First India-Mumbai Edition-5th March 2023

PM MODI, SHINZO

ABE FATHERS OF QUAD: FORMER

AUSTRALIAN PM

New Delhi: Calling PM Modi, Japan’s late former PM Shinzo Abe “fathers” of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, Australia’s ex-PM Tony Abbott, on Saturday said that Quad is almost a unique product and “world should be immensely grateful to both of them.”

Kolkata: WB Congress spokesperson Kaustav Bagchi was granted bail by a court in Kolkata on Saturday evening, hours after being arrested for his alleged comments against CM Mamata Banerjee.

CONCEPT OF ‘SEVA’

OLDER

THAN CSR: RSS

CHIEF BHAGWAT

GAME-CHANGHER!

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said the concept of “Seva” or service in Indian culture is much older than the idea of Corporate Social Responsibility.

The inaugural edition of the Tata Women’s Premier League (WPL) begins with a match between Mumbai Indians & Gujarat Giants BCCI officials and captains of all five teams unveil trophy and anthem ‘Dham dha ma ma dham’ of Women’s Premier League Mandira Bedi started the proceedings for the opening ceremony of WPL 2023 at DY

READ Crucial

CENTRAL GOVT ISSUES ADVISORY AS FLU CASES RISE IN INDIA

New Delhi: As India grapple with persistent cough, sometimes accompanied by fever, Centre on Saturday issued an advisory, it suggests a list of dos and don’ts for people to protect themselves.

TN POLICE BOOK

BJP LEADER, 2 JOURNALISTS

Chennai: BJP leader from UP and 2 scribes, including an unnamed editor of Dainik Bhaskar, have been booked by TN Police for “false, baseless” reports about attacks on workers.

SHEEZAN GRANTED BAIL IN TUNISHA SUICIDE CASE

Mumbai: Sheezan Khan, who was arrested for allegedly abetting suicide of his co-star Tunisha, was granted bail on Saturday. Maha court granted bail on bond of ` 1L and asked to submit his passport.

INCREDIBLE INDIA!

Bill Gates meets PM Modi, praises India for remarkable progress in crucial fields

Moni Sharma

New Delhi: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates met PM Narendra Modi on late Friday, where he praised India for making “remarkable progress” in crucial fields like health, development & climate change, and noted “incredibly innovative work” being done in country over past few years.

Talking about meeting in his official blog, Gates Notes, billionaire philanthropist said: “Country is showing what’s possible when we invest in innovation, at a time when the world has so many challenges, it is inspiring to visit dynamic and creative place like India.”

Uddhav Thackeray backs

Sibal’s Insaaf platform

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Shiv SenaUBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday came out in support of lawyer and MP Kapil Sibal’s newly-launched platform Insaaf.

Sibal is representing the Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray group in a case in the Supreme Court against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who split the Shiv Sena last June and toppled the Thackeray-led

government.

“Everyone who wants democracy to survive and thrive should stand firmly with Kapil Sibal in his new initiative,” the former CM said.

Sibal, an independent Rajya Sabha member, announced earlier in the day that he was setting up a new platform called Insaaf to fight “injustice” prevailing in the country, and sought support of the chief ministers and other leaders of opposition parties.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates calls on PM Narendra Modi on Friday.

AUSTRALIAN PM TO VISIT INDIA FROM MARCH 8-11, HOLD

Australian PM Anthony Albanese will visit India from March 8-11 to lock India-Australia ECTA deal and hold bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to catalyse the IndiaAustralia relationship, said MEA. This marks Albanese's first visit to India as PM. He will arrive in Ahmedabad on March 8, on the day of Holi, and also visit Mumbai on March 9 before heading to New Delhi on March 10-11. He will also call on President Droupadi Murmu.

Wonderful: Gates hails India

COVID JABS SAVED MILLIONS Gates praised India for its “amazing ability to manufacture lots of safe, effective, and affordable vaccines” and said they saved “millions of lives during the Covid-19 pandemic”. PM Modi believes that CoWIN is a model for the world, and I agree,” he added.

INNOVATIVE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY Gates also admired Centre’s Gati Shakti, which digitally connects 16 ministries so they can “integrate their plans for infrastructure projects & accelerate work of Indian scientists, engineers”.

EXCELLENT INDIA’S G20 PRESIDENCY Gates said that this was an “excellent opportunity to highlight how innovations developed in India can benefit the world, and to help other countries adopt them.

PM MODI’S COMMENDABLE EFFORTS Gates commended PM Modi’s efforts to eliminate “deadly and debilitating diseases” like tuberculosis, visceral leishmaniasis, and lymphatic filariasis. “PM told me about a fascinating movement taking shape in India: Communities are ‘adopting’ TB patients to make sure they get the nutrition and care they need,” he wrote.

VISIT TO PUSA AGRICULTURE CENTRE Gates also wrote about his visit to India Council of Agricultural Research in Pusa, “where I learned about efforts to help farmers adapt to a warmer climate. “Millets are very nutritious — a super food, as PM put it—and are also water-efficient, heat tolerant. I even got to taste millet khichdi, a type of porridge.”

AFTER HC ORDER..

KRITI SANON'S CHAK DE INDIA MOVES!

Sisodia says mental torture, CBI custody extended by 2 days

First India Bureau

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday extended by two days the CBI custody of former deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who was arrested by the agency on Sunday in connection with the alleged irregularities in the city government’s Excise Policy 2021-22. Special judge MK Nagpal directed the agency to produce AAP leader before court on Monday. The CBI had sought 3 more days of custody of Sisodia after producing him before the court on expiry of his 3-day remand granted earlier. Sisodia’s lawyer said inefficiency of the agency in the probe.

Manish Sisodia being produced at the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi on Saturday.

NO PURPOSE WOULD BE SERVED KEEPING ME IN CUSTODY, SAYS SISODIA

Manish Sisodia told the court the agency had mentally harassed him by asking “the same questions” for several hours every day. Sisodia in his bail petition in a trial court stated that no fruitful purpose would be served keeping him in custody as all the recoveries have already been made.

‘New rly stn between Thane & Mulund will help commuters’

Bombay HC lifted a stay on transfer of part of land belonging to the Thane Mental Hosp, for the construction of a railway station

First India Bureau

Thane: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday hailed the Bombay High Court's decision to lift a stay on the transfer of a parcel of land be-

longing to the Thane Mental Hospital for the construction of a new railway station. The new facility will reduce the burden of commuter footfall at Thane and Mulund stations, he said.

The high court on Friday allowed the transfer of more than 14 acres of land--from the hospital’s total 72 acres--for the new railway station.

A release issued by the CM’s office said the station will come up on land belonging to the

government’s health department.

“Of the total 72 acres of (the hospital’s) land, only 14.83 acres will be utilized for the new rail-

way station. Once this station is built, the commuter footfall at Thane station will reduce by 31% and Mulund station by 21%,” he said.

A whopping 7.50 lakh people use Thane railway station for commute daily, CM Shinde said. Shinde represents the Kopri-Pachpakhadi Assembly constituency in Thane.

He said that due to the persistent efforts by Shiv Sena's elected representatives, the railway administration approved the plans of the new railway station. A total of Rs289 crore was allocated for the project under the Thane Municipal Corporation's

Smart City scheme.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader and Thane MP Rajan Vichare issued a statement saying that the demand for the new railway station had been pending for a long time.

“I took the Railway Board’s approval for it and got the funds approved…. After eight long years, the high court has lifted the stay imposed in 2015. So it’s time for celebration now,” he said.

BCCI President Roger Binny, Secretary Jay Shah, Rajeev Shukla along with WPL teams captains Smriti Mandhana, Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy and Harmanpreet Kaur pose with WPL trophy during its inauguration at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday.

Punjabi singer, rapper AP Dhillion performs during Women’s Premier League’s inauguration, in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.

Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon dances on Chak de India song and other Bollywood hits during WPL inauguration in Mumbai.

WB CONGRESS SPOKESPERSON BAGCHI GRANTED BAIL

TALKS WITH PREZ MURMU, PM MODI

‘Winds of change blowing across country’

NCP chief Sharad Pawar says bypoll result shows that people are looking for an alternative to the BJP

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Congress candidate’s win in the traditional Bharatiya Janata Party bastion of Kasba Peth in the recent Assembly bypoll seems to have given the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance a fresh burst of hope.

Speaking to reporters in his hometown of Baramati in Pune district, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar called Ravindra Dhangekar’s win an indication that winds of change are blowing across the country.

NCP, along with the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena, form the tripartite MVA alliance, which was in

power until the split in the Shiv Sena last year.

“BJP’s defeat in the Kasba Peth Assembly bypoll proves that people are considering an alternative. Winds of change are blowing across the country,” Pawar said.

Dhangekar defeated the saffron party nominee Hemant Rasane in a keenly contested bypoll, the results of which

Vidarbha region

to Holi

First India Bureau Mumbai: Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region could see wet days in the run up to Holi, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting “unseasonal rain and thunderstorm activity arising from “a north-south trough in lower-level easterlies”.

Under its influence, isolated light rainfall has been forecast over north Maharashtra, with the Vidarbha subdivision likely to see rain on Monday and Tuesday.

As for the rest of West India, IMD says the maximum temperatures are likely to rise by 2-3°C during the next two

BJP’s defeat in the Kasba Peth Assembly bypoll proves that people are considering an alternative. Winds of change are blowing across the country.

—Sharad Pawar, NCP chief

were announced on Thursday, ending the BJP’s hold on the seat

after almost 30 years.

Girish Bapat, the current BJP MP from Pune, represented the seat five times until 2019. In 2019, BJP’s Mukta Tilak won the Kasba Peth seat. She died after battling cancer in December 2022, necessitating the bypoll to the constituency, located in the old area of Pune city.

The by-election had become a battle for

prestige between the ruling coalition and the Opposition MVA.

“BJP has negligible presence in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal and Karnataka, which goes to polls this year. At the time of casting their votes, people will remember how BJP toppled the Congress governments,” Pawar added on Saturday.

He also termed the Supreme Court’s verdict on the appointment of election commissioners (ECs) a good decision for democracy.

In a far-reaching verdict, the apex court on Thursday ruled that the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and ECs will be done by the President on the recommendation of a committee, comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India (CJI), to maintain the “purity” of the electoral process.

days, with no significant changes thereafter.

While the idea of thunderstorms may seem odd, given that summer seems to have set in unusually early, the occurrence is fairly common amid high temperatures, since they form when warm and moist air rises into cold air. The warm air becomes cooler, which causes moisture to form small water droplets through the process of condensation. The cooled air then drops lower in the atmosphere, warms and rises again; when this circuit of rising and falling occurs with large amounts of air and moisture, it creates thunderstorms.

CRUCIAL READ SCHOOL VAN CRUSHES 8-YR-OLD GIRL TO DEATH

United

MVA can win 200 Assembly, 40 LS seats: Sanjay Raut

First India Bureau

Pune: In a show of optimism, Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday claimed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) can win over 200 assembly and 40 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra next year if the allies fight in a united manner.

