First India-Jaipur Edition-12th February 2023

AB DILLI DUR NAHIN!

Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is an ambitious infrastructure project, whose first completed section, Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot, will be dedicated to the Nation by PM Narendra Modi in Dausa’s Dhanawad today. Section 144 was imposed in Dausa on Saturday ahead of PM Modi’s visit.

`12,150 CR

Cost to develop Delhi –Dausa – Lalsot section of the Expressway

1,386 KM

Length of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, it will be India’s longest Expressway

6 STATES

It will pass through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat and Maharashtra

40 PLUS

There would be 40+ major interchanges to provide connectivity to the cities

READ Crucial

TAKE CARE OF MY DAD, SAYS LALU’S DAUGHTER AS HE REACHES INDIA

Patna: RJD prez Lalu Yadav who underwent a kidney transplant surgery in Singapore in December last year, returned to India on Saturday. Lalu’s daughter Rohini, who donated kidney to him, shared an emotional post on Twitter and said now you all will take care of dad.

AIR ASIA FINED `20L

AFTER DGCA FINDS LAPSES IN TRAINING

New Delhi: AirAsia (India) Ltd has been fined `20 lakh by aviation regulator DGCA after its surveillance operation found that a few must exercises of pilots of airline were not done during Pilot Proficiency Check/Instrument Rating check as per schedule.

C’HGARH BJP LEADER

SHOT DEAD BY MAOISTS; 2ND MURDER IN A WEEK

Narayanpur: A local BJP leader was shot dead by suspected Maoists in Narayanpur district in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region on late Friday. Deceased has been identified as Sagar Sahu, VP of Narayanpur district unit of the BJP. This is 2nd incident in last one week.

MAGNITUDE OF 3.8 QUAKE STRIKES SURAT CITY; NO CASUALTIES

Surat: The tremor recorded at a depth of 5.2 km with the epicentre in the Arabian sea off Hazira, caused no damage to property or life. A tremor of 3.8

magnitude was recorded in the early hours of Saturday, February 11, 2023, in Surat dist in Gujarat, an ISR said.

KIRODI MEENA ‘EXCITED’

OVER PM MODI’S VISIT

ajya Sabha MP Dr Kirodi Lal Meena is very excited, on Saturday he distributed yellow rice inviting people for PM Modi’s visit to the area today. He visited many villages including Sikandra, Gijgarh, Ghumna and others. “Farmers, youth and people of all communities should attend rally. This program is not of any party, it is a govt program and it has inauguration program of Delhi-Mumbai Highway. The economic condition of the farmers will also improve,” said Meena. More on P7

MODI SOUNDS POLL BUGLE IN TRIPURA

In first Tripura rally, PM Modi promises ‘Trishakti’ govt vs Oppn’s ‘kushasan’

First India Bureau

Agartala: In his first rally for the coming Tripura Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said the BJP alone could usher in development with the “Trishakti of awaas, aarogya and aamdani (housing, healthcare and income)”, and warned that the Opposition would drag the State back into “kushasan (bad governance)”. PM Modi, sounding the poll bulge in Tripura, said old players of misgovernance have joined hands. While speaking

PM Narendra Modi being felicitated during a ‘Vijay Sankalp Rally’ at Ambassa on Saturday. Tripura CM Manik Saha is also seen.

at an election rally in Dhalai, PM Modi said that any vote for Opposition alliance would set Tripura back several years.

RBI on its toes as always, says Sitha on AdaniH’burg issue

US WILL WELCOME ANY EFFORTS BY PM MODI TO STOP RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: WHITE HOUSE

The White House has reiterated that the US will welcome any efforts of PM Narendra Modi to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said, “I think PM Modi can convince Putin; I will let Modi speak to whatever efforts he’s willing to undertake.”

The very old players of the misgovernance have joined hands, some other parties are also helping them from behind - whatever may be their name or slogan, but even a single vote for them will take Tripura backward.

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

OTHER KEY PROJECTS

l PM Narendra Modi will also lay the foundation stone of 247 kilometres of National Highway projects to be developed at cost of over `5,940 crore

l This includes 67-km long four-lane spur road from Bandikui to Jaipur to be developed at a cost of more than `2,000 crore

l A six-lane spur road from Kotputli to Baraodaneo, to be developed at a cost of about `3,775 crore

l 2-lane paved shoulder of Lalsot - Karoli section, being developed at a cost of about `150 crore

Mumbai (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that Indian regulators are “very experienced” and seized of matter related to Adani Group and are “on their toes” to handle the situation that has arisen following report by US-based short seller Hindenburg Research.Addressing media in Mumbai, Sitha said the regulators “are on their toes as always, not just now”.

3 ‘terror’ hotspots smartly tackled...

NDA govt successful in controlling terror in J&K, insurgency in NE, Left wing extremism, says Shah

Hyderabad (FIB): The BJP-led govt at Centre has substantially succeeded in controlling terror activities in J&K, insurgency in the northeast & Left wing extremism, HM Amit Shah said here on Saturday.

After the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, terror incidents have come down drastically.

—Amit Shah, Union HM

Nirmala Sitharaman, Shaktikanta

Das in customary post-Budget meeting in Delhi on Saturday.

Shah said under leadership of Indian govt agencies, police forces

I’ll serve Rajasthan till my last breath: Gehlot

INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE

In conversation with Aditi Nagar, Politicial Editor of First India & Bharat24 - Vision of New India, CM Ashok Gehlot thwarts the Oppn’s claim of his recently tabled budget being a ‘Kagzi budget’

 Budgets are of various types. At times it is said the budget is political, at times it is said its based on election, at times it is said to be budget for poor or farmer or in fact at times it is said to be communal budget also. Which category does your budget fall in because Opposition is terming it a ‘Kagzi-budget’.

See, the Opposition had been asking last time also as to where will the money come from? So jokingly I said that it will come by magic. I am reit-

erating again, statistics speak for themselves regarding that budget and how it got implemented, is the most surprising

aspect. All the MLAs would tell you that not merely announcements were made, but work has also been done. Even af-

ter the budget was completely implemented, they asked where will the money come from and are doing the same now too. Simultaneously, we have started sanctioning of the projects and announcements. As soon as the budget gets passed, the project or scheme will come to ground.

 Chiranjeevi scheme has been a masterstroke. But is it different from Nirogi Rajasthan or are they the same schemes? The people who get ad-

mitted to hospitals, who are serious and have to undergo operation. For that we had set a limit of `10 lakh for treatment, has now been increased to `25 lakh. Whether it is kidney, heart or bone marrow transplant, they used to be under different heads. But we said no, people should have confidence. Now, there is discussion in the homes of poor people that if they have to undergo operation, the State government will bear the expenses. This has given confidence to people.

in country carried out a successful operation in a day against an organisation like PFI. P5

RAJ STORIES TOP

 Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari on Friday said air power will play a critical role in deciding the outcome of any conflict in future and stressed the need for maintaining a high state of readiness.

P7

 Oppn to Rajasthan Govt’s proposed Right to Health Bill has intensified across State as Doctors protested against bill on Saturday and declared a strike of one day. P3

 State govt on Saturday transferred 155 RAS officers. In a late night order, the Personnel Department released the list of the shifted officers.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses passing-out parade of the 74th batch of IPS probationers in Hyderabad on Saturday.

An aerial view of the Delhi- Mumbai Expressway taken on Saturday which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Dausa today.

PM Narendra Modi

Dr Kirodi Lal Meena

Over 30L cases settled on first day of Nat’l Lok Adalat

The Lok Adalat was conducted through 500 benches across State

First India Bureau

Jaipur: In a historic success of the first National Lok Adalat of the year 2023, Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority got success under the direction of Acting Chief Justice MM Srivastava as 30 lakh 58 thousand 491 cases were settled through compromise on a single day. Total award money of Rs 9 billion 49 crore 25 lakh 31 thousand 391 was passed.

Member Secretary of State Legal Services Authority Pramil Kumar Mathur gave information regarding this. Justice MM Srivastava took feedback from judicial officers of several districts, including Dhaulpur, Pali,

NEWS DIGEST

FOUR HELD FOR KIDNAPPING

MINOR

IN SGNR

Sriganganagar: The police have arrested four youths for kidnapping a minor youth from Raisinghnagar. Among the arrested accused, three youths are residents of Anupgarh and one youth is a resident of Gharsana. The accused had abducted a minor youth and beat him up by keeping him hostage in a hotel in Anupgarh. After the information of the family members, the Anupgarh police, while rounding up the accused, rescued the minor victim from the clutches of the accused.

HC ACQUITS ALL 32 ACCUSED IN JODH VIOLENCE

Jodhpur: The Rajasthan High Court acquitted 32 named youths in the Jalori Gate violence case for lack of criminal evidence against the petitioners during the investigation. An FIR was filed by the Sadar Bazar Police Officer in the violence and a case was registered against 32 named youths.Applicant advocates Mayank Rankawat, Bhupendra Singhvi, Manish Soni, Anil Soni, Shivprakash Soni, Manish Soni, and Tarun filed the petition.

Hanumangarh, Sriganganagar and Jaisalmer. He also held discussions with the parties through video-conferencing.

Justice MM Srivasta-

Govt teacher thrashed for ‘molesting’ minor girls

Boy, his mother booked for rape, abetment of suicide

23 gamblers held in Jaipur, police recover over `1 lakh

va held talks through video-conferencing with JM Rajendra Singh Charan in Pali’s Saddi, JM Lalita Meena in Bari of Dhaulpur, ACJM Ajay Kumar

Police seize smack, 29 kg cannabis in Jpr

First India Bureau Jaipur: In a major action against the drug smugglers in the city, Shastri Nagar police station incharge Dilip Singh has arrested three vicious drug smugglers. About 29 kg ganja was recovered from the smugglers. When the police interrogated the three smugglers, it came to light that Raju Rai, an international drug smuggler, had also come to Jaipur with them, and was in a hideout in the Bajaj Na-

gar area. On getting the information, the police team raided the Bajaj Nagar area and arrested the international smuggler Raju Rai. In another action under “Operation Clean Sweep” Chomu police station arrested a drug smuggler. The police have arrested the accused who was selling ganja illegally. Police have recovered 2.10 grams of drug from the possession of the accused. As per the police, the accused Dinesh Kumar resident of Jaitpura has been arrested. The police are interrogating the arrested accused.

Vishnoi in Pokaran, Jaisalmer, JM Preneet Kaur at Sangriya in Hanumangarh and ADJ Anil Kumar Sharma in Raisinghnagar of Sriganganagar.

