First India-Jaipur Edition-29th September 2022

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PFI DISBANDS ORG HRS AFTER CENTRE’S BAN FOR FIVE YEARS

FESTIVAL BONANZA!

New Delhi: The PFI has announced that it is dissolving the organisation with immediate effect, a move that followed the Centre’s decision to impose a five-year ban on the organisation and its affiliates and fronts.

In a statement issued Wednesday evening, PFI state general secretary A Abdul Sattar announced that the organisation was being disbanded following the notification by the MHA imposing a ban on it. During the day, PFI affiliate says will challenge govt’s ban in Supreme Court. P6

‘ANKITA MURDER MADE FAST-TRACK CASE, `25L FOR KIN’

Dehradun: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday said murder case of 19-yr-old Ankita Bhandari, who worked as a receptionist at a resort near Rishikesh, will be tried in a fast-track court. He also announced Rs 25 lakh as compensation for her kin from Pauri-Garhwal.

SENIOR LAWYER R VENKATARAMANI IS NEW ATTORNEY GEN

CABINET OKAYS

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

TO LATA

Chowk named after India’s nightingale in Ayodhya: PM

New Delhi: The GoI on Wednesday appointed senior advocate R Venkataramani, as the new Attorney General for India for a period of 3 years from the date he enters upon his office. Venkataramani will take over from incumbent AG KK Venugopal whose tenure will expire on tomorrow, September 30.

HC GRANTS BAIL TO CHITRA, ANAND SUBRAMANIAN

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former NSE head Chitra Ramkrishna and ex-group operating officer Anand Subramanian in the colocation scam case being probed by CBI. Justice SK Jain said he was granting “statutory bail” to the two former officials of NSE.

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Rs 10,000 crore for the redevelopment of the New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway stations, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said Wednesday.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said all redevelopment of stations will be done in the EPC model and not on PPP mode to ensure that there is no additional burden on passengers.

“Railways caters to middle class and lower middle class so any extra burden on passengers is not good. So, it has been decided to invest budget money in the Railways and take it up with investment from govnt. It is a conscious decision to redevelop all these stations in EPC mode,” he said.

DEARNESS ALLOWANCE IS ALSO FOR 68.62L PENSIONERS, OTHERS

Cabinet on Wednesday approved proposal to increase DA for Central govt employees and pensioners to 38% of basic pay from 31% previously, up 4%, effective July 1, 2022. At the CCEA meeting headed by PM Modi proposal to release an addl installment of DA was approved. Increase in DA will benefit 47.68L Central govt employees, 68.62L pensioners, it also applicable for civilian and defence employees.

New Delhi (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Lata Mangeshkar on her 93rd birth anniv on Wednesday by virtually inaugurating an intersection in Ayodhya that has been named after late singer, PMO said.

A towering 40 feet long and 12 feet high sculpture of a veena engraved with a picture of Goddess Saraswati has been installed at the chowk.

Marking the special occasion, PM Modi paid a touching tribute to her.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath took a decision to name the chowk in Ayodhya after Bharat Ratna honoree days after she passed away on Feb 6.

JOLT TO CONGRESS! HP WORKING PRESIDENT MAHAJAN JOINS BJP

New Delhi: In a massive pre-poll jolt to the Congress in HP, party’s working president Harsh Mahajan joined the BJP in New Delhi on Wednesday, in a move that came as a surprise to the grand old organisation battling a massive crisis in Rajasthan. Mahajan is a former state Cabinet minister and represented Chamba in the Himachal assembly thrice winning consecutively in 1993, 1998 and 2003.

PM Modi will inaugurate the 36th National Games at a grand Opening Ceremony to be held at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad today. PM will also address athletes from across country taking part. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur will also attend the opening ceremony. National Games are being held in the state of Gujarat for the very first time.

Sonia keeps Gehlot guessing, might give him an appt for today!

Congress comes abuzz that Digvijay Singh could also stand for presidency election. If so, party high command would then have an option and whether or not Gehlot will then file nomination, will be known only after Sonia Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot’s meeting today

Amit Mishra & Aditi Nagar

KEY FEATURES

These revamped stations will be made in tune with the cityscapes

199 stations with footfall of 50L people/ day plan in 1st phase

Tender for over 47 stations out, work is underway at 32 stations

The cost of the re-development of 3 major stations is over Rs 60,000 crore

20-yr-old gets male identity after 12-yr-long treatment

Vikas Sharma

Jaipur: Life took a new turn for around 20-yearold man who finally got male genitals after 12-year-long medical procedures. The fourth and last operation on Rajkumar (real named withheld for privacy) was recently done at Dhanwantri Hospital in Jaipur. The doctors now claim that all the genitals are working normal now.

About 12 years ago, Rajkumar’s family from

Sri Ganganagar took him, then she was considered a girl, for a checkup from Dr DD Sinha, Senior Pediatrician at JK Lon hospital as her genitals were not developing according to age. The medical exami-

nation found that the internal genitalia were of male while external genitals were similar to undeveloped female genitalia, a condition called “hypo-genitalia”. Other activities including the voice of the child were also similar to that of boys. The doctors then carried out some tests and started medical procedures for gender correction and after 12 years Rajkumar has now started living like a man. He was also put on male hormones therapy for a long time.

GOVT FREE RATION SCHEME, PMGKAY, EXTENDED FOR NEXT THREE MONTHS

The Union Cabinet has announced an extension of the PMGKAY by 3 months from its stipulated deadline of September 30. The extension will be from October to December. PMGKAY scheme will cost the govt an additional Rs 80,000 crore till the end of month, putting govt’s estimated expenditure at Rs 2.5 lakh crore for this financial year, a key finance ministry official said. PMGKAY provides free 5kg of food grains per person per month to 80 cr beneficiaries under NFSA. P8

4 kids killed as house collapses in Dholpur

Vinod Tiwari

Dholpur: Four children were killed after their house dilapidated in incessant rains collapsed in Dholpur district, police said on Wednesday. The mother and her 5 children were asleep inside their rented accommodation in Mania town when the incident happened on Tuesday night, SHO Lakhan Singh said. The deceased are identified as Saina, 5, Moti, 3, Fiza, 2, and Govind, 4 months. The mother Sonam, 35, and a girl Pooja, 8, sustained injuries, he said. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and other leaders expressed condolence and demanded from the State government to provide relief to the aggrieved family.

New Delhi: With suspense building around the Congress president election and everyone from political opponents, political commentators and observers and even the general public waiting to learn what the future holds for Rajasthan

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the three time Chief Minister and senior Congress leader reached New Delhi late on Wednesday night, hav-

DA hiked by 4 percent for State employees: CM

First India Bureau

Jaipur: CM Ashok Gehlot said, “In line with Central govt employees, rate of dearness allowance of state employees and dearness relief payable to pensioners has been increased by 4%. Now, 38% dearness allowance and dearness relief rate will be payable to state employees and pensioners from July 1, 2022. Gehlot also said, “An addl expenditure of `1,096 crore will be incurred from state fund, 7 lakh people will benefit from this order.”

ing flown from Jaipur.

At the New Delhi airport, Gehlot was received by Dheeraj Srivastava and MLA Danish

INSIDE

PM NARENDRA MODI TO VISIT AMBAJI

VIA SIROHI ON SEPTEMBER 30 DHABHAI OFFERS PRAYERS!

Jaipur: PM Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan on September 30. PM Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone and dedicate various projects worth over Rs 7,000 crore in Ambaji. A new 150 km railway line between Ambaji to Abu Road is also scheduled to be inaugurated. In Rajasthan, Modi will be welcomed at Manpur in Sirohi district on September 30. The Prime Minister will reach Manpur helipad from Ambaji at around 8pm. More on P2

Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw with Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur during a press conference on Cabinet Decisions, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

GUJARAT ALL SET TO HOST NATIONAL GAMES; PM TO INAUGURATE IT TODAY

Sheel Dhabhai took over JMCG Mayor’s charge as an acting Mayor after 8 months on Wednesday. MLA Kalicharan Saraf, councilors and workers also reached HQ in the afternoon to congratulate her. More on P3

PM Narendra Modi virtually addresses the inauguration of an intersection named Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya in New Delhi on Wednesday. (R) Modi takes to Twitter his memory with Lata ‘didi’.

Moni Sharma

Ashwini Vaishnaw and Anurag Thakur share a smiling frame.

PHOTO

RAJ CM GEHLOT REACHES DELHI

Abrar. Meanwhile, it is believed that CM Gehlot will be given an audience by Sonia Gandhi on Thursday. Turn to P10

CM Ashok Gehlot reached Delhi airport on Wednesday. Also seen here is Dhiraj Srivastava, Shashi Kant Sharma and others.

MAJESTIC WINGS

Beniwal takes charge as chief of Child Protection Commission

Jaipur: The State Gov ernment on Wednesday reappointed Sangeeta Beniwal as the Chair person of the Child Pro tection Commission.

She said that they are making children aware of their rights through the commis sion, and they will con

BRIEF

Govt hikes school uniform budget

Jaipur: The State edu cation department has increased the uniform budget for government schools. The govern ment has increased the uniform budget by Rs 140 after none of the tai loring firms agreed to stitch the uniform in the previous rates. The education department has now increased the school uniform price from Rs 600 to Rs 740.

3-storey building sealed by JDA

Jaipur: The enforce ment wing of the JDA on Wednesday sealed a three-storey commer cial building in Prithvi Raj Nagar Area for vio lation of building bylaws. The enforcement officials sealed Plot No. 4 located in New Sachivalaya Vihar in PrithviRaj Nagar. “An illegal commercial building was construct ed on an area of 275 square yards. Due to vi olations of building bylaws, the building was sealed. A similar action in Vivek Vihar colony where an illegal build ing was razed for con structing additional floors and covering the road by the balcony,” said a JDA official.

2 killed in mishap in Bhankrota

Jaipur: Two people were killed in Jaipur’s Bhankrota area on Wednesday night after they were run over by a speeding car. Police in formed the mishap took place when a car rammed into a stranded truck near Shyam Res taurant in Bhankrota.

“The truck was being moved on the roadside after it was stopped due to some problem. The truck driver was deflat ing the rear tyre when a speeding car rammed into the truck from be hind while the truck was about to be lifted by a crane. The car driver was crushed to death on the spot. One more per son died while he was plucking the chain of the crain to the truck.

Grand welcome awaits PM Modi at Abu Road

Ashok Kumawat

Sirohi: BJP State pres ident Dr Satish Poonia reached Abu Road to inspect the arrange ments for the upcom ing arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 30 September at Abu Road.

Poonia held a meet ing with the workers at the Sai Baba temple. In the meeting, the State President said that it is a matter of happiness for Abu Road that PM Narendra Modi is com ing to Abu Road for the first time after becom ing the Prime Minister.

He told that from Ambaji, Narendra Modi will reach the airstrip at Manpur at Abu Road by roadway. For this, the BJP offi

Third phase of Rural Olympics begins today

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The third phase of Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympics will begin from Thursday in the State. Chief Secretary Usha Sharma will inau gurate the third phase of Rural Olympics at SMS Stadium in Jaipur.

Collector Prakash Raj Purohit informed that district level sports competitions will be or ganised at SMS Stadi um in Jaipur district.

“The players who had won in the previous two phases will now be par ticipating in the third phase. Players from 22 blocks of Jaipur dis trict will be showcasing their talent in various sports competitions,” Purohit said.

POONIA TAKES JIBE AT CONG CRISIS

Udaipur: Poonia, who reached Udaipur on Wednesday, said that drama is happening within the Congress Govt. “The pub lic has to bear the brunt of this,” he said. Poonia also took a jibe at the issue of giving notices to three MLAs. He said that it is in the same way just like the SP commits a mistake and the constable is suspended. Poonia said that it is strange in itself, that even after resigning, MLAs and ministers are going to office and issuing transfer orders. “Ministers and MLAs have resigned from the cabinet, then who is running the govt?,” he asked.

cials and workers were entrusted with the re sponsibility of deco rating Abu Road. Along with this, the

—Ravi Sharma

responsibility of bringing a maximum number of BJP work ers was also handed over.

Maneka Gandhi slams Gehlot Govt over Lumpy disease

New Delhi (PTI): For mer Union Minister and Sultanpur Lok Sabha MP Maneka Gandhi has attacked the Ashok Ge hlot Government, saying leaving the lumpy virusaffected cows in the open is leading to the further spread of the disease.

“The lumpy virus-af fected cows are left in the open in Rajasthan, due to which the disease is spreading very fast. It is also affecting hu mans. Pustules coming out on people’s faces is a result of this,” Maneka Said during an event. She said the virus has assumed a serious pro portion and lakhs of cat tle died due to this.

AMBULENCE PURCHASE ALLOWED FOR INJURED CATTLE FROM MLA FUND

Jaipur: The State Government has allowed the purchase of ambulances for sick and in jured animals from the MLA, Local Area Development by changing the guidelines of the scheme. The Rural Develop ment and Panchayati Raj Department has given this ap proval by issuing a circular in this regard. Minister Lalchand Kataria said that any MLA of the district would be able to send a proposal to the Zilla Parishad concerned to pur chase an animal ambulance.

tinue to fight for the rights of children.

