Jubilant players of Mendhar Super Stars posing for a group photograph alongwith the dignitaries.
MENDHAR, June 29: Mendhar Super Stars won the first Babu Faiz Ahmed Cricket Tournament organised in memory of social reformer and educationist Babu Faiz Ahmed, Minister of Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra was the chief guest on the occasion while Deputy chairman Legislative council, Javed A Rana and Provincial President National Conference Devinder Rana were guests of honour.
Later, Deputy Chairman distributed the trophies and checks among the winners and runners-up teams.
Speaking on the occasion Rana congratulated the winners and said that there is no dearth of talent in Mendhar and stressed the need to develop and nurture the talent of youth by providing the right platform.
He said steps will be taken to improve sports facilities and infrastructure in the district and issue has been taken up with the Chief Minister for construction of mini stadiums in Mendhar.
The tournament was organized under the chairmanship of Zeeshan A Rana.
NEW DELHI, June 29:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has begun financial investigations into allegations of bribery in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal with AgustaWestland.
Sources said the agency has registered a case under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to probe alleged violations of forex laws and the authorities are set to issue notices to various Indian firms and individuals allegedly involved in the case.
They said that ED would also get in touch with Defence Ministry to obtain relevant documents and other vital details available with them in this regard.
The agency has separately got in touch with some banks which were found to have been used to channel funds of private firms and individuals allegedly involved in the case.
CBI is already probing the deal that was scrapped by the previous UPA Government in December last year.
It has registered a case in the matter against former Indian Air Force Chief S P Tyagi along with 13 others, including his cousins and European middlemen.
The allegation against the former Air Chief is that he reduced the flying ceiling of the helicopter so that AgustaWestland company was included in the bids. Tyagi has refuted the allegation against him.
CBI recently also questioned West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan as a “witness” in the case.
Sources in ED said that once the probe into the alleged contraventions of forex laws reaches a “satisfactory” level, it would be examined whether there is a need for filing a separate criminal case under money laundering laws.
Defence Ministry has also encashed a major chunk of bank guarantees worth over Rs 2,400 crore deposited by AgustaWestland in banks in Italy and India after the deal was scrapped in January. (PTI)
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 29: Two structures were damaged in two separate fire incidents across the Valley.
Fire broke out in a canteen of Manzoor Ahmad Khan son of Abdul Gaffar resident of Nadigam at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Shopian, resulting in the partial damage to the canteen. Fire was brought under control by fire tenders and police.
Fire broke out in the shop of Khursheed Ahmad Wani son of Mohammad Subhan resident of Darhmuna Soibugh, Budgam. In this incident the shop was gutted completely. Fire was brought under control by fire tenders and police.
Ram Kumar Sharma interacting with media persons at Jammu on Sunday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, June 29: Government has failed to implement the agreement signed with the representatives of the Government employees and workers.
This was stated by Ram Kumar Sharma, State president, J&K Government Employees Joint Action Committee (JKEJAC) during a press conference here today.
He alleged that the Government is back-stepping from the agreement signed with the representatives of employees and workers, to which JKEJAC was also a signatory.
Sharma stated that five years back, Government signed a written agreement with the employees representatives in which it had agreed to the demands of employees. Subsequently the same agreement was endorsed but Government failed to implement the same in letter and spirit, he added.
He added that this casual approach of the Government has forced the employees and workers to come on street to get their legitimate demands redressed.
Sharma demanded regularization of temporary, seasonal, need base, consolidated, local fund and daily rated workers, who have completed 7 years of their service after January 1, 1994, removal of pay anomaly/disparities of clerical staff and teachers, budgetary support to PSU employees, implementation of medical insurance policy, grant of special duty allowance, regularization of home guard employees and release pension of JKSPDD employees and issue, pending regularization, orders of JKSPDD and JKPDD as per standing orders.
He further informed that the representatives and activists of JKEJAC of Jammu region held a meeting and decided to participate in the July 9 Convention to be held at Srinagar.
He appealed to the pro-struggle employees and representatives to participate in the July 9 “Srinagar Chalo” programme, adding that same programme will also be chalked out for Jammu in consultation with the different struggle minded representatives of employees.
Among others present were Balwan Singh Jamwal, Purshotam Sharma, Madan Sangral, Yash Pal, Kuldeep Singh, Marks Gill, Ashok Kumar, etc.
CHENNAI, June 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Sriharikota to witness the launch of ISRO’s PSLV C-23 rocket, today said his Government is committed to give impetus to the country’s space programme.
