host csk in ipl clash 16 sport sidhu asks ‘majority’ muslims … · 2019-04-16 · nomination...

SBSP TO GO IT ALONEFOR LS POLLS IN UPLucknow: The SuheldevBharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP),an ally of the ruling BJP in UttarPradesh, on Tuesday announcedit will go alone in the LS polls inUP and released a list of 39candidates.

CAMPAIGNING FOR PH-IIOF LS ELECTIONS ENDSNew Delhi: Campaigning endedon Tuesday for the second phaseof Lok Sabha polls on April 18for 95 seats spread across 11States and the Union Territory ofPuducherry that was marked byacrimony with the EC barringseveral leaders fromelectioneering for theircontroversial remarks.

AMID EC’S GAG ORDER,YOGI TO VISIT AYODHYALucknow: Yogi Adityanath willvisit the Ram Lalla temple inAyodhya on Wednesday, amidthe 72-hour ban on campaigningimposed on him by the EC.

CAPSULE

New Delhi: A day after theSupreme Court rejectedTikTok’s plea to stay a MadrasHigh Court order of April 3 toput a ban on the app, theGovernment on Tuesday askedGoogle and Apple to removethe Chinese video sharingapplication from app stores.

The Madurai Bench of theMadras High Court on April 3passed an order directing theGovernment to prohibit down-loading of TikTok in the coun-try. The matter was then takento the SC, which refused to staythe order on the grounds thatthe matter was still sub-judiceand that it would hear the mat-ter on 22 April.

In its defence, TIkTokclaimed that it can’t be heldliable for the kind of contentthat “third-parties” upload onthe platform. Agencies

STAFF REPORTER n NEW DELHI

Rohit Shekhar Tiwari, whofought with his father

Narain Dutt Tiwari, formerChief Minister of Uttar Pradeshand Uttarakhand, to be accept-ed as his son, died of heartattack in Delhi on Tuesday.

According to Vijay Kumar,DCP, South district, Rohit wasbrought to Max Hospital inSaket where doctors declaredhim brought dead.

Rohit had in 2008 went tocourt against Tiwari claiminghe was born out of an affairbetween his mother and Tiwari.

Continued on Page 7

PNS n NEW DELHI

In yet another instance of LokSabha polls being rescinded

due to cash for votes, PresidentRam Nath Kovind on Tuesdayaccepted the recommendationsof the Election Commission(EC) and cancelled the elec-tions in Vellore Parliamentaryconstituency in Tamil Nadu fol-lowing recovery of hugeamount of cash allegedly froma DMK candidate’s office a fewdays ago. Polling in Vellore wasscheduled for April 18. Vellorehas become the first con-stituency in India where a LokSabha election has been can-celled because of cash for votes.

Meanwhile on Tuesday

night, the EC postponed votingin the Tripura (East) Lok Sabhaseat to the third phase on April23 from April 18, saying theprevailing law-and-order situ-ation there is not conducive forholding free and fair poll.

There have been instanceswhen the polls were cancelleddue to cash for votes. In 2016,polls in Aravakurichi andThanjavur Assembly seats inTamil Nadu were cancelleddue to large scale distributionof money and gifts to voters.

The EC had also cancelledRK Nagar Assembly election inTamil Nadu after allegation ofbribing the voters at large scalecame to light in 2017.

Continued on Page 7

DEEPAK KUMAR JHA nAGRA/FATEHPUR SIKRI

Agra and neighbouringFatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha

seats are heading towards inter-esting contest with UttarPradesh Congress chief RajBabbar locked in a close con-test in Sikri, while the battle inthe Taj City will be a fight towatch.

The BJP has fielded UttarPradesh State Minister SPSingh Baghel from Agra whileand Manoj Soni is the BSP can-didate. Former Income TaxCommissioner Preeta Harit isthe Congress candidate.

Though Baghel appears tobe better placed than his rivals,the factionalism within theparty is giving him headache.Supporters of sitting MP RamShanker Katheria, who wasaxed from the Modi Council ofMinisters and shifted to neig-bouring Etawah Lok Sabhaconstituency, are very upset.Katheria got elected from Agratwice and has considerable fol-lowing here.

The gathbandhan candi-date Manoj Soni is strugglingto cope up with the defectionof several BSP leaders like for-mer Minister Devendra SinghChillu, former MLA Dharmpal

Singh and former MLA candi-date Digamber Singh.

Agra is known as ‘Dalitcapital’ and then BSP candidateKunwar Chand Vakil lost toKatheria by about 10,000 votes.The BSP proved its hold dur-ing the 2012 Assembly elec-tions when it won six out oftotal nine Assembly seatsfalling under Agra district.However, it failed to win evena single seat in 2017 Assemblyelection.

While Jatavs constitute amajor share of Dalit populationand remain loyal to the BSP, thenon-Jatavs votes go to otherparties also. The gathbandhancandidates can also count ongaining undivided Muslim

votes which can prove to be agame changer in combinationwith loyal Jatav votes of the BSP.

“Katheria supporters arecreating troubles for Baghel.However, Baghel still enjoys theadvantage of being in the rul-ing side and is himself aMinister in the StateGovernment. Agra electionsalways begin with real issuesbut end with caste and religionequations. Perhaps this is thereason that Agra has been heldin past by all like BJP, Congress,SP and BSP and Lok Dal,”explained political analystSubransh Rai on as the sidelinesof a campaign in FatehpurSikri.

Continued on Page 7

VIRENDRA N BHATT n LUCKNOW

Poonam Sinha, wife of actor-turned-politician and for-

mer BJP MP from PatnaShatrughan Sinha, was onTuesday chosen as the BSP-SP-RLD candidate from LucknowLok Sabha seat. Her name wasannounced by the SamajwadiParty (SP) within hours afterUnion Minister Rajnath Singhfiled his nomination papersfrom Lucknow.

Poonam arrived here onTuesday and headed straight tothe SP office to formallybecome a member of the party.Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’swife Dimple Yadav handedover membership to Poonam.Later, SP patron MulayamSingh Yadav had a meetingwith Poonam.

SP sources said Poonamwould file her nominationpapers on Thursday.

There were speculationthat since Shatrughan is con-testing on the Congress ticketfrom Patna, the party may notfield a candidate against hiswife to pave the way for a one-on-one face-off betweenRajnath and Poonam.However, late in the eveningCongress announced the can-didature of Acharya PramodKrishnam from Lucknow.

The SP, which got Lucknow

in its kitty under the BSP-SP-RLD alliance, has been busyfinding a suitable candidateagainst Rajnath. Earlier,Shatrughan had met withAkhilesh to discuss the candi-dature of his wife. TheLucknow Lok Sabha seat isconsidered to be a BJP bastionsince the Atal Bihari Vajpayeeera. Since 1991 Lok Sabhaelections, the BJP has won thisseat seven consecutive times.Vajpayee won from this seat forfive times and after him, theseat was won by Lalji Tandonin 2009 and then by RajnathSingh in 2014.

Rajnath’s roadshow fornomination saw participa-tion by enthusiastic women

PNS n NEW DELHI

Notwithstanding theElection Commission’s

action against leaders for usingreligion to seek votes, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot SinghSidhu has triggered a contro-versy by urging Muslim votersof Katihar Lok Sabha con-stituency in Bihar to vote enbloc and defeat (PrimeMinister) Narendra Modi.

Campaigning for veteranCongress leader and formerUnion Minister Tariq Anwar inKatihar, Sidhu appealedMuslim voters, saying, “Thiswill be sixer. Hit such a sixerthat Modi is sent out of theboundary.”

Meanwhile, the CPI(M)wrote to Chief ElectionCommissioner Sunil Arorademanding action against PMModi for allegedly violating themodel code of conduct andcommunally polarising votersby making remarks on theSabarimala issue. In a letter tothe CEC, party Politburo mem-ber Nilotpal Basu said theremarks made by the PM werea “flagrant violation” of themodel code of conduct.

Sources in the EC said theCommission has sought areport, including recording ofSidhu’s speech from the DistrictMagistrate of Katihar. A videofootage of Sidhu’s comments inthe remote area was beamed byTV news channels on Tuesday.

“Do not consider yourselfas being in a minority. You con-

stitute the majority here. Youare about 64 per cent. Do notfall into the trap laid down bypeople like Owaisi (president ofAll India Majlis-e-IttehadulMuslimeen). They have beenpropped up by the BJP.Recognise your strength andvote en bloc to defeat PrimeMinister Narendra Modi,”Sidhu had said.

The comments by theCongress leader and PunjabMinister at a rally in Katihardrew an angry response fromthe BJP, which condemned the“reprehensible act”, and urgedthe EC to take “suo motu cog-nizance” and take action.

Lambasting the Congress,

Union Minister Ravi ShankarPrasad said, “It is part of theCongress’ DNA to divide. It isnot a new norm in this party.”

He attacked Congress gen-eral secretary Priyanka GandhiVadra for her criticism of thesaffron party over its interpre-tation of nationalism. Howdoes Sidhu’s call to 64 per centpopulation in Katihar,Muslims, help the country inthe unity attempt, he asked.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin

Owaisi hit out at Sidhu, saying,“Who were you trying to unitefor so many years when youwere in the BJP? Your partymight be new but the back-wardness of Seemanchal is anage old story.”

In a following tweet,Owaisi wrote, “AIMIM wantsthe progress of all Seemanchal,the Congress is still cam-paigning on the baasi (rotten)programme of ‘BJP ka darr’.”

Continued on Page 7

STAFF REPORTER n NEW DELHI

Amid the prolonged dilem-ma whether to go for an

alliance with the Aam AadmiParty (AAP) in the nationalCapital or not, the Congress onTuesday asserted that it hasshown a “big heart” by agree-ing to form an alliance with theAAP in Delhi and said the ballis now in the court of theArvind Kejriwal-led party totake a decision.

A day after Congress pres-ident Rahul Gandhi and Delhi

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwalindulged in a public spat overthe issue, informed sourcessaid a meeting between seniorCongress leader Ahmed Pateland AAP leader Sanjay Singhis likely to take place onWednesday. The meeting holdssignificance since the Congresshas already offered the AAPfour seats in Delhi and now thedecision has to be taken by it.

“Party president RahulGandhi has made it prettyclear that an alliance can beformed just in Delhi in a ratioof 4:3,” he told reporters, inresponse to a question onalliance. People have expressedtheir doubts to us over the AAP,despite that we have shown a

big heart and for a commonobjective we have agreed toform an alliance in Delhi,” asenior Congress leader said.

Congress spokesmanRandeep Surjewala has made itclear on the party’s stand onalliance in other States, headded. Surjewala had last weeksaid that if an alliance has to bemade it can only be made inthe national Capital and not inother States.

Rahul and Arvind Kejriwalhad engaged in a public spat onMonday, with the Congresspresident accusing the AAP ofmaking a “U-turn” overalliance talks prompting theDelhi CM to hit back at him.

Continued on Page 7

Sidhu asks ‘majority’ Muslims to vote out Modi

EC seeks Cong leader’s speech recording from Katihar DM;CPM demands action against Modi for Sabarimala remark

Poonam joins SP, takes on Rajnath

Agra, Fatehpur Sikri brace

for nail-biting contests

Money-powered poll

in Vellore rescinded

We have been magnanimous,ball in AAP court now: Cong

ND Tiwari’s

famous son

Rohit dies

Govt asks Apple,Google to takedown Tik Tokfrom app stores

Govt orders B’deshi actor toleave India for visa breach

PNS n NEW DELHI

Popular Bangladeshi actorFerdous Ahmed was on

Tuesday ordered by the UnionGovernment to leave the coun-try immediately for flouting thenorms of his business visa,which has now been cancelled,an official said on Tuesday. Twodays ago Ferdous had cam-paigned for a TrinamoolCongress candidate against therule thus sparking a politicalcontroversy.

West Bengal BJP leaders JayPrakash Majumdar and SisirBajoria had met State’s ChiefElectoral Officer Ariz Aftab onMonday to register a com-plaint and urged him to takeappropriation action againstthe violation of the model codeof conduct by the TMC.

A video showing Ferdousand Bengali actors Ankushand Payal participating in aroadshow on Sunday to seekvotes for Kanhaiyalal Agarwal,the TMC candidate fromRaiganj Lok Sabha seat, went

viral on social media.“All should vote for the

Trinamool Congress. Allshould vote for Didi (TMCchief Mamata Banerjee),”Ferdous was claimed to havetold voters while sharing thedais with Agarwal.

Ferdous has also been“blacklisted” by the UnionHome Ministry, thus jeopar-dising the prospects of hisfuture travel to India.

“After receiving a reportfrom the Bureau of Immigrationregarding visa violations com-mitted by a BangladeshNational, Ferdous Ahmed, theHome Ministry has cancelledhis business visa and issued hima ‘Leave India’ notice. He hasalso been blacklisted. The FRROKolkata has been directed to

ensure compliance of theseorders,” a Union Home Ministryofficial said in Delhi.

The move comes hoursafter the Central Governmentsought a report from theForeigner Regional RegistrationOfficer (FRRO), Kolkata, on theBangladeshi actor over hisalleged poll campaign.

Majumdar, the State BJPvice president, wanted to knowhow a Bangladeshi national ona visit to the country couldcampaign for a candidate, andalleged that the actor wasbrought to polarise minorityvoters in the constituency.

“We believe that it is acompletely illegal move exe-cuted intentionally. This is aproof of the TMC’s bankruptpolitics,” he said.

When reached for com-ments, Agarwal said he had noknowledge of the actor can-vassing for him.

“I have no knowledge aboutthis (Ahmed campaigning forhim). I have only two starcampaigners Mamata Banerjeeand Suvendu Adhikary.

I have participated inMamata’s two rallies and todayI took part in a roadshow inIslampur where SuvenduAdhikary was present,”Agarwal said.

Continued on Page 7

PTI n NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court onTuesday expressed satis-

faction over swift action takenby the Election Commissionagainst various politicians,including Uttar Pradesh ChiefMinister Yogi Adityanath, BSPsupremo Mayawati and SPleader Azam Khan, for theirspeeches flouting model codeof conduct during campaigningsaying the poll panel has now“woken up to its powers”.

The SC refused Mayawati’splea challenging the EC onMonday banning her fromcampaigning for 48 hours.

A day after EC found itself“toothless” against hate speech-es, which had invited the ire ofthe SC, the poll panel told aBench headed by Chief JusticeRanjan Gogoi that it has barredAdiytanath, Mayawati, UnionMinister Maneka Gandhi andSP leader Azam Khan fromcampaigning for varying hours.

The Bench, also compris-ing Justice Sanjiv Khanna,refused to consider Mayawati’splea challenging the EC’s 48-hour campaign ban on her on

the ground that it has beeninflicted on her without beinggranted an opportunity to putforth her views. “File a SpecialLeave Petition or an appeal ifyou want. We are not com-menting on anything now,” theSC told senior lawyer DushyantDave, representing Mayawati.

The EC has acted becauseof the apex court’s order and theban is “extremely drastic” inview of the fact that she has notbeen heard and, moreover, shehas prior scheduled publicmeetings, Dave said. TheBench, which had summonedan EC official for Tuesday toexamine the ambit of the pollpanel’s to deal with hate speech-es, said, “It seems you have gotyour powers. It seems you havewoken up to your powers”.

Senior advocate CASundaram, appearing for theEC, said, “We have found wehave several powers” and listedout the action taken by the pollpanel against some politicians.

“Pursuant to the orderpassed yesterday, the ElectionCommission of India has takenaction and the appropriatedetails of which have beensubmitted. No further order iscalled for today,” the Benchsaid, adding that the petition-er may mention the plea infuture if the need arises.

Continued on Page 7

Ferdous’ business

visa cancelled for

flouting norms by

canvassing for TMC

Apex court rejects

Mayawati’s plea

against gag order

SC satisfied withEC action againsthate speeches

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh, accompanied by UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, senior leaderKalraj Mishra and others, during a roadshow before filing his nomination papers in Lucknow on Tuesday PTI

Rajnath files papers

from Lucknow, Cong

too fields candidate

Congress leader and Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu addresses an election rally in Katihar on Tuesday PTI

Ahmed Patel, Sanjay

Singh likely to talk

poll alliance today

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members, dressed in saffronsarees and caps, raising slo-gans in favour of the BJP andsinging songs and playingthe nagadas. The processionalso witnessed the participa-tion of camels.

There are four lakhKayastha voters and 1.3 lakhSindhi voters in Lucknow, apart

from 3.5 lakh Muslims. Thefact that Poonam is a Sindhiwhile Shatrughan is a Kayasthais expected to give a major pushto her candidature.

In his nomination papers,Rajnath claimed that his totalmoveable property was worth`1.64 crore and the immovableproperty `2.97 crore.

city 02LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019

PNS n LUCKNOW

Unfazed by the 48-hour gagorder of Election

Commission, the BahujanSamaj Party said that the “ille-gal and unconstitutional” orderof the poll panel could notbrowbeat party chief Mayawati.

On Monday, the ElectionCommission barred Mayawatifrom holding public meetings,processions, rallies, roadshowsand interviews, and utterancesin the media (electronic, print,social media) in the election for48 hours ending on lateWednesday evening.

Accusing the ElectionCommission of working underthe pressure of the ruling BJP,the BSP said that members ofthe Bahujan Samaj would takethe voice of party chief to everyhousehold of the state.

“The Election Commissionhas succeeded in preventingMayawati from campaigningfor 48 hours but it is using a dif-ferent yardstick for PrimeMinister Narendra Modi andBJP chief Amit Shah and ChiefMinister Yogi Adityanath, whoare daily stoking communalhatred during poll campaigns.The Election Commission isturning a blind eye to violationsof Model Code of Conduct bytop BJP leaders,” said BSP gen-eral secretary Satish ChandraMishra while addressing a rallyof the SP-BSP-RLD alliance inAgra on Tuesday.

“The Election Commissionnot only works under BJP pres-sure, it also nurses anti-Dalitmindset. Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and ChiefMinister Yogi Adityanath areviolating the Model Code ofConduct with impunity but theElection Commission lacks theguts to issue notice to both,”Mishra alleged.

Defending the BSP chief,Mishra said, “During theDeoband rally on April 7,Mayawati was compelled toappeal to the people as the ChiefMinister was creating commu-nal divide by referring to ‘Ali’and ‘Bajrangbali’. Besides, Modihas been warned against usingdefence services in his speechbut he continues to do so.”

“Mayawati never appealedon the basis of religion or com-munity. She appealed to SarvaSamaj, cautioning them to pre-vent division of votes on basisof religion. The BSP believes inboth Ali and Bajrangbali as bothare dear to us and none isstranger,” the BSP general sec-retary said.

Accusing the ElectionCommission of issuing unilat-eral gag order, Mishra said,“The notice was issued on April8 and Mayawati was asked to fileher reply within 24 hours. Wewere not given the copy of theCD and not given the opportu-nity of explaining our side in thematter.” The BSP leader said thatthe BJP was worried by the large

crowds at Mayawati’s ralliesand hence it used the ElectionCommission to muzzle her.

PNS n LUCKNOW

The Congress on Tuesdayannounced the name of

Acharya Pramod Krishnan asits candidate from LucknowLok Sabha seat against UnionHome Minister Rajnath Singh,according to UPCCspokesman Ashok Singh.

Earlier, there were specu-lations that the Congresswould leave the Lucknow par-liamentary seat for the SP-BSP-RLD alliance to give atough fight to Rajnath Singhin the BJP bastion.

After actor-turned-politi-cian and parliamentarianShatrughan Sinha’s wifePoonam Sinha joined the SPon Tuesday and it becameapparent that she would befielded from Lucknow, it wasbelieved that the Congresscould support the alliancecandidate to defeat the BJP inits stronghold.

“Lucknow has alwaysbeen a Congress strongholddespite losing every time toBJP since Atal Bihari Vajpayeecame here. Despite being

defeated by BJP in the previ-ous election, the Congresshad polled about three lakhvotes in Lucknow,” a Congressleader said.

DEMANDS POLL PANELACTION AGAINST BSP CANDIDATE

After the ElectionCommission restrained BSPchief Mayawati, ChiefMinister Yogi Adityanath,SP leader Mohammad AzamKhan and Union ministerManeka Gandhi from cam-

paigning, it could well be theturn of BSP candidate fromFatehpur Sikri BhagwanSharma alias Guddu Panditfor hurling expletives atCongress rival Raj Babbarduring a poll meeting.

Taking a serious note ofPandit’s abhorring outburstaimed at Babbar and hissupporters in Fatehpur Sikrion Monday, Congressdemanded cancellation ofhis candidature and registra-tion of a criminal case againsthim.

UPCC spokesmanAmarnath Agarwal said thatprofane language used byPandit was highly objection-able and the ElectionCommission should imme-diately take cognisance.

In a video that went viralon social media, Panditthreatened to thrash RajBabbar with slippers on thestreets of UP for spreadingcanards against the BSP. Anangry Pandit also used pro-fane language against theCongress candidate andvowed by the Ganga river tobeat him and his aides mer-cilessly.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Campaigning for the secondphase of Lok Sabha poll for

eight seats in Uttar Pradeshended on Tuesday.

Polling in these constituen-cies will be held on April 18.

The second phase ofpolling will decide the fates offormer cine star and BJP can-didate Hema Malini fromMathura, UP Congress chiefand former actor Raj Babbarfrom Fatehpur Sikri and UPminister SP Singh Baghel(Agra).

The SP-BSP-RLD alliancereceived a setback as Mayawaticould not be present at thejoint rally in Agra on the lastdate of campaigning onTuesday due to restrictionsimposed by the ElectionCommission.

The BJP campaign wasspearheaded by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi who addressedtwo meetings — Amroha onApril 5 and Aligarh on Sunday— in the constituencies goingto polls in this phase.

BJP president Amit Shahalso addressed a couple ofmeetings in constituencies

going to poll in this phase,while Chief Minister YogiAdityanath criss-crossed theregion, addressing several ral-lies daily along with othersenior leaders. Union HomeMinister Rajnath Singh cam-paigned in Nagina, Aonla,Agra and Fatehpur Sikri onMonday.

On the other hand,Samajwadi Party and BahujanSamaj Party along with theiralliance partner Rashtriya LokDal organised a joint rally inBudaun on Saturday whichwas a massive show of unityand strength.

Congress president RahulGandhi, party general secretaryand UP East in-chargePriyanka Gandhi Vadra joint-ly addressed a rally in FatehpurSikri on Monday.

The eight constituenciesgoing to polls in the secondphase are Nagina, Amroha,Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Hathras,Mathura, Agra and FatehpurSikri. All these seats are cur-rently held by the BJP.

In most constituencies,there is a direct fight betweenthe SP-BSP-RLD alliance andBJP, but the presence ofCongress in some constituen-

cies has made the contest tri-angular, giving an edge to theBJP.

A total of 1.40 crore voters— 75.83 lakh males, 64.92lakh females and 878 of thirdgender — will cast their votesin 16,162 booths to decide thefate of 85 candidates in the fray.

Of these candidates, 14have heinous crime casesagainst them while 41 arecrorepatis.

BJP candidate fromMathura, Hema Malini topsthe list of crorepatis with assetsworth Rs 250 crore, followedby BJP’s Amroha candidateKanwar Singh Tanwar, who hasassets worth Rs 182 crore. Atthe third place is Congress can-didate from Mathura, MaheshPathak with assets worth Rs 35crore

The average assets of BJPcandidates are worth Rs 59crore, of Congress Rs 10 croreand of BSP Rs 9 crore.

The highest numbers of 15candidates are in the fray fromFatehpur Sikri, followed by 14in Aligarh, 13 in Mathura, 10in Amroha, nine each inBulandshahr and Agra, eight inHathras and the lowest sevenin Nagina.

PNS n LUCKNOW

After being restrained bythe Election Commission

from campaigning for 72hours starting Tuesday morn-ing, Chief Minister YogiAdityanath offered prayers toBajrangbali at the HanumanSetu temple in Lucknow onTuesday morning.

Yogi reached the temple at9 am and recited HanumanChalisa and worshipped therefor about 20 minutes.

Refusing to say anything tothe media assembled there,Yogi smiled at them and laterleft for his official residence.

In the afternoon, the ChiefMinister went to Gorakhpurwhere he would stay put fortwo days and pass the period ofrestraint.

Surprisingly, just after theChief Minister left theHanuman Setu temple, UnionHome Minister Rajnath Singhreached there to offer prayersbefore filing his nomination

papers from Lucknow LokSabha constituency.

The Chief Minister wasslated to join Rajnath Singh’sroadshow but after the ElectionCommission curbs he couldnot do so.

On Monday evening, theElection Commission hadbarred Yogi Adityanath fromcampaigning for 72 hours forviolation of Model Code ofConduct. Yogi was censored forhis ‘Ali’ and ‘Bajrangbali’ state-ment.

Yogi Adityanath will bevisiting Ayodhya onWednesday to pay obeisance toRam Lalla and offer prayers atHanuman Garhi temple.

Sources said here that onWednesday morning, the ChiefMinister would go to Ayodhya.

“Yogi Adityanath will payobeisance to Ram Lalla andoffer prayers at HanumanGarhi and will then visitDevipatan in the evening. Hewill spend the night atDevipatan,” the sources said.

Lucknow (PNS): The Bulandshahr policeseized huge quantity of weapons and liquor dur-ing checking in the district late on Monday night.District police chief N Kolanchi told media per-

sons on Tuesday that police teams seized 405 ille-gal weapons, 739 cartridges, liquor worth `2crore and `1.5 crore in cash. He said that twopersons were also arrested in the drive.

Lucknow: Nominations forthe sixth phase of Lok Sabhapolls for 14 seats in UttarPradesh, including Azamgarh,Allahabad and Sultanpur, start-ed on Tuesday after the issuanceof notification by the ElectionCommission.

Polling for this phase willbe held on May 12.

The fate of Union ministerManeka Gandhi (Sultanpur),Samajwadi Party chief AkhileshYadav (Azamgarh) and UPminister Rita Bahuguna Joshi(Allahabad) will be decided inthis phase.

Nominations for the sixthphase poll will be accepted tillApril 23 and scrutiny of paperswill be done the next day.Candidates can withdraw nom-inations on April 26. PNS.

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Be it known that Nigar Fatima(43) and Shama both name aresame person. In future I shall beknown as Nigar Fatima. NigarFatima W/o Syed Abid HusainRizvi, R/o A-36, Mehdi Enclave,Sarfarazganj, Lucknow.

NOTICE

Be it known to all that originalregistry of my house no. 232,Shekhupura Colony, Aliganj,Lucknow is lost somewhere andafter extensive search it was notfound anywhere. If found pleasesend it at below mentioned addressand use of it by anyone else will beillegal. Arjun Singh, S/o Lt. RamSingh, R/o 232, ShekhupuraColony, Aliganj, Lucknow

Shatrughan’s wife

Poonam joins SP

PNS n LUCKNOW

Poonam Sinha, the wife ofactor-turned politicianand MP from Patna

Sahib, Shatrughan Sinha, whohas now left the BJP, will be SP-BSP-RLD alliance candidatefrom Lucknow Lok Sabha con-stituency.

Her name was announcedby Samajwadi Party withinhours of Union Home MinisterRajnath Singh filing his nom-ination papers from LucknowLok Sabha seat on Tuesday.

Poonam Sinha arrived inLucknow on Tuesday andheaded straight to the SP officeto formally become a memberof the party.

Party chief AkhileshYadav’s wife Dimple Yadav waspresent in the office and shegave the membership toPoonam Sinha. Later, SP patronMulayam Singh Yadav alsoarrived there and had a meet-ing with Poonam.

SP sources said thatPoonam Sinha would file hernomination papers on

Thursday and would be the SP-BSP-RLD candidate fromLucknow.

The SP, which got Lucknowin its kitty under the SP-BSP-RLD seat-sharing formula, hadbeen searching a suitable can-didate against Rajnath Singh.Earlier, Shatrughan Sinha hadmet SP chief Akhilesh Yadav todiscuss the candidature of hiswife.

The Patna Sahib MP hadrecently switched sides and isnow contesting from his tradi-tional seat on Congress ticket.

Lucknow is considered tobe a BJP bastion since the AtalBihari Vajpayee era. Since 1991Lok Sabha elections, the BJPhas won this seat seven consec-utive times. Vajpayee won fromthis seat five times and afterhim, the seat was won by LaljiTandon in 2009 and then byRajnath Singh in 2014.

There are four lakhKayastha voters and 1.3 lakhSindhi voters in Lucknow, apartfrom 3.5 lakh Muslims. The factthat Poonam Sinha is a Sindhiwhile her husband ShatrughanSinha is a Kayastha is expectedto give a major push to her.

To contest against Rajnath Singh

EC working under BJP

pressure, alleges BSP

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offering prayers to Bajrangbali at Hanuman Setutemple in Lucknow on Tuesday morning Pioneer

Yogi visits Hanumantemple after EC curb

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav welcoming Poonam Sinha in the party in Lucknow on Tuesday

Cong fields AP Krishnan from Lucknow LS seat

Acharya Pramod Krishnan

Nominations

for 6th phase

poll begin

MAYA’S NEPHEW

TAKES CHARGE

IN HER ABSENCE

Lucknow (PNS): AfterBahujan Samaj Party chiefMayawati was restrained bythe Election Commissionfrom campaigning for 48hours starting 6 am of April 16,her nephew, Akash Anand,gave his maiden politicalspeech at the Agra rally of theSP-BSP-RLD alliance onTuesday.

Like his ‘bua’ (aunt),Akash Anand gave a briefspeech and exhorted the peo-ple to give a befitting reply tothe Election Commission byensuring forfeiture of securi-ty deposits of rival candidatesin the constituencies going topolls in the second phase onApril 18. “I pay my gratitudeto you as you have gatheredhere in such large numbers onthe appeal of my ‘bua’. I havecome for the first time beforeyou and want to appeal to youto ensure victory of alliancecandidates as that will be abefitting reply to the ElectionCommission curbs on my‘buaji’,” Akash Anand said.

Campaigning ends for

second phase polls

HUGE QUANTITY OF WEAPONS, LIQUOR SEIZED BY POLICE


RAJNATH’S ROADSHOW THROUGH THE LENS

SHARMILA KRISHNA n LUCKNOW

The assets of Home MinisterRajnath Singh, who filed his

nomination for Lucknow onTuesday, have shown an appre-ciable increase in the past fiveyears. There is an increase of 166per cent in movable and 56 percent in immovable assets.

According to his electionaffidavit, Singh’s immovableassets amount to Rs 2,97,30,580.In addition, there are movableassets worth Rs 1,64,58,260.61.His wife Savitri Singh has mov-able assets worth a little over Rs53 lakh. While the minister hasRs 68,000 as cash in hand, hiswife has Rs 37,000. Singh ownsa .32 bore revolver and a dou-ble-barrel gun. He has goldweighing 60 gram, which isworth Rs 1.90 lakh, and gemsworth Rs 3 lakh. His wife’sassets include 750 gram of goldjewellery worth Rs 25 lakh and12.5 kg of silver worth Rs 5.60lakh. Rajnath Singh’s immovable

property includes agriculturalland worth Rs 1.47 crore in hishome district Chandauli and ahouse worth Rs 1.50 crore atVipul Khand in Gomti Nagar.The affidavit lists his sources ofincome as salary, agriculture,allowances and pension. He isa post-graduate in science, itsays. As per Rajnath’s affidavitfiled for the Lok Sabha electionsin 2014, the total worth of hismovable assets was Rs61,71,858. The total worth of hisimmovable assets was Rs 1.90crore in 2014.

As per the affidavit filed forthe 2014 Lok Sabha elections,Rajnath had declared Rs 65,000in cash while his wife had Rs35,000. His SBI account ofSachivalaya had Rs 1,18,320while the account in UPCooperative Bank had Rs39,819, SBI (Sansad Bhawan)account in New Delhi had FDs

worth Rs 43,63,353. As per 2019 affidavit, the

past five years’ income declaredin terms of the I-T returns areas follows: Rs 19,36,664 in 2017-19, Rs 12,98,637 in 2016-17, Rs12,21,651 in 2015-16, Rs11,32,653 in 2014-15, and Rs1,07,412 in 2013-14.

Meanwhile, BJP MPKaushal Kishore also filed hisnominations for theMohanlalganj constituency onTuesday. He said there was agreater wave of Prime MinisterModi this year than in 2014. “Itis a misconception that there isno BJP wave. There has been alot of development with peoplegetting gas cylinders, houses andtoilets under the present govern-ment. It has been developmentfor all with poor getting freehealthcare and farmers loanwaivers,” he said.

The BJP MP said that the

latest issue was that the bordersof India had to be kept safe andIndia had to be taken to thenumber one position in everysector. Asked as to what wouldhe do in Mohanlalganj, he saidhe would work for the people.On his rivals, he said: “SP-BSP-RLD candidate CL Verma andCongress candidate RKChowdhary can decide whetherthey want be on the second orthird place.”

On reports that he hadreturned unused MP fundsworth Rs 8 crore, he said it wasa lie. “MPs get a total fund of Rs25 crore along with Rs 26 lakhas interest. I have spent theentire amount. I have made theroads and carried out beautifi-cation work and also providedseveral facilities to the people ofMohanlalganj,” he claimed. Thetotal assets he declared areworth Rs one crore. The assetsinclude his Rs 85,000 in cashwhile his wife has Rs 90,000 incash.

Movable assets increase by

166%, immovable by 56%

RAJNATH’S INCOME SINCE 2014

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE n LUCKNOW

Aday after registering a caseof abetment to suicide

against seven persons, policeare clueless about the sequenceof events which made the rail-way clerk jump to death.

Soni Kumari, who was aclerk at the DRM office inLucknow, had jumped off thefourth floor of the buildingwhere she resided inAlambagh.

The police have yet to findout if the woman get any callafter which she chose to endher life. “A case for abetmentto suicide was registeredagainst her colleagues onMonday night after victim’sbrother Santosh lodged a for-mal complaint. We are study-ing the content on the suicidenote before initiating anaction,” Alambagh SHO

Virendra Sonkar said. He saidinspector Rishi Pal Singh hadbeen assigned the probe. “Weare yet to start the probe intothe case,” he said.

