For the second time in a fortnight, China has alerted India of a possible flood-like situation in the Brahmaputra River in Arunachal Pradesh after a landslide blocked water upstream in Tibet, a senior Water Resources Ministry official said on Wednesday.
The alert of a landslide and subsequent formation of an artificial lake was informed to India late Monday evening separately through diplomatic channels and the mechanism under which China shares hydrological data with India on the Brahmaputra, the official added.
“As per latest information received from ##Chinese side, the estimated blocked water storage volume at landslide location (#Milin Section of #Yarlung #Zangpo in #Chinese Territory) at 6.30 hrs IST (9 hrs Chinese time) on 31st Oct 2018 is 337 MCM,” the Central Water Commission tweeted.
On October 17, China had communicated to India about a landslide near Jiala Village in Milin County in the lower ranges of Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet, which led to formation of an artificial lake.
As the water started breaching the lake, the districts along the Brahmaputra river in Arunachal Pradesh were put on high alert for possible flash floods.
The Yarlung Tsangpo, as it is referred to by China, is known as Siang in Arunachal Pradesh and Brahmaputra after it reaches Assam.
“This time, the landslide occurred at the same place and has again led to creation of an artificial lake, which has now started breaching. However, the situation is not grave as it was a fortnight ago,” he said.
From May, China resumed sharing hydrological data on the Brahmaputra and Sutlej rivers. In April, the two sides had signed an agreement to share data on Brahmaputra and Sutlej.
For the Brahmaputra river, data was shared by China from May 15, while it started sharing data for the Sutlej from June 1 until October 15.
However, the two recent events have taken place after the data-sharing period was over.
“The agreement also states that data has to be shared in case of an emergency, and they [China] have done that,” the official added.
Meanwhile, Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India Counselor Ji Ron said on October 29 there was a landslide at the same location of the landslide that had taken place on October 17 in Milin County in the lower ranges of Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet.
The river was blocked, and a barrier lake was formed again.
Ministry of Water Resources of China informed the Indian Embassy in China of the latest development, and began to share with the Indian side hydrological information every hour through bilaterally agreed channels starting from Monday night, Ji said.
On Wednesday morning, the barrier lake began to overflow, he said.
The Chinese side will continue to closely monitor the situation of the barrier lake and notify the Indian side with the relevant information timely, he said.
A Delhi court on Thursday extended till November 26 the protection from arrest to former Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and ED.
Additional Solicitor General Tusshar Mehta, appearing for the CBI and ED, told CBI Special Judge O P Saini, “We have to meet a deadline and he (P Chidambaram) is not cooperating.”
He also told the court that the CBI will file its reply to the anticipatory bail application of P Chidambaram on Thursday.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had on Wednesday told the court here that custodial interrogation of former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram was necessary in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case to unravel the truth as he was “evasive and non-cooperative” in the probe.
“From the conduct of the petitioner, which gets amply demonstrated from the records available, the investigating agency has reached a bona fide conclusion that in the absence of custodial interrogation, it will not be possible to reach the truth of the allegations as the petitioner has chosen to be evasive and non-cooperative,” the agency had said.
It had sought custodial interrogation of P Chidambaram on the ground that he has not been cooperating with it in the probe and hence making it difficult complete the investigation in a time-bound manner as directed by the Supreme Court.
The senior Congress leader’s role has come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.
In its charge sheet filed earlier in the case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others, the CBI had alleged that Chidambaram had granted an FIPB approval in March, 2006 to Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis.
The Maran brothers and the other accused named in the CBI charge sheet were discharged by the special court, which had said the agency had failed to produce any material against them to proceed with the trial.
The ED is also probing a separate money-laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis matter, in which Chidambaram and Karti have been questioned by the agency.
