First India-Delhi Edition-30th December 2022

SYRUP PLOT

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l Indian authorities halts production at a pharmaceutical company under probe for a cough syrup blamed by Uzbekistan

l Inspection of firm’s Noida site was carried out by teams of Uttar Pradesh Drug Control Department & Drug regulatory body (CDSCO)

New Delhi: The MEA on Thursday said that Uzbekistan has claimed that cough syrup made by Noida based Marion Biotech killed 18 children. Indian embassy has contacted the Uzbek authorities for the details. CDSCO has initiated a probe linked to a cough syrup manufactured by an Indian firm. The dept has collected samples for probe. The DCGI had said that India has been committed to rigorous monitoring of drugs and cosmetics.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

l The chemical Ethylene Glycol was found in a batch of Dok-1 Max syrup during laboratory tests: Uzbek said

l Marion Biotech is manufacturer company and holds license for manufacturing of the ‘Dok-1 Max’ syrup

l Hasan Harris from legal dept of the Marion Biotech, said the govts of both countries are looking into probe

l Amid India probe, DCGI seeks more information regarding the incident from the Uzbekistan regulator

l Syrup which caused of death of 18 children in Uzbekistan was not being sold in India, says Min Mandaviya

CDSCO has been in touch with Uzbekistan’s national drugs regulator since December 27. Samples of syrup have been sent to the Chandigarh-based Regional Drugs Testing Lab.

—Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Health Minister

There is no problem from our end and no issue in testing. We have been there for the past ten years.

Once the government report will come, we will look into it. For now the manufacturing has stopped.

—Hasan Harris, legal cell, Marion Biotech

70 CHILDREN DIED IN GAMBIA IN SEPT

The incident comes days after Gambia alleged that 70 children died in September because of cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals following which unit was shut for violation of manufacturing standards.

Rahul violated protocols 113 times: CRPF on his security breach claim

First India Bureau

New Delhi: A day after Congress alleged a breach in Rahul Gandhi’s security cover, the CRPF said that the protectee violated security protocols more than 100 times in the last two years. The onus to provide security cover to the former Congress president is on the CRPF.

On Wednesday, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal wrote a letter to

RT-PCR must for flyers from China & 5 other countries from

January 1

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Amid the rise in coronavirus cases in some countries, India has made the RTPCR test mandatory for passengers coming in from China, Japan and four other countries from January 1, 2023. They will have to upload their reports on the Air Suvidha portal before travelling. Tests have to be conducted within 72 hours of undertaking the journey to India,

eliance Industries (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s son Anant

SOURCES IN THE FORCES SAY...

“Rahul Gandhi himself has breached security protocols at least 113 times since 2020. He has also been informed about this from time to time. During the yatra, all the measures were taken for no breach of security and all stakeholders including Delhi Police were informed on December 24 before the yatra entered Delhi,” said sources in the force.

MESSAGE FROM NORTH BLOCK

Security of borders due to bravery of soldiers, not fencing: Shah

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New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that fences along the borders do not ensure the country’s security, but the alertness and bravery of soldiers do. But even the soldiers would not suffice, he said, were it not for the “patriotic villagers” living in vicinity to the forward locations.

Shah made the remarks while launching a mobile application

‘Prahari’ prepared inhouse by the BSF. At the programme, Shah suggested that under the Vibrant Village Programme, BSF personnel should make efforts for increasing tourism to border villages.

The home minister said the BSF guards the most difficult border of the country. After former prime minister

Atal Bihari Vajpayee conceptualised ‘One Border One Force’, the responsibility of guarding borders with Paki-

stan and Bangladesh had come to the BSF.

He said the brave sol-

diers of the BSF are manning these borders with great vigilance,

strength and promptness as well as consistent efforts.

Shah said the security of the borders can be ensured only when the

border villages are populated. Along with the deployment of soldiers on the borders, only the patriotic citizens living in the village can provide permanent security and all the border guarding forces should strengthen them.

The home minister told all the senior officers of BSF that it is necessary that in the border districts all the welfare programs run by the government be fully implemented with help of the district collector.

First India Bureau

Border villages need to be populated and government’s welfare schemes ensured for them, Home Minister tells BSF top brass

Union Home Minister Amit Shah listens to BSF DG Pankaj Kumar Singh during the Conference on UTs on Thursday. —PHOTO BY PTI

‘UT

SHOULD BE ROLE MODELS’ Union Territories should be a role model for the

NETANYAHU SWORN-IN AS ISRAEL’S NEW PRIME MINISTER

Jerusalem: Benjamin Netanyahu was on Thursday sworn-in as Israel’s prime minister for a sixth time, leading Jewish state’s most right-wing government to date. Netanyahu, 73, already Israel’s longestserving PM, has the support of the 63 lawmakers.

Kyiv: Russia fired scores of missiles into Ukraine early on Thursday, targetting Kyiv and other cities including Lviv and Odesa in the west, in one of its largest aerial bombardments that sent people rushing to shelters and knocked out power.

BLASTS

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said. This requirement is in addition to the random

2% tests of all international passengers in all incoming international flights on their arrival.

BRAHMOS TEST FIRED FROM SUKHOI FIGHTER

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force today successfully test-fired the extended range version of BrahMos cruise missile from a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet. The missile can hit targets at a range of over 400 km.

4 INDIAN STUDENTS DIE IN ACCIDENT IN CRIMEA

New Delhi: Four Indian medical students were killed after the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree in Simferopol in Crimea on Thursday. Ministry of Internal Affairs said, probing fatal accident.

CBSE CLASS X BOARDS FROM FEB 15, XII, APR 5; UGC-NET FROM FEB 23

KOCHHARS AND DHOOT SENT TO JUDICIAL CUSTODY TILL JAN 10

New Delhi: The CBSE Class X, XII board exams will be conducted between Feb 15 & April 5, 2023. Whereas, NET will be conducted from February 23 to March 10, 2023, NTA said on Thursday.

Mumbai: Special CBI court here on Thursday sent ex-ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda Kochhar, her husband Deepak and Videocon CEO Venugopal Dhoot to judicial custody till January 10.

Ambani on Thursday got engaged to Radhika Merchant. The couple had a traditional roka ceremony at the Shrinathji Temple in Rajasthan’s Nathdwara. Radhika is the daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant, CEO of a pharmaceutical manufacturing company.

CELEBRATIONS GALORE!: Kokilaben Ambani, Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, Vishal Bawa ji, Akash Ambani, Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant and others at the Shrinath ji temple on Thursday.

Mukesh Ambani greets during the Reliance Family Day ’22, in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Moni Sharma

Drug regulatory body initiates a high-level probe in connection with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan on Wednesday

We regret deaths.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging a breach in the security cover of Gandhi during his Bharat Jodo Yatra in

Delhi. According to the sources, the CRPF will take up the issue of security guidelines violations by Gandhi separately.

SHAH

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched the Border Security Force (BSF) mobile app ‘Prahari’. This app is a great example of proactive governance. He also launched the revised version of 13 manuals for the BSF. P5

Rahul Gandhi addresses people of Red Fort in New Delhi on Dec 24.

Two puppies killed, one of them hung up from noose

n Police register FIR on complaint of person who found the bodies n Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi posts screenshot on Twitter

New Delhi (PTI): In a ghastly incident, two three-month-old stray puppies living on a secluded land in Dwarka area here were allegedly killed with the body of one found hung from a noose on a tree, officials said Thursday.

The Delhi Police has registered an FIR in the matter on a complaint from a community dog feeder Vanessa Alphonso who had found their bodies on Wednesday morning, they said.

"The puppies were vulnerable as their mother was taken away by MCD officials for sterilisation surgery on Tuesday morning. Six puppies were living on a vacant land around the local elementary school. On Tuesday evening we could not spot two of them. We thought they could be playing around," Alphonso told PTI.

The next morning, when she went to feed the puppies, she noticed something red lying in the bushes which was the carcass of a puppy.

The carcass of another puppy was hanging from a noose on a tree, she said as she broke down while narrating

the grotesque discovery.

She alerted the police, who rushed to the scene and took the carcasses for autopsy.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Harsha Vardhan said a complaint was received on Wednesday regarding killing of stray dogs in a secluded park in Dwarka Sector-9.

"A case under Indian Penal Code section 429 (mischief by killing or

The screenshot shared by Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi of a Facebook post, on Thursday.

It is shocking to see what a sadistic society we have become where a young pup could be so cruelly hung to death.

—Ambika Shukla, Trustee, People for Animals

maiming animal) was registered on Wednesday at the Dwarka South police station.

The post-mortem of the carcasses was conducted. Efforts are being made to identify and arrest the accused," Vardhan said "It is shocking to see what a sadistic society we have become where a young pup could be so cruelly hung to death.

We need a zero-tolerance policy against ani-

mal abuse," said Ambika Shukla, a trustee of People For Animals.

Congress leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi took to Twitter posting a screenshot of a Facebook post informing about the alleged incident.

The screenshot also showed the purported photos of two dogs. One of them is seen hanging from a tree, while the carcass of the other is lying on ground.

Noida NGO turns saviour for stray dogs in cold

New Delhi: In a relief for stray dogs amidst bone-chilling winter in the national capital, a Noida-based NGO has been distributing dog coats and beds made of sack, free of cost. The next phase of the drive will be conducted on December 31 at the NGO, House of Stray Animals (HSA), in Sector-54, Noida.

