First India-Mumbai Edition-27th March 2023

INDIA WIN 4 GOLD MEDALS AT WORLD BOXING

New Delhi: Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain made it a golden Sunday for India at the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi.

PM MODI LAUDS NARI SHAKTI IN MANN KI BAAT

New Delhi: From ‘Elephant Whisperers’ to the first woman minister in Nagaland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed out several examples in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, to showcase the role of India’s ‘Nari Shakti’ in realising India’s true potential.

MUMBAI BEAT DELHI TO LIFT INAUGURAL WPL TITLE

BIG LEAP IN SKY

ISRO’s LVM3 successfully injects 36 satellites into intended orbits

Sriharikota (PTI):

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s heaviest LVM3 rocket on Sunday successfully placed 36 internet satellites of UK-based OneWeb group company into intended orbits.

The 43.5 metre tall rocket blasted off at a prefixed time of 9 am on Sunday, from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. This is the second dedicated mission of NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation.

ISRO had signed an agreement with Network Access Associates Ltd, United Kingdom, a OneWeb Group Company, for the launch of 72 satellites into LowEarth orbits (LEO).

Mumbai:

Sikh body tells Amritpal to surrender as hunt is on

First India Bureau

Chandigarh: Akal

Takht Jathedar Giani

“This rocket (LVM3-M3) also has the S200 motors that are designed with increased margins and features which are suited for Gaganyaan configuration. We are happy that it performed very well in this mission.”

ISRO Chairman S Somanath said at the Mission Control Centre.

Narendra Modi @narendramodi

It reinforces India’s leading role as a global commercial launch service provider in the true spirit of Aatmanirbharta.

LVM3 ROCKET SUITED FOR GAGANYAAN, IT PERFORMED VERY WELL: ISRO CHIEF INTERNET SERVICES TO GET A BOOST

New Delhi: Bharti Enterprise-backed OneWeb on Sunday completed its constellation of 618 low earth orbit satellites that would allow it to offer broadband internet services from space in every corner of the world.

The vehicle has done extremely well, it went up to the right orbit and placed the spacecraft at the right orbit and with very minimal disturbances to it

—S Somanath, ISRO chairman

BJP will win more than 200 seats in MP Assembly polls, says Nadda

Bhopal (PTI): BJP chief

JP Nadda on Sunday said party would win over 200 out of 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, where elections will held at this year end. He performed a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a new BJP office here. “The warm welcome accorded to me by the spirited BJP cadre shows we are going to more than 200 Assembly seats in MP,” he

SHAH SLAMS CONG FOR QUOTA TO K’TAKA MUSLIMS

said. A 10-storey modern office complex will come up in Arera Colony area near Kamalapati railway station in place of an old building which was demolished.

Bidar: Following removal of four per cent OBC reservation for Muslims in Karnataka, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday lashed out at Congress and said that there is no such provision in the Constitution to provide reservation. P6

Harpreet Singh has asked fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh to surrender before police and cooperate with investigation. The Jathedar of Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of Sikhs) also questioned police’s competence, wondering why they have not been able to nab the selfstyled Sikh preacher despite having such a big force.

“If Amritpal is out (of police net), then I will ask him to present (before police) and cooperate with (police) investigation,” said the Jathedar.

Singh’s remarks come in the wake of Punjab Police crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh and elements of ‘Waris Punjab De’, an outfit headed by him. Amritpal Singh has been on the run since March 18, when the police crackdown began.

‘Dis’Qualified

SIKH HARDLINERS THREATEN INDIAN EMBASSY IN US

Washington DC: ProKhalistan supporters in the US threatened the Indian embassy and Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh during their protest on Saturday (local time).

INDIA RAPS ATTACK ON JOURNALIST BY RADICALS IN US

Washington DC: India said, “We condemn such a grave and unwarranted attack on a senior journalist. Such activities only underscore violent and anti-social tendencies of so-called ‘Khalistani protestors’ and their supporters.”

MP RaGa:

Congress holds protests across India

New Delhi (PTI): Congress party across India on Sunday held “Sankalp Satyagraha” to protest against disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge lashing out at the ruling BJP and asking why it is pained if fugitives such as Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi are criticised.

In the national capital, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, KC Venugopal, P Chidambaram, Salman Khurshid, Jairam Ramesh, Mukul Wasnik, Pawan Kumar Bansal and others were among the party’s top brass taking part in the satyagraha at Rajghat.

RADICALS ATTACK, ABUSE DC-BASED INDIAN JOURNALIST

Washington DC: US-based Indian journalist Lalit Jha was attacked and abused by pro-Khalistan supporters while he was covering a pro-Khalistan protest outside the Indian Embassy on Saturday afternoon.

MEA SUMMONS CANADA HIGH COMMISSIONER

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday summoned the High Commissioner of Canada after the security breach at the Indian embassy in Ottawa by proKhalistan supporters. P6

RAHUL GANDHI UPDATES HIS TWITTER BIO

New Delhi: Following his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday changed his bio on Twitter where he described himself as a “Dis’Qualified MP”. He also wrote “Dis’Qualified MP” on his official Wayanad Twitter account. He was disqualified from Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a Gujarat court convicted him in a 2019 defamation case. The disqualification will prevent Gandhi from contesting polls for eight years unless a higher court stays the conviction.

‘Savarkar our idol, won’t tolerate insult to him,’ Uddhav tells Rahul

Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, but acknowledged that concerted attempts were being made to the Congress leader.

The Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) chief said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance ofties--Shiv Sena - UBT, Congress -

tionalist Congress Party (NCP)--was formed to protect democracy and it was necessary to work unitedly to that end.

Addressing a rally in the Muslim-dominated textile town of Malegaon in Nashik district of northern Maharashtra, Thackeray said, “Savarkar is our idol and any insults to him will not be tolerated if we have to fight together to protect our democracy. Savarkar suffered unimaginable torture in the Andaman cellular jail for 14 years. We can only read about

what he endured and sacrificed,” he said.

Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on Friday, a day after a court in Gujarat’s Surat convicted him in a 2019 defamation case. Addressing a press conference in Delhi over his disqualification, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said, “My name is not Savarkar, my name is Gandhi and Gandhi does not offer an apology to anyone”.

Thackeray said he supported Gandhi for his Bharat Jodo Yatra. “Rahul Gandhi spoke

well at his press conference yesterday. He raised valid questions that the government doesn’t want to answer,” he said.

During Saturday’s press conference, Gandhi had returned to the question of who owned the Rs20,000 crore that was invested in Adani shell firms and what is

the businessman’s relationship with the prime minister.

Targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Thackeray alleged that those who have no connection with the country’s freedom movement were attempting to finish off democracy.

Thackeray, who was

addressing his second rally here after Khed in Ratna giri district since losing the party name and sym

I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that we have come together to save our country’s democracy and its Constitution. But you are deliberately being provoked. If we allow this time to get wasted, then democracy will cease to exist. 2024 will be the last election. —Uddhav Thackeray,

chief

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said he was

“The fight is not about me becoming the chief minister again,” he

Former Maha

CM urges RaGa to fight unitedly for democracy

Pro-Khalistan supporters protest outside Indian Embassy in Washington DC, USA. —PHOTO BY PTI

Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, P Chidambaram, KC Venugopal & others at Sankalp Satyagraha of Congress in New Delhi, on Sunday.

Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals by seven wickets in the WPL 2023 final, at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.

Committee to study ‘Bihar pattern’ of caste-based census ‘Sankalp Satyagraha’ against RaGa disqualification : Maha Cong

Party has said Rahul Gandhi is not alone and millions of Congressmen will join him in ‘fight for truth and justice’

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Congress leaders and party workers in Mumbai held a “Sankalp Satyagraha” in Mumbai, to protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as Lok Sabha MP over his conviction in the “Modi surname” case.

Notably, the Congress party also held the Sankalp Satyagraha at Raj Ghat in the national capital. Here in Mumbai, several Congress leaders like Prithviraj

Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat and Bhai Jagtap participated in the protest, held in front of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, at the party headquarters.

Former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan said that they are trying

CRUCIAL READ

DISABLED MAN BURNS

FELLOW PASSENGER ON LOCAL TRAIN

Thane: A physically-challenged man allegedly burned another passenger in a local train in the Thane district. The incident occurred in the compartment for physicallychallenged persons on a train from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Kalyan. The accused allegedly set fire to a handkerchief smeared with some narcotic substance and threw it on the victim Prasade Wadekar who sustained burns on his hands. The victim was admitted to KEM Hospital, senior inspector Pandhari Kande of Thane GRP said.

MAN DUPED OF `15 L BY AYURVEDA CENTRE OVER WIFE'S TREATMENT

Thane: A railway employee has lodged a cheating complaint with Thane police against an Ayurvedic treatment centre for allegedly duping him of Rs15.22 lakh by promising to treat his wife’s cancer. The victim, who works as a painter with the railway, filed the complaint at Naupada police station. “He has alleged there was no improvement in the condition of his wife since the treatment started last year. Persons from the centre were booked on Saturday for cheating and other offences,” he said.

RAJASTHAN BASED JEWELLERY STORE STAFFER ABSCONDS WITH `45 LAKH IN KALYAN

Thane: A 28-year-old man employed at a jewellery store allegedly ran off with Rs45 lakh cash in Thane district, police said on Sunday. The owner of a jewellery store in Kalyan town had given his employee Rs45 lakh cash to be deposited in the bank on Saturday. But when there was no sign of the accused, a complaint was lodged, senior inspector A B Honmane of MFC police station said. A police team has left for Rajasthan in search of the accused, as it is suspected that he might flee to his hometown Jalore, the official said.

MAN CLIMBS ON BAR

ABOVE OVERHEAD WIRE AT CSTM

Mumbai: A mentally unstable man climbed on the iron bar above the overhead wire at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai and threatened to take his life. After half an hour, he jumped onto a coach of a train and was taken into custody. Railway officials switched off the power supply to the wire and police and fire brigade personnel tried to persuade him not to commit any rash act. The man finally jumped on a coach of the Gadag Express and the drama ended.

WOMAN GUARD HELD FOR OPERATING SEX RACKET IN THANE

Thane: A female security guard in Thane, Maharashtra was arrested for running a sex racket. The racket was being operated through WhatsApp, and women were sent to customers’ chosen locations. Acting on a tip-off, the woman was arrested from Mumbra railway station on Friday, Anti Human Trafficking Cell senior inspector Mahesh Patil said. The woman has been booked under the Indian Penal Code and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, he added.

to “protect democracy” through their peaceful Satyagraha.

“Disqualification of Rahul Gandhi means hurting and ending democracy. We are making an effort to protect democracy. This is our peaceful Satyagraha.

Further course of action will be decided. We all legally appeal against this action (disqualification), and a legal battle will be fought. The political battle will also continue, as you can see,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi, on

Friday, was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha, a day after a Surat court sentenced him to two years imprisonment in a defamation case filed against him over his 'Modi surname' remark. The decision came pertaining to his remark made in April 2019, where he had said “How come all the thieves have Modi as a common surname?” at a Lok Sabha election rally at Kolar in Karnataka. The court approved Gandhi’s bail on a surety and stayed the sentence for 30 days to allow him to approach the higher courts.

The Congress has said that Rahul Gandhi is not alone and millions of Congressmen and people irrespective of their political affiliations will join him in this fight for truth and justice.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the state government will send a committee to study the Bihar pattern of the caste-based census. This move comes in response to the demand for a caste-based census in the state. Bihar is currently the only state in India that has initiated a caste-based census. The census is being sought to provide valuable information on the socio-economic status of different caste groups in the country. It will also help tailor the reservation policy to ensure equitable representation for all.

