Sanskrit poet Bhartrihari's iconic verses now in English

Sanskrit poet Bhartrihari's iconic verses now in English

The translation aims to preserve the verses of "Shataka Trayam" in contemporary language for modern-day readers, says Haksar

Over 300 iconic verses of Bhartrihari, one of the greatest Sanskrit poets of all time, in which he expounds on the most enduring concerns and dilemmas like living, loving and leaving have now been translated into English.

The book "Three Hundred Verses: Musings On Life, Love and Renunciation", having the verses translated by A N D Haksar, captures the verve, acuity and erotic charge of Bhartrihari's most significant works, the publishers Penguin Books said. Although composed centuries ago, the full force of Bhartrihari's genius is apparently evident in these poems, bursting with lush imagery and brimming with deep philosophical musings.

Covering a wide range of themes - from the first stirrings of young love to the challenges of accepting life's transience - these verses are sure to resonate with contemporary readers.

Bhartrihari's poetry is frequently quoted in ancient anthologies and lauded in old commentaries. Although very little is known about his life and origins, scholarly consensus places him roughly around 450-500 CE.

The "Shataka Trayam" or "Trishati" of Bhartrihari is among the best known and most quoted works of Sanskrit literature.

The translation aims to preserve the verses of "Shataka Trayam" in contemporary language for modern-day readers, says Haksar.

"The verses are replete with succinct thoughts and sharp images. Their tone ranges from cynical to wishful. From erotic to didactic, from pensive to completely detached. Their language is simple and clear," he says, adding he has attempted to reflect all the qualities in free-verse form.

Now you can print old photos via Kodak Facebook chatbot

Now you can print old photos via Kodak Facebook chatbot

It would surface photos using the company's "unique image science capabilities" in a news feed-style section in an attempt to generate print sales.

Kodak Moments, the consumer printing division of Kodak, is now encouraging Facebook users to print their old photos on the social media platform via a Messenger chatbot and relive their memories.

To print a an old photo, users have to start a chat thread with the Kodak Moments Assistant on Facebook Messenger, allow it access to the Facebook account and it would scan the photos users have stored on the platform over the years, The Verge reported.

Kodak Moments would also add a similar feature to its mobile app, which again either requires access to Facebook (or Google) account or phone's camera roll.

It would surface photos using the company's "unique image science capabilities" in a news feed-style section in an attempt to generate print sales.

Kodak's image surfacing algorithm relies on the data attached to a photo like tagging, relationships, location, engagement and keywords that helps it to scan photos on the platform, the report said.

InFocus Turbo 5 Plus: High on battery, low on camera

InFocus Turbo 5 Plus: High on battery, low on camera

At Rs 8,999, the device competes with Panasonic's 'P55 Max' that offers a 5,000mAh battery.

After the launch of the 'Turbo 5' in June, US-based technology company InFocus has now introduced 'Turbo 5 Plus' that comes with a massive 4,850mAh battery and is priced in the sub-Rs 10,000 category.

At Rs 8,999, the device competes with Panasonic's 'P55 Max' that offers a 5,000mAh battery.

Let's see what works for the device.As the dual camera set-up at the rear is currently in vogue in the smartphone industry, 'Turbo 5 Plus' also flaunts 13MP+5MP sensors at the back, with f/2.0 and f/2.2 aperture, respectively.

The device also supports auto focus and features dual-LED flashlight and digital zoom. The cameras have wide-angle lenses of 120 degrees.

The device is also equipped with 5MP front shooter with f/2.4 aperture along with digital zoom.A thorough use of the device revealed that the battery can last for more than 24 hours on normal usage.

Encased in a metallic cover, the device sports a 5.5-inch HD display with 2.5D curved display (resolution of 720 pixels by 1280 pixels).

With a smooth and glossy back cover, the device won't slip from your hands.'Turbo 5 Plus' is powered by octa-core MediaTek MT6750 SoC coupled with 3GB of RAM and runs on Android Nougat.

When it comes to storage, the device has 32GB of inbuilt storage that can be expanded up to 64GB via a microSD card.

If you are using only few apps on the device at a time, it will work fine. But too much load may result in the device becoming a bit sluggish.

On the positive side, the touch of the smartphone device works perfectly fine and it doesn't heat up at all.The volume and power keys are placed at the right edge.

A micro-USB charger port is placed at the bottom edge while a jack is placed on the top edge. The phone has two speakers fitted on the bottom edge but only the one on the right is functional while the other is a dummy (just a design element).The front fingerprint sensor is responsive, making the accessibility to apps easy for the users.

On the connectivity front, the device comes with 4G VoLTE support and regular options like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB OTG, microUSB and GPS.

The device also comes with dual-SIM.What doesn't work.The images captured from the device were of average quality in both low and bright light conditions. It wasn't as sharp as compared to other smartphones in the sub-Rs 10,000 category.

Recharging the battery took longer than expected.

Conclusion: 'Turbo 5 Plus' is just another smartphone in the sub-Rs 10,000 category. It may attract people who want longer battery back-up but would disappoint camera lovers.

Ryan International killing: CBI team reaches school to collect evidence

Ryan International killing: CBI team reaches school to collect evidence

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official told new agency that the team was at the school campus to collect evidence related to the death of Pradhuman Thakur.

A 12-member CBI team on Saturday arrived at Ryan International School in Bhondsi here to collect forensic evidence in connection with the murder of a Class 2 student earlier this month.

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official told IANS that the team was at the school campus to collect evidence related to the death of seven-year old Pradhuman Thakur who was found dead in the school washroom on September 8.The official said the local police station, where the case was registered earlier, is assisting the CBI team.

The action comes after the CBI on Friday registered a case under sections of murder, arms act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Juvenile Justice Act.

The Haryana government ordered a CBI inquiry into the killing of Pradhuman on September 15.

Pradhuman was found dead with his throat slit inside the school's washroom, within an hour after his father dropped him.

Police alleged that school bus conductor, Ashok Kumar, 42, killed him with a knife after the boy resisted an attempt to sodomise him.

While Kumar has been arrested, his parents and two other staffers claim he was being made a scapegoat.

Police have also arrested two officials of the school and are seeking to question the trustees of Ryan Trust, which manages the school. The case snowballed into a major national issue of safety and security of children in schools, with vociferous protests held by parents and activists outside Ryan schools in several states.

