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I, Kanak Mondal, W/o
Sambhu Mondal have
changed my name Kanak Bis-
was to Kanak Mondal as per
affidavit 1st Class Magistrate
Krishnagar dated 28.02.2017.
I, Sonia Kumari Singh D/o.
Upendra Singh R/o. 97/10,
Purbasha Park, Bansdroni,
Kolkata-700070 have changed
my name to Sonia Singh vide
Notary Public, Affidavit, at
Kolkata on 20.3.2017.
I, Thakur Krishna Bhow-
mick changed my wife's name
and date of birth from Anima
& drop : Rani Bhowmick, date of birth
12-03-1974 to Anima Bhow-
mick, date of birth 18-11-1974
vide affidavit No -
05AB365675 sworn at Kalyani
Court on 15-03-17.
I, Shyam Rai, S/o. Gouri
Shankar Rai, R/o. 55/H/1,
Hossain Shah Road, Kolkata-
23 hereby declare vide affida-
vit by 1st Class Magistrate at
Alipore that Durga Gouri Rai
is my nick name which was
wrongly recorded in the
Ration Card and also in Voter
ID in Place of Shyam Rai.

SC calls for talks to resolve Ayodhya Narada: SC upholds HC
dispute, CJI Khehar offers to mediate order directing CBI probe
Swamy Asked ITS FAR BETTER THAN FIGHTING IN COURT
To Speak To All
We can decide
Parties Involved judiciallytheandissue
Dhananjay.Mahapatra
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: In a surprise
development, the Supreme
Court on Tuesday urged the
opposing parties in the Ayod-
hya dispute to make another
attempt to resolve their diff-
erences through negotia-
tions with Chief Justice of
India J S Khehar advocating a
give and take approach and
even offering himself as a
mediator.
FULL COVERAGE: P 12
The sensitive Ram Jan-
mabhoomi-Babri Masjid dis-
pute was back in the lime-
light just days after a BJP
government headed by Adi-
tya Nath Yogi took charge in
Uttar Pradesh.
The CJI said: The parties
must first sit together and
hold a meeting cordially to
agree to settle the sentimen-
tal issue through negotia-
tions. It is far better than figh-
ting in court.
The SC asked BJP leader
Subramanian Swamy to talk
to all parties and renew his
request for early hearing of
petitions on March 31. If the
parties do not reach a consen-
sus to restart negotiations,
US bans large
gadgets on
flyers from
8 countries
T he US has banned lap-
tops, iPads, cameras and
other electronic goods larger
than a cellphone from cabin
baggage on direct flights to it
originating from 10 airports
in eight Muslim-majority
Gulf, west Asia and North
Africa nations, reports Chi-
danand Rajghatta.
The ban, which the De-
partment of Homeland Secu-
rity said was because of ter-
ror threats, covers all direct
flights to the US from Cairo,
Amman, Kuwait City, Casab-
lanca, Doha, Riyadh, Jed-
dah, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi
and Dubai. However, all the
items can be checked in the
baggage that goes into the
cargo hold. Hours later, the
UK imposed a similar ban on
direct flights from Turkey,
Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tu-
nisia and Saudi Arabia. P 20
Cop complaint
against poem
by Srijato
A police complaint was fil-
ed against poet Srijato
Bandyopad-
hyay on Tues-
day also the
World Poetry
Day by a col-
lege student
from Bagdogra for a 12-line
poem, Abhishap, that the
poet posted on social media
on March 19, soon after Adi-
tya Nath Yogi took charge as
the chief minister of Uttar
Pradesh. The poet, however,
refused to take back a single
word of what he wrote. Com-
plainant Arnab Sarkar, a
member of Hindu Samhati,
is also firm on pursuing the
complaint he filed with the
Siliguri cyber crime cell.P 2
BENNETT, COLEMAN & CO. LTD. | ESTABLISHED 1838 | TIMESOFINDIA.COM
our
order will bind all
parties. But such
sensitive issues
are best decided
through negotiations
by adopting a give and
take policy. It is far
better than fighting in
the court
The parties can choose
negotiators. If they
Security personnel guard Babri Masjid before its demolition in 1992
want me to do the job,
We are ready for talks but Muslims
I wont hear this case
must give up their claim over Babri
and take up that task.
If they want a brother Masjid land. Muslims must build
Babri Masjid near the graveyard of
judge, I am ready to
provide him
Mir Baqi (Babars general)
MAHANT RAM DAS | CHIEF PRIEST
CJI J S KHEHAR
OF NIRMOHI AKHARA, MAIN
*Allahabad HC gave
1/3rd land of the
disputed site each to
LITIGANT & CLAIMANT OF LAND
We are open to the idea of an amicable solution but without any
pre-conditions as have been imposed in the past by the other side.
Nirmohi Akhara, Friend
of Ram Lalla and Sunni Those not party to the case should not be allowed in any exercise
Central Waqf Board ZAFARYAB JILANI | LAWYER REPRESENTING SUNNI CENTRAL WAQF BOARD
the judicial process is likely
to proceed.
Swamy provided the trig-
ger for a torrent of observa-
tions from a bench of Chief
Justice Khehar and justices
D Y Chandrachud and Sanjay
Kishan Kaul by seeking urg-
ent hearing on appeals aga-
inst the Allahabad high cou-
Govt may reduce
cap on cash deals
from `3L to `2L
Aadhaar Must
For PAN And
Tax Returns
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The Centre on
Tuesday proposed to ban
all cash transactions above
Rs 2 lakh, instead of Rs 3 lakh
announced in the Budget,
and said Aadhaar would be
mandatory for filing tax ret-
urns and getting a perma-
nent account number (PAN)
as it sought fresh checks on
black money.
The proposals were part
of the 44 amendments to the
Finance Bill moved by finan-
ce minister Arun Jaitley in
Lok Sabha. The large number
of changes sought by the gov-
ernment attracted criticism
from the opposition benches
with some calling it unprece-
dented.
Jaitley has proposed
amendments to the Compani-
es Act, mandating disclosure
of election-related donations
in company books besides
RSS passes
resolution
on Bengal
T he RSS has passed a reso-
lution urging the West
Bengal government to take
cognizance of the violence
against Hindus in the state
and has asked the central
government to intervene
into the matter.
RSS joint general secre-
tary Dattatreya Hasabale
alleged on Tuesday that the
Hindu population in West
Bengal has dwindled since
Partition. The Hindu pop-
ulation in West Bengal, acc-
ording to the 1951 Census,
was 78.25%, while it dropped
to 70.54% in 2011, he said.
This has happened despite
a lot of Hindus migrating
from Bangladesh to West
Bengal, he added. P 12
WORLD WATER DAY
rts September 30, 2010 judg-
ment, which divided the dis-
puted land into three equal
parts between Sunni Wakf
Board, Nirmohi Akhara and
Ram Lalla, the idol.
The apex court had stayed
the high court verdict on May
9, 2011 with the judges on
the bench Aftab Alam and
SC questions govt
on PMs promise
T he Supreme Court asked the
Centre to explain by April 11
whether it would give citizens,
who could not meet the
December 31deadline to
deposit scrapped Rs 1,000 and
Rs 500 notes due to genuine
difficulty, another window to
do so given that PM Narendra
Modi had promised so in his
November 8 speech. You must
understand these people are in
dire straits, the SC said. P 10
making such donations com-
pulsorily by cheque, bank
draft or through electronic
means. The step was part of
reforms announced in the
Budget to make election fun-
ding more transparent.
The move to reduce the
ceiling for cash transactions
to Rs 2 lakh was announced as
the government was of the
view that the earlier cap was
too high.
Multiple PANs, P 10
Take everyone UP, Goa CMs to
along, father wait till Prez
advises Yogi poll to quit Parl
A nand Singh Bisht, the
84-year-old father of UP
chief minister
Aditya Nath
Yogi, has adv-
ised his son to be
an inclusive CM.
Hell need to
take everyone along, the reti-
red forest ranger said. Wom-
en in burqa have also voted for
him. He needs to respect all
religions, win their hearts
and trust.
Bisht said there was now a
lot of responsibility on his
son. Not only Muslims, but
people from all faiths believe
that BJP and Aditya Nath can
take them and the state on the
path of progress. That has to
be kept in mind, he said. P 11
KOLKATA | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 | PAGES 34 | PRICE ` 3.50
INCLUSIVE OF CALCUTTA TIMES | EPAPER.TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Bengal Govt Apologises; CBI Told To Ignore HC Observations
Centre will Dhananjay.Mahapatra
Its a positive
ry to the agency. It also said
@timesgroup.com the HC directive to complete
seek swift New Delhi: In a blow to the
development.
Bhaloi to hoyeche
the PE in 72 hours was rather
harsh and extended the time
hearings if Mamata Banerjee govern-
ment, the Supreme Court on
(what has
happened is
to 30 days.
Before dismissing West
talks fail Tuesday upheld the Calcutta
high courts decision to or-
good) Bengals appeal, the apex
court heard arguments for
TIMES NEWS NETWORK der a preliminary inquiry by Mamata one-and-a-half hours on two
Banerjee | CM
the CBI into the Narada sting petitions filed by TMC lea-
New Delhi: The Narendra tapes allegedly showing Tri- ting aspersions on the HC ders Saugata Roy and Suven-
Modi government on Tues- namool Congress leaders judges for handing over the du Adhikari. The TMC and
day welcomed the Supreme accepting money. probe to the CBI. West Bengal had assembled
Court favouring negotiations A bench of Chief Justice However, as a consolation a big legal team, with senior
between the rival sides to res- J S Khehar and justices D Y to the Bengal government, advocate Kalyan Banerjee,
olve the Ram Janmabhoomi- Chandrachud and Sanjay the apex court asked the CBI Sidharth Luthra and Rana
Babri Masjid dispute but also Kishan Kaul dismissed the not to take into account the Mukherjee assisting Sibal
seemed set to move the top West Bengal governments observations and opinions and Singhvi. But they failed
court to seek expeditious appeal against the HC ver- expressed by the HC in its to get any relief.
Talks must be held in the light hearing if renewed dialogue dict after extracting an unc- March 17 order while entrus-
of judgment of Allahabad HC. did not yield a solution. onditional apology for cas- ting the preliminary enqui- HC may monitor, P 4
But we cant allow a masjid near UP may move SC, P 12
Ram Mandir. If Muslims give up
their claim over the land, they
are welcome for talks
We appreciate the feel-
ings of the court. It is a genu-
CBSE unveils new Womens panel
ine desire to find a solution
T N PANDE | VHP LEADER, to a sensitive issue. takes up case
FRIEND OF RAM LALLA
BJP has consistently
maintained that courts are
not the ideal platform for
evaluation format of minor mom
T
sorting out issues of faith examination and report he West Bengal Com-
Manash.Gohain
since they concern faith of @timesgroup.com card that aims at standar- mission for Women on
millions, a senior govern- dising teaching and evalua- Tuesday took cognizance of
ment functionary said. New Delhi: The Central Bo- tion across schools. the TOI report on how a 12-
R M Lodha terming the However, he added that ard of Secondary Education All students will be un- year-old rape survivor who
decision strange as no party a resolution could not be del- has formally junked the con- der a uniform assessment gave birth to a baby girl was
to the suits had claimed relief ayed and the government tinuous and comprehensive process from Class VI onw- forced to move court to get
on the lines decided by the would move the Supreme evaluation (CCE) scheme for an FIR registered. The com-
Will ease migration, P 13
ruling. Court to speed up hearings Classes VI to IX, being follo- mission is starting a suo
The contestants to the dis- if the two sides did not agree wed in affiliated schools sin- ards and schools will have motu case against the de-
puted sites clearly did not to come to the negotiating ce 2009. Replacing it from the to adhere to CBSEs templa- nial of justice to the girl.
accept the HCs formulation. table or talks between them coming academic year (2017- te, from examinations to rep- The girl and her family
did not help solve the vexed 18) is a new format uni- ort cards, which will now were driven out of their
Talks best way: CJI, P 12 issue. form system of assessment, bear the logo of the board. home by local goons. P 2
Liquor crisis
averted till
July in state
Udit.Mukherjee
@timesgroup.com
Kolkata: Getting hold of
your favourite bottle of tipple
will not be a problem at least
till July as the excise depart-
ment has decided to renew the
licences of liquor wholesalers
and bonders for another four
months.
The decision follows a me-
eting between liquor wholesa-
lers and top officials of the sta-
te finance and excise depart-
ment last week. In a proposal,
the wholesalers also reques-
Uncertainty woes, P 4
ted the government to adopt
a Karnataka-type multi-layer
distribution system that wo-
uldnt make them redundant.
Officials indicated the state
wouldnt do anything that is
drastically against market
forces. The excise depart-
ment has already sent mails to
some distributors for renewal
of licence for four months.
This is a welcome step, a liqu-
or distributor said.
The prospect of a shortage
in supply arose when the go-
vernment formed the West
Bengal State Beverages Cor-
poration to take over the who-
lesale trade of IMFL and cou-
ntry spirits from April.
T hree BJP MPs, who have
taken up coveted assign-
ments in states, are unlikely
to resign from Parliament
until the presidential polls
in July. UP chief minister
Yogi Aditya Nath and his
deputy Keshav Prasad Mau-
rya are Lok Sabha MPs from
Gorakhpur and Phulpur, re-
spectively, whereas Mano-
har Parrikar, who took over
as Goa CM, is a Rajya Sabha
MP from UP. Another UP
deputy CM, Dinesh Shar-
ma, has already resigned as
mayor of Lucknow.
The three BJP members
will need to be elected with-
in six months of their appo-
intment, which will be due
in September. P 6
 TIMES CITY * THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY DRAWS UP EXHAUSTIVE MOTHER OF BABY IN COMA THANKS HOSPITALS

POLICY TO CURB EXCESS STUDENT ADMISSION | 4 FOR SAVING HER DAUGHTER | 5

TIMES IMPACT Authorities Finally Take Cognizance Of Young Rape Survivors Plight; Bagmari Mom & Baby Released From Hosp

Womens panel starts probe Mom, child return home a week

in 12-year-old mother case after custody at Medical College
Cops Escort CRIME AND PUNISHMENT home by the Howrah police
on Monday night. The police
Girl, Kin Back
have also been patrolling the
area to prevent further at-
tacks. We are relieved to ha-
Home; Hunt On ve been able to return home.
We want the culprits arrested
Tamaghna.Banerjee
@timesgroup.com
HAPPY END TO LOST-AND-FOUND DRAMA
Kolkata: After a week of be-
ing kept in the custody of
March 10 | Saraswati
Naskar gives birth to
allegedly stole the child,
and her husband are
arrested
Medical College and Hospital, a baby boy at Medical
Saraswati Naskar, whose new- College and Hospital
born boy was stolen from the
March 16 | Police
state facility and rescued, was
finally allowed to return home
March 14 | The baby
is stolen from the
record Saraswatis
statements

For Accused
Rupak Banerjee
Howrah: West Bengal Com-
mission for Women (WBCW)
on Tuesday took cognizance
of the TOI report on Tuesday
on how a 12-year-old rape sur-
vivorwho recently gave
birth to a baby girl, becoming
probably the youngest mot-
her in the statewas forced
to move court to get an FIR re-
gistered in the face of alleged
police refusal.
I am shocked at the hei-
nous nature of the crime. I am
appalled that the girl, forced
into motherhood at such a
tender age, did not receive
justice from the law for so
long. Our commission encou-
rages women and girls to le-
arn karate for self-defence.
But here, a karate teacher is
accused of rape. The delay do-
es not send a positive message
for democracy. It is also a
grim instance in the cause of
womens protection, WBCW
chairperson Sunanda Muk-
herjee told TOI. On the basis
of the TOI report, I have di-
TOI report on March 21
Charge against prime
accused
Rape | Section 376 of IPC
Maximum punishment | Life
imprisonment
Charges against
4 others
Criminal
conspiracy | Section
120B of IPC
Maximum punishment | Two
years imprisonment
rected the commission staff
to start a suo motu case and
begin proceedings against
the denial of justice to the gi-
rl. The proceedings will deal
in security for the survivor
and her family. If necessary,
we will direct the administra-
tion to provide them protec-
tion. I will meet the girl and
Criminal intimidation |
Section 506 of IPC
Maximum punishment | 7
years imprisonment
Voluntarily causing hurt |
Section 379 of IPC
Maximum punishment |
3 years imprisonment
Theft | Section 323
of IPC
Maximum punishment | 1
years imprisonment
her family this week to learn
about her entire ordeal. I will
also meet the Howrah SP.
The girl and her family,
who were compelled to take
shelter at relatives homes af-
ter goons with alleged politi-
cal links reportedly damaged
and ransacked their house in
Howrah, were escorted back
at the earliest, the girls un-
cle said.
The five accused named in
the FIR, including a karate te-
acher who allegedly raped
the girl, have been abscon-
ding. The girl will record her
statement before a magistra-
te on Friday.
The police launched a se-
arched of the accused on
Monday night, after getting a
certified copy of the FIR the
girl lodged in court. The sur-
vivor and her family have re-
turned home. We have arran-
ged round-the-clock patrol-
ling for their protection, sa-
id Howrah SP Sumit Kumar.
Among the five accused,
the karate teacher, Nupur
Karmakar, is charged with
rape. The remaining four ha-
ve been accused of ransack-
ing and damaging the fami-
lys home, threatening and
beating up the victims kin
besides theft and criminal
conspiracy. Outlining the le-
gal course, the girls lawyer
Mohammad Farukh said,
Based on the girls statement
to be recorded on March 24,
the court is expected to give a
directive to the police.
with her 11-day-old baby on Tu-
esday evening. The mother
and child were discharged af-
ter TOI reported how the ho-
spital kept them back though
there was no such order from
any of the authorities, inclu-
ding the police and health de-
partment.
We had a talk with the po-
lice and as they did not have
any problem letting the two go
home, we instructed the hospi-
tal to immediately discharge
them, said director of health
services Biswaranjan Satpat-
hy. Acting on the health de-
partment instructions, the ho-
spital released Saraswati and
her son around 5pm. Wheeled
out of the hospital, the two we-
re escorted by the police and
hospital officials in a cop vehi-
cle to the Child Welfare Com-
mittee office in Salt Lake; the-
re, the babys parents submit-
ted self-attested photocopies
of their Aadhaar cards and in
presence of CWC members,
the baby was formally relea-
sed. The Naskars, along with
their child, were then ferried one of the memorable days in
back to their Bagmari Road
home.
I was having lunch on the
maternity ward and 8
hours later, rescued
from a neighbours
home on Bagmari Road.
The woman, caught on
CCTV cameras walking
out of the hospital with
the baby, is arrested
March 15 | The baby
returned to Saraswati
and kept at the
hospitals sick newborn
care unit, while she is
put in maternity ward
Chinmoyee Bej, who
hospital bed, when a nurse
told me I could go home with
my baby in the evening. Ela-
ted, I called up my husband
and in-laws to tell them the
news. Its a great feeling to be
able to return home and have
my son with me all day, Saras-
wati said. Her husband, Sou-
rav, said it was for the first ti-
me in a week that he could
hold his child in his arms.
The day has finally come
when I can take him home. It is
my life, he said.
The Naskars were caught
in a weeklong drama that un-
March 17 | A court
allows the cops to
conduct a DNA test on
the newborn
I was having lunch on the
March 21 | TOI carries hospital bed, when a
a report on how the
nurse told me I could go home
hospital is keeping back
the mother and child, in
with my baby in the evening.
Elated, I called up my husband
spite of no such order
from the police, court, and in-laws to tell them the
child welfare or health news. Its a great feeling to be
department able to return home and have
my son with me all day
March 21 | Saraswati
and her son return Saraswati Naskar | MOTHER OF THE
NEWBORN, WHO WAS STOLEN AND RESCUED
home
folded on March 14, when their Since that day, the arrested
four-year-old son was stolen duo have been kept in police
from the maternity ward. As custody, while Sarawasti and
the distraught mother could her son continued to stay in
not stop crying, a day-long se- the hospital, with the officials
arch ensued across the city; claiming they were waiting
the police, with the help of ne- for a court order to let them go.
ighbours and checking CCTV But as TOI spoke to the police,
footages at different spots, in- court and CWC, everyone said
cluding Metro stations, finally the hospital did not require
tracked the womana neigh- any such order and could let
bour of the Naskarswho the two go if they were healthy.
was caught on camera wal- The family members said
king out of the hospital with both Saraswati and the baby
the child. The accused and her boy were doing fine. I am hap-
husband were arrested, while py they are back home,
the baby was returned to his said Rabi Naskar, the babys
mother at the hospital. grandfather.

RINGING IN THE PARSI NEW YEAR

Student files complaint
against Srijato poem
Priyanka.Dasgupta
@timesgroup.com
Kolkata: A police complaint
was filed against poet Srijato
Bandyopadhyay on Tuesday,
which, ironically, happens to be
the World Poetry Day. The
complaint was the response
from a college student from
Bagdogra to the 12-line poem,
Abhishap, that Srijato had pos-
ted on social media on March
19, soon after Yogi Adityanath
took charge as the Uttar Pra-
desh CM. Srijato is the second
Bengali poet after Sunil Gango-
ve ideological differences with
Not at all shocked, a political party. But lets not
forget that Yogi Adityanath has
says poet the mandate of the people. How
can Srijato use such langua-
Those ge? said Ghosh.
alleging The state BJP chief also
that I have hinted at the possibility of fi-
written this ling more such complaints
poem to get from Uttar Pradesh if Bengal
mileage Police sits on the case. Social
must media posts can be seen by peo-
understand that poets havent ple across the world. Others, in-
reached a stage where they cluding people in UP, might get
need to orchestrate FIRs to hurt. They too can file compla-
grab headlines. I was ints. There are laws in the co-
surprised when I heard about
untry and I am sure justice will
this complaint. Later, when I
Kamalendu Bandra
MoD land push for
E-W Metro tunnel
Jayanta.Gupta@timesgroup.com
ON TRACK
Kolkata: With the ministry
of defence (MoD) granting
physical possession of land in
Explanade to Metro Railway,
tunneling up to Sealdah for
the second phase of the East-
West Metro corridor can start
by the end of 2017. The inte-
rim period will be utilised to The 250-tonne TBM, like
bring the tunnel boring ma- the one in use in Howrah
chine (TBM) to the spot wit- (above), will take a month
hin Curzon Park and make to reach Esplanade from
Children perform at Olpadvala Memorial Hall on Tuesday, celebrating Navroz preparations to lower it 45 New Town in parts
metres below the surface.
Esplanade station of
Though the MoD had agre- E-W Corridor to be built at

Not keen to adopt tech, bus

padhyay accused of hurting re-
ligious sentiments.
The poet, however, isnt in a
mood to take back a single word
of what he wrote. Nor is comp-
lainant Arnab Sarkar having a
second thought over pursuing
the complaint he lodged with
the Siliguri cyber crime cell.
If Srijato has freedom of
expression to say whatever he
feels in the garb of poetry, no
one can deny my right to pro-
test and take recourse to law,
said Sarkar, a second-year stu-
dent of Kalipada Ghosh Terai
Mahavidyalaya. I had filed a
similar complaint against a
person for posting derogatory
posts against goddess Saraswa-
ti. Police then took a positive ro-
le, but they are not so forthco-
ming this time, he said. Siligu-
ri police commissioner C S Lep-
cha said: A case has been
started. The probe is at a preli-
minary stage.
Sarkar, however, is not satis-
fied. Srijato cant get away
with what he wrote in the last li-
ne. In the land of Tagore and Sa-
ratchandra, how distasteful is
thought about the whole
issue, I realised that this
shouldnt really shock me so
much. In a country where a
violent mob killed a man
accused of eating beef, such a
complaint isnt unexpected.
We are living in intolerant
times. The other day I read
about Yogi Adityanaths views
on women and how he had
said that womens
energy/power should be
regulated or controlled, lest it
become worthless and
destructive. He believes that
women shouldnt be given
freedom or left alone. Its
scary that someone who is a
CM clings on to beliefs that
are 2,000 years old. TNN
his choice of words. He is a per-
vert, Sarkar said. Hindu Sam-
hati, the social Hindu organisa-
tion he belongs to, isnt taking
the matter lightly either.
State BJP president Dilip
Ghosh too stood by the complai-
nant. I had never read his (Sri-
jatos) poems earlier. He can ha-
be done.
Srijato insisted that his det-
ractors havent understood his
choice of metaphors. If they
cant understand metaphors,
its not my fault, said the poet,
adding that he had been equal-
ly critical of acts of Islamic fun-
damentalism. I was trolled
then as well. And, yes, I was dis-
turbed by the instigating anti-
women comment made by Yogi
Adityanaths men at one of his
meetings. So when he was ma-
de the Uttar Pradesh CM, I pos-
ted this poem, he said.
Among various others, Sri-
jato found support from the lik-
es of poet Mandakranta Sen.
He has done the right thing.
We will be taking to the streets.
Today, it has happened to Srija-
to. Tomorrow, it can happen to
any of us, Sen said.
However, Akademi award
winner Subodh Sarkar said,
In such sensitive times, it wo-
uld have been better had he not
used such a metaphor. If anyo-
ne has a problem, it should be
countered through writings
and not an FIR.
conductors issue old tickets
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Kolkata: The resistance to
adopt technology by a section
of state-run West Bengal
Transport Corporation
(WBTC) bus conductors has
kept the pre-printed tickets
in circulation.
Though WBTC-trained
conductors use a device on
which smart cards can be
swiped to debit the journey
fare and print tickets, some,
especially those above 45 ye-
ars, are still unwilling to go
the swipe way.
The initial resistance
was massive. We have been
able to convince the younger
conductors that the machine
is handy and will help them
eventually as payment moves
from entirely cash to prima-
rily card. This will solve the
A conductor holds pre-printed
tickets and small currency notes
problem of exchanging smal-
ler currency notes and coins
to return the balance amo-
unt. Currently, one in every
five conductors has still been
using old tickets but 80% of
the collection is through the
new machines, said WBTC
MD Swaroop Nigam.
A conductor, who had a
terminal slung across his
shoulder but continued to
dispense the old printed tick-
ets, argued the system was
complicated and could affect
his efficiency during rush ho-
ur. I have to enter some data
before the ticket is issued. Al-
most all commuters are still
paying in cash. That means, I
will also have to dispense the
balance amount from anot-
her bag. Imagine my situa-
tion during peak office ho-
urs, with passengers impati-
ent to either disembark or get
the bus going, he reasoned.
Nigam though insisted
the process was simple and
involved a single touch pro-
cess. The air-conditioned
bus conductors have been
using it as many passengers
on those routes have adopted
cards. Once card usage
grows, everyone will be for-
ced to use machine. If need
be, we will conduct another
round of training, he added.
ed on principle to allow Kol-
kata Metro Railway Corpora-
tion Ltd (KMRCL) to use the
plot it owns in Esplanade for
the station, it took months for
physical possession to be han-
ded over. Metro Railway gene-
ral M C Chauhan, who is also
the KMRCL chairman, held
several parleys with the MoD
before the permission finally
arrived on Monday evening.
The TBM weighs 250 ton-
nes and will have to be bro-
ught to Esplanade from New
Town in parts. This will take
nearly a month. A vertical
shaft of 45 metres will then
have to be dug to retain the
earth. This is deeper than the
shaft in Howrah (where tun-
neling is already underway)
as the TBM has to pass below
the existing north-south tun-
nel. A 20x30 metre concrete
diaphragm wall will also ha-
ve to be constructed to protect
the shaft. This will take near-
ly four months. The TBM can
be lowered only after all this,
said Indrani Banerjee, CPRO,
Metro Railway.
Curzon Park
It will be close to the
south-western corner near
Rani Rashmonis statue
KMRCL will now bring
the TBM from New Town to
the spot
The TBM will be lowered
in parts and then assembled.
This will also take three-four
months before the machine
can be tested. Before long, the
Rani Rashmoni Gate of Cur-
zon Park (next to Rani Rash-
monis statue) will be shut to
facilitate work. The distance
between Esplanade and Seal-
dah is 2.6km and officials plan
to complete the tunnel as soon
as possible. Unless the tunne-
ling is completed and the
TBM emerges from Sealdah,
the station cant be commis-
sioned though the link from
Salt Lake Sector-V in the first
phase will be completed by
June, 2018. Though originally
planned till Sealdah, phase I
of the E-W Corridor will end
at Phoolbagan.

Super touch to computing at IIT-Kgp GPS-fitted sweeping machines

SCALING NEW HEIGHTS
to sparkle New Town roads
Somdatta.Basu@timesgroup.com

Kolkata: The Indian Institute of The difference will be a collection of multiple

Technology-Kharagpur is set to
receive a supercomputing facility
that is several times faster than
normal computers. The facility
will have a capacity of 1Peta Flop
significantly higher than the
regular system and help to us-
her in a new age of super-fast re-
search and innovation.
Peta-Flop is a measurement of
computing power based on the
frequency of mathematical cal-
culations that can be done per se-
cond. It is being offered to IIT-Kgp
under the National Supercompu-
ting Mission (NSM) scheme.
The system is not a web ser-
ver and can only be accessed by
authorized persons. It will be
used only for high-level research
in different areas. The super com-
puter has many central proces-
sing units (CPUs) and graphical
processing units (GPUs) combi-
ned and hence it is much faster
While a normal computer
can execute 109 mathematical
calculations per second,
Peta Flop can do 1015
calculations a second
Normal computers are of
Giga-Flop capacity. 1 Peta-Flop is
equal to 1000x1000 Giga-Flop
While regular computers
can do smaller versions of
computation, this computer
than the regular ones, said IIT-
Kgp chemistry professor Sanjoy
Bandyopadhyay.
Once the new Centre for Com-
putational and Data Sciences
(CCDS), armed with the super-
computing platform, is build, the
existing facilities will receive a
significant boost. The supercom-
puting platform will be dedicated
solely to research and teaching
purposes that involve state-of-
processors that can work
collectively to solve complex
problems
Research areas that
will benefit
Bio-molecular simulations
Bioinformatics
Climate change and
digital earth
Geo-scientic exploration
the-art high performance compu-
ting (HPC).
The new system will accele-
rate and evolve the level of rese-
arch currently being done. Out-
put and efficiency will improve
exponentially, said IIT-Kgp di-
rector Partha Pratim Chakrabar-
ti.
NSM has chosen IIT-Kgp as a
nodal centre for HPC-related edu-
cational activities. The objective
mechanical road sweeping machines
is driven by the aim of consolida-
ting efforts to achieve a self-reli-
ant supercomputing platform in
India and to develop and expand
the culture of using high-perfor-
mance computing systems to sol-
ve complex problems. This mis-
sion envisages building super-
computing capacity and capabili-
ty in the country with an
estimated budget of Rs 4,500 crore
over a period of seven years.
Suman.Chakraborti@timesgroup.com
Kolkata: The New Town Kolkata De-
velopment Authority (NKDA) has de-
cided to bring all compactors and
under the GPS-enabled Vehicle
Tracking System (VTS) to develop a
performance-oriented waste manage-
ment system.
According to the technology, the lo-
cation of the machines is time-logged
on to a map and a software generates
the distances travelled. The effective-
ness of a machine, be it a compactor or
a sweeping machine, is thus tracked
accurately in real time from the engi-
neers office.
Jica had in June last year sugges-
ted installation of the VTS system to
keep a constant watch on the waste
management system. Through VTS,
the authorities will be able to monitor
and track how long and where the road
CLEAN DRIVE
wever, each road stretch in New Town
be introduced soon.
A GPS(inset)-fitted sweeping machine
How will it work?
Location of the machine is time-
logged on to a map and a software
generates the distances travelled.
The machine is tracked accurately
in real time from a computer at the
central office
sweeping machines are working. The
authorities will be able to track down
and take steps against workers enga-
ged in waste management if it is found
that the machines have not been used
to its full, said an official.
There is no specific duty hours.
The road sweeping process goes on
from the morning till afternoon. Ho-
needs to be swept at least once a day,
said NKDA chairman Debashis Sen.
At present, there are two road-swe-
eping machines and another two will
Currently, about 36,000 people resi-
de in New Town and another 80,000
commuters enter the township daily
for work and other purposes. The daily
solid waste generation is about 40 ton-
ne and it would increase with more re-
sidential complexes and commercial
establishments coming up. An agency
collects wastes from households but
mechanical sweeping machines col-
lect waste generated on the major arte-
rial road. However, manual sweepers
have been deployed for other roads.
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA *
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 TIMES CITY 3

55-yr-old bitten Salt Lake bar owner in six-day police custody

TIMES NEWS NETWORK by the Salt Lake court on Tuesday.
Jagjit Singh, owner of Spice Gar-
In the wee hours of Holi, Zoheb
Khan had sustained severe head inju-

by molester Kolkata: The owner of Shimmers

Bar in Salt Lakes sector V,
who was arrested from
Delhi on Sunday mor-
den Group of bars and Downtown
Group of companies, was nabbed
from a Delhi hotel after the general
manager of the bar told cops that it
ries after some drunken youths hit
him before smashing a flower tub on
his head in the pub.
Dhiraj Sarkar, a former confidan-
Dwaipayan.Ghosh@timesgroup.com ning in connection with was under Singhs instruction that te of a Trinamool MLA, was also ar-
the drunken brawl case they had allowed the men, who had rested. Police said Sarkar had been
Kolkata: A molestation case has been registered after a 55- that took place on March started the brawl, to leave without in- instrumental in making arrange-
year-old woman was bitten by a drunken man on Alipore Av- 13, was sent to six days police custody forming police. ments for Singh to flee to Singapore.
enue, while she was out for morning walk.
A resident of Alipore Road, the woman was out for her re-
gular walk around 4am on Sunday. When she reached a de-
serted stretch of Alipore Avenue around 4:15am, the accu-
sed, aged around 35 years, suddenly caught hold of her from
behind, the woman wrote in the FIR. Even as the woman
struggled and screamed for help, the accused did not stop.
Then suddenly, he bit her lower chin before running away.
On Tuesday, TOI visited the area and talked to some of the
Biplab Bhattacharjee local residents
who said they did
hear the wo-
mans plea. I
was sleeping
when I heard a
woman scream.
However, things
became quiet be-
fore I could get
out of bed or re-
act, said a se-
nior citizen who
lives on Alipore
Avenue the ex-
act spot where
The Alipore Avenue 2L stretch where the the incident took
woman was molested on Sunday morning place.
The area is lo-
cated next to a canal and the Majerhat railway tracks.
There is no police presence in the area, said Nidhi Tanuja, a
local resident.
Chetla police has registered a case of molestation and are
investigating into the case. A police source said they have
CCTV footage of the area and believe one of the cameras
might have managed to capture the incident. We believe the
accused may be a local drug addict. We are confident the ac-
cused will be arrested soon, said an investigating officer.
Meanwhile, a woman who was on her way to NRS Hospi-
tal lost her valuables in the Entally area on Monday late eve-
ning. The snatcher, who was on foot, took the womans gold-
plated bangle and fled. We have registered a case and begun
probe, said an officer of the Entally police station.
4 TIMES CITY * THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

High court Rly hawker

SCs time extension may monitor
CU bid to curb excess shot by gang
a breather for CBI inquiry
Continued From P 1
student admission
TIMES NEWS NETWORK these candidates, whose na-
of three
Falguni Banerjee
CANDIDATE COUNT mes figure in the last uploa-

Agency Cant Quiz Accused During Primary Probe

T
he arguments put forth by Kolkata: After the higher ded admission list, will be re- Bandel: A gang of three kil-
senior advocates Kapil Si- education departments gistered. led a railway hawker in Ban-
bal and A M Singhvi re- prod and education minister In order to deal with the del shortly after midnight on
RohitKhanna@timesgroup.com flected the Mamata govern- Partha Chatterjees instruc- problem and allegations le- Monday. The gang members

Kolkata: A months time gi-

NEXT COURSE OF ACTION ments deep distrust in CBI un-
der the control of the BJP-led
tion to Calcutta University to
probe allegations of admit-
velled against several colle-
ges from time to time, CU had
knocked on the victims door
claiming that they were poli-
ven by the Supreme Court to CBI ofcials to go through government at the Centre. ting students much more earlier proposed to bring the ce.
CBI to finish its preliminary the footage again to nd Sibal said, Dont throw us than the sanctioned entire registration process When victim Swarup Ba-
inquiry into the Narada sting criminality to the lion by entrusting the strength, the varsity has online. niks wife Mitali opened the
has come as a relief for the probe to the CBI, which is un- now drawn up an exhaustive Till now, the individual door, they barged in pointing
special investigation team None of the accused can be der the control of the central go- policy to put an end to the ir- colleges collect registration revolvers at them. One held a
that had been burning the summoned during preliminary vernment. We are ready for a regularities from the co- CU registered students forms from the university
midnight oil to meet the Cal- inquiry probe by an SC-monitored spe- ming academic session. (apprx) in first year and then the students fill up NO ARREST
cutta high courts 72-hour de- Lodging FIR could be cial investigation team. At a meeting of the syndi- the same. The colleges then
adline. But the bench said, We can cate (the highest administra- 2014-2015 | 1,32,000 submit the same to the uni- gun at her head, another poin-
delayed owing to completion
According to CBI, the of preliminary probe allay your fears by asking the tive decision-making body) 2015-2016 | 1,42,000 versity with attestation. CU ted his firearm at the couples
agency needs to scan the video HC to monitor the CBI probe. on Tuesday, the university 2016-2017 | 1,46,000 wants this entire system to daughter Dipti. The third shot
footage in full (including the Funding of the operation is We read between the lines and has decided to ask the colle- be made online, said a sour- at 31-year-old Swarup from a
unedited rush), match the voi- also under scanner appreciate what you are saying. ges to submit details on ad- ce in the university. point blank range.
ces with those of the people se- Eye on Madan Mitras But CBI still is a specialised missions and also justify if didates admitted in every co- Shiuli Sarkar, principal While the gangsters fled,
en in the frames. For this, they CBI officials in high court petition agency. It is our premier agency. they have admitted students urse immediately after pub- of Lady Brabourne College, neighbours in Swarups Swa-
need to do voice tests of all the It will be demeaning to say the- in excess in the 2016-2017 aca- lication of each list. Though welcomes the move. The raj Pally locality informed the
accused. They will have to qu- re will be no CBI probe... . If and demic session. the admission process has college principals should cops. Police reached the spot
estion Narada News boss Mat- when PE is completed and it is From the 2017-2018 aca- been made online in many stick to their registered from Bandel outpost and took
hew Samuel as well to find out State Congress mum on Sibal role felt necessary to register an demic year, we will also ask colleges till now, the names norms. They know exactly the victim to Chinsurah
who gave the money and why. Kolkata: Even as West Bengal Congress welcomed the Supreme FIR, there is enough remedy av- colleges to mention the num- and other details of the stu- the sanctioned strength. It is Imambara Hospital, where
The investigators will also ha- Courts upholding the CBI inquiry into the Narada tapes, there was ailable to the accused to chal- ber of seats next to the sub- dents, who have finally taken difficult for universities to doctors declared him dead on
ve to examine if the Trinamo- an unease over known Congressmen and ace lawyers Kapil Sibal lenge it. jects while advertising for up the course, are not men- keep a tab. If CU feels that arrival.
ol ministers and MPs and the and Abhshek Manu Singhvi taking up the cause of the Mamata Singhvi said the HC had er- admissions. This will ensure tioned. there are irregularities then Hooghly SP Sukesh Jain
IPS officer in question took Banerjee government. red in directing preliminary transparency. Many unk- Also, going a step ahead, inspection should be done, said, We suspect the killers
the wads of notes with a pro- While leader of the opposition Abdul Mannan sent out a nown and lesser-known col- CU has decided that on the she said. had an old rivalry with Swa-
mise to favour someone. All message welcoming the Supreme Court order, there was not a RARE CASE leges avoid mentioning the last date of admissions as The higher education de- rup. No one has been arrested
these elements need to be es- word from him over the apparent paradox between Bengal seat strength in major and prescribed by the university, partment may also seek the so far. Cops, however, said
tablished before the CBI rea- Congress and the party high command. West Bengal Pradesh probe by the CBI as the apex pass courses to avoid detec- colleges will have to upload report prepared by a private Swarup did not have any past
ches the conclusion that the Congress president Adhir Chowdhury was also silent on the issue, court had time and again clari- tion, said a source in the CU. the final list of candidates consulting firm on the Rs 786 criminal record.
public representatives in qu- but to reassure the party ranks he left a message that he will be fied that state police should ha- He added, The colleges who have finally taken up crore financial irregulari-
estion are liable to be booked
under sections 7 and 13(1D) of
leading a rally on Narada row to the Y channel on Saturday. ve the first right to investigate
a case and only in rarest of
will henceforth be asked to
upload the names of the can-
the course and also mention
vacancies, if any. Only then,
ties which had rocked the
Calcutta University in 2015.
Man held for
The apparent silence of the Pradesh leadership might have
the Prevention of Corruption
Act. During this time of preli-
been prompted by the demonstration in front of Pradesh Congress rare case should the investiga-
tion be handed over to the fede-
killing mother
office three years ago in 2015 when Kapil Sibal had taken up the Kolkata: Officers of Barana-
minary inquiry, the agency
cant question the persons in
Trinamools brief in the Saradha case. TNN ral agency.
The bench said, This is in- STAR-STUDDED AFFAIR TOI
gar police station arrested a
person following an allega-
question or take them in cus- disputably a rarest of rare case
tion of strangulating his mot-
tody before they file an FIR. tanced them from Laxman be- out with the story, he said. as it allegedly involves impor-
her on Tuesday evening.
Investigators while exami- fore he was convicted. But in Given K D Singhs political tant political personalities.
According to an officer, the
ning the doling out favour this case, Trinamool chief Ma- background as Trinamool Ra- Sting operations are a tough
accused, Pradip Chakraborty
angle have already questio- mata Banerjee has thrown her jya Sabha MP, investigators job. Just imagine what the per-
(40), killed his mother Anjana
ned Samuel if anyone had ac- weight behind the accused sa- have to establish beyond do- son has to undergo.
Chakraborty (70), at their
tually done favours to the com- ying that these leaders took ubt that the Trinamool lea- Advocates Harish Salve and
PWD Road residence around
pany. They (CBI) have alrea- donation for party fund be- ders took money against some Bhaskar Bhattacharya told the
8.30pm on Tuesday. Neighbo-
dy asked me if any of the accu- cause the sting was conducted favours promised to the donor, court that the state advocate ge-
urs told cops that Pradip was
sed persons kept in touch with in March 2014, ahead of the and this was not an act of poli- neral had taken a stand before
not of sound mental state.
me, or if I had contacted anyo- Lok Sabha polls. Samuel was tical vengeance or blackmai- the HC that the tapes revealed
A thorough medical check-
ne of them after the sting ope- then editor Tehelka. I got the ling, particularly when the vi- no cognizable offence.
up on Wednesday will deter-
ration. But none contacted me appointment letter on March deo footage was kept on hold The bench said, Both jud-
mine Pradips exact mental
after that and neither did I 1, 2014 when Tehelka was try- for nearly two years before it ges of the HC felt there is over-
condition. TNN
contact anyone, said Samuel. ing to reorganize itself. KD was aired on the eve of the 2016 whelming material to send the
While the officials have scan- Singh, main promoter of Te- Bengal assembly polls. case for CBI probe. The compla-
ned almost the entire footage, helka, asked me to plan some Meanwhile, CBI is also ke- int of the journalist and his wi- WEATHER
they are trying to put in place big stories and we decided to eping a keen eye on the special fe had evoked no response from
the different pieces to find out pick up some politicians in leave petition to be filed by Ma- the state police. If the advocate Max 32.1 0C(-3) Min 19.5
if the public servants misused West Bengal, Samuel said. dan Mitra. While Mitra had fi- general representing the state
0
C(-4) Sunrise: Thursday
their office. After the sting operation was led it on Monday, it could not says no congizable offence, will 5.38am Sunset: Wednes-
day 4.52pm Mainly clear
The sting operation has a over, Samuel was asked to file be listed as it had certain the state police act on the allega-
sky . Maximum and minimum
parallel with a similar opera- it as soon as possible. I was gi- technical problems. Sour- tions of bribe taking by politici- Governor K N Tripathi presented the second Sunil Gangopadhyay Memorial Award for excellence in Bengali temperature may be around 33C &
tion conducted against for- ven a place at the Alchemist ces said Mitra is likely to file ans of the ruling party? So, the- literature by The Bengal, an NGO, to litterateur Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay (extreme L) and poet Joy 210C Max humidity 87% min 33%
mer BJP president Bangaru office at Nehru Place in New the revised petition soon to re is very good reason for ent- Goswami (extreme R) at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. Chairman of The Bengal H M Bangur was also present Rain: Nil
Laxman. BJP leaders then dis- Delhi. I took 48 hours to come pursue the legal battle. rusting the probe to the CBI.

