First India-Jaipur Edition-24th January 2023

NATIONAL GIRL CHILD DAY!

Oppn stages protest over paper leaks amid Guv’s address

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Yogesh Sharma and Naresh Sharma

Jaipur: The Rajasthan Assembly budget session began on Monday with the Governor’s address amid an Opposition protest over incidents of paper leaks, as the Speaker suspended 3 agitating RLP MLAs for the day and ordered them to be marshalled out.

Governor Kalraj Mishra in his address highlighted the achievements and progress made during the four years of the Congress rule, including the steps taken to curb incidents of paper leaks. As soon as the House assembled for the day, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria

raised the issue of paper leaks following which the Opposition members started creating an uproar.

PARAKRAM DIWAS

Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLAs stormed the Well of the House carrying placards demanding a CBI inquiry

into paper leak cases even as the governor continued his address for sometime amid din. The BJP MLAs also pro-

GOLDEN TRIBUTE TO INDIA’S HEROES!

Andaman

New

SC DISMISSES CBI APPEAL AGAINST BAIL TO ANIL DESHMUKH

New Delhi: In a major relief for former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the CBI’s appeal challenging the Bombay High Court order granting bail to NCP leader in a corruption case.

Islamabad:

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday named 21 Islands in Andaman and Nicobar after recipients of India’s highest military decoration, the Param Vir Chakra. The naming was done on occasion of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 126th birth anniv also known as Parakram Diwas.

“When history is being made, the future generations not just remember, assess and evaluate it, but also find constant inspiration from it,” Modi said. The first recipient of the award was Major Somnath Sharma, who lost his life while fighting against Pak in 1947. P5

INDIA 1ST COUNTRY TO NAME ISLANDS

AFTER SOLDIERS: HM

REMEMBERING NETAJI!

8

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Legendary boxer Mary Kom will head five-member oversight committee formed by the Indian Sports Ministry to look into the allegations of sexual harassment of women wrestlers by Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said on Monday. P6

Aishwary Pradhan

majority in the upcoming Assembly elections.

He also gave a big message to the BJP leaders in the state saying that everyone has a desire to become MLA and MP but one should become a leader. “You don’t get anything by asking, you get it by ability. Don’t go up, go down. If you go to the bottom, you will become a leader,” he said.

Nadda also advised the workers to stay on

tested in the Well of the house. They raised slogans like ‘Rajya Sarkar Weak Hai Har Paper Leak Hai’. More on P3

BELOW

DHAN SINGH ISLAND

Lot of devp has taken place in Raj but BJP people did not want to hear it in Assembly. Incidents like paper leaks have taken place in BJP states also but accused were not caught.

—Ashok Gehlot, CM

I want to resign, have told PM: Maha Guv

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Monday said that he has expressed his desire to PM Narendra Modi to resign from his post. In a statement issued by Raj Bhavan, Koshyari, 81, expressed his desire to spend the rest of his life reading, writing and other activities.

Koshyari, who had often been at odds with the ousted Uddhav-led

MVA govt, triggered Opposition backlash over his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji, whom he described as the “icon of olden times”. His term as Guv was marred with sies. He pointed to post in

Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Daughter of actor Suniel Shetty, Athiya Shetty and Cricketer KL Rahul’s wedding marks the first big fat celeb wedding of 2023. They tied knot in their Khandala farmhouse on Monday.

First

P5

the ground and work. He said BJP should be paramount for all leaders and workers. In his 35-minute speech, Nadda attacked Gehlot govt in State and called upon workers to unite and prepare for polls. He said that crimes are continuously increasing in Rajasthan, papers are

being leaked, and no one is being heard in govt.

“In such a situation, BJP workers should go among the public and create an atmosphere against the government regarding its anti-people policies so that the BJP gets a two-thirds majority in the coming polls,” he said.

breach” by BBC in its duties as a public broadcaster in UK over a controversial documentary series on PM Modi.

New Delhi: British High Commissioner to India Alexander Ellis said India’s G20 Presidency is an “opportunity” to tell the story of a “new and modern India,” it can tackle some of ‘world’s big problems’. P6

Jaipur: BJP National President JP Nadda on Monday exuded confidence that the party will form a government in the state with three-fourth

BJP Nat’l Prez gave mantra of victory to the members and said they should speak less, listen more to the public

JP Nadda being felicitated by Satish Poonia in presence of Arun Singh, Vasundhara Raje, Gulab Chand Kataria, Om Mathur, Rajyavardhan Rathore and others during the State executive committee meeting, in Jaipur on Monday.

PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

‘SUPPORT US AND WE WILL RESTORE STATEHOOD IN J&K’

KL RAHUL, ATHIYA SHETTY TIE KNOT!

India Bureau Jammu: Cong leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday addressing a gathering at the Satwari Chowk said that the party will put all its might to restore statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and strongly accused the NDA Government at the Centre of snatching away the statehood.

PAKISTAN SUFFERS

HUGE POWER OUTAGE AFTER GRID FAILURE

Delhi: Two passengers supposed to fly a SpiceJet flight from New Delhi to Hyderabad on Monday were handed over to the security agency. Male passenger touched the female cabin crew inappropriately.

Millions of people were without electricity in Karachi, Islamabad etc as Pakistan experienced a nationwide power outage on Monday due to reduced frequency in national grid.

Mumbai: Indian Navy on Monday commissioned the fifth Kalvari class submarine Vagir at the naval dockyard in Mumbai in presence of Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar. P6

PM Modi, HM Shah pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

21

& Nicobar Islands named after PVC awardees

Moni Sharma

PM Narendra Modi at naming ceremony of 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, via VC, on Monday. Amit Shah and others present during the event in Port Blair on Monday.

(L) LS Speaker Om Birla, PM Narendra Modi, S Jaishankar, Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, VK Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal and other dignitaries on occasion of birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in New Delhi on Monday. (R) PM Narendra Modi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge share a lighter moment. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is also seen here.

Mary Kom Anurag Thakur

The WFI president will not discharge his duties and stay away from affairs of WFI. The working of WFI will be looked after by Oversight Committee till their mandated duration and it will also probe the serious allegations against WFI and its chief.

—Anurag Thakur, Union Sports Minister

When you become a leader, you will get the post automatically. You should have the ability. Leaders are not made overnight.

—JP Nadda, BJP National President

Plea in Del HC against wrestlers for levelling harassment charges against WFI President

It

was an absolute honour and privilege for me to serve as the

Rajya Sevak or

Rajyapal

of a great state like Maharashtra – the land of saints, social reformers and valiant fighters.

—Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Maharashtra Governor

CM GEHLOT TO PRESENT THE STATE BUDGET ON FEB 10 INSTEAD OF FEB

Jaipur: CM Ashok Gehlot will present the state budget on February 10 instead of February 8. This decision was taken in the BAC meeting. BAC report will be tabled in Assembly today and Governor’s address will also be discussed. Feb 25-29 is proposed to be a recess of the sittings of House. Feb 1 is a national holiday due to the budget of the country.

RAJASTHAN ASSEMBLY BUDGET SESSION BEGINS ON STORMY NOTE

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Guv Kalraj Mishra, Dr CP Joshi, CM Ashok Gehlot, Usha Sharma, Shanti Dhariwal and others on 1st day of Assembly on Monday.

Vasundhara Raje, Satish Poonia, Rajendra Rathore, Kalicharan Saraf, Ashok Lahoty and other BJP leaders protest in the Assembly.

In Guv’s address, there was info about works of govt. So far govt has done many works, schemes are being run in state in a better way than previous govt, but Oppn are busy wasting the time by arguing beyond all these things.

RUSU PREZ SLAPPED BY GENERAL SECY

Clash broke out and Nirmal Chaudhary was slapped in front of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, other leaders

Bharat Dixit

Jaipur: A scuffle broke out between two student groups at Maharani Girls College here during a programme on Monday where Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was present as chief guest.

Besides Shekhawat, BJP MLA Kalicharan Saraf and other leaders were also present on the stage when the incident happened, police said.Maharani Girls College is a constituent college of the University of Rajasthan.

The clash broke out after Rajasthan University Students Union (RUSU) president Nirmal Chaudhary was al-

legedly slapped by RUSU general secretary Arvind Jajra on the stage.

Chaudhary won the RUSU president poll in August last year as an

independent candidate while Jajra is from ABVP and both have election related enmity, officials said.

The programme was organised for the inau-

guration of the student union’s office at the college.

Soon after Shekhawat delivered his address, Chaudhary went to the stage and waved

More docs join Right to Health Bill protest

Vikas Sharma

Jaipur: All the doctors’ organizations have now come together to protest against the proposed Right to Health Bill in the state.

As they boycotted work at private hospitals and nursing homes, a meeting of teachers was held in Jaipur Medical Association in which Rajasthan serving doctors Sangh, Upchar and other organizations supported the movement.

Representatives of all the medical organizations said that the Right to Health Bill should not be accepted

Man throws baby girl in canal to get govt permanent job

Bikaner (PTI): A man working as a contractual employee in the state government threw his five-monthold daughter in the Indira Gandhi Canal to avoid hurdles in securing a permanent job because of three children, police said Monday. The partner in crime was his wife.

“The couple has been arrested for murdering their daughter. The man along with his wife took the step to secure his contractual government job,” Bikaner SP Yogesh Yadav said.

The incident occurred in the Bikaner district on Sunday evening when the couple threw the girl into the canal in Chhatargarh

Five-year-old girl died after which the couple was nabbed.

police station area. Meghwal (36) is presently posted as school assistant in Chandasar panchayat and given an affidavit that he has two children and was expecting that he would not get permanent job due to third child, SHO Jai Kumar said. A case was filed against Meghwal and his wife Geeta Devi (33).

under any circumstance. Dr Ajay Chaudhary, State President of Rajasthan Serving Doctors Association, JMA

2 more SHOs suspended in liquor case

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The effect of CM Ashok Gehlot’s sternness is visible in the matter related to illegal liquor in the city. On the instructions of DGP Umesh Mishra two police officers in the state capital have been suspended. Besides, two police station officers have also been suspended by the police headquarters due to departmental action on charges of negligence in making spurious liquor in an illegal liquor factory in the city. Earlier, four constables have been suspended in the case. A police spokesperson said that SHO Shivdaspura Mangilal Bishnoi and SHO Sanganer Sadar Brijmohan Kavia have been suspended due to the proposed departmental inquiry.

President Dr Tarun Ojha, Secretary Dr Anurag Sharma, Dr Sunil Gadsa, representative of treatment and many medical organizations were present.

