First India-Jaipur Edition-27th October 2022

RISHI SUNAK: UK GETS A

PRIME MINISTER

SC DECLINES TO TRANSFER AJAY MISHRA’S CASE FROM LOK BENCH

Sunak delays crunch budget plan until Nov 17

 He became UK’s first Indian-origin British PM after being invited by King Charles III to form a government

First India Bureau

London: Britain’s new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, earned cheers from his lawmakers and plaudits from political commentators on Wednesday as he locked horns with the opposition Labour Party in parliament for the first

time since becoming leader. Britain postponed the announcement of a plan to repair the country’s public finances to November 17, new finance minister Jeremy Hunt said. The delay was to ensure the right decisions are taken, Hunt told.

Sunak made key Cab-

READ Crucial

INTRODUCE CURRENCY NOTES WITH IMAGES OF GANESH-LAXMI: KEJRI

Kharge says will continue to look for Sonia advice; Relieved: Sonia

New Delhi: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday appealed to PM Modi to have the pictures of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on the currency notes. Fresh currency may have a picture of Mahatma Gandhi on one side and of 2 deities on other, he added.

TERRORIST TRAPPED, JAWAN INJURED IN J&K’S BARAMULLA

Srinagar: An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in J&K’s Baramulla on Wednesday. One army jawan has been injured & one terrorist is believed to be trapped. This comes just hours after a foreign terrorist was killed in Kupwara town.

WHATSAPP EXPLAINS WHY APP STOPPED WORKING FOR 2 HRS

New Delhi: WhatsApp suffered a major outage in India and other countries on Tuesday. The app and web clients were down for millions of users for nearly 2 hours. Due to the outage, users were unable to send messages or use any of their services. The Metaowned company has now offered clarification about why its services were down worldwide. “We have asked WhatsApp for a report on the recent outage,” Telecom Min Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

Moni Sharma

New Delhi: Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday formally took over as the new president of the Congress party— the first non-Gandhi to assume the party’s top post in two-and-a-half decades. He immediately vowed to fight the BJP and break its “system of lies, hoax and hatred”, and to implement the “Udaipur resolve”. Handing over charge to Kharge, Sonia Gandhi said she was confident and relieved that he will inspire the party and strengthen it under his stewardship.

The Congress, on its part, lavished praise on Sonia, calling her an “icon of sacrifice”. After Kharge took over as new president, AICC gen secy in-charge of organisation KC Venugopal announced that CWC members, AICC gen secretaries and incharges of states, have tendered their resignations, ostensibly to enable the new chief to choose his own team.

Nuclear option should not be resorted: Singh

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday told his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu that the Ukraine conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and the nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side. In telephonic talks, Shoigu briefed Singh on the evolving situation in Ukraine, including his concerns about possible “provocations through use of ‘dirty bomb’”, defence ministry said. The conversation took

place at the initiative of Russian defence minister amid escalation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. It said the two ministers also discussed bilateral defence cooperation as well as deteriorating situation in Ukraine.

I’m very happy today. To tell the truth, I’m feeling relieved. The President you have chosen is an experienced leader who is connected to the ground. He has reached this position through dedication and hard work.

I’m confident he will inspire the party and the party will be strengthened under his leadership.

—Sonia Gandhi, Former Cong Chief

It was an “emotional moment” for him that the son of a labourer, who began his political life as an ordinary worker, has been elected Congress president. Who would have thought that the country will face a political era when lies will hold sway and those sitting in power and ruling the country will try to weaken democracy. But I know that we will break the system of lies, hatred and hoax.

—Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President

IN A 47-MEMBER STEERING COMMITTEE...THAROOR OUT

I n his first crucial decision after assuming charge of Congress, president on Wednesday constituted a 47-member Steering Committee which will function in place of CWC. The newlyconstituted panel includes Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, AK Antony, Jairam Ramesh, Randeep Surjewala, Ambika Soni, Ajay Maken, Harish Rawat, Abhishek Singhvi & Anand Sharma.

New Delhi/Jaipur: Terming Sonia Gandhi’s guidance as invaluable for the Congress party, CM Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said the change of guard is an emotional moment for

all partymen. “When Sonia took over as Congress prez in 1998, the party did not have a govt at the Centre and it had

many challenges in states too. Later, Cong won in all states, including Raj, MP, Delhi, K’taka,” he said. Turn to P3



Son–in–law of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy takes over after a months-long leadership war in party

inet appointments and decided to keep the new Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in place for economic stability. He brought back Indianorigin Suella Braverman as Home Secretary while James Cleverly will remain Foreign Secretary despite not being a Sunak loyalist.

Sunak, UK PM

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

look forward to working closely together on global issues: Modi greets Rishi Sunak as UK PM

Sonia writes to British PM Sunak, hopes India-UK ties

9 YEARS, 1 TRADITION: MODI’S DIWALI PLANS WITH SOLDIERS

Shah flags increase in heroin smuggling from West coast

Ahmedabad: Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed concern about the increase in the smuggling of heroin from the West coast of the country.

Speaking at a meeting of the western region states on `Drug Trafficking and National Security in Gandhinagar, he also urged the govts of Maha and Goa to play “proactive role” in fight against the drug menace. During a meeting, nearly 12,500 kg of seized drugs were destroyed in 2 locations in Guj & Delhi. More on P5

Former IAS held in attempt to murder case

New Delhi: With Mallikarjun Kharge taking over as the Congress national president, general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Ajay Make, all CWC members, general secretaries and in-charges have also resigned. Now Mallikarjun Kharge will make fresh appointments on these posts. CWC member from Rajasthan Raghuveer Meena, Punjab in-charge Harish Chaudhary, Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma, general secretary in-charge Bhanwar Jitendra Singh have also submitted their resignations to the new Congress president. —More on P7

CM Ashok Gehlot will remain on a 4-day Gujarat tour from 28 to 31 October. He will reach Vadodara at 10 am and then attend public meetings at Garbada and Fatehpura. He will hold a press conference in Vadodara in the evening and stay in Surat during night.

Jaipur: A retired IAS officer has been arrested in connection with an attempt to murder case in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district, police said on Wednesday. According to an FIR lodged by victim Satveer Singh, about 10-12 people vandalised the house he was living in and opened fire on the directions of former IAS officer Rohitash Singh on October 21. In attack, Satveer’s wife sustained bullet injuries, FIR said. P3

SONIA GANDHI STEPPING DOWN AS CONG PREZ ‘EMOTIONAL MOMENT’ FOR ALL PARTYMEN: CM

Aditi Nagar

l Only Rahul can challenge Modi and his government, says CM Gehlot in Delhi l CM Ashok Gehlot congratulates Kharge and promises to strengthen the party

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with Sonia Gandhi, Harish Rawat, Priyanka Gandhi, Tariq Anwar and others at the AICC HQ in Delhi on Wednesday.

First India Bureau

KHARGE TAKES OVER AS A NEW CONG CHIEF, PROMISES TO RIDE ON THE... ‘NEW WAVE OF INDIA’

Newly-elected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with former Congress president Sonia Gandhi during his charge-taking ceremony, at AICC headquarters, in Delhi on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

HM Amit Shah being presented with a bouquet by Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel as Sonah Shah looks on, on the occasion of Gujarati New Year, in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. (R) Amit Shah addressing at a high level regional meeting on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’, in Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

PM Narendra Modi, who has been celebrating Diwali with the security personnel since 2014, visited Kargil on Monday.

AJAY MAKEN RESIGNS AS RAJ INCHARGE

CM ASHOK GEHLOT TO VISIT GUJARAT

The important thing is to

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, centre, alongside the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, centre right, holds his first Cabinet meeting in Downing street on Wednesday.

—

PHOTO

BY ANI

Kharge requests Sonia to

beside his chair

he

charge at

Rahul Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot, Venugopal, Chidambaram, Anans Sharma, Avinash Pande, Girija Vyas & other top leaders are also seen here.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has declined to transfer an appeal against the 2004 acquittal of Union minister of state for home affairs Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ in a murder case from the Allahabad HC’s Lucknow bench to the principal bench in Prayagraj.

600 INJURED IN JAIPUR CITY THIS DIWALI

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Nearly 600 people were injured in Jaipur during Diwali celebration.Officials informed that more than 450 people reached the emergency and trauma centre of SMS Hospital.

“Three people died on their way to the hospital, while two succumbed to injuries during treatment. Similarly, nearly 175 critically injured were admitted to the hospital. Around a dozen people were injured due to fireworks and are in stable condition now,” sources said.

Meanwhile, Governor Kalraj Mishra participated in Annakoot Mahotsav organised at Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Vaishali Nagar on Wednesday. Governor reached Akshardham temple at 12 noon and had darshan. He wished the people of the state for Govardhan Puja and Annakoot festival.

Dravyavati project: River that faces pollution again

Abhishek Shrivastava

Jaipur: The ambitious Dravyavati river project has become a trap for the residents. The people living near river are finding it difficult to live with dirt, garbage & stink. The contracting firm Tata Project has done the work but the work has been stopped for a month due to the demand of pending payment.

There is a demand of Rs 55 crore towards electricity bill from JDA and Rs 65 crore for maintenance. Due to this, 5 sewerage treatment plants are shut down and untreated sewer water is

coming directly into the river and the environment is getting polluted far and wide on both sides of the river.

JDA has sought opinion from State Advocate General Mahendra Singh Singhvi on various

points including the pending payment to the consortium. The Dravyavati river flows from the hills of Nahargarh to the river Khodh. There is a dense population on both sides of the Dravyavati river.

HISTORICAL MOMENT!

Jaipur: The IAS Association’s Deepawali ‘Sneh Milan’ was held on Wednesday at CS Usha Sharma’s residence almost entire state bureaucracy was present. IAS MP Meena. Former IAS JC Mohanty, Rajesh Sharma, Atul Garg, DG Intelligence Umesh Mishra, IPS Dinesh MN, Prashakha Mathur, Former DGP OP Galhotra, Former IAS Hanuman Singh Bhati, Former IAS Jagroop Singh Yadav, Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman BN Sharma, IAS Bhanuprakash Yeturu, T. Ravikant, Principal Secretary Naveen Mahajan Ajitabh Sharma, IPS Sandeep Singh Chauhan, Hawa Singh Ghumaria, Police Commissioner Anand Srivastava, and other officials enjoyed delicacies with their families.

