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ASSENG/2015/64205

Vol. II

NIT, AGARTALA TAKES FIRM STEP TOWARDS CASHLESS TRANSACTIONS

Issue 149

Dibrugarh, Sunday, December 18, 2016

Migration may contribute to sustainable economic growth

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MLA Nikh Kamin reminded them of similar and uniform Forest Act for both the states of Assam and Arunachal wherein the Assam counterpart acts promptly and shows actions towards the encroacher while the department in Bordumsa dares not to take initiatives against the miscreants. Urging the officials concerned not to just remain confined to drawing of monthly salary alone, Kamin told that Land Possession Certificate may be provided to the poor instantly after carrying out official formalities at the local administrative level without bringing any complexities to the deserving ones.

Similarly, expecting prompt actions from other departments too, the MLA urged the HoDs and other district officials to maintain coordination among the units and focus together on the developmental aspects of the needy pockets of his jurisdictions.

ET CAPSULES

Militants set fire on 2 vehicles carrying coal Ledo, 17 Dec: Suspected NSCN extremists set fire on two vehicles carrying coal in Ledo Tikak colliery here this evening at around 7 PM. One dumper another a truck were carrying coal were belong to Amarnath Earth Mover.

The militants also have blank fired few rounds after the incident.

No injury reported so far.

(Correspondent )

Around 4 lakhs in new currency note seized at Nazira Sivasagar, 17 Dec: Money worth Rs 3,94000 of Rs 2000 denomination of new currency note has been recovered from the possession of one Dinesh Varma and one Rajesh Agarwalla of Nazira.

Police suspects that they have kept the notes for exchange with old notes against commission.

The investigation is on.

(Correspondent)

Dedicate your lives to the department, DGP tell cadets

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Dimapur : Director general of police (DGP), Nagaland, L.L. Doungel has called upon the police personnel in the state to dedicate their lives to the department in order to measure up to the responsibility bestowed upon the police force.

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MLA Nikh Kamin reminded them of similar and uniform Forest Act for both the states of Assam and Arunachal wherein the Assam counterpart acts promptly and shows actions towards the encroacher while the department in Bordumsa dares not to take initiatives against the miscreants.

Reiterating the suspicious role of the forest department based in Bordumsa, the local MLA Nikh Kamin expressed deep concern over the encroachment issues perpetrating along the AssamArunachal border. Surprised at role of the Divisional Forest office including the local Ranger of Bordumsa, the incumbent MLA Kamin termed them “doing nothing in the area.’

The MLA of Diyun – Bordumsa constituency was addressing the people and officials during his visit to Gidding Adivasi Village

The MLA of Diyun – Bordumsa constituency was addressing the people and officials during his visit to Gidding Adivasi Village as a part of the ongoing developmental meetings being conducted across the deep rural pockets of Bordumsa Sub Divison under 49th Bordumsa –Diyun Legislative Assembly Constituency, simultaneously understanding the pains and grievances of multi-faceted problem hit people of the village.

The meeting which witnessed a host of sub divisional and district officers and HoDs of various sectors was marked by assessment of

issues and problems of the locals on various parameters which later was assured to be resolved gradually by concerted actions of the departments concerned.

Treating the raised issues of the local populace on different fronts including rural connectivity roads, setting up of a primary schools, need of a community halls and employment generation as utmost genuine the incumbent MLA Kamin assured the villagers of initiating early steps to this effect besides stating in brief the unhealthy political scenario of the state and how toppling the government and its instability impacts the developmental

works in the state which has now been restored. According to him, with whatever possible schemes and projects in hand to be accomplished with limited resources, he has been carrying out his developmental task across his jurisdiction which he categorically admitted as ‘however slow ‘due to political upheaval’.

However expressing confidence on his present government, Kamin told that the grievances of the people as expressed by the representatives of the village concerned during the meeting, the MLA assured of taking the issues with utmost importance and asked the officials of respective departments present

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Urging the officials concerned not to just remain confined to drawing of monthly salary alone, Kamin told that Land Possession Certificate may be provided to the poor instantly after carrying out official formalities at the local administrative level without bringing any complexities to the deserving ones.

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in the meeting to immediately swing into action, prepare proposals, draw projects and execute the plans at the behest of his people with as little delay as possible.

It is pertinent to add here that Kamin has been touring several pockets of his jurisdiction meeting his people, conducting meetings and discussions and assuring of developments on different fronts, distributing materials to the needy under rural schemes, attending awareness programmes etc.

However, it now remains to be seen whether or not commitment and promises made to the electorate by their representative materializes.

70 NSCN cadres attack Indian Reserve Battalion post in Manipur, snatch weapons from forces ET Bureau Imphal, Dec 17

Nearly 70 terrorists affiliated to the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland attacked the 7th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) post in Imphal. The attack was carried out on Saturday morning, at nearly 11 AM.

The IRB post entailed both battalions of 7th IRB and 6th Manipur Rifles.

The IRB post entailed both battalions of 7th IRB and 6th Manipur Rifles. Although no casualty has been reported so far, the terrorists reportedly snatched heavy stock of ammunition from the security personnel.

The IRB post, which was attacked,

BJP hold sway in Autonomous Council Election ET Bureau Dibrugarh, 17 Dec

The Bhartiya Janata Party have have won in 13 constituencies out of 22 in Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council Election the result of which declared today. AGP managed to get 3 seats while INC won in 4 and 2 independent candidate from 16 Bongolmara(ST) in Lakhimpur and Borholla (General) in Titabar emerged as winner.

Even in the Deori Autonomous Council Election the BJP have won 7 seats while AGP have won 1, Congress 2 and 7 seats went to Independent candidates.

Although no casualty has been reported so far, the terrorists reportedly snatched heavy stock of ammunition from the security personnel.

is located in Noney district of Manipur, reported India Today.

Cadres of Manipur police rushed to the spot after the attack reported to assist security forces. However, the militant succeeded in fleeing away from the spot.

The terror attack comes barely 24 hours after a shutdown was called in Manipur to protest against the surge in militant activities. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has raised a call for unity in the state, and demanded mass support to defeat the forces spreading terrorism.

A file photo of NSCN cadre.

(Photo from NewsOK)

PAGE 10

Pages- 12

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MLA Nikh Kamin comes down heavily on Bordumsa Forest Department for inaction Laxman Sharma Bordumsa, Dec 17

5.00

The Manipur CM is in contact with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which has escalated efforts to counter the insurgency wave in the state.

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Sonowal Government to develop Madhupur Satra as an “epicenter of cultural tourism” A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 17 Dec

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that his government will take tangible steps to solve all problems of Madhupur Satra as the Government will prepare a master-plan to develop Madhupur Satra as an “epicentre of cultural tourism.”

Undertaking his maiden visit to Madhupur Satra on Saturday after becoming Chief Minister, Sonowal on behalf of the people of the state offered his worship and prayed for the welfare of all sections of the people of the state. Sonowal along with Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) of Dhubri and Cooch Behar districts visited all length and breadth of the Satra and vowed to transform the Satra as a place of Cultural Tourism by preserving the sanctity of the

‘Satra Culture.’

He also held a meeting with the DC and SP and other higher officials of both Dhubri and Cooch Behar districts in the premises of Madhupur Satra and asked them to draw a roadmap for developing a synergistic approach for development of Madhupur Satra as a seat of Vaishnavite Culture.

Sonowal asked the Cultural Affairs Department of Assam to develop a plan for building a guest home, a kitchen and toilets.

He also asked the DC Dhubri to raise the height of the boundary wall around the Satra.

Regarding the alleged encroachment of Satra land, Sonowal asked the DC Dhubri Dhiraj Choudhury and DC Cooch Behar P. Ulaganathan to hammer out modalities within January 17, 2017 to free the Satra Land from encroachers as Assam Government will take up the matter with higher authorities

of Bengal Government.

Sonowal also asked DC Cooch Behar for finalisation of land in Cooch Behar for erecting a towering gate of Madhupur Satra which will showcase the tenets of Vaishnavite cult and the teachings of Sankardeva.

Moreover, Sonowal asked the DC Dhubri and DC Cooch Behar to ensure adequate lighting, plantation etc in and around Madhupur Satra. He also took note on security apparatus and asked SP Cooch Behar Anup Jaiswal to provide security in the peripheral areas of the Satra.

Sonowal asked DC Cooch Behar to find a land measuring at least five bighas by the highway to construct “Assam Home” in Cooch Behar.

Minister of State for Cultural Affairs Department Naba Kumar Doley, Several MLAs, Satradhikar of Madhupur Satra Lakhikanta Mahanta were also present on the occasion.

Five houses gutted to ashes, two injured, at Jarku Staff Reporter PASIGHAT, Dec 17: In a fire accident that broke out at the wee hours early this morning at around 12 am, five houses were gutted to ashes at Jarku village adjacent to Advance Landing Ground, Pasighat in which persons received injuries out of cylinder blast.

The houses were of Tajom Tali, Maklung Pertin, Anu Tatak, Christina Muang and Samine

Saroh. Out of five, Tajom Tali suffered a huge loss as his SPT

Type building along with four other attached huts like kitchen,

separate bathroom, huts for poultry etc all got damaged besides injuring the son and wife who underwent five stitches due to splinter hit by the blast of four cylinders. According to Tali, his total loss is said to be of Rs. 30 lakhs. While Maklung Pertin a teacher at Damro village under Mariyang Sub-Division in Upper Siang also suffered huge damaged amounting to Rs. 3.5 lakhs. Due to break out of fire in the wee hours, nothing could be saved, said the victims. A scooty of college going girl was also

burnt down, informed the resident.

To take stock of the situation, local MLA Kaling Moyong along with his party leaders visited the victims and distributed immediate reliefs.

Moyong appealed the people to keep passage in between houses for easy passing of fire tender in case of such fire accident. He also expressed thankfulness to Indian Air Force fire brigade who extinguished the fire from inside the ALG. Contd. on Page 2

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DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

P2 Aries Your natural warmth is enhanced by a new sense of self-confidence, Aries.

Group activities and social events might bring you into touch with people who prove to be valuable business contacts. Whatever goals you've attempted to reach may finally show signs of materializing, possibly through the efforts of others who believe in you. This should be a very fortunate and enjoyable day for you. Make the most of it!

Taurus Today you might pinch yourself to see if what you're experiencing is real, Taurus.

Success and good fortune are coming thick and fast, with only minor setbacks and irritations to complicate matters.

Business, money, and career success are likely to be at an all-time high, although you might find yourself feeling a little fearful of what comes next. Don't worry about that.

Go with the flow.

Gemini Career and financial success might have paved the way for you to fulfill some of your fondest dreams, Gemini. Perhaps you've wanted to return to college and get an advanced degree, take a trip around the world, or try writing and publishing. Whatever it is, your schedule should be freer and more flexible than ever, so this is the time to go for it. Start planning today!

Deori Autonomous Council Former Congress MLA poll result: Rima Deori has Membar Gogoi passes away the last laugh as she wins Mithun Baruah Margherita, 17 DEC: The election result of Deori Autonomous Council was announced today with Independent Candidate Rima Deori winning the 7 Number Margherita Constituencies by a margin of 61 votes against her closest rival BJP Candidate, BJP candidate, Junu Deori. Total of

three candidates were in the fray for 7 Number Margherita Constituency of Deori Autonomous Council Election.

Rima Deori (Independent) got 619 votes; Junu Deori of BJP got 558 votes while Sonia Deori of Congress got only 161 votes. A total of 1853 voters casted their votes.

Many believe that Rima Deori’s

victory is a clear sign of reassurance that party image has little role to deicide the result of election and clearly the defeat for BJP Candidate Junu Deori is a wake-up call for BJP. Many termed the BJP’s defeat as a loss for the party especially when Margherita Town Committee is headed by a BJP MLA.

Thousands undergo ordeal due lack of bridge over River Dibru

Cancer

Leo

Virgo Whatever you're working on at the moment, Virgo, whether business related, personal projects, or volunteer work, it's likely to bring you increased satisfaction on many levels. You're enjoying what you do, making a difference, and meeting new friends. Your health continues to glow. You may feel as if nothing can stop you. Watch out for minor upsets, but nothing that will burst your bubble.

Photo by Nirmalendu Pathok from Teok was elected as MLA of Teok constituency in 2001.

Subesequently he was elected as MLA of Teok constituency in 2006 and 2011. Membar Gogoi was married to Aimoni Gogoi, a renowned Bihu dancer of

MANOJ KUMAR OJHA DOOMDOOMA, Dec, 17: It is a regular tale for villagers of 1 number Baghjan, 2 Number Baghjan , Baghjan Gaon, Koliapani , Dighaltarang Basti and Dighaltarang village and its greater areas every year, thanks to the lack of bridge over River Dibru. The villagers who are hoping for the completion of bridge over River Dibru are once again

deeply upset with the lack of apathy shown to the completion of the bridge. Conveying the ordeal of ferrying goods by boats, at times marred with dangers and risks, a local businessman said, ”We face a lot of hardships to ferry our goods like vegetables, betelnut, fish, etc for business in the district market, especially, annual flood is the time when things go worst and we many instances of deaths due

to boat mishaps.” The town of Tinsukia and Makum, on the other side of the river, is crucial for supplies and hospitals. At this time, the sight of a rickety looking incomplete bridge taunts the villagers with disdain. The villagers are hoping that the Sonawal led- Government will expedite measures to look into the matter by speeding up the process to construct the bridge before the monsoon strikes.

Mina Nsgori Golaghat , Dec 17: The 212-km-long historic Dhodar Ali which begins from Kamargaon in Golaghat district and ends at Joypur in Dibrugarh district, touching Mariani in Jorhat district is in dilapidated conditions. The road, built by Ahom king Gadadhar Singha around 1687, is called Dhodar Ali because, according to legend, the king mobilized ‘dhods’ (lazy men) to build it. It was reported that that Dhodar Ali Road be will be upgraded to a national

highway.The promise as of now is looking like a distant dream as the Dhodar Ali Road as one complaints, “"It is so dangerous and accidents could happen easily.” The historic Dhodar Ali Road is marred with potholes, sink holes and uneven road shoulders and people are visibly upset with the lack of apathy from the authorities. “This situation poses serious safety hazards for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians,” one local said. “This road is deteriorating at such a rate that, if left unchecked, it will

Dangri Kumar Army camp inaugurates toilets block

It's likely that your personal and creative horizons are expanding, Libra. Your or another's artistic enterprises might pay off big today.

You could be introduced to people who prove to be valuable contacts as well as new friends.

Your love relationships are going well. Your new feeling of enthusiasm and self-confidence certainly doesn't hurt!

A cleanliness awareness rally being taken out by NCC, DHSK College and Dibrugarh Municipality at Dibrugarh today on Saturday. Photo by Manoj Pandey

Scorpio A huge get-together of some kind could take place today either at your home or the home of someone close to you, Scor-

Sagittarius Expect many advantageous changes to take place in your community, Sagittarius. New businesses could open their doors, interesting neighbors could move in, or some necessary repairs could finally get done. You might spend a lot of time in the car or on the phone and spreading the news. An exciting proposition may come to you or someone close to you through a letter, email, or phone call.

Capricorn You've probably had few periods when business and finance have gone well for you, Capricorn. Now this trend seems to be coming to a head. Today you might start or close some type of agreement that will make a big difference to your finances. Your money situation should not only improve but also stabilize at a level higher than it's ever been. As long as you're diligent, this growth should continue.

Aquarius You tend to be practical and businesslike by nature, Aquarius, but the tremendous growth you've experienced may increase your desire to be as sensible and efficient as possible in order to continue this trend. You're feeling upbeat and positive. You're likely to continue to feel this way.

The only downside is that you're probably going to be working very hard. You will like the results, though, so go for it.

Pisces You probably think of yourself as a curious intellectual, Pisces, but a recent expansion in career and finance has brought out talents for business and money that you didn't know you had. This has been a time not only of success and good fortune but also of learning more about yourself. Don't fall back on old fears or underestimate yourself. You're capable of accomplishing more than you know.

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ET Correspondent Naharkatia, Dec 17 : As part of the project Operation Sadbhavana, the Indian Army undertakes various campaigns to develop literacy, women empowerment, public health and relief and rehabilitation in Assam.The Army’s Sadbhavana drive is an informal approach mechanism for the officers and soldiers to interact with and show genuine concern and interest in the

welfare of the local population.In 1992 when army operation was ordered to suspend temporarily the concept Operation Sadbhavana emerged where units deployed in those areas undertook small scale civic action programmes such as holding medical camps and providing basic goods in remote areas. Keeping this tradition, the Dangri Kumar army camp of DAO division today conducted

inugration of 4 toilets blocks with septic tank at Titlagarh H.S.School, Charaideo which was witnessed by Raghu Sonowal Gaon Burah of Titlagarh and Uday Sankar Sonowal Principal of the school alongwith teachers,students and local public.

The school staff with the students expressed their gratituted and welcomed such activities conducted by the army from time to time.

cost us exponentially more in the long run, but the authorities were not bothered to repair them,” he further said. “The road bears the brunt of hundreds of vehicles plying on this road from Nagaland and Manipur. Is the road designed to cope with such high loads? These are the questions that the government has to answer,” one local questioned. Much to the woes, the people are casting blame on the administration for failing to honour its promise to repair the roads.

National seminar on Endangered Ethnic Cultures and Languages held

Libra

pio. It's possible this may turn into more than just a fun party.

You might become involved in conversations with people who become valuable business or social contacts. Expect to have a wonderful time no matter what you do today.

Assam and sister of former Chief Minister Hiteshwar Saikia. Gogoi completed his schooling from Sivsagar, graduated from Kanoi College of Dibrugarh and completed his engineering from Guwahati Engineering College. Jorhat Congress, NSUI, Youth Congress along with many citizens from Jorhat carried out a procession in order to pay homage to Gogoi.

Later his body was taken to Teok where he was laid to rest. INCP, NSUI, Youth Congress, AASU, AJYCP, Sangbadik Suraksha Mancha and many other organizations expressed their condolences for the demise of veteran Congress leader.

historic Dhodar Ali Road in bad shape

Now that you feel more secure regarding your business and financial situations, Cancer, you might be looking for ways to feed your spiritual and metaphysical interests. Your intuitive and psychic abilities should be operating at a very high level, causing you to experience some vivid dreams and visions and receive the insights that come from them. Books and lectures might prove especially enlightening.

Just about every department of life should be going very well for you now, Leo. Business, finances, and partnerships are likely on their way to success, while personal relationships of all kinds, particularly romantic ones, should also be more rewarding.

You might be thinking of expanding your horizons through new enterprises or study. Don't be shy - go for it.

Rituraj Phukan/ Nirmalendu Pathok JORHAT 17 DEC: Former Congress MLA of Teok constituency and senior Congress leader, Membar Gogoi passed away at the age of 79 around 1 am on Saturday. Membar Gogoi had been admitted in Jorhat Mission Hospital and was kept under ICU for the last twenty days. He was later shifted to his own residence situated in Bongal Pukhuri area of Jorhat, where he breathed his last.