The first three phases were conducted on December 19, December 21 and December 25. People who wish to collect free coats for

HC restrains illegal streaming of talk show airing on OTT

stray animals in their area can register themselves by sending their name, address and number of dogs, on the contact number +91-9818048398 by Friday evening.

More than 140 people have registered to collect free coats and beds and over 1,800 coats have been ordered so far, founder of HSA, Sanjay Mohapatra told PTI.

The drive also includes anti-rabies vaccines, 6-in-1 vaccine shots and deworming medicines, all free.

"We received good response from people when we began the drive on December 25. Around 897 dog coats were distributed to 75 people and more than 50 animals were also vaccinated on the same day," he said.

Mohapatra said that a large number of youngsters showed up during the first phase of the drive, who not just collected dog coats but also got stray animals vaccinated. —PTI

LG approves engagement of 64 law researchers in city courts

New Delhi (ANI): Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Thursday approved the recommendation of the Delhi High Court Committee on 'Ease of Doing Business' that proposes the engagement of 64 law researchers in commercial courts on a contract basis.

New Delhi (PTI):

The Delhi High Court has restrained the unauthorised streaming and broadcast of a talk show series titled 'Unstoppable' hosted on OTT platform Aha.

Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, while dealing with a lawsuit by Arha Media and Broadcasting Pvt. Ltd., which holds the exclusive broadcast reproduction rights of the talk show, said any illegal broadcast would severely affect the monetary interest of the plaintiff and also diminish the value of the series.

The plaintiff, represented by lawyers Pravin Anand and Ameet Naik, said that it is slated to air an episode with actor Prabhas Raju and it apprehends largescale piracy of this episode.

It urged the court to pass an injunction

An ex parte ad-interim injunction is granted, thereby restraining the Defendants (including John Does) from in any manner hosting, streaming, broadcasting (etc).

order to safeguard its rights and the huge commercial investment made by it in the talk show series.

The court said if an ex-parte "dynamic injunction" is not granted against the websites named in the proceedings as well as unknown entities at this stage, the plaintiff would suffer irreparable loss and injury.

"Accordingly, till the next date of hearing, an ex parte adinterim injunction is granted,” court said.

"The 64 commercial courts (at District Judge Level), in Delhi will soon have 64 law researchers attached to them," an official statement said. VK Saxena has approved the recommendation of the Ease of Doing Business Committee of the Delhi High Court, further approved by the Chief Justice of Delhi High

Court to this effect.

The proposal for the engagement of 64 Law Researchers in Commercial Courts on a contract basis was submitted by the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) in pursuance of the recommendations of the above-mentioned committee of the High

NDMC steps up efforts amid concerns over Covid variant

New Delhi (PTI): Amid growing concern over a surge in COVID-19 cases in some countries, including in India, the New Delhi Municipal Council has leapt into action by organising mock drills, holding preparatory meetings and educating people on the pandemic.

NDMC vice-chairman Satish Upadhyay conducted an inspection of the services at a hospital on Tuesday.

The New Delhi civic body also called a joint meeting with health officials to verify the Cov-

id arrangements at Charak Palika Hospital in Moti Bagh on the same day.

Sharing details about coronavirus preparedness, NDMC Chairman Amit Yadav said the civic body started working soon after the Centre issued an advisory on COVID-19.

"With the COVID-19 advisory from the government, we have already begun working. We are holding inspections in hospitals. We are conducting mock drills and preparatory meetings," Yadav said.

There are 22 Commercial Courts operational in the city of Delhi as of now

Court following the approval of the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.

There are 22 Commercial Courts operational in the City as of now and 42 more are in the process of getting operationalized. While these 22 Commercial Courts are headed by a District Judge (Commercial).

Religious intolerance, riots, and Bollywood kept Delhi courts busy in 2022

New Delhi (PTI): High-profile corruption cases against Deputy Chief minister Manish Sisodia, minister Satyendar Jain, former NSE boss Chitra Ramakrishna and exMumbai police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey hogged the limelight in Delhi courts during 2022.

The terror case against former JNU student Umar Khalid and the money laundering case against Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez were some of the other highlights as the courts made a transition from the virtual to physical mode as the Covid situation eased. PTI

YASIN MALIK CONVICTED

Kashmiri separatist leader Mohammad Yasin Malik was convicted in a terror funding case and was awarded life imprisonment. While convicting him, the judge said the crimes committed by him were intended to strike at the heart of the “idea of India” and forcibly secede J&K from the Union of India. Another court in December discharged former JNU student Umar Khalid along with United Against Hate founder Khalid Saifi in one case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. While Saifi was granted regular bail in another case, Khalid could only secure a seven-day interim bail to attend his sister’s marriage. Both face charges under the stringent anti-terror law UAPA and continue to remain in jail.

BAIL IN SEDITION CASE TO SHARJEEL

Sharjeel Imam, another former JNU student, was also able to secure bail in a sedition case in which he was accused of instigating the December 2019 Jamia riots.

‘VOICE OF DISSENT NECESSARY’

Fact-checking website Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested on June 27 in a case related to a 2018 “objectionable tweet” against a Hindu deity. He was granted bail on July 15 by the court, which said, “The voice of dissent is necessary for a healthy democracy” and that the Hindu religion and its followers are “tolerant.”

Besides the case against Zubair, the courts also dealt with a substantial number of other matters of allegedly hurting religious sentiments, including the arrest of Delhi University Associate Professor Ratan Lal in May for his “objectionable remarks” on social media related to the claims of a ‘Shivling’ being found at Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque.

He is, however, still in jail in cases related to the Delhi riots.

A city court ordered framing of charges against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Tahir Hussain and others in several cases related to the North East Delhi riots through the year.

The case related to the Jahangirpuri riots during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in April where a police sub-inspector was shot, also made the headlines during the year. In a charge sheet filed before the court, 45 people were charged with criminal conspiracy and other offences. A court also dealt with the custody of the accused in the Bulli Bai app case related to “auction” of Muslim women that triggered outrage.

CASE OF ‘KAALI’ FILMMAKER

WIn yet another case of alleged religious intolerance, filmmaker Leena Manimekalai had to appear before a court here in response to an application seeking to restrain her from depicting a Hindu goddess in her upcoming movie Kaali’ in an “objectionable way”. The court will continue hearing the arguments in January.

The alleged visa scam case against Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, issuance and subsequent withdrawal of LOC against Aakar Patel, DirectorCEO of Amnesty International India, and alleged abduction, gang-rape and parading of a 20-yearold woman in east Delhi’s Kasturba Nagar also kept making the front pages of the national dailies.

HC grants bail to three in 2019 kidnapping

New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court has granted bail to three people in a case of alleged kidnapping of an 18-year-old boy from Jama Masjid area in 2019. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that the accused—Rahul, Chandan and Rajiv—were in custody for over three years. The court released them on regular bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each with two sureties of the like amount.

The judge noted that while 10 witnesses remained to be examined by the trial court, mate-

rial witnesses had already been examined and the trial will take some time to conclude.

The court also considered that no injury was caused to the victim and no money was transferred to accused.

As per the facts of the

case, on September 28, 2019, the complainant's 18-year-old son was reported to have been kidnapped by unknown people from the Jama Masjid area. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of Rs 4 lakh from the family of the

CONDITION

boy for his release.

During investigation, it was revealed that the complainant received ransom calls from the mobile number of her kidnapped son as well as a text message giving details of an account number.

Aparna Bose

A volunteer from a Noida-based NGO puts a coat on a stray dog amid bone-chilling winter. —PHOTO B Y PTI

Manish Raj & Udayan Kishore

—Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva

BAIL

—PHOTO BY ANI/SHRIKANT SINGH

Delhi to ring in New Year in chilly weather

Cold conditions abate but mercury will start dropping from Dec 31

New Delhi (PTI): Cold wave and cold day conditions are predicted to wallop parts of Delhi on New Year's eve and the winter chill would intensify further in early January, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.

Cold conditions have abated in north India, including Delhi, for now under the influence of a western disturbance, characterised by warm moist winds from the Middle East.

However, the minimum will start dropping again from December 31, meteorologists said on Thursday.

The minimum will drop to 6 degrees Celsius on Saturday and further to 4 degrees Celsius by Monday (January 2), the IMD forecast.

On Thursday, the

Safdarjung observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius against 6.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 5.6 degrees on Tuesday and 5 degrees on Monday.

The maximum temperature settled at 23.7 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal.

Weather experts said frigid north-westerly winds and reduced sunshine due to foggy weather had caused the spell of cold wave and below-normal day temperatures in northwest India.

A western disturbance led to a fresh spell of snowfall in the mountains on December 25-26 and cold northwesterly winds swept through the plains after its retreat.

SEVERAL TRAINS RUNNING LATE DUE TO FOG

New Delhi (ANI): Passengers faced a lot of trouble as several trains were delayed due to foggy weather conditions, Railway officials said on Thursday. According to railway officials, Hyderabad-New Delhi Express, KalkaHowrah Netaji express, Gaya- New Delhi Mahabodhi Express and Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express were running late by 1:30 hours. While Barauni to New Delhi Special, Ayodhya Cantt- Delhi Express, Rajgir- New Delhi Shramjeevi express, and Pratapgarh-new Delhi Padmavat Express were running late by 1:45 hours.

The officials added that Raigarh- Nizamuddin express and Jabalpur Nizamuddin Express is late by 3:30 hours.

While Lucknow-New Delhi Express, Raxaul- Anand Vihar Sadbhavna Express, Howrah- New Delhi Poorva Express and Muzaffarpur-Anand Vihar Express is late by 1:15 hours, 2:45 hours, 2:30 hours 2 hours respectively.