First India Bureau Jaipur: A case of molestation of minor girls by a teacher working in Govt Higher Secondary School in Bassi area has been reported. Angry relatives and villagers created a ruckus outside the school by beating up the accused teacher and vandalized his car. The people sat on a dharna outside the school demanding action against the teacher and stopped the teachers from going inside. Later, police and education department officials reached the spot and calmed the protesters.

Kota (PTI): Police have registered a case of rape and abetment of suicide against a 17-year-old NEET aspirant and his mother in connection with the alleged suicide of a girl, also a NEET aspirant, here.

The girl, 17, had jumped to death from the 10th floor of a multistorey building in the Landmark City area of the district Wednesday evening.

The father of the deceased girl reached Kota on Friday afternoon to collect the body after its postmortem.

He filed a complaint at Kunhari police station levelling charges of rape and abetment of suicide against the 17-year-old boy and his

mother, police said.

The girl, before ending her life, had left a “goodbye” note to her parents and other family members, they said.

She had been living with her two brothers and a sister in the building and taking online coaching for the NEET. She did not attend any coaching institute physically, police said.

The accused boy, also preparing for the NEET, lived in the 4th floor of the same building with his mother, they said.

First India Bureau Jaipur: In an action against the gamblers in the city, 23 gamblers and speculators were arrested. The action was taken by the Sanjay Circle Police Station team under the direction of ADCP North Dharmendra Sagar. Besides the arrest of the gamblers, gambling devices were also seized by the police team. During the search operation at the gambling spot, betting equipment and cash worth over Rs 1 lakh was recovered from the gamblers. Alongside, ganja was also recovered from a young man.

Forest staff postpones stir after talks with Min

First India Bureau

Sawai Madhopur: The Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti of the Forest Department, which had been on a sit-in protest regarding their 15-point demand at the main gate of Ranthambore National Park since January 6, finally decided to postpone their protest on Saturday after talks with Forest Minister Hemaram Chowdhary.

After assurance from the minister and ACS Shikhar Aggarwal, the Samiti decided to call off the sit-in protest. The primary demand of the forest personnel is equal pay to police and

CHA workers to continue protest as talk failed with government officials

First India Bureau

a proposal will be sent to the finance department in this regard. The movement has been postponed until the official announcement regarding the pay scale.

Tourists had to face diversions but today onwards, they will again be allowed free movement in Ranthambore.

Jaipur: A five-member delegation of Covid Health Assistants (CHA) on Saturday met senior officials of the finance department over their demand for regularisation of their jobs. However, a consensus could not build between the protestors and officials, following which, the delegation left the meeting organised in the secretariat.

The health assistants on Friday climbed a water tank in Gandhi Na-

Covid Health assistants on Friday climbed a water tank after ‘no mention’ in the budget

gar after no announcement was made regarding them in the budget.

On Saturday, a delegation of CHA workers was called for talks wherein it was said that

a 15 percent bonus will be given to them for permanent recruitment. Later, the protestors said that they will continue their protest till their demands are met.

Shekhawat

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The Aam Aadmi Party will protest and gherao the BJP state headquarters today regarding the Adani episode. AAP leaders Yogendra Gupta and Saurabh Choudhary told the media here that while there are CBI, Income Tax, ED raids on opposition leaders on small matters, the Modi government is absolutely silent on this scam and shows their participation in this scam.

Members under the

“PM Narendra Modi has done the work of spreading India’s skills all over the world with the scheme of ‘One StationOne Product’,” he said

Adani row: AAP to gherao BJP headquarters today State budget eyewash:

leadership of state election in-charge Vinay Mishra will reach the BJP office by marching on foot from their state office at 12 noon and gherao while protesting. Gupta and

Choudhary also said that Arvind Kejriwal has been saying this for the last 10 years but today the common man has started to understand why Modi is kind to his friends.

First India Bureau

Jodhpur: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, while talking to reporters at Circuit House during his visit to Jodhpur, called the budget presented by the Central government the “foundation stone of a developed nation”, while the budget presented by the state government a “mere announcement”.

Shekhawat said that ever since the BJP government was formed at the Centre in 2004, efforts are being made to ease the path of development. “Efforts are made

to provide relief to the general category and announcements have been made to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed, to con-

nect people belonging to SC/STs and OBCs with the mainstream,” he said. He said that the state govt’s budget was just an election budget.

CM LIVED UP TO THE PROMISE OF MAKING FARMERS HAPPY: CHOUDHARY

Ajmer: Ajmer Saras Dairy Chairman Ramchandra Choudhary expressed great gratitude & said that the CM Gehlot has lived up to the promise of making the farmers happy and the cattle rearers prosperous. “CM Gehlot has allocated an amount of Rs 4000 crore in his budget, giving grants and relief in various schemes, showing sensitivity for the cattle rearers. A historic announcement has been made to make milk available daily, in which Rs 1100 crore has been allocated,” he said.

Jpr rly station will be modernised at cost of `717 cr: Rail Min

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday that the Jaipur railway station will be modernised at a cost of Rs 717 crore.

Vaishnaw was delivering a lecture on “Contribution of Railways in India’s Infrastructural Development”, organised by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Smriti Samaroh Samiti at Dhankya near Jaipur.

Referring to various

station redevelopment projects in the country, he said the railways is carrying out the exercise taking into account both heritage and development. Under the modernisation plan, the Jaipur railway station will be upgraded with high-end facilities at a cost of Rs 717 crore. The tenders for the work have been issued, he said.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done the work of spreading India’s skills all over the

world with the scheme of ‘One Station-One Product’,” he said.

Instead of foreign technology, PM Modi expressed his faith in In-

dian engineering and Vande Bharat trains were manufactured in

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the contribution of the railways in building India is immense

the country, he said, adding Jaipur will be connected with a Vande

Bharat train soon.

Vaishnaw also remembered Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his 55th death anniversary on Saturday. Remembering Pandit Deendayal, Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari said that it was his good fortune that he visited Deendayal and also heard him. Tiwari said that works like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan were done during Atal’s tenure and now Modi’s govt is doing great work for the poor.

Judges hearing cases at the National Lok Adalat held at the court complex in Pali on Saturday.

Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti of the Forest Department called off the sit-in protest.

Covid Health Assistants (CHA) assistants climbed a water tank in Gandhi Nagar on Saturday.

Yogendra Gupta and Saurabh Choudhary addressing the media.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat paying tribute to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay in Jodhpur on Saturday.

Ashwani Vaishnaw, Ghanshyam Tiwari and others at the memorial lecture organised at the National Memorial site of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay at Dhankya, Jaipur on Saturday.

‘Right to Health Bill’ fumes docs, statewide one-day strike held

RURAL HEALTH STATISTICS ’20-’21

There is a big human resource problem at the public health centre (PHC), community health centre (CHC) and sub-centre level and long waiting time at the District Hospital level.

Shortage of 207 auxiliary nurse midwives in the sub-centres and PHCs in the state’s rural areas.

Shortage of 29 doctors at PHCs and 1,877 specialists (surgeons, obstetrician-gynecologists, physicians and paediatricians) at CHCs.

Some 1,526 posts of pharmacists are vacant, while there is a requirement of 622 more laboratory technicians at CHCs and PHCs in the state’s rural areas.

Jaipur (ANI): The opposition to State Government’s proposed

Right to Health Bill has intensified across the state as the Doctors took to the streets to protest against the proposed bill in Rajasthan on Saturday and declared a strike of one day. The medical and emergency operations are to be on hold for 24 hours starting at 8 AM on Saturday.

Taking to social media Indian Medical As-

New Delhi (ANI):

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another accused from Rajasthan’s Jaipur in continuation with its operations against Popular Front of India (PFI) cadres involved in conspiracies to commit violent and unlawful acts, the agency said on Saturday.

The suspect, identified as Mohammad Sohail, was arrested from Jaipur on Friday during a search operation conducted by the NIA sleuths in close coordination with state police forces.

Sohail is accused of having been actively involved in PFI’s criminal conspiracy to disturb the peace and spread communal hatred and enmity, said the antiterror agency.

Leopard mauls toddler to death in Jaipur; mother chases wild cat for 1 km

Jaipur (FIB): A oneand-a-half-year-old boy has been killed by a leopard in the Jamwaramgarh area of Jaipur district, a forest official said on Saturday.

The animal grabbed the child in Basna village of Jamwaramgarh tehsil on Friday evening when he was playing outside his home, forest ranger Ramkaran Meena said.

To save the child, the mother ran after the leopard for nearly 1 km. As soon as she reached

the forest, her son, Karthik was lying unconscious. later, the villagers also came and took the child to the hospital, where the toddler succumbed to his injuries. The wildcat was in search of food when it attacked the kid, he said. In the last four months, at least four times leopards have been sighted in the residential areas in Jaipur. Leopards were seen in Jaipur’s SEZ, Jaisinghpura Khor, Jhalana and Jamdoli areas.

JAIPUR MEDICAL ASSOCIATION’S CONTENTION

z Obscurity on who will pay for emergency care at private hospitals, which may lead to delayed treatment

z Repetition of provisions already made under the Medi-

sociation tweeted on Saturday said that they have demanded some amendments in the Bill the IMA stands with members.

“Dr. Sharad Agarwal, N.P, IMA visited Kota

cal Council of India and the National Medical Commission

z Lack of a legal recourse if a patients’ family wants to approach the court about a medical procedure or treatment

on 10th Feb and held a press conference on the issue of the proposed “Right to Health Bill” by Rajasthan Government. He demanded amendment in the said Bill. He reassured the

IMA members that the IMA stands with them, always.”

The protesting doctors, after the meeting with the Select Committee, said that the government is not ready to

listen to them.

The doctors in the protest are determined that the government can bring the bill without them but they will not tolerate it.

Gehlot declared on Republic Day this year that the state government will bring the Right to Health Bill to the state.

“We have a public welfare government in Rajasthan. We will now be bringing the Right to Health Bill. The BJP is

First India Bureau Udaipur: The AntiCorruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday produced the suspended DSP, Sub-Inspector and two other accused before the court in the land case. The court has sent all the accused to three-day police custody.

The ACB sleuths reached the magistrate’s house in the Pratap Nagar area along with the four accused and produced them before the court. The ACB team will now interrogate DSP Jitendra Anchalia, Sub-Inspector Roshan Lal and two middlemen wherein the accused allegedly took Rs. 1.80 crore as a bribe from an NRI in a

Accused DSP Anchalia produced before court.

land deal. The complainant also alleged that the land deal was forcibly done by reducing the fixed price of the land.

The ACB officials have also called Dalpat Singh, the then SHO of Sukher, for questioning. Earlier, DSP Anchalia was suspended in the Kanhaiyalal murder case. Although, later he got a clean cheat.

