kumar.

Serena Williams battles past Karolina Pliskova
to reach US Open semi-finals
New Yorkm Sep 05
Serena Williams fought
back from a break down
in the first set to beat
Czech eighth seed
Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 6-3
and reach the semi-
finals of the U.S. Open in
suffocating conditions on
Tuesday.
The 36-year-old, who is
bidding for a record
seventh title at Flushing
Meadows as well her
24th career Grand Slam
crown, started sluggishly
at the Arthur Ashe
Stadium , allowing
Pliskova to take a 3-1
lead in the opening set.
With the heat rule in
effect and junior matches
on the outside courts
suspended earlier in the
day, Williams made 22
unforced errors in the
opening set but showed
all of her big-match
pedigree to battle back
and close out the set by
winning the last four
games.
“The crowd was really
rooting for me and I felt
so bad because everyone
out here was cheering
and I wasn’t winning so I
thought I had to try
harder,” Williams said
courtside.
“I really feel like right
now I’m playing free. I
was having a baby this
time last year so I have
nothing to prove.”
The second set was far
more comfortable for the
number 17 seed.
Two successive breaks of
serve allowed Williams
to win her eighth game in
a row and open up a 4-0
lead, and she saw off a
brief fightback from
Pliskova before sending
down her 13th ace to
seal the match in one
hour and 26 minutes.
“When I get to a Grand
Slam, I feel I want to
play really hard. I want
to do really well. I love
this game so maybe
that’s why,” added
Williams, who was
beaten by Pliskova in the
2016 semi-finals.
Next up for the
American is a semi-final
clash with 19th seed
Anastasija Sevastova of
Latvia.
Victory over Olympic champ Dusmatov no fluke, can do
it again: Asian Games 2018 gold medallist Amit Panghal
New Delhi, Sep 05
Calling his gold medal-
winning show at the
recently-concluded Asian
Games 2018 as no flash in
the pan, ace Indian boxer
Amit Panghal said that he is
capable of beating the
reigning Olympic champion
Hasanboy Dusmatov again
if they come face-to-face in
the future.
Panghal stunned the boxing
world by beating
Uzbekistan’s Dusmatov in
the final of the 49kg
category to win the yellow
metal at Jakarta. In an
exclusive conversation with
Hindustan Times, the
champion boxer said that
this win has boosted his
confidence and he is now
ready to win against
athletes of such calibre at
women’s boxing was as well but had to give up
included in the Games. But the sport due to lack of
that gloom was somewhat resources.
lifted by Panghal’s golden “My elder brother was also
touch at the fag end of the a boxer but for my career’s
sporting extravaganza. sake, he gave up boxing. We
“This medal means a lot to come from a middle-class
me because I have family and that is why he
achieved what I had set out had to quit and join the
to achieve in the first place. army (to support the
My coaches told me to family).”
return home victorious and But now, it seems that he
I too, was very confident in has put those difficult
bigger multi-nation will come up against him, I my abilities because I had times behind him as after
tournaments like Olympics. will know that I have trained really well prior to his gold medal outing at the
“Initially, there was defeated him in the past
the Games and that worked Asiad, good wishes are
pressure on me as I had and so, can do it again.” in my favour,” Panghal said. flying in for the 22-year-old
lost to (Hasanboy) Overall, India boxers failed It was not just his coaches from Mayana (Haryana).
Dusmatov at the World to light up the Games as a that spurred him to do well One such well-wisher is
Championships. But I had contingent of ten pugilists but the sacrifices that his legendary Hindi film actor
trained hard this time and could muster only two family had put in, who Dharmendra, who has
was confident that I will be medals. Moreover, India ensured that his talent isn’t expressed his desire to
able to defeat him,” Panghal failed to win a single wasted. Panghal revealed meet Panghal, after getting
said. women’s medal in boxing that his brother wanted to to know that the boxer’s
“And next time, whenever I for the first time since become a champion boxer family adore him.

Antoine Griezmann pleads case for Juan Martin Del Potro beats John Isner
Ballon d’Or after FIFA snub
Paris, Sep 05
France star Antoine
Griezmann insists he
deserves to be on the
podium for this year’s
Ballon d’Or after winning
the World Cup and major
silverware with Atletico
Madrid.
Griezmann came third in
2016 in the voting behind
Cristiano Ronaldo and
Lionel Messi for the most
prestigious individual
award in football, despite
not winning anything.
That year was agonising for
the forward as he lost the
Euro 2016 final with France
and the Champions League
final with Atletico.
But this season fortune has
smiled on Griezmann, who
starred in France’s
and heat to reach US Open semi-finals
triumphant World Cup
winning campaign in
Russia after an impressive
year at Atletico, who won
the Europa League and
UEFA Super Cup.
