NEW DELHI l SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI TITLE NO. DELENG/2021/19840 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 66
KNEW ABOUT THE ATTACK BEFOREHAND: IMRAN
Imran Khan, former Pakistani prime minister, on Friday claimed that four bullets hit his legs during an assassination attempt while he was standing atop a container during his long march in Wazirabad on Thursday. Khan said he had learned about the looming danger beforehand.
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CONGRESS RELEASES FIRST LIST FOR GUJ POLLS The Congress party, on Friday, released the first list of 43 candidates for Gujarat Assembly polls. Prior to this, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge chaired a meeting of party’s central election committee in order to finalise the candidates. Sonia Gandhi also attended the meet virtually.
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DHONI MOVES HC FOR CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST IPS
Cricketer M S Dhoni has moved the Madras High Court to initiate contempt proceedings and issue summons to IPS officer G Sampath Kumar for his alleged statements against the Supreme Court and certain senior counsels in the matter pertaining to match-fixing.
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In ‘Naya J&K’, foreign terrorists find no support, 40 killed in 10 months, local recruitment zero
Harud-e-Aman in
Kashmir! Chinar leaves turn Nishat Park in Srinagar into a wonderland bathed in hues of red as Autumn is at its full vigour in the valley. Nishat Park has been laid out in typical Mughal garden style and draws nature lovers not just from around J&K, but across India as well
Crucial Supreme Court directs Maha READ GUJ: EX-TV ANCHOR GADHVI IS AAP’S CHOICE FOR CM POST
govt to compensate victims l Apex court forms panel to look
into records of 108 missing people, asks govt to submit report
1992-93 MUMBAI RIOTS Ahmedabad: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday named former TV anchor and journalist Isudan Gadhvi as its chief ministerial candidate for next month’s Assembly elections in Gujarat. The announcement was made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday. P5
DELHI MCD POLLS TO BE HELD ON DEC 4, RESULTS ON DEC 7
New Delhi: The elections for Municipal Corporation of Delhi will be held on Dec 4 while the counting of votes will be done on Dec 7, said Delhi State Election Commissioner Vijay Dev. The official said that the Model code of conduct is implemenyted in Delhi from today itself.
I-T SEARCHES ON JHARKHAND CONGRESS MLAS
Ranchi: The Income Tax Dept on Friday conducted searches at properties linked to Jharkhand Congress MLAs Kumar Jaimangal and Pradip Yadav. Jaimangal alias Anup Singh is a legislator from Bermo, while Yadav who joined Congress after splitting from JVM-P represents Poriyahat. P5
First India Bureau New Delhi: Almost three decades after the communal riots of 199293, which left 900 dead and more than 2,000 injured in Mumbai, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the state government to compensate the families of victims who were still missing. The court noted: “If the citizens are forced to live in an atmosphere of communal tension, it
l State told the court that it could
compensate the families of only 60 of the 168 that were missing
The committee consisting of the Secretary of MSLSA (Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority) and the other two government officers appointed under this order, shall monitor the efforts of the state government to trace other victims who were entitled to compensation.. but were not paid. —Supreme Court affects their right to life guaranteed by Article 21.The violence witnessed by Mumbai in December 1992 and January 1993 adversely affected the right of the
residents of the affected areas to lead dignified and meaningful life.” Affected persons had a right to seek compensation from the state, it noted.
Srinagar: Security forces dismantling terror ecosystem in J&K have brought down the local recruitment in terrorist outfits to zero leaving the terror sponsors in Pakistan frustrated. From January to October, 40 foreign terrorists have been killed in different encounters in the region and the ones who are on run, are being chased by the security forces. All the terror outfits are facing leadership crisis as the mercenaries sent by Pakistan are finding it hard to garner local support. Foreign terrorists, who have been killed in the first 10-months of this year, were instrumental in provoking and luring local youth into terror groups and pushing them on the path of death and destruction.
OTHER COURT STORIES SC TO HEAR PLEA ON AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI-NCR ON NOV 10
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on Nov 10 a plea seeking measures to curb worsening air pollution in Delhi-NCR. A bench of Chief Justice of India UU Lalit and Bela M Trivedi posted case for hearing on Nov 10 after an advocate mentioned the matter for urgent hearing.
PLEA SEEKING MUSK’S IMPLEADMENT JUNKED WITH COST New Delhi: A bench of the Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed an application seeking impleadment of Elon Musk in a plea concerning the suspension of the Twitter account of a woman slapping a cost of Rs 25,000 on the petitioner.
PRIMARY CLASSES CLOSED IN DELHI, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that primary schools will be closed from Saturday in view of spike in pollution levels in the national capital. Speaking at a press conference, he noted that outdoor sports activities for classes above fifth standard have also been suspended. The city continued to reel under the eye-stinging pollution with air quality recorded in the “severe” category even on Friday.
Children go to school on a smoggy morning in Gurugram on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI
“Primary classes will be closed from tomorrow and outdoor activities for classes above fifth standard will be
suspended. We are also mulling over implementing the odd even scheme for plying of vehicles,” he said.
Outdoor activities like sports or meetings are also banned in all schools, the order further stated. In the wake of severe pollution in the national capital, many schools have taken several measures to protect children, including suspension of outdoor activities and introduction of breathing exercises in classes. Many schools had on Thursday ruled out shutdown, saying it would disturb the pace of academic learning.
ED ATTACHES SHABIR SHAH’S SRINAGAR HOUSE IN TERROR FUNDING New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has attached Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah’s Srinagar house as part of a money laundering probe linked to a case of fuelling terrorist activities in the union territory. The house, worth Rs 21.80 lakh, is located in Botshah colony, Sanat Nagar, in Srinagar’s Barzulla police station area, officials said. “Shabir Ahmad Shah was actively involved in the activities of fuelling unrest in Kashmir valley by way of stone pelting, processions, protests, bandhs, hartals and other subversive activities.”
L-G SINHA MEETS KIN OF KASHMIRI PANDIT KILLED BY TERRORISTS Jammu: J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday met the family members of Puran Krishan Bhat who was gunned down by terrorists in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Bhat was killed on October 15 outside his ancestral house in the Chowdhary Gund area of Shopian where he had gone to look after his orchards. Flanked by Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and ADGP Mukesh Singh, L-G Sinha, visited the house of Bhat at Muthi in Jammu and offered his condolences to his wife Sweety Bhat and children Shriya and Shanu.
MP: 11 killed, 1 injured as SUV collides with bus in Betul Betul: As many as 11 persons were killed and one person sustained injuries after an SUV they were travelling in collided with a bus near Jhallar police station in Betul in the wee hours on Friday. Betul Superintendent of Police (SP) Simala Prasad said that the accident occurred around 2 am. An empty bus was moving on the road and the SUV, which was coming from the Amravati district collided head-on with the bus. The injured person is undergoing treatment in the hospital. Further investigation into the matter is on.
`2 LAKH FOR KIN OF DEAD, INJURED: CM
MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan condoled the deaths of 11 persons in an accident. He tweeted, “I pray to the Almighty that may the people, who lost their lives in this tragic incident, find eternal peace. Our govt stands in support of the kin of the departed souls in this hour of grief.”
PM ANNOUNCES EXGRATIA FOR VICTIMS PM Modi on Friday condoled the loss of lives in the accident that took place in Betul, and announced an ex-gratia for the next of kin of each deceased and also the injured. Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
` 20,000 fine for violation of vehicles ban
Shiv Sena leader shot dead in Punjab; 1 held
New Delhi: Violation of the Delhi government’s ban on plying of non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles will attract a penalty of Rs 20,000, a senior official said Friday. Diesel-operated medium and heavy goods vehicles registered in Delhi will also not be allowed except those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services. “Violating these curbs can attract a fine of Rs 20,000 under the Motor Vehicles Act,” said an official.
First India Bureau New Delhi: Sudhir Suri, a Shiv Sena leader, was shot dead in Punjab’s Amritsar on Friday. The incident reportedly took place outside a temple in the city. Shiv Sena leaders were protesting outside a temple against its authorities after some broken idols were found in the trash outside the temple premises. This is when someone from the crowd came and shot Suri.“Sudhir Suri was shot outside Gopal
Mandir, Amritsar during some agitation. He sustained bullet injuries and was rushed to hospital and died,” the Amritsar police said. The police said the accused has been arrested and the weapon used in the incident has been recovered.
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02
50% Delhi govt staff to work from home New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday ordered 50 per cent staff of the Delhi government to work from home and said an advisory will be issued to private offices to follow suit. At a press conference, Rai said the Delhi government has decided to implement the anti-pollution curbs recommended by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), including a ban on non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles. “At a meeting with departments concerned, it has been decided that 50 per cent staff of government offices will work from home from Monday and an advisory will be issued to private offices to follow suit,” Rai said. In a bid to ramp up public transport, the government will also launch ‘Paryavaran
Environment Minister Gopal Rai says advisory will be issued to private offices as well
Government also to launch ‘Paryavaran Bus Service’ which will include 500 CNG buses
Non-BS VI diesel vehicles to be banned, trucks to be diverted; oddeven formula may be back
AQI severe for second
consecutive day Smog engulfs the President's House, in New Delhi on Friday. —PHOTO BY ANI
An anti-smog gun is used to spray water to curb air pollution, in New Delhi.
Bus Service’ which will include 500 privately-run CNG buses, he said. Rai said a six-member panel chaired by the special commissioner, transport, has been set up to monitor the implementation of curbs on anti-polluting activities. Revenue
—PHOTOS BY PTI
A six-member panel chaired by the special commissioner, transport, has been set up to monitor the implementation of curbs on anti-polluting activities..
—Gopal Rai, Environment Minister, Delhi
commissioners have been asked to prepare a plan for staggered timings of markets
and offices. The Delhi government will request Haryana and Uttar
A worker carrying LPG cylinders on a bicycle crosses a road, shrouded in a thick layer of smog, in New Delhi on Friday.
Pradesh to divert trucks from the entry point of peripheral expressways around Delhi, he said. Resident welfare associations will be asked to provide electric heaters to security staff to prevent burning of coal and firewood, he said. He said the odd-even
car rationing scheme will be implemented if need arises and discussions on it are on. According to a study conducted by The Energy and Resources Institute in 2018, vehicular emissions account for around 40 per cent of the PM 2.5 pollution in the capital.
New Delhi: Thick smog blanketed Delhi on Friday as the city's air quality remained in the "severe" zone for the second consecutive day. At 4 pm, Delhi’s 24hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 447. The concentration of lung-damaging fine particles, known as PM2.5, was above 470 micrograms per cubic metre, around eight times above the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre, in many areas. Almost all the monitoring stations in the capital reported “severe” air quality, including 13 that logged an AQI of more than 450. An AQI of above 400 is considered "severe" which can affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing illnesses. At least 13 air quality monitoring stations logged an AQI of over 450.
CM, Punjab counterpart LG urges Punjab CM to take ‘urgent’ measures Mann take responsibility New Delhi (PTI): Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann on Friday admitted responsibility for paddy straw (parali) burning in the border state and promised to curb the practice by next winter amid alarming levels of air pollution in the national capital. Kejriwal said air pollution in the winters was not a "Delhi-specific problem", adding that it affected entire northern India and that there should be no blame game and politics on the issue. He also urged the Centre to take steps to prevent parali burning, adding it was wrong to hold farmers alone responsible. "We (AAP) have our government in Punjab and we are responsible if parali is being burnt there. We accept the responsibility. We admit parali is being put on fire in Punjab but farmers are not responsible for it. They need a solution, they will stop burning parali the day they have a solution," Kejriwal said in a joint press conference with Mann.
Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann address a press conference in New Delhi on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI
‘WORKING TO CURB STUBBLE BURNING’ z
z
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take "urgent and substantive" measures to control stubble burning in the state that has converted the national capital "into a gas chamber". In response, Mann accused Saxena of stopping the work of Delhi's elected government and said the Lieutenant Governor was politicising the issue. In a communication to Mann, Saxena said it was "baffling" that instead of addressing the issue at hand, "certain elements are indulging in unjustifiable blame games and excuses and
Due to the severe air pollution and consequent restrictions, even the socio-economic activities are badly impacted.
—VK Saxena, Stubble burning is one of the main reasons for pollution in Delhi.
trying to shirk responsibilities, even in the face of a serious crisis situation". Saxena said, on behalf of Delhi and its residents, he was urging Mann to galvanise all available resources and machinery to make the farmers become willing partners in defeating the "repetitive menace".
"It is public knowledge that air pollution in Delhi has reached extremely dangerous levels, hovering consistently in the 'severe plus' category due to smoke, 95 per cent of which is originating from Parali burning in Punjab," Saxena said in his letter. "The resultant situation... has led to (a)
Delhi Lt Guv
health emergency in Delhi and the NCR, wherein OPD (out-patient department) visits and hospitalisations related to pulmonary discomfort/disorders has reportedly witnessed a manifold increase," Saxena noted. He stressed that children and the elderly were disproportionately
With worsening AQI, air purifier sales rise z
Mann said AAP government in Punjab had just a few months to address the problem. He promised the issue would be brought under control by next November. "Evidently, AAP or Kejriwal governments in Delhi and Punjab are not merely responsible for this. There are several reasons, including
local and regional ones," he said. “We have governments in Punjab and Delhi. This is not the time for pointing fingers, blame games or name calling. It's not the time for politics over such a sensitive issue. It does not produce any solution and people need solutions,”Kejriwal said.
New Delhi (PTI): Once a luxury product, air purifiers have increasingly become a necessity as sales surge amid a rise in Delhi's pollution levels that are now just a notch below the 'Severe Plus' category. Demand for air purifiers have risen in the capital, particularly after Diwali, which witnessed widespread bursting of firecrackers despite a ban.
“The air quality in India is deteriorating due to many activities industrial expansion in cities, population density, improper waste management, crop burning, increased automobile use and a few
natural causes. There is evidence that air pollution, both outdoor and indoor, is on the rise and is behind higher morbidity and mortality rates,” said Kartik Singhal, founder of O2 Cure and MD, Zeco Aircon. The spike in sales reflect the deteriorating air quality levels, he said, adding that buyers had become more aware and responsible about indoor purification.
REGULAR CLEANING
ALARM BELLS
NHRC summons chief secys of Delhi, Punjab, Hry, UP lll
The apex rights panel said it is “not satisfied” with actions taken to address the issue and that “much more” needs to be done to reduce pollution
New Delhi (PTI): Alarmed over the rise in pollution in DelhiNCR, the NHRC has asked chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Delhi to appear before it on November 10 to discuss the matter, a statement said Friday. The National Human Rights Commission said it is “not satisfied” with actions taken to address the issue and that “much more” needs to be done to reduce pollution in Delhi.
NO IMPROVEMENT
Students leave school after classes, in New Delhi.—PHOTO BY PTI
The NHRC asked the CSs to inform it within a week about steps taken by their respective
governments to stop stubble burning. “Their reports must also inform about the
effect of smog towers and anti-smog guns. It should also have information on how many
anti-smog guns are operational and what further steps the Delhi and other governments are taking in the near future. “The report of Punjab and Haryana must also specifically inform about the effect of the scheme of in-situ management of crop residue,” NHRC said. The commission said it had issued the notice after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports alleging that air
pollution is a great threat to human health in India and might reduce life expectancy for the people of Delhi. NHRC further stated “notwithstanding several directions of the Supreme Court, the National Green Tribunal and other authorities, the air quality in DelhiNCR has not seen required improvement for a human-friendly environment, which cannot be allowed to remain so perpetually”.
affected and every common citizen was facing incessant burning of the eyes, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, and laboured breathing among other respiratory discomfort. He cited health experts who have consistently flagged the situation as hazardous and dangerous "and are asking for schools to be closed, apart from advising people to remain indoors, not to go for morning walks and refrain from outdoor physical activities". "Due to severe air pollution and consequent restrictions, even the socio-economic activities are badly impacted," he noted.
Ex-AIIMS chief has advice for kids, elderly
New Delhi (ANI): Former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria on Friday advised children, senior citizens and those with weak lungs and hearts not to venture to places where the air quality has dropped to severe levels. He added that if they do have to visit such places, it should be during the day when the sun is out. He also advised children and other vulnerable citizens to wear face masks when outside. Guleria tweeted, "Children, elderly & those whose lungs & hearts are weak, they should not go to such places where there is pollution. If you want to go, go during (the) day when there is sunlight & wear a mask. We can call air pollution a silent killer."
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End of term for most councillors n Lesser wards,
delimitation main reasons: BJP New Delhi (PTI): With MCD elections around the corner, Delhi BJP on Friday hinted at not repeating its outgoing councillors on at least 60-70 per cent of the wards even as the Congress received over 1,000 applications from ticket seekers. Leaders said reports that party will replace all its sitting councillors with new faces was technically incorrect. “With several factors playing out like reduced number of wards, rotation of reserved seats for women and SC candidates and delimitation, almost 60-70 per cent sitting councillors will effectively lose the claim over party ticket,” said a senior Delhi BJP leader. “Not more than 30 per cent sitting councillors will have the chance to be repeated this time even if the party so decides,” he said. "There were several reasons that necessitated changed faces. Before unification of the three municipal corporations earlier this year, the total number of wards was 272 that has now come down to 250 under the MCD," said a senior Delhi BJP leader. Of 250 wards, there are many earlier re-
UGC-NET exam results today New Delhi (ANI): The results for the National Eligibility Test will be declared on Saturday, University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman M Jagadesh Kumar confirmed. According to him, the results will be available on the website of the National Testing Agency (NTA) on https://nta.ac.in. The exam was conducted in four phases from July 9 to July 12, September 20 to 23, September 29 to October 4, and from October 8 to October 14.
BJP’s MCD election office inaugurated New Delhi (PTI): Union Minister Piyush Goyal and BJP's Delhi unit chief Adesh Gupta inaugurated the party's MCD election office with a 'yagna' on Friday. The MCD poll office from where campaigns and other activities will be operated is located at the BJP's Delhi unit headquarters at Pant Marg. The party has already formed various panels, including a cam-
Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta, and BJP National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda inaugurate the BJP MCD election office, as party leader Vijay Goel looks on, in New Delhi on Friday. —PHOTOS BY ANI
BJP created mountains of garbage in Delhi: Kejriwal New Delhi (PTI): Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday accused the BJP of creating mountains of garbage in Delhi during their 15-year tenure in the MCD, asserting that people will choose the AAP in the December 4 civic body polls. "In the last 15 years, BJP has spread garbage everywhere and created mountains of garbage. On December 4, Delhiites will vote for cleanliness. They will vote to make Delhi beautiful. This time, Delhiites will choose the AAP in MCD," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. served for women and SC candidates. “Due to rotation of wards, many of these that were earlier re-
served for women or SC have now become general. Vice versa, many general wards have become reserved," he said.
K Nagpal. The agency told the court that probe is at a crucial stage, and the accused, an influential person, could threaten witnesses or flee justice if he is granted bail.
New Delhi (ANI): Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday lashed out at the Aad Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital, accusing it of 'failing on every front'. Amid the escalating war of words between the BJP and the AAP over the fast declining air quality in Delhi, the senior BJP leader claimed that the 'hollow propaganda' of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his party had been exposed and the people were saddened by the government's
The defence counsel said the investigation is already complete and the accused is not required for further interrogation. After hearing the arguments, the court posted the matter for further hearing on November 9. The CBI had arrested Boinpally last month for allegedly lobbying for certain liquor businessmen based in southern India.
Youth held for stealing SUV from Cantonment: Police New Delhi (PTI): A 24-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stealing a sports utility vehicle (SUV) from the Delhi Cantonment area after he, along with two of his two associates, held the driver of the car at gunpoint, police said on Friday. Accused Saurabh is a resident of JJ colony in Khanpur, they added. At around 5.20 am on Saturday, the Delhi Cantonment police station received information regarding a carjacking incident from NH-8. Complainant Rahul, a resident of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, told the police that he works as a driver for C Developers Limited, a company based in Meerut. The complainant came to Delhi to drop his employer at the Indira Gandhi Interna-
THE MOTIVE: GANG WAR
A CCTV footage of the incident. The accused is seen with a gun.
tional (IGI) airport in a Toyota Fortuner car. On his way back to Meerut, he had stopped the car at an outlet near the RTR flyover, a senior police officer said. Three men came on a motorcycle and fled with the car after holding him at gunpoint, the complainant alleged, adding that one of the men even fired a shot from a pistol before fleeing. A video clip purport-
edly of the incident was circulated on social media platforms, in which the driver is seen parking the vehicle at a spot and three men approaching him on a motorcycle. Police identified the three accused with the help of CCTV footage. Acting on a tip-off, a police team arrested one of the accused, Saurabh, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Singh Yadav said.
paign management committee, for the elections. The BJP, which has governed the civic bodies since 2007, is pitted against a resurgent Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress. Earlier this year, the Centre unified the city's three municipal corporations under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and reduced the total number of wards to 250 from 272.
Failing on every front: Union minister Goyal slams AAP
Excise policy: CBI opposes Abhishek Boinpally’s bail New Delhi (PTI): The CBI on Friday opposed the bail plea of Hyderabad-based businessman Abhishek Boinpally arrested in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam, saying he can tamper with evidence if released. The Central Bureau of Investigation made the submission in response to Boinpally's bail application filed before Special Judge M
TWO SURVEYS
The arrested accused told the police that he is a member of the Prince Tewatia gang. Tewatia, a gangster, has a rivalry with Rohit Chaudhary of Aya Nagar, police said. Tewatia recently came out of jail on parole for a month. He had to surrender before the police on October 27 but he did not. Tewatia had planned to take revenge from Chaudhary, on whose directions one Kunnal Bachha had attacked him with a blade while he was in custody. Tewatia, along with his gang members Parkash, Bhanu, Hunny and Rakesh had made a plan to get even with Bachha and needed a car to execute it, police said.
Govt registered 2L bogus construction workers: Patra New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Friday accused the Kejriwal government of registering two lakh "bogus" construction workers in the capital and siphoning money meant for them for party-related work. BJP National Spokesperson Sambit Patra termed it the biggest corruption case in India as far as construction workers were concerned. He said three NGOs working for construction workers had filed a complaint about duplicate registrations and alleged massive corruption in their registration through proxies. Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board under the city government's Labour department is primarily responsible for registra-
THE FIGURES
Piyush Goyal addresses a press conference in New Delhi.
failed promises. The senior BJP leader claimed that the people in the national capital are determined to bring his party back to power
not only at the Centre but also in Delhi in the next Assembly elections. "We are all set to come back to power," Goyal said.
