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Cabinet approves panel’s suggestion on wage ceiling
Muslim growth rate amplified
in census
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NCM cell to analyse data on religion
Karnataka, TN lock horns on Cauvery
Memo submitted to Governor
Tobacco sale near schools to be banned
BJP guilty of insulting Tricolour, says Cong
Nanavati panel yet to examine evidence against Cong leaders
Antony, Jogi to head Cong panels
Cong claims starvation
deaths in Rajasthan
BJP’s ‘Tiranga Yatra’ from
September 10
Revised norms likely for environmental clearance of projects
Centre alive to Maoist threat
in Uttaranchal
Indian warships to resume patrolling of Malacca Straits
Nepal Prime Minister arrives
PM to visit J&K next week
SP approached for security
Woman held for aiding militant’s escape
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Cabinet approves panel’s suggestion on wage ceiling
New Delhi, September 8 The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, accepted the recommendations of the department-related Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare regarding the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2002, and decided to move necessary amendments to the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, an official spokesperson told reporters here. The committee had recommended that the Central Government should be empowered to enhance the wage ceiling periodically on the basis of the Consumer Price Index by issue of a notification in the gazette “instead of bringing the Act for amendment in Parliament time and again”. The Cabinet also gave its approval for re-introduction of a Bill to amend the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, to make truth a ground for defence. The Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2003, “will enable the courts to permit a defence of justification by truth on satisfaction as to the bona fides of the plea and it being in public interest”, a note issued after the Cabinet meeting said here. The Bill will be introduced in the winter session of Parliament. The Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2003, was introduced in Parliament during the period of the 13th Lok Sabha but lapsed following its dissolution. The Cabinet also approved the signing of an air services agreement between India and Tunisia to start flights between the two countries. According to the agreement, the designated carriers of Tunisia can operate to New Delhi and Mumbai, while airlines from India can fly to Tunis and another point to be specified. The Cabinet approved for incorporating a Joint Venture Company between government-owned Antrix Corporation, and Binariang Satellite Systems(BSS), Malaysia, which will enable extension of marketing and Business Operations of the former in the Asia and Pacific Region in the area of Satellite Communications. The Joint Venture Company will have a paid-up capital of Rs 90 lakh and an authorised capital of Rs 100 lakh, to be shared equally between Antrix and BSS. The Joint Venture company is expected to make profit from the first year of its operations as it will also market the transponder capacity in the region against a fee and establish its own reserves. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved the price of phosphoric acid at $ 395.45 per tonne on cash basis for the year 2004-05 Briefing on the outcome of the CCEA, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the Department of Fertilisers would evolve a new methodolgy for working out concessions of P and K fertilisers based on the international prices of DAP. This price has to be adopted as a benchmark in consultation with the Department of Expenditure and Department of Agriculture and Cooperation. |
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Muslim growth rate amplified
in census
New Delhi, September 8 The report, which was released on Monday, suggested that while the growth rate for Hindus had fallen between 1991 and 2001 compared to 1981-91, Muslims had grown faster in the last decade. However, since the Jammu and Kashmir Muslims were not included in the 1991 Census it is evident that such percentage projections are incorrect. With the inclusion of the Muslims from Jammu and Kashmir, the total population went up to 138.2 million in 2001 census against their figure of 101.6 million in 1991 Census (when Jammu and Kashmir was not included) indicating an increase of 36 per cent. But, if the Muslim population of Jammu and Kashmir would have been included in 1991 census, then the Muslim growth rate would have come down to 29.3 per cent during the decade 1991-2001 which is significantly lower than 32.8 per cent, recorded in 1981-91. However, a close scrutiny of the data relating to Muslims clearly reveals that the fertility rate is higher among this religious community as compared to others in the country. The percentage of population in the age group of 0-6 years (considered an indicator of fertility) is more among the Muslims at 18.3 per cent, which is 2.7 per cent higher than among the Hindus. The analysis of state-wise data in the report