27 April 2023

Nagaland Post

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10 cops, civilian driver killed in Chhattisgarh Naxal attack

DANTEWADA, APR 26

(PTI): Ten police personnel and a civilian driver were killed after Naxals blew up a vehicle which was part of a convoy carrying security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Wednesday, an official said.

This was the biggest strike by the Maoists on the security forces in the state in the last two years.

The blast, carried out using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) containing an estimated 40 kg of explosive material, took place under Aranpur police station area between 1 pm to 1:30 pm when a team of the state police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an anti-Naxal operation, IGP (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P said.

DRG personnel are mostly recruited from local tribal population and trained to combat Maoists. Sometimes surrendered Maoists are also recruited in DRG. The area where the blast took place is around 450 km from state capital Raipur.

The Multi-Utility Vehicle (MUV) carrying ten DRG jawans was blown up between Aranpur and Sameli villages, IGP said. All ten jawans and civilian driver of the vehicle were killed on the spot, he added. MUV had been rented by the security personnel, said another official. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot and bodies of the deceased were brought to Dantewada, IGP said. Security personnel have launched a search operation in the area, he added.

Another senior police

Wet spell over NE during next 5 days

DIMAPUR, APR 26 (NPN): India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that light/ moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning/ gusty winds was very likely over the North East region during next five days.

In its daily bulletin, IMD stated that heavy rainfall was likely at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya during April 28-30 and over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura on April 29-30.

The Met department has also predicted that there would be no heat wave condition over most parts of India during the next five days.

KKR return to winning ways; beat RCB by 21 runs

jawans in Dantewada on Thursday, officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the attack. “Strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families,” Modi tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Baghel following the incident.

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR 26 (NPN):

premises with a 400-bedded hospital besides 150-bedded hospital, which had already been constructed at the location.

Sema observed that those two hospitals should qualify for the basic requirement of a very good college in the years to come.

official posted in Dantewada said that around 200 security personnel had set out from Dantewada district headquarters on Tuesday night after getting information about the presence of Maoists belonging to Darbha division in the area.

On Wednesday morning, there was an exchange of fire between the patrolling team and Naxals near Nahadi village, around seven km from Aranpur, following which two suspected Naxals were held, he said on the condition of anonymity.

Subsequently, security personnel were returning to their base in a convoy of vehicles, he said.

There was a gap of around 100-150 meters between vehicles, and the Naxals targeted the second vehicle in the convoy, he said.

After the blast, the security personnel in the leading and following vehicles took positions and opened fire on both sides of the jungle, the official said.

Visuals from the spot showed a huge crater across the road at the blast site,

almost 10-feet deep. The MUV was completely destroyed while bodies covered with plastic sheets were also seen in the video.

During a search of the spot, around 150-meter long wire connected to the trigger of the command IED was recovered, the official said, adding that it seems that around 40 kg of explosive material was used.

A forensic team has reached the spot, he added.

Chhattisgarh DGP

Ashok Juneja held a meeting of officials of the Anti-Naxal Operation (ANO) and State Intelligence Branch (SIB) units in Raipur to take stock of the incident.

Expressing grief over the loss of life, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said the fight against Naxalism was in its last phase, and Naxals will not be spared under any circumstances.

Baghel, who was scheduled to leave for poll-bound Karnataka this evening for campaigning, cancelled his visit. He will attend wreath laying ceremony for the martyred

“Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans,” Shah tweeted.

The deceased were identified as head constables Joga Sodi, Munna Ram Kadti, Santosh Tamo; constables Dulgo Mandavi, Lakhmu Markam, Joga Kawasi, Hariram Mandavi, and `secret police’ Raju Ram Kartam, Jairam Podiyam and Jagdish Kawasi. The driver was identified as Dhaniram Yadav. Most of the victims were residents of Dantewada district.

In the past, numerous attacks have taken place on the security forces in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, comprising seven districts including Dantewada, between March and June.

During these summer months the Maoists carry out their ‘Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign’.

A team from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) visited the Nagaland Institute of Medical Science and Research (NIMSR), Phriebagie, on Wednesday to review the location to build a 400-bedded teaching hospital for the college.

11-member team from JICA was accompanied by commissioner & secretary, health & family welfare, Y Kikheto Sema, along with NIMSR director/ dean, Prof. Dr. Soumya Chakraborty and other department officials. JICA team was led by Rei Sagawa and Hajime Taniguchi, Senior Representative of JICA India.

During the interaction

after the visit to the proposed site, commissioner & secretary said that Nagaland was in need of a 500-bedded hospital in order to have a full-fledged medical college.

For the initial years, he said the need for the hospital would be met by the 300-bedded hospital at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima while another 150-bedded hospital was being set up at NIMSR premises.

He said state government had been in discussion with JICA for some time, adding today’s review had been completed finally.

Sema disclosed that the design for the upcoming hospital was discussed and almost finalised now.

He said that if everything goes well then NIMSR should have a full-fledged hospital within the college

He pointed out that the upcoming project was the biggest undertaking by JICA and the second project for the agency in the State in 60 years of its statehood.

Further, Sema pointed out that Nagaland was unable to avail external aided projects for a long time unlike many other states.

During the visit, JICA team disclosed that soil testing on the proposed site was done and that it was suitable for high rise building.

The proposed hospital would be 20X80 meters with three storeys below and 11 storeys above.

The construction is expected to be completed latest by 2026. NHAK would be released once the newly constructed hospital becomes fully functional.

According to a DIPR report, the final meeting with JICA representatives

was held under the chairmanship of the commissioner & secretary, H&FW, Y. Kikheto Sema, along with the principal director H&FW, Dr. Vibeituonuo M. Sachu, NIMSR director Dr. Soumya Chakraborty and officials of NIMSR and directorate of H&FW at NIMSR conference hall. Issues discussed included finalization of facility planning based on geological survey and feasibility, cost of the project, timeline of project implementation along with formation of Project Management Unit. The teaching hospital building would have 14 storeys with a rooftop helipad and all other facilities related to patient care services and teaching facilities. The hospital will be equipped with the latest technologies in health care.

Sema appreciating the JICA team for taking up the much-needed project of 400 bedded hospital. He appealed to both the team, JICA and the H&FW department to work closely in collaboration to complete the project within the stipulated time frame.

Non-payment of bills, LSUTN seizes properties of 2-lane company

DIMAPUR, APR 26

(NPN): Labour and Supplier Union Tamlu-Namsang (LSUTN) including the land owners on Wednesday seized the properties Manaranjan Brahma Construction Company, which is carrying out MerangkongTamlu-Mon two-lane road (MTM Pkg-II) works, for failure to pay pending bills and staff payment in spite

Ayurveda practitioners not on par with allopaths: SC

NEW DELHI, APR 26

(PTI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside a Gujarat High Court order, which had held that Ayurveda practitioners working in government hospitals should be treated at par with allopathy doctors and entitled to equal pay.

The apex court was hearing a batch of appeals challenging a 2012 Gujarat High Court order which had held that Ayurveda practitioners are entitled to be treated at par with doctors with MBBS degrees. While recognising the importance of Ayurveda practitioners and the need to promote alternative or indigenous

systems of medicine, the top court said that it cannot be oblivious of the fact that both categories of doctors are certainly not performing equal work to be entitled to equal pay. A bench of Justice V Ramasubramanian and Justice Pankaj Mithal said allopathy doctors are required to perform emergency duties and provide trauma care. “By the very nature of the science that they practise and with the advancement of science and modern medical technology, the emergency duty that allopathy doctors are capable of performing and the trauma care that they are capable of providing cannot

be performed by Ayurveda doctors,” it said.

The apex court said it is also not possible for Ayurveda practitioners to assist surgeons performing complicated surgeries while doctors with MBBS degrees can perform the task.

“We shall not be understood to mean as though one system of medicine is superior to the other. It is not our mandate nor within our competence to assess the relative merits of these two systems of medical sciences. As a matter of fact, we are conscious that the history of Ayurveda dates back to several centuries. “We have no doubt that every alterna-

tive system of medicine may have its pride of place in history. But today, the practitioners of indigenous systems of medicine do not perform complicated surgical operations. A study of Ayurveda does not authorise them to perform these surgeries. Similarly, a post-mortem or autopsy is not carried out by/in the presence of Ayurveda doctors,” it said.

The apex court said it is common knowledge that during out-patient days in general hospitals in cities or towns, doctors with MBBS degrees are made to attend to hundreds of patients, which is not the case for Ayurveda practitioners.

Health department recalls paracetamol oral suspension

DIMAPUR, APR 26 (NPN): Drugs Control Administration (DCA), directorate of Health & Family Welfare has recalled paracetamol oral suspension

I.P (60 ml), manufactured by M/s Zee Laboratories, found to be of substandard quality. In a communiqué, additional drugs controller & licensing authority, WH Patton said that the sample of the drug drawn from Government Medical Store has been declared as “Not of Standard Quality” (NSQ) by the Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory.

In this regard, the de-

JCC lauds decision on removal of footpath vendors

Suggestrelocating footpathvendors toSuperMarket

DIMAPUR, APR 26 (NPN): Joint Colony Council (JCC) of NST colony and Middle Point Colony have expressed appreciation to the Deputy Commissioner, the Commissioner of Police and the Chief Executive Officer of Dimapur Municipal Council(DMC) for removing footpath vendors from the main areas of Dimapur city, especially the food carts and food stalls from Clock Tower to Popular Bakery

In a joint statement, chairman JCC(NST)Colony Diswang Hau, advisor Vikashe Zhimomi. GN

Middle Point Hukato Aye and general secretary Benjungwati Ao reminded the authorities of having raised the problems caused by food cart, food stall and foothpath vendors in the past. They said JCC and MP youth volunteers even had to clear footpaths where foodstalls were set up which blocked pedestrians and shoppers from using the passages.

The signatories pointed out that the food carts and food stalls attracted many unruly elements who cause

unruly scenes and unwanted situations every night till wee hours.

The signatories said in a direct challenge on the authorities, alcohol was illegally served openly at night to who go for drinking.

They said every night loud blaring music greatly disturbed the peace at night especially when students were preparing for exams.

Again, the next day, the area around the shops used to be littered with broken bottles, leftover food, meat chunks. The signatories said that many drunken customers often vomit or urinate on shutters of nearby shops while some even pass stools

on the by lanes to colonies.

Even during the day, when the food carts and stalls have not begun their business hours, the food carts used to be parked on the nearby by-lanes of colonies and also right in front of gates of private residences. They said the residents faced great difficulty fin moving in or out of their residences.

The signatories of JCC also recalled that they had raised the issue at several meetings with district authorities besides issuing press statements highlighting the problems faced by motorists and pedestrians alike. The signatories said their volunteers had also

tried to rein in the promoters of these nightly businesses but to no avail.

In the light of the suffering faced by the public from these business in the heart of Dimapur city and also creating of huge traffic jams along the busiest roads in Dimapur , the signatories have urged upon the DC Dimapur, Commissioner Police and CEO of DMC against entertaining any plea from any section for reopening of these nightly business ventures in the area.

They said , public cannot be allowed to suffer under the plea of self employment and that should not be harassed. (Full text on p-6)

partment has issued directive to inspect all government medical stores and outlets, seize available stock and submit detailed report.

Generic name: Paracetamol oral suspension

I.P (60 ml), batch no. 622412, manufacture/expiry date: July, 2022 to June 2024, manufacturer M/s Zee Lab.

Meanwhile, CMO Mokokchung Dr. Limatula Aier, in compliance with a directive from Pharmacy Cell Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, issued directive to all concerned officers of all health units to stop issuing the drug.

of several appeals. In a press release, the union informed all the intending contractor of (MTM Pkg- II) two-lane construction project to refrain from making any deals regarding the properties of Manaranjan Brahma company. It cautioned that any company or individual dealing with them would do so at their own risk.

Nagaland logs 1 fresh Covid case

DIMAPUR, APR 26 (NPN): N agaland on Wednesday reported one fresh Covid-19 case pushing the total caseload to 35,998. The fresh case was reported from Kohima. The State currently has two active cases-- one each in Dimapur and Kohima. The death toll remained unchanged at 782 (including 5 non-Covid deaths but with positivity).

Meanwhile, India logged 9,629 new Covid cases, while the active cases decreased to 61,013. The toll increased to 5,31,398 with 29 deaths, which includes 10 reconciled by Kerala, Health Ministry data stated.

Assam should use DNA profiling to identify B’deshi infiltrators: Togadia

GUWAHATI, APR 26

(IANS): Pravin Togadia, President of Antarashtriya Hindu Parishad, a rightwing outfit, Wednesday held a minority community responsible for India overtaking China as the world’s most populous nation.

Togadia, who is also the former International working president of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, asserted that this population surge will mostly affect Assam in the coming years, and therefore the state should identify the Bangladeshi infiltrators through DNA profiling. Speaking to mediapersons

here, Togadia claimed that the population growth of Hindus in India is currently negative, adding that the percentage of Hindus in the overall population of India has actually decreased. The controversial leader also said that the enormous increase in minority population will affect Assam badly in the next 15-20 years, as he called for the introduction of a strict population control act. “...I also urge the Assam government to identify the Bangladesh-origin infiltrators on the basis of the 1951 voters’ list and through DNA profiling,” he added.

JICA team inspects400-bedded teaching hospital site at NIMSR

Security personnel at the site after the blast carried out by Naxalites in Dantewada district, Wednesday. (PTI)

Members of the labour and supplier union during the protest. (LSUTN)

Orientation for legislators concludes

the legislators. He was optimistic that the orientation programme would benefit the legislators.

Lok Sabha Secretariat

Additional director Sovan

Kumar Ganguli made a presentation on the procedural devices to raise matte rs of urgent public importance in the house, while former joint secretary Lok Sabha secretariat, Ravindra Garimella highlighted on the parliamentary privileges and ethics.

NEWS IN BRIEF

NPA emergency meeting: Nagaland Pensioner Association (NPA) has convened a general meeting on May 3 at 11 am at Nagaland Pensioner’s Head Office, at Kohima, pertaining to Chief Minister Health Care Insurance Scheme (CMHCIS). President of each district have been requested to attend the meeting without fail.

KP prayer programme: Keltomi Phuthemi Kuposhukulu (KPK) has informed that it would be holding a prayer programme for the new office bearers at Zukihe village on April 28, 2023. KPK has, therefore, invited all the responsible members to the proposed prayer programme.

KG Kenye speaking at the valedictory programme on Wednesday. (NP)

Correspondent

KOHIMA, APR

26(NPN): The two-day orientation programme for the legislators concluded on Wednesday where minister for power and parliamentary affairs, KG Kenye delivered the valedictory address.

Dwelling on the political journey of Nagaland, Kenye reminded that the 16 Point Agreement, signed between the Naga People’s Convention (NPC) and the

Government of India in 1960, led to the formation of the state of Nagaland in 1963, headed by an interim government. In the following year (1964), the State held is first general elections which had only 41 members. He also pointed out that Nagaland was under President’s Rule for three times.

Despite all this, Kenye said that the State was doing its best to catch up with the rest of the country.

Speaking on the anti-

defection law-- the 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution popularly referred to as the ‘AntiDefection Law’, inserted by the 52nd Amendment (1985) to the Constitution, Kenye said that Nagaland was the first state to test the grip of the parliamentary law, where the first sitting member was disqualified under the act.

Kenye thanked the resource persons for providing an in-depth of parliamentary proceedings to

PVC adopts resolution

DIMAPUR: Padumpukhuri Village Council (PVC) at the meeting held on April 21 has resolved and adopted certain resolutions for strict implementation within the village.

In a press release, PVC head GB Soremo Lotha and chairman Aheto Yepthomi informed that except school buses and medical emergencies all other heavy vehicles will not be allow to ply within the village main road from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm on all working days. The council warned that penalty will be imposed on the defaulters.

Auto owners and drivers were asked to strictly follow the given rate and guidelines relating to autofares and parking lot/ zone within the village.

UNPG/NNC (P-B) suspends; appoints

DIMAPUR: United Naga People’s Government (UNPG)/Naga National Council (NNC) Parent

Body president, Z. Royim has informed that after deliberation with the cabinet, the group has decided to suspend general secretary, Toshi Walling and vice president, Kiviho Zhimomi for indulging in finance matter for the past five years and anti-government’s activities.

The UNPG informed that the president with the consent of cabinet has unanimously elected Rokosalie as acting general secretary. Meanwhile, Royim informed all individuals and business establishments within its jurisdiction to not pay any donation to any individual and contact at the following numbers- 8732896872 and 8787586160 for further details.

In an another press statement, MIP of UNPG/ NNC (P-B) claimed that the central executive council and the council of kilonsers at the meeting held on April 26 at Oking has resolved to relive, president U NPG/ NNC (P-B), Royim from his duties and responsibilities as president after completion of his second tenure.

MIP informed that that council as per the “azha” has appointed vice-president Kiviho Zhimomi as acting president.

Further, the council resolved to remain vigilant against individuals and groups that tried to create factions within the organization using nefarious schem es in order to gain leadership control over the organization.

MIP said that parent body being the oldest organization for the Naga political rights cannot succumbed to divisive schemes.

The council also informed that along with pharmacies, hair salon and shops dealing with exclusively bakery items will be permitted to open on Sunday but only after 1 p.m, while construction workers were asked not to undertake any activities on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the house reaffirmed on its earlier resolution dated November 5, 2021, warned that action will be initiated against any individuals or group found involved in selling liquors illegal items or drugs. In this connection, GBs have been entrusted to take all necessary measures and conduct surprise checking. It also apprised trade and commerce committee to regularly check the prices of different items in the market.

