English Daily indian1horizon@gmail.com www.indianhorizon.org RNI No: Deleng/2013/51507 Volume No: 3 Issue No: 181 In memory of Dr Asima Kemal and Prof. Dr. Salim W Kemal Published from New Delhi and Hyderabad New Delhi, Sunday, July 5, 2015 Page 4... Washington, July 4 (IANS): Noted Indian conservation biologist Kamal Bawa will be formally admitted to the prestigious Royal Society as a fellow on July 10 for his “pioneering contributions to understanding the population biology of tropical forest trees”. India-born Bawa, an internationally recognised evolutionary ecologist and a distinguished professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, was elected a fellow of the London-based society in April, according to a university media release. Bawa joins former and current fellows such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and about 80 Nobel laureates. Established in 1660, each year the Royal Society’s existing fellowship proposes about 700 candidates for election, and then elects up to 52 fellows from England and the Commonwealth countries, and up to 10 foreign fellows. Price: 3:00 Page 9 Lalit Modi alleges Rahul Gandhi was beneficiary of his hospitality New Delhi, July 4 (IANS): Former IPL chief Lalit Modi has alleged that Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi and his brother-in-law Robert Vadra were beneficiaries during his tenure as IPL commissioner. Congress sources, however, dismissed the allegations and termed them baseless. Congress leader Ajay Maken said Lalit Modi was trying to help the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Lalit Modi late Friday posted on Twitter a couple of his pictures with Rahul Gandhi and Indian scientist Kamal Bawa elected fellow of Royal Society Pages 12 + 4 pull out (P16) Greece Finance Minister accuses creditors of terrorism Modi to visit five Central Asian nations, Russia next week Briefs feedbackhorizon@gmail.com Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in the same frame. Modi tweeted: “I hope @OfficeOfRG (office of Rahul Gandhi) informed @INCIndia that he was a beneficiary of my hospitality. He sat in my box.” The picture, which appears to be from an IPL match, also has Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, his wife Gauri Khan and actress Deepika Padukone along with others. Modi also asked if they (Rahul Gandhi and Vadra) had declared it to the Congress leadership. Modi, who has been described as a “fugitive” by the Congress and is wanted by the Enforcement Directorate for alleged financial impropriety, tweeted: “My Q to #rahulgandhi and #robertvadra did you ever receive any hospitality from @lalitkmodi - and did u declare it to @INCIndia #lalitgate.” Congress spokesperson Maken, however, accused Lalit Modi of trying to help the BJP through the pictures. “Chotta Modi is trying to help Bada Modi by tweeting images to help the ruling party,” Maken said. Scribe covering Vyapam scam suddenly takes ill, dies Jhabua (MP), July 4 (PTI): The Vyapam scam turned murkier today with an investigative journalist working for a leading Delhibased news channel dying under mysterious circumstances soon after he interviewed parents of a girl who was found dead after her name figured in the massive admission and recruitment scandal. Minutes after the interview, 38-year-old Akshay Singh started frothing at the mouth. He was rushed to civil hospital and later to a private hospital, but doctors failed to revive him. From there he was taken to another hospital in nearby Dahod in Gujarat, where he was declared brought dead. An official said late tonight that a panel of three doctors was conducting post mortem in Dahod. Akshay, who worked for TV Today group, had today called on the parents of Namrata Damor, whose body had been found un- der near railway tracks in Ujjain district on January 7, 2012. Today’s incident took place in Meghnagar near Jhabua town. Namrata’s father Mehtab Singh Damor said Akshay and two others visited their house this afternoon. After the interview was over, one of them was sent to get certain papers photocopied. As Akshay was waiting outside Damor’s house, suddenly started frothing at the mouth and collapsed, he said. Jhabua district’s Superintendent of Police Abid Khan confirmed that a person named Akshay Singh had died in Meghnagar. At least 25 accused/witnesses have died so far in Vyapam scam, a massive admission and recruitment racket involving several bureaucrats and politicians, and the opposition Congress has been demanding a CBI probe into the matter. Dawood’s surrender offer was conditional, so rejected: Pawar Mumbai, July 4 (IANS): NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said lawyer Ram Jethmalani had contacted him over mafia don Dawood Ibrahim’s readiness to surrender in the 1990s when Pawar was Maharashtra chief minister but the don had put forward conditions which were not acceptable. The conditions put forth for the surrender by the don were not acceptable to the state government and hence it was rejected, the Nationalist Congress Party president told media persons here. The incident took place when Pawar -- who then belonged to the Congress party -- was the chief minister. “It is true that Ram Jethmalani had given the proposal about Dawood’s willingness to surrender. But, there was the condition that he should not be kept in jail. He wanted to remain in a house. This was not acceptable to us, we said he must face the law,” Pawar said. The NCP supremo was reacting to Jethmalani’s charge that the state government rejected an offer by Dawood to Israel thanks India for abstaining on UNHRC vote New Delhi, July 4 (IANS): Israel on Saturday thanked India for not voting on an “anti-Israel bashing” UNHRC resolution, which sources said was a result of Tel Aviv’s sustained talks with the Indian leadership over the past year. Israeli envoy to India Daniel Carmon tweeted his appreciation. “We appreciate votes by members of @UN_HRC, including #India, who did not support yet another anti Israel bashing resolution. Some reports have claimed that 44 people associated with the scam have died so far. The most high-profile death was that of Shailesh Yadav, son of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav. Shailesh, 50, was found dead at his father’s residence in Mall Avenue area of Lucknow on March 25 this year. Ram Naresh Yadav, also a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, was himself made an accused in the scam before getting relief from court. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Babulal Gaur said the decision as to whether further probe was necessary into Akshay’s death would be taken only after getting the autopsy report. “Let the post-mortem report come first...then we will decide on probing the issue further,” said Gaur, who arrived here for an official tour. Posting the photographs, Lalit Modi also said they were not altered. Lalit Modi also tweeted in response of a tweeter handler: “That will never happen I am not into politics. But a NGO next stop. And never Modi vs Modi. Modi vs Gandhi yes.” He was asked by a twitter handler @karmritesh: “Support for @LalitKModi is growing in the runup to clean cricket & politics; going to see #ModiVsModi in next Election! #CongressMuktBharat.” He has been tweeting regular- ly, often implying nothing more than a meeting with political figures. Earlier, Lalit Modi tweeted that he “bumped into” Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka and her husband Robert Vadra in a London restaurant last year. He had also tweeted that Congress leader Kapil Sibal had chatted over three days during a wedding in Istanbul. Lalit Modi’s links with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje have Women scoop top four ranks in UPSC exam New Delhi, July 4 (IANS): Women scooped the top four ranks in the civil services exam results declared by the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC) on Saturday, officials said. A total number of 1,236 candidates have been recommended for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Foreign Service, Indian Police Service and Central Services Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’, the UPSC said. Of the top five candidates, four are women - Ira Singhal (1), Renu Raj (2), Nishi Gupta (3) and Vandana Rao (4). Singhal is from Delhi. It was for the first time that the final results were declared within four days of the closing date of the interviews. Conducted by the UPSC annually in three stages -- preliminary, mains and interviews - the examination took place on August 24, 2014 at 2,137 venues at 59 centres across the country. Of the 9.45 lakh candidates who applied, about 4.51 lakh were cleared to sit for the examination. A total of 16,933 candidates qualified for the main examination which was held in December, 2014. A total of 1,364 posts have to be filled through the examination. Confident about renewed energy in India-US ties: Modi New Delhi, July 4 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday greeted the people of US on the occasion of their 239th Independence Day and said he was “extremely excited and confident about the renewed energy” in India-US ties. “Dearest sisters and brothers of US, on the occasion of Independence Day, I convey my warm wishes to you all. The ties between India and US are time tested and connected by shared values. We are both vibrant democracies and remain very proud of our democratic framework,” he said in a message. We thank them.” On Friday, India abstained on a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution condemning Israel over a UN report into the alleged war crimes committed during the 2014 Gaza conflict - marking a significant change in India’s stance. But India also stated that “there is no change in New Delhi’s long-standing position on support to the Palestinian cause”. Forty-one of the 47 UNHRC council members voted in favour of the resolution, including the eight sitting EU members: France, Germany, Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Latvia and Estonia. Renu Raj who got the Second rank in the Civil Services Exams 2014, celebrates her succes with the family at the their residence in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. (PTI Photo) Rahul meets internet entrepreneurs New Delhi, July 4 (IANS): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday met entrepreneurs and business leaders from the internet sector to discuss challenges and opportunities ahead. “Enjoyed meeting internet entrepreneurs and business leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” he tweted. “Simple innovations are transforming experience of ordinary people- be it in healthcare or financial services while enhancing transparency,” Gandhi said, adding: “The spirit of innovation demonstrated by this generation of entrepreneurs is truly exciting and must be applauded.” Eunuch leader shot dead in Ghaziabad Ghaziabad, July 4 (IANS): An eunuch leader in Ghaziabad who had contested parliamentary, legislative and mayoral elections was on Saturday found murdered at her residence, police said. Daya Rani Kinnar was found on Saturday morning with a bullet hole in her head when one of her assistants went to serve her tea in her room in the house in Kaila Bhatta area. Police said Daya Rani Kinnar was the owner of extensive property, including a house, a car and jewellery, and the robbery aspect has not been ruled out. Family sources said she retired to her bedroom around 11 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday morning, when her assistant Shama went to her bedroom to serve tea, she found her body. Shama’s niece Geeta then called police. Indian Horizon, Delhi Madrassas keep pace with syllabi of the times Short Takes Ensure fair probe into St.Stephen’s incident: Centre to UGC New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) The HRD ministry on Saturday asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to look into the case of alleged sexual harassment of a research scholar by a St.Stephen’s College lecturer. It also asked for an impartial inquiry by the institute’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC)“The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry decided to step in the wake of the girl expressing apprehensions about the action being taken by the institute’s ICC,” ministry official told IANS.The ministry had earlier decided against intervening in to the matter saying it was being handled by the ICC as per the Supreme Court guidelines. In the FIR lodged on June 19, the doctoral student said Satish Kumar, an assistant professor and the college’s bursar, had “sexually assaulted” her on October 15, 2013, inside a laboratory. The Delhi High Court on July 3 had put the arrest of Satish Kumar on hold till August 17. The girl had also released audio clips wherein the principal Valson Thampu allegedly asked her to withdraw her complaint. She had also demanded Thampu’s resignation. Man held for attacking former Bihar minister alleges sexual abuse Patna, July 4 (IANS) A man who was arrested on Saturday for stabbing former Bihar minister Ejaz-ul-Haq, here, alleged that the latter had been forcing him to indulge in sex and he attacked him to take vengeance, police said. Haq, a close relative of jailed criminal-turned-politician and former MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, was stabbed in his flat late Friday and admitted to a private hospital.Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Vikas Vaibhav said a police team has arrested Raghvendra Kumar, the accused, from the neighbouring Bhojpur district.“Raghvendra was arrested with the weapon he used to stab Haq and a revolver stolen from Haq,” he said. Police have begun an investigation into the case, Vaibhav said. “I was fed up with his demands... I attacked him on Friday night when he tried to sexually exploit me again,” Kumar informed police during interrogation.He also told police that he had known Haq for several years. Haq was minister in the cabinet of former chief minister Rabri Devi between 2000 and 2005. Government’s technical backbone, has threatened a nationwide strike that could cripple “official IT infrastructure” indefinitely over what insiders termed the Centre’s “doublespeak” on their welfare. Over 200 NIC employees staged at protest at the CGO Complex here on Friday demanding the resolution of various internal lacunae that ranged from delayed promotions and the lack of clear mandate defining its role to the lack of flexible working timings and a Director General at the helm of the organisation.“As many as 3,500 of our employees posted across the country have provided the technical wherewithal and expertise to various Government projects such as the Central Government’s Mygov platform and now the Digital India initiative – but have received more than a raw deal in return,” said Sreejith NP, Scientist B, NIC. The Government had assured the NIC that their concerns would be discussed on Monday failing which the union of NIC officials had decided to go ahead with a nationwide strike. “As many as 3,500 of our employees posted across the country have provided the technical wherewithal and expertise to various Government projects such as the Central Government’s Mygov platform and now the Digital India initiative – but have received more than a raw deal in return,” said Sreejith NP, Scientist B, NIC. 400 kg marijuana seized in Delhi; one held New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) A huge quantity of marijuana worth about Rs 2.5 crore was seized from Palam village early morning today and one person was arrested in this connection, police said.Two constables of Palam Village police station were patrolling the area near the house of one Balkesh, when they found an autorickshaw. On inspection they found it laden with marijuana that was later found to be 400 kg in quantity, said, DCP (South West) R A Sanjeev said. While the constables were checking the vehicle, two persons started running away. One of them escaped on a bike and headed towards Bagdola picket. He slipped and fell near the picket and was caught by one of the constables.He was later identified as Pankaj, 22, son of Balkesh. He is a school drop out and is involved in crime for many years now. The driver of the auto-rickshaw identified as Siraj Ahamad Ansari, however, fled.Further investigation and interrogation is Congress slams AAP going on and the chain of supply is being investigated. Further arrests and over salary hike of recovery are likely. International value of marijuana is approximately Rs 2.5 MLAs New Delhi, June 4 (Agencies) The crore, the officer said. Congress on Saturday slammed the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP Government over salary hike of its MLAs saying that it was evident the Delhi Chief Minister keeping any of the promises he had made to the people.“Salary hike of the MLAs is not the only issue. We’ve also seen that over 21 parliamentary secretaries were appointed, who were Faridabad, Jul 4 (PTI) Three medical allotted government vehicles and offices. stores were booked for illegally selling He (Kejriwal) had submitted an affidavit medicines for MTP (Medical Termination wherein he had said that he would not of Pregnancy), police said today. take unnecessary security for himself,” In order to check the sale of MTP said Congress leader Ajay Maken. medicines, Dr. Veena Sharma, Deputy “He had also said that he would not Civil Surgeon Faridabad had constituted take a bungalow but stay in a basic flat a team which was then deputed to check but he is not doing that. Did he take the medical stores in the area of NIT 5. opinion of the public on the salary hike Three medical stores- Nagpal Medical issue?” he asked. Hall, Sanjeevni Medicos and Sukhmani AAP legislators have approached the Medicos were found guilty. Delhi government for a revision in their On the basis of complaint filed by salaries.According to reports, the MLAs Sharma, a case was registered against all have cited problems in meeting expenses the three medical stores at Police Station that include the cost of maintaining NIT Faridabad under section 27A(2) of an office in their constituencies, Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 and MTP transportation and running a household. Act rules 2003 yesterday.In order to check the sale of MTP medicines, Dr. Veena Sharma, Deputy Civil Surgeon Faridabad had constituted a team which was then New Delhi, June 4 (Agencies) deputed to check medical stores in the The National Informatics Centre area of NIT 5. Three medical stores- Nagpal Medical (NIC), an organisation of scientists and Information Technology (IT) Hall, Sanjeevni Medicos and Sukhmani professionals that constitute the Medicos were found guilty. 3 medical stores booked for selling illegal MTP medicines NIC staff threaten to go on strike 2 City Sunday, July 5, 2015 New Delhi, June 4 (Agencies) A day after the Maharashtra government declared that madrassas that do not teach primary subjects such as English, Maths and Science will not be recognised as formal schools, many in the Muslim community said thousands of madrassas have incorporated basic subjects along with management studies, skill-based courses such as refrigeration, mobile repairing, ayurveda and computer education. Zafeeruddin, a Delhi University professor, teaches at a madrassa in Batla House in the evening. Islamic Da’wah Centre may confuse many for a centre for Islamic studies as teenaged boys in white kurtapyjama can be seen streaming in. Inside the institute, these boys aren’t reciting the Quran verses or listening to a lecture on religion. Instead, they are given various subjects’ textbooks and imparted computer training to prepare them for the world outside the madrassas. A Ph.D. student himself, he shuttles between college, his studies and the institute. “It is important for these boys to be prepared otherwise how will they survive.” Teaching Arabic language and Arab Civilization to M.Phil students in North Campus for five years, he himself was a student at a madrassa. He teaches Arabic and basic English for free. “The boys can also choose Political Science and Computer training.” Once they complete the course, they receive a diploma certificate. Another madrassa in Okhla imparts classes online in case the teacher is on leave. “People think madrassas are institutes teaching only about Islam and its teachings. But it isn’t true. I have studied in a madrassa in Deoband and now pursuing Political Science (Hons) from Jamia Millia Islamia University,” said Mohd Adil, native of Azamgarh. Usually notices in the madrassas are put up and boys are then briefed about various courses, which is mostly free of cost. “In our madrassas, we teach basics as well as graduation level studies. We have also tied up with many English coaching centres and special classes are held for our students,” said Obaidullah, teaching at a madrassa in Babarpur. Once the course is completed, some of the madrassas also take care of the placement if students don’t want to go for higher studies. With lots of patients flying in from Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries for medical treatment, most of the students work as translators in big hospitals like Max, Fortis, Apollo and Medanta Medi City. “A lot more community mobilisation is needed to bring more Muslims in the formal job sector. Modernisation of madrassas is very much needed by strengthening it through scientific education. But it cannot be done the way Maharashtra government did as the sense of insecurity among the community has increased. Rather than taking these madrassas or any other religious institutes in confidence, the Maharashtra government has done a shoddy job,” said Amitabh Kundu, chairman, Post Sachar Evaluation Committee. No party has mechanism to check education degrees: AAP Mohali, June 4 (PTI) With one of its MLAs arrested in an alleged fake degree case, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said there is no mechanism with any political party to examine the degrees of its party members. “There is no mechanism available with any party to check (educational) degrees of its party members,” senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said here today.He said as per selection criteria, the party makes sure that there should not be any charges related to corruption, criminal activities and character against a person.“If question has been raised over somebody’s 15-year-old degree, then the probe is going on and we have also handed over the matter to internal Lokpal,” Singh said while addressing the media. Following the arrest of AAP MLA and former Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar in an alleged fake degree case last month, Singh today accused the BJP-led Centre of following different yardsticks for its own leaders. “There cannot be two laws in the country. (Union Minister) Smriti Irani, MP Rama Shankar Katheria, Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde are involved in fake degree case... If we have made mistake then take action against us as per law. If they have done wrong then you should take similar action against them also,” Singh said.He also cited a recent controversy surrounding Union Minister Kiren Rijiju who was in the midst of row over offloading of passengers from an Air India flight.“Two types of law are being followed... Which is dangerous,” he claimed. However, he maintained that people have different type of expectations from AAP. “We will show ourselves that we are different from other political parties,” he said.On a recent report of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence electricity bill of Rs 91,000, Singh clarified that Kejriwal’s own power consumption was about Rs 17,000. BJP senior leader Sushil Kumar Modi with MoS Ramkripal Yadav at an Iftar party in Patna on Saturday. PTI Smart comfort taxis in Delhi soon New Delhi, June 4 (PTI) Delhi government is mulling introducing ‘smart comfort taxis’ in the national capital which will not only be ecofriendly but also a cheaper alternative to auto rickshaws. “We are working on providing an alternative to auto rickshaws which is not only eco-friendly but also likely to be cheaper to avoid burning a hole in people’s pockets. The idea is being considered to address the problem of last mile connectivity in Delhi,” Delhi Tourism Minister Gopal Rai said here today.Rai was addressing the gathering at the “Smart Transportation Infra Summit 2015” organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).Participating in a seminar on “Smart mobility in Delhi and Technology Convergence in Smart Transportation”, Rai said, “Despite metro being a saviour and efforts being made to make public bus transport system smooth, the major hurdle is the lack of last mile connectivity which forces Delhi residents to ply their private vehicles on road.” The minister said that a proposal of introducing ‘common mobility card’ which will work in all modes of public transport is also being actively considered. “DTC is in process of introducing 2,000 buses including 1,380 low far buses, 500 midi buses and 300 luxury buses which will be dedicated for travel between Delhi and NCR,” he said.