FROM SARKARI
TO SWANKY
Whenever we think of a government office, what really comes to our mind? Old dilapidated buildings, dimly lit long corridors, cramped rooms where babus are buried over a pile of dusty files, and ofcourse the sight of peons carrying tea around. Isn’t it?
Well, you will be in for a big surprise if you climb up to the first floor of the Vigyan Bhavan building on Delhi’s Maulana Azad Road. This quasi-government organization in Delhi’s posh locality looks anything but “sarkari”. Swanky corporate office with young professionals busy on their laptops. We are talking about the office of Invest India, the government’s investment promotion agency.
This organization is working day in and day out to fulfill PM Modi’s vision of transforming “red tape into red carpet”. What started in 2009 as a joint venture between the center and the private sector remained largely dead till 2015. Thats when Deepak Bagla was appointed as head of Invest India and the turnaround story thereafter, is simply mind-blowing. Since then this organization has remarkably worked to drive foreign investments into the country and seal India’s position on the global investments map.
INVEST INDIA 2.0
The organization can pick up lessons from China which has successfully transformed into the factory of the world. Nowhere is this phenomenon more apparent than in China. China has outpaced not just India but all other emerging countries when it comes to building the right ecosystem for foreign investments. Whether it is the development of supporting infrastructure, a strong workforce, financial incentives, or favourable policies. For countries like China and India, FDI is very crucial for spurring development and sustaining the country’s economy as a competitive one in the global marketplace. India too needs to build the right complementary ecosystem
Modi’s government after coming to power in 2014, rolled out the Make in India campaign in September 2014. The government needed a dedicated agency that could target foreign companies and pursue them to invest in India. Instead of creating a new agency altogether, they decided to give life to the existing one. This led to the birth of Invest India 2.0 which was given the mandate of chasing big foreign companies with little presence in India and handhold them to set up factories in the country.
THE “NEW INDIA”
“We are good at joining the dots”. That’s how Mr. Bagla describes his team. Invest India under his leadership was alone instrumental in getting investments worth Rs. 3 lakh crores ($33 billion). In fact, India received a record level
of FDI worth $83 billion in 2021-22, despite the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown worldwide. From having 452 startups in 2015, India has come a long way.
WHAT SETS THIS STARTUP APART?
From offering personalized services to a dedicated RM for each investor, this “startup of the Government of India,” has a unique business strategy to attract foreign investments. Let’s understand what really sets them apart from other government-led organizations.
l QUASI PRIVATE
Government has a 49% equity stake in Invest India while the rest is equally divided among three industry bodies — CII, FICCI, and Nasscom — thereby technically making it a private entity. More than 23 states also have a stake in Invest India. The involvement of the private sector has been paramount to avoid bureaucratic delays in its functioning.
l YOUNG AND DRIVEN TEAM
The team comprising of 411 people with a rich pedigree and prior experience in reputed financial and consulting firms. The average team age of 29 years is completely unheard of in any government operation. This has ensured a professional culture within the organization with a focused and driven attitude.
ASpecial SC/ST court’s judgment acquitting three of the four accused in the 2020 rape and murder case of a 19-year-old Dalit and convicting the main accused Sandeep Singh only for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sections of the SC/ST Act but not of rape in has left the victim’s family shocked. The family has a reason for that.
Modi’s government after coming to power in 2014, rolled out the Make in India campaign in September 2014. The government needed a dedicated agency that could target foreign companies and pursue them to invest in India
l ONE-STOP-SHOP
The idea behind Invest India was to remove red tape and bureaucracy and provide dedicated service throughout, from location hunting to getting approvals and funding. They have strived to provide a one-stop point of contact for foreign investors and have handheld them in the entire process. There have been several successful use cases, particularly their Startup India mission. They have bootstrapped startups like the pharma-based 1mg, which has now been acquired by the Tata group, allowing them to get in touch with the right people and entry into the highly competitive market.
l LOW BUDGET
Invest India has been one of the world’s most successful investment promotion agencies (IPA) and operates on the lowest budget. Most employees worked in the private sector and have chosen to take
pay cuts, ranging from 7% to 93%. Praised for their “can do” mindset, they have delivered outstanding results with effective utilization of resources.
l
Invest India has charted its path to success by offering innovative solutions to complex problems. An example would be how they landed Sweden-based safety airbags manufacturer Autoliv despite other favourable investment markets available like Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. Invest India found out that the company had shortlisted a location in Chennai but backed out due to cost concerns. They simply offered another piece of land a bit farther away from Chennai in Cheyyar town and opted for a lease model.
l STATE PARTICIPATION
Invest India has brought FDI to 31 states and Union territories, encouraging participation and creating competition between the states where they are vying against the others for investment. Every state tries to exhibit the best practices and weaker states are partnered up with strong ones to encourage the development of the entire country. This is a significant improvement from previous instances where the bulk of FDI was pocketed by a few larger states only.
The woman was criminally assaulted and killed by four upper caste men in Hathras on September 14, 2020. Eleven days after the brutal crime the woman died in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. Her body was allegedly cremated without the consent of her family members at 3.30 am which the Allahabad High Court said “is prima facie an infringement on the human rights of the victim and her family. The CBI which investigated the case filed chargesheet against the four accused for rape and murder. If there was no rape and murder, what did the CBI based its chargesheet on?
Let him not deceive another nor despise anyone anywhere. In anger or ill will let him not wish another ill.
Buddha
Congratulations to PM Shri @ narendramodi and Party President Shri @JPNadda for scripting new success stories in the North East. I appreciate the hard work of BJP karyakartas in Tripura, Nagaland & Meghalaya. I express my gratitude to the people for their support to the BJP.
Anurag Thakur @ianuragthakur
ppointments to the Election Commission have been under scrutiny after growing perception that pliable bureaucrats helming the poll body were compromising the institution’s independence.
The Supreme Court’s fivejudge Constitution bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud has, in a unanimous landmark verdict, ruled that the election commissioners will be appointed by a threemember committee comprising the prime minister, leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India. This will give some hope to those who feared that one democratic institution after another was being made to kowtow to the government’s will.
Appointments to the Election Commission have been under scrutiny after growing perception that pliable bureaucrats helming the poll body were compromising the institution’s independence
Whether this mechanism, which will be in place until a law is framed, would be successful is hard to predict.
The court which had questioned “the tearing hurry” in the appointment of Arun Goel in 2022, observed “Election Commission has to be independent, it cannot claim to be independent and then act in an unfair manner. A
person in a state of obligation to the State cannot have an independent frame of mind. An independent person will not be servile to those in power.” Last year the SC asked if it would not be “a complete breakdown of system” if the CEC does not act against the prime minister. Opposition parties would often recall TN Seshan’s contribution in giving the Election Commission the gumption to take on political masters. JM Lyngdoh carried on Seshan’s legacy with equal firmness. In the recent past, however, some who questioned the govt’s actions were shown the door. To insulate CEC and ECs from political whims the bench ordered that they can be removed only through impeachment.
Aastha, stressed on the role of youth as decisive stakeholders in democracy. Her thoughts resonate with young India which is a contributor in India’s growth story today!
304,
New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India Aziz Mushabber Ahmadi passed away on Thursday following age-related ailments, a lawyer close to his family said. He was 90. He died at a private hospital in south Delhi, lawyer Mehmood Pracha said.
Narendra Modi, the only Prime Minister who visited the NE region over 50 times
Moni Sharma
New Delhi: The BJP has scored a perfect three in the latest round of polls in three northeastern states on Thursday. Tripura and Nagaland under its belt, with the help of allies, efforts are on to form government in Meghalaya after renewing its tie-up with Conrad Sangma.
In the evening, PM Narendra Modi addressed BJP workers after the party managed to secure big win in Nagaland and Tripura Assembly elections. PM Modi said that the poll result showed a huge change in northeast. He added that the northeastern states are now “na Dilli se door, na dil se door’.
“In past years, BJP has witnessed several such occasions. Today, we got another such occasion. I am thankful to people of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. People of these states have given full support to BJP and its allies,” Modi said. P6
Lucknow: A district court in UP on Thursday acquitted 3 of 4 accused in the Sept 2020 Hathras gang-rape and murder case. A 19-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped and killed, leading to a massive public outcry. None of accused were convicted on charges of rape, which the CBI had included in its chargesheet.
Mumbai: Actor Sushmita Sen has revealed that she suffered a heart attack 2 days back and had to undergo angioplasty. She shared a happy picture with her father and wrote, ‘I suffered a heart attack a couple of days back, Angioplasty done, stent in place.’
BJP gets 3 out of 3: Keeps Nagaland, Tripura; reunites with Meghalaya ally
Na Dilli se door, na dil se door: PM Modi after the BJP wins big in NE
PM Narendra Modi thanked the hardworking party workers and requested them to open the flashlight of their mobile phones in honour of the people of the Northeast.
1THE
OF THE BJP GOVERNMENTS
2 THE WORKING STYLE OF THE BJP
3 THE KARYAKARTAS OF SAFFRON PARTY
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma called up HM Amit Shah to seek his help in securing another term after his NPP fell short of a majority in state elections. His request was met without delay.
‘MR CLEAN’ SAHA WINS SEAT, POSSIBLY A SECOND TERM AS THE CM OF TRIPURA
Manik Saha, tipped to be Tripura’s CM for a second term, defeated Congress’s Ashish Kumar Saha, by a margin of 1,257 votes from Town Bardowali despite detractors within his own party predicting a “tough time” for him in the prestigious constituency. From Saha joining the saffron party in 2016 to being made CM last year in a brand renewal exercise.
As new-found friends
Left, Congress fail to impress, and a royal waits in wings, the saffron party is king in Tripura
Nagaland’s second woman MLA Salhoutuonuo Kruse is an activist associated with women’s organisations
Guiding BJP campaign before polls, steering it to
PM Modi holds talks with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni
First India Bureau
New Delhi: As India and Italy celebrate the 75th anniversary of their bilateral relationship this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed his counterpart Giorgia Meloni on Thursday on her first visit to India to hold a bilateral meeting in New Delhi.