The media of India is divided into three parts — one is the secular media with leftist ideology and one is the right-wing media, and the third one is the neutral and somewhat honest media which follows no ideology, political party, or leaders but the profession of journalism, they are harsh and make the government accountable for all that they failed to deliver. They do not even hesitate when it comes to standing by the truth or praising any party or leader if they behave or conduct democratically in the welfare of the nation. The other two have selective targets to attack and ignore the good side of their targets. Well, this is the media of today. But being the Prime Minister of the largest democracy, the PM should have the guts and openness to address press conferences. There would be awkward moments and also many challenges because all will not be like Modi follower media who has taken an oath to please the government and Modi.
The questions can be uncomfortable, there can be most unreasonable journo throwing all sorts of questions, but the PM of this country needs the guts to take these questions on an open platform called a press conference. Moreover, there are thousands of media houses and banners in India which are active in their own province and social media space — the PM can’t afford to ignore them as these collective small voices make a larger impact. I, as a small newspaper Editor, always had questions in my mind for the Prime Minister. There are many citizens like me, who perhaps want to pose their questions through the media, but interaction is the only way. The Prime Minister talks his mind, his views, his opinion, his fake pre-planned interactive sessions with people trained to speak — we have witnessed many such examples in the recent past where some journalists had to lose their job for exposing the false claims of the PM. As I told, there are other sides of the journalists who deliberately make it obvious to attack on the PM proving him wrong on each and every issue. They blame him for over pouring rains too, hot summer, or sometimes if a dog of a particular community stoned by another community — they expect the PM to comment on such incidence because they feel it’s communal violence but never try to address these issues as there are personal rivalry or some other apprehensions.
Well, here I have many questions as a neutral person and an unbiased journalist for PM Modi and as a representative of the Parallel Media hoping to receive my answers by some or the other means. I am neither a supporter of AAP nor Congress. I prefer NOTA when I don’t find any capable candidate. But as I vote, I do have the right to ask questions.
When are you going to address a mass press conference in India?
Petrol and Diesel prices are getting reduced internationally but not in India. Why? (The Indian government has increased tax by 300 per cent in the last three years). Whereas, you, as the CM of Gujarat and the Opposition party leader, always attacked the UPA on fuel prices.
Did you consider the unorganised sector during demonetisation?
What made you change your stand on GST? BJP was against it when they were in the Opposition. Especially you were very much vocal objecting the idea.
BJP gave tickets to a lot of thugs and allowed all the corrupt politicians of the rival parties in BJP, especially Congress! How do you look at this?
Don’t you think that BJP still has a leadership challenge as no one thinks beyond Modi? Who’s there to lead after you?
When will BJP talk about their merits and work they have done? And when will they stop giving lame reasons like Congress did more damage to the country in the last 70 years?
What are your views on the BJP IT cell?
What is so different in the Party with Difference?
What are your views on Yogi Adityanath’s history of hate speech, communal division, and charges of riots, murder, and arson against the Hindu Yuva Vahini, an organisation he founded?
When will the Government of India table the bill for Uniform Civil Code in the Parliament which you and your party always endorsed and promised to bring?
When will the caste-based reservation system change to the economic-based reservation?
When will India hold simultaneous Centre and State elections?
Which economic model will India follow in future — Capitalist or Socialist?
When will you appoint Lokpal?
What is the future of India in Infrastructure and Manufacturing sector? Can we compete with China in terms of world trade?
When will the Government of India update the cyber laws?
What are the steps taken by the Government of India to regularise the informal employment sector?
Is India capable of following COP21 agreement?
Whom do you think is fit to lead India if you were not the Prime Minister of the country?
When the Right to Life is a fundamental right, then Why the Right to Health is not a fundamental right? Doesn’t Right to Life lose its significance without Right to Health?
At what age do you think one should start drinking tea?
Did IT infrastructure improve so much in the last three years that GST would be successful?
If Demonetisation is a masterstroke, why the RBI is shying away from disclosing the quantum of currency returned? Why is every RTI application related to this so-called reform being turned down by citing security issues? Do citizens not have the right to know?
You took demonetisation decision without keeping anyone in the loop, even the Parliament. But why do you need a consensus of the political parties when it comes to transparency in the political funding?
You promised a crore of jobs per year while the reality is that the UPA was better in generating jobs than your government. If this is the new normal, how will India even survive in the long run?