03
The board formed under Manish Sisodia has Rs 3,000 crore as corpus fund for this year. This amount will be disbursed amongst the bogus entities. —Sambit Patra,
BJP Nat’l Spokesperson
tion of construction workers and its welfare initiatives. The BJP leader accused the government of disbursing Rs 3,000 crore among "fake" construction workers.
PERSPECTIVE NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022
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GROWING ECONOMIC INEQUALITY
A MAJOR GLOBAL CHALLENGE
economy, regional and interstate disparities, poor skill development, prevalence of caste system, tax evasion- undue concentra tion of incomes in a few hands, unemployment and underemployment, corruption, administrative bottlenecks, heavy dependence on agriculture sector and inadequate public infrastructure. India has to use the new technology to increase productivity and wages to reduce income inequality. Implement reforms that redistribute money and power, level the playing field, prioritise interests of lower strata of society and review present system of taxation and social spending.
COL RAJESH BHUKAR
The author has been Head Security Rajasthan Operations of Cairn Energy and DGM HR in Jindal Saw Ltd
E
The pandemic has severely affected the poor and hurt the middle class in terms of loss of accumulated wealth and savings. The rising inequality is linked to slower economic growth. The five Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden - are among the most equal in the world on a variety of criteria
conomic inequality is the unequal distribution of income and opportunity between different groups in society or between different nations. It is a concern in almost all countries around the world and often people are trapped in poverty with little chance to climb up the social ladder. Income and wealth inequality has risen practically in all major advanced economies over the past two to three decades. Income distribution trends are more mixed in emerging economies but many of them including China and India have experienced rising inequality. Rising inequality has hampered economic growth by dampening aggregate demand and slowing productivity and stirred social discontent, political polarization, and populist nationalism. The pandemic has revealed vulnerability of societal and economic fragility. People across all income categories feel that economic inequality is a global challenge. The challenges are well expressed by UN Chief António Guterres when he states that “Income disparities and a lack of opportunities” are creating a vicious cycle of inequality, frustration and discontent across generations. The mega trends that have mainly impacted modern day economy and inequality are: Technology, Climate change, Urbanisation and International Migration. Whilst technological innovations have
MUSK WIELDS THE
AXE ON STAFF
supported economic growth, offering new possibilities in fields such as health care, education, communication and productivity, there is also evidence to show that it has led to increased wage inequality, and displaced workers. Climate change, according to the World Social Report, is making the world’s poorest countries even poorer, and could reverse progress made in reducing inequality among countries. It is noteworthy that today more people live in urban areas than rural areas, a trend that is expected to continue over the coming years. Although cities drive economic growth, they are more unequal than rural areas. The fourth megatrend, international migration, is described as both a “powerful symbol of global inequality”, and “a force for equality under the right conditions”. Effects of Inequality. Higher rates of health, social problems and reduced population-wide satisfaction and happiness. Drag on economic growth, Unstable economies and fosters political dysfunction, Unequal distribution of resources fostering conflict, war and displacement, Creates vicious cycles of poverty that reinforce vulnerabilities and negatively affect those in greatest need, Leads to a societal breakdown in trust, solidarity and social cohesion, and Rapid environmental degradation. Reasons for Divergences in Income. Political instability, Low levels of education and skills, Quality of work culture, Savings and investment habits of people, State of tax collection by government, Levels of corruption and criminality, State of social
A
week after he completed the $44 billion deal to acquire the social media platform, Elon Musk announced his arrival at Twitter waving an axe in one hand and a harsh set of rules for employees in the other. Beginning Friday the axe was set to fall on around 7500 employees. Employees will have to put in 80 hours of work with no leave, no five-day week and no holiday. Twitter’s “Days of Rest”, or the monthly breaks for employees, are reported to have been removed from their calendars. It sounds like Musk is leading an army to war! He has also ordered Twitter to cut infrastructure costs by one billion dollars.
Investment in education, advance technology, R&D and infrastructure must be boosted, with stronger programs for worker up skilling, reskilling, & lifelong learning that respond to shifts in the demand for skills. Pursue sustainable growth and economic welfare, Primary product dependency, and Geographical location Indian Scenario. India is a developing nation with large number of affluent elite but has a poor record on economic equality. While the top 1% hold 22% of total national income, the bottom 50% share has gone down to 13%. India’s middle class is relatively poor, with an average wealth of just 29.5% of the total national income. India has noticeable social inequality with huge differential access to wealth, power, and prestige. Social inequality exists on grounds of gender, race, age, ethnicity, religion, and kinship basis. Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI) prepared by the NITI Aayog highlighted that one in every four people in the country are multi dimensionally poor. The factors that act complementary to the rise and sustenance of inequality in India are:- Labour intensive manufacturing with poor performance, lesser jobs despite growing
Those with a small following may still stick to it but those with millions of Twitter followers like Barrack Obama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Amitabh Bachchan and other celebrities may have to rethink But bigger ripples are being made over his plan to monetise the blue tick marks of verification one gets to see on a message. Fixing $8 per such message has already caused a flutter even if it is lower than
THE WAY FORWARD Levy a modest progressive wealth tax on multimillionaires for redistribution to reduce income inequality. Harness the potential of technological transformation to foster more inclusive economic growth, broaden capital ownership and reform corporate governance to reflect wider stakeholder interests. Investment in education, advance technology, R&D and infrastructure must be boosted, with stronger programs for worker up skilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning that respond to shifts in the demand for skills. Frame policies that directly reduce income inequality and pursue inclusive, equitable, and sustainable growth, ensuring a balance among economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Rationalise patterns of taxation and ownership and provision of public goods, such as health care and education. Globally, debt forgiveness and reform of trade agreements benefitting the underdeveloped countries that in turn can reduce income and other forms of inequality. The pandemic has severely affected the poor and hurt the middle class in terms of loss of accumulated wealth and savings. The rising inequality is linked to slower economic growth. The five Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden are among the most equal in the world on a variety of criteria, and they have attained high levels of welfare and equality. This is due to strong focus on social solidarity, taxation and higher spending on education and healthcare. They are a role model for all nations emulate with due modifications as per their own situations and conditions.
IN-DEPTH
BJP BETTER PLACED THAN CONGRESS TO HANDLE REBELS IN HIMACHAL
H
imachal Pradesh is witnessing rebellions in both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress before the November 12 Assembly elections. These rebels are bent on spoiling the prospects of both the parties. The BJP expelled five of its leaders on Monday and another the next day as they had turned defiant over denial of tickets. Those expelled included Kripal Parmar, the state vice-president and former Rajya Sabha MP. Congress too is grappling with the problem and hoped that Priyanka Gandhi’s visit might help in placating the rebels. Together 20 nominations were filed by the rebels of the two parties. The impact of rebellion on the two parties will vary. The threat posed by the BJP rebels may become inconsequential after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallies in the State. The same cannot be said about Priyanka Gandhi. Her party also does not have a good track record in resolving disputes and make it easy for rebels to queer the pitch for it.
SPIRITUAL SPEAK Amongst thousands of persons, hardly one strives for perfection; and amongst those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows me in truth. —Bhagavad Gita
TOP TWEETS Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp
Paid obeisance to Sant Shri Ravidas ji at Ravidas Ghat. An embodiment of humanism and one of the greatest spiritual figures of his times, Guru Ravidas ji and his teachings serve as an inspiration for PM @narendramodi ji for building an inclusive, equal and harmonious society. Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
the $20 Musk planned to charge earlier. Twitter users will still be unhappy. But in a my way or highway approach, Musk is firm on the $8 price tag for Blue. The price for blue tick marks will also include facilities like priority in search, fewer ads and the freedom to post long videos. Those with a small following may still stick to it but those with millions of Twitter followers like Barrack Obama, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Amitabh Bachchan and other celebrities may have to rethink. Users quitting the platform will be a blessing in disguise. Tweets, especially the videos, have done more harm than good.
04
Looting the taxpayer, fooling the poor! Nearly 2 lakh fake construction workers in Delhi paid allowances by AAP government.
l Vol 2 l Issue No.66 RNI TITLE NO. DELENG/2021/19840 Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Impressions Printing and Packaging Limited, C-21, 22 Sector-59, Noida-201301. Published at G-20, 3rd Floor, 309, Preet Vihar, New Delhi-110092. Phone 011-49846474. Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
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HIMACHAL PRADESH ELECTIONS
Priyanka promises 1L jobs, OPS, financial assistance for women Kangra (PTI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said her party will provide 1 lakh jobs, restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and provide financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to every woman in the state if it is voted to power in the upcoming Assembly polls. Addressing a rally here, Vadra said the Congress will also fight the drug menace, which is ruining the future of the youth and build English-medium schools in every Assembly constituency. She also targeted the state government, saying the state has “drowned” in debt under the BJP dispensation and 63,000 government posts are lying vacant. Citing the work done by the Congress in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the only two states where the party is in power on its own, Vadra said her party will fulfil its promises in Himachal as well. “The Congress will create 1 lakh jobs... Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is sitting here, he has provided 5 lakh jobs in three years. The Congress government in Rajasthan has provided 1.30 lakh jobs,” the Congress leader said.
CONG’S SUDHIR SHARMA HITS BACK AT SHAH Dharamshala: Sudhir Sharma, considered one of the CM candidates of Congress, said having many faces for the top post shows that his party has competent leaders. The remarks came in response to Amit Shah’s jibe that there are seveneight aspirants for the Himachal Pradesh CM’s post in the Congress.
BHARAT JODO YATRA TAKES BREAK IN T’GANA
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra waves to the party supporters during the Parivartan Pratigya Rally for the upcoming Himachal elections, at Nagrota Bagwan, in Kangra on Friday. —PHOTO BY ANI
PM TO ADDRESS 2 RALLIES IN HIMACHAL TODAY
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra poses for a selfie after offering prayers at Maa Jwala Devi Temple, in Kangra on Friday. Chhattishgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is also seen. —PHOTO BY ANI
IN THE COURTYARD GYANVAPI: HC ADMITS PETITION ON CARBON DATING Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Friday admitted a petition challenging the order passed by the Varanasi district judge, which rejected demand for carbon dating of a “Shivling” found inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex. Justice JJ Munir also issued notice to the mosque committee to present its version.
U’KHAND DOMICILE WOMEN: SC LIFTS STAY ON HC ORDER
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday lifted the stay imposed by Uttarakhand High Court on a 2006 order giving 30% reservation to women having domicile of the state in state civil services. A bench of Justices SA Nazeer and V Ramasubramanian issued notice in the matter and sought reply on the Uttarakhand govt’s plea.
CANNOT RESTRICT WOMAN’S REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE: KERALA HC
Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday observed that there can be no restriction on a woman’s right to exercise her reproductive choice, to either procreate or abstain from it. The court took the route of an earlier apex court judgement where it was held that as per Article 21 of the Constitution of India, a woman has right to make reproductive choice as it is a dimension of her personal liberty. It ruled in a petition of a 23-year-old MBA student seeking termination of her pregnancy from consensual sex with her classmate.