The deputy CM stated that the 2011 census was conducted by the Centre and was the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), but the data was not released due to various problems.

Bodies of tigress, cub found in Chandrapur

Chandrapur (PTI): The bodies of a tigress and a cub were found in Chandrapur district, with forest officials on Sunday citing dehydration and starvation as possible causes for the death of the cub.

The carcass of the four-month-old cub was found on Friday evening in Dongargaon beat in compartment 163 of Dhaba range, while a search of the vicinity led to the recovery of the dead body of a tigress on Saturday in compartment 161, 78km away from the district headquarters, an official said.

Cops rescue baby sold to childless couple

Nagpur (PTI): Police have rescued a ninemonth-old baby who was sold to a childless couple in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, an official said on Sunday.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of the crime branch rescued the infant from Raipur city in Chhattisgarh on Saturday, the official said. A gang of four persons had procured the baby from a poor woman, who already had two children, by promising her money and sold the infant to a childless couple from Raipur in June last year, he said.

“All the organs of the female cub were intact and, prima facie, it seems it died of dehydration. However, the death of the tigress is under investigation as the body has decomposed,” he said.

“Representatives of the animal husbandry department, forest department and the National Tiger Conservation Authority are probing the case and have already completed the panchnama.

Dehydration, starvation likely causes for death of 4-month-old cub

Organ samples are being sent to the Forensic Sciences Laboratory here,” he added. Notably, on Saturday, Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar informed the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha that the forest department is making all efforts to capture the female tiger known as T6 in Wadsa Forest Division forest department of Chandrapur district.

Leader claims life threat after stand on illegal worship places

First India Bureau

Thane: The Mumbai Police has registered a case after a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader claimed a life threat to a colleague following the party's demand to raze illegal places of worship in Mumbra in Thane district, a police official said on Sunday.

Thane Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Ravindra More filed a complaint saying that a couple of videos which are doing rounds on social media contained threats

aimed at his colleague Avinash Jadhav, an official from the Naupada police station said.

Based on the complaint by MNS chief Ravindra More’s, a case under Indian Pe -

“During the Maratha reservation, I had sought the data of SECC but found it incorrect. For example, Ahmednagar which has a large population of Maratha community was shown with just 14% of them and in Nandurbar, which is a tribal district population, the Maratha community was shown as 28%. Wrong data would lead to a social crisis. So, if the Bihar model succeeds then we can think of it in our state,”

Fadnavis said. Janata Dal (United) MLC Kapil Patil had raised the question of the caste-based census in the legislative council and demanded to conduct the same in Maharashtra on the lines of Bihar. Patil claimed that such a census would determine the population of not just OBC’s in the state, but the government will get data on the population of all communities in Maharashtra.

Priest gets 12 years in jail for sexually abusing 6-yr-old child

nal Code section 506 (2) for criminal intimidation has been registered and further investigation into the matter was underway, the Naupada police official added.

Mumbai: A 52-year-old temple priest has been sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment by a special Pocso court in Mumbai. The priest was found guilty of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl who used to visit her relatives in the building where the temple was located.

The child was seen making a round figure with her fingers and inserting another finger into it. When the mother asked what she was doing, the child revealed that the accused had taught her this behavior.

"The defense's claim that the accused was falsely implicated is not convincing," stated the judge.

Refuting this, he added, "The way in which the incident was

The court in its ruling observed that people often place blind trust in these persons believing them to be above such heinous actions

brought to light appears to be completely natural and not staged in any manner. Supported by the victim's statement and the manner in which the incident was disclosed."

The accused has been in jail since 2017, but this does not automatically entitle him to a minimum sentence. The judge believes a severe punishment is necessary to send a message.

Maha to face water scarcity, flooding and higher temperatures: IPCC

Rising sea levels, along with the state’s long coastline, could pose a threat to coastal communities and infrastructure

First India Bureau Mumbai: “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink’--the iconic line form Samuel Coleridge’s poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner could well become a reality in Maharashtra over the next few years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned in its latest report.

In addition to the twin challenges of both water scarcity and flooding, the IPCC’s Synthesis Report, released earlier this week, has also predicted higher temperatures for the state.

The report outlines a comprehensive assessment of the current state of scientific knowledge related to climate change and predicts that temperatures will con-

tinue to rise globally.

Rising temperatures could lead to more heat waves which could pose a serious health threat, as well as make some crops harder to grow, the report says.

Maharashtra has already experienced severe flooding in recent years, and this could become more common in the future, it adds.

“Sea levels are set to

rise 1.1m by the end of the century. This, combined with the state’s long coastline could threaten coastal communities and infrastructure, leading to increased flooding and erosion along the coast,” the report highlights.

The report’s findings specific to Maharashtra have been authored by Anjal Prakash, research director of the

Bharti Institute of Public Policy at the Indian School of Business, and Joyashree Roy, a professor at the energy economics programme of the Asian Institute of Technology.

The authors assert that the Maharashtra government will need to adapt to the changing climate and take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Leaders including Prithviraj Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat and Bhai Jagtap participated in the protest at the party headquarters in Mumbai on Sunday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

It was informed on Saturday that the forest dept is making all efforts to capture the female tiger known as T6 in Wadsa Forest Division.

The claim comes after party’s demand to raze illegal places of worship.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis —FILE PHOTO

Govt yet to sanction `1,500 cr scholarship money

State sees record 3.6L RTE quota applications

First India Bureau

Mumbai: As many as 50,000 students across Maharashtra are waiting for the state government to disburse scholarships—cumulatively worth a whopping Rs1,500 crore—that has been due to them over the past two years.

The Association of Management of the Unaided Institutes in Rural Areas (AMUIRA) has written to the state urging it to clear the pending amount, on the grounds that private institutions are facing a financial crunch.

“We have been paying the fees for scholarship students since the government has not disbursed the amounts for

several years. In the past two years alone, more than 50,000 students are due Rs1,500 crore in scholarships,” AMUIRA president Ramdas Zol said.

Asked about the situation, commissioner of the Social Welfare department, Prashant Natnavre said, “Some amount has been released recently. We have been following up to clear the dues at the earliest so that colleges continue to admit students from reserved categories.”

Meanwhile, the state directorate of higher

education said that they were following-up with the finance department and that the disbursement was awaited.

According to a report in the Times of India, some private institutions have been running on a no-profit, no-loss basis, and have also resorted to taking loans to meet operational costs.

Notably, School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar last week told the Legislative Assembly that the state has reimbursed self-financed schools Rs875 crore, of which Rs425 crore has been re -

LONG

ceived from the Centre till last year. A committee has also been formed to resolve the issues arising out of non-payment of fees in some private schools in the state so that students do not have to face any

hardships.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

MLA Rajesh Tope said as 25% seats in self-financed schools are reserved under the RTE Act, the government should reimburse the schools.

First India Bureau Mumbai/Pune: The state has received 3.6 lakh applications for the roughly one lakh seats at the entry-level to primary classes on Saturday, the last day of submission. The lottery round for the admissions to these 25% free Right To Education Act quota seats, spread across 8,828 schools in Maharashtra, will likely be held early next month, officials said.

Students who get admissions under the RTE quota are entitled to free education till Class VIII in private schools. The government is supposed to reimburse a certain amount per student per year to the schools. The online application process began March 01.

Pune had the highest number of applications at 77,413. Giv-

en that there are

15,655 RTE seats vacant in Pune, roughly five students vying for each seat there.

Officials attribute the record number of applications received on the government website to greater greater awareness among people about the Act.

However, activists warn that several applications may turn out to be fake, with people furnishing fake income certificates, which would make it more dif-

With 77,413 applications, roughly five kids are vying for each of the for 15,655 seats in Pune

ficult to get a fair chance at admission. This year, the education directorate made Aadhaar cards compulsory for application under the RTE Act. To aid parents who did not have the document, authorities granted a 90day window to get one.

MMTA

threatens stir from Apr 01 over retirement age

First india Bureau

Mumbai: If the BMC does not withdraw it's circular extending the retirement age from 62 to 64 years, the Municipal Medical Teachers Association (MMTA) has warned that it will launch a protest from April 01 and submit a written petition to the Bombay High Court.

The decision of the BMC will have a significant impact on numerous associate and assistant professors who have been denied promo tions to professor and associate professor positions for more than 10 years.

“We are being threatened by our superiors over joining the protest with adverse remarks in confidential service re cords, which will ruin our future pros pects,” a senior MMTA doctor said. MMTA secre tary says decision directly affects the future of teaching faculty.

Dr. Ravindra Deokar, secretary, MMTA, said the body opposes the decisions, which directly affects the future of teaching faculties, who have been at the forefront during the Covid-19 pandemic. MMTA alleges deans of civicrun colleges wrote letters to increase the age to 64 years.

Five women hospitalized after fire breaks out in high-rise

VALID CONCERN?

“We had a meeting with Iqbal Singh Chahal, the BMC chief, and have asked them to rethink the decision. If we are left with no option, we will soon file a writ petition in the Bombay High Court,” the doctor said.

The MMTA has accused deans of civicrun medical colleges of writing a self-recommendation letter to increase the age limit for retirement from 62 to 64 years on February 27, 2023, which was approved by Chahal. The dean of LTMG hospital denies these claims, while the Additional Municipal Commissioner has promised to discuss the MMTA's issues and ensure hospital services are unaffected.

Mumbai (PTI): Five women, including three senior citizens, were hospitalized after a fire broke on the fourth floor of a residential high-rise in Kanjurmarg in Mumbai on Sunday morning, an official said.

The fire broke out in the ground-plus-14 storey building in Mhada Colony in Karve Nagar at 9.26 am and was doused some 45 minutes later, he said.

“The fire was confined to the wiring, electric installation in the

common meter cabin on the ground floor as well as the electric duct.

Fire brigade and police personnel arrived at the

The fire broke out in the 14 storey building in Mhada Colony in Karve Nagar at 9.26 am and was doused some 45 minutes later

FIRE IN THANE FOREST AREA; NO INJURIES

spot and rescued five persons who were trapped,” he said.

“They have been hospitalized after suffering

SHARING FOOD, BUILDING BONDS

injuries and suffocation from smoke inhalation. They are all in a stable condition,” he added.

Wife, daughter were Grant Road Stabber’s intended victims

Originally thought to be mentally ill, Gala hid the murder weapon and gave cops a clean kitchen knife

First India Bureau Mumbai: When 54-yearold Grant Road-resident Chetan Gala was arrested on Friday after a 20-minute rampage which left three people dead and at least two others seriously injured, of-

ficials had initially assumed he was mentally unstable.

However, they have since learnt that Gala— who was remanded to police custody by a court on Saturday—had intended to kill his estranged wife Aruna and

their daughter.

Gala’s next-door neighbours Ilaben Mistry (70) and her husband Jayendrabhai (77) were fatally stabbed simply because the daggerwielding maniac thought they had provided his fleeing wife and daughter with refuge. His attack on 18-yearold Jenil Brahmbhatt— over which he has since expressed regret—was equally opportunistic.

The teen had come running up from the first floor, into the killer’s sights on the second floor.

According to media reports, Gala also tried

to kill an eight-year-old boy but let him go after people who had gathered outside the building started attacking him with stones.

Jayendrabhai had managed to call the police before Chetan found him, and teams were immediately dispatched to the spot. Meanwhile, other residents took Aruna and her daughter into a shop on the ground floor and locked them

inside for their safety. “Gala then locked himself in his house, changed his clothes and hid the blood-soaked ones. He even hid the murder weapon and gave us a clean kitchen knife when we arrived.