“10,000 buses will be introduced in the Public Private Partnership mode and will have all kinds of categories including standard general buses, middle fare and high fare buses,” he added. Claiming that the Delhi Transport department has found during a review that the work in public transport sector in the national capital has been in a deadlock post Commonwealth Games in 2010, Rai said that the AAP government is working towards making Delhi “congestion and pollution free”. “E-rickshaws which faced few hurdles initially will be launched on a bigger scale now. We have already announced a subsidy of Rs 15,000 to each e-rickshaw holder,” he said. The minister said that the government will soon be organising a one-day conference where various stakeholders will be invited to discuss best practices adopted across the world and in India to enhance the public transport system.“We are working on providing an alternative to auto rickshaws which is not only eco-friendly but also likely to be cheaper to avoid burning a hole in people’s pockets. The idea is being considered to address the problem of last mile connectivity in Delhi,” Delhi Tourism Minister Gopal Rai said here today.“A task force will be developed after the conference which will work towards improving the public transport system in Delhi,” he said. AAP govt has lost its credibility: BJP New Delhi, June 4 (PTI) BJP on Saturday attacked Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi, saying the Aam Aadmi Party has lost its credibility as the expectations with which people voted for it have been “shattered”. The party’s vice-president Shyam Jaju, who is the new in-charge of Delhi, poohpoohed Kejriwal’s criticism of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, saying “kahan raja bhoj kahan gangu teli”, a Hindi proverb meaning the Delhi Chief Minister was no match to the Prime Minister. Terming the national capital an old bastion of BJP since Jana Sangh’s days, he said his party would work hard to reclaim it while noting that it ruled in all three municipal corporations and won all seven Lok Sabha seats in the city. “People are fed up and disheartened by the APP government. They have come to realise after witnessing its performance that the long term politics through allegations and counter allegations is not possible... Development requires vision and execution of such programmes need capability,” Jaju said. “The credibility of this government is finished. All the hopes and expectations that people had from it have been shattered,” he told PTI.Jaju was yesterday made in-charge of the party’s affairs in Delhi, replacing Prabhat Jha, who will now look after the BJP’s affairs in Punjab and Chandigarh. Criticising the Delhi government over its advertisement budget of over Rs 520 crore, he said no chief minister had ever spent such a huge amount on commercials. “His electricity bill has also set a record.” The AAP leaders have abandoned the so-called simplicity they claimed to have practised and have proved that they are no different from the others, he alleged. Terming the national capital an old bastion of BJP since Jana Sangh’s days, he said his party would work hard to reclaim it while noting that it ruled in all three municipal corporations and won all seven Lok Sabha seats in the city.He said BJP’s future was bright in Delhi, noting that it has added 30 lakh new members in its recent membership drive.“Introducing them to party ideology and connecting them with our programmes and activities will be our top priority in the coming days,” he said. RSS leader Indresh Kumar at an iftar party at Parliament House Annexe organized by Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), in New Delhi on Saturday.PTI 3 Indian Horizon, Delhi City Sunday, July 5, 2015 Six govt hospital heads transferred Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat looking at a Holy Quran in Dehradun on Saturday.PTI Tension in North-East Delhi locality over RSS gathering New Delhi, June 4 (Agencies) A communally tense situation building up in North-East Delhi’s Shriram Colony since the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mobilised its cadre for a massive “Ekatrikaran Shakha” on June 29 has left the locals intimidated and worried.According to the residents, the lathiwielding RSS volunteers, who gathered at a public park, declared they will hold a maha sammelan at there from July 17 to 19, coinciding with the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. Muslims have been offering Eid prayers in the park every year. The venue in question has served as a spot for celebration of functions ranging from ceremonial mundans to nikaah over the past decade given it a “public park” image. The regular RSS congregations in the park during the ongoing month of Ramzan have led to fears in the minority community that the Eid namaz might be disrupted again this year as it was last year on Eid-ul-Zuha.“This is a deliberate attempt to create a situation of communal conflagration in a predominantly Muslim locality,” said activist Maimoon Mollah.The RSS, with the help of the local Ramlila committee, had built a platform in the DDA park during Ramlila last year. Though the police had promised it would be removed after the event, the platform still exists in the park. The locals pointed out that miscreants were trying to add to the communally charged atmosphere by playing loud music during iftaar and the night prayers, and shouting “provocative slogans” during the morning shakhas.A delegation led by CPI(M) member Brinda Karat met Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi here with a request to ensure that communal forces were dealt with firmly. “It is essential to stop the RSS shakha in the area. All the so-called Ekatrikaran activities must be prevented, more so during the month of Ramzan,” said their memorandum. New Delhi, June 4 (Agencies) Medical superintendents of six major Delhi Government Hospitals including Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, Aruna Asaf Ali Hospital and Babu Jagjeevan Ram Hospitals have been transferred as per an order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department on Friday. The most prominent transfers include Dr. Siddarth Ramji who is transferred out as medical superintendent (MS) LNJP as director professor Mulana Azad Medical College. Dr. Satish Kumar, MS, Aruna Asif Ali, Dr. Ashok Kumar, MS, Babu Jagjeevan Ram and Dr. Rekha Aggarwal, MS, Dad Dev Matri Avum Sishu Chikitsalya have been transferred and replaced.In all thirteen transfers have been ordered in this first major shake-up of the hospital heads since the AAP-party came to power in the Capital. Activist challenges Centre’s directive for digital locker GURGAON, June 4 (Agencies) A citybased RTI activist has filed a petition with the Supreme Court, challenging the government’s directive that makes Aadhaar card mandatory for creating a digital locker. On July 1, the Centre had announced the service of digital locker for safekeeping of valuable documents during the launch of Digital India Week. Petitioner Sudhir Yadav alleged that despite a clear order from the apex court, the Narendra Modi-government made Aadhaar card a qualification for availing oneself of the new service. If anyone wants to create an account on the website, digitallocker.gov.in, they have to provide the Aadhaar card number. This is clearly a violation of the Supreme Court ruling that states that Aadhaar card is not mandatory, Yadav says in his petition. He told TOI, “When Aadhaar card is not mandatory according to one Supreme Court ruling, then why should the government encourage something that requires Aadhaar card as a prerequisite?” tnn Wall collapse leaves three dead New Delhi, June 4 ( Agencies) Three labourers were killed and one injured when a wall at an under-construction hospital site in Dwarka collapsed on Friday afternoon, said the fire department.Labourers and eyewitnesses claimed many more were injured, but they managed to emerge from the debris before the arrival of the rescue teams.Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West) R.A. Sanjeev said a case of causing death by negligence and negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings has been registered against the construction company and its engineers. The fire department received a call for help at 11.45 a.m. on Friday. Rescue operations continued till late in the day, as heaps of mud had to be removed using cranes before all could be pulled out.A member of the rescue team said the operation was tough as the victims were trapped in the lowest floor of the three-storey basement.“One of the persons pulled out of the debris did not have a hand. We suspect the hand got accidentally severed by the crane during the rescue operation,” he added.The accident took place in South-West Delhi’s Dwarka Sector-6. Mr. Sanjeev said the accident site is an extension of an under-construction hospital, Human Care Medical Charitable Trust.The basement being built is nearly 40 feet deep. The side where the accident took place is surrounded by a brick wall, around eight feet high. A stretch of the wall spanning around 20 feet collapsed while several labourers were working in the basement located just next to the wall. The wall collapse also led to mud sliding into the basement. “I was working at the other end of the basement when I heard a loud sound. I ran for my life,” said Ranjeet Kumar, a labourer who managed to escape unhurt.Gym instructor Mahender Kumar, who witnessed the accident, said some labourers emerged from the debris immediately after the accident and left the spot with minor injuries.“We saw a hand emerge from the debris. Around a dozen of us helped pull the man out,” he said, adding that the rescue teams arrived at the spot in 20 minutes and got to work. Teams from the fire department, police, the National Disaster Response Force and the civic bodies worked together to rescue the victims. “A makeshift wall was erected to keep the mud wall from collapsing, but it gave way,” said a police officer. Labourers alleged that water had been seeping in under the brick wall above, which led to loosening of the ground beneath it. Trial runs begin on JehangirpuriSamaypur Badli metro stretch New Delhi, June 4 (PTI) Delhi Metro had to hop over busy Northern Railway tracks and a PWD flyover along the Outer Ring Road to build the over 4 km-long extension of its Yellow Line till Samaypur Badli, trial runs for which began on Friday. The busy Yellow Line currently runs between Huda City Centre and Jehangirpuri. The 4.392-km extension till Samaypur Badli is from Jehangirpuri.The construction work for this elevated stretch, part of the PhaseIII of the network, is almost complete and is expected to be opened for commuter operations after successful trials and mandatory approvals, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said. Starting from Jehangirpuri, there would be three stations on the stretch -- Badli Mor, Rohini Sector 18 and Samaypur Badli. The section will cater to residents of north Delhi areas such as Jahangirpuri, Samaypur, Badli, Transport Nagar, GT Karnal Road and parts of Rohini. The construction work required close coordination with various agencies and the use of 200 metric tonnes of steel as a 45-m-long steel span had to be built to make it possible for trains to cross the Delhi-Ambala section of the Northern Railway.“Since PWD is also constructing flyover on the Outer Ring Road, there is one common pier for the metro alignment and the flyover which is unqiue,” a project engineer said. The elevated station that has come up at Badli Mor is also massive in size, with four levels, as it has been built in a way to make it possible to handle the load of two platforms, catering to Phase-III and also Phase-IV. In Phase-IV, it will become an interchange station with the proposed R K Ashram, Mukundpur-Janakpuri (West) section. The project manager of the station said authorities had given it a multiple hue, a break from rather monotonous colour schemes of other stations, as it was located in a largely industrial area. Newly nominated BJP All India convener Kailash Vijayvargiya is greeted by party workers during a rally in Bhopal on Saturday. PTI Digvijay raises question over death of Delhi journo New Delhi, July 4 (PTI) Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh today raised questions over the death of a Delhibased news channel journalist, who had gone to Madhya Pradesh to investigate Vyapam case, demanding that his postmortem should be done in camera under supervision of senior Doctors preferably in Delhi.Singh, who had for quite some time been targetting the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh and its Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the scam also said that he had warned the scribe to be careful. At least 25 accused/witnesses have died so far in Vyapam scam, a massive admission and recruitment racket involving several bureaucrats and politicians, and the opposition Congress has been demanding a CBI probe into the matter.Congress had earlier raised doubts over the death of accused and witnesses in the Vyapam case. Akshay Singh, Aaj Tak reporter from Delhi investigating Vyapam died today after having interviewed parents of a girl who had been found dead near railway tracks after her name figured in the infamous Vyapam scam of Madhya Pradesh. “I met Akshay one day before he left for MP. Warned him to be careful. I am shocked ! Pay homage to him and convey condolences to his family.“Shocking ! Post mortem should be done in camera under supervision of senior Doctors preferably in Delhi,” Singh tweeted.In other tweets, Singh, a former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh said,” Akshay Singh Aaj Tak reporter from Delhi investigating Vyapam died today when he was interviewing father of Namrata Damor Vyapam victim. Gurgaon resident ‘’shocked’’ by electricity bill of Rs 75 crore Delhi University announces third cut-off list, popular courses still open Gurgaon, June 4 (Agencies) A Gurgaon resident, who was shocked to discover a bill of Rs 75 crore for his residence, has alleged that the error has still not been corrected by the electricity board.Jitendra Kumar, a resident of Sector-4, Gurgaon said he was charged the stupendous amount for two months. “I have got a two months bill of 75 crore. Last month I got a bill of Rs 9,000 and before that my bill was five thousand. I have normal equipments at my place. I was shocked when I received my bill. 75 crore ka toh mera makaan bhi nahi hai. Hum toh sadak pe ajayenge (Even my house is not worth 75 crores, I will come on the streets if I pay this bill),” Kumar told ANI.Kumar has made many rounds of the electricity board office but says the issue has not been resolved yet.“When I went to the electricity office, they said they will fix it. They asked me to wait outside the office, I waited for two hours in the office and then they said that I will receive the bill,” he added. Delhi University aspirants have reasons to cheer as admission to popular courses such as B Com and Economics Honors are still up for grabs in the third cut-off list announced by the varsity on Friday. Police near a truck that was overturned by irate villagers after it crushed to death two school children in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday. PTI New Delhi, June 4 (PTI) Delhi University aspirants have reasons to cheer as admission to popular courses such as B Com and Economics Honors are still up for grabs in the third cut-off list announced by the varsity on Friday. Four colleges including Janki Devi Memorial College, SGND Khalsa, SGTB Khalsa and Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, did not release the third-cut off list in view of a Delhi High Court decision granting them minority status. Sri Ram College Of Commerce has announced its cut-off for admissions in Economics (H) at 97.375% making a dip of 0.375% from 97.75%. They have written to DU authorities saying as per the directive from Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, they need time to workout the cut-offs and admission guidelines keeping in mind legality and implications of the reservations to minority students. Daulat Ram college has kept its cut-off at 95.5 pc for Eco (H), 94 pc for English (H) and 95 pc for B.Com. Ramjas has announced its cut-off with a drop of 0.5% for B.Com (H) at 96.25% and English (H) with a drop of 1.5% at 95.5%. College of Vocational Studies and Indraprastha college of women which had announced 100 per cent cut offs for admission to Computer Science Honors have reduced the required percentage to 92.5 and 95 respectively.On the other hand, Gargi College has made a major dip of 2.25% in English (H) announcing its cut-off at 94% this time.All courses are open at Hindu college with the cut-offs for BA Programme, Economics (H), English (H), History (H), Political Science (H) and B.Com (H) at 95, 97,96.5, 96 and 97 per cent respectively.According to the university guidelines, the students need to complete admission formalities till July 7. The next cut-off list will be announced on July 9. The petition, also signed by a DU alumni Thufail, has termed as “highly discriminatory” that three DU colleges, following the same system, calculated Ahammad’s marks “in a totally different manner”. It states that while Ahammad got 100 per cent marks in Physics, Chemistry and Maths (PCM) subjects, at Hindu College he was told that his PCM percentage will be 93.33 per cent after evaluation and Hansraj College informed him that his PCM will be 92.23 per cent as per their calculation.“There is complete violation of the principles of natural justice and the admission guidelines have not been followed by the respondents No. 3 (Hindu) and 4 (Hansraj),” the plea said.It said that in Kerala Board exams, teachers from other schools, selected by the education department, conduct the practical test and give marks in secret.“This is not a part of the continuous evaluation. There is a separate system of continuous evaluation and segregated 20 per cent marks for the same. ...The practical exam cannot be taken as similar to internal assessment as the internal assessment is done by the same school, whereas the practical exam is conducted as a part of the Board examination.” it said. The petition sought directions to DU and its colleges to “consider 80 per cent of the total marks for theory component, including practical, and not to deduct any marks in the name of continuous assessment in the case of students who have passed out from Kerala Higher Secondary Board”. It has sought directions to Kerala government “to issue necessary clarification” to DU with regard to the examination pattern and the awarding of marks to students of Kerala Higher Secondary Board and protect their interests. The petitioners, Ahammad and Thufail, have also alleged that “serious complaints”, including exercise of regional bias by those in charge of admissions, have been received from various students now seeking admission in Delhi University. They have also said that some colleges, like Kirori Mal, were not entertaining students who are coming with attested copies of mark sheet from the school and being denied admission because the original one was not produced. Indian Horizon Delhi Confusion in BJP’s Goa unit over powerful secretary’s ‘transfer’ Panaji, July 4 (IANS) The transfer of influential state BJP organising secretary Satish Dhond to Maharashtra appears to have created confusion in the rank and file of the BJP cadre as well as the top state leadership. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Saturday said Dhond had been transferred to Thane in Maharashtra, while BJP state unit president Vinay Tendulkar, who has been peppered with 119 representations from state party leaders demanding a stay on the transfer, insisted that he has not been intimated by the party high command “about any transfer”. “He (Dhond) has been transferred to Thane, but that will have no impact on Goa,” Parsekar told reporters here, even as Tendulkar told IANS over phone that he has had “no intimation from the party high command about any transfer”. Media reports earlier said Dhond, who was referred to as ‘Super CM’ in the state’s power corridors, thanks to his proximity to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, has been transferred as the organising secretary in-charge of Thane. Party sources said the ruling BJP’s lackluster performance in the recently concluded zilla panchayat elections, in which the party narrowly scraped through, had dented Dhond’s clout in the party, which could have led to his transfer.“Some of the decisions taken during the zilla panchayat elections were inexplicable. AAP’s expelled leader Yogendra Yadav addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Maharashtra on Saturday. PTI 4 Nation Sunday July 5, 2015 Centre must release caste-based census data: CPI(M) leader New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) The Centre should make public caste-based data from the Socio Economic and Caste Census to reveal the real picture of financial status of those belonging to the backward classes, senior CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali said here today. During a session on ‘neo-liberal policies and Dalits’, organised by the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch (DSMM), to mark the 125th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar, the speakers demanded that the Centre offer reservation to Dalits in private sector and Delhi Government make 16.75 per cent “actual” budgetary allocation for Dalits under the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan. “The government survey says that monthly income of 75 out of 100 families in rural India is less than Rs 5,000. Now, how they must be adjusting in such a small amount? “This survey is based on caste. But the government said it will not tell which castes the poor ones belong to. The government said if they reveal so, there will be an explosion. Brothers and sisters, this blast should take place. The poor have been looted in such a way over the past 30 years that whatever they had is not left with them,” CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Subhashini Ali said at the meet. Ali said that neo-liberal economic policies have created inequality across the world over the past three decades. It is not only between poor and rich, but also women, she said, adding social inequality has been a big truth in India.She said perusal of such policies will mean lead to Government’s minimal role in welfare of poor majority of whom are from backward class. Self Styled godmanRampal followers arrested by police HISAR(Haryana) July 4 (PTI): Around 32 followers of self-styled godman Rampal were arrested here for defying prohibitory orders while another six were arrested for breach of peace, police said on Saturday. Among the 32 arrested, five were women. They were arrested for defying prohibitory orders near mini secretariat here, police said. A large number of followers had gathered yesterday when Rampal was to be produced in the court in connection with a case registered against him last year. However, because of security reasons, Rampal was produced before the court through video conferencing, police said. The controversial godman was last year booked under various sections including 121 (waging or abetting the waging of war against government), 121A (Conspiring to commit certain offences against the state),122 (Collecting arms with the intention of waging war against the government), 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC. Another six followers of Rampal were arrested from the Rehri market Patel Nagar here yesterday on various charges including breach of peace. They were allegedly distributing a book containing objectionable content, police said. Modi to visit five Central Asian nations, Russia next week New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will next week visit the five Central Asian nations of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as Russia, where he will participate in the BRICS and SCO Summit. The visits start on Monday, from Uzbekistan. “India and Uzbekistan enjoy a close strategic partnership... I would be holding talks with President (Islam) Karimov and we would be inking key agreements to strengthen cooperation between our countries,” Modi said in a post on his official Facebook page.He said Indian movies, language and music were very popular in Uzbekistan.