CORRUPTION

"Welfare State must not don realtor's

role"

Former IAS officer Chaya Ratan tells Naresh Nunna how various Andhra Governments
have been into the business of grabbing and selling land
NARESH NNNA ! Issue "ated# A$ril %&' %()*' New "elhi
Tags : IAS officer Chaa Ratan ! Aam Admi Part ! Telangana ! Chandra "a#u Naidu
! $S Ra%ase&har Redd !

+and' being a most coveted investment for ages' is now
s$ea,ing volumes of $olitics' in $olitics' $articularly at this time of electioneering in
Andhra -radesh. /hile there have been regular allegations of selling out large chun,s of
government land in the 0elangana region' the recent assertions of the retired IAS officer
Chaya Ratan' who is also an Aam Admi -arty 1AA-2 candidate for Secunderabad +o,
Sabha constituency' has brought bac, the s$otlight on the mur,y transactions of land
grabbing and selling. 0he revelations might not seem new' but yet are 3uite worrying'
es$ecially as the allegation is that the valuable resources belonging to the region are being
auctioned and mortgaged indiscriminately.
4In fact' anomalies around the 0elangana land and other resources are not new. /hen the
merger of 0elangana region with Andhra was mooted' one of the ma5or demands was to
safeguard the invaluable regions of 0elangana. 0herefore' a demand banning accession of
0elangana regions to $eo$le from other regions and states was mooted'6 tells "ilee$ 7 of
89ission 0elangana: to 0he Sunday Indian.
-redicting the influ; of affluent and enter$rising families from the fertile delta of coastal
Andhra' leaders from 0elangana $ut forth the demand' which was included in the first draft
of a Gentleman:s Agreement between the two regions. <ut it was deleted from the final
draft in )=>?. @ne would remember that during the regimes of Chandrababu Naidu and A
S Ra5ase,hara Reddy 1who was later ,illed in a cho$$er crash2' there were many $rotests
from leaders of 0elangana on the region being allotted indiscriminately to business houses
and other institutions.
4Successive governments of Chandra <abu Naidu and AS Ra5ase,har Reddy have
auctioned off thousands of acres of valuable areas in and around Hyderabad to their
cronies. In fact' these regions were a legacy left behind by the erstwhile NiBams and
rightfully belonged to our $eo$le of Hyderabad'6 7 0ara,a Ramarao' 0elangana Rashtra
Samiti 10RS2 leader and son of 0RS su$remo 7 Chandrase,hara Rao 17CR2 said.
According to 9ission 0elangana' in ASR:s regime' thousands of acres of farmland was
grabbed from ha$less farmers and sold to industrialists for a $rofit. Even after ASR:s
death' critics allege that the Congress government led by Seemandhra Chief 9inisters is
allegedly following the same route.
Sniffing out the $ossible bifurcation of the State' land transactions in the recent $ast'
$articularly during ASR rule and $ostCASR regime' reached a crescendo. sing various
government agencies li,e Andhra -radesh Industrial Infrastructure Cor$oration 1A-IIC2'
Andhra -radesh Housing <oard 1A-H<2' Hyderabad 9etro$olitan "evelo$ment
Authority 1H9"A2' the ASR government sold various regions' with an aim of generating
crores of ru$ees. For e;am$le' one would remember that H9"A was on a s$ree to auction
several $lots in and around Hyderabad' including those in the $osh and elitist areas li,e
Nandagiri Hills near Dubilee Hills.
/hile the same may also have been done to ensure $rofitable valuation of a nonCearning
landmass' the state government was severely $anned for the attem$ts to dis$ose the sameE
enraged 0RS leaders li,e 7CR had warned that the new 0RS government in 0elangana
would ta,e bac, all assigned lands' <hoodan lands' wa,f and guru,ul trust lands thus
given away. Chaya Ratan' who was $art of the system being a s$ecial chief secretary' met
u$ with 0SI to give her insights into it.
<orn on Danuary %?' )=>F' Chaya Ratan is a $ostCgraduate in $olitical science. "uring her
illustrious career s$anning over three and half decades' the )=&&Cbatch IAS officer of
Andhra cadre served various de$artments. Chaya' with an outstanding record of integrity
and contributions to all the fields whereever she had wor,ed' is credited with introducing
several $ioneering measures to bring about accountability' trans$arency' sta,eholder
e3uity' 3uality im$rovements' corru$tionGunethical $ractices removal in the government.
'enerall( cash stra))ed go*ernments indulge in selling
of land to raise funds for de*elo)mental )ro%ects+ What ,as unusual that made ou
o#%ect to the go*ernment )olic-
0he regions should ideally be used to set u$ government infrastructure and build homes
for the downtrodden. +and is also essential for $ublic amenities li,e $ar,s' s$orts
com$le;es etc. +and resources must be $reserved for the $ros$ects of the future
generations. +and selling in and around the affluent Hyderabad was done in the ASR
regime ram$antly and unusually. Some funds were earmar,ed in budget solely for land
$romotion. I was very e;$licit to ASR and o$$osed the indiscriminate sale of land. He
turned a deaf ear to my ob5ections. 0he welfare government should not be a realtor.
0he ASR government floated a government cor$oration named "eccan Infrastructure and
+and Holdings 1"I++2 for ac3uiring and selling government land. 0he governmentC
$romoted com$any was created $rimarily for construction of integrated townshi$s'
leveraging on its land ban, for develo$ing integrated townshi$s and ta,ing u$ 5oint
ventures. 0he cor$oration is right now bulging with a landban, of &'((( acres' mostly
transferred land from Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad districts.
It is alleged # some that land ,orth se*eral thousands of crores ,as gifted to
Seemandhra )lutocrats at thro,a,a )rices+ What is our comment-
ASR had shone a s$otlight on the crucial role $layed by the CongressCrun government in
turning realty in the state into a business worth thousands of crores of ru$ees.
Records of all licences granted by the government obviously convey a com$elling story H
a story of $olitical alchemy in which farmland turns into gold for all those fortunate
enough to ac3uire acreage and the $ermission re3uired to underta,e commercial
develo$ment on it. /herever land sales reach such $ea,s' corru$tion levels also soar to
that level. So' it is not a 3uestion of to whom the lands were allocatedE the basic 3uestion
is on the magnitude of allocations. 0he truth behind the land selling must at least be
revealed now. /hat was the mar,et value of the land and what was the selling $riceI /hy
was it sold at throwaway $ricesI 0hese are some of the 3uestions to be $robed. I agree that
these regions were a legacy left behind by the erstwhile NiBams and rightfully belonged to
the $eo$le of Hyderabad. 0he recently mooted idea of ta,ing bac, all assigned land'
<hoodan lands' wa,f and guru,ul trust lands usur$ed by unscru$ulous elements is also
commendable.
No, ou ha*e )lunged into )olitics+ What is our aim- Would ou coo)erate ,ith the
future go*ernment of Telangana in )ro#ing the land deals-
After being consistently in service for F> years' I thoroughly understood the attitude of
$oliticians. I struggled to discharge my duties in the interests of the $ublic. /hile going
towards the tide' I had to fightE and I was even sidelined and humiliated.
S$ecial allocation for the welfare of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities is
highlighted in every <udget. <ut what really ha$$ens to these huge sums is a 3uestion.
<udgets meant for SCGS0 welfare have remained uns$ent for years in many de$artments. I
strongly made a $oint to the then Chief 9inister ASR to set u$ a s$ecial fund with the
uns$ent money and to use it e;$licitly for the welfare of SCs and S0s. <ut ASR did not
relent. So I am u$set and utterly disa$$ointed. After retirement' I decided to serve the
$eo$le by directly entering $olitics. 9y values match with those of the Aam Aadmi -arty.
0he $arty is vehemently o$$osed to corru$tion and this is what I li,ed in it. AA- decided
to field me from the Secunderabad constituency.
.N/IRON0.NT
1oles in ,ater )ro%ect

Aettinahole drin,ing water $ro5ect is not here to 3uench thirst' but to meet the greed of
$oliticians' re$orts N 7 Su$rabha
N 7 S-RA<HA ! Issue "ated# A$ril %&' %()*' New "elhi
Tags : Siddaramaiah ! $ettinahole ! 2olar ! Chi&#alla)ur ! "angalore Rural !
Ramanagaram ! Tum&ur ! 1assan ! Chitradurga !