“Comparing 2016 and this
year, for me I have to be in
the top three,” the 27-year-
old told French sports daily
L’Equipe.
“In 2016, I lost two finals
and was in the top three.
This time I have won three
finals.”
Asked if not winning it
would be unfair,
Griezmann replied: “Not
unfair, but I would wonder
what more I could do. I
have won three trophies,
stood out at decisive
moments, but it is not me
who votes.”
Ronaldo and Messi have
dominated the Ballon d’Or
over the last decade and
the Portuguese superstar
will be a contender again
this year after winning the
Champions League with
Real Madrid.
But Griezmann, who
rejected a move to join
Messi at Barcelona in the
close season, admits
New York, Sep 05
ending their stranglehold Juan Martin Del Potro
over the award would be outslugged John Isner 6-
special. “I think about it, 7(5), 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 to reach
especially the closer I get the semi-finals of the U.S.
to it. The Ballon d’Or is a Open on Tuesday after a
prestigious award, and it towering battle in a
is the highest you can go sweltering Arthur Ashe
as a player. There are Stadium.
trophies in your league, in The three hour, 31 minute
the World Cup, the Euro, quarter-final was played in
suffocating humidity so
but it’s not the same,” he
said. extreme that officials called
a halt to junior matches on
However, there are signs
that Griezmann’s glorious the outside courts for more
2018 on the field might not than two hours.
Play continued on Arthur
be enough.
Ashe but with
UEFA gave their award for
temperatures nudging 100
the best player of last degrees Fahrenheit (37.7°C)
season to Luka Modric,
the stadium was turned
skipper of the Croatia side into a sauna, leaving the
that reached the World 6’10” (2.08m) American
Cup final and a Isner and 6’6” (1.98m)
Champions League winner Argentine Del Potro,
with Real. suffering.
“I weigh 238 pounds, so I
have always said it’s pretty
difficult to play in hot
conditions,” said Isner, who
had 11 shirt changes during
match. “I weigh a lot and I
sweat a lot.
“It takes its toll on bigger
guys, in my opinion.
“I don’t know what I
weighed before the match. I
did not weigh myself, but I
can tell you I lost a lot of
weight out there.”
Anyone looking for serve
and volley came to the
wrong place as the pair
traded bombs from the
baseline with Isner, bidding
to become the first
American since Andy
Roddick in 2006 to reach
U.S. Open semi-finals,
belting 26 aces and Del
Potro 14.
Break chances were few
and far between, Isner
managed just three and
was unable to convert any,
while Del Potro had 11,
cashing in on three,
including one to close out
the match.
It was enough to see Del
Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open
champion, through to the
last four at Flushing
Meadows for a third time
where he will face either
top seed Rafa Nadal or
Austrian ninth seed
Dominic Thiem, who were
playing later on Tuesday.
“I think I played very solid
this game,” said Del Potro.
“In particular I made good
returns every service game.
“I saw John a little bit tired
also. That’s give me a little
bit more energy to keep
trying.
“I don’t know if I’m playing
my best tennis ever but I’m
feeling good. I reach
another semi-finals in this
grand slam, which means
something big to me.”
The Argentine had the sole
break chance in the
opening set but the third
seed could not convert,
while Isner had a mini-
break at 3-3 in the tiebreak
and turned that into a 1-0
lead.

India vs England: Southampton debacle completes a decade of heartbreak against spin for India
New Delhi, Sep 05
When England visited India in
the winter of 2012, the
dominant narrative
surrounding the series was
that of revenge. It was about
Indian spinners avenging the
humiliating 4-0 whitewash that
the team had suffered just
months after being crowned
world champions in one-day
internationals, which also
ended India’ reign as the
world’s top Test playing nation.
What transpired over a
fortnight at two iconic Indian
stadiums though put paid to
any such hopes. Monty Panesar
and Graeme Swann turned the
tables on the formidable hosts,
to bring England back from a 0-
1 deficit after the first Test.
An imposing Indian middle-
order, comprising of men who
were legends of the game in
their own right, was made to
look like amateurs as the spin
twins ran the hosts ragged on
helpful surfaces. The result
was a series victory for
England on Indian soil after a
gap of 28 years. Many thought
it to be an aberration, after all
Indian batsmen have been
traditionally known to prey
upon spinners, but this rude
jolt had come after several
warning signs.
The same batting line-up had
succumbed to the guile of
Muttiah Muralitharan and
Ajantha Mendis in 2008 and
knelt to the prowess of Murali
for one last time in 2010, when
the wizard bid the game adieu
after scaling mount 800 in
Tests.
