Lara-Lappa Budget – 900 Jetliners vs 700 Locos
February02, 2018 (C) Ravinder Singh progressindia2015@gmail.com
There is general perception that this government works for Rich & Super Rich – this was evident when budget speech disclosed when for Rich Class 900 Jetliners are to be inducted by private airlines and 90 airports to be built to cost Rs.6,00,000 Crores – to sustain 18% growth in aviation sector to be SUCKED UP FROM BANKS NO NEED OF BUDGET but Indian Railways Mainline throughput is ZERO in four years – IR is to Induct 700 Locos worth Rs.5,000 Cr for Rest of 1.3b Indians mostly as replacement for aging Diesel or Electric Locos.
Air Traffic Doubled in 4 Years – 614 Lakh 2013 to 117 Lakh in 2017
No Budget Allocation Growth in all major sectors in this year’s.
Tax Receipts Growth UPA 20% in 2 Yrs, NDA – 27% in 3 Yrs
ACTUAL TAX Receipts in Rs. Crores
http://www.indiabudget.gov.in/ub2018-19/rec/ar.pdf – http://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2017-2018/ub2017-18/rec/ar.pdf – http://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2015-2016/ub2015-16/rec/ar.pdf , http://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2013-2014/ub2013-14/rec/ar.pdf
Description
|
2011-12
|
2013-14
|
2014-15
|
2015-16
|
2016-17
|
Corporation Tax
|
3,22,816
|
3,946,78
|
4,28,925
|
4,53,228
|
4,84,924
|
Income Tax
|
1,70,342
|
2,428,57
|
2,65,733
|
2,87,637
|
3,64,604
|
Customs
|
1,49,327
|
1,720,85
|
1,88,016
|
2,10,338
|
2,25,370
|
Excise
|
1,45,607
|
1,701,98
|
1,89,952
|
2,88,073
|
3,82,094
|
Service Tax
|
97,508
|
1,547,78
|
1,67,969
|
2,11,414
|
2,54,499
|
Gross Revenue
|
13,04,365
|
15,59,447
|
15,85,921
|
17,74,434
|
19,84,089
|
http://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2015-2016/ub2015-16/bag/bag11.pdf – http://www.indiabudget.gov.in/ub2018-19/bag/bag1.pdf –
Actual Total Expenditure growth in three years 2014-17 was from Rs.15,59,447 Cr to Rs.19,75,194 Cr. is 26.7%.
Most Important sectors are UNDERPERFORMING –
1. Agriculture, 2. MSMEs, 3. Railways, 4. R&D Patent, 5. Industry
Exports, 6. Education, 7. Healthcare, 8. Irrigation & Multipurpose Dams, 9. Solar PV – 13,000 MW out of 1,00,000 MW 2021 target in four years, 10. Food Processing.
Most projects were Unviable – Waste of Public Money – i.e. Rs.16,00,000 Cr Invested in Power Sector Produced Average 20,00,000 MW – Energy Efficiency Neglected.
Ravinder Singh, Inventor & Consultant, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND PROJECTS
Y-77, Hauz Khas, ND -110016, India. Ph: 091- 8826415770, 9871056471, 9650421857
Ravinder Singh* is a WIPO awarded inventor specializing in Power, Transportation,
Smart Cities, Water, Energy Saving, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Technologies and Projects
GREAT SUCCESS FOR 48 HOURS DELHI TRADE BANDH AGAINST SEALING.
CAIT SENT 12 POINT CHARTER TO HARDEEP PURI
MARKETS TO OPEN TOMMORROW IN DELHI
The 48 hours long Delhi Trade Bandh called by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) enters into second day today as all major wholesale and retail markets of Delhi observed a complete Trade Bandh. The markets wore a deserted look and no business activity took place in any of the markets of Delhi.
About 100 trade leaders from all States joined by hundreds of traders from Delhi took out a Protest March from Red Fort to Town Hall, Chandni Chowk and later sat on a Dharna demanding justice for Delhi traders on sealing issue. Protest Marches, Candle March, Demonstrations were held in various markets across Delhi.
” The 48 hours Delhi Trade Bandh was spontaneous and successful and amply reflected the amount of anguish and resentment of the traders over arbitrary sealing being conducted by the Monitoring Committee in a most dictatorial manner keeping aside the law book of MCD Act,1957″-said Mr. Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) while claiming the great success of Delhi Trade Bandh.