Uncertainty has led to shortage

of premium liquors in market
Continued From P 1
TIDE OVER ALCOHOL WOES crease margin to the retailers
since wholesalers remain in

T
he uncertainty over the Liquor distributors have Association had earlier said the system, a bonder added.
past month had led to got four months licence it has a due of `400 crore In the last meeting before
shortage of premium extension Holi, the government had as-
and semi-premium liquors in The association has ked the distributors to resume
the market. Both distributors State govt has asked suggested a Karnataka-like normal supply to the retailers,
and retailers of IMFL had liquor wholesalers to model for Bengal which they had agreed to do.
complained that the trans- continue normal supply to The association has 109 The wholesalers association
ition period had led to a shorta- retail shops members had also sought a rehabilita-
ge of liquor ahead of Holi, Excise department has tion package for liquor distri-
The association has
when consumption and de- assured wholesalers butors and the government
sought a rehabilitation
mand escalate. that they will had asked the association to
package from
help them prepare a scheme.
state and the
LICENCE recover dues government
Currently, the distributors
from retailers have around Rs 400 crore due
EXTENSION has, in turn, to the retailers. There are abo-
West Bengal asked the ut 10 manufacturing units en-
In their compromise for- Foreign Liquor association gaged in production of IMFL
mula, the liquor distributors Manufacturers, to formulate in the state and 109 licenced
have suggested that the Wholesalers an action private distributors who supp-
WBSBC sell its stock to and Bonders plan ly to the retailers. According to
registered traders, who in the association, the distribu-
turn would supply liquor to re- works. Normally, corpora- ing from 9% to 15%. However, tors engage about 5,000 people
tailers. tions have to provide market in our proposed system, the go- directly and about 12,000 indi-
We hope this system retailers with margins rang- vernment doesnt need to in- rectly.

Bengal climbers take mountain

medicine route to global diploma
Jayanta.Gupta TOI ly, also wants to take up
@timesgroup.com mountain medicine as a pro-
fession. We wish to gain ex-
Kolkata: In less than 10 days pertise in the field while go-
from now, two young moun- ing on expeditions. The di-
taineers from West Bengal ploma will be a big boost for
will be leaving for Spain to us, Pal added. Pal and Das
represent India in the Diplo- have summitted several
ma International of Moun- peaks over the last seven
tain Medicine (DiMM). years. These include Gango-
The month-long course is tri-III, Rudragaira, two un-
organized by the The Associ- named peaks and an attempt
ation for Investigation, on Mt Kun. The two will be
Teaching, and Assistance in leaving for Spain via Mum-
the Wilderness, Crossbor- bai on March 30 and return
der Cerdanya Hospital and on April 29.
the Chair of Mountain & According to the UIAA,
Wilderness Medicine & Clin- DiMM complements the reg-
ical Simulation, University Tapas Pal (28) and Abhishek Das (29) will not only attend the event ular courses in mountain
of Girona, Puigcerd, Spain. but also give a lecture-cum-presentation on Mountaineering and medicine in many countries
DiMM is attended by Adventure Sports of India and has become a widely re-
members of institutes like spected qualification. Over
the International Climbing ing and Adventure Sports of first-aiders and participated the years, regulations have
and Mountaineering Feder- India. While the organisers in a sort of contest in the been updated to reflect devel-
ation (UIAA), International are sponsoring their stay in Gangotri-III region where opments in mountain medi-
Society for Mountain Medi- Spain, the Indian Mountain- our skills were tested. That cine, internet communica-
cine (ISMM) and Interna- eering Foundation (IMF) event was organized by orga- tions and to ensure that high
tional Commission in Al- will take care of their travel nisations like UIAA and standards are maintained.
pine Rescue (ICAR) and the costs. IMF, Pal, a resident of Sode- Pal and Das will be attending
diploma awarded is recog- This is the first time pur in North 24 Parganas the 17th edition of DiMM.
nized globally. Tapas Pal (28) anybody from West Bengal said. There are courses for doc-
and Abhishek Das (29) will has been selected to attend Pal is an engineering tors as well as paramedics
not only attend the event but the prestigious event. We graduate but took up his and nurses. Participants
also give a lecture-cum-pre- were selected after a tough hobby as a profession. Das, will have to qualify for the di-
sentation on Mountaineer- challenge. We are certified from Hind Motors in Hoogh- ploma during their stay.
Vol. XVIII Serial No. 67 Published for the proprietors, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd, by Shivaji Sen at 105/7A, S N Banerjee Road, Kolkata-700 014 and printed by him at Times House, Plot no.2, Block- EM, Sector-V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-700 091. Editor: Diwakar Asthana & Regional Editor: Keshav Pradhan- responsible for selection of news under PRB Act. RNI no. WBENG/1999/1062. Tel no. Kolkata (033) 6639 1400, Response (033) 6639 1600. Fax: (O33) 2282 4996. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or
in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
Mom of baby in coma thanks
hosps for saving her daughter
Tamaghna.Banerjee
@timesgroup.com
Kolkata: The mother of a baby,
whose father had lodged a compla-
int of medical negligence against
two private hospitals accusing
them of not declaring her brain de-
ad, said on Tuesday she was happy
with the hospitals efforts that sa-
ved her daughters life.
On August 27, the one-year-old
had choked on semi-solid food that
interrupted oxygen supply to her
brain for over 45 minutes. It dama-
ged her brain functioning and she
lapsed into coma.
TOI had reported on March 15
that the babys father, a doctor him-
self, lodged a police complaint aga-
inst two private hospitals in south
Kolkata, accusing them of medical
negligence that led his daughter to
be in a persistent vegetative state.
He further questioned what pre-
vented the hospitals from declaring
her brain-dead.
The mother, a former critical
care expert with a private hospital,
however, said on Tuesday: I am in-
debted to the doctors of those hospi-
tal for saving my daughter. Her bra-
Third case in three weeks
filed against city hospital
Dwaipayan.Ghosh
Joy Sadhukhan
@timesgroup.com
Kolkata: A fresh case has be-
en drawn up against Medica
Superspeciality hospital the
third in three weeks by the
Purba Jadavpur police.
This case, though, has not
been drawn under the usual
negligence case; Instead, the
lighter IPC section 336 (act en-
dangering life or personal safe-
ty of others) has been slapped
along with IPC section 34 (com-
mon intention).
According to the FIR filed
against some doctors of Medi-
ca, Supratik Basu (64), a resi-
dent of Baidyapara Road of Ba-
ruipur, has said his wife Rita
was admitted to the hospital
on January 20 with a history of
breathlessness, swelling of bo-
dy and water in stomach. The
doctors treated her before rele-
asing her on January 24. Howe-
ver, according to the FIR, after
Hooch claims 12,
5 dens set ablaze
Monotosh Chakraborty
Baruipur:Illicit country liqu-
or allegedly claimed 12 lives
over 24 hours till Tuesday mor-
ning in the Baruipur and Can-
ning areas of South 24-Parga-
nas. Agitators smashed and
set ablaze five hooch dens in a
500m radius spread over Baru-
ipurs Ghola Bazar and adjoi-
ning Shibnagar in Canning.
While three succumbed on
Tuesday morning, nine died
on Monday. The dead, inciden-
tally, include one of the hooch
den owners. The deaths bro-
ught back grim memories of
the 2011hooch tragedy that left
about 170 people dead in Mog-
rahat, about 50km from Tues-
days death zone.
Locals alleged owners of
the hooch dens, all in close pro-
ximity, compete with each
other by adding chemical to
the country liquor. The chemi-
cal allegedly makes the liquor
more intoxicating but may
prove fatal. After the Mogra-
hat tragedy, locals brought
down these five dens a couple
of times but they sprung up af-
ter each such display of public
wrath, the residents said.
Truckers in
Port area get
extra hour
Kolkata: The city traffic poli-
ce has allowed an extra hour
to truckers for movement of
goods vehicles in and around
the Port area.
According to the new regu-
lations in place, the trucks
cannot ply in the evening only
between 5pm and 8pm. Earli-
er, the cops had allowed trucks
to move from 9pm after initial-
ly moving movement of
trucks till 10pm. The cops said
that restrictions in the mor-
ning between 8am and noon
will remain unchanged.
The new regulation has come
in to force from Monday night,
said Lalbazar sources.
Area residents, though sa-
id that they will be facing mo-
re traffic woes around CGR
Road since the evening traffic
will still not ease out. TNN
TODDLERS LIFE HANGS IN BALANCE
August 25, 2015 | The baby
was born
August 27, 2016 | She choked daughter and I know that
on some semi-solid food while
being fed by an ayah. Taken to
a private hospital, underwent I know she is alive and
an operation but slipped into
coma
September 28, 2016 |
Admitted to another private
hospital off EM Bypass
November 25, 2016 |
Released from hospital and put
on home ventilation
in had no oxygen supply for over 45
minutes and she could die. I am
happy that she is alive.
I will go to Purba Jadavpur po-
lice station tomorrow (Wednesday)
and will request the cops not to pur-
sue any case against the doctors or
the hospitals, she added.
The 31-year-old mother is refu-
sing to give up the fight for her little
daughter and vows to bring up
her baby on ventilation support
Sujata, widow of Sunil Pandey, at
Swasthya Bhawan on Tuesday
being discharged, the patients
condition deteriorated. She
was moved first to Divine Nur-
sing Home and then to Peerless
Hospital, where she was cured.
Supratik claimed due to negli-
gence in treatment and impro-
per diagnosis of the Medica
doctors, the patient could have
died.
Meanwhile, in the case re-
lated to Sanjay Pandeys death
A villager burns one of the five
hooch dens to ground on Tuesday
Nibash Mondal, whose fat-
her Bimal died on Tuesday af-
ter consuming hooch, said:
My father had become addic-
ted to the liquor. After the Mog-
rahat tragedy, we had wanted
to free this area of hooch dens.
But they come up and run with
the connivance of police and
the administration.
SDPO (Baruipur) Arko Ba-
nerjee said: I have heard abo-
ut the deaths but it is not yet
clear whether the victims died
due to hooch. The autopsies
have not been conducted.
SWACHH
BHARAT
AIR QUALITY INDEX PM2.5
Delhi 157 Moderate
Tomorrow 149 Moderate
Pune 87 Satisfactory
Tomorrow 82 Satisfactory
Mumbai 127 Moderate
Tomorrow 97 Satisfactory
Source: SAFAR@MoES-IITM-IMD (10 stations)
Hyderabad 72 Satisfactory
Chennai 51 Satisfactory
Kolkata 96 Satisfactory
US Embassy data calculated as per Indian
standards by SAFAR@MoES-IITM-IMD
Based on 1 Station Data Per City at 4pm
I know the medical
Doctor lodges FIR against two private
condition of my
hospitals over daughter
WHY NOT DECLARED BRAIN-DEAD?
she may not get better
even in several years. But
her condition has
improved a lot over the
past four months. She
can now move her legs
and she can pass urine
and stool normally
without help of a catheter
The babys mother
even though her husband wants
otherwise.
I know the medical condition
of my daughter and I know that she
may not get better even in several
years. But I know she is alive and
her condition has improved a lot
over the past four months. She can
now move her legs, her eyes get di-
lated, her cheeks turn red when she
is angry, she can hold her breath
when she gets afraid, she can hold
at the same hospital, his wi-
dow Sujata met the Swasthya
Bhawan-appointed committee
members on Tuesday.
Investigators probing
charges by Ruby Roy wife of
deceased patient Sanjoy Roy
against Apollo Gleneagles ho-
spitals said they were consul-
ting legal experts after a probe
showed extortion charges can
be substantiated.
The investigating officers
spent over two hours on Tues-
day at the office of deputy com-
missioner of police Debasmita
Das going through the eviden-
ce collected from Apollo Hospi-
tal. We are probing whether
there was any deliberate cri-
minal dereliction of duty du-
ring communications betwe-
en juniors and seniors. We will
be checking the server where
Sanjoys data is stored is to en-
sure we do not act in haste wit-
hout collecting necessary evi-
dence, said an officer.
in their arms; mob ransacks
loyees
s vegetative state
Tamaghna Banerjee &
Dwaipayan Ghosh TNN
Kolkata: A doctor has lodged a
police complaint against two
private hospitals in south
Kolkata, accusing them of me-
dical negligence that has led
his 19-month-old daughter to
be in a persistent vegetative
state. The complaint also ques-
tioned what prevented the ho-
spitals from declaring her bra-
in dead.
The hospitals, however, say
they have become unwitting
e UNWITTING VICTIMS,
h. CLAIM HOSPS
ta
ri- victims in the affair, insisting
he the FIR against them was re-
n. gistered after serious diffe-
ni- rences cropped up between the
o- girls parents over her future
m and other issues.
we- The condition of the girl,
n- now on ventilator at her doctor
pi- parents home at Gangulyba-
he gan, and her parentswho se-
vi- em to be looking at their and
on their daughters future very
hey differentlyhave prompted
us not to disclose their identity.
, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-700 091.
use, Plot no.2, Block- EM, Sector-V
TOI carried this
report on March 15
New health panel to
draw up blueprint on
taking up of cases
Kolkata: The health commission that will me-
et for the first time on Wednesday is set to go
through the West Bengal Clinical Establish-
ment (Registration Regulation and Transpa-
rency) Act 2017.
Issues such as laying out a broad outline on
how to go about taking up cases as and when
they reach the commission are expected to fea-
ture in the Swathya Bhawan meeting. The 11-
member commsion was set up on March 17
Dissecting the Act could be the main thing
during the Wed-
CRITICAL nesday meet. All
cases that co-
CARE mes to the com-
mission has to
be dealt under
the new Act and hence each member needs to
know it thoroughly before it starts taking up
any case, said a source in Swasthya Bhawan.
Headed by Justice Ashim Kumar Roy, the
commission has seven doctors and a nurse,
along with two IPS officers. Top doctors Suku-
mar Mukherjee, Abhijit Chowdhury, G K Dhali,
Makhanlal Saha, Madhusudan Banerjee and
Maitreyee Banerjee along with Anuj Sharma,
ADG (law and order), and Praveen Kumar Tri-
pathy, DC (south), are also in the panel. TNN
TIMES CITY 5
review process. As a contractual
Senior WBSU official taken into CID custody staffer, he was involved with the
Kolkata: Alamgir Badshah, a senior Badshah was held for allegedly results department. Sources said his
official of the West Bengal State running a racket that took money and questioning has led cops to send
University (WBSU), was taken into ensured those who failed the exams another notice to former registrar
custody by the CID on Tuesday. were shown as passed during the Subrata Sarkar. TNN
again for routine tests that wo-
treatment and services provi
wa
who had informed her about
said.
ded to the patient right from
uld confirm the boys identity.
me and took her to the hospi
she worked in, one of the t
establishments against wh
the FIR was registered on A
The child will
remain in a persistent
HOSPITAL STAY gust 27, 2016.
After a months stay at
First admission:
vegetative state, hospital, the child was shif
August 27, 2016
believe doctors to another facilitythe sec
Second admission: one names in the FIR in S
It was caused by September 28, 2016 tember after her condition
hypoxia, ie oxygen not improve, cops from the
Total duration of stay at
supply to the brain
being cut off owing to the two hospitals: 91 days
Jadavpur police station s
The girl was at the second
suffocation
Hypoxia affected
the childs higher
Back home on: November
25, 2016
Persistent vegetative
Brain death: Complete loss of
spital for close to two mon
before she was taken hom
November 2016. This was a
declared it c
involuntary the hospital
brain, responsible brain function, including
state (PVS): It is a disorder of do nothing more, an off
activity to sustain life
for recognition,
consciousness in which patients said. The complaint was
movement and
memory with severe brain damage are in
a state of partial arousal rather
The complaint was lodged here
on March 7 and we drew up an
ged here on March 7 and
drew up an FIR on March 1
The girls eyes
than true awareness. After 4 weeks FIR on March 12, after a preliminary ter a preliminary inves
may open a little, but
she will remain in a
vegetative state
in a vegetative state, the patient
is declared to be in a persistent
vegetative state. This diagnosis is
investigation. We will now call hospital
officials for questioning. The complaint
asks what prevents the hospitals from
tion. We will now call hos
officials for questioning.
complaint asks what prev
She may survive classified as a permanent vegetative declaring the girl brain dead the hospitals from decla
for several years but
her growth will be
stunted
state a few months (3 in US and 6
in UK) after a non-traumatic brain
injury or 1 year after traumatic injury
OFFICER FROM EAST JADAVPUR
POLICE STATION
the girl brain dead.
Officials of both hosp
said the girl was in persi
vegetative state and tha
hospitals, were away at work
when she was merely 13 nanny reportedly cal- recovery
chance was
The hospitals identity, too, is
not being disclosed, primarily
to protect the familys privacy.
months old, after she choked and the
on some semi-solid food, being
led them up to tell them
child had lost consciousness. ve in
the gible though she could
this state for sever
parents,
by her nanny . The
The girl was first taken to fed The girls mother returned ho-
ars more.
who were doctors at different
hospital in August last year,
All rights reserved. Reproduction
(033) 6639 1600. Fax: (O33) 2282 4996.
Editor:
Act. RNI no. WBENG/1999/1062.
Keshav Pradhan- responsible for
Tel no. Kolkata (033) 6639 1400, Response
selection of news under PRB
Editor: Diwakar Asthana & Regional
of the publisher is prohibited.
in part without written permission
my finger when placed between her
palms and she can pass her urine
and stool normally without the
help of a catheter, she said.
I am ready to allow my daugh-
ter grow in this state. I will fund her
medicines and medical equipment
costing close to Rs 1.5 lakh per
month, till the day my parents and I
can sustain. But I am waiting for a
miracle, she said, wiping tears
with her dupatta.

Ill personally keep tabs on
absentee MPs, warns PM
Modi Plans
To Carry Out
Random
Checks Daily
Mohua.Chatterjee
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: Upset over the
frequent suspensions of busi-
ness of Lok Sabha because of
the absence of BJP MPs, Pri-
me Minister Narendra Modi
on Tuesday cautioned them
against skipping procee-
dings, saying that he would
personally monitor their pre-
sence.
The PM sounded the war-
ning at the meeting of the
BJP parliamentary party
when he interrupted parlia-
mentary affairs minister
Ananth Kumar to say that he
Yogi, Parrikar, Maurya to wait till
prez elections to quit Parliament
Akhilesh.Singh
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: Three BJP MPs,
who have taken up coveted
assignments in states, are
unlikely to resign from Parli-
ament until the presidential
polls slated for July.
Uttar Pradesh chief mi-
nister Yogi Aditya Nath and
his deputy Keshav Prasad
Maurya are Lok Sabha MPs
from Gorakhpur and Phul-
pur, respectively, whereas
Manohar Parrikar, who took
over as Goa CM, is a Rajya
Sabha MP from UP.
Another deputy CM in
UP, Dinesh Sharma, has alre-
ady resigned as mayor of
Lucknow.
TIMES NATION
INDIA DEBUNKS PAK MANTRIS CLAIM OF TALKS ON
INDUS WATERS ISSUE IN WASHINGTON | 9
There is no need for
humble requests any
any more, as the basic reason
for which members get el-
ected is to attend Parliament.
more (after parliamentary
affairs minister Ananth
The Prime Minister furt-
her said that while he can do
Kumar appealed to MPs to
attend Parliament). MPs
a lot of things, he cannot fill
in for each of the absent BJP
will have to be present as it MPs.
is their primary duty... the He added that he would
basic reason for randomly check on them by
which members sending for five or six mem-
bers daily during sessions.
get elected
Modi said he will send in
is to attend
chits with the names of MPs
Parliament
he intended to call into his of-
- PM NARENDRA
fice any time when the House
MODI was on.
The PMs stern visage left
the audience in little doubt
would not tolerate absentee- that he meant business. Lack
ism any longer. of enough numbers on the tre-
Kumar started off the me- asury benches has been a con-
eting by requesting MPs to cern for the government.
attend proceedings. I hum- Often, proceedings have
bly request members to at- been suspended because of
tend the House..., he began lack of quorum when one-
when the PM interrupted tenth of the total strength of
him. He said: There is no ne- the House is absent a requi-
ed to make humble requests rement which can easily be
UP CM Aditya Nath Yogi (left) a
Lok Sabha MP from Gorakhpur
and Goa chief minister Manohar
Parrikar an RS MP from UP
are unlikely to resign from
Parliament until the presidential
polls slated for July
The three BJP functiona- LS or RS within 14 days of
ries will require to be elected their election. There is no
within six months of their hurry... we have more serio-
appointment, which will be us issues than going for by-
due in September this year polls at this juncture, said a
while the presidential polls senior BJP member.
are scheduled for July. BJP sources said the par-
They will have to be elec- ty is now focused on the pre-
ted from either House in the sidential polls as it will have
state within six months and a President of its choice after
they will have to resign from a thumping win in the recent
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
met considering that BJP has
a majority of its own.
After warning MPs, Modi
briefed MPs on what they ne-
eded to do to celebrate BJP's
foundation day on April 6
and B R Ambedkar's birth
anniversary on April 14: two
big programmes on BJPs ca-
lendar for next month.
Kumar started out on tel-
ling MPs about the two pro-
grammes, when the PM deci-
ded to take charge. I will tell
them about it and what has to
be done, party MPs quoted
him as saying.
Some BJP members said
Modi told them that it did not
matter to him if they were in
the Central Hall, but what is
important is that they sho-
uld be inside the House.
Modi had in the past also
asked members to ensure
their presence but this is the
first time he has spoken abo-
ut it in such detail and talked
tough.
assembly elections.
Yogi and Maurya have
both the option of contesting
a bypoll from an assembly
constituency as well as for
the legislative council as UP
has a bicameral House. The
two CMs before Yogi Akhi-
lesh Yadav and Mayawati
were members of the council
as they didnt contest the as-
sembly polls.
Even as Yogi is in no hur-
ry to resign from LS and seek
election as a state legislator,
offers to vacate by party
MLAs have been pouring in.
Fateh Bahadur Singh, son of
former UP CM Veer Bahadur
Singh, has offered to vacate
his Campierganj seat near
Gorakhpur for Yogi.
WILL GOVT GIVE CITIZENS ANOTHER CHANCE TO
DEPOSIT SCRAPPED NOTES, SC ASKS CENTRE | 10
Jethmalanis
RS remark on
Jaitley irks
BJP members
Neeraj.Chauhan
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: The strained rela-
tions between senior lawyer
and MP Ram
Jethmalani
and finance
minister Arun
Jaitley was on-
ce again on dis-
play, this time
in Rajya Sab-
ha, on Tuesday.
Jethmalani,
during Ques-
tion Hour, ma-
de a remark on
the senior mi-
Jaitley and nisters reply
Jethmalani on black mo-
ney which led
to a commotion in the House
as ruling party MPs and even
ministers stood up and de-
manded an apology.
Chairman Hamid Ansari
later expunged Jethmalanis
remarks.
The remarks from the 94-
year-old veteran lawyer came
few days after the two senior
lawyers came face to face
when Jaitley was cross-ex-
amined by Jethmalani in the
court while defending Arvind
Kejriwal in a defamation case
filed by the finance minister
against the Delhi CM.
The day was marked of un-
ruly behaviour by the lawma-
kers in the Upper House, with
both Chairman Ansari and
deputy chairman P J Kurien
having to repeatedly remind
them that that it was unbeco-
ming of all of them.
With ministers joining
BJP members to aggressively
rebut Jethmalanis charge
that the government had been
misleading the country on
black money, Ansari chided
them repeatedly: You are mi-
nisters. You can't do it (stan-
ding up and protesting).
There was a long heated
exchange between BJP and
opposition members after
this, leading a visibly angry
Ansari to ask everyone to be-
have. Earlier, during the Zero
Hour, Congress leader Pratap
Singh Bajwa faced the ire of
Kurien when he repeatedly
tussled with a BJP member on
the upkeep of the historic Ja-
lianwala Bagh memorial in
Amritsar.
Shwait Malik (BJP) had,
through a Zero Hour mention,
sought to highlight the poor
upkeep of the Jalianwala
Bagh that had on April 13, 1919
witnessed one of the worst
pre-Independence massacres
at the hands of British forces.
Centre defends Armys
sahayak system in House
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The govern-
ment in Parliament strongly
defended on Tuesday the sa-
hayak (orderly) system in
the Army, holding that it pro-
vides essential support to
officers and junior commis-
sioned officers (JCOs) in ful-
filling their duties both in
times of peace and war.
Subhash Bhamre, Union
minister of state for defence ,
however, said that exhaus-
tive instructions are re-
peatedly issued to all Army
units to stress that sahayaks
should not be employed for
menial tasks which are
not in conformity with the
dignity and self-respect of
combatant soldiers.
Responding to questions
in the Rajya Sabha, which
came in the backdrop of the
sahayak system being criti-
cised as a vestige of the colo-
nial era and a couple of ja-
wans posting videos on so-
cial media against the prac-
tice, Bhamre said Sahayaks
have clearly defined mili-
tary duties and form an in-
tegral part of the organisa-
tional structure of a unit.
During operations in
field areas, a sahayak and
J&K terror recruitment
saw 55% jump post-Wani
Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: As many as 88
youths joined militancy in
Jammu & Kashmir in 2016,
the highest since 2010, the go-
vernment told the Lok Sabha
on Tuesday. Violent protests
in the Valley had peaked last
year in the wake of killing of
Hizbul Mujahideen leader
Burhan Wani on July 8. Over
2,100 incidents were repor-
ted over a short span of three
months from July to Septem-
ber 2016.
The figure of 88 Kashmi-
ri youth opting for militancy
last year marks a departure
from the falling trend wit-
nessed since 2014. In fact, the
recruitment by terrorist gro-
ups in J&K last year was 55%
higher than the levels wit-
nessed in 2010, when stone-
pelting protests caused a
long spell of unrest in J&K.
In a written reply to a
starred question in the Lok
Sabha, Union minister of
state for home Hansraj
In last 2 years, 12 women officers filed
plaint of harassment in armed forces
A dozen women officers in the armed forces have lodged
complaints of harassment and discrimination over the last
two years, even as the government is working towards
increasing more avenues for women in the Army, Navy and IAF.
Stating this in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, MoS
for defence Subhash Bhamre said six cases of harassment and
discrimination against women officers have been recorded in the
Army since 2015. The Navy had three such cases, while IAF had
two. Another such case took place in the military medical and
nursing stream last year. Women officers currently number just
3,578 of the 66,044 officers in the three Services. There are also
1,288 women doctors/dentists as well as 4,094 nursing officers
in the armed forces.
the officer/JCO act as bud- ruling out any adverse im-
dies in arms. One covers the pact of the sahayak system
movement of the other bud- on the morale of troops. The
dy and protects him in oper- Navy and IAF do not have the
ations where support has to sahayak system.
be total, whether mental, As was first reported by
physical or moral, he said. TOI, the Army in May last
The sahayak also pro- year had proposed to the de-
vides an alternative con- fence ministry that soldiers
tact for the officer with the deployed as sahayaks could
troops under his command, be replaced by the 29,543
getting feedback on grass- service assistants or non-
root issues through infor- combatants in peace sta-
mal means. The rapport be- tions, while maintaining
tween officers and buddies status quo in field areas
has led to enhancement of with officers posted along
the spirit-de-corps in a unit, the borders or in counter-in-
which is vital during war surgency operations contin-
and peace, said Bhamre, uing to get buddies.
In Kashmir, 88 youths had opted for militancy last year in a clear
departure from the falling trend witnessed since 2014
Gangaram Ahir said that as ment is offering attractive
compared to 88 youth who jo- incentives to surrendered
ined militancy last year, a militants, apart from ope-
much lesser 66 chose the ning up avenues for employ-
path of violence in 2015, 53 in ment of local youth through
2014, just 16 in 2013, 21 in 2012, programmes such as Uda-
23 in 2011 and 54 in 2011. an and Himayat, he added.
Ahir said the J&K go- A key reason for J&K yo-
vernment was trying to we- uth gravitating towards mi-
an away the state's youth litancy, according to an intel-
from militancy with greater ligence officer, may be the lo-
police-public engagement, cal sentiment generated by
including organising sports the killing of Wani.
tournaments and cultural For full report, log on to
events. Also, the govern- www.timesofindia.com
Cant delay legislations
in Upper House: Ansari
TIMES NEWS NETWORK obstruct, but to give space to
take a second look at legisla-
New Delhi: Extolling the ne- tion. A second look is always
cessity of Rajya Sabha in useful, Ansari said.
strengthening the democra- Speaking at a function to
tic framework, Vice-Presi- release the third edition of a
dent Hamid Ansari on Tues- publication titled Rajya Sab-
day said the framers of the ha at Work, organised at the
Constitution had decided to
give the country a legislative CONSTITUTION CITED
structure where they cons-
ciously and purposely provi- Parliament House Annexe,
ded a second chamber in Par- Ansari said a second look
liament. had added to the quality, and
Rajya Sabha was certain- not subtracted from the co-
ly not meant to delay, nor to untrys democratic process.
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 TIMES NATION 7

HIV/AIDS bill for equal rights passed in RS

Seeks Protection In Education,
Jobs, Office & Property Rights
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The HIV and
AIDS (Prevention and Con-
trol) Bill, 2014, which seeks to
ensure equal rights for peo-
ple living with HIV in medi-
cal treatment, education and
jobs, was passed by the Rajya
Sabha on Tuesday.
When the bill becomes
law, it will protect such peo-
ple from specific acts of dis-
crimination by the state or
any other person while lay-
ing down penal provisions
for any bias practiced
against a person with HIV/
AIDS and in case of breach of
confidentiality.
The bill makes it incum-
bent on central and state gov-
ernments to provide for anti-
retroviral therapy (ART) and
management of opportunis-
tic infections (infections that
take advantage of weakness
in the immune system and
occur frequently).
However, during the de-
bate on the measure, many
members suggested amend-
ing a section of the bill, to re-
move the phrase as far as
possible for providing med-
ical treatment by the Centre
and the states to those infect-
ed with HIV and AIDS, as
they felt this would defeat the
purpose of the move.
The protection mandated
in the bill extends to the
fields of employment,
healthcare services, educa-
tional services, public facili-
ties, property rights, holding
public office, and insurance.
The bill, moved by health
minister J P Nadda, was
passed in the Upper House by
The bill makes it
incumbent on central and
state governments to
provide for anti-retroviral
therapy and management
of infections that take
advantage of weakness
in the immune system
a voice vote.
Though the bill was ini-
tially introduced in Parlia-
ment by the UPA govern-
ment, the amendments to the
HIV and AIDS (Prevention
and Control) Bill, 2014 were
revived by the Modi govern-
ment in July last year.
Since then, the health
ministry has made various
changes to the original bill to
address concerns raised by
the HIV community.
For instance, the bill now
makes anti-retroviral treat-
ment a legal right for all
HIV/AIDS patients. It has al-
so adopted test and treat
policy which means any per-
son testing positive will be
entitled for free treatment by
the state and central govern-
ment. Earlier, this was re-
stricted by a CD4 count rate.
It also provides for confi-
dentiality of HIV-related in-
formation and makes it nec-
essary to get informed con-
sent for undertaking HIV
tests, medical treatment and
research.
Civil society organisa-
tions too raised concerns
against the as far as possi-
ble clause and said this will
dilute the provision and al-
low state governments to de-
ny treatment.
In his reply to the debate,
Nadda said I would like to
inform the House that while
making the rules, we will en-
sure that nobody is denied
treatment and we are com-
mitted to provide medical
treatment to all those living
with HIV or AIDS.
Stressing the govern-
ments commitment to the is-
sue, Nadda said, India will
treat anyone with HIV and
AIDS. He added the rules
will have provision to pro-
vide justification for deny-
ing treatment to the patients.
The bill also provides for fast
tracking of cases relating to
HIV positive persons by
courts on a priority basis.

Najeeb kin say cops making

false claims under pressure
Priyangi.Agarwal
@timesgroup.com
Bareilly: After reports quo-
ting police said that the
browser history of missing
JNU student Najeeb Ah-
mads lap-
top had
revealed
he was lo-
oking for
informa-
tion on Is-
lamic Sta-
te ideolo-
gy, execu-
Najeeb Ahmad tions and
networks
before his disappearance,
his family in Badaun said
that as the police has not be-
en able to trace Najeeb for fi-
ve months now, the latter had
come up with this baseless
theory.
We are Muslims and
hence people will easily beli-
eve polices theory that Naje-
eb searched for information
on IS. Police are under pres-
sure from the court to find
Najeeb and they are now ma-
king false claims.They have
failed to locate him after so
many months and are now
desperate to hide their own
failure. They should be asha-
med about defaming my
brother.
When the SIT (special
investigation team) was pro-
Police deny report on IS videos
W ith reference to the report, Missing JNU student browsed IS
videos: Cops, published in TOI on March 21, 2017, it is
clarified that investigation conducted so far has not revealed
anything to suggest that Najeeb had accessed any site relating
to IS. The report also stated that Delhi Police has received a
report from Google and YouTube regarding the browsing history
of Najeeb. Neither was any requisition sent to Google or YouTube
regarding this, nor any report received in this regard.
We have also not submitted any report in this regard to the
Delhi high court.
Madhur Verma, DCP, PRO, Delhi Police
bing the matter, top officials tion that no association of
had told me that they found Najeeb with IS has come to
Najeeb was a decent boy and light during investigation.
that nothing objectionable We are not satisfied with
was found in his laptop, Mu- polices inquiry regarding
jeeb Ahmad, Najeebs brot- disappearance of Najeeb
her said, on Tuesday, adding and cops are only wasting ti-
that the family members we- me in the name of a probe.
re Sufi Muslims who belie- Police have not checked the
ved in peace. call details and laptops of the
Reports in the media had suspects with whom my
claimed that browser infor- brother entered into a scuf-
mation on Najeebs laptop fle before his disappearance.
had revealed he was looking Instead, they are harassing
for information on the IS be- us, said Mujeeb.
fore his argument with He added that if police
ABVP members just before can trace missing buffaloes
his disappearance. and dogs, they can easily
Media reports claimed find Najeeb, who disappea-
that he also searched for in- red from a prominent uni-
formation on how to join IS versity of the country.
and was watching a video of A native of Vaidotola lo-
IS leader on the night of Oc- cality in Badaun, 27-year-old
tober 14, 2016 when he had a Najeeb was pursuing MSc
scuffle with ABVP leaders. (biotechnology) at JNU at
However, Delhi police on the time of his disappearan-
Tuesday issued a clarifica- ce five months ago.
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 TIMES NATION 9

India junks Pak ministers claim of

Indus waters talks in Washington
Says Ready To Indian sources said there
is yet to receive any formal
communication from the

Discuss Issue
In Commission
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: India is unlikely
to participate in any meeting
in Washington DC with Pa-
kistan on the Indus Waters
Treaty (IWT) in April, as has
been announced by the Pakis-
tan government after a mee-
ting of the Indus commissio-
ners in Islamabad on Tues-
day. Sources also said India
had not, as Pakistan claimed,
was little possibility of a
mediated meeting on Indus
Waters Treaty between India
and Pakistan at this point
agreed to halt the Miyar hyd- Washington. According to
roelectric project in J&K. Pakistan media reports quo-
Pakistans water and po- ting the Pakistani minister,
wer minister Khwaja Asif ap- this proposed meeting would
parently jumped the gun be mediated by the World
when he announced during Bank vice-president.
the IWT meeting that the two Indian sources said there
countries would hold a was little possibility of a me-
three-day way forward diated meeting in the current
meeting on the Ratle and Kis- context between India and
henganga projects in April in Pakistan at this point. India
World Bank on any such mee-
ting, said sources. As far as
India is concerned, any dis-
putes or differences would
have to be discussed by the In-
dus Commission, not by a
mediated meeting.
The Pakistan minister
was quoted as saying, I am
happy to reveal that talks on
the Indus Waters Treaty have
been resumed with the ef-
forts of government of Pakis-
tan. Former US secretary of
state, John Kerry and the
World Bank President played
a pivotal role in bringing the
two parties to the table.

