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Chennai’s No 1 English evening daily since 1982
www.newstodaynet.com
NATIONAL DAILY
VOL. XXXIII NO. 104
FOUNDER EDITOR: T.R.R
H CHENNAI H SATURDAY 21.3.2015 (EVENING) H OTHER STATIONS SUNDAY 22.3.2015 (MORNING) H 8 PAGES Rs. 4.00 H
Regd. No., TN/CC(S) DN/223/15-17, RNI No: 33810 / 82
artin Guptill today bludgeoned his way to the highest individual World Cup knock as New Zealander
rode on the opener’s swashbuckling 237 to record an
imposing 393 for six against West Indies in the fourth
quarterfinal match of the mega event.
Guptill scored his runs off 163 balls, becoming the
first New Zealander to post a double century in ODIs
and the fifth in the world. He was unbeaten when the
innings ended. As he smacked Andre Russell to get
to the coveted landmark, Chris Gayle, the only other
double centurion in World Cup, came and congratulated
Guptill at the Westpac stadium.
Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq has placed his money
on India to prevail over Australia in the cricket World
Cup semifinal as he believes the home team will struggle for spin options at the SCG that is traditionally
helpful to the slower bowlers.
Four-time winners Australia, who defeated Pakistan
in a last-eight clash here yesterday, will lock horns
with defending champions India at the Sydney Cricket
Ground in the second semifinal on March 26.
Playing in Sydney they will miss a good spinner. That
could be the difference, because spinners have had a
lot of success in Sydney and Imran Tahir did well the
other day. So that could be a problem for Australia, said
the 40-year-old Misbah, whose one-day international
career ended after yesterday’s defeat to Australia.
Set up Cauvery Board
soon: CM to PM
OLD IS HOLED
The Ambattur bridge, one of the lifelines of the neighbourhood, is in a dilapidated condition. Regular users of the facility demand its
immediate repair.
Photo: M SRINIVASAN
Glass door cracks
at city airport
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
In the latest incident of glass
cracking at the airport, a 12-feet
door collapsed this morning, minutes before the arrival of Union
Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
It is reported that no one was injured
in the incident which occurred at the
arrival gate of the domestic airport.
According to police sources, the
glass door of Gate-3 cracked and
collapsed. This is the 37th incident
since the domestic terminal was
modernised at the cost of several
Sky is the limit
M
crore of rupees.
Following the mishap, alternate arrangements were made immediately,
and Gate 2 was made available for
services to continue uninterrupted,
sources said.
It may be recalled that the airport’s cracked ceilings were recently
mocked at by comedian Vivek in the
movie Yennai Arindhal.
In a scene at the airport, the actor
sports a helmet and when questioned
on the same, he retorts that ‘since
the ceiling might break anytime, it is
always better to be on the safer side’.
NEW IS NASTY
Glass doors and ceilings cracking and breaking at the Chennai airport
are routine now. And today seems just another day.
Photo: C SANTHOSH
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
Chief Minister O Panneerselvam
today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ask Karnataka not to
proceed with its ‘illegal plan of construction of reservoirs at Mekedatu’
and also not to take up any scheme
in the Cauvery basin without prior
permission of Tamilnadu.
He also urged the Prime Minister to
constitute the Cauvery Management
Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee without any further
delay so as to ensure that the final order
of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal
is implemented in letter and spirit.
‘I write this letter to bring to your
attention, the repeated violation of
the final award of the Cauvery Water
Disputes Tribunal by Karnataka,’
he said in a letter to Modi, a copy
of which was released to the media
here. ‘Karnataka continues with its
intransigent stand to construct a
reservoir at Mekedatu without obtaining any clearance from the Central
government, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal or Tamilnadu,’ he said,
adding: ‘According to media reports,
Karnataka had allotted funds to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR)
to construct a reservoir at Mekedatu.’
No phones please,
teachers told
q Directorate of School Education gets
tough after question paper leak
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
The Directorate of School Education
has said that teachers will henceforth
be screened before being allowed
into exam halls, in the wake of leak
of the Mathematics question paper in
the ongoing Plus Two examinations.
Police on Friday arrested four teachers of a private school in Hosur for
leaking the paper via WhatsApp.
Speaking to News Today, Director
of School Education K Devaraj ruled
out conducting a re-examination as
the photos were taken while the exam
was underway on Wednesday.
He said, a teacher had clicked a
photo half-an-hour after the exam
had begun and sent it to three other
colleagues. Protocol demands that
teachers left their phones with the
superintendent who keep them until
the exam gets over. ‘With such an
incident taking place we will screen
teachers and ensure that their phones
are kept locked away, he said.
The plan of the teachers after getting the snapshot of the question
Teachers will be
screened before
being allowed into
examination centres
paper is however a puzzle. The three
other teachers who received
the photographs were not on
duty. The motive was to help
students who were writing
the exams in different schools.
There was no way the students
could be helped, Devaraj said.
Police arrested P Mahendran (35), R
Udayakumar (33), S Govindhan (38) and
V Karthikeyan (34) teachers at Vijay Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary
School in Hosur in Krishnagiri district, one
of the five western Tamilnadu districts that
regularly corner the ranks in the State in
the Class 12 boards.
District crime branch officers said
Mahendran, an invigilator during the
examination, took photographs of
the mathematics question paper on
his smartphone on Wednesday and
sent it to the three other teachers on
WhatsApp.
Minutes later, an Education Department squad conducted a surprise
check at the school and found that
Mahendran had a cellphone despite
rules barring teachers from taking
phones into exam centres.
A total of 323 students were taking the exam in the school, with
around 20 in each classroom,
at the time. While checking the
phone, they found pictures that he
had taken of the question paper,
Chief Education Officer (CEO) M
Ramasamy said. He said Mahendran
had confessed to the crime.
Schools in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri,
Namakkal, Erode and Coimbatore
have placed a higher premium than
others on high scores in the Class 12
board examinations since the State
did away with competitive examinations for admission to engineering
and medical courses after 2005-’06
and intense competition has pushed
students in these districts to score
unusually high marks.
Pointing out that AIADMK general
secretary J Jayalalithaa had urged the
Centre to advise the Karnataka not to
take up any schemes including hydro
electric projects in the Cauvery Basin
of Karnataka without the prior consent
of Tamilnadu, he said Karnataka’s act
is a clear violation of the final order of
the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
He also said the government of Tamilnadu has filed an Interlocutory Application in the Supreme Court on 18
November last, to restrain Karnataka
from proceeding with the construction of
reservoirs at Mekedatu or any other new
projects across Cauvery in Karnataka.
‘I would like to point out that the Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly on 5 Decemmber 2014, passed a unanimous
resolution seeking the government of
India’s intervention to advise Karnataka
not to proceed with the construction of
two new dams in the guise of drinking
water supply,’ he said.
‘May I therefore request you to
instruct the Ministry of Water Resources to constitute the Cauvery
Management Board and the Cauvery
Water Regulation Committee without
any further delay so as to ensure that
the final order of the Cauvery Water
Disputes Tribunal is implemented in
letter and spirit?’ he said.
Lingaa distributors
turn their ire
on producer
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
A day after film distributors agreed
for a settlement over Lingaa issue,
they have now turned their ire on
producer T Siva, who holds a key
post in Vendhar Movies. Singaravadivelan of Marina Pictures, who led
the protest seeking compensation
for Lingaa losses, has taken a dig
at Siva today for seeking to be paid
some money from the Rs 10 crore
agreed by producer of the movie
Rockline Venkatesh to the exhibitors
and distributors.
In a press release here, Singaravadivelan, said, ‘small and medium
distributors seeking compensation
from Rockline Venkatesh is fair and
just. But a big corporate like Vendhar
Movies and its representative coming
in a limousine claiming that they too
suffered loss is unimaginable’.
Heaping eloquent praises on Rockline Venkatesh and Tamil Film Producers Council president Thanu, he
said, ‘they deserve all credit for solving the issue amicably. Venkatesh is a
good human being and his hospitality
floored us all’.
‘Siva, who is also the secretary of
TFPC has been spreading canards
about Dhanu. It is unfortunate that he
attended all the meetings of TFPC to
resolve the issue as Vendhar Movies’
representative. Unless and until he
resigns his post in TFPC before our
final meeting slated for Monday over
sharing the compensation money, we
will not attend the same’.
Windies find GuptHill a mountain
q Kiwi opener smashes Gayle’s World Cup record score with 237 not out
Wellington, Mar 21 (PTI):
Martin Guptill today bludgeoned
his way to the highest individual
World Cup knock as New Zealander rode on the opener’s swashbuckling 237 to record an imposing
393 for six against West Indies and
register a crushing 143-run victory
in the fourth quarterfinal match of
the mega event here.
Chasing a mammoth 394 for victory, West Indies started on the
wrong foot losing opener Johnson
Charles and Lendl Simmons early
though the aggressive Chris Gayle
kept attacking and hammered 61
off 33 balls with eight sixers.
Trent Boult was the most successful
New Zealand bowler with four wickets
while some lusty hitting towards the
end delayed the inevitable.
Guptill scored his runs off 163 balls,
Semifinal line-up
New Zealand vs
South Africa (24 March)
India vs Australia (26 March)
becoming the first New Zealander to
post a double century in ODIs and the
fifth in the world. He was unbeaten
when the innings ended. As he
Martin Guptill
smacked Andre Russell to get to the
coveted landmark, Chris Gayle, the
only other double centurion in World
Cup, came and congratulated Guptill
at the Westpac stadium.
Reaching his 100 off 111, the last
52 balls brought Guptill a staggering
137 runs. He smashed 24 fours and
11 sixes after New Zealand captain
Brendon McCullum opted to bat.
Such was Guptill’s onslaught
that the hosts reached from 300
to 350 in just 16 balls. The batsman got to his double ton off 152
balls with the help of 21 fours and
eight sixes.
Martin Guptill sent the ball soaring and the records tumbling by striking a
World Cup record of 237 not out in a formidable total of 393 for six. Guptill
bettered his own national record of 189 not out then overtook Chris Gayle’s
World Cup record of 215 set against Zimbabwe at the current tournament.
l His innings took 163 balls and included 24 boundaries and 11 sixes and he
was also the first New Zealander to hit consecutive World Cup hundreds.
l It is the second double-century in World Cup history and the secondhighest score in ODI history.
l Guptill’s 237 is now 4th highest indv score in List A history after Ali
Brown’s 268, R Sharma’s 264 & S Dhawan’s 248.
l He hit the biggest six of CWC 2015 -- 110 Metres
l 31 sixers in the match, is a record for most number of maximums
l 60.5 Percentage of team runs scored by Guptill. He scored 237 out of
New Zealand’s score of 393. This is the tenth instance of a batsman
scoring 60 percent of the team total in a completed ODI innings.
2 SATURDAY
21 MARCH 2015
City
Centre
Need for better healthcare An end to commotion
CHENNAI
Residents want govt hospital in Mugappair
M
him to government hospital. When
ugappair is a fast developwe reached there, we came to know
ing area in the city. It has
that if we would have given first aid,
many famous temples and private
there was no need to remove the
hospitals. But, there is no governtwo fingers. Finally, my father lost
ment hospital in Mugappair East
two fingers,’ he added.
and West. There is a health centre
A Ramachandran, a resident
for pregnant women, but there is no
Mullai Flats at Eri Scheme, said,
general hospital. Many residents
‘There is no government hospital.
are requesting the government to
So we senior citizens are forced to
provide one.
go to private hospitals. ReV Senthil, a resident of M u cently, I went to a private
gappair, says, ‘I was born
hospital and paid Rs 200
and brought up
as consulting fee to a dochere. I don’t even
PPAIR tor which is a big money
know whether there
A
G
U
M
for me. If the government
is a government
takes steps to construct a public
hospital is the localhospital in the surroundings, we
ity. To my knowledge
I have
will be happy and make use of the
seen three primary health centres,
money for other purposes’.
two in Mugappair East and one in
A Bakiyam, a resident of Golden
Mugappair West. My parents would
George Nagar, says, ‘Two years
take me to private hospitals in the
back, I went to the government
surroundings. If it is a major ailment,
hospital at Kilpauk. After checking
they would take me to government
and taking test, they advised me to
hospital in Kilpauk (KMC). Sometake the tablets continuously. Now,
times, we go to Stanley Hospital in
I am not able to continue it because
Royapuram.’
there is no direct bus facility and I
‘I remember an accident happened
also depend upon other persons to
to my father. While carrying 25 litres
reach the hospital.’‘Recently, I went
water can, it fell on his foot and his
to a private hospital in Mugappair
two fingers on the leg got cut. The
East. They charged me Rs 350.
private doctors advised us to take
There is a
health centre
for pregnant
women, but there
is no general
hospital in the
neighbourhood
Somehow I managed to pay the
money. I stopped visiting the hospitals because I am not having that
much money with me. It is better to
have a government hospital in Mugappair, so that people like me can
make use of it,’ she added.