As chief minister Siddaramaiah laid the foundation stone
for the ambitious Aettinahole drin,ing water $ro5ect on 9arch *' he didnJt have an idea
that the $ro5ect would become a nightmare' attracting criticism and $rotest from both
Coastal and 9alenad districts. 0here were u$roars against both the timing and feasibility
of the $ro5ect.
0he Aettinahole $ro5ect aims to $rovide drin,ing water from Aettinahole' a tributary of the
Netravati' for seven districts. 0he union minister Keera$$a 9oily' who hails from the
coastal belt but re$resents Chi,balla$ur in the +o, Sabha' is hell bent on im$lementing the
$ro5ect as it is one of the $romises he made to the $eo$le in his constituency' saying#
4@nly %* tmcft of water would be used to $rovide drin,ing water to nine districts'
including 7olar' Chic,balla$ur' 0um,ur and <angalore Rural. 0he $ro5ect had been
reviewed five times. It would not have an adverse effect on the $eo$le of "a,shina
7annada.6
Critics: term this as 9oily:s card to win ne;t election in Chi,,aballa$ur. <ut' the
constituency itself does not favor the $ro5ect and held $rotest at the inauguration time. 0he
Sahyadri Samra,shana Sanchaya even started a cam$aign' distributing handbills to
re3uest $eo$le of "a,shina 7annda to use N@0A 1None of the Above2 vote to e;$ress
their anger on how $olitical $arties have turned a blind eye towards their $lea.
9a5or $olitical $arties of 7arnata,a are mum on the $ro5ect as they are counting votes in
the beneficiary region. 7ey D"S leaders who have firm hold in beneficiary region did not
utter a word in favor or against it. 9ost of the <D- leaders are favoring the $ro5ect.
Congress leaders li,e former union minister <. Danardhana -oo5ary and <D- leader
Ki5aya,umar shetty are rare faces now who were vocal earlier about their a$$rehension
regarding the $ro5ect.
@n his own $arty leader o$$osing the $ro5ect' Keera$$a 9oily has claimed that the
Danardhana -oo5ary lac,s ,nowledge about the Aettinahole $ro5ect' and that nobody should
o$$ose drin,ing water $ro5ects. He a$$ealed to $eo$le not to give the $ro5ect a 4$olitical
color6.
Amid $rotest in "a,shina 7annada' which observed a total
bundh to $rotest the diversion of its waters' chief minister Siddaramaiah signalled of wor,
beginning soon. 0he Rs)%'F'=)% crore Aettinahole diversion aims to $rovide %* 09C
drin,ing water to 7olar' Chi,balla$ur' <angalore Rural' Ramanagaram' 0um,ur' Hassan
and Chitradurga. Siddaramaiah said that the state was ,een on solving the drin,ing water
crisis in these districts' often $arched. 0he $ro5ect foresees the diversion of %* 09C of
water from the Gundia River to 0um,ur' 7olar' Chi,balla$ur and rural districts of
<angalore. Gundia drains into the 7umaradhara river' which is a tributary of the Netravati.
Rs )'((( crore has been set aside in this year:s state budget for the $ro5ect and
the 7arnata,a Neeravari Nigama +imited' a $ublic sector cor$oration that will im$lement
the $ro5ect.
0here are much tal, and discussion done on economic feasibility of this $ro5ect. E;$erts
feel that government is misleading the $eo$le by saying %* 09C of water will be diverted
to five $arched districts of the state. /ater e;$erts claim that not more than =09C can be
$um$ed from the Aettinahole River for their benefit. 4Earlier 7arnarta,a -ower
Cor$oration limited $ro$osed a $ro5ect in the same area. Amid $rotest $ro5ects are shelved
or delayed. Now the same $ro5ects are looming around in the name of drin,ing water
$ro5ect' 6 says activist and head of 89alenada Dana$ara Horata Samithi 7ishor 7umar.
Further' what is sur$rising is that environment im$act assessment re$ort is not done for the
$ro5ect' sighting it is as a mere drin,ing $ro5ect. <ut the $ro5ect involves $ro$osals for
building reservoirs and other wor,' which need large amount of dis$lacement'
rehabilitation and deforestation. <ut there is no socioCeconomic analysis done. -eo$le who
are living and having farmland right ne;t to $ro$osed reservoir don:t have clue about
$ro$osed $ro5ect and submerging areasL @wners of these $ro$erties in the neighborhood
of reservoir till today have not received an alert or even a word from government. Kictims
are not only the $eo$le who may get rehabilitate. /hen rivers dried down "a,shina
7annada district' which is de$ending on Netravathy River for livelihood' animals come
out as a bigger $rey.
As $er details obtained by 7ishore 7umar who had s$ecifically as,ed for a 8"etailed:
-ro5ect Re$ort under R0I ' the total cost of the $ro5ect is Rs MF%F crores. <ut the estimate
does not include many costs li,e rehabilitation and resettlement' com$lete land
ac3uisition' construction of reservoirs on -alar <asin' $i$eline to FF& tan,s' Forest N-K'
etc. If these are included' cost of the $ro5ect will certainly go beyond Rs )(((( crores. In
7arnata,a <udget -art I on February %()%' Rs %(( crores had been allocated for ma,ing
"-R and initial wor,s while Rs %?&( crores were sanctioned and Rs M>( crores allocated
in %()FC)* for lift wor,s u$to Harvanahalli in Sa,alesh$ura. All the allocations have been
made without a "etailed -ro5ect Re$ort' cost benefit assessment' o$tions assessment or
environmental and social a$$raisal of the scheme' or any statutory clearances.
3T1.R. AR. ON4$ /ICTI0S5
Wh are ou against this )ro%ect-
0his $ro5ect is underta,en in an ecological sensitive area. As $er the $ro5ect re$ort' )(&
hectares of forests in the /estern Ghats will have to be burned down to ma,e way for the
canals. 0he Sa,lesh$ura stretch of the /estern Ghats was identified as an 8Ecologically
Sensitive None ):' a highly sensitive area' by /estern Ghats ecology e;$ert -anel headed
by ecologist 9adhav Gadgil. 0here are no beneficiaries' only victims.
"ut 'o*ernment sas it has assessed e*erthing-
0here has been no assessment. In the name of drin,ing $ro5ect' they are dodging
environment clearance and forest clearances. 9inistry has ignored submerge of
ecologically sensitive areas. 0hey did not do environmental im$act assessment. 0here is
no social and economic assessment done.
Who do ou thin& ,ould #enefit and ,ho are *ulnera#le-
No one benefits in this $ro5ect. 0his is meant to be $roviding drin,ing water to
Chi,,aballa$ur and 7olar districts. <ut' $eo$le of this region are $rotesting considering
it as mere eyewash and believe that the $ro5ect won:t solve their water woes. E;$erts say
that Aettinahole "iversion -ro5ect will manage to divert only = 09C of water' instead of
the $ro$osed %* 09C.
What are the )olitics #ehind this )ro%ect-
/ith General Elections at $ea,' it is clear that they are rea$ing $olitical benefits from the
$ro5ect. nion 9inister Kerra$$a 9oily' main force behind this $ro5ect' is eyeing to get
elected again from Chi,,aballa$ur showing drin,ing water $ro5ect. <ut $eo$le won:t buy
the idea as there is no way a dry area turn green at the cost of 9alenadu and "a,shina
7annada. 0here are also rumours that government itself may shelve the whole $ro5ect
after election.
If this )ro%ect is shel*ed( ,hat is the alternati*e for drin&ing )ro%ect-

0here is always a way to re5uvenate dry areas. @ne may s$end 5ust half of this $ro5ect
cost to re5uvenate the area by harnessing the underground water. /e have seen desert
areas of Ra5asthan dwell in to water wells revitaliBing underwater.
According to ou ,hat are the social and economical im)acts of this )ro%ect-
"a,shina 7annada as well as 9alenad will suffer as rivers get dried down slowly. 0his
$ro5ect is not cost effective. 0hey did not do cost benefit evolution before launching the
$ro5ect. 0hough the re$ort tal,s of s$ending Rs M'F%F crore on building the dams' it does
not mention the costs of resettlement and rehabilitation which would e;ceed Rs %'(((
crore. 0he re$ort com$letely overloo,s the human and ecological costs of the $ro5ect.
9oreover' by the time the $ro5ect is com$leted' the actual cost could be much more.

In democratic way of government' there should be $ublic hearing and also need
environment and forest clearance for $ro5ects li,e river diversion. <ut' government is
terming it as drin,ing water $ro5ect which does not re3uire any clearances and maintains
that it has got no ob5ection certification. According to the government' Aettinahole $ro5ect
had received the a$$roval of the Central /ater Commission and the nion 9inistry of
Environment and have also done a feasibility study and a $ro5ect re$ort.
E;$erts who fear about the $ro5ect say that the real name of Aettinahole $ro5ect is 8scheme
for diversion of flood water from Sa,lesh$ur to 7olar C Chi,,aballa$ur:. -ro5ect re$ort
says that there is a $ro$osal to generate about )(( 9egawatt electricity. For an electricity
$ro5ect' which is aimed $roducing >( 9egawatt or more electricity' has to get
environment' forest and central government clearance.
Activists also have a notion that government itself will dum$ the $ro5ect after election'
sighting $rotests and environment $roblems. 0here are many such $ro5ects in Sa,lesh$ur
launched earlier' may be for electricity generation or irrigation water' but none com$leted.
/ell' thatJs the story with most of the environmental $ro5ects C they are not there for
$eo$le' but for the interests of rich and $olitico.
HEA+0H
Asthma drug sho,s )romise in treating
dia#etes( o#esit

AGENCA ! /ashington' February ))' %()F )*#(M
Tags : Amle6ano6 ! 7a)an ! dia#etes ! o#esit !

Amle;ano;' a drug $rescribed for asthma in
Da$an' also reverses obesity' diabetes and fatty liver in mice' according to a new study by
S researchers.
O@ne of the reasons that diets are so ineffective in $roducing weight loss for some $eo$le
is that their bodies ad5ust to the reduced calories by also reducing their metabolism' so that
they are JdefendingJ their body weight'O says Alan Saltiel' director of the niversity of
9ichiganJs +ife Sciences Institute 1+SI2' which conducted the study.
OAmle;ano; seems to twea, the metabolic res$onse to e;cessive calorie storage in mice'O
adds Saltiel.
"ifferent formulations of amle;ano; are currently $rescribed to treat asthma in Da$an and
can,er sores in the S' the 5ournal Nature 9edicine re$orts.
0he study a$$ears to confirm and e;tend the notion that the genes I77E and 0<7) $lay a
crucial role for maintaining metabolic balance' a discovery $ublished by the Saltiel lab in
%((=' according to an +SI statement.
OAmle;ano; a$$ears to wor, in mice by inhibiting two genes C I77E and 0<7) C that we
thin, together act as a sort of bra,e on metabolism'O Saltiel said. O<y releasing the bra,e'
amle;ano; seems to free the metabolic system to burn more' and $ossibly store less
energy.O
sing highCthrough$ut chemical screening at +SIJs Centre for Chemical Genomics to
search for com$ounds that inhibit I77E and 0<7)' the researchers hit u$on an a$$roved
offC$atent drug# amle;ano;.
0hey then demonstrated that amle;ano; had $rofound beneficial effects in both genetic
and dietaryCinduced obese mice. 0he chemical lowered the weight of obese mice and
reversed related metabolic $roblems such as diabetes and fatty liver.
"itter gourd %uice destros )ancreatic
cancer cells

AGENCA ! +os Angeles' 9arch )F' %()F )*#**
Tags : "itter gourd ! 2arela ! )ancreatic cancer ! cells ! Uni*ersit of Colorado !

In a finding that could $rovide a new tool in cancer
thera$y' researchers have shown that the 5uice of bitter gourd 1karela2 effectively ,ills
$ancreatic cancer cells.
A niversity of Colorado cancer study $ublished this wee, in the 5ournal Carcinogenesis
shows that bitter gourd 5uice restricts the ability of $ancreatic cancer cells to metabolise
glucose' thus cutting the cellsJ energy source and eventually ,illing them.
O0hree years ago' researchers showed the effect of bitter gourd e;tract on breast cancer
cells only in a $etri dish. 0his study goes much' much farther. /e used the 5uice CC $eo$le
es$ecially in Asian countries are already consuming it in 3uantity. /e show that it affects
the glucose metabolism $athway to restrict energy and ,ill $ancreatic cancer cells'O says
Ra5esh Agarwal' -h"' coC$rogramme leader of Cancer -revention and Control at the C
Cancer Center and $rofessor at the S,aggs School of -harmacy and -harmaceutical
Sciences.
"iabetes tends to $resage $ancreatic cancer and bitter gourd has been shown to control
ty$eCII diabetes' and has been used for centuries against diabetes in the fol, medicines of
China and India.
Following this line of thin,ing' Agarwal and colleagues wondered what would ha$$en if
they closed out the middle man of diabetes and directly e;$lored the lin, between bitter
gourd and $ancreatic cancer' re$orts Science "aily.
0he result' Agarwal says' is' Oalteration in metabolic events in $ancreatic cancer cells and
an activation of the A9-Cactivated $rotein ,inase' an enByme that indicates low energy
levels in the cellsO.
-erha$s not coincidentally' bitter gourd also regulates insulin secretion by $ancreatic beta
cells. After studies in cell cultures' the grou$ showed that mouse models of $ancreatic
cancer that were fed bitter melon 5uice were ?( $ercent less li,ely to develo$ the disease
than controls.
OItJs a very e;citing finding'O Agarwal says. O9any researchers are engineering new drugs
to target cancer cellsJ ability to su$$ly themselves with energy' and here we have a
naturallyCoccurring com$ound that may do 5ust that.O
.gg ,hite com)onent lo,ers #lood
)ressure

AGENCIES ! /ashington' A$ril )(' %()F )%#>>
Tags : "lood )ressure ! .gg ! .gg ,hites !

