First India-Jaipur Edition-8th October 2022

Modi completes 21 years in office

MODI MUMKIN HAI

MODI MUMKIN HAI

KUMAR

odi Hai To Mumkin Hai’ – it’s an allencompassing phrase, describing the Confidence, Trust and Faith in a leader, who inspires a vast multitude of populace within India and abroad. Never before has India witnessed such a cult following within the political landscape – a leader, whose popularity index scaled as high as 90% and even at its worst has not fallen below 68%. Political observers across the world are perplexed at this remarkable feat, but for Narendra Damodardas Modi, this is the norm.

Clocking the highest number of days in a public office – 7,670 and still counting – Prime Minister Modi stands taller than the Former Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mrs. Indira Gandhi in terms of number of days in Public Office. Pursuing an ‘India First’ policy, Modi has re-enforced the idiom of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ – ‘Swatantra Bharat’ – ‘Vishwa Guru Bharat’. As India marches ahead, it resonates the clarion call of its most popular leader – ‘Yeh Desh Jhukega nahi, Sar Utthakar – Seena Tan kar Aage Badhega’…. See P10

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Chairmanship Opportunities for India

LABOUR LEADER WOOS INDIANS WITH VOW TO FIGHT HINDUPHOBIA

India can assist in finding mutual and local solutions to the problems of Central Asia and introduction of a Silk Road Visa on the pattern of Shengen visa. Indian participation in the International North South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Agreement & joining the Ashkhabad Agreement needs to be further consolidated

COL RAJESH BHUKAR

The author has been Head Security Rajasthan Operations of Cairn Energy and DGM HR in Jindal Saw Ltd

The Shanghai Cooperation Or ganisation (SCO) is a Eura sian political, economic, and security organization. It is the world’s largest regional or ganisation in terms of geo graphic scope and population, covering approximately 60% of the area of Eurasia, 40% of the World population, and more than 30% of global GDP.

The SCO is the successor to the Shanghai Five, formed in 1996 between the China, Rus sia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. On 15 June 2001, the leaders of these na tions and Uzbekistan met in Shanghai to announce a new organization with deeper po litical and economic coopera tion; the SCO Charter was signed on 7 July 2002 and en tered into force on 19 Septem ber 2003. Its membership has since expanded to eight states, with India and Pakistan join ing on 9 June 2017. Several countries are engaged as ob servers (Afghanistan, Bela rus, Iran and Mongolia) or dialogue partners (Sri Lanka, Nepal, Turkey Armenia, Azerbaijan and Cambodia).

With Iran signing a member ship agreement to become a permanent member (Apr 2023) and Turkey the first NATO member announcing its bid for permanent mem bership, the SCO is inching closer to be viewed as an antiWestern alliance.

The SCO has been termed as the “Alliance of the East” and has been viewed as a Chinesedominated organization. How ever, considering the current membership, including Rus sia, India and other central Asian countries, especially in

the prevailing global socioeconomic environment, the SCO has evolved into a formi dable alliance, which the world is beginning to take a serious note of. Both Russia and China have initiated their respective ambitious projects in the re gion; the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Collec tive Security Treaty Organisa tion (CSTO) by Russia and China has launched its mega project Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB), often referred to as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The rotating presidency of the SCO to India that com menced in Sep 2022 is an op portunity as well as a chal lenge for India to carve out a niche for itself in a Region that is of vital importance to it.

THE CURRENT SCENARIO

The US withdrawal from Af ghanistan and re emergence of Taliban brings instability and possible turmoil in the region.

The region faces problems of security issues, fight against terrorism, ethnic separatism, religious extrem ism and economic and infra structural development.

Absence of any Western country or its allies as a SCO member makes it look like anti West and SCO has com menced broadening its base. India joining the Quad-

comprising India, US, Japan and Australia and I2U2 with US, Israel and UAE irks Chi na and seen as a challenge to its growing global influence.

Russia, the CARs and Paki stan have all joined China’s controversial global infra structure programme BRI spanning over 100 countries minus India is a major point of concern.

Broadening of base by in cluding Bahrain, Maldives, Kuwait, UAE and Myanmar as the new dialogue partners, and process for Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are already in progress.

China aims to align with Russia to counter US and that’s why avoids any direct reference to Ukraine war. China intends to use the SCO platform to emerge as its strongest leader.

Russia aims to show to the West that it is not isolated and still holds international sway. Though there were no takers of its misadventures vis-à-vis Ukraine.

Modi’s position on Ukraine war has not really gone well with Putin but it has exhibited India’s will to exert its stand on international issues firmly.

The other challenges for SCO include - Adverse impact of Ukraine war on economy and environment, Sino-Indi an border tensions, Conflict on Kyrgyz - Tajik border, Con

flict on dialogue partners Ar menia and Azerbaijan bor ders, Indian concerns about food and fertilizers shortages and fuel security, Enhancing bilateral trade (US$6 trillion) among SCO members and Floods in Pakistan.

Indian Role and Opportuni ties in SCO. A milestone in India’s ‘Look North’ policy was achieved when the baton of the SCO Chairmanship has been passed to India and now the real challenge lies in over coming the current brewing issues and restoring credibility of the SCO as one of the most viable and biggest global fora.

India could change the ex isting narrative and add sub stance to their policy of “No Single” power shall dominate the Region.

Indian approach of multipo lar order in its immediate re gion and globally and not let ting the platform look like an anti-West arrangement.

India can assist in finding mutual and local solutions to the problems of Central Asia and introduction of a Silk Road Visa on the pattern of Shengen visa.

Indian participation in the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), Chabahar Agreement and joining the Ashkhabad Agreement needs to be fur ther consolidated.

India will have to deal with containing China’s expand ing national security narra tive, check further isolation of Russia and countering growing Chinese clout.

Amicable solution to border disputes among CAR members.

Handling arch rival Paki stan and its continuous efforts undermining Indian interests. Encourage mutual cooper ation among members; create economic opportunities, and furtherance of existing In traregional trade.

Politics in Britain seems to be getting divided on somewhat religious lines after last month’s violent clashes between Hindu and Mus lim groups in Leicester after an India-Pakistan cricket match.

Britain’s Indian-origin Home Secretary Suella Braverman said that the clashes happened because of failure to integrate migrant communities. Firing a salvo against Indians she brand ed them as “the largest group of people who overstay” their visas in the UK and hinted that she would not back a trade deal that promises more visa concessions to Indians. India has countered her claims and said that action has been taken on all cases raised by the Home Office.

Britain’s opposition leader came to the defence of Indians using, for the first time, the term Hinduphobia. Addressing a large group of British Indians, Labour Leader Keir Starmer vowed to fight ‘Hinduphobia’ and divisive politics.

With Indians forming the sin gle largest ethnic minority, Starmer’s outreach to Hindus is understandable. Next UK elec tions are due in 2025.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Just as the boyhood, youth and old age come to the embodied Soul in this body, in the same manner, is the attaining of another body; the wise man is not deluded at that. Bhagavad Gita

Delighted to meet Global CEO, @ Deloitte and dear friend Mr. @ PunitRenjen. Had good exchanges on harnessing the full potential of India’s talent, creating opportunities for our youth in smaller towns and on India’s rapid strides towards becoming a digital-first economy.

RAJA RAJA BUILT SHIVA, VISHNU’S TEMPLES N

first Chola king, whose pow erful dynasty ruled southern India, Sri Lanka, Sumatra and Maldives for around three centuries. More precise ly, the debate is about whether the Chola king was a Hindu.

o history is com plete without con flicting claims and counter-claims.

From most Mughal architecture in north India being claimed as Hindu temples or belonging to Hin dus by self-claimed owner ship of land on which a monu ment stands, the debate has moved down South and is centred around the religious identity of Raja Raja 1, the

Tamil film-maker Vetrima ran stoked the controversy with his statement that the Chola king was not a Hindu.

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan stirred the pot by repeating Ve trimaran’s claim. “Continu ously, our symbols are being snatched from us. Saffronising Valluvar or calling Raja Raja Chola as a Hindu king is con stantly occurring.” The awardwinning film-maker made the remarks after the release of Mani Ratnam’s movie Ponni yin Selvan. It is based on a fic

tional account of Raja Raja Cholan. Kamal Haasan gave the controversy a new twist by claiming that Raja Raja Chola was not even a Hindu.

Telangana Governor Ta milisai Soundararajan called these statements as attempts to conceal Hindu cultural iden tities and warned that people will raise their voice against them. The BJP’s H. Raja as serted that the Chola king was indeed a Hindu and asked the two film personalities to iden tify any church and mosque built by the powerful ruler.

Whether he was Hindu or not can be debated but there is evidence of Shiva and Vishnu temples, including the Brihadeshwara temple in Thanjavur, built by him.

Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp

Rajnath Singh @rajnathsingh

Visited Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, today & received information from the doctors about the health and well being of former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Mulayam Singh Yadavji. I pray to God for his speedy recovery.

INDIA OBJECTS TO AMERICAN ENVOY’S

TO

Rajasthan is the ideal State for investment: Chief Minister

Naresh Sharma & Ziauddin Khan

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot stressed, while addressing the inaugural session of Invest Rajasthan Summit-2022 at JECC on Friday, said that investments are being made in the state on a large scale only because of the investment friendly policies of the state government. The policy framework here are investor oriented with excellent road network and quality human re-

READ Crucial

NCB SEIZES DRUGS

WORTH `120 CR IN MUMBAI, GUJARAT

Mumbai: In a major drug haul, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recovered MD drugs worth Rs 120 crore, officials said on Friday. The drugs were seized at 2 places in Gujarat and Mumbai. A total of 50 kilograms of drugs were recovered from Mumbai. In Gujarat, a total of 10.350 kg were seized while four persons were arrested.

2 SOLDIERS DIE IN TANK BARREL EXPLOSION IN UP

Jhansi: Two Indian Army personnel including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) died after a T-90 tank barrel exploded during the annual firing at Babina Field Firing Ranges in UP, Army officials said on Friday. The field exercise was held at Babina Cantonment near Jhansi on Thursday.

AVALANCHE: 10 MORE BODIES FOUND, TOLL RISES TO 26

Uttarkashi: Ten more bodies were recovered from the site of an avalanche, taking the death toll to 26, the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering said on Friday. Two Cheetah helicopters took off from the Army helipad in Harsil to join the search operations, the officials said. The avalanche had occurred at a height of 17,000 feet on Tuesday.