Not just in the sub-continent,
India struggled to measure up
against quality spin even in
England and Australia. Graeme
Swann destroyed India’s
second essay at the Oval to
help his team complete the 4-0
whitewash. While it was the off
spin of Nathan Lyon at
Adelaide Oval which put the
last nails in India’s coffin in
another forgettable series.
So, the abject surrender at the
hallowed turfs of Wankhede
and Eden in the winter of 2012
was not just an aberration, it
was perhaps a sign of things to
come. Once the old guard made
way for the newer generation,
the focus shifted towards
playing attacking cricket, even
in the longest format. Cricket,
that would yield results and
force the issue as India
desperately looked to change
its fortunes away from home.
But the graph dipped further,
and brought along with it more
heartburn. Dhoni’s India
looked favourites to finally
register a series win in South
Africa in 2013, and they came
excruciatingly close to winning
the first Test at Johannesburg,
before AB de Villiers and Faf du
Plessis nullified the advantage.
The second match at Durban
saw the Indians concede a
sizeable first innings lead, but
the batting had the might to
make a comeback. But a lower
order collapse against the left-
arm spin of Robin Peterson
condemned them to another
defeat.
England was the big Test in
2014 and India looked
prepared this time. The
supposed resurrection started
well with a resounding triumph
at the ‘home of cricket’, but it
all went pear shaped from then
on. India arrived at
Southampton after the high of
Lord’s and it was a spinner
who brought about their
downfall. The part-time off spin
of Moeen Ali seemed
unplayable as he took 8
wickets in the match to crush
Indian hopes. The plot was lost
and Dhoni’s men came back
with 1-3 drubbing.
Little known Tharindu Kaushal
and cricket’s most successful
left arm spinner, Rangana
Herath, came together to plot
another Indian collapse, this
time at Galle. India lost the
match but they found the
resolve to come back and
register a series win.
The long home season followed
and Virat Kohli’s troops
managed to annihilate New
Zealand, England and
Bangladesh without much
difficulty. Steve Smith’s
Australia were the toughest
adversary of them all and in
Pune India’s series got off to
the worst possible start. The
Indians looked helpless in
front of the bite and chicanery
of left-arm spinner Steve
O’Keefe, who snared 12
wickets to guide the Aussies to
a thumping win. Virat Kohli’s
men though showed grit and
determination to comeback
from that disaster and win the
series.
Once the home season was
over and the top Test dog
status achieved, Kohli set out
to achieve the unthinkable,
beating South Africa, England
and Australia in their own
backyard - all in the same year.
2018 started with promise but
the pace and bounce of South
Africa and few questionable
selection calls ended India’s
safari hopes. A consolation win
in the third Test at
Johannesburg though showed
this team had the quality to
win in challenging conditions.
11 BUSINESS the northlines
Jammu | Thursday| September 06| 2018

Amazon’s plan to reach 500 million Indians: Speak their language Sensex, Nifty turn choppy
NEW YORK SEP 05
Only 10 percent of India’s
1.3 billion people know
English. Yet most of the
country’s e-commerce
services have been offered
only in English, closing off
online shopping to the vast
majority of people here.
Now Amazon is aiming to
break through that
language barrier. The e-
commerce giant Tuesday
offered a hearty “namaste”
to this country’s half a
billion Hindi speakers by
making its local website
and apps available in
India’s most popular
language. Users of the
India site or app will be
able to choose Hindi as
their preferred language,
much as American users
can choose Spanish.
Amazon’s expansion into
Hindi — its first foray into
an Indian language, even
as other companies have
tried that strategy and
pulled back — is vital to
the company’s ambition of
making India its next big
market.
Amazon is already the No.
2 player in India’s $33
billion e-commerce market
and says it has about 150
million registered users
here. But as it seeks to
reach the country’s
farthest regions and
appeal to less-educated
customers in the world’s
fastest-growing pool of
internet users, it has found
that English is not enough.
“The next 100 million
customers will have to be
in the vernacular
language,” said Kishore
Thota, director of
customer experience and
marketing for Amazon
India.
Thota said the company’s
research found that eight
out of 10 Indian customers
would prefer to shop in a
language other than
English. “The level of trust
increases when they see
something in their own
language,” he said in an
interview at Amazon’s
India headquarters in
Bangalore.
Prominently serving Hindi-
speaking customers also
could help Amazon deflect
the political pressure
coming from New Delhi,
where policymakers are
considering ways to curb
the power of foreign
internet companies.
If the Hindi versions of its
site and apps are
successful, Amazon plans
to quickly add options to
shop in other major Indian
languages, such as
Bengali, Tamil, Kannada
and Telugu, which are
dominant in regions
outside the Hindi belt in
the north.