Membar Gogoi was born in 1937 and was an engineer by profession. He later joined active politics in the year 1991. His political limelight emerged when he

A Staff Reporter Dibrugarh, Dec. 17: A two-day national seminar on Endangered Ethnic Cultures and Languages in Northeast India was inaugurated today at the Institute of Tai Studies and Research, Moranhat on December 17, 2016. The seminar was organized by the Institute of Tai Studies and Research, Moranhat and it was sponsored by ICHR and ICSSR. Dr. Debabrata Sharma, Principal of Jorhat College, in his inaugural speech talked about the existence of the elements from the languages of the communities living in North East India in Assamese language and relevance of those in the formation of the Assamese language. Professor Bhim Kanta Baruah, director, Centre for Studies in Language, Dibrugarh University delivered the keynote address in the inaugural session and discussed the present state of the languages prevalent among the communities in the NE states of India.

Professor Girin Phukan, Director, ITSAR chaired the session. Earlier Jibeswar Mohan, President, ITSAR delivered the welcome address. Dr. B.K. Gogoi, coordinator of the seminar offered the vote of thanks.

Two technical sessions were conducted on the first day. The first technical session was chaired by Prof.

Bhim Kanta Baruah and the second was chaired by Dr. Debabrata Sarmah. As many as twelve scholars presented their research papers in these two technical sessions today.

Five houses gutted to ashes, two injured, at Jarku Contd. from Page 1 It is worth adding here that, due to no passage for vehicle, the fire tender couldn’t enter the place where accident occurred.

The officials from Disaster management and magistrate inspected the damages and took stock of the overall damages.

Obang Apum, an official from disaster management informed that, the relief material from the administration will be given only on Monday due to week end holidays.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

P3

Khonsa MLA Sawin encourages for cash Namsai unit of BJYM organizes crops and to shun opium cultivation Mega Workshop on Digital Paisa ET Bureau Khonsa , 17 December : 55Khonsa East MLA Wanglam Sawin inaugurated the upgraded Upper Primary School to Secondary School at Upper Kolam village on Friday amidst huge gathering of HoDs, PRIs, Chiefs, GBs, Public and Students of Upper and Lower Kolam village.

Addressing the gathering Chief Guest and Local MLA Wanglam Sawin emphasized on roads, education, drinking water supply and electricity in Upper Kolam, Lower Kolam, Old Kuthong, New Kuthong, Tutnyu, Nogna and Thungjang villages adding that PMGSY roads under RWD from Sanliam to Kolam village is improving for which AE(RWD) Likwang Lowang is looking after the ongoing work. While urging the villagers of Kolam and nearby villages in his constituency to adopt cash crops like large cardamom, Black pepper , large chilly, large ginger replacing the opium cultivation. The MLA announced financial assistance for the farmers to grow cash crops and a storage facility for large carda-

mom from his MLA_LAD. Sawin further assured to develop education scenario in his constituency by posting vacant subject teachers and giving basic necessities including infrastructure development.Responding to public memorandum Sawin pertaining to Health Sub-Centre at Kolam, Multipurpose Community Hall at Lower Kolam, Electric connectivity from Sanliam to Kolam village instead of prevailing power connection via Lazu and Thungjang

MLA-Sawin requested the villagers to come forward to donate land for establishment of new development activities stating that he would apprise the matter to the state government.

On the same day Tirap Deputy Commissioner Ravi Jha, IAS inaugurated community hall at Upper Kolam village in presence of Hon’ble MLA Wanglam Sawin, ZPC Smti Sontung Bangsia, HoDs, PRIs, Chief of Upper Kolam, GBs of

Upper Kolam and Lower Kolam village and he announced for a drier unit for large cardamom from his Untied Fund for Kolam village.

While congratulating the villagers of Kolam village DC Ravi Jha, IAS said that transfer and posting of teachers has been empowered to concern Deputy Commissioners during DCs & SPs conference held recently at Itanagar and appealed the public leaders to cooperate with the District

Administration for rationalizing the number of teachers considering the strength of the school. The DC urged the public of Tirap District to enroll AADHAR compulsorily to get benefits of various government subsidies, schemes and stipend. As per government direction the activities taken under MGNREGA will have to be Geo-tagged. Jha added.

Chief of Upper Kolam Shri Wangchan Lowang, Chief of Lower Kolam Wanglat Lowang, GB of Lower Kolam Ranyok Siksa, ZPC Smti Sontung Bangsia, ASMC N. Kitnya, DDSE Pubi Lombi, DMO Dr.N. Lowang, DDMO P. Duggong, DDI Pongrem Arangham, DHO Smti Charo Lowang, AE(RWD) Er. Likwang Lowang spoke on the occasion.

It is praise worthy to mention here that former MLA – Kamthok Lowang while appreciating the present MLA Wanglam Sawin for his maiden visit to Kolam village, he stated that all the elected MLAs must forget the political differences and take developmental issues on priority basis.

Nido community of Nishi Tribe visited their abandoned land ET Bureau Itanagar, 17 Dec: Members of Nido Community belong to Nishi tribe led

by Nido Youth Association (NYA) recently visited their abandoned villages belong to their forefathers of Nido communities of Arunachal Pradesh. The villages located at Laylen in Lower Subansuri district was abandoned by the Nido community long back to settle in urban areas within the state. Since then the place have become dense forest and become a rich habitat for hunting, fishing and timber sawing.

Last week, Nido Youth Association surveyed the areas and explored for 7 days.

They have marked boundaries and also

put notices terming the place as ‘Nido Land’. They claimed that the land is not under reserve forest and is a legitimate property of their forefathers of their communities.

The members of Nido communities led by the President of NYA, Mr. Nido Jayanta, its GS Mr. Nido Tarun and a senior member Nido Bhupen have written to the EAC of Gensi Circle and head Gaon Buras of all the nearby villages informing them that they have decided to prohibit on all kinds of hunting, fishing and extraction of natural recources within the jurisdiction of their land located on the right bank of River Subansuri.

‘FARM’ North East launched to promote organic farming in Miao ET Correspondent Miao, 17 Dec: Seva Kendra Arunachal East (SKAE), a registered NGO, in collaboration with Caritas India launched the second phase of Facilitating Agricultural Regeneration Measures (FARM) in North East India on 16 December at Balinong village under Kharsang circle of Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh.

To promote and facilitate organic farming in North East India particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, SKAE the Social Service wing of the Diocese of Miao launched its second phase of FARM North East for 15 villages of Changlang District at the Balinong Community Hall.

Mr. Roy, the Circle Officer at Kharsang was the Chief Guest for the event. He appreciated the initiative of Seva Kendra and highlighted the importance of eating organic food. No matter how rich a person is, he or she still has to eat the fruit of the earth and so it is important to eat healthy to live healthy, he said addressing the people gathered for the event. We cannot eat money, he added.

Bishop George, the President

of AKAE stressed on the importance of conservation of environment in the context of rapid climatic changes at present. We are in the middle of winter yet we need to have fan in this hall is an example of the dangerous climatic change that we see today, he said. “All the trees that we have are what our fore fathers left behind. If we do not plant but only cut, there will be no trees, no rain, and no water for our next generation,” he cautioned.

Mr. Mintu Mosahary, the project coordinator for FARM NE gave a summary of the first phase of the project implementation for 20 villages under Bordumsa circle three years ago and Sr. Rincy the Director of SKAE highlighted the scope its second phase in 15 villages of Kharsang Miao Circle.

Mr. Mishra AFS from Agricultural department too informed the people about the Kishan Call Centre number. You can call 1800-180-1551 any time

for assistance with farming related queries. Mr. T. S. Ronrang, Aanchal Samity Chairperson also was present for event.

The programming launching concluded with the planting of saplings by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries present for the event.

In the wake pesticide and pollution, organic farming seems to be the best way forward. One hopes such initiative by SKAE paves more organic farming in Arunachal Pradesh and in the rest of North East India.

Commissioner Finance asks officials of East Siang to facilitate deposit of old currency through mobile banks in rural areas ET Bureau Pasighat, Dec17: Commissioner Finance and Power, Ashish Kundra, has reviewed the progress of projects for augmenting the power supply in East Siang here today and has called for joint efforts and sustained monitoring forensuring quality and timely completion of works.He asked to meet the deadline for commission of 132 KV AaloPasighat transmission line.

Kundra also, asked the EACs ,COs, and Treasury Officers,as 31st December is the last date for validity of old currency , he asked to reach out to the rural areas through mobile banks to facilitate the people to get deposited the old currency and also open bank accounts on the spot. He also asked for conducting outreach programmes in circle Headquarters for enhancing bank

account coverage and financial inclusion of the people particularly in the rural areas.He also sought information on availability of cash.

DC East Siang Isha Khosla, ADC B.Lego, Administrative officers,FAO and Treasury Officer attended the meeting in the DC Conference hall. CE Hydro power (ENM), T.Ketan,Dy. GM Power Grid, B. R, Azad,SE (Power), Pasighat Division, DuyuTacho, SE (Transmission) RokomBado,SE(hydro Power) T. Jerang, EE (Power) Pasighat Division JoramLali,EE(T), O.Tekseng, AE (APEDA), AE PowerKabit Darang were present among others.

The Commissioner(Power) taking stock of the progress of 132 KV Aalo –Pasighat Trans-

mission line and its 132/33 Substations, asked the transmission zone to commission within 31st December 2016.SE Transmission Er H Bado briefed the status adding that all efforts are being made to commission the 132 KV line and substations on schedule.

Under the comprehensive scheme for strengthening of T & D systems in AP , the work of 132 /33 KV Substation at Niglok and Napit has started which was informed by the representative from PGCIL( Power Grid Corporation Of India). The issue of land acquisition for 8 Substation was also apprised. Test charge of 132 KV Transmission line from Aalo to Pasighat to be carried out by last week of December,the Commissioner informed.

A joint coordination meeting will be taken by the DC of all

stakeholders to expedite the works including land acquisition for the Substations tomorrow.

Kundraasked for ensuring close monitoring for quality works under the DeenDayal Gram JyotiYojana(DDGJY) .

On being informed by the SE(Power) Pasighat Circle that Customer metering has been given emphasis and for addressing low voltage under IPDS and DDGJY for improving voltage, Kundra stressed that since Power supply to the district is expected to stable, 100% consumer metering should be done to improve the billing of electricity consumptions and revenue collection.

JoramLali ,EE(E), Pasighat Electrical Division apprised on the status of works underAPDRP.

ET Bureau Namsai, 17 Dec: A Mega Workshop cum Awareness Campaign on “Less Cash to Cash Less” Digital Paisa held on 17th December, 2016 at Namsai Town Club, Namsai (A.P.) organized

by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Namsai District Unit was successfully concluded with huge participation from Public Leaders, Retired Officers, Mahilas, Shopkeepers, Merchants and Traders, Youth and villagers coming from all around Namsai District.

Chow Bramadutt Namchoom, President BJYM Namsai District- Unit made aware the public about the objectives of the workshop cum Awareness Campaign and disseminated the importance of cashless payment options. He enlightened the mass gathering that if we as a public w7ant development in every' aspects say infrastructure, road communication, trade & commerce, education, health etc. then going cashless is best weapon to counter corruption, black money, anti-development activities etc. because in doing so all the transactions will become accountable. He advised the mass particularly to those who haven’t yet opened their bank account to quickly get it done and informed that without which it would be meaningless to talk upon. He also informed the mass to deposit their old denomination notes if still left

with anyone in their respective bank accounts on or before 30 December 2016.

Chow Sen Ong Namchoom, General Secretary BJYM Namsai District Unit informed the gathering all about the initiatives launched by the BJP led Modi government ongoing cashless and also informed their benefits. Initiatives and benefits such as free accidental insurance upto Rs.10 lakh on buying online ticket in Railways, Discount of 0.75% on digital payments at Central Govt. Petroleum PSUs, No service tax on digital transaction charges/MDR upto Rs.2000 per transaction, Public Sector banks advised not to charge more than Rs. 100 per month as rental for POS terminals/Micro ATMs/mobile POS from merchants and many others were well disseminated to the public. He also informed the gathering about the recently launched “Lucky Grahak Yojana” & “Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana” for consumers and merchants/traders respectively which got the attention of public. The two Yojana is launched as an incentive by the government to promote digital payment options and increase public participation towards cashless transactions. 15000 consumers using Digital Payments shall win a cash-back prize of Rs.1000 daily and shall also win weekly prizes worth Rs.l lakh, Rs. 10000 and

Rs.5000 in the Lucky Grahak Yojana. And in the Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana, 7000 traders stand to win weekly prize of Rs.50000, Rs.5000 and Rs.2500. Moreover, Consumers stand to win 3 mega prizes of worth Rs.l crore, Rs.50 lakh & Rs.25 lakh and Merchants/ Traders stand to win 3 prizes of worth Rs.50 lakh, Rs.25 lakh & Rs.12 lakh which is set to be announced on 14th April 2017.

The Programme was followed by a detailed technical session, well elaborated on cashless payment options (i.e. USSD, POS, Mobile Banking like SBI Buddy, SBI Pay) by Simanta Ongong, a resource person from SBI Namsai Branch.

He cleared the doubts of public with illustrated screen shots of the process of installing and using the SB! Buddy and mobile banking app from Google play store during the open Question Answer Session. He ensured the mass particularly the Merchants and Traders who were much interested to avail POS system that adequate system will be made available from first week of January 2017 onwards. Pamphlets & cards on cashless payment options, on Mobile Banking like SBI Buddy, SBI Pay and application form for availing POS terminals, Current Account forms, Online banking forms etc. were distributed during the ongoing Technical Session Programme.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

P4 Huge response to Kishan Mela, Record sale of agri appliances

People prepare to bury a female elephant and two foetuses, who according to the forest officials were killed after being hit by a train in the Hojai district of Assam. (Reuters File Photo)

Speeding train kills 3 elephants, toll rises to 8 in a month ET Bureau Nagaon, 17 Dec: Three wild elephants, including a calf, were killed after they were hit by a speeding train engine in Nagaon district of central Assam early on Saturday morning.

The incident took place when the engine hit a herd of elephants crossing the railway tracks around 4:50am between Kampur and Jamunamukh stations located nearly 125km east of Guwahati.

With this, the number of wild elephant deaths after being hit by speeding trains in the state increased to eight this month.

Three elephants, including two pregnant females (who later delivered two stillborn calves), were killed at Hojai in Nagaon district by the Kanyakumari-Dibrugarh Vivek Express on December 5.

A day later, another a speeding train killed a nine-yearold male and injured an adult female at Banglapara in Goalpara district. The injured pachyderm succumbed to injuries few days later.

Both incidents had prompted the state forest department to hold emergency meetings with North-

east Frontier Railway (NFR) officials and it was decided to limit speed of trains to 15 km/hr at elephant corridors.

“The fresh incident is very unfortunate. We are taking the issue seriously and efforts are underway to increase coordination between forest and railway officials,” forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma said.

She maintained Saturday’s incident was due to carelessness of the engine driver and instructions have been issued to the forest department to register an FIR against him.

Orders were also issued to

10000 accounts in Assam on tax radar Agencies Guwahati, Dec. 16: The income tax department will submit a list of over 10,000 bank accounts in Assam, which have seen a sudden surge in deposits postdemonetisation, to the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI before December 30.

"Post-demonetisation, several bank accounts which used to have minimal or small amount transactionshave seen a sudden surge in deposits indicating that illegal money is being parked there. The income tax department has made a list of 10,000 such accounts which will be handed over to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI for further inquiry," a source in the department said today.

Of the 10,000 accounts, around 300 are that of highprofile account holders, the source said.

"The accounts are identified through the money trail method and comparing the deposit withc the income tax amount paid by the account holder, the department identifies if the money is illegal or not. At least 300 of those accounts belong to high-profile people. The lowest transaction in the shortlisted accounts is Rs 25 lakh," the source said.

Post-demonetisation, the Reserve Bank of India had instructed the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to monitor bank accounts for suspicious transactions and report it to central investigative agencies. The IT source said this procedure involves several departments. The police, FIU, income tax and other departments will prepare their lists separately and submit it to the central agencies which will then filter the reports and take action accordingly.

"The instruction was given to the police, FIU, IT and other departments engaged in flushing out black money and

preventing illegal hoarding of new currency. Our department is accordingly preparing the list," the source said.

"Once the lists are deposited by all the departments, they will be filtered by the kind of offence committed. Those who have evaded income tax or shown deposits not proportionate to their income statement will be raided and investigated by the income tax department. Offenders already on ED and CBI radars, if present on the list, will be grilled by the departments. The FIU will also take action against financial institutes (such as banks and insurance agencies) for any irregularities in their transactions," The income tax department is also working on preparing a similar list for the other northeastern states but the work is taking time as the department has a shortage of manpower and they also have to take into account tax exemption for people from Scheduled Tribe communities.

According to Section 10 (26) of the Income Tax Act, 1961, members of Scheduled Tribes in the Northeast, permanently residing in any area in the states of Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram and in certain areas of Assam and Meghalaya (district councils or regional councils created under the Sixth Schedule such as North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong and Bodo Territorial Council in Assam and Garo hills, Jaintia hills and Khasi hills in Meghalaya) and generating income from within their respective states are exempted from paying income tax.

"Hence, without an income statement, it is not possible to verify if the deposits are disproportionate. Our department is looking into the source of income in the doubtful accounts to find out if they are illegally earned or not," the source said.

In the meantime, an employees' association of the income tax department has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking more workforce for speedy recovery of money.

"At present, the department has 30-35 per cent posts lying vacant in almost all the supervisory positions. The vacancy at staff level is more severe, around 40 per cent, subjecting them all to unbearable extra workload," said the letter submitted by the Joint Council of Action, comprising Income Tax Employees Federation and Income Tax Gazetted Officers Association.

Money laundering Income tax sleuths tonight raided the business establishment of a Bongaigaon resident, Halal Kar, suspecting him to have parked huge amounts of money in his employees' accounts in connivance with bank staff.

"It has come to the notice of the department that 28 employees working under Kar opened accounts in the bank post-demonetisation and Rs 49,000 was deposited in each of these accounts at regular intervals," a source in the income tax department said. An amount of Rs 49,000 was probably deposited as people depositing Rs 50,000 and more have to furnish PAN cards, he added.

The sleuths have sealed the bank accounts and are questioning Kar. "During interrogation, we found that he also deposited money in the accounts of a few people of the Garo community at Tura in Meghalaya, who are exempted from paying income tax," he said.

"We suspect that the bank employees are involved as it was not possible to open so many accounts when the rush was at its peak because of demonetisation and then deposit such amounts of money at regular intervals without being noticed," the source said.

start a monitoring cell at the headquarters of the forest department to keep track of movement of wild elephant herds by remaining in constant touch with forest staff on the ground.

“The spot of accident is not within the vulnerable area as marked by forest department. It is about 13km away from the area where caution had been advised by the forest department,” Pranav Jyoti Sharma, CPRO-NFR, stated.

Reduced forest cover and inadequate food source are responsible for the in-

creased incidents of mananimal conflict being reported from across Assam, which has nearly 6,000 wild elephants.

Last month, a female elephant and her young calf had fallen into a deep pit at Patanjali’s mega food park in Tezpur district. While the calf was rescued, the female, which had sustained injuries during the fall, died.

