First India-Jaipur Edition-17 October 2020

JAIPUR l SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00

PM MODI IS IN MY HEART MUCH LIKE HANUMAN’S DEVOTION FOR RAM, IF YOU CUT OPEN MY HEART YOU WILL FIND ONLY MODI-JI —Chirag Paswan, LJP leader OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD 25°C - 34°C

RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 132

CHIRAG HAS CHOSEN A SEPARATE PATH IN BIHAR, HE IS TRYING TO MISLEAD PEOPLE BY TAKING NAMES OF BJP LEADERS —Prakash Javadekar, BJP leader and I&B Minister

FULL REPORT P5

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MURLI BREAKS SILENCE ON ROW OVER BIOPIC ‘800’ Decision on min WAR AGAINST SMOG ‘Is it my mistake that I was SC appoints one-man panel marriage age for born a Sri Lankan Tamil?’ to monitor stubble burning girls soon: Modi New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday appointed retired judge Justice Madan B Lokur to monitor stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh amid rising pollution in Delhi and its surrounding areas.

“We are only concerned about the citizens of Delhi-NCR being able to breathe in fresh clean air,” the top court said. The Supreme Court also declined to accept the centre’s request to reconsider the appointment of the oneman committee of Justice (retd) Lokur. The next hearing on the case has been scheduled on October 26.

“The concerned state governments will provide secretarial, security and financial facilities to this committee.

The National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme and Bharat Scouts will also be deployed Turn to P6

CHIEF SECYs, EPCA TO ASSIST The bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde directed the court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) and chief secretaries of Haryana, Punjab and UP to assist the Lokur panel during physical surveillance of fields where stubble is burnt.

SATELLITE VIEW NASA’s satellite imagery shows a large cluster of farm fires near Amritsar, Patiala, Tarn Taran, and Firozpur in Punjab, and Ambala and Rajpura in Haryana.

 Punjab reported 3,517 farm fires this season as compared to 1,217 last year.  Haryana reported 1,710 stubble burning incidents against 1,072 during same period last year.

Mathura court admits appeal seeking removal of mosque from ‘Lord Krishna birthplace’ Mathura: A Mathura court in Uttar Pradesh on Friday admitted an appeal against an order dismissing a suit filed to remove a mosque situated adjacent to the Lord Krishna temple complex in the city, LiveLaw reported.

The case first came to light on September 26, when a group of devotees and the minor deity moved a civil court, seeking the removal of Idgah mosque, which they alleged was built after

a part of a Hindu shrine was razed on orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century.

In the suit filed before the Civil Judge, Mathura, the plaintiffs said that “every

inch of land”, measuring 13.37 acres, “of Katra Keshav Dev (as the place is known historically) is sacred for devotees of Lord Shree Krishna and (the) Hindu community”.

Turn to P6

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the government will soon take a decision on revising the minimum age of marriage for girls after it receives report from the committee set up for this.

The prime minister said the girls’ gross enrolment ratio in education has turned higher than that of boys for the first time in the country because of several efforts taken by the government in the last six years.

Modi was addressing a video conference after releasing a commemorative coin of Rs 75 denomination on the 75th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

“There is an important deliberation going on to decide what should be the ideal age of marriage for daughters,” Modi said.

The prime minister said he has been receiving letters from women

‘China relations “profoundly disturbed” after border clashes’ New Delhi: The violent clashes on the India-China border in June had a very deep public and political impact and has left the relationship “profoundly disturbed”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday.

Tensions had escalated manifold between India and China after the Galwan Valley clashes in eastern Ladakh on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in action. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army also suffered Turn to P6

REVIEW OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT DEPT

No child should be malnourished: CM Naresh Sharma Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that it is the main goal of the state government to reduce maternal and child mortality.

For this, every effort should be made to improve the nutritional level of pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children in accordance with global health standards.

Gehlot was reviewing the schemes and programs being run through Integrated Child Development Services and Women and Child Development De-

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

partment in a meeting that lasted for about two hours at the Chief Minister’s residence on Friday evening. He instructed for effective implementation of the schemes running

through the department.

The Chief Minister said that the benefits of programs related to women and child development should be ensured through Anganwadi centers to the vil-

lage-dhani level.

“It is our effort that no child of the state remains malnourished. They get nutritious food and mothers and babies should be vaccinated on time,” Gehlot said.

Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development, DR KK Pathak said in the meeting that 40 lakh children and women are being benefited from various schemes through 61 thousand Anganwadi centers in the state.

He also gave detailed information on the schemes operated for the empowerment of women.

 Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan on Friday issued a statement amid growing opposition against Vijay Sethupathi playing him in upcoming movie ‘800’

 He stated that he was no stranger to controversies. “I was hesitant at first when the producers approached to make a movie on my life. But, later, I thought the movie would be the opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of my parents, teachers, coaches and co-players in my success,” he said

I want to assure that the government will soon take its decision after the submission of the report

 Muralitharan claimed that when the civil war first broke out, it was Malayaga Tamils, with Indian-lineage, who were the first ones to be affected. “We lived amid a war for over 30 years. And how I managed to join the cricket team and tasted success is what 800 is all about,” he added

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister from across the country, asking about the report of the committee and when the government will take a decision on it.

In his Independence Day speech, the prime minister had announced that the government was deliberating on what should be the minimum age of marriage for women and has set up a committee to look into the matter. Currently, the minimum age of marriage is 18 years for women and 21 for men.

I am perceived wrongly just because I was part of Sri Lankan cricket team. If I had born in India, I would have tried to be part of the Indian cricket team.

Is it my mistake that I was born a Sri Lankan Tamil?

—Muttiah Muralitharan, Fromer Sri Lankan cricketer

THE ISSUE Vijay Sethupathi (in pic) agreeing to play the Sri Lankan spin legend has caused a political uproar in Tamil Nadu. It is because Muttiah Muralitharan is largely seen as a supporter of then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was at the helm during nearly 30 years of civil war that rocked the island nation  Muralitharan also rubbished the claims that he doesn’t know Tamil. “I felt inferior due to my minority status in the country. That’s a fact and it’s natural, given that my parents also shared the same mentality,” he said

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JAIPUR | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

02

JMC polls a litmus test for parties Congress is trying to replicate its assembly performance in the civic body polls

Bifurcation of JMC a strategical move

Intending candidates flock to submit biodata to election supervisor Tarun Kumar.

Yogesh Sharma Jaipur: The JMC elections have become a litmus test for both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP. While the former is trying to replicate its assembly performance in the civic body polls, the latter is geared to retain the maximum number of wards to form the board in both the corporations.

For Cong, the elections are however more important as Jaipur has been like an unbreachable fort for the ruling party. The party is enthused with its performance in the last assembly elections when

Not talked to Beniwal yet: Poonia First India Bureau Jaipur: State BJP president Satish Poonia said on Friday that he has yet not talked to Rashtriya Loktantrik Party leader and MP from Nagaur Hanuman Beniwal regarding the latter’s decision to contest municipal polls without an alliance with the BJP. The RLP had struck an alliance with the BJP during the Lok Sabha elections but Beniwal on Thursday had announced that his party would contest the municipal elections of its own. Beniwal, a former BJP leader, had formed his own party after differences with senior BJP leaders.

it bagged the six seats covered under the municipal areas serving a massive defeat to the BJP. Political experts attribute the assembly victory to relentless efforts of the then Jaipur district Congress president and present transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas who struggled on the road opposing many decisions, considered to be anti-people, of the then Raje govt. Khachariyawas won from Civil Lines seat and the party also registered victory from Kishanpole, Hawa Mahal, Adarsh Nagar, Jhotwara, and Bagru constituencies.

First India Bureau

VICTORY MARGIN IN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

Jaipur: The political pundits believe that the Congress government’s move to bifurcate JMC into two bodies is a strategical move. This way the party wants to ensure to form its board at least in one corporation.

The JMC was divided into JMC Heritage and JMC Greater. The Congress leaders consider the party’s position quite strong in JMC Heritage.

Khachariyawas, Mahesh Joshi, Amin Kagzi and Rafiq Khan are MLAs from this area.

In Vidyadhar Nagar constituency, the party’s position seems a little weak and the leaders have a challenge to consolidate their position there.

The leaders are, however, confident of forming the board in both corporations. “We will form the board of Congress in both the bodies.

SEATS UNDER JMC HERITAGE

On the basis of the work done by the Congress government in the state, the people will select and send our candidates. The public will connect the dots and after that the development of the state will gain more pace. People have seen our service during the corona peri-

Aishwary Pradhan

od. The opposition was missing and appeared only on the occasion of doing politics,” said Khachariyawas.

Khachariyawas is also credited for bagging the Mayor seat as BJP’s Vishnu Lata rebelled and was coronated as Mayor with support of the Con-

Modi era in Rajasthan cricket ends

‘Congress to announce candidates by Oct 18’

gress. Many Congress leaders had considered BJP’s victory sure as the party had numbers but Khachariyawas had turned the tables around.

State BJP president Satish Poonia has also expressed hope of forming the board on both the corporations.

Jaipur: The senior leaders of the ruling Congress met here on Friday to discuss election strategy and the probable candidates for the upcoming elections of Jaipur municipal corporations.

The leaders have reached a consensus on about 50 percent names.

The list would be announced by October 18, said in-charge minister Shanti Dhariwal.

The party insiders said the reason for delaying the list to just a day before the last day of nomination was to avert probable rebellion in the party cadres.

In a meeting, election

supervisor Tarun Kumar, Shanti Dhariwal, transport minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, and former Mayor Jyoti Khandelwal discussed the election strategy and candidates’ names.

The Congress had sought a one-name panel from the legislators, while a three-name panel was sought from the defeated MLA candidates. Most of the MLAs and MLA candidates have submitted their recommendations to the panel committee.

Khachariyawas and Khandelwal said the Congress would for m boards on both the municipal corporations of Jaipur.

CONDOLENCE MEETING!

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to those names.

The party would release its second list after the Congress releases its first list. The last date for nomination is October 19 and the BJP is expected to release the final list of candidates in the morning on the last day, said a leader who wished not to be named.

The leader said that the party usually considered names suggested by area MLAs but this time the names suggested by

organisation were also being considered. The party would not consider the names of those who had revolved during the election for the post of Mayor.

As the JMC has been divided into two parts, the party is also searching for winnable Muslim candidates for many wards in the JMC Heritage. There are many wards where Muslim voters constitute more than 50 percent of the population.

Jaipur: The son of Lalit Modi, Ruchir Modi, on Friday gave a reaction on not contesting the election of Alwar Cricket Association saying he decided to not carry on his candidatures while looking at the sorry state of affairs in the Rajasthan Cricket Association.

Ruchir Modi was the president of the Alwar Cricket Association.

He also said that he would like to congratulate the new president Jitendra Gupta.

He wrote that apart from this, he has decided to play a more active role in Godfrey Phillips India and KK Modi Trust, due to which his term as the President of Alwar District Cricket Association in Rajasthan Cricket Association has come to an end.

Vaibhav girds up his loins for 13-year-old gangraped in Bharatpur Jodhpur municipal polls First India Bureau

Deepak Lavania

Jodhpur: The Jodhpur municipal corporation election has become a prestige point for the ruling Congress as the area is the home town of CM Ashok Gehlot.

It is but natural that AICC member and RCA president Vaibhav Gehlot, CM’s son, has much responsibility on his shoulders as the elections are a chance for the Gehlot junior to prove his leadership skills too.

Vaibhav has also taken on himself the responsibility of forming the boards of Congress in both the municipal corporations of Jodhpur.

