First India-Mumbai Edition-26th December 2022

INDIA

TO INDUCT PRALAY MISSILES

THAT CAN STRIKE 500 KM TARGETS

074 CHANNEL NO

BHAGWAT ATTENDS RSS’S SAURASHTRA MEET, GUIDES ON THE OUTFIT’S EXPANSION

Bhuj: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday attended a meeting of the organisation’s workers at Anjar in Gujarat’s Kutch, where he offered guidance to them on expanding Sangh’s base at the grassroots level, its office-bearer said. Bhagwat is on a visit to Anjar to offer guidance to KutchSaurashtra zone.

AN INDIAN NATIONAL SHOT DEAD IN NEPAL

Kathmandu: An Indian national has been shot dead by 5 unidentified gunmen in Southern Nepal, police said on late Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Shiva Pujan Yadav, 45, a resident of Motihari Chhaudadano. He was shot in Mahagadhimai.

CAF HC SHOT DEAD BY JUNIOR IN C’GARH

Kanker: A head constable of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) was killed after his subordinate allegedly opened fire at him with a rifle in the state’s Kanker district on Sunday, police said. The incident took place in the morning at a government college in Kanker where CAF’s 11th battalion was deployed.

GUJ’S LONGEST: VADODARA GETS 3.5 KM LONG

ATAL FLYOVER

Vadodara: `230 crore Atal flyover connecting Genda circle to Manisha chokdi in Vadodara city was opened for traffic on Sunday by CM

‘

2022 HAS BEEN VERY INSPIRING’

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed 96th edition, the last Mann Ki Baat of the year 2022 on Sunday. PM Modi wished everyone on Christmas and remembered former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 98th birthday.

He said that the year 2022 was wonderful for the country as it completed 75 years of independence while India progressed rapidly and became world’s fifth largest economy. Modi added that during this year, country achieved more than 2.2 billion vaccinations against Covid and also crossed exports of $400 billion.

PM Modi concluded the podcast by wishing all the best for the next year. While he asked people to enjoy festive season, he cautioned people to be careful. P5

We stand ready: China on ties with India weeks after clash

Beijing: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday, said that China is ready to work with India through steady, sound growth of relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Wang said, “China and India have maintained communication through the diplomatic

and military channels, both countries are committed to upholding stability in border areas.”

MODI SAYS

l

Maoist chief PKD Prachanda becomes Nepal’s new PM, oath ceremony today

Kathmandu: President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Sunday appointed Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ , leader of parliamentary party of the Communist Party of Nepal, as the next PM of Nepal. According to a communication from President’s Office,

the swearing-in ceremony for Dahal, will be held at 4 pm on Monday.

PM CONGRATULATES PKD PRACHANDA

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” on Sunday on being elected as the new leader of Nepal and said he looks forward to working with him to further strengthen the friendship between the two countries.

Co-star held in Tunisha suicide, they broke up 15 days ago

Mumbai: Sheezan Mohammed Khan, co-star of actor Tunisha Sharma — a television actor who on Saturday allegedly died by suicide on the set of a TV show in Vasai in Maha’s Palghar — was arrested after a case of abetment to suicide was registered against him, police said on Sunday. He was in afternoon sent to fourday police custody by Vasai court in Mumbai.

Post-mortem reports have confirmed ‘hanging’ as cause of death & ruled out pregnancy signs, police said. P5

FIR OF TUNISHA’S SUICIDE REVEALS...

‘ATAL JI’S VISION MOTIVATED MILLIONS’

AFTER ‘AU’, NOW ‘ES’ TO RAISE POLITICAL TEMP IN MAHA

Sanjay Raut demands SIT investigation into suicide of Thane building Suraj Parmar who left a diary with code name ‘ES’

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Shiv Sena Thackeray MP Sanjay Raut has made serious allegations in the suicide case of Thane builder Suraj Parmar and demanded an SIT

probe into the matter. A diary found after Suraj Parmar’s suicide contains code names. “We know whose name they are,” Raut said, taking a dig at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde while interacting with the me-

dia on Sunday.

Sanjay Raut said, “Our MP Arvind Sawant raised a topic. The diary found after the suicide of Thane builder Suraj Parmar has code names. We know whose name they are. Get SIT probe

done against them,” he said.

Raut targeted Governor Koshyari as well.

“The governor has come to Maharashtra and made a series of derogatory statements about the great men of Maha-

PARMAR SUICIDE CASE

rashtra. Despite this, Bhagat Singh Koshyari is sitting on the post of governor and the BJP is singing his praises. What is all this? SIT should be constituted on this. SIT should be set up on Suraj Parmar’s di-

ary also, but they are not doing so. They are only constituting SIT against opposition parties. There has never been a government in the history of Maharashtra which acted so cunningly,” he said.

SURAJ

S uraj Parmar, a Thane-based builder, had committed suicide in 2015. After this incident the police found his sixteen page suicide note. It was also revealed that there were some code names in Suraj Parmar’s diary. Parmar had written in a note the names of six political people who were troubling him.. and he erased these names. He had said that if these names were read out, his family would be in trouble. Suraj Parmar ended his life by shooting himself. It was found that the names of four councilors were in his suicide note. Now Sanjay Raut has demanded an SIT probe into the sevenyear-old matter.

Uddhav Thackeray group has demanded that Suraj Parmar’s suicide case should be investigated through SIT. We can complete all inquiries. We have a transparent government. Thackeray group is just doing politics by making allegations. An allegation was recently made (NIT land case) and the court has shown them the place.

—Eknath Shinde, CM

Sanjay Raut

96TH EPISODE: MODI ROUNDS OFF LAST ‘MANN KI BAAT’ OF THE YEAR

Moni Sharma

Enjoy the festive season but be vigilant, stresses PM Modi as Covid is spreading again in some countries

l Various successes of India in 2022 have created a special place all over the world

l Atal Bihari Ji was a great statesman who

gave exceptional leadership to the country l It is our collective responsibility to keep Ganga river clean l Our nation will soon completely eradicate the Kala Azar l UN has included ‘Namami Gange’ mis-

sion in world’s top 10 initiatives aimed at reviving the (natural) ecosystem l ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ has become firmly rooted in mind of every Indian today

Corona is increasing in many countries

First India Bureau

Sheezan Mohammed Khan sent to four-day police custody by Vasai court

Love Jihad angle in Tunisha suicide case will be probed properly: BJP MLA Ram Kadam

Tunisha Khan with Sheezan Mohammed Khan.

The FIR of the case revealed that the two actors were in a relationship, and had broken up 15 days ago. Tunisha Sharma was reportedly under stress, and it is being suspected that’s what drove her to the edge. The 20-year-old actress, who was recently seen in Ali Baba: Dastaan-EKabul, hanged herself inside a makeup room in Naigaon.

President Droupadi Murmu, VP Jagdeep Dhankhar, LS Speaker Om Birla, PM Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh at ‘Sadaiv Atal’ on former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary, in Delhi on Sunday. “Tributes to Atal Ji on his Jayanti. His contribution to India is indelible. His leadership and vision motivate millions of people,” said Modi. (R) VP Dhankhar and PM Modi interacting. P5

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR, NEW DELHI & MUMBAI

Bhupendra Patel. About 3.5 km long flyover is longest in urban Gujarat. The bridge has also two emergency exits.

New Delhi: The Indian armed forces are now going to acquire ‘Pralay’ ballistic missile which can hit targets from 150 to 500 kms. The proposal is at an advanced stage and is scheduled to be taken up for clearance during a high-level meeting this week.

New Delhi: A 40-year-old China-returnee has tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday, CMO Agra Dr AK Srivastava said. His sample has been sent for genome sequencing. The man is asymptomatic and is isolated at his residence in Agra. Health dept are tracing other persons who came in contact with him.

CHINA-RETURNEE TESTS +VE FOR COVID IN AGRA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Opposition has no love left for Vidarbha: Shinde

at the Aurangabad airport in Marathwada region, Shinde said his government was working for the common people and will continue to do so.

a land parcel in Nagpur in 2021 when Shinde was the urban development minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

IN FORM

Aurangabad (PTI):

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the opposition parties have “no love left for Vidarbha” as they are not taking up issues of the region during the ongoing state legislature Winter Session in the region’s Nagpur city. Talking to reporters

To a question, Shinde on Sunday said the Maharashtra legislature session is underway in Nagpur city of Vidarbha region.

“The opposition should have spoken about the issues of Vidarbha and taken up questions pertaining to the region. They have no love left for Vidarbha. It is now visible through their actions,” he said.

The opposition has been targeting the state government over various issues, including

the raging border dispute with neighbouring Karnataka and a controversial allotment of

Sena MP Shewale seeks NIA probe into rape complaint

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Lok Sabha MP Rahul Shewale on Sunday demanded a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the complaint of rape filed against him by a woman. The leader, who belongs to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, alleged the complainant had links with Pakistan and fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai,

Shewale said he has made the demand to state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis , who is also the state home minister.

“The woman is making baseless allegations against me...She is a habitual complainant and has been harassing me and my family for the last two years. She has links with Pakistan and (fugitive gangster) Dawood Ibrahim. She is misusing the help I provided during the COV-

ID-19 pandemic and wants to finish off my political career,”

claimed Shewale. A court in Andheri has directed that a case

be filed against the woman, he said, adding that his wife has filed a complaint against the woman at the Govandi police station.

“Police are on the lookout for the woman. It is a serious matter that the woman is being shielded and brought

on a public platform. The Yuva Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are behind this move,” alleged the MP. He further alleged that she has been blackmailing him using ‘fake’ social media accounts.

“Once I stopped giving her money, she started blackmailing me. She has created a fake account on Twitter and other social media platforms and has been accessing them from Dubai,” he stated.

Tunisha death : Cine workers’ authority demands SIT probe

First India Bureau

Wardha: Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University (MGIHU) will host the 95th session of the Indian Philosophical Congress as well as Asian Philosophy Conference in Wardha, a top official of the facility said on Sunday.

The events will be held from December 27 to 30 and it will be the first time the Asian Philosophy Conference will also be conducted in Hindi, said MGIHU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rajnish Kumar Shukla.

“Mahatma Gandhi

always stressed the importance of Indian languages. The theme of the Indian Philosophical Congress is ‘Freedom and Responsibility’, while that of the Asian Philosophy Conference is ‘Philosophy for Restoration of Situation’. More than 500 persons from various universities are expected to participate,” he said.

More than 400 research papers will be read at the conference. The history of philosophy, Vedant and religious books will be discussed during the event, added Shukla.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Shiv Sena –Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sushma Andhare on Sunday claimed it will not be surprising if 20 legislators belonging to Sena’s Eknath Shinde faction will join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon.

Criticizing BJP leader and state Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Andhare alleged that the ruling BJP was trying to “eliminate the Shinde group”.