Dr Ashaa, Medical and Health Officer, Corporation of Chennai, said,
‘Yes, I know, there is no government
hospital in Mugappair. But the Corporation has planned to construct
health centres at different places.
The plan is in process, so I am not
able to give clear details. For complaints, the residents can contact
Corporation office at 1931.’
- NT Bureau
SPEED KILLERS
Cops devise new strategy to ease
traffic in Ambattur
R
ATTU
AMB
T
raffic commotion on Ambattur
OT may soon be a thing of past
with the police taking measures to
discipline traffic flow in the area.
A police official said, three SubInspectors and three Constables are
entrusted with policing the OT area.
The duty includes directing the buses
to halt at convenient spots for commuters to board, helping passengers,
particularly students, and clearing
vehicles parked at the wrong spot.
During peak traffic hours, the roads
in the locality are congested as most
stretches allow two-way traffic.
‘As part of remedy measures, we
have put barricades in front of Mounaswamy Mutt Road for certain hours
of the day,’ the official said.
The road which was used for twoway traffic is now a pedestrian dominated stretch from 8 to 11 am and
from 5 to 8 pm.
Vehicles can take a detour via South
Park Street to reach Mounaswamy
Mutt Road.
The barricading has generated positive reviews from commuters, said a
policeman on duty.
Police have also started making effective use of public address system,
a woman police personnel uses it to
give out directions for buses and other
vehicles moving at the bus stop.
‘Earlier buses would enter the bus
stand and stop whereever the drivers
wanted, now the police personnel
stop the vehicle at designated spots,
give ample time for commuters to get
in and the bus leaves only when the
police gives green signal’, says Arul,
a commuter.
Police said, the traffic problems at
OT can be eliminated step by step
and this is the initial one.
- NT Bureau
Barricade kept near Mounaswamy Mutt Road.
Ambattur OT which was used
for two-way traffic is now a
pedestrian dominated stretch from
8 to 11 am and from 5 to 8 pm
The newly constructed speed-breaker near Thangal lake at Vijayalakshipuram in Ambattur comes as a
relief to commuters.
Photo: M SRINIVASAN
TV TODAY
06:30 PM Puthu Kavithai
10:30 PM Madarasi
07:00 PM Kalyanam Mudhal Kaadhal
Varai
POLIMER TV
07:30 PM Aandaal Azhagar
JAYA TV
08:00 PM Deivam Thandha Veedu
04:30 PM Sachin
08:30 PM Saravanan Meenatchi
07:30 PM News
09:00 PM Mahabharatham
08:00 PM Jaya Super Singer South
India
09:30 PM Super Singer T20
09:00 PM Nadandhadhu Enna
09:30 PM Vani Rani
10:30 PM Office
09:30 PM Kavidhaiyae Theriyuma
10:00 PM Chinna Papa Periya Papa
10:30 PM English News
10:30 PM Sivasankari
11:00 PM Kalyanam Mudhal Kaadhal
Varai
10:45 PM Tamil News
11:00 PM Movie
11:00 PM Hits
KALAIGNAR TV
SUN TV
01:00 PM News
03:00 PM Valli
01:30 PM Movie
03:30 PM Movie
04:30 PM Sirithale Inikkum
06:00 PM Mundhanai Mudichu
05:00 PM Nandhu
06:30 PM Pasamalar
08:30 PM Chinnathirai Cinema
07:00 PM News
10:30 PM Nenju Porukkudhillayae
07:30 PM Nadhaswaram
11:30 PM Movie
08:00 PM Deiva Magal
VIJAY TV
08:30 PM Vamsam
04:30 PM Cricket Extra : Post Show
09:00 PM Priyamanaval
04:20 PM Comedy Express
05:35 PM Nenjam Pesuthey
06:05 PM Saami Potta Mudichu
06:30 PM Madhubala
07:00 PM Ullam Kollai Pogudhada
07:30 PM Sakthi Pole Yaarumillae
08:00 PM Madhubala
08:30 PM Saami Potta Mudichu
11:30 PM Movie
09:00 PM Nenjam Pesuthey
RAJ TV
09:30 PM Moondru Muduchi
04:30 PM WWE NXT
05:45 PM Sky Bet Championship
2014/15 : AFC Bournemouth vs. Middlesbrough
07:45 PM Volvo Ocean Race : Sanya
to Auckland
11:30 PM Thirai Kadhambam
08:00 PM Team Talk
MEGA TV
11:30 PM ATP 1000 Masters 2015 :
BNP Paribas Open IW SF 1
07:00 PM Sindhu Bhairavi
07:30 PM Mann Vasanai
03:30 PM New Trailor
08:30 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : The Countdown Show
08:00 PM Karuthamma
04:30 PM Thirai Ula
08:30 PM Alaipayuthey
05:05 PM Jai Hanuman
09:00 PM Chill Out
06:00 PM Movie
10:00 PM Appadi Podu
08:00 PM Movie
05:30 PM Pathukku Pathu 10/10
06:00 PM Raj News
06:30 PM Thirai Vaanil
10:30 PM Polimer News
09:00 PM Match Point : Quarter Final
4: New Zealand vs. West
Indies
10:00 PM Cricket Live
10:30 PM Late Cut
11:00 PM Match Point : Quarter Final
IN HOME
SONY PIX
VETHU VETTU
05:34 PM 2012
09:00 PM Tomorrow Never Dies
AGS Cinemas, INOX National, Abirami Mega Mall,
11:34 PM The Expendables
Woodlands Multiplex, Mayajaal Cinema, Sangam
HBO
07:10 PM Hansel & Gretel: Witch
Hunters
09:00 PM I, Frankenstein
10:53 PM InsidiousCatching Fire
PVR Cinemas, Sangam, AGS, INOX National, Hall, Rakki
07:00 PM Final Destination
Multiplex, Abirami Theatres,
09:00 PM A Good Day to Die Hard
11:15 PM Wrath of the Titans
STAR MOVIES
Mayajaal, Escape Cinema, Devi Cineplex, Kamala Theatre,
04:30 PM My Best Friend’s Wedding
PVR Cinemas, Sangam, AGS, INOX National, Abirami
06:28 PM New Police Story
Theatres,
09:00 PM Hellboy II: The Golden
Army
S
U
D
O
K
U
10:30 PM WWE NXT
TEN
CRICKET
03:00 PM Cricket Classics : India
vs. New Zealand: April
`88
04:00 PM New Zealand Tour of
West Indies 2014 H/ls :
1st Test
06:00 PM England Tour of Sri
2
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9
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3
7
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9
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1
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7
4
2
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2
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3023
MOVIES NOW
Mayajaal, Escape Cinema, Devi Cineplex, Kamala Theatre,
KALAKATTAM
06:30 PM Cricket Legends
04:00 PM The Mindgame
11:00 PM Comedy Express
05:00 PM S K Shoppe
Kamala Theatre, Udhayam Theatre, PVR Cinemas,
KADAVUL PAATHI
MIRUGAM PAATHI
05:30 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : Quarter Final
4: New Zealand vs. West
Indies
TEN SPORTS
03:30 PM Gillette World Sport
08:30 PM French Ligue 1 2014/15 :
Olympique Lyonnais vs.
O.G.C. Nice Cote D Azur
IN THEATRES
Theatre
04:30 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : Quarter Final 1:
Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
4: New Zealand vs. West
Indies
07:00 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : Quarter Final
4: New Zealand vs. West
Indies
10:00 PM Ullam Kollai Pogudhada
06:00 PM En Kanavan En Thozhan
Multiplex, Sri Ganga Cinema, Raj Theatre, Maharani
STAR SPORTS 1
03:30 PM ICC Cricket World Cup
2015 H/ls : Quarter Final
4: New Zealand vs. West
Indies
The object is
to insert the
numbers in
the boxes to
satisfy only
one condition:
each row,
column and
3x3 box must
contain the
digits
1 through 9
exactly once:
Easy nah?
ANSWER TO
SUDOKU 3022
(20.3.2015)
5
3
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1
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1
Around Town
Gujarat woos
TN tourists
CHENNAI
Health session
for elders
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
Senior Citizens Group of Besant
Nagar (SCGOBN) will organise a
session on common ailments affecting senior citizens on 22 March
at 5 pm.
According to a release, participants
with either BP, diabetes, cholesterol,
arthritis, insomnia, cataract, ENT will
share their experience on how
to prevent and
cure these ailments. The
session is
open to all senior citizens, but
registration is a must.
For registration contact: B -12/12
(Old No B 12/4), Subramanya apartments, Twenty Fifth Cross, Besant
Nagar. Ph: 98842 24480, 2491 6076.
Ramayana
Upanyasam
Sri Vasudeva Satsang, 35A, Vasudevapuram Street will organise
Srimath Valmiki Ramayanam Upanyasam, Sri Aswameda prachanam
and Sri Ramashadashari homam
from 22 to 27 March in its premises.
A press release said, scholar Sri Ravi
Sharma will render the upanyasam
between 7 and 8.30 pm during the
above period.
On 28 March, Sri Rama Navami
will be celebrated from 7.30 onwards
with sahasranama archana, parayanam by Sringer Bharati Vidyasram
vidyarthis (ashwameda prachanam
part 1 and part 2), Sri Rama shadashari homam by Sri Ganesa sastri.
Nama sankeerthanam by Sri Sarada
Mahila Mandali will be held at 7 pm.
For details, contact 2471 8800,
2471 7090.
Humour
Club meet
Humour Club International, Chrompet
Chapter will conduct its 425th
meeting to mark
its 25th annual
day on 5 April at
SCS Matriculation
Higher Secondary
School, Chrompet.
A press release stated that the inauguration wil be by Correspondent of
SCS Matriculation Higher Secondary
School V Santhanam.
Also, on the occasion Chairman
of Nehru Nagar Madhar Sangam,
Chellammal Sivaraman, Amritha Rajagopal, academic advisor of Valluvar
Gurukulam and P S Lakshminarayanan among others will be felicitated.
For details, contact 22234559.
Free Vitamin A
supplements
for children
Corporation of Chennai will administer supplements to avoid disorders
caused by lack of vitamin A in children from six months to five years.
Families can visit government and
corporation run health centres, maternity clinics and Integrated Child
Development Centres from 23 to 27
March from 8 am to 3 pm.
Sai bhajans
Sathya Sai Seva Organisation
Brindavan Samithi, is conducting Sri
Sathya Sai Bhajan chanting on all
Fridays from 6.15 to 7.15 pm at Sri
Krishnan Temple, Tanikasalam Road
, T Nagar. Free Balavikas classes will
also be conducted.
For further details contact
9176448706 , 9841692403
A two member team comprising Soper and Cook from Political
Department, British High Commission called on Tamilnadu BJP
president Tamilisai Soundararajan at the party headquarters
‘Kamalalayam’ in Chennai yesterday.
NT Bureau
and explore the State in summer
Chennai, Mar 21: vacation.
Kinshuk said in Gujarat, summer
The beauties of Gujarat is less
destinations include Gir forest, Sauknown to people in South and the
rashtra tour, Saputara and ArchaeoState has come up with summer
packages to woo tourists from Tamil- logical monuments. ‘The Saurashtra
nadu, said Gujarat Tourism market- Darshan trip operated by Gujarat
Tourism takes tourists to the holy
ing head Kinshuk Vishwas.
shrines of Somnath and Dwarka
Speaking at a travel meet with tour
along with historic destinations like
operators here yesterday, he said
Junagadh, Rajkot and Porbandar 30 tour operators and hoteliers
the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi,’
from Gujarat are in city to encourage
he said.
the local stakeholders to promote
For more information, log on to
Gujarat centric packages to their
www.gujarattourism.com or contact
customers across Tamilnadu and
Gujarat Tourism office at Tourist
beyond.
