Articles by "Navjot Singh Sidhu"
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Hello Jammu News at 9:42:00 PM 0


Chandigarh, Feb 16 :  The Shiromani Akali Dal Saturday asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to expel Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu from the party for calling for dialogue with Pakistan even after the Pulwama terrorist attack in which 40 CRPF jawans died.

Though Sidhu had condemned the "cowardly" attack by a Pakistan-based terror group, he had also called for dialogue to find a "permanent solution" to end the bloodshed.

Sidhu, who had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan prime minister last year, had said, "For a handful of people, can you blame the entire nation and can you blame an individual?" 

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said if the Congress president does not sack Sidhu, it would mean his statement was "made at the direction of Rahul Gandhi".

"I want to ask Rahul Gandhi if he will sit quietly... Every patriotic Indian is asking if Rahul will respect their wishes and rise above politics. Sidhu should be sacked promptly," he said.

The Akali leader said the credibility of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was also on test.

"Punjabis are eager to know whether the words he (Singh) uttered in Vidhan Sabha yesterday about the stooges of Pakistan army chief are true. If so, the CM should not wait for Rahul Gandhi's assent to remove Sidhu from his cabinet," said Majithia.

"Navjot Sidhu apparently does not know even now that Pakistan is the fountainhead of terrorism. Even the US has condemned the Pulwama attack and said on record that it was conducted by Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad," he said.

Groups like Jaish were also responsible for Pathankot, Deenanagar and Uri attacks, the Akali leader said.                                PTI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:45:00 PM 0
New Delhi, Dec 11 : Hailing Rahul Gandhi as the "man of the series", senior Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said Tuesday the party's good show in assembly polls in three states has laid the foundation for a "much bigger win" in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

The cricketer-turned-politician asserted, "All party members and workers played well as a team", resulting in this performance of the Congress, but alleged the imminent loss of the BJP has "exposed the mask of falsehood of the saffron party".

"The anger of the people has come out. Tall and false promises were made to them and those promises were not kept, whether on issue of farmers, housing for the poor or bringing back blackmoney stashed abroad or even skill development," Sidhu said.

The BJP, however, has defended its performance, with Home Minister Rajnath Singh saying the polls were fought on the basis of the work done by the state governments. He rejected the notion that the results would be a reflection of the Narendra Modi government.

Sidhu, the Punjab minister, joined Congress workers at AICC headquarters at 24, Akbar Road in Delhi in celebrating his party's performance. A festive atmosphere dawned at the party office as the results for assembly polls showed Congress taking a lead in the three states.

"Our leader (Rahul Gandhi) has led the team well through the campaign, and results are coming accordingly. We did things right and Rahul Gandhi is the 'man of the match' and the 'man of the series'," Sidhu told PTI in an interview here.

The party workers inside and outside the All India Congress Committee headquarters were ecstatic, sensing victory in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. They distributed sweets and put up big banners of Gandhi on the walls of the Congress office and many chanted 'Rahul Gandhi Zindabad'.

"This is a flood of public support (samarthan ka jansauilab hai) and people have created a foundation for Rahul Gandhi to become the next PM. This is also an indication of the change people seek and the resentment they have been harbouring for the BJP," Sidhu claimed.

Asked what went right in preparations for the polls and what would be the Congress's strategy for the Lok Sabha election, he said, "The party high command will decide that but obviously it will be a people-centric approach."

"Generation of employment, welfare of farmers, among other issues will remain our core areas," he said, adding, farmers, especially in Chhattisgarh have supported Gandhi.

But for the state polls, Sidhu said, it was a "united effort" and the leader at the top was inspiring everybody. "Rahul Gandhi has exhibited great character in a time of crisis, like a captain guiding a ship in choppy waters," he said.

The win in the 2019 polls will be "far more resounding" and this is "merely a trailer, the film is yet to be seen", he asserted.

Asked what went wrong for the BJP, Sidhu, in his trademark tongue-in-cheek humour, said, "Congress is like sugarcane, solid and sweet, but the BJP is akin to a bamboo tree, tall but hollow".

"And that hollowness, reflected in a poor man's bank accounts, bullet train projects, jobs promised, inadequate houses built and in skill-development programme... Modi and his party fought the election on the plank of bringing back blackmoney, but what happened?" Sidhu said.

On fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya's extradition order by a UK court, the Congress leader claimed it was "too little, too late".

Sidhu also alleged that Modi government talks of welfare of the last man in queue (antyodya) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya but "favours men sitting in the front, the big businessmen".