There have also been incidents of wild elephants getting electrocuted and poisoned by farmers desperate to protect their crops from the marauding herds of pachyderms.

Governor hails 1 lakh babies birth at Marwari Maternity Hospital ET Bureau Guwahati, Dec 17: Propagating the country’s commitment for the empowerment of women and give a logical conclusion to “ Beti Bachao-Beti Padao”, the Governor of Assam Shri Banwarilal Purohit called upon the hospital authority of Marwari Maternity Hospital to distribute sweets upon every birth of girl child and requested the parents who gave birth to baby boy to take the oath of not demanding dowry at the time of the marriage at a function held in Gauhati Lions Eye Hospital auditorium on Saturday.

Speaking at a function organised to commemorate 1.00 lakh babies birth at Marwari Maternity Hospital, the Governor, Shri Purohit hailed the services of the hospital in ensuring safe and quality institutional deliveries along with guaranteeing affordable and accessible health care facilities.

The Governor also lauded the role of Shree Marwari Databya Aushadhalaya (SMDA) for the effective management of the hospital.

The Governor congratulated the doctors and para medical staff for their selfless service to the people.

The fact that Marwari Maternity Hospital has witnessed the birth of 1 lakh baby is itself a reflection of the doctor’s dedication and transparency in their work.

The Governor also requested P.V.S.L.N.Murty, Chief General Manager of State Bank of Idia, NE Circle to render their help to all the hospitals including MMH under Corporate Social Responsibility so that healthy babies are born to ensure a brighter future for our country.

In the programme, the 1st baby born at MMH in November, 1985 Ms. Navanita Dutta daughter of Smt Anjali Dutta and Sri Narayan Dutta and 1 lakh’th baby born at MMH in May 2016 Master Chinmoy Sarma son of Smt Dipali Sarma and Sri Pankaj Sarma were felicitated with the traditional assamese gamocha, a memento and a cash of Rs.11000.

A host of dignitaries were also present at the programme.

ET Correspondent, Haflong Dec 17: The two day Kishan Mela beginning from December 16 here at Haflong organised by the Department of Agriculture received heavy response from the farmer as well as people of Dima Hasao.

The Kishan Mela was organised to impart training and to provide modern scientific knowledge through Seminar and farmer scientists interaction by resource persons like Hiranya Devanath, Subject Matter specialist (P.P) Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karbi Anglog, Puja Basumatary, Subject Matter specialist( Hort) Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Karbi Anglong and Er Fayjul Islam, Executive

Engineer, Agri, Dima Hasao Division.

Apart from seminar etc. the Agriculture department had also put up exhibition -cumsale on subsidised rates.

People were seen thronged in the stall put up by the Executive Engineer, Agri, Dima Hasao Division for purchasing alliances in the highest number.

The Executive Engineer, Agri, Dima Hasao Division Er. Fayjul Islam talking to this correspondent said ‘I am really overwhelmed to witness the people’s response to this Mela and eagerness to purchase small and big appliances for cultivation be it agricultural or kitchen garden’. He said Dima Hasao could be the

best place for organic farming with some modern and scientific method which would enhance their product quantity and also the quality. People here are very simple and mostly dependent on agriculture therefore we are also committed to do something for the betterment of the people of this district. He further said since the demand of the these small appliances has been increasing day by day and the Executive Engineer Agri wings of Agriculture department has been producing these appliances of their own should also be encouraged so that each people could avail the benefit rendered by the Agriculture department.

KAAC CEM vows to oppose ST (H) status to Bodos Sushanta Roy Diphu, Dec 17: Amid feeble protest by political parties and organizations over the granting of ST (H) status to the Bodos living in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member, Tuliram Ronghang resented on the whole issue ; the CEM has told the media today that he and his team will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh shortly. Meanwhile the ex BLT, Kachari Samaj, and ABSU Karbi Anglong unit has welcomed the move of

the central government, through joint a press release these organizations have extended thanks to Prime Minister, Minister for Tribal Affairs, BTAD Chief Hagrama Mohilari and MP Ram Madhab.The joint release has mentioned that the government step has substantially help the Bodos of the hiss and the Karbi community living in the plains of Assam. CEM said that he can never agree with government’s decision and he even refused to give NOC on behalf of KAAC in this matter. “KAAC can never agree to such controversial issue and the step

taken by the government, this will greatly affects the indigenous tribal living in the twin hill district, this is the reason former KAAC EM Surat Brahma resigned from the public office,” CEM said. Ronghang also said that the Government should not take any steps that can endanger the tribal people and its culture, particularly the Karbi tribe, who are protected within the ambit of sixth schedule.

He went on to say that primary duty of KAAC is to protect the indigenous tribal and not other communities coming after creation of the Mikir Hill district.

Health awareness event on Neurological disorder at Guwahati ET Bureau Guwahati, Dec 17: The Director of Social Welfare Meenakshi Sundaram formally launched the 'TerraBlue XT Telemedicine platform'' related to pre-detection of epileptic attack on persons suffering with neurological disorder at NEDFi House, Dispur today while CEO of Guwahati BioTech Park and Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup Vinod Seshan inaugurated the event "Aaxa"- A Health awareness event on Neurological disorder.

Eminent paediatrician of

the State Dr. Prakritish Bora and eminent neurologist Dr. N J Barkataky attended the Health awareness programme and dealt in length on the scenario of epileptic attack on persons suffering with neurological disorder with special reference to Assam. They elaborately discussed about the importance of identifying epilepsy at an early stage, challenges faced by patients and neurologists while dealing with epilepsy in Assam especially in remote areas. They also put forward various suggestions on how the Government can contribute to

identify epilepsy in remote areas and to make epilepsy treatment more accessible to the common people.

Eminent paediatrician of Bengaluru Dr. Shiva Kumar alsoaddressed the gathering through video conference in the occasion.

Earlier, CEO and Founder of 'TerraBlue XT’ Dr. Rajlakshmi Borthakur disclosed in details about the steps taken by the organisation to help solving some of the problems faced by the people of Assam while dealing with neuro disorders.

Assam Governor inaugurates Golden Jubilee celebrations of St.Mary’s Senior Secondary School, Maligaon ET Bureau Guwahati, December 17: Assam Governor Shri Banwarilal Purohit inaugurated the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of St.Mary’s Senior Secondary School, Maligaon at a function held at school premises in the city on Friday evening. It may be noted that set up way back in 1966, the school has treaded 50 long years to come to the present status

with student capacity of 1570.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Purohit said that Education is the edifice on which the society hinges as he hailed the role of St. Mary’s Senior Secondary School in taking up the responsibility in spreading education and leading the society to march forward.

He also called upon the school authority to

emphasise on building the sound character of the students and hone their intellectual skills so that they can contribute to the growth of the nation.

Shri Purohit further called upon the students to lead a simple yet disciplined life with highest mission and vision to achieve noble objective in life. He also asked the students to emulate the lives and

works of Mahatma Gandhi and Ernest Hemingway and make them their role models. He also urged upon the students to inculcate the values of discipline, dedication, determination, cleanliness etc to become ideal citizens.

Synchronizing with the occasion, a colourful cultural programme was also staged showcasing the

rich and diversified culture of the State.

Vice-Chancellor of Cotton College State University Dhruba Jyoti Saikia, Principal of St.Mary’s Senior Secondary School, Maligaon Sr. Nelia Mary, General Manager N.F.Railways Chahatey Ram along with a host of other dignitaries were present at the programme.

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

REST OF

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NORTHEAST

No more unauthorized chit NIT, Agartala takes firm step fund in Tripura: Minister towards cashless transactions Agartala, Dec 17: Tripura Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha said that the government will not allow any chit fund organisation and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to operate unless they are registered and recognised.

Saha, while tabling the Protection of Interest of Depositors (Financial Establishment) second amendment bill in the Tripura assembly, said: "The bill was brought to enhance the level of protection of the interests of depositors in financial establishments in Tripura by providing more teeth to the existing act."

He said any chit fund organisation or an NBFC, before starting their operation or business in Tripura, must obtain trade licence from the appropriate authority, which also have to take approval from the concerned dis-

Tripura Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha. trict magistrate and collector before issuing the licence.

"After getting the written application and papers from the chit fund organisation or NBFC, the concerned district magistrate and collector ask the concerned district superintendent of police have to enquire about the where-

abouts, financial conditions, track-records of those chit fund body or NBFC," the Minister told reporters.

NBFCs or chit fund companies which are not recognised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority (IRDA) or the Securities

and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), cannot conduct any monetary business or take deposits from people.

Saha said the Tripura government is the first state government in the country to have enacted the act in 2000 and amended it first in 2011 to curb the activities of illegal chit fund and NBFCs. "The existing chit fund and NBFCs operating in the state also have to follow the same procedure when they try to renew their licences in future," he added.

"Our Chief Minister, I and my predecessors and state Chief Secretary had written letters to the Prime Minister, Union Finance Minister and Reserve Bank Governor to regulate the activities of illegal NBFCs and chit fund groups," the state Finance Minister added.

"We have taken a series of actions against these bod-

ies and referred 37 cases relating to illegal activities of chit fund groups and unauthorised NBFCs to the Central Bureau of Investigation for appropriate action," he said.

The opposition Congress, Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been accusing the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leaders and members of involvement with chit fund groups, an accusation the Left has strongly denied.

Unauthorised chit fund companies and NBFCs have mushroomed in the northeastern region in recent years.

They lure depositors by promising exceptionally hefty rates of interest ranging from 25-30 per cent. After collecting the money, they quietly shut down their operations and vanish. (Agencies)

Teacher shortage in Dedicate your lives to the department, DGP tell cadets schools being made up Agartala, Dec 17: Despite ongoing recruitment process through Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) exams , the elementary schools in Tripura , mainly at the primary level, are still short of 1793 teachers. In reply to an 'unstarred' question raised by Congress MLA Ratanlal Nath, the minister for school education Tapan Chakraborty informed the state assembly that in elementary schools of the state the requirement of teachers is 14,109 but currently there are 12,316 teachers-a shortage of 1793

(Inset) DGP L.L. Doungel. Cadets at the Ceremonial Attestation Parade.

Dimapur, Dec 17: Director general of police (DGP), Nagaland, L.L. Doungel has called upon the police personnel in the state to dedicate their lives to the department in order to measure up to the responsibility bestowed upon the police force.

He was speaking as chief guest at the 'Ceremonial Attestation Parade' of 37th cadet ASIs & AIEs and 63rd batch recruit havildars and constables held on Friday at Nagaland Police Training School (NPTS) parade ground, Chumukedima.

In his address, Doungel congratulated the cadets on the occasion while reminding them that it marked the beginning of

a responsible service.

As the cadets would now be posted in various districts across the state, Doungel encouraged them to be "medium and message" of Nagaland police.

He told the cadets that the image of Nagaland police depends on their performance and that their quality of service will speak for the force.

Touching upon the changing dynamics of crime and policing in today's globalised world, the chief guest said challenging times were ahead for the police force for which sincerity and dedication was required.

"If you have sincerity of purpose to fulfil the responsibilities given to you,

there is no reason the department won't shine," Doungel exhorted the cadets.

In his concluding remark, DGP called upon the cadets to remain true to the attestation and motto.

Doungel earlier inspected the parade and also gave away awards to the cadets.

Altogether, 562 trainees, including 34 ASIs, of various units such as DEF, NPTO, Excise, INT/ Crime/NPCW, Vigilance, and 1st NAP passed out in the ceremony.

Earlier, principal NPTS, Aboli Metha NPS delivered the welcome address. She also presented a brief training report.

(Agencies)

HC imposes penalty on Social Welfare Department Shillong, Dec 17: The Division Bench of the High Court of Meghalaya on Friday directed the Social Welfare Department to float fresh tender for the implementation of supplementary nutritional programme for children and pregnant women, but not before imposing a fine of Rs 5000 and an apology to the public tendered by Director of the Department H.M. Shangpliang through an affidavit.

The action of the Court was following a PIL filed by Agnes Kharshiing, who had among others highlighted that the tender notice did not specify the worth of the tender though the total worth will run into crores of rupees.

The Division Bench in the order wanted the government to withdraw the offending Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) and float the tender afresh, but strictly in accordance with law.

The NIT was earlier floated for supply of ready-to-eat micro nutrient fortified energy-dense food suitable for children up to six years of age and pregnant and nursing mothers under different ICDS projects in the state.

During the hearing, the Court posed certain queries to the senior government advocate, which include the issue of total value of the work, the items to be supplied, and the projects for which the supplies are

to be made.

The Court also wanted to know when the annual turnover of the prospective bidder is expected to be Rs.10 crore for last four years, which indicates that the contract may be of high valuation, as to why e-procurement process was not resorted to?

Another query of the Court was why the tender was limited for participation by only the persons in the Northeastern states, and participation has not been open to all the eligible persons?

The Court was concerned as to why the tenders have been invited only from the manufacturers while the dealers, distributors and suppliers have been kept out of the process.

Later, the assistant director of Social Welfare Department filed an affidavit stating that due to the short comings in the NIT, the Department was ready to withdraw it.

The Court, however observed, "Having examined the matter, it is noticed that the value of the work in question is proposed to be fixed at about Rs.40 crore, but then, one of the fundamental objections has still not been responded as to why e-procurement process was not adopted?"

The Court also added that various other objections including that of limiting the

participation only to the manufacturers having experience to supply under ICDS in Northeastern states have not been answered.

However, the Court agreed to the suggestion of the respondents that they would be floating the tender afresh.

According to the Court, there had been unnecessary wastage of the public money and time where an absolutely unreasonable and questionable NIT was issued and then, corrective steps were not immediately taken even after the flaws and shortcomings were indicated.

The Court further said that in the cumulative effect, the faults and flaws lead to the position that the authorities concerned first of all owe an apology to the public at large and secondly, the authorities, who permitted such process to be taken up at all, need to be saddled with costs.

Later, through an affidavit, the Director of the department tendered apology.

"The shortcomings in the Notice Inviting Tender were not intentional and for which act of omission, I tender my sincere apology to the public on behalf of the government.

That I further beg to state that this omission is not intentional, willful and deliberate", the affidavit said.

(Agencies)

teachers. There is also a shortage of graduate teachers in elementary schools beyond class V. In these schools services of 8564 are required but there are currently 7111 teachers-a shortfall of 1453 teachers.

The minister also said that there is a shortage of teachers in 62 Madhyamik schools and 17 higher secondary schools . Senior officials of the school education department later said that since TET is a must for recruitment of teachers , the matter is timeconsuming. (Agencies)

GPRN winter session held at Hebron

Speaker Ashiho Asoumai addressing the house.

Dimapur, Dec 17: One-day Winter Session of the Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim (GPRN) was held on December 16 at Council Headquarters, Hebron.

In a press note MIP GPRN informed the session started with an obituary report by the defense kilonser 'lieut. gen.' (rtd)' NG. Markson, VC. Silent prayer was also observed in remembrance of the martyrs followed by the speech of the 'vice president gen (Rtd)' Kholi which was read-out by steering committee convener, Qhevihe Chishi Swu. Kholi in his message reiterated

that, "the political negotiation with the Government of India (GOI) is making positive progress and it is important that all Nagas must not lose sight of the final goal ahead of us."

According to MIP, Kholi reminded that adversaries were working hard to divide the Nagas and therefore cautioned the Nagas to be aware of the danger of self-destruction and to stand firm against all inimical forces.

In the chair of speaker Ashiho Asoumai, the house discussed thoroughly the presidential speech and various agendas of national importance. (Agencies)

Professor Gopal Murugeya.

Agartala, Dec 17: Responding to the clarion call made recently by the prime minister Narendra Modi the NIT , Agartala , only institute of national importance in the state, has taken a decisive step towards 'less cash' economic transactions. The institute has also organised a workshop for training shop-keepers, canteen owners and auto-rickshaw drivers in making cashless transactions to further the cause espoused by the central government.

Disclosing this in a pressnote the director of NIT,

Professor Gopal Mugeraya said that over the past several years the NIT has been insisting on and accepting payments by students in different disciplines on the electronic mode . 'The Institute even collects application fees eletronically to avoid cash transactions' said Professor Murugeya in his press note.

He said that currently the NIT campus has 70 shops, 4 canteens , a good number of green grocers besides 25 autorickshaws that ply to and from NIT

on a regular basis. 'These small businessmen and autorickshaw runners have been approached to make transactions by way of unified payment interface (UPI)' said Professor Gopal Murugeya. Recently, officers of local banks held an interactive session within NIT to familiarise businessmen, autorickshaw runners and other stake-holders with the mode of electronic payment. 'The stake-holders were convinced that their mobile phones were as good as liquid cash and it was demonstrated how the stake-holders could secure instant access to their bank accounts through mobile after every transaction' said Professor Gopal Murugeya.

He appealed to all in NIT to cultivate the habit of cashless transactions and learn the finer points of the technicalities involved. He expressed the hope that in the near future the NIT Agartala would be totally free from cash transactions. (Agencies)

HDR, Ardent left red-faced with council by-poll defeat Shillong/Nongstoin, Dec 17: The District Council by-election results came as an embarrassment to Home Minister H.D.R Lyngdoh, whose son was in the fray, and HSPDP chief Ardent Basaiawmoit.

Lyngdoh's son, Nathaniel Osbert Rymmai, and Basaiawmoit's nominee, Hubert Ford Riang, lost the race from Sohiong-Nongspung and Nongkrem, respectively.

HSPDP, however, had a facesaver with two new seats Sohiong-Nongspung constituency, won by Samlin Malniang after defeating HDR's son by 1,191 votes, and Mawthadraishan constituency, won by Blandingstar Warjri.

HSPDP's Malniang told reporters, "This victory is a mandate of the people that they wanted change. The people want to do away with money power."

Stressing on the need for a change in the electorate's mindset, he said, "People asked for money instead I said they do not need to vote. We need a change in this regard as we need a representative who does not hand out money to the voters."

In Nongkrem, former KHADC chief executive member H.S Shylla defeated HSPDP's Riang, who came third, by 1,975 votes. Congress' Lamborsing Nongrum was on the second spot.

"It is the end of Ardent Basaiawmoit's era. I stand on the foundation of truth and there was no strategy as such during the elections," Shylla said, adding that the defeat in the semi-final (council election) will eclipse the other candidates' performance in the finals (2018). The UDP leader had resisted the government's plan to extend MUDA to rural

NCP candidate Ricky Shullai celebrates his victory in the KHADC by-poll from Laban-Mawprem constituency in the city. areas.

He had also voiced concerns over the loopholes in the marriage act and called for amendments to the penalty clauses.

NCP managed to retain Laban-Mawprem as the race was close with 107-vote margin. Ricky Shullai credited his uncle Sanbor Shullai for his victory and vowed to follow in his footsteps and work hard in the next two years.

The BJP, however, could not live up to its big talks before the by-election.

The regional party KHNAM did not make any impact.

In another setback, the HSPDP MLA from RambraiJyrngam, K.P Pangniang, was left red-faced after his party candidate World Champion Paliar lost to Congress' Kimfa Sidney Marbaniang, a business tycoon. This is the lone seat in the KHADC that came into the Congress's kitty.

