First India-Delhi Edition-30th October 2022 by firstindia

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GUJ GOVT TO FORM COMMITTEE FOR IMPLEMENTING UCC

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has decided to form a committee to implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC), it said on Saturday.

“The committee will be headed by a retired HC judge with 4 others. CM to select the members of committee.

NCB FILES 200-PAGE CHARGESHEET AGAINST BHARTI, HER HUSBAND

Mumbai: Mumbai NCB has said that they have filed a 200-page chargesheet against comedian Bharti Singh and her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa. They were held in 2020 in connection with drugs case, are currently out on bail.

59 KILLED, OVER 150 INJURED AFTER STAMPEDE IN KOREA

Seoul: Over 55 people died from cardiac arrest and over 150 others were injured after a huge crowd poured into a central district of the South Korean capital for festivities late on Saturday in a narrow alley near Hamilton Hotel here.

KANGANA DROPS A BIGGEST HINT ON HER ENTRY INTO POLITICS

New Delhi: ‘I would be grateful if I get a chance to serve the people of HP’ said actress Kangana Ranaut. On question if she would like to serve country if given a chance, Ranaut stressed that she is ‘open to all kinds of such participation.’ P2

MUSK TO PROVIDE CHOICE IN DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF TWITTER

New Delhi: Twitter users could in future choose a version of SM platform they like by providing ratings on tweets. Being able to select which version you want is better, much as it would be for a movie maturity rating,” Elon Musk said on Saturday.

TALKING TERROR!

UN counter-terrorism

all 15

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jais hankar, on Saturday, at the Special Meeting of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) un derlined that the inter net and social platforms have become potent in struments in the toolkit of terrorists.

Characterising ter rorism as one of gravest threats to humanity, he said," The UN Security Council, in the past 2 decades, has evolved an important architecture, built primarily around the counter-terrorism sanctions regime, to combat this menace. And this has been effec tive in putting those countries on notice that

States to ensure

the Delhi Declaration and called

tolerance

terrorism

India among developed countries by 2047: Modi

Gujarat targets to fill 35,000 posts in one year

First India Bureau

Jaishankar SPEAKS

The entire international community must work together to “starve” terrorists of finance and emerging technologies to stop destruction around the world.

—James Cleverly, British Foreign Secretary

had turned terrorism into a State-funded en terprise," said Jais

TERROR GROUPS ABUSING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO BE DEALT GLOBALLY: UN CHIEF

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for concerted global efforts to deal with the challenge of the use of new technologies by various terror groups to radicalise people and foment discord in societies.

hankar adding terror ism as " gravest

to humanity. More on P3

Terrorists use technolo gies like virtual private network, encrypted message services and money, and importantly, ethos of open societies, to attack freedom, toler ance and progress India will contribute USD 500,000 to United Nations Trust Fund for Counter Terrorism this year to aid capacitybuilding support to member states in combating terrorism

‘AD-HOC’ MEASURE

New Delhi: PM Naren dra Modi on Saturday addressed the Gujarat Rozgar Mela via video message. Modi compli mented the Gujarat CM and his team for this quick response. He in formed that in recent times 10,000 youngsters were given appointment letters in Gujarat and target of filling 35,000 posts in next one year has been set. Modi said this type of Rozgar Mel as will continue to be organised at national and state levels in com ing months. Whereas, Centre is working on providing 10 lakh jobs, States and UTs are also getting associated in the campaign, number will rise significantly. Under

LG OFFS ‘RED LIGHT ON…’ CAMPAIGN

New Delhi (PTI): Lieu tenant Governor VK Saxena has asked Chief Minister Arvind Kejri wal to reconsider the ‘Red light on, Gaadi off’ campaign, questioning the effectiveness of such an “ad-hoc” meas ure as the national capi tal reels under high air pollution level, sources said on Saturday.

The AAP govern ment had earlier at tacked the LG, alleging that delay in approving the proposal had forced

it to postpone the Octo ber 28 launch of the campaign. But sources in the LG office claimed

that Environment Min ister Gopal Rai had “lied” as the file sent mentioned the date of

‘INHUMAN USE OF VOLUNTEERS’

The LG

to the “inhuman” and “exploitative

DCW CHIEF WRITES TO PM MODI SEEKING CHANGES IN REMISSION, PAROLE RULES Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking changes in remission and parole rules in context with the parole given to rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and the release of the rapists of Bilkis Bano.

lining critical role of young people in India’s march to developed na

Pakistani civilian, in attempt to cross border, shot by BSF

tion status by 2047, PM asked them to fulfil their duty towards the nation.

Delhi AQI in ‘severe’ zone, curbs imposed

GRAP stage

New Delhi (PTI): Amid worsening pollution levels in Delhi, the Cen tre's air quality panel on Saturday directed authorities in the Na tional Capital Region to immediately imple ment curbs under stage III of the Graded Re sponse Action Plan (GRAP).

The restrictions in clude a ban on construc tion and demolition ac tivities except for essen tial projects concerning national security, de fence, railways and met ro rail among others.

The Commission for Air Quality Manage ment (CAQM) also said that the authorities might impose restric tions on the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV die sel four-wheelers in the NCR considering the worsening air quality.

Delhi's 24-hour aver age air quality index stood at 397 at 4 pm, the worst since January. It was 354 on Thursday, 271 on Wednesday, 302 on Tuesday and 312 on Monday (Diwali).

GRAP is a set of an ti-air pollution meas ures followed in the capital and its vicinity according to the sever ity of the situation.

It classifies the air quality in the DelhiNCR under four differ ent stages: Stage I'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'Severe Plus' (AQI >450).

Under stage III, the

Will answer all queries, resubmit file to LG: Rai

New Delhi (PTI): Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Saturday said the Delhi govern ment will answer all questions raised by LG VKSaxena on the “Red Light On, Gaadi Off” campaign and resubmit the file for his approval.

Rai said, “ “The LG has returned the file, saying Delhi govern ment did not get a study conducted to ascertain the impact of the campaign over last two years. We conducted the campaign in 2020 and 2021 after studying all available information,” he said.

The minister said a study conducted by Central Road Research Institute showed that 9,036 litres of diesel, petrol and LPG and 5,461 kg of CNG is wasted at 950 traffic signals everyday in Delhi.A study by UrbanEmissions.info, showed 17,000 tonnes of PM10 is emitted at traffic signals in Pune, Rai said.

“Delhi has four to five times the number of vehicles in Pune which means 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes of PM10 is emitted at traffic signals in Delhi,” he said.

authorities have been asked to enforce a strict ban on construction and demolition activi ties in the NCR, except for essential projects (such as railways, met ro, airports, ISBTs, na

President Murmu greets people on Chhath Puja

New Delhi (PTI): Pres ident Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said Chhath Puja is a unique exam ple of mutual harmony between human beings and nature, and greeted citizens on the eve of the festival.

Chhath Puja is an oc casion when we express our reverence, affection and gratitude towards Mother Nature, the president said.

Offering ‘arghya’ to the Sun god, devotees

begin their day with a rigorous fast and wor ship the sun and rivers, she said.

“The fast culminates in a holy bath in the wa ter bodies and worship ping the nature. This festival is a unique ex ample of mutual har mony between human beings and the nature. On this year’s Chhath, may people’s wishes get fulfilled, and everyone stays healthy and hap py,” Murmu said.

tional security/de fence-related projects of national impor tance) and non-pollut ing activities such as plumbing, carpentry, interior decoration and electrical works.

BJP SUBMITS MEMORANDUM TO CAQM CHAIRPERSON

New Delhi: A BJP delegation led by the par ty’s state unit chief Adesh Gupta on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Chairper son MM Kutty and expressed concern over the polluted and toxic air in Delhi. BJP

MP Parvesh Sahib Singh, senior leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, media rela tions in-charge Harish Khurana, spokesper sons Yasir Jilani and Ajay Sehrawat were part of the delegation. Gupta said the air in Delhi had become so toxic and polluted that it was bound to cause lung disease.

Brick kilns, hot mix plants and stone crush ers not operating on clean fuels, and min ing and associated ac tivities in the NCR have also been banned.

AIIMS to create database for cross-referrals

New Delhi (ANI): AIIMS Delhi Director Dr M Srinivas conduct ed a meeting on Satur day with Medical Su perintendents and Di rectors of 20 govern ment hospitals regard ing emergency referrals.

Dr DK Sharma, Medi cal Superintendent, AIIMS, Delhi said, “We are doing our best for the patient coming to the emergency, but large number of pa tients who require ad mission we are not able to get them admitted because of non-availa bility of beds. So our director decided to con vene a meeting with the directors and medical superintendent of all hospitals to discuss to finalise a system where by we can have an emer gency services network of all hospitals.”

In the meeting, medi cal superintendents and directors of other government hospitals discussed about cross reference so that pa tient can get beds dur ing emergency.

Teen murdered by juveniles who harassed his sister

New Delhi (PTI): A 17-year-old youth was al legedly stabbed to death by two juveniles follow ing an argument over one of them harassing his sister, police said on Saturday.

The teen had alleged ly slapped one of the ju veniles earlier for har assing his sister.

Manoj Kumar Negi was taken to Sardar Pa tel Hospital where he was declared dead, Dep uty Commissioner of Police (Central) Shweta Chauhan said.

Both the juvenile as sailants have been ap prehended and the weapon of offence re covered, the police said.

A purported CCTV footage of the incident circulating on social me dia shows a scuffle be tween two youths. Dur ing the scuffle, a third person is seen arriving at the spot with some thing in his hand and attacking the victim.

After the two assail ants flee, a visibly falter ing victim is seen taking out his mobile phone

SACRED GOODS

Manoj Kumar Negi’s fa ther Chandan Singh Negi said that while he was rushing his son to hospi tal, his son told him that the two juveniles had passed lewd comments at his sister.

Negi warned the two and even slapped one a few days ago. The ag grieved juveniles stabbed Negi multiple times when he was returning from computer class as revenge, Chauhan said.

Deepak Bisht, Negi’s neighbour, also alleged the accused had earlier harassed the victim’s sister.

“Before Diwali, the accused had passed lewd remarks at her and harassed her. Negi asked them to refrain from this, following which an argument ensued between them and they threatened to teach him a lesson after Diwali.It was a preplanned attack. They knew that Negi went to com puter class every evening at 8 pm and returned at 9 pm. They attacked him while he was returning home and fled,” Bisht said.

and ostensibly calling someone for help. He then collapses near a bike with the knife stuck on his back.

The video also shows

people watching the youth lying there but no one tries to help him.

The incident hap pened hardly 15 metres away from Nehi’s home.

Gahlot reviews Chhath preparations ‘IndiGo plane faced engine stall, airflow surge caused fire’

New Delhi (PTI): Rev enue Minister Kailash Gahlot on Saturday vis ited several ghats in the city ahead of the Chhath festival to en sure preparations were in place for the devo tees. Accompanied by officials, the minister took stock of readiness for Chhath, starting Sunday, at Bhalswa Jheel and Kes havpuram ghats.

"Delhi government led by CM Kejriwal is monitoring the prepa rations for Chhath at

—PHOTO BY ANI

the ghats to ensure dev otees face no in incon venience," Gahlot said.

AMBITIOUS

LG inspects Bhalswa Lake

New Delhi: In view of Chhath Puja, Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday inspected Bhalswa lake in the national capital. "Bhalswa lake was dirty earlier, it has now been cleaned within 10 days. I hope devotees will get to offer prayers in a clean space this time. The lake will be further improved in the time to come," LG Saxena said.

‘If govt wishes’, Kangana open to joining politics

lll

During her time on Twitter, Kangana was known for her inflammatory statements on issues like antiCAA protests and farmers’ agitation

New Delhi (PTI): Film star Kangana Ranaut on Saturday said she wants to serve the people of Himachal Pradesh in any possible capacity, even if it requires her to join politics.