UP COURT AWARDS LIFE IMPRISONMENT TO 5 FOR MURDER Bareilly: A court here has sentenced five people to life imprisonment in connection with the murder of the head of sanitation workers six years ago during a marriage ceremony. The court held them guilty on Monday and pronounced the sentence on Thursday. On April 22, 2016, Rajeev had gone to attend a wedding where he was shot dead.
Hyderabad: The ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a break on Friday and will resume from Medak in Telangana on Saturday. “#BharatJodoYatra will take a day’s break on 4th Nov. We begin afresh from Medak, Telangana on 5th Nov,” Bharat Jodo’s official Twitter handle said.
MP HC SETS ASIDE CONVICTION OF MAN IN KIDNAPPING CASE
Jabalpur: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has set aside a lower court order of 1998 convicting a man of kidnapping a woman of a different faith, whose kin had claimed she was a minor at the time. Nayab Khan was, on Aug 26, 1998, sentenced to two years in jail and fined Rs 5,000 by the court of the Panna additional sessions judge under section 363 (kidnapping) of the IPC.
MLAS’ POACHING CASE: TELANGANA HC ADJOURNS HEARING ON BJP PLEA
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday adjourned hearing to Monday on a BJP petition seeking probe by the CBI or sitting judge into the alleged attempt to buy four MLAs of the TRS. The court also adjourned the hearing on the petitions of the wife of one of the accused and others. The court made it clear that the stay on the investigation in the case will continue till the next hearing. As the state government has filed an elaborate counter, the counsel for the BJP sought time to go through the same and prepare for arguments.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies in Sindar Nagar and Solan on Saturday in his campaign for the BJP in the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls scheduled for November 12. Official sources said he will also visit Radha Soami Satsang in Beas in Punjab.
I-T searches on J’khand Cong MLAs over tax evasion charges Ranchi/New Delhi (PTI): The Income Tax Department on Friday conducted searches at properties linked to Jharkhand Congress MLAs Kumar Jaimangal and Pradip Yadav. Jaimangal alias Anup Singh is a legislator from Bermo, while Yadav who joined Congress after splitting from the JVM-P represents Poriyahat. Congress is a partner of the JMM-led ruling alliance in the state. The searches were
conducted at the properties of the legislators in Ranchi, Bermo and Patna, officials said. Some private people, including an iron ore trader in Chaibasa, were also searched by the I-T
Morbi: Civic body’s chief officer suspended days after bridge collapse Morbi (PTI): The Gujarat government has suspended Morbi Municipality’s Chief Officer Sandipsinh Zala in the wake of the bridge collapse incident that claimed 135 lives, a senior official said on Friday. The British-era suspension bridge, built on the river Machchhu in Morbi town, had collapsed on Sunday evening. The people who died in the tragedy included women and children. “The state Urban Development Department has suspended Chief Officer of Morbi Municipality Sandipsinh Zala,” said Morbi District Collector G T Pandya. Resident Additional Collector of Morbi
Department, they said. Jaimangal said he was extending full cooperation to the I-T Department which is conducting the searches as part of an investigation into tax evasion charges. “The searches were carried out under the pressure of the BJP. Such action will have to be faced by those who are against BJP. I am against BJP and so, I am facing it. But, it can’t scare me,” he told reporters.
Ex-MLA Indranil Rajguru quits AAP, returns to Cong New Delhi (PTI): Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls, former MLA Indranil Rajguru quit the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Congress on Friday and alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit was working as a “B-team” of the BJP in the state. Rajguru, who had joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after quitting the Congress in April this year, returned to the grand old party, citing that it was the best option for defeating the BJP in Gujarat. He was reportedly upset over not being made the AAP’s chief ministerial face. Rajguru joined the Congress in the presence of AICC Gujarat incharge Raghu Sharma, Gujarat Congress chief Jagdish Thakor, Congress legislature
In 2018, Rajguru resigned from the Congress but rejoined it in 2019. He again quit in April 2022 to join AAP. —FILE PHOTO
party leader Sukhram Rathava and other senior leaders. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, Rajguru said he had joined the AAP to defeat the BJP but found that it was acting as the “B-team of the BJP”. Rajguru said he had been in touch with the Congress for the last few weeks and had not shared the dias with Kejriwal in his last few pressers in Gujarat.
Rajguru had won as Congress MLA from Rajkot-East seat in 2012. In 2017, he decided to quit his safe seat to fight the Assembly polls against the then Chief Minister Vijay Rupani from Rajkot-West seat. But he eventually lost to Rupani. In 2018, Rajguru resigned from the Congress for the first time. He had rejoined the Congress in 2019 but again quit in April 2022 to join AAP.
Ex-TV anchor Isudan Gadhvi is AAP’s CM candidate for Gujarat
Land grabbing: ED raids nearly a dozen places in WB, J’khand
Arvind Kejriwal greets AAP’s CM candidate Isudan Gadhvi at a public meeting ahead of Gujarat elections, in Ahmedabad, on Friday. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann is also seen.
Ahmedabad (PTI): The AAP on Friday named former TV anchor and journalist Isudan Gadhvi as its CM candidate for Assembly elections in Gujarat. The announcement was made by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who said the 40-year-old Gadhvi got as many as 73 per cent votes in a poll conducted by the party. Gadhvi was pitted against state party unit chief Gopal Italia, who played a key role in the Patidar community agitation. He hails from a farmers’ family in
Dwarka district’s Pipaliya village and belongs to the other backward castes, which account for 48 per cent of the state’s population. Kejriwal said the party conducted the poll by asking people to choose their chief ministerial face. Over 16 lakh people voted and 73 per cent of those preferred Gadhvi, Kejrwial said. Last week, Kejriwal had urged people to contact the party through SMS, WhatsApp etc to give their views about who should be CM candidate from the party.
New Delhi (ANI): Officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted searches at nearly one dozen locations in West Bengal and Jharkhand in a money laundering case against those illegally occupying Indian Army lands, sources said. As per sources, the raids are going on at nearly four places in West Bengal and eight in Jharkhand. The places searched included residential and office premises of a Kolkatabased businessman Amit Agrawal and several others, sources said. As per sources, Agrawal was earlier arrested by the Enforcement Directorate, and the raids were planned after his revelation in the case.
WOOING HINDU VOTERS
Is Didi trying to save her political future by an ‘image makeover’? Mahesh Sharma
has been given the additional charge of the Chief Officer until further orders, he said. Morbi Municipality had given the contract of the bridge repair and maintenance to Oreva group for 15 years, officials said. Police have so far arrested nine persons in connection with the bridge collapse incident.
05
New Delhi: Once bitten, twice shy. It seems that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is following the age old adage. In view of her experience with the previous Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, she has started improving relations with the acting Governor of the state, La Ganesh. He is also not very active as Ganesh is not a full time governor. He has to see both Manipur and West Bengal together and secondly he also spends time in his home state Tamil Nadu. So, after he
became the caretaker governor in July, goodwill is visible between the government and the Raj Bhavan. Such is the harmony that Mamata Banerjee, who avoids even visiting Delhi for central government functions,
went to Chennai to attend the birthday celebrations of Governor La Ganesh’s elder brother. Now the question is, what message does she want to convey with this? Will improving relations with the caretaker governor give
her party relief from central agencies? Or is it part of a bargain, allegations of which have surfaced for the past few days? Keep in mind that Didi has attacked the BJP in the past and also praised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. So, her politics has confused the opposition parties, because of which she is also walking away from the Opposition parties. It seems that she is doing politics of completely stopping Hindu voters from turning against her in her state while at the same time trying to get some relief from Central agencies.
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06
‘Mizoram contributing to India’s endeavour to engage with neighbours’ First India Bureau Aizawl: President Droupadi Murmu, who was in Mizoram on a two-day visit, said on Friday that the tribal majority state benefits from and makes contributions to the nation’s endeavour to engage with neighbours in the region. Addressing a special assembly session here, she said that Mizoram
can explore its past, find best governance practices from premodern days, and revive it within contemporary systems for the betterment of people. She also stated that the Mizoram Legislative Assembly, over the years, “has evolved into an effective instrument in finding solution to people’s problem”. Murmu stated that she was keen to see in-
creased women’s representation in public life, particularly among lawmakers. “The Centre’s ‘Act East Policy’ places emphasis on the northeast for improving the country’s ties with the extended neighbourhood in the Asia-Pacific region. Mizoram benefits from and also makes contributions to the nation’s endeavour to engage with the
President Droupadi Murmu accorded a guard of honour on her first visit to Sikkim, in Gangtok, on Friday. —PHOTO BY PIB
Farmers backbone of rising India: Vice Prez Dhankhar VP exhorts the PU alumni to give back to one’s alma mater and to the society at large First India Bureau Chandigarh: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said farmers are the backbone of a rising India and also credited industry with driving the agriculture sector into a “new trajectory”. “Bharat is on the rise as never before. It is a global recognition. And in this rise, farmers are the backbone,” he said in his inaugural address at the 15th edition of the agriculture and food technology fair organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here. The vice president said the commitment of
Spl status to Bihar only on papers: Nitish Patna (PTI): In a veiled jibe at the Modi govt at the Centre, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar claimed that "prachar prasar" (propaganda) was going on with little on offer for the poorer states. Kumar, who snapped ties with the BJP two months ago, also lamented that the long-standing demand for special status to Bihar, which “all poor states should get”, was not accepted. “Is anything worthwhile happening in poor states? Only propaganda is underway (Garib gurba rajyon mein kuchh ho raha hai?,” Nitish Kumar said on Thursday.
Bharat is on the rise as never before. It is a global recognition. And in this rise, farmers are the backbone.... It is the farmer who needs to be well informed so that he adopts economically sustainable measures. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar lighting the lamp at 3rd Global Alumni Meet in Panjab University, in Chandigarh on Friday.
the industry to drive the agriculture sector on a novel trajectory is commendable, welcome
and needs to be taken to higher stages of execution. Calling the theme of
—Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President
the fair -- Digital Transformation for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security -- an apt
GOVT ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF UP IAS VIDYA BHUSHAN Ahtesham Siddiqui Lucknow: UP’s famous IAS officer Vidya Bhushan’s resignation has been accepted by the government. Bhushan’s wife and IPS officer Alankrita Singh is already under suspension for going to foreign without permission. 2008-batch officer Vidya Bhushan is originally from Bihar. He has been the DM of Amethi, Pratapgarh, Etawah. IAS Vidya Bhushan, while being MD PVVNL in Varanasi, had sent his resignation to department. He has resigned on medical ground. Before the resignation of Bhushan, the government had also
UP TRANSFERS
one, he said its relevance can never be over emphasised. Vice President Dhankhar also lauded the central dispensation over its contribution in feeding 80 crore people for free in the last two years, a reference to the Union government’s efforts to tackle COVID-19 situation. For us, agriculture is not a profession, it is a tradition and a way of life, he asserted. Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and Punjab Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal were also present on the occasion.
neighbours in the region,” she stated. Murmu said that the state has done well on all parameters, despite challenges posed by the topography of the hilly state. “After achieving the status of a full-fledged State in 1987, Mizoram has not looked back. The topography of the hilly region poses special challenges for development; yet the
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to convene an all-party meeting for quick resolution of border issues with Andhra Pradesh. Though Kotia cluster comprising 28 villages is presently located within Odisha, 21 villages have found a place in the newly carved ParvatipuramManyam district of the neighbouring state. The district headquarters is just 40 km from some villages of the cluster in Odisha state. Both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh governments are engaged in a five-decade-long political tug-of-war over the ownership of 21 out of the 28 villages in the Kotia panchayat and the case is sub-judice at the Supreme Court
Work on new building of Parliament going on at very fast pace: Puri
Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurates UMI Expo 2022, in Kochi.