Man arrested for `15-cr con while posing as health ministry official

New Delhi (PTI): A 49-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly posing as a senior Union Health Ministry official and duping six people of Rs 15 crore on the pretext of providing work orders for Covid vaccine transportation, police said on Thursday.

Umesh Batra (49) was arrested by the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police. Batra used to work for a construction company but his financial situation took a hit during the lockdown and he resorted to cheating people after joining hands

with the kingpin behind the scam Harmenn Sabherwal, Govind Tulshyan and three other people, all of whom have been arrested, they said.

Police said a probe was initiated after several complaints were

received from people who claimed to have been duped of Rs 3-4 crore on the pretext of providing work orders for transportation of Covid vaccines.

After a preliminary enquiry, a case was registered and an investi-

gation taken up. Six complainants came forward and the total amount they were duped off came out to be Rs 15 crore, they said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (EOW) M I Haidar said the investigation revealed that in May 2021, the accused contacted the complainants and offered them work orders from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for transportation of Covid vaccines.

Analysis of bank accounts of the accused revealed huge cash deposits, Haidar added.

3 men of same family arrested for rape, conversion of woman

Noida (PTI): A 30-yearold Muslim man was arrested near Noida on Thursday in connection with the alleged rape and attempted religious conversion bid on a woman on pretext of marriage, police said.

His brother (24) and his father (52) have also been arrested for being party to criminal conspiracy, the police said.

Accused Intezar Khan and the woman had met in a gym where she worked as a manager but the man had hid his religious identity from her, a senior police official said.

The woman had alleged rape, assault and forced attempt of religious conversion in her complaint at the Bisrakh police station, the official said.

“The complainant in-

formed the police that she came across Intezar at a gym in the Shahberi area. Intezar had initially hid his identity from her and identified himself as 'Sonu'. She also alleged rape with her by the accused. Immediately an FIR was lodged under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code as well as under the Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act,” Additional Deputy Commis-

Bike-borne men open fire in Burari, 1 killed

New Delhi (PTI): A 23-year-old man was killed and another injured after they were shot at allegedly by unidentified bike-borne men in north Delhi's Burari, police said. The deceased has been identified as Manoj while 25-year-old Raja sustained injuries, police said, adding that both are residents of Pinki Chowdhary colony here.

Raja is undergoing treatment at the LNJP hospital. The incident took place on Monday night when both Raja and Manoj were returning home on a motorcy-

COURTESY CALL

cle. The duo were intercepted by two bikeborne men who shot at them and fled the spot.

“Both the injured men were undergoing treatment at the hospital but Manoj succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday,” a senior police officer said.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the incident was a result of an old rivalry and the identity of the conspirators has also been identified, he said.

“It is suspected that the conspirators sent the shooters to settle old scores. We have CCTV footage,” he added.

sioner of Police (Central Noida) Saad Miya Khan said.

"The three accused— Intezar Khan, (his brother) Suhail and (their father) Abbas Ali —have been arrested," Khan added.

According to the police, Intezar had lured the woman on pretext of getting married to her. He had recently spiked her juice and allegedly raped her, the police said.

POLICE SAVE 14 OF FAMILY STUCK IN BLDG FIRE

New Delhi (ANI): Due to prompt action by the police, the lives of 14 persons, who were trapped on the first and second floor of a building which had caught fire, were saved here in Sangam Vihar area, police said on Thursday. According to the police, a total of 14 family members (four females, five males and five children) were evacuated from the building. “Due to the fire, the building was filled with smoke and the families on the first and second floors were stuck there and were crying for help,” a police official said.

Police added that the fire spread to the entire ground floor housing three shops and due to this the “entry to the first floor got blocked”.

“Without wasting time, all nearby flats were evacuated and the Fire brigade was called to the spot. Instantly, the police staff showed their presence of mind and brought a ladder from one of the nearby buildings and set the ladder up,” a police official said.

Police added that Inspector Manjeet Singh, Constable Devender and Constable Sawanta Ram climbed onto the first floor and Constable Sita Ram, Constable Mukesh and Constable Vishnu took the charge on the ground floor.

‘For postmortems at night, need more manpower’

Kunal Dutt

New Delhi: Extra manpower, reliable source of illumination, and alternative power supply on standby will be some of the challenges if postmortems are to be conducted after sunset, medical and forensic experts said.

Postmortems can now be conducted at Delhi government-run medical facilities even after sunset, the city government had said on Tuesday, describing its

decision as a “landmark reform”.

This will not only change the situation for relatives of the deceased who often have to wait a long time to receive the bodies but will “also encourage organ donation and transplantation”, it had said in a statement.

Though the move will ease process of organ donation in medico-legal cases (MLCs) such as accidents, several medical and forensic experts said that doing

autopsies at night will have its own share of challenges.

“Yes, doing postmortems at night will sure-

ly expedite the overall process and the family can get the body of their kin back sooner, so it will help,” Dr Suneela

Garg, former head of community medicine at the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), said. The MAMC is attached with the Delhi government's largest hospital, LNJP Hospital. A mortuary is located in the premises of the MAMC.

However, many experts said conducting autopsies at night would entail greater manpower, which will include doctors, postmortem technicians and attendants, sweep-

ers, security personnel, besides reliable source of illumination.

All the mortuaries which are conducting legal autopsies are only equipped with manpower and facilities for daytime autopsy, Dr Sudhir Gupta, AIIMS Delhi's forensic chief, said.

“If one wants to run the mortuary for conducting autopsy 24x7, double manpower will be needed. These include sanitation staff and technicians,” he said. —PTI

BJP MLA assaulted sanitation worker: AAP

New Delhi (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday accused BJP MLA Abhay Verma of abusing and slapping a sanitation worker in Delhi.

Releasing a purported video of Verma, AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar alleged that the BJP, which was in power in the MCD earlier, had "halted the salaries of the sanitation workers".

After being defeated in the civic body election, it is now "venting

out its frustration" by targeting AAP, he said. No immediate reaction was available from Verma or Delhi BJP over AAP's allegations.

People enjoy a boat ride in the Yamuna river while being surrounded by a flock of migratory seagull birds during the sunrise, in New Delhi on Thursday.

Former Rajasthan CM and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje paid a courtesy call to UP Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi at the CM's official residence on Thursday.

The Delhi government has allowed postmortems after sunset.

INDIA - ASEAN RELATIONS CURRENT PERSPECTIVES

Motto of ASEAN: One Vision, One Identity, One Community

ASEAN members and Eight Dialogue partner countries, India, USA, Russia, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on 23 Nov 2022. The Indian RM asserted need to counter transnational and cross border terrorism in the region and have raised concerns on ongoing ASEAN-China negotiations on the code of conduct in South China Sea and asserted the need to abide by international law and should not be unbalancing the region peace and security.

The rise of China accompanied by its growing assertiveness in South China Sea and East China Sea has been a cause of concern for many ASEAN countries. These countries view India as a possible partner in their effort to maintain balance of power and peace in the region.

ANOTHER PHARMA COMPANY INVITES GLARE FOR ITS ‘KILLER’ SYRUP

Although the trade between both regions has crossed US$80 billion mark, however it is skewed against India. This is primarily attributed to Free trade agreement (FTA) with ASEAN resulting into flooding of cheap imported products into India. India’s geostrategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region depend on India’s bilateral and multilateral engagements with the countries in the region. Maintaining cordiality with ASEAN as an organisation and with the individual Southeast Asian countries remains crucial for India

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an international organisation was established by the governments of five countries Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in 1967 to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development and to promote peace and security in Southeast Asia. Subsequently Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam joined to make it a Ten Member organisation. This organisation facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational and socio-cultural integration among its members and other nations in Asia. Its secretariat is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. ASEAN is 3rd largest market in the world - larger than EU and North American markets and has Free-trade agreements (FTAs) with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. Today’s Southeast Asia presents an example of varied cultures living together & thriving, despite region experiencing decades of conflicts.

The group acted as a platform for the member nations to resolve disputes from eco-

nomic aspects to strategic and security aspects. ASEAN has maintained stable relations with the great powers including China, India, Japan, Russia and the US. T he contribution towards regional peace, stability and prosperity goes to the wider Asia-Pacific region. However weak leadership, geopolitical conflicts and rivalries in the region have been some of the obstacles. Failure to deal with Intra-ASEAN security issues like Rohingya crisis, migration, human trafficking, pandemics, climate change, South China Sea and piracy have definitely weakened this organisation. In the recently held ASEAN Summit member countries agreed in principle to admit East Timor as the 11th member and the US elevated its relationship with the ASEAN to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The escalating tensions between the US and China and the lack of consensus on other critical geopolitical issues including Ukraine war and attitude of the junta in Myanmar have rendered ASEAN a bit ineffective.