Marbaniang contested elections thrice in the past and lost one in the 2013 assembly election and in the 2014 KHADC

election. This time he won by a margin of 2,937 votes. He called his and the Congress's victory 'the beginning of a new era in the constituency".

"People of Rambrai are getting tired of regional parties, especially HSPDP, which have no hope in bringing development in Rambrai," JTS Thongni said during the celebration in Nongstoin.

The Congress also won the lone JHADC seat. Its candidate, Lamdibok Sumer, defeated Independent Losing Lakuna by 177 votes to win War East that was earlier represented by Independent member Stephanson Mukhim who was associated with Congress.

While UDP lost the PariongMawthadraishan seat, the party moved ahead in Mairang-Nongkhlaw, won

by Equator L. Nongrang though with a narrow margin of 70 votes.

Both Mawthadraishan and Mairang are represented in the Assembly by UDP's Brolding Nongsiej and Metbah Lyngdoh. (Agencies)

Noney, Pherzawl districts inaugurated Insurgents no longer enjoy mass support : Ibobi Imphal, Dec 17 : Insurgent groups operating in the State no longer enjoy mass support even though people could not express their objection out of fear, asserted Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.

He said this while speaking at the inaugural function of newly created Noney district held at Longmai Common Ground today.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister went to Pherzawl and inaugurated Pherzawl district in the presence of many Ministers and high ranking officials.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Forest and Environment Minister I Hemochandra, Hill Areas Committee Chairman Dr Chaltonlien Amo, DGP LM Khaute and many other high ranking officials were also present at the inaugural function.

There are many organisations which fret when the Government implements any development or welfare programme in any part of the State, said the Chief Minister.

Some of the insurgent groups which fought for independence at one point of time have now transformed themselves into ethno-exclusive insurgent groups, Ibobi remarked.

There are also many organisations based in the valley which cannot venture beyond Awang Sekmai in the North and Pallel in the South.

At the same time, many organisations based in the hills have been accusing the State Government of being communal. But one would definitely like to ask whether those organisations are not communal, Ibobi asserted.

The seven new districts were created for administrative convenience. None of these districts belong to a single community exclusively.

The State Government has been implementing several development in both the hills and valley of the district. But frequent disturbances by subversive elements have been impeding the development works particularly in hill areas.

"People no longer support in-

surgent groups. They would be completely isolated from the masses after sometime on account of their own activities", the Chief Minister stated.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam asserted that the Noney district is a gift of the Government to the people of Noney but the Government would never back off just because some elements have been opposing the same initiative.

The creation of seven new districts is the first step towards a slew of development programmes which would be implemented in the coming years.

Every community of the State has equal rights to all the resources of the State. All the people need to nurture a healthy habit of sharing and coexistence.

The creation of seven new districts was not done based on ethnography. All the people ought to be rejoicing over the creation of the new districts, Gaikhangam stated.

Commenting on attack launched by militants against

security forces at Noney yesterday, Gaikhangam stated that the security forces did not retaliate not because they were afraid of the militants. They (security forces) restrained themselves considering the collateral damages that might be done to innocent civilians.

The Deputy Chief Minister stated that he knew who and where the militants were given shelter. Such nexus would not bring any positive outcome.

Those insurgents neither know any theory of insurgency nor do they follow any principle.

Notably, a large number of security forces were deployed around Longmai Common Ground to thwart any untoward incident.

Stringent security measures were also put in place along Imphal-Noney road.

The inaugural function of Pherzawl district was graced by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Revenue, Forest and Environment Minister I Hemochandra, HAC Chairman and Tipaimukh AC MLA Dr Chaltonlien Amo and Parlia-

mentary Secretary (Horticulture and CADA) Vungzagin Valte as presidium members.

Churachandpur DC Lunminthang Haokip, Pherzawl DC A Tombikanta, Pherzawl SP Manimohan Singh and all key officials of the new district and high-level police officers too attended the function.

The Chief Minister speaking on the occasion said that Pherzawl district is not created for any particular community.

The seven new districts have been created for administrative convenience and to expedite uniform development across the hills and the valley.

Necessary manpower would be recruited for proper functioning of Pherzawl district administration. Recently, eight departments/offices were created for Pherzawl district like DC, SP, CMO, ZEO, etc, Ibobi stated.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam stressed on the growing need to being unity among different communities of the State. (Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

Today's quote You yourself, as much as any“body in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. – Gautam Buddha

Diminishing options before BCCI Equivocation before the Supreme Court can be

costly. Anurag Thakur, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, may have learnt this bitter lesson after the Chief Justice of India found him prima facie guilty of contempt of court and perjury.

The board's predicament is not only due to its reluctance to accept the reforms suggested by the courtappointed Justice Lodha Committee. It is also because of its president's ham-handed attempt to explain away his move to get the International Cricket Council to issue a letter to the effect that some judicial orders regarding the BCCI amounted to 'governmental interference'. Mr. Thakur allegedly approached ICC chairman Shashank Manohar in Dubai in August 2016 in connection with the court's July 18 order mandating that a nominee of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India should be on the BCCI's apex council. It is not surprising that the court took a dim view of the BCCI initially denying that such an attempt had been made to get the ICC involved. It was probably just as displeased with Mr. Thakur going on to file an affidavit that he had only wanted Mr. Manohar to give his opinion on the issue as a former BCCI president. Mr. Thakur would have been better off admitting what happened, given that Mr. Manohar has disclosed that the BCCI president had indeed asked him for such a letter.

Mr. Thakur being rendered liable for prosecution for perjury is not the only consequence; the current BCCI office-bearers may lose their control over the board. The Bench headed by the Chief Justice is already in a mood to appoint some observers, based on a suggestion by the Lodha Committee, to oversee the BCCI's affairs. The BCCI has allowed an impression to gain ground that its attitude towards reforms is one of defiance and obstruction. So far the cricket body has been maintaining that it cannot force its State-level affiliates to accept all the new norms. The BCCI could have avoided a direct confrontation by committing itself more plainly to abide by the court verdict. The BCCI's reputation as a responsible sports administrator is under strain not because of any shortcoming in its management of the cricketing aspects of the game, but its seeming intransigence in embracing reforms aimed at bringing about transparency in its functioning. Any order convicting the BCCI president for perjury or holding its top functionaries guilty of contempt of court would severely damage the institution. An apology from Mr. Thakur, and the BCCI's wholehearted acceptance of the Lodha Committee reforms, seem the only way out.

Decoding the Fed's signals T

he U.S. Federal Reserve's widely anticipated decision to resume its course of normalisation of monetary policy by raising the benchmark Federal Funds rate by one-quarter of a percentage point has unequivocally signalled that the world's largest economy is well and truly back on track. Fed Chair Janet Yellen has said the U.S. central bank now expects the economy to "continue to perform well". The median projection of real gross domestic product growth among the Federal Open Market Committee's participants is for the expansion to accelerate to 2.1 per cent in 2017, from 1.9 per cent this year. This bodes well for the world economy as an improvement in demand for goods and services in one of the biggest markets will potentially spur economic activity all over. That the improvement in momentum has been accompanied by "solid" job gains and moderate increases in household spending is particularly heartening since personal consumption undergirds overall demand in the U.S. The Fed has also stated that it expects future interest rate increases to be gradual.

The median projection for the funds rate at the end of 2017 is estimated at 1.4 per cent, indicating at most another 3 to 4 quarter point moves over the next 12 months. Such a calibrated approach to policy normalisation will allow international markets time to reset investment weights and priorities, while ensuring that the domestic momentum doesn't unravel. And with indications that Donald Trump's administration may unveil policies to bolster domestic economic activity, the prospects for the U.S. economy appear sanguine as of now.

From an Indian perspective, however, there are attendant risks from the Fed's policy normalisation. For one, the dollar's strengthening trend against most major currencies and the rupee have begun to push up India's bill for imports - a large share of which does not lend itself to substitution - and widen the trade deficit. Latest trade data show India's import costs in rupee terms climbed 13 per cent in November while the value in dollar terms rose 10.4 per cent, in a clear reflection of the impact of the dollar's appreciation. Also, the very same improvement in U.S. economic outlook that could lend a glint of anticipation to Indian exporters has already been a factor in spurring an exodus of portfolio investment capital from emerging markets, including India, and inflows back into the home market. And with the U.S. President-elect resorting to protectionist rhetoric, Indian companies, especially exporters of software services, are likely to remain on tenterhooks till clarity emerges on the administration's policy road map. For the moment, all optimism stemming from the strengthening U.S. economy will need to be tempered with caution.

EDITORIAL P6 Migration may contribute to sustainable economic growth Ranjan K Baruah Due to poverty people search for better livelihood opportunity and one word that comes to our mind in this regard is migration.

Throughout human history, migration has been a courageous expression of the individual's will to overcome adversity and to live a better life. Thought this may be in a legal way or illegal way migration has been there since ages. People from poor country try to move out to other countries in search of better opportunity and there are always controversies related to illegal migration. In Assam, we have seen migration from neighboring countries.

Today, globalization, together with advances in communications and transportation, has greatly increased the number of people who have the desire and the capacity to move to other places.

The term migration may have different definitions in different countries. It might be confusing some time as the definition according to UN convention may not fit everywhere. The term mi-

grant can be understood as "any person who lives temporarily or permanently in a country where he or she was not born, and has acquired some significant social ties to this country."

However, this may be a too narrow definition when considering that, according to some states' policies; a person can be considered as a migrant even when s/he is born in the country.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Migrants defines a migrant worker as a "person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national."

But when it comes to India we often use the term migrant or migrant labour when a person from one state moves to another in search of livelihoods.

According to International Migration Report 2015 the number of international migrants worldwide has continued to grow rapidly over the past fifteen years reaching 244 million in 2015, up from 222 million in 2010 and 173 million in 2000.Nearly two thirds of all international migrants live in Europe (76 million) or Asia (75 million).

Northern America hosted the third largest number of international migrants (54 million), followed by Africa (21 million), Latin America and the Caribbean (9 million) and Oceania (8 million).

The largest number of international migrants (47 million) resided in the United States of America, equal to about a fifth (19 per cent) of the world's total. Germany and the Russian Federation

hosted the second and third largest numbers of migrants worldwide (12 million each), followed by Saudi Arabia (10 million). Women comprise slightly less than half of all international migrants. The share of female migrants fell from 49 per cent in 2000 to 48 per cent in 2015.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development not only includes several migration-related targets, but also

encourages countries to disaggregate targets by, inter alia, migratory status. It recognises the positive contribution of migrants for inclusive growth and sustainable development. It further recognises that international migration is a multidimensional reality of major relevance for the development of countries of origin, transit and destination, which requires coherent and comprehensive responses. International cooperation is critical to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration involving full respect for human rights and the humane treatment of migrants and refugees.

On 4 December 2000, the General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18 December International Migrants Day (A/ RES/55/93). On that day, in 1990, the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (A/RES/45/158).

This day is observed in many countries, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations through the dis-

semination of information on human rights and fundamental political freedoms of migrants, and through sharing of experiences and the design of actions to ensure the protection of migrants.

Many advanced and dynamic economies need migrant workers to fill jobs that cannot be outsourced and that do not find local workers willing to take them at going wages. On the other some countries have the challenge of employment in spite of having human resources.

Young generation tend to go out and work for better employment opportunity. International migrants are usually drawn from middle-income households. There might be action against illegal migrants but migration leads to many developments. Migration with choice and informed decision is always welcome but proper information might lead to problem as out migration without proper information might create problem.

There is no doubt that migration may contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic development.

(With inputs from UN publication and feedback may be sent to bkranjan @gmail.com)

Mapping the American mind Krishna Kumar Given America's centrality in many areas of knowledge, its own crisis in the Trump era will have an impact on other national systems of education Donald Trump's victory has unnerved a vast number of people around the world. It has jolted the common belief that education makes a contribution to the efficiency of democracy. One of the many positive stereotypes of America is that it has a very good system of public education. The reason America attracts some of the best students from other countries to study in its colleges and universities is that the quality of education they provide is believed to be very high. In school education too, the impression persists that America offers an equal opportunity to everyone to excel. These impressions are hard to accommodate with the decision America has taken to choose a man like Mr. Trump to lead and represent it.

Anyone who watched the three presidential debates will have difficulty forgetting the clumsy arguments and crude masculinity Hillary Clinton had to face repeatedly in these debates.

Not only did Mr. Trump's arguments and plans make little sense, they also exhibited a remarkable lack of sensibility. You couldn't help wondering how anyone could take him seriously or not be worried about the health of a system that had permitted him to get this far.

Even after the victory, he continues to come across as reckless, confused and ignorant, making outrageous

promises and raising frightening phantoms. His ascendance has unsettled the minds of millions of people, especially young people, who see America as a symbol of democracy and progress. Will the oath mean anything to him? This question will haunt us throughout his presidency.

Era of American remedies It is worth asking whether Mr. Trump's candidature and victory signify something that had gone horribly wrong with America's democracy, especially its system of education. Such a question is especially relevant for us because we are passing through a phase in our polity when many key ideas and projects are being borrowed from America.

Indeed, several policies presented to us as innovations are recycled American coinages. Copiously exposed as we now are to American remedies in every sector from economy and personal finance to education - we need to reflect on Trump's rise to power, not just come to terms with it.

Progress and struggle Let us briefly revisit two influential American books on education, one published in the first quarter of the 20th century and the other in its last quarter. John Dewey's classic, Democracy and Education, was first published in 1916. In it, Dewey explained why communication across groups is a core challenge for democratic order. Dewey's use of endosmosis as a metaphor for interactive relations between diverse social groups fascinated B.R. Ambedkar (who studied at Columbia when Dewey was teaching there). Endosmosis refers, in biology, to the flow of

fluid through a membrane which acts like a porous separator. Dewey saw in commonality of educational experience the means that would enable citizens to practise individual freedom while contributing to collective efficiency. Quality of education, for Dewey, is a measure of the extent to which social goals are debated and grasped by different social groups. No wonder Dewey believed that democracy could be sustained as a system of governance only if it also becomes a way of life. Did that happen in America? Did its system of education nurture commonality of purpose in an atmosphere of freedom and critical inquiry?

Mr. Trump's victory points to a negative answer to both these questions. The America he leads is a divided nation. Although a literate nation, it is badly short of words to soften its internal divisions. No one illustrates this problem better than Mr. Trump himself has during his long, bitter campaign. As it progressed, the gap between ethnic groups, factions and lobbies grew in width and sharpness. The gap that reveals the deficit of words most clearly is the one over gun laws. The outgoing President, Barack Obama, routinely conveyed his despair over gun laws and the culture of violence they represent. He used every mass shooting incident that occurred during his presidency to remind Americans that violence is not compatible with democracy.

As America's first AfricanAmerican President, he had reason to feel convinced that guns are so dear to people because they live in

Every bucket counts Once day, having learned that the King of Fez was hunting lions in the neighbourhood, they decided to invite him and his court, and killed a number of sheep in his honour. The sovereign had dinner and went to bed. Wishing to show their generosity, they placed a huge goatskin bottle before his door and agreed to fill it up with milk for the royal breakfast.

The villagers all had to milk their goats and then each of them had to tip his bucket into the container.

Given its great size, each of them said to himself that he might just as well dilute his milk with a good quantity of water without anyone noticing.

To the extent that, in the morning, such a thin liquid was poured out for the king and his court that it had no taste than the taste of meanness and greed.

an ethos of hatred and fear.

Mr. Trump's support for America's liberal gun laws is not merely a political gesture. It signifies the conviction that dark instincts should be firmly protected from educationally disseminated rationality.

The progressive philosophy of education Dewey and his followers promoted made a considerable impact on the American system, but it also aroused fierce reaction. In effect, there have been two Americas fighting on just about every detail of life in schools.

The contest between the two has grown in intensity since the 1980s. Progressive pedagogues wanted greater child-centredness, inclusive classrooms, and academically rigorous training courses for teachers.

Those opposed to such measures pushed for frequent testing, nominal training for teachers and exclusive schools for those who could pay. Ronald Reagan's presidency that lasted through the 1980s marked the ascent of an alliance between neo-liberalism in economic and anti-progressivism in social policy.

American education lost the momentum it had developed for democratising the system. By the time Mr. Obama came on the scene, neo-liberal assertions had become the norm. Indeed, Mr. Obama's administration did little to challenge these norms. The richer strata of American society had withdrawn their children from state schools where life had become so violent that teachers could not expect to function without security at hand. A vast number of experienced teachers left the system in frustration. Ca-

sual appointees and paid volunteers of various kinds, with minimalist, mechanical training, took over. Aims of education shrunk, and the role of learning in shaping sensibility and outlook lost relevance. A new, brazen world of voters, who didn't mind Mr. Trump's appeal to the baser instincts, was getting ready to display its nerve.

Bloom's despair The other book that helps us grasp the implications of Mr. Trump's victory is Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind which was published in 1987. In this grimly critical work, Bloom argued that higher education had failed America's democratic dream. Bloom criticised the growing use of higher education for attaining superficial material goals and for imparting knowledge devoid of perspective and ethical depth. Unfortunately, the history of education offers far too many examples of unheeded alarm bells.

Bloom's warning got lost in controversy over his espousal of intellectually enriching pedagogy. His book was published in the Reagan era when trivialisation of educational aims had become fashionable. This trend became increasingly shrill in the 1990s with the takeover of centre space by neo-liberal ideologues. Bloom's apprehension that malnourished minds would make poor choices has now proved to be true. With Mr. Trump's victory, 'closing of the American mind' has come to pass.

America must now cope with an era of steep regression in its capacity to focus on educational recovery.

Implications for India

Educational policy during Mr. Trump's presidency will move in predictable directions. We can anticipate greater segregation and discrimination, voucher-based support for private schooling, and use of curriculum for justifying hatred and bigotry.

Historically, America's ethos provided a fertile ground for social Darwinistic ideals that legitimise the winner's claim to power and pity for the loser. In a society where racially motivated violence has proved resistant to law and education, the ideology of social Darwinism tends to serve as a cover for orthodoxy, misogyny and xenophobia. During the coming years, we can expect speedier closing of the mind and public spaces.

Given America's centrality and authority in many areas of knowledge, its own crisis in the Trump era will have an impact on other national systems of education. The remedies that Mr. Trump's administration is likely to use to push the system of education more comprehensively towards the market will strengthen like-minded forces in countries like India where neoliberal policies have already bitten into the vitals of the education system. The state's neglect of higher education has created an ominous vacuum, marked by contempt for ideas and freedom of expression on the one hand and advocacy of consumable knowledge merchandise on the other.

Our institutions of higher learning are reeling under the burden of transplanted ideas and practices. During the impending Trump era, we must watch out for further transplants.

Demonetisation narrative While switching over to the digital mode in terms of financial transactions is welcome, it is unfortunate that the government is now trying to cash in on people's weaknesses by announcing periodical lucky dips worth crores in order to promote digital payments Instead, such amounts can be spent imparting digital education to the needy. For the success of any programme, a government should rely on awareness and work culture of people rather than misleading them by promising them a fortune or a windfall. Today's sufferings on account of demonetisation could have been averted had the government well thought out its plan.

