First India-Mumbai Edition-8th December 2022

RESULTS FOR 1 LS, 6 BY-POLL SEATS OUT TODAY

SCRIPTS HISTORY, ENDS 15-YEAR BJP RULE IN MCD

KEJRIWAL & CO WIN ‘DILLI DANGAL’!

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday won the MCD polls with 134 of 250 seats, ending the BJP’s 15-year rule and reducing the Congress to just nine seats in the prestigious civic body.

BJP, predicted to be decimated in the exit polls, put up a spirited

fight, winning 104 wards, while Congress’s kitty fell considerably, from 30 in the previous civic poll. Addressing party work ers, CM Arvind Kejriwal said MCD will be rid of “corruption and brib ery”. However, the BJP suggested that the may oral race was still an open game and noted that Chandigarh has a BJP mayor.

Barely 10-year-old party has “de feated” BJP in their stronghold. People have proved that AAP is honest party. BJP had gone all guns blazing, deploying all its top leaders, including 17 central ministers, for campaigning.

Caller held after warning of bombs at 3 Mum stns

Mumbai: A man was ar rested in Aurangabad on Wednesday, hours after he called the Mumbai police, warning of a plot to blow up Dadar, Kurla and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Termi nus railway stations in the metropolis.

According to the anon ymous call made to the Maharashtra Police Control Room in Navi Mumbai earlier in the day, some people from Gujarat's Porbandar had arrived in the city and were planning to the at tacks on the railway sta tions. Even as the police are investigating further, it is interesting to note that this is at least the eleventh such threat in Mumbai since August.

NOTE BAN: SC ASKS CENTRE, RBI TO SUBMIT RECORDS

MAHA-K’TAKA BORDER ROW

Declare Belagavi a Union Territory, demands Raut

Sandeep Shukla

Mumbai: Even as the simmering border dis pute between Maha rashtra and Karnataka spilled onto roads on Tuesday, Shiv SenaUddhav Balasaheb Thackery leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday de manded Belagavi be de clared a Union Territo ry and claimed inci dents of violence in the disputed border region cannot occur without “Delhi’s support”.

He also hit out at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying the state government ap peared weak and help less to counter such attacks.

Raut also alleged at tempts are being made to make Maharashtra unstable as no chief minister of Karnataka had ever staked claim

DAY 1 OF PARLIAMENT’S WINTER SESSION

to (villages in) Solapur and Sangli.

Raut in a tweet on Wednesday targeted the Central govern ment by claiming that Marathi people and ve hicles from Maharash tra cannot be attacked in Belagavi without “Delhi’s support”.

“Workers of the Ma harashtra Ekikaran Samiti have been ar rested. The game of ending Marathi selfesteem by breaking its backbone has started. The attacks in Belagavi are part of the same conspiracy. Get up Mar athas get up!” Raut said.

Later, talking to re porters, Raut said Bela gavi and surrounding Marathi-speaking are as along the Karnata ka-Maharashtra bor der be declared as a Union Territory. “If

You won’t miss court in Parliament: PM Modi’s warm welcome for VP Dhankhar

First India Bureau

New Delhi: PM Naren dra Modi gave a warm welcome to Vice Presi dent Jagdeep Dhankhar in Rajya Sabha who was officiated as the chair man of the upper house on Wednesday with the start of winter session in parliament. Refer ring to VP’s three-dec ades long career in courts, Modi said, “I can confidently tell you... you would not miss the court here”.

PM further reminded the members about the G20 presidency in the 75th year of independ ence. India took helm of G20 on December 01.

MAHARASHTRA-KARNATAKA BORDER ROW REACHES PARLIAMENT

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has guts, he should demand the dis puted areas be declared as a union territory im mediately,” he said.

Raut said people are ready to go to Belagavi under the leadership of Nationalist Con gress Party (NCP) pres ident Sharad Pawar.

“We don’t know what is happening. There is a BJP government at the Centre, there is a BJP government in

BORDER ROW: Min advises

Raut to ‘control his tongue’ to avoid ‘resting’ again

Mumbai: Minister Shambhuraj Desai on Wednesday asked Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasa heb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut—who was released from a Mumbai jail on bail in a money laundering case last month—to “control” his tongue if he is to avoid “taking rest” again.

Raut on Wednesday demanded that Belagavi in Karnataka be de clared a Union Territory and claimed incidents of violence there cannot take place without “Delhi’s support”.

Desai said, “The outside atmos phere doesn’t suit (Raut). You should con trol your tongue to avoid go ing back

As promised, Supriya Sule raises border issue in Lok Sabha!

Kartikey Dev Singh

New Delhi: The Win ter Session of Parlia ment has started from Wednesday and as NCP leaders had warned that they will raise the border row with Kar nataka in the Lok Sab ha, NCP leader Supriya Sule followed on the warning and received support from NCP and other party leaders in targetting the BJP gov ernment as an uproar engulfed the house.

Sule attacked the rul ing BJP over this issue and putting forward her party’s stand in this regard, she also de manded Amit Shah to clarify his position in this matter.

“From last 10 days a new question has aris en in Maharashtra.

Chief Minister of Karnataka state is making random remarks. People of Maharashtra were going to Karnataka bor

der, but they were beat en. A conspiracy has been hatched against Maharashtra over the past ten

Karnataka CM speaks against Maharashtra. This will not work, this country is one,” Sule said.

Meanwhile, after Su priya Sule attacked the government, other op position MPs from Ma harashtra also started supporting her and raised slogans saying that they condemn this stand and behavior of Karnataka govern ment.

Later, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

intervened and ap pealed everyone to maintain calm as a fight broke out be tween the MPs of the ruling party and the opposition over the is sue. Also rejecting Su priya Sule’s demand, he said, ‘What will the central government do on the issue of two states? This is Parlia ment. This (manner) will not work”, he said.

Interestingly, on the one hand, Supriya Sule and other MPs are get

ting aggressive, while, on the other hand, BJP MP from Karnataka’s Haveri constituency Shivkumar Udasi has targeted the leaders of opposition parties in Maharashtra over the issue. “Opposition leaders in Maharash tra always behave like this. They have a lingo cultural syndrome. When they are out of power, they behave like this”, he replied to Su priya Sule and other opposition MPs.

to rest,” he said. Earlier, state Bharati ya Janata Party (BJP) chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule had also wondered if Raut has learnt provocative lan guage in jail.

Claiming that Raut has said he will visit Be lagavi under the leader ship of Nationalist Con gress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Desai asked: “Will he not go under Uddhav Thack eray’s leadership? We have warned Uddhavji not to trust Raut, who has bowed be fore NCP.” He also asked why Raut has not yet gone to Belagavi to com plete a court formality over his speech some years ago.

New Delhi: All eyes are now set on the results of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, which are slated to come out today. Gujarat voted on December 1 and 5, while Himachal Pradesh voted on November 12.

New Delhi: Asking the Centre and Reserve Bank of India to submit records on the 2016 demonetization in a sealed envelope, a 5-judge bench of the SC that is hearing petitions challenging the Centre’s ban on notes of `500 and `1,000, has reserved its order.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut alleged that such violence can’t happen without ‘Delhi’s support’

Workers of the Maharash tra Ekikaran Samiti have been arrested. The game of ending Marathi self-esteem by breaking its back bone has started. The attacks in Belagavi are part of the same conspiracy. Get up Marathas, get up!

I have discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and given all the information to him. I have also told him that it is not right to attack vehicles going from Maharashtra without any reason, although I have told him that I spoke with the Chief Minister of Karnataka. He has assured me but still I have told the Home Minister that he himself should pay attention to it and talk to the Home Minister and Chief Minister of Karnataka that it is not right to attack vehicles of other states in this manner.

—Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM, Maharashtra

FADNAVIS SPEAKS TO AMIT SHAH

First India Bureau

Shambhuraj Desai

This AAP win is the first time it has unseated the BJP in any election

AAP’s Bobi wins from Sultanpuri-A, MCD to get 1st transgender councillor

BJP suggests election of upcoming Delhi Mayor remains open race

A child dressed as CM Arvind Kejriwal takes part in celebrations of AAP’s victory in the MCD polls, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Moni Sharma

—Sanjay Singh, AAP Rajya Sabha MP

DHANKHAR, AS RS CHAIRMAN, SENDS OUT CLEAR MESSAGE TO JUDICIARY ON NJAC

Formally assuming charge as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Wednesday, questioned the Supreme Court ruling striking down the National Judicial Appointment Commission Act (NJAC) in 2015, saying there was no parallel to such a development in democratic history where a duly legitimised constitutional prescription was judi cially undone. This, he said, was a glaring instance of severe compromise of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the mandate of the people of which the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha were custodians.

Rajya Sabha Chairman, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar greets at 1st day of the Winter Session of Parl, in Delhi on Wednesday.

G20 presidency is ‘huge opportunity’ for India, says Modi

MODI URGES MPs TO MAKE PARL SESSION VERY PRODUCTIVE

BIRLA WARNS ADHIR AMID PROTESTS OVER PANELS’ CHMN’SHIP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged leaders of all political par ties and all floor leaders to give more opportunities to first-time, new and young MPs in Parl, and to make the Winter Session produc tive with combined effort.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday warned Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury against challenging the Chair after he alleged that chairman ship of all Parliamentary panels has been taken away from the opposition parties.

PM Narendra Modi addressing the media at Parliament on 1st day of winter session, in New Delhi on Wednesday

Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla speaking at 1st day of the Winter Session of the Parliament, in Delhi on Wednesday.

Border row impacts inter-state travel

MSRTC partially suspends bus services to K’taka; NWKRTC operating only as far as Belgaum

First India Bureau

Belagavi/Mumbai: Amid the ongoing border row, Maha rashtra’s state-run bus operator on Wednesday said it has suspended 382 bus services to Karnata ka, of the total 1,156 services operated by it daily to the neigh bouring state.

The decision of par tial suspension of bus services to Karnataka was taken following the instructions from the local police and the dis trict administration, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corpo ration (MSRTC) said in a statement.

This comes on the same day that the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) suspended its services to Maha rashtra after reports

Taking a stand on the border issue, Bharatiya Janata Party MP Dhananjay Mahadik said: “I am from Kolhapur, which is 10km away from the Karnataka border. This dispute has been going on for many years and is sub judice. I publicly condemn yesterday’s stone pelting. Such bul lying on the streets does not behove activists, officials and citizens. You are attacking our vehicles in Karnataka, but remember that if you want to go anywhere in the country, you have to go through Maharashtra. They should know that if they have to go to Kolhapur, Solapur or anywhere, then their vehicles will have to pass through Maharashtra. Maharashtra will not sit silent if such attacks are happening. (The issue) has to be resolved.

emerged of some buses being defaced and dam aged in the regions bor dering Belagavi dis trict.