2 MP CONG MLAS

BOOKED FOR EVE

TEASING ON TRAIN

Bhopal: Two Congress MLAs from MP were booked for allegedly harassing a woman while they were travelling on an overnight train. The alleged incident was reported on the intervening night of Thursday-Friday when they were travelling in a AC coach of Rewanchal Express (Rewa to Bhopal).

RECONSIDER TRAVEL

TO PAK, SAYS US IN TRAVEL ADVISORY

Washington: The United States has issued a travel advisory to its citizens to reconsider travel in highrisk areas in Pakistan due to terrorism and sectarian violence. In a travel advisory, the US has asked its citizens not to travel to Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, due to terrorism and kidnapping.

source have played an important role in bringing investment to the state, he said, and added

that many important decisions have been taken by the State Government to encourage

investment in the State. Single window system and one stop shop has made it easier to get

WON’T LET GUJARAT FIASCO HIT RAJ: CM GEHLOT ON INVESTMENTS IN STATE

necessary permissions for setting up industries, he said.

Turn to P10, More on P9

Jaipur: An investment of about 11 lakh crores has been claimed in the state through the Invest Rajasthan Summit. Addressing the inaugural session of the summit, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that he knows that it is not easy to get the investment of 11 lakh crores off the ground. “But if half of this investment is also done in Rajasthan, then it will prove to be a milestone for Rajasthan,” he said. In his address, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to Vibrant Gujarat. Addressing Gujarat industrialist Gautam Adani, who was present on the stage, he said that when Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had organized Vibrant Gujarat. “But we all know that the amount of investment was claimed at that time. Out of that, only 10 to 15 percent landed on the ground. To prevent this from happening to us, we have organized a summit on the theme of Committed and Delivered. For this we have already signed MoU and LOI. At the same time, more than 40 percent of the investments are at the stage of implementation,” he said.

REAL

OF N-E BEGAN AFTER 2014: SHAH

Northeast was considered just a tourist destination earlier, says HM in Gangtok

Gangtok (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a threeday visit to the northeast, on Friday said that the region was only considered a “tourist destination” before Narendra Modi became PM.

Shah noted that the “real development” of the northeast began only after Modi took over the office of the Prime Minister in 2014. The remarks of the Home Minister came at a Cooperative Dairy Conclave- 2022 of Eastern and Northeastern regions.

“In 75 years of independence, before Narendra Modi became the PM, the northeast was considered only a tourist destination. After he became the PM, the real development of the northeast began,” Shah said.

He said that PM Modi-led government has decided to set up 65,000 active Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

“Modi govt has decided to set up around 65,000 active PACS. We’ve decided that within five years every panchayat will have one PACS and a dairy each,” he said.

ED grills K’taka Cong president Shivakumar

New Delhi (PTI): The Enforcement Directorate on Friday questioned Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar in the National Herald money laundering case. Shivakumar told reporters here that he was a “law-abiding citizen” and hence he was deposing before the agency despite not knowing why was he exactly called.

New Delhi: The Congress slammed the BJP-led Union govt in connection with the summons issued by the ED to DK Shivakumar to appear before it on Friday in the middle of its ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, saying that the BJP has lost sanity by directing central agencies to issue summons against Shivakumar.

New Delhi: The Union government on Friday asked incumbent Chief Justice of India UU Lalit to name his successor. According to the convention, Justice D Y Chandrachud is next in line to become the CJI in order of seniority.

He is likely to be named as the next CJI by Justice Lalit. Current CJI Lalit is to superannuate on November 8 after his brief tenure of 74 days.

BY ANI

Gyanvapi mosque: Judge says need clarity over ‘Shivling’

“OVERWHELMED” BY PEOPLE’S RECEPTION, SAYS HM AMIT SHAH

Gangtok: As Amit Shah reached Sikkim’s Gangtok on Friday, people were seen on both sides of the road to welcome the Home Minister with the national flag in hand. Sharing a video of the same, Shah tweeted, “Grateful to the people of Sikkim for such a warm reception in Gangtok. I am overwhelmed.” Shah is on a three-day visit to the Northeast. He inaugurated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue at Raj Bhavan in Gangtok. State Governor Ganga Prasad was also present on the occasion.

Varanasi (Agencies):

The court of Varanasi’s senior-most judge on Friday deferred its order on a plea seeking carbon dating of a purported ‘Shivling’ found inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The

court will pronounce its order on October 11.

The plea by Hindu women petitioners sought scientific investigation, including carbon dating, of the ‘Shivling’

found during a video survey carried out on the orders of a lower court in the temple town earlier this year.

The court sought clarifications from the lawyers for the women petitioners on two points: Whether the purported ‘Shivling’ can be made a part of the case or not and whether the court can actually order any scientific investigation.

MUKESH AMBANI TO OPEN FAMILY OFFICE IN SINGAPORE, MANAGER HIRED: REPORT New Delhi (Agencies): Asia’s secondwealthiest man, Reliance Industries Ltd. Chairman Mukesh Ambani, is setting up a family office in Singapore, according to people familiar with the move. The Mumbai-based billionaire has picked a manager to hire staff for the new entity and get it running, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. The Ambanis have also chosen real estate, one of the people said.

No intention of making Hindi alone national language: RaGa

Mandya: Cong leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said there was no intention of making Hindi alone the national language and threaten the identity of regional languages. He said this during his interaction with representatives of educational institutions.

“There was a discussion with Rahul about the identity of Kannada. He said everyone’s mother tongue is important,” said a senior leader.

Amit Shah being welcomed upon his arrival, at Lebing Helipad, in Gangtok on Friday. He reached Gangtok to inaugurate the Eastern and North-Eastern Zones’ Dairy Cooperative Conclave.

Amit Shah during the unveiling ceremony of a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, at Raj Bhawan in Gangtok. —PHOTO BY PTI

Muslim devotees come out after offering prayers amid tight security, at Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi, on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI

CONG PREZ POLL: KHARGE AHEAD OF THAROOR IN TN

‘SHEER

AMIT SHAH, JP NADDA ARRIVE IN ASSAM

Chennai: Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has emerged as the favourite for the party’s presidential poll among the cadres in Tamil Nadu after a majority shunned a meeting called by fellow contestant Shashi Tharoor. Of the 710 voters in the Congress electoral college from Tamil Nadu, a handful attended the meeting convened by Tharoor to seek support for his candidature at the state Congress headquarters, Satyamoorthi Bhavan on Thursday.

Guwahati (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda arrived in Guwahati on Friday to attend different programmes in the Northeastern state. Shah and Nadda arrived on separate flights. They were received at Guwahati airport by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita, and party MPs. Shah chaired a high-level official meeting on the annual floods in Assam, and also hold discussions with the BJP’s Assam core committee at the state guest house later in the evening. On Saturday, Shah along with the BJP president will inaugurate the party’s newly-constructed state office at Beltola, and also address a rally of party workers.

Rahul Gandhi with deceased journalist Gauri Lankesh’s mother Indira and sister Kavitha during ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, in Mandya, on Friday. Congress leader KC Venugopal is also seen.

Govt asks CJI UU Lalit to name his successor

Gautam Adani addressing the media in the presence of CM Ashok Gehlot, Sudhir Mehta, Dr CP Joshi, Vaibhav Gehlot, Shakuntla Rawat, Mamta Bhupesh, Veenu Gupta and others on Friday.

CM Ashok Gehlot and Gautam Adani interacting during the Invest Rajasthan Summit that commenced at JECC Sitapura on Friday. Dr CP Joshi, Anil Agarwal, Shakuntla Rawat & Rajiv Arora also seen.

RAJASTHAN

TOURISM BOOM DUE TO FESTIVE SEASON, 5L TOURISTS EXPECTED

Nirmal Tiwari

Jaipur: As the festive season has started with Dussehra, the number of tourists has swelled up in the state. It is ex pected that from Octo ber 15 to October 30, the number of tourists vis iting the state will be more than 5 lakh. The travel trade is fully geared up to welcome the guests and dozens of such packages have been made, which have got a lot of enthusiasm among the tourists.

In the first 9 months of this year, about 38 lakh tourists have come to the state. There has been a record increase of 84% in the number of domestic tourists.

Krishna Kanta Shar ma, deputy director of the Archaeological De partment, said that the

NO OF TOURISTS AND REVENUE (JAN-SEPT)

Month Tourist Revenue Number (

in

January 3,59,000 1.90

February 4,11,161 2.27

March 4,95,870 2.83

April 2,84,873 1.66

May 3,42,074 1.92

June 4,71,120 2.54

July 5,26,101 2.93

August 5,50,463 3.05

Sept 3,46,044 2.33

Total 37,87,706 21.45

development of infra structure facilities at tourist places and vir tual tours also showed confidence among tour ists about Rajasthan.

Tourism director Rashmi Sharma said that emerging as a mod el state in vaccination clicked. “The state gov ernment constantly fo cused on domestic tour ists, the results were excellent and more is expected,” she said.

Owners of RMB group surrender before court

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The owners of Rawat Misthan Bhandar on Friday surrendered before a PCPNDT court af ter an arrest war rant were issued against them. The owners, Bhudev Devra, Aruna Devra and Agya Devra, surrendered before PCPNDT Metro (First) citing a com promise between the parties. Notably, in a

petition was filed by Digamber Singh and others, it was stated that establishment grabbed the salary, PF and ESI of the employees.

The PCPNDT court while hearing the pe tition had issued ar rest warrant against the defendants. Fol lowing arrest war rants, owners of Rawat Misthan Bhandar surrender before court on Fri day.

PoW starts from Oct 12, CM Gehlot to flag off the ‘Fame Tour’ today

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The luxury train Palace on Wheels, recognized as cultural ambassador in the world, will chug off from Saturday when the CM will flag off the Fame Tour of the royal train in the afternoon.

From October 12, the first official tour of this

Om Birla on threeday visit to Kota from Sunday

First India Bureau

Kota: LS Speaker Om Birla will be on 3-day visit to Kota from Sun day. During his visit to Kota-Bundi LS constitu ency, he will take part in a number of programs. Om Birla will reach Kota on Sun day and will be on a tour of Ramganj Mandi area and on Sunday will meet public at camp office.

season of the train will start from Safdarjung in Delhi. The train will travel from Jaipur to Udaipur via Ajmer. The Fame Tour will be via Chittorgarh, Bundi and Sawai Madhopur.