Facebook Messenger's 'M' suggests GIFs, books movie tickets

Facebook Messenger's 'M' suggests GIFs, books movie tickets

'M' will now suggest users several animated GIF options, pegged to common expressions like 'thank you', Fortune reported late on Thursday.

Facebook has added three new automatic suggestions using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the Messenger app's virtual assistant 'M'.

'M' will now suggest users several animated GIF options, pegged to common expressions like 'thank you', Fortune reported late on Thursday.

It will also provide a series of 'Quick Replies' -- 'Yes', 'No', 'I think so', anytime someone is asked a simple question.

Messenger has partnered with movie ticketing service Fandango on a feature that suggests nearby showtimes and theatres when users mention a recently released movie in their conversations.

The feature also gives options to book movie tickets directly from the Messenger app, the report added.

Users have the option to mute the assistant in the app's settings and also to dismiss any suggestions it offers.

Facebook launched 'M' in the Messenger app in April this year and has been adding new features to it backed by machine learning technology ever since.

In June, Messenger had rolled out a feature that provided suggestions to users to send their friends virtual birthday cards.

High Court issues notice to Centre to quash circular

High Court issues notice to Centre to quash circular

Disposing of a plea by an advocate M Purushothaman, Justice N Kirubakaran directed the Centre to consider his representation.

The Madras High Court today issued notice to the Centre on a plea for quashing a circular issued by the Regional Officer, CBSE, Chennai, asking students to buy text books published by private publishers instead of those by the National Council for Educational Research and Training.

Disposing of a plea by an advocate M Purushothaman, Justice N Kirubakaran directed the Centre to consider his representation.

The judge directed Assistant Solicitor General Su. Sreenivasan, who took notice on behalf of the Centre, to file his reply within four weeks. There are so many issues involved with regard to the CBSE books, the judge said and posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.

PM Modi, Arvind Subramanian, Falhari baba: Top trending stories of the day

PM Modi, Arvind Subramanian, Falhari baba: Top trending stories of the day


Cut the clutter and read evening bulletin to know the top 10 stories of the day.

DON'T BELIEVE IN VOTE BANK POLITICS, NATION COMES FIRST: PM MODI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday the BJP did not believe in vote bank politics as the country was above party politics. On the second day of his visit to his Varanasi parliamentary constituency, Modi told a gathering that he had launched a major war against corruption and the corrupt to ease the life of the common man. He also said cleanliness was worship for him as it could rid the poor of various diseases and a lot of economic burden.

"Governance for us is not about votes or winning elections. The priority is the development of the nation. For us, the country is bigger than party," he said, in his address to farmers in Shahanshahpur on the outskirts of Varanasi. He said most of the problems faced by the common people in India were rooted in corruption. "I have launched a war against it and will take it further to ensure that graft is weeded out from the country." The Prime Minister urged the people to also ensure that the mission for cleanliness gets their support.

ARVIND SUBRAMANIAN TO CONTINUE AS CEA, GETS 1-YEAR EXTENSION

Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Arvind Srubramanian, whose term was due to end in October, has been given an extension of one year, the government said on Saturday. "Subramanian will continue for one more year after completion of his three year tenure on October 16," Finance Ministry said in a tweet. Earlier there were reports that the CEA had submitted his resignation to the government, which was denied by the ministry officials.

The officials had earlier clarified that he would continue as the government was considering the extension. Subramanian was appointed as the Chief Economic Advisor on October 16, 2014, for a term of three years. He is on leave from US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, where he's a senior fellow. Being the key advisor to Finance Ministry Arun Jaitley, he has been instrumental in suggesting some key reforms. The Economic Survey 2016-17, was for the first time split into two volumes - pre-Budget and post-Budget.

RAJASTHAN'S 'FALAHARI BABA' ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF RAPE

After three days of investigation, Rajasthan Police on Saturday arrested self-styled godman Kaushalendra Prapannacharya 'Falahari' Maharaj in Alwar for the alleged rape of a 21-year-old woman. "We have arrested the Baba under Section 376 (rape) and section 506 (criminal intimidation)," Rahul Prakash, Superintendent of Police Alwar, told IANS on phone.

He said that Falahari Baba would be taken to a government hospital for a medical check and later if he is found fit and healthy he would be presented before a magistrate. The young woman from Chhattisgarh alleged she had been raped by the 70-year-old godman at his ashram in Alwar in Rajasthan on August 7. Her family has been the Baba's follower for over 15 years and claimed to have given large donations to the godman.

RYAN INTERNATIONAL KILLING: CBI TEAM REACHES SCHOOL TO COLLECT EVIDENCE

A 12-member CBI team on Saturday arrived at Ryan International School in Bhondsi here to collect forensic evidence in connection with the murder of a Class 2 student earlier this month. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official told IANS that the team was at the school campus to collect evidence related to the death of seven-year old Pradhuman Thakur who was found dead in the school washroom on September 8.

The official said the local police station, where the case was registered earlier, is assisting the CBI team. The action comes after the CBI on Friday registered a case under sections of murder, arms act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Juvenile Justice Act. The Haryana government ordered a CBI inquiry into the killing of Pradhuman on September 15. Pradhuman was found dead with his throat slit inside the school's washroom, within an hour after his father dropped him.

RAJKUMMAR RAO TO CALL AAMIR FOR 'NEWTON' OSCAR PROMOTION

Rajkummar Rao is excited as his new film "Newton" has been announced as India's official entry for the Oscars. The actor says that he will call superstar Aamir Khan for the advice on its promotion. When asked about his team strategy to promote "Newton" at the Oscars, Rajkummar said: "It's just got announced and its too soon to decide but our team is going to meet and we will plan something about it because there has to be strategy. We will be going to America to promote the film."

He was present at the GQ Men of the Year Award on Friday night. When reporters asked Rajkummar whether he is going to get some guidance from Aamir Khan about film promotion at the Oscars, he said, "Off course, I will definitely call him and meet him because 'Lagaan' was there at the Oscars and we are really proud of the film. so I am sure Aamir sir will help us a lot."Rajkummar attended the event along with girlfriend Patralekha who seems excited about the film too. "I am very thrilled. 'Newton' is a film that should get in top five films at the Oscars because it's really good and relevant and shows different side of India," she said.