However, the video of the murder helped us identify that we had the wrong weapon. We searched the house and recovered the dagger,” an officer with the DB

Marg police station said. Meanwhile, Rajesh Mohite, 55, Bharat, 80, and two others took it upon themselves to stop Gala’s rampage.

“We grabbed whatever we could—sticks, cricket stumps—and accosted Gala, who tried to attack us but lost his nerve when he saw he was outnumbered, after which he locked himself in his house,” Mehta told the media.

Thane: A fire broke out in a forested area on a hill in Thane district on Sunday, a civic official said. No casualties were reported in the blaze that erupted on Mama Bhanja Hill around 2.30 pm, said Avinash Sawant, chief of the RDMC. The forest department team rushed to the scene and doused the flames within an hour, he said, adding that the extent of damages in the forest area and cause for the blaze are yet to be ascertained.

Three held for duping people of `65.8L in Ponzi scheme

Nagpur (PTI): An offence has been registered against three people for allegedly duping people of more than Rs65 lakh in a ponzi scheme in Nagpur city, police said on Sunday.

The accused had allegedly collected Rs65.82 lakh from several residents of Tajbag and Hasanbag areas of the city between December 2022 and January this year, an official said.

They promised to double the invested amount every month and had initially extended some benefits to a few persons but later started defaulting, he said.

Based on a complaint, a case under Sections 420 (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the trio, the official added.

Dues piling up since 2011-12, when the state told educational institutes not to collect fees from students of reserved categories

Firefighters at work —File photo

Members of the Muslim community observing Ramzan break their fast after dusk at the Minara Masjid, one of Islam’s oldest places of worship in India, in Mumbai on Sunday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

BJP’S BIG ‘PASMANDA’ PUSH AND ELECTORAL MATHS AROUND IT

Caste census has not been done in India for years. According to an estimate, 15 percent of the total population of India are Muslims, out of which about 85 percent are Pasmanda Muslims. According to the latest figures of the National Family Health Survey, about 45 percent of Muslims get the benefit of OBC.

Pasmanda includes people who are socially, educationally and economically backward and forms the majority of the Muslim community in the country. The term Pasmanda is used by Muslim associations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other parts of India to describe themselves as historically and socially oppressed Muslim communities by caste.

IN-DEPTH

NITIN GADKARI’S PLAINSPEAK ON MAINTENANCE OF INDIAN ROADS

‘Pasmanda’ is a Persian word meaning ‘those who are left behind,’ it is believed to be a category of Muslims belonging to Shudra (backward) and Ati-Shudra (Dalit) castes. Till 1998, Pasmanda Muslims were just a group, mainly active in Bihar. All India Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj Sangathan believes that ‘Pasmanda’ are in every religion

In order to make inroads among the Muslim voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-ruled government has come up with several schemes. Highlighting the backwardness among Pasmanda Muslims, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered on reaching out to the most deprived sections of the society through his various welfare schemes.

The PM said, “We should provide facilities to our tribes in more than 200 districts and more than 22,000 villages. We have Pasmanda Muslims among our minorities, especially Muslims, how should we benefit them..this government is thinking. Because Even after so many years of independence, they are still far behind.”

In July last year, at the BJP National Executive meeting, PM Modi talked about Pasmanda Muslims. After this, he has been stressing about the backwardness of Pasmanda in the Delhi session of the National Executive, where a ‘Sneh Yatra’ was announced in order to woo the Pasmanda Muslims.

Pasmanda community leader Danish Ansari, who hails from Ballia, is also a

KARNATAKA SCRAPS QUOTA FOR MUSLIMS

minister in the Yogi Adityanath government of BJPruled Uttar Pradesh.

Whopping 85% of total Muslim population Muslims in India are broadly categorised into three social groups – Ashraf, the “noble” or upper caste, Aljaf, backward caste Muslims; and Arzal, lower caste or Dalit Muslims. While Ashraf are considered the traditionally dominant group comprising Sheikh, Syed, Turk (Mughal) Pathan clans, Aljaf and Arzal are collectively known as Pasmanda, a Persian word for “ones left behind.”

Pasmanda is a term for Other Backward Class (OBC) Muslims comprising economically and socially backward members of society.

According to Pasmanda leaders and rights activists, out of the total Muslim population in the country, around 85 per cent are backward or Pasmanda Muslims.

‘Only 60 Pasmanda Muslims reached Lok Sabha’

The community has often raised concerns over the lack of representation in political leadership positions despite being the numerical majority. They claim that out of the roughly 400 Muslims elected to the first 14 Lok Sabhas, only 60 were Pasmanda Muslims.

Demands of Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj?

All India Pasmanda Muslim

Mahaj is an organization of Pasmanda Muslims from all over the country. As soon as it heard the news of BJP’s Sneh Yatra, the organisation wrote a letter to Prime Minister Modi and demanded that Scheduled Caste status should be given to about a dozen castes in Pasmanda Muslims, who currently come under OBC. This demand is not new. But amidst the news of BJP making inroads among Pasmanda Muslims, it has once again raised this demand afresh.

Mahaj claims that if the government really wants to do good to the Pasmanda Muslims, then their old demand should be accepted.

If experts are to be believed, without accepting this demand, it is a bit difficult for the Pasmanda Muslims to go with the BJP. This demand is standing as a rift between BJP and Pasmanda Muslims.

Who are Pasmanda Muslims?

‘Pasmanda’ is a Persian word meaning ‘those who are left behind,’ it is believed to be a category of Muslims belonging to Shudra (backward) and Ati-Shudra (Dalit) castes.

Till 1998, Pasmanda Muslims were just a group, mainly active in Bihar.

For this reason, All India

Pasmanda Muslim Mahaj Sangathan believes that ‘Pasmanda’ are in every religion and in the same way they are also in Muslims.

The backward, dalit and tribal Muslim communities are now uniting under the identity of Pasmanda. Among them Kunjare (Rayan), Julahe (Ansari), Dhunia (Mansuri), Butcher (Qureshi), Fakir (Alvi), Hairdresser (Salmani), Scavenger (Halalkhor), Gwala (Ghosi), Washerman (Hawari), Blacksmith-Carpenter (Saifi), Manihar (Siddique), Darji (Idrisi), Vangujjar, etc.

Pasmandas seek answers from ‘secular’ parties

The Bharatiya Janata Party accused the Samajwadi Party and the Congress of using Muslims as mere vote banks while the community strengthened these parties for over seven decades with their blind support.

Pasmandas, or ones left behind, have asked the so-called ‘secular’ political parties to spell out their plans for Other Backward Classes and Dalit Muslims. Activists fighting for the Pasmanda bloc have for long insisted that caste cuts across religions, and that non-Ashraf (well-heeled) Muslims also face caste discrimination just like backward and Dalit Hindus. Opposition parties have so far remained mum on the matter.

Can’t address Muslims without Pasmandas

While the politics is making sure that the ‘Muslim question’ cannot be addressed without talking to Pasmandas, which comprise majority of Indian Muslims, in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with the BJP trying its best to win Muslim voters in its favour, it is left to be seen to what extent it succeeds in garnering their support.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Aroad cave-in here, another somewhere else leading to repair over and over again does not happen due to poor load bearing capacity of the construction alone. It also happens because the road construction quality gets compromised because of a nexus between contractors, babus and politicians. As a result roads in several states of India can be found to be in pitiable conditions and authorities remain unconcerned. The easy way out for authorities is to relay the top layer which generally wears off during monsoon with regular repair fetching them monetary benefits.

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari hit the nail on its head when he said, “Somewhere people with vested interest are behind frequent maintenance of roads. Some officers, contractors and politicians have interest in this. They create a cartel and every year they get a budget for maintenance.” This cartel, he said, is not interested in finding a permanent solution to the problem which is “more on the non-NH stretches”.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind.

Bhagavad Gita

TOP TWEETS

R

eservation politics is being played out in Karnataka before the state assembly elections with the clear intent of pleasing the two dominant communities---the Lingayats and the Vokkaligas. The 4% quota for OBC Muslims has been scrapped and their share has been equally divided between the two Hindu sects. Of the two, Lingayats are more powerful. With the extra two percent each the Vokkaligas will get 6 percent reservation and the Lingayats 7 percent. Muslims have been placed in the “larger pool” of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai justified the deci -

Union Home Minister

Amit Shah, who is campaigning in K’taka, blamed quota for Muslims on Cong & its “policy of appeasement.”He said that there’s no provision for quota for religious minorities in Constitution

sion to shift Muslims to the EWS category by stating that Dr BR Ambedkar had said that reservations were for castes and not religion. Muslims are upset with the decision and Maulana Mahmood Madani, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind has condemned it. Madani called the

decision to abolish quota for backward Muslim sub-castes “as harmful to nation’s comprehensive development policy” & was against PM Modi’s assertions to uplift the Pasmanda Muslims. He said he will move court to seek justice. The 4 % quota for “socially & educationally backward” Muslims was started by HD Deve Gowda govt in 1994.

Union Home Minister

Amit Shah, who is campaigning in Karnataka, blamed the quota for Muslims on Congress and its “policy of appeasement.” He said that there’s no provision for quota for religious minorities in the Constitution.

The scrapping of quota will help the BJP gain votes more than its continuation.

PM @ narendramodi ji and @nitin_gadkari ji for fulfilling a much-awaited demand of Odisha and sanctioning `169.27 crore for the construction of a 9 km-long bypass to Nabarangpur town on NH-26.

MOHD FAHAD

The writer is senior journalist, and alumnus of AJKMCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia

BJP LAUNCHES SCATHING ATTACK OVER CONGRESS PROTEST

Duragraha not Satyagraha: BJP lashes out at Congress

Congress holds nationwide protests against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification

New Delhi (Agencies):

The BJP slammed Congress and called its 'Satyagraha' as 'Duragraha' on Sunday. The Congress is staging 'Sankalp Satyagraha' at the Rajghat against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Parliament.

BJP leader R.P. Singh said, "It is clear from this what kind of Satyagraha the Congress is doing. The murderer of Sikhs (Jagdish Tytler) has joined this Satyagraha. Congress cannot survive without Tytler. The party invites him to every event."

Singh said that this is not Satyagraha, but an attempt is being made to reinstate Jagdish Tytler, who is accused of killing Sikhs. In February this year, Tytler was elected a member of the Congress Committee."

Poonawalla hit out at Congress and said the Satyagraha was a 'Duragraha' against the OBCs & Courts. Poonawalla said, "Today's so-called Satyagraha showed their Duragraha for court and for the constitution because it was a court that convicted Rahul Gandhi...It is a Duragraha against the OBC samaj to support such a statement.

IT IS DAMAGING TO OUR INDIAN DEMOCRACY: SHASHI THAROOR

Thiruvananthapuram

(ANI): Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday wondered whether it was good for the democracy of this country when a principal opposition leader is not allowed to raise his voice in Parliament. “Is this good for our country”? Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said. “Let us forget party politics. This is damaging to India. It is not damaging to Rahul Gandhi,” he said. On being asked about ongoing Sankalp Satyagraha, he said, “This (Satyagraha) is not just about congress party or Rahul Gandhi, this is about Indian democracy”.

KHARGE SLAMS BJP, ASKS WHY IS GOVT PAINED IF FUGITIVES CRITICISED

New Delhi (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday slammed the BJP over its charge that Rahul Gandhi insulted OBCs with his remark for which he has been convicted in a criminal defamation case, and said why is the ruling party pained if fugitives such as Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi are criticised. Addressing a gathering at “Sankalp Satyagraha” of the Congress right outside Rajghat, Kharge also thanked all Opposition parties for standing with Rahul Gandhi and the Congress to save democracy.