Lok Sabha, secretariat joint secretary Vinay Kumar Mohan spoke on the assembly questions and notices and director, Santosh Kumar spoke on Assembly committees.

The programme was also attended by NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer, host of legislators and officials. NLA secretariat joint secretary Darhu Shupao delivered the vote of thanks. It may be mentioned that the programme was organised by Parliamentary Research & Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat.

TYO refutes TGPU allegation

DIMAPUR: Tseminyu Youth Organisation

(TYO) has termed the allegations of Tesophenyu Group Public Union (TGPU) Central, as baseless and a “futile attempt coloured with fabricated stories” to tarnish the image of the Tseminyu youths. TYO made this statement, while reacting to the allegations made by Tesophenyu Group Public Union accusing of Tseminyu youths of looting from the resident of Velhoulie Magh, Tseminyu New Town on April 19.

In a press release, Tseminyu Youth Organisation media and communication cell requested individual or organizations to not level “hearsay accusations” without proof or evidence which may flare up and escalate situations further.

Meanwhile, Tseminyu Youth Organisation expressed confidence that the administration and law enforcing agencies will deliver justice to the victim and to every citizen yearning for peace and demanded that the culprit (s) involved on physical assault on Yhuntilo Kent on April 18 be arrested at the earliest.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

NPGN/NNC (N/A) terminates: NPGN/NNC (N/A) has terminated Antonio Sumi, Kilonser from national service for his unlawful activities and abuse of power. MIP of NPGN/NNC (N/A) in a press statement informed that the order has been effective from April 15. In this regard, all HoDs, businessman and general public have been informed to not entertain Antonio Sumi for any matters relating to NPGN/NNC (N/A), and cautioned that defaulters would be doing so at their own risk.

SJC (A) Alumni Association new team: A new team of office bearers for the alumni association of St Joseph College (Autonomous), Jakhama, was formed during a general body meeting at the college premises, on Tuesday. The new team will be headed by Tepfuvizo Peter Vizo as president, Eddie Patton and Vikato Swu as vice presidents, Mhasimhalie Matthew Yhome as joint secretary, Ruokuonuo Glecilda Kesi as finance secretary, Kiviboto Sheqi as media coordinator and Virano Motonyu as general secretary.

DIMAPUR: The general conference of Village Development Board (VDB), Mokokchung district was held on April 26 at Town Hall, Mokokchung with Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, Shashank Pratap Singh, as the guest of honor.

A DIPR report stated that, DC in his speech, termed Village Council and VDB as unique institution that played an important role in the community for development and peaceful co-existence. He said the village council and village development board were like the grass-root level planning department, therefore, there

should be strong coordination between the two. President, of Mokokchung district VDB Association, Dr. Imtinungba Atsongchanger delivered the introductory speech and keynote address was delivered by Project Director (DRDA Mokokchung), Toshimongla Kichu.

Short speeches were delivered by council chairman, Chuchuyimpang, Temsumoa Imsong, Council chairman, Mongchen, Aonungsang Mollier, and council chairman, Chakpa, Imkonglemba while vote of thanks was proposed by Imtiyanger Imchen, executive member.

MITE organizes ‘Outreach Activity’; visits Khonoma

teacher in charge for the outreach activity.

As part of the programme, the students and teachers visited St. John Bosco School, Khonoma to enable the student-teachers develop awareness on the “Learning through Engagement and Handicraft for Life”. The team also also collected data from the com-

munity on unemployment, women empowerment, and other areas with the help from Khonoma Village Council and Student Union. Later, they visited the Handloom industry, Black Smith industry, and craft industry, where students and teachers interacted with the skilled workers and enquired about the process.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

DIMAPUR: Modern Institute of Teacher Education (MITE), Kohima organized outreach activity and “Nai Talim” Programme on the topic “Handicraft for Life”

on April 22 at Khonoma village. A press release by principal Dr. Kate Dandesh Kumar, informed that Dr. Velankanni Alex, was the

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Born on : 11/11/1963 – Died on : 19/04/2023

Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to each and everyone those who stood with us physically, spiritually and materially at the sudden demise of our beloved Late Chophathung Lotha

Through this column, we would also like to convey our special thanks to the following :-

Born on : 09/11/1967 – Died on : 19/04/2023

“GOD’S WAY IS TO ENTER INTO JOYS AND SORROWS OF THOSE AROUND US” ROMANS 12:15

We, the bereaved family members of Late K. Langshen (Retd Deputy Director, Rural Development) wish to acknowledge our deep appreciation for the love, kindness and support shown to us by the churches, organizations, friends and individuals for extending your comfort and sympathy through constant prayer, physical presence, financial and material support during the untimely demise on 19th April 2023.

We sincerely convey our gratitude to:

1. Khiamniungan Union Dimapur

2. Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam Dimapur

3. Khiamniungan Students' Union Dimapur

4. Khiamniungan Community Diphupar B

5. Sangtam Fellowship Diphupar B

6. Thang Hoikam Dimapur

7. Khiamniungan Baptist Church Dimapur

8. Khiamniungan Baptist Church Diphupar B

9. Khiamniungan Union Kohima

10. Khiamniungan Students' Union Kohima

11. Thang Hoikam Kohima

12. Khiamniungan Baptist Church Kohima

13. Khiamniungan Hoikam Tuensang

14. Thang Hoikam Tuensang

15. Khiamniungan Baptist Church, Tuensang Town

16. Thang Public Organization

17. Thang Range Public Organisation

18. Khiamniungan Gazetted Officers Association

19. Thang Students' Union

20. Khiamniungan Students' Union

21. Baptist Church Thang

22. Khiamniungan Menyiu Hoikam

23. Khiamniungan Union Kiphire

24. Er. Hendo & family

25. Mr. P. Longon & family

26. Mr. Butang Retd Director & family

27. Mr. Tinglise & family,

Words are inadequate to express our gratitude and though we may not be able to specifically mention everyone, the good deeds of all your sympathy, love and generosity will always be remembered. It is our prayer that our Almighty God bless you all abundantly.

Born on : 11/12/1974 – Died on : 17/04/2023

We, the bereaved family of Late Yanpenthung Lotha , would like to express our heartfelt gratitude through this column, who have stood with us during our painful moments. Our sincere prayer to the Almighty God for His blessings to each and everyone.

Family Members Cousins and Relatives

DP-1800/23

1. Lotha Baptist Church, Dimapur (LBCD)

2. Dimapur Riphyim Ekhung (DRE)

3. Notun Bosti Council, Dimapur (NBCD)

4. Mhanka Welfare Society, Dimapur (MWSD)

5. Riphyim (Old) Village

6. Friends, Colony and Neighbours

Family Members Cousins and Relatives

DP-1801/23

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

“For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end” Psalm 48:14

As we grieve the sad demise of our father

Late Ino Vizheto Awomi words are inadequate to express our deepest heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all individuals, friends, wellwishers, churches and organizations for your unreserved contribution physically, materially, financially and prayers during the prolonged illness and at the sudden demise on 24/04/2023.

Special thanks to :

1. Ino Howoto Jakhalu, M/D Multi Builder.

2. Ino Lanutemjen Lemtur, Class I Contractor, Mokokchung.

3. Ino Aden Lemtur, Kohima.

4. Khehoi Aye, 32 A/C Suruhoto, President, NCP.

5. Dimapur Surumi Community.

6. Ganeshnagar Baptist Church.

7. Nagaland Christian Revival Church Sumi, Mokokchung.

DP-1803/23

Loving wife, sons, daughter, in laws, grandchildren & great grandchildren

Born on : 05/03/1920 – Died on : 24/04/2023

Tsg

28. Doctors, staff and nurses from CIHSR, Olive and Civil Hospital.

DC Mokokchung Shashank addressing the gathering.

MITE team members at Khonoma.

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DISHA meeting held at Longleng

DIMAPUR: District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting was held on April 26, at DCs conference hall Longleng.

According to a DIPR report, a brief introduction on DISHA was highlighted by Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and chairperson (DISHA) Longleng, Tokheho Yepthomi. The MP also called for completion of all projects work at the earliest.

Department of Food and Civil Supplies highlighted works and activities under different schemes on various flagship programmes and emphasized on importance under PMGKAY and “One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)”.

Department of PWD (R&B) presented activities of the department, including inspection, supervision, construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. The ongoing schemes such as PMGSY-4, Economic importance (E) road, North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) 4, North East Special Infrastructure Development Schemes (NESIDS) under NEC and Central Road Fund (CRF), and Special Assistance to State for Capital Investment (SASCI)

were also briefed.

EE PWD (R&B) Longleng assured that YongamYongnyah Road via Nian would be completed within two weeks, while the house reiterated on pressing need of creation of SDO PWD (R&B) in Tamlu ADC Hq. Meanwhile, department of Agriculture presented various CSS activities such as NFSM (National Food Security Mission), NFSM Oil Palm, RAD (NMSA)-Rainfed Area Development, (RKVY)-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, (PMKSY) - Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, SMAM- Sub Mission on Agriculture Mechanization, PM Kisan (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) were addressed. The department also provided marketing sheds, distribution of tools and implements, and irrigation channels. Department of Horticulture highlighted schemes implemented such as MIDH

(Mission for integrated Development of Horticulture), PMKSY (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchal Yojana), CDB (Coconut Development Board), North Eastern Council. Department of PHED Longleng Division presented on the flagship programme of GoI, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and its implementation status.

The list of villages taken up under JJM during 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and those proposed during 2022-23 was also highlighted.

Meanwhile, Department of Health & Family Welfare presented health units under Longleng, manpower of the department, and report on Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY), JSY/JSSK Incentives to Beneficiaries (Mother & Infant), Nutritional Support to TB Patients, and National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control

Sensitization prog. for pharmacy owners

activities carried out by the district were also highlighted, while the department of Social Welfare presented their activities and achievements under programmes like (PMMVY) Maternity Benefit Program, ICDS and Poshan Pakhwada.

Department of Rural Development highlighted on centrally sponsored schemes in the district such as MGNREGA, poor identification of wage seekers focusing job cards, demand of works by the job card holder, identification of schemes for wage intensive, payment of wages fortnightly, issue of work site facilities, material component and timely inspection of schemes. Lastly, department of Power presented their activities and achievements under CSS programmes such as (DDUGJ) Additional and DDUGJY- NEW (BAL UE-HH) Schemes in the district. The release added the meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Longleng, and member secretary DISHA Longleng, Dharam Raj, who welcomed the MP and all members. The meeting concluded with vote of thanks by Project Director, DRDA Longleng, Moakaba.

Nagaland Board of School Education informs on exam reforms

DIMAPUR: Nagaland

Board of School Education (NBSE) has informed that with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 laying special emphasis on transforming assessment for optimizing learning and developing the competency of the learner, the Board will be taking steps to reform the examinations. The examinations

will prioritize the basic learning outcomes and tests the core capacities/ competencies, along with higher-order skills and application of knowledge in real-life situations.

As a consequence, NBSE has revised the Question Paper Designs for all subjects for both Secondary and Higher Secondary Levels. Sample Question Papers based

on the New Designs have been developed, which shall be effective from Class IX Phase I & II Examinations 2023, HSLC Examination 2024, and Class XI Promotion & HSSLC Examinations 2024 for all subjects.

In this connection, all schools registered with the Board have been directed to strictly follow the design and align the

classroom teaching and assessments accordingly. The New Designs should be implemented from the Mid-Term Examinations 2023 and the booklets will be made available in the NBSE portal www.nbsenl.

edu.in : Question Paper Designs and Sample Question Papers for Secondary Level and Question Paper Designs and Sample Question Papers for Higher

Secondary Level. NBSE further informed that hard copies of the booklets will be available in the Board’s Office by the second week of May 2023.

Therefore, all Heads of Institutions have been requested to take note of the changes and instruct their teachers and students to make use of the resources.

Meeting on immunization in Tsg

DIMAPUR: The meeting of Tuensang District Task Force for Immunization was held under the chairmanship of DC Tuensang Nokchasashi at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner office Tuensang on April 26.

A DIPR report stated that at the meeting, Dr. Imtijunshi Aier District Programme Officer (RCH & UIP) Tuensang, presented the status report of the immunization of the district percentage of zero dose children, dropout rates, and the

reasons for dropout. He further highlighted the challenges to achieving immunization coverage in the district. He also sought the support of all NGOs, and stakeholders in achieving the target percentage.

DC also commented that all the convergent departments, such as Social Welfare, School Education, and Health & Family Welfare should play an active role and ensured that children take up doses of routine immunization vaccine and support the MR elimination campaign.

GENSU cautions Nagas against fraud companies

DIMAPUR: Guwahati

Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union (GENSU) has cautioned the fellow Nagas against fraud companies and agencies operating in Guwahati that promised alluring jobs.

In a press release, GENSU president, Wangyat Wangsu and general

secretary, Shan Lonhshe said that many Nagas have become victims to the “diddling practices” taking place in Guwahati. The union said that it was trying to curb such practices and has rescued many individuals who were victims of the “deception and scammers”. GENSU claimed that many Naga brothers

and sisters were also actively involved in the fraudulent dealings associating with the scammers.

Therefore, the union cautioned that it will initiate against those individuals found involved in those kinds of activities. The union has also advised the Naga people to remain alert and to not

State awardees in arts felicitated

Training programme for pharmacy in progress at CMO office, Zunheboto.

DIMAPUR: District Health Authority Zunheboto under CMO office conducted one day sensitization and training programme for pharmacy owners under Zunheboto district on April 26, at CMO office.

According to a press release by District Media Officer, Keneikhrietuo, deputy CMO Dr. K. Akaho Sema highlighted the responsibilities of pharmacy

owners as keepers of life saving drugs and informed on strict compliance to sell drug against prescription of physicians only. He mentioned that pharmacy should be an asset and not liability as they played vital role in health care set up and encouraged them to contribute their service for public welfare.

District Drug Control Officer (DCO) Boto Sema trained participants on dif-

ferent categories of drugs and its record maintenance and highlighted on Schedule C & C1, Schedule H, H1 and schedule X categories of drugs. He also stressed on issue of substance abuse which was a socio economic menace and sought cooperation of pharmacy owners in strengthening the system by installing CCTV as directed by the district administration.

Free dental camp at GMS Sabangya

DIMAPUR: I n observation of oral cancer screening month, National Oral Health Programme (NOHP) in collaboration with Iva Healthcare Ltd. & Renascent Pharma organized a free dental camp at Government Middle School, Sabangya Compound on April 25.

At the camp, Dr. Sentirenla educated the students on the importance of practising good oral health habits by avoiding use of tobacco. She highlighted the main cause responsible for oral cancer and other problems due to poor dental health. The medical team was led by IMDH senior dental

surgeon Dr.Taliwaba Ao and assisted by staff of Sabangya PHC and teachers from GMS Sabangya.

Free oral hygiene kit, containing a tooth brush and toothpaste was also distributed to the students.

DIMAPUR: The felicitation programme for the State awardees in the handicraft category was held at the Conference Hall, Directorate of Industries and Commerce on April 25.

On the occasion, 30 individuals were awarded in different categories of arts.

A DIPR report stated that the commissioner and secretary, Kekhrievor Kevichusa graced the

event as special guest and Padma Shree awardee 2023 Neihuno Sorhie also attended the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Kevichusa spoke on the significance of the award function. He also advised the awardees to not stop but keep striving so that all will excel in life.

Padma Shree 2023 awardee Neihunuo also encouraged and congratulated the awardees at the

function. She also shared her journey toward the civilian highest award, and appreciated her mother for teaching, encouraging, and guiding her. Director of Industries and Commerce, A. Temjen Jamir in his keynote address highlighted that the award was being given by the Ministry of Textile in 67 categories based on criteria like design, techniques, materials used, traditions, etc.

succumb to such trap and manipulation without authenticating of the company. In case of any job-related query, medical assistance or any support in Guwahati, the union can be contacted at the following numbers9362361017, 8974368632, 8822077472, 9366006235 and 8787389952.

DBC to carry out census drive

DIMAPUR: Duncan Bosti Council (DBC) has informed that it will be carrying out census drive on Nagas and non-Nagas in the colony.

In this regard, the council chairman, S. Wojamo Yanthan and general secretary, S. Bendang Imsong have urged the residents to cooperate with the council during the drive.

The council has also informed the landowners/pattadars under its jurisdiction to strictly verify/scrutiny tenants before giving away the shops or house for rent. It warned that action will initiated against landowners/pattadars found giving rent to illegal immigrants as tenants. Meanwhile, the council informed that as entrusted by the council authority and accepted unanimously by the general public in the annual general meeting held on October 29, 2022, no outsiders on non-pattadars will not be allowed to represent the colony in any election matter under DMC jurisdiction” Therefore, DBC appealed to all pattadars to be united and stand from in on the matter.

Tokheho Yepthomi addressing DISHA meeting at Longleng.

The 18th foundation day of Tenyidie Kephrünuoko Krotho (TKK) was held at Ura Academy Hall Kohima with president of Ura Academy, Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsu as guest of honour on April 25.

Officials and awardees at the felicitation programme in Kohima. (DIPR)

A student examined at the dental camp.

Tudu lauds progress of schemes in Arunachal

ITANAGAR, APR 26

(PTI): Union Minister Bishweswar Tudu on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over the progress of various Centrally sponsored schemes in Arunachal Pradesh and said that there will be no dearth of funds to the border state from the Centre.

The minister arrived here on Tuesday on his maiden two-day visit to the northeastern state to review all undergoing central projects.

“I appreciate the team effort of the Arunachal Pradesh government for smooth progress of all Centrally sponsored schemes most of which are over fifty per cent completed,” the Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Tribal Affairs told reporters here.

