English News Paper | Breaking News | Latest Today News in ......2020/02/18  · MINISTER’S...

16
I n a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court on Monday opened the way for women in command positions in the Army and directed the Centre to grant permanent commis- sion to all women officers within three months. The apex court orders, on grounds of the need to end gender bias in the Armed forces, will directly benefit more than 300 women officers, including making them eligible for pension. The women officers, how- ever, will not be inducted into the combat arms such as the infantry, artillery and armoured corps as the Supreme Court clarified that their deployment is a matter of pol- icy as held by the Delhi High Court and the competent authority has to look into it. While directing the Centre to grant permanent commis- sion, the court termed the Government’s argument of physiological limitations and social norms for denying them command posts as “disturbing.” The court said women offi- cers in the past have brought laurels to the country and change of mindset is required on the part of the Government to put an end to gender bias in Armed forces. A Bench head- ed by Justice DY Chandrachud said there will not be any absolute bar on giving women command postings. The top court said despite there being no stay on the 2010 Delhi High Court verdict allowing grant of permanent commission to women officers, the Centre showed scant regard in implementing the directive in the past one decade. “There is no reason and justification for the union of India not to act as per the Delhi High Court verdict. On September 2, 2011, the Supreme Court clarified this aspect and said there is no stay on the High Court verdict. Despite that scant regard has been paid to the verdict of the HC and the order of Supreme Court as well,” the Bench said. The SC said it is of the opinion that physiological fea- tures of women have no effect in granting permanent com- mission and they have to be given equal opportunity on a par with their male counter- parts in the armed forces. It said the Centre’s sub- mission of physiological limi- tation is based on flawed notion and there is no constitutional basis to deny them equal opportunity. The SC said per- manent commission can be given to women officers in the Army irrespective of their tenure of service. On February 9, serving women officers in the Indian Army had countered the Centre’s stand in the SC on denying command posts to women on the ground of their physiological limitations, terming it not only “regressive but also completely contrary to the demonstrated record and statistics.” In their written sub- mission to the court, the women officers had sought rejection of the submission of the Centre and said it is unfor- tunate that such grounds have been raised, which are com- pletely contrary to the demon- strated records of the case. The women officers had said they have been serving in the 10 Combat Support Arms, for the last 27 to 28 years and have proven their mettle and courage under fire. The written submission had also said the women officers have demonstrated that they do not lack in any manner in the roles that have been assigned to them. A Delhi court on Monday issued fresh death war- rants against the four death- row convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. The four convicts will be now hanged to death on March 3 at 6 am. This is the third time that death warrants have been issued against them. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Dharmender Rana issued fresh warrants against death row convicts Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31). The first date of execution, January 22, was postponed to February 1 by a January 17 court order. Then the trial court on January 31 stayed “till further orders” the execution of the four convicts as they had not exhausted all their legal remedies. Mukesh on Monday told the court that he didn’t want to be represented by advocate Vrinda Grover, after which advocate Ravi Qazi was picked to represent him. The court was also informed that Vinay is on hunger strike. Vinay was assaulted in jail and has head injuries, his lawyer told the court, adding that he was suf- fering from acute mental illness and hence the death sentence cannot be carried out. The court directed the Tihar Jail superintendent to take appropriate care of Vinay as per law. Pawan’s counsel informed the court that he wanted to move curative petition and the mercy plea against the death sentence before the President. Pawan is the only one among the four convicts who has not yet filed the curative petition — the last legal rem- edy available to a person, which is decided in-chamber. B lockade of the public road at Shaheen Bagh is “trou- bling us”, the Supreme Court said on Monday and suggest- ed that the anti-CAA protest- ers go to another site where no public place would be blocked. The SC asked senior advo- cate Sanjay Hegde to “play a constructive role as an inter- locutor” to persuade the pro- testers to move to an alterna- tive site. People have a funda- mental right to protest “peace- fully and lawfully” but block- ing public roads and public places is a matter of concern as it might lead to “chaotic situa- tion”, the apex court said, stress- ing that there has to be a “bal- ancing factor”. “Democracy works on expression of views but there are lines and boundaries for it,” a bench of Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said, adding, “The question which is arising is where to protest.” “Our concern is if every- body starts blocking public areas then where will it end,” the bench asked. The SC said Hegde can take assistance of advocate Sadhana Ramachandran and former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah for talking to the protesters. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Government and the Delhi Police, told the court that the solution is to remove these pro- testers from the site. “We will not go that far but the problem is that they (protesters) are keeping children and women as shield. We have held a series of meetings with the local resident welfare associations, priests of mosques there and we are try- ing to persuade them that this is not the way to keep entire city to hostage under the garb of protest,” Mehta said. W ith the objective of fight- ing modern-day warfare, India will roll out two to five theatre commands by 2022 to take care of security challenges along the western (Pakistan) and northern (China) borders. While Jammu & Kashmir will be a separate theatre, the western and eastern Navy com- mands will operate as one and known as peninsular com- mand to guard the strategical- ly important Indian Ocean, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat said here on Monday. Stressing that his charter as CDS is clearly enunciated, he said the mandate is to achieve jointness and synergy between the three Services by under- taking these reforms. Rawat said the theatre commands will be geographi- cally defined and demarcated and a study will be conducted from March 31 onwards. The study will be submitted for scrutiny by the end of next year and hopefully the commands will roll out by 2020, said Rawat, adding the study groups will evaluate the options of number of commands which could vary from two to five. At present, the three Services have their own commands and operate in silos. New Delhi: A court here sent Sharjeel Imam, arrested on sedition charge last month, to one day custody of the Delhi Police on Monday in a separate case related to violent protests against CAA at New Friends Colony on December 15. T o make Punjab’s cities ‘garbage-free’ by ensuring 100 per cent lifting of garbage heaps from every nook and cor- ner of the cities, Punjab Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra on Monday set 15 days deadline for all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). The Minister also directed the ULB authorities to check the menace of stray cattle by bringing other stakeholders, social organisation and NGOs on board. The directions by the Minister came while he was presiding over a high-level review meeting of the Department. Mohindra directed all the Mayors and Municipal Commissioners to lift every bit of garbage from the jurisdiction of the cities, and set a 15-day deadline for them to make cites ‘garbage-free’. At the same time, he assured them full support from the Government in this work but demanded a reciprocal commitment from them to complete this task within 15 days. “The UBLs, who would achieve this target in lesser time, would be rewarded by the State Government in a befitting manner whereas the authorities at those ULBs, who would fail to execute the task in the stip- ulated time, would have to face the music,” said the Minister. The Local Bodies Minister, highlighting the virtues of ‘one time settlement policy’ for the recovery of arrears of water and sewerage charges in the Urban Local bodies, which has recent- ly been notified by the depart- ment, called upon the various authorities at the ULBs to launch aggressive awareness campaign to sensitize the citi- zen to urge them to pay their outstanding amount.“By doing so, the ULBs could generate adequate revenue at their end,” he said. Similarly, the Minister asked them to realize the pend- ing revenue from the building department. The Minister asked them to plug the gap in collecting the property tax by making a point that in the recent past around one lakh new electricity connections were given in the urban area of the State but the estimation of property tax was not increased in that proportion. He directed the ULBs to immediately float the tenders for putting up an advertisement at designated places of the ULBs which would garner bountiful revenue for them. Mohindra also gave a clar- ion call to the ULBs to check the stray cattle menace which is posing serious socio-econom- ic danger before the civilized society and daily claiming inno- cent lives across the State. He directed the officers at ULBs to personally visit the gaushalas in their districts and to make an accurate inventory of the stray cattle housed there- in. He said that the government is providing 32 per cattle as maintenance charges to the gaushalas as per the headcount of stray cattle providing by the management of the gaushalas, so the headcount of cattle must be crosschecked by the officers of the ULBs. The Minister said that ille- gal constructions in the cities must be checked and it should be ensured that fee should be paid for every new construction as per the Government policy. Continued on Page 4 MINISTER’S INSTRUCTIONS TO ULBS U nder attack from all sides over the costly electricity in the State besides the demand of annulling the “anti-govern- ment” power purchase agree- ments (PPAs) with private play- ers, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday announced that the State Government would “renegotiate” the power agree- ments which the erstwhile Akali-BJP Government had signed to “defraud the State and its people”. The Chief Minister also warned the private players against messing with Punjab’s finances. Given the shortfall in production by the State-owned power plants at Lehra Mohabbat and Ropar, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would work around the existing arrange- ments with the private players to make the power rates more affordable while ensuring that the peak demand of 13,000 mega watt is effectively met. Notably, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has all along been tar- geting the State Government for not fulfilling its election promise of scrapping or review- ing the PPAs with private thermal power plants. In fact, AAP’s Sunam MLA Aman Arora has even written to the Congress national pres- ident Sonia Gandhi seeking her intervention in the matter by directing the Chief Minister to fulfill the election promise and scrap the agreements. Not even the Opposition, the demand to cancel the PPAs in the interest of the state and its people was also raised by the Congress leaders including the Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, former Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh, state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, along with other legislators and Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa corn- ing their own Government over the issue. The Chief Minister, addressing the newly elected Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) office bearers, said that the state's financial position was on its way to consolidation as a result of the State Government’s efforts of the last three years and any attempt to scuttle the momentum would not be tol- erated. Exhorting the young PYC members and office bearers to play a proactive role in safe- guarding the nation’s cher- ished ideals of secularism and pluralism, Capt Amarinder described the positivity and energy exhibited by the youth against the nefarious divisive designs of the BJP was reas- suring. Capt Amarinder asked the youth wing to support various initiatives in a mission mode to ensure that their benefits per- colate down to the masses, and to thwart the Opposition’s negative propaganda against the government. The Chief Minister hoped that the exuberance shown by young leaders would further enhance penetration of the State Government’s various path-breaking pro-people poli- cies at the grassroots. He also assured them of his proactive support at all levels for any work in the interest of the State and its youth. A midst speculations that firebrand leader Navjot Singh Sidhu may start new innings in the wake of Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) resound- ing win in Delhi elections, the cricketer-turned-politician made a public appearance in an event attended by his polit- ical rival and SAD MLA Bikram Singh Majithia on late Sunday night. Coming out of his ‘self- imposed’ political exile after he resigned from the Capt Amarinder Singh led Cabinet in July 2019, Sidhu made his first major public appearance after months at a cultural event regarding musical album release at Majitha in Amritsar, sharing stage with Majithia, besides other prominent lead- ers including Congress Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, SAD Taksali leader Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, among others. Sidhu greeted Akali veter- an Brahmpura, and was also seen chatting with Congress MP Aujla during the event. However, he maintained a dis- tance from his bête noire Majithia. The sudden appearance of motor-mouth Sidhu at an event after eight months of exile has created a stir in the Punjab political circles, especially after he abstained from campaigning for the party in the recently concluded Delhi assembly polls despite being Congress’ star campaigner. It has been learnt that Sidhu deliberately avoided campaigning in Delhi as there are apprehensions that he might part ways with the Congress, and join any anoth- er political party, like AAP, ahead 2022 polls. AAP’s massive win in Delhi has led to conjectures regard- ing Sidhu’s possible entry into the party which has set it next target on Punjab. In fact, AAP has also started sending feelers to Sidhu in a move to restruc- ture the party organization in Punjab. Continued on Page 4

Transcript of English News Paper | Breaking News | Latest Today News in ......2020/02/18  · MINISTER’S...

  • �����������������������������������������

    ��������� ��������������

    ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

    �������������������

    ����������

    �������

    ������������������

    ��������� ����!"��������������

    �����������������������#�������������$������������%&����������

    ���������������������'���(��������)���������'��������)������������������������������*�����������+����������������

    ���������������������������� �!"�#� � ����������������������������������������������������"���#,��������������

    �����������������������

    ��

    ��������������������������������������������������������������

    �

    �� -%.��%#/!

