First India-Jaipur Edition-13th January 2023

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HAPPY

Practice of calling Assembly session without prorogation dangerous for democracy: Guv

83RD ALL INDIA PRESIDING OFFICERS’ CONF CONCLUDES

All legislative bodies should work to make better laws. The rules and procedures in legislative institutions should be reviewed properly.

Yogesh Sharma

Jaipur: Describing Parliament and Legislative Assemblies as temples of democracy, Governor Kalraj Mishra said that people’s representatives should rise above politics and consider issues of public interest sensi-

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A SpiceJet flying from Delhi to Pune searched at IGI Airport after phone call said there was a bomb.

Ministry of I&B cracked down on six YouTube channels that were found to be spreading fake news.

Police in Visakhapatnam arrested 3 for allegedly vandalising Vande Bharat which PM will inaugurate.

Senior leader, ex-JDU President Sharad Yadav passed away at the age of 75 on Thursday night.

tively. He said that whatever debates or business take place in the House, it should be for the sustainable development of the common man.

Governor Kalraj

—Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker

Mishra was addressing the concluding session of the All India Conference of Presiding Officers in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on Thursday and said, “The

It is matter of pride for Raj this conf took place in Jaipur’ during which several innovations took place.

There was cooperation between Gehlot and LoP.

—Dr CP Joshi, Assembly Speaker

presiding officers have an important role in parliamentary democracy and they are also guardians of powers and privileges of members of the Legislature. Turn to P8

CHIRANJEEVI HEALTH SCHEME BENEFITING

PEOPLE: CM GEHLOT

Jaipur: In the conference of Presiding Officers in state assembly, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme has been implemented in the state keeping in view the health of the citizens. “The state govt has implemented OPS in place of new pension scheme on basis of humanitarian approach,” Gehlot said. “Speaker Dr CP Joshi has put forward demand effectively. I say that as soon as proposal for financial autonomy comes from Assembly, it will be considered,” Gehlot said.

RELIEF, RESCUE OPERATIONS INTENSIFY

JOLTED JOSHIMATH!

New Delhi/Joshimath:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation in Joshimath, a hill town in Uttarakhand that is facing land subsidence affecting the lives of hundreds of families.

The meeting, which was attended by Union

Minister Nitin Gadkari, RK Singh, Bhupendra Yadav and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, was held to discuss issues related to roads, power supply, water scarcity and environment in Joshimath in the wake

of land subsidence. Meanwhile, demolition commenced with demolition of Hotel Malari, which was marked unsafe due to building developing more deeper cracks that nudged it to incline backwards.

There’s such pressure from the adjacent hotel building that my hotel is about to collapse.

I am helpless, can’t say anything. Can anyone be happy if their hotel is being demolished?

—Thakur Singh Rana, Owner, Hotel Malari Inn

CBI raids premises of ex-fin secy Mayaram

Dr Rituraj Sharma

Jaipur (FIB): Ex-DGP ML Lather has been appointed as Information Commissioner. Justice Ram Singh Jhala was made a member of the State Human Rights Commission. Governor Kalraj Mishra issued the appointment orders. Lather got reward of control on law and order. Appt has been made for 3 years or till the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

Jaipur: The CBI on Thursday conducted searches at the premises of former finance secretary Arvind Mayaram after filing an FIR against him and a UK-based company for alleged corruption in the supply of exclusive colour shift security thread for Indian bank notes, officials said. Mayaram is currently the Economic Advisor to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

The CBI, in its FIR,

alleged that Mayaram, the UK-based company De La Rue International Ltd and unidentified officials of the finance ministry and RBI hatched a criminal conspiracy to extend undue favour to firm. Turn to P8

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Manoj Pande said on Thursday that the situation along the border with China is “stable” but “unpredictable”, and Indian troops are adequately deployed to deal with any contingency.

At a press meet organised days ahead of the

New Delhi (FIB): AAP’s Arvind Kejri has been asked by its own govt in Delhi to

` 163.62

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for its political advertisements allegedly passed off as govt messages. A recovery notice was issued by DIP. If AAP fails to pay up, its office in Delhi and properties could be sealed, officials say, citing an earlier warning by LG VK Saxena.

Army Day celebrations on January 15, Lt Gen Manoj Pande also said that robust pressure has been put by the troops

Temple defaced with anti-India graffiti in Oz

Melbourne (FIB): Hindu temple in Melbourne was allegedly vandalised by anti-India supporters and defaced with anti-India graffiti, saying ‘Hindustan Murdabad’. The walls of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir were also marked with praises of Indian terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale — a supporter of the creation of Khalistan for Sikhs — as a ‘martyr’.

“We are deeply saddened by the anti-India

graffiti at the gates of Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park, Melbourne by anti-social elements.

‘Modi Hitler’ hate was also written on wall.

PM INAUGURATES 26TH NAT’L YOUTH FESTIVAL IN HUBBALLI

‘Yuva shakti’ a driving force: PM

First India Bureau

Hubballi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the “yuva shakti” (youth power) is the driving force of India’s future and its growth would provide ample opportunities to youth of nation. PM Modi while addressing event remembered Vivekanan-

da, Modi said his panIndia visits was a reflection of the oneness of India’s consciousness which reflects the true spirit of “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat”. India is taking this feeling with new resolutions in Amrit Kaal, he added. “Next 25 years are important for building the nation. Yuva’s dreams decide India’s direc-

he said.

Modi also spoke about India’s achievements on a global level. He said, India is world’s fifth-largest economy and aims to take India to top 3 economies of world. From the toys to tourism, defence to agriculture, India is making headlines across the globe.

The world is in a state of crisis and it is difficult to predict how long this state of instability will last, PM Modi said referring to various global challenges arising out of conflict, war in his opening remarks at Voice of Global South virtual summit. P5

deployed along the LAC on the adversary to defeat any of their evil designs, in a firm and resolute manner.

tion, aspirations decide India’s destination, and their passion decides India’s power,”

Twin messages of Swami VivekanandaInstitution and Innovation should be the part of every youth’s life, stresses Modi

PM Narendra Modi being felicitated by Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai at the inauguration of National Youth Festival on birth anniv of Swami Vivekananda, in Hubballi on Thursday. Union Ministers Prahlad Joshi & Anurag Thakur and other dignitaries also seen here.

Shah to visit J&K’s Rajouri today

Days after terrorists killed civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri, Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the district today to assess the security situation.

Prophet row: Nupur gets gun licence Ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma who was suspended from party after outrage over Prophet remarks has been granted licence to carry a personal gun amid death threats.

Gen Manoj Pande addresses media at Manekshaw Centre, in New Delhi on Thursday.

I ndia defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Thursday. The win also helped India extend their lead to

Indian baters KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav greet each other after the team’s win.

Moni Sharma

A day after protesters halted demolition drive, the work resumes with razing of a hotel

l Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs highlevel meeting to review situation in Joshimath l From Joshimath, Army relocates it’s troops, Army Chief Pande says ‘no impact on readiness’

Our government stands strong with these people. Our upcoming meetings are planned to find solutions for all the recent updates we have received after visiting here —Pushkar S Dhami, Uttarakhand CM

Police personnel deployed outside Hotel Malari Inn ahead of its demolition, in Joshimath on Thursday.

CM

IN JOSHIMATH, ANNOUNCES `45 CR REHAB PACKAGE

‘CRACKS ON 20 ARMY BUILDINGS, TROOPS SHIFTED’

‘IND IS WORLD’S 5TH LARGEST ECONOMY’

WORLD IS IN STATE OF CRISIS: PM MODI

Uttarakhand govt has announced a relief package of `45 crore to families in Joshimath, where large cracks appeared in homes and on roads. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has also declared a relief package for 3k families affected by land subsidence. CM Dhami also held meeting with senior district administration officials. P5

India has relocated some troops from areas surrounding the sinking Himalayan town of Joshimath that’s near LAC with China, Army Chief Manoj Pande said on Thursday. Gen Pande also said over 20 military installations around Joshimath have sustained “medium to minor damage.”

Swaminarayan Temple with AntiIndian Slogans at Mill park area.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot greets Governor Kalraj Mishra as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla looks on, on the concluding day of the 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference in Jaipur on Thursday.

It is a privilege and honour for all of us that India has Presidency of the G-20: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

EX-DGP

BJP GETS INTO ‘SPORTS POLITICS’ WITH NEW SAGA OF JPR MAHAKHEL

Aishwary Pradhan

Jaipur: After Congress, now BJP is also trying to woo people through sports ahead of the assembly elections in Rajasthan. The opposition party is going to organize the sports event ‘Mahakhel’ in Jaipur.

512 MEN & 128 WOMEN TEAMS TO PLAY IN 32 SPORTS GROUNDS

There is no big leader than RaGa in Congress, says PSK

On CM face of Raj Cong, Food & Civil Supply Minister Khachariyawas backs Gehlot’s name

Jaipur : Food and civil supplies minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas on Thursday said that there is no big leader than Rahul Gandhi in the Congress party.

The move comes after the rural Olympic games organised by the state government last year. The government is going to organise urban Olympic games this year. In BJP’s Mahakhel, 630 teams from eight assembly constituencies of Jaipur Lok Sabha constituency will participate.

MP Rajyavardhan

RBSE issues schedule for Class 12th examination

that the Congress wasted crores of rupees by organizing the Rural Olympics due to which players did not get benefits.

“Our goal is to develop both the game and the players. That is why we will organize the Mahakhel in 32 stadiums developed by us,” he

said. He said that cash prizes will be given and better-performing players will be selected for better training through Mahakhel.

R athore informed that the Rajasthan govt is going to organize Urban Olympics, but the sportspersons of the state will not get anything from that but under Jaipur Mahakhel, 512 men & 128 women teams will participate in 32 sports grounds of Jaipur Rural Lok Sabha’s Kotputli, Bansur, Jamwaramgarh, Jhotwara, Virat Nagar, Amer, Shahpura. About 7,000 players will participate in the event. Along with this, Rajasthan Kabaddi Federation will give special training to 20 best players.

Sabhasad Bhawan to be renamed as Swami Vivekananda Bhawan: Dr Somya

First India Bureau

Jaipur (FIB): The Board of Secondary Education has released the schedule of examinations for year 2023.

The Class 12 exam will starts with Psychology on March 9, Public Adm on March 10, EVS on March 11, Physical Edu on March 13, Sociology on March 15, Sanskrit literature exam on March 20, Geography on March 20, English on March 22, Hindi on March 24, History, Business Studies, Chemistry exam on March 27, English literature and Typing exam on March 28, Mathematics on March 31, Economics on April 1, Computer Science and IP exam on April 3, Philosophy on April 5, Political Science, Geology, Agricultural Science exam on April 6, and other literature and subjects will be examined on April 10.

Jaipur: JMCG mayor Dr Somya on Thursday announced that Sabhasad Bhawan of Nagar Nigam will be named after Swami Vivekananda. While making the announcement on Swami Vivekananda’s jayanti, councillors also gave their consent on Dr Somya’s proposal. The proposal will be passed in upcoming Executive Committee meet.

Expresses displeasure over littering garbage Mayor Dr Soumya on Thursday visited Raj

University. During her visit, she expressed displeasure over garbage being thrown in open. She directed the officials to maintain cleanliness in the varsity.