With RTDC chair man Dharmendra Rathore’s efforts, the royal train will start again after three years.

The train has been op erating since 1982 and ranked among the best 10 trains in the world. Its operation was stopped during Corona. Rathore had met the Union Railway Minis ter and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha also seeking cooperation to run the train again to boost tourism in State.

Army aspirant held duping, climbs mines

First India Bureau

Jaipur: An army as pirant climbed a stone mining site in Kalwar area on Friday after he was caught appearing for the army examina tion with fake docu ments. Police informed the aspirant, Hari Ram Gurjar (22), a resident of Ajmer, had come to appear for the army re cruitment exam on Friday.

At around 5:30am on Friday, Hari Ram Gur jar reached Biyani Col

lege in Kalwar area.

The army officials caught him at the entry gate after they found his documents suspi cious,” police said.

“Hari Ram fled from the spot while docu ments of other aspir ants were being veri fied. He then went down the stone mining site, but due to the steepness of the hill, he got stuck in the middle. Later, mining labourers were called in to rescue him from the stone mining site,” police added.

RaGa curses Adani & Ambani, Gehlot praises them: Poonia

First India Bureau

Bundi: BJP state President Satish Poo nia visited Bundi on Friday to lay the foun dation stone of the party office. During visit he said Cong leader Rahul Gandhi has been cursing in dustrialist Gautam Adani in his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ while at the same time, Ra jasthan CM praised Adani during Invest Rajasthan summit which shows huge contradictions in the words and deeds of the Congress party.

Naib subedar from Jhunjhunu martyred in tank explosion in Jhansi

Manoj Tak

Jhunjhunu: A Naib Subedar, hailing from Gudha Bavni village of Jhunjhunu, lost his life after the barrel of a T-90 tank exploded during a field firing exercise on Thursday at Babina cantonment in Jhansi.

Naib Subedar Sumer Singh Bagaria, posted in 55th Armoured Regi ment of Indian Army, was among two army jawans who were killed in the barrel explosion.

As soon as locals came to know about his sad demise, a pall of gloom descended on Gudha Bavni village.

Singh had recently rejoined his duty after completing holidays and had promised to come for Diwali cele brations. He is survived by his wife, 8-yr-old son and 15-yr-old daughter.

“There is a huge con tradiction in words and deeds of the Con gress. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi in his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ is curing Adani and Am bani, on the other

hand, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Ge hlot praised Adani during the invest Ra jasthan summit,” he said. He also exuded confidence that BJP will come to power.

2 children killed, 25 hurt after pick-up van overturns in Phalodi

First India Bureau

Jaipur: ADJ Court ac quitted a person charged under the Arms Act for uploading a photo with a revolver on social media. Court said that mere upload ing of photographs does not prove charges under Arms Act. There is no evidence that pho tograph caused fear or induced any person to commit an offense at tempting to disturb har mony in the state.

While presenting challan in court, police did not seize the revolv er in photo nor record ed statement of its own er. Court acquitted ac cused, Rohan Sharma, for lack of sufficient evidence.

In Dec 2019, police had registered a case against Rohan under IPC and Arms Act.

Deepak Chauhan, advo cate of accused told court that research of ficer did not recover any weapon.

faculty

looked

Vikas Sharma

Jaipur: The resident doctors of SMS Medical College and its constitu ent hospitals continued to boycott outpatient department (OPD) ser vices for the third con secutive day on Friday in protest against the

new bond policy.

The senior faculty members of SMS Hospi tal looked after the OPD

RIFF FOLK FESTIVAL

services along with IPD patients due to absence of resident doctors. However, the patients

still suffered with lack of treatment owing to an inadequate number of doctors. Meanwhile, Superintendent of SMS Hospital, Dr Achal Sharma inspected the hospital and gave neces sary directions for proper treatment of pa tients. Notably, the resi dent doctors are pro testing against the new bond policy, appoint ment of residents against the eligibility criteria.

First India Bureau

Phalodi (Jodhpur):

Two children were killed and twenty-five others were injured in Phalodi town on Friday after a pick-up van lost its balance and over turned. Police informed the incident took place under the Lohawat Po lice Station area on Fri day when the passen gers were heading to wards Ramdevra in Jaisalmer. “The passen

gers, all residents of Rupana-Jaitana village, were going to offer prayers at Ramdevra temple in Jaisalmer.

Around 25 km from Phalodi, the speeding pick-up van lost its bal ance and overturned. Two children suc cumbed to injuries while on their way to the hospital, while 25 others injured were rushed to the hospital after the incident,” po lice said.

Safai Karamcharis Commission gets head

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The State Gov ernment has nominated five members, includ ing Kishanlal Jedia as the chairman of the commission and Deep ak Dandhoria as the vice-chairman in the Safai Karamcharis Commission.

According to the or der issued by Hridesh Kumar Sharma, Direc tor and Joint Secretary, Local Bodies Depart ment, Kishanlal Jedia

2ndday of music festival mesmerises audience with folk songs

Sangeeta Sharma & Rajeev Gaur

Jodhpur: Rajasthan International Folk Fes tival (Riff) is being jointly hosted by Meh rangarh Museum Trust and Jaipur Virasat Foundation.On the sec ond day of five-day Riff, there was a wave of hymns in Jaswant Tha da in morning. Apart from this, in Mahran garh Fort different presentations by folk artists throughout the

day attracted the atten tion of domestic and foreign guests.

Here audience were forced to dance on the

MARWAR FESTIVAL KICKS OFF TODAY

Jodhpur:

Fidoda informed, “A heritage walk will be held, camel tattoo Show and military weapons exhibition will also be organized by BSF at 8.30 am at umaid stadium.”

The foreign tourists were overwhelmed by hymnby the Bhajans.

Director of Jodhpur Riff Mahotsav, Divya Bhatia said that this morning in Jaswant Thada complex, this time under Riff Don, music artists of Megh wal community per formed bhajans.

Gair, Terah-Tali, Kalbe lia and Living Legends at the Fort Festival.

has been made the chairman and Deepak Dandhoria as the vicechairman while Sarv Prakash Hadale, Om prakash Lohia, Devbala Rathore, Satyanarayan Bhumalya and Rahul Maharaj have been nominated members of the commission.

State Finance Commission gets new member Secretary

traditional folk dance of the artists. When the folk artists performed Nirguna songs, the whole atmosphere was

tied up. During this, for mer Naresh Gaj Singh and Hemlata Rajya also reached there and en couraged the folk art

ists. This morning on Jaswant thada started with pleasing hymns,when folk art sinked in the pink cold

This was followed by performances of Pad mashree Anwar Khan, Lakha and Pepa Man ganiyar in traditional folk dances Chang,

During this, the domes tic and foreign tourists, spectators and listeners who came could not stop themselves from dancing. Artists of Ma lani Sanskriti Kala Ken dra presented a splen did Gair dance at Daul at Khana Chowk, Meh rangarh. Domestic and foreign audience en joyed. ‘Women’s Voice of Raj’ happened in Chowklav Bagh in eve.

Jaipur: Retired IAS of ficer Satish Chandra Derashi has been ap pointed as member sec retary of State Finance Commission. Governor Kalraj Mishra on Fri day appointed Satish Chandra Derashi as member secretary of sixth finance commis sion. He will remain on post till the completion of the tenure of State Finance Commission.

along

Resident doctors continue to boycott OPD services for third consecutive day

Long

Victims being treated in a local hospital.

First India Bureau

Satish Poonia performs Bhoomi Pujan of new party office in Bundi. Also seen Ashok Dogra, Chandrakanta Meghwal, Prabhu Lal Saini, Chitar Lal Rana, and others.

To

PM encourages India to take lead in Industry 4.0

He said that the industrial revolution is as much about new technology

Gujarat (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India has the potential to lead the fourth industrial revolution and the government has worked on reforms to make the country a manufacturing hub of the world.

He said that the fourth industrial revolution is as much about new technology, as it is about innovative thinking. “Due to various factors, India may have missed being a part of earlier industrial revolutions. But India has the potential to lead Industry 4.0, because, for the first time in recent history, we have many different factors like demography, demand and decisive governance coming together,”

Due to various factors, India may have missed being a part of earlier industrial revolutions. But India has the potential to lead Industry 4.0, because, for the first time in recent history, we have many different factors like demography, demand and decisive governance. —Narendra Modi, PM

he said through a message.

The Prime Minister’s

Centre rejects claims of NHA ‘inaccuracies’

New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Friday dismissed media reports suggesting inaccuracies in National Health Accounts (NHA) especially the out-ofpocket expenditure reduction claim as “misleading and incorrect”.

“The recent NHA estimates (2018-19) show a substantial reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), reaffirming the government’s commitment towards easing the citizens’ fi-

nancial burden. Calling this data, a “mirage” by one expert of health economics working in a private Indian University and quoted in certain sections of media, is devoid of justification & rational basis”, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said that National Health Accounts (NHA) provide detailed information on expenditure incurred within the health sector of the country.

message was read by a Joint secretary of the Ministry of Heavy In-

APPROVES

Cong Prez poll: Shashi Tharoor releases poll manifesto

Mallikarjun rubbishes remote control remark

Ahmedabad (PTI):

dustries here at the conference on Industry 4.0.

Modi added that the industry and entrepreneurs play a key role in making India a vital link in global value chains.

“We have worked on reforms and incentives to make India a techpowered manufacturing hub of the world,” he added.

Chennai (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has favoured limiting the term of office for state presidents in the party and called for Congress to be revived and re-energised to take on BJP in the 2024 general elections. Denying rumours that he may opt out of the presidential race due to meagre support, Tharoor said he was very much in the fray and has been receiving support from various quarters.

“My message is revive the party, re-energise it, empower workers, decentralise authority and be in touch with the people. This, I believe will make Congress politically fit to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP in the 2024 general election,” Tharoor said.

Prez Murmu likely to visit Tripura for 2 days from Oct 13

Agartala: President Droupadi Murmu is likely to visit Tripura for two days from October 13 to inaugurate various development projects in the northeastern state, an official said on Friday.

During the day, DGP Amitabh Ranjan held a high-level meeting on security arrangements for the President’s proposed visit, he said.