Meanwhile, the Kesh Kala Board office was inaugurated on

Minor sodomised by classmates in Ajmer

First India Bureau

Ajmer: A case of un natural sexual abuse with a 16-year-old boy has come to light in the district.

The victim’s mother has filed a case accus ing three classmates of his school. The Beawar police have started the investigation by regis tering a case under various sections in

Election Dept to felicitate centenarian voters on Oct 1

Dr Rituraj Sharma

Jaipur: Centenary seniors will be hon oured by the Elec tion Department on the International Day for Older Per sons on October 1.

There are 14,976 voters who have crossed the age of 100 across the State. Jhunjhunu district has maximum 1,688 100-year-old voters. At the same time, Baran district has the least number of 73 elderly voters.

Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Gup ta said that these vot ers will be honoured on International Day of Older Persons. The centenary sen ior citizens able to walk will be publicly honoured at a func tion organised in the Panchayat Bhawan or the school build ing. While those un able to move, for them the officials will reach out and felicitate them.

Elderly senior citi zens will be hon oured with a letter of appreciation signed by the Chief Election Commissioner.

Ajmer Dairy chief inaugurates Saras parlour

Kaushal Jain

Ajmer: Ajmer Saras

Dairy president and newly appointed mem ber of the State Con gress Committee, Ram chandra Chaudhary said that parlours are being opened by Ajmer Saras Dairy in small places, with the aim of reaching every house hold with pure milk.

Speaking at the inau guration of Saras Par lour at nearby Rupan garh on Wednesday, Chaudhary said that the pasteurisation of milk

is done by modern plants at Ajmer Saras Dairy and about 56 types of milk products are be ing produced by Ajmer Dairy. These products reach every village and dhanis. With Saras

products, the money of the state rolls in the state itself and the farm ers also secure good value for their milk. To ensure its success pub lic participation is also important, he added.

JAIPUR DAIRY HOLDS MEET, PASSES BUDGET OF `2,500 CR

Jaipur: The gen eral meeting of Jaipur Dairy for the financial year 2022-23 was held virtually on Wednesday. A budget of Rs 2,500 crore was passed unanimously in the meeting. Of ficials informed that out of the total of Rs 2,500 crore budget, Rs 1,900 crore will be paid to milk produc ers. Dairy Chairman

Om Prakash Poonia informed that a water treatment plant will be installed in Jaipur Dairy. “The develop ment works will be done by the NDDB.

The water treatment plant will be installed for Rs. 15 crores.

The plant will help to save five to six lakh litres of water. ,” said Dairy Chairman Om Prakash Poonia.

cluding POCSO Act. According to the po lice, the mother of the victim lodged a com plaint that her 16-yearold son is in school and last year he was sexually

assaulted by three class mates in his school. Her victim son disclosed this to her a few days back. She alleged that her son was repeatedly sexually assaulted by the three boys from his school.

Moreover, on Sep tember 26, the accused three boys threatened that they will pour acid on him and kill him if he does not come out of his house.

13-YR-OLD MINOR GIRL KIDNAPPED, MOLESTED IN CITY

Jaipur: Shastri Nagar police station has regis tered a case of attempt to rape and kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl. The girl went outside her house to a shop to buy some household stuff, police informed. The victim’s father lodged a report at Shastri Nagar police sta tion late on Tuesday night.

First India Bureau

Wednesday and Ma hendra Gehlot has as sumed the charge as the chairman of the Board.

Satish Poonia reviews preparations at Abu Road on Wednesday.

PS Khachariyawas and others congratulate Sangeeta Beniwal on assuming duties on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO

An Indian vulture was rescued from Malviya Nagar’s Model Town area on Wednesday. The vulture was jointly rescued by a team of Forest Department and RAKSHA NGO. Rohit Gangwal of RAKSHA informed that a 3.8 kg vulture was found stranded on a bike at Jagatpura main road. “After treating the vulture for around nine days, we tried to release the it twice, but it could not fly. Finally, in the third attempt, the vulture was able to fly in the wild,” added Gangwal.

—Dimple Sharma

Ramchandra Chaudhary inaugurates Saras parlour at Roopnagar.

Mahendra Gehlot assumes charge of Kesh Kala Board

ACTING MAYOR DHABHAI TAKES

CHARGE; BJP LEADERS ABSENT

Bharat Dixit

Jaipur: Sheel Dhabhai took over the charge as acting Mayor after eight months. MLA Ka licharan Saraf, coun cilors and workers also reached the headquar ters in the afternoon.

Saraf congratulated Dhabhai by presenting a bouquet of flowers. However, other MLAs of the city and senior office-bearers of the city BJP were not seen.

Dhabhai told the me dia that her focus will be on improving the systems and doing bet ter work than before. Dhabhai also raised questions on the cur rent working system and said that right now the sanitation system in the city is the worst, which is her first pri ority to fix. “A large number of people’s

complaints related to road lights are pend ing, Diwali is ap proaching, soon the work of fixing the road light mechanism and installing new lights will be started, so that there is no darkness in any street” she said.

Deputy Mayor Puneet Karnawat said

that Dhabhai has got responsibility and they have worked with her earlier also and will also cooperate now. About Dr Somya’s dismissal, he said it would be challenged legally. Dhabhai has good rapport with e Congress government this is the reason that

Jewellery worth `2 cr looted on gun point in BKN; accused held

Laxman Raghav

Bikaner : Armed mis creants looted a bag filled with jewellery worth Rs 2 crores in Bi kaner on Wednesday.

Police informed as soon as the victim sat in his car with the jewellery bag, unidentified mis creants stopped his car and pointed a gun to ward him. “The accused damaged the victim’s car and took away the jewellery bag at a gun point. The bag was

filled with jewellery worth Rs. 2 crores,” in formed Bikaner SP Yo gesh Yadav.

“After the incident, barricading was done and miscreants were nabbed in a police chase of 50 km. The accused fired two rounds of gun shots on policemen, but they were arrested by the police. The jewellery bag was also recovered,” added SP Yadav.

during her 239 days as the Acting Mayor in the same tenure, she never had any dispute with the Municipal Commissioner or any other officer. At the same time, UDH Minis ter Shanti Dhariwal also believes that Dhabhai did a good job in the last term.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to Jaipur cancelled

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Aam Aadmi Party’s national con vener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejri wal’s visit to Jaipur on October 7 and 8 has been postponed due to his busy schedule in Gujarat. He was to launch the second phase of the “Make In dia Number 1” mission in Jaipur and was scheduled to interact with the youth under the Town Hall program.

The focus will be on improv ing the systems and doing better than before. Right now the sanitation system in the city is the worst, which is my first prior ity to fix.

Jyoti Nagar head constable nabbed while taking `5,000

The accused was taking bribe while sitting at the police station itself

Jaipur: ACB’s Jaipur Rural unit on Wednes day caught Rajveer Singh, Head Constable posted at Jyoti Nagar police station, while receiving Rs 5,000 from the complainant.

The bribe was sought and taken in lieu of helping in the complaint lodged against the complain ant. The complaint was verified under su pervision of DIG ACB Sawai Singh Godara

and ASP Jaipur Rural Unit Ahad Khan. Un der supervision of ADG ACB Dinesh MN, the residence and oth er places associated with the accused were being searched. It should be noted that the ACB is empowered to act against the state employees as well as the central govt em ployees in Rajasthan.

Alwar: The ACB Alwar-1 unit on Wednesday arrested Amardeep, Technical As sistant posted at GSS Manak in the Office of Assistant Engineer (PWS) Jaipur Discom in Alwar red-handed taking a bribe of Rs 25,000 from the complainant in lieu of shift ing a domestic electricity connection to the poultry farm and rectifying the bills. The accused also promised to help in not filling VCR for the said connection and cor rect the bill issued wrongly. The trap was laid on the instructions of DIG ACB, Jaipur Vishnukant and ASP Alwar-1 unit Vijay Singh.

Jaipur: A complaint has been filed in ACB alleging of a scam in ‘Sujas’, the magazine published by the DIPR, by journalist Mahesh Jhalani. Jhalani has alleged of scam in printing and distribution of five lakh copies of the magazine. After the complaint, ACB has initiated the investigation process and has sought permission from Principal Secy, DIPR, Akhil Arora. Under Section 17A, Sawai Singh Godara has written a letter to Arora seeking permission for detailed investigation. Godara mentioned that “Prima facie, it appears to be a case of misuse/corruption/loss to the exchequer by the con cerned and it is found that the complaint deserves to be thoroughly investigated.”

MoU signed between JDA and JMRC to resolve ‘Metro Enclave’ dispute

Abhishek Shrivastava

Jaipur: A Memoran dum of Understanding (MoU) was signed be tween Jaipur Develop ment Authority (JDA) and Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) on Wednesday to resolve the long-pending dispute of Metro Enclave locat ed on B2 Bypass. Officials informed that JMRC will soon transfer the land of JDA, following which, lease

deeds will be issued to investors. “JDA will pay an amount of Rs. 318 crores to JMRC in lieu of transfer of land. The JMRC was allotted 1.48 lakh square meters of

land at Durgapura Kri shi Farm in 2010 by the state cabinet. The JDA has auctioned the land, but could not issue lease deeds as the land be longed to JMRC,” in

formed an official. The MoU was signed by JDA Secy Ujjwal Rathore and JMRC Di rector (Company Af fairs) Mahesh Bhuradia in the presence of UDH Principal Secy Kunji Lal Meena. According to the terms, JDA will transfer 30% of the amount to JMRC in quarterly in stallments. The remain ing 70% amount will be paid by JDA from the income from the scheme within period of 5 years.

Jaipur: Jaipur Commission erate’s CST team has arrested four miscreants, including the mastermind of diamond swindling, from Maharash tra. More than 24 cases of diamond fraud are going on against all of them. The police have also recovered precious Masruka Diamond worth Rs 80 lakh from the accused.

The four accused have so far duped people for diamonds worth more than Rs 20

crores. Additional commis sioner Ajay Pal Lamba said that, After registering the case on September 21, CST constable traced the car in volved in the incident. A team led by ASI Jugal Kishore was sent to Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Where three were arrested including Praveen Jain alias Praveen Bhai alias Pappu, Himanshu Jain, Vit thal Bhai, and Iftekhar Azam alias Bablu from Mumbai.

Jaipur: The custom officials held a pas senger with gold worth Rs 25 lakhs at Jaipur International Airport on Wednesday. Sources informed the passenger, a resident of Sikar, had travelled to Jaipur from Sharjah. “The air passen ger has hidden the gold in his knee band. During inquiry, the passenger seemed suspicious.

When he was thoroughly checked, the official found gold in his knee band in a form of paste. A total of 582.1 gram gold were seized from his possession. The pas senger was detained,” informed official.

HC forms committee to resolve policemen promotion issue

Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court has or dered to constitute a committee in the mat ter involving promo tions of police consta bles to head constables and head constables from the Assistant Sub-Inspector.

The single bench of Justice Inderjit Singh ordered a committee comprising ACS Home, Personnel Secretary

and ADG Recruitment.

The high court has granted a time of six months to the police department to submit

its reports. In the peti tion filed by one Hari Singh and others, advo cate Shobhit Tiwari informed the court that the state govern ment has not done the calculation of vacant posts of policemen for the year 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, due to which their promotion pro cess is getting affected. During the hearing, the court ordered a committee to resolve the matter.

RAJSICO earns record profit of `543L: Rajiv Arora

1st Raj Int’l Fair to be held in Jodhpur in February-March

Jaipur: The municipal corporation has made a profit of Rs 543 lakhs this year. RAJSICO Chairman Rajiv Arora, announced this after the meeting of the Board of Directors.

This is the highest ever sum achieved in terms of profit. Arora thanked all the officers and employees of the corporation for making the corporation a profitable organiza tion from an ailing insti tution and inspired

ports, instructions were given by Arora to start new units of Air Cargo and ICD soon.

CS reviews draft of Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme

them to take the corpo ration to new heights. In order to promote ex

Presiding over the first annual general meeting of Rajasthan Export Promotion Council, Arora in formed that the first Rajasthan Internation al Fair would be organ ized in Jodhpur in the month of FebruaryMarch 2023. This fair will be organized along the lines of an interna tional fair to be held in

Greater Noida.

Arora informed that the benefits of all the new schemes an nounced by the Chief Minister of the state for the exporters will be given through Export Promotion Council. This includes financial assistance to exporters to participate in the ex hibition. Arora stressed on increasing the mem bership of the council and taking its benefits to small and mediumscale exporting units.

First India Bureau

Jaipur: CS Usha Shar ma on Wednesday took a meeting of officials re garding the prepara tions of Rajasthan Rural Tourism Scheme and discussed the draft of the scheme with offi cials. She said that Ra jasthan is rich in cultur al diversity and has im mense potential for ru ral tourism.

