First India-Mumbai Edition-28th October 2022

Crucial

READ

DELHI-BOUND AKASA AIR HIT BY BIRD, NOSE DAMAGED; ALL SAFE

New Delhi: A Delhi-bound Akasa Air plane was hit by a bird during the climb on Thursday. The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, suffered a radome damage due to the bird hit at 1,900 feet.

‘Aircraft landed safely and all passengers were deboarded, flight positioned for detailed inspection,’ Akasa Air said.

AZAM GETS 3-YR JAIL TERM IN HATE SPEECH CASE, GRANTED BAIL

Bareilly: SP leader Azam Khan was on Thursday convicted in a 2019 hate speech case and sent to 3 years in jail, and faces disqualification from UP Assembly. Court in Rampur granted bail to the MLA and imposed a fine of Rs 6,000, a government lawyer said.

RAHUL GANDHI-LED BHARAT JODO YATRA RESUMES IN T’GANA

New

After Article 370 abrogation, 34% decrease in terrorist activities: Shah

Narayanpet: After four days, the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed from Makthal in the Narayanpet district of Telangana on Thursday at 6.30 am. P6

SACRED PORTALS OF KEDARNATH AND YAMUNOTRI CLOSED

Dehradun: The sacred portals of the Kedarnath and Yamunotri located in high Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand were closed for winter on Thursday. 3,000 devotees along with temple committee president Ajendra Ajay were present during the occasion.

TWO BAGS CONTAINING EXPLOSIVES FOUND AT JAMMU RLY STATION

Jammu: Explosive materials were recovered in a suspicious bag that was found near a taxi stand in Jammu Railway Station in J&K on Thursday, according to a police official. SSP GRP Arif Rishu said that 18 detonators and some wires were recovered from the spot.

Faridabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday addressed the inaugural session of the 2-day Chintan Shivir in Surajkund, Haryana. While speaking at the Shivir, Shah said after the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K, there has been a 34% decrease in terrorist activities, a 64% decrease in death of secu rity forces and a 90% de crease in civilian deaths.

“We have to give im portance to the 3Cs - Co operation, Coordination and Collaboration, to be able to further our goals of cooperative federal ism and whole-of-govt approach... Resource op timisation and integra tion necessary,” he said.

Various suggestions have been received regarding improvement in CrPC & IPC. I’m looking into it in detail, invested hours in it. We will very soon come up with new CrPC, IPC drafts

AMIT SHAH HOME MINISTER

‘If festivities & tours are over…’

NCP’s Supriya jibes at Maha govt

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Reminding the state government that the heavy rains--which have continued even as the monsoon withdraws from Maharashtra--have caused heavy damage to crops, hitting the state’s farmers hard NCP MP Supriya Sule on Thurs day again asked the state government to de clare a “wet drought” in the state.

Notably, the opposi tion has been demand ing that the state gov ernment declare

drought before Diwali and provide relief to farmers since before Di wali, but the govern ment has not taken any action on the issue yet.

“It is my request to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Deven

dra Fadnavis to declare wet drought in the state,” the Baramati MP tweeted on Thursday, adding, “The state should positively con sider making direct fi nancial assistance to farmers along with an nouncing wet drought.”

Diwali was a “dark pe riod” for farmers as pro duce could not be har vested in time and rotted, she further said, adding, “Many leaders of Maha Vikas Aghadi are con tinuously demanding that a wet drought be de clared. Turn to P6

Sydney:

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Pakistan committed atrocities against people in PoK: Rajnath

Srinagar: Defence Min ister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said Pakistan is “committing atroci ties” against people in its occupied Kashmir and will have to bear its consequences.

Hinting at retrieving Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the minister said the goal of overall development in the twin Union Ter ritories of J&K and Ladakh will be achieved “after reaching Gilgit and Baltistan” parts of PoK. “Terrorism has no religion. The only aim of terrorists is to target India,” he said.

The discrimination against the people of Jammu and Kashmir was ended under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2019.

MAKE-IN-INDIA! Tata, Airbus to make military aircraft in Gujarat

PM Modi to lay the foundation stone of the plant on Oct 30

European aviation gi ant Airbus and India’s TATA group will joint ly manufacture at least 40 C-295 transport air craft in India with the production unit being set up in Gujarat’s Va dodara as part of a `21,935-crore deal. The foundation laying of same will take place on

October 30 and will be attended by Modi. “For the first time, the C-295 aircraft will be manu factured outside of Eu rope,” Defence Secre tary Ajay Kumar said on Thursday.

Uddhav camp targets Shinde in CM’s own bastion!

Posters proclaiming Uddhav as a warrior go up in Shinde’s constituency Thane, as workers

Kartikey Dev Singh

Mumbai: The Bharati ya Janata Party’s strat egy to “weed out” the Maha-Vikas Aghadi government from Ma harashtra through a coup in the Shiv Sena resulted in a change of

government in the state. While Shiv Sena was taken aback by the swift and surgical preci sion of BJP’s “strike”, it now seems that the Uddhav Thackeray fac tion of the Shiv Sena is walking on the lines set by his late father Bala saheb Thackeray and taking the fight to the opposition; in opposi tion’s bastion itself!

Eknath Shinde, who is akin to a villain for the Thackeray faction, has been challenged and negated, to some de gree, in his own home

turf. Considered to be the stronghold of Shin de, Thane, on Thursday witnessed a shattering response from Uddhav

rashtra’s Warrior).

A few days ago, al most all the former councillors of Thane Municipal Corporation from Thackeray’s group had joined the rival group as Shinde domi nates Thane. However, the tide seems to be turning, at least a little, in Uddhav’s favour with these banners becom ing a subject of discus sion among the masses.

sympathisers who put up banners praising Ud dhav praising the junior Thackeray as “Maha rashtra Yoddha” (Maha

to P6

The text on this ban ner reads, “Uddhav Thackeray, the true heir to Balasaheb’s challeng er-like thinking,

Uddhav Thackeray.

—FILE PHOTO

Moni Sharma

India’s Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav during the match.

First India Bureau

Amit Shah, Manohar Lal Khattar, Pinarayi Vijayan, Yogi Adityanath, Banwarilal Purohit, N Biren Singh, senior officers during the ‘Chintan Shivir’ of home ministers of all states in Faridabad on Thursday.

Rajnath Singh with Manoj Sinha being briefed during ‘Shaurya Diwas’, as Lt Gen ADS Aujla looks on, in Budgam on Thursday.

PM Narendra Modi to address ongoing Chintan Shivir of Home Ministers of States via VC today

Amit Shah with Ashwini Vaishnaw & Manohar Lal Khattar greets at ‘Jan Utthan Rally’, in Faridabad on Thursday. Shah lays fndn of projects worth `6,629 cr, said Hooda ran “3D” govt in Haryana. P5

First India Bureau

—Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister

MoS Danve junks defection rumours of Shinde faction

First India Bureau

Pune: In a bid to gain the state govern ment’s attention amid an agitation to secure higher prices for their produce, farmers in Solapur deflated the tyres of a vehicle transporting the har vest to a sugar factory.

A police official on Thursday said 11 tyres of a tractor-trolley were deflated by unidentified persons near Wakhari in Solapur on Wednes day night, but the trac tor owner has not lodged a complaint.

Various farmer out fits, under the aegis of Solapur District Sugar cane Rate Struggle Committee, have been demanding Rs3,100 per tonne of sugarcane as against the current rate of Rs2,100-2,300, a mem ber of one of the pro

testing organizations said on Thursday.

The pro-farmer bod ies had also appealed to transporters not to fer ry the sugarcane har vest from farms to sug ar mills.

“Recently, we had a conclave of around

Maha reports 164 cases, no death; active tally at 1,788

Mumbai: The COV ID-19 tally in Ma harashtra reached 81,30,866 after 164 cases were detected in the last 24 hours, while the death toll remained un changed at 1,48,382, said a state Health Department bulle tin on Thursday.

Mumbai circle ac counted for 106 of the new cases, followed by Pune circle (43), Nagpur circle (6), three each in Aurang abad and Latur cir cle, Nashik circle (2), and Akola circle (1).

The addition to the Mumbai circle tally was a drop from the 81 cases reported a day earlier, a Brihan mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official pointed out.

Only 10 of the new cases required hospi talisation, including two needing oxygen support, he said, add ing that the number of people on oxygen support in the city now stood at nine.

The recovery count increased by 147 and reached 11,33,254, leaving the metropo lis with an active case load of 650, he said.

As per the state Health Department’s data, the active case load in the state is 1,788 and the number of coronavirus tests conducted so far stands at 8,52,01,913.

20,000 sugarcane culti vators in Solapur dis trict. In the meeting, we demanded that the farmers get a rate of Rs3,100 per tonne. We sought that a farmer should get Rs2,500 as the first instalment and the remaining Rs 600 at the

time of the final bill,” Sachin Patil, a member of the pro-farmer Swab himani Shetkari Sang hatana, said.

However, the state government and local administration have not taken cognizance of the protest, he said.

Jalna: Union minister Raosaheb Danve has said that running pas senger trains does not benefit the Railways in terms of revenue, and added that the Central government runs these services

for the convenience of people.

The Minister of State for Railways also said that the national trans porter tries to make up for the losses incurred due to passenger trains from freight services.

He was speaking af ter flagging off a week ly special train from Jalna to Chhapra Junc tion (in Bihar) on Wednesday night.

“The Railways does not earn any profit by running daily (passen ger) trains. For every

Civic body rescinded permit given to group backed by ex-NCP councillor in favour of org endorsed by BJP leader

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bom bay High Court on Thursday quashed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corpora tion’s (BMC) order re voking permission granted earlier to an organization headed by a former council lor of the Nationalist

Congress Party (NCP) to conduct Chhath Puja at a suburban ground.

The HC also quashed another BMC order granting permission to another group to hold the puja at the venue af ter it submitted an ap plication seeking nod along with a letter from a former councillor of

the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A vacation bench comprising Justice NJ Jamadar and Justice Gauri Godse said there was “malice” on the part of the BMC in granting permission to one group and revoking the nod given earlier to the other group.

The Chhath Puja is to be held on October 30 and 31 on a ground in suburban Ghatkopar.

The court quashed the BMC’s order by which it had revoked

`

2L SUGARCANE CROPS GUTTED

Pune: Three acres of sugarcane crops in Indapur taluka were de stroyed in a fire caused by a short circuit on the pole supplying electricity to Rohitra on Thursday, officials said. Another seven acres of crops were salvaged when the fire was put out by villagers and farmers, he added. Farmers say the gutted crops were worth Rs1.5 -2 lakh and have asked the administration for prompt compensation.

“Meanwhile, mill owners have started in stigating tractor opera tors who transport the harvest to factories. This is hitting cultivators fur ther as the input cost is very high due to infla tion and rise in prices of fertilizers,” Patil said.

As a result, tyres of a tractor carrying sugar cane to the factory were deflated at Wakhari near Pandharpur town in Solapur late Wednes day evening, he said.

“The state govern ment should pay heed to the farmers' demand before the situation goes out of hand. The government and the lo cal administration should meet the protes tors and resolve the is sue,” he warned.

Pandharpur Gramin police station's inspec tor Dhananjay Jadhav said 11 tyres of the trac tor which had two sug arcane-laden trolleys were deflated by uni dentified persons near Wakhari on Wednesday night.

“So far, the tractor owner has not come for ward to file a com plaint," he said.

Says legislators from NCP and Congress on the verge of defecting

First India Bureau

Jalna: Union Min ister Raosaheb Danve on Thurs day brushed aside speculation that some legislators belonging to the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharash tra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde may form a group with the intention of merging with the Bharatiya Ja nata Party.

The senior BJP leader said there was no need for such a move as the Shinde group and his party were in alliance and running the state gov ernment smoothly and efficiently.

Queried on the is sue further, Danve went on to claim MLAs of the Nation alist Congress Party and the Congress were on the verge of defecting, though he did not elaborate.