Santosh had lodged a caseon Monday alleging that SoniKumari’s colleagues provokedher to end her life. “She hadbeen facing hostile atmos-phere at her workplace for along time and had also com-plained to the railway officialsaddressing the grievances ofwomen employees in thedepartment. But no action wastaken. She wrote a letter onMarch 28 addressing it to theAlambagh SHO. Due to someunknown reasons, she did notgive the complaint to thepolice,” he said.

Sources said the policewere treating the complaint let-ter as suicide note to savetheir skin. “It is yet to be

probed if the victim com-plained to the police and wasdenied help or she could notmuster courage to lodge thecomplaint,” the sources said.

They said the woman wasprobably under acute depres-sion due to the problem shewas facing and she wrote theletter. “Police suspected thatSoni Kumari jumped off thefourth floor sometimes early inthe morning. It is highlyunlikely that she got some callso early in the morning fromsomeone. “If she got a call soearly in the morning, this indi-cates that she was being bulliedor was getting unwanted callsby some persons,” the sourcessaid. The police said they hadwritten to collect the call detailrecords of the victim to con-duct a probe on this line.

Soni Kumari of Biharsharifin Bihar was working as

account assistant at theaccounts department of ofDRM office in Hazratganj. Shewas allotted a flat at VGColony, a residential colony forrailway employees. On Sundaymorning, she was found deadin the open space between theblock of the multi-storey build-ing. During investigation, thepolice had recovered a suicidenote (written on March 28)from the flat. The woman hadstated official harassment asthe reason for committing suicide.

In her suicide note, thewoman had written that shewas being mentally harassed inthe office by SSO AdityaShukla who used to send herhere and there for no work. Shehad also stated that she wasbeing humiliated in the officeand her colleagues used to playvulgar music in her presence.

Suicide by rly clerk: Police yet

to ascertain sequence of events


A22-year-old preparing forcompetitive exams ended

his life reportedly under a boutof depression at his house inIndira Nagar early Tuesdaymorning. As per reports, theyouth, identified as Amit Yadavof Barqpur village of the area,was seen hanging in a roomwith a rope tied around hisneck. After his family membersspotted him hanging, theyrushed her to Ram ManoharLohiya Hospital but the doctorsexamined declared him broughtdead. They also sent a memo tothe Indira Nagar police. Apolice team reached the place tocarry out probe. Sub-inspectorSaroj Singh said the victim wasseen hanging by his brotherAshish. “Amit’s family membershad brought him down from thenoose in the hope to save hislife,” the IO said. “Amit wasunder depression as he couldnot clear any exam. He proba-bly ended his life due to this,” theIO said. He added that therecould be other reasons alsoand the police would probe thecase considering all possibleaspects.

Meanwhile, in a tragic inci-dent, a girl who was returninghome in Barabanki afterappearing in BEd entranceexam in Lucknow, was killed ina road mishap in Chinhat onMonday evening. The student,identified as Kiran (20),appeared in the exam at aschool in Madiaon and wasreturning home along with herbrother Sunil on a bike. Around6 pm, they stopped at a restau-rant to purchase a water bottle.In the meantime, she wasknocked down by a speedingtruck and she suffered injuries.She was rushed to RamManohar Lohiya hospital wheredoctors declared her broughtdead. The police said Sunilcould not note down the regis-tration number of the truck.“The case was has beenassigned to a sub-inspector.We are obtaining CCTVfootages to trace the truck.Once we get truck’s registrationnumber, we will find the driveras well,” the police said.

Depressedyouthhangs self


After the commercial run ofLucknow Metro, more

than half of the population ofthe city has started adopting theMetro culture which is addingvalue of time to their lives.Although the Metro culture haschanged the lifestyle of manypeople, there are many morethings which people arerequired know and learn.

Considering this, LucknowMetro Rail Corporation hastaken an initiative to spread theknowledge amongst childrenand adults by going to theirplaces or bringing them toMetro premises to let themknow about the features andfacilities which they haveimplemented. “LMRC startedthe visit from educational insti-tutions like City MontessoriSchool, Delhi Public Schooland Guru Nanak Girls Collegeand the response we got wasawesome. The drive led to the

participation of over four thou-sand (4000) students. The pro-gram was conducted for thestudents from classes IV to XIIin 10 days,” a senior LMRCofficial said. “The major pointsdiscussed in the programme

were benefits of LucknowMetro, use of GoSmart card,advanced features of lifts andescalators, other initiatives liketree translocation, wheel-wash-ing and many others,” headded.

Lucknow Metro also givesthe opportunity to see its state-of-the-art technology on itspremises where students cancome up in groups and knowabout the core features from thetrained and expert staff.

LMRC making efforts to get people

acquainted with features, facilities

Huge crowd of devotees during Rajnath Singh’s roadshow in Lucknow on Tuesday Pioneer

The supporters made the roadshow of Rajnath Singh a success as he started with prayers at a temple Pradeep Shah | Pioneer



The Real Estate RegulatoryAuthority (RERA) has repri-

manded the state autonomousbodies engaged in real estatebusiness for their lenient approachtowards the private developersdue to which more than 50,000people had been deprived oftheir dwellings.

The RERA has directed theHousing Commissioner, UP, andvice-chairmen of the developmentauthorities across the state to


Two persons suffered injuriesduring a brawl which broke

out over a parking-related issuebetween two groups of peoplein Saadatganj police stationarea on Tuesday. Police hadtense moment as the newsreached them with several con-testants filing their nominationpapers at Collectorate for theLok Sabha elections. A smallteam was spared to investigatethe case. Luckily for them, theissue did not take hype and thepolice managed to handle thesituation with ease.

As per reports, ChandBabu of Wazirbagh locality inSaadatganj parked hisautorickshaw close to thehouse of one Kallu of the samelocality. A verbal spat ensuedafter Kallu raised objectionand asked Chand Babu to shift

his autorickshaw. Supportersfrom both the sides startedassembling at the scene andlater indulged in a heatedexchange. Suddenly, some ofthe supporters from one sideattacked a rival and soon, itwas a free for all. There werereports that the groups alsoindulged in firing, but thesame was not established dur-ing probe.

Chand Babu alleged thatKallu and his aidesMohammed Umar and Nihalattacked him and his support-er Shakil Ahmad with sticks.“They started hitting me withiron rods and sticks. Shakilcame for my rescue and he wasattacked too. I suffered headinjuries while Shakil sufferedfracture in his fingers,” he stat-ed in the complaint. The policespokesman confirmed thatChand Babu and Shakil were

injured in the brawl. He deniedreports that Chand Babu suf-fered firearm injuries.

Meanwhile, the body of ayouth was recovered fromIndira Canal in Chinhat onTuesday. Police contacted thefamily to inform them aboutthe incident. As per reports,some villagers spotted thebody in the canal and alertedthe police. With the help ofdivers the body was fished out.The cops recovered anAadhaar card with the help ofwhich the deceased was iden-tified as a native of Bihar. “Wetalked to the Bihar police andasked them to provide us thecontact number of thedeceased’s family. The familymembers were contacted andasked to reach Lucknow,” apolice spokesman said, addingthat the body appeared to be 7-8 days old.


Congress candidate fromBudaun parliamentary

constituency and industrialistSaleem Sherwani claimed thatthere was a direct fightbetween Bharatiya JanataParty and Congress in thisLok Sabha poll and the SP-BSP-RLD alliance will have nosay in the formation of thenext Union government.

“Alliance candidates couldbe giving a tough fight in sev-eral constituencies, but ulti-mately it is a fight betweenCongress and BJP in the coun-try. It will be either a govern-ment of the Congress or ofBJP after May 23, and noother party will have a say init,” Sherwani said while speak-ing to media persons inBudaun on Tuesday.

Talking about Congresschief Rahul Gandhi, Sherwani,

who joined the SamajwadiParty for a brief period afterBabri Masjid demolition inAyodhya in 1992 but rejoinedthe Congress, said that Rahulhad a clean and honest image.

“Besides, Rahul will playa long innings of more than 25years in Indian politics andhas huge potential. Moreover,Rahul has the courage to ful-fil promises made to the peo-ple, which other politicianslack. If Congress comes topower, the NYAY scheme ofRs 72,000 per year to the poorwill be kept at any cost,” headded. Sherwani claimed thatin UP too, the fight wasbetween Congress and BJPbut in some constituencies thealliance was making it a trian-gular contest.

“In Budaun too, alliancecandidate and sitting SP mem-ber Dharmendra Yadav, is agood candidate and although

he has done some work thereare several complaints againsthim,” said Sherwani whilepredicting his victory in theelection. Sherwani is arenowned businessmen,sportsman and politician andis the owner of torch compa-ny Jeep in Allahabad. He alsoowns a sugar mill and repre-sented Budaun in the LokSabha for a record five times.He was the Union Minister ofState for Health and FamilyWelfare from 1996 to 1997and a Union Minister of Statefor External Affairs from 1997to 1998 in the government ledby then Prime Minister InderKumar Gujral.

Sherwani joined politics atthe instance of former PrimeMinister Rajiv Gandhi afterthe assassination of IndiraGandhi and contested thefirst election from Budaun in1984.

Lucknow (PNS): Afteraddressing rallies at five placesin Uttar Pradesh in the last fort-night, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi has plans toaddress six more election meet-ing the state this month, besidehis two-day stay in Varanasifrom April 25. Modi will file hisnomination from Varanasi onApril 26. As per BJP sources,Modi will address rallies at Etahand Bareilly on April 20 andBanda in Bundelkhand onApril 25. From Banda, Modiwill fly to Varanasi.

On April 27, the PrimeMinister will address three pollmeetings — at Hardoi, Kannauj

and Sitapur. SP presidentAkhilesh Yadav’s wife DimpleYadav is contesting the electionfrom Kannauj. Modi will holda roadshow in Varanasi onApril 25 and the next day, hewill file his nomination papers.

Unconfirmed reports saidthat he could also hold a road-show before filing papers onApril 26. Modi has alreadyaddressed five poll meetings inUP so far, in Meerut, Amroha,Saharanpur, Aligarh andMoradabad. Senior BJP leaderVijay Bahadur Pathak said thatthere was a huge demand forthe Prime Minister’s rally butall demands could not be met.


Banking on Jat voters to sideby the party, grand alliance

constituent Rashtriya Lok Dal(RLD) hopes that the voters ofSP and BSP would provide itscandidate the winning edge inthe Lok Sabha election inMathura. “Besides Jats,Muslims, Dalits, Yadavs andother communities will vote forus in the election. Our candi-date from Mathura, NarendraSingh will win hands down,”said RLD national spokesmanAnil Dubey on Tuesday.

Dubey said that theNarendra Modi’s charm wasover and now people inMathura and other constituen-cies of western UP were fastreturning to the SP-BSP-RLDalliance. “In their five-yeartenure at the Centre, the BJPwas exposed among the mass-es. The ground report is thateven a huge chunk of youthsare deserting the BJP camp tounseat it from the Centre asthey did not get jobs. Theissues related to farmers werenot addressed by Modi or Yogigovernments and hence theytoo are with us,” Dubeyexplained the dynamics which

he thought could ensure thevictory of RLD candidate.

Dubey pointed out thatthe SP and BSP fought sepa-rately in 2014 Lok Sabha elec-tion and that was why the BJPcould win the Mathura seat.

“This time we are unitedand in alliance. The vote banksof SP and BSP will provide anedge to the RLD candidate,who will also garner the sup-port of Jats in the election,” hesaid. The RLD spokesmanadded that the BJP’s rhetoricand issues being raised by ithad proved to be a dud in thiselection. Hitting out the BJPmisrule, Dubey said that theBJP leaders reneged from theirpromises made during 2014Lok Sabha election.

“Now sensing imminentdefeat, they are applying everytrick to divide the vote bank ofthe grand alliance. Our leadersare carrying out hectic canvass-ing in villages. The poll cam-paign is being led by RLD chiefAjit Singh, his son JayantChaudhary and his wife. Theleaders are in contact with thepeople in Mathura and we aregetting encouraging signalsfrom them,” Dubey confident-ly said.

ORIENTATIONPROGRAMME

The Lucknow regional cen-tre of India Gandhi NationalOpen University organised anorientation programme forcommunity health officersenrolled in Bridge Programmefor Community Nurses (BPC-CHN) in collaboration withNational Health Mission(NHM) on Tuesday. Around200 learners registered atKGMU, SGPGIMS, Dr RMLAyurvigyan Sansthan andVeerangana Avantibai WomenDistrict Hospital participated in

the programme. They wereinformed about rules and reg-ulations related to the programme.

FOOD FESTIVALRenaissance Lucknow

Hotel brings Lucknowites aunique opportunity to taste thebest Italian food. The hotel isorganising an Italian food fes-tival called ‘Slice of Italy withChef Santosh’, which bringsthe authentic culinary art ofTuscany, Sicily and Romanofrom April 15 to 21. The hotels’all-day dining place will be

converted into a cherished des-tination for all the Italian foodlovers. There will be plenty ofoptions for the guests to choosefrom.


Bondhu Mahal celebratedPoila Boishak (Bengali

New Year) with a dash of cul-ture and tradition. On theoccasion, the organisation dis-tributed stationery among 150poor students in a functionheld at Rajendra Singh Park inIndira Nagar (B-block).

These children areschool dropouts whose par-ents work as menial labour-ers or rickshaw-pullers. “It’snice that Bondhu Mahal istrying to spread the light ofknowledge among the chil-dren who are willing to

learn,” Runa Banerjee, whowas the chief guest on theoccasion, said.

She said working withthe underprivileged was thebest service to the mankind.The initiative by BondhuMahal should be replicatedby other Durga Puja com-mittees as well, she added.During the programme, localartistes made cultural pre-sentations. The BondhuMahal Excellence Award wasgiven away to DebashishMukherjee (HAL) foradministration, and Dr SKPandey for voluntary ser-vices in medicine.

SCHOOLSCAN

CITYBRIEFS

impose a penalty of Rs 10 lakh onthose builders who had not gottheir firms registered with themby May 31. Those who did notpay the penalty within the dead-line would be derecognised,RERA said. The RERA adminis-tration warned the governmentagencies engaged in developinghousing schemes and privatebuilders that a penalty of Rs40,000 would be imposed onthem if their projects were notready within the given time-frame. The RERA administrationhas also expressed concern overthe delay in the completion of thehousing projects all over thestate. It is seen that most of theseprojects are not completed with-in the deadline due to which thebeneficiaries are adversely affect-ed. The delay in the completionof projects is one of the reasonsfor the poor financial status ofsuch agencies and builders. Nowthe private builders can presenttheir housing projects online buthave to mention the time they willtake in completing them.

They have been directed tokeep their software updated withthe past records so that their cred-ibility could be ascertained. TheRERA also instructed the chair-men of the development author-ities and the Housing

Commissioner to create aseparate software for register-ing the complaints and forstating the problems whichthey were facing.

LDA Vice-ChairmanPN Singh hailed the direc-tives of RERA and addedthey were for the welfare ofthe general public. The ViceChairman said that he alwaysstood for transparency andadvocated that the workshould be of the best quali-ty so that the public did notfeel that it was being cheat-ed. In the city, the prestigioushousing project of LDAknown as PanchsheelEnclave situated in VikalpKhand, Gomti Nagar, hasnot been completed so far. Itwas launched way back inOctober 2011 at an estimat-ed cost of Rs 9.5 crore andwas scheduled to be com-pleted by September 2017.The Samajwadi Awas hous-ing scheme in Para localitymeant for the downtroddensections of society has notbeen completed yet. Over6,000 shelters were to becompleted by March thisyear but only 40 per cent ofthe work had been done sofar. Similarly, the Awas VikasParishad is also laggingbehind as far as constructionof houses in the city is con-cerned. The Nadani Enclavewhich is being developed byit under the Avadh ViharYojana on Sultanpur Roadhas not been completedwhen it should have beenready and handed over to thebuyers in April last year. Itsprestigious housing schemesat Rashmi Khand and RatanKhand in Ashiyana will takea long time in being complet-ed when shelters in theseschemes should have beenready in November last yearonly. The LDA Vice-Chairman said that itsadministration had adopteda professional approach indeveloping real estate andadded that he expected bet-ter results in the days tocome.

RERA reprimands state autonomous bodies engaged in real estate biz

RLD banking on Jat votes in Mathura

A ‘Matdata Express’ being flagged off in front of Vidhan Bhawan on Tuesday to make voters aware about the importance ofexercising their franchise Pioneer

Bondhu Mahal provides stationery to poor kids

Modi to address six

more rallies in UPPIONEER NEWS SERVICE n LUCKNOW

Aday after declaring thathis party would go it alone

in the Lok Sabha elections inUttar Pradesh, SuheldeoBhartiya Samaj Party presi-dent Om Prakash Rajbhar,hitherto an ally of the BharatiyaJanata Party in UP, on Tuesdayannounced 39 candidates fromeastern UP, including PrimeMinister Narendra Modi’s con-stituency Varanasi.

“My party candidates willfight separately and againstthe BJP on these seats,” Rajbharsaid in Lucknow on Tuesday.

“It is a question of our exis-tence in politics. The BJP lead-ership does not listen to allies.I have no lust for power and Iwanted to resign from the YogiAdityanath Cabinet but theChief Minister did not acceptmy resignation,” Rajbhar said.

However, it is not clear ifthis meant the end of tiesbetween the BJP and SBSP. Theeastern UP leader has not ter-minated the alliance with theBJP, leading to speculations thatthis could be another round ofposturing. “Our situationseems to be like one betweenShiv Sena and BJP. They havetheir problems and reached abreaking point, but are hangingon. But I don’t know for howlong,” Rajbhar said.

On Sunday, Rajbhar hadwalked into Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath’s official resi-dence in Lucknow with his res-ignation letter and demandedto see him.

Rajbhar was placated in themonths before the elections

and stopped from ending histies with the ruling party. Heand his party are reportedlyangry with the BJP for not giv-ing them enough seats to con-test in eastern UP, the party’score area of influence.

The SBSP had demandedat least five Lok Sabha seats ineastern UP from the BJP.

Sources said that the BJPwas unwilling to concede fiveseats, so the talks finally cen-tred on the SBSP contestingfrom two eastern UP seats. Buteven this was red-flagged byChief Minister YogiAdityanath, who asked Rajbharto settle for one seat — Ghosi— and put up a candidate

who would fight on BJP sym-bol. The SBSP rejected theproposal. The BJP tied up withSBSP ahead of 2017 Assemblypolls in UP. The SBSP contest-ed eight seats and won four.Rajbhar was inducted asCabinet minister in the Yogigovernment. After somemonths, Rajbhar started accus-ing the Yogi government ofneglecting and sidelining hisparty. Rajbhar also sat on adharna outside the districtmagistrate’s office in Ghazipur,his home district. Several times,Rajbhar threatened to quit theBJP-led NDA in UP or resignas minister. The threats howev-er never materialised.

SBSP to field 39 candidates

Suheldeo Bhartiya Samaj Party president Om Prakash Rajbhar showing the list ofcandidates in Lucknow on Tuesday Pioneer

There is direct fight between

Congress and BJP: Sherwani

2 persons injured in group clash

CAREERS DAYCity Montessori School is

organising a Careers Day onApril 21 at Kanpur Road audi-torium. The aim is to providean opportunity to the studentsof classes X-XII to choosecareer options as per theirinterests. Careers Day offers anopportunity to students to getin-depth knowledge of over100 career options as well asproviding tips to parents andteachers. Eminent personalitiesfrom different fields will beguiding the students to makecareer choices. Besides, sever-al stalls will be set up to providedetailed information to stu-dents on various career options.

AWARDED

CMS founder JagdishGandhi was honoured with‘Inspirational Icon Award’ for hisservices through education andefforts to secure and safeguardthe future of young generation.He was felicitated at a functionorganised recently by DiscoveryEducation Media in New Delhi.

LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019

IN SHORT

VIJAY JOLLY FILESCOMPLAINT BEFORE EC New Delhi: BJP leader VijayJolly on Tuesday filed acomplaint before the EC againstPune-based Maulana AbdurRashid Miftahi for spreadingfalse and communal propagandaagainst BJP and Hindus duringelection period.

SC SEEKS RESPONSEFROM U’KHAND GOVTNew Delhi: The Supreme Courton Tuesday sought responsesfrom the Uttarakhand Govt andothers on a plea challenging aState High Court order whichhad dismissed a petition seekingto house eight elephants, in thecustody of the forest dept.

SSC PAPER LEAK: SCASKS CBI TO FILE REPORT New Delhi: The Supreme Courton Tuesday directed the CBI bythe Supreme Court to file itscurrent status report by April 24about the probe into the 2017Staff Selection Commission(SSC) exam paper leak.

SC SEEKS EC RESPONSEON BRIBING OF TN VOTERSNew Delhi: The Supreme Courton Tuesday sought ElectionCommission’s response on aplea alleging that people werebeing bribed on a massive scalefor Lok Sabha polls in TamilNadu. A Bench of Chief JusticeRanjan Gogoi and Justice SanjivKhanna asked the petitioner KKRamesh to serve the copy of thepetition to the EC counsel forreceiving necessary instructions.

PNS n NEW DELHI

Worried over deliberateattempts by certain

groups to malign the poll body,a group of former civil servants,defence personnel, judges andacademicians wrote to PresidentRam Nath Kovind, expressingconcerns over alleged attemptsbeing made by certain groups to“discredit” the ElectionCommission by casting asper-sions on its neutrality.

The letter, signed by near-ly 80 former civil servants,defence officers, judges, acad-emicians and professionals,said “slurs” are being levelledagainst the poll body anddoubts are being raised on itsability to hold free and fair elec-tions. The letter was inresponse to an earlier pleamade by a group of former civilservants expressing concernover the credibility and func-tioning of the ElectionCommission for failing to dealwith alleged cases of poll vio-lations, particulary thoseinvolving the ruling party.Among those who signed theletter included former DelhiPolice commissioner RS Gupta,Air Marshal (retd) RC Bajpai,former diplomat Ashok Kumar,Lt. Gen. AK Sahni.

“We have come to expressconcerns over attempts beingmade by certain groups to dis-credit the EC which has beentime-tested and great credibil-ity not just in India, but allacross the world,” the letter tothe President said. This, the let-ter added, gives rise to suspicionthat a deliberate attempt isbeing made by groups with

“vested interests” to denigratesuch institutions of democracyby undermining their position.

“This appears to be part ofa larger design to influence itsdecision-making and to makeit conform to a particular lineof behaviour and thought,” theletter said. Referring to the

objections raised by the groupon Prime Minister NarendraModi’s biopic, the letter said,“The very people who have castaspersions on the indepen-dence of the ElectionCommission have appeared tohave succeeded in influencingthe decision of the poll body in

banning the biopic made by anindependent producer. It maybe noted that the decision wasdelivered only after the releaseof the open letter by the groupof (former) civil servants.”

Last week, the EC bannedthe release of the biopic, titled“PM Narendra Modi”, until its

further orders.The letter also pointed out

that the said group is trying tostop a 10-part web series‘Modi-A Common Man’sJourney’, five episodes of whichhave already been screenedbefore the model code of con-duct came into effect.

Ex-babus write to Prez over attempts to ‘discredit’ EC

A group of bureaucrats and defence officers after submitting a representation to the President to counter the open letter sent to him by a group of retired civil servants onthe conduct of the Election Commission in implementing the Model Code of Conduct in New Delhi on Tuesday PTI

PNS n NEW DELHI

The Election Commission(EC) on Tuesday issued

notification for the sixth andpenultimate phase of LokSabha elections to be held onMay 12 in 59 seats acrossseven states. All the sevenseats in Delhi will also go forpolling in the sixth phase.

With the issuance of noti-fication, the process of filingnominations has begun. Thelast date of filing nominationsis April 24.The poll for the sixthphase will be held on May 12.

Some of the constituenciesgong to poll are: ValmikiNagar, Paschim Champaran,Purvi Champaran, Sheohar,Vaishali, Gopalganj, Siwan andMaharajganj in Bihar.

In Uttar Pradesh,Sultanpur, Pratapgarh,Phulpur, Allahabad, AmbedkarNagar, Shrawasti,Domariyaganj, Basti, SantKabir Nagar, Lalganj,Azamgarh, Jaunpur,Machhlishahr and Bhadohiare going for polls.

Like Delhi, Lok Sabha elec-tions will be held in a singlephase in Haryana also.Tikamgarh, Damoh,Khajuraho, Chhindwara andHoshangabad in MadhyaPradesh will also go for elec-

tions in the sixth phase. The seven-phase elections

began on April 11 and will endon May 19. Uttar Pradesh,

Bihar and West Bengal willhead for voting in all the sevenphases of the general elections.

EC issues notificationfor 6th LS polls phase

New Delhi: A plea in theSupreme Court Tuesdaysought direction to theElection Commission toensure safety and security ofelectronic voting machines(EVMs) after Lok Sabha polls.The plea, filed by MSrinivasan, president of TamilNadu Annal Ambedkar LawAssociation, has referred tonews reports on apprehensionsof some Opposition partiesthat EVMs may be tamperedwith even after the polls. Thepetition, which may come up

for hearing next week, said thatthe Chief ElectionCommissioner be directed toensure that EVMs are nottampered with during the postpolls period. PNS

Plea in SC for ensuring

safety of EVMs after polls

PNS n NEW DELHI

The EnforcementDirectorate (ED) has

attached property worth ̀ 6.19crore of controversial Jammu &Kashmir-based businessmanZahoor Ahmad Shah Wataliand his family members underPrevention of MoneyLaundering Act (PMLA) in theongoing investigations in a ter-ror funding case relating to ter-ror financing by Pakistani ter-ror groups for fuelling jehad inthe Valley.

The terror financing casewas earlier registered by theNational Investigation Agency(NIA) against HafizMuhammad Saeed (founderof Lashkar-e-Tayyeba andJ a m a a t - U d - D a w a ) ,Mohammad. Yusuf Shah aliasSyed Salahuddin (chief ofbanned terror group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen) and others.

Watali allegedly acted as aconduit for Hurriyat leaders forraising funds from Pakistan forperpetrating terror in the Valleyand destroying governmentinfrastructure like schools.

ED had initiated the probe

under PMLA based onchargesheet filed by (NIA)against Saeed, Salahuddin,Aftab Ahmad Shah aliasFantoosh, Nayeem AhmadKhan, Farooq Ahmad Dar aliasBitta Karate, MohammadAkbar Khanday, RajaMehrajuddin Kalwal, BashirAhmad Bhat and Watalibesides Kamran Yusuf andJaved Ahmad Bhat under var-ious sections of the IndianPenal Code and Unlawful

Activities (Prevention) Act. “During investigations

under PMLA, it is revealed thatthe Hurriyat leaders havereceived funds from Pakistanthrough conduits and also fromthe Pakistan High Commissiondirectly. This was substantiat-ed by an incriminating docu-ment seized from the house ofGhulam Mohd. Bhatt duringsearches,” the ED said.

Bhat worked as the cashier-cum-accountant with Watali.The document clearly indi-cates that Watali was receivingmoney from Hafiz Saeed (Headof Jamaat-ud-Dawa), from ISI,from the Pakistan HighCommission at New Delhi andalso from a source based inDubai.

Watali was remitting thesame to the Hurriyat leaders,separatists and stone-peltersof Jammu and Kashmir. Thesaid document has been main-tained in regular course of hisbusiness and is signed byWatali himself. This documentalso indicates that Hurriyatleaders were receiving fundsfrom Pakistan through the offi-cials of Pakistan High

Commission and throughWatali. The signature of Watalihas also been verified and asper the expert report, his sig-nature on the questioned doc-ument matches with his spec-imen handwriting as well as hisadmitted handwriting. Watalialong with other nine accusedare under judicial custody atTihar Jail here.

The ED probe revealedthat another accused NavalKishore Kapoor has mobilizedfunds from unknown sourcesin Dubai and remitted thesame to Watali and his com-pany Trison Farms andConstruction Pvt. Ltd. Thesaid transactions were carriedout in the guise of a lease agree-ment between Trison Farmsand Construction Pvt. Ltd.and Naval Kishore Kapoorwhich was found to be only alegal façade to bring fundsfrom unknown sources inDubai to India.

The ED probe has estab-lished proceeds of crime to thetune of `7.22 crore. Theattached properties includeland at Sozeith Goripora,Narbal, Budgam belonging to

Watali and his family members,worth `6.19 crore.

One property of Watali islocated in Gurugram, having avalue of `1.03 crore, establishedas proceeds of crime will beattached soon, sources said.

Watali has been found tobe involved in fund raising andas a financial conduit forHurriyat Leaders. NIA investi-gation also revealed that the AllParty Hurriyat Conference(APHC) and other secession-ists instigate the general pub-lic, especially the youth, toobserve strikes and issue direc-tives to the masses to hold anti-India protests, demonstrationsand processions through pressreleases, newspapers and socialmedia.

The secessionists instigatethe masses to resort to violenceespecially stone-pelting on thesecurity forces at encountersites and also after the disper-sal of Friday prayers. This hasbeen done willfully to createsuch circumstances which willarouse disaffection among thepeople of Jammu & Kashmirtowards the Government ofIndia, the agency said.

TERROR FUNDING

ED attaches assets of Watali worth `6.19 crPNS n NEW DELHI

India and Thailand will dis-cuss the entire range of bilat-

eral maritime issues andexplore new avenues of defenceco-operation during NavyChief Admiral Sunil Lanba’sthree-day visit there startingfrom Wednesday.

The visit is intended toconsolidate and enhance thenavy to navy relations betweenthe two countries.

Giving details of the visit,navy officials said here onTuesday Lanba will hold bilat-eral discussions with GeneralPonpipaat Benyasri, Chief ofDefence Forces, Royal ThaiArmed Forces, AdmiralLuechai Ruddit, Commander-in-Chief Royal Thai Navy andother senior government offi-cials. In addition, Lanba willvisit the Royal Thai Navy andRoyal Thai Armed ForcesHeadquarters in Bangkok andthe 3rd Naval Area Commandat Phuket.

India has historical link-ages with Thailand which dateback several centuries. Thetwo countries established for-

mal diplomatic relations in1947. The defence relation-ship between India andThailand has matured over theyears, with the two countriessigning a Memorandum ofUnderstanding on DefenceCooperation in January 2012.The Defence Cooperationbetween the two countries isbeing progressed through theAnnual High Level DefenceDialogue, the 7th edition ofwhich was held in March 2019at New Delhi.

The Indian Navy cooper-ates with the Royal Thai Navyon many fronts, which includeoperational interactions, train-ing exchanges and hydrographycooperation. These activitiesare coordinated between thenavies through the medium ofNavy-to-Navy Staff Talks, the11th edition of which were held

at Bangkok in March 2019.The Royal Thai Navy is

also a member of the IndianOcean Naval Symposium(IONS) and actively partici-pates in the three IONSWorking Groups, viz‘Humanitarian Assistance andDisaster Relief ’ (HADR),‘Maritime Security’ and‘Information Sharing andInteroperability’.

Meanwhile, the two-weeklong joint exercise betweenthe navies of Australia andIndia codenamed AUSINDEXconcluded last week inVisakhapatnam. The currentedition of the exercise, thethird one, in last few years, sawthe participation of the highestnumber of units with fourfrontline ships with integralhelicopters, one submarine anda variety of aircraft including P-8 I and P-8 A long range mar-itime reconnaissance anti-sub-marine warfare aircraft.Moreover, for the first time 55American and 20 New Zealandmilitary embarked onboardthe Australian ships and wit-nessed the exercises, officialssaid.

Navy Chief Admiral Lanbabegins Thailand visit today

New Delhi: The Supreme Courton Tuesday agreed to hear a pleaseeking permission for Muslimwomen to enter mosques tooffer prayers and asked theCentre to respond to it.

A Bench of justices SABobde and SA Nazeer told thepetitioners’ counsel that it wouldhear the matter only in view ofthe apex court’s judgement inthe Sabrimala temple case.

“The only reason we mayhear you is because of ourjudgement in the Sabarimalacase. Otherwise you are notgiving us satisfactory answers,”the bench told the counselappearing for petitionersYasmeen Zuber AhmadPeerzade and Zuber AhmadNazir Ahmad Peerzade.

On September 28 last year,a five-judge constitution benchof the apex court, in its 4:1 ver-dict, had paved the way forentry of women of all ages intothe Sabarimala temple inKerala, saying the ban amount-ed to gender discrimination.

Besides the Centre, theapex court also issued noticesto the Ministry of Law andJustice, Ministry of MinorityAffairs, National Commissionfor Women, Maharashtra StateBoard of Waqfs, Central WaqfCouncil and the All IndiaMuslim Personal Law Board,seeking their replies on the pleafiled by the Pune-based couple.

During the hearing onTuesday, the apex court askedthe petitioners’ lawyer as towhether the right to equalitycould be invoked against pri-vate individuals.

“Can you invoke Article 14(equality before law) of theConstitution and claim equaltreatment from another humanbeing?” the bench said, adding,“Is a mosque a state? Is a tem-ple a state? Is a church a state?”

The Bench also sought toknow from the petitioners howthe state was involved in this.

“Persons in a mosque areindividuals. Where is the stateinvolved in this?” the benchsaid, adding that the funda-mental right to equality can beinvoked against the state andnot against individuals. To this,the petitioners’ counsel saidmosques in the country wereenjoying the benefits and grantsextended to them by the state.

At the outset, when thepetitioners’ counsel said theissue was about the right ofMuslim women to entermosques to offer prayers, thebench had asked, “Who hasdenied this right? Have youtried to enter (a mosque) andwere denied entry?”

The Bench then asked thecounsel about a matter beforethe Bombay High Courtregarding the entry of womenin the Haji Ali Dargah. PTI

PTI n NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court onTuesday agreed to hear the

Income Tax department’sappeal challenging the MadrasHigh Court order whichquashed criminal prosecutionagainst senior Congress leaderP Chidambaram’s family mem-bers under the black moneylaw.

The top court, however,refused to stay the order of thehigh court.