Law minister
writes to CMs
on court posts
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Law minister Ra-

vi Shankar Prasad has writ-
ten to all chief
ministers see-
king their coo-
peration in fil-
ling up vacan-
cies in subordi-
nate courts,
which has seriously dented
the justice delivery system
with more than 2.7 crore cases
pending in lower courts
across the country.
There are 4,937 vacancies
of judges in subordinate co-
urts, the law minister has said
in his latest communication
to all chief ministers sent this
week, highlighting the need to
fill up vacancies in subordina-
te judiciary and district
courts.
As you are aware, there
are as many as 2.7 crore cases
are pending in subordinate
courts and 38.7 lakh cases in
high courts, the minister sa-
id in his letter, expressing con-
cern on the huge pendency of
cases.
Prasad said that he has al-
ready written to the chief jus-
tices of high courts, drawing
their attention to the need for
reducing pendency and speed
up justice delivery by filling
up of vacant posts in high co-
urts and in subordinate co-
urts under their jurisdiction.
10
SC: Will Centre extend Goat, roosters prize catch in cricket series
Maharashtra Tourney Does Away With Cash As It Was Creating Bad Blood
deadline for old notes?
PM Promised
Citizens Extra
Time: Court
Dhananjay.Mahapatra
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court asked the Centre to ex-
plain by April 11 whether it
would give citizens who co-
uld not meet the December 31
deadline to deposit scrapped
Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes due
to genuine difficulty another
window to do so, given that
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi had promised so in his
November 8 speech.
Many petitioners lined up
before the SC and explained
their genuine difficulty in
meeting the deadline and
mentioned the PMs promise
that scrapped currency wo-
uld be accepted by RBI from
December 31 till March 31.
A bench of Chief Justice
J S Khehar and justices D Y
Chandrachud and Sanjay
Kishan Kaul told the Centre:
You must understand that
these people are in dire stra-
its. If they cannot establish
the genuineness of the delay
in depositing scrapped cur-
rency, they would be liable for
prosecution. The PMs spe-
ech as well as the notification
that followed immediately af-
ter had promised to provide a
window to people in such dif-
ficulty. But the ordinance did
not provide any window ex-
cept for NRIs and those Indi-
ans who were travelling abro-
ad at that time. These people
hoped that they will get anot-
her chance but the ordinance
issued on the last day of dead-
line on December 31 sudden-
ly closed that window. Every-
one heard the PM and belie-
ved that PMs words cannot
be taken back.
The bench sought an ex-
planation from attorney ge-
neral Mukul Rohatgi, who sa-
id: If the PM says something
and the law (ordinance) says
something else, then the law
will prevail. The notification
has been replaced by the ordi-
nance. Parliament gave the
government discretion whet-
her or not to open a window
for citizens after December
31. The government decided
not to. Today, we are faced
with a law. Neither the PM
nor RBI has discretion to give
any more windows as it fo-
und largescale abuse by ma-
ny, including petrol pump
owners, who deposited mon-
Many petitioners
lined up before
the Supreme
Court and
mentioned the
PMs promise
that scrapped
currency notes
would be
accepted by RBI
from December 31
till March 31
ey only in Rs 1,000 and Rs 500
notes.
The bench said: You ar-
gue as if whatever you do is fi-
nal. That is unacceptable. It
wondered whether the sud-
den closure of the promised
window had something to do
with the expected outcome of
demonetisation going awry.
The demonetisation ex-
ercise was for a purpose. Was
that purpose lost? it said.
The bench did not elabo-
rate but issued notices to the
government and RBI to ex-
plain whether they were con-
templating giving citizens,
who could explain their fai-
lure to deposit scrapped cur-
rency by December 31, anot-
her chance to do so.
If the government deci-
des to exercise its discretion
not to do so, then it must ex-
plain its position, the bench
said. It refused to pass any in-
terim order protecting peti-
tioners from possible prose-
cution for holding demoneti-
sed currency notes.
TIMES NATION
Sandhya.Nair@timesgroup.com
Mumbai: Last Sunday, win-
ners of the annual cricket to-
urnament organized in the
Jawhar taluka of Palghar
district did not go home with
a trophy or prize money. The
winning team got a goat, the
runner-up five roosters and
those who hit fours and sixes
a boiled egg for every strike.
Spectators who caught the
ball also landed an egg each.
The idea was the brain-
child of coach Umesh Tamo-
re, who convinced the tour-
nament committee that cash
creates tension and leads to
fights among players. Every
year cricket matches are held
Proof of multiple PANs triggered move
Continued from P 1
T
he Rs 3 lakh ceiling
was high given the le-
vel of per capita inco-
me in India when there are
developed countries which
restrict cash transactions ab-
ove $100, said a government
officer explaining the ratio-
nale for reducing the ceiling.
The penalty for violating
this is a fine equivalent to the
amount of transaction, re-
venue secretary Hasmukh
Adhia tweeted.
He said it would be illegal
to undertake cash transac-
tions above Rs 2 lakh.
Similarly, officers said
the move to make Aadhaar
mandatory for tax returns
was necessitated as the I-T
department had come across
Aamby auction if Sahara Perks to ex-MPs
fails to deposit `5kcr: SC under court lens
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court said on Tuesday that it
would direct auction of Sa-
hara Groups prime Aamby
Valley property in Pune if
the company failed to depo-
sit Rs 5,000 crore by April 17
of the Rs 14,000 crore due
from the company.
A bench of justices Di-
pak Misra, Ranjan Gogoi
and A K Sikri said it would
have no option but to sell the
property if the group failed
to deposit the sum. It
had in February direct-
ed attachment of Aam-
by Valley property, wor-
th nearly Rs 40,000 crore.
POULTRY PRIZE: Players won a boiled egg for each four and six
at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium
in Jawhar with prize money
of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, Ta-
unearthed in last two fiscal years
The amendments proposed by
finance minister Arun Jaitley
were opposed by RSP, Trinamool
Congress and Biju Janata Dal
instances of individuals ha-
ving multiple PAN and using
them to open several bank ac-
Subrata Roy
The SC had in August
2012 ordered Sahara to repay
over Rs 25,000 crore to inves-
tors by depositing the amo-
unt with market regulator
Sebi after it found that two
group companies Sahara
Real Estate and Sahara Hou-
sing had illegally collec-
ted the sum from 30 million
BCCL/Photo for representation
participate in the tourna-
ment. Each paid Rs 1,000 to
the organizers. The tourna-
ment committee comprising
six members, including
Tamore, chipped in with
Rs 1,000 each.
While the teams played
the five-over matches, the go-
at was kept tied at some dis-
tance. Darya Sagar Mitra
Mandal that won the tourna-
ment posed with the goat. Te-
am captain Manoj Prabhu sa-
id: The prize was unique. We
are waiting to feast on it.
Royal Teacher 11 took ho-
me the second prize and had a
more told TOI. tough time managing the five
Despite the no-cash poli- roosters they won. They are
cy, 14 teams came forward to not a bad deal, said captain
``21,454 crore undisclosed income
proposed by the finance mi-
T
he government informed Parliament on Tuesday that the I-T
department conducted searches on 992 individuals and
entities in the last two fiscal years and unearthed undisclosed
income of Rs 21,454 crore. During the last two financial years
(2014-15 and 2015-16), ITD conducted searches in about 992
groups of persons which led to admission of undisclosed income
of Rs 21,454 crore apart from seizure of undisclosed income
(cash, jewellery etc) worth Rs 1,474 crore, minister of state for
finance, Santosh Kumar Gangwar said in a written reply in Rajya
Sabha. Gangwar said: Besides levy of taxes on total income of
those persons whose assessments were completed during the
last two years, the I-T department filed prosecution complaints
in 1,221 cases. During the same period of two years, 2,220
compounding applications were also received from persons
who had committed offences under the I-T Act. TNN
counts. This also helped vernment is hoping to track
them evade taxes. With Aad- returns better and act aga-
haar made mandatory, the go- inst those misusing the pro-
investors. Sahara has so far
deposited over Rs 11,000 cro- TIMES NEWS NETWORK
re, of which Rs 6,000 crore
was paid after the court sent New Delhi: The Supreme Co-
Subrata Roy and two direc- urt decided on Tuesday to ex-
tors to jail on March 4, 2014. amine the justification of pen-
On the last date of hea- sion and allowances like unli-
ring, the court had rejected mited free train travel given
Saharas plea to allow the to former MPs and MLAs.
company time till July 2019 A bench of justices J Che-
to refund the amount and di- lameswar and S Abdul Naze-
rected it to pay the instal- er agreed to hear a plea filed
ment of Rs 5,000 by April 17. by NGO, Lok Prahari, seeking
In the meantime, the its directive to scrap allowan-
bench asked US-based realty ces given to former lawma-
company MG Capital LLC, kers. It said the issue raised in
which promised to buy Sa- the petition needs examina-
haras Plaza Hotel in New tion as facilities and allowan-
York, to deposit Rs 750 crore ces given to them must be rea-
in the Sebi-Sahara bank ac- sonable and not arbitrary.
count to show its bona fide. Questioning the various
provisions of the law framed
by Parliament allowing for-
mer MPs with various allo-
wances, the petitioner alle-
ged that the provisions of pen-
sions and amenities granted
to ex-MPs/MLAs/MLCs were
unreasonable and called for
withdrawal of the facilities.
While governors do not
SC to hear plea
on EVM tamper
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: On the back of so-
me political parties alleging
tampering of EVMs in the re-
cent assembly elections, a PIL
has been filed in the Supreme
Court seeking a directive to
get the machines checked by
software experts.
Appearing before a bench
headed by Chief Justice J S
Khehar, petitioner M L Shar-
ma alleged that there were
many reported instances
when EVMs failed to record
votes and it was necessary to
get the software re-examined
to ensure that the machines
were tamper-proof.
There is now a serious
and substantial body of evi-
dence of vote-stealing by tam-
pering with EVMs. Very re-
cently, fraud and tampering
was complained in Mumbai
where zero votes were recor-
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
Anil Kangne, a teacher.
While both players and
the audience were served ve-
getable pulav for lunch, eve-
ryone shared the boiled eggs.
In the past, we experienced
allegations of rigging and
fights over prize money. This
time, all willingly shared the-
ir prizes, said Tamore.
Thane Society for Preven-
tion of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA) president Shakunta-
la Majumdar said while gif-
ting an animal was not legal-
ly wrong, ethically and mo-
rally we are against gifting
animals as there is no way of
knowing how they would be
treated and where they have
been procured from.
visions. Use of Aadhaar has
been mandated from July 1.
The raft of amendments
nister was opposed by RSP,
Trinamool and Biju Janata
Dal which accused the go-
vernment of incorporating
non-tax proposals in the fi-
nance bill to do away with the
need to seek Rajya Sabhas
approval. It termed amend-
ments to laws governing sec-
toral tribunals as legislating
through the back door.
Arun Jaitley, however,
staunchly defended the mo-
ve, arguing that they were
incidental provisions to
the finance bill and were lin-
ked to budget announce-
ments such as merger of tri-
bunals and putting in place
uniform service conditions.
have the facility of pension at
all, an MP even for a day and
his spouse get pension for life.
While even serving judges of
the Supreme Court and high
courts do not have the facility
of free air/train travel for the-
ir spouses even on official to-
urs, ex-MPs enjoy unlimited
free train travel for life in AC-
II with a companion 365 days a
year, the petition said.
FREE TRAIN TRAVEL
This has resulted in the
obnoxious situation where a
former MP becomes an un-
warranted burden on the citi-
zens as it it is their birthright
to fleece the public whom they
no longer represent. It has
made politics the most lucra-
tive profession even for the
scum of the society, former
bureaucrat S N Shukla who is
also the general secretary of
the NGO told the court. The
court then adjourned the case
for Wednesday.
ON THE RADAR
ded in favour of an indepen-
dent candidate while he and
his family had voted. This is
but one evidence of a case of
fraud which proves that
EVMs have been tampered
with, said the petition.
He said there had been se-
veral complaints against
EVMs and a re-examination
was required to allay appre-
hensions of tampering. The
court agreed to hear his plea
and posted it for March 24.
 THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 TIMES NATION | Politics & Policy 11

Yogis farewell speech in LS: Dad to Aditya

Nath: Women
Anti-Romeo squad gets
I came between Tipu, RaGa in burqa too going in UP, boys cry foul
voted for you Kabir Agarwal TNN ment of the squads, boys ho-

Promises Kautilya.Singh@timesgroup.com Meerut: Just two days after

Yogi Adityanath took oath as
vering around schools, col-
leges, cigarette stalls, pan
shops and even pastry shops
Sabka Saath, Dehradun: Anand Singh
Bisht, the 84-year-old father of
CM of UP, one of the BJP's
most oft-repeated promises
were picked up for question-
ing and let go after police

Sabka Vikas UP chief minister Yogi Aditya

Akhilesh.Singh
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: In his farewell
speech in Lok Sabha after tak-
ing charge as UP chief minis-
ter, Aditya Nath Yogi struck a
note of reconciliation, prom-
ising a government free of bi-
as and one which will crack
down on criminals.
The Gorakhpur MP said
he envisaged a new model of
governance in UP which
would implement PM Naren-
dra Modis inclusive vision of
sabka saath, sabka vikas.
Yogi said he was just a year
younger to Rahul Gandhi and
ayear older to Akhilesh Yadav.
I came in between this part-
let a single businessman give
the House heard him in near
Nath, has some advice for his
son. Hell need to take every-
one along, the retired forest
ranger said. Women in burqa
have also voted for him. He
needs to respect all religions,
win their hearts.
Talking to TOI on Tuesday,
Bisht said his son had a lot of
responsibility. Muslim wom-
en voted for BJP as they have
high hopes that the party
would help them on triple talaq
and other issues. People from
all faiths believe BJP and Adi-
tya Nath can take them on the
path of progress. That has to be
kept in mind, he said.
PTI
lessness, he said.
during its election campaign
formation of anti-Romeo
squads to protect the hon-
our of women took off
with a great deal of purpose-
fulness in the state. In Meerut
on Tuesday, anti-Romeo
dals were out on the streets
in full force, making it among
the first UP districts to form
the teams that will be posted
at educational institutions
and public spaces to prevent
eve-teasing and ensure safety
of girls.
Soon, though, both boys
and parents at the receiving
end of reprimand and lecture
were crying foul. They said
the way the teams function, it
blurs the line between crime
control and moral policing.
Anti-Romeo squads in UP
TIME FOR MORAL POLICING?
was a vow that found a place
in the BJPs manifesto.
In Lucknow, orders came
from the IGs office to consti-
tute the squads in all 11 dis-
tricts of the zone. To check in-
cidents of eve-teasing and
passing of comments on
them (women and girls), an-
ti-Romeo dal would be con-
stituted at the police station
levels and action under
Goonda Act taken against
wrongdoers, IG (Lucknow
Zone) A Satish Ganesh said.
On the first day of deploy-
called their parents to inform
them about the activities of
the boys.
A boy who was picked up
said it amounted to harass-
ment. For them, any young
boy in public on a bike is a
majnu, he said.
A father who was called
by the police to complain
about his sons wayward
ways, did not approve of this
kind of police intervention.
It is not the polices job to de-
cide where boys can stand
and where they cannot. My
son is 19, and is an adult. It
makes no sense to call up his
father to say that his son is
loitering around, he said.
SP (city) Alok Priyadar-
shi denied charges of harass-
ment.

Agra meat sellers queue

nership... I think this could be
a big reason for your failure,
he said amid laughter.
He said that though UP
was equated with lawless-
ness, his constituency was
different. I can say we never
CM meets BJP netas, may keep home
Akhilesh.Singh@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: UP chief minister
Aditya Nath Yogi is likely to
keep the home portfolio when
he allocates departments
among ministers. Sources sa-
id the CM being in charge of
home department will be in li-
ne with the leaderships deci-
sion to accord top priority to
improve law and order in the
state, one of BJPs key planks.
Yogis image as a tough
person will fit well with the
responsibility, said a senior
BJP source of the chief mini-
ster who, while speaking in
the Lok Sabha on Tuesday,
promised to get rid of Goon-
da Raj. Ab UP main bahut
sari bandi hogi, he said.
Since the appointment of
two deputy CMs, Keshav Pra-
sad Maurya and Dinesh
Sharma, speculation has be-
en rife that the home depart-
ment might go to Maurya whi-
le Sharma will get finance.
goonda tax, no businessman
was kidnapped, didnt let any-
one indulge in lawlessness,
there have been 403 riots in
UP but none in east UP.
Though his comments
usually rile the opposition,
UP chief minister Yogi Aditya Nath paid an unscheduled visit to BJP
chief Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday
Yogi was on a day-long vi-
sit to New Delhi and called on
senior party members, inclu-
ding PM Narendra Modi, par-
ty president Amit Shah, ho-
me minister Rajnath Singh
and party patriarch L K Ad-
vani. He had a separate mee-
ting with MPs from his home
state in Parliament House
complex during which he got
valuable inputs from Birend-
silence. He said the new gov-
ernment would look to utilise
unspent central funds ear-
marked for the state. Yogi al-
so hinted at shut down of ille-
gal abattoirs. The state will
be free of corruption and law-
PTI
ra Singh Mast and other MPs.
Sources said the new CM
had a thorough discussion
with Shah as the two netas fi-
nalised the list of portfolios
to be formalised by Wednes-
day. Insiders said Yogi was ke-
en to retain the home depart-
ment. Yogi rushed back from
the airport in the afternoon to
the residence of Shah here for
an unscheduled meeting.
Overwhelming mandate
for BJP is a slap to parties who
paid no attention to develop-
ment, he said. Yogi also re-
ferred to the PM more than
once and alluded to the Cen-
tres schemes such as Ujjwala.
Party sources said it was
pertinent for Yogi to discuss
the portfolio distribution
with Shah, who played a key
role in selection of candida-
tes and also in forging allian-
ce with the two regional par-
ties Apana Dal and Suhel-
dev Bharatiya Samaj Party.
In 2014 Lok Sabha polls,
Shah had wandered across
the state as a commoner to
sense the pulse on the ground
and had valuable tips for the
new CM for evenly distribu-
ting the portfolios focusing
on capabilities and regional
balance.
However, sources said na-
tional office-bearers, inclu-
ding Shrikant Sharma and
Sidharth Nath Singh, are set
to get important portfolios
whereas others, including
Swatantradev Singh, Ma-
hendra Singh, Satish Maha-
na and Suresh Khanna, will
also get other key depart-
ments like power, industry
and urban development.
UP chief minister Yogi Aditya
Naths father Anand Singh Bisht
Bisht, who lives with wife Sa-
vitri in Panchur village of Pauri
district, said, On day one, the
CM told his staff not to use lan-
guage that hurts people. He is
making sincere efforts and it is
visible. He said his son needed
to shed the tag of Hindutva
campaigner.
Born as Ajay Singh Bisht on
June 5 1972, Aditya Nath did his
schooling from Pauri, BSc
from a college in Kotdwar and
left for Gorkahpur in 1993 dur-
ing his MSc. Bisht said it took
some time for the family to un-
derstand their sons decision to
take up sanyas in 1994.
We strongly opposed the
move as we had dreams for him
and tried hard to convince him
not to do so. Mahant Avaidya-
nath (the spiritual father of Ad-
ityanath) told me that I had four
sons, I could give him one. After
thinking over the issue, we
agreed, he added. Mahendra,
the youngest brother of Aditya
Nath, said the CM channel-
ized his energy in the right di-
rection after he came in touch
with RSS at the time of his
graduation.
up to legalise their shops
Deepak Lavania TNN
Agra: With Aditya Nath Yogi
at the helm of affairs in the
state, meat sellers in Agra,
who have been operating wit-
hout licences, do not want to
take any chances. Agra Muni-
cipal Corporation has been
witnessing a rush with many
queuing up to obtain licences.
In the past three days,
over 30 such applications ha-
ve been received. Several
applicants told TOI that they
feared a crackdown. Accor-
ding to officials, Agra has
over 1,000 meat shops but on-
ly 239 have licences.
Sabir Qureshi, an appli-
cant, said, For the past seve-
ral years, my brother and I
have been selling chicken in
Tajganj. I never felt the need
for any licence as meat is raw
food, like vegetables. The
new government will be very
strict against cow slaughter.
Right-wing vigilantes can al-
so create trouble. So, I will get
the licence to sell meat.
Mayor Indrajeet Arya,
who recently joined BJP, sa-
Two illegal abattoirs sealed in state
P olice and municipal authorities raided illegal abattoirs in
Meerut, Bijnor and Aligarh districts in UP on Tuesday and
sealed two of them. Cops also seized and destroyed 25 quintals of
beef found in Jalalpur, Meerut. Cow meat found at an ice factory
in Jalalpur was sent for forensic tests. Cops said the illegal
slaughterhouse was operating out of an ice factory owned by
two people identified as Naasir and Taimur. One illegal abattoir
each was sealed in Aligarh and Bijnor. Ishita Bhatia TNN
id, I have directed officers to tes can also create trouble. I
ensure total ban on slaughter dont want any problem with
of prohibited animals. Ille- my business. So, I will get the
gal meat sellers will have to licence to sell meat, Qureshi
either pack up or get licences. added.
Officers are asked to take ac- According to sources, the-
tion against licensed meat re are around 1,000 illegal me-
sellers violating norms. at shops and small slaughter
Of the 239 licensed meat houses in the city areas. The-
sellers in the city, only 127 have re are only two licensed
applied for a renewal this year slaughter houses operating
(2017-18). However, there is a in the city. One is civic bodys
sudden surge in applications. own facility at Kuberpur
Since Saturday, we have rece- while the other slaughter ho-
ived more than 30 applica- use belongs to a private firm
tions, chief veterinary offi- owned by a BSP leader. Accor-
cer Dr Yogesh Sharma said. ding to the AMC officials, the
The new government civic bodys slaughter house
will be very strict against has a capacity of 150 animals
cow slaughter. Every shop every day while the one has a
selling meat will be under su- capacity of 500 animals per
spicion. Right-wing vigilan- day.
 12
RSS to accept Dharma Sansads view
EFFORTS THAT DIDNT SUCCEED
Eight Attempts That Failed To Resolve The Babri Masjid-Ram Temple Dispute
1986 | Talks started between
then Shankaracharya of
Kanchi Kamkoti and president
of Muslim Personal Law
Board, Ali Miyan Nadvi,
but failed
1990 | Then PM Chandra
Shekhar tried to
broker truce
between
the two
communities.
However,
talks were
disrupted when alleged VHP
volunteers damaged a portion
of the mosque
Dec 1992 | Ten days after
the mosque was razed, then
PM PV Narsimha Rao set up a
commission of inquiry under
Justice Liberhan,
which
submitted
its report 17
years later
in June 2009.
Akhara Parishad wants
political parties out of talks
Vinod Khanal | TNN
Allahabad: Akhil Bharatiya
Akhara Parishad has wel-
comed the suggestion of the
Supreme Court to make fresh
attempts to solve the Ayodhya
issue amicably through nego-
tiations. It was ready to bring
both the parties together for
talk, the Parishad added.
The Parishad comprises
13 akharas (religious order)
to which saints across the
globe are affiliated.
A bench headed by Chief
Justice JS Khehar, while
hearing a petition filed by
Subramanian Swamy, on
Tuesday said such religious
issues could only be solved
through negotiations and of-
fered to mediate to arrive at
an amicable settlement.
Akhara Parishad presi-
dent Narendra Giri told TOI
that the Parishad had been
urging settlement of Ram
temple issue through talks
rather than forcibly building
the temple at Ayodhya. Giri
heads Baghambari Math and
Niranjani Akhara.
Varanasi seers, Muslim
clerics hail SC decision
Binay.Singh@timesgroup.com
Varanasi: The Supreme
Courts suggestion on Tuesday
that fresh attempts must be
made by all parties to end the
Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Mas-
jid dispute through negotiated
settlement was welcomed by
the Hindu and Muslim com-
munities in the city. Saint and
seers as well as Muslim clerics
in Varanasi felt it was a posi-
tive step taken by the SC for the
resolution of this vexed issue.
It is high time the reli-
gious heads of both communi-
ties come forward and settle
the issue amicably, the Akhil
Bharatiya Sant Samiti general
secretary, Swami Jitendra-
nand Saraswati, said. The is-
sue should be left only to the re-
ligious heads of both commu-
nities so that they can reach a
consensus. It should not be left
to politicians, said the seer,
adding that an out-of-court
settlement is the best option as
both communities will be in a
win-win situation.
Expressing similar views,
Mahamandaleshwar Santosh
Land for Ramayana museum soon
Swati.Mathur@timesgroup.com
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh
chief minister Aditya Nath
Yogi met Union tourism min-
ister Mahesh Sharma in New
Delhi on Tuesday to smooth-
en the path for the setting up
of a Ramayana museum in
Ayodhya, about 20 km from
the disputed site.
In October 2016, Sharma,
during a visit to Ayodhya,
had announced the setting
up of a Ramayana museum.
Despite the Centres assent,
the project was unable to pro-
gress due to a delay in allot-
ment of land by the Akhilesh
Yadav-led SP government.
CM Aditya Nath and
Sharma discussed the issue
at Tuesdays meeting. Sourc-
es told TOI that Sharma has
promised that the land
about 25 acres would be al-
It was seen as the rst step
towards an amicable solution,
but didnt bring about a truce
June 2002 | Then PM
AB Vajpayee
set up an
Ayodhya
cell in his
ofce and
appointed
senior party
ofcial Shatrughan Singh to
hold talks with Hindu and
Muslim leaders, but in vain
April 2015 | Talks
began again after Swami
Chakrapani, president of the
All India Hindu Mahasabha,
met the Muslim litigants
represented by Mohd Hashim
Ansari. However, parleys
didnt move
beyond the
rst meeting
Ansari also
began track
II negotiations
With Yogi as CM, temple work will
begin soon, says Sena mouthpiece
S
hiv Senas mouthpiece Saamna on Tuesday expressed
optimism that with Yogi Adityanath taking over UPs reigns,
work on the Ram temple would begin soon in Ayodhya.
The saffron daily, in an editorial, also said that the new UP
chief minister will have to address key issues such as
deteriorating law and order situation, unemployment and rise of
religious extremism in his state. Running a vast state such as
UP is not akin to running a math or a religious shrine...Uttar
Pradesh suffers from abject poverty and unemployment is on
the rise...If Yogi Adityanath tackles these issues, there would be
less burden (of UP migrants) on Mumbai, said Saamna and
warned the newly inducted CM that Uma Bharati failed as
Madhya Pradesh chief minister as she would spent more time in
prayers and elaborate religious rituals.
He said the construction
of a temple or mosque at the
site without approval of Hin-
dus or Muslims would lead to
resentment among the dis-
gruntled section. We believe
that the issue can be resolved
only if political parties are
kept out, Giri said.
The Akhara Parishad
claimed it had started negotia-
tions with one of the oldest liti-
gants in the case, Hashim An-
HOW TOI REPORTED HC VERDICT
1 hya issue while the Congress said
Oct
2010
Das of Satua Baba Ashram
said, The sant samaj and
Muslim clerics should sit to-
gether to resolve the issue out of
court. This will not only resolve
the issue permanently but also
strengthen the bonds between
the two communities.
It is a very good and time-
ly suggestion from the court
and we hope that people of
both communities will come
forward to strengthen harmo-
ny by resolving the issue, said
Mufti-e-Banaras Maulana Ab-
Security has been beefed up in Ayodhya
lotted in about 10 days.
The Centre has allocated
Rs 154 crore for the project.
The UP chief minister also
met Union minister M Ven-
kaiah Naidu and other se-
nior ministers to pave the
TIMES NATION | Politics & Policy
with Mahant Gyan Das, chief
priest of the Hanuman garhi
temple. Duo drew up a plan
in which both a temple and
a mosque would come up on
the disputed 70 acres of land,
but would be separated by a
100ft wall
May 2016 | Mahant Narendra
Giri, the newly elected
president of All India Akhara
Parishad, met Mohammad
Hashim Ansari. Before any
headway could be made,
though, Ansari passed away
Nov 2016 |
Retired HC judge
Justice Palok
Basu submitted a
proposal for an out-of-court
settlement signed by
over 10,000 Hindus and
Muslims before Faizabad
divisional commissioner.
Settlement document
has been placed before
Supreme Court
Ambarish Mishra | TNN
sari in May, 2016. Ansari, how-
ever, passed away on July 20,
2016 before an out of court set-
tlement could be reached.
Hashim was like a father
figure to me and we both were
engaged in talks to settle the
temple issue without surren-
dering our rights, said Giri.
Seers used to find in Hashim
Ansari a person who believed
in easing communal tension
between communities.
dul Batin Nomani.
Scores of Muslim women
associated with the Muslim
Mahila Foundation (MMF) al-
so appreciated the SCs sug-
gestion. If Muslims want re-
spect from Hindus, they should
come forward to build the tem-
ple at the birthplace of Lord
Rama as all know that Ayodhya
belongs to Sri Ram, MMF
president Nazneen Ansari
said, adding that the construc-
tion of a Ram Mandir would be
a permanent solution.
TOI
way for the smooth imple-
mentation of other develop-
ment projects in UP.
The proposed Ramayana
museum in Ayodhya is to fo-
cus on retelling the story of
Ram. The culture ministry
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
Yogis guru said
his shishya will
fulfil his dream
Sangh Welcomes SC Move, Says Thats Been Its Stand
of Ram temple
Adarsh.Jain@timesgroup.com
RSS passes resolution on West Bengal Asked about the
Rajiv.Srivastava
selection of Aditya
Coimbatore: Welcoming
the Supreme Court verdict
suggesting an out of court
R SS has passed a resolution urging the West Bengal
government to take cognizance of the violence against
Hindus in the state and has asked the central government to
Nath Yogi as CM for
Uttar Pradesh,
@timesgroup.com
Lucknow: After years of
settlement of the Ayodhya intervene in the matter. Dattatreya Hasabale failed attempts to settle the
Ram mandir dispute, RSS RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hasabale alleged on Ram temple dispute and with
said, The decision is
joint general secretary Dat- Tuesday that the Hindu population in West Bengal has dwindled age catching up, Mahant Avai-
a matter of the BJP.
tatreya Hasabale said here since Partition. The Hindu population in West Bengal according dyanath of Gorakshnath tem-
on Tuesday that the outfit to the 1951 census was 78.25% while it dropped to 70.54% in We wish him to ple saw hope in his disciple,
will accept the decision tak- 2011, he said. This has happened despite a lot of Hindus Yogi Aditya Nath.
en by the Dharma Sansad migrating from Bangladesh to West Bengal, he added.
serve the people of Hum aashwast hain ki ha-
Uttar Pradesh.
the umbrella body of reli- maarey adhoorey kaam Chho-
gious bodies in the issue. sages who will hold talks with vene into the matter. leaders of Hindu outfits being tey Maharaj (Yogi) poorey ka-
Talking to reporters on the other side to find a solu- Hasabale alleged that the attacked. Reacting to this, Ha- rengey (I am assured that my
the sidelines of the third day tion, said Hasabale. Hindu population in West sabale said that the reason the unfulfilled task will be com-
of the RSS Akhil Bharatiya Asked if RSS will place Bengal is dwindling since In- national general body meet- pleted by Yogi), Avaidya Nath
Prathinithi Sabha in Coim- requests to the Dharma San- dia-Pakistan partition. The ing was organised in Tamil would often say in reply to
batore, Hasabale said that it sad during the talks, he said, Hindu population in West Nadu was itself a response to questions about the fate of
was the RSS that had been We will not intervene in the Bengal according to the 1951 these attacks. Ram temple at Ayodhya.
suggesting for a long time an decision-making process, census was 78.25% while it We have been growing in His gurus expectations
out of court settlement or a adding that the dispute dropped to 70.54% in 2011, he the southern parts of Tamil must have been weighing on
legislation for resolving the should be resolved quickly. said. This has happened de- Nadu. We have chalked out CM Aditya Nath Yogi over
Ram mandir dispute. Passing a resolution urg- spite a lot of Hindus migrat- plans for further expansion the years he has championed
We are in support of the ing the West Bengal govern- ing from Bangladesh to West too, Hasabale said. Asked the cause unremittingly. On
Supreme Court order asking ment to take cognisance of Bengal, he added. about the selection of Aditya Tuesday, after the Supreme
the two parties to resolve the the violence against Hindus While West Bengal had Nath Yogi as CM for UP, Hasa- Courts observation, many be-
matter through talks. RSS in the state and maintain law witnessed violence against bale said, The decision is a lieve the wheel may have
will support the decision that and order, the RSS asked the Hindus in the past few matter of the BJP. We wish moved closer to a resolution.
will be taken by the saints and central government to inter- months, Tamil Nadu too saw him to serve the people of UP. Avaidya Nath became
chairperson of Ram Janmab-
hoomi Mukti Yagya Samiti in
SHRINE SAGA early 1984. A known moderate,
Muslim bodies sceptical he made several attempts for a
solution acceptable to all. In
the mid-1990s, he became the
chaiperson of Ram Mandir
of talks to resolve issue
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Nirman Uchchadhikar Prapt
Samiti, backed by Vishwa
Hindu Parishad.
Around that time, Late
Syed Ahmed Asghar Rizvi
1949 | Idols of Lord Ram appear inside New Delhi: Muslim organisations had floated the Ayodhya
Jama Masjid Trust, believing
16th century Babri mosque, allegedly were not too enthused with the Su-
preme Courts suggestion for talks to re- that it could replace the All-In-
placed there by Hindus. Muslims
solve the Ayodhya dispute, saying past dia Muslim Personal Law
protest and both parties le civil suits. attempts had eluded consensus. Board and the Babri Masjid
Government declares the premises a All India Muslim Personal Law Action Committee at the nego-
disputed area and locks the gates Board (AIMPLB) member Kamal Faru- tiating table.
1984 | Vishwa Hindu Parishad party qui told TOI, The Supreme Court has Rizvi called up Avaidya-
(VHP) starts campaign to build temple said this today and the board will take it nath with a request to support
in Ayodhya. The then home minister, up for consideration in its executive his endeavour. Agreeing with
committee. A dialogue is a good idea the proposal, the mahant be-
BJPs LK Advani, takes over leadership of
and there should be discussion. gan talking to prominent Hin-
campaign dus about this initiative and
However, he said only the court
Dec 1992 | The mosque is torn down could give a solution as past attempts at GROUND ZERO even convinced some of them.
by Hindu right-wing groups; riots that out of court settlement did not yield any I did hear from Badey Mah-
follow leave more than 2,000 dead result. Faruqui added that a dialogue ready if he nominates a team to hear the araj (Avaidynath) about Rizvis
Apr 2002 | 3 high court judges begin was possible only if it was not about matter. But out of court settlement is not efforts, a man close to the ma-
hearings to determine who owns the who won or lost. possible. If SC passes an order in this re- hant said, requesting anonymi-
Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president gard, we will look into it, said Zafaryab ty. He added that Rizvi even vis-
religious site
Maulana Arshad Madani told TOI that Jilani, convenor of the committee. ited Gorakhnath temple to
Aug 2003 | A court-ordered survey says while he had full faith in the SC, he was Jilani said going by his experience meet the mahant. Always ready
there is evidence of a temple beneath not hopeful of any positive outcome of the last three decades, the matter to support anyone trying to find
the mosque, but Muslims dispute the from a dialogue between rival parties. could not be settled outside the court. a solution, the mahant worked
ndings In the past too, such dialogues hap- Let them hear us, we are prepared. But with anyone keen on a Hindu-
Sept 2010 | Allahabad HC rules for a pened but no solution came out. I dont we are not ready for out of court settle- Muslim agreement.
think anything different will happen ment, Jilani said. He even listened to the
three-way split of the premises between
this time, he said. Syed Mohammad Ashraf, founder of main plaintiff, Hashim Ansa-
the Muslim community, Hindu plaintiffs ri, who agreed with mahant
Ultimately, the solution will come All India Ulama and Mashaikh Board
and the Nirmohi Akhara. Control of the from the SC and we will accept whatever (AIUMB) said he saw the SCs suggesti- that a solution to the dispute
main disputed section is given to Hindus the court decides, Madani added. Babri on as an opportunity that should be ex- should be reached during
May 2011 | Supreme Court suspends Masjid Action Committee, which is a par- plored. We have always wanted an ami- their lifetime.
HC ruling after Hindu and Muslim groups ty to the case, had a similar opinion. We cable solution to the dispute. All parties
appeal against the 2010 verdict are fine with the Chief Justice of India must sit together and work towards a
March 21, 2017 | SC says Babri Masjid mediating... we trust him. We are also consensus, Ashraf said. PTI
Such issues
dispute is a sensitive, sentimental
issue and should be sorted outside
are resolved
court through discussion
Owaisi favours daily best through
BJP all for talks,
Congress calls
hearing in apex court talks, says CJI
Continued from P 1
VHP demands law to
for consensus
Hyderabad:AIMIM chief Asaduddin
W
Owaisi on Tuesday favoured daily hen Subramanian
hearing in Supreme Court over the build Ayodhya temple Swamy mentioned the
TIMES NEWS NETWORK Ayodhya temple dispute and said the petitions for early
New Delhi: The BJP welcomed the
case is about who has the title of the dis-
puted land. Owaisi also said he was V ishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader
Pravin Togadia on Tuesday
demanded a law to build the Ram temple
hearing, the CJI said it was not
difficult to list the case and de-
Supreme Courts suggestion for a waiting to see if conspiracy charges cide the issue judicially. But
negotiated settlement to the Ayod- would be held against senior BJP lead- at the disputed site at Ayodhya in Uttar this is not one of those issues
Pradesh. The Centre must bring in a law
there should be a consensus-
ers in the matter.
He was reacting to the Supreme to build the Ram Temple at Ayodhya,
which can be decided in a huff.
Given the sensitivity attached
based solution or the SC should ad- Court suggestion that fresh attempts be Togadia said in a statement in New Delhi. to the issues in question, it is
The Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and the
judicate the matter on merit. made by all parties concerned to find a
VHP have a constant stand that the
best to settle the differences
We welcome this step and I be- solution to the Ayodhya temple dispute through negotiations between
lieve they should have talks outside which is a sensitive and sentimental disputed land belongs to Lord Ram and parties. All must adopt a give a
the court, BJP spokesperson Sam- matter. Asked if the issue can be re- there should be a grand temple there, bit and take a bit approach to
bit Patra said. Congress spokesper- solved through out-of-court settlement, he added. IANS find a solution to this issue,
son Randeep Surjewala said, If all dialogue and mediation, he sought to the CJI said.
stakeholders on both sides can arrive reaffirm the position of the All India ing the summer vacation and hear the Swamy said several at-
at a mutually acceptable consensus- Muslim Personal Law Board. matter on day-to-day basis. Let the court tempts had been made in the
based solution, it will go a long way in The Board, a party to the appeal in decide, without any break (in sitting), past to find a negotiated settle-
ensuring lasting peace, goodwill, SC, had in their working committee tak- the Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP said. ment to the vexed issue that has
mutual respect and brotherhood. en a decision that there would be no On BJP leader Subramanian Swa- been festering for nearly 70
Otherwise, Supreme Court should more talks as earlier six attempts were my's suggestion that the Ram temple years but the CJI said it would
adjudicate the issue on merit. not successful, and want the Court to should be built at Ram Janambhoomi do no harm if the parties sat to-
BJP veteran L K Advani said all hear the matter on a day-to-day basis. (birthplace of Ram), while the Masjid gether and chalked out a for-
concerned should reach a consensus Because of RSSs bigotry and in- (mosque) on the other side of Sarayu riv- mat for negotiation and inform
to resolve the matter. The SCs obser- transigence, all earlier six attempts of er to resolve the Ayodhya issue, Owaisi the court about it.
vation is a welcome step and I hope in talks have failed, Owaisi said. said it did not matter what he said. Justice Khehar took most
the light of the courts advice, all con- RSS should tell their own govern- Its a title suit, which will be decid- by surprise when he offered his
cerned parties will reach consensus ment, which is in power, to approach the ed according to who has the title of that service as principal mediator
and find a solution, he said. Supreme Court and request it to sit dur- land, he said. PTI for negotiators chosen by par-
ties to the dispute to facilitate
talks. If parties want me to do
the job, I will not hear this case
and take up that task. If the par-
ties want a brother judge, I am
ready to provide him for
facilitating the negotiation
UP may move SC process, he said.
Continued from P 1 This is significant, as it
would be for the first time the SC
T
he matter has been has expressed willingness to
hanging fire since 1999 provide a sitting judge as facili-
when Hindus started praying. tator of negotiations between
The Allahabad high court parties to find a solution to the
verdict endorsing the stand of dispute which is shrouded in
the majority community came competing claims, which in-
in 2010. The matter cannot be cludes the alleged placing of
allowed to hang fire any idols of Ram and other gods in
more, an official said. the central dome of the disput-
Theofficial also said the ed structure on December 23,
possibility of the UP 1949.
government, now headed by If you want, the parties
BJPs Aditya Nath Yogi, moving can choose negotiators of their
the SC was very high. choice for this purpose. These
issues are best settled by sitting
also plans to house relevant jointly. We can decide the issue
archaeological material in judicially and our order will
the museum space. The Cen- bind all parties. But such sensi-
tres Ramayana Circuit Na- tive issues are best decided
tional Committee will work through negotiations by adopt-
closely to help set up the ing a give and take policy, the
Ramayana museum. CJI said.
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA *
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 TIMES NATION 13

Mob claims hotel fed stray Chinese media

cows beef, gets it sealed warns India
Saibal Dasgupta TNN Times said in a commentary:

Cops Arrest 2, Cops searched the Jamaat of-

fice, too, for the hotel owner.
Local TV reported late on
Beijing: The Chinese media
has threatened to fight
If such tendencies in India
continue, China will have to
fight back, because its core
Say Hotel Shut Sunday that the meat was su-
spicious, appearing to be ne-
back any Indian attempt to
meddle with Chinas at-
interests will have been vio-
lated. This is not what we ho-

By Jaipur Body ither mutton nor chicken.

