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Fatehabad, Haryana: IPS officer Sangeet Kalia, SP of Fatehabad district, was on Saturday shunted out, a day after a spat with Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij during a meeting, triggering angry reactions against him from the opposition and on the social media.

The minister had on Thursday stormed out of a meeting of the District Grievances and Public Relations Committee after the police officer refused to follow his order to leave the venue following heated exchanges between them. The video of their spat went viral on social media. Official sources said government has decided to transfer Kalia from her current post as Fatehabad SP, adding formal orders will be issued soon.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar earlier today told reporters in Karnal that he had taken cognizance of the matter and it will be dealt with appropriately.

The spat issue drew sharp reactions from various quarters, with opposition slamming Vij over his comments with a lady officer, while Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes, P L Punia, demanded that the Minister should be sacked.

Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the Minister should have maintained decorum while speaking to a lady officer and deprecated his behaviour with her.

Notably, Vij, who is known for his outspoken nature even taking on his own government, said that he had been getting complaints of drug mafia and liquor mafia being active.

"Yesterday, one NGO complained to police, but she (Kalia) shouted back at the NGO telling it

Following it with a tweet, Vij said that he is ready to pay any price and even ready to make sacrifice to ensure justice to people who are oppressed due to indifferent attitude of administration.

"I have spoken to the CM. I want to make one thing very clear that I will continue to fight against those officials who do not work," he said.

The incident drew sharp reactions on social media, with several coming out in support of Kalia, saying the Minister should have exercised restraint.

In another tweet, the minister said, "I am ready to pay any price and make any sacrifice for getting justice for people who face harassment at the hands of administration".

Vij was slammed for his tweet by the people on social media.

One tweet said, "Fatehabad SP is an honest officer, who is stopping illegal work that comes to her notice. You (Vij) are being misguided by wrong people. I was not expecting this from a leader like you".

"Her only fault lies that she cares two hoots for power brokers. She has been working honestly and during her time crime graph has come down," he said.

Another tweet reminded the Minister that he was occupying a "constitutional post".

"You should not speak through your tongue (asking SP to get out..)," he tweeted.

The confrontation between Vij and Kalia took place during a meeting of the District Grievances and Public Relations Committee in Fatehabad yesterday, where the minister questioned Kalia regarding a complaint pertaining to an unauthorised sale of liquor in villages.

Deputy Commissioner N K Solanki was also present in the meeting. Vij asked the SP what the police was doing regarding multiple sale points of liquor opened in villages.

The officer explained the responsibilities of the police in this regard and mentioned that 2,500 cases had been registered in connection with the Excise Act in the past 10 months, which was a record.

The minister was, however, not satisfied with SP's response. As the exchange between the duo continued, the minister by now enraged asked the SP to "get out" of the meeting. The lady officer, however, refused to leave the meeting as she felt she was not in the wrong, and even objected to the minister's manner.

The minister then left the meeting in a huff. All BJP workers and committee members followed suit. The officer declined to comment on the incident, saying everything happened before media and that she would not like to add anything further.

Congress leader Manish Tewari said the minister acted in a crude manner. For the simple reason, you don't behave with a lady in this manner irrespective of whether she is an officer or not. There is certain decorum, which you must observe. If this had happened in some other party senior party Digvijay Singh said, "It displays arrogance and ego of the BJP. This will continue till such things are not eliminated.”

"This is punishment without any inquiry. The Haryana government has initiated action against the SP without going into details and without conducting any inquiry,” another leader Shakeel Ahmed said.

Sri Lanka Cricket hosting Indo-Pak series purely on goodwill

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is gearing up to host the marquee India versus Pakistan series "purely on goodwill" and "not for any other benefits", said its Interim Committee's secretary Prakash Schaffter.

New Delhi: The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is gearing up to host the marquee India versus Pakistan series "purely on goodwill" and "not for any other benefits", said its Interim Committee's secretary Prakash Schaffter.

"Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to play the hosts for the Indo-Pak series as any good and co-operative neighbour would do. If we are hosting this series, it is an act of goodwill gesture towards our neighbours and not for any kind of financial benefits from this series," Schaffter said.

Asked if there could be any financial benefits since the marquee series has a lot of economic viability, Schaffter replied,"This is an Indo-Pak series. Even if you are talking about any revenue benefits, it would not be anything substantial for us. We are just facilitators."

"As I have said that the idea of hosting the series has got nothing to do with financial benefits. There are a lot of other avenues through which we can garner revenue and we certainly don't need this series for that."

Schaffter made it clear that venues and other details can only be discussed once the announcement of the series is made officially.

"As far as I am given to understand, we have not received anything in writing from the Pakistan Cricket Board. I suppose it will only happen after the series is officially announced.

Once that is done, it will be appropriate on our behalf to speak about the other relevant details concerning the series," the Interim Committee's secretary said.

Asked about the weather conditions during the last part of December, Schaffter said,"Well it's expected that monsoon showers would not be heavy at that time. But when it comes to weather predictions, your guess is as good as mine."

According to sources, Khettarama (R Premadasa Stadium) and Pallekele (Kandy) are the two venues expected to host the series which in all likelihood may be confined to three ODIs and two T20 Internationals.

The BCCI has already written to their Union Home Ministry seeking clearance for the series to go-ahead in the island nation.

Similarly, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has said that they are waiting for prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to be back in the country as he is the person authorized to give a green light.

The official announcement is expected to be made on Friday, November 27 in Dubai at the ICC headquarters and it will be done by chairman of the PCB 'Task Force' Giles Clarke.

The series was cleared late last week when BCCI president Shashank Manohar met Khan and senior PCB official Najam Sethi at the ICC headquarters in presence of Clarke where Sri Lanka turned out to be a mutually acceptable venue.

IND vs SA: ‘I don’t think wickets are prepared to last five days’

With the debate on cricket pitches refusing to die down after the three-day finish in Mohali, South African off-spinner Simon Harmer echoed India's batting coach Sanjay Bangar's views by saying that Test match wickets are nowadays prepared to get results. 

Nagpur: With the debate on cricket pitches refusing to die down after the three-day finish in Mohali, South African off-spinner Simon Harmer echoed India's batting coach Sanjay Bangar's views by saying that Test match wickets are nowadays prepared to get results.

"I don't think the wickets are prepared to last five full days. The reason behind the preparation of the wickets is to get a result.

"When the Indian team comes to South Africa, we are going to prepare wickets that suit our bowlers. So them playing one seamer, it's clear to see what sort of wicket they are preparing," said Harmer after day one of the third and penultimate Test here on Wednesday.

Harmer picked up 4 for 78 and, in tandem with fast bowler Morne Morkel (3-35), helped South Africa pack off India for a paltry first innings score of 215 in 78.2 overs. In reply the visitors were 11 for two in 9 overs.

Bangar had also defended the wicket prepared for the contest by saying that it was a result-oriented wicket, which was the same for both teams.

Harmer said he took some time before getting the right pace to bowl, which he said was a bit faster than normal.

"I found it difficult to adjust to the right pace. I think I was a bit slow at the beginning of my spell. I wouldn't say I was struggling to adjust to lines or lengths. I think pace on this wicket was vital. At the beginning of my spell, I was just sort of trying to find my feet.

"Obviously you can't bowl one pace the whole time. But I felt that the quicker pace there was a bit more bite off the wicket. You saw a few balls spit. As a spinner that is what you are looking for," said the off spinner who got rid of Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha and Amit Mishra.

"When you bowl too slowly, a batsman can adjust and go back easily. Ideally you want a batsman to commit to a shot and I felt the best way to do that was to bowl a quicker pace," he explained further.

Harmer said the first Test pitch at Mohali was of similar nature to this one here at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha.