The actor, who hails from Manali, said it will be a matter of pride for her if she gets the op portunity to work for the betterment of the people of her home state.

“Whatever will be the situation... If the gov

ernment wants my par ticipation, then I will be very much open to all

kinds of participation... It will be my honour if the people of Himachal

I will be very much open to all kinds of participation... It will be my honour if people of Himachal Pradesh give me a chance to serve them. So, defi nitely, it will be my good luck .

—Kangana Ranaut Actor

Pradesh give me a chance to serve them. So, definitely, it will be

my good luck,” Kanga na, 35, said.

The National Awardwinning actor was speaking at the Pan chayat Aajtak Himachal Pradesh event in Shimla ahead of the Assembly polls in the state on No vember 12. The counting will take place on De cember 8.

Earlier this month, Kangana had said she had no plans to enter into politics profession ally as she remains fo cused on her film career.

New Delhi (PTI): An IndiGo plane, which aborted take off at Delhi airport on Fri day night, had suf fered “engine stall” leading to a surge in the airflow resulting in a momentary fire in the engine exhaust, according to DGCA sources.

A loud bang was heard following a warning of the fail ure in the plane, which was to fly to Bengaluru with 184 people on board.

There was no injury to any person on

board the aircraft, sources said.

The A320 ceo air craft VT-IFM operat ing flight 6E-2131 aborted takeoff at In dira Gandhi Interna tional Airport here due to a fire in one of its engines. The plane returned to the bay and passengers were deboarded safely. Vid eos in social media showed fire in one of the plane’s engines and sparks flying be fore the takeoff was aborted.

DGCA is probing the incident.

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Kangana Ranaut at the gallery of gifts and mementos presented to PM Modi, at National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. A monkey crosses the Kartvya Path near Raisina Hills on a smoggy morning in New Delhi on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

III kicks

in; ban on construction, demolition work

Women buy puja material for 'Chhath Puja' festivities in an East Delhi market on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

IT WAS A PRE-PLANNED REVENGE ATTACK, SAYS NEIGHBOUR

—ANI Minister Kailash Gahlot at a press meet on preparations for Chhath, at AAP office in New Delhi on Saturday.

Jaishankar draws world attention to drone threat

New Delhi: Address ing a special meeting of the UN Security Coun cil's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) here on Saturday, External Affairs Minister S Jais hankar flagged the use of unmanned aerial systems by terrorist groups and organised criminal networks.

Jaishankar noted that the "misuse" of these unmanned aerial platforms for nefarious purposes by terrorist groups such as delivery of weapons and explo sives and to carry out targeted attacks have become an "imminent danger".

"They are, therefore, a challenge for security agencies worldwide.

The possibilities of us ing weaponised drones for terrorist purposes against strategic, infra structure and commer cial assets calls for seri ous attention," he said.

Jaishankar called for

—S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister

focused discussion at the Counter-Terrorism Committee to stop the misuse of new and emerging technologies by terror groups.

He also referred to the use of technology by the terror networks that carried out the 26/11 Mumbai attack.

"Our experience showed us how a benign technology of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) could be used for organising and direct

ing such a barbaric ter rorist attack from be yond borders," he said.

"More recently, these terrorist groups have been using unmanned aerial platforms, such as drones and quadcop ters for cross-border trafficking of drugs and arms and for carrying out terrorist attacks," he noted.

The external affairs minister cautioned that such risks are not just limited to India. "A

Blood on lathis evidence of Tihar Jail officials killing Ankit Gujjar

New Delhi (PTI): A Delhi court has taken cognisance of a charge sheet filed against for mer deputy superinten dent of Tihar prison Narender Meena and other jail officials in a case related to the death of gangster Ankit Guj jar last year, citing “pri ma-facie” sufficient ma terial to proceed with the case.

Meena is currently in judicial custody along with then Assistant Su perintendents Deepak Dabas and Ram Avtar Meena, Head Warder Dinesh Chikara, and warders Harphool Mee na and Vinod Meena.

The accused were charged with Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to mur der) of the IPC.

According to the CBI, the accused kicked and

brutally beat Ankit Gu jjar, 29, and two other inmates—Gurjeet and Gurpreet—with poly carbonate ‘lathis’.

Further, proper medi cal attention was not given to Ankit Gujjar who succumbed to his injuries on August 4, 2021, the agency said.

The CBI said that during investigation seven polycarbonate la this having possible traces of blood were re

covered from the jail.

“A forensic examina tion was done and as per FSL report, from two of the lathis, DNA profiles were generated which were found matching with the mixed DNA profiles of the inmates Ankit Guj jar, Gurjeet and Gur preet,” CBI said.

Gujjar was lodged in prison number 3 and was facing charges of multiple murders.

few months ago, terror ists launched crossborder drone attacks on the UAE and Saudi Arabia targeting civil ians and civilian infra structure, which led to the loss of lives and injuries, including to Indian nationals there," he said.

The minister reaf firmed India's commit ment to strengthen in ternational efforts to combat terrorism. "I am confident that today's special meeting will be yet another milestone for this Council to deal with the pressing issue, which requires urgent attention," he said.

Top UNSC security body adopts ‘Delhi Declaration’ ‘Urgent Action’

l Member-countries urged to ensure “zero tolerance” towards ter rorist activities.

l The Counter-Terror ism Committee reaf firmed that terrorism constitutes “one of the most serious threats” to international peace.

l Vows to contribute further to the overall ef fort to fight the scourge on a global level.

l Emphasises need for member-states to continue cooperation with the private sector and civil society.

l Underlines the need for taking “urgent ac tion” to counter terror ism in all its forms.

l Says terrorism should not be associ ated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.

New Delhi (PTI):

The UN Security Council's CounterTerrorism Committee on Saturday called on member-countries to ensure "zero toler ance" towards terror ist activities and vowed to deal with the scourge more vigor ously at the end of its two-day special con clave in India.

The meeting, at tended by representa tives of 15 membercountries of the UN Security Council and global counter-terror experts, adopted the "Delhi Declaration" listing the council's priorities in combat ing the challenge of terrorism and terrorfinancing.

In the declaration, the global body ex

pressed concerns over the increasing use of Internet and other in formation and com munications technol ogies, including social media platforms, for terrorist purposes.

It said innovations in financial technolo gies such as crowd funding platforms present a risk of be ing misused for ter rorist-financing and noted with concern

the increasing global misuse of unmanned aerial systems by ter rorists to conduct at tacks against on criti cal infrastructure.

The Counter-Ter rorism Committee urged all memberstates to ensure "zero tolerance" towards terrorism, consistent with their obligations under international laws, including hu man rights law.

Jaishankar meets British counterpart Cleverly

New Delhi (PTI): The Ukraine conflict and the situation in Indo-Pacific figured prominently in talks between Exter nal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and visiting British Foreign Secre tary James Cleverly.

Cleverly arrived in India on Friday on a two-day visit primarily to attend

PROTECTORS OF COWS?

a special meeting of the UN Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee. It is the first visit by a top-rank ing official from Britain after Rishi Sunak took charge as the UK's first Indian-origin prime minister on Tuesday.

During the visit, the British foreign

BY PTI

Naval commanders’ 4-day meet

New Delhi (PTI): Top commanders of the In dian Navy will carry out a comprehensive review of the country's maritime security at a four-day conclave be ginning Monday in the backdrop of the geopolitical turmoil trig gered by the Ukraine

conflict and China's in creasing forays into the Indian Ocean region.

THAT DAY

Defence Minister Ra jnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari are sched uled to address the com manders on a range of subjects including triservices convergence.

secretary announced further collaboration between the UK and India through British International Invest ment. This included 11 million Pound of UK funding invested in Ki nara Capital, a womanled fintech company, according to the British High Commission.

‘Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal’ on October 31

New Delhi (ANI): The Ministry of Home Af fairs (MHA) is all set to announce 'Union Home Minister's Special Op eration Medal-2022' on the occasion of Nation al Unity Day on October 31, the birth anniversa ry of Sardar Vallabhb hai Patel. The award will be declared on Oc tober 31 morning when the country will be cel ebrating a large-scale 'Run For Unity' event.

Instituted by the MHA on July 23, 2018, 'Union Home Minister's Special Operation Med al' is conferred to state and Union Territory (UT) Police Forces, Cen tral Police Organiza tions (CPOs), Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Security organizations.

METRO FROM 4AM ON OCT 31 Delhi metro rail services will begin at 4am on October 31 to facilitate people participating in the 'Run for Unity', DMRC officials said on Saturday.

The award is con ferred for special opera tions in areas such as terrorism, border ac tion, arms control, pre vention of narcotics smuggling and rescue operations. In a year, only three Special Op erations are considered for award.

17 years after Delhi serial blasts, survivors live with trauma, loss

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Serial blasts had ripped through crowded marketplaces of Sarojini Nagar, Kalkaji, and Paharganj, leaving 67 people dead and over 225 injured

Aparna Bose

New Delhi: Sanjay Pras ad broke down in tears as he pointed to a juice corner at the bustling Sarojini Nagar market where his elder brother was found dead after a bomb explosion on Oc tober 29, 2005.

Some lost a sibling, some their parents and some, like Manisha Mi chael, lost both.

It has been 17 years since the terror attack, but survivors and fami

lies of the deceased vic tims who gathered at a memorial on Saturday say that time has not been a healer.

Serial blasts had ripped through crowd ed marketplaces of Sa rojini Nagar, Kalkaji, and Paharganj, leaving 67 people dead and over 225 injured in 2005 two days before Diwali.

“The day remains vivid in my mind. Bare ly 10 minutes before the blast, I met my brother who worked at a shop

and walked past the market. When I heard the noise of the blast

and turned around, I saw a thick blanket of smoke and stench of

burning flesh,” Prasad, 34, said, as he paid hom age to his elder brother at Sarojini Nagar.

Manisha Michael, who was eight years old when she lost her par ents and brother in the blast, said that the trau ma persists even today.

“I’ve lived with my grandparents since then. I have overcome a lot of hurdles alone and learnt to deal with eve rything by myself but the emotional trauma is still there,” she said.

Jagriti Ochani, who was nine years old when she survived the bomb ing at Sarojini market along with her mother, said that she “feels ter rified to visit crowded places”. She lost her 8-month-old sister in the blast and suffered 45 per cent burn injuries. “It took two plastic surger ies and several years of treatments for my inju ries. The emotional wound will always re main the same,” she said.

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—PTI

ACCUSED FREED

First India Bureau External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly (L) and UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Ebrahim Al Hashimy at the special meeting of the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee in New Delhi on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

UNSC COUNTER-TERRORISM MEET

n It is for first time that the UN Security Council is holding a meeting, in any format, in India

I am confident that today’s special meet ing will be yet another milestone for this Council to deal with the pressing issue.

29-yr-old gangster Ankit Gujjar and two other inmates were allegedly beaten to death inside Tihar Jail with lathis. A crowded Sarojini Nagar Market on Saturday, October 29, the 17th anniversary of the 2005 Delhi serial blasts. —PHOTO BY PTI

WHERE

Stray cows take shelter under the elevated road from Raj Nagar to UP Gate, in Ghaziabad.

—PHOTO

INS Sumedha in a Maritime Exercise with Korea Navy ships Spaces for Change’s Communication Officer, Sefa Ikpa speaks at the meeting of the CTC on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

GANDHI: THE POWER OF TRUTH AND NONVIOLENCE

IN-DEPTH

AZAM KHAN OF SP LOSES HOUSE MEMBERSHIP IN JOLT TO THE SP

We may foam, we may fret, we may resent, but let us not forget that the India of today in her impatience had produced an army of anarchists. I am myself an anarchist, but of another type…. Their anarchism… is a sign of fear. If we trust and fear God, we shall have to fear no one, not Maharajas, not Viceroys, not the detectives, not even King George”

Mohandas Karamchand Gan dhi, after 21 years in South Africa finally returned to In dia for good in January 1915. He kept away from active poli tics action for the next four years. But he travelled all over India speaking on Truth, Saty agraha and Social reform.