DAY AFTER DIWALI, RAJ AIR QUALITY DROPS; JODHPUR MOST POLLUTED

Jodhpur: The fierce fireworks on Diwali have raised the pollution level in almost every city of Rajasthan. Jodhpur was the highest polluted city in Rajasthan as it reported an

AQI of 329. Surprisingly, the AQI was almost equal to that of DelhiNCR and was under the red zone category as per air quality parameters.

According to the figures of Central Pollution Control Board, the pollution level till 8m in Jodh-

pur was 300, while till 10 am, it touched 329 (AQI). It was followed by Pali, which reported an air quality index at 262. In Jaipur, the pollution level was 257. Similarly, the pollution level in Udaipur and Alwar reached 196 and 141, respectively.

Robots serve food, do other tasks at housing society in Jpr

Jaipur (ANI): A residential society in Jaipur, the Gulmohar Garden Society, has acquired four robots that provide services as food servers, fire-fighters, receptionists and cleaners.

These can also be seen functioning here as security guards, and watering trees and plants. They also receive and acknowledge complaints. A resident said it is a different experience. Earlier humans used to serve food, but now robots are doing it.

“We saw this in expensive hotels, now it is happening in our society.

The Gulmohar Garden Society, has acquired four robots that act as food servers & offer other services in Jaipur.

We feel good,” he said. Society secretary Sher Singh said, “We have bought robots. From whom we are taking different ser-

PATTERN IN

Clout of ‘godfathers’ rules in selection of cricketers

Naresh Sharma

Jaipur: It seems politics and favouritism has marred the Rajasthan cricket off late and three ‘weak link’ players have been ‘adjusted’ in Rajasthan team, all because of the clout of their ‘godfathers’!

These days, the selection of three players in the Rajasthan Cricket Association is in discussion. One player was fielded in Rajasthan team while this

player did not get a chance to play in Colvin Shield. On the other

hand, the players who played the Colvin Shield have failed to

make the cut in team Rajasthan. Interestingly, a cabinet minister is

FUNCTIONING

ensured a place for the cricketer.

vices. We just got 4 robots. They include a fire-fighting robot. We will see for 6 months how it goes.”

MLA demands arrest of miscreants involved in theft

reportedly the godfather for this player and the minister has thus

Then, the name of an industrialist’s ‘outsider’ player is also in discussion. In the past also this player has tried to play from Rajasthan. but this time, it seems, the efforts will bear fruit. Moreover, a ‘social leader’ is also trying to get his son inducted in the team. So this beckons a question as to on whose behest are the selectors of RCA working?

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Malviya Nagar

MLA Kali Charan Saraf on Wednesday visited the market of Sector 2 in Malviya Nagar area and interacted with the shop owner of a medical shop, wherein miscreants en-

tered the shop .He spoke to DCP East and Malviya Nagar Police Station SHO and demanded immediate arrest of the miscreants. He said that similar incidents had happened in Sector 1 and Sector 1/1341 of Malviya Nagar.

File picture of Dravyavati river.

Mahants performing Govardhan puja at Akshaya Patra in Jaipur on Wednesday.

—PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA & SUNIL SHARMA

Governor Kalraj Mishra participating in Annakoot Mahotsav organised at Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple on Wednesday.

Various bhogs being offered to Lord Ganesh at the Moti Dungri temple in Jaipur on Wednesday.

Pawan Arora, Mahendra Soni, UD Khan, Mahesh Sharma & others at Usha Sharma’s residence on Wednesday.

CS HOSTS

DIWALI

Kuldeep Ranka, Kunji Lal Meena & Mahendra Soni.

VP Singh, Usha Sharma, Mahendra Soni, Mahesh Sharma and others at the Diwali Sneh Milan on Wednesday.

Bhaskar Sawant presenting a bouquet to Usha Sharma & her husband BN Sharma.

Governor Kalraj Mishra being greeted on the occasion of Diwali by Vaibhav Gehlot at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. Vasundhara Raje performing Govardhan Puja on Wednesday.

First India Bureau

Jaipur: A partial solar eclipse was observed across India, including Jaipur, on October 25. The solar eclipse was a rare phenomenon as this was the first time in 27 years that it has happened during Diwali. The Department of Science and Technology organised a special program in Surya Mandir at Galta Gate Hilltop on this occasion. Astronomical experts termed the eclipse as a historical moment and it will now again be witnessed in 2034.

—PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA

Rajeev Gaur

Kali Charan Saraf interacting with shop owner in Jaipur.

CM APPROVES `

CR TO SET UP DIGITAL LIBRARIES IN 344 SCHOOLS

Jaipur: The Rajasthan government sanctioned Rs 36.56 crore to set up digital libraries in 344 residential schools across the state, an of ficial statement said.

CM Ashok Gehlot ap proved the amount in compliance with the an nouncement made dur ing the discussion of the Finance and Appro priation Bill 2022-23.

CM had announced the financial provision for digital libraries and other necessary facili ties for classes 9 to 12 in residential educational institutes & selected schools under various depts in view of impor tance of digital learning in today’s scenario, statement said.

With this, digital li braries equipped with state-of-the-art facili ties will be established in various residential schools, multipurpose hostels and Kasturba Gandhi Schools run un der the Tribal Area De velopment Dept, Social Justice & Empower ment Dept, Minority Af fairs & School Educa tion Dept, among oth ers. Govt is taking deci sions to promote infor mation technology, statement added.

CM approves `13.10 cr for smart classrooms in 500 madrasas

First India Bureau

Jaipur: State govern ment has started con necting madrasas of State with modern tech nology. Now for better education in madrasas, various facilities like smart classrooms will be made available. The students will now get education through smart board. CM Ashok Gehlot has approved an additional budget of Rs 13.10 crore for this.

NGT ASKS FIRM TO PLANT 10 TIMES MORE TREES THAN IT AXED FOR SOLAR PLANT

Jaipur: In first such case, NGT has taken a strict stand against a private firm on the issue of cutting trees for setting up solar plant. In order to set up the solar plant, the private company had axed down 250 Khejri and Rohida trees in the Jodhpur district. For this, the NGT has ordered the company to plant trees, ten times more than the number of trees cut down, in the surrounding area. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar, on basis of the report of inquiry committee, in this case, convicted AMP Energy Green Four Pvt Ltd for illegally cutting trees.

RIJU JHUNJHUNWALA’S FOUNDATION TO TAKE CARE OF 4 INDIRA RASOI KITCHENS

Jaipur: Congress leader Riju Jhunjhunwala’s Jawahar Foundation has taken up the work of four Indira Rasoi kitchens to provide nutritious food to people under Ashok Gehlot govt’s Indira Rasoi scheme. Food will be provided at Rs 1 per plate. Founder Riju Jhunjhunwala said that he will try to fulfill the responsibility given to the foundation by Bhilwara district administration. “Jawahar Foun dation never backed down for the development and social responsibility,” he said.

Out of the madrassas registered by the Ra jasthan Madrasa Board, Rs 2.62 lakh will be spent per madrasa for setting up of smart classrooms in 500 ma

`3,651 CR FOR ISARDA PROJ

CM’s master stroke, 3 new boards with OBCs in focus

Jaipur: The forma tion of three new boards by CM Ashok Gehlot has sent a big political message.

CM seeks national monument status for Mangarh Dham

drasas. It is noteworthy that Gehlot had an nounced in the budget year 2022-23 to provide smart classrooms with internet facility in reg istered madrasas.

Jaipur: CM Gehlot has approved proposal for setting up of 6 new of fices for Isarda drinking water project under East Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP). All offices will be opened in Dausa dist. Project is being constructed for drinking water supply in Dausa & Sawai Madhopur dists. Availability of drinking water will be ensured in 1,256 villages & 6 cities of both dists with Rs 3651 cr Isarda drinking water project. CM has also approved Rs 18L for furniture of new offices.

The boards have ap parently targeted the Mali, Kachhi, Kushwaha, charam kar, and dhobi socie ty. The big decision was taken before the completion of 4 years of the govern ment. With the estab lishment of Jyotiba Rao Phule Commis sion, the MaliKushwah society has been targeted. There are more than 50 castes in the OBC but only a few castes have dominated poli tics. Recently, the Mali society had held a demonstra tion in Bharatpur as a show of strength. The Mali society in fluences 40 assembly seats of the state.

CM Ashok Gehlot himself belongs to Mali society. In the 2018 election, 56 OBC MLAs won from the society and most of them were from Congress. Now, formation of board is being considered a master stroke of CM Gehlot with goal of repeating govt.

First India Bureau

Jaipur: PM Narendra Modi will address a large public meeting on November 1 at Mangarh Dham, main pilgrimage site of tribals of Ban swara district. For this PM Modi held a meet ing with the CS of Ra jasthan and Gujarat on Tuesday through video conferencing.

Demand for granting the status of a national monument to Mangarh Dham has been going on for a long time. CM Gehlot has also written a letter to the PM.

About 1L tribal peo ple from 3 states namely Rajasthan, Gujarat & MP will reach this meet ing. Modi will address the 99 tribal seats of 3 states through public meetings. 25 seats in Raj Legislative Assembly, 27 in Gujarat Legisla tive Assembly, 47 seats in MP are reserved for ST. The Union Ministry of Culture and an NGO will organize the pro

SHCs TO BE UPGRADED TO PHCs

Jaipur: CM Gehlot has approved the proposal to upgrade the sub-health cen tres located at Gaulari in Dholpur district, Khandach in Ajmer district, Nayolkhi in Hanumangarh district and Neemla village in Jaipur district to primary health cen tres. According to the proposal, a total of 9 additional posts will be created in each new PHCs includ ing Medical Officer, Nurse Category II, Female Health Of ficer, Pharmacist, Lab Technician, Ward Boy and Safai Karamchari.

gram together. CMs & BJP state presidents of all three states have been invited. CM Ashok Gehlot, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan are invited.

Ex-IAS held in attempt to murder case over land dispute

Jaipur (PTI): A retired IAS officer has been ar rested in connection with an attempt to mur der case in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district, police said on Wednesday.

According to an FIR lodged by victim Sat veer Singh, about 10-12

people vandalised the house he was living in and opened fire on the directions of former IAS officer Rohitash Singh on October 21.

In the attack, Sat veer’s wife Krishna sus tained bullet injuries, the FIR said.

According to police, former IAS officer had purchased a piece of land in Parbatsar under Peelwa police station limits while he was posted in Haryana.

The said land is regis tered in name of Sat veer who was a partner

Only Rahul can challenge PM Modi: CM

From Pg 1...

