First India-Mumbai Edition-4th January 2023

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RABINDRA SANGEET

LEGEND SUMITRA SEN PASSES AWAY AT

89.

SECOND BATCH OF 12 CHEETAHS LIKELY TO ARRIVE AT KUNO SOON

New Delhi: A second batch of 12 cheetahs is likely to arrive in India from South Africa in January, sources said on Tuesday.

Discussions with SA authorities to translocate 12 cheetahs to Kuno are at an advanced stage, the Environment ministry said.

RUSSIAN FOUND DEAD ONBOARD CARGO SHIP IN ODISHA, 3RD CASE

New Delhi: Russian national who was working as a chief engineer in a cargo ship, was found dead onboard in Odisha on Tuesday. This is 3rd Russian found dead in State within a span of 2 weeks. Police with other statutory authorities will carry out an probe of death of namely Milyakov Sergey.

Itanagar: In a massive infra push amid simmering border tension between India and China over the recent clash in AP’s Tawang, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday inaugurated strategicallyimportant Siyom Bridge and 28 other infrastructure projects. He inaugurated 22 bridges, 3 roads and 3 other misc projects. Highlight of event was inauguration of state of the art “100 meter long, Class 70 steel arch superstructure Siyom Bridge on Along-Yinkiong Road over Siyom River”. P7

PHUKET-BOUND INDIGO RETURNS DELHI DUE TO GLITCH

MOVING SCIENCE FROM LAB TO LAND!

Need to make India advance science lab in 75th year of Independence, PM Modi says while inaugurating the 108th Indian Science Congress

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday underlined the importance of women’s involvement in scientific research and that the increasing participation of women is a reflection of progress of society and science.

PM said in his virtual address to 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) said that the aim is to give new impetus to science and research. He pointed out that the efforts of science can bear fruit only when they are taken from labs to the land. Underlining India’s positional growth in Global Innovation Index PM said, “Today India is among the top 3 nations in startups.

Till 2015 we were at 81st place in the Global Innovation Index of 130 countries, but in 2022 we have reached 40th place.”

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Science should make India Atmanirbhar. The efforts of Science can bear fruit only when they go from labs to land. With 2023 being declared as the International Year of Millets, India’s millets and their use should be further improved with the use of science.

GANGULY SET TO JOIN DELHI CAPITALS AS DIR OF CRICKET

SC: Can’t attribute minister’s comment vicariously to Govt

First India Bureau

New Delhi: A minister’s statement cannot be attributed “vicariously” to the government even when applying the principle of collective responsibility, the SC said on Tuesday and held that there can be no additional restrictions on freedom of speech for public functionaries.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice SA Nazeer said no additional restrictions, except those mentioned under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, can be imposed on a public functionary’s right to freedom of speech and expression.

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Boost to border infra!

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Merely opposing the remark is too little an act: Shinde

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Controversy has arisen after NCP leader Jitendra Awhad’s claimed on Monday that Aurangzeb was not a cruel, Hindu-hating ruler. Awhad’s statement has not been received well by the ruling coalition and a day after the statement was made, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde criticized Jitendra Awhad.

“It is too little an act to merely condemn any attempt to erase history or to change it. Who is expressing their love for Aurangzeb? Aurangzeb, harassed Chhatrapati

Shivaji Maharaj, broke and destroyed many temples in Maharashtra, and harassed several of the women. His (Awhad’s) love for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj is reflected in his attitude. Merely opposing the remark is too little an

act,” criticized Shinde.

Jitendra Awhad had said, “from the beginning we call Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the swaraj rakshak. He was in Sardesai’s palace at Sangameshwar. Who gave this news to Aurangzeb? Sambhaji Maharaj was taken to Bahadurgarh where his eyes were gouged.

There is a Vishnu temple beside that place. If Aurangzeb was cruel and Hinduhater he would have destroyed the Vishnu temple. So I say do not go to that history as it gives rise to controversies.”

l Development of science in India, to meet the needs of India, should be the basic motivation of our scientific community

In

India has

I saw Ajit Pawar’s statement so I am reacting. Not appropriate for me to react to every MLA’s speech, Pawar on Awhad’s ‘Good Aurganzeb’ remark

Kartikey Dev Singh

Mumbai: Ajit Pawar’s remarks on Sambhaji Maharaj have received flak from various sections. With the ruling coalition and even the erstwhile Kolhapur royals also objecting to the comments, NCP leader Sharad Pawar jumped into the fray on Tuesday and said that people can call the icons with whatever

names they want.

“Those who want to address him like ‘Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’, they should say so. Those who want to call him Dharmaveer, they should address him as such. People who think that he protected Swarajya, should call him ‘swarajya rakshak’. But I am worried that when I go to Thane, the names of some leaders appear as Dhar-

First India Bureau

Nagpur: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said he will visit Ayodhya to offer prayers to Lord Ram, but did not specify any date.

Speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport, Shinde said some religious leaders from Ayodhya visited him on Monday and invited him to Ayodhya for a “darshan” of Lord Ram.

Shinde said, “Ayodhya is a place of worship and admiration for us and I will definitely visit the place.”

A Supreme Court verdict of November 2019 paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

No additional restrictions, except those mentioned under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, can be imposed on a public functionary’s right to freedom of speech and expression.

—Justice SA Nazeer

Fundamental right under Article 19(1) (a) can be exercised even against other

other than the state. Statement made by a minister even if traceable to any affairs of state or protecting the government cannot be attributed vicariously to the government even applying the principle of collective responsibility.

Maha CM Shinde to visit Ayodhya

Injuries due to dragging, sex assault

ruled out

First India Bureau

A group of seers from Ayodhya told reporters in Thane that before becoming the chief minister, Shinde had visited Ayodhya.

“We want him to visit the temple town as he is the CM now. He is working towards the same goal for the benefit of Hindus which was also the goal of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. We see a glimpse of Thackeray in Shinde,” they told reporters.

CORRECTING COURSE?

New Delhi: Ruling out sexual assault, an autopsy found “no injuries to the private parts” of the Delhi woman who was dragged for 13 kilometres by a car in the early hours of January 1. The report of the autopsy by a board of doctors at Maulana Azad Medical College — was submitted to the police.

Kejriwal announces `10L compensation

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal met victim’s family on Tuesday and announced ` 10L compensation. Cremation performed amid presence of the police personnel.

he said.

Pawar further said, “After Shivaji’s death, when swarajya was being attacked, Sambhaji played an important role in defending the state. This is what everyone should pay attention to. So there is no reason to debate.”

maveer. A one-time associate of Eknath Shinde, who is now the Chief Minister of the state, he was also called Dharmaveer. He is also

mentioned as a religious hero in some advertisements. When a person has some selfinterest, then he or she mentions such names,”

When questioned about Jitendra Awhad’s comment on Aurangzebr, Pawar said that he did not hear his statement. “I saw Ajit Pawar’s statement on TV, so I am reacting to it. Now it is not appropriate for me to react to every MLA’s speech,” Pawar said.

Sambhaji played role in defending state, that is what all should pay attention to: Pawar

Sharad Pawar

KANJHAWALA ‘HIT AND RUN’

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Dr Jitendra Singh, CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and other dignitaries listen to PM Modi as he virtually addresses during inauguration of the ISC Mega Expo, at Nagpur University on Tuesday. THE PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS...

l The role of India’s scientific power will be very important in the height at which India will be in the next 25 years

Data, Technology can take India’s science to new heights, it helps in

converting info into insight and analysis into actionable knowledge

Women lead devp is also major priority among major topics of G-20

The scientific community

to work towards innovation of energy requirements, it’d help the country

this era of changing priorities and interests of the nations, it is necessary for any nation to keep itself empowered.

always been against war. Our Armed forces are always ready to face any kind of situation and BRO is walking along with them.

—Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister

instrumentalities

—Justices BR Gavai, AS Bopanna & V Ramasubramanian

HATE SPEECH STRIKES AT...: JUDGE DISSENTS IN ORDER ON MINISTER STATEMENT

A hate speech strikes at foundational values of our Constitution, Justice BV Nagarathna said & held that such remarks can be vicariously attributed to govt in case a min makes disparaging remarks in his “official capacity”. She said it is for party to control speeches made by their mins which can be done by forming a code of conduct & added for a country like ours which is a parl democracy, freedom of speech and expression is a must right for ensuring a healthy democracy.

Rajnath Singh is on his first visit to Arunachal Pradesh after the India-China border skirmish

Defence minister inaugurates crucial bridge to LAC in AP & 28 other projects worth `724 crore

First India Bureau

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates the Siyom Bridge on Along-Yinkiong Road on Tuesday.

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Acclaimed Rabindra Sangeet artist Sumitra Sen died on Tuesday in Kolkata. She was

She is survived by her two daughters, Indrani Sen and Sraboni Sen, both of whom are acclaimed Rabindra Sangeet singers.

New Delhi: An IndiGo flight from New Delhi to Phuket in Thailand was forced to return to Delhi due to a technical snag shortly after takeoff. Sources told IndiGo flight, 6E-1763, was involved in an airturnback due to the loss of its hydraulic green system. Sources revealed that a full emergency was declared.

Mumbai: India secured a thrilling two-run win against Sri Lanka in the first T20I to go 1-0 up in the threematch series. Chasing 163, the Sri Lankan innings got folded in the final ball of the match as they reached 160 in 20 overs. Shivam Mavi had a brilliant outing with ball.

Kolkata: Sourav Ganguly is all set to join Delhi Capitals as Director of Cricket during IPL starting in April. He will also oversee all cricket verticals of the franchise along with the ILT20 team Dubai Capitals and the SA T230 league side Pretoria Capitals.

‘BJP WILL WIN AURANGABAD

LS SEAT BY 2L VOTES IN 2024’

PREP FOR POLLS

Uddhav Thackeray is like Mahadev for us, says Patil

First India Bureau

Aurangabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra by a margin of 2 lakh votes in 2024 polls, a senior leader has said. State party unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule implied the party is keen to take on Shiv Sena –Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray which has represented this constituency multiple times.

Speaking to reporters after BJP President JP Nadda addressed a rally in Aurangabad city on Monday night, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also hold a rally in Aurangabad, but did not give a specific date.

“The BJP will win the Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 2 lakh votes,” Bawankule told reporters.

Nadda addressed two rallies in Chandrapur and Aurangabad cities as part of the BJP’s plan to win 18 “difficult” seats. Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency was represented by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena multiple times before it was wrested by the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in 2019.

NCP has now accepted Mughal rule: Bawankule criticizes Pawar

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state President, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, has strongly criticized the Leader of Opposition in Assembly Ajit Pawar for his statement on Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje. Addressing the state Assembly during the Winter Session last week, Pawar had said that Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje was not a ‘dharmveer’ (protector of religion).

On Tuesday,

When asked about some people leaving the venue of Nadda’s rally in Aurangabad while he

Bawankule slammed Pawar for his statement. “Aurangzeb tortured him (Sambhaji) to convert. At the time, Sambhaji was the protector of religion. No matter how much he was tortured, he did not leave his religion,” said Bawankule. “NCP

was present on the stage, Bawankule said they might have left as the rally was delayed by

on Aurangabad meet

Aurangabad: Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Ambadas Danve on Tuesday took to his Twitter handle to post a video of empty chairs at a meeting hosted by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda in Aurangabad.

Taking a dig at Nadda, Danve said, “People did not come to JP Nadda's meeting. The chairs were empty. No one knows JP Nadda. He may be the BJP national president, but no

ister Amit Shah, Danve said that's why people did not come to his gathering.

