First India-Mumbai Edition-23rd December 2022

CHARLES SOBHRAJ’S RELEASE DELAYED BY A DAY

As India steps up Covid ‘Shield’...

‘CONCERNED’ PM TAKES A KNOW-HOW

APPROVE COVOVAX AS BOOSTER FOR ADULTS: SII TO DCGI

The SII has sought the DCGI’s approval for market authorisation of its Covid-19 vaccineCovovax as a booster dose for those aged 18 years who have been jabbed with 2 doses of Covishield or Covaxin. It is indigenous version of vaccine by Novovax Inc and made under SII.

Moni Sharma

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired high-level meeting in the backdrop of spike in cases in some countries on Thursday to assess the Covid-19 situation in the country, preparedness of health infrastructure and emergence of variants and their public health implications and cautioned against complacency. Advising strict vigil, he said Covid not

Karnataka to take ‘legal action’ against Maha leaders

over yet and directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at the international airports. The nasal vaccine has got a go-ahead in meeting as India is stepping up the vaccination drive. He advised states to audit COVIDspecific facilities to ensure the operational readiness of hospital infrastructure, including oxygen cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators & human resources. P6

Beijing:

First India Bureau

Belagavi: Belagavi: Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution over the border issue with Maharashtra stating that legal action will be taken against any minister of Maharashtra if they continue to make statements over the issue.

The legislators condemned the Maharastra government’s acts and reactions made by ministers especially, Shiv Sena (Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut. The move by the State Assembly has come at a time of heightened tension between Maharashtra and Karnataka over decades-old border conflict and the issue is also listed in the Supreme Court.

Several leaders of the Opposition have made ‘strong’ statements over the issue and accused the Maharashtra government of not responding strongly to Karnataka.

case rate rise to 3.7 million in January and 4.2 million till March, according to British scientific information and analytics company Airfinity.

‘Shamelessness’ gets Jayant suspended

Sandeep Shukla Nagpur. On Thursday, opposition leader Jayant Patil used un-parliamentary words against Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. Due to this, CM Eknath Shinde present in the House demanded the Jayant Patil’s suspension. Later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil proposed his suspension, which was approved by the majority of the House. Now, Jayant Patil will not be able to enter the Vidhan Bhavans of Nagpur and Mumbai during the suspension period. On this, the opposition staged a walkout from the House in protest against Patil’s suspension. Prior to the suspension, the house even adjourned for 10 minutes.

I regret what happened, but this regret does not mean to withdraw the suspension. If some mistake is made, then one should move forward by expressing regret on it. Whatever happened in the House should not have happened. A few words accidentally slip out of the mouth.— Ajit Pawar

A matter (alian’s death probe) was raised in the House, which was not listed. After that 14 members of the ruling party were given a chance to speak. We were demanding that Bhaskar Jadhav, MLA of Thackeray faction, be allowed to keep his point. Tht is when I said that you should not do such shamelessness…. This meant giving equal opportunities to the ruling and the opposition. After this I was suspended, this is an attempt to suppress the voice of the opposition. — Jayant Patil

They have now come up with a new idea. They wrote a letter to me and said Covid-19 is coming so stop “Bharat Jodo Yatra”. They are coming up with excuses to stop the yatra. Wear masks, Covid is spreading, these are all excuses.

States to create awareness about wearing the face masks and administer precaution doses; especially in view of upcoming festivals & new year celebrations. Centre to test random 2% of int’l travellers for Covid-19 amid new variant scare.

Mandaviya, Union Minister

Shinde scores ‘victory’ as High Court dismisses petition

Sandeep Shukla

Mumbai: The Nagpur bench of Mumbai High Court has given relief to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the NIT land allotment case of about Rs 100 crore in Nagpur. The Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress had

demanded Shinde’s resignation alleging that the allotment was rather a scam. Maharashtra’s Urban Development Department told the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court that the order to transfer the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) plot to a private person has been cancelled. The

land has again been made available to the slum dwellers. The department admitted that its officials did not inform the Chief Minister about this PIL and was an unintentional mistake. Holding that the dispute has been resolved, the High Court dismissed the petition.

SHINDE, FADNAVIS SHOULD RESIGN, DEMANDS OPPOSITION

Nagpur: Days after the Opposition demanded resignation of CM Eknath Shinde in the NIT land allotment case, the opposition, on Thursday, now made a new demand but this time, it not only asked for CM Eknath Shinde’s resignation, but also sought resignation of deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis as well. The opposition has targetted Fadnavis over the Rashmi Shukla case as she was given a clean chit by the government. While interacting with the media on Thursday, Congress state president Nana Patole has demanded that both Chief Shinde and Fadnvais

should resign.

Patole said that phone tapping is the biggest crime, but phones of journalists, politicians, and officials were tapped. “Was phone tapping mandated? Rashmi Shukla received backlash and was found guilty, while government gave her a clean chit. Fadnavis must resign in the matter. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is also guilty,” he said. Meanwhile, Leader of the opposition in the state assembly - Ajit Pawar - also interacted with the media on this occasion and said, “When Devendra Fadnavis was Chief Minister, he allowed the official of his

home department Rashmi Shukla to tap phones and she tapped the phones of people from different parties. In the investigation, phone tapping was proved. An inquiry was conducted, and a case was registered. As Uddhav Thackeray’s government went and Shinde’s government came, the investigation was stopped, and a clean chit was given,” said Pawar.

Pawar added, “This case went to court. We raised the question on it in the Legislative Assembly, but we were not allowed to speak. We demand to speak but are not given a chance.

MAJOR HAPPENINGS

l Random testing of international passengers from Dec 24, airlines to select flyers for screening

l Hours after suspension due to Covid-19, Jan Aakrosh Yatra in Rajasthan to continue P2

l IMA and other health experts appeal for Covid appropriate behaviour with immediate effect

Maha Council adjourned multiple times, Lokpal bill tabled in House

First India Bureau

Nagpur: The Maharashtra Legislative Council witnessed multiple adjournments on Thursday as ruling BJP legislators created ruckus to demand setting up of SIT to probe the death of Disha Salian, the former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

BJP leaders demanded a probe into Salian’s death as they apparently targeted MLA Aaditya

Thackeray.

Amid uproar and ruckus, the house was adjourned several times, once for thirty minutes as well and the BJP leaders continued their sloganeering even after the house resumed. Meanwhile, state Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai tabled Lokayukta Bill on the lines of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, which aims to bring the chief minister as well as other ministers under its ambit.

BMC posts details of decisions taken by Chahal as admin

Mumbai: BMC on Wednesday posted Iqbal

The link shared by BMC’s showed a month-wise list of all the decisions taken by Chahal, pertaining to the civic body’s operations.

The list contained over 400 subjects related to civic and infrastructure works as well as internal activities of the 24 wards taken up for clearance by Chahal and shows that several subjects were not cleared — based on technical grounds — and referred back to the departments concerned.

Chahal took over as the state-appointed administrator from March

Link shared by BMC’s showed a month-wise list of all the decisions taken by Chahal*, pertaining to the c i v i c body’s operations.

8, after the body of elected representatives got dissolved due to the de-

ferment of BMC elections. Since then, Chahal has been the sole showrunner in the civic body. Meanwhile, 94 corporators wrote to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde last week, mentioning that there was “no transparency in BMC administration”.

Earlier, clearance for administrative decisions would usually go to various statutory committees such as

standing committee, improvement committee etc. But now, as these committees are redundant with the absence of elected corporators, the decision on approving or rejecting the proposals are taken up by the civic chief. Several decisions taken by Chahal include the beautification work in Mumbai, projects related to sewage operation, waste management, road

work, and agendas related to maintenance and construction of bridges and stormwater drains across all 24 wards in the city. “The list of decisions taken by the administrator has been in the portal for some time now. All the decisions were uploaded on a fortnightly or monthly basis for transparency… to citizens and elected representatives,” said an official.

Singh Chahal so far as civic body’s ad-

GOVT - OPPOSITION AT LOGGERHEADS

SIT PROBE DEMAND IN DISHA SALIAN DEATH

Opposition members walked out of the house in protest

Nagpur: Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane on Thursday sought a “narco test” on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray in connection with the deaths of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Salian based on the allegations levelled by Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale of the Eknath Shinde faction. Questioning why Thackeray’s name cropped up every time the deaths of Rajput and the latter’s former manager Disha Salian were discussed, Rane said the allegations of Shewale must be taken seriously as he was close to the Thackeray family for a long time.

RANE SEEKS ‘NARCO TEST’ ON AADITYA

The accused in the Shraddha Walkar murder case, Aaftab Amin Poonawala withdrew his bail plea on Thursday applied erroneously at the New Delhi Saket court.

New Delhi: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) of Defence Ministry on Thursday accorded approval for Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 24 Capital Acquisition Proposals. It includes 6 for IA, 6 for IAF, 10 for IN and 2 for ICG for value of `84,328 crore.

Modi urges people to follow the Covid-appropriate behaviour & asks States to audit medical facilities

No order has been issued by the Central government to curb the incoming flights from China: Sources

In a big move, Prime Minister gives a go-ahead to the Bharat Biotech’s Nasal Covid-19 vaccination

A MEGA SURGE! CHINA IS LIKELY SEEING 1 MILLION COVID CASES, 5,000 DEATHS/DAY

China is most likely experiencing a whopping 1 million Covid infections and 5,000 virus-related deaths every day as the country of 1.4 billion people is experiencing the worst outbreak the world has ever seen, according to a new analysis. This current Covid wave may see the country’s daily

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a high-level meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in India, via VC, in New Delhi on Thursday. Union Ministers Amit Shah, Mansukh Mandaviya, Jyotiraditya Scindia alongwith NITI Aayog CEO Parameswaran Iyer and other health & medical experts are also present here.

—Rahul Gandhi, Congress Leader

—Mansukh

Kathmandu: Charles Sobhraj, 78, will spend one more day in Nepal’s prison as the immigration authorities on Thursday expressed their inability to arrange accommodation for the notorious serial killer who is expected to be deported after his release.

OPPN STAGES WALKOUT OVER IPS RASHMI SHUKLA CASE

Allege they were not allowed to discuss issue in the House during Question Hour

THE CASE

Nagpur: A day after court directed Pune police to conduct further investigation into IPS officer Rashmi Shukla phone-tapping case, opposition members staged a walkout from the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday after claiming they were not being allowed to discuss the matter in the House.

As the House proceedings began, Congress leader Nana Patole raised the issue saying he was one of the leaders whose phone was allegedly tapped.

Notably, the Pune court cited lack of evidence as reason for further probe after police filed a closure report on Wednesday.

A case was regis -

tered against Shukla at Bundgarden police station in Pune in February 2022 under Section 26 of the Indian Telegraph Act when the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-

Congress government was in power in Maharashtra.

Incidentally, Section 26 of the Telegraph Act deals with “unlawful interception of messages”.

Another case was registered against her by the Colaba police in Mumbai.

By asking about the need to file a closure report, Patole sought to target Deputy Chief

Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds charge of the state Home Department. He claimed the matter is such that infringes on his right as the member of the House.

Patole also sought a discussion over the matter. Speaker Rahul Narwekar said Patole had given a notice for the discussion after the deadline and he could raise the issue with the Privilege Committee of the House.

But, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said the probe into the Rashmi Shukla case had been stopped when the phones of several leaders including those from the opposition were tapped, which was in violation of the Indian Telegraph Act.

Narwekar, however, said the Question Hour was in progress while the opposition insisted on a discussion in the phone tapping case.