‘We are announcing establishment of ‘Start Up Bridge’ between India and Italy. India and Italy are working shoulder to shoulder in fighting terrorism and separatism,” said PM Modi after talks with Meloni. “In defence sector in India, opportunities for co-production and co-
New Delhi: India on Thursday extended support to candidature of Ajay Banga as World Bank President, saying his nomination comes at a time when multilateral lending agency is considering next-generation reforms. “Congratulations to Ajay Banga on being nominated to lead World Bank. India supports Banga’s nomination and looks forward to his leadership of World Bank,”
India should use G20 to help end Ukraine war, says Italy’s PM Meloni
We are announcing ‘Start Up Bridge’ between India, Italy: PM
govt now, Himanta Biswa
Sarma is again man of the moment
Nagaland gets its first two women MLAs in NDPP’s Hekani Jakhalu, Salhoutuonuo Kruse
BJP and allies back in power in Northeastern states, focus shifts to government formation
Today’s election result is a message to the nation and to world. It shows that in India, people trust democracy and democratic values. That democracy is thriving in India.
—Narendra Modi, PM A“historic day” for the Northeast.
“It is evident again that for development and prosperity, BJP led by PM Narendra Modi is people’s preference.
—Amit Shah, Union Home Minister BJP’s success in the Northeast is due to Prime Minister Modi’s efforts to bring it into mainstream and policy decisions for its development.
—JP Nadda, BJP national president
Countings of bypolls for Ramgarh in Jharkhand, Sagardighi in West Bengal, Erode East in TN and Kasba and Chinchwad in Maha held on Thursday. Congress won 3 seats, BJP 2, and BJP-backed AJSU 1, as votes were counted for bypolls held for 6 Assembly constituencies in 5 States. P6
First India Bureau
SEBI ASKED TO COOPERATE WITH THE EXPERTS PANEL
development are arising which can be beneficial for both countries. We have also decided to conduct regular joint exercise and training
courses,” he said. After holding bilateral meeting, Meloni praised PM Modi and called him the most loved one of all leaders. Full report on P7
Country will further strengthen its relationship with Italy in the fields of renewable energy, hydrogen, IT, telecom, semiconductors and space. —Narendra Modi, PM We wanted to further boost this relation and this is the reason why we have decided to turn our partnership into a strategic partnership because we have very solid relationship.
—Giorgia Meloni, Italian PM One Earth, One Family, One Future’ signals the need for unity of purpose as well as the unity of action
Post World War global governance failed in both its mandates of preventing future wars, fostering international cooperation on issues of common interests
No group can claim global leadership without listening to those most affected by its decisions
India’s G20 Presidency has tried to give a voice to the Global South
We should not allow issues that we cannot resolve together to come in the way of those we can
CM MEETS VICTIMS OF BHIWANI KILLINGS
New Delhi: A constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday revamped the selection mechanism to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs), ruling that a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the LoP, and the CJI, shall appoint them until Parliament brings a law in this regard.
In the absence of an LoP, the leader of the single largest party in Parliament will be included in the collegium to appoint the CEC and ECs, clarified the bench.
GEHLOT ANNOUNCES RELIEF PACKAGE OF `5 LAKH EACH FOR KIN OF JUNAID, NASIR
Matter will be investigated under Case Officer Scheme and accused of burning 2 to death deserve death penalty: CM
Naresh Sharma & Ravi Katara
Bharatpur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday announced a relief package of Rs 5 lakh each for families of Junaid and Nasir, whose charred bodies were found in Haryana’s Bhiwani district after they were abducted from Bharatpur.
I will talk to his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar to take the incident with utmost seriousness as it is of similar nature to the incident that happened in Udaipur where a tailor was hacked to death. —Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister
“The state govt will provide ` 5 lakh compensation each to the wives and children of both the deceased. An amount of `1 lakh each will be provided as cash
whereas a fixed deposit of ` 4 lakh each will be done so that dependent families do not face any problem in education, marriage of kids,” he told reporters. Turn to P9
New Delhi: The SC on Thursday set up a six-member panel of experts headed by a retired top court judge to assess existing regulatory framework and make recommendations to strengthen it to protect investors in wake of Adani-Hindenburg saga. Panel constituted by SC will be headed by retired SC judge Abhay Manohar Sapre and will include OP Bhat, Justice JP Devdhar, KV Kamat, Nandan Nilekani and Somasekhar Sundaresan. A bench of CJI DY Chandrachud said panel will make an overall assessment, suggest measures to make investors aware and strengthen the existing regulatory measures for stock markets.
The Adani Group welcomes the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. It will bring finality in a time bound manner. Truth will prevail.
Naresh Sharma
Jaipur: In what could be termed as a major development vis-a-vis Congress party, a brainstorming session commenced late on Wednesday night and went on till
3 am at Chief Minister’s residence wherein along with CM Ashok Gehlot, PCC Chief Govind Singh Dotasra and representatives from AICC were also present. This ‘special’ brainstorming took place regarding power and organisation. This meeting was very im-
portant from the point of view of politics. Notably, CM Gehlot also met Mohan Prakash and held a long discussion.
Jaipur: All vacant posts for Grade-3 teachers will be filled shortly, Edu Minister BD Kalla said on Thursday. Replying to a query during Question Hour, Kalla assured the House that all 39,000 vacant posts for Grade-3 teachers will be filled through counselling after the teacher eligibility test results.
Replying on transfers and postings, Kalla said a notice was issued on August 14, 2021, by the secondary education director regarding the online transfer application form for Grade-3 teachers. He said that the application is just a process and does not have right to transfer.
Due to a lack of policy decisions at that time, transfers could not be done, he said. Kalla, while responding during a discussion on grants related to the Primary and Secondary Education department in the Assembly on Wednesday, said that work on the transfer policy for Grade Three teachers is going on and it will soon be brought in the public domain.
The issue of inclusion of Rajasthani language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution came up in the House. In response to the question of MLA Gurdeep Singh, Min Kalla said that govt is trying for this, but the process of recognizing Rajasthani language has to be done at Centre’s level.
Kalla said that from time to time since 2003, semiofficial letters have also been written to the Central Government in this regard by the then CM or from the Chief Secy level. He informed that recently, on Feb 16, 2023, CM Gehlot has once again written a letter to the Centre in this regard demanding recognition of Rajasthani language and inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.
ROBERT VADRA BIKANER LAND DEAL ROW AGAIN LEADS TO UPROAR IN ASSEMBLY
Rajasthan assembly went uproarious again over Priyanka Gandhi’s husband Robert Vadra’s land issue on Thursday.BJP accused Vadra of land scam. Expressing strong objection, education minister BD Kalla said that the person who was being accused has not done even one percent wrong. Rather, he alleged, BJP leaders took land and did scams.During the debate on demands for grants of Revenue, and Social Justice and Empowerment on Thursday, BJP MLA from Lunkaransar Sumit Godara accused Robert Vadra of the land scam. He said that the lands belonging to farmers who migrated were purchased at throwaway prices and were sold on high prices. Reacting to this, Kalla said it was wrong to name those who are not members of the house. On this, Godara said that Ambani and Adani are also not members of the House, but Congress legislators make a lot of allegations against them.
DILAWAR TRIES TO CORNER RAJ GOVT OVER DIVYANG, KESH KALA BOARD
MLA Madan Dilawar said that it was announced to include the Divyang in BPL but till date the guideline has not been released. He also talked about the Kesh Kala Board and termed it a fraud with the barbers. “Vipra Brahmin Samaj is the most intellectual in the country. In 2022, Vipra Kalyan Board was formed but no expenses have been spent. About CM Ashrit Yojana, he said that the plan was made only to get the accolades but did not work. He said that the govt will not be visible after December.
Jaipur: MLA Harish Chaudhary raised the issue of caste census in the Assembly on Thursday. He said that after 1931, caste census has not been done. “In 2001, the Central govt had decided to conduct a caste census but the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee govt stopped it. In 2011, the Congress govt decided to conduct a caste census. After 2014, when the BJP govt came to power, caste census was stopped,” he added while demanding that caste census should be done in Rajasthan on the lines of Bihar.
NO BONUS TO
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Through a special mention motion in the Assembly, MLA Chandrabhan Singh Akya informed the House that the fake degree gangs in the state have been executing the conspiracy of appointing those without degrees in government jobs for a long time.
RPSC, RSSB and various government agencies are further delaying the functioning of their various recruitment process by postponing the recruitment process in the name of degree verification on complaints about these fake degrees. Due to which the unemployed youth of the state, who have been waiting for these recruitment for a long time, are facing a lot of problems. He demanded that such recruitment process should be reinstated as soon as possible and provide relief to the unemployed youth of the state.
Naresh Sharma
OVER 57K BENEFITTED FROM MUKHYAMANTRI YUVA SMABAL YOJANA: CHANDNA
M oS for Skill, Planning and Entrepreneurship
Ashok Chandna said that under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Sambal Yojana, more than 57,000 eligible applicants have been benefited from unemployment allowance in Jaipur district so far. He said that out of these 34,787 applicants have received this allowance for 2 years and at present 22,460 aspirants are receiving this allowance. He clarified that no unemployed candidate’s allowance was stopped due to not being able to do an internship. A total of 1,10,271 candidates applied for this.
COMPENSATION OF `10 CR RECOVERED UNDER ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES: CHOUDHARY
F orest Minister Hemaram Choudhary on Thursday informed the House that under environmental damage compensation by Green Authority, compensation of about Rs 10 crores has been recovered. He was responding to a question of MLA Hamir Singh Bhayal related to Jodhpur, Pali, Balotra area. The minister said that recovery that was done has been done and illegal recovery is not in the knowledge but action would be taken if anything is brought to the attention.
HIKE, FUEL SURCHARGE, BHATI RESPONDS
I n the last 3 years, the State government collected fuel charge of Rs 3,749.93 crore from the electricity consumers. In this, the maximum amount of Rs 1,893.12 crore has been recovered from the consumers of Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd, Minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati informed the House on Thursday.
BJP MLA Kalicharan Saraf raised the matter in the Assembly. He asked about how much amount has been increased and how much burden has been put on the consumers. Bhati said that in compliance with the tariff regulation issued by the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission, there is a provision to recover the difference between the fixed rate of power purchase and the actual purchase price as fuel surcharge. Fuel surcharge is determined on a quarterly basis. The amount of fuel surcharge imposed on agricultural consumers is not recovered from agricultural consumers and is borne by the State Government at its own level.
DAILY IN HOUSE
All the Starred questions are being discussed during the Question Hour in the present session of the Assembly. Speaker CP Joshi is conducting meaningful discussions in House with punctuality on each question.
Dr Joshi is making good use of every moment of Q-Hour, for this he helps the members to ask necessary questions instead of unnecessary supplementary questions. Due to this initiative of the Speaker, there is a serious discussion in the House, due to the accurate analysis of the questions through his mediation, the situation of obstruction in the House also ends.