A bench of Chief JusticeRanjan Gogoi and JusticeSanjiv Khanna issued notice toChidambaram’s wife Naliniand their son Karti, who is con-testing Lok Sabha election fromSivaganga constituency inTamil Nadu.

The Bench also soughtreply from Karti’s wife Srinidhiand others in the case.

The high court hadquashed criminal prosecutioninitiated by the I-T departmentunder the Black Money Actagainst the three.

Solicitor General TusharMehta, appearing for the I-Tdepartment, sought stay of thehigh court order of November2, 2018 on various groundsincluding that it can be used byother accused to avoid crimi-nal prosecution in cases relat-ed to black money.

PTI n NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court onTuesday asked the Centre

to respond to a plea seekingquashing of allotment, exten-sion or continuation of leasesto firms for mining iron orefrom over 358 mines across thecountry without any fresh eval-uation.

A Bench of Justices SABobde and SA Nazeer issuednotice to the Centre on thepetition, which has also soughta direction to the CBI to reg-ister an FIR to probe the mat-ter, and asked senior advocatePS Narasimha to assist it in thecase.

The plea, filed by advocateManohar Lal Sharma, hasalleged that in February thisyear it came to his knowledgethat 288 mining leases wereextended in exchange of “largedonations” which has created a“serious financial loss” to thetune of `4 lakhs crore to pub-lic exchequer.

The petitioner has claimedthat leases have been eithergranted or extended to thefirms for mining iron ores inover 358 mines without eitherany fresh evaluation or adopt-ing the auction process.

It has also sought direc-tions for recovery of marketvalue of the mined minerals inaccordance with the law.

ARCHANA JYOTI n NEW DELHI

Three more historical mon-uments-Rani ki Vav in

Gujarat, Khajuraho temples inMadhya Pradesh and AgraFort in Uttar Pradesh are all setto become part of theGovernment’s ‘Digital India’with the Archeological Surveyof India (ASI) planning toinstall automated turnstile gateslike the ones at metro stationsat the entrance and exit points.Tourists will be given a tokenwith inbuilt magnetic chipwhich they have to scan on theturnstile gate to get the entryand drop at the exit gate ontheir way out.

The move. which facili-tates digitisation of ASI’s serviceofferings, aims to ensure trans-parency and cut down paperwastage.

Currently, the digital tech-nology is installed at nine pop-ular monuments including TajMahal in Agra, Humayan’sTomb, Qutub Minar, Red Fortand Old Fort, all in Delhi,Ellora Caves and Bibi KaMaqbara in Auranagabad, SunTemple in Bhubaneswar andShaniwar Wada in Pune.

“Also, a major concern thatwill be addressed by the systemis that it will help to curb anykind of corruption that canoccur during manual ticketing,”said a senior officer from theASI. In future, there is plan to

limit the time that the touristscan spend inside the monu-ments as has been proposed forTaj Mahal. The move will helpcut down the ASI officials tomanage the crowd particular-ly in the popular historicalmonuments like Qutub Minarand Taj Mahal.

However, the much-hypedASI’s `2.5-crore project of reg-ulating visitors entry at the TajMahal by installing automatedturnstile gates has run intorough weather following ongo-ing tussle between the localadministration and some rightwing organizations, includingthe VHP, over “blocking” theway to the 400-year-old

Siddheshwar Mahadev templenear the western gate of themonument. The ASI hasinstalled seven turnstile gates atthis entrance point. The ASI isnow waiting for the ongoiningLok Sabha polls to end to takea final decision in the matter.

A total of 24 turnstile gateshave been installed by the ASI.Officials said that seven each atEast and West gate entrance ofthe Taj Mahal and five each atthe exit of both the gates

The ASI, which is underthe Union Ministry of Culture,has the mandate for conserva-tion and maintenance of over3,678 monuments across thecountry.

Digital India: Turnstile gate at3 historical monuments soon

Top court seeks Centre’s reply

on plea seeking entry of

Muslim women into mosques

Apex court seeks

response from

PC’s wife, son

on I-T Dept plea

SC seeks Centre’sresponse on pleaagainst mining leasesfor 358 iron ore mines

nation 05

LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019 06

STATES/UTs CONSTITUENCY

Narendra Modi ran a Government for 15 people and you know the

names... These are Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi and

they are Modi’s friends RAHUL GANDHI

Honest taxpayer wants better education, houses at reasonable

price, good roads, better transport facilities and modern

infrastructure. This is what we did in last 5 years NARENDRA MODI

Assam Karimganj, Silchar, Autonomous District, Mangaldoi, Nowgong

Bihar Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur, Banka

Chhattisgarh Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, Kanker

Jammu & Kashmir Srinagar, Udhampur

Karnataka Udupi Chikmagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur,Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North,Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikkballapur, Kolar

Maharashtra Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Osmanabad,Latur, Solapur

Manipur Inner Manipur

Odisha Bargarh, Sundargarh, Bolangir, Kandhamal, Aska

Puducherry Puducherry

Tamil Nadu Thiruvallur, Chennai North, Chennai South, Chennai Central, Sriperumbudur,Kancheepuram, Arakkonam, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai, Arani,Viluppuram, Kallakurichi, Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Tiruppur, Nilgiris,Coimbatore, Pollachi, Dindigul, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Perambalur,Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur,Sivaganga, Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukkudi,Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari

Uttar Pradesh Nagina, Amroha, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Hathras, Mathura, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri

West Bengal Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Raiganj

QUOTE-UNQUOTE

New Delhi: Campaigningended on Tuesday for the sec-ond phase of Lok Sabha pollson April 18 for 95 seats spreadacross 11 States and one UnionTerritory that was marked byacrimony with the ElectionCommission barring severalleaders from electioneeringfor their controversial remarks.

Polling will be held in 38seats in Tamil Nadu, 14 seatsin Karnataka, 10 inMaharashtra, eight in UttarPradesh, five each in Assam,Bihar and Odisha, three eachin Chhattisgarh and WestBengal, two in Jammu &Kashmir and one seat each inManipura, Tripura andPuducherry.

Elections will also be heldin 35 Assembly constituenciesin Odisha. Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, BJP chiefAmit Shah, Congress presidentRahul Gandhi and a host ofUnion Ministers among otherscanvassed for their party can-didates in the past few days,undertaking whirlwind toursof constituencies.

Among the key contes-tants in the fray are Unionministers Jual Oram,Sadananda Gowda and PonRadhakrishnan, former PMHD Deve Gowda, Congressleaders Verappa Moily andRaj Babbar, NationalConference president FarooqAbdullah, BJP’s Hema Maliniand DMK’s Dayanidhi Maran,A Raja and Kanimozhi.

After the ElectionCommission Monday barredUttar Pradesh Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath, Union minis-ter Maneka Gandhi, BSP chiefMayawati and SP leader AzamKhan from campaigning forvarying periods over violationsof the moral code of conduct,the leaders stayed away from thecampaign but marked theirpresence in other ways.

Mayawati’s nephew AkashAnand delivered his first polit-ical speech in Nagina, whereshe was initially scheduled toaddress a joint Oppositionalliance meeting. Khan’s sonAbdullah addressed a pressconference in Rampur, criti-

cising the EC order whileAdityanath prayed at aHanuman temple in Lucknow,a day after the EC issued theorder frowning at his ‘Ali-Bajrang Bali’ remark.

In Odisha, besides the five

Lok Sabha seats, polling willalso be held for 35 Assemblyconstituencies. Chief MinisterNaveen Patnaik is contestingfrom his home turf Hinjili inGanjam district and Bijepur

in Bargarh. While there

are five women candidates inthe Lok Sabha seats, 25 womenare in the fray for the assem-bly segments.

In Tamil Nadu, theAIADMK, contesting as partof the NDA. The alliance com-

prises among others BJP, PMK,DMDK and Tamil MaanilaCongress of former UnionMinister GK Vasan.

The DMK has formed a“Secular Progressive Alliance”comprising the Congress and

Left parties, among others.The electoral battle in the

state is largely among the twofronts led by the Dravidianmajors and the AMMK led byTTV Dhinakaran, anAIADMK rival, though partiessuch as the fledgling MakkalNeedhi Maiam of actor-politi-cian Kamal Hassan are alsotesting their fortunes.

Lok Sabha elections inTamil Nadu are the first everafter the demise of Dravidianstalwarts J Jayalalithaa ofAIADMK and M Karunanidhiof the DMK.

Allegations of use ofmoney flew thick and fast inthe run up to the polls withpoll authorities seizing over Rs127 crore cash and gold andother precious metals with atotal value of Rs 284 crore invarious parts of the State.

The EC in an order onTuesday evening cancelled thepoll in Vellore Lok Sabha con-stituency over allegations ofexcess use of money power.Authorities had seized over Rs10 crore cash from a premis-

es of an associate of a DMKleader recently.

The district police hadfiled a complaint against DMKcandidate Kathir Anand aswell as two party functionar-ies on the basis of a reportfrom the Income Tax depart-ment on April 10.

It was a relatively low keycampaign in Srinagar withonly Farooq Abdullah, who isseeking a fourth term in thelower house of Parliamentfrom the seat, making hispresence felt as a candidate.

Abdullah is pitchedagainst political greenhornsAga Moshin of the PDP, IrfanAnsari of the People’sConference and KhalidJehangir of the BJP. An electionofficial said there were only 46rallies in Srinagar district, acity of over 12 lakh residents,during the campaign period.

The Lok Sabha polls arebeing held in seven-phases for543 seats on April 11, April 18,April 23, April 29, May 6, May12 and May 19, and countingwill be on May 23. PTI

HIGH-VOLTAGE CAMPAIGNING ENDS

Lucknow: BSP chief Mayawati’snephew and SP leader AzamKhan’s son filled in for the twoUttar Pradesh heavyweightson Tuesday, the final day ofelectioneering for the secondphase of polling in the State.

The Election Commissionhad Monday barred the twoleaders — as well as UP ChiefMinister Yogi Adityanath andBJP’s Maneka Gandhi — fromcampaigning for varying peri-ods over violations of the moralcode of conduct.

The leaders stayed awayfrom the campaign, butmarked their presence in otherways. Bahujan Samaj Partysupremo’s nephew AkashAnand delivered his first polit-ical speech in Nagina, whereMayawati was initially sched-uled to address a joint opposi-

tion alliance meeting. AzamKhan’s son Abdullah addresseda press conference in Rampur,criticising the EC order.

Yogi Adityanath prayed ata Hanuman temple inLucknow, a day after the EC’sissued the order frowning at his‘Ali-Bajrang Bali” remark,seemingly framing the electionas a contest between Hindusand Muslims.

Campaigning for the sec-ond phase of Lok Sabha elec-tions in Uttar Pradesh endedTuesday evening.

Elections will be held oneight Uttar Pradesh seats onApril 18 — Nagina (SC),Amroha, Bulandshahr (SC),Aligarh, Hathras (SC),Mathura, Agra (SC) andFatehpur Sikri.

Adityanath followed the

EC order, keeping away fromthe meetings he was scheduledto address in second-phaseconstituencies of Nagina andFatehpur Sikri.

He also skipped UnionHome Minister Rajnath Singh’sroad show, held before he filedhis nomination as the BJP can-didate from Lucknow. Instead,Adityanath prayed at the well-known Hanuman Setu templein the State capital, refusing tointeract with other worship-pers. Mayawati skipped thejoint opposition alliance rally inAgra, which too goes to thepolls on April 18.

But her nephew AkashAnand delivered his first polit-ical speech there, watched onby SP president Akhilesh Yadav,Rashtriya Lok Dal chief AjitSingh and BSP’s S C Mishra.

“People in such large num-bers have come here on theappeal of my aunt, for which Iam thankful,” he said. He saidthe victory of the alliance can-didates will be a “proper reply”to the Election Commission,ending his brief address withthe ‘Jai Bhim, Jai Bharat” slo-gan.

Akash Anand is the son ofMayawati’s brother Anand andhad begun appearing in publicwith her, but not as a speaker.

While Azam Khan didn’tcampaign Tuesday followingthe EC reprimand, his sonAbdullah courted controversyby claiming that the leader wastargeted because he is aMuslim. The EC had orderedAzam Khan to suspend hiscampaign over a “khakhiunderwear” jibe at BJP candi-

date Jaya Prada.“No action was taken when

the BJP candidate stated onTwitter that she is coming toRampur to bring an end to theregime of a demon,” Abdullahtold reporters in his father’sconstituency. He maintainedthere was no mention of her inhis father’s speech and he hasbeen barred “only because he isa Muslim”.

Abdullah termed the gagorder an attempt by the EC toplease the Bharatiya JanataParty after the poll panelbanned Yogi Adityanath fromcampaigning.

The EC had taken objec-tion to Adityanath’s remarksuggesting that while the BSPand the SP had faith in Ali, theBJP believed in Bajrang Bali, orLord Hanuman.

Mayawati’s nephew, Azam Khan’s son fill in for them

Security personnel participate in a march as part of security measures ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha polls inKishanganj on Tuesday PTI

LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019 07

I-T commissioner

complains to EC

Alleges money pumping by PC, Karti in Sivaganga

KUMAR CHELLAPPAN nCHENNAI

Asenior Income Tax officialhas lodged a complaint

with the Election Commissionof India against former FinanceMinister P Chidambaram andhis son, Karti, for pumpingblack money in Sivagangafrom where the latter is con-testing the Lok Sabha election.

In a two page letter,Income Tax Commissioner SKSrivastava detailed the “hush-ing up” of crores worth assetsby Karti in his affidavit anddistributing money in theSivaganga constituency tobribe voters.

Srivastava pointed out thatthe father-son duo is engagedin subversion of the electionprocess and the Commissionshould take action againstthem for blatant violation oflaws. He also accused the localelection officers of colludingwith Karti and Chidambaramand not taking action againstcomplaints from people whopointed out the pumping ofmoney with evidences. TheIncome Tax Commissionersaid that the father and son hadparked money in grocery

shops and the shop ownerswere distributing householditems to voters to lure the elec-torate.

“In the course of the visitof Special ExpenditureObserver to Sivaganga, it wasfound that as many as 67 com-plaints by physically availablecomplainants over flagrantabuse of illegitimate blackmoney by P Chidambaramwhere money was parked inthe malligai stores (provisionstores), etc to be bribed to vot-ers in the garb of purchase ofprovisions etc has been hushedby the District ElectionObserver and ReturningOfficer by making eye washinquires stating that on visit byjunior officials no such caseswere noticed and district level

election officers has guts tononchalantly tell the SpecialExpenditure Observer of ECIthat he and his officers did notconsider that to be necessary toverify the complainants andask them for necessary detailsabout complaints against PChidambaram over moneybeing paid by him to voters,”said Srivastava in his complaintto the Election Commission,adding that he was ready pro-vide evidences.

In his detailed complaint,the Income Tax official saidthat the affidavit filed by Kartiis just fake and he has not evendeclared the details of hisassets across the countryunearthed during raids by theIncome Tax and EnforcementDirectorate.

Thrissur (Ker): BJP chief AmitShah on Tuesday launched ascathing attack on Kerala'sCPI(M)-led LDF Governmentover the Sabarimala womenentry issue, accusing it of vio-lating its centuries’ old customand destroying the sanctity ofthe Lord Ayyappa temple,situ-ated in dense forests.

“The Kerala Governmentunleashed violence on thedevotees of Sabarimala underthe pretext of implementing theSupreme Court order.

What message does KeralaChief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanwant to send to people throughthe violence on the devotees?,”Shah said, addressing an elec-tion campaign meeting of BJP'scandidate for Thrissur LokSabha Seat, Suresh Gopi, here.

Two days after Vijayanclaimed it was the Centre whichhad asked his government toimpose prohibitory orders inSabarimala during frenziedprotests in 2018 over entry ofwomen of all age groups intothe hill shrine,Shah alleged thatthe government had unconsti-tutionally recruited DYFIcadres in police to destroy thesanctity of the temple.

"The DYFI cadre wererecruited unconstitutionally inpolice force by the StateGovernment. They are destroy-ing the sanctity of the temple",he said. The BJP presidentalleged that 30,000 Ayyappadevotees have been chargesheet-ed in 2,000 cases by the LeftGovernment in connection withthe Sabarimala protests.

He accused theGovernment of targeting BJP-RSS workers in connectionwith it. Shah also declared thatthe BJP would always standstrongly with the Ayyappadevotees to protect the faith ofthe temple.

On September 28 last year,a five-judge ConstitutionBench, headed by the thenCJI Dipak Misra, in a 4:1 ver-dict had paved the way forentry of women of all ages intothe shrine, saying the banamounted to gender discrimi-nation. PTI

LDF violatedcenturies oldcustom: Shah

SABARIMALA ISSUE

Patna: Bihar Deputy ChiefMinister Sushil Kumar Modi onTuesday threatened to file adefamation case againstCongress president RahulGandhi over his comment thatall thieves shared the Modisurname.

Sushil Modi's strong reac-tion came in the backdrop ofGandhis jibe at Prime MinisterNarendra Modi that all thieveshad the same surname.

I was deeply hurt by RahulGandhis statement wherein heremarked that all those who arechor (thieves) shared the Modisurname. Besides insulting thePrime Minister, he has hurt mepersonally as I share the samesurname. Hence, I would besuing him for defamation, thesenior BJP leader told reportershere.

Gandhi, who has rankledthe BJP with his chowkidar chorhai jibe over alleged irregulari-ties in the Rafale deal, has alsobeen accusing the PrimeMinister of colluding with NiravModi and Lalit Modi bothwanted in different corruptioncases and currently on the run.

In an attempt to pepper hisattacks with sarcasm, he has oflate been saying why is it that allthe thieves have the same sur-name Modi.

Meanwhile, RJD leaderTejashwi Yadav whose party isan ally of the Congress in Biharreacted to the deputy ChiefMinisters defamation threatsaying I openly say Sushil

Surat: A Gujarat BJP MLA hasfiled a criminal defamationcomplaint in a court hereagainst Congress presidentRahul Gandhi over his "why allthe thieves have Modi in theirname" barb.

In his complaint filedMonday, the MLA, PurneshModi, claimed Gandhi, with hisstatement, has defamed theentire Modi community.

The complaint was filed in

the sessions court here underIPC sections 499 and 500, bothdealing with defamation, andthe matter will come up forhearing on April 22.

The ruling party MLA fromSurat (West) said the Congresspresident was defaming theentire Modi community by say-ing all "Modis are thieves".

He referred to an electionrally at Kolar in Karnataka onApril 13. PTI

BJP MLA moves court

against Rahul over ‘all

Modis thieves’ remark

Coimbatore: The ElectionFlying Squad on Tuesdayseized unaccounted cash of`1.41 crore from a car nearSulur on the outskirts of thecity during a vehicle check.

Police said the cash wasfound stashed in two suitcas-es in the car when it wasstopped by the squad for vehi-cle check.

Since the three occupantsof the car, a bank employeeand two security personnel didnot have proper documents toaccount for the money, it wasseized, they said.

Though the three claimedthe money was meant fordepositing in ATMs in threeplaces in Tirupur district, the

officials directed them to pro-duce the relevant documentsand then take back the cash,which was deposited in thetreasury. Meanwhile, a fewDMK workers caught fivepeople, reportedly AIADMKcadres, while they were dis-tributing money atPonnaiahrajapuram area inthe city.

The DMK workers actedon a tip off that money wasbeing distributed to voters,rushed to the spot, nabbed thefive, held them in a house andinformed police.

Though one of them man-aged to escape, the other fourwere taken to the police stationfor questioning. PTI

`1.41 crore seized, fiveADMK workers held for distributing cash

TMC will form Govtin Delhi, says Mamata

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SC SATISFIED OVER...The EC on Monday

imposed a nationwide cam-paign ban on Adityanath for 72hours and on Maneka Gandhiand Mayawati for 48 hoursfrom Tuesday for their“provocative” communalremarks, which it said had the“propensity to polarise theelections”. A 72-hour cam-paign ban has also beenimposed on Samajwadi Party’sAzam Khan for his alleged“khaki underwear” jibe againstactor-politician Jaya Prada,who is his rival BJP candidatein Rampur Lok Sabha seat. Theall-India ban on all four lead-ers — two from the ruling BJPand two from opposition par-ties — came into force from 6am Tuesday.

While Adityanath,Mayawati and Gandhi werefound guilty of violating themodel code, the EC said Khannot only violated the poll code,he also disregarded itsNovember 2013 directive ask-ing politicians to desist from“deeds or actions construed asbeing repugnant to the honourand dignity of women”.

The Bench was hearing aPIL filed by an NRI Yogateacher based in Sharjah in theUnited Arab Emirates (UAE),seeking a direction to the EC totake “strict action” against polit-ical parties if their spokesper-sons make remarks based oncaste and religion in the mediain the run up to general elec-tions. The apex court onMonday expressed displeasureover the EC not taking quickaction against politicians forcommunal and hate speechesduring the Lok Sabha cam-paigning and decided to exam-ine the ambit of its power fol-lowing submission that it was“toothless”. The apex court, onApril 8, had issued notice to theCentre and the poll panel onthe PIL seeking direction totake “strict action” against polit-ical parties if their spokesper-sons make remarks based oncaste and religion in the mediain the run up to general elec-tions.

SIDHU ASKS...The Punjab Minister, who

has been campaigning for hisparty in the Seemanchal regionof Bihar, appeared to havemixed up Katihar with neigh-boring Kishanganj whereMuslims are in the majorityand AIMIM has put up a can-didate. Meanwhile, referringthe Modi’s speech in a rally inTheni in Tamil Nadu in whichModi had said the Left and theMuslim League are playing adangerous game onSabarimala, and are initiating“to strike at the root of faith andaspiration”, the CPI(M) leadersaid that the remarks made bythe PM were a “flagrant viola-tion” of the model code of con-duct. “Bringing in the questionof faith and accusing the LDFGovernment in Kerala, thePrime Minster was trying toappeal to the people belongingto the ‘faith’ which is clearlyagainst MCC, as well as, your

specific order,” Basu said, urg-ing the poll body to take imme-diate appropriate action againstModi.

GOVT ORDERS...Senior TMC leader and

former State Minister MadanMitra was dismissive aboutany violation of the modelcode because of a Bangladeshinational campaigning in anelection in India. “I don’t knowwhether the actor participatedin the rally or was invited by thecandidate. But I don’t thinkthere is any violation of themodel code. The code says aforeigner cannot be a candidatebut I think there is no harm ifanybody participates in cam-paigning. I don’t see any viola-tion of the MCC,” Mitra said.

AGRA, FATEHPUR...In Fatehpur Sikri which is

also Agra Rural Seat, the maincontest is between Raj Babbarand Jat leader RajkumarChahar of the BJP. The BSPchanged candidate on this seatthrice and now BhagwanSharma is contesting as grandalliance candidate. Raj Babbarhas a great support among thelocals due to his previoustenure as Agra MP,” Subranshexplained.

In the 2014 elections, onthe Agra seat, the BJP got5,83,716 votes, the BSP got2,83,453 votes, the SP got1,34,708 votes and Congressonly 34,700 votes. On FatehpurSikri seat, the BJP got 4,26,584votes, the SP got 2,13,397 votes,the BSP got 2,53,483 votes andRLD only 24,185 votes.

“If the 2014 poll results areweighed upon then BJP mayface a lot of trouble in both theseats if traditional voters of SPand BSP join hands,” said aparty worker of BJP.

MONEY-POWERED...The EC took the decision

after the district police had fileda complaint against theaccused, Kathir Anand, as wellas two party functionaries onthe basis of a report from theIncome Tax department onApril 10. In a late-night move,the EC on Monday had sent areport to the President of Indiarecommending cancellation ofpolls to the Vellore Lok Sabhaconstituency, following theseizure of large amounts ofcash, allegedly stacked up tobribe voters. Sources said thatPresident has earlier soughtlegal opinion from the lawministry on the EC’s recom-mendations to cancel the pollsin Vellore parliamentary seat.The notification of cancellationof Vellore Lok Sabha seat issuedby the ministry of law and jus-tice has said that theCommission is fully satisfiedthat the current electoralprocess in Vellore constituen-cy in Tamil Nadu has been seri-ously vitiated on account ofunlawful activities of certaincandidates and some members/workers of the political parties.“The Commission had rec-ommended in exercise of thepowers under article 324 of the

Constitution read with sec-tion 21 of the General ClausesAct 1897 and all other powersenabling it in this behalf to thePresident that he may bepleased to rescind the electionnotification of Vellore parlia-mentary constituency in TamilNadu,” the notification said.

Anand was charged underthe Representation of thePeople Act for giving “wronginformation” in his electionaffidavit filed along with hisnomination papers, the policesaid. The other two, identifiedas Srinivasan and Damodaran,were booked under briberycharges.

On April 1, cash worth Rs11.5 crore was seized from agodown allegedly owned by aDMK functionary linked to theVellore Lok Sabha candidate ofthe party, Kathir Anand.Anand, son of DMK treasurerDurai Murugan, was alsobooked under theRepresentation of People Actfor giving “wrong informa-tion” in his election affidavit.

Earlier on March 30, thetax sleuths raided DuraiMurugan’s residence and seizedRs 10.5 lakhs of “excess cash”.

ND TIWARI’S FAMOUS...“Prime facie it indicates

that he died due to suddenheart attack at his DefenceColony residence. He was 39years old. However, postmortem report will ascertainthe exact cause of death,” saida senior police official.

“Police suspects that thereis no foul play. However, aprobe has been initiated andthe matter is being investigat-ed from every angle,” said thesenior police official. In 2012,ND Tiwari, who had quit asAndhra Pradesh Governorafter a purported video of hissexual escapade was leaked,was forced to give samples ofhis DNA for a paternity testafter warnings by the DelhiHigh Court. In 2014, NDTiwari finally accepted Rohit ashis son, putting an end to a pro-longed legal battle on the issue.In January 2017, Rohit Shekharhad joined the BJP.

WE HAVE BEEN...Rahul had said while the

doors of his party are open,time is running out, butKejriwal slammed him, ques-tioning what U-turn was hetalking about as the talks werestill on. The Congress hasoffered the AAP 4:3 seat-shar-ing formula - four Lok Sabhaseats for the ruling party andthree seats for itself while theAAP has proposed 5:2 rationkeeping five seats for itself andtwo for the grand old party.

The arrangement has beenarrived at on basis of the voteshare of both parties in 2017civic polls here. The Congresshas accused the Kejriwal-ledoutfit of backing out from itscommitment, as it is demand-ing seats in Goa, Haryana,Punjab and Chandigarh,besides Delhi for a pre-pollunderstanding with theCongress.

Kumar Modi is a thief. Let himsue me for defamation as well.

I have for long been sayingthat Sushil Kumar Modi isdirectly involved in the Srijanscam. If he is so upset over anindirect remark by Rahul

Gandhi, let me add upfrontSushil Kumar Modi is a thief.Now let him sue me for defama-tion, the RJD heir apparentwhom the BJP leader has succeeded as Deputy CM, said. PTI

Sushil Modi threatens to sue Rahulfor defamation over surname jibe

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

SAUGAR SENGUPTA nKOLKATA

Trinamool Congress willform the Government at

Centre with the help of region-al outfits and so, voting for theCongress or the Left Front willbe a wastage of time and oppor-tunity, Mamata Banerjee onTuesday told a huge electiongathering at Raiganj.

Like the Congress and theBJP, the Trinamool, too, was anational party and destined tolead a coalition of regionalparties particularly, those fromUttar Pradesh, the Bengal ChiefMinister said.

“The ouster of NarendraModi Government is con-firmed if one is to go by the vot-ing pattern of the first phase ofelections. The Congress cannotform Government on its ownand the Left is a spent force,”Banerjee said.

“UP and Bengal will play acrucial role in the formation ofthe new Government in Delhi.So there is no point wastingyour vote by giving it in bavourof the Congress and theCPI(M),” Banerjee added.

Raiganj is witnessing afour-cornered contest with theCongress’ Deepa Dasmunshi,BJP’s Surpiyo Sarkar, CPI(M)’sMd Salim and TMC’s KanhaiaLal Agarwal all evenly placed inthe fight. Launching a scathingattack on the Prime MinisterBanerjee for “going back on hispromises” she said “Modi jipromised 10 crore jobs butended up snatching 2 crore jobsper year,” adding how theGovernment was trying to selloff the Air India and also“process is on to rationalize50,000 workers of the BSNL.”

Whereas, “I did not sackanyone. Even here in Raiganjthere was a spinning mill which

was running in loss. I accom-modated the workers in otherareas. In Bengal we have creat-ed jobs, the retirement age ofthe government casual workershas been increased to 60 years,the professors’ retirement agehas been upped to 65 years,” shesaid reminding how herGovernment had created ahealth insurance scheme calledSwasthya Saathi whereby eachfamily will get a coverage of Rs5 lakh and the card would beissued in the name of thewoman of the family. “BJP isdividing the country. We prac-tice the religion of SwamiVivekananda and they practicethe religion of RSS brand ofHinduism,” she said con-demning the BJP’s allegeddesigns to create communalriots in the State in the name ofRam Navami. “We don’t wanta Chowkidar (watchman)” shesaid apparently attacking Modiadding “we want a nationalleader instead,” which was why“the TMC is planning to leadthe next Government of region-al parties in Delhi.”

Attacking the saffron out-fit for threatening to invokeNRC in Bengal, she said “I dareyou to do this and see whathappens. They are trying to cre-ate a communal divide to winelections. I won’t allow NRCbecause those who have beenliving in this country fordecades are Indians.

“They have forgotten aboutNehru-Liaqat pact and theyhave forgotten about thearrangement by which thosewho came to India afterBangladesh war are Indians.”

Attacking the BJP forharassing even the HinduBengalis in Assam she said “23lakh Hindus Bengalis havebeen delisted in that State.About 24 lakh Muslim Bengalis

have been deregistered. This can-not be tolerate here.” The BJP wasplanning to bringing in theCitizenship Bill “which will makeyou a foreigner for 5 years andthen they will consider your citi-zenship. What kind of law isthis? Only the TMC and no otherparty protested against such dra-conian laws,” she said asking thepeople to “change the people,bring the TMC in the Centre.”

It is significant that many knowledgeorganisations and institutions inthis country prefer to work entire-ly on their own and seldom joinhands across problem areas or sec-

tors, which might provide far more inte-grated assessments and solutions for thegrowing challenges we face. While theinterlinked nature of human activities —and their globalisation — is becomingincreasingly more complex, it appears thatefforts to work along narrow subjects andalong established silos seem more deeplyentrenched on the Indian scene. This isa major deviation from collaborativetrends in several parts of the world, par-ticularly in the developed countries,even though there are disturbing trendsto the contrary in those nations as well.

A significant example of partnershipsand outcomes thus produced lies in aninteresting series of publication entitled,The Conversation. The subtitle for thisseries describes it as “Academic rigour,journalistic flair.” Indeed, while the analy-sis presented reflects substantial acade-mic rigour, the style in which it is writ-ten is purely that of a conversation, whichmakes it possible for journalists and theaverage public to grasp the depth of whatis conveyed. When Rajiv Gandhi was thePrime Minister of India, this writer senthim a detailed note on the need to bringtogether a group of knowledge organisa-tions, which were working on strategicissues. Rajiv Gandhi’s response was swiftand positive and the Cabinet Secretarywas instructed to convene a meeting ofhalf a dozen knowledge organisations,including The Energy and ResourcesInstitute (TERI), the Institute for DefenceStudies and Analyses (IDSA) and others.The Government agreed in principle toprovide regular support for cooperativeand interactive work between theseorganisations. Unfortunately, like sever-al other initiatives, this one also sufferedfrom the plunging decline in politicalstanding of the Government and itsinability to undertake fresh initiatives.

The Conversation has a number ofsponsors and partners, including theCommonwealth Scientific and IndustrialResearch Organisation (CSIRO) ofAustralia, the University of Melbourne,the Australian National University andseveral others. The CSIRO was pat-terned along the lines of India’s ownCouncil of Scientific & IndustrialResearch (CSIR), but it has gone farbeyond the capabilities of the latter witha strong market orientation and ability togenerate financial resources and foster-ing innovation in various fields.

In general, if we were to analyse thelack of effort on the part of leaders inIndia to reach out and collaborate onissues of contemporary importance, wemay be able to identify a certain level of

hubris and extreme ego on thepart of those responsible forsuch organisations.

Interestingly, a recentissue of The Conversation dis-cussed hubris and described itas: “Hubris is a dangerouscocktail of over-confidence,over-ambition, arrogance andpride fuelled by power andsuccess. When found along-side contempt for the adviceand criticism of others, itcauses leaders to significant-ly overreach themselves, tak-ing risky and reckless deci-sions with harmful, some-times catastrophic conse-quences for themselves, theirorganisations, institutions andeven for society.”

The view seems to be thata number of leaders, both at theglobal and the national levels,today appear to be victims ofhubris. An example can be pro-vided of former US PresidentGeorge W Bush, who over-reached himself in the 2003invasion of Iraq. Similarly, theformer and final CEO ofLehman Brothers, RichardFuld, who, in his overreach,was responsible for the finan-cial crisis bringing down theLehman Brothers with him.Former British Prime MinisterDavid Cameron’s decision tohold a referendum on EUmembership such that he maybe able to stop his party’sEurosceptics on that issue isanother example of hubris.

Supposedly, Cameron made adecision against the advice ofmore reasonable colleaguessuch as George Osborne.

Another issue of TheConversation discussed thearea of bipartisanship where-in even a proud Democrat likeLyndon Johnson workedclosely with GeneralEisenhower when the latterwas President of the US.Similarly, Democrats alsoworked with President RonaldReagan in a similar spirit,which showed the absence ofhubris so prevalent amongleaders of today. A leaderwho is down to earth is sup-posed to identify himself withthe interests of the people heleads. Eisenhower even wentto the extent of defying thedemands of his own party. Itis reported that he refused tocut taxes on those upperincome groups that had tradi-tionally supported and heav-ily influenced his own party.Instead, he worked to cutspending and balance thebudget — a goal he achievedthree times during his twoterms. He supported addi-tions to social security andwent to the extent of a feder-ally funded national highwaysystem, which was supportedby the Democrats as part of apublicly-funded infrastruc-ture programme.