First India Bureau Jaipur: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi praised the Rajasthan Government and termed the State budget ‘excellent’. He welcomed many schemes and announcements, including the Chiranjeevi scheme. He also cornered the Central Government regarding the budget of Rajasthan.

“There is nothing in the Central Budget. The issues of youth, farmers, women, employment, and inflation are missing,” he said. Comparing Rajasthan Budget with the Central Budget, Rahul Gandhi said that the Centre did not event mention the issue of inflation and unemployment in the Budget.

RTU professor sent to two-day police remand in another sexual favour case

First India Bureau

Kota: The police arrested Professor Girish Parmar from jail on a production warrant on Saturday.

Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, Professor Girish Parmar was in jail for asking for sexual favours from his female students in exchange for increasing mark tally in the examinations.

After the arrest, a police team led by Deputy SP Mukul Sharma

ONE MORE DIRECTOR HELD IN `200 CRORE APEKSHA SCAM

Kota: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Rajasthan Police on Saturday arrested one more Director of Apeksha Group, identified as Lokesh Nagar (41), in a case of duping Rs 200 crore from investors by luring them with lucrative returns. Police informed the

took accused professor Parmar to the court, where the Court of Special Judicial Magistrate NI Act Case No. 4 handed over Parmar to

Accused Lokesh Nagar in police custody.

police remand for two days.

However, the latest arrest of Girish Parmar from the jail has been made by the po -

accused took around Rs 56 lakh from 25 investors and duped them. “Lokesh Nagar used to work as a photographer for Apeksha Group and an FIR was filed against him at Gumanpura Police Station. Till now, 24 people have been arrested in the scam,” said police.

lice after reopening of the FIR filed by the victim in a case of molestation and mental harassment by a woman years ago.

opposing the bill to please the private sector. But our government is not against the private sector. We will make laws by taking everyone together,” he added.

On January 12, while addressing a public meeting, CM Gehlot also claimed that he had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his government’s Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme should be implemented in the whole country.

City police arrests gangster Lawrence’s henchman

First India Bureau

Jaipur: In a stern action against the gangsters, the Vidyadhar Nagar police have arrested gangster Lawrence’s vicious henchman Kapil Pandit. Pandit demanded extortion of Rs 50 lakh from a businessman in Rajgarh at the behest of Lawrence.

Kapil had also threat-

ened to kill the businessman if the demand is not met. Earlier, the miscreant has also been arrested in the famous murder case of Punjabi singer Siddhu Moosewala. Along with this, at the behest of Lawrence, the miscreant did a recce of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan by staying in Mumbai for five months, in a plan to kill him.

Indian Medical Association extends support to protesting doctors; movement will be strengthened if Bill not withdrawn, says docs’ Joint Action Panel

Doctors hold rally against State Govt’s Right to Health Bill near Durlabhji Hospital in Jaipur on Saturday. Stretchers are left unattended during the strike. —PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA

The toddler succumbed to serious wounds on head and shoulder.

PFI case: Another accused arrested by NIA in Jaipur

State Budget is ‘excellent’, says Rahul Gandhi

ACB action: DSP, SI, 2 middlemen sent to 3-day police remand

7.8-MAGNITUDE QUAKE THAT HIT TURKEY, SYRIA

IN-DEPTH

MEME FEST GREETS COW HUG DAY IDEA, THE AWBI WITHDRAWS IT

The Poet was no match for the Mahatma. Gandhiji response was devastating. I did not in any way adversely affect the affection and respect each held for the other. They were born in same decade 1861- Tagore, 1869- Gandhiji. The two died in the same decade, 1941-Tagore, 1948-Gandhiji

Earthquakes are sudden, violent, shaking of the ground as a result of movements within the earth’s crust. The recent, 7.8 degrees earthquake in Turkey and Syria have been devastating. The death toll could touch 30,000 dead. Double the number injured. In Syria, politics has intervened to hamper rescue work. Snow, rain and freezing weather minus 6 centigrade at night. India is not free from earthquakes nor Pakistan. Before independence, earthquakes in Quetta and Bihar were highly destructive. Only primitive instruments existed then.

On February 16, 1934, Tagore issued a protest against Gandhiji remarks of “divine chastisement” of Bihar which appeared in “Harjan” of 16 February 1934. “It has caused me painful surprise to find Mahatma Gandhi accusing those who blindly follow their own social custom of untouchability of having brought down God’s vengeance upon certain parts of Bihar, evidently

UK TO ADOPT A HARD LINE ON TERROR

Few will remember the Gandhi-Tagore differences over the Bihar earthquake. Tagore wrote to Gandhiji on 29th January 1934...

“Dear Mahatmaji, The press reports that you in a recent speech referring to the recent earthquake in Bihar spoke as follows, ‘I want you, to be superstitious enough to believe with me that the earthquakes is a divine chastisement for the great sin we have committed against those who we describe as Harjans’. I find it difficult to believe it. But if this be your real view on the matter, I do not think it should go unchallenged. Herewith you will find a rejoinder from me. If you are correctly reported in the press, would you kindly send it to the press? I have not sent it myself for publication, for I would be the last person to criticise yours acts. I am looking forward to meeting you here. With deep love,

Yours as ever, Rabindranath Tagore

specially selected for his desolating displeasure. It is all the more unfortunate view of things is too readily accepted by a large section of our countrymen. I keenly feel the iniquity of it when I am compelled to utter a truism in asserting that physical catastrophes have their inevitable and exclusive origin in certain combination of physical facts. Unless we believe in the inexorableness of the universal law in the working of which God himself never interferes, we find it impossible

to justify his ways on occasions like the one which has surely stricken us in on overwhelming manner and scale……” The Poet was no match for the Mahatma. Gandhiji response was devastating. I did not in any way adversely affect the affection and respect each held for the other. They were born in same decade 1861- Tagore, 1869- Gandhiji. The two died in the same decade, 1941-Tagore, 1948-Gandhiji. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

THE FIRST TIME I MET PERVEZ MUSHARRAF...

While all Hindus acknowledge the religious importance of a cow, to hug the animal as a celebration of love on Valentine’s Day was laughable. And that is what it led to --- a flurry of memes ridiculing the Cow Hug Day idea. The online backlash and the meme fest which followed pushed the Animal Welfare Board of India on the back foot. The board did not realise that for all its docility the humble cow can at times hate any public display of affection. At times it can also turn aggressive without any attempt at flirtation. After becoming a butt of jokes, the board withdrew its appeal following directions from the government. Congress general-secretary Jairam Ramesh pertinently asked, “Who moo-ted the idea in the first place.” The idea was backed by Union minister Parshottam Rupala who said that it will be good if people respond positively to the call given by the board to celebrate February 14 as Cow Hug Day.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Britain’s counterterror policy review is of special interest to India.

In a recent independent review of Britain’s counter-terrorism programme “Prevent”, it was recommended that the country should refocus on the threat posed by Islamist militants, including “non-violent Islamist extremism”. It made a clear distinction between Islam and Islamism, which is also called Islamic fundamentalism. The review recommended, “Challenging extremist ideology should not be limited to proscribed organisations but should also cover domestic extremist organisations operating below the terrorism threshold who can create an environment conducive to terrorism.” This was stated in the context of the UK. Britain’s

Britain’s counter-terror policy review is of special interest to India. In a recent independent review of Britain’s counterterrorism programme “Prevent”, it was recommended that the country should refocus on the threat posed by Islamist militants, including “non-violent Islamist extremism”

Indian-origin Home Secretary Suella Braverman is reported to have said that Prevent will now focus on “the key threat of Islamist terrorism.”

The review also took into account the anti-India propaganda by radicalised British Muslims over Kashmir and “potentially toxic” pro-Khalistan extremism. India recently raised the issue of Islamists’ rhetoric

The first time I met General Pervez Musharraf, when he came to Delhi as President of Pakistan. He was staying at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and I called on him. When Sonia introduced me to him, his reply surprised me, “I know Mr Natwar Singh. I attended a lecture he gave at the Pakistan Defence College in Islamabad.” His family belonged to Delhi. They left for Karachi in August 1947. Pervez Musharraf was four year old. After finishing his education, he joined the army, rising rapidly and rose to become Army Chief. I re-read his autobiography after his death in Dubai, early last week. He was a better Head of State than an author. The chapter on Kargil is more fiction than fact. The photograph below was taken at his residence in Rawalpindi. Apart from the President and me, the others are Pakistan Foreign Minister, Kasuri, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Shivshankar Menon, our High Commissioner in Pakistan. He was every inch an army man. Even his critics would concede that Pervez Mussarraf had a presence.

on Jammu and Kashmir and pro-Khalistan elements and urged Britain not to allow its soil to be used by extremists.

The review of Prevent and Braverman agreeing to its recommendations will please India which has suffered a great deal because of Islamist and pro-Khalistan extremism.

On J&K the review said there’s “evidence of UK extremist groups, as well as a Pakistani cleric with a UK following, calling for the use of violence in Kashmir” and warned that “Prevent should also be mindful of pro-Khalistan elements emerging from UK’s Sikh communities”. Both the recommendations bolster India’s fight against terrorism as Braverman has assured the House of Commons that she proposes to “swiftly implement” all the recommendations.

For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Bible

TOP TWEETS

I pay my humble tribute to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay ji on his death anniversary. We all are completely devoted to his thoughts and philosophy related to the upliftment of the last man of the society. Deendayalji’s thoughts are the foundation stone of building a new India.

Nitin Gadkari @nitin_gadkari

Converting our farmers to Urjadata along with being Annadata, We always promote #swadeshi manufacturing which is safe, recyclable, and sustainable, and create a space for green energy and a green economy in the mobility sector.

K NATWAR SINGH

The author is Former Minister of External Affairs of India

Tripura poised to become ‘Gateway’ of S Asia: Modi

PM says BJP govt strives to bring forth contributions of tribal people

Was it ‘cow-ed’ by jokes or was it ‘cow-ardice’: Tharoor’s dig

Shah takes jibe at Cong, JD (Secular) in K’taka

Dhalai (ANI): Highlighting the BJP govt’s development work in poll-bound Tripura, PM Narendra Modi on Saturday said the northeastern state is poised to become the ‘Gateway’ of South Asia.

