Golaghat (Assam), Aug 23: An assistant sub- inspector of the Border Security Force from Assam and his wife were declared foreigners by a tribunal without their knowledge, his family claimed on Friday.

Muzibur Rahman, the BSF man who is now posted in Punjab, and his wife were declared foreigners by the Jorhat Foreigners’ Tribunal in December last year but the family was informed about this only last month, they claimed.

Talking to reporters at Merapani in Golaghat district, Rahman’s father Bapdhan Ali said except the two, everyone in his family have been included in the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the final version of which will be published on August 31.

“I request the government to take steps so that he continues to be an Indian,” Ali told a news channel.

He claimed that their family members have legacy data and land documents to establish their Indian citizenship.

Ali said, “We are Indians. The name of every member of my family is in the NRC but not of Muzibur who is working in the BSF in the service of the nation, and his wife.” 

One person identified as the lawyer of the family said Rahman was declared a ‘D’ (Doubtful) voter in July 2018 of which he was not aware and then the Foreigners’ Tribunal declared him a ‘foreigner’ in December.

But he did not get any summon to appear for hearing to present his case, the lawyer claimed.

The family said their village headman informed them on July 29 that Rahaman and his wife were summoned to present themselves in the Jorhat Circuit House.

As he was away in Punjab, his father and brother-in- law went there and they were told by government officials that the two were declared ‘foreigners’ in December 2018.

“Probably those engaged in the NRC updating exercise have not done their duty properly. We want an error-free NRC and will always cooperate with the process. I urge the government to ensure that genuine Indian citizens are not harassed,” Rahman told the channel over the phone from Punjab.

Earlier, Kargil war veteran Mohammad Sanaullah and Central Industrial Security Force jawan Mamud Ali were also declared foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunal.

Soon after the Sanaullah incident, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat had said no jawan will be allowed to face any difficulties if his name does not come in the NRC and that the force will extend all assistance in this regard.

Names of over 40 lakh people were not included in the complete draft of the NRC published last year.

Assam, which had faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century, is the only state having an NRC which was first prepared in 1951.

It is being updated now under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

Arun Jaitley, Former Finance Minister and BJP Veteran, Passes Away at 66

Former finance minister and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley passed away at the age of 66 on Saturday, a week after he was admitted to AIIMS following complaints of breathlessness and restlessness.

A lawyer by profession, Arun Jaitley had been an important part of Narendra Modi’s cabinet during his first tenure as prime minister. He held the Finance and Defence portfolios, and often acted as the chief troubleshooter of the government.

shaheen raaj

Bangalore Buzz
By: Faizan Rizwan
Goodyear India Unveiled New Car & SUV Range Of Tyres
Goodyear India recently announced the official launch of 2 new products. Assurance DuraPlus 2 & Wrangler AT SilentTrac for the Indian market. While Assurance Duraplus 2 is designed for small-to-mid-sized passenger cars to further meet the upgraded needs of value-conscious consumers, Wrangler AT SilentTrac is tailored for confident SUV drivers with a strong desire for adventure & the freedom to explore with full control over the wheels.
Assurance Duraplus 2 features a strengthened TredLife Technology that is optimized for longer mileage with durability & quiet performance, aiming to further empower drivers with the Freedom To Go Further. Following the success of the Assurance DuraPlus 2, which is known for its balanced offering of mileage & safety, Assurance DuraPlus 2 gives consumers more freedom to explore with its upgraded TredLife Technology benefits, including better mileage performance of up to 110,000 KM, robust sidewall & reduced noise performance.
Wrangler AT SilentTrac is designed to enhance rugged toughness while delivering a smooth drive, plus an impressive on & off-road handling performance & added resistance without noise. The latest innovation introduces an upgraded DuraWall Technology that withstands rugged off-road use by resisting cuts & tears, allowing versatility for drivers to go off-road at a moment’s notice. The improved rigid shoulder blocks & optimized tread pattern design deliver outstanding strength & reduced road noise for a quieter ride, while also resulting in excellent mileage & on & off-road performance.
Goodyear Assurance DuraPlus 2 is available in 13 to 15 inch rim diameters while  Wrangler AT SilentTrac is available in 15 to 17 inch rim diameters.