BJP MLA Rampratap Kasania was taught decorum lesson by Chairman Pareek when he crossed the Well while going to meet Minister Ramlal Jat and returning to his seat.
Parl Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal informed that all the applications for taking out religious procession or march in Mandalgarh constituency have been approved.
Administrative Reforms Minister Dr Govindram Meghwal said that information has been received about 289 vacant posts of stenographers in 102 depts.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: The Ramgarh dam has been choked due to encroachment and it has been dry for years, but the govt has claimed in the Assembly on Thursday that at present there is no encroachment in the downstream area of the dam and there is no concrete construction to be marked. The existence of the dam is not in danger, Water Resources Minister Ma-
hendrajeet Singh Malviya told the Assembly on Thursday.
He said that 338 cases of encroachment in the downstream area of the dam were registered in the Revenue Dept, out of which 336 cases have been disposed of and two cases are pending. He added that encroachments have been removed from time to time for the conservation of the dam in the past years and eviction action has been taken.
Jaipur: MLA Kanhaiyalal raised the issue of giving bonus to farmers on the purchase of gram, mustard and wheat, Cooperative Minister Udai Lal Anjana made it clear that at present no such proposal is under consideration at the state government level. The Cooperative Minister said that the state government is not giving bonus to the farmers on the purchase of agricultural commodities. Bonus has not been given on the purchase of any commodity in the last four years.
Jaipur : The alleged plan of some ministers and Congress MLAs to enter the Well in the House on Thursday failed with judiciousness of Deputy Chief whip Mahendra Choudhary. Preparations were made to protest against the government by entering the Well. The strategy was made under the leadership of an angry minister.
The plan was to instigate an MLA to enter the Well during debate on the Home Department issues.
Following the MLA, some ministers and 4 Congress MLAs would have also entered the Well. But Mahendra Chaudhary handled the matter with under-
standing and the MLA was not allow to speak in the House. The angry minister also asked for permission to speak but Mahendra Chaudhary refused him also. After this, the angry faction reached the Speaker Dr CP Joshi but he also denied permission. However, the angry minister spread a sensation by speaking a line and gave the Opposition an opportunity to attack the government.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Kumar
Dhariwal assured the House on Thursday that encroachment will be removed from Dravyavati river project area. He said that a survey will be conducted by Jaipur Development Authority to identify encroachments.
Replying to a supplementary question during the question hour,
Dhariwal said that if any illegal settlement is found in the Dravyavati project area in the
JDA survey, it will definitely be removed. He said that development work has been done un-
der the project. Earlier, in a written reply to the main question of MLA Narpat Singh Rajvi, the minister said that work is being done under the same project which was made in the year 2015 for the beautification of Dravyavati river.
He also tabled the details of the development works done under the Dravyavati river project in the last four years and the action taken to remove the encroach-
सूकित ककया जाता है कक कनम्नकिकित आरिनकता्वओं द्ारा नगर पाकिका कक. रेनराि में भूकम में के अकधकारों के अभयप्वण की अनुज् के किए आरिन पत्र मय मानकित्र प्रसतुत कर नीि रकण्वत भूकम में के अपने अकधकार आरासीय/वयारसाकयक प्रयोजन के किए ऐसी भूकम के उपयोग के किए पूण्व सरकमतर पट्टा अकधकार प्रापत करने के किए नगर पाकिका के पक्ष में अभयकप्वत
श्ी मो. अजीज िैजारों का मोहलिा, कक. रेनर ि 52.95
2 श्ीमती संतोष, िरी पत्ी श्ी रामप्रसाि
बापू कटिा, कक. रेनराि
श्ीमती अनजु िरी शमा्व पत्ी श्ी रामारतार शमा्व प्रथम ति, बापू कटिा, कक. रेनराि 9.65
5 श्ी गोरध्वन प्रसाि शमा्व पुत्र श्ी मुरिीधर शमा्व प्रथम ति, बापू कटिा, कक. रेनराि 9.65
6 श्ी ककशन िाि पुत्र श्ी गणेश नारायण कुमारत प्रथम ति, बापू कटिा,
9 श्ीमती ज्ानी िरी पत्ी श्ी रामनाथ िौधरी प्रथम ति, बापू कटिा, कक. रेनराि 8.64
10 श्ी सुकनि
ments in the Dravyavati project area.
Dhariwal said that there have been incidents of water logging in Rajeev Nagar, Mahadev Nagar, Sunder Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Jamna Nagar and Saraswati Nagar, which are low-lying colonies on the banks of Dravyavati river. He said that when rain water accumulates in these colonies during the rains, the water is drained out by tractor pumps.
Kalla assured that all 39K vacant posts will be filled afterEducation Minister Dr BD Kalla while addressing the House on Thursday. UDH Minister Shanti K Dhariwal in the House on Thursday. Yogesh Sharma, Naresh Sharma & Aishwary Pradhan BAYTU MLA HARISH CHAUDHARY DEMANDS CASTE CENSUS BUDGET SESSION Mahendra Choudhary Malviya informed the House that there is no encroachment and no concrete construction in Ramgarh dam areas. —FILE PHOTO
Shiv Prakash Purohit
Jodhpur: Former Makrana MLA Bhanwarlal Rajpurohit, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail and a fine of Rs 1 lakh by Makrana ADJ Court in a 20-year-old rape case, got relief from the High Court on Thursday.
Justice Farzand Ali after hearing the case, approved Rajpurohit’s bail and suspended the sentence. Due to advocates’ strike, Rajpurohit’s son Dipendra Singh & son-in-law Madhusudan Singh Rajpurohit defended in the court saying that victim reg-
First India Bureau
TILL MARCH 16
Bhanwarlal Rajpurohit
istered the case after seven months & matter was probed by higher police officers & a FR was filed. They termed the entire matter as politically motivated. The victim and her mother were also present during the hearing.
Jaipur: A court remanded gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to judicial custody till Mar 16. Bishnoi was produced in court via VC, wherein, Judge Amit Kumar Sharma gave orders. Another accused Abhishek Koli, who was arrested from Bikaner is on remand till Mar 4. Abhishek, who is from Maharashtra, had brainwashed a juvenile who is also under detention. Kishore, Rishabh & Pradeep Shukla had opened fire at a club on Jan 28 for extortion of Rs 5 cr from club owner Akshay Gurnani. A total of 11 accused have been arrested so far. Other accused namely Rohit Godara, Ritik, Anmol Bishnoi are absconding.
Tonk (PTI): Four persons, including three members of a family, were killed and three injured when their van rammed into a truck in Tonk district on Thursday, police said.
The accident occurred at the Devdawas crossing on the National Highway. The passengers were returning in the van to their homes in Deoli after offering prayers at Khatu Shy-
am temple. “Four persons were killed and three injured. Their
bodies have been kept at a nearby hospital’s mortuary,” Ghad police station SHO Radhakishan Meena said. The victims have been identified as Manish Sharma, his wife Ishu, brother Amit and van driver Ravi. The injured have been referred to district hospital. Preliminary probe suggests that the mishap was caused by the van driver dozing off.
Kamal Kant
Jaipur: Hearing on PIL regarding Advocates Protection Act was held in division bench of acting CJ MM Srivastava and Justice Anil Upman. The court issued notices to the Bar Council of India, Bar Council of Rajasthan, the State & Central govts. The court gave 2 weeks time to the State & Central govts to present their replies in the matter.
Hearing on HC’s suo
motu cognizance PIL on boycott of judicial work, division bench comprising Justices MM Srivastava & Vijay Vishnoi, expressed displeasure over boycott.
Citing Harish Uppal case, court said, “Advocates cannot boycott work as directed by SC.” BCI Chairman Manan Mishra said, “I will try to resolve issue by talking to all Bar associations & would need two-three days’ time.” Next hearing will be held on March 9.
Kota (PTI): A 26-yearold woman was arrested for allegedly killing her mentally challenged four-yearold son, police said on Thursday. Dil Afroj, a resident of MP’s Sheopur district, allegedly threw her son into Chambal river at Adharsheela in Dadabari area on Tuesday. The woman admitted to being fed up with her mentally chal-
lenged and unhealthy son. The boy was unable to speak properly and was physically weak, DSP Amar Singh said.
In order to get rid of him, Afroj travelled 90 kms by bus from Mangrole in Baran district with her six-yearold daughter and son. The family had come to Mangrole on Monday to attend a wedding with her husband.
Dausa: A class tenth student in Dausa allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself on Thursday following the stress of board exams, scheduled to start on March 16. Police informed the 15 year old deceased, was a resident of New Colony in the Lalsot area of Dausa district.
“The girl allegedly hanged herself around 11 am on Thursday.
A suicide note has been recovered from the spot which stated that the victim cannot score more than 95 per cent in the exams
Minor girl’s mother falls unconcious at hospital after hearing of her death.
and is under stress over the issue,” the police said while speaking over the matter.
“The tenth board examination is scheduled to start from
March 16. Following the incident, the police officials reached the spot and the matter i s being inthoroughly vestigated,” the police officials further added.
Manoj Tak
Jhunjhunu: Two minor sisters were allegedly raped in Udaipurwati town of Jhunjhunu district, police said. “Both the victims are real sisters. They were raped two men & an FIR under provisions of POCSO Act has been filed by victims’ father in Udaipurwati Police Station,” police said. “The medical ex-
amination of the minors were performed by a medical board and the matter is being investigated by Nawalgarh DSP Satpal Singh,” police added.
Jaipur: A court has sentenced a man to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a minor girl in 2021.POCSO court Judge Tara Agarwal found Kajod Mal guilty of committing the crime and besides sentencing him to 20 years in jail, also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him, Special Public Prosecutor Rakesh Mehrishi said on Thursday.
State BJP chief spokesperson said the party was marching to form next govt
Agartala : The BJP on Thursday said it was ready to accept all demands of Tipra Motha, except for Greater Tipraland, if the new party led by former royal Pradyot Debbarma extends its support.
State BJP chief spokesperson Subrata Chakraborty said his party was marching to form the next government in the state.
“We are forming the next government in the state as we have been saying since the beginning. Two central leaders Phanindranath Sarma & Sambit Patra are here to oversee the situation, & hopefully, more central leaders will be arriving today,” he said.
On the possibility of taking the support of the Debbarma-led party, he said, “Except Greater Tipraland, the BJP is ready to accept all their demands.” The BJP was leading in 33 seats in the 60-member House, while its partner IPFT was ahead in one seat.
