First India-Mumbai Edition-17th February 2023

SELFIE ROW: PRITHVI SHAW FACES ‘FAN

New Delhi: Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker has surprised her fans on social media with the news of her court marriage. Swara married her boyfriend and Samajwadi Party’s state youth president Fahad Ahmad.

NSA DOVAL CONFERRED WITH HONORARY DOCTORATE

Udham Singh Nagar: NSA Ajit Doval was on Thursday conferred Honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) in Pantnagar. He was conferred at the 34th convocation ceremony of GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar town.

SC reserves order on whether pleas be referred to 7-judge bench

In Sena vs Sena row, five-judge constitution bench on Thursday heard arguments on whether the 2016 Nabam Rebia judgement should be reconsidered

New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on the issue whether pleas related to the June, 2022 Maharashtra political crisis triggered by the Shiv Sena’s division be referred to a seven-judge bench for reconsideration of the 2016 Nabam Rebia judgement. The 2016 judgment deals with powers of assembly speakers to deal with disqualification pleas.

A five-judge constitu-

READ Crucial

BJP’S KAUSAR JAHAN

ELECTED AS HAJ COMMITTEE CHIEF

tion bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chan drachud heard submis sions from lawyers ap pearing for Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shin de factions.

“Heard counsel for parties. Argu ments addressed only on the question of Nabam Rebia being re ferred to a larger bench. Orders reserved,” the bench said.

Senior advocates

WATER SECURITY MAJOR CONCERN

REVIVE OUR ANCIENT CONNECT WITH NATURE: PM

New Delhi: In a setback to the AAP, BJP’s Kausar Jahan was elected as the chairman of the Delhi Haj Committee. The committee organises Islamic pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia. Kausar Jahan is the second woman to hold this position. Former Delhi Congress chief Tajdar Babar was the only woman till now to have held this post. P6

3 CRUSHED TO DEATH AS ELEPHANT GOES BERSERK IN UP

Gorakhpur: Three persons, including a child, were trampled to death by an elephant who went berserk in a ‘yagya’ pandal in a village in Gorakhpur district on Thursday. The incident occured in Mohammadpur Mafi village, located in Jagatbela of Chiluatal area and the deceased include a man, a woman and a child.

DELHI COURT SENDS CONMAN SUKESH TO 9-DAY ED CUSTODY

New Delhi: A Delhi court has sent alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar to Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s custody after the agency arrested him in a fresh case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) related to cheating former Religare promoter Malvinder Singh’s wife Japna.

Prime Minister Modi virtually launches Jal Jan Abhiyan, a nationwide campaign in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district

Ashok Kumawat

Sirohi: Flagging water security as a major concern Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called for the revival of the country’s “emotional connection” with nature, what he said the world’s calls “sustainable development”.

PM Modi was launching the Jal Jan Abhiyan, a joint nationwide campaign by Brahma Kumaris, an organisation which promotes spirituality, and the Union Jal Shakti Ministry.

The PM addressed the event through video conference at the Brahma Kumaris’ Abu Road headquarter in Sirohi district. He said conserving water should be a collective concern, and raised concerns over water pollution and the depletion of groundwater.

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh

Shekhawat, actor Nana Patekar and erstwhile Mewar royal family member Lakshyaraj Singh attended event.

Nepali Congress leader admitted in Mum hosp

Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu/Mumbai

(PTI): Senior Nepali Congress leader Chandra Bhandari, who suffered severe burn injuries following a cylinder gas explosion at his residence, was airlifted to Mumbai for further medical treatment, party sources said.

Bhandari (61), admitted in the night at the National Burns Centre (NBC) at Airoli in Navi

Mumbai, a satellite town of India’s financial capital, has suffered 35%

Govt to bring changes in IPC, CrPC, Evidence Act: Amit Shah

has sought reference of the cases to a sevenjudge bench to have a re-look at the Nabam Rebia judgement.

Senior advocates Harish Salve and NK Kaul, appearing for the Shinde group, opposed the reference to a

larger bench. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Maharashtra Governor, also opposed any move to refer the matter to a larger bench.

In 2016, a five-judge constitution bench, while deciding the Nabam Rebia case of Arunachal Pradesh, had held that the assembly speaker cannot proceed with a plea for disqualification of MLAs if a prior notice seeking removal of the

speaker is pending decision in the House. The judgement had come to the rescue of the rebel MLAs led by Eknath Shinde, now the chief minister of Maharashtra. The Thackeray faction had sought their disqualification even while a notice of the Shinde group for the removal of Maharashtra Assembly deputy speaker Narhari Sitaram Zirwal, a Thackeray loyalist, was pending before the House.

TRIPURA POLLS

81.1% voter turnout

recorded amid incidents of violence

Agartala (PTI): Tripura recorded over 81 per cent polling till 4 pm in the one-day election to the 60-member Tripura Assembly on Thursday, a senior EC official said.

burn injuries and put on a ventilator, but his condition is “stable” and he will undergo an operation on Friday, doctors treating him said.

The politician and his mother suffered burn injuries on Wednesday night when a cooking gas cylinder exploded at the lawmaker’s residence.

AADI MAHOTSAV SIGNIFIES SPIRIT OF ‘EK BHARAT SHRESHTHA BHARAT’: MODI

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated

Aadi Mahotsav, Delhi’s largest tribal festival at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. He also paid floral tribute to tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda. “When diversities are woven into a thread of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, India’s grandness emerges before the world. This Aadi Mahotsav signifies this spirit,” the Prime Minister said.

PM MODI EMPHASISES ON DEVELOPING

SPORTS TALENTS AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL

Gorakhpur: PM Modi on Thursday laid stress on developing sporting talents at grassroots level and said the Centre has increased the budget of the sports ministry by three times since 2014. He highlighted the importance of promoting millets, popularly known as “mota aanaj”, for a better health of youngsters. The PM was virtually addressing the “Sansad Khel Mahakumbh” event at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

New Delhi (PTI): The Income Tax Dept’s survey at BBC’s offices continued for the third straight day on Thursday as officials prepared an inventory of financial data from select staffers and made copies of electronic and paper data of the news organisation. The operation that began at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai around 11:30 am on Tuesday has clocked more than 55 hours, sources said.

New Delhi: Union HM Amit Shah on Thursday said the govt is going to bring changes to all three laws of the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act. At Delhi police’s 76th Raising Day celebrations, Shah said, “The govt is going to bring changes to all these three laws in the coming days. We have launched a trial in Delhi Police and are going to make it mandatory (for police personnel) to visit the forensic team for every crime with a punishment of more than 6 years.” P6

The voting percentage will increase as around 50,000 voters are still standing in queues at the polling stations to exercise their franchise, the official said.

“Till 4 pm, an average 81.11 per cent polling was recorded in all the 60 Assembly constituencies, while around 50,000 voters are still in queues when the report came in last,” additional chief electoral officer UJ Mog told PTI. Voters who are in the queues and took tokens by 4 pm will be allowed to cast their votes even after 6 pm or beyond, he added.

TRIPURA CONG, BJP, BJP GEN SECY GET EC NOTICE FOR POLL DAY TWEETS

New Delhi: The Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura state on Thursday issued notices to the state units of the Congress and the BJP as well as BJP national general secretary Dilip Saikia for seeking votes on Twitter when polling was underway in the northeastern state. The EC said the tweets are violative of election law. P5

DRUGS, LIQUOR, CASH VALUED AT `147 CR SEIZED IN 3 POLL-BOUND NE STATES

New Delhi: Seizures worth over Rs 147 crore have been recorded so far in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, marking a 20-fold increase in recovery of drugs, liquor and cash meant to induce voters in the run up to the polls. While polls were held in Tripura on Thursday, Meghalaya and Nagaland will go to polls on February 27.

‘Jorge’ meddling in India’s polls: Cong

First India Bureau

New Delhi: A day after an investigative report released by a consortium of international journalists claimed a team of Israeli contractors had interfered with more than 30 elections around the world, including India, by using means such as hacking,

sabotage, and automated disinformation online, the Congress on

DD’S 24×7 BROADCAST SERVICES

Thursday hit out at the BJP-led Central government demanding a probe into it.

At a press conference here, Congress leader Pawan Khera, said

“Just like Pegasus and Cambridge Analytica –a group of hackers by the code name of “Team Jorge” meddled in the Indian elections and po-

Anurag Thakur launches round-theclock Doordarshan Himachal service

Shimla: Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Thursday launched round-theclock service of Doordarshan Himachal here.

Welcoming Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Thakur said it was a momentous day for Himachal Pradesh with the launching of 24-hour telecast of the channel. Equipped with modern equipment, DD

Himachal will also be available on DTH.

The information related to art, culture, traditions, tourist and religious places, and various achievements of the state will now be available on the national network. Besides tourism promotion, programmes on Himachali folk music would be telecast on the lines of Doordarshan’s famous programme — Chitrahaar.

litical systems. “Is there a link between the Fake News Portal Post Card News & ‘Team Jorge’ – A team of Israeli contractors who claim to have manipulated more than 30 elections around the world using hacking, sabotage and automated disinformation on social media?” he said.

Hrs after killing Nikki, Sahil deleted phones’ data: Delhi cops

New Delhi (PTI): After he killed her, Sahil Gehlot deleted chats and other data from his girlfriend Nikki Yadav’s mobile phone, police here said on Thursday. According to his confession, the accused told police that he had left Yadav’s Uttam Nagar house around 15 days before the incident, but after his engagement on February 9, he went there again and spent the night there with her.

Mumbai: An argument over selfies quickly escalated into a fight with a baseball bat and a car chase in Mumbai for cricketer Prithvi Shaw, according to a police complaint. Eight people have been named in the case for allegedly charging at Shaw and his friend.

NIGHTMARE’

LET’S

Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur and Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during the launch of Doordarshan’s Himachal Pradesh 24×7 broadcast services, in Shimla, on Thursday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Plan to fight drought this year: Dy CM to officials

Fadnavis cites media reports of El Nino formation, but are his directives prudent or alarmist?

First India Bureau

Mumbai: In a great example of hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked officials to come up with a comprehensive mitigation plan to combat a possible drought later this year.

According to an official close to the development, Fadnavis cited media reports of the United States government’s weather agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which indicate a possibility of “El Nino” conditions developing late in the summer.

“There is likelihood of a drought situation this year and the government needs to be well prepared to ensure people's hardship is

Shirdi airport gets DGCA licence for night landings

The surface waters in equatorial Pacific Ocean sometimes get unusually warmer and, at other times, unusually colder due to complex ocean-atmosphere interactions. Both these states, called El Nino and La Nina, respectively, have an impact on global weather phenomena.

While the current La Nina phase has lasted a record three years, the condition is weakening now. The latest forecast by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Centre says this indicates that neutral conditions are likely to prevail for the next few months.

Neutral conditions in the Pacific are no indicator of the amount of rainfall that is expected over India during the monsoon season.

minimised,” the official said, adding that the deputy CM’s directive came at the cabinet meeting earlier this week.

While Fadnavis’s directives were presumably a measure to pre-

Mysterious sounds cause panic in Latur

Latur (PTI): Mysterious underground sounds have been reported in the eastern part of Latur city but no seismic activity has been reported, officials said.

The sounds were heard between 10.30 am and 10.45 am on Wednesday near Vivekanand Chowk, triggering panic among residents and sparking rumours of an earthquake.