H eritage site Hawa Mahal was awarded Swaach Paryatan Shetra Samaan on Wednesday. Min of Art & Cul ture, Archaeology Dr BD Kalla gave the appreciation letter and shield to the concerned officials for maintaining clean liness in and around Hawa Mahal. Principal Sy Gayatri Rathore, Director Archaeology Dr Mahendra Singh Khaga wat, and other officials were also present.

“Along with promot ing rural culture, em ployment opportunities would also be increased by promoting rural tour ism in the state. The for mat of the rural tourism scheme should be such that additional sources of income should be in creased in the agricul ture sector. Rural tour ism will also stop migra tion from villages,” she added. Principal Secre tary Gayatri Rathore in formed that tourism units would be set up to encourage the local vil lagers. “The Thar de sert, Aravali and Vind hya Mountain ranges are all parts of rural tourism,” said Gayatri Rathore.

Only MLA Kali Charan Saraf reached and congratulated her, others kept distance

Mayor assures that will do better work than before, cleanliness and street lights are priority

(1) MLA Kalicharan Saraf congratulating Sheel Dhabhai upon assuming the office. (2) New Mayor Sheel Dhabhai assumes the chair after eight months, earlier she visited Moti Dungri to seek blessing. (3) JMC Commissioner Mahendra Soni felicitating her. —PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA

—Sheel Dhabhai, Mayor JMCG

Navin Sharma

ALWAR ACB TRAPS DISCOM TECH ASST WITH `25K BRIBE

Head Constable Rajveer Singh

Accused Praveen, Himanshu, Vitthal and Iftekhar in police custody.

CS Usha Sharma taking review meeting on Wednesday. Akhil Arora, Aparna Arora, Shikhar Agrawal, Anand Kumar along with Rashmi Sharma and others were also present.

ACB TO PROBE FRAUD IN ‘SUJAS’, WRITES TO GOVT

ONE HELD WITH `25 LAKH GOLD AT JPR AIRPORT

JAIPUR’s PRIDE HAWA MAHAL GETS SWAACH PARYATAN SAMAAN

4 fraudsters arrested; accused held with diamond worth `80L

Court grants 6 months time to police dept to submit its report

Gunshots were fired on the car before the parcel was looted.

First India Bureau

PARADIGM SHIFT

Rajiv Arora chairing the meeeting on Wednesday. Mahendra Parakh, Shivprasad Nakate, Mahavir Sharma, Anil Bakshi, Anil Agarwal, Leela Bordia, Vinod Kalani, and others were also present.

CRIME ROUND UP

Kamal Kant

WHY ARE PETROL DIESEL PRICES NOT COMING DOWN?

TAKEAWAY

Given the repeated rate hikes to tackle inflation, rupee depreciation may persist, making oil imports expensive. With OMCs trying to recoup losses, fuel prices in the short term are unlikely to drop. Unless, there is pressure from the government to bring the prices down, it seems that our fuel bills will continue to dent our savings for some more time

WHY ARE PETROL & DIESEL PRICES NOT COMING DOWN?

If you are a vehicle owner, chances are that each time you visited a petrol pump in the past few months you must have wished for petrol and diesel prices to come down. We all know that fuel prices have remained the same for the last few months despite getting constant up dates on falling crude oil prices. Have you ever won dered why Indian fuel prices are not reflecting the same? Before we address this, let us give you a little background.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

When the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in early 2022, crude oil prices had shot up to in excess of $120. However, oil prices have now tumbled to their lowest level to $84 per barrel for the first time in months. Moreover, Indian re finers have been securing discounted oil from Russia post the war sanctions. In fact, Russian oil now ac counts for 16% of India’s

PULLING THE WOOL, THE AMERICAN WAY

overall imports compared to just 0.5% a year ago.

However, fuel prices in In dia have largely remained unchanged. For instance, in the national capital, petrol and diesel prices have been Rs 96.72 and Rs 89.62 a litre respectively for the last 4 months. In Mumbai too, pet rol and diesel prices have re mained unchanged at Rs. 106.29 and Rs. 94.23 a litre for the past 3 months

We all know that the prices of petrol and diesel are di rectly dependent on global oil prices. But there are a host of other costs added to the oil price to come to the final price we pay at the pump sta tion. Let’s understand that in detail.

COST OF CRUDE OIL:

The cost of crude or unre fined oil varies based on de mand and supply economics, international political rela tions and future reserves. In the international market, a barrel of crude oil is priced and traded in USD. Changes in the price of crude oil and currency movements direct ly impact petrol and diesel prices in the country.

PROCESSING COSTS: The crude oil is acquired, re fined and distributed by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petro leum are examples of such

We all know that fuel prices have remained the same for the last few months despite getting constant updates on falling crude oil prices. Have you ever wondered why Indian fuel prices are not reflecting the same?

companies. Costs incurred here include freight, process ing costs, margins, opera tional costs – all of which affects the final price at which fuel is sold.

COMMISSION FOR DEALERS: This is the amount paid by OMCs to the dealers who are in charge of distributing the fuel to the final customer.

TAXES: The central gov ernment levies excise duty on petrol and diesel – a prede fined amount irrespective of fuel prices. In addition, state governments impose a Value Added Tax which is applied at all stages of the production of goods and services. For ex ample, in Delhi excise duty is 21% and VAT is 16.25% of the cost per litre of petrol. Now coming back, why have petrol and diesel prices not come down?

REASON 1: WEAKENING OF THE RUPEE

Repeated interest rate hikes by the US Fed and increase in India’s trade deficit has triggered the depreciation of rupee against the dollar to a historic low of 81.09. This will make import of crude oil expensive. How? Crude oil prices are always quoted and traded in USD. This means that India has to spend more to get the same quantity of oil. Moreover, India is an import-depend ent nation as it gets around 85% of its oil from other countries. Thus, the weaken ing of the rupee has a bear ing on the domestic price of fuel.

REASON 2: TIME TO RECOUP LOSSES

When international oil prices surged to multi-year highs, OMCs didn’t revise their sell ing price in line with the in ternational costs to help the government tame the already high inflation. As a result, these companies were incur ring huge losses, almost Rs.2025 per litre on diesel and Rs. 14-18 a litre on petrol – posting a combined net loss of Rs. 18,480 crore in the last quar ter. With low crude oil prices, this is the right time for OMCs to recover its past losses be fore the benefit can be passed on to the consumers.

External Affairs Minister S Jais hankar is steering India’s foreign policy with no in tention of holding his punch es wherever required. After taking on Europe for buying oil from Russia and strongly defending New Delhi’s friend ship with Moscow, he trained his guns on the United States.

America’s F-16 deal with Pakistan has obviously not gone down well with India and EAM Jaishankar in some plain speaking stated that by allowing the sale of F-16 fleet “the US was not fooling anybody” as in the past American weapons have only been used against India

UNDER PRESSURE, MAMATA VEERS TOWARDS BJP & OPPN LOOKS AGAPE

In a blow to West Ben gal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “Duare Ration Scheme” has been de clared illegal and ultra vires of the National Food Security Act, 2013. The scheme required PDS shop owners to deliver food grains at the doorstep of the card holder. The judgment has thus jettisoned a promise Mamata Banerjee made in her election manifesto. The court ruled that the NFS Act does not support that policy.

The chief minister has other wise been effectively subdued by the Central government. So much so, she now finds faults with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and not Prime Minister Narendra. Under relentless pres sure from central investigative agencies and the Calcutta High Court, changing her tune was the safest way out for Didi even though one cannot be sure if that will save her kin from the En forcement Directorate. The change was first witnessed dur ing the Presidential election when she decided to support BJP’s candidate Droupadi Mur mu. The move took opposition parties completely by surprise.

TOP TWEETS

Amit Shah @AmitShah

holy cow. Over all these past years Pakistan has not once used US weapons against ter rorists even as it became their breeding ground. In 2018, while IMF was consid ering a bailout package for Pakistan, the US wanted to ensure that the money won’t be used for terror financing or pay off debt to China. With such a track record, US Sec retary of State Anthony Blinken’s justification for F-16 supply to Pakistan, therefore, is at best a shoddy attempt at pulling the wool over India’s eyes.

Greetings to NDMA personnel on their 18th Foundation Day. Through capacity-building and sharing best practices, NDMA is playing a pivotal role in realising the vision of a disasterresilient India. May the @ndmaindia continue to serve the nation with the same resolve & spirit.

l Vol 4 l Issue No. 114

America’s F-16 deal with Pa kistan has obviously not gone down well with India and EAM Jaishankar in some plain speaking stated that by allowing the sale of F-16 fleet “the US was not fooling any body” as in the past Ameri can weapons have only been used against India. The US defended the supply saying that it was Washington’s “ob ligation to provide military equipment to ensure that Pa kistan’s capability to deal with threats from al-Qaeda and ISIS remains intact.

It is ironical that Washing ton which earlier accused Pakistan of sheltering Osa ma bin Laden, the master mind of 26/11, and carrying out terrorist attacks on India should now find it to be a

Islamabad has never given up machinations to destabi lize India. Its intelligence agency continues to protect pro-Khalistan elements and planners of Mumbai terror attacks.

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

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra

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

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Whatever is not yours: let go of it. Your letting go of it will be for your longterm happiness & benefit. Buddha

Narendra Modi @narendramodi

Congratulations @GiorgiaMeloni for leading your party @FratellidItalia to victory in the Italian general elections. We look forward to working together to strengthen our ties.

‘PRIYANKA NO MORE A GANDHI, SHOULD BE CONG PRESIDENT’

New Delhi (PTI): Con gress MP Abdul Khaleque on Wednes day batted for Priyanka Gandhi to take on the mantle of party presi dency, saying that being the daughter-in-law of the Vadra family, she is no more a Gandhi fam ily member as per Indi an tradition and should take up the post.

His remarks come a few days after Ashok Gehlot also said Rahul Gandhi has told him that he respects the wish of the party work ers that he should take charge of the organisa tion but no one from the Gandhi family would become the next Con gress president.

“I requested him mul tiple times. He has clearly said ‘I know, eve ryone wants me to take it up, PCCs have passed resolutions, the work ers want it. I have a lot of respect for them but due to certain reasons, we have decided that a non-Gandhi family per son should become the president’,” Gehlot had said.

Senior Congress lead er Tharoor seems set to contest the polls for the top post but it is not clear who will be his electoral rival as the de velopments in Ra jasthan have put a cloud over Ashok Gehlot’s candidature.

According to a notifi cation issued by the

The final list of candidates will be published at 5 pm on October 8.

DIGVIJAYA SINGH TO FILE NOMINATION FOR CONG PREZ ELECTION: REPORTS

New Delhi: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has decided to file nomi nation for the post of the party president for which election is sched uled to be held on Octo ber 17. He is expected to arrive in the national capital on Wednesday night. Sources close to Singh on Wednesday said the decision to contest the polls is his personal one, adding nobody from the Gandhi family has asked him to do so. The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister may file the

party on Thursday, the process for filing nomi nations for the election will be held from Sep tember 24 to 30. The

nmination by September 30. Congress’ initial plan was to field Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for the top party post but the high-octane drama in Rajasthan has miffed the Gandhis. Sources in the know of things said “Gehlot has not been ruled out from the race yet”.

date for scrutiny of nomination papers is October 1, while the last date for withdrawal of nominations is October

IN THE COURTYARD

SC TO HEAR KHAN’S PLEA AGAINST UP GOVT ACTION ON MOHAMMAD ALI JAUHAR VARSITY

New Delhi: The SC on Wednesday agreed to hear SP leader Azam Khan’s plea against the Uttar Pradesh govt’s action for taking over Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in the state on September 29. Azam Khan’s plea was mentioned in the SC by senior advocate Kapil Sibal. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said that his client, who was facing 87 cases, got bail with great difficulty. Later, three more cases were lodged against him on the allegations of corruption, he said.Senior Advocate Sibal further said that now they have taken over the university, closed down the mess and have broken the walls.

CLARIFY STATUS OF SINGH KILLER’S MERCY PLEA: SC

New Delhi: The SC expressed dissatisfaction against the Centre over no decision taken on Balwant Singh Rajoana’s plea that his death penalty in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab CM Beant Singh be commuted to life imprisonment on the ground of his long incarceration of 26 years. The apex court was also unhappy over submission of the counsel for the Centre that the matter be adjourned.

A BIG SC HEARING ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOR MINS

New Delhi: To frame general guidelines in “thin air” to restrict govt ministers, MPs, MLA or public leaders, including political party presidents, from making unguarded, derogatory and hurtful statements in public may prove “difficult”, a Constitution Bench prima facie said on Wednesday. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta accepted that a public functionary should be more guarded in speech than an ordinary person.

