TCS moves SCagainst NCLATorder reinstatingMistry asdirector

NCP calls forwithdrawal ofSeva Dal'sbooklet onSavarkar 5

6

Kerala courtjunks actorDileep'sdischargeplea 5

‘ALL ANDSUNDRY’

2

Scrap reportson capitaland get onwithgovernance

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TASKMASTER OF

THE PINKPARTY

Thousands march in hugeanti-CAA protest in HydPNS n HYDERABAD

Thousands of people partici-pated in a massive march hereon Saturday to protest againstthe Citizenship (Amendment)Act (CAA).

The 'Million March' againstCAA, National PopulationRegister (NPR) and NationalRegister of Citizens (NRC)drew huge crowds from twincities of Hyderabad andSecunderabad and surround-ing districts

Roads around Indira Park inthe heart of the city wereteeming with thousands ofmen, women and children car-rying Indian flags, bannersand placards and raising slo-gans against Narendra Modigovernment.

The protest organised byTelangana and AndhraPradesh Joint ActionCommittee (JAC), compris-ing 40 Muslim and Dalitorganisations brought traffic tohalt on the main roads atIndira Park and Hussain Sagar

lake, which connect the twincities.

Citizens from various walksof life joined hands to partici-pate in the march, so far thebiggest protest against the CAAin Hyderabad.

Traders, lawyers, software

engineers, other profession-al, students, activists and housewives converged at DharnaChowk near Indira Park where

police had made elaboratesecurity arrangements.

Shops and business estab-lishments were closed in partsof Hyderabad as the business-men and traders turned out toparticipate in the march.

Continued on Page 4

With the Million March participatants spilling onto the roads in the vicinity of the Dharna Chowk, Indira Park, traffic at theAmbedkar statue near the Tank Bund in Hyderabad went haywire on Saturday.

TRS supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao arriving to participate in the party meeting at the Telangana Bhavanhere on Saturday

HYDERABADWEATHER

Current Weather ConditionsUpdated january 04, 2019 5:00 PM

ALMANAC TODAY

Month & Paksham:Paush & Shukla PakshaPanchangamTithi : Dashami: 03:06 am (Next Day) Nakshatram: Ashwini: 12:27 pmTime to Avoid: (Bad time to start

any important work)Rahukalam: 04:28 pm – 05:51 pmYamagandam: 12:21 pm – 01:43 pmVarjyam: 08:03 am – 09:49 am,

10:46 pm – 12:30 amGulika: 03:06 pm - 04:28 pmGood Time: (to start any important work)

Amritakalam: NILAbhijit Muhurtham: 11:59 am – 12:43 pm

FFoorreeccaasstt:: HazeTemp: 28/18Humidity: 73%Sunrise: 06.47Sunset: 05.55

Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi on Friday claimed that DrBR Ambedkar had given the credit for preparation of the draft of the

Constitution to BN Rau, who was a Brahmin. Speaking at the ‘MegaBrahmin Business Summit' in Ahmedabad, he said thateight out of nine Indian Nobel winners, includingeconomist Abhijit Banerjee, were Brahmins. "Do you knowthat constitutions of 60 countries were studied and thenour draft Constitution was prepared? In his (DrAmbedkar's) own words, the draft was preparedby BN Rau,” Trivedi said.

CONSTITUTION DRAFTED BY BN RAU,‘A BRAHMIN’, SAYS GUJ SPEAKER

KOHLI: NEED PLAYERS AT 6TH & 7TH

PLACES TO WIN UNDER PRESSURE133 HINDU PILGRIMS FROM PAKVISIT JAGANNATH TEMPLEAgroup of 133 Hindu pilgrims from Pakistan on Saturday visited the

Shree Jagannath Temple here. The pilgrims included 70 male, 50female, and 13 children, who reached here on Friday night. They visitedthe Shree Jagannath Temple and took the blessings of the Trinity Lords.The delegation will leave for Varanasi on Sunday, after having leftPakistan on December 27. The pilgrimshad been to Mathura before reachinghere. "It was a long-cherished desire tohave darshan of Lord Jagannath. We gotthe visa with much difficulty,” they said.

India captain Virat Kohli on Saturday said it will be tough for India towin ICC events unless the middle-order steps up and delivers in

pressure situations. India last won an ICC eventback in 2013 (Champions Trophy) and is oftendescribed as a top-heavy team, relying on bigcontributions from either skipper himself orhis deputy Rohit Sharma. The focus this yearis on T20 World Cup and Kohli, in his firstmedia interaction of the year, conveyed hisexpectations from his teammates.

ROHINGYAS WILL BE DEPORTEDFROM INDIA, SAYS UNION MINISTERAsserting that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was

implemented in Jammu and Kashmir the day it was passed by theParliament, Union minister Jitendra Singh on Fridaysaid the government's next move would beregarding the deportation of Rohingya refugeesas they will not be able to secure citizenshipunder the new law. He demanded a probe intohow the Rohingyas reached and settled downin the northern-most belt of Jammu afterpassing through several states from Bengal.

K VENKATESHWARLUn HYDERABAD

Reassuring his party leadersthat the TRS was in a strongposition and reports of theBJP making inroads in thestate were nothing but hype,Chief Minister KChandrasekhar Rao onSaturday said that internalsurveys predicted a sweep bythe TRS in the forthcomingurban body elections.

Participating in the partymeeting that extended beyondtwo-and-a-half hours at theTelangana Bhavan here, KCRgave tips and suggestions tothe Ministers, legislators andsenior leaders present on howto face the elections.

"All surveys are in favourof our party. We will win 120Municipalities and 10 cor-porations. There should notbe any misconception thatthe BJP will give us any com-petition. There is no suchcompetition to us. BJP is try-ing to project as if it has astronghold over the state.

Congress is now without evenan address." He said that TRSwas a completely secularparty.

After the advice came thewarning. KCR entrusted the

responsibility of the victory ofparty candidates to theMinisters and MLAs. Heexhorted them to take theelections seriously.

Continued on Page 4

BJP is all hype, no threat,KCR tells TRS leaders

Internal survey predicts‘clean sweep' for TRSNAVEENA GHANATE n HYDERABAD

The Telangana RashtraSamiti party has firmed upits strategy for the upcomingmunicipal polls. Under thedirection of working presi-dent K T Rama Rao, theparty has apparently reachedout to grassroots level togauge public mood.

As per an internal surveyconducted by the partyacross the wards, the partyis going to win in a "major-ity of segments comfort-ably". Sources said the wards

were categorized, for thepurpose of survey, into fourin terms of winnability: cat-egorical win, 50 percentchances of victory, toughcompetition, and not possi-ble.

The internal survey ofevery ward based on theseparameters suggested thatparty is going to win in amajority of the wards. Thewards have been givinggrading. In a few placeswhere co-ordination maybe required, the party ismaking arrangements.

Continued on Page 4

3 aspirants from NIT Warangalsecure 99.8 percentile in CATCONRAD DIAS n HYDERABAD

Three students from NIT-Warangal viz. Sameer Ahmed,Sujith Ramagiri and ParthGoswami have secured morethan 99 percentile in the 2019Common Aptitude Test (CAT).Sameer from Civil Engineeringscored 99.88 and Sujith fromEEE 99.79, whereas Parth fromCSE secured 99.62.

Speaking to The Pioneer,Sameer Ahmed said that he washappy with the score as he didnot give his 100 percent for thetest. "I was not expecting thisresult, considering my prepa-ration. This is beyond myexpectation. I work for an MNCand could not give full time forthe preparation, but still I feelmy luck favoured me."

Parth feels that this is not theend of it as the interview roundwould be the most crucial phasein order to get through a goodB-School. He believes that thecompetition is very tough andit requires good preparation to

crack the interview. N.V. Ramana Rao, Director at

NIT Warangal, congratulated

the three students and he ishappy with the results.

Continued on Page 4

Sujith Ramagiri Sameer Ahmed Parth Goswami

PEOPLE DRIVE HOME THEMESSAGE PEACEFULLY 4

10 candidates score 100%NEW DELHI: Ten candidatesscored a perfect 100 percentilein the Common Admission Test(CAT), results of which wereannounced on Saturday.

All ten candidates are menfrom technological andengineering backgrounds,officials said, adding six of thesecandidates are from IITs andtwo from NITs.

Four of these candidates arefrom Maharashtra and the

remaining are from Jharkhand,Tamil Nadu, Telangana,Karnataka, West Bengal andUttarakhand. A total of 21candidates have scored 99.9percentile of which 19 are fromtechnological background. Theexam conducted for admissioninto MBA courses by IIMs andover 100 non-IIM institutions,saw the highest number ofcandidates appearing for it in thelast ten years.

Rahul ignorant aboutCAA: NaddaPNS n GUWAHATI

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)working president J.P.Nadda on Saturdaysaid that theCongress leaders areignorant about theC i t i z e n s h i pAmendment Act(CAA) and are drivenby "politics" and not "nation-alism" in their protest againstit.

While addressing the BJP'sbooth level functionaries here,he challenged Congress leader

Rahul Gandhi to speakjust "ten lines" on the

CAA.D e s c r i b i n g

Congress leaders as"totally ignorant",

Nadda ridiculed themfor saying that the

authorities would seek pass-ports and Aadhaar cards inconnection with the CAA.

Lalu Prasad

Lalu coins‘Oust Nitish in2020' sloganPNS n PATNA

RJD chief Lalu Prasad onSaturday gave a call to oustChief Minister Nitish Kumarfrom power in Bihar in 2020,while mounting a scathingattack on the JD(U) govern-ment for its "misrule".

The former chief minister,who is lodged in a Ranchi jailin connection with fodderscam cases, also said the cen-tral government has given"zero" to the dispensation inBihar, referring to a recentNITI Aayog report.

"'Do Hazar Bees, HataoNitish' (Oust Nitish frompower in 2020)," Prasadwrote on Twitter, amid arecent war of words throughposters between his partyand the JD(U).

Prasad flayed the state gov-ernment for being a "big fail-ure" in the SustainableDevelopment Goal (SDG)Index report released by theNiti Aayog on December 30last year.

"Both Niti Aayog and thecentral government havegiven zero to Nitish's misruleby declaring it (Bihar) as theworst in the country," the RJDboss claimed.

India should pressfor action againstculprits in Pakgurdwara attackPNS n NEW DELHI

Congress President SoniaGandhi on Saturday con-demned the "unwarranted andunprovoked" attack onGurdwara Nankana Sahib inPakistan by an unruly mob.

Expressing dismay and con-cern over the matter, she calledupon the Government of Indiato immediately take up theissue with Pakistani authoritiesto ensure safety of pilgrims andadequate security for theshrine to prevent any futureattacks. "The Government ofIndia should also press forimmediate registration of case,arrest and action against theculprits," she said in a state-ment. A mob on Fridayreportedly attacked GurdwaraNankana Sahib where Sikhismfounder Guru Nanak Dev wasborn. Reports suggested thathundreds of angry residents atNankana Sahib pelted theSikh pilgrims with stones.

PNS n BENGALURU

Nobel laureate Dr Ada EYonath has a 'Blue Dream', adream that indicates anincreased life expectancy ofabove 80 years for people inIndia as in some developednations.

You see the nations in blue,said Yonath showing theUnited States of America,Canada and a few Europeannations in blue colour in theworld map during her power-point presentation.

This I want in all the nations,including India, she added.

The eminent biochemist atthe Wiseman Institute ofScience in Israel, who won theNobel Prize for elucidatingatomic structure and functionof ribosomes, was deliveringher public lecture at the 107th

Indian Science Congress hereon the topic Next GenerationNovel Eco-friendly Antibiotics-Blue Dream.

The Nobel laureate insistedthat the pharma companiesshould invent antibiotics,which target the affected

pathogen instead of broad-range antibiotics to controlthe threat of multi-drug resis-tant bacteria.

Noting that the emergenceof multi-drug resistant strainsis a big problem, Dr Adaexpressed fear that these drug-

resistant bacteria may take theworld to the pre- antibiotic era,when simple pathogens couldcause very severe infections.

This may result in a 3.8 percent loss in global economy by2050. Something has to bedone, Dr Ada said.

The 80-year-old scientisttold the audience that she wasaiming at developing eco-friendly antibiotics with lessresistance.

I have started work ondegradable antibiotics that areeffective only for the targetpathogen. This will reduceenvironmental hazards andcombat the spread of resis-tance, Ada told the gathering.

The biochemist recalled herassociation with Indian physi-cist G N Ramachandran, whoinspired her to work on ribo-somes.

PNS n NEW DELHI

Delhi Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal on Saturday said if re-elected he will make roads inDelhi like that of London andTokyo in the next five years.

Speaking at his fifth town-hall meeting, anchored byABP news channel, Kejriwalsaid his focus is to beautifyDelhi and 40 roads are beingredesigned in the city.

"The redesigning would bedone by November, if okay,then all roads will be doneaccordingly. We will makeroads of Delhi like that ofLondon and Tokyo," he said.

"We have hired consultantsto identify bottlenecks in thecity where traffic congestiontakes place. They will submittheir plan in the next couple ofmonths and based on theirsuggestions, we will try to

solve the problem of trafficcongestion," he said.

He reiterated his promise tomake bus rides free for othersif he is re-elected. He had saidthis earlier in his second town-hall meeting. The meetings arepart of AAP's election cam-paign.

"A lot of work still has to bedone in Delhi. Yamuna has tobe cleaned, Delhi has to becleaned, pollution needs to becontrolled and transport needsto be improved," he said.

Arvind Kejriwal

Dr Ada E Yonath

A nobel laureate who dreams the‘Blue Dream’ for India

Dr Ada EYonath has a'Blue Dream', adream thatindicates anincreased lifeexpectancy ofabove 80 yearsfor people inIndia as in somedevelopednations

Will make Delhi roads likethat of London, Tokyo

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(IN HYDERABAD)

Report after report is beingpulled out of theGovernment's hat repeat-

ing ad nauseam that Amaravatimay submerge during floods,cost an enormous sum ofmoney and plumping forVisakhapatnam as the new cap-ital of Andhra.

The latest is the BostonConsulting Group's report, a vir-tual photocopy of the GN RaoCommittee recommendationsas if experts of both sat in thesame room and exchangednotes. Otherwise, how on earthcould they explain near-identi-cal proposals and usage of sim-ilar terminology like establish-ing 'region-wise commissioner-ates'? The only difference is theirnumber, the new report recom-mending six and the earlier, four.

BCG has disappointed thosewith knowledge of AP's geogra-phy, demography, politics and its

people. Its research is also ofpoor grade, perhaps because itdid not interact with people. Acapital is the lifeblood of a Statewhose success or failure is notmeasured by the yardstick ofCAGR (compounded aggre-gate growth rate). It is a livingentity whose parameters likelocal entrepreneurial skills, loca-tion, accessibility and availabil-ity of water matter.

How 'balanced and inclusivegrowth' can be achieved bylocating the capital at Vizag,nearly 950 km away from sayKuppam is beyond compre-hension. The report throws nillight on the cost of compensat-ing the 29,000 farmers who sur-rendered 33,000 acres. The landis now useless for cultivationbecause it has been concretisedwith various structures.

Simple Googling will revealthat multiple capitals have proveddisastrous for South Africa. Yet,the report has chosen SA as a

shining example and madeincongruous comparisons withGermany (Bonn and Berlin).

It has conveniently ignoredour very own Chandigarh, a bea-con for Greenfield capitals allacross the globe and has statedoutrageously that no standalonecapital could grow. Anothersleight of hand is its showcasingof Himachal Pradesh for havinga separate winter capital(Dharmashala) andUttarakhand for having its HighCourt at Nainital. These are hill

States, ranked 18th and 19tharea-wise, and bear no compar-ison to Andhra (5th rank).

The two reports are evident-ly a case of dancing to the mas-ter's tune. The master wantedthe capital shifted and hey,presto, here is the report. BCGwarned that Amaravati wasrisky because parts of it sub-merged in the great flood of2009 when the Krishna over-flowed its banks. Kurnool toowas submerged in the sameflood and yet BCG finds it suit-

able as the seat of the HighCourt and Commissionerates.

BCG has gone to greatlengths and plumbed deep totrash Amaravati. Where wouldthe money come from, whenand how would it be repaid,foundations would have to bedug 40 metres deep, the eco-nomic risks were very high and

the benefits too poor. If the sameamount of money was investedin irrigation projects, Andhracould reap huge benefits.

BCG has exceeded its brief bytreading into territory which isstrictly political. It has assumedthe role of a Cabinet, whichdecides government's priori-ties, and also that of theAssembly, which discusses andpasses the budget. Hiring con-sultancy firms is laudable whenthe issues at stake are financial,commercial or managerial andneed expert advice but notwhen they are political such asshifting of the capital.

Mckinsey & Company, thehigh priest of management con-sulting, suffered a deep gash onits brand value in South Africaafter a failed attempt to fix thecountry's power problems whiletwo top officials acted in theirindividual capacities were con-victed in the US for insider trad-ing. BCG itself was locked in a

controversy over its report pro-moting a private college networkthat was raided by AustralianFederal Police.

Insider trading is an expres-sion being bandied about byarch-rivals, YSR Congress andTelugu Desam Party. TDP lead-ers have been accused of pur-chasing 4,000 acres of landaround the capital at throwawayprices as they knew the capital'slocation and boundaries. Jaganand Vijaya Sai Reddy, MP, areopen to similar charges aftertheir pre-emptive announce-ments about Vizag being thelikely capital and Bheemli theexact location.

In fact, all the dramatis per-sonae have a controversial past.TDP president N. ChandrababuNaidu appeared before theSomasekhara Commission inthe Yeleru land scam, Jagan andVijaya Sai Reddy are accused No1 and 2 in quid pro quo cases,Minister Botsa Satyanarayana,

main spokesman of the govern-ment, appeared as witness in theVolkswagen scam and AmbatiRambabu, former APIIC chair-person, was questioned by CBIin Emaar Properties scam.

If the State Government wereto seek a CBI inquiry into insid-er trading, in all fairness itshould cover both Amaravatiand Vizag. The culprits mustsurely be punished but the Statemust be spared the agony of yetanother shifting as it detractsfrom core work of governance.

BCG's recommendations arenothing but a drain inspector'sreport and deserve to be con-signed to the dustbin. The high-power committee constituted toexamine these reports is unlike-ly to toe a different line and isjust a waste of time and money.Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy shouldmove forward with the agendaon which he was elected.Shifting the capital was definite-ly not one of them.

Simple Googling will reveal thatmultiple capitals have proveddisastrous for South Africa. Yet, thereport has chosen SA as a shiningexample and made incongruouscomparisons with Germany (Bonn and Berlin)

S NAGESH KUMARFormer Resident Editor,

The Hindu

‘ALL ANDSUNDRY’

Scrap reports on capital and get on with governance

Local bodies, the steppingstone for Ministers, MLAs PV KONDAL RAOn WARANGAL

Many young turks join thepolitical hustings after consid-ering the fact that Urban LocalBodies were the steppingstones for the present Ministersand MLAs in the ruralTelangana districts.

Former Deputy ChiefMinister Kadiyam Srihari quithis post as a lecturer andjoined politics as a municipalchairman candidate inWarangal. It was his primarystep that paved way for him tobecome an MLA, Minister,MP and now Deputy ChiefMinister.

From the Congress partytoo, the present TRS leaderfrom Warangal BaswarajuSaraiah entered the politicalscenario as a municipal coun-cillor of WarangalMunicipality before hiselection as an MLA andMinister int h eCongresscabinet.

So is the caseof Warangal WestMLA and present chiefwhip Dasyam Vinayabhaskar

in Warangal.Though the

G r e a t e rW a r a n g a l

M u n i c i p a lCorporation is notgoing to polls now,

the emergence of leadersin Urban Local Bodiesenabled them to forge

ahead in the Assembly politics

and they have been playing anactive role in the state politicsthese days. Vinayabhaskar wasa corporator prior to his elec-tion as an MLA and his pro-motion as the Chief whip.

Warangal East MLANannapuneni Narender is alsoa similar example. He was acorporator in greater WarangalMunicipal Corporation before

becoming the Mayor and laterthe MLA of Warangal East.

Present Minister fromKarimnagar GangulaKamalakar was also a productof Urban Local Bodies. He wasonce a councillor priorbecoming the MLA ofKarimnagar from the TeluguDesam Party. Later he joinedthe TRS and emerged victori-ous as the MLA fromKarimnagar. Kamalakar wasalso inducted in the KCR cab-inet as the Minister.

