Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2019 – a shining example of Development

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January 23, 2019

The first edition of Vibrant Gujarat Summit was held in 2003 under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, to give a spur to the investments in Gujarat. Since then, it has played the role of a catalyst leading to several other such summits annually in states across the country. His path of creating a Vibrant Gujarat as a shining example of Development and Governance did not come easy. It was a path littered with adversities and challenges. Through the last decade if there is one constant trait of Narendra Modi that has stood out it is his Strong Leadership in the face of grave adversity. Vibrant Gujarat has contributed to the confidence building of our enterprises. It has also helped in capacity building and adoption of global best practices, by government agencies. His approach to governance has always been viewed as being above politics. One thing is clear that he never let political differences get in the way of pursuing solutions to developmental challenges. Vibrant Gujarat has contributed greatly to the overall growth of the State. PM Modi, a master strategist enriched by national and international exposure and experience has decided to take the bull by its horns and is turning adversity into an opportunity. Modi wants Gujarat to become a “first world” State as his mission is just one: “Gujarat ki seva”. The efforts of Modi’s government have resulted in the metamorphosis of a revenue deficit state into a revenue surplus state. He believes in the fact that good infrastructure is the driver of economic development. He has rightly said that “Gujarat is an ideal investment destination.” One would find that Gujarat today is a leading industrialised state in the country and is not only an ideal investment destination in the world, but also a coveted place to live and do business. Modi’s political acumen and administrative skills could be extracted from the development projects he carried out in Gujarat. He supported privatisation and globalisation. He established financial and technology parks, started Vibrant Gujarat Summit to attract domestic and foreign investments, started multiple infrastructure projects, and boosted industrialisation to a colossal extent. With massive success at the state level, his performance was duly recognised by the BJP high command. With a past record of rapid urbanisation and development agenda to transform the nation, Narendra Modi fought the elections and received a thumping majority in the Lok Sabha. Gujarat is now the favourite choice for many business establishments beating many other contemporary states who are still coping with internal problems to support new establishments. He rightly said that “India is now ready for business. In the last four years, we have jumped 65 places of global ranking of ease of doing business. I have asked my team to work harder to ensure India is on the top 50 next years.” He also added, “We have also made Doing Business cheaper. India is now ready for business. In the last four years, we have jumped 65 places of global ranking of ease of doing business. I have asked my team to work harder to ensure India is on the top 50 next years. In the decade since, Modi has remade himself as a business-savvy, investor-friendly administrator, a charismatic leader who has presided over a booming economy and lured major foreign and Indian companies to invest in his sprawling coastal state, famed for its spirit of entrepreneurship and as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. Modi is a polarising figure, evoking visceral reactions across the political spectrum.

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

Litmus test for BJP, INLD, Cong and JJP: Jind bypoll

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January 23, 2019

A keen contest is on the cards for the Jind Assembly bypoll with all major political parties the ruling BJP, Opposition INLD, Congress and newly floated Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) slugging it out to ensure victory of their candidates. The high-stake election slated for January 28 is being viewed as a referendum on the Manohar Lal Khattar government and also a semi-final ahead of Lok Sabha elections. The bypoll, which was to be a direct contest between the BJP and the INLD, turned into a multi-cornered fight after the Congress and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) fielded their candidates.

Congress fielded Jat leader and AICC communication in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, a sitting legislator from Kaithal and JJP, a breakaway party from the Chautala family-led Indian National Lok Dal, nominated political greenhorn Digvijay Singh Chautala. JJP came into being after a split in the INLD following a power struggle in Chautala family. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of INLD legislator Hari Chand Midha. The BJP is banking on Middh’a son Krishan Middha, a Punjabi, while INLD has nominated local Jat leader Umedh Singh Redhu, who is also backed by a faction of prominent Kandela Khap (caste council). While the Chautala-led INLD claimed that the Congress and JJP have fielded “imported” candidates, both Randeep and Digvijay are promising unparalleled development for the area, if elected.