The question is whetherthese leaders are seen by their

followers as larger than lifeand measuring up to thedimensions of a superman, tobe idealised and admired bythem. It is hoped that distin-guished leaders in the futurewould show a certain level ofhumility and shed the hubristhat they appear to haveacquired in recent years.

It is relevant to recall thatthe brightest scientist in histo-ry Albert Einstein is reportedto have said. “I prefer an atti-tude of humility correspond-ing to the weakness of ourintellectual understanding ofnature and of our own being.”

Could it, therefore, bethat those leaders with hubrislack an intellectual under-standing of their own beingand most certainly that ofnature, which takes the formof remoteness from realityand basic humility? Weurgently need leaders in thismould before those withhubris can impose untoldharm on society and distortthe finest attributes of humannature. But in recent times,leaders with hubris have strut-ted the stage in the US, theUK, the Philippines,Indonesia and many othercountries. Will they be suc-ceeded by more humble andmodest personalities?

(The writer is formerchairman, IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change,2002-15)

June 25, 1983 is the moment crick-

et in India changed forever. One can

even argue it is the day that India

changed forever and much more than the

economic reforms ushered in the early-

1990s. That was the victory of Kapil Dev’s

men at Lord’s, in the heart of the capital

of India’s colonial oppressors just 35

years after independence, a win that

nobody expected in a sport still fighting

for top billing in India. Thirty-six years later,

can a team of men, none of whom were

born before that fateful summer’s day in

Lord’s, win India another trophy at the

same cricket ground? On the face of it, the squad that was announced by

the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not generate the contro-

versy that team announcements usually have. Partially that was because of

the ongoing elections and the associated controversy that our politicians man-

age with their mouths, but also the overwhelming sense that this is possibly

the best squad of players that India has at its disposal right now. While many

expressed disappointment on social media that Delhi lad Rishabh Pant did

not make the final cut, the selection of Dinesh Karthik to be Mahendra Singh

Dhoni’s understudy is a sensible one, although nobody expects the master

strategist Dhoni to not play.

That said, this appears to be the most open World Cup in years. While

India has selected a strong squad, it is not among the favourites. The International

Cricket Council (ICC) has England on the top of the One-Day International rank-

ings just above India and it has a very strong team, with several of its play-

ers performing well in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In fact, the IPL has

also given Australia a taste of what its team was missing as Steve Smith and

David Warner make their comebacks and have been selected. After a few

years of turmoil, Australia seems to have gotten its mojo back. The other sub-

continental teams are in the fray and every cricket fan is happy to see the

return of a competitive West Indian team, but can its power hitters, specialised

in modern-day T20 cricket, manage to adapt? And there is that India-Pakistan

clash at the Old Trafford ground on June 16, which in the aftermath of the

recent ‘events’ on the Line of Control, should make for must-watch TV across

the world, even for those who don’t follow cricket. Of course, that depends

on both sides going ahead with the match, which is still a doubt. All said and

done, India has a strong squad for the World Cup and while world cricket is

more competitive than ever, our boys might just repeat the fantastic achieve-

ment of Kapil Dev and his men and carve their own niche in history.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is

right when he says that civility is a

rare virtue in politics in the context

of BJP Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visit-

ing him in hospital to enquire about his

injury on the campaign run. Problem is

such courtesies unfortunately need a con-

text such as that of Tharoor’s and are not

internalised as a behavioural routine by any

politician. Which is why the campaign dis-

course for this edition of the Lok Sabha

elections is at its bitterest, with leaders lib-

erally tossing expletives, trading insults,

hurling sexist remarks and polarising vot-

ers. Much has been said about the belly-

crawling descent into dirt and mudslinging and now the Election Commission’s

(EC’s) rap on the knuckles, forbidding some of our political leaders from mak-

ing speeches between 48 and 72 hours, should keep them in line. Yet some

of them like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party

leader Azam Khan continue to be repeat offenders every season while BSP chief

Mayawati even challenged the courts over the EC’s restraining order. But elec-

tions are no longer a gentleman’s game, particularly in a two-camp contest,

and political leaders, whatever their intra-personal or party equations, are under

a kind of performance pressure of sorts to get a headline-grabbing or even a

eye-popping moment or risk being labelled a tepid player. Besides, the virality

of new media has meant that politicians are risking censure and crafting their

outbursts to sting instantaneously and set off a talk point. They know that the

punishment is simply too mild, ranging from advisories, warnings to curfews,

but never disqualification or a campaign ban.

But then a lot of the overstepping of boundaries has got to do with the per-

ception of the EC as a toothless tiger which the Supreme Court disputed while

taking up a petition on controlling inflammatory poll tirades and restoring a sem-

blance of propriety. In fact, the Constitution gives it extraordinary powers to exe-

cute its primary responsibility of free and fair elections. It has the power of “super-

intendence, direction and control of elections.” It is in continuance of that thread

that the Supreme Court said how the poll body was “duty-bound to take action

and cannot sleep over such issues.” It even asked the EC as to what action it

had taken against Mayawati and Yogi Adityanath for alleged hate speeches. Had

the apex court not reminded the EC of its role, the limiting orders perhaps would

not have been issued. This brings the office-bearers of the EC, the people who

are appointed as Election Commissioners, into focus. It is not that they do not

know their powers but are wary of the extent of implementing them given the

politically charged atmosphere, the political nature of their appointments and

other imperatives. But it is up to the person holding the office of the Chief Election

Commissioner (CEC) to make it what it is. One still remembers the name of

TN Seshan, a maverick who went overboard at times, but as CEC during the

early 1990s, he did raise the status of the institution in his charge and manage

to keep politicians across the spectrum in check. He was not scared to use

the power mandated to him by law. And he revamped the election system as

the transparent mechanism we know it today by staying within the ambit of the

law. Besides, the CEC has the same protection as a Supreme Court judge and

cannot be removed summarily. Agreed the EC has also not been faced with so

many complaints and violations. But it could certainly act more decisively for

the sake of its own credibility. For politicians have turned the elections into an

aggressive, competitive and intense contest. And while the older lot of Sharad

Pawar, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Nitish Kumar are still holding their dignified

fronts, the discourse is being shared by a new generation eager to make a mark.

Poll panel’s rap

With a little push by the Supreme Court, EC getsdown to restore propriety in campaign discourse

A winning team?

The men’s squad for the Cricket World Cup seems like agood and balanced one. But India isn’t a favourite

Tiger’s trail

Sir — This refers to the editori-al, “Tiger Zinda Hai” (April 16).In Tiger Wood’s master win, onecould get the feel of the roar of atiger. Reverberations of this stun-ning victory were felt across theglobe and made for a fine come-back story in sporting history.The improbable win followedyears of struggle for Woods withrepeated surgery and personalproblems. He is an inspiration forall struggling aspirants in allrealms of life, not just sports.

Rohit KaushikVia email

Celebrate Good Friday

Sir — Good Friday is a great fes-tival for Christians. It usually fallsbetween March 20 and April 23.The long week is observed tomark the resurrection of JesusChrist. To mark this day, a reli-gious holiday is observed primar-ily by Christians, commemorat-ing the crucifixion of Jesus Christand his death at Calvary. Initially,this day was called ‘God’s Friday’.In the Eastern OrthodoxChurches, it is known as the

‘Great Friday’. On this day, prayerand meditation take place. This isalso a day when people fast,mourn and pray in search ofgoodness.

Jubel D’Cruz Mumbai

Need for land reforms

Sir — This refers to the article,

“Alternative farm strategy” (April12) by Elumalai Kannan andSanjib Pohit. The country’s agrar-ian crisis can be solved if onetakes note of the SwaminathanCommission report, which said,“Land reforms are necessary toaddress the basic issue of accessto land for both crops and live-stock. Land holdings inequality isreflected in land ownership. In1991-92, the share of the bottom

half of the rural households in thetotal land ownership was onlythree per cent and the top 10 percent was as high as 54 per cent.”

We must not forget that landreforms made China a strongcountry in spite of its huge pop-ulation and size. Land reformscan help boost inclusive growthin many ways. We need toremember what Joshi said, “Landreforms in India have not

assumed the form of gigantic rev-olutionary upheaval as in China,or that of a dramatic changebrought about from above as inJapan.”

Recommendations of theSwaminathan Commissionshould immediately be imple-mented.

Sujit DeKolkata

Strange accusation

Sir — This refers to the editori-al, “EC’s test of faith” (April 16).The hue and cry raised overEVMs is strange. To the commonman, it appears that theOpposition leaders’ new demandof verification of at least 50 percent of votes sends out a signalthat these leaders and parties aremaking accusations in anticipa-tion of their defeat.

While there is always scopefor improvement in efficiency andtransparency, making wild allega-tions does not help in creating apositive image.

ShivanshVia email

P A P E R W I T H P A S S I O N


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op nionLUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019

08

Leaders with hubris

RK PACHAURI

The Pakistan Air Force failedto achieve its objective whenit launched a counter-attackon February 27 through theNowshera sector in Jammu.

Chief of Air Staff —BS Dhanoa

Germany is very much pushingfor the listing of Masood Azharas a global terrorist but a timeline for it cannot be given.

Deputy Head of the GermanMission in India—Jasper Wieck

With age, I have realisedthat it is important to bedetached from both suc-cess and failure and givepriority to relationships.

Actor—Alia Bhatt

If an alliance of three parties ismahamilawat then we want toask them (BJP), what do wecall your alliance which has 38parties across the country?

Samajwadi Party chief—Akhilesh Yadav

S O U N D B I T E

L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

Of declining umpiring standards

The quality of umpiring in international cricket hasbecome a matter of grave concern in recent times. Takefor example, the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier

League (IPL) where several instances of erroneousumpiring, one of which even affected the outcome of thematch, were reported. One of these faulty umpiring deci-sions was taken during a match being played between theRajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) onApril 11. The fourth ball of the final over, bowled by BenStokes, was evidently a no-ball. It was a clear waist-highfull toss to Mitchell Santner. One wonders what prompt-ed the square leg umpire to declare it a valid delivery eventhough the umpire at the bowler’s end, who had a muchbetter view of Stokes’ bowling arm, signalled that it wasa no-ball.

Something similar happened in the match playedbetween the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the MumbaiIndians. Lasith Malinga bowled a no-ball. His foot was clear-ly out of the line. Had it been declared a no-ball, the out-

come of the match would have been different. Yet, the no-ball was caught later when the footage of the match wasviewed. But by that time the Mumbai Indians had beendeclared winner. The penalty imposed on CSK skipper MSDhoni for having an argument with the umpire during histeam’s match with the Rajasthan Royals, is justified butthe issue of imprecise umpiring must also be addressed.The need is to raise the standard of on-field umpiring.

Tushar AnandPatna

IS IT THAT THOSEWITH HUBRIS

LACK ANINTELLECTUAL

UNDERSTANDINGOF THEIR OWN

BEING ANDMOST CERTAINLYTHAT OF NATURE,

WHICH TAKESTHE FORM OFREMOTENESS

FROM REALITYAND BASICHUMILITY?

Send your feedback to:[email protected]

A large number of leaders, both at the global and the national levels, today appear to

be victims of self-pride when they should be more humble and modest personalities

An elusive educational quest

I WOULD LIKE TO WARN YOU MUSLIM BROTHERS,

THEY (THE BJP) ARE DIVIDING YOU BY BRINGING

PEOPLE LIKE ASADUDDIN OWAISI.

—CONGRESS LEADER

NAVJYOT SINGH SIDHU

THE CONGRESS IS STILL CAMPAIGNING ON AN OLD

PROGRAMME OF ‘FEAR OF THE BJP.’ THE FEAR HAS

GONE, NOW JUSTICE IS NEEDED.

—AMIM LEADER

ASADUDDIN OWAISI

POINTCOUNTERPOINT

Research is the cornerstone of great institutions.Without it, a professor should not be eligibleto teach at the university level as he/she will

not be in a position to teach anything new to thestudents other than what is available in textbooks.The only benchmark to judge the quality of a uni-versity is its research standard. And Indian univer-sities and prized management institutes do not farewell going by this count. Quality in research is dete-riorating and so are the great institutions that werebuilt so painstakingly by our great researchers.

According to the World Bank, India’s highereducation system is the third largest in the world,next to the US and China, but it fares miserablyin terms of expenditure per student as well as perteacher. In the last decade, access to higher edu-cation has improved as more IITs, IIMs and Centraland State-level universities have been established.However, this proliferation has also raised concernsabout an imbalance between excellence andinclusion. Regional and State-level universities suf-fer from shortage of good quality teaching staff andlaboratories, although they are more inclusive interms of their geographies and social groups. Morethan 70 per cent of Indian students study at localand regional universities but these institutes havesmaller budgets and are known for inflatedgrades, deflated quality and absenteeism amongstudents, even teachers.

Statistically, out of India’s 1.3 billion population,there were only 216 researchers per million popu-lation in 2015. India’s investment in research is ameasly 0.62 per cent of its GDP. These numbers arewell below global practices. France, for example,spends 2.25 per cent of its GDP on research and theUS spends 2.74 per cent. Both countries have some4,300 researchers per million population. China, forits part, invests more than 2.11 per cent of its GDPon research and has 1,200 researchers per millionpopulation. Particularly in higher education,India’s research expenditure is only four per cent ofits GDP. There were some 1,61,412 studentsenrolled in PhD programmes in 2018. This com-prises less than 0.5 per cent of the total student enroll-ment in higher education in the country, which con-stitutes students enrolled in universities, colleges andstandalone institutes pursuing undergraduate andpostgraduate programmes.

After the first revolution of education, whichwas the massification of education and providingeducation for all, the second revolution is the arrivalof the global knowledge economy, which means uni-versities now compete globally in any given field ofstudy. Forces in the global knowledge economy actin contradiction to massification. All countries needto have top universities that can compete and coop-erate at the highest levels in the broader society andthe economy. More specifically, this role can beplayed by research universities.

Research universities are a very small part ofany country’s academic system and because they areexpensive to fund, nations need to think about howmany such universities they need to maintain. Inthe US, about 200 of the 2,300 state-funded univer-sities are research universities. Of these, 200 are ofcentral importance in the pyramid of the higher edu-cation system. In order to have research universi-ties that can talk to the top universities in the world,these campuses need to be given adequate supportto enable them to partake of the global knowledge

economy at the same level as other uni-versities. Interaction among world classuniversities entails international studentmobility, faculty exchange, research andteaching programmes that require aglobally mobile academic labour force.

Realities in context of the higher edu-cation mean three things for research uni-versities and their role in the academic sys-tem. First, contemporary higher educa-tion needs differentiated academic sys-tems. Not all higher education institutionsare research universities; not all post-grad-uate institutions need to be universities.

Second, there only needs to be a smallnumber of research universities but theyare important in the system. Researchuniversities play a number of complexroles and at the top of the list is research.Often, research universities are asked todo many things but they are not socialservice agencies. They do not earn fromapplied research or consulting but focuson research and teaching. Universitieshave been the source of research for morethan 200 years and need to continue assuch. They are the only societal institu-tions that will carry out basic research andthey need to be supported by theGovernment. It is evident that a balancebetween basic and applied research isimportant. The former is what will winNobel prizes, which in the long run willcontribute to applied research. For exam-ple, it is only recently that Einstein’s the-ory of relativity was proven through basicresearch by the universities.

Third, universities, especially researchuniversities, are in the education business.They educate people with the end-goal ofhelping them to attain the skills andknowledge required to land jobs. The evi-dence of universities fulfilling this role iswhen those that are well-educated findjobs, especially the kind of jobs created in

the rapidly changing 21st century. So whatkind of education should research univer-sities provide? They need to teach peoplehow to think and communicate in a waythat brings forth the importance of beingtrained in more than one type of job asgoing forward, training for just one typeof job or career in a person’s lifetime isbecoming less and less applicable.

But how does academic research con-tribute fundamentally to the well-beingof our society? People benefit fromquality, ethical research and should rallyto support and defend it. There is, how-ever, a growing reliance on and accep-tance of the commodification of research,ie, research projects are increasinglydefined on the basis of economic crite-ria. This practice infringes on academicfreedom and narrows the scope ofresearch. The result is that faculty are dis-couraged from engaging in researchthat benefits society and are forced toaccept research projects that are fundedby the private sector or ones that are heav-ily influenced by the private sector.Public/private partnerships can under-mine collective bargaining agreements.

There are several challenges to aca-demic research. Some of them are:

Funding: Public funding for acad-emic research, including basic research,is not meeting the need. Funding needsinclude but are not limited to creationand maintenance of quality facilities,modern equipment, staff support, infor-mational infrastructure and funding ofscholarly activities such as conferenceattendance. Public/private partnershipsmust not replace public funding ofresearch. The challenge is to be vigilantabout funding opportunities that mayallow excessive outside interference andunduly influence the research.

Respect for research within institu-

tions: Many organisations do not ade-quately address the need for “release time”,reduced teaching loads or other compen-sations for scholars carrying heavy respon-sibilities for research.

Academic freedom: Academic free-dom of researchers is threatened by a vari-ety of non-academic forces. Situationsrepeatedly arise where public/privatefunders assert influence over research pri-orities and tamper with findings. Thosefunding research should not be allowedto exercise control over, edit or limit dis-semination of findings with which theymight disagree.

Intellectual property: Academicresearchers are often deprived of theirintellectual property rights. For example,there are instances of copyright infringe-ment, conflicts around the ownership ofresearch data and findings and restrictionson publication and presentation of find-ings by private funders. Such disputes cannegatively affect the tenure process fornon-tenured faculty. For faculty conduct-ing international research, there may beother barriers due to different or fewerlegal protections of their intellectualproperty rights.

Another important factor to boostresearch and the quality of higher educa-tion is to unshackle quality higher edu-cation institutions from Governmentcontrols and give them freedom to oper-ate, develop their own roadmaps and pur-sue ideas of excellence. The status quo ineducation has resulted in a situation whereit is not only sub-standard but has alsofailed to open inquiring minds to theworld of research. India must be innov-ative in its approach and open its policiesto boost research if its demographic div-idend is to be tapped into.

(The writer is Assistant Professor,Amity University)

India must be innovative in its approach and work out policies to boost research if itsdemographic dividend is to be tapped into. Advancing research should be the way forward

analysis 09F I R S T C O L U M N

Policy paralysis

in manifestoes

SHIVAJI SARKAR

Contesting a key election without national policies onjobs, farms, industrial production, low inflation andsound financial institutions may prove to be costly

HIMA BINDU KOTA

STATISTICALLY,OUT OF INDIA’S

1.3 BILLIONPOPULATION,THERE WERE

ONLY 216RESEARCHERS

PER MILLIONPOPULATION IN

2015. INDIA’SINVESTMENT INRESEARCH IS A

MEASLY 0.62 PERCENT OF ITS GDP.THESE NUMBERS

ARE WELL BELOWGLOBAL

PRACTICES.FRANCE, FOR

EXAMPLE,SPENDS 2.25 PERCENT OF ITS GDP

ON RESEARCHAND THE US

SPENDS 2.74 PERCENT. BOTH

COUNTRIES HAVESOME 4,300

RESEARCHERSPER MILLIONPOPULATION

Election is the greatest show in India. While the many misses

are swept under the carpet, rhetoric sure rules the roost.

Manifestoes are not necessarily about substance or firm promis-

es — they could be real or removed away from reality. In the din

of these headline-grabbing news, the US’ decision to withdraw its

Generalised System of Preferences, under which it confers duty-

free access to 4,800 products from 131 poor and developing coun-

tries, went unnoticed. The Opposition, which is in disarray, has not

been able to rake up an issue it could capitalise on. What is sur-

prising, however, is the silence from business chambers. The US’

decision will directly impact exporters and India’s balance of pay-

ments. The situation demanded intense diplomacy but the

Government remained rigid. It could have accepted America’s

demand to allow imports of its dairy products and helped Indian

businesses. The complexities of Brexit will further impact Indian

exports. This, too, wasn’t discussed. This is in sharp contrast to

the foreign policy stress laid by Indira Gandhi in her 1971 mani-

festo, when Indian Ocean littoral states took a significant space.

It’s not easy make the electorate understand what economic

diplomacy is all about. Citizens today suffer from job losses, infla-

tion despite a low WPI, high bank charges and the threat of losing

their 10-year-old vehicles to quixotic NGT rules that allow pollution

by factories but not small emissions from a car. Manifestoes of all

parties ignored these pressing problems and paid no considera-

tion to ecological impacts of building roads and airports indiscrim-

inately. After the Congress made several promises in its manifesto,

it was expected that the BJP, too, would do the same. However, the

latter did not harp so much on development as it did in 2014. The

BJP harped on issues that can boost our nationalistic approach. It

promised to annul Article 35A and abrogate Article 370; it pandered

to religious sentiments not through Lord Ram but the National Register

of Citizens (NRC), thus reviving the sentiments of Partition. Its vision

document, however, was light on legal reforms, be it in terms of

legislation, policy proposals or judicial interventions. May be the

2014 document had an overdose of it and the Narendra Modi

Government has already repealed 1,200 redundant Acts. In con-

trast, the Congress proposed 14 new legal reforms.

The BJP, like the Congress, targetted the farmers. Already, it

had announced direct income support of ̀ 2,000 every four months

a year, which equals to `6,000, to farmers who own up to two

hectares of land. Now, it has promised ̀ 25 lakh crore investments

in agriculture. All of this looks attractive enough but how will they

generate funds for the same has not been discussed. Obviously,

the Government does not have the money and since many years,

investments to the farm sector have come through bank credit.

Corporate investment has been minimal. With mounting NPAs, banks

can no longer be stressed. Depositors are in crisis as their inter-

est accruals have come down and tax components have

increased. But none of the parties seem to be worried about it. Further,

their promise to turn the country into a defence production hub is

yet to be understood. This can draw massive investments but what

about criticality of military productions? In 2014, the BJP had

promised abolition or maximum relaxation in income tax rates. It

did so but only partially in the 2019 budget by raising the limit to

`5 lakh. Those above it will not get any benefit as taxes will be cal-

culated at the threshold limit of ̀ 2.5 lakh plus standard deduction.

The new manifesto was also silent on stray cattle menace and

demonestisation found no mention. Politically, the BJP should have

stressed on its benefits. The BJP also announced a slew of wel-

fare schemes for the farmers, shopkeepers and workers in the unor-

ganised sector but economic costs were not estimated. Odisha’s

KAALIA scheme, too, found an echo in its document. But KAALIA,

like MNREGA, made the people lazy. Because of the doles, labour-

ers do not want to work. This has led to an influx of labourers from

other States to Odisha. In simple terms, it is a double-whammy for

the State’s economy. It has more outgo and now, the society is pay-

ing as a large part of the GDP goes out due to import of labour and

supporting a class of inactive people.

Polls are also the time to discuss critical issues. But the Election

Commission (EC) has sanitised the campaign to such an extent

that parties are neither approaching voters nor are they discussing

their problems. The process stymies democratic discussion. This

is the reason why the first phase witnessed low voter turn-out. Voters

are apparently feeling cut off; the refrain is that nobody is listening

to them or talking to them. One lesson that nobody is learning is

the failure of Manmohanomics, which ensured pro-corporate prof-

its and jobless growth. The problem faced by the BJP emanates

from it. Even if the BJP is able to form a Government, it exempli-

fies policy wilderness. Post election, this would be a crucial task.

(The writer is a senior journalist)

The buzz in the Congress’ circlesis that general secretary PriyankaGandhi Vadra may make her

electoral debut by contesting againstPrime Minister Narendra Modi inVaranasi. The Congress’ leadership istight-lipped about it although Priyankahas herself kept the mystery alive.When party workers in Rae Barelirecently urged her to contest the elec-tions, she responded by asking if sheshould contest from Varanasi. Reportsthat the Congress could field Priyankafrom Varanasi have been doing therounds since the last few days. Theparty on Saturday said that it would notcomment on hearsay and that mediawould be informed if any such deci-sion was taken.

The question is: Will she take theelectoral plunge? After all, it took somany years for her to enter politics. TheGandhi family is very cautious aboutwhen to enter politics and from where.The family is quite calculative aboutthese matters. These things are chore-ographed well. Even Sonia Gandhitook seven years to decide and she tookthe plunge only in 1998 when the partywas almost withering away and need-ed a charismatic leader. She was boldenough to enter politics when the partywas languishing in the Opposition withno chances of immediate revival.Though she joined the electoral fray in1999 and became the first womanLeader of Opposition, she took on theBJP on issues despite being a novice.She developed a reasonable under-standing with former Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee and then sur-prised every one by leading the UPA,which came to power for two consec-utive terms, thus shattering the BJP’s“India shining” dreams.

Similarly, Rahul Gandhi enteredpolitics in 2004, contested from Amethiand won the family’s bastion. He hasbeen in politics since then and was

made the general secretary in 2007 andvice president in 2013. Last year, hetook over as party president. This willbe the first time he will be leading theparty to the polls and, therefore, it iscrucial that he does well.

Priyanka’s entry into politics wasalso a calculated move and the timingwas a surprise; though people had beenwanting since many years that she jointhe party. Seen as a more charismaticleader than Rahul, it was speculatedthat she was staying away for fear ofovershadowing her brother. Anyway,

now that Sonia Gandhi has decided totake a back seat, Priyanka has taken theplunge.

The decision to contest is entire-ly left to the family. Whether it is a goodmove to field all the three Gandhis isa question that the family will consid-er. But the chorus from Uttar Pradeshis becoming shrill day by day. Partyleaders and workers from the Stateargue that the move will enhance theCongress’s poll prospects.

Initially, it was believed that ifSonia Gandhi bowed out, her daugh-

ter would contest from Rae Bareli. Theparty’s Allahabad unit had passed a for-mal proposal, urging the Congress’leadership to field Priyanka fromPhulpur, which was represented by hergreat grandfather and India’s firstPrime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.This might still happen as Priyanka islikely to fare better in Phulpur.Defeating Modi may be difficult as heis still popular in Varanasi. Also, tra-ditionally, barring once in 2004, the BJPhas won Varanasi comfortably since1991. Then came the speculationstrengthened by Priyanka herself.Responding to a frequently askedquestion whether she would contest,Priyanka surprised the media with adirect “why not” “even you can” andadded, “If my party wants me to con-test polls, then I will definitely do so.”Congress workers believe that she hasa striking resemblance with her grand-mother Indira Gandhi and would bea good vote-catcher. Priyanka is moreconnected to the people in her inter-actions and she is a crowd puller.

A section in the party also believesthat if Priyanka contests from Varanasi,Modi can be pinned down to cam-

paigning in this seat. Second, sincethere is no Modi wave, it may be eas-ier for Priyanka to face him. Third,about four lakh votes were split againstModi in 2014. If Priyanka is fielded asa joint candidate of the Congress,Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Partyand Rashtriya Lok Dal, a division ofvotes can be avoided. Fourth, shewould be a fresh face with the Gandhimystique. The party has notannounced any name so far for bothVaranasi and Phulpur. Incidentally,both Rahul and Priyanka are buildingthe ground for the 2022 Assembly pollsand seems like she could be its ChiefMinisterial candidate. “We are prepar-ing the ground for 2022 Assembly elec-tions” Priyanka clarified herself.

Prime Minister Modi’s response toPriyanka contesting against him was:“In a democracy, anyone can contestfrom anywhere. I don’t fear about whois contesting from where, it doesn’tmatter to me.” Modi versus Priyankawould be a tantalising contest but willthe Congress risk it? This is a milliondollar question.

(The writer is a senior political com-mentator and syndicated columnist)

Prize fight buzz in VaranasiPriyanka Gandhi Vadra may have taken the political plunge but the million dollar question is, will the Congress field her

against Prime Minister Modi? It will make for a tantalising contest but will the party take the risk?

KALYANI SHANKAR



F O R E I G N E Y E

The Notre Dame Cathedralin Paris will rise again intime. It is not simply in ourhistory, but in our hearts. Itis part of our shared artisticpatrimony. It belongs toEuropean civilisation. Thisterrible fire is not an eventthat should be trivialised orbanalised. Yet, at a momentlike this, how foolish itseems to pretend that weare not all Europeans. Westand with France in itshour of heartbreak. We willnever, ever, turn away.

(The Guardian editorial)

SHARE FRANCE’STERRIBLE LOSS

LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019 avenues 10

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Upon the subject of education..I

can only say that I view it as the

most important subject which

we as a people may be engaged

in

— Abraham Lincoln

Over the last five years, there hasbeen an increase in the demandfor operations management

professionals. Right from manufac-turing and service, to IT & ITES andtelecom sectors, operations manage-ment has become a core componentof the overall business strategy of theseorganisations.

It is important to understand thebasic difference between operationsmanagement and organisational strat-egy.

Organisational strategy is figuringout how and why of reaching the com-pany vision, and achieving businessgoals.

Operations management pertainsto design, operation, and control of allprocesses undertaken from the pro-curement of raw materials to thedelivery of the finished products to theend customers.

For example: A garment factorysets the target of increasing its outputby 25 per cent. The top managementthen formulates a strategy regardingthe operations management to deter-mine the requirement of humanresources, production facilities, tech-nology and finances to reach this tar-get. Once the strategy stage is takencare of, it is the responsibility of theoperations manager to execute thisstrategy effectively and provide theresults expected by the company.

Operations management plays a

strategic role in maximising the pro-ductivity of the organisation throughsuccessful and optimal integration aswell as the execution of all resourcesin the overall operations system.Operations management keeps thesupply chain or value chain of theorganisation running like a well-oiledmachine. The organisational strategysets benchmarks for the success of thebusiness goals whereas the operationsmanagement translates the strategicobjectives into workable objectives.Without an organisational strategy,operations management wouldn’tknow what to do. Without operationsmanagement, the strategy will fail toexecute.

Both are closely related and needto work in cohesion for the conversionof the vision into concrete, specifictasks.

There are several other examplesof sectors which are highly dependenton the operations management fortheir success. E-commerce is one ofthem. All e-commerce companiessuch as Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm,MakeMyTrip and others put greatemphasis on their operations man-agement. As soon as a customerorders a product online, there are sev-eral backend activities undertaken bytheir operations team simultaneously.It processes the order, checks theinventory levels in the warehouse,sends purchase invoice to the suppli-

er, procures the product, arrangestransportation from supplier to ware-house, packages the product, thenships it to the customers and performsmany other miscellaneous functions.Now just imagine if the shipment getsmixed up and a wrong product reach-es the customer. Or, the courier ser-vice company refuses to deliver theproduct due to some reason. All suchissues can lead to customer dissatis-

faction and eventually harm the rep-utation of the brand. The operationsmanagement ensures that all end-to-end value chain functions run seam-lessly and none of the adverse situa-tions occurs.

Similarly, an operations managerin a restaurant works closely with thekitchen, serving and dishwashing staffas well as all other employees who

work behind the scenes. He is alsoresponsible for payroll, administrativeactivities and employee training. Onthe front end, he interacts with cus-tomers, oversees the seating arrange-ments and handles their complaints.

The following key functions of theoperations management will help youto understand its relevance to the over-all organisational strategy even further:

PLANNING AND FORECASTINGOperations managers brainstorm

with the top management duringstrategy formulation and plan everyoperational aspect from asset alloca-tion to product delivery. They alsoforecast the product demand andprobable occurrence of certain eventsto do capacity and production plan-ning.

EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCESWhether the resources are scarce

or in abundance, the operations man-agers have to ensure their efficient usefor effective output. They help strate-gise which operation activity requireswhat amount of resources.

DESIGNThe design of the product on

paper may not really translate suc-cessfully into the actual product. Itneeds to be tested to ensure if it is fea-sible to manufacture and market. Theoperations managers are involved in

both the technical and business designof the product.

STANDARDISATION Imagine customers getting a

different taste of the same recipeevery time they order it. If the recipeisn’t prepared exactly the same everytime, the inconsistent taste will detercustomers to visit the restaurantagain. The operations managersensure standardisation of every littleprocess that goes into the productionor service delivery so that customersget consistency in value they receive.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT There is always room for improve-

ment in the operations processes interms of inventory, human resources,capacity planning, etc. The operationsmanagement professionals continu-ously strive to raise the bar of qualityby implementing quality control mea-sures such as Just-In-Time, TotalQuality Control, Six Sigma and otherprocess improvement standards.

You can say that strategy is thebrain of the organisation while oper-ations management is the arms andlegs of the strategy. Operations man-agement facilitates smooth coopera-tion between all processes and func-tions to keep the organisation prof-itable.

The writer is Director, IT, Sri Balaji Society

IGNOU alumnus turns author

Abook by an IGNOU alumnus is gainingattention in top universities of USA includ-

ing Harvard, Stanford, MIT and others.Amongst the books written by Dr Krishna NathPandey who had studied MBA and PhD atIGNOU, the book titled Paradigms ofKnowledge Management: With SystemsModelling Case Studies is at the top.

This book has been written by studying theknowledge management implementation atPowergrid India, one of the largest power trans-mission companies in the world. The book sug-gests ways and means for knowledge manage-ment including implementation and capitali-sation; especially, for organisations with mul-tiple business verticals.

The author of the book Dr. Krishna NathPandey, Dean, Schools of Management

Sciences, Commerce and Humanities, Lingaya’sUniversity, was ex-GM at Powergrid, and is alsoan author of the much sought after books,including Contemporary Conviviality of TradeUnionism: Perspectives from the Power Sectorand Trajectory of Transmission for RenewableEnergy: An Inclusive Case of India.

First NATA exam heldICAI provides technical support to ICANThe Council of Architecture

is conducting NationalAptitude Test in Architecture(NATA) for admission to firstyear of five year BArch degreecourse. The test is being con-ducted online. This year itwas proposed to conduct thefirst test on April 14, 2019 andsecond test on July 7, 2019.

The Council has success-fully conducted the first phaseof NATA 2019 on April 14,2019. The exam was conduct-ed at 191 centres all over Indiaand one centre at Dubai, peace-fully and smoothly. A total of35748 candidates have applied

for the first test and 32761 can-didates have appeared for thetest. The council appointed itsobservers to oversee the con-duct of examination.