He attended the swear ing-in ceremony of Kharge in Delhi and con gratulated him while promising to work to strengthen the party.

In 2004 and 2009, the UPA government was formed at the Centre by defeating the BJP, he said. CM Ashok Gehlot also hailed Sonia’s “spirit of sacrifice, af fection and belonging”.

“Sonia even gave up the post of prime minis ter and always ran the party like a family. Due to this spirit of sacrifice, affection and belonging ness, the party united under her leadership

and formed the UPA by forming alliances with many parties.

“Those who were op posed to Sonia when she entered politics be came her admirers. To day, Sonia Gandhi leav ing post of Cong presi dent is an emotional moment for all Con gressmen,” he added.

Meanwhile, Gehlot also said that efforts continued till the last minute to make Rahul

as president of grand old party since he is the only one who can chal lenge PM Modi and BJP government.

“It was Rahul Gan dhi’s desire that for once a non-Gandhi should become Presi dent of the party. How ever, till last minute, efforts were made to make Rahul Gandhi party president,” said Gehlot while speaking to media.

of the former IAS of ficer, police said, adding that dispute is now over taking possession.

“Both the parties have lodged FIR against each other over posses sion dispute over 84 bigha land. The matter is also sub-judice. We

have arrested retired IAS officer for being in volved in attack & taken him on 3 days remand,” Peelwa SHO Surajmal Chaudhary said. The accused was ar rested on Monday and produced before a court a day after, SHO said.

CM Ashok Gehlot may announce creation of 6 new districts in Raj

First India Bureau

Jaipur: CM Ashok Gehlot may an nounce creation of six new districts in the state. There is a possibility of a delay of two months in the report of committee formed under chair manship of retired IAS Ramalubhaya to recommend the for mation of new dists.

Kashiram Choudhary

Jaipur: The muchawaited increase in in ternational flight oper ations from Jaipur seems to have gone longer this time. The proposed increase of four new international flights from Jaipur has taken a back seat as none of the private air lines have prepared to start flight operations.

Winter schedule of flight operations will start from October 30 in

India, but no new inter national flights will take off from Jaipur.

Sources informed that presently 5 international flights take off from Jaipur and this will con

tinue for some time. “The Jaipur Airport Adminis tration had issued a state ment on Sept 29 that 4 international flights will start from Jaipur Airport in winter schedule. New

flights to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Dubai, & Doha were scheduled to start from Nov, but no preps done,” said source.

“2 airlines had even approved proposal to start international flights from Jaipur. However, nothing has been done on ground,” added the source.

Thai Smile airline was also running daily flights to Bangkok from here. This flight was also stopped due to pandemic.

AChandigarh-bound flight that took off from Jaipur International Airport on Wednesday morning returned to the city just 25 minutes after take-off as it reported a technical snag. Sources informed the flight took off at 8:55 am on Wednesday and did an emergency landing at 9:20 am after passengers complained of suffocation. “The air-conditioner of the airplane was not working properly. As soon as the passengers complained of suffocation, the cabin crew informed the pilot and the plane was immediately returned to Jaipur. An alternative flight was arranged and the passengers were later sent to Chandigarh,” said the source. Heated arguments were witnessed between airplane employees & pas sengers as it took time to arrange alternative aircraft.

By December this year, committee is ex pected to provide its report to govt, in which the commit tee will decide on the demand of making six new districts at different places in state.

Apart from the legisla tors, lead ers, social workers and com mon people have also given separate memo

randums to the Ram lubhaya Committee for the formation of new districts. After the demand for new districts, committee is now engaged in the work of prepar ing reports. There are chances that CM Gehlot can even put final seal on report and recommenda tions of the Ramlub haya Committee even before the next budget. Planning is to provide the status of a district to re gions like Kotputli, Balotra, Phalodi, Didwana, Beawar, and Bhiwa

CM Ashok Gehlot, Sunita Gehlot, Vaibhav Gehlot, Himanshi Gehlot and Kashwini Gehlot posing for a family photo after doing Laxmi Puja (inset) on Diwali at the Chief Minister Residence.

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Chandigarh-bound Indigo flight makes emergency landing due to tech issue

Retired IAS officer Rohitash Singh in police custody.

—FILE

BJP MEETING CPM TO DESTABILISE TMC?

GANESH, LAKSHMI ON CURRENCY IS AAP’S TWIST TO RELIGIOUS POLITICS

TMC MOCKS SUVENDU

The TMC said it does not give importance to Adhikari’s statements. “Suvendu Adhikari used to say ‘BJP hatao Desh Banchao’ till mid-2020. He had campaigned against Amit Shah during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Being an oppor tunist and unethical person, he crossed over to the BJP. We don’t attach any importance to the utterances of an unethical person,” TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said.

In politics, especially in India, there are no permanent friends or foes. Politics is a game of strange bedfellows and there is no change in this old order. Recently, the meet ing of BJP MP Raju Bista and party MLA Shankar Ghosh with veteran CPI(M) leader and former mayor of Siliguri Ashok Bhattacharya at his (Bhattacharya’s) house raised eyebrows and the po litical grapevine was quick to spin a yarn about the report ed saffron camp’s plan to rope in the Left leader ahead of the panchayat elections slated for next year.

Though both the Left and the BJP leaders described it as a “courtesy visit”, the rul ing Trinamool Congress has smelt a conspiracy! However, brushing aside speculations and describing the meeting as a “courtesy visit” by the BJP leaders, Bhattacharya told the media, “If an MP pays a visit on the occasion of Diwali, I cannot shut the door on his face. It was also the death anniversary of my wife and everyone was invit

IT IS RISHI SUNAK’S TURN AT THE HELM

FEW POINTS TO PONDER

z The recent ED raids and the visuals doing the rounds across the media in the country, political observers feel will have an impact on the ruling party in the state

z The party had to go on a defensive mode and distance itself from the leaders who were in the ED scanner

ed. The speculations that are doing rounds are baseless and unjust.”

Calling it a “courtesy vis it”, BJP Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said, “Ashok Bhattacha rya is a former minister, MLA and mayor of Siliguri. I came here to extend my Diwali greetings to him. It was also the death anniversary of his wife. Therefore, I wanted to meet him at his residence.”

“Our party MP Raju Bista wanted to meet the Left lead er to inquire about his health. So, during the auspicious oc casion of Diwali, I went with him. It is wrong to draw a conclusion based on this. It is also not right to consider it a political meeting,” said BJP’s Siliguri MLA Shankar Ghosh, who was previously with the CPI(M).

The TMC’s mouthpiece

z It may also be noted that TMC will have to prepare its panchayat poll blueprint on its own with its prime politi cal strategist and strong man, Anubrata Mondal in a spot and under ED scanner

z Mondal has been a poll striker for the TMC in its citadel in Birbhum and the adjacent districts for a very long time

‘Jago Bangla’ on Tuesday pub lished an editorial, mention ing that the BJP’s meeting with Bhattacharya may have serious political connotations. Meanwhile, TMC state gener al secretary Kunal Ghosh went on to say, “There is a con spiracy going on to destabilise the government, especially in the northern part of the state. It may be noted that BJP lead ers have been demanding a separate state for the people in north Bengal.

“We have information that the BJP wants to destabilise the northern part of Bengal and plan to make it a Union Territory with some parts of Bihar. We have said this before and are saying it now that the Left and the BJP are trying to destabilise the state govern ment. They will, of course, say that it was a courtesy visit

but we know what is happen ing. They are seeking Bhat tacharya’s support to execute their plans,” alleged Ghosh.

HINDU MAHASABHA TO FIGHT RURAL POLLS?

The Akhil Bharat Hindu Ma hasabha announced that it will contest next year’s pan chayat elections in West Ben gal. The outfit that was rela tively unknown in the con temporary political land scape of West Bengal also tried to strike another contro versy on Friday by demand ing that the photo of Gandhi on currency notes should be replaced with that of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

SUVENDU’S CLAIM

The Trinamool Congress’s rule in West Bengal will be over in a few months, leader of opposition Suvendu Adhi kari claimed recently, stating that the police cannot save the regime anymore.

Addressing a ‘Bijaya Sam milani’ or post-Durga Puja meeting in his hometown Kan thi in Purba Medinipur dis trict, the BJP leader said that his party will fight next year’s panchayat elections “inch by inch”. He said the BJP will form “strong” teams in every booth to counter the TMC’s “terror” in the panchayat polls.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

More than Britain, there is joy in In dia over Rishi Su nak becoming the first Briton of col our to become the country’s prime minister because of his India link. Sunak is the youngest to lead the country and, reportedly, is richer than the King and is a prac ticing Hindu. His appoint ment is indeed a milestone moment in British history and speaks volumes about the equal opportunities avail able to immigrants in the United Kingdom, which ruled over us for centuries.

No matter how excited we may be at the prospect of puja being performed at 10 Downing Street, his official residence and his Bengalurubased billionaire in-laws, Ri

Rishi Sunak leading the Tories to an electoral victory will be a true test of the white man’s (and woman) having come out of the colonial and racist mindset. Lest we forget, Sunak is the choice of Tory MPs and that he earlier lost to Liz Truss when over a million Tory members were asked to choose between the two

shi Sunak will have to watch, and promote, Britain’s inter ests if wants his Conserva tive Party to win elections in two years’ time.

Rishi Sunak leading the To ries to an electoral victory will be a true test of the white man’s (and woman) having

come out of the colonial and racist mindset. Lest we forget, Sunak is the choice of Tory MPs and that he earlier lost to Liz Truss when over a million Tory members were asked to choose between the two.

For now Sunak’s appoint ment as prime minister has stabilised Britain’s revolving door politics. His new cabi net reflects Sunak’s attempt to unite Tory factions and now has the task of propping up the inflation-plagued economy and making life af fordable for Britons. Retain ing Jeremy Hunt as Chancel lor showed his belief in con tinuity and seriousness to wards the economy. For India the proof of pudding will lie in early signing of the Free Trade Agreement promised by Boris Johnson.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has come up with a new idea to give the coun try’s religious poli tics a new twist. While doing Diwali puja, he said, the idea dawned on him that images of Lord Ganesh and goddess Lak shmi, the deities who represent wealth and prosperity, should be there on India’s currency notes. The new currency notes being printed should carry these im ages for the sake of the coun try’s prosperity when even with out invocation of gods it is be lieved to be doing much better than developed economies.