The minister admitted that there are challenges in certain areas of the state for implementation of projects as per Central guidelines due to harsh terrain and other factors, for which, he would apprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi so that certain criteria could be relaxed.

He also assured the state government to resolve a few schemes under Jal

Shakti and Tribal Affairs ministry in the state which, are pending due to certain official procedures.

Tudu advocated for cooperation between the Central and state government officials, along with a positive approach, to ensure that the benefits of schemes are percolated down to the targeted beneficiaries.

On the difficulties and challenges faced during the implementation of central schemes at the ground level, the minister said that he had asked the state officials to

GUWAHATI, APRIL 26

(IANS): The Gauhati High Court that heard the plea of Indian Youth Congress president B.V. Srinivas, who on Wednesday requested the court to quash the harassment complaints filed against him by former Assam unit Youth Congress head Angkita Dutta, did not provide the youth Congress chief any interim relief. The court has listed the matter for hearing on May 2. Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia, who is representing the state government in this case, said: “Srinivas B.V. filed a plea for quashing the FIR lodged against him. However, the court has fixed the matter on May 2 for further consideration.”

He further said that the Court has also asked for the case diary on May 2. It implies that Srinivas will have to appear before

Assam police at Dispur police station in Guwahati on May 2. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam Police went to Srinivas’ residence in Bengaluru and served a notice to appear in person before the police in Guwahati. In the notice, Srinivas was asked not to tamper with the evidence in the case and to not make any threat, inducement or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case.

come to New Delhi and meet the respective ministries to sort out the issue.

“Our efforts will be to develop Arunachal Pradesh by overcoming all challenges as the state is strategic as it shares border with three countries,” the minister said, and added that it is the responsibility of the Centre to ensure that the state gets the required push to develop at par with other states.

Referring to the huge potential of the state in various sectors, Tudu asserted that the double engine gov-

ernment, both at the Centre and the state, would leave no stone unturned to develop the land-locked state.

Expressing satisfaction on the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the state, the minister informed that almost 77 per cent work has been completed and the state would complete its target to provide drinking water to all its citizens much ahead of the national target of 2024.

Responding to queries regarding delay in releasing scholarship to tribal stu -

dents, the minister said that due to delay in submission of data by the state government, disbursement process got delayed.

He, however, assured to streamline the process.

Speaking on the Van Dhan Vikas Yojana and its implementation in the state, the union minister suggested that the rich tribal handicrafts of the state could be promoted through Van Dhan Vikash Kendra under Van Dhan programme spearheaded by TRIFED, in the country.

The Van Dhan Yojana, a component of the ‘Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Development of value chain for MFP’ was launched on April 14, 2018.

Implemented by TRIFED as the nodal agency at the national level, the Van Dhan start up is a well thought master plan for the socio-economic development of the tribal population of the country.

It is an initiative targeting livelihood generation for tribal people and transforming them into entrepreneurs.

B’desh approves India’s use of two ports to transport goods to NE

NEW DELHI, APR 26 (ANI): Bangladesh has given India access to Chattogram and Mongla ports for transit and trans-shipment of cargo, a move expected to significantly cut the time and cost needed to transport goods to the country’s North Eastern states.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) released a “permanent transit order” stating that the transshipment of goods will be carried out in accordance with the standard operating procedures that the two nations had completed as part of a 2018 agreement.

Chattogram is Bangladesh’s main port and handles more than 90% of the country’s foreign trade. Mongla is the country’s second largest sea port on the Bay of Bengal. In recent years, India and Bangladesh have taken a number of actions to improve connectivity, such as reopening several crossborder railway links that had been shut since the 1965 war with Pakistan, connecting riverine waterway systems,

and using Bangladeshi ports for the trans-shipment of goods to India’s strategically important northeastern region.

The two sides signed the “Agreement on the Use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for Movement of Goods to and from India” in October 2018 and finalized the standard operating procedures for operationalizing the pact a year later. But the trans-shipment of goods had not started as Bangladesh had to finalize certain customs procedures and put in place necessary logistics, people familiar with the matter said.

The two parties tested the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports for the transshipment of cargo to the northeastern states extensively over the past year. The first trial transshipping of products took place in July 2020 when a load of iron rods and pulses was transported from Haldia port near Kolkata to Chattogram port in southeast Bangladesh and then shipped across the land to Tripura.

The order issued by the Bangladeshi side opens up transit on 16 routes, and cargo can be transported from Chattogram or Mongla port to Agartala in Tripura via Akhaura, Dawki in Meghalaya via Tamabil, Sutarkandi in Assam via Sheola, and Srimantapur in West Bengal via Bibir Bazar. The same routes can be used to transport commodities from the northeastern states to the two ports in Bangladesh.

Indian operators will have to obtain a five-year licence from Bangladesh customs, and goods being trans-shipped cannot be kept at ports in Bangladesh for more than a week.

Any goods prohibited by the laws of Bangladesh cannot transit through the country, according to the order.

Transporters will be required to pay a number of fees, including a 30 Taka per tonne transshipment tax, a 100 Taka per tonne security fee, a 100 Taka per tonne administration fee, and tolls for accessing Bangladeshi highways.

Amid hint of rift in Manipur BJP, Sambit Patra visits Imphal

Correspondent

IMPHAL, APR 26: Amid hint of rift among legislators of the ruling BJP in Manipur, party national spokesperson and in-charge of northeast Sambit Patra arrived here in Imphal on Wednesday on a two-day visit in the state to resolve the differences among the party legislators, a highly reliable source in the party said.

Patra will attend another round of meeting of the BJP legislators to be convened by party Manipur unit president A Sarda Devi on April 27 that comes up in the backdrop of resignation by another MLA.

After three MLAs quit the administrative posts, the state party president had earlier convened a meeting of the party legislators on April 21. ‘Sambit Patra will attend a meeting of the party MLAs to be convened tomorrow under the chair

of party president A Sarda Devi,’ the source said.

The meeting aimed at resolving differences among the party MLAs, the source said, adding that the BJP national leaders took the growing resentment among the party MLAs seriously as the next general election to the Lok Sabha is knocking at the door.

In a hint of rift among party legislators, four sitting BJP MLAs had tendered

their resignations from the government administrative posts.

On April 24, BJP MLA Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh tendered his resignation as chairman of the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA), to become the fourth MLAs of the ruling party distancing themselves from the chief minister.

MLA Thokchom Rad-

heshyam Singh was the first party legislator to tender his resignation as the adviser to Manipur’s chief minister on April 13. In his resignation letter, Radheshyam also complained of “not being given any responsibility”. He also blamed the leadership for his “dictatorial attitude”.

It was followed by MLA Karam Shyam who resigned as the chairman of the Manipur Tourism Corporation Limited on April 17. Shyam alleged that he was not assigned any responsibility as the chairman.

On April 20, MLA Paonam Brojen Singh tendered his resignation as chairman of Manipur Development Society (MDS), citing “some personal grounds”. Following the resignations by the three MLAs, BJP Manipur unit president A Sarda Devi chaired a meeting of the legislators of the party on

April 21. BJP national general secretary (in-charge of Manipur and Nagaland)

Abhay Giri also attended the meeting.

After the meeting which was skipped by around eight MLAs, including a cabinet minister, the chief minister told the media that the meeting discussed the upcoming 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat which the party would celebrate in a grand manner at party as well as government levels.

At the same time, Singh denied rift among the party MLAs while responding to queries from reporters after the meeting.

Party chief A Sarda Devi, on the other hand, stated that party MLAs should not bring out party’s internal matters to the public through social media.

Earlier, Sambit Patra was extended a warm welcome by leaders and mem-

bers of the state BJP on his arrival at the Imphal airport in the afternoon.

Most of the ministers and MLAs of the party accompanied state party president Sarda Devi in receiving the party national leader at the airport. Soon after his arrival in Imphal, the BJP national spokesperson attended a joint meeting of state office bearers, spokespersons, morcha presidents and district presidents. The meeting discussed the widespread celebration of the upcoming 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio talk “Mann Ki Baat” and other upcoming party programmes, BJP Manipur Pradesh wrote on Facebook. The meeting presided over by state BJP president A Sarda Devi was also attended by Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba and state BJP general secretary Abhay Giri.

Tripura civil servant, who sheltered refugees during 1971, dies

Correspondent

IMPHAL, APR 26: Outer

Manipur Lok Sabha MP

Dr Lorho S Pfoze declared Kumram village under Phungyar sub-division of Kamjong district as a model village under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).

Located in a remote area, around 118 km from Imphal, Kumram is the first ever village to be developed as a model village for the district.

The MP formally declared the adoption of the village at an event hosted by Kamjong district administration on Tuesday, a DIPR release said on Thursday.

Phungyar MLA K Leishiyo also attended the event. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Lorho sought the help of the officials of the district administration to effectively develop Kumram as a model village.

He said that each household should have a good sanitation system, good power and water supply, and health and hygiene and children should be educated with a good education system, including smart classes. But above all of these, all the villagers should undergo a change in their attitudes to become ‘model citizens’ to other villages and to the rest of the state and the nation, he said.

Dr Lorho also appealed

to the villagers not to resort to poppy and ganja cultivation for easy money keeping in mind the harm it will do to the future generations. He also urged not to degrade the natural ecosystem and the environment.

MLA Leishiyo expressed his gratitude to the MP for selecting to adopt Kumram from amongst the rest of the villages in the hills to be developed as a model village. He said that Kumram used to be lacking in every aspect of infrastructure, but with this project, it will be a developed village with all modern amenities.

He added that Kamjong is a vast district of around 2400 sq km but with a small population of around 50, 000 and all the parts of the district still remained backward and there was not a single urbanized village yet.

The MLA also ex -

pressed his wish of creating a special economic zone (SEZ) in consultation with the state government in one of the areas of Kamjong.

As a part of the program, the dignitaries planted trees and unveiled the launching plaque at the beginning of the event. Cultural dances and entertainment programs were also showcased.

Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) is a rural development programme broadly focused upon the development in the villages which includes social development, cultural development and spreading motivation among people on social mobilization of the village community.

The programme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan on October 11, 2014.

AGARTALA, APR 26 (PTI): Himangshu Mohan Chowdhury, who was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri for his services during the Bangladesh Liberation war as a civil service officer, passed away due to age-related ailments at a private hospital here. He is credited with overseeing the housing and feeding of lakhs of refugees from the neighbouring country, who fled to the tiny northeastern state in the aftermath of the brutal crackdown by the Pakistan army from March 1971.

Chowdhury, 83, breathed his last on Tuesday. He is survived by two daughters, relatives and large numbers of well-wishers. His wife died four years ago.

Chief Minister Manik Saha condoled the passing away of the first Padma Shri awardee from the northeast.

Born in a doctor’s family in Feni district (now in Bangladesh), Chowdhury’s family had migrated to Tripura in 1930. He completed his college days in MBB College in Agartala and then

went to Kolkata for higher studies. After returning from Kolkata, he joined government service as an official.

When the Liberation war broke out in Bangladesh, he was the SDO of

IN THE COURT OF FAST TRACK SPECIAL COURT DIMAPUR, NAGALAND PROCLAMATION REQUIRING THE APPEARANCE OF A PERSON ACCUSED

Whereas complaint has been made before me that Hoiwang Konyak, S/o Lt. Tapo Konyak, V/o Chingphoi, Po/P S - Wakching District - Mon, P/A - Khushiabill, Purana Bazaar, Dimapur has committed (or is suspected to have committed) the offence punishable under the section U/S - 323/328/354/354A/354B/506/509 IPC R/W 8/10

Po CSo Act. and it has been returned to a warrant of arrest thereupon issued that the said accused cannot be found and Whereas it has been shown to my satisfaction that the said accused has absconded (or is concealing himself to avoid the service of the said warrant).

Proclamation is hereby made that the said accused Hoiwank Konyak, S/o Lt. Tapo Konyak, V/o Chingphoi, Po / P S - Wakching District - Mon, P/A - Khushiabill, Purana Bazaar, required to appear at Dimapur before the Court of Fast Track Special Court, Dimapur in connection with U/S - 323/328/354/354A/354B/506/509 IPC R/W 8/10 Po CSo Act. to answer the said complaint on the 12th day of May, 2023.

Dated, this 26th day of April, 2023.

Sonamura subdivision of Tripura’s Sepahijala district.

“Since Sonamura is a bordering subdivision, lakhs of Bangladeshis took shelter there to save their lives from the Pakistan army, and it was Chowdhury who single-handedly oversaw provision of shelter, food and logistics to 2.5 lakh Bangla-

deshi people,” Sneshangshu Mohan Chowdhury, his younger brother, told PTI. Sneshangshu said his elder brother worked tirelessly through the months leading up to liberation of Bangladesh and eventual reptriation of refugees, leaving no stone unturned to the needs of the crisis-affected migrants.

AFFIDAVIT

I, Ngangshithung Merry , S/o Chenisao, R/o H/No. 55, Landmark Colony, Dimapur, Nagaland declare through an Affidavit No. 458/2023 dated 13.04.2023 that my name inadvertently appeared in my service & PIMS records as 'Nungshithung Murry'. Ngangshithung Merry' and 'Nungshithung Murry' are the names of same person i.e. me. Henceforth, I will use my name as Ngangshithung Merry for all official and other purposes.

DP-1814/23

Government of naGaland office of the deputy commissioner tuensanG : naGaland

NO.JUD/LR-2/MISC/2012-17/561

Dated Tuensang the 19th Oct’ 2022. public notice

Whereas this office has received Gift Deed made in Affidavit for change of ownership stating that Shri. C. Longkong Chang, S/o Chingmak Hakchang village has given a plot of land measuring 40x25 ft against Permit No.391/Tsg to Shri. M. Tangchumong, S/o K. Musuthong Chilliso village. Located at St. John ‘A’ Ward Tuensang.

Notice is hereby issued that objection if any, may be given in written within 30 (Thirty) days time from the date of publication of this Notice by any claimants to the office of the undersigned, otherwise change of ownership will be taken up after the expiry of the above mentioned period/dead line.

MoS Jal Shakti Bishweswar Tudu upon his arrival in Itanagar.

Lok Sabha MP Dr Lorho S Pfoze launching Kumram village of Kamjong district as a model village.

Angkita Dutta issue: Srinivas fails to get interim relief

B.V. Srinivas

Sambit Patra attending a joint meeting od Manipur BJP leaders in Imphal on Wednesday.

Kumram village in Mnp to be developed under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana

Himangshu Mohan Chowdhury

SNIPPETS

Man booked for tweet

THANE, APR 26 (PTI):

An FIR has been registered in Thane against a man for allegedly posting derogatory content on social media against Nationalist Congress

Party leader Jitendra Awhad, an official said on Wednesday. A case was registered against the man, a resident of Thane city, under section 294 (singing, reciting or uttering any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act. The objectionable tweets were flagged by the office of Awhad, a former Maharashtra minister. No arrest has been made so far, and further investigation is underway.

Mumbai Cops seize 9,409 kg ganja

MUMBAI, APR 26 (PTI): In a one-day crackdown on illegal drugs and their handlers, Mumbai Police have seized 9,409 kg ganja along with charas, mephedrone and other substances, an official said on Wednesday. During the special drive conducted on Tuesday, police registered 27 new cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and took action against 67 accused persons across the metropolis. A total of 440 accused persons were examined as part of the investigation under NDPS. The seizure included 9,409 kg ganja, 30 gm charas, 19 gm Mephedrone and other drugs, and 764 packets of cigarettes and tobacco, the official said. A total of 112 illegal ‘paan stalls’ across the city, police said on Wednesday.

L-G Saxena approves 244 addl principals

NEW DELHI, APR 26 (PTI): Lt Governor VK

Saxena has approved the creation of 244 additional posts of principals in Delhi government schools, Raj Niwas officials said on Wednesday. Saxena had also approved the revival of 126 posts in February. The officials said that Saxena at that time had asked the Education department to submit a proposal for the creation of 244 additional posts of principals after a comprehensive study by the Administrative Reforms department, in consultation with the Services department. The Lt Governor had also directed that suitable financial provisions be made and ensured for these 244 posts in Level-12 of the pay matrix, they said. These posts will now be sent to the Union Public Service Commission to be filled according to their prescribed recruitment rules.

UPSRTC ticketing website hacked

LUCKNOW, APR 26 (PTI): Cyber thugs hacked the ticket booking website of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) early Wednesday and it will take up to 10 days to completely restore it, the government said. The website was hacked by foreign hackers around 2 am due to which the ticketing system was affected and efforts are underway to restore it, the government said in a statement.

M/s Orion Pro, the company managing the website, has deployed a team of experts to recover data from the website and has sought a week’s time to set up a new server to restore the online ticketing services, it said. The company has also filed a case in this matter at its headquarters in Navi Mumbai.

India does something new even in most difficult circumstances: Modi

SOMNATH, APR 26 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India has the courage to do something new, even in the most difficult circumstances, as it faces forces that threaten to break it and hurdles on the way to its target for 2047.

Virtually addressing the closing ceremony of ‘Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam’, Modi said that India is a country that celebrates its diversities that do not divide “us but strengthen our bond and relationships”.

According to a government release, the Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam takes forward the PM’s ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ vision by celebrating the shared culture and heritage between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

“Today we have the target of India at 2047 (to make India a developed nation). We also have the challenges of the era of slavery and the period of seven decades after that.

“We have to take the country forward, but on the way, there will be forces that will threaten to break us and people to mislead us.

Narendra Modi (PTI)

But India has the courage to do something new even in the most difficult of circumstances,” Modi said. He said that the shared history of Saurashtra and Tamil Nadu gives “us hope for the same”. Modi also said that India has to move forward towards nationbuilding by taking together this shared cultural heritage.

