ISLAMABAD, (IANS) SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE …southasiandaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/part_116.pdfure...

Non-stop cricketcoverage on Channel Y

CIRCULATED THROUGH : TORONTO, MARKHAM, SCARBOROUGH, RICHMOND HILL, VAUGHAN, WOODBRIDGE, ETOBICOKE, NORTH YORK, MALTON, REXDALE, BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA, OAKVILLE, HAMILTON, MILTON, STONEY CREEK, BURLINGTON

SOPHIE GRÉGOIRE TRUDEAU, US FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA, PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU AND US PRESIDENT BARACKOBAMA AT THE STATE DINNER IN WASHINGTON DC (TWITTER.COM).

ANUPAMA VITTAL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MISSISSAUGA ARTS COUNCIL AND ONE OF THE HONOREES RECEIVING AN AWARD AT PCHS'14TH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY FROM AMANDEEP KAUR, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF PCHS. SEEN IN THE IMAGE ARE ALSO ALLANTHOMPSON, MAYOR OF CALEDON AND BALDEV MUTTA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF PCHS.

DETAILS ONPAGE 23

TRUDEAU TO MEET BAN KI-MOON IN NEW YORKTOMORROW; EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE CANADA'S BID

FOR TEMPORARY SEAT ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL

Canadian military personnelstabbed at recruiting centre

SARTAJ AZIZ TO MEETSUSHMA SWARAJ IN NEPAL

DESK REPORTTORONTO: A 27-year-old man Montreal-bornsuspect Ayanie Hassan Ali, accused of attack-ing two Canadian Armed Forces members at amilitary recruiting centre in Toronto Monday,has been charged in the double stabbing caseincluding one of attempted murder. He wascarrying a large knife. According to Torontopolice Chief Mark Saunders, the accused wasshouting: "Allah told me to do this, Allah toldme to come here and kill people." Ali was produced at the Ontario Courtof Justice on Tuesday at 2pm.Ali has no previous criminal record or any affiliated with any terroristorganization at this point in time but when asked from Saunders if it canbe considered a terror attack, he said: "We're certainly looking into it,"adding, "I don't want this categorizing a large group of people; that will bevery unfair and very inaccurate," and should not give rise to any"Islamophobia nonsense."

Non-stop cricketcoverage on Channel Y

ISLAMABAD, (IANS) Pakistan Advisoron Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz is expectedto meet Indian External Affairs MinisterSushma Swaraj in Nepal, sources saidrecently. Quoting diplomatic sources,Express News reported that India andPakistan were exploring the possibilityof a meeting between Sushma Swarajand Aziz and also between the foreign secretaries of the two countries in the Nepalitourist city of Pokhara. Aziz and Swaraj will be in Pokhara for the South AsianAssociation for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Council of Foreign Ministers' meet-ing on March 16 and 17. "Sartaj Aziz will meet Foreign Ministers of Saarc Countrieson the sidelines of the Saarc Council of Ministers' meeting on March 17 in Nepal,"a foreign ministry release here said. "Aziz will extend Sharif's formal invitation totheir respective Heads of State/Heads of Government for the 19th Saarc Summit,being hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad this year," it added. The efforts to resumethe India-Pakistan Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue hit a deadlock after the terrorattack on Pathankot airbase that India has said was carried out by militants fromPakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group. Sources said Aziz and SishmaSwaraj, if they meet, will discuss the possibility of an interaction between PrimeMinister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi later this monthin Washington. The two prime ministers are scheduled to travel to the UnitedStates later this month to attend a nuclear security summit to be hosted by USPresident Barack Obama.

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he willtravel to New York City from March 16 to 17 to meet with the UnitedNations Secretary-General, to reiterate Canada's support for the UnitedNations, and to promote women's rights and gender equality.During his meeting with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Prime Min-ister will emphasize Canada's commitment to play a positive and con-structive role in the world, and to make meaningful contributions to is-sues that include climate change, respect for diversity and human rights,and support for international peace operations.While in New York, Prime Minister Trudeau will also par ticipate in aroundtable on girls' advocacy at the Permanent Mission of Canada to theUnited Nations, and will discuss gender equality with the Executive Di-rector of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.He will meet with business leaders in order to promote investment in

Canada that creates good-paying jobs, strengthens the middle class,and leads to clean and sustainable economic growth. Finally, thePrime Minister will receive a special commendation for his leader-ship to advance inclusiveness, diversity, and gender equality at theannual Catalyst Awards Dinner.Justin Trudeau said: "Canada will continue to be a vocal part of theconversation on women's rights and the need for gender equality.Through multilateral fora like the UN, we will work together to advancegender equality around the world, especially for the most poor andvulnerable. We all benefit when women and girls have equal access to therights and opportunities that help them realize their true potential. There hasnever been a better time to look to Canada to invest. I look forward to showcas-ing all that Canada has to offer in New York, including a forward-lookingCanada that is open to trade and investment."

I DETAILS ON PAGE 6

DESK REPORTTORONTO - The 24-hour, seven days a week Channel Y willhold the pre-match live discussion on the high voltage India-Pakistan World Twenty20 cricket match at 9am on Saturday,March 19. The match is being played at the Eden Gardens,Kolkata. For more cricket action watch pre-match exper t opinionsand live discussion at 9am and post-match at 1:15pm and10:30pm from Monday to Friday. For enjoying live cricketanalysis, tune-in to Channel Y that can be viewed on Rogers857 and Bell Fibe 828.

2 MidWeek MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016s p e c i a l r e p o r t

Lindvest offers modern high-rise living in the heart of TorontoTORONTO - The first new condo-minium development in Toronto'sDon Mills-Eglintonneighbourhoodis providing investors andhomeowners with an oppor tunityto be par t of the exciting evolu-tion of this up-and-coming com-munity. Sonic, by Lindvest, willof fer modern high-r ise l iv ingclose to the Ontario Science Cen-tre and within close proximity to

fabulous shopping, superbrestaurants,excellent schools, andextensive parks and greenspace.The project's name, Sonic, reflectsthe concept of the future, says Jo-seph Alberga, Lindvest's sales andmarketing director. And with allthat's going on in the area, the fu-ture is bright. "We're catching thewave," says Alberga. "This is anarea that has been underserved by

condos."Sonicwill be located at the centreof an urban transpor tation hub.The Eglinton Crosstown Station,to open soon at Don Mills, will bejust a minute's walk away, pro-viding riders with an east-westlight rail link with 25 stops be-tween Weston and KennedyRoads and links to the subway.The Eglinton and Don Mills bus

routes will also serve residentsand for drivers, the Don Valleyand Highway 401 are within min-utes.Lindvest recruited a world-classteam to create Sonic. Award-win-ning Page + Steele/IBI GroupArchitects have designed a sleek28-storey tower atop a three-storey podium that will be one ofthe tallest buildings in the area.

That tower comprises the firstphase. A second similar towerwill come in Phase 2.Sonic wi l l have over25,000square feet of indoor and outdooramenity space, including a largelandscaped park designed by NAKDesign Group that includes a fig-ure eight-shaped walking path,children's playground, intimateseating alcoves, a water feature

and exercise equipment.Suites, designed by U31, are time-less and modern in style andmaximize l iving space. Linearkitchens feature two-tone woodand lacquer cabinetry, plus fullappliance package. Baths areluxurious sanctuaries. Suite sizesrange from 339 to 941 square feetin studio, one- bedroom, one-bed-room-plus-den, two-bedroom andthree-bedroom designs. Mostsuites have generous balconies.Pr ices star t f rom the low$200,000s.Occupancy is slatedfor January 2019. For more infor-mation or to register, call 416-532-6636, emai [email protected] or v is i tlindvest.com/sonic.

INDIAN-AMERICANNETIZENS FAVOUR

TRUMP AS USPRESIDENT

BY PRASHANT KUMARNEW DELHI, (IANS) Indian-Ameri-cans' political preferences seemto be shifting in favour of the Re-publ ican Par ty, par t icular lyDonald Trump, its front runner forthe White House. According tosocial media trends, the US's thirdlargest ethnic group is over-whelmingly suppor ting Trump --a billionaire real estate business-man-turned-politician who hascour ted many controversies eversince he jumped into the fray.Indians in the US have tradition-ally been the vote bank for theDemocrats. According to a study,as many as 65 percent of Indian-Americans leaned towardsDemocrats, making them theAsian-American subgroup mostlikely to identify with the par ty.But this time there has been ashift, arguably for the first time inthe American electoral history.Several groups of Indian-Ameri-cans, a majority of them Hindus,have taken the social media routeto voice their suppor t for Trump.As the 2016 presidential electiondraws closer, var ious onl inecommunit ies and pages havecome up in suppor t of the realtor.One such page on Facebook is"Hindus For Trump". With around750 "likes", the page in its de-scription says: "American Hindusare model citizens, educated andindustrious. We want a respon-sible nation where Americans areboth safe and free." The page por-trays Trump as Hindu god Vishnu,making him seated on what lookslike a lotus with "Om" written at itscentre.There is also a Political Action Com-mittee (PAC), formed by leading In-dian American businessmen topool in suppor t and contributionfor an effective presidential cam-paign of Trump. PAC is a type oforganisation that pools campaigncontributions from members anddonates those funds to campaignfor or against candidates or legisla-tions.Indian-Americans For Trump 2016,one of the PACs supporting Trump, isformed by the members of the Ameri-can-Hindu community, includingSudhir Parikh, who is the advi-sory chair for the organisation.Parikh is the owner of ParikhWorld Media, an umbrella corpo-ration which houses news outletsinfluential among Hindus such asDesi Talk, the Indian American andthe Gujarat Times.

MidWeek 3MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016

PAGE 3 KARAN JOHAR CAN'TWAIT TO WORK WITHKANGANA, OMG?

ALIA BHATT, FAWAD KHAN AND SIDHARTH MALHOTRA DURING A PROMOTIONAL EVENT OFTHEIR UPCOMING FILM KAPOOR AND SONS IN BENGALURU (IANS).

Big B reveals 'Pink' is titleof Shoojit Sircar's next

MUMBAI, (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who iscurrently shooting in the capital, has revealed that thetitle of Shoojit Sircar's new production is "Pink". "It is'PINK'! The title of the film now on shoot in Delhi," Big Btweeted. There were specualtions that Sircar's produc-tion was titled as "Eve". However, the 73-year-old actorhad cleared the air about it earlier last week via a blogpost. He wrote: "There is many a speculation that thename of the film on shoot in Delhi under Shoojit Sircaris named 'Eve'...wrong! There is no title yet, but weshall have one soon... Till then, it's just a film underShoojit's banner." The film is directed by NationalAward-winning Bengal i d i rector Aniruddha RoyChowdhury, who is stepping into Hindi movies with theproject. Sircar, who had also produced Bengali film"Aparajita Tumi", helmed by Chowdhury, is the creativeproducer of the film.

WHO IS JOHN ABRAHAM'S GURU?MUMBAI, (IANS) For John Abraham, Akshay Kumar is his "guruji". "My guruji who has stood by me,always... Love you Akshay Kumar," John posted on Twitter with a collage of images with the "Khiladi" star.In response to John's tweet, Akshay said: "John Abraham, love you too brother!" John is busy promoting"Rocky Handsome", in which he has attempted some high-octane action sequences.

WHY IS THE 'BAAGHI' PRODUCERIMPRESSED BY SHRADDHA?MUMBAI, (IANS) ActressShraddha Kapoor's daredevilryin the for thcoming film "Baaghi"has left its producer SajidNadiadwala impressed. "WhenSajid saw the rushes, he wasvery happy with the wayShraddha performed action inthe film. Glimpses of the samewill be seen in the trailer, whichwill be released on March 14,"said a spokesperson for themovie. "Baaghi" brings back thesuccessful team of the 2014film "Heropanti" -- producerNadiadwala, director SabbirKhan and actor Tiger Shroff. Thefilm, releasing on April 29, is arebellious love story, andfeatures Shraddha with Tiger forthe first time.

Karan Johar can't wait to work with Kangana, OMG?MUMBAI, (IANS) Filmmaker Karan Johar says he "can't wait to work" with Bollywood's "Queen"Kangana Ranaut. During a live Twitter chat session, when one user questioned: "What about Kangana?Will you work with her?", the filmmaker expressed his desire to work with the actress. He re-sponded: "Can't wait to work with her". There is a lot of speculation about Varun Dhawan and AliaBhatt-starrer "Shuddhi". Clearing the air around his production, Karan said the film will go on thefloors in September. On being asked whether "Shuddhi is happening or not?", he said it "will behappening in September-October this year." The filmmaker, who is known for creating larger thanlife enter tainers with films like "Student of the Year", "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..." and "KuchKuch Hota Hai", also shared that he will soon be launching new faces in Bollywood.


TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016s p e c i a l r e p o r t

NEW MPS JOIN BRAMPTON IN BECOMINGSEA OF PINK ON PINK SHIRT DAY

BY DAVE DALJIT JHAMATBRAMPTON - All NewBrampton Liberal MPs joined

Brampton in becoming Sea ofPinkas they representedBrampton to promote Pink

Shir t Day, first time as MPs inthe House of Commonsrecently, a campaign to stomp

out bullying in schools andonline.Many organizations,schools, kids and parentssuppor t Pink Shir t Dayfollowing the stand of twograde 12 Nova Scotiastudents in 2007. Two grade12 students, Travis and DJtook action after witnessinga grade 9 student beingbullied for wearing pink toschool and encouraged theirschoolmates to wear pink tosend a message againstbullying. Since that day, PinkShir t Day is celebrated inmore than 20 countries.On Pink Shir ts every onesubmit words that describeswhat Pink Shir t Day meantto them in their own wordsin different ways throughSocial Media and by othermeans. In Canada, BramptonMPs also had something tosay. "Today, I wore pinkbecause it is Pink Shir t Day

and we shouldn't toleratebullying. Show kindness,"said Brampton East MP RajGrewal.Brampton West MP KamalKhera describes her feelingthrough these words: "Today,I am wearing pink, because Ibelieve in the power ofkindness. Let us help andend Bullying. Wear pinktoday to help end bullying.'Kindness is one size thatfits all!'A new Angus Reid onlinepoll found that three in fourCanadian adults said they

were bullied while inschool, while nearly half ofthe parents polled said theirkids havebeen bullied atsome point.Many Parentslike BramptonSouth andNor th MPsSonia Sidhuand RubySahota werewell aware ofthese facts."I'm wearing pink today

because mykid's kidsdeserve to growup withoutbullying. I willnot be a by-stander - I willspeak up. Pleaseshare if you willtoo," stated MPSonia Sidhu.Brampton Nor th

MP Ruby Sahota tweetedlike this: "Today is PinkShir t Day and I'm wearingpink for my son so that

when he grows up, bullyingis no longer considered justa par t of childhood."