The Council will make allefforts to announce the resultsof the first phase of exam ondue date or even before that sothat the students can seekadmission to BArch course asper counseling conducted bythe competent authority ofthe concerned institution/uni-versity. In case any student(s)could not appear for this testthey may appear for the testscheduled in July 2019.

FASHION TECHNOLOGYThe JD Institute of Fashion

Technology invites applica-tions for its uniquely designedunder-graduate, post-graduateand professional developmentcourses through its campus inDelhi.

The institute offers coursesin Fashion, Interior, Jewellery,Fashion Marketing &Communications, FashionStyling, Fashion BusinessM a n a g e m e n t , V i s u a lMerchandising, Photography,Hair and Make-Up.

How to apply: Log on tohttps://www.jdinstitute.com/apply-online/.

Last date to apply: May 10,2019.

FASHION DESIGNThe International School

of Design invites application forbachelors, masters and diplomaprogrammes in Fashion Design.

Eligibility: Class X pass fordiploma, Class XII for bachelors& diploma and graduates formasters degree or diploma(anystream).

How to apply: Log on tohttp://www.insd.edu.in/apply-online.html.

Last date to apply: April 30,2019.

COMPUTER SCIENCE ENGThe School of Engineering

& Technology by MVNUniversity invites applicationsfor admissions in ComputerScience Engineering pro-gramme.

Computer science engi-neering (CSE) is one of the pop-ular courses among engineeringaspirants which focuses on thebasic elements of computer pro-gramming and networking.Students pursuing computerscience courses will gain knowl-edge of design, implementationand management of informationsystem of both hardware andsoftware.

Duration: Four yearsEligibility: Minimum qual-

ification for securing admissionto degree programme is ClassXII pass from any recognisedboard.

How to apply: The appli-cation forms & brochure can be

p u r -chased by paying `1000 fromadmission office of MVNUniversity,Haryana.


MTECH PROGRAMMEThe Indraprastha Institute

of Information TechnologyDelhi (IIIT-Delhi), invites appli-cations for MTech programme2019-20 general and specialisedcourses in Computer Scienceand Engineering, Electronicsand CommunicationsEngineering, andComputational Biology.

The specialisations offeredin Computer Science andEngineering (CSE) programmeare Artificial Intelligence, DataEngineering, InformationSecurity and MobileComputing. The focus of theprogram is to enhance theknowledge of students in futur-istic technology so that they cancontribute efficiently towards thedevelopment of organisationsthey work for.

How to apply: Log on tohttp://iiitd.ac.in/admission/mtech/2019.

Last date to apply: April 18,2019 for MTech (CSE) andMtech (ECE) programmes.

INCUBATION PROGRAMMEThe Atal Incubation Centre

at the Rabindranath TagoreUniversity (AIC-RNTU) andthe Centre for SocialEntrepreneurship at the TataInstitute of Social Sciences(TISS) have launched a jointIncubation Programme forStart-ups 2019-20.

The applications for theprogramme are invited underthree categories — ideate, dis-cover and growth. The candi-dates need to have a venture ideawith proof of concept to be eli-gible for the programme.


A2014 McKinsey Report statesthat in the organisation for

Economic Co-operation andDevelopment (OECD) countriesmore than one in eight of all 15 to 24-year-olds are unemployable. Thisentry-level unemployability is due tothe skill-gap that is markedly evidentbetween the supply end of the edu-cation sector and the demand end ofthe organisation sector. This lack ofindustry readiness calls for specialattention and intervention from theend of the educators to positivelyimpact the performance of the youthat their entry point in the industry,and even later. This skill-gap is moreso at the level of soft-skills of theyouth.

In case of a contemporary MBAprogramme in India, the interestingamalgamation of business know-how and its hard skills factor, even hasenough room for making the studentsindustry-ready through various softskills factors. We must bear in mindthat education in itself, is an inde-pendent process of learning. However,it is linked to employability. Mostemployers at the time of making hir-ing decisions evaluate not just whathas been learned from the programacademically, but also evaluate para-meters such as positivity, ability tomulti-task, flexibility, ability to workin teams, leadership quality, profes-sionalism, time management, cus-tomer orientation and relationshipnurturing, culture sensitivity, attitu-dinal adoption to change, verbalcommunication and presentationskills.

An arduous MBA programme,from any reputed institution, wouldprovide students not just excellentclassroom based learning, but hand

down sufficient exposure to real-timelearning, through case studies, roleplays, live projects, presentations andresearch opportunities. In the process,every student is given a platform toimprove their overall communicationand presentation skills. Also, duringthe tenure of the program, there areseveral opportunities for the studentsto meet and interact with industrypersonnel, who would enrich theirlearning through their growth tra-jectories. Learning through observa-tion and internalisation is also a keysource for MBA aspirants to pick up

aspects such as body language and eti-quette which are integral to a suc-cessful corporate stint.

There are MBA programmesboth in the country and outside,which have dedicated modules onenhancing student preparedness tomeet corporate needs. These modulesencompass topics such as generalawareness, quantitative abilities, lan-guage competence and mock inter-view sessions. Across sectors, organ-isations are in need of resources whoare not just tech savvy but astutestrategists who can drive the busi-

nesses towards greater profitability.With immense competition and sup-ply of graduates being high, thedemand for skilled workers has onlyincreased over time. So, what exact-ly does a skilled worker mean?

A skilled worker in today’s timesis not just a subject matter expert, butalso an individual with varied inter-ests and at the core, an excellent peo-ple’s person. Formal higher educationtoday is a very challenging area as itis imperative for institutions to recog-nise the need of the hour and givevery high importance to shaping anindividual’s overall personality. TheMBA programme per se, has all theingredients in-built to enable studentsto improve on their soft skills. Thecurriculum invariably is highly flex-ible with inputs from both academi-cians and industry experts who cre-ate the right mix of theory and appli-cation. Classroom based learning iscomplemented with application basedlearning and at regular intervals,students are exposed to real-time pro-jects which require great soft skills tobe on display.

In conclusion, the MBA of todayis a programme which encapsulateseffective time management, team-work and dedicated efforts to realiseintrinsic aspirations. The aspirationshowever vary from a good job todoing a business or perhaps taking upresearch. Irrespective of what it is, theMBA definitely acts as a catalyst inholistically transforming lives andenhancing capabilities not just in tak-ing businesses ahead but also in shap-ing one’s own personality and gener-al outlook towards life.

The writer is Associate Professor, AllianceUniversity

TAKE STRATEGIC ROUTEOperations management plays a vital role in maximising the productivity of the

organisation. BIJU G PILLAI tells you more

OPERATIONSMANAGEMENT KEEPS

THE SUPPLY CHAIN ORVALUE CHAIN OF THEORGANISATION KEEPS

IT WELL-OILED

Soft skills to

the rescue

DR ARINDAM DAS tells you the importance ofsoft skills in order to fill the employment gap

The Institute of CharteredAccountants of India (ICAI)

and the Institute of CharteredAccountants of Nepal (ICAN)had entered into an MoU thatwas approved by the UnionCabinet chaired by PrimeMinister Narendra Modi andlater on formally signed andexchanged by both the institutesin his august presence in the year2017.

The MoU interalia providesthat both ICAI and ICAN wouldbe jointly working for theadvancement of accountingknowledge, professional and

intellectual development, advanc-ing the interests of their respec-tive members and positively con-tributing to the development ofthe accounting profession inIndia and Nepal.

Recently, ICAI providedtechnical assistance to ICAN infurther strengthening their exam-ination systems wherein officersfrom ICAN visited ICAI toperuse the examination systemand discuss various activitiesrelated to smooth conduct/flowof examinations. The represen-tatives of ICAN were briefedabout the entire examination

process and the various activitiesbeing carried out by the exami-nation department of ICAI. Thedelegation was very appreciativeof the efforts taken by ICAI inthis regard.

It is pertinent to note that theICAN came into being with thetechnical support provided by theICAI. The first MoU betweenICAI & ICAN was signed in theyear 1998 wherein ICAI provid-ed assistance for development ofprofession and regulatory frame-work namely drafting of syllabi,setting up of the examination sys-tem and others.

3rd convocation at IIM Sirmaur

The 3rd Annual Convocation ofthe Indian Institute of

Management Sirmaur was organisedon April 12, 2019. The ceremony washeld at the Institute’s campus atPaonta Sahib. Sunil Kant Munjal, oneof the founder promoters of HeroGroup and Chairman, HeroEnterprise was the chief guest on theoccasion and delivered the convoca-tion address. Professor NeeluRohmetra, director, IIM Sirmaur, pre-sented the director’s report on theoccassion.

The ceremony was graced byAjay S Shriram, chairman, Board ofGovernors, IIM Sirmaur, and chair-man & senior managing director,DCM Shriram Ltd, who presidedover the 3rdAnnual Convocation andawarded MBA degrees to the grad-uating students. The academic pro-cession included the graduating stu-dents, faculty, members of board andacademic council. The families of aca-demic students were present on theoccasion.

A total of 63 students were con-ferred the full-time Master ofBusiness Administration (MBA).Fifteen girl students were conferredMBA degrees on the occasion of the3rd annual convocation of theInstitute. Anshika Gupta receivedChairman’s Gold medal for being theoverall topper of the batch. Director’sGold medal was awarded to AkshayDevapal for ranking second in orderof merit. Kanika Gupta was present-ed with Special Recognition Awardfor being the Best All Rounder for thebatch.

In his convocation address, chiefguest Sunil Kant Munjal gave aninspiring address to the students tobegin a new journey of success andcontribute towardthe industry andsociety. Munjal laid stress on devel-oping the mind set of an entrepreneurand face the dynamics of change withright strategy and planning. He dis-cussed how the pace of change isaccelerating at unmatched pace frompast 10 years and how the old rulesare failing to solve new problems oflife and business. Finally, he encour-aged students to do a thorough self-search, find out their skills and pas-sion and pursue it whole heartedly intheir life. “Life has a habit of over-taking all plans and that becomes theplan” he says.

He advised the students to man-age their time well and fix priorities.

In his welcome address,theChairman Board of Governors, AjayS Shriram, talked about dealing withstress and negativity in life by apply-

ing certain rules which involve man-aging oneself and one's emotionseffectively. He further exalted to thegraduating batch to always focus onthe positive aspects of life andimprove once attitude through self-criticism and feedback from others.Shriram shared his vision of makingIIM Sirmaur an institution of excel-lence by taking various new initia-tives, emphasising on innovationand entrepreneurship among thestudents. He further thanked MHRD,Government of India and local com-munity for their wonderful supportin the growth of the institute.

Addressing the gathering,Professor Neelu Rohmetra, DirectorIIM Sirmaur congratulated the grad-uating students and their families andpresented the director’s report of theinstitute’s progress. She further dis-cussed various initiatives taken by theinstitute to improve both academicas well as physical infrastructure ofthe institute.

IIM Sirmaur’s dignataries along with the graduating students during the 3rd convocation

Job opportunities in near future wouldbe largely impacted by globalisation withtechnology as a driving force. This will

require large scale skilled manpower astechnology and automation are taking overa sizeable number of jobs. Many jobopportunities are getting redundant andexisting jobs are demanding for a changein the skill sets required to do them. Notto be left behind, many women in India,foreseeing these transformations are work-ing on acquiring new skill as they foreseelimitless new opportunities. They are opt-ing for offbeat careers in manufacturing,automation, block-chain amongst others,which have pre-dominantly been pre-ferred by men.

In order to develop new skillsets,women can get enrolled at Government ofIndia’s Skill India Mission Skill Centres,developed across the country. These cen-tres impart skills related training for vari-ous new age technologies at ITIs,Polytechnics institutes and other private-run registered institutes. In fact, manywomen are already undergoing and manyhave undergone skill training for variousforms of new age technologies from theseskill centres.

There are many other short coursesmade available by the ITIs across the coun-try which offers short-term skillset devel-opment certificate courses for various inautomation, block-chain and other emerg-ing technologies. There are several otherprivate institutions and many other indus-try run institutions which offers short termcourses for many new age technologies.Working women can also keep updated andcontinue to develop their skillsets throughin-house training at their workplace or atthe aforementioned institutions. This willensure that they do not become redundantand will have the bandwidth to command

a handsome salary and much higher thanany industry can offer.

A recent report by the World Banknoted that India can grow in double-dig-its if more women participate in the prod-uct line of the Indian economy. This,according to the report, could be achievedby imparting women with skilled training.As we move towards the Fourth IndustrialRevolution, the Industry 4.0, women aresteadily moving towards new age tech-nologies. The Industry 4.0 is evolving inte-gration of Artificial Intelligence, Internet ofThings (IoT), automation, genetics, robot-ics, 3D printing, biotechnology, nanotech-nology, cloud computing, sensors, com-puter powered processes and intelligentalgorithms besides other forms of emerg-ing new age technologies that are drivingnewer prospects for job opportunities andgrowth.

As companies are finding it difficult forskilled men to take on newer technologiesin manufacturing sector, they are turningtowards women. Not only does this help increating a larger part of skilled people butalso helping companies creating a con-ducive workplace, which is bringing inmore discipline in work culture. Anothergood part for women is that technology led-disruptions would also widen the scope forremote and flexible work opportunities, cre-ating new employment avenues for women.

According to a study commissioned byMinistry of Commerce and Industry in year2018, the number of highly skilled techni-cal graduates in India is growing at a rateof 7 percent per year, while in start-ups,India is ranked third in the world, account-ing for over 4,700 businesses.

MANUFACTURINGThe smart factories and the manufactur-ing industry in future will not be mechan-

ically handled but will be equipped withnew aged technologies.

Many green field factories in India arealready adapting to these new age tech-nologies. Automotive industry that areheavily dependent on technology and areamongst the first to go on automation andembrace new technologies have women-friendly work culture and encourage themto take up works related to technology.Today Block chain technology is tipped tobe a disruptor in the automotive industry.Two-wheelers manufacturers like YamahaMotor India have a pink assembly line,managed entirely by women. They havealso hired 200 women to undergo appren-ticeship programme. Similarly, HeroMotoCorp's ̀ Project Tejaswani' has broughtin more women in its manufacturingoperations, while Bajaj Auto has an assem-bly line which is run by women. Besides,women must explore on harnessing BigData in Manufacturing that generatesmore data than any other sector of the econ-omy and helps drive efficiency, improveprocesses, and carve a competitive advan-tage.Other areas where opportunities emerge innear future are across many other majormanufacturing entities, which could be tex-tiles, design, chemicals, software, hardwareamongst others that will require skillsets innew and emerging technologies.Government too is keen on promotingmanufacturing sector which has a share of16 per cent of India's Gross DomesticProduct (GDP). It aims to increase it to 25per cent and create 100 million new jobsby year 2022.

AUTOMATION & ROBOTICSAs the winds of change are blowing acrossindustry as they move to automation andnewer technologies, companies are grad-

ually picking up on involving automationat their production units across India. Thisis minimising human intervention in pro-duction, else conventional technologiesgenerally requires more manpower. Womenwho are also likely to be impacted by theautomation in sectors like InformationTechnology (IT). Similarly, in services likeretail, hospitality are also expected for dra-matic transformations as a result of digi-talisation, automation and surge in use ofdata analytics. Women who are looking foradvance career must look for upgrading toupcoming technologies in their relevantareas of work. This will help in wideningtheir job opportunities.

BLOCK CHAIN TECHNOLOGYBlock chain today is like what the "Cloud"was in the mid-2000s. Ranked amongst thefastest-growing skillsets globally, it offersexcellent job opportunities. As of now, itsdemand is far outpacing the supply. Inskillsets, blockchain technology today is inits infancy, but its demand from start-upsand many established companies havegone-up. Companies are exploring cryptocurrencies powered by blockchain thatunderlines technology in block chain,which can be transformative across indus-tries. Block chain are also digitally linkedchain, which strengthen procurementstrategies and improves efficiencies and costfor manufacturing units. Such is the hugepotential which women can explore. Sincelast few years, manufacturing units are mov-ing towards aligning their procurementprocesses strategically and using digital toolsof supply chain, integrated warehousing andfreight handling. Startups in B2B commercespace like Moglix today offer digital solu-tions of supply chain management for themanufacturing sector.

The writer is Director, HR and Operations, Moglix

Public policies will decide whether Indiawould become a 10 trillion-dollareconomy by 2030. They will decide

whether the farmers' distress would continueor not. They will decide whether the youngestpopulation in the world would have the skillsand education to deliver the demographicdividend. Public policies are the lever for large-scale social and economic change.

What will decide whether we would havethe right public policies for the country? Onemost critical factor would be public policyeducation: How we train and prepare ourpublic policy professionals.Today there is verylittle formal public policy education in India.We need more professional policy education. Itwould not suffice to just borrow the policy

education models from

abroad. We need to develop our own modelsand contextualise policy education for India. Allthese need revolutionary changes in theexisting education models.

The current policy making is largely a top-down exercise. An example would make thisclearer. Indian School of Public Policy wasinvolved in designing an education scheme ina state. The goal was set by the Minister andthe Education Secretary. We worked out ascheme to achieve it. The department fixed adate for a Press Conference to announce thescheme. We suggested that this is a uniquescheme and there is no experience of how itwould work on the ground. At the least, weshould invite district education officers and gettheir feedback on the scheme and possiblechallenges of implementation before the

announcement. The department fortunatelyagreed but commented that this kind ofconsultation with line officials has never beendone before. The people who are policy's eyesand ears on the ground are hardly everinvolved in designing the policy.

In designing policy, the beneficiariesremain rather abstract entities — the poor,socially and economically marginalised — typeof general images capture the beneficiaries inthe minds of policy makers. There is nodetailed profile or concrete understanding ofbeneficiaries, and often the beneficiaries arenot all alike, they are from diverse geographical

and socio-economic backgrounds.Understanding the real beneficiaries and theiractual life-world, not generalized abstractions,is crucial for getting policy design andimplementation right. One example willillustrate this succinctly.

A slum rehabilitation project in a metrocity promised one apartment to each slum-dwelling family. The Government and NGOswere concerned about the real possibility ofslum dwellers selling the flats and re-occupying land somewhere else in the city. Thetop-down approach is to put a ban on re-saleof flats for certain number of years. However,

the state capacity to enforce such a ban isalmost non-existent. After much deliberationand debate, a brilliant idea came upon thetable-let's ask slum dwellers themselves. It israther interesting how consulting thebeneficiaries is usually a last resort. Acommunity meeting was organized and well-trained facilitators conducted the meeting. Thesolution that came out was very similar-makeit illegal to sale and put heavy penalty on thosewho do to make an example of them.

Someone realised that most of the peoplein the community meeting were men. Let's askthe women then. The women came up with thesuggestion that keep latrines public and do notprovide that facility in each apartment. It isunlikely that those who would pay high sumsto buy these flats would be willing to use

public toilets. The women had higher stakethan men in living in a decent flat; a majority ofmen were probably happier in en-cashing theflats. Understanding and consulting realbeneficiaries make or break a policy.

How do we ensure that the line officialsand the real beneficiaries are involved in thedesign and implementation of policies? Thereare many ways to achieve this but in thecontext of policy education, a systemiclearning of design thinking would go a longway. Including design thinking and user-centered design in formal policy educationwould revolutionise policy making as well aspolicy practice. Design thinking should be oneof the key pillars of policy education in India.

The writer is Dr Parth J Shah, Member of theGoverning Council, of Indian School of Public Policy

LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019 avenues 11

M I N D I T

The University ofSouthampton, in collaborationwith the British Council andGreat Britain Campaign, hasannounced up to three GreatScholarships 2019-India forIndian students who want to pur-sue a Postgraduate taught(Masters) degree programme atthe University in the sessionstarting from September 2019.Each scholarship will cover thefull tuition fee for the student foraone year Masters programme.

These scholarships are applic-able for select postgraduatetaught programmes at Universityof Southampton: MA LuxuryBrand Management, LLMMaritime Law, MSc ActuarialScience, MSc Data Science andMSC Entrepreneurship &Management.

Eligibility: Applicants for thescholarships 2019-India must beIndian nationals residing in Indiaat the time of application andthey must have completed theirsecondary education in India.They should also hold an uncon-ditional offer letter for the eligiblepostgraduate taught programmeat the University starting fromSeptember 2019. While the schol-arship covers the full tuition feefor a one year Masters pro-gramme, other costs such as trav-el and living expenses are notcovered under the scholarship.

The University will thennominate three candidates to the

British Council and invitethem to complete the applicationprocess by May 31, 2019.Theapplications for the nominatedcandidates will be reviewed by aselect panel based on set parame-ters and they will be notified ofthe outcome of their applicationsin July 2019.

For further information,please visit:www.southampton.ac.uk/great-scholarships

Contact details for furtherqueries: [email protected].

Application Deadline: May8, 2019

The University ofTechnology Sydney is proud toannounce the UTS ScienceInternational Undergraduatefunding for Excellence inAustralia. International studentsare eligible to apply.

Eligibility: Applicant mustmeet all admission criteria for theselected course. Candidate mustbe commencing full-time studieson-campus and be commencing aUTS Faculty of Science UG pro-gramme. Applicant must havecompleted an Australian Year 12or high school studies compara-ble to an Australian Year 12 qual-ification, no more than threeyears prior to commencing atUTS, and be admitted based onthis qualification into UTS.Applicants whose first language isnot English are usually requiredto provide evidence of proficiencyin English.

How to apply: Applicantsmust have to attach the personalstatement, CV and transcript.

Sugar technology involvesdetailed study of techniques ofproduction of sugar and under-

standing of sugar chemistry, technol-ogy involved in fermentation and pro-cessing. The field also covers studiesabout production of different qualityof sugar used for various purposes.Interest in Physics, Chemistry andMaths is a must to pursue a coursein sugar technology. Bachelor, postgraduate diploma and certificatecourses are available.

After completing the educationone can work as Sugar Engineers,Consultants, Researchers,Supervisors and Quality Analysts.

National Sugar Institute (NSI),Kanpur; Vasantdada Sugar Institute(VSI), Pune. Apart from post gradu-ate diploma and certificate courses,National Sugar Institute (NSI),Kanpur also offers A few more col-leges to study are:nRajarambapu College of SugarTechnology, Sangli, Maharashtra.Course: B.Sc. Sugar TechnologynSugarcane Breeding Institute,Karnal, Karnal. Course: M.Sc. SugarTechnologynGulbarga University : Departmentof PG Studies and Research inSugar Technology, Gulbarga. Course:M.Sc. Sugar Technologyn ICAR-Sugarcane BreedingInstitute, Coimbatore. Course: MSc

SugarTechnology

STUDY CENTRES OPERATIONS AT PROTEGE SPORTSNETWORKSLocation: DelhiStipend: `2,000 per monthLink: internshala.com/i/412807Application deadline: April 22, 2019

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING AT HODIGITALLocation: NoidaStipend: `8,000 per monthLink:internshala.com/i/412804Application deadline: April22, 2019

WEB DEVELOPMENT ATALGO8Location: NoidaStipend: `4,500 per monthLink: internshala.com/i/412805Application deadline: April 22, 2019

JOURNALISM AT HRKATHALocation: DelhiStipend: `10,000 per monthLink: internshala.com/i/412806Application deadline: April 22, 2019

INTERIOR DESIGN AT DECORDREAMSLocation: BengaluruStipend: `4,000 per monthLink: internshala.com/i/412808Application deadline: April 22, 2019

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AT DSLOGIC ADVANCED SYSTEMSLocation: BengaluruStipend: `5,000 per monthLink: internshala.com/i/412809Application deadline: April 22, 2019

DIGITAL MARKETING AT ASKME Location: Work From HomeStipend: `5,000 per monthLink: internshala.com/i/412810Application deadline: April 21, 2019

Arc Skills, a global skill providerfor schools, universities, andcorporates, launched Soar, an

integrated pathway for schoolstudent to learn new age and socioemotional skills.

Kakul Misra, COO, Arc Skills,said: “The psychological load ofcompetition obliges a student tocomplete vast syllabus and devoteexcessive emphasis on variousexaminations. In this race of marksand examination, the preparation forfuture ready skills remainuntouched and suddenly when theygo for higher education and enterthe corporate world, most find itdifficult, especially to manage theirpersonal finances. A student shouldbe proficient to manage theirpersonal funds and learn basics ofbusiness-oriented communication.”

The KIIT World School, Gurgaonorganised a workshop —Developing Entrepreneurship in

School. The aim of workshop wasto make students understand aboutthe different aspects ofentrepreneurship. Paola Fatur(Program Manager, School

EnterpriseChallenge) waspresent as the chiefguest. Sheintroduced thedifferent aspects of

entrepreneurship and emphasizedthat zeal and great idea are the onlyingredients in a recipe for businessstart-up.

Neelima Kamrah, KIIT Mentorsaid: “Our future students shouldbe job creators rather than jobseekers so it is really important toteach them from starting. Tobecome a successful entrepreneurstudents must follow theentrepreneurial spirit. Theseworkshops help in developing moreentrepreneurs for our society. ”

As part of its persistent effortstowards standardising thecountry’s largely unstructured

preschool space, FlintoClass, anoffering of Chennai-based FlintoLearning Solutions, recentlyreleased its National PreschoolSurvey Report 2019. The extensivesurvey conducted among 30,000preschool owners in the countryemphasized on the existingbottlenecks in the space,highlighted the list of priorities setby parents for admissions and evenidentified the preschool segment as

an upright career option for thewomen in India.

In terms of aspects of an idealpreschool, the data also stressed onthe fact that 40% preschool ownersthink that the quality of education isa priority for the parents when theyfinalise the right preschool for theirchildren. The survey data alsoreported that 99% of pre-schoolsare owned by women, 60% of thepreschool owners indicated runninga preschool as a great career optionas it empowers them to beindependent.

The SRM JointEntranceExamination for

Engineering -SRMJEEE (B.Tech),SRM Joint EntranceExamination for HealthSciences (SRMJEEH)for UG and PG washeld on Apirl 15, 2019.The next date for theexam is April 25,

2019. The All IndiaRank obtained inSRMJEEE (BTech) willbe the basis foradmission to all thefour campuses ofSRM Institute ofScience & Technology(SRMIST).

Candidatessecuring top 100 rankwill be eligible for

Founders’ scholarshipwith full waiver oftuition fee, hostel andmess fee.Scholarships are alsoavailable under variouscategories.

Further detailsabout counseling andother information areavailable at:www.srmuniv.ac.in. T

he Unacademy announced thelaunch of the Plus Subscriptionafter a beta of two months. The

subscription gives learners preparingfor various examinations unlimitedaccess to live classes by the bestteachers in the country. Learners geta personalised learning experiencethat is augmented by doubt-clearingsessions with the educators,interactive classes and a live testseries. The educators arecompensated for conducting the liveclasses.

At present, four subscriptionoptions are available for the 12categories — UPSC CSE, SSCExams, Bank Exams, Railway Exams,CAT, IIT-JEE, NTA-UGC NET, CSIR-UGC NET, Kerala PSC, RajasthanPSC (RPSC), Teacher Eligibility Test(TET) and CDS/AFCAT.

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IN BRIEF

According to a recent India Jobsstudy, data science is the fastest-growing field in India. As every

company turns into a technology compa-ny, organisations in industries such asmanufacturing, healthcare, retail, tele-com, oil and gas, manufacturing, airlineand e-commerce are all trying to grow asdata-driven organisations.

They are looking to strengthen theirdata teams. India is emerging as one of theworld’s largest data science capitals. Indiahas a large number of people who have theknowledge of coding, and thus it’s becomequite a lucrative career in India. Everyindustry is hiring.

Data is everywhere. In fact, the amountof digital data that exists is increasing at arapid rate, almost doubling every year,altering the way we live and interact withthe smart technology. Over the past fewyears, there has been a lot of talk aboutData Science, Big Data, Machine Learningand Deep Learning. Today, every organi-sation is struggling to convert itself into adata driven organisation due to lack ofaccomplished professionals. This hasresulted into an increased demand of datascientists in the world.

Job prospectsWith market competition strengthen-

ing, top organisations across the world areturning to data scientists to analyse andidentify new market opportunities for theirservices and products. As things stand now,almost 80% of best organisations consid-er data science as a critical component ofbusiness. Data scientists have a hugeinfluence on company policies and mar-keting strategies. The global demand forData Scientists has increased exponentiallyin the past decade and will only increasefurther.

There is a global demand for data sci-entists who have in depth knowledge andapplied skills in various areas like math,stats, machine learning, deep learning, nat-ural language processing (NLP), R, Python,SQL, SAS, Big Data tools like Hadoop andSpark, Visualisation tools like Cogonos,Tableau and click view.

The application of AI, ML, Deeplearning, Data Science is growing in Indiaand around the world in almost everyindustry like Telecom, IT, Insurance, man-ufacturing, healthcare, banking, retail,media, consulting, ecommerce, oil, gas,automobile, airline, government, NGOs,

start-ups and every functional area.RemunerationThe salaries of Chief Data Scientists

with over 10 years of experience inMathematics and Statistics are at a mini-mum of `1 crore, annually. Unicorn DataScientists, being a specialised skill set, ishigh in demand to scarcity of talent. Theyare an upgraded version of our racy datascientists, and are compensated morethan $200,000 per year. Data Science is oneof the fastest growing, highest remuner-ating and most intellectually challengingfield.

EligibilityThere are multiple ways where you can

really start your career. However, there twopopular paths to achieve this - One, a struc-tured master’s programme in these fields;Second, to opt for a MOOC course on var-ious platforms like Coursera, edx, Udemy,mUniversity, and the like.

The trend we are observing with thecampus recruitment at Aegis, is that com-panies are paying much more emphasis onwhat you can do for them than on whatyou know. They are evaluating studentsbased on the challenging projects they havedone, which helps them choose twopotentially similar candidates.

‘Data science is criticalpart of business today’The annual demand for data scientists is predictedto reach 7 lakh by 2020. The demand and high paypackages make data science a lucrative option,says BHUPESH DAHERIA

Bhupesh DheriaCEO, Aegis School of Business

Women are working onacquiring new skills as

they foresee limitlessnew opportunities in

manufacturing,automation and

block-chain, says SAUMYA KHARE

The

offbeat

path

money 12LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019

PTI n NEW DELHI

Reliance Jio Infocomm hasapproached the telecom

department for in-flight con-nectivity licence, that allowsservice providers to offer con-nectivity and data services toIndian and foreign airlines,according to sources.

Besides Jio, theDepartment of

Telecommunications (DoT)has also received a clutch ofother applications includingthose from OrtusCommunications, StationSatcom and Cloud CastDigital, sources privy to thedevelopment told PTI.

Reliance Jio, however,declined to comment on aquestionnaire sent in thisregard. Sources, meanwhile,

said that in some of the casesincluding that of OrtusCommunications, the DoThas sought some clarificationon the application submitted.

After the governmentnotified rules for in-flightand maritime mobile phoneservices in December lastyear, a number of companiesincluding Bharti Airtel ,Hughes Communications

India, and Tatanet Servicesqueued up for the said licence.In February this year, HughesCommunications India(HCIL) became the the firstcompany to be granted the in-flight and maritime connec-tivity licence in the country.

The following month,Tatanet Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nelco,announced that it had

obtained in-flight, maritimeconnectivity licence from thegovernment. Most recently,the DoT issued a 10-yearlicence to Bharti Airtel sub-sidiary Indo Teleports Ltd toprovide such services.According to Euroconsult, over23,000 commercial aircraft willoffer connectivity to their pas-sengers by 2027, up from 7,400aircraft in 2017.

PTI n NEW DELHI

IT services giant Wipro onTuesday said its net profit

increased by 38.4 per cent to`2,493.9 crore in the March2019 quarter, and announced a`10,500 crore buyback pro-gramme. The Bengaluru-basedcompany had posted a net prof-it of `1,800.8 crore in theJanuary-March 2018 period,Wipro said in a BSE filing.

Its revenue from opera-tions — under IND AS account-ing norms — grew 8.9 per centto `15,006.3 crore in the peri-od under review from ̀ 13,768.6crore in the year-ago period.

For the full fiscal (2018-19),Wipro saw its net profit increas-ing by 12.6 per cent to ̀ 9,017.9crore, while revenue from oper-

ations was up 7.5 per cent to`58,584.5 crore.

The Wipro board has alsoapproved a `10,500 crore buy-back plan under which it willbuy back up to 32.3 crore sharesat ̀ 325 apiece, the filing added.

Shares of Wipro on Tuesdayfell 2.5 per cent after the com-pany said a few of its employeeaccounts were affected in an“advanced phishing campaign”.The scrip closed at ̀ 281.10, 2.45per cent lower on the BSE.During the day, it declined by3.48 per cent to ̀ 278.10. On theNational Stock Exchange (NSE),shares fell by 2.12 per cent toclose at `281.60 apiece.

In terms of traded volume,14.28 lakh shares were traded onthe BSE and over 2 crore shareson the NSE during the day.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Lenders to Jet Airways arediscussing ways to revivethe crisis-hit carrier and

fresh funds are likely to beinfused shortly, officials said onTuesday.

Amid acute financialcrunch crippling its operations,Jet Airways management isawaiting clarity on receivingfresh funds after which a deci-sion would be taken on contin-uing operations. “Discussionsfor reviving the airline areunderway and nothing hasbeen finalised as of now,”Punjab National BankManaging Director and CEOSunil Mehta told reporters here.

Representatives of variouslenders to Jet Airways are alsounderstood to have discussedissues related to Jet Airwayswith financial services secretaryRajiv Kumar. Jet Airways has adebt burden of more than`8,000 crore.

SBI Capital Markets has themandate for Jet Airways sale onbehalf of the SBI-led consor-tium of the domestic lenders tothe debt-ridden private carrier.

A senior government offi-cial said that funding for JetAirways from lenders was like-ly to come through. The boardof the full service carrier, whichwas currently operating lessthan 10 aircraft, is meeting inMumbai on Tuesday.