Khirod Baruah Moran, Assam

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

OP-ED

P7 You need to go back to school to relearn English Lennox Morrison

Until seven years ago, Chicago-born Ben Barron had worked only with fellow Americans.

But when he took a job with Zurich Insurance Company, an international company headquartered in Switzerland, Barron found that his new colleagues across Europe, who used English as a shared language, had difficulty understanding him.

"Fortunately I was surrounded by people who would stop and say things like, 'So what do you mean by that?' and make me clarify," he recalls.

"So I started to become aware of some of my own verbal communication habits that might lead to misunderstandings."

After taking an in-company e-learning course to help native English speakers communicate better with non-native speakers, Barron slowed down his pace of speaking and edited his "American speak" to avoid jargon and idioms that don't translate globally.

"That e-learning exposed me to the thought that maybe people could not process my verbal information as quickly as I thought they were," says

Barron, who is now the company's senior learning and development consultant for international operations, in Schaumberg, Illinois.

"Another takeaway was avoiding the use of sayings," he says. "For example, a saying like 'That dog don't hunt' which means 'That's probably not that good of an idea'.

That's a very southern American saying that people didn't understand."

He also filtered out references to baseball and football and changed his writing style. Instead of contractions like 'can't', 'don't' and 'doesn't', he writes the phrases out in full.

Barron is one of a small but growing number of native English speakers recalibrating how he uses his mother tongue.

Turning the tables With non-native English speakers now vastly outnumbering native speakers, it's up to the latter to be more adaptable, says Neil Shaw, intercultural fluency lead at the British Council, the UK's international educational and cultural body. About 1.75 billion people worldwide speak English at a useful level, and by 2020

it's expected to be two billion, according to the British Council.

In the Council's new intercultural fluency courses launched in September, native English speakers in countries from Singapore to South Africa have been prompted to rethink how they communicate. "It's a bit of a revelation to many of them that their English isn't as clear and effective as they think it is," Shaw says.

Increasingly, English is being used as a lingua franca. "It's not an exotic thing anymore to be working in a global, virtual team," says Robert Gibson, an intercultural consultant based in Munich, Germany. "It's everyday life for many people and it's quite stressful and difficult."

It can be a culture shock for native speakers to encounter new varieties of English.

"The English language is changing quite radically," says Gibson. "The trend is not to have one or two clear standard Englishes like American English and British English, but to have a lot of different types of English."

Chinese English, known as chinglish, and German English, called denglish, are examples, he says.

"English is also developing within organisations.

In companies, they have their own style of English which is not necessarily understood by native speakers. We are getting away from saying that there is a standard English you need to conform to [towards] saying that there are different standards of English for different situations."

A native-speaker disadvantage Mother-tongue English may not even be an advantage anymore, says Dr Dominic Watt,

sociolinguistics expert at the University of York in the UK. "It's not necessarily in your interests to be a native speaker of English because you haven't had to go through the same learning process that the non-natives have. So they're all on the same page and it's the native speakers who are the odd ones out," Watt says.

At the European Parliament, for instance, nonnative speakers complain to the Anglophones, "Can't you just speak English like the rest of us

Why Children of Men has never been as shocking as it is now Nothing goes out of date more quickly than films set in the future. Bigscreen visions of tomorrow always reflect the era in which they were made - hence the disco outfits in Flash Gordon.

Most soon become quaint relics rather than uncanny prophecies of the shape of things to come. But then, on the other hand, there is Children of Men. Alfonso Cuarón's feverish dystopian chase thriller is set in a decade's time, in 2027, but it also came out a decade ago. By now, we should be chuckling at how far offtarget its predictions were, both in their overall picture and their background minutiae. Instead, it's tempting to ask whether Cuarón had access to a crystal ball.

Children of Men is one of the most acclaimed films of recent times: BBC Culture's poll of international critics placed it as the 13th best film of the 21st Century. Partly, that's because of the shocking immersive style of its brilliantly choreographed action sequences, which were shot in long unbroken takes. It's also because of how believable its depiction of a cluttered and grimy near-future was, but if Children of Men seemed accurate 10 years ago, it seems a lot more accurate today.

Very loosely based on a 1992 novel by the great crime author, PD James, the film tells the story of Theo (Clive Owen), a civil servant who used to be a political activist, but who now trudges through life in an alcoholic stupor.

His radical spirit is rekindled when he is contacted or rather kidnapped by his long-lost love, Julian (Julianne Moore), the leader of an

anti-government resistance movement. She asks him for a set of "transit papers", thus setting him on a path which will lead either to his redemption, or his death or both. If the plot harks back to two classic fictions of the 1940s, Casablanca and Nineteen Eighty-Four, the setting is breathtakingly contemporary. Cuarón doesn't use captions or speeches to explain what has happened to civilisation, but, judging by the old newspapers we glimpse, society has been rocked by climate change, pollution, nuclear accidents, social division, and terrorist bombings.

Nevertheless, all of Britain's troubles have been blamed on asylum seekers, who are locked in cages, and then bussed to hellish shanty towns.

"Poor fugees," says Theo's hippy friend Jasper (Michael Caine).

"After escaping the worst atrocities, and making it all the way to England, our government hunts them down like cockroaches."

The blame game Ring any bells? Mass migration was a major issue in 2006, so it's not surprising that it should be so central to Children of Men. But, a decade ago, no one had predicted the Syrian refugee crisis, or that the US's President-elect would propose registering Muslims, or that the UK would vote to leave the European Union after a campaign that focused on immigrant numbers. Today, it's hard to watch the television news headlines in Children of Men without gasping at their prescience: "The Muslim community demands an end to the army's occupation of mosques." "The

homeland security bill is ratified. After eight years, British borders will remain closed. The deportation of illegal immigrants will continue."

In 2006, all of this seemed plausible enough, but perhaps a little strident, a little over-the-top. Politics aside, the reason why Children of Men has barely aged in 10 years is that Cuarón didn't put his characters in an outlandishly artificial landscape, but in an essentially familiar one. "Rule one in the film is recognisability," Cuarón explained in a making-of documentary. "We didn't want to do Blade Runner. Actually, we talked about being the antiBlade Runner in the sense of how we were approaching reality.

That was difficult for the art department because I would say, 'I don't want inventiveness, I want references to real life.'" The "anti-Blade Runner" comment is slightly harsh, in that the rain-washed, multicu ltural metropolis of Ridley Scott's film, which is set in 2019, holds up better than most future cities. But you can see what Cuarón means.

Children of Men doesn't have any androids or spacecraft. The sparse futuristic embellishments, such as the video billboards, are already moving from sciencefiction to science-fact.

The film's battered cars may be different from ours, but they don't hover above the road, and they don't have the neon lights or the humming engine noise that are sci-fi staples. The clothing in Children of Men is much the same as it is now, too. In most respects, the film's world resembles the worlds of

2006 and of 2016, only shabbier. My own favourite detail is Theo's faded London 2012 Olympics sweatshirt, even if the logo created by the film's costume designers is classier than the atrocity which was used for the actual 2012 Games.

Back to reality Among the period details, the one blatant departure from reality works in the film's favour: in Children of Men, no one uses mobile phones or logs onto the internet. It's impossible to believe that that will be true in 2027, but because smartphone technology advances so rapidly, any phones which appear in a science-fiction film are always distractingly notquite-right. By missing them out altogether, the film seems less dated, not more. But Cuarón's most effective decision was to shoot so many scenes on the streets of London, without adding much except graffiti, litter and all-round squalor.

(And, speaking as a Londoner, I haven't noticed the capital getting any cleaner over the past decade.) This decision pays dividends in the nervejangling bomb blast sequence which opens the film. The scene was shot on Fleet Street in central London, with St Paul's Cathedral visible in the distance. In 2006, it was an astonishing logistical achievement. If the same sequence were being shot today, it would probably be conjured up on a computer instead.

But while digital backdrops tend to look artificial with a few years' hindsight, the explosion at the start of Children of Men is still horribly credible. The one aspect of the film that doesn't seem

to be coming true is its central premise. The idea is that no human beings have been born in the last 18 years, so when Theo meets Kee, an African woman who is miraculously pregnant, he has to protect her from the various groups who want to exploit her condition. Obviously, we know that this infertility pandemic hasn't happened: in Children of Men, the youngest person on the planet was born in 2009. But even as a concept, this particular one doesn't resonate with our current anxieties, because overpopulation is more worrying than population decline.

Deliberately vague about how Kee's pregnancy can change the fate of the human race, Cuarón presents her as a fuzzy symbol of hope rather than as an individual who might have a significant effect on geopolitics.

Whenever the film is about her, then, it stops being a vivid dispatch from the imminent future, and starts being a mystical sci-fi parable.

But maybe that's for the best. The rest of Children of Men is so uncomfortably close to reality that its one glimmer of fantasy comes as something of a relief.

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do!", says Watt. "The power balance has shifted a bit by sheer virtue of numbers."

Gradually, native speakers are realising that something is going wrong with the way they're communicating, says Cathy Wellings, director of the London School of International Communication in the UK. "People are presenting to a non-native speaker audience and they realise that it isn't going across as well as at home, or they're great negotiators at home but they don't

end up winning the deals when they take it overseas," she says.

Monolingual English speakers have no insight into the challenges faced by non-native speakers.

"One of the things I always reinforce with native speakers is that the cognitive load of operating in another language is high, it's tough and tiring, so if we native speakers can help them out it's going to make it easier," Wellings adds.

When it comes to English grammar, learners often outshine native speakers.

"In written business communication courses with mixed groups, the Brits can be quite sheepish that they don't know the grammar that non-native speakers do," she says.

Slow down and shut up The most useful change native speakers can make is to slow down their speech, says Bob Dignen, director and owner of UK-based York Associates, the international communications training provider that created Zurich Insurance's e-learning course, English for the Native Speaker.

Native speakers on average speak 250 words per minute, while the average intermediate non-native speaker is comfortable

with around 150 words per minute, Dignen explains. "To speak at a slower speed is a behavioural competence that can take six to 12 months to master. Actors learn these skills - to control speech, increase the length of pause," says Dignen. "You can kind of train by just recording yourself on a mobile phone as you speak to somebody and then play that back and try to control your speech until you're speaking at 150 words per minute."

Articulation is also important, he says. "Instead of 'I will' we tend to say 'I'll' and then in fast speech we don't even say that we say 'ull'. Begin to noncontract and say 'I will' and 'I am' rather than 'I'll' and 'I'm' and you can make yourself more intelligible."

Monolinguals tend to use a communication style that leads "unwittingly to the marginalisation of the non-native speaker in conversation," he says.

"It leads to dominance in terms of talking time with the monolingual speaking more than the non-native speaker."

"Shutting up and asking more questions is what I counsel native speakers to do. It makes a huge, huge difference."

Trafficked babies, black money and India's values We all know that the price of something doesn't always indicate its true value, but prices can still be very revealing.

Two very different sets of prices demonstrate that in India this week.

One lays bare with ice-cold precision the profound prejudices that still exist here, the other is powerful evidence that the government's dramatic attempt to root out tax evasion by cancelling the nation's cash will not work.

Let's take the most shocking first, the price of babies.

Last week I travelled to Kolkata (Calcutta) to report on a childtrafficking ring the police in West Bengal have just cracked.

The illegal adoption racket included doctors, nurses and charity workers.

The gang would persuade young women with unwanted pregnancies to sell them their babies. They would then sell them on to childless couples.

Allegedly they also stole babies. We met one of a number of couples that say they gave birth to seemingly healthy children, only to be told later that their children had died.

Ananya Chakraborti, of the West Bengal Commission for Child Rights, the state body charged with child protection, is working with the police on the investigation.

She says the scam could have been running for as long as 20 years and may have involved as many as 2,000 babies.

But in amongst all the horrific details of the case, the prices the traffickers charged stood out, so eloquent are they of the deep prejudices that still exist in some parts of Indian society.

The full picture of what happened is still emerging and estimates of prices vary wildly, but what is clear is that there was a hierarchy.

Fair-skinned boys were most expensive.

Prospective parents might pay as much as Rs700,000 (£8,200), according to the po-

lice.

Meanwhile, a boy with a dark complexion would fetch maybe half that.

Press reports suggest that the gang would charge about Rs150,000 (£1,760) for a fairskinned girl.

The price of a baby girl with a dark complexion was reportedly up to Rs100,000 (£1,170).

However, in a room above a small mental hospital in a scruffy Kolkata suburb, police found 10 infants aged between one month and 10 months.

Many had bedsores and terrible coughs. Most were malnourished.

All of them were dark-skinned and female.

"Those were the babies they couldn't sell," says Ananya Chakraborti.

The second price has less unpleasant implications, but carries an important message too: it is the price of money.

A month ago, the Indian prime minister gave four hours' notice that he was cancelling 86% of the country's cash.

Narendra Modi announced that from midnight on 8 November the two biggest notes in the country, the Rs500 (£6) and the Rs1000 (£12), would be worthless.

He issued a new Rs500 and a Rs2000 (£24) note and gave the country 50 days to change their old money, warning if you deposit more than Rs250,000 (£3,000) in your account you should expect a visit from the tax authorities.

His target is what Indians call "black money" - cash on which no tax has been paid.

I've argued that it is a bold attempt to tackle tax evasion, but now I'm not so sure it is going to work.

There is little doubt Mr Modi has been winning the political battle.

Last week, a few thousand protestors turned out for

what the opposition had initially billed as a "bandh" - a shutdown of the entire country.

Whether he will make a substantial dent in India's stocks of black money is another matter.

According to most estimates, black money makes up about a fifth of the Indian economy.

The government has taken some Rs14.7trillion (£170bn) out of circulation and at first estimated that as much as Rs3trillion (£40bn) would not be returned.

That is now looking like a dramatic overestimate.

Which is where the price of money comes in.

The current cost of laundering black money to white is reckoned to be about Rs300 (£4) in every Rs1000 - 30% of face value.

It seems gangs have been recruiting people with "Jan Dhan" accounts - bank accounts designed for poor people - and getting them to change the cash.

The 30% charge represents a substantial "tax" on black money but implies that most people will find a way to launder their illegal cash.

And it suggests the bulk of the demonetised notes will be returned - as the country's revenue secretary conceded this week.

That is a real problem for Mr Modi because if that happens it will be hard to claim that much black money has been wiped out - the key objective of what has been an incredibly disruptive policy.

These two different prices tell us very different things about India, but they both confirm that markets can often deliver uncomfortable truths.

By Justin Rowlatt (South Asia correspondent for BBC)

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

Vadra land deal issue: Cong alleges vendetta by BJP New Delhi, Dec 17: As the issue of Robert Vadra's controversial land deals haunted the Congress again, the party today termed as "vendetta and witch-hunt" the summoning of a company linked to the son-in-law of its president Sonia Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate.

anything," he claimed.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala claimed officials of Skylight hospitality have visited ED numerous times and supplied them whatever documents required but they have not been able to find anything either against Vadra or his company or associates.

The order came after the company representative had moved the high court challenging the summons issued by the ED to him earlier this year in connection with a land deal in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

"As part of further vendetta and witch-hunt, BJP government proceeded to refer the matter to ED. Even ED has not been able to find

The reaction came after the Rajasthan High Court ordered last evening that the representative of Skylight Hospitality will have to appear before ED but allowed the presence of his lawyer "at a reasonable distance" during questioning.

Congress claimed that the company has been given "appropriate relief" by the court.

"On account of consistent harassment and persecution, a petition for quashing was filed in which ap-

propriate relief has been given to skylight.

"This is one more instance of venal vendetta and severe campaign that BJP continues to unleash guided by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi," Surjewala said.

He claimed Skylight hospitality has supplied every document asked by it right "from inception of company as also completely unrelated things on purchase of land".

He also claimed that the land of Mahajan Firing Range was allotted by BJP government in its last tenure when Vasundhara Raje was the Chief Minister.

That land was sold twice during the tenure of BJP government and all mutations have been properly

entered.

Out of this land, an extremely small portion was purchased by Skylight, which is a third buyer, he said.

This lease was finally cancelled as wrongfully allotment by the current BJP government of Vasundhara Raje, he said, adding that two years ago an FIR was lodged by Rajastan Police after investigation.

"The challan has been presented. Neither Robert Vadra nor Skylight, nor anyone associated with him is an accused in the case," he said.

However, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal, who hails from Rajasthan, said, "The law will do its job. I just want to say if a common man would

have liked to buy those lands, I am sure they wouldn't be allowed to do so."

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Whenever there is been an attack on BJP on their misdoings, they just say 'this has happened', and 'that had happened.' They are enquiring about it (Vadra) for so many years why are they not able to find anything?."

The (ED) had issued the notice to the firm under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The probe is related to the purchase of 275 bigha land allegedly by the company in the Kolayat area of the border town of Bikaner in Rajasthan.

(PTI)

AIADMK leaders enquire about Karuna's health in hospital Chennai, Dec 17: In a first such gesture in recent years, AIADMK leaders M Thambidurai and D Jayakumar today visited Kauvery Hospital here where DMK chief Karunanidhi is undergoing treatment and enquired about the health of the nonagenarian leader.

nor any AIADMK leader has in the past about two decades ever visited Karunanidhi or other leaders of his party.

Both AIADMK and DMK leaders have not greeted each other in public functions either in recent history.

"We were told that he (Karunanidhi) is well and that is a happy news," Thambidurai, who is also the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker, said.

Flanked by State Fisheries Minister Jayakumar, he said they spoke to DMK functionaries, former Ministers, MLAs, Karunanidhi's wife Rajathi Ammal and his daughter Kanimozhi about the hospitalised leader's health.

Quoting the DMK functionaries and family,

DMK chief Karunanidhi Thambidurai said the DMK chief was getting well.

"We conveyed our wishes for his speedy recovery and for him to return home soon," he told reporters here.

He said they visited the hospital on behalf of the AIADMK and "Chinnamma (Sasikala) who is set to lead us".

The visit assumes significance as neither former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa

Even during Karunanidhi's previous spell of hospitalisation early this month or in 2009, when the DMK chief was in a hospital for weeks for a surgery, no AIADMK leader visited or enquired about his health, an indication of the bitterness between the ruling party and arch rival DMK. DMK treasurer Stalin visited Apollo Hospitals twice during Jayalalithaa's recent prolonged hospitalisation and he also led a battery of his party MLAs and placed

a wreath on the body of Amma at Rajaji Hall here.

When AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran was Chief Minister between 1977 and 1987, the bitterness between his party and the DMK was however not so intense.

Despite sharp differences and rivalry, both MGR and Karunandihi had a smooth personal equation and they were known to exchange greetings in functions and had even travelled together.

Meanwhile, former Union Minister P Chidambaram said, "I pray that he (Karunanidhi) gets well soon. I believe that he will fully recover." He said the DMK chief was being given good treatment and expressed confidence that the nonagenarian leader will soon return home.

(PTI)

11 Oppn MLAs suspended Atanu, Bombayla from Telangana Assembly want more tourneys Hyderabad, Dec 17: Nearly a dozen members of the Congress and TDP were today suspended from the Telangana Legislative Assembly over their demand for debate on defection of Opposition MLAs into ruling TRS.

suspension, Congress MLA M Bhatti Vikramarka alleged that their suspension and alleged defection of Opposition members into TRS was against principles of democracy.