At a rally in Ambassa, Modi said the BJP govt strives to bring forth the contributions of the tribal people in nation-building through its consistent steps of recognizing their efforts. He said he had promised “HIRA” (Highways, Internet ways, Railways and Air-

“FOES IN KERALA, FRIENDS HERE...”: PM ON LEFT-CONG

Gomati: Coming down heavily on the left parties governing Tripura before the BJP came to power, PM Narendra Modi on Saturday said that previous govts ‘looted’ the State. At a rally here, he said that the govts, which ruled Tripura for years, made the life of people, including the poor and STs miserable.

ways) in Tripura and people could see the delivery of projects. The work of doubling the

IN THE COURTYARD

JUDGE RECUSES FROM HEARING JAMIA CASE, CITES ‘PERSONAL REASONS’

New Delhi: A Delhi court judge, who recently discharged student activists Sharjeel Imam and Asif Iqbal Tanha and nine others in the 2019 Jamia Nagar violence case, has recused himself from hearing a similar matter citing “personal reasons”. Additional Sessions Judge Arul Varma was hearing a case regarding the violence in Jamia Nagar in December 2019.

PIL: RENAME PLACES

NAMED AFTER ‘FOREIGN INVADERS’

New Delhi: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Central government to constitute a ‘renaming commission’ to restore the “original” names of ancient historical, cultural and religious places which were “renamed” by foreign invaders.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS EMERGE AS SYMBOL OF HOPE: PM MODI

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday said that during times of disasters, physiotherapists can play a pivotal role in the rehabilitation of the injured. In his virtual address, the PM emphasized on making the facility of tele-medicine widely available so that people who are affected in disasters are able to get help quickly.

length of National Highways in Tripura is at a high pace, he said.

“The work of laying

optical fiber in villages is going on in Tripura. In the last eight years, more than three times the optical fiber has been laid in Tripura. Around 5,000 km of new roads were built in Tripura to connect its villages. A new airport was also built in Agartala. Optical fiber and 4G connectivity are being brought to villages. Now, Tripura is becoming global. We are developing waterways to connect the northeast and Tripura with ports. Tripura is poised to become the ‘Gateway’ of South Asia,” he said.

RJD and JMM will contest 2024 LS polls jointly: Tejashwi

NON-PAYMENT OF SALARIES: WAQF’S RESPONSE SOUGHT

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Waqf Board to respond to a petition by its employees for payment of salaries and emoluments pending for more than five months. The Delhi Waqf Board Employees Association has contended that employees coming under certain categories have not received their salaries from October last year and are facing “unfathomable financial hardships”.

MOTHER’S ILLICIT AFFAIR: KARNATAKA HC GIVES MINOR’S CUSTODY TO FATHER

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka has upheld the verdict of a Family Court giving the custody rights of a minor child to the father. The woman’s illicit relationship with another man was the reason the father of the child had sought custody of the minor child. A bench of the Karnataka High Court in its recentl judgment observed that the woman “has given more importance to the illicit relationship of hers and has neglected the child.”.

Ranchi (ANI): Bihar

Deputy CM Tejashwi

Yadav on Saturday said that the RJD and JMM will be fighting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls jointly.

Yadav made the announcement after his meeting with the Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren at his residence.

“I met Chief Minister Hemant Soren today and discussed the challenges of the future and also about contesting upcoming Lok Sabha polls together,” Yadav told media.

Yadav also spoke about RJD’s plans of re-

New Delhi (PTI): Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday took a swipe over the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) withdrawing its appeal to celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’, asking whether the govt was “cow-ed” by the jokes made at its expense or was it merely “cow-ardice”. Tharoor’s dig came a day after the AWBI said it has withdrawn the appeal to celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’ following directions from the government amid widespread criticism.

Mangaluru (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday charged that the Congress and the JD(S) believed in 18th century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan and that the two parties cannot do any good for Karnataka, while hailing the ruling BJP which was inspired by 16th century Tuluva queen of Ullal Rani Abbakka Chowta, for a prosperous rule in the state.

Shah also alleged that the Congress was corrupt and it had used Karnataka as an “Automated Teller Machine (ATM) for the Gandhi family”.

“When I have come here, let me ask you

(people). Should people vote for the JD(S) and Congress who believe in Tipu or the BJP which has faith in Rani Abbakka?” Shah asked people.

The Union Minister for Home and Coopera-

tion was in Puttur to celebrate the golden jubilee celebration of the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (CAMPCO) at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district.

Kharge alleges there’s no freedom of speech inside or outside Parliament

Ranchi (PTI): Hitting out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged there was no freedom of speech in the country.

Addressing a rally in Jharkhand’s Sahebganj district, Kharge expressed anguish, claiming that parts of his speech in Parliament were expunged.

“There is neither freedom of speech inside Parliament, nor outside. If someone speaks the truth, writes about it, shows it then they (BJP) send him or her behind the bars,” he alleged while speaking at Gumani Ground in Pakur after launch-

ing the party’s 60-day ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo’ mass outreach programme in the state. BJP state president Deepak Prakash, however, termed the

viewing the party work in Jharkhand, and said, “We (RJD and JMM) will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together. I had planned to come and see the party’s work in Jharkhand. But in between Lalu Prasad ji’s health deteriorated. Lalu Ji’s transplant was successful. He will be coming home today. BJP was removed from power in Bihar and the Mahagathbandhan government was formed. Due to all these issues, Jharkhand could not be visited.”

YOUTH-20 MEET SESSION

Congress’ programme as “drama.”

Kharge said, “I did not use any unparliamentary word or language to describe the prime minister... Atal

JP Nadda offers prayer at Maa Danteshwari Temple in Jagdalpur

Bastar (ANI): BJP national president JP Nadda on Saturday offered prayers at Maa Danteshwari Temple in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur.

He was accompanied by the former CM of the State Raman Singh. BJP chief Nadda, who is on a day-long visit to the poll-bound Chhattisgarh flew down to Maa Danteshwari Airport, Jagdalpur in the morning, from where he drove to the temple.

After offering prayers, Nadda along with other party leaders

Indonesian delegate lauds Anurag Thakur



Around 250 delegates from G-20 member nations participated in Youth-20 (Y20) Inception Meeting at Guwahati from February 6-8

New Delhi (PTI): Union Minister Anurag Thakur came in for praise from the head of Indonesian delegation for his engaging session at the recent Youth-20 (Y20) inception meeting in Guwahati that seeks to involve the country’s youth in India’s G-20 presidency.

Indonesia’s Y20 chair Michael Victor Sianipar was amazed at the ease with which Thakur dealt with audience questions on issues ranging from gender

equality to security laws in the country.

“Minister Anurag Thakur sets the bar of the kind of leader to-

day’s politicians should be. He allocated two hours for his session and answered at least 20 questions single-handed-

ly, from issues of gender equality, state budget, digital transformation, to specific security laws of India,” said Sianipar in a social media post.

The Y20 Inception Meeting at Guwahati from February 6-8 saw the participation of at least 250 delegates, including from G-20 member nations. The Y20 initiative was organised to sensitize students about the G-20, its functioning and objectives.

offered tributes to BJP idealogue, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his 55th death anniversary at the party office here.

Keen to capture the tribal votes of the State,

Nadda visited Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, a tribaldominated area. He also addressed a public rally at the railway ground or Lalbagh Maidan in Jagdalpur.

MODI KI GODI MEIN!

Bihari Vajpayee had used the same expression for former PM PV Narasimha Rao and the BJP used it for former PM Manmohan Singh,” Kharge said.

CM Stalin clarifies TN’s position on NHAI to Gadkari

Chennai: An impression that the Tamil Nadu govt was not cooperating with the NHAI has been made in Parliament by a reply of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari which was unfortunate, CM MK Stalin wrote to the Centre and said it is not true. He pointed to a request made in Parliament by MP Dayanidhi Maran recently to him to improve condition of the existing road from Chennai to Ranipet (NH-4).

PM Modi with Tripura CM Manik Saha, BJP MP Pratima Bhoumik and others at a rally in Tripura’s Gomati, on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Amit Shah, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai (R) ex-CM BS Yediyurappa and others, in Puttur, on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav meets with Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, in Ranchi on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Mallikarjun Kharge is being greeted during the Hath Se Hath Jodo campaign, in Jharkhand on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

BJP chief Nadda with family of party worker Neelkanth Kakkem who died in a Naxal violence, at Jagdalpur, in Bastar on Saturday.

Anurag Thakur

Rice cornerstone of food security in country, says President Murmu

Cuttack (Agencies):

President Droupadi

Murmu said on Saturday that rice is the cornerstone of food security in the country, and a key factor of the nation’s economy. The President said this while inaugurating the 2nd Indian Rice Congress at ICARNational Rice Research Institute, in Odisha.

“Though India is the leading consumer and exporter of rice today,

the situation was different when the nation got Independence... those days, we were dependent on imports to meet our food requirements,” she said. Praising the National Rice Research Institute, the President said: “If the nation could overcome that dependency and has become the largest exporter, a lot of credit goes to the National Rice Research Institute.

CHALLENGES

Delhi LG removes AAP govt nominees

Delhi L-G VK Saxena has replaced AAP nominees at private discoms with senior government officials

New Delhi (ANI): Del-

hi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has removed Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Jasmine Shah and AAP MP ND Gupta’s son, Naveen ND Gupta from the position of ‘Government Nominees’ on the Board of Private DISCOMS.

The LG Office informed in a statement that they have been removed for “illegally” occupying the positions, and they have been replaced by senior government officers.

“Delhi LG, VK Saxena had ordered for the immediate removal of AAP Spokesperson, Jasmine Shah, Son of AAP MP, ND GuptaNavin Gupta and other private individuals,

who had been illegally appointed as Govt Nominees on the boards of privately owned DISCOMs- BYPL, BRPL (Anil Ambani) and NDPDCL (Tata),” the statement from the LG Office read. As per the

CRUCIAL READ

ED ARRESTS SON OF YSR CONGRESS MP

New Delhi: The ED arrested Raghav Magunta, son of YSR Cong Party MP from Ongole Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, pertaining to a money-laundering case that is investigated by the anti-corruption agency. Magunta is accused of financial irregularities in the Delhi excise policy, which has made headlines due to discrepancies flagged by LG.

LG Office statement, the two had “collaborated” with private representatives on boards of Anil Ambani-owned DISCOMS and “benefitted” them to the tune of Rs 8000 Cr at the cost of the public exchequer.

JAILED MLA ABBAS ANSARI’S WIFE HELD

Chitrakoot (PTI): Jailed MLA Abbas Ansari’s wife was arrested for allegedly illegally meeting him in a prison official’s room in Ragauli Jail here, police said on Saturday. The jail superintendent and seven other staff members were suspended for laxity and departmental action was initiated against them, officials said.

CISF APPREHENDS 3 AT IGI AIRPORT

New Delhi (ANI): Fake Reserve Bank of India documents worth Rs 88 thousand crores were seized at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday, and three passengers traveling to Chennai were apprehended by the CISF. On Feb 10 at 6.20 PM, suspicious images in a handbag were noticed at the X-ray at the IGI airport during the pre-embarkation security check at Domestic Security Hold Area, Terminal-3.

