First India-Jaipur Edition-10th December 2022

CYCLONE MANDOUS ALERT IN SOUTH GIRDING UP LOINS FOR THE WORST!

Moni Sharma

Chennai: Northern coastal Tamil Nadu witnessed light to moderate rainfall and some places heavy showers as the cyclonic storm ‘Mandous’ continued to move further closer to the State’s coastline, and it is set to cross the coast near starting mid-

night, the IMD said on Friday. A holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in Chennai, and other districts including Vellore, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram on Saturday due to rain forecast. Late Friday Mandous was 90km SE of Mamallapuram. P6

PARLIAMENT WINTER SESSION

Bill related to Uniform Civil Code passed in RS

First India Bureau

New Delhi: A controversial private member’s Bill that seeks to provide for a panel to prepare a Uniform Civil Code was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. ‘The Uniform Civil Code in India Bill, 2020’ was introduced amid protests from Opposition parties.

BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena moved for leave to introduce the Bill to provide for the constitution of nat’l inspection and investigation committee for preparation of a UCC and its implementation throughout India and for matters connected therewith during the pvt member’s business.

Congress, CPI, CPI(M), TMC protested against introduction of Bill saying it will “destroy” the social fabric and unity in diversity in country.

A private member bill to regulate appt of judges through National Judicial Commission was introduced in RS by CPI(M)’s Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya but AAP MP Raghav Chadha opposed it. P5

Gandhis sight tigress Sultana at Ranthambore National Park

reached the spot where they observed tigress Sultana.

Sawai Madhopur: Former National President of Congress Sonia Gandhi visited Ranthambore National Park along with her family on her 76th birthday on Friday.

During the evening safari in the park on Friday, they were informed about a possible tiger sighting at Mishradarrah in the park and the family

According to sources, on Thursday late at the hotel, Sonia celebrated her birthday along with Rahul, Priyanka, Robert Vadra and other family members.

On Friday, Sonia and Priyanka Gandhi had reached Dastkar Kendra and spent more than 20 minutes there. They purchased some handicraft items and jacket for Rahul Gandhi.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

SC dismisses plea seeking disclosure of 2018 Collegium meeting details

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The SC on Friday dismissed a plea seeking disclosure of the details of a collegium meeting held on December 12, 2018 under the Right to Information Act, underlining a “tentative decision” of the multi-member body cannot be brought in the public domain.

A bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar said only resolutions drawn and signed by all Collegium mem-

bers can be said to be a final decision. Tentative resolutions drawn upon discussion and consultation among the members cannot be said to be final unless they are signed by all of them, it said. SC said it cannot place reliance on reports & interview of a former member of Collegium, and it doesn’t want to comment on remarks made by former judge.

Congress high command to decide Himachal CM

A one-line resolution was passed in the CLP meeting that the party high command will decide next CM in HP

First India Bureau

Mumbai (FIB): Vikas Walkar, father of Shraddha Walkar on Friday met Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. Later, he claimed his daughter would have been alive had Maha cops acted on a written plaint by her. She had written a letter in 2020 indicating her fears about being killed by Aaftab. He said that Fadnavis assured him that he will get justice.

New Delhi: The Himachal Pradesh Congress legislature party, which met on Friday, has decided that the next chief minister of the state will be decided by the party high command, MLA Sundar Thakur told media.

According to Thakur, a one-line resolution was passed in the legislature party meeting in

Shimla that the Congress high command will decide the next chief minister.

State Congress chief Pratibha Singh, former party chief Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and outgoing legislature party leader Mukesh Agnihotri are among the top contenders for the post.

Rajeev Gaur and Shiv Prakash Purohit

ment. CM instructed the doctors for proper treatment of the injured. He told that a special team of doctors has left from Jaipur for better treatment of those injured.

The CM termed the accident as heartwrenching, and wished speedy recovery of the injured. “The state government is with them in this hour of crisis.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot meets the injured and inquires about the health at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur on Friday.

All necessary arrangements have been made for all possible treatment of the injured.

The topmost priority at

this time is to save each and every injured person and no stone will be left unturned in this direction. More on P3

A man stands on Kasimedu fishing harbour being hit by the high tides due to the strong winds triggered by Cyclone Mandous, in Chennai on Friday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Ahmedabad: TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale, who was arrested for the second time in three days on Thursday, has managed to get bail once again over an alleged “fake tweet” against PM Narendra Modi, party said on Friday.

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a VC of Guvs, CMs, and LGs of UTs to discuss aspects relating to India’s G20 presidency. PM said G20 belongs to entire nation, is a unique opportunity to showcase country’s strengths. P6

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unlikely to travel to Russia this year for an annual bilateral summit between the two countries, sources said. The G20 summit in Bali was PM Modi’s last visit abroad this year.

TMC’S GOKHALE GETS BAIL A DAY AFTER 2ND ARREST G20: PM CHAIRS MEET WITH GUVs, CMs, LGs

Opposition move to block Uniform Civil Code bill rejected

The National Judicial Commission Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha, AAP opposes

Both the Parliament houses adjourned till 11am on December 12

BILL PASSED WITH 63 VOTES

COLLEGIUM APPROVES APPT OF THREE ADDL JUDGES AS PERMANENT JUDGES

BILLS INTRODUCED IN LS TO REVISE ST LISTS IN 4 STATES

WHAT IS THE BILL ABOUT?

With the Opposition members seeking withdrawal of the Bill, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar called for division and the motion for introduction of the Bill was passed with 63 votes in favour and 23 against it.

The SC Collegium headed by CJI DY Chandrachud on Friday approved the proposal for appointment of three Additional Judges as Permanent Judges in the Kerala High Court. The 2 Additional Judges whose names have been approved are Justices Abdul Rahim Musaliar Badharudeen, Viju Abraham and Mohammed Nias CP.

Four separate bills were introduced in Lok Sabha on Friday to revise the lists of Scheduled Tribes in as many states. Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda introduced the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bills for Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh.

Bill envisages a collection of laws to protect the personal rights of all citizens without considering religion. To become a law, a private member’s Bill needs to be endorsed by the government and cleared in both Houses of the Parl.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar conducts the proceedings of the House during the Winter Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi on Friday.

‘LONG BAIL HEARINGS A WASTE, IT SHOULDN’T EXCEED 10 MINS’ Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, senior-most judge of SC after CJI, on Friday disapproved of practice of filing lengthy bail applications and arguing “as if a final conviction has already taken place”. Bail application should be of 5 pages, arguments should not exceed 10 minutes, Justice Kaul said.

‘Shraddha had been alive if cops acted...’

RESCUE OPS ENTER 60 HRS TO SAVE 8-YR-OLD BOY STUCK IN BOREWELL

SC NOTICE TO CENTRE ON AGE OF MARRIAGE FOR MUSLIM GIRLS

Betul: The rescue operation to save eight-year-old Tanmay Sahu who fell into a 400-feet deep borewell in Mandavi village of MP’s Betul district, surpassed 60 hours on Friday. The boy fell into the borewell while playing on December 6.

New Delhi: The SC on Friday issued notice to the Centre on a petition filed by National Commission for Women (NCW) to make the minimum age of marriage for Muslim girls the same as that of persons belonging to other religions.

SS Sukhu Pratibha Singh

Ziauddin Khan and Sandeep Goyal

SHERGARH

CYLINDER

Jodhpur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reached the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur on Friday and inquired about the wellbeing of the injured in the gas cylinder accident at Bhungra in Shergarh area and inquired about their treat-

CM Gehlot inquires about well being of victims, announces assistance of `7 lakh each to the relatives of the deceased and `1 lakh to the injured

People are fed up with misrule of Congress, Poonia lashes out

Jhunjhunu: BJP state president Satish Poonia participated in Jan Aakrosh Yatra organized in Bharunda on Friday. Addressing the gathering, he said that the yatra is a journey against the issues of electricity, road, and water. He said that there is a complaint box where people can put in their complaints which will then be sent to the government.

Poonia said that numerous complaints have been received. He mentioned a unique complaint, where a young man said that he cannot get married in the Congress govt. He also sought to know whether he would be able to get married if the BJP comes to power?

Later, a press conference was organized in which the state government was cornered on various issues.

Meanwhile, BJP organised a review meeting on the defeat it faced during the by-election. Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore met with the workers including candidate Ashok Pincha. Rajendra Rathore held a meeting in his village Harpalsar.

workers and distributed the pamphlet containing the failures of the present Congress govt in the state.

RAJU THEHAT MURDER

Lady don demands security following murder of Thehat

Jhunjhunu: Notorious women gangster Anuradha Chaudhary, popularly known as Lady Don, has demanded security from the government after noted criminal Raju Thehat was shot down in Sikar a few days back.

While speaking to First India, Anuradha Chaudhary said that the issue is being raised on social media as she was associated with the Anand Pal gang. “I have nothing to do with this matter. Many politicians from Rajasthan took advantage of Anandpal. I am not involved in the murder of Raju Thehat. I came for-

ward and informed the local police station that I can be questioned anytime if needed. My name is being wrongly dragged by media organisations. My mother is still alive while the social media spread the rumors that my mother is not alive,” said Anuradha Chaudhary alias Anurag.