If you are keen on eradicating black money, why political parties haven’t been brought under the RTI? Why aren’t they required to disclose their source of funding? Why are there 1,900 political parties in the arena but merely 50 of them fighting elections? Are these defunct political parties used to channelise black money into the system?
You claim your government to be scam-free one in the absence of an independent investigating agency. In such a situation to pat your back without Lokpal is entirely hogwash.
You appealed for sacrificing subsidy on certain parameters thereby contributing in nation building process. Did you appeal the same to your fellow parliamentarians to sacrifice subsidy provided in various fields? Is this only citizen’s responsibility and not of lawmakers’ to sacrifice for the nation?
When can we see the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the Kashmiri Pandits back to their home from the transit camps?
There are hundreds of questions I have in my mind but at this time, these are my major concerns! And I hope you read and reply to them and even if I don’t receive a reply, I know I have the NOTA to practice as per the Constitution.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
Afternoon Voice and its Editor-in-Chief Vaidehi Taman, came up with a question, ‘If given a chance, what would be your one question to PM Modi and Why?’ on various social media platforms after an uproar over Modi’s tight-lipped approach towards Media. Soon the posts were flooded with the queries of many avid readers of AV and prominent personalities from different walks of life. On one hand, some hit out on PM Modi’s vision of a new India, while on the other, some tried to inquire about the expenses of the statues made as the memorial of the freedom fighters and eminent leaders of the Indian political history. Actresses Preeti Jain expressed, “I want to see India emerge as a superpower and I would like to know from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi as to what steps can he take to make this vision come true?”
“Modiji, I being a resident of Mumbai, appreciate your idea of upgrading infrastructure for the entire country. But when it comes to Mumbai, which is also the financial capital of the country and the prime entry point for various trade and services, the infrastructure status is below average when it comes to roads, public transport etc. Why is this so?”Aman Kediya listed out his concern over Mumbai’s infrastructure.
AV’s contributor Satyanarayan Kabra examined the need for the statues, “Do we need statues to remember our freedom fighters. We need to follow their footsteps and teachings than remembering that because they are honoured with ‘world’s tallest statue’.” While Rupal Mistry, an avid reader of the daily showed interest in investigating ahead — Rs 2,989 cr + Rs 2,800 cr = Rs 5,789 cr (Sardar Patel + Shivaji statue). “In these mega-statue creations expense, how much is borne from BJP party funds and how much from the National/State funds?” she asked. Twitter user Sameer Choudhury with his pun asked, “Why he did NOT invite his mother for the inauguration of #StatueOfUnity.”
Taking a flash from the past, during the electoral campaign in 2014 where Modi had made several promises to make our country a better place than the last 70 years. But after the four years of the BJP government, the nation observing an anti-Modi wave raises a curiosity not just amongst the haters or the oppositions but also the Modi supporters and voters.
When AV asked RTI activist Anil Galgali’s wish to ask PM Modi, he sought, “When will you give details of the work done by you in the four years? When will the assurance was given by you to people and the data pertaining to that be online for all?”
The Netizens buzzed on the promises that aren’t fulfilled. Anurag S Nagar grilled asking, “Mera 15 Lakh Kab Aayega?? (When will I get my 15 lakhs?) Waiting n waiting.” Albeit, Yogesh Vyas urged on Kashmir issue, quizzing, “Why was Kashmir issue not resolved even after four years in power??” Another hot topic of 2018 was raised by Ajay Kumar Rawani i.e. Dollar Vs Rupees! He asked, “why exchange price is increasing so rapidly? Before 2014 you were the one who wanted to see exchange prices low!”
Advocate and Political activist Manisha Rote asked, “When will there be a mention about the announcements made by you and its results on paper?”
A few Netizens roasted with their interrogation. Twitter user Kuldip Suri mocked on the current Rafale scam issue saying, “I would have asked average Kitna Deti Hai? #Rafale. (How much average does it give?)” While Sanjiv Gondalia asked, “Acche Din Kab Aayenge? (When will good days come?)” and Vijay Gore and Shaikh Shahrukh Raja grilled on his fake promises by asking, “Why do you lie and make fake promises?”