She was interacting with the media in Pandharpur on Sunday when Andhare made the statements.

Mumbai: The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) on Sunday demanded that the state government set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of 20-year-old actor Tunisha Sharma.

“We demand the government form an SIT in Tunisha Sharma’s suicide case and the investigation be done properly. I went to the set where she committed suicide. I found people were scared. Something wrong must have happened,” said AICWA President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta.

“Women are not safe on the set (of the television show that Tunisha was shooting for). It is at a very interior location where people are afraid to commute. The government should pay attention to this matter

and have the death probed by an SIT. Many things will come out after the probe,” added Gupta.

Earlier, in a tweet, the AICWA had said, “Actor Tunisha Sharma committed suicide on the set of serial ‘Alibaba Chalis Chor’, as reported by people there. This incident took place in a studio in Naigaon. We will demand SIT probe into it. The cases of suicide by actors are increasing day by day in

SNEAK ATTACK

the film industry. It is a very serious matter. God bless her soul and give courage to her family.”

Tunisha, who appeared in Bollywood films including “Fitoor”, “Baar Baar Dekho”, “Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh” and “Dabangg 3”, was found hanging from the ceiling in her ex-boyfriend make-up room on the sets of “Alibaba: Dastaan-e-Kabul” on Saturday.

Vidarbha region, a net producer of power and rich in minerals and forests, comprises 11 districts namely Yavatmal, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Buldhana, Washim, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Gondia.

The region has given Maharashtra four chief ministers Vasantrao Naik, Marotrao Kannamwar, Sudhakarrao

The CM was in Aurangabad to address a cleanliness drive organized by the Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan, a non-governmental organization.

Addressing a gathering after the cleanliness drive, Shinde said, “Our government is based on the common people’s expectations and it will work for them. The work of the Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan is commendable and is giving a good direction to people in the country.”

HC notice to min Sattar over land dispute decision

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has issued a notice to state minister Abdul Sattar for ordering ‘regularization’ of the possession of land reserved for public ‘gairan’ (grazing) in favour of a private person in the face of a civil court order.

There shall be an interim stay to the effect and operation of the order passed on June 17, 2022 by Sattar until further orders, said the HC’s Nagpur bench, while issuing the notice on December 22. The details were available on Saturday.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by social activist Shyam Deole and another person against the order Sattar had passed in June 2022 when he was the revenue minister.

As per the petition, a public utility land meant for grazing measuring 37 acres was ‘regularized’ in favour of a private person.

This was done even after the claim of this private person had been rejected by the civil appellate court, said the petitioner who was represented by advocate Sunil Manohar.

The HC held that prima facie (on the face of it) Sattar

He had ordered ‘regularization’ of grazing land to private party in June

passed the order with knowledge that additional district judge, Washim, had disallowed the claim of the private person for continuation of his possession over the gairan land. The Washim court had even passed stinging remarks,” the HC noted.

“Thus, we find that the issue raised in this petition, which puts a question mark over the manner in which the public utility land/gairan land is allowed to be usurped by private individuals, requires consideration by this court,” it stated.

“While issuing notice, we would direct the petitioners to deposit in this court an amount of Rs50,000 to show their bona fides,” it added.

The HC will hear the matter further on January 11, 2023.

Calling PM Modi ‘Father of New India’ an insult to him: Raut

Says hunger, poverty, unemployment and terrorism rearing their head in present-day India, in weekly column

Mumbai (PTI): Shiv Sena – Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if it agreed with the view of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s wife Amruta Fadnavis who called Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the father of New India. This is an “insult” to

Modi as in the new India, ghosts of hunger, poverty, unemployment and terrorism are raising their head, Raut claimed in his weekly column Rokhthok in the party mouthpiece Saamana, of which he is the executive editor.

“No one in the BJP talks about (freedom fighter) Veer Savarkar being father of the na-

tion. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was always opposed to Savarkar who underwent rigorous imprisonment. These people have partitioned India into old and new,” claimed the Rajya Sabha member further.

Amruta, a banker and singer, in a mock court interview recently said, “We have two ‘rashtra pitas’. Narendra Modi is the ‘Father of New India’ and Mahatma Gandhi is the father of the nation of earlier times.”

It had evoked strong reactions from the opposition Congress as well as Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

Raut on Sunday said the BJP does not acknowledge the independence gained from the martyrdom of freedom fighters.

He claimed the ‘Father of the Nation’ title was given to Mahatma Gandhi by the people of India.

Many political opponents including Shiv

Sena founder late Balasaheb Thackeray had objections to it, he said.

The issue here is not who is the ‘Father of the Nation’ or ‘Sardar’. The matter is about what is the BJP’s contribution to the freedom struggle, he said.

'”The BJP and the RSS had no role to play in the freedom movement and hence, they have to steal icons linked to the Congress like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose,” Raut alleged.

Today in the new India, ghosts of hunger, poverty, unemployment, terrorism are raising their head. Making Modi the father of new India is an insult to him.

Naik and Devendra Fadnavis.

“The opposition should have spoken about the issues of Vidarbha and taken up questions pertaining to the region. They have no love left for Vidarbha. It is now visible through their actions. —Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra Chief Minister

CM was in the region on Sunday for cleanliness drive held by a local NGO

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde outside Vidhan Bhavan during ongoing Winter Session in Nagpur —ANI PHOTO

—Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader

First India Bureau

MP Rahul Shewale with wife. —FILE PHOTO

Claims complainant has links with Pak, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim

Actor Tunisha Sharma died by suicide on Saturday. —FILE PHOTO

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare —FILE PHOTO

‘20 Shinde camp MLAs may join BJP’

Wardha’s MGIHU to host Indian, Asian phil events

Abdul Sattar

Cops thwart cyber fraud by stopping bank transaction

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Thwarting a ‘man in the middle attack’ kind of cyber fraud, and Mumbai police has managed to stop a fraudulent online banking transaction of Rs44.43 lakh, an official said on Saturday.

‘A man in the middle attack’ is a type of cyber crime where a fraudster intercepts and relays online messages (such as emails) between two parties who believe they are communicating directly with each other.

Cyber fraudsters managed to get in between the communication of the director a Mumbai-based textile company and his partner company, a crime branch official said.

The unidentified fraudster sent wrong bank account details through net banking on which the transaction of Rs 44.43 lakh was made, he said.

The company director, however, realised that the account number was wrong, following which he alerted the 1930 helpline of cyber police.

Mumbai records season’s coldest day as

MERCURY DIPS TO 16°C

Environmentalists oppose construction of concrete plant in Parsik Hill area

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Mumbaikars woke up to the coldest day of the season on Sunday, as the minimum temperature dropped to 16 °C, two degrees below normal. It is the lowest temperature logged so far this December.

According to the weather department on

Saturday, it was colder in the suburbs compared to other cities in the Mumbai metropolitan region. Dahanu in Palghar district recorded a minimum temperature of 17.5 °C in the last 24 hours, while temperatures recorded in Kolhapur and Ratnagiri were 17.4 °C and 19.2 °C respectively.

Meanwhile, Mumbaikars also got relief from the scorching heat as the maximum daytime temperature was recorded at 28.8 °C in the last 24 hours.

According to the IMD data, Mumbai was the hottest city in panIndia on Friday and Saturday.

Interestingly, the

change in weather is witnessed almost two weeks after Mumbai recorded the highest temperature on December 13 when the mercury touched 35 °C.

Last year, on December 29, the city recorded the minimum temperature at 17.4 °C.

The minimum temperature in most parts of the state decreased on Saturday compared to Friday, especially in norther Maharashtra region.

Nashik experienced cold conditions with the minimum temperature dropping to 10.3 °C. Pune and surrounding areas also witnessed a change in night temperatures

AIR QUALITY INDEX

Navi Mumbai: The development of a readymix concrete facility at a quarry site in the Parsik Hills has raised many eyebrows because such work is not permitted in forest regions.

According to the Director of NatConnect Foundation BN Kumar, while the machines at 102 quarries have fallen silent, the work on an RMC plant at MG Nagar quarry site has caught the attention of environmentalists.

The hills have become weak due to the continuous blasting; biodiversity of forest belt has suffered

any more violations.

According to the sources, the forest department has given over 138 hectares in Parsik Hill to CIDCO for quarrying and resettling the project-affected people for the lands taken over 50 years ago for Navi Mumbai development.

with the minimum temperature reaching 11.6 °C.

The Meteorological Department has pre-

He has even questioned the forest department as to how this activity could be allowed, and also complained to the Chief Minister to look into the construction of a ‘pucca’ concrete structure. Kumar has requested the CM to order a survey of all the quarry sites to check if there are

The quarrying has been stopped five years following a ruling by the National Green Tribunal stipulating environmental clearance for digging the hills.

However, workers at the site said stones and cement were brought from outside and mixed here.

CRUCIAL READ

The driver allegedly stopped the vehicle midway and assaulted the victim along with the co-passenger, robbing him of his mobile phone and other valuables, said Ramchandra Deshmukh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Virar division). Based on tip-offs, police apprehended the driver and two others involved in the robbery. The trio are involved in five other offences, he added.

MAN ARRESTED FOR 10 CHAIN SNATCHING CASES

Thane: A man has been arrested in connection with 10 cases of chain snatching in Mira Bhayander town of Thane district, police said on Sunday. Senior inspector Aviraj Kurhade of the Crime Unit I said that in an investigation of chain snatching cases reported in Mira Bhayander, the police acted on tip-offs and technical inputs to zero in on the suspect. Gold jewellery worth Rs2.55 lakh and two motorcycles were seized from him, he said, adding that further probe is underway.

WOMAN DELIVERS BABY ABOARD MSRTC BUS

Thane: A pregnant woman delivered a healthy baby on Saturday evening while travelling in an MSRTC bus, an official said. The woman developed labour pains when the bus was close to Varap village in Kalyan, she gave birth to a child soon after, he said. The mother and child were taken to a nearby hospital for medical care in an ambulance passing by. “The mother and child are healthy,” said Niket Vyvhare, who got the woman and child admitted to the hospital.

25-YEAR-OLD MAN STABBED TO DEATH, FRIEND INJURED IN ATTACK IN LATUR

Latur: A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death and his friend injured in an attack over a domestic dispute in Latur district, police said on Sunday. The deceased Akhil Jalil Belure and his friend Babbu alias Takkal Layakpasha Bhatambre (24) met the accused to resolve a domestic dispute. After a heated argument, the accused attacked them with a sharp weapon, seriously injuring the duo, Assistant Police Inspector Sandip Kamat said. Belure was rushed to a government hospital but was declared dead by doctors, he said.