A study by American
scientists $resented /ednesday su$$orts the view that a substance in egg white has the
ability to lower blood $ressure without negative effects.
Scientists re$orted that a com$onent of egg whites' already $o$ular as a substitute for
whole eggs among healthCconscious consumers concerned about cholesterol in the yol,
may have another beneficial effect in reducing blood $ressure' re$orts Science "aily.
0heir study was $art of the %*>th National 9eeting and E;$osition of the American
Chemical Society 1ACS2' the worldJs largest scientific society' which continues here
through 0hursday.
O@ur research suggests that there may be another reason to call it Jthe incredible' edible
egg'JO said study leader Nhi$eng Au' -h.".' of Dilin niversity.
O/e have evidence from the laboratory that a substance in egg white CC itJs a $e$tide' one
of the building bloc,s of $roteins CC reduces blood $ressure about as much as a low dose of
Ca$to$ril' a highCbloodC$ressure drug'O Nhi$eng Au said.
Au and colleagues' who are with Clemson niversity' used a $e$tide called RK-S+.
Scientists $reviously discovered that the substance' li,e the family of medications that
includes Ca$to$ril' Kasotec and 9ono$ril' was an angiotensinCconvertingCenByme 1ACE2
inhibitor.
It has a $owerful ability to inhibit or bloc, the action of ACE' a substance $roduced in the
body that raises blood $ressure.
0he results of feeding the substance were $ositive' showing that RK-S+ did not have
a$$arent to;ic effects and lowered blood $ressure by amounts com$arable to low doses of
Ca$to$ril.
O@ur results su$$ort and enhance $revious findings on this to$ic'O Au said. O0hey were
$romising enough to move ahead with further research on the effects of the egg white
$e$tide on human health.O
.gg ,hite com)onent lo,ers #lood
)ressure

AGENCIES ! /ashington' A$ril )(' %()F )%#>>
Tags : "lood )ressure ! .gg ! .gg ,hites !

A study by American
scientists $resented /ednesday su$$orts the view that a substance in egg white has the
ability to lower blood $ressure without negative effects.
Scientists re$orted that a com$onent of egg whites' already $o$ular as a substitute for
whole eggs among healthCconscious consumers concerned about cholesterol in the yol,
may have another beneficial effect in reducing blood $ressure' re$orts Science "aily.
0heir study was $art of the %*>th National 9eeting and E;$osition of the American
Chemical Society 1ACS2' the worldJs largest scientific society' which continues here
through 0hursday.
O@ur research suggests that there may be another reason to call it Jthe incredible' edible
egg'JO said study leader Nhi$eng Au' -h.".' of Dilin niversity.
O/e have evidence from the laboratory that a substance in egg white CC itJs a $e$tide' one
of the building bloc,s of $roteins CC reduces blood $ressure about as much as a low dose of
Ca$to$ril' a highCbloodC$ressure drug'O Nhi$eng Au said.
Au and colleagues' who are with Clemson niversity' used a $e$tide called RK-S+.
Scientists $reviously discovered that the substance' li,e the family of medications that
includes Ca$to$ril' Kasotec and 9ono$ril' was an angiotensinCconvertingCenByme 1ACE2
inhibitor.
It has a $owerful ability to inhibit or bloc, the action of ACE' a substance $roduced in the
body that raises blood $ressure.
0he results of feeding the substance were $ositive' showing that RK-S+ did not have
a$$arent to;ic effects and lowered blood $ressure by amounts com$arable to low doses of
Ca$to$ril.
O@ur results su$$ort and enhance $revious findings on this to$ic'O Au said. O0hey were
$romising enough to move ahead with further research on the effects of the egg white
$e$tide on human health.O
1igh costs no deterrent for alcohol
consum)tion: .6)erts

AGENCIES ! New "elhi' A$ril %F' %()F ()#(%
Tags : Alcohol ! Ta6es on alcohol ! NI01ANS !

0he strategy of increasing $rices and ta;es of alcohol and alcoholCrelated beverages has
not lowered neither their demand or consum$tion in the country' leading to various health
and social issues' health e;$erts said 9onday.
S$ea,ing at a twoCday national wor,sho$ OAlcohol 0a;ation and 9ultiCSectoral -olicy
Interventions to Counter the Harms Associated with Alcohol Consum$tionO' the e;$erts
said India has become a ma5or mar,et for alcohol com$anies' and that there is a $olicy
deficit to chec, issues related to its consum$tion.
O"ata of last five years have revealed that cost of all alcoholic beverages have
substantially gone u$' but alcohol consum$tion has not reduced at all. 0here is a huge
undocumented and illicit mar,et and trading of alcohol in the country'O said Kive,
<enegal' an associate $rofessor at National Institute of 9ental Health and Neurosciences
1NI9HANS2.
He said it has been found that in areas where 9ahatma Gandhi National Rural
Em$loyment Guarantee Act 19GNREGA2 has been im$lemented' use of alcohol was also
more.
OStudies after studies have shown that even moderate drin,ing is not good for health as it
gives rise to coronary heart diseases'O said <enegal adding that F( $ercent of youth u$ to
%( years age start consuming alcohol early in their life.
He also noted that there is also a significant relationshi$ between alcohol and se;ual
behaviour' adding that recent cases of ra$e incidents in the country have also found
alcohol into;ication among the accused.
9oni,a Arora' director 1health $romotion2 -ublic Health Foundation of India 1-HFI2' said
that the country has become a lucrative mar,et for alcohol com$anies' and alcohol sales
have become a ma5or revenue generator for the states.
She asserted for a need to have a national and subCnational $olicy on alcohol' regulation of
consum$tion' com$rehensive monitoring of advertisments and interCsectoral strategy in
the country.
O0here is no uniform age ca$ in states. Karious surrogate ads through fashion shows'
cric,et matches are being used by agencies for aggressive $romotion. 0here seems to be a
$olicy deficit'O said Arora.
OAs the $er ca$ita income of $eo$le has increased' alcohol consum$tion has also
increased. Alcohol shouldnJt be considered as a free tradable commodity as there are many
health' social and economic issues related'O she noted.
0hor Norstrom' $rofessor at Stoc,holm niversity' said there was a need for mobiliBing
women grou$s' NG@s' and advocacy grou$s in India to chec, unwanted alcohol
consum$tion.
OIn India' in about %& $ercent of domestic violence there was some level of $hysical
violence ' out of which ?( $ercent of accused had done that in alcohol into;ication'O he
said.
Nostrom also said that even in the recent fatal ra$e cases in the country' the cul$rits had
acted under alcoholJs influence.
Stating that there countries should learn from the Swedish e;$erience' 9ats Ramstedt'
associate $rofessor at the Stoc,holm Forebygger Al,oholoch "rog$roblem' said that
alcohol consum$tion and related issues di$$ed in the Scandinavian country due to the
stable ca$ on ta;es and $rices.
1)ertension #ecoming an e)idemic in
India: .6)erts

KI7AS CHA"HARA ! New "elhi' A$ril ?' %()F )?#*)
Tags : 1)ertension ! World 1ealth 8a ! 8ia#etes ! 0etro 1os)itals !

India is home to )F= million $eo$le of uncontrolled hy$ertension' which ma,es around )*
$ercent of the global $o$ulation. In India' according to /H@' raised blood $ressure has
increased from > $c in the )=?(s to nearly )% $c in the )==(s and further it increased to
above F( $c in %((M' among them a significant number is in their twenties. 0he study
highlights that high blood $ressure or hy$ertension in adults aged %> and above was
around *($c.
S$ea,ing on the eve of /orld Health "ay %()F' -adma Kibhushan P "r.<.C. Roy
National awardee "r. -urshotam +al' Chairman P Chief Cardiologist' 9etro Hos$itals
and Heart Institute' Noida said' 4High blood $ressure or hy$ertension is silent ,iller as its
sym$toms rarely show' most of the cases go undiagnosed. +ow sodium' low sugar and
high $otassium diet along with weight loss solutions can be a healthy a$$roach to treating
high blood $ressure.6 Hy$ertension $uts stress on the heart and blood vessels and is one of
the ma5or $reventable ris, factors for $remature death from cardiovascular disease
worldwide. It ,ills &.> million $eo$le worldwide each year Q more than AI"S' road
accidents' diabetes and tuberculosis $ut together.
"iscussing about the the role of interventional cardiology in the treatment of hy$ertension'
"r. -urushottam lal announced on the occasion that 9etro Hos$itals and Heart Institutes is
going to introduce Radio Fre3uency 0echni3ue for the treatment of severe Hy$ertension.
0his techni3ue is latest develo$ment in the treatment of Hy$ertension and only few
medical centres in India have this facility.
As our heart beats' it forces blood through our arteries. 0his force is called blood $ressure.
If the $ressure is too high' it is called hy$ertension. High blood $ressure may mean that
your heart has to wor, harder to $um$ blood. Aour arteries may be narrow or stiff and the
e;tra wor, $uts you at ris, of heart disease' stro,e' and other $roblems. 4In our clinical
$ractice we find that about >( $er cent of those suffering from blood $ressure are not
aware of it and ?( $er cent of those who are aware of it are not ade3uately controlling it.
0his has led to a s$urt of young $atients develo$ing heart and other diseases early6' said
"r. -.0. $asani' senior cardiologist at 9etro Hos$ital.
9inimiBing your salt inta,e can hel$ significantly. Reducing your daily salt inta,e from *
grams to %.F grams can reduce blood $ressure by >GFmm of mercury in hy$ertensive
$eo$le.
Hy$ertension is an im$ortant $ublic health $roblem in India. It is a modern e$idemic' a
silent ,illerE in fact' hy$ertension is the most $revalent chronic disease in India.
E$idemiological studies show a steadily increasing trend in hy$ertension $revalence over
the last >( years in India contrary to the develo$ed countries where there has been a
significant decline. @ver )*( million $eo$le are believed to be suffering from high blood
$ressure in our country and the number is e;$ected to cross the %)* million mar, in %(F(.
A /H@ estimate in %()% suggests that %F $er cent men and %% $er cent women above %>
years of age suffer hy$ertension in India.
An increasing number of healthy children and adolescents across India are being
diagnosed with hy$ertension' which is an emerging $roblem that no one can afford to
ignore. 0he evidence from studies indicates a recent increase in the $revalence of
hy$ertension in children and young adults' says "r. Ra5esh <ansal' Senior Ne$hrologist at
9etro 9ulti s$eciality Hos$ital.
80he increase in hy$ertension is related to rising $o$ulationCmean systolic blood $ressure
and is associated with escalating hy$ertension ris, factors li,e sedentary lifestyle'
$sychosocial stress' e;cessive salt inta,e' alcohol consum$tion and obesity. Recent studies
show that for every ,nown $erson with hy$ertension there are two $ersons with either
undiagnosed hy$ertension or $reChy$ertension:' said "r. +al' ' who is also a member of
Governing <oard of 9edical Council of India 19CI2.
4@n this eve of /orld Health "ay' when Hy$ertension is the theme we must not forget
that to control the menace of cardiovascular diseases 1CK"2 we have to have an early ris,
identification and intervention strategy in $lace. And for this strategy to succeed' we need
to have com$rehensive health status reviews done regularly through diagnostic tests and
clinical consultations'6 said "r. +al. India' with a who$$ing $o$ulation of ).% billion'
accounts for one of the highest burdens of NC"s in the world. 0his fact has been a bane
for India:s fight against $overty as well. In lowCresource settings' healthCcare costs for
cardiovascular diseases' cancers' diabetes or chronic lung diseases can 3uic,ly drain
household resources' driving families into $overty. India has a NC" death rate of &()CM((
$er )(('((( $o$ulations 1/H@' %((M2' and out of this around *(( deaths in )(('(((
$o$ulation are contributed by CK"s. Indians are ,nown to have earlier onset of coronary
artery disease' higher mortality' higher $revalence of truncal obesity and $eo$le
with hy$ertension. Since CK"s are $reventable in many individuals with right mi; of
e;ercise diet control and lifestyle modifications' world has seen a shift in focus C from
intervention to $rediction and then $revention. 0his becomes im$ortant because
identification of ris, for $articular disease gives the individual a critical lead time to ta,e
$recautionary measures.
Hy$ertension is a ma5or $ublic health $roblem worldwide and is one of the ris, factors for
coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease. "evelo$ment of adult hy$ertension
may start very early in life' and children maintain their $osition in the blood $ressure
distribution over time. Increased blood $ressure is a highCris, condition that causes
a$$ro;imately >) $er cent deaths from stro,e and *> $er cent from coronary artery disease
in India. It is a ma5or ris, factor for cardioCvascular diseases that ,illed %.& million $eo$le
in %((* and will result in the death of over * million $eo$le by %(F(. Hy$ertension or
elevated blood $ressure cannot be ta,en lightly. It can' over a $eriod of time' wrea, havoc
with oneJs system. It increases a $ersonJs ris, for heart disease' stro,e' ,idney disease and
even blindness.
/ARUN 81AWAN
Is this the 'raduation $ear for the
Student-