The opposition members then walked out in protest.

Sule, Raut slam Shewale over Aaditya allegations

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

MP Supriya Sule on Thursday blasted Eknath Shinde faction

MP Rahul Shewale in the Lok Sabha over his allegations against Shiv Sena –Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Aaditya Thackeray.

During Wednesday’s Winter Session at the Parliament, Shewale had claimed that Rhea Chakraborty, who was late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s girlfriend at the time, received 44 calls from Aaditya Thackeray’s phone. According to the MP, his name was in her contact list as ‘AU’.

While criticizing the Shinde faction and Shewale, Sule said, “Maharashtra politics has become dirty. People like us will never say anything about something like this. It is unfortunate that this is

happening even with Amit Shah (union home minister) is taking a supportive role.”

On the Karnataka Chief Minister Bavasaraj Bommai’s words on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, she said, “What the Chief Minister of Karnataka is doing is an insult, not only to Maharashtra, but also to Shah’s words. Amit Shah is acting sensitively, but I really do not have an answer as to why the Karnataka CM is constantly speaking against Amit Shah.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) lead-

er Sanjay Raut also roasted Shewale. “A man who himself has been accused of rape and molestation and till yesterday was eating from Shiv Sena’s plate, has levelled such allegations against Aaditya Thackeray. That means it is clear how low they have fallen, how desperate they are. The allegations leveled by Rahul Shewale are despicable.

The Sushant Singh Rajput case was raised by the then opposition party, when we were in power, and it ultimately backfired on them,” said Raut.

Gorhe asks state to set up SIT to probe MP rape allegations

Nagpur (PTI): Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe on Thursday asked the state government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe rape allegations against Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale after the matter was raised in the House by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLCs Anil Parab and Manisha Kayande.

Parab said the Mumbai South Central MP, who is with the Eknath Shinde faction, had allegedly raped a woman and, therefore, an SIT must be constituted to probe the matter. Kayande claimed the case was not registered by Mumbai police, adding the victim, who stays in

Dubai, wants to come to the metropolis and must be provided protection.

Kayande also submitted a memorandum in connection with the allegations to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio as well. The allegations against Shewale

led to the treasury benches shouting slogans, which resulted in Gorhe adjourning the Council for 30 minutes. After the Council reconvened, Gorhe said she was directing the Eknath Shinde government to set up an SIT to investigate the allegations.

‘Want probe into ‘AU’ calls to actress Rhea Chakraborty’

Nagpur (PTI): Members of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra on Thursday demanded an inquiry into Lok Sabha member Rahul Shewale’s claim of several phone calls from a person with ‘AU’ initials to actress Rhea Chakraborty, the girlfriend of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. They also staged a demonstration in the legislature complex on the day.

Shewale, who belongs to the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, had on Wednesday flagged in the Lok Sabha the issue of alleged suicide of Rajput and asked about

the status of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) inquiry into his death.

Legislator Pratap Sarnaik, also part of the Shinde camp, on Thursday said Shewale had claimed there were 44 phone calls from ‘AU’ to Chakraborty.

Members of the Bharatiya Janata

BJP MLA complains of respiratory issues

Nagpur (PTI): Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Babanrao Pachpute complained of respiratory problem in the Maharashtra legislature complex in Nagpur on Thursday. He was administered preliminary treatment at a primary health centre located on the premises, and later referred to a hospital.

A medical officer at the health centre at the Vidhan Bhavan who attended to Pachpute said that it primarily seemed to be an “acute asthmatic attack”.

The legislator, who is in his late 60s, was

Babanrao Pachpute

brought to the health centre at around 12.30 pm after he complained of the respiratory problem, he said.

The legislator was given emergency treatment and after he settled, was referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Nagpur, the medical officer said.

Party (BJP) and the Shinde faction staged a demonstration in the Vidhan Bhavan complex on Thursday while holding banners which read: “AU kaun hain” (who is AU?).

Sarnaik demanded an inquiry into the allegations raised by Shewale and to find out who was ‘AU’.

SIT probe into Disha Salian case: Fadnavis

First India Bureau

Nagpur: Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said in the state Assembly that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed to conduct a probe into the death of Disha Salian, the former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

According to police, Salian (28) allegedly committed suicide by jumping from a high-rise building in Malad area of Mumbai on June 08, 2020.

Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in Mumbai’s Bandra area on June 14, 2020. Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had demanded a probe into Salian’s death.

“The case is already with the Mumbai police. Those who have proof can furnish it. This will be probed through a SIT,” BJP leader Fadnavis, who is also the

state home minister, said in the House.

Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said this should not be viewed from any political angle. Fadnavis said the probe will be done in an impartial manner without targeting anyone.

The ruling alliance MLAs sought formation of the SIT for a probe into Salian’s death. The House was adjourned five times over the issue.

The matter was first raised in the House by Bharat Gogavale, the MLA of the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena and he was joined by BJP legislator Nitesh Rane.

‘Ruling alliance creating ‘drama’ over Salian case’

Nagpur (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Ajit Pawar, on Thursday claimed the ruling party legislators were disrupting House proceedings and creating drama over the Disha Salian death case, the former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Talking to reporters at the state legislature complex, Pawar further claimed the ruling dispensation was not allowing the Opposition to speak in the House in a bid to “shield” Chief Minister Eknath Shinde amid a row over a land allotment decision by him as the urban development minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

“The Opposition is making efforts for

proper working of the House and raising important issues. However, ruling party legislators are disrupting proceedings and creating drama over Disha Salian death case,” he claimed.

“Ruling party legislators are creating chaos in the House as they are scared that the opposition will corner the chief minister on Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) land issue,” he said.

Ex-mayor’s home, office sealed in BMC action; she says ‘no’!

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday initiated major action against former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar. According to sources, BMC has sealed Pednekar’s office and home in Gomata Nagar area of Worli.

The civic body has handed over the matter to Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) for further action. This is considered to be a big blow for Kishori Pednekar.

Notably, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya has been accusing Pednekar of corruption and illegal occupation of flats and shops under the SRA

scheme for past few days.

“Now, the BMC has increased Pednekar’s troubles by sealing flats and offices in the disputed SRA project in Worli,” said a source.

Among allegations levelled by Somaiya, one accused Pednekar of usurping six shops under the SRA project.

While Pednekar didn’t give any clarifications, she took to her Twitter handle to set the record straight. “I do not have a shop anywhere. Neither my office or house was sealed. Even after knowing this, Kirit Somaiya is torturing poor citizens under the pressure of power,” she tweeted.

First India Bureau

Opposition MLAs protest against the state government outside Vidhan Bhawan, in Nagpur on Thursday. —ANI PHOTO

NCP MP Supriya Sule speaks in the Lok Sabha. —PHOTO BY ANI

Sandeep Shukla

MLA

Legislative Council Dy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe —FILE PHOTO

Former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar —FILE PHOTO

BJP MLAs protest against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) MLAs on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis —FILE PHOTO

Leader of Opposition in Assembly Ajit Pawar addresses media at Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Water to get costlier as BMC hikes tax by 7.12%

First India Bureau

Mumbai: After a hiatus of two years, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved a hike of 7.12% in water tax. The civic body sources water from Tulsi, middle Vaitarna, Tansa, Vihar, upper Vaitarna, Modak Sagar and Bhatsa lakes. It provides 3,850 million litres of water every day to the people of Mumbai city.

A hike in water charges was the norm in the month of June every year, but had been deferred for the last two years owing to the COVID-19 pandem ic. Political parties had opposed the hike back then by citing financial losses suffered by peo ple during the

pandemic.

Palghar gangrape: Custody of nine accused

extended Palghar: The police custody of nine people, who were arrested for allegedly gang-raping a teen girl in Palghar district, was extended till December 28 by a local court on Thursday.

The Satpari Sagri police had sought extension of remand citing

The Satpari Sagri police had sought extension of remand citing time to complete the probe, which was granted by the court

time to complete the probe, which was granted by the court.

They were held under Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl in an unoccupied house in Mahim area of Palghar last week.

As many as 50 ‘grooms’ also sought strict implementation of PCPNDT Act

Pune: In a first, nearly 50 eligible bachelors, clad in wedding costumes, riding horses and accompanied with

In 2012, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corpor ation Standing Committee had passed a resolution and allowed a hike of 8% in

water tax every year. This was done to ensure there were adequate funds for the maintenance and repair of lakes, pipelines, establishment of water connection charges, administrative expenses, electricity, among other expenditures.

NEW CHARGES

BMC sends notice to CAG, says audit not in its purview

First India Bureau

BMC to get `71 lakh for selling 2.06 L kg waste paper

First India Bureau

body

With the new hike, people with water connections in adivasi padas and slums, gaothan and koliwadas, residents of chawls with common toilets, public sanitary convenience, buildings of nongovernment organizations and PAP (project affected persons) and SRA buildings, where auxiliary suction tanks and pumping arrangements

to pay Rs4.44 per 1,000 litres of water.

Similarly, in places where suction tanks and pumps are maintained by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, citizens will pay Rs5.28 per 1,000 litres of water as against Rs4.93 earlier.

Other residential societies that used to pay Rs5.94 per 1,000 litres will now pay Rs6.36 per

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC’s) law department has issued a legal notice to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), stating that it cannot conduct an audit of expenditure made by the civic body during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Epidemic Act 1897 and the Disaster Management Act 2005 were in force.

According to the BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, the notice was sent six weeks ago.

On Oct 29, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had issued directions to the CAG to audit BMC projects to the tune of Rs12,000 crore undertaken from November 28, 2019 to February 28, 2022, when the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was in power. The investigation was ordered following the BJP’s corruption alle-

gations against contracts awarded during the pandemic.

Following the CM’s order, a team comprising 8-10 members had visited the BMC headquarters in November end and had met Chahal and other senior officers. The CAG has been tasked to finish the audit before the year ends. Transactions of at least 10 departments are expected to be investigated by the CAG.

According to the media reports, audits of health expenses during the pandemic are not in

G20 event: Five caves at Ellora to be illuminated

First India Bureau

Aurangabad: Five caves at the Ellora world heritage site in Aurangabad district will be illuminated with LED lights. The front entry point at the Ellora caves will also be revamped along with other developmental works.

According to a senior official of Archaeological Survey of India, the ASI is trying to com-

plete the work before the city hosts a G20-related event.

The ‘first inception meet’ of Women 20 (W20) as part of India’s presidency of G20 will be held in the city on February 13-14, 2023.

The Women 20, an official G20 engagement group, was set up in 2015 to ensure gender considerations figure in G20 discussions.

The ASI has already

put up lights in various Ajanta caves for visitors to see the paintings

made there between 400 and 650 CE, an official said on Wednesday.

ASI’s superintendent archaeologist Milan Kumar Chauley informed that they will also illuminate the inside portions of Ellora cave numbers 5, 10, 16, 29 and 32 which have paintings and sculptures.

Chauley said they will try to finish the work before the G20related event in Aurangabad in February next year.

Republican Party of India stages protest in Vashi

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: The Republican Party of India (A) led by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale staged protests at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk in Vashi against the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to press a number of demands.

The protesters demanded that a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar should be erected in Navi Mumbai. They alleged that there is a nexus of civic officials and political parties and such officials should be removed from

their posts.

In addition, they also demanded equal work, equal pay for the scavengers, implementation of a hawker policy, and provision of a super specialist doctor and MRI machine facility at Navi Mumbai Municipal Hospital in Vashi.