The suspension of nine Congress and two TDP MLAs for the day came as the Opposition members entered the well of the house.

The ruling TRS MLA G Suneetha told reporters that the Congress members tried to stall the House as they did not want the good work being done by the government to be discussed in the House.

Talking to reporters after

It was decided to take up

any adjournment motion after Question Hour but Congress members tried to stall the proceedings, she said.

Congress and TDP adopted double standards on defection as Opposition YSR Congress members have joined the ruling TDP in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh now and Opposition members were admitted into Congress when Y S Rajasekhar Reddy was Chief Minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh, she alleged. (PTI)

2016 saw Mamata's focus shift to Delhi Kolkata, Dec 17 : Mamata Banerjee emerged as the top newsmaker of 2016 in West Bengal leading Trinamool Congress to a thumping victory in the assembly polls and later on positioning herself in the forefront of the anti-Modi crusade on the demonetisation issue.

The state government also scored a major victory in the Supreme Court which termed as "illegal and void" the acquisition of land in Singur by the previous Left Front regime for Tata Motors' Nano car project by ordering restoration of the land to the farmers.

Banerjee described the apex court ruling as a "landmark victory" for her party.

The year also witnessed the collapse of the under- construction Vivekananda road

flyover in which over 20 people lost their lives. The incident led to political mudslinging with TMC chief putting the blame on the previous LF government. The state also saw a slugfest between TMC and the foe- turned-friend Congress and the CPI(M)-led Left Front during the assembly poll.

Raising Narada sting operation and Saradha scam issues, the Congress-Left combine tried to put up a tough fight but TMC had managed to capture 211 seats in the 294-member assembly. The BJP played a spoilsport for the Congress and Left alliance, which ended up with a meagre 76 seats. The BJP opened its account by wining three seats.

Maintaining its winning

P8

NATION

spree, TMC also recorded victories in the by-election to two Lok Sabha and one assembly seat in the state.

Having the main Opposition parties decimated in Bengal, Banerjee chose to play a bigger role in national politics ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing the decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8, Banerjee was the first to go all out against the decision terming it "anti-people" and "financial emergency" in the country.

Political observers say the demonetisation issue gave Banerjee a much-awaited opportunity to try her luck in playing a major role in national politics with a view on the 2019 elections. (PTI)

for Indian archers Navi Mumbai, Dec 17 Ace India archers Atanu Das and L Bombayla Devi today said that they need more exposure in order to win medals at tournaments like Olympics.

"There is a difference in practising and playing in an actual tournament, where there is wind while playing, it causes problems. We were confused, from which side the wind was coming and were not able to understand at the main ground (at the venue in Rio Olympics)," said Bombayla.

Atanu added: "I had practised in wind, in rains. I gave my 100 per cent but did not succeed (in winning a medal at Rio). (To win a medal), we need to play more tournaments. The more we play, this thing (not winning medals) will not happen.

"To overcome these, we need to play more national

and international tournaments, more league matches for Olympics."

The duo graced the Sports for All initiative, which is going on at the Dr D Y Patil Sports stadium here.

"We are compared us with the foreigners, they play lot more matches, they have more sponsors. They start from childhood. In Korea, you will find 1000 archers in a school and they get facilities," Atanu added.

Bombayla said that the budding arches were not getting enough exposure and facilities.

"In every state, there should be academy for all sports and facilities should be given. Also competitions should be held across the country," said Bombayla. Atanu admitted that the facilities have improved in the country but need to get better. (PTI)

Rahul calls on Karunanidhi, says DMK chief is doing well Chennai, Dec 17: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday called on DMK patriarch Karunanidhi, who is undergoing treatment for lung and throat infection at a private hospital here, and said the leader was doing well "I just met him; I wanted to personally wish him a speedy recovery. I was very happy to see that he is doing well and the doctors told me that he is going to go home pretty soon and that is good news," he told reporters Flanked by senior party leaders including Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Su Thirunavukkarasar and DMK treasurer M K Stalin, he hailed Karuananidhi as a "leader of the Tamil people, leader of Tamil Nadu, so I thought I would come and wish him personally."

To a query, he said, "Yes I met him (Karunanidhi), I said hello to him and he is doing well hopefully he will be out (of the hospital) soon and Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) has also

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi. sent her regards to him."

92-year-old Karunanidhi was admitted to Kauvery Hospital here on the night of December 15 following complaints of difficulty in breathing due to throat and lung infection.

Friday, he underwent tracheostomy at the hospital to optimise breathing and later the hospital said the DMK chief's condition was stable.

Last night, after the tracheostomy procedure, his condition improved and even he watched a Rajinikanth starrer 'Batcha' on his laptop

This is the first visit that Rahul Gandhi is paying a visit to Karunanidhi in last many years. Even during his several previous visits to Tamil Nadu Gandhi he did not call on the nonagenarian leader though Congress and DMK are allies Weeks ago, when he had visited Apollo Hospitals here to enquire about the health of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, there were expectations in the DMK camp that he could pay a visit to party patriarch Karunanidhi as well. However, he did not visit the DMK chief then. (PTI)

Cong, CPI attack BJP for hike in fuel prices Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 17 : Congress and CPI in Kerala today came out against the hike petrol and diesel prices, saying it would deal a severe blow to the people, already facing hardships due to demonetisation.

While the Petrol prices had been raised by Rs 2.21 per litre, the Diesel prices by Rs 1.79 per litre, excluding local levies.

Opposition leader in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the fuel

price hike was a like a "bolt from the blue" for the common man who were facing immense difficulties due to the scrapping of high value currency notes.

The state government should waive local taxes to provide some relief due to the hike in fuel rates, Chennithala told reporters at Thrissur.

He also attacked the CPI(M) led LDF government for not taking steps to ensure adequate supply of rice at ration shops in the

state.

CPI, a partner of the ruling LDF in the state, also criticised the BJP government at the centre for raising the prices of Petrol and Diesel.

"It will make the life of common man more difficult.

The hike had been effected at a time when people are facing lot of difficulties due to demonetisation", CPI state Secretary Kanam Rajendran said in a statement. (PTI)

Modi to inaugurate Vibrant Gujarat summit next month Ahmedabad, Dec 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit next month and chair a roundtable with CEOs of Fortune 500 companies from India and abroad besides taking part in a slew of other events during his two-day visit to the state.

The 8th edition of the investor summit, which was started by Modi when he was the chief minister of Gujarat, will be held from January 10 to 13 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

Giving an overview of Modi's schedule, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries & Mines) P K Taneja today told reporters here that the PM will arrive here on January 9 for a twoday visit, during which he will inaugurate a slew of events, including the biennial summit.

"The Prime Minister will arrive here around afternoon on January 9. He will attend

four events that day," he said, adding rest of the details of his visit are still being worked out.

Modi will perform the ground-breaking ceremony of Gandhinagar Railway Station Redevelopment project on the first day of his visit. On the same day, he will inaugurate global trade show to be held at Helipad Exhibition Ground in Gandhinagar, the senior bureaucrat said.

"The third event that the PM will attend is at Gujarat International Financial TecCity (GIFT) where Bombay Stock Exchange's International Financial Service Centre will be inaugurated.

Then, at Science City in Ahmedabad, he will inaugurate Nobel Laureate Exhibition," Taneja said.

The exhibition will continue for five weeks and 8-10 Nobel laureates are also likely to attend the event.

Modi will hold one-to-one meeting with heads and deputy heads of states who will attend the four-day summit, a premier event of the Gujarat Government that sees participation from foreign delegates and leaders.

On the same day he will inaugurate the investor meet.

In the evening, Modi will chair a round table of global CEOs followed by a dinner programme, he added.

"After the dinner, PM Modi will most likely leave for Delhi," he said.

Around 50 CEOs representing Fortune 500 companies from India and abroad have been invited for the roundtable, officials said.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is also likely to attend a seminar on GST, which is expected to be a big draw, Chief Secretary J N Singh told the media. The seminar is being organised as part of the summit. (PTI)

Taneja said on January 10,

Unaccounted cash worth Rs 4.4 lakh in new notes seized in Andhra Pradesh Machilipatnam, Dec 17: Unaccounted cash worth Rs 4.4 lakh in new currency notes of Rs 2,000 was seized on Saturday from Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, police said.

The seizure was made in the early hours at Gosaveedu village of Gampalagudem Mandal from four persons after they were unable to produce appropriate documents and explain the

source of cash, said Gampalagudem Sub Inspector P Siva Rama Krishna.

Police suspect that the cash, stashed in a bag, was supposed to be handed over some persons who

wanted it in exchange for old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

The four persons, allegedly involved in exchange of money on a commission

basis were taken into custody and a case was registered against them.

The case will be reported to the Income Tax department for further investigation, police added. (PTI)

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

Gold price plunges to over 10-month low, sheds Rs 500 to Rs 27,750 per 10 grams New Delhi, Dec 17: Falling for the second day, gold cracked below the Rs 28,000-mark by plunging Rs 500 to over 10-month low of Rs 27,750 per 10 grams Friday, tracking a weak global trend. Moreover, reduced offtake by jewellers owing to negligible demand at the domestic spot market in view of the prevailing cash crunch following demonetisation of highvalue notes hit sentiment.

Silver too dipped below the Rs 40,000-mark by tumbling Rs 1,350 to Rs 39,600 per kg on poor offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Traders said sentiment was downbeat, largely in sync with a weak global trend where gold slipped to a 10-month low as the Federal Reserve indicated it will raise interest rates faster than previously expected, boosting the US dollar and eroded the demand for the precious

Image for Representation purpose. metal as a safe-haven.

Globally, gold price fell 1.26 percent to USD 1,128.20 an ounce, and silver by 5.06 percent to USD 15.95 per ounce in New York yesterday.

The government on November 8 had scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to flush out black money, leading to a cash crunch in the market.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 percent and 99.5 percent purity plunged Rs 500 each to Rs 27,750 and Rs 27,600 per 10 grams,

respectively -- a level last seen on February 6 when it had closed at Rs 27,700.

Sovereign, however, remained unaltered at Rs 24,000 per piece of eight grams.

Following gold, silver ready dropped by 1,350 to Rs 39,600 per kg and weeklybased delivery by Rs 1,365 to Rs 39,610 per kg.

Silver coins too plummeted by Rs 1,000 to Rs 71,000 for buying and Rs 72,000 for selling of 100 pieces in scattered deals.

(PTI)

GST can be rolled out anytime between Apr 1 and Sept 16: Arun Jaitley

Jaitley hints not all scrapped currency will be remonetised, digital economy to fill the gap New Delhi, Dec 17: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today hinted that not all of the Rs 15.44 lakh crore worth of currency junked will be remonetised through issuance of new notes as he said digital currency will fill the gap.

Jaitley was speaking at the industry leaders gathering at the 89th annual general meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry or FICCI in Delhi. He said that India is no longer a fragile economy and is capable of taking decision on demonetisation. Assuring that the government had prioritised intriduction of new notes into the system, he said, "Remonetisation will not take very long time, RBI will be able to complete it very soon."

Calling the scrapping of

old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes as "a courageous step", he said the government could do it as India today has the capacity to take such decisions and experiment boldly.The move will create a new Indian normal as the one that existed for the past seven decades is "unacceptable", he said, adding that demonetisation will help rid the economy of high cash circulation that had led to tax evasion, blackmoney and currency being used for crime.

"One of the efforts of this exercise has to be that even though a reduced cash currency could remain, our conscious effort... (is) to supplement the rest with a digital currency," he said.

As many as 17,165 million pieces of Rs 500 denomination and 6,858 million pieces of Rs 1,000 banknotes were in circu-

7th Pay Commission: Revised allowances for central govt. employees to come into effect only after March 2017

FM says GST Council has resolved 10 issues and only one pertaining to administration of tax remains New Delhi, Dec 17: Amid signs of slippage of the April 1 GST rollout target, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said pending resolution of "turf" issues, GST is a transactional levy that unlike income tax can be implemented anytime during the year.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST), he said, can be implemented anytime between April 1 and September 16, 2017, in accordance with the constitutional amendment legislation that allows a national sales tax by subsuming central and state levies.

The GST Council has resolved 10 issues and only one pertaining to administration of tax is pending, he said.

"It is a transactional tax and not an income tax.

Transactional tax can start in any part of the financial year and therefore, the range of timing when it has to come into force because of constitutional necessity is April 1, 2017 to September 16, 2017. Hopefully, the earlier we do, the better it is for the new taxation system," Jaitley said at the annual general meeting (AGM) of FICCI here.

After Parliament passed the landmark constitutional amendment in August and more than half of state legislatures ratified it by mid-September, several key decisions have been taken by the GST Council headed by Jaitley and comprising state representatives.

Jaitley alluded to "certain kinds of turf issues" that are yet to be resolved.

"But the constitutional embargo is very clear.

The entire amendment was notified on September 16, 2016, and it permits the old taxation regime to continue for a period of one year." he said.

"So on September 16, 2017, as far as the current mode of taxation is concerned, the curtain will be down. Therefore, neither the Centre not the state can go in for collection."

According to the finance minister, there are about ten important decisions that have already been taken through consensus.

The legislations which have to be passed by Parliament and state legislatures are currently in the process of being drafted.

"I don't see any major difficulty for these legislations being finally approved," he said.

The only issue remaining "is a very small in the larger frame of things" and the tax administration is under discussion of the GST Council as three major and some minor taxes are being merged into one.

Jaitley suggested there is a need that each assessee is assessed only once since central taxes like excise and service tax and state levies like VAT are being subsumed into one.

"You have the pre-existing (tax) machinery of the Centre and states. (It has to be decided) how the burden of this assessment is going to be shared between the Centre and states and how we crossempower both the Centre and states," he said further.

Saying GST will usher in a common taxation and should lead to a federal bureaucracy, Jaitley felt that both the Centre and states should figure out sharing of the tax assessment.

Ideally, he said, it should be proper for the issues to be resolved at the beginning of financial year on April 1 for the new regime to kick in. "But then, in any case, nobody has the luxury of time," he cautioned. (PTI)

Axis bank-Noida: ED files money laundering case Officials added that the agency is probing more than two dozen accounts in the bank here which could have been used to perpetrate the crime of money laundering, in the wake of the scrapping of Rs 1000/500 notes.

New Delhi, Dec 17: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case in the alleged forging of a customer's identity to conduct huge illegal transactions in an Axis Bank branch in Noida for conversion of black funds into white post demonetisation.

The individual, identified as N Paswan, in his complaint filed with the police has claimed that his identity has been forged and a current and a savings account were opened in his name in the said branch which were allegedly used to launder crores of rupees post demonetisation.

Officials said the ED registered a criminal complaint under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) taking cognisance of the police FIR on a complaint filed by Paswan, a resident of Delhi's Pitampura area.

They said while the bank branch, in sector 51 of Noida, is already under scanner by the Income Tax department

Image for Representation purpose.

New Delhi, Dec 17: Central government employees have been demanding a better monthly pay package under the 7th Pay Commission, and demanding reinstatement of all the allowances abolished or subsumed by the pay panel.

The government even set up a committee in July under Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa to look into the Allowances related grievances of central government employees.

Though the committee was to submit its report within 4 months, it is yet to come out with its report.

Now, the committee has received extension up to February 22 to submit its report.

Even, considering the state-

ments made by the RBI governor Urjit Patel in the last bimonthly monetary policy announced on December 7, it seems that higher allowances, if at all, will not come before March 2017 i.e. the next financial year.

As the RBI Governor said that disbursement of salaries and arrears under 7th Pay Commission award has not been disruptive to inflation outcomes, he added that the extension of two months given to the Ministry of Finance to receive the notification on higher allowances under the Pay Commission's award, could push it's fuller effect into the next financial year, rather than this financial year. (PTI)

Alert! Use this e-mail id to inform govt about tax evaders New Delhi, Dec 17: Offering the last chance to black money holders, the Centre, has unveiled a new scheme under which those with undisclosed income and assets located in India can come clean by paying a tax of around 50 percent.

The new income disclosure scheme rolls out from today, and will run till 31 March However, unlike the earlier income declaration scheme, a tax evader will have to first pay the tax, put money in the deposit scheme and then make a declaration-either online or at an income tax office.

The government also unveiled an e-mail address to allow people to send infor-

mation about tax evaders.

Common citizens can play their part in curbing black money in the economy by emailing information about tax evaders to blackmoneyinfo @incometax.gov.in.

The e-mail ID, blackmoneyinfo @incometax.gov.in, will be monitored by a cell, and immediate action will be taken on the tip-off.

"A new e-mail ID created for people to give information on black money to tax authorities. People can give information about those trying to convert black money into white on this e-mail address," said Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia after the notification of PMGKY. (PTI)

Sri Lanka says it secures USD 1.34 bn World Bank loan I-T department officials and policemen at the Axis Bank branch in Noida Sector-51. owing to alleged dubious transactions using shell companies, the ED has come into picture to probe proceeds of crime which were generated through use of various fake accounts which also have "fake or weak" KYC (Know your customer) details.

They said the amount under scanner of the central probe agency is over Rs 60 crore. Officials added that the agency is probing more than two dozen accounts in

P9

BUSINESS

the bank here which could have been used to perpetrate the crime of money laundering, in the wake of the scrapping of Rs 1000/ 500 notes.

Meanwhile, the ED also conducted searches on the premises of four bullion traders in Mumbai yesterday in a similar probe. The agency has also sought freezing of few bank accounts of these traders as part of its probe, they said. (PTI)

Colombo, Dec 17: Sri Lanka has secured USD 1.34 billion in loans from the World Bank to boost the cash-strapped island's economy over the next three years, the finance ministry said today.

The loans would be at concessionary rates and repayments spread out over 15 years, the ministry said in a statement.

"This is a great victory for us and it will help us in the fiscal consolidation programme that the new government has started," Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.

There was no immediate comment from the World

Bank.

The new government, which came to power in January last year, also secured a USD 1.5 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in June after facing a balance of payments crisis.

The IMF last month described Sri Lanka's performance since the rescue as "broadly satisfactory", but said it needed to build its dwindling foreign reserves.

On Wednesday, the ports minister said talks were under way to sell part of Sri Lanka's loss-making USD 1.4 billion harbour to a Chinese company in January to help pay off crippling debts. (AFP)

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. lation on November 8 when the government made the surprise announcement.

Also, the push to use the digital mode to make payments has been gaining ground. "The manner it has taken place in the last five weeks is indeed commendable. Only a section of Parliament seems un-

aware of what is happening," he said.

Once the remonetisation process is complete, it will mark "the creation of a new Indian normal because the normal that existed for 70 years is an unacceptable normal," he added."The 70-year normal had become a way of life for almost

every Indian. It was not merely a fact that you had a lot more cash currency, far larger cash currency as part of your GDP...the economic and social consequences of that are extremely adverse."

He made a point that dealing in that cash currency had led to a lot of aberrations in terms of tax noncompliance, currency being used for collateral purposes like crime, escaping the tax net and not getting into the banking system. He added that short-term inconveniences have to be accomodated to allow long-term benefits to play out.

Speaking about GST, he said that it should start from Apr 1, 2017; constitutional necessity for new regime to come into force between April 1 and September 16.

