First India-Mumbai Edition-13th January 2023

HAPPY LOHRI

POLITICAL ‘RIPPLES’ IN MAHARASHTRA

Ambedkar meets Shinde, rules out going with Shinde faction

Shinde on Thursday and the duo held discussions for nearly two and a half hours at the Chief Minister’s residence.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: In what could be termed as a major development in Maharashtra’s political sphere, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar met Chief Minister Eknath

PM TO VISIT POLL-BOUND MUMBAI ON JANUARY 19

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Mumbai next Thursday, January 19, to inaugurate two stretches of the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai metro rail projects which is being viewed as a BJP strategy to strengthen its efforts to win the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election that is expected to be

PM Modi will address a rally on Thursday, January 19, however, it has been learnt that this rally will be held near Uddhav Thackeray's house i.e. BKC ground.

held in the coming months. This will be the prime minister’s second visit to Maharashtra in as many months.

The announcement of the PM’s visit came on a day when Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a joint meeting with the MLAs of their parties — the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena and the BJP — from Mumbai to discuss the BMC elections.

EX-DGP LATHER

APPOINTED INFO

COMMISSIONER

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

This meet initiated a round of discussions as to the possibility of Ambedkar joining Shinde camp, doing away with the Uddhav Thackeray gang. However, after the meeting, Ambedkar said it was now for Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray to finalize

JOLTED JOSHIMATH!

an alliance with his party.

He also denied that the VBA could form a tie-up with the rival Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Sena, saying that he would not join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

and its allies. The CM’s faction of the Sena has already announced an alliance with Dalit leader Jogendra Kawade’s People’s Republican Party.

“The situation is fluid. It is such that the party we want to go

with, the Shiv Sena.... We proposed to them that we will hold a joint press conference and declare that talks are on. Now, it is the Shiv Sena that has to decide when it wants to declare that. As long as talks are on, speculation will continue,” Ambedkar told reporters.

The VBA was ready for striking “compromise” with the Shiv Sena, he said.

“It is in Uddhav

Thackeray’s hands, when to finalise. The Congress and NCP made mincemeat of our party. We too could have made mincemeat of Congress and NCP as I know my party’s strength,” Ambedkar said.

Even if the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) wanted a front of opposition parties with the VBA, the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party may not agree, he said.

New Delhi/Joshimath:

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

The meeting, which was attended by Union

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

of land subsidence.

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

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

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

—Thakur Singh Rana, Owner, Hotel Malari Inn

ED arrests Mumbai builder in `500 cr fraud

New Delhi (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Mahesh Bhupatkumar Ojha, a promoter of Mumbai-based Karan Group Builders and Developers under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in an alleged fraud and cheating case involving an amount of more than Rs500 crore, an official said on Thursday.

Ojha, who was arrested on January 10, has been sent to ED custody for 10 days by a spe-

cial PMLA court. He is already in judicial custody having earlier been arrested by CID, Bengaluru.

In this case, multiple FIRs related to fraud and cheating in the name of investment in real estate projects were registered by the Karnataka Police. P6

CM IN JOSHIMATH, ANNOUNCES `45 CR REHAB PACKAGE

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

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that it is a privilege and honour for all of us that India has presidency of the G-20. Giving informa-

Pay `163 crore in 10 days: Notice to AAP over ‘ads’

tion about the efforts being made by the Lok Sabha for healthy Parl traditions, he said that efforts will be made to ensure uniformity in conduct, rules-proce-

dures and traditions in legislative institutions across country. He called for efforts to strengthen democracy by rising above the party in Parl committees.

Temple defaced with anti-India graffiti in Oz

‘CRACKS ON 20 ARMY BUILDINGS, TROOPS SHIFTED’

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

New Delhi (FIB): AAP’s Arvind Kejri has been asked by its own govt in Delhi to pay ` 163.62 cr in 10 days for its political advertisements allegedly passed off as govt messages. A recovery notice was issued by DIP. If AAP fails to pay up, its office in Delhi and properties could be sealed, officials say, citing an earlier warning by LG VK Saxena.