“We are a people who celebrate diversity. We celebrate different languages and dialects, different arts and knowledge. There is diversity everywhere – from our faith to our spirituality,” he said.

“Such diversities do not divide us but strengthen our bond and relationships. Because we know that when

different streams come together, they merge and create a confluence. Therefore, from the confluence of rivers to that of ideas in events like Kumbh, we have been enriching these traditions for centuries,” he said.

It is this power of confluence that is being taken forward in a new form through the ‘SaurashtraTamil Sangamam’ event, he said.

The PM said that as the country completes 75 years of independence, it has invoked a sense of pride towards its heritage. He said the pride in “our heritage will grow as we get to know ourselves better by freeing ourselves of our slave mentality”.

A celebration like Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam is a fulfilment of the dreams of “thousands and lakhs of freedom fighters who sacrificed their life and dreamt of ‘Ek Bharat, Sreshth Bharat’”, he said.

Modi said that there is a lot in common between Gujarat and Tamil Nadu which were “deliberately kept out of our knowledge”.

“The knowledge of

Tejashwi Yadav faces defamation case for calling Gujaratis ‘thugs’

sible if they run away with the money belonging to LIC or banks?” the Bihar Deputy CM had allegedly said.

The complainant said the statement, calling the entire Gujarati community as “thug”, was made before the media. It defames and humiliates all Gujaratis in public.

Tejashwi Yadav

AHMEDABAD, APR 26

(PTI): A criminal defamation complaint was filed against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in a court here on Wednesday over his alleged remark suggesting “only Gujaratis can be thugs in the current situation”.

The complaint was filed against the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader by social worker and businessman Haresh Mehta, 63, under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500 (dealing with criminal defamation) in the court of additional metropolitan magistrate DJ Parmar.

“We submitted the complaint along with proof in form of a pen drive containing the statement. The court has accepted the complaint and will verify it on May 1,” Mehta’s lawyer P R Patel said.

The complaint stems from 33-year-old Yadav’s statement made before the media in Patna on March 21.

“Only Gujaratis can be thugs in the present situation, and their fraud (crime) will be forgiven. Who will be respon-

A “thug” is a rogue, sly and a criminal person, and such a comparison with the entire community will cause nonGujarati people to look at Gujaratis with suspicion, Mehta said while seeking issuance of summons against Yadav and maximum punishment for him under the law.

The complainant said he is also a Gujarati, and when he came across the news on a digital platform, he realised such a defamatory statement will make a non-Gujarati look down upon a resident of the state as a ‘thug’.

It may be noted that a court in Gujarat’s Surat city in March convicted and sentenced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail over his “Modi surname” remark. After the conviction, the former Congress president lost his Lok Sabha membership.

Separately, a court in Ahmedabad has issued summonses to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh in a criminal defamation case filed by the Gujarat University over their remarks on the institute.

Outsiders brought in to burn

Kaliaganj police station: Mamata

in to set fire to Kaliaganj police station as well as ordinary people’s property. Police will explore attaching properties of those involved in rioting,” Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat after an administrative meeting.

the escape of people from Saurashtra to Tamil Nadu during the era of foreign invasion remained limited to some historians. But even before that, there has been a deep relation between these two states since time immemorial,” Modi said.

He said that the cultural unity of Saurashtra and Tamil Nadu is “a stream that has been flowing for thousands of years”.

When Somnath was attacked by foreign invaders, people from Saurashtra escaped to Tamil Nadu to preserve their faith and identity, and the natives of Tamil Nadu accepted them with open hearts and provided them with all facilities to begin a new life, said Modi.

“What can be a bigger and stronger example of ‘Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat’?” he asked.

He said that the event is the confluence of the commitment of patriotism of Sardar Patel and Subramania Bharati, the iconic Tamil poet. “We have to move forward by taking these commitments and cultural heritage for nationbuilding,” he said.

NEW DELHI, APR 26

(AGENCIES): Over 55 kg of explosives was packed under a pucca black top road using a method called ‘fox digging’ for months, which was then finally triggered to cause a blast that killed 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and one civilian driver in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada Wednesday afternoon, ThePrint has learnt.

According to a source in Chhattisgarh police the IED that blasted causing a massive crater on the Aranpur-Jagargunda road, had been there for over two months but went undetected, despite frequent demining exercises by the security forces in the area.

In fact, a demining exercise was carried out just four days ago on the same route, but the IED could not be detected. “It was camouflaged very well. It is a black top road where the security forces carry out demining exercises regularly. But this could not be detected despite a similar exercise just a few days ago,” the source said. Explaining how the explosives must have been packed under the road, the

Mamata Banerjee (PTI) KOLKATA, APR 26 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that outsiders were brought to the state to carry out attacks on Kaliaganj Police Station and private property at Kaliaganj in Uttar Dinajpur district.

Banerjee alleged BJP was behind the incidents of vandalism that rocked Kaliganj following the death of a minor girl and directed the state police to explore attaching properties of those found involved in the arson. “Outsiders were brought

“The BJP is carrying out hooliganism in Bengal. They are attempting to create disturbance in Bengal. We will defeat this conspiracy to create anarchy,” she said.

She claimed the centre was trying to “disturb all states whhere the opposition was in power.”

Lauding the police for disarming and arresting a man who barged into a school in Old Malda brandishing a gun, thereby averting a school hostage crisis, Banerjee alleged that the entire matter may have been a plot.

“Case of man brandishing gun at Malda school may not be act of lunacy,” the chief minister said.

Security personnel at the site after at least ten police personnel and a driver were killed, Wednesday. (PTI) source said that the Maoists used the “fox digging method” in which they start digging a hole from the side

of the road and make it deep to create a cavity. That is where they then pack in the explosives, the source said.

55 kg explosives packed under road, went ‘undetected for over 2 months’

DANTEWADA NAXAL ATTACK

An explosive interview

For the BJP, which has every answer on how to face challenges from political foes or even against critics and rebels, the bombshell dropped by its former Governor of then Jammu & Kashmir state Satya Pal Malik on the February 14 Pulwama terror attack has hit the party where it hurts most- security and prime minister Modi. In an interview with Karan Thapar( who is considered as a pariah by the BJP). Malik alleged intelligence failures and the central government denied aircraft for the movement of security personnel. Forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in the terrorist attack on a convoy of security vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama on February 14, 2019. He also said ‘I can safely say the PM has no real problem with corruption’, while referring to why he was transferred as governor of Goa to Meghalaya. The BJP leaves no stone unturned in projecting itself as a nationalist party and totally backing the nation’s security forces on internal security as well as external threats. Malik’s interview with Thapar that on April 14 is perhaps the most stunning setback not just for the party but for Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. This is so because Malik a BJP member, was not just the governor of four states between 2017 and 2022, including of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, but also at one time the vice-president of the BJP. In the interview, Malik claimed that there was a serious intelligence failure in the Pulwama tragedy because the car carrying 300 kilogrammes of RDX bombs had arrived from Pakistan and had been driving around the highways and villages of Jammu and Kashmir for 10-15 days without being discovered. Malik, who was the governor of J&K during the Pulwama terror attack, alleged that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had asked for five choppers to transport the jawans ahead of the incident but the request was denied by the Union Home Ministry. He stated that he mentioned all of these errors immediately when Modi contacted him from outside Corbett Park shortly after the Pulwama tragedy. He claimed the prime minister instructed him to be silent and not tell anyone.Additionally, Malik said that NSA Ajit Doval also ordered him to remain silent and avoid discussing the matter. Malik claimed that he realised right away that the intent was to blame Pakistan and gain political advantage for the BJP and the government. Malik claimed that he realised right away that the Centre’s intent was to blame Pakistan and gain political advantage for the BJP and the government.Defence, terrorism in Kashmir and national security are, in general, among favourite topics for the television debates that are hosted by mainstream news channels every night at prime time. Retired military officers and selfproclaimed defence experts regularly participate in these shows. However, not a single mainstream channel, did a debate on Satyapal Malik’s accusations of intelligence failure in the context of one of the deadliest terror attacks on Indian soil. Days after giving the explosive interview , Satya Pal Malik has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) about the Reliance Insurance proposal which he had shot down. The Malik tapes is certainly hitting the BJP where it hurts and it remains to be seen what awaits him in the coming days.

DailyDevotion

The Supreme Climb

Take now your son…and offer him…as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. —Genesis 22:2

A person’s character determines how he interprets God’s will (see Psalm 18:25-26). Abraham interpreted God’s command to mean that he had to kill his son, and he could only leave this traditional belief behind through the pain of a tremendous ordeal. God could purify his faith in no other way. If we obey what God says according to our sincere belief, God will break us from those traditional beliefs that misrepresent Him. There are many such beliefs which must be removed–for example, that God removes a child because his mother loves him too much. That is the devil’s lie and a travesty on the true nature of God! If the devil can hinder us from taking the supreme climb and getting rid of our wrong traditional beliefs about God, he will do so. But if we will stay true to God, God will take us through an ordeal that will serve to bring us into a better knowledge of Himself.

The great lesson to be learned from Abraham’s faith in God is that he was prepared to do anything for God. He was there to obey God, no matter what contrary belief of his might be violated by his obedience. Abraham was not devoted to his own convictions or else he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was actually the voice of the devil. That is the attitude of a fanatic. If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must always be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Don’t ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even “to go …both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Abraham did not make any such statement— he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith.

By Oswald Chambers

Quotes

JCC plea to district administration vis-à-vis footpath vendors

Th e Joint Colony Council (JCC) of NST colony and Middle Point expresses our appreciation to the Deputy Commissioner, the Commissioner of Police and the Chief Executive Officer of Dimapur Municipal Council for removing the footpath vendors from main town areas, especially the food carts from the clock tower to Popular Bakery which has been creating a lot of problem not only for their respective localities but the whole public of Dimapur for quite a long time now.

The Joint Councils have time and again raised this issue during several meetings with the district authorities and even issued press releases to check the problems created by these food-stalls in the past and even enforced our youth volunteers from time to time to clear off the chairs and tables put up in the footpaths meant for the pedestrians and making the food stalls leave their

areas for running their business at late night and wee hours of but things come again to its usual self after some days.

Without the district authority’s intervention, it is an impossible task for the council alone to keep on vigil every time. The residents of the area are all delighted that these food-stalls have now been removed. The Joint Council believes and appeals to the district authorities that this ban in their area will be for good and implemented in times to come also.

In the name of earning one’s livelihood, one cannot be allowed to go on creating inconveniences and problems for the whole public of the town and the concerned neighborhood’s residents. The tranquil environment of the areas concerned during the night time should not compromised at any cost by the authorities on their appeals of letting them reopen their stalls in the area but instead these food stalls be relo-

cated in some other places such as super-market areas where there are enough wide spaces in the pavements and sufficient parking space . At late nights, these food carts are thronged by unruly elements and many instances of reckless behavior takes place at past late midnights and wee hours creating unwanted situations for the nearby residents. In their off business hours, these food carts are parked inside the nearby narrow by-lanes of the colonies and infront of the gates of private residences causing great difficulty for colony residents for moving in and out. They come at any given time without any timing regulation and run their business till early morning hours. As a result many people are found drinking alcohol openly in the street which is a direct challenge to the district administration. Some food stalls play loud music system which disturbs the

restful public of the area and also disturbs students studying for their exams. Broken bottles, food morsels and meat chunks are found littered near the shutters of the shops which makes a distasteful sight for business people and their customers too. Many drunken customers under the influence of alcohol often vomit, urinate on the shutters of the shops and even shit on the bylanes and approach road of the nearby areas which is very annoying for residents of the localities. Despite cleaning up of litter by sanitation workers of Dimapur Municipal Council the next morning, the foul stench of food morsels of meat crumbs and fish bones attract flies affecting their business also. The question of littering their waste also comes into light here. These food-stalls have become one main a factor of creating more traffic congestion and parking problems for the citizens of

the town. During the school hours many foot path vendors obstruct school going children and their parents in their rush to school. The food carts put their carts in car parking areas in the early evening hours which cause a lot of traffic congestions. The stretch from clock tower area to Popular Bakery which comes under NST colony and Middle Point area have a heavy traffic from early morning till late night hours and these food carts have been adding more problems to the already existing Dimapur’s traffic woes. They also have been obstructing the public by placing their chairs and tables on the footpaths which are meant for the public to walk by causing lots of inconveniences

The Joint Council appeals the Deputy Commissioner, the Commissioner of Police and the Chief Executive Officer DMC not to entertain any plea of reopening of food stalls in their areas despite their

claims to follow any given rules and regulations as the councils have tried to rein them many times but these food carts resort to their same old nuisance habits and ways of harassing the public. The public should not be allowed to suffer because of their business in the name of earning their livelihood. One’s convenience should not be at the cost of others peace.

Last the Joint Council appeals to the authorities not to issue vendor permits randomly as in the past as these have only created multiple problem for the town and the populace. The health authorities should also check on whether food safety norms are also followed by these stalls.

Diswang Hau, Chairman, NST Colony; Vikashe Zhimomi, Advisor, NST Colony; Hukato Aye, G.B., Middle Point; Benjungwati Ao, General Secretary, Middle Point

Glimmer of hope: Supreme Court to rule on quota for Dalit Muslims and Christians

We are aware of the fact that the Indian society is caste-ridden and caste-driven. Even in the year 2023, Dalit Christians and Muslims are undergoing and suffer all sorts of humiliation, victimization, and oppression. Due to oppressive and exploitative tendencies of Hinduism, many renounced Hinduism and thus embraced Islam and Christianity. Relatively speaking both the religions Islam and Christianity in its scope and dogma embraces equality, fraternity, and dignity. Purely because of these reasons many had exited from Hinduism to others religions. Even BR Ambedkar had to leave Hinduism because of its rigidity, irrationality and inhumanity.

Getting converted to Islam and Christianity, there have been many views, theories and arguments. However, one major aspect continues to standout which is the most foundational – conversion from one religion to another is the basic fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution. Since there have been mass exodus from Hinduism to other religion, Governments both at the Centre and states irrespective of ideologies enacted laws that stalled conversion. Though secular, major political parties by and large tow the line of majoritarianism.

Political parties that ruled and ruling state governments have passed laws that prohibits beef-eating. Though beef is the most important stapple food

for the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, they have been prevented to consume beef. Many state governments went ahead to the extent banning of slaughtering cows and eating beef. As a result, livelihood of teeming millions belonging to these categories has been badly affected. The governments thus far ruled including the current government at the Centre is averse of considering reservation quota for Christian and Muslim Dalits. Amidst gloom, all of sudden a glimmer of hope emerged. Brushing aside the Centre’s plea to wait for the report of a three-member commission on the issue of including Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims in the Scheduled Cate category, the supreme Court on the 12 April, 2023, decided to adjudicate the long-pending issue pending in the court for almost two decades. Prior to this the BJP government at the Centre had appointed a panel led by former chief justice of India K G Balakrishnan to examine whether SC status could be accorded to those who claimed to have historically belong to the community, but converted to other religions. It had set up the second panel after rejecting the findings of the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission, which had recommended their inclusion in the list. While the current dispensation alleged that the Justice Mishra‘s report was prepared without any field study and consultation, for which Justices Sanjay Kishan

Kaul, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Arvind Kumar said the report was not that “perfunctory” and said it would take a call on how much the court relief on the findings or the empirical data of the report. The bench had added that the government was making a very generalized statement and it should recheck the report. Usually, the governments be it state or Centre when the commissions’ reports come out and its findings are contrary or not falling into the gamut of and to governments’ expectations, they usually tend to dump the findings on flimsy grounds. This time the Supreme Court without mincing words said that it would conclude the hearing in a time-bound manner and asked the concerned partied to file their brief submission and make a common compilation for smooth hearing in the case in which both sides would get two days each to conclude the arguments. Responding to it the additional Solicitor General KM Nataraju’s submissions after having rejected of the data collected by the new commission, the bench retorted back, “Tomorrow there will be a different political dispensation which say that the new report is not acceptable. How many committees would be appointed?”

In the meantime, senior advocates Raju Ramachandran, Colin Gonsalves, and Prashant Bhushan submitted that the issue could be adjudicated by the court as there is enough mate-

rial on the issue which showed that Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians are treated as “Untouchables and discriminated against and are at the bottom of social hierarchy.” One of the parties opposing the plea submitted that Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims are still treated as Untouchables, they can take legal course. Justice Amanullah, however, said that “social stigma and religious stigma are different things. Social stigma may continue even after conversion. We cannot shut our eyes when we are considering all these constitutional matters.”

Apparently, the Government at the Centre had earlier informed the court that Dalits who had converted to Christianity and Islam cannot be given Scheduled Caste status as there is no backwardness and oppression in those religious communities.

In addition, in an affidavit, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said that the Constitution (Scheduled castes) Order of 1950 does not suffer from any Untouchability and it is legal and valid. The petitioner, an NGO, in 2004, was responding to a plea by the Centre for public interest litigation (PIL) Over and above, “In fact, one of the reasons for which people from SCs have been converting to religions like Islam and Christianity is that they can come out of the oppressive system of untouchability which is not present at all in Christianity or

Islam.”

The governments both in the states as well as at the Centre do not want to take risks, as their constituencies predominantly belong to Hindu religion. Nonetheless, they want to use Christian Dalits and Muslim Dalits to remain wherever they are – socially, economically, and politically.

RSS and BJP in particular and Congress to an extent do not want to antagonize Hindus and Hindu Dalits. By withholding quotas and other benefits falling under ‘Reservations for SCs’ guaranteed under Constitution for SCs for the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims who have also undergone historical injustices and oppression that prompted them to move out of Hinduism shall never be brushed aside or construed as non-issue.