“In fact, the Uzbek radio completed 50 years of Hindi broadcasting in 2012... I would be interacting with Indologists, students learning Hindi and members of the Indian community. There are over 3,000 Indians in Uzbekistan.”On July 7 and 8, Modi will be in Kazakhstan, India’s largest trading partner in Central Asia. He will meet President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Prime Miniter Karim Massimov. “India and Kazakhstan are cooperating in a wide range of sectors including energy and space. I see a huge opportunity for our economic ties to grow further. India and Kazakhstan can also increase ties in agriculture,” said Modi.He will also interact with Kazakh youth at the Nazarbayev University, and inaugurate the India-Kazakhstan Centre for Ex- cellence in Information and Communication Technology at the L.N. Gumilev Eurasian National University.“I will join a wreath laying ceremony and planting of sapling at the Monument of Defenders of Motherland.” “Our cultural ties with Kazakhstan are deep rooted. Our films, TV serials and dances are very popular. Yoga is gaining popularity. I must appreciate the enthusiasm with which Kazakhstan joined Yoga Day celebrations on 21st June,” he said. The next stop would be Russia, where Modi will attend the 7th BRICS Summit and SCO Summit in Ufa.“In the past one year, I have had the opportunity to meet the BRICS leaders at the Summit in Brazil and during other international forums. The Summit last year was productive and I am sure we will build on the ground covered during the last Summit. Complaint filed against Swaraj, Raje, Lalit Modi Patna, Jul 4 (PTI) A complaint has been filed against External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhre Raje and former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi in a district court here. Vinay Kumar Singh, chief of NGO “Friends of Bihari”, filed the complaint in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Bharat Singh yesterday. But, the complainant did not turn up in the court today in the hearing for admission of the case. The court would fix a future date to give another chance to the complainant to plead his matter to decide whether it could be admitted in the court or not.The complaint was lodged under IPC sections 120, 124 and Information Technology Act WB assessing landslide damage : Mamata Kolkata, Jul 4 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said the state government was conducting an assessment of the landslide-battered districts and the report would be sent to the Centre.“Assessment of Darjeeling landslide damage is being carried out and the same will be sent to the Centre,” Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’ .She said the Rapti Khola Bridge in Darjeeling district and a 10.1-km-long road connecting Siliguri and Mirik was likely to be opened temporarily from tomorrow evening. Stating that Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) chief Bimal Gurung had called her to provide an update on the disaster, Banerjee said, “Along with GTA all have to work together for the sake of the people there (in Darjeeling hills).” 2000.Referring to media reports, the complainant alleged that Lalit Modi through Twitter has tried to destabilise the country by dropping names of one leader after another in connection with some wrong practice.He prayed to the court to direct Kadam Kuan police station in the capital to register a case against Swaraj, Raje and Lalit Modi and probe the matter. Bombs recovered in West Bengal Suri (WB), Jul 4 (PTI) Several bombs were recovered from a house at Sattor in Birbhum district today. The bombs were kept in plastic containers and those were later shown to media persons, police officials said. Although villagers alleged that the bombs had been recovered from a Trinamool Congress party office in the area, police officials dismissed the allegation as baseless. RSS mouthpiece takes a dig at China in Lakhvi case New Delhi July 4 (PTI): Expressing concern over growth of ISIS in the world, RSS mouthpiece ‘Organiser’ on Saturday stressed on a coordinated approach to tackle it and said “selective abetment” as China did to Pakistan in the Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur- Rehman Lakhvi case will not help the cause. It said that mere high-handed military approach will not address the issue and will instead make ISIS more popular, noting that unless it is accepted that political Islam with ideology of Jihadism has emerged as a challenge to Western liberalism, a piecemeal approach to the problem will be maintained. “Mere high-handed military approach will not address the issue; on the contrary, it would make the group more popular. There is a need for coherent containment strategy to deal with the menace and the selective abetment as China did to Pakistan in the Lakhvi case will not help the cause,” the editorial in the ‘Organiser’ said on Saturday.China had recently blocked India’s move in the UN demanding action against Paki- Court refuses to recall arrest warrant against TMC MP Kolkata, Jul 4 (PTI) A city court today refused to recall a warrant of arrest against Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Prasun Banerjee in connection with his alleged slapping of a police constable in January. Bidhannagar Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate A K Ghosh, who had directed the police to take Banerjee into custody and produce him before his court by July 17, refused to entertain a plea by Baner- jee’s counsel to recall the warrant. The warrant was issued by the court yesterday as the Howrah MP failed to turn up before it despite notice being served upon him. The counsel submitted that charge sheet in the case has been submitted and that Banerjee was not an absconder. He told the ACJM that the footballer-turned-politician would appear before the court as and when directed. stan over release of LeT commander Lakhvi in violation of a resolution of the world body as it contended that India provided insufficient information.The RSS mouthpiece suggested that Islamic countries in West Asia who believe in democratic traditions and understand the dangers of IS menace should lead the strategy for containing Jihadi forces and the voices of Muslims victims of Jihadi terror need to be strengthened.“Unless we openly accept that political Islam with the ideology of Jihadism has emerged as a challenge to the West- ern liberalism, we will maintain the piecemeal approach towards the problem.“Without the coordinated approach, the Islamic State can be temporarily defeated but the idea of Caliphate will continue to perpetuate violence for hundreds of years,” Organizer” said. The RSS mouthpiece said, it needs to be accepted that this phenomenon is a spillover of the Cold War period external interventions in West Asia by superpowers and things have become complicated for the oil-rich region. MPs’ salary: BJP reserves views, says final call for govt to New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) BJP today sought to distance itself from a parliamentary panel’s recommendation for a 100 per cent hike in MPs’ salary besides a number of perks, saying it was for the government to take a call on it. “We have nothing to say. It is our government at the Centre and the panel is headed by a senior member of our party. But the Centre has apparently put the report in cold storage. It is finally for the government to take a call on it,” a party leader said. The fact that the parliamentary panel is headed by BJP MP Yogi Aditynanath has forced the party to maintain a distance.The panel has pitched for 100 per cent hike in salary and daily allowances of MPs and 75 per cent raise in pension of ex-MPs apart from facilities for their “companions” in place of “spouses”. Cong MP Sanjay Singh’s son arrested in a case of cop’s death RAF men arrest a man in connection with the communal violence at Atali village in Faridabad on Saturday. PTI Amethi, Jul 4 (PTI) Anant Vikram Singh, estranged son of Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh, was today arrested in connection with the killing of a policeman here about nine months back. Police constable Vijay Kumar Mishra had died in firing in September outside the Bhupati Bhawan, whose ownership is being claimed by several people of the royal family of Amethi. Mishra was part of police deployment outside the Bhawan in Ramnagar area when trouble broke out over the ownership of the property on the fateful day, Superintendent of Police Heera Lal said.An FIR was registered against hundreds of people including Anant, he said, adding a local court had issued a non-bailable warrant against him.Soon after his arrest, Anant was sent to 14 days’ judicial custody. Family members Malvani Hooch tragedy victims stage a dharna demanding higher compensation in Mumbai on Saturday. PTI Over 70,000 transgenders in rural India Kolkata, July 4 (IANS) Rural India has over 70,000 transgenders, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list with nearly 13,000, and West Bengal home to around 10,000, reveals the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011.The census’s gender analysis reports rural India has 74,286 transgenders.Uttar Pradesh tops the list among 35 Indian states and Union Territories with 12,916 members, Bihar comes in second with 9,987 transgenders and rural Bengal ranks third with 9,868 members of the third gender. According to Ranjita Sinha, transgender activist and a member of Bengal’s Transgender Development Board, the survey released on Friday reflects the growing recognition of the third gender in the state.“The census will provide a way to frame better policies for the third gender in the state. A lot of positive things are happening in Bengal and the official record of the numbers are evidence of the growing recognition, especially in the rural areas,” Sinha told IANS.The survey reports a population of 7,07,68,606, and 1,57,56,852 households in rural Bengal. The proportion of transgenders in the state is around 13.3 percent of the national total.Sinha, also the secretary of the Association of Transgender/Hijra in Bengal, said the statistics and data will help further strategies in health and education of the third gender. Court admits defamation complaint of Sushil Modi’s wife Patna, Jul 4 (PTI) A local court today admitted a defamation complaint against Bihar Health Minister Ramdhani Singh filed by the wife of senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi for allegedly saying that she was working as a professor on the basis of fake degrees. Chief Judicial Magistrate Bharat Singh admitted the complaint and transferred the matter to Judicial Magistrate Raghini Kumari for hearing. The court has fixed July 13 as the date of hearing in the complaint.Modi’s wife Jessie George appeared in the CJM court today and pleaded that her academic degrees were genuine and the allegation of her fake degrees has tarnished her reputation. She had filed the complaint in the CJM court on June 22 against the minister through her lawyer Subodh Kumar Jha under IPC 499 (defamation) and sought lawful punishment for him. In her complaint, George said that by calling by her degrees ‘fake’, Singh had sullied her image in the eyes of stu- dents, teachers and parents. She said she had matriculated from Maharashtra Board of Secondary Education and had done her BSc and BEd from Sophia College of Maharashtra. She has done MEd from Mumbai and PHD from Patna University. After working in a central school for eight years, she became a lecturer in Patna University in 2003 and since April 2011 was working as principal in-charge of Womens Training College under Patna University. Indian Horizon, Delhi Short Takes Jayalalithaa greets Governor on his 82nd birthday turing facilities to neighbouring Ramanathapuram district due to close monitoring of their activities in Virudhunagar district Chennai, Jul 4 (PTI): Chief which considered a hub of fireMinister J Jayalalithaa today works industries, police said. greeted Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah on his 82nd birthday. Youth held for “On the joyous occasion of circulating your 82nd birthday, I have great objectionable pleasure in conveying my warm felicitations and best wishes to messages on Whatsapp you. “I pray that the almighty Tirunelveli, Jul 4 (PTI): A man may grant you many more years hailing from Uttar Pradesh was of robust health and peace to arrested in connection with serve the nation,” she said in the murder of a watchman of her birthday greetings sent to a bank at Naduvapatti near the Governor. Jayalalithaa ex- Thiruvengadam in this district tended her greetings to Rosaiah in 2011, police said today. over phone and the Governor Narendrapal Singh alias thanked the Chief Minister for Rajesh of Aligarh district in Utthe same, a state government tarpradesh had joined hands release said here. with his associates in Tamil Nadu and tried to loot the CPI(M) opposes primary agriculture cooperaCentre`s proposal tive bank after murdering the watchman Ramaraj, who resistto roll out DBT ed their attempt scheme He was arrested yesterday, Puducherry, Jul 4 (PTI): CPIM police said, adding, the memtoday dubbed as ‘anti-poor’ the bers of the gang would be arCentre’s proposal to extend on rested soon. a pilot basis the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme in Teacher ignoring three union territories, includ- other students ing Puducherry, for foodgrains and kerosene supplied through Ramanathapuram, Jul 4 PDS. (PTI): The District collector has State unit CPI-M Secretary sought a report from authoriR.Rajangam in a release here ties about a physics teacher of a said the proposal would hit the government aided school, who common man, particularly the had been charged of teaching poorer sections as the inflation and conducting periodical exwas playing havoc in prices of aminations only to those stuessential goods. dents who come to him for tuThe Narendra Modi led gov- ition and ignoring others. ernment was going in for an District Education Officer `injurious` approach and the Marimeena, who conducted proposal to adopt the scheme initial investigation based on on pilot basis in three Union the complaint given by eight Territories-Puducherry, Chan- studnets studying in the F secdigarh and Dadar and Nagar tion of twelveth standard of Havelli-should be dropped. the higher seccondary school, revealed that the teacher had New E-initiatives deliberately marked absent for students during the tests and in Kerala examination because they did Thiruvananthapuram, July 4 not come for tuition classes (PTI): Congress led UDF gov- under him. The officials said toernment In Kerala will launch day the education department a slew of e-Governance initia- instructed the school managetives which includes e-KYC for ment not allow the teacher to Aadhaar Project, Citizen Por- take physics class for the partal for e-Office Project, and e- ticular section. However, tension prevailed Learning Portal as part Digital India programme launched by in the school as the majority Prime Minister Narendra Modi students who were taking tuition under the teacher proon July 1. State Minister for Industries tested against the transfer of the and IT P K Kunhalikutty would teacher. The officials intervened launch the programmes at a and held talks with them,the function here on July 6, an offi- correspondent of the school Ilangovan said. cial release said here today. The Collector had sought reE-Office was introduced in all departments in the secretariat in port from the education departAugust 2013. So far it has been ment officials and the school implemented at 21 departments correspondent. either fully or partially. Another major initiative is Woman with two e-learning platform that of- kids found dead fers a learning environment in a sump vastly different from the traditional classroom and helps the Coimbatore, Jul 4 (PTI): A department,trainers and course woman along with her two girl creators to set up an online children were found dead in a classroom setting with oppor- sump, attached to their house tunities for rich interaction and in Kangeyampalayam on the collaboration with their stu- city outskirts, today. dents, the release added. Naveen, a driver by profession, found his wife Ezhin missThree arrested for ing along with two daughters-four and half year and one and illegal transport half year old--when he woke up of wicks this morning, police said. As the search for them in the Madurai, Jul 4 (PTI): Three persons were arrested today for neighbourhood remained futransporting several bundles of tile, he noticed the door of the “Karunthiri” (chemical coated sump was opened and on peepwick used in crackers), after ing found the bodies of wife and making them without license children floating, they said. As he raised alarm, neighin houses, near Aruppukottai in bours rushed to the spot and Virudhunagar district. Police said the wicks were be- informed police, who retrieved ing transported from Sayalkudi the bodies form the sump, they in Ramanathapuram to Virud- said. Even as bodies were sent hunagar when police seized for postmortem, investigations were on whether this was a and arrested the persons. The fireworks manufacturers case of suicide or murder, pohad shifted the illegal manufac- lice said. 5 Nation Sunday, July 5, 2015 Jayalalithaa takes oath as MLA Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa taking oath as Member of Legislative Assembly at Secrataiat in Chennai, on Saturday. She was declared elected in Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency bypoll recently. (PTI Photo\ DIPR) Chennai, Jul 4 (PTI): Days after securing a thumping victory in the RK Nagar bypoll here, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today took oath as MLA. Jayalalithaa took oath as Legislator in the presence of Speaker P Dhanapal in his chamber inside the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Her cabinet colleagues were also present on the occasion. The AIADMK supremo returns as Legislator after a gap of about 10 months, after she was disqualified as MLA and Chief Minister following her conviction in a wealth case by a Bengaluru trial court last September. Jayalalithaa was subsequently acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in May following her appeal against the lower court HC issues notice to TNPSC Chennai, Jul 4 (PTI): Madras High Court today ordered issue of notice to Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission on a plea seeking to re-publish the list of thecandidates selected for the post of Civil Judges after excluding five candidates from General Turn of Persons Studied in Tamil Medium category (PSTM). The Division Bench comprising Justice V Ramasubramanian and Justice T Mathivanan directed the TNPSC to file its reply by July 13 on a petition by K Nandini, an advocate and an aspiring candidate. The process of selection is based on the marks obtained in the written examination and the viva-voce. As per the mini- verdict, allowing her to return as the Chief Minister. Her party member P Vetrivel had vacated the RK Nagar Assembly seat in May, resulting in a bypoll which Jayalalithaa won by a huge margin of 1,50,722 votes against her nearest rival, CPI’s C Mahendran who forfeited his deposit. The bypoll was held on June 27 and results were declared on June 30. mum pass marks prescribed, 590 persons were called for certificates verification. Interview was conducted in the TNPSC office by a panel of five Judges of Madras High Court and a final rank list of 151 candidates was published. According to the petitioner the rank list published was wrongly filled up the candidates of General PSTM category because of which she was kept out of the provisional selection list. She contented that the PSTM Category was created vide a Government Order in 2010 and a special reservation was made for the persons Studied in Tamil Medium. The petitioner alleged that five candidates who have included in the PSTM category have not obtained the minimum prescribed marks of 40 per cent and not qualified to be considered under that category. ISRO to undertake biggest commercial launch on July 10 Bengaluru, Jul 4 (PTI): In the heaviest ever commercial mission undertaken by ISRO and its commercial arm Antrix, the country’s workhorse the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will put in orbit five foreign satellites from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on July 10. With the overall lift-off mass of the five satellites amounting to about 1,440 kg, this mission becomes the heaviest commercial mission ever undertaken by Antrix/ISRO, the Indian space agency said. In its 13th flight, PSLV-C28 will launch three identical DMC3 optical earth observation satellites built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), United Kingdom (UK). The three DMC3 satellites, each weighing 447 kg, will be launched into a 647 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) using the high-end version of PSLV (PSLVXL), ISRO said on its website. PSLV-C28 will be the ninth flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration. In addition, the rocket will also carry two auxiliary satellites from UK - CBNT-1, a technology demonstrator earth observation micro satellite built by SSTL, and De-OrbitSail, a technology demonstrator nano satellite built by Surrey Space Centre, it said. Accommodating the three DMC3 satellites each with a height of about 3 metre within the existing payload fairing of PSLV, was a challenge, ISRO said. To mount these satellites onto the launcher, a circular Launcher adaptor called L-adaptor and a triangular deck called Multiple Satellite Adapter-Version 2 (MSA-V2), were newly designed and realised by ISRO for this specific purpose. Elephant tramples 52-year old man to death Udhagamandalam, Jul 4 (PTI): Tension gripped Gudalur town after when a 52-year old man was trampled to death by a stray elephant in the early hours of today. Dominic was going to his house through a paddy field in Kasimedu, fringe area of Gudalur town, about 60 Kms from here, when the elephant roaming around the area for the last six months chased and trampled him to death, police said. Hearing about the incident, the villagers rushed to the area and staged a picketing and refused to shift the body, protesting against the apathy of forest department to put an end to the man-animal conflict, they said. As officials from forest and police departments, along with the local Tahsildar reached the spot and assured to find a solution, they dispersed and the body was sent to government hospital for postmortem. Kerala to start facility to produce varieties of fish products Kochi, Jul 4 (PTI): Seeking to capitalise the huge demand for value-added fish products in the country, Kerala government will set up a fully mechanised manufacturing and processing facility with international standards to produce varieties of fish products. Minister for Fisheries, Ports and Excise K Babu today said a detailed project report had been prepared and submitted to the National Fisheries Board. “The new unit will increase the production capacity from 5 tonnes to 15 tonnes,” he told reporters here after launching the new value-added dry fish product by Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC) under the brand name ‘Drish Kerala’. Babu said the new initiative would provide employment opportunities to a large number of women fisher-folk in the coastal areas of the state. KSCADC Managing Director K Ampady said they would soon tie-up with distributors across the state to market the new products. “We are first focusing the Kerala market and will scale up operations in other states, particularly in the north-east, in the due course of time,” he said. ‘Drish Kerala’ products are varied types of fish which are dried and processed at the stateof-the-art facility of KSCADC in Shaktikulangara in Kollam district. Ampady said ‘Drish Kerala’ is a high-end quality product processed as per international standards. “The fresh fish procured directly from landing centres are cleaned and processed in modern fish processing plants. ’s hygienic, standardised and branded. The ready-to-cook products with optimum salt content and minimum water content are packed in multilayered transparent pouches providing colour and odour retention,” he pointed out. Providing sets: HC directs Registrar General to look into the matter Chennai, July 4 (PTI): The Madras High Court has directed its Registrar General to look into the matter of making provisions for giving seats in the courts to those accused in the criminal and trial Courts. The First Bench Comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam gave the direction on a PIL filed by A Jaiganesh, a social activist seeking a direction to all Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Forums in the state to treat victims, witnesses and suspects with dignity by offering them a seat. “We find it difficult to accept that any court would deliberately make a woman or an expectant mother to stand in the court”, the bench said. Een in the witness box, if required, a person can be seated. The purpose is to record the testimony and not to cause pain or physical inconvenience. We again see no reason why if there are benches vacant, even the accused who come to the court cannot be seated there, the bench said. The Bench while referring with a Supreme Court judgment in its order said “the dictum laid down by the apex court, all the courts would be expected to follow the same and this issue will be looked into by Registrar General of this Court and if required necessary direction/office order can be issued.? Adani Group to set up solar park in TN for Rs 4,536-cr The Adani Group on Saturday signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government to set up a Rs 4,536 crore solar park in the state. The development comes on the back drop of the state’s decision to buy 2000 MW of solar power by the end of this calendar year.