“Congress government has played a pivotal role in development of

Bharatpur: The gangrape of a 13-year-old minor has come to light in the Kaithwara police station area of Kaman township. The family of the victim has alleged gang-rape and have named a woman along with his brother-in-law & two others.

According to the police, the report by the family of the victim accuses a woman living close by taking the victim on a false pretext and locking her in a room with her brotherin-law Abbas while two brothers of the woman, Hakan and Jaikam waited outside. Abbas raped her and threatened her of making her

Vaibhav Gehlot, Mahendra Chaudhary, BP Singh, Satyendra Bharadwaj talking to ticket aspirants.

Jodhpur in two years and the people of Jodhpur know this very well.

The public knows that if dots are connected (of civic bodies with the state government) there will be more development of the area. Biodata submission by hundreds of workers shows the enthusiasm and Con-

Tarun Kumar, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Shanti Dhariwal and Jyoti Khandelwal discussing the election strategy.

First India Bureau

BJP’s first list expected as Navratri start Jaipur: The BJP is likely to release the first list of its candidates for Jaipur Municipal Corporations - Heritage and Greater - on the eve of Navratri. The party leaders have reached a consensus on many candidates that are likely to be included in the first list, said a party leader.

The party also announced conveners and co-conveners for the six municipal corporations where polling will be held on October 29 and November 1.

A senior party leader said that the party has received a panel of three names from each ward from 33 locks of Jaipur.

There has also been the first brainstorm on these names and the leaders have shortlisted the candidates and there is no opposition

TICKET ISSUING

gress will form boards in both the corporations,” Vaibhav said.

Vaibhav along with party’s election observer BP Singh and in-charge minister Mahendra Chaudhary pondered over the biodatas of probable candidates and the election strategy for hours on Friday.

A prayer meeting was held to condole the demise of Harish Dangi, brother of Rajya Sabha MP and Congress leader Neeraj Dangi in Shyam Nagar, Jaipur on Friday.

(Above) Jagdeesh Chandra paid a heartfelt tribute and condoled the bereaved family. Seen here with PCC Chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Neeraj Dangi, and Girraj Khandelwal. (Below) Mahipal Singh pays tribute.

—PHOTOS BY SUMAN SARKAR

Accounts officer held for taking ` 2,000 bribe

Pilot pays tribute to Kailash Trivedi

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video viral and killing her parents if she disclosed the incident to anybody.

The report further states an old ornament and the Aadhar card of the victim was snatched by the accused. When the girl went back to ask for her articles she was abducted and raped again by the rest. The police have sent the victim for medical and are investigating the case.

Karauli: ACB arrested an assistant accounts of the Mandrayal Panchayat Samiti accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000 for making entry of bill of approved work.

Complainant Ramotar Meena approached the ACB DSP Amar Singh who after verifying the complaint on Thursday laid the trap for the accused, Shiv Kumar Gupta who is still a contractual worker at the Panchayat.

ACB caught the accused red-handed along with the bribe money.

Sachin Pilot paid heartfelt tribute to Bhilwara’s Shahada MLA Kailash Trivedi and condoled the bereaved family.

First India Bureau Bhilwara: Former PCC chief and Tonk MLA Sachin Pilot reached Shahada assembly constituency on Friday where he was accorded a warm welcome in Gangapur by city [resident Sanjay Hiran and hoards of Congress workers.

Pilot then reached Raipur where he paid

floral tribute to Late Kailash Trivedi and condoled the bereaved family. Pilot has kept his tour secret and therefore despite Bhilwara district having around 3 lakh Gurjar voters nobody was seen welcoming Pilot on his condolence tour. Pilot was accompanied by Baytu MLA Hemaram Choudhary and Masuda MLA Rakesh Pareek.

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Corona scare: Rajasthan witnesses 15 more deaths, 2,010 new cases

Sr lawyer threatens to stage dharna, if courts aren’t opened First India Bureau

Local artists in Bikaner urge government to provide employment to them to support them financially, as all sorts of events in the state including staging of Ram Lila has been banned in view of spike in COVID-19 cases.

—PHOTO BY LAXMAN RAGHAV

First India Bureau Jaipur: The state reported 2,010 new cases of corona along with 15 deaths in past 24 hours.

Two deaths each were reported from Jaipur & Jodhpur; while one each was reported from Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Ganganagar, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jhunjhunu, Kota, Nagaur and Udaipur.

Maximum 394 new corona cases were reported from Jaipur, followed by 302 from Jodhpur, 265 from Bikaner, 84 from Alwar, 77 from Udaipur, 74 from Sikar,66 from Bharatpur, 64 from Ajmer, 63 from Churu, 56 each from Jalore & Nagaur, 52 each from Ganganagar &

Pali, 45 from Dungarpur, 33 from Jhunjhunu, 29 from Bhilwara, 23 each from Banswara & Hanumangarh, 22 each from Barmer, Chittorgarh & Dausa, 16 each from Jaisalmer & Rajsamand, 13 from Sawai Madhopur, 12 from Karauli, 89 from Kota, 11 from Dholpur, 8 from Baran, 7 from Jhalawar, 6 from Tonk and 4 each from Bundi & Pratapgarh.

The death toll stands at 1723 while the number of total infected so far is 1,69,289 as of Friday evening. After being corona positive, four members of Mahua MLA Om Prakash Hudla’s family were shifted to Jaipur. Earlier CM Gehlot called Hudla and

BD KALLA +VE

Jodhpur: Former Revenue Minister Hemaram Choudhary could be in trouble due to the Barmer Govt College land conversion issue.

Rajasthan High Court has issued notices to PS (Revenue), the then collector of Barmer Sanjay Dixit, former Revenue Minister Hemaram and president of Barmer Cricket Association in the case.

Justice Sangeet Raj Lodha issued the notices while hearing the PIL by Sabal Singh Bhati. It is noteworthy that the matter relates to transferring the 16 bigha college land to Barmer Cricket Association by forging the signatures of the then

First India Bureau

enquired about his health. MLA Hudla’s wife and daughter have been admitted to RUHS while MLA himself is on oxygen due to breathing problems.

HC stays termination of personnel First India Bureau

Hemaram Choudhary

Collector of Barmer.

In another important hearing, Justice Lodha heard PILs by Arvind Sharma and others challenging more than 50% reservation in the state. Although the court has refused to provide any stay in the matter earlier, but the plea by Youth for Equality & others has requested the court to stay reservation crossing the 50% mark.

Jaipur: Rajasthan High Court has stayed the order of termination of service of placement personnel of Bisalpur water supply scheme and issued notices to officers. The court sought notices in four weeks and ordered to continue the services of the personnel as a diesel mechanic.

The single judge bench of Sanjeev Prakash Sharma issued the order on a petition filed by Ramavtar Saini.

Jaipur: The auspicious festival of Navratri will begin from today and it will be for the first time in 500 years, that the Shila mata temple of Amber, will remain shut for the devotees during the special nine days of Devi worship due to raging corona pandemic in the state.

The historic Chamunda Mata temple situated at Mehrangarh, Jodhpur will also

Allen boy tops NEET Bharat Dixit Jaipur: Soyeb Aftab (18) of Rourkela in Odisha, a classroom student of Allen Career Institute in Kota, has defied all odds and hardships of Corona pandemic with scoring 720 out of 720 marks in the very first attempt in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) -UG, 2020.

The result of the examination was declared by the National testing Agency (NTA) on Friday.

Candidates who appeared in the examination held on September 13 and October 14, can check their scores on the official website.

A total of 15.97 lakh candidates had registered for the exam.

JDA to develop agro ware housing scheme in zone 12 Abhishek Srivastava Jaipur: In a move that is likely to benefit farmers of the area, the Jaipur Development Authority has decided to develop an Agro Ware Housing Scheme, where 18 warehousing plots and other facilities will be established in zone 12. A decision in this regard was taken on Friday in the Project Work Committee meeting.

JDA Commissioner Gaurav Goyal said that the scheme would be de-

veloped on 1.19 lakh square meter area of village Akeda Chaud and Maheshpura tehsil in Amber under the zone 12. He said 18 ware houses would be developed on 33 thousand sqm land of the scheme.

On the rest of the

tors, nursing staff who come in direct contact with people are working.

Bhandari said that nearly 90 percent court employees are getting salaries without doing work.

The lawyer also suggested that an order should be released that those who have fear of corona infection may stay at home, but salaries will not be paid to those who are not working.

Shila Mata temple, & other shrines in state to remain shut

Raj HC notice to former Min in govt land conversion case Rajeev Gaur

Jaipur: A senior lawyer has threatened to stage a dharna in Rajasthan High Court from Monday if courts across the state are not opened for regular works. The courts were closed during lockdown in view of the corona pandemic.

Advocate Poonam Chand Bhandari gave a letter to the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court saying that nor-

mal work has started in all government departments, but courts are still closed and the court employees are getting salaries without doing office work.

There are nearly 90,000 advocates across the state and lakhs of cases are pending.

Since the courts are closed, several people like typists, tea sellers and other vendors who earn livelihood around courts, are unemployed.

He said that police, doc-

land; other facilities including hotels, restaurants, petrol pumps, banks, sub-stations, fire stations, commercial shops, weighing spots, and automobile sector would be developed, Goyal said.

“The farming com-

munity will get a big relief with the development of the Agro ware housing scheme. The farmers will get warehouses near their land with this scheme,” said the JDA Commissioner, Gaurav Goyal.

Due to the continuous efforts of JDACommissioner Gaurav Goyal, the JDA has earned about Rs 130 crore in the month of September.

711 leases were issued last month & JDA had earned a revenue of Rs 33 crore.

Shila Mata, Amber

Karni Mata Temple, Deshnok

remain shut for the devotees due to serious spike in corona cases in the Sun City.

The world famous and much revered Kar-

ni Mata temple situated in Deshnok will remain closed until October 31, 2020. Devotees will be able to do the online darshan.

03

‘Make tribal feel they are a part of mainstream’

Vishvendra Singh called upon Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhawan.

Kashiram Chaudhary Jaipur: Governor Kalraj Mishra has said that it is necessary for the state government to make tribal people feel that they are connected to the mainstream.

In a review meeting of schemes and development works for tribal welfare, Mishra said that effective efforts should also be made to resolve the inequality between tribal and non-tribal areas.

In the online review meeting, he also reviewed progress on his suggestion to develop 40 villages of tribal areas as ideal villages and said that more effective efforts need to be made in this direction.

He directed to ensure payment of post

matric scholarship in the scheduled area, implementation of Maharashtra development model for the development of tribal areas in Rajasthan after examining the model.

The Governor also directed to make a list of youth, who have been successful in medical and engineering fields in 8 tribal districts and hold a conference so that other youth of the area can take inspiration from them.

Mishra directed officials to take zero expenditure on development works at several places in tribal areas seriously.

He asked the officials to run a special campaign to motivate people in these areas to stop consuming tobacco.

Sponsored by Mohan Infinity

PERSPECTIVE JAIPUR | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

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04

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH BRIG VETERAN ANIL GUPTA

The author is a Jammu based veteran, political commentator, columnist, security and strategic analyst

P

Farooq seems to be enamoured by a revisionist and expansionist China, which has challenged India’s sovereignty in Ladakh. Dr Farooq’s recent statements show his newly developed love for China. The motive and implications of the statements will be discussed subsequently because through these statements he has definitely crossed the Laxman Rekha

oliticians are known to give weird statements and get away but there is always a limit to it. One such politician is Dr Farooq Abdullah, a sitting member of the Lok Sabha representing Srinagar Parliamentary constituency which he won with just 7% voter turnout in 2019. He is the hereditary president of the National Conference founded by his father late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah who brilliantly manoeuvred the exile of the last ruler of the Dogra Dynasty with the full support of then prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. Sheikh wanted the Abdullah dynasty to rule the state thereafter. But for his overriding personal ambition, he had almost succeeded in doing that. He was jailed on the orders of his most trusted ally in New Delhi Pandit Nehru for anti-national activities. Once invincible Sheikh remained in jail for 11 years. Soon after his arrest, his successor Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad said this in a radio broadcast, “A fraud was being committed on the interests of the country. The slogan of independence was dangerous. Under the control of an imperialist power an independent Kashmir would have been a serious danger for the people of India.”