Complex, Wallajah Road. Phone
Gujarat Tourism for the first time is
inviting schools, colleges and best -253 6661 or e-mail tibchennai@
gujarattourism.com.
clubs from Chennai to experience
NEEDED,
A FOB AT
TIRUSULAM
q As people are forced
to cross the railway tracks
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
Commuters have urged the
Southern Railway to construct a
foot-over-bridge (FOB) at Tirusulam Railway station connecting
the station road, as they are now
forced to cross the tracks.
They contended that there is a
subway that connects the four
platforms on the station from the
eastern and western side of GST
Road. However, commuters have
to walk, taking a detour of more
than a kilometre if they use the
subway connecting the station and
the airport premises.
The station road is unsafe to
walk as the Tirusulam hills forest
area adjoining the Station Road
is known to harbour anti-social
elements.
Moreover, the road is full of
potholes.
Commuters said those returning
home after 9 pm take a detour
through GST Road, due to the fear
of being mugged by anti-social
A view of Tirusulam Railway station where commuters requested for a foot over bridge for safe
travelling.
Commuters said those returning home after
9 pm take a detour through GST Road, due
to the fear of being mugged by anti-social
elements in the forest area.
elements in the forest area.
‘We request that steps are taken
to lay the road, install more street
lamp posts and to deploy police
personnel on the thoroughfare and
construct a foot-over-bridge,’ Rajan,
a local resident er, said. Commuters
have also sought mini-bus services
connecting the railway station, Airport bus stop and Pallavaram.
Commuters living in Periyar Nagar
Main Road, Lakshmanan Nagar
and Thanga Pillayar Koil Street at
Tirusulam, are forced to walk nearly
one-and-a-half to reach the airport
bus stop or the Railway station, he
added.
Senior citizens find it even more
difficult because the roads leading
to the residential houses are hilly
stretches. People get tired before
they reach the bus stop or the railway station.
‘Auto drivers fleece passengers by
charging extra for a short-distance.
Sometimes, they refuse to come
when the ride involves a short
distance,’ said Venkatakrishnan, a
resident.
‘If small bus services from the
Railway gate or the subway on the
GST Road are operated, people
would benefit a lot. The Metropolitan
Transport Corporation should introduce such buses for the benefit of
residents,’ he added.
SATURDAY
21 MARCH 2015
3
Jaya greets
Governor
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
AIADMK supremo
J Jayalalithaa today
greeted Taminadu
Governor K Rosaiah on the occasion
of Ugadi.
‘On the joyous
occasion of Ugadi,
I convey my best
wishes for a very successful and
prosperous new year to you, your
wife and all the members of your
family’, she said in a statement
released by AIADMK headquarters
here.
The Governor in response thanked
Jayalalithaa for her greeting.
Swine flu: Officials
ask people
not to panic
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
With two more death in the city
on Friday due to swine flu, health
officials attribute this to the delayed
treatment and urged people not to
panic.
The death of two patients within
24 hours has taken the flu related
death to 14 this year. This has also
brought down the expectations of
the health officials who thought the
cases would come down due to the
increase in temperature.
However, they claim that the incidents occurred due to the delayed
treatment. Otherwise the State
government hospitals are equipped
with necessary medicines and ventilators to treat such patients.
A 39-year old man from Ayanavaram, Nagaraj was undergoing to
treatment at a private hospital and
his fever did not subside for more
than seven days. He died on Friday
at the hospital.
In the second case, Sekar (58)
was undergoing treatment at ESI
hospital in K K Nagar since 14
March and was reffered to the
Government General Hospital. But
he died while he was on the way to
the hospital.
Public health officials claim that
Sekar died due to chronic diabetes
and though he was tested positive
for the flu that was not the cause
for his death.
Officials urge people to consult a
doctor in case of (any) fever and
cold and avoid self medication.
The officials also added that all
important checkpoints like airports
and bus stands, railway stations,
screening process is done to ensure people from other places
especially North do not become
carriers of the disease.
Apart from this, all government
hospitals were equipped with ventilators and isolation wards.
‘Tamils should spread
language worldwide’
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
Protecting Tamil language is the
need of the hour. Only then one can
think about developing it, said Tamil
Development and Information Department Secretary M Rajaram.
Participating at the two-day international conference on ‘Culture of Ancient
Tamil and Need for Tamil Development
at Global Level’, which began here
yesterday, he said ‘Tamilians who
have dwelled in foreign countries, must
spread the language there by communicating in Tamil rather than adapting
to the native of that nation.’
He further mentioned that a library
which will be set up in the premises of
World Tamil Sangam at Madurai, will
be the largest in south Tamilnadu.
A separate galleries for ancient Tamil
and life of ancient Tamilians will be set
up in Madurai and Chennai (World
Tamil Research Institute).
He also suggested that the conference must take a look into the role
of films in localisation of Tamil, the
state of Tamil in media, and on the
various literature forms that prevail in
Tamil language. ‘The need to create
awareness on Tamil is more among
the youngsters as they never turn up
to such Tamil literature meets’, he said.
Rajaram released the books titled
‘Sanga Tamizhar Panpaadu’ and
‘Tamizh Valarchi Ulagalaaviya Thevai’
during the conference. Malaysian
Tamil Writer’s Association president
P Rajendran, said ‘The Tamilnadu
government has been honouring Tamil
writers and scholars. Similarly private
associations in foreign countries like
Malaysia, are felicitating the Tamil writers by awarding them cash prizes.’ He
also expressed that such awards, from
Tamilnadu, should also be given to the
Tamilians, from countries like Malaysia.
Around 32 scholars and associations,
from countries like France, Australia,
Malaysia, Singapore, and from various
parts of India like Delhi, Bengaluru,
Noida and attending the conference.
Director of Asian Studies Centre,
professor John Samuel, Director of
World Tamil Research Institute, professor K Vijayaraghavan, Director of Tamil
Development Department, professor
K M Sekar, President of World Tamil
Forum, France Tamil Sangam, Paris
Jamal, and many others were present.
B VSC student Jitendra Kumar receiving 18 awards from Tamilnadu
Governor K Rosiah at the 17th annual convocation of Tamilnadu
Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Chennai yesterday.
State Minister for Animal Husbandry T K M Chinnayya, Department
of Agricultural Research Secretary S Ayyappan and TANUVAS ViceChancellor S Thilagar are present.
CMRL acquires part of land at cinema complex
q Additional parking facility to come up at Udayam theatre
Shops belonging to Udayam theatre complex facing Jawaharlal
Nehru Salai being demolished to give space for parking.
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
Chennai Metro Rail Limited
(CMRL) has acquired a part of the
land from Udayam theatre complex
for its skywalk project.
The construction work for the
skywalk is going on and it would
connect Udayam theatre with
Ashok Nagar station. This would
facilitate easy access for commuters to reach the station.
People who find it difficult to cross
the road to reach the station can
use the skywalk. ‘As we needed
more space for commuters to
use the skywalk, we acquired the
land,’ said a CMRL official. When
contacted an official from Udayam
theatre complex, he said ‘As CMRL
is constructing skywalk, we also
decided to expand our area by
demolishing the shops which we
rented earlier. The demolished
area would be used for parking
vehicles for those visiting the
complex’.
He further said that a new compound will be constructed along
the main road to keep away encroachers.
Meanwhile, works are on full wing
to complete Ashok Nagar Metro
Rail Station. Upon completion, it
will be the highest elevated station in the entire Chennai Metro
Rail system. Initially planned to
have a ground floor, a concourse
floor and a platform floor, four additional floors have been planned
to the original plan to make it a sixstorey structure, chiefly to generate
revenue by letting out the floors to
offices and commercial establishments. After completion, the station
will have a height of more than 40
metres, which will be higher than
the Alandur metro rail elevated
station where the two corridors of
Phase I of the Chennai Metro Rail
converge.
Ostomy Care clinic
at Stanley Hospital
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
An ostomy care clinic or Stoma Care
was launched at Government Stanley
Hospital’s department of surgical gastroenterology here yesterday.
According to a press release, the clinic
is aimed at providing care to patients
who live with a surgical opening in their
abdomen wall (ostomy) with a bag attached through which they have to pass
stools. The clinic will function between
noon and 2 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Patients can avail of
services such as ostomy site markings,
counselling and free supply of collecting
devices. The devices are supplied from
the funds generated by the Chief Minister’s health insurance scheme.
Following the inauguration of the
clinic, an awareness programme was
conducted in which doctors, stoma
care nurses and patients with stoma
participated.
Blend
4 SATURDAY
21 MARCH 2015
Hyperactive activism
WHAT
WH
AT NEWS
NEW
NEW
EWS
S TODAY
TODA
TO
DAY
DA
Y PRINTS
PRIN
PR
INTS
IN
TS IS
IS NEWS
NEWS THAT
THA
THA
HAT
T COUNTS
COUN
CO
UNTS
UN
TS
Surprise victory
A
gainst all odds, Binyamin Netanyahu won the election,
ensuring that he would continue to lead Israel at this difficult
time in its history. Netanyahu’s Likud Party won 30 seats out of 120
in the Knesset and will forge an alliance with like-minded parties to
keep the second largest group, the Zionist Union, out of power. In
any case, Isaac Herzog, the leader of the Zionist Union which won
24 seats, has said that his party could not work with Netanyahu,
whose hardline stand on key issues was unacceptable. Foremost
among them is the creation of a separate Palestinian State.
Netanyahu, during the campaign, had avowedly stood against
negotiating for a separate Palestinian state, saying that if elected, he
would not countenance one. Now that he is set to be Israel’s prime
minister for the fourth time, positions in West Asia are set to harden
further. Already, in a cynical reaction to his win, leaders of Iran and
other key West Asian nations have said that the outcome of the poll
in Israel does not materially alter the situation for the long-suffering
Palestinians, who must suffer untold hardships at the hands of the
Israeli security establishment. It is not that Israeli society itself is
united on the question of Palestine.
There are quite a few Israelis who believe that in the absence
of a compromise with Palestinians, their security will continue to
remain hostage to terror attacks by the victims of an aggressive
and expansionist Israeli State. Over the years, Israel has not only
expanded its footprint in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, but
refused to allow Palestinians basic freedoms for them to be able to
determine their own future. Denying them citizenship rights, while
holding them virtually captive as second-rate citizens, is said to be
in the interest of Israeli security.
Indeed, in recent years, all attempts by the US and other western
nations to persuade Israel to reach a respectable settlement with the
Palestinian groups have foundered due to the hardline approach of
its leadership. In particular, President Obama had been targeted
by Netanyahu personally for pursuing negotiations with Iran. In
an extraordinary move, Netanyahu arranged to address the US
Congress on the eve of the Israeli election, criticising the ongoing
P-5 talks with Iran on the latter’s nuclear programme. This, the
aggressive Likud Party leader maintained, was dangerous for the
security of Israel and, therefore, would not be acceptable under any
circumstances.
Netanyahu’s belligerence in the US Congress is said to have
played a part in his victory in the poll. Though President Obama has
reason to feel upset at his unexpected victory, as per the demands
of diplomacy, his Secretary of State John Kerry called Netanyahu
to congratulate him.
Unending strife can prove destructive for both sets of protagonists
in the long-standing Israel-Arab confrontation. A strong leader
like Netanyahu is better placed to pursue peace than anyone else in
Israel’s polity at this juncture.
Dr Raman Singh @drramansingh
Environment is our most precious
asset. Its protection is the
responsibility of entire human race.
Be your best, and life will be
too. #truefact
Taapsee Pannu @taapsee
‘Missing culprit’ in
heart failure identified
WASHINGTON:
Scientists have identified what they
describe as ‘the long-sought culprit’
behind a cell-signalling breakdown
that triggers heart failure.