indicate a close link between fertility rates in the Muslim community and economic development of the region, and also the literacy levels, especially among the women. The backward states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Jharkhand show a much higher fertility rate for the Muslims than the relatively more developed states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The report also spells out that the literacy rates are also relatively lower in the states where fertility is higher. The high growth and fertility rates are because of low literacy rates, unemployment and backwardness of the community. The Data chart in the report clearly brings out the fact that the BIMARU states (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) have high growth rates not just among the Muslims but also among the Hindus, thus linking socio-economic backwardness to high fertility rates. |
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Kalam for involving children in literacy campaign
New Delhi, September 8 “If we take the 2001 census as the base, and we have to reduce the illiteracy from the existing 35 per cent to 25 per cent by year 2007, we need to educate at least 14 million persons per year”, President Kalam said at a function to celebrate the International Literacy Day. Dr Kalam said the present statistics showed that “we were not able to achieve the target greater than seven to eight million persons per year. This requires an immediate correction”. The President said as a first step, the HRD Ministry should put a yearly target of 14 million persons to be educated in the age group of 15 to 35 years during the year 2004-05. This could be done by having a mission mode programme through the involvement of school children and universities for promoting adult literacy in addition to the existing adult literacy mission projects. “It is no coincidence that there is no modern industrial nation in the world today that does not have a literacy rate of at least 80 per cent. In India, we have some distance to travel”, the President said. Underlining the need for giving greater thrust in women’s education, the President said, “If this is done, the women in the house will educate more members in the family leading to the reduction of illiteracy in the family”. |
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NCM cell to analyse data on religion
New Delhi, September 8 NCM Chairman Tarlochan Singh in a statement said, “We have created a four-member Cell headed by Mr Ashish Bose, Director of Society for Applied Research in Humanity, to analyse the data in first report on religion”. The cell will comprise eminent demographers -Mr K.M. Kulkarni (Delhi), Mr M. Bhat (Delhi) and Mr T.K. Roy (Mumbai), he said. Besides analysing the data, the cell will also suggest ‘corrective steps’ to address the problems and issues concerning all communities, he said, adding thereafter, the commission would discuss these steps in a meeting with all religious leaders. “The commission from next month will start convening such meetings with religious leaders to discuss and implement the corrective steps,” the NCM Chairman said. He said the report should be treated as ‘academic document’ and no political motives should be attached to it. |
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Karnataka, TN lock horns on Cauvery
New Delhi, September 8 While Karnataka has sought reconstitution of the tribunal, Tamil Nadu, in its affidavit, submitted that it had “full confidence” in its functioning. Karnataka, in its affidavit filed in the Court today, said that “the tribunal has almost broken down” and
required reconstitution. The affidavits were filed by the two disputing states over the Cauvery water issue, after notices were issued to them by the apex court on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking to stop the tribunal members from spot inspection of Karnataka reservoirs. The Court, on August 20 in an interim order, had restrained the tribunal members from visiting the reservoirs and some other places in Karnataka. The PIL was filed by Karnataka-based Gandhi Sahitya Sangh Trust. But the Tamil Nadu Government in its reply said that filing of the PIL was an attempt to “prevent the tribunal members from seeing the ground realities wherein all major reservoirs in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka are almost full and
substantial areas under them are irrigated while the State of Tamil Nadu has not received the stipulated quantity of water.” Karnataka, on the other hand, said there was a difference of opinion between the tribunal’s Chairman and its two members over the spot inspection. It further said that Karnataka had to “increase” its irrigation potential in the Cauvery basin to at least 26 lakh acres of land to save it from drought, while Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry had got a good monsoon this year, not requiring any spot inspection. |
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Memo submitted to Governor
Hyderabad, September 8 In a memorandum submitted to the Governor at Raj Bhavan here, party chief and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held Chief Minister