Asked, what he enjoyed more, cricket or politics, he said, "Politics, of course. It is very rewarding, and gives opportunity to change people's lives."

"Cricket and TV are merciless medium, as one talks of absolute numbers. But politics is more challenging, as numbers fluctuate there," he said.    PTI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:13:00 PM 0


Amritsar, Oct 12 (PTI) Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Friday invited chefs from across the world to open a culinary institute in the state to give a fillip to its hotel and tourism sector.


He assured that the state government would extend all possible assistance for the purpose apart from providing land.

Sidhu extended the invitation after inaugurating the 'World Food Festival' and 'Traditional Rasoi Sammelan' here.

At present, the young generation is migrating to foreign shores and individuals are spending over Rs 30 lakh each to move abroad. This leads not only to money drain but also brain drain, the tourism and cultural affairs minister said.

If a culinary institute comes up at either Amritsar or Mohali, it would pave the way for skill education of the youth, thereby not only generating jobs but also bringing foreign students to India.

On the occasion, Sidhu also announced that a tender worth Rs 10.76 crore was issued for the purpose of building an 'International Food Street' which would commence operation by March 31, 2020.

The street would have 16 food courts, two huge restaurants, a cafeteria, five art and craft shops, an exhibition hall and a conference room, he said.

Appreciating the World Culture Culinary Heritage Committee for selecting Amritsar as the venue for the food festival, Sidhu said in the current scenario, food was not just limited to taste but has become a massive industry providing employment to scores of people.

He further said that the last installment of Rs 15 crore for the renovation and beautification of the Gobindgarh Fort had been released as he highlighted that such buildings were the symbol of great cultural heritage of Punjab and must be maintained.

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Hello Jammu News at 3:55:00 PM 0

Chandigarh, Sep 19: Asserting that his hug to Pakistan's army chief has been blown out of proportion, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu targeted the BJP on Wednesday saying it was just a "jhappi" (hug) and "not a Rafale deal".

The cricketer-turned-politician's Congress party has been attacking the BJP-led government at the Centre over the Rafale fighter jet deal and alleged a scam worth several crore rupees in the matter.

After Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the gesture was demoralising for soldiers in India, Sidhu told a group of journalists, "You start raking up this issue again. Sidhu has become such an important person that the defence minister makes a statement...It was just a 'jhappi' (hug)...It is not a conspiracy, 'jhappi' is not Rafale deal, 'jhappi' is not firing bullets at Gursikhs."

"You are not talking about sentiments of Sikhs and you have blown the one-second emotional hug out of proportion. Is it a conspiracy?" he asked.

On Tuesday, Sitharaman said that Sidhu's gesture of hugging Pakistan's army chief impacted soldiers back home and asserted that the Punjab minister could have "avoided it".

Sidhu courted controversy by hugging Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during his visit to Pakistan for the swearing-in of Imran Khan as Prime Minister last month. Khan is a former Pakistani cricketer.

Sidhu asked whether players will not shake hands when a cricket match takes place between India and Pakistan. "Do not shake hands when there is going to be a cricket match between India and Pakistan. Will you not shake hands? If Pakistan PM, who is a good man and had played several matches here, shakes hands with Indian team or hugs player like Virat (Kohli), will he show his back to him," he said.

He had earlier said that he hugged Bajwa after he told him that Pakistan would open the Kartarpur border for Sikhs from India's Punjab to visit to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan.

Lambasting the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), an ally of the BJP, Sidhu said it was "frustrated" and accused the party of creating hurdles in the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara corridor issue.

"Be partner in this good work. Why are you creating hurdles in it," said Sidhu while criticising Akali Dal leaders without naming them.

"What am I saying is that just get a letter written (from Centre to Pakistan over passage issue) and get it released," he said, adding that Pakistan had already shown positive intent on this issue.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Tuesday had attacked Sidhu, accusing him of lying to people on the matter. Sukhbir had called Sidhu as the "biggest traitor" of the country for embracing the Pakistan Army chief. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 6:20:00 PM 0

Chandigarh, Aug 21: Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said today that his visit to Pakistan was not "political" but just on a "warm invitation from a friend", in a bid to clarify his decision to visit the neighbouring country and hug its Army chief.

Slammed by opposition and earning displeasure even from his own chief minister, the cricketer-turned-politician said he hugged the Pakistan Army chief in an "emotional" moment after General Qamar Javed Bajwa told him that they were making efforts to open the corridor from India's Dera Baba Nanak to Sikh shrine of Kartarpur Sahib.

