Download from www.sscias.
com
THE ECONOMIC TIMES
Inside story
Vehicle Registrations Indicate Auto
Sales Slid 11% This Festive Season
Auto sales slumped 11% this festive season as per
data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers
Association (FADA) that relies on number of
vehicles registered in this period.  6
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India GDP to Slow Marginally to
7.5% in 2019 and 2020, Says OECD
India’s economic growth will slow somewhat but
remain robust, at close to 7.5% in 2019 and 2020,
the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development has said. 11
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Restaurants Seek Clarification
from Govt Over CBDT Order
Restaurant and hotel associations are seeking
clarification from the Centre after CBDT asked
field officers to keep vigil on restaurants for
under-reporting or non-reporting of additional
income collected as service charge. 11
Starbucks Fights
Fake Products
Starbucks Corporation —
the iconic US coffeehouse
chain that has fought legal
cases against local restaurants with
similar sounding names of Sardar-
bukhs and Cake Bucks over the years
in India — is now busy fighting cases
against a host of firms/individuals
that have been supplying fake Star-
bucks products to retailers in various
cities, reports Rasul Bailay.6
ET MAGAZINE
ON SUNDAY
WATER
INC.
ET WEALTH
ON MONDAY
THE ECONOMIC TIMES
CRITICAL ILLNESS
Are you prepared?
Do you think the govt interferes too much
with functioning of PSUs?
58% 38%
YES NO CAN’T SAY
TODAY’S QUESTION
Will China be able to sustain its
all-weather alliance with Pakistan?
www.economictimes.com
Long Way to Go Before Noose on Booze Delivery Loosens
Seeking relaxation in liquor sales and distribution laws is easier said than done amid crackdown on stores taking such orders
Vikram.Doctor@timesgroup.com
Mumbai: Mumbaikars take home
delivery for granted. It is one of the
benefits of living cheek by jowl with
thousands of others in apartment
blocks in a city with no shortage of
people to work at anything. Almost
anything can be delivered home —
food, ironing, groceries and any
range of services from an elec-
trician to someone to walk your dog.
And most would assume that
alcohol is another such item. Most
Mumbaikars who drink will have
the number for a local liquor shop on
their phone, ready to call for beers or
a bottle of rum, sometimes even after
the shop has officially shut. On days
of big cricket matches, such services
BENNETT, COLEMAN & CO. LTD.
Vulture Culture:
Rescuing the Big Bird
SATURDAY FEATURE 7
Crude: From Curse To Blessing
From staring at debilitatingly high crude oil prices, the Indian economy suddenly finds its biggest
macro risk turning into a tailwind. With prices at a near-12-month low and likely to stay subdued, the
government finds itself with a lot more breathing space.
CRUDE AT NEAR-12-MONTH LOW
(Brent Crude, $/bbl)
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
NOV 22, 2017
No Price
5 6
Worries
Softer fuel prices With rupee appreciating
along with moderate and inflation stable,
food inflation will interest rates will ease
keep overall
inflation low
(Consumer Inflation, 7 In Hand
In %)
Lesser spending on fuel
July 4.17 means more for other
goods
August 3.69
Sept 3.7
Petrol & Diesel prices* (`/Litre)
90
Oct 3.31 85
80
PETROL
75
70
65
60
55
Fin Supervision Board may
Turn Govt-RBI Flashpoint
Finmin feels board
should also include
govt nominees besides
Reserve Bank officials
Atmadip.Ray@timesgroup.com
Kolkata: The composition of the
Board for Financial Supervision
(BFS) could emerge as yet another
point of conflict between the go-
vernment and the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) after both sides step-
ped back from outright confronta-
tion at a meeting of the regulator’s
central board on November 19.
The finance ministry is of the vi-
ew that BFS needs to be broad-ba-
sed and include representatives of
the government, said people with
knowledge of the matter. Mini-
stry officials are said to be explo-
ring options on how to ensure this
before December 14, when RBI’s
central board will meet again to
discuss pending issues such as ea-
Allow Audit Firms to Offer eNACH Suspension may
Legal Services: MCA Panel Pinch Digital Lenders
Bats for development
of multi-disciplinary
practice firms; law
firms oppose proposal
Sachin Dave & Vinod Mahanta
Mumbai: An expert panel consti-
tuted by the ministry of corpora-
te affairs (MCA) has recommen-
ded that Advocates Act be amen-
ded to allow audit firms to offer le-
gal services, a proposal which is
4% being opposed by law firms.
The MCA panel, which was set
up to look into the regulation of
audit firms and their networks, is
of the view that development of
multi-disciplinary practice
(MDP) firms should be facilitated
are invaluable — or when you have
friends over and going through the
beer fast. Liquor shop delivery
workers are known for being obli-
ging, ready to pick up snacks or
cigarettes too along the way.
Except that they can’t. As was
shown by a recent raid on Deepak
WWW.ECONOMICTIMES.COM
NEW DELHI / GURGAON | 12 PAGES | .`10 ONLY SATURDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2018
ON Saturday
31 Killed, Over 40
Hurt in Pak Blast
AROUND THE WORLD 9
DUBIOUS DISTINCTION
In Air Pollution,
Choking Delhi is
THE PLUSES FOR INDIA
Top of the World
1 Cheer On Twin Deficits 2 ` To Gain Muscle (`/$) 3 Better
a) Current account deficit will moderate 64 Liquidity
Current account deficit, % of GDP Likely
Jan-Mar Apr-Jun 66
With pressure
Experts seek stricter Hazy Days
1.9 2.4
68 of depreciating
rupee easing,
enforcement of rules, WORLD’S 5 MOST POLLUTED
NOV 22, 2018 70 CITIES ON FRIDAY
b) Government finances
will get better as… 72
liquidity
tightening
say emergency steps City Air Quality Index
(Inverted Scale)
Fuel subsidies will decline
74
operations will
abate
in Oct-Nov not enough Kabul, Afghanistan 237
Recent tax cuts on petrol/ Delhi, India 180
Lower NOV 22, NOV 22,
diesel can be restored to 2017 2018 Kolkata, India 174
Rates raise funds
Nishtha.Saluja
Beijing, China 169
@timesgroup.com
(Passenger Vehicle Car Sales
8 Fodder For Bulls Sales, In Lakh) 4 Chengdu, China 162
To Speed New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality Source: www.airvisual.com
SEPT
Markets likely to rally as OCT Up has improved considerably sin- AQI Index Scale
More Cash domestic & foreign investors 2.93 2.84 Declining fuel
ce Diwali, with the density of
0-50 Good
gain confidence costs & better dangerous small particulate
51-100 Moderate
liquidity will matter falling by two-thirds
101-150 Unhealthy for children, people
9 Growth Booster boost auto sales since then, but experts say the
pollution level is still dangero- with respiratory diseases
Combined effect of all the 151-200 Unhealthy
us and the city is the most pollu-
positives will lift growth
(GDP Growth, In %)
ted in the world on most days.
According to data from AirVi-
201-300 Very unhealthy
300+ Hazardous
FY18 Q1 5.6 sual, which tracks air quality
around the world, New Delhi
PM 2.5 Levels in Delhi
Q2 6.3 on past 3 Fridays*
has been on top of the list for
Q3 7 about three weeks, with Kolka- Nov 9 Nov 16 Nov 23
Q4 7.7 ta, Mumbai, Dhaka, Kathman- 303 101 183
DIESEL du, Kabul and Karachi also fi-
FY19 Q1 8.2 BRENT CRUDE SLIPS TO *Levels in micrograms per
*Prices In Delhi guring among the 10 most pollu- cubic metre air (μg/m3)
$58.79/BARRELPAGE 5
ted major cities on the planet.
Delhi air is contaminated by
toxins from chimneys, vehicu- hern region,” he said.
lar emission, dust and fumes Official data shows the level of
Discussions on from the fields in Punjab and microparticles PM2.5 — which
Haryana, where farmers burn had soared to a dangerous level
Ecomm Policy the stubs of harvested crops to of more than 500 micrograms
prepare the ground for next ro- per cubic metre — is currently
to Start Afresh und of planting. below 200 but that is still more
The department of “The sad part is, stubble bur- than three times the safe limit.
ning in neighbouring states is “We have moved into this Indi-
industrial policy still going on, and the size of an streak of learning to live
and promotion farms beings burnt in Punjab, with it and creating a market
Quick Facts on BFS CURRENT FOCUS OF BFS (DIPP) will soon kick start Haryana and western Uttar Pra-
desh is huge, which is dangero-
around it instead of finding a so-
lution,” Singh said. “This is a go-
Supervision of financial formal inter-ministerial
GOVERNOR chairs
meetings
MEETS once a month
institutions discussions on ecommerce
us,” said Jatin Singh, managing
director of independent weat-
vernance issue and despite ru-
les and restrictions being in pla-
OVERSEES functioning of
MEMBERS include 4 dept of banking
Consolidated accounting policy afresh after the issue her forecasting agency Skymet.
“It is going to have long-term ef-
ce, they are not being enforced.”
directors from RBI supervision, dept of Legal issues in bank frauds was formally transferred
central board non-banking supervision Divergence in NPAs to it last month, reports
fect on air quality in the nort- ‘Need for Balanced Approach’5
DEPUTY governors are and financial institutions Deepshikha Sikarwar.11
Supervisory
ex-officio members division REDEVELOPMENT OF MEGA SLUM IN HEART OF MUMBAI
rating model
GIVES directions on
regulatory and
for banks
Panel to Ensure Fresh Tender Floated for Dharavi
supervisory issues
Privatisation After almost one-and-half decades of deliberations
and three attempts to redevelop Dharavi, the
of 6 Airports
sing the prompt corrective action regulation and supervision, is no- Maharashtra government has invited global ten-
(PCA) framework for weak len- minated as vice chairman of BFS. The government,
ders and ensuring liquidity for The financial services or econo- ders to start the process, this time projecting it as a
worried over its
non-banking finance companies mic affairs secretary isn’t a mem- single project to build a new business district and
(NBFCs). ber of BFS, three people close to failures to imple-
township, reports Kailash Babar. The minimum
It had been decided at the Novem- the issue said. ment key decisions such as
ber 19 meeting that PCA would be “However, if they happen to be in bid amount for redevelopment of the slum in the
privatisation of Air India, has
reviewed by BFS, one of the five the city, they can attend central heart of Mumbai has been set at .̀ 3,150 crore.4
committees under the central bo- board committee meetings,” one formed an empowered group
ard. The governor forms BFS by of them said. Another of the three of secretaries to ensure that
co-opting four directors from the
central board as members. RBI de-
said that it was up to the RBI go-
vernor to invite government re-
privatisation of six airports WEDDING OF FRIEND NITIN SAIGAL
puty governors are ex-officio presentatives. doesn’t fall through the cracks,
members. A deputy governor, usu-
ally the one in charge of banking Greater Importance of BFS5
reports MihirMishra.6
Kushner Adds to
Glitter of Desert
Town Jaisalmer
in the country, and to meet this go- pact on digital lenders, especial-
al, auditors should be allowed to
expand their portfolio of servi-
Bar on automated ly smaller fintech startups.
This move also comes after fin-
collection of loan PRIVATE AFFAIR
ces. “For Indian firms to evolve
into global leaders in auditing, le-
tech lenders were hit by the Su-
preme Court’s Aadhaar ruling,
gal, consultancy, and ancillary payments via paperless which curbed the Aadhaar-based Kushner landed
services, it is necessary to ratio- eKYC process.
nalise the Advocate Act 1961 to fa- method to raise costs “Digital lending industry se- in a chartered jet
cilitate develop- ems to be mo-
ment of Indian ving in the re- with 120 guests
Mugdha.Variyar
Expert panel
had also
audit firms as
well as legal @timesgroup.com
Move comes
after fintech
verse gear. First,
it was the eKYC
to check into
suggested
international
firms,” stated the
panel’s report. Bengaluru: Digital lenders are
lenders were
hit by SC’s
issue, then liqui-
dity issue and
Suryagarh resort
brand names The report sta- set to see operational costs incre- Aadhaar now eNACH is
for audit tes that in 2015, ase as they will no longer be able order, which getting blocked.
firms should the Society of In- to use a completely paperless mo- curbed eKYC Time to re-ima- Rituraj.Tiwari Suryagarh’s website offers
be allowed dian Law Firms del for automated collection of gine business @timesgroup.com top-end accommodation for
had complained loan payments from customers, models considering consumer about `. 1 lakh per night.
to the Delhi Bar Council against after the National Payments demand for credit is strong,” Kushner’s friend and brideg-
the ‘Big 4’ — PwC, Deloitte, Corporation of India (NPCI) on tweeted PayU India managing Jaipur: US President Donald
room Nitin Saigal is the foun-
KPMG, and EY — for unauthori- Friday informed banks that the director Jitendra Gupta, follo- Trump’s son-in-law Jared
ding partner of the emerging
sed practice of law. eSign-based eMandate product wing the NPCI order. Kushner arrived in Jaisalmer
markets-focused US investment
will be suspended starting Mon- on Thursday for the high-profi-
firm Kora Management. The
‘Retrograde Step’7 day. This is likely to have an im- Abiding by SC Order5 le wedding of an Indian mag-
fund focuses on Latin America,
nate he met at Harvard, adding
India and China.
to the glitter of the tourist
Saigal reportedly shared an
town known for its ‘golden’ fort
apartment with Kushner in
and luxury campsites in the
Thar desert.
The US president’s daughter
didn’t show up but Kushner lan-
New York after being his room-
mate at Harvard for three years
while bride Vedika is vice-presi-
dent at Ishatvam, an upmarket
ded in Rajasthan in a chartered
interior design store, and be-
plane along with 120 guests to
Wines in Bandra’s Pali Hill, a very. In all, the shop had 10 employ- This was actually the second such longs to a Delhi-based business
check into the luxurious Surya-
retailer whose number was pro- ees ready for such home deliveries. raid recently. According to the ToI family that lives in Sainik
garh resort, which officials said
bably on the phones of many in the The excise authorities calculated a report, some months earlier the Farms.
has been turned into a fortress
neighbourhood. According to a value of `6.3 lakh for such illegal excise department had busted a She is the daughter of Adita
to ensure security for the gathe-
report in the Times of India, the sales and, applying the fine sanc- larger network for alcohol deliveries Bhaskar and Sanjay Bhaskar,
ring of the rich and famous.
excise department recently caught tioned by the law of three times the across the city, through multiple who has varied business inter-
The state is a popular location
the shop’s employees with two amount, they slapped a `19-lakh outlets. In that case, it had led to the ests and is listed as a director in
for weddings of the uber-we-
bikes loaded with alcohol for deli- penalty on the store. licences of 50 outlets being cancelled. over 10 companies, including
althy at palatial venues that fe-
What makes this all the more AR Magnetics Pvt Ltd and Ar-
ature elaborate ceremonies
jarring is that while the excise con (India) Pvt Ltd.
complete with caparisoned
department has been cracking
elephants and other exotica.
down on home delivery, other parts Naina Lal Kidwai to Attend5
of Maharashtra’s government have
actually been talking about authori-
sing it. Chandrasekhar Bawankule, TWO DIFFERENT PROCEDURES IN PLAY
the state minister for excise, has
suggested allowing this on the Pvt Cos in a Fix Over Rifle Orders
reasonable grounds that this would The Army’s search for a new assault rifle has left the
cut down on the drunk driving.
private industry confused as two parallel procurement
Tech Can Resolve Bureaucratic Issues5 procedures seem to be in play, reports Manu Pubby.6
ANIRBAN BORA
Download from www.sscias.com
2 Pure Politics
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018
HUGE SETBACK FOR LASHKAR-E-TAIBA & HIZB-UL-MUJAHIDEEN
Encounter in Shalgund area of Bijbehara; Internet services suspended in Anantnag
6 Militants, Including Journalist Raj Bhavan’s New Nadir
Bukhari Murderer, Killed in J&K
HakeemIrfan.Rashid@timesgroup.com
Srinagar: Six Lashkar-e-Taiba and
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants, in-
cluding Azad Ahmad Malik who was
being investigated for murder of
journalist Shujaat Bukhari, were
killed in an encounter with Army
and police in Bijbehara area of
southern Kashmir on Friday.
Both police and Army said the oper-
ation was a “major success” for the
armed forces and a setback for mili-
tant organisations, as the slain mili-
tants included three district com-
manders of terror outfits LeT and
HM. The six militants were identified
as Unais Shafi and Basit Ishtiyaq of
HM, and Azad Ahmad Malik, Atif
Najar, Firdous Ahmad and Shahid
Bashir of LeT. All of them were resi-
dents of southern Kashmir.
Firdous was district commander
of LeT for Pulwama, and Unais was
district commander of HM for
Anantnag. Malik — considered to
be a close aide of Pakistani militant
Naveed Jatt, who managed to flee
from custody in January this year
— was district commander of LeT
for Anantnag.
“Azad alias Dada had escaped from
the encounter site in Kulgam in
April 2018 along with one more as-
sociate,” a J&K police spokesperson
said. “Azad was a close associate of
absconding accused Naveed Jatt.
Azad had also figured in the case
FILE PHOTO
India Partnering
Bangladesh to
Keep an Eye on
Jamaat-e-Islami
Banned Islamist party
said to be looking
to contest Dec 30
election in Bangladesh
DipanjanRoy.Chaudhury
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: India is partnering
Bangladesh to closely monitor
Islamist political party Jamaat-e-
Islami, which has been banned by
the Sheikh Hasina government
from contesting the Bangladesh
polls on December 30 but is be-
lieved to be seeking to enter the
fray through opposition ranks and
suspected of making attempts to
set up sleeper cells in West Bengal.
The party, which is said to be
backed by Pakistan’s intelli-
gence agency ISI, is drawing up a
list of candidates for contesting
the parliamentary polls and is in
talks with opposition parties to
fight on their symbols, said peo-
ple aware of the matter.
Jamaat-e-Islami is planning to
contest more than 60 out of the 300
parliamentary seats either as in-
dependents or on symbols of op-
position parties, including the
BNP’s symbol of paddy sheaf, said
one of the persons from Dhaka,
speaking on condition of anonym-
ity. ET has learnt that the group is
also planning to set up sleeper cells
in West Bengal ahead of the
December 30 election in
Bangladesh. The Modi govern-
ment is keeping a close watch on
cross-border movement of Jamaat
leaders and activists, as the organi-
sation actively supports terrorist
groups including
Jamaat- Pakistan-based
Lashkar-e-Taiba.
e-Islami is
planning to “India was in-
contest more volved in the lib-
than 60 out of eration war that
the 300 par- c r e a t e d
Bangladesh in
liamentary
seats the face of oppo-
sition from
Pakistan-backed Jamaat in 1971.
Subsequently, after the assassina-
tion of Bangladesh’s first presi-
dent Sheikh Mujibur Rehman in
1975, Jamaat returned to main-
stream of Bangladesh politics
with help from Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP),” said the
person cited earlier.
“During 2001-06, Jamaat, which
shared power with BNP, spon-
sored terrorism against India,
with support from ISI. India,
therefore, has a vital stake in
Jamaat’s activities and its at-
tempts to subvert politics in
Bangladesh,” he said.
Another person said that Jamaat-
e-Islami represents those who op-
pose the fundamental interests of
Bangladesh. It does not recognise
the constitution of Bangladesh
since it had opposed the independ-
ence movement. “That is why the
Hasina government executed key
Jamaat leaders who were involved
in major war crimes in 1971.”
After Satya Pal Malik Took Charge as J&K Governor in August:
Militants Armed forces’
Killed: casualty:
92 27
pertaining to the assassination of
journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his
security personnel. In this case,
which is under investigation, a no-
tice was issued against Azad along
with three others on the basis of ma-
terial evidence collected.”
The government has suspended in-
CONSTITUENCY WATCH Niwari
In Temple Town of Orchha
No Traction for Ram Temple
Anshuman.Kumar
@timesgroup.com
O r c h h a : O rch h a i n t h e
Bundelkhand region of MP is the
only place where there is a temple
dedicated to Ram Raja. People here
worship Ram as the king. It’s be-
lieved that Ram spends his day in
Ayodhya, his birthplace, and re-
turns to Orchha every night to rest.
Yet, people in this small tourist
town with a Ram temple on the
banks of Betwa river don’t seem to
care much about building a Ram
temple in Ayodhya — an issue BJP
has been playing up in its ongoing
campaigns in MP. Party campaign-
ers such as Uma Bharati and UP
CM Yogi Adityanath mention the
Mandir issue in every rally they
address, but talking to voters here
gives a sense that they are more
concerned about local issues.
“We already live in a place which
has a Ram temple,” said Chandra
Pal Jain, 58, who runs a paan shop
near the Ram temple. “It is the
Ayodhya of Bundelkhand, but look
at the facilities. So many tourists,
especially foreign tourists, come
here, but there is not even a Sulabh
complex (public toilets). The num-
ber of tourists is declining.”
Orchha, which is some 18 km
from Jhansi on way to Khajuraho,
falls under Niwari constituency.
The BJP won this seat for the first
time in 2013 when Anil Jain de-
feated his predecessor Meera
Yadav of SP by about 27,000 votes.
The two candidates are compet-
ing against each other for the third
successive time.
In terms of castes, Yadavs form
the highest segment with around
30,000 votes, followed by
Kushwahas (24,000). There are
about 15,000 Brahmin voters, and
the rest is a mix of most backward
castes, Rajputs and others.
Congress has negligible presence
in the region. Its candidate could
get only 6,000 votes in 2013. This
time Congress has put up a new
candidate, Ahir Capt Surrender
Singh ‘Boxy’, hoping to tape the
Yadav votes. But locals treat him as
outsider as he stays in Agra, UP.
Jain expressed confidence that he
will retain his seat. During his cam-
paign in 2013 he had promised to
make Niwari a district. “I have ful-
filled the promise.” His main rival
Meera ne gated this claim.
“Creation of a district involves pass-
ing the proposal in the assembly
and further approval by the gover-
nor. The BJP MLA has not worked
on basic problems like drinking
water, electricity and roads.”
The voters seem undecided yet.
Om Prakash Kushwaha, a 47-year-
old LIC agent in Orchha, said Ram
Temple in Ayodhya is a nonissue.
“I voted for the BJP in 2013 and
2014. I will vote for Modi again in
2019, but not this time,” he said.
Prince Tiwari, a hotel manage-
ment graduate, said he is unhappy
with the BJP government for the
SC/ST Act. “But I will vote for the
BJP as I can’t vote for SP which is
in fight with the BJP,” he said.
The religious importance of
Orchha can be understood by the
fact that CM Shivraj Singh
Chauhan started his Samanwya
Yatra after visiting Raja Ram
temple last year. Congress’
Digvijaya Singh started his Ekta
Yatra in May this year by offer-
ing prayer at the temple. Nivari
is one of the five constituencies
under Tikamgarh district of MP.
In 2013, BJP had won three and
Congress two seats.
Civilians Total militants Locals joining
Killed: killed this militant
year till now: ranks:
26 216 160
PTI
ternet service in Anantnag district to
avoid any flow of information even as
clashes between the civilians and
armed forces were reported from sev-
eral areas. The armed forces resorted
to firing bullets and pellets to scuttle
protests during which some civilians
suffered injuries.
Niwari Tidbits
NIWARI
Total Voters:
1,82,200
MLA: BJP’s Anil Jain
MP VOTES ON NOVEMBER 28
Migration of Voters
Big Worry for Parties
in Bundelkhand
Battle for
Madhya Pradesh
2018
Anshuman.Kumar@timesgroup.com
C h h at a r p u r : T he bi g ge st
wor r y for c a nd id at e s i n t he
Bundelkhand region is the ab-
sence of registered voters.
Most of them have migrated to
cities like Delhi, Gurgaon and
other areas to work as labourers.
Some of them, who visited their
villages during Diwali, were ap-
proached by party workers re-
questing them to either stay or
come back again for voting.
“There are 37,000 Ahirwar and
Jatav voters in my constituency,”
says Congress’ Rajnagar candi-
date Vikram Singh. “But most of
them have migrated to bigger cit-
ies for work. Their names can be
found in the voter list, but they
aren’t here to vote.”
“We are convincing the people
here to ask their relatives to come
back for voting,” says Bachchan
Pathak, BJP councillor for Ward
No-11 in Chhatarpur.
Some candidates are even plan-
ning to send buses to Delhi to bring
the voters back. “During panchay-
at elections, too, buses were sent
to Delhi and a promise was made
that their (labourers) daily wages
would be paid,” says Javed Ahmad,
owner of Khajuraho Travels in
Chhatarpur. “This time again lead-
ers are likely to try the same trick,
but voters seem not very keen. They
didn’t get their full payment during
panchayat elections.” Ahmed says
that 30-40 buses leave from differ-
ent parts of Bundelkhand every day
for Delhi, Gwalior and Jhansi. And
from Gwalior and Jhansi, these
labourers usually catch trains for
Punjab and Jammu.
Sachin Jain, a Bhopal-based so-
cial activist, says about 2.5 lakh
people mig rate every year to
other parts of the country from
the three districts of Chhatarpur,
Tikamgarh and Panna.
35-year-old Gore Lal Ahirwar,
from Pipaura Kalan village in
Later, thousands of people partici-
pated in the funeral prayers of the
militants. The encounter took place in
Shalgund area of Bijbehara, when
armed forces, acting on a specific in-
telligence input, cordoned off an or-
chard and a nearby forest area.
According to the police, the mili-
tants were staying in a temporary
shed and opened fire as soon as the
joint contingent of three Rashtriya
Rifles from Victor Force of Army and
a special operation group of J&K
Police zeroed in on the spot. After al-
most five hours of exchange of fire,
six militants were killed at the spot.
Police said they have recovered arms
and ammunition, including four AK-
47 rifles and one Insas rifle, and other
incriminating material from the spot.
According to police, the operation
reveals that there is huge pressure on
overground workers of militants,
which forced these senior militants to
go away from the habitation.
“This is a significant operation pos-
sible with the synergy of forces.
There was no collateral damage and
Srinagar remained unaffected as
well,” Inspector General of Police
(Kashmir) S P Pani said.
The Army termed it as a ‘surgical
operation’ with no casualties of forces
or civilians during the gunfight.
“Whosoever will join violence will be
dealt with the same manner as what
has happened today,” Lt Gen AK
Bhatt, GOC 15 corps, told reporters
during a function in Baramullah.
Key Rivals
BJP SP Candidate
Candidate: Meera Yadav
Anil Jain For
For
Strong
Popular among the poor
for organising mass mar-
organisational riages, building houses
support
Government
Has the support of
Yadav community,
initiatives whose population is
Against
highest in the area
Against
Voters’ wrath
for not
Her husband Deepak
Yadav, a former MLA
visiting
constituency
from Garoth in UP, lacks
good image among the
Personal
goodwill
upper castes
very low Considered an outsider
Bijawar assembly constituency,
is all set to catch the evening train
for Gurgaon. He works at a con-
struction site. “Party people are
coming to say that I will be given
some money, please stay till vot-
ing. But I earn `500 per day and
am getting calls from my contrac-
tor. I have to go, otherwise I will
lose my job,” he said.
Nearby villages such as
Khargaon, Pipaura Khurd and
Nevaria are facing similar prob-
lems. “This is the condition of
around 100 villages in the region.
For the last three years, there has
been no rainfall and, hence, no
agriculture. We have no choice
but to migrate,” says Ram Babu
Sharma, a farmer of Khargaon
village. There are 1,400 voters in
Khargaon and “only 800 of them
are living in the village”.
BUSES TO DELHI
Some candi-
dates are
planning to
send buses to Delhi
to bring the voters
back. ‘During pan-
chayat polls, too, bus-
es were sent to Delhi’
In 2009, the then UPA govern-
ment had announced a special
Bundelkhand package for the devel-
opment of the region, with MP receiv-
ing `3,760 crore. “But the focus was
more on infrastructure development,
rather than finding solutions for
pressing issues like jobs and drinking
water,” says Sachin Jain.
L o c a l le ader s cl a i me d t h at
Bundelkhand has always seen over
60% voting and, according to them,
this figure will improve further.
“Many people come back during elec-
tions. Hence, the percentage is always
good,” says Congress’ Bijawar candi-
date Shankar Pratap Singh.
Madhya Pradesh is going to vote for
230 assembly seats on November 28.
Constitutionally, it is elementary and elemental that
dissolution, at any time, is a last resort, when no other exists
and floaters, whose numbers are
known to all. Hence the result of the
were judicially stigmatized, termed
hasty, arbitrary and ill-conceived,
floor test was a foregone conclusion.
If two recent Supreme Court judg-
ments are applied, judicial stric-
tures against the governor and the
Centre must follow. And that would
include the home minister and the
the dissolution set aside and the as-
sembly restored.
In words which have direct rele-
vance to the J&K context, the court
said: “The minority governments
are not unknown... It is also not un-
Abhishek Singhvi PM who took that decision on known that despite various differ-
November 21, after the former’s ences of perception, the party, group
hasty return from an election cam- or MLAs may still not opt to take a
In dissolving the Jammu and paign, on a summons from the lat- step which may lead to the fall of the
Kashmir assembly, governor Satya
Pal Malik has covered himself in
ter. The apex court in 2005 passed
strictures against governor Buta
government for various reasons in-
cluding their being not prepared to
administrative, constitutional and face elections. These and many other
political ignominy. That he may imponderables can result in MLAs
avoid judicial strictures is not for belonging to even different political
lack of trying or for unblemished parties to come together. It does not
conduct, but fortuitous and because necessarily lead to assumption of al-
of J&K’s political exigencies. lurement and horse-trading.”
Many issues of seminal constitu- More recently, the governor of
tional importance have their lighter Arunachal Pradesh received even
moments but few have given the de- stronger condemnation from the
gree of comic relief provided by gov- Supreme Court. He had initially ad-
ernor Malik’s helplessness (without vanced the assembly session by a
staff) at Raj Bhavan to receive calls, month, thereby making it impossible
faxes and all messages. Such comic for CM Nabam Tuki to prove his ma-
responses may have tragic conse- jority on the floor. Later, he dissolved
quences for a sensitive state like J&K the assembly and sought president’s
where, under governor’s rule, the rule. The apex court set aside the dis-
state’s chief executive is apparently solution and restored the assembly,
denuded of all power to receive infor- using words which are richly de-
mation or give directions to anyone served by the J&K governor that they
in times of emergency. Hopefully, gave a “thrashing to the Constitution
Pakistan or other global terrorists and a spanking to governance.”
are not listening and not induced to The Sarkaria Commission makes
take extra liberties with such a lax it clear that where pre-poll alliance
ANIRBAN BORA
administration. But certainly the and largest party principles cannot
Centre should wake up and provide apply, then a third and fourth option
some logistical support. must be first tried, before the ex-
Constitutionally, it is elementary treme step of dissolution viz post
and elemental that dissolution, at electoral coalition of parties, with
any time, is a last resort, when no REALITY OF NUMBERS all partners in the coalition joining
other exists. Secondly, it is doubly the government, failing which a
so when the assembly has more
than a third of its scheduled dura-
Had even post-electoral alliance of parties,
with some of the parties in the alli-
tion left. Thirdly, even if the gover- the farce of ance forming a government and the
nor has to dissolve the House, he remaining parties, including “inde-
has to do so after at least making the a consulta- pendents”, supporting the govern-
pretence of consulting all political ment from outside. Clearly, the J&K
tion been initiated,
parties and stakeholders. No won- context falls in these categories
der deathly paralysis had to de-
scend on Raj Bhavan to obviate the the governor would which the governor deliberately
and illegally avoided.
possibility of such consultation.
have faced the The central gover nment and
Had even the farce of a consulta- BJP’s coalition failed J&K on all
tion been initiated, the governor
would have faced the undeniable
undeniable reality fronts. All relevant statistical pa-
rameters — ceasefire violations,
reality of numbers. If the principal
stakeholders of J&K, PDP, NC and
of numbers cross border incidents, armed
forces casualties and civilian
Congress, howsoever disparate and deaths — have increased since
FAILING ON ALL FRONTS
warring, with smaller groups and 2014, after an unprecedented dec-
The central
independents decided to form an ade of relative calm and stability.
anti-BJP front, the governor per- Governance is an unrecognisable
force had to return a factual finding
regarding numbers and that was
government word now in J&K. Divisiveness
and distrust is at its highest. A
the last thing that the Centre could
have afforded. If faxes and tele-
and BJP’s few months ago, the Centre sud-
denly and purely for BJP’s actu-
phones had been allowed to work at coalition failed J&K ated considerations, promulgat-
the governor’s residence, such un-
deniable numbers could have been on all fronts. Divi-
ed governor’s rule. Now it has
thrust an untimely and unde-
only dealt with by the governor by served dissolution to be followed
directing a floor test after reconven- siveness and dis- by elections which, including se-
trust is at its highest
ing the assembly. curity costs, would cost several
Such a floor test could have had only
one result. The three principal par-
crores of rupees.
ties would automatically have a com- Singh who dissolved the assembly (The author is a third-term MP;
fortable majority in the assembly for sometime after the elections, even Congress’ national spokesperson;
the simple reason that there is no though he had recorded detailed ex-chairman, parliamentary stand-
other political formation in that state reasons suggesting extreme likeli- ing committee; former ASG. Views
except BJP and a few small groups hood of horse trading. His actions are personal)
Week’s a Long Time
Europe, Japan,
ET takes a look at events that shaped national
US, UAE Prefer
India for Joint
and state politics over the past seven days
ANIRBAN BORA
Infra Projects
in Africa
DipanjanRoy.Chaudhury
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: India has edged
out China as the preferred
partner for key European na-
tions, Japan and the United
Arab Emirates for joint infra-
structure and capacity build-
ing projects in Africa.
The UAE, France, Germany,
UK and Italy are in talks with
India to launch joint projects
in Africa owing to India’s
goodwill created by funding
demand driven projects and
providing concessional loans
for various sectors, according
to people aware of the matter.
On the other hand, they
said, China’s Belt and Road
Initiative is facing a push-
back in Africa, with some
countries cancelling or go-
ing slow on projects owing to
huge debts.
Japan, dur-
China’s Belt
and Road Ini- ing Prime
tiative facing
pushback in
Minister
Narendra
Africa, with Modi’s re-
some countries cent visit to
cancelling or Tokyo, an-
nounced a
going slow
mega health
project in Kenya that will be
implemented jointly by India
and Japan as part of third-
country initiatives.
ET has learnt that the UAE
could partner India for projects
in parts of Eastern Africa
where the UAE has strong po-
litical connections. “France,
Germany, UK and Italy have
expressed interest in partner-
ing India in third-country pro-
jects in Africa. These countries
are expected to outline specific
projects where they are inter-
ested to partner India,” said
one of the persons, who spoke
on condition of anonymity.
Besides, Africa’s second
biggest economy and a big
investor in Africa, Morocco
has also expressed interest
to partner India for joint pro-
jects in various African
countries with special focus
on Western Africa.
Download from www.sscias.com
Pure Politics 3
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018