BramptonCentral MPRameshSangha and hisgranddaughterTanmeet wentone step fur therand sharedtheir views onYouTube aboutPink Shir t Dayaddressing

each other and jointly toeveryone by saying this:"Grandpa, I am wearing pink

today because I will not bebullied into silence." He said:"Tanmeet, I am wearing pinktoday because I believe in thePower of Kindness. We arewearing pink today becausewe all need to step up and actagainst bullying." Pink Shir tDay is about more than a day.It is a day that inspires us toshare our feelings and actionsof coming together in kind-ness and compassion thatcarry us through the days,weeks and months ahead.The effects of bullying are deep,powerful and long-lasting in the

words of Canada'sPrime MinisterJustin Trudeau,who said: "Sticksand stones maybreak my bonesbut names willnever hur t me,"is simply nottrue. Words do

hur t and bullying can leavelong lasting emotional andphysical scars."



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 s p e c i a l r e p o r t

Letter from President of ICCAt the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce, the advent of spring iswhen we begin the process of sifting through the nominations that wereceive for our Annual Awards. The process of selecting the winners from thenominations we receive is the task of an independent advisory board. Ofcourse, the board of the Chamber and its staff put in a tremendous amount of

hard work in making the process seamless. And at the end of the process,we select the best that the Indo-Canadian community has to offer - 11 indi-viduals who have made a significant and stellar contribution to the fabric ofthe Canadian society through their work. Nine of these awards arepeople's nominations, and two are chosen by the Chamber.I urge you to nominate a deserving achiever, and we all know achiev-

FDI IN FOOD PROCESSING WILL DOUBLE FARMER INCOMES BY 2022: BADAL

ICCC seeks nominations for annual awards

ers in different spheres of life. Take a look at our categories, and therequirements for each of them, fill out the form and send it to us alongwith the requisite supplementary information. It is our responsibilityas members of the Indo-Canadian community to ensure that the bestamongst us get the recognition they deserve. For more information onour awards, please click here: Call for Nominations - 2016 Awards

NEW DELHI, (IANS) The 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) infood processing announced in Budget 2016-17 will play a catalytic role indoubling farmers' income by 2022, Food Processing Minister HarsimratKaur Badal said on Tuesday."The 100 percent FDI decision will usher in a partnership between indus-try and farmers and play a huge role in creating backward infrastructurelinkages and plugging wastages, improving the farmers' prospects," Badalsaid here while inaugurating the 31st edition of the Aahar InternationalFood and Hospitality Fair. "Amidst the global slowdown, India continuesto be one bright spot. Many foreign players whom I met at internationalfood expositions requested me to put in a word, so that they can partici-pate in Aahar," she said. "I aspire to turn India into the food factory for theworld in the next few years," the minister added.Noting that while the average Indian spends 40 per cent of his income oneatables, "only 10 per cent of what we grow is processed in India",Harsimrat Badal said the FDI decision pertains to fully "swadeshi" andhome-grown food. "This step will lead to creation of 'swadeshi' infra-

structure with 'videshi' money and will help farmers get remunerativeprices for their produce and transfer of technology," she said.Recalling the big market access challenge that India's farmers face,Badal said that she is looking at a market that goes to the farmer's door-steps and an industry that chases the farmer. "I wish I did not have to gothe market... I wish the market came to me," the minister said givingvoice to the wish of a common farmer. She said a unified agriculturemarketing e-platform will be set up next month to bring markets to thefarmers' doorsteps. This, coupled with 100 per cent FDI in marketing offood products produced domestically, would result in big buyers reach-ing out to farmers for their produce, she added.The state has also abolished enter tainment tax on cultural, music andtheatre shows and films that promote Punjabi culture and language. Be-sides this the Punjab government will soon recruit 12,000 new teachers.Punjab goes for assembly elections in February next year. The rulingShiromani Akali Dal has been in power in the state since 2007 withalliance partner BJP.


TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016c o m m u n i t y

BRAMPTON - Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS) proudly celebratedits 14th Annual International Women's Day Gala on Friday, March 11th at thePearson Convention Centre.The event was very well attended by 500+ community members, profes-sionals and businesses. The guests were entertained by three performancesby renowned artists and performers: Aroha Fine Arts, Shaheed Baba DeepSingh GatkaAkhara, and RS Divas Creative.Our honourees include critically acclaimed Director Deepa Mehta, Founder& CEO of Anokhi Media Raj Girn, Makeup Artist to the stars Shirley Wu, andExecutive Director - Mississauga Arts Council Anu Vittal. Noted manage-ment consultant, author, and academic, Professor Mohanbir Sawhney of theKellogg School of Management in Chicago was the key note speaker.Co-emcees Rinku Deswal of RD Law and Jake Dheer from Rogers TV andOMNI Television hosted the event. It was a spectacular evening of entertain-ment, food and celebration!Community celebrated the significant contribution of these diverse womenwith incredible stories and helped PCHS created the social awareness of theneeds within the South Asian community.The event was sponsored by Colours of Asia, Diya Décor, Pearson Conven-tion Centre, RD Law, The Host Hospitality Group, Yaadain photography, RogersTV, 409 Collision Centre, Emerald Medical Practice, All Type IT Solutions Inc.,and Human Endeavour.The enthusiasm to support Langar on Wheels Program was commendable.Participants generously donated funds to support this program so that frailseniors can be fed two meals per day. Currently 38+ seniors are on the waitlist

5 AWARD WINNERS

SHABADLEEN SANDHU, 8 YEARS OLD

ANUPAMAVITTAL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OFMISSISSAUGA ARTS COUNCIL

SHIRLEY WU, MAKEUP AND BEAUTY ARTIST

DEEPA MEHTA, FILMMAKER

RAJ GIRN, ANOKHI MEDIA

PCHS HOLDS SPECTACULAR 14TH ANNUALINTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY GALA

to be fed. In addition, the audience donated generously by participating in SilentAuction, and 50/50 Raffle Draw. It is worth noting that Punjabi Community HealthServices (PCHS) is a not-for-profit organization, which was founded in 1990. Theobjective of the organization is to improve the quality of life of members within thecommunity, with a focus on providing culturally appropriate services to the SouthAsian community. The programs offered include, but are not limited to, mentalhealth and addictions, geriatric support, domestic violence, parent and youth con-flict, and social awareness. Services are provided at no cost to the participants. Allinformation is kept confidential. PCHS works with the entire family to find solutionsto the complex problems faced by clients with addictions and mental health.

DR HARPREET BAJAJ, HOST OF THE YOUR HEALTH SHOW WITH DR MOHIT SINGLA, PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY FOR BRAMPTON CIVICAND SOUTH LAKE HOSPITALS. THE TOPIC OF THIS WEEK'S SHOW WAS: CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND CHOLESTEROL PROBLEMS.YOUR HEALTH IS AIRED EVERY MONDAY AT 8PM ON CHANNEL Y THAT CAN BE VIEWED ON ROGERS 857 AND BELL FIBE 828.



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 c o m m u n i t y

Women show Brampton's entrepreneurialstrength at Rose Theatre event

BRAMPTON - More than 150 women entrepreneurs gathered at theRose Theatre on March 8 for an event marking International Women'sDay 2016. Comedian and actor Kate Davis was the headline attrac-tion, delivering a keynote address on Balancing Life with Humour,inspiring par ticipants with new approaches to use humour to balancebusy work and home life demands.The Brampton Entrepreneur Centre (BEC) hosted the event, with thesuppor t of the Province of Ontario and generous sponsorship by RBCRoyal Bank. Councillor Jeff Bowman, Chair of the Economic Develop-ment Committee, helped kick off the event. "I was very pleased andexcited for Brampton to see such a great turnout of strong and suc-cessful women entrepreneurs," says Councillor Bowman. "This eventhas grown every year, and is evidence that small business is thrivingin Brampton."The par ticipants were at different stages of entrepreneurship, but allcame to network, par ticipate in the community of women entrepre-neurs, and find inspiration to make their businesses more success-ful. Judy Whale, owner of Splendiferous Handmade Fine Soaps, hasbeen to a few BEC events previously."They are always very uplifting. I always feel good when I leave,"

says Judy. "As a small business owner, it's easy to get locked intoyour own space - it's impor tant to commit to par ticipating in the widerbusiness community." Judy has been working with the advisors atBEC for a number of years, most currently as she transitions a previ-ous business into the handmade soap venture she recently star ted.Diane Michaud sees BEC's events and suppor t becoming even moreimpor tant. "There will be a lot more people moving to small businessin the coming years," she says. "It's important to connect with otherentrepreneurs to get new ideas and inspiration. And it's great to seehow women entrepreneurs are very active in Brampton." Diane hasbeen working with BEC for about 15 years, and is the owner of A SpaFeeling, a mobile massage service."Humour is a life skill," says Snigdha Malik, owner of Cooking and Yoga withSnigdha Malik and a financial planner. "Running a business is rewarding, butstressful. De-stressing is important, and humour is one way to do that." Shestarted working with BEC 16 years ago, and has maintained connectionswith them ever since. "The Brampton Entrepreneur Centre helped me tre-mendously, and played a strong role in helping me get started in business.They continue to do great work suppor ting the entrepreneurial com-munity and helping businesses grow."

ONTARIO - Ontario is investing $761,500 in the Alzheimer Society ofOntario's Finding Your Way program to help improve training andreach more people who come into contact with persons affected bydementia.The Finding Your Way program is a multicultural safety campaign thathelps people with dementia stay safe and active, while helping toprevent the risk of wandering and going missing. The program's train-ing services will be enhanced this year to include first-responders aswell as suppor tive housing and retirement homes staff.The funding will also help the Alzheimer Society of Ontario:" Launch an enhanced website" Deliver new eLearning seminars and town halls" Increase volunteer recruitment activities on campuses andin the private sector" Distribute 20,000 new brochures.Investing in services and supports to help keep seniors safe is par t ofthe government's plan to build stronger and healthier communities.

"These improvements to the Finding Your Way program will help reachmore people and provide impor tant information to protect those withdementia. Our communities have an impor tant role to play in helpingkeep people with dementia safe, and this funding will help theAlzheimer Society of Ontario to deliver these resources to even moreOntarians." - Mario Sergio, Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs"This program is the result of an extraordinary network of committedpeople. This year, since we know that 95 per cent of missing inci-dents happen with seniors who still live at home, the expansion intoeducating community workers who have direct contact with peoplewith dementia, their families and caregivers makes sense. We ap-preciate the suppor t of the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat and First Re-sponder groups to help us develop materials that will educate Emer-gency Service Workers, retirement home and suppor tive housing staffabout the risks of going missing for people with dementia and how torespond to missing incidents when they do occur." - Chris Dennis,CEO, Alzheimer Society of Ontario.

Ontario Investing $761,500 For Alzheimer's Support Services

Mayor Jeffrey discusses issues of relevance with Premier WynneBRAMPTON - Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey met with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to discuss impor tant issues that are integral toBrampton's future. The meeting between the premier and mayor was productive, positive and spanned many topics and issues ofrelevance to Brampton, of note are:o Transit and the seamless regional integration and connectivity for all Brampton transit users,o Fair representation for Brampton within the Region of Peel based on actual population numbers rather than historical data, ando Brampton's pending bid for a university campus."Today's meeting fur ther confirms that our premier is committed to working together to build a better Brampton.""These issues are important to Brampton residents as we continue to grow and take our place as leaders in the Greater Toronto andHamilton Area. Good transit, our ability to make meaningful decisions at the region as well as providing greater post-secondary optionsin Brampton will all improve our ability to attract more foreign and domestic investors to our city."

ONTARIO - Ontario's film and TV industry celebrated its best year everin 2015, contributing $1.5 billion to the province's economy and sup-porting almost 32,500 full-time direct and associated jobs. Minister ofTourism, Culture and Sport Michael Coteau was at Cinespace FilmStudios to celebrate Ontario's blockbuster year.The record-breaking 2015 film and TV production statistics reinforceOntario's reputation as a world-class production centre, with:" An increase of almost 4,500 full-time direct and associated jobs overthe previous year" The fifth consecutive year that film and TV productions supported bythe province contributed more than one billion dollars to Ontario'seconomy" Domestic production numbers accounting for half of the total spend-ing on film and TV" An increase in foreign spending, led by a strong TV sector, of 52 percent over the previous year, contributing $763 million to the province'seconomy compared to about $503 million in 2014" Work on award-winning TV productions including Murdoch Myster-ies, and Academy Award® winning films Room and Spotlight occur-ring in Ontario.Supporting a vibrant film and TV industry is part of the government'seconomic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one prior-ity to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includesinvesting in talent and skills, including helping more people get andcreate the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality collegeand university education. The plan is making the largest investment inpublic infrastructure in Ontario's history and investing in a low-carboneconomy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses.The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secureretirement. "The 2015 numbers confirm that Ontario continues to be thenumber one choice in Canada for film and TV production, reinforcingour reputation as a world class hub for the screen-based industries. Iam proud of our government's continued support for this importantsector that is key to our economic and cultural vitality - and createsgood jobs for Ontarians." - Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Cultureand Sport.