RAHUL GANDHI DISQUALIFIED ONLY TO SUPPRESS HIS VOICE: KHARGE

New Delhi (ANI): Attacking the BJP-led centre over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabah MP, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the former MP was “sued for defamation only to suppress his voice.” Talking to ANI, Kharge said, “The whole Congress party is standing with Rahul Gandhi. BJP and Modi government is not allowing Rahul Gandhi to speak,” he added. He further said that the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi only means that the government does not want to let Rahul Gandhi speak.

‘MARTYR PM’S SON CAN NEVER INSULT COUNTRY’

New Delhi (PTI): Congress general secretary

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said a martyred prime minister’s son who walked thousands of kilometres for national unity can never insult

Bilkis Bano’s rapist shares stage with Guj’s BJP MP, MLA

New Delhi (Agencies):

One of the 11 men who gangraped Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat riots and were released prematurely, was seen sharing stage with a BJP MP at a government programme in Gujarat yesterday. The release of the men has been challenged in the Supreme Court and the case will be heard on Monday.

The group water supply scheme event took place on in Karmadi Village of Dahod district on March 25.

Shailesh Chimanlal

Bhatt was seen on stage with Dahod MP Jasvant Sinh Bhabhor and Lim-

Reservations provided to Muslims not as per Constitution, says HM

New Delhi (Agencies):

Former finance minister and senior Cong leader P Chidambaram said his party’s leader Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Lok Sabha would strengthen the Congress party, helping its prospects in next year’s general election. Describing the political landscape as an “undeclared emergency”, Chidambaram said the ruling BJP has made the Congress its “prime target” wishing its elimination in order to more easily manage the regional parties.

Chennai (Agencies): Tamil Nadu Congress legislators will hold a sit-in protest in the Assembly on Monday to condemn the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Parliament. The protest will continue for 24 hours and end on Tuesday. Congress party will also move a special resolution in the Assembly to protest the “murder of democracy”. This was announced by the Congress legislative party leader, Selvaperithungai on Sunday while interacting with mediapersons.

Bidar (ANI): Following the removal of four per cent OBC reservation for Muslims in Karnataka, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday lashed out at Congress and said that there is no provision in the Constitution to provide reservation on the basis of religion.

In a cabinet meeting, the Karnataka government scrapped the four per cent OBC reservation for Muslims and distributed it to two dominant communities, Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas.

It also decided to move OBC Muslims to the 10 per cent Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category.

Shah inaugurated the ‘Garota Shaheed Smarak’ and a memorial of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. He also hoisted a 103-ft high national flag in Karnataka.

While addressing a public meeting, Shah in poll-bound Karnataka,

Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities.

Shah said, “Reservations provided to the minority was not as per Constitution. There is no provision in the Constitution to provide reservation on the basis of religion.” Attacking Congress’ polarised politics, Shah said that in the greed of the vote bank, Congress never

—Amit Shah, Union Home Minister

commemorated the martyrs of independence & ‘Hyderabad mukti’.

“Due to Congress’ politics of polarisation, in the greed for the vote bank, they never commemorated the people who sacrificed themselves for independence and ‘Hyderabad mukti’”, said Shah.

Senior Telangana leader returns to Cong

the country. She alleged that Rahul Gandhi was disqualified for questioning the prime minister on industrialist Gautam Adani and people will give a befitting reply to those behind the action.

Lucknow (ANI): UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and scoffed at the party’s ‘Sankalp Satyagraha’ against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as an MP. “One who walks on the path of untruth cannot talk about Satyagraha,” CM Yogi said adding that the inspiration was given by Bapu to follow the path of Satyagraha, those who weaken democracy cannot do Satyagraha.

IN THE COURTYARD

JUSTICE DIWAKER SWORN IN ALLD HC CHIEF JUSTICE

kheda MLA Sailesh Bhabhor and posing for photos at the event. The two leaders were not available for comment.

The 11 convicts were released on Independence Day last year, triggering a flood of outrage across the country.

They were convicted in 2008 for gangraping Bilkis Bano and killing 7 members of her family. Her 3-year-old daughter was among those killed. Seven other relatives, who she says were also killed, were declared “missing”.

Prayagraj (PTI): Justice Pritinker Diwaker was sworn in as the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court on Sunday. He was administered the oath of office by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel in the courtroom of the chief justice. During the ceremony, all the judges of the court, including the Lucknow bench, and most of the lawyers were present. The governor was given a guard of honour in the court compound on her arrival. In a notification dated March 24, President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Diwaker as the chief justice of the Allahabad HC with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.

Hyderabad (Agencies): Former MP of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) D Srinivas on Sunday rejoined the Congress, nearly nine years after he had quit the party. The senior leader along with his son Dharampuri Sanjay joined the party in the presence of Telanga-

UMESH PAL MURDER: MAFIA AHMED TO BE PRODUCED IN MP MLA COURT ON MARCH 28

New Delhi (ANI): Rummaging Gangster Atique Ahmed will be produced in Prayagraj’s MP MLA court at 11 am on March 28, an order copy said. Umesh Pal and one of his armed security escorts were shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 while he was returning home from court. On March 17, after completing the hearing in the court, the decision was reserved. The order was issued by Judge DC Shukla of MP MLA Court on March 23 to produce Atique Ahmed for a hearing. Umesh was also a key witness in the murder of former BSP leader Raju Pal and had an old rivalry with Mafia Don Atiq Ahmad.

DELHI COURT GRANTS BAIL TO POCSO ACCUSED LANGUISHING IN JAIL

New Delhi (ANI): The Dwarka District Court has granted bail to an accused in custody for about five years in a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused was charged under Section 5(l) r/w 6 of the POCSO Act which is punishable with rigorous life imprisonment. The Additional Sessions Judge Pooja Talwar on Friday while considering the bail plea said, “Keeping in mind the facts that all the material witnesses have already been examined and the accused is in custody for about 5 years, accused Kanhaiya Lal is hereby released on bail.

BJP scared of Rahul’s popularity so conspiring: Raj CM Gehlot

OBC card was played as last weapon even in Gujarat elections, says Raj CM Gehlot

Ashvini Yadav

New Delhi: Raj CM

Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that ‘BJP is scared of Rahul Gandhi’s popularity after which conspiracies were hatched against him. He said that PM Modi is accusing Rahul as part of election strategy.

“Modi has played this card as the last weapon

even in Gujarat elections. He is deliberately trying to mislead the OBC class,” Gehlot said in New Delhi where he participated in ‘Satyagraha’.

“Congress has always cared for OBC, SC and ST classes. I myself belong to the OBC category and I am the CM for a third time,” he said. Gehlot said that Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra got immense response and therefore the BJP is scared of him.

“The way people have gathered here for the party’s Satyagraha gives a message to the nation,” Gehlot said.

CONGRESS ‘SATYAGRAHA’ IN SUPPORT OF RAHUL GANDHI

BEGINS IN RAJASTHAN

Jaipur: The Congress’ Rajasthan unit on Sunday began its daylong “Sankalp Satyagraha” here in support of Rahul Gandhi following his disqualification from the Lok Sabha. The party’s state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and several other leaders are taking part in the protest at the Collectorate Circle. Similar protests are also being organised in other districts.

na Congress in-charge Manikrao Thakare, state Congress chief

A. Revanth Reddy and other leaders.Srinivas reached Gandhi Bhavan, the state headquarters of the Congress party, in a wheel-chair. The former Rajya Sabha member Srinivas was re-inducted into the party in the presence of many senior leaders.

Bigger question is whether democracy will survive: Yadav

Lucknow (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the bigger question facing the country is whether democracy will survive or not.

"The biggest question is whether democracy will survive or not. BJP is not a party, it is an organization," he said. Akhilesh welcomed the Congress' "Sanklap Satyagraha" to protest against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a member of the Lok Sabha.

"I want to congratulate the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi for the satyagraha," the former UP chief minister said.

The Congress is holding Sankalp Satyagraha at Raj Ghat. Priyanka Gandhi arrived at Raj Ghat for the protest on Sunday. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretary KC Venugopal and several other party leaders also joined the protest.

SP chief however reminded that what happened with Rahul Gandhi had also happened with Azam Khan and his son as well.

"If the educated people of our country start accepting lies as truth then what will happen to the democracy of the country," Akhilesh wondered.

Sailesh Chimanlal Bhatt was seen on stage with MP Jasvant Sinh.

Home Minister Amit Shah waves to the crowd during the public meeting for the upcoming MP Assembly elections, in Chhindwara. Congress Government due to its polarisation politics provided reservation to the minority. BJP scrapped that reservation and provided reservations to

Srinivas with party leaders

Congress supporters during the party’s ‘Satyagraha’ against disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha, at Rajghat in New Delhi on Sunday. —PHOTO BY PTI

‘THIS WILL PUT IN MORE STEEL IN GRAND OLD PARTY’

CONG MLAs TO HOLD 24-HR PROTEST IN TN

UP CM YOGI MOCKS CONG’ SANKALP SATYAGRAHA

Ashok Gehlot during Sankalp Satyagraha at Rajghat in New

on Sunday. Senior Congress leader Selja Kumari is also seen.

RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Rathore during the Cong’s ‘Sankalp Satyagraha’ in Ajmer. Also seen here is Naseem Akhtar and others.

PM Modi talks about importance of organ donation in ‘Mann Ki Baat’

‘NORTHEAST INDIA NOW KNOWN FOR ALL-ROUND DEVELOPMENT’

India summons envoy and seeks explanation

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (March 26) addressed the nation in the 99th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat.’ Opening the 99th edition of his monthly radio programme PM Modi compared the episode’s mark with cricket’s ‘nervous nineties’.

He said that the mark of 99 is generally considered a difficult milestone to cross. However, it becomes a source of inspiration when it is about Indians and their ‘Mann Ki Baat.’

In the 99th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ PM

Modi talked about the impact and power of organ donation that changes the course of lives for several people.

“With the technological advancement in the Medical Science, organ donation has become a powerful medium of giving life to someone,” said PM Modi. “After

death, when a person’s body is given for organ donation it may change the life of nearly 8-9 people,” added PM. PM Modi further said that it is really satisfying to know that the awareness about organ donation has increased in the country recently and the cases of organ

1,890 new Covid cases in 24 hours

New Delhi: India logged 1,890 new coronavirus cases, the highest in 149 days, while the active cases increased to 9,433, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday. The country had recorded 2,208 cases in a single day on October 28 last year.

The death count has increased to 5,30,831 with seven deaths.

While two deaths each were reported by Maharashtra and Gujarat in a span of 24 hours, three were reconciled by Kerala, the data up-

CRUCIAL READ

Bhopal: A missionary school in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district was sealed after liquor and condoms were found in the principal’s room during a surprise inspection. The inspection was conducted by the State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights on Saturday. The SCPCR team found beds, liquor and condoms and also egg trays and gas cylinders. “I saw there was a gas cylinder and other objectionable stuff, including liquor bottles. Police are investigating the whole matter,” Nivedita Sharma, a member of the SCPCR inspection team said, adding that she had brought the matter to the notice of the District Collector.

Hyderabad: In what could be a suicide pact, four members of a software engineer’s family, including 2 kids, were found dead in their flat. Police suspect that children’s ill-health might have forced the couple to resort to the extreme step. The victims are believed to have consumed poison to end their lives. Police said that G Satish, 39, his wife G Veda, 35, and their children, G Nishiket, 9, and G Nihal, 5, were found dead in their Park Royal Apartment flat at Kandiguda.