Amazon’s Hindi site is the
most ambitious attempt so
far to serve Indian
shoppers who do not
speak English. Another e-
commerce site, Snapdeal,
tried local-language
versions about three years
ago, then abandoned them
because few customers
used them.
Amazon is betting that the
market is more ready now,
especially as cheap mobile
data means that Indian-
language speakers are
coming online at a brisk
clip.Paytm, a digital
payments company that
operates the No. 3 online
retailer, Paytm Mall, began
allowing customers to
make purchases in 10
Indian languages in
October. About 15 percent
of the site’s customers do
that, said Amit Sinha, who
heads the digital
marketplace.
But most of Paytm’s
listings are in English.
Converting them to other
languages requires Paytm
to build new automated
translation tools as well as
to persuade sellers and
brands to translate their
own content. “It’s a
multidimensional
problem,” Sinha said.
For Amazon, creating a
Hindi-language site and
app was difficult from the
start. When the company
began building its Hindi
app and site about two
years ago, it first tried to
run the English version
through a translation
ithm. The result “was
completely illegible,”
Thota said.
So the team went back to
the drawing board,
tapping people to
translate key listings and
steps in the purchase
process into colloquial
Hindi. They then showed
samples to actual and
potential customers,
refined them, and used
the final versions to train
the algorithms to do mass
translation.
Not everything has been
translated yet, and
Amazon is working with
leading brands to convert
their pages. People are
also reviewing pages to
make sure they look right,
since there is often more
than one way to translate
an English phrase into
Hindi.
One challenge is that
spoken Hindi mixes in a
lot of English. Amazon
decided that some words
and phrases, like “free,”
“jeans” and “cash on
delivery” should be kept
in English but written
using Hindi’s Devanagari
script.Language is just one
barrier to increasing the
number of online shoppers
in India, which is adding
40 million internet users a
year, according to a recent
study by Bain, Google and
the Omidyar Network, an
investment firm.
Most of the 390 million
Indians with internet
access use it to chat with
friends and family, watch
videos, listen to music,
look for religious content
and read the news, the
study found. Just 40
percent transact online,
and about one-third of
those stop after one
purchase.
Roopa Kudva, who heads
Omidyar’s operations in
India, said that buying
something online is the
last step in the journey of
a new internet user.
“Indians are very
comfortable
experimenting on the
internet,” she said. “But
the moment it comes to
making payments online,
people think it’s a very
sophisticated thing that
requires expert
knowledge, and they shy
away from it.”
While being able to shop in a
familiar language is
important, she said, many of
the global conventions of
online shopping, such as the
shopping cart, are
unfamiliar to Indians, who
are more used to going to a
store and asking a
shopkeeper to pull items
from a shelf.
Amazon said it realized that
the Hindi version of its site
will not suddenly solve those
problems.
“It will make people feel a lot
more comfortable that we
understand them,” said Amit
Agarwal, the head of
Amazon India. “But we are
focused on all the barriers
that will ultimately
transform how India buys
and sells.”
For example, Amazon offers
customer support in half a
dozen Indian languages, and
today, more than half the
queries are in languages
other than English.
The company has also
signed up about 14,000 retail
on weak global cues
locations across India for its
Amazon Easy program, in
which a local shopkeeper
helps customers place
Amazon orders and receive
packages, and then delivers
them. “They provide basic
customer service in a
language the customer
understands,” Thota said. It
is not clear how quickly
other companies might
follow. Flipkart, India’s MUMBAI SEP 05 weak market trend and
largest online retailer, has were trading in the green.
not begun offering its Benchmark indices kicked Brokers said fresh buying
services in local languages. off on a tepid note by foreign portfolio
Walmart recently bought a Wednesday as stocks investors (FPIs) and
majority stake in the opened mildly positive on recovery in the rupee
company for $16 billion, and fresh buying by foreign supported the market at
it is unclear what plans the investors and recovery in the outset.
American retailer has in that rupee, but soon turned However, sustained selling
area. choppy on weak global by domestic institutional
Google is also considering a cues. investors (DIIs) and weak
The 30-share Sensex Asian cues on rising
move into e-commerce in
recovered by 76.85 points, concerns over the global
India. It recently invested in
or 0.20 per cent, to trade war weighed on
the Chinese online retailer
38,234.77 in opening trade. investor sentiment here,
JD.com, and announced
It, however, slipped 64.79 they added.
plans last week to turn its
points, or 0.17 per cent, to FPIs bought shares worth a
multilingual Indian
38,093.13 within the first net of Rs 32.64 crore, while
payments app, Google Pay,
hour of trading. DIIs sold shares worth a
into more of a portal through
The gauge had lost 738.71 net of Rs 21.41 crore on
which offline and online
points in the previous five Tuesday, provisional data
merchants could handle
sessions. showed.