Kochi (PTI): With less than a month to go for the November deadline, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said construction work of the new Parliament building is going on at a very fast pace. The govt has been maintaining that the project would be completed by November and winter session would be held in new building. In August, MoS for
Housing and Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore had told Lok Sabha that the physical progress of the new Parliament building is 70 per cent and the month of November is the deadline. Addressing a press conference here after inaugurating ‘15th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Expo’, Puri said there are over 4,000 people working round-theclock on the project.
SHEKHAWAT IN N-E
‘Modern technology to address N-E’s flood problem’ Union Jal Shakti Minister hopes for a solution to the recurring problem First India Bureau Shillong: Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat expressed optimism that modern science and technology will come up with a workable solution to the flood problem in the North East region.
Participating in a discussion on Space Applications in Flood Management in the North Eastern Region at the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) at Umiam near here on Thursday, he said, “the ministry intends to make maxi-
Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat interacts with locals in Shillong.
mum use of modern science and technology to come up with a workable solution to the ageold problem of floods in the Northeast region.” He said, “Several measures are being taken on a large scale to provide relief to the Northeastern states from the ravages of floods.” He said the aim of the Jal Shakti Ministry is to provide water to each
among all Indian states, providing an ideal home for extraordinary and rich biodiversity, she noted. “Our multiple initiatives in promoting renewable sources of energy have won admiration around the world. Meanwhile, we as individual citizens, policymakers, lawmakers or administrators must strive at our level to help heal the planet.
Pradhan wants all-party meet on issues with Andhra
Vidya Bhushan & Alankrita
approved the VRS application of IAS Juthika Patankar and IAS Renuka Kumar. Officers in the bureaucracy say that Vidya Bhushan is considered to be a very good and hardworking officer. He says that his wife IPS Alankrita Singh had gone on foreign study leave but she was suspended and leave application was not accepted which made Vidya Bhushan sad.
state has done remarkably well on all parameters, especially when it comes to human development. “As a tribal-majority state, Mizoram can explore its past and find best governance practices from pre-modern days that can be revived within contemporary systems,” she said. Mizoram has the highest forest cover
and every household and agricultural land. Shekhawat said that the discussions revolved around technological intervention to expedite the development activities and its implementation in the region, reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and commitment to bring in all-round development in the Northeast.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inspects preparations at Ravidas Ghat ahead of ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’, Varanasi, on Friday.
It requires the Odisha government to be proactive on the ground, thereby bringing the government and administration closer to the residents of these border villages. —Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister
since 1968. In a letter to Patnaik written on October 31 and released to the press on Friday, Pradhan, who hails from Odisha, said the chief
minister should also review the progress made by the inter-state committee and highlight the developmental activities taken up in the border villages.
CRUCIAL READ TMC-RUN MUNICIPALITY CHAIRMAN RESIGNS OVER SEX FOR JOB SCANDAL Kolkata (Agencies): Sisir Mondal, Chairman of TMC controlled Dainhat Municipality in West Bengal’s East Burdwan on Friday resigned from his post following the instructions of the party high command after his name got involved in a sex for job scandal. He gave his resignation letter to Katwa sub-divisional officer but refused to make any statement to the waiting media persons. Trinamool’s East Burdwan President, Rabindranath Chattopadhyay confirmed to the media persons that Mondal has resigned following the instructions of the party high command. Recently an audio clip went viral, where a young woman, reportedly in a telephonic conversation with Mondal, requested him for a job.
3 SIBLINGS DIE IN REFRIGERATOR EXPLOSION IN TN
Chennai (Agencies): Three siblings, including two women, were asphyxiated to death in Chengalpattu district early on Friday. The deceased included V Girija (63), her sister , S Radha (55) and their brother, Rajkumar (48). Rajkumar’s wife Bhargavi (41) and daughter Aaradhana (7) are admitted to the hospital. The family had come to Chengalpattu to perform the first death anniversary rituals of Girija’s husband Venkataraman.
DHARMA SANSAD: NOTICE TO YATI NARSINGHANAND
Ghaziabad (PTI): The UP Police has issued a notice to Yati Narsinghanand, the priest of Ghaziabad’s Dasna Devi temple, instructing him not to organise a “dharma sansad” and a preparatory meeting for which permission has not been obtained from the district administration. Narsinghanand, who often triggers controversy with his provocative remarks, has called 3-day “dharma sansad” beginning December 17.
UP ATS ARRESTS TWO YOUTHS NAMED BY TERROR ACCUSED HELD EARLIER Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh ATS has arrested two youths whose names had come up during the interrogation of some accused arrested earlier for having links with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), an official release issued here said. Those arrested have been identified as 28-year-old Aas Mohammed and 23-year-old Mohammed Haaris. Aas is a resident of Zahirpur village under Deoband police station limits in Saharanpur, while Haaris hails from Uttarkhand's Haridwar district, the release issued by the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) said on Thursday. They were initially called for questioning and later arrested.
COMMODITIES
CURRENCIES
Commodity
Price
Change
% Chg
Currency
Price
Change
% Chg
GOLD
50,869.00
604.00
1.18 (Per 10g)
USDINR
82.35
0.53
0.64
SILVER
59,477.00
2061.00
3.46 (Per 1kg)
GBPINR
92.57
0.71
0.76
*Rates till the edition went to print.
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Forex reserves post biggest weekly gain of $6.56 billion
business BRIEFS
GAIL Q2 RESULTS: PROFIT FALLS 46% YOY TO `1,537 CR
New Delhi: State-owned gas utility GAIL Ltd on Thursday reported a 46% drop in its September quarter net profit as it slashed petrochemical output after a former unit of Russian energy giant Gazprom stopped gas supplies. Net profit stood at `1,537.07 crore in JulySeptember compared with `2,862.95 crore profit in the same period a year back. The profit for the firm that transports and sells natural gas was sequentially down 47.2% from `2,915.19 cr profit in the April-June. —PTI
BANKS’ LOANS ROSE 17.9% Y/Y IN TWO WEEKS TO OCT 21
New Delhi: Indian banks’ loans rose 17.9% in the two weeks to October 21 from a year earlier, while deposits rose 9.5%, the Reserve Bank of India’s weekly statistical supplement showed on Friday. Outstanding loans rose 290.86 billion rupees ($3.54 billion) to 128.89 trillion rupees in the two weeks to October 21. Non-food credit rose 240.65 billion rupees to 128.63 trillion rupees, while food credit rose 50.21 billion rupees to 256.55 bn rupees. —FIB
ADANI GROUP OPENS DATA CENTRE IN CHENNAI
New Delhi: Richest Indian Gautam Adani-led group on Friday announced the opening of its Chennai hyperscale data centre as it looks to capture a share of one of the world’s fastest-growing data centre markets. AdaniConneX, a joint venture between Adani Enterprises and EdgeConneX, opened ‘Chennai 1’ hyperscale data centre campus that is powered by renewable energy, the company said in a statement. “In Phase 1, the campus offers 17 MW (IT Load) that will scale up to 33 MW (IT Load) at full capacity,” it said. —PTI
OLA ELECTRIC WILL ACHIEVE ONLY 50% PRODUCTION TARGET
New Delhi: Ola Electric will miss its target to fully utilise installed production capacity in next six to eight months and will achieve only 50% of it by Nov 2023, founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal said on Friday. At the time of launch of the new S1 Air electric scooter ahead of Diwali last month, he had said the company was already producing more than 1,000 a day at its ‘future factory’ and would be scaling it up significantly beyond that. —PTI
07
Mumbai (PTI): India’s forex reserves increased by $6.561 billion to reach $531.081 billion for the week ended October 28, the RBI said on Friday. The overall reserves, which have been on a declining spree, had dropped by $3.847 billion to $524.52 billion in the previous reporting week. In October 2021, the country’s forex
kitty had reached an all-time high of $645 billion. The reserves have been declining as the central bank deploys the kitty to defend the rupee amid pressures caused by global developments. Foreign currency assets (FCA), a major component of the overall reserves, increased by $5.772 billion to $470.847 billion during the week to October 28, according to the Weekly Statistical Supplement released by
the RBI on Friday. Expressed in dollar terms, the foreign currency assets include the effect
of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign ex-
SENSEX SNAPS 2-DAY LOSING RUN AMID FIRM ASIAN CUES; POSTS WEEKLY GAIN Mumbai: Benchmark indices ended in the green on Friday after falling for the past two days, helped by continuous buying from foreign institutional investors and a largely positive trend in Asian and European markets. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 113.95 points or 0.19% to settle at 60,950.36. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty ended 64.45 points or 0.36% higher at 18,117.15.From the Sensex pack, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Steel, UltraTech Cement, State Bank of India, Reliance Industries, Asian Paints, Bajaj Finance and Wipro were among the winners. Dr Reddy’s, Hindustan Unilever Limited, Infosys, HDFC Bank and NTPC were among the laggards. —PTI
change reserves. The value of gold reserves increased $556 million to $37.762 billion. The Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were up by $185 million to $17.625 billion. The country’s reserve position with the IMF also climbed by $48 million to $4.847 billion in the reporting week, the apex bank data showed. For the week ended October 28, the rupee closed with its first weekly gain in seven weeks. The local currency, along with most other Asian peers, gained on bets that the Fed Reserve.
Goyal: Need fastrack clearance of patents
SRIF commits `5,000 crore to help MSMEs
IEX trade volume dips 13% to 7,972 mn units
New Delhi (PTI): Union Minister Piyush Goyal has directed officials to fastrack the clearance of patents filed by governmentrelated bodies in a timebound manner. Goyal also asked them to explore the possibilities of merging Textile Research Associations (TRAs) or fostering partnerships among TRAs engaged in similar kinds of research to bring synergy among these bodies. The minister for Textiles instructed that the quarterly engagement of TRAs with the ministry be institutionalised. We must encourage startups and young scientists in the niche areas like technical textiles, Goyal said during a review meeting of TRAs. He asked textile research
Mumbai (PTI): Government-backed Self Reliant India Fund (SRIF) on Friday announced that it has committed over `5,000 crore to help small businesses with growth capital in its first year of operations. The fund, which started as part of the government’s flagship ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ programme, has provided approvals to 38 ‘daughter funds’ with a commitment amount of more than `5,000 crore, as per an official statement. It has a ‘Mother FundDaughter Fund’ structure wherein SRIF, the mother fund, invests up to 20 per cent of the corpus of the Daughter Fund, which raises the balance 80 per cent of the capital from outside sources, it explained.
New Delhi (PTI): The total trade volume of Indian Energy Exchange dipped 13% to 7,972 million units (MU) in October compared to a year ago. The Indian Energy Exchange achieved 7,972 MU volume in October 2022, including Green Power trade of 403 MU, and 3.58 lac RECs (equivalent to 358 MU). “The total volume on the Exchange in October’22 was lower by 13% on YoY basis due to high volume base of last year, and lower by 2% on MoM basis due to reduced REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) trading,” it stated. Improved supply of domestic coal led to easing of supply side constraints, resulting in decline of prices on the IEX, it explained. The average clearing
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS z Piyush Goyal has directed
officials to fastrack the clearance of patents filed by government-related bodies in a time-bound manner
z He asked textile research
associations to submit proposals for any support
associations to submit proposals to the ministry for any support they require to reach world-class levels of state-of-the-art labs, and modern machinery, amongst others.