Rosamma.Thomas
@timesgroup.com
Jaipur: A crowd gathered at
Shaheed Smarak on Tuesday
to protest against the closure
of Hotel Hayat Rabbani on
Station Road late on Sunday
on the basis of rumours that
the hotel was serving beef.
We will not allow the land of
Gandhi to become the land of
Godse, speakers said.
Late Sunday, Kamal Didi
(who wears the robes of a
sadhvi and signs her name
with the suffix Didi), lea-
der of the Rashtriya Mahila
Gau Rakshak Mandal, led a
This is not the first case of cow vigilantism in Rajasthan
amined and a decision taken
in due course.
Kavita Srivastava of Peo-
ples Union for Civil Liberti-
es, who received a phone call
late on Sunday from frighte-
ned relatives of the hotel ow-
ner, said: Policemen and
media were present at the
protest site on Sunday. About
alleged that the youth was
polluting the stray cows by
feeding them beef . In no ti-
me, a crowd gathered.
Cops were called in and
two employees of the hotel
were arrested. They were
charged under CrPC Section
151 (arrest to prevent com-
mission of a cognisable of-
DCP (west) Ashok Gupta
said the meat samples have
been sent for forensic tests.
Prima facie, it does not ap-
pear there was any violation
of the law, he said. Asked if
it was right to seal the hotel
on mere suspicion, he said:
The Nagar Nigam sealed
the hotel, not the police. Ma-
yor Ashok Lahoti and Kamal
Didi could not be contacted.
This is not the first case
of cow vigilantism in Rajast-
han. On May 30, 2015, Abdul
Ghaffar Qureshi, 60, was kil-
led in Nagaur district after
rumours that he had killed
200 cows for a feast. Pictures
of carcasses were spread on
tempts to enter into military
collaboration with Nepal
and Sri Lanka.
The threat comes amid
the ongoing visit of Chinese
defence minister Chang Wa-
nquan to Sri Lanka, which
will be followed by a tour of
Nepal. Chang is accompani-
ed by deputy commander of
the navy, Su Zhiqian.
China is worried that it
may not be easy to overcome
decades of Indian influence
in these countries.
Accusing India of trying
to counter-balance Chinas
growing influence in South
Asia, Beijing-based Global
pe for, but the ball is in Indi-
as court.
However, Peoples Daily,
the Communist Party or-
gan, has taken a different
LANKA, NEPAL TIES
stance refraining from ma-
king such bitter attacks. Pe-
oples Daily is regarded as a
parent of Global Times. Be-
ijing is apprehensive about
the upcoming visit by Indian
Army chief Gen Bipin Ra-
wat to Nepal from March 28-
31, which may influence
Kathmandus decision ma-
king during Changs visit.

mob seeking the closure of
the hotel because, they alle-
ged, beef waste was being fed
to stray cows. Naeem Rabba-
100 people had gathered out-
side the hotel, shouting Jai
Shri Ram!
Srivastava a cleaner at
fence) and later freed on bail.
Unable to trace Naeem,
police went to the house of his
brother-in-law, Abdul Reh-
UP Hindu-Muslim
social media. A big mob gat-
hered in the fields of Kumha-
ri village, which the munici-
pality contractor had taken

couple kills selves

ni, the owner of the hotel,
told TOI: I later pleaded
with mayor Ashok Lahoti to
allow us to reopen the hotel.
He says the meat will be ex-
the hotel had arrived at the
garbage dump near the hotel
to dispose of food waste at
the time that Kamal Didi was
trying to round up a stray
cow. Seeing him, the woman
man, who has nothing to do
with the hotel, and took him
to the police station. Brochu-
res on communal harmony
printed by Jamaat-e-Islami
Hind were found at the hotel.
on rent for carcass disposal.
Qureshi, who had nothing to
do with the animals, was be-
aten to death with iron rods
even as some Hindu neighbo- Kanwardeep Singh TNN was a case of honour killing
urs attempted to rescue him. because of the religions of
Shahjahanpur: For more the boy and the girl. Howev-
than four months, Feroz er, witnesses told them how

Man sets New system Ahmed, 19, and Gunjha Shar-

Make in India
ma, 18, of Badagaon village
near here had been in a rela-
lover on fire, will ease tionship. They had come un-
der pressure from their fam-
the teenagers hugged each
other before Feroz shot
Gunjha dead and then turn-
ed the pistol on himself.
Neither set of parents was

lands in hosp lion loses its migration:

ilies, who objected to their
different religions.
According to their fam-
willing to come and take the
bodies away after the post

with injuries CBSE chief ilies, the couple had started BID TO SAVE KIN?

Pradeep Gupta pride of place Continued from P 1

feeling that, given the situa-
tion in Uttar Pradesh, their
relationship was going to br-
ing trouble to their families.
mortem, officials said. Feroz
called his parents... and told
them he was going to kill him-

Ulhasnagar: A 30-year-old
woman was set ablaze alleged-
ly by her lover at a garment
store in Ulhasnagar on Tues-
day where the two worked.
While Parvati Mehetre di-
ed, her lover, Narasimha Tala-
ri (40), has been admitted to
hospital in a critical condition
after 80% burn injuries.
On Tuesday afternoon,
Mehetre and Talari were the
only two present at the shop lo-
cated in Sona Market locality.
MUMBAI TRAGEDY
The man said that they
got into an argument but we
do not know details yet, said
a police officer. Talari says he
set her on fire. In a state of pa-
nic, Mehetre who was on fire
hugged Talari, causing him to
suffer burn injuries, said the
police officer.
Local people summoned
the fire brigade after seeing
smoke billowing from the sto-
re premises. Firemen found
Mehetres body and Talari ly-
ing injured.
Senior inspector of Ulhas-
nagar police station Shakil
Shaikh said the two who were
in a relationship had a dispu-
te. We will know details only
after recording Talaris state-
ment, Shaikh said.
The police said that Talari
had planned to kill Mehetre as
he had smuggled petrol to the
shop. An accidental death re-
port has been filed for now.
Sidhartha @timesgroup.com
New Delhi: It has been
three times unlucky for
the Make in India lion
the logo of the govern-
ments manufacturing
campaign. It had been in-
stalled on a specially ma-
de platform outside Udyog
Bhawan, which houses
the heavy industry mini-
stry, several months ago.
But it is being phased
out with a whimper rather
than with a roar because
the idea of mounting it
right in front of one of the
key ministries had not be-
en approved.
The BHEL-manufac-
tured lion was originally
meant to debut at the 2016
Republic Day parade. But
since the government pla-
ced the order late, BHEL
could not deliver it a mo-
nth before the parade for
the required approvals.
As a result, a model made
by a Delhi-based agency
made it to the parade.
Next up was its tryst
with the much-publicised
Hannover Fair, which was
also attended by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
While the lion did ma-
ke it to Germany, it remai-
ned static due to non-
compliance with Europe-
an regulations.
While the ministry and
PSU BHEL spent several
in classes VI to IX. The change
The logo of the governments
manufacturing campaign it is
being phased out with a
whimper rather than with a
roar because the idea of
mounting it right in front of
one of the key ministries had
not been approved
months in installing the
lion for an undisclosed
amount at the entrance of
the government building
next to Janpath, heavy in-
dustry minister Anant Ge-
ete missed several deadli-
nes to inaugurate the speci-
ally designed-symbol of
the governments signatu-
re campaign.
In any case, putting the
lion in a glass cage had
drawn criticism from go-
verment functionaries,
who were surprised at the
installation at the entrance
of a key building in Luty-
ens zone. It had also faced
criticism for obstructing
the view and squeezing
space in the parking lot.
Eventually, it turned
out that the agencies re-
sponsible for clearing any
modifications to buil-
dings in Lutyens' Delhi
had not approved the lion.
C
BSE said schools under On Tuesday morning, near self because he did not want
its fold have been follo- the railway station at Banta- them to face trouble, said a
wing various systems of ra, in front of shocked wit- relative of Feroz.
assessment and examination nesses, the teenagers hugged Since both families are
each other, after which Feroz from the same village, police
is a step linked to the restora- shot Gunjha in the head and force has been deployed to
tion of the Class X board ex- then killed himself. prevent any untoward inci-
aminations from 2018, said Police first suspected it dent, officials said.
chairperson R K Chaturvedi.
Chaturvedi said: With the
increase in CBSE-affiliated
schools from 309 in 1962 to
18,688 at present, a uniform sy-
stem will ensure easy migra-
tion of students within the
CBSE schools and also ease
their difficulties while see-
king admissions in new scho-
ols.
The new report cards for
classes VI to VIII will be iden-
tical with rows which specify
the terms, periodic, notebook,
subject enrichment and half
yearly/ yearly marks scored
in each subject and the corre-
sponding grades. It will also
have co-scholastic assess-
ment where students will be
graded on a 3-point scale
The format changes in
class IX where the report card
will have scores of a single ye-
arly term comprising a perio-
dic test, notebook, subject en-
richment and annual exami-
nation.
This is to gradually pre-
pare the students for Class IX
and higher classes where they
will have to appear for exams
for the entire syllabus. But it
will happen gradually, said
Chaturvedi.
14 BUSINESS BY BIDS THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Work gives you meaning and
purpose and life is empty
without it.
Stephen Hawking
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 | Kolkata
A tricky
balance
WHERE DOES WORK
END AND LIFE BEGIN?
W
ho would mind a few more
hours in the day or week to
wrap up all the work and have
a few moments of relaxation as well?
However, the twenty-fifth hour does not
exist. And for working professionals, a
Kazutada
Kobayashi minimum of one-third of our time is
president & spent at the workplace.Work too hard,
CEO, and personal relationships and even
Canon India health might go for a toss; whereas too
Along with the
organisation contributing
to their professional life
balance, it is important for
the employees to maintain
a track of their health
themselves working in roles where the
switch never really goes off, how do
professionals strike a work-life balance
and how do leaders help them maintain
this balance?
much focus on private time can have It can be tricky to say the least.
one lose their competitive edge.With Companies realise that it is high time
employees committed to take their one addresses this issue as factors like
organisation towards greater heights long hours, performing under pressure
and continue to live its vision, it and lack of social support can have a
becomes imperative for the employers negative impact on a person's mental
too, to realise their significance and and physical health. On the other hand,
chart out their HR strategies accordingly engaged and enthused employees
in order to attain a middle ground. So, in contribute more to an organisation's
a world where professionals find productivity.
For advertising queries: Call 9903589539 , 9874733309 or Email: Ascent@timesgroup.com
As a first step,while the employees
continue to achieve their key result
areas , it is the organisation's
responsibility to engage the employees
through various programmes, with an
objective to keep them motivated to
contribute to the organisation's success
along with an enhanced sense of their
well-being. Employees dedicated to
build their careers, seek recognition for
their work that would add laurels to
their professional portfolio.
While the employees
continue to achieve
their 'key result areas',
it is the organisation's
responsibility to
engage the employees
through various
programmes
Spending time with family, cooking
and playing a few of your favourite
sports can help remove the stress at
work. However, as we continue to grow
and evolve, what it takes to strike that
balance is bound to shift and change.
This compels one to think what exactly
is work-life balance and how can it be
achieved.
I believe in the concept of Kyosei,
signifying 'living and working together
for the common good', as a means of
achieving this perfect balance. I may
refer to it as work-life assimilation
because customarily, more often than
not, work and life are intertwined in
present times.With technology keeping
us connected in more ways than ever,
this work-life assimilation is something
that professionals need to acknowledge
and address to support the unique
needs of the workforce.
My advice would be that companies
can play a huge role in creating this
integration for employees by
compartmentalising work for them and
The future belongs to
those who believe in the
beauty of their dreams.
Eleanor Roosevelt
ADVERTORIAL AND PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
following some key directions. Every
manager should be responsible for
'leading by example'. Leaders, as much as
any individual team member, need time
off to recharge and enjoy personal time.
Seeing a leader work for a specific
number of hours a week imprints among
employees that they too, should follow a
routine. Self awareness also becomes
crucial, as it is important for every
employee in the organisation to
prioritise and self-regulate instead of
following a trend or setting unrealistic
targets for everyone.
It is also in a leader's best interest to
ensure the team is healthy and in good
shape in order to achieve organisational
goals and maintain top productivity.
Having said that, a successful leader
always knows that the organisation will
reap much more benefits out of happy
and enthused employees. Keeping the
precise balance of work and play,
leaders need to encourage their
employees to take up some hobbies
and follow their passion.
16 THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 17
18 AN EPIPHANY OF IDEAS THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

A thought for today

It is nice to have valid competition;
it pushes you to do better
GIANNI VERSACE
Building A Healthy India
The governments National Health Policy will improve health outcomes and reduce out of pocket expenses

Behemoth In Making JP Nadda

Over the last decade, India

has made noteworthy
hospitals will be made responsive to quan-
tity, diversity and quality of caseloads.
The fourth pillar of our Policy is
focussed on leveraging the power of Indias
Consolidation in telecom is inevitable, but strides in health. We built
an extensive, sophistica-
innovation, technology and ICT capability.
The Policy advocates the need to incentivise
regulation should aid competitive forces ted system to deliver local manufacturing to promote

A
multiple doses of polio
combination of competitive pressure and technological vaccine to every child in this vast country,
improvement is transforming Indias telecom industry. eradicating the disease. Nationwide, our
Consequently the second and third largest companies in this infant and maternal mortality rates have
sector, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, are to merge next year declined by more than one-third. We have
creating a new behemoth. Even as these shifts are underway, the learnt to manufacture high quality drugs
that are exported to the rest of the globe; an
consumer experience has been mixed. If India is one of the cheapest estimated 20% of generic drugs supplied
markets in the world for mobile phone calls, the quality of telecom globally are produced in India.
services is often disappointing. If regulatory standards can be While we have much to be proud of, we
enhanced even as market forces push the industry to adapt to new know that we can do much better. Health
developments, the consumer will be the biggest beneficiary. outcomes can improve further and out of
As with mergers in other industries, the two companies expect to pocket expenses on health can reduce, to
save on expenses on account of synergies. Smartphones are now the better protect citizens from financial risk.
We can build on our progress to reach the
most important channel connecting Indians to the internet. The goal of an India in which every citizen lives
consequent shift in emphasis from voice to data and the arrival of a healthy and productive life.
new competitors with deep pockets The National Health Policy, developed
have nudged telecom companies to look after extensive consultations with state
at alternate strategies for survival. governments and other stakeholders, aims
India appears set to resemble other to shape our health system in all its dimen-
sions by investment in prevention of
markets where a handful of companies
diseases and promotion of good health; by
dominate the telecom market. access to technologies; developing human
Over the last decade entry barriers resources; encouraging medical pluralism;
in telecom have risen considerably,
and by building knowledge for better he-
primarily in the form of capital alth, financial protection and regulation.
requirement. High entry barriers The Policy is aimed at reaching healthcare
typically reduce competitive pressures in an assured manner to all, particularly to
the underserved and underprivileged.
over time and favour incumbents. In a
Fortunately, we have made significant
technology industry such as telecom, it is very likely fundamental advances, which puts us in an excellent
transformations can completely change the pecking order in a decade. position to address the needs the health
But the regulator can also play a role in enhancing competition, system isnt meeting yet starting with
among other things by getting its pricing right on spectrum. As a scarce strengthening and delivering good
natural resource it is only right that spectrum be auctioned. However, quality maternal and child healthcare and
steep floor prices set at spectrum auctions have been driven less by ensuring availability of emergency care,
and moving on eventually to create robust
logic and more by the ghosts of earlier corruption controversies.
infrastructure and capabilities to deliver
Telecom is set to be one of the most drivers of growth in India over universal health coverage. We have clearly
the next decade. Not only does it hold enormous potential to enhance prioritised four investments, through
economic productivity, it can bring about more accountability in which we can build the Indian health
governance. A key element in making this happen will be a policy system of the future.
framework and regulatory architecture that is agnostic between The first is our focus on prevention
different technologies and keeps anti-competitive activities under of diseases, promoting good health and
assuring quality comprehensive primary
check. We have come a long way from a state monopoly rationing
care to all. The emphasis, therefore, is to
telephone landlines. But the history of technology industry shows
that that progress and attendant consumer benefits keep coming only
when nimble new players are given opportunities.
America has a multiplicity of voices that constitute it i have
Red Alert no concerns about the fundamental bone structure of the US
Tamar Szabo Gendler is Dean of the
Coordinated action needed to stem Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Yale Univer-
extremist infiltration from Bangladesh sity, and the first woman chair in the
move away from sick care to wellness.
Seven areas for inter-sectoral action and
peoples campaign under Swasth Nagrik
Abhiyan have been identified so that
people stay healthy and rely less on
hospital care.
The need is also to shift from selective
primary healthcare services to assured
comprehensive primary healthcare with
two-way referrals, which include care
for major non-communicable diseases
(NCDs), mental health, geriatric care,
palliative care and rehabilitative care. As a
critical element, the Policy proposes to
raise public health expenditure to 2.5% of
the GDP in a time-bound manner with allo-
cation of a major proportion (two-thirds or
more) of resources to primary care.
The second critical focus of this Policy
is strengthening and designing our health
systems such that affordable healthcare is
made available to all. Chiefly, through free
access to universal comprehensive
primary healthcare, free drugs, diagnostics
and essential emergency services in
government hospitals as well as strategic
election, though its been reinforced by
the election. Our own election in the fall
of 2015 along with many other campuses
The need is to move from sick
care to wellness, from
selective primary healthcare
to assured comprehensive
primary healthcare with
two-way referrals
purchasing through government financed
insurance programmes. To facilitate access
within the golden hour, the Policy aims to
ensure availability of 2,000 beds per million
population across all geographies.
Empowering citizens and providing qua-
lity patient care is our third critical pillar.
Hospitals will undergo periodic measure-
ments and will be certified on level of quality.
The Policy recommends establishing
mechanisms for speedy resolution of
disputes, and of National Healthcare
Standards Organisation to develop
evidence-based standard guidelines for
care. Resource allocation to government
customised indigenous products such that
healthcare is made more accessible and
affordable for our citizens, while simulta-
neously generating employment.
The Policy recommends establishing
federated national health information
architecture, consistent with Metadata
and Data Standards (MDDS), introduces
use of Electronic Health Records (EHR),
use of digital tools for AYUSH services by
AYUSH practitioners, for traditional
community level healthcare providers and
for household level preventive, promotive
and curative practices.
Additionally, to address the shortage of
specialised care especially in some states,
besides upgrading district hospitals to
medical colleges, use of technology to
scale initiatives such as tele-consultation,
which will link tertiary care institutions
(medical colleges) to district and sub-
district hospitals with secondary care
facilities, will ensure that excellent medi-
cal care reaches the remotest locations. To
build capacity and knowledge at the last
mile, the policy promotes utilisation of
National Knowledge Network for Tele-
education, Tele-CME, Tele-consultations
and access to the digital library.
Holding ourselves accountable to meet
a clear set of measurable health sector go-
als relating to mortality and morbidity on
life expectancy and a healthy life, on redu-
cing mortality and disease prevention and
incidence, the government of India is com-
mitted to a healthy future of all its citizens.
By recognising and prioritising the role
of the government in shaping and delive-
ring equitable quality health to all, we have
announced the National Health Policy 2017,
and are committed to implementing it in
close cooperation with the state govern-
ments, in a time-bound manner with clear
deliverables and milestones, so that Indians
stay healthy and reach their full potential.
The writer is Union minister of health and
family welfare
logies that we develop save lives not just
of the 300 million Americans, but also of
the 7 billion human beings on the planet.

A
departments two-century history. She around the country had a reinvigoration Have you seen a dip in the number
n alarming report from the Bangladeshi government to the talked to Tulika Rattan on Donald of the conversation about racial justice. of students opting for arts?
Union home ministry states that 2016 witnessed an over-three- Trumps presidency, issues related to America is a country founded on The US has a very long tradition of
fold increase over 2015 in infiltration by operatives belonging women and LGBTQ rights how the race-based slavery and as a consequence commitment to education in what we
to terror groups Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI) and Jamaat-ul- Trump administrations moves on there are a lot of concerns about racial call the liberal arts. So, in US universities
immigration will affect the US and India: justice. And those issues which had been students who come to study even a
Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) into the border states of West Bengal,
at the forefront in the late 60s topic like physics or chemistry would
Assam and Tripura. According to the report, approximately 2,010 What are your views on re-emerged because there was a also take courses in literature, history of
HuJI and JMB operatives entered the three Indian states. This far Donald Trumps presidency? recognition that not all problems music, or sociology. The US educational
exceeds Indian intelligence estimates of infiltrations from Bangladesh Universities are officially that seemed to have been solved system is committed to humanistic and
and poses a serious regional security challenge. non-partisan and i would never take had actually been solved. The social science education being part of
It will be recalled that Indias NIA had found the direct role of JMB a stance on the decision of the American engagement with political questions what education in the sciences involves.
in the October 2014 Burdwan blast that killed two suspected terrorists public to have elected somebody president. was a nationwide phenomenon and There has been, since the peak in
That said, one can have disagreements thats become even more forceful the 1970s, some decline in the overall
and led to the discovery of a bomb-making unit. with particular policies that have been subsequent to this election. number of humanities majors but at an
Investigators have also found that terrorists proposed under the current administra- Under Trumps presidency where institution like Yale which is known
involved in the Dhaka caf attack in July last tion that are really counter to our do issues related to women, LGBTQ for great strength across the liberal arts,
year that led to the deaths of 20 hostages commitment as a university, and there rights stand? we continue to have healthy interest
including an Indian national had used guns are two most striking: one, which America still has a long way to go in humanities.
that were procured from Bengal. Such evidences became quite evident first on January as a country with regard to the issue of Several tech CEOs have slammed Is the idea of America under threat?
27, when Trump proposed the initial women rights and egalitarianism, but Trump on his immigration ban Like all nations America has a multi-
highlight linkages between Bangladeshi
travel ban, which affects our ability as a many of the fundamental issues have calling it un-American. How hard plicity of voices that constitute it and
extremists and support networks on this side of nation to benefit from the presence of been worked through. So i think America is it going to hit the IT industry? like all nations therere two strands, one
the border. At a time when the Bangladeshi foreign students on our campuses. The is prepared to accept women in leadership Its my hope that the borders will of which is local and nationalist, and the
government is cracking down on militant second concern that we as universities roles, although perhaps not the highest remain open. The ingenuity of the other one is the one that recognises the
Islamist groups on its soil, Indian border states should not serve as have arises around the budget which of the leadership roles. Although there country has been largely driven by place of the country in a set of other
safe havens or easy transit points for extremists. was proposed on March 16 that involves remains a disparity around women the broad range of people that weve countries. And right now, some of the
True, much of the India-Bangladesh border is riverine, making it radical reductions in the amount of in a lot of areas, nonetheless for the had on our soil, the country is a nation of nationalist voices are louder than some
public funding of scientific research, of most part theres a consensus in most if immigrants. In fact, the IT industry was of the globalist voices. But countries go
difficult to fence or patrol. But such challenges need to be overcome
research in the arts and humanities, not all of the country around the issue of built by immigrants. through phases like that and i have no
through use of technology and enhanced coordination with Bangla- of commitment to NIH, NASA and womens rights. The issue of LGBTQ Were that sort of ban to be put into concerns about the fundamental bone
deshi security forces. Its also a fact that India-Bangladesh border oceanographic institutes. rights tends to divide along the coasts place it would be unbelievably detrimental structure of the United States. We have a
areas are hubs of criminal activities such as smuggling and human Do you think theres a revival of and the urban centres versus the not just to the IT industry, but to our brilliant constitutional structure; we have
trafficking that provide cover to extremists crossing over. Hence, failing student activism on campus, like the countryside. And the divide you see innovation in medicine, engineering an extraordinarily articulated balance of
to crack down on these border criminal gangs who often operate one in the 60s? around the North Carolina issue on and the capacity of the country to provide powers. So you can have a certain
under local political patronage aids cross-border terror elements. With There has been a revival of political transgender rights reflects a deep divide intellectual resources that end up amount of executive overreach and then
engagement and we saw that prior to the in the country on those issues. helping the world. The medical techno- you have a corrective to that overreach.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visiting India next month,
New Delhi should take this opportunity to put in place a coordinated
security plan involving Bangladesh and Indian border states. dilbert Sacredspace
To Succeed
Song divine I do not think that there
is any other quality so
Krishna and Arjun mightnt agree that essential to success of any
the Gita be made into the national holy book kind as the quality
Jug Suraiya
of perseverance.
It overcomes almost
An imagined dialogue between Krishna and Arjun.
Arjun: Hey, have you heard? Sushma Swaraj-ji wants our
everything, even nature.
book to be the national holy book, and made compulsory
reading in all schools. At this rate well become bigger John D Rockefeller
bestsellers than Chetan Bhagat, and get invited to TV chat
shows to talk on all and sundry subjects.
Krishna: With all due respect to Chetanji, and to Sushmaji, I dont think
that our book needs such publicity or political patronage to get people to read it.
And as far as making it compulsory in schools goes, the whole point of our book
is that there can be no compulsion. All it can do is help you realise your own
The Promise Of Beauty And Why It Matters
dharma, which you can chose to follow. If I compel you to follow anything it Shakti Maira if we used our instincts for beauty as a a person, i think our sense of beauty can attention disorders ... Despite rising
would be adharmic, not only for you but also for me. guide for living, rejecting what seems tell us about the state of wellness of things GDPs (gross domestic product) and a

W
Arjun: Yeah, I see what you mean. Being made to follow someone elses hen relationality is healthy ugly and embracing what is beautiful? around us. One could even say, as the dazzling array of new technologies we
dharma makes it adharmic for all concerned. and harmonious it could be Especially, if we keep in mind that truth, goodness, beauty triangulation are not seeing a commensurate growth
Krishna: And then theres this business of proposing to make it the national in the form of a flower or a beauty is about much more than how suggests, that beauty is imbued with in human happiness and well-being ...
book. Wouldnt that be to parochialise our message which is much larger in scope relaxed and happy face, the placement of things look on the surface. goodness and truth. That it forms in Everything in life, at all levels, occurs
than the limiting boundaries of nationalism? buildings or just the cleanliness of a Surely, beauty, or its absence, is an rightness and wholesomeness, and that and exists in relationality and beauty is
Arjun: You mean that our book and what it street beauty is present. When it is not, undeniable part of our sense of our sense or instinct for beauty fundamentally about relational
secondopinion has to say doesnt belong to this nation, or to any things appear and feel ugly, and are in wellness, well-being and right- has this triangulation ingrained excellence. Each of these four important
one nation, but to all nations? fact so when rationally analysed. Most ness. When people grumble in it. This is why things that are qualities harmony, balance, proportion
Krishna: Thats exactly what I mean. Our book and its teachings are of our problems, environmental, socioe- about life, i notice they turn to not good usually feel ugly, though and rhythm is relational and dynamic.
universal and belong not to any one country, or to any one community, but to all conomic and health, arise out of their innate sense of beauty not always, and the same holds for Balance is a momentary state of equilibri-
those, without exception, who freely chose to make our book their own. disharmonies, disproportionalities, and ugliness and say this or untruths and dishonesty. um in a dynamic flow, not stasis; harmony
Arjun: So you could belong to any country, and to any religion, and still imbalances and a lack of synchronisation. that is ugly or is no longer This might help explain why is a state of relational excellence within
subscribe to the teachings of our book? In one way or another, ugliness is caused beautiful. When people say life many of us are experiencing a perpetual change, not a fixed idyllic state;
Krishna: Exactly. Countries and religions dont matter. You could be a sta- by poor relationality. is not so beautiful any longer, it growing ugliness in our societies. proportion is contextual, not absolute; and
teless refugee, and an atheist to boot, and still be inspired by our book and claim I remember the old aphorisms in is not just because of how their the It is because of the many rhythm is, obviously, dynamic and
it for your own. Indeed, such a person might do so with more honest conviction
than those who only pay our book lip-service to further their political agenda.
Eastern and Western thought which
claim that beauty is based on balance,
street, neighbourhood or city
looks, which is certainly a part speaking imbalances and disharmonies,
like the filth and pollution in the
flowing. It became clearer that there
cannot be any absolute, permanent and
Arjun: So how can we prevent such self-servers from hijacking our book for harmony, proportion and rhythm. I of it, but due to a larger sense tree environment; the rise of new timeless beauty, as beauty is always
their own selfish ends? wonder if this could be a way of looking of it being out of whack. diseases such as cancers and immune subjective, contextual and experiential.
Krishna: That, my comrade-in-arms, is the next Kurukshetra we must face ... at todays problems and to conceive Just like the human pulse can tell system malfunctions; the alarming (Abridged from The Promise of
secondopinion@timesgroup.com their solutions. After all, everyone has a doctors in the Ayurvedic and Chinese growth of mental disorders such as Beauty & Why It Matters published by
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/ sense for beauty. Would our lives improve medical systems much about the health of depression, bipolar conditions and Harper Collins India, 2017.)
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 TIMES TRENDS 19
SHORT CUTS

This parrot has infectious

Why children must not start school till age 6 Reuters \ Picture for representation

laugh just like humans Kids Who Delay Kindergarten Separated partners using
Have Higher Self-Control
AFP

apps to co-parent their kids

Chris Weller tant traits kids can possess in Olivia Blair custody calendar, keep track of
their early years. A strong deg- shared expenses and share scho-

PUTS OTHERS IN A PLAYFUL MOOD
T A
heres already a great deal
of research suggesting
children should start the-
ir school days later. Now, new
research finds they should pro-
bably start their entire school
careers later, too.
A study out of Stanford Uni-
versity has found kids whose
parents waited to enroll them in
kindergarten by age 6 (instead
of 5) had measurably better sco-
res on tests of self-control by
the time they were 7 and 11.
ree of executive function signals
kids are able to budget their time
and maintain focus even when
theyre faced with distractions.
In the latest study, investiga-
tors Thomas Dee and Hans Hen-
rik Sievertsen used the Danish
National Birth Cohort (DNBC)
study to collect their data.
The DNBC included respon-
ses from 54,241 parents on mea-
sures of mental health when
their children were 7 years old
and 35,902 responses when the
range of smartphone app-
lications are helping sepa-
rated couples to seamless-
ly co-parent their children.
Gill Ruidant founded the app
2houses in 2011after struggling to
have productive conversations
about childcare with his ex when
BABY STEPS: In Finland, children begin formal schooling at age of eight they divorced nine years ago. He
says the app is now used by
a year later than average stu- in life. In Finland, for example, 100,000 families. I quickly noti-
dents had 73% better scores on it isnt uncommon for kids ced that direct and phone conver-
tests of their hyperactivity and to begin formal schooling sations were generating con-
in attention four years later. at age of eight. Much of their flict, he told The Independent.
ol and medical information. We
tested a few existing tools, were
not very satisfied as it was not fo-
cused on our specific needs, as se-
parated parents. Ruidant soon
quit his job and launched the app.
Flavia Fraser-Cannon relies
on the trusty Google calendar
app to co-parent her three-year-
old son with her ex-partner. Fra-
ser-Cannon, who also communi-
cates with her ex through What-
sApp when discussing pick-ups
and drop-offs, says she imagines

N ew Zealands highly intelligent kea parrot has

a human-like infectious laughter a play
call that puts other birds around them into a
Self-control known to psy-
chologists as executive func-
kids were 11.
Dee and Sievertsen found
Schools in Nordic countries
arent exactly strangers to
childhood is spent either at ho-
me or in a form of pre-kinder-
For the well-being of our son,
my ex and I were looking for a go-
co-parenting to be nightma-
rish without the help of their
tion is one of the more impor- kids who started kindergarten enrolling kids in school later garten. BUSINESS INSIDER between to help us organising the calendar app. THE INDEPENDENT
playful mood, a new study has found. The findings
make kea the first known non-mammal to have
such an emotionally contagious vocalisation,
joining the ranks of humans, rats and chimpan-
STOLEN VAN GOGHS BACK ON DISPLAY Reuters
Virtual reality therapy can You dont need irritating
zees. Kea are known for their intelligence and
curiosity, both vital to their survival in a harsh help those who stutter
mountain environment. We were able to use a
playback of these calls to show that it animates Aatif Sulleyman
drops for eye test anymore
kea that were not playing to do so, said Raoul Washington: Scientists ha- few seconds. Once focused, a

Schwing of the Messerli Research Institute in
Austria. Schwing and his colleagues got interested
in this particular call after carefully analysing the
keas full vocal repertoire. Upon hearing the play
call, many birds did not join in play that was
already underway, but instead started playing
with other non-playing birds, or in the case of
solitary play, with an object or by performing
aerial acrobatics," the researchers said.
App to detect dengue, chikungunya in
30min: Researchers, including one of Indian
origin, have developed a smartphone-controlled,
battery-operated diagnostic device that costs just
$100 and can detect Zika, dengue and chikungu-
nya within 30 minutes. Testing for these mos-
quito-borne viruses currently requires a labora-
tory and patients have to wait days for results.
The tests require instruments that are roughly
the size of a microwave oven and can cost up to
$20,000. This makes rapid testing unrealistic for
limited-resource clinics in developing countries
where the viruses are prevalent. The device is
based on the loop-mediated isothermal amplifi-
cation (LAMP) diagnostic method, which elimi-
nates the need to process a biological sample,
such as blood or urine, before testing.
Even penguins have children who wont leave nest
Dinos, Mars volcano went extinct at same
time, says Nasa: The last volcanic activity on
ments. An MSc medical product design student
Fourteen years after being stolen, two
paintings by Vincent Van Gogh were back
on display at Van Gogh museum in
Amsterdam on Tuesday. The works, 1882s
View of the Sea at Scheveningen (above)
and the 1884 Congregation Leave the
Reformed Church in Nuenen, vanished in
2002 after thieves climbed a ladder on to
the museum roof and broke into the
building in a heist that took only 4 minutes.
They were found in Italy last September
behind a false wall in a villa that
prosecutors said belonged to
Raffaele Imperiale, who is accused of
running a cocaine trafficking ring
Nicholas Bakalar fed, then followed his parent sque-
aking for more until the besieged
A
student at Nottingham Trent University
has created virtual reality software desig-
ned to help people with speech impedi-
ring the irritating pupil-dila- ents in the hospital, there are
Gareth Walkom has had a stutter from the age of
six, and therefore has first-hand experience of
how big an impact a speech impediment can ha-
ve on someones life.
His software provides exposure therapy, pla-
cing users in a variety of scenarios and chal-
lenges them to confront social anxieties in VR.
According to Walkom, repeated exposure to
such situations in a virtual environment can
prepare users for anxiety-provoking real-life si-
tuations, enabling them to overcome their fears.
The main situation will be a one-on-one social
interaction scene, where the individual will see
an animated avatar who they will talk to, Wal-
kom explained. The software provides feedback
on a users anxiety levels, showing progress and
indicating ways to improve, and also tracks the-
ir eye movements. THE INDEPENDENT
Getty Images
young fledge, so parents and fledg-
lings are likely to encounter one
ve developed a cheap, portable quick flash of white light is de-
camera that can photograph livered as the picture is taken.
the retina without administe- As residents seeing pati-
ting eye drops. Made out of often times when we are not al-
simple parts mostly available lowed to dilate patients neu-
online, the cameras total cost rosurgery patients for exa-
is about $185, mple, said
researchers TECH TO THE RESCUE Bailey Shen
from Universi- from UIC. The
ty of Illinois at Chicago said. camera is based on the Rasp-
The camera works by berry Pi 2 computer, a low-
first emitting infrared light, cost, single-board computer
which the iris the muscle designed to teach children
that controls the opening of how to build and programme
the pupil does not react to. computers. The board hooks
Most retina cameras use up to a small, cheap infrared
white light, which is why pu- camera and a dual infrared-
pil-dilating eye drops are ne- and white-light-emitting dio-
eded. The infrared light is de. A handful of other compo-
used to focus the camera on nents make up the rest of the
the retina, which can take a camera, researchers said. PTI

Mars ceased about 50 million years ago, around
the time when large number of Earths plant and
animal species, including dinosaurs, went
extinct, according to a new NASA study. The
research reveals that the giant Martian volcano
Arsia Mons produced one new lava flow at its
summit every one to three million years
during the final peak of activity.The last volcanic
activity there ceased about 50 million years
ago around the time of Earths Cretaceous-
Paleogene extinction event.
G
alpagos penguin chicks ha-
ve it good. Even when they
are old enough to hunt on
their own, they beg their parents
for food and the parents give in
much like us humans.
Recently researchers in the
Galpagos watched as fully fled-
ged birds squeaked and pleaded
until their parents turned to them
and regurgitated a meal into their
mouths. One big young bird was
adult dived into the water.
The study is online in The Wil-
son Journal of Ornithology.
In the Galpagos, food supplies
vary. When times are good and the-
re is plenty of food, one way of as-
suring the survival of the species
is for parents to help their adult
children with some extra nourish-
ment. Galpagos penguins forage
just offshore, close to their nests,
and return to the nest site after the
another frequently. Only one
other of the 18 species of penguins
is known to do this: the Gentoo
penguins, which inhabit Antarcti-
ca and nearby islands, feed their
young after they have fledged for
about 12 days, probably to give
them time to learn how to hunt.
The Galpagos penguins are
the only ones that live north of the
Equator, are endangered, with fe-
THE YOUNG WANT FREE MEALS wer than 2,000 left in the world. NYT