Ontario Records Best Year Everin Film, TV Production; $1.5Billion Pumped In Economy

Investing $92 Million InGreen Investment Fund

Fighting Climate Change,Growing Ontario's EconomyONTARIO - Ontario continues to put its new Climate ChangeStrategy into action by investing $92 million from the GreenInvestment Fund into social housing retrofits to take advantageof the economic oppor tunities in clean technologies, improveenergy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Most of Ontario's social housing towers were constructed in the1960s and 1970s and can use up to 25 per cent more energy persquare metre than a house. To help ensure that these buildingscan better meet the challenges of climate change, the provinceis investing $82 million toward energy retrofits for high-risesocial housing towers of 150 units or more. The retrofits willinclude installing energy-efficient boilers, insulating outer wallsand mechanical systems, and installing more energy efficientwindows and lighting. At an average cost of $3.5 - $5.5 millionfor each high-rise project, the funding could help retrofit be-tween 16 and 23 buildings.Ontario will also invest a fur ther $10 million to help improveelectricity efficiency in approximately 1,300 single social hous-ing homes, which are often found in smaller and rural commu-nities. Star ting this month, eligible social housing service man-agers and the Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services Corporationmay submit expressions of interest for funding to the province.The selected service managers will distribute funds star tingthis spring to the most appropriate projects in their communi-ties.Ontario's new Green Investment Fund is a $325-million downpayment on the province's cap and trade program to strengthenthe economy, create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emis-sions. This $92-million investment will help lower greenhousegas emissions by about 3,600 tonnes over a 20-year period andcreate approximately 1,650 job years.

"This new program will support needed up-grades to older, energy inefficient buildingsto reduce their energy costs and better servetheir tenants, while simultaneously helpingOntario meet the climate challenges of to-day and tomorrow." - Ted McMeekin, Minis-ter of Municipal Affairs and Housing

"This investment will help to grow theeconomy, lower operating costs for socialhousing and tackle climate change - a triplewin that will help Ontario prepare to transi-tion to a low carbon economy." - DebMatthews, Deputy Premier of Ontario andMinister Responsible for the Poverty Reduc-tion Strategy

"Today Ontario is taking another importantstep in its journey toward a low carbonfuture. Greenhouse gas emissions frombuildings are one of the most significantcontributors to climate change in Ontario.Many social housing buildings were builtat a time when climate change was notconsidered a threat and energy efficiency

was not a concern. By investing in retrofits for these buildings,Ontario is helping building owners reduce their carbon footprintsand update these residences to reflect the realities we face today."- Glen R. Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

SPEAKING IN FAVOUR OFSEXUAL VIOLENCE,HARASSMENT ACTION PLANBY YASIR NAQVIONTARIO - Ontario passed the Sexual Violence and HarassmentAction Plan Act to help build a province where everyone is free from thethreat of sexual violence and harassment, and to strengthen support forsurvivors.As the MPP for Ottawa Centre I introduced a Private Member's Bill, Escap-ing Domestic Violence Act, 2011 which would shorten the time it takes toend a tenancy agreement for people experiencing sexual or domesticviolence, to make it easier for survivors to flee abuse. I'm proud that thislegislation, informed by a victim of domestic violence and activ-ists in our community, is now a part of the Sexual Violence andHarassment Action Plan. The legislation is one of the 13 com-mitments within It's Never Okay, the government's $41 millionground-breaking action plan to stop sexual violence and harass-ment. The Act aims to make workplaces, campuses and commu-nities safer and more responsive to the needs of survivors and tocomplaints about sexual violence and harassment.To mark the one-year anniversary of the action plan,the government is also releasing a 2015-16 Progress

Report, which highlights the unprecedented actions Ontario has taken inthe last year to help end sexual violence and harassment in the province.Highlights of progress include:" Raising Public Awareness: Launched #WhoWillYouHelp, and#ItsNeverOkay, two-phases of a multi-media public education campaignthat have reached over 85 million and over 56 million respectively to date,to raise awareness about and change attitudes toward sexual violence,harassment and assault." More Training for Professionals: Invested in training for front-line workersin health, education, justice, community and hospitality sectors who helpand support survivors of sexual and domestic violence." More Choices and Better Outcomes for Survivors through the JusticeSystem: Invested in research that examines issues surrounding sexualviolence reporting to help improve police response." Seeding Generational Change: Updated the Health and Physical Educa-

tion Curriculum to help students in grades 1-12 understand consent,healthy relationships and online safety.

" Safer Workplaces, Safer Campuses, Safer Communities: Intro-duced and passed the Sexual Violence and Harassment ActionPlan Act to make campuses, workplaces, homes and commu-

nities safer from sexual violence and harassment." More Help and Better Suppor ts for Survivors in the Com-

munity: Provided additional funding to suppor t sexual anddomestic violence treatment centres and sexual

assault centres to enhance suppor t for survi-vors and help them heal.


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Defamation man: Six cases, three more atapplication stage against Delhi CM Kejriwal

JAITLEY'S $13 BN WATER PLANHAS FAILED 66 MN FARMERS

BY AMIYA KUMAR KUSHWAHA

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Getting summons in a defamation isnothing new for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who isnow into his sixth such case, af ter a local cour t summonedhim in a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janta Par ty leader ArunJait ley.Several defamation cases have been filed against Kejriwalby political leaders and advocates between 2013 and 2016.A Patiala House cour t issued summons against Kejriwal onMarch 9 for allegedly uttering defamatory statements againstJaitley in relation to the controversy surrounding the Delhiand District Cricket Association (DDCA).Apar t from this, Kejriwal has three other cases pending inthe Patiala House cour ts while two are pending in theKarkardooma district cour ts.The first defamation case was filed against Kejriwal by thenpolitical secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit,Pawan Khera, for his alleged "derogatory remarks" againstpower tariff hike during protests in October 2012. A cour t inKarkardooma complex issued summons to Kejriwal inJanaury 2013.The second case was filed by former communicationsminister Kapil Sibal's son Amit Sibal. The defamation casewas filed after Kejriwal, during a press conference in 2013,alleged conflict of interest over Amit Sibal appearing in theSupreme Cour t for telecom major Vodafone while his fatherwas the union communications minister. A metropolitanmagistrate in Patiala house cour ts complex issued summonsto the Aam Aadmi Par ty leader in July 2013.The third case was filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, now aunion minister, who alleged that Kejriwal had defamed him

by including his name in the list of "India's most corrupt"during a press conference in January 2014. In February 2014,a cour t had summoned Kejriwal as an accused.Kejriwal appeared in the case on May 21, 2014, but refused tofurnish a personal bond and thereafter was sent to jail. After aweek, he furnished his personal bond and was released.In all the three cases where the cour t has framed charges,Kejriwal pleaded not guilty.The four th defamation case was filed by a lawyer SurenderKumar Sharma against Kejriwal and his colleague ManishSisodia in 2013. Sharma accused the two AAP leaders ofapproving his name as par ty candidate and later defaminghim and also denying him the ticket.The Supreme Cour t had stayed proceedings in all thesefour cases after Kejriwal filed a plea challenging theconstitutional validity of "criminal defamation" in Aprillast year.The fifth case was filed by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhurialleging that Kejriwal had made baseless allegationsagainst him. A Patiala House cour t last month issuedsummons to Kejriwal asking him to appear in cour t onMay 5, 2016.Apar t from these six cases in which Kejriwal has beensummoned by the trial cour ts, there are three more applica-tions that have alleged defamation and have sought hissummoning. These three applications are in "pre-summoningevidence stage" and are being heard in the various districtcour ts of Delhi.Among these three cases, two have been filed by two Delhipolice constables against Kejriwal using a derogatory termagainst the "men in khaki". The Saket cour t is recording thestatement of complainant witnesses.DDCA and its vice-president, Chetan Chauhan, filed a defama-tion case in February, against Kejriwal and others, accusingthem of defaming the association by passing "scandalous"remarks. The cour t is recording the statement of the com-plainant.

A two-decade-old central programme to finish incomplete irrigation projectshas failed some 66 million Indian farmers and halted the economic progressof 350 million Indians, according to an IndiaSpend analysis. Finance MinisterArun Jaitley, in his budget speech last month, said the government wouldspend Rs.86,500 crore ($12.7 billion) over the next five years to irrigate 80million hectare of cultivated land.This means the government is promising to irrigate in five years more landthan it has in the 69 years since Independence. Only 65 million of 140 millionhectare, or 46 percent, of Indian farmland is irrigated, according to agriculturestatistics released in 2014.Jaitley intends to spend the Rs.86,500 crore on the Accelerated IrrigationBenefits Programme (AIBP) -- quadrupling annual spending -- rolled out in1997 to fast-track existing and new irrigation projects with funding boosts tostates. As much as Rs.72,000 crore ($10.5 billion) was spent over 20 yearssince 1997 on the AIBP. Our analysis of the AIBP reveals multiple failures,something that its architect recently acknowledged."I love the AIBP, having been its grand daddy since I designed it as planningminister in the mid-1990s," Yoginder K. Alagh, chancellor of the Central Uni-versity of Gujarat, wrote last week in Outlook. "But, in the beginning of thiscentury, we asked the question: Why is this plan not working anymore? The12th Plan said we don't know and must find out. The FM would be welladvised to find the answer!"Jaitley is putting his money on a failing irrigation programme and only 26percent of the target has been met: Till 2008, with Rs.34,000 crore ($5 billion)spent, AIBP could irrigate no more than five million of 19 million hectares itintended to -- that's 29 percent according to the audit report (2010) of theComptroller and Auditor General (CAG). As of March 2014, 9.5 million hect-are is irrigated by AIBP projects, as per the latest data.Irrigation efficiency drops 55 percentage points: The efficiency of irrigation -- actual land watered as percentage of capacity created -- dropped from 84percent during the VII Plan (1985-1990), to 29 percent during the XI plan(2007-2011), according to the CAG.Of the capacity created, only 33 percent of farmland got water: Of the irriga-tion capacity created by the AIBP during 2007-11, only a third of farmlandactually got water, the Economic Survey 2015-16 said."The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme has failed to achieve itstargeted objective of accelerating completion of large irrigation projects anddelivery of benefits of irrigation water to farmers," the CAG report said.The finance minister's announcement of Rs.86,500 crore ($12.7 billion) forAIBP for the next five years quadruples the annual spending on AIBP fromRs.3,650 crore per year over the last two decades to Rs.17,300 crore peryear over the next five years.The budget for 2016-17 has set aside Rs.7,308 crore for irrigation -- Rs.1,877crore for AIBP, Rs.2,340 crore for micro-irrigation, Rs.1,500 crore for water-shed management, Rs.1,023 crore for irrigation and flood control and Rs.568crore for other spending. To meet Jaitley's AIBP target, spending will need tosoar over the next two years of his government.If anything, the AIBP has actually slowed the efficiency of irrigation. The AIBPstarted with Rs.500 crore in 1996-97. In three years, by 2000, non-AIBPspending on irrigation touched Rs 700 crore, while AIBP alone spent Rs.1,440crore.AIBP peaked in 2008-09 with Rs.7,600 crore funding, with total irrigationspending by the central government crossing Rs.10,000 crore. With everyfive-year plan, the gap between irrigation potential created steadily increased,as IndiaSpend reported earlier. Instead of increasing, irrigation utilisation fellafter the introduction of AIBP, according to the Economic Survey 2015-16.

The irrigation potential utilised-water used for farming as percentage of irri-gation capacity created -- was 85 percent during the VIIth and VIIIth Plan,falling to 50 percent during the IXth Plan, 70 percent during the Xth Plan and 29percent during the XIth Plan. Planning as an economic philosophy has nowbeen discarded. It was not just the CAG that pointed out the AIBP's decliningefficiency, this Finance Commission report did as well."At the end of Xth plan (2007), the cumulative irrigation potential utilisationwas about 84 percent. This has been on decline (sic) particularly since1990s," said the Finance Commission report. At the end of 2012, this effi-ciency was down to 77 percent.Meanwhile, the Indian farmer waits for water. Of 294 AIBP projects started till2014, about 142 are complete. Many are riddled with cost overruns andmany have been under construction for two decades. Even after irrigationcapacity has been created -- some dams have been built -- states stall theprogress, by failing to build canals that would actually take water to the fields,according to the CAG report.The 55-percentage-point decline -- over 15 years -- in irrigation money utilisedstems from improper operation and maintenance, incomplete canals, viola-tions in cropping pattern and diversion of irrigated land for other purposes,according to the Economic Survey, 2015-16.



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 c a n a d a

416-907-4420

Conservative Party leadershipelection rules finalized, releasedOTTAWA - The Conservative Par ty of Canada today released its lead-ership election rules for the selection of the next par ty leader.The rules were formed by the Leadership Election Organizing Com-mittee (LEOC), and established to meet the goal of making the race asfair, balanced, and transparent as possible for all potential candi-dates. With the rules now in place, the Conservative Par ty Leadershiprace is officially open, and, as previously announced, will end on May27, 2017."This is an exciting time for our par ty and its members, and withthese rules now set, we can begin the process of choosing our nextleader, and the next Prime Minister of our country," said Dan Nowlan,Chair of the Leadership Election Organizing Committee. "While LEOCstill has some work left, I personally thank the members of the com-

mittee for their dedication in getting these standards in place, and,through these rules, making this leadership election truly open, fair,and transparent for all."Nowlan concluded that he looked forward to the process getting offi-cially underway, and beginning the impor tant work of preparingthe par ty for 2019, and offering Canadians a government that willfocus on the economy and making life more affordable. This is thesecond leadership race in the history of the modern day Conser-vative Par ty. In order to vote in the Conservative Par ty of Canada'sleadership election, you must hold a valid Conservative Par tymembership. We encourage anyone interested in voting in theleadership election to purchase or renew their membership nowto ensure they're eligible to vote.