Modi’s aversion towards the fourth estate is quite well-known now. However, it is also believed that journalists and media are being the most suppressed in today’s era under Modi’s reign than any other ruling government so far. Once he even walked out of a one-to-one chat show when asked about the riots. Hence, targeting on that, AAP Leader Preeti Sharma Menon hunted for the number of deaths PM Modi was/is responsible for. She asked, “Sir, can you honestly tell us, how many people did you get killed in 2002 and then how many more till date?”
Two major issues that have picked up one’s brain this year are Simultaneous Elections and the Surgical Strike at Pakistan. Pumping up the Simultaneous Election issue, Philanthropist Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka raised a doubt on conducting One Nation One Election asserting, “I want to ask this question because the concept of simultaneous elections prevailed earlier too. It’s nothing new. In fact, if elections take place simultaneously, the nation stands to gain. Almost after every three months, there’s one election or the other, which has become a burden not just on financial resources but also on all those who are Voters and also the Election Commission who conduct the polls.”
However, Jimit Gandhi on Twitter asked, “When is the final plan to counter Pakistan issues.. one shot closure.”
Another matter in hand that has grabbed a lot of eyeballs is Reservation. An aspiring MBA student Darshan Mehta instituted his anxiousness, “Why is there reservation in the education sector for the SC/ST students to get admission despite they having only financial problems?” He also exclaimed his distress over the poor law and order by asking, “Why are the law and order so weak towards the wealthy people who even after looting so much money from the bank has made the financial system so weak and banking sector miserable?”
Actress Dolly Bindra also challenged the law and order. She asked, “Your government is doing good work despite that why is Rahul Gandhi angry? Why is the amendment of law not done? People are afraid of the law but it is not implemented effectively. The instructions are given from the top but why it is not implemented at the ground level?”
Apart from the questions that have been asked by the voters. The Netizens urged that it is also a high time that the Prime Minister needs to answer these questions that immensely impact the nation’s development, as if the government is keen in eradicating black money, why political parties haven’t been brought under the RTI Act, and why the Swiss black money account holders’ names have not yet listed? Over one crore toilets were built every year between 2008-11 during the UPA government as compared to just 80 lakh toilets built in 2015-16. How does that reflect on the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan of the Modi government? Talking about solving the issue of unemployment, how many jobs have been created since you came to power? How long do we have to wait for these answers? Isn’t the wait has got a bit longer?
Former cricketer Anjum Chopra believes that Indian women’s cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur is all set for the leadership role ahead of the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Twenty20.
Chopra also backed players like Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj, saying that they would have a powerful impact in the tournament.
“Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India for the first time in a global event and I think she is up for the challenge both as a captain and as a player,” ICC quoted Chopra, as saying.
“Smriti Mandhana is another player who could have a major impact on the tournament. Her T20I exploits since early this year have raised her profile as a powerful stroke maker. The dependable and vastly experienced Mithali Raj will be relied on to lay that solid foundation the team would be needed for this high-octane tournament,” she added.
Commenting on the importance of theT20 World Cup, Chopra said that a good performance in the tournament would provide a much-needed impetus to Women’s cricket in India, adding that it is a wonderful opportunity for the girls to consolidate their position.
2018 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 is slated to be held from November 2-25 in West Indies, with India beginning their campaign on November 9 against New Zealand.
India goes into the final ODI on Thursday eyeing another home series triumph against the West Indies, a far cry from the dominant force it was when the city last hosted a 50-over international three decades ago.
A victory in the fifth One-Day International will ensure India maintain their unbeaten run since the reverse against South Africa in 2015.
Leading 2-1 in the five-match series that also witnessed a tie, the hosts faced unexpected resistance in the past few days, including suffering a shock defeat, since the time the West Indians set foot in the country a little more than a month ago.
The weather is expected to play a part with showers predicted.
Virat Kohli’s men bounced back from the loss in the third match at Pune to record a massive 224-run win at Mumbai.