Working with lab animals
and human heart cells, scientists from Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine
and colleagues found that
an enzyme called PDE-9
interferes with the body’s
natural “braking” system
needed to neutralise stress on
the heart.
The experiments demonstrated
that the enzyme gobbles up a
signalling molecule, cGMP, which
normally stimulates the production of a heart-protective protein
called PKG. Naturally found in the
gut, kidneys and brain, PDE-9 is
already a prime suspect in neurodegenerative conditions such as
Alzheimer’s, the researchers
said.
The new study shows the
enzyme’s footprints are also
present in heart cells and markedly elevated in patients with
heart failure - evidence that
PDE-9 is a multitasking
‘offender’ and a key instigator of heart muscle demise, the
researchers said.
To understand the enzyme’s role,
the scientists exploited the knowledge
that heart muscle health is safeguarded by two separate mechanisms, or
signalling pathways.
VOICE MAIL
Time for change
Sir,
We use much more water today than we ever did in the past. With new
technologies and fashions, we use more and more water every year. Not
only do we have luxuries that we didn’t have a hundred years ago, our world
population has more than tripled since then. Yet our supply of water is not
changing. Water has gone through the same replenishing cycle since our
world began, and we are using more then ever. Now is the time to make
sure we conserve.
Small fixes can make a big difference. This could be not leaving the faucet
running while brushing teeth, or not allowing a leak to continue unchecked.
If we use to much to fast, the earth will be unable to replenish her supply
quickly enough to fulfill our needs. If we don’t take the needed steps now,
it may be to late.
MADHAN, By email
ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO :
The Editor, News Today, 85, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
or e-mail to : [email protected] / [email protected]
CHENNAI
W
ho is an activist? Just about
anybody today. That probably
is the ultimate symbol of a ‘sound’ democracy, wherein every citizen raises
his voice on every issue, pauses for
air, and then resumes the charade for
a fresh issue, the earlier one having
faded under his/her own din over the
latest fad. Sign of the times, now.
Activists from ancient times, which
was till about a couple of years ago,
are a motley crowd of usual suspects.
For them activism is a profession or
passion or just a part-time personal
pitch. They take up a public cause,
do their homework diligently, initiate
action in whatever forum, keep up the
fight and even succeed. Such lone
activists who risk their lives and livelihoods and stake their own resources
for a common cause deserve acclaim,
even if their motives and methods are
sometimes misplaced.
There was a pre-historic time
too, say till about two decades
back. Then too there were
selfless personalities who took up
public causes, suffered and succeeded. But they did not go under the label
‘activist’ which is a recent addition to
the protest lexicon. They were called
good Samaritans who generally
shunned publicity and sought public
benefit instead. They did not carry visiting cards as some self-styled ones
Google doodle
marks Iranian
New Year
NEW DELHI:
Marking the first day of spring
or Equinox, Google is celebrating the Iranian New Year with its
latest colorful doodle. Originated
in Persia, Nowruz or Navroz remains a holy day for Zoroastrians
and is celebrated in many parts
of the world.
The latest doodle is full of bright
fl owers and bees, symbolising
the onset of Spring. In the Indian subcontinent, the festival is
celebrated by Parsis, Kashmiris,
and Shia Muslims.
To commemorate the occasion,
houses are cleaned and painted afresh well in advance and
adorned with auspicious symbols
and special thanksgiving prayers
are held as part of the religious
ceremonies followed by wishing
each other ‘Sal Mubarak.’
Incidently, in India several communities celebrate New Year.
Ugadi is observed in Karnataka,
in Maharashtra it is celebrated as
Gudi Padwa. It is Cheti Chand for
the Sindhi people, and the Parsi
and Kashmiri Pandit communities
celebrate it as Navroz or Navreh.
NASA tech for
safe & precise
spacecraft landing
WASHINGTON:
NASA has successfully tested
new cutting-edge technologies that
would enable spacecraft to land at
a specific location on Mars or any
other planetary body with more
precision than ever before.
In collaboration with Masten Space
Systems in California, engineers at
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
recently tested these technologies on
board a hightech demonstration vehicle called the
Autonomous Descent and Ascent Powered-flight Testbed (ADAPT). ADAPT is
a test system built on Masten’s ‘Xombie’
vertical-launch, vertical-landing
reusable rocket. The Xombie platform
provides a good approximation of
Mars-like descent conditions through
high-speed descent rates at low altitudes. Those conditions are difficult
to achieve through conventional flight
test platforms. Onboard this rocket,
two sophisticated lander technologies
were recently tested: Terrain Relative
Navigation with a sensor called the
Lander Vision System (LVS), and
the Guidance for Fuel-Optimal Large
Diverts (G-FOLD) algorithm.
‘No previous Mars lander has used
onboard surface imaging to achieve
a safe and precise touchdown, but a
future spacecraft could use LVS and
G-FOLD to first autonomously determine its location and then optimally
fly to its intended landing site,’ said
Nikolas Trawny, ADAPT’s principal
investigator at JPL.
do today (Yes, I have seen them, the
cards I mean) and preferred anonymity and action instead. Their methods
too were simple and sincere. Some
did hold political office, as a natural
extension, not as a reward.
In sharp contrast to individual activism is organised activism which
is a bit dicey. It happens under the
banner of an NGO or some such
formal forum. The funder and not the
founder therefore is the focus and the
final yardstick of credibility of actions.
And funds are there for the taking if
the right cause that cater to the right
‘interests’ are identified. Several
Western Governments, Endowments,
Multinationals, even domestic industry use organised activism to stall,
thwart or promote pet and profitable
projects. Third world countries are
particularly vulnerable. Someone
famously said this of a coveted global
award: It is given to achievers of the
West and activists of the East.
Sponsored activism is a thriving
industry in India. Many public projects
have faced hurdles owing to opposition from powerful anti-lobbies. This
is not to summarily dismiss all such
opposition. In fact, environment,
safety and livelihood concerns are
worth sacrificing the project itself in
many cases. But it’s not as black and
white. The huge grey area in between
is a fertile playground for deal-making
activists and shady foreign/local actors . But the real tragedy is that even
genuine activists get sidelined owing
to lack of consistent material support
or big-ticket backers and credible
human concerns are lost in a maze
of statistical sophistry and scare
mongering. Kudankulam, Narmada
and Neutrino are examples of such
rampant confusion.
Intellectualisation of bread and
butter issues in cosy newsrooms
and drab seminars, far from the
scenes of turmoil, is a travesty, but
sadly the reigning trend. TV media
is the prime culprit with primetime
pundits and armchair experts sorting out critical national issues in the
span of a few minutes, commercial
breaks, included. There are activist
anchors who claim to know what
the nation wants to and is waiting
to know and in fact, also know the
answers through their own scoops
to be delivered as breaking news.
Even rustic rural campaigners have
to fill one of those 8 or 10 boxes
on the fl at screen often as clueless, mute spectators just to mark
their presence before a distracted
audience. There is then a tribe that
passes off its publicity stunts as activism to attract a vulnerable media.
Thanks to social media you can
today tweet your way to activism. To
convert that trivialisation to mockery,
there are things like WhatsApp and
what not where in you can even bare
your baser itches under the garb of
humour. Judicial activism is passe.
Activists, which includes all and sundry, rendering instant justice is the in
thing. Political activism of course has
its special sordid place. Yesterday’s
ruling tormentors are today’s street
stalkers. Activists who were against
politicos are now activists turned politicos. The activists club is no longer
exclusive; nor is activism a labour
of love. A casual, thoughtless fling,
nothing else.
Landmark legislations like Right to
Information Act were fruits of sustained activism. Several significant
social changes have also come about
thanks to activists. But the reigning
furore over the mysterious death of
an IAS officer is showcasing the flip
side of free-for-all activism. Such
recklessness buries truth deeper and
victimises the victims a lot more.
e-mail the writer at
[email protected]
(Courtesy: Talk Media)
The war continues...
IS attacks leave over 100 dead in Syria
BEIRUT:
More than 100 people were killed
in Syria in 24 hours of violence after Islamic State fighters attacked
regime troops and a suicide bomber
caused carnage at Kurdish new year
celebrations, a monitor said Friday.
More than 70 members of government forces were killed when IS attacked checkpoints and other positions in the central Homs and Hama
provinces, the British-based Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said.
Observatory director Rami Abdel
Rahman told AFP ‘most of the
dead, around 50, fell in the Hama
countryside.’
Several jihadists were also killed
when clashes broke out, he added
without giving a toll. The regime
controls most of Homs and Hama.
‘IS has faced setbacks recently in
the provinces of Aleppo and Raqa
and in Hasakeh in confrontations
with Kurds on the one hand and
regime forces on the other, and are
now trying to score military points,
even limited ones, to offset their
losses,’ said Abdel Rahman.
The suicide bomber struck at
Syria’s Kurdish minority on Friday,
killing more than 33 people as they
celebrated Kurdish new year in
Hasakeh, northeast Syria.
Five children and many women
were among the dead, the Observatory said.
‘33 people were killed in the
suicide attack in Hasakeh today,
including five children. Many women
were among the dead,’ Abdel Rahman told AFP.
The victims had gathered for a
celebration on the eve of Nowruz,
Kurdish new year. Dozens more
were injured in the blast and the
death toll may rise, the monitor
added.
There was no immediate claim
of responsibility for the attack, but
Abdel Rahman said the suicide
bomber could have been a member
of Islamic State.
He said a second bomb exploded
at another Nowruz celebration,
wounding dozens of people. Syrian state news agency SANA also
reported a ‘terrorist’ attack in the
centre of Hasakeh that killed and
SUN KISSED
wounded ‘many civilians’ and damaged homes, shops and cars.
Hasakeh is a strategic province
near Syria’s borders with Iraq and
Turkey.
IS controls several parts of the
province while fighters from the
Kurdish People’s Protection Units
(YPG) hold the provincial capital,
which is also called Hasakeh.
The YPG are sworn enemies of IS,
which they expelled from the border
town of Kobane in January after four
months of fierce fighting with help
from allied air strikes.
The overall commander of the
Asayish, or Kurdish security forces,
Joan Ibrahim, said ‘the crime that
occurred today in Hasakeh will not
pass without retribution,’ YPG said
on one of its Facebook pages.
Former Singapore
leader’s condition
worsens
C
L ICK
PIC
A man sets up a telescope to watch a partial eclipse of the sun as
at the background is seen the ancient Acropolis hill, in Athens.
In the other photograph, people watch as the eclipse begins
over the Eden Project near St Austell in Cornwall, England.
SINGAPORE:
The condition of Singapore’s
critically ill fi rst prime minister,
Lee Kuan Yew, has worsened,
the prime minister’s office said
on Saturday. Lee, the founding
father of modern Singapore, has
been in hospital
with severe
pneumonia
s i n c e
5
February. He
turned 91 last
September.
‘Lee Kuan
Yew’s condition Lee Kuan Yew
has worsened,’ a statement
from the prime minister’s office
said on Saturday, a day after
the government had said Lee
remained critically ill.
Singapore residents have been
leaving flowers, cards and other
gifts at the Singapore General
Hospital to show support for Lee.
Brenda Chua Jock Suan, 63,
a retiree, has been visiting
the hospital every day to offer
prayers, and encouraged her
middle-aged children to do the
same. She said she remembers
Lee fondly as the man who singlehandedly built Singapore up from
a small nation to the successful
financial hub it is today.
‘I do it because I don’t want him
to suffer,’ an emotional Chua said
in Mandarin. ‘I don’t buy flowers or
cards, but I just hope that my prayers
will make things easier for him.’
Enterprise
CHENNAI
IBM partners
with Sheltrex
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
IBM on
Thursday
announced
a technology partnership with
Sheltrex
Developers to establish unified city
operations to support a new smart
housing development in Oragadam.
A press statement here said,
spread over 26.6 acres, Sheltrex’s
Oragadam project, will build smart
and cost effective homes targeted
at people working in this industrial
hub.
The project is located at the State
Highway 57 (SH-57), which is just
off Grand Southern Trunk (GST)
Road in close vicinity to the Automotive Corridor of Southern India,
Oragadam and Maraimalai Nagar.
