First India-Jaipur Edition-12th March 2023

MY FATHER SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ME: DCW CHIEF

New Delhi: DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal on Saturday said she has been a victim of sexual assault at the hands of her father when she was a child. She narrated her life’s ordeal and how she battled sexual assault.

‘MY HUSBAND KILLED SATISH KAUSHIK’ 1ST CHEETAH COUPLE RELEASED INTO WILD

New Delhi: Wife of a Delhi-based bizman, has claimed that her husband allegedly killed Actor Satish Kaushik for `15 crore which he took from him for investment purpose in Dubai. Turn to P6

Bhopal: The two Namibian cheetahs, Oban and Aasha, were successfully released in the wild of Kuno National Park, Sheopur district in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.

INFOSYS PREZ MOHIT RESIGNS, TO JOIN TECH MAHINDRA

New Delhi: Infosys president Mohit Joshi has resigned from company to join rival Tech Mahindra, 2 firms informed Stock Exchange. Joshi, who was part of Infosys since 2000, has been appointed as MD, CEO at Tech Mahindra.

JAIPUR l SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2023 l Pages 12 l 3.00 l RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 4 l Issue No. 273 www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/jaipur I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & MUMBAI

TULIP MANIA!

ASIA’S LARGEST TULIP GARDEN IN SRINAGAR

MARCH 19

Srinagar’s Tulip Garden will open for visitors from March 19. It is divided into 36 plots, 16-18 beds.

60 GARDENERS

3 PARKS

The visitors can sit in parks and have an immersive experience in a sea of colours flanked by the Zabarwan mountain range.

Many gardeners are shaping arrangements, which are in final stage, to ensure the opening of garden on the due date.

India & Australia bond; up a notch!

India, Australia agree for early conclusion of talks to expand trade pact; eye USD 100-billion trade

Moni Sharma

New Delhi: India and Australia on Saturday expressed their commitment for concluding the negotiations for expanding the scope of existing free trade agreement by the end of this year with an aim to push the bilateral trade to USD 100 billion. The issue came up for discussions during the meeting of joint ministerial commission between commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and his Australian counterpart Don Farrell. Both mins said they “will be much more ambitious & aim for USD 100-bn trade between the 2 economies.

Anthony Albanese speaking to media in Delhi on Saturday, before heading to US to meet Joe Biden & Rishi Sunak over AUKUS deal.

20 DAYS

The average life of a tulip flower can stretch from 20 to 25 days with overall bloom getting extended by adding late-blooming varieties.

1.6 MILLION

Tulips of 68 different varieties are expected to bloom. This year garden will have flowers, including Cap Knowya, Hamilton, Sweet Heart and Christmas.

Blooming Tulips at the Tulip Garden in Srinagar

LAND FOR JOB SCAM: RAIDS AGAINST LALU PRASAD'S FAMILY

`1 crore cash,

First India Bureau

SV Bank heat leaves billion stranded...

B

ATTACKS ON

HINDU

TEMPLES HAVE ‘NO PLACE IN AUSTRALIA’: OZ PM

BJP’s protest for widows of Pulwama heroes turns violent

Aishwary Pradhan and Satyanarayan Sharma

continued its mega protest in Jaipur over the issue. BJP workers pelted stones and breached barricades, prompting the police to resort to lathicharge. Dy LoP Rajendra Rathore, State BJP Chief Satish Poonia, other BJP workers were detained. More on P3

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday said it has seized “unaccounted cash” of `1 crore and detected proceeds of crime worth `600 crore after it raided RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family in connection with a money laundering case linked to railways land for job ‘scam’ linked money laundering case. In a statement on Saturday, the ED said, “Searches resulted in the recovery of unaccounted cash of `1 crore, foreign currency including USD 1,900, 540 gms gold bullion and more than 1.5 kg of gold jewellery worth about `1.25 crore.”

The ED team conducted searches at 24 locations on Saturday.

PREGNANT WIFE IN HOSPITAL, TEJASHWI SKIPS CBI SUMMONS

B

ustralian PM Anthony Albanese on Saturday said that he has assured PM Modi that those responsible for attacks on Hindu temples in Australia will “face the full force of the law”. He said,”I told Modi that Australia is a country that respects people’s faith, that we don’t tolerate the sort of extreme actions and attacks that we’ve seen on religious buildings, be they Hindu temples, mosques, synagogues, or churches.”State govt will always stand with martyrs’ families: CM

Naresh Sharma and Satyanarayan Sharma

ihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav has been summoned by CBI for questioning in the land-for-jobs scam on Saturday. Yadav was earlier summoned by CBI on March 4 but he had not appeared. “Tejashwi won’t appear before CBI due to his wife’s health. After ED raid, she was hospitalised on Friday in Delhi. She is pregnant and after 12 hours of interrogation she fainted due to BP issues,” sources said.BRS MLC K Kavitha at ED office in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, in New Delhi on Saturday.

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has approved a financial proposal of Rs 14,200 crore for the construction of ERCP, officials said on Saturday. ERCP was envisaged by previous BJP govt to solve problem of irrigation and drinking water in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan. With the approval, NavneraBelwa-Bisalpur-Israda

on Saturday.

CMR

Link Project, construction of Navnera Barrage and Israda Dam, Ramgarh and Mahlpur Barrages, Mej Anicut will be completed, they said. Water management work under the ERCP by 2040, additional drinking water requirements of Jaipur, Ajmer and Tonk districts and 16.82 TMC drinking water for the remaining rural areas of Jaipur district will be done.

on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

A

`600 crore in crime proceeds found in raids, says ED

ED GRILLS KCR’S DAUGHTER FOR 9 HOURS IN EXCISE POLICY CASE

Untimely rains damage 7 main crops in 18 districts

51,000 hectare of the crop has been damaged leading to 2-20 % damage

Kashiram Choudhary

Jaipur: Unseasonal rains and hailstorms have caused a lot of damage to crops in 18 districts. Cumin, Isabgol, Mustard, Wheat, Barley, Gram, Taramira and Horticulture crops got damaged. A report by the agriculture department has assessed damage to crops until March 9 in districts.

Seven main crops and horticulture have been damaged in the last one week in Rajasthan. Wheat was sown in 29.65 lakh hectare. About 51,000 hectare of the crop has been damaged leading to 2-20 percent damage.

Barley was sown in 4.08 lakh hectare in the

state but 15 percent of crops have been damaged. The total sowing area of gram was 20.57 lakh hectare. According to the department, the estimated damage is a loss of 5-15 percent.

Besides, mustard was sown in 38.98 lakh hectare but 2-20 percent was damaged. There is a possibility of loss of 5-40 percent of cumin crop. Up to 10.70 percent of Isabgol got damaged.

Cong to march to Raj Bhavan against Centre on March 13

First India Bureau

Pilot corners Centre over misuse of agencies

Manoj Sharma

Tonk: Former Deputy Chief Minister and Tonk MLA Sachin Pilot visited villages Nawabpura, Khajuria and Bamor under his constituency area and laid the foundation stone of various works while inaugurating various other works on Saturday.

Earlier, Pilot took a meeting of District Administrative Officers at Tonk Circuit House and took the report of development works. After

JDA takes action against illegal colonies in ecological area

First India Bureau Jaipur: The enforcement wing of JDA on Saturday took action against illegal colonies being developed in ecological areas of the city. The JDA team acted in gram Chawand Ka Mand, Luniyawas, Jaisinghpura Khor, Kalingarh, and other nearby areas where illegal colonies were being developed in ecological zones.

RAJASTHAN MILLETS CONCLAVE 2023

Kashiram Choudhary

reaching Sports Stadium at Tonk, Pilot inspected the ongoing development works there and gave necessary guidelines.

“Efforts are made to intimidate the leaders of the opposition by filing false cases against them through government investigation agencies like ED, CBI, Income Tax so that they cannot raise the issues of public development strongly. This system is harmful for a healthy democracy,” Pilot said.

Jaipur: Chalo Raj Bhavan march will be organized by the Congress under the leadership of PCC President Govind Singh Dotasra on March 13 in protest against the “crony capitalism policy of the Central govt in favour of Adani”. Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, CM Ashok Gehlot, ministers, MLAs, MLA candidates, State Congress office bearers, corporation/board presidents and vice presidents, senior Congressmen including office bearers will participate, said Swarnim Chaturvedi, PCC spokesperson. All Congressmen will gather at Civil Lines Gate where a big meeting will also be organized.

ST-24 sighted in Jamwaramgarh

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The movement of tiger ST-24 has been noticed in Kundal of Jamwaramgarh area. The tiger was seen in a camera trap in Kundal on Saturday. The tiger often remains from Sahu hill to Jali hill. Teams from Jamwaramgarh, Raiser, Achrol, and Sariska do regular monitoring of ST-24.

The tiger was not visible in the camera trap for about 10 days, in such a situation, the for-

est officials were concerned. The tiger reached Kundal via Oberoi Farm on Friday.

Crops got damaged in Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Jalore, Pali, Sirohi, Jodhpur, Barmer, Kota, Baran, Bundi, Jhalawar, Udaipur, Banswara.

“A scheme named Jagdamda Vihar (First) was being developed on eight bighas of land in gram Chawand Ka Mand. Illegal constructions were razed at five different locations. The land was falling under the ecological areas and boundary walls were razed without the approval of the JDA,” said a JDA official.

Jaipur: The two-day ‘Rajasthan Millets Conclave - 2023’ will be held in Jaipur from March 13. The millets conclave will be organised by the Agriculture Marketing Department at the State Institute of Agricultural Management in Durgapura. The chief guest of the program will be Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, while the special guest will be Agriculture Minister Lal Chand Kataria and Minister of Rajasthan Agriculture Marketing Murari Lal Meena.

On Saturday, Minister Murari Lal Meena took stock of prepara-

EFFORTS TO INCREASE PRODUCTION

tions and gave necessary directions to the officials. “Twenty percent of the country’s millet is being pro-

Women honoured at Indira Mahila Shakti event for doing excellent work

BJP hosts event on women empowerment

Kamal Kant Vyas

duced in Rajasthan. Bajra and Jowar are produced in large quantities in Rajasthan,” said Meena.

Meeting of state BJP to be held in Jaipur today

First India Bureau

Jaipur: District level ‘Indira Mahila Shakti Protsahan Samman’ ceremony was organized in the Zila Parishad Auditorium on Saturday. Organizations and personalities working in the field of women and girl child development were felicitated in the program organized under the aegis of District Administration and District Women Em-

powerment Office. Inaya Foundation was awarded the first prize at the function, while Sarita Yoga was awarded the second and Ekadashi Foundation the third prize. On this occasion, Deputy Director Women’s Empowerment Dr Rajesh Dogiwal also honoured Garima Sharma, Parul and Dr Shraddha for playing an important role in public awareness in the Udaan scheme.

Image for representational purpose only.

Neeta Buchra, state co-convenor of the BJP industry cell was also present. About 150 entrepreneurs, including women attended the programme. A large number of women workers of the BJP were also present in the programme.