Some people alerted the local administration following which the district disaster management department took information from the earthquake measuring centres in Latur city, as well as Aurad Shahajni and Ashiv in the district, but there was “no report of any seismic activity,” an official said.

In 1993, a deadly earthquake in Killari village and neighbouring areas in the district

The sounds, which came from underground, caused residents to worry about an earthquake

had claimed around 10,000 lives.

Disaster management officer Sakeb

Usmani on Wednesday said similar sounds have been reported occasionally in the Marathwada region. In September 2022, such sounds were heard in Hasori, Killari and surrounding areas of Latur district three times.

On February 04 this year, such sounds were heard in Nitoor-Dangewadi area of Nilanga tehsil in the district, the official said.

pare for the worst, it is important to note that Maharashtra has received excessive rainfall in the past two to three years. Further, no global weather agency has predicted the development as yet.

“It is too early to predict anything about the monsoon rainfall right now, not just over Maharashtra but the entire country,” a report in The Indian Express cited India Meteorological Department (IMD) director general Mrutyunjay Mohapatra as saying.

IMD typically makes its first monsoon forecast in April.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has granted the Shirdi International Airport a licence for night flights, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday.

With this, connectivity to the town in Ahmednagar district, where a renowned temple dedicated to Sai Baba is located, gets a further impetus. Notably, the temple town is already part of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway and also has a Vande Bharat service from Mumbai that was inaugurated recently by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Airlines are expected to start night flights as early as March or April this year

“Hat-trick of Good news for SaiBhakts and for Maharashtra!

After Samruddhi Mahamarg, Vande Bharat Express, now Shirdi airport gets the ‘Night landing’ licence from DGCA this morning!,” Fadnavis tweeted on Thursday. He also shared a picture of the airport at night.

“Airlines are expected to start night flights as early as March/ April 2023 onwards. Currently 13 flights operate from this airport.

More flights are expected to be added now,” Fadnavis added.

Fadnavis said he was fortunate to be at the helm (as chief minister) when the greenfield airport started in 2017 and was overjoyed that the facility has received the night landing licence when the state government is being led by CM Eknath Shinde.

He thanked PM Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for “expediting my request (for the night landing licence approval)”, which will make the “Shirdi Yatra easier and faster for Sai devotees as well as boost the economic growth in and around this region”.

Hospitals, water supply, building redevt: CM Shinde’s promises ahead of civic polls

First India Bureau

Thane: Saying the state was making “tremendous” progress under his government, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has asked people to vote for the Balasahebanchi Shiv SenaBharatiya Janata Party alliance in the upcoming civic polls.

CM Shinde made his appeal while addressing meetings in Thane’s Kalyan and Ulhasnagar—where civic polls have been due since early 2022— on Wednesday. Noting that polls are also due in other urban areas in the state, including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad, CM Shinde said the development of these cities will be sped up if the “double engine” government— a term often used by BJP leaders to indicate friendly dispensations

STATE BUDGET WILL REFLECT PEOPLE’S ASPIRATIONS: CM

First India Bureau

Thane: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said his “people-oriented” government will ensure that the upcoming state budget contains measures that will benefit common people.

Ulhasnagar needs additional 50 million litres per day (MLD) water and the state government will take all efforts to fulfil this.

—

in the state and at the Centre— retains power.

In Kalyan, Shinde said his government wanted to set up super speciality hospitals in the region, while in Ulhasnagar, he promised that problems related to redevelopment of old,

METRO CAR SHED

Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister

dilapidated and dangerous buildings will be be solved.

“Ulhasnagar needs additional 50 million litres per day (MLD) water and the state government will take all efforts to fulfil this,” Shinde said.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state’s Finance Minister, will present the state budget for fiscal 202324 on March 09.

Speaking after inaugurating the renovated Bhagwa Talao (lake) in Kalyan town of Thane district, his political turf, Shinde on Wednesday praised the Union Budget for the next fiscal which was pre-

CRUCIAL READ

55 STRUCTURES RAZED IN MUMBAI’S BORIVALI LOCALITY

Mumbai: The BMC razed 55 illegal structures near the Ministry of Communication lands at Borivali. The action was taken after the Bombay High Court (HC) gave the order on behalf of the Central Government. The encroachments had collectively taken up 5.5 acres of land and the BMC deployed 35 workers, 10 officers and 10 backhoe loader machines from the R-Central ward to complete the action. The demolition has cleared the way for the construction of an international monitoring station.

WHEEL OF MUMBAI LOCAL TRAIN CATCHES FIRE

Mumbai: The wheel of a local train caught fire near Asangaon station in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Thursday morning. According to officials, the incident happened due to “brake binding”. However, no passengers were reported hurt in the incident. The wheel caught fire roughly 70 km away from Mumbai, a video of which did rounds on social media in which a passenger was seen jumping out of the train which had stopped.

TICKET CHECKERS WILL COLLECT ONLINE FINES

sented in the Lok Sabha on February 01.

“Similarly, the budget of the state government will be beneficial to common citizens and reflect their aspirations,” he said. Shinde said his government, which assumed office in June last year, is public-oriented and committed to the welfare of people.

Shinde said his administration’s singlepoint programme is to make the life of all citizens in the state comfortable.

Kalyan will be developed on the lines of cities like Mumbai and Thane, and there was no dearth of funds for projects, he said.

‘Litigation delaying project and causing loss of public money’

Even a single day’s delay to the project would cause a loss of `5.87 cr to the public exchequer, MMRCL counsel tells HC

First India Bureau

Mumbai: In a bid to defend its plan to cut more trees at the site than earlier proposed, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that litigations were delaying construction on the car shed at Aarey

Colony and causing loss of public money.

MMRCL, a nodal agency, told the HC that court cases have meant it could not cut down trees in 2019, which has now led to an increase in the number of trees needed to be cut for the project.

In 2019, the MMRCL had sought permission from the tree authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to chop 84 trees in

This matter remained pending for four years thanks to the petitioners. During these four years, four monsoon seasons have passed. So at that time what were saplings, and thus did not fall under the definition of trees, have now grown into trees naturally.

—Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, MMRCL counsel

suburban Goregaon. However, due to petitions filed in HC and later in the Supreme Court, a status quo was ordered.

After the SC gave the green signal to cut trees, the MMRCL filed an application before the tree authority to cut down 177 trees.

As per the MMRCL, the number of trees at the Metro car shed site has increased in the past four years.

“The depot work is required to be complet-

ed by October 2023. Even a single day delay to the project would cause a loss of Rs5.87 crore to the public exchequer,” it said.

An activist, Zoru Bhathena, last month moved the HC challenging the BMC’s tree authority’s notice issued on cutting down of the 177 trees.

Bhathena claimed that the notice was in violation of the Supreme Court order of November 2022, which allowed only 84 trees to be cut.

Mumbai: Konkan Railway will now collect fines online via the ticket examiner app. Hence, ‘Cash’ along with ‘Cashless’ fines would be levied. The ticket examiners of the Central Railway will also start online fine collection. Many times, people who are caught travelling ticketless often have no money, for such the Central Railway has started working on a mobile application which will enable ticket checkers to levy fines online. Soon this app will appear at every ticket checker, a senior railway ticket checker has informed.

2 UNAUTHORIZED STRUCTURES DEMOLISHED

Navi Mumbai: The Antiencroachment department of the Koparkhairane ward of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) demolished two unauthorized constructions in Pawne. The buildings were constructed without any permission from the civic body. A notice was issued under section 53 (1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 for the unauthorised construction at house number 787/02, 785 and 613 in Pawane village.

‘ILL-TREATMENT’ OF INMATE: COURT SEEKS REPORT

Mumbai: A special PMLA court on Wednesday requested a detailed report from the jail superintendent and constable Anil Ingale, after a 61-year-old money laundering suspect, Appasaheb Deshmukh, claimed he was made to do sit-ups. This comes after another court issued a warning to Ingale, after an accused-turned-approver said he was stripped and searched when returned to jail from court. Deshmukh, who is the treasurer of a Kolhapur-based charitable trust, stated that making him do sit-ups was done was a form of harassment and against jail rules.

ALARM BELLS?

Devendra Fadnavis

Shirdi airport

Members of Watchdog Foundation protest against the metro car shed project in the Aarey forest area, in Mumbai. —FILE PHOTO

Man kills woman for ‘nagging to be married’

Navi Mumbai security guard murders woman he was having affair with and dumps her body in some bushes

First India Bureau

Thane: A 40-year-old security guard with a housing complex in Navi Mumbai allegedly killed a woman who was having an affair with him, because she was hounding him to marry her, and dumped her body in some bushes, police said on Thursday.

Rajkumar Baburam

Pal who was arrested on Tuesday— the same

day that 27-year-old Hardik Shah was nabbed for murdering his wife and stuffing her body inside a bed— reportedly told the police that he had wanted to “get rid” of the woman following her constant demand that he marry her.

Pal’s arrest follows the February 12 discovery of the body of an unidentified woman who had been strangled to death with a dupatta in some bushes near a housing society in Koparkhairne area of Navi Mumbai, senior police inspector Vishwanath Kolekar said.

After registering a case and sending the body for post-mortem, the Navi Mumbai police sent out a message

CRUCIAL READ

TO IMPRESS WIFE, ENGINEER HACKS PASSPORT VERIFICATION SYSTEM, HELD

Mumbai: The Cyber police of crime branch arrested a 27-yearold civil engineer for allegedly hacking into the system of the city police's passport verification branch and clearing the inquiry reports of three applicants, including his wife. The accused wanted to impress his wife, who planned to go abroad for a job, police said. A case was registered against an unknown person at Azad Maidan police station last year for forgery of valuable security, will, identity theft, and punishment for cheating by using computer resources under various sections of the IPC and Information Technology Act.

MAN, FEMALE GUEST BOOKED FOR ‘ROAMING SOCIETY PREMISES NAKED’

Mumbai: Residents of a residential complex in Santacruz East, Mumbai, lodged a complaint against a homeowner and his female guest after CCTV footage revealed the woman roaming around without clothes and performing obscene acts in the building compound. The footage showed that the woman was not wearing any clothes when she stepped out of the flat around 11.30 pm. The complaint also alleged that the host knew the whereabouts and state of his guest, and had been bringing many unknown female friends to his flat for years, despite being told not to do so.

WOMAN ARRESTED WITH 11.94KG OF HEROIN AT MUMBAI AIRPORT

Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Tuesday arrested a woman for allegedly trying to smuggle 11.94 kg of heroin, worth Rs84 crore, to Mumbai.

The DRI officials said Rukshana Shaikh arrived at Mumbai international airport from Harare in Zimbabwe through Nairobi in Kenya Airways. “Following a tip-off, we detained Rukshana Shaikh at the airport. While examining her luggage, we seized 11.94 kg of cream-coloured granules. On examination, the substance tested positive for heroin,” said.

DISCOVERY & INVESTIGATION

US agency alerts

MAN HELD FOR SLITTING MINOR SON’S THROAT

Thane: Police on Thursday arrested a 40-year-old man from Ambarnath in Thane district for allegedly killing his 11-year-old son by slitting his throat, an official said. “The accused killed his son by slitting his throat late on Wednesday night.

A police patrolling team caught him attempting to dump the child’s body near a tea stall in Ambarnath, in the wee hours of Thursday,”

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ulhasnagar division IV) Sudhakar Pathare said. The accused, who is separated from his wife, has two more children, he said. The reason for the murder is not yet known, the official said.