Ontario Strengthens End-Of-Life Care With $75 Million InvestmentONTARIO - As par t of the 2016 Budget, Ontario is proposing to invest an additional $75 million over three years to provide patientswith more options and access to palliative and end-of-life care. This investment would improve community-based hospiceand palliative care services including:" Suppor ting up to 20 new hospices across Ontario and increasing the funding for existing facilities" Increasing suppor ts for caregivers that will help families and loved ones suppor t palliative patients at home and in thecommunity" Promoting advance care planning so that families and health care providers understand patients' wishes for end-of-life care" Establishing the Ontario Palliative Care Network, a new body to advance patient-centred care and develop provincial standardsto strengthen services.The province is also par tnering with Hospice Palliative Care Ontario to provide training and suppor t to new hospice volunteerseach year. A new online training system will give volunteers throughout Ontario better access to standardized training and tools,which will be especially beneficial for rural and remote communities.Ontario is also releasing the Palliative and End-of-Life Care Provincial Roundtable Repor t, which compiles feedback from recentconsultations led by John Fraser, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. The consultationsincluded 16 roundtables with more than 325 stakeholders across the province, including patients, families, doctors, nurses andhealth system leaders. The Roundtable Repor t will help Ontario develop a comprehensive strategy on palliative and end-of-lifecare, which will focus on suppor ting families and caregivers, and ensuring access to coordinated quality care where patientswant it.Improving palliative care is par t of the government's plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan forHealth Care, which is providing patients with faster access to the right care, better home and community care, the informationthey need to stay healthy and a health care system that's sustainable for generations to come. It is also par t of Ontario's PatientsFirst: Roadmap to Strengthen Home and Community Care, which is the government's plan to improve and expand home andcommunity care over the next three years.

INVESTING $7 MILLION FORCUTTING-EDGE FACILITY ATCONFEDERATION COLLEGEONTARIO - Ontario is investing $7 million in a new state of thear t training facility at Confederation College to suppor t goodtechnology and trades jobs in Nor thern Ontario. As announcedin the 2016 Budget, the Technology Education and Collabora-tion Hub in Thunder Bay will offer students preparatory, ap-prenticeship, trades and technology programs in a single lo-cation.The innovative workshop and laboratory space will expandtraining oppor tunities in Thunder Bay and help develop anemployment-ready technology and trades workforce for Nor th-ern Ontario. Exposure to multiple fields of study within thesame facility will allow students to develop the diverse skillsthey need to compete for jobs in Ontario's manufacturing, tech-nology, and resource sectors.The Technology Education and Collaboration Hub is part of thelargest investment in public infrastructure in the province'shistory - about $160 billion over 12 years, which is suppor ting110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projectssuch as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospi-tals. In 2015, the province announced suppor t for more than325 projects that will keep people and goods moving, connectcommunities and improve quality of life.Suppor ting technology and trades jobs in the Nor th is par t ofthe government's economic plan to build Ontario up and de-liver on its number-one priority to grow the economy andcreate jobs. The four-par t plan includes investing in talent andskills, including helping more people get and create the jobsof the future by expanding access to high-quality college anduniversity education. The plan is making the largest invest-ment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history and investingin a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth,expor t-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping workingOntarians achieve a more secure retirement."Our government is proud to suppor t new capital projects thatwill give students access to the cutting-edge facilities theyneed to get good jobs and grow our province's economy. Iknow that this new hub will help ensure Nor thern Ontariobusinesses in a diverse array of sectors will benefit from askilled workforce that meets their labour market needs andhelps them grow their businesses." - Reza Moridi, Minister ofTraining, Colleges and Universities.

TORONTO MAYOR JOHN TORY WITH FAMILY AND POLICE CHIEF MARK SAUNDERS ON ST PATRICK'S DAY PARADE INDOWNTOWN (TWITTER.COM).

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO DELIVERCOMPUTERS TO SYRIAN REFUGEES

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation,Science and Economic Development, today announced that7,500 refurbished computers will be provided to Syrian refu-gees in Canada."Economic growth in the modern economy depends on ourability to adapt, adopt and integrate digital technologies into ourdaily lives-both at work and at home. This investment in theComputers for Schools program will help provide computersand technical suppor t to refugee resettlement facilities, hostcommunities and refugees themselves." - Navdeep Bains,Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development"Resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees has been a true nationaleffor t-a large-scale collaboration among different levels ofgovernment, non-governmental organizations, service providerorganizations and the private sector. Providing technology andskills training will be invaluable to the success of Syrianrefugees as they integrate into a society where computer

knowledge is very impor tant." - John McCallum, Minister ofImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Ontario Transforming Housingand Homelessness SystemONTARIO - Ontario is introducing a suite of legislative andpolicy measures, and investing $178 million over three years,to ensure that the people of Ontario have access to affordableand adequate housing and to help them secure employment,raise a family and build strong communities.Last year, Ontario announced that it would consult with com-munities to update the Long-Term Affordable Housing Strat-egy, first launched in 2010. The updated strategy is informedby feedback from key stakeholders including clients, devel-opers, municipalities and advocates. It will make housingprograms more people-centred and co-ordinated, and pro-vide municipalities with flexibility to meet local needs.To increase the supply of affordable housing and support theprovince's goal of ending chronic homelessness in 10 years,Ontario is:" Creating a framework for a por table housing benefitthat would give people who receive housing assistance theflexibility to choose where they want to live. Fur ther, the prov-ince will invest more than $17 million over three years toprovide a por table housing benefit on a pilot basis to eventu-ally suppor t up to 3,000 survivors of domestic violence." Proposing legislation for inclusionary zoning thatwould enable municipalities to mandate the inclusion of af-fordable housing units in new development projects." Developing a Suppor tive Housing Policy Frameworkto improve client outcomes, and providing more than $100million in funding over the next three years for new suppor t-ive housing to improve access for up to 4,000 families andindividuals to services like counselling, dispensing medica-tion, and life skills, as well as suppor t the construction of upto 1,500 new suppor tive housing units over the long term." Providing an additional $45 million over three yearsto the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative." Developing an Indigenous Housing Strategy in par t-nership with Indigenous communities.Investing in long-term, stable funding for affordable and ad-equate housing is par t of the government's economic plan tobuild Ontario up and deliver on its number one priority -- togrow the economy and create jobs. The four-par t plan in-cludes investing in talent and skills, including helping morepeople get and create the jobs of the future by expandingaccess to high-quality college and university education. Theplan is making the largest investment in public infrastructurein Ontario's history and investing in a low-carbon economydriven by innovative, high-growth, expor t-oriented businesses.The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a moresecure retirement.


TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016c a n a d a

CANADA-USA DISCUSS LOW-CARBONECONOMIES, CLEAN GROWTH, GOOD JOBSOTTAWA - The Prime Minister,Justin Trudeau, issued the follow-ing statement after a bilateralmeeting with US President BarackObama:"President Obama and I had avery productive meeting that willhelp our countries transition tolow-carbon economies, fosterclean growth, and create goodjobs and great oppor tunities forour citizens."The President and I agreed toformally join the Paris Agreement

in the global fight against climatechange, and to take ambitiousact ions to reduce methane,hydroflurocarbon, and green-house gas emissions."We announced a new par tner-ship to build a sustainable Arc-tic economy, and we will worktogether to develop new, sci-ence-based standards for com-merc ia l f i sh ing , l ow- impac tshipping, sustainable develop-ment, and Arctic biodiversity."We also committed to make

our borde rs more open andmore secure, and we agreed inp r i nc ip l e to expandprec learance to B i l ly B ishopAirpor t in Toronto, Jean LesageInternational Airpor t in QuebecCity, as well as rail service inMontreal and Vancouver."The President and I reaffirmedour commitment to streamlinetrade between our countr ies.Each day, $2.4 billion wor th ofgoods and services cross theborder. We agreed to work in col-

laboration to bring trade and in-vestment to new heights."Finally, we agreed that Canadawil l host the Nor th AmericanLeaders Summit in the Summer

of 2016. President Obama willaddress Parliament during hisvisit to Canada for the summit.Canada and the United Statesshare the same values, the same

origins, and the same space. Weface many of the same chal-lenges, and we are all better offwhen we tackle them together."Source: pm.gc.ca



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 i n d i a

BJP LEADERS CAMPAIGN FOR UPCOMING KERALA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY POLLS IN KOCHI (IANS).

Rain flattens crops in Punjab, HaryanaCHANDIGARH, (IANS) Standing wheat crop was damaged in hun-dreds of acres of agricultural fields in Punjab and Haryana due tounseasonal rainfall accompanied with high velocity winds over thepast 24 hours. The rainfall, which star ted late Friday, continued throughSunday. Hail were also experienced at some places in the states.Besides the wheat crop, other crops and vegetables were also af-fected by the rain and thunderstorms. "Crops were damaged in sev-eral districts. Our field officers are assessing the damage based onthe initial repor ts," an official of the Punjab agriculture depar tmenttold IANS here.Repor ts said that the wheat crop was damaged by rains and winds inAmritsar, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Kapur thala,

Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Moga and Fazilka districts. Areas inKapur thala, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts received over 30 mmrainfall on Saturday."This unseasonal rain has damaged the wheat crop and other veg-etables. Farmers have suffered big losses. The government shouldimmediately announce compensation for the affected farmers. Other-wise, the farmers will be under severe debt," Atam Singh, a farmer inAmritsar district, said.In Haryana, the standing crops were damaged in Ambala, Karnal,Hisar, Fatehabad and Kurukshetra districts, officials said. Punjab andHaryana contribute over 60 percent of food grains (wheat and paddy)to the national kitty.

FARMERS, YOUTH GET NEW SCHEMES IN PUNJAB BUDGETCHANDIGARH, (IANS) With an eye to next year's assembly elections in the state, the Punjab government's budget for the nextfinancial year has laid stress on the social welfare sector, and youth and farmers in the agrarian state. Presenting the budget in thestate assembly on Tuesday, Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa announced an interest-free loan scheme for farmersand another scheme that will provide provident fund and pension to the peasantry.In his budget speech here, Dhindsa said that small and marginal farmers (having less than 5 acres land holding) will be able to availinterest-free crop loans of Rs.50,000 per crop. The interest burden of four percent, payable to the banks, will be borne by the stategovernment.The move will cost the Punjab government Rs.200 crore annually. Dhindsa also announced a new provident fund and pensionscheme for farmers in which they will be able to save money and earn pension after attaining the age of 60 years. The state's budgetof Rs.86,387 crore has a revenue deficit of Rs.7,983 crore. The government earmarked Rs.10 crore to pay compensation to family offarmers who commit suicide. For the youth, the budget has offered interest-free education loans for those from economically weakersections, skill development and vocational training schemes, free stationery for girl students in schools and health care kits for girlsin classes 6th to 12th.The state also abolished enter tainment tax on cultural, music and theatre shows and films that promote Punjabi culture and language.Dhindsa said that the Punjab government will soon recruit 12,000 new teachers. Punjab goes for assembly elections inFebruary next year. The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal has been in power in the state since 2007 with alliance par tner BJP.

KEJRIWAL SEEKS AOL'S HELP TO CLEAN YAMUNANEW DELHI, (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged Ar t of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to take the initiative toclean Yamuna river and also sought help of his volunteers for welfare programmes of the city government."Different governments have to come together to clean the Yamuna. Today, on your (Sri Sri) lef t, there is the central govern-ment and on your right is the Delhi government... please initiate and let's make the Yamuna clean," Kejriwal said addressingthe gathering at the World Culture Festival here. Kejriwal also sought the help of volunteers of Ar t of Living."I am a selfish person. I want two things from you, Guruji. Give me your volunteers. They are polished, decent and alwayssmiling. The Delhi government has a lot of work and so needs a lot of volunteers for its different programmes. I want yourvolunteers," he said, as he was welcomed with huge applause.Welcoming to India and Delhi the delegates from 155 nations, Kejriwal said the entire world was facing violent issues and itwas not possible to defeat hatred with hatred. "Guruji's message has reached out to the world through meditation and love,"he said. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal was slated to attend the Global Leadership Forum organised by the AoL but did not turn up.

TIME NOT RIGHT FOR MYRETURN: VIJAY MALLYANEW DELHI, (IANS) Business tycoon Vijay Mallya said in com-ments published on Sunday that he was not on the run but wasalso in no hurry to return to India. Mallya told the Sunday Guardian inan email interview that he had done no wrong and that he was beingvictimised. Asked whether his departure from India on March 2 wasrelated to his failure to pay back loans, he said he left on a personalvisit along with a friend. "It wasn't a business visit. Lots of peoplehave written that I was carrying seven luggage bags... For two people,I don't think that's too much. I pack heavy. That's how I travel." He saidit was wrong to say he "escaped"."Why am I being portrayed as a criminal? Loan defaults are a busi-ness matter. When the banks give out loans, they know the riskinvolved. They decide, we don't. "Our own business was flourishing,but plummeted suddenly. Don't make me the villain. I have the bestintentions. I'm quiet because I fear my words will be twisted like ofothers." Mallya said it was "a matter of interpretation" why he leftIndia just before the banks who had given him loans moved court. "It'snot the first time I've flown out from the country. I've not done anythingwrong. I don't need anyone to tip me off about anything." The RajyaSabha member said he did want to return to India."But I'm not sure I'll get a fair chance to present my side. I've alreadybeen branded a criminal. I do not feel the time is right. "I feel passionsare high. People need to think rationally. They need to understand thatbusiness, whether large or small, has risks involved. "I've seen thehighest to the lowest points in this matter. But I hope that I return oneday. India has given me everything. It made me Vijay Mallya."