( PTI Photo\ DIPR) Chennai, Jul 4 (PTI): Business conglomerate Adani Group has proposed to set up a solar park in Tamil Nadu tipped to be among the world’s largest at an outlay of Rs 4,536 crore. State-run TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) and Adani Group signed an agreement today in the presence of Chief Minster J Jayalalithaa. “Adani Group has proposed to set up five solar power generation centres with a total capacity of 648 MW in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu at an investment of Rs 4,536 crore”, an official statement said. The power generated from the plant would be purchased at a price of Rs 7.01 per unit by the government. Adani Group MD Rajesh Adani while explaining about the project said it will be one of the world’s largest solar park and will be set up in Kamudhi, Ramanathapuram district. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said, “I am very happy to be here. I hope the project is successful and I hope your partnership with Tamil Nadu will continue”. TANGEDCO has already inked power purchase agreements with 31 private players to generate 436 MW of solar power. “The signing of MoU between Adani Group and with the other private players will attract investments of Rs 7,588 crore towards generation of 1,084 MW of solar energy in the state”, the statement further said. The Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Limited (TANTRANSCO) engaged in developing electricity infrastructure, has undertaken a slew of projects including setting up of substations and power corridor at various places with an investment of Rs 691.51 crore, it said. 6 By. CHARLES LAMB AT the north end of Cross-court there yet stands a portal, of some architectural pretensions, though reduced to humble use, serving at present for an entrance to a printing-office. This old doorway, if you are young, reader, you may not know was the identical pit entrance to Old Drury -- Garrick’s Drury -- all of it that is left. I never pass it without shaking some forty years from off my shoulders, recurring to the evening when I passed through it to see my first play. The afternoon had been wet, and the condition of our going (the elder folks and myself) was, that the rain should cease. With what a beating heart did I watch from the window the puddles, from the stillness of which I was taught to prognosticate the desired cessation! I seem to remember the last spurt, and the glee with which I ran to announce it. We went with orders, which my godfather F. had sent us. He kept the oil shop (now Davies’s) at the corner of Featherstone- building, in Holborn. F. was a tall grave person, lofty in speech, and had pretensions above his rank. He associated in those days with John Palmer, the comedian, whose gait and bearing he seemed to copy; if John (which is quite as likely) did not rather borrow somewhat of his manner from my godfather. He was also known to, and visited by, Sheridan. It was to his house in Holborn that young Brinsley brought his first wife on her elopement with him from a boarding-school at Bath -- the beautiful Maria Linley. My parents were present (over a quadrille table) when he arrived in the evening with his harmonious charge. -- From either of these connexions it may be inferred that my godfather could command an order for the then Drury-lane theatre at pleasure -- and, indeed, a pretty liberal issue of those cheap billets, in Brinsley’s easy autograph, I have heard him say was the sole remuneration which he had received for many years’ nightly illumination of the orchestra and various avenues of that theatre -- and he was content it should be so. The honour of Sheridan’s familiarity -- or supposed familiarity -- was better to my godfather than money. F. was the most gentlemanly of oilmen; grandiloquent, yet courteous. His delivery of the commonest matters of fact was Ciceronian. He had two Latin words almost constantly in his mouth (how odd sounds Latin from an oilman’s lips!), which my better knowledge since has enabled me to correct. In strict pronunciation they should have been sounded vice versa -- but in those young years they impressed me with more awe than they would now do, read aright from Seneca or Varro -- in his own peculiar pronunciation, monosyllabically elaborated, or Anglicized, into something like verse verse. By an imposing manner, and the help of these distorted syllables, he climbed (but that was little) to the highest parochial honours which St. Andrew’s has to bestow. I had for some time past, dwelt upon the prospect of our being reduced to this last horrible extremity, and had secretly made up my mind to suffer death in any shape or under any circumstances rather than resort to such a course. Nor was this resolution in any degree weakened by the present intensity of hunger under which I laboured. The proposition had not been heard by either Peters or Augustus. I therefore took Parker aside; and mentally praying to God for power to dissuade him from the horrible purpose he entertained, I expostulated with him for a long time, and in the most supplicating manner, begging him in the name of every thing which he held sacred, and urging him by every species of argument which the extremity of the case suggested, to abandon the idea, and not to mention it to either of the other two. He heard all I said without attempting to controvert any of my arguments, and I had begun to hope that he would be prevailed upon to do as I desired. But when I had ceased speaking, he said that he knew very well all I had said was true, and that to resort to such a course was the most horrible alternative which could enter into the mind of man; but that he had now held out as long as human nature could be sustained; that it was unnecessary for all to perish, when, by the death of one, it was possible, and even probable, that the rest might be finally preserved; adding that I might save myself the trouble of trying to turn him from his purpose, his mind having been thoroughly made up on the subject even before the appearance of the ship, and that only her heaving in sight had prevented him from mentioning his intention at an earlier period. I now begged him, if he would not be prevailed upon to abandon his design, at least to defer it for another day, when some vessel might come to our relief; again reiterating Indian Horizon Delhi LITERARY Sunday, July 5, 2015 Essays Of Elia MY FIRST PLAY He is dead -- and thus much I thought due to his memory, both for my first orders (little wondrous talismans ! -- slight keys, and insignificant to outward sight, but opening to me more than Arabian paradises!) and moreover, that by his testamentary beneficence I came into possession of the only landed property which I could ever call my own -- situate near the road-way village of pleasant Puckeridge, in Hertfordshire. When I journeyed down to take possession, and planted foot on my own ground, the stately habits of the donor descended upon me, and I strode (shall I confess the vanity?) with larger paces over my allotment of three quarters of an acre, with its commodious mansion in the midst, with the feeling of an English freeholder that all betwixt sky and centre was my own. The estate has passed into more prudent hands, and nothing but an agrarian can restore it. From either of these connexions it may be inferred that my godfather could command an order for the then Drury-lane theatre at pleasure -- and, indeed, a pretty liberal issue of those cheap billets, in Brinsley’s easy autograph, I have heard him say was the sole remuneration which he had received for many years’ nightly illumination of the orchestra and various avenues of that theatre -- and he was content it should be so. The honour of Sheridan’s familiarity -- or supposed familiarity -- was better to my godfather than money. In those days were pit orders. Beshrew the uncomfortable manager who abolished them ! -- with one of these we went. I remember the waiting at the door -- not that which is left -- but between that and an inner door in shelter -- O when shall I be such an expectant again ! -- with the cry of nonpareils, an indispensable playhouse accompaniment in those days. As near as I can recollect, the fashionable pronunciation of the theatrical fruiteresses then was, “Chase some oranges, chase some numparels, chase a bill of the play;” -- chase pro chuse. But when we got in, and I beheld the green curtain that veiled a heaven to my imagination, which was soon to be disclosed -- the breathless anticipations I endured! I had seen something like it in the plate prefixed to Troilus and Cressida, in Rowe’s Shakspeare -- the tent scene with Diomede -- and a sight of that plate can always bring back in a measure the feeling of that evening. -- The boxes at that time, full of well-dressed women of quality, protected over the pit; and the pilasters reaching down were adorned with a glistering substance (I know not what) under glass (as it seemed), resembling -- a homely fancy -- but I judged it to be sugar-candy -- yet, to my raised imagination, divested of its homelier qualities, it appeared a glorified candy -- The orchestra lights at length arose, those “fair Auroras!” Once the bell sounded. It was to ring out yet once again -- and, incapable of the anticipation, I reposed my shut eyes in a sort of resignation upon the maternal lap. It rang the second time. The curtain drew up -- I was not past six years old -- and the play was Artaxerxes! I had dabbled a little in the Universal History -- the ancient part of it -- and here was the court of Persia. It was being admitted to a sight of the past I took no proper interest in the action going on, for I understood not its import -- but I heard the word Darius, and I was in the midst of Daniel. All feeling was absorbed in vision. Gorgeous vests, gardens, palaces, princesses, passed before me. I knew not players. I was in Persepolis for the time; and the burning idol of their devotion almost converted me into a worshipper. I was awe-struck, and believed those significations to be something more than elemental fires. It was all enchantment and a dream. No such pleasure has since visited me but in dreams. -- Harlequin’s Invasion followed; where, I remember, the transformation of the magistrates into reverend beldams seemed to me a piece of grave historic justice, and the tailor carrying his own head to be as sober a verity as the legend of St. Denys. AT the north end of Cross-court there yet stands a portal, of some architectural pretensions, though reduced to humble use, serving at present for an entrance to a printing-office. This old doorway, if you are young, reader, you may not know was the identical pit entrance to Old Drury -- Garrick’s Drury -- all of it that is left. I never pass it without shaking some forty years from off my shoulders, recurring to the evening when I passed through it to see my first play. The afternoon had been wet, and the condition of our going (the elder folks and myself) was, that the rain should cease. With what a beating heart did I watch from the window the puddles, from the stillness of which I was taught to prognosticate the desired cessation! I seem to remember the last spurt, and the glee with which I ran to announce it. The next play to which I was taken was the Lady of the Manor, of which, with the exception of some scenery, very faint traces are left in my memory. It was followed by a pantomime, cal]ed Lun’s Ghost -- a satiric touch, I apprehend, upon Rich, not long since dead -- but to my apprehension (too sincere for satire), Lun was as remote a piece of antiquity as Lud -- the father of a line of Harlequins -- transmitting his dagger of lath (the wooden sceptre) through countless ages. I saw the primeval Motley come from his silent tomb in a ghastly vest of white patch-work, like the apparition of a dead rainbow. So Harlequins (thought I) look when they are dead. My third play followed in quick succession. It was the Way of the World. I think I must have sat at it as grave as a judge; for, I remember, the hysteric affectations of good Lady Wishfort affected me like some solemn tragic passion. Robinson Crusoe followed; in which Crusoe, man Friday, and the parrot, were as good and authentic as in the story. -- The clownery and pantaloonery of these pantomimes have clean passed out of my head. I believe, I no more laughed at them, than at the same age I should have been disposed to laugh at the grotesque Gothic heads (seeming to me then replete with devout meaning) that gape, and grin, in stone around the inside of the old Round Church (my church) of the Templars. I saw these plays in the season 1781-2, when I was from six to seven years old. After the intervention of six or seven other years (for at school all play-going was inhibited) I again entered the doors of a theatre. That old Artaxerxes evening had never done ringing in my fancy. I expected the same feelings to come again with the same occasion. But we differ from ourselves less at sixty and sixteen, than the latter does from six. In that interval what had I not lost! At the first period I knew nothing, understood nothing, discriminated nothing. I felt all, loved all, wondered all - I had left the temple a devotee, and was returned a rationalist. The same things were there materially; but the emblem, the reference, was gone -- The green curtain was no longer a veil, drawn between two worlds, the unfolding of which was to bring back past ages, to present “a royal ghost,” -- but a certain quantity of green baize, which was to separate the audience for a given time from certain of their fellow-men who were to come forward and pretend those parts. The lights -- the orchestra lights -- came up a clumsy machinery. The first ring, and the second ring, was now but a trick of the prompter’s bell -- which had been, like the note of the cuckoo, a phantom of a voice, no hand seen or guessed at which ministered to its warning. The actors were men and women painted. I thought the fault was in them; but it was in myself, and the alteration which those many centuries -- of six short twelve- months -- had wrought in me. -- Perhaps it was fortunate for me that the play of the evening was but an indifferent comedy, as it gave me time to crop some unreasonable expectations, which might have interfered with the genuine emotions with which I was soon after enabled to enter upon the first appearance to me of Mrs. Siddons in IsabelIa. I saw the primeval Motley come from his silent tomb in a ghastly vest of white patch-work, like the apparition of a dead rainbow. So Harlequins (thought I) look when they are dead. Comparison and retrospection soon yielded to the present attraction of the scene; and the theatre became to me, upon a new stock, the most delightful of recreations. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket CHAPTER 12 every argument I could devise, and which I thought likely to have influence with one of his rough nature. He said, in reply, that he had not spoken until the very last possible moment, that he could exist no longer without sustenance of some kind, and that therefore in another day his suggestion would be too late, as regarded himself at least. Finding that he was not to be moved by anything I could say in a mild tone, I now assumed a different demeanor, and told him that he must be aware I had suffered less than any of us from our calamities; that my health and strength, consequently, were at that moment far better than his own, or than that either of Peters or Augustus; in short, that I was in a condition to have my own way by force if I found it necessary; and that if he attempted in any manner to acquaint the others with his bloody and cannibal designs, I would not hesitate to throw him into the sea. Upon this he immediately seized me by the throat, and drawing a knife, made several ineffectual efforts to stab me in the stomach; an atrocity which his excessive debility alone prevented him from accomplishing. In the meantime, being roused to a high pitch of anger, I forced him to the vessel’s side, with the full intention of throwing him overboard. He was saved from his fate, however, by the interference of Peters, who now approached and separated us, asking the cause of the disturbance. This Parker told before I could find means in any manner to prevent him. The effect of his words was even more terrible than what I had anticipated. Both Augustus and Peters, who, it seems, had long secretly entertained the same fearful idea which Parker had been merely the first to broach, joined with him in his design and insisted upon its immediately being carried into effect. I had calculated that one at least of the two former would be found still possessed of sufficient strength of mind to side with myself in resisting any attempt to execute so dreadful a purpose, and, with the aid of either one of them, I had no fear of being able to prevent its accomplishment. Being disappointed in this expectation, it became absolutely necessary that I should attend to my own safety, as a further resistance on my part might possibly be considered by men in their frightful condition a sufficient excuse for refusing me fair play in the tragedy that I knew would speedily be enacted. I now told them I was willing to submit to the proposal, merely requesting a delay of about one hour, in order that the fog which had gathered around us might have an opportunity of lifting, when it was possible that the ship we had seen might be again in sight. After great difficulty I obtained from them a promise to wait thus long; and, as I had anticipated (a breeze rapidly coming in), the fog lifted before the hour had expired, when, no vessel appearing in sight, we prepared to draw lots. It is with extreme reluctance that I dwell upon the appalling scene which ensued; a scene which, with its minutest details, no after events have been able to efface in the slightest degree from my memory, and whose stern recollection will embitter every future moment of my existence. Let me run over this portion of my narrative with as much haste as the nature of the events to be spoken of will permit. The only method we could devise for the terrific lottery, in which we were to take each a chance, was that of drawing straws. Small splinters of wood were made to answer our purpose, and it was agreed that I should be the holder. I retired to one end of the hulk, while my poor companions silently took up their station in the other with their backs turned toward me. The bitterest anxiety which I endured at any period of this fearful drama was while I occupied myself in the arrangement of the lots. There are few conditions into which man can possibly fall where he will not feel a deep interest in the preservation of his existence; an interest momentarily increasing with the frailness of the tenure by which that existence may be held. But now that the silent, definite, and stern nature of the business in which I was engaged (so different from the tumultuous dangers of the storm or the gradually approaching horrors of famine) allowed me to reflect on the few chances I had of escaping the most appalling of deaths--a death for the most appalling of purposes--every particle of that energy which had so long buoyed me up departed like feathers before the wind, leaving me a helpless prey to the most abject and pitiable terror. I could not, at first, even summon up sufficient strength to tear and fit together the small splinters of wood, my fingers absolutely refusing their office, and my knees knocking violently against each other. My mind ran over rapidly a thousand absurd projects by which to avoid becoming a partner in the awful speculation. I thought of falling on my knees to my companions, and entreating them to let me escape this necessity; of sud- denly rushing upon them, and, by putting one of them to death, of rendering the decision by lot useless--in short, of every thing but of going through with the matter I had in hand. At last, after wasting a long time in this imbecile conduct, I was recalled to my senses by the voice of Parker, who urged me to relieve them at once from the terrible anxiety they were enduring. Even then I could not bring myself to arrange the splinters upon the spot, but thought over every species of finesse by which I could trick some one of my fellow-sufferers to draw the short straw, as it had been agreed that whoever drew the shortest of four splinters from my hand was to die for the preservation of the rest. Before any one condemn me for this apparent heartlessness, let him be placed in a situation precisely similar to my own. At length delay was no longer possible, and, with a heart almost bursting from my bosom, I advanced to the region of the forecastle, where my companions were awaiting me. I held out my hand with the splinters, and Peters immediately drew. He was free--his, at least, was not the shortest; and there was now another chance against my escape. I summoned up all my strength, and passed the lots to Augustus. He also drew immediately, and he also was free; and now, whether I should live or die, the chances were no more than precisely even. At this moment all the fierceness of the tiger possessed my bosom, and I felt toward my poor fellow-creature, Parker, the most intense, the most diabolical hatred. But the feeling did not last; and, at length, with a convulsive shudder and closed eyes, I held out the two remaining splinters toward him. It was fully five minutes before he could summon resolution to draw, during which period of heartrending suspense I never once opened my eyes. Presently one of the two lots was quickly drawn from my hand. The decision was then over, yet I knew not whether it was for me or against me. No one spoke, and still I dared not satisfy myself by looking at the splinter I held. Peters at length took me by the hand, and I forced myself to look up, when I immediately saw by the countenance of Parker that I was safe, and that he it was who had been doomed to suffer. Gasping for breath, I fell senseless to the deck. I recovered from my swoon in time to behold the consummation of the tragedy in the death of him who had been chiefly instrumental in bringing it about. He made no resistance whatever, and was stabbed in the back by Peters, when he fell instantly dead. I must not dwell upon the fearful repast which immediately ensued. Such things may be imagined, but words have no power to impress the mind with the exquisite horror of their reality. Let it suffice to say that, having in some measure