BHIWANDI SLAB COLLAPSE: BLDG OWNER BOOKED

Mum cops, foils man’s suicide plan

regarding their gruesome find to all police stations in Maharashtra, and then received information that a woman matching the description of the deceased had been reported missing by her husband in Mumbai. Her husband told the police that she worked as a cleaner in Mankhurd area of Mumbai and had been missing for some time, the official said.

The police later found the victim’s mobile phone and also came to know that she and Pal had been having an extra-marital affair. She had repeatedly asked him to marry her, Pal later told the police during questioning.

Fed up with her persistence, he decided to

BODY OF AURANGABAD WOMAN FOUND NEAR JOGGING TRACK IN VASHI

Navi Mumbai: A 33-year-old woman, Asha Borde, was found dead near a jogging track in Vashi on Wednesday morning. Civic cleaning workers noticed the body and informed the police. Upon investigation, the police found a biscuit packet and an Aadhar card in her possession. It is believed that the woman was stabbed in the chest by the accused in the early hours of Wednesday. The police have started an investigation and are checking CCTV footage for clues. The woman was a native of Aurangabad.

CASE AGAINST HOUSING SOCIETY GUARD FOR FIRING IN THANE

Maharashtra: The Thane Police have registered a case against a 41-year-old security guard who is an ex-serviceman for allegedly firing from his licensed revolver to scare away people at Kolegaon Naka in Dombivli, an official said on Thursday. The accused had fired one round from his revolver. He has been detained and issued a warning. A case has been registered against him under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act.

“get rid of her”, officials said, adding that he called her to a spot near the housing complex where he worked and allegedly strangled

her to death before dumping the body in bushes to destroy evidence. The investigation is ongoing, the official said.

Don’t ID victims of sexual offences, HC tells agencies

Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court has directed all investigating agencies to ensure they do not disclose the identity of victims of sexual offences in the chargesheet, warning action would be initiated under section 228-A of the Indian Penal Code if the directive was not followed.

Thane: The woman owner of a building in Bhiwandi in Thane district was booked for culpable homicide and other offences in connection with a slab collapse on January 27, which killed one person and damaged eight shops, a police official said on Thursday. While she was booked on Wednesday, she is yet to be arrested, the Nizampura police station official said. An inquiry revealed that the mishap allegedly took place due to the owner’s negligence in carrying out repairs, the official added.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Police have foiled a suicide attempt by a 25-year-old IT engineer, after a US law enforcement agency alerted them that a person was searching “how to commit suicide without pain” on Google, an official said on Thursday.

Based on information like the IP address and location shared by the US National Central Bureau, the man was traced to an IT company in Mumbai’s Kurla area on Tuesday, where police thwarted his plan and also counselled him, he said. The man, a resident of Jogeshwari, had been depressed as he was unable to pay back various loans. As he

The US-based agency alerted the Interpol office in New Delhi, which shared the information with the Mumbai Police

grew more despondent, he began to search for painless methods of suicide, the official said. The US-based agency alerted the Interpol office in New Delhi, which shared the information with the Mumbai police. Then, officials of the Mumbai crime branch brought him into their offices, advised him to seek psychotherapy, and sent him home with his parents.

CROWD PLEASER

A division bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Abhay Waghwase of the Aurangabad bench of the HC on February 08 said investigating agencies have to submit documents that reveal the identity of the victim only in sealed envelopes.

The remarks were made by the judges in an order granting bail to a 33-year-old man accused of raping a 27-year-old widow in October 2022. The woman alleged that the man had promised to marry her, raped her, and then refused to marry her as she belonged to a “lower” caste. The bench, after going through the material

The identity of the victim cannot be disclosed by any of the authorities in the charge sheet. Nowadays, we are finding that photographs are taken, i.e., either the old photographs are collected or even victims showing the spot of occurrence are taken and those photographs are produced in the charge sheet. —Bombay High Court

on record, noted it was a consensual relationship and granted bail to the accused.

The court, in its order, said it was constrained to note that the police in the charge sheet had revealed the identity of

the victim and also enclosed photographs.

“Failure to follow the directions may invite the action for the offence under Section 228-A of the Indian Penal Code,” the court said.

Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav: Cultural extravaganza in Mumbai

The event is organized by the Union Ministry of Culture every year in different states to promote national unity and integrity through cultural exchange

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The ongoing nine-day ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’, a cultural extravaganza organized by the Union Ministry of Culture at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai wherein artists from across India are participating, is drawing a large crowd.

As many as 350 folk and tribal artists from across India along with around 300 local artists,

including from the transgender community, and those with disabilities, are performing in this festival, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a release on Thursday. The festival was inaugurated by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on February 11, and it will continue till February 19.

Around 150 craftsmen from all the states of the country are

showcasing their art through craft exhibition-cum-sale for which about 70 stalls were made available, it said.

Further, 25 stalls are being set up for the Maharashtra State Handloom Department and start-ups, while a paint-

ing exhibition is also being organized by artists of the city-based JJ School of Arts. Exhibitions on “Pandharpur

Wari” and “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” have also been organized.

A food court is being established at the venue, where about 37 stalls offering delicacies from all over India are available, the PIB said.

“At the Mahotsav, every evening is a treat for visitors as it is lined up with performances by renowned artists from across India who showcase classical, folk, contemporary art forms and beyond,” it added.

The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is organized every year in different states of the country to promote national unity and integrity through cultural exchange.

Storytelling festival begins

Mumbai (PTI): “Gaatha”, a three-day international festival on the art of storytelling showcasing its various forms will be held in Mumbai from Friday, its organizers—Mumbai Storytellers Society and Somaiya Vidyavihar University (SVU)— said. “From folklore to contemporary and from fabric to art, along with unconventional ways of storytelling, showcasing the colourful paths of culture and tradition, Gaatha is not just about stories read in

words, but about stories behind saris, structures, musical ragas and nature among all,” the festival’s director, Usha Venkatraman, said.

Mumbai Storytellers Society co-founder Hema Subramanian added that indigenous storytelling traditions such as Gujarati Dayro, known for musical traditions of both folk and classical music, and Powada, a popular vocal form of storytelling and a folk music tradition of Maharashtra, will be a part of the festival.

The festival was inaugurated by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on February 11, and will run until Sunday. —FILE PHOTO

NaMo Messiah of POOR

Execution with speed & efficiency is Narendra Modi’s style of working to make things better for the citizens. For him, people always come first! This is what is most remarkable about him.

PM Narendra Modi ‘feels’ for his people

close associate of PM Modi, the narrator brings to the fore the meticulous planner, the tech visionary, the compassionate messiah of the poor and the protective, loving father figure that PM Modi is, not just for those close to him but for the entire nation.

Modiji was visiting Kashi and I got the opportunity to meet him and interact with him. As I entered his room, I got this feeling of tremendous calm and simplicity. There was one single bed in the centre covered with a white sheet, and a sofa on which he would sit and read. Other than this, there was not a single piece of furniture and of course, there wasn’t a sign of luxury or the presence of facilities. Someone who would look at the place from the outside could never have fathomed the level of modesty with which Modiji lived. Even today, he has no expectations or desires nor any needs.

I vividly remember the Ekta Yatra undertaken to Kashmir to hoist the national

He possesses the ability to go into the minutest details of the matter, hesadi, “If you travel by bus, there is Punjab on way, terrorism is at its peak, you will not be able to alight from the bus till you are in safe zone!”

flag. Modiji was the national in-charge of this yatra and I feel I was particularly fortunate to have got to know him from close quarters during this yatra. He possesses the ability to go into the minutest details of the matter at hand. He spoke to us “If you travel by bus, there is Punjab on the way, terrorism is at its peak both in Punjab and Kashmir, you will not be able to alight from the bus till you are in safe zone! Do not get down anywhere but your destination. Now, make your arrangements for a possibility when you need to but cannot get down of the bus. Your meals, your water, answering nature’s call - plan every little detail of your journey!” And all thanks to such meticulous and careful planning, we did not face a single glitch or difficulty till we got down at Jammu. His vision and care for his people is terrific. Elections were on in 2014. Modiji was traveling all over the country. In Jayapur, a village in Varanasi, a high tension wire had snapped and was hanging in the middle of a road. Three people had been electrocuted and were hospitalized in a serious condition. There was no electricity in the village ever since this happened in the morning and residents were miserable. We got to know of this incident and Modiji asked us to go the

village and meet the people. We reached at night. It was the last leg of his travel and Modiji asked me over phone “What news do you have of Jayapur? Hand over the phone to Pradhanji.” Modiji, at a time when he was running his Prime Ministerial campaign, ordered Pradhanji and us to ensure that this problem was resolved at the earliest. Neither the electricians nor the police had visited the area till then. Now, if it was anyone else other than Modiji, he or she would have thought it’s just a small, everyday problem in a small village and they would have waited till the next day morning to even consider if it was worth looking into! But this is Modiji, not any ordinary statesman. He had been on a

THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF EXAMPLES THAT REFLECT HIS LOVE FOR POORS W hen an industrialist laid off almost 1,700 workers without any prior notice and this was illegal. Modiji took instant action. He made sure that all the labourers got justice and their due. Out of 1,700 a total of 1,100 got their jobs back after Modiji’s intervention.There are thousands of examples that reflect Modiji’s deep love and attachment towards the poor, the weak and the needy.

gruelling schedule but that did not deter him from taking the bull by the horns late in the night because for him, people always come first! This is what is most remarkable about him. Execution, speedy and efficient, is his style of working to make things better for the citizens. These virtual meetings are happening are happening now but Modiji, I believe through GNFC cloud networking, ensured long back that the DM, Collector and SP do not have to travel and still stay connected. Complete information dissemination in real time has been taking place virtually because Modiji had that vision 20 years back. On his 68th birthday, I remember once he was sitting with rag-pickers’ chil-

dren. He narrated stories to these children who do not go to school, he played with them and was so engrossed in conversation with them for almost half an hour, it seemed he did not remember that he is the PM. He became their father for those 45 minutes.

Children were sitting on his lap, they were playing and having a gala time with him. Another incident I clearly recollect is when an industrialist laid off almost 1,700 workers without any prior notice and this was illegal. I spoke to Modiji about this. I told him that he factory will continue to operate but what will these men, who have lost their jobs, go and tell their wives and children? Some of them are sure to commit suicide. Modiji took instant ac-

tion. He has always been pro-weak and has compassion for the poor. He made sure that all the labourers got justice and their due. While for few of them he ensured they got their compensation, about 1,100 of them got their jobs back. The company was not allowed to just lay off so many people in an unfair and unethical way. Just like this, there are thousands of examples that reflect his deep love and attachment towards the poor, the weak and the needy. I got COVID on 10 March, 2021. I was critical in the first few days. First thing Modiji did when he got to know about my condition, he sent me off to the hospital. And till the time I shifted to Medanta from there and did not recover, I can never forget the regular calls I received from him, every morning and every evening. If I would get breathless, he asked me to hand over the phone to someone and took updates about my condition. Modiji’s own doctor would call not just me, but the team of doctors of Medanta and PGI as well. What medication was to be administered to me, what I needed to do to recover sooner and breath better, PM Modi took such special care of me in those 6 crucial days of my life, it was not just unbelievable, but will remain forever etched in my heart as those days of my life when I felt I got my father back to me make me well again! Probably my father would not have been able to do what Modiji did for me - PM Modi traversed the Kailash Parvat to give me a new life!