After ex-union minister, in a viral video, is heard saying ‘Brahmins know enough to talk
about Hinduism’, Congress chief sought to limit the damage, asking Joshi to apologise Q&A JYOTIRADITYA SCINDIA
MP CONGRESS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHIEF

Rahul Makes CP Joshi Say ‘Voters have Made Up their

Sorry for ‘Brahmin’ Remark Mind to Get Rid of BJP’
Battle for ome November 28 and

C Battle for make a show of holding some

Rajasthan 2008 Agony of people of Madhya Pradesh

will bid adieu to the BJP
Madhya Pradesh investor summits to sign MoUs
(memorandums of understanding)

2018 One-vote Loss government, Jyotiraditya Scindia,

chairman of Congress campaign
2018 that produced nothing for the state.

Jaipur: Former Union min- committee, told CL Manoj in an Is the poll promise of writing off
Our Political Bureau @RahulGandhi ister C P Joshi will have to
ensure that his wife votes for
interview. He said the Shivraj Singh THE TASK farmers’ loans really doable?
CP Joshi ji’s statement is him this time when he takes Chouhan government had played Farmers are the biggest victims of
Jaipur: Congress chief Rahul
Gandhi on Friday disapproved the
against the ideals of the on his protege and Congress havoc with every section of the Alot of rubble needs to the insensitive policies of the
Congress party. Party turncoat Mahesh Pratap in state population while the Shivraj Singh government. The
reported statement of former
Union minister C P Joshi that only
leaders should not give any the upcoming elections at alternative agenda presented by the be cleared in terms of Congress’ promise to kisans
statement that can hurt any Nathdwara, known for the
“Brahmins know enough to talk
section of society. world famous Shrinathji
Congress had inspired people. He
said the Congress was fighting the
systems that have col- (farmers) about writing off their
about Hinduism". debts was made by our party
Gandhi, in a tweet, said Joshi’s
temple.
In 2008, when he last con- election as a team and that he would lapsed during the last president Rahul Gandhi himself and
statement is against the ideals of @drcpjoshi accept whatever decision the party it shall be implemented by the
the Congress and asked Joshi to
Out of respect for the
tested assembly election, his
wife skipped voting and would take on leadership in the 15 years in the state Congress government as promised.
apologise for his statement.
Congress’s beliefs and workers’ Joshi lost that tie by a soli- state after forming the government.
Joshi, who claimed that BJP had
sentiment, I apologise if tary vote. That time, Joshi He also dismissed the BSP factor, Are you handicapped by the fact
made the doctored
video viral to da- my comments hurt any being the Congress chief, saying the people knew only the ON LOAN WAIVER that the state Congress’
section of the society was frontrunner for the
mage him and the Congress could be credible organisational framework has
Joshi’s
comment has party, however,
chief minister’s post, which
eventually went to his senior alternative to the BJP in the state.
The promise to farmers weakened in the past 15 years?
apologised in a ce in Rajasthan and four other sta-
Poliloquy about writing off debts
given the BJP colleague Ashok Gehlot. Edited excerpts: A general principle in politics has
arsenal to tweet, saying, "Out R PRASAD tes. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu
After 10 years, Joshi is been that the ruling party wins the
attack the
Congress at a
of respect for the
Congress's beliefs
Trivedi said Rahul Gandhi should
apologise for the statement made
again in the same battle- Your assessment of voters’ mood... was made by our party by-elections. MP had five Assembly
ground. But he tends to for- This time around people have and one Lok Sabha by-elections in
time when
elections are
and workers' senti-
ment, I apologise if
by Joshi.“British had divided us.
But the Congress is dividing the co-
get the one-vote ignomini-
clearly made up their mind to get rid
president and it shall the last one year. The score has been
ous defeat, which has gone
taking place
in five states
my comments hurt
any section of the
untry and community for the sake
of power,” he said.
down the history as the sec- of this BJP government, which has be implemented 6-0, with the BJP losing each of
ond such loss. not only underperformed but also them. This shows the trend line is
society". Political analysts said Joshi’s sta-
The first candidate to lose played havoc with the interests of already set, with the people wanting
Earlier, a viral video with Joshi tement may damage prospects of
by a single vote was A R every section of the people of to vote BJP out and vote Congress
addressing an electoral gathering Congress, which stands a good
Krishnamurthy, who was de- Madhya Pradesh. in, and the by-election results also
stirred controversy, where he was chance in Rajasthan.
feated by R Dhruvanaraya-
heard questioning the caste of BJP “Joshi's statement reminds of showed the Congress organisational
na, in the Santhemarahalli
leaders, “Uma Bharti is a Lodhi, Mani Shankar Aiyar, who used the Is Congress banking entirely backing has been more than
constituency of Karnataka
and she talks about Hinduism, Mo- word ‘neech’ for Modi in the midd- on anti-incumbency ? adequate on the ground.
during the 2004 assembly
di ji talks about Hinduism. It’s only le of the election campaign in Gu-
election. No, not at all. The Congress
Brahmins who don't talk about it. jarat, which then turned the table
“I am over it. I spent last 10 manifesto has clearly placed Why is MP Congress fighting without
In 50 years, they are totally out of on Congress,” said Rameshwar
years working at the Centre, before the people an alternative any clarity on the general’s face?
their mind,” he was heard saying Ramtani, a political analyst. “Ear-
which was quite a learning
in the video. lier also, ahead of 2014 general elec- agenda, a very positive and For long, many sections, including
for me. I am now well
His comment has given the BJP tions, Mani Shankar Aiyar termed forward-looking agenda for media, have been talking about
equipped to use that rich ex-
arsenal to attack the Congress at a Modi as ‘chaiwala’, which helped governance which has clearly spelt disunity in the Madhya Pradesh and
perience,” Joshi said. — OPB
time when elections are taking pla- the cause of the BJP.”
out developmental programmes for were telling us to put our heads
CAMPAIGN PITCH each social section and region of
Madhya Pradesh, which has
together. That is exactly what the
leaders of Madhya Pradesh
inspired people. A lot of rubbles Congress are now doing. We
need to be cleared in terms of all are working as a team
The work culture of the First Maharashtra, then systems that have collapsed during with the sole purpose of
Congress has caused delay to Haryana, then Jharkhand, the last 15 years – be it schemes for defeating the BJP. Let
many projects, leading to Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, farmers, women, health and medical us not put the cart
crumbling infrastructure in the Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, sector or schemes for creating jobs, before the horse. Let
state. Through its ‘Act, East, Act Himachal Pradesh, Uttar fighting malnutrition – across the us first win the
Fast’ policy, the BJP has, Pradesh, Uttarakhand, people board. People now know only election to form the
in the past four and a everywhere recognised who will Congress can revive the state and government, and
half years, developed actually work for them and they bring them relief. The Congress also thereafter whatever
every region of the ousted the corrupt Congress recognises the urgent need to bring decision (on
investors and industry to Madhya leadership) the party
Northeast. The AMIT SHAH, BJP PRESIDENT Pradesh. Our state is the heartland takes will be
double engine of the of the country. Here you can acceptable to me.
BJP governments in If you want to listen to lies and fake promises, service almost six contiguous
both the Centre listen to Narendra Modi ji and Shivraj Ji’s states, which is an attractive Will BSP may play a
and the state speech. But, if you want to know the truth, proposition for industrial spoiler for
will take then you must listen to me. Modi ji wants you houses. But there have been Congress?
Mizoram to to listen to his ‘Mann ki baat’. We do not want no serious attempts by the BSP will have no
new heights to do that. We want to listen to your voice and
state government for 15 impact on our
long years to put in place performance
take Madhya Pradesh on the path of progress systems to attract because people of
NARENDRA MODI,
PRIME MINISTER RAHUL GANDHI, CONGRESS PRESIDENT industry. Instead, all MP now want a
that they did was decisive change.

PM MODI’S RALLY IN LUNGLAI

Congress Day Dreaming About Congress
‘Golden Chance Gets Fillip in
for Mizoram to
Winning MP, Says Amit Shah Chhindwara
Our Political Bureau ON TARGET

End Cong Culture’

Nidhi.Sharma@timesgroup.com
Himanta Biswa Sarma New Delhi: BJP president Amit The Congress gave the Chhindwara: He is not only
Shah on Friday underlined bene-
fits of various welfare schemes slogan of ‘garibi hatao’ known for the work in the constitu-
‘I’m in touch Our Political Bureau
for farmers in Madhya Pradesh
even as he slammed the Congress but worked towards
ency but also the numerous chop-
per rides he offers to the people du-
ring his election campaign. This ti-
with friends Guwahati: Prime Minister Na-
rendra Modi on Friday laun-
for “bad governance” and “cor-
ruption”.
Addressing rallies at Seoni,
removing the poor me around, though, the poster boy
of Chhindwara, Kamal Nath, is be-

in Cong, MNF’ ched a frontal attack against the

Bikash.Singh@timesgroup.com
Guwahati: The Bharatiya Janata
Party will be able to garner addi-
tional numbers to secure a majori-
ty in Mizoram if it gets a “respec-
table number of seats” on its own,
said Himanta Biswa Sarma, mini-
ster in Assam government and
convenor of the BJP-floated plat-
form of non-
Congress parties,
North-East De-
ruling Congress in its last bas-
tion -- the Northeast — accusing
it of belittling the culture and
tradition of the region, apart
from accusing the Congress go-
vernment in Mizoram of being
corrupt and divisive. Mizoram
goes to polls on November 28.
Addressing a public meeting
in Lunglai, Modi said, “In the
past four and half years, our go-
vernment has tried to spread
Indian culture and tradition far
and wide, but am anguished the
way Congress leaders have ter-
med the dress of the region as
Chhindwara, Balaghat and Seho-
ra (Jabalpur), Shah said the Cong-
ress was a “private limited compa-
ny” of the Nehru-Gandhi family
that has done injustice to Madhya
Pradesh at every step.
“Congress has till now not done
anything for the welfare the poor.
Instead it gave the slogan of garibi
hatao (remove poverty) but wor-
ked towards removing the poor,”
Shah said, adding that the party
has misgoverned at every level .
@NARENDRAMODI
UPA CHIEF’S FIRST VISIT TO TELANGANA SINCE 2014 STATEHOOD
He also mocked Congress presi-
dent Rahul Gandhi, saying he do-
es not even know whether potato-
es are grown on or under the gro-
und. He challenged Gandhi to na-
me five Rabi and five Kharif
crops.
“Congress has no right to de-
mand answers from the Modi go-
vernment as under 10 years of So-
nia-Manmohan-Rahul govern-
ing missed here. On a state-wide
hectic campaign, nine-time MP
Nath hasn’t been able to make
ment, scams worth Rs 12 lakh cro-
much time for Chhindwara.
re were committed,” Shah said.
That hasn’t deterred him from
He said the Congress was “day
promising Chhindwara model to
dreaming about winning MP”.
the rest of the state. People in
Shah also raised the issue of in-
Chhindwara refer to it as an “oasis”
filtrators and said the Congress
in the desert. There are also refe-
was more concerned about their
rences like “keechad mein kamal.”
human rights than rights of Indi-
Once you see the roads, industri-
an citizens.
es and sanitation, one knows what
He said the Congress had made
“Chhindwara model” is. Chhind-
MP a “BIMARU” state.
wara is a stark contrast with the
rest of the districts in
southern Madhya
Pradesh. Nath has
won the Lok Sabha se-

Only KCR Family has Benefited;

mocratic Allian- outlandish.”
ce. Recently, Congress Lok Sabha SLAMMING THAROOR at for several terms
and has ensured
“Our first miles- MP Shashi Tharoor had said Chhindwara
tone in Mizoram that PM Modi wears all sorts of Iam anguished the is a stark
that the district has
four-lane highways
is getting a re- “outlandish headgear”. contrast with
way Congress leaders
Others in Despair: Sonia Gandhi
Our first connecting all ma-
milestone in spectable number Modi said Congress is trying the rest of
jor towns, including
Mizoram is
getting a
of seats. Once we
get that, getting
to grab power by creating fear.
“Congress is dynastic and cor- have termed the dress the districts
in southern
neighbouring Nag-
pur and Seoni.
respectable
number of
the requisite
number in the as-
rupt and Indians have seen
through their game, that’s why
of the region as Our Political Bureau
the lurch. The UPA chief said de-
spite several difficulties, the
Madhya
Pradesh
Though Nath has
represented the Lok
seats: Sarma sembly will not be
a problem for I ha-
the party is restricted to just
two-three states. It is a golden
outlandish Hyderabad: United Progressive
Congress had pushed for carving
out Telangana as India’s newest
Sabha constituency for decades,
BJP swept four of seven constitu-
ve friends in Congress, MNF and opportunity for Mizoram to get ructure development of the re- Alliance chairperson Sonia state even while preparing to pay
encies in 2013 and Congress could
ZPM,” Sarma told ET. rid of the Congress culture.” gion. “More than 1,000 km of Gandhi on Friday accused the ru- heavy political price.
corner just three.
Exuding confidence that the BJP Assuring to protect the rights new railway lines are added, or ling Telangana Rashtra Samithi She said aspirations of farmers,
However, a strong undercurrent in
would do well in the November 28 of Mizos under the constitu- tracks are converted from me- (TRS) of betraying the people of unemployed youth, students, wo-
favour of Congress and anti-in-
election, Sarma said: “This is our tion, he said, “BJP has initiated ter to broad gauge,” he said. Telangana on the aspirations of men and underprivileged sec-
cumbency against the BJP govern-
first serious effort development The PM said that Rs 50,000 cro- statehood movement pertaining tions in Telangana remained
ment after a continuous 15-year ru-
and we are expan- projects in the re is spent on railway lines, and to water, funds and jobs. unattended even after four-and-a-
le may see the party improving its
ding in the state. Northeast of In- around 50 road projects with an Addressing a massive public me- half years.
Congress and MNF Battle for dia and bandh outlay of Rs 8000 crore is under- eting on the outskirts of the city “No one other than KCR’s family
tally in the district.With Kamal
Nath at the helm of Congress in
are bigger parties
here. We will make a Mizoram and blockades
are a thing of the
taken in Mizoram.
“Congress is a party of delay
on her first visit to the state after
its formation in 2014, Sonia Gand-
benefited in Telangana with all
the sections of the society conti-
election-bound Madhya Pradesh,
the party has got a much-needed

2018
dent and create a past. On May 27,
mark. I talk to my 2016, the first
friends in Cong- broad gauge tra-
ress, MNF and ZPM in chugged into
regularly for we belong to the Mizoram, and I could see the
same field.” happiness of the people.”
On the Congress campaign ter-
ming BJP “anti-Christian”, he sa-
Stating that India cannot deve-
lop without Northeast India,
id, “There is no dichotomy betwe-
en the BJP and Christians.”
Modi asserted that about Rs
90,000 crore is spent on infrast-
and blockade and deflection --
around Rs 250 crore was uns-
pent, and utilization certificate
of several schemes were not
submitted.”
Stressing that he believes in
transformation through trans-
portation, Modi said, “Out of
the 46 projects, around 28 are
behind schedule.”
hi said was saddened to see there nuing under severe despair,” she
fillip on his home turf and is loo-
was no positive change in the li- said while appealing to the people
king to improve its tally riding on
ves of people even after formation to end “the undemocratic and au-
development card and anti-incum-
of Telangana. tocratic rule” of the TRS.
bency against BJP. What seems to
Targeting TRS president and in- Forget about uplifting the far-
terim chief minister K Chandras-
Battle for mers, the TRS party resorted to
be working against the BJP is the
overall fatigue with the incumbent
hekar Rao for the first time, she
said only his family had benefited
Telangana coercive land acquisition without
honouring farmer-friendly provi-
MLAs and flagship programmes
from the statehood while four cro-
re people of the state were left in
2018 sions of the Land Acquisition Act
the UPA had brought in, she said.
of the Centre not percolating down
to the grassroots.
Download from www.sscias.com
4 Companies & Economy
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018

‘Home Sales Surge 40% in 9 Months to Sept On Govt Policy Reforms’

both sales and new launches rising 30 sales in residential segment ha- growth rates of 277% and 230% re-
Maharashtra Govt
Sobia.khan@timesgroup.com

E- TENDER NOTICE
Dy CSTE,Con-I %ECRSamasti pur for & on
behalf of President of India are invited
Open online E-Tender:-
E-Tender No.: S&T/Con-I/SPJ/14 of 2018-
Bengaluru: Housing sales across
top cities in the country is seeing so-
me green shoots of recovery with
despite liquidity issues and low bu-
yer sentiment with Hyderabad and
Kolkata leading the revival.
According to JLL data for the ni-
ve risen 40% on year.
Business environment for real es-
tate has seen rapid change with se-
ries of reforms in the form of de-
Invites Tenders to
spectively. The relatively small resi-
dential markets in the two cities al-
so provided a low base effect for the
jump in bookings. These were follo-

1F
ne-month period ended September

19. Name of work : Signalling &
Telecommunication Work in connection
with removal of infringements and Laying
of OFC & Quad Cable in Muzaffarpur-
Sugauli Section for Doubling in Samastipur
Divison of E.C. Railway. Approximate
Cost : Rs. 75935216.04 . Earnest Money :
t v 1
monetisation, implementation of
Real Estate (Regulation & De-
velopment) Act, 2016, the Goods
& Services Tax (GST), Benami
wed by Chennai (77%), NCR (53%),
Pune (19%), and Bangalore (12%),
the report said.
“There is definitely an increase in
Redevelop Dharavi
NOTICE INVITING TENDER Properties (Prevention) Act confidence in the market amidst po-
e-NIT No. 76 of 2018-1 9 and the Insolvency & Bank- sitive signs of recovery. This, cou-
Fo r and on behalf o (Gove m orof J BK State , Exec utive E n g in e e r P I E Mech Division North Jarnnw , invites ruptcy Code. pled with stable pricing, augurs
tenders by e-tendering mode from the re ut eJirecistered firms for the below me ntion ed work “While the implementation well for the industry and demonst-
Sr. Nameof work Name of Costof Earnest Validityof
of GST and RERA led to some rates the return of buyers’ confi-
No. Division document/ Money Rates
tender fee initial challenges for develo- dence in the market, which has in
(in Rs.) pers, most of the issues have turn prompted developers to launch