appeased the raging thirst which consumed us by the blood of the victim, and having by common consent taken off the hands, feet, and head, throwing them together with the entrails, into the sea, we devoured the rest of the body, piecemeal, during the four ever memorable days of the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth of the month. On the nineteenth, there coming on a smart shower which lasted fifteen or twenty minutes, we contrived to catch some water by means of a sheet which had been fished up from the cabin by our drag just after the gale. The quantity we took in all did not amount to more than half a gallon; but even this scanty allowance supplied us with comparative strength and hope. Indian Horizon Delhi LITERARY Sunday July 5, 2015 7 ISLAMIC RESPONSE TO CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES BY. DR. RAHIMUDDIN KEMAL C hallenges in the contemporary world are many, varied, complicated and have been arising incessantly. The greatest of these challenges is that man is under great pressure. He has lost his accord with his Self and his inner world is lost to him. The society he lives in is also discordant with nature. The conventional boundaries of territories and regions are fast disappearing. There is no sign or hope that man's bewilderment will find a solution and his affairs will be properly managed so that the challenges are adequately met. Everyone is straining for some space to breathe freely and live peacefully and creati-vely. It all leads to one historic fact that the West which was trying to manage the affairs of the world has failed in this task utterly. People are rising against its leadership. Muslims are not an exception to this upsurge. The last two decades have witnessed tremendous upsurge among Muslims all over the world. Without exception they wish to regain their roots to build a momentum for renaissance, but along with regaining the roots and shunning the accretions of foreign domination they are in search of a vision for the future. This vision is possible only if they come out of the conflicts and confusion created by these challenges. They have to relink with their inner world and rebuild the society they live in. The test of the harmony is whether it generates beneficence for humanity. The vision of the future comes to them from Quranic insl:A.ration that weaves humanity into family relationships. At the same time each individual family and group has been given identity and freedom to actualize itself. The spiritual bond creates a strong brotherhood. Prayer to Allah enables man to attain his spiritual radiance and equips him to serve humanity. This is the real relationship between divinity in man and its obligation A s SOON we came out of the bank I said to Helena Gerbertovna "And now let's have a party." "What for this time?" "Because now I paid the mortgage all. Why, I really own a piece of America." "Good as any other reason," Helena Gerbertovna said. "Who we have and when?" "Easter and we ask everybody. All the Georgians and all our American friends, too. I like to have a really big party. So big that for the next ten years people remember everything did it happen Before or did it happen After our party." "What was the best party we ever went to?" Helena Gerbertovna asked me. "Hard to decide." I was thinking. "Maybe when Besso's daughter got married and they had the musicians for three days and and service to man and society in secular dimensions. In secular dimen¬sions humanity is served and there is no distinction between Muslim and non-Muslims. The Quran has con¬ceived humanity as a family. With a view to achieving this clarity of vision Muslims have to understand Islam in the spirit of the Quran. The understanding of Islam in the light of the Quran will enable Muslims to adequately evaluate the contemporary challenges and meet them successfully. I started my work on understanding the Quranic concept of society and public law about four decades ago. As foreseen, the most essential demand in Muslim countries would be to reconstruct their societies and reframe public laws in the light of the Quran. My book the Concept of Constitutional Law in Islam was published in 1952 as a prelude to this effort. Now I am getting it reprinted with the addition of three chapters 1) Economic Foundation of Ummah, 2) Islamic Budget and Fiscal management, and 3) How to frame an Islamic constitution? The addition of these chapters has become necessary to meet the need of the Islamic State. The Muslim countries now are fast moving towards adopting Islamic constitutions and providing a larger scope for Ijtehad in Muslim society. The book has been written to cover a very large field precisely and clearly. The analytical and critical study of Islamic history is also needed to plan the future of Islam. The role of Ummah except in the early period of Khilafat and certain periods of crises has remained in the background. Individual dynasties and races inspired by Islamic ideology and values have made a glorious contribution to Islamic history. It unfolds a marvellous record of Muslim achievements in the field of learning, science, technology, arts, crafts, architecture, medicine, administration, military technology, music, trade and commerce, above all culture is expanding into a civilization having passed through many ebbs and tides. It is once again kiss each other and say, "Christos oskrece." "Looks so nice," Miss Betty says, she's giving chilarens their breakfast, "What does it mean?" "Means Christ rose. You supposed to answer, Voi-stinit V oskrece.' I do believe that He rose! Like Amer-icans say, 'Happy Easter.' "But much better," Miss Betty said, "Christ rose. I like it. Sounds so sweet and serious for Easter morning. Christ rose." "Christ rose!" Besso came in the kitchen and kissed everybody. "I believe—how you say—I believe He rose?" Miss Betty told him, "But I thought you was an atheist, Besso?" "Certainly I am. We take for example story of )1 Adam and Eva "I know," Miss Betty said. "You explained me that yesterday. But why you ON EASTER DAY BY. GEORGE AND HELEN WAITE PAPASHVILY platters of fresh hot corn bread every meal. That was pretty good. What you chose?" "Time at Eliko's. Was it Christmas or Easter?" "Easter how I remember it. And Vasso was tornado that time to lead the table and give all the toast. And he made such a nice speech. After he drank for every-body in turn, somebody proposed a glass for him—'for the man who did so much for his country' and he said, 'I thank you for your words but whatever I did for my country was not smallest part of what my country did for me. A good said answer." "The thing I remember," Helena said, "was that we sat down at the table about two o'clock and first we had zakuski of fishes and salads and what all and in two hours the table was a mess. Emilia cleared everything and started with a new tablecloth and chickens and a ham—she had six new tablecloths before the night was over and by the last one she had started on her linen sheets. "I think I see if I can negotiate a small pig for our party and we roast whole outdoors on a spit." "I'm going to make everything I can think of. Every single thing." "And plenty of it," I said. So we sent invitations and Saturday before Easter seventeen peoples turned up and with four little kids and us made twenty-three. "Nice comfortable size for a party," I told Helena. _ I was right. About four o'clock we sat down and we was just enough to make a good table. Everybody enjoyed themselves to eat and drink and we sang all our Georgian songs and our American friends gave nice tunes for reply—about some house they used to live in before in Kentucky and a lady that went around on her knees carrying a banjo and cowboys who had troubles and all the college songs—some of the best songs in America, I noticed, is the college ones, especially about football. Must be a very musical game to watch, that. One of our ladies, Vera Petrovna, is Estonian and someway they found out Estonian birthday greeting is same tune as California University hymn and so they had fine time singing and singing, each their own words—quite like a duet, when they had luck to come Out even. Yes, we was a pretty good company and once 3 made excuse to leave the table and go outside just sc I could catch it all in my heart to keep the voices floating away through the trees, the feathers of smoke rising from the chimney, the roasting baking buttery smell sifting out of the kitchen door, the windows shining with golden light—people being happy in my house. They was still singing when I came back—"What leaves a man when he rides to war?" Piotr's big bass asked. "He leaves a wife so true," Besso's sweet tenor answered. And then the company in chorus, "Such leaves a man when he rides to war." "I gonna drink last glass now," Piotr, our tornado, said when song was finished, "is only eleven o'clock, but tomorrow be Easter and we want to keep some appetite." Next morning, in honor of the Day, all us foreigners have habit to say, Christ rose?" "Why? After all," Besso looked hurt, "just because person is atheist—Christos V oskrece, Piotr. Chal-lico---" He kissed them on both cheeks as they came through the door.—"Because person is atheist he don't need to have bad manners. Who likes to crack Easter egg with me?" Childrens all gathered around him. "Me. Me." "I can't do nothing unless you find egg with your own name," he said. "Otherwise wouldn't be official Now you found? We gonna tap ends of eggs together —so. See, I hold and you hit. One whose egg gets cracked loses. Pays a forfeit. But won't be me. No. No. Never be Besso. All right. Ready? Smack. What? Mine broke. Now how happened that? I try another." Little kids kept jumping up and down, "Me next. Me next." Everyone they broke Besso's eggs. He found four presents in his pocket and lined them up. "Funny," he said, "everybody wins from me. Giorgi Ivanitch, next Easter I want you to carve me a stone egg. I gonna color it—blue, I think, and paint regular designs on and I win from everybody. But don't tell—" he whispers to childrens, "—if you don't say a word They all closed mouths up tight. No. No. No. No. All four heads shaking. “—Why I take you for my partners." After breakfast we made a fire and let it die to bright embers, then we stuck two forked branches either side, spitted the pig, laid it across and then turned around and around while it grew crickling, crackling browner and browner and the dogs sat on their haunches and watched with hungry eyes and long tongues and so, too, did the peoples. Challico was tantada for the table this day and he made a good one—kept the songs going and the glasses filled and said the toasts in words that didn't stop at your ears but went straight through to the heart. "Give me attention," be said at last. "We drank lotta toasts today—for everybody as himself, for the childrens, for the mothers and the fathers, for our hostess and our host. Now I gonna propose for some-thing different. Piotr, please to stop cracking nuts and listen me.'' "With pleasure," Piotr said, "I only wish I had donkey's ears so I could hear you better. My glass is empty, what's more." Somebody filled his glass. He held to light. "Very beautiful wine this, looks like melted rubies. I hope you making beautiful toast to go with it, Challico." "Before I was interrupted," Challico went on, "I said we was gonna drink for something different. Well this little glass is for Home. I see lotta American faces around me. I like to tell them we pleased to see them at our party especially since we had honor to be at their wide table, which is United States in America, for a long time and enjoy all the things they put before us. We tried to be good guests. I hope we was. That's one Home. Lotsa other kind of peoples we are here, too. moved by a new upsurge. The gain from the set-back Muslims experienced during the last one and a half centuries is that Ummah has come into the forefront to lead this upsurge of renaissance to new heights. The scope is wider, the work more intensive and the reach has got to be total and wholesome in all fields of thought and life. This collection of reviews, review articles and papers form a theme that is vital for understanding the Islamic response to the contemporary challenges, an upsurge to a renaissance of new height. This collection of articles and papers is not a substitute for a comprehensive treatment of the subject. Never¬theless, they will, offer clarity of Islamic response to contemporary challenges and stimulate others for detailed work. I have been associated with ‘Islamic Culture’, a journal of international repute for more than five decades, sometimes as a member of the panel of Experts and Reviewers, sometimes as a member of its Editorial Board, and as its contributor. I also had ample opportunity in national and international seminars at universities and many other academic institutions. I have also had the privilege of presi-ding and guiding conventions and conferences of Islamic concern. This collection is drawn from these papers, articles, review articles, and addresses. Reviews generally are not reprinted unless something of a permanent value is discussed in them. The books reviewed were of considerable importance and most of them by highly reputed orientalists. These are writers both from the Western as well as the Eastern world. The books reviewed usually dealt with topics that were of relevance to the challenges faced by Islam or the Muslims in the contemporary world. The issues are so varied and numerous that it would require some volumes to deal with all these topics satisfactorily. In a sense it is an attempt to help in the understanding of Islam, its value system, its institutions and socio-political structure and economic foundations. The understanding of Islam is most essential, because the World is passing through so much confusion that every one looks at it from his own point of view. Here an attempt has been made to present Islamic World view as it is worth understanding for a peaceful co-existence. Islam has a creative role to play in the contemporary world. The articles, reviews, review-articles and papers can be classified in the following categories: 1) Reviews and Review-articles of the books that were of importance for the understanding of Islam and its contemporary challenges; 2) Papers dealing with important Islamic issues and events in the Muslim world; 3) Plans of action and suggestions to meet the challenges Islam and Muslims face in various parts of the world; 4) Refutation of the theory of Muslim decline; 5) The concept of the future of Islam; 6) Is conflict with other civilizations inevitable? What is the way out? And the scope for Islam’s creative role. Views expressed earlier were reevaluated to see whether any changes were needed. It was seldom found necessary to make any changes. My life over the last five decades has been one of active participation in the process of develop¬ment of Islamic thought in the contemporary world. This brought me closer to institutions in which or persons with whom, I had ample opportunities in India and abroad to achieve this objective. These writings were not done in a sportive vein. They relate directly to episodes and events or issues that did create waves in the calm waters of individual or social lives. It was indeed a great challenges to keep this lamp of interest in Islamic thought burning amidst the agonies and depression of the fall of Hyderabad. ..........................TO BE CONTINUED TIDDLEY-POM'S PENCIL BY. ENID BLYTON IDDLVY-POM the tailor was very happy. The 1 King had given him a beautiful gold pencil with his name on, because the little tailor had made him a splendid red party suit. 'Look!' TiddleyPorn said to everyone he met. 'Look! See my beautiful golden pencil! The King 0-aye it to me!' TiddleyPom's wife was very pleased. She took a good look at the pencil and said, 'Now, Tiddley-Porn, you just be careful with this pencil. You know how careless you are with your things— always putting them down here, there, and everywhere, and never being able to find them again. Just choose a safe place for your pencil, and keep it there when you are not using it.' 'In my pocket?' said Tiddley-Pom. 'No,' said his wife. 'That's a silly place, because your pockets always have holes. 'You should mend them,' said Tiddley-Pom. 'I do,' said Mrs. Tiddley-Porn, 'but you will keep putting your scissors into them, Tiddley-Porn, and the points make holes.' 'I'll keep my pencil on the mantelpiece,' said Tiddley-Pom. 'No,' said his wife. 'It might roll off there.' 'Well,' said the tailor. 'I'll tie it on a bit of string and tie the string to a button on my coat! What do you think of that, wife?' 'No good at all,' said Mrs. Tiddley-Pom. 'You are always taking your coat off—aid you forget where you leave it, so your pencil would be gone too! Do you know, Tiddley-Pom, that I found your coat on the roof the other day. Now how did it get there?' 'It mantelpiece. No pencil there either. Tiddley-Pom scratched his head and thought. 'It must be somewhere about!' he said. 'I had it about half an hour ago.' 'Perhaps it has been stolen,' said Dame Tubby. 'A valuable pencil like that might easily be stolen, you know. A witch or a gnome would be pleased to have it!' 'Oohl' said Tiddley-Pom in alarm. `So they might. Oh, Dame Tubby, Snippy the gnome came in this morning—and Witch Toddles—and the Yellow Witch too—and Higgle the gnome as well! Do you suppose any of them took it?' 'Well, I shouldn't think so,' said Dame Tubby. 'They are all friends of yours, aren't they? I'll tell you what to do, Tiddley-Pom. I've got a spell at home for robbers. I'll go and get it. Wait a minute. We'll soon get back your pencil!' Dame Tubby ran off. On the way home she told everyone about Tiddley-Pom's lost pencil, and how she was getting a spell to find the robber. So, before she had got back to the shop again, about twenty gnomes, goblins, witches, fairies, and pixies had arrived at Tiddley-Pom's, all anxious to hear the latest news of the wonderful pencil. Dame Tubby came back, most important. In her hand she carried a little box. 'Look, Tiddley-Porn,' she said. 'There's a yellow powder in here. Blow it into the air, and call upon it to find the one who has the pencil.' 'But how shall I know who has it?' asked Tiddley-Po tn. 'Oh, you must choose something that the spell makes them do,' said Dame Tubby, excited. 'Tell the spell must have been left there when I went up to watd the sweep's brush coming out of the chimney!' said the tailor going red. 'Oh, wife! I ki-Now such a good place! I'll keep my pencil behind my ear—like this!' He stuck the lovely gold pencil behind his ear, and it stayed there nicely, because Tiddley-Porn had great big pointed ears, and only the tip of the pencil could be seen sticking out. 'That's quite a good place,' said his wife. 'Now I'm going out shopping, Tiddley. So get on with your work whilst I'm gone.' Off she went. Tiddley-Pom settled down to his sewing very happily. He whistled as he worked, and a good many of his friends came and chatted with him at the open window. One of them was old Dame Tubby, who had been away a week with her sister. 'I hear the King gave you a beautiful gold pencil, Tiddley-Potn,' she said. 'Will you show it to me?' 'Oh, haven't you seen it?' said the tailor. 'I'll love to show it to you.' He put his hands into his pocket to get the pencil. It wasn't there. 'Funny!' said TiddleyPom. 'I usually keep my pencil there. Wait a minute. I may have put it on the mantelpiece.' He ran to the to start them braying like a donkey—or standing on their head—or galloping like a horse! Then as soon as the spell begins to work, we'll see which of us is doing that, and we'll find the pencil on him!' 'Ooh!' said Tiddley-Pom, 'it's a powerful spell. I know what I'll do. I'll tell it to make the robber quack like a duck and hop on one foot all the ,way down the street. Then we shall soon find the one who has my beautiful gold pencil.' Tiddley-Pom took the box, and opened the lid. He blew the powder up into the air, crying, 'Spell, spell, find the one who has my pencil! Make him quack like a duck and hop all the waw down the street!' The powder flew up into the air with a queer crackling noise and disappeared. Every one stood still and looked at everyone else. Who was the thief? Nobody moved—and then, suddenly, a most peculiar thing happened! Tiddley-Pom began to quack! You should have heard him! 'Quarck, quarck, quarck!' he said, opening and shutting his mouth like a beak. 'Quarck, quarck, quarck, quarck!' And then he put up one leg and began to hop solemnly to the door—and out of it—and down the street! T The views expressed in these columns are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Indian Horizon or its management.-Editor 8 Indian Horizon, Delhi Nation Short Takes AP cabinet okays new email policy day. However, the President’s Secretariat did not grant permission due to the size of the delegation. In place of 42 members, the TPCC has been asked to reduce the size to just 25 members. The TPCC is likely to submit a fresh request on Monday and permission is likely to be granted on July 7th or 8th. Hyderabad, July 4 (NSS): Andhra Pradesh government now will approach people through e-mail. The Chandrababu Naidu cabinet today gave its nod for the new e-mail system. With this, all State government employees will utilize e-mail right from junior assis- Wrong decisions by tant to higher officials. MANUU negatively In the first phase, the government effect admissions would provide 40,000 e-mail accounts to its employees and next year this will be Hyderabad, July 4 (IHNN): Not many increased to 2.5 lakh e-mail accounts. The students turned up for admissions in cabinet also accorded its permission to Maulana Azad National Urdu University. Aadhar-based system. It seems that keeping in view the poor performance of the university students are Rosaish turns 82, not showing interest in taking admission into the university courses. worships Balaji According to reliable sources ex- Vice Hyderabad, July 4 (NSS): Tamil Nadu Chancellor of the university fixed the age Governor Konijeti Rosaiah, who turned 82 limit for admission into some courses today, visited Tirupati and had darshan of upto 28 years. Earlier there was no such lord Venkateshwara. age limit for the said courses. Besides this, Rosaiah was accompanied by his wife it is said that the scholarship of Rs. 1000 K Sivalakshmi and other family members. which used to be given to students pursuing undergraduate and post graduate Jagan inspects Koti courses has been stopped. Because of these two decisions taken by Lingala Pushkar Ghat the university, it has got less application Rajahmundry, July 4 (NSS): YSR Con- forms from students this year. University gress Party president Y S Jaganmohan is also worried about the less applications Reddy on Saturday inspected the “Koti received. The last date for application was Lingalu” Pushkar ghat to have first hand July 2. To attract more applications from information on the arrangements being students possibilities of extension of date made for the Godavari Pushkarams slated are also being explored. to begin from July 14. Speaking to mediapersons, Jagan said Pictures of ex-PCC the works were handed over to the allies chiefs removed from of the government for gaining kickbacks. Gandhi Bhavan The government, despite knowing that the Lingala pond is lopesided they have Hyderabad, July 4 (IHNN): A group of not taken enough efforts to make it safer angry Congress leaders on Saturday has for the pilgrims. He also complained that removed all the picutres of former PCC the quality of work was bad. chiefs from the Gandhi Bhavan, the party Jagan also paid tributes to late Van- headquarters. gaveeti Mohan Ranga on his birth anniThe Congress workers removed the versary. pictures of K Keshava Rao, Botsa Satyanarayana and Dharampuri Srinivas. While Naidu should step KK and DS have joined the TRS, Botsa has recently joined the YSR Congress Party. down: YCP Speaking to media persons later, Rajya Hyderabad, July 4 (NSS): “Andhra Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao and forPradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu mer MLA R Damodar Reddy described D Naidu should resign from his post ow- Srinivas as an opportunist. VHR said that ing to allegations of cash-for-vote scam”, despite serving as minister for two terms, YCP leader Konda Raghava Reddy has de- Srinivas did nothing for the development of Backward Classes. He alleged