Kejriwal’s is not so subtle an at tempt to give religious politics a new turn has been done with Gu jarat and Himachal Pradesh elec tions in mind and to beat the BJP at its own game. The ruling par ty’s politics has revolved around Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura. To make his proposal acceptable to Muslims he cited the example of Indonesia, a Islamic country, which has Lord Ganesh on its cur rency. It may still not work.

l Vol 4 l Issue No. 140

l RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B. Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk Road, Jaipur. Published at 304, 3rd Floor, City Mall, Bhagwan Das Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001, Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504.

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra

Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Those who cling to perceptions and views wander the world offending people.

Buddha

Jagat Prakash Nadda @JPNadda

Hearty congratulations to all of you on the festival of ‘Govardhan Puja’, a symbol of nature, cattle promotion and environmental protection. On this holy day, taking inspiration from Lord Shri Krishna, let us all take a pledge for the protection and promotion of mother cow. Krishna bless everyone. Jai Shri Krishna!

Bhupender Yadav @byadavbjp

Proud moment! Two more Indian beaches have made it to the list of Blue Beaches. Minicoy, Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach - both in Lakshadweep - are the proud entrants in the coveted list of Blue Beaches, an eco-label given to the cleanest beaches in the world.

ROBIN ROY

The writer is Senior Journalist and former Managing Editor, First India

Peace and tranquillity in border essential: Jaishankar to Chinese envoy

New Delhi: Peace and tranquillity in the bor der areas are essential for normal ties between India and China, Exter nal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed to outgoing Chinese Am bassador Sun Weidong on Wednesday.

Jaishankar made the remarks when the en voy called on him.

India and China are locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over 29 months. The bi lateral relationship came under severe strain following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in Eastern

Ladakh in June, 2020.

“Received Ambassa dor Sun Weidong of China for a farewell call. Emphasized that the development of In dia-China relations is guided by the 3 Mutu als. Peace and tranquil ity in the border areas is essential,” the exter nal affairs minister tweeted.

“The normalization of India-China rela tions is in the interest of both countries, of Asia and the world at large,” he said.

India has been as serting that the SinoIndia ties must be based on three mutu

als: mutual sensitivity, mutual respect and mutual interest.

In his farewell re marks at an event on Tuesday, Sun said it is natural for China and

AMIT SHAH IN

India to have some dif ferences but the focus should be to seek com mon ground for devel opment while resolv ing the pending issues through dialogue.

“I’M VERY IMPRESSED BY YOUR MINISTER...”

Last month, the In dian and Chinese mili taries carried out dis engagement from the Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hotsprings area last month.

In Shah’s presence, over 12,500 kg drugs destroyed in Gujarat & Delhi

Ahmedabad (Agen cies): Union Home Min ister Amit Shah ad dressed a meeting of the western region states on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’ in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. “I congratu late Gujarat Chief Min ister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat Police and Guja rat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi for doing commendable work in stopping this activity by running sev eral operations in coor dination with central agencies,” Shah said at the meeting.

While Patel was pre sent on the dais, Goa CM Pramod Sawant, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Maha rashtra deputy CM Dev endra Fadnavis among others joined through VC. Nearly 12,500 kg of seized drugs were de stroyed at two locations in Gujarat and Delhi as the meeting was in pro gress in Gandhinagar.

HM TO CHAIR 2-DAY ‘CHINTAN SHIVIR’

New Delhi: Develop ment of an ecosystem for cybercrime man agement, increase in usage of IT in criminal justice system, wom en’s safety, coastal security issues will be discussed at the twoday ‘Chintan Shivir’ of home ministers of states at Surajkund on October 27 and 28.

Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates a high level regional meeting on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’, in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. (Left) Drugs being destroyed in presence of Shah.

EASTERN ZONAL COUNCIL MEET

Kolkata: Chances of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Union Home Minister Amit Shah coming face to face on November 5 are high as the latter is scheduled to attend and chair the meeting of the Eastern Zonal Security Council at the Bengal secretariat of Nabanna.

Senior IAS officer on long leave

Lucknow: Senior IAS officer of UP cadre Monika S Garg, ACS Minority Welfare, Mus lim Waqf, has gone on a long leave. Many ACS rank officials have al ready retired in the state and those who are left have the charge of many departments.

In such a situation, the government has handed over the charge of ACS Minority Af

Mahesh Sharma

New Delhi: Even be fore the results of Con gress President’s elec tion were out, Shashi Tharoor and his team had started making al legations of election malpractices. Shortly after the counting of votes began on Wednes day, Tharoor’s election agent Salman Soz made allegations of election rigging. He said that he was in touch with the

head of the election au thority Madhusudan Mistry and informed him about many things. However, he said that he cannot go into detail about it. He made alle gations of electoral mal practices in Uttar Pradesh, which has the maximum number of representatives, approx imately eleven hundred. Tharoor’s team also de manded cancellation of elections in UP. Earlier, during the election cam

SHAH TO INAUGURATE, LAY STONE OF PROJECTS WORTH RS 6,629 CR IN H’YANA

Chandigarh (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of four projects worth Rs 6,629 crore from a programme in Haryana’s Faridabad, according to a statement. The event will be held on Thursday at Faridabad’s Parade Ground, Sector 12.He will lay the foundation stone of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor project costing

PM TO INAUGURATE VARIOUS PROJECTS

Visakhapatnam: PM Narendra Modi will visit Visakhapatnam on November 11 to inaugurate and lay foundations for vari ous developmental and infrastructure projects. Railway of ficials have received the communication that he will be in the port city.

Rs 5,618 crores besides the inauguration of a Rs 590 core rail coach refurbishment factory in Sonipat. The projects also include the country’s first longest elevated railway track built in Rohtak at Rs 315.40 crore.The home minister will also dedi cate and inaugurate the Haryana Police Residence Complex, Bhondsi, con structed at a cost of Rs 106 crore.

PM LIKELY TO VISIT AP ON OCT 30

Itanagar: Prime Min ister Narendra Modi is likely to visit AP on October 30 to inau gurate the Donyi Polo Airport near here, a senior official said. CM Pema Khandu had recently met the prime minister and request ed him to inaugurate the greenfield airport in Hollongi, he said.

He had virtually joined union ministers from India and several parlia mentarians.

ENOUGH ROOM IN WORLD FOR CHINA, INDIA; LET’S NOT INTERFERE IN OTHER’S AFFAIRS: OUTGOING ENVOY New Delhi (ANI): Out going Chinese envoy to India Sun Weidong in his farewell address has stressed the need to manage and resolve differences between India and China and uphold the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. Sun, who as sumed office in July 2019, is leaving at a time when the two sides continue to man age ties, following the Ladakh border clash

that has remained the dominant issue between the two sides. In his farewell remarks posted on the Chinese embassy website, Sun said it is only natural for important neighbours China and India to have some differences but the key is how to handle the differences. “We should be aware that the common interests of the two countries are greater than differ ences,” the envoy said.

Kharge chairs Congress CEC meeting for Guj assembly polls

New Delhi (ANI): Mallikarjun Kharge, who on Wednesday took over as Congress president, chaired a meeting of the par ty’s Central Election Committee (CEC) to finalise candidates for the Gujarat as sembly polls.

Former Congress president Sonia Gan dhi was also present at the meeting. Three meetings of Congress screening committee have already been held for Gujarat as sembly polls. The Congress is seeking to oust the BJP gov ernment in Gujarat and is also facing challenge from Aam Aadmi Party which is seeking to establish itself in the state. The BJP has been contin uously in power in Gujarat from 1998.

The assembly polls in Gujarat would be held before the end of the year. Kharge offi cially took charge as the party president at the AICC headquar ters in New Delhi.

Telangana (PTI): After a three-day break, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is set to resume its march from Tel angana on Thursday.

The Congress Minister of Parliament will be reaching Hyderabad later in the day and will leave for Makthal in Narayanpet district to resume the yatra after a night halt.

New Delhi (PTI): Hours after Sonia Gan dhi handed over charge as Congress chief to Mallikarjun Kharge, her daughter and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared an Instagram post with the mes sage: “So proud of you Ma, no matter what the world says or thinks, I know, you did it all for love.”

Yogi approves VRS application for ‘87 batch

Ahtesham Siddiqui

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minis ter Yogi Adityanath has given his approval to the VRS application of 1987-batch Indian AAdministrative Ser vices officer Renuka Kumar.

An officer of UP cad re, Renuka Kumar was on central deputation. Annoyed by the central government’s move to

SOMETHING FISHY

send her back from the deputation, Renuka in stead of returning to UP sent her VRS to the UP government in the office of the Resident Commissioner, New Delhi in August.

After getting NOC from the central gov ernment, Chief Minis ter Yogi has given his approval to the VRS ap plication.

Her husband Sunil Kumar is also an IAS

A face was needed to fight against candidate backed by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi

paign, Tharoor himself had alleged of favorit ism.

The allegations and complaints leveled by Shashi Tharoor and his team, who contested the

officer and currently he is on central deputa tion.Sources in the bu reaucracy said that if

the VRS of IAS Renuka Kumar would not have been approved and if she had returned to Ut tar Pradesh, many equations could have changed in the state bu reaucracy.

Renuka Kumar was to retire in June 2023. She has been a trusted officer of Yogi.

Earlier the UP gov ernment had approved the VRS of IAS officer Juthika Patankar.

PK hints that he is being aided by former clients

of Cong?

election against Mall ikarjun Kharge, have given legitimacy to this election. No one can call this election a mixed game, however, it was actually so. A face was needed to fight against a candidate backed by Sonia and Rahul, who had the image of an in dependent leader.

Shashi Tharoor was meeting this criterion because he was also a member of G23 and used to give statements

from time to time re garding the policies of the party. Now his com plaints will further prove that he was not a proxy candidate, but contested the election of his own free will, with full preparation.

The Congress party wanted to create this message so that no one can call the election of the President as a sham and in this agenda, Con gress has tasted success.

Patna (PTI): Political strategist-turned-activ ist Prashant Kishor on Thursday hinted that he was receiving finan cial assistance for his ‘Jan Suraaj campaign’ in Bihar from his for mer clients, many of whom were now chief ministers of their re spective states.

He made the candid disclosure at a press conference in Valmiki Nagar, a picturesque but remote forest re serve situated along the Indo-Nepal border, about 300 kms from the Bihar capital.