Jaipur: Former BJP Minister and MLA Vasudev Devnani while addressing a press conference regarding the Jan Aakrosh Yatra at BJP state headquarters said that the condition of Rajasthan in the field of education is very bad and Ashok Gehlot govt is responsible for it. “There is a lot of resentment among the youth in this Jungle Raj about the 50 percent vacancies in the higher education category,” he said.“Out of 476 govt colleges in the state, 386 posts of principals are vacant and students are being taught by guest faculty lecturers where permanent lecturers are needed.”The Congress govt has won accolades for opening new colleges, by making big announcements, but everything is zero on the ground. The MLA said that posts of librarians are lying vacant in 27 colleges in the state.”

UNABATED COLD WAVE

Sikar’s Fatehpur coldest in the State at 5.5° Celsius

Jaipur (PTI): Fatehpur in Sikar was recorded as the coldest place in Rajasthan on Thursday night with a minimum temperature of 5.5 degrees Celsius, officials said.

There was a slight increase in the minimum temperatures across Rajasthan in the last 24 hours, the Meteorological Department said.

Among other places, Churu recorded a minimum temperature of 5.6 degrees on Thursday night, Karauli 6.1 degrees, Bhilwara 6.4 degrees, and Chittorgarh 6.7 degrees.

The maximum and minimum tempera-

REPAIR WORK

tures in Jaipur settled at of 27.7 and 10.9 degrees Celsius.

According to the Meteorological department, the weather will remain dry in the

Satish Poonia asks his 5th question to Rahul Gandhi

First India Bureau

Jaipur: BJP State President Satish Poonia posed his 5th question to Rahul Gandhi on Friday. Poonia said Rahul often visits temples during the yatra and whether his going to temples is political hypocrisy.

“Do you have any faith in this? If this were the case, you would have definitely taken cognizance of the 300 years old Lord Shiva temple in Rajgarh being demolished. It seems that if you had faith, you would have definitely questioned the height of appeasement done by the Cong. The manner in which Kanhaiyalal Teli of Udaipur was killed and the manner in which appeasement happened continuously, the manner in which atrocities were committed on the majority of the people,” he asked in his video message.

On the one hand, permission is given to PFI in Kota for a rally on the issue of the Hijab. On the other hand, all these cities like Karauli, Jodhpur, and Bhilwara are burnt in the fire riots. “What is the answer as to why your Congress government banned Ram Navami and Hindu New Year processions?” he asked.

`239 crore for water pipelines in Walled City: Joshi

Naresh Sharma

Jaipur: To improve the drinking water system in the walled city of the state capital the old water pipeline will be replaced with a new pipeline. Approval of Rs 239 crores has been sanctioned for this. With this replacement, people will get rid of polluted water and will be provided with a smooth supply of clean drinking water. In view of the positive initiative of Water Supply Minister Dr Mahesh Joshi, the Water Supply Department has sanctioned Rs 239 crore for the replacement of old pipelines in the walled city and surrounding areas. Moreover, the replacement of old lines with new lines and the improvement of urban water schemes will also take place to ensure a smooth supply of drinking water.

The water supply de-

Teen shoots self after gf marries another man

Bhilwara (PTI): A 17-year-old youth allegedly shot himself dead in Bhilwara district after his girlfriend got married to another man, police said Friday.

The incident happened on Thursday night inside the premises of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital which was captured on CCTV cameras, they said.

partment will replace the old pipeline in the walled city for areas including Chowkdi Gangapole, Chowkdi Ghatghate, Chowkdi Vishweshwarji, Chowkdi Ramchandra, Purani Basti, Topkhana Hazuri, Topkhana Desh, Amritpuri, Mandi Khatikaan, Laxminarayapuri, and Kanwar Nagar.

Honour killing: Father held for killing daughter in Dholpur

First India Bureau

state over the next few days while the sky will remain partly cloudy in Kota and Udaipur division of south Rajasthan from December 11 to 13.

JDC & Collector inspect Kartarpur Nullah

Kashiram Choudhary

HELD

Some passersby took the boy, identified as Yash Vyas, inside the hospital, Circle Officer (Bhilwara city) Narendra Dayma said. He was later referred to Udaipur for treatment where he succumbed to the injuries on Friday morning, he said.

According to the police, Vyas and the girl studied in the same school. Before taking the step, the youth shared a status on his social me-

Dholpur: The Dholpur police have solved a murder mystery and arrested a man for allegedly strangulating her daughter to death as he had an intercaste relationship. Police informed the accused has been identified as Virogi Jatav, a resident of Kharagpur village of Dholpur.

Sources informed that a drone survey will be carried out soon following which the Kartarpur nullah will be cleaned with the help of JMC

Jaipur: The repair and cleaning of Kartarpur Nullah will soon take place in Jaipur. Jaipur Development Commissioner (JDC) Ravi Jain and District Collector

Prakash Rajpurohit on Friday inspected the Kartarpur Nullah and chalked out a plan to clean the nullah so that people residing in the area can get relief from bad smell and scattered garbage.

The senior bureaucrats inspected the Nullah from Sahkar Marg to the Swej Farm area.

Sources informed a

drone survey will be carried out soon, following which, the nullah will be cleaned with the help of Jaipur Municipal Corpo-

ration, and repair works will take place. The repair & cleaning work will take place from Kartarpura to Gurjar Ki Thadi.

dia about being upset with his girlfriend’s marriage, they said.

A“The body of the girl was recovered from Bagcholi Khar village on October 2, 2019, under mysterious circumstances. After the post-mortem, it was revealed that the girl died of strangulation,” police said. “The accused was arrested from Uttar Pradesh and is being interrogated,” police added.

Adv PC Bhandari moves HC against judiciary strike

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Keeping in mind the strike of judicial employees in the subordinate courts for 21 days, Poonam Chand Bhandari , advocate of the Rajasthan High Court, through advocates Dr TN Sharma and Abhinav Bhandari submitted a petition requesting that the strike is going on for 21 days and both the government and the High Court are silent. He said no work is be-

ing done and the public is worried.

It has been said in the petition that the CBI should be directed to investigate the alleged death of the judicial employee as the matter is serious.

In the report filed by the sister of the deceased, serious allegations have been leveled against the judge of the NDPS court. In such a situation, when all the employees of Rajasthan are on mass leave, therefore CBI investigation is very necessary and the HC itself settles the cases through Lok Adalat. In the petition, Principal Secretary

Home Department, Police Commissioner, Rajasthan HC, and CBI have been made parties.

Manoj Tank

A complaint box has been set up where people can put their complaints for the govt

Satish Poonia addressing the gathering at Jan Aakrosh Yatra organized at Bharunda in Jhnunjhunu on Friday.

Pradeep Gadhwal

SARAF DISTRIBUTES PAMPHLETS SHOWING FAILURES OF CONG GOVT

CONG RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR EDU SYSTEM IN RAJ: DEVNANI

Jaipur: On the sixth day of the Jan Aakrosh Yatra, rallies were taken out in three wards (137,141,145) of Mahesh Nagar Mandal in the Malviya Nagar assembly constituency. Malviya Nagar MLA Kalicharan Saraf flagged off the Jan Akrosh Yatra vehicle from Ward 137 Tonk Road, Pinkcity Honda in the city. Saraf said that the most expensive petrol diesel in the country is available in Rajasthan, and the most expensive electricity is in Rajasthan. This is because the Congress govt has imposed heavy taxes on both of them. Saraf went door-to-door with the

Snow accumulated on the plants in Kishangarh on Friday.

Incident took place inside the premises of MGH.

EXTREME STEP

Dr Mahesh Joshi

Anuradha Chaudhary.

DEATH TOLL RISES TO 7; CM VISITS INJURED

Rajeev Gaur & Shiv Prakash Purohit

Jodhpur: Toll in the cylinder explosion accident during a wedding function in Bhungra village in Shergarh sub-division here shot up to 7 on Friday.

A leaking cylinder caused an explosion and fire in a house, injuring 52 persons.

Four more persons, including 3 women and a child, succumbed to

their burn injuries on Friday.

Superintendent of MG Hospital Raj Shri Behra said 52 injured had been taken to the hospital. “Some of them were in critical condition. 5 of these injured have succumbed till now,” said Behra adding these injured have above 70% burn.

Injured also include groom Surendra Singh, his parents & other family members.

Jaipur: After the Jodhpur gas cylinder blast toll reached seven, Food and Supplies Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas held a joint meeting with oil companies, gas distributors and officials on Friday and reprimanded the representatives of the oil companies.

Mincing no words, he said that if LPG cylinder leakage happens anywhere, the oil com-

panies will be responsible for it as the cooking gas is refilled at the plants of the companies & then reaches agencies and people’s homes.

In a meeting with the officials of BPCL, HPCL

CM Gehlot on Friday met injured in hospital. He announced an exgratia of Rs 2 lakh for deceased and Rs 1 lakh for injured besides free

treatment up to Rs 5L under Cheeranjivi scheme. He also announced an out-of-turn promotion for a police-

man Dungar Singh, who had jumped into the burning house.

An eye witness Ravindra Singh said all the guests were having

First India Bureau

tea before the departure of the barat when suddenly a powerful explosion was heard.

“We tried hard to get into house to save those

From P1…

Gehlot said that since the accident, he is in constant touch with the district administration and is taking updates about the treatment of the injured. He said that many women and children have suffered severe burn injuries, which is worrying. “In this situation, efforts are being made to provide proper treatment by talking to the doctors.

stranded inside but were helpless due to raging fire. Those who could manage to rush out were taken to hosp,” Singh added.

Instructions have also been given to the District Collector to investigate the accident,” Gehlot said and instructed the District Collector to communicate with the gas agencies for regular maintenance and make new guidelines so that such accidents can be prevented.