Real estate bill passed,government says will bringproperty prices downNEW DELHI, (IANS) The real estate bill pending before parliamentsince 2013 was finally passed on Tuesday with the Lok Sabha givingits nod as members cutting across party lines backed it. Terming thedevelopment "historic", Urban Development Minister M. VenkaiahNaidu asserted the new law will help bring down property prices.Members rising above party lines including from the Congress, theBiju Janata Dal (BJD), the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), theRashtriya Janata Dal and the Indian Union Muslim League supportedthe Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill, which had been passedby the Rajya Sabha on March 10. Replying to the debate on the bill in thelower house, Naidu assured that the government is also open to discusswith the builders if they have any issue with the bill. "We are not againstbuilders. If there are problem with the builders, I am ready to discuss it withthem anytime," he said, adding the speedy land clearances forthe real estate projects will help in bringing down prices of thehouses. "I say you will get more investment, you will get earlyclearances and the proper ty prices will come down." Naidusaid the bill was brought in the house after consultation withseveral stake holders including the ministries of defence, civilaviation, environment and consumer affairs.

Hope to pass GST, bankruptcybills in budget session: JaitleyNEW DELHI, (IANS) The government hopes to enact the Goodsand Services Tax (GST) and bankruptcy bills in the second halfof the budget session of parliament beginning April 20, FinanceMinister Arun Jaitley said on Sunday."The current session of parliament has already seen one land-mark legislation two days ago. And I do hope to see anothertwo being passed in the second par t of the session with regardto the bankruptcy and insolvency laws and GST," he said, ad-dressing the Advancing Asia Conference here."I think this gives major fillip or push to our reform process,"the finance minister said. "We are trying to have special em-phasis now both in terms of legislative changes and resourcesbeing put to strengthen the banking system. I do feel that nextfew months, in bringing about structural change, are going tobe extremely impor tant," he added.


TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016i n d i a

Budget satisfies Modi's, Moody'sinterest: Shashi Tharoor

J&K NATIONAL PANTHER PARTY WORKERS STAGE A DEMONSTRATION TO PRESS FOR DISSOLUTION OF J&K ASSEMBLY AT JANTARMANTAR IN NEW DELHI (IANS).

General Accounting & Bookkeeping

ED summons Mallya in money-laundering case on Mar 18

22 CANDIDATES IN BJP'SFIRST LIST FOR KERALAASSEMBLY POLLSTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM, (IANS) The BJP on Sunday releasedits first list of 22 candidates for the May 16 Kerala assemblyelections, which includes veteran O. Rajagopal and newly-appointed state unit president Kummanem Rajasekheran.Former state BJP presidents, including P.S. Sreedharan Pillai,C.K. Padmanabhan, P.K. Krishna Das and V. Muraleedharan,also figure in the first list.The BJP is yet to win entry to the 140-member assembly. In the2011 assembly polls, three Bharatiya Janata Par ty candidatescame second in their respective segments, while the par ty'snominees in all other constituencies were distant third. Thefirst BJP list for the coming assembly polls was released aftera daylong meeting of par ty office-bearers. The seat-sharingwith BJP's new ally -- Hindu Ezhava leader Vellapalli Natesan'sBharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) -- is still not finalised. TheBDJS joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance on March3. The BJP will field state par ty spokesperson George Kurienagainst Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who has been repre-senting the Puthupally constituency in Kottayam district since1970. Rajagopal, a minister of state in the Atal Bihari Vajpayeegovernment, has been f ie lded from Nemom in theThiruvanthapuram district. He finished second in the 2011 polls.Dur ing by-elect ions in 2012 (Neyatt inkara) and 2015(Aruvikara), he finished third and was runner-up for theThiruvananthapuram seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

CONGRESS TO PROTEST'ANTI-TRADER' POLICIES OFMODI GOVERNMENT IN UPLUCKNOW, (IANS) The BJP-led central government is workingagainst the interests of small traders, said a Congress leaderin Uttar Pradesh who heads the par ty's traders' cell. "The Ex-cise Act proposed in the budget will create more problems forthe traders and the ongoing strike by the jewellers in the stateis causing major loss of income," said Ramesh Mishra, chair-man of the Uttar Pradesh Traders' Cell of the Congress. He saidthe traders would soon launch a state wide protest against thepolicies of the Narendra Modi government, which were dealinga death blow to small traders. "A meeting to discuss the plansfor an agitation that will be held in every district of the statewas held on Friday and we have decided to take up the issue ofthe bullion and jewellers at the very outset," Mishra said.

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has termed theunion budget 2016-17 as political and said it tries to satisfy bothModi's interest as well as Moody's interest."This Budget falls between two stools, between sending reassuringsignals to the rating agencies abroad and sending even more reas-suring signals to the voters at home. In other words, it tries to satisfyboth Modi's interest and Moody's interest," Tharoor said while takingpar t in the discussion over general budget.He said that budget was a political one and was prepared keeping inmind the for thcoming assembly elections. "Yes, it is a political Bud-get. The government has at last discovered the vir tues of attending to

the needs of the agriculture sector and the rural poor. But this hasmuch more to do with the upcoming state elections than with thecoherent economic vision," he said. Tharoor said that the budget hasnot only disappointed the aam aadmi but frustrated the economist andproved a mixed bag for the politician."Any budget must address fiscal consolidation that is the policy aimedat reducing the fiscal deficit, job creation usually through boostingmanufacturing, increasing savings in order to boost investments, in-flation control in our country which is obvious and improving investorsentiment both domestic and foreign, so we can promote growth. I amsorry to say, this Budget falls shor t on all these five criteria," he said.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Tightening its noose around former liquor baronVijay Mallya, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned himto appear before the agency next Friday (March 18) for questioning inthe ongoing probe into a money-laundering case, officials here said.The development comes five days after the ED Mumbai registered acase under Prevention of Money Laundering Act last Monday and aday after it summoned former top officials of the defunct KingfisherAirlines (KFA) and the IDBI to whom it owes around Rs.900 crore.However, it was not immediately clear when Mallya -- who iscurrently abroad -- will return to India and respond to the EDsummons. Earlier Friday, the ED quizzed the ex-KFA chief finan-cial officer A. Raghunathan to shed light on the various financialtransactions of the KFA and related matters. Besides Raghunathan,the ED has also summoned former IDBI chairman-cum-managingdirector Yogesh Aggarwal and other senior executives of the airline

and the bank for questioning on the advances made to KFA and otherconnected aspects.

JNU PANEL FINDS 21 STUDENTS GUILTYOF VIOLATING RULESNEW DELHI, (IANS) A high-level inquiry committee, constituted by theJawaharlal Nehru University to investigate the February 9 happenings on thecampus, on Monday found 21 students guilty of violating rules and norms inthe JNU. "The high-level inquiry committee constituted by the vice chancellorto inquire into the incident on February 9 on the JNU campus has submitted aunanimous report, as per which some students have been found to haveviolated the university's rules and norms," the university administration saidin a statement here. "There are standards and provisions in the universityrules to take action in such cases. The high-level inquiry committee's recom-

mendations are based on the rulesof discipline and proper conduct inthe JNU," the statement said. "Thevice chancellor has apprised theDean's Committee of the summaryof the inquiry committee recommen-dations. The office of the Chief Proc-tor will take further action by issuingshow cause notices to the studentsfound violating rules and norms of theuniversity," it said. The committee wasset up on February 10, initially with threemembers. Later, two more memberswere added. The university had sus-pended JNU Students Union presidentKanhaiya Kumar, JNUSU general sec-retary Rama Naga, Anant PrakashNarayan, Anirban Bhattacharya,Ashutosh, Umar Khalid, AshwaryaAdhikari and Shwetha Raj on February12. Last week, the administration re-voked the suspension of all eight stu-dents after the committee submitted itsreport on the February 9 incidenton the campus wherein anti-na-tional slogans were raised.

Punjab decision on SYLcanal land attacks federalstructure: HaryanaNEW DELHI, (IANS) The row between Punjab and Haryanaon the former's decision to enact a law denotifying the 5,300acres of land acquired for Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal on Mon-day reached the Supreme Cour t with both tossing allegationsand counter-allegations at each other.As Haryana told the constitution bench headed by JusticeAnil R. Dave that Punjab's decision was against the federalstructure and would threaten national integrity, Punjab saidthat its action was strictly in accord with the constitution.Though the constitution bench also comprising Justice PinakiChandra Ghose, Justice Shiva Kirti Singh, Justice Adarsh KumarGoel and Justice Amitava Roy adjourned the hearing till Match 17,the Punjab assembly has in the meantime passed the bill thatwould pave the way for restoring the lands to the farmers fromwhom it was acquired for constructing SYL Canal. The court hadadjourned the hearing after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told itthat Punjab law would have a bearing on the presidential referenceseeking apex court's advisory opinion on the 2004 Punjab law thatwas passed during the tenure of then chief minister, Capt. AmarinderSingh, terminating all water sharing agreement with the neighbouringHaryana and other states. Rohatgi told the court that if Punjab goesahead and enacts the law, then it had to be studied and a view takenon it. However, he made it clear that central government was nottaking sides in the instant dispute following Punjab move to enactthe law denotifying the lands acquired for constructing SYL Canal totransport water to Haryana. At the outset of the hearing, senior counselShyam Divan appearing for Haryana drew the court's attention to thepress statement issued by Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal'soffice on Sunday about the cabinet decision to bring Punjab Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal (Rehabilitation and Re-vesting of Proprietary Rights)Bill that would pave way for the return of lands to the farmer from whomit was acquired for constructing the canal.



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY


Government stands by its commitmentsfor Jammu & Kashmir: Jaitley

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CONGRESS LEADER AHMED PATEL WITH SEWA DAL MEMBERS PARTICIPATE DURING DANDI YATRA FROM SABARMATI ASHRAM TOKOCHRAB ASHRAM PALDI IN AHMEDABAD (IANS).

Act against those who helpedMallya flee India: CongressNEW DELHI, (IANS) Upping the ante on the Vijay Mallyaissue, the Congress on Monday asked the government toact against the public officials and politicians who helpedthe businessman flee from India."We request Modi government to rise above rhetoric andface the reality. Prime minister must concentrate on depor-tation of Vijay Mallya and ensure that 9,091 crore rupeesare recovered. It is not impor tant which par ty the politi-cians who helped him belong to. Whoever they are, thegovernment must take action against them," Congressspokesperson Randeep Surjewala said while talking to re-por ters outside parliament.The par ty also alleged that "Mallya has run away in accor-dance to 'Fair & Lovely Scheme' of Modi government", ajibe that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took on thegovernment's budget provision for black money holders toescape punishment."He is now a double NRI, first he was 'Non Repaying Indian'and second he is 'Non Returning Indian'. Instead of fulfillingthe promise of br inging back black money, Modigovernment's record in last 22 months is that, two personshave escaped -- one Mr Lalit Modi and Mr Mallya -- toforeign shores under their very nose and with active or tacitcomplicity and abetment," Surjewala said.

BHUJBAL SENT TO TWODAYS' ED CUSTODYMUMBAI, ( IANS) A cour t on Tuesday sent for merMaharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, whowas arrested on corruption charges, to two days custody ofthe Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED had interrogatedthe senior Nationalist Congress Par ty leader for nearly 11hours on Monday in the various corruption cases againsthim and arrested late night.Charged under provisions under the Prevention of MoneyLaundering Act (PMLA), he was produced by the ED beforea Special PMLA Cour t on Tuesday evening which grantedthe agency two days custody to interrogate him fur ther.Seeking his remand, ED counsel Hiten Vengaonkar said thatBhujbal failed to cooperate when his statement was beingrecorded by the agency on Monday.For most questions put to Bhujbal, the response was 'he didnot know', he said. An emotional Bhujbal pleaded innocenceand said that he had cooperated. "I have not done any wrong.I have cooperated and am being framed as par t of a con-spiracy. When some questions were put (by the ED), I genu-inely said I did not know and yet I was arrested," he said,his eyes moist.He added that he did not grant the contract (of constructingthe Maharashtra Sadan, New Delhi), but had only obeyedthe directives of the then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Rectify 'laxity' in poll codeenforcement in two days: EC

warns BengalKOLKATA, (IANS) Talking tough, the Election Commission on Tuesday seta two-day deadline for West Bengal officials to rectify violations of themodel code of conduct in some areas for the coming assembly electionsand warned it would take a "serious view" if 'laxity' in enforcing the pollcode continued.Laying stress on neutrality and impartiality of the election machinery,Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said criminal action would betaken against anyone -- "official or non-official" -- found indulging in "mal-practices" with regard to photo voter slips.Zaidi met the media after the full bench of the commission, which arrivedhere on Monday, held detailed deliberations with political parties, civilsociety members, top police and administrative officers at state anddistrict levels on issues concerning the April-May elections.Asked about the commission's stand on the purported sting operationcarried out by a news portal that showed 11 Trinamool leaders acceptingbribes, Zaidi said: "We have received representation (video) from politicalparties... we will get it examined.. we will pass it on to the relevantauthorities." The CEC expressed concern over the "high pendency" of non-bailable warrants (NBWs) and issued strict directions to officials to en-sure criminals and anti-social elements do not roam freely and intimidatevoters during the upcoming polls."As many as 89,000 non-bailable warrants against criminals have beenexecuted till February 29. We have directed district officials that the pend-ing 31,000 NBWs must be executed at the fastest pace. This will bereviewed at the police station level also.

DELHI CHIEF MINISTER ARVIND KEJRIWAL DURING A PROGRAMME ORGANISED TO FLAG-OFFAN ALL WOMAN BIKE RALLY IN NEW DELHI (IANS).

