Found no terror camps on 22 pin locations shared by India: Pak on Pulwama attack

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March 28, 2019

Claiming that it has examined the 22 “pin locations” shared by India, Pakistan on Thursday said that it has found no terror camps. Alongside, the neighbouring country also affirmed that there are no established links between the dreadful February 14 Pulwama attack and the 54 detainees.

“While 54 detained individuals are being investigated, no details linking them to Pulwama have been found so far,” it said in a statement, a day after asking India to provide “more information/evidence” on the involvement of the JeM in the deadly Pulwama terror attack and the presence of camps of the UN-proscribed terror outfit in the country.

With immense international pressure, Pakistan authorities announced the preventive detention of over 120 members of banned militant outfits in the country earlier this month. The detainees also include Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar’s son and brother — Hammad and Rauf.

The Pakistan Foreign Office said, “Similarly, the 22 pin locations shared by India have been examined. No such camps exist. Pakistan is willing to allow visits, on request, to these locations.”

It said that keeping with its commitment to cooperate, Pakistan on Wednesday shared “preliminary findings” of its investigations with India along with a set of questions.

“Subsequently, the diplomatic corps in Islamabad was briefed as well,” the FO said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the suicide bomber of JeM killed 40 CRPF personnel. India launched a counter-terror operation against a JeM training camp in Balakot. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in aerial combat and captured its pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1.

SC receives plea challenging 10% Quota Bill, hearing on April 8

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Web Team

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March 28, 2019

A bunch of pleas challenging the Constitution Amendment giving 10 per cent reservation to the economically weaker section in jobs and education reached the Supreme Court but were adjourned for April 8. The pleas called the declared reservation against the basic structure of the Constitution and raised concerns that it violates the “equality code of the Constitution” as a reservation on economic grounds cannot be restricted to general category.

Advocates from the Petitioners’ (many individuals and NGOs) side requested the bench comprising Justice S A Bobde and Justice S Abdul Nazeer not to delay the case as they believe it can lead to “massive appointments”. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for one of the petitioners, also requested the setting up of a five-judge Constitution Bench to hear the case.

The apex court on March 11 said that it will make a decision on whether the pleas challenging the 10 per cent Quota Bill should be heard by the Constitution Bench. The SC also earlier refused to stay the implementation of the 10 per cent reservation given to the economically weak in jobs and education.

Modi likely to hold 8 poll rallies in Maharashtra

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Web Team

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March 28, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may address eight election rallies in Maharashtra. The state will witness four phased voting process for 48 Lok Sabha seats beginning from April 11 a senior BJP leader stated on Thursday.

Modi will address his first rally on April 1 at Wardha constituency which is going to polls in the first phase.

“He is likely to hold eight rallies in the state. The number may go up as more constituencies will go on polls in the third and fourth phase as compared to first two phase.”

How the Big Divorce Will Impact Indian Investments in UK Real Estate

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Web Team

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March 28, 2019

The doomsayers are having a field day with predicting that Brexit will cause the UK real estate market to dry up and blow away. In India, we are quite used to gleeful prophecies of doom regarding real estate and take them with a healthy pinch of salt.

No doubt, every change involves disruption and confusion in the beginning. In the case of Brexit, the magnitude of change is undoubtedly massive considering the sheer size and also the diversity of the involved countries. It is not only their economies which will be affected – like in every death or divorce, there will also be grief. Grief is an emotion, and for that reason, it will affect market sentiments for a while.

If we apply to the process of the Five Stages of Grief outlined by Elisabeth Kubler Ross, we can see that the involved countries have already moved from denial and anger to bargaining and depression. What inevitably follows is acceptance – and with acceptance comes the restoration of normalcy, stability and even growth.

Brexit is currently the source of a lot of uncertainty, and there will be short-to-mid-term repercussions on the inflow of investments into the UK. The UK real estate market will face its share of backlash. It is still a problem of sentiment rather than of actual viability, but the sentiment is a powerful force on any country’s real estate market.

As of now, London’s image as a major and extremely stable financial hub has been shaken. Many large companies, including banks and financial institutions, are eyeing alternate destinations such as Frankfurt and Dublin.

Certainly, the exorbitant commercial rents and high premiums that more or less defined London’s commercial real estate market play a role in this sentiment shift – these new destinations will be relatively cheaper for such companies.