ET ARCHIVES
1 Design , fabrication . installation , testing PHEMech . Rs. 2001- 2%of 180days been addressed and the indust- new project,” Nair said.
Rs. 529700 . 00 . Cost of Tender and commissioning of LT control panel Division quoted
ry as a whole is aligned. Going In terms of launches, Kolkata led
Document : Rs. 10000.00. Completion suitable for 50 HP motorand allied works North rates
atTubewelINo 02 . CompanyBagh Jammu by the data for sales and new the way with an astounding 325%
Period : 12 [Twelve) Months Last Date &
Time of submission of online E-Tender : Bid Validity 180 days launches in the January to Sep- on-year growth followed by Chen-
Position of funds : Demanded tember period, home buyers nai (289%) and NCR (152%) roun- The minimum stipulated bid amount for the redevelopment of the
12/12/2018 up to 12.00 PM. For details Date of Publishing : 20-11-2018 , 04.00 pm.
information , may kindly see the tender
are no longer delaying or post- ding off the top three. While Beng- slum spread over 593 acres in Mumbai has been set at `. 3,150 crore
1. Bid documents can be seen at and downloaded from the website http://jktenders .gov.in from aluru and Hyderabad recorded
notice and tender documents which are 20-11 -2018 (04.00 pm).
poning decisions on buying ho-
available at Indian Railway website 2 The Bids shall be deposited in electronic format on the website http:lljktenders.gov .in from mes,” said Ramesh Nair, count- growth rates of 101% and 82% re- ted by MHADA in sector V.
20-11 -2018 (04.00 pm) to 03.12-2018 (04.00 PM). ry head, JLL India. spectively, in Pune had launches Kailash.Babar@timesgroup.com The state government has now
http://www .ireps.ggv.in
Executive Engineer Hyderabad and Kolkata were was pegged at a niggardly 3% given a go ahead for redeveloping
Dy CSTFJConUSPJ PHEMN/ 4131-33 PHE Mech. Division North,
the standout performers with growth. Mumbai: After nearly one- the entire Dharavi as a single
PM2561C0IUENGG17f18.19,32 ECR/Samast l pur Dated 20-11-18 Jammu.
and-half decades of delibera- project and floating one global
tions and three attempts to re- tender for the entire project.
Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited Hand Wash CBs, Partition &Top Plate 28000 Sets develop Dharavi, one of the lar- According to industry ex-
(A Government of Karnataka Undertaking)
Formerly Government Soap Factory and Sandalwood Oil Factories ,
(0 4
'
1 10 Siriganda Suchi Sambrama CBs
MDC 150g CBs
54000 Nos
130000 Nos
gest slums of Asia, the govern-
ment of Maharashtra has invi-
perts, this project will be a big
opportunity not only for the
ted global tenders to kick start slum dwellers but also help ur-
Sandal City: P.B. No. 5531 , Bengaluru-Pune Hig hway, Bengaluru - 560 055 . Ph.: 23378715 , 23371103 MST 50g CBs with Honey Comb 30000 Sets the process. ban planners, human rights ac-
Fax: 23375102 , 23370498 e-Mail: ksdl.d gmmtlstgmai l.com The minimum stipulated bid
Partition & Top Plate tivists and the state govern-
Date: 23.11.2018
amount for the redevelopment ment to transform the face of
Nirmala Suchi Sambrama CBs 61000 Nos
NOTICE INVITING TENDER of the slum spread over 593 Mumbai city altogether.
Mysore Carbolic 100g CBs 65500 Nos acres in the heart of India’s “Dharavi redevelopment pro-
Tenders are invited by M/s KS&DL in two cover system through e-Procurement Portal (Website
MSS 12 5g CBs 90000 Nos commercial capital has been ject, when completed, can
http:// eproc .karnataka.gov.in ) with respect to supply of following Materials/Services. set at `. 3,150 crore. change the entire real estate
SBT ( CBs 100000 Nos
SI. Tender Tender Name Qty Date of Last date The selected lead partner is scenario here. Dharavi rubs
MSS 75g Glue End CBs 110000 Nos
No. Number Publishing for Bid expected to form a special pur- shoulders with upmarket
Submission SBT(T)/SJR CBs 300000 Nos pose vehicle (SPV) with its own Bandra and is right next to the
MSS 75g CBs 415000 Nos contribution of 80% equity avant-garde Bandra-Kurla
1 KSDL/ Procurement of Diethyl Phthalate 200 MTs 17.11.2018 17.01.2019 worth `. 400 crore, while the go- Complex. This makes Dharavi
2018 -19/ (DEP). SGT Outer Shell 110000 Nos vernment of Maharashtra will an incredibly attractive propo-
IND3701 Centennial Soap 100g Cartons 220000 Nos infuse `. 100 crore to hold 20% sition for homebuyers, inves-
2 KSDL/ Procurement of Perfumery Raw - 19 . 11. 2018 20 .12,2018 Herbal Care 100g Cartons 950000 Nos equity in this entity. tors and developers alike,” said
Apart from equity worth .̀ 400 Anuj Puri, chairman, ANA-
2018 -19/ Materials . Gift pack 6 in 1 Cartons 100000 Nos
crore, any further investment ROCK Property Consultants.
IND3705 Phenyl Acetic Acid 8200 Kgs Classic Moisturizing 75g Cartons 1000000 Nos needed for the project will be bro- According to him, the project
Phenyl Ethyl Acetate 900 Kgs SGT 20g Cartons 3300000 Nos ught in by the lead partner in the will also ease the residential
Aldehyde C-11 200 Kgs Baby 75g Carton 800000 Nos
form of compulsorily convertib- pressure on South Mumbai lo-
le instruments including deben- calities and open new avenues
Aldehyde C-14 350 Kgs Sandal Suchi Sambrama Cartons 1400000 Nos tures and preference shares. for further real estate develop-
Ambrettolide 1400 Kgs Spoorthi/ Souharda Suchisambram 920000 Nos This SPV will be responsible ment. Besides being a residen-
Camphor 10000 Kgs Cartons to construct free housing for tial cluster, Dharavi is also a
eligible slum dwellers and oc- major economic hub where pe-
Citronella Oil 300 Kgs Siriganda Suchi Sambrama Cartons 1625000 Nos
cupants including amenities ople produce a wide array of go-
Coumarin Crystals 10500 Kgs Nirmala Suchi Sambrama Cartons 1850000 Nos and infrastructure as per the ods and services including leat-
Di Propelene Glycol 5700 Kgs MSS 125g Carton (Regular/Export) 11500000 No terms stipulated by the state her bags, pottery, snacks and
government, according to the many other commodities.
Diphenyl Oxide 1500 Kgs Gold 125g Cartons 7500000 Nos
public notice issued by the offi- In fact, the previously failed at-
Di Lemonene 1600 Kgs 5 KSDU Procurement of Various Packing - 21. 11.2018 27. 12.2018 cer on special duty, Dharavi Re- tempts by the state government
Geranyl Acetate 1200 Kgs 2018-19/ Materials development Project, that falls to rebuild Dharavi have now pro-
Geranyl Formate 1900 Kgs IND3708 Jasmine Dhoop CBs 7000 Nos under the purview of the Slum mpted a new angle — the area is
Rehabilitation Authority. now being promoted as Mumba-
Gurjam Balsam Oil 3100 Kgs Jasmine Dhoop Cartons 965000 Nos
In lieu of this, the SPV will be i’s new business district.
Timberol 200 Kgs Inner lines tubes for Hexagonal 805000 Nos entitled to construct free sale However, as of now, we are no-
Hydroxy Citronellol 2500 Kgs Jasmine Dhoop Zip Lock Cover 1000000 Nos area to sell in the open market. where near to being close to
Jasmine regular/Rose regular The project will get floor space such a fortuitous culmination
Indole 200 Kgs index (FSI) or permissible de- of the Dharavi story. For all we
Iso Longifolonone 13200 Kgs Agarbathi-8 inch Cartons 3200000 Nos
velopment rights of four times. know, a particularly insightful
Linalool Synthetic 5000 Kgs MS Mystic Agarbathi 9" Cartons 670000 Nos “Before elections next year, the film which does not play as
P P ' / 2Dozen cover for Mystic 9" 800 Kgs government is looking to finalise much on plight and sordidness
Linalyl Acetate 1200 Kgs
P P Pouches (3" x 11 ")for Mystic 9" 1100 Kgs the lead partner for the much- but rather focuses on real-time
Meta Para Cresol 9300 Kgs awaited redevelopment of Dha- solutions could eventually pro-
PP Half Dozen covers for 12 sticks 1500 Kgs
Meth yl Anthranalate 900 Kgs ravi,” said one of the persons fa- vide an answer. Certainly, ur-
PP Half dozen covers for Jasmine 950 Kgs miliar with the development. ban planners and governments
Methyl Heptine Carbonate 50 Kgs
Rolls The tenders will be available have not been able to do this.
Nagarmotha Oil 175 Kgs between November 28 and De- Interestingly, the state govern-
PP Pouches for 125gms 35" x 10" 800 Kgs
Ortho Cresol 2000 Kgs cember 28, which is also the last ment also quashed its earlier
PP Pouches for Hexagonal 2" x 10" 850 Kgs date for submission of the bids. plan of redeveloping Dharavi as
Padmamber 50 Kgs
Polypropylene pouches 2300 Kgs The Maharashtra govern- only a residential cluster. It is
Resinoid Labdanam 5500 Kgs ment has recently decided to now looking to redevelop the area
(1 1/2" x9 1/2") for Mysore Rose
Resinoid Oakmoss 500 Kgs Agarbathi-8inch redevelop Dharavi as an integ- into a hub for business and com-
Sandal Mysore Core 5500 Kgs Nagachampa 20 sticks 20 Dozen 1350000 Nos
rated planned township and a mercial activity too, given its cen-
special project. For this, it has tral location and proximity to bu-
Skatole 50 Kgs 9inch Cartons notified entire Dharavi as a no- siness district Bandra-Kurla
Vanillin 3000 Kgs Poly Propylene pouches for Sir MV 3000 Kgs tified area and appointed Slum Complex (BKC). The govern-
Velivone 75 Kgs 90g (3inchxlOinch) Rehabilitation Authority as a ment has also extended fiscal
Terpenyl Acetate 900 Kgs Sir MV 1008 CBs special planning body. sops and indirect subsidies to the
50000 Nos
The state government has be- project, including waiver of
Forever Shine 98829 4000 Kgs M,S Mystic Agarbathi CBs 5750 Nos en looking to redevelop this stamp duty on the development
3 KSDL/ Procurement of Chemical Items - 20.11 .2018 21 .12.2018 Nagachampa 20 sticks 20 Dozen 5750 Nos slum for long as this would be a rights agreement and the first sa-
2018 -19/ PPTD Calcium Carbonate 26 MTs 9inch CBs major game changer not only le of the saleable area.
for the city of Mumbai but will However, Dharavi is not an area
IND3706 Questoll Powder-501 6000 Kgs Jasmine regular/Rose regular 13500 Nos also change the political lands- of contention and confusion on
Sodium Per Carbonate 5 MTs Agarbathi-8 inch CBs cape for the years to come. the basis of costs alone. The big-
Soda Speckles-Blue & Red 5 MTs MSA(P) Recta_ 125g 8" CBs 4500 Nos The earlier plan was to divide gest question is of land owners-
MSA(P) Rectangle 9" Cartons 1100000 Nos Dharavi into five sectors. As hip and relocation of its existing
Corboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) 3000 Kgs
per the old plan, MHADA was inhabitants. In terms of land ow-
Sodium Meta Silicate 15 MTs Jasmine Regular Cartons 9" 805000 Nos to redevelop one of the sectors nership, almost one-fifth of the
Totalaze T from Novozyme 600 kgs Sir MV 100gm 8" Cartons 5625000 Nos and four others were to be rede- land here is privately-owned. In
Magnesium Sulphate 30 MTs MSA(P) Recta 125g x 10doz 8" 525000 Nos veloped through private parti- terms of rehabilitating the exis-
Cartons cipation. However, the plan did ting occupants, one needs to keep
Sodium Etidronate-(Aquacid) 5000 kgs not progress much with excep- in mind that as many as 60,000 fa-
Citric Acid 8 MTs Polypropylene pouches(2x11) 4050 Kgs tion of few buildings construc- milies currently live in Dharavi.
Nagachampa 9inch Agarbattis
Sodium Laury l Ether Sulphate 125 MTs
Poly Propylene % dozen covers for 6500 Kgs
AOS Liquid 10000 Kgs, Notice
Sir MV 90g
Lauryl Alcohal Ethoxylate 2000 Kgs N.I.T. No:-04/RWS of 2018-2019. Jalpaigun RWS Sub-Division
Poly Propylene plain dozen covers Public Health Engineering Department
Tri Sodium Citrate 2 MTs
for 9 inch agarbathi 2500 Kgs Sealed tenders are hereby invited for & N.I.T. No-04/RWS of
Coco Die Ethanalomide (CDEA) 1300 kgs
6 KSDL/ Procurement of Packing Materials - 21 .11.2018 26 .12.2018 2018-2019. By the Assistant Engineer, Jal paiguri RWS Sub-
Arrow Kleen ALC 200 kgs Division , P.H.E. Dte, Other details may be seen through website:
2018 -19/ Divya Karpura Zip Lock Covers 410000 Nos
Arrow Kleen (P) 225 kgs website www.wb uhed.aov.co ,in &also office of the undersigned
IND3710 HM HDPE Bag 47000 Nos on any working day upto 5.30 p.m, Addendum/Corrigendum if
Emulsifier 10 MTs
Point Excel 1 Kg Pouches 80000 Nos any would be hosted on the website only.
Cos.Grade Talc-300mesh 350 MTs Sd/-
Top & Side Sticker for M.S Divya 410000 Sets
Zinc Sterate 2000 Kgs Assistant Engineer
Karpura ]alpaiguri R.W.S. Sub-Division ,
Carbopal Aqua SF-1 1000 kgs ICA-T7714( 2)/2018
Hand Wash Top covers 1400000 Nos P.H.En ineerin Dte.
Merquat Pluss-3330 200 kgs
Kleenol 250m 1 Sticker (F&B) 275000 Sets
D-Panthenyl Tri Acetate 20 kgs, POLICE HEADQUARTERS JAMMU AND KASHMIR JAMMU
Aloe Vera Juice 4500 kgs MST Hologram Stickers 5500000 Nos Phone/Fax No.: 0194-244303112443032 ( Sgr) Website : www .jkpo lice.gcv in
0191.2459029/2459255(J) Email : phgJ k©jkpoIIc o .gov ,
Vitamine E Beads 20 kgs Fevicol SA 7505Synthetic 1600 Kg' s (Provision Section)

Polythylene Glycol -400 (PEG-400) 2 MTs MDP 1 Kg Pouches 180000 Nos -nor

MST 300g Shrink Sleeves 410000 Nos Due to various technical/ procedural reasons , NIT No. 05 of 2018 dated
Sulfoshine DS-40 10 MTs
17.02.2018 floated to purchase Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is hereby
Polyquaternium-7/Galsilk-700 3.5 MTs MST 100g Shrink Sleeves 1000000 Nos cancelled.
Amisoft 5 MTs Hand wash 250 ml Stickers F& B 1400000 Set Earnest Money Deposits (EMD's) furnished by the bidders in the shape of
Jigat Powder 50 MTs (All Variants ) FDR's and TDR' sare being released by this Hqrs.
MST 50g Shrink Sleeves 2800000 Nos (Mubassir Latifi) JKPS ,
4 KSDL/ Procurement of Packing Materials 20 .11.2018 21 .12.2018
AIG of Police (ProvlTpt).
2018 -19/ Divya Karpura CBs 3500 Nos Divya Karpura Containers 400000 Nos For Director General of Police ,
N o Pro a- u;Sec- 5 U1 /- 18-?5J55-71
IND3709 SGT 20g CB' s 7000 Nos BOPP Tape Rolls 37000 Nos Dated: 22 . 11.20 19 PHQ J&K Jammu.

