First India-Mumbai Edition-8th February 2023

Earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria: Death toll soars past 5,000

PM asks BJP MPs to spread pro-poor aspects of budget

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Addressing the first BJP parliamentary party meeting after the budget was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, PM Modi on Tuesday said that the recent Union Budget has something for every section of the society and asserted that the interests of the poor have been at the centre of every budget presented by his government. PM Modi also asked the BJP MPs not to show any complacency and reach out to people on the ground. More on P5

EMERGENCY 3 Months 10 STATES

Moni Sharma

Hatay/Turkey: Two fresh earthquakes of 5.6 and 5.7 magnitude hit Turkey on Tuesday, a day after 3 deadly quakes - also felt in Syria, Lebanon and Israelrocked the country, having killed over 5,000 lives, 20,534 had been injured.

Rescuers here braved freezing darkness as they dug for survivors buried by a string of earthquakes.

President Erdogan has declared a 3-month State of emergency in 10 provinces.

I am monitoring the situation.

54,000 tents and 102,000 beds have been sent to earthquake-hit regions so far.

Nearly 54,000 personnel are participating in rescue operations throughout the impacted areas of the earthquakes. 70 countries have offered help.

—Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prez of Turkey

It is a huge responsibility on behalf of the MPs to talk about the budget to their constituency and tell people what is in the budget for them and how this budget comes in at a time in the world is going through a major economic crisis.

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

PARLIAMENT BUDGET SESSION

Govt is favouring Adani: Rahul; BJP hits back

New Delhi (FIB): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked PM Modi accusing him of helping of helping Gautam Adani expand his business. While replying to Prez Murmu’s address in LS, Rahul said, “From TN, Kerala to HP we have been listening one name everywhere ‘Adani’. Across entire country, it’s just ‘Adani’, ‘Adani’...people used to ask me that Adani enters any business and never fails.” Meanwhile, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “We condemn the baseless allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi.”

COMMITTEE FORMED

TO DRAFT NEW NAT’L COOP POLICY: SHAH

Giving a reply to a written question, HM Amit Shah on Tuesday said that a National level committee was constituted on September 2 under the chairmanship of Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu to formulate the New National Cooperation Policy.

Balasaheb Thorat resigns as Congress legislature party chief; not aware: Patole

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat on Tuesday resigned as the state legislature party head, a day after his letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over friction with state unit chief Nana Patole came out, party sources said.

NO TALKS HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH HIM: SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE ON THORAT’S RESIGNATION

2 FRESH QUAKES TURKEY 5.6 & 5.7 Magn.

Kahramanmaras

FOURTH 5.6 Magnitude 12:05 pm (IST)

FIFTH

5.7 Magnitude 13:34 pm (IST)

‘A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED’

PM gets emotional on Turkey quakes, recalls 2001 Guj quake

Patole, however, said he was not aware of any such move by Thorat and claimed that his predecessor doesn’t speak “with us”, while the BJP said its doors are open if the Congress leader wishes to switch sides.

Thorat, who represents the Sangamner constituency in Ahmednagar district, has sent his resignation to the party high command, said the sources.

An aide of Thorat had earlier said that the Congress leader had written to the Congress central leadership citing his inability to work with Patole due to the latter’s “anger” towards him. Thorat also said he was not being consulted before decisions were being taken, the aide added.

Speaking to reporters

Maharashtra Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat

I have not received any resignation letter from Thorat. He has not been speaking to us for the past few days. Maybe he is talking to the media. If I receive his letter, I will comment on it —Nana Patole, state unit chief

on Tuesday here, Patole said, “I have not received any resignation letter from Thorat. He has not been speaking to us for the past few days. Maybe he is talking to the media.”

“If I receive his letter, I will comment on it,” said the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president. The Bharatiya Janata Party also sought to cash in on the Congress infighting.

BJP state president Chandrashekhar

Bawankule said, “Our doors are open for leaders like Balasaheb Thorat. If he wishes, he can join the BJP. But he is not a small leader who will join BJP over someone’s suggestions or instructions.”

Bawankule said anyone joining the BJP will be “respected” and “honoured” and asserted his party is not making any offers to Thorat. It is a fact that there is unrest among Congress’ “B and C level” workers, he said.

Pune: Senior Maharashtra Congress leader and former CM Sushilkumar Shinde said on Tuesday it is not yet known if their state legislature party chief Balasaheb Thorat has resigned from his post. Responding to reporters about reports that Thorat has sent his resignation to the party high command, Shinde said, “Whether it is resignation or just a letter, it is still not known. No talks have taken place with him (Thorat). I was with the state Congress president (Nana Patole) and he also had no idea about it. So it would not be appropriate to comment on it.” When asked about the differences between the senior leaders within the party, Shinde said “all these things” are temporary. “Everything will be alright and there is nothing to worry about,” he said. Thorat is the maternal uncle of Satyajit Tambe who recently won the Legis lative Council election from the Nashik division graduates constituency as an independent candidate.

An aide of Thorat had earlier said

Our doors are open for leaders like Balasaheb Thorat. If he wishes, he can join the BJP. But he is not a small leader who will join BJP over someone’s suggestions or instructions. Anyone joining the BJP will be “respected” and “honoured” and asserted his party is not making any offers to Thorat.

—Chandrashekhar Bawankule, BJP state chief

that the Congress leader had written to the Congress central leadership citing his inability to work with Patole due to the latter’s “anger” towards him.

THE OVERALL QUALITY OF INDIAN BANKS’ CORPORATE LOANS WILL BE STABLE, MOODY’S SAID

Banks’ exposure to Adani group not large to affect credit quality: Global rating agencies

New Delhi: Soon after Centre dispatched its 1st batch of relief material to Turkey, the country’s Ambassador to India Firat Sunel referred to New Delhi as ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’.

“We appreciate quick and prompt response from India since it’s matter of life and death,” he said. PM Narendra Modi also turned emotional and recalled 2001 Bhuj earthquake that claimed thousands of lives.

First India Bureau New Delhi: Global rating agencies Fitch and Moody’s on Tuesday said banks’ exposure to Adani group is not large enough to affect their credit quality, and bank ratings are driven by expectations that they would receive ‘extraordinary’ sovereign support, if needed.

“Fitch Ratings believes that Indian banks’ exposure to the Adani group is insufficient in itself to present a substantial risk to the banks’ standalone credit profiles,” the rating agency said in a note.

Moody’s stated that although the exposures to Adani group are larger for public sector banks than for private sector banks, they are smaller than 1 per cent of total loans for most banks. “Risks for banks can increase if Adani becomes more reli ant on bank loans,” Moody’s said.

However, the group’s access to funding from inter national markets can be curtailed be cause of heightened risk percep tion.

“Yet the overall

quality of Indian banks’ corporate loans will be stable,” Moody’s said. “Corporates in general have deleveraged in the past few years. This is reflected in modest growth in their corporate loan books. Further, banks’ un-

Fitch Ratings believes that Indian banks’ exposure to the Adani group is insufficient to present a substantial risk to banks’ standalone credit profiles

driven by expectations that the banks would receive extraordinary sovereign support, if needed. US-based activist short-seller Hindenburg Research in a report dated January 24 made a litany of allegations, including fraud-

ulent transactions and share price manipulation at the Gautam Adani-led group.

Adani group has dismissed charges as lies, saying it complies with all laws and disclosure requirements. Opposition, however, has been calling it a big fraud.

“We currently believe the economic and sovereign implications of the Adani controversy remain limited. However, there is a tail risk that fallout from the controversy could broaden and influence India’s sovereign rating, with knock-on effects for bank IDRs,” Fitch said.

‘TEARY’ PM MODI’S IMPROMPTU ‘HUMANITARIAN’ MOVE!

MEA V Muraleedharan visited Embassy of Syria and extended condolences to Ambassador Bassam Al-Khatib for

(L) PM Narendra Modi exchanges greetings with JP Nadda on his arrival at BJP Parl Party Meeting on Tuesday. Nirmala Sitharaman and JP Nadda greet each in the presence of PM Modi and others.

Rahul Gandhi speaks in the Lok Sabha session on Tuesday.

Amid CM’s appeal, NCP fields

Kate for Pune Assembly bypolls

First India Bureau

BJP SAYS...

Pune: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said Nana Kate will be its candidate for the upcoming bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat in Pune district. The announcement comes days after Chief Minister Aghadi along with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena) to honour the political tradition in the state to ensure unopposed bypolls to seats falling vacant due to the death of sitting lawmakers.

The bypolls to Pune's Chinchwad and Kasba Peth constituencies, scheduled for February 26, have been necessitated due to the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs

Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak. Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil in a tweet

Shinde-Fadnavis

Worli meet draws flak from Thackeray

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting on Tuesday in Worli and received flak from Yuva Sena chief MLA Aaditya Thackeray, who verbally attacked both the leaders over the same. Aaditya expressed his belief that no matter how many leaders roam the streets of Worli, victory will be his.

On the second day of Aaditya Thackeray’s Samvad Yatra, while addressing a meeting held at Chandori, Nashik he said, “I don’t want to have big meetings, I want to have small meetings like this. If large meetings are held, people cannot go. When the Chief Minister holds a meeting, boxes are distributed, but the chairs are empty.”

“The sad part is not that the industry is going out of state, but that there are no jobs are not due to political instability. There was never such dirty politics in

Man arrested for bomb threat from ‘IM terrorist’

First India Bureau

and Congress leader Ravindra Dhangekar have filed their nomination papers for the bypolls to Kasba Peth Assembly seat.

on Tuesday said, "NCP's Nana Kate will be the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate for the Chinchwad constituency bypoll. We are confident that we will win this election by working together with all constituents of the MVA."

On Monday, BJP's Ashwini Jagtap, the wife of late MLA Laxman Jagtap, filed her nomination for the bypoll to Chinchwad Assembly seat, which represents the Pimpri Chinchwad township in Pune district. Besides, BJP's Hemant Rasne

UNITED IN GRIEF

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday said if the Congress assures that the Kasba Peth Assembly bypoll will be unopposed in the event of BJP nominating a member of late MLA Mukta Tilak's family, then the saffron party will make its official candidate withdraw from the fray.

Eyebrows were raised over BJP giving a ticket to local leader Rasne, even as Mukta Tilak's husband said his family members would have completed her work if given a ticket. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is February 10. Votes will be counted on March 02.

Mumbai: Police on Tuesday arrested a 25-year-old man from Govandi area in connection with a call from an “Indian Mujahideen terrorist” threatening to blow up Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The threat call came in around 10 pm on Monday night, officials said. The caller identified himself as a member of the terrorist organization Indian Mujahideen called Irfan Ahmed Sheikh. Since his threat contained some terror code words that intelligence agencies track, airport authority officials immediately informed the Mumbai Police, who have registered a case against the unknown person under section 505 (1) of the IPC. An investigation is underway.