On 4th February 1916 he made a sensational speech at Benares. Below I give the abridged version. In 1892, Mrs Besant started a school at Benares, and in 1916 this in stitution, guided by Pandit Malaviya, was expanded into the Hindu University Central College. An illustrious gath ering of notable attended the three-day opening ceremo nies in February 1916. The Viceroy was there and so were numerous bejewelled maharajas, maharanis, rajas and high officials in all their dazzling panoply.

On February 4th Gandhi (not yet Mahatma) addressed the meeting. India had never heard such a forthright speech. Gandhi spared no one. “His Highness, the Maharaja, who presided yesterday over our deliberations spoke about the poverty of India. Other speakers laid great stress upon it. But what did we wit

WILL ELON MUSK

ness in the great pandal in which the foundation ceremo ny was performed by the Vice roy (Lord Hardinge)? Certain ly a most gorgeous show, an exhibition of jewellery which made a splendid feast for the eyes of the greatest jeweller who chose to come from Paris.

I compare with the richly be decked noblemen the millions of the poor. And I feel like say ing to those noblemen: ‘there is no salvation for India unless you strip yourselves of this jewellery and hold it in trust for your countrymen in India.

Whenever I hear of a great palace rising in any great city of India’, he went on, ‘be it in British India or be it the India ruled by our great chiefs, I be come jealous at once and say, “Oh, it is the money that has come from the agricultur ists”……There cannot be much spirit of self-govern ment about us, if we take away or allow others to take away from peasants almost the whole of the results of their labour. Our salvation can only come through the farmer. Nei ther the lawyers, nor the doc tors, nor the rich landlords are going to secure it.

It is matter of deep humili ation and shame for us, that I am compelled this evening under the shadow of this great college, and in this sa cred city, to address my coun trymen in a language that is foreign to me.

Suppose, that we had been receiving education during the past fifty years through

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, after 21 years in South Africa finally returned to India for good in January 1915 He kept away from active politics action for the next four years. But he travelled all over India speaking on Truth, Satyagraha and Social reform

our vernaculars, what should we be today? We should have today a free India, we should have our educated man not as if they were foreigners in their own land, but speaking to the heart of the nation; they would be working amongst the poorest of the poor, and whatsoever they would have gained during the past fifty years would be a heritage of the nation.

No amount of speeches will ever make us fit for self-gov ernment. It is only our con duct that will fit us for it. And how are we trying to govern ourselves?.... if you find me this evening speaking without reserve, pray consider that you are only sharing the thoughts of a man who allows himself to think audibly, and if you think that I seem to transgress the limits that courtesy imposes upon me, pardon me for the liberty I

may be taking. … I speak feel ingly as a Hindu. Is it right that the lanes of our sacred temple should be as dirty as they are? The houses round about are built anyhow. The lanes are narrow and tortu ous. If even our temples are not models of roominess and cleanliness what can our selfgovernment be? Shall our temples be abodes of holiness, cleanliness and peace as soon as the British have retired from India….?

All of us have had many anxious moments while the Viceroy was going through the streets of Benaras. There were detectives stationed in many places. This was not to be talked about in public. We were horrified, we asked our selves, ‘Why this distrust? Is it not better that even Lord Hardinge should die than live a living death? But a repre sentative of the mighty Sover eign may not. He might find it necessary even to live a living death. But why was it neces sary to impose these detec tives on us? We may foam, we may fret, we may resent, but let us not forget that the India of today in her impatience had produced an army of an archists. I am myself an anar chist, but of another type…. Their anarchism… is a sign of fear. If we trust and fear God, we shall have to fear no one, not Maharajas, not Viceroys, not the detectives, not even King George.”

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

The government an nounced tighten ing controls on so cial media the day Elon Musk said that the “Bird is freed“. In In dia Twitter will only enjoy the freedom which it is allowed by the Government of India. In what can be described as a nasty welcome the govern ment empowered itself with tough measures like ordering social media giants like Twit ter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to overturn their de cisions. So if a user account is suspended, blocked or re moved by these companies the government now has the pow er to reverse these decisions. Content moderation will no longer be their right.

Questions may be raised about freedom of expression

In India, Twitter will only enjoy the freedom which it is allowed by the Govt of India. In what can be described as a nasty welcome, the government empowered itself with tough measures like ordering social media giants like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to overturn their decisions

as the new IT rules want the intermediaries (the social me dia companies) to ensure that “users do not post or share any information which does not belong to them”. That sim ply means a message or post

can no longer be forwarded. The rule will put Musk in di rect confrontation with the government unless he is ready to beat a retreat on making Twitter “a freewheeling place for all types of commentary”.

The government has said in no uncertain terms that Musk will have to fall in line. Having bought the ‘bird’ in a $44 bil lion deal Musk will not risk losing the huge Indian market even though users may be dis appointed. The first indica tion of a compromise came when Musk said that Twitter will form “a content modera tion council” which will take key decisions on content mod eration. That may not satisfy the government which wants absolute control as opposed to free speech absolutism of Musk.

Mohammed Azam Khan, a senior Sama jwadi Party leader and MLA from Ram pur, has become the first high-profile politician to have been convicted for hate speech and disqualified from the membership of Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Azam was disquali fied from membership as the MP/MLA court sentenced him to three years in jail. A two-year sentence would have come as a reprieve. In November 2021 BJP MLA from Aydhya’s Gosaiganj, Indra Pratap alias Khabbu Ti wari, was disqualified after the court sentenced him for five years in a fake mark-sheet case. Hate speech remains unde fined under the Indian Penal Code. Section 153 A IPC deals with cases pertaining to promo tion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language. According to a report by the National Crime Records Bureau, there was a 500 percent increase in cases under 153A IPC between 2014 and 2020 but conviction rate remained extremely low. For convictions the judiciary has to play an un biased role.

Kiren Rijiju @KirenRijiju

Coming together of Judiciary & Govt at Kaziranga to deliberate on critical issues, “Environment & Sustainable Development- Role of Judiciary” and “Digitization of Indian Judiciary”, will provide solution and make India fully developed by 2047, as visualized by @ narendramodi Ji.

l Vol 2 l Issue No.60

l RNI TITLE NO. DELENG/2021/19840

Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Impressions Printing and Packaging Limited, C-21, 22 Sector-59, Noida-201301. Published at G-20, 3rd Floor, 309, Preet Vihar, New Delhi-110092. Phone 011-49846474.

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

PERSPECTIVE NEW DELHI | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022 04 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/delhi I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

Narendra Modi @narendramodi Was happy to speak with HH Amir @ TamimBinHamad of Qatar. Thanked him for his gracious Diwali greetings, and conveyed best wishes for a successful @FIFAWorldCup in Qatar. We agreed to jointly celebrate 50 yrs of India-Qatar diplomatic relations in 2023. SPIRITUAL SPEAK The world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world. Buddha

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K NATWAR SINGH The author is Former Minister of External Affairs of India

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IN POLL-BOUND GUJARAT

PM Modi to dedicate 2 key railway lines

New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Naren dra Modi will dedicate two key railway lines in poll-bound Gujarat to the nation on Monday, officials said. These are the section of the Asar va (Ahmedabad)-Him matnaga-Udaipur

Gauge Converted Line and Lunidhar-Jetalsar Gauge Converted Line.

The entire 299-km stretch of the Ahmedabad (Asarva) Himmatnagar Udaipur section has been com pleted at Rs 2,482.38 crore. Major stations on this section are Ahmedabad, Shamlaji Road, Himmatnagar, Nandol Dahegam, Dun garpur, Prantij and Udaipur.

“This section will be a great relief to the lo cals of these areas in terms of connectivity to rest of the country. It will also benefit tour ists, traders, manufac turing units and indus tries in this region.

“The tiles and ceram ics industries in Him matnagar can reap the

CONNECTIVITY TO GIR SANCTUARY, GIRNAR, SOMNATH TEMPLE

The Gauge Converted Lunidhar Jetalsar broad-gauge section is a 58km section that has been completed at the cost of Rs 452 crore. The Lunidhar Jetalsar section is part of the Dhasa Jetalsar Gauge Conversion project, out of which the Dhasa Lu nidhar section (48 km) was dedicated by the prime minister in June. it will now provide a shorter route for Pipavav Port and Bhavnagar

benefit of this rail pro ject as they can seam lessly transport their wares to customers across the country,” the Railways said.

from Veraval and Porbandar. It will also facilitate an alternate route for Ahmedabad and other parts of the nation from Veraval and Porbandar. This project will enhance the freight carrying capacity on this section thus decongesting the Kanalus- RajkotViramgam route. It will also facilitate seamless connectivity to the Gir sanctuary, Somnath temple, Diu and Girnar hills.

It also said that his line will aid industriali zation in the region by providing better con nectivity to Delhi and Mumbai.

“It will help in creat ing additional employ ment and will be an al ternate route for Ahmedabad and Delhi,” the Railways said.

GUJARAT POLLS: BJP'S OBSERVERS MEET TICKET ASPIRANTS

Ahmedabad (PTI): A three-day candidate screening process of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the coming Gujarat Assembly elections ended on Saturday with nearly 10,000 ticket aspirants meeting party observers. For each of the 182 constituencies, there were about 50 aspirants, said a party leader. Since Thursday, three-member teams of observers appointed by the BJP for each of 33 districts and five major cities met the aspirants. There were a total of 38 such teams, whose members included current and former ministers, MPs and senior office-bearers at national, state and district levels. The observers will submit their reports and after approval from the state BJP parliamentary board, the list of candidates will be sent to the central parliamentary board.

UNIFORM CIVIL CODE: ‘BJP TRULY COMMITTED TO GENDER JUSTICE’

New Delhi (ANI): BJP na tional spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday said that BJP is truly committed to the idea of gender justice and women empowerment as he welcomed the Gujarat govern ment's announcement of form ing a committee for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state. "Today the BJP has once again shown that it is truly committed to the idea of gender justice and women empower ment because uniform civil code which is also part of the Constitution is the biggest tool and weapon for gender justice," he said.

NIA: TN ‘suicide bomber’ aimed to hit temple, homes

PLEA

New

New Delhi (PTI): The apex court has sought response from the Centre on a plea against the age restriction of 35 years on women’s repro ductive rights for conducting pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic tests. The plea contended the age bar is a restriction on the reproduc tive rights of women. The top court was hearing a plea that contended that the age restriction of 35 years in Section 4(3)(i) of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Na tal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 is a restriction on the reproductive rights of women.

CATTLE SMUGGLING: MONDAL’S JUDICIAL CUSTODY TILL NOV 11

Asansol (PTI): A special CBI court here on Saturday rejected the bail plea of TMC leader Anubrata Mondal in a cattle smuggling case and extended his judicial custody for 14 days till November 11. Claiming that Mondal was unwell and needed proper treatment, his lawyers had moved the bail plea. Opposing the prayer, the counsel representing CBI said that the TMC Birbhum president was a powerful politician who could try influence the probe. The agency pleaded that the TMC strongman’s custody be extended.

UP FAST TRACK COURT AWARDS LIFE SENTENCE TO MAN FOR KILLING DOCTOR

Mathura (PTI): A fast track court here has sent a man to life imprisonment for killing a lady doctor over four years ago, an official said here on Saturday. Additional District and Sessions Judge Neeru Sharma on Friday also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Ravindra after convicting him for the murder. “On the evening of July 13, 2018, the accused entered the residence of physiotherapist Khushbu Agrawal and slit her throat when she resisted his loot attempt,” Additional District Government Counsel (ADGC) Subhash Chandra Chaturvedi said.