Jaipur: Mayor of Municipal Corporation

Greater Dr Somya and State Sports Council

President Krishna Poonia inaugurated Khelo Jaipur programme with badminton competition at Ajax Metropolitan Club, Vaishali Nagar here. Mayor said that sports are important as they make a person healthy and foster mutual harmony

and love.

In badminton competition, matches will be played between the councillors, officers and media. She said that sports competitions will be organized at the ward level also under the Khelo Jaipur programme. This will help city people take maximum advantage of the public welfare schemes of the corporation by associating with the corporation.

and IOCL companies at Secretariat, Khachariyawas said, “People do not know where to complain about LPG cylinder leakage. Common people will have to be made aware of this.”

Bharatpur: ACB on Friday arrested Dr Mohan Singh and his broker at Pahari Hospital in a graft case. During this, people standing near doctor tried to free doctor from ACB team. Within no time, Pahari station police team reached and took doctor & others into custody. According to police, one Rajesh wanted injuries suffered by his brother to

be medically declared serious. For this he talked to Dr Mohan Singh. Singh’s broker Kuldeep demanded Rs 30,000 from Rajesh.

On this, Rajesh fixed a deal for Rs 20,000. Rajesh had complained about this to Bharatpur ACB on Thursday itself. On Friday, when Rajesh went to get his brother Kirori’s medical check-up done, he gave Rs 20,000. On this, ACB arrested Dr Mohan red-handed.

Jodhpur: Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, on Friday, met the victims of the gas cylinder explosion at a wedding function in Bhoongra village near Shergarh. He also met the injured admitted at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.

Talking to the media, Shekhawat said every effort will be made to provide possible help to the victims of the acci-

dent from Central govt. Help would be provided to them from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

Shekhawat said that

he had brought this matter to the notice of PM Modi on Thursday and he has asked for a detailed report.

Assistance amount of Rs 7 lakh to the relatives of deceased. The Chief Minister has announced to give Rs.5 lakh per family to the families of the deceased under the Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Accidental Insurance Scheme. Along with this, it has been announced to give Rs 2 lakh each to the relatives of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh each to the injured. CM has announced gallantry/outof-turn promotion to the post of head constable to Constable Dungar Singh.

First India Bureau

Kota: State’s first digital planetarium will be constructed at a cost of more than Rs 35 crore in Kota. The National Council of Science Museum has given approval for this. In the newly constructed Oxyzone (City Park), students and people will be able to understand science and also know the secrets of space.

As Kota is a hub of education, it was de-

cided to set up a Science Centre and Digital Planetarium here.

Every year around two lakh students come to

Kota to prepare for engineering and medical entrance exams. Apart from this, there are also a large number of

schools, engineering and degree colleges, ITIs in Kota.

A large number of students of the state are also associated with Rajasthan Technical University and 4 other universities.

This Science Centre and Digital Planetarium will be helpful in understanding science in a new and fun way and in knowing other mysteries of space, including Sun, Mars, Earth, Comets.

Vikas Sharma

Bharat Dixit

Ravi Katara

Birla’s effort to give Kota State’s first Science Centre & Digital Planetarium

(R) CM Ashok Gehlot meeting a patient and inquiring their wellbeing (L) CM Ashok Gehlot blessing one medical staff on duty.

Dr Mohan Singh (R) and broker Kuldeep in ACB custody.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat having discussion with patients’ family members at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur.

Pratap Singh Khachariyawas in a discussion with Abhay Kumar, Kaluram and other officials on Friday.

Krishna Poonia inaugurating Khelo Jaipur programme on Friday.

Also seen Dr Somya & others. —PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO

Rahul Gandhi @RahulGandhi

Efforts made to give proper treatment: CM

OF PM MODI - PART

NaMo: GIVING HIS EAR TO THE PEOPLE’S WOES

The narrator bring home to us the warmth, the peace and the positivity that PM Modi infuses in all his interactions. He is the PM and has a hundred pressing tasks to accomplish. But the 10 minutes he devotes during a meeting with someone, he is present completely. He makes the speaker feel super important and that is the quality that makes him truly phenomenal!

It was amazing that for 8 months back to back Modi spoke about “Sports for All.” When you look at government policies, whether it is Khelo India, Fit India, Yoga Day, it is all around Sports for All! If PM says something, it makes a difference. He knows how to make a difference!

My interaction with Modiji has been really remarkable! Of course, we view him as our leader, but for me to get a letter from him post the

He spoke about Indianness and being the pride of India, and that remained as a big thing for me.

Well there was something that I began to feel very strongly about. While sport for everyone is a very important thing and physical literacy as a movement had just started, my experience in sports has taught me that it is not just about winning medals and trophies and I felt that sports was losing the essence of what it was meant

‘WHEN I MET MODI, HE DID NOT INTERRUPT ME FOR 9 MINUTES’

PMO called up and said “Done! Come to the Parliament House! We have a meeting arranged with the PM!” It was scheduled for 11 o’clock. I had no clue for how much time the meeting was slotted but when I went there I realized it was seven and a half minutes before the next meeting. He is somebody who did not interrupt me, at all, for 9 minutes. People always say that he is a great orator. I think, he is a bigger, better listener.

‘MODI’S WARMTH CAN NEVER LEAVE ONE UNTOUCHED’

In one of the functions recently, in India, most of the officials were sitting and the players were standing. We could see on his face that he was not liking what was happening. But he is PM Modi. He immediately figured out a way and quickly made it a point that he met each of the players personally. For me, I know one thing. Even if he is in a crowd, he connects with each one of the crowd! His warmth can never leave any one untouched.

for 5 to 6 minutes. Nobody is going to listen to you for so long! So go prepared!”

As I go in for this meeting, the first thing is that he makes me feel so warm. He asked me to pose for a photograph as his social media team was there, and then he says “Bolo Gopi, kya hai? (Yes Gopi! Tell me what it is.” And then I started talking. I actually spoke for 9 minutes. I was surprised at my own self! I could not remember speaking continuously like this to someone, one-onone, at a personal level in this way. People always say that he is a great orator.

I think, he is a bigger, better listener.

And that is the point that people actually miss out. He is somebody who did not interrupt me, at all, for 9 minutes.

And at seven and a half minutes, the door opened, he just glanced at his watch, and then he nodded and the person went off. And then the meeting continued till about 15 minutes. So I think one of the most striking qualities you realize is his ability to listen and his warmth. In a one-on-one interaction I real-

ized that this is phenomenal. Then I remember something very vividly. He took out his pen and a small notepad, and wrote something. And then that was it! I came out.

And it was amazing that for eight months back to back he spoke about “Sports for All.” When you look at government policies, whether it is Khelo India, Fit India, Yoga Day, it is all around Sports for All! If PM Modi says something, it makes a difference. He knows how to make a difference!

Today I have realized, more than then, that the Prime Minister, with his kind of problems, actually had so much of time and detail to figure this out. I remember this time, when I won the international Olympic Award for being the coach of the year, I asked once again for permission to meet him. It was 3 o’clock and I enquired at his office if it was even possible to meet sir. I could come at some other appropriate time as well. And the answer I get is that “I could come at 9 in the morning!” I was elated and shocked. He had been on that long tour abroad where he was visiting seven countries in seven days and was landing back at 4 am. Between 4 am and 9 am too he was super tied up. He visited Arun Jaitley’s family as Jaitleyji had passed away. Normally one would expect a per-

son to be super tired at 9 am who has just done so much in the past week, and here he was – as fresh an apple! Well, glowing is the word. He spent 15 minutes and I was almost feeling guilty. You are in a hurry. You have ten things to do. But he is there, sitting in front of you and telling you that he has no other work but to listen to you. You know, it is this quality that makes you feel as though you are super important. It makes you feel like he has no other work more important than actually being with you. I think it is this quality of PM Modi that is unbelievable! It is almost sage-like.

In one of the functions recently, in India the typical tendency is that most of the officials are sitting and the players are standing. You could see on his face that he was not liking what was happening. But he is PM Modi. He immediately figured out a way and quickly made it a point that he met each of the players personally. That again is something supremely remarkable. For me, I know one thing. Even if he is in a crowd, he connects with each one of the crowd! His warmth can never leave any one untouched.

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the

The Phenomenal Prime Minister: A bigger, better listener than the orator he is!

WINTER SESSION

UNION MIN NITYANAND SAYS THAT THE WORLD’S LARGEST FOOD SECURITY SCHEME GAREEB KALYAN ANNA YOJNA COVERED 80 CR BENEFICIARIES

Mission of Modi government's welfare schemes boon for poor: Union MoS Rai

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Friday described the welfare schemes of the Narendra Modi government as a “boon” while highlighting the effectiveness of various schemes rolled out for the underprivileged.

Rai said that the world’s largest food security scheme Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojna covered 80 crore beneficiaries.

About the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) which was implemented in April 2020 amid the COVID pandemic, he said, “The government has spent approximately Rs. 3.45 lakh crore so far and another Rs. 44,762 Crore will be spent till December 2022 taking the total expenditure under PMGKAY to nearly Rs. 3.91 lakh crore,” Rai said.

“This will cover nearly 80 crore beneficiaries across India and like before would be fully

The schemes of the Centre in Bihar are not being implemented properly, the Bihar government has returned 18,000 crores for every household water tap scheme but The Modi government is determined to uplift the poor and eliminate every obstacle that comes in it.

Nityanand Rai Union MoS for Home Affairs

Government of India,” he added.