    In a landmark judgment, theSupreme Court on Mondayopened the way for women incommand positions in theArmy and directed the Centreto grant permanent commis-sion to all women officerswithin three months. The apexcourt orders, on grounds of theneed to end gender bias in theArmed forces, will directlybenefit more than 300 womenofficers, including makingthem eligible for pension.

    The women officers, how-ever, will not be inducted intothe combat arms such as theinfantry, artillery andarmoured corps as the SupremeCourt clarified that theirdeployment is a matter of pol-icy as held by the Delhi HighCourt and the competentauthority has to look into it.

    While directing the Centreto grant permanent commis-sion, the court termed theGovernment’s argument ofphysiological limitations andsocial norms for denying themcommand posts as “disturbing.”

    The court said women offi-cers in the past have broughtlaurels to the country andchange of mindset is requiredon the part of the Governmentto put an end to gender bias inArmed forces. A Bench head-ed by Justice DY Chandrachudsaid there will not be anyabsolute bar on giving womencommand postings.

    The top court said despitethere being no stay on the 2010Delhi High Court verdictallowing grant of permanentcommission to women officers,the Centre showed scant regardin implementing the directivein the past one decade.

    “There is no reason andjustification for the union ofIndia not to act as per the DelhiHigh Court verdict. OnSeptember 2, 2011, theSupreme Court clarified thisaspect and said there is no stayon the High Court verdict.Despite that scant regard hasbeen paid to the verdict of theHC and the order of SupremeCourt as well,” the Bench said.

    The SC said it is of theopinion that physiological fea-tures of women have no effectin granting permanent com-mission and they have to be

    given equal opportunity on apar with their male counter-parts in the armed forces.

    It said the Centre’s sub-mission of physiological limi-tation is based on flawed notionand there is no constitutionalbasis to deny them equalopportunity. The SC said per-manent commission can begiven to women officers in theArmy irrespective of theirtenure of service.

    On February 9, servingwomen officers in the IndianArmy had countered theCentre’s stand in the SC ondenying command posts towomen on the ground of theirphysiological limitations,terming it not only “regressivebut also completely contrary tothe demonstrated record andstatistics.” In their written sub-mission to the court, thewomen officers had soughtrejection of the submission ofthe Centre and said it is unfor-tunate that such grounds havebeen raised, which are com-pletely contrary to the demon-strated records of the case.

    The women officers hadsaid they have been serving inthe 10 Combat Support Arms,for the last 27 to 28 years andhave proven their mettle andcourage under fire. The written submission hadalso said the women officershave demonstrated that they donot lack in any manner in theroles that have been assigned tothem.

    ��������������� -%.��%#/!

    ADelhi court on Mondayissued fresh death war-rants against the four death-row convicts in the Nirbhayagangrape and murder case.The four convicts will be nowhanged to death on March 3 at6 am. This is the third time thatdeath warrants have beenissued against them.

    Additional Sessions Judge(ASJ) Dharmender Rana issuedfresh warrants against deathrow convicts Mukesh KumarSingh (32), Pawan Gupta (25),Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) andAkshay Kumar (31).

    The first date of execution,January 22, was postponed toFebruary 1 by a January 17court order. Then the trialcourt on January 31 stayed “tillfurther orders” the execution ofthe four convicts as they hadnot exhausted all their legalremedies.

    Mukesh on Monday toldthe court that he didn’t want tobe represented by advocateVrinda Grover, after whichadvocate Ravi Qazi was pickedto represent him.

    The court was alsoinformed that Vinay is onhunger strike. Vinay wasassaulted in jail and has headinjuries, his lawyer told thecourt, adding that he was suf-fering from acute mental illnessand hence the death sentencecannot be carried out.

    The court directed theTihar Jail superintendent totake appropriate care of Vinayas per law.

    Pawan’s counsel informedthe court that he wanted tomove curative petition and themercy plea against the deathsentence before the President.

    Pawan is the only oneamong the four convicts whohas not yet filed the curativepetition — the last legal rem-edy available to a person, whichis decided in-chamber.

    ����� -%.��%#/!

    Blockade of the public roadat Shaheen Bagh is “trou-bling us”, the Supreme Courtsaid on Monday and suggest-ed that the anti-CAA protest-ers go to another site where nopublic place would be blocked.

    The SC asked senior advo-cate Sanjay Hegde to “play aconstructive role as an inter-locutor” to persuade the pro-testers to move to an alterna-tive site. People have a funda-mental right to protest “peace-fully and lawfully” but block-ing public roads and publicplaces is a matter of concern asit might lead to “chaotic situa-tion”, the apex court said, stress-ing that there has to be a “bal-ancing factor”.

    “Democracy works onexpression of views but thereare lines and boundaries for it,”a bench of Justices SK Kaul andKM Joseph said, adding, “Thequestion which is arising is

    where to protest.”“Our concern is if every-

    body starts blocking publicareas then where will it end,”the bench asked.

    The SC said Hegde cantake assistance of advocateSadhana Ramachandran andformer Chief InformationCommissioner WajahatHabibullah for talking to theprotesters.

    Solicitor General TusharMehta, appearing for the DelhiGovernment and the DelhiPolice, told the court that thesolution is to remove these pro-testers from the site. “We willnot go that far but the problemis that they (protesters) arekeeping children and women asshield. We have held a series of

    meetings with the local residentwelfare associations, priests ofmosques there and we are try-ing to persuade them that thisis not the way to keep entirecity to hostage under the garbof protest,” Mehta said.

    ���������������������������������

    ������������� -%.��%#/!

    With the objective of fight-ing modern-day warfare,India will roll out two to fivetheatre commands by 2022 totake care of security challengesalong the western (Pakistan)and northern (China) borders.

    While Jammu & Kashmirwill be a separate theatre, thewestern and eastern Navy com-mands will operate as one andknown as peninsular com-mand to guard the strategical-ly important Indian Ocean,Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)General Bipin Rawat said here

    on Monday.Stressing that his charter as

    CDS is clearly enunciated, hesaid the mandate is to achievejointness and synergy between

    the three Services by under-taking these reforms.

    Rawat said the theatrecommands will be geographi-cally defined and demarcatedand a study will be conductedfrom March 31 onwards. Thestudy will be submitted forscrutiny by the end of next yearand hopefully the commandswill roll out by 2020, saidRawat, adding the study groupswill evaluate the options ofnumber of commands whichcould vary from two to five. Atpresent, the three Services havetheir own commands andoperate in silos.

    ������������������������������������������������������������������

    ������������������������������������������������������������

    �����������������������������������������������������

    ���������������������������������New Delhi: A court here sentSharjeel Imam, arrested onsedition charge last month, toone day custody of the DelhiPolice on Monday in a separatecase related to violent protestsagainst CAA at New FriendsColony on December 15.

    ������� �����������������������������������

    �����������������������������,��������������������������������������011������������������������������������������������

    ��������������������������������������������������������������������������

    �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������/��������

    ��������������������������������������������������� �!������������������������"�#�������������"�����������������$�������������%���&�������'���" �()

    %���"�����$��������������� �()

    *��������������+��$����������������������%���&�������'���" �()

    ��������������� ������������

    �������������������������������������������

    !�����"�����������������������������������#� ��������$�������������������

    �

    �� �/,-�!2,"/

    To make Punjab’s cities‘garbage-free’ by ensuring100 per cent lifting of garbageheaps from every nook and cor-ner of the cities, Punjab LocalBodies Minister BrahmMohindra on Monday set 15days deadline for all the UrbanLocal Bodies (ULBs).

    The Minister also directedthe ULB authorities to checkthe menace of stray cattle bybringing other stakeholders,social organisation and NGOson board.

    The directions by theMinister came while he waspresiding over a high-levelreview meeting of theDepartment.

    Mohindra directed all theMayors and MunicipalCommissioners to lift every bitof garbage from the jurisdictionof the cities, and set a 15-day

    deadline for them to makecites ‘garbage-free’.

    At the same time, heassured them full support fromthe Government in this workbut demanded a reciprocalcommitment from them tocomplete this task within 15days.

    “The UBLs, who wouldachieve this target in lessertime, would be rewarded by theState Government in a befittingmanner whereas the authoritiesat those ULBs, who would failto execute the task in the stip-ulated time, would have to facethe music,” said the Minister.

    The Local Bodies Minister,highlighting the virtues of ‘onetime settlement policy’ for therecovery of arrears of water andsewerage charges in the UrbanLocal bodies, which has recent-ly been notified by the depart-ment, called upon the variousauthorities at the ULBs to

    launch aggressive awarenesscampaign to sensitize the citi-zen to urge them to pay theiroutstanding amount.“By doingso, the ULBs could generateadequate revenue at their end,”he said.

    Similarly, the Ministerasked them to realize the pend-ing revenue from the buildingdepartment. The Ministerasked them to plug the gap incollecting the property tax bymaking a point that in therecent past around one lakhnew electricity connectionswere given in the urban area ofthe State but the estimation ofproperty tax was not increasedin that proportion.

    He directed the ULBs toimmediately float the tendersfor putting up an advertisementat designated places of theULBs which would garnerbountiful revenue for them.

    Mohindra also gave a clar-

    ion call to the ULBs to checkthe stray cattle menace which isposing serious socio-econom-ic danger before the civilizedsociety and daily claiming inno-cent lives across the State.

    He directed the officers atULBs to personally visit thegaushalas in their districts andto make an accurate inventoryof the stray cattle housed there-in. He said that the governmentis providing �32 per cattle asmaintenance charges to thegaushalas as per the headcountof stray cattle providing by themanagement of the gaushalas,so the headcount of cattle mustbe crosschecked by the officersof the ULBs.

    The Minister said that ille-gal constructions in the citiesmust be checked and it shouldbe ensured that fee should bepaid for every new constructionas per the Government policy.

    Continued on Page 4

    ����������������������������������������������������

    �M I N I S T E R ’ S I N S T R U C T I O N S T O U L B S

    � ,��������������������������������������������3114��������������������������35(��

    ������������������6�������(����7

    � 89#�������������������������������������������(��������������������������������������������������&����������������������������

    � :������������������������

    ��������������������������03

    � ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������;�������-2

  • �����

    ����������������������

    ��������������������������������������������� ����!�����������������"������������#$%�%��&�����'�������(�������)*+�������(��+%$**)*�,���-��*%.)+/$*01/.�������������23��������������������-��))�����+44�4��������������������5����!�����6���+�������������7�������!�����6����

    ��������47�27�5�78!��7��%�**!��6�������7����� �����9��-����6���:���6����;�����

    ������6 �(����;�������������6��3�����'����#�����6-��$� �����8��

    �9�� �������<����(�-�9'����+%%***)������6*%%+/*%%*/==�������������#�����6&+0%�������$�-#4'��8��� ���-(�+)*%0*%�2��������6*%)*+/1.>1**;/1.>>**�������9#�����6/��&���������������(�������&�?

    �7���������9+))$*%$�,���������6*=))+)0/$//0+/=

    ����������������������������������

    ����������������������������� ��������������� ������������������������������������������ ��������������� �� ��������������� ������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������!����������������"��������������

    ��������������������������������������������������������������������

    ������������������������������������������#�������������������������������

    ����$���

    �%����&����������������������������������������������������������������'��������������������������������������������������"��������������������(�����������������������������

    "#$%&'($)#�*�+�,-&$. *�/,�)�$). �01�2323

    �������

    ��������$������������$�������$������"+�#� �A����������������JIEK�����������������������������*������������������������������������������������������������$���������������������������*��������:��������B �,����������������������������������������������������������������

    ��$���������������������2!�%"����:��������31 �9�������������������������������������������������������������������

    �����������������������������������������������������������(������:��������3D���

    ����� �@���$������������������"

  • "#$%&'($)#�*�+�,-&$. *�/,�)�$). �01�2323 ����#

    �

    9�����$����� ,�"!��,"

    To further improve the pub-lic distribution system atpan India basis, the CentralGovernment will implement‘One Nation, One Ration Card’scheme in the country soon,Union Minister of State forConsumer Affairs, Food andPublic Distribution RaosahebDadarao Danve said onWednesday.