The Sena (UBT) leader also mocked BJP leader Bhagwat Karad for not pulling in the crowd. “Pankaja Munde and Raosaheb Danve may be powerful, but Bhagwat Karad is not a popular leader. He is a good doctor though," said Danve.

–FILE PHOTO

BY ANI

The party has identified in Maharashtra out of 160 targeted constituencies across the country in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP leaders had said. Sources had said Amit Shah will travel to as many as 11 states this month as part of his party’s “Lok Sabha Prawas” programme, which is aimed at boosting its prospects in targeted parliamentary constituencies ahead of the general elections in 2024. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 23 of the 25 seats (out of the total 48) it contested in Maharashtra, while the party’s then ally Shiv Sena bagged 18.

Mumbai: Reiterating Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena faction’s stance on Uddhav Thackeray, one of its leaders, Shahajibapu Patil, on Tuesday said that for them Uddhav Thackeray embodies “Mahadev” and “they will not touch him.”

Speaking to media persons, Patil said, “The Thackeray group has become unconscious due to the sudden loss of power.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, deputy CM and cabinet are all working for the welfare of the people. The ‘critic’ gang is on one side, and the people working (for the public) are on the other side.”

has now accepted Mughal rule,” he added, criticizing the NCP.

The state BJP chief also slammed NCP leader Jitendra Awhad for saying that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was not a hater of Hindus. “What Jitendra Awhad said was not right. Shivaji Maharaj fought against Aurangzeb all his life. They (NCP) are destroying history for votes. Maharashtra will not tolerate this,” said Bawankule, adding that Awhad should “take back his words.”

four hours and due to the water supply timings in the city.

Videos of people leav-

The entire ground was full at the scheduled time of 4 pm. I have videos. But the programme started four hours late. I came to know later that nearly half of Aurangabad gets water supply at 8 pm, besides people have work on hand and women have to cook also. These factors might have led people to leave the ground.

—Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Maharashtra BJP chief

ing the ground while Nadda was present on the stage were widely circulated.

On the possibility of unification of both Sena factions, the leader said, “Even today, there is no indication that the two groups of Shiv Sena will unite. The Shinde group will contest in the next elections only by forming an alliance with the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party).”

On rumours of a potential alliance between Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) doing rounds, Patil said, “If this alliance is formed, it will not last for long. Their harmony will not be good, and its chances of survival are low.”

Thackeray faction MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday attacked the Eknath Shinde-led group of Sena by comparing it to an underworld gang. After the culmination of the Winter Session, all eyes are on the upcoming Budget Session to be held in Mumbai. Clashes between the ruling dispensation (of Shinde faction and Bharatiya Janata Party) and the opposition—comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party ((NCP) and Congress, are likely during the proceedings.

Criticizing Shinde

at

one knows Nadda here."

Calling Nadda a "rubber stamp" installed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Min -

BJP National President JP Nadda held a public meeting in Aurangabad on Monday which failed to draw in the numbers. He is on a visit to the state.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Shiv Sena Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare has now jumped into the battle between actor Uorfi Javed and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) women’s wing chief Chitra Wagh about how women should dress in public.

Wagh has filed a police complaint against Javed for vulgarity and dressing “inappropri-

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The Supreme Court has upheld the Central govt’s decision to ban ` 500 and ` 1,000 currency notes in 2016 as traders hail the move, 8 years on

Pune: In fresh developments over the demonetization debate across the country, now traders in Pune feel the 2016 decision caused temporary hardships, but the move led to a spike in digital transactions in subsequent years.

The Supreme Court in a 4:1 majority verdict on Monday upheld the Centre’s 2016 decision to ban Rs1,000 and Rs500 currency notes, saying the decision-making process was neither flawed nor hasty and that it is

“not relevant” whether the stated objectives were achieved or not.

Recalling the move, Pune-based pharmaceutical wholesaler Mahendra Pitalia said, “Everybody, be it traders or common people, had to face hardships after the demonetization exercise was announced. Everyone was in limbo about the fate of the scrapped notes they had. Banks were not immediately accepting cash from traders.”

He said the positive outcome of the note ban move was the spike in

ately” in public. After sharing a Facebook post on Monday, Andhare has now openly commented on this issue.

“Various topics, such

HAPPY WITH MOVE

as what clothes women should wear are discussed but serious issues are not given attention,” she said on Tuesday. She was speaking

camp

out on all seats

BJP, Raut said, “Those who are mindless, and have no self-existence, have merged with the BJP. Their self-esteem is over. They wanted to make BJP their ally but now, they are merging their party with them.” He further stated, “They (Shinde faction) have a group. It is a gang. (We know) how a gang is killed; in a gang war or a police encounter. They do not want to win. All they want is to indulge in extortion. Then there will be plans to go abroad.”

Andhare lends support to Uorfi Javed

words, Andhare said, “I feel comfortable and confident in a saree. But, I am not adamant that others should do the same.”

at an event commemorating the birth anniversary of Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule.

Talking about the Javed-Wagh war of

ndhare also cited an event attended by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s wife Amruta and said, “Ramdev baba made a very controversial statement at a programme held for the wife of deputy CM (Amruta). However, no one objected to that.” She criticized Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis while alleging that only people of specific castes or religions are being targeted during this discussion.

DeMo was short-term pain; boosted online payments: Pune traders

digital transactions by people. Maharashtra Plastic Association’s former Secretary Pramod Shah said that in hindsight, the note ban was a good move.

“Though nothing came concrete out of that exercise, it was a good move. Those who had black money, they had to face the consequences, not everyone,” he said.

Shah said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had predicted a depreciation of 3% in the country’s economy, but currently, our econo-

my is stronger compared to other countries.

“Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram had expressed apprehensions about digital payments. See today, the digital payments have increased manyfold,” he added.

Milind Shalgar, who owns a readymade garments brand in Pune, also said the hardships were temporary. “Today, we are so relieved that we do not have to handle cash in our business; more than 80% of payments are done online,” said the trader.

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Apex court has ruled that the demonetization decision was ‘neither hasty nor flawed’. —FILE PHOTO

BJP Maha chief Bawankule expresses optimism over party’s chances in upcoming elections

BJP National President JP Nadda waves to supporters during a public meeting in Aurangabad.

—PHOTO

First India Bureau

Chandrashekhar Bawankule

First India Bureau

Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare —FILE

PHOTO

Ambadas Danve —FILE PHOTO

A complaint has been filed against the actor for vulgarity by BJP leader Chitra Wagh

No one knows Nadda here: Danve

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray —FILE PHOTO

THEY ARE AMALGAMATING SHIV SENA INTO BJP, RAUT JIBES AT SHINDE CAMP

Mumbai: Shiv Sena – Uddhav Balasaheb

faction MLA Gulabrao Patil for hinting

the

losing

to the

Graft case against GVK firm, MIAL transferred

State to probe ‘illegal’ `2K crore mining op at Jalgaon

India Bureau

POLITICAL ANGLE

Twin tunnel work likely to begin before monsoon

Mumbai (PTI) : A special court has transferred to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court a CBI case against the GVK group of companies, the Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) and others for alleged financial irregularities to the tune of Rs705 crore in the running of the airport.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that during its probe, no role of public servants surfaced in the alleged corruption case.

The probe agency moved an application before special judge AS Sayyad, saying it had registered the offence against GVK Airport Holdings Ltd, MIAL and unknown public and private persons under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).

Mumbai: After allegations of a Rs2,000 crore mining scam in Jalgoan were brought up during the recently concluded Winter Session of the state legislature at Nagpur, the state government has launched an investigation into the matter.

Muktainagar MLA Chandrakant Patil had alleged that minor minerals were being illegally mined in his constituency. After the legislator raised the matter in the state Assembly, a team has now been sent to Jalgaon to investigate Patil’s allegations.

Sources in the administration claim that a preliminary investigation will be conducted over the next three days, and will be extended further, if required.

Patil had alleged that a scam worth thousands of crores of rupees and claimed there was drone footage of the mining

CRUCIAL READ

PRO-PAKISTAN SLOGAN RAISED DURING FEE HIKE PROTEST OUTSIDE SCHOOL

Thane: During a protest outside a school in Bhiwandi, allegedly a pro-Pakistan slogan was raised, police said on Tuesday. Prima facie, a student of the school raised the slogan hailing Pakistan, a police officer said. The protest was against the alleged fee hike by the school. “17 persons, including five women, have been arrested for staging the protest without permission under section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra Police Act,” he said.

HUBBY TO PAY WIFE `35,000 FOR ‘HIGH STANDARD LIFE’

Mumbai: A magistrate court has ordered a man to pay Rs35,000 monthly maintenance to his wife for a “high standard life” similar to the one she had when the couple was together. Underlining the fact that her husband is the owner of three companies, the woman sought monthly maintenance of Rs1.5 lakh. The court also asked the husband to pay a security deposit of Rs50,000 and Rs15,000 as monthly rent.

24-YR-OLD TRIBAL HELD FOR RAPING TEENAGE GIRL

Palghar: A 24-year-old tribal man was arrested for allegedly raping a teenage girl in Palghar, an official said. The incident is of Sunday evening when the 16-year-old girl went out of her house in Nehalpada, the accused allegedly dragged her to a nearby field and raped her, the official from Wada police station said. Acting on complaint lodged by the victim on Monday, the accused was arrested, he added.

MSRTC BUS WITH 65 PASSENGERS CATCHES FIRE, DRIVER AVERTS MAJOR MISHAP

Thane: A Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus carrying at least 65 passengers caught fire in Thane city on Tuesday, no one was reported hurt in the incident, a civic official said. The MSRTC belonging to the Bhiwandi depot was on its way from Thane when around 8 am, the driver noticed the fire. He immediately stopped the bus and raised an alarm following which the passengers got down, Thane Municipal Corporation’s Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) Chief Avinash Sawant said.

3 UNDERTRIALS

DIE IN HOSPITAL DUE TO AILMENTS

Pune: Three undertrials lodged at the Yerawada Central Jail in Pune have died due to various ailments for which they were undergoing treatment at a government hospital, police said. However, family members of the three deceased suspected the claim and staged a protest outside the jail demanding an inquiry into their death.

All of them died during treatment on December 31, a police official said.

2 HELD FOR GUNNING DOWN CONTRACTOR

Thane: Two persons were arrested for gunning down a labour contractor in Thane district, police said. Ganesh Duryodhan Kokate (33), was shot dead while travelling in his car near Kasheli arch on December 8, 2022, and police were investigating the case, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shivraj Patil said. Based on a tip-off, the police nabbed the accused at Indira Nagar Naka around 9 am, he added.

EMPLOYEES OF THREE STATE-RUN POWER FIRMS TO GO ON STRIKE FROM TODAY

Mumbai: Unions of state-owned power companies-Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (Mahavitaran), Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Co Ltd (Mahapareshan) and Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Co Ltd (Mahanirmiti) have warned of a 72-hour strike from Wednesday to protest against privatization of power companies, an official said. One of the major demands is that Adani Group’s power subsidiary should not be given a parallel distribution licence to make profit in eastern Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

along with an audio tape as evidence

According to the legislator, the land in question is registered to Manda Khadse - wife of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Eknath Khadse. She was granted a non-agricultural license to

Fire

Thane: A fire brigade personnel of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) got severely injured after sticking with a high-voltage tensile wire while rescuing a pigeon. After the incident, a social activist from Thane alleged that the incident happened due to a lack of safety gear.

The Balkum fire brigade received information that a pigeon was clinging to a high voltage tensile wire in front of the Street Everest house near Bayer India Company at Kolshet Road and its life was in danger. The personnel who went to rescue got an electric shock and fell. The employee is un-

build a school on the land. In January 2019, an application was submitted to re-cultivate the farm, which had previously been given a non-cultivation license.