A few hours after he landed at the spaceport, about 100 kilometers from here by a special helicopter from Chennai, Modi tweeted, “Will be in Sriharikota this evening & tomorrow morning for launch of PSLV-C23. Will meet scientists during my visit. Looking forward.”
In another tweet few minutes later, he said, “Our Government is committed to give further impetus to our Space Programme.”
A senior ISRO official told PTI from Sriharikota that the PM was being taken to the launch pad to witness the PSLV-C23 launch vehicle and GSLV Mk III Vehicle Assembly Building and would be briefed by scientists.
Meanwhile, ISRO said the countdown was progressing smoothly and Nitrogen Tetraoxide (N2O4) Propellant filling operation of Second Stage (PS2) of PSLV-C23 has been completed at 6.30 pm today.
PSLV C23 is scheduled to lift off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9.52 am tomorrow with five foreign satellites from four countries.
Besides its main payload of 714 kg weighing French Earth Observation Satellite SPOT-7, PSLV C23 would carry 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CAN-X4) & NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada each weighing 15 kg and the 7 kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.
ISRO has so far launched 35 satellites from 19 countries around the globe — Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Singapore, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey and United Kingdom, bringing a huge sum to the country as foreign exchange. (PTI)
Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, June 29: Minister of State for Technical Education and Power Vikar Rasool Wani today laid foundation stone of a road connecting Gagoni and Batoo that will be constructed at an estimated cost Rs 1 crore.
He also laid the foundation stone of the additional block for High School Chamalwas to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 29.81 lakh under Rashtriya Madhayamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)
Later, the Minister addressing a public meeting at Neel highlighted the achievements of the present Govt and its contribution towards infrastructure development in far flung areas.
The Minister said that in order to improve the power scenario, more than 20 transformers have been provided to the remote areas that lacked electricity before his tenure. He further enumerated various health care facilities like dispensaries, PHCs, and other health centres which have been provided to the area keeping in view its geographically difficult conditions.
Mr. Vikar said that education is backbone of the society and in its efforts to promote education in the region the Government has either upgraded or have provided additional accommodation to various schools, he requested the people of the area to motivate their children to go to school and achieve education for a better future.
The Minister assured the people of the area that the Government is focussed to address their problems and directed the authorities to make basic facilities like drinking water available to the people.
Powered by a spectacular brace from James Rodriguez, Colombia showed the door to two-time champions Uruguay and set up a quarterfinal clash with hosts Brazil, who scraped past a resolute Chile on penalties in the last-16 stage of the FIFA World Cup.
The 22-year-old Rodriguez struck in both halves of the match to not only send Uruguay home but also emerge as the leading goalscorer of the World Cup so far with five in four matches. The Colombians thus booked their maiden quarterfinal berth in the biggest tournament.
Earlier yesterday, Brazil managed sneak into the last-eight, beating Chile 3-2 on penalties after the two teams were locked 1-1 after the regulation and extra time at Belo Horizonte.
The star of the day was, however, Rodriguez who notched up one of the most magnificent goals of the World Cup.
In the 28th minute, he took the ball on his chest just outside the penalty area and spun in a flash before smashing it left-footed over the fingertips of goalkeeper Muslera.
Colombia enjoyed majority of ball possession initially and even though Uruguay, sans banned Luis Suarez, tried to dominate towards the fag end of the first half, the two-time winners could not get past the rival defensive line.
Rodríguez further piled up the agony for Uruguay when he doubled the lead in the 50th minute. Working the ball from the right, Pablo Armero fed Cuadrado, who headed the ball across the face of goal, where Rodriguez smashed it home.
Earlier, Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar saved Mauricio Pinilla and Alexis Sanchez’s attempts, while Gonzalo Jara’s shot hit the post after the prequarterfinal had been locked at 1-1 after extra time.
For five-time winners Brazil, David Luiz, Marcelo and Neymar were the scorers, while Willian and Hulk missed out in the penalty shootout.
Chile, who were bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1962, could have won the match in the last minute of extra-time but Pinilla’s shot crashed off the crossbar.
Brazil too could have gone ahead in the 55th minute when Hulk had shot home a long ball from the left in the penalty area but English referee Howard Webb disallowed the goal and rather booked Hulk for handball.
At the Maracana, the second round match once again laid bare Uruguay’s dependence on striker Luiz Suarez, who was slapped a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
Uruguay looked toothless without Suarez and even though Edinson Cavani tried his best he failed to take the mantle from the Liverpool man. (PTI)
KOLKATA, June 29:
City-based lender United Bank of India has asked Vijay Mallya and three other directors of grounded Kingfisher Airlines to appear before a panel of the bank at the head office here on July 9.