"Mohali was much of the same and at the end of the day, there are three innings left. It is going to be the same for our batters and for both teams throughout the Test match. It is challenging conditions but that's what playing in the sub-continent is all about."

He said he came to know that he would play after being left out of the second rained out Test at Bengaluru on Sunday.

"On Sunday, it was still three days away. You wanted to give it some time. So Russell (Domingo) chatted to me late yesterday afternoon and told me that I was playing."

He explained that the key to bowling here is not to try too hard for success.

"As a spinner, bowling here, the seamers are going to reverse a bit. The spinners will come into the game. I think the biggest thing is not trying too hard and I think there were stages when I did, and that's when I started leaking runs. But its just about finding a rhythm, a line and length that works and the pace.

"It's about keeping the batsmen thinking the whole time with field placements, your speed. I think that's the biggest thing." 

Coming here as a fast bowling unit we don't expect favours: Morne Morkel

Morkel Morkel said the final call on playing Dale Steyn, who picked up 10 wickets in South Africa's innings win over India at Nagpur five years ago, would be taken by the team's medical staff.

Nagpur: Injured South Africa pacer Dale Steyn bowled for a short while in the nets, raising hopes of him being included in the playing XI in the third Test here against India, but his fast bowling partner Morne Morkel said the team is keeping its fingers crossed.

Morkel said that while it was pleasing to see Steyn bowling in the nets on Monday, his progress would be monitored and a final call on including him will be taken on the opening day morning of the third Test at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha here.

"Dale bowled this morning. It was a pleasing thing for us to see. Obviously groin is a tricky sort of injury. So I think we will keep monitoring and give him 9 am on Wednesday to decide," Morkel told reporters.

Morkel said the final call on playing Steyn, who picked up 10 wickets in South Africa's innings win over India at this venue five years ago, would be taken by the team's medical staff.

"I think it will be a medical call. You don't want to select a bowler who could break down and upset the combinations. It's a bit of a tough one, but I know medical staff will take the right call," he said.

"Dale is dying to get out there, do his things. Fingers crossed," he added.

On Steyn's back-up Marchant de Lange, Morkel said: "He can be quite tricky to face. He's been busy with one-day competitions at home. Of late he's not played much of four day cricket, (but) he knows what to do."

Down 0-1 in the four-Test series, Morkel said South Africa, as a No 1 ranked Test outfit, must deliver in the upcoming must-win game.

"We are the No 1 Test team in the world. The dressing room atmosphere is very positive. The first Test could not go our way, but we are starting fresh on Wednesday. We are hungry to go and deliver the goods. We speak that language in the change room.

There are a lot of good memories (about this venue where Proteas won by an innings in 2010), but you have to put those things aside and focus on disciplined cricket. One has to be mentally tough. We are the No 1 Test playing nation. We need to show that. Whatever conditions, people have to put up their hands and take it on," he said.

"It's been tricky. We have had injuries throughout the tour (Steyn and Vernon Philander, who have gone back and JP Duminy who has recovered from a palm injury). But there are no excuses for us. We need to come in and play. Hopefully, we will have five days of good Test cricket," Morkel added.

Morkel said that the team was aware of the spin-friendly pitch conditions here as well. "Coming here as a fast bowling unit we don't expect favours. We knew we were going to get turners. The way we prepared was the key for us. From a personal point of view it's just (about) bowling well and if we can keep the pressure on the batters."

He said the team had the option to playing a second frontline spinner. "Definitely that's an option. We have to see. We have Simon Harmer and Dane Piedt," he said.

The pacer felt that the Proteas batsmen are capable of doing much better against the Indian spin attack than they have done so far in the three innings in which the score has not crossed 220.

"Our top-order (batsmen) are quality players of spin. They have not got the starts, unfortunately. They are preparing very well and doing the rights things. I am pretty sure their time will come. It's a matter of sticking to plans and grinding it out and try and bat deep," he said.

Morkel hoped that the out-of-form captain Hashim Amla, who scored a double hundred at this venue for a winning cause five years ago, to come good.