67 years later his heir Farooq Abdullah is also treading on the same path only the players have changed. Farooq seems to be enamoured by a revisionist and expansionist China, which has challenged India’s sovereignty in Ladakh. Dr Farooq’s recent statements show his newly developed love for China. The motive and implications of the statements will be discussed subsequently because through these statements he has definitely crossed the Laxman Rekha.

Such anti-national rants from the ‘sharp-witted’ politician are not new. Even in the past he had made many such statements and got away because he was considered indispensable by the powers

then. Sometimes his remarks were ignored on the plea that they were made at the heat of the moment during election campaigns and sometimes attributing them to being a loudmouth. In all fairness, readers would need a revision of such rants from Dr Abdullah.

He was the Chief Minister of J&K when the state was slipping into militancy. He as Chief Minister and Home Minister had turned a Nelson’s eye to ongoing arms smuggling and to and for movement of youth across the LoC for arms training. 70 hardcore terrorists were released by Farooq Abdullah as reported by India Today between July and December 1989. The detention of several of them was confirmed by the Chief Justice of J&K High Court. And yet he released them. He set the trend for releasing terrorists and later tried to become a preacher on the ill effects of releasing terrorists when Mufti Mohammad Syed’s daughter was kidnapped and also during the release of terrorists during the Kandhar Hijacking. Incidentally, one of the released terrorists Daud Khan belonged to Ganderbal, Farooq’s constituency, who became a Deputy Commander of Al-Badr and organised a force of 2500 Kashmiri youth. Prior to that he had visited POJK and shared a platform with Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), a pro-azadi terrorist outfit. He had also allowed Khalistan terrorist groups to train in Jammu.

Farooq was the CM when Kashmiri Pandits were being mercilessly targeted and being forced to leave the Valley.

He made no effort to save them. People were forced to set their watches to Pakistan Standard Time, buildings, offices, shops, and government establishments were coloured green as a sign of Islamist rule under the watch of his government. Open letters, posters, and threats from mosques to the minority communities to quit Kashmir had become daily happenings. “This land is only for Muslims and is the land of Allah. Sikhs and Hindus cannot stay here.” The streets and mosques verberated with slogans like “Zalimo, O Kafiro, Kashmir hamara

chhod do”, “Kashmir mein agar rehna hai, Allah-o-Akbar kahna hai”, “Peoples League ka kya paigam, Fateh, Azadi aur Islam”, “Kashir banawon Pakistan, Bataw varaie, Batneiw saan” (Will turn Kashmir into Pakistan along with Kashmiri Pandit women, but without their men folk). Farooq’s government seemed not only ineffective but with the Muslim extremists. He finally resigned and left Kashmir when it was burning. He left for London. His anti-national mindset can be gauged from his statement published in Times of India dated February 7, 1991, “I directed my party men to lie low, go across for arms handling, do anything but do not get caught.”

Farooq’s true colours were evident during the campaign for the 2014 elections but were ignored as electoral outbursts. After the North-South experiment of running a coalition government in J&K failed with Mehbooba Mufti proving more loyal to the antinational forces than the nation, Modi government lost no time in showing their proper place to the “mainstream politicians” led by Abdullahs and Muftis. They initially tried their usual tricks of browbeating the central government considering themselves to be a power to be reckoned with in Kashmir. In return, they received nothing but a cold response which led to their open hatred for Delhi.

Senior Abdullah tried to strengthen his base in Kashmir through pro-Pak statements and anti-India rants.

FAROOQ CROSSED THE RUBICON RECENTLY WHEN WITHIN THE SPAN OF A FEW DAYS HE MADE TWO PROCHINESE STATEMENTS THAT WERE BLATANTLY ANTI-NATIONAL. THESE TWO STATEMENTS WERE NOT ONLY ANTINATIONAL BUT TO AN EXTENT AMOUNTED TO LEGITIMISING CHINESE AGGRESSION IN LADAKH

His speeches turned blatantly communal. He created an image for himself of a rare politician who is politically incorrect, who never hides but he feels, does not mince words, and says it like it is. This helped him get away with many statements that could be termed as bordering against the nation’s interests.

In order to struggle back from two withering electoral defeats, Farooq regularly began to talk about Azadi. His speeches and media bites became belligerent and hostile.

The two back to back electoral defeats became nightmares for the aging Abdullah and he did not want to be recognised in history as the ones responsible for the extinction of the Abdullah Dynasty.

This made him belligerent and desperate. On December 6, 2016, while addressing the media at the mausoleum of his late father he did not wink an eyelid while he spoke of Azadi and offered support to the Hurriyat. “We will never

be free until we are united (against India) and I am asking NC workers not to stay away from the movement,” urging the Hurriyat further he added, “We are part of the movement: don’t take us your adversaries, we are a part of you. We have fought the jihad.

Be united, take this movement forward. Go ahead, we are with you.” He got away with it except for a few condemnations. His party MLA and now a colleague in Lok Sabha shouted “Pakistan Zindabad” on the floor of J&K assembly but he refused to take any action against him. Four years later he has forged unity among five ideologically different political parties, foes till yesterday, in the form of Gupkar Declaration 2020, a new incarnation of defunct Hurriyat.

While campaigning for his parliamentary seat in open defence of militants he said, “If our children are offering sacrifices today, they do not want to become MLAs or MPs or ministers. They offer sacrifices for their ‘rights’: this is our land we are its owners.

A new ‘nation’ has been born, which does not fear guns.”

His open support for “azadi” was ignored. He even raised questions about the deadly Pulwama attack killing 40 brave hearts of CRPF by saying, “Forty CRPF personnel were martyred in Pulwama. I have doubts about that and I am telling you the truth”, thus giving a clean chit to Pakistan. He even questioned the veracity of Balakot airstrikes.

His outbursts like “POK

How has Covid-19 changed the way the world reads?

D

uring times of crisis, people find themselves faced with lifestyle changes.

One of the earliest and most noticeable changes seen during the Covid-19 lockdown was how we consume media – and especially how we read.

People tend to find comfort in certain books and reading habits and genre preferences can change during periods of stress.

This helps to explain why much genre fiction has roots in times of significant social, political or economic upheaval. Gothic literature is, in part, a British Protestant response to the French Revolution (1789-99).

Science fiction, which emerged as a genre around the fin de siècle, was galvanised by both the industrial revolution and the theo-

ries of Charles Darwin.

The hard-boiled detective story, which appeared in the 1930s, takes its cues from the privations of the great depression.

While it is still relatively early to see the influence of the coronavirus and the lockdown on creative industries, there were some striking patterns in media consumption in the early part of the pandemic. Books about (literal and metaphorical) isolation, like Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and Gabriel García Marquez’s novels One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera were among those that saw a big rise in sales. (Beyond books, horror flourished.

In particular, films about global pandemics such as 28 Days Later, Contagion and Outbreak were among the highest rentals on

among the United Kingdom public. We were particularly interested in the following questions about the effects of the pandemic: z How much people have

been reading

z What type and genre of

texts people have been reading z To what extent people have been returning to previously read books.

As many as 860 participants took part in our online survey, which was advertised through social media. Our findings show that the Covid-19 lockdown changed not only how people read during times of stress, but also what people turn to for comfort or distraction. streaming services.)

In view of these patterns of changing reading habits during times of upheaval

and signs that such changes were happening during Covid-19, our team decided to research reading habits

READING FREQUENCY Respondents generally reported that they were reading more than usual. This

was largely due to having more free time (due to being furloughed, or not having a commute, or the usual social obligations or leisure activities).

This increased reading volume was complicated for those with caring responsibilities. Many people with children reported that their reading time had increased generally because of their shared reading with children, but had less time than normal for personal reading.

Reading frequency was further complicated by a quality vs quantity snag.

People spent more time reading and seeking escape, but an inability to concentrate meant they made less progress than usual. In short, people spent more time reading but the volume they read was less.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION

tumhare baap ka nahi”, “I ask them, first you raise the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. They can’t even do that here and they are talking about POK.” He displayed his pro-Pakistan mindset when Dineshwar Sharma was appointed as the interlocutor and he suggested that he should hold talks with Pakistan as well. Isn’t it surprising that since 2002, many political workers of the NC were targeted by the terrorists but not any leader of the party?

Just before the abrogation of 370 in August 2019, Farooq in a threatening statement said, “Kashmir’s relation with India will no longer exist if its special status were to be withdrawn.” Soon after this and after the historic announcements of August 5, 2019, he along with other so-called mainstream politicians was put under house arrest.

Farooq crossed the Rubicon recently when within the span of a few days he made two pro-Chinese statements which were blatantly antinational. These two statements were not only anti-national but to an extent amounted to legitimising Chinese aggression in Ladakh. His invitation to China to help in reversing the abrogation of 370 amounts to sedition and should be construed as an invitation to an enemy nation to intervene in the internal affairs of our country. Recall how his father was treated by Nehru despite being the best of friends.

Why should his son be treated differently by a nationalist government firmly in the saddle in New Delhi?

With release of Mehbooba Mufti and their frequent interactions the situation in Kashmir is likely to worsen.

The Hurriyat is being replaced by the “Gupkaris” (signatories of Gupkar Declarations) with Farooq aiming to replace SAS Gilani and Mehbooba filling the vacuum of Ayesha Andrabi. Any delay or miscalculation by the authorities may have severe consequences on the return of peace in Kashmir. Hurriyat was backed by Pakistan alone but the “Gupkaris” are seeking Chinese assistance as well. Enough is enough, act now or repent later.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank @DrRPNishank Jan Andolan for #COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour. It is mandatory to wear a mask when stepping outside. Wearing a mask can reduce the spread of #coronavirus substantially, hence ensuring everyone’s safety & wellbeing. #Unite2FightCorona Smriti Z Irani @smritiirani PM @narendramodiJi released commemorative coin to mark 75 years of the Food & Agriculture Organisation @ FAO and also dedicated 17 biofortified developed varieties of 8 crops to the Nation that will aid in combatting malnutrition. #SahiPoshanDeshRoshan

Spiritual SPEAK

Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.

—Buddha

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‘India providing free ration to about 80 Cr poor’ PM DEDICATED TO NATION 17 RECENTLY DEVELOPED BIOFORTIFIED VARIETIES OF 8 CROPS ON WORLD FOOD DAY New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India has been providing free ration to about 80 crore poor for the last seven to eight months amid COVID-19 pandemic.

“During the coronavirus crisis, many kinds of discussions are going on around the world about starvation and malnutrition.

India has been providing free ration to about 80 crore poor for the last 7-8 months. During this time, India distributed foodgrains worth

about Rs. 1.5 lakh crores to the poor,” Prime Minister Modi said during an event to release a commemorative coin of Rs 75 denomination to mark the 75th Anniversary of India’s long-standing relation with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

“Another important work is being done to tackle malnutrition.

Now such crops are being promoted in the country, which are having nutritious substances like protein, iron and

India US 2+2 dialogue likely to take place on October 26-27: Sources

zinc in high quantity.