WOMAN DIES DUE TO OVERDOSE OF ABORTION PILLS

Aurangabad: A woman in Fulambri tehsil died after consuming abortion pills on Sunday. Allegedly, her husband gave her an overdose of the pills, the officials said. The husband of the deceased has been arrested. Reportedly, the deceased, Vaishali Kshirsagar, recently got pregnant. However, the husband did not want the child. To abort the pregnancy, the accused gave her abortion pills.

Unfortunately, the woman overdosed on the drugs and died due to excessive blood loss.

FIRE BREAKS OUT IN MULTI-STOREY; NONE INJURED

Mumbai: A fire broke out on the third floor of a five-storey building in suburban Kandivali on Sunday afternoon. No casualties have been in the incident, a fire brigade official said. “The minor blaze had erupted in Geetanjali Building in Samta Nagar locality. Upon the arrival of the fire brigade, it was doused within 30 minutes. The cause of the incident is being investigated,” he said. It is to be noted that the number of fire-related incidents have been on the rise in the city recently.

Sunburn Festival in Goa: Court bans playing of Bollywood songs

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has barred the organizers of the Sunburn Festival, which will be held in Goa from December 28-30, and connected events from playing Bollywood music and sound recordings that might breach copyright in any work owned and protected by Novex Communications.

Justice Manish Pitale granted liberty to the organizers to approach Novex Communications for the license on December 21. The HC posted the matter for further hearing on February 10, 2023.

Novex Communications had filed a suit claiming that it had exclusive rights over sound recordings of several music companies, and was an authorized distributor for Zee Music Company, YRF and Eros International Media Ltd.

Civic body to install speed violation detection system on Mankhurd-Ghatkopar flyover

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Amid uproar over several incidents on the Mankhurd-Ghatkopar Link Road flyover, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to install a speed violation detection system on it. It will enable traffic police to detect those who exceed the speed limit automatically.

In a press release, the civic body has said that it will spend Rs40-50 lakh for the system. The speed violation detection system will be working as a violation warning for those vehicles which cross the maximum allowed speed on that route. This system will capture the speed of each vehicle and also the image of vehicles which cross the speed limit on that route.

The flyover, which

After a spate of accidents, the BMC has decided to install new system to curb such mishaps

was built on a budget of Rs500 crore, has helped cut travel time for motorists heading towards Navi Mumbai from Ghatkopar. This is because the link road has heavy traffic on the entire stretch, especially at Baiganwadi Junction in Shivaji Nagar.

The 2.9-km flyover had to be partially shut down a month after it was opened to the public.

Bird enthusiasts delighted as flamingos start making their winter sojourn to Nerul, Thane

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: Environmentalists and bird enthusiasts are delighted that the pink migratory birds have started arriving in ‘Flamingo City’. However, they are concerned, that the number is very small.

According to NatConnect Director BN Kumar, Flamingos have been noticed in the Ramsar site Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary and at TS Chanakya wetland at Nerul, however this time their numbers are

small as compared to previous years.

The pink birds tend to stay put in Gujarat area as long as water levels there suit them.

“We expect the flamingos in larger numbers by March,” BNHS Deputy Director Dr Rahul Khot said.

Meanwhile, four of the six flamingos which have been tagged GPS devices by BNHS researchers still appear to be in the Gujarat area.

Kumar said the migratory birds such as flamingos are brand

ambassadors of the environment as they carry the message of good weather wherever they fly.

Navi Mumbai is the

country’s most populous

AUTORICKSHAW DRIVER, 2 OTHERS HELD FOR ROBBING PASSENGER ON HIGHWAY

Palghar: An autorickshaw driver and two others have been arrested for allegedly robbing a passenger on MumbaiAhmedabad Highway in Palghar district, police said on Sunday.

dicted that the minimum temperature will remain around the average in the rest of the state.

The mercury dipped to 16 °C, the coldest so far in December.

—PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

AREA AQI CATEGORY

In the last 24 hours, the city recorded maximum daytime temperature of 28.8 °C

urban flamingo destination. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation designated the area as ‘Flamingo City’. The

waves of pink birds in the air and on the wetlands are a treat for bird lovers who explore the marshes and enjoy flamingo rides.

Over 1.33 lakh flamingos have been noticed in the city during the winter of 2021-22. —FILE PHOTO

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Navi Mumbai is the country’s largest urban destination for flamingos. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has given the tag of ‘Flamingo City’ to the area.

Over 1.33 lakh flamingos have been noticed in the city during the winter of 2021-22. The waves of pink birds in the air and on wetlands are a treat to the eyes of bird watchers who jostle the wetlands and enjoy the flamingo rides in the Thane creek.

Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Mary, commonly known as Mount Mary church, in Bandra area of Mumbai illuminated with decorative lights for Christmas festivities.

—PHOTOS BY PTI

People celebrate the festival of Christmas at Marine Drive in Mumbai on Sunday.

AUDIO CASSETTES OF MODI’S SPEECHES A HIT AMONG ABVP WORKERS IN 90s

Narendra Modi is an oratorical genius and the narrator tells us how Modiji’s speeches had a deep impact on him when he was a student! The excerpts that the narrator shares with us show us how Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not just adept at the usage of the best rhetorical devices, but is a leader who inspires with his persona as well as words!

The release of Modiji’s audio cassettes used to be a big event for us! All the students of Vidyarthi Parishad would collect together to listen to his recording. That was not a digital era and cassettes with recordings of Modiji’s speeches used to be recorded. Parag Naik, who is in Maninagar, used to get the cassettes to us. Students would get in big groups and listen to his speeches very intently. They used to be so powerful being the great rhetor that he is, and his words would leave an indelible imprint on the listeners’ minds.

Even today I remember parts of his speeches, given that they used to be so high octane and we know Narendra bhai, he has always had a commanding persona. I listen to his speeches regularly but what I heard in those cassettes as a youth left a permanent mark on my memory. In one of the speeches, he asked

the audience “Do you remember the names of 20 MPs from your region?” So people came up with a few responses. Some could recollect one name or two names but did not remember names of MPs from long ago. Next question “Do you remember the names of the last 20 MLAs of your region?” Nobody could remember. Then he asked “Do you remember the names of past 20 ministers of various departments?” No response.

Modiji then said “You don’t remember names of MPs, MLAs and ministers but can you ever forget the names of saints and other great personalities who lived 200 or 300 years ago? You remember Ramkrishna Paramhans, Mirabai, Bhagat Singh, Subash Chandra even today- but why do you do so ? What did they do?” Then he would say ironically “They only sacrificed themselves. Is that anything great? Why don’t you remember those who reaped the benefits of the sacrifices of these noble people?”

Well, I learned the importance of “tyaag” from Narendrabhai. He laid great emphasis on the spirit of devotion, social service and sacrifice.

There is another memorable excerpt from one of his speeches. He said “When you have food, do you wonder who manufactured the plate for you, the bowl and the spoon? Wonder who produced the raw material required for the making of these items. All this was transported too, so there was someone who drove the truck. Someone must have built the engine for the truck.

Someone must have grown the food for you. A blacksmith in some faraway village would have built the tools!

Even today I remember parts of his speeches, given that they used to be so high octane and we know Narendra bhai, he has always had a commanding persona. I listen to his speeches regularly but what I heard in those cassettes as a youth left a permanent mark on my memory. In one of the speeches, he asked the audience “Do you remember the names of 20 MPs from your region?” So people came up with a few responses. Some could recollect one name or two names but did not remember names of MPs from long ago.

You are born in a hospital that was built because someone donated towards its creation.

Someone has paid the fees for the doctor’s education who is now treating you and somebody paid for his scholarship. Now if there is electricity in the operation theater, someone must have got the coal for its production and someone must have driven the train to supply the coal. So this implies, we all are connected. And whenever you do something for the society, it cannot be termed as samaj seva. It is your payback to the society,

NARENDRA BHAI’

Well, I learned the importance of “tyaag” from Narendrabhai. He laid great emphasis on the spirit of devotion, social service and sacrifice. There is another memorable excerpt from one of his speeches. He said “When you have food, do you wonder who manufactured the plate for you, the bowl and the spoon? Wonder who produced the raw material required for the making of these items. All this was transported too, so there was someone who drove the truck.

and even if we devote our entire life for the welfare of our society, we would not be able to repay our society for what it has done for us.

Narendra bhai had a white Maruti car and he used to love driving it. The backseat of the car was always occupied. Who was the permanent occupant of his car? Books. A whole lot of books were always placed on the rear seat of his car. I used to be curious and would peep into his car to see what books he was reading currently and carried along with him. Narendra bhai stayed at

a doctor’s bungalow in Gujarat colony for a while and that time too I observed his car laden with books. His speeches were proof of his erudition and of the fact that he was a voracious reader.

Priyakant Parikh’s 75th book was released by Narendra bhai. The event was a big hit and it is considered to be one of his most famous speeches and was loved by people. And I used to record his speeches in the audio cassettes at that time. Even today I have several rare records of his speeches with me which

are not documented any where. So it was Priyakant’s wish that the 100th book too be released by Narendra Modi. But when his 100th book was ready and the event for its release had been finalized, he met with an accident. It was a minor accident but because he was aged, he got bed-ridden. Now he knew that it would not be possible to go ahead with the book release at the scale it had been planned. But Narendra bhai kept his promise. He had committed to releasing the book and he did it in Piyakant’s drawing room in presence of his family and neighbours. This event became a story, almost a legend in the literary world!

Once trucks carrying relief material had to leave from RSS headquarters in Gujarat after the Latur earthquake in Maharashtra. I too went to RSS office like all swayamsevaks and the speech that Narendra bhai delivered was such a piece of such inspiring oratory that I can never forget the impact it had! Giving a biblical reference, he cited the example of Daniel who left his place to serve the people of another city and heal their suffering. He spoke about how Daniel himself underwent pain while serving his people. It was one of the most eloquent speeches by Narendra bhai and the effect was such, the swayamsevaks who were in the audience that day, as soon as the event ended came up requesting to be sent to Latur to serve their brethren! Such is the effect of Narendra bhai’s words on his listeners!

COMPILED AND EDITED BY SHASHIKANT SHARMA AND SHWETA SHARMA

‘NARENDRA BHAI HAS ALWAYS HAD A COMMANDING PERSONA’

‘I HAVE LEARNT IMPORTANCE OF ‘TYAAG’ FROM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Murmu, Dhankhar, Modi pay tributes to Vajpayee on his birth anniv

Former PM AB Vajpayee made world aware of India’s potential: Amit Shah

New Delhi (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and others on Sunday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary.

While paying tributes to Vajpayee on his birth Anniversary Home Minister Shah said that

the life of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the pinnacle of Indian politics, was dedicated to taking the country back to its ultimate glory.“By laying the foundation of a new era of development and Good Governance under his leadership, Atal ji made the world aware of India’s potential and instilled a sense of national pride in the public. Today, on his birth

anniversary, I pay my respects to Atal ji,” Shah said in a tweet.