CHHATTISGARH BUSINESSMAN SENT TO ED CUSTODY

Raipur (PTI): A special court on Saturday gave the Enforcement Directorate 12-day custody of busi nessman Suryakant Tiwari, in a money laundering case linked to alleged extortion of money from mining transporters. Three other accused, including an IAS officer, arrested in the case are in judicial custody. Ti wari, who was stated to be absconding, surrendered before court on Saturday, following which the ED asked for his custodial interrogation. “We argued there is no provision of surrender under the PMLA Act and prayed for his cus tody,” said ED’s counsel.

‘DRIVER CAN’T BE PUNISHED FOR DEATH OF PETITIONER’S PET’

Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka High Court has quashed a case pending in a lower court against a car driver who was charged for causing an accident that led to the death of a peti tioner’s pet dog. Prathap Kumar G was driving his SUV in Vijayanagar, Benga luru, on Feb 24, 2018 when his car hit a pet dog named Memphi. Dhiraj Rakheja, whose mother was taking the dog for a walk, filed a complaint. The Vijayanagar police investigating officer conducted the investigation and filed a charge sheet against the petitioner for offences under the various sections.

Police detain seven German nationals who delivered sermons

Kaziranga (Assam):

Police detained seven German nations, who had allegedly delivered sermons at a religious programme, for violat ing tourist visa norms.

The German nation als were detained by police on Friday and they were restrained in Kaziranga National Park of Assam. The dis trict administration and police have taken appropriate measures to deport them. Accord ing to police, the Ger man nationals reached

U’khand govt to rename ‘symbols of British slavery’

Dehradun: Uttara khand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Satur day confirmed that he has given instructions to all state depart ments to re name all the symbols of British slavery. All the departments have been asked to present a report on such names, he added.

Three Swedish preachers were detained in Assam’s Dibrugarh district on October 26 and deported for violating visa norms.

Kaziranga National Park on October 26 and then they left for Karbi Anglong district and participated in mission ary activities which are not allowed under tour ist Visa.

GP Singh, Special DGP of Assam, said that they took part in religious activities, and

participated in reli gious gatherings, preaching activities etc. "This is violation of tourist Visa conditions. As per the guidelines of the MHA, we have fined 500 US dollar per per son. We have contacted with the competent au thority to deport them," GP Singh said. —ANI

Coimbatore: The 29-year-old engineering graduate killed at the wheel of a car that ex ploded in front of a tem ple in Coimbatore last Sunday was possibly a suicide bomber whose relative inexperience in handling explosives spared the locality the damage he might have intended to cause, inves tigators said as the NIA chased more evidence.

A witness told the cops that the car blew up soon after Jameesha Mubin, whom the NIA had interrogated in 2019, stopped in front of the Sangameswara tem

Shah on 2-day visit to Himachal from Nov 1

New Delhi (PTI): BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address six rallies in two days in pollbound Himachal Pradesh starting from November 1.

He will also hold closed-door organisa tional meetings during his two-day visit to the hill state, his office said.

Shah will stay the in tervening night of No vember 1 and 2 in Shim la and is likely to hold a meeting with the senior leaders of the BJP’s

state unit, sources said.

He will hold a rally each in Bhattiyat, Kar sog and Kusumpatti as sembly segments on November 1. The next day, he will hold a rally each in Dhramshala, Nandon and Nalagarh.

UP: 16 PCS officers to be promoted as IAS soon

Ahtesham Siddiqui

Lucknow: The notifi cation of promotion of 16 PCS officers to IAS cadre in Uttar Pradesh will be issued soon.

This includes PCS of ficers of 2000, 2002 and 2004 batches.

The DPC of 23 PCS of ficers in Lucknow was held on October 7 under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary.

The panel of officers from UPSC had come to the DPC.

Sources said that 16

out of 23 PCS officers may get promotion in IAS cadre while the en velope of 7 PCS officers can be closed.

Central government had declared 23 vacan

cies for UPSC’s selec tion in 2021. Prosecu tion proceedings are going on against 4 PCS officers while other ac tion is going on against 3. Ashutosh Mohan Ag

OLD HAND

nihotri of 2000-batch posted as Special Secre tary to the Chief Minis ter is at the top among the PCS officers to be promoted in IAS.

Manju Lata, Alka Verma, Santosh Kumar, Sunil Kumar Singh Chi tralekha Singh, Satish Pal, Madan Singh Ga briyal, Vipin Kumar Mishra, Rekha S Chau han, Anil Kumar Singh and Reena Singh are among the other PCS of ficers who would be come IAS officers after promotion.

ple at Kottaimedu at 4am on Diwali-eve. He stepped out of the vehi cle covered in flames before slumping on the ground a few feet away, a source privy to the probe quoted the wit ness as saying. The body was charred before any one in the vicinity, in cluding cops at a nearby checkpoint, could react.

Many houses along the road leading to the shrine could have been affected had the explo sion, caused by one of two LPG cylinders in the car, occurred in the man ner it had been planned, the investigators said.

1 killed, 5 trapped as landslide hits power project site

in J-K’s Kishtwar

Jammu (PTI): One per son was killed on Satur day and five are feared trapped after a land slide hit an area where labourers were con structing a link road near a power project site in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, officials said.

Five people were also injured in the incident that occurred in the Ra tle area, they said.

Labourers were working on the con struction of a link road near the Ratle power project site and a JCB machine was digging when a big boulder rolled down, trapping the workers, Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Devansh Yadav said.

A rescue operation was launched immedi ately and five people were pulled out from the debris and taken to the hospital. One per son died in the incident, he said.

Five people are still feared trapped under the debris. Army, police and administration are carrying out the rescue operation, Yadav said.

One more move by Vaghela towards Congress

First India Bureau

Ahmedabad : He is 82 years old but former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela has a never-say-die at titude. On Saturday, he met with Gujarat Con gress in-charge Raghu Sharma in yet another attempt to return to the Congress fold. The meeting took place at Vaghela’s Gandhina gar-based residence ‘Vasant Vihar’.

Media persons asked

Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia, who gave out this information, regarding this move on the sidelines of a press conference. Modhwadia replied that all who want to defeat BJP are welcome to join Con gress. Modhwadia also said that men make mistakes but then they realize their mistakes.

Vaghela has been try ing to return to the Con gress for a long time. However, the Congress leadership in Delhi has

refused to meet him. Vaghela was denied a meeting by even Guja rat Congress in-charge

la who ditched the party in 2017 and voted against party candidate Ahmed Patel in Rajya Sabha elections. MLAs supporting Vaghela had also left the Congress in 2017 just ahead of the assembly elections.

Also, Vaghela may have outlived his use fulness. There’s hardily any evidence of his electoral appeal. Re cently Vaghela formed Praja Shakti Democrat ic Party but it, too, re mained a non-starter.

The blast incident had occurred last Sunday. —FILE PHOTO

SEEKS REPLACING PARTY SYMBOLS ON EVMS WITH CANDIDATE’S DETAILS

Delhi (ANI): The Supreme Court has decided to hear a plea on October 31 that sought direction to the Election Commission to remove symbols from ballot and

EVMs and replace it with ‘name, age, educational quali fication and photograph’ of candidates. The plea sought direction to declare the use of party symbol on EVM as illegal-unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution of India. The petition stated that the best solution to weed out corruption and crimi nalisation in politics is to replace the symbols of political party on ballot and EVM with the name, age, educational qualification and photograph of the candidates.

PCPNDT: SC NOTICE TO GOI ON AGE BAR ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS

IN THE COURTYARD Alka Verma Chitralekha Singh

INDIA NEW DELHI | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022 05 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/delhi I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

Ashok Gehlot. All indi cations are that the cen tral leadership has trust issues with Vaghe

LOOSE CANNON

`

211 crore business from Kedarnath, Yamunotri Yatra

Dehradun (ANI): Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) MD

Bansidhar Tiwari on Friday said that the Himalayan state made a great business of around 211 crores from the Kedarnath and Ya munotri Yatra this year.

While speaking to ANI about the bumper earnings from horses, mules and helicopter services during Kedar nath Yatra, the GMVN MD Tiwari said, “In Ut tarakhand, this time around 211 crores busi ness has been done in Kedarnath and Yamu notri Yatra only by horse-mules, helicopter tickets and travel fare of Dandi-Kandi.” For the first time, horsemule owners in Kedar nath Dham did a record business of about Rs 1 billion 9 crores 28 lakh rupees. Due to this the government also got

more than Rs 8 crore as revenue.

The administration of Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag districts had registered 8,664 mules of 4,302 horse owners.

In this season, 5.34 lakh pilgrims travelled to Kedarnath Dham on horses.

Bansidhar Tiwari told that Garhwal Man dal Vikas Nigam has benefited well from hel icopter tickets. The

MP CM Chouhan lays foundation of 69 CM Rise Schools in Indore

helicopter companies have made Rs 85 crores in business and horse mules have done busi ness above Rs 100 crores.

He said that Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam’s business has been around Rs 21 crore 75 lakhs in Yamunotri and Char Dham Yatra.

The portals of the Ke darnath Dham were closed on Thursday morning for the Winter season.

WOMEN SHGS DO BUSINESS WORTH RS 43 LAKH AT KEDARNATH Dehradun (ANI): Women belonging to Self Help Groups (SHGs) earned Rs 43.50 lakh by selling ‘Prasad’ during Kedarnath Dham Yatra this year, according to Information Department, Uttara khand. Arjun Kurmanchali, a businessman who markets the Prasad prepared by the women, said he sold prasad worth about Rs 43 lakh to the pilgrims at various helipads and temple premises. It comprises laddus, incense, churma, belpatri, honey, jute and silk bags prepared by about 20 women self-help groups. Apart from this, contain ers for Ganga water and temple ashes are also part of the prasad package. The price of the entire package has been fixed at Rs 250, in addition to which royalty of Rs 50 is given to temple commit tees and heli companies. NRLM block coordinator Satish Saklani said that Devidhar Unnati cluster has done a business of about Rs 43 lakh by sell ing prasad through online and offline medium.

Over 50 hurt in cylinder blast during Chhath puja in Bihar

Aurangabad (Agen cies): At least 50 people, including some police personnel, were in jured after a huge fire broke out in Bihar’s Au rangabad district, caus ing an LPG cylinder blast in the early hours of Saturday.

The incident hap pened in the Shahganj locality of the Aurang abad town around 3.30 AM after a short circuit led to a huge fire at a shop. The mishap took place when a family was preparing “pras ad” for Chhath Puja, sub-inspector incharge of the Town po lice station Vinay Ku mar Singh said.

Fire tenders were im mediately rushed to the spot to douse the flame but the cooking gas cyl inder explosion further fuelled the blaze.

More than seven po lice personnel, includ ing a woman consta ble, suffered burn in

ON LEAVE FOR CHHATH, TWO BIHAR COPS KILLED AS TRUCK HITS BIKE

Arrah: Two policemen were killed on Saturday after the motorcycle they were riding was knocked down by a truck in Bihar’s Bhojpur district, an officer said. Bhojpur Superintendent of Police Sanjay Singh said that the accident took place on a national highway near Arrah town around 10 AM when the both the policemen were travelling to their homes for Chhath festival. The truck lost control after the accident and overturned. The driver fled the spot by the time a police team reached there, he said.

juries in the firefight ing operations. The owner of the shop, Anil Goswami,

BHARAT JODO YATRA

Rahul Gandhi shakes a leg with tribal dancers in Telangana

Hyderabad (ANI): Con gress leader Rahul Gan dhi surprised everyone with his dancing skills during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Telangana.