Just last Thursday,

the National Investigation Agency (NIA) received an email from an unidentified person who claimed to be a member of the Taliban, and threatened to carry out terrorist attacks at various places in Mumbai on the directions of extremist leader Sirajuddin Haqqani. NIA, Mumbai police crime branch and the Maharashtra AntiTerrorism Squad are jointly looking into the matter.

After receiving the email, NIA alerted Mumbai police, Maharashtra police and state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

All Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC) units across 95 police stations in Mumbai have been asked to intensify their vigil and take action on any suspicious person or activities, an officer had said at the time, adding that the email was likely to be a hoax, like many others in the past.

Dabholkar murder trial likely to be done in 2-3 months: CBI

The sad part is not that the industry is going out of state, but that there are no jobs not due to political instability. There was never such dirty politics in Maharashtra. This politics has to be changed. When you meet me, it looks like Maharashtra will have a golden age. But the golden age of Maharashtra is lost.

—Aaditya Thackeray

Maharashtra. This politics has to be changed. When you meet me, it looks like Maharashtra will have a golden age. But the golden age of Maharashtra is lost,” said Aaditya Thackeray.

Man held for killing friend in drunken state

Thane (PTI): A 24-yearold man allegedly attacked and killed his friend in an inebriated state in Thane district on Tuesday, police said.

The incident took place at a quarry in Shil area of the district around 3.00 am, an official said.

The deceased, Amjat

Khan(23), was consuming alcohol with the accused, when an argu-

UNFOUNDED STIGMA

ment erupted between them, Sachin Gawde, Senior Inspector of Shil-

Daighar police said.

The accused attacked Khan with a bamboo stick, beating him to death on the spot, the official said. The police were informed and the body was sent for postmortem, he said, adding that the accused has been arrested under section 302 of the IPC.

Judicial reprieve can’t restore lost reputation: HC

The bench quoted Shakespeare to say: He that filches from me my good name robs me of that which not enriches him and makes me poor indeed

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Unfounded criminal charges stigmatize reputation and bring disrepute, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has said while quashing an FIR lodged against a woman judicial officer by her sister-in-law; and loss of character or bruised reputation cannot be restored even by judicial reprieve, it added.

A division bench of Justices Anuja Prabhudessai and RM Joshi in an order passed on January 07 said the right to reputation and dignity of an individual is held to be an integrated part of Articles 21 and 19(2) of the Constitution.

The bench quoted Shakespeare and said, “Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, is the immediate jewel of

their souls: Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing; ’twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands: But he that filches from me my good name robs me of that which not enriches him and makes me poor indeed.” The court was hear-

ing a petition filed by a 40-year-old judicial officer, seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) lodged against her by Jalgaon police in November 2019, on a complaint by her 30-year-old sister-inlaw alleging mental and physical cruelty.

FIR was also lodged against the petitioner’s brother (complainant’s husband) and her parents (complainant’s inlaws). The high court in its order noted that the petitioner was married and not residing with the complainant.

It said the petitioner has been “dragged” into the matrimonial dispute with the allegations that she had ordered food for everyone but asked the complainant to cook for herself, she had asked the complainant to not raise her voice against her parents and that she should mend her ways.

A person subjected to such litigation suffers immense mental trauma, humiliation and monetary loss. Reckless imputations can also result in serious repercussions on career progression and future pursuits…. Most importantly it stigmatizes reputation, brings disrepute and lowers the image of a person amongst friends, family and colleagues. It is to be noted that loss of character or bruised reputation cannot be restored even by judicial reprieve. —Bombay HC

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday told the Bombay High Court that the trial in the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in 2013 is likely to be completed in the next two to three months. The central agency also opposed the bail plea of one of the accused in the case, Virendrasinh Tawade, who had sought bail on the grounds that the trial was being delayed.

Advocate Sandesh Patil, appearing for the CBI, told a division bench of Justices AS Gadkari and PD Naik that so far 15 witnesses have been examined by the trial court in Pune.

“Only seven to eight witnesses are remaining. I have spoken with the special public prosecutor in the case there who said if the trial is expedited then it can be concluded in two to three months,” Patil said.

The bench sought to know if any of the witnesses, already examined, turned hostile in court. Patil replied in the negative.

The court then asked Tawade’s lawyer Virendra Ichalkaranjikar if he was willing to wait for a few more months.

The advocate, however, requested the court to decide the bail plea on merit, saying Tawade has been behind bars for seven years since his arrest in 2016. Ichalkaranjikar claimed there was no evidence against Tawade.

The bench then posted the bail plea for hearing on February 21. Dabholkar (67), a rationalist and founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, was shot dead by two assailants while he was on a morning walk in Pune on August 20, 2013, allegedly by persons linked to the radical outfit Sanatan Sanstha.

Only seven to eight witnesses are remaining. I have spoken with the special public prosecutor in the case there who said if the trial is expedited then it can be concluded in two to three months. —Advocate Sandesh Patil

An artist from the Gurukul School of Arts paints a tribute to those who died in Monday's earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria, in Mumbai on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

Recently, CM Shinde appealed for unopposed elections to honour political tradition in state; polls

Narendra Dabholkar

BMC chief to take final call on proposed floating hotel: HC

Civic chief will first have to decide if he has exclusive jurisdiction to decide on the petitioner’s application to launch ‘floatel’ two nautical miles off Mumbai coast

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed the Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to decide within eight weeks whether or not to allow the construction of a floating hotel, or “floatel”, proposed two nautical miles away from the shoreline in south Mumbai.

A division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and MW Chandwani was hearing a petition filed by Rashmi Developments Pvt. Ltd challenging a May 2017 decision taken by a threemember committee refusing permission for the project, noting it was part of the Marine Drive promenade. In its judgment of January 23, which was made

available recently, the bench quashed the committee’s decision, noting that , prima facie, the floating hotel and its related infrastructure was not part of the Marine Drive.

It said the parking area of the proposed project comprising about 5,000 square metres belongs to the Mumbai Metropolitan

CRUCIAL READ

MAN COMMITS SUICIDE BY HANGING HIMSELF FROM SKYWALK IN THANE

Thane: A 25-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the railing of a skywalk in Thane district on Tuesday, police said. The deceased has been identified as Vitthal Misal, a native of Beed. “The man had called his family to inform them of the suicide plan,” Pradip Patil, inspector of the MFC police station said. He was dead by the time police reached the spot, he said. A suicide note was recovered from the deceased’s possession, in which he said no one should be held responsible for his death.

MAN HELD FOR MOTORCYCLE

THEFTS IN THANE

Thane: A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stealing motorcycles in Kashimira area of Thane district, police said on Tuesday. Aviraj Kurhade, Senior Inspector said that the police had received several complaints about motorcycle thefts. Acting on a tip-off, the police nabbed the accused, involved in nine cases of motorcycle thefts in the limits of Kashimira, Navghar, Mira Road, DN Nagar and Tulinj police stations, he said. The police also recovered 10 motorcycles worth Rs4.2 lakh from him, he added.

Hillary Clinton to visit Ellora Caves, Grishneshwar temple

First India Bureau Aurangabad: Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton will visit the worldfamous Ellora Caves-a complex of 34 caves comprising artworks from Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism dating back to the 5th to 10th centuries--in Aurangabad district on Wednesday, an official said.

Clinton, who was on a visit to Gujarat for the last two days, will arrive here on Tuesday afternoon and head to Khultabad town for an overnight stay, he said.

ty during the Aurangabad visit, he added.

Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the said land has been already allotted to the petitioner company. The BMC commissioner would have to first see if he has exclusive jurisdiction to decide the petitioner’s application for grant of No Objection Certificate or not, the HC said. “If he decides that he

has such jurisdiction in the matter, he would have to go ahead to consider the application of the petitioner on its own merits. However, if he comes to the conclusion that he has no exclusive jurisdiction in the matter, he would have to act upon the recommendation of the three-member committee,” the court said.

Fire brigade official injured in Mumbai high-rise blaze

TWO CHILDREN STRANGLED TO DEATH BY

MOTHER

Aurangabad: Two minor children were allegedly strangled to death by their 22-year-old mother in Aurangabad city, police said on Tuesday. The woman allegedly strangled her six-year-old daughter and four-year-old son to death, an official said. The children did not come out of their room on Monday morning. The woman then called some relatives who took the unconscious children to a hospital where they were declared dead, the official said. According to an autopsy report, the children died of strangulation, he said.

KALYAN BASED JEWELLER FLEES WITH ` 26 LAKH, CHEATING CASE REGISTERED

Thane: A case of cheating has been registered against a jeweller for fraud and allegedly mortgaging customers’ jewellery. Since 2021, the Kalyan-based jeweller allegedly mortgaged customers’ jewellery and also ran a `bhishi’ scheme where he collected Rs26,74,000 and misappropriated the money. When some investors visited his shop to claim back their money, they found the shop closed and the jeweller untraceable, following which they approached the police. An FIR was registered under Indian Penal Code sections 406 and 420, said an official.

Mumbai (PTI): A fire brigade official was injured after a fire broke out on the seventh floor of an under-construction high-rise in Prabhadevi area of central Mumbai, officials said on Tuesday.

The blaze that erupted at around 8.40 pm on Monday in the 55-storey India Bulls Sky Forest building on Senapati Bapat Marg spread to building construction material, plywood, bamboo, office furniture, records, and electric wiring stored in a godown at the seventh-floor podium, a civic official said. “A compressed oxy-

gen gas cylinder exploded in one of the godowns, thereby causing more spread of the fire,” the official said.

A senior fire brigade official who was injured in the incident was rushed to KEM Hospital and discharged after treatment, officials said.

At least seven fire engines and other fire brigade vehicles were pressed into service and the blaze was doused by around 4 am on Tuesday, a civic official said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and the cooling operation is on at the spot, officials said.

In that case, the commissioner would have to once again refer the matter to the committee for its consideration and appropriate recommendations, it said.

“Recording of findings on the question of jurisdiction is important for the reason that it goes to the root of the whole dispute,” the HC said.

On Wednesday, she will visit Grishneshwar temple, which is an important pilgrimage site in the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, as it is considered to be the 12th jyotirlinga in the country, and the Ellora Caves, the official said.

Around 100 police personnel will be deployed for her securi-

On Sunday, Clinton attended a programme in Ahmedabad on Sunday to mark 50 years of the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) as a trade union and paid homage to its founder and renowned social activist Ela Bhatt, who passed away in November last year.

On Monday, Clinton announced a Global Climate Resilience Fund of 50 million dollars for women to fight climate change in association with SEWA.

The fund will empower

Around 100 police personnel will be deployed for her security during the visit

women and communities to fight climate change and help provide new livelihood and education, she said.

Clinton visited salt pan workers in the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat on Monday and learnt from them the process of salt production and hardships faced by them.

NAVI MUMBAI-GATEWAY OF INDIA FERRY FLAGGED OFF

Maha Minister of Ports and Shipping Dada Bhuse on Tuesday flagged off ‘Nayan XI’ at Belapur in Navi Mumbai, inaugurating the water taxi service between the Gateway of India and the Belapur jetty. The ferry service can carry 200 people —140 on the bottom deck and 60 on the top-across the distance in an hour, and will cost Rs250 per seat on the lower deck and Rs350 a seat on the upper deck. This new service, launched on an experimental basis, will give commuters another transport option, he said.