Earlier in morning,

PM Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar

paid floral tribute to Vajpayee on his Birth Anniversary.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri were among several dignitaries who paid tribute to the late Prime Minister.

Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India from May 16 1996 to June 1 1996 and again from 19 March 1998 to 22 May 2004.

India carved special place for itself in world in 2022: Modi

New Delhi: The outgoing year 2022 has been inspirational and wonderful for India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday as he cited many gains the country made in the period, carving for itself a “special place” in the world.

In his last ‘Mann ki Baat’ episode of the year, PM Modi also cited a Tata Memorial Centre’s research to assert that the country’s traditional methods like yoga and ayurveda are now standing up to the touchstone of evidence-based medicine of the modern era.

An intensive research done by this centre has revealed that yoga is very effective for breast cancer patients, the PM said, noting that it is the first such study.

ART, LITERATURE AND CULTURE ARE COLLECTIVE WEALTH OF SOCIETY: PM

New Delhi (ANI):

Baat address on Sunday said it is society’s responsibility to take forward its collective wealth comprising art, literature, and culture.“Art, literature and culture are the collective wealth of society; it is society’s responsibility to take them forward,” Modi said in the 96th edition of Mann Ki Baat. The Prime Minister talked about various startups of the countrypersons which have contributed to the Central government’s Vocal for Local campaign.

“UP attracts `77,140 cr investment proposals”

Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh has attracted investment proposals worth Rs 77,140 crore from Germany, Belgium and Sweden ahead of the state’s global investors’ summit, UP Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta said.

Gupta was on a nineday tour to these countries earlier this month along with Public Works Department Minister Jitin Prasada, Additional Chief Secretary Navneet Sehgal, Excise

Commissioner Senthil Pandian C and MSME Secretary Pranjal Yadav. The UP Global Investors’ Summit 2023 will be held in February 2023 in Lucknow. The ministers visited Germany, Belgium and Sweden from December 9 to 14.

GANGE’ INITIATIVE HELPED IMPROVE BIODIVERSITY, SAYS PM MODI

New Delhi (ANI): PM Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the Namami Gange initiative of the Central Government has helped improve biodiversity and is being widely appreciated by the world.“The Namami Gange mission has also helped improve biodiversity. It is our utmost responsibility to keep our rivers like Ganga clean. The mission initiated by the Government is appreciated throughout the world,” PM Modi said in the 96th edition of his radio show-Mann Ki Baat. “With Ganga’s ecosystem being clean, other livelihood opportunities are also increasing. Here I would like to highlight the ‘Jalaj Ajeevika Model’, which has been

prepared for respecting Biodiversity as the number of different species of Hilsa fish, Ganga dolphin and tortoise have significantly increased,” PM Modi said. He expressed his pride as the United Nations recently included the programme of clean Ganga river in the top 10 initiatives of the world for restoring ecosystems and said that it is our responsibility to keep the river clean.

Narendra Modi

@narendramodi

“Tributes to Atal Ji on his Jayanti. His contribution to India is indelible. His leadership and vision motivate millions of people.”

Amit Shah @AmitShah

“Atal ji’s patriotism, dutifulness and dedication will always inspire us to serve the nation.”

BIHAR CM NITISH KUMAR PAYS MOVING TRIBUTE TO ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE

Patna (PTI): Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday paid a moving tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, asserting that he could “never forget” the mentorship of the late leader, who had showered on him “ so much of love and affection”.

Kumar was talking to reporters here on the side-

lines of a state function which is organised every year on the late leader’s birth anniversary.“I have deep respect (shraddha) for Atal ji, a reason why we have been observing a state function his birth anniversary. As an MP, I always used to listen attentively to all his speeches. Then I had the privilege of being a minister in his cabinet with three portfolios,” recalled the Bihar CM.

BHARAT JODO YATRA Walk for an India where no one lives in fear: RaGa

New Delhi (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government and said that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is a “walk for an India where no one lives in fear.”

Taking to Twitter Rahul Gandhi said, “We walk for an India where no one lives in fear, and everyone finds a better future.” Gandhi’s mass outreach campaign, Bharat Jodo Yatra, earlier on Saturday, entered the national capital. The party held a mega public rally in front of the historic Red Fort on Saturday.

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan had joined Rahul Gandhi during Saturday’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in New Delhi on Saturday.

Love jihad angle will be investigated in Tunisha Sharma death case: BJP MLA

New Delhi (Agencies): Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) MLA Ram Kadam, on Sunday, said that actress Tunisha Sharma’s death case will be investigated properly and her family will get justice. He added that the case will be investigated from a love jihad angle too. “The family of Tunisha Sharma will get justice. We will find out if the case is linked to love jihad or not and if it’s linked, then the

conspirators and organizations behind it will be exposed,” said the BJP leader.

ATTACK ON REGIONAL PARTIES

she died by suicide. Initial reports suggested that she ended her life on the sets, in the makeup room at Naigaon. Tunisha Sharma was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead.

After the death of the actress, the police arrested her co-actor Sheezan Mohammad Khan under section 306 (abetment to suicide) under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Rahul harming his own party’s future prospects?

Shamsher Singh

New Delhi: It is surprising that Rahul Gandhi has once again targeted regional parties. He has said that no regional party has a national vision, they can represent the vision of a community or a state, but not the country. Amongst the opposition, he called the Congress the sole representative of the national vision and idea. He had said this a few days back as well after

which many regional parties had objected to it. But after Rahul made the same statement a second time, everyone is silent. It seems that he did not understand the need to take this matter seriously. In fact, with such talks, Rahul is losing the seriousness of his words on the ground of political ideology.

Does he have any idea what the states’ vision is and how it differs from the national vision? Is the national vision not made in conjunction with the vision of the states? Are the citizens of the states not the citi-

zens of the nation? Does he have no idea as to what harm can be done to the Congress by getting into the debate of the nation? In fact every citizen is a citizen of India, every state is a part of the nation and every regional party represents a national vision. If Rahul Gandhi and Congress are calling tribals the owners of this country, then the entire politics of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is on this base.

JMM also fights for the

rights of tribal considering them as the owner of water, forest and land. Other regional parties fight the battle of backward and Dalits in a better way than Congress.

Border states have to remain alert for the security of the state as well as national security. As far as fighting the BJP is concerned, most of the regional parties are putting up a better fight than the Congress, challenging the BJP and even defeating it.

“Rahul Gandhi questioned the Indian Army again today. He’s asking when’ll the land be returned. But when was the land taken? Video shows Army giving a befitting response in Tawang and he says Army ‘pitti hain’. It’s his party’s strategy to make hateful remarks about Army,” Prasad said.

OPS will be implemented in Himachal: CM Sukhu

New Delhi (ANI):

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday said that the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) would be implemented in the state soon and they have called for a meeting regarding the same.

“Old Pension scheme will be implemented. We have called a meeting regarding that. We are going to give the Old Pension scheme to our workers who have contributed to the development of the state,” Sukhu said while participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the national capital. The foot march entered Delhi from Haryana after starting from the NHPC metro station in Faridabad around 6 am on Saturday.

JAIRAM THAKUR ELECTED OPPOSITION LEADER IN HIMACHAL

Shimla (ANI): Former Himachal Pradesh CM Jairam Thakur will be the Leader of the Opposition of the State’s newly elected assembly. During Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) legislature meeting, the former CM and six-time legislator Thakur was unanimously named as the Leader of the Opposition in the 68-member Assembly. Following the meeting, Jairam Thakur thanked his party members and functionaries and assured them of executing his duty responsibly. The former Chief Minister tweeted about it on Sunday.

First India Bureau

The actress was shooting for her TV show, Ali Baba: Dastaan-E-Kabul when

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

PM Narendra Modi, LS Speaker Om Birla, RS Dy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh, Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri and others after paying tributes to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

—FILE PHOTO

96th EDITION OF PM MODI’S MANN KI BAAT

‘NAMAMI

“IT’S CONG’S STRATEGY TO MAKE HATEFUL REMARKS ABOUT ARMY”: RS PRASAD

PM Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki

Patna (ANI): Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi over his recent statements on the Indian Army, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that it is Congress’ “strategy” to make “hateful remarks” about Army. At a press conference here, referred to the purported video in which the Indian Army personnel were seen thrashing the Chinese Army, and said that the Army is giving a befitting response in the Tawang faceoff that took place on December 9.

Rahul Gandhi carrying a kid dressed as Santa during Yatra.

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visits Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum, in New Delhi on Sunday. —PHOTO BY ANI

(L) BJP Leader Ram Kadam and deceased actor Tunisha Sharma

Nadda addresses partymen after PM’s Mann ki Baat.

RISE IN CASES

India logs 227 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours: Govt

India’s active caseload currently stands at 3,424, which accounts for 0.01 per cent of the total cases

New Delhi (ANI): India

recorded 227 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs on Sunday.

India’s total COVID-19 vaccination coverage stands at 220.05 crores. 95.12 crore second doses and 22.36 crore precaution doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive. India’s active caseload currently stands at 3,424, which accounts for 0.01 per cent of the total cases.

The national COVID-19 recovery rate stood at 98.8 per cent, the Health Ministry said.

A total of 198 patients recovered in the last 24 hours and the cumulative tally of recovered patients (since the beginning of the pandemic) was recorded at

4,41,42,989 on Sunday.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 0.18 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate is 0.14 per cent.

The last 24 hours saw a total of 1,29,159 COVID-19 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 90.99 crores of cumulative

CRUCIAL READ

PARAGLIDING ACCIDENT IN KULLU KILLS 30-YEAR-OLD FROM MAHARASHTRA

Himachal Pradesh: A 30-year-old man allegedly died due to a fall during a paragliding expedition in the Dobhi region of Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Suraj Shah, a tourist from Maharashtra’s Satara district. When the paraglider was in the air, his safety belt reportedly gave way, plunging him to the ground. Suraj Shah and the pilot were rushed to Kullu hospital by the locals, where Suraj was declared brought dead and the pilot’s treatment was underway.

3 DEAD IN LUCKNOW

ACCIDENT; CM YOGI EXPRESSES GRIEF

Uttar Pradesh: Three persons died after the driver of a car lost control and the vehicle fell into a drain in the Uttar Pradesh capital on Sunday, as per police sources. The accident took place near Narharpur village in Sairpur Police Station area.

Inspector Sunil Kumar Tiwari reached the spot and led the rescue operation.Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolence over the loss of lives.

FOUR YOUTHS DIE IN TWO ACCIDENTS IN WEE HOURS OF CHRISTMAS DAY IN KERALA

Kerala: Christmas day was marred with reports of four youths’ deaths in two separate accidents in Kollam and Kozhikode districts in the wee hours of Sunday. A car carrying four youths crashed into a tree near Kundara in Kollam, leading to the death of two on the spot and the remaining two hospitalised with one of them on a ventilator, police said. An officer of Kundara police station said the incident occurred around 3.30 AM when the youths were coming from Perumpuzha area of Kollam.