He was referring to the Congress candidate’s victory in the Kasba Peth bypoll.

Raut’s party, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress are partners in the MVA. Assembly polls in Maharashtra and general elections are due next year.

The Rajya Sabha MP was speaking in Pune, where he met newly elected Congress MLA

Ravindra Dhangekar who defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hemant Rasane in Kasba Peth.

“The smart voters of Kasba Peth have dealt a blow to the ruling party. They tried to buy voters here but failed to do so.

Kasba jhanki hai, Maharashtra baki hai’ (Kasba is just a glimpse, Maharashtra is still left),” Raut told reporters. MVA’s victory is an indicator of the state’s political future, he said.

For the upcoming local body elections, he said, alliances will be decided at the local level. But top MVA leaders are focussing on assembly and Lok Sabha polls, he said, adding that the partners can win over 200 assembly and 40 Lok Sabha seats next year if they fight together.

Facilities for docs: Dean suspended after CM’s visit

Thane (PTI): The dean and the deputy dean of civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital at Kalwa in Thane district were suspended on Saturday after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed displeasure about the working conditions of doctors.

A release from the CMO said the dean Dr Yogesh Sharma and deputy dean Dr Suchitkumar Kamkhedkar have

Two

been placed under suspension by Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bhangar on Shinde’s orders.

The duo was held responsible for various lapses and a lack of facilities at the hospital.

Speaking after a visit to the hospital, Shinde, who is an MLA from Thane, said the doctors must be provided with better working conditions and facilities. Doc-

Docs work hard but do not get good facilities, CM noted after visit to govt hosp

tors work hard but are not getting good facilities, Shinde noted. Shinde on the occasion also launched road repair works and an underground parking facility in Thane.

held for attack on MNS

leader Deshpande in Mumbai

First India Bureau Mumbai: The Crime Branch on Saturday arrested two men for their alleged involvement in an attack on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Sandeep Deshpande, which took place on Friday.

The police are on the hunt for two more persons in connection with the incident.

Four men--who used handkerchiefs to cover their faces--attacked Deshpande with a bat and stump around 7am in Shivaji Park area, while the latter was on a walk. The attack left the former councillor with a fractured hand

and injuries to his legs.

Shivaji Park police subsequently registered a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section

chief says

307 (attempt to murder). The arrested men, one 56 years old and the other 35 years old, were identified with the help of local informers and CCTV footage, the official said.

One of them was an office-bearer of the Maharashtra Rajya Mathadi and General Kamgar Union and has cases like murder, attempt to murder, extortion and kidnapping registered against him in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, the police official said.

The reason for the attack is as yet unknown. Police have formed at least eight teams to crack the case, the official said.

Mumbai (PTI): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said the concept of “seva” or service in Indian culture is much older than the idea of Corporate Social Responsibility.

He was speaking after the inauguration of Seva Bhavan, an institute set up to offer health services at subsidised rates by an organization affiliated to the RSS. “What we call ‘seva’ (service) is deeply rooted in our society, compared to the recent concept of CSR. Our outlook towards seva is that we do not expect anything in return for it,” Bhagwat said.

Nashik: An eight-yearold girl was crushed to death by her school van minutes after it dropped her near her home here in Nashik city, police said on Saturday. “The van driver suddenly reversed the vehicle when the girl was walking behind it near the entrance of her housing society in the Jail Road area on Friday evening,” an official said. The child suffered serious injuries, and was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared her dead. A case of accidental death has been registered.

TRUCK RAMS INTO SENIOR CITIZEN, DRAGS HIM 100 FT

Nagpur: A senior citizen riding a motorcycle was crushed to death and dragged by a speeding truck, police said on Saturday. The accident took place near Nagpur’s Mankapur area on Friday, when victim Ramashish Sharma (65) was run over by the truck, which dragged him and his two-wheeler a distance of 100 feet, an official said. A case under sections 279 (rash and negligent driving) and 304(A) (death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code and other relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act has been registered against the truck driver, who is absconding.

ARMED ROBBERS MAKE OFF WITH CASH, JEWELLERY

Palghar: Four armed persons robbed the staff of a transport company in Palghar of cash and valuables, an official said on Saturday. The robbers forced their way into the office at Betegaon in Boisar on Friday afternoon, threatened the employees with knives and tied them up before taking away their gold jewellery and money, said Sachin Navadkar, public relations officer of Palghar rural police. The criminals also forced a tea vendor, who was there at the time, to part with his gold ring, he said. The value of the loot is as yet unknown.

27-YR-OLD HELD FOR ATTACK OVER MONEY FOR BOOZE

What we call ‘seva’ (service) is deeply rooted in our society, compared to the recent concept of CSR. Our outlook towards seva is that we do not expect anything in return for it.

—Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief

“In our tradition of seva, people not only face appreciation but (sometimes face) criticism and opposition as well,” he said.

Nagpur: A 27-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly injuring another person who refused to give him money for alcohol, an official said on Saturday. Shubham Ashok Matey approached Mahesh Santosh Nandanwar (31) around 7.15 pm on Friday and demanded that Nandanwar give him money as he wanted to drink. When Nandanwar refused, Matey attacked him with a knife. Two passersby tried to nab Matey but he fled from the spot, the official said. The victim was then taken to a hospital. The Lakadganj police registered an attempt-to-murder case against Matey and arrested him.

NCP’s Jitendra Awhad gets pre-arrest bail in attack on civic official

lll

No prima facie evidence of criminal conspiracy with other accused, court says, adds that custodial interrogation of the MLA not needed

First India Bureau Thane: A local court has granted NCP leader and former minister Jitendra Awhad pre-arrest bail in a case involving an assalt on Assistant Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Aher of the Thane Municipal Corporation.

In addition to Awhad, Additional sessions judge AS Bhagwat on

Friday also granted prearrest bail to some NCP workers who are also named in the case.

Aher was allegedly beaten up by NCP workers on February 15 after an audio clip of him purportedly issuing threats was shared widely on social media.

The Naupada police had booked the MLA and six others under sections 353 (assault or criminal

force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act.

Awhad, in his application, stated that he has been falsely implicated in the case and there was no prima facie case against him.

Opposing the plea, the prosecution argued that

if the applicant is granted bail, the investigation will be hampered, and his custodial interrogation is required for due investigation.

After hearing both sides, the judge noted that the other accused in the case had assaulted the civic official claiming that the NCP leader had sent them and had threatened to shoot him.

It is the complainant’s

contention that the ap-

plicant had directed the other accused to kill him, the court said. There was no evidence of criminal conspiracy between the other accused and Awhad to kill the complainant on the face of record of the case, it said, adding that the custodial interrogation of the MLA for further investigation was not necessary.

CM Eknath Shinde at the inauguration of the water front, in Thane on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

It is crucial to seek protection from lightning strikes amid thunderstorms.

to see wet days in run-up

‘Seva’ is older than CSR, RSS

Sandeep Deshpande —FILE PHOTO

Congress candidate Ravindra Dhangekar with supporters celebrates his victory in the Kasba Peth Assembly bypoll in Pune on Thursday.

—FILE PHOTO

The former councillor was attacked by four masked men while he was on a morning walk

HC hears PIL on parking under bridges & flyovers

Division bench issues notice to state govt, BMC over petition to allow parking in the absence of space within radius of 200m

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday sought the response of the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition to allow parking of vehicles under bridges and flyovers.

Notably, the permission is to be granted only when alternative public parking spaces are not available within 200m of such structures.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Sand-

eep Marne issued notice to the state and BMC which stated that parking facilities and proper safety measures should be provided for parking below bridges and flyovers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The petition by Pradeep Bais stated that spaces below bridges and flyovers were used as parking spaces until 2008.

In August 2009, the state government

passed an order under the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) putting restrictions on parking under bridges and flyovers in case of availability of alternative parking spaces within 200m.

However, it did not put any restrictions on parking under bridges and flyovers in the event alternative parking was not available within 200m.

Thus, the petitioner

SECURITY CONCERNS: Dadar rly platform to get 2m wider

ADDED BONUS

The petitioner Bais also contended in his plea that a proper parking facility will increase revenue to the state government exchequer from parking fees as well as tenders and government contracts. He called for no restrictions on parking under bridges and flyovers in the event alternative parking was not available within 200m.

First India Bureau

filed a representation to the state government to allow parking under bridges and flyovers. However, he received no response to the same. Hence, he filed the present petition to implement the order of 2009. Bais cited growing development in the MMR region characterized by an ever-increasing and over-expanding population each day.

“The petitioner submits that MMR is one

Man wanted for dacoity nabbed from MP

MOBILE THIEVES NABBED BY SECURITY STAFFERS AT THANE RLY STATION

Thane (PTI): A team of women security personnel caught two persons for allegedly stealing the mobile phone of a suburban train commuter at Thane railway station, the government railway police (GRP) said on Saturday. The two men, identified as Rakesh Dhotale (21) and Prem Dhavale (20), struck when commuters were entering a packed local train on platform number 4 on Friday. One of the accused grabbed a commuter’s phone, but she raised an alarm, and security staff nabbed the duo.

such region where horizontal development has already exhausted and now there is scope only for vertical development. In such circumstances, the authorities should not waste the huge spaces lying vacant beneath the bridges. The smart usage of these open spaces for car parking is truly what is supposed to be as a smart city. Therefore, intervention of this court is necessary,” the plea pointed out.

Mumbai: After reports on deadly scenarios on platforms 01 and 02 of Dadar railway station, Central Railway’s (CR) Mumbai divisional manager has said it will be extended by two metres.

Not only the extension, but the entire station will witness a revamp. It will also help to accommodate the growing number of commuters, he said.

On March 02, a media report stated the condition of security as the government railway police has been struggling for years to manage the

GRIP OF POLLUTION

crowded platforms.

“Platform No. 1 at Dadar is being widened by 2m and there is also a plan to install escalators there. But, this is not all. A comprehensive master plan of the station has been prepared to create more space for passengers. But, the plan requires certain mandatory approvals, and only then can we reveal its details,” said Rajnish Kumar Goyal, Mumbai Divisional Railway Manager (DRM).

We will be making presentations to stakeholders in the next 15 to 20 days after which we are expected to get the

High influx of commuters at one of the busiest railway stations in Mumbai has increased need for improvement

mandatory nods, he added.

Goyal said Central Railway had already been planning to widen platform No. 05 at Dadar station in a bid to provide more space to commuters.

First India Bureau

Thane: A 48-year-old man wanted in a dacoity case in Thane was arrested from neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh after being on the run for six years, po-

lice said on Saturday. Based on a tip-off, the police nabbed the accused from Bind district of Madhya Pradesh and brought him to Palghar district on Friday, said an official.

“The accused was

Play on Shivaji Maharaj to be staged in Mumbai

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party BJP)

MLA Ashish Shelar has organized a statging of renowned Marathi play “Janata Raja” in central Mumbai’s Dadar from March 14 to March 19.

The theatrical presentation will celebrate the life of Chhatrapati

Shivaji Maharaj, the BJP lawmaker said on Saturday.