The Tipra Motha, was leading in 11 seats.
The opposition LeftCongress alliance was ahead in 15 seats.
Where the Congress is weak, we need to work harder. We need to introspect in the area where the Congress was earlier strong and has now become weak. We will have to make a new strategy. We need to introspect. MLAs were lured before elections in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.
Belagavi (Karnataka) (ANI): Defence Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh on Thursday inaugurated the ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’ in the poll-bound state Karnataka.
On the occasion Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and state BJP president Nalinkumar Kateel were also present.
Earlier in the day Defence Minister arrived in Karnataka’s Belagavi to inaugurate the ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’ in the poll-bound state.
Earlier on Wednesday, party President JP Nadda flagged off the ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’ in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar. Meanwhile,
Sagardighi: The Congress on Thursday secured a seat in the present Bengal assembly as its candidate Bayron
Biswas won the Sagardighi bypoll, defeating the nearest rival of the TMC by 22,980 votes.
After 16 rounds of counting, Biswas, who enjoys the support of the Left, bagged 87,667 votes, according to the EC website.
Debasish Banerjee of the TMC garnered 64,681 votes, while Dilip Saha of the BJP received 25,815 votes, the EC wsebsite revealed.
New Delhi: Two women created history in Nagaland, becoming the first two women to win the Assembly polls. Hekani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse are both from Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).
New Delhi: Pradyot Manikya Debburman, whose tribal-dominated party Tipra Motha made headlines in the assembly polls in Tripura said that their growing presence will ensure that the BJP will not be able to “sideline” issues relating to tribals.
ALONG WINS FROM ALONGTAKI SEAT
Kohima: Nagaland BJP chief Temjen Imna Along on Thursday won the assembly election from Alongtaki constituency. The state BJP chief defeated Janata Dal (United) candidate J Lanu Longchar by a margin of 3,748 votes. He bagged a total of 9,274 votes with a vote share of 62.5%. As per the latest counting trends, shared by the (ECI at 3.05 pm today, the ruling alliance of BJP and NDPP has bagged 19 seats so far. Nagaland Chief Minister bagged a total of 17,045 votes, which comes to 92.87 per cent of the total votes polled in the seat.
New Delhi (PTI): Pun-
Home Minister Amit Shah will also flag off two ‘Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra’ and inaugurate various projects in his day-long visit to Karnataka on March 3.
jab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed with him prevailing law and order situation in the state and decided that the central and state security agencies will work together to deal with all security related issues, sources said. Mann briefed Shah about the circumstances leading to the Ajnala incident. On February 23, self-styled Sikh preacher and Khalistan sympathiser Amritpal Singh and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into a police station in Ajnala on the outskirts
of the Amritsar city, extracting an assurance from the police that his aide and kidnapping case accused Lovepreet Singh would be released, sources said.
Mann said in a tweet in Punjabi that the “Center-Punjab will work together on the issue of law and order”.
The CM said he had discussed with the home minister the issue of drones and drugs along the border. He said the issue of shifting the barbed wire along the border was discussed. Mann said he has asked Shah to release Punjab’s stalled rural development fund soon.
Byelection to the constituency, seen as a prestige fight for state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury in his home district of Murshidabad, was necessitated following the death of state minister Subrata Saha in Dec 2022. In the 2021 assembly elections, Congress and the Left Front had failed to open their account in the WB assembly, for the first time since independence.
Hyderabad (ANI):
Bharat Rashtriya
Samithi (BRS) party workers on Thursday staged a protest in Hyderabad against the hike in prices of commercial and domestic LPG cylinders. BRS protestors were seen participating in the protest holding “No more BJP” placards. Protests have been going on in various parts of the country against the recent hike in prices of LPG cylinders. Congress workers held a protest while in Maharashtra the price hike saw opposition leaders staging a protest on the steps leading to the Vidhan Bhavan. The ongoing budget session of the Assembly saw stormy scenes with opposition raising the issue of the price hike.
Samajwadi party leader Shivpal Yadav also stated the recent hike in LPG cylinders will create problems for the common masses. Democratic Youth Federation also organized a protest outside the accountant general office.
Sagardighi: Congress candidate Bayron Biswas is marching ahead of his rivals in minority-dominated Sagardighi assembly seat of West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, where counting of votes for a by-election is underway, according to the Election Commission (EC). Mr Biswas, who enjoys the support of the Left, was leading by 14,157 votes over TMC candidate Debashish Banerjee, EC trends revealed around 1.30 pm. The Congress leader bagged 56,203 votes, and Banerjee 42,046 votes thus far. Dilip Saha of the BJP secured 18,732 votes.
Sagardighi: EVKS Elangovan, the Congress candidate in Tamil Nadu’s Erode byelection, is leading by a comfortable margin against AIADMK’s KS Thennarasu, initial trends show. With 31,884 votes, Congress is leading ahead of AIADMK and DMDK. The byelection was necessitated by the death of Congress MLA Thirumahan Everaa earlier. Thirumahan, son of Elangovan, died of a cardiac arrest. Congress workers started celebrating as initial trebds started showing Elangovan, supported by the DMK, leading at Erode assembly constituency.
DON’T THREATEN, LEAVE MY COURT: CJI TO SCBA PREZ
New Delhi (PTI): A heated exchange of words was witnessed in the SC between Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh in a case related to allotment of land for lawyers’ chambers with the CJI directing the senior lawyer not to raise his voice and leave the court. Singh told the bench that he was struggling to get the matter listed for the last six months.
Mumbai (PTI): A relationship cannot be dubbed as a form of ‘love jihad’ just because the boy and the girl belong to different religions, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay HC has said while granting pre-arrest bail to a Muslim woman & her family. A division bench of Justices in the order passed on February 26 granted anticipatory bail to the accused who were denied relief by a local court in Aurangabad.
New Delhi (ANI): Sukesh Chandrashekhar has challenged the order framing charges against him in a money laundering case related to the Election Commission bribery case of 2017. Incidentally, the main case has been stayed by the Delhi HC. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma after hearing the arguments for Sukesh Chandrashekhar and Enforcement Directorate (ED) asked them to file their written submissions. He said that the matter needs further consideration. Justice Sharma said, “I am not issuing notice. Both of you file written submissions.”
BAIL PLEA FILED BY SIVASANKAR
Kochi (ANI): A Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court on Thursday dismissed the bail plea filed by M Sivasankar, former Principal Secretary to the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the LIFE Mission Scam Case. He is currently under judicial custody till March 8. Last month, the PMLA court sent Sivasankar to judicial custody till March 8.
New Delhi (ANI): The Delhi High court on Thursday granted interim bail of two weeks to the Investigation Officer (IO) of the case of custodial death of Unnao rape victim’s father. He was sentenced to ten years imprisonment in the matter. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma granted interim bail to Kamta Prasad Singh for the period from March 4 to March 18. His son’s engagement is scheduled on March 11.
RaGa’s lecture included Bharat Jodo Yatra, which he said was held to draw attention to “unemployment, inequality”
New Delhi (Agencies):
For Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said during his lecture on Tuesday at the University of Cambridge that the anger over shifting of manufacturing from “democratic countries” like India and the US to China needs “urgent attention and dialogue”.
Speaking at the university’s Judge Business School on the subject
‘Learning to Listen in the 21st Century’, Gandhi focussed on the “art of listening” and called for a new thinking to promote a democratic environment globally.
The “art of listening”, when done consistently and diligently, is “very powerful,” he said.
“We simply cannot afford a planet that doesn’t produce under democratic systems. So, we
THE CAMBRIDGE CONNECTIONneed new thinking about how you produce in a democratic environ-
ment compared to a coercive environment, and a negotiation about
this,” he said. Gandhi’s lecture included the mention of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the recently-concluded 4,000-km walk led by him through 12 states from September 2022 to January 2023 to draw attention to “prejudice, unemployment and growing inequality in India”. He explained to the MBA students that a “yatra” is a journey or
pilgrimage in which people “shut themselves down so they can listen to others”.
His lecture also addressed the “two divergent perspectives” of the US and China since World War II, especially since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Gandhi said that in addition to shedding manufacturing jobs, the US had become less open after the Sep-
tember 11, 2001, terror attacks. Meanwhile China, he said, “idolises harmony” through organisation around the Chinese Communist Party. In the final leg of his lecture, Gandhi talked about the “Imperative for a Global Conversation”, as he knitted the different strands together in a call for a new type of receptiveness to various viewpoints.
New Delhi (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of G20 meeting and conveyed that the current state of bilateral relationship was “abnormal” in the context of challenges especially that of peace and tranquility in the order areas.
This was the first meeting between the two ministers and the meeting lasted about 45 minutes. “I met the Minister on the sidelines of the conference this afternoon. It’s our first meeting after he took over as Foreign Minister. We spent maybe about 45 minutes talking to each other and the bulk of our conversation understandably was about the current state of our relationship, which many of you heard me describe me as “abnormal” and I think those were among the adjectives I used in that meeting,” Jaishankar said at a press conference after the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting.
He said there are real problems in the relationship that need to be looked at, “that need to be discussed, very openely and candidly between us”.
“That’s what we sought to do today. We also had a brief discussion on what was happening in the G20 framework,” Jaishankar said.
New Delhi (Agencies):
The Group of 20 (G20) meeting of foreign ministers has again been marred by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday, as he called for the bloc to call on Russia to withdraw its forces.
New Delhi (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted the flaws in the global decision-making process at the United Nations while addressing at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. “Current global architecture is in its 8th decade. The number of members of the UN has quadrupled in this period. It neither
reflects today’s politics, economics, demographics or aspirations. Since 2005, we have heard sentiments for reform being expressed at the highest level. But as we all know, these have not materialised. Global decision-making must be democratised if it has to have a future,” said Jaishankar in an opening remark.
New Delhi (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he reviewed ties with the United States and discussed global issues at a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken here at the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises here.
New Delhi (PTI): West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday welcomed the SC’s decision on the appointment of election commissioners (EC) and the chief election commissioner (CEC), describing it as a “democratic victory”.
New Delhi (PTI): India urged the G20 grouping to send a collective message affirming its resolve to address the complex global challenges, including that of food and energy security, amid an increasingly bitter rift between the West and the RussiaChina combine over the Ukraine conflict.
In his remarks at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, without mentioning the Ukraine conflict, said the grouping must find common ground and provide direction to the world though there are some “matters of sharp differences”.
New Delhi (ANI):
Noting that there were issues concerning the Ukraine conflict, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the chair summary outlined the concerns of the Global South and “it is just on two paragraphs that were not able to get everybody on the same page.”