Mentioning the Jan Dhan Yojana, the Minister said that as on August 2022, more than

ciaries banked under PMJDY since inception, amounting to Rs 1,73,954 crore as part of financial inclusion to support the overall economic development of marginalised sections of society.

“PMJDY accounts grow 3-fold from 14.72 crores in March 2015 to 46.25 crore as on August 10, 2022. 56 per cent JanDhan account holders are women and 67 per cent Jan Dhan accounts in rural and semi-urban areas” he said.

He said that the Modi government has focused on the health of poor people across the country and their welfare.

Will take traditional sports int’l, says Thakur

New Delhi (PTI): Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday assured the Lok Sabha that traditional sports such as Mallakhamb, Thang Ta, Yogasana, Gatka and Kalpetta will soon go international, and the ministry will open 1,000 Khelo India centres across the country by August 15 next year.

As the LS resumed on Thursday debate on sports and the steps taken by the government in this regard, several MPs urged the government to create sports infrastructure in rural areas and initiate measures to include rural youth in selections.

In his reply on Friday, Thakur said govt is focused towards identifying talent from the rural areas and training them to become international athletes.

Whether it is paralympics, deaf olympics or summer olympics, we have won most medals. Seven in the Olympics, 19 in the paralympics and 16 in the deaf olympics. We worked towards changing perceptions towards sports.

areas. “We will start with opening 1,000 Khelo India centres. The process for 733 such centres has already started and by next August 15, we will finish the work of opening 1,000 Khelo India centres,” the minister said.

KUDANKULAM N-PLANT’S 4 UNITS WILL BE COMPLETED BY 2027: SINGH

New

1000 MW capacity each are already in operation and the remaining four units of 1000 MW each are under construction.” “On their progressive completion, the full capacity of the Kudankulam site of 6000 MW is expected to be reached by the year 2027,” he said. The projected installed capacity of the Kudankulam site is 6000 MW, comprising of six nuclear power reactors of 1000 MW capacity each.

INDIA’s CANCER CASES PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY 12.8%: MANDAVIYA

New Delhi: The estimated number of cancer cases in the country in 2020 was 13,92,179 and it is projected to increase by 12.8%, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed LS citing National Cancer Registry Programme data.Responding to a question, he said patients with cancer are getting treatment at various health facilities, including district hospitals, medical colleges, central institutes like AIIMS and private hospitals.Relevant data related to patients registered for treatment is maintained by institutions & hospitals. Under RAN, financial assistance is provided to patients belonging to families living below poverty line, suffering from major life threatening diseases for treatment, he said.

GOVT SHOULD DISCUSS INDIA-CHINA BORDER ISSUES IN PARL: CONGRESS

New Delhi: Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday said that the government should discuss the border issues between India and China instead of reciting about G20. “In Ladakh, the Chinese Army has infiltrated and made over 200 shelters with accommodation facilities. Now, our Army isn’t allowed to patrol in farther areas, If this goes like this then the situation might get tense at Siachen Glacier,” Chowdhury told ANI. “It’s imperative that government discuss the situation of India-China border issues (in Parliament) instead of reciting G20,” he said. The Congress leader criticised the government’s November 2016 decision to demonetise high-value currency notes, claiming the move did not meet the desired goals as cash in circulation and fake currency have gone up.

BJP RESPECTS ALL INSTITUTIONS: RIJIJU ON JUDICIAL APPT ROW

Anurag

Thakur Union Sports Minister

He said the demand is that Khelo India centres must be opened in rural

He recalled PM Modi’s remark that when a sportsman wins in a game, it gives Indians a chance to celebrate the concept of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.

‘No report of starvation deaths from states, UTs’

New Delhi (PTI): There is no report of starvation deaths from states and Union Territories, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

Responding to a question, Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said the Global Hunger Index did

MEETING FOR A PURPOSE

Global Hunger Index (GHI) does not reflect India’s true picture as it is a flawed measure of ‘Hunger’. It should not be taken at face value as it is neither appropriate nor representative of hunger prevalent in a country.

Smriti Irani, Union Women & Child Development Minister

not reflect India’s true picture as it was a flawed measure of “hunger”. It should not be taken at face value as it is nei-

ther appropriate nor representative of hunger prevalent in a country, she said.India ranked 107th of 121 countries in

the Global Hunger Index - 2022 with its child wasting rate, at 19.3 per cent, being the highest in the world. Responding to another question, Irani provided data as per which 140,575 children went missing since 2019 and 125,445 children had been recovered during the same period.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing winter session of the parliament, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday took a jibe at the Opposition over the Congress’ adjournment motion notice on the Centre’s confrontation with the judiciary and said that BJP respects all institutions of the country. “We aren’t like the Congress party that overturns everything and captures institutions. BJP respects all institutions of the country,” said Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju. His remarks came after Congress MP Manish Tewari gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss “the confrontation with the judiciary brought to the fore by recent statements made by various Government functionaries, including the Union Law Minister.”

Rajnath, Yediyurappa, Munda central observers for BJP MLAs’ meet to pick Gujarat CM today

Bhupendra Patel submits his resignation to Acharya Devvrat

New

(PTI):

The BJP registered a historic victory in Gujarat on Thursday by

clinching 156 seats in the 182-member House.

The BJP has called a meeting of its newly elected legislators today morning to elect legislature party leader who will be the next CM. BJP has announced earlier that Bhupendra Patel will continue as its CM in the state.

Gandhinagar (ANI): Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel submitted his resignation to Governor Acharya Devvrat after BJP registered a historic win in State Assembly polls ahead of formation of his new government.

Patel will take oath as CM again on Dec 12, BJP state president CR Paatil said that PM Narendra Modi & Union Home Minister Amit

Shah will attend the swearing-in. Patel visited the Raj Bhavan in

Delhi: The remaining four 1000 MW units of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant will be completed by 2027, said Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Atomic Energy and Space. In a statement laid on the table of the Rajya Sabha in reply to a question, Jitendra Singh said, “At present, Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 of

Nityanand Rai

Anurag Thakur

Smriti Irani

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann meets with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the shifting of the barbed wire on the border, strengthening the police force to prevent the ever-increasing incidents of drones and other issues, in New Delhi on Friday. Mann also pointed out that 2 important state bills stipulating harsher punishment for perpetrators of sacrilege were pending since 2018, awaiting Presidential assent. —PHOTO BY ANI

Delhi

Senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, B S Yediyurappa and Arjun Munda were appointed on Friday as central observers for the meeting of party’s new MLAs in Gujarat to pick the next CM.

Gandhinagar to tender his resignation after swept Gujarat polls.

Bhupendra Patel (3rd L) with State BJP President CR Patil and other ministers, meets Governor Acharya Devvrat to tender resignation of his government, in Gandhinagar on Friday.

Rajnath Singh B S Yediyurappa Arjun Munda

RAIN FURY IN CHENNAI

Chennai: The IMD said Mandous lay centered 440km southeast of Chennai and may weaken into a cyclonic storm by forenoon on December 9. “The cyclone interacts with the sea surface temperature, surrounding and upper atmosphere and the weather is meant to change continuously,” said S Balachandran, deputy director general, IMD, Chennai. IMD has is-

All precautionary measures have been taken by govt & the officers are regularly monitoring the situation. Govt will ensure protection of the people. District-wise monitoring of the cyclone is being done. I request people to follow govt orders & cooperate with us. —MK Stalin, TN CM

sued a red alert for Kancheepuram, Chengalpet and Villupuram for December 9 as these districts are likely to receive extremely heavy rainfall (21cm

IN THE COURTYARD

or more) at one or two places. The agency issued an orange alert to eight districts today. Chennai and Tiruvallur are likely to receive heavy to very

NDRF, SDRF TEAMS DEPLOYED

‘Be sympathetic to needs of deprived sections’

Dehradun (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu on Friday asked IAS trainees at Mussoorie to be sympathetic to the deprived sections when they play a role in policy-making as civil servants and asserted that real development is achieved only when all stakeholders are taken along.Addressing the trainee officers at the concluding ceremony of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy Of Administration’s 97th foundation course, she said the trainee officers of the academy are in a position to translate India of their dreams into a reality.

Theavy rainfall (7 cm to 20 cm) on December 10. The government, meanwhile, said it was prepared for emergency situations. 12 state and national disaster

response force units had reached districts likely to be hit. Govt buses will not be operated at night. Public has been advised not to visit beaches.

Civil service is the path to serving the nation. It is a principlebased career in which character plays a significant role the president said. “You must always carry with you the academy’s motto which says character is the highest virtue.”

“You are going to play a

Modi, others greet Sonia on her B’day

vital role in the country’s policy-making process over the next 25 years. If you are sensitive to the needs of the deprived sections you will achieve your goal.

Real development comes about only when all stakeholders are taken along.“Setting the country on the path

of progress is both your Constitutional responsibility & moral duty,” said the president, who is on her first visit to hill state after assuming office. “ I appeal to you to implement the government’s environment conservation programmes with total dedication,” she said.

may appoint a panel of experts to find a solution to problem of students. The top court said it hoped Centre will give due importance to its suggestion.

New Delhi (PTI): SC slapped a cost of Rs 25,000 on a petitioner who had sought compensation of Rs 75 lakh from Google India for ads shown on YouTube which allegedly had explicit content.While dismissing PIL, the apex court termed as “atrocious” the PIL filed by a MP resident who claimed that ads diverted him & he could not clear a competitive exam.

