Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India to become a Hindu Rashtra?' that was published in Newsband

India to become a Hindu Rashtra?

There is growing chatter about 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Some question whether there will be an election in 2024 if BJP wins the election in 2019? Or will RSS and BJP go on to realise their long-standing dream of establishing a Hindu Rashtra. Many have written about creeping authoritarianism and rise of Hindutva in India. Will the idea of India associated with Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru be destroyed?

RSS is resolute in its “idea of India” as a quintessentially Hindu country. A section of Hindu society felt that after the creation of a country for Muslims, Hindus were denied their own country.

Another thing is BJP has a compelling leader in Modi with a real hunger for power. Modi has used populism, nationalism and anti-secularism to great effect and fired up the imagination of millions looking for instant progress and national greatness.

A Hindu Rashtra is incompatible with India’s Constitution and its democratic norms. But what was the ideology of Congress since 1947? India Gandhi an authoritarian imposed emergency for two years to rule. India has withstood 60 years of Congress rule and even emergency. The country was divided on lines of religions by the architects of the Congress party. While the minorities have grown in India it is just the opposite in Pakistan & Bangladesh.

Hindu civilizations have always embraced other religions. The minorities are safest in this country rather than in declared Islamic Republics. Ours is the only country in this planet where Hinduism the most ancient intelligent rich civilisation exist. World should take all measures to preserve it before it disappears with all its uniqueness and treasure of vast knowledge. Government should also work seriously to revive its past glory.

After independence, be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian and other minorities - all got the same level playing field to start with. Those who didn't, were given reservations and other means. For 60+ years we were in the hands of those so called seculars

The undivided India was partitioned on the basis of religion. The division was the outcome rivalry between Nehru and Jinna with tacit approval by Mahatma Gandhi. Pakistan has become Islamic state and right of non-Muslims are not recognised there. A sizeable Muslim populations stayed back in India and were being used by Congress, CPM and other political parties with support from Muslim religious leaders to remain in power. The victim is democracy and development. Now a group of so called liberal leaders including some people from Muslim community is afraid of resurgent BJP.

The fact is no religion is followed in spirit - 'religion' is only an excuse to impose fascism and dictatorship. But it is a fact that with Hindus in majority everyone is doing well. It is Hinduism with its amazing diversity and unity which created the concept of acceptance of all faiths and gave birth to the idea of true secularism.

Video: Online Hero Dinesh Kamath with Beauties

Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movies released in Navi Mumbai’ (Ek Haseena Thi, Ek Deewana Tha, Baby Driver, The Big Sick and Transformers: The Last Knight) that was published in Newsband

New movies released in Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

Ek Haseena Thi, Ek Deewana Tha

Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha (English: She was Beautiful He was Crazy) is a 2017 Bollywood romantic thriller. The film is directed and produced by Suneel Darshan and stars Shiv Darshan, Natasha Fernandez and Upen Patel are in lead roles. The music is composed by Nadeem Saifi.

A young and naive Natasha sets off for her destination wedding with her fiance Sunny to her ancestral property Mt. Unique Estate, only to fall helplessly in love with its stud farm keeper Devdhar. Consumed by his robust yet poetic, aggressive yet persistent advances, she realizes that his arms were the ultimate destination of her dreams. But Devdhar? A con man hired to destroy her bliss, a supernatural being or just a figment of her imagination? Torn between her lover and the one she dared to love, Natasha learns that love is the deadliest deception when she engulfs herself into a vortex of devastating upheavals that leaves all those touched by its intensity heart broken and in a state of bewilderment. Will Natasha be yet another sacrificial lamb before the societal decrees or will she fall prey to the greed and lust of her unknown enemies? Will she rise from the embers of destruction like a phoenix and emerge the ultimate achiever of her dreams and ultimate destinations?

The film has Shiv Darshan as Devdhar, Natasha Fernandez as Natasha, Upen Patel as Sunny, Soni Kaur as Rita, Dimppy Ramdayal, Krishan Tandon, Lalitmohan Tiwari, Rumi Khan and San Mahajan.

Baby Driver

Baby Driver is a 2017 action film written and directed by Edgar Wright, starring Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Bernthal, Eiza González, Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx. The film follows Baby, a young getaway driver who is reluctantly coerced to work for a veteran kingpin in exchange for the start of a better life.

A talented, young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. When he meets the girl of his dreams (Lily James), Baby sees a chance to ditch his criminal life and make a clean getaway. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.

The film has Ansel Elgort as Baby, a young man with a love for music who works as the getaway driver for a rotating crew of bank robbers, Hudson Meek as Young Baby. Lily James as Debora, a young waitress and Baby's romantic interest, Kevin Spacey as Doc, the mysterious kingpin of the rag-tag crew of bank robbers and a veteran criminal mastermind, Jon Hamm as "Jason" Buddy, the handsome party animal and one of the villains, part of the bank robbers gang and a former Wall Street trader, Jamie Foxx as "Leon" Bats, the impulsive gun-slinging cohort of the bank robbing crew, Jon Bernthal as Griff, one of the bank robbers who mocks Baby constantly, Eiza González as "Monica" Darling, one of the bank robbers, Buddy’s lawless and scandalous wife and partner in crime, Flea as Eddie No-Nose, one of the bank robbers, Lanny Joon as JD, one of the bank robbers, Sky Ferreira as Baby's mom and the musical angel of his guard, Big Boi as Restaurant Patron #1, Killer Mike as Restaurant Patron #2, Paul Williams as The Butcher, Jon Spencer as Prison Guard and CJ Jones as Joseph, Baby's Foster Father.