“We are operating

‘Bommai should his restrain tongue’

First India Bureau

Mumbai: After Tues day’s attack of Kar nataka-based organi zation Kannada Rak shana Vedike activ ists on Maharashtra vehicles near Hire bagewadi toll gate near Belgaum, sim mering tensions be tween the two neigh bouring states have escalated. In view of this incident, Maha rashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Presi dent, Raj Thackeray, has warned Karnata ka Chief Minister Ba savaraj Bommai of an “equally strong” re sponse, if needed.

Speaking to media persons in Mumbai on Wednesday, Thackeray said, “They want con flict in the backdrop of upcoming Karnataka elections and so, Maha rashtra is being deliber ately targeted.” Thack eray also took to his so cial media handles and

posted a letter in this regard. “Someone has started fanning the fire over the MaharashtraKarnataka border dis pute again. The Karna taka CM should re strain his tongue and not blow up the issue,” said the MNS chief.

The firebrand leader also called for resolution of the dispute through discussion and media tion. “However, if action is to be taken, then MNS workers have already shown a glimpse of what they can do. So don’t for get that our response will be equally strong, when needed,” he said.

our buses only up to Ni pani (in Belagavi dis trict) due to tension, which has been there since morning,” an NWKRTC officer said.

According to him, a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus that was coming from Maharashtra to Ranebennur was also damaged.

“The glasses of the bus were damaged. Oth er than this incident, some buses were de faced,” the officer add ed.

Meanwhile, MSRTC has suspended 312 of the 572 buses operated from Kolhapur via Ni pani-Belagavi following the instructions from the local police and the district administration, it said.

The buses to Gadh inglaj, Chandgad, Aajra (all in Kolhapur district), Konkan and Goa from Kolhapur have been di verted via alternate routes instead of Nipani town in Kolhapur, the statement said.

Apart from this, 22 of the 60 services to Kar nataka from Sangli dis trict have been suspend ed due to the instruc tion from local adminis tration, it said, adding that another 48 services on sensitive routes from other divisions have been suspended.

2 die of toxic gas inhalation in undergrd chamber

Cong demands Shinde convene all-party meet

First India Bureau

Mumbai (PTI): Two labourers died appar ently after inhaling toxic gas while clean ing an underground chamber in Navi Mumbai, police said on Wednesday.

A case was registered against the site engi neer after it emerged the deceased duo was not provided with the necessary safety gear, an official said.

The incident oc curred on Saturday night when three work ers were cleaning an un derground chamber in Rabale area.

“While they were cleaning the chamber, a strong smell of chemi cals emanated, follow ing which the trio fell unconscious. The work er waiting outside the underground chamber managed to pull out one of his three colleagues with a rope,” he said.

They were later de clared dead at a hospital.

BORDER DISPUTE

Mumbai: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of stok ing the border dispute with Karnataka un der a conspiracy to “divide” Maharash tra, the Congress par ty on Wednesday de manded Chief Minis ter Eknath Shinde convene an all-party meeting to explain the government’s stand on the issue.

Maharashtra Con gress chief Nana Patole alleged the Karnataka CM Basavraj Bommai was working on the in structions of the Cen tral government and select industrialists.

“The BJP is stoking the border dispute with Karnataka as part of a conspiracy to divide Maharashtra,” Patole alleged.

He dubbed the Eknath Shinde-led re gime the worst govern ment in the history of Maharashtra.

“The Bharatiya Ja nata Party government in Karnataka is deliber ately spoiling the envi ronment in the border areas and Marathi peo ple are being beaten up and their property is be ing damaged. The peo ple of Maharashtra will

Activists deface buses, bank; say won’t allow Karnataka biz in Maha

Nashik (PTI): Activ ists of Swarajya Sang hatana, founded by Sambhajiraje Bhosale Chhatrapati, a de scendant of Chhatra pati Shivaji Maharaj, on Wednesday smeared black paint on the signboard of Karnataka Bank at its branch in Nashik city amid a simmering border dispute be tween the two states. They wrote 'Jai Maha rashtra' on the shut ter of the bank and shouted slogans against the Karnata ka government.

At least 20 activists of the Sanghatana, clad in black clothes and hold ing saffron flags, carried out the protest at the Canada Corner branch of the Karnataka Bank in the morning.

"If organisations in Karnataka think they have achieved some thing big by damaging

THE FUELING CLAIMS

vehicles from Maha rashtra, we warn them we will not allow even a

low Karnataka people to do any business here," said Swarajya Sanghatana spokesper son Karan Gaikar.

The decades-old rag ing dispute between the two states spilled onto roads on Tuesday with stones being hurled at vehicles entering Kar nataka from the Maha rashtra side near a toll booth at Hirebaugwadi in Belagavi district of the southern state.

Similarly, at least four buses from Karna taka were defaced in the Pune district allegedly by activists of the Shiv Sena, Uddhav Balasa heb Thackeray faction, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

BJP stoking border dispute with K’taka to divide Maha, alleges grand old party

not tolerate bullying by Karnataka. Maharash tra has taken a stand of observing restraint but if we lose it, Karnataka and the Central govern ment will have to bear the consequences,” Pa tole told reporters.

He alleged Karnata ka is staking claims to certain areas in Maha rashtra on the instruc tions of the Narendra Modi government and select industrialists.

“Karnataka CM Bom mai is making inflam matory statements every day but there is no re sponse from the state government. The situa tion is such that people are questioning whether there is a government in Maharashtra or not,” he alleged.

Another senior Con gress leader Balasaheb Thorat demanded the CM call an all-party meeting and clarify its position on the issue.

“What is Maharash tra’s position on the bor der issue? This matter is serious, our CM should call the leaders of all the parties in the state and discuss it,” he said.

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is set to award the contract for the reconstruction of Gokhale bridge this week.

“The process of scrutinizing the documents of all the qualified contractors is going on and the contract will be given this week,” said P Velrasu, Additional BMC Commissioner. The civic body has also decided not to open the bridge to the public, even for light vehicles, due to differing opinions in research reports by IIT Bombay and another body.

Navi Mumbai: Fed up with the torture and abuse by her husband and in-laws, a 37-year-old woman jumped off the seventh floor of a building along with her five-year-old son in Koparkhairane on Monday. While the woman died due to the fall, the child survived with grievous injuries. The police have arrested the husband and booked his sister and mother for abetment. “They (husband, mother-in-law and sisterin-law) tortured my sister,” said victim’s brother.

System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), Mumbai’s AQI was 306 at 10.45 am. The SAFAR dashboard on Wednesday showed Worli’s AQI as 201 and BKC’s AQI as 322. Borivali’s AQI continued to stay in the ‘satisfactory’ category at 90.

single vehicle from Kar nataka to enter Maha rashtra. We will not al

Speaking further, Gai kar added if the state government fails to give a befitting reply to the Karnataka government, activists of the Swarajya Sanghatana will go to Karnataka.

CM Shinde issues orders for beautification of Mumbai

Sandeep Shukla & Tanvi Sharma

Mumbai: In a bid to transform the city of Mumbai, Chief Min ister Eknath Shinde has issued instruc tions to officials and asked them to fasttrack beautification projects.

On Wednesday, a re view meeting on the matter was held under the chairmanship of CM Shinde at the state guest house “Sahyadri” in Mumbai.

According to the CM, beautification work of Mumbai has picked up pace in the last four months and Deputy Chief Minister Deven dra Fadnavis and him have inaugurated 187 works.

Various projects will be tackled by the state and city authorities for Mumbai’s transforma tion. They include con cretization of roads, transforming Koliwada (locality where mem bers of Koli Rajput community reside), and

improving facilities at state-run hospitals. After completion of all these works, Mum bai will not only be the pride of India, but the

FINISH ALL ONGOING PROJECTS ON WAR FOOTING OR FACE ACTION, WARNS BANGAR

Thane (PTI): Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) Commissioner Abhijit Bangar on Wednesday warned senior civic officials that they will have to face action if the ongoing projects in the city are not completed on war footing. He gave the in struction during a meeting here, where he asked them to focus on improving the condition of the speed breakers in the city and removal of debris and broken-down cars from the roadside.

whole world. It is a matter of pride for the state and Mumbai that the city is being trans formed and branded strongly, said the chief

minister.

Emphasizing the im portance of cleanliness, Shinde vowed to ap point 5,000 sanitation workers to maintain the

beauty of Mumbai.

Deputy Chief Minis ter Devendra Fadnavis, who also was present at the review meeting, stressed on cleaning of roads, beaches and pub lic toilets. “The Brihan mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should identify neces sary machinery and equipment to meet the sanitation needs of the city,” he said. Fadnavis also batted for imple mentation of commu nity washing machines in slum areas.

Mumbai: Worli police have registered a case against an unknown person for allegedly looting around Rs4 lakh by disrupting the power supply to two ATMs.

“The bank’s server could not register the transactions due to which the money got dispensed. Even the CCTV installed in the ATMs could not capture transactions,” said the complainant in the FIR.

Mumbai: With the Indian Railways on Monday releasing new guidelines and regulatory approvals, efforts are on to begin the manufacture of air-conditioned trains with 12 contiguous coaches each. These will be able to ferry more passengers than regular AC trains and will be equipped with electricals and equipment underslung near the wheels.

Mumbai: Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Ltd (MAHAPREIT) and Yavatmal Municipality have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of affordable houses under the Pradhanmantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY). The project will be completed in two years costing nearly Rs250 crore.

MAHAPREIT will also assist YMC in availing of loans from various financial institutions.

Maha Cong chief Nana Patole. —FILE PHOTO

‘PRIDE OF INDIA’

MNS supporter spray-painting a bus from Karnataka on Tuesday.

‘ROADS FROM K’TAKA TO ANYWHERE GO VIA MAHA’

MNS chief Raj Thackeray

BMC liable in open manhole incidents: HC

DIV BENCH APPRECIATES WORK ON COVERING MANHOLES

CIVIC

BODY,

Mumbai: Lauding the Brihanmumbai Mu nicipal Corporation (BMC) for its work on covering open man holes across the city, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday said it would be the civic body’s responsi bility, if there is any untoward incident till it is finished putting lids on all of them.

A division bench comprising Chief Jus tice Dipankar Datta and Justice Abhay Ahuja said it was concerned over the issue of open manholes across the city and asked the BMC to come up with a per manent solution.

The bench was hear ing a few petitions that raised concerns over the increasing number of potholes across Ma harashtra, and also, open manholes.

BMC’s counsel Anil Sakhare told the court that the civic body was addressing the issue of open manholes on a “war-footing basis” and

BY

ASKS IT TO COME UP WITH ‘PERMANENT SOLUTION’

GO HI-TECH

The HC bench sug gested the BMC make use of modern science and technology and devise something by which the officer concerned is alerted the moment the lid of a manhole is removed.