Kishor has been on a ‘padayatra’ since Octo ber 2 and intends to cover 3,500 km on foot, touching every nook and corner of his home state before his cam paign evolves into a full fledged political party.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets outgoing Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong for a farewell call , in New Delhi on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi (PTI): Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, on Wednesday lauded External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, saying he is impressed by how he positions India’s foreign policy on the world stage amid geopolitical tugs of war.Omar Sultan Al Olama, praised Jaishankar during a conference at a Delhi-based think tank.

IAS officer Renuka Kumar

Ahtesham Siddiqui

fairs to IAS Dr Hari om, an officer of the rank of Principal Secretary. Hari Om is a 1997 batch officer and cur

rently holds the re sponsibility of Princi pal Secretary Social Welfare and Director ST Development.

Monika S Garg IAS Dr Hari Om

BHARAT JODO YATRA SET TO RESUME IN T’GANA

“MA, NO MATTER WHAT WORLD SAYS...” PRIYANKA

Ashok Gehlot with Bhupesh Baghel, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Singh Hooda and Ajay Maken and party members attend the charge-taking ceremony of newly elected party president Mallikarjun Kharge, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Delhi sees cleanest day after-Diwali since 2015

New Delhi (Agencies): This year, the day after Diwali has seen the cleanest air in Delhi since 2015. This, despite the AQI remaining in the ‘very poor’ category on both Diwali and the day after, with pollution levels recording a surge when firecrackers were set off in violation of Delhi government’s ban.

The AQI (air quality index) on Diwali day was 312, while it was 303 on Tuesday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). AQI between 301 and 400 is considered to be ‘very poor’.

The AQI on Diwali day this year is the cleanest that the city has seen since 2019.

CPCB data available from 2015 onwards shows that the worst post-Diwali air quality was seen last year, when the day after Diwali recorded an AQI of 462, in the ‘severe’ category.

The AQI on Diwali day last year was 382. Since 2015, there have been four years when the day after Diwali saw ‘severe’ air quality.

Meteorological conditions played a role in the improved air quality this time. Gufran Beig, founder project

director, SAFAR, said that wind speed helped prevent the accumulation of pollutants and an early Diwali this year meant that the temperature is still relatively warm.

“Wind speed picked up around 2 am on Tuesday. In the early hours of the morning, pollutants would have normally accumulated, when the temperature is cooler and the boundary layer comes down and winds become slower. But the wind speed picked up, aiding dispersion. The highest AQI levels were recorded around midnight, after which it improved and settled at 323 in the morning,” Beig said.

“It appears that there may have been a reduction in firecracker emissions compared to last year,” Beig said.

It appears that there may have been a reduction in firecracker emissions compared to last year. The air quality did not deteriorate as much as it could have.

Delhi LG allows Chhath Puja at designated ghats

New Delhi (ANI): Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has given his nod to hold Chhath Puja at designated ghats on the Yamuna and directed the officials to ensure basic amenities along with adequate security.

"Having perused the note of the Minister (Revenue) on pre page as endorsed by Chief Minister, I approve the proposal for allowing "Chhath Ghats" at the "Designated River Yamuna Ghats" subject to the strict adherence to the directions/orders issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and by the National Mission for Clean Ganga in this context. It may also be ensured that the designated Ghats are properly cleaned, basic amenities are provided and security concerns are taken care of," the Governor said. The LG directed the officials of the Revenue Department, Environment Department and concerned authorities to ensure strict enforcement of the above orders to protect the environment.

Bijapur (ANI): The BJP on Wednesday took a jibe at AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi over his remark that he wishes to see a hijabwearing woman as the Prime Minister of India. Addressing the press Owaisi had also said the BJP wants to eradicate secularism and is against equal opportunity for all in the country. BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla said, "Owaisi ji hopes that a hijabwearing girl becomes PM of India! Well, Constitution bars nobody but do tell us when will a Hijab-wearing girl get to become the President of AIMIM."

28 dead in B’desh cyclone, millions without power

Dhaka (Agencies): Bangladesh rescue workers found the bodies of four missing crew of a dredger boat, taking the death toll from Cyclone Sitrang to 28 as millions remained without power, officials said on Wednesday (Oct 26).

Cyclones - the equivalent of hurricanes in the Atlantic or typhoons in the Pacificare a regular menace in the region but scientists say climate change is likely making them more intense and frequent. Cyclone Sitrang made landfall in southern Bangladesh on Monday but authorities managed to get about a million people to safety before the monster storm hit.

With winds of 80kmh, it still left a trail of devastation in the country's densely populated, low-lying coastal region, which is home to tens of millions of people. The government said nearly 10,000 tinroofed homes were either "destroyed or damaged" and crops on large swathes of farmland were wrecked at a

time of record-high food inflation.

Fire department divers found the bodies of four crew of a dredger boat that sank during the storm in the Bay of Bengal. "We found one body on Tuesday night and three more this morning. Four crew are still missing," Abdullah Pasha from the fire department.

VP pays obeisance at Golden Temple

Amritsar (ANI): VicePresident Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday offered prayers at the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple here. Dhankhar, who also partook in the 'langar' (community kitchen), was accorded a warm welcome by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami.

Dhami had earlier told the media that the apex gurdwara body

lease of 'Bandi Singhs' (Sikh prisoners). He had said this issue was the "most important for the community as Sikh prisoners had not been released even after they had completed their sentences".

would also give a memorandum to the vicepresident for the re-

Last month, the SGPC had sought time from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a meeting to discuss the issue of the release of Sikh prisoners.

UP hospital in platelets row to be demolished

Chennai (PTI): A probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the Coimbatore explosion case would be recommended to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu government said here on Wednesday. The state government also announced raising a special police force to foil sabotage and bolster its intelligence wing.

Patna (Agencies): In Bihar rail traffic on Gaya – Dhanbad section has been disrupted following the derailment of 53 wagons of a coalladen goods train.

The derailment took place at 6.24 this morning at Gurpa station between Koderma and Manpur railway stations of Dhanbad division. The rail traffic was disrupted on the Up and Down lines after the accident.

Prayagraj (PTI): The authorities here have ordered the demolition of a private hospital where a dengue patient died after being transfused with what the family claimed was sweet lime juice and not blood platelets.

Prayagraj District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri said that report of the sample collected from the hospital revealed that platelets and not sweet lime juice

Guwahati (PTI): Local authorities in western Goalpara district in Assam sealed a Miya Museum on October 25, two days after it was inaugurated by an organisation representing migrant Muslims.A team led by Lakhipur circle officer Rajib Gogoi evicted the items displayed at the museum at Dapkarbhita near Lakhipur town before sealing it. The reason cited was that it was a house built under the PM’s AYG scheme.

New Delhi (ANI): In a major development, the NIA has reportedly questioned Punjabi singer Afsana Khan, an associate of late Punjabi Singer Siddhu Singh Moosewala, in the gangster-terror nexus case on Wednesday. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has found a link of the Punjabi pop industry in the case, and questioned Khan.Recently, the NIA conducted a nationwide raid at the hideouts of several gangsters.

Kedarnath (ANI): The sanctum sanctorum of Kedarnath Dham has been decorated with gold. The walls and ceiling of the sanctum sanctorum have been given a new look with 550 gold layers. The gold layering has provided the sanctum sanctorum a more attractive look. Temple Committee President Ajendra Ajay said that the work of golden decoration of the sanctum sanctorum of Kedarnath temple was completed this morning.

Ramnagara (Karnataka) (Agencies): The 45-year-old Lingayat seer in Karnataka who died by suicide on Monday was “honeytrapped” and being blackmailed over “obscene video calls” with a woman, police today said.

"Two names in the

suicide note are connected to the mutt," investigators have said.

“The private moments of the woman (unidentified so far) and the seer were captured by the woman using her phone's screen-recording function,” the sources said.

was transfused to the patient. He, however, charged Global Hospital with laxity in the transfusion process,

saying the reports showed the platelets were stored in an improper way which might have led to clotting.

"POORLY PRESERVED" PLATELETS, NOT MOSAMBI JUICE: UP OFFICIAL ON DEATH Lucknow (Agencies): Days after the family of a dengue patient in UP alleged that he died because he was intravenously given 'mosambi' or sweet lime juice instead of blood platelets, triggering widespread outrage, a senior government official on Wednesday denied the claim. Sanjay Khatri, the District Magistrate of Prayagraj, on Wednesday said they had found that the patient had been given a packet of "poorly preserved" platelets. "We had formed a three-member team to probe the incident. Their report found that the patient had been given poorly preserved platelets. We are taking action based on this information," Khatri said.

Kerala Guv writes to CM, says fire FM

Thiruvananthapuram (Agencies): Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, demanding the dismissal of Finance Minister KN Balagopal over recent remarks at a university, which he said were “seditious”. In his letter to the CM the Governor alleged

that Mr Balagopal delivered a speech at a campus in Thiruvanan-

ELECTORAL BLOOD-BATH

thapuram last week, seeking to “stoke the fire of regionalism and provincialism and undermining the unity of India”. According to reports, minister KN Balagopal had said at the function that “those who come from places like UP, may find it tough to understand universities in Kerala.”

Thiruvananthapuram (Agencies): Protests are growing against actions of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on his actions on state-run universities. Recently, the Governor issued a showcause notice to VCs of nine universities, asking them to step down.

Will BJP ‘honor’ Mulayam in Mainpuri by-election?

Sharat K Verma

New Delhi: By-elections may be announced soon in the Mainpuri seat, which was vacated by the death of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. This election will be very interesting. One reason for this is the suspense over who will contest the election from the family of Netaji i.e. Mulayam Singh and secondly what will the

Bharatiya Janata Party and Samajwadi Party do? Will the BJP field a candidate for Netaji’s seat against any member of his family in the by-election? Right now, citing tradition in Maharashtra, the party has not fielded a candidate against the wife of late MLA Ramesh Latte. Can this happen in Mainpuri seat of Uttar Pradesh also? The question is being raised in view of the kind of affection shown

by top BJP leaders towards Mulayam Singh on his death and Prime

RAISED

which is his heritage.

Before that it has to be decided as to who will contest the election from Mulayam Singh’s family. So far Dharmendra Yadav is considered to be the strongest contender. He was earlier MP from Badaun from where he lost last time.

Minister Narendra Modi said that Mulayam Singh had blessed him,

Recently, Akhilesh Yadav resigned from Azamgarh seat, Dharmendra Yadav fought from there but he lost by close to 10 thousand

votes in this seat which was a stronghold of the party. So, now his name is being considered from Mainpuri. Tej Pratap Yadav, the grandson of Mulayam Singh, was once an MP from Mainpuri. He is also the son-in-law of Lalu Prasad. So, he also has a claim on this seat. The name of Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav is also discussed but it is less likely that she will fight.