"Hashim is a rock for us. He's hungry to score runs. He's been hitting a lot of balls. Hopefully, his time he will come in this Test match." 

IND vs SA, Third Test: India poised to spoil Proteas' away record

In fact, South Africa had won only one Test rubber in five visits to India, in 1999-00 under Hansie Cronje before the match-fix saga blew up. 

Nagpur: An enviable nine-year overseas record of 10 Test series wins in 14 rubbers by South Africa is under serious threat by India when the two teams face-off in the third and penultimate game of the current series at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha here on Wednesday.

After the 0-2 reversal against Sri Lanka in 2006, South Africa have not lost a Test series away from home and the list includes two wins over mighty Australia in 2008-09 and 2012-13, other than victories in one rubber each over England (2008), West Indies 2010), New Zealand (2011-12), Pakistan (2007-08), Sri Lanka (2014), Bangladesh (2007-8) and Zimbabwe (2007-08).

Significantly in this period South Africa, who are trailing India by 0-1 with two Tests left in the current rubber, have not won in the latter's backyard on the two visits they had made prior to the ongoing one - in 2007-08 (Three-Test series) and 2009-10 (Two-game contest).

On both occasions, South Africa drew 1-1 with India. Their other drawn series encounters in the last nine years were against Pakistan (0-0) in the series played in the United Arab Emirates in 2010-11, against England in 2009-10 with the series drawn 1-1 and Bangladesh (0-0 draw in 2015).

In fact, South Africa had won only one Test rubber in five visits to India, in 1999-00 under Hansie Cronje before the match-fix saga blew up.

The Proteas lost in 1996-97 (1-2 in the three-Test series) and 2004-05 (0-1 in the two-Test encounter) before holding India to draws in 2007-08 and 2009-10.

If India surge to a win here on what promises to be a spin-aiding track, South Africa will be confined to their third series defeat in six Test rubbers on Indian soil.

South Africa have buckled under pressure put by us: Murali Vijay

The Proteas' batting line-up folded up for scores of 184 and 109 at Mohali, which India won by 109 runs, and 214 in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test to which the hosts replied with 80 for no loss on day one after which no play was possible because of rain and wet ground.

 In-form opener Murali Vijay feels the intense pressure put on the visiting South African batsmen by India's spin bowlers has paved the way for the home team's domination of the four-match Test series so far.

"To be honest, the pressure we have put on the batsman, it was incredible to watch from close-in. It is a cat mouse game, everybody trying to come one up and the bowler trying to come up on the batsman and it has been going well for us," Vijay told reporters at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha on Monday ahead of the third match of the four-Test rubber commencing on November 25.

"It is the pure pressure we put on them and obviously the same vice-versa. When we go out to bat we have our plans and they are also putting immense pressure. So it is a good contest to be part of," the opener remarked further about the series in which India are 1-0 up after winning the opener at Mohali that was followed by the rain-hit, drawn second game at Bengaluru.

The Proteas' batting line-up folded up for scores of 184 and 109 at Mohali, which India won by 109 runs, and 214 in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test to which the hosts replied with 80 for no loss on day one after which no play was possible because of rain and wet ground.

The visitors collapsed in a heap against the home team's triple spin attack in the two innings at Mohali and were equally clueless in Bengaluru too - barring AB de Villiers - against Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (Amit Mishra was left out) in the only completed innings.

Vijay said the team's confidence was high after the good show so far and did not thought the Mohali batting show, when they were shot out for 201 and 200, was a cause for worry.

"The confidence is really high as for now because we had a good game and the first day was in our favour. I don't know the batting is a worry for us because everybody is one match away from a big knock and this match may be the one."

He was modest about his own form that has seen him score 75, 47 and 28 not out in conditions that have helped spinners.

"I am trying to play my best and put the Indian team in a good position and so far so good, it has been coming out well for me. I am a good state in a mind and that is more important for me at the moment," said Vijay, who made his debut at this venue in 2008 against Australia.