Considering these examplesas the paths for their emer-gence many new generationleaders representing differentpolitical parties have startedmaking efforts to join the frayat the ensuing hustings.

Considering the examples of presentleaders as the paths for theiremergence many new generationleaders representing different politicalparties have started making efforts tojoin the fray at the upcoming hustings

Kadiyam Srihari Gangula Kamalakar Dasyam Vinaybhaskar Basawaraju Saraiah

WARANGAL

IANS n LONDON

Diet significantly influencesmental health and wellbeing,but this link is firmly estab-lished only in some areas suchas the ability of a high fat andlow carbohydrate diet (a keto-genic diet) to help children withepilepsy, and the effect of vita-min B12 deficiency on fatigue,poor memory, and depression,says a study. The research, pub-lished in the journal EuropeanNeuropsychopharmacology,cautions that the evidence of aink between diet and mentalhealth for many diets is com-paratively weak.

"We have found that there isincreasing evidence of a linkbetween a poor diet and theworsening of mood disorders,

including anxiety and depres-sion. However, many commonbeliefs about the health effectsof certain foods are not sup-ported by solid evidence," saidlead author Suzanne Dickson,

Professor at University ofGothenburg, Sweden. Theresearchers who conducted acomprehensive review of stud-ies linking diet with mentalhealth also found that there is

good evidence that aMediterranean diet, rich invegetables and olive oil, showsmental health benefits, such asgiving some protection againstdepression and anxiety.

However, for many foods orsupplements, the evidence isinconclusive, as for examplewith the use of vitamin D sup-plements, or with foodsbelieved to be associated withattention deficit hyperactivitydisorder (ADHD) or autism."With individual conditions,we often found very mixed evi-dence," said Dickson.

"With ADHD for example,we can see an increase in thequantity of refined sugar in thediet seems to increase ADHDand hyperactivity, whereas eat-ing more fresh fruit and vegeta-

bles seems to protect againstthese conditions. "But there arecomparatively few studies, andmany of them don't last longenough to show long-termeffects," she added.

The scientists confirmedthat some foods had readilyprovable links to mental health,for example, that nutrition inthe womb and in early life canhave significant effects on brainfunction in later life. Provingthe effect of diet on mentalhealth in the general popula-tion was more difficult.

"In healthy adults dietaryeffects on mental health arefairly small, and that makesdetecting these effects difficult:it may be that dietary supple-mentation only works if thereare deficiencies due to a poor

diet," Dickson said. "We alsoneed to consider genetics: sub-tle differences in metabolismmay mean that some peoplerespond better to changes indiet than others," she added.

There are also practical dif-ficulties which need to be over-come in testing diets. A food isnot a drug, so it needs to be test-ed differently to a drug. We cangive someone a dummy pill tosee if there is an improvementdue to the placebo effect, butyou can't easily give peopledummy food. "There is a gen-eral belief that dietary advice formental health is based on solidscientific evidence. In reality, itis very difficult to prove thatspecific diets or specific dietarycomponents contribute to men-tal health," Dickson said.

n There are practicaldifficulties which needto be overcome intesting diets

n Many commonbeliefs about thehealth effects ofcertain foods arenot supported bysolid evidence

CM releasesbook onRamayanamPNS n HYDERABAD

Chief Minister K Chand-rashekhar Rao released thebook, 'Yudhakanda MandaraMakarandam' rewritten incolloquial format by CM'sChief Public Relations OfficerVanam Jwala Narasimha Raoat Pragati Bhavan on Saturdayevening.

Narasimha Rao rewroteMadandhra Valmiki Ramay-anam 'Yudhakanda MandaraMakarandam'.

With this, Narasimha Raohad completedwriting sixK a n d a sinclud-ing theYudha-k a n d aof Ram-ayanam.

In this pro-gramme, Mayor BonthuRammohan, MLAs SurenderReddy, Janardhan Reddy,Kaleru Venkatesham, PRORamesh Hazari and othersparticipated in the event.

KCR congratulatedNarasimha Rao for rewritingMadandhra ValmikiRamayanam 'YudhakandaMandara Makarandam' writ-ten by Vavili KolanuSubbarao popularly known asAndhra Valmiki.

PNS n NALGONDA

The TRS leaders are throwinga tough challenge to the scat-tered opposition in UrbanLocal Body polls in the erst-while Nalgonda district.

While the Congress is fac-ing serious cracks after itslacklustre performance in theHuzurnagar by election, theBJP is unable to stand up tothe challenge posed by theunited TRS leadership inNalgonda.

Almost all the MLAs of theparty elected both on TRSticket and Congress ticketsare working together aftertheir entry into the rulingparty. Except a fewMLAs, the TRS lead-ers are walking on asingle path. Whilethe Minister GJ a g a d e e s h w a rReddy is spear-heading the partyin the Sur yapetregion of the erstwhiledistrict, the chairman oflegislative council GuthaSukhender Reddy is alsomaking efforts to mingle withother leaders to make the

party a formidable force inthe Nalgonda and

Yadadri Bhongirdistricts.

The TRSleaders includ-ing NomulaNarsimhaiah,K a n c h a r l a

Bhupal Reddy,Gadari Kishore,

Gongidi SuneetaMahender Reddy are

also strengthening the party.This situation is ultimatelythrowing a challenge to theopponents in Nalgonda.

While theCongress isfacing seriouscracks after itslacklustreperformance inthe Huzurnagarby election, theBJP is unableto stand up tothe challenge

TGOs extendNew Yeargreetings to KTRPNS n HYDERABAD

The Telangana GazettedOfficers' Association mem-bers on Saturday called onMinister for IT andMunicipal AdministrationKT Rama Rao at his resi-dence and extended greetingsto him on the occasion of theNew Year.

Responding to the greet-ings, KTR saidthat theonus ofensur-ing thegovern-m e nt ' sw e l f a r eand devel-opment pro-grammes reach the people lieswith the officials. He referredseveral aspects concerningthe Telangana employees.

In reply, the associationpresident Mamata assuredthe Minister that the officerswould act as a bridge betweenthe people and the govern-ment.

Association general sec-retary Satyanarayana, TGOHyderabad chapter presidentMB Krishna Yadav, secretaryHarikrishna and others werealso present.

Education,cleanlinessoccupy primeslotPNS n HYDERABAD

The care and concern towardsthe rural poor students andtheir education standards, con-centration on the rural sanita-tion and cleanliness drivealong with the action on theindiscipline sarpanches occu-pied the prime slot in the threedistricts of erstwhile Medakduring the Palle Pragathi phaseII programme that is on theway for the past three days.

Finance Minister HarishRao is showing keen interestin strengthening the ruralpoor education system withhis surprise visits and exams.

The rural teachers came toa conclusion that they shouldconcentrate on impartingstandard education to thewards. Subsequent to the vis-its paid by the FinanceMinister, the officials of theeducation department arealso making surprise visitsand constant monitoring.

Similarly, the cleanlinessdrive opted by the villages isthoroughly examined by thePanchayath officials.

Former MLA keen to showstrength in municipal pollsPNS n KARIMNAGAR

Former MLA and BJP leaderSomarapu Satyanarayanaseems to be entering into theUrban Local Body polls in theindustrial town of Ramagu-ndam in Karimnagar district.

Though the reservation pat-tern and the probability of BCgeneral getting the choicefrom this corporation was notclear, the former RTC chiefwho feels betrayed at thehands of his previous partyTRS, is keen on showing hisstrength at the hustings.

Satyanarayana is movinghis pawns with the aid of his

former followers in TRS andCongress party. Sources saythat the new BJP leader maybe emerging a serious force toreckon with in the UrbanLocal Body polls based on hisplanning capabilities at theground level activity of theUrban Local Body.

The local bodies possess lessthan five thousand electoratesand since that is small pocketwhen compared to the MLApolls the former legislator whoenjoys considerable chunk ofsupport base among theSingareni workers seems tak-ing a step forward at the pre-sent polls.

RTC serves notices toAshwathama Reddy PNS n HYDERABAD

The Telangana State RoadTransport Corporation(TSRTC) manage-ment refused togrant additionalgeneral leave to theRTC JAC convenerE AshwathamaReddy and servednotices to him onFriday directinghim to join theduties immediately.

The management beforehas already rejected the appli-cation submitted by theAshwathama Reddy seeking

six months leave. The management has

warned saying that it will ini-tiate severe action against

Ashwathama in casehe failed to attendhis duties.Ashwathama Reddywas not attendinghis duties after thewithdrawal of 52-days strike.Ashwathama Reddywas served twonotices by the RTC

management saying the man-agement rejected his leaveapplication and asking him tojoin his duties immediately.

Unified TRS leaderschallenge ‘scattered'opposition parties

IT Minister KT Rama Rao, Excise Minister V Srinivas Goud drink Neera at Gouds Aatmeeya Sabha at Hyderabad on Saturday

Diet influences mental health and wellbeing

PNS n HYDERABAD

Hyderabad Metropolitan WaterSupply & Sewerage Board MDDana Kishore on Saturday saidthat works on SewageTreatment Plants (STPs) inGopanpally and Lingamguntaareas are in final stages.

He was speaking after review-ing the works of LingamguntaSewage Treatment Plant alongwith HMWSSB officials ofSerilingampally. Speaking onthe occasion, the MD explainedthat four STPs and seweragepipelines funded by JNNURMwere taken up as part of theSerilangampalli SewerageMaster Plan. As part of this,STPs in Khajaguda andNanakramguda have been com-pleted.

The trial run forLingamkunta 30 million litreSewage Treatment Plant is

scheduled to be completed bythe end of January. Many pub-lic associations and locals havefiled a lawsuit in court saying

the work was delayed. Finally,the court has dismissed thecases in 2017 and said work hasbegun.

HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | JANUARY 5, 2020 hyderabad 03

Newly appointed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar calls on IT Minister KT RamaRao and extended New Year greetings at Pragathi Bhavan on Saturday

COURTESY CCALL

RIME ORNERC

One killed in bikemishap near KBR ParkHYDERABAD: A youngster waskilled and another injured whenthe motorcycle they were ridingon, crashed into a road mediannear the KBR Park in BanjaraHills on Saturday. The deceasedwas identified as Mohd ImrozeBasha, a car driver byprofession. He was proceedingfrom Banjara Hills towards theJubilee Hills Checkpost when themishap occurred. Police said thatBasha, who was not wearing ahelmet and was speeding at thetime, had crashed into themedian and fell head first ontothe road. Due to a severe headinjury, he succumbed on thespot. The pillion rider, Wali wasalso injured in the mishap. Hewas shifted by the Police to anearby hospital for treatment.Basha's body was shifted toOsmania General Hospital for an autopsy.

Unit making duplicateproducts raided; 7 heldHYDERABAD: Officials of the Hyderabad PoliceCommissioner's West Zone TaskForce raided a manufacturingunit at Mangalhat and arrestedseven persons, who wereindulging in manufacturing andsupplying of duplicate teapowder on the name of RedLabel, Three Roses and Empiretea gold. According to officials,the gang used to buy rawunpackaged tea powder andpack them in boxes of populartea brands.The police seized425.5 kgs of duplicate teapowder from their possession.Packets, raw tea powder, emptyaluminium covers, glue sticks,plastic tea ropes, sealingmachines and six mobile phoneswere also recovered from theirpossession.

Lineman in ACB net HYDERABAD: The officials ACBarrested a lineman of ElectricityDepartment while he wasaccepting a bribe from oneShailesh Reddy at the latter'shouse on Saturday. The accused,Vijayabhaskar Reddy, hadreportedly demanded Rs 4,000bribe for installing a meter atReddy's house at VivekanandaNagar Colony of Pothireddypallyvillage under SangareddyMunicipality. Reddy approachedACB, they laid a trap and caughthim red-handed while acceptingthe bribe. The accused threw themoney on road upon seeing theACB officials, however, theofficials said they had enoughevidence against the linemen.

Narayana studentsshine in NSE-2019PNS n HYDERABAD

Narayana School students haveonce again produced a domi-nating result in NationalStandard Examinations (NSE-Stage1) 2019 by securingunprecedented number of 295selections in NSEJS (JrScience), NSEB (Biology),NSEC (Chemistry), NSEP(Physics) & NSEA (AstronomyJr & Sr). The exams were con-ducted jointly by IndianAssociation of Physics

Teachers (IAPT), HBCSE andthe government of India. Theselected students will nowappear for INO (IndianNational Olympiad) to be con-ducted in February 2020. DrSindhura Narayana, ManagingDirector of Narayana Group,who was jubilant with thestunning result, said thatNarayana is proud to send thelargest number of students toINO> No other institution inthe country has this uniquedistinction, she said.

Biodiversity flyoverreopened for trafficPNS n HYDERABAD

Biodiversity flyover, which wasshut for almost 40 days after anaccident in which a speedingcar fell off from the flyover andkilled one person, has beenreopened for traffic onSaturday. Authorities have alsoimposed a ban on selfies on theflyover and will levy a fine ofRs 1,100 for overspeeding.HW Mayor BonthuRammohan, and CyberabadCommissioner of Police VCSajjanar inspected theBiodiversity Flyover and thesafety precautions taken up bythe GHMC along with theZonal Commissioner HariChandana.

As per the recommenda-tions made by the expert com-mittee, safety measures such asrumble strips from the startingof the flyover, carriagewayreduction sign, speed limitmarkings, warning sign as perIRC, side view cutters andothers have been incorporated.Announcements through pub-lic address system cautioningmotorists against stopping forselfies on the flyover would

also be made. Chief EngineerSridhar further informed thatafter providing the safety mea-sures as recommended by theexpert committee, the panelinspected and conducted traildrive 10 to 12 times. Theexpert committee comprisedthe former Executive Directorof Andhra Pradesh State RoadTransport Corporation(APSRTC) S NagabhushanRao, former director of CentralRoad Research Institute(CRRI) TS Reddy, OsmaniaUniversity Associate ProfessorSrinivas Kumar, and road safe-ty audit expert Pradeep Reddy.

The committee submitted its

report on December 16, 2019to the GHMC. While inspect-ing the works on flyover HWMayor Bonthu Rammohan,CP Sajjanar observed that viewcutters should be provided onboth sides to a further distancein order to prevent taking self-ie and also to provide camerasto identify the speed of thevehicle, know your speed of thevehicle etc. and what precau-tions to be taken during non -peak hours to control the speedof the vehicle. Chief EngineerSridhar, SE Venkatramana,Vijay Kumar, DCP Traffic andsenior officials from GHMCand Traffic police attended.

Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, Cyberabad Commissioner of Police VC Sajjanar, Zonal Commissioner Hari Chandana and othertop officials inspecting the flyover on Saturday. (Below) The side view cutters, which have been incorporated on the flyover

Onion wholesaleprices ease in cityPNS n HYDERABAD

After reaching a high of Rs 200a kg and keeping consumersseething with rage for nearlytwo months, the price of onionis on the decline in the whole-sale market. A quintal ofonions was sold anywherebetween Rs 12,000 and Rs13,000 three weeks ago in thewholesale market. However, ason Saturday, the prices eased toRs 5,500-6,000 a quintal.Consequently, a kg of onionsis now being sold at Rs 50 inthe open market.

Import of onions to thewholesale market improvednot only from Telangana butalso from Andhra Pradesh,Maharashtra and Gujarat. Thewholesale markets at Malakpetand Bowenpally inSecunderabad and BegumBazaar have been importingheavily. Countrywide shortageof onions prevailed on accountof the heavy rains, which lashedvarious parts of the country twomonths ago, causing heavy lossto the onion crops.Consequently, a kg of onionwas sold in the open marketbetween Rs 150 and Rs 200.

Measures initiated by theGovernment of Telangana to

regulate onion prices haveshown results. The govern-ment imported onions fromoverseas and sold at subsidisedprices. According to a trader inthe wholesale market, newonion crop started arriving inthe market in large quantitieseasing the price situation. Hepredicted that the onion

imports in the next few dayswould be very high suggestingthat the onion prices will easefurther to Rs 3,000-3,500 aquintal. Traders are hopefulthat the price would furthercome down and onion wouldbe available at affordable ratesin next 15 days, once the newcrop arrives into the market.

Special poojasin temples on‘VaikuntaEkadasi'PNS n HYDERABAD

On the occasion of VaikuntaEkadasi, special poojas will beorganised at Sri BalajiTemple, Himayathnagarapart from SV&MG temple atJubilee Hills, on Monday.Devotees can have 'sarva dar-shanam' on the auspiciousday.

R Govind Hari, presidentof Local Advisory Committeeand special invitee of TTD(Tirumala TirupatiDevasthanams) Board, in apress release informed thedevotees that Uttaradwarampooja and protocol/VIPbreak darshanam will takeplace from 5 am to 6 am fol-lowed by continuous 'sarvadarshanam' from 6 am till 10pm.

Of the approximately 26Ekadasi days that could occurin a year, Vaikunta Ekadasi isone of the most importantdays for observing fasting andvigil i.e., staying awake. Onthis special day, one of themain rituals is the opening ofthe Uttaradwaram i.e., thedoor on the northern side, inall Vishnu temples. Two mainreligious places where this rit-ual is performed with greatfervor are Srirangam andTirumala, he said.

According to a trader in a wholesalemarket, new onion crop startedarriving in the market in largequantities, easing the price situation.He further said that the price wouldcome down further in next few days

PNS n HYDERABAD

In yet another twist to theHajipur case, the accused in thecourt stated that he does notknow how to ride a bike andthat he was impotent, blatant-ly denying all the charges lev-eled against him. M SrinivasReddy was accused of offeringlifts to the victims and laterassaulting them. He allegedlyburied the bodies of the victimsin abandoned wells on theoutskirts of Hajipur village.The fast-track court's magis-trate had sought his explanationto the evidence gathered in thecase during the trial. Theaccused claimed denial despitetechnical and forensic evidencebeing stacked against him.

He told the court that he wasinnocent and the police hadforced him to confess to thethree offences. According tosources, when the magistrate

asked the accused if he used towatch porn, he denied it sayinghe doesn't even have anandroid phone. When the mag-istrate inquired with him abouta murder case pending againsthim at Kurnool, he repliedthat he doesn't know the victim.

Even regarding his profes-sion, he denied that he was anAC mechanic. When the judge

further asked him what he has tosay about his semen and blood-stains found on the victim'sdress, he told the court that policesprayed it after collecting samplesfrom him. He further requestedthe court to add his familymembers as witness in the cases.

The first additional sessionscourt V Vishwanatha Reddyheard the case related to thedeaths of three girls that tookplace in Hajipur of Nalgondadistrict on Friday and record-ed comments made by theHajipur killer. Meanwhile, thefast track court recorded asmany as 101 witnesses per-taining to three separate casesagainst him of kidnap, rape andmurder after Rachakondapolice filed chargesheets. Thecourt also examined forensicand technical evidence in thecase. The trial began in the sec-ond week of October.

The court is likely to allow

the defence counsel's argu-ments in the next hearingbefore giving a verdict.Rachakonda PoliceCommissioner Mahesh MBhagawat, who attended threecourt hearings in the casehoped that maximum punish-ment will be awarded to theaccused.

In April 2019, while a 14-year-old girl was returninghome from school, the accusedoffered her a lift on his bike.Then he allegedly took her intothe bushes and killed her. Later,he threw her in an abandonedwell. During investigation ofthis case, two other skeletalremains of other victims werefound in different wells in thevillage. In June 2019, caseswere registered in connectionwith the kidnap, rape and mur-der of all three victims, followedby the arrest of the accusedMarri Srinivas Reddy.

NEW TWIST

Can't ride a bike, Hajipur killer claims in court

2 arrested in mobilesnatching case PNS n HYDERABAD

The Abids Road Police onSaturday arrested two per-sons who were involved in amobile snatching case andrecovered a stolen bike, whichwas used to commit theoffence, from their posses-sion. The arrested were iden-tified as Mohammed Irfan Ali(24), a car driver fromMoghalpura and MohammedAbdul Razzaq (26), an ACmechanic from Mirchowk.