NIA NABS TERRORIST IN BENGALURU

Bengaluru (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Karnataka police on Saturday arrested a suspected terrorist in Bengaluru in a joint operation. The suspect has been identified as Arif who is allegedly linked with an international terror organization. The arrested suspect has been taken into custody by the state police.

Kolkata (PTI): Democratic Azad Party (DAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday said Kolkata is one of the country’s cleanest cities and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should be given the credit for it. Azad was in Kolkata to participate in a programme on World Unani Day & said that, Kolkata has the best health infrastructure in the country.

Kolkata (Agencies):

At a time when BJP's West Bengal unit, especially LoP Suvendu Adhikari, has been critical about "pally" between the Governor House and the state secretariat, Governor C V Ananda Bose has reportedly assured the party state president Sukanta Majumdar of "zero tolerance" towards corruption.

After a two-hour-long meeting with Ananda Bose at the Governor's House on Saturday, Majumdar said he had a fruitful discussion with the governor on overall situation in the state.

DELHI BJP DEMANDS CBI PROBE INTO IRREGULARITIES IN DISCOM

New Delhi (Agencies): The Delhi BJP on Saturday demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the power discom boards. Delhi BJP Working President Virendra Sachdeva said that his party has continuously been flagging the nexus between the Delhi government and private power companies. As part of this nexus, the Delhi government has allowed private power companies huge extra income through payment of subsidies and collect different surcharges.

"BJP has been continuously saying that this is a well planned big scam from which Aam Aadmi Party gets kick back amount. To suppress this scam, the Arvind Kejriwal government broke the tradition and appointed its party workers instead of government officers in the power discoms board," he said.

The Finance Secretary, Power Secretary and MD, of Delhi Transco will now represent the government on these Ambani and Tataowned DISCOMS, as per regular practice, followed since Sheila

Dikshit’s time as CM, when these DISCOMS came into existence, the statement read.

“Invoking “difference of opinion” under Article 239AA of the Constitution of India, after the Arvind Kejri-

wal government persisted upon their continuance on these boards, despite proven misconduct and maleficence on their part, by way of benefiting the Ambani-owned DISCOMS to the tune of more than 8000 crores, at the cost of government exchequer, Saxena had referred the matter to the President of India for a decision. He had asked for the removal of the abovementioned political appointees on the DISCOM boards with immediate effect, pending the President’s decision, and asked for senior Govt officials to replace them on the boards of the DICOMS,” the LG Office statement read.

It has contributed immensely to India’s food security and also in improving farmers’ lives.”

She also said that in the last century, as irrigation facilities expanded, rice came to be grown in new places and found new consumers.

Speaking about the challenges faced for cultivation of rice, she said:

“Even as rice has broken new ground, there are places where traditional

varieties are facing challenges. Thus, the task before us today is to find the middle path -- preserving and conserving traditional varieties on one hand, and maintaining ecological balance on the other.”

Another challenge is to save the soil from excessive use of chemical fertilisers, which are considered necessary for modern rice cultivation, she added.

Dehradun (ANI): Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday met with the delegation of the unemployed youth organization and said that the government will conduct all upcoming exams under an anti-copying ordinance of the state.

The CM said that the country’s most stringent anti-copying law had been implemented in the state of Uttarakhand and all preparations have been completed to make the Patwari/Lekhpal recruitment examination to be held tomorrow peaceful, fair and copy-free.

“We have made the

strictest law possible (to check paper leaks). After this law is implemented, those who will be caught cheating will get 10 years imprisonment and their assets will be seized. We want to assure that all the exams will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner,” the CM said.

Saab setting up manufacturing facility for Carl-Gustaf weapons

Bengaluru (PTI): Swedish defence major

Saab on Saturday announced it is setting up a manufacturing facility in India for Carl-Gustaf recoilless rifles that will support the production of the manportable multi-role weapon system for the Indian armed forces.

Bengaluru (ANI): Three teams of the Election Commission of India (ECI) visited some districts of Karnataka and held meetings with the local officials to review the district-level preparations for upcoming Assembly polls. The visit was intended to find the possible reasons and solutions to poor voter turnout in the state during Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

The team led by Deputy Chief Commissioner of ECI, Ajay Badu,

visited the Yadgiri district and conducted preliminary inspections of EVMs and VVPATs, here. He initiated the programs organized for voter awareness and held a meeting with Kalaburagi zone district commissioners regarding the pre-election preparations. State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena and Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Rajendra Cholan also participated in the said programme with the ECI's team.

RECORD THUMPING WIN

Saab will be partnering with Indian sub-suppliers & the systems manufactured in the fa-

cility will fully meet the requirements of 'Make in India', Chairman &

Big improvement in disaster preparedness, response: IUCN

New Delhi (PTI): While India’s disaster preparedness and response has improved, the fragility of the Himalayas and the increase in population and infrastructure are at the root of crises like the Joshimath incident, officials at International Union

for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said.

Uttarakhand Authorities have declared Joshimath in Chamoli district a landslide and subsidence-hit zone. Wide cracks have appeared on residential and commercial buildings, roads and fields in the town.

India crush Australia by an innings and 132 runs

Nagpur: The Indian spin twins, Jadeja & Ashwin, played a crucial role with the ball, while Rohit’s ton closed the half-open gates of comeback for the Aussies

On Saturday, India won the first test of the Border-Gavaskar trophy convincingly with an innings and 132 runs within three days, handing Australia an embarrassing defeat. The first test was noth-

ing more than a onesided affair, where the hosts completely sidelined the opponents in both batting and bowling departments. India has taken a confidence boosting 1-0 lead in the four-match contest.

After an unforgettable 36 all-out performance by India in the first test of 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian team came back strongly and brought the reputed possession home. Be-

fore the start of the first test of this edition at Vidarbha Cricket Sta-

dium in Nagpur on February 9, the cricket fraternity had split reac-

INDIA (W) VS PAK (W)

T20 WC TODAY

India women’s cricket team are set to begin their campaign in the T20 World Cup in South Africa on Sunday. Harmanpreet Kaur-led India will play against Pakistan women in their first match at the tournament. A total of ten teams from across the globe are getting featured in the competition and they have been divided into two groups- A and B.

tions on whether India will be able to retain the trophy being the hosts.

While the India’s goto bowlers Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin broke the backbone of the Australian batting order with a fifer each in the first and second inning respectively, the skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front with a ton and set the platform for Jadeja (70 in 185 balls) and Axar Patel (84 in 174 balls) to chip in with impressive halfcenturies to take the team’s first innings to-

tal to 400.

On the other hand, Australia, led by the pace spearhead Pat Cummins, could only manage 177 and 91 in the first and second innings respectively. Debutant Todd Murphy was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 7 wickets in the only Indian inning.

Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was awarded the Man of the Match award for his 7 wickets and 70 runs with the bat.

Managing Director, Saab India Technologies, Mats Palmberg said.

‘Lithium reserve found is of best quality’

Jammu (PTI): The country’s first lithium reserve, found in Jammu and Kashmir, is of the best quality, a senior government official said here on Saturday, as upbeat villagers expressed hope the discovery will bring them a bright future.

The 5.9-million ton reserve of lithium, a crucial mineral for the manufacturing of electric vehicles and solar panels, had been discovered in Reasi district by the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

Garvit Narang

President Droupadi Murmu with Odisha Guv Ganeshi Lal & Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar during the inauguration of the 2nd Indian Rice Congress, in Cuttack on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. Aam Aadmi Party Spokesperson, Jasmine Shah.

ECI officials attending a meeting in Bengaluru through video conferencing. —PHOTO BY ANI

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates the dismissal of Australia’s Matt Renshaw during Day three of the 1st Test match between India and Australia, at Vidarbha Cricket Stadium, in Nagpur on Saturday.

‘All coming exams to be held under anticopying ordinance’

AMID PROTESTS OVER PAPER LEAKS

‘Guv assured zero tolerance towards corruption’

Three ECI teams visit K’taka to find solutions

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami

‘KOLKATA AMONG CLEANEST CITIES’

Army soldiers explain about the working of a Carl Gustaf 8.4cm recoilless rifle to the visitors during an Army Equipment Display.

Suvendu Adhikari

Mirch Masala

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

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

LS POLLS: TICKETS OF 125-150 BJP MPs LIKELY TO BE CUT

BJP has already geared up for the preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Speculations are rife that ‘these elections will be ahead of time, along with the state elections.’ After field survey and much intensive brainstorming, the BJP strategists have managed to finalise two lists. Those seats have been marked in the first list where BJP may have to face defeat. In this list, such Lok Sabha seats have also been identified where there is a fifty-fifty chance of winning or losing. Those Lok Sabha seats have been included in the second list where BJP ‘health’ is fine with the help of the Sangh and the cadre, but the record of the BJP MP there is not good. In the first list, 109 seats have been included, where BJP needs hard work and the Sangh and the party are already

Cong leaders doing politics over PM’s programme: BJP

 All Congress leaders including CM Ashok Gehlot have given indications of distancing themselves from the mega event

First India Bureau

working there by connecting with the grassroots.

There are 26 seats in the second list, where the path to victory is not easy for the party just because of the MP. Based on this survey, BJP has ranked its sitting MPs in a table of 1 to 10. The current 42 saffron MPs are those who have got above 8 marks, they have been kept in the category of ‘excellent’. There are 13 MPs, who have barely been able to score two points for themselves. But look at the surprising thing, an MP from Jharkhand has got only 0.9 marks and an MP from Jhabua is being told to be at the bottom of this table. Sources reveal that he has got the lowest 0.6 marks. It has become clear from the results of this survey that ‘125 to 145 sitting BJP MPs may be denied tickets in the coming general elections’.

UNION CABINET MAY BE RESHUFFLED BEFORE FEBRUARY 22, SAY SOURCES

This will probably be the last reshuffle of the Modi Cabinet. Sources reveal that the BJP high command has finalised the list of ‘which ministers are to be dropped and which new faces are to join the Union Cabinet.’ It is believed that in the Cabinet meeting convened on February 22 many new faces can be seen. All the ministers have been informed about why the Cabinet meeting on 22nd is so important and they have been asked to remain in Delhi on 22nd. Now Narendra Modi and Amit Shah will decide whether the reshuffle will be like the ‘Gujarat Model’ or some other formula will be adopted.

A FEMALE MP PUTS PARTY IN A SPOT!