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to the World Food Program is a big achievement. India is happy that our contribution and association with it has been historic,” he added. “I congratulate those who are continuously working to eradicate malnutrition from the world. Farmers of India, our agricultural scientists, Anganwadi and Asha workers, are the strong fort of the movement against malnutrition,” he said. —ANI

Narendra Modi @narendramodi Birthday greetings to Odisha CM Shri Naveen Patnaik Ji. Praying for his long and healthy life. @Naveen_Odisha

BJP HITS OUT AT FORMER NDA ALLY

Chirag misleading people by using BJP leaders’ names: Javadekar LJP will only be reduced to role of a party of vote cutter, he said

New Delhi: The IndiaUS 2+2 dialogue between the foreign ministers and defence ministers of the two countries is likely to take place later this month in New Delhi.

The talks between the defence and foreign ministers of India and the United States are expected to take place on October 26 and 27 in New Delhi. An official announcement is yet to be made in this regard.

High powered dialogue between India and the United States is going to take place in the backdrop of ongoing border tensions between India and China. New Delhi and Beijing have held seven rounds of military talks and multiple rounds of diplomatic level talks which have

remained inconclusive and tensions between the two Asian giants along Line of Actual Control (LAC) still persist.

A key focus of 2+2 dialogue will be peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Highlevel strategic defence cooperation, trade, connectivity, counter-terrorism and dialogue on the regional issue including Doha peace talks vis a vis Afghanistan may also come on the table, said sources.

The two countries may also exchange notes on cooperation in COVID-19 response and related vaccine and strengthening of partnership at UN where India will assume office as a non-permanent member at UN Security Council. —ANI

New Delhi: BJP has put its top leadership on the job to ensure that Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan will not ‘mislead’ the people of poll-bound Bihar by invoking names of its top leadership. While senior leaders of the party have been clarifying almost every day that Paswan is not part of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state, central leadership too has got down to task to ensure LJP isn’t seen as it’s B-Team to rein in JDU in the state.

“Chirag Paswan has decided his own path in Bihar and is contesting elections separately. He is trying to mislead people by taking names of BJP senior leaders. We don’t have any A, B, C or D team in Bihar. We only have one team with BJP, JDU, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Vikasheel Insan Party in the alliance,” said Javadekar.

He said Chirag’s LJP will only be reduced to the role of a party of vote cutter. —ANI

After 2014, political culture of country changed due to PM Modi: Nadda Banka: BJP national president JP Nadda on Friday said that the political culture in the country has changed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, adding that now leaders have to show their work report card instead of engaging on casteism.

Speaking during an election rally here, he

JP Nadda

said, “Before 2014 elections, political leaders used to accuse each

other of inciting hatred, casteism and breaking society, in their speeches. But after the election of PM Modi, the political culture has changed. Now leaders have to show their work report card,” said Nadda. He said ahead of the Bihar assembly election slated to commence on October 28.—ANI

LJP IS ‘VOTE KATWA PARTY’, SAYS SUSHIL MODI

PM LIVES IN MY HEART: CHIRAG PASWAN

Patna: Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said that the LJP left the NDA as it wanted more seats than what the BJP was willing to give.He also said, “LJP is a vote katwa (divider of votes) party, they don’t want a BJP government in Bihar.” “LJP was asking for more seats than what we wanted to give, so the matter broke down.

Nowadays, some leaders of LJP are spreading rumours & asking why did PM & Amit Shah not stop LJP from leaving NDA,” he said.—ANI

New Delhi: LJP president Chirag Paswan described himself as ‘Hanuman’ of PM Modi. “I don’t need photos of PM Modi. He is in my heart. Much like Hanuman’s devotion for Ram, if you cut open my heart you will find only Modi-ji,” Chirag Paswan, said.

On BJP’s accusations of him seeking votes in name of PM, Paswan said, “I don’t need to use PM Modi’s photos for campaigning. He lives in my heart, I am his Hanuman. If needed, I will tear open my chest and show it.”

PM’s 12 RALLIES IN BIHAR

‘PM Modi’s leadership helping Odisha come out of Corona turmoil’ New Delhi: Asserting that the sensitive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is helping Odisha come out of COVID-19 disruptions, Union Minister of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Steel on Friday outlined over Rs 22,000 crore help extended to the state.

Pradhan, addressing a press conference on the Modi government’s COVID-19 stimulus and support package for Odisha, outlined various support extended to Odisha during the COVID-19 pandemic by the Government of India.

Calling PM Modi’s leadership as ‘sensitive’ and ‘responsive’, he said the PM Modi-led government has helped the people of Odisha to come out of the disruptions arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown and in resuming the lives and economic activities thereafter.

He said the PM Modiled government is committed to the welfare of the people of Odisha and to boost its economy. He also outlined the support of over Rs 22,000 crore extended by

Dharmendra Pradhan

MINISTER SPEAK

the Government of India to the people of Odisha, which included support under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana covering PM Kisan, free refills under PM Ujjwala Yojana, transfer to Jan Dhan accounts, senior citizens, Divyangs and other beneficiaries. He spoke about GST compensation allocated to Odisha. —ANI

IN THE COURTYARD

SC rejects PIL for prez rule, removal of Thackeray govt AG’s view to be sought on bail condition for sex crime offenders A bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, refused to entertain the plea filed by Delhi residents Vikram Gehlot, Rishab Jain and Gautam Sharma.

“As a civilian you are at liberty to approach the President, don’t come here. You are say-

ing because some Bollywood actor has died, the Constitution is not being

SCORPIAN REMARK DEFAMATION CASE

HC stays proceedings against Tharoor New Delhi: The Delhi High Court stayed the proceedings against Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor in connection with a defamation case pertaining to his alleged “scorpion sitting on Shivling” remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A single-judge bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait on Friday, while staying the trial court proceeding, also

Shashi Tharoor

issued notice to the complainant Delhi BJP leader Rajiv Babbar and slated the matter for December 9 for further

hearing in the matter.

The plea, filed through advocate Gaurav Gupta and argued by senior advocates Kapil Sibbal and Vikas Pahwa, sought to quash the summon trial order dated April 27, 2019, passed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Rouse Avenue District Courts.

The plea also sought to quash main complaint dated Nov 2, 2018, filed in the matter.

followed in Maharashtra. Every incident you are talking about is from Mumbai, do you know how big Maharashtra is? We are not entertaining it. Dismiss,” the bench said while dismissing the plea.

The petition had submitted that the state machinery is being “mis-

used” by political parties in power not only to shield criminals but also to encourage criminal activity being regularly and wontonly indulged in by the cadre.

Affairs of the state are not being carried out as per legal requirements for citizens’ welfare, it added.—ANI

AGUSTAWESTLAND CASE

RETURN PASSPORT OF RAJIV SAXENA: HC TO AUTHORITIES New Delhi: Delhi High Court has directed the concerned authorities to return the passport of Rajiv Saxena, whose passport was impounded in view of the seriousness of the charges and the likelihood of him fleeing from the process of the court and to a third country. Saxena is an accused turned approver in the AgustaWestland case.

Justice Navin Chaw-

Saxena is an accused turned approver in Agusta case.

la said that any observation made in this order shall not prejudice the respondents from proceeding further.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought Attorney General KK Venugopal’s view on a plea about courts imposing bail conditions for sex crime offenders which end up further harassing and objectifying their victims.

A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar issued a notice to the office of Attorney General and sought his assistance in the matter while posting the matter for hearing on November 2.

The apex court also asked the petitioner to serve a copy of the petition to the Attorney General’s office.

Nine women lawyers have approached the top court against the backdrop of a Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order which directed a man accused of sexual assault to visit his vic-

—FILE PHOTO

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking directions to remove the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerayled government from Maharashtra and impose President’s rule in the state claiming the “failure of the constitutional machinery”.

Women lawyers at the Supreme Court premises in New Delhi.

tim at home on Rakshabandhan and “allow” her to tie a rakhi on him as a condition of bail.

During the hearing, senior advocate Sanjay Parikh told the Bench that this petition was filed under an extraordinary situation. Such condition for bail is against CrPC, it trivialises the offence, he argued.

Parikh added, “Courts should not impose such weird condi-

tions for bail... a direction needs to be issued to High Courts and trial courts.” “We are not on the bail condition but the observations such as this trivialise the offences against women in sexual assault cases,” he further contended.

Approaching the top court, the women lawyers, led by advocate Aparna Bhat, said the High Court’s order was a “trivialisation of victim’s trauma.” —ANI

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Central teams deputed to Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Raj, WB Return of ‘mafia

‘EXPERTS TO MONITOR COVID-19’ New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has deputed high level Central teams to Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal as these states have been reporting a surge in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the recent days.

According to a statement by MoHFW on Friday, each team comprises a Joint Secretary, public health expert to look after the public health aspects, clinician to look after infection prevention practices to ensure clinical management protocol being followed by the state.

The teams will support the state efforts towards strengthening containment, surveillance, testing, infection prevention and control measures and efficient clinical management of the positive cases. The Central teams shall also

Govt lifts ban on alcohol sanitizers with dispensers

Corona warriors, representational image

guide in effectively managing the challenges related to timely diagnosis and follow up.

The total cases in Kerala are 317,929, which form 4.3 per cent of the total cases. Karnataka has reported 7,43,848 cases, accounting for 10.1 per cent of the national figure. Further, Rajasthan has registered 1,67,279 cases while West Bengal reported 3,09,417 cases whereas Chhattisgarh has 1,53,515 cases.—ANI

Hathras victim’s family wants case to be shifted to Delhi Hathras: The family of the Hathras incident victim wants the case to be shifted to Delhi, adding that they themselves want to move to the national capital.

The victim’s Brother on Friday told that the family wants to be safe wherever they are. “The family wants the case to be shifted to Delhi, we also want to shift there.

The government should help us in this regard, we are dependent on them. We just want to be safe wherever we are,” Brother of the Hathras

Hathras victim’s family.

victim said. This comes after a team of CBI, which is investigating the Hathras incident, had questioned the family members of the accused in the alleged gang-rape of a woman who died last month.—ANI

STF to probe conspiracy to incite riots

SIT likely to submit report soon: Sources

Lucknow: STF team will investigate the conspiracy to incite ethnic, communal riots in UP on Hathras incident, the state government said on Friday. The state said that special unit was set up to expose the conspiracies after the international efforts to discredit Yogi government came to light. —ANI

Hathras: The SIT, constituted by UP CM Yogi to investigate the Hathras case, has completed its probe and will submit its report soon, said sources on Friday. “The SIT could submit its report to government by evening today,” a source said.

SIT was supposed to submit its report earlier on October 7.—ANI

New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the export of alcoholbased hand sanitizers in containers with dispenser pumps or in any form of packaging will be free, with immediate effect.

Ghulam Nabi Azad @ghulamnazad I have tested positive for COVID-19. I am in home quarantine.

Those who came in contact with me in last few days may kindly follow the protocol.

India has one of lowest Covid-19 deaths per million population globally : Govt New Delhi : India continues to report one of the lowest deaths per million population which stands at 81 on Friday.

Less than 1,100 deaths have been reported continuously since October 2, said Union Health Ministry. Results boosted by 22

Shaurya Chakra awardee, who fought terrorism, shot dead

Amritsar: Shaurya Chakra awardee Balwinder Singh was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district on Friday, police said.

The motorcycleborne miscreants attacked Singh when he was at his office, adjoining his home, in the district’s Bhikhiwind village, the police said, adding that the accused then fled the spot.

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered a Special Investigation Team to look into the murder. Singh, 62, had fought against terrorism in the State for years and was attacked by terrorists many times in the past.