A student had lodged acomplaint with the police stat-ing that two unidentified mensnatched her mobile whenshe was on her way to the col-lege. Based on a complaint, thepolice registered a case andbegan an investigation. TheAbid Road Police verified

CCTV footage and launchedefforts to trace out the bikethat the offenders had used tocommit the crime. Based ontechnical inputs, officialstraced the vehicle and arrest-ed the duo. The police recov-ered the stolen mobile phoneand a TVS Apache bike, whichwas stolen from Kukatpally PS limits.

Abids Road Police presenting the accused before the media on Saturday

Works on STPs in final stage

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board MD Dana Kishore andother officials inspecting the works on a STP on Saturday

Based on technicalinputs, officialstraced the vehicleand arrested theduo. Policerecovered stolenmobile phone and a TVS Apache bike

PNS n HYDERABAD

Technology is playing a criti-cal role in shaping the globaleconomy, Indian economy andalso the banking sector besidesall other sectors, said RajnishKumar, Chairman, State Bankof India. He was speaking atthe first edition of 'FICCIDialogue for ActionableInsights' on Saturday at HotelTaj Krishna organised byFICCI Telangana State Councilon the theme 'Outlook on theIndian Economy'.

Speaking on the occasion, hesaid, “For banks like us earlierin terms of competition, up to90 it was between State Bankand Public Sector Banks, thanit was State Bank, Public SectorBanks and Private SectorBanks and now we have newcompetitors in the form ofFintech, who are bringing in lotof innovation."

“So a historic or a legacy

bank like us has to respond tothe rapid changes that are tak-ing place, some satisfaction iswe have been able to matchthat. For consumers we have astate-of-the-art offering in theform of YONO, last two yearswe focused on retail bankingand have 1.7 crores registeredusers and there is a huge shiftfrom internet banking tomobile banking. We as a

banker, view corporates notjust as a client but as a largeecosystem comprising of var-ious stake holders associatedwith it. We want to be an inte-gral part of the entire ecosys-tem and tap the completestructure," he further said.

Dr Sangita Reddy, president,FICCI said, "looking at theeconomy, 24 months ago wewere looking at a very different

prospects in terms of our tra-jectory, we were to be the shin-ing star on the global map, butin the past 24 months we havebeen through ups and downs,but what is scaring every cor-porate and every Indian in theface is a combination of slow-down in consumption, which isat the core of lot of our prob-lems, arising from an overalllack of growth prospects or lossof jobs, certain amount ofuncertainty, besides the investclimate looking weak."

‘Banks should respond to rapid changes'

Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, State Bank of India, Dr Sangita Reddy, FICCI president,and others at the first edition of the 'FICCI Dialogue for Actionable Insights'.

We focused on retailbanking and have1.7cr registeredusers and there is ahuge shift frominternet banking tomobile banking, saidRajnish Kumar

Techie dies inroad mishapat KPHBPNS n HYDERABAD

A 26-year-old software pro-fessional died in a roadmishap after the bike he wasriding crashed into a vehiclethat had been parked on a fly-over in KPHBon Friday.T h edeceasedwas iden-tified asM a n n eS u m a n t hVarma, a native ofAnantapur district of AndhraPradesh. Sumanth was stay-ing at Nizampet and wasworking with OMICSInternational at Gachibowlifor more than a year.

According to the KPHBPolice, the driver of an SUVhad carelessly parked thevehicle on a flyover nearSujana Forum Mall at KPHBwithout putting up any warn-ing sign or switching on theparking light. Sumanth couldnot spot the vehicle until hewas close to it. He thencrashed into the SUV and felloff his bike, the police said.

Sumanth, who sustainedmultiple injuries in the crash,was taken to a nearby hospi-tal. However, doctorsdeclared him brought dead.The KPHB police registereda case against the SUV driverand seized the vehicle.

THIEVES FLEE WITH 70CARTONS OF ITC CIGARETTES HYDERABAD: Unidentifiedoffenders broke into a cigarettegodown in Ameenpur andtook away over 70 cartons ofcigarettes of various ITCbrands on Friday. Sources saidthat the warehouse belongs toa distributor of ITC company.Apart from stealing cigarettes,whose worth is estimated at Rs

1 crore, police said that thethieves didn't touch othertobacco sticks stored in thewarehouse. According to thepolice, the thieves cut thewires of the CCTV cameracables to avoid being caught.Officials collected fingerprintsand other clues from the spotand began a probe.

MIR QUADIR ALI n HYDERABAD

At the Dharna Chowk nearIndira Park here on Saturday,the atmosphere was electric;the excitement, palpable, andthe sense of purpose, definite.

This sense of purposemoved thousands of people tothe join the Million March,which was held to protest theCentre's unilateral decision toimplement the CitizenshipAmendment Act and the bare-ly concealed threat to launchthe NRC across the country.

While Muslims were in amajority, Hindus and Sikhs insizeable numbers were identi-fied by their tilaks and theirturbans. While some arrived atthe Dharna Chowk by 10.30am, others were seen trying toreach the place even at 4.30 pm.

Strikingly, a majority of theprotesters were seen holdingthe Tricolour, proud of the factthat it has both saffron andgreen, associated with Hindusand Muslims, as also white, thecolour of peace, purity andhonesty. The most stridentslogans were "Azadi from divi-siveness" and "Thank you Modifor bringing together Hindusand Muslims on a commonplatform".

A group of people inAyyappa deeksha robes wereseen; they were silent and notholding any placards, bound asthey were by holy vows theyhad taken. But for othersaround them, their very pres-ence mattered, and it was theirway of expressing their angst atthe NDA government insistingon implementing the CAAand the NRC.

The Tahreek-e-MuslimShabban had organized theprotest, having obtained policepermission and made arrange-ments for the loudspeakersand other paraphernalia at thevenue.

While the organizers had setup a dais where speaker afterspeaker vowed to fight theCentre, the fact was that it wasnot just one single congrega-tion, but hundreds with a uni-fied purpose. People were seenin groups every few yards,holding placards and shoutingslogans. The cohesiveness ofthe groups, spaced for conve-nience, reflected their unflinch-

ing resolve to not allow thecountry to be divided, comewhat may.

The slogans and placardswere innovative in themselves,but the common thread thatran through the messages was:We, the people, have rejectedthe attempt to divide the coun-try, polarise its citizens onreligious lines, and force apolitical decision on them.

The protesters were alsovery clear that they would notallow matters to get out ofhand, not shout provocativeslogans; and, more important-ly, not give the authorities anyexcuse to deny permission forany such future protests.

They came in tens of thou-sands, some say lakhs. Somewere young, just discoveringtheir identity, some were pre-

sumably grandparents. Whilea majority was male, womenwere in sizeable numbers.Some held up placards, saying'Rainbow against Fascism' and'Queers support the anti-CAAfight'.

A rather innovative protest-er appealed for book donationto 'deserving student' AmitShah and the book being acopy of the Constitution!

HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | JANUARY 5, 2020 hyderabad 04

Home Minister Mahmood Ali gives memento to DG Abhilasha Bisht, after inaugurating four IR Battalion bands at People’s Plaza in Hyderabad on Saturday.

NEW BBAND

MILLION MARCH

People drive home the message peacefullyPNS n HYDERABAD

Telangana BJP state presidentDr K Laxman alleged that mis-management of economic frontby Chief Minister KChandrasekhar Rao has ledthe state into a debt trap. Itwould take at least four decadesto clear the loans obtained bythe TRS government during thelast six years.

Laxman found fault withthe TRS government inappointing IAS officer SomeshKumar as Chief Secretary with-out considering seniority ofTelangana cadre officers. Healleged that the appointment ofSomesh as the new ChiefSecretary is certainly for apolitical gain.

Addressing a press confer-ence at state BJP office atNampally, Laxman accusedKCR of ignoring future of peo-ple by adopting faulty eco-nomic policies. Once known assurplus revenue state at the timeof formation, now Telanganastate was revenue-deficit state,he said adding that the loansborrowed by the TRS govern-ment would take at least 40years for repayment includingits interest.

Taking a dig at the ChiefMinister K Chandrasekhar Rao,the BJP state president allegedthat KCR is now trying todivert attention from problemsfaced by people and govern-ment failures. KCR is now busymaking plans to handover thegovernment's rein to his son KTRama Rao after municipal elec-tions. KCR wanted to make hisson as Chief Minister becausenow people have realised andunderstood the inefficient andmalfunctioning of the TRSgovernment and there is nochance to retain power afternext elections, the state BJPpresident said.

Pooh-Poohing the TRS gov-ernment's tall claims of devel-opment and welfare of the peo-

ple, Laxman said the TRS utter-ly failed to keep its word of pro-viding one lakh governmentjobs to youth when it came topower after formation. TheTRS government provided only28,000 jobs including 10,000policemen recruited for securityof its own leaders, Laxmanlamented.

Laxman said BJP would go topeople on the developmentworks and welfare schemesinitiated by Prime Minister.The people in the country aresupporting courageous and his-toric decisions taken by the BJPgovernment, he said.

Reacting on municipal elec-tions, the state BJP chief allegedthat the TRS government andState Elections Commissionare in a hurry to conduct theelections without giving timefor political parties for rectify-ing the faulty voter lists andother irregularities.

Floor leader in legislativecouncil N Ramachander Rao,spokesperson NV Subhash,General secretary ChintaSambamurthy and other lead-ers were present.

Appointment of new CSis for political gain: BJP

Continued from Page 1

Ministers were told in nouncertain terms that theystood to lose their posts if theparty lost any corporation ormunicipality. KCR made itclear that the responsibility ofticket allocation and appease-ment of rebels rested with theMLAs alone.

He also advised the seniorleaders to conduct 'cordialmeetings' (AathmeeyaSammelans) with the cadre intheir respective constituen-cies. MLAs were told to ensurecohesion between the newentrants and the veterans in theparty. "Everyone has to strivehard for the victory of partycandidates as soon as thenames are announced.Ministers will have to partici-pate in the campaign wherev-er the need is felt," KCR said.

Stressing the importance ofcoordination, he said that BabuMohan failed to uphold theconfidence though he wasgiven the ticket after beinginvited to join the TRS fromthe TDP.

He added: "However, I gaveticket to journalist Kranthiand he seized the opportunitysuccessfully. Kranthi is work-ing in his constituency verywell."

The Chief Minister inquiredabout the stand-off betweenLabour Minister Ch MallaReddy and former MLAMalipeddi Sudheer Reddy in ameeting at Medchal on Fridayin the presence of FinanceMinister T. Harish Rao.

It is learnt that the ChiefMinister spoke to Sudheer

Reddy over phone even as themeeting was on.

Sudheer Reddy gave anexplanation to the ChiefMinister on the issue, follow-ing which KCR warned boththe leaders that they will faceserious repercussions in casethey fought.

On the occasion, KCR

reeled out municipality andcorporation wise details ofbeneficiaries of governmentschemes. He also chaired dis-trict wise meetings after lunch.

Earlier, the Ministers facedsome embarrassing momentswhen entering the TelanganaBhavan.

The police allowedTransport Minister PuvvadaAjay Kumar only after checks.This upset Ajay Kumar, whowarned the cops that he wouldlodge a complaint with theChief Minister.

The police also tried tocheck the belongings ofEducation Minister SabithaIndra Reddy. However, thepolice allowed Sabitha IndraReddy inside without thechecks after she gave them avery stern look.

Thousandsmarch in hugeanti-CAAprotest in HydContinued from Page 1

Several educationalinstitutions had alsodeclared a holiday.Theparticipants were raisingslogans like 'Inquilabzindabad', 'Tanashahi nahichalegi', and 'we rejectNRC'.

They were carryingbanners and placards withslogans like "We will diebut not accept CAA, NRCand NPR" and "Unitedagainst hate".

"The real issues areeconomy, education andhealth and not Hindu-Muslim, Pakistan andNRC," read a banner.

"CAA is discriminatoryagainst Muslims. We willnot accept it," said SyedSajid, a student partici-pating in the march

"CAA is not the onlyissue. The government isgoing to start NPR whichis nothing but the firststep towards NRC," saidZohra Begum, a house-wife, holding the nation-al flag. "Our ancestorsdecided to remain in Indiaon a call given by MaulanaAbul Kalam Azad. This isour country. We wereborn here and will diehere," said another pro-tester. Mill ionMarchended with protestorssinging the NationalAnthem. The Latter tookit up on themselves toclean the site.

Laxman found faultwith the TRS inappointing Someshas Chief Secretarywithout consideringseniority of TScadre officers

PNS n HYDERABAD

TPCC chief N Uttam KumarReddy alleged that the StateElection Commission (SEC) isworking in favor of ruling TRS.

The Chief Minister KChandrasekhar Rao is trou-bling the opposition partieswith the support of SEC, heremarked. Uttam demandedthe Chief Minister to pass a res-olution in the Assembly againstthe Citizenship AmendmentAct (CAA) to send the same tothe Centre.

Participating in the partyactivists meeting at Miryalgudaon Saturday, TPCC chief allegedthat the TRS governmenthatched a conspiracy to troublethe opposition parties and aspart of it, it is announcing the

reservations of municipal chair-men and councilors' one afterthe other.

Reminding that the Congressfiled a petition in the HighCourt on TRS government'sattitude towards municipal elec-tions, Uttam said that theCongress party will never beafraid of elections.

The TPCC chief said no sec-

tion of the society was satisfiedwith the performance of TRSGovernment. Uttam said KCRtook Telangana on top in onlytwo things, i.e., sale of liquor andunemployment.

He said State Government'srevenue through sale of liquorhas more than doubled in thelast few years. While the incomewas about Rs. 11,000 crore in

2014, it has increased to morethan Rs 23,000 this year.

Similarly, he said the numberof unemployed youth inTelangana has increased fromnearly 12 lakh in 2014 to over 24lakh this year. In 2018 elections,KCR had promised to giveunemployment allowance of Rs3,016 per month to joblessyouth. However, he said that the

jobless youth were still waitingfor the promised unemploymentallowance for the last one year.

Uttam Kumar Reddy urgedthe unemployed youth to giveKCR a big shock in municipalelections. He said TRS must bedefeated in municipal electionsif jobless youth wants KCR tostart giving jobs or at leastunemployment allowance.

TPCC chief said the RythuBandhu scheme was not beingimplemented properly. He saidduring the last two crop seasons,many farmers did not get thepayment even for the first sea-son. He said that the Congressparty was quite strong acrossTelangana State and it wouldcertainly win a majority of seatsin all municipalities and munic-ipal corporations.

EC is favouring TRS: TPCC president

TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy addresses the party activists at a meeting organised at Miryalguda on Saturday

BJP is all hype, no threat, KCR...Internal survey predicts‘clean sweep' for TRSContinued from Page 1

Sources in the partyclaimed that they were all wellprepared for the municipalelections and that they wouldface it in a comfortable man-ner.

The respective MPs andMLAs have reportedly beengiven the responsibility ofensuring victory by coordi-nating among leaders. Thepink party is apparently focus-ing on municipalities aroundGHMC limits. This is toensure that the positive vibes

of the municipal electionscould be leveraged to help theruling party secure win inGHMC elections later nextyear. According to a partyleader, "We are very much pre-pared and are going to face itin a comfortable way. We arewinning majority of segmentscomfortably". The leader said,"Whenever there are chal-lenges, TRS has emerged vic-torious. We were able to winthe Huzurnagar bye-electionsagainst all the odds and despiteit not being our seat; likewisethe Khammam MP seat.”

The police allowedTransport MinisterPuvvada Ajay onlyafter checks. Thisupset Ajay, whowarned the copsthat he would lodgea complaint withthe Chief Minister

3 aspirantsfrom NIT... Continued from Page 1

"It is a great feeling for us asour students have doneextremely well in CAT as wellas GATE exams. The stu-dents' performance is a reflec-tion of the way we teach andtrain them." The success rateof NIT Warangal has beenaround 80 to 90 percent everyyear. Apart from CAT, studentswho appear for other Aptitudetests such as GATE also securegood scores every year.

The CAT results wereannounced on Saturday and10 students from across thecountry secured 100 per-centile. Four candidates arefrom MH and the remainingcandidates are TS, Karnataka,TN, Uttarakhand, Jharkhandand WB.

KCR is busy making hisson CM: MP KomatireddyPNS n HYDERABAD

Congress MP KomatireddyVenkat Reddy alleged thatKCR is concentrating much onmaking his son IT Minister KTRamarao as the Chief Ministerand sending his daughter KKavitha to Rajya Sabha.

Venkat Reddy criticisedKCR that the latter destroyedthe local bodies by not allo-cating funds to them.

Participating in the munic-ipal elections preparatorymeeting at Bhongir,Komatireddy alleged that thestate government is divertingthe funds sanctioned by theCentre. Venkat Reddy gave acall to the cadre to launch

another movement againstKCR after the municipalresults. KCR development inthe last six years is seen only inhis statements but not atground level, he pointed out.

The MP said "I am feelingproud being in Congress party.

TRS is a broker party. Congressintroduced several schemes tothe poor. Congress never didpolitics in the name of casteand religion".

"I won the elections by notspending money but with theexodus cooperation of partyactivists. I will sacrifice my lifefor the sake of party activists.I will extend all assistance tothe party activists in polls,"Venkat Reddy said.

Earlier, the party activistsentered into verbal war with-in them with differences in themeeting at Bhongir. The samewas happened at Janagoan toomaking the municipal elec-tions meetings chaos in pres-ence of their leaders.

RTC to operate4K special busesfor MedaramJataraPNS n MULUGU

The Telangana State RoadTransport Corporation(TSRTC) will ply 4,000 spe-cial buses during theMedaram Jatara and cater toaround 23 lakh devoteesacross the State, saidOperations ExecutiveDirector E Yadagiri.

He held a review meetingwith officials at Medaramthe district on Saturday. Hesaid TSRTC was going to setup 51 special bus stationsacross the State just for theMedaram Jatara.

Around 12,500 employeesincluding officers, supervi-sors, workers and securitypersonnel were roped intodischarge duties during thejatara.

A temporary bus stationwould be set up at Medaramin an area of 59 acres. Thearea will under CCTV sur-veillance and linked to thepolice command and controlroom.

"The TSRTC will run ser-vices during the jatara with-out expecting any profit. Wewill soon announce the faresfor different destinations.Devotees can book their tick-ets online for Super Luxuryand AC bus services. We willalso run special buses toVemulawada every Saturday,Sunday and Monday," theOperations ExecutiveDirector said.

Andhra Anti-CorruptionBureau chief shiftedPNS n AMARAVATI

A couple of days after the ChiefMinister YS Jagan MohanReddy expressed displeasureover the functioning of thestate Anti-Corruption Bureau,the Andhra Pradesh govern-ment on Saturday transferred itschief Kumar Vishwajeet andappointed 1992 batch IPS offi-cer P Sitharama Anjaneyulu inhis place.

Chief Secretary NilamSawhney issued an order post-ing Anjaneyulu, currently theTransport Commissioner, asDirector General of ACB.

Anjaneyulu will hold fulladditional charge as Secretary of

the AP Public ServiceCommission and also asTransport Commissioner.

Vishwajeet, IPS officer of1994 batch, has been asked toreport to the Director Generalof Police (Head of Police Force).

Early last month, Vishwajeetwas relieved of the additionalcharge he was holding as thestate Intelligence head.

During a review meeting onthe ACB the other day, the ChiefMinister had pulled up theanti-graft wing, attached to theGeneral AdministrationDepartment, saying its perfor-mance was not up to the mark.

Work without taking anyoffs or leaves. I want change inthree months. Staff should feartaking bribes, the Chief Ministerwas said to have told the ACBauthorities.

Proving right the speculationever since, the ACB chief wasabruptly removed.

Kumar Vishwajeet

People gather inlargenumbersprotestingagainst theCitizenshipAmendmentAct at theDharnaChowk nearIndira Park on Saturday

K Laxman

HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | JANUARY 5, 2020 nation 05SHORT READS

Teenager injured asterrorists hurl grenadeon CRPF personnel SRINAGAR: Suspectedterrorists hurled a grenade onCRPF personnel in Kawdaralocality here on Saturday,resulting in injuries to a 16-year-old boy, police said.However, there was no injury toany CRPF personnel as thegrenade missed the intendedtarget and exploded on theroadside, a police official said.He said unidentified terroristslobbed the grenade to targetCRPF personnel posted inKawdara locality of the interiorarea of the city in the afternoon,causing panic among thepeople. A boy, who was movingon the road, received minorsplinter injuries, when thegrenade exploded, the officialsaid. Two private vehicles weredamaged in the attack, headded.