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

“We are deeply saddened by the anti-India

Swaminarayan Temple with AntiIndian Slogans at Mill park area.

graffiti at the gates of Swaminarayan Mandir in Mill Park, Melbourne by anti-social elements. ‘Modi Hitler’ hate was also written on wall.

PM INAUGURATES 26TH NAT’L YOUTH FESTIVAL IN HUBBALLI

‘Yuva shakti’ a driving force: PM

Twin

First India Bureau

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

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

said.

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

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

VBA was ready for striking ‘compromise’ with the Shiv Sena, Ambedkar said

It is in Uddhav Thackeray’s hands, when to finalise. The Congress and NCP made mincemeat of our party. We too could have made mincemeat of Congress and NCP as I know my party’s strength.

—Prakash Ambedkar, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief

Prakash Ambedkar, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief

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

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

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

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & MUMBAI

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

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

Moni Sharma

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

l Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs highlevel meeting to review situation in Joshimath

l From Joshimath, Army relocates it’s troops, Army Chief Pande says ‘no impact on readiness’

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

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

‘IND IS WORLD’S 5TH LARGEST ECONOMY’ WORLD IS IN STATE OF CRISIS: PM MODI

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

Yogesh Sharma

‘Practice of calling Assembly without prorogation dangerous for democracy’

It is a privilege and honour that India has presidency of G-20, says Om Birla

Raj CM Ashok Gehlot greets Raj Guv Kalraj Mishra as LS Speaker Om Birla looks on at 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conf on Thursday.

wants to give tickets to youth in local body polls’

Latur (PTI): Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar on Thursday said functionaries below the age of 35 must prepare to fight civic polls as the party wants to field youth.

The MLA from Nilanga in Latur and former state minister was speaking at a “yuva morcha” of the BJP here. The party wants to give 80% tickets in local body polls to youngsters, he claimed.

He also refuted speculation here that Congress MLA Amit Deshmukh may join the BJP. Without taking anyone’s name, Nilangekar said the BJP will not allow a “prince” to join as it wanted common citizens to come into the party fold.

Deshmukh is the son of former CM, the late Vilasrao Deshmukh. He is a three-time MLA from Latur and was minister in the Thackeray government.

Govt more concerned with BMC polls than investment, says Raut

cuts

told reporters elsewhere.

Ten auto-rickshaws recovered, 4 held by police for theft

First India Bureau

trip entirely

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Shiv SenaUddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut called out the government for being more worried about the civic elections in Mumbai than it was about bringing in investment.

Raut’s comments followed an announcement that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will cut short his visit to Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF) as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Mumbai on January 19 to inaugurate two stretches of the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai metro rail projects.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also cancelled his visit to Davos as he would be overseeing preparations for the PM’s visit.

The annual WEF is

CRUCIAL READ

KHARGHAR MARATHON TO BE HELD ON JAN 22

Navi Mumbai: The ‘Khargar Marathon 2023’ will be taking off on January 22, 2023 with the welfare slogan “Run for Free From Addiction”. It will be organized by the Ramsheth Thakur International Sports Complex and Kharghar Residents Welfare Association. This is the 13th year of the marathon and will feature men open group 10 km, women open group 10 km, boys under 17 years 05 km, girls under 17 years 05 km, boys under 14 years 05 km, and girls under 14 years 05 km.

MAN NABBED FOR BOMB THREAT CALL TO SCHOOL

Mumbai: A 34-year-old man from Gujarat was arrested by the police for allegedly making a bomb threat to the Dhirubhai Ambani School in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) area, the police said. The school had received a threat call on Tuesday and the caller identified himself as Vikram Singh Jhala from Gujarat saying that he had planted a bomb in the school, they said adding that an FIR under Sections 505 (1)(B) and 506 was registered by the BKC police.

FIR AGAINST ONE IN THANE FOR REPORTING FALSE FIRE TO CLEAR ENCROACHMENT

Mumbai: The police have filed an FIR against a man in Thane for allegedly making a hoax call about a fire, officials said. The Badlapur fire station received information about a fire in Khau Gali area. Rushing to the location, they found a car blocking the road with the accused sitting in it. He allegedly asked the fire officials to clear the encroachment on the road and then proceed, informing them that there was no fire but he made the call to get the department to clear the encroachment, a police official said.