First India Bureau Jaipur: An important meeting of state office representatives will be held on March 12 at the BJP headquarters in the state capital. In this meeting, along with the outline of the work to be done by the party in the coming days, the preparations for the upcoming state election will also be discussed. There are reports that in-charge Arun Singh may also attend the meeting. If party sources are to be believed, elections are to be held at the end of this year. In view of this, very less time is left to surround the Gehlot government of the state on anti-people issues. A strategy will be chalked out in the meeting to gherao the government.

Kanota Dam to be developed as eco-adventure site

—FILE PIC —FILE PIC

First India Bureau Jaipur: In order to promote water-based tourism activities, Jaipur’s Kanota Dam will be developed as an eco-adventure tourism site. Tourism Secretary Gayatri Rathore wrote a letter to Jaipur District Collector Prakash Rajpurohit regarding this.

HEARING AT INFO COMMISSION

In the letter, Rathore has requested for 25 bighas for MICE centre

Special courts organised for disposal of cases

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Chief Information Commissioner of Rajasthan State Information Commission DB Gupta said that special courts are being organised continuously by the Commission for speedy disposal of cases. He said that this is the sixth special court organized by the Commission in this sequence.

Gupta was hearing the cases of pending second appeals and com-

plaints related to Bharatpur division in the special court here on

Saturday. He said that a total of 261 cases of pending appeals and

SPEED UP CASES

complaints of Dholpur, Karauli and Bharatpur districts of Bharatpur

division were listed in this special court. A total of 5 courts were operated in the commission through which 260 cases were executed.

He informed that on an average 1,000 appeals and complaints are registered in the commission every month, out of which 1500 cases including backlog cases are being disposed of by the commission. Along with the hearing on the current cases, the backlog is also ending.

and 2-3 bighas of land for panorama of freedom fighters.

Instructions were also given to the local officials of the tourism department for this. A budget of Rs 2 crore has been given for sports boating and other activities.

Pradesh Congress Committee member Girraj Samotya expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for this.

`

2 CRORE FOR ACTIVITIES

In the letter, Rathore has requested for 25 bighas for MICE centre and 2-3 bighas of land for panorama of freedom fighters.Instructions were also given to the local officials of the tourism dept for this. A budget of Rs 2 cr has been given for sports boating and other activities.

Education leads to all-round development: Dr Raghu Shama

Imran Tak

Ajmer: The inauguration ceremony of the Students’ Union office was organized at the Government College, Kekdi on Saturday. The program started with the lighting of the lamp followed by a welcome song, after that the guests were welcomed. The details of college activities were presented by Principal Piyush Kumar Gupta and by mentioning the achievements in the current

session.

He urged that the college administration should continue to cooperate in the development of the college in

future also. Dr Raghu Sharma said that physical, mental, cultural i.e. all-round development can be achieved only through education.

A farmer is seen protecting opium crop from hailstorm and rain in Jhalawar. Farmers suffered losses to crops in 18 districts.

DB Gupta, Rajendra Prasad, Laxman Singh Rathore, Sheetal Dhankhar, ML Lather disposed of appeals at the special court in Jaipur on Saturday.

Sachin Pilot inspecting the ongoing development works at District Sports Stadium in Tonk on Saturday.

20% country’s millet is produced in Raj: Meena

Murari Meena with Dinesh Kumar, Kanaram, Sitaram Jat, & other department officers at the meeting in Jaipur on Saturday.

Women honoured at ‘Indira Mahila Shakti Protsahan Samman’ ceremony organised at the Zila Parishad Auditorium in Jaipur.

Dr Raghu Sharma inaugurated the Students’ Union office at government college in Kekri, Ajmer on Saturday.

BJP PROTEST FOR MARTYRS’ WIDOWS CONTINUES SEEKING JUSTICE, ACTION

Aishwary Pradhan & Satyanarayan Sharma

Jaipur: BJP leaders and workers protesting against the alleged misbehaviour with the wives of the martyrs pelted stones at the police in Jaipur on Saturday. When the workers left the party headquarters, police tried to stop them but MLA Madan Dilawar laid down at the feet of the police personnel. While trying to cross the barricade, State President Satish Poonia sustatained injury in his leg. Later, BJP leaders and workers courted arrest. They were taken to Vidyadhar Nagar police station and later released. There were protests in various districts across the state.

Poonia, Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore, MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, MP Ranjita Koli and many leaders were present during the demonstration. However, during the protest supporters of MP Kirori Lal Meena raised slogans against Poonia.

Pulwama martyrs’ wives Manju Jat and Sundari Devi have

A vandalised vehicle after police action during BJP leaders and workers’ protest against State Govt.

Need to give ‘satisfactory’ answer to protesters: Pilot

First India Bureau

Tonk: Former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Saturday reiterated that politics over the issues of virangana is wrong and it will send a wrong message. Talking to media in Tonk, Pilot said, “The issue of one-two job isn’t big, rules were amended earlier, and they can be amended further as well.”

Khachariyawas meets MP Kirodi, slams police action

“We should try to listen to them peacefully and give answers that gives them satisfaction. We should do whatever work we can. This is a matter related to the Union Home Ministry, but till now there is no dialogue or way of the solution has been shown from there. However, nobody should play politics on this sensitive issue,” Pilot added.

Dinesh Tiwari

Jaipur: Cabinet Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas reached the SMS Hospital to meet Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena, who is undergoing treatment there. He condemned the police action and said that Meena is his friend and he has stood for the common man.

“But the way action was taken against Kirodi Lal

Meena was wrong. It is wrong to hold the collar of such a big leader and action should be taken against the police for such an act,” he said.

AAP’s Vinay Mishra supporting Meena took a dig at the Ashok Gehlot government on Twitter. In his tweet, he opposed the police action.

BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari also reached the hospital and met Meena.

been demanding government jobs for their brother-in-law. The government argued that there was no such provision in the rules.

Martyr Hemraj Meena’s wife demanded a

statue in his name at Sangod Square and a school in his name. Now, they have demanded action against policemen for misbehaving with them.

BJP will gherao dis-

trict collectorates from March 15 on issues like complete farmers’ loan waiver, deteriorating law and order, paper leak, women’s safety, etc. Talking to the media,

Poonia said that there is an undeclared emergency-like situation in Rajasthan under the Congress rule. “BJP strongly condemns the misbehaviour by the police,” he said.

First India Bureau

Jaipur: The Jaipur City Transport Services Limited (JCTSL) in a bid to reduce noise pollution in Jaipur has decided to remove pressure horns from low floor buses plying in the city.

CMD of JCTSL

Ajitabh Sharma took a decision in this regard and directed officials that pressure horns should be removed from low-floor buses.

“The pressure horns will be replaced with normal horns in the low-floor buses. The decision has been taken to reduce noise pollution in the city, as the noise of the pressure horns blown by bus operators was unbearable and

created a lot of problems for the commuters,” said an official.

Earlier, to make the city transportation environment friendly, JCTSL had planned to appoint a Chief Sus-

tainability Officer (CSO) who would implement the environment sustainability governance (ESG) strategies. and sustainable policies on behalf of the corporation.

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Social workers awarded with the “National Youth Award of Rajasthan” will be able to travel free of cost in roadways from April 1.

In the budget, the state government allowed free travel for social workers who got national awards and first winners in cultural competitions, nationally awarded NCC cadets and scouts and guides.

Remove pressure horns from low-floor buses, orders JCTSL Free travel in Raj roadways buses for nat’l awardees GOVT HIKES FEE FOR LEARNING DRIVING Jaipur: The Transport Department in the State has increased the fee for people learning vehicles. Now, as per revised rates, Rs 2,500 will have to be given to learning light motor vehicles. Till now this fee was Rs 1,500. There has been an increase of one thousand in it. While for heavy vehicle driving, Rs 5,000 will have to be paid for driving a heavy vehicle. Earlier it was Rs 2,500 and now sees an upward revision by Rs 2,500. This can be a moment of rejoice for the Motor driving school operators in the city.

All the social workers have expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for providing this facility and have sought a meeting with the CM. In other states, employment, govt jobs, accommodation and other basic facilities are being provided to all the national awardees.

Sanjay Prajapat

Churu: Vikas Malu, the owner of the popular pan masala firm Kuber, has found himself in another controversy. The recent death of film director Satish Kaushik is said to have happened in suspicious circumstances and raises finger towards Vikas Malu.

Before his death, there was a Holi party organised at the farmhouse of industrialist Vikas Malu, where Satish Kaushik was also invited. The police found objectionable

medicines from the farmhouse, and it was Vikas Malu who had called Satish Kaushik to Delhi to attend this party. In such a situation, the police are now re-investigating the death row of Satish Kaushik.

The police are tracing the people involved in the party organised at the farmhouse.

First

Jaipur: The Forest department team on Saturday arrested a man for killing a leopard, in 48 hours. The leopard was electrocuted in the Raiser range by the accused with the help of an aide on March 4.

accused Bhagirath Meena, resident of Samred Kala, on Saturday. During interrogation, the accused confessed his crime. Pooran Solanki alias Kanaram Bawaria helped the accused in dumping the carcass.

India Bureau

BJP State chief Satish Poonia, along with party workers, indulges in a scuffle with police during the protest in Jaipur on Saturday. —PHOTOS BY MUKESH KIRADOO

A protester is being detained by the police personnel during the protest against State Govt over the fulfilment of demands by the martyrs’ widows in Jaipur.

BJP to gherao district collectorates from March 15 on issues like complete farmers’ loan waiver, deteriorating law and order, and paper leak

to

death: Cops

Man

TO REDUCE NOISE POLLUTION

This

undemo-

—Vasundhara Raje

SILICON VALLEY BANK BIGGEST US LENDER...

TO FAIL SINCE 2008 FINANCIAL CRISIS — A FINANCE EXPERT EXPLAINS THE IMPACT

DIPLOMATIC DEAL BETWEEN SAUDI AND IRAN IS BAD AUGURY FOR US

China is emerging as a dominant player in geopolitics, slowly trying to dislodge the US from its pedestal. Its latest diplomatic move to help revive diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two powerful adversaries in the Gulf region, marks USA’s receding influence. The two countries have not had diplomatic relations for the past seven years. Iran is already against America and Israel because of their attempt to isolate Teheran over its nuclear weapons programme. Iran and Saudi Arabia will also revive a security cooperation pact. Israel must be as concerned over this diplomatic coup by China as the US which is being increasingly marginalized in global politics.

Silicon Valley Bank, which catered to the tech industry for three decades, collapsed on March 10, 2023, after the Santa Clara, California-based lender suffered from an old-fashioned bank run. State regulators seized the bank and made the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation its receiver.

SVB, as it’s known, was the biggest U.S. lender to fail since the 2008 global financial crisis – and the secondbiggest ever. We asked William Chittenden, associate professor of finance at Texas State University, to explain what happened and whether Americans should be worried about the safety of their financial system.

WHY DID SILICON VALLEY BANK COLLAPSE SO SUDDENLY?

While these losses are just on paper - meaning they’re not realized until the assets are sold – they still can increase a bank’s overall risk. How much the risk will go up will vary from bank to bank.