“The opposition is spreading rumours about some MLAs of Shinde group want ing to defect. Actual ly, legislators from these opposition par ties are seeking to defect,” Danve claimed.

Meanwhile, the Shinde group on Thursday took over a Shiv Sena “shakha” (area office) in Thane’s Dombivli,

The opposition is spreading ru mours about some MLAs of Shinde group wanting to de fect. Actually, legislators from these opposition parties are seek ing to defect.

which has been at the centre of a dis pute between the two factions, by paying the pending dues to the land owner.

Workers from both groups used to routinely assemble at the office to lay claim to it, often re sulting in fights and tension in the area, officials said.

A Shinde faction functionary said the possession of the “shakha” was taken after pending pay ments were made to the land owner and relevant documents have been submitted to the local police station to formalize the issue.

rupee spent, it suffers a loss of 55 paise. There is no profit in running passenger trains...there

DICE

is a loss. But the Modi government does not work for profit. (Prime Minister Narendra)

Modi ji says we have to operate these services for the convenience of people,” he said.

“And we try to make up for the losses (suf fered due to passenger trains) by operating freight services and through other sources of revenue,” said the minister.

Danve said the train connectivity between Jalna and Chhapra via Khandwa, Prayagraj and Varanasi was a long-cherished dream of the people of the

Marathwada region.

The inaugural service of the (weekly special Jalna-Chhapra) train has 96% passenger occu pancy, which is very en couraging. The train is being run as a weekly service, but depending on response and needs of the passengers, its fre quency will be increased in the future, he said.

One more special train, which will run between Jalna and Tirupati, will be flagged off on October 29, added Danve.

HC quashes BMC order revoking nod for Chhath Puja festivities

Chhath festival at Acha rya Atre Maidan in Ghatkopar.

The corporation can celled permission granted to the mandal and gave nod to Atal Samajik Sanskruti Seva Pratisthan whose name was recommend ed by former council lor Bhalchandra Shirsat of the BJP.

Jadhav approached the HC through her mandal against the BMC order.

and directed the local po lice station to take a deci sion on grant of No Ob jection Certificate (NOC) to the petitioner mandal.

permission granted to NCP’s former council lor Rakhee Jadhav’s or

ganization Shri Durga Parmeshwari Seva Mandal to hold the

It also questioned the timing of the revoca tion of nod. “You (BMC) should have cancelled immediately. They vio lated for Ganpati, but you let them hold Navratri as well. Why did you let them hold Navratri? Now you can celled before Chhath Puja?” asked the bench.

The high court set aside both these orders

According to the peti tion, the mandal had

sought permission in August this year for holding three functions Ganpati visarjan, Navratri and Chhath Puja. It was granted per mission to hold all three functions in August. While revoking the permission later, the BMC had claimed the mandal had not submit ted the requisite NOCs from police, fire and traffic departments. It said the other group had all the NOCs and hence permission was granted to it.

An outer view of Mumbadevi temple as Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the transformation of Pandharpur and Mumbadevi pilgrimage sites on the lines of Ayodhya and Ujjain, in Mumbai on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Court accused BMC of ‘malice’ in allowing another group to hold puja by cancelling permission to one organization. —FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau

Raosaheb Danve

—Raosaheb Danve, Union Minister

First India Bureau

Union Minister of State Railways Raosaheb Danve —FILE PHOTO

COPS RESCUE KIDNAPPED INFANT WITHIN 12 HOURS

Baby girl reunited with parents; accused couple allegedly wanted to sell her, police say

Mumbai (PTI): Police here have rescued a two-month-old girl, who was allegedly kid napped two days back from south Mumbai, and arrested a couple in this connection within 12 hours of the offence, a senior offi cial said on Thursday.

The accused allegedly wanted to sell the child, he said, adding that po lice suspect the couple might have been in volved in more cases of child kidnapping.

A 30-year-old woman living on a footpath in LT Marg area of south Mumbai approached po lice late Tuesday night saying her 71-day-old daughter was missing.

After that, the Azad Maidan police registered a case under Indian Pe nal Code (IPC) section 363 (kidnapping) and formed eight teams to find the baby, Mumbai Police Commissioner

Vivek Phansalkar told reporters.

The police then launched an operation to trace the accused. Be sides the personnel from the police stations in the south region, the Rail way Police were also roped in, he said.

Police got the lead af ter they examined the CCTV footage from

CRUCIAL READ

Mumbai: A local consum er court has ordered Uber India to pay Rs20,000 fine to a woman who missed her flight due to the delay caused by the cab service. While half of this amount is for causing the pas senger mental stress, the other half is for her legal bills. The woman, advocate Kavita Sharma from Dom bivli, has been fighting the case since 2018. Uber claimed that it is just an aggregator and a facilitator for connecting consum ers with drivers, the court found that the firm handled the app’s management and all transactions and services being used there. It then ordered Uber India to pay Sharma.

Navi Mumbai: Rainfall in several regions of the state during the second week of October affected the supply of green leafy vegetables due to which the cost of a bunch of coriander, spinach, and fenugreek leaves in retail increased up to Rs40. Even other green veggies like capsicum and peas have doubled in cost. As per the administrative office of the Agriculture Produce Mar ket Committee (APMC), the arrival of vegetables decreased by around 30 to 40% due to extended monsoon rainfall. In the last week, the supply has come down to 450 to 500 vehicles, most of which are small pick-up vans.

SECURITY GUARD ARRESTED FOR FIRING INTO THE AIR ON DIWALI

Thane: Police have arrested a 66-year-old security guard of a bank in Thane district for allegedly firing in the air on the occasion of Diwali, said an official on Thursday. The accused, who is a resident of Diva township, alleg edly fired a couple of shots from his gun at around 8 pm on Monday. Some people posted about it on social media following which police conducted an inquiry and arrested the security guard on Wednesday. A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act.

9 HELD FOR ATTACKING 2 MEN AT THANE TEMPLE

south Mumbai and also the area near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Ma haraj Terminus (CSMT).

The footage showed the accused walking to wards the CSMT carry ing the baby. At the CSMT, the accused boarded a local train and disembarked at the Wadala railway station, where he hired a taxi

and proceeded further, another official said.

Based on specific in formation, a police team apprehended the ac cused on Wednesday evening and rescued the child, he said, adding that his 39-year-old wife was also taken into cus tody after her involve ment came to light.

“We suspect that the

Despite it being Di wali time, everyone chipped in and launched a massive search. Police in formers also provid ed inputs and the man was traced af ter 12 hours of ef forts. The child was rescued from him.

accused was not operat ing alone and as per our prima facie investiga tion, he had abducted the child to sell her,” Phansalkar said.“We are investigating whether the accused were in volved in any other sim ilar instances,” he said.

After being rescued, the child was handed over to her mother.

2 passengers from Dubai held with `1.39 cr gold at airport

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Cus toms Department has confiscated 2.65kg of 24 carat gold worth Rs1.39 crore from two Indian women pas sengers, who arrived at the Mumbai Inter national Airport from Dubai, an offi cial said on Thursday.

The passengers were arrested on Wednesday following the recovery of the yellow metal from them, he said.

The seized gold was in the form of wax that was concealed with an adhesive bandage-like material, the official said.

“On the basis of pro filing and surveillance, officers of the Mumbai Airport Customs inter cepted two Indian women passengers fol lowing their arrival from Dubai. During their personal search,

The seized gold was in the form of wax that was concealed with an adhesive bandage-like material

it was found that some thing was wrapped be low their knees with bandage-like materi al,” he said.

On a closer examina

tion, it was found that both the women had wrapped 24 carat gold in wax form around their leg that was concealed with an adhesive band age-like material under neath their jeans, the official said, adding that the recovered 24 carat gold weighed 2.65kg and is valued at Rs1.39 crore.

After the interroga tion, both the passen gers were arrested and remanded in judicial custody, he said adding further investigation in the matter is ongoing.

Man questioned over ramming car into wife

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Hindi film ‘Dehati Disco’ pro ducer Kamal Kishor Mishra was brought in for questioning at a police station here in the city, after his wife accused him of ramming into her with his car, causing severe injuries.

Mishra ran into his wife after she found him with another woman in his car on October 19 in the parking lot of the couple’s apartment complex in Andheri (West), a police offi cial said.

“We brought Mishra in for ques tioning today after noon, and we are in vestigating the case,” he said, clarifying that the film producer was not under arrest.

Mishra was taken to the Amboli police station from his home, after his wife

Teen ends life, woman tries to kill herself

First India Bureau

Thane: A 16-year-old girl allegedly commit ted suicide by hanging herself in her home in Thane’s Dombivli , a police official said on Thursday.

The incident took place in Tukaram Na gar on Wednesday night, after which an accidental death case was registered and an inquiry launched to find the cause for the extreme step, the offi cial said.

In another incident in Titwala in the dis trict, a 21-year-old wom an consumed poison on Sunday night after she was allegedly molested and is receiving treat ment at a local hospital.

A Titwala police sta tion official said a case has been registered against a man and fur ther probe into the inci dent was underway.

POLITICS OF MONEY

The alleged incident occurred on Oct 19 in the couple’s apartment complex’s parking lot

lodged a complaint against him, said the official.

According to the complaint, on the day of the incident, the victim went looking for her husband and found him with an other woman in his car in the parking

area. When she went to confront him, Mishra tried to es cape from the spot in his car and in the pro cess hit his wife and sped away, causing injuries to her legs, hand and head, said the complaint.

Based on the com plaint, a first informa tion report was regis tered at the Amboli police station against Mishra for rash driv ing and causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others.

Court grants prearrest bail to assault case accused

First India Bureau

Thane: A Thane court has granted pre-arrest bail to a man accused in a case of assaulting a person over an en mity in May this year.

In an order passed on October 20, Additional Sessions Judge PM Gupta, also directed that in the event of his arrest, the accused be released on furnishing a bond of Rs25,000 with one or two sureties of the like amount.

The applicant, Arbaz Makbul Khan, and oth ers were booked under relevant sections by the city police for allegedly assaulting a person on May 06, 2022 over a pre vious enmity.

Khan had ap proached the court for pre-arrest bail.

The judge in his or der noted that during

the investigation into the case, the inform ant/injured person’s supplementary state ment was recorded, but he had not named the applicant/accused in the statement.

The injured person had also not stated the role played by the ac cused in commission of the crime, said the court.

The applicant is resid ing in Thane city. There is remote possibility that he may abscond and will not be available for trial. Similarly, there is no likelihood that the applicant may tamper with the prosecution evidence, it said.

BJP leader demands PM Modi’s face on ` notes

TECH ISSUES DELAY MUMBAI LOCAL TRAINS

Thane: Two men were injured after nine people allegedly stabbed them with a knife, hurled beer bottles at them, threw stones on their houses and damaged their vehicle attacked them on the suspicion that the duo had complained against them for dam aging a CCTV camera at a temple in Thane’s Ambernath town. A case has been registered but no arrests had been made. The two victims suffered injuries and were hospitalized.

Thane: Local train services in Mumbai and its suburbs were delayed on Thursday morning due to a technical issue, which was later rectified said the Central Railway (CR). There was a tech nical problem in the S-3 Chhatrapati Shivaji Ma haraj Terminus (CSMT)Karjat local between Ambernath and Badlapur (in Thane district) on the down line, the CR said in a tweet. The local train services on the Amber nath-Karjat section were delayed, it said.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: In the wake of Delhi Chief Minis ter Arvind Kejriwal’s demand that Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh appear on In dian currency, BJP legislator Ram Kadam has added Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, VD Savarkar and Prime Minister Naren dra Modi to the “bank note pantheon”.

