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1 Follow us on: OPINION 8 INDIA: INDEPENDENT BUT NOT WORLD 13 PAK TO ELECT NEXT PREZ ON SEPTEMBER 4: POLL BODY facebook.com/dailypioneer SPORT 15 ATLETICO BEAT REAL TO WIN UEFA SUPERCUP LUCKNOW, FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018; PAGES 16 `3 RNI No.2016/1957, REGD NO. SSP/LW/NP-34/ Established 1864 Published From DELHI LUCKNOW BHOPAL BHUBANESWAR RANCHI RAIPUR CHANDIGARH DEHRADUN Late City Vol. 154 Issue 223 *Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable } ARETHA FRANKLIN DIES AT VIVACITY } A Colossus moves on By Chandan Mitra o describe him as a Titan would be an under- Apart from all his achievements Tstatement. politician, Prime Minister, poet, coalition-maker, nation-builder, statesman Atal Bihari Vajpayee was above all a magnificent human being; romantic at heart with nerves of steel. He towered over his compatriots which is probably why he bore no malice towards anyone and most of them unquestioningly accepted his leadership despite adhering to rival ideologies. He emerged as a leader in a relatively uncomplicated era, in which politicians were largely principled and respected divergences of opinion. A keen learner who empathised with common people, he grew to deal successfully with most complex domestic and international issues. A liberal in the true sense of the term, Vajpayee was nevertheless a man of utmost conviction and steely resolve evident from his courage to go ahead with the Pokhran nuclear explosions in the face of severe odds. He had the determination to swim against the tide and stuck to his guns when he invited General Pervez Musharraf for talks at Agra, despite the widespread criticism of his decision. Failure never daunted him, neither did success make him delusional with self-praise. He strived all his life to build an inclusive society, something that even born-again left-wing secularists were forced to admit. A democrat to the core he bore the brunt of Indira Gandhi s authoritarian streak, suffering many months behind bars during the Emergency. But he rose to his full stature to compliment Mrs Gandhi as a modern-day Durga after the Indian Army vanquished Pakistan and helped liberate the oppressed people of Bangladesh. Once, till the early seventies, he was lamented as the best Prime Minister India never had. He disproved the doomsayers and triumphantly adorned that chair thrice, beginning 1996, even if for two short spells before he led the 26-party National Democratic Alliance to a full five-year term in office in His resilience in politics was truly remarkable for he took his party out of its nadir after 1984 when it was down to an abysmal two seats in the Lok Sabha. Despite himself losing his seat in that poll in the wake of the emotional outpouring over Indira Gandhi s assassination, Atal Bihari led his party to an emphatic nationwide triumph in 12 years. This he achieved along with his lifelong companion and political cohort, Lal Krishna Advani, whose selfless association with Atalji is a rare instance of political camaraderie. But then, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was respected universally across the political spectrum. Starting from Jawaharlal Nehru, who once praised him for a characteristically moving speech in Parliament by predicting he would become Prime Minister one day, leaders of all shades, even his bitter political critics, heaped praise on his ability to accommodate diverse opinions, despite his background as a Swayamsevak, usually known for their ideological rigidity. So much so that one-time rabid Socialist Trade Union leader George Fernandes became a convert to Atalji s philosophy of an inclusive India and vocally defended the Pokhran blasts. A spell-binding orator, the likes of whom India had never seen before and unlikely to see after, Atalji was a master craftsman with words. His love for and mastery over Hindi enabled him to connect with people with incomparable aplomb. His remarkable ability to merge humour with serious content enabled Atalji to get his point across without appearing to pontificate or gnash his teeth. He was never in the good books of many in his own party who disparaged his lifestyle and loathed his eclectic tastes. But Atalji was far beyond their stentorian jealousies; he knew he enjoyed peoples love and trust to the full and could afford to ignore recriminations of lesser men. It will always be a mystery as to why he lost the 2004 elections despite near-unanimous predictions of a BJP landslide. Some blame the party s over-confidence reflected in the Shining India slogan, while others point to predictable anti-incumbency. There is every reason to suggest that the nation regretted its electoral choice for India was bereft of his guiding hand and benign but powerful supervision. But then, history is full of ifs and buts. And the teacher s son from remote Bateshwar Ghat in Uttar Pradesh was destined to rise to global acclaim and make India proud on the world stage. He accorded the deserved status to his beloved language by speaking at the UN General Assembly in his mother tongue, being the first Indian leader to do so, long before this became fashionable. Finally, on a personal note, I must recall his opening words at the launch of The Pioneer s Hindi weekly. Shri Chandan Mitra aur mitron... he began, sending the audience into peels of merriment. His words were always telling. But sometimes even his trademark silences had even deeper meaning. Sadly, the country will have to live with his eternal silence from now on. May his soul rest in peace. A TITAN S journey ends swathe of gloom enveloped the nation as India Alost one of its most loved political stalwarts on Thursday evening when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee breathed his last at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the national Capital. The end came at 5.06 pm, but sensing that life was fast ebbing away from his ailing body, the country had slipped into mourning mode hours before. The former PM was admitted to hospital on June 11 with a kidney tract infection, urinary tract infection, low urine output and chest congestion. In temple, churches, mosques and households, the common man of the country prayed since early morning for the health of the great son of India who was universally loved across caste and religious divides. Vajpayee may have been bedridden and out of public life for nearly a decade, still the fact that he was around was a great source of solace for millions of his followers and others. When the TV channel broke the news, people wept and cried, and sadness engulfed the nation like never before in the recent history. Even when he presided over the BJP as its tallest pillar and was fully involved in power politics, Vajpayee was respected by even his bitter rivals. The outpouring of emotion on his death showed that a true leader can transcend the boundaries of his party and ideologies to carve a place for himself in the hearts and minds of the entire political spectrum. From north to south, east to west, and Bollywood to sportsmen, separatists to security forces, Vajpayee was a leader who was loved and admired by all. Kashmir separatists like Hurriyat Conference s Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Gani Bhat and others have described him as great man and a rare leader with humaneness who sought a resolution of the issues related to Kashmir. Celebrities from film industries across the country joined in to express their sorrow over the death of Vajpayee. Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar wrote, Rishitulya purva pradhan mantri Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji ke swargwas ki vaarta sunke mujhe aise laga jaise mere sar par pahaad toota hai, kyo ki main unko pita samaan maanti thi aur unhone mujhe apni beti banaaya tha. Mujhe wo itne priya the ki main unko dadda kehke bulaati thi. Aaj mujhe waisa dukh hua hai jaise mere pita ji ke swargwas ke samay hua tha. Ishwar unki aatma ko shanti de. Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra took to the micro-blogging site to say that the nation will always remember the former Prime Minister, Former Prime Minister Shri #AtalBihariVajpayee s visionary ideas and contributions for India were truly remarkable. The nation will always remember... #RIP My thoughts and condolences to the family. Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi tweeted, A true legend, respected statesman, phenomenal poet, tall leader beyond stature, respected by even his strongest critics and rivals...#atalji passes on. Leaving behind a legacy of greatness that will inspire generations forever! #AtalBihariVajpayee Tamil star Dhanush wrote, Deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. Heartfelt condolences to the family and dear ones of the great man. Superstar Rajinikanth tweeted, I m saddened to hear the demise of a great statesman Shri Vajpayee ji. May his soul Rest In Peace. But it was the reaction of the common man, who never had personally met the former PM, but known him through his speeches and poems that showed how deeply the country loved him at a time when there is great deal of hostility and division towards the political class. Tears welled into the eyes of anyone who was approached for reactions by TV journalists in different parts of the country. At hundreds of places, people offered prayers and performed various rituals to seek divine intervention to save their beloved leaders. But the man who once wrote the famous lines: Kaal ke kapal par likhta-mitata hun, geet naya gaata hun, geet naya gaata hun lost out to Kaal after a decade of intense battle. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, politicos and admirers of Vajpayee drove to AIIMS for his last glimpse. Several Government events were either postponed or cancelled as a health bulletin from the premier hospital in the morning said Vajpayee s condition continues to be the same. Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah were among the many leaders who visited Vajpayee in the hospital. BJP president Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and other several BJP leaders like Shahnawaj Hussain, Manoj Tiwari, Anurag Thakur, Vijay Goyal, Udit Rai, Prakash Javadekar, Harsh Vardhan were at the hospital. Continued on Page 5 Related reports on P2, 4, 6, 7 Pall of gloom descends on Lucknow Schools, offices closed today Do din mile uphar mein Ghaaton ke vyaapar mein; Kshan-kshan ka hisaab loon, Yaa nidhi shesh lutaoon mein? Raah kaun si jaaon main? PNS I n LUCKNOW my shop to have masaledar remember Vajpayee for his PNS I n LUCKNOW thandai and every time he left simplicity, oratory and fondness for simple joys of life like ttar Pradesh Chief pall of gloom descended with a promise to come back A UMinister Yogi Adityanath on the streets of Lucknow again, he recalled. Phir cracking an innocent joke, on Thursday declared seven when television channels confirmed aayunga, used to be his part- sharing tea and sweets with days state mourning as a mark the death of Atal Bihari ing shot. anyone who was with him, of respect to former Prime Vajpayee on Thursday evening, I had a hope that he would playing with children and Minister, late Atal Bihari with people saying it was the come one day. Now, I know we above all, remembering people Vajpayee. During this period, end of a long association which will not meet ever, Tripathi even after long passage of time. the national tricolour will be the former Prime Minister had said. Atal s death was the talk of flown at half mast at government offices in all districts. The with his karmabhoomi Last time Vajpayee had the town in old Lucknow s Lucknow. come to Raja Thandai was in Chowk locality where many government also declared closure With his death, I have lost He was Prime Minister. persons have had long and of all offices, schools and a valued visitor of my shop, He did not allow the SPG to go non-political association with colleges on Friday as a mark of said Basant Kumar Tripathi, for security check of the Vajpayee. A visit to the narrow respect to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. owner of Raja Thandai at thandai and had it with Lalji lanes of Chowk also brought Chief Minister, Yogi Chowk, in a choked voice. Tandon and left, he said. out many little-known facets of Adityanath also said that special Innumerable times he came to People across party lines Continued on Page 5 functions would be organ- ised in the memory of the late Prime Minister at Bateshwar. He also said that the ashes of Atal s mortal remains to be the great leader would be immersed in all prominent rivers of the state. consigned to flames at 4pm Irreparable loss, says Yogi he last rites of former Prime TMinister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will take place at PNS I n LUCKNOW Yogi said in a written statement Atalji was in politics for Rashtriya Smriti Sthal here on issued here on Thursday. over six decades. But his Friday at 4 pm. Expressing aying homage to former He added: Vajpayeeji was unblemished political career is condolence, Union Cabinet PPrime Minister Atal Bihari firmly committed to democratic a big lesson for all of us. The base ideals and his strong oppo- of his good governance was chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Vajpayee, Chief Minister Yogi Narendra Modi on Thursday Inspecting the nuclear Adityanath said that death of sition to muzzling the voices of political values and high principles. This is the reason he evening decided to announce test site in Pokhran on political stalwart, who always the poor will always be remembered. The government always advocated rashtra dhar- seven-day State mourning as a May 20, 1998 advocated building a strong mark of respect for the former nation full of passion, zeal and declared holiday in all offices ma. For him, nation came first Prime Minister. The body of the BJP veteran In a circular, the Home Ministry said national flag days inclusive. All Central Government offices and CPSUs commitment to excel in all walks of life, was an irreparable and educational institutions to mourn the death of the former and he followed this principle till his last breath, the Chief will be kept at his official would be flown at half mast across the country, and Delhi loss. PM. Earlier, Yogi cancelled all Minister said. residence 6A Krishna Menon from Thursday for seven days Government offices in NCT of We have lost a deep-rooted programmes scheduled for the Earlier in the day, the government Marg till Friday morning to allow people to pay their homage. It would be taken to the BJP headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg by 9 am and will be kept till 2pm. The body will be taken in procession to Shanti Van area via ITO. across India and a State funeral would be accorded to Vajpayee. As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, it has been decided that seven days of State mourning will be observed throughout India from August 16 to 22, both Delhi will observe half day holiday in the afternoon of day of funeral. National flag shall also fly half mast till August 22 in all Indian Missions/High Commissions of India abroad, said Home Ministry. Continued on Page 5 mass leader, prolific thinker, accomplished writer and a stalwart whose life was devoted to the welfare of the poor and the marginalised. He was steadfastly committed to the welfare of people and ensured that their voices are heard effectively, day and rushed to New Delhi to visit All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He was accompanied by Deputy CMs Dinesh Sharma & Keshav Prasad Maurya and UP BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey. cancelled all the engage- ments of the CM. The BJP also cancelled its programme to hold district level working committee meet slated on Thursday. The visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Lucknow on Thursday was also cancelled.

2 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 city 02 With each victory, his bond with Lko became Atal n unparalleled leader, for- Prime Minister Atal Amer Bihari Vajpayee s bond with Lucknow grew stronger with every electoral victory. He will be remembered for his inimitable style in time to come. His association with the state capital, its culture and its history remained unchanged even after he took oath as PM thrice. He remained accessible to the people of Lucknow and answered the most uncomfortable of questions that the media invariably posed to him. More often than not, he took all the questions with ease and wit. He remembered his friends from Lucknow from Lalji Tandon to former mayor late SC Rai and treated them with affection t was a memorable moment Ithat will remain etched forever in the memory of former principal of Lucknow Christian College BP Masih, who sat next to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the famous bus journey to Lahore in February (1999). It was for the cause of peace and goodwill between the two neighbouring countries. Recalling the journey, Masih said like all other passengers, he got a chance to interact with the then Prime Minister and used the opportunity to request him to revisit his college, to which Vajpayee responded with a gentle smile. Masih said it was a historic journey for the sake of friendship and amity between India and Pakistan. I was selected for the journey on the suggestion of Lalji Tandon as I was a prominent member of the Christian community. People from different religions were selected from across the country, he recollected. Recalling Vajpayee s earlier visit to the college, he said and respect even after he became the PM. At a time when in-fighting in the BJP was at its peak during the Kalyan Singh regime, Vajpayee made sure that he did not take sides and it was this posture that finally helped the party wade out of troubled waters. Vajpayee was one of those rare leaders who did not allow his security cover to distance him from the party and people. Vajpayee did not have an iota of bitterness even for his severest critic or rival. No matter how hard the media tried, it could not get Vajpayee to utter even a single word against the then Samajwadi candidate Raj Babbar, who was locked in a high-profile electoral battle with the BJP leader in Lucknow in Moreover, his popularity, especially among Shia that the former Prime Minister had come for a book release function in February At that time, the former Prime Minister had come to Lucknow for filing nomination papers and on his visit to the Christian College, he had Muslims, was such that they overruled their opposition and came out in large numbers to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pays tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his Krishna Menon Marg residence in New Delhi on Thursday said he was very impressed with the manner in which the college was being managed. Masih said he made an attempt to meet the former Prime Minister at his residence in Delhi in 2015, but in Delhi at his residence but in File photo former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee showing his inked finger after casting his vote in Lucknow in 2004 Masih remembers bus journey with Atal t s an old world charm that Ilooms large in one s face as one steps into the Sanskriti Bhawan which houses the Rashtradharm Prakashan at Rajendra Nagar. Close-knit cubicles with rows of bound books on the shelf carry the whiff of bygone days when writings were fuelled by the soul and connecting with millions with the right idea was considered a national religion or rashtriya dharm. Amongst the maze of rooms there is one which carries the mundane board that announces the editorial roll call since the time the magazine Rashtriyadharm was first started in Old timers associated with the Bhawan admit that though much has changed at the place, this room was the one where former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee sat and carried out the work associated with the magazine with which he wanted to get a cultural connect with the youth across the country after its Independence. Principal of Lucknow Christian College BP Masih with the former PM during bus journey to Lahore in February (1999) He was the first editor of the magazine. So strong is the aura of legends like the former Prime Minister that even his passing away cannot erase the feel of his presence from the room and one can almost hear his soft twinkling laughter as he brainstormed with others and chiselled words that could pierce the minds of the youth like sharpedged knives. vain. I did not get the permission to meet him then. I felt very sad to hear about his demise because he was a man who thought about the downtrodden and was committed to the cause of humanity, he added. vote for the BJP. His over 7- decade association with Lucknow will always be cherished as people fondly remembered how he used to describe Lucknow as his karma bhoomi. He never hesitated in enjoying Lucknow s famous chaat, kulfi, Raja ki thandai in the congested Chowk locality. Whenever he visited Lucknow, his close friend, former minister Lalji Tandon would invite him over for the mouth-watering chaat and kulfi party. Tandon ensured that some senior journalists were also invited. A maverick orator, Lucknowites remember how they used to throng to listen to his speeches during the election time irrespective of the face whether they belonged to the BJP or the Opposition. Even the most serious of his speeches were laced with couplets. Friends and foes would always return home appreciating Vajpayee s gift of gab. The man who groomed many political leaders ormer Prime Minister Atal FBihari Vajpayee is credited for not only building the future of the country but also grooming future of many political leaders and the list includes Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and former minister and MP from Lucknow Lalji Tandon. In 1991, when Kalyan Singh was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Vajpayee played a key role in making Rajnath Singh Education Minister in Uttar Pradesh. Though his tenure remained controversial following implementation of anti-copying law, Singh was able to make his mark as an administrator. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee became the Prime Minister, he entrusted Singh with the task of constructing quadrilateral highway and in 2003 Singh was made Agriculture Minister. He (Atalji) had immense faith on me. As Agriculture Minister, I suggested hike in MSP and he agreed without questioning my decision, Singh told this reporter. Vajpayee played a similar role in building the political career of Lalji Tandon. Atalji was a great inspiration for the entire nation. He used to tell me chhote mann se koi bada nahi hota, toote tan se koi khada nahi hota. This defines his personality, an emotional Lalji Tandon said. Vajpayee had campaigned for Tandon in early 1960s when the latter was contesting for the post of corporator from Chowk area of the city. Tandon was introduced to Vajpayee by the third mayor of Lucknow, Dr PD Kapoor. Atal had ensured Tandon s victory by campaigning extensively for him. Their relationship grew. When Atal was MP from Lucknow, Tandon was appointed his representative and he ensured construction of Scientific Centre at Chowk from MP Local Area His cultural connect with nation started from here Manager of Rashtriyadharm magazine, Pawanputra Badal, says that Atal s passion could be gauged from the fact that he brought out the first magazine merely sixteen days after India attained Independence on August This was certainly an achievement in its own way. He brought out the magazine in association with Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and he wrote his first ever editorial for the magazine, which is considered historical even today, he said. Incidentally, the former Prime Minister would operate the printing machine manually on his own from the same building which grew into a complete infrastructure by The first edition that came out on August 31 had 3,500 copies which went across the entire country and this figure swelled to almost 8,000 copies in the second edition and 12,000 copies in the third edition a big figure at the time when even reputed magazines published PTI merely 500 copies a month, he said. Admitting that Atal s association in a way branded the magazine which is still being published, Pawan categorically points out that it was not a political bandwagon and Atal s aim was to focus on the moral values with the magazine being a cultural curry that contained poems and literary articles. The mandate was clear and well known and eminent personalities from all fields contributed to the magazine. They included Dr Sampurnanand, the second Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, social and political leader Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, and literary giant Vasudev Aggarwal. Atal would apart from penning the editorials also enrich the magazine with his poems and articles. The magazine touched every state of the country, he said. It was a much awaited magazine and apart from India it also made its way to eight countries that included England, Canada, America, Mauritius, Japan and West Indies. Atal s break with the magazine came in 1951 when he started working for the Jan Sangh. However, he continued his association with the Rashtriyadharm by contributing articles to the magazine and inspiring us. His last visit was in 1989 when he came to unveil the statue of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, he HUMILITY PERSONIFIED Lucknow (PNS): The man known for his one-liners, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be remembered for his humbleness besides his friendship and respect for others, including the media. I am tired not retired the oneliner in the 2004 general election left his stamp of supremacy in the party. This one-liner sent the entire party and sangh in a spin and all got back firmly behind Vajpayee for the next LS election. There are several instances of humbleness of the great leader during his five election campaigns in Lucknow. In 1998, filmmaker Muzaffar Ali was contesting against him. During a campaign, the cavalcades of both the leaders came face to face at Development (MPLAD) Fund. After Atalji fell ill, Tandon was given ticket to contest from Lucknow in What I am today is because of Atalji. I was MP from but I was like Bharat who ruled Ayodhya by keeping khadaun (of Lord Ram on throne). I served the people of Lucknow not as MP but as representative of Atalji, Tandon said. Another man who considers himself as blessed because he considered himself to be fortunate to have worked with him is Dr Dinesh Sharma. I entered electoral politics because of Atalji. He asked me to contest the mayoral election. I contested with his aashirwad (blessing) and won the election not once but twice, said Dr Sharma, who is now Deputy Chief Minister in Yogi Adityanath Cabinet. Vajpayee s political association with Lucknow basically started in 1991 when he contested the Lok Sabha elections. It was the time of Ram temple movement. Bakshi-Ka-Talab and there was a sort of confrontation among workers of both the leaders as who should pass first. But Vajpayee got out from his car and said Ali deserved to pass first and he waited as Ali s cavalcade passed through. Similarly, during election campaign for Assembly polls in Lucknow, Atalji was also campaigning for his party as he was the MP from Lucknow. There were reports that the BJP was losing two Assembly seats. In his speech, Vajpayee said: You (people) have given me the kurta. Now I hear you all plan to give pyjama to someone else. Meaning you have made me a MP and want to give the Assembly to Samajwadi Party. The statement changed the mood in BJP s favour. When Rajiv Gandhi died, Atalji was in Lucknow. He was so saddened by the news that eyewitnesses recall he sat in gloom for long and said: Apurniya kshati (unbearable loss). During his first election from Lucknow in 1991, a newspaper published a survey saying that Atal was losing to Congress lesser-known candidate Ranjit Singh. The BJP workers were agitated and even the media felt that Atalji would now respond with anger. But Vajpayee again surprised all. While addressing the workers he said, A survey has come saying I am losing. Now please get up to work and ensure that I go forward. Kanpur Municipal Corporation NOTICE INVITIING TENDER (e-procurement) No. : KNN/PROJECT/Namami Gangey/01/18-19 Date: 14/08/2018 The Municipal commissioner, Kanpur Municipal Corporation invites Online proposals for the following work:- S. Name of project Nature of Tender Earnest Date & Time Last Date No. the Project Fee non- Money of Pre-Bid & Time of refundable Deposit Meeting submission (Rs.) (Rs. in Lacs) 1. Cleaning/Sweepiing Ghat with collection and Cleaning disposal of Solid programme 5000/ Waste from the banks under +18% GST At Up to of river Ganga on Namami A.M P.M. Ghats at Kanpur. Gange. 1. Tender documents will be available and can be downloaded from the website of Kanpur Municipal Corporation, i.e. and from 16/08/ The Hard Copies of the Tender Documents need to be submitted by the Last Date, mentioned above at the Office of the Chief Enginieer, Kanpur Municipal Corporation, 1st Floor, Nagar Nigam Mukhyalay, Moti Jheel, Kanpur. 3. The last date for submission of pre-bid queries is 22/08/2018 till 4:00 PM through on mckanpur@yahoo.com and Pre-bid meeting will be held on 24/08/2018 at 4:00 P.M. at the Conference Hall, Nagar Nigam Mukhyalay, 1st Floor, Moti Jheel, Kanpur. 4. The responses to the pre-bid queries will be uploaded on the website of kmc.up.nic.in i.e. on 26/08/ Other details can be seen in the RfP document. Municipal Commissioner Kanpur Municipal Corporation Kanpur Although every possible care and caution has been taken to avoid errors or omissions, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that information given in this publication is merely for reference and must not be taken as having authority of or binding in any way on the writers, editors, publishers, and printers and sellers who do not owe any responsibility for any damage or loss to any person, a purchaser of this publication or not for the result of any action taken on the basis of this work. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent court and forums in Lucknow only. Readers are advised and requested to verify and seek appropriate advice to satisfy themselves about the veracity of any kind of advertisement before responding to any contents published in this newspaper. The printer, publisher, editor and any employee of the Pioneer Group s will not be held responsible for any kind of claim made by the advertisers of the products & services and shall not be made responsible for any kind of loss, consequences and further product-related damages on such advertisements. Printed and Published by Vijay Prakash Singh for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd., 4th Floor, Sahara Shopping Centre, Faizabad Road, Lucknow and Printed at Tin Tin Printech Pvt Ltd., C-33 Amausi Industrial Area, Nadarganj, Lucknow. Editor: Chandan Mitra. Resident Editor: Vijay Prakash Singh. RNI No. 2016/57. Lucknow Telephones: EPABX: Fax: Allahabad Office: (0532) , , Kanpur Office: (0512) , Varanasi Office: (0542) , Delhi Office: No. 6, Behind Gulab Bhawan, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi , Phone: Communication Office: F-31, Sector 6, NOIDA, Gautam Budh Nagar , U.P. Phone: &

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4 Z a a Z Z a a a LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 city 04 U.P. Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd, Obra Tharmal Power Station, OBRA- Sonebhadra, Notice Inviting e-bid Tender No. TO- 1292/SE(MMC-I)/CPD- II/ATPS/18-19 Online e-bids are invited for the Caustic Soda Lye concentration 47% for 'Obra' Thermal Power Station, Obra, Sonebhadra (U.P). e-tender has been uploaded on 04/06/2018 at 09:00 AM on UP Gov!. e-tender porta Last date of e-bid subm ission on at 06:00 PM & Technical Bid (Part-I) will be opened on at 06:00 PM or later. Estimated Cost of supply will be approximately Rs Lac (Rs Fifty Five Lac) Only. The E.M.D and Tender cost for e-bid submission is Rs. 55,000/- and Rs.1180/-respectively. Total Quantity of supply tender specification and other terms & condition is as per tender document available on the e- tender portal. It may please be noted that this is online bid and shall be accepted online only on website formation related to extension in due dates and corrigendum ifany shall be uploaded only on the above website. Bidders are advised to visit the website on regular basis in order to keep themselves update. Superintending Engineer, MMC-I E-TENDER NOTICE NAME OF WORK : Shift wise routine cheeking and mechanical maintenance of auxiliaries of Coal Handling Plant, BTPS, of Obra Theral Power Project. TENDER NO. : T-16/SE-II/FHMD-II/ BTPS / ESTIMATED COST OF WORK : Rs. 25,07, (Rs. Twenty Five Lacs Seven Thousand Five Hundred Fifty) Only LAST DATE AND TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF E-BIDS (TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL) AT E-PROCUREMENT WEB- SITE : up to 18:00 hrs. LAST DATE AND TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDER FEE AND EMD : up to 17:00 hrs. DATE AND TIME OF OPENING OF E-BIDS : up to 16:00 hrs. PLACE OF OPENING OF E- BIDS : Office of Superintending Engineer-II, 'B'TPS, Obra, Sonebhadra ADDRESS FOR COMMUNICATION : Suprintending Engineer-II, 'B'TPS, Obra, Sonebhadra, U.P ADDRESS: sameerbhatnagar16@gmail.co m BID DOCUMENT COST : Rs. 1, (WITH GST) EARNEST MONEY : Rs. 50, (Rs. Fifty Thousand) Only Note: - Tender specification is available on e-tender website Tenders will be accepted online only. Superintending Engineer- II 'B' Thermal power station, No. 195 Date "SAVE ELECTRICITY ENHANCE NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY" he aura surrounding Atal TBihari Vajpayee was so overpowering that his appeal even forced a hijacker to surrender even when Vajpayee was not the Prime Minister of the country. This happened when Vajpayee was just a Member of Parliament and was elected to Lok Sabha from Lucknow for the first time. It happened on January 22, 1992 when the then District Magistrate of Lucknow Ashok Priyadarshi BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED On behalf of BSNL, Item rate e-tenders are invited for NIT No. 07/ /TCD- II/KP/174 for the work "C/o 40 m Ground Base Tower foundation against Phase-VII at Koyala Nagar-II, Kanpur. (UPE-8226)". The last date of submission of bids online will be by Hrs. Other details/information can be seen on website www. tenderwizard.com/bsnl m0iz0 ikoj VªkUlfe'ku dkwjiksjs'ku fyfevsm bz&fufonk lwpuk la[;k&25 ls 33& bz0vh0lh0¼oh½2018&2019 vuqhkoh Qeks a@bsdsnkjks a@vf/kd`r@fuekzrkvks ls tks fd bz&izksd;ksjesuv osclkbv esa iathd`r gks fueufyf[kr dk;z@vkiwfrz gsrq eksgj cun fufonk;s a nks Hkkxks a es a fufonk [kqyus dh fnukad ds 12%00 cts rd vkeaf=r dh tkrh gsa] tks mlh fnu Øe'k% 15%00 cts Hkkx&1,oa 16%00 cts Hkkx&2 lkoztfud :i ls v/kksglrk{kjdrkz ds dk;kzy; es a vf/kd`r izfrfuf/k;ksa ds le{k] v/kksglrk{kjh@muds vf/kd`r izfrfuf/k }kjk vkuykbu [kksyh tk;sxha ;fn fufonk [kqyus dh frffk ij vodk'k im+rk gs rks fufonk vxys dk;z fnol ij fu/kkzfjr le; rd Lohdkj dh tk;sxh,oa fu/kkzfjr le; ij [kksyh tk;sxha Hkkx&1 es a fufonk izi= ewy; ¼uku fjqumsfcy½,oa /kjksgj /kujkf'k tks fd S.E.ETC, Varanasi ds [kkrk la[;k ,oa IFSC dksm BUNB csad iatkc us'kuy csad] 'kk[kk fhk[kkjhiqj] okjk.klh esa vyx&vyx RTGS/NEFT }kjk djuk gksxk] ¼fdlh vu; ek/;e ls fufonk izi= ewy;,oa /kjksgj /kujkf'k Lohdkj ugha fd;k tk;sxk½a fufonk izi=] isu dkmz] O;kikj dj] th0,l0vh0 iathdj.k,oa bude VSDl fjvuz izi=,oa leku dk;z dk vuqhko izek.k i= dh Lo;a izekf.kr Nk;kizfr,oa fufonk izi= ewy;] /kjksgj /kujkf'k tek djus dk izek.k i= tks fd csad }kjk izkir gks rfkk rduhdh fcm ;fn dksbz gks] layxu djuk vfuok;z gsa Hkkx&2 es a njs,oa okf.kt;d fu;e o 'krsza gksuh pkfg;sa ¼1½ bz&fufonk la[;k&25&bz0vh0lh0¼oh½@ 2018&19&fo qr izs"k.k [k.m&izfke okjk.klh ds vurxzr 132 ds0oh0 midsunz dsfkh ij 33 ds0oh0 xksbbgkw ^^cs** ds fuekz.k,oa 33 ds0oh0 esu,oa VªkalQj cl dh {kerk o`f) gsrq fofhkuu lkexzh dh vkiwfrza fufonk [kqyus dh frffk&20&09&2018a fufonk izi= dk ewy;&:0 2]00$36¼th0,l0Vh0@ 18%½@& /kjksgj jkf'k&:0 2]000@& ¼:0 nks gtkj ek=½ ¼2½ bz&fufonk la[;k&26& bz0vh0lh0¼oh½@2018&19& fo qr izs"k.k [k.m&izfke okjk.klh ds vurxzr 132 ds0oh0 midsunz dsuv dh {kerk o`f) gsrq LFkkfir 40,e0oh0,0 ifjorzd dks gvkdj 63,eoh, ifjorzd dks yxkus,oa vu; lecfu/kr dk;za fufonk [kqyus dh frffk&20&09&2018a fufonk izi= dk ewy;&:0 5]50$99¼th0,l0Vh0@ 18%½@& /kjksgj jkf'k&:0 5]500@& ¼:0 ikap gtkj ikap lks ek=½ ¼3½ bz&fufonk la[;k&27& bz0vh0lh0¼oh½@2018&19& fo qr izs"k.k [k.m& izfke okjk.klh ds vurxzr 220 ds0oh0 midsunz Hksywiqj] 132 ds0oh0 midsunzmh0,y0mcyw0] ds.v,oa ch0,p0;w0 ij voflfkr fofhkuu izdkj ds vfxu'keu midj.kksa dh fj&fqfyax] mlds {kfrxzlr vo;oks a dks cnyus,oa ijh{k.k dk dk;za fufonk [kqyus dh frffk&22&09&2018a fufonk izi= dk ewy;&:0 450$81 ¼th0,l0Vh0@18%½@& /kjksgj jkf'k&:0 4500@& ¼:0 pkj gtkj ikap lks ek=½ ¼4½ bz&fufonk la[;k&28&bz0vh0lh0¼oh½ entered the room of Vajpayee when he was about to start his lunch and his old time associate Lalji Tandon was with him. 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The DM also disclosed that the hijacker wanted the plane to be brought back to Lucknow where he wanted to frffk&22&09&2018a fufonk izi= dk ewy;&:0 200$36¼th0,l0Vh0@18%½@& /kjksgj jkf'k&:0 2]000@& ¼:0 nks gtkj ek=½ ¼5½ vyidkfyd bz&fufonk la[;k&29&bz0vh0lh0¼oh½@2018&19& fo qr izs"k.k [k.m&r`rh; lkgwiqjh ds vurxzr 132 ds0oh0 midsunz dtjgv dh {kerk o`f) gsrq 20,e0oh0,0 ifjorzd dks 132 ds0oh0 midsunz dsfkh ls ykdj yxkus rfkk vu; lecfu/kr dk;za fufonk [kqyus dh frffk&04&09&2018a fufonk izi= dk ewy;&:0 /kjksgj jkf'k&:0 8]500@& ¼:0 vkb gtkj ikap lks ek=½ ¼6½ bz&fufonk la[;k&30&bz0vh0lh0¼oh½@2018&19& fo qr izs"k.k [k.m&izfke okjk.klh ds vurxzr 132 ds0oh0 ds.v ij voflfkr 132 ds0oh0,0 33 ds0oh0 duvªksy isuy dh Dyhfuax] ofezu izqfqax,oa vu; lecfu/kr dk;za fufonk [kqyus dh frffk&24&09&2018a fufonk izi= dk ewy;&:0 200$36 /kjksgj jkf'k&:0 2]000@& ¼:0 nks gtkj ek=½ ¼7½ bz&fufonk la[;k&31&bz0vh0lh0 ¼oh½@2018&19& fo qr 400 ds0oh0 midsunz lkjukfk okjk.klh ij Lohp;kMZ dh ykbfvax O;oLFkk dks lqn`<+ j[kus gsrq 400 okv,oa 250 okv,p0ih0,l0oh0 ysei dh fqfvax lfgr vkiwfrza fufonk [kqyus dh frffk&24&09&2018a fufonk izi= dk ewy;&:0 200$36 & /kjksgj jkf'k&:0 2]000@& ¼:0 nks gtkj ek=½ ¼8½ vyidkfyd bz&fufonk la[;k&32&bz0vh0lh0¼oh½@2018&19& fo qr izs"k.k [k.m&izfke okjk.klh ds vurxzr 132 ds0oh0 midsunz jktk dk rkykc ij 2x5,e0oh0,0 vkj0 dsisflvj csad midj.k dh LFkkiuk,oa vu; lecfu/kr dk dk;za fufonk [kqyus dh frffk&04&09&2018a fufonk izi= dk ewy;&:0 200$36 /kjksgj jkf'k&:0 2]000@& ¼:0 nks gtkj ek=½ ¼9½ vyidkfyd bz& fufonk 2018&19& fo qr iz s"k.k [k.m&izfke okjk.klh ds vurxzr 132 ds0oh0 midsunz jktk dk rkykc ij cl ckj dh {kerk o`f) gsrq lkexzh dh vkiwfrza fufonk [kqyus dh frffk&04&09&2018a fufonk izi= dk ewy;&:0 200$36 /kjksgj jkf'k&:0 2]000@& ¼:0 nks gtkj ek=½ fufonk dk Hkkx&1 ¼fufonk izi= ewy;] /kjksgj /kujkf'k] izek.k i=,oa rduhdh fcm ewy :i es a,oa isu dkmz] O;kikj] th0,l0vh0 iathdj.k] bude VSDl fjvuz izi=,oa leku dk;z dk vuqhko izek.k i= dh Lo;a izekf.kr Nk;kifzr,oa Hkkx&2 izkblfcm ¼njs a,oa 'krs a½ fufonk [kqyus dh frffk ds 12%00 cts rd osclkbv ij viyksm dh tk ldrh gsa fufonk dk Hkkx&1 mlh fnu 15%00 cts,oa Hkkx&2 16%00 cts lkoztfud :i ls vkuykbu [kksyk tk;sxka d`i;k osclkbv ij folr`r tkudkjh] fooj.k@mkmuyksm rfkk vu; fdlh izdkj ds la'kks/ku@folrkj gsrq fufonk [kqyus dh frffk dks 12%00 cts rd ykwx vkwu djsaa v/kksglrk{kjdrkz dks fcuk dksbz dkj.k crk;s fdlh vfkok fo qr 400 ds0oh0 iz s"k.k [k.m fufonkvks a dks vlohdkj@fohkkftr djus dk lkjukfk okjk.klh ij 132 ds0oh0 vksm+hgkj vf/kdkj lqjf{kr gksxka v/kh{k.k vfhk;urk Vh0,l0,l0 ^^cs** ds fuekz.k gsrq gkmzos;j fo qr izs"k.k e.my i=kad&689 fnukad,oa fqfvaxl dk vkiwfrza fufonk [kqyus dh ^^jk"vªfgr esa fctyh cpk;sa** Vajpayee s overpowering aura meet Vajpayee. The plane was carrying 48 passengers. The ATC had started communication with the hijacker and had kept the plane in the air for over an hour. However, when the pilots informed the ATC that they were running out of fuel, the aircraft was given permission to land at Amausi airport in Lucknow and the senior officials were discussing how to ndependence Day was Icelebrated with great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour in the city. At the Commissioner s office the national flag was hoisted by the Commissioner, Anil Garg, and at the Collectorate by the District Magistrate, Kaushal Raj Sharma. The 72nd Independence Day was celebrated with gaiety and enthusiasm in RDSO. Margoob Hussain, its Director General, hoisted the flag in a colourful ceremony amidst a large gathering of officers, staff and their families in the RDSO Stadium. The RPF parade was followed by a cultural programme based on the national theme by the children of the Kendriya Vidyalaya and Manaknagar Railway Inter College, RDSO. Addressing the gathering, Margoob Hussain, DG, RDSO, highlighted several major achievements and developmental initiatives of the RDSO. The day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at e/;kapy fo qr forj.k fuxe fyfevsm bz&vsumfjax vyidkyhu fufonk lwpuk la[;k&30@ fo0fo0ea0¼v½@2018&19,rn~}kjk bz&vsumfjax fufonk ds ek/;e ls [;kfrizkir QeksZa@okgu ekfydksa ls fo qr ijh{k.k [k.m] vdcjiqj vecsmdjuxj ds vurxzr lgk;d vfhk;urk ¼ehVlZ½] fo qr ijh{k.k iz;ksx'kkyk] vdcjiqj ds iz;ksxkfkz vf/kdre rhu o"kz iqjkuh,d&,d vnn Mhty okgu ¼thiuqek½ pkyd lfgr dh 10 ekg ds fy, vkiwfrz gsrq izfrf"br,oa vuqhkoh Bsdsnkjksa ls nks Hkkxksa esa vyx&vyx bz&vsumfjax ds ek/;e ls fufonk vkeaf=r dh tkrh gsa fufonk izi= mrrj izns'k ljdkj dh osclkbv up.nic.in,oa e/;k py fo qr forj.k fuxe fyfevsm dh osclkbv ij MkmuyksM@ ns[ks tk ldrs gsaa fufonk ds izfke Hkkx es a ¼1½ th0,l0vh0 es a iathdj.k laca/kh izek.k&i= ¼2½ okgu dk iathdj.k izek.k&i= ¼3½ okgu chek izek.k&i= ¼4½ /kjksgj /kujkf'k :0 2] rfkk fufonk 'kqyd : ¼vizfrns;½ th,lvh lfgr RTGS/NEFT ds ek/;e ls v/kh{k.k vfhk;urk] fo qr forj.k e.my] vdcjiqj] vecsmdjuxj ds cs ad [kkrk la[;k& ] IFSC Code - HDFC , HDFC Bank, Shahzadpur, Akbarpur, Ambedkarnagar ds i{k es a rfkk f}rh; Hkkx es a ewy;@njs fufonknkrk }kjk m0iz0 ljdkj dh osclkbv up.nic.in ij fnukad& dks cts rd viyksm dh tk;sxha cs ad tek dh lk{; ;Fkk ;kst; ;w0vh0vkj0 la[;k is&bu&flyi ewy dh izfr ¼b';wM~l cs ad ds duqjes'ku esy dh izfr½ bz&fufonk ds izi=ks a ds lkfk vku&ykbu viyksm dh tk;sxha fufonk dk izfke Hkkx fnukad& dks 16%00 cts v/kksglrk{kjh vfkok muds ukfer izfrfuf/k }kjk MkmuyksM@[kksyk tk;sxka fufonk [kqyus dh frffk ij lkoztfud vodk'k gksus dh n'kk es fufonk vxys dk;z fnol ij [kksyh tk;sxha fufonk ds izfke Hkkx es mi;qdr ik;h x;h fufonkvks a dk gh Hkkx&nks MkmuyksM@[kksyk tk;sxka v/kksglrk{kjh dks fcuk dkj.k crk;s,d ;k lhkh fufonkvks a dks fujlr djus@fofhkuu Qeks a ds e/; fohkdr djus@=qfv lq/kkj djus dk vf/kdkj lqjf{kr gksxka v/kh{k.k vfhk;urk fo qr forj.k e.my] vecsmdjuxj] i=kad % 168 fnukad % ^^jk"vªfgr es a fctyh cpk;s a] cyc dh txg,ybzmh yxk;sa** defuse the situation. Recalling the incident, Tandon said: Atalji then said if the man who had hijacked the plane wanted to meet him he would go to the airport and meet him. The officials initially did not allow this. They argued that the hijacker could be carrying weapon and could hurt Vajpayee. So, it was decided that Vajpayee should be taken CSIR-CDRI. Director Tapas Kumar Kundu greeted all the scientists, research scholars and employees. We are born in independent India but for attaining this independence our freedom fighters and ancestors sacrificed a lot. So it s our moral duty to respect this independence, he said. Meanwhile, SKD to the ATC from where he could speak to the hijacker. Vajpayeeji boarded the car and reached the airport. He straightaway went to ATC and spoke to the hijacker, Tandon recalled. But the hijacker could not recognise Atalji s voice. Vajpayee then boarded a gypsy and went towards the plane. The official there tried to initiate communication between the Academy portrayed glorious years of India in unique style. Students of all the five branches of SKD Academy displayed their creativity on August 15 and took part in different cultural programmes on the occasion. Meanwhile, Excellia School celebrated Independence Day with gaiety hijacker and Vajpayee. But the hijacker did not respond. He wanted Atalji to enter the aircraft. With no option left, Priyadarshi gave permission to Atalji to enter the aircraft. The DM entered the plane first and when he gave signal, Vajpayee entered the aircraft along with Lalji Tandon. The hijacker touched the feet of Atalji and surrendered, Tandon said. Patriotic fervour marks I-Day celebrations (Clockwise from top) Independence Day celebrations at CDRI, Bal Vidya Mandir, SKD Academy, and Excellia School Three persons commit suicide Lucknow (PNS): Depression claimed the lives of three youths in separate incidents reported from Gudamba and Thakurganj on Thursday. A youth, identified as Alok Bajpai (28) of Jankipuram (sector-g) under Gudamba police station, hanged himself from the ceiling on Thursday morning. His father is a retired employee of Nagar Nigam. Police said Alok was depressed and he ended his life during a bout of depression. As his family members are in a state of shock, police could not talk to them. No suicide note was recovered from the room, police said. In Thakurganj, a 36- year-old Nagar Nigam sanitation worker, identified as Ashish Kumar Singh, ended his life at his house. He was found hanging from ceiling with a dupatta tied around his neck. Police spokesman said Ashish was under depression. In another incident in Thakurganj, a 36- year-old man, identified as Ram Sewak Sharma of Sangam City, hanged himself to death on Wednesday night. Report said Ram Sewak was found hanging from ceiling around on Wednesday night. His wife Neetu told the police that she, along with her children, had gone out for some work and on her return, she found Ram Sewak hanging. Police said Ram Sewak ended his life during a bout of depression. and fervor. Students gave beautiful performances in the cultural extravaganza. The programme began with the unfurling of tricolour by chairman DS Pathak. He also announced the AD Pathak memorial scholarship to Kanishka Mittal of class 7. The children also planted saplings in the school grounds. 7-year-old killed by elder bro PIONEER NEWS SERVICE n LUCKNOW 7-year-old boy, who was Areported missing on killed by his elder brother in Madiaon after their father termed him a vagabond and threatened not to give him a share in family property. The stunning revelations surfaced during the probe of the case involving Yashu Singh (7) of Faizullahganj locality of Madiaon. Yashu was reported missing on August 14 night and later his body was recovered from a water body in Yasin Ki Baghia in the locality on August 15. Police first treated the incident as a case of drowning. However, when the autopsy report ascertained that Yashu was strangled to death and then his body was thrown into the pond, the police started the probe afresh following SSP Kalanidhi Naithani s instructions. Police recovered a pair of slippers and a knife. During scanning of a CCTV footage, Yashu and his elder brother Sooraj Singh (22) were seen going towards Yasin Ki Baghia around 9:22 pm on August 14. Sooraj was later seen returning alone around 10:11 pm. This made Sooraj a suspect and he was rounded up for interrogation, ASP, trans-gomti, Harendra Singh said, adding that Sooraj owned up his crime during interrogation. As per Sooraj s confession, he felt insulted after being admonished by his father for being jobless. His father also warned Sooraj that he would not give an inch of his property to him and Yashu would get his share too. Vijendra s warning irked Sooraj to such an extent that he instantly decided to kill Yashu. Around 8:30 pm on August 14, he lured Yashu into going for an outing and took him to a chaat shop. He later took him to Yasin Ki Baghia where he smothered Yashu to death. Kids Campus International Pre-School (Gomti Nagar) celebrated Independence Day by organising a drawing and colouring competition. The students enthusiastically participated in the contest. Principal Niharika Singh and social activists Rituja Singh Baghel, Rekha Singh, Seema Sahi and Manu Singh Chauhan distributed colours, chocolates and other gifts among the kids All 18 campuses of City Montessori School celebrated Independence Day with enthusiasm. Cultural items, patriotic songs, dances, elocution, speech contests etc marked the celebrations CRIMELINE LOOT Two unidentified bikeborne miscreants looted a mobile from an intern of a news channel in Vibhuti Khand police station area on Wednesday night. As per reports, Manju Pandey of Nehru Enclave in Gomti Nagar was going to office around 11:30 pm on Wednesday when the miscreants stopped him near NTPC office. They frisked him at the gun-point and later looted his mobile phone before leaving the scene. A police spokesman said the police were scanning the CCTV forages to trace the miscreants. A case of loot has been registered, he said, adding that Pandey was a native of Varanasi. ROOF COLLAPSE Amberganj police outpost incharge Shrawan Singh and five of his colleagues had a providential escape after the roof of the outpost collapsed on Wednesday afternoon. A police spokesman said Singh, three constables and two homeguards were at the outpost when the mishap occurred. The policemen ran to safety after one of the walls collapses and thus had a narrow escape.