PILOT WITH PUBLIC

Jhunjhunu

Responding to the question about CM face in the upcoming assembly elections, Khachariyawas said that present chief minister Ashok Gehlot will be our face. He said that the last election was led under collective leadership.

After a review meeting of the department

Games in JMCH on lines of RG Rural Olympics

Jaipur (FIB): On the lines of the Rural Olympics, games will be organised in cities as well. It will be started by JMC Heritage in the state capital. This competition will be held in the name of the Rajiv Gandhi Urban Olympics. It will be scheduled between Jan 26 and 31. The registrations for it will open from Jan 21 onwards. JMCH Commissioner Vishram Meena discussed in detail on Thursday evening about the cluster construction being done at the zone level, sports ground, stadium, materials required for players, etc.

Jpr-Delhi Vande Bharat train expected to run before March

First India Bureau

Jaipur: MP Ramcharan Bohra met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav in New Delhi and discussed various demands related to the development of rail facilities in Jaipur parliamentary constituency.

In the meeting, the Railway Minister agreed on gifts worth Rs 900 crore for Jaipur. Before March 2023, Vande Bharat Express train service will start between JaipurDelhi. It will reach New Delhi from Jaipur in less than two hours.

A few days ago, the

RAM LUBHAYA COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

Ministry of Railways announced that 50 stations of India will be equipped with worldclass facilities. The Railway Minister agreed to include

New Div HQs, dists expected before March

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Barmer, Sikar, Banswara and Chittorgarh are in consideration for forming new Divisional HQs; Balotra, Phalodi, Neemkathana, can be made new districts

Jaipur: Three new divisional headquarters can be created in Rajasthan before March as Ram Lubhaya committee is all set to submits its report. The names of Barmer, Sikar, Banswara and Chittorgarh are in consideration for forming new HQs.

Other places for which a demand has been made to make them into districts are Kotputli, Balotra, Phal-

Recently, under the leadership of Cong MLA Suresh Modi, protest was held, demanding to make Neemkathana a district.

odi, Didwana, Kuchaman, Beawar, Neemkathana, Bhiwadi,

Sambharlek, Shahpura, Dudu, Biratnagar, Fatehpur, Shekhawati,

Shrimadhopur, Khandela, Udaipurwati, Behror, Khairthal, Bhiwani, Neemrana, Gudamalani, Pokaran, Kekdi, Madanganj Kishangarh, Kuchaman City, Makrana, Merta City, Sujangarh, Ratangarh, Jaswantgarh, Ladnun, Anupgarh, Suratgarh, Gharsana, Srivijaynagar, Nohar, Bhadra, Nokha, Ramganj Mandi, Chhabra, Bhawanimandi, Deeg, Bayana, Kaman, Nagar, and Gangapur City.

Jaipur’s Sanganer station, which is famous for dyeing and printing for this. Doubling of railway line between Jaipur to Sawai Madhopur will also be done.

at Secretariat, the minister said that the government’s intention is to provide wheat at cheaper prices to all those who apply under food security.

He said that wheat distribution should be done with complete transparency and the

system is being strengthened for this.

Khachariyawas said that ration should be allotted according to today’s census instead of 2011. He said that new items will be included at ration shops for this tie up with companies is under consideration.

Om Birla: Youth should link their achievement with national goals

India to become 3rd largest economy in the world by the next 5-years: Birla

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday took part in the sixth convocation of Vivekananda Global University. While addressing the gathering, Speaker Om Birla said that India will become the thirdlargest economy in the world in the next five years.

“It is important that the youth link their achievements with the nation and link their personal goals with the nation’s goals. Youth should solve problems like climate change by giving their innovative ideas. They should be an example of service to the nation by helping

URGES YOUTH TO FIND SOLUTION FOR SOCIETY

D

uring the Convocation while appealing to youth, Birla said, “From industry to the service sector, from sports to education and from agriculture to space, youth should work to find solutions. They should become a changemaker and find solutions to the challenges.”

the needy people,” said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

“From industry to the service sector, from sports to education and from agriculture to space, youth should work to find solutions. They should become a changemaker and find solutions to the challenges faced by the country and society,” added LS Speaker Om Birla.

Rajasthan tops in registration of

voters

Jaipur: Rajasthan has topped the

on instructions of ECI, Rajasthan has been successful in touching the figure of 4.17 lakh in this category. As many as 4, 17, 312 teenagers of 17 years and above have been registered in Rajasthan, which is highest in country.

Madhya Pradesh is in second place with 1.37

During first quarter of FY 2022-23 (April-May-June), 1.77 lakh teenagers aged 17 years and above were registered as voters.

lakh registrations. Online registration facility for youths, voter list summary revision program and continu-

ous monitoring of CEO Praveen Gupta resulted in the registration of such a high number of teenagers.

Dr Rituraj Sharma

AFTER

Our goal is to develop both, game and players, says MP Rajyvardhan Singh Rathore

Singh Rathore said

Vikas Sharma

First India Bureau

country in voter registration of 17-year-old people. With efforts of CEO Praveen Gupta

MP from Jaipur Rural, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore with the players during MahaKhel on Thursday. Phulera MLA Nirmal Kumawat, former Assembly Speaker Rao Rajendra Singh, former Cabinet Minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat and former MLA Jagdish Meena were also present on the occasion.

Food and Civil Supply Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas during press conference at his office on Thursday.

MP Ramcharan Bohra meets Union Rly Min Ashwini Vaishnaw in New Delhi on Thursday. MoS Finance Pankaj Choudhary is also seen.

Om Birla during convocation in VGU in Jaipur on Thursday.

Dr Somya paying floral tributes to statue of Swami Vivekananda at the RU on Thursday.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal addressing the gathering at RNT Complex in Khetri on Thursday. Dharmendra Rathore also seen.

17-yrs-old upcoming

Sachin Pilot interacting with the general public & workers during public hearing at his residence on Thursday. Pilot also met Heera Lal Indora and inquired about latter’s well being.

: RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Rathore on Thursday took part in the inaugural ceremony of the Rabindra Nath Tagore Cultural Complex and light and sound show made of Ajit Vivek Museum at Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in Khetri. The chief guest of the inaugural ceremony was Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. While addressing the gathering, Dharmendra Rathore said that in the upcoming budget announcement, a RTDC hotel will be announced for Khetri.

KHETRI TO GET RTDC HOTEL SOON, SAYS DHARMENDRA RATHORE

Tribunal asks JDA to keep status quo on ‘demolition’

JDA TO SUBMIT REPLY IN APPELLATE TRIBUNAL TODAY

Abhishek Shrivastava

Jaipur: The JDA Appellate Tribunal has sought a reply from the JDA on the action taken against the accused of the teachers recruitment paper leak case till January 13.

Along with this, the presiding officer in the tribunal Nandini Vyas has asked not to demolish the related construction till then.

The tribunal gave this order while hearing the appeal filed by Elchi Saran, wife of accused Bhupendra Saran, Gopal Saran and his wife Indu Bala.

Justice Indrajit Sin -

NIA detains one in Kota over links with PFI

gh while disposing of the petition said that the matter is pending before the tribunal. In such a situation, the petitioner should present their side there and the tribunal should dispose of the

stay application promptly.

It was said that JDA has not informed what illegal construction is and if there is illegal construction then the petitioner is ready to remove it at his own level.

GRANTS BAIL TO PAPER LEAK MASTERMIND HANUMAN BISHNOI

Jaipur: The main accused of a paper leak in the secondgrade teacher recruitment examination of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission Hanuman Bishnoi has been granted bail from Rajasthan High Court. He was arrested on charges of keeping the black money of Bhupendra Saran. Karni Vihar police raided Hanuman’s house, during this, about Rs 19 lakh were recovered.

During interrogation, he confessed that this amount belonged to Bhupendra, therefore the police had also arrested him. A case was registered against him under IPC sections 420, 406, 467, 468, 471 and 120B.

ACB arrests agri supervisor while taking `1,500 bribe

Ramesh Sharma

Gul Mohammad

Kota: A team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided Subhash Nagar and Vigyan Nagar area of Kota on Thursday. The team reached the house of a person named Mubarak in Subhash Nagar. The team members took Mubarak’s son Naushad along with them.

Sources said that Mubarak, allegedly associated with Social Democratic Party of India and Popular Front of India, lives in Kaithoon area and a search was done there as well.

The people living around the house said that the sound like digging was also coming from the house. Police personnel were deployed outside the house and no one was being allowed to enter the street.

Mubarak’s son works in a salon in Kota. The sources said that the NIA has found important evidence during the search.

Sikar: In Rajasthan’s Sikar district, the AntiCorruption Bureau team arrested an agriculture supervisor redhanded while accepting a bribe of Rs 1,500 on Thursday. Deputy Superintendent of ACB Rajesh Jangid said that the accused, Babulal Jat, a resident of Jorawar Nagar of Shrimadhopur, works in Ramgarh Sethan Panchayat. He had demanded a bribe of Rs 2,000 from the complainant in lieu of passing the subsidy file of sprinkler irriga-

tion equipment.

After the deal was fixed for Rs 1500, the ACB along with police inspector Suresh Chand laid their trap. The team arrested the accused and he was taken to the Ramgarh police station. After completing the proceedings, the ACB team will present the accused in the court on Friday.

3 suspected thieves run over by train in Kota

Kota (PTI): Three people died after being run over by a train here on Thursday morning, police said.

The incident occurred near Borekheda overbridge under Nayapura police station, they said.

Two of those killed were identified as Jagdish Meena (35), a resident of Sultanpura and Ratanlal Soni (35), a resident of Chechat area in Kota district.

The identity of the third deceased is yet to be ascertained, police said.

Pieces of iron rods were found scattered

around the bodies which suggested the trio had stolen them from a construction site near the overbridge, circle inspector (Nayapura) Rajendra Singh said. They are suspected to be drug addicts who allegedly stole the roads from the site, he said, adding Meena is a history-sheeter.

FORMER SIKAR SDM, PATWARI ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION

Navin Sharma

Sikar: The AntiCorruption Bureau has arrested the then Sikar SDM Banwari Lal Basniwal and Patwari Dinkar Mathur in a case of graft. Both were arrested in the case of 2014 for misuse of official positions. The action was taken by a team of the ACB chowky.

Minor gang-raped by uncles for four days in Ramgarh

Ramgarh (Alwar): A minor girl was allegedly held hostage and gang-raped by four people in Ramgarh town of Alwar district, police said. Police informed the victim was gangraped for four days by her three uncles.

“The incident occurred nearly a month ago when one of her uncles took her to his village for household work. During the night time, the three relatives locked her in a room and then gangraped her for four days a knife point,” police informed.

DAYS AFTER T-57’S DEATH

Wife leaves house, husband, paramour hang selves in Barmer

Mukesh Mathrani

Barmer: A man had committed suicide along with his paramour after his wife left the house. Incident has been reported from the rural police station area in Barmer. Couple had ended their lives by hanging from the fan. On getting informed police reached at the spot and recovered the bodies. It is said that both were in love for the past five years. Police identified the deceased as Madharam, a resident of Sangseri village and Magi Devi, a resident of Booth Jetmal village.

According to the information Madharam and Magi were in love for the past many years. This led to tension in Madharam’s house as his wife was opposing this relationship.

RHB to start application process for 1,400 units

Jaipur: There is good news for the people waiting to buy flats, villas and shops built by the housing board as more than 1,400 units will be built by the board in Jaipur. The board will start their application process by the end of this month.