New Delhi (Agencies): Top diplomats from the world’s major industrialized and developing nations on Thursday opened what are expected to be contentious talks dominated by Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s moves to boost its global influence.
Host India appealed for all members of the fractured Group of 20 to reach consensus on issues of deep concern to poorer countries even if the broader East-West split over Ukraine cannot be resolved.
Prime Ministers Modi urged them not to allow current tensions to destroy agreements that might be reached on food and energy security, climate change and the debt crisis.
“We are meeting at a time of deep global divisions,” the PM told the group, which included U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
New Delhi (Agencies):
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Ukraine crisis can be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. In a joint statement after bilateral talks with his visiting Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, Modi said that “India has made it clear from the beginning that Ukraine dispute can be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy”.
On her part, Meloni expressed hope that India having the G20 Presidency can play a central role in facilitating a
negotiating process for the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
“Keeping the multilateral community together is important and we hope the Indian presidency can do it even more,” Meloni, who is on her first visit to India, said.
“PM Modi knows he can rely on us, on our cooperation for the G20 summit, to further enhance our relationship. I believe there is a lot we can do together. Modi welcomed Italy’s active participation in the Indo-Pacific region.
New Delhi (PTI): Rus-
sian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blamed Western countries for G20 foreign ministers’ meeting not being able to come out with a joint communique, saying their “rhetorical statements” around Ukraine did not yield any good & were “damaging”.
Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of meeting, Lavrov hailed India’s “highly responsible” and “wor-
thy of a great power” stance on key matters of global agenda. Referring to PM Narendra Modi’s address at the
G20 meet, the Russian minister said the PM had presented “a balanced and responsible position” of the country as president of the G20.
“Modi was not just speaking about some isolated individual situation, because the West is trying to divide the geopolitical picture into individual episodes. Modi gave assessment of the situation across the globe in general terms,” he said.
New Delhi (PTI): The pendency of Australian visa applications from Indians has been discussed again at a bilateral forum, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Thursday. The minister discussed the issue with his Australian counterpart Jason Clare, who is on a visit to India till March 5.
“After the COVID-19 pandemic, the visa process for students and the workforce had significantly slowed down. Last year, the Australian government assured us to add more manpower and enhance the ease of the process,” Pradhan told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. “The pendency of four lakh visa applica-
tions from Indians has been reduced in the last five months. Still a sizeable number is pending. The issue was again discussed at the bilateral forum when we spoke of student mobility,” he added.
Clare is leading a delegation of Australian higher education leaders to promote institutional partnerships and boost the collaboration between the two countries. His visit builds on Pradhan’s trip to Australia last year.
India and Australia have also signed a framework mechanism for mutual recognition of qualifications that will help ease the mobility of students and professionals between the two countries.
The TMC supremo also said that the verdict shows the “will of the people prevails over illfated attempts of oppressive forces”. TMC MP Derek O’Brien, too, hailed the verdict.” So Extremely Compromised can again strive to become Extremely Competent,” he claimed.
New Delhi (PTI): Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said he was “not very satisfied” with the present performance of fast track special courts set up in various parts of the country, and pitched for strengthening investigation agencies and forensic labs for overall effectiveness of such courts.
He said this in his address at a conference hosted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) , without naming anyone or any state, adding that chief justice of some HCs & chief ministers of some
states “must do much more”. The Fast Track Special Courts scheme is being looked after by the Department of Justice. “I have to ensure that whatever legislative actions are taken, are taken down to the ground,” the minister
CELEBRATING WORLD WILDLIFE DAY
said. “This is a centrallysponsored scheme and it was started initially for 1 year in 2019 which has been extended, and further extension of the scheme is under process. I can give my assurance that we will take it forward,” he said.
New Delhi (ANI): Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra is set to visit Ayodhya on Thursday. During his tour of the city, Chandra will visit the construction site of the Ram temple. The Secretary will also interact with the workers engaged in the temple construction work. He will also interact with the local people about the project’s impact on them, especially in terms of economic and employment opportunities.
New Delhi (Agencies):
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested businessman Amandeep Dhall in the alleged liquor policy scam three days after the Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Delhi’s deputy CM Manish Sisodia. Dhall was placed under arrest last evening after being questioned for hours in connection with the case. He was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on the basis of evidence against him, sources said.
New Delhi (PTI): A 32-year-old woman allegedly killed herself on the same night her husband committed suicide at Delhi home, police said. The couple has been identified as Ajaypal Singh Orgay (32) and Monika (32). The couple had got married recently. Monika had allegedly found Ajaypal in an unconscious state and taken him to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Later, she came home, consumed a poisonous substance and killed herself, the police said.
New Delhi (PTI): Students can be imposed a penalty of Rs 20,000 for holding dharnas and face admission cancellation or a fine of up to Rs 30,000 for resorting to violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University, its latest rules stipulate. The 10-page ‘Rules of Discipline and proper conduct of students of JNU’ has laid out punishments for different kinds of acts like protests and forgery, and procedures for proctorial enquiry and recording a statement.
‘Pendency of Aus visa applications discussed at bilateral forum’PM Narendra Modi & Italian PM Giorgia Meloni at the Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Thursday. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan meets Australian Education Minister Jason Clare, in New Delhi.
Worthy of great power: Russian minister on India’s global stance
Not satisfied with performance of fast track special courts, says Rijiju
India urges G-20 ministers to look beyond East-West crisisExternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in New Delhi on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI Union Minister Kiren Rijiju at the National Conference on Child Sexual Abuse Material organized by NHRC. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in New Delhi on Thursday.
MG MOTOR’S UPCOMING EV NAMED AS ‘COMET’
New Delhi (PTI): Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran on Thursday expressed hope that the GDP growth for the current financial year will exceed the projected 7% in view of the expected revision of high frequency data.
“Given the high frequency indicators and the pace at which they are recovering, I do believe that the current year’s (GDP numbers)... Are more likely to (be) revised upward than downward,” he said here.
New Delhi: MG Motor India on Thursday said it has christened its upcoming electric vehicle as Comet. The name derives inspiration from the iconic 1934 British airplane which participated in the England-Australia MacRobertson Air Race, the automaker said. “We at MG, through ‘Comet’, intend to take the needed decisive steps and a ‘leap of faith’ in the direction of creating solutions for a better future for each one of us,” MG Motor India President and MD Rajeev Chaba said. —PTI
On Tuesday, the second advance estimate released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) maintained the growth projection of 7% as was projected in the first advance estimate which was released in January.
GDP at Constant (201112) Prices in the year 202223 is estimated at `159.71 lakh crore as against the first revised estimate of GDP for the year 2021-22 of `149.26 lakh crore.
The growth in real GDP during 2022-23 is estimated
Mumbai (PTI): Market benchmarks ended nearly 1% lower on Thursday amid weak trend in global equities and continuous foreign fund outflows.
The BSE Sensex tumbled 501.73 points or 0.84% to settle at 58,909.35. During the day, it tanked 544.82 points or 0.91% to 58,866.26.
New Delhi: Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Thursday announced that it has surpassed the 1 million 5G user mark on its network in Mumbai. Airtel recently crossed the 10 million unique customer mark on its 5G network nationally. The Sunil Mittal-led telco said it is well poised to cover every town and key rural areas with Airtel 5G services by end of March 2024. The Airtel statement said it had surpasses 1 million customer mark on its 5G network in Mumbai. —PTI
INDIA’S PALM OIL IMPORTS FALL TO EIGHT-MONTH LOW
The NSE Nifty declined 129 points or 0.74% to end at 17,321.90.
From the Sensex pack, Maruti, Axis Bank, Tata Consultancy Services, Nestle, Infosys, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tech Mahindra
and Bharti Airtel were the major laggards. Power Grid, Sun Pharma, HCL Technologies, Larsen & Toubro and UltraTech Cement were the gainers.
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated by 11 paise to close at 82.60 (provisional) against the US currency on Thursday. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 82.57 against the greenback and closed at 82.60 (provisional), registering a fall of 11 paise over its previous close of 82.49. During the session, the domestic unit witnessed an intra-day high of 82.54 and a low of 82.61 against the American dollar.
New Delhi: India’s February palm oil imports dropped 30% from January to their lowest in 8 months as refiners preferred to lower their stocks as inventories piled up following excessive imports during October-January. The reduction in palm oil imports by India, the world’s biggest importer of vegetable oils, could weigh on Malaysian palm oil prices. India’s palm oil imports fell to 586,000 tonnes last month, the lowest since June 2022, according to the average of the estimates from the five dealers. —FIB
GOLD PRICES FALL BY `295; SILVER
TUMBLES `640/KG
New Delhi: Gold prices declined by `295 to `55,700 per 10 grams in the national capital on Thursday, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous session, the precious metal had settled at `55,995 per 10 grams.
Silver also tumbled by `640 to `64,380 per kg.
“Spot gold prices in the Delhi markets traded at `55,700/10 grams, down `295/10 grams,” said Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst - Commodities at HDFC Securities. —PTI
at 7% as compared to 9.1% in 2021-22. The growth slowed to 4.4% in the October-December quarter, mainly due to a contraction in the manufacturing sector. On Tuesday, the NSO revised GDP growth data for the past three years — 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 — and also released the second advance estimate of GDP for 2022-23.
While the growth rate for 2021-22 has been revised up by 40 basis points to 9.1% from 8.7%, the GDP for
2020-21 too has been revised upwards to (-) 5.8% from (-) 6.6%. For 2019-20 also, the growth has been revised upwards to 3.9% from 3.7%.
Nageswaran said the rising interest rates need not necessarily be a cause of lower growth but simply reflects the fact that there is healthy underlying demand for credit.
Real interest rate is not very high at the moment, he said, adding there is pent up demand in certain sectors.
New Delhi (PTI): Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a known backer of Adani Group’s coal mine projects in his country, on Thursday came out in support of the embattled group’s Chairman Gautam Adani, saying he has a lot of admiration and respect for the tycoon and his company.
Abbott, who had in 2015
as the Prime Minister of Australia decried a court ruling against Adani Group’s Carmichael coal mine project, said the relevant regulators will “do their job” regarding any allegation of wrongdoing by the apples-to-airport conglomerate. “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Adani and Adani Group,” Abbott said.
New Delhi (PTI): Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that PM GatiShakti national master plan and logistics policy together will help improve competitiveness of businesses and attract investments into India.