India - ASEAN Relations and Issues of Interest : India-ASEAN relations can be traced to ancient times with deep cultural relations. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam spread from India to the region and the imprint of this shared cultural heritage is also seen in art forms and architecture. In post Cold War era, India - ASEAN relations have evolved from just eco-

ANIL DESHMUKH ALSO GETS BAIL

Nationalist Congress Party leader Anil Deshmukh was released from Arthur Road jail on Wednesday after being incarcerated since November last year on the charge of alleged money laundering. The former Maharashtra Home Minister was arrested by ED on allegations of corruption by former Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh “based on hearsay”. The Bombay High Court refused the ED’s plea for his further continuation in jail as there was no proof against him except for the statement of a coaccused. Deshmukh claimed that the allegations against him were false. The other NCP leader Nawab Malik continues to languish in jail on

ASEAN, an international organisation was established by the governments of five countries Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in 1967 to accelerate economic growth, social progress, and cultural development and to promote peace and security in Southeast Asia

nomic ties to strategic and security concerns owing to common threats and aspirations. India’s ‘Look East Policy’ in 1990s marked the beginning of strong India-ASEAN relations which were further cemented by ‘Act East Policy’ in 2014. India became a member of ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), a key forum for security dialogue in Asia and a Summit-level Partner in 2002. In 2015, India has also set up a separate Mission to ASEAN with a dedicated Ambassador to strengthen engagement with ASEAN. India and ASEAN region is celebrating 30th Anniversary of their ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations in 2022. The year is embarked as ‘ASEANIndia Friendship Year’. The year also witnessed few key bilateral visits and meetings. As part of series of such meetings the latest one was ASEAN Defence Ministers Meet (ADMM Plus) of ten

India looks at ASEAN not simply as an institution of economic development but also as an integral part of India’s vision of stable, secure and prosperous Asia. Establishing trade and connectivity links with South East Asian countries via North East has been one of the focuses, some initiatives in this regard are: India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Kaladan Multimodal Transport and Mekong Ganga Corridor.

WAY FORWARD Delay in completing infrastructure projects - IndiaMyanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, the Kaladan Multimodal Transit and Transport Project, and the MorehMandalay Bus Services-due to various political and financial constraints, has impeded the progress of economic cooperation and this warrants immediate action.

There is a need to promote Mekong - India corridor and enhance physical and digital connectivity. Build stronger strategic, security and economic ties with greater interdependence with ASEAN countries to counter Chinese clout in the region. Need for robust maritime connectivity between India and ASEAN to realize full potentiality of trade and business activities and growth and development of strategically crucial Indo Pacific region. The two sides should also explore the unexplored domains of energy security.

NCP leader Anil Deshmukh was released from Arthur Road jail on Wednesday after being incarcerated since Nov last year on the charge of alleged money laundering. The former Maharashtra HM was arrested by ED on allegations of corruption by former Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh “based on hearsay”

money laundering charges. Shiv Sena (Uddhav) leader Sanjay Raut was granted bail by a special court in November after he had spent 100 days in jail. Raut was also arrested

in an alleged money laundering case. In Raut’s case the ED was left red-faced due to the strong remarks by the special court judge. Questioning ED’s case against Raut, the court termed his arrest illegal and rejected its plea to suspend the bail order. Coming down heavily on ED, special court said that Sanjay Raut “was arrested even though there was ‘nothing to show’ that he was a recipient of ‘proceeds of crime’”.

Sharad Pawar, NCP president, said that he will meet with PM Narendra Modi and Union HM Amit Shah to take up the misuse of a central investigative agency like ED to prevent harassment of MVA leaders. Meet he must, but Pawar should not expect the ED to be reined in.

fter Maiden Pharmaceutical company was accused by Gambia for the deaths of 70 children due to the consumption of its contaminated syrups which caused kidney failure, Uzbekistan has raised the red flag against another Indian drug manufacturer Marion Biotech whose syrup Doc-1 Max had allegedly caused the death of 18 kids. Like Maiden’s cough syrup Marion’s Doc-1 Max was also found to be contaminated with ethylene glycol which is an illegal, toxic adulterant used by drug manufacturers to cut down the cost of their product.

Any action against the two companies can be initiated only after the completion of a proper investigation despite the toxic adulterant used in cough syrups. It is surprising that the Drug Controller of India does not have strict and effective regulations to keep check liberal use of ethylene glycol. While the government awaits clinical details from Gambia, in Uzbekistan the syrup was administered without a doctor’s prescription and the dose also was more than the prescribed limit.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

l Vol 2 l Issue No.121

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

Narendra Modi @narendramodi

On the sacred occasion of his Parkash Purab, I bow to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and recall his contribution towards serving humanity. His unparalleled courage will continue to motivate people for years to come.

Anurag Thakur @ianuragthakur

Heartiest congratulations to the immensely talented @SavithashriB on winning bronze at the #FIDEWorldRapidChampionships! You have made India proud by becoming only the 3rd Indian and 2nd woman to win a medal at this prestigious event. All the best champion!

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

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

COL RAJESH BHUKAR

The author is a Post Graduate in International Studies, Alumni of Defense Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Combat, Mhow

UNION HM AMIT SHAH LAUNCHES

BSF’S MOBILE APP ‘PRAHARI’

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched the Mobile App ‘Prahari’ and Manual of Border Security Force (BSF) here. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary, Director General of BSF, Chief Secretaries of Union Territories and several senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Union Territories and BSF were also present on the occasion.

In his address, the Union Home Minister said that the BSF ‘Prahari’ app is a great example of Proactive Governance. Now jawans can get personal information and information related to accommodation, AyushmannCAPF and leaves on their mobiles. Be it GPF, Bio Data or grievance redressal on “Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System” (CPGRAMS) or information on various welfare schemes, now Jawans can get all this information through the app

and this app will also connect them with the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Along with this, he congratulated BSF Director General Pankaj Kumar and his entire team for the awaited revision and update in 13 manuals which will increase the understanding of operations, administration and training and speed up the work. Shri Shah said that he is sure that this will facilitate the work of all ranks of BSF Jawans and officers. He said that these new initiatives will bring ease and convenience in the work of BSF.

NGT FORMS PANEL FOR REMEDIAL ACTION ON UTTAR PRADESH RIVULET POLLUTION

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has formed a panel to assess the ground situation and take remedial action regarding the pollution of a rivulet in UP connected to Rapti River. The Rapti river is a part of Ganga river basin. The tribunal was hearing petitions which claimed two sugar mills in Balrampur district were discharging untreated industrial effluents into a stormwater drain which was then released into the Suwaon Nala, a rain-fed rivulet, connected to Rapti.

OBC QUOTA IN LOCAL BODY POLLS: UP GOVT MOVES SC AGAINST HC ORDER

New Delhi: The UP govt on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Allahabad High Court order quashing its draft notification on the urban local body elections and directing the state to hold the polls without reservation for the Other Backward Classes. The state government, in its appeal against the December 27 order, has said that the high court cannot quash the December 5 draft notification which had provided reservation of seats in the urban body polls for the OBC – apart from those for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women.

POLAVARAM PROJECT: SC NOTICE TO CENTRE ON PLEA ALLEGING VIOLATIONS

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought the response of the Centre and others on a plea alleging violations in environmental clearance granted to the Polavaram multipurpose irrigation project. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and MM Sundresh issued notices to the Centre, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha while seeking their replies. “Issue notice, returnable in the month of February, 2023,” the bench said.

EXAMPLE OF PROACTIVE GOVERNANCE

l This BSF ‘Prahari’ app is a great example of Proactive Governance, now Jawans can get personal and service related information, housing, Ayushman-CAPF and leave related information on their mobile.

l Be it GPF, Bio Data or grievance redressal on “Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System” (CP-GRAMS) or information on various welfare schemes, now Jawans can get all this information through the app and this app will also connect them with the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

l The Border Security Force has been awarded numerous gallantry awards including one Mahavir Chakra, 4 Kirti Chakras, 13 Vir Chakras and 13 Shaurya Chakras, BSF has fought so many battles with valour that a book could be written on each war.

AMIT SHAH ON 2-DAY VISIT TO KARNATAKA FROM TODAY

New Delhi (ANI): Union HM Amit Shah will be on a two-day visit to Mandya and Bengaluru Rural districts of the pollbound Karnataka from Friday. Shah will attend three events in Gejjalagere, Mandya, Palace Grounds, Bengaluru, and Sauharda, Bengaluru Rural district, all related to the cooperative sector. He will also

BJP got highest donations from electoral trusts in 2021-22: ADR

New Delhi (Agencies):

The BJP received the highest amount of donations from electoral trusts (ETs) in fiscal year 2021-22, at Rs 351.50 crore making up 72.17 per cent of the total donations received by all parties, as per a detailed report by the Association for Democratic Reforms.

The Prudent ET donated the highest amount (Rs 336.50 crore) to the BJP, against Rs 209 crore contributed in FY 2020-21. AB General ET and Samaj ET donated Rs 10 crore and Rs 5 crore to the BJP in FY 2021-22, respectively.

After BJP, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) received the second highest amount of Rs 40 crore, with Prudent ET being the only donor.

The Congress and AAP have received a total of Rs 18.43 crore and

Rs 21.12 crore from ETs, respectively. While there is only Rs 0.19 crore difference in the donations made by the Prudent ET to both parties, Independent ET

PM in Kolkata today with `7,800 cr projects for WB

Kolkata (Agencies):

PM Narendra Modi will be on a short five-hour trip to Kolkata on Friday with a gift of projects worth Rs 7,800 crore for West Bengal, the formal announcement of which will be made on that day only.

Sources said, the projects will be under various schemes like sanitations, railways and metro railways, the 'Clean Ganga' mission, among others. As per the schedule of the Prime Minister's visit, his special flight will be landing at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at around 10.30 a.m. From

FM Sitharaman discharged from AIIMS

there, his convoy will reach Howrah station at around 11.15 a.m., where he will be inaugurating West Bengal's first Vande Bharat Express that will run from Howrah to New Jalpaiguri.

His convoy will leave the station at around 11.45 p.m. and at around 12 noon, he will be garlanding a statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose adjacent to INS Netaji Subhash.