GLOBALISATION IS HERE TO STAY, WE PROVED SCEPTICS WRONG: MANMOHAN SINGH

Globalisation is here to stay and those who were sceptical about the success of India's "new policies" 25 years ago have been proven wrong, says former prime minister Manmohan Singh. It was a matter of pride that the broad thrust and direction of economic policies had remained unchanged in the last 25 years, added the renowned economist, considered to be the architect of India's reforms in the early 1990s.

The senior Congress leader was speaking at the 15th edition of the Indian School of Business Leadership Summit 2017 here last evening. "All of you know that in 1991, we adopted a new approach for the management of the economy involving progressive liberalisation of both the internal and external economy. "At that time there were many people who were skeptical about the success of new policies. However, we have proved them wrong," he said. It was also a period associated with significant growth rate of GDP and a decline in the proportion of people living below the poverty line.

DONALD TRUMP, KIM JONG ARE LIKE 'CHILDREN IN A KINDERGARTEN': RUSSIA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has likened the war of words between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to a kindergarten fight between children. The North Korean leader earlier labelled Trump "mentally deranged" and a "dotard" after Trump threatened to destroy his country. Trump responded with a tweet calling Kim Jong-un "a madman" who "will be tested like never before!

"Lavrov said a pause was needed, "to calm down the hotheads", BBC reported on Friday."Yes, it's unacceptable to silently watch North Korea's nuclear military adventures but it is also unacceptable to unleash war on the Korean Peninsula," he said. He called for a political process, which he said was a key part of the United Nations Security Council process. The North Korean leader had attacked Donald Trump days after his speech at the UN, in which the US president said he would "totally destroy" North Korea if the US was forced to defend itself or its allies. He also mocked Kim Jong-un with a disparaging nickname, saying: "Rocket man is on a suicide mission."

TWO BSF TROOPERS, THREE CIVILIANS INJURED IN PAKISTAN FIRING

Two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers and three civilians were injured when Pakistan Rangers resorted to heavy shelling on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Saturday. "The two troopers and three civilians were injured in the overnight Pakistan ceasefire violation in R.S. Pura and Ramgarh sectors,” said police.

"The Pakistan Rangers used mortars, automatics and small arms to target over half a dozen BSF posts and civilian areas in the firing that started at 10 p.m. Our troops effectively retaliated," the police said.Villagers in the areas close to the international border said their crops have suffered extensive damage due to the shelling.Residents of the border villages have also started moving to safer places.

NOW TALK TO SAMSUNG DIGITAL ASSISTANT BIXBY IN INDIA

Samsung announced that digital assistant Bixby will now be available with voice capabilities in India that will help consumers interact better with their smartphones.Bixby has been optimised to understand Indian accents. The newly-launched Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ users can now enable Bixby's voice capabilities (US English) by pressing the Bixby button, the company said in a statement.

Consumers can activate Bixby by holding the dedicated button on the Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones, or by simply saying, "Hi, Bixby." "With Bixby, the phone adapts to you and not the other way around. It's a smarter way to use your phone and get more done," said Asim Warsi, Senior Vice President, Mobile Business, Samsung India.

'CHENNAI EXPRESS' PRODUCER ARRESTED IN RAPE CASE OF ASPIRING ACTRESS

Bollywood producer Karim Morani surrendered to police here in connection with the alleged rape of a 25-year-old aspiring actress, hours after the Supreme Court dismissed his bail plea. The "Chennai Express" producer surrendered at the Hayathnagar police station on the city's outskirts around midnight. He will be produced before a court later in the day, police said on Saturday. The Delhi-based woman alleged that Morani raped her on the pretext of marrying her.

She alleged that Morani took her nude pictures and videos and sexually exploited her by threatening to post the same on social media. The police had booked him in January on charges of rape, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and cheating. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed Morani's petition challenging the Hyderabad High Court's verdict cancelling his bail. The High Court on September 5 had upheld the decision of the sessions court cancelling Morani's bail. Morani was booked for cheating, rape, wrongful confinement), criminal intimidation), and cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of marriage under the Indian Penal Code.

Arvind Subramanian to continue as CEA, gets 1-year extension

Arvind Subramanian to continue as CEA, gets 1-year extension

Earlier there were reports that the CEA had submitted his resignation to the government, which was denied by the ministry officials.

Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Arvind Srubramanian, whose term was due to end in October, has been given an extension of one year, the government said on Saturday.

"Subramanian will continue for one more year after completion of his three year tenure on October 16," Finance Ministry said in a tweet.

Earlier there were reports that the CEA had submitted his resignation to the government, which was denied by the ministry officials.

The officials had earlier clarified that he would continue as the government was considering the extension. Subramanian was appointed as the Chief Economic Advisor on October 16, 2014, for a term of three years.

He is on leave from US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, where he's a senior fellow.

Being the key advisor to Finance Ministry Arun Jaitley, he has been instrumental in suggesting some key reforms.

The Economic Survey 2016-17, was for the first time split into two volumes - pre-Budget and post-Budget.

The Survey, authored by the Chief Economic Advisor, advocated a Universal Basic Income (UBI) scheme as an alternative poverty reduction mechanism in place of various ongoing social welfare programmes.

He pitched for a scheme to transfer a reasonable basic income to Indians below the poverty line based on a survey on misallocation of resources which showed that districts where needs are the greatest are precisely those where state capacity is the weakest.

The survey's findings suggest that a more efficient way to help the poor would be to provide them resources directly, through a UBI, which is being debated in the political circles.

Don't believe in vote bank politics, nation comes first: PM Modi

Don't believe in vote bank politics, nation comes first: PM Modi

PM Modi told a gathering that he had launched a major war against corruption and the corrupt to ease the life of the common man. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday the BJP did not believe in vote bank politics as the country was above party politics.

On the second day of his visit to his Varanasi parliamentary constituency, Modi told a gathering that he had launched a major war against corruption and the corrupt to ease the life of the common man. He also said cleanliness was worship for him as it could rid the poor of various diseases and a lot of economic burden.

"Governance for us is not about votes or winning elections. The priority is the development of the nation. For us, the country is bigger than party," he said, in his address to farmers in Shahanshahpur on the outskirts of Varanasi.