He said that layers of data are there at PM GatiShakti portal where different geological, ecological and infrastructural elements across the country were mapped and captured. Currently, there are about 1,300 layers of data, consisting of forests, wildlife sanctuaries, rivers, UNESCO world heritage sites, among others, he said and added that GatiShakti would not only address critical gaps in infrastructure but also help in planning social infrastructure such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals.
New Delhi (PTI): Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday invited Austrian companies to set up plants for manufacturing ropeways and cable car components and equipment in India.
Gadkari, minister for road transport and highways, met Austrian delegation led by Ambassador of Republic of Austria to India Katharina Wieser.
Gadkari informed the delegation that several ropeways and cable car projects are being executed
z Nitin Gadkari met Austrian delegation led by Ambassador of Austria to India Katharina Wieser z He informed the delegation that several ropeways and cable car projects are being executed by India.
The coal produced from Adani’s Carmichael mines in Australia “will certainly be part of the ongoing process of electrification here in India”.
“I am all in favour of Adani mine. I thank Adani and his team for what they have done to provide electricity to Indians and jobs and prosperity to Australia,” he said.
New Delhi: India has taken several steps to boost tea output, create a niche brand for the Indian tea and ensure the welfare of families associated with this industry, the commerce ministry said on Thursday. India is the second largest tea producer and the largest black tea producer and is self-sufficient in meeting domestic requirements and export obligations. It said the Indian tea is exported to various destinations and is the fourth largest tea exporter besides catering to a large number of domestic consumers. —PTI
STEPS BY CENTRE TO INCREASE EXPORTS BY
MSME SEC: OFFICIAL
RCAP CAN PROCEED WITH SECOND ROUND OF AUCTION: NCLAT
by India. He appreciated the high quality of ropeways and cable car components and equipment that are being manufactured by
New Delhi (PTI): Online travel platform MakeMyTrip on Thursday said it has witnessed an increasing trend of consumers opting to give online gift cards to their friends, relatives, and colleagues this wedding season.
MakeMyTrip has seen a 30% increase in sales of travel ‘Shagun’ card this wedding season (Dec 22Jan 23) compared to last year (Dec 21-Jan 22), it stated. `10,000-card is the most sold denomination, followed by `5,000, and `1,000. The card allows couples to book holiday packages, ho-
tels, flight tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, and fun activities. “We have seen a direct correlation between the sale of online gift cards with the marriage season,” said Raj Rishi Singh of MakeMyTrip.
He shared that there is a growing trend of people wanting to gift experiences, a shift from the past when cash and gold were the only options.
Austrian companies and emphasised on collaborations in technology transfer and manufacturing the same in India.
New Delhi (FIB): Solar module makers including Reliance Industries Ltd. and Tata Power Co. are among bidders for 195 billion rupees ($2.4 billion) in financial incentives that India is offering to expand domestic manufacturing and curb panel imports from dominant producer China. Others showing interest include US firm First Solar Inc. and Indian companies JSW Energy Ltd., Avaada Group and ReNew Energy Global Plc, according to people familiar with the matter. The embattled Adani Group was not among the bidders.
New Delhi (PTI): Japanese auto major Honda on Thursday said it plans to launch at least one new model every year in India with a focus on premium products as it looks to get its business on track in the country.
The company, which on Thursday introduced an updated version of its midsize sedan -- City, plans to focus on products which are over `10 lakh price tag powered by petrol and hybrid powertrains.
The company, which is present in India through a wholly-owned subsidiary,
Kolkata: The Centre has taken steps to enhance exports by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector by setting up facilitation centers across the country, an official said on Thursday. The export facilitation centers will provide the requisite mentoring and handholding support to the sector and also help to set up a network of entrepreneurial leaders, the joint director of IEDS under the union MSME ministry. —PTI
New Delhi: The NCLAT on Thursday allowed lenders of Reliance Capital to hold an extended challenge mechanism or second round of auction for the sale of the debt-ridden financial services company. A two-member bench of NCLAT also said lenders of Reliance Capital had the power to negotiate and call for a higher bid. It overturned an order of the Mumbai bench of NCLT which had declared the extended challenge round illegal. —PTI
STEEL INDUSTRY SEEKS GOVT INTERVENTION TO ENSURE AVAILABILITY OF 161 MT COKING COAL
New Delhi: The domestic steel industry has sought a roadmap to ensure 161 million tonnes of coking coal is available for scaling up the country’s annual steel making capacity to 300 million tonnes by 2030. Coking coal and iron ore are the two key raw materials used for manufacturing steel through the blast furnace route. While iron ore is available domestically, the industry is dependent on imports for coking coal. —PTI
z The company, which on Thursday introduced an updated version of its midsize sedan — City, plans to focus on products which are over `10 lakh price tag powered by petrol and hybrid powertrains
z The company, plans to do away with diesel models in the country
above segment over the next few years.
“In the passenger vehicle segment more than 40% sales are coming from models priced over `10 lakh. We expect this to grow more. Our focus would be on model introductions in over `10 lakh segment,” he noted.
Tsumura said that for Honda models like Amaze and City, top trims currently contribute over 60% of the sales.
plans to do away with diesel models in the country.
In a press briefing, Honda Cars India President
and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Takuya Tsumura said the company would focus on the ` 10 lakh and
He noted that new models would be a mix of new models and full model changes of the existing product range.
Govt constitutes Veer Tejaji Welfare Board
Shanti Dhariwal, Pawan Arora and others during the launch of schemes on Wednesday.
After a decade, the scheme of independent housing has been launched, for which people were waiting for
Suggestions sought for JDA master plan
Abhishek Srivastava
At present, the minimum area required for developing a township is 10 hectare and the minimum road width is 30 meter. As per the proposed change, if any integrated township is located in U2 and U3 zone of the master plan,
ACTION AGAINST ENCROACHMENT
Jaipur: The JDA on Thursday removed encroachments from valuable government land. JDA enforcement wing took action on warehouse and restaurant built by encroachment on road boundary and government land in Ojhaji Ka Bagh, Gandhi Nagar.
then township will be able to come up within its 500 meter radius and on minimum 24 meter wide road.
a long time. In fact, bank loan facility up to 90% is also being provided by the Housing Board to the people to
buy housing and commercial property. Applications can be made till March 31 in the housing schemes.
RHB Commissioner Pawan Arora had taken initiative 4 years ago to open help desk to provide all kinds of information related to housing board properties to the people and this initiative is still going on. Moreover, the facility of applying and undergoing a site visit is also available to the people.
In fact, this time
Commissioner Arora has done a new experiment to ensure convenience to the people and allottees as QR code and scanner option was given to visit the website to get information related to schemes and to download brochures related to help desk and schemes.
Political issues discussed at Rajput community meet
First India Bureau
Jaipur: An important meeting of MLAs and former MLAs of Rajput community was held at Sangh Shakti office in Jaipur on Thursday. The meeting was held under the leadership of Kshatriya Yuvak Sangh patron Bhagwan Singh Rolsahabsar. Political issues were discussed in detail in the meeting.
Rajendra Rathore, Bhanwar Singh Bhati, Diya Kumari, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Pushpendra Singh Bali, Dharmendra Rathore, Gopal Singh Idwa, Meena Kanwar, Kalpana Kanwar, Preeti Gajendra Shaktawat, Hamir Singh Bhayal, Khushveer
Diya denies to inaugurate poorly built road in Sanju
First India Bureau
Rajsamand: BJP MP
Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana over its poor construction, in Sanju area on Thursday.
MP Diya, however, inaugurated various development works worth over Rs 7 crore.
She visited Degana, Riya Badi, Sanju and other areas of the con-
stituency and inspected the works.
While speaking during the inauguration work in Government
Higher Secondary School (Kiroda), Diya Kumari said that the Modi government has left no stone unturned for development, but the state government is putting hurdles in this way.
Rajendra Rathore, Diya Kumari, Bhagwan Singh Rolsahabsar and others hold discussion at Sangh Shakti office on Thursday.
Singh Jojawar, Narayan Singh Deval, Chandrabhan Singh Akya, Girraj Singh Malinga, Prem Singh Bajor, Manoj Nyangali, Man Singh Kinsaria, Gajendra Singh Khinvsar, Randhir Bhinder, Rohini Kumari, Biru Singh Rathore, Ranveer Gudha, Karan Singh Rathore and others
were present. Pratap Foundation’s convener Mahavir Singh Sarwadi demanded to increase EWS reservation from 10 to 14% from the central and the state governments to which all the politicians present expressed consent. After the meeting, all the MLAs also had dinner.
First India Bureau Jaipur: The Rajasthan Government has constituted the Rajasthan State Veer Tejaji Welfare Board after orders were issued from the department of Social Justice and Empowerment. The board has seven members, including the chairman and vicechairman. The Board will take stock of the condition of the farmers’ society and suggest measures to remove the backwardness of the farmers’ class on the basis of certified survey reports.
Om Birla to be on 6-day visit to Kota from today
First India Bureau
Kota: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will be on a six-day visit to KotaBundi parliamentary constituency from Friday during which he will participate in various programmes.
Moreover, Birla will also inaugurate the MSME Industrial Exhibition and Fair organized at Dussehra Maidan on Saturday.
Rajasthan Jat Mahasabha President Rajaram Meel and others inaugurate Jat Mahakumbh poster. —FILE PHOTO
Congress state chief Govind Singh Dotasra expressed happiness over the development and tweeted, “Congratulations to everyone on the formation of Rajasthan State Veer Tejaji Welfare Board.”
SAHDEV HAILS
GOVT DECISION
HJU FIRST CONVOCATION
Media should realise its responsibility: Guv
Kalraj Mishra presents degree to a student as VC Sudhi Rajiv looks at HJU convocation on Thursday. —PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO
Dimple Sharma
Jaipur: Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Thursday called upon the media to discharge values of journalism while following self-regulated ethics and set an example of public interest journalism. The Governor was addressing the first convocation of Haridev Joshi Journalism and Mass Communication University.
Victims’ kin will surely get justice: CM
He said that the media should realise its responsibility, publishing factual, analytical and unbiased news. He said that care should be taken so that there is no atmosphere of confusion or provoking sentiments.
The governor said that journalism is an area that has a direct concern with the public, because of which journalism is considered the fourth pillar.
O
n the Nasir-Junaid murder case of Bharatpur, former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot Sachin Pilot said that the perpetrators of the crime should be punished severely. “Be it any religion or caste, they have committed a crime. If the law is broken, strict action should be taken on it. There should be no politics on this. The facts that come out in the transparent investigation, action should be taken on the basis of that,” Pilot told the media in Sohna, Haryana.