Though appreciating the proposals mooted by DDA for amending the Master Plan to bring relief to traders from sealing, the CAIT has sent a 12 point Traders Charter to Mr. Hardeep Puri, Union Minister for Urban Development urging him to take necessary steps to mitigate the problems of the traders on account of sealing.
The 12 Point Charter includes keeping status quo in special area till the time redevelopment plan of special area is prepared & implemented, the LSC declared in 1998 should be charged the rates prevailing in that year, the plot size in LSC should be increased from 175 meter to 250 meter. While regularising & enhancing the FAR, the condition of parking availability should be withdrawn, three colonies Greater Kailash, Green Park & South Extension developed by DLF should be enlisted on the list of Rehabilitation Colonies developed by DLF, Commercial use of basement should be allowed uniformly in any street, the limit of paying conversion charges should be fixed for 10 years.
Interest & penalty should be waived for the persons who have not yet paid conversion charges for any reason and henceforth penalty & interest may be levied for future defaulters, a new survey of roads which have not been surveyed so far should be conducted and notify them as commercial or mixed land use, the warehouses or godowns made on agriculture land or in non conforming areas should be allowed to conduct any type of business activity, the negative trade should be allowed to operate till the time such trade are shifted. Condition of obtaining no objection from fire department for usage of basement should be abolished.
With successful 48 hours Delhi Trade Bandh, the CAIT has declared that Markets will open tomorrow except those markets who observe Sunday as Weekly holiday.
Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow honoured to nominated Noble
Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong, Nathan Law, and Alex Chow said Friday they were honoured to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by a group of US lawmakers at a time when the city’s freedoms are “under serious attack by China”.
A bipartisan group of four senators and eight members of the House announced Thursday that they had nominated the activists “in recognition of their peaceful efforts to bring political reform and self-determination to Hong Kong.”
Wong, Law, and Chow — who shot to prominence as leaders of the 2014 pro-democracy Umbrella Movement — said they were honoured by the nomination, but warned that Beijing was targeting the freedoms enjoyed by residents of Hong Kong as a semi-autonomous part of China.
The city’s administration — handpicked by Beijing — has “criminalised people for their speech, deprived people of their right to stand in elections, ousted elected lawmakers and punished dissenters by jailing them,” the activists said in a statement.
“At this critical juncture, we need to join hands with the international community and together defend Hong Kong as a bridgehead for democratic movements.”
Hong Kong has been governed under a “one country, two systems” deal since 1997 when Britain handed the territory back to China, and its residents have rights unseen on the mainland, including freedom of speech.
But there are growing concerns that these liberties are being eroded. Wong, Law and Chow said Friday the system is “under serious attack by China”.
Officials at the foreign ministry in Beijing did not respond to requests for comment on Friday.
Tens of thousands of protesters paralysed parts of Hong Kong during the Umbrella Movement, demanding fully free elections for the city’s leader.
The rallies failed to win concessions and since then, Wong and other leading activists have been charged over their involvement.
India clinch ICC U-19 Champions World Cup
India beat Australia by 8 wickets to win the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, on Saturday.India clinched the world cup for the 4th time.
Shubhman Gill declared the Man of the Series, Befittingly, Manjot Kalra is the Man of the Match for his solid century.
BCCI announces prize money for India U19 team. Rahul Dravid, Head Coach India U19 to be awarded with Rs 50 lakh, team members and support staff to get Rs 20 Lakh each #U19WorldCupFinal.
Manjot Karla magnificent ton lead India to their record 4th Under-19 World Cup title after the bowlers had restricted the Aussies to 217 all out inside 48 overs. Manoj Kalra’s knock of 101 runs off 102 balls was best to get the Man of the Match. Kalra scoring freely, India won by eight wickets as they chased down Australia´s 216 all out with more than 11 overs to spare.
Manoj Kalra, score included eight fours and three sixes, and he was well supported by wicket-keeper Harvik Desai, who was 47 not out when he finished the match with a boundary.Duo put on 89 for the third wicket, while Prithvi Shaw scored 29 at the top of the innings and Shubman Gill added 31.