Sidhu attended the swearing-in ceremony of his friend former Cricketer Imran Khan as the Prime Minister of Pakistan in Islamabad on August 18.

"My brief visit to Pakistan has emerged a big talking point. In this regard, I would definitely like to clear certain things. The visit to Pakistan was not political in any way but just a warm invitation from a friend (Imran Khan).

That friend, who went through immense hard work and struggle in life. The one, who reached a position, which is respected and holds capability of changing fate of crores of people, he said in his opening statement during a press conference here.

On his meeting with Gen Bajwa, Sidhu said, "I again want to make it clear that this meeting took place in Islamabad at a time when Gen Bajwa reached the venue of swearing-in ceremony."

"He met me with enthusiasm after seeing me sitting in the first row. Immediately, he told me that they were making efforts to open the corridor from India's Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahib, which is about 3 to 3.5 km in Pakistan, to facilitate the pilgrims to pay obeisance on the occasion of 550th 'Prakash Diwas' of Guru Nanak Dev ji."

The Congress leader claimed that crores of pilgrims have always been waiting to pay obeisance at holy Kartarpur Sahib, the place where Guru Nanak Devi ji spent nearly 18 years of his life.

"Without a thought, this thing said by Gen Bajwa was an emotional moment for me and the result (the hug) was for everyone to see. After that brief meeting in the gathering, I had no meeting with Gen Bajwa," he said.

Sidhu said, he, however, is disappointed and hurt over the criticism over this sudden meeting and "emotional reaction".

Meanwhile, Sidhu also said if India and Pakistan can settle their differences through talks, become good neighbours and increase mutual exchanges in trade and other aspects, then it will be a great hope and message for South Asia. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 12:53:00 PM 0
New Delhi, May 15 : Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu was acquitted by the Supreme Court on Monday in culpable homicide charges, but was convicted of the offence of causing hurt.
Headed by Justice Jasti Chelameswar, and also comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, the bench slapped a fine of Rs 1,000 on Sidhu, who is currently a member of the Council of Ministers in Punjab.
On April 18, the apex court had reserved its judgement on an appeal filed by Sidhu in a 1988 road rage case.
The Supreme Court also acquitted Sidhu's associate, Rupinder Singh Sandhu, in the case.
Punjab government had on April 12, 2018, sought conviction of Sidhu and urged the SC to uphold the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the road rage case.
According to the prosecution, the case involving Sidhu dated back 30 years. It took place on December 27, 1988, when in road rage, Sidhu allegedly thrashed Gurnam Singh, who succumbed to his injuries.
The acquittal was challenged by the state and the victim's families before the High Court, which had in 2006, convicted and sentenced Sidhu to three years imprisonment.
On September 22, 1999, giving the benefit of doubt, the Sessions Court Judge of Patiala had acquitted Sidhu and his associate, Rupinder Singh Sandhu, due to lack of evidence in the case.
Sidhu had moved the apex court against the 2006 order of the HC.UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:08:00 PM 0


Chandigarh/Bengaluru, May 11: Local Government Minister of Punjab Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday called on co-founder of Infosys Nandan Nilekani to discuss the transformation through e-governance mode in all the 167 Urban Local Bodies of Punjab.
The Minister took up the issue of operationalising the Infosys Campus in Mohali. Mr Nilekani said in spite of growth rate showing downward trend from 35% to 5% in IT Sector, he would speak to the CEO of Infosys to expedite the project.
He said though this project would take some time but he assured action in this regard. It is significant to mention that Infosys has a campus in Mohali spread over 55 acres of area which is still not functional.
The discussion between both the dignitaries centered around enabling delivery of the government promise of ‘Captain Government at your doorstep’. In this context eGovernance will play a critical role by increasing transparency, simplifying service delivery and driving efficiency. The representatives of Punjab stated that their vision would not be merely technology enablement but the start to process re-engineering.
On this note, Mr Sidhu pledged sufficient manpower and capacity building to drive change across the state.
The entire exercise will result in manifold increase in revenue collection which in turn will enable delivery of high quality of service to the citizen.
The Minister also reaffirmed the importance of digital service delivery to citizens, with an initial focus on improved lighting, controlling mosquito menace, managing stray dog menace, improved waste management and reducing potholes.
Mr Nilekani, drawing on his cross sectoral experience with digital transformation at scale, concurred on the need for capacity building to ensure long term statewide benefits arising out of this program. Team PMIDC and the Minister, on the close of the successful meeting remarked that the session with Mr Nilekani proved the truism that ‘a conversation with a wise man is the same as a month’s education’.
An MoU was signed in February with eGovernments Foundation, also co-founded by Nandan Nilekani, to provide solutions for e-governance of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) throughout Punjab. eGovernments foundation since its founding in 2003, has enabled urban transformation in 325+ ULBs and has now partnered with Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) for the provision of 67 services online under 12 modules namely Property Tax, Water & Sewerage Management, Complaints and Grievance, Licensing, Fire Service, Verification, Birth and Death, ULB web portal, Mobile App, State and ULB Dashboards, Payroll and Financial Accounting.
Mr Sidhu added that 500 I.T. savvy experts would be hired through TCS for the capacity building of ULBs. He also said 10 experts each would be deployed with each of the Municipal Corporations while five experts each would be assigned to each medium level Municipal Councils and 2 each for the each smaller Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 3:12:00 PM 0