Tweeting an image of

Rs500 notes with these leaders photoshopped onto them, Kadam said: “Akhand Bharat, Naya Bharat, Mahan Bharat, Jai Shriram, Jai Mata Di.” He also lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party founder Kejriwal saying that the country would have accepted his de mands if they were “gen uine”. “But they remem ber our gods and god desses only during elec tions. Nobody can deny

the fact that the images of Shivaji Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Swatantryaveer Sa varkar will inspire eve ryone,’’ Kadam said, add ing “Modi ji is on a mis sion to make India a vishwa-guru...a curren cy note with his photo would be honouring him and his commitment.”

Joining the bandwag on, another BJP legisla tor Nitesh Rane tweeted a photoshopped image

HISTORY REPEATING?

Back in 2014, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan was asked why we couldn’t have Homi J Bhabha or Ra bindranath Tagore instead of Gandhi on rupee notes. “There are many great Indians that we could get on the notes. But I sense that almost anybody else would be controversial,” Rajan had reportedly said at the time. Similarly, in 2014, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told the Lok Sabha that an RBI panel had rejected suggestions for replacing Gandhi with any other leader as “No other personality could better represent the ethos of India than Mahatma Gandhi”.

of a Rs200 note bearing an picture of Chhatra pati Shivaji Maharaj instead of Mahatma Gandhi.

Similarly, Republican Party of India (Kharat) President Sachin Kharat demanded that Gautam Buddha’s pho to should be put on the currency notes.

Predictably, these de mands have drawn flak from the opposition, with Shiv Sena Uddhav

Balasaheb Thackeray’s deputy leader Sushma Andhare alleged that the ongoing debate triggered after Kejriwal’s demand was a trap by the BJP and Prime Minister Nar endra Modi.

“Instead of falling into this trap, Modi and Kejriwal should be asked to answer how the con tinuous slide in rupee can be stopped and how rupee can be improved against dollar,” she said.

As Mahatma Gandhi is the father of our na tion, his photo ap pears on the currency notes. It is really sur prising that Chief Minister Arvind Ke jriwal, who has worked as an assistant commissioner in the Income Tax depart ment, wants to have the photos of Ganapati and Lakshmi on the currency notes. Does Kejriwal want to push PM Modi’s Hindutva agenda forward?

Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar with the parents of the baby girl who was rescued, on Thursday. —PHOTO BY PTI

—Vivek Phansalkar, Mumbai Police Commissioner

The car which film-maker Kamal Kishore Mishra allegedly rammed into his wife. —PHOTO BY PTI

‘PAY `20K FOR CAUSING WOMAN TO MISS FLIGHT’

PRICE OF LEAFY VEGGIES SHOOT UP TO `40 PER BUNCH

—Sushma Andhare, deputy leader, Uddhav faction, Shiv Sena

Ram Kadam, Nitesh Rane also propose Shivaji, Ambedkar, Savarkar appear on currency

ROLE AND CONCERNS OF INDIA IN SOUTH ASIA

COL RAJESH BHUKAR

Geographically, the Indian Subcontinent consists of the peninsular part of pre sent-day India, south of the Himalayas, on the Indian tectonic plate. From a po litical perspective, the In dian subcontinent consists of eight countries: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Af ghanistan and the Mal dives. The people of the Indian Subcontinent have shared ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and historical ties. Even today these na tions bear some marks of their origins. Both the terms - ‘South Asia’ and ‘Indian subcontinent’ are used in an interchangeable manner. The peace in the region is marred by unre solved territorial disputes like Kashmir, separatist and insurgent movements linked to global outfits, a broad range of ethnic, reli gious conflicts, the prolif eration of nuclear technol ogy, climate change and the ensuing water issues. In dia is generally viewed as an ‘Interfering Big Broth er’ by her neighbour.

ate the process of econom ic and social development in its member states through increased intraregional cooperation but so far has characterized by weak institutionalism and is often constrained in their effectiveness.

India’s Relations With Its Neighbours

The relationship with Paki stan has been characterised by a virtually unbroken re cord of sustained hostility.

India needs to counter Chinese influence by better management of Sanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Quad comprising four countries including US committed to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, UN through Security Council present membership, the ASEAN member states and Pacific partners

As the largest country, India needs to promote re gional peace and stability in order to have a strong claim to be a major world player. India’s ability to in tervene in countries is lim ited by resentment at In dia’s paternalism towards its smaller neighbours. An assertive surge in Chinese economic and diplomatic involvement in the region has elevated long-linger ing tensions with India and poses a challenge as the regional economic and diplomatic heavyweight.

The South Asian Associa tion for Regional Coopera tion (SAARC) is an eco nomic and political region al organisation of coun tries in South Asia set up in 1985. It aims to acceler

The continued Pak support to terrorism and its stand on Kashmir remains a major irritant between India and Pakistan. Despite change of government, the anti India stand still flourishes in Pak.

Indo-Bangladesh rela tions had become strained over the Farakka issue, the Tin Bigha controversy and illegal Bangladeshi mi grants and their alleged involvement in communal riots in India. The agree ment on sharing of Ganga waters and the pro Indian stance of Sheikh Hasina regime has definitely made some positive impact.

Despite increasing Chi nese influence the Indo Nepalese relationship are likely to see a qualitative improvement owing closer economic ties and better political understanding.

An assertive surge in Chinese economic and diplomatic involvement in the region has elevated long-lingering tensions with India and poses a challenge as the regional economic and diplomatic heavyweight. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and political regional organisation of countries in South Asia set up in 1985. It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in its member states through increased intra-regional cooperation but so far has characterized by weak institutionalism and is often con strained in their effectiveness.

The renewed Mahakali Treaty and grant of over land transit route for its trade with Bangladesh by India underlines the posi tive shift, but border dis pute of Kalapani still re mains a major issue.

The renewal of $400-mil lion currency swap facility and helping hand extended to Sri Lanka facing severe economic crisis has become a positive milestone in Indo Sri Lankan relations. The main irritant in Indo-Sri Lankan relationship that still remains is issue of kill ings of Indian fishermen

by Sri Lankan forces.

The volatile situation in Afghanistan is of major concern to India. The fun damentalist regime in Af ghanistan is an insidious threat to Indian secularism and a potentially destabilis ing factor in the region.

Defence matters of Bhu tan have remained Indian responsibility but owing to Indian weak stance dur ing Doklam skirmishes with China, the Bhutan King has established a fairly good relationship with China. India is trying to regain the lost ground.

Who is Rishi Sunak, the new UK prime minister?

hen Rishi Su nak was elected by Conserva tive MPs as their new lead er and hence prime minis ter of the United Kingdom, the British nation breathed a sigh of relief: thank God it wasn’t Boris Johnson. Had Johnson been re-elect ed leader it would have had serious consequences, not just for the Conserva tives, but in the real world too. Only the most obtuse political observer could have failed to see that the optics of cutting short your Caribbean holiday to try to resolve a cost of liv ing crisis was not good politics. It sounds hard to believe, but this was not obvious to everyone.

Johnson garnered pub lic support from some of the Brexiteer old guard like Jacob Rees-Mogg and

in the pro-Boris media. But in characteristic fash ion, Johnson exaggerated his chances. This latest act of self-promotion back fired and he withdrew from the leadership race on Sunday (regretably having missed half his holiday). Nevertheless, the fact that many Conserva

tives seriously thought a chaotic government could be brought under control by someone known for chaotic management, shows how deep the ideo logical divisions within the party have become.

With the third contend er, Penny Mordaunt, fall ing just shy of the 100 MPs’

Johnson garnered public support from some of the Brexiteer old guard like Jacob Rees-Mogg and in the pro-Boris media. But in characteristic fashion, Johnson exaggerated his chances. This latest act of self-promotion backfired and he withdrew from the leadership race on Sunday (regretably having missed half his holiday).

votes needed to send the leadership contest to a vote of the grassroots party members – a fate to be avoided at all costs after they forfeited the confi dence of MPs by installing Truss – Rishi Sunak will become the next prime minister of the UK.

Now such divisions

seem to be affecting the right of politics too. As we saw in the 2022 federal election in Australia, the right’s traditional sup port base is split between affluent moderates con cerned about climate change, and older social conservatives concerned about immigration. This appears to be happening in the UK too.

This internal division can be exploited by the op position as we saw with the fracking vote. On paper, Sunak should feel secure with a 71-seat majority in a 650-seat parliament. But the Conservatives have lost confidence. The party is behaving like one that has only the slimmest of majorities and is on its way out. Sunak’s premier ship may well be a case of the band playing on.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION

As the largest country, India needs to promote regional peace and stability in order to have a strong claim to be a major world player.

India’s ability to intervene in countries is limited by resentment at India’s paternalism towards its smaller neighbours

Despite Chinese over tures, the Maldives has remained fairly under In dian influence. During re cent elections a political party sought votes with the slogan “Keep India” out definitely needs to be watched out.

Indian Options Create effective and endur ing incentives for our neigh bours to remain sensitive to India’s security interests and emerging as a security provider for the region.

Lesser Intervention, due respect of the sovereignty

and use more powerful In dian economy to become an engine of growth of neighbours.

No physical presence of a hostile foreign power in a manner that would ad versely impact its security especially in a case of open borders.

It is in India’s interest to promote regional econom ic integration, and need to step up role of SAARC in regional co-operation, dia logue and regional eco nomic integration.

Enhance effectiveness of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Techni cal and Economic Cooper ation (BIMSTEC) compris ing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

India’s needs to further its positive role in the new ly formed The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) which is a dynamic intergovernmental organisation aimed at strengthening re gional cooperation and sus tainable development with in the Indian Ocean region.

To bring into use its proximity with the other countries, India requires efficient cross-border con nectivity both in terms of infrastructure and proce dures to allow the smooth and seamless transit of goods and peoples.

The economic and tech nological power of India is a vast and expanding mar ket. Even if this market were opened up fully to whatever our neighbours can produce and sell, this would constitute only a small fraction of India’s market but would mean a great deal for them. Given its much more de veloped land and maritime transport system, India should develop its role as the partner of choice for trade and transportation. This will also create strong inter-dependencies with our neighbours, thus cre ating more sensitivity among them to our secu rity concerns.

India needs to counter Chinese influence by better management of Sanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Quad comprising four countries including US committed to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, UN through Security Coun cil present membership, the ASEAN member states and Pacific partners.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Wishing you all a very happy Bhai Dooj - a symbol of immense affection and unwavering faith of brother and sister.

Anurag Thakur @ianuragthakur

Saddened by the demise of veteran actor Sh Nipon Goswami. He made immense contributions to the Assamese film industry and began his career as a child actor who captivated audiences through his diverse roles during his career. I express my condolences to his family and friends.

SPIRITUAL

If I speak in human or angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. Bible

Anita Hada Sangwan

The author has been Head Security Rajasthan Operations of Cairn Energy and DGM HR in Jindal Saw Ltd

ABOUT THE SAARC

Narendra Modi @narendramodi

Hooda used to run 3D govt”

Faridabad (ANI):

Launching a scathing attack on Congress leader Bhupinder Sin gh Hooda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the for mer Haryana CM used to run a “3D” govt with the nexus of “darbaris, damad and dealers”.

Addressing the BJP’s Jan Utthan rally, Shah said, “I congratulate Manohar Lal Khattar for completing 8 glori ous years of govern ance. When he became the CM, I was the BJP chief. When he came to meet me after the polls, I asked him who should be the chief minister. He told me 15 names ex cept his own. Such a man is governing and developing Haryana for the last 8 years. In 8 years, Manohar Lal ji has done the work of changing Haryana.”

Shah remembered late BJP leader and for mer Haryana deputy CM Mangal Sein on his birth anniversary.

Attacking previous Haryana governments, Shah said, “Recall the Haryana that existed 8 years ago. When one govt used to come, there used to be corruption and when the other gov ernment came, hooli ganism increased. Khattar-led BJP govt neither allowed corrup tion nor hooliganism.”