New Delhi A man was arrested in Delhi on Sunday for allegedly duping over 50 women on the pretext of providing them with a tour package to Vaishno Devi. The matter came to light in February. Madhur Kumar (36), from Haryana’s Panipat, became part of several Facebook groups formed by devotees and posted captivating messages to lure people with his fake tour packages, the police said. He targeted victims in festive seasons, especially during Navratri, police said.

dated at 8 am stated.

The daily positivity was recorded at 1.56 per cent while the weekly positivity was pegged at 1.29 per cent. The Covid case tally was recorded at 4.47 crore (4,47,04,147)

The active cases now comprises 0.02 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.79%, the ministry said.

donation have increased to 15,000 as of 2022 from a mere 5,000 in 2013.

During the radio show, PM also talked to the families of people whose bodies were donated for organ donation. The donors saved the lives of several people and were touted as ‘saviours’ even after their death.

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi said that earlier the Northeast region was known as for blockades and violence, but now it is known for its developmental strides and all-round development. Modi was responding to Home Minister Amit Shah where he informed that “PM Modi led Government has once again decided to decrease the disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur under the AFSPA”. Shah added that this decision has been taken on account of significant improvement in the security situation in North-East India.

New Delhi (Agencies): The centre has summoned the Canadian High Commissioner over Khalistan protests outside the Indian missions and consulates over the last few days over.

“The High Commissioner of Canada was summoned to convey our strong concern about the actions of separatist and extremist elements against our diplomatic Mission and Consulates in Canada this week,” the Ministry for External Affairs said. “The Government of India sought an explanation on how such elements were allowed, in the presence of police, to breach the security of our diplomatic Mission and Consulates,” it further said.

AMRITPAL’S 10 AIDES

SENT TO JAIL OVER CLASH WITH POLICE

Chandigarh (PTI): The Ajnala court in Punjab on Saturday sent 10 associates of Waris Punjab De, headed by fugitive radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, to judicial custody till April 6 in connection with a case related to the clash between Khalistan supporters and the police. Another accused, Sukhpreet Singh, was remanded to four-day police custody, an official said.

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR HARBOURING AMRITPAL SINGH

Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab Police has arrested a woman from Patiala for allegedly sheltering fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his aide. As per police, Amritpal and his aide Papalpreet Singh had allegedly stayed at the residence of Balbir Kaur in Patiala’s Hargobind Nagar on March 19. Kaur allegedly sheltered Amritpal and Papalpreet for five to six hours.

Police take Atiq to Prayagraj amid tight security

New Delhi (Agencies):

Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday came to the Sabarmati central jail in Ahmedabad on Sunday and took gangsterturned-politician Atiq Ahmed to Prayagraj amid tight security.

Atiq Ahmed will be produced before a court on March 28 when it passes an order in a

Oppn set to 'grill' BJP govt during Assembly session, says Goa LoP

Kathmandu: The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has suspended three employees of the air traffic controller department for "carelessness", as per CAAN spokesperson Jagannath Niroula on Sunday.

On Friday, an Airbus A-320 aircraft of the Nepal Airlines coming to Kathmandu from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and an Air India plane coming to Kathmandu from New Delhi almost collided. The Air India aircraft was descending from 19,000 ft while the Nepal Airlines aircraft was flying at an altitude of 15,000 ft at the same location, Niroula said. The 2 aircraft were in proximity, the Nepal Airlines aircraft descended to 7,000 ft, the spokesperson said.

Panaji: Leader of Opposition in Goa Assembly Yuri Alemao said on Sunday that the Opposition MLAs are all “set to grill” the BJP government during the Budget Session, beginning from March 27, on issues concerning the state. Congress leader Alemao said that facts and figures detailing “the crores of rupees spent

IN THE VALLEY

on self-glorification events and advertisement’s by the BJP government will come to light in the upcoming Assembly session”.

“This session will expose the true face of the failed BJP government. It will be proved that the rattled BJP government is curtailing the session instead of curtailing wasteful expenditure,” Alemao added.

I KNOW, THEY WANT TO KILL ME: AHMED

New Delhi: Soon after stepping out of the Sabarmati central jail, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed expressed fear that he might be murdered. When some reporters asked him when he was being taken to a police van, the former MP said, “Mujhe inka programme maloom hai…Hatya karna chahte hain (I know their programme…They want to murder me).”

kidnapping case in which he is an accused.

Atiq has been accused

of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault on a real estate busi-

nessman, Mohit Jaiswal, while in jail. Ahmed was shifted from Sabarmati central jail as per the Supreme Court’s order. Atiq and his family are in the news after their names cropped up in the recent murder of lawyer Umesh Pal, a prime witness in the 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case.

AP CM congratulates ISRO for launch of largest rocket LVM3

Amaravati (ANI):

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) team for the successful launch of India’s largest rocket LVM3 carrying 36 satellites. It was OneWeb’s second venture propelling India’s capability in global space technology.

“The success of LVM3-M3/Oneweb India 2 Mission stands as a milestone in Indian space history”, the Chief Minister said. He also wished ISRO all success in future endeavours.

The ISRO launched India’s largest LVM3 rocket carrying 36 satellites from Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota on Sunday morning. LVM3 was launched

World’s highest railway bridge to be operational soon

Srinagar (ANI): World’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir is soon to get operational for rail traffic.

The much-awaited world’s highest railway bridge spans the Chenab River at a height of 359 m (1,178 ft) above the river, which is 35 meters taller than Paris’ Eiffel Tower. The arch bridge between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of J&K is 1,178 feet above the riverbed,

forming a crucial link from Katra to Banihal.

It is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (US-

BRL), a dream project worth Rs 35000 crore.

The bridge has passed all the mandatory tests. However, the

Chenab railway bridge is near completion at present as the incumbent regime laid a special focus on the project worth Rs 1400 crore.

The people will get the bridge after two decades of waiting since the project was approved in 2003 but was delayed shortly due to fears of stability and safety.

In 2008, the contract for constructing one of the highest railway bridges was awarded by the then government.

2 MORE TESTS TO BE CONDUCTED SOON FOR STABILITY & SAFETY

The construction of the bridge was started again, after it missed several deadlines. To make the bridge ready for commissioning, all the mandatory tests have been conducted successfully. The tests that have been conducted to check the stability and safety of the world’s highest bridge include high-velocity winds test, extreme temperatures test, earthquake-prone test and hydrological impacts due to water level increase. The Union Minister of Railway, Communications and Electronic and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that two more tests are to be conducted tomorrow, which include running a motor trolley and bolero customised rail operation on the bridge.

The success of LVM3-M3/Oneweb India

2 Mission stands as a milestone in Indian space history.

—YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh

from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at around 9 AM. “LVM3 standing 43.5 metres tall and weighing 643 tonnes lifted off from the second launch pad rocket port carrying OneWeb’s final instalment of 36 Gen1 satellites”, said the officials. Reportedly, the LVM3 is a three-

stage rocket with the first stage fired with liquid fuel, the two strap-on motors powered by solid fuel, the second by liquid fuel and the third is the cryogenic engine.“

One Web also mentioned the importance of collaboration between the UK and Indian space industries.

Man held for duping women devotees

New Delhi (Agencies):

A man who duped 50 to 60 women devotees on the pretext of providing them a tour package to Vaishno Devi has been held by the Delhi Police.

The accused Madhur Kumar used to target women devotees during Navratri and other festivals. Rohit Meena, DCP of Shahdara district, said that the accused used to spread captivating message on social media to dupe women devotees. The official said that they

got a complaint in this respect from one Anamika Sharma. She told the police that she got a message on a Facebook group about a tour package to ‘Mata Vaishnao Devi’.

The PM also said that he is looking forward to ideas for 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat

Air India, Nepal Airlines planes almost collided, 3 suspended

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 99th edition of the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday.

Pro-Khalistan protest in Canada. —FILE

Jailed-mafia Atiq Ahmed outside Sabarmati Central Jail, in Ahmedabad, Sunday.

The accused Madhur Kumar used to target women devotees during Navratri & other festivals.

5 OF TOP 10 FIRMS LOSE `86,447 CRORE IN M-CAP LAST WEEK

SAYS NITIN GADKARI

‘India’s highways infra to match United States by 2024’

New Delhi: Five of the top 10 most valued firms together lost `86,447.12

crore in market valuation last week, with Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and State Bank of India taking the biggest hit.

While Reliance Industries

Limited, Tata Consultancy Services, HDFC Bank, Infosys and State Bank of India suffered erosion from their valuation, ICICI Bank, Hindustan Unilever Limited, ITC, HDFC and Bharti Airtel posted gains. RIL continued to rule the top 10 most valued firms chart. —PTI

FPIs INVEST `7,200

CRORE IN INDIAN EQUITIES IN MARCH

Ranchi (PTI): India’s highways infrastructure will match that of the US by 2024 for which work in time bound ‘mission mode’ is on including construction of green expressways and rail over bridges, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said. He said cabinet nod to ‘Bharatmala 2’ is likely soon and once obtained it will meet the requirements of a robust infrastructure in the country.

“I am confident that India’s highways will be on par with that of the US by 2024. Work in a time bound mission mode is on to build a robust infrastructure including a network of green expressways across the length and breadth of India,” Gadkari said.

He said in this year railway over bridges are being constructed at a cost of `16,000 crore which will be increased to ` 50,000 crore

in five years. On the Kailash Mansarovar highway project via Pithoragarh, Gadkari said “Ninety three per cent work on Kailash Mansarovar project has been completed.”

With the completion of this project, the arduous trek through treacherous high-altitude terrain can be avoided by pilgrims of

Govt caps maximum GST cess rate on pan masala and tobacco

New Delhi (PTI): The government has capped the maximum rate of GST compensation cess that would be levied on pan masala, cigarettes and other forms of tobacco and linked the highest rate to their retail sale price.

The capping of the cess rate was brought in as part of the amendments to the Finance Bill, 2023.

As per the amendment, the maximum GST compensation cess rate for pan masala will be 51% of the retail sale price per unit. In the current regime, the cess is charged at 135% ad valorem.

HIGHLIGHT FROM INTERVIEW

z I am confident that India’s highways will be on par with that of the US by 2024. Work in a time bound mission mode is on to build a robust infrastructure including a network of green expressways

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and the period of journey will be reduced by many days. At present, travel to Kailash Mansarovar takes around two to three weeks.

On Bharatmala Phase 2, the minister said: “Nod is likely soon to Bharatmala Phase 2 that will further accelerate the making of highways.”

TOP TALKING POINTS

z The capping of the cess rate was brought in as part of the amendments to the Finance Bill, 2023

z

The rate for tobacco has been fixed at ` 4,170 per thousand sticks plus 290% ad valorem or 100% of the retail sale price per unit.

So far, the highest rate was ` 4,170 per thousand sticks plus 290% ad valorem. The cess is levied over and above the highest Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate of 28%.

As per the amendment, the maximum GST compensation cess rate for pan masala will be 51% of the retail sale price per unit. In the current regime, the cess is charged at 135%

Changes in schedule-I of GST compensation cess Act, brought in via amendment in Finance Bill, has capped the maximum cess that can be charged on Pan masala and tobacco products.

New Delhi: Foreign investors have pumped `7,200 crore into the Indian equities so far this month, mainly driven by bulk investment in the Adani Group companies by the US-based GQG Partners. Going ahead, FPIs are likely to be cautious in the near term since there is a risk-off sentiment in equity markets globally. According to the data with the depositories, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) invested `7,233 crore in Indian equities till March 25. —PTI

MFs NOMINATION DEADLINE TO END ON MARCH 31

RBI may go for 25 bps rate hike next month

Unseasonal rain slows AC sales momentum

New Delhi (PTI): The unseasonal rainfall has put a brake on the sales of residential air conditioners, which had started to pick up early this year from mid-February as the temperature was rising.