The Big Sick

The Big Sick is a 2017 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Showalter, from a screenplay by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon. It stars Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Adeel Akhtar and Anupam Kher.

The Big Sick is based on the real courtship of Kumail Nanjiani and his now-wife, Emily Gordon. Kumail's traditional Pakistani Muslim family is unhappy with his relationship with Emily, a White American. When Emily is waylaid by a mysterious illness, Kumail must take charge of the crisis with her parents, Beth and Terry, whom he barely knows. In other words, based on the real-life courtship between Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, The Big Sick tells the story of Pakistan-born aspiring comedian Kumail (Nanjiani), who connects with grad student Emily (Zoe Kazan) after one of his standup sets. However, what they thought would be just a one-night stand blossoms into the real thing, which complicates the life that is expected of Kumail by his traditional Muslim parents. When Emily is beset with a mystery illness, it forces Kumail to navigate the medical crisis with her parents, Beth and Terry (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano) who he's never met, while dealing with the emotional tug-of-war between his family and his heart.

The film has Kumail Nanjiani as Kumail, Zoe Kazan as Emily, Holly Hunter as Beth, Ray Romano as Terry, Adeel Akhtar as Naveed, Anupam Kher as Azmat, Bo Burnham as CJ, Aidy Bryant as Mary, Matty Cardarople as Stu, Rebecca Naomi Jones as Jessie and Kurt Braunohler as Chris

Transformers: The Last Knight

Transformers: The Last Knight is a 2017 American science fiction action film based on the toy line of the same name created by Hasbro. It is the fifth installment of the live-action Transformers film series and a direct sequel to 2014's Transformers: Age of Extinction. Directed by Michael Bay, the film features Mark Wahlberg returning from Age of Extinction, along with Josh Duhamel and John Turturro reprising their roles from the first three films, with Anthony Hopkins joining the cast. Bay and Wahlberg have stated they will not return for another sequel.

Humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone. The key to saving our future lies buried in the secrets of the past, in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Saving our world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg); Bumblebee; an English Lord (Sir Anthony Hopkins); and an Oxford Professor (Laura Haddock). There comes a moment in everyone’s life when we are called upon to make a difference. In Transformers: The Last Knight, the hunted will become heroes. Heroes will become villains. Only one world will survive: theirs, or ours. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Why trees fall during heavy monsoon?' that was published in Newsband

Why trees fall during heavy monsoon?

A number of tree fall incidents have been reported in the city since the onset of the monsoons. It seems the trees were not properly pruned or trimmed plus there was concretisation done around some trees. All these factors led to trees falling during the rain. It is necessary to give the trees a balanced cut. Haphazard cutting results in tree falls.

How do you prune trees? Prune trees using cutting tools appropriate to the size of the tree or shrub in early spring or late summer. Pruning is done to maintain the health of the tree, direct growth and increase fruit production when applicable.

Small shrubs and young trees are easily trimmed using lopping shears or pruning saws. Trees or mature shrubs with branches exceeding a 2- to 3-inch diameter require pole pruners or a chainsaw, using necessary safety equipment. Disinfect tools with full-strength mouthwash or rubbing alcohol to avoid spreading disease amongst the trees.

To prune the tree, identify any broken branches on the tree and any branches that are growing in opposition to the desired tree shape. These branches need to be removed to maintain the safety of the area beneath the tree and ensure tree health.

A foot from where the branch meets the tree, make a small cut in the underside of the branch a third of the way through. Make a second cut into the top of the branch an inch further from the tree than the first cut. Keep cutting until the branch snaps off of the tree. With the weight of the branch removed, cut along the trunk to remove the remaining part of the branch.

After broken and crossing branches are removed, look for water sprout limbs that grow straight up from the trunk and branches. Removing these protects the tree from disease.

The best time to prune a tree depends on the reason for pruning it. Removing dead branches can be done any time of year, but live shoots and limbs should only be cut when the tree is moving into a dormant phase.

Trim summer branches and blooms at the end of the growing season but before fall. Pruning during fall months invites disease, as freshly cut wounds heal more slowly on trees and plants. Winter or very early spring is the best time to prune most trees. Cool, crisp air helps trees heal more quickly, and trees that bloom in the spring produce more flowers after a winter pruning

Pruning is a horticultural and silvicultural practice involving the selective removal of certain parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots. Reasons to prune plants include deadwood removal, shaping (by controlling or directing growth), improving or maintaining health, reducing risk from falling branches, preparing nursery specimens for transplanting, and both harvesting and increasing the yield or quality of flowers and fruits.