New Delhi (PTI): SC asked army to put its ‘house in order’ saying that it has not been “fair” to women officers alleging delay in promotions after being granted permanent commission. A bench comprising CJ D Y Chandrachud & Justice P S Narasimha was hearing a PIL of 34 women officers alleging that junior male officers are being considered over them for promotions.

Shillong (PTI): Meghalaya HC has ordered an interim stay on physical demarcation on ground in connection with an inter-State border pact signed by Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma & his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma had in March signed an MoU for demarcating border in at least six of 12 contested locations that often raised tensions between two States. Justice HS Thangkhiew ordered interim stay till next date of hearing on February 6, 2023, on a petition filed by four ‘traditional chiefs’ of Meghalaya.”

New Delhi (PTI): Several Congress leaders, PM Narendra Modi and leaders across the political sides greeted former party chief Sonia Gandhi on her birthday on Friday, December 9, 2022, with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge saying her "indomitable spirit" in the wake of adversity has inspired millions.

The former Congress president is in Rajasthan on her 76th birthday and is spending time with her chil-

EX-ANDAMAN TOP OFFICER NARAIN, ACCUSED IN RAPE CASE, HOSPITALISED

Port Blair (PTI): Former CS of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Jitendra Narain, accused of involvement in an alleged gang-rape case, was admitted at GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair after he complained of chest discomfort and fever on Thursday night.Police sources said, doctors at GB Pant examined him and decided to admit him for few more health check-ups. Narain was in Jail custody at Prathrapur District correctional center in connection with rape of a 21-year-old woman.

dren Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.In a tweet, Mr. Kharge said, "Extending my warm birthday greetings to CPP Chair-

person, Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji. Her grace, dedication, indomitable spirit and dignity in the wake of adversity has inspired millions. I

CRUCIAL READ

TRS IS NOW BRS OFFICIALLY

wish her a long and healthy life".

The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, said, "Warm birthday wishes to Smt Sonia Gandhi who epitomises sacrifice, courage & dedication. Her sense of duty and grace is an inspiration."

Several top Congress leaders including party gen secy organisation KC Venugopal, Sachin Pilot, Randeep Surjewala and Shashi Tharoor, wished Ms. Sonia Gandhi on her birthday.

Arvind Kejriwal failed to make inroads in Gujarat!

Shamsher Singh

Mukerjea has already deposed as a witness & was cross-examined by Indrani’s lawyer Ranjeet Sangle.

ON A WINNING SPREE

Historic win of PM’s BJP in Guj grabs global headlines

New Delhi (ANI): Global news outlets have widely reported on the landslide victory of BJP in Gujarat where PM Narendra Modi led a campaign to a record win on his home turf.

On Thursday, the ruling BJP recorded a historic win in Gujarat, winning 156 seats. The BJP’s 7th consecutive Assembly poll win in Gujarat is also its biggest since the founding of this state in 1960. The Straits Times of Singa-

pore, the Nikkei Asia, Al Jazeera, etc were among the global publications which displayed photographs of jubilant celebrations of BJP’s win.

British publication The Guardian reported that PM Modi had given a significant boost to BJP, a sign of party’s

pan’s Nikkei Asia attributed this win to PM Modi’s popularity in Jawaharlal Nehru University prof Ajay Gudavarthy told Al Jazeera that BJP’s comfortable win in Guj shows a deeper consolidation of Hindu vote.

New Delhi: Before the assembly elections in Gujarat, it seemed that Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party would cut some votes of the BJP as well, but it could not do so. On the contrary, in the fight between Arvind Kejriwal and Congress, BJP’s supporters became more united and BJP’s vote percentage went above 53 percent. In fact, Arvind Kejriwal played the game of Hindutva in the Gujarat elections. He and other leaders of his party did not speak anything on the release of the rapists of Bilkis Bano and on the contrary said that it is not their issue. Kejriwal took the bet of putting the picture of Ganesha and

Gujarat. His appeal to the pro-BJP Hindu voters did not work. That’s why BJP’s vote increased from 49 percent last time to 53 percent. This also proved that people are not yet ready to accept AAP. They have the option of BJP as a party and Narendra Modi and Amit Shah as Hindu leaders, so no one else can be accepted, at least in front of them. It is possible that Kejriwal’s appeal may have worked in other states outside Gujarat, but in Gujarat he could not cut BJP’s vote and by cutting more than 13 percent votes of Congress, he still could not achieve much.

Pratibha Singh among 5 IAS transferred in UP

Ahtesham Siddiqui

Lucknow: 5 IAS officers have been transferred in the bureaucracy of Uttar Pradesh wherein, IAS Pratibha Singh has been transferred to the position of Joint Magistrate in Amroha. Moreover, IAS Pratibha Singh’s Telangana cardre has changed to UP on marital ground after which the appointment department has

accorded her first posting while her husband IPS Aditya Lehenga is posted as SP Amroha.

IAS AV Raja Mauli has been made UP’s new Secretary, Home; while IAS Rajesh Kumar has been removed from Director, Social Welfare and made Special Secretary, Revenue.

Additionally, IAS Khempal Singh has been made Special Secretary.

PM CHAIRS VIDEO MEETING OF GUVs, CMs & LGs TO DISCUSS INDIA’S G20 PRESIDENCY

P M Narendra Modi chaired a video meeting of Governors & CMs of States & Lt Governors of UTs to discuss aspects relating to India’s G20 Presidency. PM in his remarks stated that India’s G20 Presidency belongs to the entire nation, and is a unique opportunity to showcase the country’s strengths. He emphasised the importance of teamwork, & sought cooperation of States / UTs in the organisation of various G20 events. He pointed out that G20 Presidency would help showcase parts of India beyond conventional big metros, thus bringing out uniqueness of each part of our country.

Lakshmi on the Indian currency i.e. Rupee in between the elections. But neither of the two bets worked for Kejriwal in

President Droupadi Murmu presents a degree to a student during the 3rd convocation of Doon University, in Dehradun, Friday.

You should perform in such a manner that when you open your time capsule in 2047 you have the satisfaction of having achieved your targets.

—Droupadi Murmu, President

New Delhi: The SC on Friday directed the Centre and the National Medical Commission (NMC) to find out a solution to accommodate those undergraduate medical students who have returned from foreign countries like Ukraine and China, saying their career will be left in lurch if no solution is found at this stage. A bench of justices B R Gavai & Vikram Nath said if necessary, Centre

FOREIGN RETURNED MED STUDENTS: SC DIRECTS CENTRE, NMC TO RESOLVE ISSUE

HC ORDERS INTERIM STAY ON ASSAMMEGHALAYA BORDER PACT

SC REJECTS PIL SEEKING ` 75 L COMPENSATION

ARMY NOT BEING FAIR TO WOMEN OFFICERS: SC

ABNORMAL SOUND FROM WHEELS: VANDE BHARAT HALTED IN UP

INDRANI’S PIL TO RECALL WITNESS ATTEMPT TO PROLONG TRIAL, SAYS CBI

Prayagraj (Agencies): Varanasi-bound Vande Bharat Express (train number 22436) was halted at Bharwari railway station, in UP's Kaushambi district under Prayagraj division of North Central Railway on Friday after the loco pilot heard some abnormal sound from the wheels of this self-propelled train.

Hyderabad (PTI): Marking the formal launch of TRS into national politics, party supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday unfurled the flag of Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) in the wake of the ECI approving the name change of TRS as BRS. Rao hoisted the BRS flag at the party headquarters here. Earlier, he signed on the papers concerned about the name change of TRS as BRS.

Mumbai (PTI): CBI told a special court that plea by Indrani Mukerjea, a prime accused in Sheena Bora murder case, to recall witness Rahul Mukerjea at a future date is an attempt to prolong trial as she is out on bail. CBI, in its written response to Indrani’s PIL, said that her application was ‘not maintainable.’

Narendra Modi @narendramodi

Birthday greetings to Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji. Praying for her long and healthy life.

First India Bureau

Arvind Kejriwal

Sonia Gandhi

CYCLONE MANDOUS

Houses swept away by the sea waves due to cyclone Mandous, in Puducherry on Friday.

—PHOTO BY PTI —PHOTO

CHAIRMANSHIP OF G-20 IS A MATTER OF PRIDE FOR WHOLE COUNTRY, SAYS CM

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Friday that from independence till today all the Prime Ministers have contributed in the development of India. He said that the chairmanship of G-20 is a matter of pride for the country.

“After independence, India’s first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru gave ideas of global welfare like Panchsheel principle

and Non-Aligned Movement. The Non-Aligned Conference was also held in India. The member countries of G-20 have a major share in

the world’s economy and population. It is a great platform to showcase the country’s culture at the global level. This global summit is going

decade,” Gehlot said while addressing the meeting related to the events related to the G-20 Summit under the chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi through VC from Chief Minister’s Residence on Friday.

GOVERNOR MISHRA: THIS IS

VERY IMPORTANT, RARE OPPORTUNITY

to leave an indelible mark of Indian culture on the world and become a medium to realize the vision that the coming decade should be India’s

PM didn’t keep his promise of doubling farmers’ income: CM

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not fulfilling the promise of doubling the income of the farmers, saying that the Centre should take "revolutionary steps" to that end.

"The Prime Minister talked about doubling the income of the farmers, but where is it happening? The Centre should take revolutionary steps. Talks should be held with states," Gehlot told reporters on Friday after chairing a pre-budget meeting with farmers.