AP STAMPEDE TRAGEDY

Toll rises to 8, PM Modi, CM Jagan announce ex-gratia

New Delhi (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who was admitted to the AIIMS, Delhi with a minor stomach infection, was discharged from the institute on Thursday, sources said.

She was admitted to a private ward of the hospital around 12 pm on Monday. Sources also added she was admitted to AIIMS Delhi for a routine check-up. The union government is in the process of consultations to finalise the union budget to be presented on February 1 next year. Sitharaman has held pre-budget meetings to elicit views of various sections including representatives of chambers of commerce and industry.

Amaravati (PTI): One more person who was injured in a stampede during a programme organised by the Telugu Desam Party in Kandukur town in Nellore district succumbed while undergoing treatment on Wednesday night, taking the toll to eight, police said on Thursday.

The victims, including two women, died and eight others were injured on Wednesday after they fell in a drainage canal when Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu was addressing a roadshow there.

People gathered in large numbers at the venue and there was some jostling among the public during the meeting, leading to a stampede at the canal, they had said based on initial information.

POLL PANEL INTRODUCES ‘REMOTE VOTING’ FOR MIGRANT WORKERS

First India Bureau

donated Rs 4.81 crore to the AAP, making AAP the bigger receiver compared to Congress. Small Donations ET donated only Rs 1.9351 cr to the Congress.

GRAND PLANS OF GRAND OLD PARTY

Some Opposition leaders will now join Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat

Shamsher Singh

New Delhi: Leaders of Congress’s old ally Samajwadi Party may participate in Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra in UP.

Along with the SP, leaders of its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal can also join the yatra and informed sources say that leaders of Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal U, allies of Congress in Bihar and Jharkhand, can also join the yatra in Delhi. It is being told

that the way the allies of the Congress in the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra etc. participated in the yatra,

the same way it will happen in Uttar Pradesh.

In fact, the Congress party has invited many opposition leaders from

UP to join the yatra. Both Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav have been invited from the Samajwadi Party and BSP chief Mayawati and general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra have been invited from the BSP. Apart from these, the Congress has also invited BJP leader and former Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma to participate in Yatra. Significantly, he is currently a professor at Lucknow University.

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Thursday said it has developed a prototype of the remote electronic voting machine for domestic migrant voters and has invited political parties for a demonstration on January 16. The poll panel has also floated a concept note on remote voting and

sought the views of political parties on the legal, administrative and technical challenges in implementing it, according to a statement.

The multi-constitu-

ency remote EVM, developed by a public sector undertaking, can handle up to 72 constituencies from a single remote polling booth.

“After focus on youth and urban apathy, remote voting will be a transformational initiative for strengthening participation in electoral democracy,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said.

What will Rahul Gandhi do during the 9-day break from party’s Yatra?

Sharma

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is on a nine-day break. The yatra was stopped after reaching Delhi on Saturday. It was officially said by the party that all yatris have been walking continuously for four months. Thus everyone needs a little rest and also need to meet their families. It said that there is a need to repair the containers in which the passengers stay on

the way so that people do not face any problem when the journey goes towards J&K in the midst of severe cold.

Congress has given all these reasons for stopping the yatra. Although BJP leaders are raising questions that the yatra

was not stopped during festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, but the yatra was stopped to welcome Christmas and New Year. However, the Congress has not revealed what Rahul Gandhi will do in the nine-day break? Regarding this also, it was said from the BJP side that Rahul is going to go missing for nine days. Surprisingly, many political experts and journalists also indicated that Rahul may go abroad.

Mahesh

Jodo Yatra!

Revised version of 13 manuals launched too; these manuals will increase better understanding of operations, administration & training and speed up tasks

Union HM Amit Shah launching BSF App in New Delhi on Thursday.

IN THE COURTYARD

Kochi (Agencies): A controversy has broken out here after local BJP leaders complained to police that the face of huge ‘Pappanji’ effigy erected as part of the famed Cochin Carnival resembles Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Carnival is being held at Fort Kochi and the face became clear when the covering of the effigy was removed. The custom of the Carnival is the Pappanji is burnt at the stroke of midnight when the New Year is welcomed. The local BJP leaders are upset at the "insult" to the Prime Minister and the latest news is that the organisers of the event have said the present face of the massive effigy will be changed.

BJP PROTESTS OVER COCHIN CARNIVAL EFFIGY FACE’S RESEMBLANCE TO PM

Workers decorate a platform at Howrah Station ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit, in Kolkata, on Thursday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Narendra Modi @narendramodi Pained by the mishap at a public meeting in Nellore, AP. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and the injured would be given Rs. 50,000.

ANDHRA CM REDDY MEETS HM SHAH, DEMANDS NFSU CAMPUS IN TIRUPATI

New Delhi (PTI): Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and requested him to consider setting up a National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) campus in Tirupati. Reddy also reiterated the issues raised before PM Narendra Modi and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday. During meeting with Shah, Reddy explained that Tirupati has grown into an educational hub and the setting up of NFSU would serve the growing demand for criminal investigation infrastructure, according to an official statement. He said the establishment of a NFSU campus will cater to the growing requirement of forensic experts in south India and assured that his government would allot the required land.

address public gatherings during his visit.

RELIANCE FAMILY DAY FUNCTION 2022

have achieved so far.

MY DEAR RELIANCE

FAMILY,

A very good evening to each one of you.

Today we have come together to celebrate Reliance Family Day… …to pay homage to our Founding Chairman Shri Dhirubhai Ambani … and to revel in the spirit of togetherness and oneness as one large Reliance Family...Dhirubhai’s Family.

Today we reaffirm our commitment to our Founder’s core principles that have sustained Reliance — integrity, excellence, empathy, mutual help, sharing and caring.

Years will roll.

Decades will pass.

Reliance will continue to grow bigger and bigger,

Like the proverbial Banyan Tree… its branches will spread wider… its roots will go deeper…

And it will touch the lives of an ever-increasing number of Indians, enriching them, empowering them, nourishing them, and caring for them.

But we will forever remember with gratitude our Founder who planted the seed of this Vata Vruksh forty-five years ago.

In Hindu tradition, Vata Vruksh is noble, it is sacred.

Whenever I think of Reliance and the mission for which my father founded it, I believe that there is, similarly, something noble and sacred about that mission.

Our mission is to make India prosperous by building world-class and world-scale businesses, and to bring happiness to the lives of all Indians.

Therefore, on Founder’s Day each year, all of us in the Reliance Family – including myself, Nita, Akash, Isha, Anant and you all – should remind ourselves that we are all trustees of this extraordinary and proud mission.

Friends,

As you know, we are living through a time when the world is beginning to see the 21st Century as ‘India’s Century’.

Our Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, has aptly described it as India’s Amrut Kaal.

The next 25 years are going to be the most transformational in the 5,000 year-old history of India.

This is when India is poised to achieve exponential economic growth. We can become a $40 trillion economy by 2047 – the Centenary of our Independence — in a sustainable and stable manner.

This goal is realistic and achievable because India is blessed with…

The power of young demography; The power of a mature democracy; And the newly acquired power of technology.

From an era of shortages, scarcity and widespread poverty, India will enter an era of inclusive prosperity, abundance of opportunities, and unimaginable improvement in the ease of living and quality of life of 1.4 billion Indians.

Similarly, at a time when uncertainty, volatility and even regression can be seen in many parts of the world, India is being regarded globally as a SHINING SPOT.

Therefore, I would like every leader and every employee in Reliance to know that destiny has given us an opportunity — and also a responsibility — to make a pivotal contribution to realisation of the enormous promise of India’s Amrut Kaal.

Dear Reliance Family Members, Acutely aware of this opportunity and responsibility, Reliance has embarked on a journey of comprehensive self-transformation.

The end of 2022 is when Reliance will have crossed the half-way mark of its Golden Decade.

In five years from now, Reliance will complete its fifty years.

All of us are proud of what we

But the journey ahead is going to be far more exciting, more rewarding, but also more challenging.

Let me spell out my expectations from the leaders and employees in all our businesses and initiatives.

First: under Akash’s Chairmanship, Jio is rolling out the world’s best 5G network across India… …at a pace, which is faster than anywhere in the world.

Jio’s 5G deployment will be complete in 2023.

I heartily congratulate the entire Jio Team for further consolidating the Number 1 position in the digital connectivity business.

But Jio Platforms should now get ready for India’s next big opportunity – to provide unique digital products and solutions to both domestic and international markets.

Since every single village will have 5G connectivity, India has a historic opportunity to completely erase the rural-urban divide which has plagued our country for so long.

We can now ensure that no Indian will be deprived of access to high-quality education, high-quality healthcare and high-productivity economic activities.

This is how Jio can accelerate India’s inclusive development.

Second: under Isha, our Retail business has grown rapidly.

It has emerged as one with the widest and deepest reach in India, across all product baskets.

Most significantly, Reliance Retail

mits of success.

We are particularly proud of our JWC team that hosted the G20 in Mumbai and of course, our Lifesciences team that is going on and charting New Paths of innovation

Fourth: New Energy is Reliance’s newest start-up business with a potential to transform not just the company or the country, but the entire world.

It shows that we CARE FOR THE PLANET, and we CARE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE PLANET.

With Anant joining this upcoming Next-Gen business, we are making rapid progress in getting our Giga Factories in Jamnagar ready.

From being India’s largest and most valuable corporate, Reliance is now well on its way to also becoming India’s ‘Greenest’ corporate.