The bypoll has brought together the Congress rank as party’s top leaders, including former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, state party chief Ashok Tanwar, late CM Bhajan Lal’s son Kuldeep Bishnoi, CLP leader Kiran Choudhary and party MP Kumari Selja have taken to the streets to ensure Surjewala’s victory. Surjewala’s campaign had got a shot in the arm after a heavy weight from the area and Independent MLA from Kalayat Jai Prakash and former minister Mange Ram Gupta lending support to him. Prakash, a Jat leader, had been seeking the Congress ticket for his son Vikas Saharan. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, cabinet ministers Rambilas Sharma, Capt Abhimanyu and Manish Grover have been campaigning for Middha.

Political pundits say that the dormant Jat community votes are likely to be divided among Surjewala, Redhu and Digvijay as all of them are Jats which can tilt the balance in favour of the BJP candidate.

The fledgling JJP got a boost with the AAP announcing support for its nominee. The cancellation of furlough of INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala from Tihar Jail on the directive of the Delhi government led to a verbal duel between warring factions. Chautala hit back at his grandsons Dushyant and Digvijay, accusing them of “back-stabbing” him and “conspiring” with AAP to keep him out of the campaigning, a charge denied by the Hisar MP. Playing an emotional card, Chautala in an open letter to the electorate said that he was unwell and in hospital.

Despite being unwell, I wanted to come to you (seek votes). I gave an application of furlough to jail authorities which was approved from January 17 with riders that I will have to stay at Teja Khera farm house at Sirsa and should not participate in any political activities. It is an injustice. However, all limits were crossed when the furlough from January 21 was cancelled. This has happened due to a conspiracy by Dushyant, Digvijay and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. I have been back-stabbed. I appeal to the electorate to vote for INLD candidate Umedh Singh to avenge the conspiracy hatched against me, Chautala has written in the letter.

Sneh Lata, wife of Chautala senior is being heard in a video saying thatIf I die tomorrow, these four persons (Ajay, his wife Naina and their sons Dushyant and Digvijay should not touch my body). However, hitting back, Naina asks, Have you ever heard someone cursing her sons and grandsons.

The electioneering has brought about sharp differences in the Chautala clan. While the BJP brokered peace with Kandela Khap (caste council) chief Tek Ram, a ticket aspirant, Leader of Opposition Abhay Singh Chautala apologised to villagers for the infamous firing incident in 2002 during the Chautala regime which led to death of farmers.

Middha is relying on all round development done during Khattar’s over four years regime. INLD’s Umedh and Congress’ Surjewala are banking upon anti-incumbency of ruling BJP alleging the saffron party “failed” to honour its poll promises. The candidate of Lok Suraksha Manch Vinod Kumar Arshi could also play spoilsport in a multi-cornered contest. However, Arshi, a Brahmin leader from Jind is a nominee put up by BJP’s rebel MP from Kurukshetra, Raj Kumar Saini who is Manch’s patron. Saini has an influence among voters from OBC communities.

Maha Brahmin community holds protest for 4% quota

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January 23, 2019

An organisation claiming to work for Brahmin rights Tuesday held a dharna here demanding four per cent reservation for the community instead of inclusion in the Centre’s 10 per cent quota for economically backward sections in the general category.

The protest, in Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, by the Samasta Brahmin Samaj Maharashtra, an umbrella body of 24 groups, saw around 1500 people, including priests, from Nashik, Thane, Pune and other parts of the state.

A delegation which met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later told reporters that the CM was positive on their demands except that of quota.

Vishwajeet Deshpande, an organisation functionary said, “All other demands except reservation for Brahmins were accepted by the government. However, reservation is our key demand for which we will continue our protest.”

He added that the 10 per cent quota announced by the Narendra Modi government is for 250 castes and religions.

“We want 4 per cent quota, which is half of the population percentage of Brahmins in Maharashtra. We will intensify our agitation if the government fails to give reservation before Lok Sabha code of conduct comes into force,” he said.

He added that their demands include creation of a separate financial board for the Brahmin community to help economically weaker sections, a separate ‘atrocity act’ to protect the community as well as student hostels in every district for the community.

The group also demanded free education from kindergarten to post graduation, completion of the Shivaji memorial and Bharat Ratna for freedom fighter Veer Savarkar.

Deshpande said the statues of Dadoji Konddev and playwright Ram Ganesh Gadkari should be re-installed.

These statues were removed from the Pune Municipal Corporation premises.