IN THE COURTYARD

SWAMY MOVES HC OVER CENTRE’S FAILURE TO PROVIDE SECURITY AT HIS PVT RESIDENCE

New Delhi: Former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy moved a plea before the Delhi High Court claiming that the Central Govt had failed to provide adequate security at his private residence as assured before the court. The appli cation has been listed for hearing on Monday. In Septem ber the Delhi high court had asked Swamy to vacate the government accommodation. The matter was mentioned by the senior advocate Jayant Mehta before the bench headed by chief justice Satish Chandra Sharma.

NGT JUNKS PLEA TO

MONITORING OF POLLUTION DEVISE

New Delhi: The NGT has refused to entertain a plea seeking a direction to moni tor and test efficiency of a device to control air pol lution. A bench headed by Justice AK Goel said the Tri bunal’s role is to adjudicate on substantial questions of environment and not to test devices of commercial en terprises. "According to the applicant, he is an expert on the subject of control of air pollution and has invented a device to control air pollution. He has accord ingly sought a direction to monitor and test efficiency of devices of the applicant.

HC: WON’T EXTEND TENURE OF SCHOOL TRIBUNAL’S HEAD

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to pass an interim order extending tenure of last presiding officer of Delhi School Tribunal and granted time to the govt to state its stand on a plea seeking expeditious ap pointment to the currently vacant post. Delhi govt counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi told the court that the rules for appointment have been changed and are pending approval be fore the Lt Governor and a “temporary arrangement” has been put in place until a regular selection is done.

MARRIED WOMAN ASKED TO DO HOUSEHOLD WORK FOR FAMILY NOT CRUELTY, SAYS HC

Mumbai: If a married woman is asked to do household work for family, it cannot be equated to the work of a maid and would not amount to cruelty, the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court said while quashing a case lodged by a woman against her husband and his parents for domestic violence and cruelty. A division bench on October 21, quashed the First Information Report lodged against the man and his parents. The woman had alleged she was was treated properly for a month after marriage, but thereafter, they began treating her like a maid servant.

MOST NON-BJP CMS HOLDING HOME MINISTRY PORTFOLIOS SKIP MHA MEET

Surajkund (PTI): Most of the non-BJP CMs holding the charge of their Home Departments on Thursday skipped the ‘Chintan Shivir’ of home ministers of all states organised by the Centre here. Non-BJP chief ministers holding the home portfolios are Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Nitish Kumar (Bihar), Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) and MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu). Only two non-BJP CMs — Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann and Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan — attended the conference being chaired by Union HM Amit Shah. The rest of the nonBJP states were either represented by a cabinet minister or a minister of state holding charge of the home department.

NIA BRANCHES IN ALL STATES BY 2024 TO BUILD ANTI-TERRORISM NETWORK, SAYS HM AMIT SHAH

Surajkund (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced to open branches of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in all states by 2024 as part of the Centre’s plan to build an anti-terrorism network. The Home Minister made the announce ment while speaking at the two-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ of Home Ministers’ of all states here to prepare an action plan for the implementation of the Centre’s ‘vision 2047’. “Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and NIA and other agencies are being strengthened to achieve a decisive victory,” Shah said.

UNION HM INAUGURATES, LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF PROJECTS WORTH `6,629 CR IN HARYANA

Faridabad (PTI): Union HM Amit Shah on Thursday laid the foundation stone of Haryana Orbital Rail Corri dor and inaugurated three other projects here worth a combined Rs 6,629 crore. He inaugurated the projects virtually from an event at the Parade Ground. He laid the foundation stone of Rs 5,618-crore Haryana Or bital Rail Corridor project. He inaugurated a rail coach refurbishment factory worth Rs 590 crore in Sonipat’s Barhi and India’s first longest elevated railway track in Rohtak, built at a cost of Rs 315.40 crore.

Seven people fall sick after chlorine gas leaks in Bhopal

Bhopal (PTI): Seven people fell sick after chlorine gas leaked from a cylinder at a wa ter filtration plant in Bhopal, bringing back grim memories of the 1984 gas tragedy in the Madhya Pradesh capi tal. A 900 kg chlorine cylinder leaked on Wednesday at the water treatment plant of the Bhopal Municipal Cor poration at the Idgah Hills, Shahjanabad’s As sistant Commissioner of Police Umesh Mishra said on Thursday.

Seven people living in

slums near the plant complained of some health issues. They were shifted to hospital. Locals said after the gas leak, some people com plained of breathing difficulties, coughing and vomiting. The snag has been fixed, he said.

Thousands of people were killed and more than five lakh affected after inhaling a toxic gas that spewed out from the now defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal on the inter vening night of Decem ber 2 and 3, 1984.

BJP demands probe in TRS’ poaching bid charges

Hyderabad (ANI): Re jecting the charge that his party was trying to poach Telangana Rash tra Samithi (TRS) MLAs, Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay on Wednesday said that Chief Minister K Chan drashekar Rao has scripted the raids at a farmhouse and de manded a probe by a sit ting judge.

The BJP chief said that if KCR is not re sponsible for this then he should come to Ya dadri Lakshmi Nar asimha Swamy temple and swear on God. “Sto ry-Screenplay-Direc tion by CM KCR at Moinabad Farmhouse Boomeranged and is laughable. It’s TRS’

farmhouse, TRS com plained, TRS are vic tims, TRS are crimi nals. KCR if you haven’t scripted this, come to Yadadri Lakshmi Nar asimha Swamy temple and swear on God - You fix time and date,” said Sanjay.

The BJP leader al leged that the TRS lead ers are staying at a ho tel for the last threefour days.

Hyderabad: Telan gana BJP on Thursday approached the High Court seeking transfer of a case pertaining to the TRS MLAs’ poach ing allegations against the party, to the CBI or to constitute a special investigation team to carry out a fair probe into the matter. In a writ petition filed by BJP State Genl Secy Gujjula Premendar Reddy, he claimed the “bias and unfair investigation” be ing carried out is with a “sole intention to frame the leaders” of his party.

BJP RELEASES MANIFESTO IN HIGH STAKES TELANGANA BYELECTION, CATCHES TRS, CONG OFF-GUARD

BJP URGES HC TO TRANSFER TRS MLAS’ POACHING CASE TO CBI Hyderabad (Agencies): The Telangana BJP has released a manifesto for the Munugode bypoll to be held on November 3, promising to develop the con stituency in 500 days with the help of over Rs 1,000 crore in central government funds. Neither the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), nor Congress or other contesting parties, including Independents, have released any manifestos for the by-poll. The eight-page, 28-point “master plan” promises allround development of Munugode, with funds and direct oversight of at least 10 Central ministries. As per the manifesto, the National Highways Authority of India will invest over Rs 200 crore to develop three stretches of highways that connect to Munugode. Un der the Union Ministry of Textiles, a textile park would be developed with Rs 100 crore. The manifesto states that a central fluoride research centre attached with a 100-bed hospital will be established at Munugode, at a cost of Rs 100 crores. It will be managed by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.

Why not Ambedkar’s pic on notes: Tewari

Chandigarh (PTI): A day after Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal sought printing images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency, Congress MP Manish Tewari on Thursday asked why not Bhimrao Ambedkar's photo on a new series of notes.

The AAP national convener’s demand drew sharp reactions from the Congress with

wit the BJP in pollbound Gujarat.

its Punjab unit chief Amrinder Singh Raja accusing Kejriwal of resorting to “competi tive Hindutva” to out

Reacting to Kejri wal’s statement, Tewari, a Congress MP from Punjab’s Anand pur Sahib, tweeted, “Why not Dr Babasahib Ambedkar’s photo graph on new series of currency notes? On one side the great Mahatma (Gandhi) the other side Dr (B R) Ambedkar.”

“Non-violence, Con

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY-2020

stitutionalism and egal itarianism fusing in a unique union that would sum up the mod ern Indian genius per fectly,” he said in the tweet. During a media briefing on Wednesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to Prime Minister Naren dra Modi to have imag es of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes.

Hyderabad: The ruling TRS in Telangana and the Asaduddin Owaisiled AIMIM practice the same politics as that of the BJP, AICC General Secretary, in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday. Ramesh, who spoke to reporters during a break in the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by party leader Rahul Gan dhi, said the main focus of Yatra is the “divisive politics” of BJP and the RSS, but in Telangana the challenge is also to face the ruling TRS.

SC: ‘Custodial interrogation not needed’ not a ground for bail

New Delhi: The Su preme Court has criti cised the practice of High Courts to grant anticipatory bail to ac cused in criminal cases on the ground that no custodial interrogation is required. A bench said there is a misconception that if no case for custo dial interrogation is made out by prosecution then that alone would be

a good ground to grant anticipatory bail.

“In many anticipato ry bail matters, we have noticed one common argument being can vassed that no custodial interrogation is re quired and, therefore, anticipatory bail may be granted. There ap pears to be a serious misconception of law,” the bench said.

It aims at de-linking degree from edu & livelihood: MoS Dr Singh

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Dr Jitendra Singh gave full credit to the futuristic vision of PM Narendra Modi, who had given a call for Start-Up India, Stand-Up India in 2015 itself

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Union Min ister of State Dr Jitendra Singh said on Thursday that National Education Policy (NEP-2020) aims at de-linking degree from education and live lihood opportunities.

Addressing the stu dents at Krishna Ma havidyalaya at Thakurdwar in Mo radabad, Uttar Pradesh, Dr Jitendra Singh said, NEP-2020 also supple ments Start-Up ecosys

tem with the promise to open new career and entrepreneurship op portunities for students and youth in India.

Dr Singh said, NEP2020 introduced by PM Modi will reorient In dia’s Education Policy as per global bench marks. Describing it as the biggest path-break ing reform in India since independence, the Minister said, the new policy is not only pro gressive and visionary but is also in keeping

with the emerging needs and requirements of 21st century India.

He said, it gives due pri orities to the inherent

talent, knowledge, skill and aptitude of the stu dents, rather than focus ing only on degrees.

He said that linking

IN

been an increasing number of educated un employed. He said, NEP2020 is having the provi sion of multiple entry/ exit option thus provid ing academic flexibility to the students.

degrees with education has taken a heavy toll on our education system and society as well and one of the fall-outs has

Referring to Skill In dia Mission, he urged students to imbibe mul tiple skills to be success ful in life as there are ample number of exam ples to show that those equipped with the latest skills are doing wonders in the world today.

He urged students to explore livelihood op portunities in the Startup sector. He said that only in August this year, the Uttar Pradesh government injected Rs 4,000 crore into the state’s start-up corpus for employment genera tion and economic ac tivity. The fresh infu sion of capital has been made to constitute the maiden ‘UP Innovation Fund’ that will be man dated to provide seed capital to start-ups.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah being greeted by Haryana CM ML Khattar, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Manipur CM N. Biren Singh, Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and others during the ‘Chintan Shivir’ of home ministers of

states, at Surajkund in Faridabad, on Thursday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Locals wait outside their houses after chlorine gas leaked from a cylinder at a water filtration plant, in Bhopal, on Wednesday night.

Manish Tewari

BJP leader Bandi Sanjay

TRS, MIM USING BJP’S STYLE OF POLITICS, SAYS JAIRAM RAMESH

BHARAT

T’gana leg of Yatra resumes after 4 days

Hyderabad (PTI): Af ter a gap of four days, the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra re sumed from Makthal in Narayanpet district of Telangana on Thursday, sources in the Congress party said.

The yatra kicked off at 6.30 am from Makthal with State Congress president A Revanth Reddy, MP Uttam Ku mar Reddy, CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka and a number of party lead ers joining Gandhi. This is the second day of the yatra in the state.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra entered the state via Gudebellur on October 23 morning, after exit ing Karnataka from Raichur. After a brief march, it took a break from Sunday noon till October 26.Gandhi who left for the national cap ital on October 23, land ed here last night and left for Gudebellur by road. The Gandhi scionled march is expected to complete 26.7 km, be fore halting for the day at Sri Balaji Factory,

CONG DEMANDS WHITE PAPER ON ‘PLIGHT OF KASHMIRI PANDITS’

New Delhi (PTI): The Con gress attacked the BJP over the alleged exodus of Kash miri Pandits from south Kashmir’s Shopian district and demanded that the Modi government release a white paper on the plight of the minority community during its eight-year rule.