BE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

PM SHOWS ENTHUSIASM FOR SPIRIT OF ‘EK BHARAT SHRESHTHA BHARAT’

GOVT WORKING FOR TRIBES WITH PRIDE PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN: PM MODI

‘Thorough probe into Adani issue necessary’

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated Aadi Mahotsav, Delhi’s largest tribal festival at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. He also paid floral tribute to tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda.

“When diversities are woven into a thread of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, India’s grandness emerges before the world. This Aadi Mahotsav signifies this spirit,” he said. The PM said he had learned through the practices of tribal society. Speaking at the event, the PM said, “I was delighted to see different arts, artefacts, music, & cultural display through their products. I feel our diversity and grandness have come together & are standing tall today, highlighting tradition.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with tribal artisans at ‘Aadi Mahotsav’ at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in New Delhi

NEGLECTED TRIBAL GLORY NOW BEING BROUGHT TO MAINSTREAM, SAYS PM MODI

New Delhi: Underlining the contributions of the tribal society in the struggle for India’s Independence, PM Modi lamented the attempt for decades to cover up the glorious chapters of the sacrifice and valour of the tribal community in the pages of history. He said that for the first time, the nation has finally taken steps to bring these forgotten chapters of the past to the fore. “For the first time, the country has started celebrating Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda,” he

IN THE COURTYARD

DELHI HC GRANTS DDA TIME TO FILE

AFFIDAVIT IN MEHRAULI DEMOLITION CASE

New Delhi (ANI): The Delhi High court on Thursday granted time to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and directed to file a detailed affidavit by February 20 in the case of Mehrauli demolition. The Court, headed by the bench, directed the DDA to supply its demarcation report to the petitioners by Friday and mentioned that the status quo has been extended till next date of hearing on February 23.

EXCISE POLICY CASE:

COURT REJECTS BAIL

PLEA OF 5 ACCUSED

New Delhi (ANI): The Rouse Avenue Court rejected the bail petitions of five accused who were arrested in the money laundering probe emerging out of the Delhi government’s now scrapped Excise Policy. The court also noted that none of the accused deserves to be released on bail in this case due to serious. allegations made against them.

2 FRESH PETITIONS IN SC ON BBC

DOCUMENTARY ISSUE

New Delhi (ANI): Another 2 separate petitions have been moved in the SC on the issues related to the BBC documentary and Hindenburg report. Both the petitions have been drafted and filed by Roopesh Singh Bhadauria, Advocate of the SC and Nat’l Chairman, Indian Youth Cong Legal Cell and Advocate Mareesh Pravir, Advocate-on-Record, SC.

PLEA SEEKING EARLY HEARING AGAINST COLLEGIUM SYSTEM MENTIONED IN SC

New Delhi (ANI): A plea seeking an early hearing of the petition against the Collegium system for the appointment of judges and revival of the National Judicial Appointment Commission for the purpose was mentioned in the Supreme Court. A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said that it will first examine the petition and then consider it. It further mentioned that a mechanism in substitution of the Collegium is the need of the hour.

KERALA HC: COPS CAN’T BAN SAFFRON DECORATIONS

Kochi (ANI): The Kerala HC ruled that the District Administration or the Police cannot insist that only politically neutralcoloured decorative materials are used for temple festivals. The judgements come while the Police restrained the temple authorities from using only saffron-coloured decorative materials as part of the Kaliyoottu festival.

GUJ COURT ISSUES ARREST WARRANT AGAINST PATEL

Surendranagar (PTI): A court has issued an arrest warrant against BJP MLA Hardik Patel for failing to appear before it in a 2017 case in which he is accused of violating a government order. Patel had made a political speech in violation of a government order at a village in the district ahead of the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections.

PLEA MOVED IN SUPREME COURT CITING ‘HATE

SPEECH AGAINST HINDUS’

New Delhi (Agencies): A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court citing some recent instances of “hate speeches, utterances and statements” made against Hindus and Hindu religion by members of Muslim and Christian community, including call for “Sar Tan se Juda” (beheading). The application has been filed through advocates Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain after taking the court’s permission.

said. The PM emphasised on the efforts of the government to promote tribal arts and skill development for the tribal youth. Modi also informed that the PM Visvakarma

Yojna has been introduced for traditional craftsmen, where economical assistance will be provided apart from skill development and support in marketing their products.

New Delhi: For the first time, a tribal in Droupadi Murmu has occupied the top constitutional post in the country, he said, adding the budgetary allocation for the community has risen manifold since 2014. He called upon the people of Delhi and neighbouring states to visit the festival to witness the rich tribal culture and nutritious food products being showcased from across the country. Let’s ensure that they sell all their products, the prime minister said. The government is now going from Delhi to those considered remote and bringing them in the mainstream, he said. Tribals played a big role in India’s freedom movement but attempts were made for decades to ignore these golden chapters and the sacrifices made by men and women from the community, he said, adding his government is now bringing them to light in the “Amrit Kaal”.

❍ TRIPURA, MEGHALAYA, NAGALAND ELECTIONS

Poll body

notice to BJP,

Congress for online posts

New Delhi: The Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura today issued notices to the state units of the Congress and the BJP as well as BJP national general secretary Dilip Saikia for seeking votes on Twitter when polling is underway in the northeastern state.

The Election Commission said the tweets are violative of election law as they were made in the 48 hour “silence period” which began on Tuesday evening.They have been given an an opportunity “to take corrective action at the earliest”.

They have also been asked to explain their stands for the violation by 5 pm on Friday.

In its notice to Saikia, the Tripura CEO said, “ ... an appeal for vote in favour of BJP has been tweeted from your handle at 0950 hours on 16.02.2023. The tweet is in form of a photo containing following message:

Unnato Tripura Sreshtho Tripura Vote for BJP.”

NE STATES RECORD

MASSIVE SEIZURES

New Delhi: Seizures totalling over `147 crore have been recorded so far in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, marking a 20fold increase in recovery of drugs, liquor and cash meant to induce voters, the EC said on Thursday.

CONG ANNOUNCES

WOMEN CANDIDATES

Shillong: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress on Thursday announced the names of 10 women candidates for the upcoming Meghalaya Polls.

New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday said a thorough investigation into the Adani issue is necessary, holding that any committee other than a JPC will be nothing but an “exercise in legitimisation and exoneration”.

Congresss leader Jairam Ramesh said the proposal before the Supreme Court for setting up of a committee by the government can hardly ensure transparency.

Ramesh said, a Supreme Court bench on February 13, while hearing petitions on the Adani-Hindenburg matter, discussed the creation of a committee of experts to examine the regulatory regime post the allegations. He said it had directed the Government to give its submissions by February 17.

“Where the allegations are of close, intertwined proximity between the ruling dispensation, the government of India and the Adani

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE NOTICE GETS REPLY

New Delhi: Congress MP

Rahul Gandhi on Thursday sent a reply to a breach of privilege notice over his remarks on PM Modi, informed Congress sources on Thursday. Rahul allegedly made ‘unparliamentary’ remarks against PM during his address in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s joint address to the Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi)

RAHUL GANDHI TO VISIT UK THIS MONTH

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be visiting the United Kingdom this month to deliver a lecture at the Cambridge University’s business school. Sharing information about this, Gandhi said he is looking forward to visiting his alma mater and that he will be engaging with some of the brightest minds in geopolitics, international relations and democracy.

"Looking forward to visiting my alma mater Cambridge University and delivering a lecture at @CambridgeJBS," Gandhi tweeted. "Happy to engage with some of the brightest minds in various domains, including geopolitics, international relations, big data and democracy," the Congress MP said.

Group, the setting up of a committee with terms of reference proposed by the Government of

India can hardly carry any insignia or reassurance of independence or transparency,” he said.

Suva (PTI): India has been privileged to partner with Fiji in the nation-building efforts in the South Pacific country, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, underlining that there have been “close and long-standing ties” shared between two countries through people-to-people linkages.

10 BBC employees spent two nights in Delhi office

BJP’S

TOP GUNS TO LAND IN NAGALAND

New Delhi: Several BJP bigwigs like PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the party’s national president JP Nadda are scheduled to reach Nagaland ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections on February 27.

MODI IN MEGHALAYA ON FEBRUARY 24

New Delhi: Ahead of the Assembly election at the end of this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit poll-bound Meghalaya on February 24. According to sources, PM Modi will address a rally in Tura on February 24.

At an event with Fijian PM Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, Jaishankar said that India and Fiji have signed and exchanged the visa waiver agreement.

“It will certainly be helpful in encouraging greater travel between our 2 countries,” he said.

He further said that “India & Fiji have close and long-standing ties and I think a large part of that is really built on our people-to-people linkages.” “We have been privileged to partner with Fiji in its nation-building efforts in various sectors, in working with it; in areas like health, education & more ,” he said.

IAF’S AIRCRAFT DEPARTS TO BRING 12 CHEETAHS

New Delhi: At least 10 senior employees of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in Delhi have not gone home since the Income Tax department launched a “survey” at their Indian offices, sources have said, as the operation entered its third day on Thursday.

Officials gathered financial data from staffers and made copies of documents of the news organisation in an action that comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary

“India: The Modi Question” on Prime Minister

12 African cheetahs to land in India soon

New Delhi (ANI): Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav said that 12 more Cheetahs would be coming from South Africa on Saturday via the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) C-17 Globemaster plane, which has already taken off from India.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the Union Minister said that these 12 Cheetahs will be released on the same day of their arrival at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

The Cheetah Project Chief SP Yadav informed that the aircraft

PREVIOUSLY ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

z Eight Cheetahs were brought to the Kuno National Park from Namibia in South Africa and were released by PM Modi on his birthday

z Radio collars have been installed in all the cheetahs and monitored through satellite. Apart from this, a dedicated monitoring team behind each cheetah keeps monitoring the location for 24 hours

z As per MoU with South Africa, the initial batch of 12 cheetahs is to be flown from South Africa to India this month. The MoU terms are to be reviewed every 5 years

48 HOURS AND COUNTING

New Delhi: The operation that began at the BBC offices around 11:30 am on Tuesday has clocked over 48 hours now. Authorities said that the exercise would continue for some more time. Officials have gathered financial data from select staffers and made copies of electronic and paper data of the news organisation.

Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots.

A BBC staffer in Delhi said they were broadcasting their news like usual and many employees were working from home.

‘BJP will lose Telangana Assembly polls’

Hyderabad (ANI):

AIMIM MP Asaduddin

Owaisi alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government is running the administration with a bulldozer and not Constitution. Owaisi said, “

Cheetah Project Chief SP Yadav

had taken off for South Africa & will land in Gwalior around 10 am on Saturday.

“IAF’s C-17 Globemaster took off for South Africa from Hindon airbase today morning to

bring 12 Cheetahs to the country. The IAF is not charging any amount for this task. The plane will take off from South Africa at 8 pm on Friday and will land in Gwalior the next day around 10

am. The cheetahs will be released in Kuno National Park by Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Madhya Pradesh

CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the presence of Ministers Narendra

Singh Tomar and Jyotiraditya Scinida on February 18,” SP Yadav said. He further added that after taking clearance from Customs, the Cheetahs will be brought here by MI-17 helicopter.