EWS Reservation: Diminishing the chances for the Lowest Strata of SC/ST/OBC.

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January 23, 2019

While addressing the BJP’s booth level workers from the Lok Sabha constituencies of Kolhapur, Hatkanagle, Madha, and Satara in Maharashtra and South Goa through video-conference on Saturday (January 19,2019), the Prime Minister claimed that his government’s decision to provide 10 per cent reservation to the economically weaker sections (EWS) in the general category was giving “sleepless nights” to the opposition and said that the government would ensure that no one faced injustice and that the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes remain intact.

But despite the assurance given by the Prime Minister, the question still remains unanswered; whether the SC/ST/OBC (Already Reserved Categories-ARC) will be getting the same seat share as before?

The answer is a clear cut NO. How can the ARC’s get the same share, when their entry has been curtailed to 40 per cent on unreserved seats instead of previous 50 per cent under open category in addition to their own limited reserved sphere by setting aside the 10 per cent seats for newly created EWS category? Presently, the central jobs are 49.5 per cent reserved, segmenting 15 per cent for SC, 7.5 per cent for ST, 27 per cent for OBC and the remaining 50 per cent (in the round figure) kept for open candidates of all castes and religions, including the ARC’s. Before the implementation of the newly created EWS category, these ARC’s are also getting the chances of selection on 50 per cent open seats in addition to their reserved seats, but now after giving 10 per cent seats to EWS, their sphere of competition has been downsized to 40 per cent seats.

It can be understood by an example. Suppose there are 1,200 seats for IAS examination. Previously the ARC’s were getting the chance to compete for 600 (50 per cent) open seats also in addition to their reserved share, but now they will be debarred to compete for 120 seats (10 per cent reserved for EWS) leaving behind only 480 seats (40 per cent) under open merit category, because as per prevailing rules and court decisions a candidate of ARC, who gets higher merit catches open merit seat despite his reserved category and his claim on reserved seat vacates automatically giving chance to another low merit ARC candidate. This gives double benefit to the ARC candidates. However, now the seats under open merit will go down by 10 per cent; hence, a curtailment of chances to get 10 per cent extra seats for ARC’s due to this EWS reservation.

And the worst affected category by this snatching of the 10 per cent portion will be the lowest strata of the SC/ST/OBC candidates who belong to the underprivileged families and are the really entitled for the reservation ladder. Due to their social, economic, and educational backwardness, some of the ARC candidates could neither get a city-based good education, coaching facility and nor afford costly study material for upper-level competitive examinations in comparison to their well to do category fraternity.Now, after cutting down the 10 per cent seats under open merit category for EWS, the well to do category candidates of these ARC’s, who previously got the place in open merit seats due to their higher merit in this 10 per cent slab, will now turn down towards their reserved category seats and will shunt out the lower strata ARC’s having the lower merit. So, the lowest strata ARC’s will be the worst losers.

How the ARC’s get the extra benefit of own merit out of their category?

In Indra Sawhney v. Union of India (1992) popularly known as the Mandal case, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had held:

“[It] is well to remember that the reservations under Article 16(4) do not operate like a communal reservation. It may well happen that some members belonging to, say, Scheduled Castes get selected in the open competition field on the basis of their own merit; they will not be counted against the quota reserved for Scheduled Castes; they will be treated as open competition candidates.”

The government of India, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training Establishment (Reservation-I) Section through its letter F.No.43011/4/2018-Estt.(Res.) Dated April 4, 2018, had also supported the gist of Indra Sawhney. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgment in the case of R.K.Sabharwal vs. State of Punjab, had, inter-alia, observed that “the reserve category candidates can compete for the non-reserve posts and in the event of their appointment to the said posts their number cannot be added and taken into consideration for working out the percentage of reservation.” (Letter attached).

Now, in the end, the question again arises that how the central as well state governments will compensate the ARC’s loss of job chances after snatching a 10 per cent slab of their scope of getting jobs under open merit scheme? How the Prime Minister will ensure that no one faced injustice and that the quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes remain intact? The government should immediately make open its plan to satisfy the resentment of ARC’s. Here it is also very astonishing that no other party also raised this issue while supporting the government bill in parliament as well as outside the house. Were they so terrified to lose the upper caste votes that they forgot all the consequences of the bill?