SC TO HEAR PLEAS CHALLENGING CENTRE’S 2016 DECISION ON DEMONETISATION

New Delhi: The SC on Wednesday said it will examine if the challenge to the Centre’s 2016 demonetisation decision has become academic and posted the matter for consideration on Oct 12. As the hearing commenced, a constitution bench headed by Justice S A Nazeer wondered if the matter survives for consideration at this stage.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, submitted that for all practical purposes the matter does not survive for consideration. However, the case can be examined as an academic exercise, he said. Responding to the submission, the bench said, ”A fivejudge bench for academic exercise when we are already burdened with such a large amount of pendency.” “We will fix it for hearing on October 12. We will examine if it has become academic and if it can be heard at all,” the bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai, A S Bopanna, V Ramasubramanian, and B V Nagarathna said.

GUJ CONGRESS HOLDS RALLY TO WOO PATIDAR COMMUNITY AHEAD OF POLLS

Violence in Jammu significantly low: Lt Gen Manjinder

Abdul Khaleque @MPAbdulKhaleque

As Shri Rahul Gandhi is denying to become @ INCIndia President again, I consider @ priyankagandhi as best candidate.”

“Being daughter in law of Vadra family, she is no more member of Gandhi family as per Indian tradition.

CONGRESS AGAINST ALL FORMS OF COMMUNALISM SOCIETY: RAMESH

New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Wednes day said it is against all ideologies and institutions that abuse religion to polarise the society and misuse it to spread hate, bigotry and violence. All India Congress Commit tee general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh said his party is against all forms of communal ism. His statement came a day after the Central government banned the PFI and several of its associ

8. The final list of can didates will be pub lished at 5 pm on Octo ber 8. The polling, if needed, will be held on

ates for their alleged terror activities.“The Congress’ policy has always been to uncompromisingly fight all ideologies and institutions that abuse religion to polarise our society, that misuse religion to spread prejudice, hate, bigotry and violence,” he said.

October 17. The count ing of votes will be tak en up on October 19 and the results will be de clared the same day.

IAS Surendra appt as Secy to Delhi L-G

New Delhi: The SC has imposed a fine of `5 lakh on the Tamil Nadu government for filing an “unnecessary” appeal despite the issue being already decided by the top court. A bench of Justices MR Shah and Krishna Murari asked the State to deposit `5 lakh within a period of four weeks.

Kolkata: In a major setback for the West Bengal govt, the Calcutta High Court today termed the state government’s ‘Duare Ration Scheme’ as legally void. The division bench of the Calcutta HC called it illegal in the “eye of law” as it coincides with the National Food security Act, 2013. The much touted scheme was part of the chief minister’s election manifesto promising free ration at doorstep to beneficiaries. The scheme had been implemented soon after govt formation in 2021.

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the HC.

COURT GRANTS BAIL TO AAP MLA AMANATULLAH KHAN

New Delhi: A Delhi Court on Wednesday granted bail to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in a case related to alleged irregularities in appointment in Delhi Waqf Board during his chairmanship. The ACB recently arrested him in the case. The Special Judge Vikas Dhull on Wednesday allowed Amanatullah Khan’s bail petition and directed him to furnish a personal bail bond of `1 lakh and one like amount surety.

Ahtesham Siddiqui

Lucknow: UP cadre IAS Surendra Singh, who had been serving as Meerut Commission er & CEO of Greater Noida Authority, has been made Secretary to the Lieutenant Gover nor of New Delhi.

Meanwhile, IAS Chan dra Bhushan Kumar, a 1995 batch officer, has been made the Princi pal Secretary to the

Lieutenant Governor.

IAS Chandra Bhush an Kumar is currently posted as Deputy Elec tion Commissioner in the Election Commis sion. For a period of three years, the central govt has shifted Suren dra Singh to the AG MUT cadre and ap pointed him as Secre tary to LG in New Delhi.

IAS Surendra Singh has served as collector of 10 districts of UP.

Rajkot (PTI): The Gujarat Congress on Wednes day took out a rally in Saurashtra region in a bid to woo Patidars by visiting temples associated with the community, ahead of the state Assembly elections due in December this year. Senior party leaders started the day-long rally, titled “Chalo Congress ke saath, Maa ke dwar”, by garland ing a statue of India’s first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Rajkot city.The rally will cover Khodaldham (in Rajkot district) and Sidsar (Juna gadh), known for temples of the reigning deities of Leuva and Kadva sub-castes of Patidar, a numeri cally significant community in the state.

CONG SHARES PHOTO OF GIRL MEETING RaGa

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday shared videos of Rahul Gandhi leading the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and being greeted joyfully by a young girl who seems so delighted at meeting the Lok Sabha MP she breaks into tears.

“No caption needed. Only love,” the party wrote as it tweeted the video. A second video showed Rahul Gandhi leading party workers and locals on the march and a third (among several shared online) shows him smiling and lift ing a young child on his shoulders.

NOT KEEN ON BECOMING CONG PREZ: NATH

Bhopal (PTI): MP Congress chief Kamal Nath on Wednesday said he is not keen on becoming the party president and does not want to contest the election for that post as he wishes to focus on his home state, where As sembly elections are scheduled next year.“I talked to Rahul Gandhi and urged him to contest so that all this (ongo ing uproar) could be ended. I told him things are getting complicated. But he said he does not want to become (the party president),” Nath told reporters.

“There is a lot of sup port from locals against terrorism. So far, the violence in Jammu is significantly low and if someone came from the valley side, he has been neutralised,” Lt Gen Manjinder Singh said addressing a press con ference in Jammu’s Na grota. “Pakistan is try ing infiltration, terror ists, ammunition and narcotics, but we have a strong anti-infiltration grid and secondly we are concentrating on securing hinterland for which we have a strong anti-terror grid,” he added.

Further, on the con cern for drone threat, Singh announced the launch of an anti-drone mechanism while men tioning that the drone threat is more in Pun jab and in the plains.

“There is less sighting for drones in our (White Knight Corps) areas and we suspect the ones seen here are a recon naissance by the enemy, hence we are soon get ting an anti-drone mechanism,” he said.

Lalu Prasad Yadav elected RJD chief unopposed

New Delhi (ANI): For mer Chief Minister of Bihar and founder pres ident of RJD Lalu Pras ad Yadav was re-elected unopposed as the party president for the record 12th time on Wednesday.

Uday Narayan Choud hary Returning officer of the RJD election said that only Lalu had filed the nomination for the post of the party presi dent and thus was elect ed unopposed as the party chief. “Today from 3 to 4 pm, the date and time for withdrawal of nomination papers were fixed during which the only filed nomination paper was not with drawn,” he added.

Chandigarh airport renamed after Bhagat Singh

Chandigarh (PTI):

The international air port here was on Wednesday renamed Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, days after Prime Minister Naren dra Modi’s announce ment in this regard.

Union Finance Minis ter Nirmala Sithara man, who was the chief guest at an event at the airport, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deciding to re name the airport after the iconic freedom fight

present at the event. During his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast on Sunday, PM Modi had announced that the air port would be renamed after Bhagat Singh as a tribute to the freedom fighter. The 115th birth anniversary of the free dom fighter is being cel ebrated on Wednesday.

“Through this small gesture, we are remem bering the immense sac rifice the young people like Shaheed Bhagat Singh made during the freedom struggle.

er. Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Haryana Bandaru Dat tatreya, Union Minister

V K Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Haryana deputy chief minister Dushy

ant Chautala, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher were also

TRIBUTE TO THE FREEDOM FIGHTER

J&K (ANI): GOC White Knight Corps Lieuten ant General Manjinder Singh on Wednesday as serted that violence in Jammu is significantly low.

Nirmala Sitharaman, Bhagwant Mann, Banwarilal Purohit and Bandaru Dattatreya at the Naming Ceremony of Chandigarh International Airport as Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport.

Lalu Prasad Yadav filing nomination papers for the post of party’s chief.

MAYAWATI CAN JOIN OPPOSITION ALLIANCE IF PROJECTED AS PM CANDIDATE Lucknow: In a major development, the BSP has said that it can join the opposition alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, provided the alliance partners are ready to project Mayawati as their Prime Ministerial candidate. BSP national spokesperson Dharamveer Chaudhary said that the “ultimate decision, however, will be taken by Behenji (Mayawati)”, Chaudhary added that if the opposition parties reach out to BSP in a respectful manner and apprise the party chief of their agenda, there is no harm that the party would see in aligning with them.

SC IMPOSES `5 LAKH FINE ON TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT

WB GOVT’S ‘DUARE RATION SCHEME’ LEGALLY VOID: HC

—PHOTO

BY ANI

Surendra Singh Chandra Bhushan Kumar

Ban on PFI was necessary to keep country intact: Arun Singh

Bengaluru (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary Arun Singh on Wednesday said that the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) was necessary to keep the country intact.

"At the time when riots took place in many districts in Rajasthan, we had said that PFI was involved. Even here (in Karnataka), when Siddaramaiah was in power, more than 23 people were killed. To keep the country intact (PFI) ban was necessary," Arun Singh told mediapersons in Bengaluru.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through a notification issued late on Tuesday night, declared "the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts as an unlawful association with immediate effect" and banned them for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

"PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as

a socio-economic, educational and political organization, but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular section of the society working towards undermining the concept of democracy and show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country," the government notification had said.

The notification had said that PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been indulging in unlawful ac-

tivities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the potential to disturb public peace and communal harmony of the country and support militancy in the country.

It had further said that some of PFI's founding members are the leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed organisations.

New Delhi (Agencies): The government’s ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) is ‘undemocratic’ and ‘anticonstitutional’ and will be challenged in the Supreme Court, the Campus Front of India - the PFI’s students’ wing - said Wednesday afternoon, hours after a five-year ban came into effect. The CFI said it had been ‘working for over a decade among students across the country with a vision of building socially concerned and responsible youths with (a) secular and democratic spirit’.

‘DRACONIAN ACTION CANNOT BE SUPPORTED’

New Delhi (ANI): All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the five-year ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates and said that the organisation should not be blamed for the crimes committed by "some individuals".

‘STRONG MESSAGE TO ALL ANTI-NATIONALS’

Bengaluru (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that ban on the organisation was a long-time demand by the people of the country, by all political parties, including Opposition parties like the CPI, the CPM and the Congress.

ALL INDIA BAR ASSOCIATION WELCOMES BAN ON PFI

New Delhi (ANI): The All India Bar Association(AIBA) welcomed the decision of central government to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI) and declare it to be an “unlawful organization” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The AIBA in a statement said that the government should totally disband the PFI network and stop its attempts to be reborn under a different banner. Adish C Aggarwala, Senior Advocate and Chairman of AIBA in the statement requested the PM.

8 killed, over 25 injured in bus-truck collision in UP

Lakhimpur Kheri (ANI): At least eight people died and more than 25 were injured after a truck and a private bus heading to Lucknow collided in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri.

The bus was heading from Dhaurehra to Lucknow when the accident occurred in the Police Station range of Isanagar near Era bridge.

All the injured persons were taken to a district hospital while some others were referred to Lucknow, said Sanjay Kumar, Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Lakhimpur Kheri. After receiving the information, the ADM and Circle Officer (CO) City reached the district hospital.

Condoling the accident, state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the senior officials to reach the spot and ensure proper treatment for the injured.

“Chief Minister Shri @myogiadityanath Ji Maharaj has condoled the loss of lives due to road accident in the Lakhimpur Kheri dis-

2 new members take oath in RS

New Delhi (ANI): Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday administered oath to two new members of the upper house.

Biplab Kumar Deb of the BJP and Ghulam Ali Khatana, a nominated member, took oath in the chamber of Dhankhar at Parliament House.

Khatana is a BJP leader from Jammu and Kashmir and was recently nominated to the

‘Mamata Banerjee may be arrested soon’

Kolkata (ANI): West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar made startling revelations against the Mamata Banerjee-led government and claimed that the TMC supremo may be arrested soon.

“Mamata Banerjee may be arrested by December. 41 TMC people’s names are with top leadership. The govern-

New Delhi (PTI): Anyone from the AAP could be jailed on false charges as the BJP is making all out efforts to “crush” the party fearing defeat in the upcoming Gujarat assembly polls, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday.

Kejriwal’s comments come a day after the CBI arrested AAP’s communications in-charge Vijay Nair in connection with the Delhi excise policy case in which Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is also an accused. In a digital address, Kejriwal claimed that

Nair was arrested by the CBI following several rounds of questioning after he refused to buckle.

ment will fall in December,” said Majumdar.

BJP leader and film star Mithun Chakraborty

Customer can now apply for PCC at online POPSKs

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs announce yet another step to prove the citizen's experience while availing passport related services. To address the unanticipated surge in demand for Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs), Ministry has decided to include facility to apply for PCC services at all online Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) across India, starting from Wednesday. This step would significantly add to availability of

the PCC appointments slot, at an earlier date.