Provincial authorities granted immediate permission within a few days after which

mining allegedly commenced on the land.

Similarly, brass and other minor minerals were also mined from land in the adjoining area, alleged Patil. The legislator has also demanded that the matter be investigated by a Special Investiga -

tion Team (SIT).

However, a decision to let the Revenue Department handle the inquiry was taken later.

The team of government officials will check on illegal mining operations in Muktainagar taluka and also measure the land.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: To reduce the travel time between Borivali and Thane, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has started taking steps to initiate the construction of a twin tunnel between both destinations and it is likely to begin before the onset of monsoon.

As the project got delayed, its construction cost also increased. As of now, it takes more than an hour by road to cover the 24km distance from Magathane (Borivali) to Tikuji-Ni-Wadi (Thane) and once this project is up and running, which would be built beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the travel time would reduce to mere 15 minutes.

REMEMBERING AN ICON

This proposed project will have 10.8km of twin tunnels and another kilometre of approach roads, on both ends (Thane and Borivali) combined. In all, a total of 23.68km of new road construction, along with a tunnel, will be done in the years to come.

As per the plans, the East-West connectivity project's alignment will be at Magathane's Ekta Nagar in Borivali and emerge next to TikujiNi-Wadi at Manpada in Thane.

Each of the tunnels will have three lanes (six in total), along with interconnecting tunnels for emergency purposes. The stalemate over the project's implementation has meant cost escalating from Rs11,235 crore to over Rs13,200 crore.

dergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Highland hospital in Thane.

Swapnil Mahindrakar, MNS Public Interest and Law Department City President Thane said, "The TMC fire department has been short of staff for the past few years. Last year, 150 employees were recruited on a contract basis through the contractor Aryan Company. But these employees are inefficient at handling major incidents."

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Palghar students to present report on finger millet

and details local varieties of finger millet, its cultivation, and its nutritional and cultural importance, National Children Science Congress, Maharashtra, Chairman Surendra Dighe said in a release.

seems that it is being ignored, it said.

Palghar (PTI): Students from a tribal-dominated area in Palghar district will present their ‘Study on finger millet as a nutritional food’ to scientists at the 108th Indian Science Congress being held in Nagpur, an official said on Tuesday.

The report, by students of Classes 8 to 10 from Jayeshwar Vidya Mandir in Jawhar taluka, follows interviews with 60 local farmers

Though finger millet is the main crop in the region near the school, its varieties as well as the area of its cultivation are decreasing, the study said.

“The food habits of people are changing in villages also along with cities. There is a trend of eating junk food. Also, we are looking for solutions to malnutrition,” the study said.

In addition to solving the issue of malnutrition, the ancient grain can also be useful in fighting diabetes, but it

Notably, the Union government on Sunday announced a series of millet-centric promotional activities across the country as the UN's International Year of Millets (IYM) kicks in.

The students’ study said that, on this occasion, special efforts should be made for the conservation of finger millet by drawing attention to its usefulness. Considering this, the topic was chosen for the research, it added.

Dighe said he was proud that the project by tribal students has been selected as the best project in the state to be presented before senior scientists at the Indian Science Congress.

RARE

GOLD-INK QURAN ON DISPLAY

Nagpur: A rare 16th century copy of the Holy Quran written in gold ink--believed to be one of only four such copies in the world--is on display at the 108th Indian Science Congress here, alongside some ancient manuscripts, at a stall put up by the Research For Resurgence Foundation (RFRF).

“This Quran was written in the 16th Century in the Nastaliq script. There are 385 pages with miniature writings in gold ink. But despite the small size, there is not a sin-

gle mistake. There are only four copies of this Quran in the world,” the Director of RFRF Knowledge Resource Centre, Bhujang Bobade, said.

He said the copy of the Quaran was given to them by the family of Diwan of the Ni-

zam of Hyderabad. Bobade said the advisor to Iran’s President had specially visited to see the RFRF collection.

He said RFRF has 15,000 manuscripts of the Indian history, religions and sciences of ancient India. —PTI

First India Bureau

Charles Salve

The Quaran was given to RFRF by the family of Diwan of the Nizam of Hyderabad. —PHOTO BY PTI

brigade official hurt by high-voltage current while rescuing pigeon

Even as children across the state dressed up as social reformer Savitribai Phule on her 192nd birth anniversary, anganwadi workers donned masks bearing her image to stage a protest in Mumbai.

—PHOTOS BY PTI & BHUSHAN KOYANDE

First

Muktainagar MLA Chandrakant Patil

—FILE PHOTO

Muktainagar MLA Chandrakant Patil had alleged

mining of minor minerals during Winter Session

WHEN SLOGANS ‘RAM’ POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES TO ‘MAR’ A SHOW…

Ashwini Vaishnaw, who was present on the dais, tried his best to control the BJP supporters and requested them to refrain from shouting slogans, but they refused to pay heed. CM refused to come on the dais. The railways minister was seen pleading to her again and again to get on the dais but she refused.

CM Banerjee even refused to deliver her speech on the occasion. However, following repeated requests from the Governor, CV Ananda Bose, she agreed to deliver the speech, which she did without getting on to the dais.

FLASHBACK

On January 23, 2021, on the occasion of celebrating the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata, the BJP supporters shouted slogans. PM Modi and other Union ministers were present on the occasion. Expressing her grievance over the incident, CM Banerjee said any govt programme should follow certain decorum. “It is unwise to insult any invited person at such a function. So, in protest I refuse to say anything here. Jai Hind. Jai Bangla,” she had said.

MORE CONTROVERSY?

ULTRAS TRYING TO DERAIL GOVT’S NORMALISATION PLANS IN J&K

BJP Lok Sabha MP, Locket Chatterjee, said the Jai Shri Ram slogans were raised when the Prime Minister appeared online to inaugurate Vande Bharat Express. “The slogans were not raised to irritate the Chief Minister,” she said

What happened on January 23, 2021 at a Government of India programme, was “re-enacted” again on December 30, 2022 and again at a Government of India programme. The venue may be different but the dignitaries present at both occasions were same.

A controversy erupted at the inaugural ceremony of West Bengal’s first Vande Bharat Express on Friday morning as irked by ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans on her arrival, CM Mamata Banerjee refused to share dais. Instead, throughout programme, she sat on a chair adjacent to the dais. From here she expressed her condolences over demise of Heeraben, mother of PM Narendra Modi.

Going by the local BJP leaders and even by the Union Railway minister, that even if they tried to persuade the workers not to chant the slogans, they refused to stop. The matter, for the common man, for whom development “only” matters is really becoming a matter of concern. The com-

BOTTOM CONG UPBEAT ON DISSENTING ORDER

BJP DEMANDS NIA PROBE...

Stones were hurled at Newly-launched Vande Bharat Express, connecting Howrah to New Jalpaiguri near Malda station, WB. Hours after the incident, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took to Twitter to slam WB CM Mamata Banerjee linking it to ‘Jai Shree Ram’ chants incident that took place on the Inaugural day of the premium train. “Unfortunate & sickening. Stones pelted at India’s pride Vande Bharat Express in WB’s Malda district. Is this revenge for ‘Jai Shree Ram’ chants on the Inaugural day? I urge @PMOIndia & @RailMinIndia to handover the probe to @NIA_India & punish the perpetrators. @AshwiniVaishnaw,” BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari tweeted.

THE EARLIER ATTACKS...

On its third commercial run on February 20, 2019, stones were thrown at Vande Bharat Express breaking one of its window panes. The railways had said that was the third incident in the last two months. The first one took place in December, 2018 during the train’s trial run between Delhi and Agra with the second following earlier in February, 2019. The train was crossing Tundla junction in UP when stones were hurled at it. The RPF had started campaigns to stop such incidents across the areas where they were reported. Investigations established that most stone-throwers were young children.

mon man who actually wants to remain away from such sensitive issues today is in a fix. It is becoming such an issue that it encompasses everyone and whether you like it or not, the aam aadmi is coming under the ambit of such issues.

A RECAP

As soon as CM arrived at the inauguration venue at the Howrah Station on Friday morning, the BJP supporters present there raised ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans.

Union Railways Minister,

Meanwhile, a political slugfest erupted over the development on Friday morning. State municipal affairs & urban development minister and Mayor of KMC, Firhad Hakim said, “Jai Shri Ram should be said in a temple or house with a pure mind. But the BJP supporters are using this slogan to irritate our CM. Had we wished we could have stopped them immediately. But we believe in political courtesy,” he said.

During 2019 LS polls, WB CM stepped off her vehicle to slam those shouting Jai Shri Ram. In May 2019 after general polls results were announced, 7 persons were arrested in WB for shouting Jai Shri Ram as Mamata’s cavalcade passed through their area. AND TATHAGATA ROY, Governor of Tripura from 2015 to 2018 and Governor of Meghalaya from August 2018 to end of his term in August 2020 had tweeted at 7.58 pm on May 31, 2019. It is perfectly possible that the people who shouted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ would be slapped with non-bailable attempt-to-murder (S.307 IPC) cases. I should know,it happened to ME in 2011! I was booked under 307 because I made a speech local MLA didn’t like. Had to spend a night in JC.

By 4-1 majority verdict the Supreme Court has upheld the much-criticised decision of the Narendra Modi government to demonetise the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination currency notes. The sudden announcement was no less than a tremor that jolted the economy in 2016. The success of its intended objectives of wiping out black money, bringing down the excess liquidity in circulation and dealing a blow to fake currency were, and are still, disputed. The Supreme Court’s decision has therefore come as a shot in the arm for the government. The Congress does not see the judgment as a vindication of the government’s decision.

By a 4-1 majority verdict, SC has upheld the much-criticised decision of Modi govt to demonetize `1,000, `500 denomination currency notes. Sudden announcement was no less than a tremor that jolted economy in 2016

The Congress has picked up the judgment of Justice BV Nagarathna, who dissented from the majority verdict, to repeat its earlier line that the decision was illegal and there were irregularities. In her judgment Justice Nagarathna pointed out that scrap-

ping of old currency notes was done through a notification and not through legislation. Based on this Cong argued that majority verdict deals with the limited issue of decision-making process and not with outcomes and that it will be wrong to say that DeMo has been upheld.

“None of these goals---reducing currency in circulation, moving to cashless economy, curbing counterfeit currency, ending terrorism and unearthing black money--was achieved in significant measure,” Jairam Ramesh said. P Chidambaram called it a “slap on wrist of govt”. Congress cannot deny that cashless economy has grown exponentially after government began to discourage the cash payments.

Terrorists had their murderous way in a Jammu village where they shot down four villagers in another case of targeted killing. The attacks followed the killing of four suspected terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba in an encounter on Jammu’s outskirts on Wednesday. They identified their victims after asking for their Aadhaar cards. The targeted killings coming close on the heels of the encounter with terrorists indicates that terrorists are down but not out.

Targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandit employees had earlier triggered a wave of fear in the community. After a series of killings, Pandits demanded that they be moved out of the Kashmir Valley. Their demand was turned down by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha with the warning that they won’t be paid salaries for “sitting at home”. Terrorists look intent on derailing the Prime Minister’s Special Employment Scheme to bring Pandits back to the Valley and also instill confidence among Hindus. Fortunately, in this war of attrition terrorists are on the losing side.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

MAHENG/2022/14652

Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No.22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai-400701. Published at Plot No. 3 Scheme C of Manglorean Garden Home, CHS Limited, Survey No. 5, 6C (Part) Ville Parle East, Mumbai 400057. Phone 022-46031417.

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra

Editor: Kartikey Dev Singh responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

Nitin Gadkari

@nitin_gadkari

Pained by hearing about the demise of Paramapujya Shri Siddheshwara Swami Ji. He will be eternally remembered for his teachings to spread humanism. My thoughts and prayers are with all his devotees. Om Shanti.