Makthal for the night, according to party sources. From Makthal, the yatra will continue

CRUCIAL READ

ASSAM POLICE CONFISCATES GANJA WORTH `15 CRORE, TWO ARRESTED Guwahati (ANI): Assam police on Thursday foiled inter-state smuggling by intercepting a truck carrying more than two thousand kilos of contraband drugs (Ganja) near the Jorabat area, along the Assam-Meghalaya border. “Two persons have been arrested,” officials said. Acting on a tip-off, an operation was launched by a team of Guwahati city police and intercepted a truck, on its way to mainland Assam from Manipur, carrying Manipuri Ganja, worth Rs 15 crore.

FROM PG 1

Uddhav camp...

who challenges the un just superpower of Del hiites with the self-re spect of Maharashtra.”

It is visible from the banner that the sup port of Uddhav Thack eray is increasing in Thane.

However, Thane city isn’t the only spot where the “fight for right” is being fought.

On Thursday, the Thackeray and Shinde factions came to logger heads in Dombivli, af ter the Shinde group “captured” the party’s central office there.

Interestingly, Shilpa More, a functionary of the Thackeray group, came to the Dombivli branch and was chased away by women from the pro-Shinde group. Due to this, tension reigned supreme in the area. Only after the lo cal police intervened

and detained a few indi viduals did the tussle come to an end--for the time being.

If festivities... If the festival or tour (of the leaders) is over and someone has time and they visit the farm ers, they will know what the situation is. The situation in the state is extremely seri ous.”

Sule also reminded the Shinde-Fadnavis government of the fi nancial and other hard ships faced by farmers during the COVID-19 crisis, adding, “If there was one person who went to work every day, even during the pan demic, it was the farm er. A lot has gone down but food continues to come to the table, and all the credit goes to the farmers of this coun try. This is an insensi tive government.”

The opposition party also hit out at the BJP-led Centre over the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir and said the government must apolo gise for it.

for 16 days in Telangana state, covering 19 As sembly and 7 Parlia mentary constituencies

As terrorists carried out a number of targeted killings recently, 10 Kash miri Pandit families left their village, Choud harygund, in Shopian out of fear and reached Jammu, ac cording to residents.

spanning a distance of 375 km, before entering Maharashtra on No vember 7.

Will K’taka Cong witness a third power centre in Kharge faction?

Sharat K Verma

New Delhi: After Mal likarjun Kharge be came the Congress President, there may or may not be any new fac tion in the national politics of the party, but it is certain that a new faction will be formed in Karnataka, which will be called Kharge faction. It can also be called a high command group. At present there are two factions in Kar nataka i.e. Siddaramai ah and DK Shivakumar. Siddaramaiah has been the chief minister of the state but he is not a traditional Congress leader. He left the JDS and joined the Con gress and Rahul Gan dhi made him the Chief Minister. Shivakumar, on the other hand, is the state president, troubleshooter of the Congress and a re source-rich leader. Right now the entire party is divided be

tween these two lead ers. However, apart from these, there are many other big leaders like Margaret Alva and Veerappa Moily.

Kharge is from Kar nataka and has now be come the national pres ident of the party. In such a situation, the leaders who are not in any group have got a shelter. Keep in mind that Kharge being the grassroots leader of Karnataka, every small and big leader has di

Indian Army jawans celebrate Bhai Dooj with women at LoC

Poonch (PTI): The Jawans of Indian Ar my’s Durga Battalion on Thursday celebrated Bhai Dooj with women and girls at Line of Con trol (LoC) in Gulpur sec tor in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Women applied ‘tika’ on the forehead of the army personnel and performed other rituals.“Our Battalion is posted here at Loc and today is the festival of Bhai Dooj. Our sisters are at home and we can’t

UP: Fight over rasgulla shortage

leaves 1 dead

Agra (Agencies): A 22-year-old man was killed and five others in jured after a fight erupt ed at a wedding ceremo ny at Etmadpur here due to a shortage of sweets, police said. The incident occurred on Wednesday night at the wedding ceremony of Mohalla Shaikhan resi dent Usman’s daugh ters, the police said.

FESTIVE FEVER

meet them but here the sisters of Poonch cele brated the festival with us,” said an officer. An

CDS ANIL CHAUHAN LAYS WREATH AT NAT’L WAR MEMORIAL

rect contact with him. Therefore, the leaders of the party can contact him in Delhi and speak their mind. This fac tion will also be formed because elections are going to be held in Kar nataka next year and both the big leadersSiddaramaiah and Shi vakumar - are busy pre paring their list of can didates. Any leader who is not in the list of these two will remain in Kharge or high com mand faction. So, Kar nataka politics is going to be interesting in the next few days. This dis cussion has also started among many knowl edgeable Congress lead ers that Kharge fell short of becoming CM thrice, and it could be that after becoming the national president, he may yet again become CM. Thus if Congress wins, Kharge may be the consensus candi date instead of Siddara maiah and Shivakumar.

Worldwide emissions will peak in 2025, says IEA

Paris (ANI): The Inter national Energy Agen cy (IEA) on Thursday released its World En ergy Outlook 2022 re port, which stated that global emissions will peak in 2025.

Based on the latest en ergy data and market developments, this year’s WEO explores key questions about the crisis, including set backs for clean energy transitions, government responses on energy markets and possible risks ahead on the path to net zero emissions.

“In the Announced Pledges Scenario (APS), the commitments in the NDCs bring about a fast er reduction in emis sions: global emissions peak before 2025 and fall to 31.5 Gt CO2 in 2030, which is around 15pc lower than in the STEPS,” the report said.

Gas tanker explodes after overturning,1dead

other Army Officer posted here at LoC said that the sister of Poonch has come to celebrate.

Dumka (PTI): One per son was killed and an other injured as a gas tanker overturned after hitting a bus that was parked on the roadside in Jharkhand’s Dumka district on Thursday af ternoon, following which it exploded and caught fire.The acci dent happened on State Highway 17 in Dhava tand area when the tanker was on the way to Hansdiha, Superin tendent of Police Am ber Lakra told PTI. Af ter the tanker exploded, it caught fire that rav

aged at least three buses that were parked one after the other. Several trees were also burnt, police said. “There was an explosion after the tanker overturned. Three buses that were parked nearby and sev eral trees also caught fire,” police inspector said.

IAS Gothalwal may withdraw application for VRS: Sources

Lucknow: After the ap plications of IAS offic ers Juthika Patankar and Renuka Kumar for Voluntary Retirement Scheme were accepted, all eyes are on the 2003-batch IAS officer Vikas Gothalwal who has also sought VRS.

However, the matter of his VRS seems to be stuck in some technical issue. Gothalwal’s wife

Blinken hosts in-person Diwali reception

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The event, which follows the White House’s biggest Diwali event, received guests from the diplomatic and religious communities

Washington (ANI): US Secretary of State An tony Blinken on Wednesday hosted inperson Diwali recep tion following a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This event, which fol lows the White House’s biggest Diwali event on Monday, received guests from the diplomatic and religious communities, from the private sector and from all across civil society. “Simply to you: it’s an honour - an hon

our to host you at the State Department for this first in-person Di wali since before the

days, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists have decorated their homes with rungolee; they’ve shared sweets; they’ve given thanks through pooja; they’ve lit spar klers.

as his Principal Staff Officer.

Gothalwal went abroad on academic leave from September 13 last year to September 1, 2022. Sources said that there is some issue re garding the payment of salary of this period due to which his VRS has not been approved yet.

Final decision on the VRS application will be

taken after this pay ment issue is resolved. However, the in formed sources said that IAS Vikas Gothal wal may withdraw his VRS application at the last moment.

Meanwhile, the resig nation of IAS Vidya Bhushan, who sought resignation in the bu reaucracy of UP, may also be accepted soon.

Ensuring welfare schemes for everyone is ‘Ram Rajya’: UP CM

pandemic,” Blinken said in his remarks at a Diwali reception.

“Over the past few

All around the world, from the streets of New Delhi, to the parks of Kuala Lumpur, to right down the street at the White House, people have gathered to share in the simple joy of be ing around friends and family,” he added.

Gorakhpur (Agencies): Sharing the joys of Di wali with members of Vantangiya and Mush ar communities, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minis ter Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that Ram Rajya is all about en suring that the benefits of welfare schemes of the government reach every person honestly.

Inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of 288 develop ment projects worth Rs 80 crore for various gram panchayats of

UP CM Yogi Adityanath

the district at Van tangiya village, Yogi said that Ram Rajya is where compassion and facilities reach people together simultane ously.

‘MADRASA SURVEY ONLY TO ALLOW HOLISTIC POLICY’

Lucknow (Agencies): Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Danish Azad Ansari said that the government’s objec tive for conducting a survey of unrecognised madrasas is to facili tate in developing ho listic welfare policy for all students. “It is up to madrasas whether they want to benefit from the government’s welfare scheme or not,” he said.

Dislodging BJP not possible without Congress, says Jairam Ramesh

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacts with the children during the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Narayanpet on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Cong Prez Mallikarjun Kharge

Army personnel gets tilak applied on his forehead on the occasion of Bhai Dooj festival, in Poonch. —PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi (Agencies): On the occasion of Infantry Day, Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in the national capital on Thursday. Mean while, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Sri nagar in Jammu and Kash mir to attend the ‘Shaurya Diwas’ program organized by the Indian Army. Later in the day, he will arrive in Leh on a two-day visit to Ladakh.

By Ahtesham Siddiqui...

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Amrita Soni, is also a 2003 batch IAS of UP cadre, who is currently

posted in the office of Chief Secretary IAS Durga Shankar Mishra

IAS Vikas Gothalwal IAS Vidya Bhushan

Beijing: India and China bilateral trade continued to boom, crossing $100 billion for the second year in the first nine months of 2022 while India’s trade deficit climbed to over $75 billion, according to trade data released by Chinese customs. The to tal bilateral trade, amidst the military standoff in eastern Ladakh, went up to $103.63 billion, regis tering a 14.6% increase compared to 2021 during the same period. China’s exports to India climbed to $89.66 billion, register ing rise of 31%.

India to see biggest jump in energy demand globally’

New Delhi (PTI): India is likely to see the world’s big gest rise in energy demand this decade, with demand climbing 3% annually due to urbanisation and indus trialisation, the Interna tional Energy Agency (IEA) said in its World En ergy Outlook released on Thursday.

While the push for re newable energy will see it meeting as much as 60% of the growth in demand for power, coal will continue to meet a third of overall en ergy demand by 2030 and another quarter will be met by oil.

“India becomes the world’s most populous country by 2025 and, com bined with the twin forces of urbanisation and indus trialisation, this underpins rapid growth in energy de mand, which rises by more than 3 per cent per year in the Stated Policies Scenar io (STEPS) from 2021 to 2030,” IEA said. “It sees the largest increase in energy

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

z While the push for renewable energy will see it meeting as much as 60% of the growth in demand for power, coal will continue to meet a third of overall energy demand by 2030

demand of any country.”

Even though India con tinues to make great strides with renewables deploy

z Oil demand meets a further quarter of the energy demand growth and rises to nearly 7 million barrels per day by 2030 from 4.7 million bpd in 2021

z Coal generation is projected to continue to expand in absolute terms, peaking around

ment and efficiency poli cies, the sheer scale of its development means that the combined import bill

for fossil fuels doubles over the next two decades, with oil by far the largest com ponent. “This points to con tinued risks to energy secu rity,” IEA said.

IEA said the world is in the midst of the first global energy crisis, triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Pressures in mar kets predated Russia’s inva sion of Ukraine, but Rus sia’s actions have turned a rapid economic recovery from the pandemic -- which strained all manner of glob al supply chains, including energy -- into full-blown en ergy turmoil,” it said.