UK-India trade has potential to double by 2030: British official

New Delhi: Existing mutual fund investors have time till March 31 to nominate a beneficiary or opt out of it by submitting a declaration form, failing which their folios will be frozen, and they will not be able to redeem investment. The Sebi had made it mandatory for mutual fund subscribers to submit the nomination details or declaration to opt out of the nomination on or after August 1, 2022. The deadline for all the existing mutual fund folios, including jointly-held ones, was set as March 31, 2023, failing which the folios will be frozen for debits. —PTI

346 INFRA PROJECTS SHOW COST OVERRUN OF `4.46 LAKH CRORE

Mumbai (PTI): With retail inflation remaining above the comfort level of 6% and most global peers including US Fed continuing hawkish stance, the Reserve Bank of India too may go in for a 25 basis points hike in the bimonthly monetary policy to be announced on April 6, opined experts.

The two key factors which the committee will deliberate intensely while firming up the next monetary policy are elevated retail inflation and the recent action taken by central banks of the developed nations especially the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England.

The Reserve Bank on India (RBI) has been raising

benchmark rates since May 2022 to contain inflation which has been largely driven by external factors, especially the disruption of the global supply chain following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Given that CPI inflation has been 6.5% and 6.4% in the last two months and that liquidity is now near neutral, we may expect the RBI to raise rates once again by 25 bps and probably change stance to neutral to signal that this cycle is over,” opined Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist, Bank of Baroda.

India Ratings and Research Chief Economist D K Pant too expects the central bank to raise policy rate by 25 bps (basis points) next month.

SOFT DRINKS TO SOAPS

New Delhi: As many as 346 infrastructure projects, each entailing an investment of `150 crore or more, have been hit by cost overruns of more than `4.46 lakh crore, as per an official report. According to Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, which monitors infrastructure projects worth `150 crore and above, out of 1,418 projects, 346 reported cost overruns and as many as 823 projects were delayed. —PTI

Now, in the second half of March, sales of AC have been impacted, however, makers see it as a “temporary phenomenon” and are hopeful of reaching their targets from April onwards when heat waves would start.

Kochi (PTI): Notwithstanding the impact of Russia’s war with Ukraine, the UK and India are heading towards an era of positive engagement in trade and business relations, with steps underway to promote mutual investments in both the nations, UK’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia Chandru Iyer said.

Iyer spoke in detail about the trade and investments between the UK and India

MARKETS TO TRACK GLOBAL FACTORS THIS WEEK: ANALYSTS

New Delhi (PTI): Stock markets may face volatility in a holiday-shortened week ahead amid monthly derivatives expiry, besides global factors and foreign fund trading activity would continue to dictate terms, analysts said.

Factors such as movement of global oil benchmark Brent crude and the rupee would also guide the trend in equities. Markets would remain closed on Thursday for Ram Navami.

While volatility may increase locally before the March Futures and Options (F&O) expiry, the position of major international banks will continue to play a significant role in the direction of the market globally.

RELIANCE UNVEILS BIG PRICE WAR PLAN

New Delhi (PTI): After stirring a price war in the soft drink segment with the relaunch of Campa, billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance has entered the personal and home care segment of FMCG, offering products at 30 to 35% lesser price.

Experts say “the jury is out” and a competitive offering from Reliance would attract the customers to try its products and evaluate performance, quality and perception in comparison to the same from the established brands.

Products of RCPL, the

FMCG arm and whollyowned subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL), are available

only in selected markets but the company is building a dealer network on a pan-India basis, and the

PRICE LOWER THAN RIVALS

z Reliance Consumer Products (RCPL) has priced its Glimmer beauty soaps, Get Real natural soaps, and Puric hygiene soaps at `25, which is much lower than the products of leading brands such as Lux (`35 for 100 gm), Dettol (`40 for 75 gm) and Santoor (`34 for 100 gm) etc

availability of its products will be scaled up across modern and general trade channels.

and said there was potential to double the business by 2030.

“If you look at the flow of business or the trade numbers between the UK and India for the period ending Q4 of last year, the

OTHER STORIES

number stood at 34 billion British pounds. For the same period ending the year before last, it was around 19 billion pounds. So it’s been a big jump in trade and business,” Iyer said.

“The interest in UK is so high that people want to come there and set up their business. The aspirations have the potential to double the trade and investment numbers by 2030,” Iyer said.

CABINET TO CONSIDER PRICE CAPS ON GAS TO STAVE OFF RATES RISING TO $10.7 PER MMBTU

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet is likely to soon consider imposing caps or a ceiling on price for majority of natural gas produced in the country to keep input costs for users ranging from CNG to fertilizer companies in check, sources said. The government bi-annually fixes prices of locally produced natural gas -- which is converted into CNG for use in automobiles, piped to household kitchens for cooking and used to generate electricity and make fertilisers. —PTI

GOVT HIKES DUTY ON X-RAY MACHINE IMPORTS TO 15%

New Delhi: The government has hiked customs duty on import of X-ray machines and non-portable X-ray generators to 15% with effect from April

1. Currently, portable X-ray machines and non-portable Xray generators and apparatus attract 10% import duty. The changes in the customs duty rate was brought in as part of the amendments to the Finance Bill, 2023, which was passed by the Lok Sabha last Friday. —PTI

Q3 OF FY23: ONLY 15% INSOLVENCY CASES REACH RESOLUTION

Mumbai: Only 15% of the 267 insolvency cases admitted in company law tribunals during OctoberDecember 2022 reached resolution with overall recovery of just 27% of claimed amount, the IBBI data showed. As much as 45% cases were concluded through liquidation. On quarter-on-quarter basis, the second quarter of FY23 saw 256 cases in NCLTs, massively down from the yearly run-rate of 2,000 cases in FY20. —PTI

HOUSING SALES UP 14% ANNUALLY IN JANUARYMARCH TO 1.13 LAKH UNITS IN TOP SEVEN CITIES

New Delhi: Housing sales in India’s top seven cities are estimated to rise 14% during January-March to over 1.13 lakh units on strong demand despite increase in prices by 6-9%, according to Anarock. Anarock said the “bull run” continued in the housing segment of Indian realty sector despite rise in interest rates on home loans. According to the data, housing sales are estimated at 1,13,770 units in January-March, up 14% from 99,550 units in the year-ago period across seven major cities.

At rally in Maha, Telangana CM calls for farmers ’ unity

First India Bureau

Aurangabad: Claim -

ing that the plight of farmers has not changed in 75 years, irrespective of which of the major two parties remained in power, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday highlighted the need for unity among agriculturists.

“In the past 75 years, only two parties have ruled the country whereas other parties got nearly five years. But we don't find any difference in the condition of farmers,” Rao said in a veiled swipe at the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, while speaking at a rally in Loha tehsil in Maharashtra’s Nanded district. The Maharashtra government decided to give Rs6,000 assistance to farmers only after he addressed a gathering in Nanded last month, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader added.

Appealing to farmers to unite, Rao said,

BRS TO CONTEST PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS IN MAHARASHTRA

“BRS leaders will visit villages and membership drives will be organized,” Rao said, announcing that his party would stand for Panchayat elections in Maharashtra. Former Lok Sabha MP from Maharashtra Haribhau Rathod, ex-MLAs Shankar Dhondge and Harshvardhan Jadhav, and local political leaders joined the BRS in the presence of KCR, as Rao is popularly known, at the rally on Sunday.

“When you showed your power in the past, the rulers had to apologise. We should not get divided along the lines of religions but unite as peasants.”

He said 41 crore acres of land in India is suitable for agriculture. “I came here only once and a provision to give each farmer Rs6,000 per year was found in the Maharashtra budget. Why was it never done earlier?” he asked, adding, “This aid is like sprinkling water on a fire. We do not want it.

Speeding bus runs over 30-year-old, crushes him to death

Nagpur (PTI): In a tragic incident in Nagpur on Saturday, a 30-year-old man was crushed to death by a speeding bus after he fell off a motorcycle, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place in the Ganeshpeth police station area of the city on Saturday afternoon, an official said.

The victim, who was riding pillion on a motorcycle, fell off the vehicle on a bridge and was run over by a speeding private bus, he said.

IPL FEVER BEGINS

CM’s courtesy visit to MNS chief at home, sparks rumour of alliance

Sena - UBT leaders from Nashik join

We want that farmers be given Rs10,000 per acre so they can use it to invest in agricultural activities,” Rao said. He also took potshots at BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for saying that Rao should concentrate on Telangana.

“I appeal to Fadnavis to implement 24-hour water, free electricity for farmers, and purchase their yield.

(Then) I will stop coming to Maharashtra,” the Telangana CM remarked.

Mumbai (PTI): Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday paid a visit to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray at the latter’s Shivtirth building residence at Shivaji Park residence in Mumbai.

With elections overdue in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the visit sparked rumours of a three-way alliance between the MNS, Shinde’s Shiv Sena and the BJP in the coming days, especially given that MNS recently changed its slogan to include Hindutva along with its sons-of-the-soil plan.

Thackeray’s wife Sharmila, son Amit, and some party work -

Shinde-led faction

Thane (PTI): Several leaders and activists of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction from Malegaon and Nashik on Sunday joined the party faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

ernment, which is committed to the development of the state and its citizens," the CM said.

ers were present during Shinde’s visit, which comes days after the MNS chief slammed the state for spending Rs1,700 crore to beautify Mumbai.

However, a day after the MNS chief showed a video of a “mazar” or mausoleum-like structure being constructed

illegally off the coast of Mahim area of Mumbai at his Gudi Padwa Melava on Wednesday, the structure was demolished on Thursday. Raj Thackeray had also blamed Uddhav Thackeray for the exit of many Shiv Sena leaders from the party, in his revolt last June.

Salman Khan threat email: Mumbai cops apprehend man from Rajasthan

Mumbai (PTI): Mumbai police have apprehended a man from Rajasthan in connection with an email threatening actor Salman Khan that was received at the latter’s office here recently, an official said on Sunday.

The accused was nabbed by a team of Bandra police station and is being brought to Mumbai, an official said.

Accused Dhakad Ram Bishnoi (21) is a resident of Siyagon ki Dhani in Jodhpur’s Rohicha Kalan village

An offense under section 304 (a) (death due to rash and negligent driving) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code has been registered in this regard, the official said.

The accused Dhakad Ram Bishnoi (21) is a resident of Siyagon ki Dhani in Rohicha Kalan village under the Luni police station in Jodhpur. He was on bail in a case of Arms

Act, police said. Jodhpur's DCP (West) Gaurav Yadav said a team from Mumbai's Bandra police station arrived here to arrest Bishnoi on Sunday. “They asked us to assist them in detaining Bishnoi. We provided them support and handed Bishnoi over to the Mumbai Police,” Yadav

said. The complaint about the threat e-mail was recently lodged at the Bandra police station by one Prashant Gunjalkar, who according to police, frequently visits the Bandra-based residence of Salman Khan and runs an artist management company.

When Gunjalkar was present in Khan's office

in Galaxy Apartment recently, he noticed an email had been received from the ID “Rohit Garg”. The sender of the e-mail, written in Hindi, said: “Goldy Bhai (gangster Goldy Brar) wanted to talk to Salman Khan face-to-face to close the matter,” adding, “Agli baar, jhatka dekhne ko milega (You'll see something shocking),” the police had said.

“After a detailed technical investigation, police got information about the accused’s whereabouts, following which a team was sent to Rajasthan and the man was nabbed,” he said.