Salient Features Of Assurance DuraPlus 2:
•        TredLife Technology: The new TredLife Technology highlights an enhanced tread design & compound that allows consumers to drive up to 110,000 km 1.
•        Enhanced Sidewall Durability: The product features construction with a minimum of 2 layers of construction & improved sidewall material to increase resistance to sidewall impacts & environmental factors.
•        Reduced Noise: The new tread pattern design is combined with noise-damping rubber layers to minimize noise, assuring a quiet ride experience.

Features Of Wrangler AT SilentTrac:
•        All Terrain Performance: The advanced DuraWall Technology & optimized sidewall & tread provide superior off-road durability. The advanced tread compound with silica blend is developed to resist cutting & chipping during off-road without compromising wet traction on road.
•        Quiet Performance: Wrangler AT SilentTrac’s refined tread design & revamped centerline & shoulder block design deliver a comfortable & quieter experience.
•        Mileage Performance: Optimized tread area for an even pressure distribution across the footprint, resulting in excellent mileage & great balance for on & off-road performance.

Bangalore Buzz
By: Faizan Rizwan  
Cricketer Kapil Dev Launches A New Generation the Jeep® Wrangler
FCA, recently announced the introduction & start-of-sale of the New Generation Jeep® Wrangler in India. The iconic 5-door 4×4 from Jeep was unveiled by Indian cricketing legend, Kapil Dev, who was Guest of Honour at the vehicle’s press launch.
The New Generation Jeep Wrangler, the most capable production 4×4 vehicle in the world, was launched at ₹63.94 lakh (all India) & will go on sale in 10 Jeep Destination Stores across India.
While every generation of the Wrangler has significantly evolved to meet customer expectations in safety, comfort & technology, Jeep designers have ensured each generation retains its signature Jeep styling elements such as: The iconic 7 slot front grille, Trapezoidal wheel arches, Round headlamps, Square tail lamps, Body-on-frame construction, Right-angled body geometry, Full-frame removable doors and roof, Fold down windshield, High ground clearance & Jeep 4×4 hardware
The all-new Wrangler is more sophisticated, more refined & stronger in this new generation but is still incredibly purposeful & practical.
The all-new Jeep Wrangler is longer than its predecessor by a massive 130 mm, wider by 17 mm, taller by 9 mm & has 61 mm of extra wheel base, resulting in a confident 4 wheel stance.
The exterior of the new generation model is more sculpted but retains the retro Jeep styling elements like the external door hinges, body-coloured trapezoidal wheel arches, round headlamps, square tail lamps, angular body & new bumpers with integrated fog lamps. The iconic 7 slot grille now has a nuanced frontal bend to make it look sharper & the hood has air intakes. To allow owners to enjoy open-air-freedom, the all-new Wrangler comes with a fold-down windshield & removable hard roof & doors that can be as easily dismantled & refitted  as on the previous generation Wrangler.
Solid axles connect with the Wrangler’s 18-inch alloy wheels which have painted Granite Crystal spokes.
Overall, the exterior styling is chiselled & sharper. Headlamps come with signature LED reflector headlamps, LED fog lamps & LED daytime running lights (DRLs) & stand out LED tail lamps.
India’s discerning customers, who mostly use their vehicles driving in or between cities, prefer luxurious interiors with functions at their fingertips. A Wrangler, which is fundamentally a 4×4 SUV, is equipped with all the equipment that urban customers need in order to meet their expectations of everyday life.
The interior of the all-new Wrangler features black leather seats. Dashboard, door panels, grab handles & other elements are padded with premium soft touch materials, detailed with accent stitching. The UConnect Infotainment System features a large 8.4-inch touchscreen, which has a drag-and-drop menu, including Apple Car Play, Android Auto & a built-in, pinch-to-zoom navigation feature. Phone, media, climate & navigation can be controlled by voice at the press of a button on the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Standard features like engine stop / start & cruise control can also be controlled from the steering wheel.