Singh’s security cover was withdrawn by State government a year ago on the recommendation of police.

Ministry of Defence in 1993 awarded him the Shaurya Chakra. .—ANI

States/Union Territories which demonstrated better performance and are reporting even lower deaths per million compared to the national average. The case fatality rate has been on downslide. At the current figure of 1.52 per cent, it’s lowest since

22nd March 2020, according to the Health Ministry.

According to an official release, there has been sharp focus of Centre to reduce deaths and to save lives by providing quality clinical care to the critical covid patients.—ANI

raj’ with Shivraj in MP: Kamal Bhopal: Former CM of MP Kamal Nath on Friday slammed CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan after the death of 14 people in a hooch tragedy in Ujjain and the abduction of a minor boy in Jabalpur.

In a series of tweets in Hindi, Kamal Nath said, “With the return of the Shivraj government in the state, liquor mafia, kidnapping mafia, crime mafia, land mafia, drug mafia, all types of mafia have become active again.”

He said, “After taking the lives of 14 people by the liquor mafia in Ujjain, a 12-year-old boy has been kidnapped in Jabalpur. Now the kidnapping mafia is also active.”

He claimed that the entire government was engaged in electioneering and campaigns. —Agencies

SHAH LAUDS NSG ON 36TH RAISING DAY

‘Their capabilities to handle odds makes them respected’ New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday greeted the National Security Guard (NSG) on its 36th Raising Day and said their unparalleled capabilities to handle all odds makes them a distinguished force in the world.“Greetings to National Security Guard on their 36th Raising

Day. Their unparalleled capabilities to handle all odds makes them a distinguished force in

world,” Shah tweeted.

He further said that the NSG is an elite force, which has always protected the nation with its bravery, courage and dedication. “They always protected the nation with their bravery, courage and dedication. India is proud of our elite force,” he added. —ANI

TRP is not a scientific method to measure TV viewership: Experts New Delhi: The TRP system is “manipulatable”, has become “outdated” and not a scientific method to measure television viewership, representatives from the I&B Ministry, Prasar Bharati and PCI told the parliamentary panel on IT. “Representatives from all the three agencies, which included Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati, were unanimous in their views that TRP is not a robust system,” an MP, who is a member of IT panel, said on condition of anonymity.

POWER Gallery TWO IAS OFFICERS SHIFTED AT EC’S BEHEST IN BIHAR

Two IAS officers working in the field: K Senthil Kumar and Chandrashekhar Jha have been attached to General Administration Department (GAD) at the behest of Election Commission of India in Bihar.

JUSTICE MANISH CHOUDHURY RECOMMENDED AS PERMANENT JUDGE OF GAUHATI HC

The SC Collegium has approved the proposal for appointment of an Additional Judge Justice Manish Choudhury of Gauhati High Court as Permanent Judge.

SENIOR IAS OFFICERS RESHUFFLED IN J&K

The Government of J&K has issued orders for posting of senior IAS officers. Accordingly, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon has been appointed as Principal Secretary, Skill Development, while Abdul Majid Bhat was posted as Administrative Secretary, ARI and Trainings Department. Similarly, B K Singh is posted as Administrative Secretary, School Education Department and Sarita Chauhan, Commissioner/ Secretary, Department of Forest, shall hold the additional charge of Chairman, J&K Special Tribunal.

DIGAMBAR SAHAI APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR (PROD), BVFCL

Digambar Sahai, DGM, BVFCL, has been appointed as Director (Production), Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation (BVFCL). The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment to the post.

SEVEN DANICS OFFICERS PROMOTED TO SELECTION GRADE

The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued orders for the promotion of seven Entry Grade DANICS officers to Selection Grade of the Service. The officers are: Akhil Kumar, Shingare Ramachandra Mahadev, Prashant Kumar, Amit Kumar, Ramesh Chander Meena, Shubhankar Ghosh and R P Aggarwal.

MANASA PRASAD MISHRA APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR (PROJ), NALCO

Manasa Prasad Mishra, ED, NALCO, has been appointed as Director (Projects & Technical) in NALCO. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved his appointment to the post.

ABHAY CHOUDHARY APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR (PROJ), PGCIL

Abhay Choudhary, ED, PGCIL, has been appointed as Director (Projects), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.

KASHI NATH TRIPATHI PROMOTED AS IG, CISF

Kashi Nath Tripati has been promoted to the grade of Inspector General in CISF. DHIRAJ SINGH PROMOTED TO SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE

Dhiraj Singh has been promoted to the Senior Administrative Grade. He is an officer of IIS. MS RENUKA GERA APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR (IS&P) ON BHEL BOARD

Ms Renuka Gera, Executive Director, BHEL, has been appointed as Director (Industrial Systems & Products), BHEL. The Committee on IT, headed by MP Shashi Tharoor, met on Thursday to hear the views of the three agencies.

However, there was nothing concrete on it.

“The concern is mainly regarding English news

channels, where the audience is small compared to Hindi channels. Carrying random sampling of 44,000 households’ viewership to come up with ratings is deceptive,” said a member.

N RAMESH APPOINTED AS DMD, EXIM BANK

N Ramesh ED, NAFED, has been appointed as Deputy Managing Director (DMD) in Export Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on deputation basis.

By arrangement with: http:// whispersinthecorridors.com

FROM PG 1 War against... for assisting the panel.

The committee will submit its report to the Supreme Court in 15 days,” said the bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde, which also comprised Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.

The centre had objected to the appointment of the committee saying the concerned states have already been heard. “EPCA has been entrusted with the responsibility in this matter. Amicus Curiae has already been appointed,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court. His objections, however, were

turned down by the bench.Minutes after the top court order, Central Pollution Control Board chairman Shiv Das Meena said that strict action will be taken against violators.

“Every year, the problem of pollution in Delhi remains big in winter. We are working to reduce pollution. We are strictly adhering to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) rules. Action being taken against violators. 50 teams have been sent for on field inspection,” Meena said.

The national capital has seen a spike in air pollution after stubble burning incidents from

these three states that border Delhi; the share of stubble burning in Delhi’s PM2.5 concentration was six per cent on Thursday, according to a central government agency.

The Punjab government said that they are not the cause of pollution in Delhi.

On Thursday, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar had said that stubble burning only contributes four per cent to DelhiNCR pollution with the rest caused by local factors, drawing a strong reaction from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “Air (in NCR) was clean before that. It

is the same story every year. There’s no massive jump in any local source of pollution in last few days to cause this spike,” said Kejriwal.

Kejriwal has launched several campaigns to control air pollution. He recently inaugurated a “green war room” at the Delhi Secretariat where satellite data related to farm fires in the neighbouring states will be analysed.

Mathura court...

The petitioners had sought the “removal of encroachment and superstructure illegally raised” on it “by Committee of Management

06

of alleged Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah with the consent of Sunni Central Board of Waqf ”.

The plaintiff, described as Bhagwan SriKrishna Virjman at Katra Keshav Dev Khewat, Mauja Mathura Bazaar City, had moved the civil suit through Ranjana Agnihotri and six other devotees of Lord Shri Krishna.

Lawyers Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Jain had filed the petition.

However, on October 2, the civil court in Mathura had dismissed the suit. The order was passed by Additional District Judge Chhaaya Sharma.

The court refused to

entertain the plea citing the bar on admitting the case under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

According to the petition, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who ruled over India from July 31, 1658, to March 3, 1707 AD, “had issued orders for the demolition of a large number of Hindu religious places and temples.”

‘China relations... an unspecified number of casualties.

Jaishankar, speaking at a virtual event hosted by the Asia Society, said that India has built the relationship with China over the course of

last 30 years “and a basis for building that relationship has been peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control.”

He said there are multiple agreements, starting from 1993, which created the framework for that peace and tranquillity, which limited the military forces that came to the border areas, how to manage the border, how border troops behave when they approach each other.

“So, from the conceptual level down to the behavioural level, there was an entire sort of framework out there,” he said.

Rahul to interact with Raj tribals First India Bureau Jaipur. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi held a video dialogue with tribal sarpanch enlisted in the fifth schedule of the constitution. He asked for their problems, enquired about status of their Panchayat functioning also spoke about various laws and acts related to the tribal people. RaGa discussed core ethos of tribals; Jal, Jungle aur Jameen. Roop Lal, Vira Ram Garasiya interacted with him & Amit Poonia called the initiative novel.

NEWS JAIPUR | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

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GODDESS IN MAKING

07

Idol of Durga and her consorts being given final touch at Durga Bari in Jaipur on Friday. Five-day long Durga Puja festivities will begin across the globe from October 22 with Shashti Puja.

In Jaipur, the celebrations will be restricted as most organisers have decided to do away with mass celebrations in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic.

—PHOTO BY SUMAN SARKAR

Mineral rich!

Admn on alert; Net suspended in Bharatpur dist Dept to e-auction 300 mining plots GURJAR MAHAPANCHAYAT TODAY

Deepak Lawania

Bharatpur: The district administration got into an alert mode on Friday, a day ahead of the Gurjar community mahapanchayat demanding reservation.

Internet services and other social media services will remain suspended from October 16 midnight to October 17 midnight in Bayana, Weir, Bhusawar and Rupwas of Bharatpur district. Gurjars have called for mega gathering at Pilupura village of Bayana tehsil in Bharatpur district.

The agitation is proving a headache for the state government that is already struggling with the crisis generated by coronavirus and the ensuing civic body elections. The chief of Gurjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti, Kirori Singh Bainsla had on October 4 warned state government of agitation if their demands were not met with.

Bainsla had announced the agitation at Malarna Dungar in Sawai Madhopur district but the location has now been shifted to Pilupura village where

Tents at the venue of Gurjar Mahapanchayat.

mega protests on the railway tracks were held earlier also.

Bharatpur District Collector Nathmal Didel and SP Amandeep Singh Kapoor visited

CM to decide on final beneficiaries of ‘out of turn’ jobs to sportspersons Dr Rituraj Sharma Jaipur: CM Gehlot will decide final beneficiaries of ‘out of turn’ govt jobs to sportspersons to in accordance with the govt’s policy on the issue. The issue was discussed during a meeting chaired by CS Rajeeva Swarup where it was decided to forward the matter to CM. The committee headed by the CS will send a com-

plete proposal containing eligible names. TO avoid any controversy, it has been decided that committee will scrutinise all applications received and send names of eligible candidates along with recommendations for the deserved category of job. The committee also took the advice of legal department on certain issues.

The purpose of the whole exercise is to

save the govt from any legal embarrassment in courts in the future.

Meanwhile sports minister Ashok Chandna announced opening of 100 sports academies in all districts in coming 1 year under day boarding scheme where training in locally popular sports will be provided. Chandna was speaking at a meeting with all district sports officers.

Bayana area and took stock of the situation.

Regarding the mahapanchayat, Didel told First India, “The administration is keeping a close watch and the

leaders of the committee are also being contacted. The government is making efforts to resolve the issue through negotiation, but still precautionary security arrangements have been made in Bayana area.”

The state government sources have indicated that the proposed Gujjar Mahapanchayat to be held on October 17, 2020, is against the spirit of the Rajasthan High Court’s directives and coronavirus guidelines.

According to HC’s directives issued in 2007, the Mahapanchayat can

only be held after an undertaking has been submitted to the District Collector. Bainsla said the community is enraged over not getting benefits of reservation despite protesting for the same since 2006.