Sheltrex Developers CEO
Goutham Pulimi said, ' The objective of the IBM partnership for
Sheltrex is twofold, one to enrich
the daily lives of the residents,
and second, for better township
management in the long term. The
inculcation of innovative technology
at our townships in Sheltrex - Karjat
and Sheltrex - Oragadam is an extremely exciting development in the
real estate industry. Every homeowner at Sheltrex should be able
to control his home via technology
and should feel safe and secured in
the township'.
5
Pleasure is Mine
Suresh Krishna
is TVS & Sons’
chairman
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
T V Sundram Iyengar & Sons
Ltd on Thursday announced the
appointment of Suresh Krishna
as its chairman
with effect from
18 March.
R Ramachandran was the last
chairman of TVS
& Sons.
According to a
Suresh Krishna
press release,
Suresh Krishna, 78, is also the
chairman and managing director
of Sundram Fasteners Ltd, and
has held various top positions in
the industry forums including the
president of ACMA during 1982-84
and the president of CII between
1987 and 88.
He was awarded the prestigious
‘Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for
Industrial Peace’ by XLRI; the
Business India magazine selected
him as the Businessman of the
Year 1995; he was awarded the
‘Juran Quality Medal’ by the Indian
Merchants Chamber, Mumbai; he
was awarded the prestigious ‘JRD
Tata Corporate Leadership Award’
by the All India Management Association.
The Asian Productivity Organisation, Japan, conferred the National Award for 2000 (for India)
on Krishna, for his outstanding
contribution towards productivity
improvement in the country during
the previous five years. He was
also conferred the ‘Padma Shri’ by
the government of India in 2006,
the release said.
SATURDAY
21 MARCH 2015
q Industry expects Bill to boost sentiment and growth
New Delhi, Mar 21 (PTI):
Welcoming the passage of the
Mines Bill in Parliament, India Inc
on Friday said the new law will
bring transparency in auctioning of
mines, boost investor sentiment and
kickstart industrial growth.
‘The passing of the Mines and
Minerals Bill in the Rajya Sabha will
provide transparency in the system,
which will foster industrial growth
and development in the country in
the coming times’, PHD Chamber
president Alok B Shriram said.
‘The bill will facilitate auction of
mines that supply minerals like iron
ore and bauxite, which will bring down
the costs of raw materials and boost
business sentiments’, he added.
Mines and Minerals (Development
and Regulation) Amendment Bill,
2015, seeking to introduce auction
of mines to enhance transparency
in mineral allocations was passed in
Rajya Sabha today.
The Bill was already passed by the
Lok Sabha and seeks to replace an
ordinance.
age of the Bill
Assocham said passage
in both the Houses of Parliament
shows that despite
tough
posturing, political
parties are behaving
in a very mature way
when it comes to key
economic reforms.
‘Full marks to different political parties
who showed same
spirit in Insurance Bill’,
Assocham president
Rana Kapoor said.
Benefits for insurance sector too
With the passage of three key economic legislations in Parliament, Finance
Minster Arun Jaitley exuded confidence that the insurance sector is expected
to get a lot of foreign investment.
‘Three major pieces of legislations-- the insurance law, the mining law, the
coal allocation bill have all been approved by Parliament and therefore there
will now be a lot of investment
we (will) get in the insurance sector’,
he said.
A Bill providing
f raising the foreign investment
for
cap
ins
in the
insurance
sector to 49 per cent was
pass
passed last week.
T h e
Bill envisages
spending of a
fixed percentage of
revenue generated from
mining on the development of the local area.
Submit revival plan:
Govt to Air India
q National carrier dubs it as routine exercise
Mumbai, Mar 21 (PTI):
Concerned over the overall health
of Air India, the Prime Minister Office
(PMO)’s has asked the national carrier to submit a detailed performance
report on its losses, profitability and
revival plan.
The PMO sent a questionnaire
to Air India containing queries on,
among other things, its mounting
financial liability as well as its lack
of profits.
The airline was also asked to furnish details of its turnaround plan.
Terming the PMO communication
a ‘routine exercise’, a senior Air
India official said they have already
responded to the queries.
‘The PMO had asked for certain
details on our turnaround plan and
financial restructuring plan as part
of a routine exercise some time
back. We have already responded
to all the queries’, the official said.
Air India is saddled with a debt bur-
den of around Rs 40,000 crore while
its combined losses currently stand
at a whopping Rs 38,000 crore.
It is surviving on a bailout package
under a revival plan, which entails
an equity infusion in the carrier to
the tune of Rs 30,000 crore in a
staggered manner till 2021-22.
As per its provisions, there will be
no renewal of any mining concession, unlike the original act of 1957.
Also, the licence will be for 50 years,
as against 30 now, after which there
will be no renewal but compulsory
auction.
Government has already identified
199 mines for auction. CII director
general Chandrajit Banerjee said
this will bring in much-needed
transparency in the allocation process and kick-start the mining sector,
which was languishing for want of
clear guidelines.
‘The bill will pave the way for
restarting mining in the country,
thereby easing the pressure on
availability of raw material, so vital
for many key sectors that provide
inputs to manufacturing’, he added.
‘The long tenure of licenses of 50
years and well defined Centre-State
powers, provided in the MMRD, will
help build industry confidence in the
process and attract investments’,
Banerjee said.
‘Housing sector
set for growth’
Mumbai, Mar 21 (PTI):
Cement major ACC Ltd is expecting
a modest but steady revival in the
economy in 2015, leaving a positive
impact on infrastructure, housing
and construction sectors and rise in
demand for the key building material.
The company also said clinker production unit and allied grinding facility
at its Jamul plant in Durg district of
Chhattisgarh are expected to be commissioned soon.
The clinkering and grinding facilities have annual capacities of 2.79
million tonne and 1.10 million tonne,
respectively.
‘The new plant with a grinding unit at
Jamul is expected to be completed this
year. In addition, a new grinding unit is
also coming up at Sindri (in Jharkhand)’,
ACC chairman N S Sekhsaria told
shareholders at the company’s annual
general meeting (AGM) here. Commenting on the outlook, Sekhsaria said,
‘We see a modest but steady revival for
the Indian economy in 2015. This will
have a positive impact on infrastructure,
housing and construction sectors and
increase the demand for cement. The
company will continue to focus on cost
reduction, increasing the sale of premium products and implementing other
customer excellence initiatives. This
should deliver improved performance’.
South East Asia floods
India with investments
q M&As worth $400 mn signed so far
Singapore, Mar 21 (PTI):
Nearly $400 million of investment
from South East Asia has gone into India through the merger and acquisition
route in the first two and a half months
of this year, a 30-40 per cent increase
over the same period last year, a senior
industry analyst here said on Friday.
‘If the trend of the first 2-1/2 months
is maintained, it would be 30-40 per
cent increase in M&A investment this
year over 2014’, said Vishal V Thapliyal, managing director of advisory
and M&A at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Corporate Finance Pte Ltd in Singapore.
‘Based on the trend, this year is expected to be much better in M&A term
than 2014’, Thapliyal said about the
potential investments.
‘We also believe there is going to be a
quite a bit of consolidation within India,
especially in the telecoms and logistics
sectors among others’, he said, after
addressing a forum on ‘Future of India: Potential
and Prospects’.
The forum was
organised by the
High Commission
of India.
In his address to
the forum, Thapliyal said more and
more investors are
discussing investment
opportunities in India than
before, given the improving regulatory framework
in the country.
‘There is a lot more
investors’ interest in
India. India is back on the radar. These
are early days but positive trends’, he
stressed.
Chief executive officer in India
for ANZ banking group, Sanjeev Bajaj, also highlighted
the investment potential in
India, pointing out, ‘As we
see positive returns in real
terms, we see a lot more
interest coming back to
India’. There is a lot of
investment looking at the
right opportunities in India,
according to Bajaj.
Though there were overall growing confidence in India, speakers
and delegates at the forum still
called for more intensive development of infrastructure
across the country which
Cyber attacks:
Govt, telecom
most targetted
Panasonic’s big plans
Consumer electronics major Panasonic India will focus on expanding its solar products range and is looking at capturing five per cent market share in this segment in a
year.
‘We are focusing more on solar products. We are expanding our products offering and
looking at capturing five per cent market share in a year’s time in the solar segment.
We are working towards that’, Panasonic India managing director Manish Sharma said.
The company at present sells a solar lantern in India.
‘Going forward, our intention is to get into larger business of solar panels’, Sharma said.
SA eyes double digit growth
South Africa is looking at a double digit growth in the number of Indians visiting the
country in 2015 on the back of multiple initiatives, including targeting travellers from
smaller cities and towns.
‘We are expecting a double digit growth in Indian travellers visiting South Africa this
year. India is a very important market for us’, South African Tourism Country Manager
India Hanneli Slabber said.
For this many initiatives have been taken to promote South Africa as an attractive
destination. South Africa’s spectacular scenery, friendly people, world class infrastructure make it one of the most desired destinations, she added.
Ducati re-enters country
Italian super bike maker Ducati on Friday announced re-entry into the Indian market
with plans to operate sales and service network under a subsidiary.
The brand had made debut in India in 2009 under a partnership with Precision Motor India, which was its exclusive importer. It took a pause in January last year when
Ducati decided to open its own national sales company in India. Precision would
become one of its distributors.
Ducati India Pvt Ltd has now opened dealerships in Mumbai, Delhi and Gurgaon.
‘In addition to a new dealership is opening in Bangalore shortly’, Ducati India said
in a statement.
New Delhi, Mar 21 (PTI):
Cybercriminals are increasingly
targetting sensitive information
from sectors including government, utilities and defence to access public data and other critical
information, a government official
on Friday said.
‘With increasing number of devices, the sophistication of attacks is also going up. Government is the most attacked sector,
followed by telecom, banking,
energy and defence’, CERT-In
director general and group coordinator of E-Security and Cyber
Law Division Gulshan Rai said at
an event here.
Stating that even as cybercriminals continually try to scan data
and plant malware, he said, ‘The
government is resilient and has
been improving security’.
As per information reported
to and tracked by the Indian
Computer Emergency Response
Team (CERT-In), a total of 21,699,
27,605, 28,481 and 32,323 websites were hacked by various
hacker groups spread across
the world during the year 2011,
2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
will help derive the annual economic
growth to nine per cent a year.
Achieving the winning leap means
finding solutions to some of India’s
most persistent problems, added
Shashank Tripathi, Strategy Leader
at PWC India, a unit of the international consultancy group PWC.
Tripathi presented PWC’s report
‘Future of India: The Winning Leap’
which highlighted the potential developments in 10 sectors: Healthcare,
Education, Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture, Power, Financial services,
Urbanisation, Digital Connectivity
and Physical connectivity.
Speakers at the forum also called
for international techniques and expertise, along with investments, for
supporting developments in India.
What caused negative
inflation in March?
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
The headline WPI inflation is expected to be in the range of (-) 0.2 per
cent to (-) 1.8 per cent during March
this year driven by weak demand
conditions and lower commodity
prices, says a report.
l According to a report by
research firm, Dun &
Bradstreet, though
food price levels
might witness a rebound in the coming months, weak
demand conditions
coupled with lower
commodity prices are
likely to keep inflationary
pressures subdued for the
fifth consecutive month.
l D&B expects the WPI inflation to
be in the range of (-) 0.2 per cent
to (-) 1.8 per cent during March
2015.
l According to official figures, the
wholesale inflation dipped to (-)
2.06 percent in February as prices of food articles, manufactured
items and fuel products fell during
the month. This was the fourth
month in a row that WPI-based
inflation remained in negative
zone.
l According to D&B, food price
levels might witness a rebound as
foodgrain production is estimated
to have declined during
2014-15. Besides, in
states like Maharashtra, foodgrain
production has
suffered due to
drought and
other natural
calamities.
l
Notwithstanding these factors, inflation is likely
to stay at lower levels
owing to weak demand
and lower commodity prices including that of fuel.
Commenting on the findings, Dun
& Bradstreet India senior economist
Arun Singh said ‘Decentralisation
and setting a target for inflation as
per the monetary policy framework
agreement between the central bank
and the Union government are two
landmark changes being ushered in
the recent period’.