Those doing ‘bulldozer politics’ in UP have taken the lives of a motherdaughter. They want to run the govt with a bulldozer, not Constitution. They will not gain anything politically by doing all this. On being asked about Telangana BJP Chief Bandi Sanjay’s Taj Mahal remark, he stated, “the BJP will fail in the Telangana Assembly polls in 2023.”

‘India privileged to partner with Fiji in nationbuilding efforts’

TAX ‘SURVEY’ AT BBC OFFICES ON FOR THIRD DAY

Police officials outside the BBC office in New Delhi.

Voters with their ID cards as they wait in queues at a polling booth during Tripura Assembly polls, on Thursday.

on Thursday. —PHOTOS BY ANI & PTI

Delhi Police emerged as world’s best police force’

Home min Amit Shah hails Delhi Police at 76th Raising Day Parade

New Delhi (ANI):

Home Minister Amit

Shah today said the Delhi Police has emerged as the world’s best police force in the last 75 years. He said, it has changed its complete functioning. Shah was addressing the 76th Raising Day Parade of Delhi Police event in New Delhi.

Remembering the Police ecosystem, he said that before the Independence, the Police work was not focusing on citizens’ services. Police only ensured the interests of the British. He said, after Independence, Delhi Police Service moved forward with the sources of Peace, Service and Justice.

Our correspondent reports that on the occasion, Shah launched the online verification platform for passport applicants. It will help citizens to get a police verification certificate for their passport in 5 days through the facility. He also dedicated five Mobile Forensic vehicles to citizens at the event.

‘THERE IS NEED TO STRENGTHEN COUNTRY’S JUDICIAL SYSTEM ON THE BASIS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE EVIDENCE’

Shah inaugurated an online facility for passport verification

mPassport Seva and dedicated the mobile forensic vehicles inducted into the Delhi Police to people.

He also inaugurated the academic complex of the National Forensic Science University’s (NFSU) Delhi campus. Pointing out that the city police has received mobile forensic vans now, he

MAMATA SLAMS BJP GOVT

said, “In the coming days, the Delhi Police will become the first police force in the country to investigate every crime

Security beefed up ahead of Prez’s visit to Madurai

New Delhi: The AAP today alleged that it was because of the "complicity" of the Congress and the BJP that Kausar Jahan from the saffron party was elected to the Delhi State Haj Committee chairperson's post. In a setback to the ruling AAP in Delhi, Jahan today got three of the five votes cast by the panel's members in the poll held at the Delhi Secretariat. She is the second woman to be elected to the post.

punishable with six years in jail and more by the visit of a forensic team.

“There is a great need to strengthen the country’s judicial system on the basis of forensic science evidence. When this vehicle, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and 14 different types of forensic kits, would visit the crime scene, the conviction rate will significantly increase.”

Madurai (ANI): Ahead of President Droupadi Murmu’s two-day visit to Madurai, the security arrangements are being beefed up, state police sources informed.

President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to visit Tamil Nadu on February 18-19. She will be departing from Delhi on February 18 and is scheduled to arrive at Madurai at 12 noon on the same day. Notably, President Murmu will also be going to Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple for having the darshan of Lord Meenakshi Amman.

President Droupadi Murmu lights the ceremonial lamp at the inauguration of the International Engineering and Technology Fair (IEFT) 2023, in New Delhi on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Ahead of the President’s visit, her security team personally in-

spected the security arrangements in Madurai on Thursday.

debating communal issues on TV’

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party on Thursday asked its leaders and panelists to refrain from debating on communal issues on television channels.

It said the party leaders should not be misled by the BJP which is trying to divert the attention of the people from basic issues.

SP president Akhile-

sh Yadav has advised party workers, leaders, office bearers and TV

RaGa demands probe into tribal man’s death; writes to Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram:

Kolkata (Agencies):

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that the Centre is making the lives of rural poor miserable by pushing them into a circle of online activities.

“The Union government wants to introduce a total online system in the lives of rural people. But how can the marginalised communities get accustomed to it? So, their lives are becoming miserable,” the CM said while addressing an administrative review meeting in West Midnapore district. She claimed that the Centre has made mandatory linking of AAD-

HAR cards with bank accounts for payment of money for the 100day job scheme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Senior Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has sent a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking a probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of a tribal man in the state recently. He wanted the state government to order an impartial enquiry regarding the lapses, if any, in the present police investigation related to the death of Vishwanathan (46), who was found hanging near Kozhikode medical college.

In the letter, Mr Gandhi also requested the Chief Minister to grant the man's family ex-gratia compensation and a job for one of its members on humanitarian grounds. The man was found hanging near the medical college hospital at Kozhikode on February 11, where his wife was admitted for delivery.

“I request you to kindly initiate a probe into the death case of Vishwanathan and order an impartial enquiry,” he said.

Congress demands immediate restoration of statehood to J&K

Srinagar (PTI): Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani on Thursday said the Centre should immediately restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and hold Assembly polls. He also accused the ruling BJP at the Centre of creating “dictatorship” in J&K.

“We demand immediate restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and holding of Assembly polls,” Wani told reporters at the

AIMING TO BE NEXT EMIRATES?

PCC headquarters.

The PCC chief, however, said National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah has “rightly said that they (government) have no intention of restoring statehood” to the Union Territory.

“The BJP has created dictatorship here. People are being harassed and intimidated in the name of bulldozers or the Public Safety Act. Anyone who raises his voice is threatened with arrest,” he alleged.

New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor virtually ruled out contesting the CWC polls if the party decides to hold them, saying he is not considering any further elections after having fought the AICC presidential polls and it is “for others to step forward”.

Tharoor said the convention comes at an “inflection point” in the party’s history as it is being held after the presidential polls & Bharat Jodo Yatra, and ahead of 2024 elections. He said the plenary could not have come at a more opportune time and gives the party members an opportunity to focus on what “we have gained and what faces the party in terms of challenges for the future”.

Air India makes record-breaking purchases

New Delhi (Agencies): India reached a milestone at the end of last year when it overtook China as the world’s most populous nation.

But that explosive growth is hardly reflected in the size of its commercial aviation fleet.

Today the entire country has only about 700 aircraft -fewer than United Airlines Holdings Inc. alone - and just 50 widebody jets to transport its increasingly mobile 1.41 billion

people. Chinese carriers, by contrast, operate about 480 twin-aisle aircraft, and Emirates, whose base in Dubai

has a fraction of the population of Mumbai, boasts a widebody fleet of 260 jetliners, according to figures from Cir-

ium, which aggregates aviation data. Now, Air India is making an expensive push to renew its fleet and expand its global presence.

The new aircraft are meant to give Air India a fighting chance at competing with local budget carriers such as IndiGo as well as longhaul champions Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways, which have built huge operations over the past two decades.

AKASA AIR TO PLACE LARGE AIRCRAFT ORDER, EYES INTERNATIONAL GROWTH

New Delhi: Akasa Air will place a large order for new narrowbody jets, as the start-up budget airline looks to capitalise on booming demand at home and begin international flights, its chief executive said. The 200-day-old airline currently flies 17 Boeing 737 MAX planes out of a total order of 72 jets to be delivered by March 2027. "Before the end of this year we are going to place another aircraft order that is going to be substantially larger than the 72 aircraft order we have placed," official said.

‘AIR INDIA HAS OPTION TO BUY 370 MORE AIRCRAFT AFTER GIANT ORDER’

New Delhi: Tata Group-owned Air India has placed an order for 840 planes with Airbus and Boeing, including the option to acquire 370 aircraft, a senior airline official on Thursday saying the order is a "landmark moment" in the Indian aviation history.

The announcement by Air India official Nipun Aggarwal comes a day after the airline said it has placed a firm order for 470 aircraft -- 250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing.

panelists to refrain from debating on communal issues during

discussions on TV channels, party's national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary said.

The ruling BJP is constantly trying to divert the attention of the people from basic issues by raising religious issues, so Samajwadi Party leaders should not get involved in debates involving religion, he said.

CRUCIAL READ

5 KILLED, SEVERAL INJURED AS TWO SUVS COLLIDE IN UTTAR PRADESH'S BANDA

Banda: In a tragic road accident, 5 people were killed and 6 others injured after two cars returning from a wedding function collided with a tree at Paprenda Road on Wednesday night, SP Abhinandan said. “One more person with some minor injuries has been found. All 7 injured have been shifted to the district hospital for treatment, where two of them have been referred to Kanpur and Medical college. While five bodies have been sent for postmortem”, police added.

2 DRUG PEDDLERS

HELD WITH 951 KG OF GANJA IN TN

Madurai: Madurai police foiled a smuggling bid and seized 951 kg of Contraband (ganja) along with the arrest of 2 during checking in Madurai. Police are on a manhunt to nab the other two accused who fled, officials said on Thursday. The arrested accused have been identified as Prabhakaran & Sentithil Prabhu.

GUJ: 7 DIE AS JEEP WITH 18 PERSONS RAMS INTO TRUCK

Patan: 7 people were killed in a road accident near Varahi in the Patan district of Gujarat after their jeep rammed into a standing truck, Gujarat police said.As per police, the accident occurred on Wednesday and they have registered the FIR in the matter after the overnight probe into the case.

91% STUDENTS FEEL PROF CERTIFICATION WILL HELP THEM SUCCEED IN JOBS: SURVEY

New Delhi: 91% Indian students believe that a professional certification will help them succeed in their job while 96% felt it will help them get a employment after graduation, as per new survey. The study from online learning platform Coursera found that employers in India place a higher value on professional certificates when making hiring decisions than their counterparts in Australia, the UK, and Germany. Nearly 5,000 students and employers across 11 countries Australia, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, the UK & the US were surveyed.

FB POST BY MURDER ACCUSED TRIGGERS POLITICAL ROW

Thiruvananthapuram:

A social media post, by an accused in the killing of a Youth Congress activist 5 years ago, has put the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala in the dock, as opposition Congress today attacked the party and demanded a CBI probe in the sensational case. Akash Thillankeri is a prime accused in the murder of activist SP Shuhaib.

2 SKELETONS FOUND IN CHARRED SUV IN HARYANA’S BHIWANI Bhiwan: Two skeletons were found in a charred SUV in the Loharu area of Bhiwani district on Thursday, police said. “2 skeletons were found in a charred Bolero in Loharu, Bhiwani district. There are chances that both victims died either due to a fire that broke out in the vehicle or were burnt to death,” Loharu DSP Jagat Singh More said.

OVER 2,700 COMPLAINTS AGAINST INFLUENCERS, INSTAGRAM TOPS VIOLATIONS, SAYS ADS BODY

Mumbai: The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) on Thursday said it has processed 2,767 complaints since coming up with influencer guidelines in May 2021. More than half of the violations have been found on Meta-owned Instagram platform, while Alphabet’s Youtube contributed a third of them, the self-regulatory organisation for the advertising industry said. The body said in over 90 per cent of the cases, there were modifications required.

‘Cong, BJP helped Jahan win in Delhi Haj panel poll: AAP

‘Avoid

‘Rural poor helpless as Centre pushing them towards online system’

Shashi Tharoor virtually rules out contesting CWC polls

Union Home Minster Amit Shah with Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora during the 76th Raising Day parade of the Delhi Police, at the New Police Lines, in New Delhi, on Thursday.

Rahul Gandhi consoles the wife of Viswanathan at the latter’s house. The tribal youth was found hanging on the Kerala’s Kozhikode Medical College premises last week.