Anurag Thakur

@ianuragthakur

Regards on the birth anniversary of eminent social reformer Savitribai Phule, pioneer of the women’s liberation movement, who laid the foundation of the first girls’ school in the country and played a leading role in the advancement and empowerment of Indian women. Your movement against the evils prevalent in the 19th century will always be remembered.

Let all-embracing thoughts for all beings be yours. Buddha

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

ROBIN ROY

The writer is Senior Journalist and former Managing Editor, First India

JUNGLE RAJ’ HAS RETURNED TO BIHAR: NADDA

Patna (PTI): BJP president JP Nadda on Tuesday alleged that ‘Jungle Raj’ has returned to Bihar, alluding to the formation of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (Grand Alliance) govt in Bihar around five months ago.

At a rally in Muzaffarpur’s Paru, which falls under Vaishali Lok Sabha constituency, Nadda claimed there has been a complete breakdown in law and order in the state after the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) formed the government with Congress and RJD.

“Since the formation of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ govt in Bihar, not a day goes without hearing about murders, loot, kidnapping, rape and other crimes. ‘Jungle Raj’ has returned to the state. There is a complete breakdown in law and order in the state,” he said.

“Nitish Kumar betrayed the people of Bihar. His decision to form

an alliance with the RJD and other parties is against the mandate of the people. The people of the state will give a befitting reply to Kumar in the coming polls.

The ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government will be

IN THE COURTYARD

APEX COURT GRANTS INTERIM BAIL TO SUSPENDED IAS OFFICER POOJA SINGHAL

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim bail of one month to suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal who sought the relief to look after her ailing daughter. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S Oka granted interim bail to Singhal and imposed some conditions on her, including that she will not visit Ranchi unless a court case is listed for hearing in the city. The top court has now listed the plea for hearing on February 6 and asked Enforcement Directorate to file response in three weeks to Singhal’s main bail plea.

CINEMA HALL NOT

A GYM: SC ON FOOD

SERVED AT MOVIES

New Delhi: At a Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday on whether people can take food to cinema halls, the judges remarked at one point, “Should we start bringing jalebis to the movies?” The court was hearing a petition that called for a ban on food from outside at cinemas.

Cinema halls have the right to set terms and conditions and decide whether to allow food and beverages from outside, court ruled.

SC SEEKS CBI’S REPLY ON BAIL PLEA OF EX-COUNCILLOR

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought reply from the CBI to the bail plea of former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar, sentenced to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, on several grounds including having already served almost nine years in jail. Besides him, ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar and ex-MLA Mahender Yadav are serving life imprisonment and 10-year term respectively.

CUSTODIAL DEATH CASE: SC TO HEAR ON JAN 10 PLEA OF EX-IPS SANJIV BHATT

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday said it will consider on January 10 the petition filed by sacked Gujaratcadre IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt seeking to bring in additional evidence in an appeal filed by him in the Gujarat High Court. Bhatt has filed an appeal in the high court challenging his conviction in a 1990 custodial death case. At the outset, a bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar asked senior advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Bhat, if he was serious with regard to a plea seeking recusal of Justice Shah.

thrown out by voters in the next election,” Nadda added.

Nitish Kumar had formed the government with the Opposition parties after ending its coalition with BJP in August last year.

BHARAT

JODO YATRA

Ex-RAW chief AS Dulat, Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi join BJY in UP

Lucknow (ANI): Amarjit Singh Dulat, former Cheif of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and former special director of the Indian Intelligence Bureau, joined Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra on Tuesday in the Uttar Pradesh leg of the Yatra.

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also joined Bharat Jodo Yatra with RG in Seelampur. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also joined the UP leg of the yatra today.

Notably, leaders like Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav extended their warm wishes to Bharat Jodo Yatra on Monday. But they won’t join the Yatra in Uttar Pradesh, sources said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Uttar Pradesh today after a nine-day Christmas and New Year break. The Yatra resumed from Delhi’s Marghat Hanuman Mandir near Kashmiri Gate at around 10 AM today.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited Marghat Hanuman Mandir in Delhi in the morning. Temple Ma-

hant Vaibhav Sharma said that Rahul Gandhi chanted mantras in his mind and bowed before the idol of Hanuman.

Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra after Rahul Gandhi sent an invite to her. She said, “The time has come for the opposition to unite and confront the current situation in the country.”

The Yatra is expected to cross Uttar Pradesh over a span of three days before reentering Haryana on January 6.

CONG SAYS PM’S NEW YEAR ‘GIFT’ CUTS RATIONS OF POOR BY 50%

New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the Modi govt has reduced the ration of the 81 crore poor people by 50% in the new year. The opposition party said 81 crore Indians who were eligible for 10 kilograms of foodgrains will now get only five kilograms. “The year 2023 began with the depressing news that PM Modi’s Cabinet has discontinued the Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY), which provided an additional 5 kgs of food grains to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA),” said party leader Jairam Ramesh.

RAHUL, PRIYANKA SHARE SIBLING LOVE, AS BHARAT JODO YATRA ENTERS UTTAR PRADESH

Ghaziabad: The brother-sister duo of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared some affectionate moments during the Bharat Jodo Yatra after it entered Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. As Priyanka Vadra called her elder brother a ‘’warrior’’ who was wearing the ‘’shield of truth’’ and was not afraid of anyone, Rahul Gandhi affectionately hugged her and even kissed her on the cheek during the flag handing-over ceremony at the Loni border. They later walked hand in hand during the yatra in Uttar Pradesh, often waving to the ecstatic crowds who welcomed their leaders with enthusiasm.

“AMBANI, ADANI BUT COULDN’T BUY RaGa”

Ghaziabad: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday called her brother Rahul Gandhi a “warrior” and said he is not afraid of the might of the govt. She said big industrialists like Adani and Ambani may have bought many a politician, but “they have not been, and will never be, able to buy my brother.”

RAM JANMABHOOMI TEMPLE

PRIEST EXTENDS SUPPORT TO BJY

Ayodhya: Head priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, Acharya Satyendra Das, has written a letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extending his support for the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. In the letter dated December 31, 2022, Das wished that the blessings of Lord Ram be always upon the Congress leader. The letter has been trending on social media platforms. In the letter, Das prayed for the success of the campaign (Bharat Jodo Yatra) that is being run to connect the country from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

Gayathri Raguramm quits BJP, claims women not safe in TN unit

Chennai (PTI): Actorpolitician Gayathri Raguramm, who was suspended from the BJP in November last year, announced on Tuesday that she is resigning from the party and claimed that women are not safe in the Tamil Nadu unit as “nobody cares about true karyakartas”. She blamed state BJP chief K Annamalai for her decision to quit the party.

A senior leader, how-

ever, rejected her claims and said she is not a loss to the party. The leader said they do not give much importance to her allegations.

K’TAKA BIZMAN SUICIDE: CONG DEMANDS ARREST OF BJP MLA NAMED IN FIR

Bengaluru: Congress leaders on Tuesday demanded the arrest of Karnataka BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali and five others named in the FIR in connection with the alleged suicide of a businessman, and urged the state govt to ensure justice to his family. Congress leaders met Pradeep’s family at their residence here. Pradeep (47) was found dead in his car at Nettigere near here on Sunday. He had allegedly shot himself in the head inside his car.

Mamata

Kolkata (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that the BJP’s ideology is to be “self-centred “ while her party Trinamool Congress abides by the Constitution.

CAN BJY UNITE OPPOSITION?

PERMANENT SEAT FOR SONIA GANDHI, RAHUL AT CWC?

New Delhi: With Congress set to decide its future course of action with organisational revamp and appointment of new office-bearers, the party has a tricky issue to settle—what to do with the two former Congress presidents in its ranks? It is possible that the party may name Sonia Gandhi and Rahul as permanent members to the Congress Working Committee, the top decision-making forum of the party. Congress is set to hold a plenary session in Raipur from February 24-26 to confirm the election of veteran Mallikarjun Kharge as party president for five years.

“Discovery of India has been going on for four generations (of Gandhi’s family),” Trivedi said in an apparent reference to Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Discovery of India’.

“Allegation doesn’t make a person guilty”

Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana CM ML Khattar on Tuesday termed as “absurd” the allegations of sexual harassment against minister Sandeep Singh and said a person does not become guilty just because an accusation is levelled against him. He said the police are investigating the matter and further action will be taken once the report comes.

Sandeep Singh gave

up the sports portfolio saying he has taken the step on moral grounds, and claimed that the charges levelled against him by the woman coach are baseless.

How will Oppn consider Rahul Gandhi as its leader?

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath has bluntly said that Rahul Gandhi will be the prime ministerial candidate of the Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He said that Rahul is the face of the Congress. But at the same time he also said that Rahul would be the face of the opposition as well. The question is

how will this happen? How and why will the opposition accept him as its leader? It is also a big question whether anyone from the Congress has talked to the leaders of the opposition? At least as of now, it does not appear that the Congress has created any channel of dialogue with the opposition leaders behind the scenes.

No senior Congress leader that holds a tall stature in opposition parties can be seen for this

work. That’s why the announcement of Kamal Nath is surprising. There

was no point in praising Rahul’s yatra and mentioning the sacrifices of

the Nehru-Gandhi family, but by mentioning these things, he tried to make Rahul the face of the opposition. That is why the opposition parties have not taken it seriously. A big leader like Kamal Nath should have given such a statement after thinking. It is not a matter of forcing the opposition by putting any pressure. It is not that the opposition will accept Rahul as the leader after repeated statements from the Congress. The

first condition for considering Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition is that the strength of the Congress should increase and it should be established that the strength of the Congress has increased because of Rahul. That is, Rahul should be established as the leader who won the elections for the Congress. If he can do this work in the new year, then the opposition itself will consider him as the leader.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda being garlanded during a public rally, at Paroo High school, in Vaishali on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

BJP NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEET ON JAN 16, 17; NADDA’S TENURE EXTENSION ON CARDS

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national executive meeting will be held in the national capital on January 16 and 17, said sources on Tuesday. According to the sources, the party is expected to deliberate on the upcoming Assembly elections and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. BJP national president JP Nadda’s tenure may be extended at the executive meeting. Nadda’s three-year term as the party president will end later this month. Apart from this, many organizational decisions will be taken. The ruling party has increased the number of Lok Sabha seats which it considers difficult to win in 2024 from 144 to 160 now.

Mahesh Sharma

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi waves during the Bharat Jodo Yatra at Gokulpuri, in east Delhi, on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal and others raise hands during the National flag handing over ceremony to Delhi chief Anil Chaudhary by UP chief Brijlal Khabri as Bharat Jodo Yatra enters UP, in Ghaziabad on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

RAHUL GANDHI WANTS INDIA TO SURRENDER BEFORE CHINA: BJP New Delhi: The BJP on Tuesday derided Rahul Gandhi for being “perpetually confused” and accused the Congress leader of wanting India to surrender before China following his recent remarks on the border tensions. India cannot be understood only by travelling across the country, one needs to understand Indianness, BJP Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

BJP’s ideology is to be self-centred, says

Permanent members clearly not in hurry to see UN reforms: Jaishankar

Vienna (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has slammed the slow pace of the UN reforms, saying those who are enjoying the benefits of permanent membership are not in a hurry to see reforms.

India has been at the forefront of efforts at the UN to push for urgent long-pending reform of the Security Council, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member.

“You will have a situation when the world’s most populous country

is not among the permanent members of the security council, what does it say about the state of the UN”, Jais-

hankar said in an interview to Austria’s national broadcaster ORF on Monday.