Dr Vijay Kapoor, Secretary, Private Hospital and Nursing Home Society said, “If the government wants, then they should first provide the Right to Food, Right to Sanitization bill. It is wrong to impose the Right to Health Bill only on medical institutions.”

at the students when Jajra allegedly slapped him from behind and pushed him following which Chaudhary’s supporters thrashed Jajra on the stage.

NO CASE WAS REGISTERED: ACP RAJENDRA

Soon after Shekhawat delivered his address, Chaudhary went to the stage and waved at the students when Jajra allegedly slapped him from behind and pushed him following which Chaudhary’s supporters thrashed Jajra on the stage. Supporters of both the student leaders clashed with each other, police said. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Jaipur South) Rajendra said that no case was registered and the matter was settled after sometime. Later, Chaudhary told reporters that he was an invited guest for the programme and was “slapped” for no reason. The RUSU president said slapping him cannot stop him from leading the students.

20-year-old raped on pretext of marriage

Satyanarayan Sharma

Jaipur: A case of befriending a girl online and raping her on the pretext of marrying has come to light in the Vidyadhar Nagar area. The victim has registered a case against the accused.

As per the victim the accused has now blocked her number and is refusing to marry her. According to the police, a 20-year-old girl

Thousands attend Bhagwat Katha

registered a case at the police station.

It is reported that six months ago a person named Rashid befriended her on Instagram and after some time proposed to her for marriage, to which she agreed. Once Rashid took her to a cafe behind National Handloom located in Vidyadhar Nagar and raped her on the pretext of marriage.

The police is investigating the matter.

Gold worth `55L seized from 2 at Jaipur airport

Jaipur (PTI): Gold valued over Rs 55 lakh was allegedly seized from two passengers at the Jaipur International Airport here, a customs official said on Monday.

Gold weighing 380 grams and valued at around Rs 22,23,000 was recovered from a passenger who arrived from Sharjah, he said. The gold was in paste form and concealed in the bottom hem of a pant, the official said.

In another seizure, gold weighing 576 grams and valued at Rs 33,69,600 was recovered from a passenger who arrived from Riyad via Shar-

jah. The gold was also in paste form and covered in two silicon rubber capsules, which were concealed in underwear, he said.

Unemployed youth protest over 21-point demands

Jaipur: The unemployed in Rajasthan laid siege to the Vidhan Sabha on Monday with their 21-point demands.

Monu Singh Rajawat

Dausa: A huge crowd of devotees gathered for the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha going on in the religious city Mehandipur Balaji on its second day on Monday.

Mahant Nareshpuri Maharaj, President of Siddhapeeth Balaji Temple Trust did Maha Aarti with chanting of Bhagwat Katha. Besides, the circumambulation of Bhagwat Katha Sthal was also

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OF `120 CRORE

done.On the occasion, thousands of people were present in the Bhagwat Pandal to listen to the story from the Mukharvind of Mridul Krishna Shastri.

Mahant Naresh Puri Maharaj welcomed saints from all over the country. Besides, 108 pundits performed yagna near Shrimad Bhagwat Katha Pandal. Gayatri Mantras were chanted. The Havan Yagya will continue for seven days.

A large number of unemployed reached the state from across Rajasthan. During this, the police stopped the unemployed at 22 Godown Circle in the city.

The unemployed protested against the government and handed over a demand letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The official representatives of the Rajasthan Berozgar Ekikrath Sangh said that if their demands were not met at the earliest, they will switch to fierce movement across the state.

State President of Rajasthan Berozgar

1923 govt schools to undergo repair work

`10,000 to `1L per year is transferred to all the schools under Composite School Grant under Samagra Shiksha on the basis of nomination

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved a financial provision of Rs 120 crore for special repair works in 1,923 government schools. This amount has been sanctioned for schools from Composite School Grant.

It is noteworthy that Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh per year is transferred to all the schools in the state under Composite School Grant under Samagra Shiksha on the

basis of nomination. With this money, the drinking water system in schools, electric-

ity expenses, internetrelated works as well as repair works is done in schools.

Important decisions are being taken by the state government in the field of education as many important schemes including Mahatma Gandhi English Medium School for quality education, Love-Kush Vatika for pre-primary education, Chief Minister Bal Gopal Yojana for providing milk to students twice a week, Chief Minister Free Uniform Yojana for free dress have been implemented in the state.

Vet officer falls unconscious during strike

Jaipur: The Veterinary Officer, Dr Jangsher Ali Khan who has been on hunger strike for 148 hours, has fainted. The 108 ambulances reached the picket site and he was rushed to the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital. The fast unto death by the veterinarians has been observed at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry for 11-point demands.

Ekikrath Sangh Upen Yadav said that exam cheating/copying mafia is leaking papers of every recruitment exam in the state. In which government employees and leaders are also included. In such a situation, there should be a CBI inquiry into the paper leak case.

Along with this, by completing the pending recruitment processes at the earliest, a rasu-

ka should also be applied in the recruitment examinations. If the government does not fulfill their demands then we will start a youth public awareness campaign across the state in February where h the unemployed will reach the village Dhani, the difference between the words and actions of the Rajasthan govt will be conveyed to the general public.

First India Bureau

Drinking water system, electricity expenses, internet-related and other repair works will be carried out in the schools.

One of the passengers brought gold from Sharjah to Jaipur in paste form and concealed in bottom hem of his pant.

First India Bureau

Mahant Nareshpuri along with other religious leaders on Monday.

Upen Yadav with unemployed youth protesting at Bais Godam Circle in Jaipur on Monday.

First India Bureau

Soon after Gajendra Singh Shekhawat delivered his address, Nirmal Chaudhary went to the stage and waved at the students when Jajra allegedly slapped him from behind and pushed him following which Chaudhary’s supporters thrashed Jajra on the stage.

Members of JMA address the meeting on Monday.

Promoted by Ashiana Housing Limited

GOVT TO INTRODUCE 8 BILLS AMID UPROAR!

These sort of things create problems in functioning of the House: CM Gehlot

India Bureau

Jaipur: The State govt is likely to bring total of eight bills in this budget session. The most important of these will be the Finance Bill. Appropriation Bill will also be brought. The govt is also preparing to enact a law to give Right to Health. This bill was referred to the Select Committee in last session.

The governor read the speech for some time and due to the ruckus, the address was tabled. The House was adjourned for half an hour for the departure of the Governor. After the house reassembled, newly elected member of the house Anil Kumar Sharma (Congress) was administered the oath of office.

During the oath-taking exercise, RLP MLAs Pukhraj, Narayan Beniwal and Indira Devi continued their protest in the Well of the House while other Opposition members sat quietly.

When his instructions were ignored by the RLP MLAs, the Speaker ordered the marshal to take the three MLAs out of the House. He expelled them from the house for the rest of the day. The speaker said that the

Row erupts as PSK, Dotasra accuse BJP of insulting the National Anthem

Governor Kalraj Mishra and Speaker CP Joshi had moved out of their chair after the governor’s address and the opposition members were in the well of the house when the national anthem played on

proceedings of the house cannot be disrupted like this. He also raised objections over the MLAs coming to the house with posters and placards.

After suspension from the house for the day, RLP MLA Narayan

RAMLAL SHARMA ADAMANT FOR CBI PROBE IN PAPER LEAK

JP MLA Ramlal Sharma said that the BJP MLAs protested in the House regarding paper leak case and demanded for CBI inquiry. The govt will have to accept the demand of the Opposition and the CBI will have to investigate this whole matter.

“Congress ministers are saying that our government is doing well then why govt’s own MLAs are raising questions on it. Ministers should answer this thing,” he said.

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PCC Chief GS Dotasra interacting with media on Monday.

the audio system. The governor had almost turned back and was leaving when the national anthem started. At the same time, CM Ashok

Beniwal said that he and other MLAs were raising the voice of youths. He said that the woman MLA was taken out of the house by the male marshal which is not acceptable and the matter will be raised before the speaker.

Other highlights

Gehlot also drew their attention following which they remained standing. The BJP MLAs rushed to their respective seats as soon

as the national anthem began. Dy LoP Rajendra Rathore told their colleagues to stand wherever they were. Vasundhara Raje also suddenly noticed this. Later, Minister PS Khachariawas accused the BJP MLAs of insulting the national anthem. He said tht the BJP MLAs should apologize for such an act. Dotasra alos accused the BJP MLAs of insulting the national anthem and said that action should be taken.

Sharma, Rajendra Kumar Bhartiya and the victims of the Jodhpur cylinder blast incident. The House was then adjourned for the day. Meanwhile, looking at the strategy of the BJP, a special discussion on the issue can be held.

First India Bureau

Jaipur: During the Governor’s address on the first day of the commencement of the budget session in the Rajasthan Assembly, there was a lot of commotion. CM Ashok Gehlot has targeted BJP and during the interaction with the media, Gehlot said that there was no reduction today due to the agitation by the BJP MLAs.

This kind of environment creates a lot of problems in the functioning of the house and it should not happen.

While attacking BJP, he

said that the BJP doesn’t want to listen. “In the Governor’s address, there was information about the works of the govt. So far the govt has done many important works and the schemes are being run in the state in a better way than the previous government, but the opposition people are busy wasting the time of the House by arguing beyond all these things,” Gehlot said.

Babu Lal & Manoj Sharma

Dy CM Sachin Pilot was on a tour of Chaksu and Tonk on Monday. He laid the foundation stone of Government College near Shitla village of Chaksu and attended the Mahila Sangam program in the Government College campus as the chief guest.

On this occasion, Pilot said that due to res-

Nirmal Tiwari

JP State president Satish Poonia looked inactive in the Assembly on Monday. Poonia silently watched the aggressive attitude of Vasundhara Raje and Rajendra Rathore. He was also seen standing behind the leaders while they were protesting over the paper leak with placards in their hands.F orest and Environment Minister Hemaram Choudhary will be busy in this assembly session as 51 questions related to his department have been listed. Most of the questions are related to encroachment and wildlife. ACS Shikhar Agrawal has held meetings with the Head of Forest Dr DN Pandey and CWLW Arindam Tomar for the preparations of the budget session.

Former DGP R Shekhar no more

First India Bureau

Sachin Pilot addressing students at Govt College in Chaksu.

ervation in the country, women are holding various posts including Sarpanch, Panch, Pradhan, but they need to be given more power. “In

today’s era, there is a need to bring youth forward,” he said. Pilot also inaugurated a private hospital in Civil Lines of Tonk.

Jaipur : Former DGP Rajendra Shekhar died on Monday. He breathed his last at Soni Hospital on JLN Marg on Monday. Shekhar was admitted to the ICU of the hospital for the last 5 days for treatment.