transactions. The broader NSE Nifty fell Elsewhere in Asia, Hong
By 2021, 73 percent of
26.15 points, or 0.23 per Kong’s Hang Seng was
India’s internet users will
cent, to 11,494.15. down 0.66 per cent,
prefer to use languages
Top losers include Coal Japan’s Nikkei fell 0.37 per
other than English,
India, HUL, IndusInd Bank, cent and Shanghai
compared with 57 percent in ONGC, Vedanta, Bharti Composite Index shed by
2016, according to a study Airtel and Axis Bank. 0.92 per cent in early
last year by KPMG and Major gainers were Sun trade.
Google. Pharma, Wipro, M&M, US stocks fell on Tuesday
Given those trends, every e- Asian Paints, PowerGrid, as investors looked ahead
commerce site in India has to ITC, RIL and Kotak Bank to a busy week of trade
figure out a way to address rising up to 2.15 per cent. negotiations and economic
the local-language Sectoral indices, led by data.
problem. realty, metals and FMCG The US Dow Jones
“Anybody who is serious stocks fell up to 1 per cent. Industrial Average, ended
about this country will On the other hand, pharma 0.05 per cent lower in
have to do it,” Sinha said. and IT indices bucked Tuesday’s trade.

RBI gets into action after rupee Fortis Healthcare’s Shivinder Singh
falls for 6th day in a row
NEW DEHLI SEP 05
The Indian rupee’s
unabated fall continued for
the sixth straight session
on Wednesday, hitting yet
another closing low of
71.75, down 17 paise
against the US currency as
surging oil prices and weak
trend in emerging market
currencies weighed on
sentiments.
Intra-day, the domestic unit
plummeted to a historic
low of 71.97 a dollar before
finding some respite,
staging some recovery
towards the tail-end.
The battered rupee has lost
165 paise in the last six
trading sessions.
However, the Reserve Bank
swung into action to put a
floor under the sliding
currency and stave off a
full-blown meltdown.
Worsening global trading
conditions against the back
drop of escalating trade
wars and rising global oil
prices largely caused panic
among forex traders.
sues brother as empire collapses
Most emerging market
currencies came under
pressure, tumbling to new
record lows.
Heavy sell-off in local
equities also weighed on
the forex front. The home
currency Wednesday
opened higher by 18 paise
at 71.40 a dollar.
The bond yield curve,
however, softened to 8.05%.
Besides twin deficits
phenomenon, the domestic
economy faces a set of
risks at this juncture, a
forex dealer warned.
India is vulnerable to large
scale capital flight if the
uncertainty persist and
may see investors make
their way back into
developed markets due to
rising interest rates in the
US and other major
economies.
Any further sharp erosion
in the rupee would lead to a
wave of corporate
bankruptcies and rating
impact on these companies
as they have kept most of
their foreign currency
exposures unhedged
largely bettting on rupee
stability, he
added.Meanwhile, crude
prices extended their
losses, sliding towards US
$77 a barrel, as a tropical
storm hitting the US Gulf
coast weakened, offsetting
support from forecasts of
lower US inventories and
sanctions against Iran.
Benchmark Brent crude oil
is trading at US $77.33 a
barrel in early Asian trade.
At the inter-bank foreign
exchange (forex) market,
the rupee resumed higher
at 71.40 against overnight
close of 71.58 on fresh
bouts of dollar selling by
state-run banks.
It strengthened to 71.37 a
dollar in late morning deals
before collapsing to historic
lows on panic dollar
buying.
After hitting a fresh record
low of 71.97, the rupee
managed to pull back early
steep losses before ending
at 71.75, showing a fall of 17
paise, or 0.24%.
The Financial Benchmarks
at 83.1310.
Globally, the US dollar rose
broadly as concerns grew
that US President Donald
Trump may soon ramp up a
trade war with Beijing by
imposing tariffs on more
Chinese imports.
Against a basket of other
currencies, the dollar index
is up at 95.38.
In the cross currency trade,
the rupee remained under
pressure against the pound
sterling to end at 91.95 per
pound from 91.77 and also
dropped against the euro to
close at 83.12 as compared
to 82.72 on Tuesday.
The local unit, however,
rebounded against the
Japanese yen to finish at
64.29 per 100 yens from
64.35 earlier.
In forward market on
Wednesday, premium for
dollar edged higher due to
mild paying pressure from
corporates.