Tenders invited for storm water drainage system

First India Bureau

You must do some progressive thinking. It is your job. We cannot keep saying what needs to be done. A solution has to be provided by you. What should be the appropriate solution for this... You tell us. We need permanent measures. —Bombay High Court

work was on to close all such manholes. The bench then said while the corporation’s efforts are appreciated, but if, till then, there was any untoward incident, then the BMC would be held responsible.

“Good you (BMC) are working but till then if harm is caused to any

one, we will hold you re sponsible. We are appre ciative of the BMC but what happens if a man hole is open and some one falls down,” said Chief Justice Datta.

“In such a situation, we won’t ask the ag grieved person to initi ate a civil suit (for com pensation)...we will say

that your officers are responsible,” he added. The bench also suggest ed use of iron grills be low the manhole cover.

“You must do some pro gressive thinking. It is your job. We cannot keep saying what needs to be done,” said the court. The bench further said there has to be some

“In this modern day of science and technol ogy, can’t we think of something else? Why don’t you (BMC) devise something by which you come to know if someone even touches the cover? Then a beep goes off in your office. Why don’t you come up with something like a sensor?” the court said.

standard operating pro cedure to address the is sue of open manholes.

“A solution has to be provided by you. What should be the appropri ate solution for this... you tell us. We need per manent measures,” the HC said while posting the matter for further hearing on December 19.

After Nagpur,

Mumbai: To prevent flood and water log ging situations dur ing monsoon in Mumbai, the Bri hanmumbai Munic ipal Corporation (BMC) has invited tenders worth Rs471.11 crore for repair, maintenance and desilting work of various nullahs and storm water drains of Mumbai.

As per Chief Engi neer of Storm Water Drain department Vib has Achrekar, this year, there was delay in tender process which resulted in de lay in desilting work. “To avoid such situa tion next year, we have invited tenders well in advance. Now we can start desilting work in February and March,” Achrekar said.

He further added, “We have undertaken cleaning of nullahs in

now drugs

found in Arthur Road Jail

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Days after a third constable was arrested in the Nag pur Central Jail gan ja racket, Mumbai police say they have recovered charas (a concentrate made from the resin of a live cannabis plant) and drug pills from the high security Ar thur Road Jail.

Tiger found dead in Chandrapur dist forest; officials suspect territorial fight

Chandrapur (PTI): A sub-adult tiger was found dead at a forest in Chandrapur dis trict on Wednesday with the officials sus pecting it died in a territorial fight.

The carcass was spot ted in Nagbhid forest range of Bramhapuri division, about 120km from the district head quarters, Chief Conser vator of Forest, Chan drapur Circle, Prakash

Lonkar said.

Forest personnel and veterinary doctors who inspected the spot say the tiger might have died in a territorial

fight as tracks made by another feline were found near the carcass, a part of which had al ready been eaten by a dog, the official said.

The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is located in Chandrapur district.

Earlier, Nagbhid forest officials on December 03 captured a tiger, named P-2, which had killed four persons, a release from the range forest officer said.

Police have regis tered a case after jail constable found a poly thene bag stuffed with 134g charas and half-adozen drug pills was found on November 30 near barrack no. 11 where undertrials ar rested in sensitive cas es are lodged, an offi cial said. Police suspect someone had thrown the bag from outside.

A First Information Report (FIR) was regis tered on Sunday against the unidentified per son, the official said.

Police will check CCTV footage of the area, the official added.

Notably, the discov

ery was made even as the Nagpur police were investigating a case in which six per sons--three constables and three historysheeters who were out on bail--were involved in supplying ganja (cannabis) to inmates at the Nagpur Central Jail.

Police on Saturday said the constable who was most recently ar rested is believed to be the kingpin in the ille gal drugs racket there.

Constables charged inmates Rs5,000 for the

FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

delivery of ganja, Rs3,000 for providing food items from out side and Rs1,000 for clothes. On receiving requests from two jail inmates, the consta bles wrote the “list” on a piece of paper and sent a photo of the list on WhatsApp to the three history-sheeters, who were out on bail.

A fruit-seller outside the jail would receive the items and hand them over to the con stables--a racket that had been in place for at least 18 months.

The project worth over `470 crore will prevent flooding during monsoon

eastern, western sub urbs and the city along with smaller nullahs and railway culverts. We will improve the capacity of the storm water drains.”

Under the Brihan mumbai Stormwater Drain (Brimstowad) project, the BMC in

2006 had set up big pumping stations at Haji Ali, Juhu, Reay Road, Worli, Love grove, Cleveland are as of Mumbai. The stations pump out thousands of litres of water into the sea in a few minutes.

The BMC had also installed 480 pumps to suck out storm water at various places of Mum bai. Water logging pos es a serious problem as in monsoon during high tide storms water doesn’t recede fast.

Pune: Three men have been arrested after they attacked and robbed a 21-year-old medical student, on the out skirts of Baramati city in Pune dis trict, police said on Wednesday. All the accused were ar rested.

On Sunday even ing, the student was on his way to a mar ket in Baramati when he was stopped by a motorcycleborne assailant who abused him and snatched Rs15,000 from him after beat ing him when he tried to resist, an of ficial said.

Later, two more men arrived on an other bike, and the trio forced the stu dent to accompany them to a sugarcane field, where they stripped him and

Accused took nude pics of 21-yr-old, threatened to share them if he didn’t pay up

beat him with a sug arcane.

“They then took nude photos of the student and threat ened to share them online unless he coughed up more money,” the officer said quoting the FIR (First Information Report). When the student agreed to their de mand, they took him to an ATM, made him withdraw Rs14,500 and fled with the money.

Clean energy at old coal plants can yield `5.7K cr benefits: Study

Nagpur: Repurposing some of Maharash tra’s oldest and most expensive coal plants, such as the ones at Bhusawal, Chan drapur, Koradi, Khaparkheda and Na shik, for clean energy and grid stability ser vices can deliver Rs5,700 crore in ben efits, a new study says

Dr Gireesh Shrimali, Head of Transition Fi nance Research, Oxford Sustainable Finance Group at the University of Oxford, has--for the first time--quantified the costs and benefits asso ciated with retiring and repurposing 4,020MW of old coal units.

In addition to Rs5,700 crore in benefits, using the land and some of the old coal infrastruc

ture at these plants for clean energy and grid stability services will also help the state grad ually reduce its depend ence on coal over the coming decade. This will put Maharashtra in line with India’s Na tionally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Accord, Climate Risk Horizons--which com missioned the study--

said in a release.

“The financial bene fits of repurposing some or all of these coal

plants would be two to four times the costs of decommissioning, and would cover a substan

Using pre-existing land and grid connections would significantly re duce the cost of solar PV and PV with battery storage energy to Rs1.87 and Rs2.69 per unit of electricity generated, re spectively, thus providing Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. with a cheap source of flexible power.

tial proportion of the new capital expendi ture required for solar, batteries and synchro

nous condensers,” Dr Shrimali explained.

While decommission ing these units will cu

mulatively cost about Rs1,756 crore, the onetime benefits from re purposing them for so lar PV with battery storage would be Rs4,356 crore, the study showed.

He said that the anal ysis also found that while repurposing coal plants for solar PV and battery storage, if the old power plant turbo generator is also repur posed to serve as a syn chronous condenser, the benefits are even higher, at Rs5,700 crore.

First India Bureau

Workers of the Aam Admi Party celebrate the party's win in the civic body elections in New Delhi, at Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, in Navi Mumbai's Vashi area on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Open manholes are a dangerous menace in Mumbai city, especially for pedestrians. —FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau

Repurposing infra for grid stability may help Maha reduce its dependence on coal in coming decade

—Gireesh Shrimali, Head of Transition Finance Research, Oxford Sustainable Finance Group

Financial benefits of reusing coal plants will be two to four times more than decommissioning costs. —FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau

MBBS student beaten with sugarcane, robbed of `30,000; 3 arrested

Cops have registered a case after constable found bag stuffed with 134g charas and pills near barrack that houses undertrials held in sensitive cases

All of us have a genetic make up that, to some degree, de termines the kind of person we are. Also, the environ ment and background influ ences one’s inner self to a large extent. Should one then, just shrug off the mat ter and adopt a defeatist at titude by saying, “I cannot help the way I am.”

Conversely, we know some people who are very negative and critical about nearly eve rything. Are they really hap py people? Much depends on one’s attitude and outlook. There are others who allow themselves to be overcome by an inferiority complex. With such feelings, they view themselves as worthless. Many feel weary due to exces sive anxiety.

REFINING THE INNER PERSON

realize it existed.

Such self examination helps to see the weak spot and also recognize one’s own con tribution to the problem, rath er than becoming frustrated by focusing solely on the oth er person’s errors regarding which there is no control or one can do little about it.

Taking an objective look at the other person helps in get ting an overall view. Perhaps, the person is falling short in just one area. Would it be proper then to judge an indi vidual on the basis of one or two irritating traits? Usually, one’s judgement is influ enced by personal feelings of the moment.

Trying to see the other person’s point of view is not always easy, especially when their view points are dia metrically opposed to ours. Yet the effort one makes in trying to see things differ ently serves to offset one’s own feelings and has a calm ing effect. It gives us insight on how others feel and act to some extent.

All of us have a genetic makeup that, to some degree, determines the kind of person we are. Also, the environment and background influences one’s inner self to a large extent. Should one then, just shrug off the matter and adopt a defeatist attitude by saying, “I cannot help the way I am”

people requires not to ‘give up’ on others. Initiating friendships and then drop ping them at the first sign of disagreement or letting fric tion break up work arrange ments leads to loss of respect and confidence.

when positive thoughts fill our mind. Difficulties are easier to bear when there is no grumbling and brooding. This improves health as it keeps in check such emo tions as anger, jealousy, ha tred and revenge. The happy, contented, tolerant person cheers others.

Positive persons give us vigour to persevere and with stand heavy storms in life. “Hitch your wagon to a star” advises an old saying. Goals of high purpose give mean ingful direction and keeps one from floundering or stag nating. Any attempt to re store a man’s inner strength is in showing him future goals, says a psychiatrist.

IN-DEPTH

FORCED TUBAL STERILISATIONS A REMINDER OF EMERGENCY DAYS

The 24 tubectomy

anaesthesia in Bihar’s Khagaria district is a grim re minder of the forced tubecto mies and vasectomies per formed during the Emergency on the orders of the late Con gress leader Sanjay Gandhi. During the Emergency, states were given targets for the num ber of such surgeries to be per formed and the fear of govern ment action for failing to meet the targets resulted in atrocities on innocent women and men. The sterilisation programme became the most notorious as pect of the Emergency.