The practice entails targeted removal of diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive, structurally unsound, or otherwise unwanted tissue from crop and landscape plants. In general, the smaller the branch that is cut, the easier it is for a woody plant to compartmentalize the wound and thus limit the potential for pathogen intrusion and decay. It is therefore preferable to make any necessary formative structural pruning cuts to young plants, rather than removing large, poorly placed branches from mature plants.

Specialized pruning practices may be applied to certain plants, such as roses, fruit trees, and grapevines. It is important when pruning that the tree’s limbs are kept intact, as this is what helps the tree stay upright.[1] Different pruning techniques may be deployed on herbaceous plants than those used on perennial woody plants. Hedges, by design, are usually (but not exclusively) maintained by hedge trimming, rather than by pruning.

In nature, meteorological conditions such as wind, ice and snow, and salinity can cause plants to self-prune. This natural shedding is called abscission.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Modi-Trump Meet shows great promises' that was published in Newsband

Modi-Trump Meet shows great promises

All eyes are on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first meeting with President Donald Trump, The India-U.S. joint statement has exceeded expectations, with an emphasis on the need for Pakistan to stop attacks on India launched from its soil, and for China to forge its Belt and Road Initiative taking into account India’s concerns on territorial and sovereignty issues. There will be continuity in the India-U.S. strategic partnership goals, and a “growing strategic convergence” between the two countries and a shared vision on world affairs.

The joint statement indicates that many bilateral issues are yet to be resolved. There was no mention of the immigration process and H1B visa curbs, and Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, which will leave India’s climate change financing handicapped. The two leaders have taken an unreserved common position on terrorism, and the joint statement released after the meeting has pledged enhanced India-US cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Moreover, unlike China, the US has supported India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, other global nuclear supervisory bodies and permanent membership in the UN Security Council. US has been quiet on crackdown on American companies outsourcing to India.

In post Modi-Trump cordial meeting India should gravitate on India-USA defense co-operation to counter terrorism and Chinese threat. The defense co-operation will help in India's economic growth, strengthen defense and will put India in International power arena. India should not miss this opportunity. India did have a good start. We have to approach and develop better relations with developed countries.

India is unique in the sense that similar to EU & USA it has the largest consumer market clamouring for products to improve their standard & quality of life. This alone will enable India to become more than a middle income nation with productivity & employment opportunity. Once we reach that critical state economically Indian military & economic power will help the region & there will be a World with a stable vibrant India and a future United Asia.

Although the United States is one of the few countries with which India has a trade surplus and the growth of merchandise trade has slowed down markedly all over the world, an effort should be made to at least double two way trade to about $ 200 billion at a little over $ 300 billion of exports, India is far short of the earlier target of $ 900 billion. There is no better yardstick of the productivity and efficiency of an economy than its ability to export.

Dinesh Kamath's news 'Callysto Fashion Show gets huge response, launch of the new "Callysto" brand in the fashion world' that was published in Newsband

Callysto Fashion Show gets huge response

Launch of the new "Callysto" brand in the fashion world

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Although there are options for fashionable clothing in online time, the choice of customers is preferred by the unique and favorite brand.The brand is of course "Callysto" and the new brand is being taken in the interest of the customer's preference. Callysto was launched with the presentation of fashion show at Vashi's Tunga Hotel

 At the time, Sprintva has won the Seven winner's model Scarlet Rose, Miss India Globe Model Elkshi Gupta, Miss Navi Mumbai Simran Malhotra dressed in this brand of clothes and showed up on Ramp. More about this brand, Callysto is a company that produces and sells clothes. Mayuresh Patil, Saurabh Kumar, Sagar Kadam, are entrepreneurs who are passionate about innovation.

This brand is being launched to sell men's and women's fashionable clothes online. As the online sale continues to grow rapidly in India, the brands of these brands will be given special emphasis on the solution of the Callysto brand as well as the need to give the option of clothing to stay competitive and at the right price.

About:  Callysto fashion

Callysto fashion is the company which deals in manufacturing, trading and online marketing of casual lifestyle products of men and women. This is the Navi Mumbai based firm.

Callysto Fashion is one of the E-tail players to popularize online shopping which is a new mode of shopping in the country.

Callysto fashion is associated with Iconic NDT Services. Company are in manufacturing and selling t-shirts, casual shirts, jackets & bottom wear related to men & tops, t-shirts, shirts, jeans, jeggings, shorts, trousers, one piece related to women.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Solve basic problems before constructing smart cities' that was published in Newsband

Solve basic problems before constructing smart cities

Will the Smart Cities Mission transform urban life in the agglomerations that enter the elite club? There are 90 cities in the list. Most of them seek funds for affordable housing, new schools and hospitals, and redesign of roads. Any serious attempt at improving the quality of life in cities would depend on how governments approach data. It would be smart, for instance, to use sensors to estimate the flow of vehicles and pedestrians, and create smartphone applications for the public to report on a variety of parameters. Sensors installed on Chicago streets let people download the raw data on air quality, transport, pedestrian movement and standing water.