In India, coal meets a third of growth with de mand rising above 770 mil lion tonnes of coal equiva lent (Mtce) by 2030, and continuing thereafter be fore peaking in the early 2030s. Oil demand meets a further quarter of the en ergy demand growth and rises to nearly 7 million barrels per day by 2030 from 4.7 million bpd in 2021.

Sensex climbs 212 pts amid mixed global cues, Tata Steel rises

Mumbai (PTI): Equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty settled on a positive note on Thursday, helped by buying in metal and re alty stocks amid mixed global market trends.

The 30-share BSE bench mark climbed 212.88 points or 0.36% to settle at 59,756.84. During the day, it jumped 415.98 points or 0.69% to 59,959.94.

On similar lines, the broader NSE Nifty ad vanced 80.60 points or 0.46% to end at 17,736.95.

In the Sensex pack, Tata Steel, Power Grid, Sun

Pharma, Bharti Airtel, Ti tan, Axis Bank, Dr Reddy’s and NTPC were among the major winners.

On the other hand, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, Asian Paints, Tech Mahin dra and Nestle were among the laggards.

INDIAN RUPEE RISES 34 PAISE ON THURSDAY TO CLOSE AT 82.47 AGAINST US DOLLAR

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee appreciated 34 paise to close at 82.47 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday as the greenback retreated from its elevated levels. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened at 82.15 and witnessed a high of 82.14 and a low of 82.51. It finally settled at 82.47 against the American cur rency, registering a rise of 34 paise over its last close. In the previous session on Tuesday, the rupee appreciated by 7 paise to 82.81 against the dollar. The forex market was closed on Wednesday.

New Delhi: Business-tobusiness trade platform

has

OTHER STORIES

up a

$120 million (about `989.89 crore),

led by existing shareholders and bond holders, according to an

note.

NITI AAYOG’S VICE-CHAIARMAN BERY SATISFIED OVER PROJECTIONS ON INDIA’S GDP GROWTH RATE

Deadline for filing Form 26Q extedned till Nov 30

to Udaan

from chief fi nancial officer Aditya Pande on Thursdaymen tioned that the company

looking at “being

in 12-18

Jamshedpur: Niti Aayog vice-chairman Suman Bery expressed satis faction over the projections on the country’s GDP growth rate despite the prevailing uncertain global scenario. The International Monetary Fund has predicted that India GDP rate will be 6.5% despite the prevailing conflict (in Ukraine), the post-COVID conditions among others, he said. He told the media that the Reserve Bank of India has pegged the GDP growth at 7% and the government is target ting to acheive the figure in 2022-23. —PTI

New Delhi (PTI): The Cen tral Board of Direct Taxes on Thursday extended the deadline for filing quarter ly TDS statement in Form 26Q for the June quarter by a month till November 30.

market

RESERVE BANK TO HOLD SPECIAL MPC MEET ON NOV 3

‘TELECOM DEPARTMENT HAS ADDRESSED TRAI’S TELECOM BILL FEARS’

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank has called a special meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee on No vember 3 to prepare a re port on its failure to keep retail inflation below 6% for three consecutive quarters. “Under the pro visions of Section 45ZN of the Reserve Bank of In dia (RBI) Act ...An addi tional meeting of the MPC is being scheduled on No vember 3, 2022,” the cen tral bank said in a state ment on Thursday. The inflation has remained above the upper tolerance limit of 6 per cent for nine straight months or three quarters.

DELHI’S IGI WORLD’S TENTH BUSIEST AIRPORT: REPORT

New Delhi: TRAI’s apprehen sions over potential dilution of powers under the draft telecom bill have been addressed, and the government may look at the option of taking up provisions related to strengthening of the regulatory body separately at a later stage, DoT sources said. On OTT com munication apps, sources said, the focus is on user protection related regulation, not licencing. The DoT, through the provisions of the draft bill, will come down heavily on spammers. —PTI

DIAL TO DEPLOY MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO REDUCE EMISSIONS

New Delhi: Delhi airport operator DIAL on Thursday said it has deployed 57 electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions in the airport ecosystem and more such vehicles will be operated soon. The Delhi Inter national Airport Ltd (DIAL) has initiated the adoption of electric vehicles and aims to replace all diesel and petrol-run vehicles in a phased manner, according to a release. Out of the 57 electric vehicles, 21 are being deployed on the airside. —PTI

FINMIN EXTENDS QUERY SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR IDBI BANK STAKE SALE TILL NOVEMBER 10

New Delhi: The finance ministry on Thursday extended the deadline for potential bidders to submit queries on IDBI Bank privatisation by 13 days till November 10. The ministry on October 7 had floated the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) inviting bids for selling about 61% stake in IDBI Bank. The deadline for raising queries and submission of bids by interested bidder was October 28 and December 16, resp. —PTI

Form 26Q is used for quarterly filing of TDS re turns on payments other than salary.

“Considering the difficul ties in filing of TDS state ment in the revised and

KNOW ABOUT FORM 26Q

z Form 26Q is used for quarterly filing of Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) returns on payments other than salary

updated Form 26Q, the Cen tral Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the due date of filing of Form

26Q for the second quarter of financial year 2022-23 from 31st October, 2022 to 30th November, 2022,”

India’s textiles sector eyeing $100 billion exports in next 5-6 yrs: Goyal

New Delhi (PTI): India’s textiles sector aims to hit $100 billion exports in 5-6 years, which would take the industry’s combined do mestic and international economic value to $250 bil lion, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.

Outbound shipments from the country’s textiles segment stood at around $42 billion in 2021-22.

The minister said that last year, textile export was approximately $42 billion, while the target is to achieve $100 billion by next 5-6 years.

He said that if achieved, the economic value of the sector will be worth $250 billion collectively, includ ing its domestic as well as international markets.

Production of cotton is

CBDT said in a statement. The form captures de tails of total amount paid and tax deducted on such payments during the quar ter. It would include pay ments on account of inter est on securities, dividend, winnings from lotteries and crossword puzzles, rent, interest other than interest on securities, fees for professional or techni cal services.

‘Satellite comm to play key role in driving India’s tech’

New Delhi (PTI): Satellite communications is emerg ing as an important part of India’s ambitions to scale up quality internet access across the country, Minis ter of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said.

estimated at 34.19 million bales (of 170 kg each) in the 2022-23 crop year (JulyJune) as against 31.20 mil lion bales in the previous year, as per agriculture ministry’s latest data.

Potato & tomato output estimated to be down by 4-5%

First India Bureau

New Delhi: IGI Airport in Delhi has emerged as the world’s 10th busiest air port in October. In its re port, aviation analytics firm OAG said Delhi air port has improved its po sition from 14th place in October 2019, which was the pre-pandemic time. In October 2022, HartsfieldJackson Atlanta Interna tional Airport was the busiest in the world. After Atlanta, Dubai and Tokyo Haneda airports are at the 2nd and 3rd positions, re spectively.

New Delhi: According to agricultural ministry data released on Thursday, the production of potato and tomato in India is estimat ed to have declined by 4-5% during the crop year that ended July 2022, while on ion output remained high er than the previous year. Releasing the third ad vance estimate of produc tion of horticultural crops, the ministry said potato production is pegged to be lower by 5% at 53.39 million tonnes in 2021-22, as against 56.17 million tonnes in 2021.

Similarly, production of tomato is estimated to have declined by 4% to 20.33 mil lion tonnes as against 21.18.

ACCORDING TO MINISTRY DATA

z The agriculture ministry said potato production could be lower by 5% at 53.39 million tonnes in crop year July 22

z Production of tomato is estimated to have declined by 4% to 20.33 million tonnes in the same period

z Production of onion is higher at 31.27 million tonnes

to be higher at 204.84 mil lion tonnes as against 200.45 million tonnes.

Production of fruits is also estimated to be higher at 107.24 million tonnes during 2021-22 crop year as against 102.48 million tonnes in the previous year.

The total horticultural crops production is pro jected to increase by 2.31% at 342.33 million tonnes in 2021-22 as against 334.60 million tonnes in the previ ous year, the data showed.

For the digital economy and India’s growing clout in global technology land scape, satellite communica tions holds significant rel evance, the minister said.

“Our goal...Is by 2025-26 to have 1.2 billion Indians have the ability to connect to the internet directly through their device, and... Role of satellite communi cations and space segment is an inherent part of this,” Chandrasekhar said.

At times, wireless tech nology may have limita tions and “satellite is clear ly emerging as an impor tant part of the blueprint of delivering quality inter net to all citizens and en terprises of India,” he said. Satellite & space, there fore, will be important in the overall mission to en sure delivery of internet and goal of connecting peo ple to the digital economy.

However, production of onion is pegged higher at 31.27 million tonnes during the 2021-22 crop year as

against 26.64 million tonnes in the previous year. The production of over all vegetables is projected

The government releas es production estimates at different stages of plant growth and harvesting.

‘

z But other than estab lishing a synergy with the Young Gandhis, what other challenges do you see would befall Mallikarjun Kharge?

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra: Challenges abound but in Indian politics, the biggest challenge before him is how to take on or counter the be hemoth Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Then there is the challenge of winning elections since before 2024, 11 states will witness elec tions. Firstly election would be held in Kharge’s home state Karnataka, then in 2023 the three states of Ra jasthan, MP and Chat tishgarh would elect governments, im mediately Himachal and Gujarat will un dergo election in this year. All these are political chal lenges, which honestly no one expects Kharge to do miracles in. These are the challenges but he is not concerned or con nected with it. If Congress does not do well in Himachal and Gujarat election, then perhaps no one would say that this loss is on Kharge’s leadership. Secondly, the challenge within the party is that now workers have started feeling a divide in the party between North and South. Workers feel that everything has been given to leaders of the south. Now look at their handling of events. Bhai Dooj was on 26th and that very day eve ryone was called for cover age as the new President would formally take over. Who all would come to wit ness this event and moreo ver, will people at homes across the North India get time to see this unfold? Had it been Pongal or other festi val, this formal take over would not have happened. So basically, from day one, a trust deficit has occurred in their leadership that every thing has been given to South and North has been differentiated against. So this is another challenge to counter. Moreover, he will also have to sort the gap be tween the old guards and the young brigade of Con gress. Although the gap has lessened and issues have been sorted, but still some areas on concern remain. The formation of commit tees and boards in party has to be done, but he appears to be relaxed and I don’t think he is worried to much.

z It is said that Rahul Gandhi wanted the elec tion process to be devoid of any intervention and held in a free and fair manner. But word is that Priyanka Gandhi called up various lead ers and asked for votes in Kharge’s favour. How true is that?

It sometimes seem that Pri yanka Gandhi is the ‘real boss’ whether it is anything to do worth Rajasthan or any other state. She han dles issues, has a different thought process and moreo ver, she is practical while Rahul is more of a rule

book leader. It is my firm belief that Rahul Gandhi must have surely thought that the election should be free, fair and independent, but among the loyalists only. He may or may not want Shashi Tharoor to come to helm, nothing can be said for certain about Ra hul Gandhi. So, he wanted free elections, but that is not what happened. If you try to find out, you will learn that Priyanka defi nitely called up leaders and calls were made to leaders from state PCC to vote in Kharge’s favour, which ba sically beats the sentiment of free and fair elec tions. As such a gap between the votes amassed by Kharge and Tharoor is so great that this sentence has no importance.