On lookout for brides, men in Solapur knock on collector’s door

‘band baja and baraat’ took out a procession, not to a marriage hall but to the Solapur collector office to seek brides, highlighting the issue of skewed male-female ratio in Maharashtra.

The extravaganza was part of a ‘bridegroom morcha’ organized on Wednesday by a local outfit which later submitted a memoran-

dum at the district collector’s office seeking strict implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act to improve the male-female ratio in the state.

As per the National Family Health Survey (2019-21), Maharashtra’s sex ratio was 920 females per 1,000 males. Shilvant

Men dressed as grooms carry ‘Kuni mulgi deta ka’ (who will give girl) placards in Solapur. —PTI PHOTO

Kshirsagar, 29, who runs a dairy business, was among the 50 eligible bachelors seeking

brides for themselves.

“I am 29 years old, unmarried, and hail from a rural part of Solapur district. We have a family dairy business and also do farming on two-acre land. Every time a marriage proposal comes, the prospective bride’s first question is whether I live in a city and have a job or not,” he told media.

On Oct 29, CM Shinde had issued directions to CAG to audit BMC projects to the tune of `12,000 cr undertaken from Nov 28, ’19 to Feb 28, ’22

the CAG’s purview.

Sources had then said that during the pandemic it’s not possible for officers to follow each and every rule of tender process as the focus is on saving lives.

Mumbai: Heaps of waste paper have helped the BMC earn a revenue of Rs71 lakh.

The civic body had projected Rs22 lakh from the sale of waste paper, however bidders quoted more than 222% than the estimated amount for 2.06 lakh kg of paper garbage.

The BMC, recently invited a tender for the sale of waste paper from the last two years. The BMC estimated around Rs8.30 to Rs15 per kilo but the bidders quoted Rs15 to Rs36 per kg. Old newspapers and magazines will be for Rs29 against the civic estimate of Rs13.50.

The waste from its printing press will be sold for Rs36 while it had estimated Rs11 per kg. As per the proposal of the Central Purchase Department, the contract will be awarded to M/s. Garib Nawaz and M/s. Unique agencies.

FIRE NEAR THANE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING; FOUR TWO-WHEELERS UP IN FLAMES

Thane: Four two-wheelers were destroyed in a fire that broke out near a residential building in Thane, said an official on Thursday. At around 3.15 am, a blaze erupted near the Laxmi Nivas building in Koliwada locality. No person was injured in the fire, said Thane Municipal Corporation’s Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) chief Avinash Sawant. Local firefighters and a team of the RDMC rushed to the spot and doused the fire, he said.

COP ATTACKED ON STOPPING MAN FROM URINATING

Mumbai: A vegetable vendor was arrested for attacking a constable with a knife after being stopped from urinating in public, said police. The accused, Ram Gonte, was urinating on the street in Kandivali area when constable Uday Kadam asked him to stop. He also informed Gonte that action would be taken against him if he did not comply. An argument ensued between the two and Gonte attacked with a knife, inflicting injuries on his hands. The accused was arrested, presented in court and sent to police custody.

JAIPUR FOOT CAMP: 102 PEOPLE TO GET NEW LEASE OF LIFE

Panvel: Around 102 differently-abled persons will be fitted with artificial arms and legs at a free camp on December 23. People without legs or arms will receive the ‘Jaipur Foot’. The camp is being organized by Ramsheth Thakur Social Society Panvel and Sadhu Vaswani Mission Pune at the hall of Ramsheth Thakur Social Development Board near Panvel Market Yard. In October, a camp was organized to take the measurements of 102 people for prosthetic arms and legs.

THREE HELD FROM DIFFERENT STATES FOR DUPING LOAN SEEKERS IN THANE

Thane: Three persons were arrested for allegedly duping loan seekers, a Thane police official said on Thursday. Based on a complaint received on December 05, police were investigating the racket. The complainant had alleged that he was duped at Rs7.34 lakh on the pretext of getting loans. Acting on a tip-off, police arrested one accused from Shimla. His interrogation led to arrests from Noida and other parts of Uttar Pradesh. The money extracted from the complainant was recovered, while five mobile phones and several ATM cards have been seized from the accused, said Senior Inspector Shekhar Bagde.

BODY OF TEENAGE BOY, GIRL FOUND IN DAM BACKWATERS

Pune: The bodies of a teenage boy and girl have been found in the backwaters of Khadakwasla dam. An investigation has been opened into the case by Pune rural police. The deceased have been identified as Priyanka Chougule (17), and Lucky Kamble (19). According to a police official, a local food stall owner saw a bike abandoned near the Khadakwasla backwaters, and upon closer inspection found the two bodies. We have found no signs of struggle during the primary investigation, he added.

FORCED TO WORK, 13 KIDS RESCUED IN AHMEDNAGAR

Ahmednagar: Thirteen children allegedly working as bonded labourers with some shepherds in Ahmednagar district, have been rescued by the local administration, an official said on Thursday. The children were forced to look after sheep and other livestock in Sangamner tehsil, said Ahmednagar Collector Rajendra Bhosale. “They were brought here from Igatpuri in Nashik after their parents were given assurance of returns and two sheep per year. After we were alerted, the local administration and the police freed them in October,” he said.

Civic

approves increment after two-year

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Senior citizens at an old age home celebrate Christmas under the ‘Be a Santa’ initiative of Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai on Thursday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

First India Bureau

Ramdas Athawale

MERKEL’S BOMBSHELL WEST v/s WEST

(RETD)

Quizzically enough, as I chanced upon the recent interview of Angela Dorothea Merkel, ex chancellor of Germany, it gave me a peep into the pandora box of the Western world’s political dynamics. A seasoned politician and a scientist, she was the first and the only lady chancellor of Germany and was referred to as the de facto leader of the European Union. Having been brought up in erst while East Germany under Kremlin’s influence, her control over Russian language was perfect yet, she was not inclined to communist ideology.

war of aggression” which constituted a far-reaching turning point and the most glaring violation of international law in Europe since the World War II. She further believed that European solidarity goes out to Ukraine which has been attacked and raided by Russia, and that the Ukraine’s right to self-defence was incontestable.

Surprisingly, a leader with such clarity and frankness on Russia – Ukraine war, suddenly took a U turn and in an interview in the second week of Dec 22 to a newspaper Der Zeit of Germany, came out with the facts that hitherto fore, were a subject of confidentiality amongst all NATO leaders joining their hands to support Zelenskyy and fight Russia.

Surprisingly, a leader with such clarity and frankness on Russia – Ukraine war, suddenly took a U turn and in an interview in the second week of Dec 22 to a newspaper Der Zeit of Germany, came out with the facts that hitherto fore, were a subject of confidentiality amongst all NATO leaders joining their hands to support Zelenskyy and fight Russia

the West.

turn the tide to suit their interests. Yes, it is amply clear that Western powers are likely to dump treaties and agreements like a HOT Potato when they no longer serve their purpose. It indeed is a lesson to India, China, Pakistan and to the rest of the developing countries in international politics. While negotiating with west, countries should choose friends with open eyes Judging so called friends not by what they say but by what they do and their past reputation of honouring treaties and agreements with other parties in the agreement.

REFORMED OR NOT, THE ‘SERPENT’ TO BE OUT OF PRISON SOON?

It shows that international agreements with the West specially the US carry no value and remain in play only till the time they favour the West and allows them time to turn the tide to suit their interests. Yes, it is amply clear that Western powers are likely to dump treaties and agreements like a HOT Potato when they no longer serve their purpose. It indeed is a lesson to India, China, Pakistan and to the rest of the developing countries in international politics

Her actions and decisions as the chancellor of her country ensured a commanding position for Germany not only in Europe but amongst all NATO allies. Nonetheless, today many find faults with her for increasing Germany’s dependence on Russian energy imports through Nord Stream 1, without acknowledging that the graph of Germany’s industrial growth was highest during Merkel’s chancellorship.

All through her political career, she professed that she did not want to give advice from the side-lines, and therefore, described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a “brutal

In a dramatic style, Angela confessed that there was no real interest amongst the Western powers to implement the provisions and conditions laid down in Minsk 1 & 2 Agreements signed by Ukraine and Russia in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Instead, the intention of US and allies reeked with conspiracies and deceits by the West to give time to the NATO and Ukraine to build up their military capabilities for the sole purpose of a confrontation with Russia.

In other words, the West planned and schemed for the war against Russia since 2014 after they organized a coup to forcibly remove a democratically elected Ukraine government and replace it with a puppet government loyal to

Taliban are gradually showing their true misogynist and hard-line character but the world is a silent spectator. After banning girls from attending schools, Afghanistan’s Taliban government has taken the regressive step of telling women that the doors of universities were now shut for them, leaving female students in tears. The anguished students were left with no future as other regressive restrictions on women’s clothing and movement are already in place. Instances of public flogging have also been reported. All these are dreadful reminders of the old Taliban regime and its brand of ruthless Islam.

President Joe Biden left

In my opinion, Angela has proven herself to be Putin’s friend as her confession is almost a declaration to let out NATO secrets. In simple words, what Merkel said can be taken as an announcement that Putin is not the aggressor but the victim of a veiled Western conspiracy against it. In fact, Angela has provided Putin the defence which he may need in the future to protect himself from Western actions at international courts when the war crimes are taken up.

Obviously, the implications from this interview are far reaching. It shows that international agreements with the West specially the US carry no value and remain in play only till the time they favour the West and allows them time to

Taliban are gradually showing their true misogynist and hardline character but the world is a silent spectator. After banning girls from attending schools, Afghanistan’s Taliban government has taken the regressive step of telling women that the doors of universities were now shut for them, leaving female students in tears

the Afghan people, especially women, after the withdrawal of Allied forces from Kabul in 2021. In his White House address Biden said that it was “the right and the responsibility of the Afghan people alone to decide their future and how they want to

The numerous visits of German Chancellor to Russia between 2014 (in the aftermath of annexation of Crimea by Russia) and 2021, when Merkel vacated her office as the ultimate leader of European Union and Chancellor of Germany are being looked at with suspicion of delaying Russian onslaught on Ukraine to buy time. She out rightly mentioned that she felt no regrets for her handling of Vladimir Putin during her time in power and blocking the route of Ukraine joining NATO membership as Putin would have taken it as a “declaration of war” against Russia by the West. It appears that in the opinion of the West, democratically immature Ukraine would have been less prepared for an invasion then what it was in February 2022 and thus, hinting at a global conspiracy.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

run their country”. He also said the US will continue to speak out for the rights of women and girls. Does speaking out for them makes them less vulnerable to the attacks on their psyche being witnessed now? Reacting to the latest Talibani firmaan the US said the “move would come with consequences for Taliban”. Other than turning off the aid tap, which will only starve the Afghan people, the consequences have not been spelt out.

Taliban stand out like a sore thumb for the way they treat women. In no other Islamic country are women subjected to such treatment. Iran, where women are protesting against wearing hijab, does not bar women from attending schools and colleges.

Charles Sobhraj may have spent two decades in jail; his release from a prison in Nepal still makes news. The serial killer, notorious as Bikini Killer, is now 78 and hopefully a changed man after long incarceration. The French national shot to infamy after he killed 20 tourists on South and Southeast Asia’s hippie trail between 1972 and 1976, most of them backpackers. “Handsome, charming and utterly without scruple” women easily fell to his charms and he ruthlessly finished them off after he was done with them. What made Sobhraj stand out as a criminal was his ability to evade police and avoid detection, which earned him the nickname of “Serpent”.