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy squarely responsible for the breakdown of law and order and alleged that the callous and indifferent attitude of Mr Reddy had emboldened Congressmen to continue indulging in brutal and barbaric murders of TDP activists. Making a computer presentation to Mr Barnala, Mr Naidu explained to the Governor that since the Congress Government had taken over, 30 TDP workers and leaders — 14 of them in faction-ridden Anantapur district — were killed by political opponents. “Despite our repeated appeals to take action against the erring cops in such incidents and ensure that law and order was maintained, the CM went about condoning these incidents attributing them to factional rivalries, which is deplorable and condemnable,” Mr Naidu told reporters after coming out of Raj Bhavan. Mr Rajasekhara Reddy, speaking to a TV channel, however, dismissed the charges and blamed Mr Naidu for the culture of violence in
Rayalaseema. “How come Mr Naidu, during his nine-year tenure as the CM, never uttered a word against the killing of hundreds of Congress workers,” he quipped. The TDP demanded the sacking of Panchayati Raj Minister J.C. Divakar Reddy, who belongs to
Anantapur, for his alleged connivance in the ongoing violence in the district and asked for immediate provision of security cover to 15 party functionaries, including three MLAs. Besides requesting for the constitution of special investigation teams and special courts to deal with the factional violence, the memorandum also demanded the suspension of the DIG and the SP of Anantapur and the transfer of the IG. |
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Tobacco sale near schools to be banned
New Delhi, September 8 “The rule banning sale of tobacco products within 100 metres of educational institutions has been sent for notification so that the states get prepared to implement it,” the officials told PTI. “The provision is part of the Anti-Tobacco Act that came into force on May 1, this year. The part of the Act that came into force then involved only ban on smoking in public places, direct and indirect advertising and sale to minors,” they said. Since then the government has been working on the remaining parts of the Act — ban of sale of tobacco products near educational institutions, mandatory depiction of statutory warning, including pictorial symbols and mention of tar and nicotine content, the officials said. The pictorial warning signals to be printed on packets of tobacco products and other packaging measures were being worked out. These would take some time, they said. Dr Anoop Misra from the AIIMS’ Department of Medicine said the ban on sale of tobacco products around premises of schools and colleges would go a long way in curtailing the menace as the habit of smoking is acquired at a young age. “Gradually it becomes a life-long habit leading to cancer and heart diseases,” he said. In a study carried out by AIIMS, it was found that about 5 per cent of students in the age group of 14-22 years used tobacco products.
— PTI |
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BJP guilty of insulting Tricolour, says Cong New Delhi, September 8 AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said the BJP had violated laws governing the use of the National Flag. He said on August 24 some “over-enthusiastic” workers of the BJP, accompanying Ms Bharti on a train, insulted the Tricolour by playing cards over it and using it as a cover to sleep. The spokesman said colour photographs showing BJP workers playing cards over the flag were in possession of the Congress. Asked whether the Congress would drag the BJP to the court for “insulting” the National Flag, Mr Dwivedi said the party would first take it to the “people’s court”. The spokesman said the BJP was misusing the National Flag for political interests by launching a “Tiranga Yatra” from Hubli to
Jallianwala Bagh. “The issue of riots should not be made an issue of the Tricolour,” he said. Mr Dwivedi said the issue was “not of the Tricolour’s honour as being made out by the BJP. Why can’t the BJP tell its workers about the correct use of the Tricolour and arouse love for the National Flag among them,” he said. The party also assailed former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti for “comparing herself with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.” “We condemn Ms Bharti for comparing herself with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi who not only led the party to victory in the Lok Sabha poll, but renounced power later,” Ms Natrajan said. “Ms Bharti suffers from delusion of grandeur. She has compared herself to Lord Krishna also by saying that she came out of jail on Janamashtami,” Ms Natrajan said. Describing as “breathtaking arrogance” the BJP decision to take out a Tricolour Yatra, she said the people of India would judge the BJP leaders “who had no role to play during the freedom struggle.” The Congress leader assailed BJP chief Venkaiah Naidu for his reported statement about an increased population growth rate among Muslims.
