Cricket diplomacy takes centrestage as PM Modi, Albanese attend first day of India-Australia 4th Test APERFECT PITCH!

l 75 long years of friendship through cricket with PM Modi, says Aussie PM

Moni Sharma

Ahmedabad: Prime

Minister Narendra Modi and Australian PM Anthony Albanese were greeted with loud cheering and applause as they took a lap of honour at a stadium in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Thursday before watching a cricket match together. The 2 PMs waved at the crowds as they took a round of the Narendra Modi stadium in a “chariot” fashioned out of a golf cart, before the match.

PM Modi and Albanese handed over Test caps to their respective team captains, Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith, and shook hands with the teams. They also met players from both sides and stood along side them when the national an thems of India and Australia were sung.

SELFIES, CHAI, CHARCHA - MODI, ANTHONY’S DAY AT STADIUM

lief in professional tax to working women, 50% discount on ticket fares to women in state-run buses and a new scheme for the girl child.

This is the first time that Fadnavis presented the state budget as he holds the finance portfolio. During Fadnavis’s tenure as the chief minister between 2014-19, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sudhir Mungantiwar was the finance minister.

“The budget focuses on sustainable agriculture, prosperous farmers, and inclusivity for women, tribal groups, and backward classes. It also focuses on huge capital investment in infrastructure development, employment generation, skilled youth, environment-friendly development,” he said.

‘PANCHAMRUT’

Budget is based on principle of ‘Panchamrut’, focusing on farmers, women, youth, employment, and environment

Around 50 km of metro lines in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will become operational this year

Cricket, a common passion in India and Australia.

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

On the field, Australia and India are competing to be the best in the world. Off the field, we are co-operating to build a better world.

—Anthony Albanese, Australian PM

@rajnathsingh

Budget comes a day after Economic Survey of Maharashtra projected state’s growth rate at 6.8%

50% concession in State buses and 1% discount on stamp duty for women Over 700 Apla Dawakhana dispensaries to be started, free treatment will be given

Mahatma Jan Arogya Sch allocation raised to Rs 5 lakh

Budget has no proposals to improve situation: Chavan

Mumbai (PTI): Senior Cong leader Prithviraj Chavan said the Budget for 2023-24 presented by the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government contained no reform proposals for stopping the deterioration of the state’s economy.

The Economic Survey report shows that the state has slipped to the fifth place in terms of per capita income, behind smaller states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Haryana, the former chief minister said in a statement.

“Maharashtra is no longer the leading economy in the country. Our economic growth rate is less than the national economic growth rate. The Budget did not offer any structural reforms to redress this rapid deterioration in the state’s economy,”

Chavan said.

The Budget made announcements of building grand memorials to great leaders, but even today the work for the Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial in the Arabian Sea or Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial on the Indu Mill land in Dadar was yet to start, he also said.

The state is also facing a major agriculture crisis as farmers do not get guaranteed remunerative prices for their produce and there is no assured mechanism to compensate them for any loss due to natural calamities, the former Union minister said.

Rs 5 lakh insurance scheme for the traditional fishermen with Centre’s assistance

State farmers to now get Rs12,000/year cash benefits

9 PCs in 9 States, BJP will reply to the Oppn’s letter

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Stung by a letter from Opposition parties to PM Modi alleging misuse of probe agencies against rivals, BJP has decided to strike back through a series of press conferences in 9 States. The meets have been organised in home states of Oppn leaders who wrote to PM Modi on Sunday, like Delhi, Punjab, J&K, Maharashtra, WB and Kerala. Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari held first PC in New Delhi on Thursday.

All the corrupt people of the country have united and Arvind Kejriwal is one of them. Together, the nine leaders wrote a letter to PM. Among them are some who once objected to a photo with Lalu Yadav and today they are hugging his son Tejashwi Yadav.

—Manoj Tiwari, BJP MP

SATISH KAUSHIK: APRIL 1956 TO MARCH 2023

The actor-director fell ill at Delhi farmhouse, dies of heart attack

‘Creative Genius’ no more

INDIA IS LEADING SERIES BY 2-1

Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese, Prime Ministers of both the nations shared some light moments with the respective and opponent teams during the match. What apparently became the biggest talking point was a selfie snap of the duo. Australian PM clicked a selfie with PM Modi in the stands and also shared it on his Twitter handle. It was a chai par charcha for them while the PMs watched the match. In the Border-Gavaskar Tro phy, India is leading series by 2-1. A win in the final Test will ensure the team qualifies for the final of the ICC World Test Championship, where they will be facing Australia in London from June 7 onwards.

Spoke to the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Australia, Mr @ RichardMarlesMP. India & Australia share a comprehensive strategic partnership and the call today was an opportunity to reiterate our commitment towards further strengthening of our defence cooperation.

Anurag Thakur

@ianuragthakur

What an incredible moment for cricket fans in �� & ����& around the world! PM @ narendramodi with PM @ AlboMP at Narendra Modi stadium, celebrating 75 years of friendship through cricket in #Ahmedabad #BorderGavaskarTrophy2023! A game to remember!

New Delhi/Mumbai: Actordirector Satish Kaushik was at a farmhouse in Delhi’s Bijwasan last night when he started feeling unwell and was rushed to a hospital in Gurugram. Preliminary examination suggests that he died of a heart attack and breathed his last before he reached the hospital, police sources said. Nothing suspicious has emerged in the investigation into the 66-year-old actor’s death, sources in Delhi South West police said. Kaushik ar-

PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday mourned demise of noted actor-director Satish Kaushik who passed away following a heart attack, and extended condolences to his family and admirers.