The action taken by Ministry in extending this PCC application facility to POPSKs, would not only help Indian citizens seeking employment abroad, but also meet the demand for other PCC requirements, such as in case of education, long term visa, emigration etc.

had also claimed to be in touch with TMC MLAs. “I am in touch with 21 MLAs of Mamata Banerjee’s party, I said this earlier and again, I stand by my point. I request you just wait for the time,” added Mithun Chakraborty.

West Bengal BJP Vice-President Dilip Ghosh called out Mamata Banerjee’s inaugura-

tion of Durga Puja during “Pitru Paksha”.

“Mamata Banerjee is destroying the sanctity of Durga Puja by inaugurating the puja in Pitru Paksha, all the works of Mamata Banerjee are wrong, that is why there was a mistake in chanting the mantra while worshipping Goddess Durga,” said Ghosh.

trict. Maharaj Ji has directed the senior officers to immediately go to the spot and conduct relief and rescue operations and make proper arrangements for the treatment of the injured,” the CMO tweeted (in Hindi).

“Expressing his condolences to the bereaved family members, Maharaj Ji (Yogi) has wished for a speedy recovery of the injured,” it added.

Further details into the matter are awaited.

CRUCIAL READ

FIVE KILLED, 12 HURT IN BUS-CAR COLLISION Rewari (Agencies): Five persons were killed and 12 others injured in a collision between a Haryana Roadways bus and a Brezza car at the Salhavaas cut on the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway near Bawal town here on Wednesday. The deceased have been identified as Mahesh, Sachin, Sonu, Kapil and Nitesh of Ladhuvaas village here.

ROW OF AGITATION

Is Nitish behind the surge of Kurmi movement?

Mahesh Sharma

Patna: There are Kurmi agitations in at least two states, West Bengal and Jharkhand. In Jharkhand, Kurmis agitated in the area of Kolhan adjoining Purulia in West Bengal and demanded to be included in the Scheduled Tribes. For this the trains were stopped and there was a huge agitation. Soon after, similar agitations took place in Purulia and Midnapore in Bengal demanding ST status for Kurmis. This movement is happening at a time when Bihar

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who comes from Kurmi community, is doing politics for his national ambition. Behind him, efforts are being made to unite the Kurmi community across the country as Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat have a large Kurmi population and are politically competent as well.

It is being said that if Sardar Patel could

not become the Prime Minister of the country, then Nitish Kumar should become. That is, Nitish is being directly equated with Sardar Patel and it is being said that Nitish will do what Sardar Patel could not do. For this the Kurmis are uniting. Meanwhile, Kurmis have start-

Krishna Patel, wife of Sonelal Patel, a prominent Kurmi leader of Uttar Pradesh, met Nitish Kumar in Patna. Sonelal Patel’s party is divided into two parts. One is led by his daughter Anupriya Patel, who is a part in the NDA. The other party is Krishna Patel, wife of Apna Dal Kameravadi leader Sonelal Patel. Nitish Kumar has a good relationship with Sonelal Patel. At present, Krishna Patel’s party is in sync with the SP. Nitish is also likely to be in the same alliance in the Lok Sabha elections.

Rajya Sabha. Deb, former chief minister of Tripura, entered the upper house following a bypoll.

Tripura’s lone Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant after Manik Saha resigned in June to contest an assembly bypoll.

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar (C) and Biplab Kumar Deb (L) and Ghulam Ali Khatana (R).

Stranded trucks on the Jammu and Kashmir National highway, which is closed due to shooting stones in Ramban area, in Jammu on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY PTI

The accident occurred on a bridge over the Sharda river in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI PREZ, PM EXPRESS CONDOLENCES

NEXT, YOU’LL ASK FOR CONDOMS: BIHAR IAS OFFICER FOR FREE SANITARY PADS

PANRUTTI RAMACHANDRAN EXPELLED Patna (Agencies): A senior IAS officer in Bihar has courted a controversy by giving an ‘‘insensitive’’ reply to students requesting free sanitary pads at an event held in the state capital Patna. According to reports, during a workshop on ‘Sashakt Beti, Samriddh Bihar’, Harjot Kaur Bhamra, who is the managing director of BWDC, was asked if the government can make sanitary pads for free.

Chennai (Agencies): AIADMK’s veteran leader and former Minister Panruti S Ramachandran, was expelled from the party. This was announced by the party’s interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in a release that the action had been taken against Ramachandran, who had been functioning “against the party discipline” and in a manner that brought “disrepute”.

YOUTUBER ARRESTED FOR UPLOADING MEMES Kolkata (Agencies): A YouTuber named Tuhin Mondal from Taherpur was detained on Monday by the Kolkata Police for reportedly posting derogatory memes on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The content creator was taken into custody by Police’s Intelligence Branch at his home in Bapujinagar, which is near Taherpur police station.

‘Anyone from AAP could be arrested, BJP scared of losing’

GIRLS CAUTIONED

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

Mamata Banerjee

The ban on PFI is expected to cripple its funding, recruitment, and other activities

Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary Arun Singh addressing media on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

‘UNDEMOCRATIC...’: PFI AFFILIATE SAYS WILL CHALLENGE GOVT’S BAN

Free ration scheme now till end of 2022

TEA EXPORTS RISE IN FIRST SEVEN MONTHS OF 2022

Kolkata: Tea exports during the period January to July in the calendar year 2022 have touched 116.36 million kg as compared to 103.38 million kg in the same period of 2021. According to Tea Board data, exports to the largest importing block, the CIS countries, remained almost stagnant at 25.20 million kg as against 24.98 million kg in the first seven months of 2021. UAE emerged as a large importer at 19.14 million kg during Jan to July 2022, up from 8.07 million kg in 2021. —PTI

INDIA NEEDS $10 BILLION FOR EV BATTERIES BY 2030

New Delhi (PTI): Ahead of assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the government on Wednesday extended by three months its programme to provide free rations to the poor at a cost of `44,762 crore as it looked to ease pain from high inflation.

The scheme to provide 5 kg of wheat and rice free of cost to 80 crore poor every month, which was ending on Friday, will now run through December 31, 2022, I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said.

The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting on Wednesday decided to extend the scheme by three months, he said.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was started in April 2020 to help the poor whose livelihoods were

shuttered by a nationwide lockdown aimed at containing the spread of the Coronavirus. The scheme has been extended multiple times and was to end on Friday.

“At a time when the world is battling with the effects of Covid on its decline and insecurity due to

EXTENDED FOR 3 MORE MONTHS



Under the free rations to the poor scheme, 5 kg of foodgrain per person per month is provided free of cost for all the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)

` breaches 82 mark against $ on forex outflows, surging US yields

New Delhi: India needs to invest about $10 billion to boost cell manufacturing and raw material refining to meet domestic demand for lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles by 2030, according to a report. “By 2030, just to serve the local demand of Li-ion batteries, India would need upwards of an estimated $10 billion investments in cell manufacturing capacity, with additional investments in raw material refining capacities,” it said. —PTI

TATA MOTORS DRIVES IN TIAGO EV

AT `8.49 LAKH

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee plunged below the 82 mark for the first time in day trade before settling down by 40 paise at 81.93 against the US dollar on Wednesday due to heavy forex outflows amid strengthening US treasury yields.

Moreover, a negative trend in domestic equities and a stronger dollar in overseas markets sapped investor appetite, forex traders said.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 81.90 and later fell to 82.02 to a dollar in day trade due to risk-averse sentiment among investors. The rupee finally settled at 81.93, its all-time low.

SENSEX, NIFTY TUMBLE NEARLY 1 PER CENT

Mumbai (PTI): Benchmark indices ended nearly 1% lower on Wednesday, tracking a weak trend in global markets and continuous foreign fund outflows. The 30-share BSE Sensex fell 509.24 points or 0.89% to settle at 56,598.28. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty declined 148.80 points or 0.87% to end at 16,858.60.Among the 30-share Sensex pack, ITC, Axis Bank, Reliance Industries, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, State Bank of India, HDFC and HDFC Bank were the major laggards. Asian Paints, Sun Pharma, Dr Reddy’s and Power Grid were among the winners.

ance Securities.

“However, the fall was less than at its Asian peers as the Reserve Bank of India intervened in the market today,” Iyer said.

According to Union Minister Anurag Thakur, 122 lakh tonne of foodgrains will be given out free of cost in three months starting from October 1



various reasons, India has been successfully maintaining food security for its vulnerable sections while taking necessary steps to keep availability and affordability for common man,” an official statement said.

“Recognising that people have gone through a difficult period of pandemic, government has decided to extend PMGKAY for a period of three months so that poor and vulnerable sections of society are supported for the forthcoming major festivals.”

scheme since its launch in April 2020.

With the additional expenditure of about `44,762 crore for the latest extension, the overall expenditure of the PMGKAY will be about `3.91 lakh crore for all the phases, he said.

Thakur said 122 lakh tonne (12.2 million tonne) of foodgrains will be given out free of cost in the three months from October 1.

The total allocation of foodgrain for phases I-VII will reach about 1,121 lakh tonne (112.1 million tonne).

Mumbai: Betting big on electric mobility, Tata Motors is gearing up to drive in a range of models across multiple price points as it expects the portfolio to account for more than 30% of its overall sales by the end of this decade. On Wednesday, the company expanded its electric vehicle portfolio in the country with the launch of Tiago EV with introductory prices for first 10,000 customers ranging between `8.4911.79 lakh. The company said 2,000 units will be reserved for the current owners of Nexon EV and Tigor EV. —PTI

The Indian rupee hit a fresh record low against the dollar on Wednesday weighed down by a rise in US treasury yields and the dollar, Sriram Iyer, Senior Research Analyst at Reli-

Offshore Chinese yuan weakened by 0.90%, while Singapore Dollar weakened by 0.48%, while the Korean Won weakened by 0.83% and were the worst performers amongst Asian peers..

The sixth extension of the pro-poor scheme comes ahead of assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh

Icra maintains 7.2% GDP forecast for FY23

Mumbai (PTI): Citing revival in contact-intensive services and a pick-up in government and private expenditure, rating agency Icra on Wednesday retained its previous growth forecast of 7.2% for the current fiscal.

Growth is expected to pick up to pre-Covid levels on the back of pent-up demand, even though on an annualised basis, the absolute numbers will be falling from Q1 (13.5%) to a much lower level in Q2 and further down in the two remainder quarters due to the high base, the agency said.

At 7.2%, the number is marginally higher than most consensus forecast of 7% and 10 bps lower than what S&P forecast earlier this week. The RBI is widely believed to again lower its growth forecast at its Sep 30 MPC review.

Don’t need so many PSBs: Ex-SBI chief

New Delhi (PTI): India needs ‘fewer’ but stronger Public Sector Banks, and the smaller ones could be privatised or merged, former SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya has said.

Bhattacharya further said much of the goals that are expected to be achieved through privatisation of PSBs can also actually be achieved by enabling the

state-owned banks and by levelling the playing field.

“The thing is, privatisation has never been the answer to all the ills,” she said while responding to a question on former RBI governor D Subbarao’s suggestion that the government should come up with a 10year road map for privatisation of all PSBs.

Subbarao had recently

RBI’s rate setting panel starts deliberations

New Delhi: Reliance Jio

Chairman Akash Ambani and OnlyFans’ Indian-origin CEO Amrapali Gan have been named by TIME magazine in the TIME100 Next list that recognises “rising stars from across industries and around the world.” The TIME100 Next list is inspired by the publication’s flagship TIME100 list of the world’s most powerful people. The TIME100 Next “recognises 100 rising stars from across industries & around world. —PTI

New Delhi (PTI): The Reserve Bank’s rate-setting panel on Wednesday started deliberations on the keenly awaited monetary policy amidst expectation of 50 basis points hike in interest rate to check inflation and improve foreign capital inflow to arrest declining value of rupee against the US dollar.

The decision of RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das headed six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will be announced on September 30.

The government has

tasked the central bank to ensure the consumer price index (CPI) remains at 4% with a margin of 2% on either side, but retail inflation has stubbornly stayed above the RBI’s comfort zone since January.

As per the latest data, the inflation was at 7% in August.

suggested that the government should come up with a 10-year road map for pri-

vatisation of all PSBs as it would provide much needed predictability to stakeholders. “I don’t really believe that we need so many public sector banks either, the number of PSBs could be decreased. “Some of them could be privatised. And maybe you know, the stronger ones could still remain public sector banks,” said Bhattacharya.

IN INDIA THIS YEAR

Under this scheme, 5 kg of foodgrain per person per month is provided free of cost for all the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Thakur said the government has so far spent `3.45 lakh crore on the PMGKAY

OTHER STORIES

USERS TO SHELL OUT UP TO 45% PREMIUM FOR 5G PLANS: STUDY

New Delhi: Over 100 million users in India with 5G-ready smartphones want to upgrade to 5G network in 2023 and many of them are willing to pay up to 45% premium, a study by Ericsson said on Wednesday. The survey assumes significance as the countdown for 5G services availability has begun in India, the world’s secondbiggest smartphone market after China. —PTI

The sixth extension propoor scheme comes ahead of assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh and also at a time when food inflation is ruling at a high level.