Shashi Tha roor was hard ly a candidate to challenge Kharge, but the situation could have been different or tough had Digvijaya Singh been at helm. So by and large, it was fair but there were exceptions has people tried to influence the out come at the level of Priyan ka Gandhi.

z Rahul is a MP from Kerala’s Wayanad, KC Venugopal, the Organi sational General Secre tary, too is from Kerala and now the new Presi dent is from South Indi an state of Karnataka. Is it a well thought out strategy to give impetus and focus on South India or it is a coincidence? No, this is merely a coinci dence and not part of any strategy. Rahul Gandhi thought he would surely win from Kerala so he went there. KC has been a long time standard bearer for him. Ashok Gehlot denied becoming present and if he had become the Party Chief, then the President would have been from North. It was because of his denial that situation developed and Kharge’s name came in front and incidentally he is from South. So, this is merely a coincidence. Al though this coincidence is hurting Congress, however, that is a separate issue. Ba sically, Congress is a North Indian political party, but over time, it has gained more prominence in South ern states.

z Rahul has started from Kerala and is still in Karnataka although so much time has passed. Amid this, Kharge be comes the Party Chief. Do you think, this is a part of Congress think tank’s strategy?

Well, the party is working on promoting the South In dian states and to strength en its base there. They think that this would be beneficial for them since there are 52 eats in more than half are from South India. So, this is their strategy that they would first gain some mo mentum and popularity in south and then enter North ern states. So, this is a fact

Tharoor’s 1,072 votes a warning bell for Gandhis, their supremacy may be shortlived: Dr. Chandra

pected that it might come to this that the entire 8,000 votes roll to the other side. So, it is a word of caution for Gandhis. And if there is internal democracy in the party, the Sonia, Rahul and everyone deserves a vote of thanks.

z But there surely is a dissatisfied camp of G-23. Was Tharoor a candidate of that camp? But an even more impor tant question is who backed him?

that the party would focus more on South and later en ter North and as such they have less hopes from North primarily because of Nar endra Modi and Amit Shah.

z It seems that BJP has taken a vow of silence on Kharge’s elevation as Party President. What does this entail?

It could be part of their strategy. Normally, they do not do this, but it could be a strategic move. But one thing is there. PM Modi showed large- heartedness. He called up Kharge and congratulated him. So, he behaved as a ‘Statesman’ and he is being praised eve rywhere for it, in Congress too. It is a fact that BJP did not engage in a large scale attack on this develop ment, rather PM called up and spoke to Kharge con veying his best wishes.

z Kharge was asked about his take on Shashi Tharoor contesting against him and he said that the party and na tion would be strength ened through this elec tion. Is it really so?

Kharge is a decent and simplified individual. He knows its the same party, same family. So, its alright that he has given this state ment for media’s consump tion and for this, he should be commended.

z What are the similar ities and differences between Kharge and Tharoor’s personal ities?

See, the similarity is that both are well experienced.

Kharge is 80 years old, Tha roor is 62. Both have been Cen

tral Ministers, both have had good connect with gen eral public. Kharge was in politics, while Tharoor was in the Foreign Services and UN for almost three dec ades. Speaking of differ ences, Kharge is a Gandhi an leader, while Tharoor is the new age leader. Tha roor’s look is inspired with today’s fashion, while Kharge’s is of the age gone by. Kharge is a little senior to him but basically there is no comparison between the two, but broadly speaking both are senior, been for mer ministers and are well experienced. But the only

On face value, it may be termed as internal party politics, but in reality, this is a warning bell. Without any support or anything, he was voted for, by 1,072 voters, which is more than the combined vote share of the previous two leaders. So this is a new start. Moreover, there was heightened monitoring and vigilance by Priyanka Gandhi to ensure that no voter goes to the other side. And those who sided with Tharoor, on them an en quiry was called and they literally had to give an

apology. Even under an in direct control, against the theory of free and fair polls, 1,072 individuals went to the other camp. So this is a beginning. People thought nothing is going to happen as such even Shashi Tharoor hasn’t been punished for his past acts and is still working in the party. So, this is a start to end the Gandhis’ hold over Congress. Tharoor’s agenda was different and he said that he is a repre sentative of change. So when there is a vision doc ument for change, it is al ways against the establish

He follows his own mind. I am sure he wasn’t a candi date of G-23. I know that when Gehlot denied, every one in G-23 thought that Tharoor is contesting and hasn’t consulted anyone. So, they too wanted that Ge hlot should contest and thus, they kept aside their differences also and sup ported Gehlot initially. Moreover, Hooda, Manish Tewari and others said that they can not contest against Gehlot due to their person al relations with him, so no candidate was left. So, his contesting the election was incidental and he was not a candidate of G-23.

z Why didn’t Kamal Nath or DK Shivaku mar contest the Presi dential election?

The same reason applies here too. Since Ashok Ge hlot was contesting, so these and other leaders did not think of standing for the election, but when Ge hlot declined at the elev enth hour, then the groups started taking action. It is said for Kamal Nath that he was given this offer once in the not so distant past, and perhaps the high command did not wanted to disturb Rajasthan at that time. Nath also, infor mally told the high com mand, as to how will he handle three bosses. More over he also reportedly said that he feels at home in Bhopal. The point is no one was ready to let go of the chair of the Chief Min ister and in Rajasthan, the situation became such that Gehlot himself backed out. Had the Rajasthan crisis not occurred, it would have been Gehlot as Con gress President. Similarly, Shivakumar is happy and content in Karnataka. So, all leaders are happy and satisfied in their con cerned state capital and no one wants to come to Cen tre. Now you can imagine that the Congress’ honour is at stake since none of your own leader wants to come to the centre, leaving the state.

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Bharat24-Vision of New India and First India; CMD, First India News takes a decisive look at Congress’ ‘self proclaimed free and fair’ presidential elections, how Tharoor’s challenge highlights the underlying problem of faith in Gandhi leadership among Congmen, how Kharge has a mountain of challenges before him apart from managing the ‘Young Gandhis’, and if he will be able to revive Congress in southern states from where the party has maximum seats at present. Excerpts... (Part-II)

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra with (R-L) Poornima Mishra, Mimansa Malik, Aditi Nagar, Srishti Khatri and Amit Mishra during The JC Show.

Jagdeesh

FASHION!

Leather accents on pieces make it fun and spice up an outfit. City First brings to you the significance of leather clothing in the fashion world...

ty greatly.

or a while now, leath er clothing has domi nated the fashion world, but these days, the de mand for leather clothing is soaring.

The fashion world of leather is evolv ing. It is utilised for both fashiona ble outerwear as sortments and in nerwear. Leather clothing is now available in a vari ety of colours and textures thanks to technology.

The texture of the leather cloth ing is referred to as its hand. The softer the hand of the ap parel, the more ex pensive the piece of clothing. The quality of the hide affects the quality of the finished ap parel to a great ex tent. Environmen tal conditions as well as the genetics of the animal af fect the hide quali

Initially, it was thought that leath er clothing would only be appropriate for use in the win ter, but modern technology has as sisted in the devel opment of leather clothing that is lighter, making it feasible to use it in the summer as well. These days, leather clothing comes in a variety of styles so that it can be worn all year round. Cloth ing made of leather is available for both men and women.

Numerous items, including hats, jackets, shoes, belts, pants, and jewellery are of fered in leather and can be worn in various combina tions. Leather clothing can be worn with other outfits to create a distinctive and cur rent look. While leather pants can be worn with a sim ple cotton shirt, a leather vest can be worn with denim pants or a layered skirt. A leather jacket can also give an otherwise basic outfit a stylish ap peal.

Comparatively speaking, leather

clothing is more ex pensive than other common textiles. However, the price is reasonable. They have a great degree of visual appeal and are quite ap pealing. Addition ally, they are very durable. It can be worn repeatedly without losing its smoothness. It may be worn for a long time because it does not wrinkle easily. This makes it the best clothing for travel. Leather clothing is typical ly windproof and waterproof, mak ing it perfect for use while biking, for example. Once worn, high-quality leather clothing stretches to fit the body. It is this leather quality that ensures a nice fit. They are com fortable for the user to wear be cause they are breathable.

The fashion in dustry has long fa voured leather clothing despite protests from ani mal rights cam paigners. Everyone can wear leather clothing. They can last nearly a life time if chosen wisely and taken care of properly.

SHUBHANSHI PATHAK cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

TAURUS

VIRTUALLY PRIVATE

RISKS

z Your account might be hacked

z You might be targeted by trolls and harsh comments might be said about you and your statements

Make

LIBRA

to

are

find

that

The

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

1.2…5…10…53…247

As the number of ‘likes’ on any of my posts increases on Facebook and Insta gram, my excitement mounts. I can’t wait to see how far it goes. My pulse races. My heart pounds. How many people and who all have found my latest picture, or my most recent comment, cool? This feeling used to come to me ten years ago, and not much has changed since. We all crave acceptance and validation. I’m 42 years old, and I crave your acceptance, wondering if you liked my last column. You may be 12, 15, or 17. Different things de fine what makes you feel good. Social media though, is what unites us in our meas ure of self-worth. Nothing wrong with that. But hey, can I tell you a little secret?

About five years back my Facebook account got hacked. I tried and I tried to convince the administrators at Face book that it was indeed I who was trying to retrieve my ac count through my alternative email account. They just wouldn’t listen. I had lost eve rything. Years of memories, photographs, special mo ments, opinions, stories and posts. Gone. ALL taken away from me in a flash by some hacker who probably found one little statement of mine, offensive.

That’s when I realized that being on social media, voicing one’s thoughts, and sharing one’s life online, is well and good. But there are some very simple ways in which we can all ensure that we do not risk ourselves and our families. But first, we must understand what these risks are.

1. In an overall sense, think of your social me dia and online existence just as you would, your daily real-world one. Let me explain what I mean. If you met a stranger at the bus stop who asked you where you lived, would you tell that person? Probably, not right? Similarly, we have to exercise the same basic logic, online

2. Voice your opinions. I am not for a minute suggesting not doing

that. It is great to be bold and champion causes we feel strongly about. But do it politely. Remember how our country gained its independence?

3. Be well informed. Let’s say there’s some debate brewing on one of your social media sights that your school principal might be leav ing. First, find out the facts, then, if at all, add to the discussion. Par ticipating as one unit

WAYS

4. Be sensitive. Let’s say my pet dog has met with a terrible accident and I am at the vet’s clinic with him. I share an update on social media. Without even thinking about the gravity of the situation, I will have 50 likes in a matter of minutes. Only 2 people will say something that is helpful or sensitive to the situation. Does it make sense to ‘like’ this situation?

of a herd is a mentality that leads to chaos, rumour-mongering, and confusion which can, at times lead to fights, the spread of misinforma tion that has cata strophic consequences

z You might expose yourself and your loved ones to some psychologically disturbed people who may stalk you, follow you, and try to contact you and trouble you. You may give away too much information about your location, address, where you live, your social status which might solicit the wrong kind of attention from people who might want to take advantage of that

z Finally, with the latest data leaks that we have all been read ing about, we might expose too much infor mation about ourselves that might harm us socially, financially and in many other ways

WHY

The simple answer to this is that we may be one united human race but as a species that has this little thing called ‘free will’, we are all different in our thinking, philosophies, world views, morality, and what we consider right and wrong. If to me Djokovic is the world’s greatest tennis player, you might not agree. You may think it is Nadal or Federer. And if I was to get into an argument with you about it at school, who knows, we might even come to blows if each of us is very passion ately opinionated on the issue. This brings me to the simple ways of being online, but with a little privacy and caution.

Let go of your resistance today, Gemini. As you do, give yourself the permission to eliminate the negative beliefs that are keeping you from growing into the version of yourself you envisioned a long time ago. Know that you will one day bless the very thing that broke you.

CANCER

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

Instead of projecting your rage onto others, find a healthy outlet for it today. Offer the rage a seat at your table and listen to what it is urging you to transmute within yourself. Walk through the sacred fires of transformation. What you need to know is that Spirit is supporting you now and in every moment.

LEO

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

Today the rage deserves a seat at your table, Leo. So, take a moment to listen to what it has to say. At the same, take a moment to be grateful for the soul lessons. Eclipse season reminder: the truth isn’t always pretty, but it is helping you realign your life in many ways.