‘Indian fuel prices
lower than
developed nations’
New Delhi, Mar 21 (PTI):
The government on Friday
said that petrol and diesel
prices in India are much
lower than rates in most
of the developed countries,
except the United States.
Data presented by Minister
of State for Finance Jayant
Sinha in the Lok Sabha
showed prices of petrol and
diesel in India at Rs 60.49
per litre and Rs 49.71 per
litre, respectively.
However, the prices of
both products are higher in
India when compared with
other South Asian countries
like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and
Nepal.
‘From the above, it may
be seen that the prices of
petrol and diesel in India are
not the highest in the world’,
Sinha said.
The comparisons were available for countries -- France,
Germany, Italy, Spain, the
UK, Japan, Canada, the US,
Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka and Nepal.
Country asked to
remove
textile sops
New Delhi, Mar 21 (PTI):
WTO member countries
including the US, Turkey
and Japan, have asked
India to phase out export
subsidies on textiles and
the apparel sectors, Parliament was informed on
Friday.
As per the WTO data for
2006 and 2007, India has
crossed the threshold limit
(exports reaching 3.25 per
cent threshold of the world
trade) consecutively for
two years in these sectors,
Commerce and Industry
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply
to the Lok Sabha.
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6 SATURDAY
21 MARCH 2015
Sports
Clarke gears up for
‘very different India’
‘We were lucky to survive Wahab’
Adelaide, Mar 21 (AFP):
Australia skipper Michael Clarke
expects to face a very different India
in next week’s World Cup semi-final
from the team they hammered in a
Test series and beat comfortably in
a one-day international in January.
Co-hosts Australia reached the last
four with a six-wicket victory over
Pakistan at Adelaide Oval on Friday
to set
up the meeting with the reigning champions at Sydney
Cricket Ground (SCG)
next Thursday.
India have won all
seven matches on their
way to the semi-finals
and, with a bowling attack unrecognisable from
the rabble
who contested the
test series,
will be
surging with confidence.
‘I think they’re obviously playing a lot
better than they
were throughout the start of
the summer,’
Clarke told reporters in Adelaide.
‘I said that
leading
into the
World Cup,
that I thought India
were going to be an
extremely tough team
to beat obviously because they’re a very good
team but (also) because
they’ve spent so
much time in
Michael Clarke
Anand not looking
too far ahead
Mumbai, Mar 21 (PTI):
With the World Chess Championship
slated for 2016, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand he will start
thinking about the
Candidates tournament only next year.
‘I am not thinking
about the Candidates at all, because
I don’t know who is
playing. It may well be that I am the
only person who has qualified (so far).
It’s hard to concentrate when you are
the only person. I will think about that
much much later, maybe next year.
For the moment I think I should use
the tournaments to get into shape of
playing better,’ he told reporters on the
sidelines of the IMC Ramakrishna Bajaj
National Quality Awards.
The winner of the Candidates tournament will get a shot to take on World
Champion Magnus Carlsen, in the
World Chess Championship, which is
scheduled to be held in the US.
On the prospects of taking on the Norwegian Carlsen, the 45-year-old said,
‘It’s not like I am guaranteed a match
against him. The first thing is already
one year away. It’s leading towards
that but that is not my goal right now.’
Anand had a disappointing campaign
in Baden, Germany in the Grenke
Chess Classic but topped the Zurich
classical and the former world champion said he will try to concentrate more
in the upcoming tournaments.
Batting failure to
blame, says Misbah
Pak skipper rues mediocre display throughout WC
Misbah-ul-Haq
‘Dedication, key to
Karnataka’s success’
Bengaluru, Mar 21 (PTI):
Manish Pandey’s scintillating century and leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal’s
sterling bowling effort helped Ranji
champions Karnataka retain the Irani
Cup after beating Rest of India by a
massive 246 runs on the fourth and
penultimate day, here yesterday.
The moment of celebration came
for the hosts after Pandey managed
to uproot a stump as a souvenir after
running out Varun Aaron.
Karnataka became only the second
team to bag back-to-back Irani Cup
titles. Mumbai had won back-to-back
Irani title thrice, between 1962-63 to
1963-64, 1969-70 to 1970-71 and
1975-76 to 1976-77. With this win,
Australia they know the conditions
quite well.
‘The game on Thursday is going to
certainly be a challenge, and we’re
definitely going to have to be at our
best to beat them.’
Australia lost their only pool match
against their co-hosts in New Zealand
and their familiarity with home conditions is a considerable advantage in
their quest for a fifth world title.
India have been Down Under since
November, though, and have been
improving gradually under the guidance of skipper Mahendra Singh
Dhoni.
‘I think MS Dhoni deserves a lot of
credit the way he’s been able to turn
things around as the leader, as the
captain,’ Clarke added.
‘They’re playing some
really good cricket, there’s
no doubt about it. We look
forward to that challenge. We’ve
got some time now to recover and make sure we’re
fresh and then obviously
train and prepare.
‘Our attitude will be exactly
the same as it was leading up
to this game. Thursday becomes
our World Cup final. We look forward
to it.’
Karnataka rounded off
the season with a grand
treble just as they did
a year ago by retaining the Ranji Trophy
and winning the Vijay
Hazare Trophy earlier in
the season.
Mithun also bowled his
heart out in both Rest
of India innings, ending with an impressive
match figures of six for
86 off 27 overs.
‘All credit goes to the boys. Dedication and desire key to Karnataka’s
success. Batting in the fourth innings
was difficult here because the cracks
got wider. We had the bowling attack.
We knew 300-plus runs would be difficult for them,’ he said.
Resuming their second innings at
341 for six, Karnataka added another
81 runs before ending at 422, thereby
setting a target of 403 to win before
Rest of India.
‘Karnataka bowlers bowled really
well. We backed our boys to do well
but we didn’t have luck. Full credit
to them. Good luck to them,’ Rest of
India captain Manoj Tiwary said.
Adelaide, Mar 21 (AFP):
Disappointed Pakistan captain
Misbah-ul-Haq blamed batting failure
for his team’s ouster from the World
Cup following a six-wicket defeat
against Australia in the quarter-final
in Adelaide yesterday.
Pakistan were bowled out for a
below-par 213 in the final over
after being well set at 97-2
-- a trend Misbah said had
prevailed throughout the
World Cup.
‘I think we failed as a
batting unit in the whole
tournament,’ said Misbah, whose dismissal
after scoring 34 derailed
Pakistan’s innings.
Josh Hazlewood took 4-35
while Mitchell Starc and
Glenn Maxwell took two wick- e t s
apiece as Pakistan never recovered
on a batting-friendly Adelaide Oval
pitch. ‘We just lost the way in the
middle overs, we were going well at
one stage but after 22-23 overs we
kept losing wickets and that was the
trend throughout the World Cup,’ said
the skipper. Australia overcame early
jitters to overhaul the target for the
loss of four wickets in the 34th over to
earn a place in Thursday’s semi-final
against defending champions India
at Sydney.
Australia had a lucky escape when
Rahat Ali dropped a sitter from Shane
Watson -- on just four at the time -- off
a fiery Wahab Riaz with the
score at 84 for 3.
‘Wahab really bowled
well throughout the
World Cup and he
was a different bowler. He showed his
class again and at one
stage we were pretty
much in the game and
the way he was bowling
that catch could have made
the difference.
‘But that is how cricket is.’ Misbah
said it was tough on the bowlers to
defend low totals.‘If you keep on
scoring low totals then it’s difficult
for the bowlers to defend every day,
especially on batting pitches like we
were playing today.’
CHENNAI
Wahab, Watson fined
for angry clash
over of Australia’s innings when Watson
ignored the umpires’
instructions and verbally engaged with
Wahab, who, at the
end of the over, followed through towards
the batsman and used
aggressive and abusive language,’ said an
Shane Watson
International Cricket
Council statement.
‘Both the players adAdelaide, Mar 21 (AFP):
Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz mitted the offences and accepted the
was fined 50 percent of his match fee sanctions and, as such, there was no
while Australian all-rounder Shane need for a formal hearing.’
Match referee Ranjan Madugalle
Watson was penalised 15 per cent of
his after their angry clash in yester- said: ‘It was an enthralling contest
between Shane and Wahab, but in
day’s World Cup quarterfinal.
Wahab was charged with using the closing stages of the match both
obscene language, while Watson players crossed that fine line between
was accused of conduct contrary to intense competition and unacceptthe spirit of the game when the two able behaviour, and this resulted in
faced each other down in a compel- the sanctions.’
Australia will face defending chamling passage of play during Australia’s
pions India in a semi-final in Sydney
six-wicket win at the Adelaide Oval.
‘The incident happened in the 33rd on Thursday.
Mixed reactions to
Pakistan’s ouster
Pakistan team had a mixed time in the World Cup and former
players want sweeping changes in the way things are run.
Karachi, Mar 21 (PTI):
The reactions from former players
to Pakistan’s defeat to Australia in
the cricket World Cup quarterfinals
was a mixed one with some of them
blaming captain Misbah-ul-Haq, head
coach Waqar Younis and the
Pakistan Cricket Board for their
failed campaign.
‘It is a pity that Misbah even after remaining captain for five years couldn’t
decide upon his squad properly for
the World Cup. This is what let us
down today,’ former captain and
batsman, Muhammad Yousuf said.
‘One would have thought that for
such an important event Misbah and
the selectors would have been clear
about the players they wanted. But
on the contrary we had two players
going for the World Cup Rahat Ali
and Sohail Khan who were not even
named in the original 30-member
preliminary squad,’ he said.
Yousuf called for a clean start in the
aftermath of the World Cup and said
the government should also look seriously at cricket affairs and bring about
widespread changes in the board.
He said clearly some of the Pakistani batsmen had big technical
faults which they needed to work out
as they were exposed in the megaevent.
Former Test captain Aamir Sohail
had no doubt that Pakistan was good
enough only to reach the quarterfinal
and not go beyond that.
‘Let us be honest this team was
capable of only reaching the quarterfinals and this defeat is not a surprise.
‘The batting let us down even
though we won the toss. Some of
the shot selection was atrocious and
there was no game plan from our
batters,’ Sohail said.
The former Test opener, who has
also remained chief selector, felt that
the board should now start building a
new team and appoint wicketkeeperbatsman, Sarfraz Ahmed as the new
captain for ODIs.
Former Test captain, Rashid Latif
said some of the decisions taken by
the management cost the team.
‘The management made crucial
mistakes and that coupled with injuries to key players really hit us hard,’
Latif said.
He said the management had
wasted Sarfraz and senior batsman
Younis Khan in the tournament and
not used them properly.
Injury halts Serena;
Raonic dumps Nadal
Indian Wells, Mar 21:
Serena Williams withdrew before
her semifinal at the BNP Paribas
Open on Friday night with a right knee
injury, 14 years after her sister Venus
did the same thing and triggered
an angry reaction from fans that
had driven Serena to boycott the
tournament.
The world's top-ranked player
was set to play third-seeded
Simona Halep in the second
semifinal. She was expected
to address the crowd on-court
after the first semifinal between
Jelena Jankovic and Sabine
Lisicki.
Serena was back at Indian Wells
for the first time since 2001, having ended her boycott that began
after she won the title in 2001 as a
19-year-old and was heavily booed.
She was supposed to play Venus
in the semis, and Venus withdrew
20 minutes beforehand with a knee
injury, angering the crowd.
Serena went on to win the title, but
fans booed her throughout the match
and she vowed never to return to
the desert event. The sisters' father,
Richard, later said he heard racial
taunts and there was speculation at
the time that he decided in advance
which sister would win their
matches against each other.
Serena announced the
news on her Instagram account while the first semifinal was in the third set, shortly
after tournament officials confirmed it.
Halep advanced to the final.
Roger Federer defeated
Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-0
and Milos Raonic outlasted
Rafael Nadal 4-6, 7-6 (10), 7-5 in a
nearly three-hour marathon to set up
a semifinal showdown.
Federer improved to
15-1 this year, with his
only loss coming against
Andreas Seppi in the third
round of the Australian
Open. Federer avenged
that defeat in the same round
at Indian Wells. He earned
his first straight-set win
over Berdych since 2011
in Paris and just his second 6-0 set ever in 19
career matches against
the Czech.