He continued with his crimes like drugging tourists and robbing them to maintain a luxurious lifestyle even in prison. In mid seventies he bribed Tihar jail staff to live in comfort. Later he drugged them to escape, but was nabbed by Mumbai Police.

Is Sobhraj a reformed man now?

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

India, led by PM @narendramodi ji remains the biggest hope for the world. An all-weather champion of multilateralism, more of the world today strongly acknowledge India’s criticality in maintaining global peace. ‘Not an era of war’ has resonated strongly and touched chords.

MAHENG/2022/14652

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Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra

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

You should perform your duty with a view to guide people and for universal welfare.

Bhagavad

Gita

Jagat Prakash Nadda @JPNadda

Saddened to hear about the demise of renowned Gamak Vidwan & Padmashri awardee H R Keshavamurthy Ji. He was a pioneer who mastered Gamak & even taught children this great art form for free. His legacy will live on forever. My condolences to his family & admirers. Om Shanti.

Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp

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COL ANUPAM JAITLY

The writer is Defence expert, Motivational Speaker & Corporate Trainer

WINTER SESSION OF PARLIAMENT

LOK SABHA ADJOURNED AGAIN AMID UPROAR BY OPPN ON BORDER ISSUE

New Delhi (Agencies): Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Thursday without any business, owing to continuous protests by the Congress-led Opposition, which sought discussion on the IndiaChina border clashes in Arunachal Pradesh.

As Lok Sabha assembled at 4 p.m. after several adjournments since morning, Opposition members led by the Congress entered the well of the House, shouting slogans and seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in the House.

Rama Devi, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till 4.30 pm amid chaos and slogan shouting.

At 4.30 p.m. when the Lower House reassembled, protests and slogan shouting by the Opposition members resumed. While Congress and DMK members entered the well of the House, NCP, JD-U and TMC members stood near their seats.

Opposition members shouted slogans seeking PM Modi’s presence in the House and called

“ISRO SIGNED 4 CO-OP DOCUMENTS FOR SPACE EXPLORATION TIE-UP”

New Delhi (FIB): The Minister of State (MoS), Dr Jitendra Singh, on Thursday said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed 04 (four) cooperative documents specifically to collaborate in space exploration in the last

for a discussion on the India-China border clashes issue.

Amid the pandemonium, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in-

IN THE COURTYARD

PANEL TO CONDUCT ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT OF SC PREMISES

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has constituted a committee headed by apex court judge Justice S Ravindra Bhat to conduct an audit of “physical and functional access” of the top court premises to make them disabled-friendly. The ‘Supreme Court Committee on Accessibility’ has been given a broad mandate to prepare and release a questionnaire for persons with disabilities, including the apex court employees, advocates, litigants and interns, who visit the top court premises.

JACQUELINE WITHDRAWS PLEA TO GO ABROAD

New Delhi: Actor Jacqueline Fernandez, accused in a money laundering case, on Thursday withdrew from a Delhi court her plea for permission to go abroad. The actor told the court about her decision after the judge said the question of charge should first be decided. “You can withdraw the application and let the question of charge first be decided. Otherwise I will pass a judicial order,” the judge said. Fernandez had sought permission to visit Bahrain from December 23 to January 5 to see her mother.

PARTHA CHATTERJEE’S JUDICIAL CUSTODY EXTENDED BY 14 MORE DAYS

Kolkata: A CBI court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of former West Bengal Education Minister and ex-Trinamool Congress secretary general, Partha Chatterjee and six others for another 14 days in connection with the teachers’ recruitment scam. All the seven individuals will be presented at the same court again on January 5 next year. On Thursday, Chatterjee’s counsel Selim Rahman made a fiery argument at the court, even going to the extent of questioning CBI’s competence as regards to producing concrete evidence in the matter. In his counter argument, the CBI counsel said that although charges of incompetence have been raised by the petitioner’s counsel.

HC ALLOWS TEEN GIRL TO DONATE

LIVER’S PART TO DAD

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday granted permission to a 17-yearold girl to donate a portion of her liver to her ailing father. The High Court took the decision even taken after an expert committee constituted by the Appropriate Authority under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 initially opined that the daughter cannot be exempted from the bar imposed by the Act and Rules on organ donation by minors. Court asked it to reconsider its stance.

MADRAS HIGH COURT ORDERS NOTICE ON RSS PLEA

Chennai: A division bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday ordered notice on a batch of appeals challenging the orders of a single judge, which had granted permission to the RSS to take out “route marches” and hold public meetings in auditoriums and open grounds alone. A bench of the HIgh Court ordered the notice returnable by January 5, when the appeals from G Subramaniam of Anna Nagar and 44 others came up for further hearing on Thursday.

five years.In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, MoS Dr Singh said, the agreement with the USA is for accommodating USA instruments in India’s Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3. He informed that the agreement with Japan is to conduct feasibility study for a joint lunar polar exploration mission.

troduced the Jan Vishwas Amendment of Provision Bill 2022 in the House. He also immediately referred the bill to a joint Parlia-

RS PASSES THE CONSTITUTION (ST) ORDER BILL

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha has passed The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022 and The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2022. Tribal Minister Arjun Munda moved the bill.

OVER 40K WOMEN TRAINED IN INDIA UNDER NAI ROSHNI SCHEME: IRANI

New Delhi (FIB): Union Minister of Minority Affairs Smriti Irani in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Thursday said during last three years, i.e., 2019-20 to 2021-22, around 40,000 women have been trained all over India including

mentary panel.

Soon after this, the House was adjourned for the day.

Earlier in the morning, both Question Hour

175 in Bihar. Nai Roshni scheme has now been merged as a component of Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme w.e.f FY 2022-23, to improve livelihoods of minorities, particularly artisan communities, through skill development, education and leadership training, to support their entrepreneurship interventions.

and Zero Hour proceedings were washed out due to continuous protests by the Opposition on the India-China border clashes issue.

GOVT INTRODUCES JAN VISHWAS BILL IN THE LOK SABHA

New Delhi: Commerce & industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday in Lok Sabha introduced Jan Vishwas Bill, which seeks to decriminalise minor offences by amending 183 provisions in 42 Acts with a view to promote ease of business.

GOYAL TAKES BACK REMARKS “AGAINST BIHAR”

New Delhi (ANI): Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday withdrew his “demeaning” remarks on Bihar, which triggered protests in Parliament by MPs from the state who demanded an apology from him.“Let me clarify that I have no intention to insult either Bihar or the people of Bihar. If it has hurt anyone’s sentiment, I immediately withdraw that statement,” he said in Rajya Sabha. On Tuesday while RJD member Manoj Jha was speaking on inflation in the Upper House, Goyal had said “Inka bas chale toh desh ko Bihar hi bana de”.

Sansad stormy again due to Tawang

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Both Houses on Thursday saw a stormy start as Opposition members demanded a discussion on the IndiaChina border clash in Tawang Sector, Arunachal. While the LS was adjourned till 12 pm, Opposition members staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha after a heated

back-and-forth with the Chairman.

Later in the day, RS took up Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (4th Amendment) Bill, which modify the scheduled tribes list.

MULLING EC PROPOSAL ON

POLITICAL DONATIONS: GOVT

New Delhi: The govt on Thursday said the Election Commission proposal to reduce anonymous political donations to Rs 2000 from Rs 20,000 is uder examination.

On a question about the government’s response to the Commission’s proposal and whether such measures would usher in reforms and transparency in do-

Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra resumes from Haryana’s Nuh district

Nizamabad (ANI):

Bharat Rashtra Samithi will hold a ‘Maha Dharna’ in all the district headquarters on Friday protesting against the Centre’s “anti-farmer policies”, MLC K Kavitha said on Thursday.

Kavitha, daughter of CM KCR, alleged that the BJP govt at the Centre is “forcing” Telangana Govt to take back schemes under MGNREGA. “Tomorrow the party will launch Maha Dharna in all district headquarters, against BJP Government’s antifarmer policies, in light of the recent demand to exclude agricultural activities from MGNREGA Scheme in Telangana,” Kavitha said.

“Today it is a fact that the BJP is an anti-farmer, anti-poor, and procorporate Government.

On one hand, the Government is targeting farmers and the poor,” she alleged.

Nuh (ANI): Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi resumed from Malab Village in Nuh’s Haryana on Thursday.

People in large numbers were seen joining the march holding banners and party flags. The ongoing foot march of the grand old party entered the state of Haryana on Wednesday. On Wednesday, while addressing a gathering here, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other parties and said that the leaders of these parties do not listen to the public.

“Nowadays, there is a gap between the leaders of BJP, Samajwadi Party, and the public. Leaders think there is no need to listen to the public and give speeches for hours. We have tried to change this in this journey,” Gandhi earlier

CHANDY’S SON TAKE JIBE AT BJP

Nuh (ANI): Former Kerala Chief Minister’s son Chandy Oommen on Thursday aimed at the Centre government over its letter to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, urging him to consider suspending or postponing the Bharat Jodo Yatra if Covid protocols could not be followed.

“When PM Modi took out a Yatra in Gujarat, a similar situation was there but no action followed,” Oommen said after joining the Bharat Jodo Yatra here.

said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday the Yatra observed its last day in the Congress-ruled state of Rajasthan. It is

BJP SCARED OF LOVE BJY GOT: KHERA

New Delhi (ANI): Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya’s letter to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot asking them to follow COVID-19 guidelines strictly during the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra has elicited diverse reactions from leaders.

nations received by political parties, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in Rajya Sabha said, “The proposal is under examination.”

Aiming for reforms and transparency in donations received by political parties, the poll panel had proposed reducing anonymous political donations from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000.

the only Congress-ruled state where the yatra covered around 500 km over 17 days before entering Haryana.

AAP’S EXPANSION PLANS

Talking about the issue, Congress leader Pawan Khera said BJP is scared of the love Bharat Jodo Yatra has received. He said, “Their intent is clear. They are only bothered about the love the Yatra has received.”He also added, “If BJP was worried about the country, they would have written a letter to Satish Poonia as well who is taking out ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ in Rajasthan.”

The community is demanding they be included in the 15 per cent OBC category of 2A. A heavy police force has been deployed at Hirebagewadi in Belagavi due to the Panchamasali padayatra being held under the leadership of the Jagadguru Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swamiji of the Kundalasangama Peetha.

Karnataka Assembly is currently holding its Winter Session at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.

Can AAP dent Cong and BJP’s morale in K’taka polls?

Shamsher Singh

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party has now started preparing to contest the Karnataka assembly elections. Assembly elections are going to be held in May and before that Arvind Kejriwal’s party has started making populist announcements. The party has promised that it will implement the old pension scheme if its government is formed in the state. The

Congress was also about to say this, as it had promised in Himachal Pradesh and won the election, but AAP made the announcement even before the Congress.

Not only this, the party’s state number two leader Bhaskar Rao also participated in the demonstration of state government employees.

The employees were demonstrating for the restoration of the old pension scheme. Senior leader Brajesh Kalappa,

who left the Congress and joined AAP, also talked about restoring the old pension scheme.

However, AAP’s weakness is that it does not have an organization in the state and

does not have senior leaders either. Then the question is how will the party contest the Karnataka elections? Will it fight in the way it fought in Gujarat or will it fight in the way it fought in states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand etc.? If it fights like Gujarat i.e. Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann and other leaders work day and night then Congress can suffer a big loss. There Congress party is hoping to re-

turn to power this time but if AAP fights with full force and JDS also contests the elections on its own, then BJP would be benefited. But if AAP contests elections like in Himachal Pradesh, then Congress will not be harmed. Five months before the elections, it seems that AAP does not have an organization and will fight just for the sake of fighting. But the real picture will emerge after Arvind Kejriwal’s first visit.