There are discussions everywhere about a female MP, who has a high influence in the political corridors of Delhi, who has given leave to all the leaders of Delhi BJP and has hoisted the flag of her supremacy in NDMC. The NDMC had allowed four restaurants to run on its land opposite Bhikaji Cama Place in New Delhi for several years on a very nominal lease guarantee. The demand of some time and some luck of these restaurant owners paid off that these days the craze among the youth of these restaurants has increased and every evening a huge crowd of youth gathers here. It goes without saying that this made the restaurant owner’s pockets ‘full of silver’. This MP says that ‘these restaurant owners were making huge profits, but were paying a very meagre amount to NDMC in the name of lease guarantee, while the opposing camp says that ‘the MP hastily got the licenses of the four restaurants cancelled just because she had to oblige some restaurateurs of their choice.’ The matter has gained so much momentum that now the BJP top has to intervene in it.

SANGH’S

 CM has no objection when the Congress’s defeated MLAs inaugurate works in our areas and we are not invited: GC Kataria

A fl amboyant scion of the Gandhi family, Varun, a poet by nature and scholar by hobby, was fi nalising the presentation of his ambitious book ‘The Indian Metropolis’ on urbanisation, as Gandhi’s elder brother Rahul walked 3,600 km to ‘Unite India’. The 824page mammoth book hit the market as soon as it arrived and went on to become a ‘best seller’ with much fanfare like its predecessors. Rupa Publications, which published this book for Rs 1,500, claims that ‘this book broke all sales records as soon as it came in the market’.

IN MARCH

The three-day Pratinidhi Sabha of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is being held at Samalkha in Sonipat district of Haryana from March 12 to 14, in which about 2,000 important representatives associated with all the affiliated organisations of the Sangh will participate. This meeting is also considered important from the point of view that ‘Assembly elections are being held in three states of the North-East right now. After this, assembly elections are to be held in six other states and the general election of 2024 is also just knocking at the door. Sangh Chief Mohan Bhagwat has been giving statements on many important issues for the past several times, moving away from the accepted and traditional ideology of the Sangh. In this regard, his address to the office bearers of the union on March 14 is also considered very important.

Jaipur: Politics has started intensifying ahead the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Dausa today. All the Congress leaders including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot have given indications of distancing themselves from the programme. After this, the BJP has targeted the CM and the local leaders of the Congress and said that the Congress party and its leaders are also doing politics regarding the programme. It is said that Governor Kalraj Mishra will participate in the inaugural ceremony of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway Highway, while CM Ashok Gehlot has also been invited, but he has reportedly refused to attend the programme.

Even during the

Mitali Dusad

Jaipur: Former CM Vasundhara Raje while addressing the 12th convocation ceremony of Jaipur National University at JNU Medical College ground on Saturday, said that she could feel the pain of students who were cheated in REET exam. “I am also a mother. Therefore, my advice to all students is that you should never stop learning. Because the world is constantly

budget speech in the Vidhan Sabha on Friday, CM Gehlot had made it clear that he would not participate in this programme as “the government programme has been turned into a political program”. Gehlot had also said that if he had gone to the programme,

he would have raised the issue of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project and the BJP and the people of the Central government did not want him to go to this programme.

Reacting to this, LoP Gulab Chand Kataria said that when Governor Kalraj Mishra will

The government programme has been turned into a political programme. If I had gone to the programme, I would have raised the issue of the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project and the BJP and the people of the Central government do not want me to attend the event.

—Ashok Gehlot, CM

KIRODI DISTRIBUTES

‘YELLOW RICE’ TO INVITE MASSES

attend the event, then what is the objection to CM. Kataria said that PM is coming to inaugurate Expressway & CM’s job is to inspect it.

Earlier too, CM Gehlot and all the Congress leaders had targeted PM for not mentioning about the ERCP even in the Union Budget.

Dausa/Thanagazi: Rajya Sabha MP Dr Kirodi Lal Meena on Saturday distributed yellow rice inviting people for PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the area today. He visited many villages including Sikandra, Gijgarh, Ghumna and others. BJP leader Rubia Upadhyay also invited people in villages of Thanagazi area. —Kamal Kant

OFFERING CONDOLENCES

The book has sold more than 7,000 copies in the fi rst two days itself.’ The publisher claims that ‘their fi rst print run is of one lakh copies.’ The publisher also says that ‘they plan to achieve this target of sales easily as this book has created a huge ‘hype’ as soon as it came out.’ Varun has discussed in great detail the various forms of urbanization and their challenges in this ambitious book. In this research book contained in eight chapters, important issues like water and sanitation, crime in the city, health system, urban transport, urban unemployment, accessible housing for all have been deeply investigated.

After the completion of the first phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra, Priyanka Gandhi had outlined 24 women-centric programmes under the ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo Campaign’. The campaign focused on issues related to half of the population i.e. women. But Rahul Gandhi’s office wanted that ‘Rahul should be invited to programmes, where a crowd of more than 10,000 can gather, otherwise, Priyanka can continue with her programme.’ There is still confusion regarding this.

First India Bureau

Bikaner: President Draupadi Murmu’s may visit Bikaner city to attend a cultural programme. The Union Ministry of Art Culture and State Ministry of Art Culture are organising the Art Culture Festival. Union MoS for Art & Culture is Arjun Meghwal, while State Min for Art & Culture is Dr BD Kalla. They will work for Bikaner’s devp keeping aside party politics, leaders said.

changing and to keep up with these changes, increase your knowledge and skills. It is important to constantly expand skills,” she said. About 2000 students received the degrees. JNU

First India Bureau

Dungarpur :Gujarat

CM Bhupendra Bhai Patel participated in the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav of Umiya Mata Temple, the first in Rajasthan and the 426th in the country, at Chitri on Saturday. He told the people present there about the close ties between Rajasthan and Gujarat. He also honoured Bhamashahs. Patel was welcomed by members of the organising committee and NRI Rameshchandra Patidar, along with

Chancellor Dr Sandeep Bakshi highlighted the need for skilled based education in the country. Ram Charan Bohra, Yunus Khan, Rajpal Shekhawat Ashok Parnami were also present.

CM Ashok Gehlot expresses condolences on the demise of the former Advocate General of Rajasthan, Sagarmal Mehta at Jain Dadabari located at the Moti Dungri Road in Jaipur on Saturday. The CM also prayed to the Almighty for peace of the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family members to bear this loss.

WE ARE READY TO CONDUCT POLLS IN J&K, SAYS FAROOQ

the Patidar community. He said that the Patidar community has contributed a lot for the betterment of the society.

NRI Ramesh Patel thanked everyone for

Jaisalmer (PTI): Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said air power will play a critical role in deciding the outcome of any conflict in future and stressed the need for maintaining a high state of readiness.

Speaking at the Commanders’ Conference

of South Western Air Command (SWAC) at the Jaisalmer Air Force Station, the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief apprised commanders of the current security scenario and the likely roles of the force, according to a release. The two-day conference concluded on Friday. “In any future conflict, air power would play a vital and critical role in deciding the outcome,”

the release quoted Chaudhari as saying. The IAF chief stressed the need for maintaining a high state of readiness to take on the emerging contingencies, it said. Chaudhari also emphasised the need to ensure smooth induction of Agniveervayu into IAF, it added. He acknowledged efforts of commanders & urged them to ensure that IAF remains alert.

their contribution in the development of the temple. Patel also went to Dungarpur and met the family of Subodh Babulal Saraiya in Adarsh Nagar.

Ajmer: Farooq Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and President of the National Conference, visited the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on Saturday. Congress leaders Mahendra Singh Ralavata, GS Ralavata and others welcomed him at Ajmer Circuit House. District Collector Anshdeep and SP Chunaram Jat were also present. During an interaction with media, Abdullah said that J&K is being run by Home Ministry & Central government and if the condition of Kashmir was good then why shouldn’t elections be held there.

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari participated in the South Western Air Command’s commanders’ conference & reviewed the situation along the western borders. It was the first time that the conference was held in operational area in Jaisalmer.

Air power crucial for future conflict’s result: IAF chief

‘PRATINIDHI SABHA’ IN HARYANA TO BE HELD

‘THE INDIAN METROPOLIS’: VARUN’S NEW BOOK

Arun Singh, Dr Satish Poonia, Chandrashekhar on Saturday, inspect the venue ahead of PM Modi’s event to be held at Dhanawar in Dausa. Also seen are Alka Gurjar, Jaskaur Meena & Baba Balaknath.

Vasundhara Raje, Dr Sandeep Bakshi, Ram Charan Bohra and Ashok Parnami at 12th Convocation ceremony of JNU in Jaipur.

Students need to constantly expand their knowledge and skills: Raje

‘Patidars’ contribution vital for societal devp’

Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel being felicitated during the Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav at Dungarpur on Saturday.

Even the most unfortunate incident adds something to our life, the lesson it teaches us.

—Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, First India

Budget is not always vote bank politics, it’s duty to serve people, says CM Gehlot

From P1…

Secondly, the Nirogi Rajasthan scheme was started right after we came to power, so that the entire state stays healthy and soon after Corona pandemic hit us. The Nirogi Rajasthan scheme is only in government hospitals since private hospitals do not allow OPD, while Chiranjeevi scheme is provided in 800 private hospitals and it is already there in government hospitals. Three and a half crore people have been treated in government hospitals so far. Medicines are free, tests are free, MRI free, CT Scan free, everything is free. A scheme like ours wouldn’t be there anywhere else in the world. Moreover, Chiranjeevi Scheme has accidental insurance also, which was of five lakh rupees earlier. We observed that if a family meets with an accident, two or three people may succumb and if one person from another family dies in the same accident, he or she gets five lakh whereas the family also gets the same amount. So we decided to increase the accidental insurance to ten lakh rupees. This is how we keep everything under consideration. Another aspect is that the people who are getting admitted, their medical expenses from five days before being admitted to fifteen days after they are discharged will be born by the state government. We have looked at everything minutely. No one can think of these things. Unfortunately neither do people study, nor do they seek information about it.

z Perhaps what happens is that when a person goes to hospitals they face hurdles and perhaps you have removed those hurdles in this budget?

See hurdles would be there as some people engage in ‘badmashi’,

some people help, some try to realise more and claim the operation to be wrong. These complaint will come. But what needs to be understood is that for example there is Ayushman Bharat, which is limited to those who are under the socio-economic census carried out in UPA government. People don’t understand this. I have seen that in other states its coverage is 20 percent or 30 percent, in Gujarat it is 42 percent. But in Rajasthan, our scheme is for all the Rajasthanis. This is a huge thing. It is not limited be it rich or poor or middle class. About ninety percent people have been registered. And remaining are those who don’t know about it yet or are extremely poor, for

them we try as to why haven’t we reached till there. You will be surprised to know that I have directed that if someone has not got the card made of Chiranjeevi Yojna and the person falls ill and gets admitted to hospital, the information about this will immediately be given to the Collector and the Collectors, even if the form hasn’t been filled and the said person isn’t under coverage, even then the Collector would put them under coverage and their treatment will start. So even if no one is covered under this scheme, then too we will provide treatment to them.

z A similar masterstroke has been played as regards to free electricity to farmers upto 2,100 units to households. How important and impactful is this step?