The national COVID-19 recovery rate stood at 98.8 per cent, the Health Ministry said

Covid tests being done in Bihar daily”

G20 meet in Srinagar shows return of peace

J&K (ANI): The central govt would conduct one of the G20 meetings in Jammu & Kashmir’s Srinagar in 2023 which advocates for the return of peace and security in the Union Territory.

tests, said, officials.

Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday decided to hold mock drills at all health facilities across the country on December 27 in the wake of the COVID alarm due to a surge in infection in many countries.

NGT refrains from levying fine on Meghalaya

New Delhi (PTI): The National Green Tribunal has refrained from levying environmental compensation of Rs 109 crore on Meghalaya, noting that the state had already committed the requisite funds for solid and liquid waste management. The NGT is monitoring compliance with Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

A bench comprising Chairperson Justice A K Goel said there were gaps in solid and liquid waste generation and treatment.

Bihar (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday said that the state is on alert amid the global surge in Coronavirus infection and asserted that over 40 thousand tests are being conducted here regularly. “We are conducting Covid tests and giving vaccines. Almost 45,00050,000 tests are being conducted every day. Bihar is on alert and the patients are being provided treatment. The Center is also careful but we have to be more cautious with the people who are coming from for-

eign,” Nitish Kumar said. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Air Suvidha form filling to declare the current health status will also be made compulsory for international passengers arriving from these Asian countries.

India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1. During its presidency, India will host more than 200 meetings in more than 50 cities across 32 different workstreams.

The top event of the G20 leader’s summit is slated to be held in the national capital on September 9 and 10, 2023.

From 1990 to 2019, Pakistan and its agents in Kashmir made every attempt to thwart any national or international event held in the Valley, but after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, the situation changed as the separatists and terrorists who used to hold Kashmir hostage on special occasions have been taken to task.

Mortal remains of soldiers who died in Sikkim reach Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh (ANI):

The mortal remains of four soldiers who died in a Sikkim truck mishap, reached Lucknow airport on Saturday.

The mortal remains of Havildar Charan Singh of Lalitpur, Bhupendra Singh of Etah, Shaheed Shyam Singh Yadav of Unnao and Lokesh Rai of Muzaffarnagar reached Lucknow airport. The mortal remains of the soldiers will be cremated today with state honours.

Earlier on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief

Below freezing point in parts of Kashmir, Dal Lake frozen

Srinagar: Cold conditions intensified in Kashmir as the minimum temperature dipped several degrees below the freezing point and many places experienced the season’s coldest night, officials said Sunday. The valley experienced a dry but colder Christmas this year, the MeT office said. However, there is a possibility of a wet spell next week. The

minimum temperature on Saturday night went several degrees below the freezing point and was below normal across the valley except in Gulmarg, the officials said.

AF WOMEN DECRY UNIVERSITY BAN

COLD WAVE

‘BEHEADING WOULD’VE BEEN BETTER’

Kabul: Marwa was just a few months away from becoming the first woman in her Afghan family to go to university — instead, she will watch achingly as her brother goes without her. Women are now banned from attending university in Talibancontrolled Afghanistan, where they have been steadily stripped of their freedoms over the past year.

“Had they ordered women to be beheaded, even that would have been better than this ban,” Marwa told media at her family home in

Af.

Kabul on Sunday. If we are to be so unlucky, I wish that we had not been born at all. I am sorry for my existence in the world.

We are being treated worse than animals. Animals can go anywhere on their own, but we girls don’t have the right even to step out of our homes.

—Marwa

DREAMS CRUSHED

The ban by the hardline Islamist government, which seized power in August last year, has sparked global outrage,

including from Muslim nations who deemed it against Islam.

Neda Mohammad Nadeem, Taliban’s minister for higher education, claimed women students had ignored a strict dress code and a requirement they be accompanied by a male relative to campus. They are also barred from travelling without a male relative and must cover up in public. Women are prohibited from going to parks, etc.

INDIA REVAMPS DEFENCE INFRA WITH ARMY TANK RAMPS

New Delhi (PTI): Indian security agencies have carried out a major defence infrastructure revamp including creation of ramps for army tanks and strengthening of BSF bunkers along the International Border with Pakistan, since the two sides announced a military ceasefire in 2021, officials said. The first phase of the infrastructure renovation and creation of some new ones has been recently completed on a stretch of 26 kilometres.

Srinagar (PTI): A man escaped unhurt after two motorcycle-borne militants shot at him in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district on Sunday, officials said. The militants fired three pistol rounds at Waseem Ahmad Wani (27), resident of Heerpora area of Shopian, the officials said.They said all the three rounds missed Wani and he escaped unhurt. Wani runs a YouTube news channel in Shopian, the officials added.

Guj: Sacked from job, man, his aide kill firm owner

Surat (PTI): A man and his associate allegedly stabbed to death the owner of an embroidery firm in Gujarat’s Surat, his father and uncle on Sunday apparently as he was angry with his former employer for removing him from job recently, police said.

The triple murder took place at the victim’s company, Vedant Texo, located in Anjani industrial area of Amroli area of Surat city, they said.

The Surat Police detained the two accused and formed a Special

Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case, a senior official said.

“The accused and his associate walked into the company on Sunday morning and stabbed the owner of the unit, his father and uncle to death,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Zone 5) Harshad Mehta said. Both the accused have been detained and are being questioned, he told reporters.

The deceased are identified as Kalpesh Dholakia (36), Dhanji Dholakiya (61) and Ghanshyam Rajodiya (48).

Centre on Collegium: SC gets 3 CJIs, delivers verdicts in 2022

only

The apex court, in its 72-year-long history, saw three Chief Justices of India (CJI) in a year for the second time after 2002. NV Ramana, who became the 48th CJI in April 2021, retired in August 2022, followed by UU Lalit.

Amaravati: President Droupadi Murmu will visit the Srisailam temple in Nandyal district in Andhra Pradesh to inaugurate a project of the Tourism Department ‘Prasad’ on Monday, officials said on Sunday. Murmu will be reaching the temple town in chopper from Hyderabad, they said. She is scheduled to offer special prayers at the Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Bramarambhika temples in Srisailam.

PRESIDENT TO VISIT SRISAILAM TEMPLE IN ANDHRA TODAY

Moni Sharma

Women banned from attending university in Taliban-controlled

A healthcare worker collects a nasal swab sample of a passenger for COVID-19 testing at Birsa Munda International Airport, in Ranchi on Sunday. —PHOTO BY ANI

“45,000-50,000

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

MAN ESCAPES UNHURT IN MILITANT ATTACK IN SRINAGAR

Minister Yogi Adityanath paid tribute to army personnel who died in the Sikkim truck mishap and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh each to the families

of all the deceased.

CM Yogi paid tribute to the four soldiers. He also announced a government job for one family member of each soldier.

INDIA BEAT BANGLADESH

Indian team poses for a group picture with the trophy after winning the 2nd Test match against Bangladesh, at Shere Bangla National Stadium, in Dhaka on Sunday. India defeated Bangladesh by 3 wickets to seal the series 2-0.

Sanjeev Balyan, Kapil Dev Aggarwal and others pay last respects to the mortal remains of army soldier. —PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi: The MeT department’s predictions for Christmas and the holidays ahead, point to the possibility of dense fog in Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana over the next four days. The MeT has issued a warning of severe cold conditions over the next few days in north Rajasthan.

IN NORTH INDIA

New Delhi (PTI): Amid the feud with the government on the Collegium system, the Supreme Court saw three CJIs in 2022 while it delivered key verdicts upholding the SIT’s clean chit to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riots, the contentious money laundering law and 10 per cent EWS quota in admissions and government jobs.

The no-holds-barred attack on the judiciary by the Centre led by

Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on issues ranging from the Collegium system, listing of bail and frivolous PILs to long court vacations elicited sharp response from the top court which not

came down heavily over the delay in clearing names for judgeship to the top couurt but also asserted that if it does not act in the case of violation of personal liberty then “what for” is it existing.

China ready to work with India: FM Wang

FPIs INVEST `11,557 CRORE IN EQUITIES IN DECEMBER SO FAR

New Delhi: Foreign investors have infused a net `11,557 crore in Indian equities in December so far despite a market correction and increasing concerns over re-emergence of COVID in China and some other parts of the world. FPIs invested a net sum of `11,557 crore in equities during December 1-23. This comes following a net investment of over `36,200 crore in November primarily due to weakening of the US dollar index and positivity about overall macroeconomic trends. —PTI

OF 10 TOP

New Delhi (PTI): Chinese

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that China is ready to work with India for the “steady and sound growth” of bilateral ties and the two countries are committed to upholding stability at the border areas where tensions have prevailed since 2020.

Addressing a symposium on the international situation and China’s foreign relations in 2022, Wang said both countries have maintained communication through diplomatic and military-to-military channels.

“China and India have maintained communication through the diplomatic and military-to-military

DPIIT seeks views on retail trade policy

New Delhi (PTI): The DPIIT has sought the views of 16 departments and ministries on its draft national retail trade policy, which is aimed at the overall development of all formats of the sector, an official said.

channels, and both countries are committed to upholding stability in the border areas,” said Wang, who

NEARLY 80% TICKETS SOLD ONLINE: RAIL MIN

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday stated that close to 80% of reserved tickets in Indian railways are sold online.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

z Addressing a symposium on the int’l situation and China’s foreign relations in 2022, Wang said both countries have maintained communication through diplomatic and military-to-military channels

has been elevated to the ruling Communist Party of China’s (CPC) high-power political bureau during the recent party Congress.

“We stand ready to work with India in the direction toward steady and sound

z Wang, along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, is the Special Representative of the India-China boundary mechanism

z In his lengthy address on China’s diplomatic work, Wang focused more on China’s troubled ties with the US

growth of China-India relations,” he said at the symposium. Wang, along with National Security Advisor

Ajit Doval, is the Special Representative of the India-China boundary mechanism which has remained

dormant in the present set of border standoffs.

In his lengthy address on China’s diplomatic work, Wang focused more on China’s troubled ties with the US and burgeoning relations with Russia, despite the Ukraine war.

He briefly touched on India-China relations that have been bogged down since April 2020.

The ties between the two countries froze since then, with India making it clear that peace and tranquillity at the border is the sine qua non for the overall development of bilateral ties.

COVID situation in China, global trends to guide markets this week

New Delhi (PTI): Global trends and the COVID situation in China would drive the equity markets this week, which may also see volatility amid the scheduled derivatives expiry on Thursday, said analysts.