S

“We respect doctors and will listen to them. If the doctors have any suggestions, we will fulfill them,” he said. The minister said that there is Cong govt and in the the last 4 years there has been development in every field. “Be it govt or pvt hospital, treatment is being provided free of cost. Rajasthan’s law and order is 100 times better than that of MP and UP.

Strict action is being taken against those involved in paper leak,” he said. He said that Cong govt is a public welfare and development government and BJP used to lie outside to mislead the public.

peaking on the Right to Health Bill, Min Pratap S Khachariawas said that the Bill is in the interest of the people.M P Kirodi Lal Meena held a public dialogue with people in Vatika village. He said that papers are being leaked in the Rajasthan government and called upon the youth to protest outside the Vidhan Sabha on 24 January and demand the government to conduct a independent probe from the Central agency CBI into the paper leak case. He appealed to the youth to come in maximum numbers and participate in the protest outside the Vidhan Sabha. Kirodi went to the temple in Charbhuja Nath and wished for the happiness and prosperity of the state. Hundreds of people including Karan Singh were present on this occasion.

Dharmendra Rathore at Barcelona beach in Spain on Monday.

On Wheels. The journey of this royal train shows the glorious tradition and history of Rajasthan.”

For the first time,

there was a contest between the Tourism Department and the Tourism Corporation on an international stage. Rajasthan tourism

flourished at the international trade fair ‘Fitur’ held in Spain.

Tourism corporation president Dharmendra Rathore also participated in the event. The message of Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot was also read out.

Foreign tourists were invited to come to Rajasthan by presenting them with yellow rice, shawls and turbans.

First

Jaipur: In his message to Spain’s Fitur International Trade fair which was held from January 18 to 22, 2023, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said, “I heartily congratulate the delegates from 164 countries around the world. I request the participants of the tourism fair to at least once undertake one journey in the Palace

Jaipur/Tonk: Former

PSK interacting with media on Monday. Dr Kirodi in Chomu on Monday.

The government is also preparing to enact a law to give Right to Health

RLP MLAs Pukhraj, Narayan Beniwal and Indira Devi stage protest in House

WE RESPECT DOCTORS, SAYS PSK ON RIGHT TO HEALTH BILL DR KIRODI CALLS FOR GHERAO OF VIDHAN SABHA TODAY

Need to bring youth forward: Pilot

HEMARAM CHOUDHARY WILL BE BUSY WITH 51 QUESTIONS

POONIA SEEN INACTIVE IN ASSEMBLY ON FIRST DAY

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First India Bureau

Jaipur: Awkward situation were witnesses when the national anthem started amid din.

BUDGET SESSION

GC Kataria during the House proceedings on Monday.

GC Kataria urging everyone to stand for the National Anthem.

MODI’S PRIDE ‘RASHTRADOOTS’

NaMo: The PM who bonds with the Indian diaspora

The narrator shares with us how Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first to fully understand the real strength of the NRI community and the bond that he shares with them is terrific. Read this story to know how Narendra bhai visited and interacted with NRI families and Sangh volunteers developing a deep connect with them during his visits abroad.

went to the Maninagar Ahmedabad Gujarat State Sangh Karyalaya in Ahmedabad. At that time we had late Vakil Saheb there and I went to meet him. He was in a meeting when I arrived at the office. We had heard a lot about him as the emergency had just been lifted and all those who had been underground were gradually coming out in the open. Several Sangh pracharaks were connecting with us and passing on messages incognito. One of these pracharaks living in disguise was Narendra bhai and he was very popular. Sometime a sardar, sometime a sadhu - Narendra bhai had been travelling throughout Gujarat with the messages of the Sangh. But we had only heard about him, never met him. Well, I will always re-

member my visit to the Sangh Karyalaya that day as it was the first time I got to meet Narendra bhai. A very simple, young guy — I was completely taken in by his magnetic persona. I introduced myself to him and he knew all about my father, his work and everything. In 1993 when he visited USA the first time, wherever we travelled, we rode in the subway, the buses or the metro. What I observed about him was that he was always reading something. Whatever instructions would be posted on the walls, he would make sure to not pass by without reading them and he would continue to talk to you at the same time. His interest was Central Park, Brooklyn Museum and his goal was to grab as much experience as he could in his short visit. Not just this, Narendra bhai has a penchant for photography. Even today he has a big library in Gandhinagar dedicated to the photographs he has clicked and the memories he has created over the years.

One great quality about Narendra bhai is that whosoever he would stay with, rather than becoming a burden on the household, he would turn into an asset, in fact he would live like he belonged to the family itself! As a Sangh pracharak, he would not just connect with the main person of the house but would interact with each and every member of the family and endeared himself to all of them. He would enter the kitchen and offer his help in cooking if needed. “Bhabhiji, Mataji, let me know how I may help you today”, he would say. And with his smiles and jovial nature, he won everyone over. Well, he is a fantastic cook himself!

Not just this, he was willing to contribute to other household chores as well. This is how Narendra bhai connected with several families and

formed a strong bond of love and affection with all the members of the these families where he would put up as Sangh pracharak.

He carried a diary with the details about thousands of volunteers or karyakartas of the Jan Sangh, of the BJP and

he would know their sons and daughters too living in the USA. He would try and call up as many people as he could during his visit. As to me, Narendra bhai is the one who understood from day one the strength of the NRI. All NRIs have a strong connect in their

native villages and if they spread good word about you, thousands of people know everything about your accomplishments. Even today very few people understand the strength of the NRI. But Narendra bhai was the best and remains the best Statesman we could ever have!

In 1997, we visited the States once again. At that time he was the National General Secretary of the BJP and incharge of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. He always wanted to meet the community so we organised a community gathering at Bombay Plaza. One of our Gujarat MLAs, a young guy elected for the first time, Pankaj Desai was there too. Today he is a senior and seasoned BJP member. Narendra bhai said to him “Pankaj bhai, tell me about your constituency!” And that is how Narendra bhai gathered complete information about the people, their problems and

One great quality about Modi is that whosoever he would stay with, rather than becoming a burden on the household, he would turn into an asset, in fact he would live like he belonged to the family itself!

the way ahead. The point here is that at that time Narendra bhai was not looking after Gujarat, but the urge to know as much as possible about the people from those he meets comes naturally to him. Narendra bhai gains a lot of insight and perspective from his general interactions with people. Any karyakarta he would meet, he would ask questions to test the level of his or her connect with the Sangh. “So what is Bharat Mata? How many shakhas are there? Who is your Zila Pracharak?” — these are the sort of questions he would ask the volunteers and such discussions would help everyone stay current and augment their knowledge. This is the reason why people love him and he has a strong hold over them. His power to communicate with people with diverse backgrounds is terrific.

Post this interaction, we took him for an interview with TV Asia. You know, the tunnel that connects New York to New Jersey is always over crowded. Mostly there is a bumper to bumper traffic jam there. And he was discussing with us what the other venues for the interview could be besides this! So Narendra bhai has always been a visionary. He is always thinking out of the box and trying to look for alternatives that improve the efficiency of governance.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHASHIKANT SHARMA AND SHWETA SHARMA

‘MODI GAINS PERSPECTIVE FROM HIS INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE’ Modi gains a lot of insight and perspective from his general interactions with people. Any karyakarta he would meet, he would ask questions to test the level of his or her connect with Sangh. “So what is Bharat Mata? How many shakhas are there? Who is your Zila Pracharak?” — these are sort of questions he would ask the volunteers and such discussions would help everyone stay current and augment their knowledge.

‘NARENDRA BHAI UNDERSTANDS THE STRENGTH AND VALUE OF THE NRI’ Narendra bhai is the one who understood from day one the strength of the NRI. All NRIs have a strong connect in their native villages and if they spread good word about you, thousands of people know everything about your accomplishments. Even today very few people understand the strength of the NRI. But Narendra bhai was the best and remains the best Statesman we could ever have!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

RaGa vows to get J&K’s statehood reinstated

Jammu (PTI): The demand for statehood is Jammu and Kashmir’s biggest issue and the Congress will use “our full power” to get it reinstated, party MP Rahul Gandhi said on Monday as his Bharat Jodo Yatra arrived here to a grand welcome.

Gandhi, who met a cross section of people from Jammu and Kashmir during his yatra, said J&K has the highest level of unemployment in the country.

“The Congress party will fully support you and your statehood (demand). To reinstate statehood, the Congress will use our full power,” Gandhi told a gathering at the Satwari Chowk here.

“Statehood is your biggest issue. There is no big issue as big as statehood. Your right has been snatched,” he said.

Gandhi said he spoke to a cross section of people from J&K during his yatra and they raised their issues. He said they told him that their voices are not being heard by the administration. “The entire trade is being run by outsiders and people of J&K watch them sitting haplessly,” he said.

Gandhi said Jammu and Kashmir has the highest level of unemployment in the country.

Youngsters aspire to be-

come engineers, doctors and lawyers but they find they cannot, he said.

“There was another way (to get employment) earlier. It was with the Army. It has also been closed now by a new scheme, called Agniveer, introduced by BJP. That path is also now closed,” he said.

In August 2019, the NDA government revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed the state be divided into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

IN THE COURTYARD

HIJAB BAN: SC ASSURES TO CONSIDER LISTING MATTER BEFORE 3-JUDGE BENCH

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday assured the petitioners to list the matter of ban on Hijab in the educational institutes in Karnataka. Advocate Meenakshi Arora mentioned the matter related to the headscarves before a bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud. Arora said that many girls have lost out on the entire year because they have refused to take off their hijab. She also apprised the court about practicals in educational institutes in February and sought an early hearing for interim directions.

DELHI COURT GRANTS EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE TO JACQUELINE

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday granted exemption from personal appearance to Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez for the day in a money laundering case against her and alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar. The judge, who was scheduled to hear the arguments on framing charges in the matter, adjourned the matter for February 15. The court will hear arguments on January 25 on an application moved by the actor seeking permission to go abroad.

GYANVAPI: HEARING ON PLEA DEMANDING SURVEY OF 2 BASEMENTS ON MARCH 21

Varanasi: A local court on Monday fixed March 21 for next hearing on a petition seeking to open and survey two basements in the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex. Varanasi District Judge AK Vishvesh posted the matter after almost two months as the Allahabad High Court last week postponed hearing in a related matter by eight weeks. The High Court on January 19 had granted eight more weeks to the Archaeological Survey of India for filing its response on the matter.

“ISSUE ORDERS ON APPOINTMENT OF IPS OFFICER RUPIN SHARMA AS DGP”

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday told the Nagaland govt to pass orders within one week on the appointment of senior IPS officer Rupin Sharma as the DGP of the state. A bench refused to consider the plea of the Nagaland government that the UPSC be asked to relax the 30 years service criteria rule to 25 years for IPS officers for being empanelled in the UPSC list of three for appointment as the state police chief.