The six-act stage drama will be presented in the evenings at Shivaji Park, said the MLA in a press conference.

“Janata Raja” (enlightened king) was written by Maharashtra Bhushan awardee

Babasaheb Purandare and it narrates the history and biography of the 17th century Maratha king Chhatrapati

Shivaji Maharaj.

The grand play is free for all and tickets will be available for citizens from March 09 onwards at various places, including Shivaji Mandir in Dadar, Prabodhankar Thackeray Natyamandir in Borivali, Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagriha in Vile Parle, Kalidas Natyamandir in Mulund and Damodar Natyagriha in Parel.

Necessary arrangements have been made to ensure nearly 10,000 spectators can watch the mega-play every day, Shelar said.

part of a gang that waylaid a truck on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway in September, 2018,” said Assistant Police Inspector Datta Sarak.

The gang attacked the driver and cleaner of the truck and decamped

with the vehicle which was laden with copper worth more than Rs1.6 crore, he said. A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act was registered.

MVA’s `3 cr for each electoral ward to remain a pipe dream?

Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress and other political parties.

Former Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar said, “We hope civic chief IS Chahal does justice to citizens. He should distribute equal funds to all wards.”

gain permanent positions

First India Bureau Mumbai: After the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s budget was presented last month, Rs1 crore was allocated to electoral wards where the MVA had a stronghold. On learning of disparity between funds made available to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors, the MVA leaders had demanded Rs3 crore each for development work in their electoral wards. However, now it seems like the dream will not be coming true.

BMC Administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal approved the 2023-24 civic budget in the standing committee, but nothing has been done to ‘çorrect’ the disparity in funds allocated to MVA and BJP wards.

However, the standing committee led by civic administrators has made a provision of Rs700 crore instead, which is to be used as per approval of the guardian minister of wards.

In the budget present-

ed on February 04, it, the civic administration had made a provision of Rs381 crore for 227 electoral wards under ‘Provision for providing various basic civic amenities along with development works’.

While 77 electoral wards received Rs3 crore in funds each, the remaining 150 wards got Rs1 crore each.

These 77 wards are BJP-dominated wards while the other 147 wards out of 150 belong to the MVA comprising

After a report by Midday, MVA members met Chahal and demanded equal distribution of funds in all wards.

Last week, the standing committee approved the civic budget. However, according to the BMC portal, there is no change in fund provision for electoral wards.

Samajwadi Party MLA and former councillor Rais Shaikh said, “The BMC is an independent body. How can the civic chief allow the guardian minister to interfere in money distribution?”

First India Bureau

Mumbai: In a notification, the Central government has confirmed the appointments of four additional judges of the Bombay High Court as permanent judges. The judges who have been elevated to the position are Justice Rajesh Narayandas Laddha, Justice Sanjay Ganpatrao Mehare, Justice Govinda Anand Sanap and Justice Shivkumar Dige.

The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended their names for appointment as permanent judges at the Bombay High Court on February 15, 2023. All four of them had taken charge as additional judges on June 06, 2021.

Justice Sanjay Gangapurwala was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court in December last year after elevation of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta as a SC judge.

A view of the city skyline engulfed in smog amid hazy weather in Mumbai on Saturday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

A government railway police officer trying to control crowd of commuters. —FILE PHOTO

Despite multiple representations to BMC chief Chahal, no change has been made in fund allocation

Four add’l judges of Bombay HC

Justice Shivkumar Dige

Justice Sanjay G Mehare

Justice Rajesh N Laddha Justice Govinda Anand Sanap

NEW ERA OF BIG BUCKS BEGINS FOR WOMEN’S CRICKET IN INDIA

SIDDHAARTH MAHAN

The writer is a specialist on Sports and Cinema who works as an actor in the Hindi film industry

With the onset of summer, the mercury is all set to rise further with the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL). As the glorious era for T20 women’s cricket got underway in Mumbai on Saturday, it was thrilling to note that the first match between Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil stadium not only drew excited crowds but all tickets were sold out much before the commencement of extravagant ceremonies. Quite appropriate that the league comes forth just when Indian Women’s cricket commences its 50th anniversary to help make it become a household rage like the men’s game in the country!

While fans of the game are ready for the 5 team and 3-week WPL extravaganza, there is still a fair way to go for the tournament to get the same kind of eyeballs as the IPL. It is up to the players and the stakeholders to make this event count and make it bigger with each year giving solid footing to the WPL’s official hashtag -#YehTohBasShuruatHai (this is just the beginning)!

Jagat Prakash

Remember, the league starts just a few days after Indian Women’s team lost to Australia in a tense T20 World Cup semifinal where luck deserted the Indian girls and they lost by a meagre margin of 5 runs. Indian Captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, had played a magnificent knock but got run out as her bat got stuck in the pitch as she grounded it while taking a second run. Her bizarre run out sparked a mini collapse and Indian Girls lost the opportunity to enter the finals and capture their first

Best wishes to all of you on ‘National Security Day’. On this occasion, I congratulate the soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces dedicated to the protection of the motherland and bow down to the brave martyrs. Let us all together take a pledge to be vigilant citizens for the external and internal security of the nation.

ever ICC Championship. The loss hurts yet it gives Indian Women’s cricket a chance to look deeper for solutions to its problems. One of them is the depth of talent available and it is hoped that this issue may get resolved satisfactorily with the WPL giving more opportunities to younger girls to come up the ranks. While cricket has become a career opportunity for young boys growing up in smaller Indian cities, it is still a distant dream for girls since financial constraints still restrict them to take cricket as a career. But now with WPL, young girls can start dreaming of playing for the country and parents can surely ease the curbs as the returns are quite lucrative. Moreover, if men’s IPL changed the character of aggression in cricket, we can expect a similar big bang from women cricketers too. The likes of Surya Kumar Yadav, AB de Villiers, and Ben Stokes gave belligerence a new name and batsmen now play incredible shots defying gravity, swing and power. So, it may not be wrong to expect similar surprises in WIPL in coming years to take your breath away and make it a major spectator sport of magnetic attraction. Fielding too could improve in leaps and bounds due to the nature of the contest, an area where Indian Women’s cricket needs a definite improvement since it was a major reason for India’s semi-final exit.

But while it is understood that competition among the best could raise standards of femi-

As the glorious era for T20 women’s cricket got underway in Mumbai on Saturday, it was thrilling to note that the first match between Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil stadium not only drew excited crowds but all tickets were sold out much before the commencement of extravagant ceremonies

nine players across the board, it may also lead to an increase in injuries and fatigue of the prominent players who have an immense workload on account of representing their nations. However, for the greater good of Women’s cricket, it may be a small cost to pay but if fitness standards and workloads are not managed judiciously, fans may see an unintentional dip in the intensity of players at international level.

The benefits of having a T20 league are evident to all, whether it’s the IPL or the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). When Harmanpreet smashed her hun-

dred against Australia to take India to the 2017 ODI World Cup final, it changed the game in India. But few remember that her brilliant innings came only after her highly successful stint in the WBBL. WPL is likely to be a women’s counterpart to the money-spinning IPL and India’s recent glory at the inaugural U19 T20 World Cup is sure to give a big boost to Indian eves and more teens can be expected to take to the game in a big way.

The WPL riches have come in just a few months after the BCCI announced pay parity for its contracted women cricketers, ensuring same match fees for men

BENEFITS OF HAVING A T20 LEAGUE ARE EVIDENT TO GAMES

The benefits of having a T20 league are evident to all, whether it’s the IPL or the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). When Harmanpreet smashed her hundred against Australia to take India to the 2017 ODI World Cup final, it changed the game in India. But few remember that her brilliant innings came only after her highly successful stint in the WBBL. WPL is likely to be a women’s counterpart to the money-spinning IPL and India’s recent glory at the inaugural U19 T20 World Cup is sure to give a big boost to Indian eves and more teens can be expected to take to the game in a big way.

and women cricketers. With the massive investment for women’s cricket by Viacom 18 and others, the women cricketers are bound to enjoy a hefty purse. While fans of the game are ready for the 5 team and 3-week WPL extravaganza, there is still a fair way to go for the tournament to get the same kind of eyeballs as the IPL. It is up to the players and the stakeholders to make this event count and make it bigger with each year giving solid footing to the WPL’s official hashtag -#YehTohBasShuruatHai (this is just the beginning)!

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Infra development needs to move in top gear: Modi

PM says now we have to improve our speed and move in top gear

First India Bureau

New Delhi: “Infrastructure development is the driving force of the country’s economy,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday while expressing confidence that India will emerge as a developed nation by 2047 by following this very path. “Now we have to improve our speed and move in top gear,” he said.

Noting that PM Gati

Shakti Master Plan is a critical tool that integrates economic and infrastructural planning with development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Gati Shakti National Master Plan is going to change the face of India’s infrastructure and its multimodal logistics.”

Infrastructure has a significant role to play in the sustainable development of any country along with development while keeping the needs of the future in mind.

Prime Minister Modi made the observation during a Post Budget Webinar on ‘Infrastructure and Investment: Improving logistic efficiency with PM Gatishakti National Master Plan’.

Addressing the gathering, he expressed happiness that hun-

IN THE COURTYARD

GUTKA BAN: SC ISSUES NOTICE ON TN GOVT’S PLEA

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought a response to a plea challenging an order of the Madras High Court quashing a May 2018 notification prohibiting the sale, manufacture and transport of gutkha and other tobacco-based products. A bench issued notice to Food Safety Commissioner, Jayavilas Tobacco Traders and others on a plea filed by the Tamil Nadu government.

dreds of stakeholders took part in the webinar along with more than 700 CEOs and MDs by recognising its importance. He said that this year’s Budget will give new energy to infrastructure.

“Infrastructure has a significant role to play

SC ACQUITS WB MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING WIFE 40 YEARS AGO

New Delhi: The Supreme Court judgment acquitting a West Bengal native of the charge of killing his wife 40 years ago has once again shone a spotlight on the need for compensating a victim of wrongful prosecution for priceless years lost behind bars. The top court on Friday acquitted Nikhil Chandra Mondal, who was booked for allegedly killing his wife four decades ago.

SUPREME COURT SEEKS CENTRE’S RESPONSE ON REPORTED DEATHS OF TIGERS

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to inform it about reported deaths of tigers in the country. A bench of justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna sought the information after taking note of newspaper reports about tiger deaths. The apex court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Anupam Tripathi in 2017 seeking to save endangered tigers whose numbers are dwindling across the country. “Though the petitioner is not present, respondents will ascertain about reported deaths of the tigers in India. List the matter after three weeks,” the bench said.

DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST RaGa: NEXT HEARING ON APRIL 1

Thane: A court in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi town deferred till April 1 the hearing of a defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his request for permanent exemption from appearing.

Advocate Narayan Iyer, Gandhi’s counsel, said the application for permanent exemption has been placed before First Class Judicial Magistrate LC Wadikar. Rajesh Kunte, an RSS functionary had filed the case against Rahul Gandhi.