5 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 city/nation 05 UP marching ahead in BJP rule: Yogi U ttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that UP was marching ahead in the Bharatiya Janata Party rule in the last one and half years and this had never happened before. Addressing a gathering after unfurling the tri-colour at Vidhan Bhawan on the 72nd Independence Day, the CM said, We have done a lot in this short period but still more is required to make government schemes and project reach the last person of society. He said as UP was the highest populated state of the country, more responsibility lay on the shoulder of the government. Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi s commitment to give all people employment and house by 2022, Yogi Adityanath said UP on its part had already constructed over 12 lakh houses, including eight lakhs in the rural area alone while in the MSME sector, the state would generate 25 lakh jobs in the next five years through its One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme. he state government on TThursday ordered a magisterial probe and suspended seven employees of the government juvenile home in Allahabad after seven inmates escaped from there. State Women and Child Welfare Minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi, while ordering the magisterial probe, sent a three-member high-level official team to Allahabad to investigate the incident. Joshi also asked the Allahabad District Magistrate to take stern action against the security personnel deployed at the juvenile home. The CM said that in the past five months, UP had achieved a big milestone by attracting investments of over `60,000 crore which would provide additional two lakh jobs in the state. The CM also mentioned about the benefit of the skill development programme which was helping youths in getting jobs of their like. Yogi also thanked 83,000 people of the state for surrendering government houses for the poor and claimed that the state had topped in construction of toilets under Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. The CM said the Independence Day should not be seen as individual or political independence but independence of the entire population, particularly those standing at the last line of development. Yogi pointed out that UP was the front-runner in the Independence movement and asked youths of the state to take inspiration from the freedom fighters to serve the nation. In the presence of several state ministers and senior officials, the CM awarded Mukhyamantri Utkrisht Seva Inmates escape from Alld juvenile home Magisterial probe ordered Meanwhile, seven employees of the juvenile home were suspended after being prima facie held guilty. The suspended employees include two police constables, two home guards, a caretaker and two class four employees. A FIR has also been lodged with the Khuldabad police station in Allahabad in this connection. Joshi said the probe team had been asked to check the CCTV footage and get details of the incident. She has also ordered transfer of the juvenile home superintendent and district probation officer and initiated departmental proceedings against them. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath salutes to the national flag at on Independence Day in Lucknow on Wednesday Police Medals to six police personnel of the state. The police personnel awarded the medal included ADG (Meerut zone) Prashant Kumar, DIG (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar, SSP (STF) Abhishek Singh, Inspector from Bizman found injured in mysterious conditions businessman was found Ainjured under mysterious circumstances at his office opposite Saharaganj shopping mall in Hazratganj on Thursday afternoon. Police said the businessman attempted suicide by slitting his throat as he was under depression due to business losses. As per reports, Alok Sikarwar of Rajendra Nagar in Naka deals in stationery items and photocopy machines and has his office situated on the fourth floor of Sapna Complex opposite Saharaganj. Around 3 pm, some of his employees found him injured in his chamber and alerted the police. When the cops reached the scene, Alok was found lying on the ground with blood oozing out from his throat. He was rushed to the KGMU Trauma Centre where doctors stitched his wounds. security guard was found Adead in the house of a retired Jal Nigam official under Gazipur police station on Thursday. His semi-clad body was recovered from a room in the house. As per reports, the deceased, identified as Brijesh Kumar Shukla (60) of Sitapur, worked with a security agency located in Vibhuti Khand. Shukla was hired by OP Srivastava, who retired as a Jal Nigam official and lives in Indira Nagar (sector B) under Ghazipur police station. Investigation officer Kamlesh Kumar Raid said Srivastava had gone to meet his son in New Zealand leaving Brijesh and his son Ram Babu Shukla in the house. On Wednesday, Ram Babu left for his native house in Sitapur leaving Brijesh all alone. On Thursday, security agency supervisor Anubhav Asthana informed Ram Babu that Shukla was lying in an Giving details, Saharaganj police outpost incharge Rahul Sonkar said Sikarwar was under depression due to losses in business. He had asked his employee to look for job elsewhere as he would start winding up his business from August 31, Sonkar said. He said that the family told police that Sikarwar had been facing trouble for the last two years and could not boost his business despite investing huge sum. Sonkar said Sikarwar locked the doors from inside after he sent the employees for different works. However, some of the employees stayed in the reception to make preparations before leaving for their assignments. Meanwhile, Sikarwar shrieked in pain and the employees tried to open the doors, but found it bolted from inside. They later called his wife Nirupama Bhatnagar and also informed the police Agra Ms Alka Thakur, constable from Kushinagar Ajay Kumar Singh and constable from Lucknow Sudeep Kumar Katiyar. Moreover, the release of 72 prisoners lodged in various jails of the state was also announced. he state government removed the TSuperintendent of Police of Deoria in compliance with the directive of the Allahabad High Court and attached him with the DGP office. The government also shifted Basti Range DIG Rakesh Shanker, who was the SP of Deoria before being posted to Basti. The government had already removed the District Magistrate of Deoria and charge-sheeted him after controversy broke out at a girls and children s shelter home this month but had spared the district police chief. After the High Court direction to act against the police, the state government on Wednesday shifted Deoria SP Rohan P Kanay and attached him with the DGP office. Pioneer Meanwhile, Governor Ram Naik hoisted the national flag at the Raj Bhawan in Lucknow, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya at BJP state headquarters and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav at his party s state office. Deoria district police chief transferred after which I immediately reached the spot. The doors of the chamber were opened in presence of Sikarwar s wife and he was found lying in a pool of blood, Sonkar explained. He added that a blood-stained sharp-edged weapon was recovered from the scene. A police spokesman said Sikarwar s wife was an administrative officer in the Income Tax department while the couple have two sons Vikrant and Prakhar who are students. Sikarwar was discharged from the Trauma Centre on the request of his family members. As the news spread, a huge number of employees working there flocked to the scene. Hazratganj circle officer Abhay Kumar Mishra also reached the place to oversee the investigations. Ruling out the possibility of foul play, the CO said: It looks to be a case of suicide attempt. Security guard found dead unconscious state in the house, the IO said. Ram Babu told the police that Shukla was a alcoholic and ganja addict. His body was found covered by a bedsheet while he was wearing only a vest, he added. Rai said the police could not contact Srivastava as yet. One of his sons is an army officer while another is employed in New Zealand. They have been informed about the incident, the IO said. He added that Shukla might have died of liquor overdose. Doctors have ruled out the possibility of foul play, he explained. 7 YOUTHS HELD FOR ATTACKING CONSTABLE Seven boisterous youths were arrested for attacking a constable and attempting to loot his service weapon in Aliganj on Wednesday night. As per reports, the constable, identified as Qadir Ali, posted in Aliganj, told the police that he was on duty when he got a call about a brawl between two groups near a restaurant at Kapoorthala crossing. I went there, tried to stop the warring groups and also passed on the message on wireless. Deepak Pandey of Bada Chandganj and his aides confronted me and attempted to snatch my service weapon. However, as police force reached the spot, they fled the scene. When I was chasing them, one of the two hit me with a wooden plank, he alleged. On the complaint of the constable, the police registered a case against the accused and nabbed them, a spokesman said. He added that those arrested were identified as Deepak Pandey, Rahul Singh, Ankit Srivastava, Vikas Yadav, Vipul Singh, Ankit Prajapati and Manjeet Kumar (all of Aliganj). Basti Range DIG Rakesh Shanker was also shifted. A report said that the government had also ordered a departmental probe against the two IPS officers. On Friday, the High Court had given 48 hours time to the state government to act against the police officers in the Deoria shelter home incident. The state government ordered transfers of five IPS officers, posting SP of Mahoba, N Kolanchi, as the new district police chief of Deoria. DIG, Anti-Corruption Organisation, Lucknow, Ashutosh Kumar, has been made Basti range DIG, replacing Rakesh Shanker, who has been attached with the DGP office. SP, ATS at Lucknow, Kunwar Anupam Singh, has been posted as the new SP of Mahoba. Two priests murdered Treason case against 3 madarsa teachers case of treason has been Aregistered against three teachers of a madarsa in Maharajganj district after a video clip, which purportedly showed them stopping children from singing the national anthem during the Independence Day function, went viral. The local police later claimed to have arrested one of these teachers on Thursday. The video clip of Maulana Zubaid Ansari of Madarsa Arbia Ahle Sunnat stopping ven when the cops were on Ehigh alert in the wake of Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday, unidentified assailants brutally killed two priests of a temple and critically injured one other in Auraiya while in Sant Kabir Nagar, three youths belonging to the minority community were found dead under mysterious circumstances. Both the incidents took place on Independence Day eve and the cops are groping in the dark for clues. At both the places, the local residents staged violent protests to register their ire against the local police. The state government also acted tough in the Auraiya case by suspending the local station house officer and a constable. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the cops to work out the case or be ready to face the music. Reports from tensiongripped Auraiya said two priests of a temple in Vidhuna area were brutally hacked to death after being tied to their cots while their colleague was found critically injured early Wednesday morning. The deceased were identified as Lajja Ram (65) and Halke Ram (50). Both were staying in the Bhayanaknath temple under Kundarkot police outpost of Vidhuna police station. The third priest, Ram Sharan (55), admitted to the PGI at Saifai, is still battling for his life. The news of the murder of the two priests spread like a wildfire and hundreds of Hindu activists gathered at the spot, alleging that some criminals involved in cow-slaughter had orchestrated the killing. They said that as the priests had tipped-off the local police about the gang involved in cow-slaughter last weekend and four persons, including a police constable, was detained in the matter, both were killed to settle score. The protesters went on the rampage. They torched several establishments and damaging vehicles after indulging in heavy stone pelting. The situation could be brought under control after a heavy police force reached the spot and senior officers announced suspension of the local cops. Reports also confirmed that to control the situation, the police used force and fired several rounds in the air and also fired rubber bullets to disperse the mob. Shocked by the murder of the two priests, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over their deaths and announced ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased. The Chief Minister said in a statement here on Wednesday that the Director General of Police had been directed to arrest the assailants within the next 48 hours. He also announced Rs 1 lakh aid for the injured priest. The Chief Minister said the government would not tolerate such criminal acts. In Sant Kabir Nagar, the bodies of three youths were found lying in the bushes near the railway tracks on Mokhlispur road under Kalilabad Kotwali area on Wednesday morning. The bodies of all the three victims bore injury marks caused by some blunt object on the head and limbs. It appeared NDA was stronger because of Atal TN RAGHUNATHA n MUMBAI escribing A B Vajpayee s death as Da major setback for the Parliamentary democracy in the country, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said here on Thursday that Vajpayee s attitude of taking everyone along helped the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) remain strong all the latter s tenure as the Prime Minister. Mourning the passing away of Vajpayee, Uddhav said: He had risen above negative qualities like ego, conceit and power-triggered stubbornness. He was simple and innocent Uddhav Thackeray politician. Being a Prime Minister of the fill the vacuum created by Vajpayee s country for three times, Vajpayee took death. Describing Vajpayee as one of all the smaller and bigger parties along the greatest Parliamentarians of India, when he ran the Government. NCP president Sharad Pawar said that Uddhav, whose late father Bal the passing away of the former Prime Thackeray had a close rapport with A Minister was a personal loss to him. B Vajpayee, said: I had the opportunity to meet Vajpayee on several occa- personal loss, having spent numerous His (Vajpayee s) passing away is a sions. He would treat me like a son. His years in our parliamentary life together, and an irreparable loss to our coun- close friendship with my late father is known to one and all. He would talk to try. I pray eternal peace for his departed soul, Pawar said. my father on varied subjects. Because of his attitude to take every one, the With the sad demise of NDA remained strong. The passing Bharatratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, we away of Vajpayee is a major setback to have lost a great soul, an eloquent poet, the Parliamentary democracy in the orator par excellence, an excellent country. After the death of my father, human being and one of the greatest we have lost another Bhishma of Indian Parliamentarians of India, the NCP politics, Uddhav said. chief said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Averring that he did not believe Devendra Fadnavis said that Vajpayee s Vajpayee was no more, Uddhav said: death was a personal loss to him. I cannot believe that Vajpayee is no One of the greatest leaders ever Atalji more. He remains in our hearts and is no more! It was Shraddheya Atal ji, will continue to do so... On behalf of whose footsteps are followed by many the Shiv Sena parivar, I bow before this like me. He is an inspiration to millions towering leader and pay my sincere & encouraged and taught us how we homage to him. No one will be able to can serve the last man with the weapon xpressing condolences Eover the demise of the ideologically Opposite former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Left parties on Thursday said he was a true believer of multi-party democracy and valued observations of Opposition parties. Left leaders, who were otherwise strong critics of the former Prime Minister s ideology, said Vajpayee always kept open the lines of consultation when he was in Government and reached out to Opposition parties before taking important decisions. When the US invaded Iraq and asked India to be a part of the coalition forces, Vajpayee had called Left leaders CPI leader A B Bardhan and CPI(M) leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet at an all-party meeting to discuss the matter. Left leaders had raised objection to India supporting the US. Vajpayee told the Left leaders that jao bahar jake jor se bolo, meaning they should raise their voice against the US on streets. Next day. Parliament passed a resolution stating India will not be part of the coalition forces, said CPI leader D Raja. CPI(M) said the very fact that such an important issue was brought to Parliament, displayed that Vajpayee valued the observations of Opposition parties. There are other instances where he displayed character which is very different from today s Government. That is - ideologically or politically there can be issues of confrontations, but when it comes to personal rapport with other leaders or parties there was difference that we don t see today. That is why he was acceptable to a large section of people. Whatever face he had he had good relations with all parties, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said. of democracy. Shat Shat Naman! I have many fond memories right from childhood to recent visit to his residence in New Delhi.. My first interaction of life with Shraddhey Atal ji with Late Pramod ji meetings and conventions his continuous guidance thereafter for decades, Fadnavis tweeted. Atalji was a loving leader for one and all and was determined to make our Nation strong. He devoted his entire life by all means, for BharatMata. It is always a pleasure to listen to him, be it in the Parliament or in the public meetings, Fadnavis tweeted. We are in deep pain by the demise of the Former and one of the best Prime Ministers of India, an ocean of knowledge, an excellent orator, a great humanitarian and everyone s idol, the chief minister added. Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Ashok Chavan said that in Vajpayee s death, India had lost a leader who was an epitome of high moral values in public life. Chavan said that Vajpayee during his 50 years of public life and three tenures as the prime minister was a tall leader who was widely respected across the party lines. He immensely contributed towards transformation of our country, as a Member of Parliament, as Leader of Opposition, as Union Minister and as Prime Minister. Apart from being a great orator in Parliament, he was also a great and sensitive poet, the Congress leader said My late father and former Union Home Minister Shankarao Chavan was close to Vajpayeeji. His sad demise is an irreparable loss to the Nation, Chavan said. Vajpayee was believer of multi-party democracy: Left Though the Left parties used to call Vajpayee a mask of the RSS, hiding his party s links with Hindu groups, they, however, agreed that he openly disagreed with his party s line on several issues. Vajpayee s trusted lieutenant L K Advani and most BJP politicians supported the demolition of Babri Masjid but Vajpayee condemned the attack unequivocally, Raja said. Noting that the former Prime Minister had taken political positions according to the BJP-RSS agenda, the two Left leaders said he never showed the aggressive politics of the BJP present today. children from singing the national anthem during the Independence Day function after unfurling of the national flag, went viral in the district on Wednesday. District Magistrate Amarnath Upadhyaya ordered an inquiry by district minorities officer Prabhat Kumar and a report was lodged against three teachers under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including treason. One of the teachers had been arrested and a hunt was on to nab the remaining two, police said. that they were murdered somewhere else and their bodies were dumped at the spot. The local police tried to hush up the case, saying it appeared to be a case of mishap. Reports said the situation worsened when the identities of the victims were established. The locals gathered at the spot kept the bodies on road and staged a massive protest. The mob also went on the rampage and damaged public property. The situation was brought under control by district police chief Shailesh Pandey who pacified the protesters, saying that a murder case would be registered and the accused would be arrested. The victims were identified as Ubaidullah Khan (22), Shanu (17) and Barkat Ali (17), all residents of Pathan Tola area of Khalilabad. Meanwhile, four children drowned in a pond filled with rain water in Barhi village of Pilibhit district. Manoj (12), Ajay (12), Jeetu (10) and Pradip (8) drowned in the pond on Wednesday, police said. Senior police and administrative officials reached the spot and the bodies were fished out. Additional District Magistrate Brij Kishore said that all help, as per norms, would be extended to the bereaved families. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A TITAN S JOURNEY... Senior BJP leader LK Advani, who along with Vajpayee expanded the party s base in 1990s, also visited the former PM. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasudhara Raje and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh paid visit to Vajpayee s ward in the institute. A number of other Chief Ministers, including Madhya Pradesh s Shivraj Singh Chouhan, West Bengal s Mamata Banerjee, Bihar s Nitish Kumar and Assam s Sarbananda Sonowal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar were on way to see the ailing former Prime Minister. Nobel prize winner and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi was also seen visiting Vajpayee. A large crowd of mediapersons and others gathered outside the hospital to get updates on Vajpayee s heath, affecting movement of traffic on the road since Thursday afternoon. Policemen were deployed to manage the crowd and traffic inside and outside the hospital. Long after Vajpayee is gone, those lines, his gestures, his articulation, his one-liners will remain etched in the mind of the nation, which knows that no one ever replace Atal ji. PALL OF GLOOM... Vajpayee s life. Vajpayee s fondness of sweets is well-known. He had a weakness for pedas from a shop in Chowk. Anyone who went from Lucknow to Delhi to meet Vajpayee used to take a package of pedas from the shop, said Dilip, a worker in the shop. BJP general secretary Sunil Bansal recalled that Vajpayee would never forget to mention national interest in whatever organisational activity was taking place. He was nationalist to the core and the interest of India was always uppermost in whatever he spoke or did. Asif Rizvi, whose father Aizaz Rizvi was a minister in a former BJP government in the state, and an associate of Vajpayee, said he and many others like him felt sad that Atal would never come again. In BJP office, people spoke in hushed tone about Vajpayee s contribution in taking the party to new heights. From just two members in Lok Sabha to a whooping majority in the lower House shows the commitment and political acumen of this man. We have lost a fatherly figure, said BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak. ATAL S MORTAL... At 9 am tomorrow (Friday) his mortal remains will be taken to BJP headquarters and at 1 pm his last journey will begin. Funeral will be held at 4 pm at Smriti Sthal, said BJP President Amit Shah, while talking to media from Vajpayee s home.

6 06 the pioneer LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, Jujhne ka mera irada na tha, mod par milenge iska vaada na tha, Raasta rok kar khadi ho gyi, yun lga zindagi se badi ho gyi. Maut ki umar kya hai? Do pal bhi nhi, Zindagi silsila, aaj kal ki nhi Mai ji bhar jiya, Mai man se maru, lautkar aunga, kooch se kyu daru? Gun can solve no problem; brotherhood can. Issues can be resolved if we move forward guided by the three principles of Insaaniyat (humanism), Jamhooriyat (democracy) and Kashmiriyat (Kashmir s age old legacy of amity) Persecution on account of one s beliefs and insistence that all must accept a particular point of view is unknown to our ethos BIRTH: DECEMBER 25, 1924 Vajpayee was born in Gwalior and did his schooling from the Saraswati Shishu Mandir. He graduated with distinction in Hindi, English and Sanskrit from Gwalior s Victoria College. He completed his postgraduation with an MA in Political Science from DAV College, Kanpur. 1942: TRYST WITH POLITICS In August 1942: Vajpayee and his elder brother were arrested for participating in the Quit India Movement. This incident is known to be his first encounter with politics. 1951: FOLLOWING SYAMA PRASAD MOOKERJEE In 1951, he was seconded by the RSS, along with Deendayal Upadhyaya, to work for the newly formed Bharatiya Jana Sangh, a Hindu right-wing political party associated with the RSS. He was appointed the national secretary of BJS in Delhi and became a follower of party leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee. 1953: MOOKERJEE S DEATH In 1953, Vajpayee accompanied Mookerjee when the latter went on a fast-unto-death in Kashmir to protest against inferior treatment of non- Kashmiri visitors to the Valley. Mookerjee passed away in prison during this strike. 1957: NEHRU PREDICTS VAJPAYEE S FUTURE AS INDIA S PM Having contested the Lok Sabha polls on three seats, Vajpayee lost to Raja Mahendra Pratap in Mathura, and also in Lucknow. But he was elected to the Lok Sabha from UP s Balrampur. Vajpayee took oath as a Member of Parliament that year and impressed Jawaharlal Nehru with his excellent oratory skills. Nehru predicted that Vajpayee would someday become India s PM. 1968: BUILDING THE JANA SANGH Vajpayee was made the national president of the Jana Sangh in 1968 after the death of Deendayal Upadhyaya. In the years that followed, he worked with Lal Krishna Advani, Nanaji Deshmukh and Balraj Madhok to make Jana Sangh s presence prominent in Indian politics. 1973: THE FAMOUS BULLOCK CART ENTRY Atal Bihari Vajpayee arrived at Parliament House in a bullock cart to protest against the increase in petrol and kerosene prices on November 12, : THE DIFFICULT EMERGENCY YEARS Vajpayee spent months in prison when Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in June When the Janata Party took office in 1977, dethroning the Congress for the first time, he became the Minister of External Affairs in Prime Minister Morarji Desai s government. As foreign minister, Vajpayee that year became the first person to deliver speech at the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi. 1980: BIRTH OF THE BJP Vajpayee, along with Lal Krishna Advani and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat founded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1980 and was appointed its first president : THE DOWNFALL OF BJP AND VAJPAYEE In the 1984 elections, following the assassination of the then PM Indira Gandhi, BJP won only two seats in the 545-member Lok Sabha. This defeat hit Vajpayee particularly hard; he himself lost the polls from his birthplace Gwalior. He worked tirelessly to build the party and in the next parliamentary elections, in 1989, the BJP won 88 seats. 1991: BJP S EMERGENCE AS MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY By 1991, the BJP had emerged as the principal Opposition party, having won 120 seats in the 1991 parliamentary elections. 1992, 1994: A SHINING LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS Atal Bihari Vajpayee was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to the country in That year, when Hindu mobs razed the Babri mosque, his was a lone voice among Hindu nationalists that didn t sound happy. He called the incident the worst miscalculation. In 1994, he was awarded as the best Parliamentarian. 1996: THE FIRST PRIME MINISTERSHIP Vajpayee s first stint as the prime minister in 1996 lasted only 13 days, from May 16 to 28. In his reply to Parliament during the no-confidence motion, Vajpayee said, Political parties will come and go, but India s democracy must live on. 1998: REALISING THE NUCLEAR DREAM, AND THE DELHI-LAHORE BUS SERVICE On May 11, 1998, the world was caught unawares when India did its first official nuclear tests in Rajasthan s Pokhran. The underground tests not only demonstrated the country s scientific capacity but also reflected the courage of Vajpayee s leadership. In the same year, he launched the Sada-e-Sarhad, a bus service between New Delhi in India and Lahore in Pakistan, and symbolic of peace initiatives that he wanted to pursue with the neighbouring country. The service was, however, suspended after the 2001 terror attack on the Indian parliament that nearly led to war between India and Pakistan. HIS SECOND TERM AS PM RAN FOR 13 MONTHS, FROM MARCH 19, : THE KARGIL WAR, AND THIRD TERM AS PM The Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in power at the Centre during the time the Kargil War was fought. India s victory bolstered Vajpayee s image, and he was praised for supporting the armed forces and clearly articulating India s stand at the world stage. After the war, he was elected the prime minister for a third time. This term would make Vajpayee India s first non-congress Prime Minister to last a full five-year term. 2005: VAJPAYEE HANGS UP HIS BOOTS When he failed to return to power after the 2004 general elections, though he was given to believe he would, it practically marked the end of his long and eventful political career. A year later, he left active politics. IN 2015, VAJPAYEE WAS CONFERRED THE BHARAT RATNA DEEPAK K UPRETI n NEW DELHI It was a friendship that had blossomed when the chips were down and remained intact when the party ascended to power and witnessed achchhe din at Raisina Hills. The two-some-winsome Vajpayee-Advani partnership of seven decades snapped on Thursday when the former, three years senior to Advani, breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Adavni, 90, had no reason not to feel lonesome as Vajpayee finally stepped out and said adieu to the world that had substantially changed. I am at a loss of words to express my deep grief and sadness today as we all mourn the passing away of one of India s tallest statesmen, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. To me, Atalji was more than a senior colleague-in fact he was my closest friend for over 65 years, said the BJP veteran who was appointed Deputy Prime Minster, besides union Home Minister, by Vajpayee in I cherish the memories of my long association with him, right from our days as Pracharaks of the RSS, to the STAFF REPORTER n NEW DELHI ith the formal announce- of the demise of Wment former Prime Minister and BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) has started to prepare for the last rites of the leader to be held around 4 pm at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, Vijay Ghat in the national Capital. As per directions from the Ministry of Defence, NMC has started making arrangements for last rites near Vijay inception of Bharatiya Jana Singh, the struggle of the dark months during the Emergency leading to the Delhi civic body begins preparation for last rites Chaats, kebabs and prawns, gastronome Vajpayee loved a good platter Such was Atal Bihari Vajpayee s love for food that it once took a wily plan by his aides to deploy Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit to draw him away from gulab jamun at an official lunch. As Vajpayee breathed his last today, close aides and journalists recalled his fondness for gastronomical delights particularly sweets and sea food, his favourite being a platter of prawns. Senior journalist Rasheed Kidwai remembered how while attending an official lunch, Vajpayee, was headed for food counter even though he was on a strict diet. Anxious aides then struck on a plan. They immediately introduced him to Dixit who was in attendance, and soon the film buff in Vajpayee took over as two went on to talk about movies. Ghat. Further, proper sanitation would also be maintained en-route, a release issued by the corporation said. In a medical bulletin released by All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) it stated, It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 5:05pm today. Vajpayee was admitted in AIIMS on June 11 and was stable in the last 9 weeks under the care of a team of AIIMS doctors. Kyon na main kshan-kshan ko jioon? Kan-kan mein bikhare saundarya ko pioon? Ram Nath Kovind, PVice-President Venkaiah Naidu besides their predecessors Pranab Mukherjee and Hamid Ansari on Thursday expressed their condolences on the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Extremely sad to hear of the passing away of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, our former Prime Minister and a true Indian statesman. His leadership, foresight, maturity and eloquence put him in a league of his own. Atalji, the Gentle Giant, will be missed by one and all, he tweeted. In his condolence message, Naidu said Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a friendly and lovable Prime Minister. Naidu described Atalji as a colossal formation of Janata Party and later the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, said Advani in his condolence message. Atalji will be remembered as the pioneer of the first ever stable non-congress coalition government at the Centre and I had the privilege of working as his deputy for six years. As my senior, he always encouraged and guided me in every possible manner, he said. His captivating leadership qualities, mesmerising oratory, soaring patriotism and above all, his sterling humane qualities like compassion, humility and his remarkable ability to win over adversories despite ideological differences have all had a profound effect on me in all my years in public life, he said adding I will miss Atalji immensely, Advani said. Gwalior: Long before Atal Bihari Vajpayee became Prime Minister, he used to visit the homes of his childhood friends riding a bicycle, much to the surprise of many here in Madhya Pradesh, his niece Kanti Mishra said. Kanti said Vajpayee was humble in his conduct despite becoming a towering personality in the Indian politics. Years ago, Atalji used to take my son Nitin Mishra s cycle and often visited his childhood friend Deepak, a Kashmiri, to far off Murar area, Kanti said. He used to cycle down to the homes of other childhood friends in the city also, she said. The 75-year-old lives next political leader as welll as a stateman. He is an inspiration to millions of Indians, he said. As the Prime Minister, Vajpayee had brought in an era of development of technology and progress in the country, Naidu observed. He said in his passing away, India has lost a multifaceted Ratna. The Vice President said, Vajpayee s life was an open book and guide for aspiring young politicians. Describing him as a visionary thinker, writer, poet and philosopher, he said, the former Prime Minister s 70 years of public life and parliamentary contributions are now part of India s history. ATAL'S DEPARTURE LEAVES ADVANI LONELIEST Advani had differed with Vajpyee on the resignation of the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and backed the latter. door to the former PM s house in Kamal Singh Ka Bagh area, which plunged into grief after the news of Vajpayee s death came. On hearing about his humble gesture, BJP patriarch Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia once told my Chachaji that if he (Vajpayee) just informs her about his movements in Gwalior, she can send a chauffeur-driven car for him to go around, said Kanti Mishra, taking a trip down the memory lane. He was a jewel in the crown of India, she said, adding he was the last man of his generation in their family tree. Chachaji had three brothers, including my father Sada Bihari Vajpayee and as many Kovind s predecessor Pranab Mukherjee also expressed his deepest condolences on the death of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. No doubt that the country will be poorer in the loss of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was like a colossus for almost six decades. I pay my deepest regards for this great son of India, Mukherjee said. Though he was suffering for a long time I did not believe that the end will come. Fate snatched him away from us. He carried conviction with everybody, Mukherjee added.. Calling Vajpayee a reasoned critique and a democrat, Mukherjee said in Twitter that India has lost a great son. Deeply saddened at the passing away of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. A reasoned critique in opposition and a seeker of consensus as PM, Atal Ji was a democrat to the core. In his passing away, India has lost a great son and an era has come to an end. My deepest condolences, he wrote. Expressing his condolences, former Vice-President of India Mohd Hamid Ansari said that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an eminent statesman known for his wisdom moderation intact. His way of communication was unique & made him extremely popular. This kind of a person comes once in a blue moon. He will be remembered for a long time, Ansari said. Vajpayee favoured Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi s resignation after the 2002 post-godhra riots but his then deputy Advani was against such a move. In his memoir My Country My Life, Advani for the first time admitted that he had differences with Vajpayee o n When Vajpayee rode cycle to meet his childhood friends in Gwalior Kovind, Pranab expresses grief sisters all of them are no more, she said. I don t have words to express the grief of our family. Chachaji was too fond of me, she added. Kanti said she visited the BJP stalwart four years ago in New Delhi. I had visited him four years ago. It was painful to see him lying on the bed. Before this, I had always seen him happy and full of life, she recalls. My husband OP Mishra rushed to Delhi this afternoon after getting to know that Chachaji was critical, she said. Kanti said Vajpayee last came to Gwalior, his native town, around 12 years ago. PTI Tu dabe paun, chori chipe se na aa, Saamne se waar kar phir mujhe aazma, Maut se bekhabar, Zindagi ka safar, sham har surmai, raat bansi ka swar Baat aise nhi ki koi gam hi nhi, dard apne-paraye kuch kam bhi nhi Pyaar itna paraiyon se mujhko mila, Na apon se se baki hai koi gila Modi s resignation as he felt that the Gujarat Chief Minister was unfairly targetted. The differences, however, never spoiled the mutual trust and respect for each other. It is often said that in politics there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemy. Vajpayee-Advani sought set to change the maxim through the decades. Education, in the truest self of the term, is a process of self-discovery. It is the art of selfsculpture. It trains the individual not so much in specific skills or in specific branch of knowledge, but in the flowering of his or her latent intellectual, artistic and humanist capacities. The test of education is whether it imparts an urge for learning and learnability, not this or that particular set of information ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE A song that ex-pm requested Bhupen Hazarika to sing! Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a connoisseur of poetry and music, was a great fan of Bhupen Hazarika and once requested the iconic singer-composer to sing a famous Assamese song when he was performing in the national Capital. Hazarika was on the stage at the Ramlila ground in the late 90s when he received a small chit with Vajpayee s name written beneath it. Kamal Kataki, Hazarika s long-time associate who played the guitar at that concert, recalls that they were about to pack up when a man came with a small piece of paper. On it was written Bhupenda s popular song Moi eti jajabor ( I am a wanderer ) and beneath it was Atalji s name, he recounts. On Atalji s request, Bhupenda sang the song. Later on when we met him, he said that he was sitting in the front row waiting to hear that number, Kataki told PTI. Woh gana sunne ke liye tadap raha tha isliye ye request bheja (I was dying to hear that song, so I sent the request), he quoted Vajpayee as having told the singer. PTI Do din mile uphar mein Ghaaton ke vyaapar mein Kshan-kshan ka hisaab loon, Yaa nidhi shesh lutaoon mein? Raah kaun si jaaon main? Toote hue sapnon ki kaun sune siski, Antar ki cheer vyatha palakon par thithki Haar nahi maanoonga, Raar nahi thanunga Kaal ke kapaal pe likhta mitata hoon, Geet naya gaata hoon, geet naya gaata hoon