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal. —FILE PHOTO

“BRS to hold Maha Dharna against Centre”

Panchamasali Lingayat’s march for quota in K’taka

Belagavi (ANI): The Panchamasali Lingayat community padyatra, demanding more reservations to meet the educational and professional needs of its people, reached Belagavi in Karnataka on Thursday.

Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Nuh. —PHOTO BY ANI

Lok Sabha adjourned amid commotion in the House, in New Delhi on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla RS Speaker Jagdeep Dhankhar

STARTED RT-PCR SAMPLING OF INT’L PASSENGERS: GOVT

New Delhi (ANI): Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said that the government has started random RTPCR sampling among the passengers arriving at International airports in the country amid the recent surge of Coronavirus infection in various countries including China, Japan, South Korea, France, and the United States.

“We have also started the random RT-PCR sampling among passengers arriving at International airports in the country. We are committed to tackling the pandemic and are taking appropriate steps,” Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in his statement in the Lok Sabha while advising the States to make sure that people wear masks, use sanitizers and maintain social distancing even during the festive and the New Year season.

He also encouraged the states to increase awareness towards precautionary doses against Coronavirus.

“We are keeping an eye on the global Covid situation and are taking steps accordingly. The States are advised to increase genome-sequencing to timely identify the new variant of Covid-19,” Union Health Minister Mandaviya added.

He further said that the health department has been proactive in managing the Covid pandemic. The Centre has also provided financial assistance to States in the fight against the pandemic, he added.

“So far, 220 crore covid vaccine shots have been given,” Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya mentioned. Mandaviya then claimed that the number of Covid cases is depleting in India despite its surge across the world.

“From the last few days, Covid cases have been rising in the world but in India, the cases are depleting. We are seeing rising Covid cases and deaths due to it in China,” Union Health Minister said.

GENOME TESTING OF ALL POSITIVE CASES IN J’KHAND

Ranchi: Concerned at the reported spurt in Covid-19 cases in countries like China, USA and Japan, the Jharkhand government has asked officials to send for whole genome sequencing of all positive samples of Coronavirus to track the variants, a top Health department official said on Thursday. The development comes in the wake of Union Health Minister reviewing the Covid situation.

UP CM HOLDS MEET TO ASSESS COVID SITUATION

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Thursday held a meeting to assess Covid situation. Officials said after the meeting that though face masks have not been made compulsory but should be encouraged at public places.

PUNJAB CM MANN HOLDS COVID REVIEW MEETING

Chandigarh: Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann held a meeting of health officials over Covid-19 situation.

“We just have nine active cases of Covid. 16 districts do not have any positive cases of Covid so far. We have established oxygen plants & have prepared hospitals as well accordingly,” Health Minister Chetan Jouramajra said.

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday advised all the MPs to wear masks and follow the Covid protocol completely, in view of the increasing cases of Covid 19 in many countries across the world. Birla himself was operating the House wearing a mask in the House. Birla appealed the MPs to be careful and

spread public awareness regarding Covid before the uproar by the opposition MPs during the Question Hour saying that in view of the past experiences, this time there is a need for constant caution and vigilance. The govt has also advised following the Covid protocol across the country.While advising all the MPs to use masks, Birla appealed to them to make efforts to spread public awareness in their respective areas.

“HAVEN’T GOT REQUEST FOR USE OF GANGA WATER IN COVID TREATMENT”

New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday clarified that it has not received any request from National Mission for Clean Ganga to conduct research on the use of Ganga river water as a cure for the COVID-19 virus.In a written reply in Lok Sabha, Jal Shakti MoS Prahlad Singh Patel said, “Govt has

not received any request from National Mission for Clean Ganga to conduct research on the use of Ganga river water as a cure to the Covid-19 virus.” “However, NMCG had sent two proposals viz., ‘Ganga Sediments could immunize against COVID-19’ and ‘Treatment of COVID-19 by Ganga Jal’ on April 28, 2020, to the Indian Council of Medical Research for examination.

WITHOUT TESTING

“Just like last time we had conquered covid with collective efforts, similarly we will succeed in stopping this epidemic in the future also.”

—Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker

“We have also started the random RT-PCR sampling among passengers arriving at International airports in the country. We are committed to tackling the pandemic and are taking appropriate steps,”.

—Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Health Minister

There won’t be a lockdown situation in the country since 95% of the people here are vaccinated. The immunity system of Indians is stronger than that of the Chinese...India needs to go back to Covid basicstesting, treating, tracing.

—Dr Anil Goyal, Indian Medical Association

Covid nasal vaccine to be rolled out as booster dose

New Delhi: Paving way for more options for third or precautionary doses in India, Bharat Biotech, which is the manufacturer of Covaxin, will roll out its nasal vaccine as a booster dose after receiving a final nod from the authorities.

Sources said that permissions are in the final stage, and they could be introduced on the COWIN platform by the upcoming week.

Bharat biotech’s Nasal vaccine, being a needless jab, will be India’s first such booster dose. It can be administered to those above 18 years. Pricing of the vaccine will be decided soon and it will be made available

Army doctors save woman badly injured in bear attack

Udhampur/Jammu (PTI): Army doctors have saved a 61-year-old woman badly injured in a bear attack in a village here by performing a timely surgery to repair her wind pipe and blood vessels of the neck.

HOW NASAL SPRAY WORKS

It is a vectored, needleless, intranasal Covid vaccine. An intranasal vaccine stimulates a broad immune response – neutralizing IgG, mucosal IgA, and T cell responses. It comes with ease as one does not require a health practitioner or worker to give them a dose.

in government and private facilities.

Science Ministry recognised the vaccine as the ‘World’s first intranasal vaccine for COVID developed by India’.

In December, it also got approval from Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation for restricted use in emergency situations in 18 and above age group.

Parliamentary panel raises concerns over production of electric locomotives

Agra (ANI): With the surge in Covid cases in China and other countries, one of the most popular tourist attractions of the country Taj Mahal in Agra is put on alert, confirmed the District Health Information Officer in Agra. Domestic and foreign tourists come every day in large numbers to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra. Keeping the situation in mind, they will have to undergo a Covid test before their visit as per the official sources.

Submarine corruption case: Nod for prosecution of Naval officers

New Delhi (PTI) The govt has given the goahead to prosecute four serving and retired Navy officers in connection with alleged corruption in purchasing spare parts to retrofit Russian Kilo-class submarines, officials said.

In India, we have sufficient evidence to prove that those who recovered from Covid are best protected. It’s important to monitor all variants. But it’s unlikely that we’ll face any serious problem due to the virus in the current scenario.

—Dr Sanjay Rai, Senior Epidemiologist, AIIMS Delhi

“A 61 years old female resident of Pancheri village was brought barely breathing to emergency of Command Hospital after sustaining severe injuries to her neck and abdomen following attack by a wild bear on December 16,” an officer said She was immediately attended by trauma surgeons, who found out that she has got life threatening injuries to her wind pipe and large blood vessels of her neck.

New Delhi (PTI): Raising concerns over missed targets in electric locomotive production during this financial year, a parliamentary standing committee has asked the Railway Ministry to closely monitor the manufacturing capacity of production units.

The Standing Committee on Railways, in its report presented in Parliament on Thursday, noted that with the national transporter head-

ing towards 100 per cent electrification on broadgauge lines, the requirement of diesel locomotives would reduce substantially, while that of the electric ones would increase to a great extent. The committee also noted that the Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) and the Patiala Locomotive Works (PLW) were given targets to manufacture 450 and 200 electric locomotives for 2022-23 and 202324 respectively.

India wary of Taliban’s decision to ban women from Afghan varsities

New Delhi (PTI): India on Thursday said it is concerned over reports that the Taliban have banned women from universities in Afghanistan, and renewed its call for setting up of an inclusive government in Kabul that ensures the equal rights of women and girls in all aspects of the Afghan so-

MERCURY SET TO DIP

ciety.Several countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France,

Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom, have strongly condemned the Taliban’s decisions to ban women from universities. “We have noted with concern the reports in this regard. India has consistently supported the cause of female education in Afghanistan,” the MEA spokesperson said.

North India likely to witness cold wave

The CBI had filed its chargesheets in November last year, within two months of initiating a probe into a corruption case, following which it had sought the government’s sanction to prosecute

After

Navy of-

New Delhi (ANI): Delhi-NCR is likely to witness dense fog for the next two to three days while Punjab, Haryana, and North Rajasthan may expect a decrease in temperature by 1-2 degrees alongwith cold wave conditions, Dr Kuldeep Srivastava, Head of Regional Weather Forecasting Centre said on Thursday.

“If we talk about the weather in Delhi, then a thick blanket of fog

is seen in the morning hours and visibility is dropped by around 100 meters. In the Palam observatory, today morning the visibility was till 100 meters, and later around 8 in the morning there is an improvement,” Dr Kuldeep Srivastava said. “In the next two days, there are chances of having dense fog in Delhi-NCR and the visibility will be around 100 meters. The temperature will remain

between 6-7 degrees for the next 2-3 days,” Srivastava added. The lowest temperature for

today was recorded at 4.6 degrees in Rajasthan’s Bikaner, he said. “We have fixed

criteria for the formation of fog. A layer, availability of moisture along with less wind speed are the criterion. From Punjab up to Bihar and till Gigantic West Bengal and Northern parts of Rajasthan, the wind speed in the morning hours is less which is 2-3 km per hour along with sufficient availability of moisture, and during the day time, we have a clear sky,” he told ANI.

accused

ficers Commander S J Singh (retired) and three serving commanders — Ajit Pandey, Abhishek Kumar Shar and Jagdeesh Chander, the officials said.

more than a year, the government has finally given the sanction to prosecute the four accused figuring in the CBI (CBI) chargesheets.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya speaks in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

OM BIRLA ADVISES MPs TO WEAR MASKS, FOLLOW COVID PROTOCOLS

TAJ MAHAL ON COVID ALERT, NO ENTRY FOR TOURISTS

BRIEFS

New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Thursday said it has signed a fiveyear pact with Kamarajar Port Ltd for export of its passenger vehicles to international markets. Under the agreement starting December 2022, Kamarajar Port will be used for exports to Africa, Middle East, Latin America, ASEAN, Oceania and SAARC regions by the company. The port will be used to export around 20,000 cars annually. A car-cum-general cargo berth has been developed and commissioned. —PTI

GOLD GAINS `59 BUT SILVER PRICES GO DOWN BY `194

New Delhi: Gold price rose `59 to `55,241 per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday amid gains in precious metal in overseas markets, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the yellow metal had touched `55,182 per 10 grams. Silver, however, slipped `194 to `69,413 per kilogram. In the international market, gold was trading in green at $1,816.7 per ounce while silver was marginally down at $23.84 per ounce.

META ACTS ON 2.29

CR CONTENT PIECES ON FB, INSTA IN NOV

New Delhi: Social media giant Meta took action against more than 2.29 crore pieces of content created by Indian users on Facebook and Instagram in November. The company took action on over 1.95 crore pieces of content on Facebook and 33.9 lakh pieces of content on Instagram, according to the data shared in the report. The company actioned over 1.49 crore spam content, followed by 18 lakh content related to “Adult Nudity and Sexual activity”, 12 lakh pertaining to “Violent and Graphic Content” etc on Facebook on its own. —PTI

TATA COMM TO ACQUIRE SWITCH ENTERPRISES

New Delhi: Tata Communications will acquire New York-based end-to-end live video production company The Switch Enterprises in an all-cash deal for `486 crore. Tata Comm will support The Switch customers with global reach to over 190 countries and territories and The Switch will bring live production capabilities helping organisations to produce high quality immersive content faster and efficiently, Tata Communications said. —PTI

EXPERTS AHEAD

OF BUDGET ‘WIDEN TAX BASE AND DO AWAY WITH CESS’

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Widening of the tax base, doing away with cess and surcharge, improvement in compliance and moderation in tax for emerging sectors are some of the suggestions submitted to the Finance Ministry ahead of the Budget by TCF.