This decision was taken on Thursday in the 170th meeting of the project committee under the chairmanship of Kunjilal Meena, Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department.

Several other important decisions were also taken in the meeting held at the Rajasthan Housing Board headquarters.

Housing Commissioner Pawan Arora said that more than a dozen cases were discussed in

detail in the meeting and necessary guidelines were given. In the meeting, information was given about the implementation of the decisions taken in the 169th meeting held on June 8.

“In the meeting approval was given to construct Pratap Nagar Sector-8, 244 multi-storey houses in Chetak Marg, 297 flats in Sector 22, 124 flats for MNIT in Sector 26, 164 villas in Sector 28, 132 shops, 56 flats in Icon-

ic Tower, 39 MIG flats in Sector 22 itself and 325 multi-storeyed flats in Sector 23. Apart from this, 24 flats in Sector 11 of Hiran Magri Udaipur, 277 plots in Shahpura Housing Scheme were approved. During this, the rehabilitation plan of Board’s Indira Gandhi Nagar Yojna, Jaipur, to provide plots to the locals of village Kundanpura located on Ganga Marg, was approved,” Arora said.

Mortal remains of soldier who died due to cold wave consigned to flames in Jodhpur

Rajeev Gaur

Jodhpur: The mortal remains of the soldier of the Indian Army Ram Prakash Prajapat who died in Siachen glacier due to icy winds were consigned to flames with military honours.

Prajapat was the resident of Artiya Kalan village in Bhopalgarh tehsil of Jodhpur. A large number of people paid tributes to the soldier and raised slogans. Ram Prakash fainted

while facing icy winds and he died in the army hospital in Chandigarh during treatment. The body reached his village on Thursday morning. His elder son lit the funeral pyre. He was to

50-yr-old man rapes minor in Bharatpur

First India Bureau

Bharatpur: In a shocking case, a 50-year-old man raped a five-year-old girl under the Udyog Nagar police station area of Bharatpur on Tuesday. The crime happened when the girl returned home after having Annakoot prasad. When the girl reached home, her relatives questioned her about her stained clothes after which she told them about the incident.

The brother of accused Abhayraj has a marriage home near

Tuhiya intersection, where there was a programme of Annakoot on Tuesday.

Police have registered a case and got the girl’s medical examination done. They are searching for the accused.

Tigress T-118 goes missing from R’bore

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Notably, disappearance of big cats is not new. A tiger and two tigresses had gone missing from the Mandrayal range in the recent past.

Sawai Madhopur: Following the death of Tiger T-57 in Ranthambore National Park, now tigress T-118 ‘Varsha’ has gone missing from the park.

Sources informed the tigress was last spotted on CCTV on December 16, 2022, and has been missing since then. The tigress T-118 is an inhabitant of Mandrayal Range in second division.

Notably, a tiger and two tigresses had gone missing from the Mandrayal range in the recent past. Tigress T-118’s mother Tigress

T-92 ‘Sundari’ had also gone missing five years ago. Similarly, Tiger Sultan T-72 disappeared mysteriously about a year ago and now Ti-

gress T-118 has gone missing. Tigress T-118 had given birth to two cubs two years ago.

On Tuesday, after struggling for 20 days, Ranthambore’s Tiger T-57, also known as Singhsth, had died after he fell sick.

Officials informed that the Special Tiger Tracking Team of the Forest Department is closely monitoring the forest area and trying to locate the missing tigress.

First India Bureau

Jaipur: A man shot himself dead in Shyam Nagar area on Thursday, police said. Police informed the deceased has been identified as Ravi Kant Sharma, a property dealer and resident of Rewari. “Ravi Kant Sharma was staying at his cousin’s house. He was under severe stress owing to a matrimonial dispute and was allegedly beaten by his in-laws in court a few days back,” police said.

retire after two months.

Governor Kalraj Mishra and CM Ashok Gehlot also expressed condolences on the martyrdom of Prajapat. He prayed for the peace of the departed soul.

NEWS DIGEST

POSTAL ASSISTANT EXAM CANCELLED AFTER HC ORDER

Jaipur: The examination held for the promotion to the post of Postal Assistant in the postal department has been cancelled.

The High Court issued orders on the appeal of the Government of India. ASG RD Rastogi appeared on behalf of the GoI. A division bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Shubha Mehta ordered the cancellation of the examination. The GoI said in the petition that the paper was out from Sindhi Camp area of Jaipur. Candidates filed a petition in CAT saying that the appointments have been made in other boards on this basis.

HC TO HEAR PLEA AGAINST FILM ‘KUTTEY’ TODAY

Jodhpur: The hearing in the case involving Bollywood film ‘Kutte’ will take place in Jodhpur High Court on Friday. The film came into controversy after the daughter of Jalore ASP Narendra Chaudhary, Shagun Chaudhary, filed a petition objecting to the title and poster of the film ‘Kutte’. The petitioner stated that the film is based on a police department and the film poster shows people standing in uniforms and their faces have been replaced with dogs. The matter came up for hearing on January 12, but could not be heard due to paucity of time.

COURT ISSUES CONTEMPT NOTICE TO

SON

Jaipur: A court here has issued contempt notices to former IAS officer Ajit

and his son Eklavya Singh in a case related to making defamatory comments despite restrictions. Advocate AK Jain said that the court had restricted them on

Nirmal Tiwari

Shivendra Parmar

Media personnel stand outside accused Bhupendra’s residence.

Kunji Lal Meena and Pawan Arora along with other officials during 170th project committee meet in Jaipur on Friday.

People gather at the cremation ground for the last rites of jawan Ram Prakash in Jodhpur on Thursday.

HC

Ashok Gehlot @ashokgehlot51

My humble tributes to the brave son of Bhopalgarh, Jodhpur Sh. Ramprakash Prajapat, who lost his life in the line of duty at Siachen glacier. Heartfelt condolences to his family members, may God give them strength. We all stand with them in this difficult time.

Man shoots himself dead over matrimonial feud

Kumar Singh

July 21, 2022 and even after this, they made objectionable comments in social media. In the plaint, a demand has been made for a compensation of Rs 5 crore. Judge Arif Mohammad Khan has sought replies from both of them till March 8. Retired IPS officer MK Devarajan, retired IAS officer Manjit Singh, Beena Rajan and Dr Rekha Singh have filed the defamation case.

FORMER IAS AJIT KUMAR SINGH,

Kota: Cable network businessman Kapil Arora’s mother Chanchal Devi passed away on Thursday. The funeral procession will be taken out at 10am on January 14 and the final rites will be performed at Kishorepura cremation ground. The procession will be taken out from his residence in Gumanpura area of Kota.

BUSINESSMAN KAPIL ARORA’S MOTHER PASSES AWAY, FUNERAL TOMORROW

BREAKING THE ICE: INDIA AND RESURGENT TALIBAN

ing Taliban rule in the 1990s and since August 2021, India always had strong stakes and strategic interests in Afghanistan.In October 2011, India and Afghanistan signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, which strengthened their relations as it provides for assistance to help rebuild Afghanistan’s infrastructure and institutions, education and technical assistance to rebuild indigenous Afghan capacity in different areas. Indian PM Modi views “Afghanistan as a good neighbour of Indi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani wished the friendship to last forever.

FACE-OFF BETWEEN TN GOVERNOR RAVI AND MK STALIN GOVT CONTINUES

Need to establish a working relationship with new Taliban regime. The Taliban are really struggling to govern the country as they are not diplomatically recognized. They are short on resources and there’s a humanitarian crisis in the country. India need to address issue of cross border terrorism with Taliban reciprocating with some guarantees that they will not allow Afghan territory to be used against India. If the Taliban are responding to India and are talking about terrorism and if they open up to a human rights conversation with the Indians that might be good news

Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia and is referred to as the Heart of Asia. Characterised by rugged terrain Afghanistan better known as “graveyard of empires” has witnessed rise and fall of many kingdoms and finally the Hotak and Durrani dynasties, marked the political origins of the modern state. Since the late 1970s, Afghanistan’s history has been dominated by extensive warfare, including coups, invasions, insurgencies and civil wars. The conflict began in 1978 when a communist revolution established a socialist state, and subsequent infighting prompted the Soviet Union to invade Afghanistan in 1979. Mujahedeen fought against them in the Soviet- Afghan war and continued fighting amongst themselves following Soviet withdrawal in 1989. The Islamic fundamentalist Taliban controlled most of the country by 1996, but their Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan received little international recognition and it was overthrown by US invasion in 2001.

Birth, Rise and Fall of Taliban (First Regime): The Taliban, or “students” in the Pashto language, trained in madrasas of Afghanistan and Pakistan emerged as saviours in the early 1990s following the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan and

ACCIDENT PRONE OR CARELESSNESS

resultant clashes amongst the mujahedeen militia groups for greater control. Their leader was Mullah Mohammad Omar, who had earned a reputation for being pious and assisting in the fight against the Soviets. The birth and its rise of Taliban in 1990s were primarily to counter Soviet presence in Afghanistan. The Taliban was funded by Saudi Arab, trained by ISI Pakistan and had a tacit support of US to fill the vacuum created once Soviets were driven out of Afghanistan. The Taliban were accused of various human rights and cultural abuses and their actions like destruction of the famous Bamiyan Buddha statues, attacks on World Trade Center, New York on 11 Sep 2001 and providing a sanctuary for the prime suspects, Osama Bin Laden and his al-Qaeda movement led to US-led military coalition launched attacks in Afghanistan on 07 Oct and by the first week of December, 2001 the Taliban regime had collapsed. A pro-US government was established in Kabul under President Hamid Karzai in 2002.

Resurgence of Taliban2021: Even after its fall the Taliban made numerous attacks on Kabul, NATO’s base in Sep 2012 and seized control the strategically important city of Kunduz. Subsequently Mullah Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in May 2016 and replaced by his deputy Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada. At one point, a Pakistani offshoot of the Taliban threatened to destabilise Pakistan from areas it controlled in the north-west. A major military offensive two years later following the Peshawar school massacre greatly reduced the group’s influence in

India’s IT capital, Bengaluru, is trying to live up to the allegation of having a 40 percent commission. Two days after an under-construction Metro pillar collapsed killing a young mother and her child and her husband and daughter seriously injured, a biker was injured when a stretch on Brigade Road caved in. The incident occurred near an area where a tunnel boring for the Metro was on. Two accidents near phase two construction site Metro suggest that there is something woefully wrong with the project’s execution and the city’s civic body. The Congress reminded the state government of the 40 percent commission charge lev-

AFGHANISTAN, OFFICIALLY THE ISLAMIC EMIRATE OF AFGHANISTAN, IS A LANDLOCKED COUNTRY LOCATED AT THE CROSSROADS OF CENTRAL ASIA AND SOUTH ASIA AND IS REFERRED TO AS THE HEART OF ASIA

Pakistan. The US entered into a peace deal negotiation with the Taliban in 2020 paving way for resurgence of Taliban who had constantly pursued a long guerrilla war against US and its supported Afghan governments. National governments led by Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani had international recognition and support but they could not control Taliban activities fully. The Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in 2021, two decades after being removed from power by a US-led military coalition. Currently, the Taliban are led by Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada as the head of the Rahbari Shura, the council that takes all the political and military decisions for what it calls the Emirate - the Afghanistan territories under its control. Although initially claiming to form an inclusive government for the country, the regime currently remains internationally unrecognized. India and Afghanistan have very ancient historic and cultural ties since Indus Valley Civilisation days. Despite obstacles from Pakistan, relations between two countries at the people-to-people level have remained good. Surviv-

Taliban Resurgence and Implications for India: Previous Taliban regime was recognized only by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha monuments by the Taliban led to outrage and angry protests by India. In 1999, the hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 landed and stayed in Kandahar in Afghanistan and the Taliban were suspected of supporting them. India became one of the key supporters of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance following these developments. A year ago, India was not happy about the state of affairs in Afghanistan as the U.S. was negotiating its exit, the Taliban was consolidating power, and decades of India’s base of supporting anti-Taliban forces were evaporating. India has sent back a batch of diplomats to Kabul in a significant shift seen as giving a de facto recognition to the Afghan Taliban government. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan welcomes Indian’s step to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Kabul. Besides ensuring security, we will play close attention to the immunity of the diplomats and cooperate well in endeavour.