0SI chats u$ with Karun "hawan who has been ra,ing in fame every day and is bac, with
9ain 0era HeroR
0SI ! Issue "ated# A$ril %&' %()*' New "elhi
Tags : 0ain Tera 1ero ! 2aran 7ohar ! 7im Carre ! "en Stiller ! Chris Roc& !

9or ou( our #rother Rohit is a hero and our father a
legend:
I thin, very early in my life when I did my first advertisement' he was the one who was
there and told me how to go about it.
He wanted to be a director' so he told me what a director loo,s for in an actor.
/hen I reached 7aran Dohar:s office as an assistant director' because Rohit had studied
films and was an assistant director himself that time' he gave me a lot of $ointers and ti$s
on how to behave as an Assistant director. 0he ,ind of things that can add value to the
$ro5ect.
/hen I did Student of the Aear' the first $erson I shared my scri$t with was him and he
gave me a lot of ti$s on how to go about it.
Aou ,now' when my brother started earning money very early in life' I sto$$ed ta,ing
money from my $arents because he started giving me money.
I have a really good ra$$ort with my father as well but my brother has always been a hero
in my life.
I have got an amaBing e3uation with my father as well. For
me' it was very difficult to always see my father li,e a stereoty$ical serious father figure
because he is a very humorous $erson and a very uni3ue $ersonality.
I thin, very early in life' I became friends with my father. In fact' he always wanted to
,ee$ it li,e that.
If he was watching a cric,et game' he would always want me to sit with him and watch the
match together' or watch movies together and ,now my o$inion of what I would li,e and
what I wouldn:t.
He is my father' so the res$ect and the e3uation will be there but more than that' he always
tries to be more of a friend and tries to find out what:s ha$$ening in my $ersonal life.
If my friends are coming home' he would sit with them' chill with them. 9y father has
never raised his voice or his hand on me as a ,id. He has never done that.
0he difficult $art when I went on set with him for 9ain 0era Hero was that he is very
strict as a director on set. He is a no nonsense guy. He has a short fuse and if things don:t
go the way they are $lanned' he can lose it no matter who is on set.
So there were a lot of times when he screamed at me. /e would have a lot of arguments
which I thin, are very im$ortant to give birth to creative thin,ing.
While our #rother ,ent on our father;s footste)s and too& on
directing( ou set foot in main stream "oll,ood as an actor+ 1o, did that ha))en-
I thin, this ha$$ened with watching a lot of films. I used to watch a lot of western standC
u$ comedy whether it is Dim Carrey' <en Stiller or Chris Roc,.
A lot of s,its by Dohnny +ever as well. I used to watch films but I was very intrigued by
stage $erformances which is a live interaction. I wanted to do that.
I didn:t thin, that I wanted to do films but as time $rogressed and as I grew older and too,
classes' other things started being interesting to me and I got interested in drama and more
serious ,ind of cinema as well. So I thin, I wanted to e;$lore all of it.
'o*inda has #een a constant )resence in 8a*id 8ha,an;s cinema( and he ha))ens to
#e our fa*ourite too+
@h yaL 0otally. I don:t thin, anyone can re$lace Govinda or Salman' es$ecially in my
dad:s life and no one should try.
In 9AIN 0ERA HER@' I saw the role was for a young boy and that is the way I $layed it.
0here are two gorgeous women in the film' so it is how a boy of my age will react. /hen I
did S0"EN0 @F 0HE AEAR' $eo$le did not say that my acting has a flavour of Salman
and Govinda but in this film it may be ha$$ening because the director has wor,ed with
these $eo$le so much that his style of film ma,ing is li,e that.9aybe that is why you
would $robably see a similarity.
"ac& in the da( our father made films li&e 1ero No <( "i,i No <: And *er
recentl Partner ,as a su)er #loc&#uster+ There is something timeless a#out him and
his cinema that it ,or&s e*en toda++
I thin, it is because of two things. @ne is his $assion and second is his disci$line.
He is one of the most $unctual $eo$le you:ll ever meet in life.
At set' if we have to shoot at = o:cloc, when assistant directors are called at &#F(' he
would be there at &. Half an hour before all the assistant directors at the age of ?(.
Aou can:t 5ust have talent and say I am talented and it:ll ha$$en. I have learnt that from
him.
1a*e ou #een seduced # stardom et-
0he meaning of the term stardom has changed today. /hat $eo$le had earlier and what
stars have today are very different.
Everything has changed from the audience to the media and the mystery about the star has
vanished.
Home
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4U=UR$ ARTPI.C.S
2ee)ing time at "asel,orld

An annual $ilgrimage for watch and 5ewellery aficionados' the <aselworld /atch and
Dewellery Show recently concluded in <asil. Anu Gulmohar re$orts on the $henomenal
show.
AN G+9@HAR ! Issue "ated# A$ril %&' %()*' New "elhi
Tags : "asel,orld Watch ! Sch,ei>er 0ustermesse "asel ! /ictorino6 ! Altanus
'en?*e !