Bezels, handles & knobs in the interior space are tastefully finished with ‘Grillz’ brushed paint. The 7-inch driver information display in the centre of the instrument cluster shows scrollable data that can be accessed from the steering wheel. The all-new Wrangler also comes with weather-proof push button start, dual zone air conditioning & remote key access & go features.
Sound is delivered by an Alpine music system with 9 speakers enhanced by an overhead sound bar, all-weather subwoofer & 552 watt amplifier.   
A significant change in the New Generation Wrangler for India is that it will be available with a 4-cylinder, inline, turbocharged 2.0-litre 268 HP 400 Nm petrol engine instead of 3.4-litre V-6 Pentastar, which was offered in its predecessor. This 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol powertrain is tuned to perform like a V-6, deliver like a diesel engine & at the same time, ensure much better fuel efficiency than a larger capacity engine. It is tuned to deliver a meaty take off & enable a smooth cruise on highways as well.
The improved fuel efficiency is aided by the engine stop / start function, electric power assist, extended fuel shut-off along with a smart transmission shift management system. This 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine is matched to a smooth and quick-efficiency 8-speed automatic transmission, replacing the modest 5-speed automatic that was offered in the previous generation Wrangler.
Every Wrangler produced is fitted with a Trail Rated badge. To win this badge it has to pass gruelling tests across the toughest terrain. The all-new Wrangler has earned its Trail Rated badge & has the ability to withstand the harshest conditions making the off-roading experience incredible.
The all-new Jeep Wrangler is equipped with the Jeep SelecTrac 4WD system that can be engaged full time in 4H. The vehicle can be switched from 2WD to 4WD by using the 4×4 gear selector stick. The Jeep SelecTrac 4×4 system analyses the grip that every wheel encounters & sends extra torque to those wheels that need more traction. The driver can choose between 50% equal distribution of torque to front & the rear wheels by shifting to ‘4H Part Time’ mode or to on-demand torque distribution when shifted to ‘4H Auto’ mode, which gauges the lack of traction & then allocates torque distribution to that wheel(s). The Wrangler is of course known for its impressive crawl ratio of 2.72:1 when engaged in 4L (low) mode.
The capability quotient has been further enhanced in the all-new Wrangler with a steeper approach angle of 41.8 degrees, break over angle of 21 degrees & departure angle of 36.1 degrees. The New Generation Wrangler rides higher from the ground than its predecessor by 29 mm, at 215 mm compared to the JK’s 186 mm. The new body structure of high strength steel & aluminium rests on a front & rear 5 link suspension system with heavy duty gas shock absorbers.
Like all Wranglers, the new generation model’s underbody is protected by high-gauge steel skid plates to safeguard critical componentry that would be otherwise be prone to damage when driving over extremely challenging terrain.
The all-new Wrangler has more than 70 safety & security features. A few important standard ones are as follows: Parksense® rear parking sensor with back up camera, Electronic Stability Control, coordinates Electronic Roll Mitigation, Anti-lock Braking System & Brake Assist, all-speed traction control & available Trailer Control sending them into action when needed, Advanced multi-stage airbags & supplementary front seat mounted side airbags & High strength steel body paired with light-weight aluminium
Any Wrangler, in addition to its sophistication, has to be practical. The new generation model has plenty of cargo management space that will delight customers.Trail Rail Cargo Management System, this versatile cargo-carrying capability includes aluminium rails on the tailgate & cargo floor along with cargo anchors that lock into place, In-floor storage bin is located on the cargo floor behind the 2nd row of seats hides a storage area whose lid secures when the swing gate is closed, perfect for storing larger items, like computers & tool, 2-tiered centre console, with place to store phones, computers, tablets, vehicle key & sunglasses plus a top tray for smaller gear
Recently, Jeep was named the Most Trusted Automobile Brand according to the Brand Trust Report, India Study 2019.