7 07 the pioneer LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, BY PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI In times of turbulence and disruption, a nation is blessed to have a leader who rises to become its moral compass and guiding spirit, providing vision, cohesion and direction to his people. And, in such a moment at the turn of the century, India found one in Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was gifted in spirit, heart and mind. For those of us who knew him, he was, first, the rarest of human beings, who touched and inspired everyone he met. He was compassionate to the core, generous in spirit, warm beyond measure and kind to a fault. He was deeply respectful of others and gifted with a rare sense of humour that he often turned upon himself. Orator without parallel, he could switch from disarming humour to a lofty vision with ease, with a rare ability to connect with people naturally, to stir them to self-belief and to a higher cause. Sharply perceptive, he could summarise the most complex issues and discussions in a single sentence or question. Born into a family of modest means and high ideals, he hailed from a small town in Madhya Pradesh. His youth was defined by academic excellence and quest for public service during the gathering momentum of freedom struggle. Starting as an ordinary Karyakarta in the Jana Sangh, he organised the only truly national-level party to be formed in independent India - the BJP - and helmed its organisation work after the passing away of Shri Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Through the four decades of leadership in Parliament, the struggle against Emergency (who can forget that memorable rally in Delhi s Ramlila Maidan when his speech became the roar of the nation), the clarity to represent his party with passion but always speak for the nation, he defined the spirit of democracy in India. Firm in his political beliefs, but always accommodating and respectful of other points of view, he set the standards of debate in Parliament. In his simplicity and integrity, in his dignity and empathy, and a sense of personal non-attachment to the office, he became an inspiration for a nation of youth. He rescued the economy from morass of mid-1990s, when political instability at home and an uncertain global environment had threatened to derail a still incipient economic reforms process. He sowed the seeds of much of economic success that we have experienced over the past two decades. For him, growth was a means to empower the weakest and mainstream the marginalised. It s that vision that continues to drive our Government s policy. It was Atalji who prepared the foundations of an India that is ready to take on the mantle of global leadership in the 21st century. The futuristic economic policies and reforms of his Government ensured prosperity for several Indians. His thrust on next-generation infrastructure particularly roads and telecom contributed to our country s economic as well as social empowerment. Atalji irreversibly changed India s place in the world. He overcame the hesitation of our nation, the resistance of the world and threat of isolation to make India a nuclear weapons power. It was not a decision he took lightly, but one he knew was of paramount importance in the face of mounting challenges to India s security. No longer would India s security be vulnerable. At that moment of surge in national pride, his was a voice of restraint and responsibility. And, the world listened to the wisdom of the man of peace. Equally important, he then brought to bear his extraordi- A LEADER FOR AGES AHEAD OF HIS TIMES nary understanding of world affairs and formidable diplomatic skills to gain global acceptance of new realities. Indeed, it is the combination of his legacies of creating strategic capabilities, promoting stronger economic growth, undertaking multi-directional diplomacy and harnessing of diaspora energies that is today the basis for the respect we command across the world. He transformed five decades of estrangement with USA into an enduring strategic partnership in the course of five years. He also steered India to deep friendship with a new post-soviet Russia through a strategic partnership in I had the privilege of accompanying him on a visit to Russia in November 2001 when we concluded a sister province agreement between Gujarat and Astrakhan. With China, he made the boldest move for peace in an effort to overcome the burdens of a difficult past by establishing the mechanism of Special Representatives for boundary talks. Atalji s conviction that these two ancient civilisations which are rising powers can work together to shape the global future continues to guide my thinking. A person of grassroots, our neighbours was his priority. In many ways, he was the inspiration for, and even pioneer of, our Neighbourhood First policy. He was unwavering in his support as an Opposition leader towards Bangladesh s liberation. He went to Lahore in search of peace. With persistence and optimism that was his nature, he continued to search for peace and heal the wounds in Jammu and Kashmir. But, he was resolute in winning the Kargil War. And, when our Parliament was struck, he made the world recognise the true nature and source of cross-border terrorism against India. Personally, Atalji was an ideal, a Guru, and role model who inspired me deeply. It was he who entrusted me with responsibilities both in Gujarat as well as at the national level. It was he who called me one evening in October 2001, and told me to go to Gujarat as the Chief Minister. When I told him that I had always worked in the organisation, he said he was confident I would fulfill the people s expectations. The faith he had in me was humbling. Today, we are a self-assured nation, brimming with the energy of our youth and resolve of our people, eager for change and confident of achieving it, striving for clean and responsive governance, building future of inclusion and opportunity for all Indians. We engage the world as equals and in peace, and we speak for principles and support the aspirations of others. We are on the path that Atalji wanted us to take. He was ahead of the times, because he had a deep sense of history, and he could peer into the soul of India from his grasp of our civilisational ethos. A life is to be judged not just by the extent of grief that follows when its light goes out. It is also to be measured by the lasting impact on the lives of people and the course of time. CONDOLENCES Led by Prime Minister, the entire ruling party and its allies paid tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee calling his death as the end of an era. Saddened by the demise of Atalji, unquestionably one of the tallest leaders of India. His contribution to India and India s democracy will be always remembered. His vision, oration, poetry, blended with his national commitment earned him respect from both friends and opponents SENIOR BJP LEADER AND UNION MINISTER ARUN JAITLEY In Atalji s demise the nation has lost a stalwart who was known for statesmanship and astute leadership. Atalji was a true Ajatshatru (man with no enemies) who had many friends across the political spectrum. He believed in political consensus and his beliefs had consequential effect on Indian politics UNION HOME MINISTER RAJNATH SINGH Atal ji was like a star in the sky of politics, which shone brighter than everyone else. He had the unique ability to bring everyone together. Even if you ask the opposition they hold a sense of respect for him LOK SABHA SPEAKER SUMITRA MAHAJAN The greatness of a man is measured by the way he treats the little man MINISTER OF STATE FOR HOME KIREN RIJIJU The Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore extended his condolences An extraordinary leader of India s freedom movement who, among his great achievements, thrusted India into the nuclear club, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji will be remembered forever as man of great talents yet a simple and humble demeanour UNION MINISTER DHARMENDRA PRADHAN The country has lost the tallest political leader, a charismatic personality, poet, orator, writer and thinker. Vajpayee always stood to safeguard democratic values JD(U) PRESIDENT AND BIHAR CHIEF MINISTER NITISH KUMAR SAUGAR SENGUPTA n KOLKATA Acquaintances from Kolkata including Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remember late former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as aman with a difference whose thoughts and pattern of working was verydifferent from how those up there, work today. OPP LEADERS MOURN DEMISE said that Vajpayee s communication whole life serving our great India lost a great son. Former was unique and made country. His services to our PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, was Opposition leaders him extremely popular and nation will be remembered for loved and respected by millions. led by former that such a person comes once a long time to come, Singh said My condolences to his family Prime Ministers in a blue moon. in his condolence statement. and all his admirers. We will Manmohan Singh While Singh said the former His ability and personality miss him, Rahul said on and HD Deve Gowda expressed profound sorrow over the demise of Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Singh remarking that his predecessor was a great Prime Minister of India and an excellent public servant. Singh in statement said that Vajpayee was a great patriot and among modern India s tallest leaders premier was an excellent orator and an impressive poet, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said India has lost a great son. In a letter to Vajpayee s adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya, Singh said Vajpayee was a great patriot and people from all walks of life, irrespective of their political were such that people from all walks of life, irrespective of their political leanings, loved and respected Vajpayee ji. His services to our nation will be remembered for a long time to come, Singh said in his letter to Bhattacharya. At the backdrop of disruptions in Parliament making Twitter. Former Union Minister and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar too joined in expressing his deep condolences to Vajpayee. Former Union Minister and RJD president Lalu Prasad also expressed grief over former PM s demise. With death of Vajpayee ji who spent his whole life serving leanings, loved and respect- news, Gowda said I have lost a friend and a the country. Gowda said with his passing a vacuum has been created in polity and with the death of Vajpayee, the country lost a statesman and politician who believed in the country s diverse culture. Former Vice President of India Md Hamid Ansari ed him. He said Vajpayee proved his ability both nationally and internationally and helped India improve its ties with many countries, including its neighbours. Vajpayee ji stood among the tallest leaders of modern India, who spent his Vajpayee did not allow the House to be disturbed during his 11-month tenure as the prime minister. Offering his condolences to Vajpayee s family and admirers, Rahul Gandhi said the former prime minister was loved and respected by millions. Today guardian. He was the last pillar of type of politics in which even leaders of rival ideologies could enter into dialogue with ease and in a dignified manner...its matter of pride that his name also had Bihari...You will be remembered, Lalu said in his tweet. He watched Umrao Jaan thrice in a night Sample the emotions of Ghanshyam Beriwal a close friend from the RSSdays. He remembers Vajpayee a sweet aficionado who was also very fondof macher jhol (fish curry of Bengali type) as a person who alwayshad a statement or two extra to make after the final statement on anissue had been made. One dead of night, discussing politics lying in my bedroom: when Itold him that not a single Muslim would vote for him he paused for a minute and then asked then how have I been winning all these years? I have to get the Muslims along with me to be a successful Prime Minister. Beriwal s son depicts a different Vajpayee in a different mood. My father being so close a friend of his we had to pay him a visit when in Delhi. Even as a Prime Minister he was quite careful about tendingto his guests. Once when we were at residence he asked us to sit for awhile and went inside. After 15 minutes when he did not reappear. One day he even doned a Pathan Suit and not the usual Dhoti Kurta to evade getting detected and took us to a movie, said a daughter-in-law of the household while her husband reported how Vajpayee watched Rekha s Umrao Jaan thrice in a night because he loved the film so much. He was a great admirer of classical movies and whenever he came we would get video cassettes of good films in his honour Umrao Jaan was one of them.

8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi s emphasis on the North-East during his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort could hardly be missed. Proudly, he spoke about the rapid strides made by the region in the last four years and what it meant for its people. There has been massive spurt in highways, waterways, airways and information-way (i-way). The region that faced neglect and apathy over the decades suddenly seemed to have come to life. It is now on the cusp of a historic change. The August 15 pronouncement of Prime Minister said it all. There was a time when the North-East used to feel that Delhi is very distant. Within four years, we have brought Delhi to the doorsteps of North- East, the Prime Minister said. That Tripura, Meghalaya and many districts of Arunachal Pradesh are finally out of the purview of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA), is a big achievement. There has also been a spurt in enterprise and economic activities in the State be it the setting up of BPOs or the emergence of new educational institutions, said the Prime Minister. The region has also become a hub for organic farming. The setting up of a new sports university will further unleash the sporting potential of the region, the Prime Minister highlighted. All such developments have helped the region earn rich political dividends and the BJP-led NDA, which has formed Governments in many States in the region, has registered significant gains. Except Mizoram, the BJP today plays an active role in all States, either as the ruling party or as a coalition partner. The political formation of the North-East Democratic Alliance, led by Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is a formidable force. The process of the BJP s ascendancy, which began with the party s impressive victory in Assam, culminated in its historic win in Tripura this year that saw quarter of a century s rule of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) collapse like a pack of cards. The NDA Government restored people s faith and kickstarted a series of development projects in the region. Until 10 years ago, Tripura was not connected by rail link. And when it did in 2008, it was through a metre-gauge line. The NDA Government started the process of conversion of all tracks into board gauge and has covered 900 km till date. Two new trains, viz the Rajdhani Express and the Tripura Sundari Express between Agartala and New Delhi, were flagged off last year. The Government also signed a deal with Bangladesh to develop a rail link between Tripura and Chittagong. In fact, the Government of India is executing 15 new rail line projects of 1,385 km length at a cost of over `47,000 crore. Two years since the NDA came to power, then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in 2016 laid the foundation stone for the `2,315 crore, 88-km Dhansiri-Kohima railway track, connecting Kohima to the national railway network. The Government has also started several railway projects to connect Imphal, Aizawl and Shillong. Over two dozen new trains have been introduced in the region. That the North-East faced Herculean connectivity problems, which hampered its growth and stunted its potential, is a known. All thanks to Prime Minister Modi, who worked on a pragmatic policy prescription in what he called Transformation by Transportation, exemplified in a series of activities. More than 3,800 km of national highways with an investment of `32,000 crore have been sanctioned in the region in the past three years. Nearly 1,200 km of roads have been constructed, according to Government data. In December 2017, Modi announced that his Government would invest another `60,000 crore under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in the North East, and `30,000 crore under the Bharatmala project over a period of three years. In 2017, the Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation a 271-km two-lane national highway connecting Tura in western Meghalaya to Meghalaya s capital Shillong. Airports in the North-East, though not in the best shape, are up for a facelift with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) allocating `3,400 crore for its upgradation. An estimated work worth `950 crore is complete and the rest is expected to be done in another two to three years. Aviation projects include re-carpeting of Silchar and Lalbari runways and an aviation manpower training institute; development of Rupsi airport; a new integrated airport and an engineering workshop at Agartala; expansion and revamp of existing terminal building and runway at Dimapur; installation of an instrument landing system (ILS) at the Shillong airport; and operationalisation and development of the Tura airport. An important strategic push to the North-East is because of what Prime Minister calls the Act East policy. Through this the NDA Government is working on strengthening economic and strategic relationships with 10 ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries. The Government also proposes to strengthen the North-East as an economic hub to serve the fledgling $2.6 trillion economy comprising 662 million people. Achhe Din for the North-East is certainly in place. (The writer is a strategic communications professional) I f as fans of the gentleman s game we have been disheartened by the Indian team s dismal showing in England, then we should seek solace from the one man who taught us the art of the possible Ajit Wadekar. The man with the Midas touch, he was the first Indian cricket captain to lead his side to maiden Test wins in West Indies and England in The West Indian win was particularly significant considering it was a Gary Sobers XI, all of whom were titans in their own right. And though comparative statistics may not always weigh in his favour, fact is Wadekar s captaincy proved that he was not just a one-timer but could repeat wins or extract draws from the most challenging or unfavourable situations. Lest anybody had any doubt about his consistency, he pulled another series victory consecutively against England in a five-match series in And he could groom and polish talent; the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Vishwanath, S Venkatraghavan and BS Bedi flurished under him and bloomed to their true potential. Even as Team India coach in later years, he formed a formidable alliance of minds with Mohammad Azharuddin, wrapping up a neat unbeaten 14 Tests. Wadekar s legacy is inspiring simply because it restores the fundamentals of a game that tend to get lost these days in a pile of statistics and number-crunching, the most important being that of strategy, tactics, studying the opponent and practice. Nobody else has perhaps been able to fox the opponent with a robust mix of spinners and fielders in his arsenal. There were S Venkataraghavan, Erapalli Prasanna, Bishen Singh Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrashekhar and Eknath Solkar. He would vary his spin attacks and keep the batsman closed in tightly with a ring of fielders. A left-handed batsman, he could be quick when the situation demanded as evidenced by his performance in India s ODI debut in Long before the aggression of Sourav Ganguly and Captain Cool Dhoni dominated our consciousness, Wadekar combined both in an elegant manner that was not brash. He was disarmingly approachable, not arrogant at all, witty and convivial, something that helped him bond with the team and make them willingly respond to his vision. Such leadership skills are rare these days. As is the genteel approach to life. In the days when brand endorsements weren t an economic diversion or government jobs weren t treated as an easy entitlement, Wadekar was true to the brand he worked for the SBI famously saying he was married to it. For legions of fans, it is this grain of humanity and grace that will be cited across message boards. Team India needs to look at his life for some lessons. T he Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has outlined an ambitious plan to not just launch many more satellites in the coming years, but has also said that India plans to have a man (or woman) up in space by This was also one of the many announcements made by Prime Minister Modi during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort this week. According to ISRO chief K Sivan, technologies to send astronauts to space have already been developed. This is not a new plan, it has been in the process since 2004 and the Planning Commission okayed the project in 2009 which has a budget outlay of `10,000 crore. This is a huge outlay of funds for a country that is in desperate need for social projects and infrastructure buildout. However, there is no doubt that sending an Indian astronaut into the space will grab headlines and will make us an undoubted leader in space technology, not something to be sneezed at. This assumes that India is not already a leader in space technology. We have sent some incredible missions up to space, including the impressive Chandrayaan mission, which will be followed up this January, if there are no more delays, with the Chandrayaan-II mission that aims to land a robotic rover on the moon. Elections be damned, ISRO has more up its sleeve. Solar probe Aditya (obviously) takes off just months after American space agency NASA s daring Parker solar probe. There are an estimated 31 launches scheduled from now until the end of 2019 and the manned space mission by 2022 is an icing on the cake. Sivan believes that over 15,000 highly skilled jobs will be created through this mission. There is no doubt that in the US at least, the manned space missions and the later Apollo programme initiated by President John F Kennedy had a massive impact. Not only in making the US a leader in space exploration the Americans are the only nation to have had probes go into deep space but in supercharging that nation s high technology industry thanks to development of computer technology. Can India s concentration on space do the same for us? Yes, it can and that is why it is important. Technology can solve many problems and India cannot remain to be a net importer of technology; we need to develop our own systems, hardware and software. If done smartly, there will be a flow of technology from ISRO to India s private sector. To cite an example, ISRO has offered its lithium-ion battery technology to interested car manufacturers as the world shifts to electric vehicles. Make no mistakes, India is a leader in space technology. And while we might one day join the Americans, Russians and the Chinese in having sent an astronaut into space, we are far ahead of the rest. The world is jealous of us, notable in that racist cartoon in The New York Times mocking us, and the Daily Mail in the UK railing against the fact that a one-time dominion is so far ahead of Britain s moribund space industry. Sure, we are still a country with millions of poor and malnourished and the ironies apparent in a high-technology programme while open defecation and illiteracy remain a problem are not lost on anyone. But India s space programme can weirdly help us lift many out of poverty, directly through improved satellite technology and indirectly by the boost it will give our economy, let alone the booster shot of pride. Going to space India is doubling down on its space mission and that is a good thing. There are many more miles to achieve Cricket s gentleman The Indian team, which is reeling under tough times, must look nowhere but at Wadekar, the master strategist India: Independent but not free PAPER WITH PASSION Even as India celebrated its 72nd Independence day this week, a glance at the current state of media regulation will reveal how Press freedom is constrained in small and large ways This week, India celebrated its 72nd anniversary of independence. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on the midnight of August 15, 1947, spoke words befitting the occasion when he said, At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. Pandit Nehru in his immortal words clearly recognised the intrinsic link between independence and freedom. This month, however, ironically threw in tragic juxtaposition the lack of freedom in independent India. Since this week led up to the anniversary of India s independence, I went back to examine the role of media during the freedom struggle. The British introduced some horribly restrictive laws, which limited the freedom of the Press, including the Vernacular Press Act, 1878, through which the British Government aimed to establish an iron-like grip over vernacular publications like Amrita Bazar Patrika, and required such publications to ensure that nothing was written against them. This was also the time when publications like Amrita Bazar Patrika were heroes. The Press was an amplifying voice of the rising whispers against an evil empire. The Press by reporting on horrifying incidents of misgovernance, like the treatment of indigo farmers and by disseminating the message of Mahatma Gandhi and co, helped provide the much-needed tailwind to the Indian freedom movement, leading up to our independence in Fast forward to today, what used to be the primary medium to speak truth to power, has now been badgered by the present Government into something unrecognisable. While there is an environment of fear and trepidation in the country, which stems from the top, there are a few examples that are disconcerting. Of these, the resignation of Punya Prasun Bajpai from ABP News is fresh and possibly most troubling. Reasons for Bajpai s resignation are frighteningly Orwellian. In a letter penned by him, he explained the events leading up to his resignation. As the host of Master Stroke, prime-time news telecast on ABP News, Bajpai hosted the news, exposing the heights that this Government has gone to from preventing the truth from coming out. For example, the news coverage in Chhattisgarh, where Master Stroke reported that a woman farmer, during her video interaction with Prime Minister Modi, had been tutored to make false claims that her income had doubled. The report showed how, in fact, her condition had in reality become worse. Almost immediately, the BJP jumped to discredit the channel and Master Stroke. What was even more bizarre and terrifying was the disturbance in ABP s satellite link, which conveniently started acting up during the exact time that Master Stroke was telecast and returned to normal after the show had finished. This disturbance allegedly continued for days. Simultaneously, advertisers stopped their ads to ABP, allegedly due to pressure from outside entities. This was coupled with other restrictions on journalistic freedom, such as instructions to try to reduce references to Prime Minister Modi and limit his appearance on the news when discussing failings of the Government. This all-out offensive unfortunately but almost inevitably led to the resignation of Bajpai from ABP. When faced with the might of the entire Government for reporting on its failings, it seemed there was little else that he could do. This, of course, is not the only example. In general, the current environment in India is one of hate and polarisation. Where intellectualism is treated with disdain and accountability as an attack. The Government in power has nurtured this environment and the message is clear: Go against the BJP Government and face the wrath of the powerful. The problem is that when you create such an environment, you open doors you cannot shut. Whether it s the vile attacks by trolls on various prominent journalists or the attacks out in the open on Umair Khalid or the lynch mobs that act without reason or fear. The problem is that the Prime Minister is at the centre of this approach towards the Press. Recently, I was a panelist on a news channel along with a spokesperson of the BJP and the questions were: Why Prime Minister Modi has not yet held a single Press conference in four years? For all the allegations that the BJP threw at Manmohan Singh for being a silent Prime Minister, Modiji and the BJP would do well to remember that the former Prime Minister did three Press conferences in New Delhi and always took questions from journalists on his trips abroad. When faced with this question, the response by the BJP spokesperson was as per the script, breaking into a monologue about the greatness of the supreme leader, saying that Modiji is loved by all, Modiji talks to everyone etc. I feared that the spokesperson was just moments away from breaking into a Modi! Modi! Modi! chant. I don t blame the BJP spokesperson though. What can you do when you don t have an answer to this simple question? The fact is that Prime Minister Modi believes in one-sided conversations, whether it s his monologues or Mann ki Baat, the conversation has to be filtered so that it doesn t hurt the image of the Prime Minister. This because the BJP is aware that this carefully built image stands on a house of cards, one where a single unfiltered/unedited question to the Prime Minister is enough to make the entire house fall. Inevitably, criticism of the Government regarding the state of the Press today is met with wilful ignorance. In the alternate universe that the BJP resides, everything seems hunky-dory. But it surely doesn t feel that way, does it? And facts bare this disconnect. On the world Press freedom index, for example, India ranks lower than Haiti, Niger and Sierra Leone. If the state of the Press is so great, why doesn t the ground reality reflect this sentiment and why then is the Government dead against news channels showing references to Prime Minister Modi when policies