State Govt transfers

155 RAS officers

Jaipur (FIB): The State Government on Saturday, transferred 155 RAS officers. In a late night order, the Personnel Department released the list of the shifted officers.

RAS Om Prabha’s transfer to the post of ADM Pratapgarh on November 7, 2022 was cancelled. Tibbi SDO Shiva

See, after covid-19 and owing to the inflation, we cant even fathom what the poor have to go through. People’s backs have broken, the ache din have left people with no jobs, they have become unemployed, the situation is grim. So we made social security our theme. Education, medical services and social security. We are giving pension to one crore individuals. I requested Prime Minister that the way Dr. Manmohan Singh ji and Sonia Gandhi ji made laws in the Parliament like RTI, MNREGA, RTE and Food Security, similarly you should also make a law that everyone across the nation should get the same pension. As of now every state government does it according to its situation. You will be surprised to know that the government of India gives 200-300 rupees to about two million people. The Union govt is spending three hundred crores, we are spending nine thousand crores on pen sions. We want that a scheme should be made and law should be passed in Parliament which will give relief to everyone forever. If the allowance increases, then the pension can also increase and a sys tem can be made for that. Who are these peo ple getting pen sions? They are elderly, differentlyabled and windows who are get ting this benefit. It is our duty to give them relief in old age. So this facility we provided and the Govern

Indira Ji once said that even after her death, every drop of her blood will provide strength to this country and this applies to me also.

ment of India should also come forward.

z How do you see the Right to Health Bill issue, specially since doctors appear to be a little wary of it? Well, it seems that some people have been troubled since free treatment is being provided to people. But the private doctors are on package and they should cooperate and we will remove their

pened in Rajasthan and the victim may be from anywhere in the nation, they will be given treatment immediately at the nearest hospital for minimum 72 hours and later the person would be shifted to government hospital and by then the person’s family members will come to know, but at least treatment should be started to save the person’s life. They said that if someone comes

gency. So we assured them that their concerns are relevant and we will rectify. We will mention that if an accidental case comes then they will have to. We will honour their emotions and they too should cooperate and honour government’s wishes. This initiative, I would say, is non existent not only in any other state of the nation, but I would say it is not there anywhere in the world. No nation in the world would have a scheme where everything would be free. Obama care started by then President Obama of United States has not been entirely successful. Rajasthanis should feel proud that their government has given them this scheme. If anyone in a family comes down with cold and flu, on average 4005-- rupees are spent for treatment, and we are treating people even if it costs lakhs of rupees. So private sector needs to change its viewpoint and come forward to support the govern-

In the budget, you announced gas cylinders for merely Rs 500. When Ujjawala Scheme was started it was said that women will not have to revert to old ways of cooking, but then the price of cylinders under this scheme were increased and women went back to the same old way of cooking on choolah. Do you think your announcement will be a boon for such

PM Narendra Modi should be grateful to Rajasthan government that the scheme

started by him, where cylinders were being given for 400 rupees with one free cylinder but that has now reached 1040 rupees per cylinder, and as a result those cooking gas were not being used, so we have now started those same choolhas. The scheme was of union government and now we are supplementing it by giving cylinders in 500 rupees to BPL and others, then he should be happy and come forward to support the state government. In fact, he should say that in all the states, the government of India will provide gas cylinders to the poor consumers of Ujjawala Yojna in just five hundred rupees.

z Have you taken over another agenda of BJP by announcing Rs 40,000 grant for bovine rearers who lost their cattle to lumpy skin disease?

No it is not about hijacking anyone’s agenda. If a farmer’s milch animal dies due to lumpy, you can imagine how it would play on them. We asked the Union government to declare lumpy skin disease as a calamity like Covid. The central government would have given the money, but they are not doing it. So we said that we will give money. We will give forty thousand rupees so that the farmer has at least some relief. Moreover the animal insurance that we have announced is far more impactful than this compensation. The government will get the animal insured. We have said that two milch animals per family will be insured by the state government so that farmers and cattle rearers can get forty thousand rupees per cattle. Also, we are giving five rupee per litre for milk to cattle rearers, how many states are giving this?

We are looking after

farmers and those engaged in husbandry.

z What benefit will the employees of Boards and Corporations get from OPS since now you have increased its ambit?

This is also a security. An employee works for thirty five years and they would naturally think what will happen to them after retirement. The money being deposited in New Pension Scheme (NPS) all gets invested in the share market and mutual funds. No one knows what will be the situation of mutual funds and the market in the future and based on that the person will get their pension. So how will the person’s future be secured? I remember thirty five years ago, I deposited twenty thousand rupees in SBI’s mutual fund, but I received a paltry sum because the fund went down. This investment depends on market and my experience in this field is also helping me now. So why should I make the employees get dependent on NPS when the future is uncertain and no one knows what will happen to them. And when people have some insecurity, then some people engage in corruption too. Secondly, there is OPS in Army but not in BSF. Recently Delhi High Court said that OPS will have to be given to all para military forces. How can there be difference? CAG has said that so many years have passed but its rules and regulations have not been formed. Thirdly judicial commission has said that they will not accept it. High court judges would get OPS and other would get NPS. There are critics of my scheme and they are honourable citizens of the nation, I respect them but I would like to ask them that if such is the situation then answer them what will happen.

Chowdhary was put on APO. Addl charge of DSO Baran was given to RAS Rajat Kumar Vijayvargiya. More than 100 SDOs have been shifted while 5 ADMs were transferred. Posting given to two officers who became RAS after being promoted from Tehsildar service.

More names to be added in list of AICC members Jaipur (FIB): There is an inside story about the list of 50 AICC members from Raj. Last time the names of 72 people were sent to AICC & this time also the list of almost same number of names was sent. State in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa & PCC Chief GS Dotasra were asked to shorten the list. There are reports that 3 to 5 more names will be added to list. Many MLAs have been calling Dotasra after list was released.

In a

first,

Abhishek Shrivastava

Jaipur: For the first time in the history of Jaipur Development Authority (JDA, the preparation for review of cadre strength is being made comprehensively. The proposal for review was prepared on the instructions of JDC Ravi Jain.

UDH Minister Shanti Dhariwal gave green signal to the proposal and the proposal has been sent for approval to the Finance Department. Total number of posts are to

JDA’s cadre strength being reviewed

manship of JDA secretary Ujjwal Rathore and the proposal was made according to the recommendations of the committee.

Various development works related to JDA will not get stuck due to lack of manpower after cadre strength review.

be increased from 1,961 to 2,306 and re-determination of cadre strength is proposed in all cadres. The unemployed youth will get opportunities for recruitment in JDA and there will be

shortage of man power in development work and various works. The JDA was established on August 5, 1982 and after that the assessment has not been done so widely. The

cadre of all cadres of JDA has not been rescheduled. The biggest reason for rescheduling is the rapidly growing size of the city.

The committee was formed under the chair-

New recruitment will be possible on the increased posts of JDA service and more opportunities will be available on ex-cadre posts. The personnel coming on deputation will get more opportunities.

WHATEVER I LEARNED IN MY 50 YEARS OF POLITICAL CAREER, I HAVE APPLIED IN THIS BUDGET, SAYS CM EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SECURITY AMONG OTHERS, HAVE BEEN OUR MAIN FOCUS AREAS: CM

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in conversation with Aditi Nagar at the Chief Minister’s Residence in Jaipur on Saturday.

—Ashok Gehlot, CM

SHEIS LIKE WILDFLOWER!

COWGIRLS ARE TOUGH, STRONG, AND COURAGEOUS.

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

Cowgirls are tough, strong, courageous, and ambitious, and love their horses more than anything else. Their attire is both practical and fashionable, blending touches of femininity, masculinity, and downhome Southern charm. City

First brings to you tricks to dress up like a Cow Girl.

A pair of Bootcut, denim jeans-A pair of leather boots and denim jeans are favourites among the Cowgirls. you can wear cutoff denim shorts or a denim skirt.

Wear a button-down shirt

Shirts are a perfect fit for cow fashion, they can either be short-sleeved or long-sleeved. For a more casual look, wear a t-shirt. You can also roll the sleeves of your button-down to your elbows.

Choose cowboy hat- Hats are an irreplaceable piece of fashion, these timeless accessories can turn a normal look into a classic one. These kinds of hats come in black, brown and white. If you don’t want to wear a hat, try a bandana that matches the colour of your button-up shirt.

Bandana fashion-

Traditional cowboys and cowgirls alike used bandanas to absorb their sweat while working on the ranch. Nowadays, bandanas are mostly worn as a fashion statement. You can tie the bandana behind your neck so that the triangle part is facing your front.

CITY FIRST FIRST BRINGS TO YOU SOME AMAZING COWGIRL FASHION WHICH WILL MAKE YOU LOOK DIFFERENT!

Romantic Valentine's Day Collection from Le Creuset and It's All About Home

CELEBRATE

WITH STYLE

CITY FIRST

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and love is in the air! On February 12, we celebrate Hug Day, This is one of the mostawaited days of Valentine’s Week as it spreads the language of love, safety and how love can cut through even thick loneliness. Hug Day celebrates the importance of embracing each other in love. To celebrate this special day, couples love to host a formal dinner party, a relaxed gathering with friends, or an outdoor lunch. Setting the perfect table is a must. Any host will tell you,

build up a collection of little extras to make the table shine. Don’t forget the dinnerware you choose will be the focal point of attentionGunjan has designed a whole range of cutlery and dinnerware to add that extra oomph to any table setting. With these tips from Gunjan and LeCreuset Amour Collection, you’re sure to set the stage for a truly romantic Valentine’s Day celebration. Not only this Le Creuset and It’s All About Home also have a unique and lovely collection of Gifts for Your Special Someone. IAAH’s Valentine Collection has everything you need to surprise and delight your loved ones. With

—PHOTOS BY SHAID CHAUHAN

Gunjan Gupta

LORI'S comeback

Lori Loughlin attended the 30th Annual Movieguide Awards held in Los Angeles. This was her first award show appearance since her release from the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin. Both Loughlin and her husband Mossimo were arrested in March 2019 because of their involvement in Rick Singer’s college scandal admission.