Mamata Banerjee

UP MIN CALLS SP LEADER 'RAVANA'

‘PMAY’ CRISIS

OVERALL HIRING INTENT FOR FRESHERS IMPROVES: REPORT

IN FEBRUARY

India ’ s fuel demand sees rebound

New Delhi: Learning solutions provider TeamLease EdTech on Thursday said a large number of Indian employers have expressed their intention to hire freshers in the first half of this calendar year. Indian employers’ intent to hire freshers has marginally increased by 3% to 62%, as compared to July-December 2022. The top three industries with the most robust intent to hire freshers are information technology (67%), ecommerce & tech startups (52%) and telecommunications (51%). —PTI

ZOMATO SETTING UP ‘REST POINTS’ FOR DELIVERY PARTNERS

New Delhi (PTI): India’s fuel demand witnessed the sharpest rebound in February as petrol and diesel consumption rose by double digits after a winter lull in the previous month, preliminary industry data showed on Thursday.

Petrol sales jumped almost 18% to 1.22 million tonnes in the first half of February, as compared to 1.04 million tonnes of consumption in the same period of last year.

Month-on-month, the demand was up 13.6%, reversing the dip in the previous month. Sales had fallen 5.1% month-on-month in January as cold conditions

cut vehicular movement.

Diesel, the most used fuel in the country, posted a near 25% rise in sales during February 1-15 to 3.33 million tonnes, as compared to the same period last year.

VIA E-AUCTION FCI sells 3.85 L tonnes wheat in open market

New Delhi: Online food delivery platform Zomato on Thursday said it is building public infrastructure called ‘Rest Points’ to support the entire gig economy and delivery partners of various companies. It already has two ‘Rest Points’ operational in Gurgaon and plans to create more rest points in the most dense clusters of its food delivery business. Rest Points offer clean drinking water, phone-charging stations, access to washrooms, high-speed internet. —PTI

60 PERCENT PRIVATE INSURERS SEE RAPID RISE IN FRAUD

New Delhi (PTI): Food Corporation of India (FCI) sold 3.85 lakh tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers in the second round of e-auction, as part of its efforts to boost domestic supplies and control prices of wheat and atta (wheat flour).

Last month, the government announced plans to sell 30 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market from its buffer stock under the Open Market Sale Scheme.

Out of the 30 lakh tonnes, the FCI will sell 25 lakh (2.5 million) tonnes to bulk consumers like flour millers through e-auction and 2 lakh tonnes will be given to states/union territories. As much as 3 lakh tonnes of wheat are being provided to institutions and state

New Delhi: About 60% of Indian private insurers believe there has been a significant rise in insurancerelated frauds, and as risks lurk there is an immediate need to consider a proactive fraud risk management framework, a Deloitte survey said on Thursday. Insurance companies in India have experienced a rise in fraud instances in life and health insurance, and increased digitisation, remote working post pandemic and weakened controls are key factors contributing to frauds, according to Deloitte’s Insurance Fraud Survey 2023. —PTI

GOLD PRICES FALL BY `

50; SILVER

ADVANCES `140

PSUs at a concession for converting wheat into wheat flour.

“More than 1,060 bidders participated and 3.85 LT (lakh tonnes) wheat was sold during the second eauction organised by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) on February 15,” an official statement said.

FCI, the government’s nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains, had offered 15.25 lakh tonnes of wheat stock during the auction.

Month-on-month sales surged 10.3% from 3.01 million tonnes in the first half of January.

In January, diesel consumption fell 8.6% monthon-month basis as snowfall in higher reaches halted

truck movement. The rebound in sales is the sharpest. With the continued opening of the aviation sector, India’s overall passenger traffic at airports inched closer to pre-COVID-19 levels.

Reflecting the trend, jet fuel (ATF) demand jumped 43.7% to 2,94,000 tonnes during the first half of February when compared to the same period last year.

Cooking gas LPG sales were up 4.1% year-on-year at 1.39 million tonnes in February 1-15. Month-onmonth, the demand was up nearly 12% when compared to 1.24 million tonnes of LPG consumption.

INDIA SLASHES WINDFALL TAXES ON CRUDE, ATF

New Delhi (PTI): The government has cut windfall profit tax on export of diesel and ATF to their lowest while also reducing the levy on domesticallyproduced crude in line with softening international oil prices, according to an official order.

The levy on crude oil produced by companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has been cut to `4,350 per tonne from `5,050 per tonne, the order dated February 15 said. The government has also cut the tax on export of diesel to `2.5 per litre from `7.5, and the same on overseas shipments of ATF to `1.50 a litre from `6 a litre. The new tax rates come into effect from February 16.

AI places orders for 840 aircraft, includes option to buy 370 planes

New Delhi (PTI): Tata Group-owned Air India has placed an order for 840 planes with Airbus and Boeing, including the option to acquire 370 aircraft, with a senior airline official on Thursday saying the order is a “landmark moment” in the Indian aviation history.

The announcement by Air India’s Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer Nipun Aggarwal comes a day after the airline said it has placed a firm order for 470 aircraft -- 250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing.

Aggarwal said the airline is humbled by the excitement generated across the world by the airline’s aircraft order. “The order comprises 470 firm aircraft, 370 options and pur-

Markets end marginally higher

Mumbai (PTI): Equity benchmark indices ended marginally higher on Thursday amid volatility faced during the last minutes of trading hours.

The BSE Sensex eked out marginal gains of 44.42 points or 0.07% to settle at 61,319.51. During the day, it jumped 407.16 points or 0.66% to 61,682.25.

The NSE Nifty advanced 20 points or 0.11% to end at 18,035.85. From the Sensex firms, Tech Mahindra jumped 5.58%, followed by Nestle, Tata Steel, NTPC, Tata Consultancy Services, Asian Paints, Wipro and

Bajaj Finserv.

Mahindra & Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, Axis Bank and Bajaj Finance were among the major laggards. Among Asian markets, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong ended higher, while China settled lower.

INDIAN RUPEE GAINS 13 PAISE TO CLOSE AT 82.70 AGAINST AMERICAN CURRENCY

New Delhi (PTI): The rupee appreciated by 13 paise to close at 82.70 (provisional) against the US currency on Thursday, supported by broad dollar weakness and a positive trend in domestic equities. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 82.72 against the American currency and finally settled at 82.70 (provisional) against the greenback, registering a gain of 13 paise over its previous close of 82.83. During the trading session, the rupee touched a high of 82.59 and a low of 82.73 against the dollar.

NAUKRI.com SURVEY

New Delhi: Gold price fell by `50 to `56,270 per 10 gram in the national capital on Thursday, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the precious metal had touched `56,320 per 10 gram. Silver, however, jumped `140 to `65,720 per kilogram. “Spot gold prices in the Delhi markets traded at `56,270 per 10 gram, down `50 per 10 gram,” said Saumil Gandhi, Senior AnalystCommodities at HDFC Securities. —PTI

New Delhi (PTI): The India-Australia trade deal would make a “big difference” through closer economic cooperation between the nations, Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell said.

The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) between India and Australia came into force on December 29, 2022.

Observing that the India-Australia relationship has been lacking strong business-tobusiness ties, the Australian High Commissioner asserted that the trade deal would make a “big difference” through closer economic cooperation.

India’s imports from Australia stands at $17 billion while its exports to that nation is $10.5 billion, according to an official statement in January.

chase rights to be procured from Airbus and Boeing over the next decade.”

This will be one of the largest aircraft orders by an airline in the modern aviation history. The Airbus firm order comprises 210 A320/321 Neo/XLR and 40 A350900/1000.

Agreements with 26 companies signed under PLI

New Delhi (PTI): Agreements have been signed with 26 companies for 54 applications under the PLI for specialty steel.

“We had a PLI for speciality steel and that includes steel products with zinc. I report we have awarded 54 applications submitted from close to 26 companies (which will lead to) an investment of...`30,000 crore, a capacity addition of 26 million tonne and employment generation potential of about 25,000 people,” Union Minister Scindia said.

Fewer layoffs expected in 1st half of 2023

Mumbai (PTI): Recruiters are foreseeing fewer layoffs in the first half of 2023, but information technology roles and those of senior professionals will be the most impacted within it, a survey said on Thursday.

The survey by Naukri. Com said only 4% of respondents predicted layoffs and downsizing not to be the dominant hiring activity in their organisations.

However, the survey of recruiters across ten sectors said that IT roles will be witnessing the maximum impact of hiring corrections, while there will

also be some impact in roles in the business development, marketing, human resources and operations

MAX & MINIMUM IMPACT SECTORS

z The survey of recruiters across ten sectors said that information technology roles will be witnessing the maximum impact of hiring corrections, while there will also be some impact in roles in the business development, marketing, human resources and operations fronts as well

VISTARA HIKES SALARIES OF PILOTS, CABIN CREW BY 8%

Mumbai (PTI): Full service carrier Vistara will hike salaries of its pilots and cabin crew by up to 8% from April amid deployment of higher capacities to meet rising travel demand. “Vistara has increased pilots and cabin crew salary by 8% and 6%, respectively, from April,” source said.

OTHER STORIES

The agreement will benefit various labourintensive Indian sectors that are currently subjected to 5% import duty by Australia and result in immediate market access at zero duty to 98.3% of tariff lines accounting for 96.4%of India’s exports to Australia in value terms.

TELECOM REGULATOR TRAI ASKS TELCOS TO FIX REGISTERED MESSAGES TEMPLATES

New Delhi: Telecom regulator TRAI on Thursday cracked down on unauthorised, pesky promotional messages by telemarketers as it issued directions to telecom operators to act swiftly to stop the misuse of headers and message templates.

To stop the misuse, the regulator has directed access service providers (telecom operators) to reverify all registered headers and message templates on Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) platform and block all unverified headers and message templates within 30 and 60 days respectively. —PTI

HDFC BANK RUPAY CREDIT CARD NOW

LIVE ON UPI

Mumbai: HDFC Bank has become the first private sector lender to offer its customers the option to use their Rupay credit cards on the UPI. Till last year, UPI was being linked to savings accounts from where the payments used to be debited. From now on, HDFC Bank Rupay credit cards can be linked to a UPI ID enabling a customer to use the credit card on popular payments platforms. This move will offer customers even more flexibility and convenience. —PTI

‘IMPORTS OF STEEL MINIMAL; DOMESTIC IND PROGRESSING’

New Delhi: The inbound shipment of steel is “very minimal”, Steel minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said on Thursday.

“If you look at the numbers, the rise is very very minimal.

Our market is growing tremendously and our domestic producers are supplying well,” the minister said to a question on increasing imports. According to industry data, imports of finished steel rose by 21% to 4.77 million tonnes (MT) in 2022 from 3.94 MT in 2021. —PTI

INDIA’S INVESTMENT IN PVT WIRELESS NETWORK

SEEN AT $250 M BY 2027: NOKIA REPORT

fronts as well.

“Recruiters foresee maximum layoffs for senior professionals, with 20% of

recruiters predicting the same. Freshers are expected to be least impacted by hiring corrections,” it said.