that manded. Speaking to mediapersons here on Sat- Srinivas earned crores of rupees by selling urday at the party office, Raghava Reddy away party tickets to aspirants in two gensaid since video footage of cash-for-vote eral elections and by-elections. VHR also claimed that Greater Hyderscam proved his involvement, Naidu should put in his papers, he demanded. abad Congress president D Nagender The YCP leader said cash-for-vote scam would not leave the party. did not subside with President Pranab Mukherjee’s remarks that two Telugu Special courts for States should live in complete harmony. speedy trial of cases The TD Government is pretending law relating to atrocities and order problem by raking up section 8 issue to divert Naidu’s involvement in the against women cash scam, he charged. Being the Chief Hyderabad, July 4 (IHNN): The TelanMinister of the State it is the duty of Chan- gana government has decided to set up drababu to prove his integrity by resign- 13 special courts exclusively to try cases ing from his post, he said. The YCP leader relating to atrocities and crimes against alleged that Naidu was buying time to women. Session judge will be appointed respond on the cash scam. Naidu should to hear the cases relating to atrocities and come out clearly if he has any respect to crimes against women to ensure speedy democracy and ethics, he suggested. trial and conviction. To a query he said there will not be any Telangana government has sanctioned alliance with any other parties for the judges and other staff for these special forthcoming GHMC elections. courts. Secretary government N Shiva Shankar issued orders in this connection, Data of missing Superintendent, translator and senior assistant, junior assistant (5) and other jobs candidates submitted were approved. Thus 31 posts were sancfor JEE Ranks tioned for one special court. Hyderabad, July 4 (IHNN): The Telangana Board of Intermediate Education Hajj Orientation Camp has informed the parents and students at Moghalpura today that the data of missing candidates, which was submitted to the CBSE for JEE Ranks Hyderabad, July 4 (IHNN): Telangana by the Board, was accepted and the Ranks State Hajj Committee organises 7th orithat they were entitled are given to them. entation camp for selected Hajj aspirants The candidates have been advised to ex- on Sunday, July 5, from 10 am to 1 pm at ercise their option in time. Masjid Salahuddin Khan, near Moghalpura water tank. TPCC delegation’s Prof. S A Shukoor Special Officer, Telangana State Hajj Committee will preside meeting with over. Eminent scholars and experts will President delayed explain Hajj rituals. All Hajj aspirants are Hyderabad, July 4 (IHNN): The meet- requested to attend on time and bring ing of a delegation of Telangana Pradesh notebook and pen to note down imporCongress Committee with President of tant points. Hajj aspirants going to Hajj through India Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Nilayam in Secunderabad has been private tour operators can also avail the opportunity. Separate arrangement for ladelayed due to technical issues. According to sources, the TPCC delega- dies. They are requested not to bring chiltion was to meet the President on Satur- dren along with them. Sunday, July 5, 2015 Medak district Congress demands to be split dismissal of Governor Narasimhan three-way: Telangana CM Hyderabad, July 4 (IHNN): Congress senior leader and former minister Marri Shasidhar Reddy on Saturday demanded the dismissal of Governor ESL Narasimhan. Speaking to media persons here at Gandhi Bhavan here, Sashidhar Reddy alleged that Narasimhan should be relieved of his responsibilities as Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as he has faltered and blatantly failed to discharge his duties. Stating that he has written a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the issue, Shashidhar Reddy said that Talasani Srinivas Yadav was elected as an MLA from Sanathangar on the TDP ticket. “The Governor administered the oath of office to him as a minister in the government run by the TRS party, which is not the police party through which he got elected as a legislator. He has thus become a party to the attempt of the TRS Government’s unethical and unprincipled defections,” he said. “The Governor deliberately chose to ignore Paragraph 2 (1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and the ratio laid down by the Constitutional Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in the Rajender Singh Rana Vs Swami Prasad Maurya case delivered on 14-2-2003 (AIR 2007 Supreme Court 1305), which is very clear with regard to the continuance of a person beyond six months as a Minister is unconstitutional. The Governor, as the custodian of the Constitution, has violated not only the Constitutional provisions but also the Judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, which is unpardonable,” he said. Sangareddy, Jul 4 (PTI): Meeting a long-pending demand of the people of Medak, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today announced that his home district will be trifurcated “very shortly”. After trifurcation, there will be Medak, Sangareddy and Siddipet districts. Also, parts of Jangaon (Warangal district) and Husnabad (Karimnagar) will be merged in would be Siddipet district, he said. Rao did not specify when the decision will be implemented, but said the three-way split will take place “very shortly”. The Chief Minister was speaking after planting a sapling in the premises of Mandal Praja Parishad Office building at Siddipet in Medak district. Rao was here to participate in his pet programme `Telangana ku Haritha Haaram’ (an afforestation drive for increasing the green cover of the State). Hyderabad House, Vigyan Bhawan, Jawaharlal Bhawan top cleanliness ratings New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI): Hyderabad House, Vigyan Bhawan and Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan have topped the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) ratings, leaving behind Rashtrapati Bhawan among the 29 RPT 29 government buildings in the capital that were screened for overall cleanliness. The three buildings scored 20 points each while Rashtrapati Bhawan and South Block were ranked 6th with 14 points each, an Urban Development Ministry official said. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) surveyed the buildings based on availability of sanitation infrastructure, cleanliness and adequacy of dustbins in the buildings and premises last month. The winning buildings of Hyderabad House, Vigyan Bhawan and Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan scored maximum points in respect of sanitation infrastructure (maximum of 10 points), cleanliness (8) and availability of dustbins (2 points). Sardar Patel Bhawan came second with 18 points followed by the new CGA building with 17 points. Krishi Bhawan and Shastri Bhawan were at the bottom of the ratings with 8 points each while Lok Nayak Bhawan scored 10 points. Fourteen buildings in the capital scored in the range of 14 to 16 points. The Urban Development Ministry has circulated the ratings to all concerned ministries and departments with a request to take remedial action for improving infrastructure and cleanliness. ‘Mega Book Sale’ from July 4 to 13 Hyderabad, July 4 (IHNN): Aiming at providing more reading facility in less cost, to people and students of Hyderabad, a 10-day special discount mela is being organised at ‘Mega Book Sale’. New and old costly rare books are available which will be sold by weight. Convenor Mega Book Sale Mohammed Meraj told this in a press conference. Books like lady Bird, Disney’s, DK, Readers’ Digest, will also be sold by weight. He appealed people to avail the opportunity. Details are available on bookswala.in. Botcha seeks judicial probe in Bhuma’s arrest Hyderabad, July 4 (NSS): YCP leader and former minister Botcha Satyanarayana today slammed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for booking a case against his colleague Bhuma Nagi Reddy. Addressing a press conference at YCP headquarters here, the former minister accused Naidu of indulging in suppressive tactics against the leaders of the opposition parties. The YCP leader demanded a judicial inquiry into the arrest of Bhuma Nagi Reddy by the Andhra Pradesh Police. He took serious exception to the SC, ST Atrocities case filed against Bhuma Nagi Reddy at the behest of Naidu. He also A student having look of a rocket launcher at an exhibition organised by the Indian Army at Boko in Kamrup district of Assam on Saturday. (PTI Photo) Replica temple opening on July 13: TTD EO Rajahmundry, July 4 (NSS): TTD EO Dr D Samba Siva Rao said the model temple of Lord Venkateswara in Rajamundry has shaped up very well akin to Tirumala shrine and it will be formally inaugurated with Maha Samprokshanam and other religious activities on July 13. Addressing media persons in the TTD Kalyana Mandapam at Rajamundry, the EO said, the temple management of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTDs) is foreseeing a pilgrim influx of about 50-70 thousand to its replica temple every day during Pushkaram period. “As the devotees always wish to have darshan of Lord after Pushkara Snanam, we have set up the replica temple on the lines of Tirumala so as to give a feel that they are in Tirumala. We have also set up four line queue system so as to give a comfortable and hassle-free darshan to devotees”, he maintained. The EO said, the temple will be officially opened on July 13 in the auspicious Muhurat fixed by the agama scholars between 9:07am to 10:30am. “The darshan will be open to devotees from 4:30 am to 10 pm every day with a 15-minute break thrice a day for Naivedya Kainkaryams. Suprabhatam to presiding Lord will e performed every day between 4am to 4:30am. For the promotion of Hindu Sanatana Dharma as this event happens to be the most appropriate stage, we will also set up a “Go Pradakshinasala” where in after darshan of Lord in replica temple the devotees have to circumambulate Kapila Govu (indigenous cow) in the Goshala which is considered to be more pious. If the pilgrims visit the temple in traditional dress voluntarily as in Tirumala, it will be great and will definitely enhance the spiritual atmosphere”, he added. The EO said TTD will distribute either pulihora or chakkara pongal as Prasadam to devotees after darshan. Adding further, EO said, alleged that Nagi Reddy was taken into custody for asking the police not to manhandle. The Naidu Government is responsible if anything happens to Bhuma Nagi Reddy, he said. The police deliberately filed cases against Nagi Reddy and not shifting him to NIMS in Hyderabad as there was no adequate escort security. He fumed at Chandrababu for resorting to target the leaders of the Opposition party. “We are not ready to take the diktats of the Naidu Government”, he said, adding that the YSRCP will fight tooth and nail. Botcha Satyanarayana also expressed concern that the police manhandled Bhuma Nagi Reddy’s daughter Akhila Priya, a woman legislator. He said they are not against the irrigation projects. TTD is also setting up book stall in Municipal grounds along with Photo, Floral, Ayurvedic and Museum expos to give wide publicity to its publications as Ttd treasures rare and noteworthy spiritual books. “Now we have already placed 80 of our titles under e- publications and very soon remaining 2000 odd books are going to be placed on our website for the sake netizens. Our spiritual magazine Sapthagiri is also readily available on web now in all the six languages. The readers can either download free or pay on-line subscription to read the magazine”, he said. The EO also said, there are many cultural programmes gearing up to enthral the devotees here which will be performed under the aegis of our Annamacharya, Dasa Sahitya, HINDU Dharma Prachara Parishad projects. “The spiritual discourses by Brahmasri Chaganti Koteswara Rao and other renowned scholars, Harikatha artistes, Sangeeta vidwans etc. are going to be a special attraction”, he maintained. Tirumala JEO KS Sreenivasa Raju was also present. ADVERTISEMENTS INVITED To Advertise in INDIAN HORIZON English Daily at concessional rates. Pleasing display, Wider reach Please contact: 040-66616611, 66839818, or Email: Indian1horizon@gmail.com, feedbackhorizon@gmail.com, 9 Indian Horizon Delhi International Short Takes Princess Charlotte to be christened tomorrow London July 4 (PTI): The UK’s royal family is gearing up for the christening of their newest member Princess Charlotte on Saturday where the two-month-old child of Prince William and his wife Kate will make her second public appearance. The baby will be christened in a low-key ceremony in St Mary Magdalene church on her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II’s country estate of Sandringham in Norfolk, eastern England. This is the same church where William’s late mother Diana, princess of Wales, who grew up nearby, was christened. William and Kate, the duke and duchess of Cambridge will appear in public for the first time as a family of four at their daughter’s baptism at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham. Personal artefacts of Sikh saintsoldier on display in Singapore Singapore, July 4 (IANS) A two-day exhibition was put up at a gurdwara in Singapore on Saturday to display the artefacts belonging to a Sikh saint-soldier. The exhibition, put up at Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road in Bukit Merah area of Singapore as part of a month-long festival to honour Sikh saint-soldier, Bhai Maharaj Singh, features some of his personal items such as a salottar (wooden stick used as a support and weapon), dastaar chakkar (turban steel quoits used to retain the shape of a turban) and a mala (rosary) belonging to the spiritual leader, The Straits Times reported on Saturday.The items on display are on loan until July 5 from his descendents in India.Bhai Maharaj is believed to be the first Sikh in Singapore. He was taken to Singapore in 1850 after he was arrested by the British out of fear that his detention in India may cause unrest as he was revered by the Sikh community in India for his spirituality, patriotic fervour and for standing up against British dominion. Dozens of migrants ‘storm’ tunnel between UK, France London july 4 (AFP): The operator of the rail tunnel linking Britain and France says services were disrupted today after around 150 migrants tried to storm a French terminal in an attempt to board a Britain-bound freight.Eurotunnel says freight services were disrupted for a few hours after migrants tried to enter restricted areas port of Calais at about 2 am local time. Some passenger services were also affected. The company today urged authorities to resolve the worsening migrant crisis in the region.The disruption caused a return of snaking lines of trucks and freighters to British highways, which saw thousands of drivers stuck this week because striking French workers crippled ferry crossings.Businesses have complained of migrants taking advantage of the slow-moving traffic to board vehicles. Bill payment can be done through a selfie New York, July 4 (IANS) Paying bills can be fun, if you do it through Mastercard. You just need to click a selfie with your smartphone, blink once at your self-portrait and your bill is paid. That’s with the help of a new mobile app that MasterCard has come up with, CNET.com reported. The app uses facial recognition to verify your identity.After downloading the app, you pay for things by simply looking at your phone and blinking once.The blink prevents thieves from showing the app a picture of your face in an attempt to fool it. Alternatively, the app can read your fingerprint. Sunday, July 5, 2015 Putin tells Obama US-Russia dialogue key to global stability Moscow July 4 (AFP): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday said relations between Moscow and Washington were key to ensuring global stability and called for dialogue based on “equality and respect.” In a message to his US counterpart Barack Obama on Independence Day in the United States, Putin said US-Russian relations were “the key factor in ensuring stability and security in the world, despite the differences” between the two countries. “Russia and the United States are able to find solutions for the most difficult international problems and effectively counter global threats and challenges,” Putin said in a telegram, according to the Kremlin. This needs to be done by “building dialogue on the principles of equality and respect of each other`s interests,” the message said. Russia has used increasingly antagonistic rhetoric about the US since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, claiming that Western Greece Finance Minister accuses creditors of ‘terrorism’ sanctions against Moscow over its alleged involvement in the hostilities are the result of US pressure on EU countries.Last month, Nikolai Patrushev, who heads Putin`s security council, claimed the US was out to destroy Russia as a country. Russia`s military top brass have focused on NATO`s presence in eastern Europe, which they see as the greatest threat to the country`s security. However Putin has also reached out to Obama to discuss the threat of terrorism, notably from the Islamic State group. The Russian leader had tasked Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with discussing a joint anti-terrorism strategy with US Secretary of State John Kerry. IS faction claims responsibility for missile attack on Israel Cairo, July 4 (IANS) An Islamic State (IS) affiliate has claimed responsibility for firing three rockets into Israeli territory on Friday. “Three rockets were launched from Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel and Gaza,” The Jerusalem Post quoted an Israeli Defense Force (IDF) source as saying on Saturday. The IDF source said the affiliate, which calls itself Sinai Province, in a statement posted on Twitter on Friday, confirmed it had fired three Grad rockets at Israel, adding that it was in retaliation for Israel’s support to Egypt armed forces when the terrorists attacked army checkpoints in northern Sinai.The attack did not cause any casualty or material damage, the source said.The missiles were fired from Egypt’s violence-plagued Sinai Peninsula just days after the terrorists killed 50 Egyptian soldiers in brutal dawn raids. At least 60 people, including army, police personnel and civilians, were killed in a series of suicide attacks and bombings on several security checkpoints in Egypt’s northern Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday. The terrorist group had also announced that its members took full control of several positions and confirmed clashes were going on at the border. rity in the wake of the attack Tunisia beach on 26 June, deploying armed attack: State of officers at hotels and beaches. Tunisian President Beji emergency declared Caid Essebsi is due to address Tunis July 4 (AFP)Tunisia has declared a state of emergency, just over a week after 38 tourists, mainly Britons, died in an attack in the resort city of Sousse. The state of emergency gives security forces more powers and limits the right of public assembly.Authorities had already tightened secu- the nation later. Security forces were criticised for not responding more quickly to the attack in Sousse, when a gunman opened fire on tourists on a beach before entering a hotel. Islamic State (IS) said it was behind the attack, the most deadly in Tunisia’s recent history. Those killed included 30 Britons. Athens July 4 (AFP): Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis accused Athens’ creditors of “terrorism” in an interview published on Saturday, a day before Greeks vote in a high-stakes referendum on their bailout. “What they’re doing with Greece has a name, terrorism,” the blunt-spoken Varoufakis told the Spanish El Mundo daily. “What Brussels and the troika want on Saturday is for the ‘yes’ (vote) to win so they could humiliate the Greeks.” “Why did they force us to close the banks? To instill fear in people. And spreading fear is called terrorism,” he said, referring to the IMF, European Central Bank and European Union.After failing to Saudi-led air strike on Yemen rebel bastion kills 23 Sanaa, Jul 4 (AFP) A Saudi-led air strike on a Huthi Shiite rebel stronghold in Yemen’s northern mountains killed 23 people early today, tribal sources said. The strike targeted a munitions factory in Saqayn, near Saada, the sources said. Coalition aircraft also bombed the rebel-held capital Sanaa, targeting an arms warehouse and the air defence headquarters, witnesses said. The coalition launched air strikes against the rebels in March, after the Huthis seized control of much of the country prompting President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to take refuge in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Philippines ferry capsize toll rises to 59 Manila, July 4 (IANS) The toll in the ferry capsize in central Philippines’ Leyte province has risen to 59, officials said on Saturday. The passenger vessel MV Kim Nirvana-B, which capsized on Thursday near the port of Ormoc, was carrying 173 passengers and 16 crew members, Xinhua reported, citing the coast guard.The ferry was sailing towards Iran talks in endgame inching close to nuclear deal Taiwan’s military special forces “frogmen” pass in front of thousands of spectators in a parade marking the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, at the military base in Hsinchu, northern Taiwan, Saturday, July 4, 2015. Taiwan marched out thousands of troops and displayed its most modern military hardware Saturday to spotlight an old but often forgotten claim that its forces, not the Chinese Communists, led the campaign that routed imperial Japan from China 70 years ago. AP/PTI Syrian forces kill 20 rebel fighters Damascus, July 4 (IANS) Syrian forces killed 20 rebel fighters east of the capital Damascus on Saturday, media reports said. Rebel commanders were among those killed in the eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus, Xinhua cited the state news agency SANA as saying. Sources familiar with the situation said the rebels in Damascus’ eastern neighbourhood of Jobar on Saturday launched a major offensive against the nearby district of Zablatani, which is under government control, prompting the Syrian forces to respond with heavy firepower.The sound of gunshots reverberated through various parts of heavily-fortified Damascus. The rebels’ offensive was coupled with heavy mortar shelling on districts and squares inside Damascus. Syrian TV said at least one civilian was killed and many wounded in the mortar attack.Sources said the Syrian army successfully repelled the attack, which they said was “expected”.The rebels in eastern Damascus apparently carried out the offensive to lower the pressure on their comrades in the city of Zabadani in northwestern Damascus. Vienna, Jul 4 (AFP) After months of intense negotiations, global powers and Iran launched into a key weekend of talks today amid signs they may be within sight of a historic nuclear deal to end a 13-year standoff. While all sides remained cautious, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the world had “never been closer” to reaching an unprecedented accord with his country aimed at blocking Iran’s pathways to developing nuclear arms. In signs of a possible breakthrough on one of the thorniest issues still blocking a deal, the IAEA announced today that it may be able to complete a probe into whether 4,000 aftershocks rattle China’s quake-hit Xinjiang Beijing, Jul 4 (PTI) Four thousand aftershocks have been recorded in China’s northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck the area, prompting authorities to evacuate more than 66,000 people. The official death toll from the temblor yesterday has been revised to three from six, while 71 people have been injured.The shallow quake, one of the worst to hit the region, struck Pishan County of Hotan Prefecture yesterday, with its epicentre recorded at a depth of 10 km, said China Earthquake Networks Cen- tre (CENC).State-run CCTV reported that the areas have suffered 4,000 aftershocks, some having a magnitude of more than four.The earthquake damaged 12,000 houses, local officials said. In excess of 66,000 people have been evacuated, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Many of those displaced have been relocated to No 1 Middle School in Pishan.Rescuers and soldiers have set up shelters and distributed food and water to the quake-hit people. Harenisa Abdurahman, an evacuee, said when the quake struck her husband was sleeping inside their house. reach a deal with its creditors last weekend on an extension of its bailout programme Greece’s radical leftist government closed the country’s banks and imposed capital controls until July 6. Varoufakis said that whatever the result of Sunday’s vote, in which the government is calling for a ‘no’ vote, the banks would reopen and Athens would end up reaching an accord with its creditors.