-Jag Mohan Thaken

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

Woman, 5 others arrested for killing husband in JH

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January 23, 2019

Six persons, including a woman, were arrested for allegedly killing her husband in Jharkhand’s Palamau district, police said on Wednesday.

The woman’s husband, Amresh Oraon, a resident of Maknapur village under the jurisdiction of Manatu police station, had been missing from January 14. Oraon’s body was recovered by the police from the banks of Amanat river on the basis of a lead provided by his friend Raju Baitha, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Palamau, Indrajeet Mahatha, said.

Maknapur village is located near the river. The police had arrested Baitha on Monday after questioning him while investigating Oraon’s missing case, the police officer said.

Oraon’s family members had filed a missing diary with the police after Oraon went missing on January 14. On Tuesday, the police arrested five more persons, including Oraon’s wife Rajo Devi, for their involvement in Oraons murder, he said.

The accused persons had assured Oraon that they would help him meet his father, Sudesh Oraon, who was missing for last two months. Oraon had left home to meet his father but never returned. However, Rajo Devi, during interrogation, told the police that she hatched the conspiracy to kill Oraon since he used to torture her regularly, the police officer said, adding, she took Baitha’s help to kill her husband.

Four others arrested in connection with Oraon’s killing have been identified as Arman Khan, Junaid Khan, Naushad Khan and Gautam Mahato, he added.

School headmaster arrested for taking bribe from teacher

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January 23, 2019

The headmaster and clerk of a government school in Palghar district of Maharashtra have been arrested for allegedly demanding bribe from a woman teacher, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) said.

Headmaster Nandakumar More (52) and clerk Pundalik Dalvi (53) of the ashram school in Jawhar taluka allegedly asked the teacher to give them Rs 100 per month for clearing her salary, the ACB said in a release.

They told the woman that she had a backlog of Rs 600 as commission for drawing salary for the last six months. In addition to this, they also demanded Rs 400 for clearing her dearness allowance (DA) arrears, it said.

The woman approached the ACB which laid a trap and nabbed the duo while they were accepting money from the woman at the school on Wednesday evening. The two accused were subsequently arrested and booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the release said.

ATS arrests 9 for suspected links with ISIS from Mumbra

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January 23, 2019

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Wednesday arrested nine men of a group allegedly aligned with the international terrorist organisation ISIS.

The arrests were made after ATS received input about the group, mounted watch on the suspects and gathered all relevant information about the members of the group for several weeks.

“When it was revealed that the group is likely to swing into action, the ATS formed about a dozen teams and carried out well-equipped searches and seizures at 5 different locations in Mumbra, district Thane and Aurangabad simultaneously during the intervening night and early morning Tuesday,” informed ATS through a press statement.

The arrested individuals are all aged between 17 and 35 years. Four suspects were arrested from Aurangabad whereas five were arrested from Mumbra, Thane.

During searches, ATS also seized certain chemicals, powder, mobile phones, hard drives, SIM cards, acid bottle, and sharp knives.

A case has been registered against the suspects under sections 120 (B) IPC, 19,20, 38,39 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 read with its latest amendments and 135 Bombay Police Act.

Further investigation in the case is underway.

Nickel futures rise on pick-up in demand

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Web Team

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January 23, 2019

Nickel prices rose 0.35 per cent to Rs 826.30 per kg in futures trade on Wednesday as speculators widened bets, driven by pick-up in demand in the domestic spot market. Besides, a firm trend overseas supported the upside.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange, nickel for delivery in the January was trading higher by Rs 2.90, or 0.35 per cent, to Rs 826.30 per kg in business turnover of 1,285 lots.

Analysts attributed rise in nickel futures to raising of positions by traders due to pick up in demand from alloy makers in the spot market.

Australian Open: Pliskova beats Serena, enters semis

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January 23, 2019

Serena Williams was sensationally bundled out of the Australian Open on Wednesday after an epic three-set fight with Czech seventh seed Karolina Pliskova for a semi-final spot. Pliskova won 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to set up a final four clash with Japanese fourth seed Naomi Osaka, ending the American great’s dream of claiming a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park this year. The 26-year-old survived four match points in a rollercoaster third set that Williams led 5-1 before collapsing to defeat in two hours 10 minutes.