The retail inflation in the food segment was 3.11 per cent in August last year.

DEADLINE FOR BROKEN RICE EXPORTS AGAIN EXTENDED BY GOVT

New Delhi: The government has again extended the last date for export of broken rice in transit by 15 days till October 15. It first banned export of broken rice on Sept 8. “Export of consignments of broken rice...As permissible under notification dated September 8 has been…extended till October 15, 2022,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification. —PTI

GOODS AND SERVICE TAX (GST) REVENUE IN SEPTEMBER LIKELY AT `1.45 LAKH CRORE

New Delhi: Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue mop-up in September is expected to be around `1.45 lakh cr, an official said. “The collection in September is likely to be little more than `1.45 lakh cr. Improved business activity is expected to yield better collections in coming months,” the official said. The mop-up in September last year was `1.17 lakh cr.The official further said as per estimates, the average yearly revenue from GST in 2022-23 is expected to be around `1.55 lakh cr.The collection in April was at a record high of `1.68 lakh cr. —PTI

INDIA, NETHERLANDS FORMALISE FTM FOR INVESTMENTS

New Delhi: India and the Netherlands have formulated a mechanism for faster resolution of investment cases of Dutch companies operating here in the country. The DPIIT and the Embassy of the Netherlands have signed a joint statement to formalise the bilateral Fast Track Mechanism (FTM). Invest India, the national investment promotion and facilitation agency, is the executing body of FTM. —PTI

‘AGGRESSIVE RATE HIKES MAY BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE’

New Delhi: Aggressive rate hikes by central banks globally to tame soaring inflation may prove counterproductive in the short run, Emkay Wealth Management said. Underlining that geopolitical tensions, soaring crude oil prices and worries around recession in the developed countries are some of the major risks threatening the markets, Emkay Mgmt however said India fears no major risks. —PTI

CRED, upGrad & Groww top start-ups list

Bengaluru (PTI): Online professional network LinkedIn on Wednesday released a list of the top 25 start-ups in India that have shown resilience in an uncertain market environment, and are continuing to innovate in 2022.

Topping this year’s list is unified payments interface CRED. Valued at $6.4 billion, this young start-up maintained its podium position on the LinkedIn Top Startups list, moving from the third spot in 2021 to number one in 2022.

“Besides gaining popularity for its quirky ads in

the past two years, CRED is also setting new benchmarks for employee wellbeing by offering benefits such as ElderCare, egg freezing, and one-on-one

TOP-TWO IN THE LIST



Valued at $6.4 billion, Cred maintained its podium position on the LinkedIn Top Startups list, moving from third spot in 2021



support for mental wellness to its employees,” a LinkedIn statement noted.

The second spot on the list is taken by upGrad, one of India’s largest online

At second is one of India’s largest online higher education Cos - upGrad

higher education companies that curates vast upskilling opportunities for professionals and college students, followed by Groww in third position.

AKASH AMBANI, GAN AMONG TIME100 NEXT LIST OF RISING STARS

CM ALLOTS `30 CR FOR STADIUMS

Alwar, Nagaur, Barmer, Udaipurwati, Jhunjhunu and Churu to get stadiums

Jaipur: Sportsmen are being encouraged by State government by making unprecedented development of sports facilities in State. In this sequence, CM Ashok Gehlot has approved a financial provision of Rs 30cr for various stadium construction works.

For construction of stadiums at various places including Umairan (Alwar), Kuchaman (Nagaur), Baitu (Barmer), Gudha (Udaipurwati), Mandwa (Jhunjhunu), Kishangarh (Alwar), Tijara (Alwar), Ratangarh (Churu), Gehlot has approved a sum of Rs 30 crores. Announcement was made in budget 2022-2023.

Awana inaugurates lab equipment at CHC Uchain

RAJ BHAVAN AND HC GET NEW DISPENSARIES

Jaipur: CM Ashok Gehlot has approved creation of total 7 new posts in Raj Bhavan Dispensary and Govt City Dispensary in Rajasthan HC Bench, Jaipur. These new posts include 2 posts of Medical Officer, Senior Nursing Officer, Physiotherapist and 1 post of Class IV employee in Government City Dispensary High Court. At the same time, 1 post each of Medical Officer & Nurse Category-II has been created in Raj Bhavan Dispensary.

CM ALLOTS `11 CRORE FOR UNDERPASS IN BHARATPUR

Bharatpur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved a financial provision of Rs 11 crore for the construction of underpass at Bayana (Bharatpur). Along with this, 2 percent amount (Rs 22 lakh) has been approved to be given to the Railways as planning and estimate fee. The construction of the underpass will provide relief to the local people of 18 gram panchayats and about 60 villages along with Bayana Municipality and will save time.

Jaipur: CM Ashok Gehlot pre-launched the mobile app of the daily Hindi newspaper ‘Sach Bedhadak’ at the CM’s residence on Wednesday evening. Gehlot did this prelaunch along with Vinayak Sharma, chairman of Sach Bedhadak and editor Manoj Mathur. Mithali Yadav, Printer and Publisher of Sach Bedhadak and Digital Head Ravi Kumar Meena were also present on this occasion. This mobile app will be available to the people in 10 days on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. CM Gehlot observed the app & Chairman Vinayak Sharma gave full info about its features. Gehlot appreciated Sach Bedhadak newspaper and the mobile app. Vinayak Sharma told the Chief Minister that soon Jodhpur edition is also going to start.

Satyarthi Foundation to launch child marriage awareness in 5,000 villages

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Bharatpur/Rudawal: Inauguration ceremony of medical & modern laboratory equipment installed at CHC Uchhain, Nadbai & Khanua was held under chairmanship of Chief Hospitality and Uchain President Himanshu Awana, President of Rajasthan Devnarayan Board & Nadbai MLA Joginder Singh Awana.

Jaipur: Child marriage is still rampant in Rajasthan as the state figures 2nd among all states in the country. According to Census 2011, around 12.9 lakh children were married off before the age of 18, which constituted around 11% of married children in the country.

A public awareness campaign will be carried out in 5,000 villages in state to prevent child marriages. Kailash Satyarthi Children Founda-

95 mining plots are ready for e-auction

Nirmal Tiwari

Jaipur: The Mines Dept of State has performed brilliantly in this financial year. In minor minerals this year so far, 95 plots of 609.66 hectare area have been prepared by the department. 405 people have also been arrested in the campaign against illegal mining.

Dr Subodh Agrawal, ACS, Mines Dept, took a review meeting of departmental activities through VC on Wednesday. He has instructed to prepare new plots for auction after studying possible points in coordination with geologists, mining engineers.

Of these blocks of Minor Major, max 46 have been prepared in Bharatpur, 25 in Bhilwara, 9 in Rajsamand, 5-5 in Udaipur & Bikaner, 3 in Jodhpur & 2 in Jaipur.

He informed that out of 193 RCC ERCC contracts, 130 contracts have been successfully auctioned and revenue of more than Rs 1,840 crore will be generated.

tion (KSCF) will run campaign to raise awareness regarding ill effects of child marriages.

Factions within Cong party still continue: Rathore

First India Bureau

Sikar: BJP Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore was on one day tour to Sikar. He inaugurated a vehicle showroom of Nand Kishore Maharia, brother of former Union Minister Subhash Maharia. Talking jibes at Congress, he said earlier, CM Ashok Gehlot was on the verge to become national president but now everything looks uncertain.

Targeting cong ministers, he said that once they have resigned, now they should not get into defensive mode. However, BJP is monitoring the situation.

Rajeev Bhardwaj, Director of KSCF, told reporters on Wednesday that work is now being

BY SANTOSH SHARMA

started in the form of a movement on this issue in Rajasthan.

A public awareness campaign will be launched to stop child marriage in 5000 villages in Raj, he said.

The purpose of the workshop organised on Wednesday on the topic ‘Child Marriage Free India’ is to ‘move towards the complete end of child marriage’, Bhardwaj said.

The workers of the foundation will go doorto-door in these villages to raise awareness.

Excise Dept constable killed, 1 injured in road mishap

Jhunjhunu : Two constables from Excise Department met with an accident on the Chirawa bypass. One constable was killed in a road accident, while the condition of the other is critical, he is being treated in Jaipur hospital.

According to the information received, both bike riders were coming from Surajgarh to Chirwa during duty hours. Meanwhile, a car rammed the bikes of both the riders. After which both were taken to the hospital, where constable Jaiveer was declared dead by the doctors. Moreover, the seriously injured Omprakash was referred to Jaipur hospital.

Many appointed in State govt bodies

Jaipur: The State government issued a notification and appointed members in the board of Directors of Rajasthan Khadi and Village Industries Board and Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation.

According to the notification, in Rajasthan Khadi and Village Industries Board Rajkumar Sharma of Jaipur, Murad Gandhi Parmanand Panwar and Shantilal Limba from Tonk, Durga Dutt Shastri of Dholpur, Narpat Singh Shekhawat of Pilibanga, Sandeep Sharma of Dausa and Maha Singh Sihag of Taranagar were appointed as a members.

Poppy husk smugglers fire on police in Udaipur

Similarly, Radheshyam Somani of Pipad, Neeraj Kumar Mansinghka of Bhilwara and Ajay Sharma of Jodhpur have been nominated in the Board of Directors of Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation.

In the State Minorities Commission, Rafiq Qureshi, Pinky Grover, Hardeep Chahal, Shanti Mehta were nominated as members for three years.

‘Don't travel to areas in India bordering Pak’

Udaipur: Poppy husk smugglers opened fire on police in Udaipur’s Gogunda area on Wednesday night after they were stopped by the policemen. “The incident occurred near Sirval area under Bekariya Police Station on Wednesday night. The

smugglers were stopped by the police, following they opened fire on them. In retaliation, the police team too fired gunshots on the miscreants. Sacks of poppy husk and a car was recovered and seized from the spot. However, the miscreants managed to fled from the spot,” police said.

UNION GOVT BANS PFI IN INDIA

Ottawa (ANI): Canada has advised its citizens to avoid all travel to areas in states of Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan, which share a border with Pak due to “presence of landmines” and “unpredictable security situation.”

Travel advisory put out by Canadian govt on its website that was last updated on Sept 27, also asks its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution in India due to “threat of terrorist attacks throughout the country.”

PFI Jpr office locked following ban by Centre

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The union govt has declared PFI an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967.

The Jaipur office of PFI was also locked on Wednesday. Notably, NIA & ED recently conducted multiple raids at offices & residences of leaders of PFI in various parts of Rajasthan.

The NIA conducted raids at places in Kota, Baran, Udaipur and Jaipur and arrested a number of people. BJP state in-charge Arun Singh while issuing a statement in Bengaluru said that wherever riots

happened in Rajasthan, PFI was behind these violent attacks.

Food & Civil Supplies Min Pratap Singh Khachariyawas stirred a controversy after he made statement against RSS. Minister Pratap Singh described RSS as a riot organisation.

The Jaipur office of PFI was also locked on Wednesday.

(inset) Popular Front Day meet held in Kota on Feb 17.

Vasundhara Raje @VasundharaBJP

The action of the Government of India on organisations like PFI, who have a bad vision on the unity and integrity of India and try to disturb the peace system, is commendable. The security of the country is paramount, so compromise is not acceptable at any cost.

AJMER DARGAH SPIRITUAL HEAD WELCOMES BAN

Ajmer: Spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah Zainul Abedin Ali Khan on Wednesday welcomed Central govt’s decision to ban Popular Front of India (PFI) for its alleged terror activities. Deewan of shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti said action was taken in compliance with law and to prevent terrorism. It should be welcomed by all, he said. “Two years ago, I had first demanded the ban of PFI,” he added.

Gujarat Giants all set to lock horns with Bhilwara Kings in Jodhpur

Sangeeta Sharma

Jodhpur. After coming into the new form of Barkatullah Khan Stadium, now after two decades a new chapter of cricket is about to start. The second edition of Legends League Cricket will have 3-day matches from Sept 30.

For this, RCA President Vaibhav Gehlot took stock of stadium along with RCA members and JDA officials on Wednesday.

On Wednesday players including Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle, Parthiv Patel, Sree-

santh arrived here.

Ahead of the matches, RCA President Vaibhav Gehlot along with

office bearers inspected Stadium. He took stock of other preps including pavilion, entry, exit,

MATCH SCHEDULE

ground, security arrangements. After tournament, way for IPL matches will be start.

RCA President Vaibhav Gehlot taking stock of stadium along with RCA members and JDA officials on Wednesday.

2ND LEGENDS LEAGUE CRICKET

Chris Gayle Virender Sehwag S. Sreesanth Fidel Edwards

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

—PHOTOS

State Consultation on Child Marriage Free India event started by lighting the lamp in Jaipur on Wednesday.

First India Bureau

CM Ashok Gehlot, Vinayak Sharma, Manoj Mathur, Mithali Yadav, Ravi K Meena at app pre-launch event.