""AS.4WOR48 IS T1AT 0O0.NT IN TI0.
T1AT 8.T.R0IN.S T1. 9UTUR."
Each year <asel $lays host to 0he <aselworld /atch and Dewellery Show and attracts
horologists and 5ewellers from around the world in droves. Its e;hibition halls are s$read
across an un$recedented F( ,ms' and this year %('((( wor,ers too, two months to build
the venue designed by HerBog P de 9euron. 0he event attracts over )'>('((( visitors
annually' most of whom are buyers and resellers of watches' 5ewellery and $recious
stones. New $roducts' trends and innovations are $resented by leading global brands and a
remar,able M(S of global sales of watches and 5ewellery are generated at <aselworld.
0his year:s edition was held from %&th 9arch to Frd A$ril.
0he show:s roots date bac, to )=)&' when a section of the first SchweiBer 9ustermesse
<asel 19<A2 was dedicated to watches and 5ewellery. In )=F)' this grew to a devoted
$avilion called the SchweiBer hrenmesse' or Swiss /atch Show. From )=&% onwards
other Euro$ean nations 5oined the event. From )=M? countries from outside of Euro$e
were also included and today it has develo$ed into the e$icentre of watch and 5ewellery
trade in the world. 0his year witnessed )'>(( e;hibitors from *( countries. 4<asel is
e;tremely im$ortant to the $ulse of the world' not 5ust Euro$e or Asia. 0herefore'
<aselworld is' according to me' the most im$ortant 5ewellery venue worldwide as it
attracts buyers from all mar,ets'6 said 9ichael Gad of 9ichael Gad Emeralds.
Each year watch and 5ewellery com$anies ta,e great $ride in unveiling their new $roducts
and innovations at <aselworld. CE@ of <ulgari' DeanCChristo$he <abin' said' 4<aselworld
is that moment in time that determines the future. In the course of one wee,' we unveil our
novelties to business $artners and to the $ress of the whole worldE $ossibly one of the most
intimate e;ercises of a brand' the creation. In return' we feel the emotions that our
creations evo,e. A ca$ital e;$erience for the future to continue to im$rove ourselves.6
Graff "iamonds unveiled a T>> million watch for the ladies
named Hallucination at the e;hibition. "iamond U+ is a collection of $atented solitaires
which increase diamond visual $erce$tion by >( $ercent' and conse3uently the $erceived
value of the diamond. Several watch com$anies introduced incredible watches' including
four of the lightest watches in the world by <R9' G-S technology integrated $ieces by
CitiBen and Sei,o' and the world:s first wristwatch with time' altimeter' barometer by
<reva.
0his year several com$anies celebrated their milestone years at the e;hibition. Kictorino;
celebrated its %>th year as a watchma,er' and launched a new rugged watch named Ino;
and a 0itanium edition of its "ive 9aster >(( watch on the occasion. Altanus GenVve
mar,ed its centenary with two new limited edition collections. 0he <ritish watch and
5ewellery brand Storm introduced two s$ecial edition watches on its %>th anniversary.
Hans ". 7rieger Fine Dewellery celebrated its >(th year in gem design and diamond
5ewellery manufacture.
Itching to see the new watches and 5ewellery $ieces revealed at <aselworld %()*I Aour
wait is over.
TI0.@STOPP.RS AT "AS.4WOR48
<+R'@AB # "R0
At 5ust **.) gms' this is the lightest *? mm s$orts watch in the world. 0he French
manufacturer blends traditional watchma,ing craftsmanshi$ with the $recision materials
and techni3ues associated with motors$ort com$etition. -recious metals meet com$osite
materials li,e titanium carbon fibre and its colours ma,e a bold statement.
C+'Dnie E< # "re*a
GWnie () is the world:s first wristwatch with time' altimeter' barometer and $ower reserve
indications. DeanCFranXois 9o5onGChronode develo$ed the $ro$rietary movement of the
GWnie () e;clusively for <reva. An osmotic 0eflon membrane filters moisture from any air
entering the movement' thus im$roving the longevity and reliability of the watch. 0he
intricate details of the watch are visible through its sa$$hire crystal dis$lay bac,.
F+"reguet ClassiGue H'rande Com)lication; Tour#illon e6tra@thin Automatic IFJJ
0his e;traCthin watch is accentuated by the 0ourbillon with a carriage in titanium. Its
movement incor$orates a balance s$ring in silicon' which has been $raised widely for its
antiCmagnetic $ro$erties' and the esca$ement is crafted from silicon and antiCmagnetic
steel. 0his Classi3ue 8Grande Com$lication: beats at *HB' yet than,s to the $atented 8highC
energy: barrel' the >F&& $rovides =( hours of running time. <reguet:s watchma,ers have
$laced the biCdirectional $latinum winding rotor on the $eri$hery of the movement'
ma,ing this automatic 0ourbillon one of the world:s thinnest.
A+'irard@Perregau6 Constant .sca)ement 4+0+
0his new watch from GirardC-erregau; is based on the groundCbrea,ing $rototy$es
$resented in %((M. It has ta,en the com$any five years of research and develo$ment to
com$lete this signature movement. 0he Constant Esca$ement beats at the fre3uency of F
HB or %)'?(( vibrations $er hour. 0he movement is $laced in a round *M mm diameter
case in white gold with a curved case band. -resenting a novel layout' the brand:s three
iconic bridges lie under the antiCglare treated sa$$hire glass. Its manually wound calibre is
less than M mm in thic,ness and the case measures )*.?F mm. 0he alligator stra$ and
folding clas$ of the watch are sewn by hand.
I+The 1amilton RailRoad Auto Chrono
0he new RailRoad time$iece alludes to the brand:s re$ute as 80he /atch of Railroad
Accuracy:' gained in )=th century America. Hamilton has integrated styling elements such
as rounded edges' vertical brushing and ta$ered $usher $rotectors ty$ical to $oc,et
watches of that era. It comes with a stylish stainless steel bracelet or a blac, leather stra$
with fine stitching. Against a blac, or slate grey bac,dro$' a tachymeter in contrasting
chestnutCbrown or blue res$ectively' travels outwards from the dial:s centre. 0he watch has
elegant' swordCsha$ed hands' which have a so$histicated' $olished finish as they move'
s$ot on time' from one nic,elC$lated a$$lied inde; to the ne;t. Its main mechanism and HC
%) movement' that facilitates o$eration of the three counters' are visible from the bac,.
B+Car)e 8iem # 2onstantin Cha&in 0anufacture
A wor, of art as much as a time$iece' this watch incor$orates several allegoric
re$resentations of time in its mechanics and design. 0he creators have intended to embody
the abstract idea of time using classic meta$hors from the /estern canon. 0he main
character on the watch is the ancient God Chronos' who had birthed 0ime. 0he moving
sand serves as the minute indicator. 0he $atented mechanism by 7onstantin Chay,in uses
a few shutters to create the illusion of sand flowing through an hourglass. Hours are
indicated by a hand enclosed in a miniature dial decorated with a monogram. Each day of
the wee, is indicated by the a$$ro$riate astrological sign.
0he bridges in the watch are decorated with 8cYtes de GenVve:' the esca$ement wheel is of
gold' and the barrel wheel and winding wheels are $olished. 0he case is hand engravedE its
bac, is made from sa$$hire glass.
J+Phoeni6 Classico Chrono # U@"oat
0he case of this fine 5ewellery watch is crafted by hand using traditional artisanal
techni3ues' given a martellWe finishing' and then $artially drilled to create small crac,s in
the sterling silver =%> material. 0hese small crac,s are then filled by Italian craftsmen with
)M( blac, diamonds. 0he stra$ features e;clusive symbols in silver and $recious stones.
0his $recious 5ewellery master$iece has an im$ressive dial' a sa$$hire glass and a calf
leather stra$ inset with silver and blac, diamonds.
K+0argot # Christo)he Claret
0his is the first Christo$he Claret com$lication develo$ed for women. Ins$ired by the 8He
loves meR He loves me not: game' the watch features a mechanism where a $ress of the
$usher at % o:cloc, brings the watch to life. /ith each $ress' a $etal or a $air of $etals'
subtly disa$$ear under the dial. 0he answer a$$ears at random in calligra$hic letters 1in
French2 on the dial at * o:cloc,# n $eu 1a little2Gbeaucou$ 1a lot2G$assionnWment
1$assionately2GZ la folie 1madly2G$as du tout 1not at all2. -ressing the reset button at *
o:cloc, instantly ma,es all $etals rea$$ear and turns the 8sentiment: dis$lay to an elli$sis
1R2.
Its natural mother of $earl dial reveals delicately engraved verses $enned by Kictor Hugo
and holds three $earCsha$ed diamonds. Its steel hands have gold ti$s while the )% white
titanium $etals are satinClac3uered.
8ALL4IN' 7.W.4S O9 "AS.4WOR48
<+Amalfi # Al Coro
Al Coro:s new collection combines )MCcarat white gold and crystal clear white diamonds
in a tribute to the $ictures3ue coastline of the Gulf of Salerno. 0he filigree meshwor, of
)M ct. gold characterises this line and reflects the glow and sha$e of shining full moon.
0he Amalfi ring is &>( white gold and its diamonds are of ).)& ct.
C+Sa##ia Collection # "a*na
<avna:s Sunny Dain designs modern and bold 5ewellery collections from his design atelier
in +os Angeles' California. 0he Sabbia Collection features cham$agne diamonds in
statement earrings' nec,laces' cuffs' bracelets and rings. 0he $ieces are dramatically set in
)M ct. yellow gold detailed with intricate metalwor,.
F+/itral collection # 0agerit
0his bold and sur$rising collection is ins$ired by Gothic architecture' $articularly from the
rose windows and the gargoyles. 0he nec,laces' rings' earrings' bracelets and cuff lin,s
are entirely made of )M ct white and yellow gold' diamonds' colour sa$$hires' colour
3uartBes and other $recious stones.
A+The /igneto Collection # $o&o 4ondon
0he Kigneto Collection from the lu;ury $earl 5ewellery brand Ao,o +ondon trans$ired
after the com$any ac3uired a range of rare and highly valuable freshwater $earls in uni3ue
natural shades of dee$ violet. 0hese have been set with glimmering diamonds in )M ct.
white gold.
Caelograph by Caran d;Ache
0he craftsmen at Caran d:Ache have wor,ed with astronomers to $roduce this novel
instrument that is a $en and also e;$lores the s,y and the stars. Its ingenious mechanism
allows one to observe the $osition of the stars and the constellations' while its body
features a ma$ of the s,y enhanced by midnight blue Chinese lac3uer. Re$roducing a flat
ma$ on the curved surface of a $en is a serious technical challenge' a$$lied for the first
time to a writing instrument. Caran d:Ache has also ca$tured the >) constellations and F>F
stars visible from the northern hemis$here onto the small surface of the $en. 0he s,y chart
can tell the $osition of the stars at any given time.
How $athetic is ISISI
Kery $athetic Q des$ite what you hear from the howling ideologues on AmericaJs right
wing
<y "amon +in,er ! ?#(Mam E0
*
)