On Saturday, Rahul took to Twitter and shared a video in which he is seen dancing with members of tribal com munities in Telangana.

Indore (ANI): MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid the foundation stone of 69 CM Rise Schools in Indore on Saturday. He said that CM rise school would bring a social revolu tion. CM Rise School would be better than any private school. He said, “CM rise schools will have proper facilities which include a grand building, proper lab, li brary, smart classrooms, playgrounds, sports equipment and good teaching faculty.”

He raised a slogan “Khelenge Kudenge, Ashman Ko Chhoo Lenge, Padhenge Likhenge, Ashman Ko Chhoo Lenge.” He ap pealed to teachers,

“WILL BRING BACK GODDESS’ IDOL FROM LONDON”

Indore: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said the state govt would resume efforts to bring back the idol of goddess Vagdevi (Saras wati) kept in a museum in London. Although demand by Hindu community to bring back Vagdevi's idol to India is old, Chouhan's announcement comes in the wake of Rishi Sunak becoming the first Indi an-origin PM of Britain.

“Teach the students wholeheartedly and prove that Madhya Pradesh’s teachers are no less than a Guru. This is my request to all of you that create history.”

Rahul wore tribal headgear as he partici pated in “Kommu Koya” ancient art form dance with the tribals in Telangana’s Bhad rachalam. “Our tribals are the repositories of our timeless cultures & diversity. Enjoyed matching steps with the Kommu Koya tribal dancers. Their art ex presses their values, which we must learn from and preserve,” he captioned the clip.

Bharat Jodo Yatra, which began on Sep tember 7 from Kanya kumari, will cover a further distance of 2,355 km in its 3,570-km march. It will end in Kashmir next year. It is the longest march on foot by any Indian poli

New Delhi (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday extended a congratulatory mes sage to Elon Musk on his Twitter takeover. In a cryptic tweet, Rahul Gandhi showed alleged Twitter followers manipulation data in an image he attached with the congratulatory message directed to Elon Musk. “Congrats @elonmusk. I hope @Twitter will now act against hate speech, fact-check more robustly, and will no longer stifle the opposition’s voice in India due to government pressure,” Gandhi Tweeted. Last year in December, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the number of his followers on the micro-blogging site Twitter was being restricted.

tician in the history of India, the Congress claimed earlier in a statement.

The yatra has already

covered parts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, after having been flagged off in Ta mil Nadu.

AFFAIRS OF GRAND OLD PARTY

CONG WANTS PROBE IN ‘CASH GIFTS’ TO JOURNOS ON DIWALI

New Delhi (PTI): Congress on Saturday alleged that Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai tried to bribe jour nalists by sending Rs 1 lakh cash gifts to them on Diwali and demanded the regis tration of a case and his resignation. The Congress demanded a judicial inquiry into what it called “Chief Minister’s Office ‘sweet box bribe’ to journalists”. CMO sources said Bommai has said he was unaware that “cash” was given to journalists. Addressing the media in New Delhi, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said, “The Bom mai govt’s bribegate is now out in the open and this time the responsibility lies at the doorstep of the chief minister himself.” “This time, Mr Bommai has sur reptitiously, overtly and in a conspiratorial fashion tried to bribe the entire journal istic fraternity by sending 1 lakh cash to every journalist in Karnataka. Hats off to our journalist friends who open ly exposed the bribegate,” said Surjewala.

Will Kharge continue

in

Mahesh Sharma

New Delhi: Mallikar jun Kharge has taken over as Congress Presi dent. On Wednesday, he took the chair in the presence of both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi at party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, becom ing an important part of the history of the 137-year-old Congress party. Now his name is included among politi cal behemoths like Ma hatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru are

named. However, with him becoming the Pres ident, the discussion has started whether the party will appoint a Vice President or Work ing President to aid the 80-year-old Kharge! Congress has a tradi tion of both. Rahul Gan dhi has worked with Sonia Gandhi as the Vice President. Arjun

Singh has been the Vice President of the party in the past as well. Ji tendra Prasad has also worked as Vice Presi dent. For some time now, the Congress has started the practice of making several work ing presidents along with the president in the states. However, its advantages or disadvan tages have not been as sessed. Informed sourc es in the Congress stress that Kharge will either be accompanied by one or two vice-presidents or at least two working presidents.

said that the incident took place when his wife was preparing food for Chhath Puja.

PAKISTAN DRONE SPOTTED CLOSE TO INTERNATIONAL BORDER IN PUNJAB Ferozepur (PTI): A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the international border here, said officials on Saturday. The unmanned aerial vehicle flew back to Pakistan after the Border Security Force troops fired at it, they said. The BSF personnel fired at least 18 rounds towards the drone, they said. A search operation is underway, they said.

9 BOOKED FOR 400 FORCED RELIGIOUS CONVERSIONS IN UP Meerut (Agencies): Nine people have been booked in Meerut for forcing 400 peo ple to convert to Christiani ty. The victims approached the police and complained that they were lured to convert to Christianity. The incident happened in Malin village in Mangat Puram. The victim alleged that they were coerced to do away with the idols and deities of Hindu gods and goddess es. The accused, who forced people to convert into other religions illegally, came in contact with the victims during Covid-19 induced lockdown.

3RD IN A MONTH: VANDE BHARAT RAMS INTO CATTLE Mumbai (PTI): The Mum bai-Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Superfast Express rammed into cattle near Atul station in Gujarat on Saturday morning (October 29), causing a delay of 20 minutes in reaching its destination, a railway offi cial said. Railway sources said the incident left the trains front panel dam aged and also dented the underbelly equipment of its first coach. This is the third such incident involving this semi-high-speed train so far this month.The incident occurred around 8.20 am, the official said.

HIMACHAL POLLS: 3 REBEL BJP CANDIDATES STILL IN RACE IN MANDI

Shimla (PTI): Three rebel BJP candidates were left in the fray in Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur’s home dis trict Mandi while 92 candidates withdrew their papers in Himachal Pradesh on the last day for the withdrawal of nominations for the November 12 Assembly elec tions. After withdrawal, a total of 413 candidates were left in the fray for the 68 Assembly seats in the hill state. The ruling BJP is facing rebel candidates in three of 10 seats after 11 candidates withdrew their papers in Mandi. Currently, 67 candidates are in fray in Mandi.

team

tank’?

Sharat K Verma

New Delhi: Will Mall ikarjun Kharge change the Congress organiza tion after becoming the president or will he con tinue with the old team? This is a big question because the old team is made up of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi and the people they trust are in this team. There have been some changes in the organization re cently. Like the entire team of media has been changed a few months back. Jairam Ramesh was made in-charge in

place of Randeep Sur jewala and Pawan Khera and Supriya Sri net were given big re sponsibility along with him. This team is also doing a good job, so the question of replacing it does not arise.

Now talking about the party general secre taries, what changes will Kharge instill

there? The Congress has 10 general secretar ies, one of whom is Pri yanka Gandhi Vadra and the rest nine are trusted leaders of Sonia and Rahul. Everyone knows about Ajay Mak en, Randeep Surjewala, Jairam Ramesh, Jiten dra Singh and KC Venu gopal that Rahul trusts them a lot. Oommen Chandy hails from Ker ala, where the Congress is focussing on the elec tion, and Tariq Anwar is the only Muslim face. Then there is Mukul Wasnik whose powers have been curtailed.

with the old

or bring fresh faces

Cong’s ‘think

Will appointment of Vice President or working Prez actually benefit Congress? CRUCIAL READ

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dances with the members of tribal communities of Telangana on Saturday. MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan during the foundation stone of CM Rise school, in Indore, on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI HOPE TWITTER WILL NOW ACT AGAINST HATE SPEECH: RaGa TO ELON MUSK People get wood on 2nd day of Chhath in Ranchi, on Saturday. (INSET): A firefighter attempts to douse in Bihar’s Aurangabad.

If it happens, it will not be a very good thing for the Congress

Recently, some changes were made in the party organization

INDIA NEW DELHI | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022 06 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/delhi I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

Devotees at Kedarnath Temple on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

8,300 CRORE HIT

New Delhi: Last month, The 59-year-old Nykaafounder Falguni Nayar was named India’s rich est self-made woman by the IIFL Wealth Hurun list, with a Rs 38,700 crore net worth. But since then the stocks of her e-commerce behe moth have plummeted by 24 per cent in a month, wiping off Rs 8,300 crore from her for tune. The fall of Nykaa has come after a bumper debut on the stock mar ket last year, when it de livered 80 per cent re turns to investors.

TABLET MARKET DOWN 16%, APPLE MAINTAINS LEAD

Tech ensures benefits reach common man’

New Delhi (PTI): Technol ogy adoption by the govern ment for the benefit trans fer to targeted people has plugged leakages and en sured good governance, Fi nance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.

Delivering the NT Rama Rao Memorial Lecture, she said, “What Prime Minister Modi has done is by adopt ing technology he has con tained the leaky bucket process. There are no leaks, the beneficiary who must get that money gets it”.

Technology has become a big instrument through which human folly and temptation are contained, she said.

“Today, the way we have adopted technology is en suring that benefits reach the common public, one of the goals of good govern

ance has been achieved,” a press release by GITAM quoted Sitharaman as say

ing. Speaking at an event in Hyderabad, Sitharaman also urged students of all

Gadkari pitches for investments from Tata Group in Nagpur

New Delhi: Despite the global tablet market de clining by 16% (year-onyear) in the third quarter this year, Apple marinated the lead with 39% market share and shipped 14.7 million units. As per Strat egy Analytics, Apple ship ments fell by 14% (onyear) but still gained mar ket share as its higher tier portfolio benefits from wealthier customers shrugging off inflation.

were better than expected at 7.2 million units, falling only 4% year-on-year.

SMARTPHONE MKT SINKS TO LOWEST Q3 LEVEL SINCE 2014

Mumbai: Union minister Nitin Gadkari has sought investments from the Tata Group in and around Nag pur, citing strengths like infrastructure, land avail ability and connectivity in his home city.

In a letter to Tata Sons Chairman N Chan drasekaran on October 7, Gadkari, who handles the road transport and high ways portfolio, said group companies engaged in businesses like steel, auto, consumer products, IT ser vices and aviation can choose to invest in Nagpur.

Tata Group has tied up with Airbus. At a recent event, Chandrasekaran had said the Tata Group is exploring investments in

PROMISE OF FACILITIES

z Citing strong points like infrastructure, land availability and connectivity, the minister sought investments from the Tata Group in & around Nagpur

electronics, renewable en ergy, electric vehicles and other modern sectors, and is engaged with the newly formed state government.

CONNECTIVITY WITH 350 DISTS OF 6 STATES

institutes under the aegis of the commerce ministry to follow the five principles

Curbs on sugar exports extended by a year through October 2023

New Delhi (Agencies): In dia, the world’s biggest sugar producer, has ex tended restrictions for sug ar export by one year through October 2023, the government has said in a notification. The south Asian country restricted exports through the end of this month in May to con tain a rise in domestic pric es following record exports, according to the news agency Reuters.

outlined by Prime Minister Modi in his independence day speech this year, which includes moving forward with a bigger resolve of a developed India.

“I am not saying this is foolproof. Ingenuity will have some element in which people will know to hack even this but now, it is for sure that who should get what is going absolute ly without any kind of pil ferage. Good governance is about looking for instru ments with which you are able to implement the ob jectives,” she said.

Students should learn about sustainable designs developed in the country over a period of time and improve them for the ease of living of the current gen eration, Sitharaman said at an event.