    He said with the imple-mentation of ‘One Nation OneRation Card’ scheme, any ben-eficiary would be allowed to getfood security benefits fromany PDS (public distributionsystem) Depot across the coun-try as per the guidelines.

    The Union Minister was inthe city to attend a meetingwith the officials from FoodSupply and Consumer AffairsDepartment, PUNSUP andWarehouse related with wheatprocurement.

    Danve, interacting withthe media persons, informedthat for effective implementa-tion of this new scheme, 12clusters have already beenestablished in the country andthe scheme will be imple-mented in the coming days.

    “This scheme will providea sturdy apparatus to the PDSsystem in the country as underthis new scheme, the con-sumers need not to apply new

    ration card in view of migrationto other areas of the country,”he said.

    As the same card will beapplicable all over the country,the consumer beneficiarieswould be able to buy subsidizedfood items from any rationdepot in the country as perstipulated norms, added Danve.

    He further revealed thatout of total 332 lakh metrictonnes (LMT) procured wheat

    at national level, Punjab con-tributes about 129 LMT.Similarly, Punjab contributesabout 113 LMT in the aggre-gated procurement of rice thattouches 416 LMT mark in thecountry.

    Danve further said that asthe wheat procurement wouldstart in the coming weeks, themain purpose of his visit was todiscuss the arrangements to runthe wheat purchase smoothly.

    “To store wheat on scien-tific techniques, silos are beingset up with capacity of 100LMT and the UnionGovernment has also fixed atarget to set up the silos with700 LMT storage capacity inthe country,” he said.

    He added that to store 33.5LMT wheat, 92 sites have beenselected in Punjab and prepa-ration work was already inprogress.

    “Till January 31, there was96 LMT wheat in store and thesame is being shifted toMaharashtra so that the suffi-cient space would be availablefor the wheat to be procured inthe coming season,” addedDanve after the state FoodSupply Corporation generalmanager Arshdeep SinghThind urged him to vacate thestorage sites as soon as possi-ble keeping in view the comingwheat procurement season inPunjab.

    �������������������6

  • "#$%&'($)#�*�+�,-&$. *�/,�)�$). �01�2323 �����$

    From Page 1

    Notably, Sidhu has beenabsenting himself from the ses-sion of Punjab Vidhan Sabhabesides skipping public meet-

    ings ever since he resigned asthe Cabinet Minister in protestagainst changing his portfolio.

    Sidhu has been keeping

    his cards close to the chest andhas not spoken to media abouthis future move.

    However, AAP Punjab unit

    president Bhagwant Mann hasgiven indication of roping inSidhu in Punjab. “Our partycan talk to him (on the issue ofhis joining the party),” Mannhad stated in January adding,“We will welcome good politi-cians. But there is no officialcommunication so far withhim”.

    Earlier, Akali Dal Taksalileaders also offered the Chief

    Minister's post to Sidhu “if hejoined the party”.

    There are also specula-tions that political strategistPrashant Kishor, who has closeproximity with both ArvindKejriwal and Sidhu, could playa crucial role in bringing Sidhuto the AAP fold ahead of thestate polls. The beleagueredAAP is also looking for a CMface in Punjab.

    From Page 1The Minister asked the

    ULBs to make the norms easyfor the benefit of citizens so thatthey coordinate with the

    Government by paying taxesand fee in time for executingwelfare schemes for them.Saying that the ULBs share a bigchunk of responsibility in pro-viding civic amenities to the cit-izen in a time-bound manner,the Minister directed the ULBsto float tenders of all pendingdevelopment works till March31, 2020, and ensure executionof work within the stipulatedtime frame.

    �����((( ������ �

  • "#$%&'($)#�*�+�,-&$. *�/,�)�$). �01�2323 �����0

    ������������8����-%.��%#/!

    With the electioneeringprocess over in thenational Capital and ArvindKejriwal back at the helm, theUnion HRD Ministry is nowplanning to pursue the initia-tion of administrative actionagainst a former CentralGovernment employee, cur-rently working as Professorand Dean at AmbedkarUniversity Delhi (AUD), fallingunder the purview of the DelhiGovernment.

    The don, ProfessorSitanshu Shekar Jena, was heldguilty of sexual harassment atworkplace by HRD Ministry’sInternal ComplaintsCommittee during his tenure asChairman of National Instituteof Open Schooling (NIOS).Subsequently, IGNOU, parentcadre, had punished him byreducing his pay band and

    increments. There are allegations in the

    complaints to the HRD Ministryand the Delhi Government thatJena concealed the punishmentfact when applying for the postat AUD. Further, he also did notinform his parent departmentwhile applying to AUD. And tofacilitate his appointment inAUD, he applied for VRS fromIGNOU.

    Delhi Deputy ChiefMinister Manish Sisodia, as

    Education Minister in his lasttenure, had initiated a probe ayear ago and a report was to besubmitted within seven days butwhich hasn’t been done so far.The inordinate delay in the pro-ceedings has now led the HRDMinistry to pursue the matter asit has received complaintsagainst the AUD Professor.

    Jena was appointed by theDelhi Government as Professorand Dean in the AUD School ofVocational Studies almost two

    years ago. A senior official saidnow that the elections are overand the Delhi Government is inplace, the matter will be expe-dited and taken up in the firstmeeting of Education Ministry.

    For his part, Jena said hewas not aware of the com-plaints and such matters againsthim. “I am not a CentralGovernment employee any-more as I have already takenVRS from IGNOU three yearsago. When the case, which is

    being talked about now, hasalready been settled then nocontroversy stands,” Jena toldThe Pioneer over phone.

    Under the Governmentrules, sexual harassmentinvokes a major punishmentwhich includes dismissal fromservice. IGNOU recently tookstrict action against an officialfound guilty of sexual harass-ment by immediately sus-pending him and then award-ing a major punishment.

    “As per the allegation ofmanipulation against Dr Jena,it was also stated that he wasgiven undue favour by award-ing a minor punishment andthat too retrospectively whichis against rules. Jena also has aninquiry of financial irregular-ity pending against him whenhe applied. The DelhiGovernment probe is expectedto look into the role of AUDofficials too,” sources said at theHRD Ministry.

    �

    �� -%.��%#/!�

    The EnforcementDirectorate (ED) unearthedunaccounted cash worth �3.75crore and over 39 kg of goldand silver after conductingraids in Jaipur, Kolkata andChennai against jewellers asso-ciated with an alleged gold-smuggling hawala racket.

    The ED claimed that theaction under Foreign ExchangeManagement Act (FEMA) hasled to detection of “huge eva-sion” of customs duty, GST aswell as Income Tax.

    “The ED received reliableinput that Maharaja Jewellers(proprietor Tara Chand Soni),Bhagwati Jewellers (owner RamGopal Soni) and LadiwalaAssociates (owner HoneyLadiwala) of Jaipur were pur-chasing smuggled gold barsfrom Harsh Bothra of Chennaiand Banka Bullions Pvt. Ltd etc,”the agency said in a statement.

    While acting on the infor-mation, it was found that vari-

    ous individuals were involved insmuggling of gold bars andsubsequent dispatch of those toJaipur. Gold bars were mainlyarriving in Jaipur via Kolkataand had high purity level, it said.

    The suspects used toremove the foreign mark ofmanufacturer or bank engravedor embossed on the gold barsand then smuggle those intothe country, the ED said. These

    bars were then dispatched tovarious domestic markets bydifferent modes of transporta-tion to evade action from thelaw enforcement agencies.

    The accused jewellers didnot account for jewellery man-ufactured from smuggled goldand illegal funds generatedwere then transferred throughhawala agents based in thesecities, the agency said.

    Hawala denotes the illegalmanner of transferring funds byskirting banking channels anddealing in cash through agents.

    “Searches at variouspremises in Jaipur, Kolkataand Chennai resulted in seizureof unaccounted Indian andforeign currency worth �3.75crore, gold bar and jewelleryweighing 26.97 kg and silverweighing 12.22 kg along withincriminating documents.Electronic and digital devicesseized are still to be examined and may lead tofurther details of illegal deal-ings,” the agency added.

    �

    �� -%.��%#/!

    Following its President RecepTayyip Erdogan’s commentsexpressing concern over theprevailing situation in Kashmirand comparing the “struggle” ofKashmiri people with that ofthe fight by the Turkish duringthe World War I, India onMonday issued a strongdemarche to Turkey.

    In a strongly worded state-ment, the Ministry of ExternalAffairs (MEA) said Erdogan’sremarks reflected neither anunderstanding of history nor ofthe conduct of diplomacy andthat they will have strong impli-cations on India’s ties withTurkey. MEA SpokespersonRaveesh Kumar said Indiarejected the repeated attemptsby Turkey to justify the cross-border terrorism “practised soblatantly” by Pakistan.

    In an address to a joint ses-sion of Pakistan’s Parliament onFriday, Erdogan compared the“struggle” of Kashmiri peoplewith that of the fight by Turkishpeople against foreign domi-nation during the World WarI, and threw his weight behindIslamabad on the Kashmir

    issue.“India has made a strong

    demarche with the Turkishgovernment on the remarksmade by President Erdogan onthe Indian Union Territory ofJammu and Kashmir during hisrecent visit to Islamabad. Theseremarks reflect neither anunderstanding of history nor ofthe conduct of diplomacy,”Kumar said in a statement.

    He said the TurkishPresident’s remarks “distorted”events of the past to advance a“narrow minded” view of thepresent. “This recent episode isbut one more example of a pat-tern of Turkey interfering in theinternal affairs of other coun-tries. India finds that complete-ly unacceptable,” Kumar said.

    The demarche was made bySecretary (West) Vikash Swarupto the Ambassador of Turkey.

    �

    �� -%.��%#/!

    Defence Minister RajnathSingh on Monday wel-comed the Supreme Court’sjudgement on PermanentCommission for women inArmy and said Prime MinisterNarendra Modi has supportedthe idea of permanent com-mission for women andannounced the change in pol-icy in his Independence Dayspeech in 2018.

    Tweeting this message healso said, “A historic decision toallow women in field opera-tions came earlier when thethen Defence Minister NirmalaSitharaman announced thatwomen will be inducted into

    the Military Police. The recruit-ment process has started in2019. The plan was to recruitwomen in roles ranging fromprobing crime cases to assist-ing the army in field operationswherever required,” RakshaMantri said.

    “There have been instanceswhere certain women officershave been in the job for near-ly 20 years, while SSC term ter-minates in 14 years. In 2019,the Defence Ministry granteda permanent commission towomen in all 10 branches of theIndian Army, including SignalCorps, intelligence, aviation,engineering, service corps andordinance corps,” Singh added.

    Before 2016, women made

    up just 2.5 per cent of India’sarmed forces, working in main-ly non-combat roles. As ofJanuary 2019, 3.89 per cent ofthe army personnel comprisedwomen, while 6.7 per cent ofthe navy and 13.28 per cent ofthe air force personnel respec-tively were women as of June2019. As of June 2019, womenwere inducted in all branchesof the Indian Air Force, withterms and conditions forwomen officers being issuedfrom time to time.

    Singh said, “TheGovernment is working tostrengthen the ‘Stree Shakti’ inour Armed Forces and westand committed to move for-ward in this direction.”

    �

    �� -%.��%#/!

    Bihar has become the fourthState in the country to havea bird ringing (tagging) stationwherein rings will be placed onlegs of winged wonders tostudy their migration pattern,mortality, territoriality andother behaviour with the helpof encrypted codes embeddedin the attached tracking device.