The good news is that most banks currently have enough capital to absorb these losses – however large –in part because of efforts taken by the Fed after the 2008 financial crisis to ensure financial firms can weather any storm. So rest easy for now, the banking system is sound

The short answer is that SVB did not have enough cash to pay depositors so the regulators closed the bank. The longer answer begins during in the pandemic, when SVB and many other banks were raking in more deposits than they could lend out to borrowers. In 2021, deposits at SVB doubled. But they had to do something with all that money. So, what they could not lend out, they invested in ultra-safe U.S. Treasury securities. The problem is the rapid increase in interest rates in 2022 and

INDIAN START-UPS FEEL SVB TREMORS

2023 caused the value of these securities to plunge. A characteristic of bonds and similar securities is that when yields or interest rates go up, prices go down, and vice versa.

The bank recently said it took a US$1.8 billion hit on the sale of some of those securities and they were unable to raise capital to offset the loss as their stock began dropping. That prompted prominent venture capital firms to advise the companies they invest in to pull their business from Silicon Valley Bank. This had a snowball effect that led a growing number of SVB depositors to withdraw their money too.

The investment losses, coupled with the withdrawals, were so large that regulators had no choice but to step in to shut the bank down to protect depositors.

ARE THE DEPOSITS NOW SAFE?

From a practical perspective, the FDIC is now running the bank. It is typical for the FDIC to shut a bank down on a Friday and have the bank reopen the following Monday. In this case, the FDIC has already announced that the bank will reopen on March 13 as the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara. At the end of 2022, SVB had $175.4 billion in deposits. It’s not clear

The collapse of a bank located faraway in the famous Silicon Valley on Friday night sent tremors across the globe, including India. Shares of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) crashed by about 60 percent after it incurred a huge loss on its bond holding of $21 billion dollars. The estimated loss was of around $1.8 billion. This was not unexpected as the central banks have been raising interest rates to fight inflation. In the last 12 months the US Federal Reserve has hiked the interest rates by 4.5 percentage points. The panic led to a huge fall in global stock markets with Sensex falling by 900 points.

SVB, as it’s known, was the biggest US lender to fail since the 2008 global financial crisis – and the second-biggest ever. We asked William Chittenden, associate professor of finance at Texas State University, to explain what happened and whether Americans should be worried about the safety of their financial system

how much of those deposits remain with the bank and how much of those are insured and 100% safe. For depositors with $250,000 or less in cash at SVB, the FDIC said that customers will have access to all of their money when the bank reopens. For those with uninsured deposits at SVB – basically anything above the FDIC limit of $250,000 – they may or may not receive back the rest of their money.

WHAT WAS THE LAST US BANK TO FAIL?

Prior to the failure of SVB, the most recent bank failures occurred in October 2020,

Shares of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) crashed by about 60 percent after it incurred a huge loss on its bond holding of $21 billion dollars. The estimated loss was of around $1.8 billion

Before the rate hike process began, several US-based Indian start-ups had parked huge amounts of money in the SVB which has now been shut down by the US regulators. Some of the deposits were more than $250,000. The SVB began investing in Indi-

when both Almena State Bank in Kansas and First City Bank of Florida were taken over by the FDIC. Both of these banks were relatively small – with about $200 million in deposits combined. SVB was the biggest bank to fail since September 2008, when Washington Mutual failed with $307 billion in assets. WaMu fell in the wake of investment bank Lehman Brothers’ collapse, which nearly took down the global financial system. On the whole, U.S. bank failures aren’t all that common. For example, there were none in 2021 and 2022.

IS THERE ANY RISK

THAT MORE BANKS MIGHT FAIL?

At the end of 2022, SVB was the 16th-largest bank in the United States with $209 billion in assets. That sounds like a lot – and it is – but that’s just 0.91% of all banking assets in the U.S. There is little risk that SVB’s failure will spill over to other banks. Having said that, SVB’s collapse does highlight the risk that many banks have in their investment portfolios. If interest rates continue to rise, and the Federal Reserve has indicated that they will, the value of the investment portfolios of banks across the U.S. will continue to go down.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION

an ventures in 2003 and about 20 start-ups are exposed to the risk now posed by the collapse, much like the collapse of Lehman Bank and closure.

The SVB, however, has enough funds to pay off its insured depositors. The SVB’s custodian has been quoted as saying that the bank has $175 billion in deposits and $209 billion assets.

The collapse has come as a rude shock in the world of tech start-ups. The main concern of Indian startups is over transfer of their assets.

Pinterest board member Gokul Rajaram summed up the situation: “India-based founders don’t know who to turn to as an alternative to SVB. Likely true for founders in other countries too…”

For the peace process to sustain, the two Islamic nations will have to stop their proxy war in Yemen’s sectarian hostilities. It could then bring peace between Iran backed Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed exiled government. Ramifications of this deal may also be felt in Syria and Lebanon.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Be truthful; do not yield to anger. Give freely, even if you have but little. The gods will bless you. Buddha

TOP TWEETS

Nitin Gadkari @nitin_gadkari

Shri Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg, which connects two important religious places in Maharashtra, Alandi and Pandharpur, was inspected today along with MP Shri Ranjit Singh Naik Nimbalkar ji and officials. #PragatiKaHighway #GatiShakti #PalkhiMarg

POST-BUDGET WEBINAR

Skilled craftsmen symbols of self-reliant India: Modi

It was the last of a series of 12 post-budget webinars organized by the govt to seek ideas and suggestions for effectively implementing the initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2023

New Delhi (ANI):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed a post-Budget Webinar on the subject of ‘PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman’.

The webinar was the last and final of a series of 12 post-budget webinars organized by the government to seek ideas and suggestions for effectively implementing the initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2023. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that for the last three years, a tradition of a post Budget dialogue with the stakeholders has emerged.

The PM expressed happiness that all stake-

Tripura: 3 held over attack on Cong-Left MPs

Sepahijala ( ANI):

Three persons have been arrested in connection to an attack on the joint team of Congress and Left Front MPs in State’s Nehalchandranagar, Tripura Police said on Saturday. According to the police, the joint delegation was allegedly attacked by a mob, while they were on a visit to Bishalgarh to meet affected families by post-poll violence. The Tripura Police safely escorted the delegation.

LITIGANT

holders have participated productively in these discussions. He noted that instead of discussing the making of the Budget, the stakeholders have discussed the best possible ways of implementing

the provisions of the Budget.

The Prime Minister remarked that the series of post-budget webinars is a new chapter where the discussions held inside the Parliament by Parliamentar-

ians are being held by all stakeholders where getting valuable suggestions from them makes for very useful practice.

The Prime Minister said that today’s webinar is dedicated to the skill and expertise of the crores of Indians.

Referring to skilling and creating job opportunities for crores of youth through Skill India Mission and Kaushal Rozgar Kendra, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the need for a specific and targeted approach. PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana or PM Vishwakarma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said is a result of this thinking.

Explaining the need for the scheme and the rationale of the name ‘Vishwakarma’, the Prime Minister talked about the exalted status of Lord Vishwakarma in the Indian ethos and a rich tradition of respect for those who work with their hands with implements. The Prime Minister said while a few sectors’ artisans received some attention, many classes of artisans such as carpenters, ironsmiths, sculptors, masons and many others that are an integral part of society have been adapting to the changing times to fulfill the needs of the society that were ignored.

Will KCR’s daughter be arrested?

Mahesh Sharma

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia was called by the CBI for the second time when the party leaders started saying that he would be arrested. And literally in the second appearance itself, the central agency arrested him. In the liquor scam case in which Sisodia has been arrested by the CBI, the ED called Kavitha, daughter of Telangana Chief

IN THE COURTYARD

COURT DIRECTS DELHI POLICE TO REGISTER FIR

Prayagraj: A Motor Accident Claims Tribunal here has asked the Delhi Police to register an FIR against a litigant and probe her for placing on record a fake court order to claim Rs 23.50 lakh as compensation. The tribunal’s Presiding Officer Ekta Gauba Mann said the attempt by the litigant Pooja to wrongfully claim the compensation awarded to the petitioner in another case was a “very serious issue”. “It appears the applicant Pooja has prepared a fake order of this court dated December 1, 2021, by getting it fabricated by mentioning in place of Pushpa Rajwar vs Nawab Ali as Pooja vs the State and others and by mentioning in place of the name of this court the wrong name of the court as Ekta Gautam Mann,” the judge said.

PLEAS ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGES IN APEX COURT ON MONDAY

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a batch of pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriages on Monday.

According to Monday’s (March 13) cause list uploaded on the apex court’s website, the pleas are listed for hearing before a bench. The apex court had, on January 6, clubbed and transferred to itself all such petitions pending before different high courts, including the Delhi High Court.

HAND CHOPPING CASE: NIA ANNOUNCES `10L REWARD FOR INFO

Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for providing information on the whereabouts of one Sawad the prime accused in the 2010 Kerala hand chopping case, an official said on Saturday. Sawad is a resident of Ernakulam district in Kerala. The case pertains to the chopping of a professor, T.J. Joseph’s right hand in July 2010 by the activists of the now-banned organisation, Popular Front of India.

COURT SAYS MUKHTAR ANSARI’S IS THE MOST DREADED GANG, DENIES BAIL TO ITS MEMBER

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has denied bail to a member of Mukhtar Ansari gang in a 2010 murder case in Mau in which the jailed gangster-turned-politician is also an accused. The court said Ansari’s gang is the “most dreaded criminal gang of India” and it is possible that the accused, Ramu Mallah, could influence witnesses and their deposition in the case if allowed to come out of jail. Mallah, who is being tried in several other cases, had moved the bail application.

Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and a member of the state Legislative Council, for questioning. Earlier the CBI has questioned her. So, it can be said that

she too has a ‘second calling’. However, till now her party has not started saying that she too can be arrested. But this matter is being discussed.

KARNATAKA

MY STATEMENTS FORGED, FORCED ME TO SIGN: PILLAI

New Delhi: Hyderabadbased businessman Arun Ramchandra Pillai, arrested in a money laundering case related to the alleged Delhi excise scam, has moved a city court accusing the ED of forging his statements in the matter. The ED had claimed that he is a close aide of BRS MLC and Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha.

ASSEMBLY POLLS

Same

happened in 2017: Nitish on CBI, ED action

Patna (PTI): Bihar

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday hinted that he agreed with the contention of ally Rashatriya Janata Dal (RJD) that the recent crackdown on its president Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members by the CBI and ED was “politically motivated”. This was in contrast to the stand he took in 2017, when he had wanted the ally to come clean on charges of corruption.

The CM and JD(U) leader also rubbished speculations that he was maintaining an eloquent silence on the issue because of anxieties about tarnishing his own image for probity by aligning with “tainted” politicians and could even be thinking of breaking away with the “Mahagathbandhan”, which besides RJD, also includes Congress and the Left.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was approached with queries by journalists who wanted to know about his views on the questioning of Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi by CBI earlier this week, followed by raids conducted on a number of premises, including houses of his three daughters and a daughter in law by ED on Friday and a fresh summons issued by the CBI to younger son and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav.

BJP govt’s term to end on May 24: CEC

Bengaluru (Agencies)

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday that the term of fifteenth legislature in Karnataka will end on May 24.

“There are 5,21,73,599 voters in Karnataka. I have discussed with all party representatives, election officers and BBMP staff in connection with poll preparation,” the CEC said.