On Monday, lenders didnot take a final decision on pro-viding emergency funds to the

cash-strapped carrier. Another government offi-

cial said that approaching theNational Company LawTribunal (NCLT) for JetAirways was not an option atthis stage. “Right now, thelenders are trying to resolve theissue by seeking bidders forinvestment. This is not the timefor lenders to approach NCLTfor resolution,” the official said.

Creditors can take adefaulting company to theNCLT for seeking approval forresolution under the Insolvencyand Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Earlier in the day, sourcessaid Jet Airways founder NareshGoyal had decided not to bidfor acquiring stake in the cash-strapped airline. Pursuant to adebt resolution plan approvedby the airline’s board lastmonth, SBI Capital Markets, onApril 8, invited Expression ofInterest (EoI) from potentialinvestors to buy out 75 per centstake in the airline.

Shares of Jet Airwaysplunged nearly 8 per cent onTuesday amid reports that thecompany was likely to tem-porarily shut down its opera-tions. The scrip tumbled 7.62%to close at `241.85 on the BSE.During the day, it plummeted18.56 per cent to `213.20. Atthe NSE, shares plunged 7.71%to close at `241.50.

PTI n MUMBAI

Equity benchmark Sensexrallied about 370 points to

scale a record closing high of39,275.64 as investors’ senti-ment got further boost fromforecast of a near-normal mon-soon and a bumper start of cor-porate earnings season.

Similarly, the broader NSENifty surged 97 points to closeat a fresh high of 11,787.15.

Rising for the fourthstraight session, the 30-shareBSE Sensex also marked itsintra-day record of 39,364.34.

The rally was mainly dri-ven by financial, consumerdurables, auto and oil and gasstocks. Top gainers in theSensex pack were IndusIndBank, ICICI Bank, ONGC,L&T, Maruti, Asian Paints,

Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp,M&M, Kotak Bank, TCS andAxis Bank, ending up to 3.96per cent higher. On the otherhand, PowerGrid, Infosys, TataMotors and Coal India close upto 0.63 per cent lower.

“Market rallied to a new

high supported by optimismover quarter earnings and pos-itive global market. A bettermonsoon outlook from IMDprovided relief to investors,who are keen on earnings out-come to accumulate qualitystocks despite election ledvolatility,” Vinod Nair, head ofresearch at Geojit FinancialServices Ltd, said.

Elsewhere in Asia, marketsin Japan, China and Koreaended on a positive note.

In Europe, bourses inGermany, France and the UKwere trading in the positive ter-rain in early deals. Globalcrude oil benchmark Brentfutures fell 0.11 per cent toUSD 71.10 per barrel.Meanwhile, the Indian rupeedepreciated 24 paise to 69.67against the US dollar intra-day.

Lenders discussing ways

to revive Jet Airways

Fund infusion likely soon, say officials

Prabhu calls for

review of issues

New Delhi (PTI): CivilAviation Minister SureshPrabhu has called for a reviewof issues related to strugglingJet Airways, including risingfares and flight cancellations.

Prabhu has also askedCivil Aviation SecretaryPradeep Singh Kharola totake necessary steps to protectthe rights and safety of pas-sengers.

“Directed Secretary@MoCA_GoI to reviewissues related to Jet Airways,especially increasing fares,flight cancellations etc,”Prabhu said in a tweet.

Besides asking the secre-tary to take necessary steps toprotect passenger rights andsafety, Prabhu has called forworking with all stakeholdersfor their well being.

Wipro Q4 net up 38% to`2,494 cr; announces`10,500-cr buyback plan

Sensex, Nifty hit record highs on

earnings, monsoon optimism

Reliance Jio applies for in-flight connectivity licence to DoT

Script Open High Low LTPJPASSOCIAT 5.71 5.84 5.55 5.62SPICEJET 123.85 135.80 123.50 132.70PCJEWELLER 128.05 149.45 126.95 146.00JETAIRWAYS 254.50 257.20 213.20 241.85SUZLON 7.37 7.70 7.28 7.37TATAMOTORS 234.55 234.55 225.70 230.55DHFL 167.85 176.40 166.30 170.65INFY* 728.30 728.50 714.55 723.85WIPRO 291.30 291.95 278.10 281.10RELCAPITAL 184.95 189.50 171.25 173.30ICICIBANK 396.60 408.50 396.60 406.80TCS 2116.00 2153.80 2116.00 2132.45INDIGO 1489.80 1610.00 1478.30 1583.15LT 1357.00 1390.45 1357.00 1382.50IBREALEST 109.00 111.30 105.95 108.85RELIANCE 1345.00 1359.70 1340.25 1345.30DLF 186.00 187.80 182.10 183.25IBULHSGFIN 840.00 854.30 830.05 832.25IFCI 13.06 13.55 13.06 13.13INFIBEAM 52.60 52.85 49.40 51.65DEEPAKFERT 144.00 160.00 144.00 157.25ADANIGREEN 37.50 44.80 37.50 44.50YESBANK 267.40 269.25 265.05 266.45INDUSINDBK 1750.00 1820.50 1750.00 1815.85RAIN 138.90 140.50 131.50 132.75BPCL 361.15 362.10 354.95 357.20MARUTI 7342.05 7479.50 7341.90 7464.35AXISBANK 766.00 775.40 765.15 770.65IDEA 17.15 18.05 16.70 17.80ASHOKLEY 96.00 97.70 95.60 96.35RELINFRA 132.05 136.25 130.20 131.80MOTHERSUMI 155.95 160.50 155.10 157.90SBIN 316.15 319.30 314.95 315.80COALINDIA 250.10 256.80 248.25 251.20ADANIPORTS 388.40 396.80 386.10 395.70BHARTIARTL 347.00 351.00 340.60 348.65TATASTEEL 552.45 556.75 549.40 552.65JAICORPLTD 128.00 128.50 124.05 126.85RPOWER 9.71 9.72 9.43 9.47GRAPHITE 474.00 479.85 468.00 471.95ITC 307.80 309.75 306.10 307.05HINDUNILVR 1718.20 1742.00 1717.00 1738.40DMART 1457.00 1465.60 1394.85 1410.40HDFCBANK 2292.30 2308.15 2281.00 2304.75NBCC 63.15 63.15 60.65 62.40HDFCLIFE 406.15 412.40 404.00 407.95M&M 685.00 695.50 685.00 687.25SUNTECK 493.00 493.00 475.25 488.25PNBHOUSING 825.00 825.00 785.20 799.90KOTAKBANK 1382.40 1394.00 1371.65 1385.95WESTLIFE 425.00 447.00 422.00 440.05BHEL 77.25 78.75 76.05 76.60VEDL 185.50 189.65 184.80 185.20TVSMOTOR 504.45 519.00 504.45 516.85PNB 93.55 94.00 92.50 92.75TATAMTRDVR 112.50 112.80 109.20 111.20TECHM 800.00 804.00 795.95 797.10STRTECH 198.05 201.20 193.40 194.25ZEEL 417.95 424.10 414.15 415.85SUNPHARMA 460.00 464.00 458.25 462.30TAKE 147.35 159.00 146.35 151.75ACC 1676.00 1708.00 1676.00 1699.70ADANIPOWER 54.55 55.05 53.80 54.25MEGH 68.60 69.25 66.30 67.45HEXAWARE 349.70 350.65 343.55 344.55BAJFINANCE 3022.55 3057.00 3020.00 3031.40IDFC 46.60 47.00 46.00 46.20TITAN 1093.95 1126.35 1093.65 1122.20ASIANPAINT 1449.90 1464.90 1442.05 1455.85IOC 155.90 158.40 154.05 155.75HINDALCO 213.60 217.25 213.55 214.40HEG 2120.00 2135.00 2080.00 2085.35HEROMOTOCO 2719.00 2749.75 2716.00 2733.85JINDALSTEL 186.10 189.80 183.80 189.00IDFCFIRSTB 53.95 54.10 53.40 53.65HINDPETRO 259.15 265.20 259.15 264.45GRASIM 867.30 885.00 866.80 883.25EMAMILTD 400.40 403.00 390.00 396.50ONGC 156.75 161.25 155.95 160.45SHANKARA 523.90 546.15 522.55 532.05BOMDYEING 137.20 137.70 134.20 134.90BANKBARODA 131.60 131.60 130.05 130.60LUPIN 831.05 843.95 827.10 832.00RCOM 2.31 2.35 2.31 2.31INDIACEM 111.95 114.10 110.40 113.00IBVENTURES 332.75 334.15 323.30 325.55JINDALSAW 86.35 91.90 85.95 88.35JUSTDIAL 606.65 608.45 596.65 599.65TORNTPOWER 257.70 264.65 257.10 264.00RBLBANK 676.00 683.00 668.70 680.95WOCKPHARMA 456.00 457.85 451.00 453.55JISLJALEQS 59.95 60.75 59.25 59.85VENKYS 2270.00 2300.00 2214.05 2223.30ABCAPITAL 103.00 103.00 100.80 101.20OBEROIRLTY 593.65 593.65 573.00 576.05CGPOWER 38.80 39.35 38.20 38.70DCBBANK 192.00 203.70 190.55 202.05GODREJCP 674.40 676.00 669.05 670.05DISHTV 39.85 40.95 39.25 40.20JSLHISAR 89.60 93.55 88.75 91.75JUBLFOOD 1380.00 1395.00 1362.95 1383.00HCLTECH 1105.95 1116.40 1100.50 1106.70FEDERALBNK 97.95 99.00 97.35 98.10SAIL 59.30 59.30 58.30 58.60DELTACORP 258.55 259.05 254.05 254.95NTPC 137.20 137.90 136.60 137.40RECLTD 152.80 154.10 149.50 150.65L&TFH 152.20 152.20 149.00 149.40

BANDHANBNK 534.00 566.00 534.00 558.10SYNGENE 583.00 592.80 573.00 580.40LTI 1630.25 1639.15 1623.20 1632.80ICICIPRULI 365.65 369.00 363.25 365.05AUROPHARMA 785.00 786.45 775.05 783.75DABUR 407.00 410.05 406.90 409.35ADANITRANS 222.95 232.70 221.90 229.00DRREDDY 2819.00 2839.00 2808.25 2825.80LICHSGFIN 528.00 528.00 521.00 523.20CIPLA 567.10 571.45 557.20 559.30MINDAIND 353.35 381.05 353.30 377.00TRIDENT 68.50 68.75 67.25 67.45RADICO 361.00 363.50 352.70 353.20ICICIGI 1083.80 1091.95 1063.25 1086.85FSL 52.00 52.65 51.20 51.50UJJIVAN 350.00 353.50 346.95 349.80NATIONALUM 56.50 56.85 55.65 55.85ESCORTS 785.00 801.15 785.00 789.40ANDHRABANK 29.10 29.45 28.70 28.75MAHABANK 14.79 16.80 14.79 15.87JSWSTEEL 294.00 294.50 290.30 291.65BATAINDIA 1413.25 1439.20 1410.00 1430.25HDFC 2020.90 2035.85 2017.50 2027.40CANBK 285.95 285.95 278.50 280.15BHARATFORG 512.95 514.75 506.50 509.25BANKINDIA 99.15 100.00 98.50 98.90BAJAJELEC 575.00 587.75 572.25 577.00NCC 106.00 106.55 104.90 105.70SRTRANSFIN 1215.00 1246.50 1205.00 1229.35BBTC 1321.15 1372.10 1314.45 1337.00PHILIPCARB 174.30 175.70 169.10 170.05IRB 141.40 143.90 141.15 141.85MINDTREE 982.00 987.50 970.00 972.15FORCEMOT 1801.10 1822.75 1785.00 1790.85PRSMJOHNSN 98.30 102.15 97.70 101.00POWERGRID 198.00 199.45 196.60 196.85MANPASAND 126.40 126.40 120.05 121.60EXIDEIND 226.00 229.60 224.60 226.95TATAPOWER 71.90 71.95 71.20 71.35GNFC 334.90 334.90 322.90 323.85NAVKARCORP 39.50 40.10 39.25 39.45PFC 122.00 122.00 118.25 119.15

BEL 95.40 95.60 94.00 94.15ALBK 54.50 54.50 51.55 51.95MCX 797.00 812.00 788.00 808.55CUMMINSIND 755.00 755.00 724.20 733.05KTKBANK 135.90 138.15 134.80 137.30BAJAJ-AUTO 3043.30 3078.00 3032.00 3069.40M&MFIN 421.80 425.00 418.25 421.60PVR 1709.95 1737.60 1696.55 1721.40GODREJPROP 958.40 958.75 936.00 942.55EDELWEISS 178.05 180.60 176.00 179.10APOLLOHOSP 1271.00 1294.00 1270.45 1275.10PEL 2688.00 2729.70 2665.00 2675.15TATAELXSI 992.00 1001.00 980.05 982.70GAIL 354.90 358.00 350.50 352.10SOUTHBANK 17.55 17.70 17.45 17.55ULTRACEMCO 4225.00 4279.55 4212.05 4254.00INTELLECT 227.45 233.00 225.50 228.95BHARATFIN 1072.05 1144.40 1072.05 1138.65UNIONBANK 93.00 93.50 92.10 92.40APOLLOTYRE 218.75 219.00 215.40 216.20AVANTI 409.00 411.50 404.00 408.55DIVISLAB 1747.00 1753.75 1713.00 1718.80BRITANNIA 2998.00 3029.95 2998.00 3022.45INDHOTEL 155.85 155.85 152.00 153.70IPCALAB 936.20 956.00 928.05 940.95SBILIFE 625.05 625.30 618.05 620.00IDBI 44.05 44.55 43.95 44.05AMBUJACEM 228.90 232.80 227.80 231.55TV18BRDCST 36.00 37.00 35.70 35.80BAJAJFINSV 7538.00 7620.00 7512.30 7585.30PERSISTENT* 614.85 620.00 611.75 615.30TATACHEM 611.00 618.00 606.90 610.55UBL 1419.75 1448.00 1409.30 1442.70BEML 976.60 978.25 963.55 965.40KEI 420.85 430.00 419.70 421.40AMARAJABAT 702.00 712.00 700.20 704.45HFCL 23.65 23.80 23.30 23.35INFRATEL 313.00 316.60 312.60 313.85IGL 321.10 325.10 320.15 322.35MANAPPURAM 127.00 127.55 125.05 126.05

CROMPTON 236.20 237.50 229.00 231.80OMAXE 212.35 212.50 211.30 211.65TATAMETALI 678.50 685.00 672.40 676.25KEC 303.00 305.45 299.00 302.20RAJESHEXPO 688.00 688.95 657.00 666.40EICHERMOT 21600.00 21600.00 21221.35 21274.90UPL 933.00 939.00 926.80 931.50TATAGLOBAL 219.65 219.65 214.45 215.30ASTRAZEN 2282.10 2349.90 2238.75 2288.60CEATLTD 1123.70 1130.75 1114.85 1126.50ENGINERSIN 121.90 122.00 117.90 119.35GDL 143.10 148.80 140.95 143.70J&KBANK 61.40 63.75 61.20 62.45AJANTPHARM 1030.55 1049.00 1028.95 1032.10KAJARIACER 630.00 634.05 622.00 625.35RAMCOCEM 766.45 787.15 763.30 785.50STAR 501.10 501.80 493.10 495.50MOTILALOFS 710.00 745.00 710.00 737.70CANFINHOME 347.00 349.10 342.00 344.85PNCINFRA 157.75 162.00 155.95 159.60HEIDELBERG 181.95 182.70 178.80 180.35CHENNPETRO 262.30 268.80 260.00 263.20LTTS 1704.35 1710.00 1652.00 1668.25SOBHA 519.00 524.00 515.70 520.65CENTURYTEX 927.00 934.00 924.85 928.45INDIANB 273.45 274.20 267.25 269.00PETRONET 238.05 241.25 238.00 239.85CADILAHC 341.70 342.75 337.00 338.10GMRINFRA 18.60 18.75 18.35 18.55MAHLOG 563.20 564.80 548.35 552.45COLPAL 1220.00 1233.40 1216.00 1223.35SPARC 184.75 186.90 183.00 183.55RCF 62.35 62.40 60.70 61.30SIEMENS 1187.45 1196.00 1178.60 1188.10CASTROLIND 166.55 167.55 165.10 166.65SUVEN 272.85 274.50 269.30 270.55JYOTHYLAB 191.00 191.25 183.90 186.40ZENSARTECH 237.70 242.45 232.00 240.65HINDZINC 284.00 285.70 281.60 282.95MARICO 361.60 368.15 361.50 363.40BERGEPAINT 330.00 335.25 330.00 333.65WELCORP 142.90 147.00 139.75 140.55SHILPAMED 355.00 396.80 355.00 376.20APLAPOLLO 1500.00 1570.00 1500.00 1564.15GLENMARK 649.95 654.00 641.45 643.70DBL 652.15 656.55 640.15 641.95BAJAJCON 344.00 344.65 335.40 336.25WELSPUNIND 57.20 58.80 57.20 58.45JSWENERGY 75.00 75.30 73.10 73.95LAKSHVILAS 89.45 89.90 86.50 87.25FDC 165.35 172.00 164.70 165.30JAMNAAUTO 60.50 61.50 60.00 60.95MFSL 438.40 439.75 429.35 434.45GSFC 108.00 108.00 106.30 106.55MAHINDCIE 224.90 230.00 223.95 229.45MPHASIS 991.60 991.60 977.00 980.15KANSAINER 463.30 466.75 452.10 455.90WABCOINDIA 6293.75 6335.75 6270.00 6306.50NMDC 104.85 105.50 103.85 104.00GRUH 280.50 285.95 279.10 283.00HIMATSEIDE 227.90 234.00 227.00 231.25RAYMOND 799.00 804.65 793.00 795.35NATCOPHARM* 564.00 566.45 553.20 559.40NESTLEIND 11011.00 11199.40 11011.00 11131.25PRESTIGE 280.00 283.50 275.50 277.55BALKRISIND 974.00 979.90 966.00 968.35GREAVESCOT 144.55 148.80 144.50 148.30HINDCOPPER 50.15 50.95 49.90 50.00BIOCON 625.00 626.50 620.10 623.15GODREJAGRO 533.00 537.90 526.95 531.60GUJGAS 157.65 162.00 157.55 161.00VOLTAS 623.95 628.00 622.20 623.25GODFRYPHLP 1205.20 1206.00 1182.70 1187.60SUNTV 599.25 603.15 594.75 597.15OIL 178.95 180.00 178.70 179.55JUBILANT 695.40 698.60 688.95 691.30PIDILITIND 1301.60 1301.60 1288.65 1293.85ORIENTBANK 108.70 109.05 107.60 107.90HAVELLS 755.25 760.80 752.15 758.10VIPIND 481.10 481.10 473.25 475.30HSCL 119.75 119.75 116.50 116.75BLISSGVS 179.00 180.40 177.90 178.75ITI 102.00 102.00 99.10 99.50SCHNEIDER 104.65 107.80 104.00 104.95MGL 1028.00 1028.50 1018.20 1020.00PIIND 1020.60 1032.70 1018.10 1029.80CONCOR 515.05 515.05 508.05 512.65ISGEC 559.95 571.00 555.00 557.65FRETAIL 431.70 434.00 427.95 428.95VGUARD 226.80 229.95 225.50 226.55KSCL 494.95 497.00 480.10 485.10NOCIL 144.20 145.00 142.15 142.50MAGMA 126.05 128.00 121.65 124.50INOXLEISUR 318.15 324.85 318.00 321.55LALPATHLAB 1072.50 1150.00 1036.00 1052.10PAGEIND 24075.75 24157.60 23811.85 23911.35MERCK 3949.45 3949.45 3880.00 3894.20SYNDIBANK 42.25 42.25 41.30 41.55AARTIIND 1639.40 1644.25 1615.00 1637.90NIITTECH 1290.00 1305.50 1290.00 1296.55ABFRL 222.65 224.30 221.40 222.95SONATSOFTW 337.40 342.30 326.00 338.20CYIENT 594.60 595.85 586.00 586.85JKTYRE 94.45 94.55 92.15 92.55GILLETTE 7800.00 7906.00 7755.30 7800.55SCI 35.20 35.50 34.85 35.00KRBL 349.85 354.80 346.05 349.10FCONSUMER 45.80 45.80 44.50 44.75REDINGTON 96.35 100.35 96.15 98.55

CUB 199.90 202.95 197.10 199.50TRENT 360.15 360.15 351.00 356.15FINCABLES 490.00 497.45 484.55 487.10HUDCO 45.00 45.25 44.55 44.70SWANENERGY 110.50 112.65 109.25 110.90ABBOTINDIA 7930.00 8067.50 7677.10 8039.40VBL 855.00 855.00 832.90 843.95MOIL 162.65 163.55 160.60 161.50COROMANDEL 446.95 447.20 437.00 439.95EQUITAS 135.90 136.45 134.60 134.90NBVENTURES 107.00 109.65 106.50 107.75GSPL 184.75 188.50 184.75 188.20INDOSTAR 420.00 424.75 412.40 415.80SRF 2464.00 2496.55 2458.30 2492.70OFSS 3649.00 3649.00 3551.00 3562.30RALLIS 162.00 162.00 159.05 159.85ASTRAL 1200.30 1245.00 1200.30 1229.10TORNTPHARM 1830.00 1843.05 1823.30 1837.00JKLAKSHMI 372.70 382.00 366.15 374.45CRISIL 1576.45 1619.95 1575.30 1611.15AUBANK 598.85 607.00 596.65 603.75IBULISL 325.00 356.90 325.00 342.70RNAM 197.65 202.05 197.05 198.25FORBESCO 2445.00 2530.00 2435.00 2443.05MRPL 71.00 72.15 71.00 71.40NHPC 24.20 24.30 24.00 24.00TIMETECHNO 99.70 102.25 99.45 101.00ADVENZYMES 189.90 194.65 188.95 191.90ABB 1424.00 1435.00 1406.20 1408.60CHOLAFIN 1488.05 1494.90 1480.00 1489.80PTC 72.95 73.50 72.60 73.05BIRLACORPN 511.00 524.25 507.45 519.10LEMONTREE 79.10 86.60 78.40 82.50REPCOHOME 442.00 443.70 437.10 439.00GICRE 252.00 253.25 249.45 251.00MAXINDIA 69.05 71.00 69.05 69.70HERITGFOOD 509.60 514.10 482.85 497.60FORTIS 140.70 142.00 140.00 140.85DCMSHRIRAM 397.00 415.00 392.00 402.40BDL 299.00 303.95 295.05 296.40EIDPARRY 203.75 209.75 200.15 202.60NAVINFLUOR 717.90 720.00 710.00 716.20DCAL 234.00 234.00 226.60 229.40CENTURYPLY 188.95 191.45 188.95 189.75VINATIORGA 1702.40 1745.00 1690.00 1740.20IEX 155.45 158.10 154.80 157.00MUTHOOTFIN 611.95 615.10 610.85 613.40MMTC 28.15 28.40 27.90 27.95COCHINSHIP 398.00 398.00 393.00 394.65JBCHEPHARM 350.05 363.35 346.10 353.80PARAGMILK 250.05 250.25 246.50 248.65GESHIP 299.55 301.35 297.05 300.60NAUKRI 1951.00 1951.00 1919.00 1938.90ASHOKA 130.55 133.10 130.55 131.50BALMLAWRIE 181.75 185.00 181.00 181.65SREINFRA 29.55 29.55 28.35 28.60GODREJIND 530.00 531.80 525.75 526.75ALKEM 1754.25 1754.25 1711.55 1722.10GMDCLTD 78.00 78.40 77.70 77.90TEJASNET 183.90 191.35 181.05 187.65TATAINVEST 862.50 880.00 862.00 863.65GUJALKALI 495.00 500.00 492.25 497.45BOSCHLTD 18100.00 18342.95 18068.20 18239.35GPPL 99.00 99.00 97.10 97.80SHREECEM 19450.00 19649.30 19415.00 19587.40GRANULES 114.00 114.60 113.25 113.95SUDARSCHEM 363.00 368.00 356.70 359.50TATACOMM 585.75 585.75 576.50 578.55TATACOFFEE 92.60 93.50 92.45 92.70WHIRLPOOL 1431.00 1439.75 1421.95 1430.95ISEC 226.00 227.85 224.90 225.85HSIL 275.00 278.00 271.00 273.55JMFINANCIL 90.75 90.80 88.95 89.85UFLEX 249.00 254.00 246.00 249.40UCOBANK 18.95 19.10 18.65 18.75WABAG 305.05 309.50 303.35 304.70CARBORUNIV 377.25 377.70 372.10 373.90NESCO 480.00 492.80 479.60 490.90CHAMBLFERT 171.50 171.50 167.55 168.25NLCINDIA 67.85 68.70 67.85 68.30EVEREADY 186.95 187.00 183.05 184.20FLFL 483.85 483.85 472.75 478.25SJVN 24.55 24.55 24.15 24.40MRF 58200.00 58500.00 58008.00 58142.60ECLERX 1129.00 1137.00 1126.00 1128.10EIHOTEL 194.40 196.00 192.00 195.70FINOLEXIND 485.05 494.00 481.30 487.85MINDACORP 135.90 141.60 135.90 137.55LINDEINDIA 494.20 497.95 486.05 489.20TNPL 211.00 211.70 203.25 207.10KALPATPOWR 492.70 498.20 489.60 494.30THOMASCOOK 249.60 249.80 247.70 248.90PGHH 10700.00 10724.00 10611.90 10695.55

PHOENIXLTD 633.00 634.00 620.00 627.55GUJFLUORO 1065.70 1068.75 1058.85 1062.40IOB 14.61 15.05 14.61 14.85NAVNETEDUL 114.75 116.90 112.85 113.85GRINDWELL 596.10 603.00 588.10 602.35NIACL 189.55 190.80 187.00 189.55SUPPETRO 216.95 216.95 212.00 213.20ESSELPRO 130.05 132.00 130.00 131.00GET&D 274.80 274.80 270.00 271.65LUXIND 1392.60 1412.00 1382.60 1394.80GLAXO 1320.00 1320.00 1296.90 1300.00RELAXO 880.00 884.10 870.00 874.95ASTERDM 151.25 153.40 150.55 152.00CENTRALBK 34.90 35.15 34.60 34.70CORPBANK 27.90 28.40 27.80 28.00PFIZER 3250.80 3255.00 3214.00 3226.00LAURUSLABS 400.80 404.80 396.40 400.75GHCL 239.95 241.90 238.55 240.20SYMPHONY 1387.15 1390.00 1357.65 1382.00ITDCEM 126.65 126.65 120.00 122.65NETWORK18 35.75 35.75 34.90 35.25MAHLIFE 365.20 371.85 365.20 365.90GSKCONS 7200.00 7257.70 7200.00 7215.60THERMAX 983.00 988.80 977.00 986.15JAGRAN 118.75 119.05 116.90 117.35ENDURANCE 1180.00 1180.00 1162.00 1174.45VTL 1140.00 1154.00 1116.00 1136.00SANOFI 5840.00 5851.95 5770.00 5825.15COFFEEDAY 274.45 275.00 271.30 272.50QUESS 726.35 729.25 718.00 720.05DEEPAKNI 272.60 272.60 268.15 269.10JKCEMENT 895.00 898.60 884.55 887.20BAJAJHLDNG 3308.15 3316.50 3280.00 3294.45GREENPLY 175.90 175.90 169.45 170.653MINDIA 25024.85 25361.10 24814.70 24933.35AIAENG 1787.00 1800.00 1771.00 1787.00GALAXYSURF 1039.10 1044.00 1026.85 1032.05GICHSGFIN 263.00 263.10 258.65 259.50AKZOINDIA 1755.70 1779.80 1750.05 1772.40TIINDIA 375.00 378.90 374.00 375.60SHK 157.25 158.10 155.75 156.05CHOLAHLDNG 499.00 509.95 495.00 509.95UNITEDBNK 11.15 11.44 11.14 11.16ITDC 277.00 280.00 275.00 277.75TRITURBINE 111.00 111.80 109.30 109.95INOXWIND 70.20 70.70 69.05 69.50GEPIL 867.75 870.05 837.60 857.80VMART 2616.90 2700.00 2614.70 2678.85JCHAC 1929.00 2024.95 1929.00 1942.10TEAMLEASE 2938.50 3028.00 2926.05 3017.90DBCORP 194.10 195.00 191.85 192.65SOLARINDS 1070.75 1091.45 1063.90 1084.20TIMKEN 587.45 600.00 587.00 596.70SUNDRMFAST 557.60 564.00 554.50 556.70ALLCARGO 116.70 117.80 115.85 116.45JSL 40.00 40.20 39.75 39.90TVTODAY 316.85 321.00 314.80 320.30SUPREMEIND 1138.05 1148.80 1133.35 1143.40MAHSCOOTER 3791.35 3801.20 3745.00 3761.65APLLTD 535.00 536.00 530.00 533.65HAL 707.00 713.80 707.00 709.65KPRMILL 580.50 580.50 570.00 574.05BAYERCROP 4236.75 4245.15 4156.00 4195.85ORIENTCEM 93.35 94.40 92.80 94.15BLUESTARCO 682.75 683.70 672.20 673.95ATUL 3510.00 3548.00 3481.00 3541.55CAPPL 394.70 396.85 390.00 393.00LAXMIMACH 6061.00 6097.25 6006.10 6012.65CARERATING 990.00 992.95 990.00 990.10GULFOILLUB 891.00 891.00 873.00 877.80KNRCON 242.85 242.90 237.15 239.80NILKAMAL 1435.00 1435.00 1422.55 1432.75IFBIND 866.05 871.30 853.95 862.05TTKPRESTIG 8549.90 8549.90 8380.10 8415.60MONSANTO 2565.10 2565.10 2525.00 2533.15ELGIEQUIP 264.85 265.25 260.15 260.25MHRIL 239.85 239.95 236.00 238.50BLUEDART 3307.25 3313.75 3211.00 3254.60BASF 1396.45 1396.50 1373.30 1381.10SHRIRAMCIT 1748.35 1785.95 1748.35 1769.15SKFINDIA 2055.00 2062.60 2045.00 2052.15SADBHAV 243.90 243.90 241.00 241.70SCHAEFFLER 5410.00 5549.95 5410.00 5481.05APARINDS 687.00 691.50 687.00 690.00DHANUKA 409.00 414.00 390.00 402.10AEGISLOG 211.35 212.85 210.05 210.25SUPRAJIT 226.30 226.30 222.15 223.25CENTRUM 33.65 33.80 33.35 33.40CCL 270.30 270.50 269.40 269.95HATSUN 750.00 750.00 732.00 734.05SUNCLAYLTD 2800.00 2912.00 2800.00 2906.95SHOPERSTOP 454.00 458.35 450.00 454.85TVSSRICHAK 2216.55 2216.55 2196.30 2200.00SHARDACROP 405.85 405.85 394.90 398.90GAYAPROJ 174.10 175.30 172.20 173.45STARCEMENT 100.00 100.70 99.25 100.60ASAHIINDIA 264.00 264.00 258.20 259.10LAOPALA 203.65 207.35 202.50 206.50ZYDUSWELL 1302.45 1308.30 1298.95 1305.95NH 219.50 219.50 216.95 219.30HONAUT 23820.00 23897.45 23710.00 23750.00THYROCARE 520.00 520.00 516.00 518.95ERIS 638.15 640.00 634.45 637.25CERA 2820.00 2844.00 2815.00 2835.40KIOCL 140.00 141.00 137.75 140.95SOMANYCERA 423.00 425.50 421.45 422.40SFL 1395.90 1399.80 1395.90 1396.55SIS 842.00 850.00 842.00 847.15RATNAMANI 890.00 895.00 890.00 895.00

NIFTY 50

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY 50 11736.20 11810.95 11731.55 11787.15 96.80INDUSINDBK 1753.90 1820.00 1753.00 1818.00 69.10ICICIBANK 397.50 408.40 397.50 407.95 15.20TITAN 1093.10 1124.75 1092.40 1124.00 33.85ONGC 156.50 161.00 155.85 160.85 4.40ADANIPORTS 387.05 396.55 386.10 395.50 8.45GRASIM 869.90 885.00 866.05 884.90 18.90ASIANPAINT 1442.75 1464.90 1440.25 1460.00 28.45LT 1360.00 1390.90 1360.00 1380.50 23.60AXISBANK 765.10 776.00 765.10 775.00 12.15MARUTI 7369.90 7475.00 7350.00 7460.95 108.45HEROMOTOCO 2723.75 2749.90 2715.00 2740.55 39.85INFRATEL 310.95 316.90 309.40 312.75 4.30BAJAJ-AUTO 3045.00 3074.90 3032.20 3074.90 39.85TCS 2120.00 2155.95 2115.55 2137.00 23.70BAJAJFINSV 7548.00 7620.00 7496.00 7593.00 83.85DRREDDY 2831.00 2840.00 2807.00 2823.60 30.80IOC 155.60 158.50 153.75 155.60 1.60HINDALCO 214.00 217.90 213.15 214.95 2.20HINDUNILVR 1726.00 1742.00 1716.15 1739.75 17.70M&M 687.25 695.50 684.80 689.80 6.60SUNPHARMA 459.45 464.50 458.65 463.00 4.35HDFCBANK 2290.95 2309.90 2280.30 2307.00 18.20ITC 306.80 309.95 306.15 307.95 2.45BRITANNIA 3000.00 3030.00 2998.00 3020.00 21.55KOTAKBANK 1382.40 1390.45 1370.10 1383.50 9.65HDFC 2019.70 2034.30 2016.10 2027.20 12.95BHARTIARTL 348.00 351.10 340.75 349.90 2.20ULTRACEMCO 4229.60 4285.00 4206.10 4250.20 24.90NTPC 137.40 138.15 136.50 137.40 0.65RELIANCE 1345.00 1360.00 1340.00 1345.00 4.85UPL 935.00 939.60 925.65 931.50 1.75VEDL 185.20 189.75 184.30 185.00 0.30YESBANK 267.55 269.20 265.00 265.90 0.40BAJFINANCE 3018.00 3057.30 3018.00 3025.45 3.20SBIN 316.60 319.40 314.70 315.65 0.05TATASTEEL 553.55 556.90 549.15 553.25 0.10COALINDIA 252.00 256.70 248.05 250.00 0.00TECHM 799.00 804.70 795.15 797.10 -0.10HCLTECH 1109.50 1116.25 1102.35 1103.00 -0.25POWERGRID 199.00 199.85 196.50 197.90 -0.15EICHERMOT 21530.00 21541.80 21200.00 21299.15 -32.80BPCL 360.10 361.95 355.25 357.30 -1.10IBULHSGFIN 840.50 854.00 830.25 831.70 -3.05JSWSTEEL 294.00 294.85 290.35 291.00 -1.15ZEEL 418.00 424.50 414.40 414.95 -1.65INFY 727.90 727.90 714.10 724.00 -3.50TATAMOTORS 233.80 234.10 225.65 230.45 -1.30GAIL 356.00 358.20 350.30 351.60 -2.45CIPLA 570.00 571.75 556.60 558.65 -7.65WIPRO 291.35 291.45 278.00 281.60 -6.10