He said most of the problems faced by the common people in India were rooted in corruption. "I have launched a war against it and will take it further to ensure that graft is weeded out from the country." The Prime Minister urged the people to also ensure that the mission for cleanliness gets their support.

He said it was his good fortune to lay the foundation stone of a public toilet in Shahanshahpur village "because sanitation is also a kind of worship for me."It will rid the poor of my country of various diseases and the economic burden due to those diseases that result from dirty surroundings. Hundreds of diseases come knocking at your doorsteps because of lack of hygiene," Modi said.

He quoted a Unicef report that each household in India which does not have a toilet spend around Rs 50,000 a year on treatment for different ailments."It is the responsibility of every citizen and every family to keep their surroundings clean so we are able to build clean villages, clean cities and a clean nation," Modi said.

The prime minister urged the people to take cleanliness not only as a mission but also turn into a habit for everyone.Referring to his government's housing scheme, Modi said he wanted every one in the country to have a roof over their head when in 2022 India completes 75 years of independence.

He said he realized that it was an onerous task but he would be the man doing it. "I know it is difficult. But if Modi cannot do the difficult job who else will."

He added that those homes - crores in number - would need bricks, cement, iron and wood, and would create several employment opportunities.

He also lauded the UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath for his work for welfare of cattle and said in the past no one paid attention to them as they are not able to vote.

He also informed the gathering that small initiatives like switching of Varanasi street lights to LED bulbs had saved Rs 13 crore in electricity bill for the municipal corporation.

Modi added the government's resolution was to double the farmer's income. Earlier the prime minister inaugurated a cattle fair - Pashudhan Aarogya Mela.

Google Doodle celebrates 100th birthday of noted Indian chemist

Google Doodle celebrates 100th birthday of noted Indian chemist Asima Chatterjee

Dr. Asima Chatterjee is known to have made ground breaking developments with her research in the filed of medicine. Her most noted contribution to the medical field was her research on vinca alkaloids, a compound that helps in slowing down cancer cells from multiplying.

Google is known to come up with innovative and creative alterations for its logo to celebrate holidays, events, achievements and people in the form of ‘Google Doodle’. It is designed in a unique way, capturing the character of the person or the occasion it features. Continuing its trend, Google today has come up with an interesting doodle to commemorate the 100th birthday of noted Indian chemist Asima Chatterjee.

Born on September 23, 1917, Dr. Chatterjee grew up in the beaming city of Calcutta, West Bengal. During those days, when it was uncommon for women to study chemistry, Chatterjee completed her graduation in organic chemistry from Calcutta University and later went on to become the first woman in India to receive a doctorate in Science from an Indian university in 1994.

Dr. Chatterjee is known to have made path breaking developments with her research in the filed of medicine. She has made significant contribution in medicinal study; reference to alkaloids, coumarins and terpenoids, analytical chemistry, and mechanistic organic chemistry. Her study primarily focused on medicinal properties of plant and development of drugs to treat malaria and epilepsy.

However, her most noted contribution to the medical field was her research on vinca alkaloids. These compounds, made from plants, are used to treat medical ailments and are used in today’s chemotherapy treatment. They are known to help slow down the multiplication of malignant cancer cells.

In 1975, Dr. Chatterjee went on to become the first Indian woman to be appointed general president of the Indian Science Congress and has also received the Padma Bhushan – one of the highest civilian awards bestowed by the Indian government. She has published over 400 papers in national and international journals.

A day after Mersal teaser, Madras HC orders interim stay on Vijay's film

The Madras High Court on Friday ordered an interim stay on Ilayathalapathy Vijay-starrer Mersal.

A day after the release of the much-awaited teaser of Mersal, the Madras High Court has ordered an interim stay on the film on Friday. According to a report in a regional channel, the court has asked the makers to not advertise the film with its title 'Mersal' until further notice.

Rajendran, a petitioner, has filed an affidavit in Chennai seeking an interim stay on the film Mersal after the production house, Sri Thenandal Films, trademarked the title Mersal without proper registration. Taking the prosecution's argument, the Madras High Court has ordered an interim stay on the film's promotion till October 3.

While this news comes as a shocker for many, it isn't surprising for Vijay fans. In the past, several Vijay films including Thuppakki, Kaththi and Thalaiva, have faced several hurdles before release.

Mersal teaser was unanimously appreciated by fans and clocked more than 10 million views on YouTube. The teaser that created waves on the internet, has now become the most liked teaser in the world, surpassing Ajith's Vivegam.

The highlight of Mersal is its huge star cast including Kajal Aggarwal, Samantha, Nithya Menen, SJ Suryah and Sathyaraj. Baahubali writer KV Vijayendra Prasad has written the screenplay for the film.

Made on a lavish budget of over Rs 100 crore, Mersal is produced by Sri Thenandal Films. Tipped to be a commercial entertainer, Mersal is all set to hit the theatres on Diwali this year.

Brief of the meeting held today with Hon’ble MR - AIRF

 No.AIRF/24(C) 

Dated: September 21, 2017

The General Secretaries,

All Affiliated Unions,

Dear Comrades!

Sub: Brief of the meeting held today with Hon’ble MR

Today I met the Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Shri Piyush Goyal on his invitation.

The meeting was arranged by the DG(P), Railway Board, and both the federations were called. From AIRF, Working President AIRF, Com. N. Kanniah, and Asstt. General Secretary AIRF, Com. S.K. Tyagi, were present in the meeting as they were available.

Hon’ble MR appreciated AIRF as well as its leadership and also assured that he would put all his efforts for the betterment of the railwaymen, and for that he said that, he has started with improvement in medical facilities and would also like that Railway Schools and Colleges should also improved for better education of the wards of the railway employees.

I, on behalf of AIRF, handed him over a copy of our letter, particularly on safety, and shown our anguish about the shortage of materials and manpower. He said that, on 7th September, 2017, the first decision he had taken that shortage, particularly of the rails, he has given instructions to all the zonal railways that, in case there is shortage of rail in maintenance, that should be diverted from the Construction. Moreover, immediate steps should be taken to purchase the rail to the extent rail cannot be supplied by the SAIL.