FOREIGN TOURS: DELHI HC GIVES ‘LAST OPPORTUNITY’ TO CENTRE, LG TO REPLY

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted a “last opportunity” to the Centre and the Lt Governor to respond to Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot’s plea challenging a provision which requires state govt ministers, including the CM, to seek political clearances from the Centre for foreign visits. The petition was filed last year in the backdrop of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal being denied permission for his visit to Singapore for the 8th World Cities’ Summit from July 31 to August 7, 2022.

Addressing

a terror attack.

“They talk of surgical strikes. They claim to have killed so many people but no proof is given. They are ruling by peddling a bundle of lies,” the former Madhya Pradesh

Judges don’t have to face scrutiny: Rijiju

New Delhi: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said that judges do not have to contest elections or face scrutiny by the public. Rijiju was speaking at an event of the Delhi Bar Association. The law minister stated that even though judges are not elected by people, but still public is judging them from the orders they passed and their actions.

“After becoming judges, they don’t have to face elections or scrutiny by the public...Public is watching the judges, their judgements and the way they deliver justice, and make their assessments...In this era of social media, nothing can be hidden,” Rijiju stated.

Rajouri: The security forces recovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Rajouri district which were defused. The IEDs were detected on Sunday.

Police said on Monday, “On 22-01-2023 at 6 p.m. a joint search operation was launched by police, special operations group, 225 field Regiment of Army and CRPF 72 battalion at Dassal and adjoining areas.

“During searches two IEDs were recovered. Later on IEDs were defused

Bharat Jodo Yatra gets a warm welcome in J&K

Jammu (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra received a warm welcome as it entered Jammu from the adjoining Samba district Monday afternoon with authorities further strengthening the security cordon around him. The yatra started from Samba’s Vijaypur along the JammuPathankot highway at around 7 am Monday and was received warmly by

MP schools to teach Hindu scriptures

Bhopal (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said that excerpts from Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and other religious books will be taught in the schools across the state.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan made the above announcement while addressing the Sughosh Darshan program organized by the Vidhya Bharti organization at Old Campion ground in the state capital Bhopal on Monday. Chouhan said, “Ramayana, Mahabharat, Vedas, Upanishads and Shrimad Bhagavad Gita are our priceless books. These

books have the ability to make man moral and to make man perfect. Therefore, the teaching of our religious books will be implemented in the government schools of the state. I am saying this as the Chief Minister of the state.”

a massive crowd as it crossed Bari Brahmana in Jammu’s Parmandal.

RaGa: We’re not allowed to raise issues in Parl, hence BJY

Jammu (PTI): Defending Congress’ decision to start Bharat Jodo Yatra to “unite” India, Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Opposition party was forced to undertake the 3500-km foot march after it was not allowed to speak on the public issues in Parliament.

He slammed the BJP government at the Centre for demonetisation, “hasty implementation” of GST and the recently launched Agniveer scheme.

Gandhi alleged that the government is “facilitating” flight of money into the coffers of a few corporators and ruining the small businesses across the country.

“The democracy in the country is under attack which is a major challenge for the nation. Before the commencement of the Yatra, we tried to raise the issues like demonetisation, GST, farmers’ bill and China’s aggression in Parliament, both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, but we were not allowed and the mikes were being switched off,” he said.

SRK messaged that he wants to talk: Himanta

Guwahati (ANI): A day after Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted that he had assured actor Shah Rukh Khan over the phone that the state govt will ensure no untoward incidents happen during the release of his film ‘Pathaan’, the Assam CM on Monday said the actor had requested for the phone call.

At a presser on Monday, Sarma said, “Shah Rukh Khan sent me a message introducing himself and saying that he wants to talk to me.”

“I had many requests for phone calls, so after completing my queues, we spoke at 2 am. He said that some problems have taken place regard-

TRIBUTE TO SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE

ing his film’s release. I asked the name of his film, to which he replied it was ‘Pathaan’. Then, I

told him that there would not be any disturbance over the film in the state,” he said.

Netaji fiercely resisted colonial rule: PM Modi

New Delhi (ANI): Recalling Netaji’s “unparalleled contribution to India’s history”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid homage to Subhas Chandra Bose on his 126th birth anniversary today.

“Today, on Parakram Diwas, I pay homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose & recall his unparalleled contribution to India’s history. He will be remembered for his fierce resistance to colonial rule. We are working to realise his vision for India,” PM Modi wrote in his tweet. The Government had de-

clared January 23 as Parakram Diwas in 2021 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Born on January 23, 1897, Netaji played a crucial role in India’s freedom movement.

Subhash Chandra Bose established the Azad Hind Fauj. While there is a controversy over Bose’s death in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, the Central government had in an RTI (Right to Information) in 2017 confirmed that he had died in the incident.

“RSS & Netaji’s goals similar for the Nation”

Kolkata (PTI):

freedom

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday said the goals of RSS and that of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose are similar — making India a great nation. His comment came amid the criticism that the ideologies of the RSS and Netaji were not the same. Critics pointed out that Netaji believed in secularism which is “against the ideology of RSS”. Lauding Netaji’s contribution to India’s

struggle, Bhagwat urged everyone to imbibe the qualities and teachings of Bose and work towards making the country “vishwa guru” (world leader).

PM Narendra Modi, LS Speaker Om Birla and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after paying tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

SUPPORT ME IN REPATRIATING NETAJI’S REMAINS FROM TAIWAN: ANITA BOSE PFAFF Stadtbergen: As Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s 126th birth anniversary was celebrated on January 23, his daughter Dr Anita Bose Pfaff on Monday requested all Indians to help in repatriating Netaji’s last remains from Taiwan. “I request all Indians to support me to repatriate Netaji’s remains,” Dr Anita Bose Pfaff said while speaking to ANI.

Mohan Bhagwat speaks during a meeting in Kolkata.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses a press conference after a State Cabinet meeting regarding child marriage, at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Monday. —PHOTO BY PTI

I am not much interested in movies and only know film stars from my boyhood. I didn’t know Shah Rukh Khan. I saw that our phone call was trending on social media. So many ‘Pathaans’ come and go, we have more burning issues to care about.

Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister, Assam

“Statehood is your biggest issue. There is no big issue as big as statehood. Your right has been snatched,” Congress leaders tells public in Jammu

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with supporters during the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, in Jammu district on Monday. (R) Rahul Gandhi leads ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, in Samba district on Monday. —PHOTO BY PTI

DIGVIJAYA QUESTIONS SURGICAL STRIKES; BJP ACCUSES CONG OF INSULTING FORCES 2 IEDS RECOVERED IN J&K’S RAJOURI DISTRICT, DEFUSED

by Bomb Disposal Squad”.

Jammu/New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Monday questioned the surgical strikes and accused the government of peddling lies, drawing furious reaction from the BJP which said the Opposition party was blinded by its “hate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has “insulted” armed forces.

a public meeting during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh alleged that the government did not agree to the CRPF request of flying its personnel from Srinagar to Delhi and 40 soldiers sacrificed their lives in Pulwama in 2019 to

chief minister, who has often courted controversy with his comments, said.

Rahul Gandhi lookalike person in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan pays floral tribute to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

READ Crucial

UNRULY BEHAVIOUR ON SPICEJET FLIGHT

AT DELHI AIRPORT

New Delhi: Two passengers supposed to fly a SpiceJet flight from Delhi to Hyderabad on Monday were handed over to the security agency at the origin airport. According to sources, one of the passengers allegedly inappropriately touched the foreign cabin crew of this wet-leased aircraft (where the airline rents the plane with the operating crew).

YETI CRASH: ALL FIVE BODIES OF INDIANS IDENTIFIED

Kathmandu: The bodies of all five Indians, who were killed in the Yeti Airlines plane crash in Nepal’s resort city of Pokhara, have been identified and handed over to their respective family members, hospital sources said on Monday. The five Indians were among 72 people on board when the Yeti Airlines plane crashed on the bank of Seti River.

ED ATTACHES `7.90

CRORES ASSETS IN PUNJAB DRUG CASES

New Delhi: Assets worth Rs 7.90 crore have been attached under the antimoney laundering law in connection with a probe linked to two narcotics trafficking cases of Punjab, ED said on Monday.

The money laundering case stems from separate FIRs filed by the Punjab Police under various sections of NDPS Act against Gurdeep Singh Rano and Rajesh Kumar.

20 INJURED AS TN GOVT BUS FALLS INTO CANAL

Chennai: At least 20 passengers were injured when a state transport bus overturned and fell into a canal at Komangalam near Virudhachalam in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district on Monday, the police said. The injured are admitted to Virudhachalam General hospital, where the condition of a few is stated to be serious, the police added.

WOMAN PUSHES HER 2 KIDS INTO RIVER, KILLS SELF

Hyderabad: A woman pushed her two children into Godavari river in Telangana on Monday before jumping into it to die by suicide.

The shocking incident occurred in the Basara town. The police pulled out all three bodies. The woman, identified as Manasa, 27, pushed her son Baladitya, 8, and daughter Navasri, 7, into the river near the ghat.

“

UK supports India’s bid for UNSC permanent seat”

New Delhi (ANI): The United Kingdom supports India’s candidacy for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), British High Commissioner Alexander Ellis said while adding that New Delhi’s push for reforms will make the institution more effective in dealing with the realities of today.

In ANI Podcast, the British High Commissioner said, “We certainly support India becoming the member of the UNSC as this is why the UNSC reforms are the institutional that reflects to the realities of today.”

“Change in the institution (UNSC) is hard and we need to make them work. Some of them come after the second World War like UN and UNSC, some came later like World Trade Organization (WTO)... zenith of globalization, the mid 90s and what we want from India is actually to make the effective institution,” he added.

He also gave the example of the International Financial Institutions (IFI) which is the product of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and said that the countries are adapting those to realities of today. He also said that India, for example had also lend money.

He also said that the vulnerable states like island nations need greater support so that they can create the im-

Army Chief visits posts along LAC in Arunachal

New Delhi (PTI):

Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande carried out a comprehensive review of India’s military preparedness along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh in his first visit to the border state after recent clash between Indian and Chinese forces in the Tawang sector.

edness & security situation. #COAS complimented troops for maintaining sharp vigil & exhorted all to continue working with same zeal & devotion,” the Army tweeted.

Arunachal Pradesh briefed the army chief about the overall security scenario in the border areas.