My mind was in the locker room. I wasn’t playing very well in the third set but I thought let’s try, this game at 5-2. She got a little bit shaky in the end so I took my chances and I won. Williams, 37, had blazed through the early stages of the tournament, seeing off world number one Simona Halep in the fourth round. I was almost in the locker room, now I’m standing here as the winner. It’s a great feeling, an exhausted Pliskova said.

But against Pliskova she lacked the intensity she had previously displayed and was soon trailing for the first time during her campaign after a slew of uncharacteristic errors. Pliskova, who entered this year’s tournament on a high after winning the Brisbane International warm-up, came out firing and out served Williams to take the first set. Williams rebounded in the second set before imploding in the third when she had the finish line in sight.

Former world number one Pliskova has made the quarter-finals in her last two appearances at Melbourne Park and made the final at the US Open in 2016. She has been a regular in the second week of Grand Slams in recent years, reaching the quarters or better six times since late 2016, but is still searching for a breakthrough win.

The Czech said that the win over Williams was a huge confidence booster before facing US Open champion Osaka. She’s dangerous but nobody is more dangerous than Serena, she said.

IWF revokes provisional suspension on CWG gold medalist weightlifter K Sanjita Chanu

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January 23, 2019

On the basis of the information at its disposal, the IWF has decided that the provisional suspension of the athlete (Khumukcham Sanjita) shall be lifted as of today (22 January 2019), IWF’s legal counsel Eva Nyirfa said in an e-mail sent to the national federation and Sanjita. The IWF Hearing Panel will render its decision on the athlete’s case in due course. The International Weightlifting Federation has revoked the provisional suspension on weightlifter K Sanjita Chanu for a failed dope test, a major reprieve for the two-time Commonwealth Games gold-medallist who has claimed innocence. In a case that has dragged on for almost a year and has been marred by an “administrative” goof-up in Sanjita’s sample number, the IWF informed that a final decision on the matter is expected in the coming days.

The 25-year-old Sanjita, who had won a gold in the women’s 53kg category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, had tested positive for anabolic steroid testosterone. Her urine sample was taken prior to the World Championships in United States in November 2017, and she was put under provisional suspension from May 15 last year. However, a final decision of the IWF panel is yet to come but Sanjita said that her assertion of innocence has been vindicated.

I have got a mail from the international federation and our national federation has also called me up this morning informing about the lifting of the (provisional) suspension. I am relieved and happy. I am innocent and I have never taken any banned substance in my career. I am vindicated now. At the same time, I experienced mental trauma during these past 8-9 months (since May 15 last year) due to the mistake of the international federation. I hope nothing like this happen to any athlete in future. An athlete’s reputation is very precious; she told media from her native place in Manipur. She further added that the Indian Weightlifting Federation had asked her to join the national camp immediately if she wants. The federation official told me today to write if I want to join national camp. I am doing that. I missed the Asian Games and World Championships in 2018. I want to compete in the World Championships this year and qualify for 2020 Olympics. For any athlete, Olympics is the ultimate.

The international body informed about her doping offence only in May last year. That meant the Manipuri weightlifter participated in the Gold Coast CWG, where she finished top of the podium. She had also won gold in the 48kg in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. However, the IWF had, in July last year, admitted to committing a mistake in giving the exact sample number of Sanjita in its report. The world body had mentioned two different urine sample numbers in its communication of her dope flunk.

In a communication to Sanjita, a rare instance while a doping procedure is ongoing, the IWF hearing panel had said that the case appears to be complicated. Sanjita’s doping issue even reached the Prime Minister’s Office which directed the Sports Ministry to look into the matter.

The urine sample of Sanjita was taken out-of-competition on November 17, 2017 and the laboratory results of the tests conducted in the United States was handed to the international body on December 20. The communication of her failed dope test was given to Sanjita only on May 15 last year and her ‘B’ sample returned positive on September 11. Her representatives then appeared before a IWF hearing panel on October 19 in Budapest, Hungary. She presented her submissions on October 19 itself and on November 1.