US electronics ban on flights from 8 nations
Any Gadget Bigger Than A Cellphone Must Go To Cargo Hold
Chidanand.Rajghatta
@timesgroup.com
Washington: The Trump ad-
ministration has banned lap-
tops, iPads, cameras and other
electronic goods larger than a
cell phone in carry-on (cabin)
baggage for flights to the US g
from 10 Gulf/West Asia/North
Africa airports. The ban is
temporary, and all said items
can be checked in the baggage
that goes into the cargo hold.
The ban will not apply to re-
turn flights from the US to the
10 red-flagged airports.
News of the ban emerged
on Monday from the Royal Jor-
danian Airlines and the offici-
al news agency of Saudi Ara-
bia, whose airlines will be
among those affected, before it
was confirmed by the depart-
ment of homeland security
(DHS). The ban covers all
flights to the US from Cairo,
Egypt; Amman, Jordan; Ku-
wait City, Kuwait; Casablanca,
Morocco; Doha, Qatar; Riyadh
and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia;
Istanbul, Turkey; and Abu
Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE.
The new rules will come in-
to effect immediately, and the
DHS pointed to terror threats
as reason for the ban, while in-
dicating more airports might
come under the restrictions.
Intelligence indicates terro-
rist groups continue to target
Trump nominates PIO
to key judicial post
Washington: Amul Thapar,
an Indian-
American le-
gal luminary,
has been nomi-
nated by Do-
nald Trump to
a key judicial
position on the
powerful US co-
Amul Thapar urt of appeals.
Thapar, 47,
who in 2007 became the
first South Asian Article III
judge when he was appointed
as a district judge for Ken-
tucky, is the first PIO to be no-
minated for the top judicial
post on Monday.
If confirmed by the Sena-
te, Thapar will be part of the
powerful US 6th circuit court
of appeals, which hears appe-
als from Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Ohio and Michigan. Tha-
par was among the 20 judges
whose names Trump had re-
leased during his presidenti-
al campaign for his Supreme
Court nominees.
Senate majority leader
WORLD DIGEST
PIO charged
with murder of
toddler in UK
A n Indian-origin man
was on Tuesday char-
ged with the brutal murder
of a one-year-old boy and
critically injuring the todd-
lers twin sister, believed to
be his children, in north
east London. Bidhya Sagar
Das, 33, was arrested on
Sunday after Scotland Yard
launched a manhunt for
him on finding the two
children in a critical condi-
tion in a flat in Hackney
area of north-east London.
Teen gang-raped on
Facebook Live: Chicago
Police are searching for five
or six men suspected of
sexually assaulting a
15-year-old girl on Facebo-
ok Live. The girl, who went
missing on Sunday, was
found and reunited her with
her family. Police said
about 40 people viewed the
attack on Facebook while it
was happening, and none
of them reported it to
police.
German teens get jail
terms for gurdwara attack:
Three radicalised German-
born teens were sentenced
to up to seven years in
juvenile detention for
carrying out a religiously
motivated bomb attack on
a gurdwara that left a Sikh
priest hurt. The court
agreed their motive had
been hate for other re-
ligions. The trial uncovered
no evidence of the three
having contact with the IS.
TIMES GLOBAL * THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
REJECT YOUR SENSE OF
INJURY AND THE INJURY
ITSELF DISAPPEARS
MARCUS AURELIUS
SCARLETT JOHANSSON SAYS SHE WILL CONSIDER SUSAN SARANDON SAYS SHE IS THRILLED TO KNOW
POLITICS WHEN HER 2-YR-OLD DAUGHTER GROWS UP ABOUT HER ROMANCE RUMOURS WITH LIAM NEESON
Pak man with J&K
UK follows suit, targets
militancy links to
flights from 6 countries lose US citizenship
AFP
them to have absurdly low fa-
res. US-India economy class
flights cost as little as $ 800 (Rs
52,000 approx) even at 2-3 days Washington: The US has Iyman Faris, who is
advance purchase, cheaper London: The UK imposed on initiated the process to revo-
than a coast-to-coast domestic Tuesday a ban on carrying lap- Canada planning ke the citizenship of a Pakis-
serving a 20-year
prison term after
flight across America. It is also
cheaper in dollar terms than
tops as part of cabin baggage
on Britain-bound flights from
similar restrictions tani-American who was in-
volved in militancy in Kash- being convicted of
fares 25 years ago. Some avia-
tion boffins seem to believe the
US strike goes beyond security
six Muslim-majority nations.
The ban will cover 14 airli-
nes that operate direct flights
C anada transport minister
said on Tuesday the
country was considering
mir and is serving a 20-year
prison term on terrorism
charges. Iyman Faris, who
conspiracy to
provide material
concerns and is aimed at resto- from Turkey, Lebanon, Jor- prohibiting electronics became an American citizen support to
ring the primacy of western dan, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi onboard flights from Turkey, in 1999, was in 2003 convicted al-Qaida, will be
airlines that has been eroded Arabia. The curbs also apply to West Asia, and North Africa of conspiracy to provide ma-
by upstarts such as Turkish tablets, DVD players and pho- following the US and UK. We terial support to al-Qaida.
deported after his
and Etihad airlines. . nes over certain size (length: are looking at the threat Prosecutors said that in prison sentence
If this is true, the threat of 16.0cm, width: 9.3cm, depth: information provided by his naturalisation applica- subsequent applications for
attempts to disguise explosi- 1.5cm). Any such devices will intelligence communities to tion, Faris, 47, concealed that immigration benefits, and
ves within laptops and other need to be placed into hold lug- airlines, Marc Garneau said. he participated in militancy that he twice testified falsely
The ban covers all flights to the US from Cairo, Amman, Casablanca, Doha, large electronic devices carri- gage and checked-in before go- The three countries share in Kashmir in the 80s and was to obtain those benefits.
Kuwait City, Riyadh, Jeddah, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The ed through the last point of de- ing through central security. intelligence as part of the Five affiliated to the Harkat-ul-Ji- US attorney S Boyce said
department of homeland security cited terror threats as reason for the ban parture airports bound for the Flights from these desti- Eyes alliance. AFP hadi al-Islami. The justice de- it was important to ensure
US is not new. What appears to nations can continue to opera- partment on Monday filed a the path to legal naturalisa-
commercial aviation and are Flyers to the US from India be new is this latest overreac- te to the UK subject to new mea- put in place measures we belie- civil action before a Chicago tion remained free of fraud.
pursuing innovative methods and the sub-continent will be tion, BuzzFeed quoted a for- sures being in place. Travellers ve are necessary, effective and court against Faris, urging Once Fariss citizenship
to undertake their attacks, to affected because a large volu- mer US official familiar with are advised to keep up-to-date proportionate. the judge that his citizenship is revoked, he will be depor-
include smuggling explosive me of this traffic has moved to aviation security as saying. It with the latest FCO (Foreign PM Theresa May chaired a be revoked. ted to Pakistan after he ser-
devices in various consumer the Gulf route (via Dubai, Do- appears to be a Muslim ban by and Commonwealth Office) number of meetings on avia- Under Trump admini- ved his sentence. After beco-
items, a DHS fact sheet expla- ha, and Abu Dhabi) using Emi- a thousand cuts, he added. advice and to check online tion security over the last few stration, this is the first ming a US citizen in 1999, Fa-
ined. The banned devices in- rates, Qatar, and Etihad Airli- Most of the affected airli- with their airline, a govern- weeks, including this mor- known case of withdrawal of ris travelled to Pakistan and
clude laptops, tablets, e-rea- nes in preference to the Euro- nes are from countries that are ment spokesperson said. ning, where the measures we- citizenship of a naturalised Afghanistan in 2000 to meet
ders, cameras, DVD players, pean route (using BA: via Lon- actually US allies; Americans The additional security re agreed. The government sa- American. The civil compla- Osama bin Laden. At the re-
and any electronic game big- don, Lufthansa via Frankfurt, have trained airport person- measures may cause some dis- id it had also been in close to- int alleged that Faris entered quest of al-Qaida leaders, he
ger than a smartphone. Air France via Paris etc.). nel in these countries. Etihad ruption for passengers, but our uch with the US to fully un- the US fraudulently by using researched information
The factsheet was not clear The dispute between the Airlines in fact conducts US priority will always be to main- derstand their position. The anothers passport and he about ultra-light aircraft and
though why other airlines we- Gulf airlines and European/ immigration and customs pro- tain safety of UK nationals, attempted downing of an airli- wilfully misrepresented the provided that information to
re exempt and why allowing American carriers has been cessing in Abu Dhabi so that he said. The safety and securi- ner in Somalia last year was circumstances under which al-Qaida, federal prosecu-
the same items in checked bag- simmering for months now be- passengers can disembark in ty of the travelling public is linked to a laptop, and some re- he entered the country on tors said. PTI
gage less accessible in the cause the western cartel belie- the domestic terminals at the our highest priority. That is ports had claimed the new pre-
cargo hold - would not cons- ves Gulf carriers are state- arriving end with no exit scru- why we keep our aviation secu- cautions were an attempt to
titute as much of a danger. subsidised, which enables tiny or vetting. rity under constant review and stop similar incidents. PTI
War crimes: Pak military
Not on payroll,
but Ivanka
Comey faces flak Bdesh to
try Bengali
courts get
two-year
gets WH office
for late disclosure AFP
ex-army man extension
Washington: FBI chief
Washington: President Do- James Comeys testimony Omer Farooq Khan TNN
nald Trumps that the bureau had been prob- Dhaka: ABengali army offi-
Preet Bharara to join NY law school daughter Ivanka ing links between aides of cer, who sided with Pakistan Islamabad: Pakistans Na-
I ndia-born former top federal prosecutor Preet Bharara, fired by
the Trump administration after he refused to quit, will join the the
NYU School of Law as a distinguished scholar in residence on
now has an office
at the White Hou-
se, although she
President Donald Trump and
Russian officials since the
summer enraged Democrats
during the 1971 Liberation
War, will be put on trial for
crimes against humanity.
tional Assembly passed on
Tuesday the constitution
amendment bill to reinstate
April 1. Bharara said the opportunity to join the law school will is not a govern- who had blamed the Republi- The International Cri- and expand the jurisdiction
enable him to continue working on issues that he cares about such ment employee. can for rattling the 2016 cam- mes Tribunal proved three of military courts to try ci-
as criminal and social justice and honest government. I am Since Trumps inaugura- paigns closing days. Hillary Clinton supporters blamed counts of charges against vilians for terrorism-rela-
honoured to join the NYU School of Law, one of the great tion, his eldest daughter has For the first time, Comey Comey for double-standards and Pakistans ex-army Captain ted offences.
educational institutions in America, and I welcome the chance to been seen often in the West confirmed the FBI had opened a breach of bureau norms that Mohammad Shahidullah, The Constitution (Twen-
contribute in such a thoughtful setting, Bharara said in a Wing, the hub of executive po- a probe into the Trump cam- caused their nominees defeat 75, who has been in jail since ty Eighth Amendment) bill
statement issued by the law school. Bharara also took to Twitter to wer. On Friday, she attended a paign in July, the same month his arrest last year. We fo- and the Pakistan Army
announce his new position. This is one way I plan to keep working meeting with German Chan- he announced the agency had tons case, FBI confirmed the und his involvement in mur- (Amendment) were passed
hard on important issues I care about @nyulaw, he tweeted. PTI cellor Angela Merkel. finished its probe into wheth- probe into her emails during der, confinement, torture amid opposition with two-
Ivankas lawyer, Jamie Go- er Hillary Clinton mishandled the heart of the campaign, and looting, they said. thirds majority. Following
Mitch McConnell applauded sociation of North America relick, said that she would ha- classified information and Fallon said. It is fair to ask He was posted in West the attack by Pakistani Tali-
Trump for his decision. Thro- (SABA) which is normally ve access to classified infor- three months before he said why Jim Comey confirmed Pakistan and on leave at his ban on Army Public School
ughout his already impressive critical of Trump, lauded the mation and be bound by the the Clinton probe was contin- one investigation prior to the home... He reported to duty in Peshawar that killed 148,
career of public service, Amul president for his intent. Jud- same rules that applied to uing, days before the election. election, but not the other. at Dhaka cantonment as the government had created mi-
has shown an incredible intel- ge Thapar is a respected and other White House advisers, The revelation drew the ire Meanwhile, reacting to war broke out and commit- litary courts in 2015 for a two-
lect and an unshakable dedica- thoughtful jurist who has who are in fact on the govern- of Clinton supporters who Comeys testimony, a Kremlin ted crimes in Comilla dis- year period.
tion to the law, McConnell sa- long served as role model for ment payroll. blamed Comey for double- spokesman said the US intel trict as he was transferred, UN, human rights orga-
id. He has earned the respect the South Asian and greater The conservative appro- standards and a breach of bu- committee was confused. an officer said. Most Bengali nisations, and the opposi-
of his colleagues, and I know legal community, said Vi- ach is for Ivanka to comply reau norms that caused their Dmitry Peskov said that the military officers stationed tion had raised serious con-
that he will bring to the 6th cir- chal Kumar, SABA president. with rules that would apply if nominees defeat. Clintons hearing participants are con- in the then East Pakistan re- cerns about trying civilians
cuit the same wisdom, fair- Despite being among the she were a government emplo- former press secretary, Brian fused about the situation, add- volted against Pakistan after before military courts, the
ness, and ability that he has youngest judges in the fede- yee, even though she is not, Fallon, noted that Comey at ing, They are trying to find the sudden crackdown on secrecy of military court tri-
shown on the district court. ral judiciary, Judge Amul Gorelick said. Having a child least waited until after the confirmation of their own con- unarmed Bengali popula- als, and other fair trial issu-
President Trump made an out- Thapar quickly established a of the president who is enga- election to confirm there was clusions but cant find either tion in 1971 while several es. At least 17 people have be-
standing choice... reputation as a top legal scho- ged in the work of the admini- an investigation related to proof or confirmation and are others fled West Pakistan to en executed after being con-
The South Asian Bar As- lar among his peers. PTI stration is new ground. AFP Trumps campaign. In Clin- going round in circles. AP join the Liberation War. PTI victed by a military court.
Japan offers funeral discounts Militant behind
SL cricket team
AROUND THE WORLD
Reuters
to make the aged stop driving attack killed
Pakistan: A US drone strike
Reuters
Tokyo: The prospect of a cheaper funeral is be- in Afghanistan has killed a
ing used to entice elderly Japanese drivers to
give up their licences as police step up efforts to
Pakistani militant Qari Mo-
hammad Yasin, also known
prevent accidents caused by ageing motorists. as Ustad Aslam, involved in
Deadly accidents involving elderly drivers are the attack on a bus carrying
a growing problem in a country where the po- Sri Lankas cricket team in
pulation is rapidly growing older and some 4.8 2009, security sources said.
million people aged 75 or older hold a licence. The drone targeted a car
In November, a six-year-old boy died and 11 carrying Yasin on Sunday in
others were injured after an 87-year-old dri- the southwestern Afghan
vers pickup truck hit children walking to scho- province of Paktika borde-
ol in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. Japan intro- ring Pakistan. US military
duced a new rule this month under which dri- spokesman in Kabul confir-
vers aged 75 or older must pass cognitive tests med the drone strike.
SAFETY FIRST: Accidents involving elderly
when renewing their licences. The 2009 bus attack in La-
drivers are a growing problem in Japan where the
Now, a funeral service company in central hore was allegedly organised
population is rapidly growing older and some 4.8
Japan has, from this month, started offering a million people aged 75 or older hold a licence by militant group Lashkar-e-
15% discount to elderly drivers who give up the- Jhangvi. The attack on Sri
ir permits. Weve been offering funeral servi- tars used during funerals, Ariga said, adding Lankan team bus led to Pakis- Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye (inset) leaves her home in Seoul on Tuesday for the
ces to those who lost family members in car ac- that the elderly drivers can end up saving at le- tans exclusion from hosting prosecutors office to be questioned over a corruption scandal. Before interrogation, Park apologised to
cidents, Shigenori Ariga of the funeral com- ast 56,000 yen ($500). major international tours. PTI the country, I am sorry to the people. I will sincerely undergo an investigation. Park was
pany Heiankaku in told AFP on Tuesday. We The discount applies not just when the dri- interrogated for 14 hours where she denied all charges regarding abuse of power and bribery
want to help prevent deaths caused by such ac- vers who give up their licences die but even for
cidents, he said.
Ariga said the discount was offered after a
their close family members, he said.
Aichi police had in November started offe- Woman sues son US man burns Wakashima, 51, is accused of
gobbling down over 250 des-
Japans oldest porn actor,
who debuted at 71, quits:
request by the local police department in the ci- ring a ramen noodle discount to elderly drivers
ty of Ichinomiya in Aichi prefecture where the
funeral business is located. It is applied to al-
who give up their licences via a tie-up with a lo-
cal restaurant chain. AFP
for calling her down home in serts in over 40 incidents since
2013 with ice cream, chocolate
After a decade of peeling off
for X-rated movies, Japans
prostitute on FB bid to kill ants and puddings topping his wish
list, Tokyo police said.
oldest porn actress has called
it quits at the ripe old age of
US court to rule if Polanski can return Yangon: A Myanmar woman
has sued her son for calling her
A 21-year-old man in the US
burned down his parents
home and killed three pets
Thailands coin-eating
turtle dead: A 25-year-old
80. Maori Tezuka, a former
opera singer who made her
debut in porn industry at age
a prostitute on Facebook, the
after accidentally starting a sea turtle in Thailand, who 71, blamed her decision partly
Los Angeles: A jud- cholsons house in on the run ever since. latest case under a law that cri-
fire while trying to extermina- swallowed 915 coins tossed by on a lack of red-blooded Lotha-
ge said Monday he Los Angeles in 1977. His attorney Harland tics say stifles free speech.
te ants. Devon Doucette, who tourists seeking good luck, rios able to keep up with her.
would issue a writ- Polanski admit- Braun told Los Angeles Supe- Police arrested 21-year-old
lived in his parents home in died on Tuesday, two weeks
ten ruling on whet- ted statutory rape rior Court the 83-year-old Wana Oo on Tuesday after his
Old Orchard Beach, Maine, after a surgery to remove the 1,000-yr-old pagoda in
her fugitive filmma- after a number of filmmaker, who lives in Pa- mother Tin Tin Hla filed a ca-
was attempting to get rid of coins. The cause of death was China to be renovated: A
ker Roman Polanski more serious char- ris, had already done his ti- se over comments he made
ants in the basement by blood poisoning from the thousand-year-old pagoda in
can return to the US ges were dropped, me and wanted to resolve about her relationship with a
burning them with matches. change, said Dr Achariya Chinas Henan province has
without fear of be- and spent an initial the case with a finding that he person. She sued her son for
Sailasuta, a veterinary pro- started its biggest renovation
ing jailed for having Roman Polanski 42 days in prison be- has completed his sentence. abusing her on Facebook, po-
Japanese thief nabbed fessor at Bangkoks Chulalong- since 1949, local officials said
sex with a minor. fore getting out on He asked Judge Scott Gordon lice officer Aung Lwin said.
after ice cream binge: korn University. The Doctors on Tuesday. The nine-story
The Oscar-winning direc- bail. But in 1978, convinced a to order prosecutors to give Wana Oo was charged under a
Police arrested a Japanese removed 5kg of coins from the octangular pagoda, in Wuhua
tor of The Pianist and Chi- judge was going to scrap some indication of how law that forbids defaming
thief, dubbed Sugar for stomach of the turtle which Temple of Yiyang County in
natown was accused of drug- his plea deal and return him much time if any they people on any network and
raiding refrigerators to binge was nicknamed Bank and lived Luoyang features carvings of
ging the 13-year-old before ra- to prison for decades, he want Polanski to serve if he can invite imprisonment up to
on sweet treats. Yasuhiro in a public pond. buddhas and giants.
ping her at film star Jack Ni- fled for France and has been returns. AFP three years. AFP
 TIMES BUSINESS THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

LLOYD BLANKFEIN-LED GOLDMAN SACHS TO MOVE JACK MA-LED ALIBABA BUYS OUT E-TICKETING PLATFORM
HUNDREDS OF STAFF FROM LONDON PRE-BREXIT DAMAI, MARKING FURTHER PUSH INTO ENTERTAINMENT

Idea dips 5%
D St toasts Damanis D-Mart as brokers
Radiant Life Carlyle leads
race for
as IPO values co at over $6bn cautious on eyes Saharas $300m SBI

Shy Broker, A College Dropout, Is Worth `36K Cr, Richer Than

merger gain
Partha.Sinha@timesgroup.com
`1k-cr hosp biz card stake
Boby Kurian

Famous Billionaires | Avenue Soars To `641 Apiece Against `299

& Mayur Shetty TNN

Partha.Sinha@timesgroup.com on the market, the Street always

Mumbai: A reticent stock bro-
ker-turned-entrepreneur who
had refused to participate in the
tech boom in the early 2000s and
instead launched a nondescript
retail store in Mumbai, on
Tuesday emerged as the heady
toast of Dalal Street.
In the wake of Avenue Su-
permarkets, operators of D-
Mart stores, listing at a valua-
tion of over $6 billion (almost Rs
40,000 crore), its main promoter,
Radhakishan Damanioften
referred to as Mr White & White
(for his all-white attire) and The
Silent Operator (for his reclu-
sive nature)found himself
worth more than such long-
time Indian billionaires as Anil
Ambani, Ajay Piramal, Rahul
Bajaj and Anil Agarwal.
The 61-year-old Damani,
along with his family, holds 82%
in the retail chain which is now
worth a little over $5 billion (Rs
33,125 crore). In addition, he
holds equity stakes in VST In-
dustries, Blue Dart, Sundaram
Fastners, TV18 and 3M India,
valued at $400 million (Rs 2,650
crore). Together with his own-
ership of D-Mart, Damani, a
resident of Altamount Road in
south Mumbai, is worth about
$5.4 billion (Rs 35,775 crore),
which going by the latest
Forbes list puts him among top
15 Indian billionaires globally.
After listing at Rs 604, which
is more than double its IPO
price of Rs 299, Avenue rose still
further to close at Rs 641, a 114%
rise over offer.
Stunningly, D-Mart is now
worth substantially more than
the combined Rs 24,000 crore
market capitalization of its
RETAIL CHAIN IS WORTH MORE
THAN ALL OTHERS PUT TOGETHER
hD-Mart is a supermarket
chain with a clear focus on
value-retailing to a well-
defined target consumer base,
and limited categories
hAvenue Supermarts,
operator of D-Mart
stores, listed at
`604, more than
double its `299
IPO price
hAt a market value
of `40,000cr, it is
valued at more than all other
listed retailers put together
hD-Mart opened its first
store in Mumbai in 2002; now
has 118 stores in 45 cities in
west and south India
BSE-listed peersFuture Re-
tail, Trent, V-Mart Retail, Shop-
pers Stop and Provogue. Unlike
many high-profile retail
chains, D-Mart has focused on
value-retailing, limited its
range of categories, and located
itself mostly in suburbs and
non-metros.
Damani, whose family was
in the ball bearings business,
hLow-profile Radhakishan
Damani, the main promoter,
dropped out of commerce
college after first year and
became a stock broker before
launching chain. Known as
Mr White & White and
The Silent Operator
hHe is now worth
about $5.4 billion
(about `35,775
crore) and among the
top 15 richest Indians
globally ahead of Anil
Ambani, Anil Agarwal, Rahul
Bajaj and Ajay Piramal
h Also a long-term investor,
he holds stakes in VST, Blue
Dart, Sundaram Fastners, etc
dropped out of commerce col-
lege after his first year. He en-
tered the stock market as a bro-
ker and trader in the late 1980s
and was frequently seen in the
BSEs erstwhile trading rink.
But outside the market he was
barely known, unlike the wide-
ly feted Warren Buffett of In-
dia, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.
When it came to making money
looked up to Jhunjhunwala.
But that may now change, a vet-
eran of the Street said.
The media-shy Damani is
also known for being a tena-
cious fighter. About two dec-
ades ago, he took ITC head-on
for control of Hyderabad-based
VST, the makers of Charminar.
His 25% stake in the cigarette
company, acquired at a cost of
about Rs 63 crore, is now worth
about Rs 1,200 crore. A few years
ago, when DHL, the owners of
Blue Dart, offered to sell shares
in its Indian subsidiary at
much than the then market
price, causing investors to pan-
ic, it was Damani, operating
from the shadows, who assured
investors about the stocks long-
term value. He now holds 3.4%
in the courier company, worth
about Rs 400 crore.
Dalal Street veterans like
Alok Churiwala, Deven Chok-
sey, Dharmesh Mehta and
Arun Kejriwal variously de-
scribe Radhakishanji the soft-
spoken investor as brilliant
and a legend on the Street.
As a rookie broker in late
1980s-early 90s, Churiwala
would often see Damani float-
ing across the trading floor with
cool composure, while for
Choksey it was Damanis sharp
analysis that caught the atten-
tion of many.
Damani withdrew from ac-
tive trading after vyaj badla (a
form of financing) was re-
placed by derivatives in the
early-to-mid 2000s, and refo-
cused his energies on long-term
investing. It was around that
time that he also launched his
first entrepreneurial venture
in the form of D-Mart.
Mumbai: As telecom analysts
turned cautious on the Idea-Vo-
dafone merger with most saying
the success of the deal depends
majorly on achieving the esti-
mated synergies of $10 billion
over four years, Ideas stock pri-
ce lost another 4.8% to close at Rs
93. Most of the broking houses
have also lowered their target
price for the stock after the mer-
ger announcement.
As a result of investors scep-
ticism about the gains from the
merger, since the announce-
ment on Monday, Idea sharehol-
ders have lost nearly Rs 5,400 cro-
re in the stock with the telecom
companys current market va-
lue at Rs 33,495 crore. Foreign
broking major CLSA, which has
cut Ideas price target to Rs 90
from Rs 100, said realising mer-
ger synergies was key to deleve-
raging for the merged entity
with a combined net debt of Rs
68,400 crore after Vodafone infu-
DOUBT OVER
SYNERGY
ses Rs 39,500 crore equity into
the company. CLSA analysts ha-
ve a sell rating on Idea.
Analysts at Ambit noted that
to achieve the projected synergi-
es, the merged company will
have to weather continued com-
petition pressures from Jio and
Airtel. It said synergies will ta-
ke long to fully kick in, in the fo-
urth year of operation after the
merger. We remain sellers on
Idea given the history of over-op-
timism on synergy benefits,
the report said. Ambit too has a
target price of Rs 90 for the stock.
Religare Capital is cautious,
especially about meeting syner-
gy benefit target. We believe
that weakening revenue market
share (RMS) remains a key ope-
rating risk and estimate an RMS
KKR-Backed Co Steps Up
Healthcare Consolidation
Boby Kurian &
Surojit Gupta TNN
Mumbai/New Delhi: In-
vestor-cum-entrepreneur
Abhay Soi-led Radiant Life
Care, which has donned the
role of a consolidator in the
countrys fragmented he-
althcare services sector, has
submitted an expression of
interest to acquire Sahara
Hospitals valued at around
Rs1,000 crore, people with di-
rect knowledge of the mat-
ter said.
The beleaguered Subra-
ta Roy-controlled Sahara
Group has mandated
Knight Frank to run a sale
process for the flagship
Lucknow hospital, along
with land banks, and per-
mission for expansion, as
they mop up cash from sale
of assets to deposit investor
refunds with Sebi as direc-
ted by the Supreme Court.
We are looking at both tals Enterprises and Baron
outright sale as well part-
nerships, sources close to
Sahara said. The Lucknow
hospital, built on 27 acres,
has 350 operational beds,
which can be scaled up to
550. The hospital is a venture
of Sahara India Medical In-
stitute, a subsidiary of Saha-
ra Prime City. The company
also has a huge land bank for
future expansion, which co-
uld be used for expanding in-
to Bihar, Jharkhand, rest of
UP and adjoining areas. So-
urces said Sahara hospital
has permission to set up
centres in Gorakhpur and
Ranchi. The bidders are un-
likely to match up to Saha-
Sahara Group has is
running a sale process
for the flagship
Lucknow hospital &
allied assets as they
mop up cash from
sale of assets to depo-
sit investor refunds
with Sebi as directed
by the Supreme Court
Radiant, which took
over management control of
iconic hospitals like BL Ka-
pur in Delhi and Balabhai
Nanavati in Mumbai, may
be vying with other potenti-
al bidders like Apollo Hospi-
sperson said the exit from SBI-
Khaleed Hameed of UK
who hails from Lucknow.
Radiant is currently in
discussions to raise at least
Rs 1,000 crore from private
equity giants KKR and
Evertsone Capital to fuel its
acquisition drive. KKR, one
of the biggest global long-
term risk investors, has ex-
tended Rs 550 crore finan-
cing support to Radiant,
which is currently doubling
the bed counts in its two ho-
spitals to over 2,000. Radiant
has been in talks with multi-
ple stand-alone hospitals in
top metros for acquisitions,
as investors who backed
doctor-turned-entreprene-
Mumbai: GE Capital is set to
exit the credit cards joint ven-
ture with SBI, selling its 26%
stake to private equity giant
Carlyle Group for around $300
million, people directly famili-
ar with the matter said. Carlyle
is said to have emerged as the
front-runner pipping the other
shortlisted bidders, Credit Sai-
son of Japan and Warburg Pin-
cus, after GE decided to sell
shares in the two decade-old JV.
The deal with Carlyle is mo-
ving ahead after the SBI increa-
sed its holding to 74% each in SBI
Cards and Payments Services
and GE capital Business Process
management Services the two
entities that run the credit cards
business. Last week, the largest
state-run lender said it was infu-
sing Rs 1,160 crore to buy partial
stakes of GE in the two entities.
The SBI held 60% in cards and
payments and 40% in the busi-
GE CAPITAL
EXITS
ness process management units.
When contacted, GE spoke-
card joint venture entities is in
line with global strategy, with
respect to GE Capital. The pro-
cess is still ongoing and we will
share details when it conclu-
des, the company added. SBI
declined to comment, while
Carlyle could not be reached
for immediate comments.
Carlyle is buying into the two
entities at a time when SBI has
emerged as the second largest
player in the credit card busi-
ness after HDFC Bank. The com-
pany has also moved up to the
number two spot in total card
spend. SBI has a15% market sha-
re of the card business in India,
led by HDFC Bank, which has

Low-profile retailer gets the

loss of Rs 4,200 crore for the com-
bined entity in FY19. This will
largely offset any synergy bene-
fits. It has a Rs 90 target for the
ras valuation expectations,
and are unlikely to be inter-
ested in all the assets, inclu-
ding land banks.
urs try to unwind exposu-
re triggering consolidation
moves. Sahara and Radiant
Life declined to comment.
around 30% share. The top five
banks, which include Citi, ICICI
Bank and Amercian Express, ac-
count for over 75% of credit card

basics of trade right, strikes gold

stock with a hold rating. spend in India.

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: While a majority of
Indian retailers, both brick-
and-mortar and online ones,
struggle to build profitable busi-
nesses, the acutely low-profile
Mumbai-based D-Mart has gi-
ven a new lease of life to the
challenging sector as it debuted
on the capital markets with a
bumper opening on Tuesday.
The supermarket chain,
which has chosen to focus geog-
raphically on specific clusters
of west and south of the count-
ry instead of expanding across
states, has emerged as a model
to emulate.
D-Mart has been focussed
on providing value to their cus-
tomers. They do that by mainta-
ining a tight and relatively
small assortment. They carry
only fast moving SKUs (stock
keeping unit) and avoid long tail
while paying suppliers on time
which helps them get a huge
mindshare among them. Also,
owning properties helps them
in their unit economics and cus-
tomers love them for the value
they offer, said Hari Menon, co-
founder and CEO, BigBasket,
an online grocers.
The other key differentiator
for D-Mart has been its selective
expansion since the time it ope-
ned its first store in Mumbai in
2002. When most big retailers
during middle of 2000 rushed
into big cities, the Radhakishan
WHY D-MARTS MODEL WORKS
Supermarket chain building is owned by business area of 3.59 operating in the food
with a clear focus D-Mart million sq.ft, located & grocery segment
on value-retailing, High operating across 45 cities currently hold around
limited categories & efficiency and lean For Fiscal 2016, 37% market share
concentrated in west & cost structures through Maharashtra of the $14 billion
south India stringent inventory contributed a majority organised market,
Outlets are mostly management of its revenue from down from around
located in suburbs and sales (63%), followed 49% in 2012
Revenue grew at an
non-metros by Gujarat (19%),
annual rate of 40% from The Future Group
Sells in only foods, `2,222 crore in FY12 to Telangana (10%) and holds the largest
Karnataka (6%)
non-foods (FMCG), `8,606 crore in FY16. market share with 13%
general merchandise & Net profit grew at an As of January owning to multiple
apparel categories annual rate of 51.6% 31, 2017, it had 22 brands followed
Operates and from `60 crore in FY12 distribution and six by D-Mart at 10%
manages all stores, to `319 crore packing centres in and Reliance at 8%.
with long-term lease Opened first store in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Together, these three
arrangements, where Mumbai in 2002; as of Telangana and retailers contribute to
lease period is more January 31, 2017, has Karnataka 31% of the overall F&G
than 30 years and the 118 stores with retail Key retailers segment
Damani-owned retail chain to- theyve got the simple princi- investments. Analysts also said
ok a more conservative appro- ples of retailing right, says Ar- it was also a compelling combi-
ach. Also, it stood out for focus- vind Singhal, chairman & MD nation of consumption story
sing on the neighbourhood su- at retail consulting firm Tech- and smart real estate invest-
permarket format unlike its pe- nopak. They work with their ments the firm owns all the
ers like the Future Group and vendors instead of squeezing D-Mart stores across 45 cities.
Reliance Retail which experi- them which keeps their supply A Technopak report said
mented with multiple formats chain efficiencies high. that emerging national retai-
and categories. Shilpa Kumar, MD & CEO lers such as D-Mart, Star Baza-
D-Mart is very distinct of ICICI Securities, which was ar and SRS have also recognized
from other retailers. Anybody part of the listing process, said the importance of staying focu-
who understands retailing wo- foreign and domestic institu- sed and not spreading across ca-
uld know that sticking to the ba- tions flocked to Avenue Super- tegories. They have zeroed in on
sics is what works. Whether its markets that runs a tightly ma- clusters and regions to win mar-
getting the unit economics naged business with good effici- ket share before entering other
right, having a strong supply ency ratio in operations, un- regions due to supply chain
chain and vendor relationship, locking better return on complexities.