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Mondaysaid the government stood by its commitment for the "equitabledevelopment" of the three regions -- Jammu, Kashmir andLadakh -- of the state. "We want to implement the Rs.80,-croreeconomic package of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for theequitable development of the three regions of Jammu andKashmir," Jaitley said, replying to the budget debate in the LokSabha. He said that the government was committed to set upvarious institutions, like IIT, IIM and AIIMS, announced earlierfor the state, which has been under the central rule sinceJanuary 7 when chief minister Mufti Mohammed Saeed died in a

Delhi hospital. Saeed headed the coalition government of thePeoples Democratic Par ty (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Par ty(BJP). However, his daughter and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti hasbeen dragging her feet over the government formation with the BJPdemanding concessions from the central government, includingmore funds and some power hyrdro projects to be transferred to thestate government.Currently all power projects in the state are being owned and run bythe central government's National Hyrdro Power Corporation(NHPC). The state gets some royalty from these powers plants,which the PDP also wants should be revised.

Jats again threaten agitation in HaryanaCHANDIGARH, (IANS) The Jat community in Haryana on Mondaythreatened to relaunch its agitation for reservation and insuppor t of other demands if the state government and theCentre failed to accept their demands.In a memorandum submitted to the prime minister and Haryanachief minister through deputy commissioners in variousdistricts of Haryana, the All India Jat Aarakshan SangharshSamiti said the agitation for reservation would be relaunched ifthe central and state governments failed to accept their de-mands."We have submitted memorandums to the prime minister andthe chief minister through the deputy commissioners. If noaction is taken on our demand, the Jat community will be forcedto star t the agitation again," Samiti general secretary B.S.Ahlawat said on Monday.The Jats are demanding reservation under the OBC (OtherBackward Classes) category, withdrawal of cases against Jat

protesters in the violent agitation in Haryana in February,compensation for families of the Jat protesters killed during theagitation and action against officials who ordered firing on theJat protesters recently.As many as 30 people were killed and over 200 injured in thenine-day Jat agitation for reservation.The agitation saw several government buildings, shops, malls,educational institutions, hospitals and showrooms being set onfire by hooligans. Hundreds of shops were looted and setablaze. A leading trade and industry body pegged the losses inHaryana due to the agitation at around Rs.20,000 crore.Rohtak bore the brunt of the Jat violence with hundreds ofshops and other establishments, government and privatebuildings and educational institutions and private hospitalsbeing set on fire. Shops were looted by hooligans. The Jatcommunity was demanding reservation in government jobs andeducational institutions.

Government seeks report from hailstorm-hit statesNEW DELHI, (IANS) The central government on Monday sought reports from states on crops damaged due to heavy rains and hailstormin par ts of nor thern India, hours af ter Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi demanded compensation for the affected farmers."I have personally spoken to the agriculture ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to assess thecrop damage," union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh told the Lok Sabha. Singh said the affected states have said it willtake three to four days to make an assessment."Central teams will visit the affected areas af ter receiving the repor ts from the states and assistance will be provided on thebasis of their repor ts," he said. The minister said the government will extend assistance to the union territories also in case ofdisaster."Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of a Disaster Relief Fund to extend assistance to union territorieslike Delhi," he said. Singh said there was no provision in the past to grant funds to the union territories under the NationalDisaster Relief Fund.Earlier, Rahul Gandhi raised the issue in the Lok Sabha and asked the government to assess the crop damage due to hailstormand provide adequate compensation to the affected farmers."Af ter the hailstorm and heavy rains, farmers of nor thern India are in distress. The government must act to give relief to farmersaffected (by) crop damage," he said in the Lok Sabha. He demanded a statement from the agriculture minister. Responding,Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said it was a serious matter and the government would act immediately.



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31 KILLED IN RAIN-TRIGGEREDINCIDENTS IN PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD, (IANS) At least 31 people were killed and 47 injured in rain-related incidents in Pakistan in the last three days, the authorities said.The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in a statementsaid Balochistan province was the worst hit where 17 people were killedand 15 others injured besides 48 houses that collapsed following torren-tial rains, Xinhua repor ted. The nor thwest tribal region also receivedheavy rain which caused several roof collapses. The NDMA said eightpeople were killed, 18 others injured and three houses collapsed in theheavy downpour in the area. Five labourers were killed and six injuredwhen a coal mine caved in following landslides caused by heavy rains inOrakzai area of the tribal belt. Earlier reports said seven labourers werekilled and 10 injured in the coal mine accident. In the northwest KhyberPakhtunkhwa province, one man was killed, eight were injured and twohouses destroyed due to torrential rains. The director general of the Metoffice said the current weather condition will persist till Monday morningand a new spell of rain was expected to hit the country from Wednesday.He said the new system would engulf the country from Balochistan,Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and other parts and would continuetill March 19. He said that normally the country does not witness such a

severe rain pattern in the spring season, but due to the El Nino climatecycles, temperatures in the Pacific Ocean were warmer than normal.These anomalies are the hallmark of the El Nino climate cycles, whichcan influence weather patterns across the globe, he added.

Two killed, 3,000 displacedin Indonesian floodsJakar ta, March 13 (IANS) At least two people were killed, threewent missing and around 3,000 forced to flee their homes asfloods hit Indonesia's Java province, official said recently. Thefloods occurred on Saturday as heavy rain caused waters ofthe Citarum river in Bandung district to overflow and submergelarge areas in the district, Xinhua quoted an official of disasteragency as saying. The flood waters affected over 24,000 peoplein the district, said the official. Emergency relief operation wasbeing conducted by soldiers, police, disaster agency officialsand volunteers to help flood-affected people, the official said.

Two UN peacekeepers shotdead by colleague in MaliBAMAKO (MALI), (IANS) Two UN peacekeepers were shot deadand another injured by their Chadian colleague, the UN mis-sion in Mali said. Authorities arrested the peacekeeper but thereason behind the shooting was still unknown, spokeswomanfor the UN mission in Mali Radhia Achouri was quoted assaying by Xinhua. This was not the first time that UN peace-keepers were killed by colleagues. Last month, a Chadiansoldier killed his own commander and an army doctor overliving conditions.

37 killed in Turkey blastANKARA, (IANS) At least 37 people were killed and 125 in-jured in an explosion that hit Turkey's capital city of Ankara,the media repor ted on Monday. A bomb-laden car caused theexplosion late Sunday near Kizilay square, Hurriyet Daily Newsrepor ted. The toll was expected to increase as at least nine ofthose injured were in critical conditions, Health MinisterMehmet Muezzinoglu said on Monday. A suspected bomber,who also died in the blast, was a female member of the out-lawed Kurdistan Workers Par ty (PKK), security sources said.Turkish security forces have also arrested 18 suspects fol-lowing the attack, a government official said.The arrests were made during operations in Eskisehir andSanliurfa provinces, the official said. "The suspects were in-volved in terrorist propaganda and tried to embrace terrorists.They were involved in various actions," he said. Documentsrelated to "illegal organisations" were seized during the raids,he added. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemning theattack said that "Turkey has become a target of terror attacksdue to the instabilities in the region."

12 killed in terror attack at IvoryCoast beach resortBY FRANCIS KOKUTSEACCRA (GHANA), (IANS) At least 12 people, including someforeign nationals, have been repor ted dead after an armedgroup attacked a popular restaurant on a beach close to theL'Etoile Sud Hotel at Grand Bassam resor t outside the Ivoriancapital Abidjan.The Indian embassy in Abidjan could not confirm whether anyIndian national was in the area where the attack took place.There were, however, conflicting repor ts on the terror attack.A local resident, Etienne Konan, told IANS on phone that be-tween two and 15 armed individuals attacked a popular res-taurant on a beach at Grand Bassam which is popular withWesterners and Lebanese. Konan said some of the mediarepor ts claimed that over 50 people were killed in the attackbut the official casualty figure is still not out. According tosome repor ts, the situation has been brought under controlafter state security forces arrived at the scene.

SECURITY TIGHTENS AFTER A POWERFUL CAR BOMB EXPLOSION ROCKED CENTRAL ANKARA, TURKEY KILLING 34 AND INJURING SEVERALPEOPLE. POLICE SUSPECTS KURDISH MILITANTS ARE BEHIND IT (AP).



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REGINA CASSANDRA, SHRIYA SARAN, RANA DAGGUBATI AND SANJJANAA DURING THE PRELUDE OF INFINITY RIDE 2016 INKONDAPUR OF TELANGANA (IANS).

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SUPERSTARS ANIL KAPOOR, HRITHIK ROSHAN AND SONAKSHI SINHA AT THE ICONIC CIBELES FOUNTAIN IN MADRID FOR IIFA2016 PRESS CONFERENCE.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Jimmy Sheirgill says the Indian film industrydoes not encourage movies made for children and that it is impor tantto suppor t such films to help them relate to impor tant issues. "I'msupporting a children's film. We need to promote it as much as wecan because we see that usually children's films are not given thatmuch encouragement in our industry," said Jimmy."People should suppor t such films, especially a film which gives avery big message," said the actor who was present here at a collegefestival on Friday to promote his film 'Shor tut Safari.' 'Shor tcut Safari'is a non-animated film featuring kids who set off on a school trip to anational park but lose their way into the forest. They face real wildlife

and real dangers there.Jimmy, who plays an impor-

tant role in the film, saidthat "it is completely a kids'film and they are the he-roes"."The film's central theme is

based on environment. It isvery important that childrenare made aware about issues

like global warming. If wetry to teach them about

such issues in a seriousway, then perhaps theymight not show thatmuch interest," he said.

"You make an adventur-ous film with an enjoyablestory and children can re-late to it, and in that, some-how you convey yourthoughts about environ-ment," the actor noted. Lastyear, Jimmy was seen in'Tanu Weds Manu Returns'.

NAGPUR, (IANS) New Zealand defeated India by 47 runs in theopening match of the World Twenty20 at the Vidarbha CricketAssociation Stadium here on Tuesday. The Kiwis, who havenever lost to India in the shor test version of the game, thusmaintained their per fect record.Chasing a modest 127-run target on a spin-friendly track, theIndian batsmen never really got into the groove and could onlymanage to crawl their way to 79 before being all out. In-formbatsman Virat Kohli (23) and India captain Mahendra SinghDhoni (30) fought bravely as wickets fell at the other end, butcould not rescue the hosts.Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner claimed a four-wicket haulfor New Zealand with superb figures of 4/11 in his four overs. Thiswas the best figures by a spinner against India in the 20-over format.Indian origin leg-spinner Inderbir Singh Sodhi also tormented the Indianbatsmen for figures of 3/18 while Nathan McCullum (2/15) and fastbowler Adam Milne (1/8) also bowled well. India lost nine wickets tospinners, which equalled the T20 record.

VARUN DHAWANVARUN DHAWAN

MUMBAI, (IANS) Bollywood actress ParineetiChopra will lend her effervescence to theupcoming second edition of the Times ofIndia Film Awards (TOIFA) as the co-host ofthe Bollywood extravaganza in Dubai, alongwith actor Riteish Deshmukh later thismonth. The main awards gala, whereBollywood films and talent will be lauded andcelebrated, be held at the Dubai InternationalStadium, Dubai Spor ts City, here on March18. This is the first time ever that Riteish andParineeti will be seen together on stage,enter taining their fans and friends with somequirky acts, read a statement. TOIFA 2016Dubai, presented by Gulf Air and Splash, willwitness performances by Bollywoodcelebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, VarunDhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez, KareenaKapoor Khan, Yo Yo Honey Singh and manyothers. The first edition of TOIFA was held inVancouver, British Columbia in 2013. Thisyear, it will happen on March 17-19.



RUNNING SUCCESFULLY



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY


Why is Alia Bhatt all praise for SRK?

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hollywood

Shraddha, Tiger sport grungerebel look in 'Baaghi' poster

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actors Shraddha Kapoor and Tiger Shroff spor t agrunge rebel look as they exude a fierce attitude in a poster of upcom-ing film "Baaghi". The actors shared the poster on social media re-cently. Tiger, who is seen flaunting his toned abs in the poster, cap-tioned the image on Twitter: "Abhi toh humne star t kiya hai! (We havejust star ted!) Presenting the 'Baaghi' poster." Spor ting a rugged atti-

tude, Shraddha, who can be seen sitting on a chair wearing a pair ofgrey jeans and an orange ganji, shared the same caption for the poster,which mentioned that the movie will be releasing on April 29. Di-rected by Sabbir Khan, "Baaghi" marks the second film for Tiger, whois the son of actor Jackie Shroff. Produced by Nadiadwala GrandsonEnter tainment, the film's trailer released on March 14.

'Sultan' director finishes shootingsecond song for filmMUMBAI, (IANS) Director Ali Abbas Zafar has finished shoot-ing for the second song with the "lovely and enter taining" cho-reographer-filmmaker Farah Khan for the upcoming film "Sul-tan". "Finished the second song Sultan The Movie with lovelyand super enter taining Farah Khan. Heading to edit...doubleshift," Zafar tweeted. "Sultan" stars superstar Salman Khan,who will be seen playing the role of a wrestler in the film andhas also gained weight. The film, which is produced by AdityaChopra under Yash Raj Films banner also stars actress AnushkaSharma, who will be seen sharing screen space with the"Bajrangi Bhaijaan" actor for the first time.

SONAKSHI FOR EQUAL PAYTO WOMENMUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Sonakshi Sinha believes that womenshould get equal pay in all professions. "Women are quite vo-cal about their rights nowadays. And I want the change not onlyin film industry... Be it spor ts or business or in any other pro-fession, women should be paid an equal amount," Sonakshisaid at Inglot's Guinness World Record event here."I believe that this gap will be fulfilled soon. One has to earnstatus and respect.It doesn't depend on whether you are aman or woman. The only difference I see in the industry isthe pay disparity. It still exists," she added. The "Dabangg"actor also said that women empowerment needs a "lot ofimprovement". "People are much more aware these daysand I thank those who stand for women empowerment. Hope-fully, women will get equal footing in every aspect very soon,"she said. On the film front, the actress will soon be seen in"Akira" and "Force 2".