“Europe needs an agreement, Greece needs an agreement, meaning we will reach an agreement,” he said, reiterating a pledge the Camotes Islands, some 40 km south-west of Ormoc when it was battered by huge waves and sank just 100 metres from the port of departure.The captain of the ferry and some of the crewmen, who were among the survivors, are already in the Philippine Coast Guard’s custody.An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. Iran has ever sought nuclear weapons by the end of the year.In a rare move, Zarif also offered the promise of greater cooperation to tackle other global problems, such as the rise of the Islamic State group, should the deal be sealed. Global powers are trying to draw the curtain on almost two years of roller-coaster negotiations, which gathered fresh impetus after President Hassan Rouhani took power in late 2013.The aim is to finalise a deal which would put a nuclear bomb be- to resign if the ‘yes’ vote carried the day.The flamboyant economist, who has become one of Europe’s most recognizable politicians in the few short months since he took office, also repeated that the “troika” of creditors wanted to “humiliate Greeks” and make them an example of what not to do for other countries, like Spain, where radical left-wing parties are on the march. Referring to Syriza’s Spanish ally Podemos, he said: “I think that in Europe there is a need for parties like Syriza and Podemos, which are both critical of the system and pro-European and democratic. Those who hate us want to cast us as anti-European but it’s not true, we are not.” Afghan par rejects Ghani choice for defence post Kabul, Jul 4 (AFP) Afghanistan’s parliament today rejected President Ashraf Ghani’s nominee for defence ministry, a crucial post that has sat vacant for months as stretched security forces fight to secure territory from a revitalised Taliban. In late May, the president had named Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, a top official in the government body overseeing the country’s peace process, to head the ministry. Stanekzai needed 107 votes from MPs to be approved, but received just 84 out of the 213 who cast votes, dragging out the process of finding a candidate for the post into its 10th month. “Masoom Stanekzai unfortunately could not get the vote of confidence from the lower house of parliament,” the speaker of the lower house, Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi, told today’s session. “Therefore, we request that the president introduce another candidate for the defence ministry post as soon as possible,” Ibrahimi said.Ghani’s previous pick for the post, former Afghan army chief of staff Sher Mohammad Karimi, was also rejected by the lower house in January. The repeated delay on the appointment is reportedly due to differences between Ghani and his chief executive and former presidential election rival, Abdullah Abdullah, over their choice of candidate, with many linking the leadership vacuum to a recent uptick in deadly insurgent attacks. yond Iran’s reach, in return for lifting a web of biting international sanctions slapped on the Islamic republic, some of which date back to 1995.Speaking in English from the balcony of the Viennese hotel hosting the talks, Zarif said in a message posted on YouTube that at “this 11th hour, despite some differences that remain, we have never been closer to a lasting outcome”.“Getting to yes requires the courage to compromise, the self-confidence to be flexible, the maturity to be reasonable,” he said. Two of the three missing London teens have married ISIS fighters: lawyer London July 4 (AFP): Two of three teenage girls who travelled from Britain to Syria sparking criticism of the police response have married ISIS fighters, the lawyer for their families said Saturday. Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-olds Shamima Begum and Amira Abase left their homes in February and flew to Istanbul before crossing into Syria. Two of the trio have been in touch with their families to say they have married men in ceremonies approved by ISIS and are living in and around the Syrian city of Raqqa, the group’s stronghold, the Guardian re- ported.The newspaper did not identify which two of the three had got married at the families’ request. Tasnime Akunjee, who represents the families, told the Guardian that the news had “caused a lot of distress.” “It entrenches their lives in Syria, rather than in Britain. It erodes significantly hopes that they will come back,” he added. The paper reported that the two teenagers were given a “catalogue” of men to choose from and that their husbands were in their 20s. All three of the girls attended the same school in east London, Bethnal Green Academy.They are believed to have followed a classmate who left a few months previously. Four other girls from the same school have been given a court order banning them from traveling abroad over fears they too could go to Syria. The girls’ families have accused police of failing to communicate information, which could have alerted them to the risk that their daughters would travel to Syria. Scotland Yard believes around 600 Britons have travelled to Syria and Iraq since the conflict began though about half are believed to have returned to Britain. 10 Business Expect Cabinet approval on spectrum sharing by month-end: Secy New Delhi Jul 4 (PTI): The Cabinet is likely to approve by month end the long-awaited guidelines on spectrum trading and sharing, that will pave way for merger and acquisitions in the telecom sector, a senior government official said today. Speaking at a FICCI event here, Telecom Secretary Rakesh Garg said the spectrum sharing and trading guidelines have almost been finalised at the department level and Cabinet note has been circulated. “Spectrum sharing/trading guidelines have been almost finalised at department level and Cabinet note has been circulated. We expect guidelines to be approved by Cabinet by end of the month,” he said. Garg added that this will consolidate spectrum and help both telecom operators and subscribers. Spectrum sharing guidelines will allow telecom companies to share their un-utilised airwaves with other service providers in the same telecom circle. Department of Telecom had, in April, sought clarifications from sectoral regulator TRAI regarding spectrum-sharing and trading guidelines. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India had reiterated its stand on most of the recommendations on spectrum-sharing and trading guidelines, while clarifying that radiowaves acquired through trading can also be shared. It also stood by recommendations of allowing operators to share all spectrum including 3G. The regulator also recommended allowing the trading of spectrum. As of now, only government is allowed to allocate spectrum to telecom firms through auctions. Once trading is allowed, it is expected to increase efficient use of radiowaves by enabling telecom operators, who have a lower subscriber base or un-utilised spectrum, to trade in it. Traders against proposed GST; say it is more complex Mumbai Jul 4 (PTI): With the government hopeful of passing Constitutional amendment bill on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the forthcoming Parliament session, traders are opposed to it, saying that in the current form, it is more complex and needs to be simplified. “The purpose of GST is to make the indirect tax structure simple. However, in the proposed format it is more complex. We demand single GST taxation structure so that traders may be required to file only one return,” Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), told reporters here. The central and state GST are to be paid to the accounts of the central and state governments separately, he added. Khandelwal said there is also levy of an additional tax on supply of goods and services, not exceeding 1 percent in the course of inter-state trade or commerce, for a period of two years. “We demand single tax GST with single authority coupled with uniform act and tax rates across the country and develop India on a concept of ‘one Mandi’. The stakeholders cannot be taken for granted and the proposed form of GST is not acceptable to us,” he added. He said the traders’ body has recommended to government that besides e-compliance, manual compliance should also be made applicable in the initial period for transitional purposes. Also, the VAT registration number should itself be construed as GST number and the procedure of obtaining new GST registration number should be made simple and easy, he added. Khandelwal said that to make traders aware about the advantages as well as disadvantages of the proposed GST, CAIT will hold 40 seminars across the country. Franklin Templeton acquires 8.49% stake in Pantaloons Fashion New Delhi Jul 4 (PTI): Leading fund house Franklin Templeton has acquired 8.49 per cent stake, estimated to be worth over Rs 143 crore, in Pantaloons Fashion & Retail Ltd. Franklin Templeton has acquired 7,879,902 equity shares of Kumar Mangalam Birla-led Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd (ABNL) firm, the company said in a BSE filing. It further informed that out of the total transaction, 4,784,239 shares of Pantaloons Fashion & Retail were acquired by Franklin India High Growth Companies Fund and the rest 3,095,663 shares by Franklin India Prima Fund. The stake purchase took place on July 2. Mumbai Jul 4 (PTI): Stock markets rose for the third straight week with the benchmark BSE Sensex reclaiming 28,000-mark and NSE Nifty closing well above 8,400-level, as monsoon worries eased and RBI allayed fears of any impact of Greek crisis on the country. The domestic bourses, that bucked the global market trend as a result of Greek debtdeal stand-off, closed at twoand-a-half-month high levels. The 30-share Sensex resumed lower at 27,451.07 and hovered in a range of 28,135.43 points to 27,209.19 points during the week. It finally settled the week at 28,092.79 points, showing a gain of 280.95 points or 1.01 percent over previous week. The Sensex has shot up by a whopping 1,667.49 points, or 6.31 percent in three weeks. The CNX Nifty also climbed 103.80 points, or 1.24 percent to 8,484.90. It has also gained 502.00 points, or 6.29 percent in the same period. Analysts said the market wit- nessed initial sluggishness due to weak global cues weighed by Greece’s uncertain status over debt default and exit from Eurozone. The bourses gained despite small bouts of profitbooking and choppiness, they added. Also, investors factored in positive domestic cues, including sufficient monsoon across the country, slew of government sops led by capital support to PSU banks, and improved macroeconomic data as country’s core infra sectors jumping to a six-month high by expanding to 4.4 percent. Optimism also strengthened after Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan allayed fears over Greek crisis on the country. Meanwhile, foreign investors turned net-sellers amid caution ahead of Sunday’s Greek referendum. Buying was mainly led by FMCG, Power, Banks, CapitalGoods, Consumer Durable, HealthCare, PSUs, Oil&Gas, Power, Auto and Teck sectors. Shares of MidCap and Small- Indian Horizon Delhi Sunday, July 5, 2015 FoodMin has proposed 10% import duty on wheat: Paswan New Delhi Jul 4 (PTI): Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said his ministry has proposed 10 percent import duty on wheat to curb cheaper shipments as the country already has surplus stock. At present, there is no import duty on wheat. Paswan also ruled out any quality issue on wheat procured this year by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains. “There are reports that private traders are importing wheat. We have proposed 10 percent duty to check cheap imports and ensure that surplus wheat is consumed,” Paswan told reporters here. Wheat is being imported at Rs 17 per kg, while it is available in the domestic market at Rs 18.50 per kg, he added. “There is sufficient supply in the country. The wheat being procured by FCI this year is of good quality and is fit for human consumption,” he said. Paswan said that quality norms were relaxed on wheat procurement as crops got damaged due to unseasonal rains, but asserted that the “quality of grain is good”. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today said his ministry has proposed 10 percent import duty on wheat to curb cheaper shipments as the country already has surplus stock. At present, there is no import duty on wheat. Paswan also ruled out any quality issue on wheat procured this year by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains Imports are happening despite bumper domestic wheat output in the 2014-15 crop year and surplus stocks Gold recovers on buying by jewellers; silver remains higher New Delhi Jul 4 (PTI): Gold prices recovered by Rs 50 to Rs 26,550 per 10 grams at the bullion market today, snapping its three-day falling streak, on emergence of buying by jewellers and retailers at prevailing levels. Silver also advanced by Rs 200 to Rs 36,200 per kg on pick up in demand from industrial units. Bullion traders said revival of buying by jewellers and retailers at existing levels, helped gold to regain its glitter. In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity went up by Rs 50 each to Rs 26,550 and Rs 26,400 per ten grams respectively. The precious metal had lost Rs 450 in the previous three sessions. Sovereign, however, remained steady at Rs 23,300 per piece of eight gram in limited deals. Silver ready continued its yesterday’s gain and added another Rs 200 to Rs 36,200 per kg and weekly-based delivery gained Rs 180 to Rs 35,680 per kg. Bullion traders said revival of buying by jewellers and retailers at existing levels, helped gold to regain its glitter. In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity went up by Rs 50 each to Rs 26,550 and Rs 26,400 per ten grams respectively. The precious metal had lost Rs 450 in the previous three sessions. Sovereign, however, remained steady at Rs 23,300 per piece of eight gram in limited deals. On the other hand, silver coins held steady at Rs 54,000 for buying and Rs 55,000 for selling of 100 pieces. WDM witnesses trade worth Rs 2,842.66 crore on NSE Mumbai Jul 4 (PTI): The Wholesale Debt Market segment of the National Stock Exchange on Friday witnessed a total turnover of Rs 2,842.66 crore in 73 trades. Top securities (non-repo) traded at the WDM were: The 8.07 securities maturing in CG2017 traded value at Rs 700 crore at weighted yield the 7.92 percent, the 8.27 securities maturing in CG2020 traded value at Rs 225 crore at weighted yield the 8.14 percent and the 9.20 securities maturing in CG2030 traded value at Rs 210 crore at weighted yield the 8.32 percent. During the week, the total turnover was Rs 8,969.01 crore and the total number of trades during the week was at 311. The highest volume amount of trade during the week was at Rs 2,842.66 crore on Friday, while the lowest volume amount Rs 1.214.23 crore was on June 29. This week, the weighted yield on government securities with a maturity period of 0-3 years, 3-7 years, 7-10 years and more than 10 years was quoted at 7.90 percent, 8.18 percent, 8.08 percent and 8.24 percent, respectively. The weighted yields on treasury bills maturing within 90 days was 7.52 percent, it was 7.65 percent for bills of 91-182 days tenure, and 7.61 percent for bills of 183-365 days’ tenure. During the week, the cumulative value of government securities, treasury bills and state government securities trading on the WDM was Rs 6,674.56 crore, trading in Non- Government. Sensex, Nifty over 2-month high; extend gains for 3rd week cap companies witnessed good buying activity. While, IT, Realty and Metal segments saw profit-booking. FIIs sold equities worth Rs 137.53 crore during the week as per SEBI data including the provisional figure of July 3. Shares of MidCap and Smallcap companies witnessed good buying activity. While, IT, Realty and Metal segments saw profit-booking. FIIs sold equities worth Rs 137.53 crore during the week as per SEBI data including the provisional figure of July 3. Twenty-two stocks out the 30-share Sensex pack ended with strong gains while 8 declined. Twenty-two stocks out the 30-share Sensex pack ended with strong gains while 8 declined. On the S&P BSE sectoral front, FCMG topped its peers, surging over 2.71 pct, followed by Bankex 2.12 pct, Capital Goods 1.91 pct, Healthcare 1.46 pct, PSU 1.26 pct, Oil&Gas 1.08 pct and Auto 0.56 pct. Meanwhile, Midcap and Small-cap stocks were seen outperforming the benchmark indices, rallying by 1.72 percent and 1.62 percent, respectively. Major gainers were Hindunilver (4.24percent), Bharti Artl (4.12percent), Axis Bank (3.59percent), Lupin (3.45percent), BHEL (3.01percent), ITC (2.26percent), HDFC (2.15percent), Cipla (1.98 percent), Bajaj Auto (1.81 percent), Coal India (1.60 percent), Dr Reddys (1.67 percent), L&T (1.56 percent), Heromotoco (1.20 percent), HDFC Bank (1.06 percent), SBI (1.43 percent), Reliance (0.72 percent), M&M (0.98 percent) and NT percent (0.87 percent). The domestic bourses, that bucked the global market trend as a result of Greek debtdeal stand-off, closed at twoand-a-half-month high levels. Optimism also strengthened after Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan allayed fears over Greek crisis on the country. Meanwhile, foreign investors turned net-sellers amid caution ahead of Sunday’s Greek refer- endum. The 30-share Sensex resumed lower at 27,451.07 and hovered in a range of 28,135.43 points to 27,209.19 points during the week. It finally settled the week at 28,092.79 points, showing a gain of 280.95 points or 1.01 percent over previous week. The Sensex has shot up by a whopping 1,667.49 points, or 6.31 percent in three weeks. The CNX Nifty also climbed 103.80 points, or 1.24 percent to 8,484.90. It has also gained 502.00 points, or 6.29 percent in the same period. On the flip side, Hindalco tumbled by a hefty 5.47 percent. It was followed by Gail 3.60 percent, Vedanta 2.40 percent, Maruti 1.75 percent, Infosys 1.60 percent, Wipro 1.60 percent, ONGC 1.21 percent and Tata Motors 1.03 percent. The total turnover on the BSE and NSE was Rs 13,565.72 crore and Rs 75,295.06 crore, respectively during the week compared to Rs 13,051.34 crore and Rs 79,882.47 crore preceding week. with the FCI. The corporation has a huge stock of 40 million tonnes of wheat despite drop in production to 90.78 MT in 201415 from record 95.85 million tonnes in the 2013-14 crop year. FCI has procured 27.6 MT wheat so far in the current marketing year that started from April. “Of which, 20-30 percent of the grain is of poor quality and that need to be disposed of soon,” an official had earlier said. The corporation procured poor quality wheat as it relaxed norms this year to pro- tect farmers, whose crop got damage due to hailstorms and unseasonal rains from February to April. Flour millers and private traders say they are importing wheat on lower global prices as well as lack of high quality wheat in the domestic market. Millers have started importing wheat from Australia for the first time in a decade. They have already contracted for import of 5,00,000 tonnes of wheat from Australia and are planning to purchase another 5,00,000 tonnes from France and Russia. Grexit may stall FPI inflows into India: BofA New Delhi Jul 4 (PTI): In case of Greece’s exit (Grexit) from the Eurozone, foreign portfolio investment (FPI) equity inflows into India could stall as markets would swing to risk off, Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a research report. “Our Europe economists think this will make Grexit that much more difficult to avoid. Although India’s exposure to Greece is negligible, in our view, contagion, if any, could travel through markets. “We would expect FPI equity inflows (USD 0.3 billion in FY16 so far) to stall further as markets swing to risk off, although India’s growth prospects and China’s volatility should limit outflows,” BofA Merrill Lynch Research said. In the forex market, BofA believed that the Reserve Bank would sell USD 15 billion to defend Rs 65/USD. “We believe that the RBI would sell USD 15 billion to defend Rs 65/USD levels to anchor INR expectations in the FX markets. Not surprisingly, Governor Rajan... Reiterated that the INR is at fair value,” it said. The rupee’s performance in the current Greek crisis has been broadly in line with peers. RBI could let initial shock blow over, it added. “USD 15 billion leaves 8 months’ import cover on March 2016 basis... We continue to peg this at about USD 15 billion assuming that the RBI must maintain 8-month import cover for rupee stability,” it added. “The G-sec market remains relatively insulated to a ‘no’ Greek vote. While this would postpone its expected USD 5 billion FPI G-sec limit hike and any possibility of an August 4 rate cut, neither is really priced in.” In the forex market, BofA believed that the Reserve Bank would sell USD 15 billion to defend Rs 65/USD. “We believe that the RBI would sell USD 15 billion to defend Rs 65/USD levels to anchor INR expectations in the FX markets. Not surprisingly, Governor Rajan... Reiterated that the INR is at fair value,” it said. The rupee’s performance in the current Greek crisis has been broadly in line with peers. Grexit may stall FPI inflows into India: BofA “We expect the RBI to hike the FPI G-sec limit by about USD 5 billion if Greece resolves itself next week,” it further said. On open market operations, it expects no such activity until December. The RBI will likely prefer to inject liquidity through repos rather than OMO purchases for now in case of capital outflows. “We estimate that the money market liquidity will likely persist at sub-Rs 500 billion,” the report added. 