NOW

IMPORTANT ROLE AT INT’L FORUMS UNDER

MODI, SAYS GERMAN AMBASSADOR

Lucknow: German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, met UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his official residence in Lucknow on Monday. Ambassador Philipp said that under the leadership of PP Narendra Modi, India now plays an important role in international forums. Big changes have been seen in Uttar Pradesh in the last six years. Law and order has improved significantly. Work in the area of infrastructure development has been unprecedented. All efforts are being made to modernise the transport system including airport, expressway, waterway and metro. Fruitful discussions regarding industrial investment in Uttar Pradesh were held between the CM and German Ambassador. They also talked about the strong economic ties between India and Germany. The CM said that with a trade history of more than 500 years, India and Germany are bound by a common history of economic cooperation.

pact in the world and hardwork is the key to that lock.

“Change in the multilateralisation is hardwork. What we are seeing is the creation of new institution which we will start more,” Ellis said in a podcast with ANI.

He also gave the ex-

OSDMA, Mizoram’s fire station bag central award

New Delhi (PTI): The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority and the Lunglei Fire Station in Mizoram have been selected for a central award for their excellent work in disaster management in the institutional category, the Union Home Ministry announced on Monday.

The Modi govt has instituted an annual award, called Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar, to recognise and honour the invaluable contribution and self-

less service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management. For 2023, the OSDMA and the Lunglei Fire Station (LFS) in Mizoram have been selected for the award in the institutional category, according to a statement of the home ministry said.

ample of Clinical Trials Registry - India, which is majporly created with the support of UK.

“India will increasingly be part of all of those (Indo-Pacific group, minilateralism) things and including in panel so UK and India but also with other countries try to solve

the particular problem,” British High Commissioner said.

On December 1, India assumed the monthly rotating presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the second time in its two-year tenure as an elected member of the Council in 2021-22.

Gen Pande visited various forward posts along the de-facto border with China in the Rest of Arunachal Pradesh (RALP) as well as some other strategically key posts during his visit.

They said senior commanders in

“Gen Manoj Pande #COAS visited units & formations along LAC in Eastern #ArunachalPradesh & was briefed on operational prepar-

On Saturday, Gen Pande reviewed Army’s preparedness along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim during his visit to the headquarters of the eastern Army command in Kolkata. Gen Pande’s visit to the crucial command came six weeks after the clash between Indian and Chinese troops in an area along the LAC in the Tawang sector of Arunachal.

R-Day: Full dress rehearsals organised at Kartavya Path

New Delhi (ANI): With only three days left for Republic Day, preparation for the occasion has been intensified as full dress rehearsals are underway at the Kartavya Path in Delhi.

With the Garud Special Forces of the Indian Air Force will be marching on the Kartavya Path during the parade for the first time, the country is all set to showcase Special Forces.

Squadron Leader PS Jaitawat will be leading the Garud team as part of the IAF contingent and Squadron Leader

Sindhu Reddy will be the contingent commander.

A military contingent from the Egyptian Army will also participate in the Republic Day parade.

“Neither me, nor my men filed any petition”

New Delhi (ANI): Brij Bhushan, who was recently asked to step aside as the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, pending an inquiry by an Oversight Committee into the allegation of sexual harassment and financial impropriety, on Monday clarified that no petition has been filed by him or by any person authorized by him in the Delhi High Court against the Delhi government, the wrestlers who protested and against the news channels.

Brij Bhushan in his statement further clari-

5TH KALVARI-CLASS SUBMARINE

fied that I deny the news of filing a petition in the name of Vicky showing my Delhi residence address on the news channel. I have not authorized any advocate, law agency or representative to file a

petition in any court of law. Earlier today, a Petition was moved in Delhi High Court against Players/Wrestlers, who recently staged a protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)

‘INS Vagir’ commissioned into Indian Navy

Mumbai (ANI): The Indian Navy on Monday commissioned INS Vagir’ the fifth submarine of Project 75 Kalvari class at the naval dockyard here in presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar.

Launched and named ‘Vagir’ on November 12, 2020, the submarine in its new avatar has the distinction of having the lowest build time among all indigenously manufactured submarines to date. ‘Vagir’ undertook her maiden sea sortie in February 2022, marking the commencement of sea trials and has gone through a se-

ries of comprehensive acceptance checks and stringent and demanding sea trials prior to being commissioned, according to the defence ministry. The submarine was delivered to Indian Navy by MDL on December 20, 2022.

‘Vagir’ will boost the Indian Navy’s capability to further India’s maritime interests and is capable of undertaking diverse missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and surveillance missions.

“Vagir is a lethal platform with a formidable

weapon package. Vagir is the third submarine inducted into the Navy in a span of 24 months. It is also a shining testi-

mony to the expertise of our shipyards to construct complex and complicated platforms,” said Admiral Kumar.

to face any threat if war breaks out between India and China.

While talking to ANI, Singh said, “This submarine is the latest technology of the Indian Navy. It is a silent submarine. It has good anti-submarine weapons like the advanced version of mines. It has advanced versions of combat and advanced version of sonar, and radar systems.”

WILL FILE DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST WFI

CHIEF: CONGRESS MP DEEPENDER HOODA New Delhi: Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Monday said that he will file a defamation case against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after the latter claimed that the allegation of sexual harassment against him by wrestlers was made at the behest of the former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and his son and Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda.

president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, levelling serious charges of sexual harassment against him, and coaches of the federation.

Lawyer Sharikasnt Prasad after filing the

plea claimed that the petitioner in the matter is Vicky, whose address is 21, Ashoka Road, the official residence of Member of Parliament Brij Bhushan Sharan and is working as his cook.

People’s consent must for Aadhaar authentication

New Delhi (Agencies): Consent of Aadhaar holders will be required before carrying out Aadhaar authentications.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has highlighted in its new guidelines for Requesting Entities (REs) that they are required to obtain residents’ informed consent either on paper or electronically before carrying out Aadhaar authentications.

Coxswain of the fifth Kalvari submarine ‘INS Vagir’ Daljinder Singh on Saturday said that the submarine is ready

“All the technology used in the submarine is Indian. If there is a war between India and China, then we are ready to face it,” Singh added.

It has urged REs, which carry out online authentications, to ensure that residents understand the type of data being collected

and the purpose of Aadhaar authentications. It has underlined that logs of authentication transactions, including the consent taken, are kept only for the period as prescribed in the Aadhaar Regulations. Purging of such logs after expiry of the said time period shall also be done as per the Aadhaar Act and its regulations.

Naval officers onboard the fifth Kalvari-class submarine 'INS Vagir' during its commissioning ceremony, at the Naval dockyard in Mumbai, on Monday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

Wecertainly supportIndia becomingthe member of the UNSCasthisiswhy the UNSC reforms are the institutional that reflects to the realitiesoftoday.

Alexander Ellis, British High Commissioner

INDIA

PLAYS

PM

German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann calls on UP CM Yogi Adityanath at his residence, in Lucknow on Monday.

This is for the first time that the President of Egypt has been invited as Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations.

Akash Army Launcher passes through Kartavya Path during full dress rehearsal of Republic Day Parade, in New Delhi on Monday.

Gen Manoj Pande

WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. —FILE PHOTO

Cops rescue 3 shepherds abducted by dacoits in MP

DGP Umesh Mishra congratulates and rewards team with `15,000

Jaipur: A team of Rajasthan's Dholpur-Karauli Police, QRT and Sheopur Police rescued three shepherds, who were abducted from the Khushalpur forests in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh by dacoits. Three accused have been arrested and one rifle and two live rounds have been recovered.

DGP Rajasthan Umesh Mishra congratulated the police team.

Madhya Pradesh's ADG Crime has given a cash award of Rs 15000 to Dholpur Police for the commendable work.

The three shepherds -- Ramswaroop Yadav, Bhattu Baghel and Gud-

da Baghel -- were abducted for ransom from Police Station Vijayanagar in Sheopur district of

Finance dept’s whip gets PHED on backfoot!

Jaipur: The PHED has to come on backfoot in the issue pertaining tenders worth Rs 10,000 crore. In its major meeting held last Friday, it was decided to cancel the tenders. The department had to take this decision on the direction of Finance department, after the finance department conducted examination of the entire tender process and found major lacunae and shortfalls in it. The officials received a huge shock when they found that some tenders were given at forty percent over the rate which would result in a loss of Rs 2,000 crore to the government.

Notably, the Centre and State share project cost by 50 percent each in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). A total of 10 tenders were issued for work related to the Mission in thirteen districts. Among these, eight tenders have been approved at increased rates between 12-40 percent.

The finance department straight away declined the PHED’s argument of increase in GST rates and price escalation and on January 2, 2023, the finance department issued orders to PHED asking it to renegotiate in tenders with more than ten percent increased price or undertake the tendering process again. Furthermore, the finance department also instructed to follow the depart-

ment’s guidelines issued on December 16, 2022 to keep the identity of the parties involved in tender anonymous.

The finance department also did away with the boundation to interested parties to take certificate from concerned engineer after a visit to the project site. This was done so that the parties fighting for the tender do not get a chance at pooling.

The finance department has shown such strictness and directed that since JJM is to end in March 2024, hence the work needs to be finished prior to this time. After such strict instructions of the finance department, the PHED is left with no other choice but to cancel the tenders and after a difficult period of 20 days, the PHED had to go on backfoot.

Interestingly, the Finance department is headed by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot while the PHED is headed by minister Mahesh Joshi, who is known to be a confidante of Gehlot.

Knowledgeable sources reveal that now it will take six months to undertake the tendering process and thus it is a major challenge for the PHED to get the work completed on time.

Madhya Pradesh. After tracing their location to Chambal-Beed police station Sarmathura, a

special operation was conducted under the supervision of Dholpur SP Dharmendra Singh and Sheopur SP Alok Kumar.

Raids were carried out at various places in the forests of Chirmil, Kased, Murila, Mandrayal, Kuna, Sheopur Khushalpur, Richhara and Sarmathura.

The suspects were caught and interrogated. Late in the night of January 20-21, police teams laid siege on receiving information about dacoit Biru alias Virendra Nai, resident of Nizampur Police Station Bari Sadar and his brother Sonu and 5-6 other armed miscreants in Khushalpur forest.

CM to reach with Sonia Gandhi’s chadar in Ajmer on January 27

First India Bureau

Ajmer: Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, will reach Ajmer with Sonia Gandhi's chadar to be presented on January 27 in the 811th Urs of Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti. The district administration has stepped up preparations for the CM’s visit. Security agencies are on alert.

According to information, Khadim Syed Abdul Gani Gurdeji will make Chief Minister Gehlot perform Ziyarat with Sonia Gandhi's chadar at the dargah for which the preparations are on.