Trying to do different films,roles: Varun DhawanMUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Varun Dhawan says that he is trying todo different films and roles to offer audience something new,since they might get bored otherwise. About his journey in theindustry till now, Varun said: "I still feel it is very soon, I justwant to try and do things I believe in, I've never taken a deci-sion thinking that a film will make so much money at the box-office. "My decisions have always been about what the audi-ence will enjoy, that's why I'm trying to do different roles, filmsthat look a little different from regular films, the music could bedifferent, the background, the way it is shot. "I'm trying to offerthe audience something new because in today's digital day andage, it's very easy for people to get bored, because we're ex-posed to so much global cinema. So it's very impor tant as anar tist, that I keep expanding and exploring new avenues."

Eva Mendes celebratesbirthday at Frank Sinatra'svacation homeLOS ANGELES, (IANS) Actress Eva Mendes celebratedher 42nd bir thday with boyfriend and actor Ryan Gos-lings at late singer Frank Sinatra's luxury vacation home.The couple, along with their one-year-old daughterEsmeralda, rented Sinatra's infamous Palm Springs,Californian vacation home for four days, celebratingMendes's bir thday which falls onMarch 5, repor ts etonline.com.The four bedroom, seven bath-room house is 4,500 squarefeet in size and was built in1947 for Sinatra and his wife,Nancy Barbato. According to re-por ts, one of the house's sinksstill has a chip on it that wasrumoured to have beencreated whenSinatra slammed achampagne bottleduring an argumentwith singer Ava Gardner.The rental comes com-plete with a recording stu-dio, pool house andSinatra's memorabilia for$2,600 a night.

Halle Berry in talks to playCIA chief in 'Kingsman 2'LOS ANGELES, (IANS) ActressHalle Berry is in talks to join"Kingsman 2", the MatthewVaughn-directed sequel tothe 2015 hit "Kingsman: TheSecret Service". Berry is intalks to play the head of the CIA,and the discussion is for a two-film deal, repor ts deadline.com.The "Monster's Ball" actress mostrecently starred in the Luis Prieto-directed thriller "Kidnap", which isschedu led fo r a May re l ease .Vaughn and Jane Goldman wrote the script for the se-quel to "Kingsman: The Secret Service". "Kingsman 2",which also repor tedly stars Julianne Moore, is set forrelease on June 16, 2017.

Why is Alia Bhatt all praise for SRK?MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Alia Bhatt, who will be seen sharing screen space with superstar ShahRukh Khan in Gauri Shinde's next film, says the actor is the best co-star she has ever workedwith. "The film's shooting has star ted. I had a great time. I was so nervous... I didn't want toforget my dialogues, so we did rehearsals. He is the best co-star I have ever worked with,"Alia said here. Stressing that Shah Rukh is a "passionate worker", and so, she never feltthat "I am Alia and he is Shah Rukh Khan". The movie is yet to be titled.

AAMIR KHAN'S WISHES FOR ARRAHMAN'S '99 SONGS'MUMBAI, (IANS) Superstar Aamir Khan has wished the best for the two-time OscarAward winner A.R. Rahman, who is making his debut as producer and scriptwriter withthe film "99 Songs". Aamir has worked with the musical maestro for films like "Rangeela","Lagaan", "Mangal Pandey: The Rising" and "Ghajini". The "Dangal" star has also ap-preciated the poster of the upcoming Rahman film. "Great poster AR! Wishing you allthe very best for the star t of the shoot. May the force be with you. Love, A," Aamirtweeted on Thursday night. The poster of the film, which was shared on Facebook onThursday, features a couple hanging onto a piano which is suspended from the sky.Rahman captioned the image: "With your suppor t and good wishes, I'm pleased toshare my movie's first poster!" The poster reads: "A.R. Rahman presents '99 Songs'".The film, directed by Vishwesh Krishnamoor thy, is slated to release in 2017.

Wow! More of Prakash Jha on silver screenNEW DELHI, (IANS) The acting bug has bitten filmmaker Prakash Jha! After being lauded bythe audience for his debut as an actor in "Jai Gangaajal", he says he will be seen more on thesilver screen. Jha said that with all the appreciation that has come his way for por traying B.N.Singh, a corrupt police officer in "Jai Gangaajal", he feels "encouraged" to face the camerasagain. "I am encouraged and humbled. All I can say is that it is amazing the way the peoplehave reacted... I feel really humbled," Jha told IANS over phone from Mumbai. Would he beseen on the silver screen again? "That is obvious. I mean, of course this encouragment willhelp me... What do you think should I be seen or not? You will see more," he said in anaffirmative tone. Asked if "Jai Gangaajal", which stars Priyanka Chopra as a tough police officer, receivedthe kind of response he expected, Jha said: "I don't have to tell you the audience has loved it. They are loving the film.It is doing steady business because of word of mouth. "Otherwise a female-oriented film doesn't take a hugekind of opening but it has had a decent opening... So it is doing well."

What is Shahid Kapoor ecstatic about these days?NEW DELHI, (IANS) Shahid Kapoor has scored as many as 8 million followers on Twitter, and the"Shaandaar" actor is super ecstatic about getting all the love. The "Kaminey" actor took to Twitter onFriday to express gratitude to all his fans and well-wishers, from Arunachal Pradesh where he isshootubg for "Rangoon". "Wow 8 million. Gratitude to all. In the jungles of Arunachal with barely anynetwork. Big shoutout. Thank you thank you," Shahid tweeted. "Rangoon" is a period romance dramaby Vishal Bhardwaj, and it even stars Kangana Ranaut and Saif Ali Khan. Shahid will be seen playinga soldier in the 1940s-set film, which is slated for release on September 30.

HIMESH RESHAMMIYA AND FARAH KARIMAEE VISIT THE SHRINE OF KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISTI IN AJMER (IANS).



Movie Review

b o l l y w o o d

'TERA SURROOR'JEETE HAIN CHAL NEERJA

GAZAB KA HAI YEH DIN SANAM RE

BEKHUDI TERAA SURROOR

HIGH HEELS KI & KA

ROCK THA PARTY ROCKY HANDSOME

MAIN WOH CHAAND TERAA SURROOR

JHALLI PATAKHA SAALA KHADOOS

AYE KHUDA ROCKY HANDSOME

ATRANGI YAARI WAZIR

HIT OR FLOP MIDWEEKNEERJA HITJAI GANGAAJAL HITALIGARH HITTERRAA SURROOR FLOPGOLBAL BABA FLOP

MIDWEEK BOX

OFFICE REPORTNEERJA 80 CR

JAI GANGAAJAL 45 CR

ALIGARH 18 CR

TERRAA SURROOR 5 LAKH

GOLBAL BABA 2 LAKH

10songs

SONG

top

FILM

FILM:SANAM RE1

CAST: HIMESH RESHAMMIYA, FARAH KARIMAEE,

NASEERUDDIN SHAH, SHEKHAR KAPUR, MONICA

DOGRA, KABIR BEDI, SHERNAZ PATEL AND

ABHISHEK DUHAN

DIRECTOR: SHAWN ARRANHA

RATING: *

SANAM RE

Randeep Hooda ends 'Sarbjit' shoot, shaves off moustacheMUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Randeep Hooda has bid "goodbye" to hisavatar as Sarabjit Singh for the biopic "Sarbjit", and he found aninnovative way to end his tryst with the character -- by shaving offthe moustache he was flaunting for it on camera.The actor, who had perfected the Haryanvi accent for "Highway",has this time, caught the nuances of Punjabi dialect for his role asSarabjit Singh, an Indian farmer who was convicted of terrorismand spying in Pakistan and was sentenced to death."Goodbye Sarbjit. Gratitude to Omung Kumar, Vanita Omung Kumar,Sandeep Singh, Richa Chadda, Kiran Deohans, Aishwarya Rai,crew," Randeep posted on Twitter, along with a video in which he speaksin chaste Punjabi. As he bids goodbye to the character, he uses a trimmer toshave off the beard he had maintained for the movie, which he began shootingin October. For the role, he had lost oodles of weight, leaving director OmungKumar mighty impressed. "Sarbjit" features Aishwarya in the roleof Randeep's sister, while Richa essays his wife. The film willrelease on May 20.

AN ABYSMAL ATTEMPT"Tera Surroor" is a love story treated like an action thriller, meshed withmusic and revenge as its sub-plot. With this blend, we land up watching anabominable kitsch. The amateurishly directed assassination in the first sceneof the film lays the foundation for what's in store for the viewers. With blaringmusic, snappy edits with tight close-ups, dramatic slow-motion frames, thefilm is tedious to watch.This is the story of mobster Raghu (Himesh Reshammiya) and Tara BronsonWadia (Farah Karimaee), a lead singer-cum-guitarist of a local band. Theabout-to-be married lovers have a disagreement over a personal issue andTara decides to take a momentary break to Ireland. There, in a convolutedmanner, she is framed for being a drug courier, after the authorities seizecontraband drugs from her possession. How Raghu rescues her and bringsher back, forms the crux of the story.Director Shawn Arranha truly displays his competence in handling the tech-nical aspects of filmmaking. But taking his viewers for granted and dumbingdown the story in a crafty manner, is his undoing. With a large part of the filmnarrated through voiceovers, the exposition is repetitive with tell-and-showsequences. He has not paid attention to the intricacies of fine storytelling. Thescript and the screenplay is lazily drafted over a sketchy storyboard. Also,his characters are not well etched, especially that of Tara's.The plot, strung together in a cracking pace over numerous songs, makes thestory appear superfluous. He wraps up the main motive of the protagonists,

but leaves a gaping vacuum, especially in showing the protagonist's strain inreaching his goal, making each action appear smooth and unbelievable.Needless to say, he has not invested his energies in extracting good perfor-mances from his actors.The film, narrated through Raghu's point of view, naturally focuses totally onHimesh Reshammiya. With; unblinking stares, dramatic modellingposes, blank or sometimes frown on his visage, he essays his role ofRaghu. Shades better than him, is the novice Farah Karimaee whopor trays Tara. With a staid one-dimensional role, she has nothingmuch to offer in terms of histrionics.Naseeruddin Shah as Robin Dharamraj Santino, a jailed con-man andauthor of the novel Bird, is a disappointment. He sleepwalks throughhis role and does not do any justice to his character. Shekhar Kapuras Rajiv Kaul - the Ambassador in Ireland, Monica Dogra as his wifeElli Jordan and Tara's lawyer in Ireland, are per functory. Similarly,Shernaz Patel as Tara's mom too, offers nothing spectacular.The surprise package in the film is the character Haider played byAbhishek Duhan. He is promising as an actor, for he leaves an impactwith his two and half scene role. The songs and background score donot help in elevating the film. They are in fact a hindrance to thenarrative. Overall, "Tera Surroor" is like a B-grade mobster film of the1980s in an upscale avatar.

ANUSHKA'S SIX-WEEKWRESTLING TRAINING

FOR 'SULTAN'MUMBAI, (IANS) Anushka Sharma has undergone rigorous train-ing for six weeks for her role as a wrestler in "Sultan". Thefilm's director Ali Abbas Zafar is impressed with her dedica-tion. Anushka practiced for long periods regularly and tena-ciously followed a fitness regimen to live the part of a wrestlerto the best of her ability, said a source from the set.The film also stars Bollywood's "Dabangg" star Salman Khan,who is also in the prep mode for "Sultan", which is said to be abiopic on a wrestler. Complimenting Anushka's effor ts, Zafarsaid in a statement: "Anushka's dedicated six weeks' wrestlingprogramme has drast ical lychanged her body languageand has also transformedher body into a very au-thentic looking wrestler."One of Anushka'swrest l ing t ra iners,Jagdish Kaliraman,couldn't stop prais-ing her. He said:"Wrestling is a verytough game butinspite of it being sotough she is very con-f ident and alwayswants to be the bestat it. She observesevery move thatwe show he rve ry ca re fu l l yand after showingher maximum twot imes she exac t l yknows wha t to do ."She is such a big su-perstar but she is sohumble, down to ear thand extremely sinceretowards learning the artform of wrestling."

YO YO HONEY SINGH AND PUNJABI ACTRESS PARUL GULATI DURING THE TRAILER LAUNCH OF THE PUNJABI FILM ZORAWAR,IN MUMBAI (IANS).



MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 b o l l y w o o d

Ranveer's 'Jabra' tribute to Shah RukhMUMBAI, ( IANS) ActorRanveer Singh, who is knownas Bol lywood's l ivewire,showed his love and admira-tion for superstar Shah RukhKhan by dancing to the tune ofthe song "Jabra fan" in aDubsmash video. And to add toi t , Bol lywood's 'Badshah'makes a special appearance inthe video. Ranveer shared theclip on Twitter. He posted: "TheFather of all ... 'Motion Posters'@iamsrk #JabraFan". In theclip, Ranveer is seen dancingenthusiastically to the specialanthem "Jabra fan", which willbe used as a promotional songfor Shah Rukh's upcoming film"Fan". He is imitating the stepsdone by Shah Rukh in the song.There is more to it with SRKwalking out from behind the poster, and Ranveer fainting after seeing him. SRK also took notice of the postand responded in a jovial way: "Maneesh bhi kaise kaise heroes ko chance deta hai (Maneesh giveschance to what type of stars...Jabra Band Baaja Wale!".

KANGANA RANAUT WITH SISTER RANGOLI RANAUT AND TANYA CHAITANYA, EDITOR, FEMINA AT THE COVER LAUNCH OFFEMINA MAGAZINE IN MUMBAI (IANS).