Way Forward: India must consolidate its move to upgrade its diplomatic representation in Kabul and need to have a permanent presence inside Afghanistan. For the Taliban, being friends with India allows it to put in place some sort of hedging strategy vis-à-vis Pakistan. India to put in place more concrete measures to engage Taliban giving it a better leverage against arch rival Pakistan. India’s direct return to Afghanistan will keep thirdparty interventions out and will be more result oriented.

Two days after an under-construction Metro pillar collapsed killing a young mother and her child and leaving her husband, daughter seriously injured, a biker was injured when a stretch on Brigade Road caved in

elled against it by an aggrieved contractor who accused officials of taking a 40 percent cut to release payments in 2021.

In October last year a service road built as part of a Rs 19.5- crore underpass caved in barely four months after

its inauguration highlighting the corruption in construction projects. The latest accidents involving the Metro project which was started in 2007 aren’t the only ones.

In 2013 a 47-year-old worker died after being hit by a sixtonne iron frame. In 2020 a labourer died after a cable pierced his head. In 2021 a worker fell into a utility shaft and died. As there were no signages the man mistook the utility shaft as a toilet.

According to an RTI reply, Delhi Metro took a toll of 156 lives during construction between 2002 and 2017. Bengaluru Metro officials perhaps did not take any lessons from Delhi Metro to avoid casualties. Lucknow Metro had fewer casualties due to better supervision.

In the Tamil Nadu government versus Governor RN Ravi row, a new dimension was added after the latter referred to himself as the governor of Tamizhagam (instead of Tamil Nadu) in the invites for Pongal. Governor Ravi had used Tamizhagam in his speech on the inaugural day of the state Assembly’s opening session when he also deviated from the tradition of sticking to the speech provided to him by the MK Stalin government. Ravi finds Tamizhagam appropriate as Nadu has come to mean a country. Ravi prefers Tamizhagam over Tamil Nadu as it “has contributed to the spread of Sanatan culture.

The latest cause of friction is the state government’s usage of “ondriya arasu” instead of the Union government. The governor finds the term “disrespectful” and “problematic” especially because the TN government prefers to use the Central government as India is “a Union of states”. The fraught relations between the two sides may prove counterproductive for the BJP as Dravidian pride is repeatedly hurt.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

TOP TWEETS

l Vol 4 l Issue No. 218

l RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764.

Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B. Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk Road, Jaipur. Published at 304, 3rd Floor, City Mall, Bhagwan Das Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001, Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504.

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

Amit Shah

@AmitShah

Vivekananda ji was a strong critic of casteism and social ostentatious and was in favor of social harmony. Along with awakening national consciousness among the youth, he gave ideas to connect spirituality with modernity. His immense knowledge and inspiring thoughts will remain a center of inspiration for the youth for ages.

Anurag Thakur @ianuragthakur

Regards on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda ji, a young ascetic, a shining constellation, an unmatched example of concentration and humanity, who scented the whole world with the fragrance of Indian all-inclusive culture and enlightened spirituality and best wishes to all the youth of the country on National Youth Day.

If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way. Buddha

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

COL RAJESH BHUKAR

The author is a Post Graduate in

International Studies, Alumni of Defense Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Combat, Mhow

World is in state of crisis: PM Modi at Voice of Global South summit

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The world is in a state of crisis and it is difficult to predict how long this state of instability will last, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday referring to various global challenges arising out of conflict, war and terrorism among others.

In his opening remarks at the Voice of Global South virtual summit, Modi flagged concerns over rising

prices of food, fuel and fertilisers, the economic impact of Covid-19 as well as natural disasters driven by climate change.

“We, the Global South, have the largest stakes in the future.

Most of the global challenges have not been created by the Global South. But they affect us more”.

He said “the world is in a state of crisis” and told the leaders of developing countries: “your voice is India’s voice”

and “your priorities are India’s priorities”.

Noting that 5Rs need to recalibrate the relationship between the

JOSHIMATH LAND SUBSIDENCE

developing countries and the developed world, he said the world has to respond to the priorities of the Global

KARNAPRAYAG, LANDOUR TOO STARING AT DISASTER

South by framing an inclusive and balanced international agenda. It has to recognise that the principle of ‘com-

mon but differentiated responsibilities’ applies to all global challenges. It must respect the sovereignty of all nations, rule of law and peaceful resolution of differences and disputes; and the world must reform international institutions, including the United Nations, to make them more relevant.

The PM said: “We have turned the page on another difficult year that saw war, conflict, terrorism, and

geo-political tensions; rising food, fertiliser and fuel prices; climate change-driven natural disasters, and the lasting economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is difficult to predict how long this state of instability will last”.

He said most of the problems the world is facing have been thrust upon it by developed countries: “We have seen this in the impacts of Covid pandemic, climate change, terrorism and even the

Ukraine conflict. The search for solutions also does not factor in our role or our voice,” he said.

He recalled that India has always tried to share its expertise and learning with underdeveloped countries. “We supplied medicines and vaccines to over 100 countries during the pandemic. India has always stood for a greater role of developing countries in determining our common future.”

BHARAT JODO YATRA

“Ludhiana has potential to compete with China”

Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Thursday authorised the CBI to attach ‘excess properties’ belonging to former minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy, his wife and companies owned by him. The order came after the High Court of Karnataka granted the state government two days on January 10 to give information on the delay in granting permission to the CBI to attach Reddy’s properties.

Ludhiana (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said Ludhiana’s small and medium businesses can compete with China if they are given adequate support even as he accused the Punjab govt and the Centre of not supporting them. He is undertaking the Punjab leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Targeting Modi govt over the issue of demonetisation, he alleged that it has hit the small and medium enterprises. “But how and who hit Ludhiana?

Dehradun (PTI): The crisis in Joshimath has brought into focus the issue of land subsidence which has for years been threatening several places of Uttarakhand, including the pilgrim town of Karnaprayag and Landour.

Around 80 km from Joshimath, at least 50 houses at Bahuguna Nagar in Karnaprayag have been developing cracks since 2015. Locals hold gradual land subsidence responsible for the fissures and attribute it to the widening of the national highway, violation of norms in construction works related to mandi parishad, erosion caused by the Pindar river and unsystematic flushing out of rainwater.

Debris brought down by a landslide from above the Bahuguna Nagar first inflicted damage to houses in 2015, former chairman of Karnaprayag municipal council Subhash Gairola said.

11-member committee constituted for transparent distribution of immediate interim assistance to the affected people in #Joshimath and to decide the rate of rehabilitation package.

—Chamoli DM

Lucknow (PTI): Accusing the BJP govt of being in a slumber despite the Joshimath tragedy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday demanded proper compensation for those who have suffered losses. Speaking to reporters here, Yadav said that BJP government both in Uttrakhand and the centre was ignoring its responsibility towards the affected families in Joshimath. “Such a big tragedy has taken place in Joshimath and the government still appears to be in a slumber. The government needs to extend proper compensation to the locals there as they are facing loss of all their lifelong savings in setting up their businesses, hotels and now they are forced to leave everything behind,” Yadav said.

The court had asked the govt why it had not given the go-ahead to attach the properties worth Rs 19 crore while it had earlier sanctioned the attachment of Rs 64 crore assets.

Pradhan Mantri ji implemented demonetisation and ‘wrong’ GST,” he said. “Somebody told me today that Ludhiana is like Manchester. I thought it was wrongly said. Manchester is like Ludhiana.

Ludhiana (ANI): On the arrival of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ludhiana, members of the 1984 Sikh Massacre Riot Victims Society, raised slogans and burnt an effigy of Rahul Gandhi at the Ghantaghar Chowk.The protesters alleged that the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib was on the orders of Rahul Gandhi's grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. They also pointed out that Sikhs were massacred during the time of Rahul's father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. They claimed that the Bharat Jodo Yatra has again cut open their wounds. The protesters demanded that Rahul

From BJP meetings to Lok Sabha Pravas, JP Nadda has a busy January month

New Delhi (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda is all set to have a hectic start to 2023 with a series of party meetings, visits to pollbound states and Lok Sabha Pravas.

New

that the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the area. The state govt said a rehabilitation package is also being prepared and a lot of relief work is going on. The submission was made before a bench which was hearing a petition seeking to direct the Centre to constitute a committee headed by a retired judge to look into the issue.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

“It is not easy to be the president of the world’s largest party and our leaders like Nadda ji are an inspiration,” a top BJP office bearer told ANI. Nadda who is all set to get his presidency term extended next week at the party's national executive meeting has been busy all along.

“Just this week, Nadda held a meeting with leaders for the

“India is supporting developing nations”

New Delhi (PTI): India is committed to tackling the impact of climate change and supporting the efforts of developing countries in achieving their development goals through necessary technical assistance, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Thursday.

At Voice of Global South summit, he said the developed world has already consumed its share of climate resources and it is time

that they accept responsibility for past actions.

The development of a country and conserva-

tion of its biodiversity and ecosystems are two important aspects, neither of which can be ig-

nored. As such, there is a need for development policies to be inclusive and sustainable to reduce

Lok Sabha Pravas. Following this, he held a day-long meeting with the party General Secretary and also held a meeting on “know your BJP campaign”...Today our president held a rally in poll-bound

Tripura. Apart from that there are multiple meetings he holds with the party leaders that many are unaware of. That’s the kind of efforts that are put in,” a national general secretary said.

PRIYANKA TURNS 51

inequality and contribute to empowerment and improvement of quality of people’s lives, he said.

NDRF and SDRF personnel deployed near the damaged hotels that have to be demolished, in Chamoli on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leads the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, at Doraha, in Khanna on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav with his Japanese counterpart Akihiro Nishimura in New Delhi on Thursday.

Dehradun (PTI): Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday said a committee would decide the market rate for compensation to be paid to the families affected in Joshimath by keeping in mind the interests of stakeholders. A 19-member committee headed by Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana was set up to distribute an interim assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh among each affected family and decide the rate at which compensation is to be paid. “People will get the best compensation possible. The state govt will do all it can to properly rehabilitate them. Protecting their life and property is our top priority,” CM Dhami said at a meeting.

Delhi: The Uttarakhand govt on Thursday told Delhi High Court that authorities are rehabilitating families affected due to land subsidence in Joshimath, and

GOVT TELLS DELHI HC THAT AFFECTED FAMILIES ARE BEING REHABILITATED

Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi should apologize for the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib and the massacre of Sikhs.