STOP CONSTRUCTION IN BIRD SANCTUARY’S BUFFER ZONE: NGT

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has restrained the Jannayak Chandrashekhar University in Ballia from carrying out further construction within the ecologically sensitive zone area of Jai Prakash Narayan (Surha Tal) Bird Sanctuary. A bench said the report of a panel constituted earlier “established” that the administrative, academic, library and commercial buildings were being constructed within the ecologically sensitive zone area.

in the sustainable development of any country along with development while keeping the needs of the future in mind”, the Prime Minister remarked. He underlined that those who have knowledge of history related to infrastructure are well-versed with this fact. He cited the construction of Uttarapath by Chandragupta Maurya which was carried forward by Ashoka and later upgraded by Sher Shah Suri.

1st K’taka

Davangere (PTI): Del-

hi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday appealed to the people of poll-bound Karnataka to give his Aam Aadmi Party a chance to give a corruption-free government for five years.

He also promised to give free electricity, quality education in government schools and good healthcare for the state’s people.

Addressing his maiden election public meeting in Karnataka, the AAP supremo said the party has zero tolerance for corruption as a minister and an MLA in party-ruled Punjab were jailed.

Odisha CM lays emphasis on values of edu

Bhubaneswar: Odisha

CM Naveen Patnaik Saturday said education should be linked with emotional and spiritual needs of students. Inaugurating Utkal Gourav School at Berunapadi in Keonjhar through video conferencing, he said modern education provides knowledge to students for understanding world and use it for sustaining seamless growth.

PAL MURDER

UMESH

House of 3rd person linked to Atiq Ahmed razed in UP

Prayagraj (PTI): Authorities demolished the house of a criminal allegedly linked to gangsterturned-politician Atiq Ahmed amid heavy police deployment, the third such demolition in three days. Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) officials arrived at the house of Mashookuddin, who has dozens of cases registered against him, in Puramufti area with bulldozers and other heavy-duty earth movers and began pulling down the structure.

Ex-Aus PM Tony Abbott interacts with JP Nadda

New Delhi (ANI): For-

mer Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott met and interacted with BJP national president JP Nadda under the ‘Know BJP’ campaign at the party’s headquarters in the national capital on Saturday.

Tony Abbott is an Australian politician from the Liberal Party of Australia. He has served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives (1994-2019). He was the Prime Minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He also held the position of Leader of the Opposition from 2009-2013.

Earlier in the day, Vijay Chauthawala inCharge, Foreign Affairs Dept, BJP told ANI that this event is in continuation of BJP President Nadda Ji’s “Know BJP” initiative to give an authentic perspective of

OPPN IS FANNING COMMUNAL SENTIMENTS:

PUNJAB CM MANN

Chandigarh (PTI): CM

the BJP to overseas audience. The initiative was launched last year in April on the Foundation Day of the party by the BJP chief.

Through the ‘Know BJP’ initiative it tries to strengthen its bilateral relations with various countries as well as inform the world about its ideology and functioning. Earlier on January 27, Nadda interacted with students of Delhi University under the

“Know BJP” initiative at the party headquarters in the national capital. He introduced the students to BJP’s ideology, principles, mission, and work culture. Nadda discussed BJP’s work culture with the students and said that the BJP governments at the Centre and in the States are dedicated to the empowerment and welfare of all sections of the society, particularly villagers.

K’taka: Cong leaders protest demanding arrest of BJP MLA

Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann arrive in Hubbali, on Saturday.

KEJRIWAL, MANN TO SOUND POLL BUGLE

IN MP ON MAR 14

Bhopal (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will sound poll bugle for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections on March 14 at a rally in Bhopal to be addressed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, a party functionary said on Saturday.

DELHI MAYOR BEING ‘REMOTE-CONTROLLED’

BY AAP LEADERS: BJP

New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Saturday alleged that Delhi mayor Shelly Oberoi sits like a “dummy” in municipal meetings and, instead of exercising her own wisdom for civic governance, is being “remote-controlled” by AAP leaders for decision-making. BJP leader Kamaljeet Sehrawat said on Saturday.

Bhagwant Mann on Saturday slammed Opposition parties in Punjab, alleging they were trying to fan communal sentiments to get political benefits, and asserted that no one will be allowed to disturb state’s “hard earned” peace. His remarks come in the backdrop of Opposition parties targeting his govt over the last month ajnala incident in which self-styled Sikh preacher and Khalistani sympathiser amritpal Singh and his supporters, carrying swords and guns, clashed with police for the release of one of his aide. Mann said he had information of every moment as his govt is keeping a strict vigil over “everything” unfolding in the state.

“We will always protect our migrant brothers,” Stalin speaks to Nitish Kumar

Chennai (ANI): Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on Saturday in a telephone call with Nitish Kumar reassured him about the safety of migrant workers, amid reports of alleged attacks on people from Bihar that officials have dismissed as fake.

Chief minister Stalin said that those indulging in rumour-mongering were acting against the country and its integrity, according to a

statement released by the chief minister’s office. “Tamil Nadu Government and the people will always stand to protect our migrant

brothers,” Stalin told the Bihar chief minister, according to the statement.

“I have spoken to the honourable chief minister and my brother Nitish Kumar on phone and assured him that all the workers are our workers and they are helping the development of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, I assured that none of these issues will impact them” the Tamil Nadu chief minister said.

Bengaluru (ANI): Several Congress leaders, led by former CM Siddaramaiah, were detained by the police during a protest march against the Karnataka govt on Saturday.

The protesters demanded arrest of BJP MLA Madal Virupaksha, whose son was caught taking bribe by state’s Lokayukta. The anti-corruption wing of Lokayukta raided the residence of the MLA’s son, Prashant Madal, during which they recovered Rs 6 crore cash.

Now the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembky, Siddaramaiah hit out at Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai saying that the latter’s claim that his government was ‘corruption-free’ was nothing but a ‘lie’.

The CM lied to the people when he said his government is corruption-free. Why was so much money recovered from the MLA’s son then?

—Siddarammaiah, Congress leader

“The CM lied to the people when he said his government is corruption-free. Why was so much money recovered from the MLA’s son then?” he said.

On Thursday, Karnataka Lokayukta officers caught Virupaksha’s son, a chief accountant at BWSSB allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh from a contractor.

minority can freely live or practice its religion in Pakistan today”

New York (ANI): India

on Friday (local time) slammed Pakistan on the issue of religious freedom of minorities at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Using its right to reply, India’s representative Seema Pujani slammed her Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar saying, “No religious minority can freely live or practice its religion in Pakistan today. The Ahmadiya community continues to be persecuted

by the state for simply practising their faith.”

Responding to the statement delivered by Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar, Pujani said, “Pakistan’s representative has once again chosen to misuse this august forum for its malicious propaganda against India.”

She also shed light on the issue of enforced disappearances.

“In the last decade, Pakistan’s own commission of inquiry on

enforced disappearances has received 8463 complaints. The Baloch

people have borne the brunt of this cruel policy. Students, doctors,

“Pakistan’s representative has once again chosen to misuse this august forum for its malicious propaganda against India.”

—Seema Pujani , India’s representative at UN

engineers, teachers and community leaders are regularly disappeared

by the state, never to return back,” said Pujani.

She also highlighted the plight of Christians in Pakistan and how they are mistreated.

“Equally worse is the treatment of the Christian community. It is frequently targeted through draconian blasphemy laws. State institutions officially reserve sanitation jobs for Christians,” she said.

She also raised concern over a “predatory state and an apathetic

judiciary,” regarding the conversion of underage minority girls.

“Underage girls from the community are converted to Islam abetted by a predatory state and an apathetic judiciary. Hindu and Sikh communities face similar issues of frequent attack on their places of worship and forced conversion of their underage girls.

The state’s crackdown on those who wish to raise their voice against any of these heinous

policies is also incomparable. A bill which proposes a five-year jail term for anyone who scandalizes or ridicules the military or the judiciary is currently on the table in Pakistan’s parliament,” said Pujani.

The Indian diplomat also slammed Pakistan for supporting terrorism, saying, that Pakistan’s “security agencies have nurtured and sheltered Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar for decades”.

“No

In

poll rally, Kejriwal urges people to give AAP a chance for corruption-free govt

India’s representative at UN Seema Pujani. —FILE PHOTO

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

JP Nadda gives “Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery” a book on PM Modi to former Australian PM Tony Abbott, in New Delhi on Saturday.

Siddaramaiah, Randeep Surjewala with other state leaders during a protest against the Karnataka govt, in Bengaluru, on Saturday.

President presents Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023

Water and sanitation hold a special place in the life of every citizen: Murmu

First India Bureau

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023 and graced the launch of Jal Shakti Abhiyan:

Catch The Rain -2023 in New Delhi on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that water and sanitation hold a special place in the life of every citizen. But these issues af-

fect women the most, as generally it is the responsibility of women to arrange drinking water for their home. In villages, they had to walk long distances to get drinking water. She said that arranging for drinking water not only took a lot of their time but also put their safety and health at risk. Usually, school/college going girls were also engaged in arranging

water along with their elders, which hindered their studies. To overcome these problems, the

Government of India has taken special measures.

The President said it is providing clean

drinking water and sanitation facilities through initiatives such as Jal Jeevan Mission

and Swachh Bharat Mission. She was happy to note that today more than 11.3 crore households are getting potable water from the tap. She said that the women, who earlier used to spend time fetching water, are now utilizing that time in other productive works. Clean tap water has also shown significant improvement in the health of infants who used to fall prey to water-borne diseases like diarrhea and dysentery due to polluted water.

Stressing on the need of water conservation and water management, the President said that it is a wellknown fact that in our country, water resources are limited and its distribution is also uneven. About 18 percent of the world's population resides in India, but only 4 percent of the world's water resources are available here. Moreover, most of this water is received in the form of rain, which drains into rivers and seas. That's why water

conservation and its management is a very important topic for us.

She said today we are more dependent on institutional means for water supply than traditional means. But along with using modern techniques for sustainable water supply, revival of the traditional methods of water management and water-harvesting is the need of the hour. All stakeholders should work together for water conservation and its management.

ED RAIDS 14 LOCATIONS, SEIZES DIAMONDS, GOLD WORTH

New Delhi (Agencies):

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday said raids were recently conducted in 14 locations

in connection to the Power Bank app fraud case and seized gold, diamonds and other valuables worth Rs 10 crore.

The searches held in premises belonging to Sagar Diamond Limited, a BSE listed company, RHC Global Exports Ltd, their director Vaibhav Dipak Shah and associates in Surat SEZ, Ahmedabad & Mumbai.

Besides the gold and diamonds, the ED also seized Rs 25 lakh in cash, digital devices, documents related to bogus import and export.

The ED launched the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on the basis of an FIR by Delhi Police against the fraud.

“Thousands of com-

mon people have been cheated through this app managed by Chinese nationals in connivance with their associates in India which includes Vaibhav Dipak Shah and Sagar Diamond Ltd,” an official said.

The official said that during the search operation it was learnt that proceeds of crime generated from the fraud was routed and possessed by Sagar Diamond Ltd and others.