(PTI)

US starts implementing trade preference programme for Nepal Under the agreement, the Asian Development Bank will use the USD 10 million US contributions to rebuild the schools through its Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project.

Kathmandu, Dec 17: The US has started implementing a trade preference programme for Nepal under which different types of products that meet eligibility criteria will be imported dutyfree from the Himalayan nation. The Nepal Preference Programme is authorised for ten years and designed to help Nepal's economic recovery from the earthquakes that struck the country in 2015, according to a statement by the US Embassy.

Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, which was signed by US President Barack Obama, will provide duty-free treatment for dozens of types of imports from Nepal that meet specific eligibility criteria, including certain types of carpets, headgear, shawls, scarves, and travel goods, the statement said.

"The program grants duty-free tariff benefits for certain Nepali exports not currently eligible for duty-free access to the US' market. It also authorises a trade capacity building programme, focused on helping Nepal implement the World

Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, which was signed by US President Barack Obama, will provide duty-free treatment for dozens of types of imports from Nepal that meet specific eligibility criteria.

Trade Organisation's Trade Facilitation Agreement. The legislation provides a unique opportunity for Nepali businesses to expand their exports to US markets," said US Ambassador to Nepal Alaina B Teplitz.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Nepal and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an agreement to rebuild 15 earthquake-damaged schools in 11 most affected districts, benefiting 4,500 students. Under the agreement, the Asian Development Bank will use the USD 10 million US contribution to rebuild the schools through its Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project.

The project uses approved architectural and engineering designs for permanent, earthquakeresilient buildings. The schools will also be equipped with classroom furniture, separate girls' and boys' water and sanitation facilities, access accommodation for children with disabilities, and recreational facilities.

The 2015 earthquakes damaged or destroyed more than 8,200 public and private schools, affecting the education of approximately 2 million children. The US Government has provided over $170 million in relief and reconstruction support to Nepal since the 2015 earthquakes.

(PTI)

Indian pleads guilty for H-1B visa fraud in US Washington, Dec 17: A 32-year-old Indian-origin immigration manager for an IT company has pleaded guilty for committing H-1B visa fraud in the US. Hari Karne, who hails from Hyderabad, faces a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a US $250,000 fine if convicted.

According to federal prosecutors, Karne's conspirators recruited foreign workers with purported IT expertise who sought work in the US. The conspirators then sponsored the foreign workers' H-1B visas with the stated purpose of working for SCM Data, a USbased company, and MMC Systems' clients throughout the US. When submitting the visa paperwork to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the conspirators rep-

resented that the foreign workers had full-time positions and were paid an annual salary, as required to secure the H-1B visas.

"Contrary to these representations and in violation of the H-1B programme, the conspirators paid the foreign workers only when they were placed at a thirdparty client who entered into a contract with SCM Data or MMC Systems," the Department of Justice said in a press release.

"The conspirators told the foreign workers who were not currently working that if they wanted to maintain their H-1B visa status, they would need to come up with what their gross wages would be in cash and give it to SCM Data and MMC Systems so the companies could issue payroll checks to the foreign workers.

"Karne, who was a US im-

migration manager with SCM Private Limited in India, which had service agreements with SCM Data and MMC Systems, admitted that he advised foreign workers to pay SCM Data and MMC Systems in cash the approximate amount they were supposed to be paid by the companies in order to generate false payroll records," federal prosecutors alleged.

Karne further admitted that in February and March 2015, in response to a US Department of Labour audit, he assisted SCM Data and MMC Systems in the preparation of false leave slips for foreign workers that were submitted to the US Department of Labour's to conceal the fact that the foreign workers were not paid during those time periods as required by federal law. (PTI)

DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

INTERNATIONAL

P10

Russia behind cyberattacks during polls: Barack Obama

Aleppo is now a synonym for hell: Outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Washington, Dec 17: President Barack Obama has alleged that Russia possibly under President Vladimir Putin's directions carried out cyberattacks during the US polls, as he urged his successor Donald Trump to ensure that the American election process is not under potential "foreign influence".

"What I can tell you is that the intelligence that I've seen gives me great confidence in their assessment that the Russians carried out this hack. Not much happens in Russia without Vladimir Putin," Obama told reporters during a White House news conference, indicating Putin's involvement.

"They hacked into some Democratic Party e-mails that contained pretty routine stuff, some of it embarrassing or uncomfortable because I suspect that if any of us got our emails hacked into there might be

rigged and promised to "send a clear message to Russia or others not to do this to us, because we can do stuff to you."

HIGHLIGHTS Obama has alleged that Russia possibly under Putin's directions carried out cyberattacks during the US polls.

Obama also lashed out at Russia for its alleged effort to influence the US election.

Obama assured Americans that the ballot itself was not rigged. some things that we would not want suddenly appearing on the front page of a newspaper or a telecast, even if there was not anything particularly illegal or controversial about it," he said yesterday.

A worried Obama also lashed out at Russia for its alleged effort to influence the US election, saying the country does not produce anything and lacks innovation.

"We've got to think what is happening to our political culture here. The Russians can't change us or significantly weaken us. They are a smaller country, they are a weaker country, their economy doesn't produce anything that anybody wants to buy except oil and gas and arms. They don't innovate," Obama said.

Obama assured Americans that the ballot itself was not

Trump thanks IndianAmericans for role in polls triumph Washington, Dec 17: US President-elect Donald Trump has acknowledged the contribution of IndianAmericans in his electoral triumph, saying his victorious campaign did "great with the Hindus".

"We have a lot of people here tonight from the Indian community, Hindus. We did great with the Hindus," Trump said while addressing thousands of his supporters during a "Thank You" rally in Orlando, Florida, the key battle ground state where he emerged victorious.

The event in Florida, which has a sizeable IndianAmerican population, was attended by a large number of community members.

This is for the first time that Mr. Trump has acknowledged the contribution of Indian-Americans and Hindus in his historic electoral victory.

"Where are they? We have a big group. There they are.

I want to thank you. You folks were amazing. They were amazing and voted and they were fantastic,"

Mr. Trump said, pointing his fingers to the IndianAmerican community present at the rally.

Fortnight before the elections, Mr. Trump attended a charity event organised

by Republican Hindu Coalition to raise funds for Hindu victims of terror in Kashmir and Bangladesh.

This was for the first time a presidential candidate attended an Indian-American event.

In his address, Mr. Trump pledged to work for betterment of India-U.S. relationship and said he would be the best friend of India in the White House. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his economic reforms and steps that he has taken to remove bureaucratic red tape.

After Mr. Trump's address, his family members visited temples in both Florida and Virginia; a first time for a presidential campaign.

The Trump Campaign also released an advertisement in which he was seen saying "Aab Ki Baar Trump Sarkar", copying Modi's

historic 2014 election punchline.

Republican Hindu Coalition chairman Shalabh Salli Kumar said all this had an impact on voting pattern of Indian- Americans, who traditionally have been a strong Democratic supporters. Based on a survey, Mr. Kumar said more than 60 per cent of the community members voted for Mr. Trump this time.

In his address, Mr. Trump asked people to dream big.

"Dream big and bold and daring. I am asking you to believe in yourself and asking you to believe in America. Together we will make America great again," he said.

Mr. Trump reiterated his plan of extreme vetting of refugee, asylum and visa applicants seeking to enter the US from regions where terrorists have strongholds.

He said his administration will suspend immigration from some regions where applicants "cannot be safely processed or vetted" due to a lack of government records. (Agencies)

"But they can impact us if we lose track of who we are.

They can impact us if we abandon our values. Putin can weaken us just like he's trying to weaken Europe if we start buying into notions that it's OK to intimidate the press, or lock up dissidents, or discriminate against people because of their faith or what they look like," he said.

Terming it a "pretty hierarchical operation", Obama said there was not a lot of debate and democratic deliberation, particularly when it comes to policies directed at the US. "We have said and I will confirm that this happened at the highest levels of the Russian government and I will let you make that determination as to whether

there are high-level Russian officials who go off rogue and decide to tamper with the US election process without Vladimir Putin knowing about it," he said.

Obama said he had raised the issue when he met Putin recently in China.

Obama also hopedhis successor Donald Trump will show equal concern to ensure that the American election process is not under a potential "foreign influence".

"My hope is that the president-elect is going to similarly be concerned with making sure that we don't have a potential foreign influence in our election process. I don't think any American wants that.

And that shouldn't be a source of an argument," Obama said. The US President also called for bipartisan unity on the issue.

(PTI)

UN chief Ban Ki-moon speaks to reports he'll run for South Korea leader United Nations, Dec 17: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has addressed mounting speculation that he will run for president of South Korea, saying he will decide how to best help his country when he returns home in early January after 10 years as UN chief. Ban told his final UN press conference that after taking some rest he plans to meet "as many people as possible," including political leaders, members of civil society and his friends.

"I will really consider seriously how best and what I should and I could do for my country," he said on Friday. Ban said South Korea is "in turmoil" following the explosive corruption scandal involving President Park Geunhye, whose powers were suspended last week after lawmakers voted to impeach her.

"I can understand and share the anxiety of people about the future of their country," he said.

"And this is one of the biggest challenges the Korean people are encountering." Ban said the people of South Korea don't want to lose their hard-earned democracy and economic development that has transformed the country from a recipient of aid to a global donor. This is a source of pride and South Korea has been an example for other nations, he added.

"I also understand the aspiration of people for a new type of inclusive leadership that can help them overcome the challenges ahead," Ban said. He cited many issues, including reconciling differences in thinking, in income and on "regionalism" as well as

tackling social integration.

"At the same time, while all these seem to present great challenges for Koreans and (the) Korean government, I'm confident that the Korean people, with their resilience and very matured democratic institutions ‌ will be able to overcome these difficulties soon," Ban said.

Conservatives in South Korea appear to be pinning their hopes on the outgoing UN chief becoming a candidate for president after Park's scandal complicated politics for her conservative Saenuri Party.

In a presidential poll conducted last week by Gallup Korea, Ban and former Democratic Party leader Moon Jae-in were tied at 20 percent with Park critic Lee Jae-myung, the mayor of a satellite city of Seoul, surging to 18 per cent. South Korea's next presidential election is scheduled to be held in December 2017, but if Park's impeachment is upheld by the Constitutional Court, a new vote would take place in 60 days.

Ban spoke about another major issue for his country, North Korea, when he was asked about prospects for northeast Asia. He recalled that many people have said the 21st century will be "an era of Asia-Pacific," and northeast Asia has been seen as the powerhouse of economic growth in the region.

"That means China and Japan, (South) Korea and these are very important drivers and have been commended, even envied‌ by many countries around the world for their dynamic growth," Ban said. (AP)

Syrians' blood on hands of Assad, Russia and Iran: Barack Obama Washington, Dec 17: President Barack Obama declared on Friday that Bashar alAssad's Syrian regime, Iran and Russia are responsible for the carnage in Aleppo and argued there was nothing Washington could have done to stop the war, short of a military takeover of Syria.

And he warned Assad, who has been engaged in a brutal civil war against opposition forces since 2011, that he will not be able to "slaughter his way to legitimacy."

"The world as we speak is united in horror at the savage assault by the Syrian regime and its Russian and Iranian allies on the city of Aleppo," he told an end-ofyear news conference.

the conflict.

"There are places around the world where horrible things are happening and because of my office, because I'm president of the United States, I feel responsible," he said. "Is there something I could do that would save lives and make a difference and spare some child who doesn't deserve to suffer?"

But the president said there had been no public appetite for the kind of largescale US military intervention earlier in the war that he believes would have been the only way to halt it.

"This blood and these atrocities are on their hands," he said.

"Unless we were all in and going to take over Syria we were going to have problems," he said. "It sounded like the right thing to do but it was going to be impossible to do this on the cheap."

Obama also admitted to reporters that he had asked himself whether the United States did enough to halt

The US leader, who leaves office on January 20 to make way for Presidentelect Donald Trump, called

for impartial observers to deploy to monitor efforts to evacuate civilians from the city.

Obama's White House has been engaged in a diplomatic effort to convince Russia to bring Assad to the table to negotiate a peace deal with the Syrian opposition.

But all attempts to secure a ceasefire have rapidly broken down, and now Russia is working with Turkey to oversee an evacuation of the last rebel-held pocket of Aleppo.

On Friday, the Syrian government suspended that operation, trapping thousands of civilians and rebel fighters in the city and increasing fears of a bloodbath to come.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned that Aleppo had become "a synonym for hell" and urged "the parties to take all necessary measures to allow safe resumption of this

evacuation process."

Senior US officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry and Washington's ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, have warned Assad against carrying out a Srebrenica-style massacre.

They have also warned the defeat of Aleppo will not end the civil war but instead foment extremism among Assad's opponents and have called for war crimes investigations.

But Washington has not been able to mediate the start of a credible peace process, nor separate so-called "moderate rebels" from Al Qaeda-linked extremists.

"I cannot claim that we've been successful and so that's something that, as is true with a lot of issues and problems around the world I have to go to bed with every night," Obama said.

"But I continue to believe it was the right approach

given what realistically we could get done."

More than 310,000 people have been killed since early 2011, when Assad brutally repressed anti-government protests and provoked a civil war.

More than half the population has been displaced, with millions becoming refugees, placing a huge burden on neighboring countries and sparking a political crisis in Europe.

Meanwhile, the Islamic State jihadist group has taken advantage of the chaos to seize part of eastern Syria and set up a "capital" in the city of Raqa.

US troops and warplanes are helping locally recruited militias fight IS in the east, but have not intervened against Assad, who has Russian military backing.(PTI)

United Nations, Dec 17: Describing the war-ravaged Syrian town of Aleppo as a "synonym for hell", UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon has said the international community has collectively failed the people of Syria and the carnage there remains a "gaping hole" in the global conscience.

In his last press conference as the UN Secretary-General, Ban delivered stark warnings on two issues at the forefront of international concern--- Syria and South Sudan.

He stated that "the carnage in Syria remains a gaping hole in the global conscience and South Sudan faces a risk of genocide as the country leaders have squandered a peace agreement."

"Aleppo is now a synonym for hell," Ban said on Saturday, bidding farewell to the UN press corps.

"We have collectively failed the people of Syria.

Peace will only prevail when it is accompanied by compassion, justice and accountability for the abominable crimes we have seen,"

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon .

Ban said.

this past week.

On another front, he noted that this week will mark the third year of conflict in South Sudan, and he deplored that "the country's leaders have betrayed their people's trust, and squandered a peace agreement."

"This has been a decade of unceasing test," he said.

"But I have also seen collective action change millions of lives for the better," Ban said.

"Most immediately, my Special Adviser (on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng) has warned of the risk of genocide," he said, urging the UN Security Councilto take more concerted action, including through punitive measures.

Ban will complete his 10year service as the world's top diplomat on December 31, passing the baton to his successor Antonio Guterres, who was sworn in

As the Syria crisis enters its sixth year, civilians continue to bear the brunt of a conflict marked by unparalleled suffering, destruction and disregard for human life.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 13.5 million people require humanitarian assistance, including 4.9 million people in need trapped in besieged and hard-to-reach areas, where they are exposed to grave protection threats.

(PTI)

Indian pleads guilty for H-1B visa fraud in US Washington, Dec 17: A 32year-old Indian-origin immigration manager for an IT company has pleaded guilty for committing H-1B visa fraud in the US.

vices, the conspirators represented that the foreign workers had full-time positions and were paid an annual salary, as required to secure the H-1B visas.

Hari Karne, who hails from Hyderabad, faces a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a US $250,000 fine if convicted.

"Contrary to these representations and in violation of the H-1B programme, the conspirators paid the foreign workers only when they were placed at a thirdparty client who entered into a contract with SCM Data or MMC Systems," the Department of Justice said in a press release.

According to federal prosecutors, Karne's conspirators recruited foreign workers with purported IT expertise who sought work in the US. The conspirators then sponsored the foreign workers' H-1B visas with the stated purpose of working for SCM Data, a US- based company, and MMC Systems' clients throughout the US. When submitting the visa paperwork to US Citizenship and Immigration Ser-

"The conspirators told the foreign workers who were not currently working that if they wanted to maintain their H-1B visa status, they would need to come up with what their gross wages would be in cash and give it to SCM Data and MMC Systems so the companies could issue payroll checks to the foreign workers.

"Karne, who was a US immigration manager with SCM Private Limited in India, which had service agreements with SCM Data and MMC Systems, admitted that he advised foreign workers to pay SCM Data and MMC Systems in cash the approximate amount they were supposed to be paid by the companies in order to generate false payroll records," federal prosecutors alleged.

Karne further admitted that in February and March 2015, in response to a US Department of Labour audit, he assisted SCM Data and MMC Systems in the preparation of false leave slips for foreign workers that were submitted to the US Department of Labour's to conceal the fact that the foreign workers were not paid during those time periods as required by federal law. (PTI)

Mali: 12 Burkina Faso troops killed in jihadist attack "I strongly condemn this horrible attack which shows the cruelty of these perpetrators," officials said.

Ouagadougou, Dec 17: At least 12 Burkina Faso soldiers were killed in what local authorities said was the biggest ever jihadist attack on the army, at a base near the restive border with Mali. "A detachment of our army's anti-terrorist force suffered a murderous attack which claimed the lives of 12 of our valiant soldiers and left some wounded," said President Rock Marc Christian Kabore yesterday, in an address to the nation.

"I strongly condemn this horrible attack which shows the cruelty of these perpetrators," added Kabore, who did not specify the number of injured.

Two more men were missing after around 40 jihadists riding pick-up trucks and motorbikes attacked the army's Nassoumbou base some 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the Burkina-Mali border, the high commissioner of Soum province, Mohamed

Dah, earlier told AFP by phone. "They were heavily armed with Kalashnikovs and rocket-launchers. They opened fire at the depots, the tents and set fire to some of the vehicles," he said, adding that it was "the biggest jihadist attack ever perpetrated" against the army.

Dah added that at least five attackers were killed although their bodies were removed from the scene by other assailants on motorcycles. A security source who asked not to be named said the assailants were wearing turbans and waving black jihadist flags.

Troops at the Nassoumbou base are part of a 600-strong anti-terrorist battalion that was deployed in January 2013 when France sent in troops to counter a jihadist insurgency in northern Mali. This was the second direct attack against the Burkina army since jihadist assailants surfaced in the country in early 2015,

mostly staging attacks in the north near the borders of Mali and Niger.

But in January this year, three jihadists left dozens of people dead and 71 injured in an attack in the heart of the capital. Thirty people were killed when gunmen stormed the four-star Splendid Hotel and a nearby cafe in Ouagadougou. The AlQaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) group behind a string of attacks in west Africa in recent years claimed responsibility for the strikes on the venues which were popular with Westerners.

The army has, since 2012, had an anti-terrorist battalion deployed along the country's long border with Mali, an area which is frequently subjected to attacks and kidnappings. In October, Kabore had called on his countrymen to help fight back against the mounting jihadist threat.

(PTI)

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DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

P11 India reach 60/0 after England pile on impressive 477 PTI Chennai, Dec. 17: England's lower-order gave India a taste of their own medicine on a benign Chepauk track racking up a commendable 477 in their first innings on the second day of the fifth and final cricket Test here.