Noronha, man who runs Staff hold 7%

in co valued
D-Mart, is worth `900cr at `2,800cr
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Mumbai: The highly suc-
cessful listing of Avenue Su-
permarts, the operators of D-
Mart retail chain, not only
made its promoters one of the
richest in India, but also cata-
pulted some of its top executi-
ves into the millionaires
club. After the companys
stocks more than doubled on
listing and closed at Rs 641 on
BSE, it made Ignatius Navil
Noronha, MD of the company,
worth nearly Rs 900 crore.
Avenue Supermarts IPO
prospectus showed that 42-ye-
ar-old Noronha held 1.37 crore
shares of the company. At the
current price, he is worth Rs
878 crore. As was reported re-
cently, Noronha is now worth
more than the combined va-
Noronha is now worth more than
the combined value of the shares
that Sanjiv Mehta, MD, HUL, Y C
Deveshwar, chairman, ITC, &
Vivek Gambhir, MD, Godrej Con-
sumer Products, hold in their cos
lue of the shares that Sanjiv see Monjee Institute of Manage-
Mehta, MD, HUL, Y C Devesh- ment Studies. During his eight-
war, chairman, ITC, and Vi- year stint in HUL, Noronha had
vek Gambhir, MD, Godrej worked in the field of market re-
Consumer Products, hold in search, sales and modern trade.
their companies. In his position in HUL, Noron-
Noronha was in his late 20s ha used to closely interact with
when Radhakishan Damani, Damani and thats when he
the main promoter of Avenue was spotted to run an expan-
Supermarts, picked him from ding retail chain. After more
HUL. He is a science graduate than a decade with the compa-
from SIES College of Arts, Sci- ny, Noronha is being rewarded
ence and Commerce in the city, for the risk he took when he qu-
and holds a post-graduation in it a multinational giant to work
management degree from Nar- for a home-grown retail chain.
Mumbai: Radhakisan Damani,
the promoter of Avenues Super-
marts that runs D-Mart retail sto-
res, on Tuesday made several of his
employees rupee millionaires after
the company listed at Rs 604 and clo-
sed the session at 641, up more than
114% on its IPO price. D-Marts emp-
loyees together hold about 7% of
the company, currently worth abo-
ut Rs 2,800 crore.
Among its employees, Ignatius
Navil Noronha, the companys MD,
is worth nearly Rs 900 crore, while
Ramakant Baheti, its chief financi-
al officer, is worth over Rs 200 crore
from the 31.75 lakh shares that he
holds in the company, the compa-
nys IPO prospectus showed. The
43-year-old Baheti, a commerce
graduate from Maharishi Daya-
nand Sarswati University, Ajmer,
and a chartered accountant, has 19
years of experience in finance.
22
Now, Harindra
sole incharge
after brother
leaves Percept
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Mumbai: Percept, a media, en-
tertainment and live events
company, will see a manage-
ment rejig as Harindra Singh
takes full control of
the Mumbai-based
group post a fami-
ly settlement with
his brother Shai-
lendra Singh (be-
low). Both the
brothers were till
now joint mana-
ging directors of
the firm, famous
for organizing events like the
Sunburn music festival.
In a statement on Tuesday,
Harindra said: .....with the assi-
stance of family elders and
members, Shailendra and I have
executed a family settlement
and arrangement in relation to
the business of the Percept Gro-
up companies and its properties.
While Shailendra will continue
as a passive shareholder in Per-
cept, he will not be involved in
the management of the Percept
group and I will hereafter exclu-
sively manage the operations.
Gionee to make
India mfg base
for Africa, Saarc
Pankaj.Doval@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: Chinese phone
maker Gionee plans to shift
manufacturing for the African
and Saarc regions to India as the
company plans to expand oper-
ations here.
Gionee, which has around
6% share of the Indian smart-
phone market, is finalising a
proposal for setting up a factory
in Haryana, on the outskirts of
Delhi, and this would act as the
main sourcing base for its re-
quirements in India as well as
exports. At present, Gionee pro-
cures devices from two contract
manufacturers Dixon and
Foxconn for Indian market.
We are working rapidly on the
Haryana factory plan and ex-
pect to complete the formalities
in this regard very soon. Actual
production is expected to begin
over the next two years, Arvind
R Vohra, country CEO & MD of
Gionee India told TOI here.
ITA hits road, FB to
woo traders, youth
Sovon.Manna
@timesgroup.com
Kolkata: In order to woo yo-
uth and traders across the co-
untry, top producers body In-
dian Tea Association (ITA)
has embarked on a two-phase
roadshow this month. Chan-
ting the catch em young
mantra, the association has al-
so taken the social media rou-
te to promote the morning
cuppa. An ITA brass is now
hitting the roads of Indore,
Bhopal in MP and Nagpur in
Maharashtra as part of its se-
cond phase from March 20-23,
which is proving to be a good
people connect.
The association in its B2C
and B2Y campaigns experi-
mented with serving different
flavours of tea among youngs-
ters and has found that over
80% of the youth liked iced tea
in malls and educational insti-
tutions. ITA is now gearing up
for a social media blitzkrieg to
reach out to the GenY.
On the youth focus, ITA
chairman Azam Monem told
TOI: Indias per capita tea cers are meeting first-time
consumption is around 365
cups a year, which is pretty po-
or compared to the other tea-
drinking nations. If we have to
better this figure, we have to
make our young generation
drink tea, which is cheaper
and healthier than all other re-
gular beverages available. To-
day, the youngsters which
constitute around 40% of po-
pulation are not drinking tea.
In the past, ITA had organi-
zed B2B (business to busi-
E-tailers ignore RBI norm on sellers
Digbijay.Mishra
@timesgroup.com
Bengaluru: Leading e-tailers
like Flipkart, Amazon and
Snapdeal are not complying
with the RBI notification of
March 9 which directed them
to provide details of sellers on
their respective platforms.
The guidelines come at a
time when online seller asso-
ciations have been asking for
a redressal system where e-
commerce vendors can put
forward their concerns. Go-
ods and services made avai-
In its B2C and B2Y
campaigns, ITA
experimented with
different formats of tea
among youngsters and
has found that over 80%
of the youth liked iced
tea. The producers body
is now gearing up for a
social media blitzkrieg to
reach out to the GenY
ness), B2C (business to custo-
mers) and B2Y (business to yo-
uth) roadshows. The first pha-
se, it has covered Jaipur,
Udaipur, Ahmedabad and Ba-
roda over March 6-9. The B2B
roadshow would entail buyer/
seller interactions. The produ-
inform ITA and Tea Board of
drinkers, buyers and articula-
ted the problems and pro-
spects of the tea industry.
ITA secretary Sujit Patra
who is travelling with the ro-
adshow team said, Produ-
cers are facing problems
owing to huge cost, of which
70% is fixed cost. Competition
from other beverages is there.
We could address some of the-
se issues through improve-
ment in prices and better tra-
de sentiment. A presentation
lable for sale electronically on
websites should clearly provi-
de name, address and other
contact details of the seller,
said the notification under fo-
reign exchange management
(transfer or Issue of Security
by a person resident outside
India) regulations, 2017. As of
now, none of the above men-
tioned details of sellers is ma-
de available on either of the
prominent online marketpla-
ces. E-commerce sites usually,
mention the name of the sel-
lers on a product page but furt-
her details are not provided.
TIMES BUSINESS
has been showcased on in-
dustry issues covering scena-
rio on crop, price, cost and sus-
tainability.
For the last two years, qua-
lity tea is not getting support of
traders and producers are fet-
ching lower price. There is a
need to protect the quality seg-
ment through engagement
with the buyers and trade.
ITAs B2B programme is seen
as one of the platforms for
such communication.
During interactions, tra-
ders have raised issues like lo-
wer quality packaging, misu-
se of various grades, shorter
shelf life, presence of iron fi-
lings, poor quality of end-sea-
son tea particularly from bo-
ught leaf factories (BLFs).
Some producers are selling
secondary teas as primary te-
as. They also stated that efforts
should be done to boost con-
sumption of tea in the domes-
tic market, complained a tea
trader based in Baroda.
ITA has assured them that
the problem wont recur. Bu-
yers also have been advised to
India with the name of those
suppliers so that corrective
measures could be taken. ITA
will also advise gardens to
strictly follow guidelines in re-
gard to grading. We have ta-
ken up the matter with the
Centre and Fssai, said Patra.
On boosting domestic con-
sumption ITA told that India it
is a vast market of around1000
million kg and many countri-
es are trying to enter into the
market.
In case of product ex-
change or returns, consumers
usually have to get in touch
with etailers who notify the
sellers. Flipkart, Amazon and
Snapdeal did not comment on
the issue. Reacting to the RBI
notification, the online seller
community, All India Online
Vendors Association (AIO-
VA), has written to the central
bank complaining about this
violation by e-commerce play-
ers. TOIreviewed a copy of the
letter sent to the RBI. AIOVA
has been raising concerns
over alleged malpractices.
Voda-Idea
deal to test
post-FIPB
mechanism
Sidhartha@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: The Vodafone-
Idea merger could be one of
the first few cases that would
test the robustness of the pro-
posed mechanism that would
replace the quarter-century-
old Foreign Investment Pro-
motion Board (FIPB), the in-
ter-ministerial agency to cle-
ar FDI proposals.
The two entities, which are
merging to create the count-
rys largest telecom company,
are expected to move FIPB,
along with the Competition
Commission and other regu-
latory bodies, for permission
as the entity will have signifi-
cant level of foreign invest-
ment. It will come around the
time when the government
will dismantle FIPB, headed
by economic affairs secretary,
and move to a new system
where individual ministries
or regulators such as the Re-
serve Bank of India (RBI) and
Sebi would be empowered to
clear investment proposals
and will be tasked with coordi-
want to sell, Venkatesh
NEW REGIME
nating with agencies such as
the home ministry for securi-
ty clearances.
Sources said that the fi-
nance ministry proposal enta-
ils that the proposals pending
with FIPB would be moved to
the ministries or the regula-
tors once the inter-ministeri-
al body is dismantaled. So, the
onus of clearing the proposal
would shift from the finance
ministry-driven body to the
telecom department (DoT).
The big worry is that once
FIPB is dismantled, agencies
such as DoT could find it to-
ugh to get the home ministry
to quickly decide on security
clearances, which is always a
sensitive issue.
We are not stipulating a
timeframe and there will be
no mechanism for a deemed
approval since security clea-
rances cannot have a fixed ti-
meframe. But the endeavour
will be to clear the proposals
quickly, said an officer, who
did not wish to be identified.
Vodafone and Idea are ex-
pecting the merger process to
be complete in around 18
months.
Coca-Cola India
to focus less on
John.Sarkar
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi:Coca-Cola India
is getting ready for a shift in
strategy keeping in line
with its global initiatives.
The company that sells a be-
vy of sugary carbonated be-
verages here, inclu-
ding Thums Up, Co-
ke, Limca and Sprite,
has embarked on an
exercise to align itself
to changing consu-
mer preferences.
At present, aro-
und 65% of Coca-Cola Indi-
as sales come from fizzy
drinks, while the rest comes
from still beverages such as
Maaza, Minute Maid and
others. But the company
that was once obsessed with
pushing colas, has decided
to widen its portfolio of low-
sugar drinks, since consu-
mers are opting for healthi-
er beverages.
We are going to be a con-
sumer-centric beverage
company. We will satisfy a
consumers beverage needs,
based on his or her preferen-
ce and not based on what we
nomenon, where many
Kini, president of Coca-Co-
la India and South West
Asia, told TOI. Ten years
from now if product A is my
KYC on PPI to make
biz expensive: Paytm
Mayur.Shetty
@timesgroup.com
Mumbai: The countrys
largest digital wallet com-
pany Paytm has said that
RBIs draft norms requi-
ring full KYC on pre-paid
instruments (PPIs) will
make it more expensive to
do business. However, the
higher limits of Rs 1 lakh
and proposals on interope-
rability is seen as recogni-
tion of wallets as a viable
business.
The proposed norms
do make the pre-paid busi-
ness more expensive for
stand-alone players, as
KYC is now brought in par
with that for bank acco-
unts. But it also shows that
RBI recognises pre-paid in-
largest selling product, I am
fine as long as that is what
consumers want. We will go
with the consumer. This
signals a big milestone for
the Atlanta-based beverage
company that has been pre-
sent in India since 1993, de-
pending on its best-selling
products such as
Thums Up and Spri-
te (both market lea-
ders in their catego-
ries). However, busi-
ness for the Rs 14,000
crore soft-drink cate-
gory has been rocky
lately.
Last two or three years
have seen a number of
things that are unusual and
unique, said Kini. Rural
demand declined on bad
monsoons; excise taxes ha-
ve gone up by 80%; in some
states VAT has gone up by
50-100%. So, that caused us
to increase prices. Demone-
tisation is the latest factor.
In addition, competition
from smaller regional play-
ers has knocked the fizz out
of established players.
We are witnessing an
unpackaged-packaged phe-
form provider. The claim of
drinks that were earlier ma-
de at home are now availab-
le in packaged format, said
Kini.
struments as a stable, long-
term business that is sca-
lable, said Vijay Shekhar
Sharma, founder Paytm
The draft norms, anno-
unced by RBI late on Tues-
day, allow for PPIs to accu-
mulate a balance up to Rs 1
lakh, bringing them almost
PREPAID WOE
on par with payment
banks, but Sharma says
that banks still have an ed-
ge. Payment banks can is-
sue debit cards, cheque bo-
oks and provide wealth ma-
nagement services, which
cannot be done by pre-paid
issuers. Also you cannot of-
fer interest on deposits nor
can proceeds of any invest-
ment be credited to a wallet
account, he said.
* THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
Airtel hits at
Jio on fastest
network
campaign
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi:Bharti Airtel on Tu-
esday hit back at Reliance Jio
over its allegations towards the
companys fastest network
campaign, and accused the telco
of engaging in a campaign of
misinformation to malign its
brand. We are rather amused
by the allegations being made
against our campaign. We belie-
ve this is a deliberate attempt to
misguide customers through a
campaign of misinformation,
which is something we now co-
me across on a regular basis, sa-
id Rajiv Mathrani, chief brand
officer for Bharti Airtel.
The retort from the company
comes a day after Reliance Jio ac-
cused Airtel of running a false
and misleading campaign whe-
re the latter claimed to have the
fastest mobile internet speed in
the country. Jio alleged that Air-
tels campaign, based on the fin-
dings by Ookla which runs the
website speedtest.net, is incor-
rect for which it has sent a legal
notice to the speed-testing plat-
Airtel that it is Indias fastest net-
work is false, misleading and in-
correct. This claim is being ma-
de by Airtel, acting in a mala fide
manner in collusion with Oo-
kla, the company said in a
complaint filed with the Adverti-
sing Standards Council of India
(ASCI). Ookla also defended its
findings, and said its report was
based on various parameters.
Indians willing
to pay more for
better service
New Delhi: Investing in custo-
mer service makes more busi-
ness sense in India than percei-
ving it as a cost. Eight out of 10
Indians said they are willing to
spend an average of 21% more
for better service, according to a
recent survey.
Furthermore, 84% Indian
consumers said the quality of
customer service is very impor-
tant when theyre deciding to be-
come or remain a customer, re-
vealed the findings of the Ame-
rican Express 2017 Global custo-
mer Service Barometer. TNN

LOEW WILL HAND PODOLSKI THE CAPTAINS ARMBAND LEICESTER STRIKER VARDY CLAIMS HE GOT DEATH
IN THE LATTERS FAREWELL MATCH VS ENGLAND | 25 THREATS AFTER CLUB FIRED COACH RANIERI | 25
GALLERY
AFP
Tiger Woods at the launch of his new book The
1997 Masters: My Story in New York on Monday
Tiger a hit with fans at
New York book signing
Some 250 fans and autograph hounds lined up
outside a Manhattan book store on Monday, some
who had camped overnight, to attend a book
signing by Tiger Woods for The 1997 Masters: My
Story, about his first major title. A Barnes and
Noble spokesman said they had enough interest
to accommodate a thousand people, but had to
limit the crowd based on Woods availability.
IOA not to bid for 2022 CWG: India will not bid
for the 2022 Commonwealth Games since its too
late to make a proposal when so many nations are
already in the contention, Indian Olympic Associ-
ation (IOA) president N Ramachandran clarified
on Tuesday. There are too many people in the
fray. Durban has not yet officially pulled out even
though they are saying but Commonwealth
Games Committee is still in discussion with South
Africa, Ramachandran said. UK has come forth
saying that they want to do it in London, Man-
chester and Birmingham. So for the IOA to make a
proposal at this late stage is not advisable.
Makhija bags second gold: Young Aryan
Makhija claimed his third medal at the South
African Junior Nationals, winning the 1500m
freestyle event for boys at the Kings Park Swim-
ming Pool, in Durban on Monday. Makhijas time
of 16:05.64 was better than the qualification
standard set by the Swimming Federation of India
(SFI) for the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, to
be held in Bahamas, in July. Makhija, 17, repre-
sented the University of Pretoria at the meet. He
had earlier claimed a silver in the 200m freestyle
and a gold in the 400m freestyle.
Poor show by Indian trio at ShotGun WC:
Indian trio of Zoravar Singh Sandhu, Kynan Chenai
and Birendeep Sodhi could not make it through to
the six-man final round and bowed out in qual-
ification stage of International Shooting Sport
Federation (ISSF) World Cup Shotgun. Zoravar
came closest, shooting a score of 121 out of 125 to
finish 8th. Olympian Kynan Chenai shot 120 to
finish 16th while Birendeep Sodhi finished with a
score of 112 securing a miserable 53rd position.
Yorkshire skipper Ballance extends con-
tract: England batsman Gary
Ballance committed himself to
Yorkshire for a further two years
on Tuesday. The 27-year-old
Zimbabwe-born naturalised
Englishman who has ap-
peared in 21 Tests scoring four
centuries had a year remaining on his present
contract and said the new deal would allow him to
focus solely on the game.
ECB tell England players to be brave:
Englands new Test captain Joe Root and his
One-day counterpart Eoin Morgan must provide
crowd pleasing cricket and bear a sunny disposi-
tion so as to attract new players to the game, the
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on
Monday. Tom Harrison, chief executive of the ECB,
said the England cricketers and their director of
cricket former England skipper Andrew Strauss
knew what was expected of them.
IOC welcomes Tokyo 2020 golf venue
U-turn on women members: International
Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president John
Coates has welcomed the decision of the club
which will host the golf tournaments at the 2020
Tokyo Olympics to admit women as full members.
The private Kasumigaseki Country Club took the
decision to change its bylaws at an extraordinary
board meeting on Monday after being told last
month that the IOC would find another venue if
the policy remained unaltered.
Monfils in rehab for Achilles heel: World
number 11 Gael Monfils
announced that he was to go
into rehabilitation for injuries to
his patella and Achilles heel.
The exams that I did today
have revealed a chondropathy
of my left patella and a tear in
my left Achilles heel, Monfils said. I will start a
rehabilitation programme and will do all it takes
to recover as soon as possible.
Benay into pre-quarters: Bengals No.1ranked
snooker player Benay Agarwal staved off a strong
challenge from Kingshuk Saha before prevailing
3-2 in their Round of 32 match in the state ranking
meet being played at the Muslim Institute.
Other results: Mudit Poddar bt Ayush Namchu 3-1, S Jag-
tiani bt Dhruv Agarwal 3-0, Vikrant Gupta bt W T Bhutia
3-1; Rohit Malhotra bt Jay Shaw 3-0, Neeraj Khemka bt
Sayeed Ali 3-1; Aamer Hussain bt Jyotirmoy Das 3-0.
MSC colts in final: Mohammedan Sporting Club
under-19 team beat City College of Commerce and
BA 2-1 in the first semifinal of the Ganga Football
Utsav on Tuesday. They will play the final against
the winners of Wednesdays second semifinal
between Kalyan Club of Palta and ABP Enterprise,
Duttapukur.
ACTION TODAY
INTERNATIONAL
BASKETBALL: NBA Dallas vs Golden State, 6 am;
Lakers vs Clippers, 8.30 am (Live on Sony Six)
FOOTBALL: International Friendly Germany vs
England, 1 am Thursday (Live on Sony Six)
GOLF: PGA Tour: WGC Dell Match Play, 11.30 pm (Live
on Neo Sports)
TENNIS: ATP Tour Miami Masters, 8.30 pm (Live
on Sony ESPN)
TIMES SPORT
India camp accuses Oz of foul play
Match Official
Broke Protocol,
Oz Team Manager
Leaking Stories
K.ShriniwasRao@timesgroup.com
Mumbai: Even as the Indian team
is fighting Australia in what has
been a tightly-contested Test series
so far, the host camp has accused
the visitors of breaking protocol,
and leaking stories in the media
during the second and third match-
es in Bengaluru and Ranchi
The India camp has accused
Australian team manager Gavin
Dovey and media manager Kate
Hutchison of facilitating a meet-
FIERY PITCH FOR COOL
DHARAMSHALA?
HPCA Curator Says
Track Will Remain
Fast And Bouncy
JaspreetSingh.Sahni
@timesgroup.com
Chandigarh: Barely four days
before the India-Australia series
decider, grass blades were still
there on the Himachal Pradesh
Cricket Association (HPCA) Sta-
dium track in Dharamshala as per
reports. What may worry Indian
captain Virat Kohli at this junc-
ture would be the nature of the
wicket, which the pitch curator
says will be fast and bouncy.
Although Sunil Chauhan, the
man in charge of the 22-yard strip
at the HPCA Stadium (which is
making its debut as a Test centre),
wasnt willing to divulge much, he
was upfront about the expected
behaviour of the wicket. The four-
match series is currently tied 1-1.
It will behave as it has done
naturally here. It will stay fast and
bouncy, Chauhan told TOI over the
phone. Our pitch is one of the most
difficult ones for the batsmen (when
facing fast bowlers) in Ranji Trophy,
and its nature wont be altered, he gone by. Bengal speedster Ashok
added, which should cheer up the
Aussies further, after they fought out
of their skin to draw the third Test
in Ranchi and keet the series alive.
However, pitches in India have
often changed character by the
time the D-Day arrives. So, it will
be interesting to see what is of-
fered to the teams on March 24.
By classifying the strip as dif-
ficult, Chauhan was probably
trying to point at what happened
in three Ranji Trophy matches
Pujara jumps to career-best No. 2 spot
Dubai: Indian players continued
to rule the International Cricket
Councils (ICC) Test rankings as
Ranchi double-centurion Chetesh-
war Pujara gained four spots to a
career-best No.2 spot while his
teammate Ravindra Jadeja con-
solidated his stay on top of the
bowlers list after pushing fellow
tweaker Ravichandran Ashwin to
the No.2 spot.
Jadeja, who grabbed nine Aus-
tralian wickets in the drawn third
Test, gained seven points after start-
ing joint-first with Ashwin at 892
points. The left-arm spinner has
become only the third Indian player
after Ashwin and Bishan Bedi to top
the bowling charts on his own.
Jadeja, who grabbed five for 124
and four for 52 in Ranchi, has also
closed in on a major landmark as his
tally of 899 rating points puts him on
the brink of becoming only the sec-
ond India bowler after Ashwin to
touch the 900-point mark. Ashwin,
who had a highest rating of 904
points, has slipped 37 points behind
Jadeja to 862 points after finishing
with only two wickets in Ranchi.
India pacer Umesh Yadav also
Oz women cricketers set for windfall Manoj, Dinda make the cut
Sydney: Cricket Australia offered to
more than double elite women play-
ers pay and also promised an increa-
se for the men in a bid to end an im-
passe over money on Tuesday.
The body said the package meant
women had the opportunity to pur-
sue a fully professional career at both
international and domestic levels,
while men would continue to be
among the countrys best paid sport
stars. CA chief James Sutherland sa-
id the proposed five-year Memoran-
dum of Understanding, put forward
as negotiations continue before the
current deal expires at the end of Ju-
ne, had gender equity at its heart.
But the Australian Cricketers As-
sociation (ACA), the players union,
said the offer needed closer scrutiny.
We are pleased that the Australian
Cricketers Association agrees with
us that women, for the first time, sho-
uld be part of the MOU, and we have
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
ing between an Australian jour-
nalist and match referee for the
Bengaluru Test, Chris Broad, soon
after Virat Kohli questioned Steve
Smith for seeking the help of the
dressing room over a DRS call.
The BCCI is all set to take up this
matter with the relevant authori-
ties. At the end of the Bengaluru
Test, Dovey went to meet Broad and
he (Broad) assured him that there
would be no action taken against
Steve Smith, a member in the In-
dian team camp told TOI on Tues-
day. Broad assured the Australian
team manager that this entire inci-
dent would not be reported by field
umpire Nigel Llong.
Llong had taken objection to
Smith looking at the dressing
room after his dismissal during
the Bengaluru Test, following
HILLS ARE CALLING: Groundsmen preparing
the track at the HPCA stadium in Dharamshala
held at the venue in the season
and 114. The highest total, though,
Dindas match haul of 10 wickets
leads the list of those examples. In
the low-scoring match between
Bengal and Railways, where the
highest team total was 271, Dindas
5/45 and 5/67 scripted Bengals 43-
run win.
Ishwar Pandey, the Madhya
Pradesh medium-pacer, was the
next to take advantage of the juice
in Dharamshala wicket. He had a
match haul of 7/48 in the game MP
won by 232 runs against Baroda,
TEST TEAM RANKINGS
Team M Pts Rating
1 Ind 36 4,338 121
2 Aus 44 4,797 109
3 SA 33 3,528 107
4 Eng 50 5,071 101
5 NZ 41 4,011 98
gained three places to find himself
at a career-high No.26.
Meanwhile, in the Test rankings
for batsmen, Australias top-ranked
Steve Smith reached a career-high
rating of 941 points after scores of
178 not out and 21 in the Ranchi
Test. The Kangaroo skippers tally
is the joint-fifth highest ever along
with Peter May. Only Don Bradman
(961), Len Hutton (945), Jack Hobbs
and Ricky Ponting (942) have
achieved higher rating points.
Among the Indians, while Pu-
jara replaced New Zealand captain
Kane Williamson to take the sec-
ond spot, the other Ranchi centu-
rion Wriddhiman Saha vaulted 14
points to No.51.
Meanwhile, the race for the sec-
MONEY MATTERS
CURRENT PAY: Aus $79,000
REVISED PAY: Aus $179,000*
*As of July 1, 2017
EXPECTED PAY BY 2021: Aus
$210,000
- Total potential remuneration
for all players would go up from
Aus$311million to Aus$419m
over the next five-year period, an
increase of 35 percent.
proposed a financial model that has
gender equity at its heart, Suther-
land said. Under the proposal, wo-
men will receive an immediate av-
erage pay increase of more than 125
percent. This would see internatio-
nal women cricketers pay jump
from Aus$79,000 (US$60,885) to
Aus$179,000 as of July 1 this year,
which Kohli had lashed out at the
Aussie camp for using tactics that
were not in the spirit of the game.
Dovey then introduced an Aus-
tralian journalist to Broad and asked
the latter to give him bytes on wheth-
er the dressing room review was
reported or would be reported. The
journalist tweeted the following on
March 17, 2017, at 4.14 pm: Match
officials say only time they are aware
of Australians looking up to dress-
ing room for guidance was Smith
incident today. tralian journalists. For instance, in
With Kohli accusing Australia Ranchi, when Australian players
of looking at the dressing room were sledging Virat by using physio
more than once, what has left the
India camp surprised is that the
match official spoke with the said
journalist. Broad has broken the
ICC protocol here and nobody is
looking into it, a Team India con-
bowling out the opposition for 164
time, Chauhan said he and his staff
still didnt cross 300. The only are going about pitch preparation as
Ranji game where batsmen enjoyed
the upper hand was the first of the
season in Dharamshala, when help
off the pitch and in the air was the
least for pacers. But still, Tamil Nadu
pacer T Natarajan (4/83) and Uttar
Pradesh seamer Ankit Rajpoot
(4/120) left an impression in the
drawn match, in which Samarth
Singh and Abhinav Mukund scored
187 and 154.
Unperturbed by the pressure of
PTI
of $1 million. Australia will finish
MAN OF THE MOMENT: Cheteshwar
Pujara arrives in Dharamshala with
wife Puja on Tuesday evening
with an expectation that it will rise to
Aus$210,000 by 2021.
CA said total potential remunera-
tion for all players, including guaran-
teed and performance elements, wo-
uld go up from Aus$311 million over
the course of the current MOU (2012-
17) to Aus$419m over the next five-ye-
ar period, an increase of 35 percent.
Men who represent Australia at in-
ternational level would see their av-
erage yearly retainer rise to
Aus$816,000 by 2021/22.
With match fees and performan-
ce bonuses, the expected average in-
come for these players -- including
Big Bash League Twenty20 pay-
ments -- would soar 25 percent to
Aus$1.45m by 2021/2022, said Suther-
land. We have placed the emphasis
on increasing the guaranteed amo-
unt that the men will receive, rather
than rely on any projected increase
in revenue, he added. AFP
tingent member said.
Further, the Indian cricketers
have been left aghast at the syn-
chronised effort on part of Aus-
tralian team and media managers
to share dressing room conversa-
tions with the Australian journal-
ists from session to session.
At the end of every session, the
Australian media manager goes to
the dressing room where she is
briefed by the team manager. She
then goes and plants it with the Aus-
Patrick Farhats name, even the
stump mic didnt catch it nor Virat
spoke about it. However, at the end
of the days play, the Australian
journalists started asking Virat
about the incident, the source said.
Anindiya Chattopadhyay
HPCA hosting a Test for the first
they do for a first-class match. Our
preparation is the same and efforts
are focused at providing a track that
a five-day game needs, with some-
thing in it for everyone, he said.
The HPCA Stadium has hosted
three ODIs and eight T20Is till
now; but the grounds debut in the
longest format, considering the
state of the series, could decide
how long it will have to wait to
host another Test.
TEST BATSMEN RANKING
Player Rating
1 S Smith 941
2 C Pujara 861
3 J Root 848
4 V Kohli 826
5 K Williamson 823
TEST BOWLERS RANKING
Player Rating
1 R Jadeja 899
2 R Ashwin 862
3 R Herath 854
4 J Hazlewood 842
5 J Anderson 810
ond spot in the ICC Test Team
Rankings has become interesting
as Australia and South Africa com-
pete ahead of the cut-off date of
April 1, on which India is assured
of finishing first and a cash award
second and get a cash award of
$500,000 with at least a draw in the
fourth Test in Dharamsala. IANS
New Delhi: Bengal skipper
Manoj Tiwary and pacer As-
hok Dinda found berths in the
India Blue and Red squads
for the upcoming Deodhar
Tophy which will also feature
Vijay Hazare Trophy win-
ners Tamil Nadu.
DEODHAR
TROPHY
The tournament will be
held in Vishakapatnam from
March 25-29.
Rohit Sharma and Part-
hiv Patel will lead the Blue
and Red sides with senior off-
spinner Harbhajan Singh co-
ming back in contention after
good performances in the Vi-
jay Hazare Trophy.
Veterans Mahendra
Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj
OZ MEDIA TERMS VIRAT KOHLI AS
DONALD TRUMP OF WORLD SPORT
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi: Indian captain
Virat Kohli has found himself
again in the middle of a
controversy after Australian
media compared him to US
President Donald Trump.
Virat Kohli has become
the Donald Trump of world
sport. Just like President
Trump, Kohli decided to blame
the media as a means of
trying to hide the egg smeared
right across his face, Oz
newspaper The Daily
Telegraph reported. The
Australian daily also alleged
that Kohli launched a
scandalous attack on skipper
Steve Smith and the
Australian team where he
accused of them being
Jadeja has more
variety, skills now
ALL-ROUND
VIEW
RAVI SHASTRI
I
ndia were very good in
Ranchi, never mind the
draw in the end. The hosts
crept up on the visitors
from a deep hole and by
close had sent some serious
shivers down the oppositions
back. A blockbuster awaits us
in the finale next week.
Australia would be hurt that
two centuries and 450 runs
amounted to nothing. That four
early wickets, including Kohis,
could still not pin India down.
That two of their star spinners
were made to wait for long pe-
riods of time. That Indian bat-
ters kept them in the field for a
good part of three days.
Indias turnaround came
from two of teams least vocal
members Pujara and Saha.
Theres nothing flashy about
them. Both are old-fashioned
in approach, which translates
Cheteshwar is now
our batting mainstay
JIMMYS
TAKE
MOHINDER
AMARNATH
T
he Ranchi Test was
a welcome break
for batsmen from
both teams, who
had had a really
rough time in Pune and Ben-
galuru. Going into the final
day, India would have fancied
their chances but the young
batsmen of Australia put up a
magnificent resistance that
ensured a draw. The Indian
bowlers might have missed
another spinner on that track,
especially since India does not
have a Virender Sehwag or a
Sachin Tendulkar who could
occasionally roll the arm over.
India were on course even
at lunch on the fifth day, espe-
cially since Steve Smith was
yudu, Manish Pandey all sta-
Manoj Tiwary (left) & Ashok Dinda
Singh have been rested while
Suresh Rainas non-inclu-
sion among 28 players raised
doubts about his future in the
50-over format.
The three wicketkeepers
to be seen in action in the me-
et will be Parthiv for the Red
team, Rishabh Pant for the
Blue team and Dinesh Kart-
hik for Tamil Nadu. Young Is-
han Kishan is out with calf
muscle injury.
The tournament which
will be the last 50-over compe-
systematic cheats, but refused
to apologise or provide any
concrete evidence. The Aussie
media also held Kohli
accountable for continual
perpetuation of fake news.
Earlier on Monday, Kohli
claimed that Australian
players tried to disrespect the
home side physio Patrick
Farhart. They (four-five of
them) started taking Patricks
name. I dont know why. Hes
our physio. His job is to treat
me. I dont find the reason
behind it. I could not
understand. You must ask
why they have started taking
his name, said Kohli at post
match press conference.
Kohli suffered an injury on
his right shoulder on Day 1 of
the third Test.
to strokes in front of the
stumps and defending wickets
with their lives. India could
have been under the pump but
for these two gentlemen.
Pujara at crease is worth a
battalion. You simply cant
break his cordon of defence.
No sleight of hand, gunfire or
attrition could deconstruct
him. Saha is lean, gaunt and
similarly bloody-minded.
They are good men to be man-
ning a crumbling gate.
Ravindra Jadeja too has
raked up many miles to his stat-
ure. He is now a match-winner
with the ball. There is more va-
riety and nuances to his skills,
without any loss to his accuracy.
He hurt Australia likewise with
the bat on the fourth evening.
The intense battle of the
last three Tests, with no less
the drama of DRS, has frayed
the nerves of two insanely
competitive teams. Nothing is
being held back. We have been
witness to a theatre, all good,
bad and ugly. TCM
out. While we might criticise
our spinners for not being able
to unseat Shaun Marsh and Pe-
ter Handscomb, one must cred-
it the duo for batting really well
under pressure.
Coming to India, once again
Cheteshwar Pujara provided a
master class in Test match bat-
ting. He has incredible balance
and gets beside the ball when
he is batting. His focus and
calm against an upbeat bowl-
ing attack, particularly when
Virat Kohli was dismissed, was
truly commendable. Pujara
has really flowered as the
mainstay of this batting line-
up and he has been remarkably
assured in these last two in-
nings. I hope he continues the
good form into the final Test.
A special word is due for
Wriddhiman Saha as well
since he came in at a very
critical juncture. Its a huge
plus for the side. GAMEPLAN
tition before Champions
Trophy also features likes of
Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Ra-
king claim for a couple of bat-
ting slots that are up for
grabs. PTI
SQUADS
India Blue: Rohit Sharma (Capt),
Mandeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Am-
bati Rayudu, Manoj Tiwary, Ris-
habh Pant (wk), Deepak Hooda,
Harbhajan Singh, Krunal Pandya,
Shahbaz Nadeem, Siddarth Kaul,
Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna,
Pankaj Rao
India Red: Parthiv Patel (Capt &
wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pan-
dey, Mayank Agarwal, Kedar Jad-
hav, Ishank Jaggi, Gurkeerat
Mann, Axar Patel, Akshay Karne-
war, Ashok Dinda, Kulwant Khej-
roliya, Dhawal Kulkarni, Govinda
Poddar.
24
TETE-A-TETE
Romanian gymnastics great Nadia
Comaneci showed the same poise as TOI
Guest Sports Editor on Monday as she had
displayed during her routine on the uneven
bars in the 1976 Montreal Games to score a
perfect 10. She took time out from her role
as mentor of the second edition of TOISA to
have an hour-long interaction with TOI
Sports. The 55-year old spoke on a variety of
subjects including pushy parents and
importance of kids playing sport. She began
the meeting with a sarcastic Oh, only guys
here remark after seeing no women in the
board room. She also put the sports team in
a spin saying, If I am an editor today, youll
do the cartwheel and handstand. Excerpts.
Team TOI
Do you feel grace and beauty in gymnastics is missing
today? Has grace been sacrificed for increasing de-
grees of difficulty to get more points?
I like a combination of grace and difficulty. It is
really hard to find someone who has both. I think
the Code of Points requires you to display a combina-
tion of difficulty and power. The more difficulty you
have, the higher the score. If you are talking about
Dipa (Karmakar), she is a strong person and that is
why she has attempted something that not too many
gymnasts have done before. I dont know if I would
have dared to do that kind of vault. But that is what
you need to do now to be different to everybody else.
The Code of Points are usually adjusted in time. Of
course, if there is too much acrobatics, you lose out
on beauty. After all, its called artistic gymnastics.
How do you see gymnastics evolving?
I dont know. Maybe on the equipment side. We
must keep the sport exciting for fans. There are a lot
of other sports there that have done it and I dont
want us to miss this. The fans need to be explained
why a certain athlete has got a lesser score despite
he or she having the perfect landing. A lot of them
dont understand the little tricks that are compli-
cated. Now, with the marks out of 10, it can be a little
confusing. Because there is a number and the fan
doesnt understand what the numbers mean. Nobody
understands what is the perfect score that one is
supposed to get. We are still trying to find a way. I got
a perfect 10. But now, there is a denom after that. It
makes me think sometimes. When you think of per-
fect 10, you think of gymnastics. So I am trying to
think what would be a good way to bring that back.
What according to you describes a perfect 10?
A perfect 10 for a gymnast is when he or she does
a difficult routine almost perfectly. That is practi-
cally very difficult to attempt. There is a male gym-
nast from Japan, Koahei Uchimura, I think he does
the most beautiful gymnastics. He does everything
perfect. Even he does not get a high score in execu-
tion. Even he gets a nine.
Would it be right to say there arent many followers
of traditional gymnastics?
I DIDNT WANT
A NORMAL LIFE
There are followers. Every four years, at the
Olympics, gymnastics is the sport to watch after the
opening ceremony. It is true that it dies a little bit
after the Olympic year and then the popularity and
interest levels go up again during the Games. Eve-
ryone wants to watch gymnastics because it is beau-
tiful. It is possible that some people prefer womens
gymnastics to mens, but that is a preference. But I
know it is widely watched during the Games.
Every other sport today has a variant to cater to a
newer audience. Volleyball has beach volleyball. Do
you feel that is the way gymnastics could go.
When I was doing gymnastics, the equipment
was different. I thought what I used to do was difficult
at the time because the floor mat was very hard. Now
they have springs. Even the vault tables they have
today are springy and wider and safer as it allows
the gymnast to go higher. The bars were very close
when I used to compete and now they are wider. So
gymnastics has evolved.
You started training at six. Life mustve been difficult.
In hindsight, did you crave for a normal life?
I didnt want a normal life. No kid wants it.
There are 1,500 kids in your academy. Do they train
as much as you trained or do you want them to be
training a bit less and seek a bit more balance in life
and go out a bit more just like other children?
In the US, gymnastics is designed to be a sport
for all kids. It is a good base for all kids. It doesnt
matter what they decide to do later. Kids want to do
gymnastics because they see Simone Biles do it on
TV. They want to do flips. Kids want to do all that
and they want to fly and that is the best place to go.
If they want to go to the Olympics, they have to de-
cide how many hours they want to spend training.
They wouldnt know that, though, unless they have
the opportunity to attempt doing gymnastics.
I wanted to do more hours because I wanted to
win and I realised that in order to do that, I have to
train harder and do more repetitions and stay long-
er in the gym. I was really mad at myself when I
made mistakes and I couldnt sleep at night because
I didnt understand why I fell off from the beam and
I used to be hard on myself because I knew I could
do this better. In the US, there are about 4 million
kids who do gymnastics. We have 2500 clubs. Do you
know how many gymnasts go the Olympics every
four years? Four. So if you only want to do gymnas-
tics just because you want to go to the Olympics, it
is not the right reason. Just go and do it. Play sport.
Gymnastics is one of them.
My good friend, Carl Lewis, he was a gymnast
before he became a star in track and field events. I
meet a lot of people who have tasted success in sport
and all of them have said I am so grateful that I did
gymnastics as a base.
So, what you are saying is let the kids do gymnastics
as a fun activity?
Yes. You have to provide the kids the facilities to
TIMES SPORT | GUEST EDITOR: NADIA COMANECI
play gymnastics. Let them play, let them roll. There
are a lot of kids in todays generation who do not
even know how to run because they sit at the table
and do this all the time (pushes buttons on an im-
aginary phone). Social life and media is great, things
like instagram, but my connection with the world
was through gymnastics.
Who was your role model?
I was watching the Olympics in 1972, and there
was a gymnast from former Soviet Union, Rudmila
Tourisheva and I remember telling myself that If I
ever get to the Olympics, I want to emulate her.
Would you like young gymnasts to go for Produnova?
Isnt it dangerous?
Crossing the street is dangerous too. But if it is
done the right way, everything is done the right way,
if you have the pace to do it correctly and have the
patience to learn the skill and are strong enough,
you can do it. On the vault, the most important thing
is the run. Because if you dont run, you can go home.
Simone Biles is the current superstar of gymnastics.
She is 20 and she won four gold medals in Rio. Do you
think she can improve further by Tokyo 2020?
I think she is so far ahead that she doesnt need
to improve. Because she is a point ahead of probably
everyone. It is still hard for gymnasts to maintain
what you do. I know she is taking a little break right
now. But if she improves very little she is still going
to be ahead.
What prevents the broadcasters from making gym-
nastics a mainstream sport?
I think it has to do with each country and their
own star. So if you have one star who is competing,
then you are going to follow her and you will want
to broadcast and you will want the rights. You will
want to know what Dipa does in Montreal (World
Championships) in October. Thats how it works.
If you were competing today, would you have been a
bigger phenomenon than what you were in the 70s?
I dont think on those lines. One has to look at
impact. I thought people would forget about what I
had done. Many years after I retired, I was visiting
the US and people would tell me I know what I was
doing when you were competing. I would say re-
ally, but that was 25 years ago. We tend to forget what
happened two weeks ago. Things happen so fast. I
remember the 1972 Olympics because of Mark Spitz.
When I was competing in the Olympics, I was 14 and
people thought I was too young. However, I was like
No, I know what I am doing. I am an adult, I was
considering myself an adult because I was very
aware of my skills and I was not afraid to compete.
Talking about sporting superstars, Usain Bolt will be
retiring this season. What kind of impact will his ab-
sence have on the sporting scene?
I think it is very important to know when to re-
tire. I prefer to retire when I am on top (gestures by
SL Shanth Kumar/Getty Images
Gymnastics great Nadia
Comaneci says that
Hollywood actor Natalie
Portman would be most
suited to play her if
there was a biopic on
the Romanian
raising her hand) and not linger for people to say
GUEST Oh! She is still around. But he has already made a
huge impact. Even if he doesnt run anymore, he is
SPORTS EDITOR still going to leave a big impact.
NADIA COMANECI How difficult was life after retirement?
I knew when I was going to finish, so it didnt
surprise me. I wanted to study at the Institute of
Physical Education and I was prepared to step into
Produnova is very the role of a coach and judge. I think it is good to be
around something you know. I was still involved with
dangerous but so is gymnastics. I left competing because it was difficult
to live in Romania back then. Then we became a free
crossing the street. On country which was great because I could go back
and try to see what I can do there with my impact
the vault, the most and my foundation. I still have my family there.
important thing is the What do you make of the ban on Russia during the
run. If you dont run, Rio Olympics. Was it warranted or was it a shame.?
I dont like to comment on things that I am not
you can go home. involved with. Let the federation or the Olympic com-
mittee decide depending on the information they
have. I usually like to stick with my own soup.
Do you think it is too idealistic to assume that sport
can ever be dope free?
Thats the idea. That was the idea when it started.
We will always continue to run after the person that
tries to do something that is not legal.
You had a chance to interact with Dipa Karmakar yes-
terday. What kind of questions did she have for you?
Aha! She was very nice and was very honoured
to exchange words with me. Shy was asking me to
suggest ways how she could improve and then I told
her I first want to hear from her how she could im-
prove. She then told me about areas where she could
get better and it was the same thing that I was think-
ing about. She has another vault which she needs to
attempt. She has to perfect that so that judges do not
deduct points.
You participated in a reality show (Celebrity Appren-
tice 2008) hosted by current US president Donald
Trump. How was the experience?
I did it because every participant got a chance to
talk about their charity work and there was an
amount of money donated to the charity of your
choice. I didnt know what thats going to be. I want-
ed to talk about Special Olympics. It was an interest-
ing experience, lets put it this way (laughs). I knew
that we were going to get fired at some point. But I
didnt want to be the first one to get fired so for that
reason I was the second one to get fired. In time, it
became a little too cagey and I didnt see myself in
that kind of environment.
What do you make of Trumps policies. You left Roma-
nia and went to US. When you look at how the world
is changing, you think sport will suffer?
I hope that sport will not suffer. I see sport break-
ing barriers because sport brings people together.
Ive seen that. I made friends through sports. I see
THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017
sport as no politics. Its just what people do. Through
their success they have an opportunity to travel and
meet others. I met my husband (Bart Conner) be-
cause of sports. And I could have never thought that
living in Romania, which is really far away, over the
ocean, from the States, I would marry someone who
lives in the other part of the world.
You didnt want to go back and settle in Romania?
I didnt want to go back then because I didnt
know exactly what I wanted to do. Im happy that I
can go back. Im one of the fortunate persons to be
able to call both places home. Because when I go to
Romania I say go home, when I go to Oklahoma I
go home. So I call myself a global person because
I can go home anytime.
Do you agree with sportspersons who use sport to
protest against controversial political policies?
I dont know. I cant decide for everyone what to
do. We live in a free world, its your choice of doing
what you think is right. I never judge people by what
they do as long as they are peaceful.
Next Olympics will see five sports being introduced..
Yes, I heard rock climbing is one of them and my
little one is doing rock climbing. I dont mind seeing
new sports. The world is changing.
A major problem faced by countries hosting Olympics
every four years is that they really dont know what
to do with the venues post the Games. Any suggestion
on how they can be better utilised?
As athletes we feel sad when this happens because
you know how we feel about Olympics and every-
thing thats left behind. Im hoping that every time
you host the Olympics, there is also a plan to keep
I was 14 when I was competing in the
Olympics. People thought that I was too
young. However, I knew what I was
doing. I considered myself as an adult
because I was aware of my skills and I
was not afraid to compete.
those facilities running and use them for the kids to
grow and to experience what we experience.
Any Olympic moment or moments outside of gym-
nastics that have inspired you?
There are a few, but the first one that comes to
my mind, its always the Michael Phelps moment,
or moments. Bolt moments. You try to think what
are people looking forward to watching at the Olym-
pics. They want to see the final, they want to see Bolt,
they want to see Michael Phelps, they want to see
gymnastics finals. But somebody who has done more
than you could ever imagine that a human being can
do, Ill choose Michael Phelps.
You spoke on making sport fun for kids. You also men-
tioned about your fierce focus as a 14-year old. What
advice would you give a young kid when it comes to
the mental strength needed to become a champion?
Thats the secret of a champion basically. You
have to train for that. And you have to understand
always why you are doing this. You have to discover
that you have the love for what you do to be able to
focus and do all of those things. I was so drawn to-
wards what I did that I couldnt even think that there
was anything more important than going to the gym.
My parents knew this is the most important thing.
And my mum said yeah, but if you dont have good
grades in school, the gym will be cut off . So that
forced me to also be a good student.
So in your case it wasnt hard to make sacrifices?
I dont call it sacrifices, I call it choices.
If you were sitting in a room with young gymnasts,
how would you stress on that aspect?
I dont think that you see it as sacrifice at all.
Because its this inner thing that makes you do that
and you want to get better. And some kids have it,
some dont. Some have it for sport, some have it for
something else. Its going back to the question asked
earlier. If a boy would work five hours a day youd
say its OK but if a girl worked that much you would
say its not OK and I would ask why not?.
Most of the times, its like oh poor little girl,
she cannot work so hard. Ive never heard somebody
ask me that poor little boy, he works so hard.
Sometimes there are little girls who have so much
desire to do well. You cant stop someone who wants
to do that but at the same time you dont have to stop
someone who wants to do less.
There are parents who push their children, want them
to achieve great things.
Yes, Ive heard that too. Thats in every sport. You
find parents saying that their kid is going to be at
the Olympics (laughs).
CHECK POST: Comaneci looks at the TOI sports pages
The idea for kids must be to play a lot
of different things and then narrow
down to one. My son likes arts, drums
tennis and rock-climbing.
What would you do?
I would want the kids to be part of the decision
making with the parent and the coach.
Does your kid realize that his mom is a superstar?
We didnt actually tell my son because we wanted
a normal upbringing for him. We only told him when
he was four years old. That was also because one day
he came from kindergarten and said, Mom, dad, do
you know you are famous?
So he found out from other kids...
He grew up in a gym. Hes been in a gym since
he was two and bounced on a trampoline and he has
amazing coordination because of that. Then there
came a time when he went away from the gym and
he wanted to do something else that his mom and
dad did. So if he wants to do gymnastics, we know
what it is and can help him but if he wants to do
something else, then we need to ask somebody else
to help us. He likes to do rock-climbing, tennis and
soccer. He also likes the arts and likes to play the
drums. Well see.
 THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 TIMES SPORT 25