Experts are of the opinion that there is a need to grow tax revenues for the government to drive economic growth and make investments in developmental activities, TCF, the think tank said in a statement.

Towards this end, poor compliance was identified as a weak link in achieving targeted collections leading to complex issues like overtaxing, complicated tax structures, rising litigation, among others.

Experts during a deliberation stressed on better compliance processes to be put in place backed by technological support which in turn will enable tax widen-

OTHER STORIES

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

z Experts are of the opinion that there is a need to grow tax revenues for the government to drive economic growth and make investments in developmental activities, TCF, the think tank said

ing and need for strategies to strengthen tax collections from Tier 2 towns and cities to widen the tax net.

Former chairman of CBIC PC Jha said “enforcement agencies are working hard to check the illicit trade, but tax evaders are

ROOFTOP SOLAR INSTALLATIONS FALL DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS: MRME MINISTER

New Delhi: The rooftop solar capacity installations fell to 1.09 gigawatt during January-September 2022 due to reasons like supply chain disruption in solar modules and delay in tenders by state implementing agencies, Parliament was informed on Thursday. At 1.09 GW, the installation was over 4% lower compared to 1.14 GW in the nine-month period of 2021, according to the data shared by Minister for New and Renewable Energy R K Singh. The minister further said that his ministry has taken several steps to enhance rooftop solar installations in the country. —PTI

5.86 GW COAL, LIGNITE BASED THERMAL PROJ NON-OPERATIONAL

New Delhi: Projects of 5.86 GW out of the total 210.6 GW coal and lignite based thermal power generation capacities in the country are non-operational, Parliament was informed on Thursday. “Out of 210.6 GW (coal and lignite based) monitored capacity of thermal power plants, 5.86 GW capacity is non-operational due to various reasons such as no PPA, under National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) etc,” Power Minister R K Singh said. —PTI

PM TO TAKE CALL ON EXTENDING PMGKAY

BEYOND DEC: MoS AGRI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take a call on extending the PMGKAY scheme to provide free ration to the poor beyond December, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje said on Thursday said stressing that the government has sufficient foodgrains stock. If Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) has to be extended, the decision will be taken by the Cabinet, headed by the prime minister. —PTI

CIL CAN PURSUE OVERSEAS ACQUISITION OF COAL MINES AFTER DETAILED STUDY OF BLOCKS: PAR

New Delhi: With CIL not buying out of any coal blocks abroad at present, a Parliamentary panel on Thursday said the PSU can still pursue overseas acquisition of mines after detailed study and analysis of the blocks, especially low ash coking coal. “Considering the existing coal resources in the country, the committee would like the coal ministry/ CIL to explore acquisition of coal blocks abroad. They would like to be apprised of any developments in this regard.” —PTI

z Experts during a deliberation stressed on better compliance processes to be put in place backed by technological support

z The estimated tax loss to the government in two highly regulated and taxed industries, tobacco products is `28,500 cr

ahead of curve and using innovative techniques to smuggle goods into our country. There is a need to deploy modern technology, install more scanners at ports and use artificial intelligence to address the counterfeiting issue.”

DoT forms task forces to boost telecom mfg

Panagariya cautions India against cutting trade ties with China

New Delhi (PTI): Amid demands for snapping trade ties with China for its transgressions on the border, former Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya has opined that cutting trade with Beijing at this juncture would amount to sacrificing India’s potential economic growth.

Instead, Panagariya suggested that India should try to enter into free trade agreements (FTA) with countries such as the UK and the European Union to expand its trade.

“Engaging China in a trade war at this juncture will mean sacrificing a considerable part of our potential growth... Purely on economic grounds, it will be unwise to take any action in response to it (transgressions on the border),” the eminent economist said.

‘ABILITY TO INFLICT INJURY’

z Both countries can play the trade sanctions game but the ability of a $17 trillion eco (China) to inflict injury on a $3 trillion economy (India) is far greater than the reverse

Panagariya said both countries can play the trade sanctions game but the ability of a $17 trillion economy (China) to inflict injury on a $3 trillion economy (India) is far greater than the reverse. “Now there are some who want trade sanctions on China to ‘punish’ it for its transgressions on the border... If we try to punish China, it will not sit back, as amply illustrated by its response to sanctions by even the mighty United States,” he observed.

Taxonomy & clear definitions needed to prevent greenwashing: Rao

New Delhi (PTI): The Department of Telecom (DoT) has formed four task forces to recommend to the government measures that will boost the domestic telecom manufacturing ecosystem and remove the bottlenecks, an official memorandum said

Under one of the task forces, the DoT has sought recommendation for a phased manufacturing programme for telecom gear manufacturing to boost domestic component supply chain ecosystem as well as attract global players.

This task force will be cochaired by state-run research arm C-DoT CEO RK Upadhyay, the memorandum dated December 20 said.

Mumbai (PTI): Reserve Bank Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao on Thursday called for a taxonomy on green finance to avoid the risk of “greenwashing”.

Green financing refers to lending to environmentally sustainable economic activities.

Rao said a formal definition of green finance along with a taxonomy “is the need of hour” and added that it will enable more precise tracking of finance flows to green sectors in India.

The call for clear definitions and a taxonomy or a classification system, establishing a list of environmentally sustainable economic activities, comes at a time when India is looking at increasing green finance to help the climate.

“Greenwashing” refers to dishonest practices designed to deceive people.

Reliance set to acquire Metro’s India business for `2,850 crore

New Delhi (PTI): Reliance Industries has agreed to buy German firm Metro AG’s wholesale operations in India for `2,850 crore as the conglomerate run by Mukesh Ambani seeks to strengthen its dominant position in India’s mammoth retail sector.

Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), a subsidiary of the oil-to-telecom conglomerate, signed definitive agreements to acquire a 100% equity stake in Metro Cash & Carry India Pvt Ltd for a total cash consideration of `2,850 crore, subject to closing adjustments, the two firms said in a joint statement.

Reliance is India’s biggest brick-and-mortar retailer with over 16,600 stores, and a strong wholesale unit would further deepen its operations in India.

Metro started operations in India in 2003 as the first company to introduce a cash-and-carry business format.

Govt sees bright prospect of wheat crop

New Delhi (PTI): Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja said there is a bright prospect of wheat crop in key growing states as the current temperature remains conducive for plant growth and higher yield.

Till last week, there was a 3% increase in wheat acreage at 286.5 lakh hectares in the ongoing rabi season that began in October, according to the agriculture ministry’s data.

“Wheat crop prospect is bright. The current weather remains conducive for the plant growth and better yields,” Ahuja said.

Better weather conditions and higher area under the crop are expected to lead to higher production

in the 2022-23 crop year (July-June), he said.

Like last year, there have been no reports of extreme

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

z According to the agri ministry’s data, till last week, there was a 3% increase in wheat acreage at 286.5 lakh hectares in the ongoing rabi season that began in October

z Like last year, there have been no reports of extreme temp from wheat-growing states so far

temperatures from wheatgrowing states so far. This augurs well for the crop prospects, he added.

JIO TO PROVIDE MANAGED SERVICES FOR IOCL

New Delhi (PTI): Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation’s largest oil firm, has selected Reliance Jio’s managed network services to connect a fifth of its petrol pump network. Jio will connect 7,200 IOC sites with SD-WAN managed service solution, zero-touch provisioning and 24x7 real-time monitoring, the firm said in a statement Thursday. JioBusiness, the enterprise arm of Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd will be deploying and managing SD-WAN (Software Defined Wide Area Network) for IOC across its 7,200 retail outlets for a period of 5 years. This will be one of the largest deployments of SD-WAN solutions in India.

JIO DEPOSITS ` 3,720 CR IN SBI ACCOUNT TO ACQUIRE RITL

Mumbai (PTI): Reliance Projects and Property Management Services, a subsidiary of telecom major Jio, has deposited `3,720 crore in an SBI escrow account to acquire mobile tower and fibre assets of Reliance Infratel. The NCLT gave approval to Jio for the acquisition of Reliance Infratel (RITL) in November. “Reliance Infratel transaction is complete. Jio has deposited `3,720 crore in a SBI escrow account as directed by NCLT,” a source said. Billionaire Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani-led Jio placed a bid of `3,720 crore in November 2019 to acquire the tower and fibre asset of debt-ridden subsidiary of his brother’s company.

Markets give up early gains, decline for third straight day

Mumbai (PTI): Equity benchmarks pared early gains and ended lower for the third straight session on Thursday, defying largely positive global market trends, amid the release of minutes of the RBI’s MPC meeting.

Despite a positive beginning, the 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex failed to carry forward the gains and declined 241.02 points to finish at 60,826.22.

The broader NSE Nifty dropped 71.75 points or 0.39% to settle at 18,127.35.

From the Sensex pack, M&M, Bajaj Finserv, In-

RUPEE APPRECIATES 8 PAISE TO 82.76

AGAINST US DOLLAR

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee appreciated by 8 paise to close at 82.76 (provisional) against the US currency on Thursday following a weak greenback in overseas markets. The local currency opened higher at 82.78 at the interbank foreign exchange market. The rupee moved in the range from 82.64 to 82.79 in the day trade before settling at 82.76 to a dollar, showing gains of 8 paise over the previous close.

dusInd Bank, TaMo, Tata Steel, Larsen & Toubro, Axis Bank and NTPC were among the major laggards.

MARUTI SUZUKI SIGNS PACT WITH KAMARAJAR PORT

OMICRON BF.7 SCARE: THERMAL TESTING FOR INT’L TRAVELLERS

Health min Sawant urges kids, elderly to wear masks as a precautionary measure

Mumbai: State Health Minister Tanaji Sawant on Thursday said international travellers arriving in the state will undergo thermal testing amid concern of a possible spike in COVID-19 cases due to the BF.7 variant of Omicron.

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in a few countries, the state Health Department has asked all district administrations and municipal corporations to increase COVID-19 testing.

“From Monday (December 26), 2% of the passengers will be tested from international flights arriving in the state. There is no reason to worry and guidelines should be followed,” said the minister.

He was speaking in the state Assembly after a meeting to review the situation was chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Sawant told the House that no patient of the BF.7 variant has been re-

From Monday (December 26), 2% of the passengers will be tested from international flights arriving in the state. There is no reason to worry and guidelines should be followed.

—Tanaji Sawant, Maha Health Minister

No cases of the new variant have been reported in Maharashtra yet. —FILE PHOTO

DON’T PANIC, STAY PREPARED: FADNAVIS

The state is doing genome sequencing in identified cases, he said, adding the global scenario, the state’s preparedness in case of a surge, vaccinations, as well as, other issues related to the pandemic were discussed in the review meeting. “Citizens need not panic at all but everyone must take appropriate precautions,” said the Deputy CM.

THERE MAY BE DEARTH OF MEDS IN HOSPITALS, WARNS TOPE

Nagpur: Former state Health Minister Rajesh Tope has warned of a medicine shortage in hospitals amid the advent of the BF.7 Omicron variant from China in India.