According to a statement released by the party, a number of exdistrict level party officials and past corporators who were previously associated with Shiv Sena (UBT) have now joined the Shinde group in Thane city.

“As these activists have shown full faith in us and joined the party, problems of Nashik district will surely be resolved by the state gov-

The Guardian Minister of Nashik, Dada Bhuse, Lok Sabha MP Hemant Godse, party's state coordinator and former mayor Naresh Mhsake, and district chief Ajay Boraste were present for the induction.

"Since I took the office, decisions have been taken to protect the interest of the common man. This was reflected in the recently passed state budget," CM Shinde said while speaking to the newly inducted leaders and functionaries from Nashik.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde —FILE PHOTO UBT BANNER TORN; CASE REGISTERED

Teak wood from Chandrapur to adorn Ram Temple in Ayodhya

Wood will go into making the temple’s main doors, inside doors, the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum, forest min says

First India Bureau Mumbai: The Ram Temple at Ayodhya will include a bit of Maharashtra, with the state government here clearing the decks to send consignments of Chandrapur district’s tough

and durable teak wood to the UP city.

Making the announcement, Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said this wood will be sent with huge fanfare with a procession, prayers, puja, and even dance perfor-

mances on March 29.

The cast of Doordashan’s TV show “Ramayan”, including Arun Govil, Deepika Chikhalia, Sunil Lahiri and others have been invited to join the procession, as have Ramdev Baba, Sadguru Sri Jaggi Vasudev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, along with ministers, MPs and MLAs from both states.

The procession will start

at Ballarpur with the worship of two ancient trees named 'Ram and Laxman' and another procession from the Mahakali Temple.

These will see a display of 43 types of folk arts of Maharashtra by 2,100 artistes. As the processions proceed, flowers will be showered on the wood, with the roadsides decorated with rangolis and torans on the

entire route.

Maharashtra's 'Narishakti' and 'Sade Tin Shaktipithe' tableaux— which bagged the second prize in this year's Republic Day celebrations, and Uttar Pradesh's tableaux that won the third prize—will also join the Chandrapur processions.

Singer Kailash Kher will render Lord Ram's bhajans and devotional

songs at a special programme that evening after the processions end near the Ram Temple in Chanda Chowk. Temple authorities chose teak wood from Chandrapur for its construction, as they were looking for “the best wood, which could last for more than a thousand years”, according to a person familiar with the development.

Telangana CM KCR pays floral tribute to the bust of BR Ambedkar during a public meeting, in Nanded in Februrary. —FILE PHOTO

‘

`6,000 aid for farmers by Maha govt is not enough; we want `10,000 per farmer per acre’

Even as players and fan were waiting with bated breath for the face-off between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals in the final of the inaugural Women’s Premier League on Sunday afternoon, mural artists in Mumbai were already moving on to the next cricket extravaganza—the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League—which is set to begin at the end of the month.

—PHOTO BY BHUSAN KOYANDE

CM Shinde met MNS chief Raj Thackeray at the latter’s house in September as well. —FILE PHOTO

Two-thirds of the work on the temple is reportedly complete. —FILE PHOTO

WHEN IN DOUBT, ADD SPARKLE!

The outstanding Fashion Connect presented by First India and Bharat24- Vision of New India was held at Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Dubai on March 19. City First highlights some glimpses of highly acclaimed designer Wrickie Angrish’s collection showcased at the grand show!

Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, the crowned jewel of Dubai, hosted one of India’s premier single-day fashion events called Fashion Connect, season 14, Presented by First India News and Bharat24-Vision of New India on Sunday, March 19. Jagdeesh Chandra graced the evening and appreciated the designer, Wrickie Angrish for his esoteric collection. His Highness Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum was present as the Chief Guest and Yakoob Al Ali, Executive Director and Private Advisor in His Highness Office attended the show as the special guest.

Designer Wrickie Angrish took everyone on a ride to the glittery world with evening cocktail colours black infused with metallic silver and gold vibes.

While describing his gorgeous collection, the talented designer said, “My couture collection ‘ANGRISH spring Summer 2023’ collection is a lot about keeping the edginess, rawness, styled with

the glitters and zippers, inspired from the rock n roll life of the 70s. Ladies and gentlemen, let’s have a look at characters and elements of ANGRISH.”

“ANGRISH showcased mix line up starting with pret-line & evening cocktails” he added. ANGRISH was started in 2010 as a clothing trading house and has seen several transitions

during this whole decade, from 2016 launching the private label design house, to a major add-on transition in 2019 towards environmentally sustainable clothing, by using fabrics, designs and aesthetics which are more sustainable, street influential and environmentally friendly and mostly naturally printed and produced.

KAVITA CHAUHAN cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Dari, Kristine and Oleksa showcasing designer collection

Clockwise: Sophia, Irena, Irena, Amin and Claudia

Designer Wrickie Angrish with Claudia and Irena showcasing the exquisite collection —PHOTOS

SANTOSH SHARMA

Passionate about investing in the lives of children, 46 years

old Saraswathi Padmanabhan, a trained Montessori teacher and Counsellor is giving motherly love to the children of the migrant labourer community in Bengaluru through her dream home ‘Diya Ghar’. Saraswathi says, “It’s always fascinating for me to connect with these children. Wherever I worked I tried to find opportunities where I could work and support children.”

True to its name ‘Diya Ghar’ is today emerging as a ‘lighthouse’ into the gloomy lives of thousands of deprived children. The organisation is changing these kids’ lives by providing them day care services, the foundational Montessori or preschool education, with two wholesome meals a day and safe transport from their settlements to school and back.

Saraswathi and her team are running 3 preschools and Day Care centres serving 135 children until March 2020 and also set up Community Centers in 2020. Over 1000+ children mostly 2-6 years old in 22 Centers attend classes every day and receive nutrition,

DIYA GHAR

FILLING COLOURS TO THE SHADOWY LIVES

felt scared of sending their children to Diya Ghar. So it was extremely hard to convince them. But there were mothers who wanted to send their children to school as they went to construction sites and there these children struggled and were neglected a lot. So initially a few migrant parents came along with their children to school and gradually they started to build confidence in us.”

FACEOFTHEDAY

child care and medical care. So far, over 400 little ones have “graduated” from Diya Ghar and joined elementary schools in Bangalore or back in their villages. After preschool, Diya Ghar also recommends and helps to enroll children in any affordable private or government school where the organisation also supports up to 60% or some amount of the school fee if any migrant parent can’t give the full fee.

Growing up in Chennai, Saraswathi used to visit children’s homes on her birthdays with her parents. Her parents and grandparents used to support these children, which had a lasting impact on her.

Talking about the idea that originated to start such an organisation, Saraswathi candidly replied to me, and said, “My first job was in Mumbai and as part of a volunteer group, I used to take care of street children there. Later, I moved to California and did my MBA there and started working as an auditor. Again, I used to volunteer there, but this time I worked with the prisoners’ children. For job purposes eventually, I moved back to Bengaluru with my husband who's one of the trustees in Diya Ghar. I

studied counselling and started working with an NGO for a year. After my son’s birth, I started teaching counselling so I could give time to my child also. There was a migrant labourers community behind my husband’s office. On weekends, my husband and I used to visit and distribute clothes,

her experience and deep understanding of child development, she initially opened the Montessori preschool in 2016 with merely five kids of labour workers.

Saraswathi further said, “Primarily it was tough to manage and run the organisation along with my own three young children. For my organization, I rented a place close to my home and initially started just for half a day. First six months I was the only teacher and the lady who was taking care of my children helped me at my centre also. Almost for a year, we gave homecooked breakfast and lunch to these migrant children. I only brought these migrant children from the community and dropped them back. Later, we hired teachers and trained them. And then I started a full-day program.”

During the pandemic Covid-19 time the preschools were closed so Diya Ghar centres were started inside the communities. The organization also trained community mentors to teach the children within these communities.

With 97 team members, the organization’s goal is now to expand and serve 5000 children every day with quality food, medical care, and education. Diya Ghar partners with many NGOs and various IT Companies like Mphasis and Oracle. These NGOs run bridge programs with Diya Ghar for the communities. IT Companies also volunteer and do activities like card making and pot painting with children. Azim Premji Foundation, Titan, Rotary Bangalore IT Corridor Charity, and many other renowned brands support the cause.

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

and books to the young children and spend quality time there. After the birth of my two daughters, I continued to teach counselling part-time.”

As Saraswathi’s three children were very young and going to the Montessori school, she did 6 months of Montessori training and eventually, with

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20

You care about you lover but somehow hesitate in expressing that care. Don’t make friends for money and status rather make friends who will stick with you forever. On social front, you may have to spend some extra money in buying gifts for someone for some specific occasion.

LEO

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

You make sure to make things work your way. Never demotivate someone even if someone is not capable of doing something. You are most wanted by your friends. You can have romantic affair in office and a serious one. You will invest money in clothes and accessories today.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 22

Spend time talking with likeminded people as it will make you feel good for now.

Boisterous behaviour is what everyone needs right now, do whatever you can do to cheer everyone up. You will feel financially comfortable and infant you are in position to invest money in some new venture.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20

When I asked Saraswathi how she makes the parents agreeable especially for pursuing education as it becomes a tendency for them to lead an easygoing life and earn their livelihood through begging, she said, “These migrant families come from North Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Orissa. Earlier there were trust issues and these families

In the end, Saraswathi mused, “The need is huge. These children are vulnerable and the migrant community has unfortunately been unseen. But so many people are supportive and generous. They are open to supporting and sponsoring the child or their education. We need more reinforcement from society and people should recognize the need around.”

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

CANCER

You love to live close to your family. Best day to buy gold and silver or any precious metal for investment sake. You are a child at heart and never let this child die. You have a big heart and you always help someone if you can. Video gathering is possible.

VIRGO

AUG 24 - SEP 23

Your spouse is someone who can do anything for your happiness. You are opportunist and this will make you successful one day. There may be delays in property possession and it won’t effect you. You are happy spending whole day at home.

Help your mothers at home today.

CAPRICORN

DEC 23 - JAN 20

You are very generous by nature and also you are the backbone of your family. Today is a favourable day for business. You may postpone your study plans. You are very fortunate to have a great friend circle. Be careful of the words that come out of your mouth.

You are a pro in your field and none can beat you. You give tough competition to people. Many people get inspired by you. You will get special treatment from your dear ones. Take stand where you need to, don’t run in the same direction where everybody else is going. Health remains perfect.

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

Scrumptious food is what you are craving for today. You always maintain cordial relationship with everyone. You workout daily to keep yourself fit. You may start a side business to earn extra money. You are not a jealous kind and you feel happy for others.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19

You need a break from day to tensions and the way to cope up with stress is to meditate. You must create an environment of understanding at home. You will succeed in any sort of examination if you put your heart and soul to it. Promotion can be expected even if other are not.

JUNE 22 - JULY 23 Visit a doctor if you have any doubts about your health. Don’t attack stress even if you don’t have any. Let go of things that are not in your control. You want to have your own house and you will work hard to make your dream come true. You will feel less burdened today.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

You will feel amorous towards your wife. This is the best time try something new. Work on your limitations, there can be no better time than this. You have more opposite sex friends than the same and you may be judged sometimes but don’t care.

PISCES

FEB20 - MARCH 20

Your spouse may make you spend more than you expected. Fantastic day for investing money in stock market as you can make fortune. You need help on academic front and you should not shy away from asking. You miss your parents a lot and somewhere fear to loose them.