Recalling that game, the Tamil Nadu batsman said it gives him a good feeling to be back at this ground where he opened with Virender Sehwag.

"This ground means a lot to me because I made my debut here. It is a special feeling to come to this dressing room. It is always nice to come here."

Vijay said while it may be too early to assess his own recent performance, he has benefited from being a regular part of the Test team.

"I think it's too early to answer that question because I have a lot of seasons to go. I prepare my game for all the three formats of the game but at the moment I am fitting into the Test team, so obviously I am working hard. My aim is to keep improving every session and add value to the team.

At the moment I am the right space and as I told you for the past two years I have been travelling around and got good experience of how you got to organise yourself out in the middle, so a lot of learning happened," he said.

Asked about opening with a flamboyant batsman like Shikhar Dhawan, Vijay said he has a good rapport with all the top order batsmen through playing in domestic cricket.

"All of us in the top 5, I have a good rapport with everyone because we have played the domestics together. It has been good but as I told you before it is just a knock away for Shikhar to get the big one and for everybody it is the same. We are working as a pack so obviously our goal is to the win the game and put the team in a better position when we go in to bat. That is our criteria at the moment."

Vijay said he could not talk about the pitch prepared for the match, which according to reports is dry and would aid spin, as he had come directly to the media briefing without going to the ground.

"I straightaway came to the press conference and didn't go to the ground. Hopefully it should be a good, sporting wicket."

On Jadeja's fine comeback after being left out, Vijay said he was an asset to the team with his all-round abilities. "He is a great asset to the team because he can bowl, he can field well and he is a good batsman at that slot and he has done really well for himself after coming back."

The Test opener said he was not affected too much either by criticism or praise.

"It is the way you take things. People are always going to talk, whether you perform or not. It is a very individual oriented thing. Actually I like to be criticised because I can get good points out of it, maybe I can work on it. At times it helps, so I don't give too much thought about criticism or praise. It should be balanced I think."

While agreeing that a big crowd support was welcome, he said the players don't have time to think about this aspect.

"If you get into a game with this intensity you don't really think about the crowd because already there are a lot of things to think about. But it will be adding value if lot of people turn up at the ground and support us and it will be great fun."

Velachery flooding 2015 a manmade disaster

During the ’70s, Velachery was a small hamlet with paddy fields and a few small industries on the narrow Velachery-Tambaram road and a few stone quarries in Taramani area. 

At that time, government proposed a 100 feet bypass road from Raptakas factory to Vijayanagar bus terminus and simultaneously another 100 feet Taramani road was planned to connect Vijayanagar bus terminus to OMR.

 

The government acquired land for these two roads during 1974 after paying compensation to land owners. However, the roads could be completed only at the end of the ’90s. In the meantime, Highways department decided to widen the Velachery-Tambaram road and made it as part of IRR from MRTS Velachery station to OMR via Taramani road, which was already developed. 

 

Velachery tank lies on the northern side of the bypass road and the entire ayacut area of this tank had already been converted as housing colonies. Surplus water from this tank runs along the bypass road and Velachery-Tambaram road and crosses the IRR and the MRTS track through a culvert to enter the Pallikaranai marsh. 

 

The delay in completion of the bypass road encouraged some people to occupy the land already acquired by government and put up some illegal constructions blocking the water course.

 

In 2002, the Highway department decided to acquire additional land for widening the road leaving the already acquired land to the enjoyment of the encroachers. Due to the encroachments, surplus water course became a small storm water drain and could not carry the entire water to the Pallikaranai marsh.

 

Immediately after the 2005 floods, an engineer came up with an idea to divert the water from Vijayanagar junction to Buckingham canal through an underground drain below the Velachery-Taramani road.

 

This project was started in 2005 at an estimated cost of `35 crore. After 10 years the estimate was revised to Rs 60 crore. At this rate, it is likely to take another five to 10 years to complete the work since the remaining work is in the toughest reach and the estimated cost is also likely to go up to Rs 85 crore.