Sanjay Dutt to open up on 'roadto freedom' at conclave in DelhiNEW DELHI, (IANS) Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, who walked afree man 23 years after his legal problems began over hispossessing an assault rifle, will open up on the 'hard road tofreedom' at the India Today Conclave 2016 here later this week."The conclave will welcome Sanjay Dutt to his first officialappearance in almost three years, where he will give a hardhitting narrative on the topic 'Resurrection and Redemption -the hard road to freedom'," the organisers shared in a state-ment issued on Tuesday.The "Munnabhai M.B.B.S." star was last month set free from aPune jail where he served the remaining 42 months of his five-year rigorous imprisonment, and he was accorded a hero'swelcome. On reaching Mumbai, he addressed the media andshared his sentiments on being free. However, he is likely todisclose a lot more about his ordeal at the conclave here.Among other prominent celebrities at the two-day conclave,which begins on Thursday, will be celebrity lawyer-activistAmal Clooney, wife of Hollywood star George Clooney.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will deliver the opening keynoteaddress, speaking on whether the economy could achieve agrowth rate running into double digits; while BJP national presi-dent Amit Shah will be speaking on the issue of the politics ofpatriotism, in his closing keynote address.Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari toowill be brainstorming at the conclave, with Minister for Power,Coal, New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal highlightingthe possibility of India having 24-hour uninterrupted power sup-ply. There will be a list of thought leaders and exper ts to com-ment on urgent issues related to politics, religion, ideologiesand the future forecast for growth in the country.The Conclave wi l l a lso feature a number of famousspor tspersons, including Abhinav Bindra, MC Mary Kom and GopichandPullela, while from the cinema world, famed poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar andhis wife, renowned actor Shabana Azmi, as well as comedian-writerVarun Grover will delve on various issues.

Aditi Rao Hydari to be ShrutiSancheti's muse at AIFW 2016NEW DELHI, (IANS) Actress Aditi Rao Hydari will walk theramp of the for thcoming Amazon India Fashion Week (AIFW)Autumn-Winter 2016 here for designer Shruti Sancheti.Sancheti will be presenting Constantinople, which takes in-spiration from the culture of Istanbul and celebrates the neo-ethnic diversity, read a statement.The five-day fashion extravaganza will begin on March 16 atJawaharlal Nehru Stadium here, and the "Wazir" actress willwalk the ramp on March 18. Rooted in the Islamic architec-ture, the collection features luxurious modern cuts with quint-essential handcrafted brilliance. Conflicting pattern clashesof fluid paisley, geometric mosaics and rustic clamp dying,form the core of the line.

Indians ready forBroadway musicals:Siddharth Roy KapurNew Delhi, (IANS) The IndianBroadway version of timelessclassic "Beauty and the Beast"will come alive on the stage inthe country once again, inMumbai and Delhi later thisyear. The "experiment" of bring-ing a "new genre of entertain-ment" worked, says Disney In-dia managing directorSiddhar th Roy Kapur, whohopes to continue entertainingthe audience with the "largerthan life" format.Over 100 of the best musicaltheatre per formers in Indiabrought the story of "Beautyand the Beas t " a l i ve ons tage , w i th wor ld c lassproduction values, lavishsets and gorgeous cos-tumes i n De lh i andMumbai last year.

Afridi faces backlash from Miandadfor comments over love for India

WEST INDIES CAPTAIN DARREN SAMMY CELEBRATES AFTER WINNING THE PRACTICE MATCH BETWEEN AUSTRALIA ANDWEST INDIES AT EDEN GARDENS IN KOLKATA (IANS).

KARACHI, (IANS) Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandadlashed out at his compatriot Shahid Afridi after the lattercommented that Pakistan's cricketers were loved more byIndians than fans back home. Afridi had made the statementwhile addressing a press conference in Kolkata where thePakistani team landed on Saturday evening to take par t inthe World Twenty20 tournament, to be held across sevenIndian cities from March 15 to April 3.He had said that he always enjoyed playing in front ofIndian fans and that they received more love in India thanin Pakistan. "These cricketers should be ashamed ofthemselves for saying such a thing. Shame on you,"Miandad was quoted as saying by Pakistani channel Aaj TVon Monday."What have the Indians given us? Speak the truth evenwhile in India. For the last five years what have they givenus or done with Pakistan cricket. Having served Pakistan

cricket for so many years I am shocked and hur t to hear suchcomments from our players," Miandad said. "The job of thisteam is to go and play well in India and not make suchunnecessary comments," the former Pakistan skipper added.A petition was also filed against Afridi in the Lahore HighCour t over his latest remark. The petition was filed byadvocate Azhar Siddique on Monday who argued that Afridi'sstatement has hur t Pakistan's sentiments and the cour t mustask the skipper to explain his remarks, repor ts Daily Paki-stan. "The Lahore High Cour t should issue a notice to ShahidAfridi seeking an explanation in 15 days," Siddique requestedthe cour t.Pakistan play a warm-up match against Sri Lanka at the EdenGardens in Kolkata on Monday before their campaign star tsagainst Bangladesh on Wednesday. Pakistan will take onarch-rivals India in a high voltage clash on Saturday at theEden Gardens.

Bangladesh qualify, Netherlands beat IrelandDHARAMSALA, (IANS) Bangladesh defeated Oman by 54 runs via the Duckwor th-Lewis system in a rain-affected match to qualify forthe main draw of the World T20 tournament here on Sunday. Left-hander Tamin Iqbal hammered an unbeaten 103 off just 63 balls asBangladesh posted an imposing 180 for two from their allotted 20 overs in the last Group A match at the HPCA Stadium heretonight. Iqbal was given suppor t by Sabbir Rahman (44).In the process, Tamin became the first player to score a century in this World T20. Rain interrupted the proceedings and Omanwere given a revised target of 120 runs in 12 overs. They could only manage 65/9 with Jatinder Singh (25) managing themaximum runs for Oman. Left-arm spinner Shakib al Hasan was the most successful Bangladesh bowler with 4/15 in 3 overs.In another match earlier in the day, The Netherlands prevailed over Ireland by 12 runs in a six over-per-side rain-cur tailedinconsequential qualifying contest at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium here on Sunday.Ireland won the toss and decided bowl first and allowed the Netherlands to post 59 runs for five wickets in six overs in theGroup A encounter. Opening batsman Stephan Myburgh scored 27 runs from 18 deliveries. In reply, Ireland opening batsmanPaul Sterling gave them a flying star t with a personal score of 15 in seven deliveries.But the Irish lost their way due to superb medium fast bowling from Paul van Meekeren, who picked up four wickets for 11 runsin two overs. Lef t-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe took two wickets for three runs in the crucial four th ovfer he bowled andconceded just three runs. Af ter his over, Ireland needed 25 in 12 balls. In the next over, Mudassar Bukhari gave away only fiveruns, paving the way for the win. The Netherlands have three points from three matches, while Ireland have one point.

I IDOLISE DHONI: PAKISTAN'SSARFRAZ AHMEDKOLKATA, (IANS) Pakistan's wicketkeeper-batsman Sar frazAhmed on Sunday said he idolises Indian skipper MahendraSingh Dhoni and he would want to be a "finisher" like him."Absolutely, Dhoni inspires me. He does it for wicket-keepingand batting both. He is a great keeper. I idolise him. The wayhe finishes an innings I would like to do the same for Pakistantoo," Ahmed told repor ters here. Sarfraz has seldom playedthe role of a floating batsman in the side and he wishes tocontinue doing the same according to the necessities of theteam. "I hope I can fit in wherever possible and contribute forthe team. Going forward also, I will try and do the same, thatis play where the team management needs me," he said.Pakistan played dismal cricket in Bangladesh in the recently-concluded Asia Cup. They lost to India and then were beatenby hosts Bangladesh. Speaking about their Asia Cup campaign, the28-year-old said, "Conditions were difficult in Bangladesh. For everyteam the first six overs were really very difficult. But now we have sortedthings out and hopefully we will do well here." India lock horns withPakistan in a World Twenty20 group game at the Eden Gar-dens here on March 19 and Sarfraz believes there will bepressure on both sides to do well.

WINDIES BEAT AUSTRALIA INWORLD T20 WARM-UPKOLKATA, (IANS) West Indies captain Darren Sammy's un-conquered knock of 50 overshadowed Josh Hazlewood's hat-trick as they beat Australia by three wickets in a WorldTwenty20 warm-up contest at the Eden Gardens here on Sun-day. The match went right down to the wire as the West Indiesgot over the line with only one ball to spare. For Australia,pacer Hazlewood returned with figures of 3/13.There was no toss for the game. Australia batted first after amutual agreement. Chasing Australia's score of 161/9, theWest Indies got off to a disastrous star t with Hazlewood get-ting rid of Jason Holder (6), Marlon Samuels (0) and DwayneBravo (0) in three consecutive deliveries. Johnson Charlesthen fell prey to Steve Smith's leg-spinners as the Caribbeanteam was left tottering at 27/4 in the eighth over. At the end of10th over, the score read 56/5.Andre Russell, who plays for Indian Premier League (IPL)franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, remained unfazed and plun-dered a few boundaries and some sixes, which included amonstrous hit into the stands. However, he tried the big slogtoo often and was out, caught at long on after a brisk 29.Skipper Sammy and Carlos Brathwaite got together to rescue theteam and brought up its hundred in the 14th over. The two, known fortheir hard hitting, changed the game in a matter of few overs.Brathwaite played the role of the aggressor, hitting three fours andtwo sixes en route to 33 and, after his dismissal, Sammy carried onfrom where his partner left. Towards the end, when they neededquick runs, the West Indies bowlers kept them on a tight leash but theymanaged to get to a fighting total. Brief Scores: Australia 161/9 in 20 overs(Shane Watson 60, Steve Smith 36; Dwayne Bravo 4/21, Suleiman Benn3/37) lost to West Indies 162/7 in 19.5 overs (Darren Sammy 50, CarlosBrathwaite 33; Josh Hazlewod 3/13, Andrew Tye 2/35).

Expect records to be smashedduring World T20: MillerMUMBAI, (IANS) South Africa's swashbuckling batsman DavidMiller on Friday said the World Twenty20 will definitely see a lot ofrecords being broken. The 27-day tournament will get underway inNagpur on March 15 and will be played at seven venues acrossIndia with Eden Gardens in Kolkata scheduled to host the final onApril 3. India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia are clubbed inGroup 2 while South Africa, England, the West Indies and Sri Lankaare in Group 1. "Definitely this World T20 will see lot of records beingsmashed and new ones coming up. With the Indian Premier League(IPL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Big Bash League (BBL),lot of shortest format of experience have come up and that will helpin breaking a lot of records," Miller said here ahead of their WorldTwenty20 warm-up match against India at the Wankhede Stadiumon Saturday. South Africa come in to the tournament after a 1-2 lossagainst Australia in a Twenty20 International series but the left-handed batsman believes that the series against the reigning 50-over World Cup winners has prepared them for the World T20. "Se-ries against Australia was a good one for us.

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Kolkata police assureelaborate security for Pakistan

FIXTURES OF ALL MATCHESDURING 2016 T20 WORLD CUP

KOLKATA, (IANS) The city police has assured the Cricket Associationof Bengal (CAB) of putting in place elaborate security arrangementsfor the visiting Pakistan team and the World Twenty20 matches to beplayed at the Eden Gardens, an officer said on Friday. "We are readywith all the security arrangements and have conveyed to the CABthat we will provide elaborate security for the matches at theEden with special focus on the Pakistan team," said the officer.The city police led by its chief Rajeev Kumar on March 7 in-spected the stadium which is to host several matches includingthe March 19 high-voltage India-Pakistan clash and expressed

satisfaction with the facilities. West Bengal Chief Minister MamataBanerjee, who on Thursday had written to CAB chief SouravGanguly assuring security, reiterated her government's coopera-tion on hosting Pakistan."Whoever comes to Bengal is our guest and it is our duty to takecare of them. Law and order is a state subject, and whatevercooperation the ICC or the BCCI seeks in hosting the match, wewill provide that," Banerjee said. The Pakistan team is expectedarrive in the city on Saturday following assurances from the Indiangovernment of providing adequate security.

SHIKHAR DHAWAN IN ACTION DURING THE WARM-UP MATCH OF ICC WORLD T20 BETWEEN INDIA AND SOUTH AFRICA ATWANKHEDE STADIUM IN MUMBAI (IANS).

SOUTH AFRICA BEAT INDIA BY 4 RUNSIN WORLD T20 WARM UP MATCH

MUMBAI, (IANS) Star batsmen Jean-Paul Duminy and Quinton de Kock struck fluent half-centuries as South Africa registered a nail-biting, four run victory against India in the warm-up match ahead of the World Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Wankhede Stadium hereon Saturday. Batting first, South Africa posted 196/8 in 20 overs, thanks to Duminy's 67 and Quinton de Kock's 56. In reply, despite ShikharDhawan's 73 retired not out and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 16-ball 30 in the end, India fell shor t of the target as they could manage only 192/3 in 20 overs. Pacers Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott and leg-spinner Imran Tahir claimed one wicket each for South Africa. Chasing achallenging target of 197, India star opener Rohit Sharma (10) was given leg before wicket in the third ball off the second over itself offthe bowling off Kyle Abbott. In the very first ball of the next over, the hosts received double blow when Virat Kohli edged one to wicket-keeper de Kock off the bowling off Dale Steyn to have India struggling at 16/2.Dhawan on the other end looked in good touch as he kept on striking boundaries to not let the required run rate climb too high.Ajinkya Rahane (11) who came in for Kohli was looking good but he too depar ted after being clean bowled off a googly by leg-spinnerTahir and India were reduced to 48/3 in seventh over.But incoming batsman Suresh Raina (41 retired not out) gave good company to Dhawan as the duo gathered crucial 94-run par tnershipfor the four th wicket before both decided to retire not out.Dhoni (30 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (16 not out) tried their best with a cameo innings at the end but failed to take end over the line.Earlier opting to bat, South Africa got off to a disappointing star t losing opener Hashim Amla (5) in the third over itself. But the fall of wicketdidn't worry his opening partner de Kock (56 retired not out) as the left-handed batsman scored at a good pace to take the pressure awayfrom the team. But incoming batsman and skipper Faf du Plessis (12) after hitting three boundaries was caught by Ravindra Jadeja atpoint off the bowling off Mohammad Shami to have the Proteas at 33/2 in 3.5 overs.



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