Addressing a press conference Kumar said that he had discussed with the representa-

LALU FAMILY FREE TO MOVE COURT IF HAVE PROOF AGAINST US: BIHAR LoP

Patna (Agencies):

Amid RJD national president Lalu Yadav’s family and associates allegation that the BJP is misusing the central agencies, Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha on Saturday said such statement will not be of any help, and if they have any proof, they are free to move court.

Issuing statements

PGV CONDEMNS ACTION AGAINST TEJASHWI

New Delhi (PTI):

Congress leader

Priyanka Gandhi

Vadra on Saturday alleged that the BJP-led government is indulging in politics of “suppressing” the unyielding voices of the Opposition, and claimed that the action by probe agencies against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav was part of this.

in the media would not help them, he claimed.“Instead of blaming the BJP, the Lalu family should disclose how they have obtained such a big amount of money. They are misleading people. If they have any proof against BJP of misusing the central agencies or have any proof against any BJP leaders, they are free to go to the court,” Sinha said.

KHARGE RAPS SEARCHES AT YADAV HOUSES

New Delhi (PTI): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused the Narendra Modi govt of making “sinister attempts to kill democracy” by misusing probe agencies against Opposition leaders, as he slammed the Centre over the ED searches on the premises of former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family.

PM Modi to inaugurate B’luru-Mysuru E-way

SENIOR CITIZENS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY TO GET VOTE-FROM-HOME OPTION: ECI

Bengaluru (ANI): CEC Rajiv Kumar on Saturday said all senior citizens above 80 and people with disability will get a vote-from-home option in the Karnataka Assembly elections.“For the first time, we are going to provide in Karnataka the facility to all 80 plus and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) voters, if they so desire, to vote even from their homes. There is a form 12D which will be available within five days of the notification so that any 80 plus or PwD voter, desirous of voting from home, can be facilitated,” he added.

tives for three days on holding elections transparently.

Chief Election Commissioner expressed his displeasure over

low rate of voter turn-out especially in Bengaluru in 2018 general assembly elections. Bengaluru has emerged as the IT hub and de-

spite this, lower percentage of voting is disheartening, he said. The voter’s turnout in urban areas has come down, he stressed.

SPIRIT OF MOTHERHOOD

Bengaluru (ANI): PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Karnataka on March 12 where he will dedicate the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway to the nation. The 118 km long project has been developed at a total cost of around Rs 8,480 crores. It will reduce the travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from around 3 hours to about 75 minutes. Besides, he will inaugurate and lay foundation stones of various projects of Hubballi-Dharwad smart city.

CREDIT WAR OVER K’TAKA EXPRESSWAY INTENSIFIES

Bengaluru: Credit war on Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway intensified in with BJP stepping up its attack on JD(S) accusing it of attempting to claim credit for the project.

BJP MLA KS Eshwarappa dubbed the “attempts” of JD(S) to “claim” credit for the project.

Microsite on PM’s website remembers ‘Maa’

The site also features Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special blog, which he wrote for his mother as she approached her 100th year

New Delhi (PTI): ‘Maa’, a micro-site on PM Narendra Modi’s official website, that pays tribute to the memory of his mother and celebrates the unwavering spirit of motherhood has been launched.

Heeraba Modi, moth-

er of PM, passed away on December 30, 2022. Condolences and heartfelt sympathies poured in from around the world following her passing away.

The microsite ‘Maa’, which is dedicated to Heeraba, celebrates the unwavering spirit

of motherhood and pays tribute to her memory.

The website captures the love and unbreakable bond shared be -

tween a mother and her son. The microsite carries videos and selected quotes of Heeraba that convey the teachings she imparted to her children.

The site also features Prime Minister Modi’s special blog, which he wrote for his mother as she approached her 100th year.

There is also an audio version of the blog narrated in Hindi.

Heeraba Modi’s life and journey are cap -

tured in four sections of the website – life in public domain, nation remembers, the world condoles and celebrating motherhood.

In the section ‘life in public domain’, photographs and videos illustrate the humble and simple life of Heeraba. This section also contains quotes from various blogs and interviews with PM Modi on his mother as well as public artwork celebrating their bond.

GIVES FAKE CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION,

DELHI EXCISE SCAM

PM Narendra Modi with his mother Heeraba. —FILE PHOTO

BRS MLC K Kavitha arrives at ED office in New Delhi on Saturday.

PM Narendra Modi addresses post-budget webinar on ‘PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman’ on Saturday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Bihar Guv Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar with CM Nitish Kumar.

GoI writes to States, UTs over H1N1, H3N2 cases

Union Health Secy says special care should be taken in case of young kids and elderly New Delhi (ANI): Union Health Secretary

Rajesh Bhushan in a letter to the States and Union Territories on Saturday expressed his concerns over the rising trend in other Influenzalike Illnesses & Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (ILIs/SARIs) being witnessed in some States/UTs across India.

The letter said that it is important to raise community awareness regarding adherence to respiratory and hand hygiene, promoting early reporting of symptoms, and limiting the contact of those people who are suffering from respiratory illness. “In the present season, a variety of

SMUGGLER

Guwahati: The Border Security Force (BSF) Guwahati Frontier foiled a smuggling bid and apprehended one narcotic smuggler along with prohibited Yaba (Methamphetamine) tablets on the Indo-Bangladesh international border, officials said on Saturday. They further said based on reliable input, on March 11, BSF troops apprehended one Indian smuggler and seized 718 Nos prohibited Yaba Tablets worth Rs 3.59 lakh from his possession.

AIR

weather conditions and behavioural reasons (like less than adequate attention to personal hygiene, sneezing and coughing without proper protection in close proximity of other people, closed indoor gatherings of people, etc.)

Kaushik death: Police to examine CCTV footage

dren, old age people and people suffering from comorbidities who are particularly at risk and vulnerable to H1N1, H3N2, Adenoviruses, etc.

The letter said gradual rise in COVID-19 test positivity rates in some States is a concerning issue that needs to be promptly addressed.

make the environment conducive to the circulation of a number of viral respiratory pathogens like Influenza A (H1N1, H3N2 etc.), Adenoviruses, etc,” the letter reads.

He added that special care should be taken in the case of young chil-

“Despite low number of new cases, equally low number of hospitalisations and significant advances made in terms of COVID-19 vaccination coverage, there is a need to remain vigilant and focus on the five-fold strategy of testtrack-treat-vaccination and adherence to COVID appropriate behaviour.”

COURTESY MEET!

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday approved the appointment of Pramod Tiwari as deputy leader of the party in Rajya Sabha. He has taken over the post left vacant by Anand Sharma. The party also approved the appointment of Rajani Patil as the party’s whip in the Upper House. Sources said the appointments were made by the Congress president to fill the vacancies following the retirement of Anand Sharma and the demise of Rajeev Satav.

Bengaluru: An air hostess, who flew down to the city from Dubai to meet her male friend, reportedly jumped to her death on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

According to police, the incident took place on the premises of Renuka Residency in Koramangala locality. The deceased has been identified as 28-year-old Archana from Himachal Pradesh. She had jumped from the fourth floor of the apartment. Preliminary investigations reveal that she worked for a reputed airline company and had come down from Dubai to meet her friend Adesh, a software professional. Adesh hailed from Kerala and is working in Bengaluru. Police state that both were in a relationship for the past several years.

1.3

Guwahati: Assam Police have seized 1.3 kg drugs near border with Mizoram, officials said on Saturday. The seizure was made from a vehicle on Friday, which also led to the arrest of three persons on charges of drugs peddling. The vehicle was reportedly coming from Mizoram.“Yesterday (Friday), we got a tip-off that a car heading from Mizoram was transporting drugs. We deployed a naka to monitor the route and stopped a car. We discovered 100 drug-filled soap containers totaling 1.3 kg during the check,” the police said.

New Delhi: The ED has arrested Vivek Aranha, partner in Rosary Education Group, Pune, under the provisions of PMLA, an official said on Saturday. Aranha was produced before a Sessions Judge Mumbai on Friday which remanded him to ED’s custody till March 20. The ED has alleged that Aranha had obtained multiple loans totalling Rs 46 crore from Cosmos Cooperative Bank, Pune, by submitting fabricated documents of property as mortgage with the bank, and thereafter diverted the same for his extravagant lifestyle causing a loss of Rs 45 crore to the bank.

Kerala’s church body seeks ban on drama

Kochi (PTI): Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), the apex body of the Catholic Church in the state, has urged the state government to ban the staging of a Malayalam drama alleging that it portrayed Christianity along with its congregations and convents in a bad light.

A recent meeting of bishops and heads of various congregations, chaired by KCBC president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis here, condemned the play ‘Kakkukali’ and opined that its staging was a blot on the culture of Kerala. A play based on the

New Delhi (ANI): After receiving the detailed post-mortem report of Bollywood actor Satish Kaushik, the Delhi Police is examining seven hours of CCTV footage at the farmhouse in Delhi where he celebrated Holi. The detailed post-mortem report of Kaushik confirms that the death was a “natural” one and occurred due to cardiac arrest. According to the post-mortem report, the cause of death was cardiac arrest due to coronary artery blockage which is associated with coronary artery diseases. Death appears to be natural in manner, sources said.

“OBJECTIONABLE MEDICINE FOUND FROM FARMHOUSE”

New Delhi: Delhi Police have found packets of ‘objectionable medicine’ from the farm house in Bijwasan where Satish Kaushik fell ill after playing Holi, and later died on the way to hospital.

The farm house belongs to Kaushik’s friend Vikas

Malu. Police are now trying to find out who the medicines were meant for. It will be clear after investigation if Satish Kaushik had anything to do with it, sources said. The police have also discovered that there was an old rape case against Vikas Malu.

FROM P1... My husband...

She made the claim in a complaint she lodged with the Delhi Police Commissioner’s office, alleging that Kuashik was demanding the money back which her husband didn’t want to repay. She alleged that Kaushik was murdered with some pills which were arranged by her husband. The woman claimed that she got married to the businessman on March 13, 2019, adding that she was introduced to Kaushik by her husband and the late actor met them regularly in India and Dubai. She claimed that on August 23, 2022 Kaushik had visited their house in Dubai and demanded Rs 15 crore from her husband.

WBSSC case: Kin of Didi, Min in black list

Kolkata: The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) has published a list 842 nonteaching staff in the Group-C category of different state-run schools whose services have been terminated following an order from a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court.

Of names figuring in list, two names are currently in focus as they are relatives of CM Mamata Banerjee and Minister Srikanta Mahata. The 155th name on the list is that of Bristy Mukherjee posted the at Bolpur High School in Birbhum district. It

NPCL’s new initiatives for its consumers

Noida: The NPCL has announced installation of additional supply indication lamps at the point of supply for its consumers residing in group housing societies.

story of Malayalam writer Francis Noronha, ‘Kakkukali’ revolves around a young nun and her struggles and challenges which she comes across in a convent.

Alappuzha-based Neythal Nataka Sangham gave the story a stage adaptation under the direction of Job Madathil.

“We understand that our consumers face difficulties determining whether the grid supply is available or not, especially during power outages. To address this, we have installed additional indication lamps at the point of supply, which will help consumers verify whether grid supply is available or not when there is no supply in their individual dwelling unit,” NPCL said.