WORLD IS LOOKING AT INDIAN ECONOMY AS A ‘BRIGHT’ SPOT: GOYAL

New Delhi: Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Indus try, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles said that the world is now looking at the Indian economy as a ‘bright’ spot. During the pandemic, India came up with many innovations, including the Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin. The Minister exhorted the students to come up with good designs which lead to cost reduction. Go yal also spoke on the occasion, said that collaborative effort and breaking silos will transform India into global power soon. The ministers were speaking at a students meet of all the institutes under the aegis of the commerce ministry-- National Institute of Fashion Technology, National Institute of Design, Footwear Design & Development Institute, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and Indian Institute of Packaging in Hyderabad on Saturday.

‘RBI can argue its case for not curbing inflation’

Chennai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) can ar gue its case strongly with the Central government as to why the inflation was not controlled at 4 per cent, said experts.

New Delhi: The global smartphone market de clined by 12% (year-onyear) even as it grew by 2% (on-quarter) to reach 301 million units in Q3, its lowest Q3 level since 2014. As per Counterpoint Research, the smartphone market remained under pressure given deteriorat ing economic conditions. Ongoing international po litical tensions resulting in economic uncertainty hit the smartphone market, even though it reversed its slide below the 300-mil lion-mark last quarter thanks to a slight quarterly recovery in Apple & Sam sung shipments, as per report.

EMPLOYEES NOT FORCED TO RESIGN, SAYS BYJU’S

The letter shared with the media on Saturday comes amid Maharashtra losing several big-ticket projects to neighbouring Gujarat, like the over Rs 1.5 lakh crore investment from Foxconn-Vedanta on chip manufacturing & the Rs 22,000 crore aircraft manu facturing project where the

In the letter, Gadkari said there are over 3,000 acres of land in the Multi-modal international Hub Airport at Nagpur SEZ and non-SEZ area, and added that already a lot of companies have set base in the vicinity. “All Tata Group companies like Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Consumer Products, Voltas, Titan Industries, Big Basket may enjoy the strengths of Nagpur like overnight connectivity with 350 districts of 6 states, lower rates of land, manpower and warehous ing,” the minister said in the letter. Underlining that the group companies have already been present in central India’s Nagpur for over a century, Gadkari said that the Tata Group’s airline ventures Air India, Vistara and AirAsia India can cut costs by making Nagpur as a hub of their operations and choosing to park aircraft at night.

The government official added that India is expect ed to produce record sugar crop this year, which could allow New Delhi to allow exports of up to 8 million tonnes. India’s domestic sugar consumption is esti mated at around 27.5 mil lion tonnes and mills are expected to divert 4.5 mil lion tonnes of sugar for ethanol production in the 2022-23 season.

Over 10 mn MT paddy procured in Punjab

Chandigarh(Agencies):

The More than 105 lakh metric tonnes (MT) paddy arrived in marketing yards in Punjab, out of which 104 lakh MT paddy was pro cured till Saturday.

In neighbouring Hary ana, a record 52 lakh MT paddy has been procured and Rs 10,000 crore paid to farmers. Punjab Food Civ il Supplies Minister Lal

Chand Kataruchak said timely purchase, payment and lifting is going on smoothly in each ‘mandi’.

All arrangements of ‘bardana’, labour and trans portation have been made. As of now, the marketing yards are witnessing an ar rival of nearly 7.5 lakh MT in a day, and almost all pad dy is purchased by the end of the day. About the mini

mum support price (MSP) payment, Kataruchak said nearly Rs 15,400 crore has been released directly into the accounts of farmers and another Rs 2,000 crore has been approved and would be released on Monday.

Haryana Deputy CM Du shyant Chautala said the government had set a tar get of making payment to the farmers in just 48 hours.

2.92

India’s defence ministry is biggest employer

Bengaluru: Amid reports of forcing its employees to resign, BYJU’s said on Sat urday that it is not forcing its staff to resign or face terminations, as the whole exercise is part of the 5% reduction in its 50,000-strong workforce. Earlier, BYJU’s had an nounced to reduce 5% of its 50,000-strong work force, which will be “ration alised across product, con tent, media, and technolo gy teams in a phased man ner” in a bid to consolidate its India business.

Hamburg (Germany), (ANI): India’s Ministry of Defence is the world’s big gest employer with 2.92 million people, which in cludes combined active ser vice personnel, reservists and civilian staff, accord ing to a report in ‘Statista’.

A close second to the In dian Defence Ministry is the US Department of De fense which employs 2.91 million people, according to the Statista infographic on employers with the largest workforces world wide in 2022. Statista is a Germany-based private or ganisation that provides

data and statistics about various issues worldwide.

“At the top of the ranking for the world’s largest em ployers is India’s Ministry of Defence. Combining ac tive service personnel, re servists and civilian staff, the total headcount comes to 2.92 million – a touch ahead of the United States equivalent, the Department of Defense,” the report said.

As per Stockholm Inter national Peace Research In stitute, the 5 largest spend ers in 2021 were the United States, China, India, UK and Russia, together accounting for 62% of expenditure.

The RBI’s Monetary Poli cy Committee (MPC) will meet on November 3 to dis cuss what it would tell the Centre as to why it was not able to restrain the infla tion. In India, the retail in flation rose to 7.41 per cent in September. Experts were of the view that a combina tion of global and local (glo cal) factors — geopolitical developments, crop produc tion, reduction in crude oil production and the result ing price increase and de preciating rupee — are ex pected to heat up the prices.

The RBI on its part is try ing to contain the inflation by increasing the repo rate — the rate at which it lends to the banks.

COURSE OF INFLATION

z The RBI may also sound out the Central government as to the course of inflation as well as the reasons as to why it may be at the elevated levels z RBI can say inflation is due to supply side constraints and excess liquidity, says K Ramasubramanian, retired General Manager, RBI, and a forex advisor

The central bank has in creased the repo rate by 190 basis points in recent times and the last one was by 50 basis points last month.

IOC REPORTS `272 CRORE LOSS IN Q2 ON ACCOUNT OF SELLING PETROL AT LOW COST

New Delhi: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) on Saturday reported a net loss of `272.35 crore for July-September - the second straight quarter of loss arising from selling petrol, diesel and cooking gas LPG at rates below cost. The net loss of `272.35 crore compared to a profit of ` 6,360.05 crore in July-September 2021, as per company’s filing with the stock ex changes. IOC as well as other state-owned fuel retailers had booked heavy losses in the first quarter of the current fiscal as they did not revise petrol, diesel and cooking gas LPG prices in line with the cost to help the government contain runaway inflation.

TELEGRAM CEO CRITICISES APPLE FOR APP STORE POLICIES

New Delhi: Telegram’s CEO has accused Apple of “destroying dreams and ruining entrepre neurship” because of its App Store policies. The company charged a 30% fee on in-app purchases for develop ers that earn more than $1 million annually, as per MacRu mors. Telegram enables content creators to charge users for access to channels through a paywall, as opposed to Apple’s in-app purchasing system.

FUSION LTD TO RAISE ` 600 CR BY ISSUING FRESH EQUITY SHARES

Jaipur: Microfinance company Fusion Limited is planning to raise around `600 crore through fresh issuance of equity shares in its initial public offering (IPO), a top official said on Saturday. The initial share sale will open for public subscription on November 2 and conclude on November 4. The company has fixed a price band of ` 350-368 a share, its MD and CEO Devesh Sachdev said.

NTPC Q2 NET DIPS OVER 7% TO `3,418 CRORE

New Delhi: State-run power giant NTPC on Saturday reported an over 7% dip in its consolidated net profit at Rs 3,417.67 crore for the September quarter, mainly due to higher expenses. The consolidated net profit of the company stood at Rs 3,690.95 crore in the quarter ended September 30, 2021, it said in a BSE filing. Total income rose to Rs 44,681.50 crore in the quarter from Rs 33,095.67 crore in the year-ago period.Total expenses jumped to Rs 40,000.99 crore in the second quarter of this fiscal from Rs 28,949.53 crore earlier.

NEW DELHI | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022 07www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/delhi I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia Commodity Price Change % Chg GOLD 50,889.00 105.00 0.20 (Per 10g) SILVER 58,336.00 21.00 0.03 (Per 1kg) COMMODITIES Currency Price Change % Chg USDINR 82.47 0.19 0.024 GBPINR 95.07 0.31 0.32 CURRENCIES business BRIEFS

Samsung shipments

—PTI

FALGUNI NAYAR’S FORTUNE TAKES A

*Rates till the edition went to print.

‘

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks during interaction with students, faculty/alumni of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, National Institute of Design, National Institute of Fashion Tech, Footwear Design & Development Institute, as Union Minister for Commerce, Piyush Goyal looks on, in Hyderabad on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

WITH

MILLION PEOPLE

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

LOW TURNOUT AT KHARGE’S SWEARING IN?

T he swearing-in cer emony of the new ly-elected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge witnessed some turmoil, beginning with a glitch in the dis tribution of invitation cards. It was decided that the invitation for swearing-in would be sent to former Union Ministers, Chief Minis ters, former Chief Min isters, State President, MPs, Working Presi dent of the Party, and Legislature Leaders etc. This action plan was implemented, but many important leaders of the party were seen be wildered in the Con gress office in search of

invitation cards. Many names were in the list, but they couldn’t get the card, so first they were sent to the control room. Then, they were asked to go to room number 17, from where they were asked to head to the war room at 15 Gur dwara Rakabganj. The invitation cards were being handled by Man ish Chatrath, who was very close to the late Ahmed Patel. Many big leaders didn’t even bother to come, like the absence of three big leaders of MP i.e. Ka mal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and the Leader of Opposition Govind Sin gh also raised many questions. Seeing that many of the chairs be hind the press gallery were empty, people standing outside were slowly called in so that a crowd could be seen at

‘KISSA KURSI KA’ BETWEEN ANAND

hairs were set up on the

stage for Kharge’s swearing-in ceremony and there were sofas for VIPs in the front row. Kharge had reserved his right and left chairs for Sonia and Rahul. But Rahul did not sit with Kharge at once, he left his chair for Madhusu dan Mistry, and sat after Mistry. One of the front sofas was reserved for Priyanka Gandhi. Two Delhi Police personnel were also ready to moni tor that sofa. Pawan Bansal, Bhupendra Sin gh Hooda and Ashok Gehlot were seated on the sofa next to it. By then the message of Pri yanka’s arrival on wire less had arrived. In the meantime, Anand Sharma reached the stage and sat on the sofa re served for Priyanka. The police men imme diately ap prised him

that the sofa was meant for Priyanka, but Shar ma ji did not get up from that sofa. By the time Priyanka enters, Pawan Bansal gets up in a pan ic and takes Anand Sharma to sit with him on his couch, holding his hands all the way. It seems that Priyanka was aware of this entire scene, so she did not sit on the sofa set for her self and sat in the row behind it. She met all the big leaders of the party smiling, but did not move towards Anand Sharma. Priyan ka also met Ashok Ge hlot warmly while Hoo da and Anand Sharma were ignored by Rahul.

PRIYANKA’S LAST MINUTE CHANGE OF SCHEDULE MARS CONFIDENCE

I t seems that Gandhi family’s ‘role’ in the Gujarat elections is less and the reason for this is no longer unknown. Recently, when KC Venugopal, who is con sidered very close to the Gandhi family, had reached Ahmedabad, a crowd of party leaders and workers surround ed him. After this Venu gopal held a meeting with senior party MLAs. More or less all the Congress MLAs in the meeting were of the opinion that ‘Rahul Gandhi should also in clude Gujarat in his Bharat Jodo Yatra, since it can create an atmosphere for the Con gress here. But Venugo pal could not give any assurance from his side to the MLAs on this. In this, a legislator of two terms urged Venugo pal

DELHI CM CALLS PROTESTERS HIS ‘BROTHERS’

Kejriwal, Mann greeted with black flags, chants of ‘Modi’ in Navsari

Navsari (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Pun jab counterpart Bhag want Mann were on Saturday shown black flags by BJP support ers, who also chanted ‘Modi, Modi’ slogans when the AAP leaders were on their way to ad dress a public rally at Chikhli in Gujarat’s Navsari district.