There were no targets to be met in Khagaria where 24 wom en were subjected to horrific, painful surgeries without the set practice of administering lo cal anaesthesia being followed. The doctors and medical person nel involved in these senseless surgeries should have been sus pended immediately but action has been put on hold pending an inquiry by the civil surgeon who called it a case of serious medi cal negligence. Inaction is a clas sic example of administrative callousness. Health Minister Tejashvi Yadav’s silence is equally intriguing.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Tiredness ceases the moment a meaning is found in life. Negative thinking gives negative results. Doubts are traitors that makes one lose what one may win if tried. As the person thinks, so is he! It is well worth the effort to cultivate and to maintain a cheerful, balanced disposition, for one’s own welfare and that of others.

Analysing oneself from time to time helps. Do I get upset over the habits or shortcomings of others? If so, it may be that the problem lies more with me than with the other person. Do I quick ly get irritated or hurt? If so, could it be that I think too highly of myself or I’m over ly sensitive? Often, when we do this introspection, we find that our “reasons” are quite petty. One may discover with in, a motive that one did not

AAP STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO

A person with negative thinking is usually sluggish and tends to make excuses to justify his course. In any un dertaking or job, satisfaction comes when one sees it through without quitting.

Some jobs appeal, some do not. By looking not just at the surface or at the immediate benefits that comes in terms of pay, one can also think about the moulding effect it can have on one’s personality.

Working effectively with

The very act of working at the problem reduces the like lihood of losing control. It also keeps one conscious of the need to adjust one’s think ing, if there is constant irrita tion due to others’ failings.

Challenges can make life interesting. Rather than run ning away, rising to meet them with extra effort, thought, energy and time makes one resourceful and prevents our life from becom ing just a series of failures and unfinished projects. Much happiness is derived through accomplishment.

Negative aspects of life fade into the background

The consciousness of one’s inner value is anchored in higher things. There is noth ing that would help one to survive even the worst condi tions, as the knowledge that there is meaning in life. A long life without the feeling of fulfilment is very tedious.

We feel useful when we help others. Useful lives be come meaningful lives. Tiredness ceases the moment a meaning is found in life.

Negative thinking gives negative results. Doubts are traitors that makes one lose what one may win if tried. As the person thinks, so is he!

It is well worth the effort to cultivate and to maintain a cheerful, balanced disposi tion, for one’s own welfare and that of others.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stormed Bharati ya Janata Party’s (BJP) citadel — the Municipal Corporation Delhi (MCD) — which it ruled for 15 long years.

For Arvind Kejriwal, dis lodging the BJP from power in its stronghold with 134 seats out of 250 is a big achievement but the victory will have little impact on na tional politics. Though it lost power, the BJP has done bet ter than what the exit polls predicted. It had to settle for 104 seats, 66 less than its 2017 numbers. The silver lining for the BJP is that it has im proved on its vote share from 36.4 percent in 2017 to 39 per cent now.

What the AAP leadership

The AAP has stormed BJP citadel - the MCDwhich it ruled for 15 long years. For Arvind Kejriwal, dislodging the BJP from power in its stronghold with 134 seats out of 250 is a big achievement but the victory will have little impact on national politics

can tom-tom is that it won a majority in MCD despite the BJP using all its top guns in the civic polls. At the same time Arvind Kejriwal has to ensure that his corporators

are sincere about cleaning mountains of garbage litter ing the national capital and the broom is strong enough to do so. That’s a huge re sponsibility as the party has promised to clear the pile of dirt from the garbage landfill site in east Delhi.

The AAP has promised to clean up Delhi in the next five years and Kejriwal has sought the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in delivering on his promise. With the Delhi government having limited power, it is a sensible move on the part of Delhi’s chief minister who dreams of a bigger role in na tional politics.

Gujarat results are expect ed to indicate that MCD vic tory does not mean that Ke jriwal has arrived.

Despite her wrist injury,

still

at the WC with a total lift of 200kg. Congratulations @mirabai_ chanu on winning silver in women’s 49kg at the WWC. She beats Olympic champ Hou Zhihua 198kg from China. 2017 WC gold, 2020 Olympics silver, 2022 WC silver. Proud of you!

MAHENG/2022/14652

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Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra

Editor: Kartikey Dev

responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

a

Singh

Jagat Prakash Nadda @JPNadda

I bow to the valour & selflessness of our armed forces on Armed Forces Flag Day and extend my greetings to our armed forces personnel and their families. They safeguard our country’s sovereignty each day. Let us all show our gratitude to our heroes & contribute to their welfare.

Anurag Thakur @ianuragthakur

she

won

silver medal

Those who cling to perceptions and views wander the world offending people. Buddha

sur geries performed without

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

REKHA KUMAR

The writer is a personal development skills facilitator. rekhakumar@protonmail.com

IT IS SENSIBLE TO GET BEST DEAL IN INTEREST OF INDIANS: JAISHANKAR

WINTER SESSION

New Delhi (ANI): The government does not ask Indian companies to buy oil from Russia but it is a sensible poli cy to get the best deal in the interest of Indian people, External Af fairs Minister S Jais hankar said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Responding to ques tions from members in the Upper House, the minister said that it is his duty to prioritise the interests of the In dian people and to pre vent them from being affected by the actions of other countries or regions for fertilizer, food, etc.

“We do not ask our

companies to buy Rus sian oil. We ask our companies to buy oil, what is the best option that they can get. Now it depends on what the market throws up.

“If tomorrow the market gives us more competitive options. Again, please do under

stand. It’s not just that we buy oil from one country. We buy oil from multiple sources, but it is a sensible policy to go where we get the best deal in the interests of the Indian people and that is exactly what we are trying to do,” Jais hankar added.

14 from minorities killed in J-K so far in 2022: Govt

New Delhi: Fourteen people belonging to mi nority communities, in cluding three Kashmiri Pandits, were killed in J&K this year till Nov 30, the Union ministry of home affairs told Parlia ment on Wednesday, adding that various measures have been tak en to “protect the lives of minorities in the re gion”. Rai was respond ing to question of SP member Javed Ali Khan who asked if the govt has failed to provide se curity in J&K.

New Delhi (ANI):

Speaking on Vice Prezi dent J Dhankhar’s first day as the Rajya Sabha Chairman, LoP Mall ikarjun Kharge said that he hoped that no law will be passed in haste, and promised that the Opposition will cooperate in running the House. Kharge said, “In this House many laws have been passed in haste and later courts commented on them

Lucknow (ANI): Melinda Gates, cofounder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Founda tion (BMGF), paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Yogi Adity anath at his official residence on Wednes day.

At a special meeting, between Gates and the chief minister, enhanc ing technical coopera tion in the fields of health, nutrition and agriculture were dis cussed. During their discussion, Gates laud ed the work done by Ut tar Pradesh in recent years underlining the Covid management and encephalitis con trol despite a dense population.

which is not good for the House and hope that all the bills are passed with proper discussion.” “If laws are made in haste, then they attract judi cial scrutiny.

L eaders of several opposition parties on Wednes day attended a meeting convened by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to evolve a joint strategy for the winter session of Parliament. Left parties, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), NC and the RSP were represented in the meeting convened before the session commenced. The oppo sition is seeking to corner the government on several issues including price rise and unemployment.

LS discusses Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill

New Delhi(Agencies):

Both Lok Sabha and Ra jya Sabha conducted business as usual on the first day of Winter Ses sion, as opposed to a tur bulent previous session.

On day one, Rajya Sab ha discussed the Wild life Protection (Amend ment) Bill 2022, and Ex ternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to queries on India’s for eign policy.

The Lok Sabha dis cussed The Anti-Mari

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY

z

z 56 cases registered against MPs, MLAs in 5 years, informs DoPT z CBI’s overall convic tion rate dips: Centre informs Lok Sabha

time Piracy Bill, 2019.

As per the notified schedules, the govt plans to introduce 16 new Bills during the ses sion. These include a draft law to increase ac

z

countability and reform the electoral process in multi-state cooperative societies. The Canton ment Bill deals with the administration of can tonments to impart de

mocratisation and in crease efficiency. The session is all set to be stormy as the Opposi tion prepares to corner the Centre on issues such as the border situ ation with China, price rise, unemployment and the alleged misuse of govt agencies. At a meet ing called by the Centre to discuss the legislative agenda, the Opposition listed over a dozen is sues for raising during the session.

ENPO delegation meets Amit Shah, puts demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland’

New Delhi (ANI): An 11-member delegation team of Eastern Naga land Peoples’ Organisa tion (ENPO) met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to seek separate statehood for “Frontier Nagaland”.

The ENPO, an um brella organisation of seven tribal bodies, in a press statement said that the Union Home Minister has appreciat ed the Eastern Naga land people for being a part of nation-building force thus far, which, Prime Minister Naren dra Modi is also aware of. “The Union Home Minister stated that the

grievances and request for a separate entity are understood and he high lighted a clear roadmap for Amicable, Legisla tive and Sustainable So lution for Eastern Naga land, which will include consultation with the people of Eastern Naga land and Nagaland State Govt,” the ENPO team said.

Gujarat results

New Delhi (ANI): Rid ing on the massive vic tory of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi civic polls, Punjab CM Bhag want Mann on Wednes day claimed that the exit polls which predict ed the party’s loss in Gujarat will prove to be wrong. Mann said that the results in Gujarat, where the party exerted all its efforts to make inroads, will be “sur prising”.

Speaking to the re porters in the national capital, the Punjab CM said, “The trends are

Bureaucracy: Six IPS shuffled in UP IN THE COURTYARD

Ahtesham Siddiqui

“Amidst the challeng es of Covid, the way, the state leadership tackled the issue of dense popu lation and various so cial challenges is highly commendable,” Gates said. She also lauded the efforts of the Uttar

Pradesh Government in the areas of health se curity, financial inclu sion, nutrition, educa tion, women empower ment and added, “Uttar Pradesh is a model not only for India but for the whole world”.

BIG CAT MATTERS

Lucknow: Six IPS offic ers, including 2 captains, have been transferred in the UP police dept on Wednesday. The transfer includes 2 IG and 4 SP level officers. IPS Akash Kulhari has been made ACP, Prayagraj while IPS Jugal Kishore has been made DIG, Fire, Lucknow. IPS Atul Shar ma became the new SP of Pilibhit (II) and IPS Dinesh Kumar has been made DCP Ghaziabad from SP Pilibhit, IPS Atul Sharma SP Chitra koot has been made the new SP of Pilibhit.

Moreover, IPS Vrinda Shukla has been made SP of Chitrakoot and IPS Ashtabhuja Prasad Sin gh has been made SP Railway GRP Prayagraj.

Delhi riots case: Sharjeel Imam moves to SC challenging HC order

New Delhi (ANI):

Sharjeel Imam has ap proached the Supreme Court seeking direc tion to expunge some remarks made

against him while de nying bail to Umar Khalid in the Delhi ri ots case. Imam said that Delhi High Court while rejecting Umar Khalid’s bail plea, made certain observa tions and remarks against him when he was not even a party in the said petition. On

October 18, while deny ing bail to JNU student Khalid, the High Court had said that Khalid was constantly in touch with Sharjeel Imam, who was argua bly ‘at the head of the conspiracy’ and also referred to Imam as the main conspirator in one of the paragraphs.