“The recovery department of the bank has sent a letter to them asking chairman Vijay Mallya and three other directors of Kingfisher Airlines to appear on July 9 before the grievance redressal committee of UBI here,” bank’s Executive Director Sanjay Arya told PTI here.
Arya said that they had been asked to appear so that they could get a chance to defend themselves before the bank declares them as wilful defaulter.
The bank had earlier sent a notice to Mallya and he was given 15 days time to give a reply. Subsequently Mallya requested that he had something to say in this regard.
UBI was the first among other banks in the country to take such a stern step against the grounded airline. The bank’s exposure to Kingfisher Airlines was around Rs 350 crore.
Arya said that a lender declares a person a wilful defaulter when it is satisfied that the borrower does not pay despite having the ability and funds diversion.
“We have thoroughly scrutinised all the documents and we are completely satisfied,” he said.
The country’s largest lender State Bank of India was also exploring ways to declare Mallya a wilful defaulter and was currently making forensic audit of the documents.
A person declared wilful defaulter would lose directorships in companies and would never be able to borrow further. (PTI)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: Anganwadi Workers Welfare Association (AWWA) has threatened to launch agitation if Government failed to redress their demands at the earliest.
Addressing a press conference, Ashok Choudhary, Convener, Anganwadi Workers Welfare Association asked the Government to declare all Anganwadi workers and helpers as Government employees as they are working since 1978.
He also urged the Government to issue permanent orders for Anganwadi workers on the analogy of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry Government.
“Government can absorb Anganwadi workers in Government service having special status”, he added.
He demanded 100 per cent promotion for Anganwadi workers as supervisors and make positive rules for that under promotion policy.
He also demanded Rs 15,000 per month honorarium as the prices of the essential commodities are touching sky, introduction of pension scheme, Gratuity Act, enforcing EPF and ESI schemes for the benefits of workers, salary to be paid on monthly basis and uniform to all as per Central Government order.
Choudhary appealed the Chief Minister to redress the issues of Anganwadi workers failing which it will launch agitation.
Among others present were president of the association Swarna Choudhary, Lakshman Ravinder Singh, senior leader and Neelam Sharma, general secretary.
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, June 29: After a fortnight-long rigorous talent hunt camp at GGM Science College Hostel ground and MA Stadium, attended by around 1000 cricketers in all age groups in both boys and girls section, the Jammu wing of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has shortlisted the players for another camp to begin at the same venues here from tomorrow.
The camps will be held under the overall observation of Vinod Sharma, former Ranji Trophy player.
According to an official handout issued here by joint secretary JKCA Jammu wing, Sudershan Mehta, the players will have to report to their respective coaches and assistant coaches at 3:30 pm tomorrow.
The Ranji Trophy probables will have to report to Ashwani Gupta and Sandeep Singh, while Under-25 probables will report to Madan Mohan and Ajay Vaid and Under-19 to Randhir Singh and Surjeet Singh. Under-16 boys will report to Brij Mohan and Pankaj Sasan, while Under-14 boys will have to report to Ravi Sharma and Madan Mohan and the senior and Under-19 girls will be reporting to Rupali Slathia and Rajni Sharma.
Ajay Vaid will be bowling coach for Ranji Trophy, Under-25 and Under-19 probables, while Surjeet Singh will train the medium fast bowlers of Under-19, Under-16 and Under-14.
Madan Mohan will also bestow tips to Under-16 and Under-14 boys to fine-tune their basics.
The JKCA Working Committee members, who were assigned the duties of the observers, have been asked to continue their assignments.
Ranji Trophy probables: Bandeep Singh, Hardeep Singh, Raman Dutta, Aditya Pratap Singh, Ramdayal Punia, Manik Gupta, Pranav Gupta, Raman Thaploo, Rohit Bhat, Manish Dogra, Vimarsh Kaw, Rahil Singh, Vijay Dogra, Parveen Singh, Sahil Bhalwal, Dilbagh Singh, Inderjeet Singh, Dhruv Mahajan and Sameer Khajuria.
Under-25 probables: Paras Sharma, Sidharth Magotra, Gurdeep Singh, Ashwani Bhat, Amrit Pal Singh, Sandeep Singh, Jasvinder Singh, Jatin Wadhawan, Gokul Baru, Abhinav Puri, Dalbir Singh, Rahul Mussa, Mayank Gautam, Ankush Bandral, Vishwajeet Singh, Rajeev Jamwal, Shiv Dutt, Ritvik Tripathi, Sandeep Singh (Sangledon), Soumay Jain, Akash Choudhary, Ravi Kumar, Rohit Sharma, Sahil Sharma, Nikhil Kotwal, Sourav Chopra, Anil Kumar, Manish Roy, Lakshya Khajuria, Vikrant, Deepak Manhas, Ajay Partap Singh, Satish Kumar, Rajeev Dogra, Sunny Gupta and Avinash Singh Jamwal.