New Delhi: The combined market valuation of the top 10 valued firms eroded by `1,68,552.42 crore last week, with Reliance Industries taking the biggest hit in an overall weak broader market. Reliance Industries’ valuation tanked `42,994.44 crore to `16,92,411.37 crore.

But in the ranking of top10 companies, RIL retained the title of the most valued firm followed by TCS, HDFC Bank, Infosys, Hindustan Unilever, ICICI Bank, SBI, HDFC, Bharti Airtel and LIC. —PTI

MAXIMUM DELAYED PROJECTS IN ROAD, HIGHWAYS SECTOR

After getting comments from all the departments and ministries, DPIIT would seek approval of the Union Cabinet on policy.

The policy would focus on formulating strategies to provide a globally competitive and sustainable environment for the overall development of retail trade through targeted efforts.

The objectives of the policy include ensuring easy and quick access to affordable credit, facilitating modernization and digiti-

sation of retail trade by promoting modern technology and superior infrastructural support; development of physical infrastructure across the distribution chain; promotion of skill development and improve labour productivity, and providing an effective consultative and grievance redressal mechanism for the sector.

The response from Vaishnaw came as a written reply in Lok Sabha.

“Mobile application on various platforms is also available for booking reserved and unreserved tickets as well as provision of other railway services,” ANI quoted Vaishnaw.

According to analysts, investor sentiment remained subdued last week amid surging COVID cases in China and a few other nations. Also, stronger US growth data has cemented expectations of the Federal Reserve continuing with its hawkish stance, which added to the muted trend.

Last week, the Sensex tumbled 1,492.52 points.

“The scheduled derivatives expiry of December month contracts would keep participants busy. Be-

sides, the performance of global indices amid the rising fear of COVID cases will further add to volatility,” said Ajit Mishra, VPTechnical Research, Religare Broking Ltd.

Movement of rupee, Brent crude oil and foreign fund trading activity would also be watched by investors during the week.

PAST & FUTURE PROJECTION

z Last week, the Sensex tumbled 1,492.52 points or 2.43%, while the Nifty tanked 462.20 points.

z Movement of rupee, Brent crude oil and foreign fund trading activity would also be watched

Mixed bag of job opportunities await aspirants in 2023

New Delhi: The road transport and highways sector has the maximum number of delayed projects at 358, followed by railways at 111 and the petroleum sector at 87, showed a government report. In the road transport and highways sector, 358 out of 769 projects are delayed. In railways, out of 173 projects, 111 are delayed, while in the petroleum sector, 87 out of 154 projects are running behind schedule, as per the latest flash report on infrastructure projects for Nov 2022. MuneerabadMahaboobnagar rail project is the most-delayed project. —PTI

ESIC PLANS TO FILL

6,400 VACANCIES: LABOUR MINISTER

New Delhi (PTI): A mixed bag of opportunities is likely to greet job aspirants in 2023 as telecom and services-oriented sectors are anticipated to accelerate hiring after recent gloomy months of pink slips in the technology segment amid global economic turmoil.

Short-term opportunities will be on the rise and companies will focus on building a work-life integrated culture, nurturing niche talent, enhancing skills and providing flexible work arrangements, experts opined. Experts also said one of the major recruitment trends of 2023 is expected to be companies

SHORT-TERM OPPS ON RISE

z Short-term opps will be on the rise and companies will focus on building a work-life integrated culture, nurturing niche talent & providing flexible work arrangements

SHIFT TO AUTOMATIC IN 2023

New Delhi: The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) plans to fill 6,400 vacancies, including posts for over 2,000 doctors and teaching faculty, wiping out the backlogs for manpower that remained, Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav said. ESIC is also working towards providing skillsbased training programme to workers for paramedical jobs and has launched certificate courses in 10 disciplines, a labour ministry said. —PTI

looking to boost internal mobility of talent.

After 2022, especially the second half, resonated with reports of mass layoffs and hiring freeze amid the pandemic-related business disruptions, experts said it is not going to be all gloom and doom in 2023.

India need corp mandate on R&D: Zoho CEO

Kolkata (PTI): India requires a corporate mandate on Research & Development (R&D) similar to CSR to promote a technology innovation culture which will help build critical technologies here in the country, Zoho Corporation’s founder Sridhar Vembu said.

The Padma Shree awardee and CEO of the country’s first billion-dollar IT product company said the country lacks a culture of its own R&D and pointed out that merely having manufacturing facilities of global tech product companies like Apple will not bring “high income jobs” for people at large in India.

Maruti expects auto car sales to accelerate

First India Bureau

New Delhi: With increasing congestion across cities in India, Maruti Suzuki India expects sales of its vehicles with auto gear shift to pick up further in 2023, according to company Senior offical Shashank Srivastava.

The company had introduced the auto gear shift (AGS) technology that relieves drivers from manually changing gears using the clutch, for the first time in 2013-14 on its hatchback Celerio. It has cumulatively sold 7.74 lakh units of

such vehicles across its portfolio so far. “After we introduced AGS, slowly we have expanded it in so

many of our models. We do believe that with increased congestion, especially in urban areas, AGS is a fur-

NINE MODELS IN AGS OPTION

OTHER STORIES

NCLAT SETS ASIDE CCI ORDER ON DELHI LAND AND FINANCE (DLF)

New Delhi: The NCLAT has set aside an order passed by fair trade regulator Competition Commission of India (CCI) with respect to Delhi Land and Finance (DLF) and directed it to examine the matter. The appellate tribunal said CCI was “not authorised to pass an order for further investigation” if once its probe unit - the DG (Director General) has already “noticed the violation” in its first report and “the same cannot be justified”. —PTI

GARUDA AEROSPACE

‘BRING DOWN INTEREST RATES FOR RENEWABLE POWER’

New Delhi: Assocham president Sumant Sinha has called for bringing down interest rates for the industry, especially for the domestic renewables sector, which is seeing high rates of 8-10% compared to 3-4% in the western markets. On his expectations from the government for the domestic power and renewable energy sectors in the upcoming budget, Sinha said interest rates should be brought down for the ratesensitive sector. —PTI

Chennai: Garuda Aerospace has received the Type Certification and RPTO approvals from the DGCA for the indigenously designed kisan drones. DGCA Type certification is provided on the basis of the quality check and is issued after a rigorous testing process of the unmanned aerial vehicles. The kisan drones are developed for agricultural purposes and with the Type Certification received for the GA-AG model, Garuda Kisan drones were eligible for `10 lakh unsecured loans from the agri-infrastructure fund offered by Centre. —PTI

PIRAMAL REALTY EYES `2,200 CRORE SALES BOOKINGS

New Delhi: Piramal Realty is targeting about `2,200 crore sales bookings this fiscal, up over 40% year-on-year, on strong housing demand, its CEO Gaurav Sawhney said. Founded in 2012, Piramal Realty is the real estate development arm of Piramal Group. It is one of the leading developers with 15 million square feet of residential and commercial space under development in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). —PTI

DIRECT EMPLOYMENT IN AVIATION SECTOR IS OVER

New Delhi: Union Minister of State

the direct employment in aviation and aeronautical manufacturing sector is nearly 250,000 employees. The figure stated includes pilots, cabin crew, engineers, technicians, airport staff, ground handling, cargo, retail, security, administrative and sales staff. The growth in FY 2021-22 as compared to 2020-21 was 47% (approx).

MCAP

FIRMS ERODES BY `1.68 LAKH CRORE

2.5 L: MINISTER

in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Gen (Dr) VK Singh (Retd) said

Not Sena, Raut is NCP’s spokesperson: Shirsat

Aurangabad: MLA

Sanjay Shirsat from the rebel Shinde group of Shiv Sena criticized Shiv Sena party chief Uddhav Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday. While speaking to the media in Aurangabad on Sunday, Shirsat commented that Sanjay Raut is the spokesperson of NCP, and is systematically planning on how to bring about an end of the Shiv Sena.

Shirsat said, “Shiv Sena party is not being run by Uddhav Thackeray. It is run by NCP, and Sanjay Raut is the spokesperson of the NCP. The media should eliminate the misconception that he is the spokesperson for Shiv Sena. He is the mouthpiece of the NCP, and he is systematically planning how the Shiv Sena will end.

When Shiv Sena ends, Sanjay Raut will be seen sitting on Sharad Pawar’s lap.”

On the other hand, the BJP and the Shinde group slammed Shiv Sena MLA Aditya Thackeray claiming that 44 calls had been made by Reya

—Sanjay

Chakraborty and the number saved as ‘AU’ was of Aditya Thackeray. After this, Shiv Sena's Thackeray faction targeted Chief Minister Eknath Shin-

Case against BJP activist for forcing minor into prostitution

First India Bureau

Thane: Based on a complaint filed on Saturday, the Mumbra police have booked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker and activist Rida Rashid and three of her associates for forcing a minor girl into prostitution.

As per the victim’s complaint, she was pushed into flesh trade on the pretext of getting a job in 2020 when she in dire financial straits.

She was promised Rs5,000 per night for a job in the hotel industry, which she later found to be prostitution. Initially, she accepted the job but was paid only Rs2,500 for her 'services'. A month later, when she tried to quit the racket, she was

Police have registered case under IPC, POCSO Act and the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act

threatened with videos and dire consequences.

The complainant, who was a minor in 2020, became well-acquainted with Rashid through social work.

The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act.

Rida Rashid (45), runs the NGO Arshiya Welfare Foundation in Mumbra. She was earlier in the news for filing a molestation case against National Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad.

An investigation into the case is currently underway, said a police official.

de over the ES code in the suicide note in connection with the suicide of Suraj Parmar, a builder in Thane. Now, Shinde group MLA Sanjay Shirsat responded to this criticism.

Speaking on the matter, Shirsat said, “MP Sanjay Raut wants a topic every day. He has nothing to do with the party. He is not worried that their party is dying. He is interested in making accusations.

He was in power for two and a half years and should have inquired about everything during their tenure. In Disha Salian’s case, Raut had earlier said that the CBI has conducted an inquiry.

Now the CBI has revealed that no such inquiry has been conducted. That means they don't have full knowledge. Such statements have been made because their information is insufficient,” opined Shirsat.

Maha Bhawan to be made in Ayodhya soon: Shinde

Mumbai: On Sunday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reached Thane and made an important statement in the program of Shiromani Maharaj Bijli Pasi Jayanti. Shinde announced that Maharashtra Bhavan will be built soon in Ayodhya. Also, while addressing the North Indians who came to the event, he said, “you came here, stayed here, and have become a part of us.”

Further addressing North Indian diaspora, Shinde said, “Cultures of Maharashtra and North India have been mixed with each other. After coming here, you too have become Maharashtrians. Because of you, we are also visiting Ayodhya frequently. We will soon take all the MLAs to Ayodhya where we will have the darshan of Prabhu Ram.”