The goals before our New Energy Team are crystal clear.

Enable India to achieve security and self-sufficiency in energy by reducing the dependence on imports.

And remember, you can do so only by remaining agile and ahead of the technology curve.

Fifth, 2023 will also be a Year of Renewal and Revitalisation for Reliance Foundation.

Under Nita’s inspiring leadership, Reliance Foundation is working on even more ambitious new initiatives in education, healthcare, sports, women’s empowerment and ecological conservation.

Friends, When I look at the state of the

INNOVATIONS at Reliance. I am sure we will achieve trailblazing successes.

Friends,

On Founder’s Day, I naturally recall many great qualities of my father.

But his one distinctive quality that must forever serve as a beacon for all of us is his indomitable determination to WIN.

WIN against all odds. And WIN, whatever it takes. But he also taught me, and taught all his colleagues, that winning in business takes both LEADERSHIP and TEAM WORK.

Both must be developed in a mutually supportive way. You would perhaps appreciate this point better if I illustrated it by giving the example of the recently concluded WORLD CUP FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT in Qatar.

All of you who watched it will agree that the Final game was the most thrilling in the history of the sport.

But how did Argentina win the Cup?

It is because of the combination of LEADERSHIP and TEAM WORK.

Messi could not have won the Cup on his own.

Similarly, the Argentinian team could not have won without Messi’s inspiring leadership.

They faltered in the first game, but they did not give up.

Ultimately, they won because they were breathing victory, dreaming of victory, and doing everything needed to achieve victory…until the last penalty shot.

They were like Warrior Arjuna who could see nothing but the eye of the bird at which he had pointed his arrow.

This is how our Founder Dhirubhai Ambani also built Reliance.

Therefore, as we pay tribute to him today, let us further strengthen the WINNER’S MINDSET in every team and every team member in Reliance.

Talking about the Winner’s Mindset, let me share with you a thought that has inspired me all my life.

It is Swami Vivekananda’s thought.

Swamiji says:

“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; dream of it; think of it; live on that idea.

Let the brain, the body, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.” Let’s follow this mantra. It will guarantee success in your personal life, and it will ensure unstoppable success of Reliance in the years to come.

has created over two lakh new jobs last year, becoming one of India’s leading employers.

I congratulate the Retail Team for setting new standards in disciplined execution, which is the key to its success.

But I know that all of you in the Retail Team are capable of chasing even more ambitious targets and goals.

Like Jio, the growth of our Retail business will also have a cascading effect on India’s inclusive development.

Our young people will have more jobs.

Our farmers will have higher incomes.

Our SMEs and large manufacturers will become more productive.

And our trader-partners will become more prosperous.

Third: We continue to build on our leadership in the O2C business with new capacities and capabilities.

In the E&P Segment, our team continues to work harder for providing energy security for India.

All of us are excited about the Media & Entertainment business and its integration with the digital services that will reinvent the industry completely.

My congratulations to all of you in these enterprises.

Keep doing your good work, and I am sure you will scale higher sum-

world today…at the global financial landscape, technological landscape and the supply chain landscape…I instinctively feel that we are going to see profound, astonishing and unexpected changes in the coming decade.

I can clearly see India riding this tsunami of changes and achieving what looked impossible earlier.

Therefore, as India’s leading corporate, Reliance has to rise to the call of times and fulfil the nation’s expectations.

To be able to do so, Reliance has begun implementing two important tasks.

First, we are empowering Reliance with new LEADERSHIP CAPITAL … especially with YOUNG LEADERSHIP.

Second, we are enriching Reliance with new TALENT CAPITAL …again, with YOUNG TALENT.

We will pay a lot of attention to developing CAPACITY, CAPABILITY AND COMPETENCE at all levels.

I would like our leaders to accelerate this process throughout the organisation.

All of us must realise that the next big cycle of growth in Reliance will not be Resource-driven but INNOVATION-DRIVEN.

I call upon you to make 2023 a YEAR OF BOLD and PIONEERING

Friends,

As we enter the New Year, here is another advice from me as the head of Reliance Family.

Spend more quality time with your loved ones, for the growth of your families.

Spend more quality time with your colleagues, for the growth of your teams.

And spend more quality time with yourself, for your self-growth.

I want to see each and every one of you happy and contented both in family space and work space.

Before I conclude, I must express my regret that we are once again having this year’s Family Day function in an online format.

But let me assure you that very soon we all shall get together for a joyful face-to-face celebration as in old times.

Finally, I, on behalf of my mother Kokila ben, Nita, Isha & Anand, their twins Aadiya & Krishna, Akash & Shloka, their son Prithvi, and Anant & Radhika, wish every one of you and your families a very Happy and Prosperous New Year and a great year of achievements.

Thank you…Jai Hind!

Jai Shri Krishna!

Today we reaffirm our commitment to our founder’s core principles that have sustained Reliance — integrity, excellence, empathy, mutual help, sharing and caring: Mukesh Ambani

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s daughter and son, Isha and Akash Ambani, address at the 44th Annual General Meeting of Reliance Industries Limited through video conferencing, in Mumbai.

Mukesh Ambani

COUGH SYRUP DEATHS IN UZBEKISTAN

Noida firm stops making cough syrup ‘for now’

n Marion Biotech does not sell Dok1 Max syrup in India, a UP govt official said

n Samples have been collected & action would be taken based on the inspection, says Mandaviya

New Delhi/Noida (PTI): The manufacturing of Marion Biotech’s Dok-1 Max has stopped “for now”, the company’s legal representative said on Thursday as the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation began a probe in connection with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan allegedly linked to the cough syrup.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said further action would be taken based on the inspection of the pharma company, under a cloud after the Uzbekistan health ministry’s allegation that the children died after consuming Dok-1 Max.

Marion Biotech does not sell Dok-1 Max in India and its only export has been to Uzbekistan, an Uttar Pradesh government official said as inspection began at the company office in Noida on the outskirts of the capital on Thursday morning.

Samples of the cough syrup have been taken from the manufacturing premises in Noida and sent to the Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory (RDTL) in Chandigarh for testing, Mandaviya said. The CDSCO, he said, has been in regular contact with the national drug regulator of Uzbekistan regarding the matter since December 27.

“Immediately on receipt of information, joint inspection of the NOIDA facility of the manufacturer, Marion Biotech, was carried out by UP Drug Control and

Noida (PTI): A team of central agencies and the Uttar Pradesh drug department on Thursday carried out an inspection at the Noida office of Marion Biotech. The inspection started at the office in Sector 67 around 12 pm and continued for over 10 hours during which six more samples of the syrup were taken, officials said. The inspection team had four members: two drug inspectors from Centre, one drug inspector from Noida, and one assistant drug commissioner of Meerut Division, said Gautam Buddh Nagar Drug Inspector Vaibhav

CDSCO team and further action as appropriate would be initiated based on the inspection report,” Mandaviya said in a series of tweets.

Marion Biotech is a licensed manufacturer and holds the licence for manufacturing Dok1 Max syrup and tablet for export purposes granted by the Drugs Controller, UP, the health ministry said.

The governments of

Babbar. Hasan Harris, the legal representative of Marion Biotech, said, “There is no problem from our end and no issue in testing. We have been there for the past ten years. Once the government report will come, we will look into it. For now the manufacturing has stopped.” Babbar said on December 27, an inspection was carried out by a team of the Centre in which samples of five medicines were taken for testing. “A further round of investigation is pending for which we have come today,” he said.

both countries are looking into the matter, said Hasan Harris, legal representative of the Noida-based Marion Biotech.

Before Uzbekistan’s claims were reports linking the deaths of 70 children in Gambia to cough syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals earlier this year.

The Drugs Controller General of India

claimed the WHO drew a premature link.Sources said the DCGI has sought more information from the Uzbek regulator regarding the latest allegation.

As per the Uzbek ministry, the chemical ethylene glycol was found in a batch of Dok-1 Max syrup during laboratory tests. The alleged role of Indian pharma companies in the deaths of children abroad had a political fallout too.

While the Congress asked the government to stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world and take strictest action, the ruling BJP accused it of deriding India in its “hate” for PM Narendra Modi.

“Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia & now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan.

Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest action,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

BY

Welfare projects being obstructed by finance dept: Assembly Panel

New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Assembly’s Petitions Committee accused the city government’s Finance department of creating roadblocks in implementing pro-people welfare projects, such as Yamuna cleaning, laying of water pipelines, and disbursal of pension to the elderly.

Committee member Saurabh Bhardwaj said data entry operators engaged in hospitals for years had been sacked after the Finance department impeded the disbursal of their salaries. Government healthcare facilities have been working without them for six months, he said.

Funds for the Delhi Jal Board have been frivolously withheld for the last six months, derailing essential pro-

jects such as cleaning the Yamuna, drinking water pipelines and laying sewerage lines. Within the Social Welfare department, objections are repeatedly raised by the Finance department on pension of the elderly, due to which they have to wait for months for pension, Bhardwaj, as quoted in a statement.

“The Finance department of the Delhi is creating roadblocks in the implementation of pro-people policies

of every department.

Even the policies being implemented for several years now without any problem, the officials of the Finance Department ask queries or Cabinet notes.

“Last week, the Finance department stopped the disbursal of salaries of the doctors of mohalla clinics. They also stopped free tests by asking for a Cabinet note on the issue, which is absolutely bizarre. Today, we saw the Finance department creating a problem in the payment of salaries of data entry operators in the Health department,” he said.

Most hospitals have removed these data entry operators as the Finance dept was causing issues in the disbursal of their salaries, he added.