On the issue of manpower, he said that, he would hold a meeting along with the CRB, DG(P) and the Staff Side and will definitely take a decision for the betterment of the Railways.

He further mentioned that, meeting with the federations has been delayed because of sickness of his mother and it was delayed by a day because yesterday we got approved 78 days’ PLB to railwaymen from the Union Cabinet, so I have to give some good news.

The meeting was concluded on a very happy note with the hope that mutual cooperation will continue.

This is for your information.

Comradely yours,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

General Secretary

Source: AIRF

Trump, Kim ratchet up the rhetoric

U.S. President brands Kim Jong-un a ‘madman’ after North Korean leader calls him ‘mentally deranged’

An escalating war of words between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un ratcheted up a notch on Friday as the U.S. President dubbed North Korea's leader a “madman”, a day after the reclusive regime hinted it may explode a hydrogen bomb over the Pacific Ocean.

Hours earlier, in a rare personal attack, Mr. Kim took aim at Mr. Trump, branding him “mentally deranged” and warning he would “pay dearly” for his threat to destroy North Korea if challenged, uttered before the United Nations General Assembly.

The verbal clash came a day after Washington announced tougher sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile program, on the heels of a Trump speech in which he which he branded Mr. Kim “Rocket Man” and declared him to be on a “suicide mission”. “Kim Jong Un of North Korea, who is obviously a madman who doesn’t mind starving or killing his people, will be tested like never before!” Mr. Trump posted early on Friday.

Mr. Kim had delivered a tongue-lashing of his own — vowing to “surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire”, in an address read out on state television by a star news anchor before a still image of Mr. Kim at his desk.

Mr. Trump "insulted me and my country in front of the eyes of the world and made the most ferocious declaration of a war in history”, Mr. Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. “I will make the man holding the prerogative of the supreme command in the U.S. pay dearly for his speech.”

Appeals by China, Russia

Russia and China have both appealed for an end to the escalating rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang.

On the fringes of the General Assembly, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho told reporters Pyongyang might now consider detonating a hydrogen bomb outside its territory. “I think that it could be an H-bomb test at an unprecedented level perhaps over the Pacific,” he said. Washington on Thursday authorised a tough new raft of sanctions. But analysts say the sanctions show no signs of working, and cautioned that the increasingly ill-tempered and personal exchanges between Washington and Pyongyang did not augur well.

United can challenge for Premier League title: Scholes

For perhaps the first time since Alex Ferguson’s departure as manager, Manchester United looks like a side capable of challenging for the Premier League title.

It has scored 16 goals and conceded just two from five League games thus far, leaving club legend Paul Scholes impressed.

“After the first few matches it does seem like they now have a squad capable of winning the league,” said Scholes here on the sidelines of Premier Futsal.

“It’s still early and they haven’t played the better teams yet. But from what we have seen thus far, they have the chance to win the league.”

Manchester City, its cross-town rival, has been equally impressive but Scholes still isn’t convinced about the defensive capabilities of Pep Guardiola’s side.

“They have been the most entertaining side going forward in the league,” he said.

“But I don't think their defence has been tested yet. Liverpool could have been a challenge but they went a man down and it made it easier.

“I think United have a team capable of scoring goals and also defending well. You need both aspects to win the Premier League. With City we have to wait and see. There is Chelsea as well who after a slow start have picked up.”

Scholes was also impressed with the way he has been received in India.

“It has been a bit of a surprise because you are not always sure about the kind of reception you get. But in India the people have been fantastic. They have greeted us really well and come to support us which is the most important thing.”

Colourful welcome for World Cup

Beautification work around the Nehru Stadium is in full swing; opening match on Oct. 7

The beautification work around the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here is in full swing and there is a rush to blacktop the roads nearby. Even the Metro is getting ready for a new extension up to the Maharaja’s Stadium.

And with the FIFA Under-17 World Cup reaching the city on Friday, work has gathered pace to get Kochi ready for the mega event which will have its opening game here, between Brazil and Spain, on October 7.

The World Cup winner’s trophy, which reached the city from Goa, was unveiled by the Kerala Sports Minister A.C. Moideen in front of the Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

And there was a warm and traditional welcome and many former players, including Xavier Pius, C.C. Jacob and M.M. Jacob were present.

The trophy will be kept at the Ambedkar Stadium from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on Saturday and at the Vasco da Gama Square in Fort Kochi from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. A flash mob is being planned during the trophy’s visit to Fort Kochi.

“We will have a lot of promotional activities in the run-up to the World Cup,” said Moideen.

A ‘one million goals’ programme all through the State, where over 10 lakh people will shoot into an open goal, a celebrity match and a torch relay from Kannur and Kaliyakavilai are some of the events that will be held over the next few days.

With the Kerala High Court ordering the shops around the stadium to be closed and asking the Greater Cochin Development Authority, the stadium’s owner, to deposit Rs. 25 lakh which could be paid to the shop owners to compensate for their loss, the small worry over Kochi has gone.

However, the Nehru Stadium will not have a new coat of paint.

“We have completed all the works that the FIFA had asked us to do,” said the Sports Minister.

Meanwhile, the GCDA Chairman, C.N. Mohanan, said the rain over the last few weeks had delayed the painting work and now there was not enough time to do it.

We believe in Klopp: Matip

The central defender wants to win titles with Liverpool

Six weeks into the new football season, Liverpool’s poor defensive record — 16 goals in nine games in all competitions – has led to increasingly shrill criticism of Jurgen Klopp’s methods.

But Joel Matip, who has firmly established himself at the heart of Liverpool’s defence since his arrival at Anfield just over a year ago, defends his manager’s style of play. In this interview with The Hindu , the 26-year-old Cameroonian also reflects on his time under Felix Magath at Schalke and speaks of his desire to win trophies with Liverpool. Excerpts

On Liverpool’s style of play

Every style of play has both a positive and a negative side but I have no doubts about the way we play. It’s different to what other teams play often but it’s a good way. It’s different because we (the defenders) are a little higher. But it’s not always good to be deep because then it’s hard for the others to do everything. Sometimes it’s a little difficult but it’s really helpful to defend an opponent far away from your own goal. That’s the way we play and we’re good with it.

On Jurgen Klopp

He’s a friendly person but if there’s a problem he speaks directly. He can be hard but he can also be friendly. I really enjoy working with him.