Maruti Suzuki lines up over `7K crore capex CAPACITY OF OVER 22 L UNITS z Maruti Suzuki India has
a cumulative production capacity of over 22 lakh units per annum across its two manufacturing plants in Haryana and parent Suzuki Motor’s facility at Gujarat
New Delhi (PTI): Maruti Suzuki India plans to invest over Rs 7,000 crore this year on various initiatives, including the construction work of its new plant in Haryana and new model launches, according to company CFO Ajay Seth. The country’s largest carmaker has already commenced work at the new facility in Sonipat district. The Kharkhoda-based plant, the company’s third set-up in the country, is expected to be operational by
2025 with an installed production capacity of 2.5 lakh units in the first phase. Currently, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has a cumulative production capacity of over 22 lakh units per annum across its two manufacturing plants in Haryana and parent Suzuki Motor’s facility at Gujarat. The two plants in Haryana— Gurugram and Manesar—together roll out around 15.5 lakh units per annum. In May, the auto major
had announced to invest `11,000 crore in the first phase of the Sonipat facility. “We will be spending upwards of `7,000 crore this year,” Seth said in an analyst call. Elaborating on the investment plans, he said the earmarked amount would cover various activities. “We’ll have to place orders to various vendors (for the Sonipat plant). So, that will be one major portion of the capex,” Seth noted.
IN INDIA IN THE SEPTEMBER QUARTER
Apple leads premium smartphone segment New Delhi (FIB): Apple led the premium segment in India with 40% share, followed by Samsung and OnePlus, with registering highest ever shipment share in the country in the September quarter. Apple reached its highest ever share of 5% in India’s smartphone market during the quarter driven by a strong channel push ahead of the festive season. For the first time ever, an iPhone (iPhone 13) topped the overall India smartphone quarterly shipment rankings, according to Counterpoint Research.
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS
z For the first time ever,
iPhone 13 topped the overall India smartphone quarterly shipment rankings
z Apple reached its highest
ever share of 5% in India’s smartphone
“In terms of price bands, the premium segment (`30,000 and above) reached its highest ever share of 12% during this quarter,” said research analyst Shilpi Jain.
“The iPhone 13 became the top smartphone model in Q3 2022, a first for Apple in India,” she noted. According to data from business intelligence platform Tofler, Apple India
logged a net profit of `1,263 crore, a growth of 3% (yearon-year) in the fiscal year, as sales were up a massive 45%.Samsung held the second spot in the premium segment.
` GAINS 53 PAISE TO CLOSE AT 82.35/$ Mumbai: The rupee appreciated by 53 paise to close at 82.35(provisional) against the United States dollar on Friday, as the greenback retreated from its elevated levels At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 82.85 and finally settled at 82.35 against the American currency, registering a rise of 53 paise over its previous close amid a positive trend in domestic equities. On Thursday, the rupee had closed 8 paise lower at 82.88. —PTI
price in the Day-ahead market was Rs 3.83 in October, which was lower by 32% on MoM (month-onmonth) basis and 52% on YoY (year-on-year) basis. Going forward, further correction in prices due to improvement in coal availability and reduction in demand due to onset of winters, will provide opportunity for cost optimization by Discoms and Open Access consumers, resulting in increased volumes on the Exchange.
Reliance plans to enter into salon business New Delhi (PTI): The country’s largest retailer Reliance Retail is planning to enter the salon business by acquiring a 49% stake in Naturals Salon & Spa. Reliance Retail, part of oil-to-chemicals conglomerate Reliance Industries, is in talks with the promoters of Naturals Salon & Spa, which operates over 650 salons across India. Naturals Salon & Spa, founded in the early 2000s, had the target to expand to 3,000 salons by 2025. After this acquisition, Reliance Retail would compete with players like HUL, which operates in the salon segment with the beauty brand Lakme.
OTHER STORIES INDIA LOOKING AT GREATER MARKET ACCESS FOR PHARMA PRODUCTS IN UK UNDER FTA: OFFICIAL
New Delhi: India is looking at greater market access for its pharmaceutical products in the UK as part of the proposed free trade agreement with Britain, an official said on Friday. The official also said that a leaked chapter of the agreement, which is floated on some portals, on IP is edited, distorted, and is a manipulated version of an initial document of the UK. “The best part in the proposed agreement is that both sides have highlighted their red lines and sensitivities. Ever-greening & touching manufacturing of generic medicines is completely non-negotiable.” —PTI
INDIGO 2ND QUARTER LOSS WIDENS TO `1,583.34 CRORE
New Delhi: InterGlobe Aviation, the parent of the country’s largest airline IndiGo, on Friday posted widening of loss to `1,583.34 crore for the September quarter as higher fuel costs and exchange rates impacted the bottom line. However, total income of the company rose to `12,852.29 crore in the second quarter of the current fiscal from `5,798.73 crore in the same period a year ago. —PTI
SAMSUNG LOGS RUPEES 14,400 CR REVENUE IN INDIA IN SEPT-OCTOBER
New Delhi : Samsung India on Friday said that its mobile business division garnered record revenue of `14,400 crore during the festive months of September and October in India, making it the best Diwali sales for the South Korean giant. Samsung India’s mobile division turned in record sales riding on strong consumer demand for premium smartphones such as Galaxy S22 series. —PTI
GE AEROSPACE, TASL EXTEND $1-BILLION CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT ENGINE COMPONENTS
New Delhi: GE Aerospace and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd have extended their long term contract worth $1 billion for production and supply of several commercial aircraft engine components. The engine parts will be manufactured at the TataTCoE. In a joint release on Friday, GE Aerospace and TASL said they have extended the manufacturing agreement under which TASL will continue to produce and supply several commercial aircraft engine components to GE’s global engine manufacturing factories. —PTI
Remember, you are the author of your life story. Difficulties may ‘fall’ upon you, but you always choose your response. —Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, First India
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2ND FRONT NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022
DG (Prisons) Sandeep Goel transferred from Tihar
Conman Sukesh alleged he had paid Rs 10 crore to AAP min for protection in the prison New Delhi (PTI): Director General (Prisons) Sandeep Goel has been transferred from the Tihar Jail here, days after jailed conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar alleged extortion of Rs 10 crore for protection in prison. According to an official order issued on Friday, the 1989 batch AGMUT cadre officer has been transferred from Tihar Jail and asked to report to PHQ for further orders. “Sanjay Beniwal, the 1989 batch IPS officer, is the new DG (Prisons),” it stated. Chandrashekhar had written to Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena alleging that AAP leader Satyendar Jain “extorted” Rs 10 crore from him in 2019 to ensure his safety in prison. C h a n d r a s h e k h a r, who is lodged in Mandoli jail here in connection with a Rs 200 crore money laundering case, submitted the letter to the L-G on October 8 through his advocate Ashok K Singh, making the startling allegations against the AAP leader.The letter said more than Rs 50 crore
Aide of BJP MP brutally attacked in Greater Noida Noida (PTI): Sanchit Sharma alias Singga Pandit, a close aide of Gautam Buddh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma was hospitalised with grievous injuries following an attack on him late Thursday night in Greater Noida, police said on Friday. Notably, Sanchit was briefly arrested in August on charges of promoting enmity after he allegedly made some objectionable remarks on the Tyagi community in the wake of the Shrikant Tyagi episode in Noida. Mahesh Sharma, the BJP’s Lok Sabha MP, said he is expecting quick action by the police against those guilty and added that he and his party would take action only after “36 hours”.
the Rajya Sabha. Chandrashekhar also alleged that he was visited by Jain in Tihar jail. “Jain asked me to pay Rs 1.50 crore to DG prison Sandeep Goel, who, he said, was a loyal as-
sociate of his. He forced me to pay and an amount of Rs 10 crore was extorted from me through constant pressure in a matter of twothree months,” he alleged in the letter. “A total amount of Rs 10 crore was paid to Satyendar Jain, and Rs 12.50 crore to DG prison Sandeep Goel,” Chandrashekhar alleged and added that he has already given this information to the Enforcement Directorate. Tihar Jail is run by the Department of Delhi Prisons under the Government of Delhi.
BAIL REFUSED TO SUKESH’S WIFE New Delhi: Special MCOCA judge Shailendra Malik recently denied bail to Leena Maria Paul, wife of Sukesh Chandrasekar, in connection with a Rs 200 crore money laundering case registered by Delhi Police. Advocate Wills Mathews, the counsel for Leena Maria Paul, said that there is no evidence directly implicating the applicant in any alleged incidence of extortion, cheating, collecting money, etc. None of the witnesses or in the confession of any of the co-accused, no role
The FIR has been lodged over a complaint by the BJP’s local mandal president Mahesh Sharma (same name as the MP’s) who too was in a car with Sanchit Sharma along with one more party worker. Their car was intercepted near a hotel by seven to eight unidentified men who were in two SUVs and carried arms with them. Mahesh Sharma, an MBBS doctor by profession, visited the hospital to meet Sanchit. Later, talking to reporters he said, “The attackers brandished revolvers and pistols at them (BJP workers) and attacked them with rods. They left Sanchit considering him dead. I have spoken to Sanchit and he shared some details with me.”
KESARIYA PUSHKAR
Sanjay Beniwal, a 1989 batch IPS officer, has been appointed as new DG (Prisons)
DG Sandeep Goel (L) and Sukesh Chandrashekhar (R)
was given to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on a promise of giving Chandrashekhar an important post in the party in South Zone, and also help him in getting nominated to
08
has been attributed against the applicant. “The age of the applicant is reaching upto 40 and she having suffered a miscarriage earlier, wants to become a mother in a legitimate manner and is also suffering from depression while being in custody,” he submitted. On the other hand, Spl Public Prosecutor (SPP) Akhand Pratap Singh submitted
SC transfers all FIRs against Naveen Jindal to Delhi Police First India Bureau New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday directed the transfer of all the FIRs filed against expelled BJP leader Naveen K u m a r Jindal for his remarks against Prophet Mohammed, to the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit of the Delhi Police. A bench of Justices MR Shah and MM Sundresh also extended interim protection to Jindal till the probe is concluded by Delhi police. The top court allowed Jindal to move Delhi HC for quashing of FIRs lodged over his alleged remarks.
that the applicant cannot seek bail on the ground of being a woman. He also submitted that various bank entries came into her account and there is no explanation from the applicant as to how such a huge amount of money was credited to her account. Besides, high-end cars and other expensive articles were recovered from the search of her house, the SPP argued.
—PHOTO BY ANI
Camel traders arrive at Pushkar Fair 2022 on Friday.
Gang rape case: Anticipatory bail
of accused businessman rejected
Port Blair (PTI): The Calcutta HC on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail application of a Port Blair-based businessman in connection with a gang rape case in which top officials of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration were made accused. The police also issued a lookout notice against the absconding businessman, Sandeep Singh alias Rinku, who was named in the FIR concerned as an accomplice in the crime, a senior official said. A lookout notice is issued to
HEARING ON NOV 7
Labour Commissioner R L Rishi (left) and absconding businessman Sandeep Singh alias Rinku (R)
make sure that a wanted person is not able to leave the country. Singh moved a division bench of the Port Blair circuit bench of the high court seeking pre-arrest bail. Earlier, the Police announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information
Union Min Anurag Thakur
leading to the arrest of Singh and Labour Commissioner R L Rishi in connection with the gang rape case.