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Nanavati panel yet to examine evidence against Cong leaders
New Delhi, September 8 “The commission has so far not considered the affidavits and replies filed by the 8B
notices and the other material available with it and it has not indicted or exonerated any individual,” a statement issued by commission’s Secretary J.P. Narain here said. The statement was issued by the one-man panel in the wake of reports by certain
private TV Channels that it had indicted certain Congress leaders, specially former Union
Minister H.K.L. Bhagat and Sajjan Kumar, MP for allegedly inciting people against Sikhs, after Indira Gandhi was shot dead by two of her Sikh security guards on October 31, 1984, to
avenge the operation Blue Star in Golden Temple at Amritsar in 1984. The commission said there was no question of “indicting or exonerating” anybody at this stage as the panel has not yet appreciated the evidence that had been placed before it by various parties. To say anything at this stage would be “premature”, it said. The commission’s Secretary clarified that the mediapersons who had interacted with Justice Nanavati on the issue, had got the facts wrong as he had only explained to them about the issuance of notices to some Congress leaders in the wake of certain complaints against them and some witnesses deposing against them. In the wake of complaints and depositions by various witnesses, fresh notices under Section 8B of the Commission of Inquiry Act, were issued to 15 persons. The
notices included, former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, who was Home Minister when Indira Gandhi was assassinated, the then Delhi Lieut-Governor P.G. Gavai, Union Ministers Kamal Nath and Jagdish Tytler and other Congress leaders — Vasant Sathe, Sajjan Kumar, Dharm Das Shastri — giving them opportunity to defend themselves in the wake of the panel recording evidence against them. Under the Commission of Inquiry Act, it was a normal practice to issue notices to the persons against whom allegations were levelled by way of affidavits filed before a probe panel, it said. The commission, which had concluded its hearing, had examined 194 witnesses, issued notices to 157 persons, including a large number of Delhi Police personnel. The commission had indicated earlier that its final report would be submitted to the government by November. |
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Antony, Jogi to head Cong panels
New Delhi, September 8 Announcing the decision, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwiwedi said party chief Sonia Gandhi has also nominated former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi as the chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh screening committee for the October 7 Assembly poll. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Shivcharan Mathur, AICC general secretary in charge of state Margaret Alva, Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, state PCC Chief Prabha Rau are the other members of the Maharashtra screening committee. The five-member Arunachal Pradesh screening committee includes Devendra
Konwar, AICC secretary incharge of the state Ramesh Chennitala, Chief Minister Gegang Apang and state PCC Chief Mukut
Methi. Mr Jogi, who was recovering from the severe injuries he had suffered in an accident during the Lok Sabha polls, has campaigned for the party in the North East. The AICC screening committees will scrutinise the names put forward by the state Congress committees. While most of the names are likely to be finalised by the screening committees, they will prepare a panel of names for seats where no consensus is reached. The names will be finally approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Sources said no agreement has yet been reached in talks between the state leaders of the Congress and the NCP on seat sharing in Maharashtra. The last date for filing nominations for October 13 polls in the state is September 23. |
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Cong claims starvation
deaths in Rajasthan
Jaipur, September 8 The BJP government has made a “false” statement that the deaths of 15 persons in the Saharia tribal belt of Baran district were due to malnutrition and seasonal diseases, Mr B.D. Kalla, Congress Legislative Party leader, said. He alleged that the government tried to cover up the
sensitive issue by sending its Parliamentary Secretary B.S. Rajawat to some of the affected villages in the district. Mr Kalla claimed the foodgrains from the Centre were not being distributed to the starving people, especially in the scarcity-hit tribal belts. “Malaria and diptheria had spread in the state. At least 5,000 persons were affected by the malaria outbreak in parts of the state and the Health Ministry was sitting idle,” he said. On 50 paise per litre cess on petrol and diesel levied by the Raje government, Mr Kalla said it was “unecessary” as the Centre was already collecting cess on petroleum products and it would put further burden on the consumers.
— PTI |
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BJP’s ‘Tiranga Yatra’ from
September 10
Bangalore, September 8 The day-long meeting of the BJP Central office-bearers also charted the roadmap for what it described as “Andaman Satyagraha” on September 21 at Port Blair and nationwide “mass protests” from September 21 to 25 to protest the “disrespect” shown to freedom fighter Veer Savarkar and demand removal of “tainted ministers”, among others. The party decisions come two days after Bharti allowed a court in Hubli allowed withdrawal of a 10-year-old criminal case filed against Bharti in connection with the violence during the BJP-led stir for hoisting the National Flag at Idgah Maidan in Hubli in 1994.