“I really can´t express what I´m feeling now,” said captain Prithvi Shaw.
Man of the match Kalra, felt the wicket was ideal for batting. “I enjoyed it a lot. The conditions were good. Not a difficult wicket, it was flat and good to bat on,” he said.
Australia´s innings, ended in the 48th over, strikers to ball ,score hails by Jonathan Merlo´s 76 after it fell apart despite a promising start.
Jack Edwards (28) and Max Bryant (14) batted at a run a ball through the first five overs.
But once both were dismissed by Ishan Porel, the steam went out of the Australian innings.
Merlo and Param Uppal (34) put on 75 for the fourth wicket but it took more than 17 overs, and there was little resistance from the following batsmen.
Porel finished with two for 30 while left-arm spinner Shiva Singh was instrumental in slowing the Australian run rate with two for 36.
GAIL fast-tracks work to feed gas to Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga pipeline
GAIL places order of Rs. 440 crore for 350 km Vijaipur (UP) – Auraiya (MP) spurline
Rs. 3500 crore Capex for City Gas Distribution in FY 2018-19 by GAIL Group companies to fulfill Hon’ble PM’s target of 1 crore PNG connections by 2020
New Delhi,2nd February, 2018: GAIL (India) Limited has placed order of Rs. 440 crore for laying of approx. 350 Kms of pipeline from Vijaipur (in the state of Madhya Pradesh) to Auraiya (in the state of Uttar Pradesh). This is a part of the spurline of approx. 665 km length from Vijaipur to Phulpur (in the state of Uttar Pradesh) to the existing HVJ-DVPL upgradation pipeline system. The pipeline laying contracts for 315 km stretch from Auraiya to Phulpur was earlier awarded during November 2016.
The Vijaipur to Phulpur pipeline shall provide the gas feed to the ongoing prestigious 2655 Km long Jagdispur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra pipeline (JHBDPL) project of GAIL, also known as the ‘Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga’ project, inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in July 2015. The JHBDPL will pass through the state of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha, and the project is progressing in full swing which will usher Industrial development in East India by supplying environmentally clean Natural Gas to Fertilizer & Power plant, Refineries, Steel plants, City Gas Distribution and other Industries.
Shri B. C. Tripathi, CMD, GAIL (India) Ltd. said that “ GAIL has awarded contracts of Rs. 5400 crore in the current fiscal year which includes Rs 3500 crore for procurement of pipeline and Rs. 1900 crore for laying of pipes. GAIL has awarded till date contracts worth Rs. 7500 crore for ongoing pipeline projects of around 4000 kms in south and eastern India. The two major ongoing projects i.e. Kochi-Kottanad-Mangalore project in Kerala and Karnataka state and JGBDPL projects are progressing well.”
Shri Tripathi emphasized that “GAIL is committed to complete both the projects well within scheduled time and cost. The two projects will form a vital part of National Gas Grid and also provide huge employment opportunities. The pipe line will provide impetuous to economic development in the area.”
Shri Tripathi outlayed GAIL group’s plan for CGD sector by stating that “GAIL along with its subsidiaries and JV’s are fully geared up to fulfill Hon’ble Prime Minister’s target of 1 crore PNG connections by 2020. Capex in the current fiscal year has increased by more than 50% in the CGD sector. In the current financial year 2017-18 GAIL along with its subsidiaries and JV’s have issued Orders of Rs. 2200 crore for various city gas projects across the country. ”
He further added that “All the Group companies have made detail plan for expansion of City gas infrastructure in coming years. Accordingly, the Boards of respective companies have approved Capex of Rs. 3500 crore for FY 2018-19. The outlay will be increased after PNGRB’s IX & X bidding round for 142 new cities. The focus on CGD sector will help in curbing pollution by providing clean fuel to households, transportation sector, small industries and commercial establishment.”
Think Digital, Be Digital
Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee of IAMAI
Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee of IAMAI on references to ‘Cryptocurrency’ by the Finance Minister of India
National, February 2, 2018: Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee of IAMAI on references to ‘Cryptocurrency’ by the Finance Minister of India. The Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee (BACC) of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is happy that the Finance Minister has recognized the importance and popularity of cryptocurrency, and has chosen to talk about it on budget day. As far as the exact content of what he said, we are neutral-to-positive about it. However, we are pained to see his words being misinterpreted and misreported. Hence we are issuing this clarification, as well as our position.