When asked how long

You will have a situation when the world’s most populous country is not among the permanent members of the security council, what does it say about the state of the UN, —S Jaishankar, EAM

COULD USE HARSHER WORDS...’ JAISHANKAR ON USE OF PHRASE ‘EPICENTRE OF TERRORISM’ FOR PAKISTAN

Vienna: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that he could have used “much harsher words than epicentre” for Pakistan for its role in promoting crossborder terrorism as he underlined that the world needs to be concerned about terrorism. Jaishankar, who has often

described Pakistan as the “epicentre of terrorism’, in an interview to Austria’s national broadcaster ORF on Monday also criticised European nations for not condemning the (terrorism) practices that have been going on for multiple decades. “Because you are a diplomat, doesn’t

mean you are untruthful. I could use much harsher words than epicentre. So believe me, considering what has been happening to us, I think epicentre is a very diplomatic word,” he said while responding to a question on using the word “epicentre of terrorism” for Pakistan.

will it take until this reform of the UN Security Council, he said, “... those who are today enjoying the benefits of

permanent membership clearly are not in a hurry to see reform. I think it’s a very shortsighted view Because at

Agnipath game changer for Armed forces: Rajnath Singh

to provide opportunities to Agniveers

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Agnipath is a game changer scheme for the Armed Forces which is going to act as force multiplier in making Indian military as one of the best in the world with youthful, high-tech and ultramodern outlook.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said during his virtual address at the MoU Exchange Ceremony ‘Outreach Programme with Ministry of Education (MoE) & and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE’) on Tuesday. He elaborated on the paradigm shifting

changes the Agnipath scheme is going to make in transforming the Armed Forces into a tech-savvy, well-equipped and combat ready unit to face future challenges. He said, “As the De-

China warns nations of tit-for-tat curbs

Beijing (Agencies): Beijing is blasting testing requirements on passengers from China and threatening countermeasures against countries involved based on reciprocity.

“We believe that the entry restrictions adopted by some countries targeting China lack scientific basis, and some excessive practices are even more unacceptable,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Tuesday.

“We are firmly opposed to attempts to manipulate the COVID measures for political purposes and will take

INDIA SEES SLIGHT RISE IN COVID CASES

New Delhi: For the second week running, India recorded a marginal rise in Covid-19 cases although the numbers remained very low. In the week ending Sunday, 1,526 fresh cases were recorded in the country, up 25% from the previous week’s tally of 1,219. Meanwhile, in a first since March 2020, Covid deaths during the week (December 26-January 1) dipped to single figures at six.

countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity,” he said.

fence Minister, I do see the Agnipath scheme as helpful in building a strong, capable Armed Forces. Also, being a citizen, I am seeing this scheme as a helper in nation-building.”

BRO are actually our brothers Defence Minister

Siang (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that during his childhood he used to think that the acronym ‘BRO’ of the Border Roads Organisation actually meant ‘bro’ a slang for brother but now after seeing their work he pointed out that they could be seen as brothers of our armed forces. The defence minister also lauded the spirit and speed with which the

BRO carried out development works in the recent past. “When i used to see the short form of BRO (Border Roads Organisation) on signboards in my childhood, I used to think it meant ‘Bro’ which our younger generation uses for brother. But after seeing the work they are doing, they are actually brothers of our Armed forces and people,” Singh said.

Winter tourism thrives in Valley; celebrations end on a high note

Srinagar (ANI): Tourists thronging Kashmir to celebrate Christmas and New Year created a buzz in the Valley as all the tourist resorts, including Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, were sold out even before the celebrations could begin. The festivities ended on a high note as tourists started their New Year amid snow-clad mountains and peaks in the Valley.

Nearly 26 lakh tourists visited Kashmir from January 1, 2022, to December 21, 2022. The highest grossing months were April (2.72 lakh), May (3.75 lakh) and June (3.33 lakh)

while in lean months, there were 62,000 arrivals in January, one lakh

SIMILARITY IN DISPARITY

arrivals in February and 1.05 lakh in December (up to December 21).

the end of the day, the credibility of the UN and their own interests and effectiveness are at stake.”

“So my sense is, it will take some time, hopefully not too much time. I can see a growing body of opinion

among UN members who believe that they must be changed. It’s not just us,” Jaishankar said.

Tearful adieu to twin terror victims in J&K

Rajouri (PTI): The mortal remains of six people including two minor cousins who were killed in twin terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district were given a tearful and emotional farewell as they were cremated at their native place on Tuesday.

Hundreds of mourners — relatives, friends and neighbours — queued up with flowers and wreaths to pay their last respects to the mortal remains at the government higher second school, where the bodies were kept for the night.

Amid slogans by people who took out processions, the bodies of the six victims of the terror attacks at Dhangri village, were brought to the cremation ground for

Ankita murder: Accuseds’ narco test on Jan 5

Dehradun (ANI): The First Class Judicial Magistrate Court Kotdwar on Tuesday fixed the date of narco and polygraph tests of the three accused in the Ankita Bhandari murder case for January 5.

The Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kotdwar fixed the date after hearing the arguments of both parties. The case pertains to 19-year-old Ankita, whose body was recovered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh on September 24.

She was reported missing for at least six days before the officials found her body.

Is Akhilesh on the path of bête noire Mayawati?

Shamsher Singh

New Delhi: National President of the Samajwadi Party (SP) Akhilesh Yadav made a wonderful statement recently. He talked about not getting the invitation of Congress for Bharat Jodo Yatra and distanced himself from it but at the same time said that the Congress is also like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He made another interesting point that the Sa-

majwadi Party has a different ideology. However, leaving aside the matter of ideology, even the attack he made on Congress by calling Congress like BJP is astonishing. No one asked him since when has the Congress become like the BJP? Obviously it must have happened only after 2017 because in 2017 it was not like the BJP, that’s why Akhilesh had coordinated with the Congress and ‘two boys from UP’

came out to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, the way he

attacked the Congress, the question has arisen whether he too will fol-

low the path of Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati? Mayawati has been describing Congress as the Bharatiya Janata Party for a long time. She has been helping the BJP in one way or the other for some time now. Her inaction has resulted in transfer of BSP’s vote to BJP and in the last elections their candidates helped BJP. Is there some unknown reason why Akhilesh Yadav is keeping distance from

opposition unity and indirectly ensuring that the Bharatiya Janata Party wins the elections? Or is it the reason that he is worried about Congress or he is feeling that Congress can make a comeback? By describing Congress as BJP, he is making SSP the sole contender for the minority votes of the state.

It is possible that he has attacked the Congress in the concern of Congress benefiting from Rahul’s yatra.

last rites. The bodies of four-year-old Vihan Sharma, 16-year-old Samiksha Sharma, Satish Kumar (45), Deepak Ku-

FIVE OF FAMILY DIE IN VEHICLES’ PILEUP IN TN

Cuddalore: Five of a family were killed in a six-vehicle pileup on the Trichy-Chennai National Highway in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district early Tuesday, police said. The vehicles in the pileup were two private buses, two lorries, and two cars. The deceased members of the family, who are yet to be identified, were in one of the cars, added the police. The bodies were recovered with the help Veppur Firemen team.

mar (23), Pritam Lal (57) and Shishu Pal (32) were

INDIAN CHARGED FOR MOLESTING WOMAN IN S’PORE

Singapore: A 25-year-old Indian national has been arrested on charges of allegedly molesting a woman in the Sentosa resort island here on New Year’s Day, a report said on Tuesday. Subramanian Muralimanogarjoshi was charged on Monday with one count each of criminal trespass and outrage of modesty of a woman and wrongful restraint, Channel News Asia reported. The police are investigating the matter.

UNION MINISTER NITYANAND RAI’S SECURITY UPGRADED TO ‘Z’ CATEGORY

INDIAN HELD IN NEPAL FOR ‘KILLING’ ELDERLY WOMAN

Kathmandu: A 23-year-old

Indian national has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder of an elderly woman in the Arghakhanchi district of western Nepal, police said on Tuesday. Sushanta Singh, a permanent resident of Haryana, was arrested on Sunday on the charges of murdering 60-year-old Radha Thapa, police said.

Thapa’s body was recovered with deep head injuries from a forest near the municipality on Sunday.

MAN DROWNS WHILE TRYING TO RESCUE PET DOG

Chandigarh: A 40-year-old merchant navy officer was drowned in Bhakra canal in Punjab while trying to rescue his dog, police said on Tuesday. The incident occurred near Morinda town on Monday. Deceased Ramandeep Singh was on a picnic with his family, and when they were strolling on the bank of the canal, the pet accidentally fell into the canal. Ramandeep jumped into the canal to save it but drowned. However, the dog was rescued by passers-by.

EAM S Jaishankar with Foreign Ministers Alexander Schallenberg of Austria, Jan Lipavský of Czech Republic and Rastislav Kácer of Slovak Republic during a meeting in Vienna. —PHOTO BY PTI

Akhilesh Yadav with Mayawati.

—FILE PHOTO

Defence Minister calls upon State govts & pvt sector

Rajnath Singh at inauguration of Siyom Bridge in Arunachal Pradesh.

New Delhi: Ministry of Home Affairs has upgraded the security of Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai to ‘Z’ category for all India level, sources said on Tuesday. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be providing round the clock security cover to the minister at his residence as well as during his travel to other states across the country. Earlier, the CRPF used to provide Rai ‘Z’ category security during his stay and travel in West Bengal.

cremated in six pyres lined up at Dhangri cremation ground.

Members of Shiv Sena Dogra Front protest the killing of people in Rajouri attack, in Jammu. —PHOTO BY PTI

NIGHT CURFEW IMPOSED ALONGSIDE INT’L BORDER IN J&K’S SAMBA DISTRICT Jammu (PTI): Authorities on Tuesday imposed night curfew along a kilometer stretch along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district to ensure better area domination by BSF troops, according to an official order. The step was taken in view of the threat of cross-border infiltration and smuggling of weapons through drones in the present foggy weather, it stated.

FOG SHROUDS LUCKNOW AMID SEVERE COLD CONDITION; MERCURY DROPS

Lucknow (ANI): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said severe cold and fog conditions will continue to prevail in the Uttar Pradesh capital where the mercury can drop further. The IMD said that dense to very dense fog and cold wave conditions are very likely to prevail over the plains of northwest India during the next five days till Saturday.

New Delhi: Capital markets regulator Sebi has asked Oravel Stays Ltd, the parent company of travel-tech firm OYO, to refile the draft IPO papers with certain updates. The move might delay the Gurugram-based hospitality unicorn’s initial public offering (IPO). OYO filed preliminary documents with the Sebi in September 2021 for a `8,430 crore IPO. The proposed offering consists of a fresh issue of shares of up to `7,000 crore and an offer-for-sale of as much as `1,430 crore. —PTI

TESLA SAYS IT SOLD A RECORD

1.3 MN VEHICLES IN 2022

ON EXPORT OF DIESEL, ATF Govt hikes windfall tax on crude oil

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The government has raised the windfall profit tax levied on domestically produced crude oil as well as on the export of diesel and ATF, in line with firming international oil prices, according to an official order.

The levy on crude oil produced by companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has been increased to `2,100 per tonne from `1,700 per tonne, the order dated January 2, said.

Crude oil pumped out of the ground and from below the seabed is refined and converted into fuel like petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF).

Austin: Tesla said that sold a record 1.3 million vehicles last year. The 2022 figure topped the prior record of 936,000 vehicles delivered in 2021, but it was shy of the 1.4 mn needed to reach the company’s 50% growth target. Sales grew 40% year over year, while production climbed 47% to 1.37 mn. The shortfall came despite a major year-end sales push that included rare $7,500 discounts in the US on the Models Y and 3, the topselling models. PTI

BMW INDIA POSTS RECORD SALES AT

19,263 UNITS IN 2022

The government has also raised the tax on the export of diesel to ` 6.5 per litre, from ` 5 and the same on overseas shipments of ATF to ` 4.5 a litre, from ` 1.5 a litre.