Several BJP support ers standing on the roadside between Khud vel and Golvad villages in Chikhli taluka waved black flags as the motor cade of AAP leaders passed by. They also shouted ‘Modi, Modi’ as the vehicles made their way to National Cricket Ground in Chikhli town, where the two chief ministers were to address the rally.

Referring to the inci dent while addressing the rally later, Kejriwal said he considers those showing black flags as his brothers, and said he was confident that one day he would win over their hearts and make them join AAP.

Kejriwal said that people can vote for whichever party they like, but the AAP will make sure that their children get free and quality education and medical treatment.

He claimed that even the BJP members were against the government in Gujarat and many of them have told him they want to see the party removed from power.

Surat (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will an nounce on November 4 the name of its chief ministerial face for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections on the basis of opinion given by the people of the state. Addressing a press conference, the AAP’s national convener urged people to contact the party through SMS, WhatsApp, voice mail and e-mail to give their views about who should be the CM candidate from the party. He said there is an atmosphere of change in Gujarat and people believe that AAP is going to form a government in the state. “Today, I would like to ask the people of Gujarat as to who they want to see as the next CM of Gujarat. To know the opinion of the public, we are releasing a number - 6357000 360. You can send SMS, WhatsApp messages, and leave voice mes sages. We are also releasing e-mail - aapnocm@gmail. com,” Kejriwal said.

Sisodia accuses Amit Shah of poaching bid

New Delhi (PTI): Dep uty Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sat urday produced an au dio clip of an alleged BJP man purportedly discussing the party’s bid to poach AAP MLAs in the capital and de manded Home Minister Amit Shah’s arrest if he was involved in the matter.

Sisodia played the au dio tape at a press con ference and said the BJP “dalal” (broker) heard in the clip was one of the three people arrested in Telangana over an alleged bid to poach that state’s rul ing party Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLAs.

“In this audio, the BJP’s dalal (broker) can be heard luring a (TRS) MLA to the BJP, saying they were also trying to poach 43 Delhi MLAs and that money had

SHAH’

that he wants ‘to invite Priyanka Gandhi in his grand Garba pro gramme as her partici pation can create a fa vourable atmosphere.’ Venugopal agreed to this and once the MLA learnt that his request has been cleared, the MLA got excited and bought a heavy garba lehenga worth Rs 45,000 for Priyanka’s Garba. But a few days before the programme, Priyan ka was forbidden to visit. So, although the Garba happened, but Congressmen didn’t have much enthusiasm.

GEHLOT’S ‘MAGIC’ STILL HOLDS RELEVANCE EVEN AFTER RAJ CRISIS

T he ‘fra grance’ of the politi cal crisis in Rajasthan was seen scattered in the swear ing-in cere mony. Even

after all this, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot was meet ing most of the people. There was an influx of leaders, who came to meet him. Although leaders like Jairam Ramesh did not walk up to Gehlot to meet him, but sitting in his place, he signalled ‘ Thumbs up’ to the Rajasthan CM. At the same time, Sachin Pilot, sitting in the back row of Gehlot, was smiling. Initially, he had put a mask on his face, but when the media cameras started clicking his pictures, he took off his mask. Mo han Prakash was seated besides Sachin. No one was coming to meet Shashi Tharoor, who had garnered 1,072 votes in the presiden tial contest against Kharge, but Tharoor looked confident.

BJP LOOKING FOR FOOLPROOF VICTORY IN

lections are to be held on 182 seats of Gu jarat Assembly.

Keep in mind that in the 2017 assembly elec tions, Con gress had won

77 seats here, but after luring a dozen Congress MLAs, the political col our changed to saffron, so the count of Con gress MLAs has re duced to merely 65. So, the focus of BJP strate gists has now been re duced to these 65 seats and thus BJP has called for ‘Gujarat Gaurav Yatra’ before the elec tions. Many Union min isters including BJP President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah are continuously participating in this yatra. The entire focus of the Gaurav Yatra is on the seats dominated by the Congress, but the Congress seems devoid of any concrete pro gramme of counterat tack. The Congress High Command also seems to have left the Gujarat elections to its own fate. Rahul Gandhi also does not seem ready to tour Gujarat and neither Sonia Gan dhi nor Priyanka are displaying any enthusi asm in visiting Gujarat.

SIT grills ex-Andaman CS for 6 hours on second day

Port Blair (PTI): A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the police on Saturday continued with its questioning of former chief secretary of Andaman and Nico bar Islands, Jitendra Narain, in connection with the alleged gan grape of a 21-year-old woman. He may be called again for ques tioning on Sunday, ac cording to a source.

The grilling of the of ficial began around 11am at the Police Lines in Port Blair. He was again brought in through a rear gate to avoid protesters. The practice was followed on Friday as well.

The SIT, headed by senior IPS officer Mon ika Bhardwaj, had ques tioned Narain for over eight hours on Friday.

The SIT was consti tuted to probe allega tions that the woman was lured to the chief

Ssecretary’s residence with the promise of a government job and then raped by top offi cials including Narain.

Labour Commission er R L Rishi was also accused of raping the woman while a police

inspector and a hotel owner were named in the FIR as accomplices in the crime.

Narain is being kept at private resort here. He has arrived to face questioning following a Calcutta HC order.

been kept for this pur pose. He is also saying that he has spoken with Shah and BL Santosh,” Sisodia said, adding that this was “proof” of the BJP’s poaching bids in Delhi and Punjab.

Kejriwal is a symbol of anarchy: Anurag Thakur

Shimla (PTI): Union Minister Anurag Thakur here on Satur day lashed out Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, calling him “a symbol of anarchy”.

The Union minister of information and broadcasting was re sponding to a query during his press con ference regarding Ke

jriwal’s appeal to in corporate images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on cur rency notes.

“Arvind Kejriwal who used to oppose (construction of a grand) Ram temple is a symbol of anarchy. He does fake talking. He does new propaganda to divert attention of

the people from his fakeness,” Thakur said.

The Union minister further asked AAP su premo Kejriwal that will his government also provide Rs 18,000 to temple priests, gu rudwara granthis and church priests on the pattern of maulvis in Delhi.

TIGER OR

082ND FRONT Focus not just on being well-off; success within is more important than success outside. Focus on well-being. —Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, First India

APPARITION?

Image of a tiger projected on a tree during light artist Gerry Hofstetter’s show ‘In The Light - Swiss Art Night’ at the Embassy of Switzerland in New Delhi. —PHOTO BY PTI Jitendra Narain on his way to Police Lines to be questioned by the SIT, in Port Blair on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI SIT HEADED BY MONIKA BHARDWAJ

AAP

ASKS GUJARAT’S PEOPLE TO VOTE ON CM CANDIDATE

z ‘ARREST

Union Minister Anurag Thakur addresses a press conference in Shimla on Saturday.

—PHOTO BY

PTI

The author is a journalist and political commentator and views expressed are his personal

Mallikarjun Kharge Anand Sharma Priyanka Gandhi CM Ashok Gehlot Amit Shah

www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/delhi I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia NEW DELHI | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022

elena Gomez once said that I don’t know if I would’ve had the opportu nity to be on ‘Wiz ards of Waverly Place’ if it weren’t for my heritage. I realize everybody wants what they don’t have. But at the end of the day, what you have in side is much more beauti ful than what’s on the out side! And this inspired me to write an article on wiz ard clothing. But wait what? Wizard clothing??

Yes, because for me ‘No body knows what the fu ture is except for wizards’.

Our favourite Harry Potter has given us many rounds of imagination that gave us a hint that wizards at large in the Muggle commu nity may disclose themselves to each other by wearing the shades purple and green. However, this is no more than a ver bal code, and there is no responsibility to blend into it. A bunch of members of the mystical society prefer to wear their favourite colours when out and about in the Muggle world or adopt black as a practi cal colour, especially when flying on their brooms at night. According to the movie, ‘The International

Statute of Secrecy laid down clear guidelines on the dress for witches and wizards when they are out

in public.’ Apart from the imaginary film, we all have grown up visualizing the cloak or pointed cony hats, long black boots and of course big magical flying broom. I am sure by far

now, wizard clothing has stayed out of fashion, al though slight alterations have been made to such garments as dress robes. But Classic wiz ard clothing comprises plain robes, worn with or without the tradi tional pointed hat, and will always be worn on such formal occa sions as christenings, weddings and funer als. Women’s dresses tend to be long. Wiz ard clothing might be said to be frozen in time, harking back to the seven teenth century, when they went into hiding. Their nostalgic adherence to this old-fashioned form of dress may be seen as a clinging to old ways and old times; a matter of cul tural pride.

www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/delhi I twitter.com/ thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09 NEW DELHI, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in STOUCH OF RARE WIZARDRY FASHION! The wizards represent all that the true ‘muggle’ fashion: Mostly comprises plain robes, worn with or without the traditional pointed hat, and will always be worn on such formal occasions. City First brings to you glimpses of the magical fashion!

Merchant Solutions by AU Small Finance Bank

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nance Bank, we offer a range of products and services to merchants including UPI QR with a sound box, POS (Point of Sale) devices, Cur rent Accounts, Unse cured transactionbased lending, CMS fa cilities and other bank

ing services. We are also working on an inte grated solution encom passing digital collec tions and payments, digital trade and supply chain finance, and in stant credit, in addition to the existing stack of products and services

that we offer to this seg ment. Further, we have leveraged the AU UPI QR as a low-cost mer chant acquisition tool,” he added.

The Bank’s trust quo tient, seamless on boarding experience, bouquet of products and services, and at tractive financing op tions has helped us scale our proposition.

“Merchant and MSME segments have been very important and constitute significant numbers both in Liabil ities and Assets at AU Small Finance Bank, and to fulfil their finan cial needs and solutions around this, we are strengthening our val ue propositions includ ing various payment solutions, digital appli cations, and transac tion-based lending.

Also, we are acquiring new-to-bank customers through UPI QR codes.

Towards our aspiration of becoming a whole some Digital bank, we are also implementing the OCEN framework and other such indus try-leading aggregation initiatives,” said Manoj

Tibrewal.

“As of March 31, 2022, we have installed over 4.8 lakh UPI QRs and acquired around 1.2 lakh, new custom ers, in FY-2021-22. With a focused after-sales support team, we have managed to drive an activation rate of over 65 per cent. After in stalling UPI QR, we have seen a 68 per cent rise in CASA monthly average balances in associated current ac counts. We have also commenced unse cured lending for over draft loans to small merchants based on their transactions through UPI QR with in a year of the launch”, Manoj fur ther said.

With a strong man agement team and a technology-first ap proach, AU Small Fi nance Bank is wellpoised to empower merchants using digi tal solutions like lowcost acquisition (UPI QR), digital CASA ac counts, holistic bank ing solutions, and digital lending solu tions.

A 10ETC NEW DELHI | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/delhi I twitter.com/thefirstindia facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

ALIA’S THIRD DULHANIA FILM

Early birthday SURPRISE

Ananya Panday shares a great bond with Amitabh Bachchan’s granddaugh ter Navya Naveli Nanda. The two are childhood friends and are often spotted together at parties. Navya often features in Ananya’s Instagram pics along with their other friends Sha naya Kapoor and Suhana Khan. Ananya and Navya are also often seen hyping each other up on social me dia and sharing the cutest posts on each other’s birthdays. Speaking of which, Ananya Panday is all set to celebrate her 24th birthday on October 30. While there are still 2 days to go, the actress has received an ‘ear ly birthday surprise’ from Navya.

Ananya Panday shared a picture on her Instagram story, giving her fans a glimpse of what Navya sent her.