Mr. Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister of India said, ‘The Government does not consider cryptocurrencies legal tender or coin and will take all measures to eliminate use of these crypto-assets in financing illegitimate activities or as part of the payment system.’
Looking closely that means:
(i) Cryptocurrencies are not legal tender or coin
(ii) The Government will take all measures to eliminate use of these crypto-assets in financing illegitimate activities
(iii) The Government will take all measures to eliminate use of these crypto-assets as part of the payment system
Here is what we understand, and where we stand on all of these:
(i) During question hour in Rajya Sabha on Jan 2, 2018, the Finance Minister had made the exact same point, where he stated that, ‘bitcoins or such cryptocurrencies are not legal tender’. This has been the position taken by almost all Governments around the world, and we regard this statement quite neutrally. It is our understanding that only currency notes and coins are legal tender. That doesn’t make any comment on the ‘illegality’ of other assets. It must be emphasized that gold, stocks, bonds, and other such assets are also not ‘legal tender’. To extrapolate that to mean that such assets are ‘illegal’ is irresponsible.
(ii) Every citizen and business in this country should play their role in eliminating financing of illegitimate activities, regardless of whether such financing is done using legal tender, cryptocurrency, gold, or any other medium. We welcome this move by the Government, and want to wholeheartedly support the Government in this move. Our members already maintain a no-compromise approach to KYC (know your customer) and AML (anti money laundering) processes. We encourage the Government to work with our members, as we are committed to detect, report, and eliminate suspicious transactions in pretty much the same way as other institutions do. This will also generate confidence in our banking partners.
(iii) We understand the Government’s position in wanting to eliminate the use of crypto-assets as part of the payment system. Since we are committed to support every regulation that the Government brings in, we will work with the Government to help it achieve its stated objective.
When a platform as significant as the Union Budget speech mentions cryptocurrencies, it is clear that the sector is coming of age. We welcome this positive development, and see it as an important milestone in the journey to policy-clarity and consumer-education.
Contact Person: Ajeet Khurana, Head, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee (BACC) of IAMAI
About Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee of IAMAI
The Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Committee of India (BACC) is formed under the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). Most of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges are members of the BACC. It is an advocate of digital financial innovation and works with different stakeholders in the Government and industry bodies. BACC is organizing itself as a Self-Regulated Organization (SRO) and promotes best practices in transparency, customer education and protection.
“India-China Economic Relations: Then to Now”_Tuesday, 06 February 2018
“India-China Economic Relations: Then to Now”_Tuesday, 06 February 2018
The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
cordially invites you to a Seminar
on
“India-China Economic Relations:
Then to Now”
by
Dr. Sriparna Pathak
Dr. Sriparna Pathak
Don Bosco University, Guwahati
at 03.00 pm on Tuesday, 06 February 2018
in the Seminar Room, Library Building
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
Teen Murti House, New Delhi-110011
All are welcome.
CRISIL & SIDBI invite you to the launch of CriSidEx
Invitation” CRISIL & SIDBI
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Syed Saqib Ahmed maintains four-shot lead.CIAL
Syed Saqib Ahmed maintains four-shot lead to stay frontrunner, stares at maiden title.
Abhijit Singh Chadha in second place.
Kochi, February 2, 2018: Bengaluru lad Syed Saqib Ahmed has done all the hard work for three days to get within striking distance of his maiden title at the PGTI Cochin Masters presented by CIAL Golf Club. The final round of the tournament will now be a test of the 23-year-old’s mental fortitude and finishing skills as he looks to drive home a four-shot advantage.
Saqib produced a rollercoaster one-under-71 on Friday to maintain his four-shot lead at 10-under-206 at the Rs. 40 lakh event.
Chandigarh’s Abhijit Singh Chadha (70), the only player besides Saqib to have posted three sub-par rounds in the week so far, rose from overnight tied third to second place at six-under-210. Abhijit’s good friend and roommate for the week, Amardip Sinh Malik (72) of Noida, will join him in the leader group on Saturday as the latter slipped one spot to third at five-under-211 in round three.