“A number of manufacturing units of the entities at Surat SEZ

CRUCIAL READ

BODY, BELIEVED TO BE OF MAN KIDNAPPED 6 MONTHS BACK, EXHUMED IN MORIGAON

Morigaon: A body, believed to be that of a man kidnapped from Guwahati six months ago, was exhumed on Saturday in Assam’s Morigaon district, police said. Biswajit Hazarika was kidnapped in October last year, and the kidnappers demanded Rs 40 lakh from his family. However, they did not come to take the money, and Hazarika remained missing, a police officer said. Last month, six people were arrested in the kidnap case and they told the police where the body was disposed in Morigaon’s Nellie area, he said.

TAMIL NADU COAST OIL LEAK CONTAINED

Nagapattinam: A leak in pipeline of a refinery that caused oil spill in Nagore Pattinacherry coast here has been contained and steps are on to ensure a lasting solution to the issue, an official said on Saturday. However, the unrelenting fishers from the village, who noticed the oil spill on Friday, continued their agitation for the second day today demanding the authorities to remove underwater crude oil pipeline.

`10 CR

ED RAIDS WEST BENGAL-BASED CHIT FUND FIRMS IN PMLA CASE

Jaishankar holds meets with Foreign Ministers of Sri Lanka and Armenia

“Attempts are being made to defame India”

TEACHER DIES OF CARDIAC ARREST IN CLASSROOM

Amaravati: A school teacher succumbed on Saturday while teaching children. The incident took place at a govt primary school in Vakavari Palem village of Vetapalem mandal in the Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh. As per locals, P. Veera Babu (45) died sitting in the chair while taking a class. As the teacher suddenly turned motionless, the children alerted other teachers in the school.

MAN WANTED IN ATTEMPT TO MURDER AND RIOT CASES ARRESTED IN DELHI

New Delhi: The Delhi Police has arrested a 32-year-old notorious robber who was on the run in an attempt to murder and riot cases, police said on Saturday. The accused was identified as Robin alias Sunny, a resident of Khera Khurd, Delhi and he was wanted in cases of attempted murder and riots registered in Mukherjee Nagar police station. Police said that specific inputs were received that a wanted criminal would come near SurajMal Stadium, Nangloi, Delhi following which a police team was formed to nab him.

were found involved in exorbitant overvaluation of import, export of diamond, gem stones and other precious metals and siphoning of funds abroad in the garb of bogus imports,” the official said. The ED said that during the search, stock to the tune of thousands of crores shown in the books of account was found to be highly overvalued and having actual value of Rs 10 crore synthetic ruby of insignificant value was shown as precious gem.

New Delhi (PTI): The ED on Friday said it seized Rs 1.27 crore in cash after it raided two West Bengal-based companies as part of a money laundering probe against them linked to alleged chit fund fraud in which investors were duped of more than Rs 790 crore. The raids were launched on March 1 at 15 premises in Kolkata, Siliguri and Howrah in WB apart from Agra in UP. The companies that faced the action were identified by the ED as Pincon Group and Tower Infotech Ltd. The money laundering case of the federal agency, filed under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, against the two companies stems from FIRs filed by the West Bengal Police for alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 156 crore (Tower Infotech) and Rs 638 crore (Pincon Group), the agency said.

NIA ATTACHES 5 PROPERTIES OF CRIMINALS IN DELHI AND HARYANA

New Delhi (ANI): The NIA has attached five properties owned by members of the organised crime syndicates in Delhi and Haryana. Four of the total properties attached are in Haryana and one in Delhi. NIA said these attachments and seizures have been done in the wake of the recent searches conducted at 76 locations linked with gangsters and their associates in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi/ NCR in February this year.

New Delhi (ANI):

EAM S Jaishankar on Saturday held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Sri Lanka and Armenia who were here to attend Raisina Dialogue.

Jaishankar met Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Ali Sabry and held discussions on investment, trade and development partnerships as well as on facilitating Colombo's economic recovery.

“Nice to catch up FM @ alisabrypc of Sri Lanka. Thank him for his #RaisinaDialogue2023

Union Min Thakur launches Yuva Utsav across India from IIT Ropar

Ropal: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur launched pan India the Yuva Utsava-India@2047 on Saturday from IIT Ropar in Punjab. On the occasion, Thakur also launched the Dashboard of Yuva Utsava.

Yuva Utsava was simultaneously hosted at several locations in the country. In the first phase by March 31, Yuva Utsava will be held in 150 Districts across

the country to celebrate the youth power.

Speaking on the occasion, Thakur spoke about the sacrifices of

our freedom fighters and urged the youth to make them proud. “We are the biggest YuvaShakti in the world and

we must strive to achieve our immense potential.” Further, he also urged the students to pick one social cause each that was close to their hearts and work to find the solutions to these issues. “Youth are the builders of tomorrow”, he added.

Thakur also spoke on the importance of millets and the possibility these held for increasing the income of farmers while also allowing us to save water and replenish the soils.

WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE

participation. We took stock of our cooperation that is focused on facilitating Sri Lanka's economic recovery. Discussions covered investment, trade and development partnerships. Also raised recent issues relating to our fishermen,” Jaishankar tweeted on Saturday.

Jaishankar also reviewed bilateral and multilateral partnerships with Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue.

Bhubaneswar: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju , in Bhubaneswar, on March 4 said calibrated attempts were being made to tell the World that Indian judicial was under attack and Indian democracy was in distress.

“I find that there are calibrated attempts being made from inside and outside the country. I have never even a single person of India who says that he will not abide by Indian laws or I have never come across anybody in the country that he will say that he would not follow the court Order,” said Rijiju while addressing, ‘Nyaya-Yajna,’ the first conference of Central government counsel of Eastern States of India.

Regional problems need regional solutions: Kumar

New Delhi: Navy chief R Hari Kumar on Saturday stressed that contemporary challenges in maritime domain could be best addressed by “issue-based convergences” among like-minded countries, while highlighting the advantages of “regional solutions to regional problems”.

Citing India’s experience, he said working in smaller groups and regional frameworks is helpful in building trust, interoperability and overall outcome.

He was speaking at

Navy chief R Hari Kumar with General Angus J Campbell.

Raisina Dialogue alongside Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino, UK’s chief of Naval Staff Admiral Ben Key and Chief of Staff of Japan’s defence ministry Gen Koji Yamazaki.

Mumbai Indians crush Gujarat Giants by 143 runs

Mumbai: The Mumbai Indians overhauled Gujarat Giants in the first match of the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday. Chasing the victory target of 208, the Gujarat team fell short by a massive 143 runs. The Gujarat women got all out at a palrty 64 runs.

Earlier, top knocks from skipper Harman-

preet Kaur, Hayley Matthews and Amelia Kerr and a quickfire stand between Kaur and Kerr helped Mumbai Indians reach a massive 207/5 in their 20 overs.

Put to bat first by Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians started well with Hayley Matthews smashing Mansi Joshi for a four and six in the second over.

It was an extravaganza when the Women’s Premier League’s inaugural edition went off

to a flying start at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.

The event that was witnessed by a galaxy of celebrities. Bollywood

stars Kiara Advani, Kriti Sanon, and singersongwriter AP Dhillon added glamour the tournament’s first match by performing some of his chart-topping songs live on stage.

Mandira Bedi hosted the opening ceremony, but after welcoming cricket fans from all over the world to the WPL, attention turned to Bollywood sensation Kiara Advani.

The trophy of the inaugural season was un-

veiled in presence of captains of all five teams, Smriti Mandhana (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai Indians), Meg Lanning (Delhi Capitals), Beth Mooney (Gujarat Giants) and Alyssa Healy (UP Warriorz).

BCCI chief Roger Binny, Vice-Prez Rajeev Shukla, and Secretary Jay Shah, Treasurer Ashish Shelar and IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal were also present.

Rahul Faujdar

MI’s Amelia Kerr and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur during the match.

President Murmu at launch of ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch The Rain -2023’ in New Delhi on Saturday.

Jaishankar with Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.

The RHC Global Exports Ltd and seized diamonds.

Union Youth Affairs and Sports and I&B Minister Anurag Thakur during the launch of Yuva Utsav at IIT Ropar, on Saturday.

business BRIEFS

‘NOD TO CHATGPT POWERED APP POST ASSURANCE’

San Francisco: Apple has approved an email-app update after initially scrutinizing whether a feature in the software that uses language tools powered by artificial intelligence could generate inappropriate content for children, The Wall Street Journal said. The app, BlueMail, was approved following assurances from its developer that it features content moderation, according to Ben Volach, co-founder of the app-maker, Blix. —ANI

BAJAJ FINANCE REVISES FD RATES

UP TO 35 BPS

FIVE WAYS TO EFFECTIVELY INVEST YOUR ANNUAL BONUS

Appraisal season is here. It’s time to fill out the appraisal form and sit down with your manager to have “the talk.” Everyone hopes to get that yearly bonus and salary increment they have worked hard all year for

Pune: The CRISIL AAA/ STABLE and [ICRA]

AAA(Stable) rated NBFC, Bajaj Finance has once again revised its FD rates by up to 35 bps. The revised FD rates are applicable for all new deposits and renewals with effect from March 04, 2023. After the hike, FD customers (senior citizens) will have the opportunity to earn returns of 8.20% p.a. for investments between Rs15,000 to Rs5 crore, for a tenure of 44 months. —ANI

MOU s FOR GIVING ACCESS TO BETTER FUNDING SIGNED

With career growth, responsibilities grow. Ideally, one should ensure that their wealth grows in line with their future goals. Performance appraisals are usually accompanied by bonus payouts and salary hikes. One might be inclined to splurge and buy that car or the new mobile phone but if they can be judicious with their spending they can plan better for much bigger financial goals in future.

BREAK THE RULE

amount can come from yearly bonuses, past investments maturing, gift from family and relatives, etc. In such a case, one must opt for the reverse 50/30/20 where 50% of additional income is saved, 20% is spent on lifestyle choices, and the remaining 30%, is allocated towards needs. It will help increase the savings component of income and allow compounding to work its magic.

Here are five ways to use you annual bonus effectively to enjoy benefits in future :

PAY OFF LOANS

reduce the interest burden considerably.

ADD TO YOUR SIPs

New Delhi: National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) said it signed over 50 memorandum of understanding with various entities during its first finance conclave. The industry body in the statement said these MoUs between various real estate developers and funding entities would enable India to build a USD 5-trillion developed economy. The first NAREDCO finance conclave happened on Friday. The total estimated value committed on the MoUs is estimated at over USD 15 billion in which NAREDCO would play the key role of a facilitator. —ANI

SURGEONS, FOREIGN EXPERTS ATTEND 20TH ANNUAL CONF

A common rule of thumb while saving is to use the 50/30/20 approach. 50% of the salary is used for essentials and non-descretionary spending like rent, grocery, electricity. 30% on wants and luxuries like clothes and eating out, and the remaining 20% is set aside for investment. This traditional approach should ideally be tweaked when one gets a lumpsum amount. This

If you have high-interest debt looming over your head, bonus money can be a way to prepay or possibly pay off the debt entirely. Credit card debt or personal loans are typically high interest debt and should be paif off first. Interest rates have been going up off late which has increased monthly EMIs significantly. Frequent prepayment of loans every year can help

FROM ADANI POWER IN 2021-22

Gandhinagar (PTI): The Gujarat government purchased electricity worth Rs8,160 crore from Adani Power Ltd between 2021 and 2022 at tariff rates revised upwards from Rs2.83 to Rs8.83 per unit, the state Legislative Assembly was informed on Saturday.