    The other three ringingstations are in Tamil Nadu,Rajasthan and Odisha.

    A pact was inked betweenrepresentatives of the BiharGovernment and the BombayNatural History Society(BNHS) at Gandhinagar in

    Gujarat on the first day of theopening of the CMS — COP13(conservation of Migratoryspecies — Conference ofParties) attended by over 2,500delegates from 111 countries.

    “This will be fourth ring-ing station in India and the firstin North India. The pact is forfive years in which our

    Government will dole outalmost �5 crore,” BiharPrincipal Secretary,Environment and Forests,Dipak Kumar Singh said, adding the station will monitorthe areas where large no ofmigratory birds visit such asNagi Nakti (in Jamui District),Kusheshwarsthan (inDarbhanga District), Baraillajheel (Vaishali), Kanwar lake(Begusarai).

    He added it is also the firstringing station to be set up withthe support of a StateGovernment. The pact wassigned by Director BNHS,Pradeep Apte and Bihar’s ChiefWildlife Warden, PrabhatKumar Gupta.

    The ringing station will bemanned by trained scientistsand other technical manpow-er from BNHS. For monitoringthe migratory birds, rings are

    used which have chips con-taining the details about theirorigin, route taken by them etc.

    Bhagalpur will be the maincentre as the Ganges and itsDiyara are favourite destination

    of migratory birds. Significantly,Bhagalpur is also one of the onlythree known breeding places ofGreater Adjutant in the wholeworld, apart from Cambodiaand Assam.

    At these stations, rings areplaced on legs of birds. Therings come with chips whichhelp in tracking the origin ofthe birds and the route taken bythese during migration.

    An official from the BNHSexplained that the ring’sencrypted BNHS code numbersensure that wherever a ringedbird dies, is shot or is spottedwith binoculars or pho-tographed, the data can be sentback to the organisation and thebird’s migration is charted.BNHS has ringed over a millionbirds at different places in theIndian subcontinent, with theinitiation of bird ringing studyin India in 1950s.

    New Delhi: A 9-judge Bench ofthe Supreme Court observed onMonday that making offeringsat places of worship may be areligious practice, but the lawcan regulate the money donat-ed at such places if it is used for“terrorism” or “running casinos”.

    The top court said the oldpractices of “human sacrifices”and ‘sati’ amounted to murderunder law and could not besaved on ground of “essentialreligious practice”.

    The Constitution bench,headed by Chief Justice SABobde, made these observationsas it commenced hearing todeliberate upon the issues per-taining to the scope of freedomof religion as also of judicialscrutiny into “essential religiouspractices” of separate “religious

    denominations”.The Bench is also examin-

    ing the issue whether a person,who does not belong to a par-ticular faith, can file a PILquestioning the religious prac-tice of another religion or sectof a religion. The questionshave arisen out of a judgementin the Sabarimala case.

    “The IPC can be read as theguard against the practice ofhuman sacrifices, because it ismurder under the IPC. Likewise‘sati’ also amounted to murder...Even a religious aspect can bethe subject matter of reform,”said the Bench which alsoincluded justices R Banumathi,Ashok Bhushan, L NageswaraRao, MM Shantanagoudar, SANazeer, R Subhash Reddy, BRGavai and Surya Kant. PTI

    �

    �� -%.��%#/!

    The Congress on Mondaysaid that the BJPGovernment disrespectedIndian women by arguing inSupreme Court that womenArmy officers did not deservecommand posts or permanentservice because they were infe-rior to men.

    Congress leader RahulGandhi attack on theGovernment came after theSupreme Court directed theCentre to grant permanentcommission to all women offi-cers in the Army within threemonths, terming the Centre’sargument of physiological lim-itations and social norms for

    denying them command posts“disturbing”.

    Congress general secretaryPriyanka Gandhi Vadra on herpart said the historic judgmentof the Supreme Court has givennew wings to the flight ofwomen in the country.“Women are capable -- in theArmy, in valor, in water, landand sky. This is a befittingreply to the prejudiced ModiGovernment, which is opposedto women’s power,” theCongress general secretary said.

    Rahul Gandhi, in a tweet,also lauded the women forstanding up and proving theGovernment wrong. “TheGovernment disrespectedevery Indian woman, by argu-

    ing in the SC that womenArmy officers didn’t deservecommand posts or permanentservice because they were infe-rior to men,” he said.

    He also attached a newsreport that said the apex courtasked the government to grantpermanent commission towomen in the Army. A Benchheaded by Justice DYChandrachud said there willnot be any absolute bar on giv-ing them command postings.

    It said women officers inthe past have brought laurels tothe country and change ofmindset is required on thepart of the Government to putan end to gender bias in armedforces.

    �

    �� -%.��%#/!

    Union Home Ministryappointed committee hassuggested that 1951 should bethe cut-off year for defining theindigenous people of Assamand introduction of the InnerLine Permit (ILP) to control themovement of people from out-side the State.

    The committee has alsosuggested two formulas for thereservation of seats for theindigenous people in theAssam Assembly and LokSabha constituencies of theState, including 67 per centquota for them.

    The high-level committeewas set up by the Ministry tosuggest ways to provide con-stitutional safeguards toAssam’s indigenous people.The sources said the 13-mem-ber panel, headed by Justice(Retd) Biplab Kumar Sharma,finalised its report last weekconveyed to the HomeMinistry that it was ready tosubmit it to Union HomeMinister Amit Shah and sought

    an appointment with him. Thereport is expected to be sub-mitted this week itself.

    The committee, accordingto the sources, unanimouslyrecommended that those whowere residents of Assam in1951 and their descendants,irrespective of community,caste, language, religion or her-itage, will be considered asindigenous people of the state.

    Besides, the panel suggest-ed that the ILP should be introduced in Assamso that movement of peoplefrom outside the State could becontrolled.

    As per the rules, outsidershave to take permission fromdesignated authorities beforeentering the areas where theILP is applicable.

    In case of StateGovernment jobs, the com-mittee recommended 80 percent reservation for the locals.A number of other recom-mendations were also given forthe protection and growth ofAssamese and other indigenouslanguages.

    �

    �� -%.��%#/!

    As many as 154 prominent citizens,including former judges, bureau-crats, armed forces officers and acad-emicians, on Monday, wrote toPresident Ram Nath Kovind, saying a“false and motivated” campaign isbeing launched against the CAA, NPRand NRC with a sinister design to harmthe nation and sought action againsttrouble-makers.

    In the letter to the President, thecitizens urged the Central Governmentto look into the ongoing protests withall seriousness and safeguard the demo-cratic institutions of the country, andtake stern action against those peoplebehind them.

    The citizens, including11 formerjudges of different high courts, 24retired IAS officers, 11 former IndianForeign Service officers,16 retired IPSand 18 former Lieutenant Generals,said “fear” is being spread across thelength and breadth of India whichappears to be “motivated and with asinister design” to harm the nation.

    They said the campaign is beingcarried out in a “coordinated manner”leading to violent protests in whichpublic and private property has beendestroyed.

    The citizens said there has been a“false and nefarious narrative” aboutthe recently enacted legislations like theCitizenship Amendment Act (CAA)and the idea of the National PopulationRegister (NPR) and National Registerof Citizens (NRC).

    They said that while the CAA hasbeen enacted, the idea of NPR andNRC which has been a part of theIndian discourse since Independenceremains to be implemented.

    “This (protests) has grave securi-ty implications and does not bode wellfor our motherland.

    “These protests, while ostensiblyclaiming to oppose the policies ofGovernment of India, are in effectdesigned to destroy the very fabric ofthis country and harm the nation’sunity and integrity,” they said.

    The citizens claimed that theystrongly feel that there is also an exter-nal dimension to the disturbancesbeing created.

    According to CAA, members ofHindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi andChristian communities who have comefrom Pakistan, Bangladesh andAfghanistan till December 31, 2014,facing religious persecution there willnot be treated as illegal immigrants butgiven Indian citizenship.

    �

    �� -%.��%#/!�

    The BJP on Monday condemned the Congressfor “giving political colour” to the violence atJamia Millia Islamia on December 15 last year saying the party criticises securityforces and stands for those operating againstcountry’s interests.

    The BJP reacted after the Congress criticisedModi Government following circulation of avideo showing police and paramilitary hitting stu-dents with their batons in the university libraryon December 15 evening. Another video hadgone viral in social media captured images witha few masked “students” moving around thelibrary with stones in their hands.

    “Congress party is continuously supportinganti-social elements and those who indulge in vio-lence. It raises voice against the security forcesand police personnel of the country,” BJPspokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said.

    Talking about the second video in which peo-ple were seen in the gangway with some cover-ing their faces, Rao asked why were students wear-ing masks and what were they studying withstones in their hands. “Which academic disciplinerequires students to wear masks and hold stoneswhile studying?” he asked.

    “The Congress party always chooses tostand with those who are inimical to the coun-try and rile up security forces,” the BJP spokesper-son said.

    ��3�����������������

    �+!����������������������.����3������������ !�!"#$$%&�&�%�"#��%'(���!!%)*'��%'%+"�#�!

    � ��������������������������������C���������������������������������,�������8������������J,8�K�������������������������������

    2���������

    � ��������������������������&������������������������������/"��������7��!������������������������������������������������������-�������!�����������%"+(>)�%=�+�7�%!�>:

    �"+�)��)�)��:��������?�') %"#��!7��>�)�%"'�%"�"+��;'�)��'���)���( ��):��)$�"+��"�#� ��"�$(@� �)�%"�)���=� ')+�:�%=�)���%7�"�"#�%=�)�����A���,��B>%"'� ?�)�%"�%=��# �)% :'7�>��'�A��%"=� �">��%=��� )��'C

    �����6���������������������������������$�������������������������������"����

    ����$%?� "!�")��'��% �'��"+���')�"+�>%!!�))�+�)%�!%?�=% �� +��"�)��'�+� �>)�%"��8��� �$�

    (����������������������$��$�������������������

  • "#$%&'($)#�*�+�,-&$. *�/,�)�$). �01�2323 �����8

    �����������������/%--,!

    When he was sworn in asChief Minister of TamilNadu on February 17, 2017,even Edappadi Palaniswamiwould not have thought that hewill survive in the chair at leastfor one year.

    Why the post of ChiefMinister was thrusted on himwas because of a SupremeCourt verdict which upheld thejudgment of the Special Courtin Bangalore which had sen-tenced VK Sasikala , the thengeneral secretary of theAIADMK and her two closerelations to four years impris-onment in theDisproportionate Asset Case inwhich the former ChiefMinister J Jayalalithaa was theprime accused.

    Since Jayalalithaa went tomeet her maker on December5, 2016, she was saved from theignominy of being seen as aconvict marching to theParappana Agrahara centralJail near Bangalore. Sasikala,who had been elected “unani-

    mously” as the Chief Ministerafter the ouster of OPanneerselvam, instead of dri-ving down to the CentenaryHall of Madras University forthe oath taking ceremony hadto travel all the way toBangalore to surrender beforethe jail officials on her day ofreckoning.

    But before proceeding toBangalore to server her term,Sasikala had nominatedEdappadi Palaniswami, herlong term confidante, as theChief Minister.

    To keep Palaniswamyunder a tight leash, Sasikalahad also nominated TTVDhinakaran as the deputy gen-eral secretary of the party,much to the shock of theAIADMK cadre. Dhinakaranwas a non-entity in the partywhen Jayalalithaa was alivebut had managed to sneakinto Veda Nilayam(Jayalalithaa’s privare residencein Poes Garden) after Ammawas admitted to ApolloHospital in Chennai in anunconscious condition inSeptember 2016.