While speaking to media persons at the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur on Thursday, Tope stated, “A new variant of the

ported in Maharashtra, and added that of the four cases detected in India, two each are from Gujarat and Odisha.

virus has broken out in the world. Therefore, the Maharashtra government needs to be alert and

Sawant emphasized on testing, tracking, treatment and vaccination, but stressed there was nothing to fear.

Anahita Pandole discharged from hospital after 108 days

She survived the car crash that killed bizman Cyrus Mistry and her brother-inlaw Jehangir

Mumbai: Dr Anahita Pandole, the lone survivor of the car crash that claimed the lives of industrialist Cyrus Mistry and her brotherin-law Jehangir Pandole, was discharged from a city-based hospital on Thursday. Dr Anahita who was driving the Mercedes-Benz car when it met with an accident, was discharged after 108 days of her admission.

"After weeks of intensive care, multiple surgeries, medical management and rehab, Dr

Anahita is finally on the path of recovery. She has gone through extensive rehabilitation to attain functional independence," an official statement from sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital said.

The Palghar police registered a case against Dr Anahita in November under relevant sec-

tions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It included sections 304 (A) (causing death by rash and negligent act), 279 (rash driving on a public road) and 337 (causing death by act endangering life and personal safety of others) besides the Motor Vehicles Act at Kasa police station in the district.

implement the tracking, testing, and treatment formula immediately.”

Tope also called for inspections and repairs at government hospitals, oxygen plants, wherever required. “There is also a need for urgent inspection, maintenance, and repair of oxygen plants and other systems set up by the previous

Kids and elderly should wear masks as a precautionary measure, besides following social distancing. If

government at the taluka hospital level. It is necessary to keep isolation wards ready everywhere in the state and also medicine supply. Along with filling vacancies in the Health Department, the state should form a task force and implement all Central government guidelines immediately,” he added.

Omicron infected four people, this new variant infects 10 people, so its transmission rate is high, Sawant asserted.

Pune (PTI): Mukta Tilak, MLA, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Pune passed away at a private hospital after a five-year-long battle with cancer, the hospital authorities said.

Tilak (57), who was a first-time legislator, represented the Kasba Assembly segment in Pune city.

“She was diagnosed with cancer five years ago and was admitted to the hospital 10 days back and breathed her last around 3.30 pm today,” Dr Shailesh Puntambekar, Surgical Oncologist and Medical Director of Galaxy Care hospital said.

Before becoming an MLA in 2019, Tilak was also the mayor of Pune. She was a great-granddaughter-in-law of freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak. She is survived by her husband Shailesh Tilak, a daughter and a son, a local BJP functionary said.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has restrained several hotels, pubs and restaurants in Mumbai from playing a list of popular film and non-film music during Christmas and New Year’s Eve programmes unless they pay license fees and secure copyright permissions from music licensing body

Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL).

Founded in 1941, PPL India describes itself as a performance rights organization that holds performance licence to 25 lakh songs in Hindi, English and other languages assigned to it by 340 music labels. PPL had recently moved HC to get a continuation of or-

ders passed last December against hotels and restaurants.

The recent court orders assume significance as it applies to all usage of music, including ones being played in public places on New Year’s Eve, Christmas and any other event or in the background throughout the year, PPL said.

Each year, during Christmas and New Year, restaurants and hotels organize parties and play music, including songs owned by PPL under the Copyrights Act, which stipulates these establishments are required to seek permission and pay a fee to PPL in lieu of using its music.

Court denies bail to Mumbai Sea Link accident accused

Nashik (PTI): The Nashik district liaison head of the Shiv Sena - UBT on Thursday joined the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Bhausaheb Chaudhari joined Balasabenachi Shiv Sena in Nagpur, where the winter session of the state legislature is underway, in the presence of CM Shinde and Nashik Guardian Minister Dada Bhuse.

The Nashik Rural Unit Chief of Shiv Sena - UBT Sunil Patil also joined the Shinde faction, the

SHRADDHA WALKAR-LIKE MURDER

CM said in a tweet. Shiv Sena UBT Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut tweeted Chaudhari had been expelled from the party after he joined the rival faction.

Chaudhari was known to be a close aide of Raut, one of the key leaders of the Shiv Sena - UBT.

The court mentioned that the accused was driving at 109kmph at the time of the incident

Mumbai: A Mumbai court, denied bail to Irfan Abdul Rahim Bilakiya who is accused in an accident on the Bandra Worli Sea Link that killed five persons.

Additional Sessions Judge VS Gaike denied bail on 17 December.

The order was made public on Thursday.

It stated that the accused was driving at 109kmph at the time of the incident against the stipulated speed limit of 80kmph.

Moreover, he has received nine e-challans

for speeding earlier, which, prima facie, show he had sufficient knowledge that his dangerous act may cause death, the court said.

On December 05, the accused allegedly rammed his SUV into three stationary cars and an ambulance on the bridge. Five persons were killed and eight injured in the accident.

He was held for culpable homicide not

Man kills live-in partner, dumps body near bridge

The deceased woman’s partner, identified as Riyaz Khan, has been accused of betraying and killing her; the accused is married and the victim was pressuring him to marry her

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: Amid the ongoing murder investigation of Shraddha Walkar, a woman from Rajasthan—identified as Urvi Vaishnav—was found dead near a bridge in Navi Mumbai.

Urvi’s family has accused her live-in partner—identified as Riyaz Khan—of betraying and killing her.

According to Amit Kale, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Navi Mumbai, the incident took place on December 12, 2022.

“We found the body of a woman aged between 25-30 near a bridge, following which a murder case was filed at Panvel police. The Navi Mumbai crime branch Unit 2 investigated the case and found physical evi-

dences,” Kale said.

During the investigation, the lover of the woman allegedly turned out to be the killer. As of now, both Riyaz and his accomplice are in the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch’s custody.

The police officer also mentioned that the evidences revealed that the girl visited a sandal shop with a friend.

“During the investigation, we came to know that the accused used to work as a gym trainer. We further investigated

The incident took place on December 12, 2022. We found the body of a woman aged between 25-30 near a bridge, following which a murder case was filed at Panvel police. The Navi Mumbai crime branch Unit 2 investigated the case and found some physical evidence.

the case and checked several gyms in the area and located the man in Ghansoli. We first took the co-accused in the custody. He then informed us about the main accused, who was later arrested,” he said. Police have also said

that the victim and the accused were both in a relationship. The accused is married and the victim was pressuring him to marry her, which led to the accused strangulating the woman and dumping her body at a secluded place.

Thane: National refiner Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) on Thursday reported a leakage in its diesel pipeline connecting Mumbai and Manmad in the state’s Nashik district following a failed attempt to steal the fuel.

A gang of miscreants made the unsuccessful bid to tap the fuel in Shil Phata area near Thane city early on Thursday morning, which led to a minor leakage of the pipeline and a temporary shutdown of the facility.

amounting to murder and other offences under Indian Penal Code provisions.

The defendant’s lawyers had claimed Bilakiya was a victim of failure of the entire system and had been “framed” in the case. They alleged the accident was due to the mismanagement and negligence of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and government authorities.

The pipeline is up and fully functional now, said a BPCL spokesman. Thane Municipal Corporation’s Regional Disaster Management Cell chief, Avinash Sawant, said the leakage in the 18-inch high-pressure diesel pipeline started at 5.21 am near a gas godown at Shil Phata near Thane and the fuel spilled into the area.

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

—Amit Kale, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Navi Mumbai

CM Eknath Shinde

Pune BJP MLA Mukta Tilak dies at 57

Oil theft attempt causes leakage, BPCL line shut

Nashik Sena - UBT leader joins Eknath Shinde faction

‘Hotels, pubs can not play songs until they pay license fee to PPL’

Officials inspect mangled remains of the car. —FILE PHOTO

ONE WOMAN ARMY!

Astrong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong, believes Ritu Sharma from the beautiful place of ‘Pilani’.

She is also a perfect example of influential woman. While sharing her bittersweet journey to City First, the diva expressed, “ I have completed my post-graduation and am always seeking opportunities where I can utilise my skills & ability to show my talent to the world. I am a multi-talented girl who is working in one of the top 10 companies “Accenture” under the accounts and finance profile with my favourite passion modelling. I always wanted to keep my parents proud and become an independent girl who always aims high.

The modelling industry demand individuals who have the ability to organise their time and workload, to be flexible and open to change and most important ability to work well with others. Also, a model should be brave to try new things and not be too afraid to express themselves model should be original, creative and have the courage to do modelling.”

According to the ravishing beauty, “My inspiration is my father “Surya Prakash Sharma”. He faced so many problems in his life but he never give up and so hard work for us, so here I am and following the same what my father is doing work hard. While sharing about her memorable moment, “ I have so many memorable and rewarding movements but the most beautiful movement is becoming top 15 Elite Miss Rajasthan 2022. When I took the trophy for the top 15 Elitemissrajasthan that movement changed my life and it brings me to the top of Rajasthan and feel very beautiful and confident. This also makes my father happy and proud and this makes me the happiest daughter in the world. I am truly grateful to Jagdeesh Chandra sir and Gaurav Gaur for supporting me during my journey.”

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

—PHOTOS BY MUKESH KIRADOO

THERE’S NO SUBSTITUTE TO HARDWORK: SAMMY

Only a few people do what they love and follow their hearts. Following your heart is an exhilarating feeling and thrill; it is an adventure that you must experience before leaving this world.

City First caught up with Soumyajit Modak, popularly known as Sammy, about his journey and the challenges he faced so far!

Rahul Faujdar

Being on stage, presenting, talking, interacting, motivating, mentoring and offering creative solutions, that’s what keeps Sammy fueled. The microphone and the stage are his callings! As an anchor, he has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world. Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Dynamos, Jaipur Pink Panthers, Dabangg Delhi, Bengaluru Bulls, Puneri Paltan, Ranchi Rays, La Liga India, Premier League India and Royal Challenge Bold league are some of the names who have turned to him for their bigticket events.

When asked about his career choices, Sammy said, “I started my career as a radio jockey in 2011 with Power FM and Kolkata and my hosting career with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012. I used to host events before that but not of a magnitude of an IPL. It was always a conscious effort to keep both ships running together.” He further added, “Sports was always a part of life growing up. My mother’s side of the family is sports fanatics including my mother. I remember growing up mom and I would sit and watch cricket and football matches together. There was an India match in Bangalore where Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble batted out of their skins to take India home, their respective moms were in the stadium watching, and I was watching with my mom at home. My first match as a host just reaffirmed the fact that I was born to do this.

When asked about the challenges he faced, the dynamic man said, “Quite a lot. Starting with the fact that I was one of the first containment hosts in the country, so did not have a reference point to go to. The third season onwards I had an idea of what works and what doesn’t work. I think the fact that I understand the game very well is an advantage I have. Benchmarking your cost also is a challenge honestly. People

don’t know how much to pay you. A very interesting reply was received when asked if there is a scope for the next common man who loves cricket and is trained in media journalism to come through. Currently, the arena is dominated by

ex-cricketers, he said, Yes why not? Look at Harsha Bhogle. Look at Jatin Sapru. Non-cricketers yet some of the best in the industry. It will be difficult for sure to make a name for a non-cricketer, but it is not impossible. Always try and

see how can you bring a bit of “you” into it.