On Liverpool’s 27-year league title-drought

A club like Liverpool always wants to win trophies. Every player wants to win trophies. A little more pressure doesn’t hurt. But I hope all the players don’t feel more pressure than they should.

On Felix Magath

I’m really thankful to him for what he did for me (giving him his Bundesliga debut at Schalke) but there’s no doubt he was the toughest manager I ever had.

It (his tough training methods) was something I had never experienced before but I’m so thankful I did. Some of his sessions would just go on and on. You train that way the whole week and when you play on the weekend, it feels...[easy].

On the Premier League Fanpark

They will be bringing a little bit of Anfield to India for the people who don’t have the opportunity to watch Premier League games here or meet former players. It’s amazing that Liverpool has supporters in India who know a lot about the club and support the club from so far away.

Mithun puts Bulls in final

Hammers 32 off just 12 balls; Manager’s blitz goes in vain for Shivamogga

A stunning late assault from Abhimanyu Mithun propelled Bijapur Bulls to a four-wicket victory over Namma Shivamogga and into the final of the KPL.

Chasing a target of 158 in the second semifinal at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium here on Friday, Bijapur was in a spot of bother at 108 for five, needing 50 runs off the last four overs.

But Mithun, who walked in at that stage, carried his side over the line with an unbeaten 12-ball-32.

The powerfully-built fast bowler was dropped on nought by Liyan Khan and he made Shivamogga pay, clubbing two fours and two mighty sixes as Bulls won with two balls to spare.

Dikshanshu Negi, who had retired hurt earlier complaining of dizziness, walked back in at the fall of the sixth wicket and kept Mithun company till the end, remaining unbeaten on 24.

In Saturday’s final, Bijapur will meet Belagavi Panthers.

Earlier, having been asked to bat, Shivamogga had Shoaib Manager’s late blitz to thank for its total.

Manager hammered a 12-ball-36, with three fours and three sixes, as his side managed 49 off the last four overs.

Till that point, Shivamogga had been scoring at a sedate pace, with opener Liyan’s patient 48-ball-45 not complemented by aggression at the other end. Manager compensated for it somewhat, but it would prove just inadequate.

The scores: Namma Shivamogga 157 for five in 20 overs (Liyan Khan 45, Shoaib Manager 36 n.o., M.G. Naveen two for 27) lost to Bijapur Bulls 159 for six in 19.4 overs (Abhimanyu Mithun 32 n.o., M. Nidhish 25, B. Akhil two for 20).

Today’s match: Final: Belagavi Panthers vs Bijapur Bulls, STAR Sports 1 & HD1, 7 p.m.

Tendulkar inaugurates Raj Singh Dungarpur gate

Rajbhai had love and passion for the game, says the master blaster

Sachin Tendulkar inaugurated the Cricket Club of India’s Gate 1 — from the Marine Drive side — as the Raj Singh Dungarpur Gate on Friday. Tendulkar acknowledged the role played by the former CCI and BCCI president and chairman of the national selection committee, in his cricketing career.

“When it comes to Rajbhai, I really don’t know where to start because I get confused. I have had that kind of relationship wherein he guided me all the way.

“The first time Rajbhai saw me was when I was 12 or 13, and when I had scored some runs for Shivaji Park Youngsters against CCI. Madhav Apte was keeping wickets for CCI. And once I was recommended to CCI by Rajbjai, he bent all rules and allowed me to enter the dressing room at the age of 14.”

Raj Singh was the CCI president for 15 years. “It was always a joy to see Rajbjai because he was full of energy and enthusiasm. In our culture, whenever you do something in life, like appearing for exams or get ready to play a big match, you take the blessings of your guru. I would say to all youngsters that Rajbhai was no less than a guru.

“The naming of the gate is apt; you take his blessings when you enter the ground. Rajbhai was the heart of CCI. I had requested that a gate be named after him in 2009 and thanks to everyone who made this happen.”

Tendulkar also recalled an incident when Raj Singh held back his selection for the tour of the West Indies in 1989. “I was selected in the Mumbai Ranji team and coincidentally Rajbhai was the chairman of the national selection committee.

“My first season in the Ranji Trophy was a successful one. There were discussions whether Sachin would go to the West Indies or not. And when I was playing the Ranji semifinal against Delhi at the Wankhede Stadium, Rajbhai walked up to me and said — and he had a peculiar way of talking to me: “Sachin thumala me aek gosta sangthe ( I will tell you a story). Thu West Indies la janaar naahi . (You will not go to the West Indies).

“You focus on this match and the final, if you get a chance; then you focus on your SSC exams. You are not going to the West Indies, but let me also assure you that if you continue to play this, that day is not too far off and his words came true. I went to Pakistan the same year and thereafter we continued to rub shoulders with each other.’’

The master blaster said he saw Rajbhai’s passion for the game when he was the manager of the Indian team in Pakistan in 2006. “He had love and passion for the game. He has always helped youngsters and I am one of the lucky ones. There were occasions when he helped youngsters go on foreign tours; I did not have deep pockets then. He was instrumental in bringing in sponsors and he made sure that I went to London a couple of times.”

On behalf of the Dungarpur family, Raj Singh’s nephew Shivendra thanked the Club for the gesture. Present at the function were cricketers Nilesh Kulkarni, Atul Ranade, BCCI’s GM Administration and Game Development Ratnakar Shetty, former Indian team manager Kapil Malhotra and CCI treasurer Rajan Hiranandani.

Next PSLV launch in November-December

Real problem is certifying a technology, says Kiran Kumar

The next launch of the PSLV will be in November-December, ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said here on Friday.

He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the two-day national seminar on Emerging Trends in Aerospace Technologies, AseT 2017, organised by the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) and the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

Earlier, in his inaugural address at the seminar, Mr. Kumar said there was a real problem in certifying a system or a technology for actual usage. This was a problem faced by developing countries. Government agencies and industry partners could design, build, and realise products.

“The real question mark is certification. Another problem is in quickly establishing a mechanism for translating design into product. There is a real need to adopt enabling technologies and incorporate them in the systems we build. Otherwise, technology will remain the forte of the Western countries. We need to identify technologies and incorporate them into our designs and provide cost-effective solutions to the nation. While there have been many developments on the aerospace front, nothing much has been done by way of designing passenger aircraft to be used for domestic flights,” he said.