BJP IN SLUMBER DESPITE JOSHIMATH TRAGEDY, SAYS AKHILESH YADAV

ANTI-SIKH RIOT VICTIMS BURN RAHUL GANDHI’S EFFIGY IN PUNJAB’S LUDHIANA

K’taka authorises CBI to attach excess properties of G J Reddy

India has always stood for a greater role of developing countries in determining our common future.

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

YADAV HOLDS MEET WITH JAPANESE COUNTERPART AKIHIRO NISHIMURA

New Delhi: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav held a bilateral meeting with Akihiro Nishimura, Minister of the Environment, Japan, here on Thursday. Both leaders discussed a range of issues including G7/G20 collaboration, LiFE, Marine & Plastic Waste, COP-27 and CBD 15. Yadav said that it is a coincidence that both Japan and India have taken over Presidencies of the G7 and G20 respectively and this presents an opportunity for both countries to set the agendas and priorities for shaping the future of the world.

BJP chief JP Nadda waves to supporters on his arrival at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, in Agartala on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Thursday slammed Bihar CM Nitish Kumar over the controversial remarks of a member of his Cabinet on Ramcharitmanas, alleging that his govt has been hurting Hindu sentiments and wondering if the minister will dare to make similar comments on holy books of other religions. Bihar’s Education Minister Chandrashekhar, who is from the RJD, has sparked a row, saying Ramcharitmanas penned by Saint Goswami Tulsidas spreads “hatred” in society.

SACK BIHAR MINISTER FOR COMMENTS ON HINDU EPIC: BJP

Congress workers celebrate party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s birthday, in Prayagraj on Thursday. Born on 12 January, 1972, the AICC General Secretary celebrated her 51st birthday on Thursday.

Avalanches in J&K’s Ganderbal; one person dead, one missing

One person died and another is feared missing after avalanches struck two mountainous areas in J&K’s Ganderbal on Thursday amid incessant snowfall in the region for the past few days, the police said.

The identity of deceased is yet to be ascertained, police said. Locals claimed that the body was of a labourer working in the area.

The twin snow avalanches hit near Zojila and Hung in Sonamarg, a day after the higher reaches of Kashmir witnessed the season’s second snowfall. Officials have asked people in avalanche-prone areas to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary movement.

In the morning, a massive avalanche hit close to Zojila some 10 kilometres from the tourist destination of Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. It was captured on camera.

Meanwhile, weather officials have predicted more snowfall and rainfall from Thursday evening in the area. The minimum temperature in Jammu and Kashmir is also dipping below the freezing point.

A separate but relatively smaller ava-

lanche hit near Hung ahead of Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Zojila road. There was no report of loss of life or property in this incident. Immediately after the avalanches, men and machinery were put to work to remove the debris and the road was thrown open.

The officials said the twin avalanches snapped the electricity supply in the area and it would take some hours for the officials to restore the electricity.

COLD WAVE: 15%

New Delhi (ANI): Emergency departments of private and govt hospitals in Delhi witnessed more patients with heart attacks, brain strokes and high BP during early mornings this winter, as Delhi recorded its third worst cold wave in 23 years. According to Dr Suresh Kumar, Medical Director, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, “We are getting approx 10-15 per cent more patients of heart attacks, brain strokes and high blood pressure especially during early hours because of the cold waves since 12 days and the most affected age group is between 50-70 yr old.” He also said that OPDs are filled with viral infections.He advised, “People should monitor their diabetes and blood pressure regularly, avoid walk during the morning and wear warm clothes.”

NORTH HEADED FOR SEVERE COLD SPELL, MERCURY TO HOVER BETWEEN 0 & -4°C

New Delhi (ANI): Already in the grip of a severe cold spell, there’s more bad news in the offing for North India as vast swathes of the region are likely to experience a drop in temperatures to a minimum of -4 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 2 degrees Celsius in the plains, weather experts said.

According to a tweet

by the weather expert, the icy, severe chill would be experienced between January 14 and 19 and is likely to be at its peak from January

16 to 18. Jammu and Kashmir, which has literally been snowed under in what has been an unforgiving winter, would have no respite from the cold spell with the mercury predicted to drop to a minimum of -6 degrees Celsius.

Punjab, Haryana, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Northern Madhya Pradesh will be

` 4,957 cr loan fraud: CBI raids in Maha

New Delhi: The CBI has lodged a case of a bank loan fraud of Rs 4957 cr against Pratibha Industries, it’s Directors and others and is conducting raids in Mumbai and Thane. A complaint was lodged on September 12, 2022 by Sanjay Kumar Tiwary, Deputy General Manager, Stressed Assets Management Branch, Bank of Baroda, Mumbai against Pratibha Industries Limited, it’s Directors Ajit Bhagwan Kulkarni, Ravi Kulkarni, Sunanda Datta Kulkarni, Sharad Prabhakar Deshpande and others for causing a wrongful loss of Rs 4957.31 crore (Rs. 4735.67 crore as per the complaint made by Bank of Baroda and Rs 221.64 crore as per the mandate dated 13.09.2022 given by SBI).

LOAN FRAUD CASE

New Delhi: The CBI has lodged a fresh loan fraud case of Rs 1688 crore against ABG Shipyard owner Rishi Kamlesh Agarwal and others. The CBI had last year booked Agarwal for a loan fraud of Rs 22000 crore which was said to be the biggest bank loan fraud. A senior CBI officer said that a complaint was received from Karambir Singh, Chief Manager, Punjab National Bank (PNB) Mumbai on behalf of other banks (e-OBC, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda (e-Dena Bank) and e-United Bank of India) in this regard.

EX-CMD OF AMRAPALI GROUP BOOKED IN KILLING OF BALIKA VIDYAPEETH’S EX-SECY

New Delhi: The CBI has booked former chairman and managing director of Amrapali Group Anil Sharma in connection with the eight-year-old murder case of Sharad Chand, a former secretary of Bihar-based educational institution Balika Vidy-

apeeth, officials said. Sharma was arrested Wednesday on the Patna High Court’s orders issued last month. In accordance with its procedures, the CBI has taken over the probe into the FIR registered by the Lakhisarai police station in Bihar.

India beat SL, lead ODI series 2-0

Kolkata (ANI) : KL Rahul scored an unbeaten half-century in his 50th ODI to help India claim a fourwicket victory in the second ODI against Sri Lanka here at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

India clinched the three-match ODI series with an unassailable 2-0 lead. Sensible batting from KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya ensured the hosts recovered from the early setback to complete

CRUCIAL READ

TRINAMOOL CONGRESS LEADER SHOT DEAD IN WEST BENGAL’S BURDWAN

the chase. The wicketkeeper batsmen scored 64* runs while Hardik made 36 runs.

neand Lahiru Kumara picked up two wickets apiece to dent the Indian run-chase. Chasing

were off to a quick with openers Shubhman Gill and Rohit Sharma smashing five fours and a six inside the first four overs. The batting duo looked in sublime touch and fed on the over-pitched bowling by the Sri Lankan pace attack.

The Indian captain looked set for another Eden Garden special knock with the Kolkata ground serving as the righthander’s happy hunting ground.

in the grip of a severe cold wave over the week, with the minimum temperature hovering between 0 and 4 degrees Celsius.

Owing to strong winds blowing in because of a Western Disturbance, the relief, according to the Met expert, won’t be for long as the chill and fog will be back soon.

KERALA FARMER DIES AFTER TIGER ATTACKS HIM

Thiruvananthapuram: A farmer working at his field in Kerala’s Wayanad on Thursday was attacked by a tiger, and later succumbed following a cardiac arrest. According to the locals at Puthuserry in Wayanad, the incident occurred around 9.30 a.m. Thomas alias Sallu, 50, was immediately taken to the nearby Manathavady hospital with deep injuries on his hands and legs.

DAMAN: 2 BROTHERS ARRESTED IN EXTORTION CASE

Daman: Police in the UT of Daman have arrested two persons, Naveen Patel and his brother Ashok Patel, in an extortion case. A scrap dealer had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that the duo extorted money from him.The police said on Thursday that a resident of Nani Daman running a scrap business had lodged a complaint with the coastal police station on Wednesday.

MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT DENIES BAIL TO CONG LEADER RAJA PATERIA

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday

minister

Congress leader Raja Pateria, who was arrested for his controversial statement on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pateria had approached the HC after his bail plea was denied by a district court a few days back. However, the Congress leader got no leniency for his alleged remarks on Prime Minister Modi during a meeting with party workers in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh.

PANIPAT CYLINDER BLAST

Six members of family killed in house fire

Panipat (Agencies): Six of a family died on Thursday morning after a fire broke out reportedly due to a leakage in the LPG cylinder here.

The deceased were identified as Abdul Karim (50), his wife Afroza (46) and their four children Ishrat (18), Reshma (16), Abdul (10) and Arfan (7). The incident took place in Parshuram Colony.

After preliminary inspection, Panipat’s SP Shashank Anand said, “It appears that there was an LPG cylinder leakage that filled the room with the gas and when Afroza woke up this morning and tried to light the burner to make tea, it resulted in a blast. Their house consisted of a single

room which had a bed and a kitchen.”

The police said the room where the family lived is approximately 8 feet by 10 feet on the first floor of a godown.

The officials added that it appears that the family did not even get time to open the door which was locked from inside.

As the blast took place, the family screamed for help when their neighbors rushed to their help. After they broke open the door, a huge ball of fire emanated from the room, the neighbors said.

EC team lands in Tripura to ensure free and fair polls

New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) held a meeting on Thursday with the leaders and representatives of all political parties to ensure free and fair assembly elections in Tripura.

The meeting was headed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Pandey and Arun Goel. At a presser, Kumar said special arrangements were being made for an “all-inclusive election”. He said that efforts are afoot to make the voting process transparent, while security has been tightened to ensure the safety of candidates. He EC said that voter cards have been issued for first-time voters and the enrolment of women and transgenders is on.

Pandemic provided chance to strengthen healthcare infrastructure: Mandaviya

New Delhi (Agencies): The pandemic period provided an opportunity to strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure and delivery systems, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said here, on Thursday.

He made the observation while chairing the eighth meeting of Mission Steering Group (MSG) of National Health Mission (NHM).

The MSG is the apex decision-making body

of NHM that takes decisions on policies and program implementation under the Mission.

For the first-time,

health is being linked with the agenda of development under a holistic approach undertaken by the Centre, he said.

Mandaviya stated, “Exceeding the target of 1.50 lakh Ayushman Bharat- Health & Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) by 31 December, 2022, more than 1.54 lakh Sub Health Centres and Primary Health Centres have been transformed as AB-HWCs. In sync with the approach of the National Health Policy 2017 (NHP 2017), AB-HWCs are providing comprehensive primary healthcare closer to the communities.”

Kolkata: A Trinamool Congress leader was shot dead in broad daylight at Ketugram in West Bengal’s East Burdwan district on Thursday morning, police said. The deceased has been identified as Dulal Sheikh, 45. Police are investigating the matter. District Trinamool leaders claimed that the murder was a fallout of some family problem. However, local BJP leaders have claimed that the event was the fallout of infighting in the ruling party over illegal sand mining in the area. It is learnt that the victim was a trader in construction materials, including sand.

denied bail to former Madhya Pradesh

and state

SURGE IN HEART ATTACKS, HIGH BP & BRAIN STROKES

An avalanche occurred near Baltal, Zojila in the Sonamarg area of Ganderbal on Thursday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi: The promoter of a Mumbai-based real estate company has been arrested under the anti-money laundering law in a case related to alleged fraud of more than Rs 500 crore, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Thursday. Mahesh Bhupatkumar Oza, promoter of Karan Group Builders and Developers, was taken into custody on January 10 from jail where he was lodged after he was first arrested by the Bengaluru police, it said.The money laundering case is based on multiple FIRs filed by the Karnataka Police against Oza and others on the complaint of an investor who put money in his projects.