New Delhi, Apr 18: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its judgement on the appeal filed by former Indian cricketer, and a minister in the Punjab Government, Navjot Singh Sidhu, in a 1988 road rage case.
A two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jasti Chelameswar and also comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, reserved its judgement after hearing in detail the submissions made by advocate of Sidhu, and from the state government and victim's families.
The top court asked all the parties to file their respective replies within a week.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer, RS Cheema, advocate appearing for Sidhu, had narrated the entire road rage case about how the incident happened.
It was not the fault of the accused, Sidhu, due to which the victim, Gurnam Singh, had died. He had died due to cardiac arrest, Cheema submitted to the apex court.
"Gurnam Singh died due to his cardiac arrest, and not by Sidhu's beating," Cheema contended before the top court.
Punjab Government had on April 12, sought conviction of Sidhu and also pleaded it to upheld the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu in the road rage case.
Lawyer appearing for the Punjab Government, Sangram Singh Saron, had submitted to the apex court that the statement given by Sidhu denying his involvement in the case was false.
Giving the benefit of doubt, the Sessions Court Judge of Patiala had on September 22, 1999, acquitted Sidhu and his associate, Rupinder Singh Sandhu, due to lack of evidence in the case.
It was challenged by the state and the victim's families before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had in 2006, convicted and sentenced Sidhu to three years imprisonment.
Then Sidhu had filed an appeal before the apex court challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2006.
According to the prosecution, the road rage case involving Sidhu is 20 year old case. The alleged incident took place on December 27, 1988, when Sidhu, in a road rage case, allegedly had hit Gurnam Singh on his head, as a result of which he succumbed to his injuries. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:11:00 PM 0



Chandigarh, Mar 31: Punjab Cultural Affairs and Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidh on Saturday said that the state government is engaged in all seriousness to eradicate the menace of vulgarity from Punjabi songs and is taking this task as an article of faith.
Stating this on the occasion of a meeting with the renowned intellectuals, litterateurs, artists and thinkers of Punjab here, Mr Sidhu announced that ‘Punjab Culture Commission’ would be formed amid the escalating concerns about rising vulgarity in the Punjabi music scenario and would tackle the menace of vulgarity by working zealously towards its complete eradication. He said that this commission would be authorized by the Punjab government and would make recommendations to take stringent action as per the provisions enshrined in the law against those singers or artists polluting the cultural scene of the state through vulgar, double meaning or violent inciting songs. 
The Minister elaborated that if needed the commission would also be empowered to issue show cause notices those singers singing vulgar songs or those glorifying violence, then call them for counseling and still if they do not desist then as a last resort the option of getting an FIR registered against the singer would also be open to the commission. He further said that the Section 290, Section 294 of the IPC and the Section 67 and 67 A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 have relevant provisions to take action in this regard.
He also reiterated that the state government is not fighting elections for the sake of contesting the next elections but is concerned and thinking about saving the next generation of Punjab from the menace of vulgarity and the present measures are being formulated to make sure that the common public is able to watch and listen to healthy songs with family members.
The Patron in Chief of the Commission would be the Chief Minister while Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu would be the Patron. The responsibility of recommending the other members of the commission was entrusted to Punjab Kala Parishad Chairman Padam Shri Surjit Patar who would be the Chairman of the commission. 
Mr Sidhu said that this commission would submit its report within two weeks which would be taken up with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.
On the occasion, Dr Surjit Patar while outlining the initiatives undertaken by the Punjab Kala Parishad to tackle vulgarity and popularize Punjabi culture said that the parishad is making painstaking efforts at district, tehsil, and village level to spread awareness with regard to the Punjabi culture, history and great heritage down to the farthest corner of the state.
The meeting also saw various experts airing their views regarding classification of the songs, promoting those singers devoted to Punjabi culture but hailing from poor economic background, encouraging those writing good lyrics without even a tinge of vulgarity. UNI
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Hello Jammu News at 7:50:00 PM 0