Meanwhile IAS officier Neeraj K Pawan has reached Hindon City. Pawan held discussions with Kirori Singh Bainsla and Vijay Bainsla at the former’s residence in Vardhman Nagar. Karauli District Collector Siddharth Sihag and SP Mridul Kachawa are also present.

MI THRASH KKR BY 8 WICKETS

MI batsman Quinton de Kock celebrates after wining a match against KKR during IPL, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, on Friday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

Nirmal Tiwari Jaipur. The mining department is planning eauction of additional 300 mines very soon.

Department has been quite successful in mines auction for minor minerals in the state and in past 2 years it has auctioned over 400 mines while process for 200 is under way.

After instructions from Mines Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya to prepare 300 mining plots in each circles, a large scale exercise was undertaken by the department and he was apprised of availability of 1,938 mining plots in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Kota zones. Out of this 446 plots are in Jaipur, 158 in Ajmer, 447 in Udaipur, Rajsamand and Bhilwara districts, 361 in Jodhpur and Bikaner and 500 mining plots in Kota and Bharatpur districts.

Initially 474 plots were brought in for eauction through MMTC and the department had successfully auctioned 250 plots of these fol-

DISTRICTS TO GO UNDER E-HAMMER

District

No. of Mine Lease

Jaipur Ajmer Jodhpur Bikaner Udaipur Bhilwara Rajsamand Kota Bharatpur

446 118 158 203 64 350 60 249 250

lowed by auction of 150 more.

As of now 200 more are under e-hammer and the minister is all set to put up 300 more for the online bidders. It is noteworthy that the mining department had successfully thwarted the conspiracy to block 80 mining leases which had received bids more than one lakh percent than the base price.

Part-relief for Pilot’s media advisor from HC Nizam Kantaliya

CONGRESS’S ‘VISHVAS’ ON ‘VISHVAS’!

R

enowned poet turned politician turned political critique Kumar Vishvas has been a figure that draws attention towards himself where ever he goes. With his powerful command over the Hindi language, acute poetic sense and impeccable oration, Kumar can get thousands of people stand up and listen to him. And it is probably this reason why he could be headed in the Congress party! This has come to be after

his wife- Dr Manju Sharma- was inducted as a member in the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and word is that the

appointment has been done after ‘instructions’ in this regard from New Delhi. This decision has been taken considering the political game ongoing in Uttar Pradesh and sources reveal that it was due to Priyanka Gandhi’s intervention that such a development has happened. The entire episode of Dr Sharma’s appointment in RPSC along with Priyanka’s initiation to get her into the Commission, points to the fact that Kumar has grown close to the first family of the COngress party and although he has contested against the family from Amethi, all that was in the past and at a time when Congress is seeking its revival, it might put its ‘vishvas’’ in ‘Vishvas’.

—Yogesh Sharma

Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court has stayed any punitive action in the FIR filed against the media advisor of Sachin Pilot by the Jaipur Police. The High Court has summoned the case diary on November 18, while refusing to stay the order of investigation in the case lodged at the Vidhyakpuri police station. The single bench of Justice Govardhan Baradhar gave the orders while hearing a criminal miscellaneous petition filed by Pilot’s media advisor Lokendra Singh.

A case was registered against Lokendra Singh and the state correspondent of a private TV channel, at the Vidhayakpuri police station under the aegis of the Jaipur Police Commissionerate’s cyber police. According to the filed case, Surendra Yadav, an employee handling social media posted in the police control room, showed WhatsApp messages to duty officer Satyapal Singh, in which it was viral that four jammers were installed in the Suryagarh hotel in Jaisalmer where the MLAs and minister stayed. The

Lokendra Singh

viral message also said that phones of ministers and legislators are being taped and the jammers are being handled from a hotel in Mansarovar area of Jaipur.

The report said that these WhatsApp messages were being viral for the purpose of creat-

ing a misleading propaganda. These messages went viral from Lokendra Singh’s mobile. Advocate SS Hora has pleaded on behalf of Lokendra Singh that while a wrong FIR has been filed, Singh is being targeted due to political reasons. After hearing the arguments, Justice Govardhan Baradhar’s single bench has directed the Jaipur police not to take punitive action against the petitioner and to present the case diary on 18 November. But giving relief to cops, the court refused to ban the investigation.

If you want to be happy, depend only on yourself. Your happiness is too fragile a flower to give to anyone.

Choose whom to gift this power which controls the most precious of gifts- your happiness!

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

POSTAL REG NO. JPC/010/2019-21

JAIPUR | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

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COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

INDIA

08

RAJASTHAN

11,06,396 3,94,31,459 1,13,002 74,29,233 1,723 1,69,289 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 41,502 DEATHS 15,76,062 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

TAMIL NADU 10,532 DEATHS 6,79,191 CASES

DEATHS

KARNATAKA 10,356 DEATHS 7,51,390 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

DEATHS

DELHI 5,946 DEATHS 3,24,459 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

GUJARAT 3,620 DEATHS 1,57,474 CASES

CM’S COVID-19 REVIEW MEETING

Ensure monitoring of ‘Jan Aandolan’ to the lowest level: CM Sensitive Gehlot takes away financial ‘worries’ of election staff

Naresh Sharma Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that cases of corona infection are coming down in the countries of the world which have made masks a part of their lifestyles. “The state government has also waged a mass movement, considering the mask as a perfect solution for corona control. Its success will help prevent this pandemic,” Gehlot said on Friday while reviewing condition of corona infection in the state at the Chief Minister’s residence and instructed the Chief Secretary to ensure monitoring at the lower level to make this mass movement effective.

The Chief Minister said that in many countries the second or third peak of Corona is going on. In such a situation, there is a need to be very cautious and vigilant about what the situation of Co-

Ex-gratia grant of Rs 30 lakh on death of employee from Covid-19 during election duty First India Bureau

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday, said, “On World Food Day, our goal should be feeding all but also caring for the earth. Let’s make efforts to realise this year’s theme, to “Grow, Nourish, Sustain; Together.” During the present COVID-19 Pandemic, it is important, we ensure all get healthy, nutritious food.” On occasion of World Food Day 2020, the department has released distribution details which is estimated to be at 1,33,500 through all Urban Local Bodies. The department also shared the total distribution figures till date, which is estimated to be at 50,30,853. Nearly 95 Crores are estimated to be spent for first year on the scheme. The scheme will benefit 1.34 Lakh people per day and 4.87 Crore will benefit overall with 358 distribution centers across different cities of state. With an aim to provide food to every needy individual in state at an affordable price of Rs 8/- where the state government is bearing a subsidy of Rs 12/- per plate on the same. Standing by the slogan from Government of Rajasthan “Koi Bhookha Na Soye” countering COVID-19, in August, CM Ashok Gehlot launched the Indira Rasoi scheme to pay tribute to former PM Rajiv Gandhi on his 76th birth anniversary for the needy in the state to eradicate malnutrition and hunger.

rona can be in our country. He said that our caution can save us from the outbreak of this pandemic.

He said that along with making the program of

mask distribution more effective, people should also be given information about preventive measures so that people can become aware of the dangers of this dis-

ease and not be negligent. He said that according to several studies, cases of corona infection increased rapidly due to negligence.

Jaipur: With Corona spreading its talons across the state, and carrying out the democratic processes of elections being a necessity, ‘sensitive’ Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has amended Rule 75 (2) of the Rajasthan Civil Service

(Pension) Rules, 1996 by approving a proposal to provide an ex-gratia grant of Rs 30 lakhs on death of

47.88 CR ADDL BUDGET PROVISION FOR SCHEDULED CASTES, TRIBES (PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES) SCHEME

Jaipur: CM Gehlot has approved an additional budget provision of Rs 47.88 crore under the Scheduled Castes, Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) scheme.

Due to this, financial assistance can be sanctioned to the

aggrieved people according to the rules. It is noteworthy that in this centrally sponsored scheme, the expenditure by the state government and the central government is afforded in equal proportion.

personnel from Covid-19 during election duty.

After this provision is implemented in the state, this amount will be given to the family on the death of employees from Covid-19 while on duty, in future elections as well as, general elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions.

LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF VAT 40 (E) FORM EXTENDED

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved the extension of the exemption period granted for filing returns under VAT 40 (E) under Rajasthan Value Added Tax Rules, 2006 to December 31, 2020, in view of the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

It is noteworthy that

AVINASH PANDE: BIHAR CONGRESS’S ‘TURNAROUND MAN’!

Kumar Prabodh/ Aditi Nagar Patna/New Delhi: Not very long ago, nobody, including the local Congressmen themselves, were ready to believe that Congress had the bargaining power of getting 70 seats from the senior partner of the coalition to contest in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. Only one person was beaming with confidence even then, whom few knew in Bihar political circles and he was none other than the Screening Committee Chairman & close confidante of the Gandhi family, Avinash Pande. He not only squeezed out 70 seats from RJD but has also

distributed the tickets with such political dexterity that old Congressmen have started reliving the dream of Congress’s revival in Bihar.

It is for the first time after 1990 that Congress believed that it can win 40 seats in Bihar. A Bihar Congress leader said “Now it seems that we could regain our lost ground among the Savarn, Dalit and Muslims. RJD has left 70 seats to Congress because even it also believes that without an alliance with Congress the Dalits and Muslims might steer away from it. Without Congress, the RJD can never dream of getting the Savarn vote in Bihar.”

The game plan of sea-

soned Congress strategist Avinash Pande was based on ground realities. RJD, Congress and left parties began their calculations taking most of the Yadav and Muslim votes in their favour and these two vote banks amount to 30% of total voters.

Even if a part of Dalit and Savarn votes can be added to it then more than half of Bihar assembly seats can be swayed. The candidate list released by Pande clearly has the stamp of this thought process imprinted in it. The list not only shows Pande’s attempt to win respectable seats in the upcoming elections but also get back the lost ground, secur-

beneficial for the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ as every single vote from Savarn, considered to be core BJP-JDU voters, will actually mean two votes and this was explained by one senior Congress leader. He said “ Assume that Mahagathbandhan gets 10,000 Savarn votes in a constituency then it would actually mean loss of 10,000 votes for NDA thus increasing the difference between us and them by 20,000 votes. ” Pande has 15% i.e.10 seats to Muslim candidates in his list sending out a message to Muslims that even when Congress didn’t contest all seats it gave Muslims representaAvinash Pande tion commen-

ing the party’s future.

It is a fact that Congress had ruled Bihar from 1947 to 1990, barring 1977, just on the basis of its tactical Savarn, Dalit and Muslim combination. The Congress candidate list of 70 has 32 names from Savarn communities i.e. almost half of its quota. This could actually be doubly

surate with their population percentage. Avinash Pande had a similar yard stick for the Scheduled Castes as well for which he somehow managed to get 10 reserved seats from RJD. Not that the Bihar elections is all about caste equations and vote bank alone, not at least for Avinash Pande, for he has ensured maximum tickets to candidates below 45 years of age giving due importance to the young blood.

The first phase of Bihar elections will have 71 seats on the offer and out of these 71 Congress has its candidates contesting on 21 seats, 14 of these are below 45 years of age which makes it a

It is noteworthy that State Election Commission had sent a proposal, with the provision of an exgratia grant of Rs 30 lakhs in event of death of Covid-19 employees during duty in the general election of Panchayati Raj Institutions (Panch and Sarpanch).

sizable 66% youth representation.

The strategy adopted

by Congress has made the upcoming elections more interesting. Avinash Pande’s clear headed and ‘party above all’ policy was endorsed when a party leader said that Pande heard every point of view while keeping an eye on every ticket to be distributed ensuring that no single person can boast of onesided decisions. Pande made sure that finally the ticket was given to the candidate which best suited the parameters set by the party. Bihar election results, among other stories, will also tell the success or failure of the Pande strategy.

earlier this exemption was made from March 20 to September 30, 2020. The Commercial Tax Department had written a letter to the Finance Department in this regard, requesting that the last date for submission of VAT 40 (E) form be extended to 31 December 2020.