 

The crux of the matter is, after all these efforts, they are going to land up 18 inches below the bed level of the Buckingham canal and thereby creating an avenue for another engineer to come up with another brilliant idea to lower the bed level of Buckingham canal from Lattice bridge to Adyar river at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

 

When all these things were happening, another engineer suggested construction of a head regulator across the old storm water drain just in front of the Junior Kuppanna restaurant to

head up the water and divert it to Velachery-Taramani-Buckingham canal underground drain. 

 

Since the natural slope is towards Pallikaranai marsh, water will flow only towards that direction. Once you put up a head regulator with shutters which could not be opened for three days even before completing the underground drain to connect the Buckingham canal you end up in diverting the entire water from the Velachery tank into the residential area of Vijayanagar and other colonies. This is how it all happened this year.

 

Constructing a storm water drain 20 feet below the ground level at some stretches near Taramani burial ground would cost nearly Rs 80 crore as it stands now. The expected project cost for developing Buckingham canal bed level and for other improvements is Rs 100 crore. Public money of Rs 250 crore is being wasted.

 

Civil engineering is the department which creates all infrastructure where if you do work with devotion you will end up constructing dams, bridges, buildings, hospitals and educational institutions which will be remembered by the people.

Saifai wears festive look to celebrate Mulayam Singh's birthday

 

Singer A R Rahman being welcomed by Samajwadi Party M P Dharmendra Yadav on the eve of his performance at the birthday party of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav at Safai airstrip on Friday.

 For people of Saifai, the native village of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, it is like Diwali all over again.

Decked out in flowers and lights, buildings are wearing a bridal look for the celebration tomorrow of the 76^thbirthday of Mulayam, popularly known by the sobriquet of "netaji".

A cultural extravaganza, including a performance by Oscar- winning composer AR Rahman and his 300-member troupe, has been lined up as part of the three-day bash, which got off to a colourful start yesterday at Saifai, around 200km from state capital Lucknow.

This will be Rahman's maiden performance in Saifai. Massive fireworks lit up the night sky as people made a beeline for the village to wish their leader a long life and pray for his good health.

"Netaji's ties with Saifai are emotional. He is a father figure, our godfather," said Mahesh Yadav, an enthusiastic youth worker who was busy organising the grand show.

Arrangements have been made to shower rose petals on the SP supremo when he lands at the airstrip outside Saifai, where large-sized LED screens have been set up at vantage points to telecast live the razzmatazz birthday party.

A 76-kg cake has been ordered to mark the occasion while mouth-watering Italian, Chinese and Thai dishes will be prepared by renowned chefs from Delhi and Mumbai to treat around one lakh guests from a wide spectrum of the society.

The guest list includes almost everybody who is somebody; from former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, and from Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan to business tycoons. 

President of Ranvir Singh Smriti Saifai Mahotsav and MP Dharmendra Yadav, who are looking after the preparations, said all arrangements are in place for the gala event.

The indoor athletic stadium, where the main function will be held, has been decked out in the SP colours of green and red while hundreds of welcome gates and huge hoardings have come up on all the roads leading to Saifai.

Around 3,000 staff have been tasked with ensuring cleanliness while an equal number of security personnel from 15 districts have been deployed in and around the venue. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has already reached Saifai.

The grand show, however, has invited the disapproval of opposition parties with BJP and Congress describing the event as a wastage of public money. "50 of the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh have been declared drought-hit; the money could have been distributed among the affected farmers," said BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak. UP PCC spokesman Amarnath Agarwal, too, said that the show was a waste of public money.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan had last year organized a two-day celebration in Rampur to mark Mulayam's 75^th birthday. Mulayam had ridden on an imported Victorian-style 'buggy' for the Rampur bash, which had seen around 40 ministers gathering to take part in the costly festivities, fuelling criticism that was met with a caustic barb from Khan that Taliban and Dawood Ibrahim had provided funds for the event.