The benchmark six-month
forward premium payable
in January 2019 firmed up
to 123-125 paise from
120.50-122.50 paise and the
NEW DEHLI SEP 05
The unraveling of one of
India’s most storied
business empires has
caused a rupture in its
founding family, with one of
the Singh brothers –
synonymous with each
other for decades – saying
he has sued the other for
alleged “oppression and
mismanagement” of their
companies.
In a statement, Shivinder
Singh said he filed a case
with India’s National
Company Law Tribunal
against his elder brother
Malvinder and Sunil
Godhwani, former
chairman of Religare
Enterprises Ltd., the
financial services company
the brothers used to
control. Shivinder alleges
shareholders.” Malvinder,
45, and Godhwani couldn’t
be reached for comment.
“I am now disassociating
from my brother as a
business partner and will
be pursuing an
independent path going
forward,” Shivinder, 43,
wrote in the statement
dated September 4. “I can
no longer be party to
activities in which
transparency and ethics
are continuously and
consistently negated.”
Bloomberg News couldn’t
immediately obtain the
case filing from the
tribunal, which couldn’t be
reached.
Heirs to a generations-old
business house once worth
billions, the brothers have
in recent months seen a
dramatic fall in their
Rs 23 billion ($321 million)
missing from their listed
companies. They owe $500
million over fraud
allegations related to the
2008 sale of drugmaker
Ranbaxy Laboratories.
The brothers have
previously denied any
wrongdoing.
Health-care empire
Last month, Bloomberg
News published a story
detailing the business
linkages between the
brothers and Gurinder
Singh Dhillon, the head of a
spiritual sect in North
India called the Radha
Soami Satsang Beas. These
included loans to Dhillon’s
family and companies
controlled by them, which
Bloomberg New’s
investigation found to be a
key financial strain on their
empire. Dhillon hasn’t been
accused of any
wrongdoing.
Shivinder in the statement
said he filed the case
against his brother and
Godhwani after media
articles.
“Attempts to pass the buck
to an eminent figure, who
has been a guiding light not
only to our family but also
chairman of their
corporate group and took
decisions on behalf of the
family, while he was “the
publicly supportive
younger brother.”
The Singhs are famous in
India for expanding their
two public firms, hospital
operator Fortis Healthcare
Ltd. and financial firm
Religare, at breakneck
speed after reaping $2
billion from the sale of
Ranbaxy, then India’s
largest drugmaker. Both
companies went on to top
$1 billion in market value
as India’s demand for
health and financial
services surged.
India’s stock market and
fraud regulators have
launched investigations
into financial irregularities
at Religare and Fortis,
although they are yet to
report their findings. In
July Malaysia’s IHH
Healthcare Bhd agreed to
take control of Fortis and
minority shareholders
have taken over at
Religare.
The Singhs resigned from
their posts at Fortis in
February. They’ve lost
almost all their

Bhushan Steel: SC stays

India private limited (FBIL), far-forward July contract
meanwhile, fixed the also rose to 276-278 paise
reference rate for the dollar from 269.50-271.50 paise
Malvinder and Godhwani
were to blame for “a
systematic undermining of
fortunes. They’ve had their
public shareholdings
seized by lenders, and are
to a large section of the shareholdings in both
public, deceives no one,” Fortis and Religare as their
Shivinder wrote. He also lenders called in unpaid

Delhi HC order
the interests of the under a criminal probe by
at 71.7533 and for the euro on Tuesday. companies and their financial authorities over said Malvinder was debts.

NEW DELHI, SEP 05

The Supreme Court on

Tuesday said Neeraj
Singal, former promoter of
Bhushan Steel, will remain
out on interim bail granted
by the Delhi High Court in
Rs 2,500-crore fraud case.
A Bench comprising
Justices AM Khanwilkar
and DY Chandrachud,
however, stayed the
operation of the Delhi High
Court judgment and
transferred to itself the
plea Singal had filed in the
high court for adjudication.
The Bench said it was only
allowing the interim bail to
continue, and the
operation of the rest of the
judgment regarding
various aspects, including
the Serious
Investigation
power to arrest and
Fraud
Office’s
investigate, will be
deliberated later.
The Delhi High Court had
on August 29 granted bail
to Singal, arrested by the
SFIO for allegedly
siphoning off Rs 2,500
crore of public funds. The
apex court was hearing an
SFIO plea to stay the Delhi
High Court order in the
case.