But how do you make a city smart that doesn't even have basic amenities like drainage, foot path, sufficient public transport, roads. If there are apartment buildings without drainage connected to the public system and drainage lakes found on roads, and this is the state of some cities, how will you make them smart? Without basics, there is no smart.

Smart city projects are depending on misplaced priorities. The basic problems of sanitation and public transport are being untouched. Mere cosmetic decoration will not yield good results. Government should at least bring up the completion of one smart city as quickly as possible. This would help in assessing the various parameters for fast construction of other smart cities, rather than adding new ones to the list.

For making their city smart its residents have to be aware of the fact that their city needs to be clean first and foremost. And in order to achieve that, they must consider their city as their own home. If they do that, no one can prevent the city from becoming smart.

Get into any Transport system: Buses on roads; Metros; Local Trains. It would be observed, without exception, that they would all be congested, over-crowded, and often not running on time as promised. Although various provisions to support the Public that are connected with these services are supposed to be delivered with promptness, courtesy and improved convenience - nothing of this would be seen happening. Then, let us see other Services like Water, Electricity, Road Connectivity, Drainage/ Sanitation - etc etc - the list would go on. One wonders how the Government, with no improvements in current facilities and services in any city (any city) all over India, would redesign some of them as so-called "Smart Cities". Either it’s definitely a case of blind leading the blind or the Public are being hoodwinked with all blah-blah talks and nothing else. The net result is absolute waste of Public money, purloining a part of the same through corruption. India needs Smart Villages - not Cities

Initiating smart cities must be followed by a mission to collect needed data on transport, pollution, existing neatness status of the city, current scenario in disaster management and the like. A smart city should be pollution free and have walkability and mobility with reliable civic services rather than creation of techno based structures.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Save freedom of Press' that was published in Newsband

Save freedom of Press

The Karnataka Assembly has imposed a one-year prison sentence and ₹10,000 fine on the editors of two tabloids. The Constitution protects freedom of speech and expression in the House. There is little merit in subjecting anyone, leave alone a journalist, to penal action for allegedly breaching a legislator’s privilege. The articles concerned were published in Hi Bangalore and Yelah'nka Voice. Ravi Belagere and Anil Raj are the editors of the two tabloids.

The articles had not impeded the independent functioning of the three legislators who had complained against them. They could have pursued an appropriate judicial remedy. The time has come for the legislature to codify privileges and for the higher judiciary to lay down the limits of penal action for breach of privilege.

This news compel us to re-think about the "freedom of speech and expression". Imprisonment of two editors in Karnataka without any serious reason are telling us clearly that there have not been any restriction on legislatures. Do the politicians think that they can make any big mistake or be corrupt but a common man has no right to express?

The Karnataka government ought to pass the rescinding resolution of the punishment to save and cherish press freedom. Press and media are the exhibitors of the polity and society in the right perspective and keep up the democratic values. Hence an affair which draws the odium of the society must be rescinded to save press freedom.

Resolution imposing prison sentence on the editors by Karnataka Assembly sends a perilous signal. Liberty is precious to the citizens and that should remain unfettered. Any measure to guillotine individual freedom of expression makes democracy a mockery. When our Constitution provides for a well-structured, multi-tier judiciary, what is the necessity for a parallel power zone in the legislative?

This resolution could lead to another draconian law and scuttling fundamental right of expression. Matter should be taken to court for deciding validity of such resolutions which restrict dissent.

Two issues can be highlighted in this regard. The first is that 'interest groups' always close ranks and protect, at all costs, their self interests. This applies as much to legislators as journalists. In this case, the legislators of INC & BJP who do not see eye-to-eye on any issue of national interest at all, decided to jointly punish the journalists to preserve their personal interests. This is crass opportunism at its worst. For their part, the journalists also behave in a similar fashion through their various organizations claiming that they are 'above all laws of this land'.

It is increasingly becoming clear that both the legislature and judiciary are openly (brazenly?) usurping into the Constitutional Rights of the People (and systems managed by people) through various means. Additionally, both these wings of Democracy seem to expose tendencies of anger and vendetta, outside of their Constitutional Powers/ Responsibilities/Duties, in dealing with various matters of Governance, legalities and outdoing what could be considered breach of Constitutional Proprieties. The current imbroglio wherein the Karnataka Legislature's attempt to muzzle Freedom of Press through invoking so-called "Breach of Privilege" Law to pass judgment on Karntaka journalist and Ordering his Imprisonment for a year is preposterous and obnoxious by any stretch of democratic thinking. A studied observation of the various happenings would make a serious/studious observer to conclude that Indian democracy could be a den for hooliganism and anarchy - not democracy - sooner than later. 