“We have a preparatory meeting on the

President’s visit. Security arrangements will be finalised after receiving details of her tour programme,” the official said.

UP govt reinstates two suspended IAS officers TK Shibu & Sunil Kumar Verma

Ahtesham Siddiqui

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh govt has reinstated 2 IAS officers who had been suspended 6 months back. The officials include 2012 batch IAS officer TK Shibu and 2013 batch IAS officer Sunil Kumar Verma. Both the officers are currently kept in-waiting and later the government will post them somewhere. IAS T K Shibu, DM Sonbhadra, was suspended from the post on 13 March 2022 by the government on

charges of keeping distance from public and public representatives and corruption in mining. Meanwhile, IAS T K Shibu is a native of Alappuzha of Kerala and has served as DM of Shravasti and VC of

Prayagraj. Along with this, he has also done good work as CDO Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, Unnao and as Joint magistrate in Prayagraj.

Along with this, IAS Sunil Kumar was also suspended from the

post of Auraiya District Magistrate on 4 April 2022 on charges of corruption and since then, a departmental enquiry was also being conducted against him. Sunil, a native of Rai Bareily, became IAS from engineering service, and has also been CDO Sonbhadra & Varanasi and Joint Magistrate of Etawah and Agra.

After many years in the bureaucracy of UP, it was seen that the government has suspended 2 IAS and set up an inquiry against them.

G20 PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER’S SUMMIT

This will be her first visit to Tripura as the President of India.

Murmu is likely to arrive at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport here on October 13, he said.

A civic reception has been planned by Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumder at Town Hall here, the official said, adding that Chief Minister Manik Saha and his cabinet colleagues are expected to be present in the programme.

Senior Congress leader and candidate for the party’s presidential polls Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said there is no such thing as “remote control” in his party unlike the BJP, where every president is selected through a “consensus”. In the city to campaign for the election to the party’s top post, Kharge asserted that if becomes the head of the grand old party, the remote control would be with him.

He was replying to a query about the BJP’s claim that he would act as the “remote control” and “proxy” of Sonia Gandhi after being elected to the post.

Attacking the BJP, he said, “How many times has the prime minister held (party president’s) election? All the presidents were selected through consensus, and you are teaching me?

India defends self on abstaining Xinjiang vote

New Delhi: India on Friday commented on the situation in China’s Xinjiang and said rights of people of the autonomous region should be “respected and guaranteed”. The remarks by External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came a day after India abstained from voting on a resolution at the UN High Commission that called for a debate on concerns over the human rights situation in Xinjiang.

UP to host Indian Road Congress at IGP

Uttar Pradesh (ANI):

The four-day-long, 81st Annual Session of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), will be held in Lucknow from October 8 to 11 at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan after 11 years, the official said on Friday.

Uttar Pradesh will be hosting the event for the fifth time and the PWD will be the nodal department for making all arrangements.

While Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will be the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony, UP

‘Dialogue, diplomacy to resolve global issues’

India’s Parliament protects the interests of citizens and legislates purposively to fulfil their hopes and aspirations, Birla added

Indonesia (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla participated in the concluding session of P20 and stressed dialogue and diplomacy are the only ways to resolve global issues for world peace and prosperity.

Om Birla said that he invited the delegates to the next P20 Summit which will be hosted by India as New Delhi will be hosting the G-20 (Group of 20) leaders’ summit in New Delhi next year in 2023. “Par-

A lot of people say I am a remote control and work from behind. They say I will do what Sonia Gandhi will say. There is no such thing as remote control in Congress, people take decisions together. It is your thinking. A few people are creating this idea. —Mallikarjun Kharge, Senior Cong leader

Where is the remote control in the BJP?

When I become president, the remote control will stay with me.” Decisions would be taken by “our committee, elected members, working committee and parliamentary

board”, he said.

Hailing Sonia Gandhi, Kharge said she had made a renowned economist the country’s prime minister (Manmohan Singh) rather than taking up the post herself or considering her son for it.

SUBMIT INFORMATION ON WELFARE SCHEMES FOR ELDERLY: SC TO STATES

New Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) has asked states and union territories to furnish information on pension, old age homes and geriatric care schemes for the welfare of the elderly. Acting on a PIL filed by former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, a Bench led by Justice Aniruddha Bose asked them to file status reports regarding the implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act.

153 HC JUDGES

APPOINTED THIS YR, MORE APPT. LIKELY

CM Yogi Adityanath will preside over the event. Union Minister of State General (retd.) VK Singh will also be attending the event.

Over 1,500 delegates from India and abroad are likely to participate in discussions about the use of technology in the construction of roads and bridges.

About 200 delegates from UP will also participate in the event. After the convention, the participants will also be enlightened about the spiritual and cultural heritage of Uttar Pradesh.

New Delhi: A total of 153 judges have been appointed to the various high courts in this calendar year so far, with sources hinting at more appointments to the higher judiciary in the coming days. It is learnt that the government is also set to take a call on the elevation of Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta to the top court shortly.

SPECIAL COURT GRANTS BAIL TO JAYASWAL

New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue District Court in national capital granted bail to coal scam accused Manoj Kumar Jayaswal and others on Friday in a money laundering matter related to the coal scam case.

The Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj in an order passed on Thursday said, “keeping in view the overall facts and circumstances.

New Delhi: A lawyer, who had adopted a girl child after a wait of 3 years, has urged the Supreme Court to direct the concerned authorities to formulate a legislative and administrative framework relating to the process of adoption in India. The petitioner Srisabarirajan, who is a lawyer practising in the Bombay High Court, has filed the petition through advocate Vishnu Kant. The Petitioner along with his wife have adopted a girl child, after a wait of 3 years.

NPCL felicitates 15 students for securing 1st rank in UP board

hosted by India,” he said in a tweet.

“Mentioning that mutual cooperation is the foundation of success for G-20, stressed on dialogue and diplomacy to resolve global issues for world peace & prosperity,” he added.

ticipating in Concluding Session of #P20, thanked Parliament of Indonesia for success-

fully organising the Summit. Invited the Delegates to the next #P20 Summit which will be

In the session, he outlined India’s journey of democracy in the last 75 years and mentioned that the smooth transfer of power after every election has been the speciality of democracy.

New Delhi: As part of its CSR initiative, the Noida Power Company Limited felicitated 15 meritorious students from economically weaker sections who secured the first rank in their respective schools in the class 10th and 12th UP board exams this year. NPCL MD and CEO PR Kumar handed over the prize money to these students in a special ceremony at Greater Noida. The students of the 12th board were given Rs 10k while class

students, “All of you are the future of this country and you should think big and work hard to achieve your goals.”

10th students got Rs 5k cheque from NPCL.

Kumar congratulated the students and lauded their accomplishments. He told the

He also NPCL urged students to become role models for others in the environment and energy conservation. Apart from the cash prize, all the selected students received a certificate of merit and a motivational book written by Shiv Khera. Along with the children, their parents were also felicitated in this programme.

Mallikarjun Kharge addressing the media.

‘FORMULATE LEGISLATIVE ADMIN FWK RELATING TO ADOPTION PROCESS’

IAS Sunil Kumar Verma IAS T K Shibu

President Droupadi Murmu

PR Kumar handing over the prize money to a student in a special ceremony at Greater Noida.

Om Birla met Duarte Pacheco on the sidelines of the P20 Summit, in Jakarta on Friday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

JAGUAR LAND ROVER RETAIL SALES DIP BY 4.9% IN JULY-SEPT

RBI TO COMMENCE PILOT LAUNCH OF E-RUPEE SOON

Jaipur: Tata Motorsowned Jaguar Land Rover on Friday reported a 4.9% decline in retail sales at 88,121 units in the second quarter ended on September 30, 2020. The company had posted retail sales of 92,710 units in the same quarter previous fiscal. Sales of the Jaguar brand were at 17,340 units in the second quarter as against 19,248 units in the year-ago period, down 9.9%. Similarly, sales of Land Rover brand were down 3.65% at 70,781 units as compared to 73,462 units.

AUDI INDIA RETAIL SALES UP 29% IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER

Mumbai (PTI): The Reserve Bank on Friday said it will soon commence the pilot launch of e-rupee for specific use cases with a view to bolstering India’s digital economy, making payment systems more efficient, and checking money laundering.

In a concept note on Central Bank Digital Currency, the RBI said CBDC is aimed to complement, rather than replace, current forms of money and is envisaged to provide an additional payment avenue to users, not to replace the existing payment systems.

New Delhi: German luxury carmaker Audi on Friday reported a 29% growth in retail sales at 2,947 units in the January-September period of this year in India. Audi India had retailed 2,291 units in the same period last year. The growth was driven by the new A8 and Q7, coupled with continued demand for the e-tron range, A4, A6, Q5 and the RS performance range, the company said. Also, Audi Approved: plus has grown by 73% in first 9 months of 2022. —PTI

“Supported by state-ofthe-art payment systems of India that are affordable, accessible, convenient, efficient, safe and secure, the Digital Rupee (e?) system will further bolster India’s digital economy, make the monetary and payment systems more efficient and contribute to furthering financial inclusion,” the paper said.

CBDC is a digital form of currency notes issued

OTHER STORIES

TOP TALKING POINTS



The Government of India had announced the launch of the Digital Rupee — a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) from fiscal year 2022-23 onwards in the Union Budget placed in Parliament on Feb 1

by a central bank. While most central banks across the globe are exploring the issuance of CBDC, the key motivations for its issu-

DEVELOPING ECONOMIES WILL NEED $1 TRILLION IN RE SECTOR TO ACHIEVE NET-ZERO

TARGET: IMF

Washington: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday said that developing economies needed an investment of $1 trillion a year by 2030 solely in the renewable energy sector to stay on track to achieve the net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050.

of the Digital Rupee — a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) from fiscal year 2022-23 onwards in the Union Budget placed in Parliament on February 1, 2022.

The central bank said: “The Reserve Bank will soon commence pilot launches of e? for specific use cases. As the extent and scope of such pilot launches expand, RBI will continue to communicate about the specific features and benefits of e-rupee, from time to time.”

India still on course for 7% growth: CEA

First India Bureau

would be

for

by

CBDC can be classified into two broad types -- general purpose or retail (CBDC-R) and wholesale (CBDC-W). Retail CBDC would be potentially available for use by all and while wholesale CBDC is designed for restricted access to select financial institutions.