SALUTE TO THE TALENT

is learnt that she is a niece of the CM and her father Nihar Mukherjee happens to be the maternal cousin of CM Mamata Banerjee. Admitting about the family ties, Nihar Mukherjee told medi persons that his connections with the administrative head of the state are extremely limited these days.

Anurag Thakur inaugurates 4th Y20 Consultation Meet in Pune

First India Bureau

Pune: The fourth Y20 Consultation Meeting was held at the Symbiosis International University (SIU) in Pune on Saturday Union Minister for Youth affairs & Sports and Information & Broadcasting Anurag

Thakur was the Chief Guest for the inauguration ceremony. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said “I am delighted to be in Pune, a city known for its thriving manufacturing industry, which is home to some of the world’s largest automo-

bile engineering and electronics companies. Pune’s reputation as the cultural capital of Maharashtra and a leading education hub cannot be overstated.

With over 10 universities and 100 institutes, the city has been a beacon of knowledge and culture for generations,

attracting students and scholars from across the world. Institutions like Symbiosis provide quality education to thousands of students across the globe. There could not be a better place to organize this Y20 event. Such institutions sow and nurture the seeds of change.”

In you, world saw glimpse of India’s sporting prowess: PM to Sania

lll

India’s Tennis sensation Sania Mirza has posted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s letter, dated March 9, on her twitter handle

New Delhi (PTI): “In your excellence, the world saw a glimpse of India’s sporting prowess,” PM Narendra Modi told Sania Mirza while congratulating the legendry athlete for her glorious career in which she illustrated that “more women can pursue tennis and excel in it”.

Sania, who won six Grand Slam titles in her career, bid adieu to the game last month in Dubai, where she played her final tournament.

In his congratulatory message to Sania, the PM conveyed that Sania has left an indelible

mark on Indian sports, inspiring the coming generation of athletes. Sania posted the let-

ter, dated March 9, on her twitter handle.

“Tennis lovers will find it difficult to fathom that you will not be playing professionally now onwards,” he wrote.

“…..In your excellence, world saw a glimpse of India’s sporting prowess. When you began playing, India’s tennis landscape was very different. What you did was to illustrate that more women can pursue tennis and excel in it.

“But, beyond that,

your success also gave strength to several other women who wanted to pursue a career in sports but for some reason or the other were hesitant to do so,” wrote the PM adding that Sania’s success filled every Indians’ heart with pride.

The PM also recollected the time Sania went through a tumultuous phase, when a wrist injury almost jeopardised her career, before she emerged a strong double player.

SANIA THANKS PM FOR HIS INSPIRING WORDS AFTER HER FAREWELL MATCH

New Delhi (ANI): Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his kind and inspiring words after the player bid an emotional adieu to the sport in her hometown of Hyderabad at the venue where it all started for her as a 16-year-old. PM

Modi in a letter to Mirza said that as India’s best tennis player, she had left an indelible mark on

Indian sports, inspiring the coming generations of athletes. “I would like to thank you Honorable Prime Minister @ narendramodi Ji for such kind and inspiring words. I have always taken great pride in representing our country to the best of my ability and will continue to do whatever I can to make India proud. Thank you for your support,” tweeted Sania.

HELD NEAR INDO-B’DESH BORDER WITH YABA TABLETS

KG DRUGS SEIZED NEAR ASSAMMIZORAM BORDER

PRAMOD TIWARI IS CONG’S RS Dy LEADER, RAJANI PATIL WHIP

COSMOS BANK LOAN FRAUD: ED ARRESTS EDUCATIONIST ARANHA

HOSTESS JUMPS TO DEATH FROM FLAT ON 4th FLOOR IN BENGALURU APARTMENT

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan. —FILE PHOTO

People stand near a sand art of actor-director Satish Chandra Kaushik created by sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, in Puri.

Anurag Thakur lights a camp to inaugurate the event in Pune.

Tennis player Sania Mirza and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

President Droupadi Murmu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Saturday.

44 CRIMINALS HELD IN SEPARATE POLICE CRACKDOWN IN JODHPUR

About 60 teams of 400 policemen raided the houses of 62 history sheeters at once

Shiv Prakash Purohit

Jodhpur: In a major action against habitual criminals, the Jodhpur (East) police conducted raids on several spots in the city on Saturday.

About 60 teams of 400 policemen raided the houses of 62 history sheeters at once and arrested 44 habitual criminals. Illegal opium, Doda chura (opium), ganja, hookah, liquor, sword and sharp weapons were recovered and cases have been registered against 10 criminals.

The police also seized suspicious Maruti K10, Mahindra Scorpio and Renault Duster vehicles. DCP East Dr Amrita Duhan said that instructions have been given by the Police Headquarters to launch

Offering Condolences...

a special operation against habitual criminals in the city.

60 teams simultaneously raided the houses of 62 history sheeters on Saturday morning.

There were 28 raids in the Mandore area, 16 in an east circle, and 18 in the central circle, where

Action against 247 miscreants taken in special drive in Kota

First India Bureau

Kota: Conducting a special operations against several proclaimed criminals, the police formed a total of 75 teams on Friday and took action against 247 miscreants in a day.

locations of 28 history sheeters were raided and an intense search was carried out. Also, four habitual criminals were arrested and four cases were registered in Mandore circle and six habitual criminals were arrested in circle east by registering six cases.

Man flaunts gun on social media, held in Dholpur

First India Bureau Dholpur: A youth has been arrested for uploading photographs with an illegal weapon on social media. The action was taken under Operation Guardian under the direction of SP Manoj Kumar.

City SP Sharad Chowdhary said instructions have been given to conduct a special campaign from March 1 to March 31, 2023, from police headquarters for the arrest of wanted criminals and action against firearms. Under this campaign, Kota City Police formed 75 teams and took action against identified history sheeters, hardcore

JMCG officer attacked by dog during pet shop sealing

criminals, identified professional mafias, habitual criminals, rowdy sheeters, permanent warrant miscreants, fugitives and wanted criminals in the city.

In this, arrested offenders were charged with breach of peace, possessing illegal sharp weapons & liquor, involved in gambling and betting in public places.

Cops intensify action against drug peddlers

First India Bureau Chittorgarh/Tonk:

in connection with the sale of seized illegal opium by registering a case under the NDPS Act.

Rajesh Thakur, a resident of Bajhera, was arrested with a countrymade firearm and .315-bore cartridges.

The Dholpur police are continuously monitoring social media after instructions from the SP.

The police arrested three accused in the case of opium smuggling by seizing 6 kg of illegal opium from a Brezza car during a blockade on Friday in Nimbahera area. Illegal opium was found in a plastic bag in the trunk kept in the Brezza car, which weighed 6 kg. Three accused were arrested from the spot after seizing illegal opium and Brezza car. A detailed investigation is going on

Bharat Gaurav train leaves for religious sites in South India

Meanwhile, Srikaranpur police of Sriganganagar arrested two with 480 grams of ganja under the NDPS Act. While in the Deoli region of Tonk district, the Ghad police station took action against the illegal drug opium. The police seized about 34 quintals of opium plants and arrested three accused. Baran police arrested two youths, with 1100 grams of ganja.

MLA Baljeet Yadav holds protest run in Suratgarh and

Raisinghnagar

Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje reached Samthar city in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday to offer condolences on the demise of Maharaj Ranjeet Singh Ji Judeo, father-in-law of her son, Dushyant Singh and paid tributes to him. Raje consoled the bereaved family including her daughter-in-law, Niharika and prayed to the Almighty to grant peace to the departed soul.

“The demise of Maharaja Saheb, is a personal loss for my family,” she said.

2 die, 6 injured after bus overturns in Bharatpur

First India Bureau

Bharatpur: Two persons were killed and six others injured when their bus hit a road divider and overturned after the driver dozed off in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district on Saturday, police said.

The accident happened on NH-21 near Khedli crossing under Bhusavar police station.

The bus was going to Jaipur from Agra, police said, adding that the deceased have been identified as Vaibhav and Gautam.

The bodies have been kept at the mortuary and family members have been informed, police said.

Police said the damaged bus was removed from the road to maintain traffic.

Jaipur (FIB): A team of JMC Greater was attacked by a dog after they took action at a pet shop at Bhan Nagar at Queen’s Road on February 26. The team went to seal the shop owing to non-payment of UD tax. “Revenue officer Paramveer Dular along with a 15-member team reached the spot to seal. The shop owner protested and a dog was let loose on team in which Dular was injured,” said a source. The shop owner was booked at Chitrakoot Police Station.

First India Bureau Sikar : ‘Bharat Gaurav’ tourist train left from the city to visit the pilgrimage sites of South India on Saturday.

According to CPRO Captain Shashi Kiran, the train on a 10-day journey, carries about 490 pilgrims visiting Madurai, Rameswaram, Tirupati, Kanyakumari and Mallikarjuna. There are 180 passengers from Sikar and 290 passengers from Jaipur have boarded the train. The remaining passengers boarded from

THREE-DAY FEST IN BARMER

Poster for Thar Fest released

Ashok Shera

Barmer: Thar Festival will be organized in the Barmer district from March 18 to 20 to promote the art and culture.

Collector Lok Bandhu Yadav released the poster for the event at the Collectorate on Saturday in the presence of Padmashree Anwar Khan, Additional District Collector Surendra Purohit, and other administrative officers.

Thar Sundari Chanchal Jangid, and various dignitaries, including Mukesh Pachori,

GOVERNOR

and Om Joshi were also present.

Several programmes are being organised in the three-day event.

Some of them are Kavi Sammelan, where

IN JODHPUR

Kumar Vishwas will be there, a horse race, a camel tattoo show, folk songs, and others.

Besides, various artists will also showcase their skills at the event

‘Promote courses related to rural start-ups’

Guv

Rajeev Gaur

Jodhpur: Governor and Chancellor Kalraj

Mishra, while presiding over the fourth convocation of the University at the Dr P Joshi Auditorium of Agriculture University, Jodhpur, on Saturday called upon the people to come forward in making India a strong, prosperous and devel-

oped nation by combining ancient agricultural knowledge and tradi-

tions with modern and advanced technology. Emphasising upon

innovations related to marketing and branding of agricultural products, Mishra said.

“Universities should work towards the development of entrepreneurial qualities in students. Students should be encouraged for startups related to agricultural marketing and guidance,” he said.

The Governor distributed 154 degrees in the convocation ceremony.

These include 130 graduates, 23 post graduates, a Vidya Vachaspati de-

gree and gold medals to seven students. He also laid the foundation stone of the Constitution Garden set up at the University premises.

Mishra also released an information booklet on Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering & Dairy Technology, syllabus and Profitable gardening manual of Lemon. Describing agriculture as the backbone of the Indian economy, he said, “Education should directly benefit farmers.”

Sawai Madhopur and Kota. The train was flagged off with much

fanfare, drum beats and flower showerings on the pilgrims.

Drunk man kills brother over minor trade rivalry

Arif Mansoori

Jhalawar: In Bagher town of the district, a drunk brother attacked his own younger brother with a knife and killed him on Saturday.

After the incident, the accused fled from the spot. The severely injured was taken to the district hospital with the help of family members, where doctors declared him dead.

After the information, the police reached the spot, and a matter of minor dispute has come to light between the 2

brothers. The elder brother attacked the younger brother Sonu Panchal with a knife. The police are investigating the case and the statements of family members are also been recorded. During the incident, the accused was drunk, the family said.