He said that the Centre and the states together should make such schemes and develop such a thinking that help farmers double their income.

The CM said that we want the Centre and the Prime Minister to give the 'right to health' to everyone in the country. People should not be forced to spend money on treatment, which should be free for all, he said.

Referring to the his govt's flagship schemes

Jaipur (PTI): CM Ashok Gehlot on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent observation that it is the Central Govt’s duty to ensure that food grains reach the last man under the National Food Security Act. He said the Rajasthan govt has been demanding that the

Chiranjeevi Health Scheme, Old Pension Scheme he said that there are some work that the state and the Centre can do together.

Responding a ques-

Centre expand the scope of the NFSA on the basis of the current population.

“It is our culture that nobody goes to sleep empty stomach,” the Supreme Court said on Dec 6 and asked the Central Govt to see to it that foodgrains under the NFSA reach the last man. The court

tion related to Congress leaders' Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra with women, Gehlot said, "Bharat Jodo

PROMISE OF OPS HELPED US WIN IN HIMACHAL: GEHLOT

Jaipur (PTI): The Congress’ poll promise of restoring the old pension system was a major factor that helped the party win the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, CM Gehlot said Friday. On Thursday, the Congress wrested Himachal Pradesh from the BJP winning 40 seats in the 68-member Assembly in the hill state which maintained its tradition of not voting any incumbent government to power since 1985. “Congress has won Himachal Pradesh. The campaigning was good and tickets were distributed to suitable candidates.” he said.

was hearing on its own a public interest matter related to the plight of migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdowns.

The Raj Govt provided food to all during the pandemic with the resolve that “no one should sleep hungry”, he said.

Yatra has been very successful. BJP is completely shaken by it and worried. It has adopted several tricks to malign the yatra but to no avail."

During the meeting, the Prime Minister gave guidelines for documentation of all G-20 events, citing the example of G-20 Sherpa meeting held in Udaipur, so that it can be used in future events. Notably, gratitude was expressed for the arrangements made by the Rajasthan govt during the Sherpa meeting in Udaipur, hospitality, local cuisine and traditional Rajasthani ways of welcoming the Sherpas.

of 'G20'. After attending the meeting, he said that for the first time after Independence, the G20 is being led by PM Narendra Modi. “This is a very important and rare opportunity,” he said. Describing it as a matter of pride, he called for making it a success with everyone's cooperation.

Mahesh Sharma

Jaipur: Thursday’s results have painted two different pictures about the voting preference of people. However, that is not where the difference ends. In fact, the two parties that came out victorious have also celebrated in quite a different manner!

BJP won a thumping majority in Gujarat and all old records were broken this time in Gujarat

elections. Party workers and leaders alike celebrated the win at BJP HQ. PM Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Rajnath Singh reached the headquarters. On the other hand Congress got majority in Himachal and breaking all the narratives, a tremendous victory was achieved in the election. But the enthusiasm of victory was not visible in 10, Janpath, AICC in Delhi or at Shimla.

Digvijay Singh lauds Chambal Riverfront

Kota’s river front will bring internat’l recognition, says Digvijay Singh

Kota: Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijay Singh congratulated the Ashok Gehlot and Shanti Dhariwal team for the works of urban development in the state and said that Kota, the hometown of Dhariwal, will become an international level tourist destination after

State budget to be presented on Feb 1: Sources

Jaipur: The Rajasthan state budget may be presented in the second week of February. The general budget of the country is presented on February 1 and according to sources, the government is preparing to present the state budget about a week after the general budget.

There are some provisions in the state budget on the basis of the central budget. In such a situation, the state budget will be presented only after the central budget.

took stock of Devnarayan Pashupalak Awasiya Yojna.

During this, while sipping tea at Kota’s Citypark, Singh while

talking to First India said that the city was more beautiful than what he had heard of.

Dhariwal took Singh to the Chambal Riverfront which is under construction in Kota. Singh praised the project worth Rs 1000 crore. Singh said that he would also discuss with Rahul Gandhi about the development work done in Kota and the way the Chambal Riverfront was being developed. He said that the Gujarat and Sabarmati riverfront are nothing before this.

Bharat Jodo Yatra: March to begin at 8 am; PGV to attend on Dec 12

Bundi: Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra will continue on its previously decided schedule from Saturday and the yatra will start at 8 am instead of 6 am. The yatra will start from Gudli Chauraha at Keshorai Patan. Rahul Gandhi will reach Bundi from Sawaimadhopur in the morning where the yatra will be started from and the yatra will now enter a new district, having covered Jhalawar and Kota districts till now.

The reserved day for women in the Bharat

Jodo Yatra has now been changed from December 10 to December 12. Nota-

State govt gearing up to forge new districts? Political ‘moves’ suggest so!

Jaipur : It seems that Chief Minister Ashok gehlot has made up his mind to form new districts in the state and it is highly possible that an announcement in this regard may be made in the next budget session. This has been hinted by the fact that the state government has called back the Chairman of the committee formed to undertake the exercise regarding new districts - Ram Lubhaya - from

the USA immediately.

Ram Lubhaya had gone to America for two months to meet his children there and was scheduled to return in January. The committee had to give its report in March 2023.

But the Chairman is now returning next week and it is believed that perhaps in the ongoing months, a report will be submitted to the government. Notably, in March 2022, the Gehlot government had formed the committee under the chairman-

ship of retired IAS Ram Lubhaya and on September 13, 2022, the committee’s time was further extended by six months, till March 2023.

No new district has been formed in Rajasthan over the past 14 years as the last district - Pratapgarh - was formed by Vasundhara Raje government on 26 January 2008. In 2014, during the second tenure of Vasundhara government, a committee for new districts under retired IAS Parmesh

Chandra was formed and in 2018, the committee submitted its report as well, but the Gehlot government denied accepting the report and rather formed

Lubhaya committee has received proposals for 51 new districts and atleast one new districts have been demanded from current districts

a new committee under Ram Lubhaya.

The Ram Lubhaya committee has received proposals for 51 new districts and on an average one or two new

districts have been demanded from current districts. Making so many districts will not be possible and the state government has to decide on how many districts will have to be formed.

Several ministers and even MLAs have been pressuring the government to raise the demand of a new district in their respective area and over the past one month the situation has become more tense. MLA Madan Prajapat has

been walking bare foot over his demand to make Balotra a district, out of the current Barmer district. Similarly, minister Rajendra Yadav has even issued a threat that if by January 2023, Kothputli is not declared a district, he will resign from his minister as well as legislature privileges.

Similarly, Suresh Modi has demanded Neem Ka Thana, Rajendra Gudha has demanded Udaipurwati, Alok beniwal for Shahpura, Deependra Singh

for Sri Madhopur, Babulal Nagar for Dudu, Nirmal Kumawat for Sambhar Lake. The list is extremely long.

Political analysts claim that the state government, to pacify their MLAs and ministers and to set their political score, could announce new districts soon. Sources reveal that Balotra, Kothputli, Phalodi, Deedwana, Beawar and Bhiwadi could be the half a dozen districts that can be announced by the state government.

Rajendra Chhabra

Bhanwar S Charan

the recent works done here. During his visit to Kota on Friday, Singh along with Dhariwal visited the Chambal Riverfront and Oxyzone and

Naresh Sharma

First India Bureau

bly, Priyanka Gandhi may also be involved in the yatra on 12 Dec.a

Not much people turned out to celebrate Congress win in Himachal Pradesh Polls and Sardarshahar bypoll on Thursday.

Digvijay Singh along with Shanti Dhariwal visited and explored the river fronts of Kota on Friday.

MLA Rafeek Khan was appointed the incharge for Yatra’s Kota leg during Dec 7 & 8, which witnessed a huge turnout.

One prolific, another muted & contained!

Saradarshahar bypoll winner Anil K Sharma meets CM Ashok Gehlot on Friday along with RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Rathore.

GEHLOT WELCOMES SC’S REMARK ON NAT’L FOOD SECURITY ACT

Governor Kalraj Mishra during the G-20 review meeting by PM Modi on Friday. CM Ashok Gehlot also attended the meeting via VC from the CMR on Friday.

PM Modi instructs to document all Udaipur events for future reference

Jaipur: Governor Kalraj Mishra participated online from Raj Bhavan in the meeting organized under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the preparations for the chairmanship

A

RAJ

RAHUL’S TEAM APPRECIATES CM’S WORKS

Jaipur: Word is that Rahul Gandhi’s team is upbeat with positive inputs received by it recently. Along with Rajasthan entry, RG’s team took input of plans and flagship schemes of Gehlot government. The response to the decision of Chiranjeevi Yojana, OPS, relief in electricity bills was good. Thus, team RG is excited about the response to the flagship schemes and the feedback received from the public is being studied in depth.

Ram Lubhaya

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Everyone has a dream and everyone should try to pursue it. But don’t limit yourself to just what you think you can do. What you believe, you can achieve. What you believe, recall, you can accomplish”. And that is what Avani follows. Avani Kakekochhi Bhat from Karnataka is an Aerospace engineer and one of the finalists of the First Indian Queen. In a tete-atete with City First, Avani shares about her life, struggles and the journey she took to get where she is today.

When asked about her passion an dinterests besides modelling, the beauty exclaimed “I love dancing and am a professional dancer by heart. I own a dance academy called Trayee and am a co-owner of Supram Industries along with my dad.” The diva expressed her ambitions of becoming a leader and entrepreneur in society.