BACKWARD CLASSES FEDERATION FILES REVIEW

PETITION AGAINST MAJORITY-VERDICT OF SC

now converting into re sults. Kejriwal uproot ed the 15-year-long rule of Cong and now up rooted the 15-year-long rule of the BJP from the MCD.” He said that the people vote for schools, hospitals, cleanliness and infrastructure.

CJI Chandrachud

New Delhi (ANI): CJI Justice DY Chandra chud on Tuesday said we must create a multitude of equitable ways for dif ferent groups — women, members of the LGBT+ community, persons with disabilities, elderly, poor and marginalised — to engage and partici pate in the process of adjudication. While de livering a speech in Del hi HC’s new building, he said in order to make sure that we are provid ing equal access to jus tice, attention must be paid to the design of the judicial set-up.

After Namibia, Cheetahs to arrive from South Africa soon: MP forest minister Vijay Shah

First India Bureau

Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Forest Minis ter Kunwar Vijay Shah on Wednesday said af ter Namibia, now Chee tahs were expected to soon arrive from South Africa. The first set of Cheetahs was released by Prime Minister Nar endra Modi in the Kuno National Park here in September, when eight of the big cats were flown in to revive their population in India af

ter over half a century it went extinct in the country.Twelve new en closures with all facili ties were being built at Kuno in Sheopur dis trict, the state minister added. Minister Vijay Shah told ANI, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up the initiative of re-intro duction of Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa.

“We have completed the first phase. After bringing eight Chee

tahs from Namibia, we not only kept them in quarantine but also fa miliarised them with

the environment and released them in an open enclosure. Now, these Cheetahs are

hunting and they are in good health.”

PM Modi released the eight Cheetahs on the occasion of his birthday on September 17 this year. “An MoU (Memorandum of Un derstanding) for the next phase is in pro cess. 12 new enclosures with more facilities were being built at the Kuno National Park. Enclosures are ready but we are improving them further,” he said.

New Delhi (ANI): The Enforcement Directo rate (ED) has seized 5kg gold worth Rs 2.51 crore and over Rs 3 lakh cash from a ‘secret chamber’ from premises linked to a Malappuram-based jewellery house promot er, who is an alleged ben eficiary of the Kerala gold smuggling case, the ED said on Wednesday.

The seizures were made during the agen cy’s searches at four premises including that of Aboobacker Pazhe dath, promoter of Mala bar Jewellery and Fine Gold Jewellery in

Malappuram and the Kozhikode premises of Atlas Gold Super Mar kets Pvt Ltd, it said Besides ED, the NIA and the Customs de partment are investi gating the gold smug

gling case in Kerala, in which gold worth Rs 15 crore was allegedly seized from the diplo matic baggage of the UAE consulate at Thiru vananthapuram airport on July 5, 2020.

SULE SLAMS KARNATAKA CM IN LOK SABHA OVER BORDER ISSUE WITH MAHARASHTRA

Kharge: Laws passed in haste, comments of court not good

will be surprising, says Mann as AAP wins in Delhi

UP not just model for India but for world, says Melinda Gates

N CP MP Supriya Sule in slammed K’taka CM B Bommai over the border issue between Kar nataka and Maharashtra and urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to speak up regarding it. “For the past 10 days, a new issue has cropped up in Maharashtra. The Chief Minister of our neighbouring state, Karnataka has been speaking nonsense. Yesterday, people of Maharashtra wanted to go to the Karnataka border but they were thrashed,” Sule said in the Lok Sabha.

Responding to a question, the EA minister said that it is his duty to prioritise the interests of the Indian people and to prevent them from being affected by actions of other nations

EAM Jaishankar speaking in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

LS Speaker Om Birla adjourns the Lok Sabha and it will reconvene at 11:00 am on Thursday

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am on Thursday

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath greets Melinda Gates, co-founder of BMGF on Wednesday.

The seized gold and cash was hidden in a secret chamber at the premises linked to the jeweller house in Kerala’s Malappuram.

(L) File photo of Cheetah in Kuno National Park. (R) Vijay Shah while interacting with media on Wednesday.

New Delhi: The All India Backward Classes Federation has filed a review petition against a majority judgment of the SC which upheld the 10% reservation in govt jobs and institutions for economically weaker sections (EWS), in cluding forward castes, of the society. The review petition, settled by Professor G. Mohan Gopal, said EWS reserva tion was for a social- and educational class, the forward class amongst them, with a creamy layer cut-off.

We must create multitude of equitable ways:

OPPOSITION LEADERS ATTEND MEETING CALLED BY CONGRESS CHIEF KHARGE

BRIEFS

RBI HIKES REPO RATE AGAIN, BY 35 BPS

New Delhi: Import of coal by the power sector has increased in ongoing fi nancial year and the sec tor imported 38.84 mil lion tonne (MT) of the dry fuel in April-October peri od, Parliament was in formed. “...Import of coal by the power sector in creased during current fi nancial year of 2022-23.

As against the total im port of 27 MT by power sector in entire year of 2021-22, the import of coal by power sector in first 7 months increased to 38.84 MT,” Coal Minis ter said. —PTI

Mumbai (PTI): The RBI on Wednesday expectedly slowed the pace of increase in borrowing costs in signs that rates may be nearing the peak, even as it reiter ated its resolve to fight in flation that has stayed above the comfort zone for 10 straight months.

The Reserve Bank of In dia (RBI) hiked the key repo rate by 35 basis points, the fifth straight increase since May, raising pros pects of EMIs for home, auto and other loans rising further.

The previous four in creases totalled 190 bps, with the last three hikes be ing 50 bps each.

The monetary policy committee (MPC), com prising three members from the Reserve Bank of India and three external members, raised the key lending rate or the repo rate to 6.25% by a 5:1 major ity decision.

HIGHLIGHTS OF RBI’S MONETARY POLICY STATEMENT

and endurance

Inflation to fall below 6 per cent by March, assures central bank

New Delhi (PTI): The Re serve Bank on Wednesday projected inflation to come down below the upper threshold level of 6% by March quarter of the cur rent fiscal.

It, however, retained its 6.7% average retail infla tion forecast for the current fiscal. The retail or CPI based inflation has re mained above the RBI’s up per tolerance threshold of 6% for 10 months till Oct.

Das: Worst of inflation behind us, but no room for complacency

Mumbai (PTI): The worst of inflation is behind us, but there is no room for complacency in the fight against price-rise, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Wednesday. Das also said that from a growth perspective, India stands out as an isle of resilience in a “gloomy world” which is staring at slowing growth with possibilities of recession in some countries, Das told reporters in the post-policy review on Wednesday.

GDP growth in FY23 may slow to 6.8%: RBI

New Delhi: Exports of broken rice increased 33.37% to 23.82 lakh tonne during April-Sep tember FY23 as against 17.86 lakh tonne in the year-ago period. MoS for Commerce & Industry Anupriya Patel said there has been a sudden in crease in demand for the Indian broken rice in the int’l market. “India’s ex ports of broken rice have increased from 17.86 Lakh MT in 2021-22 (April-Sept) registering a growth of 33.37%,” she said. —PTI

Four of the six members voted in favour of the with drawal of accommodation, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said.

z Hikes benchmark lending rate by 35 basis points to 6.25%

z Cuts growth projection for this fiscal to 6.8% from 7% estimated in September

z Inflation to come down below 6% in March quarter, to average 6.7% this fiscal

z Economy resilient; India to remain fastest-growing major economy

z Biggest risks to outlook from protracted geopolitical tensions are global slowdown and tighten ing of global financial conditions

z Battle against inflation yet not over as risks remain, RBI to keep ‘Arjuna’s eye’ (keen focus) on evolving inflation dynamics

z Must deal with the current global hurricane with confidence

Sensex sheds 216 pts after RBI interest hike, Reliance suffers most

Mumbai (PTI): Equity benchmark Sensex de clined over 216 points on Wednesday, weighed by losses in index heavy weight Reliance Industries, Bajaj Finserv and Tata Steel, after the Reserve Bank raised the key inter est rate by 35 basis points.

z Rupee should be allowed to find its level and that is what we have been striving to ensure

z ` movement remained least disruptive as compared to peers amid strengthening US dollar

z Current account deficit immi nently manageable; forex reserve comfortable at $551.2 bn

z Liquidity in the banking system remains in surplus

z Rabi sowing so far is 6.8% higher than the normal sown area

z Non-food credit rose to ` 10.6 lakh cr during April-Novem ber from ` 1.9 lakh cr a year ago

z UPI to soon allow customers to block funds in his/her account for specific purposes.

RBI Governor Shakti kanta Das said the central bank will keep ‘Arjuna’s eye’ (keen focus) on the evolving inflation dynam ics and projected inflation to remain above 4% for the next 12 months.

“Over the next 12 months, inflation is expect

ed to remain higher than the 4% target... While be ing watchful of the impact of our earlier monetary policy actions, we will keep Arjuna’s eye on the evolv ing inflation dynamics and be ready to act as may be necessary,” Das said.

Mumbai (PTI): The Re serve Bank on Wednesday lowered the country’s GDP growth forecast to 6.8% for the current fiscal from 7% earlier, on account of con tinued geo-political ten sions and tightening of global financial conditions.

India, however, remains a bright spot in the other wise gloomy world and will be among the fastest grow ing major economies, said RBI Governor Das while announcing the latest bimonthly monetary policy.

“The biggest risks to the outlook continue to be the headwinds emanating from protracted geo-politi cal tensions, global slow down and tightening of global financial condi tions,” he said. Taking all these factors into consid eration, the RBI projected the real GDP growth for 2022-23 at 6.8%, with the third quarter at 4.4% and the fourth at 4.2%.

Rupee remains least disruptive, size of forex reserves comfortable, asserts Shaktikanta Das

Mumbai (PTI): Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikan ta Das on Wednesday said in the wake of appreciating US dollar, the movement of rupee has remained least disruptive as compared to its peers, and the size of foreign exchange reserve is comfortable.

On a financial year basis (from April to October 2022), the Rupee has appre

ciated by 3.2% in real terms, even as several major cur rencies have depreciated, he said while announcing the latest set of bi-monthly monetary policy.

“The story of the rupee has been one of India’s re silience and stability,” the Governor said while point ing out that the apprecia tion of the US dollar this year, which precipitated

New Delhi: Arun Kumar Singh, former chairman of oil refining and market ing company BPCL, was on Wednesday appointed chairman and managing director of ONGC -- the first instance of a retired person being appointed the head of a Maharatna PSU. “The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for appointment of Arun Kumar Singh, exCMD, BPCL as Chairman, ONGC for a three-year tenure with effect from the date of his assump tion of charge of the post,” an order said. —PTI

Subdued Asian markets and continued selling by foreign investors also weighed on sentiment, traders said.