MSS 125g Export/ Classic Export CBs 3500 Nos Kleenol 250m 1 Bottle 270000 Nos
Herbal Care 100g CBs 7000 Nos Kleenol 5 Lts Can 28000 Nos
M S Baby 75g CBs 11500 Nos Gift pack Plastic container with Lid 100000 Nos
M S Body Wash 200ml CBs 4000 Nos Freshnol 1000ml bottles with cap 400000 Nos
MSS 75g x 144 NO's Export CBs 6500 Nos MDC 150g Flow Wrap film for MDC 18000 Kg's
MDP 1Kg CBs/ PDP 17500 Nos 1508
Gift Pack CBs 8500 Nos Flip top Cap with inner Lid Push full 2800000 Nos
MSS 75g X 200 Cakes Export CBs 7500 Nos Cap For Kleenol (1000 & 250m1) I
For detailed EOI and documents, please t
Kleenol 250ml CBs 6000 Nos MST 300g Container with Cap 400000 Nos
.
visit at w w w n t p c t e n d e r com or .
Coconut Oil 150ml CBs with 8000 Sets Coconut Oil 150ml Bottle with Cap 950000 Nos www .ntpc .co.in or may contact: Deput y
Separators & Top Plate Mysore Carbolic 100g Wrapper 17000 Kg's General Manager , Manager (Project 0 -
Engineering - Control & Instrumentation), I .
Coconut Oil 50 ml CBs with Top plate 6000 Sets Coconut Oil 50ml bottle with cap 1675000 Nos .
NTPC limited, 3rd Floor, Engineering
& separator Hand Wash 250m 1 Pet Bottles 1400000 Nos Office Complex , A-8A , Sector-24 ,
SBT (S) Export CBs 18500 Nos MST 100g Container with Cap 1000000 Nos Noida-201301, Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar
MST 300g CBs with Honey Comb 17000 Sets (U.P.), India. Mob. No.: 9650991864 , '''
MST 50g Container with cap 2750000 Nos 9650999116 Fax No.: +91-0120-2410136
Part ition & Top Plate E-mail: rajeshsamai ya @ntpc.co.in ,
Coconut 100MI Bottle with Cap 3250000 Nos
Coconut oil 100ml CBs with Top plate 17000 Sets pritikakhirwal @ntpc.co.in
Dispenser Pump for 250ml Handwash 1350000 Nos
& separator
MST 100g CBs with Honey Comb 27500 Sets
square shaped pet bottle NTPC Limited
N TPC (A Govt of Indi a E nt e rp r i s e )
Part ition & Top Plate Please visit our website: htt p://karnataka .gov. in/mysoresandal for further details , For any .ee.m.cw Le emeg tlw Pa-Setter
queries/clarification , contact the undersigned. Registered office: NTPC Bhawan, SCOPE Complex,
Spoort hi Suchisambrama Kit CBs 30500 Nos
L Sd/- Asst. Gen. Manager (Materials) 7 , Institutional Area , Lodi Road , New Delhi.110003.
Sandal Suchi sambrama CBs 47000 Nos www.ntpc .co.in CIN No: L40101DL1975G01007966.
Download from www.sscias.com
Wall Street
Pulled Lower
by Oil Slump
Reuters
New York: US stocks fell on Fri-
day as oil prices plunged to their
lowest in more than a year, drag-
ging down energy shares, while
US-China trade talks at the G20
summit next week kept investors
on edge in a truncated trading
session.
At 22.45 IST the Dow Jones In-
dustrial Average was down 123
points, or 0.51%, at 24,340.70, the
S&P 500 was down 12.71points, or
0.48%, at 2,637.16 and the Nasdaq
Composite was up 7.81 points, or
0.11%, at 6,966.47.
Oil majors Exxon Mobil and
Chevron fell more than 3% and
were the leading decliners on the
Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Oilfield service providers
Schlumberger and Halliburton
also fell nearly 3%. That pres-
sured the S&P energy index,
which fell 3.4%, the most among
the 11major S&P sectors. The en-
ergy sector has lost 16.5% since
the beginning of October, mak-
ing it the worst performing S&P
sector during the period.
Satin Credit’s
Fund Cost
Up by 75 bps
Ashwin.Manikandan
@timesgroup.com
Mumbai: Microfinance company
Satin Creditcare Network (SCNL)
said its borrowing cost has risen
by 75 basis points, or 0.75 percent-
age points, following the liquidity
crisis that plagued non-banking fi-
nance companies (NBFCs) over
the last couple of months.
Satin Creditcare chairman HP
Singh said there was no major im-
pact on business apart from the
rise in fund cost. “The MFI sector
has a lot of space for growth de-
spite the current environment.
Our business has been largely
unaffected by the ongoing liquid-
ity crunch because banks have
not cut our funding. The only
thing is that the rates have firmed
up a little bit,” Singh said.
“The damage has mostly been
restricted to smaller and mid-lev-
el NBFCs in the housing finance
sector,” he said. Satin is the sec-
ond largest NBFC-MFI with
`. 6,000 crore of assets under man-
agement. Singh said Satin re-
ceived 40% of its funding from In-
dusInd Bank, with whom it had
forged a partnership in 2017. The
MFI also received funds from NA-
BARD and Bandhan Bank. With
60% of its loan portfolio based on
agriculture-related businesses,
the MFI is largely looking to capi-
talise on the growing credit need
in the rural economy space.
“In rural economy, there are mul-
tiple income streams in every
household. Since most of the cred-
it we disburse is being used for eco-
nomic activities rather than con-
sumption activities, we believe
there will be enough scope for busi-
ness growth,” Singh said.
It also lends to the affordable
housing segment in rural areas
and to the SME sector. About 80%
of its credit exposure is in the ru-
ral economy.
Technology Can Resolve Bureaucratic Issues
From Page 1
The minister is of the view that
drunk driving often happens
when people go to buy alcohol and
start drinking on the spot.
One obvious objection to such a
policy is that this could allow
purchase of alcohol by minors or
those without a valid liquor per-
mit. But the answer to this is that
almost no shop asks for a liquor
permit when someone goes to
them to buy — it’s hardly a practi-
cal way to do business and, in any
case, the permit system is almost
entirely a joke.
As for underage drinking, Ba-
wankule has pointed out correct-
ly that this could be tackled by re-
quiring purchasers to show the
Aadhaar cards which they would
have at home. If delivery men we-
re equipped with handheld scan-
ners, just as many of them now
carry handheld credit card ma-
chines, then all the data required
for bureaucratic purposes could
be quickly scanned and stored
electronically.
Such systems are already follo-
wed abroad. One of the surprises
of the liquor business is to learn
that India is hardly the only place
with complicated and rather po-
intless laws for purchase. One of
BFS Assumed Importance After November 19 Meeting
From Page 1
Relations between the two sides
have been tense over the past few
months. In October, deputy gover-
nor Viral Acharya sounded a war-
ning about the damage that could
be caused by undermining the au-
tonomy of regulators. The go-
vernment had cited a hitherto
unused section of the RBI Act that
allows it to issue directions to the
regulator in a series of communi-
cations that raised matters it wan-
Strengthening Rupee Stops
Bull Run at IT Counters
INVESTORS SHIFT to financial stocks with the easing of oil prices, sell defensives like IT
Sanam.Mirchandani
@timesgroup.com
Mumbai: The recent bull run in
technology shares may have end-
ed abruptly as a reversal in the fall
in the rupee against the US dollar
has dimmed the prospects of the
sector. The BSE IT index has de-
clined 16% since October 1, when it
hit its all-time high level of
16087.82
“IT stocks had been over-owned
and rupee’s fall from 74 to 71has led
to a tailwind becoming a head-
wind,” said Sanjiv Bhasin, execu-
tive VP-markets and corporate af-
fairs at IIFL.
The rupee, which had hit an all-
time low of 74.4 to a dollar in Octo-
ber, closed at 70.7 on Thursday.
“Local funds are now using the
decline in oil prices and rupee to
invest in financials. They are do-
ing this by selling defensives like
IT, which had been rallying for the
past few months,” said Bhasin.
GROWTH AMID CHALLENGES
Stocks That Got a Hike in
Target Price from Analysts
With the results
season coming
to an end, stock
analysts are busy
changing their
recommendations
and revising
their stock target
prices. Out of 230
widely-covered
companies, 77 beat
analysts' estimates, Stock
88 missed Vinati Organics
estimates while 64 Coffee Day Enterprises
were in-line with Balrampur Chini Mills
the targets. Since
Grindwell Norton
the beginning of
Info Edge India
FY19, earnings
Aditya Birla Fashion
downgrades have
South Indian Bank
limited Nifty's
Gujarat Fluorochem
one-year forward
Axis Bank
earnings per
Power Finance Corp
share(EPS) by 2%.
Sanofi India
While two-thirds of
HEG
the BSE 500 stocks
KRBL
have seen cut in
Aurobindo Pharma
price target in the
Aarti Industries
last one month, 23
stocks including Some sectors
Vinati Organics, have shown
Coffee Day, growth amid
Balrampur Chini, challenges
while a few
Grindwell Norton,
Info Edge among are expected
to bounce back
others have seen
in the coming
increase in price
targets by more according to
than 5%.
ET ARCHIVES
the legacies of the prohibition mo-
vements that had such success in
the US in the early 20th century
was that their eventual repeal was
usually only achieved by leaving a
residue of legal complications
that scan still bedevil operations.
In 1933, when the US passed the
21st Constitutional Amendment,
undoing the 18th, which had bro-
ught in Prohibition in 1919, the
amendment included a clause pro-
hibiting “transportation or im-
portation into any state, territory,
or possession of the United States
for delivery or use therein of intox-
icating liquors, in violation of the
laws thereof.”
Those pushing for repeal knew
they had the votes in Congress,
but that the amendment still nee-
ted to discuss. Apart from PCA
and liquidity, other key subjects
are easing capital requirements
for banks and the amount of sur-
plus RBI needs.
BFS was set up in November 1994 to
provide guidance to RBI on financi-
al supervision, which remains a cor-
nerstone of banking regulation. It
has assumed greater importance af-
ter the November 19 meeting.
Typically, committee meetings
take place in the second half of the
day after central board meetings
Losing Charm
Company
Wipro
Tech Mahindra
KPIT Technologies
HCL Technologies
Infosys
TCS
Mphasis
Mindtree
Persistent Systems
Hexaware Technologies
Infosys, which had gained 41% in
the first-nine months of calendar
year 2018, has fallen nearly 17%
since October 1. Tata Consultancy
Services has fallen 19.5% after
gaining over 64% in the January-
September period. Similarly,
CMP (`) Return (%)
1,486.15 23.78
267.30
106.30
498.55
1,393.35
191.65
14.50
887.35
614.55
99.35
6,007.90
4,349.75
326.25
789.80
1,470.30
Despite
challenging
environment,
consumption demand
in terms of volume
growth, led by rural
India, will continue;
while auto growth
quarters,
should rebound post the
temporary slowdown.
analysts. VINOD KARKI | analyst, ICICI Securities
ded ratification by a majority of
states, in many of which prohibi-
tionists were still strong.
Allowing states to retain power
to regulate liquor sales helped
passage — but it left a legacy of ve-
ry complicated laws regarding sa-
le and distribution of alcohol.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR
Some states continued prohibi-
tion, at least in a few counties till
long after national repeal, and
building a national delivery sy-
stem for alcohol was essentially
impossible till recently. But one
unexpected aspect of Amazon’s
takeover of the Whole Foods cha-
in was to facilitate this, with or-
ders being taken online and ful-
filled at a local level by the closest
Whole Foods store.
Other have managed by building
networks that only tackle certain
cities within a state. Saucey, a Cali-
fornia-based service, handles
most large cities in the state and
also a few other states. The delive-
ry comes with a stipulation that
the person receiving it has to have
ID proving they are of age — and
this can be scanned and stored ex-
actly as Bawankule envisaged.
And to anyone who queries why
their city or state is not covered,
Saucey’s website has a terse ans-
in the morning. But people close to
RBI said BFS meetings may now
have to be scheduled separately as
the last two board meetings lasted
more than nine hours each.
The government wants RBI to ea-
se PCA norms so that weaker
banks can lend more freely. The
central board has agreed to review
the issue on December 14. The go-
vernment also wants NBFCs to ha-
ve access to adequate liquidity so
that the current squeeze doesn’t
develop into a credit freeze.
Markets: Beating Volatility 5
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018
PRICE FALLS $3.81TO $58.79/BARREL
AFTER TOUCHING $58.57 ON FRIDAY
Brent Plunges
More Than 6%
Despite Potential
Netflix, and Google parent Alpha-
bet) taking a beating in the US, fol-
lowing disappointing earnings
% Chg in and mixed forecasts. While the fall
Closing level
% Chg since Oct 1 Jan-Sept in US tech stocks and software ex-
Nov 22 (`)
307.5
691.0
-7.1
-9.2
period
2.0
48.2
porters is unrelated, analysts be-
lieve that further appreciation
will sour sentiment further for the
domestic software exporters.
Cut by OPEC
201.9 -9.2 15.0 Pankaj Pandey, head of research
979.6 -10.8 23.5 at retail broking firm ICICIdirect,
said he views the recent correc-
Reuters
Brent Crude Price in $
620.5 -16.7 40.7 90
tion in the IT space as a normal Boston: Oil prices slumped mo-
1815.3 -19.5 64.6
phase following several months of re than 6% on Friday, with Brent
923.3 -20.6 59.4 outperformance and it is not a re- set for a 12% plunge this week, as
829.6 -22.8 70.6 versal in the positive trend. fears that supply would overpo-
“IT was the best performer in the wer demand intensified, even as 70.32
550.4 -27.3 10.5 80
307.6 -28.7 25.2 last 12 months. Most of the posi- major producers considered
tives have already been factored cutting output.
Compiled by ETIG Database
in,” said Pandey. Oil supply, led by US producers,
Analysts believe that the market is growing faster than demand
shares of HCL Tech, Mindtree, Wi- is likely to see more volatility in the and to prevent a build-up of unu- 70
pro and Tech Mahindra have fall- run-up to the general elections, sed fuel such as the one that
en 7-23% since October 1. which is scheduled in the first half emerged in 2015, the Organiza-
Overall, the recent weeks have of 2019. The months ahead may see tion of the Petroleum Exporting
not been good for companies in the investors flocking to the defensive Countries is expected to start 58.97
technology space, with FAANG space again, which bodes well for trimming output after a meeting 60
stocks (Facebook, Amazon, Apple, the information technology stocks. on December 6. May 1, ’18 Nov 23, ’18
But this has done little so far to
Forex Reserves
prop up prices, which have drop-
ped more than 20% so far in No-
intensified after China reported
its lowest gasoline exports in mo-
vember, in a seven-week streak of re than a year amid a glut of the
losses. Deep trade disputes bet- fuel in Asia and globally.
Up $568.9 m ween the world’s two biggest eco- Stockpiles of gasoline have sur-
to $393.58 b
nomies and oil consumers, the
United States and China, have
ged across Asia, with inventories
in Singapore, the regional refi-
weighed upon the market. ning hub, rising to a three-month
“The market is pricing in an eco- high while Japanese stockpiles
PTI nomic slowdown - they are antici- also climbed last week. Inventori-
pating that the Chinese trade es in the United States are about
Mumbai: The country's foreign talks are not going to go well,” sa- 7% higher than a year ago.
exchange reserves rose by $568.9 id Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Crude production has soared as
million to $393.580 billion in the Futures Group in Chicago. “The well this year. The International
week to November 16, mainly due market doesn’t believe that OPEC Energy Agency expects non-
to a spurt in foreign currency as- is going to be able to act swiftly OPEC output alone to rise by 2.3
ANIRBAN BORA
sets, according to RBI data. enough to offset the coming slow- million barrels per day (bpd) this
In the previous week, reserves down in demand.” year. Oil demand next year, mean-
had declined by $121.2 million to while, is expected to grow by 1.3
$393.01billion. IN BEAR ZONE million bpd.
In the reporting week, foreign Adjusting to lower demand, top
currency assets, a major compo-
nent of overall re-
Oil prices have drop- crude exporter Saudi Arabia said
on Thursday that it may reduce
serves, increased by
$506 million to
ped more than 20% supply as it pushes OPEC to agree
to a joint output cut of 1.4 million
$368.541billion, as per so far in November, bpd. However, US President Do-
1M Target the RBI data. nald Trump has made it clear that
Proce (Rs) Incease in 1 Month (%) Expressed in US dol- in a seven-week he does not want oil prices to rise
1,575.67 21.10 lars, foreign currency assets in- and many analysts think Saudi
-0.11 400.00 20.30
clude the effect of appreciation or streak of losses Arabia is coming under US pres-
depreciation of non-US curren- sure to resist calls from other
10.96 123.50 17.90
cies such as the euro, the pound Brent crude oil fell $3.81, or 6.1%, OPEC members for lower crude
and the yen held in the reserves. to $58.79 a barrel by 21.30 IST output.
-0.10 623.00 10.27
Forex reserves had touched a re- (1600GMT), after earlier touching If OPEC decides to cut produc-
-6.68 1,700.05 10.22
cord high of $426.028 billion in the $58.57, its lowest since October tion at its meeting next month, oil
10.94 226.13 8.49 week to April 13, 2018. Since then, 2017. US West Texas Intermediate prices could recover sharply, ana-
the forex kitty has been on a slide crude (WTI) lost $3.75, or 6.8%, to lysts say.
3.94 21.04 7.44
and is now down by over $31billion. trade at $50.88, to touch a low of “We expect that OPEC will ma-
4.36 1,015.00 6.84
Gold reserves rose by $73 million $50.60, also the weakest since Oc- nage the market in 2019 and as-
9.20 673.63 6.80 to $20.961billion, the data showed. tober 2017. sess the probability of an agree-
21.75 108.56 6.32 The special drawing rights with For the week, Brent was on track ment to reduce production at aro-
the International Monetary Fund for a 11.9% loss and WTI a 9.7% de- und 2-in-3. In that scenario, Brent
4.29 6,691.50 6.06
(IMF) declined by $5.7 million to cline. prices likely recover back into
6.57 6,215.50 6.01 $1.453 billion. The country’s re- Prices were on course for their the $70s,” Morgan Stanley com-
-3.43 427.00 5.96 serve position with the IMF also biggest one-month decline since modities strategists Martijn Rats
dipped by $4.4 million to $2.623 bil- late 2014. and Amy Sergeant wrote in a note
6.90 895.00 5.45
lion, the apex bank said. Market fears over weak demand to clients.
17.73 1,598.25 5.37
Source : Bloomberg
Robust government spending
Abiding by SC Order
dates presented on them.
was evident in cement The Aadhaar ruling and the su-
volumes, CV volumes and road spension of eKYC has already rai-
company revenue growth while sed costs for fintech lenders, since it
signs of improving real estate sales vernment and the UIDAI need to now involves a physical verifica-
are encouraging. Utilities to benefit From Page 1 identify the appropriate solution, tion. A recent report by Omidyar
NPCI CEO Dilip Asbe said the till then eSign on eNACH will be and the Boston Consulting Group
from improving power demand
and resolution of stressed assets. agency had to take the stand to be suspended,” he added. estimates digital lending to MSMEs
compliant with the apex court’s The NACH mandate is an autho- in the country to go up to Rs 6-7 lakh
Retail lenders will continue to
Aadhaar judgement, which disal- risation that consumers provide to crore by 2023, but the report cited
show robust growth.
lows private companies from as- institutions to credit or debit challenges from the Aadhaar order.
king for Aaadhaar authentication funds periodically. This product “The physical mandate for NACH
for eKYC from users. has been used by digital lenders for entailed about Rs 50, had high fai-
“The problem with continuing cost-effective, paperless collec- lure rates of about 50% and took a
eSign on eNACH is it uses eKYC in- tions of recurring loan payments. longer time, whereas paperless
frastructure to obtain authentication Authentication of an eSign user is mandate had only Rs 5 in onboar-
from the UIDAI database. This may done through eKYC service, after ding costs, two days time and up to
result in contempt of the Supreme Co- which an online electronic signa- 90% success rate,” Razorpay CEO
urt order if continued,” Asbe said. ture service is facilitated. Harshil Mathur said.
wer: “Move somewhere better.” “I completely understand and The NPCI’s committee on NACH However, there is some respite for
In Chandigarh in 2015, a service appreciate the concerns of fin- sent a circular to member banks fintech players since the NPCI has
called GetTalli tried to get around techs and banks, since any other on Friday, saying that eSign-based introduced alternatives in the
this by asserting that it would only alternative may not have the same eMandate product would be su- form of net banking-based manda-
handle the delivery — the pay- scale and also raise the cost for spended from November 26 and te, which is currently live with on-
ment would technically be done mandate substantially. The eco- that they would be given time till ly five banks. It is also set to launch
directly between purchaser and li- system in consultation with the go- November 30 to clear all the man- debit card-based eNACH soon.
quor store. Their website said
scrupulously that if order quanti-
ties were larger than the caps pro-
vided by the authority for trans- ‘Need for Balanced Naina Lal Kidwai to Attend
porting liquor, the order would be
split in two and separate fees char- Approach’
ged. But all such attempts didn’t From Page 1
work with the excise department, From Page 1 He’s an exporter and also dabb-
which swept in and arrested the The rise in air pollution towards the les in real estate and home fur-
entrepreneurs behind the service. end of October triggered a series of nishings. Her mother runs the
Similar services in Bengaluru official measures such as shutting luxury furnishings store.
through apps like Dunzo and Hip- down of construction and factories A family friend of the Bhaskars
Bar have also been shut down. that burn coal. Authorities also thre- who is attending the wedding in
Liberalising alcohol sales has atened to ban all private vehicles if Jaisalmer told ET it was being
many arguments in its favour, air quality did not improve. But ex- kept a “hush-hush” and private
from increasing state revenue, perts and volunteer groups suggest a affair restricted to close family
preventing illegal and dangerous more balanced, long-term approach. and friends of the two sides.
drinking and, at its most basic le- “Delhi is polluted throughout the ye- HSBC’s former India CEO Naina
vel, treating citizens like adults — ar…we cannot have these conversa- Lal Kidwai is one of the attende-
and there are even politicians like tions in the month of October-Novem- es along with members of the
Bawankule who appear ready to ber, when the city is most polluted,” sa- Thapar family who are distant
accept these arguments and use id Vimlendu Jha, founder of activist relatives of the Bhaskars.
technology to fulfil bureaucratic group Swechha. “Graded Response Ac- Nitin and Vedika were introdu-
requirements. tion Plan (GRAP) is a last-minute app- ced to each other by Vedika’s sis-
But when faced with excise de- roach to control pollution, which is not ter Jahanavi who currently lives
partments loath to relinquish the- going to have long-term impact. This in the US. Nitin knows Jahanavi Jared Kushner PHOTO: AP
ir powers, logical arguments for li- ‘end of pipe’ approach to pollution is and her husband Nicholas Laag
quor reform clearly seem to stand not going to work,” he said. very well, this person said. ty of Kushner as per instruc-
little chance. Jha said the central government as Laag belongs to what sources tions received from the central
well as states were lax in combating termed a very “well-connected” government.
air pollution. family based in Zurich in Swit- The wedding ceremony is be-
On Thursday, a task force led by the
Central Pollution Control Board sug-
gested stricter implementation of pol-
lution control measures already in for-
zerland and has worked in the
fund management industry
like Nitin.
There was speculation that
ing performed under tight secu-
rity. According to sources, it
will take place on November 24
at the Suryagarh resort. The lo-
The primary objective of BFS is ce by agencies responsible under Trump’s daughter Ivanka cation has been cordoned off by
to undertake consolidated super- GRAP, along with a ban on industrial Trump would accompany private security guards.
vision of the financial sector com- and construction activities in areas de- Kushner. But police officials Rajasthan has several luxury re-
prising commercial banks, finan- fined as pollution hotspots. confirmed that she wouldn’t be sorts that attract business mag-
cial institutions and NBFCs. It Delhi’s air quality started deterio- coming. nates and foreign tourists. Udai-
usually meets once a month to rating towards the end of October “Ivanka hasn’t come. Kushner pur, known for its beautiful lakes
consider inspection reports and this year, stubble burning in Harya- came on November 22. We have and better connected to Delhi,
other issues placed before it by the na and Punjab being the main reason information that he will leave has been a popular destination
supervisory departments. behind hazardous air in the national on the evening of November for weddings and parties, but Jai-
“This (finance ministry’s repre- capital region. The city’s pollution le- 25,” said Jaisalmer police supe- salmer, which is quieter and loca-
sentation in BFS) will not be a go- vels reached alarming levels after Di- rintendent Jagdish Chandra ted further into the desert, is
od practice as the government wali, despite the Supreme Court’s Sharma. emerging as a new high-end desti-
owns banks,” said former finance restriction on fireworks, which ma- He said that armed guards ha- nation for the ultra-rich.
secretary DK Mittal. ny people openly violated. ve been provided for the securi- (With inputs from Mohit Bhalla)
Download from www.sscias.com
6 Companies: Pursuit of Profit
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018
Broadband User
Base Up to 463.6 m
New Delhi: Amid explosive
growth in data consumption,
India’s broadband subscriber
numbers touched 463.6 million
at the end of August 2018, up
0.74% over the previous
month, according to official da-
ta by the Department of Tele-
com (DoT).
The number of broadband
subscribers stood at 460.24 mil-
lion in July this year.
According to the data, the to-
tal number of telephones rose
to 1,189.17 m, up 9.73 m over the
previous month. —PTI
E- TENDER NOTICE
r ved for a successful completion of the
Dy CSTE.Con-VECRiSamast i pur for & on
behalf of President of India are invited
Open online E-Tender:-
E-Tender No.: S&TICon-I/SPJ/15 of 2018-
19. Name of work : Signalling &
Telecommunication Work in connection
with removal of infringements and Laying
of OFC & Quad Cable in Sugau i -
Valmikinagar Section for Doubling in
Samasti pur Divison of E.C. Railway.
Approximate Cost : As . 76247556.04
Earnest Money : As. 531300.00. Cost of
Tender Document : As. 10000.00.
Completion Period : 12 [Twelve) Months
Last Date & Time of submission of online
E-Tender: 12112/2018 upto 12.00 PM. For
details information , may kindly see the
tender notice and tender documents which
are available at Indian Railway website
http://www.ireps. v.in
Dy CSTE/Con VSPJ
PR/1251/CONIENGGJIII&19132 ECNSamasti pur
E-TENDER NOTICE
E-Tender Notice No . ConV 0 ut s o u'c e ViR+DNR+
18. Divisional Raiway Manager (Commercial),
East Central Ralway . Danaparforand on behalf
of President of India, invite open e-tender on two
packet system (Packet A- Technical Bid &
Packet B- Financial Bid) for award of contract for
Outsourcing of post of Waiting Room Bearer of
20 wailing rooms available at different station of
A-1 & A class (Baz ar , Ara Jn., Danapur,
Rajendra nagar Terminal , Patna City,
Bakhtiyarpur in.. Mokama Jn. and Kiul Jn.) over
Danapur division . 1. Name of the work with its
location : ( 1) Outsourcing of post of Waiting
Room Bearer at A- 1 & A class of station over
Danapur division . This work for 24 hrs. in 8 hrs.
three shift for 730 days. (2) Different class of
rooms available at A-1- Patna & A- Baxar , Ara
Jn.. Danapur Rajendra nagar Terminal, Patna
City, Mokama Jn., Bakhtiyarpur Jn. and Kiul in.
is to be outsource . 2. Approx cost of the work
: 22,59 ,09 ,499.31, 3. Earnest Money to be
deposited : 22, 79,5501- 4. Date & Time of
online e-tender and opening of e-tender :
Date and time for closing of e-tender - up to
12.00 hrs. on 04.12.18. Date and time for
opening of (Technical Bid) e-tender - After 12.00
firs on 1 5. Website particulars ,
Notice Board Location where complete
details ( Notice and e-tender documents) of
e-tender can be seen : Website particulars -
www.ireps.gov.in . Notice Board Locations -
Office of the Sr. Divnl . Comml. Manager, East
Central Railway, Danapur.
Divisional Railway Manager (Comml.jl
PRI12601DNRIT140 ECRIDanapur
Purvanchal Vidyut Vitaran
Nigam Limited Vidyut Nagar,
P.O.-DLW Varanasi -221 004
E-Tender Notice E-tender is
invited for the following Work.
Please visit our website !KltI 6(.
etender .u .nic.in for details/
download and for any other cor-
rections/amendments/modifica-
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submission of bids, SI.No. 1,
Tender Specification No. EAV-
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Offset Printing & Supply of
Multi colour Pamphlet Half Letter
Size Paper 210x135 mm_ Art
paper (Not less than 70 GSM)
Multi color (Both side Printing),
Qty of Material 40 , 00 ,000
Nos,, Earnest Money (Rs.)
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sands Only), Tender Fee (Rs.)
10,000.00+GST@5% , Last
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CHIEF ENGINEER (SAUB-
HAGYA) "Save Electricity in
the interest of Nation" RO
6465/22.11 , 18
QEHED MQ
E- TENDER NOTICE
e-tender is invited on Behalf of the
President of India for the under mentioned
work:-
SN. 1 : e-Tender No. : ECR-CAO-C-S-E
TEN-74-18-19: Name of work :Widening/
raising of sub-banks & Formation ,
Construction of Limited Height subways
(LHS), Height Gauge, Barrel extension of
minor bridges , Finishing work of minor
bridges, Planting of Tree and other acillary
works from Tilaiya to Kheraundh (Km 24.5)
in compliance of observations of CRS
authorization in connection with
construction of new B.G. line between
Tilai ya-Koderma. Approx cost of the
work in (Rs.) : 9,83,26,106.82 , Cost of
tender form in (Rs.) : 10,000/- Earnest
money In (Rs.) :6,41 , 640/- Perod of work
comp letion : 06 [Six] Month. SN. 2 : e-
Tender No. ECR-CAO-C-S-E TEN-79-
18.19 : Name of work : Provision of
approach roads of LHS , RUB' s ,
Construction Retaining walls , deep tube
well, boulder flooring & boulder pitching at
minor bridges and other miscellaneous
works in connection with left over works of
IPR-NES new BG Section (KM. 0-21).
Approx cost of the work in (Rs.) :
3,48, 13,682.83, Cost of tender form In
(Rs.) : 10,0001- Earnest money in IRS.) :
3,24,0701- Perod of work completion :04
[Four] Month. Date and time for closing
of tender : 07-12-2018 at 15.30 hrs. Anye-
tenders which is sent by Post/Courier/Fax
or by hand will not be accepted. All such
i
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CAOICon ISouth
PRi1254C0WENGGIfl1&19!60 EC RIy.MHX, Patna
Group of Secretaries Formed to See
Through Privatisation of 6 Airports
Panel to be headed by Niti CEO; secretaries of aviation, expenditure and economic affairs to be its members
MihirMishra
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: The government, worried
over its past failures to implement key
decisions in the aviation sector such as
privatisation of Air India, has formed
an empowered group of secretaries to
ensure that the privatisation of six air-
ports doesn’t fall through the cracks.
“The empowered group of secretari-
es will ensure that all issues are resol-
privatisation process,” said a senior
government official, who did not want
to be identified. The panel will be hea-
ded by NITI Aayog CEO, and will have
secretaries of aviation, expenditure
and economic affairs as its members.
The Cabinet had during the first week
of November approved privatisation
of six airports – Ahmedabad, Jaipur,
Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvanantha-
puram and Mangaluru – on a Public-
Auto Sales
Skid 11% This
Festive Season
Our Bureau
Mumbai: Auto sales slumped 11% this
festive season as per data from the Fe-
deration of Automobile Dealers Asso-
ciation (FADA) that relies on number
of vehicles registered in this period.
Passenger vehicles registrations were
down by 14% and two-wheelers registra-
tions slouched 12% this year from the
comparable 42-day period from Navrat-
ri to 15 days after Dhanteras. This period
factors in a time lag of 10-12 days betwe-
en delivery and registration.
While sales of personal vehicles was
tepid, commercial vehi-
cles and three-wheelers
held their ground with
16% and 10% growths,
respectively in the pe-
riod.
While sales In a note, FADA said
that vehicles are piling
of PVs were
up at dealerships. The
tepid, CVs &
3-wheelers inventory levels before
saw 16% and the festivals began were
10% growth, at around 60 days and 50
says FADA days for two-wheelers
and PVs. That came
down to around 50-days and 45-days re-
spectively after the festive season,
which is higher than normal.
Year-to-date numbers till 20 Novem-
ber showed that total vehicle registra-
tion grew 6%. While other categories
have reported a positive growth, PV re-
gistrations dropped 1% compared to
the previous financial year.
“The ongoing NBFC liquidity issue al-
so is a concern for all the segments and
especially for the 2W and commercial
vehicle segment where we are seeing a
cautious approach from the NBFCs du-
ring and post Diwali season,” said As-
hish Kale, president, FADA.
TWO PARALLEL PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES
1 Rifle, 2 Targets:
Industry Confused
Over Army Move
Talks on for direct purchase of new assault rifles from
Russia; Adanis respond to separate proposal to industry
Manu.Pubby@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: The Army’s search for a new
assault rifle to arm its troops has left the
private industry utterly confused as two
parallel procurement procedures seem to
be in play — one a competitive process with
the Indian industry in the lead and the se-
cond, a direct purchase from Russia for the
arms to be made by a public sector unit.
At stake is the `. 12,280-crore requirement
for 6.5 lakh new assault rifles the army ne-
eds urgently to replace older INSAS guns.
The rifles are to be made in India with the
number expected to go up as other services
would also require them in future.
For several months, a series of talks have
been on with the Russian government for a
direct purchase of AK103 assault rifles to be
manufactured by a joint venture firm in In-
dia led by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
Officials in know of the details told ET
that several rounds of talks have been held
on the localisation content and transfer of
technology between technical teams from
the two sides. There is an expectation that
an intergovernmental agreement could be
signed for the deal within a few months to
start the process.
However, only last month the Army also
received proposals from the Indian indust-
ry in response to its request for informa-
tion to produce 6.5 lakh of the rifles under
the Buy and Make (Indian) category.
Interestingly, the AK103 has also been added
as a contender to this process too, with a pro-
posal received from the Adani Group to supp-
ly the rifles in partnership with the Kalash-
nikov Concern. While responses from seve-
ral potential competitors have been received,
there has been little clarity to the industry on
how and if the process would go on.
Sources told ET that in meetings before
the bids — which also contain price estima-
tes for the rifles to be produced in India —
the industry was categorically told that on-
ly 25% of the total quantity required would
be reserved for the Ordnance Factory Bo-
ard (OFB) while the rest would be open to
the private sector.
Clearing the Air Empowered
group of
Cabinet has cleared
secretaries to
privatisation of 6 airports:
ensure all issues
Ahmedabad, Jaipur, are resolved
Lucknow, Guwahati,
Panel to be headed by
Thiruvananthapuram
and Mangaluru NITI Aayog CEO
Privatisation Secretaries of aviation,
expenditure &
will be done
on PPP basis economic affairs to be
its members
Private Partnership (PPP) basis. to a private player.
This was decided after the Airports Officials said that the Prime Mini-
Authority of India (AAI) failed to ster’s Office and NITI Aayog have been
award airports in Jaipur and Ahmed- concerned over the distress in the avia-
abad on operations and management, tion sector and believe that the sector,
as they could not find enough takers. which could have been a sunrise sector,
Similarly, the aviation ministry also failed to achieve its potential and is in
did not find takers for Air India, where distress with airlines such as Jet Air-
the government was trying to sell 74% ways reporting financial stress.
After Rhyming Name Game,
Counterfeits Bug Starbucks
US giant files cases
against firms and
individuals supplying
fake company products
Rasul.Bailay@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: Shoppers, beware: the
Starbucks branded coffee mugs, tum-
blers and other products that you may
have fancied on ecommerce plat-
forms or small shops in the country
are mostly fake.
Starbucks Corporation — the iconic
US coffeehouse chain that has fought
legal cases against local restaurants
with similar sounding names of Sar-
darbukhs and Cake Bucks over the
years in India — is now fighting cases
against a host of firms/individuals
supplying fake Starbucks products to
retailers in various cities.
Starbucks lawyers along with court-
appointed local commissioners re-
cently conducted raids in Delhi’s Sa-
dar Bazaar area and seized several go-
ods sporting Starbucks logo and tra-
demarks, a person close to the deve-
lopment told ET.
Earlier this year, Starbucks infor-
med custom officials about a “huge
consignment” of fake Starbucks mugs
and tumblers among other items with
the Starbucks logo emblazoned on
them coming from China and got it sei-
zed at the port, said another person fa-
miliar with the development.
A spokesperson of Tata Starbucks,
an equal joint venture between Star-
Search for New
Assault Rifles
Requirement: 6.5 lakh
Specification: To fire 7.62 x 39 mm
round that is designed to kill, rather
than maim the enemy
Replacing: 5.56-mm round INSAS rifles
TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES
BEING FOLLOWED
Govt-Govt Route: India, Russia in
advanced talks to produce AK103
rifles in India in partnership with
Ordnance Factory Board
Buy and Make (Indian): Industry-led
competitive process to identify the
best suited rifle for India
The Dilemma: Which process would
go ahead; industry was assured in
Sept that only 25% of the requirement
would be reserved for the public
sector. But no clarity yet
However, the talks with Russia have given
the project new turn. While a competitive
process of procurement is the most prefer-
red model for an order of such kind in
which several contenders are available
across the globe, the defence ministry can
technically abort the private sector-led
process. The last time a major competitive
process was overturned in favour of a di-
rect government purchase was the Rafale
deal that has now come under controversy.
Among international contenders that
want to partner with Indian industry for the
contract are Arsenal (Bulgaria), Sig Sauer
(US), IWI (Israel), Beretta (Italy), Colt (US)
and Caracal (UAE). It is believed that Indian
companies interested in the contract inclu-
de the Punj Lloyd group, Reliance Defence,
the Kalyani Group among others.
Recently,
AAI failed to
find takers
for airports
in Jaipur and
Ahmedabad
ANIRBAN BORA
bucks and Tatas that owns and opera-
tes Starbucks outlets in the country,
said the company takes counterfeits
and infringements to its brand “very
seriously”. “We have been made awa-
re of instances of counterfeits and
have taken up the matter with the re-
levant authorities.”
Starbucks said it does not sell its
merchandise through any third-par-
ty sellers in the country. Yet, a pro-
duct search on top ecommerce mar-
ketplaces, including Flipkart and
Amazon, throws up several Star-
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ZTE Sees BSNL
& Airtel Orders
Lifting India
“The PMO and NITI Aayog are not
happy with the sector’s performance
and have registered the displeasure
over the ministry’s performance. The
Revenue for 2018
Danish.Khan
committee is part of their attempt to
@timesinternet.in
ensure that plans are implemented
and growth continues in the sector,”
said the government official. New Delhi: Chinese telecom gear vendor ZTE ex-
The government’s focus is on the av- pects its 2018 India revenue to increase marginally
iation space, and it has also launched a helped by recent orders from state-run Bharat San-
regional connectivity scheme to subsi- char Nagar Ltd. (BSNL) and Bharti Airtel despite the
dise flights to the unserved and under- recent US ban which hurt its global operations.
served parts of the country. “India market holds a very important position in
But the sector has been in distress due ZTE's overseas busi-
to rising crude prices and falling ru- ness. This year, we had
pee, which has led to all listed airlines challenges, but even
making losses in the second quarter of that didn't impact the Connecting
the current fiscal. India business much.
The government is discussing a move We quickly recovered Lines
to reduce the cost of fuel by tax cuts to and our business has ZTE clocked
bring the aviation sector out of this come to normal,” ZTE about `1,200-cr
mess. The Centre reduced excise duty India CEO Peng Aigu- revenue in 2017
on jet fuel to 11% from 14% during Octo- ang told ET.
ber but the respite wasn’t enough for He, however, decli- This is likely to
airlines which continued to bleed. ned to provide specific remain flat or
figures. But a person go up to `1,300
familiar with the mat- cr in 2018.
ter said ZTE, which ZTE’s current contracts
clocked about `. 1,200
crore revenue in 2017, Provide equipment for
expects that to remain
flat or go up to `. 1,300
BSNL’s expansion of 4G
and 3G networks in NE
crore in 2018. ZTE is zone & Airtel’s expan-
currently providing
equipment for BSNL’s
sion in select circles
Has won a Voda Idea
4G and 3G networks’
expansion in the contract to supply
North-East zone and equipment in 5 circles
bucks products, including coffee
mugs and tumblers. Bharti Airtel’s net-
When contacted, an Amazon India work expansion in se-
Plans to hire 50 engi-
neers for its new tech
spokesperson said, “Amazon.in has a
very high bar of customer experience
lect circles. ZTE re-
cently won a contract
centre in India
and is committed to taking strict ac-
tion against sellers who violate the
from Vodafone Idea to
supply equipment in
Is in talks
law, as and when such incidents are
reported to us.”
five circles.
The Chinese vendor with telcos
A Flipkart spokesperson said, “Flip- that competes with the for 5G
development
kart is a responsible marketplace likes of Huawei, Erics-
that helps sellers connect with custo- son and Nokia, suffe-
mers across the country. While pro- red some business losses because it was not able to
ducts are listed by them, each and eve- supply some equipment to Indian clients due to the US
ry one of our sellers are mandated to ban, which has since been revoked.
adhere to stringent guidelines.” Peng said despite the challenges in the US and the
Counterfeit and fake products have consolidation in a financially stressed India telecom
been a major issue for Indian and glo- market, ZTE hasn’t laid off any employee. “We are ke-
bal companies in the country for ye- eping investments in India. The most important in-
ars, and experts believe the rapid vestment is on employees. There were no job cuts and
growth ecommerce over the last five salary cuts. The company stood behind the people.”
years has made it easier for perpetra-
tors of such products.
A recent survey by citizen engage-
ment platform LocalCircles found that
RIL Arm Sets Up Co in Estonia
one out of every five products sold on Mumbai: Reliance Industrial Investments and Hol-
ecommerce platforms is a fake. dings Ltd (RIIHL), a wholly-owned unit of Reliance
While no fresh data is available, a stu- Industries, has set up a company in Estonia – Jio Esto-
dy by industry association Ficci had nia OÜ. The company was incorporated on November
showed that companies suffered an es- 22, it said in a regulatory filing on Friday .
timated loss of about Rs 105,381crore in According to the filing, the Estonian firm will look
2013-14. The Ficci study had also said into software development and provide consultancy
there was 44% jump in counterfeiting for existing and future technology initiatives pursu-
in two years between 2011-12 and 2013-14. ed by the the group and its subsidiaries.
The US Commission on the Theft of “Entire paid-up share capital of Jio Estonia OÜ is
American Intellectual Property (IP held by RIIHL,” added the oil to telecom group in its
Commission) had estimated that ma- statement . According to reports in May, RIIHL had gi-
inland China and Hong Kong accoun- ven the Estonian arm a loan of about `. 12.20 crore to es-
ted for $50-100 billion in exports of co- tablish its operations.
unterfeit products in 2015. They inclu- RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani had met an Estonian
ded Michael Kors bags, Cartier wat- government delegation with the aim of developing
ches, Levi’s jeans, Ray-Ban better e-governance solutions for India, the reports
sunglasses, Disney products and fake had then said. Jio did not respond to emailed queries
iPhones, among others. seeking comment. – Our Bureau
TIMES in ter
I Dilbagh Sethi s/o Surinder
Singh Sethi r/o C-52 sector-41,
I, Devendera Nath Sharma ,S/o
Late Sh .Kirori M al , R/ o RZ-
DIG. Jain 1'less divorcee NCR
Noida Gautam Budh Nagar.
Uttar Pradesh have changed
my name to Dilbagh Singh
Sethi vide dated 02. 11.18. For all
future purposes.
1 0 4 / 8 8 , S t r e e t No . 2 . E a s t
Sagarpur , New Delhi-110046 . do
hereby solemnly affirm and
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Based NW Girl 39/5'3" MBA. are shown by my various
B.M . seeks Prof Service / I, Sanjeet S/o Ramphal R/o documents i.e. Devendera
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Kumar for all purposes
changed to my correct name
Devendera Nath Sharma for all
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I Deepakshi D/o Rajesh Kumar
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I, Maninder Singh S/o Late
Looking 4 professionally one and same person only.
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I Garima D/O. Rajesh Kumar No. 41-A, pocket-B Sidharth
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70, have changed name to
14 declare that I should be
match from Bin Nikhlesh Jaiswal for all Sec 7 Extn , Gurgaon have
called Maninder Singh Bawa.
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Saturday Feature 7
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018