    With Dhinakaran breath-ing down his neck on a round-the-clock basis, Palaniswamyhad to perform a tight ropewalk in governance and theparty.

    No one had given him achance of survival and thingsworsened further whenDhinakaran decided to contestthe by election from R K Nagarassembly constituency, a seatheld by Jayalalithaa at the timeof her demise. By the timeDhinakaran won from R KNagar constituency,Palaniswamy had joined hands

    with arch rival OPanneerselvam and the duosucceeded in easing out theMannargudi Mafia (as Sasikalaand her relations were knownin Tamil Nadu) from theAIADMK.

    Though there were tensemoments about the majority ofthe AIADMK in the House assome of the MLAs mdecided tocast their lots with theDhinakaran faction,Palaniswamy has proved thathe is a wonderful survivor.The setback the AIADMK hadsuffered in the Lok Sabha elec-

    tion of 2019 is long forgotten asthe party has wrested twoassembly seats in by-electionsheld recently.

    “More than Palaniswamy,it is Stalin who is tense and ner-vous now. The DMK has beenout of power in the State since2011 and from the Centresince 2013. If he fails to win the2021 assembly election, it isgoing to be the end of the roadfor Stalin,” said TRamakrishnan, author andcommentator.

    Tamil Nadu is seeing aresurgence in industrialisationand development over the lasttwo years thanks to the silentmanoeuvring by Palaniswamyfrom the Secretariat.

    Other than the anti-CAAagitation, the Chief Ministerhas no major issues hauntinghis Government for the timebeing. The question beingasked is whether EPS is the per-son who could resuscitate theAIADMK from its slumberfollowing the demise ofJayalalithaa. Remember, theDMK is yet to get a saviour inthe mould of M Karunanidhi.

    ���������8����1

    '�(��)�����*�����"��+$���"���������������������C,��8

    After National Conference,the State Unit of theCongress party on Mondayannounced 'conditional' par-ticipation in the Panchayat -bypolls, being held to fill over12,000 vacant seats in Jammu& Kashmir.

    Since these by-polls aregoing to take place on partylines the mainstream politicalparties are keen on taking theplunge to test political waters atthe grass roots.

    Addressing a press confer-ence here at party headquartersin Jammu, Jammu & KashmirPradesh Congress CommitteeChief, GA Mir told reporters,"The Congress party is ready toparticipate in the Panchayat by-polls, as they are being held onparty lines, but it is not possi-ble for them to contest the sameby remaining indoors".

    Mir said, "on what basis by-polls are going to be conduct-ed on party lines. He asked,where are the parties.Except BJP,leaders of no other mainstreamparties are in the field. He said,

    those who want to par-ticipate in the pollseven they are notbeing allowed to roamaround freely andmeet people. "They arebeing prevented tovisit their constituen-cies and carry outpolitical activity", healleged.

    Seeking immedi-ate release of politicalleaders, detained sinceAugust 5, and freedom to cam-paign without any roadblocksand security restrictions, GAMir appealed to the J&Kadministration to facilitatetheir participation in the pollsby creating conducive atmos-phere otherwise they won't beable to participate in thesepolls.

    He said, "the Governmentis compelling us to boycott thepolls but we will not boycottthem". "Even if we are notallowed by the Government toparticipate in the polls i appealto the common voters toexpose evil designs of BJP andelect good candidates to fullyempower them at the grass

    roots".Earlier, on Sunday National

    Conference too had appealedlocal administration to remove“roadblocks” so that it cancampaign freely.

    In a letter to Jammu andKashmir Chief ElectoralOfficer (CEO) ShailendraKumar, NC central secretaryRattan Lal Gupta had stated itis practically impossible forthe party to participate in theelection when its top leaders,including its president FarooqAbdullah, vice-president OmarAbdullah, general secretary AliMohammed Sagar, are indetention under the stringentPublic Safety Act.

    �����������������������������������67/� �������������

    ����� �,-,C!

    The country'slargest super-Specialty medicalblock under thePradhan MantriSwasthya SurakshaYojana (PMSSY) willbe inaugurated within next sixmonths in Goa, State healthMinister Vishwajit Rane saidon Monday.The facility is com-ing up in Bambolim near theGoa Medical College andHospital and the state willinvite Prime Minister NarendraModi to throw it open for thepublic, Rane added.

    "My dream project for stateof Goa Super Specialty Block. Iam fortunate to be a healthMinister of Goa under the BJPGovernment and for being ableto take further, the vision of ourPrime Minister Narendra Modiin providing quality health careto all citizens," Rane tweeted.

    He also tweeted, "I amvery pleased to have been ableto implement his vision underthe Pradhan Mantri SwasthyaSuraksha Yojana that has madethis dream project a reality forevery Goan at the cost of Rs450 crores.""Within the next sixmonths, we will be commis-sioning this hospital under aunique Public-PrivatePartnership approved by theNITI Aayog and the Centre," headded. He said he was lookingfor to the inauguration of thefacility at the hands of theprime minister in the presenceof state chief minister PramodSawant.

    ����� �/!"8@,-,-�/,�8"�

    Days after the CAG reportfound shortage of 25INSAS rifles and 12,061 livecartridges at the Special ArmedPolice Battalion here, Keralapolice on Monday said a phys-ical verification has found thatno rifles were missing.

    "As the CAG is a veryresponsible auditing agencyand their allegation has to betaken seriously, a crime hasbeen registered as per theirreport," ADGP, Crime Branch,Tomin Thachankery, toldreporters here.

    He said it was SAPB'sresponsibility to come clean onthe matter since the charge wasagainst them.

    The battalion was asked toproduce all their rifles forinspection, he said.

    The ADGP said a physicalexamination of the 647 gunsbrought from 13 locationsfound no guns had gone miss-

    ing. "At least 647 rifles from 13places were brought to thecamp on Sunday and a physi-cal verification and preliminaryinspection was held", he said.

    The corresponding bodynumbers of each rifle was phys-ically examined and verifiedwith the records, after which itwas concluded that no gunswere missing Thirteen guns areat Manipur I R battalion.

    "We held a video confer-ence and their body numberswere checked and matchedwith records.

    When the police personnelreturn from their training fromManipur in March, it will beexamined once again", he said.However, the probe on themissing cartridges was contin-uing, he said.

    The CAG, in a damningreport tabled in the state assem-bly on Feb 12, had found short-age of 5.56 mm INSAS riflesand 12,061 live cartridges fromthe battalion here.

    ������������������������������ ������!�����

    2����������������������(������������������������G

    ����� �%/",�8-

    Three tourists from WestBengal were rescued fromthe Ganga in Uttarakhand'sRishikesh after they werestranded on a dry patch in theriver, police said on Monday.

    The tourists were stuckthere due to a sudden rise inthe water level, they said.

    Police sprang into actionimmediately and rescued themwith the help of ropes and rafts,Muni ki Reti police station in-charge R K Saklani said.

    When the police teamreached the spot near thePoornanand ghat, three menwere seen stranded on a thinpatch of dry land slightlyabove the surface of the river,he said.

    Police personnel wearinglife jackets reached the spot onrafts and brought them backwith the help of ropes, Saklanisaid.

    When the tourist wadedinto the river, the water levelwas low but when they walkeddownstream for a while, itrose all of a sudden, causingpanic.

    They somehow reachedthe dry patch of the land andraised an alarm, catching theattention of passersby whoinformed police, the officialsaid.

    The tourists have beenidentified as GautamMajumdar and Sushil Haldarfrom North 24 Parganas andKonand Chakraborty fromJalpaiguri.

    ����� C,!�8"

    A10-member central teamwill be visiting locust-affected areas of Rajasthan innext two days to take stock ofthe damage to crops due to theinsects.

    Rajasthan AgricultureMinister Lal Chand Katariahad informed the state assem-bly earlier in the month thatcrop on over 1.49 lakh hectareswas damaged in various dis-tricts due the locust attacksince May last year.

    The team, which arrived inJaipur on Monday, will assessthe damage in Bikaner andJodhpur divisions in threeparts.

    The team held a meetingwith Chief Secretary D B Guptaand other officials of the stateAgriculture Department.

    The state officials urged theCentre to provide an earlyassistance of �200 crore.

    ����� �8�9,!

    For actors Ratna Pathak Shahand Naseeruddin Shah,India is their Valentine.

    The Shahs, always vocalabout their opinions, say theyare firm in their belief that theeducated young give them hopein troubling times.

    The couple was speakingat an event titled "India MyValentine" here on Sunday.

    According to Ratna Pathak,the "khalbali" (churning) shesaw in the 60s and 70s is backbut the young and educatedgive her hope.

    "During that time everyonewas thinking about theprogress of India. How to makethe nation ours, what kind ofnation it should be. Because myfamily has always been associ-ated with performing arts, weused to have discussions onthese topics," she said at theevent featuring musical per-formances, stand-up comedyacts and speeches to celebratelove and unity in the country.

    Over a dozen artistes,including Naseeruddin Shah,Vishal Bhardwaj, Rekha

    Bhardwaj and SwanandKirkire, came together on onestage at the event.

    Ratna Pathak, the daughterof the late actor Dina Pathak,said questions related to nationbuilding were on everyone'smind in the decades past. Now,there is "a possibility of thenation breaking, changing",she said.

    "The 'khalbali', the brain-storming of that time, can beseen reflected today. Of course,things have changed, the situ-ation is extremely serious.What I saw and heard today,what I see around me, it defi-nitely increases hope.

    Never before has India hadso many young, educated peo-ple alive at one time. It's mak-ing a difference and we are see-ing it all over the country," shesaid.

    The churn is not limited toShaheen Bagh or MumbaiBagh but spread across, shesaid, referring to the anti-CAAprotests in several places in thecountry.

    "Again, art is showing theway. This kind of 'khalbali' isproducing such wonderful

    writing, music, performances,"she said.

    Naseeruddin Shah said hecan't help but wonder about thecurrent situation when he looksaround at the state of thenation.

    "At a time when a lot of usare grappling to understandwhat's going on around us, Ithink I'm not alone in agonis-ing over a question: whether allthis was always latent and hasfinally burst forth, not beingable to contained any longer.

    "Or has there been in thelast decade a complete changein our country... I'm not asocial scientist, so I don't knowthe answer."

    The actor then read selec-tions from Pandit JawaharlalNehru's "The Discovery ofIndia" and said the book canshed some light.

    "May be it'll show you thedirection. I've also in thesetimes felt the need to re-exam-ine, rediscover what it is that isunique about this country,what it is that has always beenour pride and has won theadmiration of the entire world,"he added.

    ����� -%.��%#/!

    HRD Minister RameshPokhriyal 'Nishank' onMonday praised IGNOU formaking education accessible topeople in all parts of the coun-try and developing analyticalability in students throughtheir research activities.

    He was speaking at the33rd convocation ceremony ofthe Indira Gandhi NationalOpen University (IGNOU).Over 2.31 lakh students fromthroughout India received theirdegrees across 39 regional cen-tres of the university.

    Crediting IGNOU for tak-ing education to every house inthe country, the minister said,"I congratulate IGNOU for theexcellence achieved by it indeveloping critical and analyt-

    ical ability of students throughtheir research activities".

    Gold medals were award-ed to over 50 meritorious stu-dents during the convocationby the minister.

    In his convocation address,'Nishank' lauded IGNOU forhaving "unprecedented exper-tise in developing and launch-ing academic programmes thatare needed in the present con-text and very useful for learn-ing communities".

    He also mentioned theskill-oriented curriculumweaved around a conduciveenvironment for learners by theuniversity. Stressing upon theneed to develop courses inIndian languages for widerreach, he stressed upon furtherdevelopment of Hindi andSanskrit in universities.

    He appreciated IGNOUfor increasing the GrossEnrolment Ratio (GER), whichhe said cannot be achieved bythe conventional system ofeducation alone. He urged theuniversity to introduce pro-grammes which are employ-ment-centric and help inemployment generation.