New Delhi: India’s Chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said the country is still on course for 7% growth in the current fiscal year although “downside risks dominate the upside risk” but it’s “better placed” than other countries.

JP Morgan not including India’s sovereign bonds in a widely popular global index due to concerns about the country’s market infrastructure.

“We have to understand that the stated reasons are not real reasons--this is a very specious excuse,” he said. “India’s infrastructure is far more advanced.”

ance are specific to each country’s unique requirements.

The Government of India had announced the launch

“For CBDC to play the role as a medium of exchange, it needs to incorporate all the features that physical currency represents including anonymity, universality, and finality,” the note said.

“What gives us strength is the fact that domestic consumption is the biggest driver of growth,” he told ET in an interview on Thursday. “I would argue that once the current oneoff exogenous external shocks dissipate, I am still confident that the sustainable growth rate will be closer to 7%.”

He dismissed reports of

Rupee falls 15 paise to close at all-time low of 82.32/USD

India has made its stance clear about not giving up its sovereign right to tax, he said.

Countries with capital gains tax have had their bonds included in these indices, the CEA said. “We have to wait and see where this conversation and socalled public diplomacy and public bargaining eventually converge,” he said.

GOVT NOTIFIES CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME FOR STARTUPS

Observing that emerging markets and developing economies account for two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions and many are highly vulnerable to climate hazards, the IMF said in a report released on Friday that developing economies would need significant climate financing in the coming years to reduce their emissions and to adapt to the physical effects of climate change.

INDIA, UK CARRYING OUT INTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS ON FTA, MEA ASSURES

New Delhi: Gold price in the national capital rose `37 to `52,300 per 10 grams on Friday amid depreciation in rupee, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the precious metal had touched `52,263 per 10 grams. Silver also gained `311 to `62,022 per kg from `61,711 per kg. In the international market, gold was quoting lower at $1,711.16 per ounce while silver was up at $20.73 per ounce. Spot COMEX Gold last quoted at $1,711.16, while Indian gold prices trade higher amid a weaker rupee and strong physical gold demand.

NET OFFICE SPACE LEASING JUMPS 2-FOLD IN JAN-SEPT

GOLD PRICE RISES `37; SILVER RATES, TOO, GO UP BY `311 New Delhi: Net leasing of office space jumped over 2-fold in January-September across top seven cities to 30.26 million square feet, but is unlikely to breach the pre-COVID level this year, according to JLL India. Net leasing stood at only 14.63 million square feet in the corresponding period of the last year across seven major cities, as the demand was adversely impacted because of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

New Delhi: India and the UK are carrying out intensive discussions for a free trade agreement as both sides are keen to conclude it at the earliest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday amid indication that the previously-set Diwali deadline for the ambitious deal could be difficult to meet. The MEA’s comments came in the backdrop of UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman expressing reservations over the proposed pact on the grounds that it could increase immigration to the UK and go against the goals of Brexit.

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 15 paise to close at an all-time low of 82.32 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday as a firm American currency and risk-averse sentiment among investors weighed on the local unit.

PTI

VEHICLE REGISTRATION: TWEAKS SUGGESTED IN BH SERIES RULES

New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed to allow conversion of regular vehicle registrations into Bharat Series (BH) numbers as part of measures to widen the scope of the BH series ecosystem. At present, only new vehicles can opt for BH series mark. In a draft notification, the MoRTH informed about the proposed amendments in the rules governing Bharat (BH) series registration mark which was launched for people who are in transferable jobs.

—

Moreover, a negative trend in domestic equities and elevated crude oil prices sapped investor appetite, forex traders said.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened at 82.19, then fell further to 82.43 and finally settled for the day at an all-time low of 82.32 against the American currency, registering a decline of 15 paise over its previous close.

On Thursday, the Indian currency for the first time closed below the 82 level against the greenback.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, declined 0.19% to 112.04.

SENSEX, NIFTY CLOSE MARGINALLY DOWN ON PROFIT BOOKING IN IT, FINANCIALS

Mumbai (PTI): Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed marginally down in a volatile trade on Friday following profit booking in financials and IT shares amid a weak trend in global equity markets.

Snapping its two-day gaining streak, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined 30.81 points or 0.05% to settle at 58,191.29. During the day, it fell 370.95 points or 0.63% to 57,851.15. The broader NSE Nifty dipped 17.15 points or 0.10% to end at 17,314.65. Among Sensex shares, Mahindra & Mahindra, UltraTech Cement, State Bank of India, Tata Consultancy Services, Bajaj Finance and ITC were the major laggards. On the other hand, Titan, Power Grid, NTPC, Maruti, IndusInd Bank and Asian Paints were among the winners.

Growth slows of bank deposits: Kotak

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The growth of bank deposits across the market has slowed down to 10% YoY as per the RBI’s data, said Kotak Securities Ltd in a report.

According to the report, there is a perceptible slowdown in the bank deposit growth in metropolitan, semi-urban and rural India with household savings being relatively weak.

Further the bank branch expansion has slowed

down mainly by the public sector banks.

The report said private banks continue to gain market share but their dominance is much more

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

though the ratio has moved up higher to approximately 45% led by higher savings ratio in recent years.

The private banks have increased their market share in current account and in the corporate segment while public banks have been losing share steadily in the household and government sectors, Kotak Securities said.

New Delhi (PTI): The government has notified the credit guarantee scheme for startups to provide them collateral-free loans up to a specified limit.

In a notification, the DPIIT said that loan/debt facilities sanctioned to an eligible borrower on or after October 6, would be eligible for coverage under the scheme.

“The Central Government has approved the ‘Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups for the purpose of providing credit guarantees to loans extended by member institutions to finance eligible borrowers being startups,” it said.

This scheme would help provide the much needed collateral-free debt funding to startups, it added.

MIs include financial intermediaries engaged in lending/investing and conforming to the eligibility criteria approved under the Scheme.

IDBI Bank: Govt, LIC to divest 60.72% stake

New Delhi (PTI): The government on Friday invited bids from investors for privatising IDBI Bank by selling a total of 60.72% stake in the bank.

The last date for submission of bids or Expression of Interest (EoI) is December 16.

in urban markets as compared to rural and semiurban markets.

The current account, savings account (CASA) deposits has slowed al-

As per the report, the duration of term deposits continues to fall, especially post Covid and the share of non-individuals is quite high at 45% of the overall term deposits.

Currently, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) holds 529.41 crore shares representing 49.24% stake in IDBI Bank, while the government holds 488.99 crore shares or 45.48% stake.

Of this, the government will sell 30.48% and LIC

will sell 30.24% stake, aggregating to 60.72% of the equity share capital of IDBI Bank, along with transfer of management control in IDBI Bank, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said while inviting bids.

‘GATES ALWAYS OPEN FOR MIGRANT BRETHREN’

HIGHLIGHTS

l Several guests and even journalists were barred from entering the venue from place to place in JECC. Media personnel protested by shouting slogans when stopped from coverage.

Naresh Sharma & Ziauddin Khan

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Friday that in every Ra jasthani resides the love for this soil and the will to contribute to any social cause.

“Wherever the people of Rajasthan live in the world, it is a matter of great pride that they re main connected with their soil. May this as sociation continue. Mi grant Rajasthani entre preneurs have a big in fluence in the economic condition of the coun try,” Gehlot said while addressing the Non Resident Rajasthani (NRR) Conclave session under Invest Rajasthan Summit-2022 held at JECC on Friday.

He said that the Ra jasthani migrants living abroad should also bring their next generation to Rajasthan so that their connection with their soil remains constant.

The Chief Minister said that whenever there was faminedrought in the state, the migrant Rajasthanis freely cooperated.

“Even during the Co rona period, we shared our joys and sorrows with the migrants. The gates of the state govern ment are always open for the migrant Rajasthanis.

All possible cooperation will be given to them in setting up industries here. Over the years, Ra jasthan has emerged as a preferred destination for investment,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that a proposal re lated to the petrochemi cals region in the state has been sent to the Central Government.

l CM invites Vedanta Group to set up its semi-conductor chip manufacturing industry in State amid a tussle for the project between Maha and Gujarat.

l Tata Power will provide employment to 8,000 people in Rajasthan, Charging points will be set up on JaipurDelhi highway, the company will invest Rs 30,000 crore.

l Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship for Academic Excellence scheme for children of economically weaker sections to study abroad.

Six dignitaries get Raj Ratna Award

‘New tourism circuit to increase tourist footfall in State’

First India Bureau

Jaipur: New tourism circuit will be devel oped in Rajasthan to in crease footfall of tour ists, Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh said.

RAWAT SAYS RAJ WILL BE 1ST STATE TO IMPLEMENT HYDROGEN POLICY

Jaipur: Rajasthan would be the first state in the country to implement Green Hydrogen Policy, Industry Minister Shakuntala Rawat said on Friday. Rawat, during the Future Ready Sector Conclave at JECC on Friday, said that Rajasthan has made unprecedented progress in the field of renewable energy.

“Today Rajasthan is the first in the whole country in the field of solar energy,” she said. The minister stressed on the proper use of natural resources. She also said that appropriate action would be taken on the suggestions and feedback given by the entrepreneurs on the policies of the government.

Rawat praises Rajasthan Foundation for creating chain of NRR network abroad

First India Bureau

Chief Secretary Usha Sharma lights the lamp during Invest Rajasthan Summit on Friday.

Jaipur: Industry Min ister Shakuntala Raw at on Friday praised Rajasthan Foundation saying that it has made such a chain of nonresident Rajasthanis in many countries, who have worked suc cessfully in adverse conditions like Cov id-19 pandemic and Ukraine war.

Addressing the Non Resident Rajasthani Conclave under Invest Rajasthan Summit at JECC, the minister said that Rajasthan Foundation has created such a pillar of nonresident Rajasthanis who have done incom

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with Dhiraj Srivastava.

parable work in ad verse circumstances.

“Every member of the foundation has worked as a warrior during the Corona pe riod,” she said.

Eminent entrepre

neurs of the country and Commissioner of Rajasthan Foundation Dhiraj Srivastava were present in the conclave.

Many dignitaries in cluding Kapil Lakhotia, President, Marwari

FROM

Rajasthan is...

“Under the Small, Micro and Medium Enterpris es (Facilitation of Estab lishment and Enforce ment) Act, three years relaxation has been giv en in the approvals re quired for setting up new industries in the state. This has now been increased to 5 years.