SE 500B

NIFTY NEXT 50

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY NEXT 50 28482.05 28588.30 28461.40 28542.45 152.95INDIGO 1485.10 1610.00 1477.40 1579.65 102.30IDEA 17.00 18.15 16.75 18.05 1.05BANDHANBNK 535.00 567.00 535.00 565.05 30.30HINDPETRO 260.10 265.40 260.10 263.90 6.80MOTHERSUMI 155.70 160.75 155.00 158.40 3.95UBL 1412.95 1448.00 1407.40 1439.00 29.65ACC 1680.00 1711.50 1677.00 1705.80 32.45AMBUJACEM 228.40 233.00 227.65 231.00 3.55PETRONET 238.50 241.55 238.50 240.70 3.15BOSCHLTD 18149.25 18352.00 18051.00 18290.00 238.40SHREECEM 19400.00 19667.40 19366.35 19630.00 245.10MCDOWELL-N 551.40 557.80 550.50 556.10 5.50MARICO 362.00 368.35 361.00 364.35 3.25DABUR 406.65 410.00 406.35 409.00 3.25HAVELLS 756.00 760.25 751.35 757.80 5.95ASHOKLEY 96.10 97.75 95.60 96.50 0.75AUROPHARMA 781.30 786.50 774.00 783.55 5.95SRTRANSFIN 1216.50 1247.00 1203.40 1228.20 7.25COLPAL 1224.00 1233.40 1216.30 1222.50 6.90ICICIGI 1085.25 1093.40 1063.00 1080.00 4.35HDFCLIFE 407.10 412.65 403.75 407.00 1.55SIEMENS 1188.50 1197.00 1178.65 1191.00 3.35BAJAJHLDNG 3318.90 3329.60 3293.60 3318.00 6.90PGHH 10736.75 10748.00 10643.05 10700.00 16.65CONCOR 516.00 516.00 507.45 513.80 0.40GICRE 250.05 252.80 250.00 250.00 0.00LUPIN 834.10 844.50 826.40 831.35 -0.25PEL 2695.00 2731.20 2664.90 2688.00 -0.90PAGEIND 24046.55 24150.00 23739.95 23890.00 -7.20NIACL 189.00 190.60 187.50 188.25 -0.10BIOCON 624.25 626.35 619.80 622.00 -0.35HINDZINC 283.05 286.50 281.10 284.25 -0.20MRF 58269.00 58540.00 57950.10 58100.00 -47.90BANKBARODA 131.10 131.55 130.00 130.60 -0.15HDFCAMC 1585.10 1587.00 1576.20 1580.00 -2.40NHPC 24.20 24.30 23.95 24.05 -0.05ICICIPRULI 363.00 369.35 362.40 365.00 -1.05BHEL 77.50 78.85 76.20 77.05 -0.25SAIL 59.20 59.25 58.30 58.70 -0.20NMDC 104.95 105.55 103.80 104.00 -0.60GODREJCP 674.95 676.00 667.00 668.00 -5.00ABB 1432.00 1436.90 1410.00 1412.75 -10.55PIDILITIND 1300.00 1303.00 1287.50 1291.05 -9.75L&TFH 151.85 152.15 149.10 149.60 -1.25CADILAHC 341.05 342.80 336.90 337.35 -3.65DLF 186.70 187.90 182.10 182.70 -2.05SBILIFE 626.00 626.00 615.10 616.00 -7.35OFSS 3615.00 3634.35 3546.80 3563.00 -47.20DIVISLAB 1748.30 1753.90 1711.30 1713.00 -31.85DMART 1454.10 1466.00 1395.00 1409.90 -43.35

world 13LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019

Emma Thompson laments treatment

of writers in Hollywood

London: Actor Emma Thompson has blasted Hollywood studios for miserable treatment of writ-ers, saying they are considered “the lowest ofthe low”. The veteran star said the studios donot give the respect and creative space thewriters deserve, adding they are often firedwithout proper explanation. “One of the rea-sons is that they need stars - big stars - whowork all the time and have to be fitted intotimescales. What happens is there will be anidea for a story. It will be in development, andthen suddenly two of the big stars come free,and everyone says, ‘right, let’s shoot it, we’llwork it out as we shoot’. “One thing I know,after 30 years of doing this, is you can’t workit out while you shoot... It always ends up justmaking things so much more difficult in post-production,” Thompson told the Guardian.The 60-year-old star, who won an Oscar forbest screenplay for her work on 1995 film“Sense and Sensibility”, said she can will no longer follow the infamous trend of working withincomplete scripts. “This is a tradition and yet, when there is a good screenplay, and everyonerecognises that it’s a good screenplay, there’s a lot of fuss and a tremendous amount of what canonly be described as lip service to the value of good writing. “And then everything continuesas before. That’s what happens, and I don’t know how to change that. But I know that I don’twant to make films with unfinished scripts,” she added.Thompson is currently working on “LastChristmas”, which she co-wrote with Bryony Kimmings.

GLOBE TROTTING

Investigators probe Notre-Dame

inferno as donations pour in

AFP n PARIS

French investigators inter-viewed construction workers

involved in renovation work atthe Notre-Dame cathedral onTuesday as they sought to iden-tify the source of a devastatingblaze at the monument that hassent shockwaves through Franceand the world. Donations andoffers of help began to pour inas day broke over the City ofLight, revealing the extent of thedamage from Monday night’sinferno which took around 15hours to extinguish.

“All night long I saw mengoing past with tears in theireyes. I described it this way: Itwas total chaos, but we can’t letit knock us down,” said PhilippeMarsset, the vicar general ofNotre-Dame. Most of the roofhas been destroyed, the steeplehas collapsed and an unknownnumber of artifacts and paint-ings have been lost, but thewalls, bell towers and the mostfamous circular stained-glasswindows remain in tact.Around 400 firefighters battledthrough the night to control the

flames and the last remnants ofthe inferno were extinguished ataround 10 am on Tuesday, 15hours after it broke out.Ongoing renovation work iswidely suspected to have causedthe fire after the blaze broke outin an area below scaffolding.

Investigators interviewedwitnesses overnight and beganspeaking to the employees offive different construction com-panies which were working onthe monument, said publicprosecutor Remy Heitz.

“Nothing indicates this wasa voluntary act,” Heitz toldreporters, adding that 50 inves-tigators had been assigned to thecase. French PresidentEmmanuel Macron had strucka defiant tone on Monday nightas he visited the scene with hiswife Brigitte, telling reporters:“We will rebuild Notre-Damebecause it is what the Frenchexpect.” He described the cathe-dral as the “epicentre of our life”.A public appeal for funds drewimmediate support from Frenchbillionaires and other privatedonors as well foreign countriesincluding Germany, Italy and

Russia which offered to lendtheir expertise.

French billionaire BernardArnault announced Tuesdaythat he and the LVMH luxuryconglomerate he controls wouldgive 200 million euros (USD226 million), after luxury rivalKering offered 100 millioneuros. Specialised craftsmenand rare materials are alsoexpected to be needed to restorethe monument, seen as symbolof Western civilisation and anemblem of France which hassurvived revolutions and wars.

A French wood company inMurlin, central France, offeredto put its loggers to work imme-diately for the oak beams thatwill be needed to rebuild thevaulted roof of the UNESCO-listed World Heritage site.

“The work will surely takeyears, decades even, but it willrequire thousands of cubicmetres of wood,” SylvainCharlois of the Charlois grouptold France Inter radio. The pri-vately run French HeritageFoundation launched a call fordonations on its website —www.fondation-patrimoine.org

— while several pages were setup on the Leetchi fundraisingportal. “We have everything tobe able to rebuild it in exactlythe same way,” Culture MinisterFranck Riester told France Inter,adding that the governmentwas looking at ways to encour-age donations.

Thousands of Parisians andtourists had watched in horrorfrom nearby streets on Mondaynight as flames engulfed thebuilding and officials tried tosave as much as they could ofthe cathedral’s countless trea-sures, built up over centuries.The inferno destroyed two-thirds of the roof of the 850-year-old landmark, whose spec-tacular Gothic spire collapsed asorange flames and clouds ofgrey smoke billowed into theevening sky. One firefightersuffered injuries during theblaze, which at one point threat-ened to bring down one of thetwo monumental towers on thewestern facade of the cathedralthat is visited by around 13 mil-lion tourists each year.

Culture minister Riesterwarned that the structure

At left a1987 file photo of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and at right an image from April 15, 2019 of Notre Dame on fire. Firefighters declared success Tuesday April 16, 2019 morning in an over 12-hour battle to extinguish an inferno engulfing Paris' iconic Notre Dame cathedral that claimed its spire and roof, but spared its bell towers and lastpicuture shows Soldiers patrol in front of Notre Dame cathedral Tuesday April 16, 2019 in Paris. Firefighters declared success Tuesday in a more than 12-hour battle to extinguish an inferno engulfing Paris' iconic Notre Dame cathedral that claimed its spire and roof, but spared its bell towers. AP

Int’l sorrow over church fire Paris (AFP): International leadersvoiced their sorrow and solidaritywith the French people as fireravaged the iconic Notre-DameCathedral in Paris on Monday.Here are some reactions deliveredthrough statements and tweets.

EUROPEAN UNION Notre Dame “belongs to thewhole of humanity. It has inspiredwriters, painters, philosophersand visitors who have come fromall round the world.” - EUCommission head Jean ClaudeJuncker “Notre Dame of Paris isNotre-Dame of the whole ofEurope. We are all with Paristoday.” - EU Council PresidentDonald Tusk

VATICAN “We express our closeness withFrench Catholics and with theParisian population. We pray forthe firefighters and for all thosewho are trying their best to tacklethis dramatic situation.” - Vaticanspokesman

UNITED NATIONS “Horrified by the pictures comingfrom Paris with the fire engulfingNotre-Dame Cathedral — aunique example of world heritagethat has stood tall since the 14thcentury. My thoughts are with thepeople and government of

France.” - Secretary GeneralAntonio Guterres

TRUMP “So horrible to watch the massivefire at Notre-Dame Cathedral inParis. Perhaps flying watertankers could be used to put itout. Must act quickly!” - USPresident Donald Trump

IRAN “Saddened that Notre Dame —that iconic monument dedicatedto the worship of our one God &that brought all of us closerthrough Hugo’s literarymasterpiece — is partiallydestroyed after standing throughwars & revolution for 800 yrs.Our thoughts are w/ the French &all Catholics.” - Foreign MinisterMohammad Javad Zarif

ANGLICAN CHURCH “Tonight we pray for thefirefighters tackling the tragicNotre Dame fire — and foreveryone in France and beyondwho watches and weeps for thisbeautiful, sacred place wheremillions have met with JesusChrist.” - Archbishop ofCanterbury Justin Welby

BARACK OBAMA “Notre Dame is one of the world’sgreat treasures, and we’rethinking of the people of France

in your time of grief. It’s in ournature to mourn when we seehistory lost — but it’s also in ournature to rebuild for tomorrow, asstrong as we can.” - US ex-president Barack Obama

MICHELLE OBAMA -“The majesty of Notre Dame —the history, artistry, andspirituality — took our breathaway, lifting us to a higherunderstanding of who we are andwho we can be. Being here inParis tonight, my heart acheswith the people of France. Yet Iknow that Notre Dame will soonawe us again.” - Former first ladyMichelle Obama

BELGIUM“Notre Dame de Paris on fire, a

huge emotion, Victor Hugo, a partof the history of France, ofEurope. My thoughts and supportfor our French friends.” - BelgianPrime Minister Charles Michel

BRITAIN “My thoughts are with the peopleof France tonight and with theemergency services who arefighting the terrible blaze atNotre-Dame Cathedral.” - BritishPrime Minister Theresa May

EGYPT “The Arab Republic of Egyptaffirms that it is following, with

pain and sorrow, the Notre-DameCathedral catching fire, especiallythat this monument is ofimportant cultural and historicsignificance for France and aspart of the world’s heritage.” -Egyptian foreign ministry

GERMANY “These horrible images of Notre-Dame on fire are painful. Notre-Dame is a symbol of France andof our European culture. Ourthoughts are with our Frenchfriends.” - German ChancellorAngela Merkel’s spokesmanSteffen Seibert - Greece - “Thecatastrophe of Notre-Dame inParis deeply saddens us. It is notonly a national catastrophe forFrance but also for Europe andfor world heritage. EmmanuelMacron, we are by your side.” -Greek Prime Minister AlexisTsipras

ITALY “A blow to the heart for theFrench and for us allEuropeans.” - Italian PrimeMinister Giuseppe Conte

LEBANON “Sadness envelopes the world tosee Notre-Dame Cathedral in Parison fire. An indescribable catastrophefor heritage and for humanity.Lebanon is in full solidarity with itsfriends, the French people.”

AFP n KHARTOUM

Sudanese protesters havehardened their stand,

demanding a transitional mil-itary council be scrapped andimmediately replaced with civil-ian rule as Tuesday they refusedto end a days-long sit-in outsidearmy headquarters. Organisersfear the army is seeking tohijack the revolution on thestreets which saw veteran pres-ident Omar al-Bashir, whosethree-decade reign was toppledon Thursday by top comman-ders after four months ofnationwide demonstrations.

On Monday, activistsaccused commanders oflaunching an abortive attemptto clear the sit-in outside armyheadquarters, ending the rela-tive calm that has reigned sinceBashir’s overthrow. Witnessessaid several army vehicles hadsurrounded the area and thattroops were seen removing thebarricades which demonstra-tors had put up as a securitymeasure.

Activists voiced fears thatthe army would make a new

attempt on Tuesday. Severalvehicles carrying paramilitaryforces deployed on a bridge thatconnects the protest site with

north Khartoum, a witnesssaid.

“The army will try to makeanother attempt to disperse

the protesters because it isunder huge pressure,” said pro-tester Ahmed Najdih. “But weare not going anywhere. We willnot lose our patience. We knowwhat happened in Egypt and wedon’t want that to happen to us.”

In neighbouring Egypt, theso-called Arab Spring revolu-tion of 2011 toppled veteranpresident Hosni Mubarak andreplaced him with electedIslamist Mohammed Morsionly for him to be overthrownin 2013 by then army chief, nowPresident Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.Protest laders have graduallytoughened their approachtowards the transitional militarycouncil, as policy announce-ments from its uniformed offi-cers have multiplied.

Amid widespread anger atthe number of faces from theold regime, the protesterssecured the replacement of itsfirst chairman, a longtimeBashir loyalist after just 24hours last week. But the hon-eymoon of his successor,General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, lasted just days. Asweekend talks on the transition

failed to make headway, protestleaders who initially demand-ed a “swift” handover to civil-ian rule, began demanding firstan “immediate” handover thenthe military council’s dissolu-tion.

“We want the militarycouncil to be dissolved and bereplaced by a civilian councilhaving representatives of thearmy,” said Mohamed Naji, asenior leader of the SudaneseProfessionals Association,which has spearheaded theprotests. Both sides in thestandoff have sought to woointernational support.

The protesters have high-lighted their sacrifices in muralspainted outside army head-quarters of some of the morethan 60 of their comrades killedin clashes with the securityforces. The military councilhas pledged that individualsimplicated in killing protesterswould be held to account andthat demonstrators detainedunder a state of emergencyimposed by the president dur-ing his final weeks in powerwould be freed.

Fear of army action as Sudan protesters toughen standUN owes India $38 million

for peacekeeping ops

PTI n UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations owesIndia USD 38 million, the

highest it has to pay to any coun-try, for the peacekeeping opera-tions as of March 2019, UNSecretary General AntonioGuterres has said as he voicedconcern over the world body’sdeteriorating financial health. Inhis report on improving thefinancial situation of the worldbody, he said, as of March 31,2019, the total amount payableto troop- and police-contribut-ing countries with respect toactive peacekeeping missionswas USD 265 million.

Of this, the UN owes USD38 million to India, followed byRwanda (USD 31 million),Pakistan (USD 28 million),Bangladesh (USD 25 million)and Nepal (USD 23 million),Guterres said in his report.Hesaid the arrears to troop- andp o l i c e - c o n t r i b u t i n g(TCCs/PCCs) countries couldincrease to USD 588 million by

June 2019 “in the worst-case sce-nario”. The UN chief added thatwhich troop- and police-con-tributing countries will or willnot be paid depends on the cashposition of the individual mis-sions to which they contributeand is not determined by theirindividual capacity to shoulderthat unfair burden.

“That has created a paradox.The United Nations is now effec-tively borrowing for prolongedperiods from troop- and police-contributing countries. Many ofthem are low-income countriesfor which that imposes a signif-icant financial burden. At thesame time, the Organisation isasking those same countries todo more to train their personneland improve the quality of theirequipment, all while operating inincreasingly challenging envi-ronments.

The United Nations, how-ever, is not fulfilling its obligationtowards them in a timely man-ner,” he said. Guterres furthersaid that troop- and police-con-

tributing countries make everyeffort to provide well-trained andwell-equipped personnel topeacekeeping operations, andthey continue to improve on thatobjective.

“Reimbursement by theUN for their contributions is keyto supporting those efforts. Thedelays in reimbursing the con-tributing countries expose themto financial challenges in pursuitof their efforts and consequent-ly have an adverse impact on theoperations and the delivery oftheir mandates,” he said. Earlierthis year, India’s PermanentRepresentative to the UN SyedAkbaruddin had said that the?financial situation of the UnitedNations ?peacekeeping?, partic-ularly the non-payment/delayedpayment of arrears to thetroop/police contributing coun-tries, is a “cause for concern”. Hehad said that the practice ofdelaying payments toTCCs/PCCs, even as contractualobligations to others are met, can-not continue unaddressed.

Teens’ desire to rebel may be usedto make them give up junk foodWashington (PTI): Teenagers’natural desire to rebel againstauthority could be tapped todrive them to replace junk foodwith healthier choices, a study hasfound. Food marketing, designedto foster strong positive associa-tions with junk food in kids’minds and to drive overeating, isone of the biggest obstacles in thepublic fight against obesity. Thestudy, published in the journalNature Human Behaviour, foundthat a simple and brief interven-tion can provide lasting protec-tion for adolescents against theseharmful effects of food market-ing. The method works in part bytapping into teens’ natural desireto rebel against authority,researchers said. The team fromthe University of Chicago in theUS went into classrooms and hadone group of students read a fact-based, expose-style article onbig food companies. The articleframed the corporations as

manipulative marketers trying tohook consumers on addictivejunk food for financial gain.The stories also described decep-tive product labels and advertis-ing practices that target vulner-able populations, including veryyoung children and the poor.

A separate, control group ofstudents received traditionalmaterial from existing healtheducation programs about thebenefits of healthy eating. Theresearchers found that the group

that read the exposes chose fewerjunk food snacks and selectedwater over sugary sodas the nextday. Teens first read the market-ing expose material, and then didan activity called “Make It True,”meant to reinforce the negativeportrayal of food marketing.

The students receivedimages of food advertisementson iPads with instructions towrite or draw on the ads —graffiti style — to transform theads from false to true.

The study found that theeffects of the marketing exposeintervention endured for theremainder of the school year —a full three months.

The effects were particu-larly impressive among boys,who reduced their daily pur-chases of unhealthy drinks andsnacks in the school cafeteriaby 31 per cent in that time peri-od, compared with the controlgroup.

China cracking down on brokers luring Pakwomen for traffickingBeijing (PTI): Chinese policehave ramped up efforts to closedown illegal marriage centresand brokers amid complaints oftrafficking of Pakistani womento China, who were lured withfake marriages. Local authori-ties in Heze, East China’sShandong Province, havestepped up efforts to close ille-gal marriage brokers whichintroduce women fromPakistan to Chinese men, state-run Global Times reported onTuesday.

There are many videos ofwedding ceremonies ofPakistani women with Chinesemen. Many of these videoswere claimed to be shot inShandong, one of China’s mostpopulous provinces, the reportsaid. The scandal came to lightafter a top private Pakistanitelevision station ‘ARY news’

last week aired images of sev-eral Chinese men with six localwomen in different rooms,including two teenage girls, atan illegal matchmaking centrein the eastern city of Lahore.

A Voice of America (VOA)report said the ARY channelcrew showed up unannouncedat the facility along with localpolice and interviewed the for-eigners, their local facilitatorsand the alleged Pakistani wivesof the Chinese men.The localfacilitators told the TV channelthey would lure families into anagreement by saying theirwould-be Chinese son-in-lawwas seeking Pakistani citizen-ship so he could invest in thecountry as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridorproject (CPEC), the USD 60billion project connecting boththe countries.

Demonstrators rally near the military headquarters in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday,April 15, 2019. The Sudanese protest movement on Monday welcomed the "positivesteps" taken by the ruling military council, which held talks over the weekend withthe opposition leaders and released some political prisoners. The praise camedespite a brief incident earlier Monday where activists said soldiers attempted todisperse the ongoing protest sit-in outside the military headquarters in the capital,Khartoum, but eventually backed off. AP

world 14LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019

Shootout concludes

after 17 hours in Pak

PTI n PESHAWAR

Pakistan security forces raid-ed a militant hideout in a

residential compound in thenorthwestern city of Peshawar,triggering a 17-hour standoff inwhich a police officer and fiveterrorists were killed. The jointoperation was carried out onthe basis of an intelligence tip-off on the presence of terroristsin a three-storey building. Theoperation saw the exchange ofheavy fire between securityforces and terrorists, officialssaid. “Army and KhyberPakhtunkhwa police conduct-ed a joint Intelligence BasedOperation in Hayatabad PhaseVII, Peshawar against a terror-ist hideout,” the Inter-ServicesPublic Relations (ISPR) - themedia wing of the military -said in a statement Tuesday.“During exchange of fire, fiveterrorists have been killed,” itsaid.

An officer, identified asASI Qamar Alam, was alsokilled while two others injured

during the shootout whichbegan Monday night, it added.The terrorists, wanted forattacks on a judge and addi-tional inspector-general ofpolice, were hiding in the three-storey residential building in aposh locality of Hayatabadtownship bordering Khyberdistrict, sources said.

The security forces blew upthe main boundary walls of thehouse and entered the building.The militants were asked tosurrender but instead, theyopened fire on the securityforces. Police said the suspectsalso threw grenades, whichkilled the officer. The killing ofthe police officer triggered a fullfledge operation against ter-rorists and continued till 1230pm on Tuesday. Zahoor Afridi,SSP Operation Peshawar, toldreporters that operation hasbeen successfully completedas all the terrorists were killedand the compound was cleared.During the clearance operation,the forces recovered explosive

laden motorcycle which wasneutralised by the BombDisposal Squad.

Peshawar CorpsCommander Lt Gen ShaheenMazhar Mahmood visited thesite and directed officials toadopt all possible precautionsto ensure the security of thearea’s affected residents.Peshawar city police chief QaziJameel told the media that oneof the suspects had been killedlast night, whereas the rest ofthe four were neutralised today.

“The Special ServicesGroup and police personnelparticipated in the operation.Two of them were injured dur-ing today’s action,” Jameel said.

Jameel said that houses inthe neighbourhood were vacat-ed to avert any casualty to localresidents. He said that theoperation lasted for over 17hours as the forces were direct-ed to conduct the operation insuch a manner to avoid casu-alties to civilians. The terroristsare yet to be identified. An Armed Pakistani commando wears headband reads "God is great," takes part in a raid with others against militants in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday. AP

Pak Army barsAsad Durrani, 2 ISPR ex-DGsfrom appearing on mediaIslamabad (PTI): Pakistanispy agency ISI’s ex-chief Lt Gen(retd.) Asad Durrani and twoformer head of the military’smedia wing have been deniedpermission by the army toappear on media as defenceanalysts. In a notification issuedon Monday, the Inter-ServicesPublic Relations (ISPR) - themedia wing of the military -has allowed 26 retired officersof the armed forces to appearon media as defence analysts.

“The prominent omissionsare Brig (retd.) MahmoodShah, Lt Gen (retd.) AsadDurrani, Lt Gen (retd.) TalatMasood, Maj Amir (retd.) andDG ISPR Maj Gen (retd.) AtharAbbas and Maj Gen (retd.)Rashid Quershi,” the Dawnreported, citing the notification.Seven retired Lt Generals areamong those allowed to appearon media as defence analysts.

“Their views/com-ments/opinions on media shallremain personal/independentexpression and not attributableto the institution,” the notifi-cation said. It also said that anyother retired officer desirous ofappearing as defence analystcan contact the ISPR to obtaina no-objection certificate.

The Pakistan ElectronicMedia Regulatory Authorityrecently instructed all TVchannels to seek prior clearancefrom the ISPR before invitingretired military officers onnews and current affairs pro-grammes “to solicit their viewson matters of national securi-ty”. In a notification datedApril 4, the media regulatorsaid that “concerned quarters”have observed that retired mil-itary officers, when invited onTV programmes, “are usuallynot fully conversant with thelatest defence and securitydevelopments due to their ser-vice background and post-retirement time”.

Lt Gen (retd.) Durrani andLt Gen (retd.) Masood fre-quently appeared on the Indianmedia. In February, thePakistan Army held Durraniguilty of violating military codeof conduct by co-authoring acontroversial book with India’sformer intelligence head andpunished him by stopping hispension and other benefits.Durrani, who headed the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) fromAugust 1990 till March 1992,along with former RAW chiefA S Dulat published the booktitled ‘The Spy Chronicles:RAW, ISI and the Illusion ofPeace’ in India.The powerfularmy had ordered a Court ofInquiry against Durrani overthe book in which the two for-mer spy chiefs touched uponsome thorny issues includingterrorism, particularly Mumbaiattack, Kashmir and the influ-ence of intelligence agen-cies.Durrani is also not allowedto leave the country due to hisname being on no-fly list.

Lahore (PTI): Pakistanand India on Tuesday held atechnical meeting to discuss themodalities for the corridorlinking Gurudwara DarbarSahib in Kartarpur to DeraBaba Nanak shrine inGurdaspur district in Punjab.The technical experts and for-eign office officials from bothsides participated in the talksheld at Zero Point (Kartarpur),according to Geo News. Theyreportedly discussed installa-tion of a border fence and roaddesign.

An official of the PakistanRangers told PTI that the meet-ing of both sides took place atthe Kartarpur Zero Point to thePTI but said any statement willbe issued either by Pakistan’sForeign Office or the Inter-Services Public Relations(ISPR), the media wing of thePakistan military. In a majorinitiative last November, bothIndia and Pakistan agreed to setup the Kartarpur Corridor tolink the historic GurdwaraDarbar Sahib — the final rest-ing place of Sikh faith’s founderGuru Nanak Dev — to DeraBaba Nanak in Gurdaspur.

Kartarpur Sahib is locatedin Pakistan’s Narowal districtacross the river Ravi, about fourkilometres from the Dera BabaNanak shrine. Earlier, Indiapostponed the KartarpurCorridor meeting between thetwo countries at the Wagahborder scheduled for April 2.India and Pakistan on March19 held a meeting of technicalexperts on the Kartarpur cor-ridor during which its align-ment, coordinates, and otherengineering aspects of the pro-posed crossing points were

discussed.The technical meeting at

the level of experts, includingengineers and surveyors, washeld at “proposed zero points”in the follow up to the decisionreached on the March 14 meet-ing. Later, the Pakistani Cabinetconstituted a 10-memberPakistan Sikh GurdwaraPrabandhak Committee(PSGPC) to facilitate Sikh pil-grims after opening of theKartarpur corridor. Indiavoiced concerns over the pres-ence of several Khalistani sep-aratists in the committee on theKartarpur corridor and said itwill wait for a response fromIslamabad on the issue and willnot go ahead with a previous-ly agreed meeting on the cor-ridor on April 2 in Wagah onthe Pakistani side. During theprevious meeting, both sidesjointly surveyed the coordi-nates of the Zero Point and dis-

cussed the technical details,including finished road level,high flood level etc.

Pakistan will build the cor-ridor from the Indian border tothe Gurdwara Darbar Sahib inKartarpur while the other partfrom Dera Baba Nanak inIndian Punjab’s Gurdaspur dis-trict up to the border will beconstructed by India. InPakistan, the groundbreakingceremony of the corridor wasperformed on November 28last year by Prime MinisterImran Khan. Fifty per cent ofthe four-kilometre stretchbeing built by Pakistan hasbeen completed while thestretch between the Zero Lineto Baba Nanak’s shrine is beingbuilt by India.

The corridor will beopened in November this yearin connection with the 550birth anniversary of Baba GuruNanak.

Pak, India officials hold technical meeting on Kartarpur corridor

US asks its citizens to reconsider travelplans to Pakistan due to terrorism

Washington (PTI) The UShas advised its citizens toreconsider their travel toPakistan due to terrorism andasked them not to travel torestive Balochistan, KhyberPakhtunkhwa and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK), iden-tified as the most dangerousareas due to terror attacks.

While Pakistan in generalhas been placed in “LevelThree” category in the latesttravel advisory issued by the USon Monday, several parts of thecountry, including Balochistan,KPK province, PoK and India-Pakistan border, have beenplaced in the most dangerous“Level Four” category, in whichUS citizens are asked not totravel due to high risk areas.

“Due to risks to civil avi-ation operating within or nearPakistan, the Federal AviationAdministration (FAA) has

issued a Notice to Airmen(NOTAM) and/or a SpecialFederal Aviation Regulation(SFAR),” the State Departmentsaid in the travel advisory.Asserting that terror groupscontinue plotting possibleattacks in Pakistan, the StateDepartment said that terroristsmay attack with little or nowarning, targeting transporta-tion hubs, markets, shoppingmalls, military installations,airports, universities, touristlocations, schools, hospitals,places of worship and govern-ment facilities. “Terroristshave targeted US diplomatsand diplomatic facilities in thepast, and information suggeststhey continue to do so,” it said.

Terrorist attacks continueto happen across Pakistan,with most occurring inBalochistan and KhyberPakhtunkhwa, including for-

mer Federally AdministeredTribal Areas (FATA). Large-scale terrorist attacks haveresulted in hundreds of casu-alties, it said.

“Do not travel toBalochistan province,” the StateDepartment said, adding thatactive terrorist groups, an activeseparatist movement, sectarianconflicts and deadly terroristattacks against civilians, gov-ernment offices and securityforces destabilise the province.

Similarly, in the PoK, itwarned that militant groups areknown to operate in the areaand the threat of armed conflictbetween India and Pakistanremains.

“Indian and Pakistani mil-itary forces periodicallyexchange gun and artillery fireacross the Line of Control(LoC),” it said. Noting thatIndia and Pakistan maintain a

strong military presence onboth sides of the border, thetravel advisory said the onlyofficial Pakistan-India bordercrossing point for persons whoare not citizens of India orPakistan is in the province ofPunjab between Wagah andAttari.

“Do not travel to KPKprovince, which includes theformer FATA,” the advisorysaid. Active terrorist and insur-gent groups routinely conductattacks against civilians, non-governmental organisations(NGOs), government offices,and security forces.

“These groups historicallyhave not discriminatedbetween government officialsand civilians. Assassinationand kidnapping attempts arecommon, including the target-ing of polio eradication teams,”it said.

PTI n WASHINGTON

The Trump administrationhas worked to make India a

more prominent part of itsregional strategy, a topAmerican think-tank has said ina report, lauding PresidentDonald Trump for promotingstrategic ties with India in a “sus-tained manner”. Asserting thatthe Trump administration hasmaintained the success story ofUS-India relations initiated byGeorge W Bush, the Council onForeign Relations (CFR) in itsreport gives the US President ahigh B+ grade when it comes toAmerica’s ties with India.

The CFR in its specialreport “Trump’s Foreign Policyare Better Than They Seem”said President Trump “deservescredit for promoting strategicties with India in a sustainedmanner”. “The Trump admin-istration has worked to make

India a more prominent part ofits regional strategy. Afterchanging the name of US PacificCommand to US Indo-PacificCommand in May 2018, theUnited States is now planning itsfirst tri-service exercise with theIndian military,” said the reportauthored by former USAmbassador to India, RobertBlackwill.

President Trump’s inclina-tions, as conveyed through hisSouth Asia strategy, whichaccords primacy to India; hisrelease of advanced weaponssystems, such as unmannedaerial vehicles, for sale to NewDelhi; and his decision to treatIndia on par with NATO allieswhere strategic technologyrelease is concerned are all

viewed as favourable towardIndia, it said. The report saidthat New Delhi has according-ly responded with bold initia-tives of its own.

“Although it has not entire-ly endorsed the Trump admin-istration’s Indo-Pacific strategy,it has applauded the strategy’sdeclared vision of a “free andopen” Indo-Pacific region—aconcept first articulated byJapan’s Prime Minister ShinzoAbe, with whom Prime MinisterNarendra Modi enjoys anexceptionally close relation-ship,” the CFR said.

“In addition, India has qui-etly—and sometimes not soquietly—begun to cooperatemilitarily with the US in signif-icant ways even in peacetime,”said the report, in whichBlackwill argues that eventhough many of Trump’s actionshave been impetuous and thepresident oversees a chaotic

and often dysfunctional poli-cymaking process, some of hisindividual foreign policies arebetter than his critics give himcredit for.