Dinesh Kamath's news 'IFSC Climbing World Cup 2017 Hosted in Navi Mumbai, Red Bull Athlete Shauna Coxsey & Jongwon Chon wins Climbing World Cup Champion' that was published in Newsband

IFSC Climbing World Cup 2017 Hosted in Navi Mumbai

Red Bull Athlete Shauna Coxsey & Jongwon Chon wins Climbing World Cup Champion

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Great Britain's Red Bull Athlete Shauna Coxsey and Korea's Jongwon Chon emerged champion in women's and men's sections respectively at the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup of Climbing on Sunday. CIDCO Exhibtion Centre in Navi Mumbai played host to the second edition of the India leg of the IFSC Climbing World Cup 2017 and climbers from around the world on June 24-25. India was the sixth stop of the season for the bouldering championship. Athletes from 86 countries are registered with IFSC, the Italian based body, that claims a huge interest in the sport of climbing over last couple of years.

At the CIDCO Exhibition Centre in Vashi, the crowds were enthralled by the prowess of the two champions. Red Bull Athlete Shauna Coxsey just showed why she is the best female climber in the world in the way she emerged champion, while Chon revealed why he is the best amongst men as both topped all the routes on the way to emerging champions.

Red Bull Athlete Coxsey had 11 attempts to achieve four tops (4t11), while she had eight attempts to achieve four bonus points (4b8).Chon, on the other hand, had 10 attempts to achieve four tops (4t10), but took 10 attempts to achieve four bonus points (4b10).

Britain's Red Bull Athlete Shauna Coxsey won a second successive Bouldering World Cup overall title after victory at the Navi Mumbai event in India on Sunday. The 24-year-old from Runcorn became Britain's first champion in the event's 17-year history when she won in 2016. Coxsey needed to finish ninth or higher to guarantee back-to-back titles, but took gold in the penultimate event of the season in Mumbai.

In the women's section, Red Bull Athlete Miho Nonaka from Japan finished second, with compatriot Akiyo Noguchi third. Miho was only off the podium twice in the World Cup in 2016, with a debut World Cup Bouldering win in India and another victory in Germany. She came second in the World Championships in Paris too.

Sport climbing - which includes bouldering - is one of five new sports confirmed for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Ram Nath Kovind versus Meira Kumar' that was published in Newsband

Ram Nath Kovind versus Meira Kumar

In the 2017 presidential election, while the candidature of Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind on behalf of the ruling party was a surprise, the response from the opposition in naming former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was anything but that.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah chose someone less known but from a disadvantaged community. The Congress and its allies came up with the name of Ms. Kumar, daughter of the late leader of the depressed classes, Babu Jagjivan Ram.

As usual, the opposition has reacted too late - and might have been almost deliberately. Thus, whole election procedure has become a formality. This may also indicate the plight of splintered opposition and its lack of any affirmative action

NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind's victory is a foregone conclusion with over 63% of the electoral college votes. CM Nitish Kumar rightly pointed out, "Bihar ki Beti has been nominated only to lose." Congress wants to fight a battle of ideologies and does not want a long-time BJP leader to be President. How about Meira Kumar? Is she an alien from Mars? She is not only a long time Congress leader but also daughter of a senior Congress leader. Congress is in her genes. CM Nitish Kumar reiterated that Ram Nath Kovind as Governor of Bihar worked with immaculate neutrality. How about Meira Kumar? The whole world witnessed her pathetic part as Speaker in the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. She is unqualified and unfit to be President of India.

What was the strategy of UPA and its cohorts all the while insisting on NDA to first announce its Prez. candidate as though such an announcement itself would guarantee its win over the NDA. The truth was that the UPA lacked original thinking and 'were only waiting to react'. There was no creative thinking in the UPA camp to take the initiative. It did not draw any lesson from its Goa debacle. The NDA has the numbers and also a master strategist in the person of Amit Shah. So it carries the day.

It is a universal fact that the ornamental Presidential post in India is just for rituals that have no relevance except creating a painting of Human signature on all Laws/Enactments/Rules etc as passed by the Legislature and at other times Notified by the Govt of the day. Election of the President is mere endorsement of that ritual, and when the Opposition brings in their candidate, they create a ritual within the ritual.

Regarding Presidential elections, why is the Opposition not having any credibility? The opposition appears like group of criminals and corrupt, who are branding themselves as "Secular", while in reality being completely communal.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Pak supporters tried under sedition law' that was published in Newsband

Pak supporters tried under sedition law

Several people across the country have been booked under the sedition law – Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code for celebrating the Pakistani cricket team’s victory over India. In Kedar Nath Singh vs the State of Bihar a Constitution Bench had stated that the charge of sedition must demonstrate an intention or tendency to subvert the government by violent means. So can celebrating a rival team’s cricket victory – even if that team is Pakistan –be called sedition?

It’s true that everyone knows the nefarious role of Pakistan in last 75 years. Hence anyone aligned to Pak against our interests - whether by way of treachery in battle or clapping in cricket games should be tried under sedition. Pakistan is an enemy country and only traitors will celebrate an enemy. All who indulge in similar activities should face the sedition law. Stone pelters in Kashmir must be booked under sedition law. Violence against state as we see in Kashmir is the last stage of sedition act. The first stage is giving the moral support that Pakistan and enemy within extends to traitors in India. Anti Nationals must be stopped in the first stage itself.