151) 248th Test victim.

Jos Buttler (5) was dismissed by Ishant Sharma (2/42) and England were in danger of getting all out for 350.

But Dawson and Rashid were up for the challenge and the lack of bite in the pitch also helped their cause as they carried out a repair job. The 108 runs were added in 41.3 overs.

In reply, the hosts made a solid start blending caution with aggression to reach 60 for no loss in 20 overs after KL Rahul, undefeated on 30 in company of Parthiv Patel (29 batting), came in to open for an injured Murali Vijay.

Dawson's maiden half-century came off 148 balls with five fours and a six while Rashid's was an even more patient effort with 8 fours in 155 balls.

With not much assistance from the track for the bowlers, the Sunday crowd can expect a run feast as more than the bowling effort, it is the mistake from the batsmen that can get a bowling side wickets.

Just like the Indian lowermiddle order and the tail which has wagged throughout the home season so far, it was England's turn to return the favour as

the last three wickets put on 156 runs with the visitors once again reaching close to 500-run mark.

The highlight of the second day was a 108-run stand for

the eighth wicket between debutant Liam Dawson (60) and Adil Rashid (66) after England lost three wickets in the opening session to be reduced to 321 for 7, starting the day on 288 for 4.

The dismissals included centurion Moeen Ali (146), again out trying to pull a short delivery from Umesh Yadav (2/73), while Ben Stokes (6) became local hero Ravichandran Ashwin's (1/

While Ashwin had one of the worst figures in the ongoing series, the effort wasn't lacking but with no apparent help from the track, it was not difficult to play a defensive game that the Nos 8 and 9 played. Both the batsmen have a reputation of being useful batsmen in county cricket.

Diksha enter final of USHA 100th All India Ladies Amateur PTI New Delhi, Dec. 17: Diksha Dagar stayed on course for the USHA 100th All India Ladies Amateur title as she moved past Tsei Wei Chia after two extra holes in the semi-finals at the Delhi Golf Club today.

Diksha won on the 20th hole.

Diksha, who turned 16 earlier this week, will meet Malaysia's favoured Nur Durriah Damian, who beat Ireland's Maria Dunne 1-Up on the 18th hole.

Southpaw Diksha, who is the current leader on the IGU Order of Merit, has been in excellent form this season with some titles and also won the Faldo Series India title in Mumbai to qualify for the Grand Final Asia, which will be held in Vietnam in March, 2017.

Diksha also represented India at the World Amateur Team Championships in Mexico as part of the Indian Golf Union's team.

Sonowal Kachari & Billungoni win Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Dec 17 : Sonowal Kachari Students Union Football Club, Tengakhat and Billungoni Football Club won their respective matches of 13th Captain Jintu Gogoi, VrC Memorial Football Tournament played at at Chowkidinghee field Dibrugarh on Saturday.

between Khowng Football Club and Sonowal K Students Union Football Club, Tengakhat. Bhaiti Gogoi of Sonowal K Students Union Football Club, Tengakhat scored the lone goal of the match in the 38th minute of the second half which helped his team register victory over Khowng Football Club by 1-0.

The first match was played

In another match which was

played in the afternoon, Billungoni Football Club defeated S.K.A.C Football Academy by 1-0 in a penalty shootout.

Tomorrow, CC Dibrugarh Football Club will take on Duliajan Football Academy while Lengrijan T.E Football Club (Naharakta) will lock horns with Billungoni Football Club.

DCCC defeat JBC by 4 wkts

The 15-year-old Class 10th student from Delhi-NCR region, has won four of the eight tournaments she has played this season and finished second in two others.

Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Dec. 17: Dibrugarh Cricket Coaching centre registered win over Jhalukpara Boys’ Club by four wickets in the senior division cricket league tournament organized by Dibrugarh District Sports Association at DDSA stadium here today.

Her latest win was the Usha Delhi Golf Club Championships last month.

Similarly, Nur has been in great form this season. She has won three big titles, including the Malaysian Ladies Amateur title for the third time in August this year.

At 21, she is more than five years older than the Indian golfer, but both have ample confidence to give their best to become the USHA 100th

Players of Khowang Football Club and Sonowal Kachari Students' Union Football Club, Tengakhat in action during a match of the 13th Capt Jintu Gogoi Memorial Football tournament in Dibrugarh on Saturday.

Photo by Manoj Pandey

All India Ladies Amateur champion.

8:20am and the second session will begin at 1pm.

They will play 36 holes in two sessions, with the first 18 holes to be played from

Results: (Semi-finals Matchplay): Nur Durriah Damian (Mas)

bt Maria Dunne (Ire) 1-Up Diksha Dagar bt Tsai Wei Chia (Taipei) 20th hole Line-up for Final: Nur Durriah Damian (Mas) vs Diksha Dagar (Ind)

to be aggressive and if you are not aggressive still you win the match, it is good enough," Kapil said.

The former swing bowler heaped praise on Indian seamers, saying they have all improved a lot.

"It is not about 140 plus speed that Indian bowlers achieve but the line and length is very important. If you can bowl 135 speed and get movement, that is good enough. But again, if you have pace, you always get advantage of that," Kapil said.

"These days the boys work on that. It is good to see that they have the pace.

Bhuvneshwar, Ishant, Umesh, Shami all bowl that speed. Fast bowlers have improved a lot," he added.

India's fielding coach R Sridhar had said on Friday that the home team should have done better in close in catching.

However, Kapil gave a thumbs up to the overall fielding of the home team.

"I think basically the Indian fielding has improved a lot since our time. But still one can understand that all the XI fielders are not the same.

They have two or three brilliant fielders in the side," he said.

"If the majority of the players in a side also improve then the fielding could become better. When you talk about fielding in a team, everyone has to be good enough."

Asked about India's performance abroad compared to their result at home, Kapil said: "Our record has certainly improved over the years. When we played on

the England tour we were thrashed. Otherwise, we did well in the West Indies and Australia. We will see the future tours and tournament when we go there. At the moment, I think the improvement is there in our performances abroad.

"After all, if you do not win matches abroad, you cannot become number one in the world."

On day/night Test matches, Kapil said: "I think at the moment they are experimenting with first class matches. I think traditional things should continue. We need to keep the tradition like Wimbledon is always played on grass. You do not play Test matches with coloured cloths."

Kapil also slammed the idea of a neutral venue for Ranji Trophy matches, terming it a "horrible" idea.

"Horrible. I do not approve of the idea. I would like to play Ranji match at my ground and playing with other team on a third team ground, there is no sense.

This system should be done away with," he said.

Opting to bat, JBC scored 101 in 29.1 overs before being bowled out. Wasim Ahmed scored 24 off 22 balls, laced with three

boundaries and one maximum and Monu Nirmal contributed 20 off 41 deliveries, hitting two boundaries.

Harun Kazi scored 12.

For DCCC, Dipen Gogoi picked up three for 13 in 6 overs. Rajat Khan and Ritesh Thakur took two wickets a piece by giving away 16 and 20 runs respectively.

In reply, DCCC scored 104 for six in 27.3 overs.

Debanjan Tinsina scored

21 off 49 balls with two boundaries and Arandim Baruah contributed 17 off 19 balls with three boundaries. Ripunjoy Dutta and Ritesh Thakur scored 15 and 14 runs each.

For JBC, Sandip Sharma took three for 15 in 7 overs while Roshan Pandey scalped two for 23 in 5 overs. Rajat Khan was adjudged man of the match.

Duliajan Cricket Academy will lock horn Auranodoya Unnayan Samity tomorrow.

Playing in BPL, Test Dhoni has enough experience, cricket didn't even should continue as captain: Kapil cross my mind: Dawson

every individual is different.

Kohli is very expressive, while Dhoni is calm and quite. I think it is very difficult to compare because both have different teams and different attitude.

"Things have changed. Tomorrow you may ask can you compare these two with Sourav Ganguly as captain.

So, every captain brings in his own input and aggression and motivation but it all depends on how you use these things with your team for best results. That is captaincy. It is not that you have

PTI Chennai, Dec 17 : He might have scored an impressive half-century on debut but a month ago when he was plying his trade at the Bangladesh Premier League, playing Test cricket for England never even crossed his mind, revealed Liam Dawson who led a lower-order resistance with an unbeaten 66 today.

England made India work overtime with the unlikely duo of Adil Rashid and Dawson leading a lower-order resistance to power the visitors to 477 in the fifth and final Test here.

"Went I went to Bangladesh for the BPL, Test cricket didn't even cross my mind. So to be here now and making my Test debut in India is obviously very special," said Dawson at the post match press conference here.

Dawson said it felt nice to achieve a small milestone.

"It is obviously nice to do

well on debut. It was interesting first few balls in Test cricket for me but I was pleased to get through them. It was my Test debut, I was always going to be up for it. You make one Test debut. I was extremely excited and from a team point of view as well we want to finish on a high. We are in a fairly good position.

"It's obviously nice to get small milestones. It's obviously a small milestone.

From a personal point of view it's a very special day.

I am obviously looking for tomorrow. He (Cook) basically told me to enjoy the occasion.

The 26-year-old insisted that it was going to be hard work for England tomorrow.

"It's a pretty good wicket.

There isn't huge amount of spin, hasn't been much pace in it for the seamers, so tomorrow is going to be hard work for us but if we keep going all day and keep

trying to take wickets then we can take wickets."

On short balls, Dawson said: "It was a good bouncer, I tried to watch it as hard as I could but that's part of the game sometimes you get it a little bit wrong.

As a said I was pleased to get through. I think you got to take one ball at a time and that's what I was thinking.

"I put that ball at the back of my mind and I just managed to concentrate on ball at a hat was crucial. I haven't really thought too much to be fair. I have prepared, I have done what I do for Hampshire and that's all I can do."

Dawson said he would just look to continue to do a good job with both bat and ball.

"You just got to score more runs and take more wickets it's as simple as it can be. If I could do that then I can be selected in future squads," he concluded.

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PTI Chennai, Dec. 17: India's 1983 World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev feels limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has a lot of experience and should continue to lead the side as long as he is good enough for the job.

With Kohli doing extremely well as Test captain, there have been whispers from time to time that he should be handed over the captaincy of the limited overs as well.

"I think the answer people should look for is are we ready to ask Dhoni to take a back seat. It is more important. I think if he is good enough he should carry on.

When the time will come Dhoni may quit all three formats," Kapil said.

"But I think at the moment it is very important Dhoni is doing a good job. I think he has enough experience and he should continue."

Asked to compare Dhoni and Kohli as captains, Kapil said: "It is too early to answer that and again the two individuals are different and

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DIBRUGARH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18

P12 Kangana Ranaut-Hrithik Roshan tiff: Queen 'felt naked when the letters were exposed'

when the letters were exposed.'

The 29-year-old began by saying, "The world knows me as an achiever. I think a lot of importance given to the worldly achievements. But as a woman, the most favourite part of my personality is how I see myself as a lover. And if I am a fan of any aspect of my personality, it is my ability to love and stay in love even though my world or environment does not respond in the same way."

Telling her story in third person, Kangana shared,

Shweta Nanda: Will be worried if daughter plans to be an actor She may come from a family of Bollywood stars but ShwetaBachchan Nanda says she would be worried if her daughter Navya Naveli plans to be an actor. Shweta's father Amitabh Bachchan continues to be a mega star in Bollywood at the age 74 while her mother Jaya, brother Abhishek and sister-in-law Aishwarya Rai are prominent names in the industry.

"I will be worried if if she plans to be an actor. I don't think it is as easy as it looks. You have to work extremely hard, especially if you are a woman. And I wonder if she has in her to bear with all of it."

"Also, there is a lot of failure involved, which many people don't see. The failure is personal, your acting skills... The way you look on screen is slashed out in open." Shweta said.

Navya has been under the

spotlight recently, with her pictures doing the rounds on social media. According to Shweta, the right way to become an actor is to 'want and rightly prepare' for it like her mother, not 'stumble' into it like her father.

"My mother was the eldest daughter in the family. She graduated and told his father about her ambition of becoming an actor. Soon she joined acting school, and was a great student. I feel this is the way to go about it. Not because you see this as an easy way out. Instant fame and money in this industry is a myth." she said at the launch of 'Standing on the Apple Box' by Aishwarya R Dhanush, daughter of superstar Rajinikanth.

She has also written the foreword for the book.

Shwetha likes to maintain a low profile, and is extremely protective about her daughter despite the

Baahubali: The Beginning is dream-like, and it's easily the most unexpected thing of my career," Tamannaah told.

In the first part of 'Baahubali', she played a rebellious warrior, Avantika. She says she has an even better role in the second installment of the franchise.

Tamannaah Bhatia says the most unexpected thing of her decadelong career so far has been being part of S.S Rajamouli's magnum opus 'Baahubali: The Beginning'.

"It came to me when I was going through the lowest lows of my career. After a series of failures, to be part of a project l i k e

ing she'd do anything to be part of such a proud project.

"I would die and even kill if required to be part of Baahubali," she quipped.

Tamannaah, who has had three back-to-back hits in 2016, is gearing up to reprise Kangana Ranaut's role in the yet-untitled Tamil remake of 'Queen'.

Alia Bhatt looks gorgeous in a pink lehenga post family vacation!

Alia Bhatt has been having the time of her life.

The Bollywoodactress is all about living the good life post the success of her latest film, Dear Zindagi'.

After recently completing the shoot for her upcoming film 'Badrinath Ki Dulhania' with Varun Dhawan and a long hard earned vacation with the family in Maldives, this young actress has finally returned to the bay.

The 'Dear Zindagi' actress, after a series of beautiful vacation pictures on her Instagram, has made her stylish entry back to the base.

Dressed in a Manish Malhotra attire, she is looking radiant with the beautiful glow of her vacation on her face. Dressed in a pink lehenga, Alia looks no less than a dream. She captioned the picture saying, "Wedding Bells".

'OK Jaanu' stars Aditya-Shraddha reveal why 'Jaanu' is the cutest nickname for your lover constant spotlight. The 42year-old mother of two recently wrote an open letter asking media to give her daughter her 'private life' back.

"My children are no celebrities. Why smash them on internet for one reason or the other? Let them earn their attention on their own. It shouldn't be just because they are related to somebody." she said. To prevent news flashes about Navya from reaching her, the Bachchans do not have any Google alert for her.

"We have no Google alert for her, because it would be very upsetting for her to read these things. I

didn't do anything for two years; thinking that it would only draw more attention towards it." she said. Shweta said the decision to keep her away from the attention is not driven by any gender bias as she would be equally protective of her son.

Calling her family a 'home of women' who are strongheaded and independent, Shweta said that everyone was free to to pursue their own dreams and hopes Navya does the same. "My home is a home of women.

Be it my grand-mother, mother, sister-in-law and me, we all are strong opinionated women. I am sure she will carry it forward." she says.

'OK Jaanu', starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor, presents the story of a couple who don't want to get married to each other but decide to live in together before following their respective life goals.

The cutesy love story is already generating tremendous amount of interest, courtesy the lead pair's chemistry and the interesting storyline.

Now, the makers have released a fun video where Aditya and Shraddha are discussing all the names that you would call your loved one. The clip has snippets from the lead actors where Aditya goofily reveals that one of his friend calls his girlfriend 'chicken'. The 2-minute-long video is all about discussing silly, adorable nicknames and finally bringing back 'Jaanu' as a rage again with 'OK

Jaanu'.

'OK Jaanu' is the official remake of the Tamil blockbuster 'OK Kanmani' that was helmed by Mani Ratnam

Kareena Kapoor Khan is setting high standards for pregnant women. Let alone spending her days resting, the actress, who is inching towards her date of delivery (which according to her dad Randhir Kapoor is December 20), has been living it up like no other actress has. Apart from a lazy Monday this week, the mommy-to-be has been spotted with her sister Karisma, and buddies, Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora Ladak, in and around the suburb she resides in almost every other day. She was seen catching up for lunch and shopping on Tuesday, followed by an elaborate spa session with Malaika and Amrita on Thursday noon. Kareena spent well over three hours at the salon getting ready for her big arrival with her friends for company. According to an eyewitness, the ladies headed to Malaika's house from the spa and spent a chunk of the evening together.

and featured Dulquer Salmaan in the lead. The Hindi version has been directed by Ratnam's protege Shaad Ali and hits theatres on January 13, 2017.

Hrithik Roshan-Sussanne Khan get together for a dinner date

Kareena turns heads at a spa

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"It's a really good role.

We still have some minor portion to shoot which will be wrapped up in D e c e m b e r, " she said, add-

Hrithik Roshan and ex-wife Sussanne Khan

were spotted enjoying a dinner date in Mumbai on Thursday evening.

They were joined by their two kids, Hrehaan and Hridhaan. The gorgeous couple parted ways in 2013 but despite the divorce, they have ensured that they spend quality time together and take their kids out for regular family outings.

grab a meal, they made the photographers go click happy. They left the restaurant together, in the same car along with their sons. Without a doubt, they continue to keep Hrehaan and Hridaan their first priority.

In the past, the two have united for parentsteachers' meetings at their kids' schools and also for their children's birthday parties. Last evening when they stepped out as a family to

On the work front, Hrithik is currently looking forward to the release of his next flick 'Kaabil' starring Yami Gautam in the female lead. It is set to hit the theatres on January 25, 2017.

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Editor: Prahlad Hammey

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ANI The much controversial tussle between Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan has not just been this year's but one of the Bollywood's ugliest fights and as 2016 comes to an end, the 'Queen' of Bollywood poured her heart out and shared her "part of the story."

Kangana, while attending 'The Reebook "Fit to Fight" Awards' event recently in the national capital, shared 'this important aspect of her life' and said that she 'felt extremely naked and vulnerable

"There was this young girl in the mountains that had a lot of fire in her belly, extremely dreamy, impractical, naive and stubborn."

"This girl when she was 14, she saw picture of a man and fell in love with him. That picture led her to cross the oceans, landscapes, deserts and come to a place where she is standing with that man under the stars and this man kisses her and he says "I love you"," she continued, adding, "What happens is the man says that this is not a normal girl. She is like a cub and the man gets scared of this woman. This is when the whole love story becomes a tragedy. The thing is I can't help it if I have a lot of fire in my belly."

The 'Queen' star continued, "People have seen how I put up a strong front to fight but nobody has seen that side of me what I feel as a woman when I am subjected to that kind of brutality."

Specifying the letters and the mails, which got exposed during the legal-battle, she said, "This speech is dedicated to the letters of a lover which were brutally exposed to the world. How did I feel as a human being?

Every letter that you write to your lover holds a lot of vulnerability. You are exposing a part of your soul or yourself, not to the world, but to an individual," she went on speaking her heart out.

Adding, "I felt extremely naked in front of the world.

I cried for nights in my room and the worse is the most of it was not even the genuine stuff. People made fun of me. Even today I become the butt of jokes when I sit with my friends. But I never answered to that brutality with the same sort of spirit and I see myself as a winner there."

Concluding her speech, Kangana said, "One should not make fun of a woman's vulnerability and to embarrass her for her desires. As far as the letters are concerned, I have also gone ahead to tell my part of the story."

Tamannaah Bhatia: 'Baahubali' most unexpected thing of my career