HEAD OF KARAN GROUP BUILDERS ARRESTED IN `500 CRORE FRAUD CASE

—Representational image

`

1,688 CR

AGAINST ABG SHIPYARD OWNER RISHI AGARWAL

Mansukh Mandaviya releases the book-‘Braving A Viral Storm: India’s Covid-19 Vaccine Story’, in New Delhi. —PHOTO BY ANI

Chamika Karunarat-

the target, India

KL Rahul & Hardik Pandya during 2nd India-SL ODI match.

Constitution Park earns praise

Naresh Sharma

Jaipur: The presiding officers from across the country visited the Constitution Park at Raj Bhavan on Thursday. They appreciated the sculptures, photographs and models displayed in the park.

The presiding officers closely observed the artworks depicting the 22 parts of the Constitution. They took photographs in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi spinning the charkha and recalled his innovative experiment of giving a new direction to the freedom movement through the Swadeshi movement. The presiding officers described the beauty of Mayur Stambh as amazing amidst the peacocks roaming in the natural surroundings of the Raj Bhavan. Many presiding officers were overwhelmed to see the statue of Maharana Pratap resting with his beloved horse.

Uttar Pradesh Vid-

hansabha Speaker Satish Mahana said that the Constitution Park is an example in itself in the whole country.

Himachal Pradesh Vidhansabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh felici-

tated Governor. Mishra by making him wear the traditional cap of Himachal Pradesh.

Earlier,

GEHLOT MEETS DUNGARPUR DELEGATION

First India Bureau

Bikaner (FIB) : A couple working in a factory located in Jamsar area committed suicide by hanging themselves on Wednesday night. The reason for the suicide of the couple is being investigated. The dead have not left any suicide note. Ram Iqbal Chamar and his wife Mamta, came to work in Bikaner from Nepal about two years ago. They lived in a room near the factory. Seeing no movement inside the house on Thursday, the people around peeped inside, where both were seen hanging from the noose.

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said that every section of the society is benefiting from the schemes run by the state government in all sectors including education, medical, and health. He said that Mahatma Gandhi English medium schools have been opened to provide quality English education to the economically weaker sections.

Highlighting the Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme, he said that at the national level, only 41 percent of people have health insurance while 90 per-

cent of people in the state are covered under the Chiranjeevi Yojana.

The chief minister was addressing a delegation of Sarv Samaj from the Dungarpur district at his residence here. He said that the state government organised Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympic Games

and developed a new sports culture in the state. “The central government should give the right to social security to the countrymen by enacting a law”, said Gehlot. He also said that in developed countries, governments are providing social security to their citizens.“It

is the duty of a sensitive government to give strength to the helpless and needy people. In the state, the state government is giving pension to one crore old people including widows and disabled under social security, so that they can get financial support,” he said.

CM to woo MBBS students of 87 castes with fees waiver

Jaipur: Ahead of the assembly elections, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has decided to provide relief in MBBS fees to the candidates of 87 castes, including Jat and Gurjar. Students in these categories will get a benefit of more than Rs 60,000 annually.

The Medical Education Department has made preparations to provide the fee waiver to OBC and MBC category students. The proposal has been sent to the Chief Minister. T Ravi-

12th edition of ‘GITB’ to be held at Jaipur from Apr 23 2 killed as pick-up rams into motorcycle

Jaipur (FIB): The 12th edition of Great Indian Travel Bazaar (GITB) will be organized from April 23 to 25, 2023 under the joint aegis of Rajasthan Tourism Department, Ministry of Tourism & Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI).

GITB will be inaugurated on April 23rd, while exhibition & B2B

meetings will commence from April 24th and continue till 25th April at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre, Sitapura.

Over 230 foreign delegates are likely to participate. Mrs. Gayatri Rathor (IAS), Principal Secy, Tourism Dept announced this after indepth preview meeting with FICCI officials.

First India Bureau

Sawaipur (Bhilwara): Two girl students died on the spot when a pickup rammed into a twowheeler on Thursday morning at the Chawandia intersection of Bhilwara-Kota National Highway 758.

According to the police, Chawandia residents Gayatri (18) and Khushbu (18) were

first-year students of MLV College, Bhilwara.

On Thursday morning

at 10:30, both girls met Shubham Ojha on the way, a youth from the same village. Shubham on his bike gave lift to both the girl to drop them off at Chawandia Square.

When Shubham stopped the bike at the crossing, a pickup came at high speed & rammed all 3. Both the girls died on the spot while leaving Shubham injured.

RAJ CADRE IAS OFFICER TRIES TO DEFY LAWS

3 CHILDREN DIE, DOZEN INJURED

Sawai Madhopur: A tractor trolley full of devotees returning to Basla village overturned near Naya village in Chauth Ka Barwara area killing 3 children and injuring about a dozen devotees. The injured were admitted to Chauth’s Barwara Hospital, from where three children were referred to the district hospital in a critical condition. All three died by the time they reached the district hospital.

IAS Punam builds her castle in thin air to stay in Bihar

Jaipur: Let us tell you a bizarre tale of 2005 batch IAS Punam, who has been serving on deputation in her home state Bihar for the past seventy-four months i.e six years and two months. Even though the service rule states that a deputation in the Home state can be only for five years, Punam has managed to get repeated stays from CAT

and continued to stay in her Bihar.

However, it has been learnt that now she does not want to return to the Rajasthan cadre. She has filed an application with the Central DoPT that her cadre is changed from Rajasthan to Bihar. As a result, Rajasthan bureaucracy is surprised by Punam’s action and the reason is simple: There is no provision for changing cadre to the home state

under IAS service rules. It is not as if Punam would not have known this rule, but perhaps she thinks that the way she has been staying in

Bihar for over five years, thus belittling the service rule of fiveyear maximum deputation in her home state; in the same manner she may be successful in getting her home cadre also changed. It has been learnt that Punam has cited several ‘silly reasons’ to stay in Bihar and serve in the state.

Experts in administrative issues have claimed that not even a single example of cadre

change to the home state has occurred in All India Services since its Independence.

Thus Punam is trying to make possible, the impossible. Sources reveal that the Haryana government has been requesting the Centre to allow its state IAS serving in other cadres to come to the Haryana cadre since there is a dearth of IAS in the state. But the Centre has kept that demand on the

back burner and no notice has been paid to it even after years have passed on these demands.

So it is clear that Punam will have to return to Rajasthan sooner or later. But the milliondollar question is why Punam wants to leave Rajasthan. In the state where she worked for ten years and served as Collector of three districts, how did she lose interest in it, suddenly?

kant, Principal Secretary of, the Medical Education Department confirmed this.

Ravikant said that after the approval of the CM, it will be placed in the cabinet meeting for approval. Officials say that this proposal has

been prepared on the instructions of the Chief Minister’s Office and is likely to be approved soon. According to the proposal, 6 government medical colleges are included where OBC and MBC students will get exemptions.

3 flight services to Amritsar and Goa begin this month

Kashiram Choudhary

Jaipur: Flight operations at Jaipur International Airport are set to increase with 3 new flights this month. The airlines have taken approval from the DGCA for the operation of these flights.

As the tourist season is at its peak, 15,000 passengers on average travel daily from Jaipur airport and 60 flights operate daily. SpiceJet and GoFirst airlines will start flight operations from Jaipur to Amritsar and Goa.

SpiceJet airline will start flights from Jaipur to Amritsar on January 20. In March, it is expected that 65 flights will operate daily from the airport. Flight operations to Kolkata may also increase. Currently, only 3 flights run regularly for Kolkata. SpiceJet operated for 4 days from January 10 to 13 on an experimental basis.

NEW FLIGHT SCHEDULE

z Flight services to begin from January 20.

z Flight SG-2941 will depart from Jaipur at 10:55 am and reach Amritsar at 12:25 pm.

z Flight SG-2942 will depart from Amritsar at 7:05 pm, will reach Jaipur airport at 8:35 pm

z SpiceJet flight will start from Jaipur to Goa from January 25

z Flight SG-3763 will depart from Jaipur at 11:10 am and reach Goa at 1:55 pm

z Flight SG-2975 will depart from Goa at 7:10 pm and reach Jaipur at 9:55 pm

z GoFirst flight will start from Jaipur to Goa from January 25

z Flight G8-952 will depart from Goa at 10:30 am, will reach Jaipur at 12:30 pm

Rajendra Chhabra

Mishra greeted everyone at the Raj Bhavan and presented mementos to them.

Principal Secretary to the Governor Subir Kumar and principal OSD Govindram Jaiswal apprised the presiding officers about the concept of Constitution Park.

Nepali couple found hanging inside house

Vikas Sharma

Governor Kalraj Mishra along with the Presiding Officers at the Raj Bhavan in Jaipur.

Vaibhav Gehlot with guests at the gala dinner at State Assembly.

Sandeep Choudhary, Mahendra Chaudhary and Devaram Saini during the dinner at State Assembly on Thursday.

LS Speaker Om Birla & CM Ashok Gehlot share a hearty laughter at the State Assembly in Jaipur on Thursday.

Guv Kalraj Mishra, LS Speaker Om Birla, CM Ashok Gehlot, Sunita Gehlot, Dr CP Joshi along with his wife, enjoy a cultural programme before dinner at State Assembly in Jaipur on Thursday.

The CM Ashok Gehlot while addressing a delegation of Sarv Samaj in the Dungarpur district.

Police at the accident site on Bhilwara-Kota National Highway

CM Ashok Gehlot, Sunita Gehlot, GS Dotasra along with the guests at the State Assembly in Jaipur on Thursday.

Dr CP Joshi, Vaibhav Gehlot and Khanu Khan Budhwali at dinner.

Presiding Officers visit the Constitution Park at the Raj Bhavan.

VALEDICTORY SESSION OF 83RD AIPOC IN JAIPUR

BIRLA: LEGISLATURE HAS SOLE RIGHT TO FORM LAW AND IT IS SUPREME

9 resolutions underlining need for all organs of state to respect Constitutional boundaries were passed

Jaipur: The 83rd All India Presiding Officers Conference here endorsed the view that the judiciary should respect its constitutional boundaries and underlined the supremacy of the legislature, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Thursday.

This comes a day after V-P and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar slammed the “one-upmanship and public posturing” from judicial platforms. Nine resolutions underlining the need for all organs of state to respect the Constitutional boundaries enshrined in the Constitution were passed at the conference, Birla said.

“All organs of the Constitution should respect their constitutional boundaries. We respect the judiciary and underline its independence but only the legislature has the

It has been decided that a code of conduct for members be introduced in rules for bringing about an effective check against indecorous conduct. Presiding officers underlined the need for consensus among political parties for not disrupting the House during Question Hour.

right to form law and it is supreme,” Birla told

A resolution extending support to government on chairing the G20 and Parliament–20 was passed in the conference. A resolution to project India as ‘Mother of Democracy’ and a global leader in the causes of equity, inclusivity, fraternity, peace and sustainable lifestyle was accepted.