The SFIO had earlier said
Singal is accused of
siphoning off Rs 2,500
crore of public funds, and
his release will cause
grave harm to the ongoing
probe, which has reached
an advanced stage. — PTI
Tata Sons may use Rs 12,603 crore TCS windfall to cut debt
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI SEP to tender in the share make the group more agile TCS) and from a buyback good for minority Tata Steel. They had to
05 buyback. Tata Sons has but it also exposes the in reducing the debt of its shareholders. And because take an urgent action to
already got about Rs 1,100 group holding company’s telecoms business and Tata Sons holds more than reduce debt by selling
Tata Sons Ltd is set for a crore as dividend for the overdependence on TCS, also in making the 70% stake, it is the largest Corus to Thyssenkrupp,”
windfall of as much as Rs first quarter. which he led in his payments due to DoCoMo,” beneficiary. “I really don’t the first analyst said.
12,603 crore from Tata Tata Sons got Rs 24,760 previous role. “There is a another Mumbai-based know what Chandra is Chandrasekaran, who took
Consultancy Services crore by tendering shares pressing need to reduce analyst at a foreign doing from a larger over as chief executive of
(TCS) Ltd through share in a buyback and dividend debt in Tata Power, Tata brokerage said on perspective. But, it is clear Tata Sons in February
buybacks and dividend from India’s largest Steel and Tata Motors condition of anonymity. that he is essentially 2017, has inherited a set of
income in the first half of information technology (about Rs 2.3 trillion in “This year’s proceeds fighting the debt problem companies that had been
the financial year, funds outsourcing company in total). They could use this should be used for retiring and leading the fire under pressure for a while
that chairman N the previous year. money in the form of debt of Tata Motors.” “Both fighting in some of these (including Tata Motors’
Chandrasekaran can use Tata Sons could use the additional equity in any of Tata Steel and Tata Motors, companies,” the first domestic business), an
to pare debt in several proceeds to retire debt at these indebted with large capex analyst cited before said. unstable leadership team
group companies, a Mint some of its group firms, companies,” said the first requirements, should see “TCS has been their story in the interim period after
analysis shows. including Tata Motors Ltd analyst at a Mumbai-based capital infusion,” said a for the last decade or so. the ouster of Cyrus Mistry,
The Mumbai-based and Tata Teleservices, brokerage firm, requesting third Mumbai-based TCS has been shining a legal dispute involving
conglomerate is expected three analysts said. anonymity. analyst at a domestic while others have been NTT DoCoMo, the troubled
to get at least Rs 11,502 The move is part of “Last year, Tata Sons used brokerage. “TCS giving growing but that growth is operations of Tata Steel in
crore from the 54.7 million Chandrasekaran’s ongoing much of the money got back money to fuelled to an extent by debt Europe and the never-
shares of TCS that it plans efforts to cut debt and from selling shares (of shareholders is actually and one such example is ending debate over Nano.
12 JAMMU || THURSDAY | SEPT | 06 || 2018
Centre to extend more aid to Kerala 3 get death sentence for murder
once full estimate is done: Jaitley of four-year-old Shimla boy
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
SEPT 0
The Union Government
would extend further aid to
Kerala to rehabilitate flood-
affected people once the full
estimate of the damage was
done, Union Finance
Minister Arun Jaitley said
Wednesday.
Addressing the ‘India for
Kerala’ conclave here,
organised by the Times
Network in association with
the Times Foundation, via
video message, he said the
Centre’s focus for the state
was two-pronged.
“While carrying out relief
activities, we are also
focussing on the emergence
of a new Kerala,” he said.
Jaitley said insurance
companies have been
directed to settle claims and
banks asked to give loans so
that people can get “a
breathing space in
rebuilding their lives”.
“Further aid from the
Central Government will be
given once the full estimate
of the damage is done. I am
sure we will see the quality
of life for the Keralites
reinstated”, Jaitley said.
Kerala had asked for a
special package and stated
that loss and damage could
be much more than it’s plan
outlay of Rs 37,272.90 crore
for 2018-19.
Inaugurating the event,
Governor P Sathasivam said
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi had clarified to him
that the Rs 600 crore
released by the Centre in
addition to the Rs 562.45
crore already made
available to the State
Disaster Response Fund
was only advance aid. The
prime minister had also
informed him that
additional funds would be
released from the National
Disaster Response Fund as
per the laid down
procedure, he said.
Shashi Tharoor, MP, said
Kerala needed more
financial support and help
to rebuild the state.
On the reported Rs 700
crore UAE aid to the state,
he said, “I would like to
clarify that there are far
richer countries than India
which have accepted such
aid.”
He pointed out that there
was a written policy of the
Modi government in 2016,
stating that India could
accept aid offered by a
foreign country, but may not
appeal for it.
He suggested that the state
consider the Bhuj model of
hosting a conclave after the
earthquakes there in 2001
to raise funds.
Kerala could host a ‘Rebuild
Kerala Conference’ to raise
money and help in grants,
loans or charity, he said.