Raj tops in setting up solar power pumps for farming

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The state government is encouraging farmers to install solar pumps in their fields at 60 percent subsidy so that they do not have to depend on the availability of electricity for irrigation. The use of solar energy is being encouraged in the state. Due to the facility in irrigation, the yield in the fields has increased and the electricity expenditure of the farmers has also reduced. This has led to an increase in the income of farmers.

Rajasthan has become a model state and ranks first in the country for setting up solar power pump plants in the agriculture sector. Agriculture Commissioner Kanaram said that farmers are being given sub-

Due to the facility, the yield in the fields has increased.

57,000 FARMERS GOT GRANT

l Grant to 57,657 farmers for setting up plants in the last four years

l The state government made a grant of Rs 982 crore 95 lakh

l Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced

sidies up to 60 percent of the cost for setting up solar plants. “An additional grant of Rs 45,000 is being given to farmers belonging to Scheduled Castes and Sched-

in the last agriculture budget regarding this l Target is to set up solar pumps for one lakh farmers in 2 years. A provision of Rs 500 crore has been made for this in the budget

uled Tribes. In tribal sub-plan areas, 100 percent subsidy is being given to Scheduled Tribe farmers on solar pump plants of 3 and 5 HP capacity,” he said.

First India Bureau

Kota: Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the Krishi Mahotsav at the Dussehra ground in Kota today.

Sanjeev

Ministers Kailash Chaudhary,

Balyan, Lalchand Kataria, and Udai Lal Anjana will be present. Meanwhile, Birla will launch Reliance’s 5G in Kota. Birla will also attend in closing ceremony of Krishi Mahotsav on Wednesday.

Shivendra Parmar

The three shepherds Ramswaroop Yadav, Bhattu Baghel and Gudda Baghel were abducted for ransom from Police Station Vijayanagar in Sheopur district of MP.

Rajendra Chhabra

Birla to inaugurate Krishi Mahotsav, launch Jio 5G

Five from Haryana killed in road mishap at Sikar

Accident occurred on Salasar-Fatehpur Highway when car collided with truck Ramesh Sharma

Sikar: Five people from Haryana died in a road accident in Sikar district while returning after offering prayer at Salasar temple near Sujangarh, police said on Monday. The accident occurred late on Sunday night on Fatehpur-Salasar highway when their car collided with an oncoming truck, DSP Rajesh Vidhyarthi said.

The five deceased, who belonged to Fatehabad in Haryana, were friends and had gone to offer prayers at the temple which attracts Hanuman devotees. The

3 held after body found in their car’s boot space

Dausa (PTI): Three people were detained after a body was found in the boot of their car in Dausa district on Monday, police said. A car without a registration number plate was intercepted and a body was found in its boot space. Rs 18.43 lakh in cash was also recovered from the accused, said Ajay Singh Meena, Station House Officer of Ramgarh Pachwara. He said the three accused — Mahendra (23), another person also named Mahendra (24), and Vijender (25) who were travelling in the car have been detained. He said during preliminary interrogation, 24-year-old Mahendra killed his cousin Vishal Chaudhary who was a resident of Sikar, for money.

bodies were taken out from the mangled vehicle with the help of local residents. Later, bodies

were shifted shifted to a mortuary, he added.

The police informed that the deceased are

CM approves setting up of ACB post at Bhiwadi First India Bureau

Jaipur : An Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) outpost will be established in Police District Bhiwadi. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved the proposal to transfer 1 out of 2 ACB outposts operated in District Police Alwar to Bhiwadi.

Mining department’s safety campaign begins

Nirmal Tiwari

identified as Ajay Kumar, Amit Singh, Sandeep Singh, Pradeep Singh and Mohan Lal.

Presently 2 outposts of ACB are operational in Alwar district and not a single outpost is established in Bhiwadi. Due to Bhiwadi being a large industrial area, offices of many departments of the state and central government are located here. At present only Alwar outpost is working on the complaints of Bhiwadi.

Pakistan pilgrims to attend Urs in Ajmer

Shubham Jain

Ajmer: After a gap of two years, Pakistani pilgrims will reach the religious city on January 25 morning to attend the 811th Urs of Khwaja Saheb at the Dargah of Khwaja Garib Nawaz. The district police and security agencies are on alert regarding the arrival of pilgrims. On Monday, a special search

Earthquake felt in Bikaner; no loss, casualty reported

First India Bureau

Bikaner: Earthquake tremors were felt in the city on Monday. At around 1:42 pm, frightened by the sudden strong tremors people came out of their houses and buildings. At present, no casualty has been reported due to the tremors of the earthquake. Moreover, there has been no update from the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) regarding the earthquake tremors in Bikaner.

Accused in police custody.

MLA Bharat Singh expresses resentment against dist collector

Singh termed the collector as a puppet saying that Gupta is not eligible to hold the post of the Collector. He mentioned the denial of permission for holding demonstration in Baran. He said that he had sought permission for the demonstration and had asked the collector to take the opinion of the local minister as well. The collector verbally told him that he has spoken to the minister and there is no issue regarding the permission. Despite this, he denied permission and he was informed about it at 8 pm on Sunday.

The programme was to support Haath Se Haath Jodo campaign. AICC in charge Sukhjinder S Randhawa & PCC Chief GS Dotasra also asked me to not hold the demonstration in party’s interest.

—Bharat Singh, MLA Sangod

Jaipur: The Mines safety campaign has started in the state by the Mines Department from Monday. During the campaign, the zone, circle, section, and sub-division officers as well as vigilance officers of the department will inspect at least 15 mining leases and 30 quarry licence areas engaged in mineral mining and production and ensure compliance with mining safety rules and provisions.

Mines Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya said that other officers of the department will also have to visit at least five mining licensees and inspect them. He in-

on

formed that the department is serious about ensuring 100% compliance of mine safety standards in mining premises and the health protection of mining

operation was conducted at the railway station by CID along with GRP, and RPF. During the search operation, the bomb squad, dog squad, and metal detector were searched at every nook and corner of the railway station premises. Along with this, the security arrangements were also reviewed at the bus stand and Kayad Vishram Sthal.

25 of interstate gang held for cheating public in online games

First India Bureau

Churu: Sardarcity police have arrested 25 people accused of cheating the public through online gaming. These accused lived in a rented house in the RiddhiSiddhi Colony area, where the police raided and nabbed them.

Among these accused, 14 belong to Chhattisgarh, 8 are from Haryana, two are from Bihar and one is from Bikaner district. The police seized 52 mo-

biles, 10 laptops, chequebooks of 44 different banks, 12 bank passbooks, 18 ATMs, 3 accounting registers, a battery and an inverter, from their hideout.

They first form a group and then incite people to put money into their accounts by cheating them with Fair Play games from laptops and mobiles.

Jodhpur: Income tax survey proceedings have been completed in the city at the liquor trader’s place. A team of about 50 officers and employees completed the survey. During the survey, more than Rs 1 crore has been recovered and a large number of mobiles and laptops have been seized. Apart from important documents, many property-related documents have been seized. According to the information received from the sources of the Income Tax Department, the undisclosed income of crores has been exposed. The investigation went on for more than 48 hrs. The proceedings continued at six places.

personnel.

23

February

SC dismisses plea against UP CM Yogi Adityanath

First India Bureau

New Delhi: A petition against UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been dismissed by the honourable Supreme Court in the case of remarks made on Lord Hanuman in Alwar, Rajasthan. The Apex court division bench headed by Justice BR Gavai dismissed the petition to register the complaint.

The petition was dismissed terming it a publicity stunt. The petition was filed by Naval Kishore. The petition was filed challenging the decision of the Allahabad High Court. In March last year, The district and sessions judge of Mau had issued a notice to Yogi Adityanath for allegedly terming Lord Hanuman a Dalit in his speech at Alwar in 2018 for which a complaint was filed.

Kota: The three accused lodged in the jail, in the case of demanding physical relation with the girl student in lieu of increasing marks, were produced in the court on Monday amidst tight security. The accused refused to give voice samples to the court, while the team of the Forensic Science Laboratory was present in the court to take the voice sample. When the accused refused to give voice samples, they were taken back to jail. The next date of hearing in the case is on January 25.

Ritz car’s front part was damaged after the collision. Deceased were returning after offering prayer at Salasar temple when accident happened near Sujangarh.

ACS Dr. Subodh Agarwal said that a monthlong campaign to be run by the department from January

to

22 has been started.

Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya and ACS mines Dr Subodh Agarwal during the meeting with dept officials in Jaipur on Monday.

Police seized 52 mobiles, 10 laptops, chequebooks of 44 different banks, 12 bank passbooks, and 18 ATMs from the 25 accused.

Hanspal Yadav

Baran: Congress Sangod MLA Bharat Singh has written a letter to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’ Principal Secretary Kuldeep Ranka expressing resentment against Baran Collector Narendra Gupta.

Security agencies conduct search at Ajmer railway station.

ACCUSED IN KOTA RTU DENY TO GIVE VOICE SAMPLES

I-T raid

liquor trader concludes, `1 cr recovered

Rajeev Gaur

BJP RESOLVES TO OUST CONG FROM RAJ, BRING PARTY’s DOUBLE-ENGINE GOVT

The dry tree of Cong is about to fall, says Singh

Aishwary Pradhan

Jaipur: Union Minister and BJP MP Kailash Choudhary on Monday, said the party has adopted a resolution to ensure a ‘double-engine’ government in Rajasthan after ousting the Congress from power.

He said the BJP will work to resolve the problems of the common people that have surfaced during its ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’. If needed, the party will agitate to get them resolved, Choudhary said. “A resolution has been taken to stand with the people to solve their problems that were raised during the ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ and also to uproot the Congress government from Rajasthan. Definitely, a ‘double-engine’ government will be formed,” he said at a press conference after a BJP office bearers’ meeting here.

The Minister claimed that top officials and MLAs seem to be involved in the paper leak cases as without their support, it would not have been possible for

such gangs to play with the future of the youth.

Rajasthan is on top in crime against women and the Congress gov-

ernment has made it a state of riots, he added.

The Union Minister of State for Agriculture said the Rajasthan gov-

Jaipur: BJP National Gen Secy & Raj in charge Arun Singh said that the Party President JP Nadda, who has got the extension, will only decide about the extension of the State President Satish Poonia. He also reiterated that BJP’s Parliamentary Board will decide on CM’s face. Singh said that after the success of Jan Aakrosh Yatra, the Party will now ‘gherao’ District Collectorates against the policies of the State government. He, while exuding the confidence of party’s

FROM P1…

BJP will...

The party president gave the mantra of victory to the State Working Committee members and they should speak less and listen more to the public. He advised all the leaders to work keeping the party at the center.

victory in upcoming assembly polls, he said that Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is party’s mantra.