CM GEHLOT PRELAUNCHES THE MOBILE APP OF SACH BEDHADAK

Will fight for people under Sonia, RaGa’s guidance: PSK

Naresh Sharma

Jaipur: Cabinet Minis ter Pratap Singh Khachariyawas in con versation with the me dia outside the Chief Minister’s Residence after meeting CM Ge hlot, said that CM Ashok Gehlot isn’t re signing. “CM Gehlot will go to Delhi and ap prise of the sentiments of 102 MLAs to the or ganisation leadership, because he is the guard ian of 102 MLAs. We believe in democratic system. Will continu ously fight for people under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Ra hul Gandhi,” he said.

On being asked as to will Ashok Gehlot file nomination for Con gress President or not, Khachariyawas stressed that only Ashok Gehlot & the Congress leadership know this.

Speaking to First In dia on notice, Minister Mahesh Joshi said, “I haven’t received any no tice. We have received information about it via media and social media. The High command is ours’ & will give full re spect to it. No MLA was

coerced. All MLAs ex pressed their consent.”

Meanwhile, RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Rathore said, “Our sen timent is with High Command. This is the land of heroes & loyal ists. The fears of MLAs should have been re

Om Birla: Role of Rajasthanis crucial in Maharashtra’s devp

First India Bureau

Pune: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday, said that earlier there was talk of increasing the partici pation of women in the country but there is a discussion about the leadership potential of women. “From Pan chayat to President’s post, women are show ing the way with their strength and skills,” he said while addressing the naming ceremony of the Women’s Com merce College of Maha rashtra Girls Education Society in Pune and the inauguration of the new college building.

Addressing a func tion organised in Hu zurpaga area, Birla said that in Pune, which is the birthplace of Shiva ji Maharaj, Savitri Bai Phule & Mahatma Jy otiba Phule had awak ened the light of wom

en’s education. The pro gramme was presided over by Shyam Jaju, former National VicePresident of BJP.

After the programme, the Rajasthani commu nity living in Pune fe licitated Birla. Birla said that people of Ra jasthan are known all over the world for their hard work, dedication, their sweet behaviour, talent & skill. He fur ther said that wherever he goes, he mixes with

the people in that soci ety. Birla stressed that there is another charac teristic of people of Ra jasthan that wherever they live, they stay con nected to their roots, stick to their culture and their traditions.

The LS Speaker fur ther said that the people of Rajasthan have made a valuable contribution in the development of Maharashtra by staying connected with their values.

moved. This conspiracy should be probed. We are true soldiers of Con gress. Ajay Maken knew everything & should have handled it better. Traitors want to rule with fanaticism. BJP & Modi are feeling threat ened by Gehlot Sahib.”

P1…

Sonia keeps... Interestingly, with po litical development in Raj, since Sunday, it is being said that there is a question over Gehlot running for party presi dency. One section has claimed that Gehlot isn’t yet out of the race for presidency. Howev er, any concrete devel opment in this regard, will occur only after Gehlot meets Sonia Gandhi & the duo reach a decisive understand ing. Meanwhile, the CM also spoke to media at Delhi airport and said, “We will soon re solve current situation of Congress family. Congress is under So nia Gandhi’s command. Small things do happen in a large family.”Word in ‘relevant’ circles is that ex- MP CM Digvi jaya Singh may stand for Congress prez poll. With this, political observers claim that if Singh fills nomination , he would give a chance to High Command to have an op tion at their disposal.

Pilot camps in Delhi amid political turmoil

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Former Deputy CM Sachin Pi lot is in Delhi and there are also reports of him meeting Mukul Wasnik on Tuesday evening. According to the sources, Pilot met at Mukul Wasnik’s res idence on Lodhi Road and discussed the de velopments in Ra jasthan. It was also mentioned in some me dia reports that Pilot met Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Rajiv Shukla, but later Rajiv Shukla denied any such meeting.

The way some ministers and MLAs (in Ra jasthan) crossed every limit of discipline was inappropriate. It is not acceptable that they boy cotted observers sent by the party High Com mand and skipped the meeting (of Congress Legislature Party).

—TS Singh Deo, Chhattisgarh Minister

FRONT

CM Gehlot will complete his five-year term: Vishvendra

Gehlot is capable & intelligent, who knows how to tackle situations, he said

Ravi Katara

Bharatpur: Minister Vishvendra Singh, who rebelled & went to Manesar with Sachin Pilot, said that Ashok Gehlot will complete his term. “Gehlot is su preme for all in Ra jasthan and Congress High Command is su preme in Delhi. CM Ashok Gehlot has been the CM for 14 years. This time also he will complete his term. Ge hlot is capable and in telligent who knows better how to deal with every situation,” he said. Singh has reacted for the first time in the current political tur moil. In a recent event in Bharatpur, Vishven dra had said in pres ence of CM Gehlot that he is the real pilot of the CM. Vishvendra was talking to media at the Bharatpur Circuit House after Public

Vishvendra Singh

hearing, where Minis ter of State Dr Subhash Garg also reached and both held discussion for a long time in a room.

THERE WASN’T ANY MEET AT DHARIWAL’S RESIDENCE: DR GARG Bharatpur: Lok Dal MLA from Bharatpur & Minis ter Dr Subhash Garg said that there was no meet ing of MLAs at Dhariwal’s residence & some wrong feedback has been given to High Command. He said a 3-member panel should be formed to probe matter. High Command’s decision is supreme but views of 102 MLAs, who saved govt should also be heard, Dr Garg said.

Jaipur: Congress MLA Divya Maderna raised questions over notices given to three leaders. The way Sachin Pilot, Ramesh Meena & Vish vendra Singh were sacked from Cabinet without notice, Shanti Dhariwal & Mahesh Joshi should also be sacked with im mediate effect because they have openly challenged High Command. Maderna also shared video of meet held at Dhariwal’s residence. “The High Command is clearly being challenged,” she wrote.

Ajmer: Former Education Minister and MLA from Ajmer North, Vasudev Devnani said that Con gress govt in Raj has come to a minority and now CM Gehlot has no moral right to run the government. “He should im mediately submit his resignation to the Governor and recommend the dissolution of Assembly, so that people of state can better choose political party that represents them.”

No one obeyed High Command: Meena

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Gehlot govern ment’s minister Mu rarilal Meena address ing the media during a press conference said, “The people of the state know everything and everything will be known in the coming time. Everyone is say

ing that we are with the High Command, but no one is ready to ac cept High Com mand’s decision. We have always followed orders of the High Command. Everyone should have listened to the Observ ers. Everyone knows on

whose strength the Congress gov ernment has come to power. We are being called traitors, but can someone tell what have we done for being labelled as traitors?”

He further added, “They should have

obeyed High Command. Rather they didn’t do so & held a separate meet. We went to Delhi & High Command lis tened to us. We have never disobeyed the or ders of the High Com mand. Old things be forgotten. If we aren’t united in 2023, Congress may suffer a huge loss.”

NOTHING IS MORE RELIGIOUS THAN SERVING PEOPLE IN NEED: DHANKHAR

First India Bureau New Delhi. Vice- Presi dent Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday, gave a send off to a team of seven technicians of Jaipur Foot in New Delhi at his official resi dence. This team of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) flew to the Syrian Capital of Damascus to hold a 40day rehabilitation camp for the disabled. The re habilitation camp at Syria would rehabili

BOOSTING EDUCATION

tate 500 Syrian disabled free of cost. 2. This

camp is being held with the support & fundings of MEA. Vice- Presi dent , said, “There is nothing more than serving the people in need,” and urged people to give back to society in their capacity. The founder of BMVSS, D R Mehta said that camps were being organised with support of MEA and it has helped reha bilitate 7,000 disabled in various countries in Asia and Africa.

CM’s INITIATIVE TURNING TO BE A BOON FOR STUDENTS!

Country’s first Coaching Hub being developed in Jaipur by RHB, where students will get best studying facilities

Jaipur: The State Gov ernment has taken an important initiative in the direction of provid ing better facilities to the youth of the state to prepare for the various competitive examina tions and placement of coaching institutes in a systematic manner.

With the visionary thinking of Chief Min ister Ashok Gehlot, the country’s first coaching hub is being made by

Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB) at Jaipur, wherein, all modern fa cilities will be available to students.

RHB Commissioner Pawan Arora informed that the country’s first coaching hub is being developed in a planned manner on 65,000 square metres of land in Pratap Nagar in Jaipur at a cost of about Rs 228 crore. So far, works worth Rs 100 crore have been completed.

Direct and indirect

employment opportuni ties will also be created under the Coaching Hub scheme, which will also benefit the local residents.

The RHB Commis sioner said, “Out of to tal 90 commercial prem ises constructed on the outskirts of the coach

AVAILABLE

for students and teachers and security surveillance etc.

This is a unique project of the State Government, through which all the educational facilities will be available to students of the country and the state in a single campus. Apart from the problem of parking, traffic jam etc, this place will provide a con ducive atmosphere to about 70,000 students preparing for vari ous competitive examinations. The hub will prove to be much convenient for Coaching Centre operators due to the availa bility of all modern facilities under one roof.

—Pawan Arora, RHB Commissioner

ing hub, 30 have been successfully e-auc tioned recently. People are very excited about this project. As a result of this, the Board has been successful in get ting the auction price many times higher than the fixed minimum price.

Commercial

premises on the ground floor were auctioned at three times the price and the commercial premises on the lower ground floor and first floor were auctioned at twice the minimum bid. Two plots in the use cat egory of guest house, hostel and studio apart

ment in Coaching Hub Arcade have also been sold at one and a half times more than the lowest bid.”

Interestingly, Prashant Meena, a student of Ka rauli, said that the Coaching Hub project will be of great conveni ence to the students pre paring for competitive examinations. All the necessary facilities will be available to them un der one roof in the coaching hub being de veloped in a planned manner, he said.

Brajesh Joshi, a resi dent of Jaipur, said that he is currently studying in a coaching institute located in Gopalpura.

“This area is very crowded. The coaching hub being built in Pratapnagar will pro vide a good environ ment to the students, as well as help them get rid of the problem of traffic jams and parking etc.”

heights and

us when we

Shivendra Parmar

While attacking BJP, PSK said that BJP only worries about votes

BJP & Modi are feeling threatened by Gehlot Sahib: RTDC Chief

Pratap Singh Khachariyawas comes out of the Chief Minister’s Residence in Jaipur after meeting Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

CM SHOULD RESIGN IMMEDIATELY: DEVNANI

BOTH MINISTERS BE SACKED: MADERNA

Om Birla inaugurates the Commerce College for Girls run by Maharashtra Girls Education Society, which was renamed after Durgabai Mukunddas Lohia and inaugurated the new building of the college in Pune on Wednesday.

Jagdeep Dhankhar flagging off team of BMVSS to Syria to set up a Jaipur Foot fitment camp from Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas.

Ilove melodrama which is why my favorite scene in Karz is when Durga Khote, mother of the Kiran recognizes his soul/ spirit in the young dashing singer Rishi Kapoor. Ah! Bollywood Drama at its best in the hands of thespian Subhash Ghai.

A reincarnation drama with amazingly sexy music, woe betide me but Karz is a movie I have watched many times. Om Shanti Om is a song that has transcended generations, literally too with Ranbir Kapoor wooing today’s generation as his father did … Chalta nahi hai dil deke yaaron Iss dil pe zor koyi, Iss rog ka nahi hai ilaaj Duniya mein aur koyi … to gaao Om Shanti Om! Listen to it now and Laxmikant Pyarelal music will start to flow in your veins immediately.

Dard-e-dil … aashiq banaya aapne croons a super cute Rishi (who is named Monty of all the things) for a coquettishly smiling Tina Munim with police sirens blaring in the background, (you will have to watch the movie to know why I am not telling you).

Rishi plays a melancholy singer, an orphan tortured by snatches of music, a ramming jeep with a red heart sporting ‘Just Married’ and a flashing image of Goddess Kali, all unfolds as he fol-

lows his heart- the young ‘main solah baras ki’ Tina to Ooty. Fortunately, the romance between Rishi and Tina (irritatingly childish and in a school uniform) forms a minor part of the movie. The

This Throwback Thursday we bring you Karz, a classic masala movie with reincarnation, murder, romance, and more thrown in, watch it today, and bits of it will stay with you, forever! The signature tune of Karz is still bewitching

ANITA HADA anita.hada@firstindianews.com

OF THE DAY!

NAMRATA SENANI GARG, Influencer

YOUR

Aries

MARCH 21 - APRIL 20

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

Gemini

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

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

Leo

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

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

Libra

SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 22

Take stand where you need to, don’t run in the same direction where everybody else is going.

Visit a doctor if you have any doubts about your health. Don’t attack stress even if you don’t have any. Let go of things that are not in your control. You want to have your own house and you will work hard.

Sagittarius

NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 22

You are opportunist and this will make you successful one day.

Your spouse is someone who can do anything for your happiness. There may be delays in property possession and it won’t effect you. You are happy spending whole day at home. Help your mothers and give a reason to smile.