Vulture Culture: Rescuing the Big Bird

Captive breeding, protected zones, safe drugs and even special
‘restaurants’ are among the steps being taken in India to
conserve the scavenger bird species. Jayashree Bhosale reports

I
n Indian mythology, Jatayu
was the demi-god in the form
of a vulture who sacrificed
himsel f whi le t r ying to
save Sita from abduction by
Ravana. In India today, one
can hardly spot these big birds of
prey circling high in the sky, scan-
ning the ground with their sharp
eyes. The vulture as a species is
poised precariously on the edge of
extinction, although there is still a
chance they can be saved.
At the Jatayu Conser vation
Breeding Centre (JCBC) in Pinjore
in Haryana, near Chandigarh, sci-
entists are training eight captive-
born white-backed vultures to live
in the wild. Ornithologists at the
centre located within a wildlife
sanctuary are preparing the sec-
ond generation of vultures born and
bred at the centre for a soft release
by March, when they should get the
imported satellite transmitters
that will be tagged on to the birds
to track their movement.
The soft release entails taking the
captive-bred birds to a bigger area,
where they can mingle with wild
vultures. The eight vultures will
then be monitored for two years
and if no drug-related mortality is
found in them, the scientists will re-
lease another 20 pairs of vultures
into the wild.
Drug-related mortality has been
the principal cause of wiping out
almost all of India’s vulture popula-
tion. Until a few decades ago, Indian
white-backed vultures were the
largest group of scavenging birds
on the planet. Today, they have the
distinction of being the species with
the most rapid decline in popula-
tion in recorded history.
It was Dr Vibhu Prakash, deputy
director and principal scientist
at the Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS), who first drew
attention to the sharp decline in
India’s vulture numbers. While
working on his thesis at Keoladeo
Nationa l Park in Rajasthan,
Prakash kept track of the number
of vulture nests.
“I had counted 353 nests in a small
area of 29 square km in 1987. When I
came back in 1997, I could find only
150 nests. In 1998, there were 50
nests, while in the year 2000, there
were no nests,” he said.
After Prakash flagged the disap-
pearance of the vultures, scientists
found out what was killing them:
the birds were dying in large num-
bers due to kidney failure. The
internal organs of dead vultures
were covered with a white paste of
uric acid.
The cause of the kidney failure
was a mystery that was solved by
a team of ornithologists led by a
US scientist. They found that di-
clofenac, a painkiller drug used
to treat sick cattle, poisoned the
vultures that fed on the carcasses
of these animals.
The impact of diclofenac on
the vultures was devastating.
According to Prakash, mathemati-
cal models prepared by Cambridge
University showed that the pres-
ence of diclofenac in even less than
1% of the carcasses in the country
would be enough to endanger the
entire vulture population.
Diclofenac residue was found in
10% of the carcases before India
banned the drug. In 2015, the gov-
ernment banned multi-dose vials
of diclofenac and restricted the
ampule size for human use to 3 ml.
However, the drug is said to be still
used illegally.
“Yet, even today, about 2% of the
carcases are estimated to carry di-
clofenac,” Prakash said.
While diclofenac has been banned,
there is still a threat from new
drugs in the market for veterinary
use. So far, only meloxicam has
been identified as safe for vultures.
“Diclofenac is unsafe for many
other scavenging birds like Steppe
eagles, red-headed vultures and
Eg y ptia n v u ltu res,” said Dr
Percy Avari, a scientist at Bombay
Veterinary College. He was a mem-
ber of a team that tested the safety
Until a few decades
ago, Indian white-
backed vultures were
the largest group of
scavenging birds on
the planet. Today, they
have the distinction
of being the species
with the most rapid
decline in population
in recorded history
of meloxicam as an alternative
to diclofenac in 2005.
There are nine species of
vulture found all over India,
although they are concen-
trated in Gujarat, Rajasthan,
M a d hy a P r a d e s h a n d
Maharashtra. The orien-
tal white-backed vultures,
long-billed vultures and
slender-billed vultures – all
of the Gyps genus – are the
three most critically endan-
gered species.
The conservation breeding
centre established at Pinjore
in 2004 was the first in the coun-
try. The scientists there calculat-
ed that 600 pairs of each species of
vultures would have to be released
into the wild to get the population
back to a sustainable level.
Vultures are big and slow-breed-
ing birds with a lifespan of 40 to 45
years. They pair for life and start
laying eggs when five to six years
old, although only about half of
them reach adulthood. Birds
less than a year old were
collected and it five to
six years before actual
breeding was started.
The breeding of vulture
and other conservation efforts ap-
pear to be paying off and the rate of
population decline has eased.
“According to our census, we had
estimated 40 million vultures in
the 1990s, which declined by 99.9%
in 2007. By 2015, the vulture popu-
lation more or less stabilised. The
rate of decline in their numbers
has come down. But their popula-
tion is still very small, just a few
thousand,” said Prakash.
ROLE OF VULTURES
Vultures play a critical role in
keeping the countryside clean.
Along with lesser scavengers such
as jackals, hyenas, dogs, crows and
kites, vultures play a key role in
disposing of the carcasses of wild
and domestic dead animals. Their
sheer numbers ensured that no
decaying carcasses remained long
enough to spread diseases and con-
taminate the soil and water.
“In the absence of vultures, the
dead body of cattle acts as media
for the bacteria and the fungus to
grow and multiply in millions and
go into the soil, water and cause
diseases,” said Prakash.
The vanishing vultures also led
Vultures are big and slow-breeding
birds with a lifespan of 40 to 45 years
These birds play a critical role in
keeping the countryside clean
to an increase in the numbers of
other animals of prey animals like
rats and dogs. Prakash said he has
observed the growth of an entire
generation of stray dogs that feeds
only on carcasses.
According to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, “With
increasing numbers of feral dogs,
there is increased risk of spread
of rabies, and livestock borne dis-
eases like anthrax.”
STEPS TO PROTECT VULTURES
Apart from captive breeding, BNHS
and other entities have implemented
a range of measures to save the vul-
ture.
These include the setting up of vul-
ture safe zones, which are diclofenac-
free areas with a radius of 100 km and
at least one nesting colony. Work is
going on to set up eight such zones
in India.
While the use of safe veterinary
drugs is continuously advocated,
Adult white -baked vulture
carcass sampling is undertaken
across the country to monitor for
the presence of diclofenac.
Forest departments in some states
and a few NGOs have taken up initia-
tives for vulture conservation. The
Gujarat forest department carries
out a vulture census every two years.
The survey showed the number of
vultures declining to 1,065 in 2010
from 1,431 in 2007. The latest census
completed in May is yet to be made
public.
The Maharashtra forest depart-
ment has set up vulture ‘restaurants’
in Gadchiroli, Nashik and Raigad.
These ‘restaurants’ are set up mainly
to provide enough and safe food for
vultures.
However, ornithologists said food
scarcity is really not a reason for the
disappearance of vultures. “We have
seen vultures staying in Pune flying
160 km in a day to Shreevardhan on
the Konkan coast for their meals,”
said an ornithologist, who did not
Drug-related mortality wiped out
almost all of the population
want to be identified.
HOPES
Still, ornithologists are hopeful
about bringing back the vultures,
with enough examples of birds and
animals brought back from near-
extinction in India and elsewhere.
The pygmy hog, the smallest wild
pig in the world that’s found in the
grasslands of the Terai region, was
thought to be extinct. With conser-
vation efforts, their numbers have
now increased to a few hundred.
The Mauritius Kestrel was once
considered the world’s rarest bird,
with only four known to exist in the
wild by 1974. However, with con-
servation, their numbers have in-
creased to a few hundred now and
the bird is out of danger of extinc-
tion, although still classified as
endangered.
“With the technology and the pro-
tocol for their conservation fully
established, we are pretty confi-
dent that the Gyps vultures will
not become extinct,” said Deepak
Apte, director of BNHS.
“We have established a protocol
for conservation and breeding.
The government is also receptive.
I am hopeful that the vultures will
survive,” Said Prakash. “However,
their numbers can never go back to
what they were in the 1980s… due
to the slow breeding process as the
birds lay only one egg at a time.”

‘Retrograde Step’ Cloud Computing to Create 1 M Jobs by 2022: Report

Mumbai: With cloud computing becoming mo- 2020, according to a report by ed-tech platform for
From Page 1
re prevalent in companies, the global require- executives Great Learning. In the coming years,
But at the same time, law firms ment for professionals is steadily on the rise and however, nearly all IT expenditure will be on clo-
are diversifying into MDPs such over over a million jobs in the sector will be crea- ud environment, making all IT roles cloud com-
as forensic operations and under- ted in the country by 2022, according to a report. puting roles, it added. The Indian cloud compu-
taking commercial diligence and Companies are currently investing 4.5 times the ting market, currently at $2.2 billion, is expected
investigation for their clients. For rate of traditional IT spending in cloud infrast- to grow to $4 billion by 2020 with an annual
instance, the report states, AZ&B ructure, and it is expected to grow even faster by growth rate of more than 3%, it added. — PTI
Partners reportedly hired six fo-
rensic experts from EY.
As ET reported earlier, the ex-
India Today's State of the
pert panel has recommended that
international brand names for au-
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF States Awards - 2018
dit firms should be allowed. If this
proposal is accepted, it would me- WIND ENERGY, Chennai
an that the Indian affiliates or ‘net-
work firms’ can officially use the
An autonomous R&D Institution, Ministry of New and Due to the untiring efforts of
Renewable Energy, Government of India

AM MA ' S Government
names of the Big 4 while auditing

Hon'ble Puratchi Thalaivi

balance sheets. And if the propo-

IREDA-NIWE ANNUAL AWARDS - 2019

sal to allow audit firms to provide
legal services is accepted too, la-
wyers apprehend that it could cre-
ate a scenario where the Big 4 co- for promoting and accelerating the'pace of utilization of Tamil Nadu was ranked the
wind energy and support the growing wind power sector

Numero Uno State

uld also offer legal services, at a ti- I
r
;T r v a i l .r D
me when foreign law firms are not
allowed to operate in the country. 1 A . M c,la,
NOM1NATtON LAST DAT E

and received 4 awards for

“Any law that is there for some 31 .01 .2019
time needs amendment and Ad- OPEN NOW -77"M= 71 7 a
vocates Act is no exception. If T

multinational law firms or fore-
ign lawyers come to India it wo-
uld create healthy competition.
But what should not be allowed is
CA and CS firms practicing law
and starting law firms. This wo-
uld only create havoc and it wo-
uld be very difficult for any regu-
lator to manage them,” said Lalit
Bhasin, the president of the Soci-
ety of Indian Law Firms.
Bhasin added that allowing
multi-disciplinary practice wo-
uld be a ‘retrograde step’ as it
.Best Performing State Nodal Agencies of the Year
Best Institution of Higher Learning in Wind Energy
Overall best performing State in all sectors ,
3F
^ " :.Best Research Work in Wind Energy
Detailed information available at H1WE imrsha lte hftp://niwe.res.in among large States in India
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Best State in maintenance of law and Order
GOVERNMENT OF UTTARAKHAND
FINANCE SECTION-1
No. 1304/07(130)-2016/XXVII(1)12018

Best performing State in Tourism

would destroy independence of
Dehradun, Dated : 12 November , 2018
the legal profession, which wo-
uld become a business. PRESS COMMUNIQUE
Lawyers feel allowing the Big 4 to
offer legal services might have con- It is notified for general information that the outstanding balance of 7.00% Uttarakhand State
flict issues. “There is a clear case of Development Loan 2018 issued in terms of the Government of Uttarakhand , Finance Department
Notification No. 828/XXVIII(1)/2008 dated December 04, 2008 , will be repaid at par on December 12 ,
conflict on the audit side, while it

Most improved State in Law and Order

may not be the same in the case of
tax advice — which is anyway wit-
hin the domain of law firms in
most countries. The independence
and role of auditors is under the
2018 with interest due up to and including December 11 , 2018. In the event of a holiday being
declared on the aforesaid date by any State Government under the Negotiable Instruments Act , 1881 ,
the loan will be repaid by the paying offices in that State on the previous working day. No interest will
accrue on the loan from and after December 12 , 2018.
2. As per sub-regulation 24 (2) and 24(3) of Government Securities Regulations , 2007 payment of

scanner in an increasing number
of cases already,” said Anand De-
sai, managing partner, DSK Legal.
Globally, the Big 4 offer full-
scale legal services in some ge-
ographies and ‘alternate legal
services’ in others.
Last year, PwC launched ILC
legal in US and Flexible Legal
Resources for international cli-
ents. Deloitte has entered the le-
gal services business in UK and
also acquired a US legal firm.
EY, too, has bought a legal servi-
ces provider in US.
InIndia, in the past, legal notices
have been issued to Indian arms
of the Big 4 for hiring lawyers and
operating “surrogate” law firms.
The Indian affiliates of the Big 4
have hired lawyers by the hund-
reds to provide low-value legal
and documentation work for
which legal firms charge more.
INDIA TODAY
maturity proceeds to the registered holder of Government Security held in the form of Subsidiary
General Ledger or Constituent Subsidiary General Ledger account or Stock Certificate shall be made
by a pay order incorporating the relevant particulars of his bank account or by credit to the account of
the holder in any bank having facility of receipt of funds through electronic means. For the purpose of
making payment in respect of the securities , the original subscriber or the subsequent holders of such
a Government Securities , as the case may be , shall submit to the Bank or Treasury and Sub-Treasury v vvv .iv i ivu `l\%VV VC7C U
r-
or branch of State Bank of India , where they are enfaced/registered for payment of interest , as the
case may be , the relevant particulars of their bank account.
VV UU
S?S?
3. However, in the absence of relevant particulars of bank account/mandate for receipt of funds
through electronic means , to facilitate repayment on the due date , holders of 7.00% Uttarakhand,
State Development Loan 2018, should tender their securities at the Public Debt Office , 20 days in
advance. The securities should be tendered for repayment, duly discharged on the reverse there of
as under:-
"Received the Principal due on the Certificate".
4. It should be particularly noted that at places where the treasury work is done by a branch of the
State Bank of India the securities , if they are in the form of Stock Certificates , should be tendered at
the branch of the bank concerned and not at the Treasury or sub-treasury .
5. Holders who wish to receive payment at places other than where the securities have been
enfaced for payment should send them duly discharged to the Public Debt Office concerned by
Registered and Insured Post. The Public Debt Office will make payment by issuing a draft payable at
any Treasury/Sub-Treasury or branch of State Bank of India conducting Government Treasury work
in the State of Uttarakhand .
=Now
(Amit Singh Neg i)
RO 5044 /iJ >r4 'lo-Ttofao, Secretary
f 23 carat, 2018 Government of Uttarakhand
Download from www.sscias.com
8 Breaking Ideas
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018

Indian laws need to be much more precise about taxing local storage of payment data
Time to be Choosy
About Stock Picking
Broad index is overpriced, identify right picks
Clear These Cloudy Skies rations, data storage is usually provi-
Mark Matthews, managing director of Julius Baer that ded as ‘Infrastructure as a Service’
manages $254 billion worldwide, told this newspaper that (IaaS) involving infrastructure (ser-
he is ‘underweight’ on India. This is a polite way of saying
vers, networking, etc) packaged and
operated by the cloud provider and The Spirit of
Indian stocks are overpriced compared to emerging mar- offered as a service.
ket (EM) peers and it makes sense to sell India and buy Typically, the cloud provider do-
esn’t dedicate physical infrastructu-
Inclusiveness
elsewhere. This has implications for how retail investors re or lease servers or physical space.
should plan their investment. Between November 2017 Amit Rana It is a standardised service where the
SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

and 2018, blue-chip equity, measured by the Nifty 50 index, cloud provider operates the infrast- Educating yourself fundamen-
common theme emerging ructure to provide virtual storage. In tally means to broaden your ho-

A
gained 3.8%. This is the biggest gain among Brics markets from the B N Srikrishna
in the same period: Brazil has lost 0.7%, Russia is clinging Committee report on data
to a 0.15% gain, China has dropped a steep 16.7% and So- protection, the draft e-com-
merce policy and the Reser-
fact, data of multiple customers will rizons. From being in limited-
usually be stored on the same server. ness, you want to enlarge your-
This is akin to a warehousing servi- self. Increasingly, in large cities
ce provided by a logistics company. worldwide — in India as well —

FILE PHOTO
uth Africa a dizzying 16.8%. Over 12 months, all emerging ve Bank of India mandate on local The client’s mandate is to store a spe- even two people are unable to
markets, summarised by the MSCI Emerging Market In- storage of payment data is a definite cified quantity of goods at specified live together. They have separa-
dex, have shrunk 12%. stand on data localisation. This man- conditions and for a specified period. te homes and meet during week-
date is expected to affect almost the They never control the space. Love it, hate it, but tax it ends. We are becoming so exclu-
A good measure of reasonable pricing is the average entire cross-section of e-commerce sive that loneliness has become
ratio of price to earnings (P-E) of all shares in an index. and many traditional players. Howe- Storing the New Oil (set of) servers supports this argu- tion may not extend to mere data sto- a big problem.
The higher this ratio, the greater the chance of a bubble. ver, the impact is immediate for pay- The taxation of digital models — ment. rage, which is different from an acti- Gypsies live a completely dif-
ment companies, since the RBI man- characterised by wide reach, witho- The OECD (Organisation for Eco- ve website. ferent kind of life. They have a
Brazil’s P-E ratio is a high 19.6, so the average blue-chip date required them to comply by Oc- ut physical presence, and the use of nomic Cooperation and Develop- Multiple decisions of Authority different attitude that is consi-
costs about 20 times its profits per share. Russia’s 7.7 looks tober 15, 2018, and players are gearing sophisticated technology — is being ment) Model Tax Commentary 2017 for Advance Rulings (AARs) have dered romantic and, in some
reasonable, China’s 9.5 would be a steal up for it. debated around the world. However, deals with this issue. It provides that held that in case of contracts — whe- ways, very beautiful. Once a gy-
Many of these e-commerce play- most of the discussion is focused on data does not constitute tangible pro- re the predominant purpose is provi- psy was scolding his son, “You
had the US not launched its trade war, ers and others, such as payment com- the nexus of these digital companies perty and, hence, does not have a sion of service — an equipment used good-for-nothing fellow, if you
and South Africa’s 14.2 P-E makes it a panies, are non-Indian companies in different countries, and whether physical location that could be regar- by the service provider should not be don’t learn some magic and
costly market being beaten down. With that operate in India ‘remotely’ thro- such a nexus should trigger tax. The- ded as a ‘place of business’. However, construed as being in control of the jugglery to make a living, I will
ugh the internet without having phy- re is not much deliberation yet on ta- servers on which the data reside do service recipient. While the underly- put you in school and make you
the Nifty 50 priced 26 times what it ear- sical touchpoints in India. As part of xation, which could arise because of have a physical location. And if they ing facts and issues under considera- an educated man and then you
ns, India is grossly overpriced. Second- most tax treaties, such remote opera- a ‘footprint’ created by data storage. are owned or leased and controlled tion in these cases were different, the will suffer from endless want.”
quarter earnings were lukewarm and tions are not taxed in India. This Under treaty law, taxation could by the overseas enterprise, they co- principle enunciated can be applied This is what education has done
principle has been upheld by various arise if data storage creates a fixed uld constitute a Fixed PE. to the current analysis as well. to people: endless want. The
2019 forecasts hold out the possibility Indian courts in the context of web- place permanent establishment It is worthwhile to note that tax re- more educated societies are be-
of even lower profitability. sites. (Fixed PE) for the overseas enterpri- gulators in India have reservations Numbing Numbers coming, their wants are becom-
A looming equity bubble might have made debt attrac- But can the storage of data in In- se. Such a Fixed PE can arise if there to the OECD view. They believe that Under treaty law, it can be contended ing unbelievable. Soon, an indi-
dia, without any other India touch- is a fixed place (including equip- depending on facts, a website — even that mere storage of data by overseas vidual will want a separate pla-
tive for investors. Indeed, over the last 12 months, dom- point, trigger taxation in India for ment) at the disposal of the overseas though it does not have a tangible enterprises, using cloud providers, net for himself to dig up resour-
estic institutions have purchased debt worth nearly .̀ 2.7 these overseas enterprises? enterprise through which its busi- form — can create a PE. The Kolkata should not trigger a Fixed PE in In- ces. All of us cannot live on one
lakh crore. However, the collapse of IL&FS, overlevera- Data storage could be undertaken ness is conducted. In the instant mo- bench of the Income Tax Appellate dia. We have not discussed the analy- planet. It is not information that
either by owned or leased infrastruc- del, since the physical infrastructu- Tribunal (ITAT) has held this as be- sis under the Income Tax Act, becau- damages people, it is the way
ged NBFCs and a bleak earnings outlook mean the smart ture, or by using cloud service provi- re is not at the disposal of the overse- ing vague, since the circumstances se a treaty will prevail in cases where you gather it and the way it is
foreign money is headed out: as domestic funds bought, ders, the latter being a common mo- as enterprise, the disposal test may under which a website can create a overseas enterprises are from ‘treaty given, and with what context.
FIIs sold more than .̀ 58,000 crore worth of debt. Overseas del, given cost and technological be- not be satisfied. The fact that the clo- PE is not described and, therefore, countries’ that will cover almost all Inclusiveness is disappearing
nefits. While other cloud services ud provider is likely to have multiple can’t have any impact. such enterprises. from society. The whole dimen-
investors can choose between markets globally; locals are can be provided in different configu- customers storing data on the same Even though the ITAT Kolkata vi- However, India has a stated intent sion of spirituality means ‘all
trapped between falling term deposit rates, overpriced ew is based on an earlier version of to revisit many of its tax treaties to inclusiveness’, not exclusive-
this reservation, the ambiguity con- widen the scope of PE to address new ness. Inclusiveness is life. Ex-
equity and dodgy debt. Only reform to improve funda-
tinues, since India does not clearly digital businesses. It will be interest- clusiveness is death.
mentals will help. In the meantime, it would make sense The taxation of new digital models — characterised by state the facts under which a website ing to see the extent of such changes. Today, education is just about
to adopt an investment strategy that is very selective abo- wide reach, without physical presence, and the use of can create a PE. Furthermore, even
if India’s reservation is accepted, it
survival. But it should be about
broadening your horizons. We
ut which stocks to invest in, apart from about which asset The writer is partner, tax & regulatory,
sophisticated technology — is being debated worldwide is possible to argue that the reserva- PwC India want to produce not just loving
classes to put your money into. wonderful adults, we want to
produce very resilient adults.
If you put him in hell, he will
slowly convert it into heaven.
CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION
Ban on Liquor Home
In the Fairness of Public Good
Citings
Delivery: Irrational Literary
A little back and forth goes naturally with liquor and its acco- important. But who will provide been that of fairness.
mpaniments — whether the banter, the chin of a face glugging them? The thinking in the developing Design
Since public goods can be provided countries is that the industrialised
the stuff from the bottle, the song its consumption tends to in- to additional consumers at minimal countries have already used up
duce or the swaying body that wants to keep company with the KAZUO ISHIGURO
or zero cost, countries with larger much of the limited carbon space
soaring spirit. When it comes to policy, we expect more stabili- populations can benefit more than and, thus, in fairness, the latter We were 15 by then, already into
ty, even with liquor policy. But Maharashtra has swung 180 countries with smaller populations. should take the responsibility for our last year at Hailsham. We’d
So, India and China may take the controlling climate change and been in the pavilion getting rea-
FILE PHOTO

degrees, in just a few weeks, over a proposal to allow home deli- Parkash Chander
lead in providing global public leave most of the remaining carbon dy for a game of rounders. The
very of liquor. The state excise minister Chandrashekhar Ba- goods. But despite their benefits, space for the developing countries. boys were going through a pha-
wankule thought aloud about allowing liquor to be delivered The international broadcast of a there are obstacles. But the current US administration se of “enjoying” rounders in or-
at home, provided the recipient undertook to show age proof World Cup match is a global public For one, there is no world govern- But is it fair? believes that it is not fair that US der to flirt with us, so there were
good. Thanks to technology, a good ment that can supply and regulate emissions of greenhouse gases over 30 of us that afternoon.
at the time of delivery. But the moral police howled in outrage. that used to be a local public good the provision of global public goods Agreement. However, arriving at must begin to decline immediately, The downpour had started wh-
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis disavowed any such radi- has become a global public good, as such as mitigating climate change. such an agreement is a slow and while those of developing countries ile we were changing, and we fo-
cal departure from traditional morality. the matches can now be viewed and Given that the UN is too weak to difficult process, as it should not may continue to rise, even if at a und ourselves gathering on the
The government even staged raids on so- enjoyed by millions across countri- enforce rules on countries, the only balance the costs and benefits slower pace, for some more time. veranda — which was sheltered
es, without implying that others will provision has to be voluntary. Sove- of mitigating climate change so that Although the recent Paris Agree- by the pavilion roof — while we
me liquor vends that did brisk home deliv- have less to watch and enjoy. Simi- reignty safeguards the independen- no country is worse off, but it should ment reflects international efforts waited for it to stop. But the rain
ery. Liquor is a perfectly legitimate article larly, mitigating climate change is a ce of individual countries and their also be fair to all countries. to forge cooperation for mitigating kept going, and when the last of
of consumption. Its sale is valid, and pro- global public good. Citizens of all citizens. A nation-state can be But ‘fairness’ usually complicates climate change, it remains to be seen us had emerged, the veranda
countries stand to benefit from it — pressurised, but not forced to contri- international bargaining. While whether the differences among key was pretty crowded, with every-
fitable for the government. Why should
without those of others benefiting bute to a global public good. people are concerned about fair- players can be resolved. Much needs one milling around restlessly.…
liquor not be delivered to homes, on par less. But countries have tried to negotia- ness, what is perceived as fair is to be sorted out so that countries can Miss Lucy was the only guardi-
with other items of grocery? Is drinking In the future, more local public te an international agreement on malleable. So, issues of perceived agree and commit to a path of real an present. She was leaning over
at home more risky, as compared to people getting drunk at goods, with the application of new mitigating climate change that is fairness have often caused logjams common good. the rail at the front, peering in-
technologies, may turn into global voluntarily acceptable to all countri- in climate change negotiations. to the rain like she was trying
bars, and making their inebriated way home, prone to fights, public goods. So, global public goods es and regions, as seen in the case of Indeed, one of the sticking points in to see right across the playing
The writer is professor of economics,
accidents and regurgitation of soggy regret on fellow passen- will become increasingly more the Kyoto Protocol, or the Paris climate change negotiations has Bennett University field. I was watching her as care-
gers? Should young people drink as part of a civilised gather- fully as ever in those days, and
ing at home or in surreptitious groups gathered in parked cars even as I was laughing at Laura,
I was stealing glances at Miss
on the roadside? Are those drinking at home likely to be worse Lucy’s back.
behaved than those who drink away from home? SOUTH ASIA GEOPOLITICS Iremember wondering if there
wasn’t something a bit odd abo-
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are inter-related