Paying down debt and building an emergency fund are great first steps and the next best step is to consider investing for retirement. SIPs are the easiest way to invest, it promotes regular investments and maintains investment discipline. One can add a one-time boost to these investments using that bonus. The purchase of additional units to increase their initial investment amount is also available, and there are always new funds one can explore depending on their risk profile.

INVEST IN YOURSELF

The extra income can also be utilized to upskill yourself. Is there a job skill that you have always wanted to learn? Using your bonus amoun to learn that skill could be a great way to improve your earning potential at your current job and

also prepare you for a better job in future. You could also use that bonus amount to learn some personal skills that can be a great source of satisfaction, too. Learning a new musical instrument or a new foreign language can all be great ways to make your life more fulfilling.

TREAT YOURSELF

Financial prudence is essential but one should not deny themselves occasional treats. Proper planning ensures that spending on something fun or luxurious does not derail future plans. One can set up a fund to start saving for

goals like a vacation, and excess can be invested.

Annual bonuses are a treat and they should be used mindfully so that it improves your future, reduces your financial stress and also help you enjoy occasional luxuries in life.

We hope the performance review goes well for you and you get that well-deserved treat. However, if things do not work out well and one has to look for opportunities elsewhere, here is a guide to help manage finances in tough times.

Tavaga is everything you need to start saving for your goals, stay on track, and achieve them in time.

BUILD AN EMERGENCY FUND

If you do not have an emergency fund or were hit from some unexpected expenses this year then you should use your bonus money to ensure you’re covered. Financial surprises like a job loss, natural disaster or unexpected renovation can strike anyone, anytime. One should ideally build a fund worth 3-6 months worth of expenses to prepares for such emergencies. This corpus should be invested in highly liquid instruments like bank savings account, short term FDs or liquid funds so that they are accessible all the time. This can give you a back up and more importantly a peace of mind during such rainy days.

No deals were finalized during visit: Foxconn

per unit, he said. The state government revised upwards the unit rates under its power purchase agreement from the company because of a rise in the cost of imported coal, he said.

THE DEAL IN 2007

Mumbai: The Obesity & Metabolic Surgery Society of India (OSSI) is hosting its 20th annual conference from March 1-4, 2023, at the Hotel J W Marriott, Sahar in Mumbai, with around 500 doctors in attendance from across India. The conference, organized by Dr Abhay Agrawal (Organising Chairman) and Dr Manish Motwani (Organising Secretary) is also being attended by 25 International specialists from around the world. —ANI

Responding to a starred question by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Hemant Ahir, state Energy Minister Kanu Desai said that in 2021-22, the government purchased 11,596 million units of electricity from the company for Rs8,160 crore. The charge was revised upwards month-onmonth in the range of Rs2.83-Rs8.83 per unit, he said.

In 2007, the state government had signed an agreement to purchase power from Adani Power Ltd for 25 years at levelized tariff rates of Rs2.89 and Rs2.35

Since the project was coal-based, the said power company was not producing energy in full capacity because of “unscheduled increase in the price of coal sourced from Indonesia after 2011”, Desai said.

z In 2007, the state government had signed an agreement to purchase power from Adani Power Ltd for 25 years

z At a levelized tariff rate of `2.89 and `2.35 per unit

z The state govt revised upwards the unit rates

First India Bureau

Taipei: Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn confirmed on Saturday that its chairman had visited India, but denied it had "entered into any binding, definitive agreements" after reports saying it was planning new investments in the country.

Also known by its official name, Hon Hai Precision Industry, Foxconn is world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and a principal assembler of Apple iPhones. Both companies are seeking to diversify away from China, where much of their manufacturing is based. Foxconn said that no deals had been finalized during chairman and CEO Young Liu's visit to India from February 27 to March 04.

Investors’ summit deals will create 6 lakh plus jobs: Andhra CM CM REDDY SAYS

Vishakhapatnam (PTI): Andhra Pradesh has garnered investment pledges worth Rs13.05 lakh crore with a potential to create over six lakh jobs during the two-day Global Investors Summit (GIS), Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Saturday.

Speaking at the valedictory ceremony, he said 352 agreements were signed in 20 sectors, out of which the energy sector stood out through 40 deals and pledges worth Rs8.84 lakh crore with a job creation potential of 1.9 lakh, he said.

"In the IT & ITES sector, 56 MoUs were signed, amounting to Rs25,587 crore of investments and will generate employment for 1,04,442 people. In the tourism sector, 117 agreements have been inked for an investment to the tune of Rs22,096 crore, that will create employment for

z Renewable energy sector was one of the sectors which drew significant investments

z These investments would take renewable energy generation a long way

30,787 people,” said Reddy. Further, he pointed out that renewable energy sector was one of the sectors which drew significant investments and these would take renewable energy generation a long way.

‘Gujarat government purchased electricity worth `8,160 crore’

The festivals are enjoyable, not just because of the culture and traditions associated with them, but more because we celebrate them with our family and friends.

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

www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

Mirch Masala

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

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

WHY BJP HIGH COMMAND HAS SO MUCH FAITH IN YEDIYURAPPA?

Prashant Kumar, former BJP MLA and son of KSDL Board Chairman Madal Virupakshappa, was caught by the Lokayukta while taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh during election time in Karnataka. So the opposition parties of the state again started making noise that ‘this is a government which takes 40 per cent commission.’ But the truth is that this whole incident is believed to be the culmination of a mutual tussle between Yediyurappa and the Chief Minister of the State, Basavaraj Bommai. Even though initially Bommai was seen as Yeddiyurappa’s man, however in the recent past, there were reports of a tussle between the two leaders. It is said that Bommai did not expand his cabinet only because he did not want to make Yeddiyurappa’s son a minister. Madal is also a trusted person in the

CONFUSION OF CONGRESS

Bahu Balli: ‘World’s first’ bamboo crash barrier set up in Maha

Gadkari calls it

Yeddiyurappa faction. But the BJP high command does not want to take the risk of angering Yeddiyurappa, who is said to have influence over 100 of the state’s 224 assembly seats. Yeddiyurappa also has a significant impact on more than 500 Lingayat Maths in the state. The state’s 17 per cent Lingayat votes prove to be decisive in elections here. When PM Modi reached Shivamogga in Karnataka last week, it was his 5th visit to Karnataka this year, where Modi also addressed a big rally. Yeddiyurappa was also seen with the PM at the inauguration of the Shivamogga airport before the rally. Moreover, Modi showered praises on the 80-year-old Yeddiyurappa and wished him a healthy life, which shows that BJP High Command has firm faith that only Yeddiyurappa can reverse their electoral streak in Karnataka.

The Congress may have rekindled a new wave of hope in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in these by-elections, but the talk of the town is about the party’s resounding defeat in the Northeast. The party expected that after Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, the party would perform brilliantly in the three recent assembly elections in the Northeast, but its opposite happened. Anyway, the big leaders of the party including the Gandhi family did not take the elections in the Northeast seriously and did not even bother to campaign there. As a result, in Meghalaya, where the Congress won 18 out of 60 seats in the 2018 elections, this time, it came down to 5. Even after alliance with the Left in Tripura, it could win only 2 seats while in Nagaland the Congress party got swept away. Now the party leaders are saying that from now on the Congress is going to put its full strength in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, where it is confident of forming the government. The party has left Rajasthan to Gehlot and is sure of making a comeback in Chhattisgarh.

BJP’S MAHARASHTRA CONCERN!

Even as the BJP basks in celebration of its victory in two northeastern states and is set to be part of the Conrad Sangma govt in Meghalaya, the party’s performance in recent bypolls has been worrying. Especially in Maharashtra’s Kasbapeth by-election, it had to face defeat after 27 years, and that too at a time when assembly polls are to be held next year. This is a Brahmin-dominated seat where Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis had thrown all his might, yet the seat was wrested from BJP’s hands by MVA alliance. In struggle to prove Shinde’s Shiv Sena as real, BJP’s ground in Maharashtra has started to rupture a bit. Even though the ‘arrow & bow’ symbol has been snatched from Uddhav’s group & handed over to Shinde, Uddhav still proves to be the real shooter.

WILL NOOSE TIGHTEN AROUND SISODIA?

In the coming days, the investigating agencies may tighten the noose around former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia. Sources say that the investigating agencies have found some strong evidence against Sisodia in the espionage case. The CBI has started preparing its latest charge sheet regarding this. In favour of Manish Sisodia, the way ‘I love you Manish Sisodia’ campaign is being sponsored among the children of government schools in Delhi, parties like BJP and Congress have attacked AAP, and said that ‘ The AAP government is playing with the feelings of innocent school children.’ CBI sources also claim that ‘Sisodia’s men are threatening the witnesses and showing them fear of the Punjab Police.’ Some leaders are also raising questions that ‘why the mastermind of the liquor scam and the manager of the party fund has been spared as this AAP leader is one who may have the most information about the matter.’

BJP’s FOCUS ON ‘LOST’ SEATS IN 2019 LS POLLS

BJP has no equal in castes handling. Till now saffron strategists have proved to be the uncrowned king of social engineering, but when this saffron caravan reaches western UP, it commits a big mistake there. To win the Khatauli by-election, Jayant Chowdhary had bet on his late grandfather Chowdhary Charan Singh’s ‘Majag’ (Muslim, Jat and Gujjar) formula and bagged this seat. Jats and Gujjar castes may have worked together in BJP’s favour in recently concluded district panchayat elections in UP, but when it came to become president of district panchayat, in this saffron period, Jats won the battle. Nearly 80 Jats were made president in 90% of districts and Jats were also given prominence in those districts which were Gujjar dominated areas. It is said that there is a lot of anger in Gujjar community over it. On the other hand, BJP’s focus is on those 14 seats in UP which it lost in 2019 LS elections. The BJP has formed a team under the leadership of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, which is engaged in grass-root investigation as to why BJP had to face defeat here in 2019 polls. This team is working especially hard on seats of Bijnor, Saharanpur and Nagina. Out of this Bijnor’s seat was won by Maluk Nagar of BSP and it is being said about him that he is in constant touch with BJP. BJP is still trying to woo Jayant Chaudhary, but he knows that ‘how does saffron party deal with smaller parties’ as what better example can be given than Lok Janshakti Party?

...AND FINALLY ADANI’S BAILOUT FORMULA

A recent picture of a lady officer from a major city in UP is going viral on social media these days, in which she is seen on a flight in an expensive ‘Burberry’ shirt and jacket and in her hands is an expensive ‘Rolex Rose Gold’ watch. Apparently, the initial price of this watch is above Rs 40 lakh.