UTTAR PRADESH 2022

‘DELAY IN PENSION’

l “We have also seen the Finance Department delay the pension provided to senior citizens in Delhi by the Social Welfare Department by asking queries that are unnecessary. This has led to the pensions being disbursed after a delay of 2-3 months,” Bhardwaj said.

l The AAP leader also alleged that pensions of as many as 426,058 senior citizens are repeatedly withheld in Delhi with the Centre not paying its share of Rs 200.

BJP’s poll juggernaut, Yogi’s bulldozer on roll; Akhilesh, Shivpal bond again

Sangita Bakaya & Sanjay Sinha

Lucknow: Beginning the year with a big win in the assembly polls, the BJP also breached the Samajwadi Party citadels in Azamgarh and Rampur building momentum for 2024 General Election.

The party conquered Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan’s bastion in Rampur, winning the bye-elections for the Lok Sabha seat and the Rampur Sadar assembly constituency, which had elected Khan 10 times in a row.

But its winning streak broke with bypoll defeats in Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency -- which had fallen vacant after the death of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Khatauli assembly segment it had won in the 2017 and the 2022 state elections. The year saw controversies over the use of bulldozers to demolish properties of alleged gangsters, and a

‘TAKING HUMANITY FORWARD’

revival of sorts of temple-mosque disputes in Varanasi and Mathura. Dashing the hopes of

a resurgent SP led by Akhilesh Yadav, the BJP registered a comfortable victory in the

The state polls on which the nation’s attention was hooked saw an improved performance by the SP which got 111 seats out of 403, against 47 five years ago. But the Congress (two seats) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (one seat) were decimated. —PTI

Devdutt Pattanaik, Ma Anand Sheela at PragatiE Vichar Lit Fest

lll

The list of speakers also includes authorfilm critic Bhawana Somaaya, poet Sudeep Sen, and authors Aloke Lal, Mahua Chinappa, and Vani Kaushal

New Delhi (PTI): Mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik, actor Maria Goretti, a former aide to godman Ranjeesh, Ma Anand Sheela, and noted authors Anand Neelakantan and Gautam Chintamani are among the well-known names participating at the PragatiE Vichar Literature Festival (PVLF), starting January 9, 2023.

“Promoting true literature by getting some of the best new and debut authors to share their works and their

ideas is what makes us a distinct brand. We have a very exciting lineup for everyone at both the virtual event as well as the physical PVLF day on 14th Jan,” Pranav Gupta, festival director of PVLF told PTI.

The list of speakers also includes authorfilm critic Bhawana Somaaya, poet Sudeep Sen, and authors Aloke Lal, Mahua Chinappa, and Vani Kaushal.

Besides, story-telling and author sessions, the festival, which aims

to promote new authors and enhance their public visibility,

will also host ‘PVLF Excellence Awards’ on a concluding day.

Touted to be purely data-driven, the awards, primarily

judged using Nielsen BookScan Data and voting, will be given to

publishers, authors, and books. It features ‘PVLF Author Excellence Award’, ‘PVLF People’s Choice Publisher Award’, and ‘PVLF Readers’ Choice Book Award’.

“The PVLF has received 250 book nominations and has garnered an incredible amount of votes. We have achieved the milestone of 180K+ votes, an amazing growth from the 44,000 we received last year,” informed the organisers.

The office of Emenox Group’s Marion Biotech pharmaceutical firm in Noida on Thursday.

Ma Anand Sheela

Devdutt Pattanaik

‘Projects like Yamuna cleaning, water pipelines and disbursal of pension derailed’

February-March assembly election, paving the way for the return of Yogi Adityanath as chief minister for a second consecutive term a rare, first-indecades feat in Uttar Pradesh politics.

Adityanath’s second term saw bulldozers demolishing properties of alleged criminals and people involved in riots, earning the CM the sobriquet of ‘Baba Bulldozer’. —FILE PHOTO

THE ‘CHACHA-BHATIJA’ DRAMA CONTINUES

TEAM OF CENTRE, UP INSPECTS PHARMA FIRM’S NOIDA OFFICE

—PHOTOS

PTI

In presence of founder Director of Miss & Mrs India Glam Pawan Tank, CEO of Kirti Tank, Chairman Ravindra Pratap Singh, Former Femina Miss India World and Bollywood

4 whereas Suman Byadwal won the title of Mrs India Glam Season 4.

Apart from these, Abhishekta Tanwar was declared the first runner-up of Miss India Glam, Deepika Singh second runner up and Ankita Rathod was the third runner-up. Sonu Shekhawat was declared as first runner-up, Gaganpreet Kaur as second runner and

he momentous grand Finale of Jewelers SKJ Jewellers Miss & Mrs India Glam, Season 4 presented by Ravisurya Group & Ananta Resort Jaipur and media partnered by First India News and Bharat24-Vision of New India concluded at the magnific Banquet Hall of Ananta Resort Jaipur on Wednesday. The models showcased gold and real diamond jewellery by SKJ Jewelers along with designer outfits by Mandakini Sarees, Ramaj Kurtis, Boudhi Tree on the ramp.

Actress Sayali Bhagat, Brand Ambassador of Rajasthan Khadi Board & Fashion Designer Himmat Singh, Big Boss fame Manu Punjabi, SKJ Jewelers Director Uday Joshi, Mandakini Sarees Director Prashant Pauddar and Sohit Taylor. Neha Shekhawat was declared the winner of Miss India Glam Season

Shweta Jain as third runnerup in the Mrs India Glam category. Along with this, Kavita Chaudhary was given the title of Miss India Glam Rajasthan 2023 and Anju Yadav was given the title of Mrs India Glam Rajasthan 2023 and Reena Singh was given the title of Miss India Glam International 2023. Many others titles were also given to various finalists based on their qualities. India Glam Star Awards 2023 were presented by Mrs India Glam Star Pooja Ranaut on this occasion.

Pawan Tank, Founder Director, India Glam organisation

informed that the models were groomed and the show was cho reographed by celebrity chore ographer Haider Ali and team, while RJ Devangana, who came from Mumbai, added to the atmosphere with her per formance. The main part ners of the program are Ravisurya Group, Ananta Spa & Resort Delhi Road Jaipur, SKJ Jewellers, Sony Fashion Studio, Manda kini Sarees, Winning Vega Wellness Coach, A Infinity Take Over etc.

The noteworthy grand Finale of SKJ Jewellers Miss & Mrs India Glam, Season 4 presented by Ravisurya Group & Ananta Resort Jaipur concluded with a grand crowning ceremony on Wednesday. City First brings to you some mesmerizing glimpses of the mega show!

KAVITA CHAUHAN cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

—PHOTOS

BY MUKESH KIRADOO

(L-R) Deepika Singh (Miss India Glam 2023 2nd runner up), Kavita Choudhary (Miss India Glam Rajasthan 2023), Neha Shekhawat (Miss India Glam 2023 winner), Pawan Tank, Sayali Bhagat, Kirti Tank, Harshita Babele (Miss India Glam International 2023), Abhishekta Tanwar (Miss India Glam

KIM TAEHYUNG KING HEART! OF

I don’t know how to start

Because of this thousand words are not enough to describe his art

The first time when he was introduced, Killed us with his unique personality and made us confused!

It was difficult to survive his boxy smile, His deep baritone voice also made our bad times fragile!

Then comes his artistic sense and Tata mic face

Which got tangled in the hearts, just like a beautiful lace, Now we know that it is difficult to live without him

As he has filled our hearts with love, up to the brim!

He is the dream we have and the love we share

Oh yes, he is our Winter Bear

With an old soul, young eyes, a vintage heart, and a beautiful mind, Who is the ruler of benevolence, his clone is difficult to find.

The world before his eyes is finite, the universe inside his pure soul is infinite, Of all the hearts we loved, he is the one who makes our hearts smile!

His addiction has filled every army with stigmatisation and fantasy.

The world’s most handsome man Kim Taehyung one of the most popular music icons worldwide and has come a long way and it wasn’t the least bit easy. While his success with BTS is something that will go down in the history of music as the phenomenon that changed the world, his personal growth as an artist, a producer and a composer is worth all the love and appreciation in the world.

This is a man who makes you fall for him daily. He was born into the world with the beauty of a supermodel and the heart of an artist.

His talent is monstrous so absolutely enormous that it’s hard to describe and better to just experience it for yourself. Listening to a Kim Taehyung ballad means feeling understood deep down in your marrow. It is an embrace at your most lonesome.

He is like a blooming purple flower pushing out of the deepest snowdrift of winter. He has a heart full of love for everyone, and his lovely,

pure and tender personality has made us his fan. This sweet sentimental idol is always affectionately reminding us through Weverse posts, tweets, and interviews that ARMY is his best friend. His fans have gone above

and beyond to ensure that his birthday is a big celebration all over the world from opening cafes to adorning buses to giving donations, his fans have done everything nice to bring a smile to the face of their be-

loved artist. Not only this, his fans have highlighted the account to Big Hit Music. His exceptional musical journey from a doe-eyed trainee in a small company to a multimillionaire singer/ actor/ fashion icon who reigns supreme as the second-ever individual and firstever Korean artist to get a birthday ad on Burj Khalifa has said it all. Kim Taehyung, aka V of BTS, graced the cover of the October issue of Vogue Korea and was given the title “icon of an era” for his massive global influence and success. He also made history by becoming the first person to get six covers for the publication.