BY SANTOSH SHARMA

CM’s nod to give financial autonomy to Raj Assembly

First India Bureau

Jaipur: Soon, the Rajasthan Assembly will be the first such a State Assembly in the country that will be endowed with financial rights.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has given an inprinciple consent to the idea after Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi put forth the demand.

Notably, First India had already given indications in this regard. It is believed that soon CM Gehlot can call a cabinet meeting and a decsion in this regard can be taken. In All India Presiding Officer’s conference, CM Gehlot informed about the inprinciple consent stressing that history is being made.

Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi explained the meaning of financial autonomy saying, “Once budget is allocated to Assembly, the power to decide where it should be spent should remain with Speaker. CM Gehlot has taken steps in this regard. Thanks to him.”

CM inspects MLA flats, hails RHB for magnificent design

Jaipur: CM Ashok Gehlot visited the sample flat of MLA Awas Yojana on Thursday. He patted and congratulated RHB Commissioner Pawan Arora for excellent design of the samples and for completing work on time.

While inspecting the sample flat, the CM was surprised to see the design & quality of office, powder room, drawing room, guest room and said that even big companies couldn’t construct so much in such

a short time. He told Dhariwal that people are asking how the work is being completed at such a speed.

CM congratulated NG Gadhia for excellent work. He said that with project, all MLAs would be able to discharge their duties in a better way while staying at walking distance. RHB Commissioner Arora said that 160 houses are completed in 1.5 years. Timely completion of work shows commitment of Board’s team. The CM congratulated the entire RHB team.

Presiding officers should strengthen democracy: Guv

From P1...

Jaipur: “The Presiding officers should play their effective role to strengthen democracy. Speaker of the House is the final interpreter of the rules relating to the functioning of the House,” said Mishra.

Shivendra Parmar

Jaipur: The online application process will be started from January 26 for the membership of ‘Club House-21’ to be built in Raj Aangan Yojana in Sector 24 of Rajasthan Housing Board’s Pratap Nagar Yojana in Jaipur.

RHB Commissioner Pawan Arora said in a meeting held with Raj Aangan Society members and concerned officials at Board’s headquarters on Thursday that the topmost priority for the Board is to make the club more comfortable by starting the club’s membership process. He said that a 7-member screening committee has also been constituted for the selection of applications.

The Commissioner added that about 1,500 members can be made in the Club. “Out of these, 900 associate

members and 25 NRIs with membership fee of Rs 3 lakh for PIO OCI members, Rs 5 lakh for corporate members, allottees of Raj Aangan Yojana, quesi members and honorary members will be given free membership,” Arora said.

Arora further informed, “20 % concession will be given to officers of Central & State Govts in the membership fee of the club and 10 % concession will be given to the allottees of Jaipurbased Housing Board schemes. The officers of the Urban Develop-

ment and Housing Department, who are currently working on deputation in the Housing Board, and the members of the Board of Directors, have been fixed at a membership fee of Rs 25,000.”

Notably, 25 rooms will be built in Club House 21, which will be developed on the basis of international standards, where along with sports facilities, bar, allweather swimming pool etc. will be developed.

“On the basis of private participation, a link road will be built connecting the carriageway of Haldighati Road to Club 21 & entire area will be beautified by developing an island on remaining land.

Separate entry & exit gates will be made.

All necessary facilities including decorations, furnitures, will be developed at the Club-21” he said.

L S Speaker Om Birla said that it is a privilege and honour for all of us that India has presidency of the G-20. Giving information about the efforts being made by the LS for healthy parliamentary traditions, he said that efforts will be made to ensure uniformity in conduct, rules-procedures and traditions in legislative institutions across the country. He called for efforts to strengthen democracy by rising above the party in parliamentary committees.

Expressing concern over the low number of meetings in the Vidhan Sabha, the Governor said, “Members should effectively discuss the issues related to the public in the House with full preparation.

MLAs should be present more and more during the debates on important subjects in the House.” He also emphasised on promoting the private member’s bill more. Mishra said that the Governor is not a person. “He is a constitutional body and when he is satisfied on constitutional grounds that the ordinance is justified, then only he gives approval to it. The power to summon the assembly session on the recommendation of the state government is vested in the Governor. The practice of calling the session directly without proroguing it is dangerous for democratic systems. This gives the MLAs additional opportunities to ask the prescribed number of questions. There is a need to pay serious attention to the formal prorogation of the legislative assemblies and the convening of a new session,” he said. “Legislative Assemblies should ensure continuous participation of common people in

their respective states,” Birla said. “It is the duty of State Assembly to increase people’s sentiment towards institutions. Especially among youth, there should be a spirit so that people’s faith in parliamentary institutions increases,” he said.

Dr Harivansh, Depu-

ty Chairman of RS, specially remembered the self-discipline of Mahatma Gandhi while emphasising on working to enhance the credibility of legislative institutions. “Making laws by the legislative bodies is not the only solution. Progress and development is a con-

tinuous practice, so there should be an atmosphere of serious discussion and debate in the House,” he said and called upon the MLAs to come after doing enough homework, present the questions with logic and adopt self-discipline along with conduct of dignity.

Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi said that Rajasthan has a glorious history of parliamentary traditions. In his address, he highlighted important points from effective functioning of legislature’s purview. He expressed gratitude to presiding officers.

“CM Gehlot should consider regarding financial assistance and Raj government should take lead in this. CM Gehlot announced Rs 5-5 crore MLA fund for MLAs and created history. Now create history by giving the right of financial autonomy to the assembly,” he said.

LoP Gulab Chand Kataria, in his address, emphasised on improving the work of legislative committees.

CBI RAID ON ARVIND MAYARAM AN ATTEMPT AT FINDING ‘PAST DOINGS’!

Rajendra Chhabra

Jaipur: The reason behind CBI’s raid on Arvind Mayaram’s establishments in Delhi and Jaipur has come to light and it has been revealed that the matter pertains to the time when Mayaram was Finance secretary in 2014 in the Central government. At that time a scam in a tender of printing 1688 crore cur-

rency notes occurred. The matter came to light after Arvind Mayaram retired in October 2015 when an internal enquiry highlighted that there was some difference in the paper, ink and printing tender which was allotted to a foreign firm.

At that time, the then Joint Secretary and CVO of Finance Ministry Raj Kumar had sent notice to Arvind Ma-

yaram and few RBI officials seeking details from them. But when a

satisfactory answer could not be given, then Raj Kumar asked for investigation of the matter on February 14, 2017 wherein he wrote about irregularities in awarding the tender for currency printing.

CBI has registered a case against unknown officials of finance ministry and private persons including former finance secretary Arvind Mayaram

several sections for criminal conspiracy, cheating and abuse of official positions.

Now after a long investigation of six years when CBI has finally ascertained that the matter pertains corruption, hence it has conducted raids at Mayaram and RBI officials’ places.

It is believed that CBI can take strict action in the matter.

Yogesh Sharma

reporters after the conference.

On Governor Kalraj Mishra’s remarks on proroguing session to convene a new session,

Assembly Speaker CP Joshi said that this subject belongs to the Government, not the As-

sembly Speaker. Joshi also said that presiding officers should get financial autonomy.

Greetings on the festival of Lohri! A day of gratitude for Mother Earth, who sustains us all with her bountiful harvests.

LS Speaker Om Birla addresses a press conference at the State Assembly in Jaipur on Thursday. Also seen here is Dr CP Joshi.

—Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker

—Dr CP Joshi, Assembly Speaker

under

Governor Kalraj Mishra, LS Speaker Om Birla, CM Ashok Gehlot, Dr CP Joshi, GC Kataria and Harivansh Narayan Singh during the concluding session of the 83rd AIPOC at State Assembly in Jaipur.

LS Speaker Om Birla being felicitated by Dr CP Joshi at AIPOC. Also seen are Guv Kalraj Mishra, CM Ashok Gehlot.

CM Ashok Gehlot addresses during the concluding session of AIPOC in State Assembly.

Shivendra Parmar

CM Ashok Gehlot being informed about the progress of the MLA Housing Project by RHB Commissioner Pawan Arora during the CM's visit to the sample flat of the project in Jaipur on Thursday. Also seen are Dr Mahesh Joshi and other senior officials.

Rahul Gandhi with

—PHOTO

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

Lohri is a harvest festival observed throughout North India, particularly in Punjab on January 13. People assemble in the middle of the night to build a campfire. They also provide the sacred fire rewdi sweet (sesame brittles), Gajak, popcorn, and peanuts. On this day, the fire deity is worshipped, and it is forbidden to eat rewdi, peanuts, or popcorn without first presenting it to the fire deity.

SARSON KA SAAG

This is one of the most famous Punjabi winter recipes. Sarson ka saag topped with handmade butter and served with makki di roti not only warms the tongue but also the body.

MAKKI DI ROTI

A popular maize flour bread in North India. The bread is made without yeast and fried in ghee. The combination of makki di roti and sarson ka

FLAVOURS OF THE LOHRI FESTIVAL!

saag topped with white butter is unbeatable.

If you visit Punjab in the winter, don't miss this combination of makki di roti and sarson ka saag. It is not only tasty but also quite warm in the cold.

PINDI CHOLE

Pindi Chole also known as Pindi Chana is one of the easiest and most tasty chickpea dishes that we can make on this special festival. The recipe comes from the Rawalpindi region in Punjab, Pakistan and hence the name Pindi Chana. This a unique recipe that does not have any gravy or sauce and is dry made with soft, tender white chickpeas, fragrant ginger-garlic, spicy chana masala powder and tangy dry mango powder.

ATTA LADOO

Delicious ladoos prepared with whole wheat flour, ghee, and sugar that are simple to make. They are full and taste delicious.

BESAN LADOO

A popular ladoo that is commonly cooked during festive events. Besan ladoo is a simple and healthful dessert that is popular throughout India.

MOOLI PARATHA

Whole wheat flatbread filled with spicy shredded radish. In Punjabi households, these parathas are frequently prepared for breakfast. We can also try Gobi Paratha, Onion

Paratha, Paneer Paratha & Aloo Paratha.

GOBI PAKORA

Crispy fried marinated cauliflower fritters prepared from gramme flour. Pakoras are popular throughout the winter and monsoon seasons.

PEANUT CHIKKI OR GAJAK

The most popular delicacy which are beautifully caramelised, sweet, wonderfully crisp and crispy peanut chikki or gajak. It’s a wintertime favourite in my family, but it’s delicious any time of year.

MATAR PANEER

A creamy, spiced dish with green peas and Indian cottage cheese Matar Paneer is everyone’s favorite. It is a family recipe that is quick and easy to make.

CHOLE MASALA DISH

The Punjabi Chole masala served with the Batura is the most famous dish of Punjabis, the combination is simply irresistible. The dish can be served with tandoori rotis, poories, fulkas, stuffed naans, along with sliced onions and lime.

DAL MAKHANI

This is a classic Punjabi lentil-based dish. Dal makhani is a dish prepared with whole black gramme and kidney beans. Dal makhani is commonly offered during weddings, engagements, and other social gatherings in

India. The slower the dal makhani is cooked, the better it tastes.

PALAK PANEER

Another traditional Indian dish, this time cooked with luscious paneer cubes in a smooth and creamy spinach sauce. It pairs well with naan, paratha or jeera rice.

di lakh lakh vadhaiyan! Lohri

MITALI DUSAD mitalidusad01@gmail.com

North Indians will get ready to celebrate Lohri, the very popular harvest festival that also signifies the end of the winter solstice, on January 13.