    Prof Nageshwar Rao, thevice-chancellor of the universi-ty, said the varsity has intro-duced 26 new academic pro-grammes including three grad-uate degree (general), 9 gradu-ate honours programmes underCBCS and 3 online pro-grammes in the last two admis-sion cycles to meet diversifiedneeds in the disciplines of healthsciences, vocational areas,tourism, environment change,yoga, development studies, etc.

    ����� 2

  • �����&"#$%&'($)#�*�+�,-&$. *�/,�)�$). �01�2323

    ����� 9/89,-%�.,"

    The opposition Congress inOdisha hit out at the rulingBiju Janata Dal over HomeMinister Amit Shah's proposedpro-Citizenship (Amendment)Act rally in the state scapitaland asked Chief MinisterNaveen Patnaik to make hisgovernment and party's standon the event clear.

    Shah will be on a two-dayvisit to Odisha from February28 during which he is slated toaddress a pro-CAA publicmeeting.

    Raising the issue in theLegislative Assembly duringZero Hour, Congress MLA S SSaluja said, "Biju Janata Dal(BJD) MPs supported

    CAA in both Houses ofParliament. But the chief min-ister after meeting a delegationof the minority community inBhubaneswar, had said thestate will not support theNational Register of Citizens(NRC)."

    This "change of stance"was creating confusion amongthe people, he said and soughtto know whether the BJD lead-ers would also join Shah in theproposed pro-CAA rally orkeep distance from it.

    Saluja said the state gov-ernment should have takenthe people, who voted the BJDto power in the state five timesin a row, into confidence beforesupporting the bill to amendthe Citizenship Act.

    ����� �,-,C!

    Shalom Sardinha, who hasbeen selected to play KingMomo for the Goa Carnivalbeginning on February 22, onMonday expressed dissatisfac-tion with the Pramod SawantGovernment levying tax onfeni from fiscal 2020 -21.

    It is the first time that tax,announced in the State'sBudget tabled in the Assemblyon February 6, will be levied onthe popular Goan beveragemade from fermented and dis-tilled juice of cashew apples, orfrom coconuts.

    Momo is the mythical kingof carnivals and is chosen bythe state's tourism department,with Sardinha getting to headthe float parade for the secondtime, the first being in 2016.

    "The Budget announce-ment about tax on feni willresult in prices going up. It willaffect the tourism industry ina big way," he said.

    On the first day of theCarnival, which will culmi-nate on Februar y 25, King Momo issues a decreeasking people to "eat, drinkand be merry", with Sardinhaadding that "when we saydrink, we mean drink respon-sibly".

    He called for a ban ondrugs as well as electronicdance music festivals and otherevents that promote this vice,pointing out that three young-sters lost their lives duringone such festival recently.

    Queried on the ban onfloats making statements onpolitical issues like the con-

    tentious CitizenshipAmendment Act, he said theCarnival was a festival to cele-brate unity so "we should avoidcontroversial topics which canlead to hatred".

    The organisers of theCarnival have already issued a warning that anyfloat having messages on suchissues as CAA would be dis-qualified.

    "CAA is an act due towhich people are fighting. Weare trying to promote socialharmony. Thus, the govern-ment disallowing CAA pro-testers is a good move," headded.

    On a lighter note, Sardinhasaid people clicked 12,000 self-ies when he was King Momo in2016, and expected this num-ber to increase this year.

    ����� ,/�%�,9,�

    Unhappy over a recentSupreme Court order onreservation, the GujaratCongress on Monday threat-ened to stage a protest onFebruary 24 outside the newlybuilt cricket stadium herewhere US President DonaldTrump and Prime MinisterNarendra Modi will take partin a mega event.

    On February 24, the stadi-um at Motera would be inau-gurated by Trump and Modi,and the two leaders will alsoaddress a gathering on theoccasion. The opposition partysaid it will not hesitate to holda protest against the BJP out-

    side the stadi-um if theCentre fails totake appropriate decision overthe apex court's ruling onreservation in jobs for SC/STcommunities.

    The Gujarat Cong onMonday organised a 'SaveConstitution' rally in theSarangpur area over the lastweek's SC judgement whichsays states are not bound to pro-vide reservation in appoint-ments and there is no funda-mental right to claim quota inpromotions.

    The Congress demandedthat the NDA Govt file a reviewpetition against the SC ruling orbring a Constitution amendment

    to nullify theorder.

    " T h eCongress will not let the rightsof Scheduled Castes, ScheduledTribes and Other BackwardCastes taken away. No one cansnatch reservation

    rights till the Congress isthere.

    "This protest is just thebeginning. In coming days, wewill reach out to people in smalltowns and villages.

    If needed, we will holdprotests at Motera and Delhi,"Gujarat Congress presidentAmit Chavda said while speak-ing at the rally.

    In his address to partyworkers, All India Congress

    Committee (AICC) in-chargefor Gujarat Rajiv Satav said theBJP has always "conspired"against the marginalised sec-tions and tried to take awayreservation rights.

    "Both the BJP and the RSSare trying to remove reserva-tion since many years now. It istheir agenda to remove reser-vation, which was introducedby our great leaders so that themarginalised sections of thesociety get equal opportuni-ties," said Satav.

    The rally was attended byseveral senior Congress leadersand MLAs, including formerparty state unit chiefsBharatsinh Solanki and ArjunModhwadia.

    ����� 9%-2,#8"8

    The ruling BJP in Karnatakais Likely to push for a res-olution in favour of theCitizenship Amendment Act(CAA) during the ongoingAssembly session, top sourcessaid on Monday.

    The resolution is expectedto be moved towards the end ofthe special discussion on theConstitution, scheduled forMarch 2 and 3, the sources said.

    The move is bound to facestiff resistance from oppositionparties - the Congress and JDS- in the Assembly.

    Assembly SpeakerVishweshwar Hegde Kagerihas decided to hold a specialdiscussion on the Constitutionon the two days to commem-orate 70 years of the adoptionof the Constitution.

    Though the Speaker hasexpressed hope that the dis-cussion will focus on theConstitution and legislatorswould take part in it risingabove party politics, there areapprehensions in some quartersthat issues like CAA and NRCmay figure in the debate.

    Gujarat in January passeda resolution, congratulatingPrime Minister Narendra Modiand Union Home MinisterAmit Shah for securing the pas-sage of the CAA, amid oppo-sition from theCongress.Several opposition-ruled states like Kerala, Punjab,Rajasthan and West Bengalhave passed anti-CAA resolu-tions in their state assemblies.

    Joining the ranks of anti-CAA states, the Telangana gov-ernment has also decided topass a resolution in the assem-

    bly against the act. Like in otherparts of the county, Karnatakatoo has witnessed a series ofpro and anti-CAA protests anddemonstrations.

    On December one, an anti-CAA protest turned violent inthe coastal city of Mangaluru,resulting in the death of two inpolice firing. According to theCAA, members of Hindu, Sikh,Buddhist, Jain, Parsi andChristian communities, whohave come from Pakistan,Bangladesh and Afghanistantill December 31, 2014, and fac-ing religious persecution there,would not be treated as illegalimmigrants, but given Indiancitizenship.

    The Act says refugees ofthe six communities would begiven Indian citizenship afterresiding in India for five years,instead of 11 earlier.

    ,-�+$�.�)����/���)"����!��"���"�������"��"����"� ��"�����E�

    �������������

    �����������������/%--,!

    Tamil Nadu Chief MinisterEdappadi Palaniswamiblamed various Islamist orga-nizations for the riot like situ-ation prevailing in some partsof the State and complimentedthe Police for showing restraintdespite severe provocationfrom trouble makers.

    Making a statement in theAssembly on Monday,Palaniswami said that therewere no untoward incidentsanywhere in the State despitethe demonstrators staging ral-lies without permission fromthe police. “Many policemen

    including officers were griev-ously injured in the stone pelt-ing by demonstrators whenthey were asked to dispersefrom the venue of protest.

    The Social DemocraticParty of India, Popular Front ofIndia, Towheed Jamaath andsome Islamic political partieswere hand in glove with thetrouble makers.

    Many policemen injured instone pelting have been admit-ted to various government hos-pitals in the city,” said theChief Minister.

    He said though nearly 100trouble makers who went on arampage were taken into cus-tody by the police and put in

    various marriage halls inChennai, all of them werereleased after filing chargesagainst them.

    “A fake news spread by theforces behind the agitation thatan old man died in the policeaction aggravated the situation.It was found that the old manwho was ailing for some timebreathed his last at his housewhich is far away from the spot.Nobody has been injured in thelathi-charge by police,” saidPalaniswami.

    He disclosed that all thosewho fomented trouble in frontof the Kudankulam NuclearPower Plant against the com-missioning of the plant and

    who led the sit in at MarinaBeach in early 2017 against theSupreme Court ban onJallikattu were seen participat-ing in the demonstrations atChennai.

    “Right now, a sit in is goingon at the Washermenpet streetwith 150 persons shouting slo-gans against CAA. We havedeployed sufficient police forceto prevent the situation from

    going out of control,” the chiefminister announced.

    The DMK and other oppo-sition parties led by M K Stalinstaged a walk out claimingthat they were not contentwith the statement made by theChief Minister.

    “We want Tamil NaduLegislative Assembly to pass aresolution asking the Centre tonegate the CAA. Nothing lessthat that would make us happy,”he told reporters outside theassembly.

    This is the first time theTamil Nadu Governmentnamed the Islamist organisa-tions and their role in the anti-CAA agitations across the State.

    Sunday night saw the ChiefMinister holding a high levelmeeting which was attendedamong others by the ChiefSecretary, Home Secretary,State Police Chief and heads ofvarious intelligence wings.

    “The Government hasclear picture and evidenceabout the role of various polit-ical organisations in thedemonstrations being held inthe State .

    We will come out withmore details in the days tocome,” said a senior source inFort Saint George (Tamil NaduGovernment’s seat of power,the secretariat).

    The Washermenpet sit in

    on Monday witnessed a novelprotest by the Islamists asthey held a marriage in thevenue and offered sumptuouslunch to those who staged therally.

    It may be remembered thatChief Minister PinarayiVijayan, had told the KeralaLegislative Assembly thatextremist organizations likePFI and SDPI had infiltratedinto the anti-CAA agitationsstaged in the State under direc-tions from religious clergy andthe Mahuls.

    Since then, the anti-CAAagitations promoted by theCPI(M) has come to an end inKerala.

    4���'�����$$����������1�����0��0������:���� 8����������������

    ����� �8�8�/%""G

    Citing a CBI letter giving aclean chit to somePuducherry Government offi-cials on alleged irregularities inmedical admissions here in2017, taken up by Lt GovernorKiran Bedi, Chief Minister VNarayanasamy on Mondayaccused her of causing 'mentalagony" to them.

    Speaking to reporters here,he said the Government hadreceived a letter from the CBIDirector on February 10 thatno prima facie case has been

    made out against the officialsand no action has been con-templated against them.

    The six member CentralAdmission Committee (CEN-TAC), including those fromthe health department, select-ed students for medical cours-es in four deemed to be uni-versities and three medicalcolleges in 2017 on merit, hesaid.

    However, the manage-ments had failed to admit somestudents recommended by theMedical Council of India forthe courses, he said.

    ��$����$������ $

  • Even if we overlook the factsabout which nation is “occupy-ing” Kashmir, by stating thatthere is “no difference betweenGallipoli and occupied Kashmir”,Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoganunambiguously signalled his intention toemerge as the “imam” of the new (pseu-do) Caliphate he hopes to lead by 2023, thecentenary of the Turkish Republic.Addressing a joint session of Pakistan’sParliament (February 14), he lauded sac-rifices made by it in the war on terror andthe “positive contributions” it made to theAfghanistan peace process and promisedsupport during the Financial Action TaskForce (FATF) meet in Paris (February 16-21, 2020). His denunciation of US PresidentDonald Trump’s Mideast plan hints at aneventual challenge to Riyadh in the region.