The new tax rates are effective from January 3.

Tax rates were cut at the last fortnightly review on December 16, following a decline in global crude oil prices. International oil

OTHER STORIES

TOP TALKING POINTS

z The levy on crude oil produced by companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has been increased to `2,100 per tonne from `1,700 per tonne, the order dated January 2, said

prices have since then firmed up, necessitating the raising of windfall tax.

India first imposed windfall profit taxes on July 1, joining a growing number of nations that tax super normal profits of energy companies. At that time, export duties of `6 per litre ($12 per barrel) each were levied on petrol and ATF

GOLD RATE INCREASES BY `506; SILVER PRICE ALSO ZOOMS BY RUPEES 1,374

New Delhi: Gold price in the national capital jumped `506 to `55,940 per 10 grams on Tuesday amid a rally in prices of the precious metal internationally, according to Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Securities. The yellow metal had touched `55,434 per 10 grams in the previous trade. Silver also zoomed to `1,374 to `71,224 per kilogram. In the overseas market, gold was trading in green at $1,843 per ounce while silver was up at $24.37 per ounce. PTI

z The tax on the export of diesel to `6.5 per litre, from `5 and the same on overseas shipments of ATF to `4.5 a litre, from `1.5 a litre

z Tax rates were cut at the last fortnightly review on December 16, following a decline in global crude oil prices

and `13 a litre ($26 a barrel) on diesel.

A ` 23,250 per tonne ($40 per barrel) windfall profit tax on domestic crude production was also levied.

The export tax on petrol has since been scrapped.

The tax rates are reviewed every fortnight based on average oil prices in the previous two weeks.

Government has pipeline of 44 port projects till 2024-25: Min

EAM Jaishankar defends India’s move to import Russian oil

Cloud a big game changer: Nadella

Mumbai (PTI): Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday said there is tremendous momentum in cloud adoption, as he termed cloud a “big game changer”.

ACC TO IDC RESEARCH FIRM

Vienna (PTI): EAM S Jaishankar has defended India’s move to import crude oil from Russia, saying that Europe has imported six times the fossil fuel energy from Russia than India has done since February 2022.

Jaishankar also said that if the European political leadership would like to soften the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict to their population, it’s a privilege they should extend to other political leaderships as well.

“Europe has managed to reduce its imports while doing it in a manner that is comfortable. If at a (per capita income) of 60,000 euros, you are so caring about your population, I have a population at $2,000. I also need energy, and I am not in a position to pay high prices for oil,” Jaishankar said. Jaishankar also pointed out that Europe has imported six times the energy from Russia than India has done since February 2022.

Nadella, in his address on Tuesday, listed cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as imperatives that can be helpful in driving economic growth. “Cloud has been a big game changer... Cloud is in early-to-intermediate innings...,” Nadella said and noted the “tremendous momentum in cloud adoption.”

According to research firm IDC, the overall Indian public cloud services market is expected to reach $13 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 23.1% for 202126. The revenue totaled $2.8 billion for the first half of 2022. Public cloud service (PCS) makes computing

z The overall Indian public cloud services market is expected to reach $13 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 23.1% for 2021-26. The revenue totaled $2.8 billion for the first half of 2022

z Top cloud computing providers in India include AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft’s Azure

and storage applications available on demand to organisations and individuals over the public internet. A private cloud model’s resources are available only to a single organisation.

Top cloud computing providers in India include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud and Microsoft’s Azure.

Hyderabad-born Nadella also lauded the way in which India is building public infrastructure.

He said, “... We see tremendous momentum today, when it comes to cloud adoption. In fact, when I think about Microsoft Windows, in the client server era, we sold a few servers in the cloud. It’s a completely different ballgame. But I look at every business in the cloud consumption.”

Market benchmarks settle with gains in day’s volatile trade

New Delhi: German automotive group BMW on Tuesday reported record sales of its luxury cars and motorcycles in India at 19,263 units in 2022.

Customer deliveries of cars of both brands BMW and MINI registered a growth of 35% at 11,981 units last year. BMW India registered sales of 11,268 units at a growth of 37% and MINI India of 713 units, up 11% from 2021, it added. SUV range, including the X1, X3, X5 and X7 grew at over 60%, while luxury sedans such as the 3 Series, 5 Series and 6 Series continued their strong run, the company said. —PTI

IEX TRADE VOLUME FALLS 7% TO 8,452 MILLION UNITS

INDIA’S OCT-DEC SUGAR OUTPUT UP 3.69% AT 120.7 LAKH TONNES

New Delhi: The country’s sugar production rose 3.69% to 120.7 lakh tonnes in the October-December quarter of the ongoing marketing year, according to the industry body ISMA. Sugar production in India, one of the world’s major producers of the sweetener, stood at 116.4 lakh tonnes in the same period of the previous marketing year. Sugar marketing year runs from October to September. According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), about 509 mills were operating as against 500 mills in the said period. PTI

MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA LOGS 28% RISE IN EXPORTS IN 2022

New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday reported a 28% rise in exports at 2,63,068 units in 2022, its highest ever overseas shipments.

The company’s previous highest exports was achieved in 2021 with 2,05,450 units. The highest exported models in 2022 were Dzire, Swift, S-Presso, Baleno, Brezza. “Crossing the 2 lakh milestone in exports for the second consecutive year signifies the trust, quality, reliability, performance, and affordability of our products,” MSIL MD & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said. PTI

New Delhi (PTI): Publicprivate partnership in port infrastructure has been an important source of investment in the sector and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has a pipeline of 44 projects for total investment of `22,900 crore till 2024-25, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday.

Moreover, the government is working on the guidelines for dealing with stressed public-private partnership (PPP) projects at major ports and has also come up with policies to support the shipbuilding industry in India, Sonowal said.

TO TOUCH `1.6 LAKH CR REVENUE IN FY24

New Delhi: The Indian Energy Exchange’s total trade volume in December 2022 dipped 7% to 8,452 million units as compared to the year-ago period. “The overall volume on the exchange in December 2022 increased 9% on a MoM basis.

However, it declined by 7% on YoY basis due to high REC (renewable energy certificates) traded volumes of 13.85 lakh in (December 2021) the previous year,” an IEX statement said. —PTI

Mumbai (PTI): Equity benchmarks ended with gains on Tuesday amid a largely firm trend in global markets after facing bouts of volatility during the session. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 126.41 points or 0.21% to settle at 61,294.20. During the day, it hit a high of 61,343.96 and a low of 61,004.04.

The broader NSE Nifty gained 35.10 points or 0.19% to end at 18,232.55.

From the Sensex pack, Axis Bank, Titan, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra, IndusInd Bank, Wipro, Nestle and Bajaj Finance were among the major winners.

Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever and Tata Steel were the main laggards.

M&E sector likely to grow 12-14 percent

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Indian media and entertainment sector is likely to grow 12-14% to clock ` 1.6 lakh crore revenue in FY24, according to a report by rating agency Crisil.

The revenue growth of the Indian media and entertainment (M&E) from advertising would be led by digital platforms, followed by TV and print, it added in the report.

“Ad revenue, which accounts for 55% of the sector’s revenue, will grow 14%, given its strong cor-

relation with economic activity. Also, the general elections expected in mid2024 will trigger an in-

crease in ad spending in the last quarter of the next fiscal,” Crisil said.

The rest 45% would come

ACC TO REPORT BY CRISIL

z Ad revenue, which accounts for 55% of the sector’s revenue, will grow 14%, given its strong correlation with economic activity. Also, the general elections expected in mid-2024 will trigger an increase in ad spending in the last quarter of the next fiscal

from subscription revenue, which will grow at a slower pace of 12%, according to the report.

RUPEE FALLS 8 PAISE TO CLOSE AT 82.86

AGAINST US DOLLAR

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee pared initial gains and settled 8 paise lower at 82.86 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday, weighed by a strong greenback overseas and sustained foreign fund outflows. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened on a positive note at 82.69 against the greenback, but pared the gains and fell to an intra-day low of 82.92. The domestic currency finally settled at 82.86, down 8 paise over its previous close of 82.78.

Indian

economy &

exports will be moderately impacted: GTRI

New Delhi (PTI): The Indian economy and exports will be moderately impacted in 2023 by weak global demand and recession in large economies and to improve its current account, the country should aim at reducing energy import bill, economic think tank GTRI said on Tuesday.

The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that in 2022, India will pay $270 billion in imports of crude oil and coal, which is about 40% of total merchandise import bill.

It also said the US effort to create alternate supply chains excluding China is gradually leading to restructuring of global supply chains and relocation of few large manufacturing firms shows that India is in a good position to benefit from this trend.

‘5G rollout to drive telecom hiring in 2023’

New Delhi (PTI): The 5G

rollout is expected to drive hiring in the telecom sector in 2023, as the expansion of the high-speed service unleashes a “compounding impact” on recruitment for both non-niche skills and technical skills, according to NLB Services. Demand for specialised telecom technology talent grew by almost 20% in 2022, the international staffing and recruiting company said.

Going forward, the hiring demand is not going to be restricted to the telecom sector alone, it estimated.

AIRTEL LAUNCHES 5G SERVICES IN INDORE

New Delhi (PTI): Bharti Airtel on Tuesday announced the launch of its 5G services in Indore. The company said customers with 5G-enabled devices will experience high speed Airtel 5G Plus network at no extra cost until the rollout is more widespread. Airtel 5G Plus service will boost the entire portfolio of services that the telco offers.

Mumbai: A day after MLA Nitesh Rane tweeted a video related to the Sushant Singh Rajput death case and hinting at Aaaditya Thackeray claiming that “justice will be done”; now Shiv Sena (Thackeray) MP Vinayak Raut, in what could be termed as a bid to silence “critics”, has hit back at the Rane family and targeted Nitesh's father and Union Minister Narayan Rane, alleging that he had killed his first cousin and has blood on his hands.

“Nitesh Rane is enjoying targeting Aaditya Thackeray. But, Nitesh Rane should remember Narayan Rane's career. He broke his brother's (first cousin) head in the house, took him to Nandgaon in a car and burnt it. So, now form a SIT to investigate the number of missing and killed people during Narayan Rane's regime. Also, do his narco-test so that the killers can be exposed. This will also reveal who are the real murderers and who has blood on their hands," Raut said.

Notably, recently the Shinde faction MP Rahul Shewale had leveled serious allegations against Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray and claimed that before the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Rhea Chakraborty received 44 calls in the name of “AU”.

BJP MLA Jagtap dies after battling cancer

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Laxman Jagtap died at 59 on Tuesday after suffering from cancer, sources said. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde termed Jagtap's death as "mindnumbing", while Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis called it "heartwrenching". Jagtap, the legislator from Chinchwad in Pune, had been undergoing treatment for a long time, a family member said.

Despite his ailment, Jagpat had travelled from Pune to Mumbai to cast vote during the Rajya Sabha and Maharashtra Legislative Council elections in June last year, which earned him praise in political circles. CM Shinde expressed grief over Jagtap's demise and said he constantly worked for the betterment of his constituency. "His death is mindnumbing," Shinde said.

Senior BJP leader Fadnavis also expressed condolences and re-

REST IN PEACE

Notably, The BJP has lost two MLAs from the state within a fortnight as on December 22, Mukta Tilak, the party legislator from Kasba seat in Pune, passed away. State cabinet minister Chandrakant Patil,

called how Jagtap came to the state legislature wearing a PPE kit to vote during the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls last year.