It is indeed a clever political ploy for those political parties to keep the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims in uncertainty, so that, at last, for the sake of reservation benefits and quota privileges Christian and Muslim Dalit eventually would come back to Hindu fold (Ghar Vapsi). Conversion from one religion to another keep happening as long as Homo sapiens are on truth seeking mode and spiritual quest. It is in this context our Constitution has guaranteed conversion from one religion to another is a fundamental human right that needs to be abided and respected.

Dr. John Mohan Razu

Debunking False Narratives - Fuel Prices in India

Dominant narratives are often presented as an objective truth, It is important to remember that such narratives are often set by those with an agenda and hence the need for perspective.

As EH Carr famously said, “The historian without his facts is rootless and futile; the facts without their historian are dead and meaningless”.

The context and understanding of fuel prices provide a case in point. Unsustainably low petrol and diesel prices belong at best to a world of fantasy.

That fuel prices in India are high is based on a narrative that is deeply flawed. They are infact, amongst the lowest in the world largely due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts at ensuring energy availability and affordability.

It was PM Modi who cut central excise duty twice - in May 2022 and November 2021 – amounting cumulatively to Rs. 13 per litre of petrol and Rs.15

per litre on diesel. This came at a cost Rs. 2.2 lakh crores a year to the Central exchequer. Furthermore, Govt. of India even imposed an export cess and windfall tax on domestically produced petroleum products year to prevent exporters from profiteering at the cost of domestic consumers. Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) being “good corporate citizens” incurred huge losses during price peaks for ensuring the supply of petrol and diesel at controlled rates to Indian citizens, which have been kept unchanged by public sector OMCs since 6th April 2022.

Many State Governments also came forward with VAT cuts to bring down the price of petrol and diesel. The keyword here is many, not all, few states are conspicuous by their determination to not cut VAT rates and lower prices in the state.

It is worth highlighting that in BJP ruled states and the states which have cut their VAT rates, the rates

of VAT on Petrol & Diesel are generally in the range of Rs.14.50 to Rs.17.50 / litre, while VAT in states is the range of Rs.26 to Rs.32 /litre. This translates into a huge difference in the common man’s pocket and expenses.

In Congress-ruled Rajasthan, consumers are paying Rs. 108.48/litre for petrol and Rs. 93.80/litre for diesel which is approx. Rs. 12/litre more on petrol and Rs. 4/litre more on diesel than what consumers pay in the neighbouring BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh who pay Rs. 96.57/litre and 89.76/litre.

Due to the lasting damage done by the UPA Govt. between 2005-12, under which Long-term oil bonds worth Rs. 1.44 lakh crores were issued instead of under-recoveries to OMCs, and for which the Indian taxpayer is still paying back Rs. 3.2 lakh crores as interest + principal.

In YSR-Congress ruled Andhra Pradesh, the price of petrol and diesel at Rs. 110.48/litre and Rs.

98.27/litre respectively, is almost Rs. 10 higher than in Karnataka where it is Rs. 101.94/litre and Rs. 87.89/ litre Andhra Pradesh gets the record for the State with the Highest Petrol Price in India, for 2nd year running. In TRS-ruled Telengana, consumers pay the 2nd highest rate of petrol in India @ Rs. 109.66/litre. This is a whopping Rs. 13/ litre higher than in UP (Rs. 96.57/litre). In percentage terms, the VAT rate in Telangana on petrol is 35.2%, compared to 26.8% in UP! The VAT rate in Telangana on diesel is 27%, compared to 17.48% in UP!

In West Bengal, consumers pay Rs. 106.03/litre for petrol and Rs. 92.76/litre for diesel when consumers in Assam only pay Rs. 97.02/litre and 88.30/litre respectively. If Didi cares for her people, then why doesn’t she bring the petrol price below Rs. 100/litre?

The hypocrisy is bare and blatant and unhinged for all to see. Even when it comes to aviation fuel prices, which are crucial

for the hospitality and travel sector, the blatant greed of certain states is clear and visible. In the recent Maharashtra Budget 2023: State Government Slashes VAT On Jet Fuel To 18%, while India’s biggest hub — Delhi — remains among the few states that still levy a very high tax at 25% on jet fuel.

While natural gas prices at the international gas indices (Japan Korea Marker) have increased by up to 228% between January 2021 and February 2023, in India the CNG price rise (Delhi representative market) was restricted to about 83% thanks to steps such as increasing domestic gas allocation to about 250% of the allocation since 2013-14, and diverting domestic gas from other non-priority sectors to meet the requirement for CNG(Transport) and PNG(Domestic) segments.

Recently the PM Modi led cabinet took a major decision to revise pricing methodology of domestically produced natural gas continues to give a fillip to

India’s goal of gas-based economy. This balanced decision, which determines than Indian Natural Gas prices shall be 10% of the monthly average of Indian Crude Basket is being hailed as a balanced reform by the industry as well as consumers. While the industry benefits from more dynamic and robust pricing mechanism, consumers are already reaping the benefits which have been passed on in the form of Rs. 7-8 price cuts in domestic PNG and CNG.

Even as the world acknowledges India’s phenomenal success in providing accessible and affordable energy to its 1.4 billion citizens in these tumultuous times, a few hypocritical state Governments and political leaders continue to blare nonsense while hiding their anti-citizen tactics. It is time for them to cut states tax on fuel

The author is Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs. Shri Hardeep S Puri

“You do not find the happy life. You make it.”

~ Camilla Eyring Kimball

SNIPPETS PM Modi greets Israel on its I-day

NEW DELHI, APR 26

(PTI): Prime Minister Na-

rendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated his Isreali counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and citizens on the country’s 75th anniversary of independence.

He tweeted, “Heartiest congratulations to my friend @netanyahu and the people of Israel on the 75th anniversary of independence. Mazel Tov!” Israel celebrates its independence on the fifth day of the month of Iyar, the Hebrew date of the formal establishment of the country as a sovereign state.

UP court sentences

man to death

FIROZABAD (UP), APR 26 (PTI): A local court here has sentenced a man to death for murdering a 70-year-old relative for money in 2022.

Additional Sessions

Judge Azad Singh sentenced Tarun Goyal on Tuesday. Goyal had killed Kamla Devi, who was his wife’s grandmother, on April 1, 2022.

The convict, who was in debt after facing losses in business, killed Devi after finding that she had a lot of money, prosecution counsel Ajay Kumar Sharma said on Wednesday.

The case was lodged by Arpit Jindal, the grandson of the deceased.

Technical fault disrupts

Mumbai Metro MUMBAI, APR 26 (PTI): Mumbai Metro services on the GhatkoparAndheri-Versova corridor were disrupted for around 45 minutes on Wednesday evening due to a technical glitch in a train, said the operator of the rapid transit system. Commuters faced inconvenience due to the disruption of services during evening rush hours.

Mumbai Metro One, which operates the rapid transit system, said services were affected due to a technical fault in the electrical converter unit of a train. All passengers travelling in the train where the glitch was reported were evacuated at Asalpha station at around 4:45 pm, it said.

‘Cong used religion to come to power’

BELAGAVI (KARNATAKA), APR 26 (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday came down heavily on the Congress alleging that it used ‘mazhab’ (meaning religion in Urdu) to come to power. Singh also slammed the party for having introduced four per cent reservation, in its earlier term, on religious lines in Karnataka, saying it had been done only to appease Muslims.

“If there is any political party in the history of India which took the support of ‘dharma’, or rather, ‘mazhab’ to come to power, then it is Congress,” Singh said, addressing a public meeting at Kagwad in Belagavi district.

Karnataka votes on May 10, with the results slated to be declared on May 13.

The Congress does the “politics of Hindu, Muslim and Christians”, Singh said. “Politics of this sort should never ever be done.”

Only to appease Muslims, the four per cent reservation was given on religious

Rajnath Singh

lines, he alleged. “We will welcome if an economically-weaker Muslim or a Christian gets reservation benefits but the Constitution of India does not permit religion-based reservation,” the Defence Minister said.

Just days before the Model Code of Conduct came into force, the BJP government in Karnataka scrapped four per cent reservation for Muslims under 2B category of the Other Backward Castes.

After making 2B redundant, the Karnataka government split the four per cent reservation, giving two per cent each to the two dominant communities of the state, Vokkaligas in 2C and Lingayats in 2D category.

Muslims were then placed in the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category. Various Muslim bodies have approached the Supreme Court, which has directed the Karnataka government not to implement its decision until it hears the matter on May 9.

“What are you doing? You want to divide the country on the basis of caste, sect and religion? So far as the BJP is concerned, we will speak and do what is true,”

Singh said. Singh alleged that the Congress had been working against the spirit of the Indian constitution. He also stated that politics was not merely about forming a government but about building a society and the nation.

He accused the Congress of having committed contempt against the Constitution “just as it had done in 1975 by amending the Constitution” and thrusted the Emergency upon the nation and imprisoned lakhs of people. The minister claimed that the BJP could “never do such a sin” whether it came

Police avert hostage crisis in Bengal school, disarm gun-wielding man

pistol, two bottles containing some liquid and a knife were seized from his possession.

The bespectacled man claimed he acted in this way, as his son and wife have been missing since a year, and he wanted to exert pressure on the administration to take note of it.

MALDA (WB), APR 26

(PTI): A gun-wielding man barged into a packed classroom at a high school in West Bengal’s Malda district Wednesday afternoon, but was overpowered by police and arrested, officials said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who was holding an administrative meeting in Kolkata at the time, came out to compliment the police for averting what is being seen as a potential school hostage crisis.

Panic gripped the students of Muchia Anchal Chandra Mohan High School at Old Malda, as the unidentified man bran-

dished the gun and started yelling, a senior police officer said.

“The man managed to enter the school and barge into the room where Class-8 students were seated. He was holding a gun and shouting at the students, allegedly threatening to kill them and the class teacher,” the officer told PTI.

The man identified by bystanders as Vallabh kept shouting he “would shoot if someone shoots him”.

The person who is being was however overpowered by bystanders and police personnel and arrested, the officer said, adding, a

However, according to his neighbours the man in his mid-40s, is separated from his wife and his child lives with her.

Anxious guardians rushed to the school and made a beeline outside the educational institution, even as classes were suspended following the incident, police said.

Lauding the police for disarming and arresting a man, Banerjee alleged that the entire matter may have been a plot.

“Case of the man brandishing a gun at Malda school may not be an act of lunacy,” the chief minister told a press conference at the state secretariat.

Gujarat HC judge recuses from hearing Rahul’s appeal

AHMEDABAD, APR 26

(PTI): A Gujarat High Court judge on Wednesday recused herself from hearing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s appeal challenging the order of the Surat sessions court that declined to stay his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his “Modi surname” remark.

Gandhi’s lawyer P S Champaneri mentioned the case before the court of Justice Gita Gopi, seeking an urgent hearing. But after a brief hearing, the court

said, “Not before me.” The development comes a day after Gandhi filed the appeal in the high court.

Champaneri said the court earlier granted him permission to circulate the

PM set to attend G7, Quad summits in Japan, Australia

NEW DELHI, APR 26

(PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to join US President Joe Biden and his counterparts from Australia and Japan at a summit of the Quad leaders in Sydney on May 24 that is expected to focus on implications of the Ukraine conflict and the overall situation in the IndoPacific.

Before travelling to Australia, Modi is likely to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima to attend the annual summit of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies that is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 21, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

During his visit to India last month, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida invited Modi for the G7 summit. In their summit, the Quad leaders are also

expected to bolster overall cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has been witnessing growing Chinese military assertiveness.

The White House on Wednesday said President Biden will attend the G7 leaders’ summit in Hiroshima as well as the Quad summit in Sydney.

From Japan, Modi may travel to a Pacific island nation from where he will likely go to Australia for the Quad summit, it is learnt. India is yet to make any official announcement on Modi’s proposed foreign visits next month. Australian PM Anthony Albanese’s office on Wednesday formally made an announcement on hosting of the Quad summit.

It said Albanese looks forward to welcoming his Quad counterparts to Australia for the Summit.

matter for Wednesday, but when it came up for hearing, it recused itself from hearing the case.

Now, a note will be sent to the Acting Chief Justice to place the matter before any other court, he said.

The case was requested to be taken up in the court of Justice Gita Gopi because her court deals with the subject of criminal revision, Champaneri added.

A metropolitan magistrate’s court in Surat on March 23 sentenced the

to power or not. Also, the party “never did politics to form a government”, but to build the nation and society, he claimed.

“We cannot work against the ethos of the nation. This is our thinking”.

Singh said there is “nothing hidden” about the character of BJP as the entire world knows about it.

“The BJP never believes in discrimination on the lines of caste, creed and religion.

The BJP believes in ‘insaaf aur insaaniyat’ (justice and humanity),” he claimed.

He added that the BJP followed the principles of 12th Century social reformer of Karnataka Basaveshwara. “The BJP is playing its role in India by following the principles of Basaveshwara,” the minister said. Singh appealed to the people of Karnataka to give BJP a two-thirds majority in the 224-member Assembly. “There is only one party, which can eradicate corruption, end poverty and unemployment and it is the BJP,” he said.

Time of struggle for our family now, says nostalgic Priyanka Gandhi

CHIKKAMAGALARU (K’TAKA), APR 26 (PTI):

Trying to strike an emotional chord with people of Chikkamagaluru district by recalling the association with people of the region, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said it was now a time of struggle for the family, similar to what her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was going through when she came before them nearly 45 years ago.

Pointing to her brother and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being disqualified from Parliament in what she described a “false case similar to what had happened to Indira Gandhi”, she expressed confidence about emerging victorious with the blessings of god and the people as they were fighting for truth.

“I’m coming after offering prayers to Sharada devi (Goddess Sharadamba in Sringeri). There I met

Shankaracharya (the present pontiff). He asked me whether Indira Gandhi contested from here or not? I said yes she had contested from Chikkamagaluru. He blessed me. I sought blessings for my brother, he gave the blessings,” Gandhi said after visiting the temple at Sringeri.

Addressing a public meeting organised by the Congress at Balehonnor in the district ahead of May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka, she said: “He (seer) told me that my father (late Prime Minister Rajiv Gan-

dhi) too had come here, Indira ji too had come here and when Indira ji had come here, it was a time of struggle for her.”

“Today too, it is a time of struggle for my family. In 1978, when Indiraji came here on this ground, it was a time of struggle for her. On that day too, it was raining like this. I believe that this is the blessing of god, as rain is a good omen. So, this is an emotional moment for me, that I’m standing before you on the same stage, same ground, and in a similar weather,” she added.

Kerala likely to teach NCERT’s deleted portions

THIRUVANANTHA -

PURAM, APR 26 (PTI): Students in Kerala are likely to be taught the portions that the NCERT had deleted from its class 11 and 12 textbooks, including those pertaining to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and the ban on RSS.

The NCERT recently had, in the name of rationalisation of the syllabus, dropped from its class 12 history textbook certain portions on Mahatma Gandhi and how his pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity “provoked Hindu extremists”. It also left out the portion where the government placed a ban on the RSS after Gandhi’s assassination. The revision of textbooks by obfuscating facts has triggered a row.

The State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), an autonomous body of the General Education Department, is considering a decision by its curriculum steering committee to include these deleted portions in the state syllabus.

The committee, which met on Tuesday, has en -

trusted General Education Minister V Sivankutty with taking a final decision on the matter after consulting with the government and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Confirming the development, Sivankutty told reporters here that the SCERT and the Curriculum Committee take decisions on the academic affairs of the general education department of the state.

As per an MoU entered with the NCERT, Kerala has been using their 44 textbooks, and of them, there has been a significant change in the content of subjects including history, political science, economics, and sociology at the highersecondary level, the minister explained.

“The curriculum committee unanimously decided to include all those portions omitted from these text books in the syllabus and teach the students in the state. I have been entrusted to inform the government and the CM about the decision and take a necessary decision in this regard,” he said.

He said a final decision would be taken after consulting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The minister said several important portions, including the assassination of Gandhiji, the ban on RSS, Mughal history, the industrial revolution, and the history of post-independent India, including five-year plans, have been excluded from the NCERT textbooks.

“Gandhiji was assassinated...but in their textbook, it was mentioned that Gandhi had died...like (they are saying) he died of a heart attack,” the minister said, taking a dig at the NCERT.

The minister indicated that the deleted portions would be included and taught to the students during this academic year itself.

A decision was also taken to inform the Centre about the development and petition Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Education Ministry about the omission of the portions from the NCERT textbooks.

An SCERT source here said if a final nod was received from the govern-

ment, they would bring out supplementary textbooks comprising those deleted portions for class 11 and 12, and it would be taught in state schools.

Chief Minister Vijayan had strongly condemned the dropping of certain chapters and portions from NCERT Class 12 textbooks and alleged that “complete saffronisation” of academic books was the objective behind the move.

Among portions deleted from the textbook are: “Gandhiji’s death had a magical effect on the communal situation in the country”, “Gandhi’s pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists,” and “Organisations like the RSS were banned for some time”.

Portions referring to the Gujarat riots were also dropped from the class 11 sociology textbook, months after NCERT removed the reference to the 2002 communal violence in two class 12 textbooks. The Congress has accused the Centre of “whitewashing” and “distorting” history.

former Congress president to two years in jail after convicting him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500 (dealing with criminal defamation) in the 2019 case filed by Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Purnesh Modi.

Following the verdict, Gandhi, elected to the Lok Sabha from Wayanad in Kerala in 2019, was disqualified as a Member of Parliament (MP) under provisions of the Representation of the People Act.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra being felicitated during an election campaign ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls. (PTI)

A gun-wielding man barges into a classroom of a high school, in West Bengal’s Malda district, Wednesday. (PTI)

Rahul Gandhi

Indian economy demonstrates strength and stability: Acuite

of merchandise exports (albeit in part also due to moderation in commodity prices), waning export orders within PMI and services exports coming off their Dec-22 peak (though still above trend).