T he trusted people of the ruling Central government are involved in getting Gautam Adani out of his current crisis. Ever since the report of the American research firm ‘Hindenburg’ came out on January 24, the crisis of the Adani Group has been increasing continuously. A very reliable source related to the government claims that ‘Gautam Adani has been advised to sell some of his big companies and pay the money to the government and creditors immediately. This process should start at least from March itself. ‘ The same source claims that in this episode, Adani can sell two of his cement companies ACC and Ambuja Cement to Kumar Mangalam Birla and reduce his liabilities with the amount received from this deal. Sources are sure that even Kumar Mangalam Birla will not face any financial problem in buying these two companies, because the reputation of these two companies is such that any bank will be happy to give loan in their name.

First India Bureau Nagpur: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said a 200m bamboo crash barrier has been installed on a highway connecting Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts in what he termed to be the “world’s first” such exercise.

In a tweet, Gadkari said, “An extraordinary accomplishment towards achieving #AatmanirbharBharat has been made with the development of the world's first 200-meterlong Bamboo Crash Barrier, which has been installed on the VaniWarora Highway.” Calling it a “remarkable achievement” for

This barrier is made using the Bambusa balcooa species. The malleable culms are then treated with creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density Polyethylene. This achievement is re markable for the bamboo sector and India as a whole, as this crash barrier offers a perfect alternative to steel and addresses environmental concerns and their aftermath.

the country and its bamboo sector, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways said this crash barrier--christened “Bahu Balli”--ad-

18 Bangladeshi nationals held for illegal stay in Thane

Thane (PTI): Police have arrested 18 Bangladeshi nationals, including 10 women, from Thane district after they were found living illegally in the country, an official said on Saturday.

The arrest was made by the Navi Mumbai police during the intervening night of March 01 and 02, he said.

“The police had received a tip-off that some Bangladeshi nationals will gather to celebrate the wedding anniversary of one of them at a building in Navi Mumbai’s Ghansoli area. Acting on it, the of-

ficials of Navi Mumbai police’s crime branch raided the premises at night,” the official of Rabale police station said. Ten women and eight men were held during the operation as they were found residing in the locality since the last around one year without any valid documents like visa and passport, he added. An offence under the Foreigners Act, 1946 and also the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950 was registered against them and investigation is on, the police said.

dresses environmental concerns, while offering a perfect alternative to steel.

“It underwent rigorous testing at various

government-run institutions, such as the National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in Pithampur, Indore, and was rated as Class

1 during the Fire Rating Test conducted at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee. Additionally, it has also been accredited by the Indian Road Congress,” the minister said in another tweet. Gadkari said the recycling value of bamboo barriers is 50-70%, while that of steel one is 30-50%.

“This barrier is made using the Bambusa balcooa species. The malleable culms are then treated with creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density Polyethylene. This achievement is remarkable for the bamboo sector and India as a whole, as this crash barrier offers a perfect alternative to steel and addresses environmental concerns and their aftermath,” he said.

Furthermore, it is a rural and agriculturefriendly industry in itself, making it an even more significant milestone,” Gadkari added.

VANDE BHARAT

Mumbai-Goa route to get new train: Danve

Semi high-speed express train will be operated along the lines of those on Mumbai-Shirdi and Mumbai-Solapur routes to curtail travel time

First India Bureau

Thane: The MumbaiGoa route will soon get a new Vande Bharat semi-high speed express train, Union Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb Danve has told a delegation of state legislators, member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Konkan graduates constituency Niranjan Davkhare said.

The delegation of legislators from Maharashtra met Danve on Friday. During the meeting, the Union minister told the group that a Vande Bharat Express train will be operated between Mumbai

and Goa, Davkhare said in a release.

This new train is expected to curtail travel times, as in the case of the recently launched express trains operating on the Mumbai-Shirdi and Mumbai-Solapur

routes, Danve said. He added that the electrification of the Mumbai-Goa railway route has been completed and the new train service will be introduced following an inspection, the minister told the delegation.

The delegation discussed several issues concerning railways in Thane and Konkan region with the minister during the meeting.

According to Davkhare’s release, the meeting also addressed issues such as allotting stalls to the railway project-affected persons or their relatives and setting up mobile stalls at each railway station for farmers. The issues of raising the height of platforms to reduce the

gap between them and trains and taking measures to prevent flooding due to the railway bridge at Mahad in Raigad also came up, it added.

The delegation discussed with Danve the demand to extend the Sawantwadi-Diva train service till Dadar, rehabilitation of those residing along the railway tracks under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme, and other issues, it added.

The legislators also demanded that the Mumbra station in Thane be renamed as Mumbra Devi station. Danve assured them that action will be taken after the state government submits a proposal to this effect.

The 200m-long Bahu Balli’ crash barrier has been installed on a highway connecting Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts.

‘remarkable achievement’ for India’s bamboo sector, says it is perfect alternative to steel

—Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, Minister of Road Transport & Highways

MoS for Rail, Coal & Mines Raosaheb Patil Danve. FILE PHOTO

A vendor sells different shades of coloured powder ahead of Holi, the festival of colours, at Masjid Bunder in Mumbai on Saturday.

PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

Fashion escapism!

A criss-cross dress is a must-have in your closet since it is seductive, glamorous, a little flirtatious, and a little feminine. Let’s dive into this magnificent fashion world of Crisscross with City First!

Criss-cross dresses have always been a party staple, but with the over-the-top look of 2023, these dazzling gowns have once again become popular. Bring out the sexiness this summer since

ting go of your inhibitions. Fancy crisscross details can instantly transform any costume into a show-stopper, whether it be in sensuous numbers or sexy blacks. To embrace this season’s gorgeous criss-cross dress style with oomph and panache, one may recognise a number of fashionable recommendations. Wear a ribbed dress to celebrate the holidays in elegance and comfort. A ribbed dress might get monotonous, but criss-cross

on transparent heels with your maxi crisscross dress to allow your stunning garment to steal the show.

If one wants to go for a retro look, choose a striped or polka criss-cross design, add vintage sunglasses, and accessorise with a blingy headband.

To avoid looking extra, don’t overdo the accessories; the criss-cross pattern is the best way to make a fashion statement and will help you look like the talk of the town. A crisscross dress is

MRIDULA SHARMA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Are you looking for an unforgettable vacation? Look no further than Thailand! With its stunning beaches, vibrant cities and stunning adventures.

Thailand is the perfect destination for those seeking an unforgettable experience. The country is an urban metropolis of the contemporary day that you can begin exploring from above by climbing to the top of one of the many skyscrapers. Use this deal to obtain a free drink at the top of one of the highest structures, which belongs to the Baiyoke Sky Hotel. Of course, there are even more places to see in Thailand. Visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the city’s most well-known royal palace to learn more about Thailand’s cultural and historical legacy as you continue your exploration of the area. Indian passport holders can take advantage of the Visa on Arrival program to make their trip even easier.

Thailand’s tourism business is a major one, so the country has first-rate tourist facilities. Thailand is still so big, though, that there are still some locations where you might feel like the only visitor there. Everybody can benefit from it, without a doubt.

WHY THAILAND SHOULD BE A MUST ON THE BUCKET LIST OF TRAVELLERS?

Cafes, Lounges and RestauSome of the most beautiful cafes, lounges, restaurants, bars and clubs around the coast of Thailand.

Some of the most beautiful and serene beaches with gorgeous landscapes.

Thailand is one of the most cultural countries to visit with Temples and Budha stat-

Adventures & Activities: Snorkeling, Kayaking, Zip-lining, there’s something for everyone.

Roadtrips: Some of the most beautiful landscapes, God’s green earth set amongst the best roads to drive around.

Sail Boats: Hire a private sail and go around the coast of Krabi to Phi Phi Island, Maya Bay, Bamboo Island.

n Visa on Arrival: The best part for Indian passport holders.

n Pocket Friendly: Thailand is so reasonable on the pocket it’s a great escape for impromptu plans.

n Nightlife: Full of life in the night with bars, Clubs and mu-

sic that will keep you grooving all night long.

n Festivals & Events: Thailand is a host of many vibrant festivals like the Songkran Water Festival and the Loy Krathong Festival. Enjoy the best of Thai culture at these festivals.

n Shopping: From markets to modern shopping malls there are plenty of options to explore. Get a real taste of Thailand as you visit different stores throughout the country.

n Accommodation: Whether you want luxury resorts or affordable accommodation, Thailand has it all! With lots of great hotels, guesthouses and Airbnbs available it’s easy to find a place that suits your budget and style.

n Night Markets: Explore the streets of Thailand through its night markets, offering great food, unique souvenirs and street performances.

n Nature: From lush rainforests to tropical islands, Thailand’s nature is breathtakingly beautiful. Go trekking, explore caves or simply relax on the beach for a truly unforgettable experience.

n Relaxation: With world-class spas and wellness retreats, Thailand offers plenty of opportunities to relax and unwind from all the hustle and bustle of daily life. Enjoy some yoga classes or take part in meditation sessions

for an even more calming escape.

n Health & Wellness: Take advantage of Thailand’s traditional therapies and learn about their ancient healing practices, from herbal medicine to Thai massage. With so many health retreats and healing centres, Thailand is the perfect place for a wellness getaway.

n Cuisine: One of Thailand’s most beloved features is its delicious cuisine. Sample some of the country’s unique dishes, from street food to traditional dishes such as Pad Thai or Massaman Curry. Get ready for an unforgettable culinary journey!

n Transport: Getting around in Thailand is easy and affordable with plenty of public transportation options available, such as buses, tuk-tuks and ferries. Private rides are also easily bookable online or through apps.

n Safety & Security: Thailand is generally a safe destination but it’s important to take precautions. Keep your passport and valuable items safe and be aware of pickpockets in crowded areas.

n People: From the locals to travellers, Thailand is full of friendly people who are always willing to help out and share their stories. Make sure you interact with them as much as possible – it’ll make your stay even more enjoyable!

n Wildlife: Spot rare animals like

wild elephants, gibbons or sea turtles while exploring Thai jungles or tropical islands. You’ll also have a chance to swim with whale sharks in some parts of the country!

n Climate & Weather: With its warm climate all year round, Thailand is an ideal destination for those looking for a sunny escape. The best time to visit is during the dry season between December and April, although you can find plenty of things to do in other months as well.

n Adventure & Sports: From Snorkelling, Scuba diving, Surfing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Kayaking, Zip-lining and more –there’s something for everyone! Let your adventurous side out and explore all that Thailand has to offer.

n Culture: With its unique culture and fascinating history, Thailand is a great destination for those looking to learn about the local way of life and customs. Make sure to visit some of the country’s many temples or participate in traditional ceremonies such as blessing or ancestor worship rituals.

n Overall, Thailand is an amazing destination with something for everyone! Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation or culture – it’s a great place to explore. So what are you waiting for - plan your next trip to Thailand today! cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

AKANSHA BAKSHI

Akansha Bakshi

DENIM ON DENIM

Deepika Padukone is one of the most loved and stylish actresses in Bollywood. The Piku star recently grabbed all the limelight as she revealed that she will be one of the presenters at the Oscars this year.