—PHOTO BY PTI

Transporter duped of `75k in cyber fraud

Thane (PTI): A 60-yearold transport operator from Thane was allegedly cheated of Rs75,000 by cyber fraudsters, police said on Tuesday.

As per the complaint, the victim on January 16 received a call from a man posing as an Army officer, who claimed that he wanted to transport medicines from Mumbai airport to Hyderabad

FOR THE BETTERMENT

and sought his services.

The caller was informed that the transportation charges would be Rs50,000, to which he agreed.

The caller then asked the complainant to make a transaction of Rs50,000 using a QR code, following which he found that Rs75,000 had been debited from his account, the official

said.

Based on the complaint, an offence under relevant sections of the Information Tech -

The victim received a call from a man posing as an Army officer

nology Act has been registered against unidentified persons, an official from Chitalsar police station said.

THANE CIVIC BODY FINALIZES SOP FOR CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT

The cluster scheme has been created for the redevelopment of slums and densely populated areas

First India Bureau

Thane: The civic body in Thane city on Tuesday announced that the Standard Operat -

ing Procedure (SOP) for cluster development in the city has been finalized. The cluster scheme has been created for the redevelopment of slums and densely populated areas in the city, and it will be done in a comprehensive manner as per the principles of town planning, Abhijit Bangar, Thane Municipal Commissioner said.

As per the official release of the Thane

Municipal Corporation (TMC), the government has approved the redevelopment plan for areas lacking basic services and that have old and dangerous structures. All public utilities such as roads, drains, schools, clinics, gardens, grounds etc. are included in this plan, it said.

The administration has prepared plans for 45 URPs (urban renewal plan), of which de -

TWO OPTIONS FOR OCCUPANTS

velopment of six approved by the General Assembly will be started. The first phase of the plan will cover the areas of Kopri, Rabodi, Tekdi Bangla, Hazuri, Kisannagar and Lokmanyanagar, the

release said.

There will be two options available to occupants of the authorized buildings, which have been declared most dangerous (C-1) by the corporation, that they can either de-

velop such structures themselves or through cluster development, the TMC said.

In case of buildings that are not declared most dangerous, if 70% or more occupants give their consent they could be included in the cluster scheme. However, all unauthorized buildings located in cluster areas will be developed under the cluster scheme only, it was stated.

‘FLOATEL’

The divisive question seems to be if two nautical miles at sea is still part of the Marine Drive promenade. —FILE PHOTO

Former US Secy of State Hillary Clinton. —FILE PHOTO

At least seven fire engines and other fire brigade vehicles were pressed into service. —FILE PHOTO

NETAJI’S LEGACY: THERE’S A SCRAMBLE FOR IT?

ROBIN ROY The writer is Senior Journalist and former Managing Editor, First India

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is remembered every day, every moment and it will remain so... FOREVER…

However, after so many years, currently the reported “ownership” of the great freedom fighter’s legacy is being claimed by one and all parties and this is so very evident on January 23rd each year on his birth anniversary.

Bengal or in that matter, India, will remember Netaji forever but the clamour for “Whose Netaji he is?” Crosses all limits of decibel especially on this day. And this year, it was no different… On the contrary, this year the clamour had created quite a din.

WHAT BJP STATE UNIT SAID

BJP’s state spokesman Samik Bhattacharya, however, said that the opposition parties are unnecessarily politicising the event. “First of all, RSS is not a political outfit, whose aim is to strengthen Indian society. RSS is above all politics. Secondly, praying in tribute to Netaji cannot be the monopoly of any particular political party since Netaji remains in the hearts of the Indians. There is no need for such unnecessary politics over the matter,” he said.

We look at all the arguments and counter-arguments that took place before, during and after the birth anniversary programmes. It may be recalled that days before the RSS had planned to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary in Kolkata, his daughter Anita Bose-Pfaff had said that the organisation’s ideology and the nationalist leader’s ideas of secularism and inclusiveness were “poles apart and do not coincide”.

She agreed that the fanfare over the celebration of her father’s birth anniversary is to “partially serve their (BJP, RSS) own interests”. As far as ideology is concerned, the Congress has a lot more in common with Netaji than any other party in the country, she said.

BJP and RSS do not reflect the idea of respecting all religions as preached by Netaji, who was a devout Hindu but believed in respecting other faiths. He was in favour of productive cooperation between members of different religions, Bose-Pfaff

On 126th birth anniv of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, his grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose had said, Netaji was the only leader to date who was inclusive and secular. “RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat must be clear about what he wants, you can’t follow Savarkar & Netaji together, they can’t be on the same page,” Chandra Kumar Bose added. Bhagwat had praised Netaji’s contribution

WHAT NETAJI’S GRAND NEPHEW SAID WHAT MOHAN BHAGWAT SAID

“Subhas babu (Netaji) was first associated with the Congress and followed its path of ‘satygraha’, and ‘andolon’, but when he realised that this was not enough and there was a need for freedom struggle, he worked towards it. Paths differ, but the goals are the same,” he said. The RSS chief also said, “We have Subhasbabu’s ideals in front of us to follow. The goals he had

said. “The RSS and BJP do not necessarily reflect this attitude ...If you want to put a simple label, they are rightists and Netaji was a leftist,” she had told PTI in an interview over phone from Germany.

“From what I hear about the RSS ideology, I would agree that it and Netaji’s ideology are poles apart. The two value systems do not coincide. It will certainly be good if the RSS

to India’s struggle for independence and urged everyone to adopt Bose’s traits and principles

WHAT CPI (M) MEMBER SAID

their interest that is served,” she said.

and work toward making India a “vishwa guru”. “We remember Netaji not only because we are grateful to him for his valuable contributions towards the freedom struggle but also to ensure that we imbibe his qualities. “Netaji Loho Pronam” at Shahid Minar Ground in Kolkata, Bhagwat stated that even though circumstances and paths may diverge, destination remains the same.

are our goals too... Netaji had said India is a smaller version of the world and the country has

felt it wanted to embrace Netaji’s ideals and ideas. Many different groups want to celebrate Netaji’s birthday in different ways and a number of them necessarily agree with his ideas,” Bose-Pfaff said.

LAUDS BJP

Speaking on the recent pomp and fanfare over Netaji’s birth anniversary celebrations, she lauded the BJP-led government

to provide relief to the world. We all have to work towards it,” he said, “there can be different paths, and these are described as ‘isms’ (ideologies), which might differ but what is important is the goal.” He noted that “Netaji’s legacy has remained alive” in the hearts of millions of Indians even though “no substantial efforts were made to keep it alive” after the independence.

at the Centre for taking a “lot of initiatives” to honour him.

“This has two aspects. After Independence, the official Congress stand on Netaji was reserved and not shared by all Congressmen. It wanted to keep the narrative that it was only the civil disobedience movement that led to the country’s freedom. But after Netaji files were declassified,

TURKEY’S BUILDINGS FALL LIKE PANCAKES

pair of huge earthquakes have struck in Turkey, leaving more than 3,000 people dead and unknown numbers injured or displaced. The first quake, near Gaziantep close to the Syrian border, measured 7.8 in magnitude and was felt as far away as the UK. The second occurred nine hours later, on what appears to be an intersecting fault, registering a magnitude of 7.5.

Adding to the devastation, some 3,450 buildings have collapsed, according to the Turkish government. Many of the modern buildings have failed in a “pancake mode” of structural collapse. Why did this happen? Was it simply the enor-

mous magnitude and violence of the quake, or is the problem with the buildings?

THOUSANDS OF YRS OF EARTHQUAKES

Earthquakes are common in Turkey, which sits in a very seismically active region where three tectonic plates constantly grind against one another be-

Adding to the massive devastation, some 3,450 buildings have collapsed, according to the Turkish government. Many of the modern buildings have failed in a “pancake mode” of structural collapse

neath Earth’s surface.

CONSTRUCTION IS A

KNOWN PROBLEM

Many of the collapsed buildings appear to have been built from concrete without adequate seismic reinforcement. Seismic building codes in this region suggest these buildings should be able to sus-

tain strong earthquakes (where the ground accelerates by 30 percent to 40 percent of the normal gravity) without incurring this type of complete failure.

RECONSTRUCTION

Even though Turkish authorities know many buildings are unsafe in

earthquakes, it is still a difficult problem to solve. Many of the buildings are already built, and seismic retrofitting may be expensive or not considered a priority compared to other socio-economic challenges.

In addition to substantive loss of life and infrastructure damage, both earthquakes are likely to have caused a myriad of environmental effects, such as ruptured ground surfaces, liquified soil, and landslides. These effects may render many areas unsafe to rebuild on – so reconstruction efforts should also include planning decisions about what can be built where, to lower future risks.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION

According to the CPI-M central committee member Sujan Chakraborty, “this is part of a bigger ploy of projecting Netaji as a Hindu rather than a believer in inclusive politics’’. “They are organising the programme just keeping in mind the panchayat elections in the state this year and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Even Netaji’s daughter has endorsed there is no common element of connection between RSS’ divisive politics and Netaji’s inclusive ideology irrespective of caste, language and religion,” he said.

we came to know that the Indian National Army (INA) played a very key role in it,” she said.

“The BJP has made a lot of effort to honour Netaji. With any politician, you have first to allow them to look at his/her interest. If Netaji was alive today and held a different view from that of the government, then the BJP would not have honoured him. So (in this case) it is

POLITICAL ‘POW-WOW’

It may be recalled that the Trinamool Congress and BJP had locked horns to appropriate Netaji’s legacy on his 125th birth anniversary ahead of the assembly polls in 2021. In 2015, the West Bengal government released 64 files on the leader held by the home department. The next year, the Narendra Modi government at the Centre released 100 files on him.

COMMISSION AFTER COMMISSION

After Independence, the Centre had formed three inquiry commissions to unravel the mystery of Netaji’s disappearance. Two of them -- the Shah Nawaz Commission and Khosla Commission were formed by the Congress governments and concluded that Bose died in an air crash on August 18, 1945, soon after taking off from Taihoku airport in Taiwan. The third one -the Mukherjee Commission formed by the BJPled NDA government said he did not.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

TOP TWEETS

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam!

Humanitarian assistance along with search & rescue equipment rushed to earthquake hit Türkiye. India stands in solidarity with the people of Türkiye in their hour of need.

Jyotiraditya M. Scindia @JM_Scindia

In order to connect difficult areas by air #UDAN , helicopter services are being started in Assam. This is an important step towards the Prime Minister’s @narendramodi ji’s LookEastPolicy and resolve to make the North Eastern states the engine of the country’s development.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Bible

No scope of complacency, take Budget to masses: PM to BJP MPs

New Delhi (ANI):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked the BJP MPs not to show any complacency and reach out to people on the ground.