During the Corona pe riod, financial support was given by the state government to save small industries from closure. There is no situ ation of labor unrest in the state due to the so cial security schemes being run by the state government,” he said.

Big investment coming from Invest Rajasthan

The Chief Minister said that massive in vestment is coming in the state from the twoday Invest Rajasthan

Summit in the state. He said that before the summit, MoUs worth about Rs 11 lakh crore have been signed by the state government with the investors. “Through this, about 10 lakh peo ple are expected to get employment. For the first time, MoUs have been signed on priority basis on the theme of “Committed and Deliv ered,” he said.

Rajasthan Best Option For Investors

The Chief Minister said that today Ra jasthan has emerged as the best option for in vestors. “The state is a leader in the produc tion of solar power and wind power in the whole country. Mineral wealth is also the high est in the state. Along with natural resources, excellent human re

source is also present in the state. The state has immense potential in the field of petro chemicals with the con struction of the refin ery,” he said.

Rajasthan is setting new dimensions of development

The Chief Minister said that today Ra jasthan is making un precedented progress in all fields due to the efforts of the State Gov ernment. “The state’s GDP has increased by Rs 3 lakh crore despite the difficulties caused by the Corona epidem ic. This has increased the per capita income of the state as well as the Happiness Index.

Today, 390 units of RII CO (Rajasthan State In dustrial Development and Investment Corpo ration) are operating in

the state and 147 new ones are going to open. With this the expan sion of industrializa tion will be done up to the sub-division and tehsil level. The State Government is work ing in close coordina tion with CII (Cham ber of Indian Indus tries). Institutes like Fintech Park, Jaipur, Rajiv Gandhi Fintech Digital Institute (Jodh pur) are being built to provide young experts for technical indus tries. To promote startups, innovation hubs are being set up in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota,” he said.

Inauguration and foundation stone of 76 industrial areas and units

On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugu rated 25 industrial are as in different districts

of the state. Along with this, he also inaugu rated 18 industrial units and laid the foun dation stone of 33 in dustrial units.

ERCP should get national project status

The Chief Minister said that the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Pro ject (ERCP) should be accorded the status of a National Project by the Central Govern ment at the earliest.

“The state has limited water resources. Cham bal is the only river that flows throughout the year. ERCP is very important for ensuring irrigation and drink ing water supply in 13 districts of the state.

The Prime Minister himself has spoken about giving National Project status to ERCP in his rallies.

Yuva Manch (Delhi), Sonveer Singh, Presi dent, Kenya Rajasthan Associate, Anil Purohit, Global Public Health Specialist (Boston, USA) also expressed their views in the conclave.

The government is constantly trying to develop small indus tries. Now a new investment climate has been created in Rajasthan.

The Minister, while speaking at the Tour ism Conclave under the Invest Rajasthan Sum mit , said that the State Government has taken several decisions to pro mote the tourism sector. He said that people want to see new things and therefore, it is the effort of the state gov ernment to develop new circuits from the point of view of tourism.

Foreign investors have put their stamp on the plans of CM Gehlot and investors are coming to Ra jasthan only after re lying on CM Gehlot.

—Mahesh Joshi, State Cabinet Minister

—PS Khachariyawas, State Cabinet Minister Invest Rajasthan Summit will prove to be a white elephant. CM Ashok Gehlot is making a lot of claims of investment of more than Rs 10 lakh crore in Rajasthan, but at the time of implementation, even 90 per cent of the investment will not come on the ground because today the government itself is go ing through a period of uncer tainty.

—Rajendra Rathore, Leader of Opposition

CM launches NRR policy in State, urges Rajasthani migrants to ensure new generation remains connected with Rajasthan

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot lights lamp during the Invest Rajasthan Summit where Shakuntala Rawat, CS Usha Sharma are also seen.

CM Gehlot with Gautam Adani, Rajesh Adani, Rajiv Arora, Shakuntala Rawat during Invest Rajasthan Summit.

CM Gehlot felicitates Justice Rajendra Mal Lodha at Rajasthan Invest Summit on Friday.

A representative receives award on behalf of Justice Dalveer Bhandari.

A representative receives award on behalf of LN Mittal.

CM Ashok Gehlot felicitates Anil Agarwal on Friday.

CM Ashok Gehlot felicitates KC Maloo during the summit. Sheen Kaaf Nizam being felicitated by CM Ashok Gehlot.

Dharmendra Rathore also discussed the importance of a tourism circuit while addressing the Investment summit in Jaipur on Friday.

This is a historic summit. The Ra jasthan government is always ready to provide all possible help to the migrant Rajasthanis.

—Dhiraj Srivastava, Rajasthan Foundation Commissioner

Sushma Arora, Urmila Rajoria, Shaili Kishnani, Nalini Kathodia during Invest Rajasthan Summit.

RHB Commissioner Pawan Arora at Invest Rajasthan Summit on Friday.

Virendra Choudhary, Director, First India News, at Invest Rajasthan Summit on Friday.

CM Ashok Gehlot with Veenu Gupta, and Kuldeep Ranka during Invest Rajasthan Summit on Friday.

Gujarat Model: A Global Success

Ajay Kumar

Popularly known as Narendra Bhai, Modi took over as Chief Minister of Gujarat on 7th Octo ber 2001 and still has close to 2 years in his current office before he faces another par liamentary election.

2001 was a year of disaster and distress in Gujarat. Ravaged by a devastating earthquake, torn apart by persistent so

Under the astute leadership of a visionary, who understood the pulse of the state he was born in, Modi steered Gujarat on the path of progress

cial and economic strife, the Gujarat Sto ry was all but fin ished… Under the as tute leadership of a visionary, who under stood the pulse of the state he was born in, Narendra Modi steered Gujarat on the path of progress. To

day ‘Gujarat Model’ of development is one of the most searched and researched concepts of inclusive, collabo rative, and participa tive development.

Under PM Modi’s stewardship, India stands as the 5th larg est economy in the

world. Unshackling itself from its colo nial past, India has displaced its coloniz er, Great Britain, and donned the mantle of the fastest-growing economy in the world, contrary to a world economy that reels under the shadow of an imminent reces sion. It takes a ‘Man’ like Prime Minister Modi, whose decisive political deftness en dears India to all inter national players.

ADANI GROUP ANNOUNCES `60,000 CRORE INVESTMENT IN RAJASTHAN

Hero MotoCorp forays into e-scooters, launches VIDA V1 priced at `1.5L

Jaipur: Richest Asian and Adani Group Chair man Gautam Adani on Friday announced a Rs 60,000 crore investment in Rajasthan over the next 5 to 7 years in set ting up a mega 10,000 MW solar power capaci ty, expanding cement plant, upgrading Jaipur airport, opening a medi cal college and hospital in two districts and a cricket stadium in Udaipur. Torrent Group Chairman Sudhir Me hta also announced the opening of a World Class Cricket Excellence Academy in Jaipur.

The investment by ports-to-energy conglom erate that Adani heads, also spans city gas infra structure for retailing CNG to automobiles.

Speaking at Invest Ra jasthan 2022 Summit, he said, “I am very happy to be in Invest Raj Summit & have announced an in vestment of Rs 60,000 cr.

While talking to CM Ge hlot, we have given ap proval on proposals for two medical colleges & a cricket stadium in Udaipur.” “While we al ready have 3 cement plants & limestone min ing assets, a significant part of our capacity ex pansion will continue in Raj. We anticipate invest ing another Rs 7,000 cr to double our cement manu facturing capacity in the state,” Adani said.

Jaipur: All eyes were on CM Ashok Gehlot & Gautam Adani’s chemistry as they stayed together for about 4 hours at the Invest Rajasthan Summit. They were togeth er in opening ceremony & media briefing. Gehlot made Adani sit besides him on stage & they stayed together during lamp lighting & in lunch break. When Gehlot extended one hand on stage, Adani held CM’s hand with both hands. They came together in the same golf cart to talk to media. Adani praised Gehlot’s schemes, while CM congratulated him on becoming world’s no.2 industrial ist. “You deserve congratulations,” Gehlot told Adani.

I would like to thank Gautam Adani and Su dhir Mehta for an nouncing on my behalf the establishment of Sta dium in Udaipur and Excellence in Cricket Academy in Jaipur.

—Vaibhav Gehlot, RCA President

Jaipur (PTI): The country’s largest twowheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Friday, forayed into the electric vehicle segment with the launch of its first electric scooter VIDA V1 priced at Rs 1.45 lakh.

The company has in troduced two trims of the scooter -- VIDA V1 plus and VIDA V1 Pro -- tagged at Rs 1.45 lakh and Rs 1.59 lakh, respec tively.

The firm will com mence sales of e-scoot er in Bengaluru, Delhi and Jaipur before scal ing up to the new loca tions. The bookings will start on Oct 10 & deliv eries will commence from second week of December. Hero Moto Corp Chairman and CEO Pawan Munjal said VIDA V1 is just not another model but an ecosystem which is go ing to power change in the mobility segment.

CM: BJP opposing youth’s future in its blind Oppn to Cong

Jaipur: Upbeat with the investment pro posals worth Rs 11 lakh crore having come to Rajasthan, CM Ashok Gehlot stressed on Friday that the traditional image of Rajasthan has changed to an in vestment friendly destination. He claimed that “there is a possibility of em ployment opportuni ties for about 10 lakh youth from Invest Ra jasthan.”

Tata Power to develop 8,000 MW utility scale project in Raj VEDANTA CHAIRMAN ANIL AGARWAL REMINISCES HIS ‘CONNECT’ WITH JPR

Jaipur (PTI): Tata Pow er, one of the country’s largest integrated utili ties announced plans to expand its business footprint in Rajasthan by developing upto 8,000 MW of utility scale pro jects, 1,000 MW of solar rooftop & 1,50,000 solar pumps in next five years in Raj. Praveer Sinha, CEO and MD, Tata Pow er, said, “Rajasthan has today emerged as a role

model to produce green energy through solar power. I am happy to be here in Invest Rajasthan summit. Tata Power is fully poised to make Ra jasthan emerge as Green Power House. We will continue to build on all three business – EPC, Solar Pump and Solar Rooftop, to the benefit of farmers, industries and common citizens of this frontier state.”