KALLA RELEASES OPEN SCHOOL RESULT
bodies were found inside a burnt car in Loharu in Bhiwani in Haryana on the morning of February 16.
Nasir is survived by his wife, while Junaid is survived by his wife, six children and a mentally challenged brother.
He said his government is committed to arresting the accused at the earliest and submit the chargesheet.
Such a crime deserves nothing less than death penalty, he said.
A total of nine accusedhave been named in the case so far.
Girls outshine boys in Class 10; boys lead in Class 12
Dimple Sharma
Jaipur: Girl students outshined boys in the result of class 10th of the Rajasthan State Open School OctoberNovember Exam 2022. At the same time, boys secured high marks in the class 12th results.
Education Minister BD Kalla released the result in Shiksha Sankul on Thursday.
Dr BD Kalla releases exam result in Shiksha Sankul on Thursday. Dr BD Kalla
World Book
cent. The result of girls and boys was 72.48 per cent and 63.49 per cent nation held in OctoberNovember 2022 was 49.39 per cent. The result
Records
result of boys was 52.07 per cent, while the result of girls was 47.31 per cent.
DR BD KALLA RECEIVES CERTIFICATE
FROM WORLD BOOK OF RECORDS
The education department has undertaken the initiative ‘Chess in School Activity’ as part of the bag day theme last year on the birth anniversary of former PM Indira Gandhi. For this initiative, 38.21
lakh students were given participation certificates. During an event held in Shiksha Shankul, the Vice President of Rajasthan at the India Chapter of the World Book of Records, Pratham Bhalla, handed over the certificate to Dr BD Kalla. “The department is working with full spirit to increase the educational level and allround development of the children,” Kalla said.
These MLAs remained inactive in the ‘Haath Se Jodo Haath’ campaign and apart from 2-3 Ministers, reports also came regarding other ministers which said that these ministers did not talk to the media about the Govt schemes. Such ministers were asked to remain active in the meeting and along with this, everyone was also taught the lesson of discipline.
You have worked with Bansilal and Chautala ji.
CM ML Khattar: We never joined Chautala ji’s government. We always supported his government from outside and the reason for extending an outside support is that if something is not in the benefit of state, society or nation, that can be kept away. And that issue is always with Congress. So, if Congress has to be kept away, one has to forge coalitions and thus, BJP used to walk together with Devilal ji and family and prior to that Jan Sangh. We used to move together and the Congress used to move on its own path. It was so then, and it is exactly the case now too.
So is this a contradiction that Dushyant’s party contested the Zila Parishad and Panchayat elections on its own? In future, do you have trust and faith that you will contest in coalition?
It is not that they have gone their separate ways. It is just that this time around, we had left the election on district units.
It is not that the party did not contest on its level. Of course the BJP contested and the JJP also contested, but we gave the freedom to make this decision to the district units that where they want to contest together they can and if they want to contest separately, they can do so as well.
However, even after contesting against each other, at places where we have had to make chairman at various places, we have come together and made our Chairman.
At places, the Vice-Chairman is theirs’ and the Chairman is ours’ and vice -versa. In total, at 20 places, we have our own leaders, that is, 17 Chairmen of BJP and 3 of JJP. Only at two places, INLD and Congress have got their Chairmen. So, only two are of other parties, remaining are of the coalition party i.e. Ours’.
Did you find any impact of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Yatra’ in Haryana? There is no impact in Haryana. In fact, it is more like a routine, where people gather to have a glimpse of any other leader. Of course, they have their party workers and if 10 or 20,000 people walk together, then it is not a major threat for us.
So is there any threat from the
Hooda factor?
None what so ever. They will get burdened under their own weight. Whatever is happening around them, means they are not a factor.
What about AAP and Owaisi’s AIMIM? They do not have any impact here. In fact, in this State, only the Mewat region is the one, which has three assembly constituencies and at different times, these seats have had different characteristics. When we first came to power, those seats were with INLD, thereafter, all three fell in Congress’ kitty. Now the situation is that the Chairman of the Zila Parishad is of BJP. This is for the first time that the Chairman is of BJP. The local councillors, 17 in total, are with BJP.
The Khalistan issue has crept in Punjab. Do you think President rule should be imposed in that State?
In a tete-a-tete with Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Bharat24-Vision of New India and First India; CMD, First India News, Dr Jagdeesh Chandra raises pertinent questions about the situation in Punjab, how Khattar has been co-ordinating with neighbouring states on issues such as water and pollution, what is the impact of various parties in the State and how JJP and BJP have held on to the coalition despite contesting the Zila Parishad and Panchayat elections separately. Excerpts.. (Part-2)
AAP lost the seat! Simranjeet Singh Mann won the election from that seat. So, you see for yourself what kind of situation arose within people in Punjab.
It is an extremely serious issue. Everyone should look at the matter with utmost seriousness. Haryana is alert and vigilant and the Central government too is staying extremely vigilant. Also, people in Punjab should think over it. I feel that there is a state of confusion in Punjab, because the Congress is on back foot, Akalis have been disenfranchised and the BJP has had a major base there. Now, since no one is there and people need someone to be there, so they chose AAP and soon after that party came to power, people realised that this is something else. They gave so many things as ‘revaris’ or the fact that they did not take administration along. In fact, once you are in power, you should establish coordination with the administration and take them along. They can not do things going against bureaucracy and administration. There is no clear direction. As a result, what happened was after Bhagwant Mann became the CM and stepped down from his Parliamentary constituency, by polls were conducted and within three or four months of Mann’s stepping down,
Some people are saying that if the situation prevails, then President rule will have to be imposed in Punjab.
See, I will not comment on this because the Central Government and the Union Home Ministry is keeping an eye on all these issues. But yes, the matter is serious and how to control such serious issues? If the State Government shows will power and works to curtail it, then definitely the Central Government will also help it, because this issue is not about parties rather it is about establishing peace in the State. And if the State Government fails, then the Central Government will think about it.
There are governments of different parties in all the states neighbouring Haryana like Delhi and Punjab. Do you face any difficulty in coordinating with them?
No. See when it comes to carrying out our ‘padosidharma’ we talk to everyone, be it the CM of Punjab or Rajasthan.
When I speak to the Chief Minister of Delhi on issues such as pollution, environment and water; we keep our issues before them and
talk in an open environment. When we decide on moving head in the same direction, so we move ahead and where there are difficulties in finding the right approach or path ahead, we talk openly. We have a dispute with Punjab and the matter is now in Supreme Court. We have held three rounds of talks also after the Supreme Court directed so. But no middle path could be found. The court had said that we should find a way for water sharing, but they (Punjab govt) do not come to that question and clearly say they will not share water. Although how much water should we get, is a matter pertaining to tribunal. That tribunal is there and everyone will put forward their side of the issue and then it will be decided on the basis of need and availability of water. Today, the need is increasing with each passing day, even Delhi’s demand for drinking water is increasing and that pressure falls on Haryana. We say that
even our population is also growing like that of Gurgaon, Sonipat and Faridabad. The demand for drinking water in NCR is increasing and we have limited sources of water. If you look at it, Haryana does not have its own source of water. If its Yamuna, then we have to share with Uttar Pradesh and it has Delhi’s share too. Similarly, remaining rivers are in Punjab and none flows through Haryana. So, we have to reach an agreement to take some water.
You said you speak to CMs of neighbouring states. Recently the incident of two youth from Rajasthan happened here. How did you handle that?
When we spoke, we shared one line discussion that those behind it will not be spared. Be it those who died or those who killed them. Because those who have died they also have a past character and it does not end with their death. It was kind of a clash. So, those who have killed them, have
taken the law in their hands. Thus, we will have to think on both aspects and will have to come to an agreement of sorts so that such incidents do not happen in the future.
So if Rajasthan police goes and takes action, then law of the land will take its course? They have made a few arrests already.
So there is no issue in it? See we have told our people to ensure peace. We conducted a meeting of the Peace Committee in Nuh so that mutual discord does not happen. The incident has happened which is unfortunate and the onus of it should fall on the right person.
What about the Sports Minister? Has it been decided that he is not being removed?
See, merely accusing someone does not term him or her guilty. For example, if there is a law that as soon as someone is accused of anything, I think, all the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies will become empty. Then anyone could lay accusations on you or me and we too wouldn’t be seated here. So, filing an FIR on a complaint doesn’t prove anyone guilty. The police is investigating the matter and in fact, it is Chandigarh police that is investigating, the
Haryana police has no role in it. So, after investigation, it is obvious that they will present ‘challan’ in court and then after hearing, court terms the person guilty, then we will take a step. However, having said that, we have taken a precaution that since the matter pertains to the Sports department, so we have taken that charge from Sandeep Singh so that one day someone may not say that as Minister he could influence the investigation.
Does your bureaucracy support you?
Are you satisfied?
If someone becomes the Chief Minister and is capable of running the government, then the bureaucracy supports such people. I once narrated a story to bureaucrats and they burst out laughing. The story went on that once there was a king and he took a liking to some dish.
So, he called his Minister and said that he liked the food because the dish was superb. He enquired what the dish was made up of and the Minister said that it was brinjal. The Minister said that brinjals have several qualities but its name is such. It has qualities like it shines, has a crown etc.
A week down the line the King told his Minister that his stomach was upset perhaps due to food. The Minister enquired what did the
King eat and he said that it was ‘brinjal.’ The Minister immediately quipped, what sort of vegetable is ‘brinjal.’ It should be ‘Be-Gun’ and the Minister narrated several shortfalls in the vegetable. The King then questioned, if the statement made by the Minister seven days ago was right or the one made by him now is correct ? The Minister said both are correct & the King asked as to how is that possible? The Minister replied saying, “I have to work for you, not the ‘brinjal!”
You have been heading the State for eight years. What do you think has been your biggest achievement?
See, firstly, whatever work the State Government does, we do not leave it in the middle. Otherwise, what happens in governments is that in some aspects, they go way ahead and in some others, they lag leading to unequal development. We are moving ahead with the motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ given by the Prime Minister. No sector is out of bounds, no section of the society is out of bounds for us. If we have to discriminate, we will do so only to bring those who have fallen behind, to the main stream.
City First highlights the incredible moments from the trophy launch and celebration of the upcoming 14th season of The Fashion Connect, held at Dyore, Jaipur on Wednesday!