PM Modi participated in the BJP parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday. BJP chief JP Nadda felicitated Modi on arriving for the meeting. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was also felicitated by Nadda for presenting the Union Budget 2023.

The weekly meeting of the BJP in the Parliament takes place every Tuesday when the House is in function.

Addressing party MPs, Modi lauded his govt’s effort to bring in a budget at a very difficult time, said sources.

He said the budget has something for every stratum of society. PM asked party MPs to take the budget to the people.

“It is a huge responsi-

bility on behalf of the MPs to talk about the budget to their constituency and tell people what is in the budget for them and how this budget comes in at a time in the world is going through a major economic crisis,” PM Modi said.

Prime Minister also asked BJP MPs to continue participating in

Even if the BJP has been able to get a majority in 2014 and 2019 and public at large is happy with the efforts of the party. But, there is no scope for any complacency, and one must keep ear to the ground.

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

various activities, including contests and sports to reach out to the youth and also to reach out to people in border district areas.

“Even if the BJP has been able to get a majority in 2014 and 2019 and public at large is happy with the efforts of the party. But, there is no scope for any compla-

Gowri sworn in as Madras HC judge; SC junks plea

The court can only decide the question of her eligibility, not her suitability, Apex Court bench said

First India Bureau

cency, and one must keep ear to the ground,” PM advised to party MPs.

The budget session of Parliament started on January 31 with the joint Address by President Droupadi Murmu. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2023-24 on February 1.

Since then there has

PM effected transformation in Tripura, northeast, claims BJP

New Delhi (PTI): Tripura and the entire northeast have witnessed a “transformation” with PM Narendra Modi at power in the Centre, the BJP said on Tuesday, expressing confidence that it will retain power in the poll-bound state.

“The ‘Look East’ policy of the Congress was so hollow that it never touched the ground realities. It was PM Modi who actually brought a transformation by replacing that policy with an action-oriented ‘Act East’ policy. His model of ‘HIRA’ will ensure further prosperity in Tripura,” Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal told media here.

The term “HIRA” is used by the BJP to refer to the government’s thrust on highways, internet, roads and airports. Not only nationally, but Tripura has now earned fame internationally too as its exports and strong infrastructure have put it on the path to development, Sonowal said.

Attacking the Left and the Congress, which have joined hands in Tripura, Sonowal alleged that terrorism, drugs and corruption

Agartala: The Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Saha conducted a rally in State Capital Agartala. Tripura CM Manik Saha held a door-to-door campaign at booth no. 41 & ward no. 39 of his assembly constituency Town Bordowali. Tripura will go to Assembly polls on February 16. The counting of votes will occur on March 2 along with those of Meghalaya and Nagaland. The election campaign in the state of Tripura is on full fledge. On Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha held a roadshow from ‘Ashram Chowmuhani’ to ‘Chowmuhani Mode’ at Banmalipur in Agartala.

had affected the northeastern state under their four decades of collective rule as they had neither policies nor any intention to develop the region.

The BJP has not only policies and intention but also a great leader in Modi, who has worked to ensure social security and economic uplift for Tripura, he said.

At press conference, the Public Policy Re-

search Centre, a thinktank affiliated to the BJP, released a report, claiming that the farmers’ income saw a massive rise under the saffron party’s rule in Tripura since 2018 and piped drinking water has reached more than 58 per cent households in the state from the earlier less than 3.5 per cent. Public Policy Research Centre’s director Sumeet Bhasin released the report.

BJP NEARLY ENDED

EXTREMISM IN N-E: RAJNATH IN TRIPURA

been no business in Parliament because of the continued logjam over the Adani issue. The Opposition has demanded that the government should come up and respond in Parliament about the Adani stock issue following which disruption has been witnessed in both the Houses.

New Delhi: As lawyer Victoria L Gowri was being sworn in as a judge of the Madras High Court on Tuesday, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions against her appointment. A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai said the court can only decide the question of Gowri’s eligibility to an additional judge and not her suitability.

Senior lawyer Raju Ramachandran, petitioner appealing against Gowri’s appt, said a person taking oath as a judge should bear true faith to the Constitution. “This person has been rendered unfit to take the oath due to her public utterances,” he said.

Madras High Court Acting Chief Justice T Raja with the newly sworn-in Madras High Court Additional Judge Justice Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri during the ceremony, in Chennai on Tuesday. There is a difference between eligibility and suitability. On eligibility, there could be a challenge. But suitability? Courts should not get into suitability; whole process will become haywire.

—Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Supreme Court Judge

I also have a political background, I have been a judge for many years and my political background has not come in the way.

—Justice Gavai said, Supreme Court Judge

It is hate speech. Hate speech which is antithetical to the Constitution. That makes her unfit to take the oath. It will only be a paper oath.

—Raju Ramachandran, Senior Lawyer

ABOUT VICTORIA GOWRI’S APPOINTMENT

Collegium recommended Gowri’s elevation to the Madras HC on Jan 17, prompting a discussion in legal fraternity on her alleged affiliation to BJP. Soon after, her remarks against Islam and Christianity, in a 2018 interview surfaced online.

IN THE COURTYARD

HC UPHOLDS MAULVI’S SIX-YEAR IMPRISONMENT FOR SEXUALLY

ASSAULTING MINOR GIRL

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has upheld the six-year jail term awarded to a Muslim cleric for sexually assaulting a sixyear-old girl, saying great faith and trust is reposed in a ‘maulvi’ who teaches others the tenets of holy Quran and is looked up to with reverence. The high court refused to either set aside his conviction or reduce the sentence, stressing he does not deserve any indulgence as the convict held a position of great trust and faith which he breached by sexually assaulting a gullible girl child.

SC TO HEAR PLEA AGAINST BAIL TO SAD LEADER BIKRAM MAJITHIA

HC: REMOVING MINOR GIRL’S INNERWEAR EQUIVALENT TO RAPE

Agartala: Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday drew a parallel between the old CPI(M) regime and the ongoing BJP rule in Tripura and said that the former only “exploited the poor” while the latter nearly ended extremism in the northeast. He asserted that both CPIM and Congress will be wiped off from Tripura in these Assembly elections .

CONGRESS IS BJP’S ‘TEAM B’, SAYS DIDI IN TRIPURA

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will hear after four weeks an appeal filed by the Punjab government against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order granting bail to former minister Bikram Singh Majithia in a drugs case. At the outset, a bench comprising justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia was requested to pass over the hearing, so that it can be taken up after other listed matters.

Agartala: Attacking the BJP and Congress ahead of the Tripura Assembly polls, West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said Congress is BJP’s ‘team B’. Keen on expanding her party’s footprint in other states, Mamata Banerjee held a march with TMC workers and supporters in Agartala on Tuesday.

MCD MAYORAL POLL: APEX COURT

TO HEAR AAP’S PLEA TODAY

New Delhi: The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Wednesday a plea filed by AAP mayoral candidate Shelly Oberoi and others seeking early holding of the mayoral election for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala took note of the submissions of a lawyer, appearing for the AAP, seeking urgent hearing of the plea.

ED grills suspended Congress MLA Kachchap in money laundering case

Yamunanagar (ANI):

Suspended Congress

MLA Rajesh Kachchap was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate’s office in connection with the seizure of Rs 49 lakhs in cash in West Bengal from him and two other party legislators last year.

The ED summoned Kachchap for the second time. Three Con-

SUCCESS DEPENDS ON SCIENCE”

gress MLAs Irfan Ansari, Rajesh Kachhap, and Naman Bixal Kongadi were arrested in Kolkata on July 30 last

year and a sum of 49 lakhs was recovered from them.

It is alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to topple the Jharkhand government.

The ED probing the case has called him to its office for questioning. The ED is probing the money laundering angle in the cash scam involving MLAs.

2nd SCO Young Scientist Conclave gets underway in Bengaluru

Growth of SCO depends on collaboration among Youth on science, technology and innovation sector: MoS Jitendra Singh

First India Bureau

Bengaluru: Union Minister of State (MoS)Dr Jitendra Singh said that the growth of SCO depends on its success in science, technology and innovation sectors and there is a need to transform this landscape.

Dr Singh, delivering

his inaugural address at the Second SCO Young Scientist Conclave in Bengaluru noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the 19th Meeting of Council of Heads of State of SCO, had coined an acronym HEALTH (‘H’ for Healthcare cooperation, ‘E’ for Economic cooperation,

‘A’ for Alternate Energy, ‘L’ for Literature and Culture ‘T’ for Terrorism free society, ‘H’ for Humanitarian Coopera-

tion). He said that SCO brings together the colorful and distinctive cultures of Central and South Asia.

He said the SCO consists of approximately 42% of the world’s population, 22% of its land area, and it contributes

20% to the global GDP. He said the SCO countries have demographic advantage of having large number of young people.

Dr Singh highlighted Food security as a major area of concern for SCO economies, as it accounts for a combined population of over three billion people. He said that technology will play a critical role in enhancing both, the quality and quantity, across the agriculture value chain from the use of inputs at the pre-production stage to post-production and marketing to improve the income of farmers.

Kolkata: Forceful removal of the innerwear of a minor girl is equivalent to rape even if rape, as per medical terms, has not been done by the accused or convict, the Calcutta High Court has held. A single judge bench made this ruling while hearing a case in which Robi Roy was declared as guilty by a lower court in Dinajpur district in 2008. On May 7, 2007, Roy was acccused of alluring a minor girl in his locality to a secluded place after promising her an ice cream. There he first asked her to remove her innerwear. When the victim refused, he forcefully removed her innerwear.

“Khattar govt has failed to control crime”

Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Chandigarh (Agencies): Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday said the BJP-JJP government of Haryana has failed to protect the life and property of the people.

Reacting to Haryana lagging behind in the Social Progress Index released by the Central government, Hooda said Haryana is at the bottom with just 33 points in terms of civil security.

This report, made on parameters like murder and other heinous incidents, shows the people of Haryana do not feel safe. The report has stamped the fact that the coalition BJP-JJP government has proved to be a complete failure in handling law and order, Hooda said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, BJP National President JP Nadda and others during the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, in New Delhi on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (R) with Director of PPRC, Sumeet Bhasin (C) at BJP office in New Delhi on Tuesday.

TRIPURA CM SAHA CONDUCTS DOOR TO DOOR CAMPAIGN IN AGARTALA, BEFORE STATE POLLS

MLA Irfan Ansari speaks to the media outside ED office.

“SCO’S

MoS Dr Jitendra Singh virtually addressing the event. Delegates and dignitaries at the lamp lightening ceremony.

‘RSS, NSA Ajit Doval coerced Agniveer scheme on Army’

RaGa criticises Agnipath scheme & also asked BJP to disclose amount it received from Adani

New Delhi (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Agniveer scheme didn’t come from the Army but was “coerced” by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Home Ministry and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“People talked about the Agniveer scheme but the youth of India pointed out them being asked to leave after four years. The retired senior officers said that Agniveer Yojana came from RSS and Home ministry, and not from the Army,” he said in the Lok Sabha.

The Cong leader said that Ajit Doval “coerced the scheme on the Army.