Targeting Congress, he said Cong leaders are fighting among themselves. “It looks like ‘Badlapur’ trailer in the State. The dry tree of Congress is about to fall,” Arun Singh said.

of some other regional parties. Nadda asked leaders & workers to go from door to door to connect with people.

Nadda’s son to tie the knot in Jaipur on January 25

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The son of BJP National President JP Nadda, Harish, is getting married to Riddhi from Jaipur. Nadda, who reached Jaipur on Monday, will stay here for the next three days and attend his son’s wedding functions. On January 26, the Nadda family will leave Jaipur along with the daughter-

in-law, Riddhi. Harish will get married in a royal style at the Hotel Rajmahal Palace in Jaipur on January 25.

Riddhi is the daughter of Ramakant Sharma, a renowned businessman associated with a Hotel Group in Jaipur, and the granddaughter of Uma Shankar Sharma. A variety of wedding rituals will be held on January 24 & 25.

Jaipur: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will visit Jaipur on Jan 25. He will be on a five-day tour beginning January 25 to 29. On Republic Day, he will unfurl the Tricolour at Jamdoli in Jaipur. The Sangh chief during his visit to Jaipur, will meet the families of workers. This will be the first time that he will meet the families of 800 workers on Jan 26. In the meeting, Bhagwat will tell them about the core values of Hindutva like keeping the family together, spending time with them, eating with family & Kutumb Prabodhan. They will also be told about the need & the importance of RSS.

ernment has left the people at God’s mercy due to infighting within the ruling Congress party.

DEVNARAYAN BIRTH ANNIV Priyanka

PM Modi to visit Bhilwara on Jan 28

New Delhi (Agencies):

PM Narendra Modi will be visiting Bhilwara district on January 28 for the 1,111th birth anniversary celebrations of Lord Devnarayan, the deity of Gurjar community.

According to a BJP Rajasthan source, “PM Narendra Modi will be on Rajasthan tour on January 28, will visit Malaseri in Bhilwara district. The PM will attend a programme on the 1,111th birth anniversary of Lord Devnarayan, the deity of Gurjar community. Malaseri is the birth place of Lord Devanarayan. And this is where the PM’s programme is proposed.”

“PM Modi will stay from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30

a.m., i.e., for 2 hours. During this, he will visit Lord Devnarayan at Malaseri Dungri. He will also address the gathering of about 2,00,000 people to be organised there,” the source added.

The Assembly elections will be held in Rajasthan this year. Political experts believe that the BJP is trying to woo the Gurjar voters in its favour to regain power.

First India Bureau

Sawai Madhopur : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reached Sawai Madhopur by road on Monday with a convoy of 12 cars amidst tight security arrangements. She is likely to stay in Ranthambore for two to three days. Recently, she visited here in December during Rahul Gandhi’s BJY. Priyanka is accompanied by her children and close friends and is putting up at Sher Bagh. They have planned a Safari at the Ranthambore National Park. She was welcomed by the hotel staff in Rajasthani style. SPG has been deployed around the hotel.

Targeting the Congress, he said that the party has finished due to dynasty politics. He also cited the example

He said when he became the national president, people sometimes used to mispronounce his name. Nadda said this to tell how a worker was made the president in cadre based party. All the senior leaders were given a place to sit on stage during the meet.

l The programme of welcoming the wedding procession is scheduled at 7.45 pm on January 25. The wedding reception will be held from 8 pm onwards.

l Thereafter, a programme for marriage celebration and dinner party till late night is scheduled. According to sources, a separate blessing ceremony for the newly- wed couple will be organised in Delhi.

l Several politicians, businessmen and celebrities will visit Jaipur to attend the wedding. State President Satish Poonia, In-charge Arun Singh, Chandrashekhar, Vasundhara Raje, Diya Kumari, Gulabchand Kataria, Rajendra Rathore, Union Ministers GS Shekhawat, Bhupender Singh Yadav, Arjunram Meghwal, Kailash Choudhary and other leaders will attend the wedding.

State govt’s policies to bring comprehensive investment in every sector, says CM Gehlot

MoU signed for projects worth ` 1.36 lakh cr in industry, renewable energy and tourism sector

Naresh Sharma

Jaipur: An MoU signing programme was organised at the Chief Minister’s Residence in Jaipur on Monday for an investment of Rs 1.36 lakh crore in the state under Invest Rajasthan.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in his address on this occasion, said that the best investment environment has been

TAKING STOCK OF PROJECTS

created in the region due to the policies of the State government, due to which investors are being attracted towards Rajasthan on a large scale. “Steps like MSME Act-2019, RIPS 2019 and 2022, One Stop Shop System have been taken to encourage investment. Tourism has been given the status of

an industry for investment in the tourism sector as well,” CM said.

During the programme, MoUs of 26 projects related to industry, energy and tourism were signed.

Around 17,000 people will get employment from these projects which are going on in different districts of the

State. “The State government’s policies have eased the process of setting up region’s mango industry. The condition of law & order, road infrastructure, electricity etc. in State is quite good. Due to public welfare policies of State govt, there is no such situation as labor unrest in the region,” said.

The Chief Minister said that in the Invest Rajasthan Summit organised in October last year, MoUs worth about Rs 11 lakh cr were signed, of which 49% of the MoUs are being implemented. Representatives of various companies signed MoU with concerned officials in CM Gehlot’s presence.

RHB to construct two roads at City Park to manage traffic snarls

lll

It is the responsibility of every visitor at the Park not to harm or allow any sort of damage to premises or heritage, says Arora

Jaipur: The Rajasthan Housing Board will construct two roads (parallel to Madhyam Marg) connecting VT Road and Aravalli Road to manage the traffic coming from Madhyam Marg in City Park.

RHB Commissioner Pawan Arora while reviewing the City Park and Fountain Square Project at RHB Headquarters on Monday, said that the City Park

located at Mansarovar, has become a land mark of Jaipur. Thousands of

people with their families visit the City Park every day. “To control

the rush from Madhyam Marg, a 40- feet & an 80- feet wide road will

Ticket system with minimum fee will also be introduced in the City Park soon to prevent unwanted noise & ensure beautification of the Park. Apart from this, attractive facilities including a children’s gym will also be set up.

—Pawan Arora, RHB Commissioner

be constructed. It is worth noting that Madhyammarg is 80 feet,”

Arora said, adding that officers have been directed to issue tenders for both roads at the earliest. “Ticket system with minimum fee will also be introduced in Park soon to prevent noise & ensure beautification. Apart from this, attractive facilities including children’s gym will also be set up.”

Issues like administrative & financial approval, tenders, electric maintenance were discussed during the meet.

City Park will soon charge entry fee. However, the amount hasn’t yet been decided. It is believed that the fee will start from 1st week of February. RHB won’t charge fee from morning & evening walkers. RHB Commissioner Pawan Arora said that a minimal entry fee will be levied on visitors to beautify park & stop nuisance at the place. Sculptures installed at the Park have not only been damaged, but also been stolen. 50 guards have been deployed there.

Shivendra Parmar

JP Nadda, Vasundhara Raje, Dr Satish Poonia, Om Mathur, Arun Singh, GC Kataria, Rajyavardhan Rathore, Chandrakanta Meghwal, Ashok Parnami release a poster on Bhairon S Shekhawat during BJP’s Executive Committee meeting held at the Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur on Monday.

Vasundhara Raje & Arun Singh during the inaugural session of BJP’s Executive Committee Meet held at the Entertainment Paradise in Jaipur on Monday. Also seen here are Dr Satish Poonia, Kailash Choudhary, Rajyavardhan Rathore and others.

JP Nadda being welcomed by Kalicharan Saraf with a ‘Gada’ at the Moti Dungri Road upon former’s arrival in Jaipur on Monday.

—PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Shakuntala Rawat, Bhanwar Singh Bhati, Usha Sharma, Veenu Gupta and Kuldeep Ranka during the BIP MoU signing ceremony at the CMR on Monday.

Pawan Arora chairs a review meeting of the City Park and Fountain Square Project at RHB HQs on Monday. Also seen here are KC Meena, Sanjay Sharma, Anil Mathur, Sanjay Poonia, KK Dixit and others.

Raj is on top in crime against women and the Congress govt has made it a state of riots: Kailash Choudhary

Administration has completely collapsed & the govt has crossed the limits of appeasement: Devnani

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

LORD

Gandhi in Ranthambore with family

MoU SIGNING PROGRAMME AT CMR RSS chief to meet 800 workers on January 26

Around 17,000 jobs will be created in Raj

PM Narendra Modi

JP Nadda, Mallika Nadda, Girish, Prachi and Harish Nadda.

THE WEDDING SCHEDULE

Congregation

MITALI DUSAD mitalidusad01@gmail.com

aipur Literature Festival 2023 includes opportunities to meet your favourite authors and brush up on your writing skills (aided by enthusiastic professional authors). In order to foster a true love of reading, most of the festivals offer extensive programs of story-telling and other fun activities for children and young adults.

With the rise in the digital age, it has been tough to maintain the love for traditional publishing. The biggest testimony to the

Gaur Gopal Das during the session ‘FIRST EDITION: ENERGIZE YOUR MIND’

CAPTURE THE MOMENT: Sakshi and Hetal

ELEGANT, DASHING AND DARING:

Clockwise: Neha, Riddhi, Siddhi and Nandini Kadam

Lovely International guest posing for the camera

In the final day, of the mega literature festivalthe JLF 2023, William Dalrymple, one of the best-selling book authors and Anita Anand in conversation with Bee Rowlatt discussed the idea behind the Empire: The Story of a World Conquering podcast including the rise of The East India Company, exploring how a small corporation

The final and fifth day of the Jaipur Literature Festival opened with a scintillating Morning Music programme, followed by awe-inspiring sessions from the intellectual brains of all times.

Sharma, Mukesh Kiradoo and Sunil Sharma

JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2023!

A HUB OF INSPIRATION!

Title: Empire The Story of a World Conquering Podcast

with only a handful of employees came to rule India. The session began with the birth of the Company in Tudor England and culminates with Robert Clive and the Battle of Plassey. The Empire podcast started in August, went straight to no.1 and now has more than 1 million downloads every month. Characterised by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand’s easy camaraderie and contrasting personas, the podcast looks at how empires rise, why they fall and how they have shaped the world around us today. In discussion with Bee Rowlatt, Dalrymple and

Anand discuss why people everywhere are suddenly so interested in the business of the Empire.

During the session, they further talked about the editorial process and the re-

search behind it. Anand noted that the former part of the podcast is William’s and the latter is Anand’s.