Unlike most laws drafted in British India, elegant, finely chiselled, useful even today, the law on sedition was deliberately loose limbed, allowed the colonial power to lock up someone who rightly resented their presence and expressed unhappiness over it, and throw away the key for a lifetime. It ought to have been rescinded very early in the life of the republic.

If only the law of sedition is being applied irresponsibly to trivial situations, the court may be pleased to hold the law as it stands incompatible with the value system of a vibrant, raucous democracy. A new law could always be drafted.

Lastly, a question that arises is if Indians in America had to celebrate the victory of Indian sports team against American sports team, and if the American Law had to try them under sedition law, then would the Indians tolerate it? In this case, one should remember that Indo-American relations is not at all like Indo-Pak relations. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Unselfish decision by Kumble' that was published in Newsband

Unselfish decision by Kumble

Anil Kumble quit as the national team’s head coach. Skipper Kohli and coach Kumble had seemed to be a perfect match. The duo oversaw five Test series victories against opponents besides winning one-day internationals and Twenty20s. The lone blip was the loss to Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final this Sunday.

There was alleged rift between Kohli and Kumble. The coach’s farewell statement was “It was apparent that the partnership was untenable.” He clearly did not want to be drawn into an unpleasant battle with Kohli. There is a precedent in the spat between Ganguly and Greg Chappell. The latest development highlights the superstar culture undermining Indian cricket. The two, for the last few months, mostly spoke in monosyllables.

The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) — comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman — had endorsed an extension to Kumble’s tenure. But they made it clear that Kumble would only be retained if his differences with Kohli were solved. Though the BCCI attempted to resolve the misunderstandings between the captain and me, it was apparent that the partnership was untenable.

Kohli is no genius. So far he has only won at home. Big thing is winning worldwide touranments - he failed miserably in CT 2017. He has not won anything in SA, Australia or England yet. But he is treated as God by BCCI and gets his own choice of a coach. So it will be just one person making top level decisions.

Kohli thinks he is demigod because huge cricket supporters have made him one. Time to abandon these false gods and embrace our national sport hockey. It is the arrogance, 'media hyped image' and financial earnings of Virat Kohli, which are responsible for state of Indian Cricket today. Anil Kumble has been a brilliant and no nonsense coach since he has assumed duties. Virat Kohli is an excellent cricketer but a poor leader.

Fighting it out would have been more Kumble-like, but that would have caused more friction in the team and could even have harmed performance of players like Kohli. As such Kumble has taken an unselfish decision that is best for the India Team's future performance.

Dinesh Kamath's column 'New movie released in Navi Mumbai' (Tubelight) that was published in Newsband

New movie released in Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

Tubelight

Tubelight is an Indian war drama film written and directed by Kabir Khan. The film is produced by Salman Khan and Kabir Khan. Set in the 1962 Sino-Indian War, it stars Salman Khan in the lead role who plays a man from India. It is confirmed from the director that Shah Rukh Khan will play a cameo on the film. Julius Packiam and Pritam scored the music of the film, with the former composing the film score and latter composing the songs.

The film is a story depicting how people get affected when their countries go to war. Particularly it is the journey of a character called Laxman Singh Bisht (Salman Khan) a gullible, good-hearted person who sets out to find his brother Bharat (Sohail Khan). It is set in the backdrop of 1962 Sino-Indian war, where a disputed Himalayan border served as the main pretext for the war. It isn’t a political saga. It’s more a human drama.  The film has political backdrop. 'Tubelight' tells us the story of a small-town simpleton Laxman (Salman Khan) who is waiting for his brother Bharat (Sohail Khan) to come back home safely as he is braving the war at the Indo-China border. The movie, as mentioned earlier, is set in the background of the 1962 Sino-Indian war. We follow Laxman's journey in finding his faith even when everyone in his village makes fun of him. The villagers call him tubelight because it takes time for Laxman to register normal feelings, just like a tubelight flickers before it lights up. His uncle, wonderfully played by the late Om Puri, teaches him about following Mahatma Gandhi's principle of having faith in your belief. Laxman also forms a great friendship with Guo, played by child actor Matin Rey Tangu, and his mother who are Indians but have a Chinese background.

The film has Salman Khan as Laxman Singh Bisht, Sohail Khan as Bharat Singh Bisht, Matin Rey Tangu, Zhu Zhu, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Om Puri and Shah Rukh Khan in a cameo appearance.

Sony Music India will release the soundtrack album of the film. All music composed by Pritam. The film has songs like "Radio", "Naach Meri Jaan", "Tinka Tinka Dil Mera", "Main Agar" and "Tinka Tinka Dil Mera" (Film Version). 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Ram Nath Kovind to be the next Indian President?' that was published in Newsband

Ram Nath Kovind to be the next Indian President?

The office of the President should not be part of either the government or the Opposition. Ram Nath Kovind has been chosen as presidential candidate by NDA government.

Most appointments to high office are needlessly politicised these days. Presidential post is no exception. The Opposition meanwhile has put up another Dalit candidate to counter Kovind.