“Retired officers said that if people are being given arms training and then asked to go back to society, it will lead to violence. They (retired officers) have in their mind that Agniveer scheme didn’t come from the Army and that NSA Ajit Doval coerced the scheme on Army,” he added.

The Wayanad MP also alleged that the farmers had not got money under the PMBIMA Yojana.

“We ask youth about their jobs, many said they are unemployed or drive Uber, farmers talked about not getting money under PM-BIMA Yojana, their land being snatched away while tribals talked about tribal bill,” Gandhi said.

ADANI HELPED PM IN ‘RESURGENT GUJ’

New Delhi: Rahul attacked industrialist Gautam Adani alleging he helped PM Modi to construct the idea of a “resurgent Gujarat”.

“Relationships begin many years ago when Modi was Gujarat’s CM…one man stood shoulder to shoulder with PM Modi, he was loyal to the PM and helped Modi construct idea of a ‘Resurgent Gujarat’.

‘ADANI GETS DEALS FROM PM VISITS’

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government was favouring only one corporate, Adani Group, ‘who gets all the contracts. “Earlier he used to travel in Adani’s aircraft and now Adani travels with Modiji in his aircraft. Rahul made allegations, including that Modi helped Adani bag overseas contracts in various sectors.

‘Committee formed to draft new Nat’l Cooperation Policy’

New Delhi (ANI): Giving a reply to a written question on ‘National Policy on Cooperation’ in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that a National level committee was constituted on September 2 under the chairmanship of Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu to formulate the New National Cooperation Policy.

The committee comprised of experts of the cooperative sector, representatives from National/ State/ District/ Primary level cooperative societies, Secretaries (Cooperation) and RCSs from States/UTs, and officers from Central Ministries/ Departments to formulate the New Policy.

‘OPPN DISCUSS STRATEGY FOR PARL’

New Delhi: The opposition parties on Tuesday met to “decide the day’s strategy” regarding their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the Adani Issue. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted that the Opposition wants the parliament to function but the government (Modi Sarkar) is afraid of it.

"CANNOT ANSWER OPPOSITION'S QUESTIONS IF HOUSE IS NOT WORKING": PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS MINISTER

New Delhi: The Parliamentary Meeting of BJP took place on Tuesday. Various issues including the parliament logjam were discussed, informed the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi. He said that he has talked to the opposition leaders and all of them have assured him individually to let the house function. “They (opposition) are blaming that government is not answering but how will the government answer if the house is not working,” he added.

Will give appropriate reply to aggression, says NAC Lt General

Srinagar (ANI):

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said that eastern Ladakh is being dominated by physical and technical patrolling by the Indian Army to ensure the territorial integrity of the country.

Referring to the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), where a clash erupted between the Indian Army and Chinese troops at a place near Yangtse in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sec-

tor, the Northern Army Commander said, any adverse aggressive designs or attempts will definitely be met with appropriate posturing of the forces and a strong intent with complete synergy amongst the three services.”

Assam (PTI): ‘Parallel aspirations’ of people living in a particular area usually lead to issues like insurgency, which has claimed over 8,000 lives in three-andhalf decades of armed rebellions in Assam, top police officers said on Tuesday.

Addressing the ongoing Y20 summit, Assam Director General of Police Gyanendra Pratap Singh said the government is working with the strategy to address the “parallel aspirations” of the people in order to solve insurgency problem from the state.

SENA BOYCOTTS PARL DEBATE

New Delhi: Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena on Tuesday announced its boycott of the Parliament debate on the Motion of Thanks on President’ Address, claiming the government had turned down its demand for a discussion on the Adani issue and a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe in the matter. “We have decided to boycott the debate on the Motion of Thanks on President’s Address in both Houses of Parliament. We remain steadfast on our demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe,” Vinayak Raut, a Lok Sabha member of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), told PTI. He said the government had also termed down the demand of the Thackeray faction of for a separate discussion in Parliament on the Adani issue.

The formulation of the New National Cooperation Policy will help in realising the vision of ‘Sahakar se Samriddhi’, promoting the cooperative-based economic development model, strengthening the cooperative movement in the country and deepening its reach up to the grassroots.

In this regard, consultations were earlier held with stakeholders

and suggestions for formulating the new Policy were invited from the Central Ministries/ Departments, States/ UTs, National Cooperative Federations, Institutions and also from the general public.

The National level committee will analyse the collated feedback, and policy suggestions and recommendations to formulate the draft of the new policy.

A number of steps has been taken by the Government, after the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation, to strengthen India’s cooperative architecture syncing it with the country’s economic and social needs, inter-alia.

NDRF on fourth int’l mission in Turkey since its inception

New Delhi (ANI): Acclaimed globally after Japan’s triple disaster in 2011 and Nepal earthquake in 2015, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been given the task for the fourth time since its inception to handle the tragedy of the massive earthquake in Turkey, which has claimed over 4,000 lives so far.

Always led from the front by displaying a high level of dedication and commitment, the NDRF, which was constituted in 2006, was first time sent for an international rescue operation in Japan in 2011

FASTEST TELCO TO ACHIEVE THE FEAT

to help the country facing triple disaster, followed by Bhutan river rescue operation in 2014 and Nepal earthquake in 2015, NDRF DIG

Mohsen Shahidi said. This is the fourth international disaster rescue operation when the NDRF team has been tasked to help.

Jio 5G services in 10 more cities; total number hits 236

lll

The company invited the users in these cities for the Jio Welcome Offer which offers unlimited data at up to 1 Gbps speed

Mumbai: Reliance Jio today announced the launch of its True 5G services across 10 cities namely Hindupur, Madanapalle, Proddatur (Andhra Pradesh), Raigarh (Chhattisgarh), Talcher (Odisha), Patiala (Punjab), Alwar (Rajasthan), Mancherial (Telangana), Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Roorkee (Uttarakhand), taking the total count of cities enjoying Jio

True 5G to 236. Reliance Jio has become the first and the only operator to launch 5G services in majority of these cities. Jio users in these cities will be invited to the Jio Welcome Offer, to experience Unlimited Data at up to 1 Gbps+ speeds, at no additional cost.

“We are proud to rollout Jio True 5G services in these 10

These newly

Chennai (ANI): Several flights were delayed while a few had to be diverted to Bengaluru due to heavy fog in Chennai on Tuesday Morning, according to Chennai airport authorities.

Seven flights from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai & Dubai were unable to land in Chennai and kept circling in the sky.

Chennai and its suburbs were suddenly affected by heavy fog after 7:30 am. As a result, flights arriving and landing at Chennai airport were delayed.

Seven flights from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai & Dubai were unable to land in Chennai and kept circling in the sky

An Indigo Airlines flight from Bengaluru which was scheduled to land at Chennai at 8 am, circled the sky for a while & left for Bengaluru. Similarly, Emirates Airlines flight which came from Dubai to Chennai circled for a long time and was finally diverted to Bengaluru.

CRUCIAL READ

RAKHI SAWANT’S HUSBAND ADIL KHAN DURRANI ARRESTED

Mumbai: Rakhi Sawant’s husband Adil Khan Durrani has been reportedly arrested after the actor filed an FIR against him. The actor had alleged that Adil was mishandling her funds, while she was participating in Bigg Boss Marathi last year. Rakhi also alleged that Adil was responsible for her mother’s death as he did pay money on time for her surgery.

CBI NABS WESTERN COALFIELD OFFICER IN BRIBERY CASE

New Delhi: The CBI has arrested a sub-area manager of Western Coalfields Limited for allegedly demanding a bribe of over Rs 3 lakh for allowing a company to lift coal from the Ghonsa open cast mine, officials said. The agency acted on a complaint from a transport company, Shree Transport, that Jitta Trading Company had purchased 8200 MT coal through e-auction.

GOVT DOCTOR CAUGHT TAKING `15,000 BRIBE FROM PERSON WITH DISABILITY

Jabalpur (PTI): A doctor posted at the government-run Katni district hospital in Madhya Pradesh was caught by Lokayukta sleuths on Tuesday while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a divyang person for issuing him a disability certificate, an official said. The complainant in the case, a resident of Reethi tehsil in Katni district, suffers from disability in both legs and the government doctor demanded Rs 40,000 as bribe from him for issuing a medical document certifying 40 per cent disability, said deputy superintendent of police (Lokayukta) Dilip Jharbade.

CRPF JAWAN INJURED IN BLAST IN JHARKHAND

Jharkhand: A Jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) suffered injuries in a blast triggered by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Jharkhand’s chaibasa area, police said. The blast took place when a CRPF party of 60 battalions was conducting a search operation on Tuesday. “The injured jawan was evacuated from there and shifted to a hospital in Ranchi for the treatment,” Police said.

ISHA FOUNDATION REJECTS REPORTS ON RECEIVING FUNDS

Bengaluru (PTI): Isha Foundation clarified that it has not received any funds or land from the Karnataka government for its project in Chikkaballapura district. It condemned the false information being spread regarding the Rs 100 crore budget allocated by the CM Basavaraj Bommai headed government towards state ecological activities with emphasis on soil conservation to forest department.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi speaks in the Lok Sabha at the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address during the Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah while chairing a meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee for Ministry of Home Affairs, at Parliament in New Delhi, on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Several flights delayed and diverted as dense fog engulfs Chennai

A C-17 Globemaster IAF aircraft departed India and is en route to Turkey carrying NDRF teams and High availability disaster recovery (HADR) equipment on Monday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Northern Army Commander Lieutenant Gen Upendra Dwivedi

“Insurgency killed over 8K, result of parallel aspirations”

SHAH SAYS....

COMMODITIES

CURRENCIES

business BRIEFS

BHARTI AIRTEL’S THIRD QUARTER NET PROFIT ZOOMS 91.5%

OIL MIN SAYS, ENERGY TRANSITION

‘ Cannot come at the cost of the poor ’

New Delhi: Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Tuesday reported a 91.5% year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit to `1,588 crore for the OctDec quarter of 2022-23. Total revenue rose nearly 20% year-on-year to `35,804 crore in the Decquarter (Q3FY23) “backed by strong and consistent performance delivery across the portfolio”. Its consolidated net income (after exceptional items) stood at `1,588 crore for the just ended quarter, translating into an increase of 91.5%. —PTI

GOLDI SOLAR PLANS TO GIVE 5,000 JOBS BY FY25, SAYS MD

Bengaluru (PTI): India, the world’s third largest oil consumer, on Tuesday said it is committed to energy transition but surviving the present and cushioning the vulnerable from price volatilities is essential before moving to clean and green energy.

India has committed to net zero carbon emission by 2070 and has repeatedly emphasised that ‘dirty’ fuels like oil and coal, on which the economy is twothirds dependent, will have to continue to be in use in the foreseeable future.

‘INDIA WILL PLAY MARKET CARD ON OIL’

New Delhi (PTI): India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer, will buy oil from wherever it can get on a predictable and sound basis, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said emphasising the country will play its market card. India shunned western pressures to raise imports from Russia in last year. Russia, whose oil is available at discount due to some western nations slapping sanctions, is now India’s top oil supplier.