From Toil To Sweet Spoils

Nations Oly Heroes Light Up
Evening Of Celebration
Mohua.Das@timesgroup.com
Mumbai: She was once a po-
nytailed teenager in a small
town of Romania, jumping on
top of chairs and tables at home
and excited at the thought of
eating bubble gum before Na-
dia Comaneci vaulted into the
Olympic arena and stunned the
world seven times with a gym-
nastic feat that shaped history.
Four decades later, another
girl from a small town in Tripu-
ra, her hair too pulled back into
ddler ponytail like her predecessor,
flipped herself to a death-defy-
ing Produnova at the Rio Olym-
pics. When Shah Rukh Khan
lauded her as Our own Nadia
Comaneci, Dipa had blushed.
It was a rare moment of
pride to see the two athletes
from a different time and space
locked in loving embrace as
en Nadia handed over the Gym-
-46. nast and Inspiration of the
Year Award to the 23-year-old
at the second edition of the
Times of India Sports Awards
(TOISA) on Monday night.
I had heard a couple of
years ago that theres a lady in
India who is doing vaults and I
was very curious to see who.
Im proud that one little girl
sitting over there (points at
oble
Dipa) has put gymnastics on
-olds
the map for your country,
smiled Nadia, the perfect 10
gymnast credited to have sin-
gle-handedly popularised the
sport among millions.
Once in a while, India wakes
up to the truth that there is a
rich pool of sporting talents in
the country beyond everyday
favourites like cricket, tennis
and football. And if the over-
C
whelming Olympic presence at
TOISA PV Sindhu, Sakshi
Malik, Dipa Karmakar, Dattu
Bhokanal, Atanu Das is any-
thing to go by, perhaps this
swelling band of Indian con-
tenders emerging from small
towns and cities and smashing,
wrestling and vaulting their
way to the medal stage or stand-
c Kasbekar (2nd from left)
ing at the cusp of doing so,
might offer the fillip that the
country needs.
roa
Whether it was the privi-
leged or those struggling to
survive, Olympians or Para-
1 4
lympians, team sports or indi-
vidual competitors, an emerg-
ing star or a champion past his
prime, TOISA was about pick-
ing the best from all levels of
the Indian sporting realm.
As Vineet Jain, MD, Times
of India Group, pointed out in
his welcome speech, We see a
number of sporting talents
come from small towns and
rural India. Im delighted to see
so many role models here this
evening but as a nation we have
to do a lot more. We need to ac-
celerate talent spotting, im-
prove our training processes
and give our athletes every-
thing including top class infra-
structure to turn them into
champions. Towards that, Im
happy that our Prime Minister
has set up an Olympic taskforce
to address these very issues.
While song and dance acts
by Asha Bhat, winner of Miss
Supranational 2014 and actress
Urvashi Rautela and acapella
mashups by Raagatrippin
upped the razzle-dazzle, Bolly-
wood presence at the event
Vidya Balan, Imtiaz Ali, Shoojit
Sircar, Rahul Bose and Sonu
Sood was hardly surprising
given films like Dangal, Sultan,
Freaky Ali and Saala Khadoos
that have been celebrating the
boxing ring, pitch, track and
akhara.
Nadia remained the cyno-
sure as she reflected on her
teenage years, leaving Romania
and meeting her husband (for-
mer American Olympic gym-
nast Bart Conner). Then came
the confessions. If fashion pho-
tographer Atul Kasbekar de-
clared Nadia as his first school-
boy crush, shot-putter Deepa
Malik, Indias first sportswom-
an to win a medal at the Para-
lympics, recalled being text-
book inspired by Nadia as a
fifth grader.
Shuttler PV Sindhu, usually
seen in racer-backs and fleet-
footed in court, looked gorgeous
in a sequinned halter gown as
she strode the stage to receive
the sportsperson of the year
trophy. With only a handful of
prizes to honour sporting tal-
ents in the country, TOISA per-
haps comes as a shot in the arm
for players to sustain the show.
TOISA rolls out
red carpet for
Indias best
Gaurav.Gupta
@timesgroup.com
Mumbai: Sportspersons are
used to toiling on tracks,
courts, rings and fields for
hours together, but on Monday
night at the glittering Mahin-
dra Scorpio TOISA awards
ceremony, some of Indias best
athletes had a rare opportu-
nity to swap their jerseys or
trackpants for bandhgalas
5 and evening gowns, and walk
on the red carpet.
Awards like these give us
confidence and help us move
forward. Receiving it in front
of the stars was really good. It
2 was such a pleasure to meet all
the sport stars, PV Sindhu,
who bagged the Sportsperson
of the Year award, as
well as the Badmin-
ton Player of the Year
award, for winning a
memorable silver at
the Rio Olympics last
year, told TOI on
Tuesday. Sindhu was
awarded a Mahindra
Scorpio for her su-
perb achievement too.
Wrestler Sakshi Malik, who
won a bronze medal at the Rio
Games, won the Best Wrestler
of the Year award. My target
3 6 is to change the colour of my
medal in the next Olympics,
she said to a thunderous ap-
plause. Indias gymnastics
queen Dipa Karmakar, who
finished fourth in the Rio
Olympics in a rare feat, bagged
the Inspiration of the Year
award. I saw the TOISA
awards on You Tube in 2015.
Im so glad to be a part of them
now, she beamed. Sindhu and
Karmakars joy doubled when
their coaches P Gopichand
Pics: Santosh Bane
and Bishweshwar Nandi re-
WORTHY WINNERS spectively, both won the Best
Coach award.
1 Hockey great Ajit Pal Singh receives the Lifetime There were awards for In-
Achievement award from Nadia Comaneci and Vineet Jain, dias cricketing superstars too
MD, Times of India group as ace off-spinner Ravichan-
2 PV Sindhu, Dipa Karmakar & Sakshi Malik are all smiles dran Ashwin was named the
3 Paralympic heroes Deepa Malik and Devendra Jhanjharia Cricketer of the Year, while
collect their awards from Sam Balsara (R) and Atul India skipper Virat Kohli won
the Peoples Choice award in
4 Nadia Comaneci makes a point to Dipa Karmakar this regard. BCCI CEO Rahul
5 Asha Bhat, Miss Supranational 2014 with Comaneci Johri collected the awards on
6 PV Sindhu receiving the keys to a new generation
behalf of the duo, who were
Mahindra Scorpio from Vivek Nayer, CMO, Auto Division at busy with the third Test against
Mahindra & Mahindra Australia at Ranchi. Delhi
wicketkee per-batsman
Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, won
The Emerging Player of the
Year award.
Harika Dronavalli, who
won the Chess Player of the
Year award, was happy to win
the TOISA award for the sec-
ond time.
Penalty-corner specialist
Rupindar Pal Singh won the
Hockey Player of the Year
award, while the Peoples
Choice award in this category
went to VR Ragunath. Fittingly,
the hockey awards were given
away by some of the actors who
starred in the famous 2006 Bol-
lywood flick Chak de.
The second edition included
a category for Paralympians
too. Its taken us (Paralympi-
ans) 70 years (since
independence) to gain
recognition. I hope it
doesnt take another
70 years for our efforts
to be reco gnised
again, said Deepa
Malik, who became
the first Indian wom-
an to bag a medal in
Paralympics in Rio last year
when she clinched a silver in
womens F53 shot put.
With their athletes almost
sweeping the awards, it wasnt
a surprise that Haryana was
given the best state of the year
award. The honour was re-
ceived by Haryana sports min-
ister Anil Vij. For Devendra
Jhanjharia, who clinched a
gold in javelins throw F46 at
the Rio Paralympics, this was
another milestone in a journey
which began with a humble
background. Im thankful to
the TOI family for considering
me worthy of this honour,
he said.
Ajit Pal Singh, who was the
captain of the team which won
Indias sole World Cup in hock-
ey in 1975, was honoured with
the Lifetime Achievement
award. The awards were ad-
judged by four luminaries of
Indian sport, Zafar Iqbal, Anju
Bobby George, Bhaichung Bhu-
tia and Gautam Gambhir along
with the Chief Editor of Times
Internet and member of the
PMs task force on the prepara-
tions for the next three Olym-
pics, Rajesh Kalra.

CITY SPORT
Prince Poldi to lead Germany in Vardy got death
threats over KOLKATA
ERSA emerge champions Ranieri sacking
Eastern Railway Sports Association (ERSA) assured
themselves of Calcutta Hockey Leagues first divi-
his farewell match vs England London: Jamie Vardy has
gone from Premier League
RACES
sion Group A title when the beat Punjab Sports Club Berlin: For the last of his 130 inter- AFP champion to a target of
3-1 on Tuesday. Dipak Kullu (2) and Amon Tirkey national matches for Germany, Lu- hatred. The Leicester striker C A R D & S E L E C T I O N S
scored for ERSA who had last won the title in 1981. kas Podolski will lead the team out said he has received death

Its Aquitania vs Mr Majestic

a: as captain for the first time. threats amid the bitter fallout
Shivani in last 16: Unseeded Avishka Gupta of The 31-year-old Germany stri- from manager Claudio Ranieri
Jharkhand stretched top-seed Sravya C Shivani of ker, affectionately called Prince being fired by his club last
Telengana but could not prevent the latter from Poldi, has said he will end his in- month. Blazing Ron 4TH RACE: 3.00 p.m. Fiddler
entering the last-16 stage of the U-18 girls singles ternational career following a fri- Vardy was named as one Handicap. 1600m. Rt. 41-66.
event at the Rendez-Vous A Roland Garros-BTA-AITA endly against England on Wednes- of the players who had Kolkata: The Bangalore Turf Club (1) El Cid 60 Imran Chisty 2 (2) Half
National Series Tennis Tournament at the DKS on day in Dortmund. conversations with Cup, a handicap sprint over 1200m, Volley 60 Neeraj Rawal 4 (3) The Stradle
Tuesday. Shivani won 7-5, 6-4. In the boys section, It will definitely be a nice mo- Leicesters owners before should be a duel between leading 56.5 Dashrath S 3 (4) Earnest Ruler 56
Bengals Asish Sinha defeated Yeshwant Loga- ment but also a sad moment for Ranieri was dismissed as a jockeys Dashrath Singh and Shailesh Shinde 6 (5) Bang Bang 53.5
nathan of Tamil Nadu 6-4, 6-0 to make the pre- me, Germany coach Joachim Lo- result of last seasons Christopher Alford. Bath-trained Ranidan S 1 (6) Lhotse 53.5 Mohit S 5.
quarterfinals along with Dhananjay Govind and ew said on Tuesday. We have come improbable champions being Mister Majestic (C. Alford up) was a 1. The Stradle 2. Half Volley
Akshat Agarwal. a long way together, overcome ma- plunged into a relegation good second to Suzanna earlier in 3. Bang Bang
scrap.
BNR beat Kumartuli by 6 wkts: BNR defeated FRIENDLY Vardys denials about
the season and could make amends
here. However, by raising weights by 5TH RACE: 3.30 p.m. Glen
Kumartuli Institute by six wickets in the CAB first ny hurdles. We experienced many playing any role in Ranieris 2kg, Aquitania (who was a kg out of Muick Handicap. 1400m. Rt. 21-46.
division relegation play-off match on Tuesday. disappointments but also the grea- departure have not stopped the scale) has fitted into her slot (1) Sporting Trainer 61.5 Sandeep Rajput 7
SUMMARIZED SCORES test triumph that you can experien- Germany coach Joachim Loew and midfielder Lukas Podolski share a light some fans from targeting him rather well. Crack low-weight rider (2) Cool Hunter 60 C. Alford 8 (3) Dakota
Kumartuli Institute 382/8 in 89 ovs. BNR Recreation ce as a player or coach, the World moment during a news conference in Dortmund on Tuesday and his family. Dashrath has been declared to assist Dreamer 57.5 Hindu S 6 (4) Simply Royale
Club 385/4 in 83.1 ovs (Abinash Kumar 110). BNR won Cup win in 2014. The story is out there and the Bharath Singh-trained filly, 56.5 Shezad Khan 2 (5) Flying Cloud 52
by 6 wkts (Due to rain match reduced to 89 ovs) Only 1990 World Cup-winning many are missing a host of first But Southgate is particularly people pick it up and jump on enhancing her chances further. Neeraj Rawal 1 (6) Barbarik 51 Pintu Das 3
 Taltala Ekata Sangha 270 in 96.5 ovs. YMCA (Coll Br) captain Lothar Matthaeus and all- choice players on Wednesday. light in the forward department in it and youre getting death (7) Desert Cat 51 A. Ashhad Asbar 4 (8)
271/3 in 66 ovs. YMCA won by 7 wkts (Due to rain time top-scorer Miroslav Klose ha- As well as our captain Manuel the 2017 vintage, missing the inju- threats about your family, 1ST RACE: 1.30 p.m. Sherwood 51 Dashrath S 5.
match reduced to 97 ovs) ve made more appearances for Ger- Neuer, Mario Gomez, Mesut Ozil red Harry Kane and Daniel Sturrid- kids, everything, Vardy said Audubon Handicap. Div-I. 1100m. 1. Flying Cloud 2. Cool Hunter
 Kidderpore Sporting Club 305 in 80.3 ovs. Ballygunge many. and Julian Draxler are also inju- ge and dropping skipper Wayne Ro- while on international duty Rt. 1-26. (No whips) 3. Desert Cat
United Club 204 in 70.5 ovs (Ravindra Singh 5-63). Podolski made his internatio- red, Loew told a press conference oney. In his young squad he inclu- with England. On social (1) Apical Finala 62.5 Nikhil Naidu 2 (2)
Kidderpore Sporting won by 72 runs (Due to rain nal debut ahead of the 2004 Europe- in Dortmund. ded for the first time James Ward- media, you name it, walking Xperience 61.5 B. Mahesh 4 (3) 6TH RACE: 4.00 p.m. Noble
target score reduced to 277 runs in 114 ovs) an Championship when he was 19. With both attacking midfielders Prowse, captain of Englands un- down the street. To be honest I Bournville 60.5 Jorawar S 9 (4) Major View Plate. 1200m. Terms. 3yr-olds
 Bhukailash Sporting Club 218 in 84.4 ovs. Young He has scored 48 international go- Draxler of Paris Saint-Germain der-21 team, along with 23-year-old get them every week. Football Colours 60.5 Surjeet S 7 (5) Balinese (1) Ayras Pet 60 Dashrath S 7 (2)
Bengal SA 111/2 in 26.2 ovs. Young Bengal SA won by als but also, according to Loew, cont- and Arsenals Ozil out, Real Mad- Southampton teammate Nathan fans dont seem to like me.
Beauty 59.5 Md. Azharuddin 8 (6) Bambibi Festa 54 I. Khan 5 (3) Raqs
8 wkts (Due to wet pitch target score reduced to ributed to the teams morale and rids Toni Kroos is most likely to fill Redmond. Southgate also recalled Its affecting his family,
Land Of Glory 58.5 Hindu S 5 (7) Sharqi 54 A. Sandesh 8 (4) Aileen
109 runs in 62 ovs). spirit through his infectious good the role. striker Jermain Defoe, returning to too. I just get on with it but
Sicario 58.5 Mohit S 1 (8) I Me N 52.5 Ranidan S 1 (5) Antares 52.5 C.
humor and easy-going nature. However, both Lowe and his the squad at 34. when people are trying to cut
Myself 58 Vinay Jaiswal 6 (9) Alford 4 (6) Devotion Neeraj Rawal 2
U-14 cricket: Twenty Two Yards Sports School The coach also said Podolski England counterpart Gareth So- However, Manchester United your missus (wife Rebekah)
Woodstock 56 Ranidan S 10 (10) (7) Levante 52.5 Shailesh Shinde 9 (9)
recorded an 83-run win over Aditya Barun Burman will be given the captains armband uthgate look primed to give youth defender Phil Jones has been ruled up while shes driving along,
Colourful Dreams 55 P. Vikram 55. Mrs Willy Nilly 52.5 Munna Alam 3.
Academy in the Yo Cup U-14 cricket meet Tuesday. in the absence of the injured Manu- its head for one of footballs great ri- out of the match. Jones, who has 20 with the kids in the back of the
1. Land Of Glory 2. Xperience 1. Ayras Pet 2. Devotion
Brief scores: Twenty Two Yards Sports School 239/3 in el Neuer. That bit of news came as a valries. caps for England, has been sent car, its not the best, Vardy
3. Bournville 3. Raqs Sharqi
35 ovs (Dipak Kumar Mondal 88 no, Basudeb Ghosal shock to Podolski. Sensational, Germany are chasing a first win back to his club for treatment and said. Its happened plenty of
69). Aditya Barun Burman Academy 156/6 in 35 ovs Podolski said. Its the first time Ive over their old rivals on home soil will miss Wednesdays friendly in- times. It is terrifying. All that
(Swapnanil Sen 52, Md Ajjad Alam 45). Twenty Two heard that. It cant be any better for since 1987 and need no reminding of ternational against Germany in can happen is they get
2ND RACE: 2 p.m. 7TH RACE: 4.30 p.m. BTC
Audubon Handicap. Div-II. 1100m. Cup. 1200m. Rt. 81 & above.
Yards won by 83 runs. the last game than to run out as cap- the 1-5 mauling their team took in Dortmund and Englands World banned on Twitter. People get
Rt. 1-26. (No whips) (1) Gentle Knowledge 60 Ranidan S 1
tain. I can only say thanks. Munich in 2001, when Michael Cup qualifier against Lithuania at cut up but if theres no
(1) Saudagar 62 Nikhil Naidu 5 (2) Zara (2) Make Way For Me 59 A. Sandesh
However, world champions Ger- Owen hit a hat-trick. Wembley four days later. AGENCIES cameras youre screwed. AP
Go Zara 61 Russell Xaviers 8 (3) Ivy 60.5 8 (3) Setaflame 57.5 Munna Alam 7
Vinay Jaiswal 2 (4) New Challenger 60.5 (4) Knighthood 55.5 Hindu S 3 (5)
RACING CORNER A. Sandesh 9 (5) Cacharel 58.5 Ranidan Mister Majestic 55.5 C. Alford 2 (6)
Uniteds Schweinsteiger
Big Orange strikes signs up for Chicago Fire Mizoram face Bengal in semis S 3 (6) Serendipity 58.5 Rupal S 1 (7) So
Regal 58.5 Afzal Khan 4 (8) Hurricane
Storm 58 Md. Sameer 6 (9) Sweet
Few Dollars More 54.5 Imran Chisty
4 (7) Aquitania 51 Dashrath S 6 (8)
Drops Of Jupiter 51 Neeraj Rawal 5.
Marcus.Mergulhao@timesgroup.com Suspense 57 Mohit S 7. 1. Aquitania 2. Mister Majestic
R ichpal Singh-saddled Big Orange was a facile winner of
the Mukteshwar Stud Colts Trial Stakes in Delhi on
Tuesday. The 3-year-old son of Dancing Forever-Circus Star
Chicago: Former Germany captain
Bastian Schweinsteiger has signed for Panaji:Mizoram booked their place in the semifi-
The boys knew they had to raise their perfor-
mance or pack bags. It wasnt just a question of
1. Saudagar 2. Ivy 3. New Challenger 3. Make Way For Me
Major League Soccer side the Chicago Fire nal in style with a 5-1 demolition of Railways but winning this game, but doing it convincingly, sa-
recorded his fifth win in a row and was piloted by C. S. Jodha. from Premier League giants Manchester there were moments when it looked like they wo- id Mizoram assistant coach Anand Gurung.
3RD RACE: 2.30 p.m. 8TH RACE: 5.p.m. Tangaroa
Delhi results (With Inter-Venue Dividends) Philanthropist Hcap. 1600m. Rt. 1-26. Handicap. 1400m. Rt. 61-86.
United, the English club confirmed on uld miss out. Mizoram turned the match on its head in the
1. (8-3-1) Vocabulary (Dhanu Deora) 1: Zaroon 2: Glory Tuesday.
(1) Arion 62.5 Mudassar Nazar 3 (2) (1) Celtic King 61 Sandeep Rajput 10 (2)
At the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on second session with a superlative display. F Lal-
Awaits 3. Tote. (W) Rs. 14. (P) 12, 12, 20. F. 41. T. 81. Shp. 34. Schweinsteiger, a key member of Native Speaker 62 Sandeep Rajput 2 (3) Romantic Magic 59.5 Shailesh Shinde 5
Tuesday, Mizoram needed a win, and so did Rail- rinpuia scored a brace, including the crucial se-
2. (4-2-3) Solitary Eagle (M.B. Qureshi) 1: Hello Hello 2: Mountain Germanys 2014 World Cup-winning team, Adamantium 61 A. Ashhad Asbar 7 (4) (3) Taygetus 59 C. Alford 3 (4) Zephir 59
ways, to confirm the last available semifinal slot cond goal that gave them the lead in the 60th minu-
Gunner 3. Tote. (W) Rs. 20. (P) 14, 18. F. 74. T. 402. Shp. 34. will head to the United States after an Blazing Bullet 61 Shailesh Shinde 6 (5) Afzal Khan 8 (5) Dysnomia 58 Dashrath
from this group, led by Kerala. Mizoram took the te, while Lalrinchhana Rcha and Lalsangbera
3. (4-8-6) Simmarow (Arman Ali Jafri) 1: Shesthescript 2: unhappy stint with Manchester United, Auberon 60.5 Vinay Jaiswal 8 (6) Dark S 11 (6) Presence 54.5 A. Ashhad Asbar
Sangbera helped complete the rout.
Loveable 3. Tote. (W) Rs. 32. (P) 11,20, 12. F. 190. T. 921. where he was frozen out by manager Jose SANTOSH TROPHY Angel 60.5 B. Mahesh 4 (7) Zurvan 60
Rupal S 14 (8) Royal Concert 59.5 Afzal
4 (7) Splash Proof 54.5 Neeraj Rawal 7
(8) Draco 54 Imran Chisty 2 (9) Oath Of
Shp. 61. Not run. Miss Lee. Mourinho. The 32-year-old, who scored 24 lead through Lalchhuanawma Vanchhawng and Goa to meet Kerala in other semifinal: Mizo-
4. (1-10-2) Sea Storm (Hindu sS) 1: Hot Blood 2: Rossette Queen goals in 121appearances for Germany, will Khan 9 (9) Sam Houston 59.5 Dashrath Allegiance 54 Hindu S 1 (10) City
it seemed like the match would go according to ram will now meet Bengal in the first semifinal on
3. Tote. (W) Rs. 28. (P) 15, 22, 35. F. 261. T. 16,530 c/o. Shp. 78. join Chicago subject to a medical and a visa S 12 (10) Secret Builder 59 Imran Chisty Heights 53.5 Ranidan S 9 (11) The Big
script, until Rajesh Soosanayakam the leading Thursday at 3pm. Goa and Kerala will jostle each
5. (1-4-2) Big Orange (C.S. Jodha) 1: Majestic Movement 2: being obtained. 10 (11) Famous Attack 55 Md. Bull 53.5 Vinay Jaiswal 6.
goal scorer equalized for Railways. other in the second semifinal later in the day.
Bulgerian 3. Tote. (W) Rs. 13. (P) 10, 93, 15. F. 169. T. 191. Shp. 284. I am sad to leave so many friends at At half time, with the teams tied, it could have Mizoram deserved their place among the last- Azharuddin 1 (12) Mccartney 55 Hindu S 1. Splash Proof 2. Taygetus
6. (4-10-7) Sacharines (Himalay Pawar) 1: Daring Cat 2: Manchester United, Schweinsteiger told gone either way. There was only a slight hitch; if four simply because they tore into their oppo- 11 (13) Krishna 52.5 Md. Imran (14) 3. Dysnomia
Miss World 3. Tote. (W) Rs. 35. (P) 16, 26, 67. F. 174. T. the club website. But I am grateful to the Shivalik Shakti 52.5 Mohit S 5. Days Best: AYRAS PET
these teams had drawn, Maharashtra leading 2-0 nents with good old team work. They didnt have
3,190. Shp. 56. Not run. Joker In The Pack. club for allowing me the chance to take up against Kerala in Vasco would have had the last the strength or height to match Railways, and eve- 1. Sam Houston 2. Adamantium Treble: (I) 1, 2, 3 (II) 3, 4, 5 (III) 6, 7, 8.
Jackkpot. 1,346 (c) 117. Treble. (I) 174 (II) 112. the challenge at Chicago Fire. AFP laugh in the National Football Championship for ry cross from the flank was easily cleared away by 3. McCartney Jackpot: Pool: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Tanala: All
the Santosh Trophy. rival defenders. But they still found a way.
26 TIMES SPORT THE TIMES OF INDIA, KOLKATA
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Huge medal
Chikka, Chiragh to the fore haul by Indias
special athletes
An Eagle Apiece For The Leading Duo; Chawrasia Steady With One-Under Vandana.Keelor
@timesgroup.com
Pradip Datta
Abhishek.Ganguly@timesgroup.com and closed the round well today. I Noida: Indias special athle-
think Ive putted so well after almost a tes have once again done the co-
Kolkata: It was quite an eventful out- year. I missed some short ones on the untry proud. Into the third day
ing for S Chikkarangappa in the ope- front-nine but it was a different story of the 2017 Olympics World
ning round of the PGTIs Kolkata on the back-nine where I kept drai- Winter Games under way in
Classic Golf Championship at the ning it from long range, said Chikka. Austria, they have already hau-
RCGC on Tuesday. The Bengaluru- I have won all my 10 professional led in 18 medals with 6 gold, 4
based lad mixed seven birdies and an titles with this putter. I have started silver and 8 bronze.
eagle with five bogeys to share the le- using it again after a long time. When The team of 89 specially-ab-
ad with Delhis Chiragh Kumar. Both I hold this putter, I just feel everyt- led sportspersons of the Speci-
carded four-under 68. hing is in sync. But for that bogey al Olympics Bharat (SOB) is
Four players Mhow-based duo phase, it would have been a much bet- competing with more than
of Mukesh Kumar and Om Prakash ter card, he said. 2,600 athletes from 105 nations.
Chouhan, Chandigarhs Feroz Singh Co-leader Chiragh also had an
Garewal and Delhis Ikramuddin eagle on the 15th apart from birdies WINTER GAMES
Shah were one stroke off the pace on 10th, 12th, 14th and 18th holes. He While the first medal, a silver

at three-under 69.
KOLKATA CLASSIC
Indian Open champion, SSP Cha-
wrasia made a steady start and was ti-
ed 18th after shooting a steady one-
under 71. Chawrasia had three birdi-
es (8th, 10th and 15th holes) against
two bogeys (5th and 11th).
An under-par score is always go-
od. I am three shots off the pace and
there are still three days to go. I am in
a good place, said Chawrasia. Sha-
ring the 18th spot with Chawrasia
was another Kolkata golfer Shankar
Das. Young Viraj Madappa, playing
his maiden pro event in his home
town, was way off the pace with se-
ven-over 79.
Chikka made a great start by pick-
ing up three birdies on the first four
Bengalurus S Chikkarangappa (left) and Delhis Chiragh Kumar tee off in the Kolkata
Classic Golf Championship at the RCGC on Tuesday
holes before hitting a rough patch
with four consecutive bogeys from
the fifth hole. He picked up a shot each
on the 12th and 13th before making
another bogey on the 14th. He, howe-
ver, ended the round strongly with a
75-feet eagle conversion on the par-5
15th and birdies on the last two holes.
Chikka credited his old putter for
his fine show on Tuesday. I started
had only two blemishes on the second
and 17th holes.
My second shot from over 200
yards that landed within five feet and
resulted in an eagle on the 15th made
my day, said Chiragh, who finished
tied-22nd at the Indian Open.
It was, however, not a good day in
office for current PGTI Order of Me-
rit leader Ajeetesh Sandhu who hit
two-over 74 to be tied 45th while last
years PGTI Order of Merit winner
Rashid Khan was tied 29th after car-
ding one-over 73.
Sri Lankan duo of N Thangaraja
and Mithun Perera were the best-pla-
ced foreigners at tied seventh with
identical cards of two-under 70 while
Arthur Horne, who is the first player
from Swaziland to play on PGTI, car-
ded even-par 72.
Artificial turf a
was logged by Shamsher Singh
for snow shoeing on the first
day, Indias first gold came from
six special athletes on March 21
for Alpine skiing and snowbo-
arding.
Shamsher (24), the son of a
farmer, had bagged a silver
concern for India
medal at snow shoeing form
of hiking in the snow with spe- Gurpreet To Lead front in the company of the ta-
lismanic Sunil Chhetri.
cial foot wear100m race on
Sunday.
In Friendly Indias last meeting with
Cambodia, at the 2007 Nehru
Shamshers win was follo-
wed by a bronze medal won by
Vs Cambodia Cup in New Delhi, ended in a
6-0 demolition of the southe-
16-year old Jyoti Bala from Hi- Phnom Penh: Preparing for ast Asian nation. India, howe-
machal Pradesh for the same the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, ver, will face the same rivals
sport on Monday. Indian football team will get a on an artificial turf and Cons-
Not to be left behind, Megha chance to assess its strengths tantine was not amused to see
(22) also created history by be- and weaknesses when it will it here.
coming the first Indian to win a take on Cambodia in an inter- We will be playing on an
gold medal during the games. national friendly here on artificial turf. We would have
Wednesday. This is Indias preferred to play on grass. But
first friendly since the 4-1rout we need to adjust. It is a very

Federers resurgence makes mens game as open as ever

of Puerto Rico on home soil in important match for us ahead
September last year. of the crucial match against
India will begin their Asi- Myanmar. I thank AIFF for ar-
AFP an Cup campaign against My- ranging the same, he said.
Paul Newman Stan Wawrinka in the final. However, this weeks updated him to push even further ahead. anmar in Yangon next Tues- Goalkeeper Gurpreet
Whatever Federer achieves in world rankings list is evidence of From now onwards his task will be day. The last time India had Singh Sandhu will be leading

A
s far as Roger Federer is con-
cerned, the future is still on
hold. No matter that the 35-ye-
ar-old Swiss, less than three months
into his comeback following a six-
month lay-off, has just added the In-
dian Wells Masters to the Australi-
an Open title he won in January.
Federer thinks this is still too
early to assess where his game is at
and will not map out his future goals
or remaining schedule for this year
until the end of the Miami Masters,
which begins on Wednesday.
Anyone who thought Federers
victory in Australia his first
Grand Slam title for nearly five ye-
ars might just be a glorious one-
off will surely be thinking again af-
ter his triumph on Sunday in Indian
Wells.
Although Federers draw opened
up in California with the early exits
of Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishiko-
ri and Nick Kyrgios withdrawal
with illness, he still had to beat Rafa-
el Nadal in the fourth round and
Miami, which for most players will
be their last hard-court tournament
before late summer, his stunning co-
meback is one of a number of fac-
tors that make the upcoming clay-
court and grass-court seasons fasci-
nating prospects.
Djokovics troubles since last ye-
ars French Open show few signs of
going away he has won only one
minor title since last summer
while Andy Murrays form since he
clinched the year-end world No 1
ranking by winning 24 matches in
succession at the end of last season
has been patchy.
Both men are missing Miami
with elbow injuries but will hope to
be return for the clay-court campa-
ign, which begins in earnest in four
weeks time with the Monte Carlo
Masters.
Nadal, despite two defeats to Fe-
derer in the last two months as well
as losses to Milos Raonic and Sam
Querrey, has been happy with his
start to the year following his own
Roger Federer
injury problems and will relish the
return to clay. So too will Wawrinka,
the champion at Roland Garros two
years ago.
With the French Open less than
10 weeks away, most odds-makers
currently see Djokovic as the margi-
nal favourite just ahead of Nadal
and Murray, with Wawrinka (8-1) fo-
urth in most betting lists and Fede-
rer (25-1) fifth.
the rapidly shifting landscape at the
top of the game. The rankings are
based on a rolling 12-months total:
today, for example, each players po-
ints earned in Indian Wells last year
were taken off and replaced by the
points from this years tournament.
Murray is now more than 3,000
points clear of second-placed Djoko-
vic and will be more than 4,000 po-
ints ahead after Miami, where the
Serb was champion last year. Fede-
rer, meanwhile, has shot up to No 6
despite having not played for six
months after injuring his knee at
Wimbledon last summer.
As for the long-awaited takeover
at the top by a new generation of pla-
yers, recent results suggest that
they still have plenty of ground to
make up and that it will be the old
guard who continue to dominate.
While Murray, despite his fluctu-
ating form, has strengthened his po-
sition as world No 1 in the last three
months, the Indian Wells and Miami
tournaments had been chances for
more challenging. Of his current to-
tal of 12,005 ranking points, the Scot
has 11,120 to defend between the start
of the clay-court season and the end
of the year.
Djokovic, in contrast, will have
comparatively few points to defend
once the clay-court season is over,
while Nadal, currently world No 7,
will be defending just 370 for the rest
of the year after the French Open.
Federer, meanwhile, could make
hay in the last six months of 2017, ha-
ving not competed anywhere betwe-
en last summers Wimbledon and
this years Australian Open.
The Swiss says he would love to
be world No 1 again but admits that
would be a big ask given that he in-
tends to play a lighter schedule this
year.
I want people to see the real me,
to see a guy who is so excited that
hes there. Thats a promise I made
to myself: that if I play tournaments
thats how my mindset has to be, he
said. THE INDEPENDENT
won in an away friendly was
way back in 2006, when the te-
am, captained by present te-
am manager Shanmugam
Venkatesh, eked out a 1-0 win
in Pakistan.
It will be an opportunity
for coach Stephen Constanti-
ne to provide a platform to the
youngsters such as Jerry Lar-
linzuala, Milan Singh, Nishu
Kumar and Daniel Lalhlim-
puia to make a mark in the in-
ternational arena.
With Arnab Mondal and
Sandesh Jhingans season
dogged by injuries and poor
form, it could be an opportu-
nity for Anas Edathodika to fi-
nally make his international
debut.
India will be bolstered by
the return of striker Robin
Singh after a long injury lay-
off and, in Constantines re-
gular 4-2-3-1 formation, the
tall striker is set to play up-
the side on Wednesday, his se-
cond consecutive match as
the national team captain, af-
ter Indias big win over Puer-
to Rico. PTI
The match will kick off at
5 pm IST.
INDIA VS CAMBODIA
FIFA RANKINGS
India 132; Cambodia
173
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Total matches 4 (India
won 3, Cambodia won 1)
Goals (Cambodia 3,
India 14)
LAST MEETING
17.08.07 India 6 (NP
Pradeep, Baichung pen,
Chhetri 2, Steven Dias 2)
Cambodia 0 in Nehru Cup,
New Delhi
COMPILED BY GAUTAM ROY
 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 I ADVERTORIAL, ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY PROMOTIONAL FEATURE I KOLKATA

Kim opens
up about
Paris
robbery
Page 5
OF INDIA

Phillauris LARA AND VINAY REUNITE

USP is its AFOR THEIR NEXT VENTURE fter the appreciation that
Chalo Dilli received, actor-

eclectic
producer Lara Dutta Bhu-
pathi and Vinay Pathak are all set to
team up for a whole new adventure.
Currently untitled, this film will
be Bheegi Basanti Entertainments
second project after Chalo Dilli. To

Diljit
Dosanjh,
ensemble be helmed by National Award-win-
ning director Sushil Rajpal, the film
revolves around an NRI single moth-
ers emotional journey through the
heartland of India in search of the

cast
Anushka anonymous donor who fathered her
Sharma son. Sushil has been the cinematog-
and Suraj rapher on films like Laaga Chunari
Sharma Mein Daag and won the National
Award in 2009 for the film he direct-
ed, Antardwand.
Says Lara, We at Bheegi Basan-
part from its unique story- me in a unique role, that of a esting team. Million Dollar Arm and popular ti Entertainment have been on the

A line, Phillauri boasts of

actors from across film
industries. The family entertainer,
friendly ghost named Shashi. This
being my first outing with Diljit,
the audiences will get to see a fresh
directed by debutant Anshai Lal pairing. We at Clean Slate Films
and written by Anvita Dutt, stars (the production house founded by
Anushka Sharma along with the actress and her brother
Punjabi sensation Diljit Dosanjh, Karnesh Sharma) are happy to
Life Of Pi actor Suraj Sharma and introduce new talent. Diljit, Suraj
south heroine, Mehreen Pirzada. and I are from completely different
Anushka says, This film presents film worlds and we make an inter-
The story revolves around
Shashis unfulfilled romance with
Diljits character, which unfolds in
the backdrop of a Punjabi wed-
ding. On his part, Diljit says, The
story won me over instantly. I love
everything about my role and have
given it my best.
Suraj, who has also been part
of the globally-acclaimed film,
TV series Homeland, says he found
Phillauris content irresistible.
For me, its the perfect Hindi film.
It has drama, romance and
humour. Last but not the least, it
has a solid, content-driven script. I
am quite excited to be a part of it.
Phillauri, produced by Fox Star
Studios and Clean Slate Films,
releases on March 24.
lookout for another story that had
the same humour and emotional
connect that Chalo Dilli had and have
finally found that with a script that
Sushil has brought us. It is liberat-
ing and refreshing to pursue great
stories and bring them alive on cel-
luloid through challenging and lov-
able characters and most importantly,
to make people laugh and cry at the

Toranj Kayvon
same time. Vinay is a fabulous actor
and co-star and I find it invigorating
and thoroughly enjoyable to share
the screen with him.