RAJ CONG’S ‘FUTURE’ MAY DEPEND ON ‘PAPER SLIPS’!

Jaipur: There seems to exist ‘conflicting opin ions’ over the next ma jor development related to the political uncer tainty in Rajasthan i.e. the coming of three sen ior Congress leaders, who would gauge what the MLAs have in their mind regarding the ‘top assignment’ in Raj.

A highly placed

source has indicated that no observers would come for two to three days due to the political developments in Ra jasthan. Moreover, it is claimed that only Kharge can come with Deepender Hooda to campaign for the Presi dent’s election.

However, another source has made a dif ferent claim that the AICC observers (per

haps Digvijaya and Maken) may be visiting Jaipur soon and cer tainly not before Octo

ber 9 or so because of the ongoing Invest Ra jasthan Summit. More over, the source also

stressed that the ‘slip formula’ can be put to use in the state. It is said that Rajasthan Congress’s solution can come from ‘slips’ wherein, the opinion of each MLA will be known through paperslips, which will be a confidential and secret method to know of the MLAs’ preference. Lets see what finally comes out by the next week.

“Today business men from all over the country and the world came here and were overwhelmed with the respect received here. More than 3000 investors included traders of all ideolo gies. Those who are raising questions on this should tell that many businessmen join a party, so don’t they invest in other states? The biggest in vestment so far is coming in the state but I am very sorry that a section of BJP and the media is en gaged in negative publicity of this

event,” Gehlot said. The CM reiterated that the Congress party has never been against industries.

“The Congress did the work of creating a positive environment for the industries by liberalizing the econ omy. We are opposed to policies made to benefit a particular person or to benefit someone by killing the rights of others,” he said, further add ing, “I don’t under stand why BJP op posed this event. You oppose Ashok Gehlot or Congress, but why are you opposing fu ture opportunities of State’s youth? Has Raj BJP so much opposed to us that it will op pose the work being done for state’s bright future? Has the BJP now turned against Ashok Gehlot & op posed Rajasthan it self? At the time of Rajiv Gandhi, they opposed the computer by walking in a bull ock cart. Today the entire state knows that when BJP is try ing to harm Raj by op posing investment & jobs coming here.”

Circumstances keep off Gehlot-Pilot from meeting!

Jaipur: Amidst the po litical developments in Rajasthan, an interest ing news has come to the fore. According to sources, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot had asked for an appoint ment with Gehlot as he wanted to meet CM during the assembly session.

Moreover, Pilot con tacted the relevant au thorities twice, seeking an audience with Ge

hlot, however, by the time the reply from CMR came, by then, Pi lot had caught a flight to Delhi and when Pilot asked for an appoint

ment the second time, Gehlot wasn’t present in Jaipur. Thus, despite bonafide intention on both sides, the meeting could not take place.

Yogesh Sharma

A hoarding of popular PM Narendra Modi outside BJP office, New Delhi is the cynosure for all who pass and gathers eyeballs.

Naresh Sharma & Ziauddin Khan

Vaibhav Gehlot thanks Adani & Sudhir Mehta for announcing to Cricket Stadium in Udaipur & Cricket Academy in Jaipur

The Adani Group is investing ` 50,000 crore to add 10,000 Mega Watt of renewable power generation capacity

Jaipur: Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal on Friday reminisced about his stay in Japur. He said they used to stay in Chomu and then Bapu Nagar. He narrated a story of his childhood when his grandmother used to tell him about Saguna bhakti and Nirguna bhakti of lord Krishna. Through this, he praised CM Ashok Gehlot saying, “Today CM Gehlot belongs to the category of Saguna bhakti... a person who is selflessly engaged in public service.” Rajasthan is a mine of minerals. A cluster of TV, laptop, & other electronic item manufacturing units should be developed in Raj & Gujarat. A factory to be set up by Vedanta in Gujarat will supply semiconductor chip & glass, which will re duce the cost of finished products,” he said.

CM Ashok Gehlot being extended warm greetings by Gautam Adani during the 2-day Invest Rajasthan Summit-2022 at JECC, Sitapura in Jaipur on Friday. Also seen here are Dr CP Joshi, Usha Sharma Anil Agarwal and others. —PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA

CM Ashok Gehlot being greeted by the Chairman of Vedanta Group Anil Agarwal at Invest Rajasthan Summit. Also seen here is Dr CP Joshi.

GEHLOT-ADANI CHEMISTRY GRABS EYEBALLS!

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot takes stock of the electric vehicles at display in the Invest Rajasthan Summit-2022 at JECC, Sitapura in Jaipur. Also seen here are Shakuntala Rawat, Veenu Gupta, Kuldeep Ranka, Rajiv Arora, Rafeek Khan and Lokesh Sharma.

Aditi Nagar & Shivendra Parmar

Naresh Sharma

CM

Sachin Pilot

CM Ashok Gehlot addresses during Invest Rajasthan Summit.

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

People say diamonds are a girl’s best friend but you can’t help but disagree with this adage. Their absolute favourite thing to do is collect adorable, brilliant small pearls that radiate nothing but pure beauty and elegance.

Everybody likes to present themselves in a unique form and nothing can be more elegant than dressing yourself in queenie attire. These shiny pearls decorate the whole body and highlight every groove. Pearl jewellery acts as a very flexible wearing in the wardrobe but an extravagant pearl piece looks ravishing and pure on anyone irrespective to look, peak and figure. From celebrities to noteworthy historical figures, everyone was fully drenched in the fashion of these priceless jewels. The origins of this fascination with pearls are as captivating as the pearl itself, more than numerous other gems because its very fragility has made a chronological record that much more challenging to preserve. This beautiful gem is produced from a tear that results from the injury of the oyster. This extraordinary piece of time and pressure depicts fashion in a different way because they don’t arise from the depths of the earth but from the sea.

Pearl clothes are more youthful, playful and allow people to wear them in a variety of ways and styles. A simple pearl beaded necklace looks elegant at any type of event and in different costumes, a pearl strand can add the required grace and elegance to any look and it has remained a classic piece in every woman’s heirloom. The craze for enviable pearls is increasing day by day. Pearls look great in any form. In whatever form, pearls appear beautiful. It might be a bracelet, anklet, necklace, ring, or bangle. Wearing pearls is a timeless trend. It may be decorated at any time of the year because it is an evergreen material. This rekindled love for the ocean’s lustrous treasures has inspired a new crop of brands and inspired collections fit especially for the summer months.

Unique designs from some of the most compelling brands have re-designed pearls to contemporary lifestyles.

The timelessness of pearls reflects the fact that they are the most stylish of any gemstone! City First brings to you some style tips and significance of Pearl Fashion

Touch the sky with Glory

SHUBHANSHI PATHAK cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

The eighth of October each year is designated as Indian Air Force Day. This day is commemorated to honour the contribution and superior performance of the Indian Air Force. Since its establishment on October 8, 1932, the Indian Air Force has taken part in a number of significant operations that have contributed to the prosperity of the country. The Indian military has also engaged in famous air fights that have enhanced India's standing on the battlefield and demonstrated the capabilities needed to defend the country. This year Indian Air Force will be celebrated to honour India’s aviation industry and the air force personnel who have

One of the first female fighter pilots in India is Bhawana Kanth. Along with two other members of her cohort, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi, she was recognised as the first combat pilot. Kanth was born in Darbhanga, Bihar, on December 1, 1992. Kanth enjoyed playing sports as a child, including Kho Kho, Badminton, swimming, and painting. All of the aforementioned women serve as role models for other

Flight Indian pilot Lieutenant Avani Chaturvedi is from the Madhya Pradesh region of Rewa and was born on October 27, 1993. She and two of her colleagues, Mohana Singh Jitarwal and Bhawana Kanth, were recognised as the first female combat pilots. In June 2016, the group was accepted as a fighter squadron of the Indian Air Force. On June 18, 2016, they were formally commissioned by Manohar Parrikar, who was the defence minister at the time. Former President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Nari Shakti Puraskar to Chaturvedi.

Mohana Singh Jitarwal is one of the first female fighter pilots in India. She was declared the first female combat pilot along with two of her cohort, Bhawana Kanth, and Avani Chaturvedi. In June 2016, all three female pilots were accepted into the fighter unit of the Indian Air Force. They were formally commissioned by Manohar Parrikar, the defence minister. These three women were the first to be chosen for the program when the Indian government decided to open the fighter stream in the Indian Air Force to women on an experimental basis..

—MOHANA SINGH JITARWAL

In June 2007, Wing Commander Khushboo Gupta received her appointment as an IAF helicopter pilot. She has an extensive operational flying experience in the Ladakh and North East regions, including the world's highest battleground, the Siachen Glacier. She graduated from Wellington's Defence Services Staff College and is a qualified flying instructor. She attended the Montfort Senior Secondary School and was born and raised in Delhi.

—KHUSHBOO GUPTA

An officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) and former chopper pilot, Gunjan Saxena was born in 1975. She enlisted in the IAF in 1994, and she served in the 1999 Kargil War. She is one of two female IAF officers that participated in the Kargil War. She is one of only two women, the other being Flight Lieutenant Srividya Rajan of the Indian Air Force, to pilot Cheetah helicopters into a combat zone. Saxena was the only female pilot in the Indian Armed Forces during the Kargil War. After seven years of service, her career as a helicopter pilot came to an end in 2004.

—BHAWANA KANTH

Ethnic ensembles are key items the Kapoor and Bhatt family followed a colourful and vibrant desi-style agenda at Alia’s baby shower.

The pictures from the private and at-home organised ceremony came to us in a manifold and our fingers couldn’t wait but zoom into each one’s ensemble. Each ensemble looked like

the one you’d buy now and wear forever come any season, any celebration. Let’s talk about the woman of the hour, mother-to-be Alia’s super yellow and mustard blend attire. Going forward, you could effortlessly and confidently step out in this attire which is worthy of being welcome at the earliest. You have Diwali coming up in a couple of weeks, so don’t you please forget!

The Brahmastra actor rocked a peach kurta and churidaar from Mard by Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. The actress donned a custom Raji Ramniq Anarkali set on this blessed day. Her desi look was impressive which was backed by celebrity fashion stylist, Ami Patel’s adeptness to make it look stunning on the whole. Alia is a true beauty and this outfit’s hues added to her glow.