Kejriwal govt's health,edu initiativesinspiration for SorenRANCHI: Jharkhand ChiefMinister Hemant Soren onSaturday said he wasimpressed with Delhi stategovernment's initiatives ineducation and health sectorsand was inspired to implementsimilar programmes in hisstate. Soren met his Delhicounterpart Arvind Kejriwal inthe national capital on Fridayand discussed the Aam AadmiParty government's initiatives."It was a pleasure to meet Shri@ArvindKejriwal ji ChiefMinister of Delhi & extendwarm wishes from Jharkhand.We also discussed about thestellar public education &health initiatives undertaken by@AamAadmiParty govt.Inspired to implement similarinitiatives in Jharkhand," Sorentweeted. Soren was sworn in asthe 11th chief minister ofJharkhand on December 29.

Tripura cops in a fixover 3 BangladeshinationalsAGARTALA: The Tripura Policehave been caught in a bizarresituation as they are unable tosend back three Bangladeshisas the Bangla border guardsare refusing to accept them, thepolice said here on Saturday.According to the police, threeyoung Bangladeshis werearrested on June 4 for enteringIndia illegally through westernTripura's Khowai district. Alocal court found them guiltyand awarded 6-month jail.According to the Khowaidistrict police official, aftercompletion of the jail-term onDecember 4, 2019, the policewith the help of the BorderSecurity Force (BSF) tried tosend back the three -- ZosefMia, Imran Mia and Zahid Mia.But the border guards ofBangladesh refused to takethem back.

PNS n JAMMU

Over 270 contractors werebooked for possessing fakecontractor cards in Jammuand Kashmir, a spokesman ofthe Union Territory's CrimeBranch said on Saturday.

Their role came out duringinvestigation of a complaintclaiming that Jia Lal, a residentof Beoli in Doda district, andsome others were taking con-tracts from various govern-ment departments on the basisof fake contractor cards, thespokesman said.

"Preliminary investigationfound that the allegationsregarding fake contractor cardagainst the accused was primafacie established."

"It was also established thatmore than 270 other contrac-tors were having similar fakecards, who have contracts indifferent wings of governmentdepartments for construction

works," the spokesman said.He said a criminal case has

been registered in PoliceStation Crime Branch, Jammuagainst the accused personsinvolved in the racket.

The crime branch receiveda written complaint purport-edly by genuine contractors ofDoda district through ShadiLal and Lal Din, alleging thatthe accused Jia Lal had man-aged to get a fake registrationcard from the office of ChiefEngineer, Irrigation and FloodControl Department inSrinagar to grab governmentmoney and there is a group ofpersons who are fabricatingthe cards.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Congress leader RahulGandhi on Saturday con-demned the mob attack onNankana Sahib Gurdwara inPakistan, saying bigotry is adangerous, age old poisonthat knows no borders.

Taking to Twitter, Gandhitermed Friday attack repre-hensible, and said the onlyknown antidote to bigotry islove, mutual respect andunderstanding.

"The attack on NankanaSahab is reprehensible &must be condemnedunequivocally. Bigotry is adangerous, age old poisonthat knows no borders. Love+ Mutual Respect +Understanding is its onlyknown antidote," he said in atweet. A violent mob attackedthe Nanakana SahibGurdwara in Pakistan Fridayand pelted it with stones.

Nankana Sahib is the birthplace of first Sikhguru GuruNanak Dev.

PNS n KOCHI

A trial court on Saturday dis-missed a plea filed byMalayalam film actor Dileep,who is an accused in the caseof alleged abduction andmolestation of a south Indianactress in 2017,seeking toexclude him from the list ofaccused.

Special Public Prosecutor ASureshan said the additionalspecial sessions court inErnakulam admitted the pros-ecution argument that there isprima facie evidence againsthim in the crime and dis-missed the plea of the actorwho is eighth accused in thecase.

The court also did not allowa plea by the actor to grant 10days time to file the appeal ina higher court in the light of the

Supreme Court order inNovember 2019 that the trialshould be completed in six-months.

The court directed all theaccused including Dileep to bepresent on January 6 when thecourt frames charges againstthe accused.

In his plea, the actor, whohad earlier examined the visu-al evidence of the alleged crim-inal act at a trial courtroomhere, had claimed there was noevidence to prosecute him asan accused in the case.

The court is hearing thecase in-camera.

On December 19, Dileepalong with his lawyers and atechnical expert had exam-ined the contents of the elec-tronic records at the closedroom of the court.

Earlier, the Supreme Courthad directed that the actor beallowed to inspect the recordsto enable him to present aneffective defence during thetrial.

In February 2017, the filmactress was allegedly abductedand molested by the accused.

Seven people, including keyaccused 'Pulsar' Suni werearrested in connection with theactress' abduction case.

There are 10 accused in thecase.

The entire act had allegedlytaken place in a moving vehi-cle, which was filmed by theaccused to blackmail her.

Dileep was subsequentlyarrested and arrayed as anaccused in connection withoffences under provisions ofthe Indian Penal Code and ITAct.

Kerala court junks actor Dileep's discharge plea

PNS n CHANDIGARH

The Shiromani GurdwaraParbhandhak Committee(SGPC), the apex body whichmanages Sikh shrines, willsend a four-member delegationto Pakistan to take stock of thesituation following a mobattack on Gurdwara NankanaSahib.

Strongly condemning themob attack on the historicSikh shrine, SGPC chiefGobind Singh Longowal onSaturday appealed to thePakistan government to takestrict action against culprits.

"We strongly condemn theattack on Gurdwara NankanaSahib in Pakistan and appeal

to the Pakistan governmentto take stringent actionagainst the culprits and also

ensure safety of Sikhs livingthere," Longowal said onSaturday.

"We will send a four-mem-ber delegation to Pakistan totake stock of the situationthere," he said, adding that thedelegation would also meetSikh families in Nankana

Sahib."The delegation will also

meet Pakistan's PunjabGovernor and Chief Minister,”he further said.

He said the delegation willcomprise Rajinder SinghMehta, Roop Singh, SurjitSingh and Rajinder Singh.

PNS n MUMBAI

The NCP, which is sharingpower with the Shiv Sena andCongress in Maharashtra, onSaturday said the allocation ofportfolios to ministers is tak-ing time as the UddhavThackeray-led government ismulling creation of some newdepartments.

NCP chief spokespersonand Maharashtra ministerNawab Malik made this com-ment in the wake of reports,which claimed that differencesamong the three ruling partiesover sharing of portfolios iscausing the delay in the allo-cation.

Malik said portfolios arelikely to be allocated onMonday.

"The government is mullingcreation of new portfolios. So,it is taking some time, nothingelse," the NCP leader said,dismissing the media reports.

"The allocation should bedone by Monday," he told PTIover phone.

Although Malik did notspecify the details, sourcessaid that the government mayhave new ministers for theChief Minister's Office, com-merce, metro and others.

Chief Minister UddhavThackeray and six of his coun-

cil members two each fromthe Shiv Sena, NCP andCongress, had taken oath onNovember 28.

The first cabinet expansiontook place on December 30.

The full-fledged allocationof portfolios, however, is yet tobe done.

Sources said the Congress,which has been seeking two

additional berths in the gov-ernment, submitted its list ofministers with the depart-ments allocated to them to thechief minister on Friday.

According to the earlierportfolio-sharing arrangementthe three parties had decidedthat the Congress is to get 12ministries in the 43-membercouncil of ministers.

PNS n MUMBAI

The NCP, a key Congress ally,Saturday called for withdraw-al of a controversial Seva Dalbooklet which claims thatHindutva ideologue VinayakSavarkar and MahatmaGandhi's assassin NathuramGodse were in a physical rela-tionship.

NCP's chief spokespersonNawab Malik said that sinceSavarkar was not alive, it waswrong to make such a claim.

The Hindi booklet, titled"Veer Savarkar, Kitne 'Veer'?",was distributed at a camp ofSeva Dal, a frontal organisationof the Congress in MadhyaPradesh recently.

The booklet also questionsSavarkar's credentials as apatriot and his reputation forvalour. It also claimed thatSavarkar received money fromthe British after he was releasedfrom Andaman's Cellular Jail.

"The booklet should bewithdrawn. You may have ide-ological differences with theperson concerned. But it is notright to make such personalremarks against one who is notaround," Malik told PTI over

phone.The NCP and Congress are

sharing power with Shiv Senain Maharashtra.

The Shiv Sena had targetedthe Congress over the booklet.

"Veer Savarkar was a greatman and will remain a greatman. A section keeps talking

against him. This shows thedirt in their mind," Shiv SenaMP Sanjay Raut had said onFriday.

BJP leader DevendraFadnavis had called for a banon the booklet saying theCongress had exhibited its"wicked" psyche by circulating

it.Last month, Congress leader

Rahul Gandhi's jibe that hisname was not "Rahul Savarkar"and hence he would not seekapology (about his remark onrape) had riled the Shiv Sena,his party's new-found ally inMaharashtra.

NCP calls for withdrawal ofSeva Dal's booklet on Savarkar

Prof designs AI music softwareto generate ‘bandish' of ragaPNS n PUNE

A Pune-based academicianhas designed a software, whichcan generate 'bandish' of ragasin Indian classical music usingArtificial Intelligence (AI).

Professor Vinod Vidwans, aPhD in Cognitive Philosophyfrom IIT Bombay, who hasdeveloped this software, saidhe has coded the conceptsand composition rules ofIndian classical music to gen-erate a 'bandish' (composi-tion) every time the vadi(dominant) and samvadi (subdominant) swaras are provid-ed as inputs.

Claiming that this is a firstin the Indian classical musicscene, he said his researchexplores the possibility of'computer-created' Indianmusic or computational Indianmusic using AI.

"Advances in computers andnew media technology haveopened up new avenues formusic-making. Many musicalminds are already exploringthese advances and lookingforward to new horizons,"Vidwans, former Chair, Facultyof Fine and Performing Arts atthe FLAME University, said.

"The principles, conceptsand conventional knowledgebase of Indian music havebeen encoded in this system inthe form of generic rules togenerate music," he said.

According to him, hisresearch has led to the gener-ation of a 'bandish' on its ownwithout any human assistance.

"The AI system has beentested with a number of ragas,

including Hamsadhwani,Dhanashri, Malkaunsa, MaruBihag and Bhairavi. This sys-tem possesses the knowledgeof an expert in the domain ofIndian classical music," hesaid.

"It is a rule-based expert sys-tem and does not have anydatabase of ragas. On the con-trary, it generates the requiredmusical data following therules. This is the 'generative'strength of AI," he said.

"If you provide aroha(ascending order of notes) andavaroha (descending order ofnotes) along with vadi andsamvadi notes of the raga tothe software, it generates thecomposition in a flash," hesaid.

It can be a useful tool tolearn music and understandthese rules with the help of a

text file. It can also be useful forresearchers in musicology fortesting existing theoreticalconcepts in Indian music.

He said the software is alsocapable of generating novelmusical phrases appropriatefor a specific raga while ren-dering, so it is useful for expe-rienced musicians to use it asa supplementary tool for prac-tice.

For common listeners, thesystem will come in handy togenerate a new compositionevery time they want to listento a specific raga.

He said this AI systempresently generates composi-tions in the artificially createdinstruments which produceflute-like sound, shahanai/ vio-lin, sarod, string instrumentand artificial sound of tanpu-ra.

Portfolio allocation taking timeas govt mulls new depts: NCP

"It is a rule-based expert system anddoes not have any database of ragas.On the contrary, it generates therequired musical data following therules. This is the 'generative' strengthof AI," he said.

Although Malik did not specify thedetails, sources said that thegovernment may have new ministersfor the Chief Minister's Office,commerce, metro and others

Rahul Gandhicondemns mobattack on NankanaSahib Gurdwara

VHP urges UNto takecognizance ofattack on shrinePNS n COIMBATORE

The VHP on Saturday strong-ly condemned the attack onNankana Sahib Gurdwara, aSikh holy shrine in Pakistan,and urged the UNHRC totake cognizance of the inci-dent. It also highlighted theplight of the minorities in theneighbouring nations, andproposed a separate law for SriLankan Tamils as well, if theneed arises. However, it clar-ified that the contentiousCAA deals specifically withthree nations-- Pakistan,Afghanistan and Bangladesh.Friday's mob attack on theshrine as well as the allegedabduction of the daughter ofthe Granthi were labelled bythe VHP as "burning exampleof the atrocities against theHindu and Sikh minorities inPakistan and Bangladesh."

SGPC to send 4-member delegation to PakATTACK ON NANKANA SAHIB GURDWARAOn-duty cop shoots himself

with service weaponPNS n DANTEWADA

A Chhattisgarh Armed Forcejawan, posted on security dutyof a Congress MLA, allegedlycommitted suicide by shootinghimself with his serviceweapon in Dantewada districton Saturday, police said.

Head constable AashoramKashyap (37) shot himself withhis service AK-47 rifle ataround 1 am at MLA DevtiKarma's residence here, asenior police official said.

He fired one round from the

weapon on his chest, dying onthe spot, he said.

Kashyap's colleagues alertedthe police, following which hisbody was taken to the districthospital for post-mortem, headded.

A native of neighbouring

Bastar district, Kashyap hadjoined the police force in 2003,and was posted on securityduty of Karma, who is a legis-lator from DantewadaAssembly segment.

The Chhattisgarh ArmedForce is a wing of the statepolice.

No suicide note has beenrecovered from the scene andfurther investigations areunderway to ascertain whythe deceased had taken theextreme step, the senior officialsaid.

Freedom-fighter BhimChandra Jana dies at 107PNS n HOWRAH (WB)

Centenarian freedom fighterBhim Chandra Jana has died ofold age-related ailments inWest Bengal's Howrah dis-trict, family sources said.

He died at his residence inMarotala under Shyampurpolice station limits on Friday,they said.

Jana was 107 and is survivedby six sons and six daughtersand their children.

His wife Latika Jana diedearlier. The freedom fighter'syoungest son Ashok Jana saidhis father was arrested for thefirst time in 1930 at the age of17 while opposing the use offoreign goods.

"Father was brought to

Jagacha police station inHowrah district where he metDeshbandhu Chittaranjan Dasand his wife Basanti Devi whoinspired him to take a plungeinto Swadeshi Movement. Hewas later lodged at Hijli andAlipore prisons," Ashok Janasaid.

He said Bhim Chandra Janawas known as 'Nanu' to otherfreedom fighters of Bengal.

Jana was awarded by theGovernment of India afterIndependence and was anavowed Gandhian all his life,the freedom fighter's grandsonKrishnendu Jana said.

Strongly condemning the mob attack onthe historic Sikh shrine, SGPC chiefGobind Singh Longowal on Saturdayappealed to the Pakistan government to take strict action against culprits

The court also didnot allow a plea bythe actor to grant10 days time to filethe appeal in ahigher court in thelight of theSupreme Courtorder in November2019 that the trialshould becompleted insixmonths

Over 270 fake J-Kcontractors booked

HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | JANUARY 5, 2020 money 06

CAPSULE

Bank taking steps forsmooth functioning ofbranches on Jan 8NEW DELHI: State-ownedSyndicate Bank on Saturdaysaid it is taking necessarysteps for smooth functioningof its branches on January 8— the day of the generalstrike called by trade unions.In a BSE filing, the lender saidit has received notice by theAll India Bank Employees'Association, Bank EmployeesFederation of India, IndianNational Bank Employees'Federation and Indian NationalBank Officers' Congress onthe proposed one-day strikenext week. "Bank has receivednotice...on the proposed strikeon 8th January, 2020,"Syndicate Bank said. The bankis taking necessary steps forsmooth functioning of its allbranches/offices on the day ofproposed strike. However, inthe event the strikematerialises, the functioning ofthe branches/offices may beimpacted, the filing added. Tencentral trade unions havecalled a nation-wide generalstrike on January 8 "to protestagainst anti-labour policies" ofthe government.

Future Retail boardapproves raisingfunds up to $500 mnNEW DELHI: Kishore Biyani-led Future Retail on Saturdaysaid its board has approvedraising of long-term funds upto USD 500 million (aroundRs 3,588 crore) for theacquisition of certain in-storeinfrastructure retail assets."The board has reconsideredthe various funding options forthe acquisition of the retailinfrastructure assets andfound it more efficient to fundthe same through the USDdenominated borrowings...,"the company said in a BSEfiling. Accordingly, the board"approved raising of long termfunds for the company subjectto the applicable regulatoryapprovals and marketconditions, through the offer,issue and of allotment ofsenior, secured USD-denominated notes for anaggregate amount notexceeding USD 500 million...tomeet the capital expenditurefor the acquisition of certainin-store infrastructure retailassets, in one or moretranches", it added. The board,at its meeting held onSaturday, also approved "theallotment of total 396,03,960equity warrants at a price ofRs 505 per warrant to FutureCoupons Private Limited(FCPL) (formerly known asFuture Coupons Limited), apromoter group entity, onpreferential basis againstreceipt of 25 per cent ofwarrant subscription price (ieRs 126.25 per warrant)."

2 top officials of Communist Party of China dismissed for corruptionPNS n BEIJING

Chinese President Xi Jinping'smassive anti-graft drive con-tinues to net top officials as theruling Communist Party ofChina on Saturday dismissedtwo of its representatives innorthwestern Shaanxi provincefor discipline violations andcorruption. Hundreds of topmilitary officials have eitherbeen sacked or prosecutedunder the anti-corruptioncampaign launched by 66-year-old Xi since he came intopower in 2012.

Xi, currently in his secondfive-year tenure, has emergedas the powerful leader afterMao Zedong and heads theruling Communist Party ofChina (CPC), the military andthe Presidency. Shaanxi is hishome province. Over a millionofficials all over China havebeen punished for corruptionand misuse of power under thePresident's anti-graft campaignwhich critics say also helped

him to consolidate his power.Dozens of top generals and

officials of the People'sLiberation Army (PLA) havebeen sacked or prosecuted forcorruption and misuse ofpower in the anti-graft drive.

Chief of CPC in Shaanxiprovince Zhao Zhengyong andChen Guoqiang, the province'sdeputy governor, were dis-

missed for discipline viola-tions and corruption, the CPCCentral Commission forDiscipline Inspection said in astatement on Saturday.

Zhao strayed from his idealsand convictions and was dis-loyal to the party, it said.

Zhao violated the party'sdisciplinary standards on pol-itics, organisation, clean gov-

ernance and life, and is sus-pected of taking bribes, state-run Xinhua quoted the state-ment as saying. His illicit gainswould be confiscated, it said,adding that the case will betransferred to theProcuratorate, the highestnationl level agency responsi-ble for both prosecution andinvestigation, for further inves-tigation and prosecution, itsaid. An investigation foundthat Zhao performed his dutyperfunctorily, resisted author-ities' investigation, abused hispower to seek benefits for oth-ers in terms of job promotions,received gifts and money inreturn, the statement said.

Chen, the province's for-mer deputy governor, was alsoexpelled from the party and hispost. Chen lost his ideals andconvictions, was disloyal anddishonest to the Party, playedup to people of power to seekpersonal promotion and resist-ed authorities' investigation,another official statement said.

PNS n NEW DELHI

The Securities and ExchangeBoard of India (Sebi) on Fridaytightened the noose around thecorporates, saying if companiesare not cooperating with cred-it rating agencies (CRAs) ondisclosure of loan defaults,then the latter should issueINC (Issuer not cooperating)ratings. "If an issuer has all theoutstanding ratings as non-cooperative for more than sixmonths, then the CRA shalldowngrade the rating assignedto the instrument of suchissuer to non-investment gradewith INC status. If non-coop-eration by the issuer continuesfor further six months from thedate of downgrade to non-investment grade, no CRAshall assign any new ratings tosuch issuer until the issuerresumes cooperation or the rat-ing is withdraw," the marketregulator said in a circular.

Last year in November, Sebihad mandated listed compa-nies to make public disclosureon stock exchanges aboutdefault in payment of interestobligations on loans, includingrevolving facilities like cashcredit from banks or financialinstitutions beyond 30 days.

Companies are also requiredto disclose default in case of

unlisted debt securities such asnon convertible debentureswithin 24 hours from theoccurrence of default.