— PTI |
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Revised norms likely for environmental clearance of projects
New Delhi, September 8 As pointed out by the Govindrajan Committee set up by the Centre last year, the normal process for the grant of environmental clearance takes about 21 to 28 months at present. Moreover, the Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) notification, issued recently, also makes it mandatory for the Centre to grant environmental clearance to all new projects over Rs 50 crore, constructions meant for more than 1,000 persons or discharging sewage of 50,000 litres daily. The revised process will not only help expedite environment clearance process by making it more transparent and time-bound, but also increase the participation of state governments in the process. According to the revised process, the power to approve will be on the basis of scale of potential impact the project will have rather than its cost. A revised notification by the ministry will empower a screening committee to decide which project will be cleared by the state or the Centre. The revised clearance process is on the agenda of the state environment ministers and secretaries’ conference, beginning tomorrow. The proposals will ensure greater delegation of powers to state-level regulatory bodies and limit the number of activities requiring clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to 19 and limit the time period for obtaining final clearance up to 12 months with ensured certainty. A screening and scoping expert committee
(SSEC) at the ministry’s level will carry out the screening on the basis of preliminary information. It will also determine if an environmental appraisal and clearance is required at all. Proposals which are likely to have a higher impact on environment or have effect on more than one state or a neighbouring country will fall under Category “A” and require clearance from the Centre. This category has projects like nuclear power, river valley projects with more than 1000 ha command area, ports and harbours, ship breaking yards and thermal plants with more than 500 MW capacities among the 19 activities. The projects under Category “B” will require approval from the state government concerned. However, all projects sponsored by the state government or those controlled by them will require the Centre’s clearance. The “AB” list has 27 activities, including automobile units, basic organic chemicals and construction of all projects in urban areas generating more than 50 kilo litres of waste water daily. The stages of the proposed clearance process include screening,
scoping, public consultation, appraisal and post-project monitoring. For category “B” proposals, a state-level screening committee will determine the environmental impact assessment for clearance. The proposals will be further categorised into “B-1” and “B-2”. |
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Centre alive to Maoist threat
in Uttaranchal
Dehradun, September 8 Mr Patil said the government would consider undertaking a joint programme to handle the problem with Nepal if there was such a proposal during the five-day visit of Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba from today. The Union Home Minister visited Mussoorie on the occasion of the commencement of 76th foundation course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Administration Academy. Speaking to the press after the programme, the Home Minister said the government was sensitive to the location of the hill state which had a 270-km long border with Nepal. Appropriate steps would be taken to maintain security in the state. The state government, however, considers the funds allocated to strengthen security as insufficient. Neither the police nor the SSB which mans the Indo-Nepal border is equipped to handle the problem, said a senior police official, adding that the Centre has provided only one tenth of the sum the state asked for. The SSB was to set up 30 posts on the border but only 20 were working at present. With rising Maoist activities, the rest of the posts were likely to be established soon, officials said. |
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Indian warships to resume patrolling of Malacca Straits
New Delhi, September 8 The issue of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships, which have been a major participant in keeping the vigil along the Malacca Straits, came up during the four-day visit here of the Malaysian Naval Chief Admiral Dato Seri Mohd Anwar. He also stressed on holding of more joint exercises between the two countries and training by India of its naval personnel. Indian, US and Australian warships have also jointly patrolled the straits, through which passes Maritime trade worth almost $4 billion. The patrolling has been against the menace of international piracy, which is very rampant in the area. The Malaysian Naval Chief, during his visit here, held discussions with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy and the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Shantanu Choudhary. |
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Nepal Prime Minister arrives New Delhi, September 8 The visit assumes immense significance in view of an upsurge in Maoist violence in Nepal and
targeting of Indian interests in the Hindu kingdom. Mr Deuba will have talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Water Resources Minister Priya Ranjan Dash Munshi, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav and Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani and Ms Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the UPA and call on President, A.P. J. Abdul Kalam. This is Mr Deuba’s first visit to India after taking over as the head of a multi-party government in June this year. Mr Deuba is accompanied by his wife Dr Arzu Deuba and son, Jaibeer Deuba.
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PM to visit J&K next week
New Delhi, September 8 This will be Mr Singh’s first visit to the border state since he assumed the high office in May this year. The Prime Minister had told a press conference last week that he would be visiting the state shortly and that the Centre was willing to talk to any group which shunned violence in J and K and the North-East.
— PTI |
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SP approached for security
Hyderabad, September 8 The community’s existence in this unlikely place came to light when the city police last month arrested eight persons belonging to the LeT for allegedly plotting, among other acts of violence, to kill Jews in Guntur. The 30-odd dalit families living in Kothareddypalem village are practising Judaism under the spiritual guidance of Sadok Yacobi, the head of the Bene Yacobi Synagogue during the past two decades. Sadok Yacobi’s elder brother, Shamuel Yacobi, who visited Jerusalem in the
eighties, was convinced on his return that their forefathers were Jewish for centuries before they were converted to Christianity in recent times. |
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Woman held for aiding militant’s escape
New Delhi, September 8 DCP (Special Cell) Ashok Chand said Kulwant Kaur (34) was arrested yesterday after she was called for interrogation. She has been arrested for keeping contacts with the runaway terrorist Gursevak Singh, alias Babla, he added.
— UNI |
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Bangalore, September 8
In video (