TAMIL NADU TO HAND OVER COIMBATORE EXPLOSION CASE PROBE TO NIA

ASSAM SEALS 'MIYA' MUSEUM SET UP BY MIGRANT MUSLIMS

NIA QUESTIONS PUNJABI SINGER AFSANA KHAN

KEDARNATH DHAM'S SANCTUM SANCTORUM DECORATED WITH 550 GOLD LAYERS

CRUCIAL READ

Late former UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav —FILE PHOTO

The AQI on Diwali day this year is the cleanest that the city has seen since 2019

Raisina Hills is barely visible due to dense smog as air quality remains in the 'severe' category, in New Delhi. —FILE PHOTO

—Gufran Beig, SAFAR project director

Cyclone Sitrang crossed the Bangladesh coast on Monday taking the death toll to 28. —PHOTO BY PTI

“Hijab-wearing woman will become PM”

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar along with his wife Sudesh Dhankhar and SGPC officials pose for photographs as they pay obeisance at the Golden Temple, on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

‘A woman has hone this to me,’ behind seer’s death

53 wagons of coal train derail

The patient was being treated at Global Hospital in Jhalwa locality of Prayagraj.

OF

IN

Ajay Maken resigns as Raj in-charge as Kharge assumes office of Cong prez

Aditi Nagar

New Delhi: With Mallikarjun Kharge taking over as the Congress national president, general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Ajay

Make, all CWC members, general secretaries and in-charges have also resigned. Now Kharge will make fresh appointments on these posts.

CWC member from Rajasthan Raghuveer Meena, Punjab incharge Harish Chaudhary, Gujarat in-charge Raghu Sharma, general secretary in-charge Bhanwar Jitendra Sin-

gh have also submitted their resignations to the new Cong president.

Congress organisation general secretary KC Venugopal has informed about the resignation of all CWC members, general secretar-

Right now the names of Kumari Selja, Ambika Soni, Sanjay Nirupam and Deepender Singh Hooda are being discussed as the new Rajasthan in-charge. Shailja has already handled the responsibility at the time of elections. Ambika Soni has been in-charge before and is considered close to Gehlot. Sanjay Nirupam, who has been the State Returning Officer in the organization elections, is also considered neutral. Deepender Hooda is young and is considered close to Priyanka Gandhi.

50 Sewing Machines as Bhai Dooj gift by Birla

ies, and in-charges by tweeting. After the resignation of Maken from the post of Rajasthan in-charge, now discussions have started regarding the names of the new Rajasthan incharge.

Kharge’s innings started with mourning.

The blame (for Raj fiasco), which was to come on Gandhi family, has been put on Kharge’s head.

But the process of flattery & lineage of Congress will remain & Kharge will be a good remote.

—Satish Poonia, State BJP prez

Maken was appointed as the general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan in August 2020, replacing Avinash Pandey. Maken is believed to be getting a big responsibility at the national level.

Sonia and Rahul ji will remain leaders: Pilot

New Delhi: Reacting to Mallikarjun Kharge assuming the AICC president post, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot on Wednesday said that the Congress party has will power to conduct such a big election in a peaceful, unbiased, and transparent manner. Kharge has very wide experience, he is in politics for 50 years, and he always worked as a Congress worker despite being on top posts, he told the media.

“With him becoming the party president, there would be a new beginning. Sonia ji and Rahul ji will remain leaders of our party but we have to work with the new president to face forthcoming challenges of polls in Himachal and Gujarat,” he said.

Sachin Pilot @SachinPilot

As the new INC president takes over, I’d like to thank Sonia Gandhi ji for her leadership & her commitment towards the Congress party. Your determination, faith in the party’s ideology, dedication to the people has always provided new direction & motivation to the workers.

Pilot was speaking to the media as he reached his native village Vaidpura in Noida (Uttar Pradesh), adjacent to Delhi on Wednesday.

BJP attacks again on Congress MLAs’ resignation row

Aishwary Pradhan

Jaipur: As soon as newly elected Congress President Malikarjun Kharge became active, BJP has also intensified attack on the Congress in Rajasthan. Dy LoP Rajendra Rathore has termed the Ashok Gehlot government as unstable and in a state of confusion.

On the issue of resignations by Congress MLAs, Rathore said that the BJP has already given representation to the Speaker of Legislative Assembly. Along with this, he said, the precedent of the Supreme Court and the High Court has also been presented.

“It is expected that the Speaker of the Assembly will take a decision on this in time.

If the decision is not taken on time, then we

have options open, “ he said.

The BJP leader said that people are suffering in the Congress rule and in the eyes of the public, the rule of the government has ended. “Now the govt is running only constitutionally,” he added. “We will talk to constitution and law experts. If necessary, we will also go to the Governor,” Rathore said. “Everything is on ventilator, when a patient goes on the ventilator, no one knows when he will die, “ he added.

It is expected that the Speaker of the Assembly will take a decision on this in time. If the decision is not taken on time, then we have options open.

—Rajendra Rathore, Dy LoP

Jakson Green to invest `22k in State

Banswara (PTI): A man was beaten to death with a stick by his younger brother over a land dispute in Rajasthan’s Banswara district, police said Wednesday. The incident happened at Panasi Chhoti village on Tuesday night where the two brothers clashed.

Noida (ANI): Jakson Green has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rajasthan government to invest about Rs 22,400 crore to set up green hydrogen and green ammonia project in phases, which would create 32,000 jobs in the state.

The company said it would set up a 3,65,000 tonne per annum green

hydrogen and green ammonia plant along with an integrated hybrid re-

Bhanwar S Charan

Kota: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday presented sewing machines to 50 women, giving them a gift of self-reliance on the occasion of Bhai Dooj. He also called upon the society to come forward to make needy women self-reliant.

Addressing the program organized by Lions Club, Birla said that only by making collective efforts, the last person in the society can be empowered. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that if the country has to be made self-reliant, then every person has to be made

self-reliant,” he said. “The more we buy locally made products and services, the more self-reliance will increase,” he added.

Birla said that efforts should also be made to make available the clothes made by the women, who have been given sewing machines, in the market. Most of these women are those whose husbands died due to corona or other reasons. Now these women will take care of the family by sewing cloths. On the other hand, Birla reached among the people in Kota on Tuesday and wished them a happy Diwali.

Ten injured in clash over land dispute

First India Bureau

Ajmer: At least 10 people were injured in a clash between two groups over a land dispute in Ajmer district on Wednesday, police officials said.

The incident happened in Mohanpura village, Sub-inspector (Gandhinagar) Ram

Singh said. The warring groups attacked each other with sharpedged weapons over a land dispute between Ramchandra Jat and Rameshwar Jat, Singh said. The injured have been admitted to a government hospital in Kishangarh for treatment, he said, one of them is in critical condition, he said.

No case has been registered in this regard so far. The police are investigating the matter, the SI said. —with agency input

newable power complex in a phase-wise manner. The project is expected

to generate over 32,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities across various phases of the scale-up, planned between 2023 and 2028.

It said that the Government of Rajasthan would facilitate Jakson Green in obtaining necessary registrations, approvals, clearances, and provide incentives, among others.

Massive fire broke out in tyre factory godown at Jodhpur’s Sangariya

First India Bureau

Jodhpur: A fire broke out in a tyre godown factory located at Sangaria bypass of Basni police station on Wednesday evening and the fire soon took a formidable form. According to the information, the outbreak first occured in a nearby scrap godown. After this, the fire took a formidable form and also engulfed tyre factory.

After getting information about the outbreak, fire tenders from Basni

fire station and 5 other stations also reached the spot and initiated efforts to douse the fire.

Till reports last came in, the fire raged on as eight fire tenders were

Life is incomplete sans spirituality: Vice President

V-P Jagdeep Dhankhar termed spirituality as an essential part of the education that “makes a person a complete person”

New Delhi (ANI): Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday emphasised on the need for developing a spiritual mindset among individuals, families and society as a whole to root out impropriety, immoral conduct and negativity from the nation. “Life is incomplete without spirituality,” Dhankhar said.

The Vice President made these remarks while addressing the 85th anniversary of

On this occasion, Dhankhar termed spirituality as an essential part of our education that “makes a person a complete person,” and lauded Brahma Kumaris for promoting spirituality and Dharma (righteousness) across the world. Praising New Education Policy for laying emphasis on Indian civilizational values, he observed that “the right education and right knowledge can make us a powerful nation”.

Describing Brahma Kumaris as an epicentre of Indian cultural values, Dhankhar said that “the noble thoughts of world welfare & world happiness emanate from here.” He also praised Brahma Kumaris for planting over two million saplings and called it ‘an organisation of unparalleled dimensions that exemplifies the virtues of not only humanity but entire living beings’.

pressed into service which did multiple rouds to the nearest watering spot. Preliminary investigation suggests that fire crackers are responsible for the outbreak.

Dholpur (PTI): Two bike-borne men were killed while two others seriously injured in a road accident in the Bari police station area of Dholpur district on Wednesday. Pawan Parmar (32) and Bimal (28) died on the spot while two others were seriously injured in a collision between a speeding SUV and the bike near Galla Mandi, SHO Mahendra Singh said.

The bike collided with the SUV near Galla Mandi. The injured were taken to the Govt Hospital in Bari. He said that the SUV driver fled after the accident. A case has been registered.

Biometric database of criminals to be prepared

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The records of criminals will soon be digitalized in State. The Jaipur Police Commissionerate have initiated the task to digitize records of criminals and machines have been installed in north and west districts of the commissionerate to gather biometric records of criminals.

Officials informed that under the NAFIS scheme of the central govt, the fingerprint database of criminals will

be collected which will allow the police to quickly match the details of a suspect with a centralized database during an investigation.

“Fingerprints and palm of each criminal will be scanned and this process will be completed in five to ten minutes. The record of any miscreant can be traced in just one and a half minutes. In Rajasthan, digital scanner machines have been provided to selected DCP offices,” said DCP (North) Paris Deshmukh.

First India Bureau

Brahma Kumaris and Deepawali celebrations on the theme of Towards a Strong, Prosperous and

Golden India at Brahma Kumaris World Headquarters, Mount Abu in Rajasthan.

Cong leaders Harish Rawat, Meira Kumar, Deepender Hooda, Ajay Maken, Priyanka Gandhi, Tariq Anwar, Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Injured being taken to Hosp.