She further stated, “Growing up in a humble family, I was bullied for the wardrobe, the pouch I owned and the way I appeared. But I’ve learnt to appreciate my humble beginning and become the school captain, won international awards and make my school proud even today. Also, I am one of the youngest board members at the KSEEB (Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board) and was ranked 1 in Karnataka on my Alankar Bharatanatyam exam. I am also a scholarship holder for dance. My teaching experience at an orphan’s home for 5 years now.”

When asked about her aim, Avani said, “My aim is to highlight about mental health, nutrition and bring about spiritual awareness to help others who may be struggling with similar issues in life, because I truly wish to transform lives.”

Avani Kakekochhi, from Karnataka, one of the First India queen finalists talks about her journey so far!

ADITI KUSHWAHA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

FACE OF THE DAY!

Aries

MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

You are likely to have fun at work today. A changed lifestyle promises good health. You may not be in the best of financial situations, but things are likely to improve. Much excitement is foreseen on the family front. There is some scope of improving your scores on the academic front.

Gemini

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

You may get motivated to shake a leg just to get on the fitness trail. It will be important to keep a tab of your expenses today. Some shuffling on the work front is likely but will not affect you. Peace and tranquillity prevail on the home front and will help you unwind. Romance seems on the upswing.

Leo

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

Job prospects for those freshly out of professional institutes are set to brighten up soon. A positive outlook will help you throw out the negativity within. You will manage to ignore distractions and interruptions at work to complete a pending task in time. is so miffed.

Libra

SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 22

This is the day to play your winning card on the professional front. A lot of time may be wasted in socialising, but you will love every moment of it! Time is ripe for investing in a scheme you have been considering for long. Your upbeat mood and a happy demeanour will brighten atmosphere.

Sagittarius

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22

Sticking to workout routine may benefit you on the health front.

Meeting relatives at a marriage or party cannot be ruled out. Accompanying someone you click with is likely to make your business journey entertaining. Support from the family may seem most encouraging.

Aquarius

JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19

Balancing act between home and office will remain most smooth for working women.

You succeed in putting an ambitious project on the tracks and cross all hurdles in making it a success. Love beckons and promises to give immense joy and fulfillment. Homemakers can exceed budget.

Taurus

APRIL 21 - MAY 20

SARA ASNANI, Model

LOSING WEIGHT NANO-TECHNOLOGY can Now Assist you in

DR. KRISHANGA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

A major purchase may make a dent in your savings, but will help in keeping up with the jonesses. Speculation may not be profitable and you can very well burn your fingers. Some of you may get hard pressed to find a good match for someone eligible in the family down, Saturn will save you.

Cancer

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

Homemakers will get a chance to implement their ideas. You are likely to be recognised for your efforts on the professional front. Some of you can be invited for guidance or consultancy. Chance of a raise is possible for some. Timely and correct decision will help you in saving a lot of money.

Virgo

AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23

Satisfaction is foreseen for the image conscious people trying to achieve perfect figure and physique. You will succeed in surmounting the odds to get a stalled job back on the tracks. Your efforts on the academic front will keep you in contention. You are likely to spend an enjoyable time.

Scorpio

OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 22

You will succeed and move ahead in your professional life, as the year begins. Be careful, though, as your daily routine may be affected adversely. Your boss may be the reason for your annoyance. Pressure tactics can infuriate you. Probably, by 5th or 6th, you may think of taking up a new job.

Capricorn

DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20

Focussing on your career graph at this juncture will be a step that will take you far. A rethink is in order for those going in for a heavy investment. Recovering a loaned amount from someone will not pose much difficulty. You will manage to defuse tensions prevailing at home.

Pisces

FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20

Financial condition of those down in the dumps is set to improve. Your efficiency at work is likely to impress those who matter at work. Your biggest asset is your sense of humor try to use it to cure your not so good health. Spending time with family.

New Studies use Cationic Nanomaterials to Target Fat. Nanotechnology has recently sparked considerable interest in a variety of fields, including medicine. South Africa (SA) was the first African country to adopt the technology, with the goal of improving the national bioeconomy and global competitiveness through the use of innovative nanotechnology-based solutions. And as per this new invention, nanotechnology can now target lipid molecules.

Obesity prevalence has steadily increased over the last five decades, and

obesity may have a massive effect on quality-adjusted years of life. Obesity is also strongly linked to an increased risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. Despite the serious consequences of obesity, losing weight can significantly reduce the risk of the majority of these comorbid conditions. Comorbidities most closely linked to obesity must be identified in order to raise awareness of potential negative outcomes. This will enable health-care workers to identify and implement appropriate interventions to reduce patient risk and mortality.

Fat cell development, which begins with a tiny fibroblast-like precursor, not only activates the fat cells' particular genes but also causes them to enlarge by accumulating more lipids (in adipocytes and adipose tissue). In reality, lipid storage is a fat cell's defining role. However, excessive lipid storage can make fat cells unhealthy and lead to obesity.

CATIONIC NANOMATERIALS TO TARGET FAT

stroying it, like liposuction does.

CHALLENGES IN TARGETING FAT CELLS

The lives of a lot of individuals will be simplified if scientists can target fat cells and securely decouple harmful fat accumulation from healthy fat metabolism.

A significant obstacle in the treatment of obesity is that fat tissue, which is not continuous throughout the body but is found piece by piece in "depots," has been difficult to target in a depotspecific, precise manner.

There has never been a mechanism to selectively treat visceral adipose tissue and contemporary subcutaneous fat treatments, such as liposuction, that are invasive and destructive.

EFFECT OF P-G3 ON FAT CELLS

Then something strange happened: P-G3 turned off the lipid storage mechanism in fat cells, causing the mice to lose weight. This was com-

pletely unexpected, considering the well-established role of P-G3 in neutralizing negatively charged pathogens, such as DNA and RNA cell debris, in order to reduce inflammation.

"Our approach is unique--It departs from the pharmacological or surgical approaches," says Qiang, who specializes in obesity and adipocyte biology. "We used cationic charge to rejuvenate healthy fat cells, a technique no one has ever used to treat obesity. I think this novel strategy will open the door to a healthier and safer reduction of fat".

The researchers noticed in these two tests that the cationic substance, P-G3, could do an interesting thing to fat cells: while it assisted new fat cell development, it also uncoupled lipid storage from fat cell housekeeping tasks. Because it prevents larger fat cells from storing harmful lipids, the mice had more metabolically healthy, youthful, tiny fat cells like those found

"With P-G3, fat cells can still be fat cells, but they can't grow up," said Leong, a pioneer in using polycation to scavenge pathogens. "Our studies highlight an unexpected strategy to treat visceral adiposity and suggest a new direction of exploring cationic nanomaterials for treating metabolic diseases".

P-G3 FOR DRUG DELIVERY, GENE THERAPY, AND AESTHETICS

Leong and Qiang see various possibilities for their ability to selectively target visceral fat. The biomaterials study reveals a straightforward approach that might be employed for aesthetic objectives; similar to Botox, P-G3 can be injected locally into a specific subcutaneous fat depot. The researchers, who have filed patents, are currently modifying P-G3 to improve its efficacy, safety, and depot specificity.

"We're very excited to discover that cationic charge is the secret to targeting adipose tissue," Qiang said. "We can now shrink fat depot-specifically—anywhere we want—and safely without destroying fat cells. This is a major advance in treating obesity".

With this new technology in sight, obesity and other linked co-morbidities can be managed with ease.

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

SOURCE: Nano-Technology can Now Assist you in Losing Weight (medindia.net)

A party-goer

Putting up her best like always, Shehnaaz Gill is embracing shine lately, and the aesthetic of her latest look was too disco ball-like.

Shehnaaz graced Salman Khan’s hosted reality show Bigg Boss 16 with rapper MC Square to promote their recently released music video ‘Ghani Syaani’, which is already a hit among their fans. Shehnaaz Gill’s recent look has got the town talking for all the right reasons and we are sure you won’t stop gazing at her sheer beauty. The diva opted for a strapless electric blue body-hugging sequined midi outfit that came with feathery details at the edge. She let her outfit shine bright and kept her accessories minimal by opting for diamond-studded hoops and rings. Her pinkshaded eye makeup and that perfect wing liner elevated the look of her ensemble. Adding a barbiecore touch to her sequined dress, Shehnaaz donned hot pink heels that scream fashion. —Agency

TEASES NEW MUSIC

revealed on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that she’s currently in the studio working on some new music, and teased how it will be different.

SADIE SINK LIED ABOUT THIS MANUSHI FLIES TO

Sadie Sink, during a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, spoke candidly about how she “got the role” in the popular series.

During her candid chat with Jimmy Kimmel, Sadie revealed, “I joined the show in season two and I was a fan of season one before.” She added, “I was in the audition process for Max and I think I had done four callbacks, did the screen test for the role.”

She candidly shared, “They sent a skateboard to my house the next day, I had to learn how to do

During her recent appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show on December 5, Gomez was quizzed about the spec-

ulation that she’s ready to release a new song soon following the release of her documentary, My Mind & Me, a title song for which was also released as a single. Admitting that she will be dropping new tunes soon, Selena responded, “That’s accurate.”

Selena opened up about working on new music and also how she will be giving her fans something different this time. She said, “I’m so used to writing sadgirl songs. But I’m ready to have some fun and I think people are going to like it.”