‘Tahir Hussain laundered money to fund Delhi riots’: Court accepts evidence New Delhi (ANI): The Karkardooma Court of Delhi ordered the framing of charges against ex-AAP Councilor Tahir Hussain in a money laundering case in connection with the North East Delhi Violence in February 2020. The Court also dismissed the bail plea of Tahir Hussain in the same case. The court said, “The transactions of Tahir Hussain... in a conspiracy to fraudulently withdraw money from the accounts of certain companies owned or controlled by him… on the strength of fake bills with him being the beneficiary and with intent putting it to use towards riots.” The court further observed that Hussain would be guilty of deriving or obtaining
HC NOTICE TO AMANATULLAH AS ACB SEEKS BAIL CANCELLATION
Tahir Hussain (right)
IN THE COURT z
z
property from the proceeds of crime and will be guilty of money laundering. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat while ordering framing of
Rahul Gandhi undertaking yatra with ‘tukde-tukde’ gang: Thakur
—FILE PHOTO
charges said that there is sufficient material on record, prima facie, creating grave suspicion against the accused and to proceed with the trial of the case. Advocate NK Matta, Special Prosecutor for ED submitted that there is sufficient evidence and witnesses to the effect that the accused distributed money to other accused persons for riots and procuring weapons.
New Delhi (ANI): The Delhi HC on Friday issued notice to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan on a plea by the Delhi Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) seeking cancellation of bail granted to him in September in a corruption case. Justice Yogesh Khanna issued notice to the AAP MLA and directed to file a reply on this matter adjourned to December 9 for the next hearing. Senior Advocate Ramesh Gupta accepted the notice on Amanatullah Khan’s behalf. He objected to the submission of prosecution seeking an early date in the matter & said there is no urgency as he was granted bail by the trial court.
Hamirpur: Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is undertaking the Bharat Jodo Yatra with “tukde-tukde gang”, and questioned his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s absence from the march. The Hamirpur MP also exuded confidence that the BJP would return to power in Himachal Pradesh because of the “good work done by the double-engine government in the last five years”. Addressing a press conference here, Thakur said,”Rahul-ji is doing yatra with ‘tukde-tukde’ gang, who had raised slogans against the country. Maybe that is why Priyanka-ji did not join it or maybe a brother did not remember his sister. Is everything all right between the siblings?” The minister, however, did not elaborate who he meant by ‘tukdetukde’ gang.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Court seeks all evidence related to scene of Ankita Bhandari murder lll
The court has given the Special Investigation Team (SIT) time till November 11 to present all the evidence in the court
Dehradun (ANI): The Nainital High Court has sought all evidence related to the scene of the Ankita Bhandari murder case. The court has given the Special Investigation Team (SIT) time till November 11 to present all the evidence in the court. A single bench of Senior Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra heard the petition filed in this
regard. The petition filed by Ankita’s mother Sona Devi and father Virender Singh Bhandari calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the murder case. The lifeless body of 19-year-old Ankita, who worked as a receptionist at a resort run by Pulkit Arya, son of now-expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya, was re-
The lifeless body of 19-year-old Ankita was found on Sept 24. She was missing for at least six days before being found dead.
covered from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh on September 24, this year. She was reported missing for at least six days before being found dead. The expelled BJP leader’s son was arrested for his alleged involvement in the case. Under fire from the Opposition parties over the incident, the BJP government led by Chief Minister Push-
A single bench of Senior Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra heard the petition filed in this regard kar Singh Dhami promptly expelled Vinod Arya. Amid calls from the victim’s family that the probe is transferred to the CBI, the
Gangster Act was invoked against the three accused in the case, including the main accused Pulkit Arya. Elaborating on the progress of the probe in the case, earlier, the SIT in-charge DIG P Renuka Devi said the post-mortem report filed by the panel of doctors matched the pieces of evidence collected by the probe team.
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09
NEW DELHI, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022
9 70 s . 1 d n a 1960s is. So h e t h f t o m e l o t yles fr s is an examp ith Cit y first s n o i h to fas ion w ter top e h l s g a a a h f m d o o n c of Dis pays h tform boots a d e l r r i t o t w a disco re the s, pla Classic ylon jumpsuit nd let’s explo na gn Wearin oogie shoes o rb put you
UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR
uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in
D
isco party fashion is a different range of fashion, mostly consisting of glittery clothes and attractive head accessories. This fashion defines a unique fashion statement. Divas mostly prefer to wear platform shoes, jumpsuits, halter dresses, hot pants, colourful leisure suits, loud patterns, sequins,
glitter, and gold lamé to shine out loud in the party environment. This range of fashion was first seen in the 1970s when fashion reached new levels of creative expression and some might say, ostentation for men and women. A totally glamorous era when women, no longer limited to strict fashion industry dictates, could choose a variety of hemlines and wear pants in nearly all situations, to highlight themselves through these attractive clothing styles and discard the restrictive garments of the past. As many of the trends and ideals of the 1960s counterculture and radical movements gradually came to influence mainstream fashion, cloth-
ing became an increasingly colourful expression of individual choice. Exaggerated fashion trends showed the growing acceptance of anti-conformity, self-actualization and revolt against convention. According to Anne-Lise Francois, in the 1970s, people wore clothes that stood out in order to fit in. Disco fashion is no less than the fusion of glamour with fantasy. It is a simple world where you can live and style yourself like your favourite fantasy character. Old movies and music videos have played important role in disseminating this range of fashion among the younger generation. The trend boomed in the mid-70s when dancers and rock stars used to style themselves differently.
In the largest and most famous discos, such as Studio 54, journalist Ed McCormack observed fashions that varied “from Pierre Cardin suits to silver cosmic clothing, from Halston originals to backless halters, through all the shades, cycles and fetishes of chic, camp and queer, until it culminates in the truly bizarre ensemble of one muscular young madman who sports a leather aviator’s cap, smoked Captain Midnight goggles and red plastic clothespins clamped onto his bare nipples.” Some daring dancers spray-painted their bodies in silver and gold. Others wore futuristic costumes of spandex and shiny metallic trapunto to nearly nothing on the dance floor.
ETC NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022
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“ GURU NANAK: THE BENIGN REVOLUTIONARY” REVOLUTIONARY”
ARIES
LIBRA
MAR 21 - APR 20
SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22
TAURUS
SCORPIO
APR 21 - MAY 20
OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22
GEMINI
SAGITTARIUS
MAY 21 - JUNE 21
NOV 23 - DEC 22
CANCER
CAPRICORN
JUNE 22 - JULY 23
DEC 23 - JAN 20
LEO
AQUARIUS
JULY 24 - AUGUST 23
JAN 21 - FEB 19
VIRGO
PISCES
AUG 24 - SEP 23
FEB20 - MARCH 20
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 and satisfactory.
Using your initiative at work will be much appreciated. You may get a chance to pursue old hobby. Health tips from an expert will enable you to get closer to your fitness goals. Your generous behavior would enable to enjoy some lovely moments with family.Overall a good day.
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.
D
o not be surprised to read the word “Revolutionary” appending Guru N a n a k ’ s name. People associate revolutions with bloody, violent subversions where one exploitative regime is replaced by a more “romantic idea” that is ultimately exploitative. That euphoria in the streets lasts, but temporarily, as the dark shadows of power consume the “new heroes”. Nanak, however, preached a radically different & ever-flowing revolutionary thought that would alter the minds & hearts of humans forever. It would chisel away the fossilized attitudes, faiths, superstitions & philosophies. His principles gave the people new tools to fight inequality, stagnation & immorality. Nanak walked
WOMEN
His first observation was of women being exploited physically, emotionally and psychologically to the detriment of equality, growth & morality. Ever since that queer depiction of a Caveman hitting a woman on the head and dragging her inside, the brutal exploitation of women has been practised as insidious, though in subtler forms. Nanak saw that women were gifted with the divine capacity to give birth & carry forward civilization. He was shocked to see evil being perpetrated over this sacredness. Noticing the altruistic nature of women in raising children with patience & care, being the pillars of support to their husbands & families,
he was convinced that a woman was not equal to a man........she was in fact a lot higher, next only to God !! These simple words changed the oldest attitude of man:
“भंड सो क्यों मंदा आखिए, जित जब: राजान, भंड बाजा ना कोए” { “why say a woman is any less ; she begets Kings & Queens ; there’s none to equal a woman” }.
LITERATURE
Nanak had preached five articles of faith called Kakkars (कक्कार), so named because their first letter was K. (क). The most revolutionary among these is “Kavita” (किवता), signifying Literature. Nanak knew that it was only via literature that human thought could continue to evolve. In one enlightened stroke, he demol-
ished the set-in-stone concept of “gospel truths” that propagated one final truth written in scriptures of different faiths. His very own thought, he preached, was a workin-progress of this evolutionary process. Even Words, he believed, were enslaved, as people captured them in books & scriptures without imbibing their message. Accepting this view of Nanak, 120 dialects were used to write Guru Granth Sahib (the Holy scripture of Sikhs) to stress that no thought could be a slave to any one language. He thus thawed all frozen thoughts and let them flow freely as ever-expanding wisdom!!
CHARACTER
The biggest challenge before Nanak was to change the egocentric nature of humans to
let other revolutionary ideas prosper. For that to happen, he sowed a simple but profound mantra in the hearts of his followers. He broke the inherent selfishness by teaching them to give a portion of their earnings to the needy before consuming their share: { “वंड के शको” }. This act was further expanded into communities and Gurudwaras in the form of Langar, where wholesome food was served to all without hesitation & prejudice of colour, religion or race. This ignited brotherhood amongst people and brought bliss into their lives. Best of all, it kindled a heroic flame inside those hearts for battles he foresaw ahead. A HERO, by definition, is one who places others’ interests before his own. Common men were turned into heroes by this simple but singular shift in the consciousness of the SELF. Thus, 553 years back, a light shone upon the earth to eternalise its revolution. Millions of dark corners were, and continue to be, illuminated by the sapience of a farmer’s son.
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.
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.
YOUR DAY Horoscope by
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. Associate yourself with an humanitarian group.
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. Try and build new connection.
You will succeed in resolving disputes 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.
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.
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.
Gifting something to your beloved is likely to make the day memorable. Matrimonial match for siblings will bring happiness for entire family. You will get a good price for your property. Those awaiting results are assured of succeeding with flying colours. You’ll have a wonderful day.
FA CE OF TH ED AY
RAINU SINGH
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
across continents preaching innumerable divine messages. However, I will touch upon his three biggest Revolutionary ideas that became the touchstones for all succeeding philosophies. These perceptions were his interpretations of information he plucked from the Natural environment.
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. Your partner will say yes to you.