Notably, The BJP has lost two MLAs from the state within a fortnight as on December 22,

Mukta Tilak, the party legislator from Kasba seat in Pune, passed away.

"The party has suffered a great loss with Jagtap's demise. As a mayor and MLA, he contributed a lot in the process of develop-

ment. The news of Laxmanbhau Jagtap's death is very sad and heart-wrenching. I pay my humble respects to him," Fadnavis said. "I pray to God to give strength to his family, loved ones and friends to bear this suffering," he added.

State cabinet minister Chandrakant Patil, who is also the Guardian Minister of Pune, said this is the second unfortunate news for the party in 15 days. "After Tilak's death, this is the second shock for all BJP workers. We all live like a family and the passing away of Jagtap is like losing a family member," he said.

Jagtap battled a serious ailment like cancer with his fighting spirit but a month back, his condition became critical, Patil said. Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ajit Pawar also expressed grief over the demise of Jagtap and said as a public representative, he worked passionately to address people's issues.

HC raps govt for delay in action against J&J

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday pulled up the Maharashtra state government seeking to know the reason for delay of over two years in passing an order against Johnson & Johnson Private Limited in connection with cancelling the baby powder manufacturing licence for its Mulund plant.

A bench comprising Justice GS Patel and Justice SG Dige was hearing a plea by the company challenging the September 15, 2022 order that directed cancellation of the licence.

After the bench asked the state’s lawyer to explain the delay in taking action though the test results of samples were made available in 2019, Additional Government Pleader Milind More said there were difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the concerned department could not take swift action.

However, express-

It was hearing a plea by the firm challenging the cancellation of its licence to make baby powder

ing displeasure over the reasoning, the bench orally observed, “If you are dealing with infant health care, we expect you to take action within 48 hours, not in two years. Did the world shut down during COVID-19 pandemic?

Did the Maharashtra government cease to exist from November

2019 till September 2022? You (state) are champions of public health. Assuming that the product is a dangerous or a thirdgrade product, this is how you (state) approach it? This is your sense of urgency?”

The bench then perused the reports submitted by the company and the government decision to clear samples and noted that the state’s decision and the reports relied on rules which had been declared defunct by the Central government in 2021. It indicated that the said decision can be set aside on the abovementioned grounds alone.

India needs 50 judges per 10L population: Justice Oka ‘No sanction needed to prosecute Didi’

Palghar (PTI): Supreme Court Judge Abhay S Oka has said India requires 50 judges for every 10 lakh people, but this figure is currently only 21 per million people, which is leading to cases piling up.

Justice Oka also said members of the society should come forward to help institutions that work in the field of providing assistance to differently abled children.

He was speaking at a function organized by “Sobti”, a social organisation that works for visually impaired children and kids with other disabilities, at Wada in Maharashtra’s Palghar district on the outfit’s 16th anniversary

on Sunday.

He said in foreign countries, the government helps families of special children, but unfortunately there is no such provision in India.

In absence of government-supported institutional care for kids with special needs, the society should come forward to help Sobti and other organizations like it, Jus-

tice Oka said.

On the occasion, he also spoke about the low ‘judge to population ratio’ in the country.

There is a requirement of 50 judges for every 10 lakh population in the country, but it has only 21 judges per million people. Hence, there is large-scale pendency of cases in different courts, Justice Oka said.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The prosecution claimed on Tuesday that no sanction was needed to pursue a criminal case against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly disrespecting the national anthem here in 2021, as the incident had taken place during a “political” visit and not an official one.

Mumbai BJP functionary Vivekanand Gupta filed a complaint before a magistrate’s court last year alleging that Banerjee did not stand up when the national anthem was being played at the event in December 2021. He

‘DHARAMVEER’ SAMBHAJI MAHARAJ

‘DISRESPECT’ TO NATIONAL ANTHEM

had demanded that a First Information Report be registered against her under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.

On Tuesday, a special court for cases against MPs and MLAs here was hearing a review

petition filed by Banerjee against a summons issued against her by a local magistrate’s court in this case. In her review petition, the Trinamool Congress leader argued that the mandatory sanction to prosecute a public servant

was not obtained. Representing the state government, additional public prosecutor Sumesh Panjwani on Tuesday argued that Banerjee was not visiting Mumbai in her official capacity.

“The visit had a political agenda,” he said, hence, no sanction was required.

Special judge RN Rokade said he will pass the order on Banerjee’s plea on January 12.

Maharashtra will not take Pawar-Awhad’s statements lightly: Shelar

BJP has taken an aggressive stance against NCP leaders as the row intensifies

First India Bureau

Mumbai: With the ruling coalition looking to corner the Opposition on Ajit Pawar’s remarks on Sambhaji Maharaj, Mumbai BJP leader Ashish Shelar has jumped into the fight and targeted the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and

Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray.

Notably, this is a change from last month, when the opposition had targeted Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and several BJP leaders for allegedly disparaging remarks against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Shelar said on Tuesday, “Ajit Pawar said that Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was not a dharamveer. Jitendra Awhad is saying that Aurangzeb was not a Hindu-hater. So should Maharashtra take these statements of Nawab Malik’s party leaders—

Isn’t

Shelar also targeted the Shiv Sena and said, “Is this a well-planned conspiracy of Uddhav Thackeray’s threewheeler government? Both the Congress and the NCP are taking potshots and people will reject those who insult the heroism of Dharamveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for their own political interests.”

AWHAD’S SECURITY INCREASED

First India Bureau

Mumbai: NCP MLA

Jitendra Awhad, who has been embroiled in controversy after his statement on Aurangzeb, will be provided additional security by the state government on the grounds that his life could be in danger, the state Home Department said on Tuesday.

Reacting to the update, Awhad said, “Such

things happen. Some people even did recce at my house. Some of them were caught by the police and few of them are in jail. Threats to my life are nothing new.” The extremely vocal politician is known for riling up his opponents. Most recently, he supported Ajit Pawar’s claim that Sambhaji was not a dharamveer but swarajya rakshak.

Notably, on Monday, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad also made a statement about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, and claimed that Aurangzeb was not a Hindu-hater. After these statements, BJP has taken an aggressive stance against NCP.

First India Bureau

who are dealing with Dawood—lightly?

this akin to the tactics used by Aurangzeb?”

NCP’s Ajit Pawar and Jitendra Awhad.

who is also the Guardian Minister of Pune, said this is the second unfortunate news for the party in 15 days.

‘Form SIT to probe deaths, vanishing people under Rane’s rule’

As tributes pour in for Chinchwad legislator, CM, Dy CM call loss ‘mind-numbing’ and ‘heart-wrenching’

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

The bench adjourned the hearing to January 06. —FILE PHOTO

BJP’s Vivekanand Gupta has alleged Banerjee did not stand for anthem at 2021 event in Mumbai

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee —FILE PHOTO

Laxman Jagtap: 1963–2023

LET YOUR CURVES SPEAK

Acorset is a typical support garment

may look like a lovely aesthetic, it is scarcely realistic or feasible for a day-to-day look. However, the Bridgerton costume department has more than simply standard corsets. They are quickly becoming fundamental wardrobe pieces like Tshirts. I kid you not! In fact, they complement practically everything and quickly dress up or down anything that is too fussy or informal.

The most typical and wellknown application of corsets is to contour the body to a trendy silhouette. Narrowing the waist and so emphasising the breast and hips, commonly highlights a curvaceous body in women.

Traditionally, a corset spreads the strain from enormous gowns, such as the bustle and crinoline, and supports the visible garment. Sometimes a corset cover is used to hide the corset’s lines and shield outside clothing from it.

To provide a barrier between the corset and the body, the original corset cover was worn below.

Corsets were not worn near the skin, presumably because they were difficult to clean in the 19th century since they contained steel boning and rust-prone metal eyelets.

Corsets can be worn as a top with low-slung slacks, tiny skirts, cargo pants, or as a coordinated set. It will give you the best out of your body. You can also wear this trendy spectacular look on a loose-fit dress to add a pinch of glam to your look. A smoky bold makeup would look the best

with this type of

MRIDULA SHARMA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

The corset fashion in 2022 was more Euphoric than bright hues, metallic sheens, and edgy designs. Let’s dive into the magical world of corset fashion with City First

SHOULD THE MEALS BE SMALL AND FREQUENT

DR RAMAVTAR SHARMA ramawatarf132@gmail.com

As human life evolved on earth and man started living in villages and then cities the human body started changing internally as far as its metabolism is concerned. A significant majority started gaining more body weight than desirable while some people could gain no weight despite all the possible efforts on the part of the individual. Culturally, people prefer breakfast, lunch and dinner with some snacking in the evening. It is widely believed that this routine improves health and wellness though no definite scientific scrutiny has ever been done.

Another line of thought is that small frequent meals are better suited to gain and maintaining body weight and muscle mass. All this may sound confusing but being a complex living being everyone out of us may need a bit of an individualized approach. Some studies where one group ate three large meals while the other group enjoyed six smaller meals a day showed no significant difference in body fat provided the total calorie intake was controlled and equal. But it has been observed that those in the six meals-a-day pro grams developed more appetite which could make them prone to excess calorie consumption in future as there would be no restriction on calorie intake at home.

The studies came to a near conclusion that there is no need to be bounded by any strict regime regarding the number of meals one consumes. What is important is the quality and type of food and also the state of mind when one is having one's meal. Many people believe that small frequent meals control weight gain and improve body metabolism but studies do not support such claims. Rather a large meal may improve metabolism but again there are individual variations. But some studies indicate that small fre-

quent meals with adequate protein content may improve athletic performance.

It has been observed that food quality is better in the groups where people have three or more meals per day because legumes, vegetables, greens, fruits, dairy and nuts are added to the meals as varieties. These people are also less likely to have added sugar and salt than those who have only two meals a day.

Thus, it has become reasonably clear that there is nothing miraculous as far as frequent meals or two meals a day are concerned. It is an individual approach and dis-

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20

Health tips from an expert will enable you to get closer to your fitness goals. Using your initiative at work will be much appreciated. You may get a chance to pursue old hobby. Your generous behavior would enable to enjoy some lovely moments with family. You will get a good price for your property.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20

Following a health diet will be a good idea. Luck favours you today on the professional front. Focussing on health now will help you in keeping physically fit. Clarity of mind and retentive power will help you forge ahead on the academic front. Frustration on the romantic front is possible

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

Distant relatives may drop in for a surprise visit. On professional front, recognition for good work would motivate you to work harder. Those awaiting an affirmation on romantic front are likely to get lucky today, as partner responds positively. Today you will enjoy the trust of senior management.

CANCER

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

Your intuition will save you from a tricky spot today. Yoga would help in raising energy levels and improve your metabolism. You will manage to achieve your aim through travel. This is a great time on the academic front, when you mange to render your best. You will get successful in love.

LEO

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

Family will be most supportive, when it really matters for you. Some of you may add to your list of properties by booking a new one. It is good day to confess your love as stars appear favourable for positive reply. A long drive is likely to help you get over mental tiredness.

VIRGO

AUG 24 - SEP 23

Avoid raising controversial issues at home to maintain harmony. Successful implementation of new ideas and projects would add to your prestige on the professional front. It is a wonderful day to build new connections. Your relationship requires you to be tactful.

DAY

cipline. Quality of ingredients and balance of calories is very important. The needs of individuals have to be tailored. Re member that food is one of the many factors which keep us healthy and fit or vice versa. To stay fit you have to review your overall lifestyle because health in cludes physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being.