ANUBHA JAIN Journalist Writer

Kids during the Mid Day Meal Kids while enjoying the art class

Oracle employees with kids of Diya Ghar

Saraswathi with kids and teachers of Preschool on the Graduation day

Saraswathi playing with a migrant kid

Kids of Diya Ghar during the class

Kids of Diya Ghar

AJAY’S BHOLAA AVATAR!

The Mass Maharaja, Ajay Devgn shared insights about his upcoming movie Bholaa in the press conference organised Pink City Mall

Charismatic Beauty!

Actor-filmmaker Ajay Devgn’s action thriller Bholaa is getting ready for its worldwide release on March 30. The much-awaited movie is inspired from the Tamil hit “Kaithi” which was directed by Lokesh Kangaraj and featured Karthi in the lead role but with “Bholaa”, Ajay Devgn

is set to turn this into a franchise that will be completely different from Lokesh’s version.

In a chit-chat session with City First, the actor shared that he enjoys the process of work and cannot

choose between acting or directing because it is all one. “I prepared myself more as a director and when a director prepares for a film he prepares for all the actors. In that process, the director prepared

LOVE IS IN THE AIR?

arry Styles and Emily Ratajkowski are raising eyebrows after the duo was spotted kissing on the streets of Tokyo, Japan. Harry and his exflame Olivia Wilde

separated in November last year after dating for two years. On the other hand, Emily filed for divorce from ex-husband Sebastian BearMcClard in September. And now, Harry and Emily have become the talk of the town after pictures of them having an intimate moment were obtained by the Daily Mail.

In the pictures shared by the media portal, Emily could be reportedly seen donning a black and pink jacket

FOREVER BESTIES

Kareena Kapoor Khan, the popular Bollywood actress has always been extremely close to her girl gang. Kareena Kapoor Khan, however, is highly active on her official Instagram handle and entertains her fans and followers with glimpses of her personal life, very often. On Saturday night, Kareena dropped some selfies on her Insta handle with her girls’ gang, as they had a fun night. The celebrated actress took to her official Instagram handle on Saturday night and shared a couple of lovely pictures with her besties Malai-

ka Arora, Amrita Arora, and Mallika Bhatt, and they had a fun get-together. However, Kareena Kapoor Khan is missing her elder sister and popular actress Karisma Kapoor, who missed the get-together due to her busy schedule. “Our forever... Missing our Lolo..,” wrote the actress on her Instagram story. Later, she also shared a picture with the Arora siblings Malaika and Amrita, and wrote: “Sisters.”

the actor well. Direction is just like a mirror when you have to keep an eye on every process and check whether everyone is going well or not.” The Mass Maharaja also shared that the film is inspired by the South Indian film “Kaithi” and not its remake, the Hindi story of this film, its characters and its plot are all new. The role of a police officer in Karthi was played by actor Sushil Kumar but Tabu is doing that role in Bholaa. Talking about the film being given the tag of an only action movie, Ajay Devgn said that no action film can work unless there is emotion in its story. It is also a completely emotional film.

with a long black skirt, while the As it Was singer was seen rocking an all-black look with his hair pulled back.

The portal also reported that the rumoured lovebirds were seen dancing together. It also noted that neither Harry nor Emily Rata jkowski appeared con cerned or worried about people spotting them sharing the intimate mother.

Saturday night

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have shared a glimpse into their lives as new parents. This weekend Priyanka took the ‘gram and posted a new video on her feed. In the video, one could see her enjoying her Saturday night with Nick. A few hours ago, Priyanka posted a new video on In stagram. In the video, the Citadel actress and Nick can be seen sitting together at a restaurant, just about to have their food. However, the new par ents are visibly tired, sleepy, and low on energy, as opposed to the loud and happening ambience of the eatery. Both Priyanka and Nick could be seen staring at the camera, while the latter pretends to have fun by throwing his hands into the air, which makes PeeCee laugh. Sharing the video, Chopra captioned the post, “When mom and dad try to do Saturday night”.

Deepika Padukone, the celebrated Bollywood star has created a massive stir on the internet with her stunning debut at the Oscar awards. The actress took to her social media handle to share some monochromatic pictures from the day and we just can’t take our eyes off her.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Deepika Padukone shared a few pictures from that day and it’s just stunning. Sharing a monochromatic picture, the actress shared her whole look and wrote, “Keeping it classic.” She was seen donning an

saree from Sabyasachi. It had rusted gold embroidery on the borders, and the actress paired it with a fullsleeved black blouse with a cutout at the back. As soon as she shared the pictures, fans flooded the comment section with heart and fire emojis.

BETTER FUTURE

ooks like Kim Kardashian’s daughter North West is all set to follow in the former’s footsteps and launch not one, not two, but four businesses! The motherand-daughter duo are planning something big for at least two of these businesses, one of which includes a skincare line. Apart from the skincare line, there are also talks of a toy line and advertising. The fourth trademark is much broader and describes, “entertainment in the nature of providing information in means of a global computer network in the fields of entertainment and pop culture.” According to the portal, the most thought-out and planned trademark, for now, is the skincare line which will reportedly deal in developing “non-medicated skin preparations.

Wedding rumours!

The renowned star Parineeti Chopra is currently busy focusing on her career. The actress who was last seen in Sooraj Barjatya’s Uunchai is recently all over the news after being spotted with AAP MP Raghav Chadha at a restaurant in Mumbai, not once, but twice. On Wednesday, they were spotted going out for dinner twinning in white. According to a source, the families of Raghav and Parineeti are involved. Since the two know each other for a long time, have common inter-

ests and everything worked out in their favour, the families initiated discussions on marriage. They went for dinner after the talks of marriage were in the air. The source also revealed that a formal announcement and a roka ceremony will soon take place. But when the ceremony takes place, it will be intimate with close family members only.

Kim Kardashian

Parineeti Chopra

Kareena Kapoor Khan

Priyanka Chopra

Emily Ratajkowski Her post...

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UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

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Poster of the film...

Ajay Devgn

Deepika Padukone

MRITI IRANI ON USHANT RAJPUT

Member of the Union Cabinet, Smriti Irani who is well-known for portraying Tulsi in the television series Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, recently talked about the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The former actress was affected by his untimely demise. During a recent interview, she got emotional as she spoke about Sushant. She also revealed that she had spoken to the late actor and advised him to ‘not kill himself’. Smriti talked about June 14, 2020, when Sushant passed away. She revealed that she was on a video conference when she heard about the unfortunate news. She shared, “The day Sushant died, I was on a VC (video conference). There were many people. But I just couldn’t… I said stop it. I felt like, why did he not call me. He should have called once. I had told that boy, ‘Tum yaar maarna mat apne aap ko.”She further added that she immediately called Amit Sadh after hearing Sushant’s news as she was concerned for Amit. She said, “Instantly, I was scared for Amit Sadh. I called him and asked him what he is up to. I knew, kuch gadbad karega bachcha. Usne mujhe kaha, mujhe nahi rehna, kya kiya iss idiot ne. I got the sense that something is wrong. He asked me, ‘You don’t have work?’ I said, ‘I do, but just let’s talk’.” Earlier Amit had also shared, “I don’t know how she found that I am in trouble. I just got a random call from her. She spoke to me, we were on a six-hour call, I said I don’t want to work in this industry, I will go live in the mountains.” Amit and Sushant worked together in Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che and were great friends ever since then!

Pinkie Roshan on working out with son Hrithik Roshan

Offering a weekend treat for the fans and followers, Hrithik Roshan’s mother Pinkie Roshan shared an adorable video from the gym giving an insight into the most special Mother and son time spent by the duo.

At this goofiest best, Hrithik Roshan shared quality time with his mother during their gym session, making workout fun. Pinkie Roshan shared the video on her social media saying, “MOTHER and SON…. We meet all the time, for lunches, dinners, movies and holidays, sharing our thoughts with each other…. But the most special time is when we’re sharing time in the gym together #mothersonbond #bestmotivation #gympassion”.

Hrithik Roshan is often seen spending quality time with his mother, aside from

KARAN TAKES A JIBE AT FARAH

Farah Khan and Karan Johar are best friends and their sassy conversations will surely leave you in splits. Recently, the two posted a video on social media that amused their followers, who then requested that they should host a comedy show together.The video starts with someone prompting action and Karan and Farah bump into each other on the screen. Farah exclaims, “Hi Karan, what are you doing in LA?” To this Karan replies, “You in

Beverly Hills. This is a shocker!” What follows in a fun banter with the two criticizing each other’s outfit choice, Karan touches Faraah’s red blazer and says that it’s too early for Christmas. Farah hits back

Karan. She also says,

“What is this laundry tag on your sleeve?” Karan defends by saying, “It’s fashion.”Farah uploaded the video on her Instagram handle and she captioned it, “When Karan met Farah #karah @karanjohar thank uuuu for a great evening in LA videography by:-

family outings and celebrations. Earlier, the duo’s picture from a breakfast meeting had gone viral, citing them as mother-son goals. Another instance of the endearing bond was seen on Pinkie Roshan’s birthday, when Hrithik wished his mother by sharing pictures from their Yoga sessions together, depicting their commitment to fitness.

SRK’S PERFECT FAMILY PICTURE!

Gauri Khan shared her most recent family photo on Instagram along with the news that she will be publishing a coffee table book titled My Life in Design. She shared an exclusive picture of the Khan family, including her husband Shah Rukh Khan and their three kids. The book will also include photographs of their renowned Mannat residence in Bombay.

Gauri posted a new family photo of the Khans and

wrote, “Family is what makes a home… Excited about the @penguinindia coffee table book… com -

ing soon.

#Gau riKhanDe signs #MyLifeIn Design.” In the picture, we can see Shah Rukh and Gauri posing with Aryan Khan, Suhana Khan and AbRam Khan. They are all mostly dressed in black, with Suhana donning a black and white outfit.

— cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

RADHIKA AS A SPY

adhika Apte is back with the espionage comedy Mrs Undercover after giving an incredible performance in Monica O My Darling. The teaser of the film was unveiled on Sunday, which introduces Radhika just as a house -

wife but there’s more to her! She turns out to be a spy. Radhika captioned the teaser on Instagram, “Homemaker or a bone breaker #NotJustAHousewife #MrsUndercover on #ZEE5, coming soon.”

In the teaser, Radhika is depicted as a housewife wearing a sari who appears to be having trouble with her responsibilities and appears to have no idea how anything works. While she performs

her duties, she spills objects with her butter-fingered hands and even causes a mess by using a mixer without the jar cover. When her husband (Saheb Chatterjee) is asked about what does she do, he replies, “arre wo kujh nahi karti (she doesn’t do anything), she is just a housewife.” Soon after, we see Radhika making a stunning appearance in a black bodysuit and beating up goons in the dark.

Rajkummar Rao on

Nepotism

Rajkummar Rao recently responded to an Interview from previous days. The viral video of his Interview with Sonam Kapoor went viral for her comments and struggles of being a star kid, where they talked about the merits and demerits of being an actor coming from an industry family. After this Sonam received a lot of hate online for her comments. Recently in an interview, Rajkummar revealed it happened a long time back and he is not one who would sit and think about it. “That video is edited in a way that it shows my reactions to other things. This had happened long back. I’m not someone to sit and think about it. It was in the moment. Sonam is one of the most kind-hearted girl I’ve met here. She’s so genuine. She’s always been there not just for me but for everyone too. She was putting her point across and I was putting mine.”

The actor further revealed that Sonam is a dear friend and he recently visited her to meet her son Vayu.

Smriti Irani

Late Sushant Singh Rajput

Karan Johar and Farah Khan

Rajkummar Rao

Radhika Apte

Shah Rukh, Gauri, Aryan, Suhana and Abram Khan

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Hrithik Roshan with his mother Pinkie Roshan

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