'I'm not the kind of guy
who takes great joy out
of bageling opponents, to
be honest,' said Federer,
seeking a record
fifth title in the
desert.
Raonic beat three-time Indian Wells
champion Nadal for the first time in six
career meetings, firing 18 aces and hitting 48
winners
Milos Raonic
Mixed Bag
CHENNAI
CRIME BEAT
Man ends life in
New Washermenpet
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 21:
A man ended his life in New
Washermenpet after consuming
acid this morning. According to
police sources, Rajan (34) a resident of Thiruvalluvar Street, had invested his savings with an alleged
job racketeer who had promised
him a well-paying job abroad.
After realising he had been cheated off the money, Rajan took the
extreme step, police said.
New Washermenpet police has
registered a case and his body has
been shifted to Stanley Medical
College and Hospital.
Lorry runs over
three labourers
Dindigul, Mar 21 (PTI):
Two labourers were today
crushed to death while three others seriously injured when a lorry
driver reversed the vehicle without
noticing them sleeping on the
roadside here, police said.
Eight workers were sleeping
on the roadside when the driver
reversed the vehicle.
Three workers managed to escape, police said, adding, the
driver fled from the scene. The
injured have been admitted to
hospital.
Will not shield anyone,
says Karnataka CM
q Extends govt support on D K Ravi death probe
Bengaluru, Mar 21:
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today assured that his government will not protect anyone in the
IAS officer D K Ravi death case.
‘The government will not hide anything... will not protect anyone,’ Siddaramaiah said amid pressure on his
government to hand over the death
probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Even Congress president Sonia
Gandhi wrote to the Karnataka CM
yesterday asking him to hand over
the investigation to the CBI.
Siddaramaiah said he will speak to
Ravi’s parents once his post-mortem
is out. ‘Have told the parents of DK
‘Opposition is making allegations
for the sake of politics. I am not
interested in burying the truth,
that’s not my business’, said Karnataka Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah
Ravi that I will speak to them after his
post-mortem report comes in and is
examined. We also want the truth to
come out, that’s what I have promised to the parents,’ he said.
‘I have been in politics for 35 years.
I understand people’s sentiments
and respect them. More importantly,
Special children along with their parents participated in an awareness
rally organised by the School Education Department, as a part of
World Down Syndrome Day at R A Puram in Chennai today.
New Delhi, Mar 21:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
Saturday greeted the people as
various festivals were celebrated
across India.
Modi took to Twitter and wished the
people on the ‘Vikram Samvat’ - the
beginning of the Hindu New Year
which falls on 21 March this year.
Modi also wished people on the occasion of the nine-day ‘Navratri’ festival beginning on Saturday. Greetings
to everyone on the day of ‘Navratri’,
he tweeted.
He wished the Sindhi community
on the auspicious occasion of ‘Cheti
Chand’. ‘Greetings to the Sindhi
Community on the auspicious occasion of ‘Cheti Chand’. May Lord
Amit Shah to address
public meeting in Varanasi
Varanasi, Mar 21 (PTI):
BJP National President Amit Shah
will address a public meeting in Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency tomorrow during which a large
number of people are expected to join
the saffron party.
The meeting is being organised by
former Samajwadi Party local leader
Anil Rajbhar, who will formally join
BJP in Shah’s presence at the event
here.
‘BJP national president Amit shah
will speak at a public meeting organised by local backward caste leader
Anil Rajbhar,’ said Sanjay Bhardwaj,
BJP’s media incharge of Eastern UP
region as well as of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s constituency.
Rajbhar, who has served as an
‘Ajmal Kasab never
asked for biryani’
Jaipur, Mar 21:
26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused
Ajmal Kasab’s demand for Mutton
Biryani in jail was just a myth and
was ‘concocted’ to stop an ‘emotional
wave’ which was being created in
favour of the militant, claimed Ujjwal
Nikam, public prosecutor in the case.
‘Kasab never demanded Biryani and
was never served by the government.
I concocted it just to break an emotional atmosphere which was taking
shape in favour of Kasab during the
trial of the case,’ Nikam told reporters on the sidelines of international
conference on counter-terrorism here.
‘Media was minutely observing
his body language and he was
well aware of it. One day, in the
court room, he bowed his head
and wiped his eyes. Moments
later, electronic media broke the
news-- tears in Kasab’s eyes. It
was Raksha Bandhan that day,
and panel discussions were started
in the media on it. Some guessed
Kasab got emotional in memory of
his sister and some even went on to
question whether he was a terrorist
or not,’ Nikam said.
‘This kind of emotional wave and
atmosphere was needed to the
stopped. So, after that, I gave a
statement to the media saying Kasab
has demanded Mutton Biryani in the
jail,’ he said.
Nikam said that when he told this
to the media, again panel discussions were started and the media
highlighted that a dreaded terrorist
was demanding Mutton Biryani in jail
while ‘the truth is that Kasab neither
I have promised the parents that I’ll
get to the truth,’ Siddaramaiah said
further.
The Congress leader said he will
make his stand clear on the floor of
the House. All the information will be
given in the Assembly on Monday,
he added. He rejected Opposition
allegations that his government was
trying to hide the truth.
‘Opposition is making allegations for
the sake of politics. I am not interested in burying the truth, that’s not my
business,’ said Siddaramaiah. There
has been a clamour for CBI probe into
Ravi’s death from Opposition parties
and the family of Ravi who was found
hanging from a ceiling fan in his flat
on Monday.
Stepping up the pressure, BJP
and JD(S) MLAs had on Thursday
marched in a procession from Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat,
to Raj Bhavan and requested the
Governor to advise the Siddaramaiah
government to refer the case to CBI.
7
Renuka Chowdhury
booked for
‘taking bribe’
Hyderabad, Mar 21:
In an embarrassment for the Congress, the Hyderabad Police has
booked party’s senior leader and
former union minister Renuka Chowdhury for allegedly taking bribe of over
Rs 1.10 crore from an aspirant by
promising him an Assembly Election
ticket, reports stated today.
The petitioner, B Kalawati, told ANI
that before Assembly polls Renuka
Chowdhury had promised her husband, Ramjee Naik, Wyra Assembly
ticket for last year’s elections but he
was not given the same.
‘She took more than Rs 1.10 crore but
cheated us. We want justice and will
take this matter to the court,’ Kalawati
was quoted as saying by ANI.
Police in Khammam district of Telangana has registered a case under the
SC/ST Atrocities Act against Chowdhury. Kalavati has also alleged that her
husband died due to pressure of the
debts they incurred to raise the money.
Happy Ugadi: Modi
2 terrorists
killed in
encounter
Srinagar, Mar 21:
Two terrorists were killed during
a fierce encounter with the Army in
Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir today. A Major and a jawan were
injured during the attack at the Army
camp on Jammu-Pathankote National
Highway in Samba.
A civilian was also injured outside the
camp and was rushed to the hospital.
The terrorists tried to enter the camp
but were stopped at the gate.
Defence spokesperson Lieutenant
Colonel Manish Mehta said, ‘The terrorists opened fire at 5:45 AM. The
terrorists did not manage to enter the
Army camp. The terrorists are being
contained outside the Army area.’
Samba Deputy Superintendent of
Police VP Singh said, ‘The injured
has been taken to the hospital. Police
is not allowed inside the Army camp.
The Army is dealing with the situation
on their own.’
The attack comes a day after terrorists killed five people in an encounter
at Rajbagh Police Station in Kathua
district.
Authorities are trying to establish if
there is any link to Friday’s attack on
the police station in Kathua.
Meanwhile, Jammu-Pathankote National Highway has been cordoned off
following the attack.
SATURDAY
21 MARCH 2015
‘Kasab never demanded
Biryani and was never
served by the government.
I concocted it just to
break an emotional
atmosphere which was
taking shape in favour
of Kasab during the
trial of the case,’ Nikam
told reporters on the
sidelines of international
conference on counterterrorism
asked for Biryani nor it was served.’
Nikam said that he during a session
in the ongoing conference also disclosed this to the audience. Pakistani
terrorist Kasab was hanged to death
in November 2012 nearly four years
after the November 2008 attack in
which he had killed scores of people.
Advisor to Planning Commission
of Uttar Pradesh, holding the status of Minister of State during the
Mulayam Singh Yadav government,
will join the party tomorrow along
with his supporters belonging to the
PCB to ‘analyse’
WC showing
Karachi, Mar 21:
The Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB) said on Friday it would
carry out an analysis of the national
team’s showing as well as the performances of every individual in the
World Cup.
But PCB Chairman Shaharyar
Khan also said in a statement that
the board would give a befitting farewell to Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid
Afridi who have announced their
retirements from one-day internationals after the World Cup.
‘As this World Cup 2015 campaign
comes to an end, it brings the curtain
down on the careers of two of our
stalwarts, skipper Misbah-ul-Haq
and Shahid Afridi. I take this opportunity to convey my personal appreciation for their immense contribution to
Pakistan cricket,’ Khan said.
‘We shall honour them on their
return to Pakistan. I wish
Misbah all the success as
Test and Shahid Afridi as
T-20 captain in future,’ Khan
added. He also hoped that
other players would learn
from their World Cup experience for their future assignments. Khan commiserated
with Team Pakistan on losing its quarterfinal against Australia
at Adelaide today.
‘The team had made it to the
quarterfinals on the back of some
excellent performances in four consecutive wins. The quarterfinal loss
is disappointing, but what is heartening is that the team showed a lot of
fighting spirit and character in trying
to defend a low total against tournament favourite hosts, Australia,’ the
PCB chief said.
backward castes in Poorvanchal
region, he said.
The rally is being organised at
the Cutting Memorial ground in the
city and nearly more than 5,00010,000 people especially from the
backward classes such as Bind,
Mallah, Kharwar, Kevat, Biyar and
other castes are expected to attend,
said Bhardwaj.
A mass joining in BJP of people
from these castes will also take
place here, he said. The rally is also
organised to pay regards to Raja
Suheldev, a backward caste king,
he said, adding, Suheldev was a
backward caste king who is worshipped for fighting Muslim leaders,
including the powerful Muhammad
Ghazni in the 11th century.
Jhulelal bless us and bring peace and
joy in our lives.’
‘Wishing my friends in Maharashtra
on ‘Gudi Padwa’. May you have a
blessed and joyful year ahead,’ he
added.
‘’Ugadi’ Greetings to everyone. I
pray for a year full of prosperity, good
health and happiness,’ another tweet
added.
‘Gudi padwa’ and ‘Ugadi’ are New
Year’s Day for the people of the Deccan region of India.
‘’Navreh’ greetings to everyone.
May this year be a joyful one and
may you be blessed with good
health and well being,’ the PM said.
‘Navreh’ is the lunar new year
which is celebrated in Kashmir and
many other parts of the country. It
coincides with the first day of ‘Chaitra’ (spring).
‘On the special occasion of ‘Sajibu
Nongmapanba’, greetings to my
sisters and brothers of Manipur,’
said Modi.
Pakistan releases 57
Indian fishing boats
Islamabad, Mar 21:
As a goodwill gesture, Pakistan on
Saturday released 57 Indian fishing
boats that were in its custody. In a
statement, Foreign Office (FO) said
the decision to release the vessels
was taken in May last year.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited India at that time to attend the
oath-ceremony of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi. An eight-member Indian delegation visited Karachi from
9 March to finalise modalities for the
repatriation of boats with officials
of the Pakistan Maritime Security
Agency (PMSA), the statement said.
‘While the PMSA had kept the
boats in good condition, it extended
full support to the visiting team in
making the boats seaworthy after
minor repairs. Subsequently, the
boats were towed to the maritime
boundary today, where these were
physically taken over by the Indian
side,’ it said.
Indian fishermen and boats are
often apprehended by PMSA authorities when they violate Pakistan
territorial waters. Usually the boats
are not in seaworthy condition and
are not returned.
However, following instructions
from the Prime Minister to return
these boats, special efforts were
undertaken by the PMSA to ensure
that the boats are returned to their
owners, the statement added.