Extending its losses for the fourth straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended 215.68 points or 0.34% lower at 62,410.68.

Similarly, the broader Nifty fell 82.25 points or 0.44% to 18,560.50.

NTPC was the top loser in the Sensex pack, shed ding 2%, followed by Bajaj Finserv, IndusInd Bank, Tata Steel, Reliance Indus tries and Sun Pharma.

On the other hand, Asian Paints, HUL, L&T, Axis Bank and ITC were among

New Delhi: Carmaker Re nault India on Wednesday said it will increase the prices of its vehicles across models from the next month to partially offset rising input costs.

The company however, did not disclose the quan tum of its impending price hike. Reasons for the price hike are to par tially offset the impact of constant increases in in put costs largely driven by pricier commodities, fluctuations in foreign ex change rates. —PTI

large-scale depreciation of all major global currencies including the Indian rupee, has drawn wide attention.

Das also stressed it is im portant to make an objec tive assessment of the movement of the Rupee in the context of global and domestic macroeconomic and financial market devel opments. “Through this episode of US dollar appre ciation, the rupee’s move ments have been the least disruptive, relative to peers,” the Governor added.

`

GAINS 3 PAISE TO CLOSE AT 82.47 AGAINST US DOLLAR Mumbai (PTI): The rupee pared initial losses and settled margin ally higher at 82.47 against the US dollar on Wednesday after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hiked the key repo rate by 35 basis points. Easing crude oil prices also supported the do mestic unit, forex traders said.At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 82.74 and touched an intra-day high of 82.40 and a low of 82.75 against the greenback.

the gainers.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo ended with significant losses.

‘EUROPEAN REGULATORS NEED TO TRUST INDIA’S CREDIBILITY’

Mumbai (PTI): India is much different today than what it was earlier and the developed world needs to trust the credibility and strength of local regulators, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Wednesday.

In comments that come in the wake of the European Securities and Markets Au thority (ESMA) and the UK derecognis ing Indian clearing houses, Das said Indian market infrastructure complies with all the international standards. “I think, it is also necessary for regulators on the other side to appreciate the credibility, they must trust the credibility and strength of the Indian regulations. That is what we are trying to impress upon them,” Das said.

WORLD’S 100 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN

Sitharaman, 5 other Indians in Forbes’ list

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Finance Min ister Nirmala Sitharaman, Biocon Executive Chair person Kiran MazumdarShaw and Nykaa founder Falguni Nayar are among six Indians who have made it to the Forbes’ annual list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.

Ranked at number 36, Si tharaman has made it to the list for the fourth time in a row. In 2021, the 63-yearold minister was ranked at number 37 in the list, while she was in the 41st spot in 2020 and 34th in 2019.

FOUR YEARS IN A ROW

z Ranked at number 36, Sitharaman has made it to the list for the fourth time in a row. In 2021, the 63-yearold minister was ranked at number 37 in the list, while she was in the 41st spot in 2020 and 34th in 2019

z The list includes 39 CEOs and 10 heads of state

The other Indians to fea ture on the list are HCLTech Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra (rank: 53), Secu rities And Exchange Board

Of India (SEBI) Chairper son Madhabi Puri Buch (rank: 54), and Steel Au thority Of India Chairper son Soma Mondal (rank: 67). Malhotra, Ma zumdar-Shaw and Nayar made it to the prestigious list last year also at 52nd, 72nd and 88th spots respec tively.

This year Mazum darShaw is ranked

72, while Nayar is at 89th spot, according to the list released by Forbes on Tuesday.

The list includes 39 CEOs; 10 heads of state; and 11 billionaires worth a combined $115 billion. The list was determined by four main metrics: money, media, im pact and spheres of influence. For politi cal leaders, it weighed gross domestic products and popu lations.

OTHER STORIES

AGRICULTURE SECTOR REMAINS RESILIENT; RABI SOWING IS OFF TO A STRONG START: RBI

Mumbai: Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday said the agriculture sector remains resilient, and the rabi sowing has got off to a strong start. However, India is expecting some moderation in kharif production due to uneven rainfall. India’s total kharif crop production is estimated to moderate to 149.92 metric million tonnes (MMT) from 156.04 MMT in the previous kharif crop year, as per the first advance estimate. On the supply side, Das said, the agricultural sector remains resilient. Rabi sow ing got off to a strong start. —PTI

GOVT

ENTITIES AS STARTUPS

New Delhi: The government has recognised as many as 84,102 entities as startups as on November 30 this year.

These startups are eligible for availing host of incentives, including income tax benefits under the Startup India scheme, launched in January 2016. “As on 30th November 2022, 84,102 enti ties have been recognised as startups by DPIIT,” MoS for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash said. —PTI

GMR AIRPORTS, NIIF

ANNOUNCE FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIP

Mumbai: GMR Airports Ltd and NIIF on Wednesday an nounced a financial partner ship under which NIIF will invest in three airport projects. The investment by NIIF will include the `631 crore in the greenfield international airport at Mopa (Goa), which is set for inauguration on December 11. This will be NIIF’s first investment in the domestic airport sec and its first direct investment in Goa. —PTI

AMALGAMATION OF PSBs HELPED IN IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICES: MoS

COMMERCE

New Delhi: The amalgamation of public sector banks has helped in improving customer services and creating strong banks, MoS for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash said. The minister said in LoK Sabha that the objective of amalga mation of the banks was to facilitate consolidation among PSBs to create “strong and competitive banks” capable of achieving economies of scale and realisation of synergy benefits with wider product and service offering to customers. —PTI

BROKEN RICE EXPORTS UP 33% TO 24 LAKH TONNE

RETIRED BPCL CHAIRMAN SINGH IS NEW ONGC HEAD

RENAULT INDIA TO HIKE PRICES ACROSS MODELS FROM JAN

COAL IMPORT BY POWER SEC RISES TO 39 MT IN APRIL-OCT

Maha promises ‘inclusive’ devt to counter Guj threat

People from at least 55 villages and hamlets in Surgana taluka recently said they would merge with Gujarat unless their issues were resolved

First India Bureau

Nashik: Maharashtra minister Dada Bhuse has assured agitators from Surgana taluka of Nashik district of “all-inclusive” devel opment of the border areas, days after they threatened to merge with Gujarat alleging

Police uniforms must for court: HC

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bom bay High Court on Wednesday said all police officers have to appear before courts in their uniform.

Advocate Subhash

Jha, while arguing a matter before a division bench of Justices AS Gadkari and PD Naik, said police officers who come to court do not fol low the court decorum and appear wearing cas ual civil clothes.

Jha pointed out to a woman police personnel, who had appeared in his matter, as she was wear ing a ‘salwar-kameez’.

“I want to raise the is sue of police officers not following the court deco rum and appearing be fore court in all sorts of clothes, like jeans,” he claimed, adding this un dermines the authority of the court.

Justice Gadkari then noted that a public pros ecutor is present to look after such things, like the clothes of the offic ers present.

Additional public pros ecutor Sangeeta Shinde then informed the court that the officer whom Jha was referring to was at tached to the city police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and wearing uni form was not mandatory for them. Justice Gadkari then stated that all police officers were expected to wear uniforms while ap pearing before court.

lack of facilities.

People from at least 55 villages and hamlets located in border areas in Surgana taluka re cently demanded that their issues be resolved, or else they would merge with neighbour ing Gujarat.

Bhuse, the guardian minister of Nashik dis

trict, told agitators at a meeting on Tuesday that Maharashtra has a legacy of social justice and development and the state is known for it across the country.

“A plan will be pre pared with a preference for an all-inclusive de velopment of tribal vil lages and ‘padas (small settlements)’ on the Gu jarat border in Surgana taluka and a timebound programme will be undertaken,” the minister said.

Barely five days ago,

Amid yatra in state, Rajasthan Congress leader resigns

New Delhi: Congress leader and business man Riju Jhunjhunwa la, who contested the Lok Sabha elections from Ajmer in 2019, on Wednesday resigned from the party stating personal reasons. The resignation came while Congress party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra was travel ling through Kota in Ra jasthan.

Jhunjhunwala sent his resignation letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, senior party leader Sachin Pilot, and Congress President Mal likarjun Kharge, stating that he tried to serve the party through various activities but in vain.

Jhunjhunwala tweet ed: “With a lot of seri ous thought and a bit of a heavy heart. @ashok gehlot51 @SachinPilot @INCIndia @INCRa jasthan @GovindDotas ra” and attached his let ter on the post.

In his letter, he stated: “While I continue with

Jhunjhunwala sent his resignation letter stating that he tried to serve the party through various activities but in vain

my commitment to serve the people of Ra jasthan with full zeal in times to come, I’m una ble to add my value to wards this mission through the party.”

“I have the highest possible regards for @ ashokgehlot51 ji and @ SachinPilot ji. The rea sons for my resignation are purely personal. The effort bring out in by @RahulGandhi ji for the #BharatJodoYatra is praiseworthy,” he tweeted.

Revealed: Aam Aadmi Party’s secret plan in the Gujarat elections

EXCLUSIVE

Vadodara: What was the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) focussing on in the Gujarat elections?

While all parties fo cus on a particular vote bank, the AAP too undertook the same approach.

Interestingly, a cab driver, who worked with

AAP’s team for three months prior to the elec tion, revealed the secret plan of AAP. According to the driver, AAP fo cused on tribal areas, while in urban areas, major cities like Surat and Ahmedabad were

on the radar. Delhi’s spe cial team stayed in these areas for 90 days and this team collected grass roots data one by one. It did the work of connect ing organizations.

Notably, according to the driver, the cash, re portedly, used to come from Delhi, first to Ahmedabad and then used to reach other are as in the state. Word is that AAP’s volunteers were expecting 25 to 30 seats in the election.

Chintaman Gavit, chief of the Nationalist Con gress Party’s unit

“Even after 75 years

la ges and hamlets in Surgana ta luka do not have basic amenities. If you cannot

CM’s busy schedule costs civic body `6L per month

First India Bureau

Mumbai: With Chief Minister Eknath Shinde keeping a busy schedule, it has fallen to the Brihan mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to manage the mainte nance of Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe au ditorium in Byculla area of the city.

The civic body has been spending Rs6 lakh a month since April, when the auditorium was handed over to it.

The 761-seater thea tre, which is yet to be used, awaits a ribboncutting ceremony by the CM. “We somehow man aged to maintain it for a few months with our limited staff. But, it is a huge area for sweeping and cleaning. To tackle the logistical issues, we issued a regular mainte nance contract,” said a civic official.

However, the mainte nance cost does not in clude electricity and water bills, which are paid for by the BMC. The maintenance con

tract of Rs38.40 lakh was issued in October this year for six months.