On this day, people from Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab, join together around bonfires to pray, dance, and sing traditional Lohri songs as they bid winter adieu and welcome the longer days. They gather together, light the bonfire, throw popcorn and peanuts in the bonfire, sing traditional Lohri songs and dance along to the beats of Punjabi movie songs around the bonfire. It is these Lohri songs which make the festival more auspicious and add the right fun vibes to it. If you too are looking for some traditional and modern Lohri songs in one place, then stop your search as we have something which perfectly caters to this need of yours. We, at Gaana, curated a Lohri special playlist for you all. As the name suggests, this playlist

tional and modern Lohri songs which will make your Lohri celebration more amazing. All these songs are marvellously voiced by some of the renowned artists from the Indian music industry. Lakhwinder Wadali, Gurmeet, Kuljit, Sanjiv, Minu Bakshi, Arjun Arry, Babbu Maan, Hans Raaj Hans, Hard Kaur are to name a few. Some of the famous Punjabi Lohri songs from the album are Sundar Mundriye Dhol, Lohri, Beli Apne Di Lodi, Baree Barsee, Bin Sadya Hi, Nagada Nagada, Mauja Hi Mauja (Remix), Rola Pe Gaya, and the list goes on Your Bollywood playlist for Lohri 2023 The Punjabi holiday of Lohri has long been a popular theme in Bollywood movies. Numerous Lohri-themed Bollywood songs have been composed, and they perfectly depict the excitement and spirit of the festival.

VEER ZAARA - LOHRI:

The 2004 Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta movie Veer Zara had a beautiful song, Lo aa gayi Lodi ve. The song, which features Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Preity, and Shah Rukh, is set in a Punjabi village and gives the Lohri celebrations a more authentic feel.

around the bonfire and the warm weather, the song Charha De Rang from the movie Yamla Pagla Deewana, starring the Deol brothers, is another beautiful Lohri song.

MAACHISCHAPPA CHAPPA:

A foot-tapping Lohri song featuring lyrics by Gulzar and music by Vishal Bhardwaj from the movie Maachis, Chappa Chappa, is set against the backdrop of Punjabi militancy.

TANU WEDS MANUSAADI GALI:

This is a well-known Lohri song from Tanu Weds Manu, starring Kangana Ranaut and R. Madhavan. The song will not only set the mood for the festival but will also highlight the joy and traditions.

DIL DHADAKNE DOGALLAN GOODIYAN:

Gaallan Goodiyan is a popular Lohri song which celebrates family get together. It features Anil Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Farhan Akhtar and Shefali Shah.

As we celebrate the festival of Lohri, there are a ton of Bollywood songs with Lohri themes that perfectly reflect the pleasure and spirit of the celebration! These and other Lohri-themed songs will be played as Lohri 2023 approaches to energise and uplift the celebration of the end of winter.

A DAZZLING EVE!

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

Government-sponsored Swami Fund, managed by SBI Cap Ventures, has invested in Green Acres, a project by Unique Builders in Jodhpur. Unique Builders, one of the well-known developers in the state, has several projects underway in Jodhpur. SBI Cap Ventures, in association with Unique Builders, will undertake the development work on the projects by setting up a construction and sales model. On this occasion, the Director of Unique Builders, Vibhishek Singh said that we welcome SBI Cap Ventures to invest in our projects, the investment of such a reliable organisation with Unique Builders is also strong proof of our credibility. Singh told that the ongoing project of UB in Jodhpur will be further strengthened by the investment. He further paid gratitude for the support in Jodhpur and looks forward to more ventures.

JEWELS OF THE SKY

CITY FIRST

For

The much-awaited Kite Festival began on Thursday at the City Palace in Jaipur. This festival will be celebrated with enthusiasm till 14 January on the terrace of Sarvatobhadra Chowk. It is organised every year in celebration of ‘Makar Sakranti’ by the Royal Family of Jaipur to make aware the ancient tradition and culture of kite flying to the tourists and visitors coming to the City Palace. This year, this festival is being celebrated for the first time after Covid. A large butterfly shaped kite ‘Tukkal’ from the time of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II (1835-1880) along with different types of pulleys is also on display. Executive Trustee, MSMS II Museum, Ms Rama Dutt, was also present on the occasion.

It is noteworthy that

the ‘Tukkal’ kite is a special type of fighterkite, which is very popular since the time of HH Maharaja Sawai

He also started a ‘Patang Khana’ in the 19th century where different types of kites were made. People from India and abroad used to learn to fly and make kites here. After this, the people of Jaipur city got so fond of kite flying that kite factories and shops were opened at different places in the city. The specialty of kites at that time was that these kites were

PAYING TRIBUTE!

CITY FIRST

Additional Commissioner, Police Commissionerate Ajay Pal Lamba said that the life of Swami Vivekananda is ideal for the youth and he was a legend who influenced my childhood as well. He said that in whatever organisation he works in, he should develop the organisation with his best work and contribution on Thursday. Do not be deterred by any obstacle in achieving the goals of life while addressing the program oragnised under the joint aegis of Ramakrishna Mission Jaipur and Delphic Council of Rajasthan on National Youth Day at Ramakrishna Mis-

sion on Thursday.

He said that most have been written and read about Vivekananda’s personality in the world.

Principal Government Secretary, Cooperation and President of the Delphic Council of Rajasthan Shreya Guha said that the life of Swami Vivekananda inspires everyone.

Earlier, the guests

inaugurated the program by lighting the lamp in front of the statue of Swami Vivekananda. During the program, students who performed best in the debate and speech on Swami Vivekananda and other competitions were awarded. Registrar Cooperative Meghraj Singh Ratnu, saints of Ramakrishna Mission etc were present.

made of cotton fabric and the threads of the pulleys were made of yarn to fly the kites. To decorate these kites, names were also written on them and block print and dye were also done.

Live folk music and traditional dishes have also been arranged at the event. Tourists and visitors enjoy traditional delicacies like ‘Dal ke pakode’ and ‘Til laddoos’ along with kite flying.

HELPLINE FOR BIRDS

CITY FIRST

Rajiv Arora, Chairman of Raj Small Industries Corporation inaugurated the Free Injured Bird Medical Camp of Eco Rescuers Foundation on Thursday. The camp will be organised outside Malviya Nagar Jain Temple from January 12 to January 15. The camp is being organised by bike ambulance in Jaipur city. Proper arrangements have also been made in the OT for the treatment of injured birds. Rajiv

Arora visited the camp and appreciated the efforts of the Eco Rescue Foundation and appealed to the people of Jaipur not to fly kites in the morning and evening. Govind Singh Chhipa along with members of SOS and Eco Rescue Foundation and other dignitaries were present on this occasion. Organisation Secretary Dr Gaurav Chaudhary appealed everyone that if an injured bird is found anywhere in the city, it can save the life of an injured bird by calling 9887345580.

Shiksha

year

Florida

securing the top spot in the Jaypee Kids Golf that concluded in Noida on Friday. 70 players from across the country participated in the two-day tournament held in Noida and five players qualified for the International Championship. Among them Shiksha is the only golfer from Jaipur. This is the first tournament of the new year for only 11 years of education.

Heights Institute of Fashion Technology and Academy of wedding planning & event management organised a New year celebration party at Scorpion- a pub city situated at Tonk road, Jaipur on Thursday. The theme of the event was ‘MASQUERADE’ where all of the female were dressed in party gowns and male were dressed in tuxedos/ blazer. Creative and designer look eye masks were the highlighted accessories worn by the designer students. The event was created with innovative games, music, fun and frolic. The faculty, management staff and the students from Design and management stream were present during this event. Director’s of the institute Anjali Gupta and Veerransh Gupta wished everyone with happy and blessed year ahead. —PHOTOS BY SUNIL SHARMA

Ram Singh II. He was a very skilled kite flyer.

the first time in Rajasthan, Latin Dance Festival curated by Girish Tiwari and Vipin Bhardwaj was full of zest and exuberance. The amazing rhythmic choreography perfectly synchronized with the music added a unique flavour to the show. The extravaganza was attended by talented Latin artists from all over India, who represent India on international platforms, in Latin dance competitions. These artists responded emphatically to the music with perfect postures and finesse of footwork, adding grace to their charismatic performances. The versatility of the choreography explored the stage space perfectly and left an indelible impression with bodies swinging with the rhythm in a perfect and synchronized manner.

On Thursday, an International Conference was organised by the Department of Management on Role of Business Management and Social Innovation & Sustainable Development at Swami Keshvanand Institute of Technology Management & Gramothan Jaipur. The conference was inaugurated by Ranoo Shrivastava (President, Forti Women Wing Jewellery Manufacturer &  Exporter), Akshaya Goyal (Executive Director, BNI), Dr Rajeev Naruka (COO, PINK ADRAK), Deepak (PINK ADRAK). The conference was associated with FORTI and BNI & sponsored by ‘Pink Adrak & Vesta Design.

On the birth anniversary of the most celebrated spiritual leader of India Swami Vivekananda, Jaipur Wax Museum, Nahargarh Fort unveiled the wax figure of Swami Vivekananda. Anoop Srivastava, Founder and Director of Jaipur Wax Museum said that Vivekananda was more than just a spiritual mind, he was a prolific thinker, great orator and passionate patriot. He said ‘we always believe to spread the message through our work or the statues of the personalities which we installed should have a strong meaning, Swami Vivekananda statue is also in the same ground we planned. The wax figure weight is around 35 km and took four months the making by sculptor Susanta Ray.

The birthday of Aditya Jain, Advocate Supreme Court was celebrated on Thursday. Wishes poured in from friends and family on the occasion. Aditya Jain is the son of famous advocate AK Jain.

Fit Body and soul, a women’s forum organised a fun-fit Lohri meet for its members on Thursday. Special sessions on skin care, Lohri dance and entrepreneurs networking were planned by the experts at Notion, Sahkar Marg. Dr Jyoti Thagaria, a skincare & hair expert shared some very important skin care hacks and tips with the members. Ritu Solanki, a dance fitness expert taught some amazing trending Lohri dance and reel steps to the members. The meet was made more special with the discussions and planning for the upcoming year ahead. Many known young entrepreneurs attended this fun meet.

Jaipur’s young golfer Shiksha Jain, who has won laurels for her success in the country and abroad at a young age, will now lead the country in the Optimist International Golf Championship in Florida.

has qualified for the championship to be held in

in July this

by

(L-R) Megha, Karishma and Deepika

(L-R) Priya, Monika, Ishika, Gaurvita, Karishma and Shruti

Standing: (L-R) Kritika, Megha, Minaaz, Monica, Priya, Monika, Gaurvita, Deepak, Anjali, Veerransh, Karishma, Shruti, Deepika, Anushka and Anita. Sitting: (L-R) Mohit, Sanjay, Usha, Ishika, Sahil, Chandrakanta and Isha

Executive Trustee MSMS II Museum, Rama Dutt flying a kite The lovely visitors enjoying the festive aura

Tukkal Kite on display

(L-R) Dr Jyoti Thagaria, Megha Gupta Anisha Nenawati and Reet Solanki

Ajay Pal Lamba lighting the lamp

Glimpse of visitors flying kites

Anoop Srivastava

Vibhishek Singh