Contain China with the Quad

rights in a free society. So long as the norm that one should be-
have as one would like others to behave in relation to oneself is
observed, liquor is no evil. Sugary food and a sedentary lifesty-
le are worse threats to well-being. Abstinence is extremism, in
moderation lies virtue.
Malaysia cancelled all its projects
with China before they could reach a
stage where pullout was impossible.
Prime Minister Mahathir Moha-
mad described the decision to avoid
For tourism’s sake, the Leaning Tower “a new version of colonialism”. His
shouldn’t right itself any more than it has statement quite appropriately sums
Yusuf T Unjhawala up what China has been doing in
countries that have signed up for
makes ‘joining’ attractive for some
countries.
India, the US, Japan and Australia
who form the Quadrilateral — Quad
— have pledged to help infrastruc-
ture and connectivity projects, and
to keep the oceans free and open. In
July, the US, Japan and Australia
announced a trilateral partnership
its neighbourhood, just like Austra-
lia has, of late, realised that it had
neglected and failed to understand
the needs of its neighbouring Paci-
fic island nations — till the possibili-
ty of a Chinese military base there
made it see reason.
The Quad must work together on
infrastructure and connectivity
ut her posture, the way her head
was bent down just a little too
far so she looked like a crouch-
ing animal waiting to pounce.
And the way she was leaning
forward over the rail meant dro-
ps from the overhanging gutter
were only just missing her —
but she seemed to show no sign
of caring.…
Then a few minutes later, when
I’d forgotten all about Miss Lucy
and was laughing my head off
at something, I realised things
had gone quiet around us, and

Pisa’s Straightened There’s good news for India from the

Indian Ocean nation of the Maldi-
ves. And it comes primarily in the
BRI. This presents a problem for
other powers such as India whose
security is undermined by China’s
‘debt trap’ strategy.
to build infrastructure, address
development challenges, increase
connectivity and promote economic
growth.
projects, and capacity building for
better synergies to avoid duplication
of work and waste of resources. It
should involve the private sector
that Miss Lucy was speaking.

From “Never Let Me Go”

Circumstances form of its new president, Ibrahim

Solih, being sworn in last Saturday
after defeating the incumbent,
Going by publicity alone, people can be forgiven for thinking Abdulla Yameen, against all odds.
Solih, upon taking up presidentship,
that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the leader in its tilted genre almost immediately sought a review
and, hence, any straightening can affect its primacy. But the
fact that the famous photogenic tower behind the 11th-centu-
of China-backed projects in the
archipelago nation.
ry Cathedral of Pisa is now 44 cm more upright than it has After Sri Lanka and Malaysia,
Maldives is another country in the
been in the last 800 years is actually not going to affect the region whose people have expressed
line-up. The scales are tilted firmly — 18° to be precise — in its opposition to their country’s
favour of the 2010 Capital Gate tower in Abu Dhabi, with the leadership signing up for projects
13.8°-angled Altair building in Colombo in second place. In- with China under the latter’s Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI) and has led
deed, Pisa’s pride, after stabilisation at 3.97°, is even less tilt- to a debt trap. Change in the Maldivi-
ed now than a tower of near-similar vintage, the 13th-centu- an regime, however, isn’t going to
ry leaning steeple of Suurhusen in northern Germany, veer- bring any relief to countries that
ing 5.19° off-centre. have taken substantial Chinese
loans already and cannot service the
What should alarm the tourism authorities, however, is the debt.
news that the tower has pulled back 4 cm on its own, rather Sri Lanka already lost the Ham-
than by human effort. Pisa’s campanile can be cited as the in- bantota port when it signed a lease
spiration for modern architects to mimic its spontaneous agreement with China on a 99-year
lease for $1.12 billion. Projects like
gravity-defying allure on ever-larger scales. But no matter the ‘Friendship Bridge’ in Male have
how many examples of marvellous engineering results in already been completed, and others
are underway. Already, over 70% of
There are genuine requirements in
many countries to improve their
infrastructure and boost economic
growth. But lack of resources and
requisite knowhow hold them back.
Many rely on foreign funding and
companies to do this. China uses its
economic muscle to pursue its
ambitious BRI, reportedly a $1
trillion project. Its capacity to ex-
ecute large projects at a fast pace
FILE PHOTO
India has extended line of credit to
several countries, and has also
executed infrastructure and capaci-
ty-building projects. India and
Japan signed the Asia-Africa
Growth Corridor (AAGC) with four
main components: development and
cooperation projects, quality in-
frastructure and institutional
connectivity, capacity and skill
enhancement, and people-to-people
partnerships to promote growth and
development. India has also initia-
ted talks with the US to partner it in
joint investment in infrastructure
development, energy, transport,
tourism and technology.
While members of the Quad either
on their own, or in bilateral or
trilateral forms, have announced
funds to assist countries in the
region, they need to come together
as a group to synergise the effort. It
is India’s opposition — due to its
undue respect for Chinese sensitivi-
ties — which has so far prevented
this. India should shed this fear.
The Quad will have to deepen its
that invests and develops a sustai-
nable business model. This will
ensure investments or loans are
viable, and not become white elep-
hants for the recipient country.
The Quad should also encourage
tourism from the member countries
to the places where joint projects are
executed. It needs to encourage and
strengthen democracy in the region,
too. Remember, it’s democracy that
has led to the backlash against
Chinese projects.
India, the US, Japan and Australia
should together work on helping
smaller countries with their ex-
isting debt. It can be by grants, loans
or through international lending
institutes.
They can promote trade that helps
these countries’ economy and fund
their own needs in the long term.
It is imperative for the Quad to
formalise a joint strategy of invest-
ments and project execution. Witho-
ut an effective alternative, smaller
countries of the region will conti-
nue to line up before China, despite
Chat Room
Wrong Decision
by Governor
Apropos the Edit, ‘Governors
Must Not Thwart Democracy’
(Nov 23), given the circumstan-
ces prevailing on Wednesday,
Jammu and Kashmir governor
Satya Pal Malik was wrong in
dissolving the house. A gover-
nor is custodian of the Consti-
tution and should not act like
an agent of the central govern-
ment — just like an umpire’s
role is to ensure fair play and
not favour a team. Democratic
values must be preserved by
upholding the Constitution in
both letter and spirit. Going by
precedent, it will not be wrong
to assume that the governor is
unlikely to be reprimanded by
the Centre for his action. Let’s

permanently skewed buildings, none offer a better photo-op

Maldives’ foreign debt is owed to
than Pisa’s teetering tower seemingly bolstered by outstret-
China, of which the loan interest
ched tourist hands, feet or backs. Even the tower itself should alone is more than 20% of the count-
not be allowed to spoil that USP! ry’s budget.
engagement with the smaller count- the recent ‘reverses’. hope there is no reward.
ries to understand their needs and
aspirations that have been exploited The writer is editor, BHOLEY BHARDWAJ
Sure, Chinese tourists welcome by China so far. India faces issues in Defence Forum India Mumbai
Download from www.sscias.com
CONTRAPUNTO If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit home and
think about it. Go out and get busy. DALE CARNEGIE Around the World 9
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018

QUICK HITS
Google to Scrutinise
Political Ads before
EU Elections in May
San Francisco: In the run-up
to European Union (EU) elec-
tions in May 2019, Google will
introduce a EU-specific Election
Ads Transparency Report and
searchable ad library to provide
more information about who is
purchasing election ads, whom
they’re targeted at and how
much money is being spent. In
May 2019, up to 350 million
voters across the EU will take
to the parliamentary polls to
elect 705 Members of European
Parliament (MEPs). “To support
this democratic process, we’re
rolling out products and pro-
grammes to help people get the
information they need to cast
their votes,” Lie Junius, director,
EU Public Policy and Government
Relations, said in a blog post on
Thursday. IANS
Samsung Elec Apologises
for Factory Cancer Cases
Seoul: Samsung Electronics apol-
ogised on Friday to workers who
developed cancer after working
at its semiconductor factories,
finally ending a decade-long
dispute at the world’s top chip-
maker. “We sincerely apologise
to the workers who suffered
31 Killed, 40 Hurt in Powerful
Blast in Pakistan’s Northwest
Minister blames US failure in Af for attack
Peshawar: At least 31 people, in-
cluding three Sikhs, were killed
and more than 40 injured when
a powerful bomb blast ripped
through a busy market outside a
religious seminary in Pakistan’s
restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
province on Friday, officials said.
The explosive material was plant-
ed on a bike in the Friday market
(Juma Bazar) near an imambar-
gah, a Shia religious place, in
Orakzai tribal district’s Kalaya
area, bordering Afghanistan.
“Three Sikh traders and three
children were also among the dead
in the Orakzai blast,” deputy com-
missioner of Orakzai tribal dis-
trict, Khalid Iqbal, told PTI.
Officials said that most of the vic-
tims were minority Shia Muslims,
who in the past were also targeted
in the area. “The remote-con-
trolled bomb was attached to a mo-
torcycle,” officials said.
The area was cordoned off and
investigation into the incident is
under way. An emergency was de-
clared in the region’s hospitals to
handle the situation.
Prime Minister Imran Khan
strongly condemned the terrorist
Trump’s Welcome Committee
Paramilitary soldiers outside the
Chinese consulate in Karachi on
Friday—Reuters
attack in Orakzai tribal area. “My
prayers go to the victims and their
families. Let there be no doubt in
anyone’s mind that we will crush
the terrorists, whatever it takes,”
he said in a tweet.
Human rights minister Shireen
Mazari blamed the US failure in
Afghanistan for the attack and
warned Pakistan to be prepared
for more such incidents. “As the
US fails in Afghanistan, Pakistan
should be prepared for fallout and
we must ensure greater security
for our tribal areas especially pro-
tection of our people,” she tweeted.
So far, no group has claimed re-
sponsibility for the attack. PTI
US: Online Surge and Long Lines
Attack on China
Consulate in Pak
Foiled; 5 Killed
Karachi: Three suicide attackers
stormed the Chinese consulate in
Karachi amid a series of gunshots
and an explosion on Friday, but
were killed before they could get
inside the building in a car packed
with explosives, police said.
At least two police officers were
killed in the attack, which was
claimed by the Baloch Liberation
Army, a separatist insurgent group
that opposes Chinese projects in
the resource-rich Baluchistan.
Chinese staff at the consulate
were safe, Pakistani foreign min-
ister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and
China’s foreign ministry said.
The assault was the most promi-
nent attack in Pakistan against
China, a close ally which is pouring
billions of dollars into Pakistan as
part of its Belt and Roadinitiative.
Karachi police chief Amir Shai-
kh said the three attackers came
in a car filled with explosives but
failed to get inside the heavily
fortified compound. Reuters
US asks Allies to Shun
Huawei Equipment
It is worried about
use of Chinese gear
in countries hosting
US military bases
The US government is trying to
persuade wireless and Internet
providers in allied countries
to avoid telecommunications
equipment from China’s Huawei
Technologies, the Wall Street
Journal reported on Thursday.
The move would further pile
pressure on the world’s biggest
telecom gear maker, which is un-
der scrutiny from western intel-
ligence agencies for its perceived
ties to China’s government and the
possibility its equipment could be
used for espionage.
US officials have reached out to
their government counterparts
and telecom executives in friend-
ly countries where Huawei equip-
ment is already in wide use about
what they see as cybersecurity
risks, according to the WSJ re-
port, which cited unnamed people
familiar with the situation.
T he US has a l ready la rgely
barred Huawei from supplying
its government and contractors
while Australia has banned the
company from supplying equip-
ment for a 5G mobile network.
Huawei, which has repeatedly
denied engaging in intelligence
work for any government, is one
of several Chinese tech companies
that have come under US govern-
ment scrutiny as a trade war be-
tween the two countries escalates.
On Friday, the Hong Kong shares
of rival ZTE Corp fell as much as
5.6%, dragging down the sector.
They recouped some losses to
trade down 2% around midday
while the firm’s Shenzhen shares
were down 3%.
FINANCIAL AID
Washington has been considering
increasing financial aid for tele-
communications development
in countries that shun Chinese-
made equipment, the WSJ report-
ed on Thursday.
One of the government’s con-
cer ns is based on t he use of
Chinese telecom equipment in
countries that host US military-
bases, such as Germany, Italy and
Japan, the report added.
A US department of commerce
spokesman said in a statement-
that the department would re-
main vigilant against any threat
to US national security. Reuters
Carlos
Ghosn
Ghosn’s Income
Under-Reporting
may Reach $71m
Tokyo: Nissan’s former chair-
man Carlos Ghosn under-re-
ported his income by a total of
$71 million—much more than
initially suspected—Japanese
media reported on Friday.
The Brazil-born tycoon is now
reportedly set to face a new
charge from prosecutors after
he was sacked as Nissan chair-
man on Thursday to top a spec-
tacular fall from grace for the
once-revered boss whose fall
has stunned the business world.
Prosecutors arrested Ghosn
on Monday, accusing him and
fellow executive Greg Kelly of
understating the former chair-
man’s income by around five
billion yen ($ 44 million) be-
tween June 2011 and June 2015.
But Ghosn is now suspected of
under-reporting his earnings
by another three billion yen for
the following three fiscal years,
the Asahi Shimbun and the
Nikkei business daily reported.
Prosecutors are now planning
to re-arrest him on charges of

Mark Start of Black Friday Sales

from illness and their families,”
said the firm’s co-president Kim
Ki-nam. “We have failed to prop-
erly manage health risks at our
semiconductor and LCD facto-
ries.” Campaign groups say that
about 240 people have suffered
from work-related illnesses after
working at Samsung semicon-
ductor and display factories, with
around 80 of them dying. Under
a deal announced earlier this
month, Samsung Electronics will
pay the group’s employees com-
pensation of up to 150 million
won ($133,000) per case. AFP
Twitter Bans Far-Right
Activist for Violating Rules
San Francisco: Twitter has
permanently banned far-right
activist Laura Loomer for her
tweet criticising Ilhan Omar,
the Minnesota Democratic
Representative-elect, and her
Muslim faith. Loomer was banned
for violating Twitter rules regard-
ing “hateful conduct”, Mic.com
reported on Thursday. Omar is
one of the first Muslim women to
be elected to US Congress. “Isn’t
it ironic how the Twitter moment
used to celebrate women, LGBTQ
and minorities is a picture of Ilhan
Omar?” Loomer tweeted. The lat-
ter part of her tweet where she
termed Omar as “anti-Jewish” got
her permanently banned from
the micro-blogging platform.
“The reason I was suspended was
simply for telling the truth, the
truth about Ilhan Omar,” Loomer
defended herself in a YouTube
video. Loomer’s Twitter account
had over 260,000 followers be-
fore the ban. IANS
understating his income by a
total of eight billion yen ($71
million) since June 2011, the
who was visiting stores in Bucks Asahi said.
New York: US shoppers desper- County, Pennsylvania on Thursday Immediate confirmation of
ate for deals banged on doors and said a slower start at stores on the reports was not available.
formed long queues at checkout Thanksgiving and Black Friday Under Japanese law, suspects
counters on Black Friday, as a was increasingly not indicative of in jail can face additional arrest
strong economy and rising wages shopper appetite during the sea- warrants, which can impose
drove a solid start to the holiday son. “The season is expected to be heavier charges.
shopping season. strong and all signs when it comes Ghosn is also suspected of
Shoppers picked up big-ticket to consumer sentiment point to failing to report a profit of four
items such as TVs, Apple iPads that,” he said. billion yen through stock ap-
and Watches in-store and online at “ T r a f f ic i s bu i ld i n g up a nd preciation rights—a method
Target while phones, toys, gaming especially the North East, where in many places is on par with for firms to give management a
consoles and cookware were top crowds were thin due to record-cold last year,” said Craig Johnson, bonus on strong earnings, the
sellers at Walmart. weather. president of retail consultancy Nikkei said.
Shortly before 6am ET on Friday, Twenty one-year old Columbia Customer Growth Partners, who Separately, the Kyodo news
shoppers were seen banging on the c o mput e r s ci e n c e g r a du at e s was visiting stores in Connecticut a g enc y h a s r ep or t e d t h at
door at a Bath & Body Works in the Bh avaya S h a h i a nd K e t a ke e on Thanksgiving. Nissan had paid $100,000 a year
Waterfront Mall in Pittsburgh, Nimavat pulled an all-nighter out- Sarah Perez, a 26-year-old visit- since 2002 to Ghosn’s sister who
lining up for discounted candles, side Macy’s Herald Square store in ing New York City from upstate had no record of doing advisory
soaps and lotion while long lines New York hoping to beat long snak- New York with her husband, did work for the group.
US Customs and Border Protection members take part in an opera-
tional readiness exercise at the San Ysidro port of entry in the US.
formed at checkout counters in a ing lines that usually forms in front not enjoy the shopping experience Deputy chief prosecutor Shin
Dick’s Sporting Goods store in the of popular store. “We heard there at JC Penney because of a very long Kukimoto said the Ghosn case
Thousands of Central American migrants—mostly Hondurans—have
started arriving at the Mexico-US border. US President Donald Trump mall. were going to be long lines,” Shahi line at the checkout. “We’re never is “one of the most serious
renewed his attacks on the judiciary on Thanksgiving Day on Thurs- But there was little evidence of said, with bags in her hands and doing it again,” Perez said adding types of crime” under Japan’s
day, accusing judges of making the country unsafe as he fanned a bit- the delirious shopper frenzy cus- bags hanging on her forearm. she had already done some of her Financial Instruments Act,
ter row over asylum-seekers on the US-Mexico border. –AFP tomary of Black Fridays from past “It’s emptier than we thought.” shopping on Amazon before com- and Ghosn could face a 10-year
years, in other parts of the country, Moody’s analyst Charlie O’Shea, ing out. Reuters prison sentence. AFP
On Sunday, Swiss Vote on Insurance Company Spies Trump Turning a ‘Blind Eye’
Geneva: The thought of a stranger
filming you while you sit on your balco-
conducted this month by the GFS Bern
polling and research group.
But critics of the legislation who se-
“insufficiently precise” about the type
of surveillance permitted.
Proponents insist the revised law is
to Khashoggi Murder: Turkey
ny or work in your garden is likely un- cured the signatures needed to force necessary to control fraud and in turn minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said
settling to most. But imagine if the Sunday’s vote say the measures do not keep insurance costs low. “Honest re- Ankara: Turkey on Friday said in an interview with CNN Turk
snoop is a private detective hired by prohibit serious, unjustified invasions cipients of insurance benefits have no US P resident Dona ld T r u mp broadcaster.
your insurance company to investigate of privacy. reason to worry. Their insurance bene- intended to turn a “blind eye” “This is not the right approach.
whether you are a welfare cheat. Swiss insurers had for years conduct- fits remain untouched. They are not to S aud i jou r n a l i st Ja m a l Money doesn’t mean everything,”
That scenario has divided opinion ed surveillance of people suspected of monitored,” Mauro Tuena, lawmaker Khashoggi’s murder after he said Cav usog lu said, refer ri ng to
ahead of a Sunday referendum in Swit- lodging bogus claims. But that stopped for the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, it would not affect Washington’s Trump’s continued support for
zerland, part of the country’s direct de- following a 2016 ruling at the Europe- wrote in an op-ed for public broadcast- ties with Riyadh. Saudi Arabia, which has commit-
A campaign poster in French reads
mocracy system, where voters will de- an Court of Human Rights. In a 6-1 deci- er SRF. Trump’s backing of Saudi Arabia, ted billions of dollars in US weap-
‘My privacy belongs to me’—AFP
cide on legal amendments establishing sion, the Strasbourg court agreed with The law allows companies or their de- his key ally against Iran, comes de- ons contracts.
the type of surveillance insurance com- a Swiss plaintiff who claimed her insur- tions to assess if she still deserved full tectives to record and film people in spite global outrage over the grisly Trump on Tuesday glossed over
panies can use. ance company’s spying breached priva- benefits. When she refused, her insurer public places and in private settings October 2 killing that has tar- the CIA’s reported conclusion that
A revised law passed by the govern- cy rights. hired detectives to watch her before visible from a public place, like a balco- nished the image of both the king- the crown prince had authorised
ment in March gives insurers broad lee- The plaintiff, Savjeta Vukota-Bojic, cutting her benefits by 90%. ny. Firms do not need official approval dom and its de facto ruler Crown the killing. “Maybe he did and
way to spy on potential fraudsters. It was struck by a motorcycle in 1995. A Swiss courts said the spying was legal, to conduct surveillance, but only re- Prince Mohammed bin Salman. maybe he didn’t!” Trump said, im-
appears set for approval with nearly decade later, her insurer requested that but the European court disagreed and quire “concrete indications” of false “In one sense, Trump is saying plying Prince Mohammed’s culpa-
60% support, according to a survey she undergo fresh medical examina- specifically criticised Bern for being claims. AFP ‘I will turn a blind eye’ no matter bility in Khashoggi’s killing in the
what happens,” Turkish foreign Saudi mission in Istanbul. AFP

TIPS, TRIVIA & TRENDS YOUR DAILY DIET OF FUN AND FACTS Crossword 7261
Japan: Wheelchair
Swindler Impersonated User Sues over DOWN

A ‘Hospital’ for Statues

Former S Korea First Lady
A woman
pretending to be a
former South
Korean first lady
was arrested on
Friday on suspicion
of swindling a
politician out of
nearly $400,000, a
report said. Claiming
to be late President
Roh Moo-hyun’s
widow Kwon Yang-
sook, the fraudster
allegedly persuaded the then mayor of
Gwangju to transfer her 450 million won
($398,000), saying she needed it for her
daughter and promising to repay it quickly. At
the time, Yoon Jang-hyun, a member of the
Democratic party of both Roh and current
President Moon Jae-in, was seeking the
organisation’s nomination for a second term
as leader of the southern city. Her alleged
impersonator texted around 10 prominent
figures in Gwangju in December but Yoon was
the only one to pay out, Yonhap news agency
reported. AFP
China Halts Bridge
Construction after
6,000 Rare Fish Die
China has halted construction of a
bridge in the province of Hubei after it
was said to have caused the death of
around 6,000 critically endangered
Chinese sturgeon, the China Daily said,
citing the agriculture ministry. An
investigation team found the
construction project in the city of
Jingzhou had illegally encroached on a
protected national nature reserve, the
paper said. The fish were bred at an
aquafarm in Jingzhou. Their deaths
were attributed to the “shocks, noises
and changes of water sources” brought
about by the bridge project. The
Chinese sturgeon is on the brink of
extinction as a result of pollution,
overfishing and the construction of
massive hydroelectric dams along the
Yangtze river. Reuters
Ban from Wine
Tasting Event
Patches up Monuments
A wheelchair user who was stopped
from drinking alcohol at a wine
tasting event over “safety” concerns
is seeking compensation in a
Japanese court. The man in his 50s
is demanding 1.7 million yen
($15,000) in damages from both
organisers and Seibu Department
Store in Tokyo, where the event was
held in August, the Mainichi
Shimbun newspaper reported on
Thursday. During the trial’s first day
on Wednesday, the manual
wheelchair user whose name was
withheld told the Tokyo district
court that he was asked to stop
drinking after two glasses of wine,
the daily said. Staff gave him a
written statement which said: “To
customers coming to the store with
manual and electric wheelchairs,
A headless Anibal Troilo, one of the tango’s greatest performers, rests on a
seat holding his concertina. Beside him, tango singer Alberto Castillo smiles,
though he lacks arms. The Argentine musical icons are in a hospital of a sort,
where the 2,200 statues and monuments that dot Buenos Aires’ parks and
plazas are brought when they have suffered vandalism or decay. City officials
say about 20 pieces arrive each month—often dismembered, broken, sprayed
with paint or stolen, either as collector’s items or for scrap metal. Statues are
sometimes damaged by angry protesters or toppled by people just for fun. At
the workshop, more than a dozen restorers repair stone and marble, clean
please refrain from tasting.” He told
away graffiti and mold missing appendages. Pollution and the humidity of the
Argentine capital located on the banks of the Rio de la Plata, affects the
organisers that he was not heavily
drunk and the instruction was
sculptures. But vandalism is by far their worst enemy. AP
unreasonable, but he was ousted
from the venue. His complaint
noted that the act was “unjust
D&G says Sorry, in Chinese, after Race Row
discrimination” against him and
violated the nation’s disability
The founders of Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana discrimination law, the newspaper
apologised to Chinese customers on Friday as a row over said. “Accidents and troubles inside Dilbert
racially offensive posts snowballed, with its products the store are not always caused by
pulled from lucrative Chinese ecommerce platforms. In an wheelchair users,” his lawyer told
attempt to salvage their reputation in the world’s most the court, saying the defendant
important luxury market, Domenico Dolce and Stefano treated wheelchair users as “a
Gabbana capped a 1 minute 30-second mea culpa by nuisance”. But a lawyer of the
saying “sorry” in Mandarin in a video posted on a Chinese department store told the court that
social media platform. The controversy arose this week the instruction was “necessary to
after Dolce & Gabbana posted short clips on Instagram showing a woman eating secure safety”, the daily said. In
pizza, spaghetti and a cannoli with chopsticks that some deemed culturally Japan, both manual and electric
insensitive. But it escalated after screenshots circulated of an Instagram user’s wheelchairs are mostly categorised
alleged chat with the famously volatile Gabbana, who used five smiling poo emojis as “pedestrians” under law while
to describe China and launched insults at the country and its people. The company police strictly instruct electric
said its account and that of Stefano Gabbana had been hacked, and that its legal wheelchair users not to roll them
office was investigating the matter. AFP after drinking. AFP
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 Changes course of undersea ex-
7 plorers, saving time (7)
2 One fanatic in charge retains form
8 9 10 of revivalist style (10)
3 Old pram I refurbished for deliv-
ery of fliers, say (4,4)
4 New musical upset resident (6)
11 12 5 Old garment American obtained
after revolution (4)
13 6 Old Unionist told drunk about su-
perior audibly (3,4)
14 15 16 7 Digital problem: my PC RAM needs
replacing (7,5)
17 18
10 Bigoted man worried sick about
North Dakota (6-6)
19 20 21 22
13 Husband working with men on
plant accepts current fee (10)
23
15 Nearly all SA currency is
smuggled (3)
24 25
18 Model tries the casual top (3,5)
20 Skinheads in a hole coming up
26
clutching money (7)
27 28 22 Room 101 all about coverage
of Poles? (7)
23 Norwich Union leaders enter
school contract before match (6)
29 26 Love appearing in competition
triumph (4)
ACROSS 17 Hit gently back and forth (3)
1 Religious group’s control over 19 Perhaps Tom and his family SOLUTION TO No. 7260:
heart of Vienna (12) blossom (6) ACROSS: 1 Hothead. 5 Siphon.
8 Pasta recipe Victor drenched in 21 Helping relatives is welcomed by 9 Leap day. 10 Brioche. 11 Din.
garlic mayonnaise (7) top men abroad (8) 12 Market price. 13 Yonks. 14 Sick
9 Squeeze giant, by the sound
of it (7)
24 Popular myths embody such force (4)
25 Schooling tuna scarce? Catch this
leave. 16 Ascertain. 17 Polyp.
19 Self-service. 22 Egg. 23 Elevate.
11 In U.S., terrapin maybe plunged
to get bird (10)
instead? (10)
27 Greek writer performing for some
24 Offload. 26 Meanie. 27 Y-fronts.
DOWN: 1 Holiday. 2 Training college.
12 Snake beginning to rattle
wild pig (4)
soldiers (7)
28 Copy? This writer’s worried
3 End. 4 Dryer. 5 Subdeacon.
6 Primp. 7 Once in a blue moon.
14 Device that opposes current rises 8 Delete. 12 Miser. 14 Sea breeze.
about it (7)
somehow on hill (8) 29 Mop up hospital not quite recked 15 Lapse. 16 Answer. 18 Pagodas.
16 Gangster ducks jinx (6) by this animal (12) 20 Spawn. 21 Ivory. 25 Far.
©The Daily Mail
by S Adams
Download from www.sscias.com
10 Saturday Feature
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018