“I will be very frank, we will play the market card,” he said.

“We will import from wherever it is available on a predictable and sound basis.”

An immediate shift from low-priced coal and oil to expensive fuels of the future such as hydrogen will entail huge costs in a nation with low per capita income.

“Unless we survive the

Coal import cannot be zero, says Power Min

New Delhi: Green energy company Goldi Solar has plans to recruit 5,000 people over the next two fiscals in the area of solar manufacturing and aftersales services, company’s MD Ishver Dholakiya said.

“Goldi Solar plans to create jobs at the grassroots level. The skill development programme will help the company’s vision to recruit over 5,000 people across various functions by FY25,” Dholakiya said after signing an agreement with L&T Public Charitable. —PTI

GOLD JUMPS `128 BUT SILVER PRICES

FALL BY `38 PER KG

New Delhi (PTI): Coal imports cannot be reduced to zero as several thermal power projects in India are designed to utilise the imported dry fuel for its high calorific value and blending it with domestic coal is also needed to maintain fuel stocks, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

“The power plants designed for utilizing high Gross Calorific Value (GCV) non-coking coal, and cement, sponge iron, aluminum customers are utilizing high-ranked low ash coal. The coal requirement for such category of consumers cannot be substi-

tuted by domestic coal. Thus, import of coal cannot be reduced to zero,”

Power Minister R K Singh said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

During 2022-23 (till January 2023), Coal India Ltd despatched 485.99 million tonne (provisional) coal to the power sector as compared to 440.05 MT during the same period a year ago, registering a growth of about 10%. However, he stated that with the rise in electricity demand, the increase in supply of coal to power plants is not commensurate with the domestic coal requirement.

present, we will not be able to go into the world of clean and green energy,” Oil Minister Hardeep Puri said.

“While affordable traditional energy resources are essential for meeting the

Non-fossil power capacity touches 174 gigawatt

New Delhi (PTI): India’s non-fossil fuel-based power generation capacity was at 174.53 gigawatt (GW) at the end of December 31, 2022, Parliament was informed The country’s total power generation capacity, including 235.81 GW from the thermal base, was at 410 GW at the end of 2022, Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy said.

“So far, a total of 174.53 GW power generation capacity from non-fossil fuelbased energy resources has been installed in the country as on 31.12.2022,” he said. The capacity includes 63.30 GW solar power, 46.85 GW large hydro, 41.93 GW wind power, 10.73 GW bio power.

base load requirements, new sources of energy which are cleaner, sustainable, and innovative, are critical for combating the menace of climate change.”

Geopolitical situations last year led to a spike in prices of crude oil - raw material for petrol and diesel. “We have to make sure our transition entails surviving the present and cushioning vulnerable from volatility,” he said, adding the transition has to be affordable and sustainable particularly for vulnerable sections.

ONGC to reverse oil & gas output decline

Bengaluru (PTI): India’s largest oil and gas producer ONGC will this year reverse years of decline in production and gradually raise output thereafter, as it invests billions of dollars to produce from newer discoveries, an official said.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in fiscal 2021-22 produced 21.707 million tonne of crude oil, which is refined to produce petroleum products like petrol and diesel, and 21.68 billion cubic metre (bcm) of natural gas, which is used to produce electricity, manufacture fertiliser and as CNG in automobiles.

“We are definitely looking forward to increasing production of oil and gas in 2023-24 and even in the current year,” ONGC chairman Arun Kumar Singh said.

In the current fiscal year (2022-23), crude oil production is slated to rise to 22.823 million tonnes and gas to 22.099 bcm. In the following

AI to be a game changer in govt audit space: CAG

ACCORDING TO ONGC OFFICIAL

z Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in fiscal 2021-22 produced 21.707 million tonne of crude oil, which is refined to produce petroleum products like petrol and diesel, and 21.68 billion cubic metre (bcm) of natural gas, which is used to produce electricity, manufacture fertiliser and as CNG in automobiles

fiscal year, oil production will climb to 24.636 million tonnes and 25.689 million tonnes in 2024-25.

Natural gas production is slated to rise to 25.685 bcm in 2023-24 and 27.529 bcm in the following year.

New Delhi: Gold prices rose by `128 to `57,275 per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday amid firm global trends, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the yellow metal had ended at `57,147 per 10 grams. Silver, however, declined by `38 to `67,975/kg. “Spot gold prices in the Delhi markets traded at `57,275/10 grams, up `128/10 grams,” said Saumil Gandhi, Senior AnalystCommodities at HDFC Securities. In the overseas markets, gold was trading higher at $1,874/ounce while silver was flat at $22.42/ounce. —PTI

ELECTRIC PV’s

RETAIL SALES

DECLINE BY 10.51%

Mkts decline for 2nd day on selling in FMCG

Mumbai (PTI): Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty closed lower on Tuesday due to selling in FMCG, metal and auto shares amid rising concerns over interest rate hikes by central banks.

OTHER STORIES

Lucknow (PTI): Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to be a game changer in the public audit space as it will help in quicker and more detailed analysis during both planning and execution stages, CAG G C Murmu said on Tuesday.

“Our intent is to use AI not as a one-time solution for a specific audit, but to build an evolving AI model that will allow for quicker and more detailed analysis during both the planning and execution stages through risk assessment straddling multiple parameters and a far more comprehensive evaluation than afforded through sampling,” he said.

Mumbai: Electric passenger vehicles retail sales declined by 10.51% sequentially to 3,346 units in January 2023 over 3,739 vehicles sold in December last year, according to automobiles body FADA. Tata Motors’s electric PV sales were down 17% at 2,426 vehicles in January as against 2,926 units delivered in December 2022. MG Motor sales volume also dropped 12.55% to 425 units against 486 units sold in the month earlier. —PTI

FALL

BY 0.37% ON TUESDAY

z The 30-share BSE barometer declined by 220.86 points or 0.37% to close at 60,286.04 as 22 of its constituents ended in the red

The 30-share BSE barometer declined by 220.86 points or 0.37% to close at 60,286.04 as 22 of its constituents ended in the red. The index opened flat amid mixed global trends. It moved in a range of 60,655.14 to 60,063.49 during

the day. The broader Nifty of the National Stock Exchange fell by 43.10 points or 0.24% to settle at 17,721.50, with 31 of its scrips ending in the red. The index touched a high of 17,811.15 and a low of 17,652.55 during the session.

`

Among Sensex stocks, Tata Steel fell the most by 5.23% after posting weak financial results. ITC, Sun Pharma, Maruti, M&M, Tata Motors, HCL Tech, Wipro, Infosys, HUL, Bharti Airtel and Reliance were among the major losers.

GAINS 6 PAISE TO END AT 82.70/DOLLAR

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee appreciated 6 paise to close at 82.70 against the US dollar on Tuesday, as a weak American currency against major rivals overseas boosted investor sentiments. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened strong at 82.68 and touched an intra-day high of 82.62 and a low of 82.80 against the greenback. It finally settled at 82.70, up 6 paise over its previous close of 82.76.

Adani Ports Q3 net profit declines 12.94%

New Delhi (FIB): Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) on Tuesday reported a 12.94% decline in consolidated net profit to `1,336.51 crore for the third quarter ended December 2022.

The country’s largest integrated logistics player had clocked a consolidated profit of ` 1,535.28 crore a year ago, according to a regulatory filing.

Its total consolidated income increased to `5,051.17 crore in the December 2022 quarter from `4,713.37 cr in the year-ago period. The company’s total ex-

penses in October-December 2022 rose to ` 3,507.18 crore compared to `2,924.30 cr in the year-ago period.

Karan Adani, chief executive officer and whole-time director of APSEZ, said, “The company also concluded the transac tions of Haifa Port Company, IOTL, ICD Tumb, Ocean Sparkle and Gangavaram Port, and is pro gressing well on transition ing its

business model to a transport utility”.

APSEZ is targeting FY24 EBITDA of `14,50015,000 crore, he added.

“Besides an estimated capital expenditure of ` 4,000-4,500 crore, we are considering total loan repayment and prepayment of around 5,000 crore, which will significantly improve our net debt to EBITDA ratio and bring it closer to 2.5x by March 24,” Adani said on Tuesday.

CNG, EVs & HYBRID VEHICLES SHARE LIKELY TO REACH 30% OF TOTAL AUTO SALES IN 5 YRS: ICRA

Mumbai: CNG, EVs and hybrid vehicles may grab up to 30% share in total auto sales in next five years even as petrol cars are likely to dominate passenger vehicle volumes in medium-term, a report said on Tuesday. Demand for Electric Vehicles (EVs) has increased exponentially in the last two years with the government’s push, increasing awareness, and new launches, domestic rating agency Icra said in its report. However, the share of EVs in the overall PV (passenger vehicle) industry remains low, at 1% currently, it stated. —PTI

RCAP: NCLAT NOTICE TO TORRENT ON LENDER'S PLEA

ADANI

ENTERPRISES SHARES JUMP 25%

Mumbai (Agencies): Shares in the flagship firm of troubled Indian conglomerate Adani rocketed as much as 25% on Tuesday, clawing back some of its recent huge losses, after saying it would repay more than $1 billion in loans. The group owned by tycoon Gautam Adani lost around $120 billion in value after claims of accounting fraud were levelled by short-seller US investment group Hindenburg Research on January 24. The rise on Tuesday of Adani Enterprises and several other listed units of India’s biggest conglomerate helped trim the total loss to around $112 billion, Bloomberg reported.

New Delhi: The NCLAT on Tuesday issued notices to Torrent Investments and other respondents on a petition filed by the lender of Reliance Capital seeking a second round of financial bids for the debt-ridden firm, currently going through insolvency resolution process.

A two-member NCLAT bench headed by Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan issued notices, directing respondents to file replies within 3 days. —PTI

GREENER TRADE,

‘NO PROPOSAL

TO INCREASE AMOUNT

UNDER PM-KISAN’ New Delhi: The government on Tuesday informed Parliament that there is no proposal at present to increase the amount under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) from the existing `6,000 per annum per beneficiary. Under the scheme, eligible farmers are provided with a financial benefit of `6,000 per year in three equal instalments of `2,000 each every four months. —PTI

INVESTMENT

CRUCIAL

TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE IN ASIA PACIFIC: ADB

New Delhi: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday said greener trade and investment are crucial for tackling climate change in Asia Pacific, and incorporating a separate chapter on efforts to mitigate environmental concerns in regional trade agreements can help ensure their effectiveness in achieving climate goals.

The Asian Economic Integration Report (AEIR) 2023, released by ADB said Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change risks, yet it emits the largest volume of carbon dioxide. —PTI

TO

`1,336.51 CRORE

Value your family and friends, cherish the moments of love and joy… look around you, life is unpredictable!

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

‘Indians living abroad are more Indian than Indians living in India’

z Now that your movie Shiv Shastri Balboa is releasing, are you feeling curious or excited about it?