First India Bureau

Sri Ganganagar:

Behror MLA Baljeet Yadav held a protest run in Suratgarh and Raisinghnagar assembly constituency of Sri Ganganagar district on Saturday. Yadav wore black clothes and protested against the state government & said that despite 75 years of independence, poor people and farmers are deprived of basic facilities.

Yadav demanded to give reservations to youths of Rajasthan in government jobs, reduce corruption and give appointments on 5 lakh vacant posts in 6 months.

In Suratgarh, he held a protest on Bikaner road. Similarly, in Raisinghnagar, he started his protest marathon from the bus stand and ended at the main market. Notably, the independent MLA is organising marathon protests in various assembly constituencies over his 14 point-demand & protesting on various issues.

Vaibhav Gehlot joins ‘Haath Se

Haath Jodo’ drive in Jodhpur

Shiv Prakash Purohit

Jodhpur: RCA President Vaibhav Gehlot visited Jodhpur on Saturday and took part in the ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo campaign’. Vaibhav could not reach the venue in the inner city area in a big car so he took a taxi.

MLA Manisha Panwar and Congress City District President North Salim Khan also reached the venue sitting in a taxi with Gehlot. Naresh Joshi, Kunti Deora Pari-

Vaibhav Gehlot along with local leaders meeting people during Haath Se Haath Jodo campaign, in Jodhpur on Saturday.

har, and Shravan Patel also accompanied him. Vaibhav is on a two-day visit to Jodhpur. Later in the evening, he also reached Barkatullah

Khan Stadium and watched the Celebrity Cricket League match between Punjab The Sher and Karnataka Bulldozer.

Four habitual criminals in police custody. Also, a Scorpio, a Duster and an Alto K10 car from the houses of history sheeters were seized in suspicious condition on Saturday.

Tonk-Ghad police, while taking a major action against drugs,

Padmashree Anwar Khan, Collector Lok Bandhu Yadav, and Sundari Chanchal Jangid pose for a picture with the festival poster.

Private bus damaged in accident in Bharatpur on Saturday.

Sonu Panchal (deceased)

Baljeet Yadav in black T-shirt.

Kalraj Mishra, attends 4th convocation of Dr P Joshi University on Saturday

Mirch Masala

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

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

WHY HAS JANARDHANA REDDY BECOME A HEADACHE FOR BJP?

On the one hand, where K’taka polls have become a barb for BJP, a former BJP Minister & mining baron G Janardhana Reddy broke ties with BJP and launched his new party ‘Kalyana Rajya Pragati Paksha’ on December 25, 2022 which is causing displeasure to the Saffron Party. CBI has not only started tightening its noose on the Reddy brothers, but in the recent past, the Special Court of CBI has written letters to the governments of four countries i.e. Switzerland, Singapore, Aile of Man and UAE to arrest the Reddy brothers since 2008. Details of all transactions done during 2012 have been sought. In fact, BJP is facing a tough fight in upcoming polls in Karnataka, while it has received reports that ‘the Reddy brothers are favouring Congress in at least 15 assembly seats in the State’. Janardhana Reddy himself is likely to contest from

Koppal’s Gangavathi seat and his wife Aruna Lakshmi from Bellary city. Karnataka BJP leaders have conveyed this to Amit Shah, who has asked them to keep calm. Soon after this, Karnataka CM Bommai’s statement came that ‘Reddy will return to his old party i.e. BJP’, but Janardhan Reddy called this claim, a rumour. It should be noted that both the brothers of Janardhana are currently MLAs in BJP. Janardhana Reddy has decided that ‘he will give his party ticket to big rebels of BJP and Congress and will also give financial assistance of Rs 5 crore to contest elections’. Reddy feels that ‘BJP didn’t support him when he was under pressure from investigative agencies over illegal mining’. He also feels that he has unknowingly been a victim of BL Santhosh vs Yeddiyurappa battle in party, because he was always counted among Yeddi’s loyal soldiers.

WHEN WILL CONGRESS NAT’L PREZ KHARGE’S NEW TEAM BE FORMED?

Mallikarjun Kharge was elected as the National President of the Congress on October 19, 2022 and a week later on October 26, he also took charge. It has been five months since then, but Kharge has not been able to form his new team. Kharge had dissolved all the existing committees of the party as soon as he became the President saying that ‘the new team will now sit there’, but till now the work of the party is going on with the help of the 47-member Steering Committee. When asked, a close friend of Kharge says, ‘since the Gandhi family has clearly said that there will be no interference of Sonia, Rahul or Priyanka in the formation of new committees, Kharge is meeting different groups of the party and seeking their opinion. We are contemplating.” Sources reveal that the blueprint of Kharge’s new team is almost ready and that Kharge is setting up a relatively small team, which is somewhere inspired by the team size of late Rajiv Gandhi. Only six General Secretaries can be made, one General Secretary can have the charge of usually 5 states. There will be a network of secretaries below them, and one secretary can get the responsibility of one state. The Secretary shall report to the General Secretary concerned. Keeping in view the general elections of 2024, the formation of an election management committee is also under consideration and after that an Election Department will also be formed. This Election Department will be entrusted with the responsibility of Lok Sabha as well as Assembly polls. There are already murmurs in the party that ‘where the BJP has already shelled out for the assembly elections, no such preparation is visible at the Congress’ side.’ Kharge is neither visiting the poll-bound states nor is he sending senior party people there. Kharge went to Nagaland with Shashi Tharoor only for one day during the North East elections. Kharge has gone to Karnataka, his home state, where elections are due, for just a day. Congress has been able to win only 8 seats out of 180 seats in the Northeast, which is a matter of concern for the Party.

UPROAR IN BIHAR CONGRESS

Recently, the State Disciplinary Committee of Bihar Congress, under the chairmanship of Kripashankar Pathak, issued show cause notices to 5 state leaders - Siddharth Kshatriya, Prabhat Kumar Chandravanshi, Arshad Abbas Azad, Shakiur Rahman and Praveen Sharma. These leaders are accused of making some audio and video clips viral on social media regarding some alleged financial transactions about their State President Akhilesh Prasad Singh. Now, a section of the Bihar Congress is raising questions on this disciplinary committee itself that ‘this committee is fake, it is a disbanded committee.’ They argue that ‘when the party’s National President Kharge first dissolved all the elected committees of the party, then how does this disciplinary committee exist?’ Congress’s Bihar in-charge Bhakta Charan Das constituted this 5-member disciplinary committee in December 2021, which no longer exists legally. These days, there is a lot of hue and cry on the social media regarding Akhilesh Prasad’s ‘closeness’ with BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy. While some party leaders claim that ‘this entire matter is related to making delegates in Congress,’ Akhilesh is being accused that ‘he has put 70% names of his close people in the list of delegates’.

BJP is preparing for a grand celebration of construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya from January 1, 2024 to January 31, 2024, as any day after January 14, this grand Ram temple is to be inaugurated by Narendra Modi, and BJP’s intention is to make the country to convey the message that ‘If there is any real savior of Hindutva then it is our PM Narendra Modi!’

WON’T ALLOW ANY INJUSTICE TO DEPENDENTS OF MARTYRS: GEHLOT

Naresh Sharma and Satyanarayan Sharma

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who on Saturday met a delegation of widows of the martyrs from across the State, amid a simmering protest by the widows of three CRPF jawans killed in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, said the state government has the highest honour for martyrs and war widows.

“Expressing their feelings, the widows of the martyrs gave their support to the current policies of the State government. It is not appropriate to give the jobs and rights of war widows and their children to someone else. The State government will always stand with the martyrs and their families,” the CM said.

“The dependents of the martyrs have been

Mum: Dr Joshi attends meet for legislators conf

The BJP High Command has, in a way, decided that in coming assembly polls in MP and Raj, polls will be fought on face of Narendra Modi & strategy of Amit Shah However, sources reveal that according to reports received by party, party will have to field Shivraj in MP and Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan as a functional face in upcoming polls. Till now, it was being speculated that the formula of U’khand, Gujarat and Tripura would be implemented in MP & the present CM Shivraj Chauhan would be called to Delhi and given some important responsibility at the Centre. But if reliable sources are to be believed, in a high-level core committee meet of BJP, top leadership rejected the idea outright saying, ‘the CM is doing a very good job, has come up with many good and new schemes. These schemes should be publicised among people.’ This clearly indicates that Shivraj will be given important responsibility in the election campaign in Madhya Pradesh itself in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections to be held on November 23. As far as Rajasthan is concerned, Vasundhara Raje almost stunned her opponents in the party by a big show of strength on the occasion of her birthday in Salasar on March 4. The presence of about 55 out of 72 BJP MLAs and 12 MPs was recorded in this show of strength by Vasundhara, which was a surprise. BJP’s Rajasthan in-charge Arun Singh also specially came to Salasar to participate in this function, which was an indication that Vasundhara’s rapprochement with Delhi has increased. In that ceremony, Vasundhara supporters also raised an interesting slogan saying, ‘KesariyameinHaraHara, RajasthanmeinVasundhara.’

The War widows expressed satisfaction over package being given by State govt to the families of martyrs

employed by the State government in government services as per the rules. The rules will be followed in future too. No injustice will be allowed to happen to the dependents of the martyrs,” he added.

Gehlot said the Kargil package was implemented for the martyrs

during his previous tenure. Under the package, Rs 25 lakh for the families of martyrs, 25 bighas of land, accommodation from the housing board and an additional Rs 25 lakh for those not taking the accommodation, and jobs for war widows or their children are pro-

vided, he said.

“There is also a provision of fixed deposit of Rs 5 lakh for the parents of the martyr. In addition, provisions were also done to install statues of martyrs and to name any one public place after the name of martyrs,” he said.

“There should be no

politicisation of matters related to martyrs. There is no provision in the rules to give job to any other family member other than the war widows or children. This demand is unjustified and due to this the widows may have to face undue family and social pressure in future,” the Gehlot said. The statement said martyr Havaldar Ramesh Kumar Dagar’s wife Kusum said the demand for giving compensatory government job to the brother-in-law is not according to the rules, Krishna Jat, wife of martyr Havaldar Shyam Sunder Jat, said only children of martyrs have right to get jobs given as compensation by state government. They termed the demonstration wrong and against the rules, the statement said.

‘Rajmata’ Sushila Kumari of erstwhile Bikaner royal family passes away at 94

Laxman Raghav

Jaipur/Mumbai: Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi attended the meet organised for preparations of National Legislators Conference in Mumbai. The meeting was presided over by former LS Speaker Meira Kumar. The conference organised by MIT, Pune. is scheduled to be held in Mumbai from June 15 - 18. The meeting was held at Jio World Centre to discuss preparations.

Bikaner: A member of the erstwhile Bikaner royal family, “Rajmata” Sushila Kumari, died owing to a prolonged illness on Friday night. She was 94.

Her last rites will be performed with full royal honours on Sunday and the body has been kept at the Junagarh fort in Bikaner for people to have a last glimpse of her, family sources said.