    Erdogan’s determination to restore theCaliphate has created a visible schismbetween the Arab States formally led bySaudi Arabia and the non-Arab States ledby Turkey. A nascent axis is discerniblebetween Turkey, Malaysia and Pakistan;Iran and Qatar complete the anti-Riyadhalignment. Erdogan declared in February2018, “The Republic of Turkey is a contin-uation of the Ottoman Empire… theessence is the same, soul is the same…”

    Unsurprisingly, Ankara has emerged asthe new hub for anti-India activities byPakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).Unknown to most people, Turkey has uni-versal jurisdiction laws as part of itsdomestic laws. Article 13 of the TurkishPenal Code states, “Turkish law shallapply to” the crime of torture “committedin a foreign country whether or not com-mitted by a citizen or non-citizen.”

    Khalistanis tried to invoke these laws.Sikhs for Justice, a group working for a ref-erendum (“Referendum 2020”) to createKhalistan, is believed to be funded by theISI. In October 2018, its legal advisor,Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, filed a caseagainst Punjab Chief Minister CaptainAmarinder Singh when he visited Turkeyto pay homage at Gallipoli to soldiers fromthe First Patiala Infantry Regiment (now 15Punjab), who lost their lives in World WarI, on the centenary of the Great War.

    Pannun went to Gallipoli to secure anarrest warrant and restrain the PunjabChief Minister from leaving Turkey. As theCaptain was on a non-official trip, helacked diplomatic immunity as under theVienna Protocol, only the Prime Ministerand External Affairs Minister are “protect-ed persons” when abroad in personal capac-ity. In Pakistan, Erdogan lauded a 1915 rallyin Lahore, led by Allama Iqbal, where peo-ple from present-day Pakistan supported theTurkish people and blatantly ignored the sac-rifices made by Indian soldiers at Gallipoli(Battle of Çanakkale), possibly because thebells tolled for the Ottoman Empire.

    Turkey’s domestic laws explain why ex-

    IAS officer Shah Faesal wasgoing to Turkey on August 14,2019, soon after the Centreabrogated Article 370 and divid-ed the State of Jammu &Kashmir into the UnionTerritories of Jammu andKashmir and Ladakh. It is pos-sible that some foreign mentorsasked Faesal to invoke theselaws in Turkey. He was to file acase of human rights violationsagainst Union Home MinisterAmit Shah, Defence MinisterRajnath Singh, the then Chief ofArmy Staff Gen Bipin Rawatand others, on behalf of hispolitical party, Jammu &Kashmir People’s Movement(JKPM).

    Media reports stated thatfrom Ankara, Faesal was like-ly to try to take the Kashmirissue to the International Courtof Justice (ICJ) at The Hague,the Netherlands. But thiswould not take off for want ofjurisdiction; no individual canfile a case in the ICJ, only Statescan. Of course, his arrival inthe Netherlands would beembarrassing for India.

    But if Faesal really wanted togo to The Hague, he could havetaken a direct flight toAmsterdam. His plan was toexploit Turkey’s Article 13 univer-sal jurisdiction law. Some humanrights NGO would receive himat Ankara, where he would belionised as a civil service topper(2010) and Harvard alumni whoquit a Government job to protestagainst the activities of the IndianState in Kashmir. Actually Faesal

    resigned from the service inJanuary 2019 in order to enterpolitics. However, the suddensplit of Jammu & Kashmir andfreeze on political activity nixedhis unborn political career, leav-ing NGO activism his only alter-native.

    Had he reached Ankara,the international media wouldhave splashed Kashmir on thefront pages of all importantnewspapers and magazines andthe Indian media would followsuit, thus making Faesal theglobal face of the anti-IndiaIslamic movement. Once hemanaged to file a case inTurkey, Islamabad wouldalmost certainly have followedup by filing a case againstIndia at the ICJ, where it hassuffered reverses in theKulbhushan Jadhav case.

    However, Faesal’s mentorscould not anticipate the look-out notices for Kashmiris try-ing to leave the country; he wascaught at the airport, sent backto Srinagar and placed in pre-ventive custody. He has nowbeen booked under the PublicSafety Act (February 15).

    This argument can be cor-roborated from Pakistan PrimeMinister Imran Khan’s tweet onAugust 15, 2019, where heinvoked Srebrenica, site of the1995 genocide of over 8,000Bosnians by the Bosnian SerbArmy led by Ratko Mladic.Khan tweeted: “Will the worldsilently witness anotherSrebrenica-type massacre andethnic cleansing of Muslims in

    IOK? I want to warn the inter-national community if it allowsthis to happen, it will havesevere repercussions and reac-tions in the Muslim world set-ting off radicalisation and cyclesof violence.” The talk of “mas-sacre and ethnic cleansing” ofKashmiri Muslims is, of course,pure bunkum but the tweet sug-gests an ISI hand in the abort-ed Turkish escapade.

    Meanwhile, Erdogan hasbeen cultivating separatist,religious and business leadersand Islamic groups in Kashmirafter the tweaking of Article370; this goes deeper than histraditional support to Pakistanat the Organisation of IslamicConference. Previously also, hesupported Pakistan in theFATF. While addressing theUN General Assembly onSeptember 25, 2019, he chid-ed the international communi-ty for not paying proper atten-tion to Kashmir over the pastseven decades.

    Interestingly, soon afterthe FATF and UNGA meet-ings, the Indian OverseasCongress headed by RahulGandhi loyalist Sam Pitrodaopened an office in Istanbul inNovember 2019. Possibly theCongress hopes to recover itsonce-committed Muslim votebank by cultivating the emerg-ing Caliphate; the repercussionson India’s internal affairs willneed careful observation.

    (The author is a seniorjournalist. Views expressed arepersonal)

    )��������������

    ��������(����������������

    ����������������������������������������������������������*+�� ������������������������������(������������������������,�������(����������������������������������(�����������#�����������������(��������������--������.�������������������������������������������,�������������������������������/������������

    ���������������

    �������������������������(�������������������������#�������

    ����������������������������������������������0���1�����������������������������������2�������������������

    3����������������������������������������������(���������4(%��������������,�������������������������������05���������1����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6����������������

    ��������������������������������������������������&��

    �����������������������������������������������������������

    ����������������#���������������������������������������(������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5������������������

    ����������������������������������������������������6����

    �����&������(������������������������������������������������������(����7�������������������������������������8,�����������������������������#�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������#�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������(�����������������9����������(����������������������������������������������������������#���������(�����.�������������������������(������������������������������)�������������������������������������������������(����������������������������������������������������������(���:������������������

    ������//��������������������������

    �������������������������

    �������������������������

    #���������5����;�������������(�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������6����(�����������������������7�������

    ���������������

    ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������

    ��������(

    ����������������������������������������������

    ��6���������������������������������(������


ˇ ˙˚ ˜ ˇ ˝ ˘ !ˇ ˆ ˇ ˇ ˇˇ # ˇ ˇ ˇ - · PDF file˘ˇ ˆ ˙˝ ˘˘ ˛ ˘ ˙ ˆ ˙ ˛ ˘ ˚ ˇ ˇ ˜ ˆ ˆ ˙ ˘ ˆ ˆ ! " ˝ ˆ # !

ˇ ˙˚ ˜ ˇ ˝ ˘ !ˇ ˆ ˇ ˇ ˇˇ # ˇ ˇ ˇ - · PDF file˘ˇ ˆ ˙˝ ˘˘ ˛ ˘ ˙ ˆ ˙ ˛ ˘ ˚ ˇ ˇ ˜ ˆ ˆ ˙ ˘ ˆ ˆ ! " ˝ ˆ # !

MAPEX Brochure - ENGmail.emapex.com/download/mapex_products_en.pdf · ˇ ˆ ˙ ˝ ˇ ˆ˘ ˛ ˝ ˆ ˙ ˛˙˘ ˛ ˙ ˘ ˝ ˛ ˆ. ˘ ˇ ˇ ˆ ˙ˆ ˝ˇ ˆ˙ ˛˙ ˇ ˚ ˇ

MAPEX Brochure - ENGmail.emapex.com/download/mapex_products_en.pdf · ˇ ˆ ˙ ˝ ˇ ˆ˘ ˛ ˝ ˆ ˙ ˛˙˘ ˛ ˙ ˘ ˝ ˛ ˆ. ˘ ˇ ˇ ˆ ˙ˆ ˝ˇ ˆ˙ ˛˙ ˇ ˚ ˇ

% ˇ ˆ ˙ˇ˝ - System Controls & Switchgears€¦ · ˘ˇˆ˙ˆ˝˘ˇ˛˚˜ !" #$ ! % ˝ ˇ&’# ˘ˇ ˆ ˙˝˛˚˜ ˘ ˆ !"!#$% ˘ &’’˙ˆ "(˝ˇ˝ ) "(’* "(˝ˇ˝+"(’*+,$%

% ˇ ˆ ˙ˇ˝ - System Controls & Switchgears€¦ · ˘ˇˆ˙ˆ˝˘ˇ˛˚˜ !" #$ ! % ˝ ˇ&’# ˘ˇ ˆ ˙˝˛˚˜ ˘ ˆ !"!#$% ˘ &’’˙ˆ "(˝ˇ˝ ) "(’* "(˝ˇ˝+"(’*+,$%

English News Paper | Breaking News | Latest Today News in ... · ˇ ˆ ˇ ˙ ˙ ˝˛ ˆ ˇ ˚ ˆ˝ ˜ ˙ ! " #˜ !$% ˘ ˇˆ ˙˙ ˆ& ’ ˇˇ ()˙

English News Paper | Breaking News | Latest Today News in ... · ˇ ˆ ˇ ˙ ˙ ˝˛ ˆ ˇ ˚ ˆ˝ ˜ ˙ ! " #˜ !$% ˘ ˇˆ ˙˙ ˆ& ’ ˇˇ ()˙

TranscontinentalRailroad MOTH - Utah...˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ˘ ˆ ˘ ˆ ˇ˙ ˆ ˘ ˇ˝˘ ˘ ˇ˚ ˘ ˘˝˙ˆ ˘ ˛˘˘˚ ˆ˙ ˘ˆ˛ ˘˘ ˛˝ ˛ ˛˘ ˆ ˘ ˆ ˇ˙ ˆ ˘ ˇ˝˘• † ˘

TranscontinentalRailroad MOTH - Utah...˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ˘ ˆ ˘ ˆ ˇ˙ ˆ ˘ ˇ˝˘ ˘ ˇ˚ ˘ ˘˝˙ˆ ˘ ˛˘˘˚ ˆ˙ ˘ˆ˛ ˘˘ ˛˝ ˛ ˛˘ ˆ ˘ ˆ ˇ˙ ˆ ˘ ˇ˝˘• † ˘

˘ˇ ˆ˙ ˝˛ˇ˚ - BMW · 2020-02-26 · ˘ ˇ ˆ ˙ ˇ ˝ ˝ ˆ˛˘ ˆ˚˙ ˆ ˇ ˜ ˆ ˛ ˘ $ %& ’( !˚) ˛*+˘, ˝!"#$"%$&’(˜ &’)(*’("$+,$(’-$ ˘&+-+. ( ˘ ˇ;% :˘;

˘ˇ ˆ˙ ˝˛ˇ˚ - BMW · 2020-02-26 · ˘ ˇ ˆ ˙ ˇ ˝ ˝ ˆ˛˘ ˆ˚˙ ˆ ˇ ˜ ˆ ˛ ˘ $ %& ’( !˚) ˛*+˘, ˝!"#$"%$&’(˜ &’)(*’("$+,$(’-$ ˘&+-+. ( ˘ ˇ;% :˘;