RANBIR’S SWEET GESTURE

Rashmika Mandana who made her Bollywood debut with Goodbye opened up about Ranbir’s working style. The actress revealed that Ranbir Kapoor’s working style is similar to the one she follows. Rashmika further claimed that Ranbir is a director’s actor and so is she. She revealed that their captain is Sandeep Reddy Vanga and he is perfect but at the same time he is also very open with his actors. According to the Pushpa actress, Sandeep used to come and ask them if they were ok and if they found the scene ok. After this, she used to go to Ranbir to ask him if he feels she did well.

In a recent interview, Rashmika shared that Ranbir did a sweet deed for her which made her cry on set. She said, “When we were shooting for Animal, I was complaining about my breakfast ki ‘itna boring tha’, and how sweetly he got me breakfast the next day. He made his chef cook the next day, and I started crying.”

Nushrratt in ‘AKELLI’

or the unversed, Nushrratt made a mark in the Bollywood industry. On Thursday evening, the budding Bollywood actress informed fans that her upcoming drama thriller movie is titled ‘Akelli’. The film will be directed by debutant filmmaker Pranay Meshram under the production banner of Dashami Studioz. Unable to contain her excitement for the film, Nushrratt soon tweeted about the development and wrote, “Apni Pe Aa Jaaye.Toh Ek Akelli Hi Kaafi Hai! #PranayMeshram @ninad_nv @vickysidana_ @NitinPVaidya

@shashantshah

Priyanka Chopra is a global movie icon who has ventured into both Bollywood and Hollywood. She is currently the Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF. Priyanka took to Instagram on Thursday as she heaped praises for Hillary Clinton, sharing a throwback photo.

Priyanka Chopra attended a seminar hosted by Hillary Clinton for the Women’s Leadership Forum, not too long ago. She shared photos with Hillary on her Instagram story.Priyanka, in her Instagram story where she shared pictures with Hillary Clinton, wrote, “Thank you HRC for an amazing evening! Throwback to the powerful seminar hosted by #HillaryClinton for Women’s Leadership Forum. She has worked tirelessly, to expand women’s representation and leadership in every sphere.” Based on what Priyanka has said, Hillary is working tirelessly, to expand women’s representation in every sphere.

Phone Bhoot starring Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi is one of the most-anticipated

Katrina shared a quirky video

Priyanka Chopra

Ranbir Kapoor

Rashmika Mandana

Alia

Nushrratt

Gen Dr V K Singh gives “Pride of Nation”award to J K Jajoo

The ‘Pride of the Nation’ Award ceremony was held at the Constitution Club of India in Delhi on Friday, October 7.

J K Jajoo was awarded this honour for his outstanding contribution to the field of social welfare and education.

Gen Dr V K Singh (Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Civil Aviation, Govt of India) presented Jajoo with the award for his exemplary work which speaks volumes for itself. Instituted by Veterans India, the Pride of the Nation award holds its

place amongst the most prestigious awards in India and is given to the people who have made a notable contribution in their fields and in the process made India proud.

Jajoo is the founder and president of the NGO Jagriti, which aims to provide quality valuebased education to the underprivileged free of cost. Today, more than 5500 children are gaining quality education in over 18 schools adopted by Jagriti.

The vision of Jajoo has enabled the underprivileged children of the urban slums of Jaipur & Ajmer to improve their quality of life and dream big. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

DAFFODILS BY ARTEMIS

CITY FIRST

Social Media for Branding

CITY FIRST

Aworkshop on ‘Social Media for Branding’ was organised for the popular mom entrepreneur group ‘Pink City Moms’ on Friday in Jaipur.

During the workshop, leading PR and Branding consultant, Tusharika Singh stated, “ Social media has become a necessary tool for personal branding as well as branding of businesses. To build a strong social media presence and create recognition for one’s brand, it is necessary to create a consistent visual identity and engaging storytelling.

While a strong visual identity can be created

through appropriate logos, fonts and colour schemes on social media, storytelling involves bringing out the vision of the brand, the objective behind creating a product, how it was created, and the perspective of employees and customers, among other things.

On the occasion, the Founder of Pink City Moms, Aastha Jain Agarwal and over 30 members of Pink City Moms including Dr Harmeet Passi, Tripti Sanganeria, Preeti Agarwal, Preeti Gautam, Kritika Jain, among others were also present. Pink City Moms is a community of 5000+ Mothers in Jaipur. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

In continuation of its commitment to bring world-class healthcare services to the doorsteps of most Indian cities, Artemis Medicare Services Limited-led Artemis Hospitals announced the launch of a new premiere luxury hospital ‘Daffodils by Artemis’ on Friday in Jaipur.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr (Brig) Anil Khetarpal, Deputy Chief, Medical Services & Chairperson, Depart-

ment of Blood Centre and Transfusion Medicine, Artemis Hospitals, said, “ The initiative is in sync with our vision to offer worldclass healthcare servic-

es. We understood the need of the city to have a quality and premium healthcare centre which will not only cater to the health needs of

CREATING WONDERS

CITY FIRST

Jaipur-based Newclear Ice is a Premium Ice Manufacturing Company that makes edible crystal-clear & transparent ice in different shapes & sizes. They use advanced filtration and freezing technology as per the standards laid down by the international food safety protocols which aid them in producing high-quality ice that’s clear as glass. They use Triple Filtered UV Water Purifiers for the manufacturing of ice & follow the finest hygiene protocols to make pre-

mium transparent ice. Not just that, they have been able to produce some worldclass artwork using clear ice for some celebrities, which has been liked by all.

The journey of ‘NewClear Ice’ started in 2018 by their Founding Partners Sambhav Mehta and Tanay Pareek. Af-

ter 4 years of rigorous research and hard work, they finally launched their brand in 2022.

Sambhav Mehta is an engineer with having M.Tech degree. His core business is that of the mining sector. Tanay Pareek is a lawyer by profession with having B.A. LLB (Hons.) degree. Currently, he is heading the legal department of a corporate group.

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Jaipur but also to surrounding cities.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Seema Sharma, Head Obstetrics and Gynecology, Daffodils by Ar-

temis Hospital, said, “Ensuring the highest health standards in every region we operate is our utmost priority. With state-of-the-art facilities and techno-

DURING THE DAY!

logically advanced equipment, Daffodils by Artemis aims at providing the best healthcare services in the region.” cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

PRO KABADDI LEAGUE - SEASON 9

DCD DELHI KABADDI CLUB STRENGTHENS ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH JK SUPER CEMENT

FIRST

CITY

Dabang Delhi Kabaddi Club, the defending Champions of the Pro Kabaddi league announced JK Super Cement as its title sponsor for the third year in a row on Friday. As part of this partnership, Dabang Delhi launched a special video.

Commenting on this announcement, Durganath Wagle, Director of Dabang Delhi KC said, “We are elated to strengthen our association with JK Super Cement for the third year in a row.

JK Super Cement has been a true Dabang brand in the Indian cement industry,

demonstrating strength, durability, and safety. Dabang Delhi too has always played with grit and determination and emerged as the Champions in the last season. We look forward to another fruitful association with JK Super Cement and a successful season ahead.”

Commenting on the partnership, Pushp Raj Singh, Group President of Marketing at Grey Cement said, “We are extremely pleased to support Kabbadi, an Indian sport that celebrates grit, power and perseverance. We are excited and thrilled and look forward to this partnership of strength, longevity, and a pure bond

of emotions. It’s amazing to see the appeal of Kabaddi among the youth and grownups alike. We truly believe in the skills and sportsmanship of JK Super ki Dabang Delhi. In the 8th season of Pro Kabaddi, Dabang Delhi was the Champions, and with their current lineup of fine players, we don't see any chance of not making history in the 9th season. A glorious performance by the team is what we hope for as Title Sponsor. Our best wishes go out to the team for their upcoming matches.”

This year, in the PKL auctions, Dabang Delhi K.C. has strengthened its squad for

the forthcoming Season 9 of the league by picking up a mix of young and experienced talent including Ravi Kumar, Sandeep Kumar Dhull, Vishal Lather, Md. Liton Ali, Reza Katoulinezhad, Amit Hooda, Anil Kumar and many more. Team also retained the star raiding duo Naveen Kumar Goyat & Vijay Malik who showcased the best of their performances in the previous season. The ninth season of Pro Kabaddi commenced on Friday and will be held in three cities, Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad. The matches will be aired on Star Sports Network and Hotstar.

The 9th Annual National Conference of the Indian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and the 32nd Annual Conference of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Chapter of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics was kick-started with 5 workshops on Friday in Jaipur. The theme of the conference is ‘Gut and Liver Emerging Trends’. The formal inauguration of the conference will be held on Saturday, October 8 at Hotel Clarks Amer by the Chief Guest Prasadi Lal Meena, Minister of Medical & Health and Minister of Excise, Rajasthan. Principal Secretary of the Medical Education Department, Dr Vaibhav Galriya and Commissioner of Medical Education Department, Dr Ghanshyam will be the guests of honour. The special guest on the occasion will be the Principal & Controller, of SMS Medical College & Group of Hospitals, Dr Rajeev Bagarhatta.

Jagdeesh Chandra greeted and blessed Garima Jajoo on her birthday on 6 October, her husband Mohit Jajoo was also present on the occasion. Garima is a popular columnist with First India.

Dr VK Singh felicitates JK Jajoo

The sixteen statues which are being installed by BJP leader Mukesh Shukla in Virpur town of Mahisagar district will be unveiled by PM Narendra Modi. The statues are being built in Jaipur by two young sculptors, Mahavir Bharti and sculptor Nirmala Kulhari.

Dr DD Sinha, Ashutosh, Dr (Brig) Anil Khetrapal, Dr Seema Sharma and Dr Sharad Goyal with others during the inauguration

Tripti, Preeti, Tusharika, Aastha, Preethi and Harmeet

Members of the Pink City Moms group with PR & Branding Consultant, Tusharika Singh

Jagdeesh Chandra with Garima Jajoo and Mohit Jajoo

Dr DD Sinha, Ashutosh, Dr (Brig) Anil Khetrapal, Dr Seema Sharma and Dr Sharad Goyal

TanaySambhav

—PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO

Dr Mohit Vohra, Dr Dhanasekhar, Dr R K Gupta, Dr S K Yacha, Dr Neelam Mohan, Dr Lalit Bharadia, Dr Arun Govil and Dr Vishnu Biradar

using clear