Girl power at TOISA 2017

The second edition of the Times of India Sports Awards
While Vinay and Sushil have col-
laborated before, Lara will be join-
ing them for the first time. The film
is slated to go on floors by June.

honoured the best in Indian sports

It is amazing for the
young generation of
girls to watch Dipa and
know they can achieve
the same in gymnastics.
She is motivating and is
influencing a lot of
young Indians Vinay
Lara Dutta
Bhupathi
Nadia Comaneci, Pathak
Romanian gymnastics legend
Photos: Prathamesh Bandekar, Prashant Jadhav

Jab maine shuru kiya tha, tab logon ne

pucha, Kya circus join karna hai? Ab logon
ko pata hai ki gymnastics bhi ek sport hai
Vidya
Balan aur ismein bhi hum aage nikal sakte hain
and PV
Sindhu Dipa Karmarkar, gymnast

FOR MORE, SEE PAGE 4

Right wing THEIR LEVEL OF

INTOLERANCE HAS

member MADE THEIR

FAITH EXTREMELY
FRAGILE. I STILL

lodges FIR ENJOY FREEDOM OF

SPEECH IN INDIA.
I WILL KEEP

over Srijatos WRITING. I AM

NOT SLIGHTLY
BOTHERED BY
poem THEIR REACTION

Srijato and (right) the

poem he penned on
(left) Yogi Adityanath

Shamayita.C@timesgroup.com

he rise of Hindu right wing

T ideology in UP is sending rip-

ples in the arts and culture
space of Bengal. Reacting to the appoi-
ntment of Yogi Adityanath as the chief
SRIJATOS POEM ENDS minister of UP, Srijato has written a
WITH CRITICISM OF A sharply-worded poem that has drawn
criticism from a Hindu organisation.
COMMENT MADE BY One of their members has also lodged an
after he published the piece on his Facebook
YOGI ADITYANATHS FIR against the poet in Siliguri.
wall, Arnab Sarkar, a member of Hindu
On Sunday, Srijato penned a poem that
SUPPORTER RAPE ends with criticism of a comment made Samhati a right-wing group that claims to
by Yogi Adityanaths supporter rape stand against the atrocities on Hindus
DEAD MUSLIM lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime Cell
dead Muslim women. This has set social
WOMEN. THIS HAS media on fire. The poem, Abhishap, has a in Siliguri on March 20, pointing out the
reference to the trident: Amake dhorshon indecency of the poem. The FIR, a copy of
ALREADY SET SOCIAL korbe joddin kobor theke tule/condom pora- which is with CT, sought arrest of the poet.
MEDIA ON FIRE no thakbe, tomar oi dhormer trishule. Soon CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
2 CALCUTTA TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA
LEISURE WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH 2017

BEAU PEEP MARVIN
ARIES March 20 - April 18 In the
professional sphere, you are tempted to
show excessive zeal and act impulsively.
You may want to completely alter the
way you look, keep in mind that your
appearance is fine and you might just
need some tweaking to your overall look.
TAURUS April 19 - May 19 You will find
that your good mood is contagious, and
that pretty soon you will have good cheer
and a positive attitude. The mood of
those you work with is uncertain, and no
one really dares to make decisions.
GEMINI May 20 - June 20 You may
have been afraid that your partner would
no longer be able to understand you. It is
C A LV I N A N D H O B B E S GARFIELD time for action. It is certainly not the
moment to start a new scheme.Take the
plunge and try your hand at whatever
your colleagues are suggesting.
CANCER June 21 - July 21 Things are
serious but not hopeless. You may
suddenly discover the motivation.There
could be huge fight or a period of
separation might help you understand
your feelings better.And when you make
up, you will be even closer than before.A
number of short journeys may be
BIRTHDAY TODAY
Y ou may have to think
out-of-the-box to
make your project rele-
vant at the workplace.
Tip: Your lucky colours
are blue and red. Your
lucky gems are
turquoise and opal.
You share your birthday
with: Reese
Witherspoon
necessary today.
LEO July 22 - August 21 If an emotional
appeal doesnt work with an employer,
try a logical one.Youre in a good position
to advance, provided youre willing to
push past those initial barriers. There
may be tensions, conflicts, even a split
could be in the air.You need to keep away
from it to an extent.
VIRGO August 22 - September 21 In
the event youve already got a great
position, you should push for a
promotion. Pitch some new ideas to your
boss,they will be well received.The moon
is making you feel sensitive and romantic
today.You have been changing so much
lately that you were in need of a brief
reassurance.
LIBRA September 22 - October 22
Talent merits plum assignments, while
reliability draws routine work. Expect
some great news today. You feel an
integral part of your social circle,and you
will be using your ingenuity to re-establish
harmony all around. Normally, youre
content to follow somebody elses lead.
SCORPIO October 23 - November 20
In your personal life, you must reinforce
your capacity to grasp things, and this
gives you added authority within your
circle of friends. This is a great time to
learn new sales techniques, invent
helpful gadgets, and make valuable
business contacts.
SAGITTARIUS November 21-
December 20 Use your willpower and
sincerity to resolve the problems in your
immediate environment and to smooth
out any differences of opinion with the
people with whom you share an intimate
relationship. You feel threatened by
anything new.
CAPRICORN December 21 - January
19 This day could involve you in a lucky
break of some kind, auguring beneficial
changes in both profession and lifestyle.
You have been bothered by legal issues.
Retrace your steps and pause for
thought. It seems you will benefit overall
by doing so. Fate is turning in your love
life today.
AQUARIUS January 20 - February 18
The celestial configurations are
encouraging you to ponder your purpose
in life.You may feel you are incapable to
take the bull by the horns. It is a time for
solitude and reflection. You may have to
cancel your plans or amend them at the
last minute.
PISCES February 19 - March 19 It is
possible that the people you interact with
are convinced that you are the one
coming from another stratosphere.
Under the support and aspect of Jupiter
on your sign you should be able to find
your bearings again.At work,you feel like
you cant get a grip on anything solid.

TIMES HITORI

THE DAILY CROSSWORD LOOP THE LOOP SPELLATHON

Rules
Q Connect adjacent dots
with vertical or horizontal
lines, creating a single
loop (Fig A).
Q Crossovers or branches
are not allowed (As shown
T
by dotted lines in Fig B).
Q Numbers in the puzzle
indicate the number of
lines that should surround
S I 5:00 pm Premer
Kahini
W
it, while empty cells may
be surrounded by any 5:30 pm Ichchenodi
number of lines.
6:00 pm Devi Pakkho
L
Q You cant draw lines
around zeroes.
Q Each puzzle has just
one unique solution.
Y 6:30 pm Potol Kumar
Gaanwala
How to begin: Example 7:00 pm Kusum Dola
(Fig A) - Begin with the
zero next to 3. Since no
lines can be drawn around
zero, mark crosses around
F 7:30 pm Ke Apon
Ke Por
it, as shown. Now there is 8:00 pm Agnijol
a cross in one space
around 3. So we know the How to play 8:30 pm Shopno
three lines of 3 can only Todays Ratings: 02-average 03-good 1. A number may appear just Udaan
be drawn in the remaining
three spaces. Next, these
04-outstanding once in each row or column. 9:00 pm Milantithi
lines can only be extended Eliminate repeat numbers by 9:30 pm Punyipukur
in one direction each. darkening cells. (see example)
Continue, using the same How many words of four or more 10:00 pm Rakhi
2. Darkened cells must never
logic.
letters can you make from the let- be adjacent in a row or column.
Bandhan
Hints: Keep eliminating
possibilities by marking ters shown in todays puzzle? In 3. Unmarked cells must create 10:30 pm Khokababu
crosses in spaces making a word, a letter can be 11:00 pm Bhagter
between dots where a line
a single continuous area, undi-
used as many times as it appears (Fig A)
isnt possible, i.e., if you vided by darkened cells. Bhagawan
have already completed in the puzzle. Each word must 4. Every time you darken a cell, same value can be circled. Sri Krishna
required lines or where a contain the central letter. There you can automatically circle its (e.g. 6 4 6 )
line extension may create
a branch or cause a should be at least one seven letter vertical and horizontal neigh- 6. A "triple" is a
deadend (Fig B) word. Plurals, foreign words and bours, which means they can- special case of
proper names are not allowed. not be eliminated. sandwich. Circle the centre
(Fig A) Not allowed
(Fig B) 5. Any cell "sandwiched" cells, and darken the ends.
British English Dictionary is used
between neighbours of the (e.g. 6 6 6 )
as reference.
All solutions to games/puzzles on Page 3

TIMES SUDOKU SCRAMBLE FACT OF

HOW TO PLAY Rearrange the letters in the four word jumbles, one letter to each square/circle, to make THE MATTER
four ordinary words
Fill in the grid so that
every horizontal row, HATED HOW TO PLAY
every vertical column Now arrange the letters in the
and every 3x3 box con- AESTU circles to form the answer to Over 70% of Japan
tains the digits 1-9, the riddle or to fill in the
missing word as indicated consists of
without repeating the
numbers in the same CCCOXY mountains. The
row, column or box.You country also has
cant change the digits DEEHLB over 200
already given in the volcanoes.
grid. Every puzzle has
one solution. ____ makes idiots sad and wise men merry. - George Jean Nathan (6)
Level: Easy
Premer Kahini at 5 pm on Star Jalsha
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1530 Dil Deke at 1700 Hrs 0800 The Market Angle
Dekho 1100 Kitchen Special 0900 Et Now First 1800 Times Now Soldier
1600 Taarak Mehta 0600 The Tonight 1230 Home Essentials Trades Live Report at 1605 Hrs
Ka Ooltah Show Starring 1300 Health & Beauty 1030 Et Now Hot 1830 News Now Rambo: First Blood Part 0655 Jis Desh Me
Bado Bahu Chashmah Jimmy Fallon 1330 Electronics Stocks 1900 Newswatch II at 2100 Hrs Ganga Rehta
at 2130 Hrs 1930 Y.A.R.O. Ka 0700 Impractical Bazaar 1100 Et Now Buy 1930 Times Now Hai
0635 Little Giants Welcome 2 Karachi
0700 Bhabiji Tashan Jokers 1430 Home Essentials Now Sell Now: Livewire 0945 Hello Brother
0845 Curse of at 2000 Hrs
0930 Agnifera 2000 Ichhapyaari 0800 Wipeout 1530 Jewellery The Stock 2000 India Upfront 1235 Dil Hai
1000 Ek Vivah Aisa Naagin 0900 Friends Dhamaka Game 2100 The Chucky 0717Pardes Tumhaara
Bhi 2030 Taarak Mehta 1000 Younger 1600 Home & Dcor 1200 Et Now Newshour 1035 Snakes On A Chandaal 1059G.I. Joe : The Rise 1605 Soldier
1030 Gangaa Ka Ooltah 1030 Citizen Khan 1700 Jewellery Marketsense 2300 News Now Plane at 2000 Hrs of Cobra 1900 Meri Taaqat
1100 Waaris Chashmah 1100 Undateable Dhamaka 1300 Et Now At 11 1240 Jack The 0722 Pehchan 1327Raja Hindustani Mera Faisla
1230 Peshwa Bajirao 1130 Bhabiji Ghar 2100 Chidiyaghar 1130 About A Boy 2130 Electronics Bazaar Markets @ 2330 The Giant Slayer 1103 Roohani Taaqat 1655Salaakhen 2155 Arjun Pandit
1300 Beyhadh Par Hai ! 2130 Trideviyaan 1200 Friends 2230 Automobile Lunch Newshour
WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH 2017
KOLKATA IS TALKING ABOUT CALCUTTA TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA
3

Exploring
WHEN DANCE,
Aparna
Sen
Pratik Banerjee

the bond
Sabrina Nisa
DRAMA AND between
TECH RULED women
and Sukalyan
Bhattacharya in
performance

in crisis
THE STAGE I
t was a full house when the trailer of Aparna
Sens film was launched at a city studio recent-
ly. The audience couldnt stop applauding after
watching Sens Sonata, which deals with the psy-
Kalyan
Ray

Pratik Banerjee
chological exploration of three unmarried women
facing a mid-life crisis.
Aruna Chaturvedi, a professor, Dolon Sen, a
banker and Subhadra Parekh, a journalist, are
played by Aparna Sen, Shabana Azmi and Lillete
Dubey respectively. In this film I have celebrated
the friendship between three women and tried to
explore the various aspects of femininity
Bangladeshi through these characters, Sen said. Neel
artistes perform Ruman.Ganguly@timesgroup.com Datta
during the show
t was a high-tech evening of dance

I and drama at a city theatre recently as

Sukalyann D Entourage presented
Bandi Bandar Roopkotha based on the
Anik
Dutta
Barun
Chanda

story of Alibaba and Chalish Chor.

A very popular Arabian Nights tale, it has Shamim Ara
been widely retold and performed across Nipa and Anisul
many media, ages and cultures. But this time, Islam Hero
it was brought alive through on-stage 3D pro-
jection mapping a first for Kolkata. The pro-
gramme was an Indo-Bangladesh collaboration,
with over 60 artistes from the neighbouring country.
The music has been composed by Joy Sarkar, with Nachiketa penning
some of the songs. Speaking on the occasion, Sukalyan Bhattacharya said,
Bandi Bandar Roopkotha is a journey which started in Anjan
Bangladesh and now the voyage ands at Kolkata. I always wanted Datta
to show the Kolkata audience how a musical multimedia opera
can be staged, like one I saw in Broadway. It is my greatest for-
Shibli Mohammad tune that I could finally do it in Kolkata, where art and intellect
and Dolly Ekbal have always been appreciated.
Supported by a cast of 80 performers from Nrityanchal and
Srishti Cultural Center Dhaka, dancers including Shamim Ara
Nipa, Shibli Mohammad, Anisul Islam Hero, Dolly Ekbal, Srikanta
Sabrina Nisa and Sukalyann Bhattacharya, were part of Acharya
the show.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO SHOW THE

KOLKATA AUDIENCE HOW A MUSICAL
MULTIMEDIA OPERA CAN BE STAGED, MUSICAL
LIKE ONE I SAW IN BROADWAY START
SUKALYAN BHATTACHARYA Raghab Tollywood stars Pallavi Chatterjee (R) and Paayel Sarkar (L) were present for the
Chatterjee launch of a Hindi music album Ehsaas by Shankeresh (centre) at a city
hotel recently. I know Shankeresh for quite sometime. He is passionate about
music and I am confident about his success, said Pallavi. His songs reminded
A scene from
me of the 90s era and I hope he will continue the good work Paayel said.
the dance drama
Pallavidi is like a mentor to me. She always supported and guided me
whenever I needed it the most. I am really thankful to Paayel for her continuous
support and encouragement, Shankeresh said. I would like to dedicate this
album to my mother... she is a strong lady. She taught us love and fearlessness

Subhasish
Mukherjee
WHATS UP TODAY
ART EXHIBITION: kathal pulao, bag-e-bahar In this event, internationally
LIFE AND TIME: THE khichdi, shahi soya biryani, renowned Indian classical vocal-
CHANGING LANDSCAPE prawn wild rice conjee and ist Pt Koushik Bhattacharyee
THE ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, Lalbagh murgh biryani, among will perform and will be assisted
3-8 PM others, at this food fest. by Ujwal Bharat on the tabla and
THEATRE FESTIVAL: Hiranmay Mitra on harmonium.
DARSHAKER DARBAAR GROUP ART EXHIBITION
Thankamani Joy Sarkar LOK SANSKRITI BHAVAN, GALLERY GOLD, 3-8 PM
Kutty
6.30 PM ONWARDS,
TICKETS `100 ONWARDS
This theatre fest is headed by
veteran thespian, Goutam

A FUN DAY FOR MUSIC FANS
This unique week-long multi-
disciplinary exhibition is curated
by Probir Gupta with 23 partici-
pating artists from India,
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, UK,
Denmark, France and Russia.
Atanu Biswas
Halder, and will feature plays of
Rudraprasad Sengupta, Saoli
Mitra, Swatilekha Sengupta,
Debshankar Haldar, Surajit
Bandopadhyay, Sanjib Sarkar,
Sudip Mukherjee and Sohini
Sengupta, among others.
This is a unique theatre fest
with selective plays from
Kolkata, suburbs and different
states of India. Today, the This exhibition will feature
play Takhon Bikel directed

artworks by over 25 participants

THE GREAT by Sima Mukhopadhyay, from across West Bengal and
HARVEST FESTIVAL will be staged. the neighbouring state of
THE GT ROUTE, MUSICAL PROGRAMME Assam. Some of the featured
It was a trip down memory lane for music fans as singer Amit Kumar NOON ONWARDS BRAMHAMOYE ASHRAM HALL, works deal with mythological
belted out hits like Bade achhe lagte hai, Ja peyechhi ami ta chaina, Foodies take note, its 11 AM TO 1 PM characters.
Deewana dil deewana and many more at a city club on the occasion time for you to dig into some
of his fan clubs annual celebration. Apart from Kumar (left), also delectable dishes such as Want to tell us about an event? Mail us at
present were (L-R) Riddhi Bandopadhyay, Sidhu and Saukat Khan karara chawal kebab, masaledar calcuttatimes.events@gmail.com

ENGLISH FILMS
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11.45, 5.05;Inox Hiland 11.10, 5.15; Inox Hind
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Rajarhat 5.15 (2D)- 9.35 am
QBEFORE I FALL++1/2 (A)
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Zoey Deutch, Halston Sage
February 12 is just another day in Sams charmed
life until it turns out to be her last. Stuck reliving
her last day over one inexplicable week, Sam
untangles the mystery around her death
Inox Quest 11.10, 4, 10.30 (G)
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Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans
+Trash ++Below average ++1/2 Average +++Above Average +++1/2 Good ++++Very Good ++++1/2 Very Good + +++++Outstanding
CINEMA
An adaptation of the Disney fairy tale about a
monstrous-looking prince and a young woman
who fall in love
Cinepolis Acropolis 9.15, 12, 2.45, 8.05, 10.50;
London Paris 9, 11.30, 4.35; RDB Cinemas
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Hind 9, 2.05, 7.40, 10.25; Inox Liluah 10.30 pm;
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HINDI FILMS
QTHE GHAZI ATTACK (U/A) +++
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London Paris 2.10, 7.05; Inox Forum 11.45 am;
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QLOGAN ++++(A)
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Inox Hiland 2.20
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Inox Liluah 8.10 pm (2D), 11.40 am (3D) ;
Ashoka 3.30; Menoka 4.30; Jaya I 3.25; RDB
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Ashoka 6.30, 8.30; Indira 3.35, 6; Menoka
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6.50, 7.50, 9.50, 10.45; London Paris 9.15, 3,
5.55, 8.45; RDB Cinemas 10, 12.45, 3.30, 6.15,
9; Carnival Cinemas (G) 9.15, 12, 1.30, 2.45,
4.30, 5.30, 7, 8.15, 9.45, 11; Inox Forum 10.30,
12.20, 1.30, 3.20, 4.30, 6.20, 7.30, 9.20, 10.30;
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Govinda, Ashutosh Rana, Riecha Sharma
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Rajkummar Rao, Geetanjali Thapa
A man gets stuck in an empty high rise without
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Mustafa Burmawalla,
Kiara Advani
The film depicts the story of racing
SOLUTIONS OF GAMES / PUZZLES ON PAGE 2
enthusiasts Sarah and Ransh , who meet each
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bond becomes stronger, they eventually
fall in love. However, new things
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Answer: Beauty makes idiots sad and wise men merry. - George Jean Nathan
4 CALCUTTA TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA
TOISA SALUTES INDIAN SPORTS
C
CHAMPS
Badminton champ PV Sindhu, Vineet Jain (MD, Times Group) and legendary gymnast Nadia Comaneci
Rahul Bose (R) presents
awards to coaches
P Gopichand and
Bisheshwar Nandi
Billiards star
Pankaj Advani
Imtiaz Ali with
chess player
Harika
Dronavalli
Urvashi
Rautela
(Yamaha
Fascino
Miss Diva
2015 - Miss
Universe
India)
Roshmitha Harimurthy (Yamaha Fascino
Miss Diva 2016 - Miss Universe India)
and Priyadarshini Chatterjee (fbb Rohit Khandelwal
Femina Miss India World 2016) (Mr World 2016)
City artistes flay FIR against Srijatos poem Pannu giveWatch Taapsee
some self-defence
...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
hile there has been a lot of
W clamour on social media over
the FIR since Tuesday morn-
ing, Srijato remained nonchalant. I have
written the poem, its my liberty. They
went to the police thats their liberty,
Im a Hindu, not an atheist. And I
didnt find anything inappropriate in
the poem. But if someone didnt like
a few words in the poem, they could
have countered it with another piece
of writing. Moreover, I dont think
religion is so fragile that a poem
can break it. Everyone has personal
freedom and Srijato has not taken
any names. I dont support the FIR
Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay,
novelist
VARIETY
elebrated Indian athletes
and their mentors were hon-
oured at the glittering Times
Of India Sports Awards (TOISA 2017)
ceremony in Mumbai on Monday. It
was refreshing to see the leading
sports personalities slipping out of
jerseys and track pants and slip into
tuxedos and gowns. Noted actors and
business tycoons also graced the
event, which was mentored by iconic
Romanian gymnast
Nadia Comaneci, kno-
wn for her perfect
score of 10 at the 1976
Olympics. The show
was anchored by sp-
orts commentator
Charu Sharma.
Opening the ceremo-
ny, Vineet Jain (MD,
Times Group) said,
Perhaps more than
any other class of pro-
fessionals, sports men
and women have the
power to set pulses racing and spirits
soaring. They can lift a nation, and
on a bad day, plunge into depression.
The wonderful thing about sports is
that even when our team or idol
loses, we can appreciate a great
game and congratulate a worthy
opponent. Sports are great level-
ers. Some sporting legends
were born into poverty but
with their sheer grit, they
achieved dizzying heights of
success. In India, we are now
seeing a growing number of
champions coming from small
towns and rural India, and
becoming role models.
TOISA, with an aim to honour
the past, celebrate the present and
nurture the future of Indian sports,
Mandira Bedi with
Dangal girl Fatima
Sana Shaikh
Badminton
player
Kidambi
Srikanth
Cricketer
Rishabh Pant
receives his
award from
Shoojit Sircar
the poet told CT. Their level of intoler-
ance has made their faith extremely frag-
ile. I still enjoy freedom of speech in
India. I will keep writing. I am not slight-
ly bothered by their reaction.
The complainant, Arnab, on the other
hand, argued that the poem set a bad
example for the younger generation. It
For an artiste, creative freedom is Lodging a complaint against
of utmost importance. A society an artistes freedom suits
that fails to ensure this is a fail- them (the litigants), as they
ure. I completely stand by Srijato. have taken the concept of
So, I have some suggestions for religion to an ugly level.
those who lodged the FIR. They They are fundamentalists.
must listen to music, read poems So, I stand by Srijato and
and watch good films. A little what he wrote. And if hes
interest in the cultural side of life disturbed by any means for his
may reduce their intolerance creation, well fight together
Anindya Chattopadhyay, Mandakranta Sen,
singer/filmmaker
WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH 2017
true to its mis-
sion statement,
awarded Olym-
pians like badmi-
nton ace PV Sin-
dhu and gymnast
Dipa Karmakar as well as
rising cricket star Rishabh Pant.
Legendary hockey player and former
skipper Ajit Pal Singh was the
recipient of the Lifetime Achie-
vement Award.
Special guest for the
night, Nadia, was all
praise for Indias Pro-
dunova vault sensation
Wrestler Sakshi
Dipa Karmakar, as she
Malik with Vidya
handed her the Gy-
Balan
mnast Of The Year tro-
phy. Another woman
who stole the show was
our stunning Begum
Jaan Vidya Balan, who
not only presented aw-
ards to three champions
PV Sindhu, Sakshi
Malik and Kidambi Srikanth but
brought the house down with her
witty repartee. She said, Rahul
(Bose) must be wondering what Im
doing here. I dont play any sport, but
Im very sporting. I feel like a fan girl
today sharing the stage with champi-
ons like PV Sindhu, whose games I
have watched ardently.
Among the performers, Asha Bhat
(Miss Supranational 2014) gave a fit-
ting tribute to popular Bollywood
sports biopics by performing on
numbers like Zinda, Kaisi Dhaakad
Hai, Dil Yeh Ziddi Hai and Chak De
India. Urvashi Rautela (Yamaha
Fascino Miss Diva 2015 - Miss Uni-
verse India) danced to a racy set of Sonu Sood with
Bollywood songs that kept the audi- boxer Vijender
ence entertained. Singh
Chak De girls Vidya Malavade,
Chitrashi Rawat and Tanya Abrol
present the award to hockey
player Rupinder Pal Singh
THE AWARD GOES TO...
SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR
PV Sindhu
TENNIS: Sania Mirza
Paralympic BADMINTON: PV Sindhu and
champion Kidambi Srikanth
Deepa Malik ARCHERY: Atanu Das
ATHLETICS: Lalita Babar
BILLIARDS: Pankaj Advani
BOXING: Vikas Krishan
CHESS: Harika Dronavalli
FOOTBALL: Jeje Lalpekhlua
GOLF: Anirban Lahiri
INSPIRATION OF THE YEAR
& GYMNAST OF THE YEAR:
Dipa Karmakar
HOCKEY: Rupinder Pal Singh
KABADDI: Ajay Thakur
CRICKET: R Ashwin
ROWING: Dattu Bhokanal
SHOOTING: Abhinav Bindra
SQUASH: Dipika Pallikal Karthik
WRESTLING: Sakshi Malik
EMERGING PLAYER:
Rishabh Pant
COACH: P Gopichand and
Bisheshwar Nandi
PARALYMPIANS: Devendra
Jhajharia and Deepa Malik
STATE: Haryana
TEAM: Jr Mens Hockey Team
Mohammed Asha Bhat (Miss LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT:
Azharuddin Supranational 2014) Ajit Pal Singh
is in perverse taste. It is completely unex-
pected from a learned person like Srijato.
His poem hurts my religious sentiments. tips to women, using Alive
Freedom of expression does not mean
hurting someones religious sentiment. I
clearly have a problem with the last two
Taapsee
Pannu
lines of the poem.
Shamayita.C@timesgroup.com
This is shameful and its an
offence to interfere with our free-
dom of expression. After all, our
country and the Constitution give HOW TO DOWNLOAD & USE ALIVE APP
us that freedom. I want Srijato
and all the other poets and writers Download ALIVE OneScan App from your app store or
out there to write. Yes, someone go to alivear.com/app
may feel hurt, but if a poet starts STEP 2 Open the app and focus on the image containing
Alive logo and scan it.
writing to please everyone, it will
become appeasement, not poetry STEP 3 Watch the photo come ALIVE. View and share.
Anupam Roy,
poet singer/composer Available on Android and iOS devices
WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH 2017
ENTERTAINMENT CALCUTTA TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA
5

NICHOLAS HOULT DATING Dylan and Katie

PLAYBOY MODEL
-Men star Nicholas Hoult
X is dating Playboy model
Bryana Holly. The 27-
year-old British actor has been
spotted looking really loved-
up with the bikini model, a
source told a website.
The source said: Nicholas
and Bryana have been getting
close for months now. At first
they spent a lot of time in Los
Angeles together and even took
a trip away to go hiking up the
WORLD RAP
latest nude photo
mountains. Bryana has also start-
hack victims
ed flying over to London a lot so
she can see Nicholas.
Holly has been previously
A
ctresses Dylan Penn and Katie
Cassidy are the latest stars to
have private nude photos
leaked on a website, which describes
linked to Brody Jenner and itself as showcasing explosive
Leonardo DiCaprio. celebrity gossip from Islamic ex-
The source added, tremists. It posted what it is calling
Theyve been spotted a sex tape of Penn, 25, the model and
looking really loved-up, actress daughter of Sean Penn and
going to gigs and movies Robin Wright.
together and relaxing at The site also includes topless
Soho House. Bryana used to photos of Penn.
flaunt her relationships, always shar- Cassidy also found herself the vic-
ing selfies with Ashton (Irwin) and tim of an illegal hack when the site
appearing on Brodys reality posted a series of pictures of the
shows with him. But shes Arrow star.
happy to be more low- PTI
key for Nick, which
is a great sign.
IANS

Dylan Penn and

Bryana Holly and (right) Katie Cassidy
(inset) Nicholas Hoult

Michael B Jordan to
Kim
Kardashian

Kim opens Tilda Swintons former boyfriend

play Morpheus in up about reveals he was born out of incest ohn Byrne, former

Matrix spin-off? Paris robbery J boyfriend of ac-

tress Tilda Swin-
ton, says he was born af-
ter an incestuous rela-
tionship between his moth-

T
he new The Matrix film may
centre on young Morpheus.
According to a source, the
producers might explore expanded
universe concepts, and the movie
may come in the form of a prequel,
reports a website,
In The Matrix trilogy, Morpheus
was portrayed by Laurence Fish-
burne. The character gained re-
spect from the audience due to his
monk-like stoicism and wisdom
as a mentor. Should The Matrix
spin-off happen, the role of
young Morpheus reportedly will
be played by Michael B Jordan.
The 1999 movie The Matrix
starred Keanu Reeves in a
dystopian future where hu-
mans are unaware they live
in a simulated reality created
by sentient machines. Com-
puter programmer named
Neo (Reeves) slowly learns the
truth and starts the rebellion
against the machines. IANS
Michael B
Jordan; (right)
Laurence
Fishburne as
Morpheus in
The Matrix
on her er and his grandfather.
Artist and writer Byrne
revealed in an interview
that he was told the truth
show about his parents by his
cousin in 2002 at the Scot-
land home he shared with
Swinton, reports a website.
His cousin Aileen was
Tilda Swinton and
John Byrne
n the latest episode of Keeping Up With It makes me so upset to think about it told the news by her moth-
I The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian
West tearfully chronicled the events
of her Paris robbery as her sisters Khloe
but, like, either theyre gonna shoot me
in the back or if I make it and they dont,
if the elevator does not open in time or
er before she passed away
and she then confided in Swinton,
who said Byrne deserved to know.
illness, which Byrne believed was a
result of being utterly and totally
and Kourtney sat by her side and listened. the stairs are locked, then like... Theres His mother never told him of the in love with her own father.
The reality star suffered the most horrif- no way out. relationship and passed away in the Byrne and Swinton, 56, split
ic ordeal of her life when a group of armed PTI 1980s. She suffered from a mental in 2005. IANS
burglars forced their way
into the apartment she was
staying at in France five
months ago, tied her up and
brandished a gun at her
while demanding money
and making off with $10 mil-
lion worth of jewellery.
While recalling the inci-
dent, Kim says in the clip,
They asked for money. I
said, I dont have any mon-
ey. They dragged me out to
the hallway on top of the
stairs. Thats when I saw
the gun, like clear as day. I
was kind of looking at the
gun, looking down back at
the stairs and I was like, I
have a split second in my
mind to make this quick de-
cision. Am I gonna run
down the stairs and, like,
either be shot in the back...

Model who mocked Biebers

manhood, spotted
partying with him
Sharah
Fitzgerald; (left)
Justin Bieber

n Australian model, who pre-

A viously mocked Justin Bieber

for the size of his manhood, par-
tied with the star on his luxury yacht
last week.
Blonde beauty Sharah Fitzgerald
hooked up with the singer Down Un-
der while he enjoyed a break from his
tour on an exclusive island in Queens-
land. She was joined by sister Kaysha
Louise. But, unknown to Bieber, shed
posted a message on Instagram two
years earlier, comparing both his and
Mark Wahlbergs luxury brand cam-
paigns. She wrote: Bieber looks like
(he) just left church (and) stuck some
transfer tats on to compensate (for)
his small d*** and glorious 12-year-old For more Hollywood
body! Agencies pictures, go to:
www.photos.timesofindia.com
6 CALCUTTA TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA
BACK BEAT WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH 2017

Paoli in a
still from
the film A fun day on the sets for child artistes
anoj Michigans directorial Ami Joy which has been composed by Samik and Kunal. I am not a
M Chatterjee is a thriller that has Abir Cha- Orphaned children play an important role in
tterjee, Jaya Ashsan, Shataf Figar and
Soumyajit Mazumdar in lead roles. The film rev-
olves around the journey of a ruthless, self-cen-
tred and egoistic businessman, Joy (Abir), whose
definition of life and its situations is summed up
the film and we are shooting fun scenes with the
artistes who are portraying those characters,
said Manoj.
Talking about how they enjoyed doing the
film with Abir, Sukanya Das, who plays Sneha
replica of
by an I, me and myself attitude. The film takes a
turn when Joy goes missing and he realises the I
or Ami is transient in the course of life.
On Sunday evening, the child artistes of the
film had a gala time shooting for the title track,
in the film, said, Abirda is a darling, I love him.
He gave his phone to us to play games and he
used to cuddle me so much. I used to be in his
makeup van to listen to ghost stories from him.
Ruman.Ganguly@timesgroup.com
anyone:
Kavitta
PAOLI AND PARAM
Arijit Dutta

Kavitta
Verma
Verma
BATTLE THE EFFECTS K
avitta Verma portrays the char-
acter of Palak in writer-director
Manish Harishankars upcom-
ing film Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo
human and vulnerable as well.
Coming from a theatre background,
Kavitta is drawn to roles that are a
good blend of glamour and substance.

OF A TRAGEDY IN NEXT
irector Tathagata Bane-
Deewana, which stars Akshara Haasan,
Vivaan Shah and Gurmeet Choudhary.
Describing this TP Aggarwal and
Rahul Aggarwal production as a roman-
tic drama, she says, Its about discover-
Sayantan is by Ahanas side,
An avid reader, who quotes Paulo
Coelho and Shakespeare effortlessly,
she is sporting enough to take compar-
isons with Rakhi Sawant with a pinch
of salt. When asked about it, she exp-

D rjees upcoming film,

Mondobashar Golpo, is
a relationship drama that stars
Paoli, Parambrata Chatterjee,
Kaushik Sen and Anindya
Chatterjee. CT caught up with
the director to discuss the two
pivotal characters of the film
played by Paoli and Parambrata.
Heres what told us:
Paoli: She plays Ahana Sen
a nationally known filmmaker,
whos very lonely at heart. The
reason for this is the sudden
demise of her fiance, Ritwick
treating her and helping her
overcome the shock. Hes also
instrumental in making
ing the comic side of tragedy and know-
ing that one mans loss is another mans
gain. Gurmeet and my characters get
involved in the lives of Laali (Akshara)
lains, Its very saddening for an actor
as everyone is unique. Someone said I
resemble Jacqueline Fernandez as
well but I am not a replica of anyone. I
Ahana a successful filmmaker.
and Laaddoo (Vivaan) and its all about want people to accept me as who I am.
But all her films depict the
who finds and who loses love in the end. I dont think I resemble Rakhi Sawant
darker shades of human
There are some brilliant comic moments either, physically or otherwise. I am 57
nature and have sad endings,
too as talented actors like Darshan and quite well-read!
as her personal feelings have
Manoj Michigan Jariwala, Saurabh Shukla and Sanjay Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo Deew-
an impact on her creativity.
with the child Mishra are also a part of the film. Palak ana, produced by Star Entertainment
Sayantan tries to help Ahana
artistes during is a dreamer and likes to be loved. She is Worldwide Pvt Ltd, releases on April 7.
feel positive about life, but
the shoot larger than life, bubbly but extremely Renuka.Vyavahare@timesgroup.com
doesnt make much headway.
He, of course, has no plans to
stop trying.
Mondobashar Golpo, pro- Magician Kilmish (Praneet Bhatt)

Praneet Bhatt enters Trideviyaan

Basu (Kaushik), hours before
their marriage 6-7 years ago.
That rude shock had torn her
life apart and shrouded it in
negativity. Her only support
since that incident is Dr
Sayantan Chowdhury (Para-
mbrata) and their relationship
is something to watch out for.
Parambrata Chatterjee: He
is Dr Sayantan Chowdhury, a
psychiatrist and a common
friend of Ahana and Ritwick.
After Ritwick passes away,
Parambrata Chatterjee
in a still from the film
duced by Eylex Motion Pictures,
releases on March 24.
Srishti.Dasgupta@timesgroup.com
as magician Kilmish
he Chauhans always find themselves in
T trouble in Trideviyaan and the latest comes
in the form of evil magician Kilmish, to be
played by Praneet Bhatt.
The new baddie in Trideviyaan, which airs from
Monday to Friday at 9.30 pm on Sony SAB, will also
be a clumsy one. He generally tends to goof up
when tries to hypnotise or try a particular magic,
giving the show some funny moments. For insta-
nce, if he wants to make a pigeon appear out of
nowhere, he ends up with a big rat or if he wants to
manifest a vase, he ends up with a dangerous bomb.
Even his penchant to translate Hindi into literal
English sentences is hilarious. But the uninten-
along with the trideviyaan
tionally funny magician is also a vindictive one
he converts people who mess with him into other
genders or living forms.
Impressed by the extraordinary work and special
skills used by the trideviyaan (Aishwarya Sakh-
uja, Shalini Sahuta and Samaira Rao), Kilmish
decides to hypnotise them into robbing a bank. And
the girls end up jail while attempting to do so.
Talking about his entry into the popular show,
Praneet says, I always wanted to work in a comedy.
In fact, the storyline of this show is quite unique,
where my character is grey, entertaining and funny
as well. I am sure the audience will love and support
my character.

Volume XVI. Issue No.79. Published for the proprietors, Bennett, Coleman & Co Ltd by Shivaji Sen at 105/7A, S N Banerjee Road, Kolkata-700 014 and printed by him at Times House, Plot no.2, Block EM, Sector V, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-700 091. Editor (Kolkata market): Satadru Ojha- responsible for selection of news under PRB Act.
RNI No. WBENG/2002/6563. Tel no. Kolkata (033) 6639 1400, Response (033) 6639 1600. Fax: (O33) 2282 4966. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.