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

Despite hectic schedule you will manage to find time for family. Seek the opinion of your family before finalizing a property deal. Your bold initiatives on romantic front bring back passion and spark in romantic relationship. Overall health remains fine. Some of you can get romantically involved.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

Happiness in the domestic sphere will only come with a changed mind set. Some of you are likely to become a part of an overseas official trip. Better to consult an expert in financial matters before making an investment. Harsh words may create a rift in your romantic relationship; be careful.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 22

It’s a very good day to take calculated risks in financial matters. Your efforts on the professional front will be recognised. Opting for some healthy choices will ensure you remain in perfect health. You will feel much happy and contented on the family front. Today you will enjoy the trust of senior management.

CAPRICORN

DEC 23 - JAN 20

You will succeed in resolving problem with family members, normalizing ties. Despite your misgivings, you retain good health. You will do much to bring peace and harmony at home. You will remain much in demand on social front. Some of you can get romantically involved.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19

A friend or colleague may motivate you to take up a healthy activity. Parents may appear more than happy with what you deliver. Plans for overseas travel are likely to materialise. You are likely to get clearance or approval for your construction plans. You find things moving in the way you want them.

PISCES

FACEOFTHEDAY

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

Seal Kiss

It’s New Year 2023 and Malaika Arora’s first post is with her boyfriend Arjun Kapoor. The actress treated her Insta family to a monochrome picture from their New Year festivities with their friends in Ranthambore, Rajasthan. In the image, Malaika is planting a kiss on Arjun’s cheek, while he clicks an adorable picture. In the background, we can see a tree covered with fairy lights. In the caption, Malaika wrote, “Hello 2023 (a heart emoticon)... Love and light.” Arjun also shared the same picture on

his Instagram handle with a different caption, “Happy 2023 everyone...Let the

Ar-

Malaika

nal

“An uncomfortable filming experience”

Chiranjeevi and Ravi Teja’s most-awaited mass action entertainer Waltair Veerayya hits the big screens, on January 13.

From songs to the first look, everything about the film is drawing a huge response from moviegoers.

SAMANTHA IN CITADEL?

Alot is being written about Sa mantha Ruth Prabhu’s health and how that is im pacting the shooting schedules of her upcoming pro jects. Once again, speculations are doing rounds that Samantha has quit Raj and DK’s upcoming film Citadel, an original spy series that will co-star Varun Dhawan. It is also said that Sam, who is diagnosed with an au toimmune disease called Myositis, will be taking a long break from work, leading to rumour mills buzz ing that she is being replaced in the up coming projects.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu is very much a part of Varun Dhawan’s costarrer Citadel and will start shooting the same in the second half of January 2023.

The official dates will be confirmed soon. “Anything and everything is writ ten about her be ing replaced in Citadel is rubbish.

She will begin the shoot in the second half of Janu ary,” confirmed a source.

The on-screen chemistry between the lead pair in the 3-minute video catches our attention. However, Shruti Haasan did not really enjoy filming the song in a snow-clad location. Sharing her experience of shooting for the song, Shruti said, “I do hope and completely be very honest that I don’t have to do another song in the snow wearing a saree because physically it is so uncomfortable but I guess, people still want to see it and we will have to keep doing it. It is truly uncomfortable for a

BREAK-UP?

ara Sutaria and Aadar Jain, who had been in a relationship for a few years, have reportedly broken up. As per reports, the couple has decided to amicably part ways, and are on good terms. One of the most loved couples of B-Town, the two had kept their relationship low-key, but would often grab headlines for their mushy posts on each other’s birth days and special occasions. Tara and Aadar were of ten spotted by the paparazzi together, and the actress was also seen with him at all the Kapoor family functions. A source informed the publication, “Aadar and Tara have decided to amicably part ways. They’re both mature and they will remain friends and care for each other fondly.”

Jisoo to make her solo debut

On January 2nd, YG Entertainment announced, “BLACKPINK’s Jisoo is currently accelerating the recording of a solo album.” YG Entertainment added, “Amidst the busy schedule of the world tour since last year, to keep the promise with fans, we have finished taking photos for the jacket and have

been working on music in our spare time. We will come back soon with good news.”

With this, Jisoo will make her solo debut as the last member of BLACKPINK, following Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. Currently, BLACKPINK is conducting the largest world tour done by any K-pop girl group. Starting with the concert in Seoul last October,

BLACKPINK members held North American concerts, seven cities and a European tour. Starting this year, they will per form in parts of Asia. In the past few years, each member of BLACKPINK, except Jisoo, had made their solo debut and received a lot of love from fans and nonfans too.

light guide you this year...”

Arora and

jun Kapoor rang in the new year with friends Varun Dhawan-Natasha Dalal, Kunal Rawal-Arpita Mehta and Mohit Marwah-Antara Motiwala in Rajasthan. Sharing a group picture on her Instagram handle, she wrote, “Love, happiness and eter-

sunshine ..... happy 2023.” Arjun Kapoor also shared a similar picture with a different caption “Bring it on 2023 !!!”

Samantha Ruth Prabhu Kim Jisoo

Tara Sutaria

Malaika Arora

Chiranjeevi and Shruti Haasan in a still from the song

Samantha with Varun Dhawan

Her post...

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR!

WAS APPREHENSIVE ABOUT PLAYING LUCKY: TUSSHAR

CITY FIRST

Jaipur Literature Festival, is all set to run its sixteenth edition from January 19 to 23. The fiveday literary extravaganza promises to bring together a stellar line-up of speakers, writers and thinkers from India and across the world at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur.

The Festival will infuse the Pink City with the infectious enthusiasm that books, ideas and discourse bring, along with the dynamic energy of its custom ary music, merchan dise, food and ancillary events.

Here are some high lights from the Festival that truly make it the ‘greatest literary show on Earth’.

Listen to some of the greatest minds of the world: JLF hosts some of the world’s best literary minds and brings them together for discus sions and interactions spanning fiction, po etry, economics, his tory and more.

Heritage Even ing: The Festival will also host a fas cinating Heritage Evening at the his toric Amer Fort with a mesmerising performance by hu

ti-the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble in collaboration with the Chitrasena Dance Company.

The Jaipur Music Stage: The exhilarating Jaipur Music Stage

will bring in a range of power-packed musicians to the literary extravaganza. The Music Stage will feature a range of celebrated artistes from all around the globe.

Jaipur Book Mark: South Asia’s biggest publishing conclave, the prestigious Jaipur BookMark, returns to the annual JLF with its ninth edition, bringing together publishers, editors, literary agents, writers, translators and booksellers from across the world.

‘Friend of the Festival’ Experience: While the Festival is open to all, a specially-curated ‘FOF’ package promises an unmatched experience of the Festival including access to an exclusive and well-appointed Festival Lounge where FOFs can relax, network and occasionally meet speakers too

Having debuted in 2001, the actor has been a part of many movies and has essayed versatile roles. However, the one that he is most remembered by his mute character Lucky from Rohit Shetty's directorial Golmaal: Fun Unlimited. During a recent interaction, he opened up about feeling insecure and apprehensive while playing the character.

The character was shown to be the fourth friend in the group of notorious but kindhearted friends. Tusshar’s character was shown as speech-impaired in the film and eventually became immensely popular. However, the actor shares that he was concerned about taking up the role.

The actor-turnedproducer shared that the movie was inspired by a play that had three characters. While approaching him late filmmaker Neeraj Vora, who wrote the screenplay and dialogues for the movie, informed him that they are planning to add a fourth character. Talking about the initial thought process behind his character, Tusshar said, “Initially, we thought that we would do it through sign language but when we started shooting for the film, my tutor Vikas Kadam and Rohit decided to do something different.”

He added, “They said that ‘Let’s do a mute character who can hear’. When you go to a temple or any place, you meet such people who know what things sound like. I don’t want to trivialise it but they know what things sound like. That character we wanted to play and then happened and did workshops.”

Talking about learning the correct body language and emoting in the right way, Tus-

shar said, “We sat down and decided to watch all the chuckling mov ies and watch all silent movies. So let's work out something with body language and ex pressions. Riyaz (prac tice) karvaya usne mu jhse and asked me to do it in a very high pitch because Ajay has a very low base and Shar man and Arshad have higher pitches. So, he wanted to me go high er than it. Through out that phase I was a bit insecure, ki ye character kaisa lagega because at that time

Kya Kool (Hai Hum) bhi lagi thi and it had many dialogues.”

The actor was also appre hensive be cause he was sharing the screen with ac tors who were already known for their comic timing. The film also starred Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi and Shar man Joshi.

Sharing his thoughts on the same he shared, “There was Ajay, Sharman,

2023 will be my year : BHUMI PEDNEKAR Y

Ajay Devgn reunites with Rohit Shetty

Ajay Devgn expressed excitement about the prospect of working with Rohit Shetty once more on the upcoming film Singham Again. The third movie in the Devgn-starring Singham series, Singham Again, is the next instalment in the Shetty police drama series, which also includes Simmba with Ranveer Singh and Sooryavanshi with Akshay Kumar. Ajay Devgn stated on Instagram that

he had heard the screenplay for the third instalment while sharing a photo with Rohit Shetty. “Made a good start to the New Year with @itsrohitshetty‘s narration of ‘Singham Again’.

The script I heard is (fire). God willing this will be our 11th blockbuster,” the 53-year-old actor wrote in the caption. "Everybody keeps asking me when I'll introduce 'Lady Singham'. So, here it is. Deepika Padukone will be the Lady Singham in 'Singham Again'.

oung Bollywood star Bhumi Pednekar has delivered some of the most memorable performances by a leading lady in recent years.In 2023, Bhumi has six releases - the most by any ac

the variety of roles that she will be essaying on screen. Bhumi will be seen in films like Anubhav Sinha’s Bheed, Ajay Bahl’s The Ladykiller, Mudassar Aziz’s Mere Husband Ki Biwi and a couple of more un

will get to see six different Bhumi’s onscreen in one year which is what is most exciting for me. I’m fortunate that I’m an actor living out my dream every single day.

Bhumi, who is a favourite among award circles for her towering performances, further adds, My wish for 2023 is very simple. I want to entertain everyone with these six films and move a few notches higher to realizing my personal goal, which is to be regarded as one of the best actors that India has ever seen. I know it’s a lot of hard work and I’m prepared to put in everything for this because I’m in it to be amongst the best.

Shahid's new year holiday with wife Mira

When Shahid Kapoor shares a picture, you cannot help but stop and stare. The actor's latest Instagram upload is no different. Actor Shahid Kapoor shared a picture from his new year vacation. He is currently holidaying with his wife Mira Rajput at an undisclosed destination. Mira also posted her picture while relaxing in an outdoor location. The photo features Shahid and his wife Mira Rajput. The two

are sharing an adorable moment here. Mira looks classy, as usual, in an uber-chic shirt. Don't miss those shades. Meanwhile, Shahid, who is resting his head on Mira's shoulder, keeps it simple in a printed shirt. Caption? Just a bunch of pink heart emojis. Be fore this, Sha

hid Kapoor set the Internet on fire with his poolside pic. In the caption, Shahid kept it simple and just said, “Sharing my profile.” Fans could not help but gush about the photo and dropped heart emojis in the comments section. Replying to the post, one fan said, “My 2023 is already made,” echoing the emotions of most of Shahid's followers.

Arshad, Paresh the director and

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

First India Entertainment Editor Ashish Tiwari indulges in an exclusive unfiltered conversation with the Narrator of BIGG Boss, Voice Over Artist, Family Man, Mirzapur and Special Ops Fame Vijay Vikram Singh At First India Mumbai Office. The interview will be out soon.

Tusshar Kapoor

Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgn

Bhumi Pednekar

Mira Rajput

Shahid’s post...

— FILE PHOTO