Under-19 probables: Shubham Khajuria, Nipun Verma, Jagandeep Singh, Ateev Saini, Abhishant Bakshi, Suryansh, Surya Mahotra, Shubham Singh Pundir, Hritik Gupta, Sant Baksh Yadav, Abid Mushtaq, Hinan Malik, Rahul Salgotra, Agreenay, Ripudaman Singh, Damandeep Singh, Hitesh Singh, Ashish Gadhotra, Sidhant Singh Bagal, Tayab Farooq, Sahil Singh Chib, Ajay Sharma, Kunal, Prajval Sharma, Tribhuvan Singh, Sahil Sharma, Rishab Gupta, Sahib Mehta, Aniket Gupta, Aman Sharma, Shantanu Gupta.
Under-16 probables (Reds): Anirudh Sharma, Varun Dogra, Akshit Sharma, Sahil Lotra, Yogesh Sikka, Ashish Pal Singh, Mehran Gani, Rohit, Sanchit Dass, Harmandep Singh, Satvik Kohli, Santam Gupta, Mohd Areeb, Gagandeep Singh, Vivrant Sharma, Vishav Partap, Dipesh Badgal, Pavit Singh Ishar, Satya Bharat Sharma, Vasu Singh Jamwal, Rahul Choudhary, Akshit Jandyal, Jagjeet Singh, Arun Tak, Vishav Kumar, Abhay Bamotra, Aditya Chib, Anuj Singh Jasrotia and Arjun Singh.
Under-16 Boys (Blue): Chetan Moman, Mohit Kumar, Aryaman, Sachin Kumar, Shubam Banotra, Vignesh Kumar, Anmol Verma, Ajay Verma, Sudhanshu Gupta, Prince Gupta, Anmol Bhan, Shubham Sharma, Sumit Sanyal, Aryan Gupta, Govran Singh, Jagteshwar Singh, Avichal Rampal, Sarthak Behl, Avneet Singh, Dhruv Sharma and Yogeshwar.
Under-14 probables (Reds): Abdul Samad, Kanahiya Wadhawan, Rhydham Mahajan, Raghav Sharma, Sarthak Peshin, Musaif Azad, Praful Dhar, Aryan Gandral, Aditya Sharma, Abhay Tandon, Shahid Saleem, Maruthwan, Dhruv Singh, Harshit Gupta, Paras Khajuria, Aniket, Swastik Sharma, Sanat Anand, Mohd Owais Nazir, Ashray Pawar, Rishab Sharma, Avinash Bharti, Nalin Kamal, Sampark Gupta, Ayush Andotra, Jugjap Singh, Govind Sharma, Aryan Dogra, Harsh Dev Singh, Akshay Balgotra, Ashank, Manas Manhas and Bhuvesh Mahajan.
Under-14 (Blue): Yuvraj Saini, Sachin Sharma, Rahil Rajput, Kanav Kumar, Gourav Mehra, Chetanya Magotra, Abhu Bakar Bin Khalid, Arjun Parth, Krishna Mahajan, Shivansh Sharma, Arshpreet Singh, Aeshtu, Krish Sharma, Ayush Pandov, Arya Sachivansh Thakur, Karmanyu Gupta, Paras Kapahi, Khushagar Malhotra, Adish Goel, Samay, Arush Jamwal, Deepak, Ridyansh, Vinayak, Archit Mahajan, Aryan, Navleen Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Ayush Angral, Dhruv Gupta, Divyansh Sharma, Ritik Manhas and Sushant.
Senior Girls probables: Jyoti Bala, Payal Choudhary, Meenu Slathia, Anju Choudhary, Sandhya, Jaspreet Singh, Sapna Jamwal, Sarla Kadhotra, Surekha, Shallu, Heena, Pooja Sharma, Neeru Manhas and Nayana.
Under-19 girls probables: Abha, Nadia, Nadia, Noor Jahan, Tanisha Sharma, Heena Kousar, Phool Kumari, Sanjana, Pushpa, Sonika, Chitra, Bhavika, Latika, Gunjan, Deepakshi, Ishani, Amrita, Heena Bhat, Garima, Saniya and Sangeeta.