VIRGO

AUG

Today, the cards are urging you to make space for the change you desire and deserve. To set the

SCORPIO

OCT

and believing in the impossible. The stars are talking about the presence of a partner who is not threatened by your power and is holding space for you to be the brightest and boldest version of yourself.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 22

Today, the stars are bringing your attention to your spending habits. Your need to constantly put your money on things that are neither bringing you joy, not satiating that hunger within. What you want to instead is sit down with that void and listen to what it has to say. Everything you seek already exists within.

CAPRICORN

DEC 23 - JAN 20

The onset of Scorpio season, coupled with the energy of the eclipses, is encouraging you to turn your gaze inwards and ask yourself difficult questions. Allow the truth to unravel as it must. You will find that the answers you are seeking will come to you in the most unexpected of ways.

AQUARIUS

JAN

You will get the emotional help that you are seeking for. Today, the cards are urging you to observe your resistance. The truth is, there is always more than one way to look at everything in your life. Ponder upon this as you get back into the flow of life. Please take good care of your health.

PISCES

DAY

by Saurabbh Sachdeva

5. Lastly, be discreet. With pictures, personal information and points of view. Just like in the real world if we wanted to really have a serious, meaningful conversation about

something, we would do it in private. If you feel you are starting to get agitated or disagree strongly with something or someone’s opinion – breathe. Be polite. It never hurts to say something like “I re spect your opinion but I beg to differ.” And then take the conversation to a private space. Maybe on Messenger where it is just you and that one more person. Better still, meet or call up or email the person.

boon. It has connected the world for the better, be it for commerce, business, culture, sharing, or emergency assistance. So let us use it responsibly to our benefit, as a mature tool to make ourselves heard and to build up our profiles and uniqueness. We are all special individuals. We don’t need to follow. If only we exercise a little virtual privacy, we can be leaders.

Social Media and the worldwide internet are an absolute

KARTIK BAJORIA (the author is a Jaipur-based Communication Skills Educator & Writer)

SANON’S STUNNING SAREE APPEARANCE

Kriti Sanon is one such actress who has repeat edly demonstrated that, in addition to being ex ceptionally attractive,

she is also highly skilled and never fails to make her admir ers’ hearts skip a beat when they glance at her. When it comes to fashion, she is a diva.

KIARA FLAUNTS GREEN DIOR HANDBAG

Kiara stepped out for the screening of ru moured beau Sid harth Malhotra’s lat est Thank God. She was spotted in a soothing allwhite ensemble. The actress teamed up the pretty white outfit, with a bright green Lady Dior handbag that took her to look to the next level.

The Lady Dior green handbag paired with the all-white ensemble serves lessons on pow er dressing. The time less bright green Dior bag is sleek and re fined. Crafted in pine green patent calfskin, the bag is accentuated with cannage stitching that delivers an attractive quilted texture. Another element of the bag that adds to its charm is its pale gold-finish metal signa ture ‘D.I.O.R.’ charms that illumi nates its look.

Kriti always carries herself in flair, whether she’s slaying like a queen or walking out in casu als. Western attires that are stylish and fashionable are cer

tainly a favourite in any girl’s closet, but nothing rivals the allure of the desi saree. Espe cially when the sarees are as stunning and remarkable as the

Rhea Kapoor has shared an ador able picture that shows Sonam Kapoor looking lovingly at baby Vayu during the Diwali party. Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja host ed a Diwali bash at their residence on Monday in Mumbai and it marked their first Diwali post the birth of their

son Vayu. Pictures from Sonam Ka poor’s Diwali bash have been circulat ing on social media. A few of them show new mommy Sonam Kapoor looking gorgeous. Recently, we have stumbled upon another unseen picture of Sonam with baby Vayu from the Di wali party and it is just too adorable.

SARA DROPPED FROM ASHWATTHAMA

According to rumours, Sara Ali Khan was forced to leave Vicky Kaushal’s The Immortal Ashwat thama due to script changes. The reports said that the producers wanted a younger girl in the movie and Sara stepped in at that moment. How ever, once the script was altered, the dates clashed and it was no longer feasible. It was also reported that the producers intended to cast an older lady in the picture, which is why the source in dicated that the producers are seeking an other choice.

Deepika’s goofy mood

Deepika Padukone is a true entertainer and her recent posts on social media always show her fans her humorous side. Just a while ago, the actress, who made her Bollywood debut in Farah Khan’s directorial Om Shanti Om with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead, shared a fun video with Kat rina Kaif as they came together for a workout session. The two actresses were seen goofing around in the gym.

Taking to her Instagram handle, Deepika captioned the video: “Me working really hard in the gym! Meanwhile, @katrinakaif is up to no good.” She added the song Survivor Eye Of The Tiger. In the video, Katrina can be seen doing aerial yoga.

GLIMMERING

hether it is dialling up a shimmer saree or pulling off a blingy lehenga, this Di wali Janhvi Kapoor proved she is the queen of fashion. If you are looking for festive out fits, you’ll be glad you stumbled upon this style guide inspired by Janh vi Kapoor. Janhvi Ka poor made us fall in love with her all love again with her first Diwali look as she stepped out for Manish Mal hotra’s Diwali bash in a green mermaidstyle lehen ga set by none other than Manish Malhotra. The glamor ous ethnic fit of the actress was defi nitely the talk of the event. In fact, she managed to serve lessons on how to glam up your festive ward robe.

ones worn by Kriti Sanon. She has provided us with some re ally lovely and wonderful saree styles that every girl wishes she could wear.

Katrina Kaif

Deepika Padukone

Deepika’s post...

Janhvi Kapoor

Sara Ali Khan

Kiara

Advani

Rhea Kapoor’s post...

Kriti Sanon

Launch of Qurrat Shaikh’s Beauty Salon

attended by some tele vision stalwarts from the industry like Sub uhii Joshi, Manit Jou ra, Navdeep Tomar Gu jjar and many more.

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

Qurrat Shaikh from Qurrat Beauty Salon, who recently emerged as the winner of the Matrix Hair Transformer 2022 launched her Beauty Salon in Mumbai on October 23. The beauty salon is an establish ment dealing with highlevel comments treat ments for men and women. The grand opening ceremony was

Subuhii who opted for a Hair Spa shared her experience, “ I am a very minimal person and they have done a splendid job with my hair and I be lieve I am all ready to attend my Diwali party.” Sharing her tips she said, "we must not follow anyone it needs to be according to your skin and hair type."

While sharing some hair tips she said, “During the festive sea son it's very important to keep the hair hydrat ed otherwise we face consequences. So they

need to be nourished properly”

The Qurrat Beauty Salon is considered to be a grooming wonder land, for both men and women, which offers a full spectrum of salon services, from head to toe and everything in between. Each service is customized to in dividual require ments and mindful of the customers’ natural beauty.

Qurrat Salon values the customer and has a high benchmark on the customer satisfaction index.

With the new salon opening more people will be able to use the luxurious and premium services of the salon and create a hallmark of quality service.

Indian diaspora light up NY's Times Square!

Jaipur Foot USA in collabo ration with the Associa tion of Indians in America (AIA) New York chapter hosted a grand Deepawali event at NY's Times Square, displaying the true spirit and grit of India away from home. Heads of many organisations, including AIA, FIA NYNJCTNE, RANA, Bihar Foundation of USA, ETZ, and RE DIO came together to wish Deep awali to one and all. Harish Th akkar, President of the AIA NY chapter, was accompanied by chief guest Dr Samin Sharma, a noted interventional cardiologist at Mt Sinai, Prem Bhandari, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, Dr Varun Jeph, Deputy Consul General of India in New York, for the Deepawali celebrations at

Times Square. A poster with Deepawali greetings from the leaders was also displayed at Times Square.

Srinivas Ranga, Corporate Vice President at New York life insurance company, Dr Samin Sharma, John Liu, New York State senator, and Prem Bhandari lit the lamp during the inaugural ceremony at Times Square.

Speaking on the occasion, Prem Bhandari, a prominent voice of the Indian diaspora in the world, thanked PM Modi for the praising words and said "we are very thankful to Honourable PM Modi for making our parent organisation BMVSS partner for India for Humanity initiative and under this program, our parent organisation has done 17 interna tional camp and 18th camp is go ing on in Syria."

DONAL BISHT IN ‘TU ZAKHM HAI.’

Actress Donal Bisht, who is a part of Yash Pattnaik and Mamta Pattnaik’s web series Tu Zakhm Hai on MX player, ex presses joy over the show taking shape among the audience. The actress is win ning hearts and acco lades from audiences across the globe with her stellar perfor mance calls 'Kavya' the most challenging role of her life which she portrayed bril liantly.

“The whole story revolves around a hostage and a captor with undercurrents of love and its

psychologist, I'm able to comprehend the complexity of the hu man mind while find ing myself in a dark embrace of love, resil ience and strength. It ends with me falling victim to the "de mons", taking you through a gyrating journey that will leave you craving for more."

"The character of Kavya is so capti vating, as she herself is a hostage to these blue-collar gangsters. A journey of an inde pendent and simple girl-next-door taking a 180-degree turn to transform into a strong

outshining everyone, Tu Zakhm Hai has been one of the most layered characters I've ever portrayed," she says.

Meanwhile, the ac tress stated that she loved working on OTT. “OTT boom is here to stay as the kind of content that is being churned out is amazing. And it's nice to see that we're seeing takers aplenty who are showing the appetite for "never seen before" stories, concepts and plots. I myself am hooked on to so many shows on OTT and happy to be now on it & getting ac

TAIMUR EMBARRASSES SAIF

Taimur Ali Khan, the son of Bolly wood's dy namic duo Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, has already created an important place for himself in the hearts of millions of Indians. He forms one of the coolest father-son pairs in town along side his Dad.

A video of them is currently doing the rounds on social media. It showed Saif Ali Khan ar riving at the Mum bai airport with his

RANVEER SINGH TO BE HONOURED

incredible global fan following.

son Taimur Ali Khan to catch a flight. Beginning with Taimur get ting out of the car with the aid of his nanny, Saif joins him later in the footage.

The most memo rable part of the video is Taimur tug ging his father's pants down while the father and son pair walks hand in hand.

"Taimur stop pulling my pants down," Saif can be heard telling Taimur, making paps laugh.Ror

The 19th edition of the Mar rakech International Film Festival is set to take place from November 11 to No vember 19. This year, the acclaimed festival will pay tribute to global Indian superstar Ranveer Singh and will honour him with the Fes tival's Étoile d'Or, previously received by the likes of Indian cinema icons like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. Along with Ranveer, iconic Scottish actor Til da Swinton, renowned US film maker James Gray and Moroccan film pioneer and director Farida Benlyazid will also receive this honour, in keeping with the festi val’s tradition of celebrating cin ema in all its diversity. He is re garded as India’s best cultural ambassador to the West given his

“I’m deeply humbled and thrilled to be receiving a tribute which rec ognises my body of work along with this very, very special honour, the Etoile d’Or! The Marrakesh International Film Festival is one of the most respected film events in the world, bringing together the best of cinema from across the world, especially Asia and Africa, which have universal appeal. As such, I’m extreme ly grateful for this distinctive recognition and the prestige bestowed upon me by the festival Ranveer stated.

He adds, “It will be exhil arating for me to be cele brated in Morocco, in the presence of lovers of world cinema and the esteemed jury mem bers of the festival this year. I thank the Mar rakech International Film Festival Foundation for honouring me with a bowed head and folded hands. I have always aspired to be a signifi cant contributor to the realm of the arts and this validation will give me immense motivation, in spiration and impetus to create more and more.”

CITY FIRST

ADITI CHAVAN cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

Manit Joura

Subuhii

Joshi with Qurrat Shaikh

Javed Shaikh with Navdeep Tomar Gujjar

Saif Ali Khan with son Taimur

Harish Thakkar, Prem Bhandari, Ashok Sancheti, Atul Kothari, Ashok Pandey and Ashwini Upadhyay

Ranveer Singh