Maruti Suzuki announces mega capacity expansion

CHENNAI, APR 26

(IANS): Passenger car major Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Wednesday decided to expand its production capacity by one million units as its current capacity is fully utilised.

MG Motor launches cheapest EV in India, starting at Rs 7.98 lakh

demand including exports, the company added.

Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki closed FY23 with a net sales of Rs 1,125,008 million compared with Rs 837,981 million in FY22.

CHENNAI, APR 26 (IANS): India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth will be at 6 per cent in FY24, said credit rating agency Acuite Ratings and Research.

In its monthly commentary on the economy.

Acuite said that despite the global macro economy remaining characterised by contradictions and financial system instability risks coming to the fore, the Indian economy continues to demonstrate strength and stability.

Most lead indicators at

the start of 2023 continue to display resilience, with incremental data Feb-23/ Mar-23 faring better than Jan-23.

“Acuite expects GDP growth to moderate but still remain healthy at 6.0 per cent in FY24,” the report said.

According to Acuite, there is a clear distinction emerging with respect to the strength of domestic demand -- which continues to display vigour, as against the impact of slowing external demand getting captured in reduced run-rate

Rupee gains 21 paise to close at 81.74 against US dollar

MUMBAI, APR 26 (PTI):

The rupee appreciated 21 paise to close at 81.74 (provisional) against the US dollar on Wednesday, tracking the weakness of the American currency in the overseas market. Forex traders said a positive trend in domestic equities also supported the local unit.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 82 against the US currency and finally closed at 81.74 (provisional), registering a gain of 21 paise over its previous close. During the session, the rupee touched a high of 81.68 and a low of 82.01 against the dollar.

On Tuesday, the rupee closed at 81.95 against the US currency. The dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies,

fell 0.43 per cent to 101.42.

Global oil benchmark

Brent crude futures rose 0.12 per cent to USD 80.87 per barrel.

The rupee appreciated on positive domestic equities and a weak US dollar. However, recovery in crude oil prices and FII outflows capped sharp gains, said Anuj Choudhary - Research Analyst at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas.

The US Dollar declined on rising concerns over recession amid disappointing economic data from the US and renewed banking concerns.

“We expect the rupee to appreciate on weakness in US Dollar as banking concerns raised expectations that Fed may go dovish in its upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).

“Looking ahead, challenges for domestic growth are expected to intensify in FY24 owing to -- 1) a Slowdown in global growth, with the added dimension of tightness in credit conditions post the banking sector turmoil 2) Climate risks especially a warmer summer along with El Nino risks 3) Private capex remaining uneven and sluggish and 4) downside in urban leveraged consumption owing to pass-through of higher borrowing costs,” Acuite said.

According to Acuite, the moderation in inflationary pressures and the step up in public capital expenditure should continue to drive a healthy momentum in the domestic economy.

The decision to expand the capacity has been approved by the company board at its meeting while approving the audited accounts for the year 2022-23.

According to a regulatory filing, Maruti Suzuki said it has a total production capacity of 13 million units in Manesar and Gurugram.

In addition, the Company is supplied vehicles by Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited (SMG) under the Contract Manufacturing Agreement.

While the investment needed for setting up of one million units production capacity will be decided by the Board later, the amount will be funded with internal accruals.

As to the rationale for expansion, the company said it is to meet the market

The company recorded an Operating Profit of Rs 81,844 million in FY23 as against Rs 29,147 million in FY2021-22.

Maruti Suzuki was able to better its operating profit on account of higher sales volume, improved realisation from the market, and favourable forex movement.

The net profit for FY23 rose to Rs 80,492 million from Rs 37,663 million in FY22.

The Board of Directors recommended highest-ever dividend of Rs 90 per share (face value of Rs 5 per share) compared to Rs 60 per share in FY 2021-22.

During the period under review, Maruti Suzuki sold a total of 1,966,164 vehicles despite missing production of about 170,000 units due to shortage of electronic components.

NEW DELHI, APR 26 (IANS): British car manufacturer MG Motor India on Wednesday unveiled its smart electric vehicle -Comet EV, at a starting price of Rs 7,98,000, which offers a certified battery range of around 230 km on a single charge.

According to the company, the new Comet EV has been evaluated to provide an encouraging and economical charging cost of Rs 519 per month.

The Comet EV is the second electric vehicle in MG Motor India’s portfolio and comes with futuristic and user-friendly Smart technologies.

“The Comet EV is built on the pure electric GSEV platform, the fastest to hit the 1 million EV sales mark globally. The car seamlessly blends style, technology, and sustainability, offering a versatile and spacious ride with unparalleled safety features. At MG, we understand that the future of mobility is elec-

tric and connected,” Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India, said in a statement.

The MG Comet EV is designed on the concept of BICO -- ‘Big Inside, Compact Outside’, offering comfortably spacious and enhanced legroom as well as headroom.

It also features a comfortable and roomy cabin with a 4-seater configuration with 50:50 settings on the second row of seats.

In addition, the centre console comes equipped

with useful features such as electric window operation buttons and a 12-Volt charging port. Moreover, it comes powered with a 17.3 kWh Li-ion battery, plus it is IP67-rated, making it highly resistant to water and dust.

The new Comet EV comes loaded with segmentleading active and passive safety features such as Dual Front Airbags, ABS + EBD, Front & Rear 3 pt. Seat Belts, Rear Parking Camera & Sensor, TPMS (Indirect) and ISOFIX Child Seat.

Stock markets rise

for 3rd session; Sensex gains 169 pts

MUMBAI, APR 26 (PTI):

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty extended their rally for the third straight session on Wednesday amid buying in index majors IndusInd Bank, Nestle India and HCL Tech.

However, continuous foreign fund outflows and a weak trend in global equities restricted gains in the market, traders said.

The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 169.87 points or 0.28 per cent to settle at 60,300.58. During the day, it jumped 232.08 points or 0.38 per cent to 60,362.79. The broader NSE Nifty advanced 44.35 points or 0.25 per cent to end at 17,813.60. “The domestic bourses mirrored the mood on Wall Street as soft economic data and under-

whelming earnings dragged US equities to a weak close yesterday. However, the market gradually recovered after an uptick in US futures, with the earnings of tech companies providing support. “Adding to investors’ concerns about a possible recession, the US consumer confidence data for April hit a nine-month low ahead of the upcoming Fed policy meeting,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.

PowerGrid was the biggest gainer among the Sensex components, spurting 2.59 per cent, followed by IndusInd Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Nestle, HCL Tech, Axis Bank, Tata Motors, HDFC Bank, Tata Consultancy Services and HDFC were the major winners. On the other hand,

Gold jumps Rs 590; silver advances Rs 420

Bajaj Finserv, NTPC, Reliance Industries and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the biggest laggards, dropping up to 0.84 per cent.

“Investors are likely to have covered their positions ahead of the monthly F&O expiry on Thursday. Markets shrugging off global weakness is an indication that our fundamentals remain intact and investors are willing to stay risk-on in Indian equities. “But ahead of the US Federal Reserve policy next month, markets may take cues from global direction to exercise caution,” Shrikant Chouhan, Head of Equity Research (Retail), Kotak Securities Ltd, said. In the broader market, the BSE midcap gauge climbed 0.97 per cent and the smallcap index gained 1.29 per cent.

Global connected car sales grew 12% in 2022; Volkswagen leads

NEW DELHI, APR 26

NEW DELHI, APR 26 (PTI): Gold price jumped Rs 590 to Rs 61,040 per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday amid strong global trends, according to HDFC Securities.

The precious metal had settled at Rs 60,450 per 10 grams in the previous trade. Silver also climbed Rs 420 to Rs 75,070 per kilogramme.

“Spot gold prices in the Delhi markets traded at Rs 61,040 per 10 grams, up Rs 590 per 10 grams,” Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst - Commodities at HDFC Securities, said.

(IANS): The global connected car sales grew 12 per cent (year-on-year) in 2022, with the share of connected cars in the overall car sales exceeding 50 per cent, a new report has shown. Volkswagen Group led in connected car sales, closely followed by Toyota Group, according to Counterpoint Research.

The US remained the strongest market for connected cars, followed by China and Europe. In 2022, these three markets accounted for nearly 80 per cent of the total connected car sales

globally. Despite having a small share of connected car sales, Japan saw the highest growth in connected car penetration. “With consumers’ focus shifting to connectivity in the car, non-connected car shipments are steadily declining. The top five automotive groups accounted for nearly half of the connected cars sold in 2022. Volkswagen Group led the charts in terms of connected car sales volume, closely followed by Toyota Group. Tesla broke into the top 10 for the first time,” said Research Analyst Abhilash Gupta.

SNIPPETS

6 cop killed during encounter with dacoits in Pak’s Sindh province

KARACHI, APR 26

(PTI): At least six policemen were killed by heavily armed dacoits on Wednesday as they were trying to rescue a hostage in the jungle area in Pakistan’s Sindh province, authorities said. The incident took place in the Jageer area of the Jacobabad district. The police personnel who were killed were from the Usta Muhammad police station located in Balochistan’s Jaffarabad. Senior police officials confirmed that six policemen were killed and two others were injured in the attack by heavily armed dacoits in Jageer.

“They were part of a rescue team formed to recover a hostage. The dacoits were demanding a hefty sum to release him,” Jacobabad Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Sumair Noor Channa said. Channa said that the operation is still continuing as the hostage, Furqan Soomro, has not been released yet.

Taliban kill mastermind behind 2021 Kabul airport attack: US

WASHINGTON, APR 26 (IANS): US officials have said that the Islamic State (IS) terror group mastermind thought to have planned the devastating 2021 bombing at the Kabul airport has been killed by Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban government. According to multiple media reports, the US identified the suspect as a leader within the terror group’s Afghan branch known as IS-K, but didn’t name the individual and refused to reveal how this person was killed, for fear that doing so would jeopardise American intelligence-gathering capability in the region, reports Xinhua news agency. The individual was “the mastermind of the horrific attack” on August 26, 2021 that killed 13 US service members as well as 170 Afghan civilians.

Venezuelan govt backs peace talks with opposition: President

CARACAS, APR 26

(IANS): Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has affirmed his government’s support for peace talks with the opposition as an international forum on the country’s political crisis opened in neighbouring Colombia. Convened by Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Bogota, the International Conference on the Political Process in Venezuela aims to promote dialogue between Maduro’s government and opposition groups, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Venezuela promotes and supports the peace talks,” Maduro posted on his Twitter account, adding that his government has a “vocation for dialogue” and has “always sought” an agreement towards recovery and the prosperity of the people.

Iran to launch six satellites by Mar 2024

TEHRAN, APR 26

(IANS): Iranian Deputy Defence Minister Amir Rastegari announced that the country is preparing six satellites to be launched by March 2024. Rastegari made the remarks in an interview with the semiofficial Tasnim news agency, which was published on Tuesday. He said preparations were being made to launch an Iranian satellite constellation, expressing hope that IEI would be able to put into low Earth orbit two CubeSats and the homegrown Earth observation satellite Tolou-3 by March 2024, reports Xinhua news agency. With a weight of 150 kg, Tolou-3 is Iran’s first miniature satellite.

Chinese President Xi speaks to Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy

Offers to mediate to end war with Russia

BEIJING, APR 26 (PTI):

Chinese President Xi Jinping in his first phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday offered to mediate to bring about a ceasefire and political settlement to end the RussiaUkraine conflict, saying Kyiv must “seize the opportunity” as he warned that there are no winners in a nuclear war.

Xi, who toyed with the idea of mediating to end the over-year-long conflict after his last month’s highly publicised visit to Moscow during which he referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as “dear friend”, told Zelenskyy that “dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way forward” and offered to send a special envoy to negotiate a ceasefire.

“There is no winner in a nuclear war. On the nuclear issue, all relevant parties must stay calm and exercise restraint, truly act in the interests of their own future and that of humanity, and jointly manage the crisis,” he

said, apparently cautioning against a prolonged conflict.

“With rational thinking and voices now on the rise, it is important to seize the opportunity and build up favourable conditions for the political settlement of the crisis,” Xi said. This is the first contact between Xi and Zelenskyy since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Xi is trying to enlarge China’s diplomatic outreach after Beijing successfully negotiated a peace deal between arch-rivals in the Middle East - Iran and Saudi Arabia. Avoiding any direct reference to Russia, Xi told Zelenskyy that “it is hoped that all parties would seriously reflect on the Ukraine crisis and jointly explore ways to bring lasting peace and security to Europe through dialogue”. “China

Russia’s Lavrov warns European Union becoming militarised now, like NATO

lieve that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine’s ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations”.

Putin has already welcomed China’s mediation

will continue to facilitate talks for peace and make its efforts for an early ceasefire and restoration of peace.

China will send the Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs to Ukraine and other countries to have indepth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis,” an official statement here quoted Xi as saying.

The official statement made no mention of Russia.

China has not condemned Russia after it started the war against Ukraine over disputed territories but did not recognise Moscow’s claims but firmed up political, trade and military ties.

In his careful reaction, Zelenskyy tweeted saying that he “had a long and meaningful phone call with President Xi Jinping. I be-

Fighting in Sudan is turning humanitarian crisis into catastrophe: UN official

KHARTOUM, APR 26

(IANS): Fighting in Sudan is quickly turning an already dire humanitarian crisis into a catastrophe, said UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya.

What has been unfolding in Sudan since April 15, when violent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces broke out, is a nightmare for ordinary citizens and aid workers alike, she told the Security Council in a briefing.

Even prior to April 15, humanitarian needs in Sudan were at a record high.

Up to 15.8 million people -- a staggering onethird of the country’s population -- needed humanitarian aid, she said, adding that four million children and pregnant and lactating women were malnourished.

Some 3.7 million people were internally displaced, Msuya added.

“This conflict will not only deepen those needs. It

also threatens to unleash an entirely new wave of humanitarian challenges. Fighting is massively impeding and imperiling aid operations. A humanitarian crisis is quickly turning into a catastrophe,” she warned.

More than 450 people have been killed and over 4,000 others injured. At least 20 hospitals have been forced to close due to damage, military use, or lack of resources. Power cuts and fuel shortages risk damaging vaccine stocks and water supplies, a precursor to the spread of disease, said Msuya. There have been numerous reports of sexual

Sharif takes a jab at SC, says arbitration not its job

PTI, ordered by the Supreme Court, nears.

and gender-based violence. The toll on mental health and psychological well-being, especially among children, is unimaginable, she added.

Msuya said the world body’s commitment to the people of Sudan remains resolute even though the situation is extremely dangerous and alarming, adding that the UN is exploring ways to replenish stockpiles so that it can deliver aid to partners in Port Sudan and elsewhere, as soon as it is safe to do so.

The UN is activating a hub in Nairobi, Kenya, to support the rapid response, and is preparing for refugee influxes into countries across the region, she said, adding that tens of thousands of people have arrived in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

“What the people of Sudan need, what we need to reach them, is an immediate ceasefire and a lasting solution to the crisis,” said Msuya.

Observers say that Zelenskyy, who is closely coordinating with the US and EU and received abundant support in Ukraine’s fight against Russia, has little room to accept a settlement without Russia forgoing its claims over the areas claimed by both countries.

Ahead of Xi’s visit to Russia, China released a 12-point paper calling for a ceasefire followed by peace talks to end the Ukraine war. It, however, struck a nuanced stand of respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and legitimate security concerns of Moscow and expressed its firm opposition to the use of nuclear weapons. Significant points of China’s stand in its position paper were a call for ceasing hostilities and global support for the resumption of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the war, respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and Moscow’s legitimate security concerns and Beijing’s opposition to threat or use of nuclear and biological weapons.

ISLAMABAD, APR 26

(IANS): As the Supreme Court’s deadline for talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) looms, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the top court has no power to act as an arbitrator on the issue of elections between the opposition and government, a media report said. “The function of the Supreme Court is not that of a panchayat, but to give judgments according to the Constitution and law,” Sharif said in a televised address after meeting his coalition partners, The News reported. The premier had called the meeting of the coalition partners on Wednesday, as the deadline for talks with

The apex court is scheduled to hear a petition, seeking to hold general elections to national and provincial assemblies simultaneously. During his address, Sharif said that a parliamentary committee will discuss the terms of talks between the ruling alliance and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) regarding holding elections across the country on the same day. He also said the door for negotiations should not be closed.

“We can decide what the format of the talks will be. The parliamentary committee can create room for this,” he said. The premier said the Parliament had dealt with challenges in the past and taken constitutional and legal steps regarding the Supreme Court, The News reported. The situation is still challenging, he continued. Referring to the verdict of a three-member Supreme Court bench that ordered polls to the Punjab Assembly on May 14, he said the Parliament did not accept the bench’s decision.

WASHINGTON, APR 26

(PTI): A bill seeking to explicitly ban caste discrimination in California has been unanimously passed by the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee, amidst strong opposition from Indian-American business and temple organisations.

The California Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday unanimously voted ‘Yes’ to move the anticaste discrimination bill forward to the Senate. This is for the first time that a US State legislature would consider legislation on caste.