Anupam Kher: First of all many thanks to you and the team of Bharat24 that you called the cast of Shiv Shastri Balboa and that we got a chance to speak with and through you, we would like to tell the viewers that the word ‘Balboa’ in Shiv Shastri Balboa is a ‘Tamga’ given to it. A famous movie was made on Rocky Balboa, and Shastriji in the movie runs a boxing club and two boxers from the club have won national and international awards and so, in the movie, everyone calls him ‘Shiv Shastri Balboa.’ So, this was important to be cleared before the audience. As far as excitement is concerned, I feel nervous also, because in 38 years, I have done 534 movies. Earlier, it was not too difficult to take the movies to the people. If you have made a good movie, then people would watch it and tell others about it. However now, there are several modes of entertainment, so many OTT platforms, so many TV channels, multiplexes and malls, so if in today’s time, we have to take the audience to theatre, then we have to come on your show and talk about the film. It is a good film and has been shot in New Jersey, where a lot of Indians live. It is the story of a man, who after retirement goes to his son in USA and his journey there. There, he comes across Else, played by Neena Gupta, who is working for someone as a house help and wants to come back to India and then I help her out and then come Sharib and Nargis. It is a beautiful story. Yesterday, we held its first screening in Delhi and the reaction has motivated us further. It felt nice that the people loved the movie.

z It is being said that considering your popularity across the nation, this movie will cross Rs 200 crore on box office?

Not at all! See, first of all, we will have to stop analysing movies on the basis of money. Ten years back, you would have never heard this and people would always say that either the movie is good or bad.

Now movies are being analysed on the basis of raking in Rs 50 crore in first week or Rs 100

crore. Business is important for film, but the factual base is also important. Give me names of movies that did Rs 100 crore in business, you won’t remember any. Although, it is good that movies nowadays, run for a longer time & are doing better; We wish that our movie does good business, but it should also be liked by people. It should win hearts.

z So what inspired you to make this movie?

Ajayan’s story. It is the movie of a 60 year old man inside whom is a ‘hero.’ You are not 60, you are younger than that. (JC interjects: I am 72). Then you can say it is your story! You mentioned you established this channel six months back. I am 67 years old. So writing off people at 72 or 67 is not correct because ‘rishte mein hum tumhare baap lagte hain’. We know how we have to act or make the movie. This is actually the story too. We all have this ‘Balboa’ in all of us. Balboa could be understood as a tiger in everyone. It is in you and we need to learn this from the younger generation. See, I sport a tattoo in the movie. Well it is a motivating movie. It is a ‘happy film’ about ‘unhappy people.’

CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Bharat24-Vision of New India and First India; CMD, First India News, Dr Jagdeesh Chandra speaks to the cast of upcoming movie ‘Shiv Shastri Balboa’ - Anupam Kher, Nargis Fakhri, Sharib Hashmi and director Ajayan Venugopalan - and how they think the movie will fare. Dr Chandra also speaks about the impact of Anupam Kher’s other movie, Kashmir Files and how it has impacted the movie industry and the nation as a whole. Kher reveals how Indians living abroad have hailed the entire cast of the movie when they were shooting the movie in New Jersey. Excerpts…

come actors by fluke. We have seen struggle in life, seen difficulties, have flopped, have failed, but haven’t been bogged down. Secondly, the movie has romance, as a 65 year old elderly man runs away with a 60 year old woman, and he does not take the woman due to romance, but because he wants to send her back to India. It is a movie of courage.

z Nargis what is your role in the movie?

z So what is so charming, attractive and specific that I should buy the ticket and watch this movie? Have you seen my record of the past 38 years? Do you like me? If you like me, then you should definitely watch my movie. I would ask a question that what is so special about Bharat24 that we have come here and we have heard your name. So, reputation is important. We have Nargis in our movie and although she can’t speak much Hindi, but she is a good actress. Sharib is the ‘Badshah’ of OTT and made a successful series, ‘Metro Park.’ See the story of this film is the ‘Hero.’ You should see this movie because it has me and Neena Gupta, who have made a track record after all these years in the industry, and we have not be-

Nargis: I play Siya, who is an Indian-American woman. She is fun loving, bright and a bubbly character, who is also the girlfriend of Cinnamon Singh (movie character) and we go on this journey with Shiv Shastri Balboa and Else in the film.

z Are you satisfied with your role?

Very satisfied. I think it is a wonderful story, a story that’s relatable and original. When I read the script, I instantly fell in love with it and my character as well. I love how there are so many topics this film touches upon. Earlier, Sir has said a line that you don’t stop after retiring, rather it is re-tiring. You are putting on new wheels so you can have a new journey in your life. I had mentioned that there are a lot of stereotypes on people that are older and its as if they have labels and they are supposed to be doing something, but in reality you can do anything you want.

z I have felt that over the past few years, there is a wave of nationalism in Mumbai film industry, where you have become a ‘symbol’ and movies are going super hit. How do you see this phenomenon?

This film is the story of the courage of an Indian. See people from sports background, get the chance to represent the country officially when they visit abroad. Whenever I do any role abroad, I feel that I am representing my nation. When I do an American film, I chant ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ in my heart because I am representing Bharat and I have to keep the Tricolour high. All of us want to do that.

Also, anything you do regarding nationalism has to fit in the story. You can’t just put things here and there, it has to flow in the story. I will say a dialogue from the movie here. ‘The question isn’t how hard you fall, the question is whether after falling you get up or not?’. Second dialogue is when the son says that you have retired and why are you doing all this. So in the movie my character says, ‘Son, I have retired from work, not from life.’ I will tell you something. Indians living abroad are more Indian than Indians living in India. During our shoot in New Jersey, it was really hot and these Indians living there used to treat

us with cold water, tea and what not. They used to come watch our shoot when we shot on roadside etc and after every shot, they would clap, so the director would get confused if he should reshoot, since the people are already clapping. You spoke about ‘Tiranga’, when PM Modi started the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, the number of Tricolours that were unfurled in Kashmir, I have never seen that in my life.

z Kashmir Files was a super hit movie of yours. What was the thought behind it?

I think the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits for 32 years, could not reach the people due to some reason. The politicians were behind it, media and journalists were behind it. But Vivek Agnihotri interviewed 700 families world wide. I was in New York then. And after this, for the next two-three years, research was conducted and thereafter, the movie was made. See, that movie was made on a smaller scale. Now, if history of Indian cinema will be written 50 years from now, it will be mentioned as before Kashmir Files and after Kashmir Files. Another aspect is that a Rs 17 crore movie did business of Rs 350 crore, because somewhere people rea-

ligned with that thought. That movie gave many people a way to tell their stories. It did not have songs or romance or traditional heroes, but the truth was told in the movie. But such has been its connect, that it has reached everyone’s heart. It is a story of my relatives and my own people. The reality of the movie is one part, but the encouragement it would give to people to tell their story is another aspect. Three of my movies were super hit last year. All three were ‘story based’ movies. This movie Kashmir Files has showed us that such movies can work and help us connect with people. My acting teacher used to tell me that the ‘Madari’ has to sound his drums only then people gather around and not merely by doing good work. JC Sahab you could have sat at your home and say that one day I will make such a channel that will be famous. Your thought would have remained with your relatives, but you have established a modern studio because you worked on it and then promoted it. We have made a good movie and now you have to promote it and bring people to the theatres.

During the show #JCWithAnupam trended top All-India on Twitter

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra in conversation with Anupam Kher, Nargis Fakhri, Sharib Hashmi and Ajayan Venugopalan during the JC Show. Also seen here is Ritu Sharma.

Dr Jagdeesh Chandra in conversation with Anupam Kher during The JC Show.

SYMPHONY OF THE

FASHION NIGHT!

KAVITA CHAUHAN cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

The grand poster launch ceremony of Jaipur Couture Show Season 11 was held at Makako, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur on Monday. The star-studded event will be held from March 12, 13 and 14 at The Palace, Jaipur!

One of the mega fashion and glamour extravaganzas titled ‘Jaipur Couture Show’ is back with its 11th season. The three-day fashion festival is going to be held at The Palace on March 12, 13 and 14. The event will bring together a medley of fashion designers showcasing their vivacious and latest collections.

The grand poster unveiling ceremony was held at the Macaco, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, on Monday, also celebrating the success of the previous ten seasons. Jagdeesh Chandra graced the occasion as the chief and launched the poster of the Jaipur Couture Show Season 11. Gaurav Gaur, founder of the show along with various dignitaries like patron JD Maheshwari, Nakul Vijay, Ankur Jain, Ronnie Sharma, Yasheel Pandel, Ajit Soni

and supermodels Akanskha Bhalla, Shweta Raje, Sheena Parashar among others graced the occasion.

According to Gaurav Gaur, Rajasthan is evolving quite quickly in the realm of fashion today. He said, “For the past ten years, the Jaipur Couture Show has served as a forum for fashion, jewellery & accessories de -

signers, as well as mod els. With the same objec tive, this year also in Jaipur Couture Show S-11, 16 well-known de signers from across the country will showcase their workmanship and skills. Designers from Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Nagpur, Delhi and Mumbai will be mainly involved.

Khushi Vijayvargiya Sheena

Shweta Top

Bottom: Angel Sen and Shrishti Khatri Akanksha Bhalla

Jagdeesh Chandra with (L-R) Gaurav Gaur, Akanksha Bhalla and Yasheel Pandel

Jagdeesh Chandra with Ronny Sharma, JD Maheshwari, PN Dudi, Nakul Vijayvergiya, Akanksha Bhalla, Gaurav Gaur, Devshree, Shweta, Varunavi, Sheena and Yasheel Pandel

alentine's Day week provides a variety of opportunities for couples to show their feelings and affection. Couples all across the world enjoy this week by expressing their gratitude to the one they cherish and love. People give presents throughout the week of Valentine's Day to express their love for their spouses, such as chocolates, flowers, or even something meaningful.

Some individuals opt to commemorate it in their way, while others may choose to take their loved ones on a romantic dinner date. On February 14, Valentine's Day, many of us give cards, chocolates, flowers, and jewellery to that special someone as a way of saying "I love you."

Vale ntine's Day is not, however, just observed on one day. It lasts for the whole Valentine's Day week, which is a full week. People also observe Rose Day, Propose Day, Chocolate Day, Teddy Day, Promise Day, Hug Day, and Kiss Day before Valentine's Day. In the calendar of love, each day also has its significance and value.

BEACH SITE PROPOSAL

Simple but accurate and ageless, this concept! Just write a message of the proposal on the sand. Bonus points if you surround your proposal with a sizable heart or dress it up with flowers and shells. If you employ this traditional beach proposal, make sure to do it in the early morning or late afternoon so it won't be trampled by beach goers or swept away by the sea.

MIDWAY THROUGH A MOVIE

Even though your proposal may not have included wellknown actors, ideal lighting, and a crew of experts, we bet it was one of the more memorable events in your life. Enjoy a marathon of romantic comedy proposal videos, from the simple to the extravagant, to celebrate your recent engagement.