It:s hard to imagine this ragtag grou$ of terrorists running an actual state. 19edyan
"airiehGN9A -ressGCorbis2
ISIS has gruesomely beheaded yet another /esterner Q this time' <ritish aid wor,er Alan
Henning. /hen I heard' my first reaction' as always' was to be furious at the grou$Js
barbarism. <ut about two seconds later' something else $o$$ed into my head# <oy' these
ISIS guys sure are a bunch of $athetic losers.
0hat is not to minimiBe the horrific violence inherent in the act of beheading' or the
terrible tragedy this is for HenningJs friends and family. <ut thin, about the bigger $icture#
0he nited States is firing hundreds of hugely e;$ensive' technologically so$histicated
missiles at ISIS from $ositions of com$lete safety. And how does the grou$ res$ondI <y
sending some dude in a chea$ Halloween costume out onto a roc,y hillside to manually
slice the head off of an innocent man who came to Syria to hel$ $eo$le in need.
0hatJs the best theyJve gotI
/eJve gone from facing down HitlerJs Germany' Im$erial Da$an' and StalinJs Soviet nion
to feeling $rovo,ed by a ragtag bunch of lunatics who can only manage to hurt us one
$erson at a time with a butcherJs ,nifeI AouJve got to be ,idding.
After the Se$tember )) attac,s' lots of analysts fastened onto the fact that the hi5ac,ers
accom$lished their goals with wea$ons no more so$histicated than bo; cutters. Everyone
at the time inter$reted this as uni3uely frightening' because it demonstrated our
vulnerability# +oo, at how much death and destruction could be sown with minimal
wea$onry and the will to inflict ma;imal harm.
0hirteen years later' things loo, a little different.
0errorism is a form of asymmetrical warfare' usually de$loyed by a wea,er $ower against
a stronger one. 0hat describes Se$tember )) $erfectly. <ut since thenI 0here hasnJt been a
single followCu$ hi5ac,ing' and no bombs have been detonated on American soil. 0here
have been a handful of attem$ted attac,s in $ublic $laces' but none has been successful.
nless youJre going to count that guy who set his shoe on fire on a transCAtlantic fight Q
an act that accom$lished nothing more harmful than getting the 0SA to re3uire air
travelers to remove their shoes at air$ort security chec,$oints forevermore. 0hatJs a $ain in
the ass but hardly a deathly blow against American global hegemony or whatever it is that
Islamic terrorists thin, theyJre fighting for.
And that' my friends' is $athetic. It canJt even be described as asymmetrical warfare. ItJs
more li,e totalCfail warfare.
Now' this doesnJt mean that -resident @bama is wrong to use military force to ,ee$ ISIS
from carving out an actual state from the ruins of Syria and Ira3. If these $athetic lunatics
were successful' they might use such a state as a $latform from which to launch terrorist
attac,s against the nited States' much as @sama bin +aden used Afghanistan to $lan and
$rosecute the bombings that led u$ to and included Se$tember )). IJm s,e$tical that ISIS
would be able to get its act together enough to run an actual state' 5ust as I doubt our air
cam$aign will accom$lish much beyond tem$orarily stalling the grou$Js ram$age across
9eso$otamia. Still' the instinct to do what we can militarily' and within reason' to forestall
the founding of a genuine Islamic State isnJt obviously ridiculous.
<ut you ,now what is obviously ridiculousI 0he reaction of the American right to the
$residentJs latterCday haw,ishness Q for being insufficiently unhinged and hysterical.
<ecause I donJt live my life in the rightCwing echo chamber' I wasnJt fully aware of how
@bamaJs ISIS $olicy was being received by the conservative movementJs media com$le;.
Since its $rofits de$end on demoniBing "emocrats' I figured thereJd be criticism Q though
I also assumed it would be somewhat measured' since @bama had un3uestioningly come
around to a $osition much closer to what the right would $refer.
<ut then I began to do some research for this column by ty$ing into Google the search
terms OISISO and O$athetic.O 0he resultsI <ill 7ristol saying @bamaJs reaction to ISIS is
$athetic. Chuc, Norris calling @bamaJs $olicy against the grou$ $athetic. Red State
$ronouncing on @bamaJs wea, and $athetic s$eech defending our military res$onse to
ISIS. @n and on and on# 9ar, +evin' Ral$h -eters' Deanine -irro Q all of them and many
more calling the $resident $athetic for merely de$loying American air$ower 1and not
thousands of ground troo$sI not thermonuclear wea$onsI2 against the $issant thugs of
ISIS.
/hat a strange time in American history Q when mediaCam$lified ideologues who li,e to
$ortray themselves as e;em$lars of unwavering confidence and courage end u$ sta,ing
out $ositions motivated $rimarily by cowardice. 0he nited States $ossesses the most
$owerful military in the world by far' and yet a few thousand ,nifeCwielding hooligans
tooling around a desert ?'((( miles away from the nationJs borders are enough to send
these swaggering tough guys into a tiBByI
In the o$ening lines of the New York Times MagazineJs remar,able feature on 9arilynne
Robinson from this $ast Sunday' the &(CyearCold novelist remar,s that Ofear has' in this
moment' a res$ectability IJve never seen in my life.O
-recisely.
ItJs always hard to ,now whether the rightJs $rofessional demagogues really believe what
theyJre saying Q or if' instead' theyJre 5ust sto,ing $ublic fear and $aranoia to gin u$
ratings. <ut either way' there seem to be an awful lot of $eo$le in the .S. today who
consider it a mar, of moral seriousness and strength Q as o$$osed to a sign of freeC
floating an;iety and mis$laced $anic Q to treat a minor nuisance li,e ISIS as if it were
e;istential threat.
Fear has its $lace' and itJs sometimes called for. <ut it can also badly distort oneJs
5udgment.
And itJs never something to be $roud of.
7ASH9IR <@R"ER
-a, targets *( border out$osts' F in5ured
-0I
Story "ated# 0uesday' @ctober &' %()* )(#)% hrs IS0
0e;t SiBe
Killagers show mortar shell mar,s on a wall after indiscriminate firing by -a,istan
Rangers at a residential area near the IndiaC-a,istan international border in Dammu on
9ondayC-0I
Dammu# <reaching the ceasefire for the )&th time this month' -a,istan rangers targeted *(
border out$osts and %> border hamlets by resorting to heavy mortar shelling and firing
along the international <order in Dammu and Samba districts of Dammu and 7ashmir'
leaving three $ersons in5ured.
<SF troo$s gave a befitting re$ly to four ceasefire violations by -a,istan resulting in
e;changes' which are still on in some areas.
O-a,istani Rangers again resorted to un$rovo,ed mortar shellingand heavy firing on <SF
$osts along the International <order 1I<2 since =$m yesterday'O <SF s$o,esman Kinood
Aadav said today.
OAs many as *( <SF border out$osts were affected by the firing from -a,istan side'O he
said' adding that firing and shelling was targeted on areas along I< in Arnia' R.S. -ura'
7anacha, and -argwal subCsectors along I< in Dammu and Samba districts.
Giving further details' he said almost all the <SF $osts in 7anacha,and -argwal were
targeted by the -a,istan Rangers.
<SF -osts in Arnia and R.S. -urasubCsectors were also also targeted by the enemy' the
s$o,esman said.
O<SF troo$s at all the $laces gave a strong and befitting re$ly to firing from -a,O' the
s$o,esman said' adding that firing in some $laces' $articularly -argwal is still on.
O0here is no loss of life or damage to <SF O' he said.
@ver )((( $eo$le have been accommodated in cam$s overnight.
0his was the )&th ceasefire violation along the IndoC-a, border in Dammuand 7ashmir
since @ctober ).
Si; $ersons have been ,illed and >( others including <SF 5awans were in5ured in -a,istani
shelling and firing along +oC and I< in Dammu and -oonch districts in the ceasefire
violations this month.
9AHARASH0RA
Shiv Sena hits out at 9odi
-0I
Story "ated# 0uesday' @ctober &' %()* )*#%( hrs IS0
0e;t SiBe
Shiv Sena -resident ddhav 0hac,eray addresses an elections cam$aign rally in Sola$ur'
9aharashtra on 9ondayC-0I
9umbai# +aunching a fresh attac, on -rime 9inister Narendra 9odi' the Shiv Sena today
said he is leaving his wor, in "elhi to hold rallies in 9aharashtra and 3uestioned the wor,
done by him for the state after becoming the -rime 9inister.
0he Sena also told its estranged ally <D- that fre3uent visits of the -rime 9inister for the
cam$aign was denting the stateJs coffers.
O0he -rime 9inister is busy addressing rallies in 9aharashtra leaving his wor, in "elhi.
9odi is a tall leader of the <D- but he has been forced to cam$aign in the state since the
<D- has no ,nown faces in 9aharashtra'O the Sena said in its editorial mouth$iece
JSaamanaJ.
If 9odi was a Osu$erstar cam$aignerO as $ro5ected by the <D-' he would have a$$ealed to
$eo$le of the state to vote for his $arty while sitting in New "elhi' it said.
OIf 9odi had a mass a$$eal as $ro5ected by the <D-' he 19odi2 instead of conducting %>C
F( cam$aigns in different $arts of 9aharashtra' would have sat in "elhi and a$$ealed for
votes and $eo$le would have definitely listened to him'O the Sena organ said.

O/hen some rogue elements had threatened to disru$t the annual Amarnath yatra'
<alasaheb 0hac,eray had challenged them while sitting in 9umbai. 0he rogue elements
never dared to hurt the $ilgrims then'O it said.
NC- chief Sharad -awar and 9NS chief Ra5 0hac,eray have been 3uestioning 9odiJs
obsession with Gu5arat ins$ite of him being the -rime 9inister' and they have only given
words to what the Shiv Sena felt 1about 9odi2' it further said.
OIt does not suit a -rime 9inister to wander from village to village as,ing for votes...0he
dignity of the -9Js chair should be u$held'O the editorial said.
0he Sena also 3uestioned the wor, done by 9odi for 9aharashtra after becoming the -9'
and said it is ironical that they 1<D-2 have suddenly found love for 9aratha warrior ,ing
Shiva5i.
0he Sena also said that the burden of the visits was falling on the stateJs treasury.
O/henever the -rime 9inister is invited to conduct rallies' many things need to be ta,en
care of. His security and other arrangements need money' the burden of which finally falls
on the shoulders of the state treasury. /hen Sonia Gandhi and 9anmohan Singh used the
state machinery $reviously' they were severely criticised'O it said
CRREN0 EKEN0S
/ater whirled
-hotos by Salil <eraE 0e;t by S. Neera5 7rishna
Story "ated# 9onday' @ctober ?' %()* )M#F? hrs IS0
After 7ashmir' floods batter the northeast. 0HE /EE7 re$orts from Ground Nero in
Assam
0e;t SiBe


Her hand was trembling. I can still feel it in mine. I do not ,now her name' nor her age.
0here was no conversation. All I could do was hold the frail' old womanJs hand. She had
5ust been $ulled into the boat from muddy' nec,Cdee$ water. /ater that was raging down
the hills to merge with the <rahma$utra.
Clutching at straws# 0his young man' who swam against the tide and was caught in the
current' was saved 5ust in time by the local $eo$le.
No one s$o,e much on that boat' an olive green one the Air Force had given to the local
$eo$le for evacuation. 0hey were all cold' lost and worried about losing whatever they
had.
Sab kuch gaya sab kuch gaya [Everything is goneR everything is gone\'6 another
aged woman who was evacuated ,e$t muttering' as if chanting a mantra.
0hings' indeed' were going' gone' in 9ohmara village' 7amru$ district' about F(,m from
Guwahati. -addy fields became 8riverbedsJ. -lantains became lifeboats. Homes turned
ho$eless. Hordes turned homeless.
It was the $oignant sights such as a father ta,ing his toddlers on a $lantain raft and
battered families raising ma,eshift huts that made us sto$ in 9ohmara' while on our )(C
hour drive from the Guwahati air$ort to Niro valley in Arunachal -radesh.
/e had no idea about what we were getting into. Ha$less souls were wailing for hel$ from
all sides as the evacuation boat we boarded too, to the ravaging waters. @ne young man
too, the ris, of swimming against the tide to catch the boat.
His gas$ing face' while being $ulled into the boat' will remained etched in our minds. So
will be the fright on the face of schoolgirl Rita "as.
Suddenly' $eo$le ato$ a nearby bridge started shouting. 0hey were warning us' as our boat
was going in the wrong direction.
4/e are caught in the strong current'6 said 9ahendra Dena' a college student who had
volunteered to 5oin us. /e were being ruthlessly dragged downstream.
40his is itL Floody hell'6 I wrote down in my rainCsoa,ed note$ad. 0HE /EE7Js Chief
-hotogra$her Salil <era started $anic,ing' too. His concern' however' was not about
drowning' but the safety of his camerasL
0han,s to vigorous rowing by veteran oarsmen' the boat made it to a safe Bone' and we
held on to $artially submerged trees. @ur car driver 0a$an' who was ato$ the bridge' later
told us with a smile that he sincerely $rayed for our lives' as he was $retty sure that the
boat stood no chance against the gushing floodwaters.
0he scene bac, on land' too' was grim. Hundreds of dis$laced families s3uatted by the
highway that runs along the AssamC9eghalaya border. At least )( la,h $eo$le have been
affected in the region. As on Se$tember %&' the death toll because of flash floods and
landslides in the northeast had crossed &M.
40he Army and the National "isaster Res$onse Force have been $ressed into action. 0he
men have been wor,ing nonsto$ for *M hours'6 said "hruba Dyoti "as' the officer in
charge of rescue and relief o$erations in Ra5garh area' Guwahati' where dis$laced $eo$le
were mobbing a relief shed to get hold of water bottles and biscuit $ac,ets. 40he situation
is 3uite critical' un$redictable' as the meteorology de$artment has warned that heavy rains
are li,ely to continue across the northeast. 0his is the worst flood stri,e in recent times.6
<A00+E F@R
9e;ican standoff
<y "nyanesh Dathar
Story "ated# Saturday' @ctober *' %()* ))#)* hrs IS0
0e;t SiBe