Investors will also switch gears on their investment preferences. For instance, the India-based developer Lodha has decided to exit the UK real estate market by selling two of its prime properties in London.

While the planned exit was said to be the company’s strategy to reduce its debt burden, Brexit obviously played a role in the decision. Similarly, some Chinese firms have also deferred their investment plans for London, at least till the current uncertainty clears.

To this backdrop, housing prices in London remained remarkably subdued in 2018. This fact was also seen as an opportunity for hawk-eyed Indian property buyers who had been waiting to take the plunge into the exorbitantly high-priced UK real estate market. This stance was also evident when the US real estate market plunged as the result of the sub-prime crisis there.

Ultra-high-net-worth Indians who had previously been investing large sums in other destinations like Dubai are now seriously mulling the option of including London in their real estate portfolio. After all, London is – and will remain – a bigger financial hub than Dubai, and this image will not change overnight.

Some key factors that continue to make London attractive to Indian real estate investors include its language, market transparency, a convenient time zone, overall friendly laws, an established ecosystem of expertise, and the city’s historically proven ability to adapt to sharp global changes.

The fact that both residential and commercial property prices in the UK will soften attractively on the back of Brexit is also hard to ignore. There is also the advantage of a stronger rupee against the pound – it was as high as Rs 103.3 in 2013 and one British pound now is within Rs 92.

Also, there is also some uncertainty about whether the other European financial centres have the capability to realistically absorb the massive financial services sector if most businesses opt to move jobs there from London.

As of now, the situation is still relatively fluid and many things can happen. The risk factor involved in uncertainty is something which seasoned Indian HNI real estate investors are used to.

Also, Indians’ long-standing ‘love affair’ with the UK in general and London, in particular, will not be affected by Brexit. It is fairly safe to assume that, Brexit notwithstanding, we will see more Indians making calculated plays in the UK real estate market in the times to come.

(The author of the article is the Chairman of ANAROCK Property Consultants.)

By Anuj Puri

World Cup to our doorsteps

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C K Subramaniam

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March 28, 2019

The game of Cricket as a sport is heavily dependent on technology. From bowling to decision making, the involvement of technology is of great use. Let us further dig into and understand the commonly used gadgets of the sport. With three cameras tracking the Cricket ball at all times, the recent ‘ball fixing’ by the Australians came as a bit of a surprise. Technology has seamlessly come into this game that involves the future of individual players, teams and the sport itself. It has become a tool to get the best out of the players. Thanks to technology, the fan is the ultimate winner because Cricket is being sold as an attractive package. The six areas in Cricket where technology has played a major role are: Hawk-Eye, LED lighting, Hot spot, Stump Camera, Snickometer, and speed gun.

Fans all over the country can follow matches online. It has increased the fan base for domestic Cricket. Instead of the fan chasing the information, it is the other way around now. When the late Hansie Cronje used earphone on the field to have direct contact with the coach sitting in the pavilion, the controversy cropped up in the cricketing field. However, for each and every decision and for even checking no balls technology being used at the highest level. The fruits of using technology pay a high dividend but there is still scope for some silly mistakes despite using technology.

Coaches reap rich benefits from the use of technology. From naked-eye coaching, now data-driven and visual training have been welcomed all over. Sensors placed in the bat give an indication of the ball hitting the middle of the bat and the edges. Earlier, videos were used for coaching analysis. From VHS tapes, which would take 10 hours to view, it has now come down to a 10-minute process. By the practice time is over, the ward’s batting display and his weaknesses are loaded in mother’s mobile for viewing the same by sitting in the car going back home.

Hawk-Eye technology helps in tracking the ball. The third umpire gets to use this technique and the accurate pitch map helps in taking a near-perfect decision. The point of impact, the bounce of the ball, the swing and turn, and the length of the ball: Decision-making has become almost error-free with the umpires relying on the technology to come to a conclusion. Camera work from different angles allows minute scrutiny of the ball.