In his presidential address, society president and member, NITI Aayog, V.K. Saraswat said technology had to be consistently upgraded so that India was globally competitive. There was a need to accelerate commercialisation of technologies we developed. The nation faced a major lacuna in terms of design capabilities.

The chairman of the AeSi, Thiruvananthapuram S. Pandian, VSSC director K. Sivan, AeSI secretary general Lalit Gupta and secretary of the Thiruvananthapuram branch A. P. Beena were among those present for the inaugural ceremony.

The 68th AGM of the Society is also being held along with the conference.

Sena activists shut meat shops forcibly

Around 200 ‘illegal’ meat shops were shut in Old Gurugram on Thursday

Several meat shops in Old Gurugram have been forcibly closed by Shiv Sena activists in view of Navaratri festival, which began on Thursday.

Claiming that most of these shops were being run illegally, the activists said the district administration had not taken any action against them.

Shiv Sena media co-ordinator Ritu Raj said the party’s activists went around the city on Thursday and closed around 200 meat shops in Sectors 4, 7 and 9, Basai Road, Khandsa Road, Rajiv Nagar, Sanjay Gram, Dundahera, Ashok Vihar and Palam Vihar.

‘Religious sentiments’

Stating that around 20-odd licensed meat shops were already closed in view of Navaratri, he claimed that illegal slaughtering and meat hanging outside shops hurt religious sentiments of those observing fast during Navaratri.

Aslam, who runs UP Halal Meat shop in Rajiv Nagar, said 40-odd Sena activists had forced him and others to shut their shops on Thursday. He conceded that his shop was within 900 m radius of the Indian Air Force Ammunition Depot and did not have a licence.

Gurugram police spokesperson said a Police Control Room vehicle was stationed near meat shops in Masjid area to prevent any untoward incident.

Mr. Raj objected to the police providing protection to meat shops running “illegally” in Masjid area and claimed that the Shiv Sena had also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard earlier this week but the district administration was yet to take action.

Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said that he had received a memorandum seeking closure of meat shops and restaurants serving meat during Navaratri but there was no such provision in law. He claimed the district administration is yet to receive a formal complaint against forcible closure of meat shops.

“We will act as per law if there is any complaint,” assured Mr. Singh.

The Haryana government had earlier this year released a list of 20-odd conditions to be met to procure the licence for running a meat shop in the State. Following this, most illegally-run places had shut shop before the May 15 deadline. However, most of them gradually opened without licences.

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram Medical Officer Ashish Singla said there were around 500 meat shops in Gurugram but only 75 had licences. He said over a hundred applications were still under process.

Capital’s trash is this teenager’s gold

Hassan, who belongs to a family of ragpickers, built a mini cooler made from waste from a landfill

When 13-year-old Mohammad Hassan asked his father for a cooler to beat the scorching Delhi heat three months ago, he was told that his family of ragpickers could not afford one. So Hassan built one.

Months of hard work, and permutations and combinations later, he was finally able to gift his father a mini cooler made from waste he collected from Bhalswa landfill.

Battery-powered

Hassan’s mini cooler is battery-powered. The body of this portable cooler is made from cardboard, the grill from wooden sticks, wings from plastic bottles fixed to a motor and the regulator knob from a bottle cap.

“My father said if I study hard and my interest in science continues, I will one day pull us out of poverty. Now I want to make a full-size cooler so that my mother doesn’t sweat in the kitchen and my father can relax after he comes home from work,” said the science genius.

Love for science

Hassan, who lives in a one-room accommodation in a small neighbourhood of ragpickers near Bhalswa landfill with his family of five, developed a love for science from an early age. However, it was last year that he started putting his knowledge to practical use.

Interestingly, Hassan stumbled upon the idea to build a mini cooler while watching a cartoon show on TV with his friends.

“Doremon created a fan using discarded material and it blew away the villains. I decided to try it out but failed. However, I kept at it and it took multiple attempts to come up with the final model,” added Hassan, while surrounded by his classmates at the learning centre run by non-government organisation Chintan.

Besides the mini cooler, Hassan has also built mini models of motorboats using plastic bottles, pencils and batteries; an electronic trash collecting car made from the box mobile phones are packaged in and a discarded battery-operated car; and a mobile charger. His next project — a mini airplane — is also underway.

His teachers at the learning centre said it is an achievement for a child as young as Hassan to develop interest in studies, let alone invent things from scrap, as families here generally push children into rag-picking from an early age since it adds to their income and helps put food to the table.

Matter of survival

“The people here are extremely poor and it is mainly the children who run up the waste hill to collect plastic and metal, while their parents separate and sell them. There is an entire ecosystem which survives on the landfill. Their immediate goal is survival, and education would mean sparing a pair of hands that can feed them,” said Chitra Mukherjee, the head of programmes (operations) at Chintan.

The Class IX student dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer and building energy-efficient devices, which will make life easier for waste pickers.

“My mother is my biggest fan. She keeps encouraging me to build new things while I sit idle. My parents could not study. My sister completed Class XII and my brother could only complete Class X. I want to study more and bring about a change in society,” said the teenager.

Apart from fixing and building things, Hassan likes to dance and idolises actor Govinda.

“My focus, however, is on studies. I want to make my family and teachers proud,” he said.

Hasina floats five-point peace plan

Takes centrestage at the UN with her call for action on Rohingya crisis

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has floated a five-point proposal at the United Nations to find a permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis.

Emphasising swift action to resolve the crisis in her speech at the 72nd UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Thursday, she called for immediate steps to end the 'cleansing' of the ethnic Rohingya minority. She was at the centrestage at the UNGA this year, with the Rohingya crisis deepening along Bangladesh’s border with Myanmar, a crossing made by over 430,000 refugees fleeing violence in Rakhine State in past over three weeks.

Hasina’s five-point proposal says: Myanmar must stop the violence and the practice of ethnic cleansing in the Rakhine State unconditionally, immediately and forever; the UN Secretary General should immediately send a fact-finding mission to Myanmar; all civilians, irrespective of religion and ethnicity, must be protected in Myanmar; for this, 'safe zones' could be created inside Myanmar under UN supervision; sustainable return of all forcibly displaced Rohingyas in Bangladesh to their homes in Myanmar must be ensured; and the recommendations of the Kofi Annan Commission Report must be implemented immediately, unconditionally and entirely.