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Saurabbh Sachdeva
DIKSHA DAFOUTI, Model
ETC
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NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022
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P
riyanka Chopra recently stepped out in an all-white outfit for a brand promotion in Mumbai. The actress looked incredibly excited to be to visiting Mumbai which reflects in her stunning outfits. For the event, PC chose a semi-formal all-white outfit that’s business and bougie all at the same time. The new mama was spotted in an all-white outfit consisting of a Christopher Esber crop top and a pair of matching high-waisted trousers. The ribbed white top featured a striking underbust quartz that definitely made a fashion moment. The stylish tight-fitted white top also featured cap sleeves and a high neckline which was perfectly paired with a high-waisted, wide-leg pair of trousers with flowy pleated details. However, the hero of her allwhite look had to be her effortless curls with soft blond highlights.
Priyanka Chopra
RAKUL’S STATEMENT SHELL
Bipasha Basu
SILVER DANGLERS
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akul Preet Singh, of late, has managed to turn heads with her traditional looks. She has an outfit for every mood and it’s a matter of sartorial choice. Yet another ensemble that she managed to steal the attention with was her green sharara attire, an ideal pick for pre-wedding festivities. The star has pulled off an elegant outfit with utmost ease and confidence but her statement dangler earrings have caught our eyes. Rakul has been making a case for modern silhouettes and accessories like a pro. One can see in the photos, Rakul wore a green embroidered strap kurta teamed with a georgette sharara and a net dup a t t a featuring a drill border. She accessorised her look with shell silver plated danglers encrusted with diamonds by Ritika Sachdeva and it costs Rs 4,400.
Bipasha flaunts her pregnancy glow
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ipasha Basu is one of the most loved actresses in Bollywood. She is experiencing one of the best phases of her life. The actress is expecting her first baby with her husband Karan Singh Grover and keeps giving us a glimpse of her pregnancy journey. She took to her Instagram handle to share a picture from her photoshoot and we have to admit that she oozes oomph in this picture. Taking to her Instagram handle, Bipasha Basu shared a picture of her sitting on a bench and posing in style. Bipasha looks stunning in this blingy golden off-shoulder dress which has a slit as she flaunts her baby bump. Sharing this picture, Bipasha wrote, “Love yourself at all times Love the body you live in.”
JANHVI’S CUTE
interaction with Abdu Deepika Padukone
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Rakul flaunting her earrings Rakul Preet Singh
Janhvi Kapoor
igg Boss 16 has become one of the most popular shows on the telly screens at present. International internet sensation and ace singer Abdu Rozik is becoming quite popular on the show for his flirting skills. He is seen giving compliments to the female contestants and their faces light up with appreciation. In the recent promo of the Weekend Ka Vaar episode, Bollywood diva Janhvi Kapoor and Sunny Kaushal are seen going inside the Bigg Boss 16 house. The actors have come to the show to promote their movie Mili. Roohi actress shared that she has also learned his phone number and repeated it, making him blush. She also whispered her number in his ears and Abdu says he will call her.
GUSHING OVER HUBBY
D
eepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are role models for many people in the country. While the lovebirds will ring their fourth wedding anniversary on November 14, it looks like Deepika and Ranveer can’t keep calm. They never leave a moment to exude couple goals and are often seen appreciating each other’s social media posts. Her post... Just a few minutes ago, Deepika Padukone shared a photo of ‘Ranveer Singh showering kisses on her wifey’s photo’ at a store launch in Delhi. Taking to Instagram, Deepika captioned this photo by saying, “Find someone who looks at you like you are their whole universe @ranveersingh.” In another Instagram story, Deepika dropped heart emoji for the Gunday actor.
CITY
STAY MASKED
GET VACCINATED
BUZZ
NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2022
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CELESTIAL MOGUL
—PHOTOS BY SHAZID CHAUHAN
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“A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE PLANET” CITY FIRST
D Shivangi, Amit and Nysa
Selvie, Pooja and Sonya
CITY FIRST
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adical designer duo Bharat and Reshma Grover launched their latest clothing collection Celestial Mogul at a much-celebrated, sparkling event held at Bella Monde Hotel, Delhi on Monday, October 31. City First brings to you some more glimpses from the spectacular show. The collection was inspired by the new-age philosophy of the Universe within us, the collection was a dazzling ode to the spiritual and celestial connection between man and nature. The outfits, made exclusively for the metro men of today, aim to underline the cosmic power within that drives the success of 21st-century men. It was a fine amalgamation of glitz & glamour, elegance and eclecticism, the collection showcased some of the finest clothing choices for events ranging from weddings, festivities and red carpets to casual & fine dining essentials. The show was opened by Bollywood actor Aditya Seal
Jatin, Shalini and Dua
who sported a dazzling creation by Bharat and Reshma Grover, opening the grand celebrations with 16 years of magic and sparkle that the ace designers are known for, 16 glorious years of Bharat and Reshma Grover. Speaking at the event, the designers echoed the shared sentiment on their latest clothing line saying We have put up this show as a celebration of the successful 16 years of Bharat Reshma, It's been very good 16 years in the industry with a lot of hard work and love from the people. We are very happy to launch our new collection named Celestial Mogul. Our collection celebrates the heavenly person and powerful person and put out the best in you. We are hoping for the same response towards it from people as we got till now. The show ended with Showstopper Manish Paul walking the runway in style and panache that exuded the very essence of the label Bharat and Reshma, giving a perfect crescendo to an all-star evening.
Alma and Amit Ranchal
Sonali Bhasin, Sonali Gupta and Geeta Grewal
Gurpreet and Gunjan
Sikandar and Sakshi
Kinjal and Ruchika
Aditya Seal and Pratik Grover
Experience Colourful Serenity CITY FIRST
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Delhi-based art gallery named 'Navya Naveli' is organising an ongoing group collection show curated by Amrita Kochhar and Kanika Khandelwal which started on September 30 and will end on November 23. The show is curated by Amrita Kochhar and Kanika Khandelwal. “The show Limited Edition is the collection of various known artists, some of them may not be with us in this world but their works will be with us forever and some of them are with us and we have organised such a show because nowadays
Guneet and Rohit
Nassar Abdulla
Shweta and Sonal
A Navya Naveli Gallery presents a show which not only showcases the work and talent of some of the best artists from India but also a boost of a beautiful range of etching and litho. A show that fits in one of its kind. It is named “The limited edition”, which comprises Etching, lithography, Serigraphy and Prints.
Meenakshi Sharma with her team
stemmed from a series of childhood anecdotes, which further piqued her love for conserving the planet. She adds, “While the idea of sustainable markets was not predominant a few years ago, people have begun realising the beauty of buying from local brands putting the planet before trends.” Besides upcycling, Use Me Works also conducts workshops in schools wherein they have children make art and DIY out of the waste fabric. “These are fun DIY workshops with an intention to sensitise
them towards waste materials, its usage as well as its disposal and impact on the environment,” Meenakshi says, adding that they often have children coming back to them saying they no longer throw out things, as “nothing is really waste”. The venture has customers from all over India and even globally Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom and sees around 200 orders a month, a number that Meenakshi says will only increase once people begin realising the impact of their endeavours.
‘Creativity by Little Hands’ CITY FIRST
modern and contemporary art are easily promoted and exhibited. But Printing and lithography are hardly promoted and which we should be. This is a very different category for me that is why we have planned to organise this exhibition.” said Amrita Kochhar and Kanika Khandelwal during the show.
elhi fashion designer Meenakshi Sharma’s sustainable venture Use Me Works relies on the principle that “nothing is waste”, and up cycles waste fabric into home decor, bags, clothes and more. Fashion designer Meenakshi Sharma describes her venture as one that translated from “a deep respect for the planet”. The 34-year-old is the founder of Use Me Works, an up cycling venture that she has been running since 2011. The business took seed as a college dissertation project during her graduate studies at the Pearl Academy of Fashion. In the years to come, she would soon discover how the simple idea of transforming fabric waste into items with a purpose, as well as championing the concept of upcycling, would shape the rest of her life. “People always complain about the state of things in Delhi and the looming problem of the city’s waste. But how are we working to change it?” Is the question she is looking to address through the venture. She says upcycling wasn’t a “random” idea, but rather
n upcoming art gallery titled 'Creativity by Little Hands' organised by Nav Shri Art and Culture Organisation for children will take place from November 4 to November 6 at Artizen Art Gallery, New Delhi Around eighteen child artists from all over India will be exhibiting their works in this art exhibition. Along with this, many art & craft workshops will be conduct-
ed for children by Himanshu Art Institute, which is free of cost for all children. These workshops are Warli Painting, Tattoo, Digital Origami, Paper Craft, Clay Modelling, Colouring, Paper-Cup Craft, Pottery Making, Puzzles and Photo Shoot. Participation certificates will also be provided by the institute to all the children participating in the workshop. Awards will also be given to all the children participating in
the exhibition by Dr Harvinder Mankkar (The creator of the famous children's cartoon character 'Motu-Patlu') on November 6. Apart from this, the winners of the national-level painting competition organised by Nav Shri Art & Culture Organisation will also be rewarded here.
JK CEMENT COMMISSIONS ITS NEW PLANT AT PANNA, MP CITY FIRST
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K Cement Ltd. one of India’s leading manufacturers of Grey Cement in India and one of the largest White Cement manufacturers in the world, commissioned its new greenfield integrated cement plant at Panna in Madhya Pradesh on Friday. The new plant has an installed capacity of 3 MTPA and is equipped with the latest state-of-theart technology. With this, JKCement becomes the first company to set up the first large-scale industry of Panna that will contribute significantly to the development of the district. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the plant. The inauguration ceremony was attended by
During the Commissioning of JK Cement’s New Plant at Panna
VD Sharma, Member of Parliament and MP state BJP President, Brijendra Pratap Singh, Minister of Mineral Resource and Labour, Rajvardhan Singh Dattigaon, Minister for Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and Prahalad Lodhi, MLA-Pawai and members of the Singhania family. Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Managing Di-
rector of JK Cement Ltd. said, " The Panna plant is a significant milestone in our growth journey and reaffirms our commitment to the state. We have a solid presence in the grey cement segment in the North and are now well-placed to consolidate our position by diversifying into the central markets. Our operations at Panna are in line with our strategic expansion plans
to enter untapped markets for our Grey Cement business and be among the market leaders in delivering high-quality cement products." As part of an expansion plan for its grey cement division, the company's newly built grinding unit at Hamirpur (U.P) along with its Panna plant will further augment the capacity from existing units to reach 20 MTPA
thereby further strengthening its presence in India. The company plans to further increase capacity to 25 MTPA by FY 2024-25 and has also developed a roadmap for 30 MTPA of cement capacity for the next few years. In line with the company’s commitment to sustainability, Waste Heat Recovery System has been installed at the cement plant and Alternative Fuel
will be used to partially replace the fossil fuels for power generation. Adding to this Dy. Managing Director and CEO, Madhavkrishna Singhania said, “We have entered the right market at the right time. Our strong presence is already visible, and we plan to ramp up our production very quickly. But we plan to achieve this growth in a sustainable and environment-friendly
way. All our new plants are being set up with WHRS, and this will accelerate our adoption of green power and take us much closer to the target of 75% by 2030. Our increased production is in sync with our long-term sustainability targets of controlling emissions, increasing fuel efficiencies and thermal substitution rate, and expanding our green power capacities.” This expansion will add significant value to the local community and state by creating employment opportunities, and improving the overall infrastructure within the region. The cement plant will provide a strong identity and presence for the brand in Madhya Pradesh, further strengthening JKCement’s legacy of trust.