@n Se$tember %)' a cou$le of hours after Shiv Sena $resident ddhav 0hac,eray had
$ro$osed his seat sharing formula to the <D- 1Sena# )>)' <D-# ))=' Allies# )M2' de$uty
chief minister A5it -awar of the Nationalist Congress -arty called one of his aides in
<aramati' his constituency. 0he conversation' which lasted about five minutes' o$ened
CubJs rub# Shiv Sena chief ddhav 0hac,eray with son Aditya at the launch of the $oll
cam$aign after the s$lit with the <D-. -hoto by Amey 9ansabdar
with -awar informing his aide that 4the Shiv SenaC<D- alliance is over6. He then
instructed his aide to find out who his li,ely o$$onents would be now that every $arty was
fighting on its own.
-awar certainly wasnJt $ro$hetic. <ut he was among the very few who were convinced
that the @ctober )> election to the legislative assembly would be fought inde$endently by
all the $arties. /hile others claimed to be busy in saving the alliance for a grand causeQ
be it Hindutva or unity of secular forcesQ-awar was firm from day one that he did not
want an alliance with the Congress' even if the Shiv Sena and the <D- managed to save
theirs at the last minute.
Giving him com$any was nion minister Nitin Gad,ari of the <D-' who' too' was
convinced about his $arty contesting the elections alone. 0hough he could not be as
$recise and clinical as -awar because he was s$ea,ing at a $ublic function and the saffron
alliance was still intact then' Gad,ari told "evendra Fadnavis' the state <D- $resident' at a
recent function in Nag$ur that the state was all set to welcome a <D- government. Said an
aide of 0hac,eray# 4Gad,ari and ddhav5i never got along well. He was in favour of
sna$$ing ties right from the day the <D- won ma5ority on its own at the Centre.6
It is these two ambitious leaders who had been $re$aring the ground for the two most
highC$rofile $olitical divorces that 9aharashtra has seen in recent times. In the case of the
NC-' -awar steamrolled the o$$osition to the brea,u$ in his characteristic style' $ointing
out that the best way to counter antiCincumbency was to contest all %MM seats. He told
senior $arty leaders that it would not be $ossible to do so with 5ust )** seats' if the
Congress agreed to that figure. In the <D-' Gad,ari' who chose to s$end most of his time
in "elhi after becoming nion minister' 3uietly busied himself with the tas, of $re$aring
the central leadershi$Js mindset for flying solo and firming u$ his networ, in Kidarbha'
where' with ?? assembly seats' the <D- has the best chance.
0he absence of the late Go$inath 9unde' the only <D- leader who could have saved the
alliance because of his e3uation with the Sena leader' was sorely felt' es$ecially by Shiv
Sena leaders' during the seatCsharing tal,s. Shiv Sena sources said that only his daughter
-an,a5a 9unde was ,een on ,ee$ing the alliance intact. /hile Fadnavis' they said'
seemed confused' E,nath 7hadse' leader of o$$osition in the assembly' was $reoccu$ied
with his chief ministerial ambitions.
0he only 3uestion that loomed large was who would bell the cat and how. 0his dilemma
was solved when it became clear to the <D- that the Shiv Sena would not allow its share of
seats to fall below )>). In reality' the Shiv Sena had showed willingness to concede three
more seats from its 3uota to allies' but with a rider that the allies would contest those seats
on the Sena symbol. In an ideal situation' this should not have caused any heartburn in the
<D-. In fact' had 9unde been alive' in all $robability the $act would have been sealed with
)>) for the Shiv Sena 1)*M] F allies2' )%* for the <D-' and )F seats for the allies. 0he <D-'
however' wanted it to be )*(#)F(#)M. 0hat is when the core grou$ of 9aharashtra <D-
leaders urged 7hadse to call 0hac,eray and convey the $artyJs decision to end the %>CyearC
old alliance.
@ne of the main reasons why the Shiv Sena was not willing to come below the )>( mar,
was 0hac,erayJs son AdityaJs 9ission )>(' on the lines of Narendra 9odiJs 9ission %&%.
After analysing the +o, Sabha trends' Aditya realised that the saffron alliance had
marched ahead of the Congress and the NC- in %F( of the %MM assembly segments. He saw
this as a sign of a huge antiCincumbency and all that Shiv Saini,s had to do was to channel
this antiCCongress anger and convert it into votes. 0hat is why SenaJs last $ro$osal was
)>) [)*M]F allies\ for itself' )F( [)%&]F allies\ for the <D- and seven for allies. 0he <D-
dismissed 9ission )>( as a childish whim.
Fadnavis blamed the Shiv SenaJs infle;ible attitude for the s$lit. 40he Shiv Sena ,e$t the
seatCsharing discussion revolving around the issue of the chief minister'6 said Fadnavis.
4Any $ro$osal that they sent across was essentially about seat ad5ustments within the
<D-Js 3uota of seats or that of the allies. 0hey were not willing to give away their seats and
stuc, to a number. So with a heavy heart' we were forced to come to a decision as we
hardly had any time left.6
Recalling the $hone call made by 7hadse' 0hac,eray told his $arty leaders that 7hadse
was uncomfortable when he bro,e the news that the alliance was over. 4So I as,ed him
whether the tas, [of belling the cat\ had been entrusted to him. 7hadse was uncomfortable
but re$lied in the affirmative. 0hen I warned him 3uietly' 8Aou are unleashing a tigerJ'6 he
said. 0his was followed by a scathing editorial in the Sena mouth$iece Saamna' which
termed the <D- as anti 9aharashtra.
/ithin an hour of the SenaC<D- brea,u$' the NC- announced its decision to s$lit from the
Congress. -awar went a ste$ ahead and declared that his $arty was withdrawing the
su$$ort to the CongressCled government. /ith that' -rithvira5 Chavan resigned as the chief
minister as the Congress did not have the ma5ority and the -residentJs rule was im$osed in
the state. 0he NC- blamed the Congress for its stubbornness and unwillingness to $art
with )** seats. 4/e had been waiting for their $ro$osal after we re5ected their offer of )%*
seats. <ut the chief minister went to 7arad yesterday and returned today afternoon
1Se$tember %>2'6 said former nion minister -raful -atel. Chavan blamed the monstrous
ambition of some NC- leaders for the s$lit' clearly hinting at -awar. He also said that the
real reason behind the s$lit could be the NC-Js $lans to tie u$ with the <D-. 0he Shiv Sena'
too' has accused the <D- of the same.
9aharashtra assembly $olls is now a freeCforCall contest' and defections have become the
norm. 0a,e the e;am$les of NC- minister day Samant and Congress minister San5ay
"eotale. A day after the CongressCNC- s$lit' Samant rushed to 0hac,erayJs residence
9atoshree and was rewarded with a tic,et from Ratnagiri' his constituency in coastal
7on,an. "eotale was denied a tic,et by the Congress from /arora' a constituency he has
won for four consecutive terms' re$ortedly because of his defeat in the +o, Sabha $olls
from Chandra$ur. "eotale' therefore' 5um$ed over to the <D- and will now contest against
his sisterCinClaw from /arora.
Senior NC- leaders who have 5oined the <D- include former minister <abanrao -ach$ute
and "r Ki5ay,umar Gavit. -ach$ute' who was state $resident of the NC- a few years ago'
3uit the $arty after accusing fellow minister 9adhu,ar -ichad of insulting him. He is
see,ing reelection from Shrigonda. @n the other hand' Gavit 5oining the <D- was a
foregone conclusion as his daughter "r Heena Gavit is the <D- 9- from Nandurbar.
In western 9aharashtra' the ruling elite from the 9aratha community has been shifting
towards the Shiv Sena and the <D-. Former Congress legislator A5it Ghor$ade has 5oined
the <D- and will ta,e on home minister R.R. -atil in 0asgaon. Similarly' Kilas,a,a Dagta$'
a close relative of senior NC- minister Dayant -atil' has 5oined the <D- and is see,ing
election from Dath. Another Congress legislator to 5oin the <D- is 9ani,rao 7o,ate' a
close aide of Narayan Rane' who 3uit the Shiv Sena to 5oin the Congress along with him.
He is see,ing reelection from Sinnar. Ra5an 0eli' another close aide of Rane' is now the
<D-Js candidate in Sawantwadi. He was with the NC- for a few days but dum$ed the $arty
when it denied him tic,et.
Ra5 0hac,erayJs 9aharashtra Navnirman Sena' which has $ut u$ candidates in %%>
constituencies' has also witnessed some high $rofile desertions. 9NS legislators
Harshvardhan Dadhav and Ram 7adam are now see,ing reelection on Shiv Sena and <D-
tic,ets' res$ectively. @n the other hand' former 9umbai mayor "r Shubha Raul 3uit the
Shiv Sena to 5oin the 9NS on the last day of filing nominations and is the latterJs
candidate from Char,o$.
@ne of the most interesting fights will be in 7arad South constituency' where -rithvira5
Chavan is see,ing election. Chavan has a tough battle at hand as outgoing Congress
legislator Kilas,a,a ndal,ar has filed the nomination as an inde$endent in revolt.
9oreover' A5een,ya -atil' son of <ihar Governor ".A. -atil' has 5oined the Shiv Sena and
is contesting against Chavan. A5een,yaJs brother Sate5 -atil was minister of state for home
and was considered close to Chavan. Sugar baron Atul <hosle' earlier with the NC-' has
5oined the <D- to ta,e on Chavan.
0hough the Congress has a tough tas, at hand what with the antiCincumbency' a section of
the Congress is relieved that the NC- is off its bac,. After the rout in the +o, Sabha
election' they were e;tremely worried about the im$act the NC-Js scamCtainted image
would have on voters. Chavan' who had succeeded in cornering the NC- li,e no other
chief minister' too' held a similar o$inion.
40he media was regularly e;$osing alleged scams in the de$artments run by NC-
ministers'6 said Anant Gadgil' legislator and senior $arty s$o,es$erson. 4@n the other
hand' not a single Congress minister was accused of any wrongdoing during ChavanJs
tenure as chief minister. 0here was a growing concern in the $arty that the NC-Js image
could affect the CongressJs $oll $ros$ects adversely.6 Also' the brea,ing of the saffron
alliance may have made their 5ob a tad easier' at least that is what Congress leaders feel.
0he <D- is ho$eful that cam$aign rallies by -rime 9inister 9odi' who is li,ely to address
%> rallies in the state' will swing the vote in its favour. <arring the Shiv Sena' the other
$arties from the saffron alliance have decided to go with the <D-. Internal surveys by the
<D- have indicated that it can easily win )((C))( seats on its own. 0he ground reality may
not be so rosy as voters thin, that the 9odi government has not been able to deliver much
on its $romises.
Former <D- 9- Subhash "eshmu,h' who is now contesting from the Sola$ur South
constituency' disagrees# 4-eo$le are fed u$ with the corru$t rule of the CongressCNC-
combine. It is sad that our alliance with the Shiv Sena ended. <ut $eo$le are wise. 0hey
always choose a bigger tree when they see, shelter. /ith our government at the Centre'
the <D- is obviously the bigger tree. Aou will see how the atmos$here will get charged
once again as 9odii begins his cam$aign in 9aharashtra.6
"eshmu,h' who had defeated former home minister Sushil,umar ShindeJs wife in the
%((* $arliamentary elections' would not have been able to contest from Sola$ur South as
the seat belonged to the Shiv Sena in the alliance arrangement. He is now ta,ing on sitting
Congress legislator "ili$ 9ane. 9aneJs troubles have been com$ounded further as
<alasaheb Shel,e' the former district Congress $resident' has 5um$ed in the fray on a NC-
tic,et.
A $ostCs$lit survey conducted by the Shiv Sena showed huge sym$athy for the $arty due