Indeed, it is a matter of pride. On Saturday the star was snapped at the Mumbai airport slaying in her casual yet funky attire and to add on was her killer smile. In the video, we can see Deepika Padu-

WOMEN’S PREMIERE LEAGUE 2023

Kiara Advani and Kriti Sanon are two of the most successful actresses in Bollywood currently. Both these divas will be performing at the opening ceremony of the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premiere League 2023. A video of AP Dhillon, Kiara Advani, and Kriti Sanon has been going viral on social media. It is from their rehearsals for their performance at the opening cer-

emony of the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premiere League 2023. In the video, we can see Kriti looking cool in blue coloured denim shorts that she paired with a black sports bra and layered with an oversized denim

shirt with open front but tons. Kiara, on the other hand, looked funky in a Pink coloured shiny track that she paired with a white tank top and completed her look with silver knee-high boots. AP Dhillon too can be seen with the divas chatting with them.

Dating Rumours

Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth’s rumoured relationship often catch the headlines. Since last year, there have been rumours that the duo are dating and are clicked together on many occasions.

And recently, with Aditi’s recent dance reel with Siddharth, they have added much-needed fuel to their relationship rumours.

Now, the actress reacted to the relationship rumours and she doesn’t feel the need to pay attention.

Reacting to the relationship rumours with Siddharth, Aditi Rao Hydari, in an interview said, “Since I’m working I am

SPOTTED!

not looking at that. Peo ple will talk and you can’t stop them from talking. They will do what they find in teresting and I am doing what I find interesting, which is going to set. I think it’s ok. And the thing is as long as I have amazing work to do and working with di rectors I love, and as long as people accept me and watch me, I am re ally happy.”

kone exiting from the Mumbai airport gate looking stylish as ever. She chose to wear an oversized white tee and layered it with a light blue denim jacket that had a splash pattern on it. The actress paired her jacket and tee with similar light blue coloured straight fit denim with folded ends. Deepika completed her look with white sports shoes, open hair, sunglasses, a yellow-coloured sling bag and her beautiful smile.

Manushi’s Telugu debut

Varun Tej’s next is a TeluguHindi bilingual action-drama and is inspired by India’s Air Force. The film is tentatively titled ‘VT13 and has created quite a good buzz among the audiences. Now, the makers announced that the female lead of the film is Bollywood actress Manushi Chhillar. The makers of the film took to Twitter and shared a video to welcome Manushi Chhillar on board. The actress will mark her debut in Telugu with this film. She will be seen portraying the role of a radar officer. Manushi Chhillar represented India in 2017 for Miss Universe and won first prize. She made her debut in Hindi cinema with the Akshay Kumar starrer, which didn’t perform well at the box office.

Citadel India

Samantha Ruth Prabhu is one of the busiest actresses in the South. She has quite an in teresting lineup and Russo Brother’s Citadel is one of them. The actress is playing the female lead in the Indian adaptation of the series, directed by Raj and DK. Now, the directors spill the beans about Samantha’s role in the film.

Recently, in an inter view, Raj, and DK opened up about Samantha’s role in Citadel. The director said, “We have started shooting with Samantha and Varun (Dhawan). It’s a really strong, author-backed role. The idea is to use Samantha’s abilities and challenge her more, to open up a few more aspects of her acting.”

Deepika Padukone

Still from the rehearsal

Manushi Chillar

Kiara Advani

Aditi Rao Hydari

Raj and DK’s tweet...

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

—PHOTOS BY MUKESH KIRADOO

Hemant Sharma, TV9 News Director hosted a Holi Milan Samaroh to commemorate Rangbhari Ekadashi at his residence in Delhi. Jagdeesh Chandra reached to greet Hemant Sharma and his family and wished them a happy and joyous festival. On the day of Rangbhari Ekadashi, a rite of honouring Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati is performed. On this day, Lord Shiva is said to have brought Mother Pravati to Kashi for the first time, and all warmly welcomed her with gulal and abir.

‘KUCH TOH ZAROOR HAI IS A FEEL GOOD SONG’

sure that the location is a part of the song.

Speaking on their favourite moment both of them said, “It’s a very well put song, the initial music of the song is

PROUD MOMENT!

TV stars are a hit when it comes to music videos. Many of them have been featured in top songs. The latest ones are Nidhi Shah and Mohsin Khan. Nidhi plays the role of Kinjal in Anupamaa while Mohsin is best known for playing Kartik in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. They collaborated on a song titled Kuch Toh Zaroor Hai. The song was released on Saturday and fans are in love with their crackling chemistry. In an exclusive conversation with Ashish Tiwari of First India, the duo spoke about their chemistry and more.

Mohsin Shared, “This song indeed has a 90’s Vibe, Collin sir had mentioned this only that this

has to have the Bolly wood feel with over-thetop Romance. We are lipsyncing after a long time. Also, music videos give you new pairings it brings out refreshing chemistry.”

Nidhi speaking on the chemistry shared, “It was a mixture of every thing, it has a sense of nostal gia. There were beautiful sce narios around us that just set the mood right. Along with Mohsin’s aura, it was quite great. The en tire video overall is soothing to your eyes and soul. There’s a relax ing calmness in the song. In this song the team has made

Virushka seek blessings

Ahead of India’s 4th Test match with Australia, ace skipper Virat Kohli was seen seeking blessings at Mahakalesh war Temple with his wife Anushka Sharma. Several videos and pictures of the two seeking divine blessings in the holy shrines have gone viral. A video going viral on social media showed the celebrity couple sitting inside the temple along with other pilgrims. They marked the attendance at the temple on Saturday morning, a day after the 3rd Test encounter between India and Australia in Indore came to an end. “We came here to offer prayers and had a good ‘darshan’ at Mahakaleshwar temple,” said Anushka Sharma It is no secret that Virat and Anushka are reli gious people. Earlier this year, the duo also visited Rishikesh and Vrin davan with their daughter Vamika.

ing with Dharma shared,” Dharma has managed to put in the essence of their genre of love it’s a blessing to be working with Dharma”. Mohsin shared, “Collin sir has worked so well on the song, he knows exactly what he wants and he is very precise with everything. The local team there was also very prompt on covering everything”

Speaking on their fan connection Nidhi shared, “There are actually positive and negative aspects to everything. There’s a thin line between fans and obsessive stuff. “ Mohsin added, “I was lucky I believe and for 7 years I was associated with Star and now I am doing music videos now that’s also breaking the TV stereo Types. The digital space has opened up many opportunities “

-The song is beautifully sung by Javed Ali, Music is crooned by Nilesh Ahuja, Lyrics by Kumaar and the song is out exclusively on Saregama Originals.

Jagdeesh Chandra and Upendra Singh Shekhawat (Deputy Director, Department of Tourism) congratulated Santosh Sharma, Chief Photographer, First India on achieving the first position at a photography competition organised during Sambhar Festival from February 17-19. Gourav Dadhich (Amateur Naturalist) and Yogesh Sekvani (Amateur Naturalist) received second and third positions during the competition. The grand competition was judged and curated by Sudhir Kasliwal, Indrajit Bose and Anchit Natha. Jaipur district administration and the state tourism department organised this festival together, to promote tourism in the state. The three-day festival featured exciting programs, such as full moon events, kite flying, camel riding, parasailing, ATV riding, birdwatching, motorcycle rally and a grand-level photography competition.

DURING THE DAY!

Minister of Tourism, Prabhat Lodha hosted a get-together on the occasion of Holi with senior journalists and editors from all the leading channels and publications at Status Restaurant, Nariman Point, Mumbai on Friday, March 3.

Dilip dismisses threat rumours

Dilip Joshi, popularly known as Jethalal from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, is one of the most popular actors in the entertainment fraternity. Recently reports claimed that after Mukesh Ambani, Amitabh Bachchan, and Dharmendra, Dilip Joshi was under threat. Reportedly, 25 armed men with weapons and guns had sur-

rounded his residence, located near Shivaji Park.

When a news portal asked Dilip about it Joshi stated, “This news is fake. Aisa kuch

nahi hua. I don’t know where it started and how. This news has been in circulation for two days and I was astonished to hear it.”

Joshi says that it was shocking and surprising that such news came out and was reported widely. “Hamne agar kuch kiya ho toh aisi koi baat nikle, bina sar pair wali khabar hai yeh.”

Manoj Bajpayee on nepotism debate

Manoj Bajpayee has called nepotism ‘a pointless debate in the Indian film industry’ adding that it has to do with ‘connections and relationships that one creates’.

In a new interview, Manoj also said that the real problem lies in film exhibitions which ‘often discriminate’.

In an interview, the actor, whose film Gulmohar was released on

Friday, said that it is wrong to call the film industry a ‘fraternity’ because everyone is working independently.

The actor quoted, “Nepotism badi bekaar ki behas hai because ye ek private enterprise hai (The debate on nepotism is pointless because the film industry is a private enterprise). The film industry, whether here or anywhere else, has some private entities putting their money. That is why I have a problem when you use the word ‘fraternity’.

We are not a fraternity. We work scattered in different places. Kuch logo se kisi ka dil mil jata hai toh hum log saath mein uthte baithe hai and jiske saath dil nahi laga uske saath nahi uthte baithte (You connect well with some people, so you spend time with them, and you don’t connect with others, so you don’t spend time with them).”

Ranbir Kapoor on Raha’s Looks

This weekend, Ranbir Kapoor will grace Kapil Sharma’s show to promote his film Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar. In a promo released by Sony TV on Thursday, Kapil and Ranbir are seen talking about RK and Alia Bhatt’s daughter Raha. Ranbir spoke about his bond with his daughter and how she is used to his look with a beard

and that is why he is scared that she might not recognise him with a clean shaved face.

On being asked about Raha “Kispe gayi hai? Alia pe ya Ranbir pe? (Who does she look like? Alia

or Ranbir?)” Ranbir said that they are still confused about it and said, “Hum khud confused hain kyunki kabhi kabhi uska chehra mere jaisa dikhta hai, kabhi Alia ke jaisa dikhta hai par achi baat yeh hai ki hum dono ke jaise hi dikhta hai (We are confused because sometimes she looks like me, sometimes like Alia. But the good thing is that she does look like us).” Ranbir’s response left everyone in splits.

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

Jagdeesh Chandra with Veena and Hemant Sharma and Ishaanee Sharma

Jagdeesh Chandra with Hemant Sharma Jagdeesh Chandra with Ishaanee Sharma, Hemant Sharma and Veena Sharma

Jagdeesh Chandra with Santosh Sharma

Upendra Singh Shekhawat felicitating Santosh Sharma

Dilip Joshi

Manoj Bajpayee

Ranbir Kapoor

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma

Virushka at Mahakaleshwar Temple

Nidhi Shah and Mohsin Khan

Poster of the song

The award winning photograph