The previous struc ture was pulled down in 2015 to build a closed au ditorium. Estimated to be built in two-and-ahalf years, the auditori um was ready seven years later at the cost of Rs35 crore.

Former CM Uddhav Thackeray was sup posed to inaugurate the theatre in the last week of June, but the MVA government collapsed. Since then, the BMC has attempted to get CM Shinde’s appointment for its inauguration twice, but in vain. Offi

cials said Shinde has not been able to give time because of his busy schedule.

“Once inaugurated, it will be used not only for folk art but can be used for dramas and contem porary performances also,” said an official.

the lack of basic infra structure such as irriga tion and healthcare.

In border areas of

ity supply, and better port facilities, he He also received phone calls from people

trict who endorsed the demand of inclusion in

Notably, border areas of Nashik and Nandur bar districts are pre dominantly tribal.

Mungtiwar demands Nagpur-Hyd Vande Bharat Express route

First India Bureau

Mumbai: State Forest and Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mun gantiwar has written a letter to Union Rail way Minister Ashwi ni Kumar Vaishnav demanding that the Nagpur-Hyderabad Vande Bharat Ex press be started at the earliest as all the four districts of Vidarbha have close trade links with Hyderabad.

In his letter, Mungan tiwar said that Nagpur is the largest city in central India and is close to Mad hya Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh. Also it is an industrial city while Hyderabad is the biggest tourist center and industrial city in the southern region. Al though, at present there are 22 trains, which con nect Nagpur to Hy derabad, there must be a fast train to cover a dis tance of 575km.

He further wrote that if Vande Bharat Express starts between Nagpur

According to the minister, if the Vande Bharat Express train runs between Nagpur and Hyderabad, the districts of Bhandara, Gondia, and Chandrapur will benefit as well

and Hyderabad, then Bhandara, Gondia and Chandrapur districts will also get benefitted. Hence, there is an urgent need to start Vande Bharat Express connect ing Nagpur and Hy derabad to facilitate tourists, traders and en trepreneurs.

Name change? BJP MP demands Bombay High Court be called Maha High Court now

Sandeep Shukla & Tanvi Sharma

Mumbai: A demand for rechristening of Bombay High Court to Maharashtra High Court has been put forth by a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from North Mumbai on Wednesday.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, MP Go pal Shetty asked that the name change be effective from the beginning of the Parliament’s winter session.

In a letter, Shetty re ferred to a name change order passed by Maha rashtra government in 1960. “In the year 1960, the Maharashtra gov ernment had passed an order to change the name of Bombay HC to Maharashtra HC.

However, this order was never implemented. In 1995, Bombay was re named Mumbai but the

high court’s name was never changed.”

He further added, “The citizens of Maha rashtra feel a special sig nificance in the use of the word Maharashtra. According to the lan guage, tradition and cul ture of the state of Ma harashtra, the name Maharashtra High Court expresses the word’s meaning at the lo

cal level.”

A public interest liti gation (PIL) was filed in the Bombay HC in this regard (the name change). However, the high court said on November 03, 2022 that as the process for name change is a parlia mentary one, any amendment should come from the Parlia ment, said the MP.

In his letter, Shetty also invoked the Consti tution of India (Part-VI States) Chapter V Arti cle 214. “In the phrase ‘a high court in every state’ should be amended to ‘a high court in the name of the state for every state’. It should be directed that every high court be named after the state it is located in,” mentioned the letter.

Akhilesh Solanki

Bombay High Court —FILE PHOTO

in Surgana taluka, had complained that the

Maharashtra govern ment’s “apathy” had led to a lack of develop ment in the area.

A plan will be prepared with a preference for an all-inclusive development of tribal villages and ‘padas (small settlements)’ on the Gujarat border in Surgana taluka and a time-bound programme will be under taken.

— DADA BHUSE, Maha Minister

Gopal Shetty presents issue in Lok Sabha on Wed; urges Parliament to christen all HCs after states

The 761-seater theatre, which is yet to be used, awaits a ribboncutting ceremony by the CM. —FILE PHOTO

Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe auditorium ready for inauguration since April but Shinde unable to find time

Sudhir Mungtiwar —FILE PHOTO

Cong leader Rahul Gandhi with party’ leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Sachin Pilot during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kota on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

First India Bureau

A Beautiful Changemaker!

“You cannot change the world, but you change one thought, and the world will change on its own hence,” said Marishca Rodrigues, a ravishing beauty hailing from the green lands of Mumbai called Vasai and one of the finalists of First India Queen, in a candid conversation with City First!

The world needs strong women.

Women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved.

Women who live brave ly, both tender and fierce. Women of in domitable will. Marish ca Rodrigues, one of the finalists of First India Queen proved that Many of the things that seem impossible now will become realities of tomorrow and the lim its of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible.

From being trolled for the type of acneprone skin and skinny body she carries to be come the girl she always wanted to be, strong, tall and confident, Mar ishca Rodrigues, hail ing from the green

lands of Mumbai called Vasai shook the world with her beautiful transformation.

She again proved that ‘Your success in life isn’t based on your abil ity to simply change. It is based on your ability to change faster than your competition be

cause change is hard because people overes timate the value of what they have and un derestimate the value of what they may gain by giving that up.’

When asked about her journey the beauty said, “I am a 24-year-old stand ing 5 feet 11 inches tall,

who is passionate about sports and fitness. I am a trained badmin ton player as well. I am currently pursuing a bach elor’s in Educa tion. I have been a semi-finalist in the top four major pageants of India which includes Miss India, Miss Diva, Miss Earth and Miss Inter national. I be lieve ‘You cannot change the world, but you change one thought, and the world will change on its own hence I am work ing as an educa tor, shaping every child’s future in the best way possi ble thus keeping a balance of my responsi bilities towards my fam ily, studies as well as my passion.”

The ravishing beauty further said, “I am ex tremely grateful to Dr Jagdeesh Chandra and First India Queen for providing me this gold en opportunity and making my dreams come true.”

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

—PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA

Marishca Rodrigues bagged the ‘Best Runway Walk’ title during the grand finale of First India Queen

Writing Ideas FOR NEW AGE Entrepreneurs

KARTIK BAJORIA (the author is a Jaipur-based Communication Skills Educator & amp; Writer)

New-age Entre preneurs are an inspired, selfmotivated, hun gry, discerning lot of individu als who are on a constant hunt for opportu nities that can enhance and/or bolster their im age, network, and of course, their net worth! To this end, perhaps they’d be wise to think a little out-ofthe-box, to approach life from a slightly alternative standpoint wherein they don’t JUST look into their immediate entrepreneuri al ventures and directlyrelated streams as forms of building their networks and; net-worth. Writing, in fact, a slew of different kinds of Creative Writing, presents a goldmine of un explored and unexploited platforms through which to proliferate a new-age entrepreneur’s vision, ide as, philosophies, achieve ments, and message. Let us examine how exactly this can be extended.

NOVEL IDEA TO BE A NOVELIST!

Many entrepreneurs, espe cially those who have had a flair and interest in writ ing, have a brilliant oppor tunity of becoming novel ists. You’d be hard- pressed to find an entrepreneur who has not had an excit ing, against-all-odds kind of story, or a reservoir of experiences with situa tions and people whilst setting up their business es. All these personal

growth stories and anec dotes, characters met along the way and through their individual journeys, can be used as great fiction material by entrepreneurs and turned into extremely immersive, inspiring and fun novels. Encounters with powerful people, poli ticians, planners, govern ments and departments, industries and boards and the myriad of interesting people an entrepreneur meet along the way; it isn’t always possible to write a non-fiction, tell-all book. So why not turn it all into one exaggerated, superfun, fiction novel with all the twists and turns of a nail-biter? If it hits the mark, there will be anoth er source of personal rev enue and another interest ing dimension to the entre preneur’s personality!

PERFECT CVS & RESUMES

Another facet of writing that most entrepreneurs will understand insight fully and naturally will be how to best represent one self to the public. Having ostensibly represented themselves to many insti tutions, investors, bodies and individuals, entrepre neurs ought to have a firm handle on how to write and put together the most succinct yet impressive and noticeable resumes. Why not turn this inher ent knowledge into a skill that one employs to help others, with the imminent possibility of that itself becoming a real moneyspinner? It might sound a touch mundane when com pared to being a potential ly beloved and recognized novelist, but hey, being someone who helps lessinformed people with their resumes will certainly bring more good karma in one’s favour, and if it clicks, even more in the cash register than some fairly known novelists

could manage!

EDUCATION

The eternal debate, to study or to learn on the job. The great and enviable fact is that an entrepre neur can help bridge this divide between academia and professional experi ence more effectively than anyone else. How? By con tributing their learnings, understanding, insights, real-world-problems and their solutions, and realworld requirements, by way of curating material for online programs rang ing from Entrepreneurial Workshops to Seminars

ARIES

and longer courses even. There is hardly anyone better suited to developing course content than some one who has been through the grind themselves and emerged not only success ful but infinitely more en lightened as a result. Think about it. From startup champion to suave pro fessor! Does have an unde niably nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

BIOGRAPHY

Would it not be utterly fas cinating to read the reallife account of a person such as Elon Musk, the renegade, iconic, new-age

entrepreneur and force be hind the always-in-thenews electric car giant Tesla? Sure, it would be. Becoming one’s own biog rapher for most new-age entrepreneurs, pouring their unique struggles and learnings, triumphs and failures, lessons and dis ruptive ideas into a tell-all the factual book would not just make for interesting reading, it would be a hugely inspirational ac count for upstarts who want to learn, avoid mak ing costly mistakes, even truly test if they have the same fire and passion as is needed to really make it as

a successful entrepreneur. Why not be that entrepre neur who enlightens and shakes up the world with your biography?

BLOGGER

Finally, of course, there’s blogging. Don’t have the time or wherewithal to be come a full-time, long-form writer, no problem at all. Write short, quick yet reg ular and insightful sliceof-life pieces on your own website, blog, microsite or better still, on one or two of a plethora of platforms most suited to your spe cific area of business.

These short writings have the potential of gathering an immense following, a family, a community that will become loyal to you, stay engaged, and come

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAR 21 - APR 20

Your innovative ideas on the professional front are likely to be well received. Good health will keep you fit and energetic. Spirituality will have a special allure for you. You are likely to expand your social circle. You are likely to get immense fulfillment in your current romantic relationship.

LEO JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

A job switch needs to be considered taking all aspects into consideration.

It is one of those days when you will feel satisfied with whatever you do today on the social front. Those seeking love may not get lucky, but persistence will pay. A friend can touch a sensitive nerve.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 22

A profitable day for entrepreneurs is envisaged. You may be played upon for spending on someone else’s needs and desires. Homemakers are likely to enjoy the day in the company of neighbors and friends. Fatigue threatens in a long journey, but adequate breaks will keep you going.