On his experience with FIFA World Cup, Sammy told that it was absolutely fantastic. He continued, “The fact that I hosted the FIFA women’s World Cup here in India is a big deal to

me. Honestly, you get to learn so much. During the games everyone was focused on one and only one thing, everyone in the stadium should have fun. And that just resonates so well with what I believe in - “Give everyone in the stadium

their ticket money’s worth”.

When asked how he wishes to inspire the younger generation and guide them to seek interviews on the ground, Modak exclaimed, “Believe in your dreams. Work very hard to make them

true. On the path to success, you will be hindered by a lot of obstacles and stupid people. Don’t make them your reason to whine and cry. Just forgive and move ahead. You should be dictating your life, nobody else.”

Sammy with the Indian National Flag during the Ind vs Pak held at Dubai International Stadium

Sammy at the ElClasico screening for LaLiga in Mumbai

Sammy with his nephews, Dhruv and Arunabh Sammy with Rahul Faujdar

Sammy at the finals of FIFA Women U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022 at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai

Sammy at the Pro Kabaddi Players Tunnel in Pune

Sammy at the Barabati International Stadium, Cuttack, hosting a match in the Legends League Cricket 2022

Sammy with the LaLiga trophy

POOJA CIRKUS ON HER ROLE IN

Interestingly, the popular actress, who is joining hands with both Ranveer Singh and director Rohit Shetty for the first time in her acting career, stated that her character is the only ‘reality check’ in the mad world created by the hitmaker. “Rohit sir’s brief to me was like - In the mad world you are the one person like a ‘reality check’. Except for the one scene, I would say, towards the interval. But everything else is like, I am the ‘seedha’ character - the emotional angle of the film,” revealed Pooja Hegde. “So, for me, it was a different experience. I was watching the comedy around me and had to keep sane. Because it was very tempting to kind of, want to be a part of it and to go extra, and be like ‘oh even I wanna do something like that.’ But that’s not my character in the film. So my journey was switched towards that,” concluded the Cirkus actress.

SHRUTI & SANTANU CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF EACH OTHER

Shruti Haasan is extremely active on social media and loves to share every aspect of her life with the fans. She also is vocal about her live-in relationship with her doodler beau San-

on posting glimpses of their ‘we’ time on Instagram. Recently, the Salaar star took to the story section of the photo-sharing app, and dropped a loveydovey couple photograph, along with the caption, ‘All

person, and a very unique human being. People think that a lot of the time we call paparazzi, and yes there are times we do when we are looking extra cute or something (laughs). But a lot of the time we don’t, and it was just getting silly to like being photographed.

I also like to share my life on social media, I think it’s been a great avenue for people to connect with me as a person, and this is a big part of my life.”

Vicky compares Katrina to Hema Malini

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif are one of the most loved couples in Bollywood. Their fans love them a lot and always showed a lot of love.

Vicky said that Katrina is a known face because of her work and she represents Bollywood along with Amitabh Bachchan. He did mention that Hema Malini used to be one of these faces. Talking further he also said that his wife has achieved that status.

TAMANNAAH BHATIA TURNS 32!

he actress turned a year older this Wednesday. It’s her 32nd birthday and she has ringed in her special day with her loved ones. Tamannaah is going to spend her time in Coimbatore at Isha Yoga Center situated at the foothills of Velliangiri. The actress has had a rather eventful year with multiple releases and much more. This break will help her re-align herself, reconnect to nature and give her a much-needed break. As much as it’s important to work, taking a break too is equally important. Tamannaah’s celebration reminds us to take a break and be present in the moment appreciating everything we have. The actress celebrated her birthday last year with close friends & family. Social media was flooded with celebratory messages, fan art and indeed an amazing day. The actress has had a wonderful career with many memorable projects in Bollywood as well as various Tamil and Telegu films.

Anushka calls Kareena to form a ‘cat crew’

Anushka Sharma and Kareena Kapoor Khan are one of the most popular actors in the Bollywood industry. They both have carved out their niche in the industry and have not given a pause in their acting career even after getting married. Recently, Anushka was roped in for promoting a popular sporting brand following which she faced severe backlash.

Anushka Sharma and a popular sporting brand PUMA exchanges bittersweet comments with each other on Instagram after Anushka accused the brand of using her images without prior permission.

A day later, on Tuesday, Anushka signed a mutual agreement and then was seen promoting the brand with energy and enthusiasm. Taking to Instagram, she now recalled Kareena’s association with the brand’s Yoga collection and said, “Thank you @kareenakapoorkhan!”

Rashmika remembers Puneeth Rajkumar

The demise of the late San dalwood star Puneeth Ra jkumar left a huge void in the Kannada film in dustry after he passed away in October last year. He left for a heavenly abode after suffering a heart attack. Back in 2017, he shared the screen with Push pa actress Rashmika Man danna in the action enter tainer, Anjani Putra. As the project completed 5 years of its release today on 21st December, the diva took to her Twit ter handle and penned a heartfelt note, sharing her ex perience of working with the Power Star.

Shruti Haasan

...her post

Katrina Kaif Pooja

Anushka Sharma (L) and Kareena Kapoor Khan (R)

Rashmika Mandanna

Tamannaah Bhatia

The b’day celebrations

YO YO HONEY SINGH AND IULIA VANTUR OPEN UP ON THEIR SONG YAI RE.

song, I didn’t even know the original song was iconic. But when I saw the original one it scared me as we had to match up to that level. I trusted him all along Especially his music and Tips “

Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has recreated the 1990s hit track 'Yai Re' from the movie 'Rangeela', which was Grammy and Oscar-winning composer A. R. Rahman's first Hindi soundtrack. The gorgeous Iulia’s sultry look has added that extra touch of oomph to the track. She is seen in a whole new avatar which has undoubtedly set our screens on fire.

Yo Yo Honey Singh and Lulia got in a candid chat with Ashish Tiwari of First India and spoke about their experience.

Sharing how she got on board Iulia shared,” I started dancing when I heard the

Honey Singh added, “There was indeed a pressure to not spoil the song and keep its legacy intact. I loved the original song Yai Re and when the opportunity came in to recreate such an iconic track, I jumped on it. Yai Re is a party anthem of 20222023. We hope the fans love it as much as we loved creating it”

Sharing her experience Iulia shared, “I didn’t want to listen the song too many times that would spoil the new vision for this song so I just went ahead with the flow, I just landed and saw the preps for the song and was really worried but the team helped me get everything in place”

Honey Singh shared

his experience working with Iulia he said, “ Iulia’s dedication, hard work and focus towards work is commendable. We have shot in extreme conditions but her efforts towards everything is commendable.” He added, “I have bigger dreams and I am working towards it. I want to achieve things that no one can imagine. Soon I am bringing my old self with a new album for my fans. I am the OG and I am the phoenix I rise from the ashes that‘s honey Singh 3.0

Ayushmann’s

Holiday

for everyone”

The music video is directed by Mi hir Gulati, The video is bewitch ing right from the start, set in a club where both Honey and Iulia are seen grooving to the all-new “Yai Re”.

The song is available on the Tips Music Channel.

Plans

Ayushmann will be leaving for Chandigarh and will ring in the New Year with his family.

Talking about the same Ayushmann shares, “I feel it is important to spend quality time with your family. One must always remember where one’s roots are and for me it’s Chandigarh. My parents and this city have shaped me into the person that I have become today. Despite being in Mumbai, I always feel a massive gravitational pull for my home. I usually have erratic schedules because of shoots, promotions, etc, I make it a point to go back to my family in Chandigarh, especially during the holidays.” He further adds, “My mom and my mother-inlaw spoils me with my favourite dishes and I enjoy it. Right from rajma – chawal to Sarson ka saag makke ki roti – I like to eat all the delicacies that they make because they are simply divine. This holiday season I’m looking to get pampered in Chandigarh.”

Sara’s Winter Days in

Sara Ali Khan loves to explore the world. She never misses the chance of going around and sharing pictures, and videos with her fans. This time she is enjoying a vacation with her mother Amrita Singh in the United Kingdom. The actress took to her social handle and shared a few pictures and videos from the UK. In the pictures, we can see her in the pool, sightseeing with Amrita in the city, watching an early sunset in a park and ending the day with an elaborate dinner. Sara is wearing pink colour gym wear along with a pink jacket and shoes. Amrita is seen in casuals with a long black winter jacket. Sara also shared

Akshay Kumar. She has four films lined up for next year. She will be seen oppo site Vicky Kaush al in Laxman Utekar's next and has al ready wrapped up the shoot. She also has Metro... In Dino co-star ring Aditya Roy Kapur and Gaslight with Vikrant Massey in her kitty.

Randeep Hooda the new Mr. Perfectionist ?

With an IMDb rating of 9 and so much love from across the globe, CAT has been trending on #1 on Netflix India & in top 10 Rankings on Netflix over 18 countries. Randeep Hooda has been praised for his restrained performance showing both anguish and anger of the character who gradually transitions into a schemer. Actor Aamir Khan who is apparently known as a Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood was recently seen in ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’. The movie turned out to be a box-office disaster. His role wasnt performed with anything near perfection. On the other hand actor Randeep

Hooda who is known for his method acting and strong characters over the years, es sayed his character with such finesse, nearing the peak of perfection. On screen you only see Gurnam Sin gh and forget Randeep Hooda, that's his real victo ry. Hats of to Hooda

MASTERMIND OF MUSIC

to collaborate with more and more artists. With each musician it’s differ ent, and I learned how to see music from the other side.

After giving multiple hits, SingerComposer Prateek Gandhi is all set to charm his audience with yet another Rajasthani groovy and peppy number 'Naina Ri Patang'.

Describe your creative process for your latest release Aabaad.

There is no such precise process for me as I’m a lyrics composer basically. I always need words, phrases or lyrics to start with.

And then towards final composing + final lyrics.

The major step is music production that what sound will suit my song, so yes it’s a step by step thing and I like to move very calmly and logically too in music.

The music video was curatively shot in the exotic locations of Rajasthan, how difficult it was to work in an extreme climate?

It was not difficult because a major portion was shot in Artist's house (Udaipur). But the weather was too hot and it was not easy to shoot outdoors with a big crew. I feel the

duo director Pratap and harish + entire production crew were superb while shooting.

Give some insights about your latest Rajasthani Indie-Pop music video 'Naina Ri Patang' featuring Sidhika Sharma and Ashish Drill.

Wonderful experience and superb kickstart with Machaao Music & Talent.

I did the music part and I discussed my vision with Machaao Team, rest of everything they have taken care of - from story boarding to shooting to release everything happened so nicely!

I’m from Rajasthan so I

wanted to bring back my native language in an Indie-pop manner and yes here we are.

You had sung Mauka Mauka for India vs Pakistan match documentary and have worked with eminent singers like Benny Dayal, Ankit Tiwari, Shefali Alvares and many more, share your experience.

Working with your seniors and experienced talented artists/brands is always a joy, u get to learn and adopt a lot of things from them.

I personally cherished those moments and I want

What were some of the battles you fought and are still fighting in your journey?

The battle is equal to reaching maximum po tential. That’s all I can say, rest I feel I’m capable enough to fight for. "The more you burn the more you shine“ Like everyone else, I also have gone through many phases of life and have seen a lot of transi tions too.

Talk to us about your achievements?

Working with star sports, been 5 years now and still working.

Singer-Composer Prateek Gandhi speaks about his latest Rajasthani Indie-Pop music video 'Naina Ri Patang' featuring Sidhika Sharma and Ashish Drall with City First UTTKARSHA

Honey Singh and Iulia Vantur

Ayushmann Khurrana

Randeep Hooda

Sara Ali Khan

Her IG story...

Honey Singh