The home team will hope to carry the momentum into the series decider in the southern city.
The last ODI played was also between the two teams and was won by the visiting side, then an eminent force in world cricket. Jason Holder’s men will look to seek inspiration from their illustrious predecessors and level the series.
The final ODI, the second international game to be played at the new Greenfield Stadium in the city, is expected to draw a full house, but the weather holds the key.
Ahead of the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup, Hockey India on Wednesday named the 34-member core group for the final National camp.
The National Camp has given Chief Coach Harendra Singh the chance to work with the core group and allowed him to pick the final 18-member men’s team for the tournament.
After having been declared as the joint winners at the recently-concluded 5th Men’s Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat, the team will undergo intense training sessions under Singh, who is confident that the National Camp will give all the 34-members the chance to prove their mettle and book a place in the final squad.
“Our campaign at the 5th Men’s Hero Asian Champions Trophy Muscat 2018 served as good preparation for the team before the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018, but now is the most critical time for us as we look to reinvigorate our spirits and work on the areas which need improvement. The National Camp will give all the 34 Core Group players the chance to work hard and show what edge they can provide to the team,” the coach said.
The coach also said that the World No. 5 team will prepare for the mega-event by training in the host city to get acclimatised to the conditions before they start their campaign.
The following are the 34 national campers:
Goalkeepers: P R Sreejesh, Suraj Karkera, Krishan Bahadur Pathak
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Wednesday reviewed the security situation following the Naxal attack in Dantewada district of the state.
Singh convened a meeting of senior officials at his residence here and directed them to carry out operations against the Naxals with more vigour. Those present at the meeting included Chief Secretary Ajay Singh, Principal Secretary to Home Department Amitabh Jain, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Aman Kumar Singh, Director General of Police AN Upadhyay, Special Director General (Naxal Operations) DM Awasthi and Additional Director General of Police Ashok Juneja.
All present in the meeting expressed grief and condemned Tuesday’s killings. In total, four persons died so far in an ambush in the forests of Aranpur village in poll-bound Dantewada district, a Maoist hotbed in the heavily forested central Indian state.
Those who were killed in the attack included two policemen — Sub Inspector Rudrapratap Singh and constable Mangaluram — along with Doordarshan video journalist Achyutanand Sahu. Another policeman succumbed to his injuries this morning. The attack had taken place around 11 am.
Special Director General (Naxal Operations) Awasthi had informed that the ambush seemed to target the road construction works in the region. He also revealed that a lot of blood was found at the spot, suggesting that around two-three Naxals were smoked out in the fire exchange with security forces.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday urged the public to hold patience on the ongoing Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir case and have trust on the Supreme Court.
“The case is ongoing in the Supreme Court and the court is independent. All the devotees must be patient and must trust the court,” he said.
“Justice must be done in time and we must all believe in the Supreme Court’s decision,” Adityanath added.
The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was pulled down on December 6, 1992, allegedly by a group of Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed after demolishing a Ram Temple that originally stood there. Since then, several hearings have been held in the top court to resolve the issue.
Children playing with fireworks in Delhi (Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reiterated that only green crackers will be sold in New Delhi and the national capital region (NCR) in the run-up to Diwali, the festival of lights.
A division bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri, also said that pollution-causing firecrackers, which have already been manufactured, will not be allowed to be sold in Delhi and NCR.
In view of the rising air pollution, which is aggravated by bursting of crackers, the Supreme Court, last week, said that burning of bangers will be allowed only between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali.
A division bench of the apex court had further said that only the improvised fireworks with reduced emission as well as green crackers would be permitted to be manufactured and sold.
In its judgement last week, the court had imposed a ban on the making and burning of joined firecrackers (series crackers or laris), saying they cause air, noise and solid waste problems.
Some shopkeepers and customers in the national capital had expressed inability to understand what the apex court meant by “green fireworks”.
Irked by the top court’s verdict, the cracker sellers questioned that why such a decision was taken just a few days before the Diwali festival, adding that the ruling has directly hit their business and livelihood.