Syed Saqib Ahmed (69-66-71) looked in control for the most part of his round having made five birdies at the cost of just two bogeys on the first 12 holes. He found the hazard on the fourth and missed an up and down on the fifth to drop consecutive bogeys. But those errors were neutralized by his two 20-feet birdie conversions on the second and 12th along with three more holes where he gained shots.
Saqib, who had won multiple titles on the junior and amateur circuits before turning professional in 2015, then had a slump towards the end of his round as he bogeyed the 14th and 18th, the latter courtesy a three-putt. He thus closed the day with a modest 71.
Ahmed, India’s top junior golfer back in 2010, said, “I may be leading going into the final round of a professional event for the first time but I have been in this position before as a junior and amateur on a number of occasions. It’s now about staying calm and thinking about the occasions when I closed out matches at the junior and amateur level successfully.
“Today the birdie on 12th that moved me to three-under got me in a really good position, but the two three-putts on the last three holes, one for par and the other for bogey, were quite disappointing.
“The plan to take one shot at a time and not get too ahead of myself has worked for me till now. In round four, if I can just stick to that plan, I think I can do what I’ve come here to do. I’ve been working on the mental side of my game and hopefully that should bear fruit come the final round,” added Saqib, who had earlier produced a hole-in-one in round two.
Abhijit Singh Chadha (69-71-70) raced to three-under for the day on the front-nine as a result of two long birdie conversions and an exceptional chip that set up a tap-in birdie on the ninth. Chadha, a two-time winner on the PGTI, then found the hazard to drop a shot on the 11th. Thereafter Abhijit made pars all the way till the end to submit a card of 70.
Noida’s Amardip Sinh Malik, the first round leader, shot a second straight 72 to occupy third place, five behind the current leader.
Chandigarh’s Sujjan Singh signed the day’s best score of 68 to move into joint fourth along with Gaurav Pratap Singh (69) of Noida and Gurugram-based Ankur Chadha (69) at four-under-212.
Delhi’s Shamim Khan, the reigning PGTI Order of Merit champion, was placed tied 13th with a total of even-par-216.
MEDIA INVITATION “ROTARY UTSAV 2018”
MEDIA INVITATION PICTURE N KRAFT
On behalf of
Rotary International District 3141’s Annual District Conference (DISCON)
Cordially seek your gracious presence at
“ROTARY UTSAV 2018”
Day 1- 3rd February, 2018, Programmes –
1) 12:10 to 12:35 – Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, who operated upon the world’s heaviest woman, Eman Ahmad from Egypt, will speak on Bariatric surgery and Case Study of Eman
2) 2:10 to 3.00 pm- Banker and Social Activist Amruta Devendra Fadnavis, Member of Parliament Supriya Sule, Advocate Abha Singh, Group President of YES Bank Namita Vikas, Brand Consultant & Designer Nisha Jamvwal will discuss about Women Empowerment: Climb to an Undisclosed Destination
3) 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Shri Shatrughan Sinha, Member of Parliament, Film Star will speak on Can Actors be true politicians?: Challenges and Advantages
4) 3:40 to 4:00 – Dr Niranjan Hiranandani, National President of NAREDCO (National Real Estate Development Council) on “Myths and facts of the latest Housing Policies”
5) 4:00 to 4:25 – Vikram Sakhuja- Group CEO of Madison and President of The Advertising Club on “Crystal Gazing: How we will consume media in future”
6) 4:30- 5:00 pm- Himesh Reshammiya, who is being awarded for excellence in music will speak on “I dreamt, I believed, I succeeded’ and sing a few songs
About – A carefully crafted conference where Central and State Ministers, Corporate Honchos, Consul Generals, Bureaucrats, Enforcement Officers, Sportsmen, Bankers, Film Stars, Spiritual Leaders and Achievers in various fields will invigorate, inspire and educate them either through Keynote/ Special Addresses or through theme-specific panel discussions.
We seek the pleasure of your presence
Date & Time:- 3rd February, 2018 on Saturday at 1:30PM
Venue- J.W. Marriott, next to Terminal 2, Sahar, Andheri (East).