The picture shows a bunch of pink balloons kept in the middle of the room. One huge heart-shaped balloon had ‘Happy Birthday Ananya’ written over it, while oth er balloons were assembled be low, over which ‘Happy birthday’ foil balloons were placed.

Alia Bhatt is undeniably one of the most loved actresses in Bollywood. She made her big screen debut in Karan Johar’s Student of The Year and then went on to collaborate for blockbusters like director Shashank Khaitan’s Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania. The first part of the Dulhania franchise was released in 2014 and the second one followed after three years. According to some sources the makers are planning to develop the third film in this popular franchise. The Dulhania franchise is extremely special for Karan, Varun, Alia and Shashank and the team really wants to come together for part 3. They have discussed a few ideas among them selves, however, they are yet to finalise the script. Once the story is locked they will figure out the other logistics. Just like the first two parts, the third film too will thrive on romance, endearing characters and the overall innocence of the story and the characters.

JANHVI MATCHES STEPS

The stage of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is set to raise the tempera ture as popular Bol lywood actress Madhuri Dixit is going to dance to the popular song from her film Devdas. And to ac company her on stage is none other than Janhvi Kapoor. The Dhadak ac tress will arrive as a guest on the show this weekend to promote her upcoming film Mili.

SAMANTHA

Janhvi was seen wear ing a red bodycon dress and looked absolutely stunning in her attire. In the glimpses shared by the official Twitter handle of Colors TV, we can see Jan hvi matching steps with Madhuri Dixit on the song, ‘Kaahe Chhed Mohe’. This song was very popular in the late 90s era and fea tured actress Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan in lead roles.

atrina Kaif is on a promotional spree for her upcoming comedy horror film, Phone Bhoot and is appearing on various public platforms to talk about the film. Recently, she appeared on the Sal man Khan-led reality show, Bigg Boss 16 and fans went bonkers to see the former couple share the same stage. As per the new promo shared by the channel, Katrina is seen asking Salman Khan, “If you would have ever got an opportunity to spy on someone as a ghost, who would it be?” Salman replies, “There is a man named Vicky Kaushal. I would spy on him.” On being asked the reason behind this, the superstar continued, “He’s loving and caring and now when I am speaking about him, you are blushing.” Katrina Kaif couldn’t stop blushing the whole while.

here was numer ous reports about Samantha Ruth

WITH MADHURI KATRINA REUNITES WITH SALMAN

DIAGNOSED WITH MYOSITIS

Alia Bhatt Janhvi Kapoor Samantha Ruth Prabhu Katrina Kaif Ananya Panday

Her post...Her story... ETC www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/delhi I twitter.com/thefirstindia facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia NEW DELHI | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022 11

SPARKLING

CITY FIRST

Serial Entre preneur Nikhiel Ku mar hosted a grand Diwa li Soiree at White Club in the capital recent ly. Dressed in Indian Festive and adding to the glam quotient the do was attended by Designers Abhi Sin gh, Rahul Singh, Niharika Pandey, Manish Gupta, Pooja Motwani, Swati Modo, Social ites Ritu Rakheja, Pallavi Mohan, Seitu Kumar, Kiran Prakash, Payal Sin gh, Babli Gupta, MTV Splitsvilla Famed Rapper Maddy, Mia Lakra, Actors Yash Raj, Sanchit Sharma and Renown Indian Cricket Umpire Rajiv Gupta amongst many others. The free-flow ing food & alcohol, marigold décor and diyas and Indian Bol lywood music set the perfect mood for the festive celebration which went on till the wee hours of the morning.

cityfirstdel@gmail.com

Chasing the Trifecta

CITY FIRST

Moun tain eer Ka mal Kaur aims to gain Greece Tri fecta to be held on the 4th of Novem ber 2022, at Greece, the Mecca of Spartan. Since Madrid Kamal has already got Trifecta 9th and 10th. She achieved the 9th Trifec

ta in her hometown London at the European championship while the 10th Trifecta was in Australia at the Spartan Gold Coast. She also achieved the 11th and 12th Trifecta in Malta.

In a recent an nouncement made by Indian-based Life Coach and Mountain eer Kamal Kaur said “My main aim is to gain my shield in Greece for which I need to get 13 trifecta’s in the Spartan year. I only decided on this challenge and idea back in Mid July. This meant the race was on

and now I’m chasing trifecta all over the world. Race events in clude three distances, the 5K 20 obstacle ‘Sprint’, 10K, 25 obsta cle ‘Super’ and the 21K, 30 obstacles ‘Beast’ which, when com pleted in one race season earns com petitors the coveted ‘Trifecta’ medal. All races are timed and fea ture Elite, Competitive and Open heats, along with Spartan Kids rac es designed to chal lenge youth ages four to 14 with special obsta cles and trails. cityfirstdel@gmail.com

India’s Biggest Pet Festival

ndia’s Biggest Pet Festival and Limca World Re cord Holder of ‘Biggest Dog Carni val’, is back after two years. The event will be happening on December 17 and 18 at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, Delhi and on January 21 and 22, 2023 at JVPD Grounds, Juhu, Mumbai re spectively at a much big ger, bet ter and greener

scale.

Pet Fed is spread across 3 acres of festi val ground with an adorable and fun list of activities, including Po lice dog shows affiliated with the Indian Armed

Forces, an Internation al cat show, Pet’s Got Talent, a pet fashion show and much more. Speaking on occa sion, Pet Fed found er Akshay Gupta men tioned, “We are thrilled

to be back after two years, Pet Fed’s aim this year is to give back to our furry friends, celebrate with the par ents and welcome new ones into our small community.”

12 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/delhi I twitter.com/thefirstindia facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia CITY BUZZGET VACCINATED STAY MASKED NEW DELHI | SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2022

—PHOTOS BY SHAZID CHAUHAN

ANNUAL ART CARNIVAL

Delhi Collage of Art is organising an upcoming

art show titled ‘Eighteenth

Collage Annual Art Carnival’ from November 6 to November 12. The art gallery will showcase more than 300 artworks by 105 students. The artworks made of Oil Paintings, Watercolors, Charcoal, Acrylic and different type of surfaces and installations will be displayed at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. (L-R) Anuj Lalwani and Swati Modo (L-R) Babli Gupta and Pooja Motwani (L-R) Harsh Khullar and Ashhleyy Sharma (L-R) Manish Gupta and Niharika Pandey(L-R) Sameep Ved and Mia Lakra (L-R) Manu Khanna and Mansi Khanna (L-R) Dr Ankita Gupta and Parul Sud (L-R) Deepali Narula and Ashish Dhoundiyal (L-R) Nikhiel Kumar and Seitu Kumar (L-R) Babli Gupta and Harsh Khullar (L-R) Piya Sharma and Rapper Maddy (L-R) Nikhil Lal and Maanyata Surbhi (L-R) Bharti Gaur, Nikhiel Kumar and Aarti Gaur (L-R) Kiran Prakash, Ritu Rakheja and Payal Singh (L-R) Vandana Vadhera and Maneesh Baheti(L-R) Aman Kumar and Yash Raj(L-R) Abhi Singh and Rahul Singh (L-R) Pallavi Mohan and Nikhiel Kumar Kamal Kaur

Furry friends and their

parents

during

the Biggest Dog Carnival —PHOTOS BY MANOJ KESHARWANI

—PHOTOS BY SHAZID CHAUHAN

DIWALI CELEBRATIONS

First India-Delhi Edition-30th October 2022

READ Crucial

GUJ GOVT TO FORM COMMITTEE FOR IMPLEMENTING UCC

NCB FILES 200-PAGE CHARGESHEET AGAINST BHARTI, HER HUSBAND

59 KILLED, OVER 150 INJURED AFTER STAMPEDE IN KOREA

MUSK TO PROVIDE CHOICE IN DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF TWITTER

TALKING TERROR!

India among developed countries by 2047: Modi

Gujarat targets to fill 35,000 posts in one year

First India Bureau

Jaishankar SPEAKS

‘AD-HOC’ MEASURE

LG OFFS ‘RED LIGHT ON…’ CAMPAIGN

‘INHUMAN USE OF VOLUNTEERS’

Pakistani civilian, in attempt to cross border, shot by BSF

OTHER TOP STORIES

Delhi AQI in ‘severe’ zone, curbs imposed

GRAP stage

Will answer all queries, resubmit file to LG: Rai

President Murmu greets people on Chhath Puja

BJP SUBMITS MEMORANDUM TO CAQM CHAIRPERSON

AIIMS to create database for cross-referrals

Teen murdered by juveniles who harassed his sister

SACRED GOODS

Gahlot reviews Chhath preparations ‘IndiGo plane faced engine stall, airflow surge caused fire’

AMBITIOUS

LG inspects Bhalswa Lake

‘If govt wishes’, Kangana open to joining politics

Jaishankar draws world attention to drone threat

Blood on lathis evidence of Tihar Jail officials killing Ankit Gujjar

Top UNSC security body adopts ‘Delhi Declaration’ ‘Urgent Action’

Jaishankar meets British counterpart Cleverly

PROTECTORS OF COWS?

Naval commanders’ 4-day meet

THAT DAY

‘Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal’ on October 31

17 years after Delhi serial blasts, survivors live with trauma, loss

GANDHI: THE POWER OF TRUTH AND NONVIOLENCE

IN-DEPTH

AZAM KHAN OF SP LOSES HOUSE MEMBERSHIP IN JOLT TO THE SP

WILL ELON MUSK

IN POLL-BOUND GUJARAT

PM Modi to dedicate 2 key railway lines

CONNECTIVITY TO GIR SANCTUARY, GIRNAR, SOMNATH TEMPLE

GUJARAT POLLS: BJP'S OBSERVERS MEET TICKET ASPIRANTS

UNIFORM CIVIL CODE: ‘BJP TRULY COMMITTED TO GENDER JUSTICE’

NIA: TN ‘suicide bomber’ aimed to hit temple, homes

PLEA

CATTLE SMUGGLING: MONDAL’S JUDICIAL CUSTODY TILL NOV 11

UP FAST TRACK COURT AWARDS LIFE SENTENCE TO MAN FOR KILLING DOCTOR

CHHATTISGARH BUSINESSMAN SENT TO ED CUSTODY

‘DRIVER CAN’T BE PUNISHED FOR DEATH OF PETITIONER’S PET’

Police detain seven German nationals who delivered sermons

U’khand govt to rename ‘symbols of British slavery’

Shah on 2-day visit to Himachal from Nov 1

UP: 16 PCS officers to be promoted as IAS soon

OLD HAND

1 killed, 5 trapped as landslide hits power project site

in J-K’s Kishtwar

One more move by Vaghela towards Congress

`

211 crore business from Kedarnath, Yamunotri Yatra

Dehradun (ANI): Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) MD

MP CM Chouhan lays foundation of 69 CM Rise Schools in Indore

Over 50 hurt in cylinder blast during Chhath puja in Bihar

ON LEAVE FOR CHHATH, TWO BIHAR COPS KILLED AS TRUCK HITS BIKE

Rahul Gandhi shakes a leg with tribal dancers in Telangana

“WILL BRING BACK GODDESS’ IDOL FROM LONDON”

AFFAIRS OF GRAND OLD PARTY

CONG WANTS PROBE IN ‘CASH GIFTS’ TO JOURNOS ON DIWALI

Will Kharge continue

in

HIMACHAL POLLS: 3 REBEL BJP CANDIDATES STILL IN RACE IN MANDI

team

tank’?

TABLET MARKET DOWN 16%, APPLE MAINTAINS LEAD

Tech ensures benefits reach common man’

Gadkari pitches for investments from Tata Group in Nagpur

SMARTPHONE MKT SINKS TO LOWEST Q3 LEVEL SINCE 2014

PROMISE OF FACILITIES