˘ ˇ ˘ ˆ˙ ˇ ˆ ˝ ˆ ˇ · 2017-12-12 · ˘ ˇ ˘ ˆ˙ ˇ ˆ ˝ ˆ ˇ ( ˘ ˚ ˇ ˆ ˇ˘ ˜ ˆ ! ˘ ˇ" #$ ˇˆ) The Impact of Effectiveness Information Technology Factors to

˘ ˇ ˘ ˆ˙ ˇ ˆ ˝ ˆ ˇ · 2017-12-12 · ˘ ˇ ˘ ˆ˙ ˇ ˆ ˝ ˆ ˇ ( ˘ ˚ ˇ ˆ ˇ˘ ˜ ˆ ! ˘ ˇ" #$ ˇˆ) The Impact of Effectiveness Information Technology Factors to

˘ ˇˆ˘ ˙ ˇ - ids.ac.uk · PDF fileˇ ˘ˇ ˆ "˘ ˝˘ ˙ ˇ # $ ˇ˘ ˙ ˇ % # ˙˝ ˛ˆ ˘˘ ˆ˘ˆ ˇˆ ˆ˘ˆ˚ ˇ˜ˆ ˘˜ ˜˘ ˙ !ˆ ˆ ˆ ˘

˘ ˇˆ˘ ˙ ˇ - ids.ac.uk · PDF fileˇ ˘ˇ ˆ "˘ ˝˘ ˙ ˇ # $ ˇ˘ ˙ ˇ % # ˙˝ ˛ˆ ˘˘ ˆ˘ˆ ˇˆ ˆ˘ˆ˚ ˇ˜ˆ ˘˜ ˜˘ ˙ !ˆ ˆ ˆ ˘

interridge report (2) · ˘ˇ ˇ˘ˆ ˙˝ ˛ˆ ˚ ˜˛ ˇ ˜!˘ˆ˘!" ˜˙#˘ $ ˇ ˜˜ $ ˜ ˆˆ ˜ ˘ ˘ˇ ˇ ˘ˆ ˙˝ˆ $ ˙! ˇ ˘ˆ˘˘ "%˜ ˆ !ˆ &'%( )('*˜ $ ˜ ˆ˜˘*˘ˇ˘

interridge report (2) · ˘ˇ ˇ˘ˆ ˙˝ ˛ˆ ˚ ˜˛ ˇ ˜!˘ˆ˘!" ˜˙#˘ $ ˇ ˜˜ $ ˜ ˆˆ ˜ ˘ ˘ˇ ˇ ˘ˆ ˙˝ˆ $ ˙! ˇ ˘ˆ˘˘ "%˜ ˆ !ˆ &'%( )('*˜ $ ˜ ˆ˜˘*˘ˇ˘

The Pioneer..."# $"# $%&’()%* ˇ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˆ ˙ ˝ ˇ ˇ

The Pioneer..."# $"# $%&’()%* ˇ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˆ ˙ ˝ ˇ ˇ

SIX SIGMA CERTIFICATION MBB€¦ · ˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ˘ ˙ˇ ˆ ˜˚˛˝˙ˆ˛ˇ˘ ˘˙ ˇ˘ ˝ ˛ ˛ ˝˘ ˙ ˚ ˆ ˝ ˚˘ ˙ˆ˝ ˛ ˝ ˝ˆ ˆ˛ˇ˝ ˛ ˙ˇ˘ˇ˘ ˆ˛˝˚ˇ˘ ˘ ˘

SIX SIGMA CERTIFICATION MBB€¦ · ˜˚˛˝˙ˆˇ˘ ˙ˇ ˆ ˜˚˛˝˙ˆ˛ˇ˘ ˘˙ ˇ˘ ˝ ˛ ˛ ˝˘ ˙ ˚ ˆ ˝ ˚˘ ˙ˆ˝ ˛ ˝ ˝ˆ ˆ˛ˇ˝ ˛ ˙ˇ˘ˇ˘ ˆ˛˝˚ˇ˘ ˘ ˘

Untitled-2 []...˘ˇ ˆ ˙ ˇ ˙ ˝ ˛ ˚ˆ ˇ ˛ ˆ ˜ ˆ ˜ ˛ ˆˆ˙ !" # ˙ ˇ ˆ $ ˜ˆ ˆˆ $ ˛ ˙ ˛ ˛ ˆ ˆ ˜ ˆ ˆ $ ˝ ˛ ˚ˆ ˇ ˛ ˙ ˇ ˆ ˇˇ ˆˆ ...

Untitled-2 []...˘ˇ ˆ ˙ ˇ ˙ ˝ ˛ ˚ˆ ˇ ˛ ˆ ˜ ˆ ˜ ˛ ˆˆ˙ !" # ˙ ˇ ˆ $ ˜ˆ ˆˆ $ ˛ ˙ ˛ ˛ ˆ ˆ ˜ ˆ ˆ $ ˝ ˛ ˚ˆ ˇ ˛ ˙ ˇ ˆ ˇˇ ˆˆ ...

EPGY Summer Programs Course Evaluations...˘ ˇ ˇ ˇˆ ˘ ˇ ˘ ˇ ˆ ˘ ˘˙ ˇ˘ ˝˘ ˆ ˆ ˛ ˚ ˆ ˇ ˘ ˆ ˘ ˜˘ ˙˘ ˛ ˇ ! ˆ ˛ˆ ˘ ˙ ˙ ˆ " #$"% &"' "%(&") "%*& "+ˇ˘

EPGY Summer Programs Course Evaluations...˘ ˇ ˇ ˇˆ ˘ ˇ ˘ ˇ ˆ ˘ ˘˙ ˇ˘ ˝˘ ˆ ˆ ˛ ˚ ˆ ˇ ˘ ˆ ˘ ˜˘ ˙˘ ˛ ˇ ! ˆ ˛ˆ ˘ ˙ ˙ ˆ " #$"% &"' "%(&") "%*& "+ˇ˘

University of Belgrade Emilija Vukadin.pdf260 ˘ ˇ ˆ˙ ˝ ˛ ˚˜ ˝ ˆ ˆ ˇ ˆ˙ ˝ ˛ ˝ ˆ ˆ !ˆ"ˆ ˝ # ˆ ˝ $ % ˘ ˆ ˇ & ˚ ’ ˆ ˇ ˆ ˝ ˆ ˆ ˘ ˇ ˆ˙ ˝ ˛ ˚˜

University of Belgrade Emilija Vukadin.pdf260 ˘ ˇ ˆ˙ ˝ ˛ ˚˜ ˝ ˆ ˆ ˇ ˆ˙ ˝ ˛ ˝ ˆ ˆ !ˆ"ˆ ˝ # ˆ ˝ $ % ˘ ˆ ˇ & ˚ ’ ˆ ˇ ˆ ˝ ˆ ˆ ˘ ˇ ˆ˙ ˝ ˛ ˚˜

Република Србија - ceo.edu.rs · ˜˚˛˚˝˙ˆ˝ˇ˘ ˇ ˙ ˚ ˆ˝˙ ˘ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˚˛˝ ˆ ˙ ˆ ˆ˝ ˘ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˙ ˇˆ˚˙˝ˇ ˇ ˚˛˝ ˇ ˘˙ ˚ ˝ˇ

Република Србија - ceo.edu.rs · ˜˚˛˚˝˙ˆ˝ˇ˘ ˇ ˙ ˚ ˆ˝˙ ˘ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˚˛˝ ˆ ˙ ˆ ˆ˝ ˘ ˇ ˇ ˇ ˙ ˇˆ˚˙˝ˇ ˇ ˚˛˝ ˇ ˘˙ ˚ ˝ˇ

CAB Management System (A4)€¦ · ˚ ˆ ˇ ˘ ˇ ˆˇ ˜ ˇ ˙ ˚ ˆ ˇ ˘ˆ ˇˇ ˜ˇ ˜ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˘ ˆ ˇ ˆˇ ˜ ˇ ˙ ˚ ˆ ˇ ˘ ˜ ˙ ˜&" ˚ ˇˇ

CAB Management System (A4)€¦ · ˚ ˆ ˇ ˘ ˇ ˆˇ ˜ ˇ ˙ ˚ ˆ ˇ ˘ˆ ˇˇ ˜ˇ ˜ ˆ ˆ ˆ ˘ ˆ ˇ ˆˇ ˜ ˇ ˙ ˚ ˆ ˇ ˘ ˜ ˙ ˜&" ˚ ˇˇ

WHO | World Health Organization - ˘ˇˆ˘˙...˘ˇˆ˘˙ ˙ ˇ ˆ! ˇ˙ ˇ ˇ $.ˇˆˆ˘ˇ ˇ-ˇˇ 8 ˆ! ˛ ˙ ˇ ˆ ˇ ˇ - ˆˆ ˘ =˜ˇ !) ˆ ) ˆ ˝ ˆ ˇ ˇ˝ ˇ ˇ˘ ˜ˇ ˙ˇ,

WHO | World Health Organization - ˘ˇˆ˘˙...˘ˇˆ˘˙ ˙ ˇ ˆ! ˇ˙ ˇ ˇ $.ˇˆˆ˘ˇ ˇ-ˇˇ 8 ˆ! ˛ ˙ ˇ ˆ ˇ ˇ - ˆˆ ˘ =˜ˇ !) ˆ ) ˆ ˝ ˆ ˇ ˇ˝ ˇ ˇ˘ ˜ˇ ˙ˇ,

˘ ˇˆ˘ ˙ ˇ - Institute of Development Studies ˇ ˘ˇ ˆ "˘ ˝˘ ˙ ˇ # $ ˇ˘ ˙ ˇ % # ˙˝ ˛ˆ ˘˘ ˆ˘ˆ ˇˆ ˆ˘ˆ˚ ˇ˜ˆ ˘˜ ˜˘ ˙ !ˆ ˆ ˆ ˘

˘ ˇˆ˘ ˙ ˇ - Institute of Development Studies ˇ ˘ˇ ˆ "˘ ˝˘ ˙ ˇ # $ ˇ˘ ˙ ˇ % # ˙˝ ˛ˆ ˘˘ ˆ˘ˆ ˇˆ ˆ˘ˆ˚ ˇ˜ˆ ˘˜ ˜˘ ˙ !ˆ ˆ ˆ ˘

DATA-MANFULL BB115 ENG Rev A · ˘ ˇ ˆ ˆ ˙˝ ˛ ˇ ˇˇ ˚ ˆ ˇ ˜ ˆ ˇ ˘ ˆ˛ ! ˛ ˘ ˙"˘ ˇ ˆ ˘˘ ˆ ˇˇ ˇ

DATA-MANFULL BB115 ENG Rev A · ˘ ˇ ˆ ˆ ˙˝ ˛ ˇ ˇˇ ˚ ˆ ˇ ˜ ˆ ˇ ˘ ˆ˛ ! ˛ ˘ ˙"˘ ˇ ˆ ˘˘ ˆ ˇˇ ˇ

ˇ ˆ ˛ ˙ - kluniversity.inkluniversity.in/arp/uploads\2095.pdf · 0 )2 ˙ ˇ ˆ +˙ ˇ ˇˇ ˙ ˆ ... ˙ ˆ ˚˘ ˇ ˆ ˇ ˆ ˇ ˆ ˇ˙ ˇ ˆ

ˇ ˆ ˛ ˙ - kluniversity.inkluniversity.in/arp/uploads\2095.pdf · 0 )2 ˙ ˇ ˆ +˙ ˇ ˇˇ ˙ ˆ ... ˙ ˆ ˚˘ ˇ ˆ ˇ ˆ ˇ ˆ ˇ˙ ˇ ˆ