The deceased’s granddaughter and incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bikaner East, Sid-

People pay their last respects to ‘Rajmata’ Sushila Kumari, a member of erstwhile Bikaner Royal family, at Junagarh Fort in Bikaner on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

dhi Kumari, paid a visit to her ailing grandmother on Friday night at the hospital where she was admitted. After the death of Karni Singh in 1988, Sushila Kumari was look-

ing after the affairs of the erstwhile royal family. CM Ashok Gehlot BJP chief Satish Poonia, former CM Vasundhara Raje and other leaders expressed grief over her death.

Owaisi got disappointed in CM’s stronghold

Sangeeta Sharma and Rajeev Gaur

Jodhpur: With assembly elections round the corner, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi visited Jodhpur on Saturday to strengthen public relations in Bamba Mohalla of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s home turf to seek his political ground but was disappointed there. He was expected to get huge support by meeting people of the socie-

ty in Bamba locality, but in Bamba, which is considered to be a stronghold of Congress, he was neither welcomed, nor was there a crowded meeting.. While talking to the media at the

Jodhpur airport, he “My aim is not to fight against any party but to see the victory of my candidate,” he said. Targeting the BJP over Junaid massacre in Bharatpur, he said that

Monu Manesar has become a darling for them. On March 12, a public meeting will be organised in Gagariya village of Shiv assembly constituency near Indo-Pak border wherein, several leaders will participate.

On reaching Balotra, Owaisi offered Namaz at Municipal Council’s Town Hall. “Muslim community is not born just to vote, I am here to lend you the power to earn votes. Muslims are only being used,” he said.

Vasundhara Raje @VasundharaBJP

My heart is disturbed by the news of the demise of respected Sushila Kumariji, Bikaner’s former Rajmata and grandmother of MLA Siddhi Kumariji. She always gave priority to social service & welfare of the poor. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the family members.

Jpr: State-level BSP meeting to be held today

Jaipur: An important meeting of BSP will be held at 1 pm at State Office. Central Co-ordinator & RS MP Ramji Gautam will be the chief guest. State President Bhagwan Singh Baba will preside over the meeting wherein, preps for assembly polls will be discussed. Leaders will be told about new guidelines issued by BSP chief Mayawati.

Fraudulent societies will face harsh punishment: CM

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Saturday that the state government is moving forward in the direction of taking strict action against the societies which cheat the general public of their hard earned money. “Such societies, including Sanjivani Credit Co-operative Society, will be given the strictest punishment, irrespective of the influence they

have. The common people have great expectations from the state government,” Gehlot said while holding a detailed review meeting with high officials at CMR on Saturday.

Officials said that more than 1, 12,000 complaints have been received against the societies which cheated the common man and action has been started towards strict action against them under The Banning of Unregulated

Deposit Act (BUDS Act).

In the meeting, officials told that ED has

been written many times in the cases of societies, & ED should

come forward for action. The Chief Minister instructed officers of Cooperative Department, Police Dept and SOG to coordinate with each other and take prompt legal action according to plaints received in case. “The agony of investors who have invested crores of rupees in societies is heart wrenching,” he said and instructed CS to hold meeting with concerned officers & take necessary action.

CM Ashok Gehlot chairs a review meet with officials at CMR. Usha Sharma, Umesh Mishra, Sreya Guha, Anand Kumar, Ashok Rathore, Arti Dogra, Meghraj S Ratnu, MS Raghav & others are seen.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot interacts with widows of the martyrs and their children, who called upon him at the Chief Minister’s Residence in Jaipur on Saturday.

Asaduddin Owaisi addresses people in Jodhpur on Saturday.

LET’S SUIT UP DIVE IN AND

Wto such a broad selection of swimwear.

The ocean is the perfect place to unwind on a pleasant, sunlit afternoon while wearing your favourite bikini. Your attractiveness will definitely be enhanced by a chic swimsuit. These days, donning a sexy tiny string bikini is in fashion. The beach is the perfect place to show off your physique in an exhilarating way. Every woman aspires to appear stunning in a swimsuit. The swimsuit trend has advanced considerably. Bikinis were previously thought of as one- or two-piece bathing outfits. Most people could only find a few colours in the same traditional patterns. You will be captivated by the high-quality and appealing bikini wear, though, thanks to the current fashion.

On the shore, the women are coming up with fantastic methods to show off their suntanned bodies. The tops and bottoms that are offered individually can be mixed and matched. The swimsuits come in a variety of hues and fabrics as well. Modern bikini fashion is all about displaying your figure in a fashionable way. Your body is supported by cleverly designed swimwear, which helps to give it a fantastic form. Bikinis give a strikingly different look to your shapely bottoms. In many ways, bikinis have led the way in the fashion world. The designers have given us some great designs of bikinis.

SHUBHANSHI PATHAK cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

FLOWERS DON'T TELL, THEY SHOW

selves. The pansies have what seems to star on them. The best! And they are added to our purchasing basket. There is nothing wrong with choosing flowers this way, provided you can provide them with the right soil and sunlight.

How often have you planted a flower because it was beneficial, let's be real. How frequently have you walked into a greenhouse filled with beautiful flowers and thought, "Well, I'll bet that one over there would be a useful addition to our yard?" Likely never.

Flowers are nearly usually purchased with emotion in mind, let's face it.

We might go to the greenhouse with the express purpose of purchasing flowers, but we pick the ones we find lovely. Hey, look at that purple colour, we say to our-

There is, however, absolutely no reason why the lovely flowers you add to your home's landscaping can't serve two purposes. Several beautiful flowers also have practical purposes.

Of course, you should always speak with a medical practitioner before ingesting a plant for therapeutic purposes. We are only pointing out the therapeutic properties of specific plants for amusement and educational purposes. Before utilising plants to cure a medical ailment, kindly conduct your research. With getting that out of the way, let's take a look at some flowers that work hard and are more than just attractive faces.

ANISE HYSSOP

You might be shocked to discover that anise hyssop is a fake. Indeed, it is neither hyssop nor anise. In actuality, it belongs to the mint family. Even now, it has a delightful liquorice flavour and aroma, which makes this exquisite blossom ideal for baking and cooking. The anise, chervil, tarragon, and fennel leaves and seeds can be saved and used for the real ingredients.

Anise hyssop tea has been made by several Native American tribes to combat depression. Anise

YOUR DAY

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

hyssop tea also eases coldrelated chest congestion.

BEE BALM

If you grow these attractive blooms, which resemble a daisy with poor hair day, you'll please a lot of pollinators. The local mosquito population won't be happy, though. Mosquitoes don't like the strong aroma of bee balm, which is similar to the bergamot orange (thus the term "bergamot" for bee balm). If you prefer spending time outdoors, think about planting bee balm nearby to help ward off those both-

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20

Using your initiative at work will be much appreciated. You may get a chance to pursue old hobby. Health tips from an expert will enable you to get closer to your fitness goals. Your generous behavior would enable to enjoy some lovely moments with family.

LEO

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

Family will be most supportive, when it really matters for you. Some of you may add to your list of properties by booking a new one. It is good day to confess your love as stars appear favourable for positive reply. A long drive is likely to help you get over mental tiredness.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 22

You will succeed in resolving misunderstanding with family members, normalizing ties. Despite your misgivings, you retain good health. You will do much to bring peace and harmony at home. You will remain much in demand on social front. Some of you can get romantically involved.

range in colour from light orange to dark brick red. And you should plant calendula if you enjoy using natural cosmetics. The flower is extremely nutritious and friendly to your skin, which is why it is used in a variety of tonics, toners, moisturisers, and salves. Calendula has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps to heal wounds and calm inflamed skin.

CHAMOMILE

It is simple to see why German chamomile is the most often used kind for chamomile cultivation. It produces a profusion of vivid, white blossoms with an apple fragrance that may be utilised in a variety of ways.

You're undoubtedly well aware of the tea's calming

ersome skeeters. But, this persistent bloom doesn't end there. The blooms and leaves are edible. To add colour to salads, add the petals. You may also use bee balm leaves for the traditional Earl Grey in a cup of black tea. The medical herb bee balm is used to treat sickness, and menstrual cramps, and even to promote sleep.

CALENDULA

The cheerful calendula, often known as pot marigold, has flowers that

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20

Despite hectic schedule you will manage to find time for family. Seek the opinion of your family before finalizing a property deal. Your bold initiatives on romantic front bring back passion and spark in romantic relationship.Overall health remains fine.

VIRGO

AUG 24 - SEP 23

Avoid raising controversial issues at home to maintain harmony. Successful implementation of new ideas and projects would add to your prestige on the professional front. It is a wonderful day to build new connections. Your relationship requires you to be tactful.

CAPRICORN

DEC 23 - JAN 20

Happiness in the domestic sphere will only come with a changed mind set. Some of you are likely to become a part of an overseas official trip. Better to consult an expert in financial matters before making an investment. Harsh words may create a rift in your romantic relationship.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

Following a health diet will be a good idea. Luck favours you today on the professional front. Focussing on health now will help you in keeping physically fi t. Clarity of mind and retentive power will help you forge ahead on the academic front.

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

Distant relatives may drop in for a surprise visit. On professional front, recognition for good work would motivate you to work harder. Those awaiting an affirmation on romantic front are likely to get lucky today, as partner responds positively. Health remains satisfactory.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19

A friend or colleague may motivate you to take up a healthy activity. Parents may appear more than happy. Plans for overseas travel are likely to materialise. You are likely to get clearance or approval for your construction plans. You find things moving in the way you want them.

en period discomfort, and

it's an excellent element for skincare because it's both anti-inflammatory and antifungal. This fragrant flower may be found in the garden, where it repels deer and even moth caterpillars.

DAFFODILS

It may be time to get down and dirty and take care of business with daffodils if you have a problem with the taller four-legged pests creeping into your yard. Deer avoid daffodils because they are harmful to them (and to humans, so don't go eating them). To deter deer from entering your vegetable patch, think about planting these lovely springtime staples along the perimeter. A strong line of defence has never been more attractive.

CANCER

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

Your intuition will save you from a tricky spot today. Yoga would help in raising energy levels and improve your metabolism. You will manage to achieve your aim through travel. This is a great time on the academic front, when you mange to render your best.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

Your efforts on the professional front will be recognised. Opting for some healthy choices will ensure you remain in perfect health. You will feel much happy and contented on the family front. Today you will enjoy the trust of senior management.

PISCES

FEB20 - MARCH 20

Gifting something to your beloved is likely to make the day memorable. Matrimonial match for siblings will bring happiness for entire family. You will get a good price for your property. Those awaiting results are assured of succeeding with flying colours.

Flowers are intriguing objects that we employ in our daily lives in a variety of ways. The majority of flowers’ fragrances and aesthetics are wonderful mood-lifters and a way to show affection. Moreover, there are flowers that are utilised in medicine. City First gives you some insight into flowers which are more than just a pretty face.

FACEOFTHEDAY

MRIDULA SHARMA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

KHUSHBU BIJAPARI, Model

JHOOTHI IN THE CITY!

Actress Shraddha Kapoor shared insights about her movie Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, in a chit-chat session with City First

GHOSTY TRAILER!

Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor recently arrived in Jaipur to promote her upcoming film "Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar". This romantic comedy features Shraddha Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor in lead roles and is scheduled to be released on March 8, 2023, on the occasion of Holi at PVR Cinema, Jaipur.