LED lighting arrangement is the modern use of technology in the game of Cricket. LED lights are placed on the stumps and the bails. Whenever these are dislodged, the lights start to flash. This helps the umpires in case of running out, bowled and stumping decisions very much for both the on-field umpires and the third umpire as well. Instead of complaining about technology, why can’t the umpires and the players be trained to use it better? Besides, technology is already in use by umpires to determine run outs, no-balls, stumping and illegitimate catches caught after the ball bounced — so what’s wrong in extending it to LBWs and other forms of dismissals as well?

Snickometer, previously used on TV broadcasts but not available to umpire reviews of disputed calls during tests, will join Hot Spot, Eagle-Eye ball tracking and stump microphones as part of the DRS technology package. Snicko, as part of the DRS, should enhance the TV coverage and cut down on incorrect umpiring decisions. Speed gun is a radar gun has both a receiver and a transmitter. A radio wave reflected from Cricket balls is detected by the gun which uses the principle of Doppler shift to measure the speed of the ball when bowled and the stump camera provides a unique angle of the game and is often instrumental in decision-making run outs.

Umpires are a conventional technology for arriving at the right decisions on a Cricket field. Now, the last couple of decades have seen rapid upgradations to pretty much every other technology there is. So, it is in the case of Cricket. The decision-making mechanisms in Cricket have been enhanced with new technologies meant to supplement the umpires.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: March 28, 2019

By

Web Team

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March 28, 2019

Don’t ever cage birds

Birds in cages crave for freedom and companionship and often exhibit aggressive, neurotic, and self-destructive behaviour as they languish in cramped cages. Because of their seemingly bad behaviour caused by their torturous conditions, people often condemn them to live in dark corners in basements or on balconies all the while locked inside of cages. Birds are known for their complex communication techniques, their beautiful feathers, and their unique intelligence, but when we cage birds, we take away their lives. Buying birds contribute to this horrible problem. Birds are meant to fly and to be with their flock. If you are a bird lover, consider buying binoculars and going on bird-watching hikes or making a backyard oasis for your feathered friends. Never cage birds!

Jubel D’Cruz

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

National Conference leader Rana issues controversial statement against Modi

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Web Team

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March 28, 2019

National Conference leader Javed Ahmed Rana has raked up controversy by stating that if given the chance he would get Prime Minister Narendra Modi imprisoned on charges of murder.

Addressing a gathering on Wednesday Rana mentioned that he want to frame Prime Minister in all murder charges including those occurred in Jammu & Kashmir.

“I swear to God if it is in my hands, I will file a case against the Prime Minister of this country in connection with all the murders that has happened in Jammu & Kashmir and other regions of the country. I will get him jailed for murder.”

I-T officials carry out raid at Karnataka minister’s residence

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Web Team

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March 28, 2019

Income tax department officials conducted raids at Janata Dal (Secular) leader’s Chinnakurli residence and Karnataka Minor Irrigation Minister sources said on Thursday. The raids are being carried out by I-T officials and Central Personal Force personnel. Currently raids are being conducted at multiple locations in Bengaluru, Hassan, Mandya and Mysuru, sources revealed.

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and termed the raids as “real surgical strikes. He tweeted, “PM @narendramodi’s real surgical strike is out in the open through IT department raids. The constitutional post offer for IT officer Balakrishna helped the PM in his revenge game. Highly deplorable to use govt machinery, corrupt officials to harass opponents during election time.”

PM @narendramodi‘s real surgical strike is out in the open through IT dept raids. The constitutional post offer for IT officer Balakrishna helped the PM in his revenge game. Highly deplorable to use govt machinery, corrupt officials to harrass opponents during election time.

— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) 28 March 2019

BJP MP Sunil Gaikwad picks Social Duty over Power Politics

By

Moumita Mukherjee

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March 27, 2019

In the world where mostly the leaders are driven by Greed, Power, and Politics, Dr. Sunil Baliram Gaikwad, BJP’s sitting MP in Latur, one of the 48 LS seats in Maharashtra, set a distinctive example after being denied ticket for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the BJP’s first national list of candidates announced last week. He gave an excellent parliamentary performance during his tenure in the 16th Lok Sabha; his attendance was 95.77 per cent.

Although reportedly groupism, internal politics, and his differences with some senior leaders diminished his chances of contesting the general election, he gracefully accepted the party’s decision and went on to adopt a noble profession towards fulfilling the dreams of PM Modi by rendering his services towards educating youth in Swami Vivekanand Subharti University as an “Honourary Visiting Professor” and also taking care of his duties as a BJP worker.