“I have given a representation to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to build Maharashtra Bhavan in Ayodhya.

SANGLI: BANDH AGAINST CONVERSION OBSERVED

Mumbai: After a case was filed against the husband and wife duo for witchcraft on a young woman undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a hospital, it is being alleged that their relative was forcefully converting the religion. A bandh was called in Atpadi on Sunday against the alleged conversion, and the citizens responded supportively to the bandh.

Sanjay Gele and Ashwini Gele, husband and wife, who are accused of fraudulently treating a patient with witchcraft and conversion, have been booked under the Prevention of Witchcraft Act. A bandh was called for

the city of Atpadi on Sunday in protest of the irreligious type of action by the Gele family. Atpadi was put under strict lockdown to demand quick action against those practicing witchcraft and converting people. Hindutva organizations are actively participating in this movement.

The couple from Atpadi pretended to have the divine powers of curing the patients through witchcraft. They took unauthorized entry into the ICU of Varad Hospital by providing false information. The video of this incident was also circulated on social media.

Five months ago there was a change of power in the state, are you all happy,” Shinde questioned as all the North Indians present on the occasion replied yes in unison. The Chief Minister then said, “I can see the happiness on all of your faces. This shows that our decision is correct. Our government is people's gov-

ernment. We want to develop all castes together. No matter where you are, you won’t have any trouble. When we went to Guwahati, the Pasi community first showed us support. There is no difference between North India and Maharashtra. All are same.”

Eknath Shinde also assured in his speech that Pasi Bhavan will be built in Mumbai. A few days ago, Shinde visited Guwahati with his MLAs, and now he is planning to go to Ayodhya with them soon.

Disha’s

Mumbai: The winter session of Maharashtra legislature has witnessed the government and opposition locking horns. Moreover, the issue of Disha Salian’s death, has also been a contested issue between the two sides with the ruling dispensation trying to corner Aaditya Thackeray on it.

In the session, the ruling party raised the issue of the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s PA Disha Salian after opposition parties targetted them over controversial statements on historical figures in the state. They also announced the setting up of SIT to investigate the matter.

After this, police security has been imposed

ONE FOR THE WIN!

Mumbai: Maharashtra recorded 32 new COVID-19 positive cases on Sunday, taking its overall infection tally to 81,36,511, a health department official said. The death toll remained unchanged at 1,48,414 as nobody succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours, while the cumulative recovery figure reached 79,87,948 after 20 patients recuperated.

The number of sample testing conducted during the day in-

creased by more than 9,000 as compared to Saturday. A total of 19,049 tests were carried out, which took the overall test count to 8,58,61,429, he said. The Mumbai circle recorded

the highest 12 cases, followed by Pune with 11, Nagpur five and Akola four. Latur, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, and Nashik circles did not report any case. According to a Health Depart-

ment report, there are 148 active cases in Maharashtra now, of which Mumbai and Pune account for 50 and 42 cases respectively. The recovery rate in the state is 98.17%.

Balconies collapse in Thane, Palghar, none hurt

Thane/Palghar (PTI): Two balcony collapses took place on Sunday in Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra, officials said, adding there was no report of injuries to anyone in both the incidents.

The balcony of a single-storey structure in Nalasopara in Palghar collapsed in the evening, a Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation official said.

“The building is over 30 years old. No one was injured in the incident. The 35 people occupying 21 tenements were rescued and the process of shifting them elsewhere is on as the remaining portion of the building is now in a dangerous condition,” he said.

In Thane’s Wagle Estate area, the first floor balcony of a groundplus-three storey building collapsed at around 3:45pm, said Regional Disaster Management Cell chief Avinash Sawant. “No one was injured in the incident. Firemen and RDMC personnel carried out rescue operations,” he said.

to

This is suppression, they are poor, simple people, Raut said

at Disha Salian’s house.

It is also alleged that Disha’s father is not allowed to interact with the media. When the media asked Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut about

the same on Sunday, he said, “Not allowing Disha Salian’s family to talk to the media is a form of terror. This is suppression. ED and CBI will be sent after them tomorrow. They are poor simple people. Even before Disha’s parents have clarified some roles. They will clarify their role again.”

First India Bureau

What makes relationships and even countries great are not the things they have in common but their differences.

Chef Vishnu Manohar (in black cap and blue shirt) cooks 5,000kg mixed vegetable

curry in an attempt to create a record in the India Book of Records in Nagpur on Sunday.

PHOTO BY PTI

Sanjay Shirsat from the rebel Shinde group of Sena criticized Shiv Sena party chief Uddhav Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena party is not being run by Uddhav Thackeray. It is run by NCP, and Sanjay Raut is the spokesperson of the NCP. The media should eliminate the misconception that he is the spokesperson for Shiv Sena. He is the mouthpiece of the NCP.

Shirsat, MLA

CM Eknath Shinde also assured that Pasi Bhavan will be built in Mumbai

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde —FILE PHOTO

‘Not allowing

family

talk to media is a form of terror’

Activist Rida Rashid

Sanjay Raut —FILE PHOTO

Mysore Fashion Week Season 6the three-day glamorous fashion event held at Mysore Union in Hebbal Industrial Area from December 9-11 featured some of the noted designers and supermodels displaying magnificent creations to the audience

he most opulent fashion event in South Mysuru, Mysore Fashion Week curated by designer Jayanthi Ballal,

by Blenders

Glassware and Co Powered by Timex, Blanckanvas Media was orchestrated from December 9 to 11 at Mysore Union in Hebbal Industrial Area. Mysore Fashion Week was a royal treat for the sore eyes with eminent fashion designers, top models and renowned celebrities in its 6th season glamming Mysore with a beautifully tailored and magnificent range of intricately designed designs. The three-day mega event exclusively comprised top fashion designers, models, editors, fashion bloggers and key fashion influencers, ensuring every fashion enthusiast gains exposure to a unique audience.

Top designers like Shravan Kummar, Jayanthi Ballal, Daz-

zles Studio, Nazim Ali Khan, Felix Bandish, Ramya Santosh, Asif Merchant, Anjalee and Arjun Kapoor, Pankaj Soni, Rina Dhaka, Chaitanya Rao and many known designers spun their magic, setting the colour wheels in motion in royal shades. All the designers drew inspiration from opulent Indian textiles, colours, textures, and handcrafted patterns in order to honour the Indian heritage in their creations.

The finale of Mysore Fashion Week saw veteran actress Jaya

Prada walking the ramp draped in the silk saree designed by the event organiser, the city’s ace designer Jayanthi Ballal.

Other showstoppers such as Dhanya Ramkumar, Gayathrie Shankar, Karunya Ram, Poonam Pandey, Tisca Chopra, Awez and Zaid Darbar also mesmerized the viewers by showcasing stunning outfits by well-known designers.

Jayanthi Ballal, Founder of Mysore Fashion Week quotes saying “There is so much talent in India but no platform to

showcase, Mysore Fashion Week is on a quest to give new talent wings to fly & help them explore their creden tials. Our vision is to mentor newcomers looking for that deserving break in the In dian Fashion Industry & give them a platform to show the world their knack for fashion”.

The star-studded event was choreographed by Pa rimal Mehhta, Faheem and Lokesh Sharma.

powered

Pride

MRIDULA SHARMA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Stunning Poonam Pandey donning the designer outfit by Rina Dhaka

Tisca Chopra in an astonishing saree by Ramya Santosh

Poonam Pandey

Ace actress Jaya Prada donning the beautiful silk saree by Jayanthi Ballal

(L-R) Ravishing Gayathrie Shankar walk the ramp for Chaitanya Rao, Iris Maity in an ashtonishing outfit by Dazzles, Supermodel Sonalika Sahay, Dhanya Ramkumar and Karishma Modi showcases the stunning collection by Felix

Showstoppers Awez and Zaid Darbar walk the ramp for Pankaj Soni

THE RAMP WALK FOR LIFE

ciated the activities of the MOHAN Foundation.

MOHAN Foundation Hyderabad Team celebrated 25 years of saving lives through a unique “Ramp Walk for Life” at Saptaparni, Banjara Hills wherein luminaries from various walks of life walked the ramp wearing Telangana Weaves and spoke about the life-saving cause of “organ donation on December 23, 2022

Prominent doctors, celebrities, transplant recipients and donor families walked the ramp wearing Telangana weaves to create awareness of organ donation. Actor Revathy, who was the first celebrity to pledge to donate organs when the MOHAN Foundation was established, was the Guest of Honour at the event which was held in partnership with Abhihaara Foundation which promotes Telangana Weaves. Revathy flashed her Donor Card and sincerely appealed to everyone to pledge organ donation. She also spoke about her recent ventures i.e Aye Zindagi and Salam Venky, which are based on organ donation��

She saluted all the Transplant Coordinators who speak to the family during their darkest hour of grief and highly appre-

Among the luminaries who walked the ramp was Dr Sonali Arora, a Cardiologist who specializes in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. Dr Arora, who is incidentally the daughter of former CEC Sunil Arora, completed an Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Fellowship at the Uni versity of Utah, Salt Lake City. She developed the advanced heart failure program at Sparrow Hospital in Michigan and was responsible for the initiation of the inpatient heart failure service and the expansion of the heart failure clinic.

She is currently work ing at KIMS, Heart and Lung Transplant Insti tute for the last 2 years.

Sunil Arora is also an Advisory Member on the Board of the MO HAN Foundation.

Dr Manjula Anagani, a Gynaecologist, is the Clinical Director and Head of the Department, Obs and Gynae, Care Hospital Hyderabad who received the prestigious Padmashree Award in 2015. She holds the Guinness World Record for the highest number of fibroids removed from a single patient.

From MOHAN Foundation, Lalitha Raghuram (Country Director), K Raghuram (Advisor), and Pallavi Kumar (EDDelhi NCR) walked the ramp with the many other renowned persons from different areas of life, all joined together for the cause of Organ Donation were Swapna Sundari (Anchor), Manju Latha Kalanidhi (Journalist). Hoinhu Rajesh (Lung Transplant Recipient), T

S Sudhir (Journalist), Dr Tapaswi Krishna P (Consultant Pulmonologist), Padma Buggineni (Health Professional), Dr Vineela Katam Reddy (Dentist), Uma Devi Chigurupati ( ED Granules India), Bhargavi ( Radio Jockey), Dr Rama Enganti (MD, DM Nephrology), Uma Sudhir (Executive Editor New Delhi Television), Dr Kola Sasikala (MD, DGO), Madhuri Dasagrandhi (Freelance Journalist), Karuna Gopal Vartakavi (Political leader), Gayatri Bhargavi(Actor), Colonel Vikram Subramanyam, Dr Subhadra Jalali, K. Rama Devi (Founder, ALEAP), Dr Usha Yanamandra, Dr Sandeep Gangaya Attawar Jyotsna Cheruvu,

sure

that

MOHAN Foundation, a

nation in the country, was set up in 1997 in Chennai. It took up the cause of organ donation at a time when no one in the country was talking about it and the environment was fairly hostile towards this highly taboo topic and therefore has been a torch bearer in this space.