The regulator said in case ofmultiple ratings on an instru-ment, where there is no regu-latory mandate for multipleratings, a CRA should with-draw a rating earlier providedthe CRA has rated the instru-

ment continuously for threeyears or 50 per cent of thetenure of the instrument,whichever is higher andreceived a no-objection cer-tificate from 75 per cent of bondholders of the outstanding debt for withdrawal of rating.

Companies arealso required todisclose default incase of unlisteddebt securitiessuch as nonconvertibledebentures within24 hours from theoccurrence ofdefault

SEBI modifies ratingwithdrawal norms for CRAs

International cooperationneeded to tackle climate PNS n MUMBAI

The major global challenges ofclimate change and financialcrises can be solved only ifcountries agree to cooperatewith each other and resist iso-lationism, economist andNobel laureate Eric StarkMaskin said on Saturday.

However, he added thatglobal collaboration will not beeasy as more and more nationsturn inward-looking.

"We can try to come togeth-er globally and devise an inter-national treaty. Countries maybe willing to sign an interna-tional treaty in which theypromise to reduce their carbonemissions to a safe level,"Maskin said at an event herewhile explaining the 'mecha-nism design' problems facingthe world today.

He said solving climatechange is not so easy becauseevery country, though delight-ed if other nations reduce theircarbon emissions, is reluctantto make those reductions itself

as it is economically painful. Toreduce carbon emissions, coun-tries must take steps like usingnew technology, which isexpensive, as well as shuttingdown old factories, which willhave a negative impact ontheir economies, he added.Another big mechanism designproblem is how to stop finan-cial crises, said Maskin, whowas awarded the Nobel Prize ineconomics in 2007. "About 10years ago, there was an enor-mous financial crisis, thebiggest one since the 1930s.And this led to a global reces-

sion. In some ways, we stillhaven't recovered from it. Ithink stopping financial crisesis as much a political problemas it is a technical problem," he said.

"I think the fact that we arebecoming more national inour orientation, rather thaninternational, is a worryingtrend," Maskin noted.

International problems likeclimate change and financialcrises can be solved onlythrough international cooper-ation and not countries turn-ing inward-looking, he added.

We can try to cometogether globally anddevise an international

treaty. Countries may bewilling to sign an internationaltreaty in which they promise toreduce their carbon emissionsto a safe level

— ERIC STARK MASKINEconomist and Nobel laureate

CEO Tim Cook sees pay ebb along with ApplePNS n SAN FRANCISCO

Apple chief Tim Cook saw hisannual pay slip to $11.6 millionin 2019 after the companyregistered a weaker financialperformance compared withthe previous year, according todocuments filed Friday.

Cook, who took home $15.7million in 2018, is paid a basesalary of $3 million, in additionto a bonus and various com-

pensations. His 2019 incentivebonus, which is tied to Apple'sperformance, tallied about $7.7million, and was calculatedbased on the fact that Appleexceeded its sales target by only28 percent.

That compared with $12million in 2018, based on thecompany exceeding its salestarget by 100 percent, the fil-ing with the Securities andExchange Commission said.

Cook's 2019 pay was alsoreported to include another$885,000 worth of benefits,most of which were for secu-rity and use of a private jet.

"For security and efficiencyreasons, the board requiresMr. Cook to use private aircraftfor all business and personaltravel," the filing said.

Apart from his salary, Cookalso saw more than $113 mil-lion worth of Apple shares

become vested as part of hislong-term compensation ashead of the firm, according tothe filing.

As iPhone sales have weak-ened, Apple has been shiftingto earnings from digital contentand services sold to the legionsof fans of its devices.

Apple reported net sales of$260.2 billion and operatingincome of $63.9 billion for2019, it said in the filing.

PNS n CHENNAI

Public sector Indian OverseasBank has received capital infu-sion of Rs 4,360 crore from thegovernment of India, the banksaid on Saturday.

In a regulatory filing to thestock exchanges, the bank saidit has received the amount ascontribution of the govern-ment in preferential allotmentof equity shares during thefinancial year 2019-20 as gov-ernment's investment.

In December 2019, the bank

had said it would receive cap-ital infusion of Rs 4,360 crorefrom government in the cur-rent financial year for meetingthe regulatory requirement.

In August 2019, the FinanceMinistry had announced cap-ital infusion of Rs 3,800 crore

which was later increased byRs 560 crore. Indian OverseasBank is under the PromptCorrective Action frameworkof the Reserve Bank of India.

The bank has reportedwidening of net loss to Rs2,253.64 crore for the quarter-ending September 30, 2019.The Prompt Corrective Actionframework comes into forcewhen banks breach the threekey regulatory points namelycapital to risk weighted assetsratio, net non-performingassets and return on assets.

PNS n NEW DELHI

The petrol and diesel pricescontinued to surge onSaturday as the price of petrolrose by 10-11 paise and that ofdiesel by 15-16 paise across allmajor cities.

According to the IndianOil website, the petrol costs Rs75.45 a litre in Delhi, Rs 81.04per litre in Mumbai, Rs 78.04a litre in Kolkata and Rs 78.39a litre in Chennai after therevised rates were imple-mented on Saturday morning.

Similarly, diesel prices alsosaw an increase across allmajor cities.

Diesel now costs Rs 68.40 alitre in Delhi, Rs 71.72 a litrein Mumbai, Rs 70.76 per litrein Kolkata and Rs 72.28 a litrein Chennai after the increaseon Saturday morning.

The oil prices jumped by $3a barrel on Friday after a US

airstrike killed a top Iraniangeneral Qassem Soleimani,escalating major tension in theMiddle East.

The retail prices of petroland diesel are dependent onthe global crude oil prices andthe rupee-US dollar exchangerate as India imports 80 percent of its crude requirements.

Domestic petrol and dieselprices are reviewed by oilmarketing companies on adaily basis. Price revisions areimplemented at the fuel sta-tions with effect from 6 a.m.

Fuel prices continueto surge amid tensionin the Middle East

PNS n HONG KONG

Luxury brand Louis Vuitton isclosing a major store in a high-end Hong Kong shopping cen-tre often targeted by democra-cy protesters, local media report-ed. The international retailerplans to shut its shop in thefinancial hub's Times Squaremall after its landlord, WharfReal Estate InvestmentCorporation, refused to lowerthe rent, according to the SouthChina Morning Post's reportFriday.

The store in the commercialheartland of Causeway Bay —one of the brand's eightshopfronts in the city — occu-pies 10,000 square feet of primesecond-floor space in the mall.

Monthly rent reportedly costsan estimated HK dollars 5 mil-

lion (USD 642,000) according toindustry consultants.

Louis Vuitton Hong Kong,Times Square and Wharf havenot responded to enquiries fromAFP. The news of the potentialclosure came after the HongKong government released its

latest retail sales figures, postingits tenth consecutive monthlydrop in November 2019 andstriking a year-on-year declineof over 23 per cent. Jewellery,watches, clocks and luxury giftsformed the most seriously hitcategory, with a year-on-year

plunge of 43.5 per cent. Thegovernment blamed violentprotests for disrupting tourismand affected consumption sen-timents. The Times Square mallhas been a popular target of"Shop With You" rallies whenprotesters would gather to chantslogans and march, hoping toforce shops to close down andimpose economic pressure onthe government. In the thirdquarter last year, LVMH, theparent group of Louis Vuitton,reported a better-than-expected

overall performance but a salesrevenue drop of 25 per cent inHong Kong. Luxury brands inHong Kong have been relyingheavily on a large influx ofmainland Chinese tourists,which on the other hand hasbeen a problem complained bylocal residents for years.

According to the latest figuresreleased by the Hong KongTourism Board, only 2.65 mil-lion people visited in November2019, a decline of 56 per centfrom the same period last year.

LVMH to shut store amid Hong Kong protestsLuxury brands in Hong Kong have beenrelying heavily on a large influx ofmainland Chinese tourists, which on theother hand has been a problemcomplained by local residents for years

Niti moots Rs 22,500 cr planfor private trains on 100 routesPNS n NEW DELHI

Niti Aayog and IndianRailways have come out witha discussion paper for running150 trains on 100 routes by pri-vate operators, envisaging aninvestment of Rs 22,500 crore.

The discussion paper titled'Private Participation:Passenger Trains' has identified100 routes, including MumbaiCentral-New Delhi, NewDelhi- Patna, Allahabad-Puneand Dadar-Vadodara.

Other prominent routesinclude Howrah-Chennai,Howrah Patna, Indore-Okhla,Lucknow-Jammu Tawi,Chennai-Okhla, Anand Vihar-Bhagalpur, Secunderabad-Guwahati and Howrah-AnandVihar. The paper, prepared fordiscussions with stakeholders,has split the 100 routes into 10-12 clusters. As per the paper,the private operator will havethe right to collect market-linked fares and will be pro-vided flexibility of class com-position and halts. The pri-vatisation of train operation,

the paper said, will help inintroducing modern technol-ogy and rolling stocks withreduced maintenance.

Besides, it would provideworld-class service experienceto passengers and also help inreducing the supply demanddeficit. The operators could bedomestic or international enti-ties, the paper said. Each bid-

der would eligible for award ofmaximum three clusters, itadded. The Tejas Express onthe Lucknow-Delhi route,which was flagged off onOctober 4, is the railways' firstexperience of letting a non-railway operator run a train.The Tejas Express is run byrailways' subsidiary IRCTC.

IRCTC has a slew of bene-fits worked out for its passen-gers — combination meals,free insurance of up to Rs 25lakh and compensation in caseof delays.

PNS n NEW DELHI

Tata Consultancy Services(TCS), the flagship companyof the Tata group, onSaturday said it has filed anappeal in the Supreme Courtagainst the NCLAT thatdirected the reinstatement ofCyrus Mistry as a director ofthe company.

In a filing to the stockexchanges, TCS said theNational CompanyLaw AppellateT r i b u n a l(NCLAT) - videits judgementon December18, 2019 - haddirected re-instatement ofMistry as directorof the company forrest of the tenure.

"...the company, based on alegal opinion, has on January3, 2020 filed an appeal in theHon'ble Supreme Court ofIndia (i) to set aside the saidJudgement qua the companyand (ii) in the interim stay onoperation of the said judge-ment to the extent it relates tothe company," it added.

In a major development,the NCLAT had restoredMistry as executive chair-man of Tata Sons and ruled

that appoint-ment of NChandrasekaran

as the head of theholding company

of salt-to-softwareconglomerate was illegal.

Subsequently, Tata Sonsmoved the Supreme Courtagainst the December 18order of the NCLAT rein-stating Mistry as the compa-ny's chairman. After that,Tata Group patriarch RatanTata also filed a petition inthe Supreme Court seeking toquash the company lawappellate court order, sayingthe judgment was "wrong,erroneous and contrary to therecord of the case".

TCS moves SC againstNCLAT order reinstatingMistry as director

IOB gets Rs 4,360 cr infusion from Centre

In a filing to the stockexchanges, TCS saidthe National CompanyLaw AppellateTribunal vide itsjudgement onDecember 18, 2019-had directed re-instatement ofMistry as director of

the company forrest of the

tenure

Airtel getsshareholders’nod to raise upto $ 3 bnPNS n NEW DELHI

Shareholders of Bharti Airtelhave approved proposals toraise up to USD 2 billion inequity and another USD 1billion in debt.

The proposal for issuanceof securities for amount up toUSD 2 billion received 99.99per cent votes in favour of thespecial resolution at the com-pany's EGM held on January3, a regulatory filing showed.

The second special resolu-tion was for issue of foreigncurrency convertible bondsand unsecured/securedredeemable non-convertibledebentures along with orwithout warrants. This alsoreceived 99.99 per cent votesin favour of the proposal.

Last month, Bharti Airtelhad said it would seek share-holders' approval at an EGMon January 3 for raising up toUSD 2 billion through qual-ified institutional placement,public issue, preferentialshares or private placement.

nUNDERWATER: January 2020 DIRECTOR: William EubankPRODUCER: Peter Chernin, Tonia Devis,Jenno ToppingCAST: Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel,Lessica Henwick, John Gallagher Jr,Mamoudou AthieAn American sci-fi about a crew of aquat-ic researchers who work to get to safety afteran earthquake devastates their lab.

nDOLITTLE: January 2020 DIRECTOR: Stephen GaghanPRODUCER: Susan Downey, JeffKirschenbaum, Joe RothCAST: Robert Downey Jr, AntonioBanderas, Michael Sheen, EmmaThompson, Rami MalekA fantasy-adventure comedy about doctorwho discovers he can talk to animals.

nBAD BOYS FOR LIFE: January 2020 DIRECTOR: Adil El Arbi, Billal FallahPRODUCER: Jerry Bruckheimer, WillSmith, Dough BelgradCAST: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence,Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig,Charles Melton, Nicky Jam, JoeA cop-action comedy; the final part of theBad Boys trilogy that follows detectivesLowrey and Burnett reuniting once againjust as they are about to retire ad aRomanian mob after them.

nTHE NEW MUTANTS: April 2020DIRECTOR: Josh BoonePRODUCER: Simon Kinberg, KarenRosenfelt, Lauren Shuler DonnerCAST: Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton,

Anya Taylor- Joy, Alice Braga, Blu HuntA horror-superhero film based on MarvelComics. It is an installment in the X-menseries about five young mutants fighting toescape their past sins and save themselves.

nNO TIME TO DIE: April 3, 2020DIRECTOR: Cary Joji FukunagaPRODUCER: Michael G. Wilson, BarbaraBroccoliCAST: Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Ana deArmas, Ralph Fieness.A spy film and the 25th installment in theJames Bond series. It Bond onto the trail ofa mysterious villain armed with dangeroustechnology.

nTHE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW:May 2020

DIRECTOR: Joe WrightPRODUCER: Scott Rudin, Eli Bush,Anthony KatagasCAST: Amy Adams, Gary OldmanThe film is based on the 2018 novel of thesame name by pseudonymous author AJFinn

nBLACK WIDOW: May 2020 DIRECTOR: Cate ShortlandPRODUCER: Kevin FeigeCAST: Scarlett Johnson, Rachel Weisz,Robert Downey Jr, David Harbour, FlorencePughA superhero film based on Marvel Comicsabout Natasha Romanoff in her strugglesbetween the films civil war and infinity war.

nTHE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID

COPPERFIELD: May 2020 DIRECTOR: Armando LannucciPRODUCER: Armando Lannucci, KevinLoaderCAST: Dev Patel, Peter Capaldi, Daisy MayCooper, Aneurin Barnard, Morfydd Clark,Hugh Lorie, Tilda SwintonA British-American comedy-drama basedon the Victorian era novel David Copperfieldby Charles Dickens that revisits Dicken’siconic hero on his quirky journey fromimpoverished orphan to burgeoning writer.

nFAST AND FURIOUS 9: May 2020 DIRECTOR: Justin LinPRODUCER: Vin Diesel, Michael Fottrell,Chris MorganCAST: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez,Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, Nathalie

Emmanuel, Tyrese Gibson, John Cena,Michael RookerOne thought that after the death of PaulWalker, the series would come to an end. Notso. The ninth installment to the Fast &Furious series is all set to wow the the audi-ence.

nWONDER WOMAN 1984: June 2020 DIRECTOR: Patty JenkinsPRODUCER: Charles Roven, DeborahSnyder, Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, GalGadot, Stephen JonesCAST: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen WiigA superhero film based on the DC Comics.In 1984, Diana Prince comes into conflictwith two formidable foes: Maxwell Lord andthe Cheetah, while reuniting with her pastlove Steve Trevor.

nTOP GUN:MAVERICK: June 2020 DIRECTOR: Joseph KosinskiPRODUCER: Jerry Bruckheimer, TomCruise, David EllisonCAST: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, JenniferConnelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, LewisPullman, Ed Harris, Val KilmerAfter more than 30 years of service Pete“Maverick” Mitchell is where he belongs.

nVENOM 2: September 2020 DIRECTOR: Michael ChavesPRODUCER: Peter Safran, James WanCAST: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson,Sterling Jerins, Julian HilliardA superhero film based on the MarvelComics character Venom.

nTHE CONJURING: THE DEVILMADE ME DO IT: October 2020 DIRECTOR: Andy SerkisPRODUCER: Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach,Amy Pascal, Hutch ParkerCAST: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson,Michelle Williams, Reid Scott, NaomieHarrisThe film will serve as a sequel to 2016’s TheConjuring 2 as the eighth installment.

nDEATH ON THE NILE: October 2020 DIRECTOR: Kenneth BranaghPRODUCER: Kenneth Branagh, JudyHofflund, Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott,Mark Gordon, Kevin J WalshCAST: Kenneth Branagh, Tom Bateman,Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Gal GadotThe film is a sequel to 2017’s Murder on theOrient Express and return of the legendaryHercule Poirot.

special 07HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | JANUARY 5, 2020

2020 has its filmi bag full with a variety of genres. Some will tickle your funny bone, while others will run a chill down it.There is drama, romance, revenge, horror, war and bigger than life biopics from Indian dream merchants. Hollywood will

be bringing to the screen big-ticket superhero films as also the likes of Tom Cruise. SUNDAY PIONEER lists the fare

SLICK FLICK YEAR

CHHAPAAKDIRECTOR: Meghna GulzarPRODUCER: Deepika Padukone, MeghnaGulzar, Govind Singh Sandhu, Fox StarStudiosCAST: Deepika Padukone, VikrantMasseyA biographical film based on the life storyof acid attack survivour Laxmi Agarwal. Itis a story of human spirit. The movieruns you through the struggles of anindomitable Malti, who fights right fromthe investigation into the attack to courtproceedings, medical treatments andemotional healing.

TANHAJI: THEUNSUNG WARRIORDIRECTOR: Om RautPRODUCER: Ajay Devgn, BhushanKumarCAST: Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan, Kajol,Jagapathi Babu, Sharad KelkarThis one is a biographical film basedthe life and times of Tanaji Malusare,the military leader of King Shivaji,founder of the Maratha Empire. Thefilm encapsulates the 17th century.

STREET DANCER 3DIRECTOR: Remo D’SouzaPRODUCER: Bhushan Kumar,Divya Khosla Kumar, KrishanKumar, Lizelle D’ SouzaCAST: Varun Dhawan, ShraddhaKapoor, Nora Fatehi, Prabhu DevaA dance film based on the life ofstreet dancers.

PANGADIRECTOR: Ashwini Iyer TiwariPRODUCER: Fox Star StudiosCAST: Kangana Ranaut, Jassi Gill,Richa Chadda, Neena Gupta,Yogya BhasinA sports drama film based on thelife of a national-level Kabbadiplayer. The plot depicts the joviallife of the player who is otherwisea tough competitor.

F R O M T H E H O L L Y W O O D K I T T Y

CHHALAANGRELEASE DATE: March 13, 2020

DIRECTOR: Hansal MehtaPRODUCER: Ajay Devgn, Luv Ranjan, Ankur Garg

CASTE: Rajkummar Rao, Nushrat Bharucha

GULABO SITABORELEASE DATE: April 17, 2020

DIRECTOR: Shoojit SircarPRODUCER: Ronnie Lahiri, Sheel Kumar

CAST: Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khuranna,Nalneesh Neel

JAWAANI JAANEMANRELEASE DATE: February 7, 2020

DIRECTOR: Nitin KakkarPRODUCER: Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha

Deshmukh, Saif Ali Khan, Jay ShewakramaniCAST: Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Alaia Furniturewala

ANGREZI MEDIUMRELEASE DATE: March 20, 2020

DIRECTOR: Homi AdajaniaPRODUCER: Dinesh Vijan

CAST: Irrfan Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Radhika Madan

THAPPADRELEASE DATE: February 28, 2020

DIRECTOR: Anubhav SinhaPRODUCER: Bhushan Kumar, Anubhav Sinha

CAST: Tapsee Pannu

HASEEN DILRUBARELEASE DATE: September 18, 2020

DIRECTOR: Vinil MathewPRODUCER: Aanand L Rai,

CAST: Tapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey

BAAGHI 3RELEASE DATE: March 6, 2020

DIRECTOR: Ahmed KhanPRODUCER: Said Nadiadwala

CAST: Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor, RiteshDeshmukh

SOORYAVANSHIRELEASE DATE: March 20, 2020

DIRECTOR: Rohit ShettyPRODUCER: Hiroo Yash Johar,

CAST: Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif

SAINACAST: Parineeti Chopra plays ace shuttler Saina Nehwal in asporting biopicDIRECTOR: Amole GupteThis one has been long in the making and is being seen as atop grossing biographical sports film based on the life ofHyderabad-based badminton player Saina Nehwal. According toreports, Parineeti Chopra has been in touch with Saina for real-time tips on her role. Nehwal is a recipient of Padma Bhushan,Padma Shri and Arjuna Award, among others.