11 Sports Indian Horizon Delhi Sunday, July 5, 2015 All eyes on Lionel Messi at Copa America climax Santiago Jul 4 (PTI): Lionel Messi and Argentina will be chasing a first major title in 22 years Saturday when they face hosts Chile in a dream Copa America final in Santiago. The three-week South American football showpiece reaches its climax at the Estadio Nacional with Argentina aiming to win their first title since 1993, 12 months after defeat in last year`s World Cup final. Chile are anxious to shed their unwanted tag as the perennial nearly men of South American football, ending decades of hurt by winning a first Copa America crown after nearly a century of failure. Argentina captain Messi has declared himself “desperate” to win an international title after winning every honor at club level with Barcelona. Coach Gerardo Martino said Friday victory for Argentina was almost an “obligation”. “It`s very difficult to imagine what would have happened if we had not reached the final,” Martino said. “In reality the expectations this group of players generates are so great that sometimes they think winning is an obligation.” Argentina head into the final in buoyant mood after thrashing Paraguay 6-1 in the semi-finals. Martino said Argentina`s players had been told to take the emotion out of what is expected to be a highly charged occasion. “There is always an emotional factor in the final, but the guys must ignore that. These are the kinds of games where there is so much tied up in the result that you can sometimes change the way you approach the match. “But what will bring us the title is to do things as usual.” Striker Sergio Aguero insisted that the pressure of ending a 22-year title drought was not getting to Argentina. “It`s true that for many years we have not won anything,” Aguero said. “But we have many players with experience of winning titles, so the pressure is not a problem. “With the group of players we have, we have got to win a title and we are one step away from doing that.” Chile are anxious to shed their unwanted tag as the perennial nearly men of South American football, ending decades of hurt by winning a first Copa America crown after nearly a century of failure. Argentina captain Messi has declared himself “desperate” to win an international title after winning every honor at club level with Barcelona. Coach Gerardo Martino said Friday victory for Argentina was almost an “obligation”. “It`s very difficult to imagine what would have happened if we had not reached the final,” Martino said. “In reality the expectations this group of players generates are so great that sometimes they think winning is an obligation.” Argentina head into the final in buoyant mood after thrashing Paraguay 6-1 in the semi-finals. Martino said Argentina`s players had been told to take the emotion out of what is expected to be a highly charged occasion. Since a 6-1 defeat to Argentina in the inaugural South American Championship in 1916, Chile have endured years of frustration. While Argentina will join Uruguay as the most successful side in the tournament`s history if they win their 15th title on Saturday, Chile are still waiting for their first crown after finishing runners-up four times. Chile have also never beaten Argentina at the Copa America in 24 attempts. Chile`s own golden generation -- featuring the likes of Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez and Claudio Bravo -- believe Saturday represents a now-or-never moment. Coach Jorge Sampaoli said Chile would not abandon their trademark attacking style even against an Argentina team which tore Paraguay to pieces. “Our preparations have been similar to previous matches. Of course we are taking some things into consideration about our opponents, but our system will not change,” Sampaoli said. “We will try to dominate the game and the game may depend on who dominates who. But the system we David Warner reveals why he attacked Joe Root, says he felt the Englishman was insulting Muslims New Delhi Jul 4 (PTI): Days before the start of the first Test of the Ashes series, David Warner has finally revealed why he attacked Joe Root in a Birmingham nightclub in 2013. Speaking to Sydney Morning Herald, Warner claimed that he felt the English batsman was poking fun at the South African batsman Hasim Amla and his religion by wearing a fake wig in the chin. “A mate of mine was actually wearing [the wig] on top of his head like a [Lasith] Malinga wig, that’s what it was. He was wearing it on his head and (Root) decided to come in and take it off my mate’s head and start acting the way he did,” Warner said. Amla, who sports a beard, is widely respected as one of the finest batsman of the era, is a devout Muslim. The South African was also subject to a ‘terrorist’ comment by Dean Jones in 2006. The former Australia batsman turned TV commentator was sacked by his employers after being heard saying, “the terrorist has got another wicket” when Amla took the catch to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara in a Test match at Colombo. “When people are drunk that’s what they do but I thought it was a bit inappropriate the way he went about that stuff so I went over and tried to take it off him. I just think in today’s society you shouldn’t be fooling around with that kind of stuff,” Warner explained. Warner, how- ever, sounded apolegetic about the infamous incident and said, “And he probably didn’t mean anything by it at all but I just thought ... actually I can’t say I thought ... I probably let my aggression and alcohol take over there and probably made an excuse for me to go over there and actually take it off him.” In the infamous nightclub brawl, the Aussie opener punched the Englishman, earning himself a two match ban. Known for his explosive batting and also volatile presence in the field, Warner has had his share of negative limelight. In a bid to enhance his image, Warner has become a tee-totaller, and he even celebrated Australia’s recent Test win at West In- have used has given us the opportunity to be where we are now, in the final, and we intend to continue playing the same way.” Sampaoli declined to comment about a plan to combat the threat posed by Argentina`s “Fantastic Four” -- Messi, Aguero, Javier Pastore and Angel Di Maria. “We have spoken to the players about some of our concerns and we have communicated some things that we believe are important to keep in mind so that we have a good game,” Sampaoli said. The final takes place at 5:00 pm (2000 GMT) and will be the only match of the tournament to feature 30 minutes of extra time if the scores are tied after 90 minutes. Women’s World Cup final: Japan vs USA Japan can expect a United States at “full throttle” and bent on revenge on Sunday as the Asian champions bid to defend their title in the Women`s World Cup final. It will be the third showdown between the two sides in a major championship final. Nicknamed `the Nadeshiko` - a pink flower symbolising grace and beauty Japan won the 2011 World Cup crown in dramatic fashion in Frankfurt, Germany. The United States, World Cup winners in 1991 and 1999, twice relinquished a one-goal lead before succumbing in a penalty shootout. But the Americans took the Olympic gold ahead of Japan in London in 2012. Both squads include many of the same players who were on the pitch in the 2011 final, including all four goal scorers. Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach scored for the United States, while Homare Sawa and Aya Miyama were on target for the Japanese. Carli Lloyd was one of three US players to miss her penalty kick in 2011, but scored both goals in the Americans` 2-1 win in the 2012 Olympic final. “I want to bring everything I have to this game,” warned Lloyd, who has been in stunning form in Canada, scoring and setting up another goal in a 2-0 semi-final win over top-ranked Germany. “For me in the final everything is on the line, my foot on the pedal full force. Our confidence is growing, it grew against China and Germany and now it`s no regrets, full throttle. “We know what`s at stake and have to play our best. We`ll be able to weather the storm, we`ve fresh legs and are physically fit.” The United States could also be considered the home favourite with the 53,000-plus crowd at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver largely behind the Americans. “We feel like we`re playing in the US,” Lloyd said. Japan have won all their games. Wimbledon 2015, Day 6: Federer defies big-serving Groth to make last 16, Brown exits London Jul 4 (PTI): Seven-time champion Roger Federer defeated bigserving Australian Sam Groth to reach the Wimbledon last 16 on Saturday while Dustin Brown, the conqueror of Rafael Nadal returned to earth with a bump. Second seed Federer clinched a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 victory over world number 69 Groth who fired a 147mph ace in the third game. Federer will next face Spanish 20th seed Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the quarter-finals. “I am very happy. It has been a hot week the first week but thankfully I have had easy matches going through without too many long four or five setters,” said Federer. “Now we are looking ahead and there are only big matches.” Dreadlocked German qualifier Brown was unable to follow his triumph over Nadal when he slumped to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3 defeat to Serbian 22nd seed Viktor Troicki. Brown joins Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis and Nick Kyrgios who all lost their next match at Wimbledon after knocking out Nadal over the last four years. Troicki goes on to face either British wildcard James Ward or Canada`s Vasek Pospisil for a place in the quarter-finals. It is the 29-year-old Serb`s first last-16 run at Wimbledon since 2012 and his best performance at a Grand Slam since returning from a 12-month drugs ban in July last year. Brown came through qualifying at Wimbledon but defeat on Saturday meant a swift return to the daily grind. “The schedule is to go to the airport and take the earliest flight, because tomorrow morning, I have club matches in Cologne, Germany,” said the 30-year-old. US Open champion Marin Cilic took just two games to see off John Isner on Saturday after returning to finish off their third round match poised at 1010 in the final set. Croatian Cilic, the ninth seed, beat the US 17th seed 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 12-10 on Court One in a match that lasted four hours and 31 minutes in total after it had been suspended late Friday due to bad light. “I was playing yesterday really good and I was close to finishing it off. I think throughout all the match I was the one who was putting more pressure on the returns,” Cilic said after winning on a fifth match point having had a first match point in the 12th game of the decider on Friday. Cilic sent down 35 aces to Isner`s 37 and next faces wildcard Denis Kudla, the last American man in the tournament, for a place in the quarterfinals. Danish fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki reached the last 16 for the fourth time with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Italy`s Camila Giorgi. “I was very happy to win this one. I know that Camila is such a tricky opponent. She hits so hard. I was just trying to get every ball back. I was really pleased how I managed to keep my composure,” said Wozniacki. The former world number one will face Spain`s Garbine Muguruza after the 20th seed shocked 2012 semi-finalist Angelique Kerber 7-6 (14/12), 1-6, 6-2. Muguruza, who made the French Open quarter-finals this year, saved nine set points in the opener on her way to a first appearance in the second week at Wimbledon. Romania`s Monica Niculescu also made the last 16 for the first time, beating Czech world number 134 Kristyna Plískova 6-3, 7-5. She will face Switzerland`s Timea Bacsinszky who put out 2013 runner-up Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-2 to book a spot in the last 16 for the first time. Later Saturday, 2013 champion Andy Murray, the third seed, takes a 6-1 career lead over Italian veteran Andreas Seppi into their third round showdown. Now we are looking ahead and there are only big matches.” Dreadlocked German qualifier Brown was unable to follow his triumph over Nadal when he slumped to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3 defeat to Serbian 22nd seed Viktor Troicki. I was just trying to get every ball back. I was really pleased how I managed to keep my composure,” said Wozniacki. The former world number one will face Spain`s Garbine Muguruza after the 20th seed shocked 2012 semifinalist Angelique Kerber 7-6 (14/12), 1-6, 6-2. Brown joins Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis and Nick Kyrgios who all lost their next match at Wimbledon after knocking out Nadal over the last four years. Troicki goes on to face either British wildcard James Ward or Canada`s Vasek Pospisil for a place in the quarter-finals. It is the 29-year-old Serb`s first last-16 run at Wimbledon since 2012 and his best performance at a Grand Slam since returning from a 12-month drugs ban in July last year. Brown came through qualifying at Wimbledon but defeat on Saturday meant a swift return to the daily grind. “The schedule is to go to the airport and take the earliest flight, because tomorrow morning, Seppi knocked Federer out of the Australian Open in January but his only win over the British star came back in 2006 in their first meeting. Sixth seeded Czech Tomas Berdych faces Spain`s Pablo Andujar. Defending women`s champion Petra Kvitova, who has only dropped three games, faces Serb 28th seed Jelena Jankovic. Ashes 2015: England bank on Trevor Bayliss to douse Australian London Jul 4 (PTI): A callow England team with a new coach take on a bullish and streetwise Australia in an intriguing Ashes series which should provide plenty of drama and aggressive cricket. Michael Clarke`s touring side will attempt to win the urn on English soil for the first time in 14 years and Alastair Cook`s hosts will try to win back the trophy following their crushing 5-0 defeat in the last series Down Under. Two years ago Australia went into the Ashes with a new coach in Darren Lehman and lost 3-0, but it was a victory margin which flattered England. This time around the hosts will be led by Australian coach Trevor Bayliss who will aim to build on the feelgood factor generated by England`s impressive resurgence in the recent one-day series against New Zealand. Australia all-rounder Shane Watson believes having the 52-year-old Bayliss at the helm will give England an advantage. “He knows a lot of us very well,” Watson said. “He`ll have these ideas about how he can try to expose our team. The edge will be the inside information he will have. But we know that if we are at our best we will be very hard to beat.” England stagnated under former coach Peter Moores, drawing a test series in West Indies this year before being held by New Zealand on home soil under Paul Farbrace. After two barren years Alastair Cook has rediscovered his batting form but doubts remain about whether he has the captaincy acumen to outwit the Australians. British Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton rules at home to take pole position Silverstone Jul 4 (PTI): Lewis Hamilton moved to third place on Saturday in the list of all-time Formula One pole sitters when he secured his eighth pole spot in nine races for Sunday`s British Grand Prix. Responding to a below-par run in practice on Friday, the series leader and defending two-time world champion made the most of overnight improvements to his car -and passionate support from his home fans -- to beat his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by a tenth of a second in a tense qualifying session at Silverstone. The 30-year-old Briton clocked a best time of one minute and 32.248 seconds on his first run to beat the German by one-tenth of a second. Neither man improved on their final runs in the final seconds. Hamilton`s success gave him his second successive pole for his home race. It is also the 46th pole position of his career, a total that took him one ahead of four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel, who has taken 45, and leaves only seven-time champion German Michael Schumacher, with 68, and threetime champion Brazilian Ayrton Senna, on 65, ahead. His success also gives him a good chance to increase his 10-points lead ahead of Rosberg in the championship, if he can win Sunday`s 52-laps race. “It`s a very special day, for me to take pole here,” said Hamilton. “The fans give me such motivation and I thank them all for their support. “It`s an unbelievable feeling. “Generally, it hasn`t been the smoothest weekend. I made a change in the car before qualifying, which hopefully will be good for the race.” Rosberg had looked likely to be quickest, but said he had problems with `the left front` of his car. “My first lap was really good, but Lewis was one-tenth quicker -- which is annoying, but that`s the way it is. There was something wrong and we need to look at it.” Like Hamilton, he praised the crowd. “It`s awesome to see how many people and here and great to see how enthusiastic everyone is about our sport.” Massa was the only leading driver to improve on his final run. He said: “It is a fantastic day for us. It is amazing to see how many people are here, it is the home grand prix for the team (Williams) and it is great to see. I hope we can have a strong race and fight with Ferrari.” The Mercedes team`s success gave them a seventh front row lockout this season, a statistic that confirms the supremacy of the Silver Arrows cars. In a surprising last push, the two Williams cars of Brazilian Felipe Massa and Finn Valtteri Bottas took third and fourth ahead of an all-Ferrari row three to be filled by Finn Kimi Raikkonen and four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel. Russian Daniil Kvyat was seventh for Red Bull ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso, German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India and Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the second Red Bull. Ricciardo was one of several drivers who suffered for having a lap deleted for running off circuit at Copse to gain an advantage. Raikkonen also got penalised after posting a fast lap. This left the indignant Finn, who believed he was permitted two wheels on the kerb, facing an exit before the top-ten shootout. He squeezed through in ninth with another lap. The travails of the hapless McLaren team continued apace with both their former world champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button failing to qualify even for the second session and will start on the ninth row of the grid. It was the first time since the Chinese Grand Prix in April that both McLarens were eliminated in Q1. 12 Entertainment Indian Horizon Delhi Sunday, July 5, 2015 Indian Horizon Modelling is stepping stone to acting: Rakul Preet Singh Rakul Preet Singh first faced the camera when she was all of two, and her love for showbiz since has only grown manifold. Having done her fair share of catwalks before entering films, she says modelling gives newcomers a push into the movie world. Rakul, who made her Bollywood debut with "Yaariyan" and has starred in various southern films like "Venkatadri Express", "Loukyam" and "Current Theega", calls herself a "filmy kid". "I was a filmy kid. I was two when I faced the camera for the first time. My parents realised it pretty early and I'm really thank- ful to them for their support and help. I did modelling for a year, but then I always wanted to be an actress," Rakul told IANS over phone from Mumbai. A former Miss India contestant, Rakul started paving her way to films through the ramp. Asked why she chose a modelling career if she had her eyes set on films, the Delhi-born beauty said: "Beauty pageants work as a platform from where you can reach out to many. Although they are two different fields, they come under the same group. "For newcomers, modelling is like a stepping stone to acting. The exposure and experience in modelling helps...But for acting, we have to show a lot of hard work and dedication towards it." On the film front, Rakul will next be seen in two southern movies -- "Pandaga Chesko" and "Kick 2". Apart from that, in the Bollywood space she will play an "independent girl" in filmmaker Ramesh Sippy's light-hearted comedy "Shimla Mirchi", which stars veteran actress Hema Malini and actor Rajkummar Rao in lead roles. The film is likely to release in June this year. Courtesy:SantaBanta.com Yo Yo Honey Singh is back with a bang! India's favourite, king of rap Yo Yo Honey Singh is back with his single 'One Bottle Down'. After working together for many successful singles, Bhushan Kumar released Yo Yo's next single 'One Bottle Down' today which will be his first single of 2015. On this new song One Bottle Down, Bhushan said, "Yo Yo is really fun to work with. Our association has grown stronger over the period of time. His songs has always created a stir in the market. His fans all over are waiting for his next song and One Bottle Down that is a feet thumping party number will bowl them over. Yo Yo gave me the final track a few days and the song will be his yet another top chartbuster. It's a great single and will do wonders." Courtesy:Bollylife.com What makes Farhan 'Rock On' Is Salman expanding his business? Superstar Salman Khan's Being Human clothing brand will now be retailed through South Africa's online fashion shop Zando. "#BeingHumanClothing now available on the South African website zando.co.za," Salman tweeted. Available to fashionistas in Europe and Middle East as well, the brand also has a presence in India. It has stores in places like Kolkata, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Guwahati, Delhi and Mumbai. The Being Human foundation was created in 2007 by the "Dabangg" star to support the underprivileged in India. In partnership with various companies, the foundation creates specific initiatives for education and healthcare. In 2012, Salman launched Being Human clothing with Mandhana Industries to finance and develop the foundation's activities. Then, Being Human became both a charitable trust and a clothing brand. Courtesy:SantaBanta.com Kriti Sanon plans balancing act in Hindi, southern films Farhan Akhtar, who has excelled in his multiple talents repeatedly, says it's the joy of entertaining people and engaging with them that keeps him going. A successful director, producer, actor and singer, how does he do justice to his many roles?"It purely stems from belief in the project, in the work and then in the people who are involved with you when you are doing that work," he said. "I'm excited about entertaining people and I'm excited about engaging with people. It could be through writing a film, directing a film or producing it, acting in it or performing on stage,` he added. The `Bhaag Milkha Bhaag` actor especially loves the interaction that happens with the crowd. `For me, the enjoyment factor really is the interaction that happens with the crowd. So be it in the feedback that comes usually later on about the film or in the moment when you are doing a concert or performing, you get some feedback from the co-actors or director,` he said. The 41-year-old has been appointed as the ambassador of menswear brand Code by Lifestyle. Talking about what it takes to write his own code, the "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" actor said: "It takes a certain sense of self-belief, the support of people around you who matter and I think on some level, it takes a certain psychology of not being afraid of failing. `Most people, sometimes, are not brave enough to venture outside their comfort zone for the fear of failing. I think unless you fail, you don't learn." Courtesy:SantaBanta.com Parineeti to endorse NAC jewellers? The ever-so-affable and the ever-so-effervescent Parineeti Chopra never fails to make news for all the good reasons. Be it on the films front or the brand endorsements arena, Miss Chopra has always been the newsmaker for her 'utter professional, yet being so grounded' attitude. This time round, according to Bollywood Hungama's reliable sources, Parineeti Chopra is now all set to endorse NAC jewellers. The official announcement of the same is awaited. Courtesy:Mid-Day.com Akshay Kumar: I have given the maximum break to new directors, actors and actresses Actress Kriti Sanon, who debuted with Bollywood film "Heropanti", has also been doing films down south. She says she hopes to strike a balance between both worlds. "I think that at the end of the day, you are doing a project. I signed my first Hindi and Telugu film simultaneously. I did one more Telugu film after 'Heropanti'. I would want to keep a balance between Hindi and southern industry," Kriti said here. "There are some great and talented people all over," she added. What about competition in showbiz? "It's a good thing. I take it in a good way. There is no pressure, but it's a healthy competition as there are a lot of talented people in this industry." Courtesy:Bollylife.com Nargis shines at the first ever LFW Instagram show! Lakme Fashion Week celebrated their 15th edition in true new age style with a unique concept show - a live show via Instagram that was hosted yesterday for designer Masaba Gupta. This first of its kind use of the digital medium was loved by all, and more so because it had actress and social media enthusiast Nargis Fakhri closing the show. Nargis has always had an inclination to do things differently and has always managed to successfully partake in endeavors that are at times risque but in the long run only prove her mettle. Courtesy:SantaBanta.com Is he trying to be a Godfather of Bollywood? Read on to find out the full story! Actor Akshay Kumar says that he likes the idea of working with new talent and this is the reason why he has given “maximum” chances to youngsters under his Hari Om Entertainment banner. “I have given the maximum break to new directors, actors and actresses under my banner,” Akshay told IANS. The ‘Khiladi’ Kumar, whose espionage action thriller film “Baby”, has given breaks to actors like Trisha Krishnan and Vinay Virmani through his production company. Also, the 47-year-old doesn’t feels hesitant in working with debutant directors like Sajid-Farhad in “Entertainment” and Ashish R Mohan in “Khiladi 786”. “I love to work with new people as I love new ideas,” he said. Akshay will next be seen in the action drama “Mein Gabbar” alongside Shruti Haasan. He will also be seen in the Bollywood remake of “Warrior”. The film will be released as “Brothers” in India. 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