New Delhi: India’s investment in private wireless network is expected to reach nearly $250 million by 2027, according to a report by Nokia. Nokia’s annual Mobile Broadband Index (MBiT) report pointed towards a significant acceleration in enterprise investment, and anticipated a major 5G uptake starting second half of 2023. Enterprise spending on private 5G networks will be driven by new use cases in diverse industry verticals, including manufacturing, utilities, transportation and healthcare, among others in India, as per the report. —PTI

‘Ind-Australia FTA to make big difference’

IIT student death: Mum cops in Gujarat to record statements

First India Bureau

Police

Mumbai: A threemember team of the Mumbai police visited Gujarat on Thursday to record the statements of the parents of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) student Darshan Solanki (18) who allegedly committed suicide, an official said.

The Powai police, under whose jurisdiction the premier institute is located, reached Solanki’s home in Ahmedabad’s Maninagar area on Thursday morning, a day after his parents claimed that he faced discrimination at IIT-B for belonging to a

Scheduled Caste community. His father on Wednesday also raised the possibility that his son was murdered. The Mumbai police will speak to Solanki’s parents and other relatives, and will record

his parents’ statements again, the official said.

Solanki’s parents had come to Mumbai after learning about his alleged suicide on February 12. In their initial statements, they had not raised any objection

‘Obscene’ Lavani programmes leave Ajit Pawar seeing red

First India Bureau Mumbai: Nationalist

Congress Leader Ajit Pawar has warned members of his party against organizing “obscene” dance performances in the name of Maharashtra’s traditional folk art, Lavani.

While Pawar did not name anyone in particular, insiders say social media sensation has raised the hackles of the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.

Pawar’s censure follows a meeting of the NCP’s cultural cell, during which noted Lavani

dancer Megha Ghadge raised the issue of obscenity and vulgarity in dance performances under the name of Lavani programmes.

“I raised the issue of absolute degradation of Lavani culture by using DJs and making girls dance wearing ghagra

Maha fumes as Assam claims sixth Jyotirlinga

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Even as the state continues to nurse its wounds from losing industries to neighbouring Gujarat, an ad for Assam’s tourism has led to another controversy.

In a full page advertisement in several national dailies, including in their Maharashtra editions, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is seen welcoming people to “visit the site of India’s sixth Jyotirlinga (Bhimashankar) at Dakini Hill, Kamrup, Assam” during Maha Shivaratri. Predictably, the Opposition has been quick to seek answers from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the issue.

Congress leader Bala-

saheb Thorat said that ancient records and archaeological findings proved that the Bhimashankar temple in Pune is a Jyotirlinga.

Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged the ad, and CM’s Shinde’s silence, were hurting people’s sentiments. “There might be a Jyotirlinga in Assam too and we respect it…but the constant effort to provoke Maharashtra and push our state backward is unacceptable,” he said.

Organizers are now staging ‘ghagra-choli’ versions of the dance form, traditionally performed by women in nine-yard sarees, to attract crowds

choli (as opposed to the traditional nine-years saree) in front of the public. The producers who arrange such shows are the main culprits,” Ghadge said.

“I asked Ajit Pawar to take note and tell party workers to not behave in this manner,” she said.

or expressed doubt over their son’s death, said the official.

“The police will now ask them if they have anything more to say or if they have any complaint against anybody,” he said.

JOURNALIST MURDER

Accused sent to judicial custody for two weeks

Mumbai (PTI): A court in Ratnagiri district remanded

DALIT LEADER MEVANI CALLS FOR SIT PROBE

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani on Thursday demanded an inquiry by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the death of Darshan Solanki (18), terming the episode as “suspicious”. After meeting Solanki’s Ahmedabad-based family, Mevani said the Dalit community has given a call for a nationwide candle march on February 19 in support of the late student. “Darshan’s father Ramesh Solanki told me that he was not even allowed to see the face of his dead son when he went (to Mumbai) to collect the body. He was told different things over the phone by the institute, and IIT Bombay professors told different stories. The entire issue appears suspicious,” the Congress legislator said. He also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter, meet the grieving family members and order the kind of investigation they have demanded.

Pandharinath Amberkar, who is accused of killing journalist Shashikant Warishe, to 14 days in judicial custody on Thursday.

Amberkar was produced before the court at Rajapur, some 440 km from Mumbai, as his fiveday police custody ended on Thursday, a police official said.

Warishe (48) was mowed down by a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) allegedly driven by Amberkar, a land dealer, at Rajapur on February 06. The journalist died in a hospital the next day. Amberkar, arrested for murder, allegedly used to threaten any person who opposed land acquisition for a proposed refinery in the area. An article written by Warishe against Amberkar had appeared in a lo-

cal Marathi newspaper on the morning of the incident, police have said.

An 11-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Ratnagiri Police headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police-rank officer is investigating the case.

Police on Thursday requested the court that since they need to investigate various angles in the case and some technical issues, they be granted his custody. However, the court remanded

RAGE’ UNITED IN DISSENT

Amberkar in judicial custody for 14 days.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that Amberkar committed the crime in a fit of rage, the official said, adding it was not pre-planned. “Amberkar’s bank account and mobile phone details are being examined by the police to know if he had spoken to anybody on regular voice call or on appbased call system before committing the crime,” the official said.

Raj Bhavan bids adieu to Guv BS Koshyari

Ahead of civic polls, BJP plans elaborate celebrations for Shiv Jayanti in Mumbai

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate Phase 1 of ‘Shiv Srishti’, which will feature scenes from Shivaji Maharaj’s life in various art forms, in Pune, as part of the event

Mumbai (PTI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will celebrate the 393rd birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj across Mumbai in a big way, its city unit president Ashish Shelar said on Thursday. The party will celebrate the iconic 17th century ruler's birth anniversary at “346 places across 227 wards” on February 19, he said.

Notably, political parties are gearing up for elections to the Brihan-

mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the country's richest civic body, which are due since last year. The BJP's main rival would be the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction.

During the celebrations, an ‘aarti’ (prayer) penned by freedom fighter VD Savarkar will be recited, Shelar told reporters. Opposition parties were welcome to join the celebrations, he added. Cultural programmes, exhibitions

and discourses on Shivaji Maharaj's life will be organized, he said. “We will also inform people about the Indian Navy’s new ensign which is inspired from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s royal seal and which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Shelar said. He also congratulat-

ed the Modi government for granting permission to carry out Shiv Jayanti celebrations at the Agra fort.

“The Agra fort holds immense significance in the history of the Maratha empire. Shivaji Maharaj had exhibited his bravery in front of Aurangzeb in the Diwan-e-Aam of this fort. This year, for the

first time, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be hailed in this Diwan-eAam,”Shelar said.

It will be a moment of pride for all Marathi people, he added.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the first phase of ‘Shiv Srishti’, conceived by late history writer BM Purandare, featuring scenes from Shivaji Maharaj’s life in various art forms, in Pune, Shelar informed.

State tourism minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha also announced that the tourism department and Pune administration will celebrate the birth anniversary at Fort Shivneri— where Shivaji was born— from February 18-20.

Mumbai: Staff and officials of Raj Bhavan bid adieu to outgoing Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari here on Thursday. Santosh Kumar, principal secretary to the governor, presented Koshyari with a shawl and a bouquet, while others delivered felicitation speeches, Raj Bhavan statement said.

The Navy will present Koshyari with a guard of honour at Raj Bhavan on Friday, after which he will leave for Dehradun in his native Uttarakhand later in the afternoon.

Koshyari will leave for Dehradun in his native Uttarakhand on Friday afternoon

Koshyari, who has been in the eye of a storm over his comments on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and other icons of the state, will be succeeded by Ramesh Bais.

Darshan Solanki’s parents had not expressed any doubts over their son’s death in their initial statements:

Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani meets family members of Darshan Solanki, in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

—PHOTO BY PTI

Journalist Shashikant Warishe —FILE PHOTO

OF

People held a protest demanding the closure of the share-taxi service after a woman was killed in a road accident involving a share taxi, at Wadala, in Mumbai on Thursday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

The Bhimashankar temple in Pune —FILE PHOTO

The party plans to inform people about the new Naval ensign, which is inspired from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s royal seal.

FALLING HARD FOR

Feathers are indeed a great deal of fun and may be worn in so many different ways. Let’s dive into this exquisite fashion with City First

MRIDULA SHARMA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

This season, feathers are added to almost every casual piece of clothing, from cute cardigan collars and cuffs to sweatshirt sleeves, leggings, and t-shirts. Wideleg jeans and cable knit sweaters are also embellished with the material.

Although Valentine’s Day is a great justification to attempt a stunning feather suit for yourself if you still think wearing feathers is a bit bold. There are many ways to add a little fluff to your Valentine’s Day outfit, and regardless of your relationship status or plans, we are confident that you will continue to be drawn to the trend long after the holiday has passed.

Feathers in fashion are nothing new. This fashion

is the flirtatious and playful nature of this style makes it the ideal choice for every season. Any style or outfit benefits from the aesthetic appeal of feathers, which elevates the fanciful or whimsical quality of the item or article of clothing. Consequently, it is quite fair to mention that feathers and plumes are very suitable for making attractive centrepieces and adding zing or flair to a beloved party dress.

With a feather trim, you may join the feathers fash ion trend in a subtle yet no ticeable way. A feather trim is a great way to add a whimsical touch to your clothing, whether it’s Sleeper’s pyjamas with fluffy pant hems or a feath er trim on an otherwise for mal or fitted garment, like this shirt dress. Style a for mal outfit with a sleek bun and natural make-up. To spice up the game wear feather-style silhouettes which are the latest in trend and loved by all and you will feel yourself being the centre of

UPSCALE WRITING SKILLS

Writing is more than a form of communication. It is a Life Skill that is vital in various academic and professional work scenarios. It is also a wonderful manifestation of one’s creativity, imagination, and artistic expression. While I have spoken and written at length about various types of writing, long and short format fiction as well as nonfiction; in this post, I want to share my learnings as a Writing Mentor. Specifically of the tremendous merits of Writing Workshops.

Where does one learn how to write? For most of us, it is at school. It is a natural progression of learning a language, starting with the alphabet, moving into sentence construction, followed by writing essays, letters, stories and poems. However, there tends to be something formal and mandatory about the writing that we do, or are asked to do at school. For students who are interested in writing, this can sometimes rob them of the spontaneity that writers enjoy. For those who are not too keen on writing to begin with, it can be stifling, and put them off writing, for good. However, in a Workshop environment, the paradigm changes. The vibe is completely different. The dynamic is distinctly altered.

FLEXIBILITY

Perhaps the greatest value that a Writing Workshop provides is flexibility.

The flexibility of all kinds. I have had published authors and regular writers, who feel they need a kind of ‘refresher course’, take my workshops. For these veteran writers, a workshop allows them to become students once again, while not needing to commit too much time since workshops can be as short as a month with classes only over the weekends! So there is time flexibility and the ease of slipping into student mode once again. The other kind of flexibility that workshops provide is also time-related but slightly different. Say there is a young student who is very keen on writing but isn’t sure if he or she would like to commit to a full-time writing pro-

FACEOFTHEDAY

girl from grade 8, and the senior-most student has been a retired corporate honcho aged 66! This kind of diversity lends the group such a unique vibrancy that it makes for a very rich learning environment.

Perspectives of different generations, friendly banter and debates between disparate philosophies, all make for an extremely immersive learning environment.

I’ve been blessed that

gram at college. A workshop can be a great selftest for that student to determine if they have the talent, interest and tenacity for writing.

Last, and this might be specific to my workshops, is age flexibility.

While I do conduct work-

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

shops for specific agegroups, most of my pro grams are open to people simply above a certain age. There have conse quently been occasions where in the same group I’m mentoring, youngest stu dent has been a

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20

Things move positively on the academic front and encourage you to give your best. Good man management will help you in completing a project or assignment in time. Travelling with your near and dear ones to the countryside will prove immensely fulfilling.

LEO

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

Your professionalism is likely to be praised at work. Someone’s unexpected arrival at home threatens to upset your personal plans. Seeing new places, meeting new people is in store for some. There is nothing that can go wrong today, except things involving property.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 22

Meeting someone new is likely to enlarge your social circle. Something you had wanted for the home may be gifted to you. Your ideas will work on the professional front and speed up the progress. Your financial condition is not bad, but you do possess the potential to earn much more.

of my students. Teaching keeps me fresh, abreast, excited, challenged, and on my toes. And the workshop environment and format, I have come to realize, is one of the best.

NO JUDGEMENT – THERAPEUTIC

Arguably the biggest advantage of a well-bonded Writing Workshop group is that there is no judgement.

dent’s perspective, this is invaluable. There is so much that a student wouldn’t dare to write while at school or college, or a homemaker wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing at home, for fear of being judged. That fear vanishes in a workshop. Not only does one feel confident in sharing one’s deepest and darkest but feels compelled to do so. And really, isn’t that what a big point of writing is, to

LOVERS OF WRITING

The dynamic that evolves in a Writing Workshop is positive from the get-go, simply because all the people who have enrolled for the workshop, love to write. At the very least, they share a strong desire to write well. This, combined with the Mentor’s positive predisposition, and his or her heightened enthusiasm levels at the prospect of interacting with a self-motivated group of learners, further affirms this positivity.

INFORMAL, FUN LEARNING

At school or in a regular program, various pressures become restricting factors during the learning process –from course completion deadlines at schools to writing not always being a priority skill to be developed in the first place. A writing workshop is free from all these limitations. It affords attendees the freedom to focus purely on honing their writing skills. Usually, because a writing workshop is also a space where by default people are writing and sharing extremely personal incidents, feelings, and experiences, it becomes a sacred space where the students and the mentor have bonded deeply. This gives rise to a certain implicit trust, it breaks down the walls of age and formality and aids immensely in the learning process. To be able to disagree, question, discuss, and argue even, are the kinds of luxuries that are seldom permitted in a school environment. But in a workshop, it is the norm. And it is extremely liberating.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20

Switching to healthy foods will be the key to remaining fit and active. A family issue may need to be deliberated upon, so that it does not disturb domestic harmony. An out of town invitation will tempt some to undertake the journey. Spirituality may bring a meaning to your life.

VIRGO

AUG 24 - SEP 23

Those in the financial sector can hope to start making profits. You may think up ways of improving your health. A major renovation work may be undertaken at home. A journey is likely to take you down the memory lane. Owning a house is indicated for some.

CAPRICORN

DEC 23 - JAN 20

Businesspersons are likely to do good business today and earn well. The day proves excellent for you, both personally and professionally. Appease someone in the family to have your way.You may have to put your foot down against a trip you are reluctant to go on.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

Change of diet will improve health. A difference of opinion may pit you against a family elder. Those compelled to travel are likely to find interesting company. Some of you will be able to add to your wealth and even plan to buy property. Health will be satisfactory.

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

You are likely to experience a positive phase in your existence. Favourable decision can be expected regarding a piece of property under dispute. Those in tourism and hospitality sectors will find new opportunities knocking at their door. You should organise a gathering.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19

You will be able to get the study stream you desire on the academic front. Going is likely to get better on the professional front. Purchasing a new car or an expensive appliance is indicated. Children can keep you entertained. The day is favourable to get a project underway.

CANCER

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

Time is favourable as your real estate investments start giving handsome returns. An official trip is likely to keep you tied up. Your help and support to a youngster will help boost his or her self-confidence. Those trying to achieve their professional targets will succeed.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 -

A

with friends will be both enjoyable and therapeutic. Family life will remain stable and provide you a firm foundation from where to venture forth. This is the best time for launching your ideas at work. Money multiplies through excellent financial planning.

PISCES

KARTIK BAJORIA

(the author is a Jaipur-based Communication Skills Educator & Writer)

BIRTHDAY BASH IN STYLE

Fashion designer Shivang Kapoor’s birthday bash was celebrated recently at the Swish Sylvan Chef Farms, Delhi. The grand celebration witnessed the presence of several eminent guests from the fashion and social fraternity tapping their feet at the tunes of celebrity DJ Akansha Popli. With Cocktails and mouth-watering snacks curated by the chef, Delhi’s fashionable set partied in full swing. Among those who attended the party included Arshi Singhal, Akansha Popli, Ruhi Ganguly, Sanjay Nigam, Ketan Bhatia, Dinesh Aneja, Viresh Verma, Neha Kapoor, Sylvie Rodgers, Neetu Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Ashfaque Ahmad, Ruchita Rao to name a few.

Ashish Dhondhiyal and Shelly Dhondhiyal

Hida Siddiqui and Ruchita Rao

Sagar Gera and Dinesh Aneja

Dheeraj Singh and Alisha Singh

Rashi Sharma, Neetu Singh and Akansha Popli Sanjay Nigam

Viresh Verma and Akshat Upadhyay

Piyushi Banasia and Arshi Singhal Rony Koula and Nasir Abdullah Kitty Arora and Kunal Kohli Ketan Bhatia and Mohit Nandal Ruhi Ganguly and Sylvie Rodgers

Shivang Kapoor

Ashfaque Ahmed and Monika Choudhary

Nitika Kohli and Ahana Dhawan

CANDID CHAT WITH THE CAST OF BADE DIN SE!

chemistry.”

The song was made during the lockdown about the longness in a relationship and was penned out beautifully by Sajid Khan.

Owing to the Valentine’s day mood, “Bade Din Se” by Muskaan feat. BB 16 contestant Soundarya Sharma alongside Sameer Mark has been unveiled .While the music of this slow-pace romantic song has been given by Sajid Khan, Sajid’s daughter Muskaan and Altamash Faridi have given their melodious vocals to the track. Speaking in an

exclusive conversation with Ashish Tiwari of First India the trio spoke about their experience and more. When asked Soundarya about the song she shared , “I was extreme-

RAM CHARAN’S IMPRESSIVE DANCE MOVES

Mega Power Star Ram Charan has impressed everyone on the sets of RC15 especially the director Shankar Shanmugham. The actor danced to an 80-second long dance step in a single step leaving everyone awestruck.

Ram Charan is known for his effortless dance moves in almost all his

glimpse of the actor. RC 15 is directed by Shankar Shanmugham who is known for his blockbusters like Indian, Robot etc, the film also stars Kiara Advani opposite Ram Charan. S Thaman is the composer while Thirunavukkarasu and Rathnavelu are the cinematographers of the film.

ly happy when I got this song , because this is something that every actor looks forward to , especially the fact that works keep coming in no matter what. I said yes the first time I heard

this song as it was very soothing to the ears and it brought a smile on my face”

Sharing her experience Muskaan shared , “ Both Soundarya and Sameer have done a

fabulous job , every frame is real and natural like a real story is being depicted” Sameer said , “Sajid Sir and Soundarya were like my mentors on the set they told me how to

get things done”, laughingly Soundarya added , “This is a song where all emotions are expressed through emotions i had to keep gathering him because the song is about the

KIRTI TO REPRISE HER ROLE IN KHICHDI 2

ollywood actress Kirti Kulhari, who made her mark in the industry with Khichdi: The Movie, is all set to be seen reprising her role of Parminder in Khichdi 2 which is going to be a sequel to the 2010 comedy film directed by Aatish Kapadia. The Movie which was released in 2010 revolved around the Parekh family and showed an interesting chemistry between Parminder, played by Kirti, and Himanshu. Talking about the film, Kirti said, “Khichdi 2 is finally happening and it’s going to be a hilarious ride! I have so many memories from the first film, from shooting the song ‘Chal Chal Bhonsle Market’ with JD to doing all the crazy comedy scenes. I am so happy to return as Parminder in Khichdi 2 since this is where it all started for me.” She expressed her excitement about reprising her role of Parminder in ‘Khichdi 2’ and added: “I am so happy to return as Parminder in Khichdi 2 since this is where it all started for me. I have realised over the years what a massive fan-following ‘Khichdi’ has, especially among kids and families.“I am often asked why I don’t do comedies anymore so it’s lovely to return to the genre with this sequel.”

Muskaan said , “A lot of people have told us that the song has reached out and people relate to the song”. Soundarya sharing her experience on shooting said , “The location was so beautiful and iconic that the romance and chemistry came from within and our director and sajid sir have beautifully executed that vision in the song”

Sameer Mark sharing his journey said “ After modelling and shooting on Facebook i joined Instagram, I was the first influencer who

got famous on Instagram. As at that time we didn’t really have too many outfits but I Played on editing skills . I always wanted to leave a mark hence added a mark on my name. When your intensions are pure you will always get the best of everything”. Soundarya added , “ Its very important to dream and to execute our dreams , in a protective family pursuing acting was a journey of it’s own. If I can do it anyone can so I want to inspire everyone”. The music video was shot near the Indo-China border and in Sikkim. This project also marks soundarya’s first project after her successful stint in the biggboss 16 house.

Shehzada lights up BURJ KHALIFA

After taking over the nation with myriad of promotional events including a grand trailer launch in Mumbai and followed by celebrations in Jalandhar on the occasion of Lohri to celebrate the launch of Munda Sona Hoon Main in Indore, to igniting love with romantic track Mere Sawaal Ka at the mesmerising backdrop of Taj Mahal to getting the fans grooving in clubs with Character Dheela 2.0. And finally launching the

tallest building Burj Khalifa! While Kartik Aaryan kickstarted the Dubai tour by meeting his fans but its culmination was in the grandest possible way with the projection of awaited tertainer on The ifa, leaving the crowd in

SWARA BHASKER TIES THE KNOT WITH FAHAD AHMAD

Actor Swara Bhasker took to Twitter and surprised fans with the news of her marriage. The actor, who was rumoured to be dating, finally revealed that she has been in a relationship with Samajwadi Party's state youth president Fahad Ahmad. She shared emotional photos from their court marriage as they submitted papers on January 6, this year.

Taking to her social media, Swara Bhasker confirmed her marriage and wrote, “Sometimes you search far & wide for something that was right next to you all along. We were looking for love, but we found friendship first. And then we found each other! Welcome to my heart @FahadZirarAhmad It’s chaotic but it’s yours!”.

Replying to her on Twitter, Fahad said, “I never knew chaos can be so beautiful. Thank you for holding my hand love @ReallySwara.”

Last month, Swara Bhasker shared a cryptic

post talking about 'love'. She shared a picture of her head resting on a man's arms. Their faces were not visible in the photo. Posting the photo on Instagram, Swara wrote, "This could be love..."

Earlier, Swara was rumoured to be dating writer Himanshu Sharma. However, they reportedly broke up in 2019. Swara was last seen in Jahaan Chaar Yaar. Fahad Ahmad, on the other hand, is a political activist and is currently serving as the State President at Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha a Youth Wing of the political party.

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

Soundarya Sharma, Sameer Mark and Muskaan

Soundarya, Muskaan and Sajid Khan

Kartik Aaryan

Swara Bhasker and Fahad Ahmad

Ram Charan

Kirti Kulhari