GUNJAN SAXENA: THE KARGIL GIRLRELEASE DATE: March 2020DIRECTOR- Sharan SharmaPRODUCER: Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar, Apoorva Mehta,Zee Studios.CAST: Janhvi Kapoor, Angad bedi, Pankaj TripathiA biographical drama film based on life story and act of braveryof Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena durng the 1999 KargilWar. She, along with Srividya Rajan, wrote history by venturinginto the war zone and becoming the first two Indian women tohave been in active combat. Their main role was to evacuatethe injured Army soldiers for the beleaguered zone in a highrisk do or die operation.

’83RELEASE DATE: April 2020 DIRECTOR: Kabir KhanPRODUCER: Deepika Padukone, Sajid Nadiadwala, Kabir Khan,Vishnu Vardhan Induri, Madhu MantenaCAST: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Pankaj Tripathi,Amrita Puri, Ammy Virk, Hardy Sandhu, Saquib Salim, TahirRaj Bhasin.This one is a sports drama film reprising India’s incredibleCricket World Cup victory in 1983 in England under captainKapil Dev who also made a scintillating 175 against Zimbabwewhen all was seemingly lost. This was the reason that Indiacould reach the Final against West Indies at the legendaryLord’s stadium in London.

PRITHVIRAJRELEASE DATE: November 13, 2020DIRECTOR: Chandraprakash DwivediPRODUCER: Aditya ChopraCAST: Akshay Kumar, Manushi Chillar A historical period drama based on the life of the fearless kingPrithviraj Chauhan and his exploits against his enemies, not tomention his scintillating love story.

SHERSHAAHRELEASE DATE: January 2020DIRECTOR: VishnuvardhanPRODUCER: Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar, Apoorva Mehta,Shabbir Boxwala, Ajay Shah, Himanshu GandhiCAST: Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara AdvaniA biographical action film based on the life Indian Army officerCaptain Vikram Batra. He was posthumously awarded thenation’s highest and most prestigious award for valour, theParam Vir Chakra for his daredevil actions during the 1999Kargil War which cost him his life at a very young age.

THALAIVIRELEASE DATE: June 2020DIRECTOR: AL VijayPRODUCER: Vishnu Vardhan Induri, Shailesh R. SinghCAST: Kangana Ranaut, Arvind Swami, PriyamaniA trilingual biographical film based on the life of JJayalalithaa,late politician and film actress who served as the Chief Ministerof Tamil Nadu.The movie will be made in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

MAIDAANRELEASE DATE: November 27, 2020DIRECTOR: Amit SharmaPRODUCER: Boney KapoorCAST: Ajay Devgan, Keerthy SureshA biographical sports film where Ajay Devgn essays the roleof Syed Abdul Rahim who is known as the modern architectof Indian Football, a sport in which the nation is yet to arrivein the World Cup line-up. The story will follow the golden eraof Indian Football described from 1952-62.

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KEERTHY SURESHDaughter of producerSuresh Kumar and actorMenaka, Suresh is all set tomake her Bollywood debutopposite Ajay Devgan inthe biopic Maidaan.

MANUSHI CHILLARShe won the Miss Worldpageant in 2017 and isready to make herBollywood debut in abiopic historical perioddrama film Prithviraj.

ISABELLE KAIFSister of Katrina Kaif is allset to make her Bollywooddebut with Kwathaopposite Ayush Sharma.The film is based on trueevents.

AALIA FURNITUREWALLA Daughter of actor PoojaBedi and FarhanFurniturewala. AaliaEbrahim debut in Saif AliKhan starrer JawaniJaaneman.

IULIA VANTURShe is ready to make herdebut in Prem Soni’s nextwhere she will beportraying a Polish bhakt.Jimmy Sheirgil will be anintegral part of the film.

AAJ KAL AND MALANG ON FEBRUARY 14, 2020

AAJ KALDIRECTOR: Imtiaz AliCAST: Kartik Aryan, Sara Ali Khan, Randeep HoodaThe romcom recreates Saif-Deepika’s Love Aaj Kal.MALANGDIRECTOR: Mohit SuriCAST: Aditya Roy Kapur, Disha Patani, Anil KapoorA revenge drama with a romantic twist. Anil Kapoorwill be portraying a negative role in the film as afunny cop.

RADHE AND LAXMMI BOMB ON EID 2020

RADHE: YOUR MOST WANTED BHAIDIRECTOR: Prabhu DevaCAST: Salman Khan, Disha Patani, Randeep HoodaAn action film, sequel of the movie Wanted.LAXMMI BOMBDIRECTOR: Raghava LawrenceCAST: Akshay Kumar, Kiara AdvaniA comedy horror film about a ghost seekingvengeance for being wronged and haunts everyonewho is staying in the house.

BACHCHAN PANDEY AND LAAL SINGH CHADDHA ON DECEMBER 25, 2020

BACHCHAN PANDEYDIRECTOR: Farhad SamjiCAST: Akshay kumar, Kriti SanonRemake of the 2014 film Veeram about a kind-hearted villager who takes down the enemies of hisfiancee’s father to safeguard their family.LAAL SINGH CHADDHADIRECTOR: Advait ChandanCAST: Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor KhanRemake of Forrest Gump.F

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sundaymagazine

1109If one book said it all

The first distinct food memo-ry I have is of eating a thali.In Hyderabad, with Dad, atAbhiruchi Restaurant, thirdtable to the left of the

entrance. The thrill of building ahillock of podi (gunpowder), poking ahole with an index finger, pouring hotghee into it and mix it with annam(steamed white rice), tomato pappu(traditional Andhra dal with tomato)and eating it with the much treasuredand hugely fought over appalam (friedpapad). Irrespective of how busy Popwas (continues to be), the tradition ofa weekly thali continued.

With the move, the traditionmoved to the Canteen at AndhraBhavan. Relocating to Delhi allowed usto experiment with different regionalcuisines, all perfectly presented in athali. “Go from left to right!” or “Eatwith your hands, it’s bliss!” or “Beta,pasta will come and go, thali is eter-nal!” were dining-advice stated at thedinner table. In fact, my family contin-ues to paroso (serve) Indian food ingleaming stainless steel thalis.

Long before international cuisine layclaim and ownership, the Indian thali hasalways been the original chefs tasting.Every restaurant worth their salt isimbibing the use of local and seasonal,something executed in a thali sincedecades. One that displays a wealth ofindigenous cooking techniques — fer-menting, pickling, smoking, steaming,grilling, deep frying, bhuno, boiling,guthna/ghotna, the list is endless.

Centuries before international chefsadded a palate cleanser to their tastingmenus, this featured on every Indianthali. While it is commonly understoodthat the objective is eponymous, a palatecleanser on a thali is scientific. It does aidunderstanding flavours in a cleaner for-mat, but it is presented to negate the needto drink water. Drinking water with ameal goes against ayurvedic principles ofdigestion and gut-health.

As unique as our childhoods are, weshare some universal truths. As a child,your mind is like wet cement and yourpreferences are borrowed from your par-

ents. As a teenager, those preferences startdeviating and the experimentation triesscratching that cement. But when theparental-laid cement is stronger than thelikes of Ambuja and Ultratech, youeventually seek culinary comfort inexactly where the discovery all began —the roots, the nostalgia, the familiarity.The only bite of food that warrants a sighanalogous to the touch and feel of Nani’sold mulmul sari, the lingering whiffs ofaftershave as Pop leaves for office, thesecurity of your old hole-ridden sleepingshirt.

I moved to England to study and starta career in management consulting, andno week was sans Indian food. No, lordno, nothing from the strangely popularcurry houses. But a Masala Zone Dosahere and a Chor Bizarre Tarami thereensured the greyest of English skies seemblue. Whilst I credit my curious palate forwidening my third eye (read, tummytyre), it is the thali that truly taught methe principles of life.

LIFE LESSON #1BALANCE IS EVERYTHING

American writer, Thomas Mertonstates that happiness is not a matter ofintensity, but of balance, order, rhythmand harmony. It is incredible how aptlyinterchangeable ‘happiness’ is with ‘thali’in this quote. The quintessentially Indianthali is the perfectly balanced meal witha rhythmic symbiosis of six flavours —sweet, sour, spice, salt, bitter and astrin-gent. The thali is a harmony of scienceand art, a scientific representation of acomposite culture and a balance offlavours and textures. Like life, the thaliis neither too little nor too much. It’s justright, whether you know it or not.

LIFE LESSON #2CONSUME WITH COMPASSION

It’s getting increasingly hard to ignoreour injured planet and there is no urgenttime to state that we need to place theplanet at the very heart and core of ourconsumption patterns. Traditionally,thalis endorse portion control, zero-wastage and if served on a banana leaf(my absolute favourite), the leaf is then

rinsed and fed to cows to close the loopof sustainable consumption. The compo-sition of food is aligned with the threeinternal energies as stated in Ayurveda— vatta, pitta and kapha. The thaliemploys ayurvedic principles to preservethe inherent goodness of seasonal andlocal ingredients. There is balance, unityand nourishment where each dish findsthe sweet spot between science, techniqueand compassion.

LIFE LESSON #3:BE IN THE PRESENT

Like life, a thali pulls you in, activatesand engages all the senses. I am yet tomeet someone who isn’t visibly moved bythe visual richness of a thali, or witnessmore focussed silence when navigatingthrough the different dishes. Invariablythe silence is punctuated with peopleswapping recipes or narrating the tradi-tions of the cuisine. Of how theirKashmiri grandmother always cookswith mustard oil or the traditional wayof cooking Makhane Ki Kheer is over alow flame and then gently scrape thekhurchan (sticky layer of milk at the bot-tom of the pan) into this foxnut-baseddessert. This rediscovery of legacy andtechnique tugs at every sense and fibreof attention. As poor as the analogy maybe, if there were a meal to match a mam-moth KJo production, it would be a thali.Albeit, with substance.

My company, DSSC (Delhi SecretSupper Club), curates and producesdining experiences across the country.We’ve been blessed to work with talent-ed chefs, multiple homegrown brandsand some of the globe’s most iconicbrands. Every week, our steadfast andskilled team of accountants look puzzledwith the invoice-commentary submittedto them. Between raising invoices forPeruvian food festivals to understandingthe ROI (return on investment) oninfluencer marketing bills, an innocuousquestion was asked about why we neverhost a thali supper.

Before we applaud their marketingingenuity (and scepticism towards influ-encers), please know that this was qui-etly prompted by Father Dear. The eter-

nal thali lover, the man who has managedto convince poor Mother into finding athali joint on every local and internation-al holiday. Whether in Pune or Paris orIceland, the man finds a way to be unit-ed with his thali, his happy food.

Suckers for all things local and sea-sonal, we started studying regionalIndian cuisine �— the history, theoptions, the techniques, the culturalcontext, the business. The excitement thatensued resulted in launching the world’sfirst curated celebration of the iconicIndian thali, aptly named The ThaliTradition. The complex matrix of theIndian thali transcends beyond satisfy-ing the appetite, it’s a full blown celebra-tion of authenticity, diversity and cultur-al exploration. After two successful edi-tions, we learnt two things about India’sdiners and wealth.

1. THE DINER SEEKS FAMILIARITYEVEN WITHIN EXPERIMENTATION

There’s a lot stated about the ficklediner community today, whether it’s theirdamaging attraction towards deep-dis-counts. But then again, who wouldn’t bein a market bursting at the seams withlimitless options of restaurants, dishes onthe menu (ugh, pet peeve), Netflix-paireddelivery joints, deals and so on. However,I do have a take on this. Liberalisationmay have given birth to a surge in con-sumption, but it hasn’t changed basicdiner-DNA that seeks familiarity. Asavant garde as you would be, solace isoften found in a specific ingredient, grain,scent. The Indian diner has evolved dra-matically in the last five years, withincreased patronage towards global cui-sine and food-tech. But it also ensured athali festival to sell out within three daysof going live, in 2018 and 2019.

2. INDIA’S WEALTH IS ITS DIVERSEPEOPLE AND TRADITIONS

Devdutt Pattnaik accurately statesthat the best way to destroy culture is todestroy the kitchen. Kitchens give birthto community, nurture tradition and pre-serve important culinary heritage. I amblown away by the fascinating diversityoffered by indigenous regions of our land.

Forget different states, the very samearhar dal (pigeon pea pulse) is made dif-ferently in kitchens 200 metres apart. ABohri thali teaches us the joy of commu-nal eating, a Bengali thali encourages usto start the meal with shukto (a prepara-tion of mixed vegetables with bittergourd), a Khasi kitchen gives us theknowledge of smoking and fermenting,a Kayasth kitchen celebrates the Ganga-Jamuni composite culture, the Rajasthanithali showcases dishes with bare usage offresh produce.

Ritu Dalmia is acclaimed for herItalian fare, but the roots are in herCalcutta-Marwari household. Sheexplains, “Marwaris have always beenmigratory in nature and most of themsettled in Rajasthan, Calcutta, Surat,Nagpur, basically wherever they couldmake money. While a Rajasthani menuincludes gatta, chakki, papad manger,sanger, Marwari food was heavily influ-enced by the zone they settled in. Forexample, the famous Aloo Kumda ki Sabzimade in every Marwari household hasBengali influences with the use of panchphoran.”

From homes and kitchens across thecountry to state bhavans to mass-con-cepts like Chokhi Dhani, the thali hasremained cemented in the pages of culi-nary history and culture. It would be fool-ish to state that it’s making a comebackor making a formidable case study in theF&B business. While some are tweakingit to suit the millennial audience (headsup, most of it has always been gluten free,don’t be fooled!), some are presenting ahalf-baked version of the authentic thaliand riding the trend-wave, many acrossthe globe continue their deep love for theapparently-humble, not-too-sexy, butwildly-satisfying thali.

Ask the shauhar. He almost reconsid-ered the marriage on our post-weddingholiday to Japan while looking at his thali-devouring wife in Kyoto. Like father, likedaughter. Like food, must love thali.

The writer is a management consul-tant turned curator and food entrepre-neur. She runs an experiential market-

ing agency, DSSC

Bhagavad Gita with its philosophicallogic presents the progressive

understanding of absolute reality

F R O M T H E I N S I D E

Every reality showplot pales in

comparison to our history

— Rachel Skarsten

Twists and turns in 2020

Long before international cuisine lay claim and ownership, the Indian thali has always been the originalchefs tasting. SHREYA SONI presents a case for the ‘apparently-humble but wildly-satisfying’ thali

IT WOULD BE FOOLISHTO STATE THAT THALI IS

MAKING A COMEBACKOR MAKING A

FORMIDABLE CASESTUDY IN THE F&BBUSINESS. WHILE

SOME ARE TWEAKINGIT TO SUIT THE

MILLENNIAL AUDIENCE(HEADS UP, MOST OF IT

HAS ALWAYS BEENGLUTEN FREE!), SOME

ARE PRESENTING AHALF-BAKED VERSION

OF THE AUTHENTICTHALI AND RIDING THE

TREND-WAVE

A look at the astrological pointers tothe probable course, the nation isexpected to go through in this year

Hyderabad, January 5, 2020

sundaymagazine

spirituality 09Hyderabad, January 5, 2020

BE AT WAR WITH YOUR VICES, ATPEACE WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS,AND LET EVERY NEW YEAR FIND

YOU A BETTER MAN— BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

HIDDENSOULSPRAMOD PATHAK

Even as the memories of the Hyderabad encounter ofthe four accused in the Disha case by the police fadefrom the public memory a question still arises. Was the

action right? More so, in view of the fact that similar crimeagainst women continue to happen at a nagging rate. Whysuch incidents take place in a country where woman sym-bolises “Shakti”, the power to slay evil forces. From Delhi toUnnao to Hyderabad and more, unwittingly remind us ofthe Mississippi courtroom drama of US that transformed ayoung attorney John Grisham into a world class writer oflegal crime fiction. Grisham was witness to the harrowingtestimony of a twelve year old rape victim that traumatisedhim so much that he thought if the only punishment whichthe rapist deserved was to be killed. And he wrote “A Timeto Kill”. The action of Hyderabad police has raised certainissues that led to nationwide debate ranging from justifica-tion to castigation. But the all important issue is whether thepolice was right. That is, if the encounter was stage man-aged. What if it was not? And there is no clinching evidenceto prove this. In fact, the issue of questioning police actionwould arise only if the encounter was fake. The question ofjustice is rather too complex to be settled in black and white.Many times, law and justice are in conflict. It is common say-ing that justice should not only be delivered, it should alsoappear to be delivered. When people don’t see justice beingdelivered there is clamor for instant justice and mass approvalof the same. For some, this may be a road to anarchy butthey need to be reminded that anarchy follows failure of thesystem of justice. The avowed motto of our criminal justicesystem is that even if thousand criminals escape, not a sin-gle innocent be punished. But what we find is that crimi-nals are largely escaping taking the advantage of the cum-bersome legal paraphernalia while the innocent are increas-ingly victimised. Hindu law giver Manu’s idea of justice needsto be revisited. In Manusmriti, it is clearly stated that in acrime committed willingly and in full knowledge of impli-cations of wrong doing, the punishment should be muchmore severe than that corresponding to the crime. Rape isone such crime that is always committed willingly and infull knowledge of the implications of wrong doing.Incidentally, the Hindu law book also says that the punish-ment should be directly proportional to the social status ofthose committing it. Fair enough indications as to what fatethe Unnao accused must meet, given the social hierarchy theybelong to. As the demonic tendencies are on the rise, we mustrealise that the Hindu scriptures clearly showed that evenGods resorted to killing of the demons by unfair means forthe cause of justice. Access to knowledge and informationhas given many people the ability to dodge the laws and thetemerity to think they can get away with everything. In thecase of the criminals of the infamous Nirbhaya case, the juve-nile law came to the rescue of a hardened criminal. For cer-tain types of crime and categories of criminals, then, thefamous last words of Jesus Christ need to read thus: “Hangthem O Lord for they know fully well what they do.” And hangthem high. That is the message that needs to be given.

Pathak is a professor of management, writer, and an acclaimed public speaker. He can be reached at ppathak.ism@gmail.com

The word shelter to a common manusually means the fact of havinga place to live or stay, considered

a basic human need. Then, there is aphilosophical meaning, which is depen-dence — the state of needing the helpand support of something or somebodyin order to survive or be successful. Forexample, a devotee takes shelter in God,as instructed by Him in the Geeta forgaining peace and the eternal abode.(18.62)

Let me start with the physicalaspect of shelter, that is, where we nor-mally stay — our residences. Is that yourshelter really? Why then are you forcedto take shelter in a hospital when youare sick? Because your usual residenceis not your real shelter. It is at best a tem-porary shelter. Don’t we change ourplaces of residences in our lives? Don’twe go and stay in hotels for brief peri-ods? The reality is that what we identi-fy as our shelters/residences have beengiven to us according to our karmapha-las. In one interesting instance, a per-son was destined to live in large bun-galows, as predicted by his astrologer,and he did till his death.

Let us try to understand this withan example of a person, who has diedsome time back. Let us imagine that thesoul returns to his earlier place of resi-dence in another body; the building, heowned earlier still stands. Will he beallowed to reclaim the property? No,because the soul did not own the prop-erty; he was given the facility temporar-ily based upon his karmaphalas, and thiswas related to his earlier body. Oncesomeone dies, he takes with himself allhis balance karmaphalas, both good andbad; nothing is left behind related to hisearlier body. He gets another body,which has no relationship to his earli-er body. The property he owned earli-

er gets transferred to another soul/othersouls, and he has no right left over it.

Then what is our permanent shel-ter? But before I answer this question,let me also discuss the other types ofshelters, not residences, those we seek.The most common is money. We feelthat when we have adequate amount ofmoney we are okay. Is it true? If it was,then, why do some well off people leavetheir homes and seek shelter in someashrama? Because having sufficientmoney for one’s needs is very nice butthat is not really your shelter. The sameis true of power. Many strive ceaseless-ly for gaining power and then what hap-pens when that power, if gained, is takenaway from you and you are left ruing.Fame is another shelter desired by many.This proves to be hollow in not so fore-seeable future. Beauty, as a shelter, hasa date of extinguishment for sure.

Now we are ready to identify ourreal shelter as many sannyasis, the gen-uine ones, do. They leave their homesand become totally dependent on God.

What does God do? He provides themshelters day after day throughout theirremaining lives. It is no wonder that suchsannyasis never return to the residencesthey had left behind. If it wasn’t so, noone will ever opt to become a sannyasi,and the ashrama system will becomeinvalid. It hasn’t so far and will neverbecome because it is God’s creation, andHe ensures that what He decrees stays.As a matter of fact, those surrendered toGod are never bereft of this basicnecessity of a human being. There is theentire creation available to such persons;God ensures that they are always takencare of no matter where they are.

Therefore, let us take shelter in God,as instructed by Him. We will never bedeprived of our basic necessities, includ-ing a place of residence. Rather thoselinked with God are blessed to have opu-lence, victory, wealth and moral prin-ciples. The choice is ours.

Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reachedat spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com

The humanly quest forknowledge, survival andpleasure has seen countlessbooks produced in the his-tory of mankind. Apart

from being in the bestseller list, someof these books have been truly revo-lutionary. Among all the books, onebook holds truly a special place asbeing designated as such by Great AdiShankaracharya.

He says, Eko Shastro Devaki PutraGitam: Let there be one scripture thesong by the son of Devaki, Krishna,and that scripture is Bhagavad Gita.Bhagavad Gita has the knowledgeabout the absolute truth in his featuresas a personal reality, localisedParamatma and all-pervadingBrahman. It gives knowledge aboutliving entities, the material creation,demigods, the law of Karma, time fac-tor, the three modes of nature, food,lifestyle, nature of mind, and so on.

Krishna himself declares this

knowledge to be the best knowledge,knowing which nothing in this worldremains to be known since one comesto know Lord Krishna as root causeof everything and even everythingbeing made of his different energies.

As the annual Gita Jayanti was cel-ebrated recently, it is important tounderstand its glory so that we cantruly appreciate it from the hearts andeven apply the teachings of Gita in ourlives. The special characteristics ofBhagavad Gita are enlisted to bringforth glory of Bhagavad Gita.

OLDEST BUT FRESH, AND APPEAL-ING EVEN NOW

The Bhagavad Gita is not only amulti-millennial classic and temptingfor its esoteric concepts but alsofresh being applicable beyond limitsof time and lucid in understanding.Sages from the past ages to modernscientists, philosophers and politicianslike Einstein, Emerson, Thoreau,

Huxley, Hesse, Mahatma Gandhihave notably appreciated the glory ofBhagavad Gita.

Indian prime minister NarendraModi gifted a copy of Gita to Japaneseemperor and glorified it with words“Because I don’t think that I have any-thing more to give [than BhagavadGita] and the world also does not haveanything more to get than this.”

COMPREHENSIVE BUT DISTINCTIVE It’s not only comprehensive to

accommodate all levels of under-standing of divinity to shelter every-one as per their level and desire ofpractice but it’s distinctive in terms ofpresenting the highest understandingof this divinity as a personal God forthose who are willing to go for theultimate.

The Bhagavad Gita discussesKarma yoga, Gyan yoga, Ashtangayoga to guide practitioners attractedto one these paths and help them

advance. It also proposes various levels of

spiritual practice based on the levelsof people’s spiritual advancement[BG 12.8-12], but in the end it con-cludes with a clarion call of full-heart-ed surrender abandoning all otherprocesses to the personality ofGodhead with an assurance of deliv-erance of surrendered soul to the per-fection.

LOFTY BUT PRACTICALIt not only provides an intellectu-

ally convincing understanding oflofty concepts of absolute reality andcompels one to pursue spiritual life,but it provides a practical way for itsachievement and love appeal made init impels one for the path of Bhaktithat is, connecting with personalGod in loving service.

Many books appeal to mind andintelligence but fail to provide a prac-tical method to achieve the goals men-tioned in them. But Bhagavad Gitawith its philosophical logic not onlypresents the progressive understand-ing of absolute reality but also the pro-poses practical path (for example, BG9.26-27) which even could be prac-ticed and perfected by rank and fileorder of human society as it is men-tioned in BG 9.32.

Bhagavad Gita also contains prac-tical teachings regarding type of food,lifestyle, work, charity, behavior,speech, and renunciation etc. con-ducive for practice of spiritual life.

SHORT AND CONCISE BUT BROADAND UNRELENTING

It’s short and concise to includewhat all it needs to know and perfectthe life still it’s very broad and unre-lenting since it describes the unlim-ited personality of Godhead. Thespeaker of Gita, Krishna says in BG7.2 “by knowing this knowledge thereshall remain nothing further to beknown.”

In 700 verses of Gita, Krishnagives complete knowledge needed toknow about the spiritual perfection.Understanding of this knowledgeleads one to practice the spiritual cul-ture discussed in it, But since absolutetruth is without any cessation andomnipresent, the realisation of itfrom Bhagavad Gita is always progres-sive.

As Krishna says in Gita 10.40: “Omighty conqueror of enemies, thereis no end to My divine manifestations.What I have spoken to you is but amere indication of My infinite opu-lence.”

The writer is a Spiritual Guru at InternationalSociety for Krishna Consciousness

A time to act,a time to kill

IF ONE BOOK SAID IT ALL

Where is your shelter?If we take shelter in God, we will never be deprived of our basicnecessities, including a place of residence, says AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI

The Bhagavad Gita is not only tempting for its esoteric concepts but also applicablebeyond limits of time and lucid in understanding, writes RADHANATH SWAMI MAHARAJ

BHAGAVAD GITAWITH ITS

PHILOSOPHICALLOGIC NOT ONLYPRESENTS THEPROGRESSIVE

UNDERSTANDING OFABSOLUTE REALITY

BUT ALSOPROPOSES THE

PRACTICAL PATH

What does this new year have in store for you? Astrologer and palmist,ACHARYA PRAVEEN CHAUHAN, shares financial predictions for the year ahead

Aries: You will not onlycrossover all the hurdles duringthis period, but your imminent

talent will enable you to sum-up intoexpected success. Stress free personal regi-men is suggested. Successful overseasBusiness tours and new financial connec-tions are in offing.

Taurus: This is a most compati-ble period for you all to start anew business — one that you

have been planning since long. The rela-tions you have built over the years will helpyou conquer the world. Likewise, resolve todo the same for others and help them evenif it is beyond your means.

Gemini: Stars predict that youare in for big success; especiallythose who are in the field of e-

business or related with software and mul-timedia. Your perceptions of competitionwith your rivals cannot be fructified, butyour own independent vision will bringlaurels to you. Compassion towardsdeprived shall be your boon from theheavens.

Cancer: Your businesses willtouch an unexpected high inthe later part of 2020. As the

dictum states: “Nothing is gained withoutstriving hard”, the Cancerians would wit-ness an exceptional spurt in their endeav-our as the year progresses. Zodiac predictsa tremendous success for all first genera-tion entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Leo: Stars suggest that you maystart a new venture. They alsosuggest that the project may not

take off as desired. But my predictions foryou in 2020 is that fortunes are with you.Though success appears shaky in the

beginning, things will look up for realgood towards the end of the year. Forinvestors, a pertinent caution is inevitable.

Virgo: Stars suggest that allventures (whatever those maybe) must be initiated. Just go

ahead and take the plunge. A word of cau-tion though. Don’t let your ever inquisitiveand suspicious nature dampen the spiritand thwart your own brilliant moves. Planyour finances wisely.

Libra: Partnerships are notmeant for you. Go ahead ifyou will, but be careful not to

get greedy. Even in the existing partner-ships, try to be rational. Never mind thefluctuating profits throughout the year.Better to focus on new ventures. It woulddo good to devote the year to personalappeasement.

Scorpio: It is a good time to ini-tiate your offspring into businessof your dreams. Don’t approach

the easy way, follow and comply with thewhims of all concerned. Pleasure with workshall be your mantra for success.

Sagittarius: What you value mostit is up to you. Choose whateveryou may — work, success, gratifi-

cation, appeasement, relations or financialsuccess — just make sure not to get whimsi-cal. Life and success is not dependent on yourpersonal whims. Follow the rules of life.

Capricorn: Planetary configura-tion says that you will expandyour endeavours in multidimen-sional spheres, in different chan-

nels in 2020. You may be on the top of theworld but personal relations may cause youto be miserable, and even hamper your selfesteem. Beware! You may be surrounded bya multitude of opportunities. Just stay clearof any trappings of business exigencies.

Aquarius: Don’t be upset by thefailures you may have had in thepast. All your decisions would be

wise. You are overswayed by the sycophanticappreciation which is never in positive per-ception. Boon in disguise; your collaboratorswill support you, whether in social life or infinance.

Pisces: Have faith in yourself andnot be beguiled by the circum-stances as stars appear to point

out. You will bounce back and even rule in thesecond half of the year. Take care of your emo-tional health and of your own personal image.

Acharya Praveen Chauhan is an Astrologer, Occultist,Palmist, Debater, Columnist and Author. Contact details:

info@astropraveen.com/ +91-8800507216

2020: You & your money

ACHARYA PRAVEEN CHAUHAN

rom earlyDecember toJanuary, the pop ofa champagne bot-tle or sparklingwine cork is a wel-

come and frequent sound.Fizzy wine is just the mostfestive of drinks, whethersipped straight from a fluteor mixed into cocktails. Andmany a New Year’s toastwould feel incomplete with-out a glass of bubbles.

But whether you arequaffing French champagne,prosecco from Italy, cavafrom Spain or somethingdomestic and sparkly, youmay end up with some left ina bottle. Since sparkling winecorks are notoriously toughto jam back into bottles, use awine stopper as soon as youcan to hold on to some effer-vescence. Tuck those half-full

bottles into the fridge. Andthen… what?

A mimosa (orange juiceand sparkling wine) as apost-holiday brunch drink isa lovely little bit of decadenceand should be considered.You also could make spark-ing wine the base of a sangriathe next day, maybe withsome berries and berryliqueur, plus a touch of somesweetener. Or add it to somepureed and sweetened fruit,like mangoes or peaches, fora Bellini-type cocktail. Itmight not be as fizzy as it wasthe day before but if yousealed the bottle in a timelymanner, it should be bubblyenough.

But maybe you’re cocktail-ed out. If your sparkling winewas dry (not sweet), then youcan use it pretty much as youwould any other leftoverwhite wine in cooking. Andif the bubbles are gone, noworries — the fizzinesswould be lost in the cookingprocess anyway.

Sweeter Champagneshould be saved for drinksand dishes that have sweet-ness already in them.Zabaglione, an airy sweet

pudding, is a dessert tradi-tionally made with cham-pagne, so you might head inthat direction. Note that incooking, most of the alcoholburns out but if you areadding wine to an uncookeddish, make sure there is noone with an alcohol sensitivi-ty consuming it.

Other ideas:MAKE A PAN SAUCE

Use leftover sparkling wineto deglase a pan, pouring itin after you’ve sautéed youronions, garlic or other aro-matics to loosen the brownbits from the bottom of thepan and beginning to build apan sauce, with broth orsome other liquid added afterthe wine cooks and reduces abit.

You can also add cream, alovely partner to sparklingwine or champagne. Or addminced fresh herbs and otherseasonings like mustard, olivetapenade or hot sauce.Drizzle the sauce oversautéed chicken, pork, fish orseafood.

CREPESReplace half the milk in

your favourite crepe recipewith champagne. You can usedry or sweet sparkling wine,depending on what type ofcrepe you are making.Dessert crepes can be madewith sweeter bubbly.

FONDUEUse it instead of white

wine in your favourite fondueor Welsh Rabbit recipe. A bitof white wine is traditional inthese European melted-cheese dishes.

STEAMING SHELLFISHSimmer some garlic and

herbs and whatever otherseasonings you like (toma-toes, fennel, saffron, etc) inchampagne, perhaps com-bined with a bit of broth orwater and then steam clamsor mussels until they open.These can be eaten rightfrom the shells or used tomake a seafood soup or stewor pasta with mussels or clamsauce. The broth from steam-ing the shellfish should bestrained and used in anyrecipe as well.

RISOTTOWhen you start your risot-

to (any version), after you’vesautéed the rice in oil or but-ter, start adding liquid bypouring in half cup ofsparkling wine. This willabsorb quickly into the grainsand give the finished dishanother level of flavour. Thenswitch to broth, adding itslowly until the rice is plumpand al dente, stirring fre-quently. Also use sparklingwine to start off farrotto, amodern take on risotto usingfarro.

VINAIGRETTEA splash of wine can

enhance the taste of a home-made vinaigrette, to dress agreen salad, vegetable salad(such as a green bean salad),grain salad or even better, aFrench-style mayo-free pota-to salad. If your champagneis more than a week old andhas taken on a vinegary taste,you can still use it this way.

BRAISESIf it’s not sweet, think about

adding a few glugs of leftoverbubbly to dishes like braisedchicken with mushrooms orpork chops with apples. Oruse it in braised vegetable

dishes, like braised cippolinior pearl onions or braisedcabbage and radicchio.

STEWSChampagne would be great

in a chicken or fish stew,especially one withMediterranean flavours. Andeven though many meatstews call for red wine, if it’s asmall amount you can usual-ly sub in a dry white orsparkling wine. Use it in alamb stew with orange andfennel, or a pork or beef stewwith root vegetables.

—AP

F

sundaymagazine

food 10Hyderabad, January 5, 2020

SWEETER CHAMPAGNE SHOULD BE SAVED FOR DRINKS AND DISHES THATHAVE SWEETNESS ALREADY IN THEM. ZABAGLIONE, AN AIRY SWEET PUDDING,

IS A DESSERT TRADITIONALLY MADE WITH CHAMPAGNE, SO YOU MIGHT HEAD INTHAT DIRECTION. NOTE THAT IN COOKING, MOST OF THE ALCOHOL BURNS OUTBUT IF YOU ARE ADDING WINE TO AN UNCOOKED DISH, MAKE SURE THERE IS

NO ONE WITH AN ALCOHOL SENSITIVITY CONSUMING IT.

SIP ITAGAIN

Whether youare quaffing

Frenchchampagne,

prosecco fromItaly, cava from

Spain orsomething

domestic andsparkling, you

may end upwith some left

in a bottle.Here are some

ideas to usethat

WHAT YOU NEED Atta: 1/2 cupCocoa powder: 3 tbspA pinch of saltBaking soda: 1/4 tspSugar: 1/2 cup Cold water: 1/2 cupOil: 2 tbsp

Lemon juice: 1/2 tbspVanilla essence: 1/4 tspDark chocolate: 100 gmsMethod:n Add atta, salt, cocoa powder and bak-ing soda in a bowl and mix welln In another bowl take sugar and coldwater, stir till sugar dissolvesn Add oil, vanilla essence, lemon juiceto mixture and mix welln Add other dry and wet ingredientsand mix well with a wire whiskn Pour the whisked batter in a coffeemug, place the chocolate squaresimmersed in the battern Bake it in microwave for 60 secondsand serve hot

WHEATCHOCOLAVA CAKE

WHAT YOU NEED Atta: 2 cupsCrumbled mawa: 2/3 to 1 cupWhole milk: 1 cupCream: 4 tbspBaking powder: 1 tbspBaking soda: 1/2 tbspUnsalted butter: 140 to 150 gmsPowdered sugar: 1 cup Cardamom powder: 1 tbspMETHOD: FOR MAWA:n Take butter and sugar in a bowl or a pan.n Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy. Youcan use a stand mixer, food processor or anelectric beater to cream the butter and sugar.n Add the crumbled mawa and mix very well.n Then add the atta, sieved with baking soda andbaking powder directly into the cake cream.n Sprinkle the cardamom powder. Add creamand mix well. Pour the milk and mix.n Fold everything till the flour, milk and creamare incorporated well in the cake batter.n Place the pan in the pre heated oven at 180degree Celsius and bake mawa cake for 45 to 1hour, till the top is browned and a tooth pickinserted in the cake comes out clean.n If baking cupcakes, then just bake for 20 to 25mins or till the tops are browned.n Allow the mawa cake to cool down.n Slice the mawa cake and serve plain with tea orcoffee

METHOD FOR MAWA CAKE:n Grease a seven to eight inches round pan withbutter. Dust some flour on it. Shake and tap thepan so that the flour spreads evenly.n You can also line the cake pan with butterpaper on parchment paper.n Preheat the oven to 180 degree Celsius n Crumble the mawa and keep aside. You canalso grate the mawa.

WHEATMAWA CAKE

REC

IPES

WHAT YOU NEED Pancake mixEdible colourCold water: 600 mlHudson canola oil: 1 tspCastor sugarStencilPancake cutter

METHODn Add pancake mix in a

mixing bowl. Then add600 ml cold water to itand mix it gently usinga whisk until it is mixedwell.

n Distribute the pancakemix equally in threemedium mixing bowls.Add four differentdrops of colours to eachbowl.

n Heat the fry pan andadd one teaspoon ofCanola Oil to it.

n Spread it evenly andadd 50 ml of pancakebatter in the pan andspread it evenly inround shape.

n After about two min-utes of cooking, you

will begin to noticebubbles forming andpopping onto the sur-face of the pancakes.This indicates thatthey're ready to flipover. Another clue willbe the edges that seemto dry out. Using awide, thin spatula, turnit and cook on the otherside for about oneminute until goldenbrown.

n After taking them out

of the pan, let it cool fora minute and cut thepancake with the helpof pancake cutter.

n Put stencil on the pan-cake and with the helpof a sifter apply thedusting ingredient (cas-tor sugar or cocoa pow-der) in the open areasof the stencil. Removethe stencil with a steadyhand immediately afterdusting.

CULINARY TIPSn Stir your pancake batter

until the dry and wetingredients are justincorporated. Thatmeans mixing until theflour streaks have disap-peared, but leaving thepesky lumps. The lumpsmake the pancakesfluffy.

n Set the batter aside for15 to 30 minutes. Thisallows the wet ingredi-ents to soak into theflour for better texture.

Courtesy: Chef Sana Nair.

COLOURFUL PANCAKES

RAKESH GHAI EXECUTIVE CHEF AT ITC

KAKATIYA

It is time to work on your health condition. Evaluateyour health scenario and figure the steps required to betaken to fix it — through exercise or diet. You need torevive your positive energy. Tighten your belt and getready to do some hard work at the workplace. Some ofyou may experience a new beginning. Those seekingemployment will be hired into a position that will testyour skills. Those of you who are already working willbe burdened with responsibilities. This is a great timefor love. Committed couples will experience a deepsense of bonding. Some of you may enter the nextstage of your relationship. For singles, there arechances you will meet someone with whom you willhave a long term relationship.

Lucky number 20Lucky colour SilverLucky day Wednesday

ARIES March 21-April 19

News related to your health will be positive and yourefforts will bear fruit. You have full control of thesituation around you. Take advantage of this and look foran alternative way to deal with health issues. How youspeak your mind and conduct yourself will matter themost at your workplace. Conflict and disagreement withpeers are indicated. This will create tension. Unfairness atplay in your workplace is likely. Ensure you are not theone to create problems. You need to choose your battleswisely rather than picking upon disagreements. Thisweek, you will feel that your relationship has come fullcircle. As a result, it may culminate into a marriage andfor some there will be a sense of closure. Singles, havebright chances of meeting someone special.

Lucky number 18Lucky colour WhiteLucky day Wednesday

TAURUS April 20-May 20

A major disturbance on health front will shake you up.It may be an illness that may take time to heal. Thismay also affect you spiritually, mentally and physically.The only thing that will save you from becomingnegative is optimistic thinking. Use this tough time andchannelise your energies to make yourself stronger. Inyour career, you are likely to meet a counsellor or amentor that you have been seeking for a long time.This person will help you with new skills and soundadvice. Things will be good if you work in an organisedway or as per rules. Love is in the air this week. Youand your partner will share positive energies. You willbe happy in your relationship. A new relation is on thecards for the singles.