Anight to remem-
ber, March 1 saw some of the most eminent names in Jaipur gather under the starry sky for the grand launch of the dazzling trophy and celebration of the upcoming 14th season of The Fashion Connect. One of the mega fashion and glamour extravaganzas titled ‘Fashion Connect’ is back with its 14th season at Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, the crowned jewel of Dubai. The dazzling event will bring together a medley of fashion designers showcasing their vivacious and most delinquent collections. The ostentatious and charismatic gala night took place at Dyore, Jaipur. With a massive reaction and netizens going crazy over the incredible lineup and digital preparedness, the show won an incredible victory over the fashion industry.
Jagdeesh Chandra graced the occasion with his presence and launched the astonishing trophy of the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2023. He congratulated Rishee Miglani and Lokesh
Sharma and
Sharma and wished them all the best. Brand Ambassador Rishee Miglani exhilarated the evening into a glamorous conclusion. Various who’s who of the city including Show Director Lokesh Sharma, Dr Sandeep Bakshi, JNU Vice Chancellor, Film Distributor Raj Bansal, Sudhir Kasliwal, famous designer Wrikie Angrish, Vriti, Nitika Panjwani, Ishita Gupta and Aishwarya among others were present on the occasion. Fashion Connect Sea-
son 14, presented by First India News, this No. 1 fashion event is scheduled to take place on March 19, 2023. Fashion Connect is an extravagant parade of beautiful models, talented designers and mesmerizing artworks.
An experiential show at the forefront of art, design, fashion, and immersive offerings is back with its fourteen Seasons. Asia’s most loved and India’s favourite fashion designer, Anju Modi, will be showcasing her scintillating garments at this year’s Fashion Connect event.
It feels like we are living in the world of Avengers with extraordinary things around us. And now we can discuss the existence of our very own magnetic hill. This amazing hill is located about 30 km from Leh towards Kargil and is known as the Magnetic Hill of Ladakh it is believed you can drive here even with the car ignitions off and the hills will be pulling cars towards themselves.
INDIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LAND OF MYSTERIES FROM CENTURIES AGO. MANY TRAGIC INCIDENTS AND MYSTERIES ARE STILL TO SOLVE. BUT OUT OF ALL THE INCIDENTS, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MYSTERIES IN INDIA THAT ARE STILL UNSOLVED AND DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN. CITY FIRST BRINGS TO YOU SOME MIND-BLOWING MYSTERIES FROM INDIA.
Have you ever heard, a 90 kg heavy stone can be lifted up without putting any external force? If you wondering about its existence then you should visit a shrine in Shivapur, a small village in Mumbai where you can witness the controversial 'miracle' known as the Levitating Stone of Shivapur. According to the sources, if 11 people in total gather around this rock, point their forefi ngers at it and name the saint Qamar Ali Darvesh’s name who put a curse on the stone that is when it levitates
UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in
Another exciting mystery which will blow your mind is the mystery of the Hanging Pillar, just like its name, one of these decorated pillars in Lepakshi Temple, doesn’t seem to touch the floor. The massive block of granite is said to be a miracle, and those who can get a thin object to pass underneath it will be bestowed with good luck.
Over the last 100 years, thousands of birds have flown to their death over a small strip of land in Jatinga in Assam. As per the sources, it is believed that hundreds of birds between September and November descend from the sky, plummeting to their deaths by crashing into buildings and trees.
Ever wondered what is term 'Twin Village' stands for? Twin Village is the name given to a village named Kodinhi, in Kerela. This Village got this amazing title because more than 550 twins live here. According to the sources, out of every 1000 deliveries 42 twins are born while the average record in the rest of the world is 6 twins per 1000 deliveries. Scientists say the strange reason for this is the chemicals in the water in this area. As per the latest report by Northeast Now, this village currently claims to be having 220 pairs of twins.
Well, we all are aware of the mystery of Shani Shingnapur, a village in Gujarat where houses, shops or even schools have no door. Villages have eschewed security because of dying faith in Lord Shani, who is considered the guardian of the village. People believe that around 300 years ago, after a bout of rain, a heavy black slab of rock was found washed up on the shores of the Panasnala River, which once flowed through the village. When locals touched it with a stick, blood started oozing out of it. Later that night, Shani appeared in the dreams of the village head, revealing that the slab was his own idol. The deity ordered that the slab should be kept in the village with one condition: the rock and its colossal powers must not be sheltered as he needed to be able to oversee the village without hindrance. Shani then blessed the leader and promised to protect the village from danger, which made people decide to discard all locks and doors.
ihana recently made her muchanticipated comeback on stage after 7 long years when she performed at the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime LVII Show. Apart from her terrific act, Rihanna also made headlines for revealing her second pregnancy
on stage. And now, the mommy of one will be seen taking the stage once again at the upcoming 95th Academy Awards, which will air live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on March 12. Rihanna is nominated for an Oscar for the first time for her hit song Lift Me Up from Ryan Coog-
Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja never fail to shell out a couple of goals! Sonam Kapoor took to her Instagram story and in her note for Anand Ahuja, she wrote that she listens to romantic songs when she misses him. “I still listen to romantic songs when I miss @anandahuja...
It's been 7 years but you still make me giddy like a teenager. Love you,” wrote Sonam, while sharing the music of Until I Found You in the background. Anand Ahuja re-shared Sonam’s story, and fondly replied with, “@sonamkapoor so dramatic Loll,” along with a kissing emoji.
Sonakshi Sinha has been making waves in Bollywood as a versatile actress who can excel in various genres.
After headlining intense projects, Sonakshi had tak en the route to wards commer cial, high enter tainment films with the muchanticipated movie Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Sonakshi is now all set to join the star-stud
"I'm excited to be a part of this amazing ensemble cast for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. It's always a pleasure to work with Akshay, and Tiger.”
RELEASE
song, Salman and Pooja are seen flaunting their cool Bhangra dance moves as they groove to the peppy beats. Their fresh chemistry is loved by the netizens. The song also features Shehnaaz, Palak, Siddharth and the star cast. The celebratory song has a quirky hook step and Salman and Pooja have nailed it to the T. This is the first time that Sukhbir has sung and composed a song for Salman. The dance number will surely take the chartbusters by storm.
CITY FIRST
For the first time ever, the Pink City witnessed a oneof-its-kind fashion show of the doctors, for the doctors, by the doctors. The show was organised as a part of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of SMS Medical College. As many as 40 doctors walked the ramp at the New Academic block of SMS Medical College to showcase a unique collection of the brand, Soot by Sanjai.
The brand is the brainchild of Dr Sanjai Agrawal. After working in several corporate hospitals as an ENT surgeon, he decided to give vent to his artistic side and began designing garments that were a happy mix of form and function.
Born in a family of clothiers and drapers, he has forever been exposed to fabrics, cuts,
SANTOSH SHARMA
thought behind his collection, Dr Agrawal says:
CITY FIRST
silhouettes and weaves. For the Platinum Jubilee of SMS Medical College, Jaipur he has put together an apparel collection for doc-
tors that will not only revamp his appearance but also write a balanced equation of style and function.
Talking about the
“A doctor also wants elegant yet simple apparel for life outside hos pitals such as for con ferences, festivals, weddings, etc. Even at work doctors want to appear friendly and ap proachable rather than stern and intimidat ing. Today the patient also looks for a happy ambience to recover.
The garments have been created keeping in mind this evolving scenario.”
The saga of the valour of India's great hero Shiromani Maharana Pratap will now be heard in Mauritius, two young artists of Jaipur sculptors Mahavir Bharti and Nirmala Kulhari are engaged in the statue of Maharana Pratap, which is 8 feet rider. The order of this statue is the Indian citizen living in the Mauritius Republic of Africa continent whose organisation is given by the Gehlot Rajput Federation.
Sculptor Nirmala said the statue will take them 40 to 45 days to make this statue and weigh 700. Maharana Pratap's Dubai also established earlier, was built by both of these sculptors.
The influence of social media on journalism is getting deeper. Today, social media based on users guided content is directly affecting the common man. This idea was expressed by Prof Neeraj Rawat in a lecture organised on the subject of ‘Social media in journalism’, in the memory of journalist Vishwas Kumar at Pink City Press Club, on Thursday. Rawat said that the development of technology has changed the entire journalism system and where there is improvement in any change, evil also comes.
he Jaipur Foot Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in Cambodia was inaugurated in Serei Saophoan city of Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey Province. The camp at the Polytechnic Institute, Cambodia is sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, under its ‘India for Humanity’ programme and is being implemented by Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Jaipur, the makers of the world-famous Jaipur Foot. BMVSS is the world’s largest organisation for the rehabilitation of lower-limb handicapped
persons. Phum Sophakmonkal, VP of the Cambodian Mine Action Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), Reatyea, the Provincial Governor, and other prominent Cambodian dignitaries participated while
Dr Devyani Khobragade, the Ambassador of India to Cambodia represented India. Satish Mehta, Executive President, represented Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, Jaipur. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
—PHOTOS BY MUKESH KIRADOO
The grand birthday celebration of Madhulika took place at Clock Tower Jaipur, on Wednesday. Jagdeesh Chandra reached to bless the birthday girl on the occasion and wished her a huge success. Spiritual Guru Nirmala Sewani was also present on the occasion. Wishes poured in from family and friends.
The birthday of Gaurav Gahlot (Incharge IT Cell, Dr CP Joshi) was celebrated on Thursday. Dr CP Joshi, Speaker, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly gave his blessings and cake cutting was also done to celebrate the special day. On this occasion, Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria, MLA Sandeep Yadav, Principal Secretary of Assembly Mahavir Prasad Sharma, Rampal Sharma, Manish Joshi, Ravinder Pareek, Sanjay Chaudhary and others were also present.
The three day National Level Intercalage Fest “Technoagaz2023” made a spectacular debut at Apex University on Thursday.
More than 1000 students from 55 colleges and universities are participating. On the first day of the fest, photography, Rangoli, Mehndi, Treasure Hunt, etc were organised. Famous comedian Vijay Yadav made everyone laugh and made the aura happy.
The goal of NABARD is to better implement the schemes and work as a bridge for the farmers. This is what media teacher Sunil Kumar Sharma has to say while addressing the two-day Public Relations Officers’ Meet-2023 organised by NABARD (National Rural and Development Bank) on Thursday. During the camp, Sunil Sharma, as a trainer, briefed NABARD public relations officers and language officers from across the country about PR skills. During an address on the topic “Identifying Stories of Change and the Art of Story Telling”, he said that the important task of PR is to cover the crisis by creating favourable public opinion. With the changing nature, the scope of public