She said it was the 14th time she was addressing the UN General Assembly, but this time she came with a heavy heart just after seeing the “hungry, distressed and hopeless Rohingya”.

“Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya from the Rakhine State are entering Bangladesh to flee violence. As estimated by IOM (International Organisation for Migration), in last three weeks, over 430,000 Rohingya entered Bangladesh. They are fleeing 'ethnic cleansing' in their own country where they have been living for centuries,” Hasina said, adding that Bangladesh is currently sheltering over 800,000 Rohinya in all.

She proposed that the UN Secretary-General send a fact-finding mission to Myanmar where 'safe zones' can be built under the UN’s supervision for the protection of all civilians, irrespective of religion and ethnicity.

‘Take them back’

Before her speech at the UNGA general debate, she cleared Bangladesh’s stance over the protracted Rohingya crisis at several meetings at the UN Headquarters in New York. At the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) Contact Group meeting on Tuesday, she demanded Myanmar take back the refugees and end ‘state propaganda’ that labelled the ethnic group as ‘Bengalis’.

Hasina thanked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council for their attempts to stop atrocities, and bring peace and stability in Rakhine. She added, “We are horrified to see that the Myanmar authorities are laying land mines along their stretch of the border to prevent the Ronhingya from returning to Myanmar.”

India rebuts Pak. charge of provoking fire

DGMO denies charge that civilians are being targeted, says BSF had only retaliated to attacks from across the border

The Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) of Pakistan on Friday accused India of unprovoked shelling in the Jammu Sector, killing at least six civilians.

Replying to the allegation during a talk over the hotline, the Indian DGMO, Lieutenant-General A.K. Bhatt, said all ceasefire violations in the Jammu Sector were initiated by Pakistan Rangers. The Border Security Force troops “only responded appropriately to them”.

The Pakistan Army had requested the DGMO talks, and Major-General Sahir Shamshad Mirza raised the issue of alleged targeting of civilians opposite the Jammu Sector by Indian troops, the Indian Army said in a statement.

Civilians killed

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Military’s Inter-Services Public Relations said six civilians were killed and 26 injured in alleged Indian shelling along the Line of Control in the Jammu sector. It released photographs of Pakistani civilians, including children, who were allegedly injured in firing by Indian troops.

The Indian Army statement said: “It was also emphasised that no targeted firing on civilians was carried out by Indian troops. Apart from these, firing by BSF troops was initiated onto armed intruders attempting to infiltrate from close proximity of Pak posts along Amritsar border.”

Lt.Gen. Bhatt said the trend of infiltration along the LoC continued with support of Pakistani forward posts.

“This was evident from continued attempts of sniping and targeting of our troops undertaken through cross-border actions duly supported by Pakistani Army troops,” the statement added.

Officials from the Military Operations directorates of the two countries talk every Tuesday, but the DGMOs speak to each other only when one side requests a conversation.

Bodies taken back

In a first, Pakistani forces took back the bodies of two armed infiltrators who were shot dead along the border early on Wednesday morning, BSF sources said.

BSF personnel said they were “surprised” by the action. Pakistan, in the past, accepted bodies of unarmed people who were killed while crossing the border inadvertently, but never took back the corpses of those killed while fighting the BSF, an official said.

The intruders were shot dead on the intervening night of September 19 and 20. The BSF foiled an armed infiltration bid across the International Border in the Ajnala Sector, near Amritsar, in Punjab.

“When challenged by the BSF, infiltrators fired on an ambush line with automatic weapons. Taking cover, the fire was appropriately retaliated and infiltrators were killed near the fence,” the official said.

Big haul

The BSF said four packets of heroin weighing one kg each, an AK-47 rifle, magazines, a 9 mm pistol, a Pakistani mobile phone and Rs. 20,000 in Pakistani currency were recovered from the infiltrators.

On Thursday, the BSF called a flag meeting and contacted their Pakistani counterparts.

“We gave them pictures of the two killed infiltrators. We were sure that they would refuse to accept them as their citizens; to our surprise, they agreed to take them back,” the official said.

He said the logistics were arranged by Pakistan to take back the bullet-ridden bodies.

Arunachal CM among disqualified directors

One of the three associated with a shell company

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and a junior Minister in the BJP-led Assam government, Naba Kumar Doley, figure among the 1.06 lakh disqualified directors associated with ‘shell companies’ that have been “named and shamed” by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA).

Mr. Khandu’s name appears as one of the three directors of Rigsel Hotels and Resorts, whose registered address with the Registrar of Companies (Shillong) is the same as the one mentioned in his election affidavit.

Registered in 2011

The company was registered on February 3, 2011, when the Arunachal Pradesh government was headed by his late father, Dorjee Khandu, and Mr. Pema Khandu was not active in politics.

Mr. Khandu did not respond when The Hindu reached out to his office for a comment.

A background search on the business activity of Rigsel Hotels showed that the company was started with a paid-up capital of Rs. 1.2 lakh but no details of its business activity are available in the public domain.

Mr. Doley, who is a Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs in the Assam government, has also been disqualified as a director of Abutani Wheels India, a company that is into real estate and renting out property.

He told The Hindu that he did not own any ‘shell company’, and that he has been into real estate and automobile business since 2001.

He claimed he had been disqualified as a member from one of his companies since he had not filed annual returns as required by the Companies Act, 2013.

“I don’t have any shell company as we have been in business since 2001. About two years ago, we had applied for a merger of two of our companies and because of that we had not filed annual returns. I am sure the issue will be sorted out soon,” Mr. Doley said.

In May 2016 when Mr. Doley was sworn in as a Minister, his declared assets were to the tune of Rs. 7 crore.

The disqualification of directors and the crackdown on alleged shell companies, the MoCA claimed, is part of the government’s fight against black money.

Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala and V.K. Sasikala, who is in jail, were among the prominent names in the MoCA list of disqualified directors released on Monday.

On September 12, when the crackdown started, the Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, P.P. Chaudhary had said, “The disqualification under Section 164 of the Act is by operation of law.”