Lori Loughlin made her appearance at the 30th Annual Movieguide Awards and looked amazing in an electric pink suit which included flared pants along with matching heels and a blazer. She paired it with a pink turtle neck top and accessorized it with a pink box purse. She completed her look with a high bun leaving blonde long face-framing locks on the sides. Loughlin seemed to enjoy her time during the award show with her friend Cameron Bure who was also her co-worker. Both of them got their pictures clicked while avoiding any

ONE YEAR OF GEHRAIYAAN

Go hard or go home

rom her acting journey, and personal battles to health issues, Samantha Ruth Prabhu is an inspiration in everything she does. She is a fighter and her latest workout video is proof of it. Truly incredible. The actress squats into the weekend like a boss with her 'hard workout' session

The romantic drama film Gehraiyaan, starring Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday and Dhairya Karwa, premiered on February 11 2022 on Amazon Prime Video.

As Gehraiyaan clocked 1 year, Ananya Panday took to her Instagram account to post an unseen picture of her, Deeepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Dhairya Karwa, and the film’s director Shakun Batra. The picture shows Siddhant, Shakun Batra, and Ananya seated on the couch, while Deepika and Dhairya pose behind them. Ananya looks gorgeous in a grey-coloured corset top paired with matching pants, while Siddhant is seen in an all-black outfit. Deepika Padukone looks carefree and happy in the picture, and she looks gorgeous in a black cut-out top. Sharing the picture, Ananya wrote, “special people, special movie #1YearOfGehraiyaan missing everyone SO much forever grateful for this,” and tagged the entire team.

Back to work

onam Kapoor gave birth to her first child with her husband Anand Ahuja and we bet the couple is on cloud 9. The Delhi 6 star who was on a maternity break till now wishes to get back to work and has expressed her desire in a recent interview.

The actress in a recent interview revealed that her travelling back and forth between India and the UK has not affected her work at all. She further added that taking a break during her pregnancy has been her best decision as she got to take some time off. She said that she is now getting back to work and will also be shooting for her upcoming films, adding that there's a lot to look forward to. Sonam concluded by saying, "I think everyone also needs to realise that I am coming back to work.”

ing squats with gym equipment on her shoulder. If we look closely, another inspiring thing, one can notice in the workout session is the band-aid on her. She took an intis treatment, on Friday. She truly believes in go hard or go

Flawless BEAUTY

Palak Tiwari, the name that holds credit for flaunting jaw-dropping looks and making everyone drool! With evolving fashion trends, Palak has managed to be a step ahead and has never been afraid to experiment with quirky and stunning outfits. Though her beauty grabs eyeballs, the charm she carries everywhere is just commendable and unbeatable! Time and again, she ef-

fortlessly became the talk of the town for her gorgeous photos, and there is no denying it. Taking to her Instagram handle, Palak shared a series of pictures in her bold look. She opted for a coffee brown bodycon dress which flaunted her plunging neckline. The actress looks stunning as she posed for the lenses. With minimal makeup, she kept her hair wide open with wavy curls and accessorized her look with some bangles. As

Ananya Panday

Her post...

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

Her post...

Lori Loughlin

Shruti Haasan

Her post...

Palak Tiwari

Sonam Kapoor

THE GRAND POLO CUP

CITY FIRST

The Maharaj Prithi Singh Baria Cup was played today as a part of the Jaipur Polo Season at the Rajasthan Polo Club. The participating teams were BMW and Team Baria. The neckto-neck match concluded with team Baria winning with a score of 7-6. After the match, an exquisite high tea with a sit down set up was organized. Spotted at the high tea were Padmanabh Singh, Narendra Singh, Priti Samode, Digvijay Singh Shekhawat, Angelique Singh, among others.

Vibrancy & Elation!

CITY FIRST

Poddar World School celebrated its 10th Annual Day on Saturday, amidst great zest, vibrancy and elation.

Anuprerna Singh Kuntal IAS Commissioner and Special Secretary Department of Child Rights was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Vinayak Sharma Chairman Sachh Bedhadak Media Group was the Guest of Honor on this occasion. The programme commenced with the lighting of the Ceremonial

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION FOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION

CITY FIRST

lamp. This was followed by the Prize Distribution Ceremony, managed by Madhulika Rao-School coordinator Monika Sharma.

The Cultural programme is based on the theme Abhyudaya: Transforming the desires. Desire is the starting point of all achievements, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.”

The students showcased the transformation of our desires and marched forward to achieve our goals.

JUNIOR SPORTS DAY!

Asian World School organised the annual prize distribution and junior sports day on Saturday on the premises of Asian World School amidst thrills, shrills and cheers. The program was started by the Chief Guest Ashok Gupta, IG (Planning & welfare) by lighting the lamp. On this occasion, the Chairman Sanjay Godika and Principal Mam greeted the visiting guests on behalf of the school family. Nishant Patni garced the occasion as the special guest and and encouraged the students. The program formally began with the annual report of the school. On this occasion, the meritorious students of the school were awarded for their academic and co-scholastic activities. The children enthralled everyone with a scintillating presentation on the theme Five Elements’.

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

Hindustan Zinc has been recognized for leadership in corporate transparency and performance on climate change by global environmental non-profit CDP, securing a place on its annual ‘A List’. The recognition speaks about the company’s commitment towards achieving the vision of Net Zero emissions and has made sustainability central to its growth and value-creation journey.On this achievement, Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc said, “Our strategic focus on decarbonizing Indian mining through the adoption of Battery Electric Vehicles, solar power and various initiatives helps us in achieving our aim of sustainability throughout varied cycles of operations. ’’

On the third day of the Delphic Games of Ra jasthan being organised by the Delphic Council of Rajasthan at JKK, a seminar on the topic ‘Media and Com munication for Heritage Conservation’ was or ganised on Saturday. In this seminar, former In formation Commission er and former corre spondent of BBC Naray an Bareth interacted with Prof. Dr Rakesh Batbyal, Center for Me dia Studies, JNU, Delhi. Dr Rakesh Batbyal said that our heritage is not aggression but decency. The media also needs to understand the heritage and avoid the aggression

ANI’s Chief Operating Officer Surinder Kapoor, who was part of the agency’s founding team, passed away on February 4 due to cardiac arrest. The condolence meeting took place on Saturday afternoon at Constitution Club annexe Speaker Hall, New Delhi. Surinder Kapoor is survived by his wife and two sons, his elder son Naveen Kapoor is the National Bureau Chief of ANI. Tributes poured in for the stalwart from all quarters including Baijayant Jay Panda, National Vice President BJP, Gaurav Bhatia, Spokesperson of BJP, Shahnawaz Hussain, National Spokesperson, BJP, Charu Pragya BJP and Pawan Khera, Chairman.

—PHOTOS

BY

SHAZID CHAUHAN

that is always being imposed on us. He said that heritage is not only visible, but democracy, equality, restraint and the tendency to save are also our heritage, which needs to be saved. Narayan Bareth said in the seminar that we have something or the other to save in every field, but now everything is marketdriven. Before the seminar,

CONDOLENCES!

the President of the Delphic Council of Telangana, Ajay Mishra and the President of the Delphic Council of Jammu and Kashmir, Ashok Singh welcomed both the guests, while at the end, the President of the Delphic Council of Rajasthan and Principal Secretary, Cooperative Department Mementoes were presented to the guests by Sreya Guha.

GREETINGS!

Jagdeesh Chandra was greeted by Jayati Mishra, of the First India family, as she reached the former’s residence to seek blessings on the occasion of her birthday on Saturday, as her birthday was on February 8.

Jagdeesh Chandra was greeted by Kumar Ganesh Jyotishi

son of Nibha Pareek and Subodh Kumar Pareek with Silkey, daughter of Madhu Kansal and Mahesh

Kansal took place on Friday, February 10 at Panigrahan Jagatpura (Airport Enclave).

Charu Pragya with others. Also seen is Naveen

Jagdeesh Chandra was greeted by Mukesh Kiradoo, of the First India family, as he reached the former’s residence to seek blessings on the occasion of his birthday on Saturday.

Jagdeesh Chandra was greeted by Aruj and Nisha, as they reached the former’s residence to seek blessings for their happy married life on Saturday. The marriage ceremony of Aruj and Nisha took place on January 26.

DURING THE DAY!

Under Sukanya

Yojana, on Saturday, 251 accounts were opened by Post Master Snehlata at Post Office Vaishali Nagar. Councilor and Greater Nagar Nigam Chairman Praveen Yadav, SP Sunil Kumar and HDFC Head K Bhalla appreciated the initiative.

The launch of Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) season 9 took place on Friday at Hotel Grand Hyatt, Mumbai amidst film stars from across the country. With the trophy, many celebrities like Sohail Khan, Sunil Shetty, Boney Kapoor, Manoj Tiwari, Jisshu Sengupta, Sudheer Babu, and Navraj Hans appeared on the stage with the Nirahua trophy. H&K Innovations Pvt Ltd has been appointed as the organiser of matches of Rajasthan

Kitchen

as he reached the former’s residence to pay a courtsey visit on Saturday.

on behalf of Bengal Tigers and Mumbai Heroes whose director is Ranjit Verma.

Garden Association’s Garden Bazaar was organised at Transfer Center on Saturday. More than 60 stalls were installed in the bazaar. Retired Major General Vikram Joshi lit the lamp and encouraged everyone to plant different types of trees on this occasion to be related to the environment.

Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy Minister of Indonesia felicitated Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her remarkable role in the tourism and hospitality sector at the Sate Awards-2023 program during the India Expo Mart in the National Capital Territory of Greater Noida on Friday. The award was received by the Director of Rajasthan Tourism Rashmi Sharma on behalf of the Chief Secretary.

The grand wedding ceremony of Varun,

A still from the polo match

Nisha, Usha and Shivali

Puneet Sanghi and Padmanabh Singh

Digvijay and Deepansh Lokesh, Rishee, Narendra and Kuldeep

Priti Samode and CK Bhatia

Usha Nair, Anuprerna Singh , Sumita Minhas and Vinayak Sharma

Shephali Charan, Reema Godika, Meghavi Bakliwal and Siddhi Ranka with students

Subodh Pareek, groom Varun and Ravindra Pareek

Newlyweds Varun and Silkey

Baijayant Jay Panda during the prayer meeting

Yashvinder Jaggi, ANI Manager during the meet Gaurav Bhatia and Sarika Kapoor with others

Kapoor

Late Surinder Kapoor

Samriddhi

Madhu Bhatt Talang, Yudhaveer singh Jadeja, Ajay Mishra, Narain Bareth, IAS Sreya Guha, Ashok Singh, Rakesh Batliyal and Ras Shipra

—PHOTOS BY SUNIL SHARMA