Shakuntala Rawat, Dr Krishna Poonia, Rajendra Yadav, Dr BD Kalla, Tikaram Jully and other Raj leaders were also present on Wednesday.

Raghuveer Meena, Harish Choudhary, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, and Dr Raghu Sharma have been included the AICC steering committee to take party decisions

NEW CONTENDERS FOR RAJ IN-CHARGE

Dholpur: Two bike ridden killed in road mishap

Man beaten to death by brother over land dispute in Banswara

BK IS KEEPING INDIAN CULTURE ALIVE: V-P

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla gifting Sewing Machine at Lions Club in Kota on Wednesday.

tenders reached on the spot to take down the fire.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar with Sudesh Dhankhar praying at the Dilwara temples.

The warring groups attacked each other with sharp-edged weapons: police

Editor-in-Chief of Bharat24 and First India, Dr Jagdeesh Chandra takes a look at the ascendence of Mallikarjun Kharge to the top post in Congress party and the problems associated with it. Dr Chandra also explains in detail how Gehlot’s Presidency would have eased much of Congress’ problems, how Rahul Gandhi will continue to stay the ‘definitive voice’ in Congress and why it will be extremely difficult for a 80-year-old Kharge to handle the Gandhis while also ensuring the party runs smoothly. Excerpts... (Part-1)

 With the tag of being a ‘Rubber Stamp President’, how effective do you think Mallikarjun Kharge would be as the new Congress President?

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra: It is not merely a tag, it is a reality. He is one hundred percent a rubber stamp president who will be remotely controlled either by 10, Janpath (Sonia Gandhi’s residence) or 12, Tughlak Lane (Rahul Gandhi’s residence) and there is nothing bad about it. Congress cant function, let along run, without the Gandhis and therefore, even Kharge has said that there is no shame in taking advice or holding consultations with the Gandhi family matriarch. He is the most dignified, decent and senior face of Congress and you can say that he is the most safe nominee of Gandhis’. Although Rahul Gandhi had said prior to election said that it would not be honourable to call Kharge and Tharoor as remote control presidents, but you know, in politics, sometimes denial amounts to confirmation. So yes, Kharge is a remote controlled president. And this is also a fact that without Gandhis Congress can not exist. But their working is such that Congress government is left in only two states. And the tragedy is that no one other than Gandhis can actually take the Congress forward and ensure its resurgence. Secondly, you asked how effective as a president Kharge would be. That is a separate question and I think even the Gandhis do not have any second thoughts about Kharge’s effectiveness.

If you want to assess or evaluate this new president in terms of performance or capacity to handle a position of this stature and in terms of his capacity to win elections against the likes of Modi and Shah, then you will be

deeply disappointed. I am sure, as far as performance is concerned, even Gandhis, would not be expecting much out of him. Its just a full time Congress president sitting at AICC which was the functional requirement of Gandhis. It was Rahul’s stubborn demand for an outsider to become Congress president as he did not want to take direct responsibility or let Priyanka take the mantle, so they brought an outsider. Secondly they wanted an individual who would appear to be non-controversial and balanced and from among the Congress’ clout, this individual appears balanced and without sides. So as far as performance is concerned, at this age of 80 years, don’t expect much out of him.

 An outsider has come to helm of Congress, but a huge section of the party considers that Congress will face major loss in Ashok Gehlot not taking over as party president. Also, how did this entire journey of new Congress president, right from Ashok Gehlot to Kharge, happened?

Congress has surely faced a major loss since Ashok Gehlot was unanimous face and is a face of north India.

Congress is basically a party of north-India. As far as loyalty and comfort level is concerned, between Gehlot and Kharge, even though Kharge has been with the Gandhis for fifty years, but there is no equal or parallel to Ashok Gehlot. Today Sonia Gandhi can not feel as comfortable or easy with Kharge as much she can with Gehlot. The, Kharge is merely a face or a leader, but he is not a resource manager, who plays an important role in politics. Gandhis have an understanding and a wavelength with Ashok Gehlot and they say it too that they

shared such a relation or bond with late Ahmed Patel or Ashok Gehlot. The situation changes and Gehlot could not become President. So definitely it has been Congress’ loss that Gehlot has not become President and the most loss has been incurred by Sonia Gandhi. Everybody here has been a loser in this and even Ashok Gehlot too. A north Indian leader could not ascend to the party’s presidency, having started from Jodhpur district President and reaching to these heights and if, as President, he would have walked along side Rahul Gandhi, that would have been a powerful spectacle. He has a stature and a persona and he always stands with Gandhis and he could even get decisions done by Gandhis. So everyone is a loser in this sense and in totality Congress party has lost much more. Secondly, you as ked about sequence of events which started from Gehlot and ended at Kharge. As far as I know, it has been an interesting sequence of events. Sonia Gandhi met Gehlot in August and told him that Rahul is not agreeing to come to helm. She asked him what can be done, which also meant as to what Gehlot should take responsibility of the par-

ty. So he agreed and after a month he said he is going to file nomination. But when the time for nomination came, the Rajasthan fiasco happened and fate had something else in mind. So he later met Sonia Gandhi and even during the Rajasthan crisis, Sonia was of the firm belief that Gehlot is more suitable as party president. When the crisis happened Sonia Gandhi asked him as to why he didn’t believe in her and why did he think that a single line proposal would come for Pilot, so he said he was sorry and said he was hurt. My guess is Gehlot too must have felt bad. At that moment, Sonia Gandhi again asked him to become party president, but, it has come to my knowledge, that Gehlot said it would not be prudent for him to become party president in such a situation. He came back to Jodhpur house and announced he wont be contesting. This was part one of the sequence wherein Ashok

Gehlot moved out of the race. Second part starts when the vacancy for presidency candidate occurred and on the opposite end was Shashi Tharoor. He could not be given the reins and someone had to be appointed, so suo-moto Digvijaya Singh became active and his team rushed to Delhi. Singh though that since Gehlot isn’t the one, then he (Digvijaya) is the best person. So people became active and by nightfall it turned out that he would file nomination the very next day. But it is politics and there are groups against Digvijaya Singh in Congress and as such it is said there are two groups in Congress, one is pre2000, that includes old and senior leaders, and another is post-2000, which include young guns and favours Rahul. This young brigade, it is said, prepared a dossier of all controversial statements of Digvijaya Singh and ended up, what in politics is called as Karseva. So that happened and prior to this he had called KC Venugopal and stressed on his candidature as to when there is a vacancy who cant he be a candidate. KC told him to speak to Sonia Gandhi but before he could meet and

speak with Sonia, this development happened. So next day Singh was to speak to Sonia and the night before, an emergency meeting occurred at Manmohan Singh’s home where Gehlot too was present and the leaders mulled on who after Gehlot could taken the mantle. Gehlot was again asked to become President, and it shows the indispensability of Ashok Gehlot and even after so much came to pass, the party was still looking at him. He again, with folded hands, said sorry. And that is when the name of Mallikarjun Kharge came forward as a proposal, where Gehlot too played a role. There was no other option and all leaders were in agreement on his name since he is a Dalit, has been in politics for past five decades, has never courted controversy and is honest among other qualities of his. When Shashi Tharoor went to meet Sonia, she said its you choice. So that is how the events unfolded and Kharge won the election.

 Rahul Gandhi said that Kharge is his new boss and will decide on his new role. Do you think it will be so?

See, on the face value this statement perhaps highlights what Rahul may have wanted. Rahul is different from Priyanka and Sonia, perhaps because he studied in a British institution, where a different mind-set and ideology is forged. Rahul is a decent person and he must not have though on these grounds. I think that although what he has said he would mean and not merely say it for political optics, but in reality,

it will boil down to face value. So what ever has to be done, will be done by Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and to some extent, Sonia Gandhi as well. So you can say that it is merely a formality, although it can be well intentioned formality, or a ritual, but this does not hold any meaning because everyone knows who will take the ultimate call.

 What is the message behind Sonia Gandhi leaving 10, Janpath and reaching 10, Rajaji Marg, the residence of Mallikarjun Kharge, specially when 10, Janpath, for all practical purposes, came to be known as the Congress headquarters?

Message is that it is Sonia Gandhi’s nobility and also, at times when a person gets free from the burden, then too they show such large hearted approach. Ask Ashok Gehlot, he has had so much to deal with like Pilot factor and pressures created by other leaders. There are other chief ministers too and only they know how to make things work, similarly, Collectors or SPs or any official for that matter knows how they get things done. And then a time comes when person lets everything go or keeps it aside and focuses on living peacefully. So perhaps Sonia may have had this thought in her mind too that she is out of it now and she must be happy that now a good individual will be handling the work, so it has sent a good message. It wasn’t a PR exercise rather a well intentioned move and everyone in the party liked it. But ultimately what ever happens, the ulti-

mate result of all this exercise is zero, since whether it is Kharge or anyone else, Congress is in no situation to counter the onslaught of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

 Although Mallikarjun Kharge has several challenges before him, but perhaps the biggest challenge for him is to strike synergy with Priyanka Gandhi. How do you assess that situation?

Handling three bosses will be a challenge for anyone and this is why Kamal Nath backtracked. But the biggest challenge is Rahul Gandhi because there is no accessibility. Moreover, he is currently on his Bharat Jodo Yatra so how many times can anyone contact him unabated. Some decisions are to be taken after personally meeting someone. And when a party functions, one has to speak to the president several times a day. Here by president I mean the real president which is Rahul Gandhi. Secondly, he does not take direct responsibility and when asked he asks the person to take their call, so how will it work. Thirdly he is like a reluctant bride and so Kharge would also mull on these things and think that how and why would he stress with Rahul Gandhi going beyond a point. As far as Priyanka is concerned, if they get a few decisions done by her, then she is also not sure that Rahul will be okay with them. So yes, there is a challenge before Kharge in handling the Gandhi family, but I am sure he will handle it.

BE CONTINUED...

During the show #JConMallikarjunkharge trended top All-India on Twitter

With a ‘rubber stamp’ tag, Kharge’s real challenge is to ensure accessibility to Rahul & making young Gandhis hear to his advices as well: Dr Chandra

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra with (R-L) Poornima Mishra, Mimansa Malik, Aditi Nagar, Tripti Arora and Sachin Arora during The New JC Show.

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra during The New JC Show.