Blackwill points to what hesees as a much-needed tough-ening of US policy towardChina, a justified US with-drawal from Syria and disen-gagement from Afghanistan,and closer relations with India,Israel, and Saudi Arabia, saidCFR President Richard N Hassin the forward to the report.Observing that it is no wonderthat Trump is not given suffi-cient credit for his foreign poli-cies, the report said that aftermore than two tumultuousyears in office, the president hasdisrupted a whole series of con-ventions in the internationalsystem, some of them undoubt-edly needed, but adopted fewfollow-on strategies and little orno implementation.

Amid intensedrought,deadly rainslash AfKabul (AFP): Torrential rain-storms have lashed drought-stricken Afghanistan in recentdays, bringing widespreadflooding that has killed at leastfive people and washed awayhomes including in the capitalKabul, officials said Tuesday.While some welcomed the wetweather after the punishingdry spell of recent years, resi-dents complained about thelack of infrastructure and gov-ernment assistance to helpthem clear up from the deluge.

Sixteen of Afghanistan’s 34provinces were hit in the past 24hours, destroying or damaginghundreds of houses and sweep-ing away livestock, saidHashmat Bahaduri, aspokesman for Afghanistan’sNational Disaster ManagementAuthority (ANDMA). Hardesthit was Herat province in west-ern Afghanistan, where at leastfive people were killed whentheir houses collapsed, JilaniFarhad, a spokesman for thelocal governor said.

Officials were also search-ing for 17 people whose mini-van was swept away by flood-ing in the province’s Obey dis-trict late Monday, Farhadadded. “There were womenand children in the vehicle, weare searching but haven’t foundany sign of them yet,” he said.Extraordinary scenes playedout in the capital, where theusually parched Kabul Riverswelled suddenly, bursting itsbanks in places and swampingsurrounding streets and neigh-bourhoods with about three feetof water in places.

Drug addicts who normal-ly spend their time in theriverbed or hiding underbridges could be seen openlysmoking opium at street level aswater swirled around them. ByTuesday, authorities were warn-ing locals living along the riverto be prepared to evacuatetheir homes as water levelssurged. Bahaduri said 113houses had already been par-tially or completely destroyed inKabul.

India-US ties promoted in sustained manner by Trump Global tribunal tohear Ukraine,Russia sea dispute

The Hague (AFP): ThePermanent Court of Arbitrationwill in June hear Russia’s objec-tions against a move by Ukraineto drag it before the world’ old-est arbitration body over rightsto coastal waters aroundannexed Crimea. Russiasnatched the Black Sea penin-sula from Kiev in 2014 and wasbeing accused by the West ofillegally blocking access to theSea of Azov, used by bothRussia and Ukraine. Kiev inSeptember 2016 draggedMoscow to the Hague-basedPCA, saying it instituted arbi-tration under internationalmaritime laws “to vindicate itsrights as the coastal state inmaritime zones adjacent toCrimea in the Black Sea, Sea ofAzov and Kerch Strait.” Itasked the arbitral tribunal to“enforce its maritime rights byordering the Russian Federationto cease its internationallywrongful actions in the relevantwaters.”

Moscow in turn indicatedit would submit its objections inthe case to the PCA, with a pub-lic hearing scheduled for June.“The opening statement of theRussian Federation will bedelivered on Monday, 10 Juneat 10 am (local time),” the PCAsaid in a statement Tuesday.Ukraine’s opening statementwill be delivered a day later, it

added. Russia in Novemberfired and seized three Ukraniannavy vessels, capturing dozensof sailors near the Kerch Strait,as they tried to pass from theBlack Sea to the Azov Sea. Theincident was the first openmilitary clash between Kievand Moscow since 2014, whenthe Crimea was annexed and apro-Russian insurgency erupt-ed in eastern Ukraine.

NATO chief JensStoltenberg earlier this monthsaid the alliance planned toaddress “the aggressive actionsof Russia” in the Black Sea. KayBailey, the US ambassador toNATO added that allies wouldsend more ships to the area toensure that “countries in andaround the Black Sea are safefrom Russian meddling.”Moscow in turn criticised theBlack Sea plan, saying it regret-ted that the alliance “has nointention to renounce its polit-ical and military confronta-tion with Russia” asking insteadto de-escalate “military andpolitical tensions.”

Set up in 1899, the PCA isthe world’s oldest arbitral tri-bunal and resolves disputesbetween countries and privateparties through referring tocontracts, special agreementsand various treaties, such as theUN Convention on the Law ofthe Sea. 0

Kazakhstan to host Syria talks this month: Foreign ministryNur-Sultan (Kazakhstan)

(AFP): Kazakhstan saidTuesday it will host fresh talkson Syria on April 25-26, backedby Iran, Russia and Turkey asthey eye an end to the eight-year conflict.Delegations fromthe Syrian regime and armedopposition groups are expect-ed to participate along withrepresentatives of the threeguarantor states, Kazakhstan’s

foreign ministry said in astatement. The United Nationsand Jordan would attend asobservers, it added. The situa-tion on the ground in Idlib willbe on the agenda of the talks,as well as “confidence-buildingmeasures” and the distributionof humanitarian aid.

The talks will be the first inAstana for the UN’s new Syriaenvoy Geir Pedersen, who took

over from Staffan de Mistura inJanuary. De Mistura seemedfrustrated at the most recentAstana talks in November,ruing a “missed opportunity” tomove closer towards a politicalsettlement. Pedersen said thattalks in Damascus Sunday withSyrian Foreign Minister WalidMuallem focused on a politicalsettlement had been “substan-tial.” Russia, a key backer of

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has taken a lead role indiplomatic efforts through theso-called “Astana process” withIran and Turkey that has large-ly sidelined UN diplomacy.The talks there began inJanuary 2017.

Last month theKazakh capital changed itsname from Astana to Nur-Sultan, although the former

name is still being used for thetalks. Syria’s war has killedmore than 370,000 people anddisplaced millions since theconflict began with the repres-sion of anti-governmentprotests in 2011. The Syrianregime has made a militarycomeback with Russian mili-tary support since 2015, andnow holds almost two-thirds ofthe country.

Protesters demonstrate in support of President Donald Trump near a Fox News town-hall style event with U.S. Sen. BernieSanders, Monday. AP

sport 15LUCKNOW | WEDNESDAY | APRIL 17, 2019

AFP ■ LONDON

Arsenal moved into thePremier League top four,

but made hard work of see-ing off 10-man Watford 1-0 thanks to Pierre-EmerickAubameyang's fortunateearly opener on Monday.

Aubameyang profited from anerror by Watford goalkeeper Ben Fosteras he blasted an attempted clearance inoff the Gabon international.

Watford captain Troy Deeney wasthen shown a straight red card after just11 minutes, but the Gunners failed to

make the most of their man advantageand were fortunate as the hosts twicehit the woodwork.

However, Unai Emery's men heldout for a first clean sheet away fromhome in the Premier League this sea-son to move ahead of Chelsea on goaldifference into fourth.

"We didn't control the match like

AFP ■ MADRID

Real Madrid took the Monday nightslot reserved for La Liga's lower

teams and never really looked out ofplace as Karim Benzema's goal wasenough only for a 1-1 draw away toLeganes.

Madrid delivered another thor-oughly underwhelming performanceat Butarque to remain 13 points adriftof Barcelona, with Zinedine Zidane'ssecond reign as coach now deliveringthree wins, one defeat and a draw.

Leganes might even have won itafter Jonathan Silva gave them the leadshortly before half-time and whileBenzema scored his 26th goal of theseason, Madrid never looked likefinding a winner.

Instead, they sit four points behindAtletico Madrid and finishing second,and above their city rivals, appearsunlikely. Leganes climb to 11th.

Benzema has been, by a distance,Madrid's most consistent playerthis season and he showed againwhy Zidane has already said thestriker will stay. Gareth Bale,meanwhile, was left on thebench for the second time inthree matches, with hisprospects looking ever-morebleak.

Chances were few and far betweenin the first half but Madrid could twicehave taken the lead as Marco Asensioscuffed his finish after being put

through by Isco and RaphaelVarane's shot was blocked aftera goalline scramble.

Leganes, though, were oth-erwise rarely made to feeluncomfortable and shortlybefore half-time they took the

lead. Madrid failed to clear,instead allowing Martin Braithwaite to

roll back to Silva, who guided the ballinto the corner.

Zidane strode down the tunnel athalf-time and his team emerged withgreater purpose afterwards, withBenzema finding an equaliser sixminutes in.

Casemiro threaded a neat ballthrough to Luka Modric, who twist-ed and set free Benzema. His first shotwas pushed out by Pichu Cuellar butonly back to Beznema, who fired in therebound.

AFP ■ LONDON

Son Heung-min insists he hasalready proved hecan shoulder the burden of

replacing Harry Kane inTottenham's Champions Leagueshowdown with Manchester Cityon Wednesday.

Mauricio Pochettino's side headto the Etihad Stadium for the quar-ter-final second leg looking to pro-tect a slender 1-0 lead.

But Tottenham's task has beenmade harder by injuries to Kane andDele Alli. Kane is likely to miss therest of the season after the strikersuffered yet another ankle ligamentinjury in the first leg against City,while England midfielder Alli is adoubt after fracturing his hand inthe same match.

Losing two such influentialplayers ahead of a do-or-die clashwith the Premier League champi-ons would be a hammer blow tomost teams.

But South Korea forward Son

has shown this season that playingwithout Kane need not be fatal tohis side's European ambitions.

Son has scored nine goals in 10matches with Kane absent this sea-son.

While Hugo Llorisdeserved plaudits for savingSergio Aguero's penalty, thefirst leg was won after Kanelimped off thanks to Son's78th-minute strike — a typical-ly cool finish after healertly kept the ball inplay as the Citydefence dithered.

In fact, Tottenham have wontheir last five matches withoutKane and Son looks in perfect formto maintain that run at City'sexpense.

Son's rise to prominence is evenmore impressive given he was so

frustrated three years ago that heconsidered leaving Tottenham.

His focus back on the eagerly-anticipated City tie, Son is confidentTottenham are primed to reach their

first European semi-final since1984.

"The Manchester Citygame will be a tough one, butI believe that if we play as ateam and believe in ourselves,

we can have a good result," hesaid.

Without an awaygoal from the first leg,

City will be in troubleshould Tottenham score in the

second leg at Etihad Stadium. City could be without holding

midfielder Fernandinho, whomissed the 3-1 win against CrystalPalace in the Premier League onSunday through injury.

Tottenham has never reachedthe semifinals of the ChampionsLeague.

PORTO-LIVERPOOLMohamed Salah looks back to

his best after brilliant goals in suc-cessive weeks in the Premier League— against Southampton and thenagainst Chelsea on Sunday — buthe might count himself fortunate tobe playing the second leg againstPorto on Wednesday.

Match officials missed Salah'sstuds-first lunge on Danilo near theend of the first leg at Anfield, whichcould easily have resulted in a redcard and suspension.

Instead, Liverpool has its frontthree of Salah, Roberto Firmino andSadio Mane intact for the trip toPortugal. The last time the teamsmet in the Estadio do Dragao,Liverpool won 5-0 in the first leg ofthe round of 16, with that trio scor-ing all the goals. Porto captainHector Herrera is back from sus-pension, as is center back Pepe.

AFP ■ MANCHESTER

Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City'sbid for an unprecedented quadruple

will be defined by Wednesday's ChampionsLeague showdown with Tottenham andtheir following two Premier League games.

Guardiola's side are in contention towin all four major trophies after liftingthe League Cup, reaching the FACup final and staying in touchwith Premier League leadersLiverpool.

City's next obstacle onthe road to footballimmortality comes in theChampions League quar-ter-final second leg againstTottenham as they bid tooverturn a 1-0 deficit at theEtihad Stadium.

Even if they beat Tottenhamto make the semi-finals, there will beno time for City to rest on their laurels asthey face Spurs again in the PremierLeague on Saturday before heading toManchester United the followingWednesday.

With Liverpool two points clear of City,

who have a game in hand, Guardiolaacknowledged the next seven days willdecide whether his team take their quadru-ple chase into the final days of the season.

"Definitely. If we don't win thesegames we will be out of two competitions.I've had this feeling for weeks," Guardiolatold reporters on Tuesday.

"Last season in this period we werealready champions. This season

we had an incredible opponentin the Premier League with

Liverpool. Both teamsdeserve to be champions,but just one is going to getit.

"After what we didlast season, I'm surprised

that we have 83 pointsright now. The target is 98,

without that we will not bechampions.

"Tottenham are incredible andwe don't have rest. We played nine, 10 or11 games more than Liverpool. Even withthat, I like this challenge."

Having won the Premier League inrecord-breaking fashion last season,Guardiola could have been forgiven for

focusing on Europe this term as he looksto win the Champions League for the thirdtime as a boss — and the first since his 2011triumph with Barcelona.

‘I'M A FAILURE!'But the City boss claims the Premier

League remains his primary goal.And Guardiola, who cut a tetchy fig-

ure for much of his press conference,refused to accept he has underachieved inEurope's elite club competition.

"The Champions League is tough. Wefail all the time. Sorry guys, I'm a failure!"he said in an outburst laced with sarcasm.

"Not winning the Champions Leaguein Bayern Munich was a big failure. Whatcan I say?

"Do I have to win it? No. The chairmansaid I have to win the Champions Leaguethree times in a row!

"I didn't come here to win theChampions League honestly. I came hereto play the way we played the last 20months.

"The Premier League is the mostimportant title, to be there every three dayscompeting."

Guardiola's grumpy mood included arant at the Premier League for failing to giveEnglish teams in Europe equal treatment.

The Spaniard is irked that Tottenhamhad more time to rest and prepare beforeboth legs.

"They had six days to prepare the firstgame, we had two. Now they playedSaturday, we played Sunday," Guardiolasaid.

"I don't know why the Premier Leaguedon't put the games at 12.30 on Saturday."

Guardiola's irritability may have beenprovoked by a question about his past jibethat Tottenham were the 'Harry Kane team'in reference to the England captain'simportance.

Kane will miss the second leg withankle ligament damage sustained againstCity last week, but Guardiola wasn't goingto give Mauricio Pochettino's side any extramotivational fuel.

"Tottenham without Kane are thesame strong team they had three seasonsago, two seasons ago and this season," hesaid.

Guardiola knows Tottenham will posea serious threat to City's quadruple dreamsover the next few days, and he called onthe Etihad crowd to produce an intimidat-ing atmosphere.

"I know how focused the players are,I know the desire to get to the semi-finals,"he said.

"Every time we played away in theChampions League the atmosphere wasincredible, so we need it.

"I want to see if our fans really want toget to the semi-finals."

AFP ■ MONTE CARLO

Argentine Guido Pella dealta second-round blow to

seventh seed Marin Cilic, beat-ing the Croatian 6-3, 5-7, 6-1on Tuesday at the Monte CarloMasters.

Defeat in just over twohours left 2014 US Open win-ner Cilic with just one winfrom six matches sinceJanuary's Australian Open,where he went out in thefourth round.

Pella, who won his firstcareer match at the event in thefirst round on Sunday,emerged a winner as he playedon the idyllic centre court forthe first time.

"This is my best surface, Iknew I had chances," the worldnumber 35 said. "But I had toplay well.

"I was a bit nervous at thestart, it was my first time onthis court. But playing here isa dream — it's unreal."

Cilic was playing here forthe 11th straight year, withquarter-final showings in threeof the previous four editions.

Left-hander Pella came tothe European clay with a title

this season in Sao Paulo. Henow stands 13-3 on the surfacein 2019.

Top seed Novak Djokovicwas set to begin his pre-RolandGarros campaign later, facingPhilipp Kohlschreiber, whobeat him last month in theIndian Wells third round.

Pella moved into a win-ning position as he broke Cilicfor the eighth time of theafternoon, winning a six-

minute game before servingout the upset, saving a breakpoint in the final game andwrapping up as Cilic firedwide.

In the first round, BritonCam Norrie advanced in hisdebut match at the event, withthe 23-year-old defeatingAdrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-3.

The 56th-ranked Norriewas impressed with the dra-matic setting of the iconic

Monte Carlo Country Clubvenue which overlooks theMediterranean from a cliff.

"I like the conditions here.Everything is kind of on top ofeach other," he said.

"It's pretty sick kind ofplaying tennis on the side of amountain with a water view."

Canadian revelation FelixAuger-Aliassime advancedinto a second-round contestwith third seed AlexanderZverev after beating Argentinequalifier Juan Ignacio Londero7-5, 7-6 (7/5).

The 18-year-old Auger-Aliassime, who reached lastmonth's Miami semi-finalsfrom a qualifying start, nowboasts a ranking of 33rd — upfrom 175th when he playedhere a year ago.

Frenchman Pierre-HuguesHerbert defeated Spanish vet-eran Fernando Verdasco 6-4,6-4, while local Gilles Simonrounded out opening-roundplay with a 7-5, 6-1 defeat ofAustralian Alexei Popyrin.

Popyrin, 19, and playinghis first ATP-level match onclay, received medical treat-ment on his neck while trail-ing a set and 4-1.

AFP ■ MUNICH

Bayern Munich president UliHoeness ruled out breaking

the 100 million euros ($113million) mark this summerand said he would buy Frenchstriker Kylian Mbappe "imme-diately" if he had the money.

Bayern are planning amajor squad overhaul this sum-mer, and have already con-firmed the signings of FrenchWorld Cup winners BenjaminPavard and Lucas Hernandez.

In an interview withGerman news agency DPA onTuesday, Hoeness admittedthat, in an ideal world, hewould love to sign anotherFrench World Cup winner,Paris Saint-Germain's 20-year-old star.

"I would sign Mbappestraight away, he is a top play-er. But we don't have the moneyfor him," said Hoeness.

The Bayern president ruledout spending 100 million euroson a single player in the sum-mer transfer window, but sug-gested that Bayern may breakthat figure in the future.

"There definitely won't bea 100 million euro transferthis year, but I have to admitthat ten years ago, I couldn'thave imagined spending 80million," he said.

The sum of 80 millioneuros was what Bayern paid tosign Hernandez from AtleticoMadrid, a figure nearly doublethat of their previous recordtransfer — fellow FrenchmanCorentin Tolisso.

In 22-year-old KingsleyComan, Bayern have yet anoth-er Gallic talent in their emerg-ing generation.

On Tuesday, club legendLothar Matthaeus backedComan and Serge Gnabry, 23,to follow in the footsteps ofdeparting veterans ArjenRobben and Franck Ribery,who are both out of contract atthe end of June.

"Coman and Gnabry areboth quick, good dribblers anddangerous in front of goal,"Matthaeus wrote in his columnfor Sky Sports, adding that"legendary" veterans Robbenand Ribery would not bemissed.

FC Porto vs Liverpool

Live from 12:30am IST

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Man City vs Tottenham

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Real disappoint in Leganes draw

Son Hueng-min battles for ball against Man City goal keeper Ederson during first leg game at Tottenham Hotspur stadium; (right) Naby Kieta celebrates with Roberto Firmino after scoring AP

Errors hand

Gunners

top 4 spot

SPURS EYE EURO GLORY

Tottenham look to seal maiden UCL semi final berth; Liverpool face Porto

It's crunch time for Man City, admits Guardiola

Bayern won't exceed 100 mn euro

mark for a player: Hoeness

Pella pounds Cilic for upset win

I wanted," admitted Emery."The team was anxious because

they could (have) taken some moment.The most important for us is to scorethe second goal, which we didn't do."

Arsenal also edge to within apoint of north London rivalsTottenham and two clear of ManchesterUnited in the four-way battle for thetwo remaining CL places behindLiverpool and Manchester City.

FA Cup finalists Watford werealready shorn of the man who helpedbook their place at Wembley againstManchester City next month as GerardDeulofeu missed out through injuryand Javi Gracia's side did themselves lit-tle favours early on.

Firstly, Foster dallied asAubameyang closed in to concede acomical opener.

And within seconds, Deeney waspunished for what the referee saw as anelbow into the face of Lucas Torreira.

However, the 10 men were stillcausing problems to a defensively vul-nerable Arsenal at the other end.


16

}RUNS 400 David Warner (SRH)

WICKETS 17 Kagiso Rabada (DC)

6S 394

4S 897{LEADERBOARD

LASITH'S PERFORMANCE MATTERS

A LOT TO US. HIS FORM IS VERY

CRITICAL FOR MUMBAI

— ROHIT SHARMA

Up Next

PTI n HYDERABAD

Having missed the WorldCup bus, Ambati Rayudu

will be aiming to make a state-ment when a maraudingChennai Super Kings take on adesperate Sunrisers Hyderabadhere on Wednesday.

The World Cup snub toRayudu is the sole disappoint-ment in an otherwise superbtournament so far forMahendra Singh Dhoni's menas they are just a win away fromclinching the play-off berth.

While CSK sit pretty on topof the table with 14 pointsfrom eight games, Sunrisers'have suddenly gone off the boilwith a hat-trick of defeats,including an inexplicable bat-ting collapse against DelhiCapitals in their last game.

What has been CSK'sstrength despite an ageing teamhas exactly been Sunrisers' banein the matches that they haveplayed so far.

While CSK have had plansA, B and C for various situa-tions, Sunrisers have failed mis-erably whenever their theiropening pair of Jonny Bairstow

and David Warner have failedto perform.

The basic problem has beenthe middle-order where ManishPandey (54 in six games),Deepak Hooda (47 in sixgames) and Yusuf Pathan (32 insix games) have been miserable.

On the other hand, Dhonihas played various combina-tions depending on surfaces andmore often than not, his team-mates have responded prettywell.

The man who has been arevelation for CSK this seasonis 40-year-old Imran Tahir with13 wickets. The South Africanimport has executed his skip-per's plans brilliantly.

For Sunrisers to remainrelevant in this edition, theyneed to stop the CSK juggernautwhich looks easier said thandone.

AFP ■ DHAKA

Bangladesh called up batsmanMosaddek Hossain and uncapped fast

bowler Abu Jayed for their World Cupsquad on Tuesday as they wrestle with aseries of injuries.

Mosaddek was named to compensatefor fellow batting all-rounderMahmudullah Riyad, who has suffered ashoulder injury and looks unlikely to beable to bowl, said chief selector MinhajulAbedin.

Jayed also got the nod in the 15-mansquad as potential cover for pace spearheadMustafizur Rahman, who is recoveringfrom an ankle sprain, and Rubel Hossainwho has a side strain.

Mosaddek, a useful off-spinner, has-n't played for Bangladesh since last year'sAsia Cup, but he forced his way into thereckoning with a series of big scores indomestic cricket.

"We have injury worries overMahmudullah. Most probably he will notbe able to bowl," Minhajul told reportersin Dhaka.

"So we needed someone down theorder who could also bowl a few overs. Thisis why we opted for Mosaddek." Mosaddekplayed a key role in B’desh's win over NewZealand at the 2017 Champions Trophy,when he picked up three vital wickets.

His batting faded until the recent

Dhaka Premier League where he scored428 runs and picked up seven wickets in12 one-day matches.

Jayed was the only uncapped player inwhat is an otherwise experienced squad forthe tournament in England and Wales,starting on May 30.

Four players have been to three WorldCups: skipper Mashrafe Mortaza, TamimIqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and MushfiqurRahim.

Jayed's inclusion meant there was noroom for pace bowler Taskin Ahmed, whois also recovering from injury.

"Taskin played his last ODI in October2017 and it was a long break for him," saidMinhajul.

Bangladesh also named a 17-mansquad for a tri-series in Ireland in earlyMay, where uncapped spinner NayeemHasan and batsman Yasir Ali will join theWorld Cup players.

AFP ■ SYDNEY

Australian coach Justin Langer onTuesday welcomed the top-

order selection dilemma posed bythe return of David Warner as offer-ing "fantastic flexibility" to the teamahead of the World Cup.

The return of Steve Smith andWarner from their year-long banshas left selectors in a quandary, withopeners Aaron Finch and UsmanKhawaja building a formidable part-nership in recent one-day interna-tionals.

Warner has been in blisteringtouch in the IPL and typically opensthe batting.

But Langer on Tuesday said itwas a welcome problem to have allthree potential openers firing.

"We have amazing flexibilitynow," he told Melbourne radio SEN.

"Usman and Finchy have donean incredible job opening the bat-ting. David and Finchy have done a

great job in the past doing it," headded.

Langer said he would "mix andmatch" the top order in matchesleading up to the World Cup.

"I love the flexibility of it. (It'sabout) boys playing their roles for the

team not just playing the roles thatsuit them," he said.

Australia named their WorldCup squad on Monday with middleorder batsman Peter Handscomb"brutally unlucky" to have to makeway for Smith.

"Steve Smith we felt wouldprobably be able to play that role thatPete has done so well for us," Langersaid.

The decision to dropHandscomb also means the teamonly has one wicketkeeper in AlexCarey.

But Langer said Tim Paine,Matthew Wade and Handscomb, allnamed in one of Australia's two Asquads which will play in Englandlater this year, were on standby ifCarey was injured.

"Usually wicketkeepers, theygive up their spot for no-one. Theyhave to do a pretty serious injury tomove aside for someone else," hesaid.

PTI ■ NEW DELHI

Ambati Rayudu's omission fromIndia's World Cup squad after

just three failures is "heartbreaking"but there should be no debate onRishabh Pant's exclusion as he did-n't grab his chances, feels formerIndia opener Gautam Gambhir.

Veteran Dinesh Karthik beingfavoured over Pant has been round-ly criticised. But the hero of the 2007World T20 and 2011 World Cupfinal said Rayudu not making the cutis the most unfortunate bit about thesquad announced on Monday.

"I think there should be nodebate about Rishabh Pant's exclu-sion but more about AmbatiRayudu," Gambhir said on Tuesday.

"It is very, very unfortunate thatsomeone averaging 48 in white-ballcricket and is only 33 has been leftout. That for me is more heartbreak-ing than any other selection deci-sion," said the outspoken Gambhir.

Rayudu was called India's first-choice No 4 by captain Virat Kohlia few months ago but low scores inthe home series against Australia lastmonth led to a rethink by the selec-tors.

Gambhir was not picked for the2007 World Cup in the West Indiesand for a brief period contemplat-ed quitting.

"I feel sorry for him as I was ina similar position in 2007, when they(erstwhile selectors) didn't pick meand I know how difficult it is notbeing picked for the World Cup.Ultimately for any young kid, it is achildhood dream to be a part of thebig event. So, I feel more sorry forRayudu more than any other crick-eter, who hasn't been picked."

However, Gambhir, who hasbeen Pant's first first-class captain,felt that this omission can't betermed a setback at all as he had notgrabbed the opportunities present-ed before him.

"This is not a setback at all. Whyis it a setback? He has not consistent-ly been part of white-ball cricket. Hegot his opportunity but unfortunate-ly couldn't grab it. So it cannot betermed a setback," said Gambhir.

PTI ■ KOLKATA

Dinesh Karthik might havebeen picked as a back-up

wicketkeeper for the World Cupbut mentor Abhishek Nayar feelsthe Tamil Nadu cricketer can playthe role of an opener, a finisher ora specialist No 4 for India inEngland.

MSK Prasad led selection com-mittee picked allrounder VijayShankar for the No 4 spot andmade it clear that the secondwicket-keeper will come into playonly if Mahendra Singh Dhoni isinjured.

However, Nayar said Karthikcould be India's answer for thedebatable No 4 spot and can evenopen if needed.

"He can play a Kedar Jadhavfinisher's role to a No 4 batsman'srole if needed. He can even openif needed," Nayar, who's credited forresurrecting Karthik's career, said.

"Being a good fielder, adds that

value. Of course he's back-upwicketkeeper, but I'm pretty surethat the management will look athim as a specialist batsman ifsomeone is slightly out of form.

"You never know what oppor-tunities this game can bring to you.For his point of view, it's aboutbeing just prepared and beingready for that opportunity so thatwhen it comes he grabs it with bothhands."

NEW DELHI: India opener Shikhar Dhawan onTuesday said the selectors have picked a "very strongside" for the the ICC World Cup starting May 30in the United Kingdom.

"For the world cup we have a very good and astrong side and we are looking forward to the com-petition. We will perform really well once we getthere," Dhawan said.

Talking about his IPL side Delhi Capitals, whoare currently placed second on the points table withfive wins from eight games, Dhawan said the expe-rience of coach Ricky Ponting and advisor SouranGanguly is helping the side.

"The support of the coaches Ricky Ponting andSourav Ganguly... Their experience as a captainalong with the belief they instill in us is great. Atthe same time the young boys in our team are alsogetting mature."

"It has been a good season for us. It's a cleanslate for the Delhi franchise, new name, new admin-stration, support staff everyone was new. Our teamis strong and is a balanced side with the overseasand Indian players. The way we are performing isgood." PTI

Live on Star Sports 1& 2

HYDERABAD

SRH vs CSK

WEDNESDAY | 8:00 PM

HEADTO

HEADM 10

SRH 2

CSK 8

Ambati Rayudu plays a shot during third ODI against New Zealand BCCI/File Picture

Rayudu's omission should bedebated more than Pant: Gambhir

PTI ■ NEW DELHI

Ambati Rayudu has "ordered 3dglasses" to watch the World

Cup, a day after he was pipped bythe "three-dimensional" VijayShankar in the Indian squad for theshowpiece.

All-rounder Shankar was pre-ferred over the 33-year-old Rayudufor the contentious number fourspot in India's World Cup squad.

"Just Ordered a new set of 3dglasses to watch the world cup,"Rayudu wrote on his Twitter han-dle on Tuesday.

Disappointment knocked onRayudu's door when his name wasleft out of the squad just a fewmonths after captain Virat Kohlihad more or less earmarked him forthe number four position.

"We did give a few morechances to Rayudu but VijayShankar gives three dimensions. Hecan bat, if the conditions are over-cast, he can bowl, plus he is a field-er. We are looking at Vijay Shankaras a No 4," chief selector MSKPrasad said Tuesday, justifying hisselection.

Ordered 3d glassesto watch WC: Rayuduafter exclusion Injury-hit B’desh recall

Mosaddek for WC

Opener, finisher or a specialistNo 4 - DK can do it all: Nayar

‘India have strong

side for WCup’

AUS TO ROTATE OPENERSAFTER WARNER RETURN

Unstoppable CSK

take on Sunrisers

PTI ■ MOHALI

Skipper RavichandranAshwin and opener KL Rahulplayed pivotal roles as Kings XIPunjab produced a superb all-round performance to script acomfortable 12-run win overRajasthan Royals in a secondleg IPL clash to bring theircampaign back on track.

Opener Rahul hit a 47-ball52, while Ashwin (2/24)smashed 17 off four balls in thelast over and then took twocrucial wickets as KXIPbounced back after successivelosses in the last two matchesto record their fifth win in thisIPL.

Invited to bat, Rahul, whowas named in India’s WorldCup squad on Monday, andDavid Miller (40 off 27) shareda 85-run stand to lay the foun-dation.

Ashwin then smashed afour and successive sixes in thelast two balls to put KXIP in astrong position.

The hosts then returned torestrict Rajasthan to 168 forseven, courtesy some superbbowling by Ashwin andMurugan Ashwin (1/24) in themiddle overs after ArshdeepSingh’s maiden two IPL wick-ets. Mohammad Shami wasexpensive but came good in thefinal overs, scalping two wick-ets.

After this win, KXIPPunjab grabbed the fourth spotin the points table with 10points to keep play-off hopesalive.

However, it was Rajasthan’ssixth loss and they will need topull up their socks if they haveto salvage any hopes of makingit to the knockout stage.

Defending the total, KXIPdismissed the big-hitting JosButtler (23) early as Rajasthanreached 55 in the first six over.

After blasting two sixesand one four, Buttler wascaught by keeper Pooran asyoung pacer Arshdeep scalpedhis maiden IPL wicket.

Opener Rahul Tripathi (50)and Sanju Samson (27 off 21)added 59 runs to takeRajasthan close to the 100-mark.

However, after two tightovers, Ashwin produced thebreakthrough with a carromball in the 12th over when hecleaned up Samson, wholooked to play a sweep shot.

Shami then returned onlyto concede 11 runs withTripathi and Ajinkya Rahanesending him across the rope.

Needing 66 off last sixovers, Tripathi completed hisfifty in 44 balls before beingcaught at long off boundary byAgarwal off Ashwin.

Australian Ashton Turner’sIPL debut ended with a first-ball naught, while Jofra Archerwas send back by Shami as RRslumped to 133 for five in 17.1overs.

Stuart Binny scored aquickfire 11-ball 33 but it wasnot enough as Rahane too wasdismissed in pursuit of quickruns.

Earlier in-form Rahulplayed a controlled inningsafter he lost his opening part-ner Chris Gayle (30) beforepowerplay.

Gayle hit three sixes andtwo boundaries before beingsent back by Archer as KXIPwere 39-1 at the end of pow-erplay.

The dashing opener dis-

patched Unadkat for two sixesin his first over, then hitDhawal Kulkarni for a sixand a four before edging oneoff Archer into the hands ofwicket keeper Sanju Samson.

Mayank Agarwal, whowalked in after Gayle’s fall,looked dangerous but failed tolast long. He made 26 of 12balls and was claimed by RR’sNew Zealand spinner IshSodhi as Punjab slipped to 67for two.

Rahul then tried to steadythe ship with Miller, who cameinto the side due to the last-minute ankle injury ofAustralian allrounder MoisesHenriques.

In the 14th over, Rahul andMiller exploded after bringingup the hundred for KXIP. Theduo amassed 19 runs offSodhi’s over with Rahul smok-ing a massive six over deepsquare leg and Miller thump-ing one over long-off.

The two batsmen piled up20 runs in the next over withRahul clearing the cover withan inside-out shot for a six offUnadkat, and Miller disposinga full-toss over deep midwick-et.

Rahul was then picked upby medium pacer JaidevUnadkat in the 18th over withthe opener hitting straight toArcher at point.

Punjab then lost NicholasPooran (5) and Mandeep Singh(0) — both claimed by Archerin his last over, while Miller toohanded a catch to Buttler offKulkarni in the 20th over asPunjab slipped to 164 for six.

Ashwin then smashed afour and successive sixes in thelast two balls to put KXIP in astrong position.

KXIP keep play-off hopes alive

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