QATAR

Manushi Chhillar has flown to Qatar to fulfil her dream of watching the Argentinian icon Lionel Messi play at the FIFA World Cup. Ace footballer Lionel Messi enjoys a massive fan following and Manushi is one of them. The actress revealed, “It’s always been my dream to witness Lionel Messi play in front of my eyes. Being an ardent fan of his, I have been planning all these years to get a glimpse of his genius on the football pitch.” She further added, “I am really looking forward to witnessing the atmosphere and the euphoria of the stadium and cheering for Messi through the match! Most importantly this year, the World Cup is closer and I’m excited to witness the finals as well in person, instead of watching it on television like every other World Cup.”

POTTERY BARN COLLABORATES WITH DEEPIKA PADUKONE

Pottery Barn, a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma, the world’s largest digital-first, design-led and sustainable home retailer, announced today a global partnership with the iconic international celebrity, Deepika Padukone. The actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist have been signed as a brand ambassador to promote Pottery Barn’s international expansion which began with the launch of pottery barn in July and the opening of the company’s first retail location in September in Delhi, India. As a brand ambassador for Pottery Barn, Padukone will also work closely with the brand to co-create a collection.

hea Chakraborty, who keeps treating fans with stunning posts on social media, is reportedly in love. She has stayed away from the public eye for the longest time due to controversy since 2020. According to the latest report, Rhea has found love in fashion designer Seema Sajdeh’s brother Bunty Sajdeh. Bunty’s firm used to handle Rhea a few years ago. The duo has known each other for quite some time and the report says that they have started dating recently. A source revealed, “It’s so good to see them together and happy. Whatever Rhea has been through in the last few years, Bunty has been her shoulder and support system. He was there for her when things were getting dirty. They are currently together and wish to keep this news private.”

Selena Gomez fans have a reason to celebrate as the singer in her recent interview opened up about releasing new music. Nearly, two years after the release of her third studio album Rare, the singer

—Agency

—Agency

Selena Gomez

Shehnaaz Gill

Deepika Padukone

Rhea Chakraborty

Manushi Chhillar

Sadie Sink

Shehnaaz flaunts her attire

—Agency

ADMIRING THE MASTERPIECE

CITY FIRST

Rang Utsav Art Exhibition is being organized from December 9 to December 12 at Gallery No. 2 Surekha of Jawahar Kala Kendra.

Young artist Anoop Srivastava, a student of Indore College of Art, Madhya Pradesh, paintings have been beautifully displayed in the solo exhibition.

Jagdeesh Chandra graced the inaugural day as the Chief Guest. The day kicked off with a lamp lighting ceremony, followed by vising the gallery.

Jagdeesh Chandra appreciated the beautiful paintings by Anoop and said, “Art can stimulate thought and reason. That is why it is known to have brought a revolu tion in many cul

WORKSHOP!

CITY FIRST

DURING THE DAY!

IIS (deemed to be University) in collaboration with Crack the Wellness Code Foundation, India Chapter, organised a session on Women’s Wellness on Friday, as part of their ongoing Way2Fit series of sessions. The event witnessed talks by eminent experts from medical, yoga, and wellness fields - Mahesh Sharma, International ART OF LIVING Instructor; Dr A. Sreekumar, ENT, Surgeon, and Functional Health & Wellness Expert; Dr Rashmi Jain, Gynaecologist; and Dr Madan Kataria, Laughter Yoga Guru. Also in attendance were Naren Bakshi, Founder Chairperson, CWC, and Wg Cdr Vidyakant Kala, Managing Director, CWC.

Moderated by Dr Anita Hada Sangwan,

tures.” He further wished the artist all the best for his future endeavours.

30 stunning artworks have been showcased, highlighting the tribal area, Mandu’s palace, and the Narmada river. The painting is done with acrylic, and oil pastel on canvas. Anoop has so far done seven solo exhibitions in different cities, this

solo exhibition in Jaipur. Anoop has displayed pictures in more than 100 groups.

Anoop’s art hasn’t received appreciation in India but has also been loved in China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, and Romania. The exhibition at Jawahar Kala Kendra is free of charge.

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

PROUD MOMENT!

Bollywood’s famous couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are in Jaisalmer with their family to celebrate Sharmila Tagore’s birthday on Thursday. The family rejoiced the day amid sand dunes with the folk artists of Jaisalmer.

Renowned folk artists of Jaisalmer Sawan Khan Dabri and Jalal Khan Chandhan along with their team gave mesmerizing performances.

speaking on the journey of wellness all women take together, the event began with the University Prayer and the Lighting of the Lamp to invoke divine blessings. This was followed by the introduction to the event and the welcome address by Prof. TN Mathur, Vice Chancellor, IIS (deemed to be University). Prof. Mathur welcomed the

CITY FIRST

India’s one & only and most prestigious Health & Wellness Fest is all set to stage the 2nd edition of SK Finance World Health & Wellness Fest. The fest is being organised by SK Finance and Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha at Entertainment Paradise, Peacock Court, near

speakers and highlighted the importance of wellness in our dai-

HEALTH & WELLNESS FEST

cal and mental health for the faculty members and students.

Mahesh Sharma, speaking on ‘Emotional Wellbeing through Meditation’, outlined the meaning of meditation as a reason to be happy.

taught us the importance of the need to build immunity, he emphasized the need to address lifestyle diseases.

ly lives, underlining the University’s commitment to good physi-

Chairman, Organizing Committee, released a list of key speakers for the fest. The two-day fest will be presented through a series of ‘Breakout sessions’ featuring well-known health and wellness speakers as well as panelists with online

Jawahar Circle in Jaipur on 17-18 December. Pandit Suresh Mishra, President,

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

Under the fortnightly drama scheme of Jawahar Kala Kendra, the play ‘Mughal Bachha’ was staged on Friday. This satirical play not only made the audience laugh but also taught them a lot. The lighting design in the play was done by Gagan Mishra and the stage design by Abhishek Jhankal. Anees Qureshi conceptualized the dance and Shah Rukh Khan handled the music.

Sports in-stills in a child a sense of teamwork, alertness and confidence. The display of talent before an audience ingrains in a child, the much-needed courage & confidence. The 4th Annual Sports Day of Jayshree Periwal Global School was held in the school stadium.

At the close of the event, Wing Commander Vidyakant Kala delivered the formal Vote of Thanks.

Mentioning how Covid

The guests and audience stood for the National Anthem at the end of the event, bringing home the sense of wellness as a discipline belonging to and binding everyone toward a better life.

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

COMMIT TO BE FIT & HEALTHY MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

CITY FIRST

The leading publishing house in India, Penguin Random House India, marks its 35th year in India with the launch of a one-of-akind platform to discover and mentor emerging writers from the country, in association with the world’s largest literary festival, the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Titled The Perfect Pitch, it is a mentorship initiative to scout for the best pitch for unpublished, submission-ready work by aspiring writers and storytellers.

Aspiring writers from all over the country are invited to present the pitch of their finished manuscripts to

a jury panel made up of editors, literary experts, and notable authors. Call for entry opened on December 7, and closes on December 25. The finalists will be invited to Jaipur Literature Festival 2023 to present their pitches to the esteemed jury and in front of an audience in an exclusive session.

Jaipur Literature Festival is scheduled from 19 January to 23 January.

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Governor Kalraj Mishra has given a letter of appreciation to Deepti Gairola, founder and director of Golden Leaf Foundation at Raj Bhavan on Friday, for her service work towards orphans, the destitute and works related to social organizations.

Chairman State Bank of India Dinesh Khara was with Niranjan Arya for an informal meeting in Jaipur on Friday. They are batchmates as PO in SBI, one became Chief Secretary whereas the other one rose to the Chairman of SBI. They cherished old memories.

Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Hospital has organised a Future Medicine Symposia Series on Friday, 9th December. On the occasion a workshop named “From Nucleic Acid to Future Medicine” was arranged. Organizing Chairperson and Director Central Research Lab Dr Pushpendra Saraswat, informed that - workshop was inaugurated by Emeritus Chairperson of MGUMST Dr ML Swarankar, Dr Vikas C Swarankar, Chairman, Vice Chancellor Dr. Sudhir Sachdev, CEO Shri R R Soni, Pro VC Dr G N Saxena, Principal Dr. Swati Garg, Dr Mike John and Jagjeet Singh Anthak from ThermoFisher Scientific.

On the sixth day of Pratishtha Mahotsav, Khartargachchadhipati Pratishthacharya Jinmaniprabh Surishwar Ji said that the marriage is also God’s way of defining life. Acharya said that Adinath Parmatma has proved marriage as a means to reduce the worldly distractions and that it cannot become an obstacle in the way of welfare.

—PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha and Amit Agarwal, Director, JECRC University as well as

engagement from around the world.

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Jagdeesh Chandra admires the artwork as artist Anoop Srivastava explains

Jagdeesh Chandra greeted by Anoop Srivastava

Jagdeesh Chandra lights the auspicious lamp. Also seen is Anoop Srivastava, Vidhyasagar Upadhyay and others

Dr ML Swarankar, RR Soni, Dr Sudhir Sachdev, Dr GN Saxena, Dr Swati Garg, Dr Mike John, Jagjeet Singh with others

Dr Ashok Gupta presents a memento to Naren Bakshi, also present on stage is Prof TN Mathur

The audience doing Laughter Yoga

Dr Madan Katana and Madhuri Kataria teach Laughter Yoga to the rapt audience

Saif Ali Khan with the artists

Sharmila Tagore with the lovely children

Mandira Bedi Rannvijay Singha

—PHOTOS

BY SUNIL SHARMA

—PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA