First India-Mumbai Edition-18th December 2022

MVA declares ‘Halla Bol’ on CM Eknath Shinde government, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari

INSULT TO AMBEDKAR: BJP PROTESTS SEEKING MVA’S APOLOGY

Shukla

Mumbai: The tripartite coalition of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Saturday launched a protest march called ‘Halla Bol march’, across Mumbai, against the ruling Eknath Shinde government and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The foot march, which began

from a company near J J Hospital at Byculla around noon, concluded at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in south Mumbai.

Senior leaders from Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) and several workers from Navi Mumbai, Raigadh, Pune and other parts participated in the march towards Mum-

bai. NCP chief Sharad Pawar arrived at the CSMT to address the rally. Senior leaders came down heavily against the remarks made by Governor Koshiyari. NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil stated that the Governor’s remarks were intolerable.

“The people of Maharashtra will not tolerate anything said against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr Savitribai Phule and other great

RAHUL’S ‘CHINA PREPARING FOR WAR’ REMARK CREATES FURORE

IF NOT REMOTE-CONTROLLED, KHARGE SHOULD EXPEL RaGa”

It is no longer the India of 1962 as its brave soldiers also have a strong political leadership under Modi, BJP said

New Delhi: A day after Rahul Gandhi said that Chinese soldiers are “beating up jawans in Arunachal Pradesh”, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders condemned his statement and demanded his expulsion from the Congress.

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said if Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is not “remote-controlled”, he should expel Gandhi from the party, since his comments “belittle” India and break the morale of its armed forces.

If Congress does not take action against Gandhi, it will mean his statement is reflective of the Congress’ mind-

WHEN WILL NATION HAVE ‘CHINA PE CHARCHA’: KHARGE ASKS PM MODI

New Delhi: Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused PM Modi of not allowing a discussion in Parliament on the situation along the border with China and asked why he was not taking the nation into confidence in the matter. Claiming that Chinese build-up in Doklam is threatening the strategic “Siliguri Corridor” — he asked when the nation will have “China pe charcha”.

set, Bhatia said. He further alleged that the party has become less of a political party and more of a den of antiIndia activities. Bhatia also said that “it is no longer the India of 1962

as its brave soldiers also have a strong political leadership under Modi”, adding that “not even an inch of Indian territory was captured by anyone” in the last eight years.

Man kills aunt, chops body into pieces; dumps at different places

Satyanarayan Sharma

Jaipur: A man, engineer by profession, allegedly murdered his 62-year-old aunt Saroj Devi chopped the body into pieces and dumped them at different places near Delhi highway here, police said on Saturday. He then informed the police that his aunt was missing and also started looking for her along with other relatives, they said.

The police, however, got suspicious of him and interrogated him, following which he revealed that he bludgeoned his aunt to death with a hammer on December 11. The man,

Anuj Sharma alias Achitya Govind Das (33), Anuj Sharma, an engineer by profession, was arrested on Thursday, police said.

On December 11, Anuj Sharma’s father had gone to Indore and the accused and the victim were alone in the house, police said.

Anuj wanted to go to Delhi but the woman refused. It led to a heated argument and he hit her with a hammer, they said.

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said India had no intention of capturing the land of other nations in its quest to become a superpower. India will be a superpower that works towards the “welfare of the world”, Singh said. Referencing Pm Narendra Modi’s public address at Red Fort this year, Singh said: “We want to be a superpower to work for the welfare of the world. But when I talk about India becoming a superpower, it should not be misconstrued as India wanting to dominate other countries or that we want to take even an inch of someone else’s land,” he said.

Whether it is Galwan or Tawang, our defence forces have proved their bravery and valour.

Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister

Rahul Gandhi’s statement works to demoralise our Army; no matter how much it is condemned, it is less. Indian army is a symbol of bravery and valour. We know that the Communist Party of China had signed MoU with the Congress party.

JP Nadda, BJP President

Gandhi has become a huge embarrassment for the country as well as a problem for the Congress. Gandhi is not only insulting Indian Army but damaging nation’s image.

Kiren Rijiju,

Union Minister for Law and Justice

Rahul Gandhi’s statements on soldiers is condemnable and shameful. It is indecent and childish and going to inspire anti-India elements. It amounts to humiliating India and India’s brave army internationally.

Yogi Adityanath, CM Uttar Pradesh

Maha Home Dept revises few IPS posting orders

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Home department on Saturday revised some earlier posting orders of IPS officers, including making Amitabh Gupta the ADG Prisons in Pune instead of the earlier assignment as ADG Law and Order at the state PHQ in Mumbai.

An independent order issued also assigned the post of railway police commissioner to Ravindra Shisve, an IG rank officer. Ranjan Sharma, who was transferred as addl CP in Mumbai has

now been shifted as Addl CP (East) in Pune.

IPS officer Sunil Phulari has been posted as Kolhapur Range IG, while Sanjay Mohite has been made Navi Mumbai joint CP.

Manoj Lohiya as joint CP of Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune district and Suhas Warke will be IG Law and Order.

personalities. Our message to the Shinde govt is that they shouldn’t try to change the history of the state,” Patil said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said that “Some of the major projects were taken away from Maharashtra and given to Gujarat, and BJP won the elections there.

The people of Maharashtra will give a strong message to the

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday organised protests in all the six Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai against what it termed the “insult” of Hindu gods and the attempt to create a controversy over the birthplace of B R Ambedkar by leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT). The protests were held on a day the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) took out a march in Mumbai against Eknath Shinde-BJP government seeking removal of state governor B S Koshyari for “insulting” Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and other issues. The BJP alleged Shiv Sena (Thackeray) faction’s deputy leader Sushma Andhare had insulted Hindu gods and saints. It also targeted Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut for saying B R Ambedkar was born in Maharashtra. Ambedkar was born at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh. During the “maafi mango” protests, BJP workers and leaders shouted slogans demanding an apology from leaders of MVA for the comments made by Andhare and Raut. BJP workers also protested against Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto’s remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP with their vote.”

Shiv Sena (Uddhav thackeray) spokesperson Sanjay Raut and

Left wing extremism has almost ended: Shah

Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday chaired the 25th Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting at the West Bengal secretariat in Kolkata. In his inaugural address, the Union Home Minister said that in the last 8 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than 1,000 issues were discussed in the meetings of the Zonal Councils and 93 percent of them were resolved, which is a huge achievement.

He said that in the 8 years from 2006 to 2013, a total of 6 meetings of the Zonal Councils were held, but in the 8 years since 2014, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, a total of 23 meetings have been held. The Union Home Minister said that Left Wing Extremism has almost been eliminated from the Eastern region of the country and efforts should be made to sustain this decisive dominance over Left Wing Extremism.

He stressed that ef-

forts should be sustained as extremism should not re-emerge in LWE-free States and that these States should develop at par with other parts of the country.

Shah urged the Chief Minister to ensure the creation of a districtlevel structure of the

meetings for the prevention of narcotics. He

its

the fight against drugs in the country is now at a crucial stage and there is a need to accelerate the campaign against drugs with the help of Artificial Intelligence.

Mumbai: For some officials,

to

service

means much

than

their personal commitment. And when a time comes to choose between family and duty, such ‘leaders’, without hesitation, choose to serve rather than take a backseat and enjoy their time with family. This has been exemplified by none other than Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek

Phansalkar, who, inspite of his daughter getting married on the day of the Maha-morcha in Mumbai, chose to not take a holiday but to be on ‘ground zero’ and handle the law and order personally, so that no untoward incident happens. Right from early

morning Phansalkar monitored the developments till the culmination of the event, foregoing his duty as a father and the once in a lifetime event of his daughter’s marriage. First India salutes this Khaki-clad man who out his duty above personal commitments.

Sandeep

NCP leader Supriya Sule were among those who participated in the rally.

Protesters

Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Nana Patole and other MVA leaders during the rally —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

Kartikey Dev Singh

“

No intention of capturing others’ land, says Rajnath Singh

NCORD mechanism and

regular

said

PM IN MEGHALAYA & TRIPURA TODAY New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi will visit Meghalaya and Tripura on December 18 and unveil projects worth over Rs 6,800 crore. The projects encompass a wide array of sectors including housing, road, agriculture, telecom, IT, tourism and hospitality. In Shillong, Prime Minister will participate in the golden jubilee celebration of the North Eastern Council. The Council was formally inaugurated on November 7, 1972.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on the sidelines of the 25th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council at Nabanna, in Kolkata on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Need

law against false statements:

Ajit Pawar

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, slammed the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government and said that legal action should be taken against those who make false statements.

“Looking at the manner in which statements have been made about Shivaji Maharaj and other great men for the past few days, the governor should be removed from his post. MLAs and ministers who are making such statements should also be removed from office,” Pawar said.

The NCP leader was speaking during a protest organized by the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) here on Saturday against the state government and Governor BS Koshyari over his controversial remark on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“The winter session will start in Nagpur on Monday. The state government should pass a strict law against those who make such absurd statements. As an opposition party, we will support it,” he added.

Pawar also took a swipe at the ShindeFadnavis government on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border row.

“After (Eknath) Shinde and (Devendra) Fadnavis came to power, villagers staying in the border areas have started saying they want to be one with Karnataka,” Pawar said.

‘Nano’ MVA morcha was aimed at gaining political capital: DCM

Fadnavis mocks Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav over poor turnout, lack of ‘new issues’

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday took a jibe at opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) protest in Mumbai by calling it a “nano” morcha (protest march) aimed at gaining political capital.

In a show of strength, MVA constituents including Shiv Sena – Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Congress, and other parties took out a protest march against the Chief Minister Eknath ShindeBJP government on the day.

“Despite making my

stand clear, a morcha was organized for gaining political capital. When you run out of is-

sues, such morchas are organized,” he told reporters and added that Chhatrapati Shivaji

‘RAGA’S REMARKS SHOW HIS SENTIMENT FOR INDIA’

Targeting Rahul Gandhi over his purported remarks on Indian soldiers, Fadnavis said it is surprising that Pakistan and Rahul Gandhi speak against India on the same day. “His (Rahul’s) remarks show the kind of sentiment he has for India,” Fadnavis added. “Whenever China grabbed Indian territory, the Gandhi family was in power. Today, PM Modi is in power and not an inch of land will go to anybody else. Our Army faced the Chinese bravely,” he added.

Maharaj and Dr BR Ambedkar are our idols.

A political firestorm erupted after Governor Koshyari had called Chhatrapati Shivaji an “icon of olden times”.

Senior BJP leader and state minister Chandrakant Patil had kicked up a row by say-

No word on our inclusion in MVA yet, says Ambedkar

First India Bureau

Shame on him: NCP’s Sharad Pawar on Guv

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Amid the controversy over Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s ‘insults’ against 17th century warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Saturday attacked him at the MVA march in Mumbai.

Addressing the morcha, the NCP chief said, “Lakhs of people have come here from every corner of Maharashtra for the honour of the state. Today, those who hold the reins of the state are using a different language about the great men of Maharashtra. He (Koshyari)

is working to bring ideology of state in crisis. Shame on him.”

Calling for Koshyari’s removal, Pawar warned that if the Central government does not sack the governor at the earliest, then Maharashtra will not be left “without burning.”

Talking about the king, he said, “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has remained constant in the hearts of the common people ‘Shiva Chhatrapati’, the founder of Hindu Swarajya. If he is mentioned offensively by a minister, Maharashtra will never tolerate this. If the rulers do not take a lesson from this, then Maharashtra will not rest.”

Nashik: Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar on Saturday said that the VBA’s inclusion in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of Maharashtra was still elusive.

His comments came in the backdrop of the grand ‘Halla Bol’ protest march organized by the MVA in Mumbai on Saturday.

Speaking to media persons, Ambedkar said, “This march is of Maha Vikas Aghadi. We have not been included as there is a difference of opinion. Congress and NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) are

against our inclusion (in the coalition). Therefore, there is no question of us joining the morcha. Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT chief) should take a decision on it soon.”

Earlier in the week, Ambedkar had said in Nashik: “Uddhav Thackeray had only informed us that we would consider including the underprivileged in the MVA. However, Ajit Pawar (NCP leader) said that this question is still under consideration.”

Criticizing Pawar, the VBA leader said, “NCP is a party of rich Marathas, they do not like poor Marathas.”

ing social reformers Ambedkar and Jyotiba Phule had “begged” (sought donations) to start schools.

Deputy CM Fadnavis also mocked Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray’s speech at the morcha. He stated, “There was no new issue in his speech. I think they

should now hire people who can write two or four new points for them to say. Then there will be something to listen to in the speech. I have such modest expectations from them.

(Shiv Sena chief) Uddhav Thackeray should look for new issues to play politics with.”

Implying poor turnout at the MVA’s protest march, Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, said the police had asked the MVA to use the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai for the rally. But they did not follow the directions knowing that the ground could not be filled.

Mungantiwar calls Raut descendant of Mungerilal

First India Bureau Mumbai: Taking a swipe at Sanjay Raut, state Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that Raut is a descendant of Mungerilal and Ganpat Wani.

Mungantiwar made the comment after the Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MP said that the Shinde-Fadnavis government will not last till the month of February, during a rally organized by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) here on Saturday.

According to Mungantiwar, in the 2019 elections, people of Maharashtra had rejected the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Now, if Raut is saying that they will come to power in the month of February based on his trust, then he should be considered as a descendant of Ganpat Vani and Mungerilal.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: As the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition held its ‘Halla Bol’ morcha in Mumbai on Saturday, Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray reiterated that people with love for Maharashtra were on his side.

He was referring to various controversies that have erupted in the state recently including ‘insults’ to state icons Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Mahatma Phule, the border dispute with Karnataka, and Maharashtra losing out on mega projects.

Addressing the morcha, Thackeray said,

SECURITY BEEFED UP

7K cops to be deployed for Maha winter session

places round-the-clock.

“When this march was announced, people had asked me if I would walk. I told them that I wasn’t going to do it alone, but lakhs of Maharashtra lovers would walk with me. This is the time to walk (march) against those who have betrayed us.”

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thackeray said, “All parties are united. Maharashtra’s traitors are the only ones not present at this march. He (Shinde) considers himself as someone carrying forward the thoughts of Balasaheb (Thackeray). Anyone who tries to do compromise Maharashtra will be brought down on his knees.”

The minister further said that action must be taken against the traitors of Maharashtra and this country. The MVA government held a meeting to authorize Afzal Khan’s grave. But our government removed this encroachment.

“The previous government even pretended to rename Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar. But we named it. Therefore, you have no right to take the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” Mungantiwar said.

Complaint against Patil, Fadnavis and Mumbai PC

First India Bureau

Nagpur: As many as 7,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure the smooth passage of the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature beginning here on Monday, officials said on Saturday.

According to the Nagpur Police Commission-

er Amitesh Kumar, police are geared up to ensure that no untoward incident takes place during the session.

Speaking to the media, Kumar said, “The

security cover for Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his Deputy Devendra Fadnavis has been strengthened.”

He further added that security at the Vidhan

POLITICS OF ‘DHARNA’

or sit-in protests and hunger strikes have also been allowed by the police. The protest marches will be blocked at various points and the traffic movement on their routes will be diverted. Mobile surveillance vehicles will be deployed.

Bhavan, where the two Houses of the legislature meet, is beefed up.

Security at ‘Ramgiri’ and ‘Devgiri’, the official residences of the CM and the Deputy CM respectively, have also been tightened.

No person without

valid photo identification would be allowed entry at these three places. Security has also been tightened at MLAs’ Hostel and Nag Bhavan, Kumar said, adding armed police personnel would remain deployed at these

“Commandos of ‘Force One’, Quick Response Teams (QRTs), and armed policemen have been deployed as part of the ‘three-tier’ security at the Vidhan Bhavan. The number of staff in the CCTV camera control room has also been increased for effective 24x7 monitoring. 600 vehicles have been allotted for police duties,” the police commissioner said.

Police have also issued prohibitory orders banning flying of aerial objects around a 2km radius of the Vidhan Bhavan in Civil Lines area.

Mumbai (PTI): A man claiming to be a social worker on Saturday filed a criminal complaint in a court against state minister Chandrakant Patil in connection with the controversial remarks made by him about BR Ambedkar and social reformer Jyotiba Phule.

The complaint was filed before special judge AP Kanade for action under provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Indian Penal Code sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot),

153(A) (promoting enmity), 120B (Punishment for criminal conspiracy), and 504 (intentional insult).

The complaint also named Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, BJP MLA Shivaji Kadam, Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar and two other police officers alleging they acted with "common intention" to save Patil.

First India Bureau

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis —FILE PHOTO

Pawar addresses the MVA morcha in Mumbai on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at the morcha. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

‘I am not alone, Maha ‘lovers’ are with me’

VBA leader Prakash Ambedkar. with Uddhav Thackeray.

—FILE PHOTO

Builder held for duping investors of over `27 cr

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Mumbai police have arrested a builder for allegedly duping investors to the tune of more than Rs27 crore by promising attractive returns on investment in his housing project in the city, an official said on Saturday.

1 DEAD, 12 HOSPITALIZED IN FIRE AT MUMBAI BUILDING

Media workshop on fighting measles held in Mumbai

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Media professionals gathered to discuss vaccine hesitancy and misinformation around measles and rubella, at a workshop on the role of media in creating awareness on routine immunization and measles and rubella vaccination.

Blaze broke out in the electricity meter room; patients from adjacent hosp shifted to another med facility

Punjab

the EOW

The accused builder was arrested from Punjab on Friday by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police, he said.

“He was wanted in three related cases registered with the EOW for duping people of crores of rupees on false promises,” the official said, adding that his son, who is also an accused in these cases, is absconding. A 57-year-old investor and others had invested a total of Rs19.30 crore in the project of the accused, the official said.

“Initially, the complainant received returns on their invested money, but later the father-son duo told him that he will be given flats in the housing project instead of cash returns,” he said.

A few months later, when the builder did not keep the promise, the investor realised that he and others were duped.

CRUCIAL READ BAR RAIDED, WOMEN FOUND HIDDEN IN SPECIALLY-BUILT CAVITY; 25 ARRESTED

Mumbai: A raid on a restaurant-cum-bar in Dahisar area of Mumbai led to several women being rescued from a specially-built cavity, while others were found dancing, a police official said on Saturday. The accused have been booked under Indian Penal Code section 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) due to the way the women had been hidden in the cavity as well as other offences related to obscenity. The raid that took place on Friday resulted in the arrest of 19 customers and six staff of the eatery, including the manager, the Dahisar police official said. “We found four women on the dance floor, while 17 women were hidden in a specially-built cavity to hoodwink police during such raids. They were rescued and allowed to leave,” he said.

SEA LINK CRASH: COURT DENIES BAIL TO DRIVER

Mumbai: A sessions court on Saturday denied bail to the driver of the SUV (sports utility vehicle) that rammed into multiple vehicles on Mumbai’s BandraWorli Sea Link on October 05, killing five persons.

Irfan Abdul Rahim Bilakiya was denied bail on Saturday by Additional Sessions Judge VS Gaike, though details of the order have not been made available.

Bilakiya was arrested soon after the accident and was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Earlier, a metropolitan magistrate court in Dadar too had rejected his bail plea.

UNIDENTIFIED BODY OF WOMAN FOUND IN PANVEL TALUKA

Panvel: An unidentified body of a 25-year-old woman was found under the bridge of the Gadhi river near Dhamani village in Panvel taluka. The initial investigation revealed that the woman was strangled. The Panvel Taluka police have registered a case of murder against an unknown person and started an investigation. Police said that they are trying to identify the woman and checking with other police stations if any missing person’s complaint was registered similar to the woman’s. The body was noticed in the riverbed under the bridge of the Gadhi river near Dhamani village.

NMMC STARTS ‘DRY WASTE PASSBOOK’ TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT WASTE SEGREGATION

Navi Mumbai: In order to inculcate the habit of cleanliness among children at an early age, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has been carrying out a number of activities at school level. One of the activities is ‘Dry Waste Bank’, by Belapur ward. Under the initiative, students are taught different kinds of dry waste and how to segregate them. The initiative has been taken by Dr Mithali Sancheti, ward official of Belapur ward under the guidance of the Municipal Commissioner Rajesh Narvekar. Students have been asked to start waste segregation at their homes. “By doing it, they will understand the importance of waste segregations. Later, they have to deposit plastic bottles, wrappers, tetra packs or tins, glass bottles, etc,” said an official from Belapur ward.

NEW DIGS

First India Bureau

Mumbai: A 46-year-old man died and 12 persons, including four police personnel, were hospitalized for inhaling smoke in a fire that broke out in a building adjacent to a hospital in suburban Ghatkopar on Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The blaze erupted in the electricity meter room of a hotel located on the ground floor of the six-storey ‘Vishwas’ building around 2 pm, following which 22 patients undergoing treatment in the hospital were shifted to another medical facility as a precautionary measure.

According to an official, the deceased, identified as Korshi Dedhia, was inside the hotel. The condition of one of the 12 persons is critical. He is undergoing treatment at the MICU

ward of the hospital.

Fire Brigade personnel and police rushed to the spot and launched rescue and firefighting operations, he said.

“The persons trapped in the fire were rescued by the fire brigade personnel and rushed to the civic-run Rajawadi hospital,” he said.

As a precautionary measure, 22 patients undergoing treatment in the adjoining hospital, were shifted to another medical facility, he said, adding that the blaze was brought under control.

“Four police personnel who rushed to rescue the trapped persons inside the hotel were also admitted to the hospital for suffocation. Eight other persons were also being treated for suffocation they suffered due to the inhalation of smoke in the hotel,” he added.

The two-day media workshop was organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in partnership with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), in the backdrop of rising measles cases reported from Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.

Dr Veena Dhawan, Additional Commissioner (Immunization) in the ministry, apprised the participants on the symptoms of measles, and prevention and cure of the lifethreatening disease.

She asked them to address vaccine hesitancy and counter misinformation and cultural myths around measles.

“Media’s role in sup-

porting elimination of measles is critical. We need to come together to educate communities and encourage them to get their children immunized for measles as well as for all vaccines covered under the Universal Immunization Programme,” she said.

Dr Ashish Chauhan, Health Specialist, UNICEF India, said there was an urgent need to plan towards increasing the uptake of vaccination through social mobilization and addressing vaccine hesitancy.

Amid threats of another ink assault, Patil uses face shield

Mumbai: In an apparent security precaution, Pune’s guardian minister Chandrakant Patil attended a public event in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area on Saturday evening wearing a face shield.

Patil suffered an inkassault a week ago and there were threats that similar attacks may be made on him in future.

In fact, a social media message threatening another ink attack on Patil during his planned visit to Pawanathadi Jatra was allegedly posted by Vikas Lole, head of NCP’s social media cell of Pimpri

Chinchwad. A case regarding this was registered by BJP corporator Harshal Dhore at the Sangvi Police Station on Saturday.

On December 10, activists of the Samata Sainik Dal had thrown ink on Patil while he was stepping out of the house of local BJP leader and former corporator Moreshwar Shedge in Chinchwad. Pimpri Chinchwad police had arrested three persons in this case.

The attack on Patil came a day after an alleged objectionable statement against social reformers was made by Patil in Paithan town of Chhatra-

Two persons were booked for threatening an ink attack on the state minister

pati Sambhaji Nagar district of Maharashtra. Meanwhile, two persons were booked for threatening an ink attack on Patil.

‘If journalism falters, democracy will collapse’

Mumbai (PTI): Former Supreme Court judge BN Srikrishna has called for preserving the independence of journalists to ensure smooth functioning of democracy in the country.

“If journalism as a profession falters, democracy will collapse,” Justice Srikrishna said Friday night after presenting the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism, instituted by the Mumbai Press Club (MPC).

“Speak the truth to the powers that be,” he said. “Two professions have to be necessarily independent, a judge and a journalist. If they falter, democracy collapses,” he added.

Justice Srikrishna said a journalist who loses his independence is as bad as a judge

who has lost his independence.

“Remember, you are in a profession where

honesty is really the best policy,” said the noted jurist, who headed the Srikrishna Commission that investigated causes and apportioned blame for the Mumbai riots of 1992-93.

“We all know about the four pillars of democracy: judiciary, legislature executive and the press or the fourth estate. If the first three cozy up, it is the duty of the fourth estate to take them to task,” he said.

Justice Srikrishna spoke on the “misuse” of investigative agencies. “People spoke of threats from ED (Enforcement Directorate), CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), surveillance, cutting off revenue to see that businesses collapse,” he said.

The awards, along with 24 other winners across 12 categories, were presented at NCPA auditorium in south Mumbai.

Pune (PTI): Two persons sustained minor injuries in an explosion in a factory in Wadhu Budruk area of Pune on Saturday, an official said. Eight fire tenders were rushed to the factory that manufactures cushions and foam material and had at least 50 to 55 gas cylinders on the premises, he said. “We got a call at 12.38 pm about 10 to 12 cylinders exploding and causing a massive fire. Five fire tenders from Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority, and one each from Pune, Shirur and Alandi civic bodies were deployed to douse the blaze,” he said. “Two persons received minor injuries in the fire, which was doused soon after. The injured persons have been admitted to a hospital,” the official added.

TWO RECEIVE INJURIES IN FIRE AT CUSHION-FOAM FACTORY

Police and Parekh Hospital personnel shift a patient to another facility.

An injured woman being rushed to a hospital.

Firefighters dousing the flames at Vishwas building in Ghatkopar.

Justice BN Srikrishna calls on ‘fourth estate’ to be ‘honest’ in all endeavours

Justice BN Srikrishna —FILE PHOTO

The accused builder was arrested from

on Friday by

of the Mumbai police

An outside view of state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s newly inaugurated secretariat building on the Raj Bhavan (Governor’s House) premises in Mumbai on Friday. —PHOTO BY ANI

First India Bureau

ARG VS FRA: THE FINAL CLASH OF TITANS TODAY

PRIZE MONEY

The world cup champion team will get an amount of 45 million dollars and the runner-up team to receive 30 million dollars. Meanwhile, the third-placed team will be given $27 million and the fourth-placed team will win $25 MILLION

rgentina and France will face off in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final today at Lusail Stadium.

Their respective journeys have been more similar than distinct because both teams lost one game on the road to the championship game.

After a terrible performance against Saudi Arabia, Argentina has been flawless, scoring goals and playing solid defence, while riding the Messi Magic. They just finished a nearly flawless game against Croatia, where Lionel Messi’s sensational performance helped Argentina reach their second World Cup Final in three years.

Matchup History between France and Argentina

Argentina and France have played three times previously at the FIFA World Cup. Argentina won the first two meetings in 1930 and 1978, while France knocked Argentina out of the 2018 World Cup in the Round of 16.

France ended up on the winning side after a seven-goal thriller. Kylian Mbappe was introduced to the world during the 4-3 victory in 2018 when his double was a major factor in Les Blues’ advancing to the quarterfinals.

Presented India’s National Statement at the UN Biodiversity Conference, COP15.

Highlighted that under PM Shri @narendramodi ji, India’s balance sheet in implementing the Aichi targets is forwardlooking and the country is on track to meeting its commitments.

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT

never really seemed to be in peak shape. The French have nonetheless advanced to a World Cup final and given themselves a solid chance to retain the title they earned in 2018.

They found it difficult to fully utilise their abundance of attacking talent against England because England outplayed them. They once again prevailed over Morocco without really appearing to be playing at their best. Against Argentina, France will be tested thoroughly. France will look to players like Kylian Mabppe to lead them.

The top four scorers from each team in the FIFA World Cup 2022 are distributed equally. With five goals each, Kylian Mbappe of France and Lionel Messi of Argentina are tied for the most goals scored at the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Although it is a result that the Argentinians will undoubtedly not have forgotten either. Even though they have six of the previous 12 encounters between the two, they would gladly swap all of those memories if they lift the World Cup trophy on Sunday.

Journey of Argentina

Argentina has been able to im-

prove throughout the competition to the point, where they are just inches away from a surprising World Cup victory. After they managed to defeat both Mexico and Poland in their group, their 2-1 setback to Saudi Arabia feels like a distant memory.

Argentina was tested to the limit in challenging encounters against Australia and the Neth-

Comments of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto against PM @ narendramodi who is truly a tall global leader, is comical and shows Mr. Bhutto in very poor light lacking even the basic civility on a prestigious international

like the UN.

erlands, but their best was yet to come as they outplayed Croatia in a superb 3-0 victory in the semifinals.The outcome of this game will probably be influenced by Messi’s antics, and if France permits him to receive the ball in space, he will harm them.

Journey of France

At this World Cup, France has

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

With four goals each, Julian Alvarez (ARG) and Olivier Giroud (FRA) are tied for second. As a result, it is safe to assume that the 2022 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race will also be decided in the Final, making it an intriguing side story to the main event. It will be France’s fourth World Cup championship game and Argentina’s sixth in the forthcoming ARG vs FRA match. France will only be the third side in history—following Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil to successfully defend a World Cup title if they win the 2022 World Cup final (1958 and 1962).

Phone 022-46031417.

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra

RAHUL FAUJDAR

The writer is First India staffer & a professional cricketer representing several clubs in Rajasthan

Editor: Kartikey Dev Singh responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

Bhupender Yadav

@byadavbjp

Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps, and whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues. The Bhagavad Gita

forum

Ravi Shankar Prasad@rsprasad

LIONEL MESSI, ARGENTINA

The spotlight will be on Messi throughout the Final. The 35-year-old will beat Germany’s Lothar Matthäus for the most World Cup appearances with 26 just by participating in the final. Messi now has 11 goals overall at the World Cup, making him Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with his penalty kick goal against Croatia.

JULIAN ALVAREZ, ARGENTINA

Alvarez has been one of the breakout stars in Argentina. In the round of 16, he scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Australia, and in the semifinals, he gave his team two insurance goals. Alvarez is tied with France’s Olivier Giroud for third in the Golden Boot race with four goals, trailing Messi and Mbappe by only one goal.

KYLIAN MBAPPE, FRANCE Mbappe had a spectacular opening to the World Cup, scoring three goals and providing one assist in France’s opening two games. Then, he contributed two goals and an assist to help Les Bleus defeat Poland 3-1 in the round of 16, surpassing his fourgoal total from the previous tournament.

OLIVIER GIROUD, FRANCE

When France lost Karim Benzema to injury ahead of the World Cup, the defending champs needed Olivier Giroud to step up - and he’s delivered. In the opening match against Australia, Olivier Giroud scored twice and added two more goals in the knockout round.

Strengthen BJP at grassroot level in WB: Amit Shah to party leaders

Home Minister Amit Shah has asked West Bengal BJP leaders to strengthen the grassroot level of the party in the Trinamool Congress-ruled state ahead of the panchayat polls, a senior party leader said on Saturday.

Shah, who held a meeting with senior state party leaders after coming here, said that the BJP should harness “public discontent against the TMC”, BJP’s national Vice-President Dilip Ghosh said.

On Shah’s meeting held at the state BJP headquarters, the TMC’s West Bengal spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumdar claimed that it was a futile attempt to save his party’s state unit from disintegrating.

“Amit-ji is alarmed about the present situation in West Bengal — how TMC leaders have swindled public money and central funds, taken bribes to give jobs to ineligible candidates in schools, the continuing attacks on our men. He wants to see an end to this situation,” Dilip Ghosh told PTI.

BJP WB Core meet in Delhi on Monday

Kolkata (ANI): West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday will hold a party core group meeting regarding Lok Sabha election in 2024 and upcoming panchayat polls, said sources.

The state BJP is fully geared up for the Lok Sabha elections and has started pre-

Shah knows that the people want change in West Bengal, but to counter the TMC’s at-

Amaravati farmers oppose AP govt’s move

paring for it. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Amit Shah has also visited West Bengal, taken the ground report there, and continuously motivated the workers.

Subhash Sarkar, Nishith Pramanik, Suvendu Adhikari, Dilip Ghos, Sukanto Ma-

tacks and threats, the BJP will combat them democratically,” Ghosh, a former West Bengal

Chargesheet

ready in Ankita

Bhandari case: U’khand Police

jumdar, Locket Chatterjee, all MPs and BJP organization general secretary BL Santosh will take part in this meeting.

This meeting will be held in the evening at the residence of Subhash Sarkar, the meeting will be chaired by BL Santosh and Sunil Bansal.

BJP chief, said. The Union home minister held a half-an-hour meeting on Friday

night with leaders like Ghosh, state president Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and others.

To a question, if Shah also asked leaders to sink their differences, Ghosh said, “Amit-ji knows we stand united. There can be differences of opinion among individuals at times, but that happens in a family. No such issue was discussed.”

Shah came here to chair the Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting at the state secretariat on Saturday.

CM Nitish Kumar, BJP engage in blame game

Patna (Agencies):

The ruling JD(U)-led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) and the BJP in dry state Bihar are engaged in blame game over hooch tragedy that claimed 73 lives in Saran.

The BJP alleges that due to liquor ban in the state, spurious liquor is being manufactured leading to the death of people.

Over 1,000 people have lost their lives in hooch tragedies and state exchequer is losing Rs 30,000 crore as revenue per year, the BJP claimed.

Though Nitish Kumar always takes credit of liqior ban in the state, whenever a

hooch tragedy occures, he puts the onus of it on every political party which supported the Bill in the Legislative Assembly.

At the same time, Nitish also wants to prove that the “BJP is against the liquor ban” and wants to

send this message to a large section of society, especially women. In his speech in state Assembly, Nitish asked the BJP to clear their stand on liquor ban, saying that: “If you advocate the withdrawal of liquor prohibition law, I will take it back.”

8 MORE DIE IN 2 OTHER BIHAR DISTRICTS

Patna (PTI): Close on the heels of the hooch tragedy in dry Bihar that left many dead in Saran, eight more died allegedly after consuming some spurious liquor in two other districts, officials said on Saturday. Six people died in Siwan district adjoining Saran, while Begusarai witnessed two deaths. Unconfirmed reports claimed that up to 60 people died by drinking

BJP protests Pak FM Bhutto’s remarks against PM Modi

illicitly brewed country liquor in Saran district. Even the official toll of 30 there is the biggest since Bihar went dry six years ago. About the six

NEWS DIGEST

New Delhi (PTI): A big number of farmers from Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh organised a protest here against the state govt’s plan for bringing a law to develop three capitals instead of one, with MPs from various parties joining them to extend their support.

TDP members, including Jayadev Galla and K Rammohan Naidu, BSP’s Danish Ali and YRS Congress’ K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, a dissident leader in the

state’s ruling party, were among the MPs besides several other leaders, including from the Congress and the Left, who expressed their support to the farmers protesting under the banner of the ‘Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi’, according to a statement.

Farmers have demanded that the state govt should stick to the earlier plan of having one capital city in Amaravati as envisaged by former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

Dehradun (PTI):

The Uttarakhand Police has prepared a chargesheet against the accused in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, an official said on Saturday.

Bhandari, 19, who worked as a receptionist at Vanantara Resort in the Ganga Bhogpur area of Pauri district near Rishikesh, was allegedly pushed into the Chilla canal in September by the resort’s operator Pulkit Arya and his two employees Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta.

New Delhi (PTI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held nationwide protests on Saturday against Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s personal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the ruling party sought to rally support from all sections over the issue.

Its members raised slogans and burnt effigies of Pakistan and Bhutto during their protests in state capitals across the country.

Its various state unit presidents, including Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary in Uttar Pradesh and Sanjay Jaiswal in Bihar, led a march of party workers against Bilawal Bhutto’s statement.

“India came together to condemn and protest Bhutto's uncivilized and distasteful comment on PM Modi,” the party said, adding that protests were held in every state.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday rejected India's criticism of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s “uncivilised” outburst against PM Narendra Modi, alleging that it showed New Delhi’s “growing frustration”. Bhutto resorted to a personal attack against PM Modi and slammed the RSS after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described Pakistan as “epicentre of terrorism” during his recent visit to New York.

ENHANCED BALLISTIC CAPABILITY

HC COMES TO AID OF ENDOSULFAN VICTIM’S FAMILY

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has come to the aid of the family of an endosulfan victim, who died at the age of 11 years, by asking the state govt to write off the loans availed for her treatment, saying neither the State nor the court can be oblivious to plight of such persons and their kin.

CBI AND DELHI POLICE HELP FBI BUST TECH SCAM

Washington: The CBI and Delhi Police have helped the FBI in busting a major trans-national scam that duped thousands of Americans, mostly senior citizens, of millions of dollars in about 10 years on the pretext of providing them with tech-support, a US attorney has said.

UP: TWO MEN ARRESTED FOR FIRING AT CONSTABLE INSIDE POLICE OUTPOST

“I

Bareilly: Two men were arrested here on Saturday for allegedly firing at a constable inside a police outpost, a police official said. The incident took place at the Nakatiya outpost, which falls under the Cantt police station, on National Highway 24 on Friday night, he said. The accused have been identified as Vikas and Yashpal.

If India wants, Agni missiles can now strike targets beyond 7,000 kms

New Delhi (ANI): Days after the successful trials of the nuclear-capable Agni-5 ballistic missile, India has now developed the capability to strike targets beyond the range of 7,000 kms.

Sources in the defence establishment told ANI that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been able to reduce the weight of the Agni-5 missile by replacing steel content with composite materials. “The

weight reduction that has been achieved in the missile system is beyond 20 per cent and if the government wants, the nuclear-capable strategic missile can go beyond 7,000 kms,” they said.

Sources cited the example of the Agni-3 which weighs around 40 tonnes and can strike targets at 3,000 kms but the Agni-4 weighing slightly more than 20 tonnes can cover a much longer range.

The extended range

of the missile which is part of the Strategic Forces Command will give a variety of options

to the planners during times of conflict.

India’s nuclear weapon programme is main-

INDIA’S ‘NO FIRST USE’ POLICY

on the development of a submarine-launched ballistic missile. The sources said the decision to test the missile for its new maximum possible range will have to be taken by the government.

India had successfully carried out night trials of Agni-5 nuclearcapable ballistic missile on Thursday at its full range of 5400 kms.

which is now lighter than before.

In October last year, India carried out the successful launch of the surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Agni-5 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.

ly for deterrence against its adversaries including China and Pakistan as it has a no-

first-use policy.

It has been strengthening the second strike capability and is also working

The test was carried out to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile

The missile, which uses a three-stage solidfuelled engine, is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Kolkata (PTI): Union

Union Minister tells party leaders to harness “public discontent against the ruling TMC”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a meeting with the West Bengal BJP core group and other senior leaders, at the Bharatiya Janata Party office, in Kolkata on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

deaths in Bhagwanpur division of Siwan dist since Thursday, SDM Sanjay Kumar said the administration has initiated an investigation.

Raipur: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday condemned Pakistani Minister Bilawal Bhutto’s derogatory remarks on PM Modi and said no one has the right to make such a statement about India’s PM.

condemn the statement made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister. A befitting reply must be given,” Baghel said.

PAKISTAN REJECTS INDIA’S CRITICISM OF FM BILAWAL’S OUTBURST ON MODI

“MODI IS OUR PM, NO ONE HAS RIGHT..” BHUPESH BAGHEL CONDEMNS PAK FM

Amaravati farmers hold a protest over various demands from the Central government, in New Delhi on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

BJP workers protest over Pak Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s remarks against PM Modi, in Jabalpur, on Saturday.

PLAN FOR 3 CAPITALS IN ANDHRA

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. —FILE PHOTO

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea challenging the election of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 2019 from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala. A bench of justices AS Bopanna and Dipankar Datta rejected the petition filed by Saritha S Nair, who had moved the apex court against an October 31, 2019 decision of the Kerala High Court by which her election petitions challenging the Lok Sabha polls in Wayanad and Ernakulam also were dismissed.

SC DISMISSES PLEA AGAINST RAHUL GANDHI’S ELECTION FROM WAYANAD

BRIEFS

GST Council to allow e-comm for unregistered

New Delhi (Agencies):

Delhi: Industrialist

Subhrakant Panda on Saturday formally took over as President of the leading industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Panda, who was the Senior Vice President of FICCI, succeeded Sanjiv Mehta as President of the apex chamber during the conclusion of the 95th Annual General Meeting.

Panda graduated from the Boston University in 1993 with a dual concentration in Finance and Operations Management. —ANI

The GST Council approved the amendments in the GST Act and GST Rules for allowing unregistered suppliers and composition taxpayers to make intra-state supply of goods through E-Commerce Operators (ECOs), subject to certain conditions.

Appreciating wholeheartedly the major decision of the GST Council to allow small unregistered vendors to sell their goods through e-commerce portals, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for this “progressive decision” which was demanded by CAIT since last more than two years.

BY ANI

Montreal: At the ongoing 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal, the Japan Ministry of Environment, the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation, UNDP, and other partners have announced the launch of the fourth phase of the Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative with funding to total an expected one billion Japanese yen in six years. —AGENCIES

MUSK’S TEAM SEEKS NEW FUNDING FOR TWITTER: REPORT

CAIT national president B.C. Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said this decision will empower small traders who are below GST threshold limit to expand their business through e-commerce and will strongly strengthen Digital India vision.

There are more than 8 crore small traders in the country but a large number of traders are conduct-

OTHER STORIES

SINGLE DEFINITION FOR SUV IN ALL STATES

New Delhi: The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on Saturday decided to have a single definition across all states in the country for sports utility vehicles, attracting a higher tax rate. Currently cars with engine capacity exceeding 1500 cc, length exceeding 4000 mm and having ground clearance of 170 mm attract a GST of 28% and a 22% cess, taking the effective tax rate to 50%. However, states do not have a consistent definition define a vehicle as a SUV, leading to confusion among automakers. The council, composed of state finance ministers and chaired by the Union Finance Minister, decided that all the criteria including engine capacity, length and ground clearance has to met for a vehicle to be classified as a SUV. “If cars do not meet any of these criteria, lower cess rate will be applicable,” said Vivek Johri, Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

ing business activities without GST registration since their annual sale is below the GST threshold limit. Such traders will now be able to trade on e-

ASSAM SPECIALTY ‘MANOHARI GOLD TEA’ AUCTIONED FOR ` 1.15 LAKH PER KG

Mumbai: A specialty tea from Assam’s Dibrugarh district was sold for Rs 1.15 lakh per kg at a private auction on Friday, the proprietor of the tea estate said. ‘Manohari Gold Tea’ fetched the price at an auction on private portal Tea Inntech, Rajan Lohia of Manohari Tea Estate said. “Due to the cap of Rs 1 lakh per kg set by the Tea Board India at Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC), we had to sell this batch through private auction this year,” Lohia said. This is the highest price fetched for tea at such auctions anywhere, he claimed. One kilogramme of the specialty tea was bought by RK Tea Sales, he said. PTI

INDIA’S FOREX

San Francisco: The managing director of Elon Musk’s family office is seeking new equity investors for Twitter, as per recent reports, citing 2 people familiar with the fundraising effort. Musk’s money manager, Jared Birchall, reached out to potential investors this week, offering shares of Twitter at the same price, $54.20, that Musk paid to take the company private in October, according to the report. Musk sold another $3.6 billion worth of shares in Tesla Inc earlier this week, making it nearly $40 billion worth of shares in the electric-vehicle company sold this year. —PTI

GOLDMAN SACHS TO LAY OFF ALMOST 4,000 EMPLOYEES

New Delhi: Goldman Sachs is preparing to lay off as many as 3,900 employees starting in January as chief executive David Solomon seeks to boost the bank’s profitability amid economic headwinds. The plans are still being drawn up, and it is possible that the current target for a cull of “up to 8%” of its 49,000 global workforce will be slimmed down if the business outlook improves, as per 3 people familiar with the discussions.

Govt working to achieve defence production target of $22 bn by 2025: Singh

New Delhi (Agencies): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the government is working and committed to increasing the defence production target from current $12 billion to $22 billion by 2025.

BY ANI

commerce.

Earlier, GST Council in its 47th meeting had granted in-principle approval for allowing unregistered suppliers and composition

taxpayers to make intrastate supply of goods through ECOs, subject to certain conditions. CAIT said that India is fast emerging as the e-commerce hub and there is tremendous growth in online business.

E-commerce business in India is now approximately 10 per cent of total retail.

“In view of this it was extremely pertinent that small vendors, those who have small turnovers and do not fall under the purview of the GST, were not able to conduct online business, thus causing huge loss of market and business opportunities,” a statement said.

“You (industry) can imagine, with this kind of growth, how many opportunities will be available for the Indian industry,” the Defence Minister said while addressing FICCI’s 95th Annual Convention & AGM. He further underlined that to increase the participation of domestic industry, the government has reserved a certain portion of defence capital acquisition for domestic procurement.

“Out of the total defence capital budget outlay, 68 per cent of it is reserved for indigenous procurement by domestic industry and 25% for the private sector. The results of these have now started appearing and more measures will be announced soon,” he emphasised.

The government, he said, is also working to provide market access to the domestic industry to make them Aatmanirbhar. Singh said that in the last few years, there has been a continuous increase in de-

Indian roads to match US standards by 2024: Nitin

RECENT REFORMS HELPED ECONOMY EXIT ‘FRAGILE 5’ TO BECOME ‘FABULOUS 5’: RAJNATH

New Delhi (ANI): Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that the Indian economy has now exited the ‘Fragile 5’ category to join the league of the “Fabulous 5” and over the past eight-and-a-half years with a size of USD 3.5 trillion the country has become the fifth largest global economy. Participating at industry body FICCI’s annual general meeting here, he said: “In nine years, the Indian economy has now come out of the Fragile 5 category to become Fabulous 5.” This bullish growth outlook for the Indian economy, Singh, said he believes is due to “procedural and structural” reforms introduced by the government led by PM Narendra Modi.

fence exports. The government has already taken a series of steps including simplifying the FDI norms which have been increased to 74% via automatic route and 100% via government route, he added.

‘WORKING TO INTRODUCE INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE IN ALL HOSPITALS’

RESERVES

UP FOR 5TH CONSECUTIVE WEEK

New Delhi: India’s foreign exchange reserves during the week that ended on December 9 rose by USD 2.91 billion to USD 564.07 billion, the RBI data showed. Notably, this is the fifth consecutive week of India’s rising foreign exchange reserves. During the week that ended December 2, the country’s forex reserves were at USD 561.16 billion, earlier data showed. According to RBI’s latest data, India’s foreign currency assets, which are the biggest component of the forex reserves, rose by USD 3.14 billion to USD 500.12 billion. ANI

TWITTER SUSPENDS MICROBLOGGING SITE KOO’S ACCOUNT

New Delhi: Twitter has suspended the account of Indian microblogging platform Koo. The Twitter handle @kooeminence was suspended, a development that came in the wake of Elon Musk-owned Twitter suspending the accounts of several prominent global journalists, including those from the New York Times and Washington Post. Taking to Twitter, Mayank Bidawatka, co-founder of the homegrown microblogging platform said, “I forgot. There’s more! - Banning Mastodon account. - Not allowing mastodon links saying it’s unsafe. — PTI

New Delhi (ANI): Before the end of 2024, road infrastructure will be equal to the standard of the USA, said Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari Addressing the 95th FICCI Annual convention here, the minister said that “We are making the World Standard Road infrastructure in the country and promising you that before the end of 24, our road infrastructure will be equal to the standard of the USA, American standards.”

Addressing the issue of logistics cost he said that it is an effort to take up to 9 per cent by the end of 2024.

“Our logistics cost is a big problem. Presently, it comes to 16%, but I am promising you that up to the end of 24, we will take it to the single digit, up to 9 per cent”, he added.

Talking about the con-

struction industry which consumes 40% of Global resources, the Minister said that we are trying to minimize the use of steel in construction work by adopting substitutes.

“We know that the construction industry not only contributes significantly to environmental pollution but also conserves 40% of Global materials & resources. We focus on reducing the cost of resources and improving the quality of construction”, said Gadkari.

TO CREATE MORE JOBS IN INDIA

z Talking about Electric mobility, Gadkari said India should be the leader in this sector. Electric mobility will be the most effective transport system by 2030

z Gadkari said, automobile industry is of Rs 7.5 lakh cr & we want to take it up to 15 lakh cr to create new jobs to make India one of the biggest automobile manufacturers in the world

New Delhi (PTI): Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday said the central government is working towards setting up a separate wing for integrative medicine, an approach that combines conventional medicine with complementary treatments, in all the medical colleges and hospitals.

Mandaviya, who delivered a keynote address at International Integrative Health and Wellbeing (IHW) Conference, 2022 organised by Heartfulness, said the government has established 1,50,000 health

First India Bureau

New Delhi: BGR.in (Broad Guidance & Ratings) organised the third edition of its annual Tech Excellence Awards that aims to highlight and honour the efforts of all the stakeholders from the industry and from the government that are helping in realising the dream of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

MoS for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar delivered the keynote address followed by the awards ceremony. This year, BGR Tech Excellence Awards felici-

of AtmaNirbhar Bharat through Digital Revolution’.

and wellness centres across platforms that promote meditation, yoga, and all aspects and activities pertaining to integrated health and wellbeing.

“In the coming days, we have started working on having a separate division for integrative medicine in all medical colleges or hospitals, and to have arrangements for research,” he said in a tweet.

Integrative medicine is the need of the hour, he stressed in another tweet. Noting that research should not be restricted to government laboratories alone, the union minister said the Centre wants to open research that recognises the spiritual dimension and encourage public private partnership.

JAPAN

New

SUBHRAKANT PANDA FORMALLY TAKES OVER AS FICCI PREZ

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs the 48th meeting of the GST Council via virtual mode, with the Finance Ministers of State and UTs and Senior officers from the Central government and states in New Delhi on Saturday.

—PHOTO

—PHOTO

Mirch Masala

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

L ast week, BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena introduced a private member’s bill in Par liament seeking a Uniform Civil Code. When it was time to vote, Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha stood up, told a fellow MP sitting with him that he had an important phone call, he had to go out and talk (even though jammers are installed in

LEADERS ON STAGE, SANS THE AUDIENCE IN BIHAR

House and thus, there is no phone netowrk within the House). Soon after Chadha left the house, AAP MP Sanjay Singh also got up to leave, and told his fellow MP sitting next to him, ‘Look, our party’s stand on this issue is neither in favour nor against, so I will not be able to vote, so I am also going out.’ So, finally the bill got 63 votes in favour 23 votes against it.

BJP protests against Pak min Bhutto over PM Modi remarks

Party workers raised slogans against neighbouring nation, burnt flags

First India Bureau

Pune/Mumbai/Nashik: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday staged a demonstration in Pune, Mumbai and Nashik cities against Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto for his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The political party termed his statement “highly shameful and derogatory”.

Ever since Akhilesh Prasad Singh, a Bhumihar leader from Bihar, has been made the new President of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, courtesy of Kharge, his spirits are soaring. On December 11, Akhilesh brought some tall Congress leaders from Bihar in a chartered flight from Delhi to Patna, where they were to perform a ‘mega show’ at the local Bapu Auditorium in Patna. Leaders like Meera Kumar, Tariq Anwar, Congress in-charge of Bihar Bhakta Charan Das had reached Patna by boarding this chartered flight of Singh. When these leaders reached the Bapu Auditorium, they were stunned to see that the stage was packed with a crowd of leaders, but there were only two to four people to listen to the speakers. Now it is no longer a matter of saying that Congress workers are missing in Bihar and only leaders have, somehow, survived.

RANI SAHIBA PRATIBHA SINGH PROPOSES, BJP DISPOSES

When the Congress won in Himachal Pradesh, Rani Sahiba i.e. Congress MP from Mandi, Pratibha Singh bluntly said that ‘this is the tribute of the people of Himachal Pradesh to Raja Virbhadra Singh.’ After this, Priyanka Gandhi, through Rajeev Shukla, conveyed a message to the victorious Congress MLAs that ‘even if any leader of the party calls them for a meeting at their house, they do not have to go.’ But still, 12 Congress MLAs went to Rani Sahiba’s house on her invitation, while Rani Sahiba expected that some 25 MLAs are definitely their own this time. After this, Pratibha, through Harsh Mahajan, who joined BJP, sent a message to the BJP top brass that ‘if BJP is ready to make her the Chief Minister, she can juggle more than 12 MLAs.’ But this proposal was rejected. PM Modi straight-forwardly declined as the PM did not want that ‘Operation Lotus’ should be splashed on such a big victory of Gujarat. Right now, Sahiba has been asked to wait till the right time comes, and it has to be seen whether Rani Sahiba will also prove to be ‘Eknath Shinde’ of Congress in the coming days.

Amit Shah was continuously receiving plaints from party unit in Madhya Pradesh that Jyotiraditya Scindia was running a parallel organization of party in state, alleging that he was repeatedly reaching Bhopal & Gwalior and taking meetings of his loyal ministers, MLAs & party workers and planning his future strategy with them. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan also had the same complaint that ‘no person in BJP can be bigger than the organisation, since only the state president has the right to call such meetings.’ He reprimanded them by calling them to ‘focus on their ministry instead of MP.’ Only after this there was hue & cry in the media about the chaos at Delhi airport and Jyotiraditya also had to shift his immediate focus towards that.

Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore every month for their treatment.

Stalin has fixed his son Udhayanidhi Stalin as his successor, although no formal announcement has been made in this regard, but Udhayanidhi has been made a Cabinet Minister. This preparation is for the 2024 elections. Although Stalin’s father Karunanidhi declared himself an atheist, but Stalin’s views are slightly different from his father’s. He does not support Brahmanism and Manuism, but he has deep faith in God. Before every auspicious work, he goes to Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple to offer prayers. He also follows the advice of a special astrologer, and on the advice of that astrologer, he has decided his successor.

BJP’s state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, several party MLAs and other leaders took part in the protest at Pune’s Tilak Chowk in the morning. They burnt Pakistan’s flags and also raised anti-Pakistan slogans.

“We will not tolerate any statement against our prime minister. PM Narendra Modi is the one who is striving hard to save our Hindu religion, and Pakistan is unable to see it. That is why they are making such statements. In future, we will not tolerate such remarks from Pakistan,” said Bawankule.

Bandh in Thane as BJP calls for Andhare’s resignation

First India Bureau

Thane: Commercial establishments in Thane city and neighbouring Kalyan, Dombivali townships remained shut on Saturday in response to the bandh call given by the Warkari community to protest against the alleged objectionable remarks about saints and Hindu deities made by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has also criticized Shiv Sena over the same. In a recent tweet, Rane said, “Despite the massive opposition of the Andhra women of Maharashtra, even after

the evidence of the Andhras raving about Hindu deities and great saints, Uddhav Thackeray is not asking for simple suspension or resignation. This is what Thackeray’s silence means. Agreed!”

On her resignation, Andhare said, “For me, my party is important.

If I want to work for the party, I can do it from anywhere. I am ready to resign if the party orders.”

THE CONTENTION

protest.

Mumbai. In Nashik, party workers gathered for a demonstration in Ravivar Karanja area.

Among those who took part were MP Anil Bonde, city unit chief Girish Palve, and MLA Devyani Pharande.

The Pakistani foreign minister made objectionable remarks against PM Modi and slammed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) after India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting the neighbouring country’s support to various terror groups and described the country as the “epicentre of terrorism”.

PFI crackdown: ATS gets 30-day extension to file charge sheet

Mumbai (PTI): A special court on Saturday granted a 30-day extension to the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) to file a charge sheet in connection with the arrest of five members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) for alleged unlawful activities and waging war against the country.

The five were among the 20 persons held from across state by the ATS as part of nationwide multi-agency raids helmed by the National Investigation Agency in September. The probe agency had approached the special court seeking an extension of 90

days to file the charge sheet claiming the investigation was still under progress. However, Judge AM Patil granted the probe agency 30 days to file the charge sheet.

Over 100 functionaries of the radical Islamic outfit PFI and its af-

filiate groups were held in raids across several states in September for allegedly indulging in unlawful activities, including waging war against nation. Subsequently, Central government imposed a ban on the PFI.

Aam Aadmi Party’s concerns about Punjab have increased. The party itself has a tradition of conducting surveys from time to time in the states it rules. A recent opinion poll by a recognized agency of the party has revealed that “if the Lok Sabha elections are held today, AAP will be able to win only 4 out of 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab.” The reason for it is that Akali Dal is doing ‘Panthic Politics’ on ground level in the state, which is a matter of concern. The Congress is still in disarray there.

Captain Amarinder SIngh joining BJP with all his ‘might’ has increased BJP’s support base in the state and Hindu vote is largely going away from Congress and siding with the BJP. This is also one of the biggest concerns for AAP.

Few days back, Chandrashekhar Rao was in New Delhi, where he inaugurated the party office of his newly named party ‘Bharat Rashtra Samithi’. The next day, he invited more than 1,500 people for dinner, including MPs, MLAs, Ministers and many office bearers of his party, where Rao expressed his desire that he wishes to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. At the same time, Rao also emphasised that unlike Nitish Kumar, ‘no strong front can be formed against the ruling BJP unless the Congress is included in it’.

‘JUSTICE’ SPEAKS...

‘Trust us to be guardians of liberties’

the district judiciary, the high court, or the Supreme Court, “because it is in us that the confidence of the citizens, in the due process of law and the protection of liberty, rests”.

SC INTERVENES

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Terming the judiciary “guardians of liberties”, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Saturday said the confidence of citizens in the due process of law and the protection of liberty rests with it.

The CJI was delivering the Ashok H Desai

memorial lecture at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai. The event was organized by the Bombay Bar Association.

Addressing the gathering, he emphasized that through the lives of the members of the

bar, who fearlessly espouse those causes, “the flame of liberty burns bright even today”. The CJI further said there is no case which is “small enough, or big enough” for every court in the nation, be it

Talking about the subject of the lecture, the chief justice said it is true that both law and morality play a vital role in channelling our behaviour.

“As all of you might well be aware, the law is a definite body of rules enacted and enforced by the state. The legal rules regulate human conduct by written rules, penalties and officials to interpret the laws,” he said.

BJP state Women’s Wing Head Chitra Wagh, former Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol also took part in the

BJP leader and state minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha was also seen protesting against Bhutto’s remarks in

Chief

BJP leaders stage a protest against Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over his statement on PM Narendra Modi at Mantralaya in Mumbai on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI Demonstrators burn pictures of Pakistan’s flag and Bhutto. —PHOTO BY ANI

We will not tolerate any statement against our prime minister. PM Narendra Modi is the one who is striving hard to save our Hindu religion, and Pakistan is unable to see it. That is why they are making such statements. In future, we will not tolerate such remarks from Pakistan.

—Chandrashekhar

Bawankule, Maharashtra BJP unit chief

The Pakistani foreign minister made objectionable remarks against PM Modi and slammed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) after India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting the neighbouring country’s support to various terror groups and described the country as the “epicentre of terrorism”.

Over 100 functionaries of the radical Islamic outfit PFI and affiliate groups were held in raids across nation in September. —FILE PHOTO

The author is a journalist and political commentator and views expressed are his personal

Two prominent leaders of South India i.e. DMK Chief MK Stalin and Janata Dal Secular Chief HD Kumaraswamy of Karnataka are busy preparing the blueprint of their future politics. Sources say that the health of both these leaders is not too good. It is also being heard that they have to go to Mount

SUPREME ADVICE TO JYOTIRADITYA SCINDIA IS THE AAM AADMI PARTY WORRIED ABOUT PUNJAB?

MK

STALIN’s HEALTH IS BAD

AAP PLAYS ‘SAFE’ IN UNIFORM CIVIL CODE VOTING

FIFA WORLD CUP 2022

FIFA FEVER

1978 and 1986 champions. Who will it be today?

teammates

Every four years the fans wait eagerly, patiently, and hopefully, while the players slog, work out, play hard, practice, practice, and practice some more….. and here we are waiting for the whistle to blow for the 2022 FIFA World Cup final game between Argentina and the defending champion France.

These two teams with many experienced, dedicated, quick footed professional players have clashed only three times, in 1930 and 1978 Argentina beat France in group matches, and in 2018 were beaten by France in the ‘round of 16’. France has won the coveted FIFA WC trophy in 1998 and 2018, while Argentina were the

As the hours drag by, I am mulling over a few things like- is this game today between two countries or is it Messi vs. Mbappe? Will the gentle football legend Messi achieve the one record he lacks? Is this really his last World cup? Who is going to get the Golden Boot? Who will win the Golden Ball award? We will just have to wait and watch… Lionel Messi, the Argentinian hero, has left an indelible mark and is regarded as one of the greatest football (soccer) players all times. At 35, Messi holds the record of playing in 5 world cups, and scoring in his teens, 20’s and 30’s. In this World Cup, he has scored 5 goals and assisted or created chances for three more.

Kylian Mbappe, the talented French scorer, is just 23 years old. He is the highest paid football player earning 9.09 crores/year. Like Messi he is known for his dribbling, speed, and finishing touch. Both of them are vying for the Golden boot and Golden Ball awards. Both are the

THE FIFA WORLD CUP IS IN FULL SWING. ULTIMATELY, HOLDERS FRANCE AND ARGENTINA ADVANCED TO THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL, WHICH WILL BE HELD TODAY AT LUSAIL STADIUM IN LUSAIL, QATAR, WITH KICKOFF AT 8.30 P.M. IST. WITH ALL EYES ON ARGENTINA MAESTRO LIONEL MESSI AND FRANCE’S MBAPPE, CITY FIRST BRINGS TO YOU AN INSIGHT OF THE MAGNIFICENT MATCH!

Kylian Mbappé

Lionel Messi

and play for the Paris Saint-Germain club. But as we all know, individual players alone can not win games and these two teams share this credit with their managers both talented professional footballers Didier C. Deschamps for France and Lionel Scaloni who coaches Argentina.

MEENA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

B-TOWN CELEBS IN QATAR Bollywood will make its presence at the FIFA World Cup 2022 with dancer Nora Fatehi taking part in the closing ceremony of FIFA World Cup 2022 and superstar Deepika Padukone is expected to unveil the FIFA World Cup trophy at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar ahead of the final on Sunday. It is a huge honour for Indian celebs. Shah Rukh Khan will be attending the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022 from the studios of Jio Cinemas. The actor will be present during the broadcast of the game, while he will not be in Qatar.

It is hard to make people understand that the sun will rise tomorrow, whether you win or lose. —Lionel Scaloni

FACE OF THE DAY!

Aries

MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

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

Gemini

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

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

Leo

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

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

Libra

SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 22

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

Sagittarius

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22

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

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

Aquarius

JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19

Balancing act between home and office will remain most smooth for working women. You succeed in putting an ambitious project on the tracks and cross all hurdles in making it a success. Love beckons and promises to give immense joy and fulfillment. Homemakers can exceed budget.

Taurus

APRIL 21 - MAY 20

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

Cancer

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

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

Virgo

AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23

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

Scorpio

OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 22

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

Capricorn

DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20

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

Pisces

FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20

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

REKHA KUMAR rekhakumar@protonmail.com The writer is

Love is comparable to a diamond, a priceless gem with many facets. It is beautiful any way we look at it. Like a diamond with numerous reflecting surfaces, love has many aspects, all good and desirable. It has been said, “Youth is for an hour, beauty is a flower but love is the jewel that wins the heart.”

Suspicion and mistrust result in jealousy. It is a very harmful emotion that can ruin the best of relationships. A suspicious husband sees in his wife what is not there and fails to see what she actually has.

A husband said, “I was under a lot of financial stress due to which I didn’t really communicate with my wife. She came under a lot of pressure. My time- consuming job caused us to clash in jealousy.”

A wife once expressed, “my husband would show jealous reactions whenever I received attention from male colleagues or performed better than him.”

Jealousy can be defined as an emotion that causes an individual to suspect another person without cause, or resent the attention others receive, feeling that he/she alone is entitled to it. This harmful emotion can ruin the best of relationships.

Did a person ever get so enraged at his hand that he used a hammer to beat it or so angry at his neck that he choked himself? Rather, one readily accommodates one’s own body’s weaknesses and peculiarities. Such accommodation works well with the marriage partner too.

One partner may be insensitive to feelings of jealousy arising in the other. A wife can be jealous because of the attention the husband gives to someone of the opposite sex. Or a wife may shower so much attention on her child or a relative that the husband feels neglected, even resentful. He may show affection to the child but lessen his

Marital Blues: JEALOUSY

about feelings builds confidence and mutual understanding.

A husband and wife need to trust one another rather than be envious. Being suspicious and making mountains out of mole hills creates friction. Avoiding situations that give rise to jealousy, and giving the other person benefit of doubt, keeps love flourishing and comforts the heart.

attention towards his wife. Embarrassed over such feelings, both may remain quiet and show frustration in other negative ways. A high price is paid when both partners lose their balance.

Jealousy that is induced by insecurity and fed by imagination makes partners overly possessive. They fear that an outsider will win the affections of their loved one by luring him/her. This brings anger, anxiety and hatred that leads to violence and physical abuse. The jealous partner may also resort to financial abuse and verbal bullying to alleviate or hide feelings.

Questions one can ask oneself, do I nurture jealousy? Am I quarrelsome? Do I have an aggressive or fighting attitude? Jealousy is revealed as an inordinate desire to glorify oneself and one’s opinions. Such persons do not acknowledge that others can have intelligence equal or superior to them, and are worthy of due credit.

Generally, a husband expresses, “why aren’t you more like me? Why don’t you see things my way or do them as I would?” But peace can be maintained when one readily accepts the other person with his / her weaknesses.

When one disagrees with someone, naturally, a person controls one’s emotions and uses appropriate language. If a partner resorts to violence, screaming or throwing things, then one is behaving like a child. So, if the other partner is regularly defending oneself against unreasonable or accusatory questions, that signals the need to sort out the relationship.

Rather than letting jealousy build up like a head of steam in a boiler until there is a violent explosion, it is better to discuss one’s feelings quietly and not accusingly. Communicating calmly and being honest

Jealousy turns marriage into an unpleasant prison, but loving attention, consideration and trust brings security.

Jealously of one toward his / her partner is good if it is a zeal for the partner’s benefit and well-being. But improper jealousy ruins the marriage.

Both partners desire to be treated with dignity and respect. Each appreciates when the other is an active listener and cares about each others’ feelings. But still when hurt, one can say, “I’m going to do to him / her what he or she did to me.” For a relationship to continue and thrive, one needs to put into it what one hopes to get out of it!

PAULOMI, Model

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

a personal development skills facilitator

DEEPIKA PADUKONE HEADS TO QATAR

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas are one of the most loved couples in town. The duo welcomed their first baby girl earlier this year via sur rogacy. Since her arrival, Priyanka has been teasing fans with cute glimpses of her daughter. The couple is yet to reveal her face. Priyanka took to social media on Friday morning and dropped yet another adorable picture with her baby girl. The picture also featured Nick. The trio was seen having a fun family time in Los Angeles.

In the picture, Nick and Priyanka are seen having a gala time with their little one. They are seen sport ing winter clothes as they are out and about in the city. Priyanka has put a white heart emoji on Malti Marie’s face. In her caption, the new mommy revealed that they visited a zoo recently. She wrote, “Family #zoo #familyday #love.” The trio is seen posing with a jellyfish in the backdrop.

few days ago, Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal celebrated their first wedding anniversary. The couple enjoyed a short getaway amidst the mountains, and also shared a few glimpses from their vacay. Now, days after their anniversary, Vicky and Katrina were spotted at the Mumbai airport once again as they jetted off to an undisclosed location. This morning, Vicky and Katrina were spotted at the airport in casual outfits, and we wonder if they are headed

for yet another vacation.

The paparazzi clicked Vicky and Katrina at the Mumbai airport this morn ing, and the lovebirds were seen in comfy tracksuits. Katrina was all smiles for the paparazzi as she made her way to the en trance gate with Vicky.

Both Vicky and Katrina waved and smiled at the pa parazzi before entering the airport.

Deepika Padukone was spotted by the paparazzi in the wee hours of Saturday. She was clicked at the Mumbai airport as she made her way to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup 2022 finale. The actress will unveil the FIFA World Cup trophy during the finals, and it is a rare honour for any Indian or International actor in the history of FIFA. Ranveer Singh was seen dropping his ladylove at the Mumbai airport and as Deepika Padukone made her way to the entrance gate of the airport, she was seen interacting politely with the paparazzi. Deepika was seen in a comfy yet chic airport outfit. She opted for a beige drawstring hooded windbreaker over a white top, and matching beige pants. The actress she flashed her million-dollar smile and interacted with the paparazzi.

image

he Govinda Naam Mera actress chose a lovely monotone corset dress. The splash of pink is what kicked our interest in us to take notes of its other features. It’s the look of a stretchjersey fabric that brings the ruched effect into the lime light. The sleeves are a single feature that makes it look very winter-ish. You could use a jacket for an extra layer of warmth. It has a sweetheart and a plunging neck line and a fabulous body-hugging fit which gives it a cent per cent-modish look we could all use for a very special date night look as well. Kiara’s dress which cost ap proximately Rs. 1,00,000 was styled with silver hoop ear rings and em bellished anklestrap stilettos. The Bollywood actress sported a sleek and knotted bun hairdo. Her makeup had a strong dose of highlighter, mascara, kohl, and glossy lipstick.

he Jeda Nasha dancer who recently drove the crowd insane with her outstanding performance at Qatar’s FIFA Fanfest 2022 stage is off to the same country as the finale of the football tourna-

also shows the wide shoulder, two pockets, notched lapels, and black chain-link print. If you remember, this pattern is also translated into accessories as showcased by celebrities. Nora rocked this as a top layer over a sheer mostly mesh-like dress.

Ananya Panday headed to Qatar recently to catch the semi-final match of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Ananya's rumoured boyfriend and actor Aditya Roy Kapur had also accompanied them. Just a while back now, Ananya along with Aditya returned from Qatar to Mumbai after watching the FIFA World Cup 2022. The rumoured lovebirds were all smiles as they twinned in beige outfits.

Deepika Padukone

Nora Fatehi

Nora’s airport look

Kiara Advani

Ananya Panday Katrina Kaif

Kaushal with wife Katrina Kaif

Priyanka Chopra

Her

Deepika in beige drawstring hooded windbreaker

ACTOR SANTOSH SHUKLA IS BACK WITH A BANG!

ntertainment is a field where talent plays an important role in taking you to places. Once you have that, success comes along gradually. While the debate of deserving and undeserving continues for another upcoming year, Santosh Shukla is already enjoying a success that he built from scratch. After dazzling on screen in films like Jai Ho and Bachchan Pandey where he held his ground in front of powerhouses like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, Santosh is gearing up some interesting back-to-back releases in the upcoming year.

The actor sat down with City First to talk about his short film Gulabi Revdi and sev-

eral other projects. While he has an exciting project lined up with producer Sajid Nadiadwala, Santosh laughed off the topic in hesitation as he yet cannot disclose the details. “It is a big film and a big production. So, we will have to respect the boundaries. I yet cannot disclose anything but I can surely talk about my upcoming film, Gulabi Revdi.”

While Santosh has always had a strong screen presence, this was the first time the audience was going to see him play the main lead in a film. Revealing details about the

project, Santosh said, “I am playing the main character of Nitya Shukla. Gulabi Revdi is a long-shot film of 35 minutes. We extensively shot it in Lucknow as the story is based in Lucknow. It is about a Lucknowi family who has the ancestral business of making and selling revdi. Nitya belongs to the third generation of revdi makers and the film revolves around his life. It talks about Lucknow’s culture and the sweetness of revdi.”

Explaining how he came across the project, the actor shared, “Deepak Srivastava, who directed the film is an old

friend of mine. He has directed two Eros projects as well. He once called me and said that he heard a script written by Sujit Kumar Gupta and thought of me. He knew that I am a native of Lucknow. I heard the story and found it very interesting. I felt that it is a story that should come out in the world. I have two actresses along with me namely Lekha Prajapati and the second is Nazia Hussein. Nazia is the niece of Sanjay Dutt. There are also several actors from the Lucknow theatre along with us and I am grateful they could be a part of this project with me.”

Talking about another project Santosh said, “Salman Bhai is a dear friend of mine. He used to always highly praise me and I always thought it was because he has a huge heart. But now I know, with that huge heart, he also has a great vision for the future. So he must have said those things because he found something in me. I am just glad I got to work with him yet again.”

W

Friday. It was Kiara’s gesture that caught the attention. Kiara reposted the film’s teaser on her Instagram stories and wrote, “OutstandingLooking Forward,”

Bright Outdoor Media Limited Team has successfully filed a Draft Prospectus (DRHP) with the BOMBAY STOCK EXCHANGE Limited at the BSE SME platform.

While expressing his excitement, Yogesh Lakhani (CMD) of Bright Outdoor Media Limited stated, “It is remarkable for the first time in India of Outdoor Media Co. Thanks to the almighty, my parents, team, family and friends, clients & all the intermediaries who helped us to reach here. Request you to keep showering your blessings and good wishes as you have been. Since 1980 till date, the journey of Bright Outdoor Media Limited is truly inspirational and it’s like dream come true. Will simply say it’s an honour to start from zero till the stage as the hero.”

MWIFF launches ‘Behijaab’ music video

Ameesha Patel, has been demonstrating via her beautiful photos that age is nothing to her. She is obviously aged like a great wine. Ameesha is now making waves with her lovely holiday bikini photos. She shared a sexy video of herself flaunting her curves.

She released a video of herself walking and posing for the camera on her Instagram account. She

looked elegant in her two-piece outfit and chic sunglasses. She posed in front of stun ning scenery while showing off her cleavage and breasts. Reactions to her swimsuit images on the internet were con flicting. While some on line users teased and age-shamed Patel, her supporters were charmed by her dar ing appear ance.

Moonwhite Films International Film Fest - MWFIFF, Presented by SBI Bank, in Association With Anup Jalota received more than 50 films this year. Screening of several films and the beautiful music video ‘Behijaab’ sung by Padmashri Anup Jalota and Koyel Tripathi and directed by Devashish Sargam (Raj) was released under T-Series Music Label.

The founder and director of the festival, Devashish Sargam (Raj) said that the fifth season of our International film festival MWFIFF has featured the best films from many countries. This time the competition is going to be bigger. Our jury members include Shri Anup Jalota, Yogesh Lakhani of Bright Outdoor Media Ltd, Actor Arun Govil, Jaspinder Narula, Gufi Paintal and

renowned astrologer Pandit Suvshit Raj.

Devashish said to the media that the Title song ‘Behijaab’ under the genre Ghazal was screened at the 5th MWFIFF on the big screen at Gold Cinema, and received a huge positive response from the audience, filmmakers

including the media. He also added that everyone liked it and praised my video direction. Anup Jalota and Koyal Tripathi themselves are seen in the video.

He added, “The industry has seen tough times but we all need to continue working and doing our

good work. This year saw some interesting short films from the US and many other countries including India. Interestingly, short films are opening up avenues for many young and talented as well as senior actors, who can do justice to interesting subjects.”

A live musical concert was organised at Albert Hall, Jaipur to mark 100 days of RaGa’s Bharat Jodo Yatra on Friday. Playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan & winner of India’s Got Talent Season 9 Divyansh Kacholia gave a spectacular performance.

—PHOTOS BY SUNIL SHARMA

Ameesha’s

KIARA SUPPORTS SIDHARTH

E

PROUD MOMENT!

Patel Her post... (L-R) Suharssh Raj, Devashish Sargam, Shipra Raj and Suvashit Raj (L-R) Pandit Suvashit Raj, Devashish Sargam, Koyal

Tripathi and Sunil Pal with others

Sunidhi Chauhan and Divyansh Kacholia during the performance at Albert Hall, Jaipur