Aquarius

JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 19

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

Taurus

APRIL 21 - MAY 20

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

Cancer

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

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

Virgo

AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 23

You are a pro in your field and none can beat you. Female scorpios are lioness and women around are often jealous. You give tough competition to people. Many people get inspired by you. You will get special treatment from your dear ones. you will feel inspired today.

Scorpio

OCTOBER 23 - NOVEMBER 22

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

Capricorn

DECEMBER 23 - JANUARY 20

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

Pisces

FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 20

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

MARITAL BLUES: FORGIVENESS

I get even!” Sadly, this statement is a guiding principle for many. Refusing to talk and using the silent treatment as a weapon with which to punish deepens the grudge.

Ascholar once described forgiveness as “the highest and most difficult of all moral lessons.” Some say, “People take advantage of you when you forgive them.” Others say, “that sounds fine in theory, but it is easier said than done.” Many feel that they will never be able to forgive. This is because reactions to personal offences are often emotional. A person feels a sense of betrayal, anger and a desire to take revenge. Forgiveness does not mean that we minimize what has been done or pretend it never occurred. Neither does it mean letting others take advantage of us.

Forgiveness is, ceasing to feel resentment because it can do more damage to one’s health and marriage than the offence itself. It is a wellthought-out personal choice that reflects a de-

done — the harsh words and thoughtless acts. As a result, affection gets replaced by resentment.

Harbouring ill-feeling is like slapping yourself and then expecting the other person to feel the pain. The other partner may be feeling just fine and not at all troubled by any of these feelings.

If one tends to rake up issues over minor matters, then one can ask oneself, ‘Could I be more patient with my partner?’

Not every offence needs to be discussed; one can overlook it and choose to be silent.

One wife said, “When I feel hurt, I try to calm down first. Often, I realize that the offence was not that serious. Focus-

couples withhold forgiveness to maintain a sort of power over their partner. Then, when a conflict arises, they use a past event as a trump card to gain the upper hand. Others feel, “If I forgive, I am inviting

in preventing a wide range of physical and emotional problems such as depression and high blood pressure.

A wife said, “One time my husband apologized for something that hurt me deeply. It was hard for me to forgive him. I eventually did but I regret that I didn’t do it sooner. It brought immense strain on our relationship.”

One can be easily hurt if he/she is overly sensitive. One therapist said: “If you have been hurt by your partner, it’s because you still care about him/her. So, by retreating, you are not only wounding your mate but destroying yourself. You further dismantle the relation-

Bitterness is like rust that slowly corrodes any relationship. In every situation, a victim can weigh, “Do I remain in severe emotional turmoil, feeling intensely hurt and angry, until the matter is fully resolved?”

Putting off forgiveness leads to separation, often followed by feelings of guilt and loneliness. A husband who divorced after fourteen years said, “The disadvantages far outweigh the delights of middle age life without marital ties. Silence can be loud in an empty house. One learns that the bark of the dog, the meow of a cat or the chirp of the bird is no substitute for a human voice… Friends do not close the awful gap that was once filled by someone called wife or husband.”

A working woman, divorced and living by herself, had achieved the pinnacle of financial success. But she said, “It’s when I come home and close the door, and know that not a soul cares what I am doing or

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

REKHA-KUMAR The writer is a personal development skills facilitator.

BIRTHDAY BASH!

Hemant Sharma, News Director, TV9 Bharatvarsh celebrated his 61st birthday on Tuesday, September 27 at The Imperial, New Delhi. Greetings poured in for the senior journalist from politicians, colleagues and friends across. The gala night at Imperial was a get-together with memories, much laughter and sharing of anecdotes as family and friends gathered to celebrate the happy occasion.

—PHOTOS BY SHAZID CHAUHAN

Jagdeesh Chandra greets Hemant Sharma. Also seen are Ishaanee and Veena

Hemant Sharma cuts the cake flanked by Jagdeesh Chandra, Veena Sharma, Ishaanee Sharma, Usha Joshi, Pankaj Singh and Kumar Vishwas

Jagdeesh Chandra with Sumaira Khan

Hemant Sharma and Navneet Sehgal

Hemant Sharma greeted by Mohan Prakash

Ishaanee Sharma & Veena Sharma

Kumar Vishwas & Hemant Sharma

Jagdeesh Chandra with Dhruv Sehgal & Shiv Sehgal

Jagdeesh Chandra with Kamlesh Chaubey

(L-R) Veena Sharma, Kalpana Sahai and Pammi Sahni

Dayashankar Mishra and Prabhat Kumar

Hemant Sharma with Devesh Singh & Himanshu Singh

(L-R) Pankaj, Veena, Sushma and Ishaanee

Hemant Sharma with (L-R) Sushil Dwivedi, Kiran Dwivedi and Yashwant Deshmukh

Hemant Sharma with Yashi Shukla & Ishaanee Sharma

Dhruv Sehgal, Dinesh Gautam and Shiv Sehgal

The celebratory cake on the occasion

Rohit Sahai Harjeet Singh Sahni

Usha Joshi in conversation with Yashwant Deshmukh

Hemant Sharma and Kalpana Sahai

Usha Joshi & Hemant Sharma Hemant Sharma with (L-R) Dr Mahesh Sharma, Veena Sharma, Dr Uma Sharma and Pankaj Singh

The

cake of fruits and

fruits

A GIFT OF LIFE

DURING THE DAY!

DREAM, SPARKLE & SHINE!

CELEBRATING HARD WORK!

CITY FIRST

CITY FIRST

Rajasthan Audi tion of Nation al Level Beauty Pageant Miss and Mrs Top Model India

2022 Season 3 organised by Nawabza da & Company was or ganised at Gopala Res taurant located on Air port Road, Jaipur on Tuesday. More than 100 Miss and Mrs category models from Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Sikar, Jodhpur and other cit ies presented their claim for selection by walking the ramp.

Show director Ashfaq Shah and Ayub Mansoori shared that this is the third season of this pageant. In this audition, models from all over Rajasthan have come to Jaipur to par ticipate in this pageant.

All the models first walked the ramp in a black one-piece dress code on a western theme and then im pressed the judges with singing, dancing and other activities. 25 models of the Miss category and 75 models of the Mrs category participated in this audition. The au dition will be followed by a talent round, port folio shoot, look launch and fitness and motiva tional session. The grand finale of this pag

eant will be organised at the end of Decem ber this year.

During this audi tion, the jury panel comprising Madhuri Wadhwa, Vartika Bha tia and Rajni Kaur Khan judged the talent of the participants in the role of the jury. Khaliq Khan was the chief guest in the pro gram and Mukesh Poo nia, Shahzad Ali, Suhan Khan, Aryan and Khur shid were present as guests.

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

CITY FIRST

With a vision to provide ad vanced diagnos tic services, and enhancing the clinical care, the Central Diagnos tic Laboratory in JNU Hospital received two new Automated Machines in its Histopathology Lab on Wednesday. With these machines, timely diagno sis of operated organ, tu mor or biopsy can be giv en. The department of

Pathology & Central Labo ratory is well-equipped with Automated Equip

ments & dedicated diag nostic ensemble. JNUIMSRC also ap proved by the US ECFMG and UK GMC Boards, thus enabling the MBBS stu

dents to appear for the USMLE and PLAB exams respectively.

Dr Sandeep Bakshi, Chancellor, JNU said that continuous growth in academics and clini cal care is the para mount goal of the in stitute. He said that ad vanced Equipments & subject expertise makes JNU Hospital one of the best Hospitals and we are continuously upgrading & striving for Excellence.

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

On the comple tion of five years, Mem bers’ Day

‘Goonj 2022’ was or ganised in which all the members partici pated enthusiasti cally, along with various colorful cultur al programs on Wednesday. The members were also honored who have associated their business field with BNI.

On this occasion

BNI National Head Hemu Suvarna, BNI Foundation India Head Sandeep Shah, Executive Director KVT Ramesh from Visakhapatnam,

Anil Chhajed from Udaipur Ankit Me hta of Jodhpur, Rajesh Besia from Raipur were present.

On this occasion, BNI Foundation was also started in Jaipur, which is a part of this organi sation which is working in the field of educa tion of children in the category of social concerns. The aim is to make those children self-reliant who come from that part of the society where there is a lack of amenities. In this, along with educa tion, networking and business informa tion will also be giv en to them.

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

EVENTS IN THE CITY!

CITY FIRST

Creating a sense of culture and unity is the es sence of any Indian festival.

Navratra is the muchawaited festival of the year which represents dance, music and togeth erness. A grand Dan diya practice session was organised at Po dar Jumbo grounds, , C-scheme, Jaipur on Tuesday to celebrate Navratri by dancing to the beat of Dandiya and Garba songs.

The real excitement in Navratri emanates

from the spectacular dandiya dance. The pratice day started with ‘Maha Aarti’ of Goddess Durga fol lowed by the Garba dance.

Garba and dandiya enthusiasts queued up to train in folk dances per formed on indoor and outdoor grounds, where they were taught to groove on fa mous Garba songs. At the workshop, many people learnt the basic steps including the dotaali garba (where dancers clap and grooved in circle).

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

STARS IN THE CITY

Punjab and Sind Bank, Zone Jaipur organised a review meeting of the branch managers under the leadership of Executive Director of Punjab & Sind Bank, Dr Ram Jass Yadav on Monday. He apprised all the present managers about the new schemes of the bank and gave his suggestions for the progress and development of the bank, In addition to this he also instructed the branch managers to increase their marketing skills and their ability towards the progress of the bank. He encouraged them to improve the Bank’s customer base by exceeding their expectations and easy customer service. Zonal Manager, Sudhish Bajpai gave a vote of thanks and promised to contribute towards the progress development of the bank.

The inauguration of the Bombay Art Society gallery was organised on Sunday, in which two artists from Jaipur working in the field of painting, Dr Prashant Sharma and Nirav Kulshrestha ‘Insane’ showcased their beautiful artworks on the occasion.

Supermodel Divisha Paliwal celebrated her 23rd birthday in the most unique and lovely way. Divisha along with her mother Chitra Paliwal reached Umeed Special Children’s School, Jaipur to make the day special, they distributed gifts and delicious food for the children. During the occasion, the diva said, “I visited Umeed Special Children’s School with my mother to celebrate my special day. Doing so makes my heart swell with happiness and unconditional love.”

An interactive session was organised to solve problems related to the development of the town and land of Sumerpur, Pali on Wednesday. Niranjan Arya, advisor to CM Ashok Gehlot along with many dignitaries reached and discussed the major issues on the occasion.

The world’s leading new energy vehicle manufacturer, BYD announced the opening of its first passenger vehicles showroom in Raj and seventh showroom in India. The showroom is located in Jaipur and will be managed by SKYY EVolution on Wednesday. The showroom was inaugurated by Alop Mehta, Director of SKYY EVolution, Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, Senior Vice President of Electric Passenger Vehicle Business of BYD India, along with other senior officials.

Bollywood actors (clockwise) Rajkumar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor, Kumud Mishra and Aana Kumar were spotted at Marriott Hotel, Jaipur on Wednesday.

JK Shukla created record at the Coir Board for having maximum Gold medals in the history of the Coir Board on Wednesday. He played a significant role in the organisation’s nationwide marketing, helped to boost domestic sales of Coir products by more than 400%, and helped the organisation win gold for a second time.

The poster for the Photo XPO Photography fair to be held on 14, 15 and 16 October 2022 in Jaipur at Patrika Gate Jawahar Circle was released by Jaipur Photographers Association. During the occasion, MP Ramcharan Bohra, BJP Jaipur City District Vice President Kedar Sharma, President of Jaipur Photographer Association Dinesh Sharma, Banwari Sharma, Pramod Kumawat, Pankaj Khunteta, Mahesh Brahmbhatt, Shaitan Singh, Deepak Sharma, Bharat Sharma, Vinay, Sushil Mittal, Manoj Singhal, Champalal, Rajesh Sharma, Shyam Sharma, Navratan, Ganraj among others were present.

A grand opening ceremony of St. Xavier’s College, Nevta Campus Jaipur took place at its premises on Wednesday. The Chief Guest- Fr. A. Rex Angelo graced the occasion with his gracious presence. President of Xavier’s College Alumni, Aparna Joshi shared that the office, equipped with all modern-day facilities will greatly benefit the organisation as the Alumni will be in the position to engage with the students, giving access to on-campus professional expertise for the betterment of the institution.

BY

BY

BY SANTOSH SHARMA

Participants of Miss and Mrs Top Model India 2022

(L-R) Vartika Bhatia and Tanya Singh

Sheetal Vishvakarma (L-R) Sudhish Bajpai and Ram Jass Yadav

Dr Sandeep Bakshi with others

Divisha Paliwal and her mother Chitra Paliwal with special children of Umeed Children School

BY

Ram Jass Yadav addressing the audience. A lso seen is Sudhish Bajpai

BY