to the manner in which the <D- chose to dum$ it. 0he survey $redicted that the Shiv Sena
on its own would win )(& seats while the <D- would win && seats. 0he saffron alliance
would have been successful in ousting the CongressCNC- combine' but a divided Sena and
<D- is li,ely to end u$ hurting each other es$ecially in urban $oc,ets of 9umbai' 0hane'
-une and Nashi,' where the 9NS cadre is re5uvenated following the saffron s$lit. @ne
wonders whether the Shiv Sena and the <D- will be diving into the very grave that they
were digging in order to bury the CongressCNC- combine. <y going solo' the 9aharashtra
<D- is ma,ing its biggest gamble in recent times' but it could very well turn out to be its
biggest folly.
AES' 9INIS0ERL
+ow waste is in
<y Ki5aya -ush,arna
Story "ated# 9onday' @ctober ?' %()* )M#*> hrs IS0
0e;t SiBe
"own to earth# Harsimrat at a langar. -0I -hoto
/hat does it ta,e for a demure woman to turn into a tough oneI As, -un5ab "e$uty Chief
9inister Su,hbir <adal' and he may say^an election. 0he fight for the <hatinda +o,
Sabha seat in %((= did that to Harsimrat 7aur <adal' Su,hbirJs wife and the nion
minister for food $rocessing industries.
0oday' she is one of the three <adal ministersE fatherCinClaw -ar,ash Singh <adal is chief
minister of -un5ab. Su,hbir' often called the de facto chief minister' is also $resident of the
Shiromani A,ali "al.
Every <haratiya Danata -artyCled coalition that ruled India has had an A,ali "al member
in a $ortfolio crucial to agriculture. In )=&&' <adal Sr was 9orar5i "esaiJs agriculture
ministerE after him' Sur5it Singh <arnala ste$$ed in. In the third A.<. Ka5$ayee
government' Su,hdev Singh "hindsa was minister for chemicals and fertilisers.
HarsimratJs turn came in the Narendra 9odi government.
Given that farming today is as much about food $rocessing and value addition' it is hardly
sur$rising that the A,ali "al wanted Harsimrat in this $ortfolio rather than agriculture.
4She re$resents the current generation' and the A,ali "al has also got modernised. -un5ab
needs industry' and food $rocessing would interest $eo$le from there'6 said a $rofessor
from -un5ab Agriculture niversity. <ut' so far' the *MCyearCold Harsimrat has done
nothing that is restricted to -un5ab.
0hough her head is always covered with her fine cre$e or chiffon du$atta' she is not your
runCofCtheCmill sardarni. She e;$lained her gesture to a gathering of women# 40his is out
of res$ect to those who are worthy of it. /hen I first visited my inClawsJ village' everyone
treated me li,e their bahu. I reci$rocated with the res$ect that is due to them. In our
culture' this is about res$ect. And' then' I e;tended it to all others.6 So' in -arliament' in
$ublic and when receiving visitors at home' her du$atta is firmly in $lace. It can well be
her fashion statementL
An alumnus of +oreto Convent School' New "elhi' Harsimrat did a di$loma in te;tile
design from the South "elhi -olytechnic for /omen. She was running her own business
when she reluctantly married Su,hbir. 0he reluctance' as she told this corres$ondent' was
because she did not want to have anything to do with 4$olitics and farmerCBamindars6.
<ut' her destiny had chosen 5ust those two for herL
0hough she wanted to shun $olitics' her family was active in $olitics and social wor,E her
father' Satya5it Singh 9a5ithia' was de$uty defence minister. Currently' her only brother'
<i,ram Singh 9a5ithia' is revenue minister of -un5abE the brothersCinClaw are considered
to be 3uite tight.
After marriage' Harsimrat $oured herself into social u$lift $ro5ects. 0he most successful
was Nanhi Chhaan 1+ittle +ives2' an initiative for curbing the ram$ant female foeticide in
-un5ab. She said the initiative was born because she 4e;$erienced the difference in the
way boys and girls were treated6. "uring a $resentation at the Harvard +aw School' too'
she' $redictably' focused on her $et issues^womenJs em$owerment and female foeticide.
She said she' too' had to battle the anti girl child sentiment when her daughters' Gurleen
and Har,irat' were born. Su,hbir and she have a son' too^Anantbir.
Another ,ey focus is the sacrifices made by Si,hs. In her first s$eech in -arliament' she
$ointed out that &( $er cent of the freedom fighters e;ecuted by the <ritish were Si,hs and
M( $er cent of those im$risoned in the Cellular Dail were Si,hs. She also cham$ions the
cause of victims of the antiCSi,h riots of )=M*.
She is no $olitical lightweight' as her o$$onents found out the hard way. In %((=' she too,
on Raninder Singh' son of former chief minister Ca$tain Amarinder Singh' and won. In
the recent bout' she fought off 9an$reet Singh <adal' Su,hbirJs cousin and former finance
minister of -un5ab.
She has mostly lived in "elhi' to educate her children' but she is very close to her fatherC
inClaw and calls him her 4$olitical mentor and role model6. 0hough her ministerial duties
ta,e her countrywide' she ,ee$s her dates with her constituents. /ee,ends are family time'
as Su,hbir is usually in "elhi then. A foodie' Harsimrat en5oys a meal at many of the fine
dining 5oints in the ca$ital' savouring more than the -un5abi sta$les.
0hough she and Su,hbir are a cou$le' she does remind him from time to time that she is
also an 9- bargaining for her constituents. Su,hbir once told 0HE /EE7 that while he
had set time slots for 9-s to meet him' one 9- had his ear %*;&. 4/hy is it that you have
a Rs% crore $urse for the international ,abaddi tournament for men' and only Rs>( la,h
for the womenJs eventI6 she famously as,ed him' with a hostile audience aroundL
Harsimrat finds her ministry e;citing and challenging. 4@ur big challenge as a country is
inflation. And' I ,now for sure that wastage of food is one of the reasons leading to
shortage and inflation'6 she said. 4Eighteen $er cent of the annual cro$ of fruits and
vegetables is wasted. 0hat is food worth Rs**'((( crore.6
0o curb waste' farmers are being given affordable credit to buy agroC$rocessing units. 0he
ministry is also setting u$ investor $ortals to find $ros$ective investors and to facilitate
investors and entre$reneurs in the food $rocessing sector. 9ega food $ar,s have also been
$lanned for <ihar' 9aharashtra' Himachal -radesh and Chhattisgarh. 0he way forward'
Harsimrat said' is to e;$lore new schemes for infrastructure and cluster develo$ment of
$erishables.
/hen -e$siCo CE@ Indra Nooyi met Harsimrat' investment dominated the tal,s. 0hen'
the mother in Harsimrat came out# 4/hy donJt you consider healthier o$tions' reduce
sugar content in soft drin,sI6
REF@R9S
India wields the a;e on Her 9a5estyJs JlaughableJ laws
Reuters
Story "ated# 0uesday' @ctober &' %()* )*#F) hrs IS0
0e;t SiBe
1FI+E2 A lawyer holds a boo, as he waits to enter the Arthur Road 5ail in 9umbaiCReuters
New "elhi# If you ha$$en to unearth treasure worth even as little as )( ru$ees in India'
donJt even thin, of $oc,eting itQthatJs because under a law introduced by the former
<ritish colonial rulers' it still belongs to OHer 9a5estyO.
Now' however' the 0reasure 0rove Act of )M&M and nearly F(( other outdated laws are set
to be re$ealed in the largestCever cull of rules that ma,e India one of the most $uBBling
$laces in the world to do business.
New -rime 9inister Narendra 9odi is ho$ing that less regulation and faster decisionC
ma,ing will lift India from its ran,ing of )F* out of )M= countries on the /orld <an,Js
ease of doing business table into the to$ >( and attract investors.
OSome of the laws on our boo,s are laughable. @thers have no $lace in a modern and
democratic India'O said +aw 9inister Ravi Shan,ar -rasad who is leading the legislative
cleanCu$.
-revious administrations have failed to remove obscure laws dating bac, to the )=th
century' either because of ob5ections by government de$artments or sim$ly a lac, of will.
<ut 9odiJs officers have identified %M& obsolete laws for scra$$ing in a November session
of $arliament.
@n the cho$$ing bloc, along with the 0reasure 0rove Act is an )MFM law that says
$ro$erty in an area of the former im$erial ca$ital of Calcutta can only be sold to the East
India Com$any' which laid the foundations of the <ritish Em$ire but ceased to e;ist more
than )>( years ago. An )M>> measure removing a certain tribe from the $urview of local
laws because it was an Ouncivilised raceO will also go.
Even after all these have been abolished' there will still be hundreds of clauses within
other laws and thousands of regulations that are real obstacles to business. 0he
government has started identifying these anomalies too' -rasad said.
S-I00@@NS @0' SCRA/NA INS-EC0@RS <AC7 IN
Flying ,ites or balloons without $olice $ermission is illegal across India as they are
classified as an OaircraftO under a )=F* act' and a /orld /ar II decree outlaws the
dro$$ing of $am$hlets from the air in the state of Gu5arat.
nder the 9otor Kehicles Act' the state of Andhra -radesh enacted a law that a motor
ins$ector must have a clean set of teeth and anyone with a O$igeon chest' ,noc, ,nees' flat
foot' hammer toes and fractured limbsO will be dis3ualified.
O0here are instances where the entire statute is dysfunctional'O said $rominent economist
<ibe, "ebroy' who advised 9odi during his election cam$aign and has written a boo, on
the absurdities of Indian law.
He said that obscure laws can sometimes be abused.
A swan,y New "elhi hotel was threatened with a lawsuit for refusing to give water to a
$erson who invo,ed an )M?& act under which a rest house must offer $assersCby free
drin,s of water.
Factory owners have suffered at the hands of government ins$ectors who insist on rules
re3uiring s$ittoons to be ,e$t in the $remises as well as earthen $ots for drin,ing water.
Even if factories install modern fire e;tinguishers' they must still have redC$ainted buc,ets
with water and sand to $ut out a blaBe.
Some have a found a way around absurd regulations.
A -ost @ffice Act of )M=M sti$ulates that only the government has the right of Oconveying
by $ost' from one $lace to anotherO most letters' so courier com$anies get around this by
calling the letters they send OdocumentsO.
NRIs
0wo schemes for overseas Indians to be merged
IANS
Story "ated# 0uesday' @ctober &' %()* )%#*( hrs IS0
0e;t SiBe
1File2C -rime 9inister Narendra 9odi waves at the audience during a rece$tion organised
in his honour by the Indian American Community Foundation at 9adison S3uare Garden
in New Aor,. -0I
India is wor,ing on a new scheme that will merge the -eo$le of Indian @rigin 1-I@2 and
@verseas CitiBenshi$ of India 1@CI2 schemes' an official statement said 0uesday.
0he move follows -rime 9inister Narendra 9odiJs announcement on consular and visa
issues during his address at the 9adison S3uare Garden in New Aor, Se$ %M' while he was
on a fiveCday so5ourn to the S.
In his address' 9odi had said the government will 5oin the -I@ and @CI schemes for the
dias$ora and a new scheme would be announced soon.
According to a gaBette notification issued Se$ F(' all -I@ cards are now valid for the
lifetime of the card holder' instead of )> years.
O...the ministry of home affairs has issued instructions that -I@ cardholders would not be
re3uired to re$ort to a $olice station even if their visit to India e;ceeds )M( days'O the
statement said.
0he statement added that instructions have also been issued to embassies and consulates
that unless there are e;ce$tional circumstances' visas to S nationals should normally be
given for )( years.
OSystems are in $lace to introduce visa on arrival for S tourists in @ctober itself'O the
statement said.