The South Korean singer turned 27 today. Fans have made special preparations for their favourite idol, Kim Taehyung, on his special day. The Indian fandom of V, known as the “Taehyung India Fanbase,” sent an advertisement video to Mumbai’s Infinity Mall, where it will be shown on the country’s biggest LED screen from December 29 to December 31, and to “Vardaan Market” in Kolkata, where it will be shown from December 28 to 31.

BTS’ V AND THE MOST HANDSOME MAN, KIM TAEHYUNG, TURNED 27 YEARS TODAY! WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THE OCCASION THAN CHARTING HIS EXCEPTIONAL MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM A LITTLE BOY TRAINEE IN A SMALL COMPANY TO A MULTIMILLIONAIRE SINGER/ACTOR/ FASHION ICON!

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

This art depicts the artistic personality of Kim Taehyung aka VanTae

This art depicts harsh reality of growing up inspired from his song ‘Inner Child’

B&W art on shell inpired from ‘Blue & Grey’

Around the world, people celebrate New Year’s Eve as a joyful event.

The new year has begun, according to the Gregorian calendar (which contains 12 months and January 1 is counted as the first day of a new year). Around the world, people start making plans and preparations for their new year’s resolutions a month in advance.

Regardless of caste or culture, it, like any other celebration, brightens the lives of numerous individuals all over the world. People of all ages enjoy celebrating and learning about New Year’s Eve. From Christmas Eve through New Year’s, almost all educational institutions declare a winter vacation (January 1). As the first day of the

year, Fresh Year signifies a new beginning while leaving the previous year behind, and as such, tends to bring happiness into people’s life.

HOSTING A GAME NIGHT

Even if you’re staying in this time, you don’t necessarily have to be alone yourself. Bring your group of friends or family members together and hold a card game competition all night long. Carom, Uno, or even infinite games of poker are possible options (which we did with our friends 2-3 years ago, using matchsticks for poker chips). To avoid becoming too immersed and losing track of time, you might switch between games every hour.

FIRE UP BARBEQUE

Putting a portable barbeque in your courtyard or on your patio is every-

easily found online in a range of price points and sizes. So, obtain one and put it up outside with high-quality coal.

You may use a variety of meats, including lamb, pig, lamb legs or breasts, and chicken. Paneer, capsicum, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes provide excellent grilling options for vegetarians.

PARTYING IN YOUR FINEST DRESS

You might host a dancing session in your home similar to karaoke. You might disguise the LEDs to seem like disco lights by covering them with sturdy, multicoloured cellophane. Then, order a few drinks, turn up the music, put on your finest attire, and begin the party! Additionally, be sure to get a recording done since you’ll want to remember the wild night you and your friends had. It helps you remain awake so you won’t miss the countdown, at which point you’ll leap and exclaim “Happy New Year” at the top of your lungs.

WATCH YOUR FAVOURITE SHOWS

Nothing compares to binge-watching your favourite

sion programmes with your loved ones while cozying up under a nice blanket. All you need is some beverages, popcorn, and preferably a big TV with decent sound. Dim lighting is also recommended. You might deliberately choose Christmas and New Year’s movies or TV series, for instance, watch all the Home Alone sequels or similarly theme episodes of everyone’s favourite F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

MAKING NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Without making any New Year’s resolutions, how do you ring in the new year? Make intriguing and meaningful ones while seated with your loved ones. To remember them in the future, you may get a billboard to write them down or capture them on a camera. This will enable you to reflect on your progress in keeping your pledges to yourself the following year.

There are many ways to make your New Year’s Eve festivities at home in 2022 valuable and special; these were the ones we thought were

Celebrate endings for they precede new beginnings. City First brings to you some amazing ways in which you can make your New Year magnificent.

standing. Please share this article if you know of any other activities you may perform at home on New Year’s Eve in the comments section.

ADITI KUSHWAHA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

SHADES OF ART!

LOVE FOR MAKE UP!

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

Tell us something about yourself.

Hi, my name is Khushboo Daga. I’m 23-year-old business student turned into a full-time makeup artist. All my life, I’ve been super passionate about makeup, beauty, skincare and saw myself in this industry making it a safe space with my creativity.

After graduating in business management studies from NM college in Mumbai, I was pretty deflected when it came to choosing a career path for myself and saw myself very well fitting into this industry.

Where do you see yourself after the next 20 years?

In regards to my work, that is a very tough question since my work is so seasonal.

But I do want to open a studio in my city and put my heart and soul into growing and ex-

panding it. Nothing gives me more solitude than makeup and I wish to create a space for others too without any social conformities. Otherwise, I do see myself, well settled, happy and healthy.

How did your journey begin?

My journey has been going on for as long as I can remember.

I always knew that I would do something in the beauty industry but just didn’t know how to start. I would also do my cousins’ and friends’ makeup; I would make my mother sit in a chair and just doll her up. But my true efforts into making a career for myself started in the year 2022 when I enrolled myself into pro-

fessional makeup classes and since then there has been no looking back.

What were some of the battles you fought and are still fighting in your journey?

With success comes struggles. My biggest struggle and battle would be getting work as a freelancer. Since I still do not have a studio set up, I basically work from home. My work being seasonal, I usually find myself with a lot of unproductive time and that is something that I do not enjoy. Also in the beginning, I was a little sceptical about getting into this industry keeping the slow growth in mind. I wanted something which would give me a quick result and outcome.

MY MOTHER, MY INSPIRATION

SOMANI AKA RAPNOTIZE, FROM KEKRI RAJASTHAN, SHARES HIS JOURNEY WITH CITY FIRST

AISHA GUPTA

Tell us something about yourself.

I am pursuing Bsc Nursing in Jaipur. A little introverted kinda guy who usually takes time to vibe with people, my raps do that better. Apart from rapping, I do write poetries as well. I don’t have a great financial background so I work in the customer care sector to help out my family.

How did your journey begin?

The very first time I per-

formed at my college’s fresher party. A lot of people appreciated and motivated me to write my tracks. Then in 2019, I got a chance to perform at JECRC University in Jaipur. I gave myself a stage name Rapnotize and created a

youtube channel with the same name to share my Raps with people all around the world.

Talk to us about your achievements.

So far, I have not achieved anything great but would like to address my small victories. I won a few rap battles in Rajasthan, did some shows from which I learned alot about feild work and also got a chance to work with some great and experienced people and got featured on MTV Hustle.

Talk to us about your achieve ments?

I’ve only been working in this industry for a short while but I think my biggest achievement would be seeing my clients happy after they get all dolled up.

ETO Motors, India’s leading EMaaS (Electric Mobility as a Service). The company with its unique 360-degree Electric Mobility business model is launching last Mile services with Women Driver Partners from Azadpur Metro Station to enhance the first and last-mile experience of metro commuters in Delhi. ETO’s EV charging solution –Thunderbox, will be installed across Delhi at various Metro Stations, Societies, Public/Semi-Public Malls etc. This will help all the women have easy access to the charging points for e2W and e3W addressing driver’s range anxiety. This

ETO MOTORS EMPOWERING WOMEN DRIVERS

concept

is a testament to ETO’s support for women empowerment, gender parity and vibrant communities. To mobilize and train women, and driver partners, ETO Motors has partnered with the Transport Department of

Delhi, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, School of Driving & Training Institute, Burari (DTI), Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR), Sarai Kale Khan and MOWO social initiatives. In recent years, DMRC has introduced many eco-

friendly initiatives to ensure a robust lastmile connectivity system, which enables the commuters to prefer non-polluting public transport modes over personal vehicles.” As part of this initiative, ETO Motors will be deploying its Trilux 1.0 L5

category passenger eauto that runs on a 7.37 kWh capacity lithiumIon battery which charges within 3-4 hours and runs at a maximum speed of 45 kmph. It can achieve a range of approximately 100 KM on a single charge.

Khushboo Daga, an inspiring make up artist shares her journey with City First

Bhavna Kakar, Founder and Director of Latitude 28 hosted the preview of the exhibition Fabular Futures at Triveni Kala Sangam. The preview was well attended by artists and art lovers of Delhi. The guests were seen interacting with artist Anupama Alias and Sanket Viramgami on their works. The evening was attended by Kiran Nadar, Sanjoy Roy, Ruchika Chanana, Amit Kumar Jain, Kanchan Chander, Pratul Dash, Payal Kapoor, Nupur Kundu, Anubhav Nath, Rameshwar Broota and Vasundhara Tewari Broota, Amitava Das, Mona Rai to name a few.

ABHISHEK

Amit

CELEBRATIONS! Jagdeesh Chandra hosted a grand dinner for the First India Newspaper family to celebrate the end of the year at Culture, Jaipur on Wednesday. Anita Hada, Kavita Chauhan, Jinendra Singh Shekhawat, Mahesh Sharma, Rashpal Singh, Sharat Verma, Moni Sharma, Shaan, Shishir Awasthi, Gajraj Singh Bhati, Dilip Solanki, Jawed Khan, Ashish Aman among other members were present on the occasion. GM Girish Yadav welcomed everyone and wished the entire team a Happy New Year in advance.

Jagdeesh Chandra greeted by Moni Sharma. Also seen are Kavita Chauhan, Anita Hada, Vishaal Mathur, Mahesh Sharma, Rashpal Singh, Jinendra Singh Shekhawat, Shishir Awasthi, Dinesh Mathur, Vinod Sharma, Sharat Verma, Santosh Sharma and others

CELEBRATIONS! —PHOTOS BY SUNIL SHARMA

Abhishek Somani

Divyun Nanda