When KR Narayanan became president much was made of his Dalit credentials. The NDA is being accused of playing the Dalit card too.  

Reasons why PM Modi picked Ram Nath Kovind for the President’s post is that  Kovind is a Dalit from Uttar Pradesh, and if elected, he will be the second state leader after Modi to land a top post in the government. He will also become the first leader from Uttar Pradesh to be appointed President. The party examined a long list of candidates before zeroing in on Kovind.

By picking Kovind, BJP and the RSS leaders have given a fresh push to their strategy of integrating Dalits into Hindu society. Nominating a Dalit for the President’s post also makes it difficult for Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi to further their own interests in this respect. Another reason was to divide the Opposition and the last one was to focus on Uttar Pradesh which gave 73 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP in 2014, and propped a saffron government with two-thirds majority in the 2017 assembly polls.

If the nomination of Ram Nath Kovind as the NDA’s presidential candidate was a surprise, so was the nomination of Pratibha Patil in 2007.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Congrats, Pakistan!' that was published in Newsband

Congrats, Pakistan!

Pakistan scored a thumping 180-run victory over India in the ICC Champions Trophy final at London’s Oval. There were rumours floating about of a cold equation between Kohli and coach Anil Kumble — usually it is Pakistan that grapples with revolts in the dressing room. However, the arch-rivals did well to reach the tournament’s climactic end. The squad that ranked eighth walked away with the silverware.

India and Pakistan did well in reaching the final. Despite all the technicalities involved cricket is still a luck game and when the teams are close in their talent like these teams the results can go either way. Win some and lose some is the sum of game. The team that performs best on a given day wins and it was Pakistan's day. The winning team should be congratulated. But, it is sad that not much attention was paid to Indians winning hockey match against Pakistan. This shows commercial hypocrisy of the mainstream media and public.

India losing in final doesn't put Pakistan on top of India. India had a bad day but it is immeasurably stronger than Pakistan in all fronts. Virat Kohli committed a folly in electing to bat.

It's too early to believe that this will be a revival in Pakistan cricket. Their pace attack has always been good. It's the batting that seems to be strengthened with some young blood. However, Pakistani batsmen showing initial promise have rarely gone on to be consistent world-class players. It remains to be seen whether this so-called revival was a flash in the pan.

Anyway, it was a brilliant display of batting, bowling and fielding by the Pakistanis, no doubt. On the contrary, it was an off-day for our boys as nothing went in their favour. Bumrah's wicket of Fakhar was off a no-ball and an LBW decision wasn't even reviewed. A few run outs could not be effected, unlike in earlier games. The Pakistani batsmen survived the first ten overs by luck as streaky shots either missed stumps or the fielders. It would have been a different ball-game had one or two wickets fallen at this stage. To add to our woes, Bumrah, Ashwin and the usually miserly Jadeja were wayward and not only conceded extras but also were easy picks to score off. Bumrah's famed Yorkers never materialized. Ashwin has a poor record away from homes anyway. Amir is a great bowler no doubt but B. Kumar bowled better in the overall circumstances. Consistent India can nevertheless hold its head high. One swallow doesn't make a summer for the awfully inconsistent Pakistanis.

Anyway, Congratulations, Pakistan team!

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'NMMC’s war against illegal constructions' that was published in Newsband

NMMC’s war against illegal constructions

Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has asked the fire fighters to buy their own rain gear and apply for reimbursement thereafter. This has created unrest among the fire fighting staff. The raincoat and gum boots of fire fighting staff need to be standard quality. The civic administration has set a limit of Rs 730 for gum boots and 782 for raincoat. Fire fighters are supposed to be important persons in any city and hence NMMC should be kind enough to provide them whatever gears and equipment they require without compromising on the quality of things they provide to them.

NMMS has also asked the land owners and developers to take adequate measures during monsoon season. NMMC has issued a series of directives that include ensuring no water logging occurs in pits dug up for construction purposes. NMMC wants the builders to ensure that construction activities do not cause any damage to neighbouring buildings. Also, if developers fail to secure these dug-up areas, it becomes a potentially risky spots, especially for children. Incomplete construction sites should have compound walls so that children and animals cannot enter, as per NMMC’s directives.

NMMC has asked citizens to report illegal structures. NMMC has decided to designate ward officers for acting upon complaints regarding illegal constructions lodged via toll-free numbers, WhatsApp and the official website. The officers will attend to the complaints promptly, said senior civic officials. NMMC has appealed to the citizens to lodge complaints against illegal constructions in their neighbourhood. They also requested prospective home and shop buyers to avoid striking property deals where OC and civic approvals have not been obtained. The high court also has asked NMMC to crack the whip on illegal constructions and set up dedicated grievance redressal centres at various ward offices. These are great steps taken in the direction of stopping the menace of illegal constructions coming up in many parts of the city. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Modi-Trump Meet will benefit both India and US' that was published in Newsband

Modi-Trump Meet will benefit both India and US

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to the US for his first meeting with President Donald Trump. Trump has shaken up US foreign policy by challenging several established principles. He has come up with ‘America First’ framework. The American president has a highly personalised approach to foreign policy. Modi has also imparted his personal touch to Indian foreign policy. Both leaders have a clear vision for their respective country.