Pakistan and India frequently arrest rival fishermen for violating the
sea waters.
Indian bowling: Weak
link to stronger suit
Mumbai, Mar 21:
The same bowling which was India’s weakest link coming into the
World Cup has remarkably become
their strongest suit as the reigning
champions eased into the last four in
impressive style.
India’s bowling looked toothless and
jaded during their 2-0 test series loss
in Australia as well as in the following
ODI Tri-series, where they failed to
win a single match.
With experienced Ishant Sharma
ruled out before the tournament by
injury, it looked like Mahendra Singh
Dhoni’s side would be reliant on batting to fire their World Cup defence.
Over the last month, however,
Dhoni’s bowlers have raised the
bar significantly and, with
the help of a sprinkling of
run-outs, have dismissed
the opposition in all seven
matches on their way to the
semi-finals.
‘It was a concern,’ former
India captain Rahul Dravid
conceded on STAR Sports
after India’s 109-run win
against Bangladesh in the quarterfinal on Thursday.
‘Ishant Sharma was in the original
team, he had injury issues. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was thought to
be one of India’s leading one-day
bowlers in the lead-up to the World
Cup but there were question marks
about his (fitness).
‘Who are the guys who are going
to deliver for us at the death? Are
we going to be able to take wickets
up front? The middle overs were a
concern.
‘Is Ravichandran Ashwin able to
bowl in overseas conditions? All
those questions have been answered.’ After bundling out Bangladesh for 193, India overtook South
Africa’s record of taking all 10 op-
position wickets in six consecutive
matches. The team have also not
conceded a single score of 300 or
above in their seven matches, Zimbabwe’s 287 being the highest total
against them.
What has also been highly pleasing for the Indians is that their three
fast bowlers have regularly clocked
speeds over 140 kmph and used the
short ball brilliantly to peg batsmen
on their backfoot. ‘(Bowling coach)
Bharat Arun is working really hard with
the fast bowlers here,’ said opening
batsman Rohit Sharma, the man-ofthe-match in the quarter-final.
‘They are here, they want to prove
something, which is why you can see
the energy right from ball one.
‘It’s not the 140 they are bowling but
the kind of energy they are bowling with
and the discipline they are showing in
the last seven matches that we have
played. It’s really good.’ The results
have been obvious. Mohammed Shami
led the ranks of highest wicket-takers
with 17 from six matches on Thursday,
with his fast bowling colleague Umesh
Yadav not too far behind with 14.
Dhoni attributed the change in fortunes to their ability to bowl consistently at a particular line and length
and said they now believed in building
pressure rather than trying for too
much variety.
‘They are bowling at good pace, all
of them are fit, and if they can keep
hitting that one area, I think it will be
good because that’s something where
we have been lacking.’
8SATURDAY
21 MARCH 2015
, CHENNAI
Licensed to post without prepayment under WPP. No. TN / PMG / (CCR) / WPP-470 / 15-17
Rohit Sharma
Irate Pak fans
hold mock funeral
after loss
Rohit is a beautiful
player, says
Martin Crowe
SYDNEY:
Impressed with Rohit
Sharma’s match-winning
ton against Bangladesh,
former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe said
that the top-order batsman is a beautiful player
who did the basics right
at the MCG.
Rohit, who had just
managed 159 runs in six
World Cup games before
the quarter-final, stroked
a calculative 137 to help
India thrash Bagladesh
by 109 runs. Crowe
was mesmerised
with the batsman’s maiden
World Cup
century.
I liked the
way he played
straight, he
did play a
solid hand.
Shikhar Dhawan has
been the one that’s playing more aggressive
through this campaign,
we’ve talked about Rohit, who’s unclear and
he delivered because
he laid a foundation.
He’s a beautiful player,
he did basics very well
and then he was able
to capitalise when the
field obviously started
to spread,’ Crowe said
on ESPNcricinfo’s video
show ‘Match Point’.
Rohit paced his 126ball knock beautifully
to help India manage
302 for six after electing to bat first. Crowe,
who led a memorable
New Zealand campaign
in the 1992 World Cup
when they lost steam
in the semi-fi nals, was
impressed with Rohit’s
assured knock.
‘I mean he stroll up
by playing straight, I
thought his feet moved
nicely, he was looking
obviously to check it
out maybe to get the
run rate going.
‘But once those three
wickets fell and he hit
(Suresh) Raina at the
other end he really lifted
the energy, he just got
better and better, in fact
KARACHI:
Angry Pakistan cricket fans smashed television sets and carried out a mock funeral
after the national team lost to Australia in
the World Cup quarter-finals in Adelaide
on Friday. Around 50 supporters in Multan
mourned the death of Pakistan cricket
and burnt bats and cricket equipment to
express their disappointment.
The quarter-final, which began at 800
local time, was followed nervously by millions in the country with special screenings
in public parks, schools, restaurants and
hotels on a normal working day.
‘Bangladesh can claim they were done
in by poor umpiring but what excuse can
the Pakistan team give expect they played
rank bad cricket and couldn’t handle the
pressure,’ fan Munazza Jillani said at a
school for special children in Karachi.
Bangladesh blamed poor umpiring decisions for their defeat by India in the second
quarter-final.
Cricket analyst Aaliya
Rasheed
said the
reaction of
t h e
people in some cities was understandable
but said generally cricket fans had taken
the defeat sportingly.
‘I think our team was good enough to
reach the quarter- finals and not beyond
that. Give them credit for this given the
number of injury problems we faced,’
Rasheed said.
Pakistan were without top spinner Saeed
Ajmal, fast bowler Junaid Khan and allrounder Mohammad Hafeez throughout
the tournament and leading fast bowler
Mohammad Irfan missed the quarter-final.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan tried to take positives from
the tournament.
‘The quarter-fi nal loss is disappointing, but what is heartening is that the
team showed a lot of fighting spirit and
character in trying to defend a low total
against tournament favourite hosts Australia,’ he said.
Khan said the board would give a fitting
farewell to captain Misbah-ul-Haq and allrounder Shahid Afridi who have now retired
from one-day internationals.
he went through the
gears beautifully,
got on to sixth
gear at the end
and that’s what
you’ve got to
do when
you’re an
opening
batsm a n ,
y o u
get in,
you’ve
got to
m a k e
t h e
most
o f
it,’ he said.
Talking about the controversial no-ball that
gave Rohit a life on
90 runs, Crowe was
clear that technology’s help should have
been sought by onfield umpires Aleem
Dar, who was at the
striker’s end and gave
the call, and Ian Gould
at square leg.
Well I think as a batsman, you know, your
reaction to the ball on
a split second, so you
know, Rohit Sharma
was obviously trying
to capitalise on what
looked like a juicy full
toss, but the fact is
that he was caught on
it, was below the waist
and all it would take
was for the umpire to
say - Can we just check
this?,’ opined the classy
batsman, who is now
fighting a brave battle
with cancer.
There is nothing wrong
with making the decision
square leg or indicating to Ian Gould at the
striker’s end that he
thinks it is a no ball but
try and check, takes five
seconds and to me that
could be 15, 20 runs
went,” he added.
SEMI FINALS
WILL BE HELD
24 & 26
MARCH 2015
‘Oz bowling attack
no more fearsome’
JOHANNESBURG:
The bowling attack of the Australian cricket team
no longer stands head and shoulders above the rest,
according to former World Cup-winning captain Steve
Waugh.
Commenting on the Proteas’ performance on Wednesday when they beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets to enter
the semi-finals of the mega event, Waugh said the South
Africans had sent a clear message to the rest of the
quarter-finalists that they are eager to lift the title.
‘I was very impressed with what I saw from South Africa,’
Waugh told the Afrikaans daily Beeld here.
They played superbly and their bowling was impressive.
There would have been enormous pressure on the team
about their poor performance record in big games like this,
but they handled it well and the influence of Mike Horn was
clear,’ Waugh added.
Solo explorer Horn, who has walked to the North Pole on
foot and in total darkness, has been coaching the Proteas
on how to deal with pressure and handle fear.
— PTI
Virat Kohli is a big
occasion player: Dhoni
SYDNEY:
It has been a lull after
storm for Virat Kohli in
the ongoing ICC Cricket
World Cup but his skipper
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
stood firmly behind his
deputy expressing confidence that he will come
good on a big day as he
is a big occasion player.
Kohli, who had four
Test hundreds in four-
match Test series scored a
hundred in the Cup opener
against Pakistan but since then
have had scores of 46, 33 no,
33, 44 no, 38 and 3 in the next
six games. Asked if it was a case
of poor shot selection rather than
good bowling from the opposition, Dhoni didn’t agree.
I don’t think poor shot selection is the case. He is a
dominant batsman, he loves
playing his strokes. I don’t
think he has batted badly at
all, skipper batted for Kohli
during post-match press
conference after the quarterfinal win over Bangladesh.
In fact Dhoni feels that it
is unfair to expect Kohli fire
everytime he goes out to
bat just like he did during
the Test series in Australia.
‘Not that he has got century everytime when he has
gone out to bat but maybe
About sons of soil
S
ivappu Manithargal starring 13am Pakkam Paarka fame
Sriram Karthik is
fast nearing completion. Swetha of
Naan Thaan Bala is
the heroine. Sona,
Yuvarani and Ganja
Karuppu are also
in the cast. Written and directed by
Anbu Saravanan,
the film is produced
by Muthumariamman Films and presented by Annam
Film Internationals.
The movie has
family emotions,
romance, comedy,
valour and anger in
a realistic manner.
Vijay Manthra has
scored music for lyrics by Viveka and
cinematography by
Thangapandian.
— NT Bureau
Viishnu in
Kannan’s film
D
irector Kannan of
Jayamkondan fame
is all set to kick off his
next titled Poda Andavanae Namma Pakkam.
The title is inspired by
famous punchline of Rajinikanth.
Playing the lead role
is Viishnu and Prayaga
of Pisasu fame is the
heroine. Cinematography is by P G Muthiah. Says the director,
‘the movie is about a
youngster who works
in the electronic paradise - Ritchie Street.
We would shoot a major
portion of the movie in
Chennai and songs will
be canned in Canada.’
The pre-production
works are completed
and the shoot will
begin this May, he
adds.
— NT Bureau
T
Swetha in Sivappu Manithargal
Sibiraj, Sathyaraj
together
A
fter Naaigal Jakirathai, Sibiraj will
play the lead in a movie
titled Jackson Durai. The
movie also stars Sathyaraj and Karunaakaran
in key roles.
Directed by Dharanidharan, it is produced by
Sri Green Productions
with music by Vipin Siddharth.
Speaking about the
movie, the director, says,
‘It is a horror film. A village
is haunted by evil spirits.
A police officer comes to
set things right. what happens then forms the crux’.
The movie will go on
floors very soon.
— NT Bureau
we are relating to the Test
series, and expect that he
scores a hundred in each
time he is out there in the
middle, the skipper wants to
put an end to this unnecessary expectations.
For Dhoni, he is happy that
Kohli is focussed on the process. ‘He is concentrating on
process. And he is a big occasion player and would fire on
a big day,’ the skipper added.
Veerapandiya
Kattabomman
trailer is out
he trailer of yesteryear classic Veerapandiya Kattabomman starrring thespian Sivaji Ganesan was
out yesterday. The movie will be re-released in a digital
manner across Tamilnadu soon.
As a prelude, the trailer was out at Sathyam Cinemas.
At the gala function, veteran actor and Sivaji Ganesan’s
son Prabhu, actor Sivakumar, daughter of Gemini Ganesan Kamala Selvaraj among others attended the same.
A historical movie about veteran freedom fighter and
Tamil emperor Veerapandiya Kattabomman, the movie
is considered a classic.
‘The beautifully-delivered dialogues by my father in
this movie, which celebrated actors such as Rajini,
Kamal and Sathyaraj know by heart, and historic scenes
featuring stalwarts such as Padmini, Gemini Ganesan
and OAK Thevar that ran the test of time will definitely
be liked by the youngsters as well’, said actor Prabhu.
The film was the first Indian and Tamil movie to bag the
awards for best actor, music and best film at Asia-Africa
film festival at Cairo in 1960.
— NT Bureau
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