Its unique mission is to ensure that every Indian that is suffering from end-stage organ failure, be provided with the gift of a new lease of quality life through a lifesaving organ.

Taking a 360-degree approach the Foundation has been relentlessly working to create awareness of organ donation amongst the public & healthcare workers, training medical & paramedical professionals, working with hospitals to set systems to enable organ donation and working closely with State and Central Governments to create a strong ecosystem for organ donation.

Their strength lies in grief counselling and carrying out the unenviable task of speaking to families at the time of the death of a loved one and encouraging them to think about organ donation so that those who are suffering from organ failure can benefit from a lifesaving transplant.

and Dr Samata

Roshni Padala. Dr Sunil Shroff, Founder of MOHAN Foundation sent out a strong appeal, “ Join us in our endeavour to en-

that ‘No Indian dies for want of an organ’. Let us normalise the conversation around this difficult, yet important topic,

has the Power to Save many lives.”

pioneering NGO with a unique mandate of promoting deceased organ do-

SRIVIDYA SUBRAMANIAN cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Revathy with Dr Vaishnavi Raghuram and her daughter Leilani

Dr Sonali Arora walked the ramp and urged the people to pledge for Organ Donation Revathy displays a sample of her Organ Donation card as Lalitha Raghuram looks on smilingly

Dr Sandeep Gangaya with his patients who received organ transplants promotes the cause, also seen is Lalitha Raghuram.

Uma Sudhir with spouse TS Sudhir urging everyone to pledge for Organ Donation

Karuna Gopal Vartakavi walks the ramp

Sudha Rani felicitates Actress Revathy

Subhadra Jalali

Renowned singer Sreenidhi Venkat sings for the cause

Lalitha Raghuram (Country Director MOHAN Foundation ) along with volunteers and MOHAN Foundation Hyderabad Team at “Ramp Walk for Life”

K Raghuram and Lalitha walk with their granddaughter Leilani

JOY

TO

WORLD!

BHARTI SAXENA

Christmas simply lights up every nook, from decorating Christmas trees to creating desserts at home. I spent the day with my students by creating some miraculous artworks related to Christmas. We also offered our prayers to the lord and sang Christmas carols. Honestly speaking, creating the artworks together with the little kids made my day mesmerizing!

Finally, the season of Jingle Bells, carols, gifts, cakes and of course our Santa Claus arrived after a long wait. And just like every year, this year shines as a festival of joy and happiness for everyone. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ and is observed as a grand celebration by people belonging to different religions. Family gatherings, grand dinners, and gifts exchange form the true essence of this winter festival. People spend time with their closed ones while decorating the Christmas tree in their homes. Kids hang empty socks in their rooms to get gifts from Santa Claus, some clean their chimneys, and some decorate Christmas trees, wreaths etc. My favourite memory of Christmas is singing soulful carols in school with the whole class and visiting our school church to live the vibe of this beautiful festival. Wait, it seems like we all have different ways to celebrate this festival of joy, so let’s discuss your favourite memory or way to celebrate ‘Your Christmas’.

AZMEENA KHAN

My house is under construction so I did not get much time to celebrate, and that is the reason why I ditched the ‘Christmas celebration tgis’ plan I made with my friend. But even in the busiest schedule, we managed to celebrate the day with delicious cake and mouth-watering dishes. But I promise next year for sure I am gonna make up for my mistake and will celebrate the day with my friends.

ASTHA SAXENA

I adore Christmas so much! It’s the best time of the year. For Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, All my family gathered at our house and made gingerbread cookies and my personal favourite, chocolate cake, and decorated our Christmas tree. Following dinner, we all prayed to Jesus and exchanged gifts that we bought for one another.

HARSHITA SHARMA

My cousins surprised me with gifts and a cute Christmas cum get-together party at home. We really enjoyed the day with playing games and dancing to the tunes of funky music. We also binge watched our favorite series and decorated our house. I also flaunted one of my finest Basket Ball move to them, which I am preparing from so long. My mumma also baked tasty cake for us.

The festival of Christmas is celebrated with great cheer and enthusiasm all over the world. It is also an occasion for a family reunion. City First interacted with a few Christmas birds on how they celebrated their day in their way!

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

TUNISHA SHARMA DEATH BY LOVE

Janhvi's rumoured bf poses with Boney!

nil Kapoor called in his birthday on December 24 with a grand birthday bash.

The unfortunate passing of television actress Tunisha Sharma has shocked the entertainment industry. The 20-yearold committed suicide on Saturday on the sets of her show, Ali Baba: Daastan-E-Kabul. A day after the unfortunate incident, Tunisha’s mother filed a complaint against her costar Sheezan Khan for abetment of suicide.

The actor has now been arrested by the Waliv Police.

According to a report, the post-mortem conducted by doctors at JJ Hospital early on Sunday concluded that there were no injury marks found on her body. Prima facie says that the actress died due to asphyxiation.

Tunisha who was diagnosed with depression and anxiety had opened up about her battle in an interview a

not being able to work. My schedule turned er ratic and I had to con sult a doctor. I was diag nosed with anxiety and depression.”

She added, “While I started medication, I had turned into a zom bie. I hated going to work or shooting on the sets of my TV show. When the negativity of social media began to af fect me, I detached from it. My mother and Kan war were a big support system during the pro cess.”

Born in Chandigarh in 2002, Tunisha Shar ma began her acting ca reer at the age of 14. Tunisha had a success ful career with several television and film roles. She played the role of Shehzaadi Mari am in Ali Baba DastaanE-Kabul which is cur rently airing on SAB TV. Her extensive work portfolio includes Bharat Ka Veer Putra –Maharana Pratap and films like Fitoor and Baar Baar Dekho, where she portrayed the role of a young Katrina Kaif.

Vicky reveals box-office secrets

During an interview, Vicky spoke about his thoughts on the box office game since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Streaming platforms have been Vicky's main outlet for recent releases, including Govinda Naam Mera. In response to a question about whether he recognizes Bollywood is experiencing stress at the box office, Vicky says the audience has made it clear that they want only good films in cinemas, no matter what the genre, what the star, or what the language.

He said, "I think good films are working. People have made it very simple.

If you see the graph, they’ve made it so simple, that if the film resonates with them, no matter what the language, genre or scale is, they will give it a lot of love. The audi ence has made it very simple, that hu mein picture acchhi lagni chaahiye. You see a Bhool Bhulaiya (2), KGF (2) or RRR, Drishyam (2), none of them fall in the same box, they’re neither the same language, genre nor scale, they didn’t even have the same marketing plan. Aap jitni marketing karoge, utni aapki film chalegi, but it’s not like that anymore. Today, if people like a film, they just take it up."

Director Rahul Ravindran presented Samantha Ruth Prabhu with a beautiful customized gift. In an Instagram post, Samantha shared a glimpse of the beautiful plaque with a powerful message on it. Additionally, she expressed her gratitude to the filmmaker in

The party was attended by his industry friends, close companions and his family. Sisters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor arrived along with their Dad, Boney Kapoor. While Janhvi looked ravishing in a silver metallic one-shoulder dress, Khushi went for a yellow

Astrapless bodycon dress. While the sisters looked stunning in their looks for the evening, it was another event that caught everyone’s attention that night.

Dad Boney Kapoor posed in front of the cameras with none other than Janhvi’s rumoured boyfriend, Shikhar Pahariya during the party. Shikhar, the grandson of ex-Minsiter Sushil Kumar Shinde, arrived at Anil Kapoor’s party in a classic black shirt and blue jeans. Janhvi and Shikhar were in a

relationship before Janhvi’s debut in the films. He was frequently seen with Janhvi’s family at parties and outings. While the two broke up before her debut in films, it seems that the two have rekindled their flame. Janhvi and Shikhar have been spotted around the city several times, though none of them confirmed anything. Now, Shikhar posing with Janhvi’s father comes as another welcoming development in their rumoured relationship.

Kareena-Saif's cosy Christmas

It has started to look a lot like Christmas in BTown! Bollywood has been sparkling in red and white and it has spilt all over their social media. Right from Alia Bhatt, and Shilpa Shetty to more, everyone has got the Christmas spirit right. Now, Kareena Kapoor Khan too has joined the wagon as she shared a glimpse of how the Pataudis called in their Christmas eve.

The video showed Saif Ali Khan playing the guitar and even had a cameo by none other than baby Jeh.

Bebo took to her

Instagram to post the video of her husband playing the guitar calmly while sitting by the Christmas tree. While voices talking in a dis tance could be heard, it was Jeh’s cameo that stole hearts.

While Saif played the guitar, Jeh gladly shouted “Appa” before entering the frame wob bling on his tiny legs.

Saif’s dog too came in the video and was seen licking Jeh Baba’s face.

Kareena wrote in the caption, “The best way to Christmas... is with my love playing the gui

tar… And having my babies and best friends around Love, light, and music to all…Merry Christ

ight from a glorious wedding, and a superhit film to getting pregnant and giving birth to a beautiful daughter, Ranbir and Alia had it all this year. On what seems a rare occasion, Ranbir and Alia were spotted outside for the first time since giving birth to their daughter. The duo came in smiling widely at the annual Kapoor Christmas party.

Ranbir looked dashing as he styled his bearded

face with black glasses. He paired a plain black shirt with an ochre-coloured jacket and blue jeans. Meanwhile, Alia looked lovely in a white and red flower-printed knee-length wraparound dress. The couple held hands as they smiled and waved at the paparazzi. The actress looked gorgeous in her post-pregnancy glow. Oth er family members to arrive included Neetu Kapoor, Ran dhir and Babita Kapoor Karisma and her two children Samaira and Kiaan.

the caption. The message on the plague said, “Woman of Steel…The tunnel is dark and there’s no end in sight. It was promised, but there’s no sign of the light. Your feet are heavy, but you drag them with all your might. You soldier on while dousing your doubts and fright.

You’re made of steel and this conquest is your birthright. You keep walking and soon the sun will shine bright. You will not be denied and these delays are alright because quitters don’t, only fighters like you win the fight…Because what doesn’t defeat you…makes you

stronger than ever…And stronger forever.”

On social media, Samantha re vealed a few months ago that she suffers from an autoimmune dis order called Myositis. He also underwent treatment in the United States during her break from work.

ASHISH TIWARI

Late Tunisha Sharma and Sheezan Khan

Janhvi Kapoor

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan

Alia’s post...

Alia Bhatt

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

Vicky Kaushal