of the Government fail? This is especially strange because the face of the Prime Minister is on every scheme and he announces almost all major policies of the Government. It seems that India is stuck with a Prime Minister who ironically loves the limelight but shies away from criticism that comes with it. It is tragic, then, when you look at the state of the country today and its similarities with Orwell s seminal novel, In it, Orwell, describes how information management was the primary system of control employed by the authoritarian regime to keep its subjects subjugated. We must not forget that a free, independent Press is an antidote against such authoritarianism. Therefore, though India is celebrating its 72nd independence day, I am sad to say that it s surely starting to feel a lot like (The writer is Jharkhand PCC president, former MP and IPS officer. Views are personal) DETERIORATING CASE Sir This refers to the report, I am married to Cong, says Rahul (August 15). Congress chief Rahul Gandhi once again revisited his obsessive political positions, primarily targeting Prime Minister Modi. For instance, Rahul has repeatedly predicted that Modi will be defeated in One is bewildered by Rahul Gandhi s electoral certitude, drastically different from media surveys of the next year s poll prospects, favouring Modi. Rahul talks of Opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to stop the BJP in its tracks without spelling out his party s role; media reports refer only to the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party coalition. Even these two parties did badly in Uttar Pradesh election, as also in 2014 Lok Sabha poll. Further, look at Rahul s highly exaggerated figures of employment provided by China in 24 hours, in comparison to India: Fifty thousand people against India s 458. Rahul fails to realise that the Congress plight will make Modi s success in 2019 general election a lot more easier. M Ratan Via mail SETTING THE TONE Sir This refers to the report, I am impatient agent of change: PM (August 16). Prime Minister Narendra Modi s last speech in his present term was a politically significant one in the run-up to the 2019 election, both in terms of what he said and what he didn t. Perhaps the Prime Minister s Independence Day speech clarified the challenge for his remaining term in office. Consciously harping on inclusiveness, avoiding any hint of majoritarianism and stressing gender parity, he sought to blunt the Opposition s intolerance campaign. Projecting himself as an impatient agent of change, he as usual, castigated the UPA for its governance failure and promised housing, power, water, sanitation and healthcare for all in his mission to take the country to new heights. At the Red Fort, the Prime Minister gestured to a high ground. He must now ensure that his party and Government step up to it. The next six months will decide whether he can recapture the mood of 2014, or whether the Congress can script another KS Jayatheertha Kolkata CONDITIONS FOR TRADE Sir This refers to the article, Imran: A pawn in the hands of troika (August 16) by Anil Gupta. Trade between India and Pakistan as also growth and prosperity of the region will be possible only when the two countries develop mutual trust. This will remain a dream until Pakistan remains statesponsor of terrorism. Shubham Via Send your feedback to: letterstopioneer@gmail.com The BJP-led NDA s march into the North-East has seen the region leverage its untapped potential to emerge as one of the fastest growing markets In the eyes of Grindel and his supporters, I am German when we win, but I am an immigrant when we lose. Former Germany team-mate MESUT OZIL Ozil s claims of racism in German camp are nonsense. We are always committed to diversity and integration. Germany midfielder TONI KROOS POINTCOUNTERPOINT The ever-changing space for urban anthropology entails mixed experiences of significant discrimination for the female strata in the public sphere of political gatherings, religious performance and economic exchange. The study of gender disparity has captured a focal place in the debate of sociology in a new era. The gravity of the issue is so severe that it has reserved a place in the Indian Economic Survey ( ). Ironically, women s mobility is still controlled and renegotiated in many societies, except their confined roles to dispense domestic duties. Traditional ideology behind the protected environment actually intends to suppress their individual temperament. As per a recent World Bank report, India and China are the only two nations in the world where infant mortality rate for females is still higher than males even in the 21st century. What is gender? In sociological and feminist thought, gender indicates the cultural constitution comprising notions, perceptions and premises concerning femininity and masculinity and the ways in which these ideologies maintain gendered identities (Mishra, 2014). The intensity and magnitude of gender conflicts vary demographically across the globe. Unfortunately, supporting statistics confirm that Indian society has witnessed complete marginalisation of the female strata in all fields. This despite proven researches on their power and capacities in creating a prosperous future economy via Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and productivity push. Additionally, the gender gap in labour workforce has crucial macro-economic inferences as well. Women in development a critical analysis: There is prodigious evidence that the effect of economic growth on gender inequality is inadequate and incoherent (Kabeer 2016, Duflo 2012). Even revised contemporary discussions about the new wealth of various nations contain the crucial role of women of Indian society. Besides, many researchers have established the demand-side barriers as to how this section is often loomed to gain from economic development (equitable access to jobs, skills development, and fair earnings). Though employment of women is seen as a vital aspect attached to their respective independence, there are missing links in connecting the nation s growth with female labour force participation. As proposed by Sarker (2006), Women in Development (WID) approach that emerged in the 1960s with an emphasis on the need to include them in the development mix was able to harness their true potential in order to achieve equality for women in socio-economic and political platforms. As per the World Bank report (2012), though global female labour participation rate has improved from 50.2 per cent in 1980 to 51.8 per cent in 2009 (resulting in narrowing gender differential from 32 per cent to 26 per cent), there still exists substantial under-utilisation and misallocation of women s skills and talents. Regrettably, supply-side constraints (particularly those associated with fertility, marriage, and child-rearing) dominate the fortitude of a female s workforce involvement. Recent reports on economic well-being indicate direct linkage where the wellbeing of an economy could be a natural driver of female workforce participation. U-shaped linkage: A U- shaped hypothesis simply reveals the linkage between the economic growth and women labour force participation. It is proposed that women labour force participation rates first decline and then increase as the country fosters. Women labour force input is a principal driver as well as a key outcome of economic growth and development. Therefore, participation rates necessarily reflect a country s potential to advance more rapidly. As per the International Labour Organisation (ILO), India ranks 121 out of 131 nations in Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP), which is the worst in the world. According to evidence from various studies, it was also established that increasing women workforce contribution causes income disparities to lower down. On the contrary, the composition of transfers from rural to urban areas primarily is male-dominated and thereby leaves lower women s work involvement. Global stance: By international standards, women s labour force participation in India remains low and it is much lower than that of men. The same has dropped from 33.8 per cent in 2000 to 26.8 per cent in 2015 while male labour force participation saw a jump from 66.2 per cent in 2000 to 73.2 per cent in 2015, thereby averaging to a substantial gender gap of around 46.4 per cent in This downward trend has been largely elucidated by increasing urbanisation and structural transformation: As households progressed from rural to urban areas, husbands moved out of the agricultural sector, ensuring a disengagement of females from the labour force (exhibiting women s increased involvement in domestic duties). The predominance of traditional views of women s role within households further confines their prospects to participate in paid work and entrepreneurial activities. In addition, women are profoundly exemplified in the informal economy where their vulnerability to exploitation is usually high and they have the slightest formal protection. Further, evidence on broader inclusion of women into conventional finance is thwarting. Move towards gender equality: It implies that women and men are on equal footing in terms of core functioning (education, health, and nutrition) as well as for generation of livelihood. Greater gender equality can boost economic productivity and improve development outcomes for the next generation. This is rather an intrinsic than an instrumental goal, explicitly valued as an end in itself than being an instrument for achieving other goals. Current statistics on India s Gender Inequality Index (given by World Economic Forum) show we are at the 131st spot, which is undoubtedly very low. It would be anybody s guess that India needs to make progress towards gender equity, towards attaining economic well-being. Gender disparities remain even as countries develop, which call for sustained and focussed public action. As gender equality evolves, development proceeds. The struggle for parity is far from over. According to the OECD Employment Outlook 2017, though gender gaps in the labour market and educational attainment across emerging economies have shrunk, progress is still uneven with India being counted among the countries experiencing no change in the gender participation gap at a high level. Way forward: As per the recent World Bank report, the explosion of impressive attempts to increase women s political participation, gender disparities have remained deep and persistent in India despite promising economic growth prospects. It compels synchronised social policies and longterm steps to challenge a sociallyembedded problem like gender inequality. Women work participation avenues to decent jobs are elementary and indispensable constituents of a sustainable development approach. Substantial research has revealed that capitalising women s complete economic potential is critical for increased productivity and economic growth. In addition, mitigating gender barriers to decent work is essential to stimulate women s economic empowerment. The current scenario calls for an immediate stringent policy involvement to take care of several aspects like awareness on female education and training programmes, simplifying the burden of household chores, greater well-being of women with private sector work opportunities in industries et al. There has to be a provision for fair rule applicability, irrespective of the gender (like equal pay for equal work). A pivotal carrier of economic growth over the past century is the increased and extended role of women. Empowering half of the prospective workspace could have sizeable demographic paybacks beyond just endorsing gender equality. The process is not easy at all. It is difficult to undo the deep-rooted decadal conditioning, particularly in a society as conservative and regressive as ours. But as indicated by Collins: Women move, world improves. Time to get moving. (The writers are Senior Doctoral Scholars, Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi) NAVNEET ANAND AJOY KUMAR R eplying to a debate in Parliament on July 20, 2018, during the no-confidence motion against his Government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a comprehensive account of the various schemes, reform measures and achievements during the last four years of his stint. A prominent reform measure listed by Modi was the Goods and Services Tax (GST) launched on July 1, Dwelling on the contentious issue of five hydrocarbon products: Natural gas, crude oil, petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel, he opined that under the UPA, these products were excluded under their version of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, If that Bill were to be enacted into a law, there would have been no possibility to include them in the near future. On the other hand, in the law enacted by the present Government, these have been included. Under the erstwhile dispensation, the economy was not only burdened with high rates (excise duty, VAT, service tax and over a dozen other local taxes), they also had a cascading effect (tax-on-tax). For instance, nearly 50 per cent of the retail price of petrol and diesel were accounted for by taxes alone. With their inclusion under the GST, one had expected a substantial dilution of the tax component, thereby leading to corresponding reduction in price. But that did not happened because these products are zero rated. What it means is that taxation for these products continues to be governed by laws of the erstwhile dispensation. In other words, it is business as usual even as industries bear the brunt of all the ills germane to that regime which this path-breaking reform (GST) was intended to get rid off. So, what has changed? And on what basis does team Modi claim that GST has brought substantial improvement in the way these products are to be treated? The difference is that unlike the UPA version of the law, which would have continued with a levy of ED/VAT/service tax (besides local taxes) ad infinitum, henceforth, these levies will be replaced by the GST. But when will this happen? This decision vests with the GST Council the body created vide the amendment Act which will determine the date of transition to rating under the GST and the category under which each of these products will be put for levy of tax. Prima facie, this may appear to be a better scenario, compared to no hope offered by the UPA regime but from all available indications, there is a long road ahead. Even before the launch of the GST, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is also the chairman of the Council, had opined that the inclusion of natural gas into the ambit of GST would be taken up for consideration in its 18th meeting held just before its launch. Since then, it has been more than a year and the wait is only getting longer. Revenue to States from levy of sales tax/vat on natural gas is a pittance which stands at `6,000 crore ( ) as against taxes on petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel that fetch a whopping `166,000 crore. If there is so much of dilly-dallying with regard to taxing the former under GST, one can imagine the intensity of resistance that States will mount to make the transition in the case of the latter. The crux of the matter is that States, who are used to mountain revenue garnered from high VAT, as also bonanza from tax-on-tax (nearly one-third of their revenue comes by way of VAT on excise duty), are simply not in a mood to let it go. This, despite full compensation promised to them for any loss of revenue vis-à-vis the 14 per cent guaranteed growth over level. Even the Union Government may be having vested interest in continuing with status quo as its revenue from levies on petroleum products is huge. During to , it collected `650,000 crore a major chunk came from excise duty on petrol and diesel. During the current year, the collection (including road and infrastructure cess on petrol and diesel) is projected at `258,000 crore. In this backdrop and given that the Council takes all decisions by consensus, it is most unlikely that it will give a green signal for a switch-over. Even if these products were to be brought under the highest slab of 28 per cent (which is illogical and untenable as by any stretch of imagination, these cannot be treated as luxury/demerit products), this itself would be a steep reduction from the current high level of per cent. Hence, status quo is inevitable. In a bid to prevent erosion in revenue, the Council may allow States to retain power to levy some tariff/duty (under some other nomenclature, if not VAT) in addition to GST (this idea has already found place in its deliberations on the subject). If it happens, this will not only militate against the basics of the new tax regime but will also undermine its efficacy. The continuation of ED/VAT or their reincarnation in some other form on petroleum products is out of sync with the underlying philosophy of GST. The former must go for the latter to be meaningful and effective. But that sounds like a daydream. To conclude, the inclusion of oil and gas products in the Constitution Amendment Act has not made any material difference to the situation on ground, except that it has generated some hope, besides giving some brownie points to team Modi in its ongoing 20:20 match with the grand old party. (The writer is a freelance journalist) GST: An unfinished project INEVITABLY, CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT REGARDING THE STATE OF THE PRESS TODAY IS MET WITH WILFUL IGNORANCE. IN THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE THAT THE BJP RESIDES, EVERYTHING SEEMS HUNKY-DORY. BUT IT SURELY DOESN T FEEL THAT WAY, DOES IT? House deities or working angels? It is difficult to undo the deep-rooted decadal conditioning when it comes to gender disparity, particularly in a society as conservative and regressive as ours. But we must keep trying, say MEGHA JAIN & AISHWARYA NAGPAL LETTERS TO THE EDITOR A note of caution in Prime Minister s speech T his refers to the report, I am impatient agent of change: PM (August 16). During his address, Prime Minister Modi unveiled his vision of India, made promises and announced new schemes and initiatives. Through his repeated invocations to Mother India (2014), Team India (2015), Young India (2016) and now New India (2018), he made reform, perform and transform his mantra. During his tenure, he initiated a motley of economic and social reforms, travelled extensively to leverage India's soft power and attracted buyers for its growth story on foreign shores. This year, Modi spoke not just of policy but vision; not merely the speed of work, but the actual experience of progress. He broke through citizen s predilection towards pessimism by listing the Government s achievements in all sectors of the economy. Modi s desire to undertake a manned mission to space by 2022 is bound to encourage the emerging generations to undertake research and development at indigenous levels. By announcing the launch of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan, he set the stage for 2019 poll. However, the subtle anxiety in his tone was a clear manifestation of the realisation that citizens cannot be taken for a ride by words. One hopes that the Government upholds the spirit of democracy by embracing ideologically different ideas than instill a deep current of majoritarianism by drumming up nationalist fervour. Shreyans Jain Delhi WOMEN LABOUR FORCE INPUT IS A PRINCIPAL DRIVER AS WELL AS A KEY OUTCOME OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THEREFORE, PARTICIPATION RATES REFLECT A COUNTRY'S ADVANCEMENTS THE PIONEER 8 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 Submerged completely, Kerala is undergoing its worst humanitarian crisis in 100 years. Besides loss of property and displacement of lakhs of families, it is unimaginable that the Kochi airport will remain closed until August 26 as it lies under water. While Army-driven rescue efforts are laudable, a Herculean task awaits in rebuilding and controlling epidemics after flood waters recede. THE PIONEER LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, WORDEDIT COMMENT & ANALYSIS Kerala s human crisis UTTAM GUPTA It s encouraging that the regime contains provision for the inclusion of petroleum products but it s harrowing that the Government is reaping benefits without full implementation North-East: The new engine for growth

9 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 nation 10 KERALA RAIN FURY Reduce Mullaperiyar dam water level: SC directs 2 States he Supreme Court on TThursday voiced concerns over the health of the 123-yearold Mullaperiyar Dam situated in Kerala and directed the Centre and States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to immediately take steps to bring down the water level from the present 142 feet to 139 feet. The Court, which described the flood situation in the State to be "grave" demanded a disaster management plan to be put in place so that the population staying the downstream of the dam are not made to live in constant fear. The direction from the Court came on an urgent mentioning by a Kerala resident Russel Joy who stated that non-cooperation between Tamil Nadu and Kerala Governments had defeated earlier decisions by the Supreme Court requiring both States to have a Coordination Committee to tackle disasters, and a plan to be put in place to deal with any disasters as a result of damage to the dam or excess water stored in the dam. The bench of Chief Justice ith over 40 lakh people Wfinding no place in the Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Assam NRC Coordinator to provide district-wise percentage of population who stood excluded from the draft NRC. The information will be supplied in a sealed cover to the Court on August 28, the next date of hearing. At the same time, the Court said that claims and objections by the excluded persons will begin by August 30. As per the rules, the period for receipt of claims and objections should be 30 days. To facilitate this process, a copy of draft NRC shall be supplied to all panchayat offices. Flood victims are evacuated to safer areas in Kozhikode, Kerala on Thursday Dipak Misra and Justice Indu Malhotra, holding an emergency hearing on Joy's application, directed both States along with the Sub-Committee for Reservoir Management and the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to immediately convene meeting on Friday and take measures to bring down the water level at The Centre has already prepared a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on how to deal with the objections within timelines. The bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman invited response from all the stakeholders including All Assam Students Union, All Assam Minority Students Union and Jamiat Ulema-e- Hind on the Centre's SOP by August 25 and will accordingly fix timelines on the next date of hearing. No plea by political party will be entertained, the bench added. "At this stage without commenting on any of the modalities suggested on behalf of the Union of India in consultation with the Government of Assam, Registrar General of India and State Coordinator for NRC, we are of the view that the dam to 139 feet. This was also requested by the Kerala Government in view of the heavy downpour witnessed by the State over the past few weeks. The officers from Kerala will have the option to remain present in the meeting via video conferencing. "An effort has to be made to bring down the water level Submit dist-wise percentage of excluded people, NRC coordinator told India's first Humboldt Penguin born in Mumbai s Byculla Zoo on I-Day T N RAGHUNATHA n MUMBAI n a most pleasant develop- India s first Humboldt Iment, penguin chick was born at the BMC-run Veermata Jijabai Bhosale (VJB) Udyan and Zoo at Byculla in south Mumbai coincidentally on the Independence Day. Announcing the birth of a Penguin chick, VJB Udyan and Zoo director Dr Sanjay Tripathi said here on Thursday: A Humboldt penguin chick hatched from the egg at pm on Wednesday. It appeared to be active and the mother flipper was trying to feed it too. Elated by an addition to the Penguin family at the Zoo, the VJB Udyan authorities released photographs and a short video of the newly-born chick. After mating in captivity with male Penguin Molt, the female Penguin Flipper delivered had delivered an egg last month at the VJB Udyan and Zoo. For Penguins, there are two mating seasons: March-April and October-November. The Humboldt penguins pair up during the entire mating period. In the case of Molt and Flipper, the mating happened between March and April, the female penguin laid eggs in a month and a half, and both parents took turn to incubate them. Last month, the caretakers at the Byculla Zoo found that the nest built by the penguin pair Molt and Flipper had an egg. The zoo caretakers, vets and others kept strict vigil for nearly 40 days. Finally, a small fluffy chick walked out of the egg to freedom in the nest inside the air-conditioned enclosure built by the Zoo authorities where the all Penguins have been kept. While Molt is the youngest male, Flipper is the oldest female in the zoo Penguin colony which attracts thousands of visitors everyday. The first chick was born at the VJB Udyan and Zoo more than a year after eight Humboldt penguins Donald, Daisy, Popeye, Olive, Flipper, Bubble, Mr Molt and Dory were brought here from Seoul in South Korea. Of the eight imported Penguins, female Dory succumbed to some illness on October 23 last years, after showing symptoms of dullness, inappetance, greenish stools and laboured breathing and was diagnosed with Gram negative bacteria. The Penguins have been kept in a special enclosure where the temperature was in the range of 16 to 18 degree C. The penguins feed on fish including the Indian mackerals. Water quality is monitored at regular intervals and there are several support systems that has been created The eight Humboldt penguins, which arrived in the Mumbai zoo from the South Korean capital on July 26, 2016, were aged anywhere between one year and three years. They were 12 to 15 centimetres in height and they weigh anywhere from 1 kilogram to 2.5 kilograms. the stakeholders ought to be given time until August 25 to indicate their views in the matter," the judges said. IN preparing the draft NRC, out of 3.29 crore persons who applied, 2.89 crore were included in the draft NRC while 40,70,707 people found no place. Of these, 37,59,630 names were rejected and remaining 2,48,077 had been put on hold. However, the apex court had clarified that since this is only a draft NRC, it shall not be the basis for any government or department to take any coercive action against those who were excluded. Assam has been facing a constant influx of people from Bangladesh and the effort for revising NRC was to identify persons who entered the State after March 24, AP of the Mullaperiyar dam to 139 feet so that the people living downstream do not live in constant fear," the bench said. The Court required a disaster management plan for areas in and around the dam so that people living downstream are not taken by surprise. The matter will be heard by Court on Friday. OMER FAROOQ n HYDERABAD ith heavy rain pounding Wmany parts of the State and weather office forecasting more of it in next couple of days, the Telangana Government has put the administration on a high alert specially in the worst affected Adilabad and Karimnagar districts. Chief Minister K Chandraskhar Rao after reviewing the situation asked the official machinery to remain alert. He spoke to the Chief Secretary S K Joshi and Director General of police Mahinder Reddy. The rains were the result of depression over the Northwest Bay of Bengal along the coast of Odisha. Indian Meteorlogical Centre in Relief, rescue operations stepped up he National Crisis TManagement Committee (NCMC) headed by Cabinet Secretary on Thursday decided to scale up relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala by involving the three defence services and other agencies, besides providing essential commodities to marooned people in worst-affected districts. The high-level meeting convened by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha was attended by chiefs of the three services, secretaries of home, defence and others, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) took stock of the prevailing situation in Kerala and directed all concerned to ensure continued assistance to the State Government to meet the crisis, a Home Ministry spokesperson said. Prime Minister Narendra Heavy rain lashes parts of Telangana, alert sounded in worst-hit two districts Supporters hold a photo as they pay tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee outside AIIMS hospital in New Delhi on Thursday PTI Hyderabad said that the depression lay centered 120 kms east-southeast of Brahmapuri and was likely to move in north-northwesterly direction over the next 24 hours and weaken in to a low pressure area. Under its influence many parts of Telangana, neighboring Chhattisgarh, Viudarbha, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal will receive heavy to very heavy rains, the IMD said. The parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh were likely to receive moderate rains. Heavy to very heavy rains over the next 24 hours were forecast from Adilabad, Nirmal, Mancherial, Kumaram Bheem, Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Rajanna Sricilla, Jagtiyal and Medak districts. STAFF REPORTER n NEW DELHI nown for eloquence and Kgenerous persona, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee was remembered among scribes. On Thursday when nation was mourning, veterans and young journalists across India shared grief on the death of Vajapayee. Recalling schoolsdays when science, cartoons and movie channels were favourites among children, Sanaya Sharma switched to Rajya Sabha channel just to hear poetry of Vajpayee. Sharma, a professional film maker, said, "I was hardly aware about political developments during my childhood days, but I specially set Rajya Sabha channel to listen his poetry.. he truly inspired The Prime Minister spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan this morning and discussed with him the flood situation Modi has directed the NCMC to monitor the relief and rescue operations in Kerala on regular basis and coordination with State agencies. The Central Government has been providing full support to Kerala and has launched massive relief and rescue operations in the state, the spokesperson said. Kerala Chief Secretary and his team also participated through video conference. In the meeting, the Cabinet secretary pressed into service all the forces Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, National Disaster Response Force and other central armed he CBI has registered two Tmore FIRs against the office-bearers of Bihar-based Srijan Mahila Vikas Sahyog Samiti Limited and others for the alleged diversion and misuse of Government funds. The agency has lodged 18 cases so far. According to CBI, branch managers and employees of a Bhagalpur branch of the Indian Bank, some unidentified officers of Bank of Baroda and all the Srijan (Sabour unit) officials have been booked for criminal conspiracy, cheating and alleged illegal transfer and misuse of funds from Government accounts. The second FIR has been registered against the then Land Acquisition Officer of Bihar's Banka, Nazir, branch manager of the Bhagalpur Central Cooperative Bank Limited, branch managers of police forces (CAPFs) and directed that all possible assistance be provided to Kerala for relief and rescue operations. The Cabinet secretary also directed that relief material including supply of drinking water, dry food packets and powdered milk should also be made available to Kerala, the spokesperson said. For proper reservoir management in Mullaperiyar Dam, the NCMC constituted a committee chaired by Chairman of Central Water Commission and engineers-in-chief of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. As of now, 18 teams of NDRF, 9 columns and 8 teams of Engineering Task Force (ETC) of the Army, 22 teams of Coast Guard, 24 diving teams of Navy along with helicopters, aircrafts, boats, equipment, life jackets, etc., have been dispatched to Kerala in rescue operations as well as evacuation of stranded people. the Bank of Baroda and the Indian Bank, besides all Srijan (Bhagalpur) office- bearers. It is alleged that there was illegal transfer and misuse of funds from Government accounts in Bhagalpur district of Bihar to accounts of the 'Samiti' through a conspiracy hatched between Government officials and office bearers of the NGO. CBI officials said the agency has received the reference from the Centre to take over the investigation and necessary documents have been received from the Bihar Government. The Bihar Police had alleged the involvement of the secretary of 'Srijan', Priya Kumar, and her husband for allegedly swindling over `950 crore of Government money in Bhagalpur. Priya Kumar is the daughter-in-law of Manorama Devi, the founder of the NGO. Manorama Devi died early Besides these, medical assistance is also being provided by the NDRF, the Army, the Navy including in special medical camps. So far, 2,182 people have been rescued, 968 stranded people have been evacuated through prompt action of the forces. The NCMC meeting was also attended by secretaries of Union Water Resources Ministry and chiefs of the Coast Guard, the NDRF, Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC) and other senior officers. The NCMC will meet again tomorrow to review the situation. The Prime Minister spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan this morning and discussed with him the flood situation.union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too had a telephonic conversation with the Kerala Chief Minister. Srijan scam: CBI files 2 more FIRs me, after listening to his poetry during parliament sessions, I have developed a habit of poetry. And now sometimes I use my own written lines in film scripts.. all thanks to Vajpayee sahab! Besides fiction writers, young journalists took micro - blogging site twitter to condole his death. "When China accused the Indian Army in 1965 of stealing 800 sheep from the Sikkim-Tibet border, an MP named #AtalBihariVajpayee responded by driving a herd of sheep to the gates of the Chinese Embassy in Delhi. Point made, tweeted Ananth Krishnan. When a big tree falls, the ground shakes quote by Rajiv Gandhi makes total sense today. #AtalBihariVajpayee: Bhaavna Arora tweeted. last year after which the NGO was being run by Priya Kumar and Amit Kumar, son of Manorama Devi, State Government officials had said. It is alleged that the 'Samiti', which was working towards imparting training to women, had pilfered Government funds in connivance with the bank officials and State Government officials between 2003 and An initial probe by local police revealed that the 'Samiti', based at Sabour in Bhagalpur district, allegedly procured cheque books from banks and forged signature of the district magistrate to transfer Government funds to its account. The probe had also pointed to the involvement of nationalised banks and Government officials in the fraudulent withdrawal of funds in three districts of Bhagalpur, Banka and Saharsa. Scribes mourn Vajpayee s demise on twitter The Pokhran-2 nuclear tests were conducted neither for self-glorification, nor for any display of machismo. But this has been our policy, and I think it is also the policy of the nation, that there should be minimum deterrence, which should also be credible. This is why we took the decision to conduct tests You can change friends but not neighbours One cannot wish away the fact that With Nawaz Sharif before good neighbours can truly fraternise with each other, they must first mend their fences If I break the party and forge new alliances to come to power, then I will not like to touch that power even with a pincer We should strive hard to ensure that every R&D rupee brings greater benefits to the nation Mutual suspicions and petty rivalries have continued to haunt us. As a result, the peace dividend has bypassed our region. History can remind us, guide us, teach us or warn us; it should not shackle us. We have to look forward now, with a collective approach in mind We in India are inheritors to a great civilisation whose life chant has been "Shanti" that is, Peace and "Bhaichara" which means, Brotherhood. India has With George Bush II An ambulance carrying the body of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee arrives at his residence in New Delhi PTI never been an aggressor nation, a colonizer or a hegemon in her long history. In modern times, we are alive to our responsibility to contribute to peace, friendship and cooperation both in our region and around the world Poverty is multidimensional. It extends beyond money incomes to education, health care, skills enhancement, political participation at all levels from the local to the global, access to natural resources, With Vladimir Putin clean water and air, and advancement of one's own culture and social organisation The freedom of the press is an integral part of Indian democracy. It is protected by the Constitution. It is guarded in a more fundamental way by our democratic culture. This national culture not only respects freedom of thought and expression, but also has nurtured a diversity of viewpoints unmatched anywhere in the world