If passed, the bill could make America’s most populous state also the country’s first to make caste bias illegal by adding it as a protected category in the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

“Today, I proudly stand in solidarity with my caste-oppressed community members, caste equity movement organisers, and allies to say that caste-oppressed Californians are now one step closer to at-

UNITED

NATIONS,

APR 26 (AP): Russia’s top diplomat warned Tuesday that the European Union “is becoming militarised at a record rate” and aggressive in its goal of containing Russia. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference he has no doubts that there is now “very little difference” between the EU and NATO. Lavrov said they recently signed a declaration, which he said essentially states that the 31-member NATO military alliance will ensure the security of the 27-member EU political and economic organisation. He was apparently referring to a Jan. 19 EU-NATO declaration on their “strategic partnership” which calls Russia’s Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine “the gravest threat to EuroAtlantic security in decades.” It calls the present moment “a key juncture for Euro-Atlantic security and stability” and urges closer EU-NATO cooperation to confront evolving security threats, saying this will contribute to strengthening security in Europe and beyond. And it encourages the fullest possible involvement of NATO members that don’t belong to the EU and EU members that aren’t part of NATO, but it does not state that NATO will ensure

the security of the EU.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has long complained about NATO’s expansion, especially toward his country, and partly used that as a justification for invading Ukraine.

The Russian attack, however, sent fear through its other neighbors, and Finland joined NATO earlier this month, seeking protection under its security umbrella after decades of neutrality following its defeat by the former Soviet Union in World War II. While NATO says it poses no threat to Russia, the Nordic country’s accession dealt a major political blow to Putin.

Finland’s membership doubles Russia’s border with NATO, the world’s largest security alliance. Sweden, an EU member, is also seeking NATO membership and is hoping for final approval soon. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg defiantly declared last week that Ukraine’s

“rightful place” is in the military alliance and pledged more support for the country on his first visit to Kyiv since the invasion. The Kremlin responded by repeating that preventing Ukraine from joining NATO is still a key goal of its invasion, arguing that Kyiv’s membership in the alliance would pose an existential threat to Russia. Ukraine is also seeking EU membership and in February its leaders pledged they would do all it takes to back Ukraine. But they offered no firm timetable for talks on joining the EU to begin, as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had hoped.

Russia’s Lavrov was asked whether the war in Ukraine was a miscalculation since Moscow strongly opposed NATO’s expansion and the invasion sparked Finland’s membership, with Sweden next and Ukraine hoping for a road map to join. “NATO never had any intention of stopping,” the Russian minister replied, pointing to the recent EUNATO declaration and actions in recent years that saw non-NATO members Sweden and Finland “increasingly taking part in NATO military exercises and other actions that were meant to synchronise the military programs of NATO members and neutral states.”

SL to discuss debt restructuring with India, China & Paris Club separately: President Wickremesinghe

COLOMBO, APR 26 (PTI): Sri Lanka will negotiate debt restructuring with India, China and the Paris Club separately, as part of an IMF-backed plan to reduce and manage the island nation’s debt, President Ranil Wickremsinghe told lawmakers on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka is considering restructuring its local debt parallelly with its external debt, Wickremesinghe told Parliament as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis.

Asserting that Sri Lanka needs to restructure its debt, Wickremesinghe, who is also the finance minister, said, “Sri Lanka’s total debt is USD 83.6 billion. Foreign debt amounts to USD 41.5 billion, domestic debt amounts to USD 42 billion.”

Sri Lanka secured a USD 2.9 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month to tackle its huge debt burden.

The Washingtonbased global lender had made Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring a prerequisite for granting the USD 2.9 billion bailout.

Pointing that no firm decisions have been made on local debt restructuring, he said negotiations are continuing separately with India, Paris Club and China. “China is expecting to work separately,” Wickremesignhe said while launching a debate in Parliament on the IMF bailout programme.

“Then on one side we are discussing with Paris Club and India on one side.

California Senate committee passes bill to end caste discrimination

On the other side will talk with China,” he said. Wickremesinghe said negotiations for local debt restructuring had started and added that Sri Lanka would launch negotiations with foreign creditors. “We need to thoroughly consider all aspects. We will let no harm come to anyone. Some banks say they are unable to face this,” the president said, adding that there should be no pre-conditions in local debt restructuring talks.

Wickremesinghe, however, said that when the discussions with foreign debtors are initiated, Sri Lanka would have to take decisions on restructuring its domestic debts.

The IMF deal is expected to reduce the country’s foreign debt by USD 17 billion, he said.

The president said that new legislation would be enacted soon, which will include a new public finance law and a revenue authority law, to imple -

ment the agreement with the IMF.

The IMF’s Executive Board approved a 48-month extended arrangement under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with an amount of SDR 2.286 billion to Sri Lanka following financing assurances from the creditors.

Sri Lanka, which drew its first tranche of the USD 3 billion bailout programme, has already met an instalment to pay back an Indian line of credit which the island nation obtained early last year just before announcing the debt default.

The IMF bailout, the 17th in Sri Lanka’s history, was approved following prolonged discussions over Colombo’s unsustainable debt. Sri Lanka owes USD 7.1 billion to bilateral creditors, with USD 3 billion owed to China, USD 2.4 billion to the Paris Club and USD 1.6 billion to India, according to official data from its government.

India unlikely to look at Russia as secure friend: Ro Khanna

WASHINGTON, APR 26

(PTI): India is unlikely to look at Russia as a “secure” friend, given Moscow’s closer ties with Beijing in the wake of the raging war in Ukraine, a top IndianAmerican Congressman has said.

Congressman Ro Khanna told a group of reporters over a luncheon interaction on Tuesday that the goal of Indian Americans in the US Congress should be to strengthen the relationship.

Minister S Jaishankar has been clear that doesn’t mean they will march lockstep with our interests in the United States, but they want to align at this moment because they see that it’s strategically important,” Khanna said.

Unlike its Quad partner countries, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it abstained from the votes at the UN platforms on the Russian aggression.

Aisha Wahab proposes SB 403, a bill which adds caste as a protected category in the state’s anti-discrimination laws. taining the protections they deserve and are entitled to,” said Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Equality Labs and author of ‘The Trauma of Caste’.

Earlier at a news conference, she said the bill was a result of 15 years of hard-won organising in the state by caste-oppressed people.

“The need for this bill is urgent. We have then some of the highest rates of discrimination of any Asian American community in the state. That is

why we are here to stand in our truth to organise for our freedom,” she had said.

Equality Labs, the brain behind the anti-caste discrimination resolution in Seattle, has been spearheading a nationwide campaign. Seattle became the first US city to outlaw caste discrimination in February.

California, a western US state located along the Pacific Coast with nearly 39.2 million residents, is the most populous US state and the third-largest by area.

“I don’t think that given the closer ties between Russia and China, India would look to Russia as a secure friend to hedge against the invasion, potentially, of its border in Asia, and that they (Indians) know the United States would be a more trusted partner for that objective,” he said.

It is in India’s interest to align more firmly with the US in terms of the “best hedge” against China, he said, adding that it has been a significant factor in Indian foreign policy.

“External Affairs

India has been pressing for an immediate cessation of violence in Ukraine and seeking a resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.

Khanna, who in his capacity as Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, is hosting the first-ofits-kind US-India Summit at the Capitol.

The summit, among others, would be addressed by former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, along with India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu and virtually by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti.

Ranil Wickremsinghe

Joyce Msuya

Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Sergey Lavrov

Shehbaz Sharif

Singer Freddie Mercury’s never-seen possessions to be auctioned in UK

Acollection of neverbefore-seen personal possessions from the London home of Freddie Mercury, the British singer-songwriter of Indian Parsi descent, will go on a world tour-cum-exhibition followed by six auctions, Sotheby’s auction house announced in London on Wednesday.

Mercury, who was born Farrokh Bulsara and spent his childhood in India, where he went to boarding school at Panchgani, lived much of his adult life at Garden Lodge in Kensington, west London.

One of the highlight lots of the upcoming auction includes Mercury’s crown – a replica of the St. Edward’s Crown to be worn by King Charles III in the forthcoming Coronation on May 6 – which will go on display in Sotheby’s New Bond Street windows in London from Wednesday.

The flamboyant lead vocalist of the band Queen, who died aged 45, was an avid collector, and his cherished London home was preserved almost as it was by his closest friend and ex-girlfriend Mary Austin since his death over 30 years ago.

“For many years now, I have had the joy and privilege of living surrounded by all the wonderful things that Freddie sought out

and so loved; but the years have passed, and the time has come for me to take the difficult decision to close this very special chapter in my life,” said Austin, who plans to donate a portion of the proceeds of the sale to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

“It was important to me to do this in a way that I felt Freddie would have loved, and there was nothing he loved more than an auction,” Austin said.

“Freddie was an incredible and intelligent collector who showed us that there is beauty and fun and conversation to be found in everything; I hope this will be an opportunity to share all the many facets of Freddie, both public and private, and for the world to understand more about, and celebrate, his unique and beautiful spirit,” she said.

The month-long exhibition at Sotheby’s opening on August 4 will see over

1,500 items from Garden Lodge displayed in a sequence of specially designed immersive galleries, each devoted to a different aspect of Mercury’s life.

The exhibition will close on what would have been his 77th birthday on September 5, and prior to this London exhibition, highlights from the collection will tour New York, London, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong in June.

Six dedicated auctions will then kick off on September 6, with online auctions running alongside. The auction will be accompanied by the release of a limited-edition commemorative Collection Book as well.

The range of his belongings to be displayed and auctioned include stage costumes, handwritten lyrics, fine and decorative arts and precious objects.

Mercury’s iconic replica St. Edward’s Crown and cape will go under the hammer priced between GBP

‘BTS Forest’ created in Seoul’s Nanji park

Film pays homage to ‘Thesaurus Man’ Arvind Kumar

60,000 and 80,000; a handwritten manuscript is worth between GBP 200,000300,000; the handwritten lyrics to ‘Killer Queen’ are estimated between GBP 50,000-70,000; and a tiny silver moustache comb is priced between GBP 400600.

Besides, the auction lots will include an acoustic guitar, a Picasso portrait and other rare and precious items from Garden Lodge –a Georgian-style brick villa that the late singer turned into a grand, theatrical home with beautiful works of art.

“Freddie Mercury’s collection is a manifestation of one extraordinary man’s creativity, taste and unerring eye for beauty, presenting so much more than just an exquisite selection of the very best examples by artists across centuries and countries,” said the Head of Single Owner Sales at Sotheby’s, David Macdonald.

“Like a Russian doll, Garden Lodge has revealed its layers of treasures over recent months, with the rich tapestry of objects we have discovered there taking us all on a glorious adventure through his imagination. Opening the door to the very special place that was Freddie Mercury’s home offers us the ultimate backstage pass into his world,” he said. (PTI)

Alocal music streaming service named Melon said on Wednesday that it has created a forest named after the K-pop supergroup BTS as part of its eco-friendly project.

Located in Nanji Han River Park in western Seoul, the BTS Forest consists of three fringe trees and 400 sacred bamboo trees, the service said, adding the trees were bought with money donated by its subscribers, reports Yonhap.

According to the service, when subscribers select their favourite singer’s name on the project home page, 2 percent of their monthly payment is saved as a donation.

Once the donation reaches 20 million won (US$16,762), it is donated to the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement, which will then use the funds to create a forest named after the chosen singer in Seoul.

BTS became the first artiste, among both domestic and foreign musicians, to exceed 20 million won in fan donations through the project last month. (IANS)

Arvind Kumar, the brain behind India’s first thesaurus “Samantar Kosh” in Hindi, began life as a typesetter at a printing press when he was only 15. His life and work as a writer-journalist-lexicographer for over seven decades is now the subject of a 48-minute documentary film, directed by Sanjay Sharma and produced by Meeta Lall for Arvind Linguistics LLP, which was released on Tuesday here. Kumar later went on to lead several media publications, including Hindi film magazine “Madhuri” and Reader’s Digest’s Hindi edition, “Sarvottam”.

But his true legacy rests in the compilation of over 1,60,000 Hindi expressions after painstaking research of 20 years. It was published by National Book Trust in 1996.

The bilingual documentary, “Shabd Sarthi Arvind Kumar / Thesaurus Man Arvind Kumar”, traces his journey from the narrow lanes of Meerut where he was born in 1930 to his first job as a typesetter in a printing press and eventually becoming the youngest editor of Times of India’s “Madhuri” magazine at the age of 33.

It was his long-cherished dream to compile a thesaurus in Hindi that inspired him to quit his profession in 1978 and

Keto Diet Doubles the Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke: Study

Keto diets can more than double the risk of serious heart problems, a new study shows.

People who ate foods high in fat and low in carbohydrates were more likely to have higher cholesterol and experience heart attacks or strokes, compared to people who followed a standard diet. Keto diets were also associated with a doubled risk of needing procedures to open up clogged arteries.

“Our study found that regular consumption of a self-reported diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat was associated with increased levels of LDL cholesterol — or ‘bad’ cholesterol — and a higher risk of heart disease,” researcher Iulia Iatan, MD, PhD, says in a statement. “To our knowledge, our study is one of the first to examine the association between this type of dietary pattern and

cardiovascular outcomes.”

What Is Ketosis?

Ketosis is a normal metabolic process, something your body does to keep working. When it doesn’t have enough carbohydrates from food for your cells to burn for energy, it burns fat instead. As part of this process, it makes compounds called ketones.Presented this week at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting, the study evaluated health data for 305 people from the United Kingdom who were identified because they reported eating a keto-like diet during a 24-hour period at

the beginning of the study.

That group was compared with 1,220 people who were similar in age but who ate a standard diet. The study defined keto-like diets as having no more than 25% of daily calories from carbohydrates and getting more than 45% of calories from fat.

Most people in the study were women (73%), tended to be overweight, and the average age was 54. Researchers then analyzed health outcomes of the people for a nearly 12-year period.

Keto dieters at the highest risk of heart and cardiovascular problems

were those with the highest levels of LDL cholesterol. During the follow-up period, 9.8% of keto dieters experienced a new heart event, compared to 4.3% of people on a standard diet. The researchers suggested that people considering going on a keto diet consult a health care provider before starting the eating plan.

“While on the diet, it is recommended they have their cholesterol levels monitored and should try to address other risk factors for heart disease or stroke, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and

smoking,” said latan, who is an attending physician at St. Paul’s Hospital and University of British Columbia’s Centre for Heart Lung Innovation in Vancouver, Canada. Keto diet is short for ketogenic diet. The terms refer to eating foods high in fat, which in turn helps the body produce ketones. Ketones are “a type of fuel that the liver produces from stored fat,” according to Harvard Health. The idea is to achieve a state of “ketosis,” where the body burns fat for energy instead of sugar from carbohydrates derived from grains, fruits,

and vegetables. It can take several days to reach ketosis, and eating too much protein can also throw the whole cycle off. Most people studied who were on the keto-like diet had increased health risks, but some had cholesterol levels that held steady or declined. Researchers said the reasons for that were unclear. “One of our next steps will be to try to identify specific characteristics or genetic markers that can predict how someone will respond to this type of diet,” latan says.

Written by Lisa O’Maryv

dedicate his time to the arduous endeavour.

The film shows glimpses of his journey that was supported by his wife Kusum Kumar, daughter Meeta Lall and son Sumeet Kumar.

After publishing “Samantar Kosh”, Kumar went on to link the Hindi database with the English language to create Arvind Lexicon Online, “the largest known repository of one million English and Hindi expressions”.

“At an age when most of us begin planning retirement, he dared to dream, and dedicated himself to his ambitious mission... The story of one man’s diligence, dedication and devotion. An inspiration for All,” the organisers said.

Kumar’s other lexicographic works include “Arvind Sahaj Samantar

Kosh”, the first alphabetical Hindi thesaurus (2005); “Shabdeshwari”, a unique thesaurus of Indian mythological names (1999); “The Penguin English-Hindi/ Hindi-English Thesaurus and Dictionary” (2007); “Brihat Samantar Kosh”, a revised and extended edition of Samantar Kosh (2013); “Arvind Word Power: English-Hindi”, a ready reference alphabetical dictionary, thesaurus and mini-encyclopedia (2015) and “Arvind Tukant Kosh”, a unique book of 57,000 rhyming words (2015).

For his contribution to lexicography, Kumar received the ‘Shalaka Samman’, ‘Subrhamanya Bharati Award’, ‘Akhil Bharati Hindi Sewa Puraskar’, and ‘Dr. Hardev Bahri Samman’. Kumar died of Covid-19 on April 26, 2021. (PTI)

The Monyakshu Village Students’ Union extends its heartiest congratulations to Shri. S. Hongpe Konyak, of Monyakshu Village for being promoted from DPRo to the post of Deputy Director under Information & Public Relations Department, Govt. of Nagaland. We thank him for the laurels he has brought to our village.

May God continue to bless and guide him in his endeavours

(E.MOBA KONYAK) (MOBA A) President General Secretary

We Tsükrü clan of Viswema, Khuzama and Dihoma villages are proud of Miss Khrütsonü Tsükrü and Miss Kevithonü Tsükrü daughters of Mr. Kevicho Tsükrü & Mrs. Kele Tsükrü for securing much sought MBBS seats in the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Medical College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh through NEET 2022.

We wish them success in their future endeavors and encourage younger members to emulate their hard work and determination.

Girona stun Real Madrid in La Liga

MADRID, APR 26

(IANS): Valentin Castellano had a night he will never forget as he scored four goals in Girona’s 4-2 humiliation of Real Madrid in La Liga.

The striker put Girona ahead with a powerful header in the 12th minute, after a fine cross from Miguel Gutierrez, whom Madrid sold to the Catalan club in the summer, reports Xinhua.

His second goal came 12 minutes later after he beat Eder Militao to a long ball and fired past Andriy Lunin, who played in goal for Madrid after Thibaut Courtois was affected by a stomach bug.

Vinicius Jr pulled a goal back for Real Madrid, which was at close to full strength, in the 34th minute, but Castellanos completed his hat-trick early in the second half after a cross from Ivan Martin, and he netted his fourth of the game in the 62nd minute

with another unstoppable header.