Ahmed bhai on road to recovery Ahmed Patel

Aditi Nagar New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel has been recovering from Corona after being tested positive on October 1. While he stayed in Home quarantine, two days back he was admitted to hospital for medical check up in Metro hospital at Faridabad and it is reported that he will be discharged in next two days owing to betterment of health.

Better tax administration and relief to taxpayers our priority : Sinha Vimal Kothari Jaipur: The Income Tax Department, which is facing a decline in revenue collection, has given a series of relief to taxpayers. From issuing pending income tax refunds of taxpayers to the determination of their income tax returns, radical changes have been made. Director General of Income Tax Investigation, Sumant Sinha, who is holding the charge of Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (PCCIT) in state,

says that the change in the department is aimed at providing ease of doing business along with providing relief to the taxpayers struggling with slowdown in the economy. Excerpts from his interview:  Income tax department has announced faceless assessment, how will the common taxpayer benefit from this?

Sinha: In the faceless assessment process, the taxpayer does not come in contact with departmental officers. The information has to be sub-

mitted to the department online by the taxpayer. This will not only speed up the tax assessment process, but there will be no need for the taxpayer or his representative to come to the department’s office. The department will keep the entire record on eplatform, which will be completely safe and convenient.  What are the priorities of the department in the new arrangements?

Sinha: Better tax administration and giving relief to taxpayers is the

priority of the department at the moment that will push the concept of Ease of Doing Business during the corona pandemic.  What is the status of ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ scheme in Rajasthan?

Sinha: Rajasthan’s position in execution of the scheme is much better. Union MoS for finance Anurag Thakur had reviewed faceless assessment and ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ scheme in Kota recently and expressed satisfaction over the status of these

Sumant Sinha

schemes in the state.  What has been done to provide relief to the small taxpayers under the new arrangements?

Sinha: The department has set up Income Tax Service Centers across the country for small taxpayers. All

these centres have also been technically upgraded. Taxpayers can seek help from professionals present there in works like filing income tax returns and answering departmental notices etc. In Rajasthan, there are 34 such centres.  Common taxpayers will have to seek the help of a CA or tax advisor to answer to the department, will it be a costly affair?

Sinha: There is no need for general taxpayers to seek the help of a professional tax advisor

or CA to provide desired information to the department. Taxpayers can upload return or proof of information from the Income Tax Service Centre itself.  What is the status of income tax refund in Rajasthan? Usually, taxpayers complain that they do not get timely refunds from the department.

Sinha: Refunds worth Rs 2056.80 crore have been issued in Rajasthan till October 15, 2020. The department is also sensitive to the income tax refund of tax-

payers. A lot of reforms have been done in the refund process, due to which the income tax refunds are fast reaching the bank accounts of the taxpayers.  There is decline in revenue collection during the corona pandemic. What is the status of Rajasthan?

Sinha: There is no doubt that there is a decline in income tax revenue collection in Rajasthan as well. However, no comment on this can be made at the moment.

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09

JAIPUR, SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2020

Who is Ma Durga?

The beautiful idol you worship for 9 days and immerse in the holy Ganga finally?

The female deity who rescued gods from the ravages of demons? Is she the one with 8 arms, fierce eyes and long red tongue who came into existence in the reign of terror? The Divine Ma is all of this and much beyond!

DEEPAK

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

O

ne is able to comprehend the profound spiritual significance of worshiping Ma Durga only if one is constantly striving to awaken the inner primordial cosmic energy. Durga is synonymous to Shakti, who is personification of strength, beauty, creativity, wisdom, mystery, anger, compassion, fear, power and profundity in this universe. These qualities are reflected in each individual, in different events and in this universe as a whole. Other attributes associated with Ma are sword (power of discretion), bow (intellect), arrow (wisdom), conch (sound of bliss), rosary (the thread that binds all in prayerfulness), mace (truth) and the lion (fearlessness).

The Divine Mother has three major forms: Durga, the Goddess of defence; Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth; Saraswati the Goddess of knowledge. During the 9 nights and 10 days of Navratri, these three forms are invoked. Navratri celebrates and honors the 9 different aspects of Mother Divine, also known as Nav Durga: Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidyatri. The Navratri which falls in the month of Ashada and Magha is called Gupt Navratri. The Navratri that falls in the

JAI MATA RANI !

Ashwin month of autumn is called Shardiya Navratri and those that fall in the spring is called Chaitra Navratri.

It is the time when you withdraw yourself from all sensory activities (eating, talking, watching, touching, listening, smelling) and rest in yourself- which is the actual source of bliss, joy and enthusiasm in life.

Sri- means the Ma, Mother Goddess, whose refuge you can seek. Such a Devi can only be invoked from the purest recesses of your consciousness.

Sri Vidya- is the knowledge of invoking that Supreme Being. Ma Durga alone assumes the role of Brahma and creates, She assumes the form of Vishnu and sustains, and She

is capable of being a Mahesh to destroy all. She becomes the total Ishwar and with complete annihilation cleanses all. Then, Ma alone restores grace to revive life, These are her 5 powers of Shakti- THE ALL. This energy is lying dormant within each one of us. It is upto our devotion to seek, to awaken the Divinity. We have to dig deep within us to cleanse our outer Asuras. These demons are nothing but our own inherent weaknesses.

MADHU-KAITABH

the Sweet and the Bitter. These are the two most fundamental elements in every human being. Right from birth the child develops the taste of the tongue and has likes and dislikes for food. The tongue also conveys emotions- lullabies, the tone of words, fondling, cuddling. It is innate. On the journey to self realisation, the first hurdle for every person is to rise above this duality of sweet and bitter. No force works. Wisdom and foresight is all that sustains. Vishnu is predominant at this stage. We learn to differentiate between acceptance and rejection.

Once you go beyond taste and sound the next challenge awaits us.

Turn to P10

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JAIPUR | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

10

FROM PG 9

JAI MATA RANI !

MAHISHASUR

The Buffalo/Bull: symbolic of laziness, lethargy, inertia and rage. We need to channelize our whole energy. Our inner Shakti alone can handle this demon. It cannot be killed. It can only be transformed.

These traits impede our spiritual and material progress. It calls for willpower and determination of the highest order. Devi Ma comes to our rescue with her positivity & energy to dissolve this Asur.

DHUMRA-LOCHAN

Smoke & Eyesight. As we see things we are tempted. Our lust, greed, desire to possess, completely clouds our vision & sense of good and bad.

Since we gather information through our eyes, illusions distract us all the time. The mirage of life entices us. We SEE what we ‘want’ to see. Regardless of how intellectual, profound, smart one is, these challenges will have to be tackled directly.

Ma Durga personifies myriad personalities to slay each demon.

That is why we worship and invoke the nine forms of Shakti. In DURGA SAPTASHATI we have 6 demons, each corresponding to the 6 Chakras (7th being Sahastrar) in our body. Each is symbolic of human weakness and frailties.

CHUND-MUND

Chund literally means passion, cruelty, violence. Mund is head, intelligence, wisdom, inner conflicts.

By the death of the 3 previous Asuras, we have conquered our taste,

FA CE OF TH ED AY

Shumba is none other than sense of ‘I’ or ‘Me’, whereas Nishumba represents the sense of ‘Mine’, or the attachment to things that the false self clings to through identification with other objects. Shumba and Nishumba follow each other closely.

Shumba also means, doubting oneself and Nishumba means, doubting others. When the mind is clogged with doubt about oneself or others, neither peace nor progress is possible. That is why they are the Kings of the Demons, the highest in the order of negative influences. Such demeaning forces come up only due to our own doubts, regret,

words, speech, sloth, inertia, lust, greed, anger and clouded vision.

We have managed to harness that energy, but we still do not know how to channelize it. Passions completely possess us. Even a good passion can make us egoistic, triumphant and vain. Every passion, as much as, inner conflicts is a distraction. We are overpowered by doubts, regret, guilt, repentance and lose all clarity. Only by slaying Chund and Mund can we overpower these conflicts.

RAKTBEEJ

poses the greatest challenge of all. It is a demon with a special boon. With every drop of blood that falls on the battlefield, an identical originallike demon would come alive, soon multiplying into a countless army. Never ending, evergrowing. How can one possibly combat such a force? Raktbeej is none other than our desire. You fulfill one, hundreds sprout up.

It’s an unending cycle. Literally unstoppable, beyond control.

Desires are just desires- there can be no good or bad desire.

To vanquish this demon we need aggression in the form of highest discipline.

Having overpowered all these weaknesses within ourselves, we are still one step away...

YOUR DAY Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

guilt and fear. When we are full of positivity and enthusiasm none of these Asuras can harm us. Ma is ever-present. We just have to seek her with faith & trust. The battle between the demons and the Goddess is compared to Maha Yagya, because it represents the greatest purification process.

Now, we are ready for the ultimate reward. After the 6 demons are slayed, out come SURATH & SAMADHI for blessings. Surath is the chariot, vehicle of life- empowering us with insight, wisdom, knowledge. We rise above every duality.

Samadhi is Oneness. The Ultimate Bliss. Union with the Divine Self. It is totally liberating. It is Kundalini Shakti alive within us.

DURGA SAPTASHATI is our constant striving to reach this ultimate. The Awakening of inner primordial cosmic energy within us.

The DIVINE MA SHAKTI!

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Get ready to exert hard for business purposes on everyday business. No matter how much someone tries to provoke, refrain from choosing the wrong side. Do not forget that if your terms get spoiled with someone because of your fault, then it will never get better.

You don’t have to really worry about someone else’s intentions as far as they can cause no harm.

You will take someone else’s responsibility in your hand. The moment is here to start something that you have been planning since so long. Take care of what you eat.

Dealing with complex situations related to office may take up a lot of your time but hopefully its worth all your time. On academic front some of you may be thinking about joining some other online coaching classes. Today you may get an invitation to your dream job.

You work towards a plan and fully dedicate yourself and you very well know how to smartly turn any situation in your favour and in the end you always win. Things are perfect on both professional and personal front. Academically someone will boost your confidence.

MAR 21 - APR 20

APR 21 - MAY 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

To keep up with others and have same standards, you will have to start exerting more and you should start right away. Something that you are hoping for to happen will turn out well for you. Your mental presence is very important while having conversation with someone close.

Take initiatives and put in extra efforts as it will only add up to your professional reputation. If you are asked to manage a project and do all the needful for it to turn out successful than do not allow anyone to intervene in your way of working.

Don’t fall in love.

For you to earn more you need to do experiment with your choices and creativity.

Do not form opinions about someone who seems to be unhappy as your judgement may not be correct. Your negligence can lead to your mental sickness, something from which you have suffered from.

Today might not be the best day for you in terms of profit but a huge profit coming in the future will compensate for even today. Anyone who is extremely loving and friendly on outside may have an ill motive inside and the best you can do is to no let anyone peek inside your heart.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You must develop a proactive approach to deal with any situation arising due to pressure from office .

All the work that you have been neglecting for some time needs to be addressed on priority. Avoid taking extra responsibilities like helping others.

Love you self and embrace yourself as there is no one like you. It’s very important for you to win the trust of all those who matters in your life and you will successfully gain it. You will feel financially very strong from all the returns in property affairs. Keep yourself focused academically.

Just believe in your cause and do whatever it takes to make it a success. It is not the right time to declare what your inner aspirations are, as people may not understand you. You may continue to walk on the path chosen by you. Professionally, you may be a bit more tied up today.