DIVINE, DELIGHT & DIWALI

Celebrities were seen out and about in their traditional best as they celebrated the festival of lights. City First brings to you some glimpses of the lavish Diwali bash

ion game on point and their excitement levels skyrocketing. From the newlywed Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha to Sanya Malhotra, Karan Johar, Ananya Panday, and Nushrratt Bharuccha, the young and famous turned up at the gala affair.

Diwali is the festival of light, love and happiness. Diwali motivates us to be better people and to share our joy with the world. The new dresses, gifts, bright lights, flowers, foods, and the chanting of mantras sum up, excitement is in the air. But it’s not just the dresses and gifts which bring happiness to our surroundings, it’s the sense of belonging, the connection that we all feel with each other during these festivals. This festival is often the reason for bringing the family together, making friends and celebrating the very spirit of mankind and spreading happiness. To mark the auspicious occasion Bollywood stars threw momentous Diwali bashes to celebrate the festival of light. This year, the festivities kicked off with a scintillating bash thrown by Ayushmann Khurrana and his wife Tahira Kashyap. All the big names of Hindi showbiz turned up with their fash-

Celebrity fashion designer Manish Malhotra’s Diwali parties are an amalgamation of the fashion and movie world. From Sara Ali Khan, Suhana Khan, and Kartik Aaryan to Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, and Siddhant Chaturvedi, all the young and happening celebrities turned up in great numbers. His parties always have goodlooking people in their best attires and the pictures and videos from inside the fashion designer’s parties are always awaited with bated breath.

Kareena Kapoor Khan too hosted a party at her home in Mumbai on Sunday, although hers was a more intimate gathering, featuring members of her extended film family.

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

(L-R) Ananya Pandey, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Kiara Advani, Manish Malhotra and Sara Ali Khan

Saif Ali Khan and Kareen Kapoor Khan with their cute son Taimur

Anshula Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor

(L-R) Natasha Dhawan, Karuna Dhawan and Varun Dhawan

(L-R) Katrina Kaif, Manish Malhotra and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

(L-R) Anushka Sharma, Bhumi Pednekar, Janhvi Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan

t is tough to understand the feelings, emotions, and affection shared by siblings. Some particular days or occasions, on the other hand, are dedicated to strengthening the bond between a brother and a sister. Bhaiya Dooj is one such occasion that can characterise siblings' undying love (brother and sister). This delightful holiday is a vital time for sisters to pray to God for their loving brother's longevity, well-being and prosperity. The event takes place following the two-day Diwali holiday. The occasion occurs on the second day of the Shukla Paksha of the Kartika month. City First brings to you some delectable recipes for festive cuisine to commemorate the love-filled relationship between brothers and sisters.

FLAVOURS For Royalty

Gulab

TAWA SABZ PULAO

Tawa

RASMALAI

It’s one of the most delectable classic sweet meals that may be prepared at any moment. This delectable treat is created with paneer, milk, sugar, saffron, almonds, and pistachios.

CHAAT BOARD

A charcuterie board but with chaat! Interesting, isn’t it? Instead of just preparing pani puri, dahi bhalla, or papdi chaat, why not make an entire board of chaats? A chaat board can include samosas, pani puris, and papdi chaats drizzled with chutneys and curd.

SEWAYI PARFAIT

Try this

in a

KESARI SHRIKHAND

Kesar shrikhand, one of Gujarat's most delightful foods, is created with thick yoghurt, condensed milk, sugar, cardamom and saffron. Garnish the dish with dry fruits and serve cold. This Bhai Dooj, finish your celebration with this delectable, creamy dessert.

in

like a parfait instead of

sewaiyan! This sewayi parfait,

with

is one to save for

CHOCOLATE & GINGER PHIRNI

It is another type of phirni with a modern twist for individuals who wish to test out new meals. Cocoa powder, rice flour, milk, dried

powder, and whey protein are used to make this phirni. This phirni will appeal to your healthconscious brother because it contains both flavours and protein.

CELEBRATING KHATTA-MEETHA RISHTA

The best thing that ever happened to me was to meet him and since then he has always been there for me, taking care of me, and supporting me, defending me! I couldn't have asked for a better brother.

—SPARSH CHOUDHARY

To celebrate Bhai Dooj, we’ll go to our sister’s house. She’ll hopefully prepare some delectable cuisine for us all, just like she did last year. Oreo shake is much awaited. Of course, she will charge a lifafa in return, which is the only sad aspect of the day for me.

—JAYANSH SHARMA

Yesterday, my sisters and I celebrated Bhai Dooj at our nani's house. We had dinner together and then played a round of cards. I was moved to tears by my sister's hand-written letter, which she read out to me.

—YOGESH CHAUHAN

Hindus celebrate the unwavering love between a brother and a sister on Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dooj. In an effort to deepen their link, Bhai Dooj defines the enduring affection between siblings. Sisters pray to God for their beloved brother’s long life, good health, and prosperity on this auspicious day.

The sisters celebrate the event by applying a tilak or a vermilion mark to the forehead of their brothers, followed by an aarti of him, while carrying a decorated thali filled with treats, roli, and coconut. Then they fill their bellies with sweets, and in response, the brothers shower them with gifts and blessings. On the very final day of the five-day celebration of lights, Diwali, the festival is observed.

I and my cousins have planned a two-day Pushkar trip for bhai dooj this year. We’re leaving tomorrow morning and it’s a road trip! I am looking forward to one amazing Bhai Dooj celebration on the hills. A fun trip with my cousins is all that I needed this year.

After fighting for an entire day, we very peacefully completed the rituals of Bhai dooj, thanks to me. He gave me chocolates as a present and ate my Donut in return. Even though he troubles me a lot, I am always happy when he is around.

It’s also said that after defeating the demon Narakasura, Lord Krishna went to see his sister Subhadra, who welcomed him by donning a tilak. City First brings to you some highlights from the festival of love!

This year I celebrated Bhai Dooj by going out on a lunch with my cousins. Because of the Diwali holidays, everyone was in Jaipur and therefore nobody was missing in the celebration. We had a great time, took loads of photos, and shared some delicious meals.

—SAMIT GUPTA

Being the eldest among my cousins means that I harbour most of their unconditional love and attention while! Most people view it as a responsibility but they make me feel 12 again! Even that day when we asked Alexa to play ‘Rakhi Bandhan’ songs (yeah, the mistake was purposive :D ) and spoiled each other’s tilaks, we didn’t care about the worries that flood ourselves but basked in the moment that God solely wrote for us. I’m so blessed to have y’all in my life.

—DISHA AJMANI

City First brings to you glimpses of the festival that celebrates the love-hate relationship of brothers and sisters across the nation as they dive into this special day of joy and love.

KHUSHI TAMBI cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

—SALONI SHARMA

Honestly, Bhai dooj is no different than Raksha Bandhan for us brothers. They are just two days of us loosing our hard-earned money for a cupcake in return. Yes, I am not earning right now but you need to focus on the emotions. My sister’s going to kill me now, haha.

—PRIYANSHU

—SHIKSHA

Saloni Khandelwal and Avi Jain

Yogesh Chauhan with his mother Lad Kanwar Chauhan and sisters Jyotsana Chauhan & Pooja Chauhan

Rakshavya Sharma and Priyanshu

Shiksha and Jhankrit

Disha and Nishan Ajmani

Samit Gupta and Family during Bhai Dooj celebration

Agrima Sharma and Jayansh Sharma

Raghav Katta and Sparsh Choudhary

Deepawali means getting together with loved ones, dressing up to the nines, festive food and decorations and love & laughter, City First brings to you some glimpses of Diwali!

CITY FIRST

Diwali is India’s biggest and most important festi val of the year. It is an auspicious festival that symbolizes the tri umph of good over evil.

To mark the same, Ashok Rathore, Area Director - Jaipur & Ajmer and GM - Ram bagh Palace and the Rambagh family hosted a majestic Diwali cele bration and a lavish dinner at Rambagh Pal

ace, Jaipur on Sunday, the celebration took in spiration from the Jaipur Royal Family tradition. The celebra tion began with Laksh

mi Pooja, followed by a cultural performance. Guests enjoyed the festival of light with much fervour and enthusiasm.

Jagdeesh Chandra with Charu Khanuja, Lavanya Singh Khanuja and Swaran Singh Khanuja on Deepawali when the family came to convey festive greetings.

Jagdeesh Chandra with Isha and Mansi Agarwal on Deepawali when they came to his residence to greet him on the festive occasion.

Nisar & Roma Ahmed captured in a memorable moment on Deepawali at the residence of Jagdeesh Chandra when they came to greet him.

Jagdeesh Chandra enjoys the simple joyous festivities of Deepawali

Navya Singh Shekhawat greets Jagdeesh Chandra at his residence on the occasion of Deepawali.

Jagdeesh Chandra greeted by Jayati Mishra from First India Family on Deepawali, as she reached his residence to greet him on the festive occasion.

flowers to celebrate the festival of lights and happiness with love and joy.

Swati Chhabra and daughter Avika made a beautiful Rangoli to celebrate the festival of lights and happiness Diwali on Sunday.

Chomu-based Dev Shree family, under the leadership of Sandeep Gupta distributed sweets and crackers to the needy people and little children and celebrated the festival of light with much love and joy. On the occasion, Sandeep Gupta said that this Diwali, give them some happiness, where there is no light, ration is necessary. Suresh Saini, Hemdutt Narwara, Jitu Meena, Jagan Yadav, Manish Kumawat and other family members were also present.

(L-R) Anjali, Catherine, Ashok Rathore, Swati and Amisha during the Lakshmi Pooja

Tourists enjoying the festival of light at Rambagh

Local artists during their performance

Anjali, Catherine and Komal lighting divas

(R-L) Priya Agarwal, Varunavi Singh, Ragini Bhabhra, Shrishti Khatri and Shreya Chalana

(R-L) Devshree Hada, Navya Singh Shekhawat, Kalpana Gupta,Astha Khandelwal, Shweta Raje and Shalini Tiwari Gaurav Gaur and Ragini Bhabhra

Ragini Bhabhra

(L-R) Anjali, Catherine, Ashok Rathore, Swati and Amisha with guests during the Pooja

The wedding ceremony of Deepti Jodhawat, daughter of Meera and Shyam Jodhwat with Michael Cortez was organised on Monday, October 17 at Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. Deepti is the niece of Anil Sharma, Senior Journalist associated with Asia Times, Hong Kong. Various dignitaries and friends reached to bless the newlyweds.

(L-R) Nitisha, Deepti and Michael

(L-R) Deepti & Michael with Anil Sharma (L-R) Divanshi, Deepti and Anisha