Chandigarh, Aug 18 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today asked Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to take prompt action against Local Bodies Minister Navjot Sidhu for allegedly insulting the nation and the national flag by allowing several Congress leaders to take part in the ceremonial guard of honour inspection during the Independence Day celebrations in Ferozepur. In a statement here, SAD spokesperson Maheshinder Singh Grewal said this was a fit case for taking action against the Congress minister as he was yet to apologise and express remorse for breaching the sanctity of a solemn occasion. “Dealing with Sidhu with a heavy hand has also become a matter of urgency because an insidious attempt is being made to shift responsibility to a hapless police inspector”, he added. Stating that the serious insult to national pride occurred solely due to Navjot Sidhu, the Akali leader said the Minister took the four Congress leaders along with him to the parade ground after alighting from the stage. He said the Minister was insistent that the Congress leaders accompany him while inspecting the guard of honour and this was why the police officers, including the DSP and the SSP, did not stop them from hopping on to the inspection vehicle and crowding it. Mr Grewal said Sidhu’s collusion in this brazen and indefensible disrespect to the national flag was proved from the fact that he did not at any moment try to stop the Congress leaders from stepping onto the inspection vehicle. “Sidhu did not even reproach the Congress leaders for this serious breach of protocol and security even after the function and neither did he recommend police action against them. He has not expressed remorse for the incident even three days after it occurred. All this shows he was a willing accomplice and also the primary instigator due to whom the incident occurred in the first place. This warrants immediate action against him, including removal from the council of ministers,” he added. Asserting that the Congress government should not search for scapegoats to shift the blame from Sidhu, the Akali leader said the blame should be given where it was due. “In this case it is unreservedly Navjot Sidhu who is at fault. Any attempt to close this case by taking action against a few police officials would be an eye wash and a mockery of justice,” he added. Meanwhile, he also asked the Chief Minister to circulate rules of conduct on national functions to all ministers so that such despicable acts did not reoccur. He said earlier also Sidhu had breached protocol and marred the grace of the swearing in ceremony of new council of ministers by walking away from the stage without shaking hands with the Governor. “He had to be called back and reminded to do this”, the Akali leader said while urging the Chief Minister not to show any laxity in dealing with Sidhu this time. “Stern action should be taken against him to set an example for all elected representatives so that a clear message is sent across the board that governance is not a laughter challenge or comedy circus,” the Akali leader added. UNI

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Hello Jammu News at 6:59:00 PM 0


Chandigarh, Jul 26 :  The Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh nurtures a vision to put the state firmly on track in terms of holistic development across all sectors thus converting the disasters left behind by the previous regime into grand triumphs, said Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu here today. After flagging off 11 fire vehicles for as many constituencies, Mr Sidhu told reporters that as per his promise made to Sunam MLA Aman Arora in the Assembly, he is flagging off the first vehicle to Sunam-the land of Shaheed Udham Singh. The state government is committed to fullfiling scale progress of Punjab on all parameters without any bias towards any section. Putting the 'Fire Services and Ambulances' in the category of essential services, the Minister said it is the serious endeavour of the state government to provide all amenities of basic nature to the people and ensure to mitigate their lot. Mr Sidhu said out of 11 fire vehicles flagged off today, each would cater to the needs of Jalandhar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Dhuri, Sunam, Faridkot, Nabha, Dera Baba Nanak, Raikot and Nakodar cities. Coming to the futuristic vision, he elaborated that apart from the fire vehicles flagged off, eight more would be flagged off next week with one vehicle each for Jalandhar and Patiala, and two each for Ludhiana, Bathinda and Amritsar. He also disclosed that a Fire Services Directorate would come up and a Fire Prevention Act would also be put into place regarding which deliberations would be held during the course of next cabinet meeting. He also said that the Punjab Government would observe 'Fire Extinguishing Service Week' on annual basis from April 17-21. Lashing out at the previous regime, the minister said that out of the grant of Rs 90 crore given by the Union Government, only Rs 17 crore was spent and the rest was resumed. Due to this non-utilization and haphazard use of funds, Punjab has been placed in 'Red Zone' by the Union Government. He also brought out that Punjab has 195 fire vehicles for 54 fire stations out of which 114 are outdated. UNI

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