Quake 6 M Pacific Antarctica Ridge
| USGS ENS <ens@ens.usgs.gov> |
| To Nksagar_1@yahoo.com |
| Friday, 2 February, 2018 12:03 PM |
| Click to view full HTML |
M6.0 – PACIFIC-ANTARCTIC RIDGE
| Magnitude | 6.0 |
| Date-Time |
|
| Location | 65.811S 175.635W |
| Depth | 10 km |
| Distances |
|
| Location Uncertainty | Horizontal: 11.5 km; Vertical 1.9 km |
Valuing Waste or Wasting value?
|
| The CPR Scaling City Institutions for Sanitation (SCI-FI) programme and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) are pleased to invite you to a seminar on Valuing Waste or Wasting value? Rethinking waste processing in fast growing middle-income cities Presentations by Irène Salenson, Rémi de Bercegol, Swati Singh Sambyal, and a representative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs |
| Monday, 12 February 2018, 2:30 p.m. |
| Conference Hall, Centre for Policy Research |
 |
| Image: Rémi de Bercegol |
| Waste management was often neglected in urban policies, until waste became a major issue in the world’s urbanization. There is now an acknowledged need to control the socio-environmental impacts of waste flows, since they may generate various kinds of pollution and environmental injustice. Moreover, waste management became a strategic tool for urban marketing since it helps to strengthen the attractiveness of the “best practices”’ cities.
Scarcity of natural resources combined with recent growth in plastic and electronic waste generation led to the illusion that municipal waste has a potential high economic value, some even saying that gold is hidden within our garbage bins and landfills. Indeed, raw material can be extracted from disposed goods and waste can be burnt in order to produce energy. But these solutions require segregation and processing which are not costless. On the other hand, even the conventional waste management systems generate significant costs.
This workshop proposes to think out of the box about waste recovery. A main goal is not to lose the valuable part of garbage, by supporting reuse and recycling, but another important objective is to assess the economic, social and environmental costs of the various waste processing options.
Irène Salenson (AFD) will present the results of a research programme comparing six cities in Latin America, Africa and Asia (ORVA2D 2014-2017). Rémi de Bercegol (CNRS) will focus on the case study of Delhi and the policy of waste-to-energy. Swati Singh Sambyal (CSE)will present alternative options for waste management such as decentralized processing. A representative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will present the results of the Swachh Bharat mission and the implementation of the new Solid Waste Management Rules.
Further to the event, you are cordially invited to a cocktail in AFD’s garden:
19A Rajdoot Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021.
Kindly RSVP at afdnewdelhi@afd.fr
Reading: Informal Recycling vs municipal Waste Service in Asian cities: Opposition or Integration?
Authors: Rémi de Bercegol, Jérémie Cave, Arch Nguyen Thai Huyen Coordinator: Irène Salenson, AFD – Research Paper n°64
This is a seminar organised by CPR (SCI-FI) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD-Delhi/AFD-Paris). It is the first event of ‘the City of Waste’, a cycle of events organized in Delhi and Kochi within the framework of Bonjour India. Find out more about ‘the City of Waste’ here.
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Naresh be Onward Together
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‘Fidelito’ commits suicide
The eldest son of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, committed suicide on Thursday aged 68 after being treated for months for depression, Cuban state-run media reported.His death came just over a year after that of his father on Nov. 26, 2016, aged 90.
Castro Diaz-Balart, nick name “Fidelito” because of how much he looked like his father, been hospitalized for depression and then continued treatment as an outpatient.
“Castro Diaz-Balart, cared by group of doctors for several months due to a state of profound depression, committed suicide this morning,” Cubadebate website said.
Fidelito was born in 1949 out of his father’s brief marriage to Mirta Diaz-Balart before he went on to topple a U.S.-backed dictator and build a communist-run state on the doorstep of the United States during the Cold War.
A nuclear physicist,studied in the former Soviet Union, Castro Diaz-Balart had been working as a scientific counsellor to the Cuban Council of State and Vice-president of the Cuban Academy of Sciences at the time of his death.
From 1980 to 1992, he was head of Cuba’s national nuclear program and spearheaded the development of a nuclear plant on the Caribbean’s largest island until his father fired him.
Cuba halted its plant plans that same year because of a lack of funding after the collapse of Cuba’s trade and aid ties with the ex-Soviet bloc and Castro Diaz-Balart largely disappeared from public view, appearing at the occasional scientific conference.