Modi-Trump meeting provides a good opportunity to update where each country stands in the other’s foreign policy priority. Trump has indicated a tough line on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and described India as a terror victim. This is an advantage for India.

The first meeting between the two leaders will be important. The PM and Mr. Trump are expected to discuss on the defence partnership, counter-terror cooperation, as well as cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. Will the PM raise contentious issues like the U.S. pullout from the Paris Climate Change agreement and new restrictions on H1B visas for Indian professionals?

PM should get the U.S. President to reverse his decision which discriminates against Indian professionals. He cannot return empty-handed. Modi is likely to highlight the importance of Indian companies to the U.S. economy.

The meeting will set the tone for the bilateral ties that have seen a steady growth in the last 20 years. This is an opportunity for the two leaders to unveil their vision of the bilateral relationship that has grown steadily over the last 20 years.

New Delhi would want clarity from the Trump administration on the H-1B regime, the short-term visa for skilled workers which is crucial to Indian software majors’ overseas business. Trump sees the arrangement as a ploy to take away American jobs.

Modi enjoyed a good rapport with Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama, it will be interesting to see how his relationship shapes with the billionaire-turned-politician. Trump not meeting Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during Saudi Arabia holds a symbolic significance for Delhi.

Past US administrations have spoken out against terror emanating from Pakistani soil but little has been done on the ground to change that. Trump is expected to take a harder line.  The US was India’s major defence partner. There is no indication that they (the US) want to dilute this relationship.

New Delhi is also upset over Trump’s comments that India signed the Paris deal for “billions and billions of dollars in foreign aid”.

Trump "looks forward" to his meeting with Modi to discuss ways to strengthen the bilateral ties to "advance our common priorities: fighting terrorism, promoting economic growth and reforms, and expanding security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region." You can expect the two of them to set forth a vision that will expand the US-India partnership in an ambitious and worthy way of both countries' people. The bilateral talks appear to be no bed of roses as they come amidst thorny issues like US' plans to reduce the number of H-1B visa slots that are mainly used by Indian IT workers and its withdrawal from the historic climate accord.

US energy and technologies, including natural gas, are helping to build Prime Minister Modi's vision for a new India and creating thousands of US jobs in the process. India said it signed the Paris deal not under duress or for lure of money but due to its commitment to protect the environment.

Apart from ways to enhance trade and business cooperation, Modi and Trump are expected to discuss defence ties.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India comes closer to eliminating Child Labour' that was published in Newsband

India comes closer to eliminating Child Labour

India has ratified two key global conventions meant to keep children away from work, decades since they were originally adopted by the International Labour Organisation. The ILO treaties are about the minimum age at which a person may begin work and the hazardous industries where she may not.

The 2016 Act contains the controversial provision that condones the employment of children below 14 years under the rubric of family enterprises and the declassification of several industries as hazardous occupations. According to the 2016 amendment, children may work in domestic enterprises only for three hours after school, and not between 7 pm and 8 am. These restrictions are intended to ensure attendance at school.

The 2016 child labour law amendment is in no way a dilution of 1986 law. The earlier law simply provided a list of occupations, where child labour was banned, but the current law prohibits child labour in all activities with few exceptions. Simply, it's like moving from 70% to 80%, while still short of 100%, and not the other way round.

Child labour is the biggest evil of our society. Our government make many promises in direction of eliminating child labour. But, they fail to follow it. Because it is not so easy task. We all have to cooperate with the government to achieve this goal. Child labour prevention on a bigger scale is still a dream in India and will remain like this unless the judiciary acts in a strict manner against those promoting it.

Rajya Sabha in July 2016 had passed a bill which prohibits employment of children below 14 years in all occupations or processes except where the child helps his  family, with the provision for imprisonment up to two years for any violation. 'The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill' makes employment of children below 14 years as cognizable offence for employers and provides for penalty for parents. The Bill defines children between 14-18 years as adolescents and lays down that they should not be employed in any hazardous occupations and processes.

Three ministries - Human Resources Development, Women and Child Development and Labour should come out with composite schemes for welfare of child labour and trade unions should be consulted while formulating these.

India has become an organised system for exploitation of children" and "it is a matter of shame" that government is working in piecemeal. There is a need for monitoring of child labour at district level and it may be done through the respective members of Parliament.

Also provide education to children so that they can earn money and support family, and do not get engaged anti-social activities. 40 per cent families fall in the BPL category and they find it difficult to send their children for studies. Such families should be given some stipend to support study of their children.

Child labour is an "oxymoron" as associating child with labour is in itself destroying childhood. We need to address child labour in relation of all other sectors of development and progress. Poverty is a big element and it plays a major role in child labour. There should be guidelines for child actors who work in mega serials that run for long periods of time. Inter-ministerial coordination is crucial for effective implementation of rehabilitation of children.