According to the website of state Midday Meal Authority, the overseeing body for these meals in the state, government-run schools list an elaborate menu that is supposed to be served to children.

MIRZAPUR (UP): Students of a government primary school in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh are being served salt and roti (flatbread) under the midday meal scheme.

The midday meal scheme is designed to provide proper nutrition to scores of children from poor families who study in government schools across the country.

A video posted on the social media shows children sitting on the floor of the school corridor, eating rotis with just some salt in their plates.

According to the website of state Midday Meal Authority, the overseeing body for these meals in the state, government-run primary schools list an elaborate menu that is supposed to be served to children.

That’s roti with table salt for midday meal in a government school. Now one may argue the veracity of this video, but 4 things they can’t refute:

They’re kids.

In school uniform.

It IS roti and salt.

It includes pulses, rice, rotis and vegetables. Fruits and milk are included on certain days, according to the meal chart.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a parent told IANS: “Children get either roti-salt or rice-salt on most days. Milk is given very rarely and proper food is served only when some important person comes for a visit.”

Mirzapur: Students at a primary school in Hinauta seen eating ‘roti’ with salt in mid-day meal. District Magistrate Anurag Patel says, “negligence happened at teacher & supervisor’s level. The teacher has been suspended. A response has been sought from supervisor”

District Magistrate Anurag Patel said: “I have got an inquiry conducted and the incident has been found to be true. Prima facie, it is the fault of the teacher in-charge of the school and the supervisor at the Gram Panchayat. Both have been suspended.”

The Uttar Pradesh government spokesman said that it is providing midday meals in over 1.5 lakh primary and middle schools across the state. Over 1 crore children are supposed to benefit from the scheme.

According to the Centre, the midday meal scheme is designed to provide a minimum of 450 calories per child per day, which should include at least 12 grams of protein each day too. These meals should be served to each child, at least, 200 days a year.

The Thackeray family, including wife, daughter, son and daughter-in-law too had accompanied him from his residence at Dadar Shivaji Park to the ED office.

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths for over eight hours on Thursday in connection with the alleged irregularities related to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) loan to Kohinoor CTNL.

According to sources, Thackeray was grilled regarding his involvement in the case. Thackeray was a partner in the company that jointly bid for the NTPC’s Kohinoor Mill worth Rs 421 crore in 2005. Thackeray had sold off his equity in the company in 2008 and according to sources, he was asked the reasons for opting out and how he was involved in the company.

The ED sources also made it clear that Thackeray has not been called for further investigation, but if needed he might be called in for interrogation at a later stage.

The MNS leader reached the ED office at 11.25 am and walked out at 8 pm. The Thackeray family, including wife, daughter, son and daughter-in-law too had accompanied him from his residence at Dadar Shivaji Park to the ED office. The family members waited at a nearby hotel even as he was being grilled.

Throughout the day-long developments, Mumbai remained calm and there were no incidents of violence. 
Police imposed section 144 of CrPC (banning unlawful assembly) outside the ED office and in some parts of Dadar, where the MNS chief resides and parts of central Mumbai.

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Economic Offences Wing of Mumbai Police to register an FIR against former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar,  NCP chief Sharad Pawar and several other NCP leaders in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank 
(MSCB) scam. 

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh takes oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha, at Parliament House in New Delhi

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday took oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha. 

The oath was administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.

Top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel and Anand Sharma were among those who were present during the oath taking in the Chairman’s chamber.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and some BJP leaders were also present.

Singh, 86, has come back as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. He was elected unopposed as the BJP did not put up a candidate against him.

Singh returned to the Rajya Sabha after a brief gap since his retirement from the Upper House on June 14 this year.

He had earlier represented the state of Assam in Rajya Sabha for a long period.