10 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 Vivo pumps in `200 cr to expand Gr Noida facility PTI n NEW DELHI C hinese handset maker Vivo on Thursday said it had ramped up the manufacturing capacity of its Greater Noida facility and had invested about `200 crore. The company, which has already invested about `300 crore in the plant, has also added surface-mount technology (SMT) lines to the unit. The facility has increased production to more than 2 million units per month, reiterating Vivo s commitment to Make in India. The newly added SMT lines are catering to PTI n NEW DELHI ndia has exported tobacco Iworth `1, crore in the first quarter of the current fiscal, an increase of 7 per cent since last year, mainly to Europe and South East Asia, according to the Tobacco Board. In volume terms, the export of both tobacco and its products rose by 2.65 per cent to 53,213 tonnes during the April-June quarter of the fiscal. In the year-ago period, the the growing demand for Vivo smartphones in the country, including flagship devices like NEX and X21, Vivo said in a statement. With more than 5,000 employees, the plant has an annual capacity of manufacturing 25 million products. Besides manufacturing, the facility houses a Test Lab where the products undergo more than 1,000 stringent levels of quality and durability tests. Our latest flagship the NEX has been manufactured at this facility which has been made possible through country had exported 51,802 tonnes valuing `1,352 crore. Much of the exports were in unmanufactured form especially flue-cured virginia (FCV) tobacco a variety used in cigarettes followed by small quantities of tobacco products like cigarettes, bidis, hookah tobacco paste, cut tobacco, snuff and cigars, the board s data showed. Export of FCV tobacco declined to 32,687 tonnes in the April-June period of this fiscal from `33,401 tonnes in the our consistent efforts and commitment towards making the region a manufacturing hub for our smartphones, Vivo India chief marketing officer Jerome Chen said. Besides X21 and NEX, Vivo will continue to manufacture and assemble smartphones in India across its category and price segments, it said. According to research firm IDC, Vivo ranked third in the Indian smartphone market in terms of shipments with 12.6 per cent share, after Xiaomi (29.7 per cent) and Samsung (23.9 per cent) in June 2018 quarter. year-ago. However, in value terms, the shipments rose to ` crore as against ` crore in the said period. However, the export of non- FCV tobacco rose to 12,620 tonnes valued at ` crore during the first quarter of this fiscal from 10,043 tonnes valued at ` crore in the same quarter previous fiscal. Belgium, Philippines, Nepal, Korea, Germany and the UAE are the major markets for unmanufactured tobacco. The board data showed a Walmart India activates UPI on its B2B e-commerce platform Lucknow (PTI): Walmart India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walmart Inc, on Thursday activated unified payments interface (UPI) for all its registered members. This payment solution will enable members, especially kiranas/resellers, who shop online at Walmart India s B2B e-commerce site to make direct and secured payments online from their bank account without sharing bank details, the global retail giant said in a press release today. This will especially benefit kirana members who neither hold any credit/debit card nor have the time to visit banks for making RTGS payments. UPI is in addition to various other decline in exports of tobacco products in volume terms to `7,906 tonnes during the first quarter of this fiscal from 8,358 tonnes in the year-ago. In value terms, it stood at ` crore as against ` crore in the said period last year. Among tobacco products, the country exported 4,442 tonnes of chewing tobacco (zarda), 1,812 tonnes of cigarettes, 1,077 tonnes of hookah tobacco paste, 507 tonnes of cut tobacco, 61 tonnes of bidis, 6 tonnes of cigars and one tonne payment modes such as credit card, debit card, net banking and e-wallets that Walmart India offers to its members, it said. The company s chief corporate affairs officer Rajneesh Kumar said, This initiative reiterates our commitment to enable small businesses, especially kiranas, prosper. This payment solution will help our members spend more time with their customers and serve them better as they do not have to step out of their stores to visit banks for making payments. Kumar said that with the expectation that the UPI system would boost online transactions, the initiative would certainly complement efforts to make India a digital economy. India s tobacco exports rose 7 pc in Apr-Jun of snuff during the first quarter of this year. Panama, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Sudan, South Africal, Afghanistan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Israel are major markets for export of tobacco products. During the full fiscal, the country had exported 2,12,916 tonnes worth `5, crore of tobacco and its products. While exports are rising, the government is encouraging farmers to shift to alternative crops so that production and area of tobacco remains lower. Maruti Suzuki hikes prices by up to `6,100 PTI n NEW DELHI ountry s largest carmaker CMaruti Suzuki India (MSI) today hiked prices of its vehicles by up to `6,100 in order to partially offset increase in commodity and distribution costs and adverse foreign exchange rates. The price change varies across models and is up to `6,100 (ex-showroom Delhi), the company said in a statement. The new prices are effective from Thursday, it added. The MSI sells a range of vehicles from entry level Alto 800 to mid-sized sedan Ciaz. These were priced between `2.51 lakh and `11.51 lakh (exshowroom Delhi) before the hike. Earlier this month, MSI senior executive director (marketing and sales) R S Kalsi had said the company had been analysing the adverse movement of commodity prices which were going towards the higher side. German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz on Thursday also announced to hike prices of its vehicles across models by up to 4 per cent from September. Other companies such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors and Honda Cars India have also announced price hikes from this month citing rising input cost. PTI n NEW DELHI SW Steel has submitted a res- plan of `19,700-crore Jolution to the Committee of Creditors of debt-laden Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd, a source in the know of the matter said. Besides JSW Steel, Tata Steel and Liberty House have also submitted bids to acquire the special steel maker Bhushan Steel and Power Ltd (BPSL) which is under the insolvency process. The bids were submitted for the second time to the CoC late night on August 13. Now the CoC will inform the NCLAT on Friday about the bids received by the interested parties. JSW Steel has submitted `19,700 crore (resolution) plan to the CoC. The entire amount is upfront amount, the source money 11 JSW Steel makes `19,700-crore offer for Bhushan Power, Steel said. According to reports, Tata Steel has made an offer of `17,000 crore and Liberty House s resolution plan is of around `19,000 crore. queries sent to three companies seeking their response remained unanswered. Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel, Tata Group firm Tata Steel and UK-based Liberty House are competing with each other to acquire BPSL. BPSL owes about `45,000 crore to its lenders. It was among the 12 non-performing accounts referred by the Reserve Bank of India for NCLT proceedings. BPSL with a production capacity of 3.5 million tonne per annum (MTPA) is a leading manufacturer of flat and long products. Urea production likely to increase 1.6 pc in FY 19 New Delhi (PTI): Urea production is likely to increase 1.6 per cent to 24.4 million tonne (MT) in financial year on smooth functioning of units, a senior Fertiliser Ministry official said on Thursday. Urea production stood at MT in , as per the official data. There was a slight drop in urea output last year as some units were shut because they were taking steps to enhance their efficiency but this year all units were expected to function smoothly, the official said, adding the overall urea output was expected to reach 24.4 MT in the ongoing financial year. Local production of urea was still short of annual demand of 30 MT, he said, adding the import would be in the range of 5-6 MT. NIFTY 50 SCRIP OPEN HIGH LOW LTP CHANGE GAIL DRREDDY 2, , , , SUNPHARMA LUPIN INFY 1, , , , BHARTIARTL GRASIM , , NTPC TATAMOTORS AXISBANK CIPLA ICICIBANK BAJFINANCE 2, , , , HEROMOTOCO 3, , , , MARUTI 9, , , , BAJAJ-AUTO 2, , , , BPCL TCS 2, , , , ASIANPAINT 1, , , , M&M COALINDIA ITC UPL HINDUNILVR 1, , , , POWERGRID HCLTECH , TECHM BAJAJFINSV 7, , , , INDUSINDBK 1, , , , SBIN TITAN HDFCBANK 2, , , , ADANIPORTS EICHERMOT 28, , , , RELIANCE 1, , , , YESBANK INFRATEL ONGC IOC HINDPETRO LT 1, , , , WIPRO TATASTEEL ULTRACEMCO 4, , , , HINDALCO IBULHSGFIN 1, , , , HDFC 1, , , , ZEEL VEDL KOTAKBANK 1, , , , NIFTY NEXT 50 SCRIP OPEN HIGH LOW LTP CHANGE GODREJCP 1, , , , PNB DLF AUROPHARMA MOTHERSUMI COLPAL 1, , , , LICHSGFIN SUNTV CADILAHC OFSS 4, , , , SRTRANSFIN 1, , , , GICRE BRITANNIA 6, , , , MCDOWELL-N BHEL CONCOR ASHOKLEY INDIGO 1, , , , ABCAPITAL ACC 1, , , , DMART 1, , , , PIDILITIND 1, , , , SIEMENS 1, , , AMBUJACEM NHPC NMDC CUMMINSIND MARICO HAVELLS MRF 73, , , , ABB 1, , , , PETRONET OIL SHREECEM 17, , , , L&TFH SBILIFE DABUR BOSCHLTD 19, , , , BANKBARODA PGHH 10, , , , BEL PFC IDEA HINDZINC RECLTD ICICIPRULI EMAMILTD SAIL JSWSTEEL PEL 2, , , , BSE 500 Script Last Abs Change Traded Price Change % 3MINDIA KMILES AARTIIND ABB ABBOTINDIA ABFRL ACC ADANIPORTS ADANIPOWER ADANITRANS ADVENZYMES AEGISLOG AIAENG AJANTPHARM AKZOINDIA ALBK ALKEM ALLCARGO AMARAJABAT AMBUJACEM ANDHRABANK APARINDS APLAPOLLO APLLTD APOLLOHOSP APOLLOTYRE ARVIND ASAHIINDIA ASHOKA ASHOKLEY ASIANPAINT ASTRAL ATUL AUBANK AUROPHARMA AVANTI AXISBANK BAJAJ-AUTO BAJAJCORP BAJAJELEC BSE: GAINERS Current (Chng %) HDIL (18.27) TNPL (12.02) VAKRANGEE (10.00) SONATSOFTW (9.51) HCC (6.15) BAJAJFINSV BAJAJHLDNG BAJFINANCE BALKRISIND BALMLAWRIE BALRAMCHIN BANKBARODA BANKINDIA BASF BATAINDIA BAYERCROP BBTC BEL BEML BERGEPAINT BHARATFIN BHARATFORG BHARTIARTL BHEL BIOCON BIRLACORPN BLISSGVS BLUEDART BLUESTARCO BOMDYEING BOSCHLTD BPCL BRITANNIA CADILAHC CANBK CANFINHOME CAPF CAPPL CARBORUNIV CARERATING CASTROLIND CCL CEATLTD CENTRALBK CENTRUM CENTURYPLY CENTURYTEX CERA CESC CGPOWER CHAMBLFERT CHENNPETRO CHOLAFIN CIPLA COALINDIA COCHINSHIP COFFEEDAY COLPAL CONCOR COROMANDEL CORPBANK COX&KINGS CRISIL CROMPTON CUB CUMMINSIND CYIENT DABUR DALMIABHA DBCORP DBL DCBBANK DCMSHRIRAM* DEEPAKFERT DEEPAKNI DELTACORP DENABANK DHANUKA DHFL DISHTV DIVISLAB DLF DMART DRREDDY ECLERX EDELWEISS EICHERMOT EIDPARRY EIHOTEL ELGIEQUIP EMAMILTD ENDURANCE ENGINERSIN NSE: GAINERS Current (Chng %) GAIL (3.61) DRREDDY 2, (3.47) SUNPHARMA (3.19) LUPIN (1.49) INFY 1, (1.47) ENIL EQUITAS ERIS ESCORTS ESSELPRO EVEREADY EXIDEIND FCONSUMER FDC FEDERALBNK FINCABLES FINOLEXIND FLFL FORBESCO FORCEMOT FORTIS FRETAIL FSL GAIL GDL GEPIL GESHIP GET&D GHCL GICHSGFIN GICRE GILLETTE GLAXO GLENMARK GMDCLTD GMRINFRA GNFC GODFRYPHLP GODREJAGRO GODREJCP GODREJIND GODREJPROP GPPL GRANULES GRAPHITE GRASIM GREAVESCOT GREENPLY GRINDWELL GRUH GSFC SENSEX GSKCONS GSPL GUJALKALI GUJFLUORO GUJGAS GULFOILLUB HATSUN HAVELLS HCC HCLTECH HDFC 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MARUTI MAXINDIA MCX MEGH MFSL MGL MHRIL MINDACORP MINDAIND MINDTREE MMTC MOIL MONSANTO MOTHERSUMI MOTILALOFS MPHASIS MRF MRPL MUTHOOTFIN NATCOPHARM NATIONALUM NAUKRI NAVINFLUOR NAVKARCORP VITAL STATS GOLD SILVER Mumbai Delhi Kolkata NIFTY NAVNETEDUL NBCC NBVENTURES NCC NESTLEIND NETWORK NH NHPC NIACL NIITTECH NILKAMAL NLCINDIA NMDC NOCIL NTPC OBEROIRLTY OFSS OIL OMAXE ONGC ORIENTBANK ORIENTCEM PAGEIND PARAGMILK PCJEWELLER PEL PERSISTENT PETRONET PFC PFIZER PFS PGHH PHILIPCARB PHOENIXLTD PIDILITIND PIIND PNB PNBHOUSING PNCINFRA POWERGRID PRESTIGE PRSMJOHNSN BSE: LOSERS Current (Chng %) RCOM (10.39) JISLJALEQS (8.83) TATASTEELPP (5.79) SREINFRA (5.39) RNAVAL (4.98) PTC PVR QUESS RADICO RAIN RAJESHEXPO RALLIS RAMCOCEM RATNAMANI RAYMOND RBLBANK RCF RCOM RECLTD REDINGTON RELAXO RELCAPITAL RELIANCE RELINFRA REPCOHOME RNAM RNAVAL RPOWER SADBHAV SAIL SANOFI SBILIFE SBIN SCHAEFFLER SCHNEIDER SCI SFL SHANKARA SHARDACROP SHILPAMED SHK SHOPERSTOP SHREECEM SHRIRAMCIT SIEMENS SIS SJVN SKFINDIA SOBHA SOLARINDS SOMANYCERA SONATSOFTW SOUTHBANK SPARC SPICEJET SREINFRA SRF SRTRANSFIN STARCEMENT STRTECH SUDARSCHEM SUNCLAYLTD SUNDRMFAST SUNPHARMA SUNTECK SUNTV SUPPETRO SUPRAJIT SUPREMEIND SUVEN SUZLON SWANENERGY SYMPHONY SYNDIBANK SYNGENE TAKE TATACHEM TATACOFFEE TATACOMM TATAELXSI TATAGLOBAL TATAINVEST TATAMETALI TATAMOTORS TATAMTRDVR TATAPOWER TATASTEEL TCS TEAMLEASE TECHM TEJASNET TEXRAIL THERMAX NSE: LOSERS Current (Chng %) KOTAKBANK 1, (3.71) VEDL (2.84) ZEEL (2.59) HDFC 1, (2.54) IBULHSGFIN 1, (2.51) THOMASCOOK THYROCARE TIFHL TIMETECHNO TIMKEN TITAN TNPL TORNTPHARM TORNTPOWER TRENT TRIDENT TRITURBINE TTKPRESTIG TV18BRDCST TVSMOTOR TVSSRICHAK TVTODAY UBL UCOBANK UFLEX UJJIVAN ULTRACEMCO UNICHEMLAB UNIONBANK UPL VBL VEDL VENKYS VGUARD VIJAYABANK VINATIORGA VIPIND VMART VOLTAS VSTIND VTL WABAG WABCOINDIA WELCORP WELSPUNIND WHIRLPOOL WIPRO WOCKPHARMA YESBANK ZEEL ZENSARTECH ZYDUSWELL

11 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 world 12 Trump revokes security clearance of ex-cia dir PTI n WASHINGTON onald Trump has revoked Dthe security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, one of the US President s staunchest critics, accusing him of lying and for his erratic conduct and behaviour. The 62-year-old former top intelligence official served in the previous Obama administration. He was the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director from 2013 to White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders read out a statement from Trump during a press briefing in which the President said he has decided to revoke Brennan s security clearance since he recently has leveraged his status as a former high-ranking official with access to highly sensitive information to make a series of unfounded and outrageous allegations, wild outbursts on the Internet and television, about this administration. Brennan tweeted that his security clearance being revoked is part of a broader effort by Trump to suppress freedom of speech and punish critics. It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent. Just a day before, Brennan strongly criticised Trump for using derogatory words against former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman. When Trump addressed Newman as that dog in a tweet, Brennan replied it is astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility and probity. Seems like you will never understand what it means to be president, nor what it takes to be a good, decent and honest person. So disheartening, so dangerous for our Nation. Trump said in the statement that historically, former heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to retain access to classified information after their government service so that they can consult with their successors regarding matters about which they may have special insights and as a professional courtesy. Neither of these justifications supports Brennan s continued access to classified information. First, at this point in my administration, any benefits that senior officials might glean from consultations with Brennan are now outweighed by the risks posed by his erratic conduct and behaviour. Second, that conduct and behaviour has tested and far exceeded the limits of any professional courtesy that may have been due to him, the President said. Trump added Brennan has a history that calls into question his objectivity and credibility. He cited a 2014 incident when Brennan had denied to Congress that CIA officials, under his supervision, had improperly accessed the computer files of congressional staffers and had told the Council of Foreign Relations that the CIA would never do such a thing. However the CIA s Inspector General had contradicted Brennan directly, concluding unequivocally that agency officials had indeed improperly accessed congressional staffers files. More recently, Trump said Brennan told Congress that the intelligence community did not make use of the so-called Steele dossier in an assessment regarding the 2016 election, an assertion contradicted by at least two other senior officials in the intelligence community and all of the facts. Brennan s lying and recent conduct, characterised by increasingly frensied commentary, is wholly inconsistent with access to the nation s most closely held secrets and (facilitates) the very aim of our adversaries, which is to sow division and chaos, Trump said. The President said he has also begun to review the more general question of the access to classified information by government officials and is evaluating action against former director of national intelligence James Clapper, former FBI director James Comey, former head of the NSA Michael Hayden, former acting attorney general Sally Yates and former president Barack Obama s NSA Susan Rice and others. Security clearances for those who still have them may be revoked, and those who have already lost their security clearance may not be able to have it reinstated, Trump said in the statement read out by Sanders. Asked if Trump is targeting his political critics by revoking their security clearances, Sanders replied in the negative. No. If there were others that weren t, that we deemed necessary, we would certainly take a look and review those as well, Sanders said when asked if Trump is going after his political opponents. Trump s war on media draws editorials in nearly 350 US outlets PTI n WASHINGTON n an unprecedented move, Inearly 350 media outlets today launched a coordinated campaign decrying US President Donald Trump s frequent attacks on journalists and his attempt to portray some news organisations as enemies of the American people. Trump has stepped up his attacks on the media in recent weeks and the White House last month barred a CNN reporter from covering a public event after she asked Trump an inappropriate question. The Boston Globe made the call last week for a nationwide denouncement of President Trump s dirty war against the media, using the hashtag #EnemyOfNone. Each newspaper participating in the effort wrote its own separate editorial against the US President s antimedia comments.trump has frequently derided unfavourable media reports as fake news and attacked journalists as enemies of the people. The Trump Twitter Archive says he has tweeted 281 times so far using the term fake news.replacing a free media with a state-run media has always been a first order of business for any corrupt regime taking over a country, The Boston Globe said in its editorial. Today in the United States we have a president who has created a mantra that members of the media who do not blatantly support the policies of the current US administration are the enemy of the people. This is one of the many lies that have been thrown out by this president much like an oldtime charlatan threw out magic dust or water on a hopeful crowd, the stinging editorial commented. The Editorial Board of The New York Times noted Malaysia court rules North Korea assassination trial can proceed AFP n SHAH ALAM Malaysian court ruled on AThursday the murder trial of two women accused of assassinating the half-brother of North Korea s leader can proceed in a blow to their families who insist the pair were tricked into carrying out the dramatic hit. After hearing prosecutors case, Judge Azmi Ariffin said there was sufficient evidence to support a murder charge against Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, accused of murdering Kim Jong Nam with nerve agent VX at Kuala Lumpur airport. I must therefore call upon them to enter their defence on their respective charges, the judge said in his ruling to the Shah Alam High Court, outside Kuala Lumpur. The women looked shocked and tearful as the ruling was handed down. If the judge had decided the evidence was not sufficient, he could have chosen to acquit the women. Aisyah s lawyer Gooi Soon Seng told reporters: We are deeply disappointed with the ruling... We will do our best at the defence stage. Their families insist the women were tricked into carrying out the Cold War-style killing, and had been hopeful they would be acquitted, although state prosecutors insisted they had Gooi Soon Seng, lawyer for Indonesian defendant Siti Aisyah speaks during a press conference after a court hearing at Shah Alam High Court in Shah Alam, Malaysia on Thursday. AP a strong case. The women are accused of killing Kim Jong Nam once seen as an heir to the North Korean leadership and a rival to current leader Kim Jong Un by smearing toxic VX on his face in February last year as he waited to board a flight to Macau.The pair, who face death by hanging if found guilty, claim they fell victim to an elaborate plot hatched by North Korean agents and believed they were taking part in a prank for a reality TV show when they attacked Kim with a chemical classified as a weapon of mass destruction. But describing the murder as like something out of a James Bond movie, prosecutors argued the pair were welltrained assassins who knew exactly what they were doing. During months of hearings, the court has been told that four North Koreans who are formally accused alongside the women of committing the murder recruited the pair and were the masterminds, providing them with the poison on the day of the World s oldest cheese found inside ancient Egyptian tomb Cairo (PTI): Scientists claim to have discovered the world s oldest cheese inside an Egyptian tomb dating back over 3,000 years. Archeologists from the University of Catania in Italy found broken jars inside the tomb of Ptahmes - mayor of Memphis in Egypt during the 13th century BC - which was initially unearthed in After being lost under drifting sands, the tomb was rediscovered in 2010, according to the study published in the journal Analytical Chemistry. One jar contained a solidified whitish mass, as well as canvas fabric that might have covered the jar or may have been used to preserve its contents. Enrico Greco, from the University of Catania, and colleagues from Cairo University in Egypt, analysed the whitish substance to determine its identity. After dissolving the sample, the researchers purified its protein constituents and analysed them with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Liquid chromatography is a technique used to separate a sample into its individual parts, while as mass spectrometry measures the masses within a sample. The peptides detected by these techniques show the sample was a dairy product made from cow milk and sheep or goat milk. The characteristics of the canvas fabric, which indicate it was suitable for containing a solid rather than a liquid, and the absence of other specific markers, support the conclusion that the dairy product was a solid cheese, researchers said. murder before flying out of the country. The defence teams have argued the women are simply scapegoats, with the authorities unable to catch the real killers, the North Koreans, and therefore desperate to secure some kind of conviction in the case. Despite the evidence against them, the women s lawyers believed that prosecutors had not shown they intended to kill Kim, who had been living in exile for a decade since falling out of favour with the North s ruling family. that this year, some of the most damaging attacks came from government officials. Criticising the news media for underplaying or overplaying stories, for getting something wrong is entirely right. News reporters and editors are human, and make mistakes. Correcting them is core to our job. But insisting that truths you don t like are fake news is dangerous to the lifeblood of democracy. And calling journalists the enemy of the people is dangerous, period, it said. These attacks on the press are particularly threatening to journalists in nations with a less secure rule of law and to smaller publications in the United States, already buffeted by the industry s economic crisis, the influential paper noted. The New York Post - hardly a left-leaning paper - answered the Globe s call by saying Who are we to disagree? adding: It may be frustrating to argue that just because we print inconvenient truths doesn t mean that we re fake news, but being a journalist isn t a popularity contest. The Philadelphia Inquirer said its city was the birthplace of US democracy, writing: If the press is not free from reprisal, punishment or suspicion for unpopular views or information, neither is the country. Neither are its people. Two mosques attacked with catapults in UK London: Two mosques in Britain s Birmingham were targeted with heavy-duty catapults and ball bearings overnight, police said on Thursday. Armed police officers have been deployed outside the mosques, they said. West Midlands Police were called to Masjid Qamarul Islam in Small Heath area of the city at around 10pm (local time) and then to Al-Hijrah mosque nearby around 20 minutes later. Police said they had recovered some ball bearings which appeared to have been fired from catapults, which smashed windows during evening prayers. Firearms officers were deployed as a precaution, but the bearings recovered are thought to be from a heavy-duty catapult, West Midlands Police said in a statement. The reason for the attacks aren t clear at this stage, but officers are continuing to patrol the area to reassure worshippers and local residents, the statement said.imam Usman Hussain, from Masjid Qamarul Islam, said people were frightened as windows were smashed. Worshippers thought they were under attack by someone with a gun. We heard a loud bang, people were very frightened, there was a sense of panic, but we don t know what the motive was, he said.the incidents come in the wake of 29- year-old Sudanese-origin British Muslim, Salih Khater, being arrested on suspicion of terror offences in London after he smashed through security barriers outside Parliament in London on Tuesday, injuring three people. Chinese official to visit US to resume talks to end trade war PTI n BEIJING mid a stalemate in the Atrade war with the US, China will send a top official to Washington this month to resume the high-level dialogue to resolve the deadlock over President Donald Trump s demand to drastically reduce the USD 375 billion trade deficit. Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce, will lead a delegation to the US at the end of August to discuss bilateral trade issues with a team led by David Malpass, secretary of treasury for international affairs, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The initiative to resume talks followed a spate of tit-fortat tariffs slapped by both the counties. China, which has a trade surplus of USD 375 billion in its USD 636 billion bilateral trade with US, is trying to retaliate in the same measure though its officials maintain that Beijing is reluctantly following the suit. China has been reiterating that it opposes unilateralism and trade protectionism of Trump and will not accept any unilateral trade restrictions. China welcomes dialogue and communication on the basis of equity, equality and integrity, the official statement added. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He held talks with US Commerce Minister Wilbur Ross in Beijing in June. The visit of the Chinese delegation headed by the Vice Minister unlike in the past when it was led by Vice Premier Liu comes in the backdrop of the end of annual informal consultative meetings between top Chinese leaders at summer resort Beidaihe. The leaders of the ruling Communist Party of China meet every year around August to discuss a host of major issues. Beijing and Washington started the trade war in July this year each imposing 25 per cent tariffs on USD 34 billion of each other s exports. Washington is due to impose tariffs on another USD 16 billion of Chinese goods on August 23, and China has warned that it will retaliate to that move.there have been no high-level talks between the two sides since July, but Hong Kong-based the South China Morning Post quoted officials as saying that that the two countries made unofficial contact late last month to explore the possibility of resuming talks. Liu Weidong, a US affairs expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said a key aspect ofwang s visit was to check whether further formal dialogue between the two nations was possible. The main purpose is to see whether both sides are really interested in having further dialogue. If both sides are interested, then there will be follow-up actions, Liu told the Post. Wang Yiwei, a professor at Renmin University s international studies, said Wang s trip follows the Communist Party s annual closed door meeting at the Beidahe resort, where the trade war was likely to have been one of the main topics of discussion. It is possible that China may stress to the US that China will continue reform, he said. China realises how serious the trade war with the US is and does not want a more serious confrontation, he said. US blacklists Russian and Chinese companies for breaking N Korea Washington (AFP): The US Treasury announced sanctions on Russian and Chinese companies for violating the economic embargo on North Korea as Washington seeks to maintain pressure on Pyongyang over its nuclear program. The Treasury accused China-based Dalian Sun Moon Star International Logistics Trading Co and its Singapore-based affiliate, SINSMS Pte, of falsifying documents to facilitate shipments of alcohol and cigarettes to North Korea. Those shipments helped fuel what the Treasury alleged was a huge illicit cigarette trade earning the Pyongyang regime USD 1 billion a year. It also blacklisted Russia-based Profinet Pte for violating UN sanctions by providing loading and refueling services to sanctioned North Korean-flagged ships at three eastern Russia ports. Also named was Profinet director general Vasili Aleksandrovich Kolchanov, whom the Treasury said was personally involved in deals with the North Koreans. Treasury reminds the shipping industry... of the significant risks posed by North Korea s shipping practices, the Treasury said in a statement on Wednesday. The Chinese trading company acknowledged that it has shipped cigarettes and alcohol to North Korea but denied any wrongdoing. We shipped them through China customs clearance, it s all legal, and we have all the necessary legal formalities, the director of Dalian Sun Moon Star International Logistics Trading, Liang Ye, told AFP by telephone. We can only suspend our business now, Liang said. The company might go bankrupt. The sanctions have a huge impact on us. Despite having opened direct talks with Pyongyang, Washington continues to enforce the embargo on trade with North Korea in order to put pressure on the country to end its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme. Ibrahim Keita re-elected Mali Prez with landslide Bamako (AFP): Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been re-elected for a five-year term after winning per cent of the vote in a runoff, the government announced on Thursday. Opposition challenger and former finance minister Soumaila Cisse, who also ran against Keita in 2013, won per cent on Sunday, Local Government Minister Mohamed Ag Erlaf said on national television, giving provisional figures. Turnout was low, at 34.5%. Afghans pray during the funeral of a victim who died in Wednesday's deadly suicide bombing that targeted a training class in a private building in the Shiite neighborhood of Dasht-i Barcha, in western Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday. AP In this Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018 file photo, Malian incumbent President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, arrives to cast his ballot during the Presidential second round election in Bamako, Mali. AP Violence, low public enthusiasm and accusations of fraud marred the vote. Cisse, 68, on Monday said he would reject the results. Keita, 73, will take office on September 4, with hopes he can strengthen a 2015 peace accord between the government, governmentallied groups and former Tuareg rebels. Mali, a landlocked nation home to at least 20 ethnic groups where the majority of people live on less than USD 2 (1.76 euros) a day, has battled jihadist attacks and intercommunal violence for years. Islamist attacks have spread from the north to the centre and south of the vast country and spilled into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, often inflaming communal conflicts. On Wednesday, the opposition claimed a technician working for Cisse was tortured while detained by security forces for three days. Internet access was cut on mobile networks in Bamako today ahead of the announcement, AFP journalists witnessed. IS claims responsibility for deadly Kabul attack AP n KABUL he Islamic State group Thas claimed responsibility for the horrific suicide bombing the previous day that targeted a Shiite area of the Afghan capital, killing 34 students. The claim of responsibility was posted today on the IS-affiliated Aamaq news agency. IS says its bomber, identified as martyrdom-seeking brother Abdul Raouf al- Khorasani carried out the attack, allegedly killing or wounding more than 200 students. Afghanistan s Health Ministry has released a revised casualty toll, saying 34 students were killed and 57 were wounded. Afghanistan s IS affiliate is known as The Islamic State in Khorasan Province. Khorasan is the ancient name for an area that encompassed parts of present-day Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia.