Lucas Vazquez netted a late consolation for Real Madrid, but the result once again highlights how Carlo Ancelotti’s side is focused

KDAA conducts orientation programme on ‘Track & Field’

Neilazetuo Khezhie conducting the session on Wednesday.

DIMAPUR, APR 26

(NPN): The Kohima District Athletic Association (KDAA) conducted an orientation programme on Track and Field events for its members on April 26 at Dr. Neilhouzhü Kire GHSS Conference Hall, Seikhazou, Kohima.

A press release from

the association stated that the rules and laws were discussed as per the standards set by the Athletic Federation of India (AFI).

Neilazetuo Khezhie was the resource person and the programme was led by president KDAA and junior education officer (JEO), Thepfungunyü Solo.

Botafogo step up pursuit of Rodriguez

RIO DE JANEIRO, APR 26 (IANS): Botafogo are preparing a new bid to sign Colombian international midfielder James Rodriguez, according to media reports in Brazil. Club owner John Textor is expected to make an improved offer after Rodriguez reportedly rejected an initial proposal as he waits for potential suitors to emerge in Europe, O Globo reported on Tuesday. It added that the 31-year-old has also attracted interest from clubs in Mexico and Saudi Arabia. Rodriguez has been a free agent since parting ways with Greece’s Olympiacos earlier this month. Botafogo are currently second in Brazil’s 20-team Serie A standings, behind Fluminense on goal difference, after two wins from their first two matches of the season.

Medvedev to play in ATP Zhuhai Championships in September

League. The visitors had the best of the first half, but Betis reacted well, and Sergio Canales was inches away from a winner, only for his shot to go just over the bar.

Betis could slip to seventh depending on Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao’s results on Thursday.

Osasuna won 1-0 away to Cadiz, heightening the home side’s relegation worries. Both teams had chances in the game, but Ruben Garcia’s 62ndminute shot from outside the area sent the points back to Pamplona, while Cadiz could drop into the bottom three before the end of the week if results go against them.

ZHUHAI (CHINA), APR 26 (IANS): World No. 3

Daniil Medvedev will play in the ATP Zhuhai Championships in September, the organisers announced on Wednesday.

The 2021 US Open champion and hard court maestro has been in brilliant form in 2023, winning four titles so far, including the Miami Masters earlier this month. The 27-yearold has won an ATP Tour hard court championship in 19 different cities.

“I’m really looking forward to coming back to China and playing at the Hengqin International Tennis Center,” Medvedev said.

has returned to the tour cal endar. “It’s certainly exciting to be returning to China, and we begin the China swing with one of my favorite tournaments in Zhuhai,” she said.

“I was fortunate to visit the event in 2019 and experience the beautiful city. This year, we will see some amazing tennis featuring some of the world’s best players, including Daniil Medvedev, at the Hengqin International Tennis Center,” she added.

on Europe and the Copa del Rey, although the coach apologized for the display in his post-game press conference.

Fourth-placed Real Sociedad had to withstand

a lot of pressure in the second half away to fifthplace Betis, but held on for a draw that keeps them six points clear of their nearest rival for a place in next season’s UEFA Champions

Barcelona could move 14 points clear of Real Madrid if they win away to Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, while Atletico Madrid can move to within two points of Real Madrid if they win at home to Mallorca.

NBA: Hawks use late rally to stay alive

“I can’t wait to see the city and the stadium, both of which I have heard a lot of good things about. It will be great to play again in front of the Chinese fans after three years away. I’m looking forward to seeing you all in September,” he

added. The inaugural edition of the ATP Tour 250 tournament was in 2019 when Australian Alex de Minaur claimed the title, a Xinhua report said.

Alison Lee, the ATP’s executive vice president for the international region, said she is delighted the Zhuhai Championships

Peter Lyu, executive director and general manager of Huafa Sports, said the Zhuhai Championships provided a great opportunity for the entirety of the Greater Bay Area.

“As the highest-level ATP Tour event in the Greater Bay Area, the 2023 Zhuhai Championships will definitely serve as a great benefit and gift for tennis fans after their three years of wait,” he said.

BOSTON, APR 26 (AGENCIES):

Trae

Young’s 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left capped a 38-point performance as the Atlanta Hawks stayed alive by rallying to beat the host Boston Celtics 119-117 in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference firstround playoff series on Tuesday. Boston now has a 3-2 lead in the series. Game 6 will be played Thursday in Atlanta.

Young scored the final 14 points for Atlanta, which was playing without the league-suspended Dejounte Murray after he made contact with an official at the end of the previous game. Young added 13 assists and a pair of steals.

John Collins contributed 22 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic had 18 to support Young.

Boston’s Jaylen Brown (35 points) posted his second straight 30-plus-point game and Jayson Tatum had 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

Nuggets 112, Timberwolves 109

Nikola Jokic had 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists to lead host Denver past Minnesota, closing out their first-round Western

Conference playoff series in five games.

Jamal Murray scored 35 points, Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon each had 14 and Michael Porter Jr. grabbed 10 rebounds for Denver. The top-seeded Nuggets are headed to the Western Conference semifinals for the fourth time in five seasons.

Anthony Edwards put up 29 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

D P-1805/23

and 11 rebounds and Rudy Gobert had 16 points and 15 rebounds for the eighthseeded Timberwolves. Suns 136, Clippers 130

Devin Booker scored 47 points, including 25 in the third quarter, as Phoenix roared back from a double-digit, second-half deficit against visiting Los Angeles and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals.

Days will pass and turn into years. But we will always remember you with silent tears. We pray that you have found eternal peace in Heaven.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”

Psalm 116:15

Loving Wife

2ND D EATH A NNIVERSARY

LT. T SENPONTHUN G LOTHA

Two years have passed since you left for heavenly abode. We miss you dearly dear Apo, and fondly remember you.

Loving Children and Grand Children

Born on : 01/07/1933 Died on : 27/04/2021

LATE NUNGSHIKABA LONGKUMER

Born: 2nd May 1998

Died: 21st April 2023

We the family members would like to sincerely express our gratitude to every individual, churches, unions, well wishers and friends who stood by us during the illness and at the sudden demise of our most beloved Late NUNGSHIKABA LONGKUMER

We are ever grateful and forever indebted to you for the love and support shown by your physical presence, prayer, financial assistance and encouraging words.

We would like you to know that your support was a source of great solace and comfort during our time of sorrow and grief.

It is our humble prayer that our Almighty God shower His blessings upon all of you.

Loving Mother, Father, Brother & Family Members

Girona forward Taty Castellanos (left) celebrates scoring against Real Madrid. (AFP)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) tries to gather in a loose ball next tom Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11).

Daniil Medvedev

KKR return to winning ways; beat RCB by 21 runs

BENGALURU, APR 26

(IANS): Spinners Varun

Chakaravarthy and Suyash

Sharma collectively took five wickets while Andre Russell picked two wickets as Kolkata Knight Riders ended their four-match losing streak in IPL 2023 by defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 21 runs in an high-scoring match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, here on Wednesday.

An aggressive 56 from Jason Roy and a quick 48 from captain Nitish Rana, along with unbeaten cameos from Rinku Singh and David Wiese propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to 200/5.

In defence, Suyash began the pullback for Kolkata by taking 2/29, before Chakaravarthy and Russell picked 3/27 and 2/29 respectively in restricting Bangalore to 179/8, despite captain Virat Kohli’s 54 and Mahipal Lomror impressing in an 18-ball 34.

Chasing 201, Kohli and Faf du Plessis took a boundary each off Vaibhav Arora in the opening over. Kohli firmly punched Umesh Yadav through cover for four more, followed by du Plessis carting

him for back-to-back sixes.

Du Plessis’s stay came to an end in the third over, holing out to long-on off a flighted googly from Suyash.

Kohli continued to pull off him and Chakaravarthy for boundaries,

though Suyash struck by trapping Shahbaz Ahmad lbw. In the last over of power-play, Kolkata struck again when Glenn Maxwell hit a slower delivery from Chakravarthy straight to mid-off. Lomror broke a sedate

period for Bangalore by sweeping fiercely off Nitish Rana for four, followed by muscling a brace of sixes through the leg-side off Sunil Narine. Kohli got a boundary on a thick outside edge off Suyash and took off for a

brace on the very next ball to reach his fifty in 33 balls.

Lomror pulled Chakaravarthy for a six over deep mid-wicket, but the spinner bounced back as the left-handed batter holed out to the same region.

The Chinnaswamy crowd was further silenced in the 13th over when Kohli pulled off Russell, only for Venkatesh Prasad to dive to his left and take a stunning low catch.

Though Dinesh Karthik and Suyash Prabhudessai hit a boundary each, the latter being slow in taking the second run resulted in his run-out at the non-striker’s end.

Kolkata ended Bangalore’s last hope for a victory by having Wanindu Hasaranga and Karthik caught in the deep in successive overs, making the result a foregone conclusion.

Brief Scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders 200/5 in 20 overs (Jason Roy 56, Nitish Rana 48; Wanindu Hasaranga 2/24, Vyshak Vijaykumar 2/41) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (Virat Kohli 54, Mahipal Lomror 34; Varun Chakravarthy 3/27, Andre Russell 2/29) by 21 runs.

Villa move to fifth; Wolves nearly safe in Premier League

Palace since Roy Hodgson returned as coach.

Joachim Andersen’s own goal put Wolves ahead in the third minute when he redirected Ruben Neves’ corner into his own net under pressure.

Jose Sa made a couple of good saves to keep Palace at bay, and Wolves sealed the win thanks to Neves’ late penalty after an error by Palace keeper Sam Johnstone.

Jamie Vardy scored a vital 80th-minute equalizer for Leicester City to claim a 1-1 draw away to Leeds United.

Jaden becomes first Indian in 6 years to finish on podium in British F4 C’ship

LEICESTERSHIRE, APR

26 (IANS): Young Indian racer Jaden Pariat of Argenti Motorsport displayed his talent by finishing on the podium in the first round of the ROKiT British F4 Championship at Donington Park, here.

Pariat is only the second Indian to get an international podium in a Tatuus F4 car after Kush Maini in 2017.

“The podium is being hailed as a big milestone for the younger generation looking to break through to higher levels of Formula racing. We are overwhelmed by the congratulatory messages and thank everyone who stood by us,” said Atikur Rehman, a former Indian national rally star and the force behind Jaden, who last year took a rookie podium in one of the two rounds he took part.

Showing good pace, the teenager from Northeast India, hopes to impress in his first full year in the series.

Joined by lucky Lyca Radio competition winners who enjoyed VIP access to the British F4 paddock, Jaden took a podium and did not disappoint his guests.

The 16-year-old scored a creditable overall third place in Race 2. He overcame initial hiccups in the qualification session and took a P17 after slipping from P5 as he came for a tyre change and fell short of laps due to a red flag following an incident in front of him.

The team knew that the starting position will present difficult conditions in Race 1 and 3 but did not allow the setback to stop the Indian star from pushing in the reverse-grid Race 2. And Jaden showed his skills and

car-control in wet conditions to take a superb podium. He finished Race 1 in P11 gaining six places after he started from P17. In Race 3, he overtook five to end 12th in wet conditions.

Starting fourth for the fully reversed grid race, held in difficult, cool, and wet conditions, Jaden drove well to avoid trouble with many of his rivals spinning off or coming into strife. Holding his own when rivals came together in front of him, he crossed the line third for a maiden podium.

“Logging important points in the bag after a tough week-end, it was important to cash in on the little chances we had,” said Jaden, who had very little seat time in the Championship car, in a media release.

“I’m very satisfied with the results we achieved. I am super happy to have gotten an overall podium for Race 2. With wet conditions and a whole lot of chaos ahead of us, it is great work by the team. I am surrounded by the amazing support from everyone at Lyca Radio and my team Argenti. I can’t wait for the next race,” he added.

RaducanuwithdrawsfromMadridOpenduetoinjury

MADRID (SPAIN), APR 26

(IANS): The British No. 1 tennis player Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Madrid Open due to a hand injury, hours before her firstround match on Wednesday.

Former US Open champion was scheduled to face World No. 73 Viktoriya Tomova in the first round, with a potential showdown with World No.1 Iga Swiatek in the second round.

“Emma Raducanu withdraws from the Mutua Madrid Open due to injury in her right hand,” the

tournament said in a statement. She will be replaced by lucky loser, Julia Grabher of Austria in the draw.

Raducanu’s withdrawal means she will probably be out of the world’s top 100 for the first time since her US Open win in 2021.

The Brit has been battling a wrist problem over the last few months. After losing to Bianca Andreescu in the first round of the Miami Open, Raducanu has said that she will take the time to reassess her options regarding the wrist injury she has been nursing during the spring

hard-court season. “I just need to review after this tournament really and figure out what my next steps are. We have been managing it, keeping on top of it. I’m able to play in the short term. But the current solutions aren’t very viable long term,” she said after her first-round loss at the Miami Open, last month. The 20-year-old Brit struggled with physical health in 2023. An ankle injury sustained in Auckland hampered her Australian Open preparation, and she was forced to withdraw from Austin in February due to tonsillitis.

LONDON, APR 26 (IANS): A powerful header from defender Tyrone Mings gave Aston Villa a 1-0 win at home to Fulham, lifting them to fifth in the Premier League. Mings’ goal saw Villa get back to winning ways af-

ter a 1-1 draw away to Brentford at the weekend, and Unai Emery’s side now has six wins and a draw in their last seven matches, reports Xinhua. Villa dominated the game with 14 shots, but only

three on target, against a rival that had only one effort in the entire game.

Wolverhampton beat Crystal Palace 2-0, taking a huge step closer to retaining their top-flight status, while inflicting the first defeat on

Leicester had a stunning goal disallowed by VAR before Leeds took the lead in the 20th minute thanks to Luis Sinisterra. Vardy had a second goal ruled out for offside in the closing minutes in a game that leaves Leeds a point above Leicester in the table.

Please listen to our ‘Mann Ki Baat’: Wrestlers to PM

NEW DELHI, APR 26

(PTI): “Why are you not listening to our ‘Mann Ki Baat’,” the protesting wrestlers asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and sought his time to discuss the sexual harassment allegations against his party’s MP and WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The wrestlers continued to receive support from politicians and farmers’ organisations as former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik visited the protest site and said it was a matter of shame that athletes who are honoured in the country for their success are now fighting for justice on the streets.

Country’s top wrestlers resumed their agitation against the wrestling federation’s chief on Sunday, three months after they ended their sit-in protest following the formation of an oversight committee to probe into the serious allegations.

The Sports Ministry has not yet made public the findings of six-member oversight panel that submitted its report on April 5.

The wrestlers said they are surprised that PM Modi felicitates them and clicks pictures with them when they win medals but now he has turned a blind eye to their plight when they are on road, seeking justice.

“PM Modi sir talks about ‘Beti Bachao’ and ‘Beti Padhao’, and listens to everyone’s ‘mann ki baat’. Can’t he listen to our ‘mann ki baat’? He invites us to his home when we win medals and

gives us a lot of respect and calls us his daughters. Today, we appeal to him that he listens to our ‘mann ki baat’,” Rio Games bronze medallist Sakshi Malik said during a media interaction.

Interestingly, Malik drew analogy with Prime Minister’s popular radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, which is completing 100 editions and to mark the milestone, several programs are being organised by the government.

“I want to ask Smriti Irani (Union Minister) why is she silent now? It’s been four days that we are sleeping on road, enduring mosquito bites. We are not being allowed (by Delhi Police) to prepare food and train, why are you silent? I just want to say that you come here, listen to us and support us,” added Sakshi.

Sakshi felt maybe their point is not reaching the Prime Minister.

“Maybe our truth is not reaching him, so we want to meet him and let him know our issues.”

An emotional World

championship medallist Vinesh Phogat said,”we don’t have the (telephone) numbers (of relevant people) by which we can reach out to him so we are appealing to PM Modi through media to raise issues. Maybe he can then listen to our cries. Our souls are almost dead, maybe he will notice.”

“He does his program ‘Mann ki Baat’ but has he, even for a minute, given a thought to our ‘mann ki baat, how much dilemma, does he think we face that daughters of the nation are sitting on the roads and are on the cusp of quitting wrestling by standing against a big criminal?”

Satya Pal Malik, who was the last Governor of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, said he spoke to Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia on Tuesday night and promised to visit them at the protest site.

“When our daughters win medals and unfurl the tri-colour, at that time very shamelessly, we invite them for tea to honour them and to click pictures with them,

and today they are on road. We should drown in shame,” Malik said.

“I appeal to all of you that you support them till their fight ends and this gathering should get bigger and bigger,” Malik said while addressing the gathering as wrestlers continued to get support from various quarters.

The wheel-chair bound Malik said it was unfortunate that women wrestlers are being asked to provide evidence of sexual exploitation.

Vinesh also said that they will take out a candlelight march later in the evening.

“Maybe the authorities can’t see, so we will take out a candle light march to offer some light. Maybe they can see that daughters of India, who are not just wrestlers but represent the feelings of many women, are out on the road.”

Tokyo Games bronze medallist Bajrang also appealed to the PM.

“These are daughters of India appealing to you, please do justice with them,” he said.

“We had brought wrestling mats for practice but we were not allowed, even we can’t prepare our food here because there is no permission. Now, will we have to take permission even for breathing,” asked Bajrang.

As the protest entered its fourth day since resumption on Sunday, the wrestlers, under watchful eyes of coach Sujeet Mann, began training at the protest site itself.

Aston Villa’s John McGinn in action with Fulham’s Manor Solomon. (Reuters)

Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik.

Jaden Pariat

Kolkata Knight Riders players celebrate their win over RCB in the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders. (PTI)