Lucky number 12Lucky colour GreyLucky day Saturday

GEMINI May 21-June 20

You will be motivated this week. This is an excellenttime to make some changes in your fitness plan. Youwill make great progress. You have to channelise thisenergy in the right manner. Being impulsive maycreate problems for you. At the workplace, youractions will have their consequences. You are likely toface a situation in which you have to make a decision.Try to be reasonable and consider other’s point of viewbefore making any choice. Some of you need to be fairin your dealings. Relationship wise, this week is agreat time to improve your bonding with your partner.Your positive frame of mind will be received well byyour partner. Avoid being impulsive. Singles are likelyto meet someone with the same mindset.

Lucky number 4Lucky colour IndigoLucky day Tuesday

CANCER June 21-July 22

Listen to your body with care and compassion. Focus ona healthy outlet to your emotions. Don’t overload yourselfwith work. Indulge in some kind of youthful sportsactivities that will keep you active, as well as connect youwith your inner child. On the career front, some of youhave achieved your goals and attained materialistic gain.Even though you are financially sound, do not give toomuch of importance to wealth. Some of you may have ahard time at the workplace due to your inflexibleapproach towards change. On the relationship front,those who are committed, your relationship will becomestronger and reliable. Single females may get attracted tothe older male. Don’t rule him out, he may help you withthe dynamics of emotions basis varied situations.

Lucky number 19Lucky colour MustardLucky day Sunday

VIRGO Aug 23-Sep 22

Pay attention to your health concerns. Trust your intuitionand look for ways to sort out issues. Be patient whileawaiting results. Ensure proper diet, rest and exercise. Atwork, things may be how you want them to be. Some ofyou may face challenges on a project. It is recommendedthat you take some time off from work and not take anyimportant decisions this week. You need to maintain yourcalm amidst the chaos around you. If you can’t stay calm,then seek another position. Those who are committed,need to focus on their relationship towards the future.Change your perspective towards an ongoing issue. Try totalk to your partner openly about your dreams to sort outthe issues. Think many times before rekindling an oldromance.

Lucky number 7Lucky colour GreenLucky day Friday

LIBRA Sep 23-Oct 22

You need to hold your ground in case of serious healthproblems. A positive attitude will enable you to do theright things for your health. If a test is required, then getit done from a trusted practitioner. You need to walk thepath of recovery with courage. Career-wise, things maynot go as per your expectations. If you don’t like your jobor are facing problems, then remember that you have theability to improve your environment. Try to maintain theright mind-set before making any decision. Others arelikely to oppose you, but you keep moving forward.Those in a committed relationship may face issues withyour partner. It is advisable to have an open conversationto sort out things. In case, you experience resistance,then it is best for you to move on.

Lucky number 16Lucky colour PurpleLucky day Thursday

SCORPIO Oct 23-Nov 21

Pay attention to your emotions. In case you are facingillness, then rather than feeling negative about it, starthelping yourself with information by talking to experts.Maintain a healthy regime. Career-wise, this is a verypositive time for you. Your efforts will be acknowledgedand some of you may be awarded. This will help youelevate your confidence in your abilities. Ensure thatyou don’t become arrogant. Any self-importance thatyou display will not go down well with your peers orseniors. Those looking for a new job, the result will bein your favour. In love, those in committedrelationships will have a mystical experience. You willconnect with your partner spiritually and it willstrengthen your bond.

Lucky number 15Lucky colour BlackLucky day Saturday

AQUARIUS Jan 20-Feb 18

Your health is good this week. You are in a strongposition and have the ability to control your surroundings.Any efforts that you put towards your health improvementwill be successful. It would be best to consider analternate way to deal with health challenges for a longterm benefit. Career-wise, you will be happy as money willflow in with an increase in your pay or a promotion. Thisis because of all the hard work that you put in to achieveyour goals. Those seeking jobs may get the desiredposition. On the love front, you are clear with what youwant from your relationship. This is a good sign but, yourway of communicating with your partner will be verycrucial. Channelise your energy in a way that will help youcontrol your emotions.

Lucky number 22Lucky colour BrownLucky day Friday

PISCES Feb 19-March 20

Maintain balance in everything including your dailyroutine. For those facing health issues, things will getbetter. You are strong. Ensure a healthy body and mindconnection to keep going. On the career front, you mayget an increment in your pay or a promotion. Some ofyou may achieve your goals post a minor setback. Thiswill make you feel a sense of accomplishment. Youshould be grateful for this upswing. Those seeking a newjob, keep trying, you will achieve a better position withbetter pay. Love is in the air. You and your partner willbond well and will have a mutual understanding. Marriedfemales may conceive or there is childbirth for some.Singles, this is the time to find your partner with whomyou can have a long term relationship.

Lucky number 13Lucky colour GreyLucky day Tuesday

CAPRICORN Dec 22-Jan 19

Balance your health with your personal and professionalresponsibilities. This may make your life hectic. Bepatient. Make sure to take time out for your healing.Prioritise your tasks to avoid suffering on account of yourhealth. Your work front will be filled with stress andanxiety that is likely to affect you. Being worried about thefuture will immobilise you in pursuing your goals in thepresent. Do not be disheartened. Opt for a flexibleapproach to deal with a negative situation. Those in acommitted relationship, are likely to feel disappointed witha given situation or with your partner. If that is the case,then look deep within yourself for a solution. Don’t let thepast hurt affect your relation. Appreciate the love youhave in your life, otherwise, it will slip away.

Lucky number 8Lucky colour OrangeLucky day Saturday

LEO July 23-Aug 22

Follow the mantra of ‘patience is the key’ this week. Ifyour health has been out of shape, then you need to actwith wisdom. Trust your intuition. If you feel that aparticular treatment is not right for you, then look foranother health care practitioner. You may face a dilemmaat work front. Situations which require immediate actionare likely to happen. Analyse all available informationbefore taking any action. Your own value system is likelyto be challenged, therefore, be honest and seek spiritualguidance. Those thinking to put an end to theirrelationship should look to your conscience to make theright decision. Ensure you and your partner are on thesame page before parting ways. Some of you may needmore balance and harmony in your relationship.

Lucky number 10Lucky colour YellowLucky day Sunday

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22-Dec 21

YYOOUURRWWEEEEKK

AHEADMADHU KOTIYA

sundaymagazine

tarot 11I AM TOMORROW, OR SOME FUTUREDAY, WHAT I ESTABLISH TODAY. I AM

TODAY WHAT I ESTABLISHEDYESTERDAY OR SOME PREVIOUS DAY

— JAMES JOYCE Hyderabad, January 5, 2020

As the euphoria of New Year cele-brations would be over by now, it’stime to get on to the wish list that

many of you would have made. Nothing,however, just comes to one’s asking.Remember, we live in a complex worldwhere every being is born unique, eachmanifesting varying mind-trends. In sucha framework, no initiative could go aboutwithout being faced with challenges —from within because of own mentalinconsistencies or those posed by com-peting interests and contrarian forces.Braving all these odds, we could still suc-ceed in our mission, if we put in ourqualitative best. That, however, would bepossible provided we service our mind,following which our profound empower-ment tool ‘Buddhi’ — the faculty of dis-criminate intelligence — shall be in activemode. That will make you discriminateand drop unachievable targets, pick upthe right lead, articulate your actions well,and intelligently combat challenges com-ing in the way. Yet, nothing will go abouton expected lines if ever the environmen-tal conditions remain unfavourable.

Let’s therefore, look at the astrologi-cal pointers to the probable course, thenation is expected to go through during

the ongoing year. Purposely, in order thatwe are prepared individually and collec-tively. The first marker would be thelegacy of 2019 we have carried forward,coming as it may with Solar eclipse thathappened on December 26. For, eclipsecharts reflect upon major change in ener-gy dynamics of the cosmos that has relat-ed bearing on how the nation as a collec-tive is expected to be headed towards.

The eclipse is happening in a fierysign Sagittarius, which incidentally is the8th house of India’s Independence chart,identified with serious difficulties anddeath. There is a cluster of 7 planets inSagittarius at the time of eclipse — Rahu,Mercury, Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Ketu, Saturnand Pluto, the last two being natural sig-nifying planets of death. This particularplanetary alignment brings in the possi-bility of increase in incidence of fire lead-ing to mass deaths. Also, people’s discon-tent and dissension may create upsettingsituations. Jupiter conjunct Ketu, inciden-tally opposite natal Mars in India’sIndependence chart, points the possibilityof widening of communal divide. Readtogether with Mercury’s presence in theeclipse sign implies that such policy deci-sions as would create a sense of distrust,

may lead to discontent. Also, the ignorantmay loudmouth and harass the intellectu-als. All these are already in sight.Sagittarius being a war sign raises serioussecurity concerns at the border. Lot ofpeople of eminence may leave the world.The second marker worth considerationis planetary conjunctions to follow.Towards March end and early April, Marswill be conjunct Jupiter and Saturn, whichraises the possibility of communal flareup and possibility of war like situation.

The next marker is Annular Solareclipse due on June 21, 2020. It is hap-pening on 4th-10th axis of the eclipsechart. It signals loss of government’scredibility because of their own failure tovisualise implications of their policy ini-tiatives, as would retrograde Mercury’spresence there imply. Saturn’s oppositionto natal Moon in India’s Independencechart implies people’s discontent. Later inNovember, both Saturn and Jupiter willbe conjunct in Capricorn, the naturalsignifying sign of India. Such conjunc-tions, termed as ‘Great Mutation’ hap-pens at an interval of 20 years pointing tomajor change in nation’s polity and soci-etal dynamics likely to follow.

Saturn’s transit to Capricorn sign on24th January, is by itself enough to indi-cate serious problems in the offing. For, itwould be opposite natal Moon, Mercury,

Venus, Saturn and the Sun in successionin nation’s Independence chart. Theyrespectively signify, masses in general,youth, finance, downtrodden, and thehead of government. It happened last in1990. The period thereafter was markedwith political instability. Three PrimeMinisters changed hands between 1990end and 1991. Cast clashes followingreservation granted to backward classesresulted in death of a large number ofyouths. Advaniji’s rath yatra excited com-munal passion, which eventually led todemolition of Babri Masjid. Economy wasin shambles forcing us to mortgage Goldto service our debts and manage country’sfinance. To overcome financial crisis, eco-nomic policy underwent paradigm shiftduring P V Narasimha Rao’s regime. Thatgave a fresh impetus to nation’s economy.Terrorism was at its peak in Punjab. RajivGandhi was assassinated in a suicidebomb attack in May 1991 during an elec-tion rally. This doesn’t necessarily mean asimilar repeat, but we seem to be due forserious challenges ahead.

The writer is an astrologer, vastu consultant and spiritual counsellor. Write to him at

G-102, Bharat Nagar, New Friends Colony, New Delhi-110 025

Tel: 91-11-49848475/9818037273 Email: bharatbhushanpadmadeo@gmail.com

ASTROTURFBHARAT BHUSHAN PADMADEO

Madhu Kotiya is a tarot card reader, spiritual healer, and Founder, MShezaim Institute of Tarot and Divination. Contact details: madhu@indiatarot.com, www.indiatarot.com, M: 9873283331

Twists, turns anticipated in 2020

TEAM AGENDA DESK > NAVNEET MENDIRATTA, CONSULTING EDITOR | H LAYOUT AND DESIGN > SATISH CHANDRA JAKHMOLA, SENIOR EDITOR (CREATIVE)

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Father sold land to meeteducation needs

studied in a government school atMallikudurla village in Telugu medi-um up to 7th Class. My fatherRaghava Reddy was an agricultur-ist in my native village Sodeshapally.He raised all his sons well by giving

good education and whatever is required.When the going was tough, he sold his landalso for the purpose of our education, espe-cially after my Intermediate. We are three sib-lings, I am the eldest. I did B.Sc, M.Sc Physicsand Ph D. My younger brothers did engineer-ing and are settled in the US. My fatherexpired 10 years ago. My mother Anasuryais still in our village. She takes care of ourinterests in agriculture.

Wanted to become engineerAfter seventh class, I pursued education in

Montfort High School at Khammam. I usedto stay with my maternal uncle. ForIntermediate, I moved to Hanamkonda andfor degree came back to Khammam. I did MSc in Osmania. I wanted to be an engineer,but couldn't make it. That was a dream for me.So, I picked nearest combination - MPE:Maths, Physics and Electronics in B Sc in SR& BGNR Government Degree College,Khammam. Later I got through B.Ed entranceand M Sc Physics in Osmania University,where I got sixth rank. While doing B. Sc, Iwas active in student politics. I wrote for UGCfellowships and I was the only person to getJunior Research Fellowship in 1986 andSenior Research Fellowship in 1989.

Threats as student leaderSince childhood I have had left leanings. I

was observing radical student unions. Indegree, there were two organisations -- PDSUand SFI. In PDSU, you must set everythingaside and struggle. But in SFI, it was study andstruggle; so, it attracted me. Students had tostick to one of the unions. Many times it wasliterally fighting during first three years inKhammam and OU. ABVP and PDSUactivists attacked me many times. My fatherused to tell me not to waste time with unionsand concentrate on students. University lifewas tough time. We stood for what webelieved. We also had APNSS and APNSP.These two organizations were pro and againstreservation. I used to stand for reservation.During those days, they used to abuse me, ask-ing me why I, a person from a forward caste,was supporting reservation. The entireHyderabad was boiling against this issue.

Wanted to dedicate life to CPMI wanted to be full-timer and dedicate my

life to the Communist Party of India-Marxist,after looking at problems faced by disadvan-taged sections of people. But by thenCommunism was losing charm. But after myPh D, I joined as lecturer at Nawab Shah AlamKhan Centre. Ironically, we were against pri-vatization and at that time P V Narasimha Raobrought in the New Economic Policy. Whenthe entire country was going towards priva-tization, I was working in a private college. Myactions were against what I believed. Even inthe 1990s I was against privatization, butended up establishing private institutions. Iwas working in Communist party till 2008.

Salary issues I was working as a lecturer in a private col-

lege and I didn't get salary for 3 months or some-times six months for 4-5years. I thought I shouldstart a college and should give salaries to my fac-ulty members every month on time. Then I tookover a college in 1998 Sri Sai Degree and PGCollege and it is running to this day. After that,in 2001 I started professional colleges. My col-leges are there in six locations with 20,000 stu-dents and almost 2,000 teaching and non-teach-ing staff. In all the colleges, I pay salarieson date on time -- on 5th of everymonth.

Wife tookcare offamily

My wife'ssupport helpedme to take upbusiness. Ipooled moneyby asking myfriends. We wereable to collectaround Rs 25-30lakhs and purchased80 percent of Sri SaiDegree College atDilshuknagar in 1998. Mywife wanted to continue her joband she never interfered with mywork. She took upon herself the entireresponsibility of children's upbringing. Oureldest son Anurag was born in 1994. He stud-ied engineering. Our second son Apuroop wasborn in 1998. He is pursuing medicine. In the

upbringing of children may be my contribu-tion was just about 5-10 percent, while my wifedid everything. I am strict father and in a waywe were conservative. During exams, she usedto teach them. I used to teach Hindi and partof Mathematics.

Jailed for funding JAC My teacher and Ph.D guide Prof Rama

Reddy used to tell me about the dis-crimination and the need for

Telangana. I used to attendJAC meetings at OU and

one day VenugopalReddy, one of our col-lege students, com-mitted suicide. Iused to supportJAC, by givingfunds and our col-lege buses. I wasnot at the forefrontof the agitation as Iwas running an

institution. Somepeople wrote to the

Government andAICTE that this person is

jailed, creating unrestamong students and his col-

leges should be closed. During thatmovement, after suicide of Venugopal

Reddy, after 14-15days, I was arrested and keptin Chanchalguda jail for 10 days. There were11 cases filed against me under 23 sections asA2. After coming back from jail, they want-ed to file more cases and keep me jail.

Colleges came under scanner after my arrest.Surprise inspection by AICTE happens eventhese days. We have everything and meet alltheir criteria. Everybody has colleges, be it TDP,Congress leaders what's wrong in it?

Knew would lose electionsI joined TRS party because of my incli-

nation to Telangana. In 2014, I lost electionsbut even before that I was sure that I wasgoing to lose the elections because nobodywins so many seats. There was no chanceof winning. We thought we should just startand take chance. My organizational skillsand how I supported MLAs then helped mebecome close to KCR. When it comes tocareer; earlier it was my choice, now itKCR's. Whatever he says, I will do.Whatever suits me, he will decide, I will fol-low it blindly.

KTR challenged my abilityI was not interested in participating in

MLC election and was not ready, after los-ing the MP elections. For MLC elections, Ihad only one month to campaign in 3 dis-tricts and 34 constituencies - I was notready. KCR ordered me to contest as MLC,even though I was not interested. KTR,while wishing me the best said, "No can-didate will get this much chance in TRS, ifyou don't win the seat, this is end of yourpolitical journey." I couldn't sleep for twodays and I was not interested in it. We wonthe seat and immediately he elevated me togovt whip post.

KCR said numbers were bogusI was under the wrong impression that only

Communists are well-read and there are noother intellectuals like them. That was theimpression that I had till I met KCR. WhenI was given the task of membership drive, Iwas giving an update to KCR that over 30lakhs are enrolled. He asked me if I got receiptbooks, money or digitalized the records. Myanswer was 'No' for each question he posed.KCR said, "Then it is bogus. Simply you arespeaking to MLAs and whatever they are say-ing, you are conveying it to me. It is wrong".Everything was going on well, but he was notbelieving. After completion of 30 days, I gave9 crore as the figure, along with pages andbooks, and he congratulated me on that day.He will not express even one positive wordtill the work is done.

RSS post for Team workMy mother is leading the life of an agri-

culturist. We three brothers have about 150acres of agriculture land in two or threeplaces. We have been through the thick andthin of agriculture and so I was given RythuSamanvaya SamithiChairman post.Because of mybusiness inter-ests, I havemango grovesand paddy cropalso. With CM, Iknow what's hap-pening. There are1.65 lakh RSSactivists, they needto be organized. Weestablished organi-zational structureand we need togive training toactivists so thatit goes intoagricultureamong them a s s e s .He foundme valu-a b l et h e r e .K C Rknows -w h a te x a c t l yTelanganaeats and what we should begrowing. In short time, we willcome with a plan, which hasto be executed through me.

Lovemarriage

My wife Neelima was pursuing B.Tech in JNTUin ECE. I used to meet her at SFI's Hyderabad

district meetings. She used to be active in JNTU and Iwas at OU. During her B.Tech final year, I asked her if shewould marry me, and we got married when we were stillstudents. Initially there was some resistance from both

families due to caste, this and that, but people and friendsconvinced them. When we got married, she was in herfinal year B.Tech and I was Ph.D student. Ours was a

stage marriage - adarsh vivah, in which we justexchanged garlands. Immediately aftermarriage, she completed her B. Tech

and joined TRANSCO throughplacements.

HYDERABAD | SUNDAY | JANUARY 05, 2019 hyderabad 12

Palla Rajeshwar Reddy shares with The Pioneer why he -- a left-leaningvociferous critic of privatization from his days as student - chose to build a

chain of private institutions. In an interview with Naveena Ghanate, hespeaks about his bonding with TS Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao

and TRS working president and MAUD Minister K T Ramarao, and vividlyrecalls cherished memories of his ‘adarsh vivah' with fellow student leader

Fitness regime - sometimes I walk, butnot much focusDo play any sports - earlier shuttle andvolleyball, now nothingAre you religious - I am atheistBiggest strength- Understanding peoplefrom their perspective and helping themWhat irritates you most - when givenjob is not done or done partiallyFavourite leader - Right now it is KCR,earlier many communist leadersCompliment you get often -Team workand organizational skillsFavourite color - earlier it was Red andnow pink. (laughs). I prefer white whenit comes to clothesLast time you got emotional - Manytimes. When it comes to sadness - whenI lost my father and happy when I wasmade convener of membership driveWhat would you want to change inyourself - Tune my anger Favorite actor - Amitabh BachchanFavorite food - Traditionally cuisines likecountry chicken and home cooked foodNumber of countries you travelled -About 10 Weakness - I trust people easily andlisten to everyoneQuote you use often - QuestioneverythingFavorite song - Gunna MamidiKommameeda

What impresses youin other person -

Sincerity andfranknessBest advicegiven to you -My friendsalways told me'Face it

courageously'FavouriteBooks - Rootsby Alex Haley

QUICK BITES

With friends Parents Anasurya and Raghava Reddy Wife Neelima and sons Anurag and Apuroop

i

Son Anurag, to be Daughter-in-law Sanjana, Wife Neelima and son Apuroop