12 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 world 13 Asia Pacific Group asks Pak to curb terror financing PTI n LAHORE n international delegation Amonitoring Pakistan s commitments to the global financial watchdog FATF has urged Islamabad to make terror financing and money laundering extraditable offences, a media report said on Thursday. The Asia Pacific Group (APG) on Money Laundering, which is currently in Pakistan, will submit a report to the Parisbased Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which placed Pakistan on its grey list in June. The APG s Mutual Evaluation report can play a critical role in retaining or removing Pakistan from the list after September next year. Islamabad needs to comply by the end of September next year with a 10-point action plan it committed to the FATF in June to combat terror financing and money laundering to get out of the grey list or else fall into the black list. Placement on the grey list hurts a country s economy as well as its international standing.the Express Tribune reported that delegation yesterday urged Pakistan to enact appropriate laws, enabling local officials to act upon requests of foreign countries to freeze illegal assets and extradite those involved in terrorism financing and money laundering. The delegation met officials of the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) of the State Bank of Pakistan, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs and interior. It urged the country to make terror financing and money laundering extraditable offences.highlighting deficiencies in Pakistan s legal framework, the visiting APG team pointed out that this could hamper Pakistan s effective response on requests of mutual legal assistance by foreign countries in money laundering cases, officials said. Stressing the need for strengthening domestic legal framework by October, members of the APG team an on-site inspection would be carried out by the regional body after this period. It also urged the authorities concerned to give predicate offence monitoring powers to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The group s other areas of concerns were activities by non-profit organisations, narcotics trafficking and proceeds of crimes. The team comprises officials from the US, Turkey, China and the UK. Officials from the US Treasury and the UK s New Scotland Yard are part of the delegation. Discussions are taking place on technical grounds where Pakistani authorities are trying to address the APG s concerns. During its third day of visit, the AGP team discussed the status of implementation of the FATF recommendations on supervision of financial institutions, challenges posed by Empire State Building, Niagara Falls light up in tricolour for India s I-Day PTI n NEW YORK he iconic Empire State Building Tand Niagara Falls were illuminated with the tricolour to mark India s 72nd Independence Day with the Indian diaspora in the US celebrating the occasion, showcasing the country s rich cultural heritage and history in a series of events. A special ceremony was organised at the world-famous skyscraper in New York s midtown Manhattan for lighting it up in saffron, white and green. Happy India Day from New York City! Together with the Federation of Indian Association, we re honouring India s Independence Day by recreating the Indian flag in lights tonight, the twitter handle of the Empire State Building, the 1,454 feet-tall building with 102 stories, said in a tweet. Consul General of India in New York Sandeep Chakravorty accompanied by Srujal Parikh, president of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) - New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and singer Mickey Singh attended the event yesterday. The Niagara Falls, arguably the world s most breathtaking waterfalls and one of the most visited tourist spots globally, was also illuminated in saffron, white and green to mark India s Independence Day. The Indian diaspora in the US celebrated the Independence Day with patriotic fervour and zeal, showcasing the country s rich cultural heritage and history in a number of events across America. In Washington, the Indian Embassy organised a flag-hoisting ceremony at the embassy premises. The ceremony was attended by members of the Indian community in large numbers. India s Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna unfurled the tricolour, after which those present sang the National Anthem. Sarna then addressed the guests and as a custom, read out President Ram Nath Kovind s address to the nation. He also handed out prizes to the children of the Indian diaspora who participated in singing of patriotic songs and speech competition on the topic India of My Dreams, organised by the Embassy as part of India@70 celebrations.a brief cultural programme involving rendition of patriotic songs by school children was also organised. India s permanent mission to the UN and the Indian consulate in New York also hosted events to mark the occasion. Bollywood actor Anupam Kher attended the festivities. India s envoy to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin hosted the festivities at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN. Following the unfurling of the tricolor at India s Consulate in New York, Consul General Chakravorty addressed the gathering.the event was attended by about 200 people including prominent members of the Indian community and local dignitaries including Congresswoman Grace Meng, Assemblyman David Weprin, Assemblyman Raj Mukherjee and Senator Vin Gopal. A short cultural programme was also organised by the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, including singing of patriotic songs and poetry recitation. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) sponsored a seven-member group consisting of acclaimed Kathak dancers - Sandip Mallick and group with Anuj Mishra and group that presented a Kathak performance at the consulate. The team in collaboration with the Consulate and the famed Battery Dance Company performed in the city later in the evening. Independence Day celebrations were also held at India s Consulates in Chicago, Houston, Atlanta. On August 19, the FIA will organise the 38th India Day Parade that will run through several streets of Madison Avenue in the heart of Manhattan, featuring tableaux by various Indian-American groups, marching bands, police contingents and cultural performances by young Indian-American children. Actor and politician Kamal Haasan, his daughter Shruti Haasan, Kher and legendary cricketer Vivian Richards are expected to lead the parade. Parikh has said that he expects about 150,000 people to attend this year s cultural extravaganza, which will feature 35 floats and 30 marching contingents and dance performances such as Bihu and Lavani showcasing India s regional diversity. He said the parade s central message will be Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - the world is one family and bring together for the first time communities from other South Asian and Caribbean nations. Ministers and diplomats from nations such as Antigua, Sri Lanka and Nepal are expected to attend the parade. beneficial ownerships and trusts, the targeted financial sanctions against terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and mutual legal assistance and extradition. After discussions, the AGP will prepare the second draft of technical compliance report before October, which can be improved upon during the mutual evaluation on-site visit, scheduled for October. Pakistani authorities were of the view that each department had its own mutual legal assistance arrangement, which could meet the needs of other countries. However, they said that this did not fully persuade the APG team. Pakistan is also not a signatory to mutual legal assistance treaties with countries such as the US, the UK, Canada, the UAE, Malaysia and Thailand. Officials said that the APG team also expressed concerns about implementing recommendations on extradition of criminals involved in money laundering and terrorism financing. The FATF makes it mandatory for member countries to deny safe havens to individuals charged with financing of terrorism, terrorist acts or terrorist organisations. Various departments gave presentations to the APG on their role in curbing money laundering and terrorism financing. The visiting experts were largely satisfied with the performance of Anti Narcotics Force, SECP and NAB. But they sought improvements in the skill sets of the Financial Monitoring Unit and National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). Discussions were also held on effective supervision of financial institutions to ensure that the secrecy laws did not hamper implementation of the FATF recommendations. The visiting experts also stressed that beneficial ownerships should not be used to protect the proceeds of crimes. They also discussed Pakistan s legal and regulatory regimes on beneficial ownerships and trusts, which could be used for laundering money.pakistani authorities are learnt to have informed the APG team about measures taken by the country to comply with the United Nations Security Council resolution 1267 and 1373, targeting financial sanctions against terrorists. Pak to elect next Prez on September 4: Poll body PTI n ISLAMABAD akistan will hold presiden- elections on September Ptial 4 to elect President Mamnoon Hussain s successor at the end of his five-year-tenure, the election commission announced Pakistan s president is elected indirectly by the members of Parliament and the four provincial assemblies. Presidential election will be held on September 4, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said as it issued the schedule of the election. The candidates can file nominations by August 27 and the final list of contesting candidates will be issued on August 30, it said. The polling will be held in the buildings of the federal parliament and provincial assemblies. In Pakistan, the President is considered as a symbol of the federation and head of the state and exercises all powers on the recommendations of the prime minister. Hussain, elected in September 2013, was a nominee of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led by jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Hussain s parents migrated from Agra and settled in Karachi after partition. A tough competition is expected between nominees of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Prime Minister-inwaiting and cricketer-turnedpolitician Imran Khan and the joint opposition forged by the PML-N, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal. Pakistan telecom authority threatens to ban Twitter PTI n ISLAMABAD witter has been warned by TPakistan s telecom authority that the micro-blogging site could be banned in the country for not complying with its directive to block objectionable content, according to a media report. There have been several instances in the past also when social media were banned in Pakistan. Facebook was banned in the country twice in 2008 and then again in In September 2012, the Pak istan Telecommuni cation Authority (PTA) blocked access to YouTube throughout the country for over two years. The PTA informed the Senate Standing Com mittee on Cabinet Secre tariat that while Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms complied with requests from the government to block objectionable content, Twitter did not oblige, the Dawn News reported on Thursday. Out of a hundred requests from Pakistan to block certain offensive material, roughly five per cent are entertained. Twitter ignores all the remaining requests, Director General of PTA s Internet Policy and Web Analysis, Nisar Ahmed, told the committee. The committee had met for a briefing on penalties fixed by the PTA against derogatory comments related to Pakistan spreading through social media, the report said. Informing the committee about Islamabad High Court s recent directive to the PTA to ask Twitter to respond to requests from Pakistan or face the risk of being blocked in the country, Ahmed said, The PTA has conveyed the court s concern to Twitter, but has not got a response. The regulatory authority will implement court orders if Twitter does not respond to the final notice. The court is determined to teach Twitter a lesson they will lose business, he added. Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf information secretary Fawad Chaudhry has said that his party was against any kind of censorship on free media, the report said. Those who do not wish to see objectionable and offensive content should not search for such content. Social media is not just for recreation and entertainment. There are jobs and households associated with the business. Blocking social media websites will have both social and economic impacts, Chaudhry, who is tipped to become information minister in the new government led by PTI chief Imran Khan, said. White House says Turkish sanctions regrettable Washington: The White House has said that Turkey s tariff hikes on US products in retaliation for sanctions against Ankara were regrettable and again called for the immediate release of American pastor Andrew Brunson. The tariffs from Turkey are certainly regrettable and a step in the wrong direction, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said, while stopping short of announcing fresh retaliatory measures. The White House defended a slew of tariffs and sanctions that have substantially weakened Turkey s currency and forced regulators to take steps to curb financial flows out of the country. The tariffs that the United States placed on Turkey were out of national security interests. Theirs are out of retaliation, said Sanders yesterday. She added that even if pastor Andrew Brunson was released, tariffs would remain in place on steel. Sanders lamented that Turkey had treated Brunson, who we know to be a very good person and a strong Christian who has done nothing wrong, very unfairly, very badly. When asked about the impact of the US spat with Turkey on the country s currency, the spokeswoman said Washington was monitoring the situation. But she added: Turkey s economic problems - those are a part of a long-term trend, something of its own making and not the result of any actions the United States has taken. AFP Italy collapse points to difficulties with aging bridges AP n NEW YORK bridge that collapsed in Tthe Italian port city of Genoa was considered a feat of engineering innovation when it was built five decades ago, but it came to require constant maintenance over the years. Its design is now being investigated as a possible contributor to its stunning collapse. The Morandi Bridge was severed in its midsection during a heavy downpour Tuesday, killing at least 39 people. Italian prosecutors focused their investigation into possible design flaws or inadequate maintenance of the 1967 bridge. Engineering experts said the disaster points to the challenges of maintaining any aging bridge, regardless of its design. What the general public does not comprehend is that bridges have been traditionally designed in the past for a life span of 50 years, said Neil Hawkins, a professor emeritus of engineering at the University of Illinois, who specializes in reinforced and prestressed concrete design. The environment in which the bridge exists can have a major effect on how much it can last beyond that 50-year design life span. The structure is a cable stayed bridge designed by Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi, who died in A m o n g its unusual features were its concrete-encased stay cables, which Morandi used in several of his bridge designs instead of the more common steel cables. There are two similar bridges in the world, in Libya and Venezuela. Experts have said a number of factors could have contributed to the collapse, including wear and tear from weather and traffic that surpassed what the bridge was originally built to sustain. Genoa is a port city so that there can be marine effects and also it is a major industrial center so that there can be air pollution that impairs the concrete, Hawkins said in an . Whether any of these effects, or other major deficiencies in the foundations, were present I have no knowledge. But all can contribute to a bridge failure. Antonio Brencich, a professor of construction at the University of Genoa, said the design lent itself to swift corrosion and the bridge was in constant need of maintenance. Most recently, a 20 million-euro ($22.7 million) project to upgrade the bridge s safety had been approved before its collapse, with public bids to be submitted by September. According to the business daily Il Sole 24 Ore, the improvement work involved two weight-bearing columns that support the bridge including one that collapsed Tuesday. But Brencich, who warned two years ago that the design of the bridge was a failure, said the structure should have been destroyed rather than be subjected to more repairs. The Genoa bridge, along with the two similar bridges in Libya and Venezuela, have deteriorated at unimaginable speeds, Brencich told Sky News Italian television station Wednesday. Since this bridge was under constant maintenance, the time had come to consider a replacement for the bridge. The Italian CNR civil engineering society said structures as old as the Morandi Bridge had surpassed their lifespans. It called for an ambitious plan to repair or replace tens of thousands of Italian bridges and viaducts built in the 1950s and 1960s, citing a series of collapses in recent years, not all fatal. The collapse of a freeway bridge in Minneapolis in 2007 drew similar alarm bells about aging infrastructure in the U.S. The Interstate 35W bridge, whose collapse into the Mississippi river killed 13 people, was also built in the 1960s, though federal investigators ultimately concluded that poor maintenance wasn t the main cause of the disaster. Instead, they pointed to a design defect, saying crucial gusset plates that held the beams together were only half as thick as they should have been.since then, there has been a push to improve bridge designs and make changes to the way they are inspected. 2 nd night of rescue efforts after deadly Italy bridge collapse AFP n GENOA escue workers toiled Rthrough a second night on Thursday in a desperate bid to find survivors in the rubble of a Genoa bridge which caved in during a heavy rainstorm, killing at least 39 people and injuring 16 more A vast span of the Morandi bridge collapsed in the northern port city on Tuesday, sending about 35 cars and several trucks plunging 45 metres (150 feet) onto railway tracks below. Italy s government has blamed the firm that operated the collapsed bridge for the disaster and announced a state of emergency in the region. Children aged eight, 12 and 13 were among the dead, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said, adding that more people were still missing. Sixteen people were injured. The driver of a green lorry left precariously close to the edge told Italian media how he had escaped the hell of the bridge collapse. It was raining very hard and it wasn t possible to go very fast, he told the Corriere della Sera daily. When a car overtook me I slowed down... (then) at a certain moment everything shook. The car in front of me disappeared and seemed to be swallowed up by the clouds. I looked up and saw the bridge pylon fall, he said. Instinctively, finding myself in front of the void, I put the van into reverse, to escape this hell, he added. Three Chileans, who live in Italy, and four French nationals were also killed.the tragedy has focused anger on the structural problems that have dogged the decades old Morandi bridge and the private sector firm Autostrade per l Italia, which is currently in charge of operating and maintaining swathes of the country s motorways. Deputy prime minister Luigi Di Maio said the tragedy could have been avoided. Autostrade should have done In this Sept. 4, 1967 black and white photo, then Italian President Giuseppe Saragat, standing in the car waving, inaugurates the Polcevera viaduct, also known as the Morandi Bridge, after its construction, in Genoa, Italy. The bridge collapsed Tuesday, killing at least 39 people on the eve of Italy's biggest summer holiday. AP maintenance and didn t do it, he alleged. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also confirmed that his government would push to revoke the company s contract for the A10 motorway, which includes the bridge, while Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said the company should be fined up to 150 million euros ($170 million). The firm, which said the bridge had been undergoing maintenance work, however, released a statement refuting accusations of underfunding of motorway infrastructure. In the last five years ( ) the company s investment in the security, maintenance and strengthening of the network has been over one billion euros a year, it said. Survivors recounted the heart-stopping moment when the bridge buckled, tossing vehicles and hunks of concrete into the abyss. Davide Capello, a former goalkeeper for Italian Serie A club Cagliari, plunged with his car but was unscathed. I was driving along the bridge, and at a certain point I saw the road in front of me collapse, and I went down with the car, he told TV news channel Sky TG24. As cars and trucks tumbled off the bridge, Afifi Idriss, 39, a Moroccan truck driver, just managed to stop in time. I saw the green lorry in front of me stop and then reverse so I stopped too, locked the truck and ran, he told AFP. While around a dozen apartment blocks that stand in the shadow of the viaduct were largely spared the impact of the falling concrete, the Liguria regional government said some 634 people had been evacuated. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the homes would have to be pulled down. The incident is the latest in a string of bridge collapses in Italy, a country prone to damage from seismic activity but where infrastructure generally is showing the effects of a faltering economy.

13 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 vivacity 14 Say a prayer for Aretha Queen of soul, who began playing piano at the age of eight, passes away at 76 T he undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, who sang with matchless style on classics like Think, I Say a Little Prayer and her signature song, Respect, and stood as a cultural icon around the globe, died at the age 76 after suffering from pancreatic cancer. Publicist Gwendolyn Quinn said that Franklin died on Thursday in the morning at 9.50 am at her home in Detroit. The family added, In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins knew no bounds. The statement continued: We have been deeply touched by the incredible outpouring of love and support we have received from close friends, supporters and fans all around the world. Thank you for your compassion and prayers. We have felt your love for Aretha and it brings us comfort to know that her legacy will live on. As we grieve, we ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time. Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days. A professional singer and an accomplished pianist by her late teens, a superstar by her mid-20s, Franklin had long ago settled any arguments over who was the greatest popular vocalist of her time. Franklin had recorded hundreds of hit tracks over the span of half a century, including 20 that hit one on the R&B charts. Her records sold millions of copies and the music industry couldn t honour her enough. Her reputation was defined by an extraordinary run of top 10 smashes in the late 1960s, from the morning-after bliss of (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, to the wised-up Chain of Fools to her unstoppable call for Respect. She won 18 Grammy awards, becoming the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame in Clive Davis, the music mogul who brought her to Arista Records and helped revive her career in the 1980s, said he was devastated by her death. He added, She was truly one of a kind. She was more than the Queen of Soul. She was a national treasure to be cherished by every generation throughout the world. Apart from our long professional relationship, Aretha was my friend. Her loss is deeply profound and my heart is full of sadness. Fellow singers bowed to her eminence and political and civic leaders treated her as a peer. The Rev. Martin Luther King Junior was a longtime friend, and she sang at the dedication of King s memorial, in She performed at the inaugurations of Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and at the funeral for civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. Clinton gave Franklin the National Medal of Arts. President George W. Bush awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation s highest civilian honour, in Bill and Hillary Clinton issued a statement mourning the loss of their friend and one of America s greatest treasures. Franklin s best-known appearance with a president was in January 2009, when she sang My Country tis of Thee at President Barack Obama s inauguration. She wore a gray felt hat with a huge Swarovski rhinestone-bordered bow that became an internet sensation and even had its own website. In 2015, she brought Obama and others to tears with a triumphant performance of Natural Woman at a Kennedy Center tribute to the song s cowriter, Carole King. The musician married actor Glynn Turman in 1978 in Los Angeles but returned to her hometown of Detroit the following year after her father was shot by burglars and left semi-comatose until his death in She and Turman divorced that year. Aretha began learning piano at the age of eight. Her most acclaimed gospel recording came in 1972 with the Grammy-winning album Amazing Grace, which was recorded live at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in South Central Los Angeles and featured gospel legend James Cleveland, along with her own father (Mick Jagger was one of the celebrities in the audience). Music is my thing, it s who I am. I m in it for the long run, she said in I ll be around, singing, What you want, baby I got it. Having fun all the way. AP The Melissa, an art installation inspired from Bhajju Shyam s Gond art, by Somesh Singh H ard, solid lines, rough texture and grey facades are the quintessential ways one imagines cement, which makes the backbone of a building, but to see it in an art exhibition and indoors isn t common nor tried before. While plastic and steel have been reimagined to be used in art installations and fabrics, such experiments with cement are unheard of. The minds behind the art exhibition, Craft Béton Cement. Reimagined., also had to fight off the image that cement is boring and stiff to make it possible. To create the exhibition, Craft Village made a residency where international artists also took part. Their different approaches and thought processes fuelled this exploration. Founder of Craft Village, Iti Tyagi s piece titled Audrey is flowy with drapes, an unusual sight when it comes to cement. Paris is a good idea, the iconic Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn once said. Inspired by her words, this table Audrey is a delicate tale told in the French Louis XV Style, she said. When we re working with cement, one of the biggest challenges is that people think it can go only in the moulds and people can wonder how can somebody play with it with hands? I thought why not try and break that idea and try something glamorous with drapes and flowy. I did hand-sculpting and took five to six hours to work on the drapes because after that when cement dries you don t have much choice, said she. I am a product designer and I had not worked with this material before. Also, I have worked in textile, product and material. So I gathered my knowledge to work with one material cement to do something beyond what people think is possible. People think cement is mundane, dry and it can break. I started thinking of inspirations and gave them shape with cement. We are open to more ideas and challenges in the future, if applied their mind to it or other brands want to work looked at how one can innovate. The Melissa, my art- with us too, said she. The co-founder of Craft work, is inspired by Bhajju Village, which was approached Shyam s Gond art. One of his by Dalmia Cement for the styles is to paint bees, I was exhibition, Somesh Singh, said very inspired by his painting that the objective of the project was to bring cement to the was almost impossible to show which was called the ring. It home and make it a part of the air but the way he patterned it lifestyle. you feel the air. From twodimensional, I thought that I While cement is already part of our lives, since it is a should reinterpret and create material used to make something as essential as our and thus made this permanent something three-dimensional homes, it had not been wall installation, said Singh. reimagined as other infrastructural material had been. people ordering it for their The piece has been a hit with We looked at it as a new homes. Singh added that people are excited to see the new material. Plastic and steel have evolved. Cement, despite having fantastic quality, never exhibited can be reproduced, avatar of cement. The pieces evolved because nobody even at a bigger scale. oday, Hampi lies silent and Tdeserted in the wake of its own departed magnificence. Simultaneously, a new city is rising out of the rural soil called New Town in the neighbourhood of Kolkata. Photographer Rajib De showcases the stark contrast between the both in his exhibition, A Tale of two cities: Hampi and New Town. In the first, we see the past perfections frozen in stone and in the other, we witness the emergence of the forces of change. I have been taking the pictures of New Town since the year 2010 just for my collection. A few years later I saw Hampi. I captured many more pictures of both the cities and used to look at them daily. Then the idea popped up in my mind that I can showcase the stark contrast between these two magnificient cities, De said. There is a strong relation CEMENT, REIMAGINED The building material is seen as mundane and essential only for infrastructural needs but a group of artists has transformed it into lifestyle pieces. By ASMITA SARKAR The Audrey, inspired by the Hollywood actress, Audrey Hepburn, by Iti Tyagi between these two cities. Hampi was an urban city in the 12th century. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire. At that time, it was just like modern Delhi. And now, it s a desert town with ruins. This exhibition provides a visual binary of a great Indian city of the sleeping past and a future city waking into shape. Using the visual effect of black and white panoramic photographs, De s work narrates the power of time and a city s gradual rise to its prime, and then its inevitable downhill journey. All of my pictures are in panoramic format, as I m fond of black and white. If some of them were in colour and the rest in panoramic format, viewers We don t want just a single owner, he added. But the refashioning was no child s play. Beginning with playing with the material, experimenting with it and trying new combinations to check the ideal temperature, conditions and mix, they did everything before the piece was created. The Melissa took 30 days to make from scratch. One of the best process is that you have to play with the material and fall in love with it to be able to imagine things using it. The other interesting challenge was that this piece also needed the drama of lighting. Shadow plays an interesting and integral role. We created an interesting texture and when you see it you can see a honeybee and a honeycomb, said he. This collection by six international designers features contemporary lifestyle pieces for the home and functional art for walls, floors and even bathrooms. It is a celebration of nature, art, life and abstract forms, from where the designers find their inspiration. Dr Alka Pande, artistic director and curator who has conceptualised and envisioned Habitat Photosphere, of which Craft Beton is a part, said, The design philosophy of the collection dovetails beautifully into the over-arching philosophy driving Photosphere. The beauty which is inherent in cement and is recreated by Dalmia Bharat through the creativity of human intervention is truly spectacular. This is an astonishing collaboration of production and consumption. It s a rare feast for the eyes. One of the other designers who were part of the exhibition, Cynthia Rodriguez, who made the piece Antheneum, said, Since knowledge is an unfathomable ocean, these bookends are a dramatic way to literally expand your mind. The more you read the more you know, and the more your mind expands. She added about Monarca, Just as a butterfly is re-born this magazine rack celebrates the metamorphosis that a person undergoes when he steps into the wonderful world of reading. Another piece, GanasDeux, by Alan Saga, symbolises both the Chac, a long-nosed god worshiped by the Mayans of Mesoamerica, and the Hindu god Ganesha. And, designer Miroslaw Baca s piece Birth is a representation of a mother s womb and is reminiscent of the first touch we have all experienced. Past vs present Photographer RAJIB DE explores the visual narratives presented by the ruined city of Hampi and the emerging New Town. By AYUSHI SHARMA KUSHAN MITRA The value of training The Aritra camera and computer-based training system institutionalised by Maruti-Suzuki at some of its driver training institutes will go a long way in improving driving abilities in India of my former editors once Owarned me, never, ever make absolute statements unless you can back it up. So I will not state that all Indians are woeful drivers. A large number of my fellow countrymen are, however, pretty bad drivers, and while they know how to change gears and how to get the car moving, when it comes to parking and basic etiquette like indicators or even lane adherence, even you will admit that they are pretty bad. The big thing that I have to adapt to whenever I am driving abroad is not usually to do with driving on the left-hand seat but to remind myself that I am not in India and road markings matter, and that I have to follow every rule. In India, let us be honest, sometimes you have no option but to break a few rules while driving because everyone around you is doing the same. That is no excuse for poor driving, I admit, but the failure is primarily of enforcement. While some traffic police, such as those in New Delhi and Mumbai, are better than most, traffic management and rules do not seem to exist in places like Noida that abuts the capital. So it is not surprising that over 1.5 lakh people died on Indian roads last year according to official statistics, the number could well be much higher. That is over ten per cent of global traffic fatalities, a lower proportion than India s global population share but higher than India s share of the global vehicular population. While eliminating traffic accidents and fatalities are a pipe dream, reducing them is indeed possible through better driving habits even if enforcement of rules lags behind. Using indicators, helmets and lane discipline by themselves will help reduce accidents even if vehicles are not equipped with modern safety aids such as anti-lock brakes (ABS) which will be mandatory on all vehicles from April next year. But the reason many of us have poor driving habits is primarily one of poor training. You tend to pick up driving habits from your trainers and your family, and poor driving habits, such as incessant honking, can be proven to be passed down from generation to generation. To be fair, driving schools have come a long way since I learnt to drive at the age of 16; my trainer was, for lack of a nicer word, a glorified tout. That said, I was not prepared for the advanced driver training imparted by Maruti-Suzuki at their Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR) at Delhi s Sarai Kale Khan, located right An architectural ruin in Hampi might not get the essence of the work, said he. One is about the 12th century and the other about 21st, still there lies a powerful connection between both the periods and civilisation, he said. The photographer, who belongs to Kolkata, acknowledges that his city is known for its colonial next to the exit from the Barapullah elevated road. Maruti-Suzuki, which has established several IDTRs across the country, many in collaboration with state governments, has set up several Maruti Driving Schools at several of its dealerships. Of course, it is Maruti s interest to establish so many driving schools, after all that will grow the pool of potential customers for the carmaker. But I was quite surprised to see the Aritra system that it has installed. This is a system that uses cameras to gauge a driver s abilities on the road. The track at the IDTR is a very tight and twisting one and I must admit that the training is pretty intense, and I did not do particularly well in the Reverse-S turn, that is to reverse the car through a S bend while keeping six-inches of margin on either side. And on this front, I have to admit that I have been spoiled as a driver, because almost all the cars that I drive nowadays have a reversing camera and if not that, reversing sensors. And here is the thing; a friend of mine who is an airline pilot told me once that every year he has to go through refresher training and while he is flying the same A320 family aircraft, he has to spend time in the simulator practising worst-case scenarios and even more basic things. The training he has to go through keeps his skills up-to-date even though he flies a plane three-times a week on average. The fact is that as drivers it is not a bad idea for us to go through similar refresher courses once in a while, to undertake the same training that some beginners have to go through. It reminds us that driving, as natural as it has become for us, and for some of us, much more than others, is not something that we did regularly as humans a century ago. And training also teaches us that we all have some bad driving habits and can remove them. I am actually glad that I went to see and experience the system at IDTR, it was important for me to learn that I do still have some flaws and I must continue to learn. None of us is perfect and we must always keep learning and put our egos aside. I hope Maruti-Suzuki takes this system across the country and other manufacturers whether they are two-wheeler or commercial vehicle manufacturers install similar systems across the country. Training better drivers may not be the only solution to reducing the chaos and the number of fatalities on Indian roads but it is a start and an impressive one at that. architecture. He s also exhibited his works on Kolkata in Singapore earlier.