It’s Not So Inclusive

At Our Workplace
Indian businesses are working overtime to be diverse and inclusive, but LGBTQ+ and people with
disabilities often find little space in their strategies, write Nishtha Sabharwal & Rashmi Ramesh

The White Album at 50

When The Beatles’ Hit
Their Own Road, Notes
David Lister looks back at the groundbreaking 1968
album that saw John Lennon and Paul McCartney
moving in different musical directions

ANIRBAN BORA
One of the greatest and most innovative acknowledgement in The Beatles’ story.
albums by the world’s most famous band The cover, designed by pop artist Richard
is about to have its 50th anniversary. Yet a Hamilton, also featured a unique stamped

F
or Shyam Balasubramanian, life
is tougher than most of his col-
leagues at the chip-designing firm
in Chennai where he is working.
Reason: his sexuality.
Balasubramanian, a transman, says the
management is extremely supportive, but
that doesn’t stop the teasing and bullying
he has to face from elsewhere over his
sexual identity.
“I’ve been teased and bullied through
school and college, and for the most
part of my professional life,” says
Balasubramanian, who has been working
for nine years. “All this bullying makes
connecting with my peers very tough.
Something as simple as gaining knowledge
becomes hard because people refuse to talk
to me and share information.”
Indian companies are increasingly taking
steps to make the workplace more diverse
and inclusive, but much of these activities
are about recruiting more women, that
too often for supporting, and not leader-
ship, roles. People with disabilities (PwD)
and LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender) communities usually find lit-
tle space in HR strategies, although there
are exceptions. Despite the Supreme Court
making gay sex legal, people are frowned
upon for their sexual orientation.
Workplaces have come a long way on di-
versity and inclusion (D&I) compared with
what they were even five years ago, but they
still have much more to cover, says Rashmi
Vikram, senior manager at Community
Business, a not-for-profit that looks to
tackle workplace inequality and promote
social inclusion. “While gender diversity
has been a key driver for D&I, many other
streams like PwD and LGBTQ+ still have
a long way to go.”
Findings from a 2018 TimesJobs survey
highlight the general attitude at the Indian
workplace.
As much as 57% of the participants re-
sponded in the negative to a statement that
their companies openly recruited LGBTQ+
and candidates with disabilities. More
than 55% said they still experienced bias
at workplace, including over gender, ethnic-
ity and sexual orientation.
This despite most companies having for-
mal policies in place to stop discrimination
and harassment at workplace and some
even having dedicated diversity officers
to drive change. According to Nirmala
Menon, founder of Interweave Consulting,
the primary role of such D&I professionals
is to create and sustain a safe, respectful
space for employees, and enable a work en-
vironment where everyone can bring their
whole and best selves to work. But, at times,
the executives who are supposed to ensure
equity at workplace are found to be at fault
themselves.
In September, IT firm Tech Mahindra
sacked its chief diversity officer, after an
internal investigation found that she had
discriminated against and harassed a for-
mer employee over his sexual orientation.
It isn’t unusual to face such harassment at
workplace over one’s sexual identity, says
Balasubramanian. “I’ve heard derogatory
comments from my peers on how I look, my
sense of style and how I generally live my life.”
It is imperative for today’s organisations to be
diverse, experts say. The best way forward is to
make sure that your organisation has the ability to
look at every issue from different perspectives
SLOW CHANGE
But changes are happening, say diversity
experts. The speed of that, though, is slow,
as organisations often need to first bring in
a change to the work culture at their offices,
and sensitise staff about even unconscious
or unintended bias, before openly induct-
ing employees from the LGBTQ+ communi-
ties. Another impediment is that they may
also have to create enabling infrastructure,
such as toilets, for employees from the
LGBTQ+ and PwD communities.
“Every employee should go through a
mandatory sensitisation programme.
Usage of right pronouns, respecting pre-
ferred gender identity, comfort to use their
restroom of choice (if there is no gender-
neutral restroom), immediate escalation
matrix if any homophobia is experienced
and a zero-tolerance policy are very im-
portant,” said June A, programme man-
ager at Solidarity Foundation. “As more
inclusive measures, the company can pro-
vide easy accommodation options, insur-
ance coverage for SRS (sex reassignment
surgery) and same-sex partner benefits.
Companies have to practice equity, not
just equality.”
Solidarity Foundation recently joined
Capgemini and Royal Bank of Scotland
(RBS) to organise a workshop to help com-
panies take forward actionable points to
strengthen transgender inclusion.
Srikanth Suvvaru, chair of RBS India
Rainbow Network and head of candidate
attraction and engagement at RBS, said the
bank initiated inclusivity policies because
the management wanted it to be a place
where people could bring their true selves
to work. “We worked on policies that would
bring in inclusivity for all our employees,
showed public support by participating in
pride parades, and educated and sensitised
people on what it means to belong to the
LGBTQ+ community and what challeng-
es they face within the corporate space,”
Suvvaru said.
RBS was the first company in India to pub-
licly extend medical benefits to same-sex
partners and give surrogacy leave irrespec-
tive of the partner’s gender.
Kolkata’s Medica Superspecialty Hospital
is not only hiring members from the
transgender community, but also help-
ing skill them. “Medica has a tie-up with a
vocational institute providing training to
people from the community. Depending on
the requirement and demand in the sector,
we look at possible hires from the institute.
We are also approaching NGOs and associa-
tions to let them know about our inclusive
recruitment policy,” said Sudhanshu Roy,
president (group HR) at Medica.
The hospital recently hired two paid in-
terns from the transgender community as
operation-theatre technicians.
Jyothsna Hirode, who has been working
in the field of D&I for more than a decade,
suggests unbiasing workshops — these help
participants stand in the shoes of those who
are excluded — as a step for sensitisation to-
ward inclusion. Unwavering support from
the leadership is a must.
MARGINALISATION OF PWD
If there are discussions ongoing around
hiring women and also people from the
LGBTQ+ community, the marginalisation
faced by persons with disabilities has been
stark for many years now. The challenge,
experts believe, is that it requires a lot more
conscious decision by the organisation to
make employees and infrastructure, in-
cluding training and skilling, more PwD-
friendly. Many organisations don’t even
have PwD-friendly toilets.
According to the TimesJobs survey, 25%
of employees think their organisation’s
management is not committed to meeting
the needs of employees with impairments
or disabilities.
Even the IT-ITES industry, which is in the
forefront for fostering changes to workplace
culture, is lagging when it comes to PwD hir-
ing. A Nasscom study had found the repre-
sentation of people with disabilities in the
industry headcount at a paltry 1%.
EVENT-BASED INTERVENTION
Experts say it is imperative for today’s or-
ganisations to be diverse.
“Every organisation is at the risk of fac-
ing disruption, and the best way for you to
safeguard yourself is by making sure that
your organisation has the ability to look at
every issue from different perspectives,
rather than just have clones who all come
from same backgrounds, same experiences
and will mostly have the same viewpoints,”
says Ronesh Puri, managing director of
headhunting firm Executive Access.
While that may be the case, many compa-
nies in India find it difficult to articulate a
compelling business case for why they are
focusing on a specific D&I approach, says
Vikram of NGO Community Business.
“We observed that some companies may
have started to focus on it because it is a
current business trend, the ‘right thing’ to
do or because it is mandated by the firm’s
global headquarters,” she says. “As a result
of not always having a clear business case,
for some companies, D&I has become an
initiative or event-based intervention rath-
er than a well-developed strategy linked to
business goals.”
This is probably the area where more
change is required for wholesome and true
inclusion to happen at our workplace.
remarkably large number of people don’t
even know its title. Best known, even by The
Beatles themselves, as The White Album
because of its all-white sleeve, it was ac-
tually called The Beatles, a fact forgotten
almost as soon as it was released on 22
November 1968.
And the title is not the only thing that has
been forgotten. Who, for example, would
now remember or even believe that soon
after the release thousands of Beatles
fans across the world were carefully play-
ing a snatch of between-tracks mumbling
backwards (reversing the vinyl record by
hand on their record players) to hear, or so
they were convinced, the message “Paul is
dead and I miss him, miss him, miss him”,
gaining urgency in a slightly frightening
crescendo? Who even remembers that
there was a widely circulated rumour that
McCartney had passed away and been re-
placed by someone who looked exactly the
same and had the same singing, playing and
songwriting talent? Beatle nuts were a gul-
lible lot in those far-off days.
Much about the astonishing White Album
adds new perspectives to the Beatles story.
For a start, it should be categorised as one
of the great breakup albums. The recording
sessions from May to October of that year
showed a band so out of love with each other
that their late producer George Martin has
said that he hated even talking about it, as it
brought back such painful memories.
There was much to be in pain about. The
happy-go-lucky, wisecracking moptops
of just a few years earlier were a distant
memory. John was bringing Yoko into the
studio, breaking the band’s unwritten rule
that it was a no-wives-or-girlfriends zone.
McCartney has even said that the couple
on occasion brought a bed into the studio.
Ringo temporarily left The Beatles dur-
ing the sessions, and both John and Paul
drummed on different tracks; George
Martin fled to go on holiday, and engineer
Geoff Emerick quit. It’s also clear that
there was little of the collaboration that
had typified the band. Lennon said that
each song was led by its writer, virtually
with a backing band, rather than it being a
unified group.
Certainly, the band’s members were men-
tally and spiritually in different places.
Harrison was very much obsessed with
Indian music and mysticism (evident on
one of his signature numbers, “While My
Guitar Gently Weeps”); Paul’s engagement
to Jane Asher ended when she caught him
serial number to create, in Hamilton’s
words, “the ironic situation of a numbered
edition of something like five million cop-
ies”. In 2015, Ringo Starr‘s personal copy
number 0000001 sold for $790,000 at auction.
Musically, from the screaming jet ac-
companying McCartney’s raunchy vo-
cals on “Back in the USSR” to open the
album, there was no end of memorable
moments. John’s “Happiness is a Warm
Gun” remains one of The Beatles’ most
underrated songs, veering from surreal
poetry to a rock interlude to Fifties-style
background vocals of “bang bang, shoot
shoot”. Paul’s “Honey Pie” showed him
giving vent to a pastiche of the 1920s flap-
per dance music that he loved, an affection
for pre-war song that I have discussed with
him. He was to repeat it many times later
in his solo career and credits “Honey Pie”
as an early example.
Other McCartney moments had less happy
outcomes. A pleasing but harmless rocker,
“Helter Skelter”, is forever tarnished be-
cause of its adoption by Charles Manson,
who didn’t know that British fairground
slides were called helter-skelters, and as-
sumed it was a coded reference urging
him and his “family” to commit murder.
The words “Helter Skelter” were written in
blood on the refrigerator in the house of one
of the Manson family’s victims. It became
impossible to listen to the track afterwards
Most of the songs for
The White Album were
written earlier that year
in India, where the group
was meditating with
their guru, the Maharishi
Mahesh Yogi. They fell out
of love with him, too
and still think of it as harmless.
Paul’s cheery, ska-style piece of fun, “Ob-
La-Di, Ob-La-Da” marked a direction that
Lennon loathed, later describing it as
“granny music s***”, a criticism that hurt
McCartney, who didn’t play the song live for
decades. I was present when he announced
its live debut just a few years ago, and he
looked visibly pleased and surprised that
it got the whole arena instantly to its feet.
Most of the songs for The White Album

More Readers of Gandhi’s Autobiography In Kerala
DP Bhattacharya
Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography, ‘The
Story of My Experiments With Truth’, has
sold more copies in not only its English
translation, which underlines the growing
global stature of the apostle of non-violence,
but also in other Indian languages such as
Malayalam and Tamil than in the original
Gujarati.
Till July this year, 620,000 copies of the
autobiography were printed in Gujarati
by Navajivan Trust, the publishing house
founded by Gandhi, since the book was first
published in 1927. However, the English edi-
tion of the autobiography, published in the
same year, saw publication of more than
three times as many copies, at 2,042,500,
during this period.
The Hindi edition came out three decades
later, in 1957, but 643,000 copies were out in
the market till July this year. The figure was
higher than that for the original Gujarati
version, but still not as impressive as the
numbers notched up by the Tamil and
Malayalam editions.
The first Tamil edition of the book came
out in 1994 and by July 2018, more than
700,000 copies were printed while the first
Malayalam edition was released in 1997 and
778,000 copies were out by July this year.
The managing trustee of Navajivan Trust,
Vivek Jitendrabhai Desai, attributed the
high demand for Gandhi’s autobiography
in Kerala to the high literacy level and cul-
ture of reading in the state. “Our distribu-
tor from Kerala has asked for one lakh more
copies,” he said.
But what explains the relatively lower
demand for Gandhi’s autobiography in his
home state? Is it greater familiarity with the
life and works of the man that perhaps obvi-
ates the need for a rereading or a changed
political culture that no longer sees Gandhi
quite as relevant? Asked for his opinion,
Desai avoided a direct answer to the question.
So far, Gandhi’s autobiography has been
published in 16 languages, including Urdu,
Oriya, Manipuri, Assamese, Sanskrit and
Punjabi, totalling 5,568,000 copies.
Gandhi had willed that the trust would not
receive any grant from any external agency
and had bequeathed the copyright of all his
publications to it for sustenance. But even af-
ter the copyright ended in 2009, the trust has
successfully met the challenge from other
publishers. “No one can sell these books at the
subsidised rate at which we sell,” said Desai.
He said the trust sustains itself on rental in-
come from the properties erected on the land
acquired for it when Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel was at its helm.
As Navajivan Trust celebrates its hun-
dredth year, in the year Gandhi’s 150th birth
anniversary is being celebrated, Desai said
the plan is to republish all the books which
went out of print over the years apart from
bringing out ten more volumes of the
Mahatma’s collected works.
in bed with New Yorker Francie Schwartz,
who had moved in with him, and was pre-
sent at some of the recording sessions.
Lennon, meanwhile, was developing a
persona far removed from the lovable im-
age of the band, causing major differences
between him and McCartney.
But all that should not detract from the
musical achievement and experimenta-
tion that stunned the record-buying pub-
lic back in November ’68. Paul McCartney
writes in a new introduction to a remixed
White Album (which was released on 9
November): “We had left Sgt Pepper’s
band to play in his sunny Elysian Fields
and were now striding out in new direc-
tions without a map.”
New directions there were aplenty. Even
before putting the record on the turntable,
fans were surprised by the all-white cover,
the inserts of individual pictures of the
band members, and a poster-sized collage
of photos including one of John and Yoko,
the latter hitherto never allowed a public
were written earlier that year in India,
where the group was meditating with their
guru, the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. They fell
out of love with him, too. And John’s song
“Sexy Sadie” is a thinly disguised attack on
him, the laws of libel ensuring that the title
was changed from “Maharishi”.
The problem with The White Album was
that it lacked a unified feel, it was a sprawl-
ing, disparate collection of many superb
and some unexceptional tracks, and dis-
played an uneasy tension between the com-
peting directions of the group’s members.
“Revolution 9”, “While My Guitar Gently
Weeps” and “Honey Pie” could barely be
defined by the same musical genre let alone
sit comfortably together on the same album.
Of course, one could argue that it was pre-
cisely that divergence and diversity that
gave late-era Beatles its unique appeal. But
it also may have detracted from the album’s
coherence.
The Independent

Silk Stalkings
Reshmi
Dasgupta
Sitting at the eponymously named Ekdalia
Road restaurant in south Calcutta last week,
I was pleasantly surprised to see my yellowfin
tuna in chimichurri sauce accompanied by a
glistening mound of black rice. “I get it from
local farmers,” said owner-chef Surojit Rout,
who I discovered, is a passionate believer in
showcasing Bengal produce. “I hope others
will become aware of its superior flavour!”
As usual the rest of the world knows this rice
by the generic term “forbidden rice” because
in China only royalty and nobility were al-
lowed to eat it. India, unfortunately, has no
such stories to buoy its allure, and hence
black rice varieties have languished and been
overshadowed by the lure of white rice, par-
ticularly basmati and its hybrid compatriots.
Politics of colour even in cooking.
I eagerly tucked into the rice on my plate and
was immediately struck by its flavour. It had
a beguiling nuttiness, and was neither gluti-
nous like some varieties nor earthily coarse
like red rice. It could just as easily be turned
into a classic gucchi pulao or a sexy paella—
Cultivating a Taste for Local Rice Varieties
Tucking into a plateful of black rice makes me wonder how such varieties can gain attention and demand for their intrinsic goodness
imagine coral-hued crustaceans and white
fish standing out against that black rice—or
even a darkly desirable porcini risotto.
“Where can I buy some,” I asked Surojit excit-
edly. “Many stores have them now, though I
get them from farmers,” came the reply. And
that made me even happier. While the West
Bengal government outlet Biswa Bangla (my
must-visit store at Kolkata Airport!) has been
stocking several indigenous rice varieties
for a while now, private stores stocking them
means incipient demand.
Some digging around about this marvellous
Heirloom rice including
black ones are even more
relevant to our times
because climate change
has led to new pests
and diseases, making
commercially grown rice
very vulnerable
rice revealed that it is found all over Bengal, more relevant to our times because climate
Jharkhand, Manipur and Odisha and its dark change has led to new pests and diseases, mak-
colour is due to antioxidants called anthocya- ing commercially grown rice very vulnerable.
nins. According to experts, black rice is not This leads to a vicious cycle of more pesticides
only rich in fibre and has a low glycemic index etc. But indigenous rice varieties are not only
(ideal for diabetics) it also has more vitamins more robust but are also able to withstand defi-
B and E, calcium, magnesium, zinc, niacin cient water (drought) or excess (flood), besides
and iron than its white cousin. fluctuations in weather patterns.
It made me wonder whether the gradual Even their names have a captivating local
shift to run-of-the-mill white rice is what has lilt, such as the flood-resistant, short-grained
caused the rise in diabetes among the bhaat- Shole, Hetomari and Narayankamini and
loving Bengalis. Had they stuck to healthier, drought-tolerant Pari, Kakri and Kelas, not
unpolished grains like their ancestors, “soo- to mention Gamrah that grows beside the
gaar” may not have become the prime Bengali
ailment. But it is never too late to return to
Kosi in Bihar and can weather both flood
and drought! Surojit mentioned one he had
older rice strains, especially as they are better
for both human and soil health.
just been told about called Radhunipagol,
literally ‘mad cook’, and I can’t wait to try it!
Surojit said some people in Bengal are going Just their native feistiness somehow makes
back to cultivating old rice varieties. And in- local rice more attractive to me than the
deed, I found an article describing the efforts laboratory-bolstered attractions of basmati.
of the Forum for Indigenous Agricultural
Movement, a group of 80-odd “modern tradi-
But for them to survive and thrive in a market
driven by prices, attractiveness and cachet
tional” farmers from 20 villages in Uttar and
Dakshin Dinajpur districts who eschewed
rather than health benefits, it has to gain at-
tention and demand for their intrinsic good-
chemical-intensive, high-yield crops in favour ness. Chefs and high profile opinion makers
of heirloom local rice varieties. must lead the way, but all of us too must give
Heirloom rice including black ones are even them a try.
Download from www.sscias.com
Companies & Economy 11
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018

Consultations on Ecomm Policy to Start Afresh India and Russia to Explore

DIPP to put out a draft to seek public views after inter-ministerial discussions; dept to stay clear of controversial FDI issue
Deepshikha.Sikarwar
@timesgroup.com
New Delhi: The department of in-
dustrial policy and promotion (DIPP)
will soon kickstart formal inter-mini-
sterial discussions on ecommerce po-
licy afresh after the issue was formal-
ly transferred to it last month.
A draft covering 15 issues will be
put out in public after these discus-
sions.
However, it will stay clear of the
controversial FDI issue so that propo-
sal can be firmed up on other issues.
“Formal inter-ministerial consul-
tations will start soon......There are
a number of issues faced by the sec-
tor that will be in focus,” a senior go-
vernment official told ET.
The government is keen on formula-
ting a framework for the sector as it
would bring about much-needed cla-
rity on some of the key issues as the
country gears up to engage globally
on the sector.
The department of commerce had
earlier started consultations on the
policy, but that had run into inter-
ministerial differences as many de-
partments and ministries saw the
consultations exceeding the com-
merce department’s brief.
For instance, it allowed up to 49%
FDI in ecommerce platforms owned
and managed by Indians for 100%
made in India products.
FDI is remit of the DIPP. The draft
also did not elicit favourable respon-
se from the business, and traders as-
sociations came out strongly aga-
inst such move.
In October end, the government trans-
ferred the ecommerce policy to DIPP.
“The Indian e-commerce sector is go-
verned by myriad laws and regula-
tions....It is thus essential that the re-
gulations for e-commerce are able to
adapt to fast-changing technology and
consumer preferences,” said Akash
Gupt, leader- regulatory, PwC.
MULTIPLE REGULATIONS
Ecommerce sector in the country fa-
ces multiple regulations touching
different aspects of the sector.
The government feels that there is a
need for harmonisation of laws and
regulations covering the e-commerce
ecosystem that includes issues like
consumer protection, data safety, fo-
reign investment and competition.
India allows 100% FDI under the
automatic route in companies en-
gaged in market place model of
ecommerce and B2B e-commerce.
FDI is not permitted in the invento-
ry-based model, which means
ecommerce players cannot acquire
and sell goods directly.
A manufacturing entity in single-
brand with FDI can operate in ecom-
merce space.
The draft policy is expected to look
into the issue of deep discounting on
the ecommerce portals, something
that has been opposed by the brick
and mortar retail sector. It is also lik-
ely to deliberate the regulation of
ecommerce sector and earlier sug-
gestion of a single regulator to over-
see the sector.
New Areas of Partnership
New Delhi: The maiden Indo-
Russian Strategic Economic
TI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv
Kumar will lead the Indian side
Dialogue will be held in St Pe- at the dialogue, which was
tersburg on November 25-26 to scheduled after Prime Mini-
explore new areas of part- ster Narendra Modi and Presi-
nership including artificial dent Vladimir Putin agreed
intelligence (AI), transport that the economic partnership
and small and medium enter- between the two countries was
prises (SMEs) to expand strate- not commensurate with the po-
gic economic ties between the litical relations. — Dipanjan
two countries, said officials. NI- Roy Chaudhury
I 1 1 l
Ioilo
Parties Interested in supplying Crude Palm Oil up to 7000-10000
metric ton per month are requested to send their best quotes and
terms & specifications to the e-mail : procuring.palm@gmail.com
and contact on +91-9577215450.