On the occasion, William Dalrymple said, “About a third of a million!” He said

about the number of listeners for each episode of his Empire podcast, which recently concluded season one. The 18-episode series was voted No. 1 on the Apple 2023.

The incredible final day of the 16th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival witnessed literary critic and philosopher Martin Puchner in conversation with Anna Della Subin.

In the session, Harvard literature professor Mar-

Culture: The Story of Us, From Cave Art to K-Pop

tin Puchner stated that The rise of ''new media'' and the intermingling of cultures can be a few of the reasons behind the international appeal of Korean pop or Kpop. Perhaps the most enthusiastic proponent of the importance of arts and humanities, Martin Puchner brings together a delightful history of humankind in his latest book, Culture: The Story of Us, From Cave Art to K-Pop. In an attempt to document cultural crescendos from ancient Greece to a time capsule left on the moon, the book alludes to fundamental questions about identity, com-

munity and existence. Along with Anna Della Subin, Puchner elucidates the role of art in the propagation of knowledge and cultural discourses.

The academic cited the example of Korean rapper PSY's ''Gangnam Style'', which became a runaway hit in 2012 for its catchy tune, and dance choreography as well as for blending social satire and tongue-incheek vibe.

''Part of the K-pop story is the new media and its circulation, especially among young people. They are, of course, the K-pop audience," stated Pucher.uHe

FEEL, DEAL & HEAL

lies, or fulfill everybody’s expectations, we will surely end up exhausting ourselves.

He focused on prioritizing metime, having a part of every day where we do nothing, relax, be with our own thoughts, and give our minds and souls what they need.

further said the roots of Kpop's popularity could be

the 1950s

“More than our ability, the stability of our mind is important”, said Gaur Gopal Das, an Indian monk, lifestyle coach and motivational speaker, while addressing a session, ‘First Edition: Energize Your Mind’ in conversation with Puneeta Roy, youth activist and filmmaker at Front Lawn in JLF on the concluding day.

With the ‘unconventional’ Monk Guruji Gaur Gopal Das, we delved into deeper parts of life, happiness, struggles and relationships. The session was charismatic and ignited a sense of personal belonging with his out-of-the-box motivational skills.

He gives us precious insights on how there are two things when it comes to being in the ashram, the first being around 80 monks living together and the second, how the essence of all relationships is the same. The principles of relationships are love, acceptance, tolerance, and giving respect while maintaining yours.

He was asked about how one should go about handling their life, relationships, ambitions, and themselves all at the same time. In response, he asserted that the two things he never compromises upon are self-care and his connection to his spiritual self. He further explained that if we neglect our own needs in favor of our jobs, and fami-

To keep ourselves fueled and capable of being efficient all our lives, we must all take care of ourselves instead of burning ourselves out.

When prompted with a question about his opinion on the saying “karam wahi karo jo karna hi fal lage (whether one should focus only on the goal, or focus only on the process that takes you towards it), he reminded us to always pay attention to the process, and not worry about the final outcome.

During the session, his book ‘Energize Your Mind’ was released.

What started as a light conversation about routines and modern problems of the modern world soon turned more impactful and interesting. He managed

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

traced back to Korean and American cultures during the Korean War in

when the US-backed

MRIDULA SHARMA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

to empower us with positivity and hope in the most pleasant way possible.

GAJRAJ SINGH BHATI cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Devisha K Singh

A DAY TO CELEBRATE!

Supermodel and actress Akanksha Bhalla celebrated her birthday with much fervour and enthusiasm at Soul Brewing Comapny, MI Road, Jaipur on Sunday.

Jagdeesh Chandra reached to bless the ravishing diva and wished her huge success.

Various who’s who of the city including Gaurav Gaur,

reached to greet them.

During the occasion, the overwhelmed birthday girl said, “I am blessed to celebrate my special day with Jagdeesh sir, Gaurav Gaur and my EMR fam, truly a great day it was.”

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

DIVERSIFICATION & OPPORTUNITIES

CITY FIRST

Apra Kuchhal, an alumna of a US State Department’s Exchange Program hosted a closed round table discussion in Jaipur between local leaders and representatives of the US Embassy in New Delhi. At the event, Anthony Miranda, Cultural and Educational Affairs Counselor, Margaret MacLeod, First Secretary and Suparna Mukherji, Public Engagement Specialist of the US Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Section met prominent leaders of Jaipur’s entrepreneurial, health care and cultural sectors including Ajay Data, Rasheed Kidwai, Padmashri S Shakir Ali and many

others who are influential in their respective fields. Both Miranda and MacLeod shared information on programs and initiatives of the US govt to strengthen people ties between our two countries. There was a discussion on seizing the opportunity of global markets seeking diversification of global supply chains. Apra Kuchhal shared “Opportunities like these gave the people of the Pink City the to interact oneon-one with the officials of the US Embassy. This will go a long way in fostering better relations amid the two countries. I am thankful to the US State Dept for investing in women like us so that we can pay it forward in our communities.”

ACT OF KINDNESS

CITY FIRST

The grand inauguration of two smart classes and a computer lab under the CSR initiative by Petronet LNG Ltd, New Delhi took place at Society for Welfare of Mentally Handicapped, a Jaipurbased society run by Shrinirmal Vivek Special School, Hostel and VTC on Monday. At present, around 120

specially-abled children are enrolled in college. The organisation is making continuous efforts in this field for the last 34 years for the upliftment of disabled children. During the occasion, Dr Sudhir Bhandari, VC- RUHS, Dr Krishna Poonia (MLA), President State Sports Council, Government of Rajasthan, Mahendra Kumar Parakh, Commissioner, Industries &

Commerce

Harshita Nayyar, a Jaipur-based professional makeup artist launched a female service salon equipped with state-of-the-art facilities named ‘Glamour by Harshita Makeup Studio & International Academy’ on Sunday at Glamour by Harshita, Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur. Top models and fashion influencers graced the program with their presence.

For context, she conducted a makeup work-

shop for awareness and safety purposes. During the ceremony, models of the city represented the latest and trendy makeup collection of Harshita through catwalk and photoshoot sessions. The owner of the salon Harshita expressed her idea of using the international technique of make-up to the people and how it will make them aware of new subjects through different workshops, which products are better to use to get pimple-free skin, etc.

A MAN WITH A VISION!

CITY FIRST

Saurabh Modi, Chairman of the Neerja Modi Group of Schools has been awarded the esteemed Médaille de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques Chevalier, Medal of the Order of Academic Palms Knights by Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India on January 22. This honour acknowledges Saurabh’s extensive and diversified professional career, which has been characterized by its globally integrated scope and his unwavering dedication to youth development and education.

Saurabh Modi stated, “I feel honoured and am grateful to the government of France and the Ambassador for considering me worthy of this great honour. I have taken it upon myself to spread to the best of my capacity, the learning of the French language

and encourage cultural exchange and education.” The Ordre des Palmes Académiques or the Order of Academic Palms was first created by Emperor Napoleon in 1808 as a honour to reward distinguished academics and personalities in the fields of culture and education. Saurabh Modi is a visionary, a reformer and an inspirational educator who works with his leaders and teachers to realize a new vision for education. Neerja Modi School boasts expansive campuses throughout the state of Rajasthan that house more than 8,000 pupils who are guided by 700+ teachers.

CITY FIRST

director Elite miss Rajasthan along with various supermodels including, Devshree Hada, Rutvi Tiwari, Ritu Chaudhary and Shilpa along with various models, friends and family

—PHOTOS BY MUKESH KIRADOO

Jagdeesh Chandra was greeted by the crowned beauties of the Queen of India Season 2, as they reached the former’s residence to seek blessings after their glorious win. The grand finale of Queen of India Season 2, organised by Kalyan & Sons Production took place on Saturday at Hotel Prime Safari, Mansarovar, Jaipur. Ishita Sharma -Miss Queen of India, Shefali Garg, the first runner-up of the Queen of India (Mrs category), Ritu Sharma, the second runner-up of the Queen in India (Miss Category), and Usha Madnani, the second runner-up (Mrs Catergory) were present on the occasion.

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra was greeted by the team of Bhavya Foundation as they reached the former’s residence to congratulate him, for achieving a milestone with First India News, as the channel reigned the TRP in Rajasthan. On the occasion, Dr Chandra also launched the poster of Hind Shiromani Samman Samaroh, which will be organised to help Cancer Warriors, Handicapped Warriors, Autism and Blind children on January 29 at Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Jaipur.

Blankets and woollen clothes were distributed to needy people on behalf of the ICDI Help Foundation. Deepak Choudhary, Founder and President of the Foundation said that since 2016 every year as soon as the winter starts, blankets and warm clothes are distributed to the people sleeping on the footpath so that they can get some relief from this bone-chilling cold. Vivek Meena, Rahul Kohli, Akash Jangid, Rajat Chowdhary, Manish, Piyush, Sanjay, Gajendra, Sunil, Dharmendra, Rakesh, Vishal etc were present on this occasion.

An exciting T20 Cricket match was played at Karol Cricket Ground on Sunday between RS Academy and SBI. SBI won the match by six wickets with a target of 169 for which Harshil Assudani played 100 runs and Mayank Parmar from RS Academy Scored 51 runs and Rizwan scored 50 runs to help their team reach 168.

and Joint Secretary, CSR Govt. of Rajasthan and Sudhir Mathur etc were present. The President of the organisation IC

Srivastava welcomed the guests and Vice President VC Mehta informed him about the activities of the organisation.

Jagdeesh Chandra congratulates as Akanksha Bhalla cuts the cake, Also seen are Priyanka Bhalla, Jatin Bhalla and Gaurav Gaur

Jagdeesh Chandra greets Akanksha Bhalla. Also seen are Rutvi Tiwari and Ritu Chaudhary

Ravishing Akanksha Bhalla

Shreya, Varunavi, Khushi, Ragini, Shilpa, Akanksha, Devshree, Rishika and Rutvi

Akanksha

Bhalla and Gaurav

Gaur

(L-R) Suparna Mukherji, Margaret MacLeod, Apra Kuchhal and Anthony Miranda

Dr Sudhir Bhandari, Gaurav Kumar, Sudhir Mathur and Rajnish Singhvi

Emmanuel Lenain with Saurabh Modi

Jagdeesh Chandra with (L-R) Shefali Garg, Ritu Sharma and Ishita Sharma

Jagdeesh Chandra with Usha Madnani

Jagdeesh Chandra with (L-R) Prashant Srivastava, Rajni Shri Bedi, Shailendra Mathur and Dr Nisha Mathur

(L-R) Vinnie, Akanksha, Meenakshi, Harshita, Tanu, Ayushi, Gunjan, Riya, Tripti and Yashika

SANTOSH SHARMA