IDEAS FOR CHARMING PROPOSALS That

WILL MAKE HER SWOON!

After talking about the future and considering your partner’s personality type, the following step is to talk about the specifics of the proposal. Here are the top six recommendations, which suit practically everyone perfectly.

SKYWRITING

One of the most original proposal ideas ever is to declare your love to your lover in the skies. Although expensive, this romantic proposal will undoubtedly be treasured. Bring your significant other to a location where she can view the sky well, then hire a skywriter to write your proposal directly overhead. Get down on one knee and pop the question when she notices the writing. You can change the concept somewhat to make it more daring if you find it to be to cliché. You may schedule a ride in a small plane, a helicopter, or even a hot air balloon. Show your companion the writing in the sky while you're in the air, acting as though you just saw it.

AQUATIC PROPOSAL

We are all suckers for proposals with an ocean theme. Romantic proposals have been a vital element of one’s love journey. As the saying goes, your proposals should always be original and innovative. You want it to be a memorable experience for both you and your companion. Have you ever considered how fascinating it would be to propose underwater? Why don't you do it because few people have chosen to do so? We believe that you won't be able to resist this thought.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE WITH A

SURPRISE PROPOSAL

`The most affordable and original way to catch her attention is to place an ad in a local newspaper that she often reads. You might increase the ante and publish a huge graphical ad with a photo of the two of you along with your proposal, or you could just write in the ad, "Seeking man/woman called such-and-such to spend his/ her life with me." But make sure your companion reads that specific page, otherwise, your magnificent scheme could end up failing.

CITY OF HER DREAMS

One of the finest methods to ask someone to marry you is to plan a vacation proposal, in which you choose a remote area. And if you want to make this a special occasion, you can arrange for the two of you to go on a romantic trip to the city of his or her dreams. Make sure to set up a private location where you may propose.

MRIDULA SHARMA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

WEDDING SHENANIGANS!!

JAYATI MISHRA

Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani are officially married!

The lovebirds tied the knot in the dreamy Jaisalmer on Tuesday. The ceremony took place with the couple’s close friends and families in attendance at the luxurious Suryagarh Palace in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Since the wedding had a strict ‘no-phones’ policy in place, fans had to wait for the official photos from the ceremony to be released, and well, the wait is finally over! Sidharth and Kiara have shared some stunning pictures from their wedding, and they are totally dreamlike.

Kiara Advani took to her Instagram account to share pictures from her big day. Indeed she made for one stun

SHAAKUNTALAM POSTPONED AGAIN

Samantha Ruth Prab hu's highly anticipat ed upcoming mytho logical film Shaakun talam got postponed again. Yes, the film was scheduled to be released this month, on February 17. However, the makers shared a statement to announce that Shaakun talam got postponed and the new release date will be an nounced soon.

The makers of the film took to Twitter and shared a state ment to share that Shaakun talam will not be released on

Grammy nomination

or the unversed, the American rapper was nom inated for his first-ever Grammy award this year in the best rock album category for his latest record Mainstream Sellout. However, MGK lost the honour to Ozzy Osbourne’s Patient Number 9, at the 65th Grammy Awards held at Crpto.com Arena in Los Angeles yesterday.

And now, Megan Fox took to her social me dia space and showered Machine Gun Kelly with love and appreciation. The American ac tress posted a slew of pictures with her fiancé. In the first photo, they posed in the stylish out fits that they wore to the 2023 Grammys. While Megan donned a white gown embellished with crystals, the Maybe singer was seen in a silver metallic suit. The next two pictures were also of the much-in-love couple, while the last pic ture featured a close-up snap of Megan, showcasing her stunning nails and rings.

harth Malhotra on the other hand looked nothing less than an Indian prince. They looked like one gorgeous couple, and as expected, the bride and groom’s pictures are equally mesmerizing too. Kiara opted for a baby Pink lehenga while Sid looked handsome in an offwhite coloured sherwani with golden embroidery on it. In the first pictures, we can see both Sid and Kiara sitting opposite each other with folded hands and big smiles on their faces. In the next picture, we can see them smiling brightly while they seem to be seated on the mandap and the third one is the cutest where Sidharth plants a kiss on his wife’s cheeks. Sharing these pictures, Kiara wrote, “ Ab humari permanent booking hogayi

NORA DANCES ON A YACHT

Nora Fatehi turned a year

older on Monday and celebrated her 31st birthday in Dubai. She

revealed, “I’m very fortunate to have a core group of best friends from different parts of the world and this year I plan to bring everyone together for the first time in Dubai and celebrate with me.” Now, pictures and videos from her birthday celebration have surfaced on Instagram, and looks like the actress had a ball of a time with her friends!

Nora Fatehi shared a video on her Instagram account, and it shows her belly dancing on a yacht, while her friends cheered her on. “I tried to pay attention but attention paid me #birthdaybehavior,” wrote Nora. For the yacht party, Nora opted for a floral printed co-ord set featuring a bralette and a flowy skirt. On her Instagram stories, Nora shared other videos and pictures from her birthday celebration. One of the video clips shows her walking on the red carpet, while her friends click pictures.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

Nora Fatehi

Gorgeous bride Kiara kisses hubby Sidharth

Newlyweds Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani

THE JC SHOW !

Jagdeesh Chandra with cine stars Anupam Kher and Nargis Fakhri at the telecast of The JC Show on Monday, Feb 6 at the Bharat24 channel office, also seen are Syed Umar, Ajayan Venugopalan, Sharid Hashmi,Ritu Sharma and Kshama Tripathi. ‘Shiv Shastri Balboa’, an upcoming movie featuring Anupam Kher, Nargis Fakhri, Sharid Hashmi and directed by Ajayan Venugopalan will be in the theatres on February 10.

Karan Johar pens a heartfelt note

Karan Johar’s twins, son Yash and daughter Roohi turn 6 on Tuesday. The filmmaker took to Instagram to share a heartfelt note he wrote for the two of them. Karan also shared a video from their birthday party that he hosted last week, which was attended by Bollywood’s youngest star kids including Shah Rukh Khan’s son AbRam, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan’s son Taimur and Jeh, among others.

Sharing the video on Instagram, He wrote, “Precious Pieces of my heart turn 6 today… this love is difficult to

Raveena Tandon's revelation

Actor Raveena

Tandon recalled being called arrogant when she refused to wear a ‘swimming costume’ or do kissing scenes in a film. In a recent interview, she said she agreed to rape scenes in her films only on one con dition--her clothes would be fully intact. She called herself the ‘only actress’ to work with such a policy.

Raveena shared a list of things she’d be un comfortable doing. She said, “I used to be uncom fortable with a lot of things. For example, dance steps. If I was un comfortable with something, I would say, ‘Listen I am not comfortable with this step. I would not do the step.’ I didn’t want to wear swimming costumes, and I didn’t do kissing scenes. So I had my fundas. I was the only actress who

had a couple of rape scenes with not even one tear in the dress. All my clothes used to be fully intact.”

Raveena was last seen in KGF: Chapter 2.

She’ll next be

with Netflix’s Aranyak. Raveena made her Bollywood debut with Patthar Ke Phool (1991), opposite Salman Khan. She went on to become one of the most popular actors of the 90s, starring

describe but it feels like a burst of so much love that every other emotion takes a back seat! I am blessed to have my mother with me on this parental journey! God knows I would be nowhere without her… she’s the pillar all 3 of us lean on! Happy birthday Roohi and Yash! Be anything you want to be but please Always be kind… dada loves you to the moon and back.”

IT WAS MY DREAM TO WATCH MY JOURNEY VIDEO: NIMRIT

final five.

After her elimination from Bigg Boss 16, Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia talks about her journey, whether she was favoured and why she wanted to be open about her mental health issues. The Choti Sarrdaarni actor was eliminated on Monday night, after audience members, who entered the house, voted for the

Nimrit mentioned that she is ‘obviously’ sad as it was her dream to watch her journey video. However, she added that there’s no regret and she’s proud of herself. “Yes, there was just a limited audience voting for us. If it was also panIndia, I might be still inside. I believe in fate and karma, and I think it was my destiny to come out now.”

Speaking about her journey in the house she said, “ The journey indeed has been very beautiful and enriching. I am extremely grateful for being a part of the show. My fans have

been very supportive throughout and I can feel their anguish but I want to tell everyone that my journey has just begun.”

Sharing what she missed the most she said, “ I have missed my mom and dad the most, whenever I felt low inside the house this thought kept me going that I had to do it for my fans and them."

Throughout the season, a section of the audience felt that Nimrit was favoured by the channel, given she’s a ‘Colors face’. The makers were accused of making her captain time and again and even saving her from nomina-

CELEB GALORE AT CCL

tion. When asked about the same, the actor said, “Every one has the right to have an opinion, and I truly respect them. But I don’t think I was fa voured at all.

It’s all a big misconception. If I was favoured, I don’t think I would be out right now. Isn’t it?”

Nimrit added that she’s taking back so much from the show, from ‘great friendship’ to having ‘in creased her pa tience level’ and also her ‘next project’, Love Sex Aur Dhoka 2.

Ayushmann speaks up on online abuse

Youth icon and Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana has time and again brought societal issues to the forefront with his choice of films and also by the way he leads his life.

He is the UNICEF Celebrity Advocate and also TIME Magazine’s one of the ‘Most Influential People in the World’!

The Celebrity Cricket League (CCL) is back and how! Bigger, better and completely revamped, the 5-weekend, 19 games tournament, will commence on February 18 2023. One of the Biggest Sportainment events in the country, the Celebrity Cricket League is coming back fully reloaded after 3 years. This edition is expected will witness the participation of many incredibly popular stars of Indian cinema.

Not only is it bigger, but the format has changed as

well. Vishnu Vardhan Induri, the founder and managing director of the Celebrity Cricket League, expressed during the event, “CCL is introducing a new format, It will be a T20 With 2 Innings of 10 overs per team. This is a very new format played nowhere in the world before.”

Parle Biscuits has signed up as the title sponsor of the League. The event will be a refreshing surprise for fans as they look forward to watching their heroes give it their all on the cricket field.

On Safer Internet Day, Ayushmann and UNICEF have teamed up to create awareness of the risks children face online. Talking about the same Ayushmann Khurrana shared, “We live a large part of our lives on the internet today, through our mobiles and computers. It pre-

sents great opportunities to grow, thrive, connect and build relationships. However, this also presents risks to children and young people who access and use the online space.”

Ayushmann wants to create an environment for children to talk about these risks and threats safely and is going to work with UNICEF on the same.

He adds, “Children must be made aware of the importance of ensuring privacy, avoiding contact with unknown or suspicious profiles when online and reporting offences. We should train our children for the informed and mindful use of the internet.”

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia

Raveena Tandon

Ayushmann Khurrana

Lavina Israni

Manoj Tiwari

Sunil Shetty

Sohail Khan

During the event

Boney Kapoor

Jay Bhanushali, Shabbir Ahluwalia and Arjun Bijlani

Karan Johar’s post...

Anula Navlekar