14 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 sport 15 The other champions from Madrid Atletico rally to outplay sans-ronaldo Real in UEFA Supercup Final AP n TALLINN, ESTONIA A tletico Madrid finally got the better of Real Madrid on the European stage, scoring twice in extra time to win 4-2 in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday in their rival's first game without Cristiano Ronaldo. Atletico got off to a flying start with Diego Costa scoring the competition's fastest goal just 50 seconds in, but Madrid came back to take a 2-1 lead as Los Blancos tried to prove they can still win trophies without Ronaldo and with a new coach. But Costa equalised late in the match with his second goal before Saul Niguez and Jorge "Koke" Resurreccion sealed the victory in extra time on a cool night in Estonia's capital. Atletico's victory over their crosstown rivals had added significance after they lost two Champions League finals to Madrid in 2014 and Diego Simeone's team was also eliminated by Madrid in the 2017 semi-finals. "I'm elated," Costa said. "Real Madrid have always beaten us in these finals. It was our turn to win a final." The loss leaves new Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui still having to prove that there is life after Ronaldo, who scored 450 goals in 438 matches before joining Juventus this summer and helped lead the club to three straight Champions League titles. "I'm sad. I'm frustrated. It's a final that we lost," Lopetegui said. "But I also know that we will have to wake up and prepare ourselves for our first league match and start the season on the right foot." Gareth Bale showed glimpses of his pace and skill, but couldn't mimic Ronaldo's ability to decide a game on his own. Instead, Costa was the one who dominated at the Lillekula Stadium in Tallinn. He overpowered Madrid's center backs SAHARA STATES WIN TOURNY Sahara States scored a winning solo goal against Ex-Sports College & Men s United Academy in the final District Football League at Chowk Stadium on Thursday. The solo goal of the match was scored by Sudeep in the 13th minute. On the occasion, Head-Corporate Communications Abhijit Sarkar, said: We are thankful to Saharasri Subrata Roy Sahara for his support in all forms of sports from grassroots to national level. Sahara India Pariwar is committed to the development of sports at all levels. ARUN, KAJAL CHAMPS in the first minute after a long ball from Stefan Savic, first winning a header against Sergio Ramos and then muscling past Raphael Varane to cut into the area where he beat goalkeeper Keylor Navas at the near post. Karim Benzema equalised in the 27th minute, heading in a pinpoint cross from Bale, who was able to break away from Lucas Hernandez on the right and curl the ball into his fellow forward's path. Bale, who was given a freer role than he's used to, caused trouble for Atletico's defence in the first half as he switched between wings. He was Madrid's main creative spark at that point, with his teammates constantly trying to feed him the ball. He faded in the second half, but Lopetegui was pleased LOCAL EVENTS Players and members of Atletico Madrid celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Super Cup final against Real Madrid at the Lillekula Stadium in Tallinn, Estonia Arun Kumar and Kajal Sharma won the 5- km race in the men s and women s category respectively organised on the occasion of Independence Day at KD Singh Babu Stadium on Thursday. IOA treasurer Anandeshwar Pandey gave away the prizes. On the occasion director (sports) RP Singh planted the saplings. RESULTS: (Men s) 1-Arun Kumar, 2-Ravi Kumar Pal, 3- Suryansh Pratap Singh, 4-Ankit Kumar, 5- Abhishek Kumar, 6- Rakesh Yadav; (Women s) 1-Kajal Sharma, 2-Pushpa Yadav, 3-Nisha, 4-Shikha Gupta, 5-Sapna Rai, 6- Nidhi Singh. with Bale's performance. "Gareth has played very good. In this moment of the season, all the players are not in the best physical way," the coach said. "We are happy with his performance and we hope he's going to put in deserved performances in the next matches." Sergio Ramos scored a penalty in the 63rd minute after Juanfran Torres handled in the area as the ball flew over him from a corner. Juanfran made up for it in the 79th by taking the ball off Marcelo near the touchline and then passing to Angel Correa. The substitute then skipped past a couple of Madrid defenders and cut the ball back from the byline to Costa, who poked the ball into VIJAYANAGAR: Veteran Indian wrestler Geeta Phogat says the razzmatazz of a Bollywood blockbuster on her life and a prolonged injury break took away her focus from the sport and she is now trying to recover lost ground. Geeta and Babita Phogat, both Commonwealth Games medallists became household names after their life story was brought alive on the silver screen in blockbuster 'Dangal'. However, the two wrestlers haven't been in the best of forms for a while now with injury still keeping Geeta away from action. "I think staying away from wrestling for two years with injury and the movie, I lost my focus. Now I am concentrating just on wrestling," Geeta said on the sidelines of the launch of JSW's Inspire Institute of Sports here. The 29-year-old scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for Olympics in However, she was axed from the national camp ahead of the Asian Games owing to disciplinary issues. She had also claimed a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. "My comeback on the mat hasn't been good. I am training hard to get back into the team. No sport is easy, if you spend time away it will be difficult to make a comeback," she said. Asked about Indian wrestlers' Asian Games campaign, Geeta said she expects women grapplers to return with more medals than last time. "Women wrestlers got only two (medals) last time but their performance has been good. I observed them in the national camps. Vinesh, Sakshi, and Pooja they the roof of the net. In extra time, substitute Thomas Partey set up the decisive goal when he stripped the ball off Varane and played a one-two with Costa before dribbling toward the byline. Partey then cut the ball back to Saul Niguez, who volleyed the ball first-time to send the ball past Navas to make it 3-2 in the 98th. Koke finished Madrid off with a cool finish in the 104th. Lopetegui, who joined Madrid in controversial fashion and was fired as Spain coach just before the World Cup, will need to show that he can build on the success of predecessor Zidedane Zidane and can win with new tactics. At times, Madrid looked uncomfortable playing under the new possession-based system and seemed to miss Ronaldo's flair and proficiency. "We need to improve on the all the phases of the team," Lopetegui said. "We don't like to make mistakes." Madrid had to play without new goalkeeper Thibault Courtois, as the former Atletico player didn't even dress for the match. Spanish media reports said the team didn't register him in time with UEFA following his transfer from Chelsea. For Atletico, the victory gives the team a boost before the season starts, Simeone said. "The club is growing. We have a new stadium," he said. "We have players who want to join us, players who don't want to leave us. I think this speaks volumes." Lost focus due to injury, movie: Geeta Major Davis Cup shake-up approved AFP n ORLANDO orld tennis chiefs on WThursday approved a radical Davis Cup revamp that will overhaul the 118-year-old competition, condensing the annual worldwide showpiece into an 18-team, week-long event. The shake-up for the men's team tournament received per cent support from about 120 delegates at the International Tennis Federation annual meeting in Orlando, well ahead of the two-thirds majority needed for approval. ITF president David Haggerty supported the revamp proposed by Kosmos, a group led by Barcelona football star Gerard Pique who flew in from Spain for the vote and backed by Japanese billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani, that has vowed USD 3 billion over 25 years to support the new event. Haggerty called the reform plan "key to ensuring that the ITF and its member nations will guarantee a bright future for the sport." Also backing the reconstituted event is US billionaire Larry Ellison, who hopes his Indian Wells tennis facility would host the 2021 edition of the finals after the first two were played in Europe. The current Davis Cup format is a knockout event played February, July, September and November at home and away venues around the globe, best-of-five match ties following Grand Slam events until the final round. Many top players have skipped it in recent years to ease their schedule load. The reform plan will create a November finals with 18 teams: 12 winners from 24- team home and away qualifying in February, the prior year's four semi-finalists and two wild-card nations. Roundrobin groups of three would send six group winners and two runners-up into knockout round playoffs. The finals would feature two singles matches and one doubles match each day, all cut to bestof-three sets. Haggerty said the arrangement would provide about $25 million annually for national tennis associations to invest in grassroots level support, with the United States, France and Spain among those thought to support the move. Opponents of the plan include Tennis Australia and Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), with Aussie Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt calling it a "money grab" and too great a departure from the current format. AP seemed confident. This time they will get more medals," Geeta said. The 14-member Indian wrestling contingent will be spearheaded by Commonwealth gold-medallist Vinesh Phogat and Olympic bronze-medallist Sakshi Malik. "The team has prepared well, both the women and men have performed well at recent tournaments.the confidence level of the team is also very high." Indian wrestlers will look to replicate their performance at Gold Coast, where all 12 grapplers returned home with medals. Bajrang Punia, who won gold medals at the CWG, Tbilisi Grand Prix and Yasar Dogu International, and two time Olympic-medalist and reigning Asian Games champion Sushil Kumar will also look to bag the yellow metal. Paes pulls out of Asiad due to lack of specialist partner PTI n PALEMBANG iffed at not getting a M"specialist" men's doubles partner, veteran tennis star Leander Paes on Thursday pulled out of the 18th Asian Games starting on Saturday. The 45-year-old Indian, winner of 18 Grand Slams, was asked to team up with struggling singles player Sumit Nagal after All India Tennis Association (AITA) agreed to pair country's top doubles players Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan in the men's doubles, on their request. Paes was already miffed at his exclusion from TOP Scheme but had made himself available for the Asian Games, where he has won eight medals, including five Gold. "It is with a heavy heart that I have to say that I will not be playing the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia," Paes said in an issued statement. "Despite my repeated requests, from so many weeks in advance, it is sad that we have not been able to put a doubles specialist in the team for a credible second doubles pairing for the Asian Games." With Sharan and Bopanna deciding to play together, captain Zeeshan Ali had no choice but to pair Paes with Nagal or Ramkumar Ramanathan. While Ramkumar is primarily a singles player and plays doubles occasionally, Nagal is in terrible form. He has lost nine straight first round matches on the Pro circuit, coming into the Asian Games. Paes has questioned why AITA didn't field two specialist doubles teams. "Ramkumar Ramanathan is a very good player, and I would love to play doubles with him. But considering that he has a golden chance to win the singles medal, it is not fair to distract him from his best event," Paes said further in the statement. Paes was to return to the Games after missing the previous two editions.

15 LUCKNOW FRIDAY AUGUST 17, 2018 sport 16 SHOW SOME GRIT! Team India coach Ravi Shastri calls for his batsmen to put up a more disciplined and spirited show PTI n NOTTINGHAM U nder-fire India coach Ravi Shastri on Thursday called on his struggling batsmen to show more discipline and grit when the third Test against England gets underway at Trent Bridge on Saturday. He said that despite tough conditions, the need of the hour is to show resolve and play gritty cricket. England lead the five-match series 2-0 after winning the first two Tests in Birmingham and Lord's. "Conditions have been tough right through this series. But that's where character and discipline come into play. The resolve to know where your off stump is, leave a lot of balls, be prepared to look ugly and dirty and show some grit," said Shastri. "I don't think its fair to single out any one player," he added, when asked about Ajinkya Rahane's struggles on this tour. "Batsmen from both teams have struggled. When the occasion demands, it's a case of mental resolve how you put mind over matter. Mental discipline will be the key as far as batsmen are concerned going forward in this Test match. Rahane is one of our pillars and he will remain so." There is some good news ahead of the must-win Test for India. Skipper Virat Kohli is near full fitness ahead of the game as he batted without any discomfort and also took slip catching. Jasprit Bumrah, R Ashwin and Hardik Pandya have SINGLES DE BRUYNE INJURES KNEE IN TRAINING manchester: Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne could face a lengthy layoff with a knee injury that forced him to attend an event using crutches on Wednesday. De Bruyne and his City teammates attended the premiere of a documentary series about the team hours after the midfielder injured his right knee in a training session. "Kevin is a great player and it's just unfortunate that it's happened to him in training but there's more than enough depth in the squad," defender Kyle Walker said. City said it was unclear how long the Belgian will be sidelined because "the extent of the problem is not yet known" and that more tests on the knee are needed. LAHM TO BE HEAD IF GERMANY HOST EURO 2024 berlin: Former World Cup winner Philipp Lahm will be the head of the organising committee if Germany win the bid to host Euro 2024, it was confirmed on Thursday. Germany and Turkey are the only two candidates bidding to host the European championships in six years time with a decision by European football's governing body UEFA set to be made on September 27. "From the beginning of my work as an ambassador for the European Championship 2024, it was my desire to take responsibility in the long term," said Lahm. REGULAR-SEASON LA LIGA GAME TO COME TO US madrid: A regular-season Spanish league game is coming to the United States, possibly as early as this year, but a "clasico" between Real Madrid and Barcelona is pretty much out of the question. The league said on Thursday that it is planning to play a match across the Atlantic as part of a new 15-year partnership with sports and entertainment group Relevent to promote football in North America. SARIN RELIEVED AFTER GM TITILE WIN abu dhabi: All of 14, India's latest Grandmaster Nihal Sarin says he is more relieved than ecstatic about achieving the feat as the build-up to it was distracting."...sometimes due to these norm issues, it is scary to experiment. I am relieved that this part of my chess life is done and dusted," Sarin said after becoming India's 53rd GM attaining his third and final norm in the Abu Dhabi Masters. INDIA IMPROVE TO NO 96 IN FIFA RANKINGS new delhi: Indian football team on Thursday improved a spot to be placed at the 96th position in the latest FIFA world rankings. India, who were ranked 97th in the previous week, currently share the 96th spot with Georgia after FIFA implemented a new ranking system called ELO where points will be added or subtracted to a national team's already existing total before a match. Agencies India s coach Ravi Shastri, right, with captain Virat Kohli during a nets session in England already been declared fit for the game. India will be looking to find the optimal combination for the game, and the coach admitted that they had made a mistake going with an extra spinner at Lord's. "Kohli is feeling much better. You saw him in the nets he is moving much better and improving by the day. "In hindsight, picking a second spinner was an error. We should have gone, seeing the conditions, with an extra seamer. It might have helped. Then again, you didn't know how much it would rain, whether a match could go into the final day where just in case a second spinner is needed and the ball starts to turn, would we have needed him? "But in hindsight, the way things panned out, the amount it rained, the time we lost, a seamer could have been a better option," said Shastri. England are on the cusp of wrapping up the series with victory at Trent Bridge, and the only way India can avoid that is to register only their second win in six overseas Tests in Shastri said that the team knows how to do it because they have been in this position before. "Just believe in your self," he said, when asked what he has told the team post defeat at Lord's. "You have been in this position couple of times before and you have responded. There is no reason why. One thing for sure in this unit, there is no negative bone. "Despite what happened in the last Test match, conditions favoured England but that is no excuse whatsoever. It can happen to any side. We are here without a negative bone and wanting to play to win, as simple as that." England have a selection Stokes not assured automatic selection PTI n MUMBAI ngland coach Trevor Bayliss on Thurday Ewelcomed Ben Stokes back in the national team's fold after he was cleared of affray charges but said the troubled all-rounder is not assured of an automatic selection for the third Test against India. Stokes was acquitted of affray at a trial in Bristol on Tuesday. Due to the trial, he had missed the second Test which England won by an innings and 159-run win at Lord's to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. "It's good to have him back around the squad. I'm happy for Ben that's all over. It was a collective decision (to bring him back into the side so quickly). It was basically thought that for his own wellbeing, it was good to get him back around cricket," Bayliss said. However, the coach said Stokes is not assured of an automatic selection for the third Test starting here on Saturday. "There's nothing automatic about selections and we'll see how he is mentally as well as physically. He hasn't played for a couple of weeks. He's been a guy that in the past who has been able to come in and perform without having played a lot of cricket. We'll take that into consideration. "But also, sometimes it's a little bit like when someone gets injured, someone else comes into the team and does well, it's a bit difficult for that injured played to come back in. This is a similar situation. It's a difficult decision to make," he added. Sam Curran was man-of-the-match in the first Test at Birmingham, while Chris Woakes, who replaced Stokes in the second Test, won man of the match at Lord's. Given the problem of plenty, Bayliss said whoever misses ought to consider himself unlucky. "It's a good position to be in from that AP Ben Stokes arrives for a nets session in Nottingham on Thursday AP point of view. Whether he plays or not, we've got some guys in form in the team. It's going to be a difficult decision to make whoever misses out, whether it's Ben or someone else," he said. "It's a position we've been trying to get into in the Test team for a while. The oneday team is a difficult team to select. The Test team, it's been difficult for other reasons. But we're starting to get some good young players into the team, which makes it a difficult job for selectors. Whoever misses out, whether it is Ben or someone else, they will be very unlucky," he said. Bayliss said he was impressed by Root's captaincy as England managed to turn around their poor Test form against Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan. headache at hand with the return of Ben Stokes. Shastri said that India see no problem in why he shouldn't be playing this game, and rejected the idea that any on-field chatter could be used to rile Stokes up or indeed used against India given their loss in the previous game. "We focus on cricket. Stokes is a terrific cricketer, and we would like to play against top cricketers. If the courts have cleared him, what's the reason for him not to play? If I were in England's position I would have wanted him to play. "This team is not worried about who winds whom up. It will give you back as good as it gets, as simple as that. It doesn't matter if the opponent is England, Australia or South Africa. We kept it very simple if it is a vocabulary I understand, I will give it back in that vocabulary, otherwise in the vocabulary I know best," he said. Last but not the least, the Indian team paid its respect to late former skipper Ajit Wadekar before practice. The players and entire support staff observed two minutes of silence. "Very sad. On behalf of the whole Indian cricket team, we would like to offer condolences to his family. I knew Ajit very well from a very young age. He lived in the same building as I do and all I will say is that he was one of our finest captains and a great manager. "When it came to man management skills, he was as shrewd as anyone you will ever get as a captain," said Shastri as he signed off. Players and staff members of team India on Thursday observed a two minute silence to condole the sad demise of former India Captain Ajit Wadekar prior to their training session at Trent Bridge in England Photo: BCCI Duleep Trophy kicks off domestic season PTI n DINDIGUL he domestic season begins here Ton Friday with the Duleep Trophy, which will provide a platform to the aspirants to shine and challenge the established names, who are away on national duties. The tournament will be staged at the picturesque NPR College ground at Natham. Three teams India Red, India Blue and India Green comprising a mix of experienced players and talented youngsters will battle it out in the 57th edition of the tournament, which would be played under lights with a pink ball. While the three round-robin matches would be four-day affairs, the final, to be held from September 4, would be played over five days. The first match is between India Green and defending champion India Red. The tournament would serve as an opportunity for the players who have been part of the national squad at various points but find themselves on the fringes now. Holding: Pandya not scoring enough runs, lacks control PTI n LONDON est Indian fast bowling Wgreat Michael Holding feels Hardik Pandya is not yet the all-rounder India wants him to be, because he is ineffective as a bowler and also not scoring enough runs with the bat. "The (Indian) attack has not been the right balance. Apparently they are playing Hardik Pandya as an allrounder to help out with the bowling. When he bowls he isn't as effective as he should be," Holding was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "If he was a good batsman, if he was getting runs 60s, 70s, not even regular hundreds at the number at which he bats and then he bowls and gets two or three wickets, happy, hallelujah. "Happy with that. But he is not getting the amount of runs that can then allow him to get a wicket or two in the Test match. That doesn't work." I ll be ready if offered opening slot in Tests PTI n MUMBAI pening in shorter for- proved to be a boon Omats for Rohit Sharma, who said that he will not mind taking a shot at it in Test matches too, if the team management ever considers that as an option in near future. The 31-year-old has scored 1479 runs at shade under 40 per innings in 25 Tests with three hundreds and nine half centuries but is currently out of favour as far as longest format is concerned. With the trio of KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay struggling, Rohit was posed a question if he would like to open the innings in Test matches too. "Look, I have never been Pandya made his Test debut last July in Sri Lanka, scoring a fifty in Galle and followed it with his maiden Test century in Pallekelle in his third Test. He has played nine Tests so far and, barring the home series against Sri Lanka for which he was rested late last year, he has been the only constant in the Indian Test XI along with captain Virat Kohli. Before the Lord's Test, Pandya had gone wicketless for four Tests, starting from the second match in South Africa in January, and Holding said he did not have many skills. "I don't think he does a lot with the ball. That is number one," he said. "He is not consistent. He does not have the control that puts batsmen under pressure constantly. He will bowl a couple of good deliveries, yes, but you need to have the control to put batsmen under pressure consistently. And he doesn't have that, Holding said. Rohit Sharma during his Test debut against West Indies in 2013 File photo offered to open a Test innings yet but I am open to anything as in whatever the team management wants, he said. My captain no more, but will always be with me SUNIL GAVASKAR unil, sorry, he is no more'. Those devas- words conveyed to me that 'my cap- Stating tain' Ajit Wadekar had passed away. Just a little while earlier, I was trying to help put him in the car to rush him to the hospital since the ambulance was going to take another 15 minutes to arrive and even then it looked like it was a hopeless battle. Ajit Wadekar was my captain when I made my debut for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and he was my skipper when I got my India cap. So for me he was always 'captain'. That he was from Shivaji Park Gymkhana and I was from Dadar Union Sporting Club the great rival clubs then made no difference as I was a fan first. Those days there was hardly a single weekend where you didn't read that Wadekar had got a century. He was so prolific in local and Ranji Trophy cricket that it was a surprise to many that he made his India debut as late as 1966 against Garry Sobers' West Indies team. Five years later it was against Garry Sobers' team that he led India for the first time and went on to win the series, beating West Indies for the first time. A couple of months after that he led India to another historic win when India beat England in England for the first time. He was unkindly called a lucky captain by those who couldn't stomach the fact that he had replaced the charismatic Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi as the skipper. The then Chairman of selectors, batting legend Vijay Merchant was also pilloried by some for it was his casting vote that made Wadekar the new Indian captain then. Even after these twin wins and another in India a year later neither Vijay Merchant nor Ajit Wadekar got the credit they deserved for bringing India those hat-trick of wins. Ajit retired from Test cricket suddenly when he was left out of the West Zone team for the Duleep Trophy by a committee led by another Indian great, Polly Umrigar and thereafter concentrated on his banking career and also cricket administration with the Mumbai Cricket Association. He also was a successful manager/coach of the Indian team in the early '90s. When some of us sportspersons requested the Maharashtra Government for a plot of land to build an apartment block, it was Ajit who took the lead and there was Umrigar also in the society formed showing that he harboured no hard feelings towards his senior. Being the promoter, he got the top floor of the building when it was built and since I was on the floor immediately below him he used to always joke, 'I am the only one on top of Sunny'. In recent times with my travel schedule, we hardly met but whenever we did, he would as usual come up with a joke in his easy drawl. There's hardly been a day when I haven't mimicked his 'arre kay re' at least once and not just me but even Sachin Tendulkar told me that he too says the same at least once a day. My captain is no more but he will always be with me when I say, ' arre kay re' RIP, Captain. PTI