You succeed in putting an ambitious project on the tracks and cross all hurdles in making it a success. Homemakers can exceed budget in doing up their homes. An old friend or a relative is likely to pay you a visit. Love beckons and promises to give immense joy.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

You have a good health and there is nothing to worry as such. To prevent any monetary loss, you should care to read your business proposal twice before taking any decision. In office, you may need to persuade someone to stand in your favour but it will be worth it.

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

Homemakers will get a chance to implement their ideas. You are likely to be recognised for your efforts on the professional front. Chance of a raise is possible for some. Timely and correct decision will help you in saving a lot of money. You will be able to de-stress yourself completely.

CAPRICORN

DEC 23 - JAN 20

You continue to stay fit and healthy and there is nothing to worry as far as health is concerned. Because of limit flow of money, your financial condition is not stable yet. Your hard in office will bring your recognition and appreciation from your senior.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19

Keep a close tab on what you eat if you want to remain healthy. You must limit your expenses to only buying essential stuff. In office, your colleagues may not like your upfront nature. Your love may not give the kind of attention you have been waiting for.

along with you, in what ever you do – an invaluable asset for an entrepreneur, to enjoy that kind of per sonal connect with at least a section of the like-mind ed target audience. As a happy by-product, the en trepreneur gets to write, share, discover, and learn from the highly dynamic, engaged, and interactive nature of the blogging world! New-age entrepre neurs need to not only con duct business in newer, more innovative ways but also find avenues of ex pressing themselves and their personalities in equally unorthodox and alternative ways. Creative Writing in many of its forms could serve as that perfect solution. Happy Writing!

CANCER

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

You may go for a cheat meal all as a reward for maintaining good health. If you have been struggling with money then that’s a thing of a past now as money will flow in from all the directions. In office, you will support your colleague by sharing his/her work pressure.

PISCES

FEB20 - MARCH 20

Your optimism will keep you going and you will find yourself in absolute peace. The more time you invest in a project completion, the better it will in terms of monetary gains. In social life, avoid venting your anger on some who is younger or elder to you.

Kajol to reunite with SRK?

ajol and Shah Rukh Khan are ar guably the most successful onscreen couple in the history of Indian Cinema. In an interview, the Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior actress spilled the beans on join ing hands with King Khan again. She said: "As of now nothing. I don't know. Maybe we should ask him, but as of now, nothing immediately." Further, the actress added that she would love to work with him again. Kajol said that somebody once asked her why Shah Rukh has become such a massive star, and she said, “It’s because he worked hard for it.” —Agency

Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur are coming togeth er for the first time in a film, Metro In Dino.

The stellar cast includes Anupam Kher, Neena Gup ta, Pankaj Tripathi, Konko na Sen Sharma, Ali Fazal, and Fatima Sana Shaikh.

Directed by Anurag Basu, with music by Pritam, the film is produced by Bhush an Kumar, Krishan Kumar,

Ever since the first video of Bade Mi yan Chote Miyan featuring Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff has been released, it has ignited the audience's excitement to hear more about the film. While the film features Aksh ay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, now there is an addition to the exciting squad with Prithviraj Sukumaran joining the entertainer. Aksh ay Kumar shared the poster of Prithviraj Su kumaran and wrote, “Welcome on board this crazy action rollercoat er, @therealprithvi.”

—Agency

BAFTAs awards. “The positive things that I learned from her, which is actually very, very similar to my personality is that she never let that child like innocence go, even though she was fighting this big bad world, and being a part of this big bad world, so to speak. Her innocence and her vulnerability was intact, despite having to play this very strong role for these women,” said Alia.

She further added that it also gave her a lot of guts to speak in a big room, some thing she had been nervous to do since she started working at a young age.

Pooja Entertainment’s next, di rected by Jagan Shakti will feature Tiger Shroff and Sara Ali Khan in lead. The film is said to be among the biggest action entertainers and is set to go on floors in the month of December. Jagan Shakti directorial, titled Ea gle, has gone on floors on December 6 with Tiger Shroff. The producers, Vashu and Jackky Bhagnani, have got the KGF action director, Anbu Arivu on board the film. Sara Ali Khan is expected to join Tiger on the first schedule of Eagle soon.

Body shamed in Bollywood

Priyanka Chopra Jo nas is a global face today. She dons multiple hats of an actor, producer, author, and entre preneur. Recalling what people used to call her, the Mu jhse Shaadi Karoge actress said, “I was called a black cat, dusky.

I mean, what does 'dusky' even mean in a country where we are literal ly all brown? I thought I was

not pretty enough, I believed that I would have to work a lot harder, even though I thought I was probably a little bit more talented than my fellow ac tors who were lighter skinned.” ”I think maybe I’ve built a certain amount of credi bility, and so I’m doing interesting work. We’ll see if that’s accepted or not. It’s really hard to be Indian in Hollywood. There’s still a long way to go,” she

Anurag Basu and Taani Basu. It will showcase bit tersweet tales of human relationships based on contemporary times. Au diences will not only expe rience a fresh storyline but also witness a fresh pairing of Adi tya and Sara Ali Khan together in this present-day chronicle.

—Agency

Sara Ali Khan and Tiger Shroff

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Akshay’s Story

Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff

Aditya Roy Kapur

Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur posing with Anurag Basu, Pritam and Bhushan Kumar

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol

OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID: PRIYANKA CHOPRA

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

Global icon Priyanka Chopra Jonas is one such actress who has earned a name for herself both in Bol lywood and Holly wood. And, with each passing day, she is adding glo rious feathers to her hat, she is one of the only four Indians to make it to the list of BBC’s ‘100 Women’ this year. The actor has now revealed in a corresponding inter view how things were not always this golden for her. She spoke about never getting paid equally to the male lead in her early days in Bollywood and also how men earned spe cial privileges on film sets.

After receiving the award, she spoke about her experi ence of being underpaid and facing pay disparity in Bolly wood. The desi girl revealed she used to get only 10% of what the leading hero was paid. PeeCee said she was not the only one to face this even all other actresses of her gen

eration had gone through this. Priyanka was quoted saying, “I've never had pay parity in Bollywood. I would get paid about 10% of the sal ary of my male co-actor. It's (the pay gap) large, substan tially large. And so many women still deal with that.

I'm sure I will too if I worked with a male co-actor now in Bollywood. My generation of female actors has definitely asked (for equal pay). We've asked, but we've not got it.”

Priyanka also spoke about the treatment she would get on sets and how she thought it was something normal. "I thought it was absolutely OK to sit for hours and hours on set, while my male co-ac tor just took his own time, and decided whenever he wanted to show up on set is when we would shoot," she said.

She also spoke about how things are different in Holly wood when she said that Cita del will be the first time she will have a male co-lead, Rich ard Madden. “Well, the first time it's happened to me, it has happened in Hollywood. So I don't know going for ward,” she said.

Earlier Mrs Jonas had also mentioned that being a global icon is no easy task and she wanted us to know how an ac

Alia Bhatt Showers love on Radhika Madan’s Sanaa!

CITY FIRST

It’s no new news that Radhika Madan’s titular film Sanaa directed by national award-winning direc tor Sudhanshu Saria has been receiving praise and applause wherever it has set foot. Adding to the

adulation, recently Ra dhika and the film re ceived a thumbs up from Alia Bhatt and Shaheen Bhatt’s joint venture Eternal Sun shine.

The Bhatt sisters' production house took it to their Instagram and penned down a heartwarming note for the film. It read, “#Eternal supports ‘Eternal Supports’ came about so we could play our small part in shining a light on films that need to be seen. Sanaa is one such film. Directed by national award-win ning filmmaker Sud hanshu Saria, Sanaa is a sensitive, nuanced narrative about bodily autonomy and a wom an’s right to choose. We love how Sanaa tackles such a vitally impor tant but less talked about the subject with grace and honesty. It also features an abso lutely electric performance by @radhikhama dan. Keep an eye out for this brilliant film!”

Radhika Madan’s San aa has been receiv ing huge apprecia tion and applause at the global level with its screening at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

The audience was deeply moved and left the screens with tears in their eyes and satisfaction in their hearts.

tor's job makes one feel. When Priyanka was asked about the hashtag that best describes her, she went on to say 'over worked but underpaid' and one might agree given how she has been all over the place.

Meanwhile, Priyanka is in a happy space both in her per sonal and professional life. In January this year, she em braced motherhood and wel comed her first child, daughter Malti with her singer husband Nick Jonas. The couple became parents through surro gacy and an nounced the arrival of their baby girl on social me dia.

On the work front, she will be starring with Alia Bhatt and Kat rina Kaif in Farhan Akhtar's Jee Le Zaraa, Jee Le Zaraa is re portedly going on floors soon and will be ready for re lease in the sum

For the upcoming Marathi historical drama "Vedat Mar athe Veer Daudle Saat," Bollywood actor Khiladi Akshay Kumar and director Mahesh Manjrekar have worked together. In the movie, which Vaseem Qureshi is producing, the actor will be seen in the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Laxmii ac tor released the movie's poster and the initial filming schedule on Tuesday. The historical action drama has be gun filming in Mumbai.

However, because of the commercial failure of his film Samrat Prithvi raj, netizens brutally trolled Kumar.

The 55-year-old actor took to his Instagram handle and shared the poster from the Marathi period drama and wrote, “Starting the shoot of

Pashmina spends time with young girls in Vrindavan!

aking a step to wards donating to the noble cause of girl child edu cation, Pashmina

dia urging her fans to donate to promote the literacy of young girls.

She recently visited a school Vrindavan, which provides free education, food, transport and

leged girls.She shared videos and urged her fans to contribute, "The Sandipani Muni School in Vrindavan, provides FREE education and healthcare services to over 1600 poor girls. This is how the girls start their day: with prayer, dance, laughter, passion and so much hope! Thanks to my cousin @smritikumar03 we got to spend some time with these brilliant, talented girls. Here is a link to the @fflvindia website.

ryan Khan posted a photo of a white spiral-binded book with the sentence “For Aryan Khan” print ed in bold. There was also a clapperboard with Red Chillies Entertain ment writ ten in red. Both the props were kept on a snooker table along with two red balls. Khan took to the cap tions and wrote,

“Wrapped with the writing… can’t wait to say action”.

The comments section instant ly filled with wishes for the 24-year-old with several colleagues and friends of SRK wishing Aryan good luck. There also was a special message by the Dad himself where he wishes his son all the best. “Wow….think ing…believing…. dreaming done, now onto dare…. wish u the best for the first one.

It’s always special….,” he wrote. Gauri too poured her love on Aryan as she wrote, “Can’t wait to watch”.

Shah Rukh Khan had previously mentioned that Aryan does not have an interest in act ing as he did. He added that his son loves to work behind the cam era and has also done his degree in Film studies. Hence, the announce ment of Aryan directing a pro ject does not come as a surprise.

Pashmina Roshan

Priyanka Chopra

Aryan Khan

Alia’s post...