“But for that we need a
credible assessment and
hence I suggest we seek
help from international
agencies like UN in studying
the destruction caused,
based on which we can
arrange conclaves in
creating a new Kerala,” he
added.
State Finance Minister TM
Thomas Isaac said an
estimated additional
amount of Rs 30,000 crore
was the need of the hour to
expand and rebuild roads
and infrastructure.
The government had
announced a relief of Rs
four lakh each to the kin of
those killed and Rs 10 lakh
each to those who had lost
their land and houses in the
murderous monsoon that
left a huge trail of
destruction and claimed 491
lives since May 29.
Air Marshal Suresh, Air
Officer Commanding-in-
Chief of Southern Air
Command, Maj Gen Sanjeev
Narain-General Officer
Commanding, Karnataka
and Kerala Sub Area, Vijay
Sakhare, IG Ernakulum
Range, Rajamanickam,
Commissioner Food Safety
were felicitated to recognise
their contribution in rescue
and relief operations.
SHIMLA, SEPT 05
In a historic judgment, the
District and Sessions Court,
Shimla on Wednesday
sentenced all three
convicts, Chander Sharma,
Tajender and Vikrant, to
death in the sensational
murder of four-year-old
Yug.
Describing the heinous
crime as “rarest among
rare”, the court awarded
death sentence to the
convicts under Section 302
(murder) and 364(a)
(kidnapping for murder for
ransom), seven years
imprisonment under
Section 201 (destroying
evidence), three years
imprisonment under
Section 347 (wrongful
confinement for extortion)
and one year imprisonment
under Section 506 and 120
B, (criminal intimidation
and criminal conspiracy).
The court also imposed a
fine of Rs 50000, Rs 20,000
and Rs 10,000 under
Sections 201,347 and 506
and extended the sentence
in case of default in
payment of fine.
The entire sentence would
run concurrently and
accused have been afforded
one month time for filing
appeal in the high court.
Welcoming the judgment,
father of Yug, Vinod Gupta
said we faced hell for the
past four years but today
finally justice has prevailed.
The grandmother, mother
and paternal and maternal
uncle of the deceased boy
were in tears as the
judgment was pronounced.
“It is the first ever case in
Shimla district in which
three persons have been
given death sentence,” said
district attorney Randip
Parmar adding that it is a
lesson to the society so that
such incidents are not
repeated in future.
The four-year old, Yug
Gupta, who was abducted
from his courtyard in busy
Ram Bazar in the heart of the
town on June 14, 2014, was
killed after seven days, even
before the first call for
ransom of Rs 3.6 crores was
made. His skeletal remains
were recovered two years
later from a water tank of
Shimla Municipal
Corporation in Kelston area
on August 21, 2016, after the
enquiry was handed over to
CID (Crime) branch.
The CID (Crime) has
recorded the statements of
105 persons. Ten reports,
including DNA report
pertaining to matching of
remains of Yug with his
parents, diatomic report
ascertaining that he was
dumped in water alive and
biological reports were
included in the chargesheet
filed against Chander
Sharma, Tajender and
Vikrant on October 25, 2016.
The other evidences
submitted in the court
included four reports from
the physics division
comparing photographs
retrieved from one of the
accused, Vikrant’s mobile
with the background,
handwriting on ransom
letters, verification of ink and
pen used and other scientific
evidence.
Yug was kidnapped by his
neighbour Chander Sharma
who lured him by offering a
chocolate and took him to
Tajender Singh’s godown
situated just above Yug’s
house.
Later, he was whisked away
to Chander’s rented house at
Ram Chandera Chowk in a
sports utility vehicle (SUV)
belonging to Tajender.
Yug’s clothes were burnt to
THE NORTHLINES
destroy evidence. The kid
was tortured, kept naked,
forced to drink liquor and
dumped in water tank tied
with a stone alive on June 21,
2014, seven days after the
abduction.
Shocked by the incident,
locals came out on the roads,
markets were closed and
protests were held outside
the Vidhan Sabha from
where the protesters
marched to the high court.
Demonstrations, hunger
strikes and candlelight
marches were also
witnessed.
Chronology
June 14, 2014 – Four year old
Yug was kidnapped from his
courtyard in busy Ram
Bazaar area.
June 16 - A criminal case was
registered.
June 21- Yug was killed.
June 27 – First ransom letter
demanding Rs 3.6 crores was
received.
August 14, 2016 - The case
was transferred to state CID
crime branch.
August 20 – Vikrant was
arrested.
August 22 - Skeleton of Yug
was recovered from the
water tank in Kelston.
Chander and Tajender were
arrested.
October 25 – CID files
chargesheet against three
accused in court.
August 6, 2018 - All three
accused held guilty.
15401/13/0035/1819
DAVP