India GDP to Slow Down

Marginally, But Remain Strong
at 7.5% in 2019 & 2020: OECD
Our Bureau
New Delhi: India ’s economic
growth will slow down some-
what but remain robust, at clo-
se to 7.50% in 2019 and 2020, the
Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development
(OECD) has said.
CELEBRATING
THE MAHATMA
unt and public finances, and
structural reforms will aid bu-
siness investment and exports.
These reforms include the new
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Co-
de, smoother implementation of
the Goods and Services Tax
(GST), better roads and electri-
city and bank recapitalisation.
Pressures on inflation are also

India’s gross domestic product
(GDP) grew 6.7% in 2017-18.
OECD projects GDP at market
prices to grow 7.3% in 2019 and
Sust ined
rising from recent increases in
wages and housing allowances
for public employees. Core infla- a
tion and inflation expectations

7.4% in 2020 from 7.5% in 2018.
“Economic growth will slow so-
mewhat but remain robust, at clo-
se to 7.5% in 2019 and 2020,” the Pa-
ris-based organisation said for In-
olicy
are edging up, it cautioned. Ho-
wever, the organisation said mo- OF DOING TRADING ACROSS
netary policy will need to be tigh-
P SI N F R R BORDERS
tened as inflation expectations
are trending up and there are se-

bearing fruit

_.I__ I. .__. .__I.

dia in its 2018 Economic Outlook.
Tighter financial conditions,
higher oil prices, adverse
terms of trade, lower growth in
partner countries, and rising
political uncertainties in India
and abroad will tend to reduce
growth, it said.
The Reserve Bank of India ex-
pects FY19 growth at 7.4%. Glo-
bal credit rating agency Moo-
dy's Investors Service has pro-
jected India’s economic growth
to moderate to 7.3% in 2019 and
2020 as higher oil prices combi-
ned with rupee depreciation
and monetary tightening dam-
pen domestic demand.
OECD said though higher oil
prices and rupee depreciation
are putting pressure on de-
veral upside risks to inflation. 70
OECD said the Reserve
Bank’s credibility in targeting ult 80
inflation and its projected mar- 90
ginal increases in policy rates
will help anchor inflation. 100
Containing the relatively rpmpf
high public debt-to-GDP ratio
would require controlling con- -
tingent liabilities, such as tho-
se stemming from public enter-
prises and banks, it said.
The organisation also sought
further subsidy reform to help for
make social spending more ef- !I i!
fective and improvement in
public banks’ governance.
2017 2018 2017 2018 1111
On the trade front, it noted Huge Jump in Country 's Rankings
that the hike in US tariffs on
Chinese imports could benefit
India’s exports, particularly in

N
mand, inflation, current acco- the textile sector.
Ind ian 1 t a ken o f measures 1 sim p lify Cust o ms
pr o c esses I p r o ce d ures d urin g the last few years.
POLLUTION
183*

Forecast for

Ref o rms und ertaken

PM 2.5 in Delhi
WATCH on Saturday April, I
Delhi’s air quality is expected
to deteriorate further on
202 An online paperless processing a p p lication , e-Sanchit , allowing trader to submit all supporting documents for clearance of consi g n m e n t s
Saturday, and will remain in Density of hazardous electronicall y has been introduced. There is no need to approach different regulatory agencies with hard copy of documents.
the ‘Very Poor’ category. 101 microparticles
Surface wind speeds are slow (PM 2.5) on Friday Z) Enhanced facilitation through Risk Management System has resulted in lesser time taken for clearances.
at present, which is leading to *micrograms per cu
metre of air Z Direct Port Delivery (DPD) allows registered importers to complete Customs clea rances at the terminal itself and containers can be taken
accumulation of pollutants in
the air. High humidity, coupled directl y to factories without going to CFSs.
with a dip in temperatures, is 10
also preventing the city’s air
4.2 Direct Port Entry (DPE) allows direct entry of export cargo into port termina l without any need forgoing to CFSs.
New New Sao
quality from improving. Delhi
Beijing
York Paulo Z Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Scheme provides faster Customs clea rances and simplified Customs procedures to business entities.
Overall Air Quality Index across Indian cities Already more than 1700 entities are getting benefits under it.
1 50 100 200 300 400 500+
GOOD SEVERE Mandatory filling of Bill of Entry within specified time has resulted in discip line among the trade and resulted in reduced
Pune Ahmedabad time in case of imports.
Mumbai Delhi
E-sealing of containers has been introduced replacing earlier practice of supe rvised sealing by departmental offi cers. It
Level of various pollutants in Delhi air
has enhanced the integrity of cargo as RFID tamper-proof e-seals are being used to seal containers now.
LODHI ROAD
Friday, Nov 23, 2018 18:08:24 pm
L
Reforms undertake n prior 1 April,
Pollutant AQI 'A
PM10 206 Poor
Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) eases the NOC issuance procedures for 6 main Governmental
PM2.5 318 Very Poor
Agencies and allows importers & exporters ,the facility to lodge their clearance documents online at only a single point.
NO2 35 Good
CO 137 Moderate Onl y 3 mandatory documents now required for import/export which includes Bill of Lading/Airway Bill , Commercial Invoice-cum-Packing List
O3 62 Satisfactory and Shipping Bill / Bill of Entryfromthe earlier obligatory 10 documents.
Source: safar.tropmet.res.in | airvisual.com
Based on the principle of 'Clear first-Pay later ', facility of deferred payment of Customs duty is available. This helps to achieve seamless Wharf
to Warehouse transit in order to facilitate just-in-t ime manufacturing. Currently being extended to importers holdingAEO T-2 orT-3 status.

Restaurants Seek 24x 7 Customs Clearance facility extended to goods covered by facilitated Bills of Entry and goods shipped under Free Shipping Bills at
designated Seaports & Air Cargo Complexes.

Clarification on CBDT’s National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF) is an effective deliberative and decision-making structure. With its three-tiered composition
and with representatives from trade and various governmenta l agencies on board, NCTF helps to ease bott lenecks for faster and streamlined
clearance of goods.
Service Charge Order Customs C l e a r a n c e Facilitation Committees (CCFCs) have been set up under the chairmanship of Chief Commissioner of
Shambhavi Anand
glassware (CCG) breakage Customs/Commissionerof Customs. CCFCs expedite clearance of import and export goods and help resolve grievances of trade and industry at
charges, and that all this alrea-
& Anumeha Chaturvedi dy reflects in their balance she- various seaports , airports , ICDs and LCSs.
ets and statements.
New Delhi: Restaurant and ho- “On an average, restaurants

tel associations are seeking
clarification from the central
government after the apex di-
rect taxes body, the Central Bo-
ard of Direct Taxes (CBDT), as-
ked its field officers to keep a
tight vigil on restaurants for
potential under-reporting or
non-reporting of additional in-
come collected in the name of
service charge.
The CBDT issued the order
earlier this week.
“We are definitely going to the
government on this. The servi-
ce charge levied is reflected in
our accounts,” said Dilip Dat-
wani, honorary secretary at
Federation of Hotels and Res-
taurant Association of India
(FHRAI).
Anjan Chatterjee, founder of
Speciality Restaurants, which
runs Mainland China and Oh!
Calcutta, said they were sur-
prised by the directive as there
is already transparency in sta-
tements. “All of us are plan-
The overall impact 1 above reforms carried I I Customs reflected in the reduced time
distribute 50-80% of the service
charge collected to employees.
I c ost , associated with imports I exports , been vindicated 1
The rest of the amount is used to
buy crockery and cutlery on
which tax has already been paid Lk report 1 Do ing B I by the World B.
to the government. So then it is
not fair to tax this amount,” said
<hk
Karan Tanna, founder of Yellow At Mumbai , in case of Exports , the time taken by Customs for clearance has reduced by 34 hours to just 12 hours. And in case of
Tie Hospitality.
The CBDT has said wherever imports , the reduction in time is equally impressive -fro m 71 hours to 24 hours .
it is found that the service char-
ge receipts have not been pas- O The time ta ke n by Port/Border agencies has also reduced. Now the total overall clearance time in case of exports is 54 hours
sed on to the staff or there is so-
me under-reporting or non-re-
and in case of imports it is 102 hours (Mumbai)
porting of receipts, it should be
duly brought under the tax net. 0-
The move came after concerns
were raised by the consumer "1
1I I II II 11 I I I 10 I
affairs ministry, which recei-
ved several complaints about
restaurants levying service
Z) The location of container can be traced using facility "Track your Container " on www.icegate.gov.in for cargo moving to Nhava
charge. Sheva, Hazira and Mundra Ports only.
Service charge is supposed to
be in the nature of ‘tips’ for hotel The c u r r e n t status of Bill of Entry or S h i p p i n g Bill can be traced by logging i n t o t h e ICEGATE website.
or restaurant staff and is sought
to be collected on their behalf. Z Electronic tracking of Nepal-bound cargo has already been launched by Customs.
But there have been reports of
some restaurants and hotels not

Um Cu `m - Co mu7J k r&47a SMM&7 O -4LVe

ning to approach the govern-
ment on this,” he said.
Restaurant owners said most
of them pass on about 75% of
the service charge collection to
their staff while retaining 25%
towards crockery, cutlery, and
passing it to their staff. Service
charge is not taxable and the
amount of service charge levied
is entirely at the discretion of
restaurants and hotels. Usually, -Central Board of Indirect Ta_
xes and C- -
usromg
the rate is 10% and it is mentio-
ned on the menu.
Download from www.sscias.com
12 Sports: The Great Games
The Economic Times, New Delhi / Gurgaon, Saturday, 24 November 2018

Open Season Excuses,

VITALS Atletico vs Barcelona
is the fight for top
position as the La
Liga race hasn’t
been this tight for
many years with the
at one point and having been without
a permanent coach for two weeks be-
fore Santiago Solari was upgraded
STATOSPHERE
Atletico (Home) Barcelona (Away)*
new in midfield, where Sergio
Busquets, 30, goes up against Rodri
Hernandez, eight years his junior.
Excuses
Rain Denies India from interim to full-time boss.
16 (11) Goals 34 (8)
Rodri is still rough around the edges
8 (3) Conceded 18 (6)
Chance to Level top six separated by This season every time a challenger
has clicked into gear they seem to click 11.6 (13.5) Shots/game 17 (10.2)
but has poise, judgement and the abil-
ity to set the tempo. Busquets has done
The second T2O International only four points out again, in turn offering fresh impe- 10.5 (8.5) Shots allowed 10 (9.2) that job at the highest level over the

between India and Australia was
called off due to intermittent rain on
Friday, undoing the visitors’ good
work with the ball and denying them
an opportunity to level the three-
match series. India were naturally
disappointed at not getting a go at
the target which was revised thrice
due to rain. India put up a much
improved with the ball on Friday,
following the disappointment of
the series opener at the Gabba on
Wednesday. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
(2-20) and Khaleel Ahmed (2-39)
shared four wickets to rock the
Australian top order.
Bangladesh Teen
Sets Bowling Record
Teenage Bangladesh off-spinner
Nayeem Hasan became the
youngest ever player to take five
wickets on debut but West Indies’
spinners matched him to restore
parity in the first Test in Chittagong
on Friday. Nayeem, who was 17
years 355 days old at the start of
the game, finished with 5-61, as
Bangladesh bowled out the West
Indies for 246 to take a 78-run first
innings lead. But the hosts were
unable to cash in on the advantage,
slumping to 55 for five in their
second innings at stumps on the
second day for a lead of 133 runs.
Dipa in Vault Final
at World Cup
Dipa Karmakar qualified for the
Vault Finals but B Aruna Reddy
suffered a knee injury to end her
campaign in disappointment at the
Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in
Cottbus, Germany. Dipa, who had
an injury-marred campaign at the
Asian Games, scored 14.100 to finish
at the 6th place out of 16 gymnasts
in the qualification. However,
Aruna, who had won a bronze
medal in the women’s individual
vault event at the Melbourne World
Cup, hurt her knee during the first
vault and was ruled out of the
competition.
A
tletico Madrid have a chance
to take advantage of a topsy-
turvy La Liga campaign
when they host champions
Barcelona with the chance
to take top spot this weekend despite
their own patchy form.
Diego Simeone’s side are just a point
behind leaders Barca despite having
drawn five times and lost once, togeth-
er as many matches as they have won.
They are battling to overtake Barca
alongside Sevilla and surprise pack-
age Alaves, who are both level on 23
points with Atleti.
Alaves, promoted in 2016, finished
14th last term but will go top if they
win away at Leganes on Friday night,
while Sevilla could potentially be lead-
ers on Sunday night despite languish-
ing in 13th place in September.
Even Real Madrid are in touch, just
four points back despite having gone
more than eight hours without a goal
Antoine Griezmann vs Gerard Pique Rodri Hernandez vs Sergio Busquets Atletico’s Defence vs Luis Suarez
The French forward hasn’t got help from Diego Costa and
has suffered for three goals in 12 league games, but
Barcelona’s defence, led by Pique, too has performed poorly
– letting in four goals last home game against Real Betis.
tus to their stumbling rivals around
them.
Barca were verging on crisis in
September before reeling off six wins
and a draw away at Valencia. Then
they were blown away by Real Betis,
flattered even by the 4-3 scoreline.
“We have managed to play the way
we want against the big teams, but
against other teams with less poten-
tial we have not,” Gerard Pique said.
“If we want to win titles we have to be
strong against everyone, the difficult
ones and everyone else.”
Atletico may have put a miserable
start behind them but last month, they
suffered their heaviest defeat under
Diego Simeone, a 4-0 loss to Borussia
Dortmund. Before the international
break, they needed two goals in the
last 10 minutes to beat Athletic Bilbao.
WATCH OUT! TONIGHT
1.15am Atletico vs Barcelona
KEY BATTLES
Busquets remanins the heartbeat of the Barcelona
team, but Hernandez has the ability to disturb his game
and hence put this Barcelona side out of rhythm –
especially with Ivan Rakitic suspended.
50.1 (51.4) Possession (%) 62.9 (66.1)
80.7 (81.8) Pass (%) 88.4 (88.6)
*in 12 La Liga
The last time Atleti prevailed over
Barca in the league was 2010, when
they had Spain keeper David de Gea in
goal and Argentina striker Sergio
Aguero up front.
Lionel Messi proved the difference in
March with a bending free-kick, and
in the summer too for Antoine
Griezmann, who decided he would be
better off in the lead role he holds with
Atletico rather than playing second
fiddle at Barca.
Griezmann has not shied away from
his craving to clinch the Ballon d´Or
this year but despite winning the
World Cup and Europa League, the
sense is he will come up short, as he is
not consistently dominating these
kind of fixtures in the way players like
Messi do.
There will be a battle of old against
Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez are unlikely to be
available through injury with Juanfran also likely to
miss out. That means the likes of Stefan Savic and
Lucas Hernandez will go up against an in-form Suarez.
past decade but he has been among
those most at fault in Barca’s worst
performances this season.
A n y r e s u l t a t t h e Wa n d a
Metropolitano will benefit sixth-
placed Real Madrid, whose first game
with Santiago Solari as their perma-
nent coach comes at Eibar early
Saturday afternoon.
Four wins, 15 goals scored and only
two conceded point to nothing less
than a transformation, which gave
Madrid president Florentino Perez an
easy solution to fill the vacancy left
open by the sacking of Julen
Lopetegui.
Solari has a kind run of fixtures un-
til Christmas, broken only by a league
clash against Valencia and Roma in
the Champions League next week,
which gives his side the chance to re-
emerge as serious challengers to
Barca’s crown.
AFP
Jemimah Rodrigues is run out in the World T20 semi-final
India women have now lost five semis and two
finals, and it’s time the BCCI plan for a trophy
Sidhanta Patnaik
Speaking at the mixed media zone af-
ter India’s eight-wicket loss to England
in the World Twenty20 semifinal in
Antigua, Smriti Mandhana, the vice-
captain, stressed that the team’s per-
formance over the last three months
has been “brilliant” when “no one even
gave us a chance... in the World Cup.”
It’s a fair assessment. The T20 format
has not been India’s strength, and they
were thoroughly exposed when they
lost to Bangladesh in the T20 Asia Cup
final earlier this year. It led to a change
of coach, and under Ramesh Powar
India regrouped.
Reaching the semifinal was against
the odds, but the team had shown such
flair that expectations were high. A
tactical error to not play Mithali Raj on
the big night and dew on the ground
while attempting to defend 112 under
floodlights with a spin-based bowling
attack proved costly.
Would Mithali’s presence in the team
made a difference can be speculated,
but it was a familiar plot. India are now
accustomed to coming second more
often than not in do-or-die encounters.
India made it to the knockouts of 50-
over World Cup for the first time in
1997, and since then have lost five semi-
finals and two finals in the white-ball
formats. Being the superpower of the
game, it is an oddity that the women’s
team is yet to win a big title since play-
ing their first World Cup in 1978.
The old excuses – lack of resources to
match up to Australia and England,
lack of coaches at all levels, and so on
– are starting to lose ground. There is
no reason why the women’s team can-
not be the best when the men’s team is
a well-oiled machinery. It is about
someone taking the responsibility to
execute plans beyond the senior team.
BCCI took charge of women’s cricket
in 2006. Initially Sharad Pawar, then
board president, gave Shubhangi
Kulkarni, the former India captain
and secretary of the erstwhile
Women’s Cricket Association during
its halcyon years from 2003 to 2006, the
responsibility to develop a robust do-
mestic structure.
There was genuine optimism, but
things went downhill in N Srinivasan’s
tenure. He did not mention a word
about India hosting the 2013 World Cup
in his address for BCCI’s 2012-13 annu-
al report. There was a revival of sorts
under Anurag Thakur when he intro-
duced central contracts in 2015, and
permitted players to participate in T20
leagues in Australia and England.
The immediate result was India’s re-
cord 16 consecutive ODI wins – the sec-
ond most behind Australia’s 17 – and
making it to the 2017 World Cup final.
By then BCCI was a different place
with the implementation of the Lodha
Committee recommendations.
Women’s cricket
The next big suffered once again
even though there
event is the
World T20 in were pockets of
good work through
2020 – how
BCCI treats two ‘A’ series, an
the next two Under-16 competi-
years will tion at the zonal lev-
show how el and an exhibition
serious they game during IPL.
are about The domestic struc-
women’s ture was changed
cricket and number of play-
ing days reduced.
“Unfortunately after the World Cup
last year, precious little was done,”
Mamatha Maben, the former India
captain who is now Karnataka’s coach.
“If you look at the senior state teams,
so many of their matches have been
taken off. There should be a visionary
approach with a five-year plan. With
the skill we displayed in 50-over and 20-
over World Cups with little support, it
tells how much we can do with a bit
more systematic approach.”
The next big event is the World T20 in
Australia in 2020. There is time to plan
for it. Maybe start Women’s IPL to give
players exposure. How BCCI treats the
next two years will show how serious
they are about women’s cricket.
The writer is co-author of
The Fire Burns Blue – A History of
Women’s Cricket in India
SCORECARD
INDIA 112 (Smriti Mandhana
34; Heather Knight 3/9) lost
to ENGLAND 116/2 (Natalie
Sciver 52*, Radha Yadav 1/20)

Shubhankar Sure
of Major Success
After a spectacular ascent over
the last 12 months, European Tour
Remember the Name ‘To Beat Australia, Back Yourself’
Sonia Chahal joins Mary Kom in the final, Simranjit
rookie of the year Shubhankar
settles for bronze VVS Laxman, who’s just released his autobiography, was always at his best against Australia. He knows what it
Sharma is in no doubt he will
become the first Indian to win a takes in Australia and feels this team can win a Test series Down Under – a first in Indian cricket. Edited excerpts
major – but he’s not going to rush it. Amit Chaudhary
“It has been a crazy year,” he said Boria Majumdar power to close out games. In com- The present bowling
parison, the bowling attack that
Thursday. “I always believed in Before and even during the tourna- the team has now is top draw. line-up is a complete
myself, that I could get to this stage. ment, there was confusion about What do you think a player needs I don’t think our team lacked firepower one. We have four or
I always had the belief that I could
do it… That’s why you play golf. You
Sonia Chahal’s name. Even the offi- to do to be successful against in 2003 and the Adelaide Test will al- five bowlers who can
cial AIBA documents referenced her Australia in Australia? ways be one of the best wins in the his-
have to dream big. Now definitely name as Sonia Lather, a senior who The most important attribute is self- tory of our cricket. In Sydney, we came
bowl with real pace and
I feel I can compete with the best won silver in the same (57kg) catego- belief. The Australian teams that we really close but it was Steve Waugh who generate movement and
out there... I definitely see myself ry at the 2016 edition of the Women’s played against in 1999-2000, 2003-04, played a good innings and saved the bounce. We have quality
playing well in majors in the future.” World Boxing Championships. 2007-08 had some of the best players of game in what was his last match. spinners who can exploit
So it was important for her to win a our generation. To beat them or win But I agree with you that the present
medal in order to gain an identity for against them, you needed to be at the bowling line-up is a complete one. We the wear and tear towards
WATCH OUT! TONIGHT herself and not to be mistaken for ing moments and allowed the oppo- very best of your ability. And you can have the bases covered with this unit. the later part of any game
I-LEAGUE someone else again. On Friday, the nent to pull things back, she had only do so if you have tre- We have four or five bowlers
2pm Aizawl vs East Bengal 21-year-old from Dadri, Haryana, be- done enough to settle the bout. mendous self-belief. You who can bowl with real pace able to deliver the final blow.
came the second Indian to enter the need to back yourself to do and generate movement and Absolutely. We were always in the
5pm Chennai vs NEROCA final after MC Mary Kom. SIMRANJIT LOSES well. I always relished the bounce. We have quality game. Unfortunately we did not win
ISL In a bout that swung both ways be- The other Indian in the fray on Friday, challenge and think that spinners who can exploit crucial moments in some of the Tests,
fore settling in India’s corner, Simranjit Kaur, wasn’t that fortunate helped me. the wear and tear towards which resulted in us losing the series.
7.30pm Mumbai vs ATK Chahal beat North Korea’s Son and had to satisfy herself with bronze the later part of any game There are these periods of play that
PREMIER LEAGUE Hwa-Jo in the semifinal with a 5:0 as she lost the light welterweight You mentioned the teams and we also have bowlers turn out to be match-defining and
unanimous decision. “She was an (64kg) semifinal bout to China’s Dan you have played against. who are adept at both con- that’s where India lacked. We need to
8.30pm Man United vs Palace experienced boxer and I had a tough Dou with a 4:1 split decision. Do you think the current ventional and reverse do better in these periods.
8.30pm Watford vs Liverpool bout. I just did what my coaches told The 23-year-old was considered a Australian team meas- swing. What is important is
8.30pm West Ham vs Man City me to do,” Sonia said strong contender for ures up to the teams you for our batsman to stand up What are your thoughts on Virat
after the bout. “I am AIBA WOMEN’S the final but Dou played against? and put up a good score and bring the Kohli the captain?
11pm Tottenham vs Chelsea happy with the deci- WORLD BOXING p l a y e d s m a r t l y. Oh no. This is clearly not the same bowlers into the game. He likes to set an example. That’s what
sion and apart from CHAMPIONSHIPS Simranjit has an ag- Australia. Even with Steve Smith and I like about Virat the captain. While he
LA LIGA
the first round, which gressive style of play, David Warner, I would have said the To be fair, we came close in England is still a work in progress, he will know
5.30pm Eibar vs Real Madrid I think I lost, the sec- constantly stepping same. This team does not have the same and South Africa but haven’t been this is an opportunity for him to win a
BUNDESLIGA ond was close while in the third I forward to unleash punches. It’s a potential or faith in their ability like major away series. He will know that
8pm Bayern vs Dusseldorf was the clear winner”. slugfest and pleases the crowd. the Australian teams of the past. That’s This is clearly not India were the better team in both
Sonia, like in her previous bouts, That’s what she tried to do Friday but why I think India have a good chance of the same Australia. South Africa and England but unfortu-
8pm Mainz vs Dortmund stayed back and played the waiting the Chinese boxer, probably aware of winning this series if they play to po- nately they weren’t able to close out
game depriving the opponent coun- Simranjit’s game, managed to stay tential. You need the batsman to get you Even with Steve Smith and matches. He wouldn’t want the same
SERIE A David Warner, I’d have
ter punches. The North Korean, un- out of her range and earned points a good first innings score. Players like thing to happen in Australia.
7.30pm Udinese vs Roma able to land punches, turned aggres- on counter. Virat (Kohli), (Cheteshwar) Pujara, said the same. This team
10.30pm Juventus vs SPAL sor in the second round but with Though Simranjit managed to (KL) Rahul and (Ajinkya) Rahane have does not have the same Finally, how important do you
Sonia moving around the ring, Jo draw her opponent into the slugfest all been to Australia in 2014 and that think this series is for this team’s
1am Inter vs Frosinone rarely got the opportunity for a eventually, luck seemed to have de- experience will be invaluable. I learnt a potential or faith in their future?
clean punch. serted the Indian. lot from the 1999 tour and it came of use ability like the Australian It will be a massive win. It was one of
WATCH OUT! TOMORROW The last round saw action as Sonia In the final on Saturday, Mary Kom in 2003 and 2007. teams of the past. That’s my dreams to beat Australia in
played aggressively and managed to will face Hanna Okhota of Ukraine Australia. I wasn’t able to do it despite
I-LEAGUE land a couple of punches. Although while Sonia will take on Ornella While you all came close in 2003- why I think India have a coming close and sincerely hope this
5pm Mohun Bagan vs Churchill the Indian invited trouble in the dy- Gabriele Wahner of Germany. 04, the team lacked a bit of fire- good chance of winning team is able to fulfil this ambition.
ISL

Last Chance for Valtteri Bottas

7.30pm Jamshedpur vs
Chennaiyin
PREMIER LEAGUE
7pm Bournemouth vs Arsenal
LA LIGA
8.45pm Sevilla vs Valladolid
SERIE A
7.30pm Napoli vs Chievo
10.30pm Lazio vs Milan
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RNI NO.DELENG/2006/16423 | MADE IN New Delhi |
VOLUME 13NO.47
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Abhishek Takle
The season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand
Prix this weekend may be a dead rub-
ber, but for Valtteri Bottas there is still
a score to be settled. Sunday’s 55-lap
floodlit spectacular is the Finn’s last
chance to step out of Mercedes team-
mate Lewis Hamilton’s shadow and
add his name to the list of race win-
ners this season.
Bottas, in his second season with
champions Mercedes, has stood on the
podium eight times this year but, 20
races in, has yet to mount the top step.
Winner of three races last year, his
first for Mercedes as a lastminute re-
placement for retired 2016 champion
Nico Rosberg, Sunday’s finale pre-
sents as good an opportunity as any
for Bottas to set the record straight.
The Mercedes driver needs to win the last race of the season
to avoid being the only driver in the top six without a win
“I had a very strong weekend here he converted into a win while also set- Dhabi having had a very different tion and is 14 points ahead of Bottas. “I
last year and it was the perfect way to ting the fastest lap of the race en-route year, even if an inconsistent one with have obviously only one goal and one
end the season and to go for some holi- to that triumph. the podium finishes tailing off in the job to do this weekend and I need to fo-
days,” the 29-year-old told reporters at Having had a season to settle in, this season’s latter half. cus on that,” he said. “And if that’s
the Yas Marina track on Thursday. year started stronger for the Finn. He As it stands he is the only one among enough for third or fourth then it was
“It’s obviously always going to be should have won at least four races the top six yet to win a race this year meant to be for this year.”
tough to repeat but definitely only one this year. In Baku, a blown tyre while and in danger of becoming the first Aside from Bottas’ unfinished busi-
goal for this weekend. It would be nice he was leading put him out of the race driver in a title winning car to not ness, the last race of the season means
to end this tough season personally for with just three laps to spare, gifting stand on the top step of the season there are farewells to be said.
me in a good way.” Hamilton his first win of the season. since Mark Webber in 2013. “It is for Double world champion Fernando
Bottas arrived in In China, the Virtual Safety Car – sure disappointing looking back on Alonso will be bowing out of Formula
Hamilton Abu Dhabi last year which Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo the season how it turned out,” he said. One after 17 seasons in the sport even
has ruled out under pressure to took advantage of to make a pitstop, Hamilton has ruled out gifting if the door to a comeback isn’t com-
gifting Bottas dig himself out of a put on fresh tyres and win – came out Bottas a win to make up for the victory pletely closed.
a win to make slump in form in the just after he had crossed the entrance in Russia that he gave up. Bottas, too, Raikkonen, meanwhile, is moving to
up for the second half of the to the pitlane. wants to earn it on his own. If he does, Sauber from Ferrari with Charles
victory in season. The champi- In Russia he was asked to move over not only will he add his name to the Leclerc moving across to the Italian
Russia that he onship battles had, and the lead and victory to Hamilton winners’ list but could also prevail squad. Daniel Ricciardo will bid good-
gave up and like this year, al- while in Germany he was asked to over compatriot Kimi Raikkonen and bye to Red Bull as he heads to Renault,
Bottas, too, ready been decided. hold station behind the Briton. Max Verstappen in the battle for third while Stoffel Vandoorne moves across
wants to earn He responded with Had he been able to deliver those in the standings. to Formula E and Marcus Ericsson to
it on his own pole position which wins, Bottas would have gone into Abu Raikkonen currently holds that posi- IndyCars.