During her promotional visit to Jaipur, Shraddha shared some interesting morsels about her personal life with the media. She revealed that the biggest lie she has ever told is "Bapu nahi maanenge".

When asked about her experience and how she has evolved as an actor through this completely oppo-

site role of a liar, the actress said, "Yes, it was difficult, as my previous roles were different. Arohi from Aashiqui was a simple girl who lived for her passion and love whereas Aisha from Villain was a bubbly but brave girl who lived for others' happiness both characters are close to my heart. I am forever grateful to everyone who gave so much love to me on screen. And yes, my character in this film is opposite to my previous roles, initially, it was difficult for me to get into the all-time liar character but Luv sir helped us and here I am standing and claiming myself as the biggest 'Jhooti'.”

Shraddha also expressed her excitement about the film's release and said that she and Ranbir had a great time working together on this project.

The duo will be seen sharing screen space for the first time in this film, which is directed by Luv Ranjan and produced by Luv Films and T-Series.

Being a good actor

Kareena Kapoor Khan is unarguably one of the biggest female stars Hindi cinema has ever had. The celebrated actress, who made her acting debut in 2000 with the romantic drama Refugee, soon established herself as one of the most sought-after talents of Bollywood. The acting career was truly a rollercoaster career for Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has had some exceptional blockbusters and box office duds. However, she is now stepping into the 23rd year of her acting career and is totally busy with some exceptional projects in her kitty.

In a recent interview, Kareena Kapoor Khan extensively spoke about her acting career, stardom, and much more. Interestingly, the talented actress revealed that she never considered herself a star, despite being one of the most sought-after talents of Bollywood for over two decades. “I don’t consider myself a star. I believe everyone is special. And I think, today everyone wants to be known as an actor, not a

SECURE BABY

wood. In a recent interview, the actress opened up about motherhood and recalled being afraid initially thinking if she would like being a moth-

Anushka Sharma revealed that nothing prepares you for parenthood and that one has to nose-

'I would be crying MY EYES OUT'

Selena Gomez opens up about the effect of negative comments from online bullies on Thursday. The singer says that she lied about not getting affected by the body shamers but in reality, she would be crying her eyes out in the room. Gomez has always been quick to shut down the online body shamers along with being open about body pos-

she would go online and post a picture while encouraging herself that she will not accept whatever others are saying. But she would still be crying because no one should hear those things. The singer said that she posted pictures saying that it doesn’t bother her but in reality, she didn’t want it to bother others who are going through the same things. Gomez continued, ‘Getting shamed for what they look like, who they are, who they love, I just think it’s so

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

Shraddha Kapoor

Anushka Sharma Selena Gomez

Kareena Kapoor Khan

Kajal Aggarwal

Poster of the film...

CITY FIRST

DURING THE DAY!

Mumbai-based leading institute in Culinary Arts

“Just Appetite Culinary School” is conducting an educational tour for culinary students across India, in this episode the tour reached Jaipur from Friday to Sunday. Various types of small workshops will also be organised, which will be attended by culinary artists professionals and students. The workshop will host a pastry brownie and cookie class and a three-day indepth cake course and will be hands-on, with veteran chefs showcas-

4 YEARS OF 'THE MARKET PLACE'

To mark the International Women’s Day, a special edition of The Market Place was organised at Clarks Amer recently in which around 30 women entrepreneurs put up their stalls of diverse products. The Market Place, which is an initiative by Upasana Kumar, is being held every Sunday for the past four years in Clarks Amer to promote small and local businesses. “ We house handmade, homemade, artisanal, organic and many more products. It is a place created for the people of Jaipur, by the people of Jaipur”, said Upasana. The stalls included handmade and organic products such as handmade goodies etc.

‘FindYourFit’ also organised a wellness festival ‘Bloom’ at Hotel Clarks Amer in Jaipur. The festival was based on the four pillars of

wellness – physical, mental, social and spiritual, and featured various activities such as yoga and meditation sessions, strength, dance etc. The Cyclothon event was a partnership with Quantum fitness. The festival aimed to promote a holistic approach to wellness, encourage likeminded individuals to inspire each other. The founder of 'FindYourFit', Ankur Lohani, said, “We understand that finding a 'workout buddy' can be challenging, which is why we created 'FindYourFit'. Our platform is designed for those who can easily connect with other people who share their fitness interests and can encourage each other to reach their fitness goals.”

ing the art of cooking and serving food to the students. Jyoti Rajput, Founder and Managing Director, of Just Appetite Culinary School, said, “We are proud to be the pioneers of this industry, we are offering leading programs outside Mumbai. Studying will prove to be a great opportunity for the students where they will get a chance to learn something new from the seniors. This initiative will enhance their culinary skills.” CoFounder Avinash Rajput said, “Our exquisite egg-free and vegetarian courses are tailored to suit everyone’s goals, where hands-on experience and expo-

sure play a vital role in creating career changers and entrepreneurs.

ENHANCING CULINARY SKILLS A

Director Development Akanksha Rajput informed that after Jaipur this tour is scheduled from April 14 to 17 in Ahmedabad.

Our institute is moving forward in line with the goals of high-standard eggless and vegetarian education. These special courses are being organised in Jaipur at Jar & Morse.

Akanksha Rajput shared that these short courses will be organised in many states of India including Jaipur, Indore, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Chennai as an educational tour across the country.

THE MIRROR OF A STRONG SOCIETY

CITY FIRST

Brahmakumaris Jaipur organised International Women's Day- 'Strong Women, Strong Society' program under the campaign 'Happy Family' inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday at Rajyog Bhavan Vaishali Nagar. Mudrika Dhoka (Chairperson, FICCI FLO, Jaipur Chapter) ad-

dressed the gathering and told that women are the pivot of the family, and a strong society cannot be imagined without the empowerment of women. The time has come to fulfil the

duty of being a good parent, only then children can take steps in the right direction. Only a strong mother can give direction to a strong child. Several renowned personalities

including Kavita Chauhan, Lata Meena, Shweta, Sushila Saraswat, Dr Poonam Yadav, Tapti Bhattacharya, Manmeet Barley and Dr Subha Pathania graced the event with their presence.

Summer Street Fashion Festival

CITY FIRST

The Summer Street Fashion Festival was organised at Outers, C-Scheme, Jaipur on Saturday. During the occasion, many celebrities’ labels were presented under one roof. Various dignitaries of Jaipur were present on the occasion.

Anulika and Akshita, celebrity stylists, creative directors and wardrobe consultants duo who have styled Bollywood celebrities like Michelle Morrone, Nargis Fakhri, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonu Sood and Honey Singh, briefed all the guests about their styling and summer trends. The event show-

cased new collections from 40 brands including renowned brands Rohit

Bal, Premaya, House of DK, Jillenor, Pleats, House of Tiara, Pankaj

KIRADOO

Ashish Somani and Rishab Maheshwari of S JEE Advertising received an award from radio city 91.1 FM for excellent performance in the year 2022. This award was given by Shival Desai, Head of Government business for radio city’s western region. Ashish Somani, Director, S JEE Advertising dedicated this award to the hard work of a team of S JEE.

A press conference was organised at Walkers Stop Cafe, Jaipur to throw light on the success story and production of the film ‘Pariksha’ which was released on the staging app on February 28. The film focused on REET’s competitive exam. During the conference film’s director, producer, and official members of the Stage App spoke on different points and explained how film has received so much love from the public.

JRPC Polo Season is being organised by Jaipur Riding & Polo Club from March 7 to 26 with the vision to promote the young and upcoming players of Rajasthan both Men and Women. During the match, team Ireland conquered the match by 5.50 points over team UK, who bagged 2 points during the match.

The 7th Annual Day celebration of Sun India Pre-School was celebrated at Maharana Pratap Auditorium on Saturday. About 250 students performed on the theme “Nurturing Childhood”. IPS Vipin Pandey was the chief guest of the function. School director Anshita Gupta shared that the children enthralled the auditorium with their performances.

The 11th season of the Jaipur Couture Show, presented by First India and Bharat24-Vision of New India is going to be held from March 12 to March 14 at Hotel The Palace, Bhankrota. The threeday event will see Bollywood actors Chitrangada Singh, Mugdha Godse, Zoya Afroz, Liza Malik, Anirudh Dave as showstoppers for well-known designers.

Soni, Vaisey, Sana K, Tiger Marron, and Jordans among others.

Accident broke both his legs but not confidence

FIRST INDIA BUREAU

The image of

Anil Kumble ready to bowl, his face bandaged, in the Antigua cricket test, is one of the most inspiring sights for sports lovers. Undaunted by severe injury, Kumble bowled 14 consecutive overs and dismissed the batting legend Brian Lara while bowling with a broken jaw to get admiration from the cricket genius Viv Richards who said, "It was one of the bravest things I've seen on the field of play,"

Perhaps that was the only thing going

through the mind of 15-year-old Aryan Nahar, who met with an accident, 20 days before his X-board examinations. He badly injured both his legs, underwent major surgery and was advised complete bed rest for at least 2 months without any movement.

With his bedridden condition, Aryan had little choice – either fight against all odds to appear in the board examination or skip it to appear next year. Aryan chose the first option. The situation could have easily punctured the spirit of anyone.

But not the grit of the

brave heart of Aryan, who decided to appear for the board examina-

tion. But convincing his parents – Manica and Manish Nahar -

was not an easy task. His repeated persuasion, conviction and confidence finally won over their uncertainty. They agreed and requested the school to allow Aryan to appear in the board exams.

Since Aryan was not in a condition to write his paper, the school sent a request to CBSE for allowing a writer for him. The board allowed the writer, a student of IX standard, after assessing the documents and his other credentials.

The task was still half done. Moving crippled Aryan to the examination centre from his bedroom was a big

challenge. After consultation with doctors and school authorities, his parents arranged a bedroom set up at the examination centre. On exam days, Aryan reaches the examination centre in an ambulance and then takes the test paper lying on the bed. He dictates the answer to the writer.

Halfway to the board exams, Aryan has mixed feelings. “I know I could have done better had I been able to write myself. But under these conditions I am happy that I am able to fight against the odds to make a comeback from nowhere,” said Aryan.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the women of Mangalam Group celebrated the day with joy at Hotel Hilton under the guidance of Director Amrita Gupta. Various sports competitions were organised and the winners were awarded. Amrita Gupta shared that the purpose of celebrating International Women’s Day was to give women their potential and to empower women.

Prashant Majumdar Couture will be featured in BFW W/F’22. It’s a collection of Indian sarees specifically designed in Banarasi style and men’s couture designed for wedding receptions and bridal wear. This assemblage of couture garments is beautifully designed to represent the modern generation where fashion comes with style.

—PHOTOS BY MUKESH

Chef Bhavi, Aakanksha Rajput and Nikita Sharma Glimpse of the workshop

Chef Bhavi and Aakanksha Rajput with the students

Dr Anupama Soni, Mudrika Dhoka and BK Sushma Didi Glimpse of the dance performance

Parul, Meenal, Yaashika, Shradha and Tanvi

(L-R) Suman, Ramos, Kerin and Neeru

Ashna, Akshita, Anulika, Shradha and Tanvi

Akshita and Anulika

During the event