When asked about why he was denied a ticket this Lok Sabha election, Gaikwad told Afternoon Voice, “I am the foot soldier who doesn’t need any position to take care of my responsibilities in the Party. I am happy to serve as an MP for the last five years and grateful to my party for showing faith in me. BJP is a huge party with many cadres; everyone should get the chance. Once I was given the chance, now my peers have got the chance. However, our dedication and commitment to the people and party we belong to is permanent, not the position.”

While the list included 16 names from Maharashtra, Gaikwad, despite working tirelessly for his constituency during his five years tenure and being appreciated by the government for his presence in the Parliament and for voicing his opinion for his people, was replaced with a new face — building contractor Sudhakar Shringare, a Zilla Parishad Member from Vadwal Nagnath Zilla Parishad group and known to be a close aide to Labour and Guardian Minister Sambhaji Patil-Nilangekar. Shringare belongs to Gharani village in Chakur taluka of Latur district.

In a response to what are his further plans, he expressed, “I am doing the same — connecting to the people of my constituency, campaigning for my party, trying to establish connections with everyone so that they can understand the importance of voting. Meanwhile, I have received an offer from the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, to work as an Honourary Professor. I will engage in teaching students. I believe teaching is the most important profession in the world. How else can we continue to develop in such a technical world, or in any other way, for that matter? Without the transfer of knowledge to young minds, we will stagnate and wither as a world.”

Gaikwad is known to be a close companion of Union minister Nitin Gadkari. The serving parliamentarian, well-known as one of the highly educated grassroot level workers of BJP, secured his victory in 2014 general elections defeating Congress’s Dattatray Gunderao by a margin of 2.5 lakh votes. He is the publisher of various newspapers and magazines and had completed Doctorate (PhD) at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad in 2015. He persistently worked for the welfare of people belonging to the Dalit Community and strived to ensure social justice and employment for the people belonging to Tribal and Backward Classes.

Talking about his political carrier, the Latur MP emphasised on his desire to serve his people with or without being in power and said, “Once a worker, always a worker. I am right here with my party pursuing the dreams of our PM; teaching is also one of the aims of BJP towards empowerment.”

Sharing thoughts on how Latur will miss an efficient representative like Gaikwad, senior journalist Satish Tandale stated, “Dr. Sunil Gaikwad’s candidature for upcoming LS polls has been surprisingly denied by BJP despite him being a highly educated and dedicated MP. A local body of BJP has taken disadvantage of his sober nature. He is a victim of dirty politics and not belonging from a political family is another drawback.”

Senior Journalist and Sarpanch Sanjay Dhondopant Jewarikar said, “Sunil Gaikwad was a capable MP and he had close links with all the political parties. He has kept away from groupism which is prevalent at ground level politics. Latur residents liked him and he had never created any troubles for them. Everyone expected Gaikwad to get a ticket this LS polls, but he was denied due to internal politics.”

Sensing LS defeat, Shinde making BJP offer claim, says Tawde

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Web Team

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March 27, 2019

The Maharashtra BJP on Wednesday refuted senior Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde’s claim that he was made an offer to join the ruling party.

Senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde said Shinde’s claim may have come after he sensed the little chances he had of winning from Solapur in the April-May Lok Sabha polls.

“We have not made any offer to him. It only shows how eager he is to join the BJP. He may have sensed there is little chance of him winning from Solapur so he may have made such a claim,” Tawde, also state Education minister, told reporters.

Shinde, who has been Maharashtra chief minister and Union minister earlier, lost the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Solapur to the BJP’s Sharad Bansode.

This time, Shinde is up against BJP’s Jaysiddheshwar Swami, a Lingayat spiritual leader, and the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh’s Prakash Ambedkar.

Speaking on the BJP not announcing a candidate for the Mumbai North East Lok Sabha seat as yet, Tawde said a list of names had been submitted to the party’s central leadership for finalisation.

The seat is held by BJP’s Kirit Somaiya but his strident attacks on the Shiv Sena and its chief Uddhav Thackeray has created hurdles in his renomination.

The Sena is upset with Somaiya and workers have stated they would not campaign for Somaiya if ally BJP renominates him.