Someone from your dream firm may approach you for work, if you have applied for it in the past. Just get involved and think through problems by serious deliberation ,if you want error free performance in your work.

Only a little push on the academic front will bring you to success.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

ANMOL BHAT, Model

SHUMBA- NISHUMBA

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

ETC www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

JAIPUR | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

11

NICKI MINAJ

finally reveals

PAW

PATROL K

im Kardashian has been cast in the upcoming animated “PAW Patrol” movie based on the popular children’s program, her rep confirmed to Fox News.

“Paw Patrol’s” tech-savvy Ryder and his CGI-animated team of pups are heading to the movies -- and Kim Kardashian West is coming along for the ride.

Kardashian joins the all-star voice cast for Nickelodeon and Paramount’s featurelength film.

The star has a handful of acting credits to her name, including appearances on shows like “Drop Dead Diva” and “Beyond the Break.” She’s also appeared as herself in projects like “Last Man Standing” and “30 Rock”. The movie is set for an Aug. 20, 2021, release. —ANI

Nicki Minaj

R

enowned rapper Nicki Minaj recently welcomed her first child with husband Kenneth Petty much to the excitement of her fans.

The 37-year old singer had earlier announced her pregnancy in July 2020 amidst the COVID-19 crisis. According

to media reports, the baby was born on September 30. However, the gender of the child was not revealed immediately. Well, the Starships singer finally decided to reveal the same on social media about being a mom to a son.

It’s a baby boy!

—Agency

NIALL HORAN congratulates Zayn!

Kim Kardashian Zayn and Niall

‘Master of capturing human emotions’

KGF Chapter 2

A

B

ollywood actor Vaani Kapoor, who is all set to start shooting for her next film with Ayushmann Khurrana, has termed her director Abhishek Kapoor a “master in capturing human emotions.”

“Abhishek is a master when it comes to capturing human emotions. He has done it brilliantly in films like Rock On!! , Kai Po Che , Kedarnath among others,” she said. “I was awed by the way he depicted the story of three friends in ‘Kai Po Che.’ It was real, it was simple but complicated and it was h e a r t breaking but beautiful. I cannot wait to work with him because I feel I will learn a lot on the sets of this pro g ressive love story,” she added. —ANI

Vaani Kapoor

... her post

‘KEY’ TO HAPPY MARRIAGE

A

s she completed eight years of marriage with her superstar husband Saif Ali Khan, actor Kareena Kapoor Khan on Friday marked the day with a special Instagram post and revealed the “key” to her happy marriage. “Once upon a time there was a girl named Beboo and a boy named Saifu.

They both loved sphagetti and wine... and lived happily ever after,” she wrote in the caption. “Now you guys know the key to a happy marriage On that note, happy anniversary SAKP... here’s to eternity and beyond,” she added.

—ANI

lmost two months after he took a short break from work citing health reasons, actor Sanjay Dutt on Friday said he is gearing up for working in his much-awaited flick ‘KGF Chapter 2.’

Dutt took to Instagram to share a set of three pictures of himself dressed in a black coloured T-shirt and fawn-coloured cargo pants.

“Gearing up for #Adheera! # K G F Chapter2,” he wrote in the caption.

—ANI

I

t has been almost a month since Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid welcomed their little one. The couple took to their respective social media handles and shared the happy news with fans.

Following the news, One Dir e c t i o n m e m b e r, Niall Hor a n wished the exband-

CARDI B & OFFSET RECONCILE

Sanjay Dutt

S

Kareena Kapoor Khan

THE FIRST LOOK

S

haring a few stills from her upcoming film ‘The White Tiger,’ actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Friday introduced her character.

“In #TheWhiteTiger, I play the role of Pinky madam, who is a first generation immigrant in the US. She is in India with her husband, who is travelling for business. And then... life changes!

Pinky madam is such a specific character, to play her unravelling in the story was such a joy,” she wrote. —ANI

mate, Zayn. Niall revealed that soon after the news of baby ZiGi broke, he messaged Zayn. While he did not reveal the details about the text, he said that it’s an amazing thing, referring to the baby.

Of the OG One Direction members, three members have already embraced fatherhood. Except for Harry Styles and Niall, the other three are now proud dads.

—Agency

Priyanka’s post Cardi B

inger Cardi B recently revealed that she’s back with ex-husband Offset. After being seen getting cosy with her on-again, off-again ex during her birthday weekend bash in Las Vegas, as well as revealing she was in bed with him when she accidentally uploaded a risque photo on social media, she confirmed that she’s a “crazy bitch” who can’t make up her mind.

She went on to explain in a video that it’s hard not to talk to your best friend. adding that there were sexual reasons, too.

—Agency

CITY BUZZ www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

JAIPUR | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2020

12

RANDEEP’S LEOPARD

SAFARI

BJP state vice-president Ajay Pal Singh celebrated his birthday with simplicity on 16 October, Friday. He took part in a havan at Arya Samaj Mandir and went to the Raja Park Gurudwara to seek the blessings of Guru Granth Sahib, accompanied by his wife Gurvinder Kaur.

Many BJP leaders and party workers wished him on his birthday.

TOSHI VIJAY

T

he second round of auditions for one of the grand beauty pageants of Rajasthan, ‘Elite Miss Rajasthan 2020’ is all set to begin in Udaipur today. On-spot registrations are available for aspiring girls to take part in this zerocost beauty pageant.

The girls will have to present their talents on front of a panel of distinguished judges at Hotel Yois, located in Sagar, Udaipur. The judges will evaluate the girls on their confidence, attitude, catwalk, selfpresentation, communication skills, and talent among other factors. Three finalists will be chosen from the city who will get an exclusive opportunity to take part in the Jaipur auditions later this year.

The director of Elite

Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda was spotted at the Jhalana Leopard Safari Park on Friday morning, where he captured wildlife on his camera, escorted by Sumit Juneja. After a long wait, he was able to sight a Leopard and shot a lot of photos of the flora and fauna during the safari.

—PHOTOS BY MUKESH KIRADOO

SECOND ROUND

MANAGING NEW PARADIGMS Mental Health IN TECHNOLOGY

OF GLAMOUR A Team of ‘Elite Miss Rajasthan 2020’

Miss Rajasthan, Udaipur, Ajay Nayar will be judging the skills of the participants. The esteemed panel of judges will also include supermodel Mona Gautam, actress Akanksha Bhal-

la, the second runner-up of Elite Miss Rajasthan 2019 – Shivani Parihar, and Miss Crystal Angel International 2019 – Jaya Meena. The chief guests of the event will be Arjun Lal Meena – the Lok

Sabha member from Udaipur constituency and Saurav Paliwal – the director of Archana Group. Along with them, Shiv Shankar Meena will also attend the program as an esteemed guest.

CELEBRATING ART!

A

Randeep Hooda

s a part of Teamwork Fine Art Society’s ongoing advocacy and a fundraising initiative for artists, #ArtMatters produced a fundraising gala by the artists, for the artists, called I Believe #ArtMatters, to help raise resources and provide the much-needed support for India’s artists and artisans. #ArtMatters, brought together over 450 artists from music, theatre, dance, film, stand-up and more,

had been viewed by over 100,000 people and raised approximately INR 4.8 million on the 4th October broadcast.

On high demand from the audience, the star-studded celebration will be live-streamed again on 18th October 2020. The celebratory gala will again showcase the much-appreciated performances by all the artists, by highlighting their stories with an appeal to donate. Featuring 70 performances,

the gala will run on Teamwork Arts’ Facebook Page starting from 5.30 pm.

While hosting at the gala, celebrated Indian actress Shabana Azmi said that she thinks artists are central, not peripheral to our lives and must support the artists and artisans in their time of need.

—Ciy First

session on Managing Mental Health during COVID -19 was organised by CII-Young Indians (Yi) Kota Chapter on a virtual platform. Nida Mehdi Khan, Health Therapist & Counselor, USA said that it’s utmost important to keep the normal routine as much as possible during COVID period when it comes to sleep, nutrition and exercise, particularly in people with existing mental health problems. It will help in reducing stress and mental health problems. Saurabh Shourie, Chair, CII- Yi, Kota Chapter highlighted the importance of the subject and said that only half of those affected receive treatment, often because of the stigma attached to mental health. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

CITY FIRST

A

press conference had organized on Thursday at ICFAI University, Jaipur. In this conference, the president of the University Prof.

Rajesh Kothari, and Dean of IcfaiTech Arun Kumar Saini discussed the important achievements of the University last year in detail, including the launching of new courses as mandates by changing time like AI,

CITY FIRST

F

ormer Advisor & Co-author with Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Founder & CEO, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre, Srijan Pal Singh addressed a live webinar on ‘New Paradigms in Technology’ held on the occasion of World Students Day and 89th Birth Anniversary a tribute to Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The webinar was held on the Facebook page of the IAS Literary Society, Rajasthan on

Thursday. He was in conversation with Secretary, IAS Literary Society, Rajasthan, Mugdha Sinha. Srijan Pal said that Former President of India, Late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam personified humility and boundless curiosity. Despite his immense success, he made a conscious effort to be rooted and remain connected with the people.

Teaching was his passion and he was always a teacher. He believed that the mind of the youth is the strongest and this strength needs to be cultured.

VARIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS DATA Science & IoT. Various courses are being offered at extremely affordable fees.

They talked about career options in the field of AI, Data Science, and IoT in the coming years. Further, they

also discussed the possibilities of career options in the field of smart city, robotics, and automation in detail. In the press conference, Prof. Rajesh Kothari talked about the drastic increase in last year’s placements of

the students in various companies. It is a matter of pride to report that IcfaiTech has been awarded and also about the rankings given to the University by Silicon India Magazine, GHRDC and India Today. He mentioned that University got the 4th ranking by the Silicon India Magazine, 1st ranking in promising engineering university by the GHRDC, and good rank in north India by India Today.

WHAT’S HAPPENING! RAJASTHAN: Congress Youth leader Sagar Sharma visited the Gram Panchayats of Meeno ka Nayagaon, Sadara, and gram panchayat Bharai in Kekri assembly area to congratulate the newly elected panchs and sarpanchs and also give the message of ‘NO MASK NO ENTRY’ to one and all.

A Sarpanch Samman Samaroh was organised.

GUJARAT: On the occasion of World Food Day, members of non-profit organization Anjuman-e-Saifi of the Dawoodi Bohra community distributed fruits to the homeless near Ellis Bridge in Ahmedabad on Friday. —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

RAJASTHAN: FICCI Ladies Organization, Jaipur Chapter has determined to provide growth opportunities to entrepreneurs and will launch their first Virtual Exhibition Traveling Trucks from 17 October to 19 October 2020. It is an online shopping platform bringing exhibitors from all over the world on one platform. Exclusive 75 brands have been chosen to showcase their unique collections.

GUJARAT: People performing puja of Lord Purshottam ji on the ending of Adhik month in Ahmedabad on Friday.

—PHOTO

BY HANIF SINDHI

GUJARAT: A drum shop owner was seen without customers in Ahmedabad on Friday, as people in the state are not celebrating Navratri like every other year this time, due to the Corona pandemic.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

HAPPY B’DAY!

RAJASTHAN: Ration was distributed under the ‘Happy Diwali Basket’ program of the Creature Foundation, with Rotary Club Jaipur North. The main purpose behind organising this event was to provide food and other necessities to the families impacted during the Corona pandemic and make Diwali a joyous occasion for them.

IAS Himanshu Gupta celebrated his birthday on 16 October, Friday. We wish him all the best!