MSEDCL TEAM ATTACKED FOR INSPECTION

Thane: A team of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd (MSEDCL) came under attack while carrying out an inspection to detect power theft at a village, police said. A squad led by assistant engineer Ravindra Nahide was checking the meters in a building when five men attacked them with sticks, iron rods, pipes and stones, he said. One of the assailants has been arrested.

TEEN GIRL ENDS LIFE IN THANE HOUSING COMPLEX

Thane: A 13-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide in her home in Thane, a police official said on Thursday. The teenager hanged herself on Wednesday night, Inspector Vijay Murtadak of Wagle Estate police station said. He added that “The body of the girl has been sent for post-mortem. A case of accidental death has been registered and an investigation has been launched into the matter,”.

TIGER FOUND DEAD IN MAHA’S PENCH TIGER RESERVE, CAUSE OF DEATH ‘NOT DISCLOSED’

Nagpur: A tiger was found dead on Thursday on the Maharashtra side of the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR), an official said. A press release issued by the office of PTR Field Director A Sreelakshmi said the carcass of the tiger was found floating in a lake and information regarding this was provided by local villagers. The carcass was found in Sillari beat under the Paoni Unified Buffer Range of the reserve spread across Ramtek, Parseoni and Saoner tehsils of Nagpur district in eastern Vidarbha, it said. The release, however, did not disclose the possible cause of the tiger’s death. A post-mortem will be conducted as per guidelines set by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and other related authorities, it said.

being held January 16-20.

“CM Shinde will visit Davos and participate in the WEF on January 16, and will return on the night of January 18.

He will be present for all the events of PM Modi the next day,” an aide said.

Shinde and Fadnavis had both scheduled long trips to Davos, but

“Almost all chief ministers and their delegations are going to Davos… but the Maharashtra CM and Dy CM are more concerned about BMC elections than about investments,” the Rajya Sabha member said.

Elections to the BMC, the country’s richest civic body with an annual budget of Rs40,000 crore--which is larger than some state budgets--have been due since last year.

The Maharashtra government could have asked Modi to reschedule his visit to Mumbai as the dates of the Davos meet can not be changed, Raut further said, adding, “They want to show that the Centre is doing everything (in Mumbai). But the public knows everything.”

Thane: Police have arrested four persons on the charge of theft of auto-rickshaws in Navi Mumbai and neighbouring places, seizing 10 stolen vehicles from them, an official said on Thursday. With this, the police claimed to have solved 10 cases of autorickshaw thefts. There had been a lot of cases of auto-rickshaw theft following which the crime branch was directed to solve

them, Vinayak Vast, Navi Mumbai’s Assistant Commissioner of Police (crime) said. The police worked on various leads and first arrested a driver, Rehman Yusuf Khan(23), followed by Hassan Imamsaheb Sayyed(35), from Mankurd, Mohammad Nadeem Naheem Shaikh(38) and plumber Sahebaz Shakhil Husile(29) he said. Ten stolen auto-rickshaws worth Rs7.60 lakh were seized from their possession, the official said.

changed plans after Modi’s schedule was finalized, he added.

“They are not at all serious about it (bringing investments to the state),” Sanjay Raut

Mahesh Tapase, spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party, an ally of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena, said the chief minister should tell the people how much investment he will bring from Davos.

Two former I-T officers get 3 years in jail for taking bribes

Mumbai (PTI): A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here has sentenced two former income tax officers to three years of rigorous imprisonment for accepting bribes, terming the offence as grave and observing that dishonest intention and abuse of official position to grab the money as gratification is alarming.

The duo sought bribes after threatening to conduct search operations at the offices and residences of complainants, according to the prosecution. The accused, Raj Kumar Bhatia and Suresh Khetan, were found guilty of offences committed under relevant provisions of

The court termed the offence grave, observing that dishonest intention and abuse of official position to grab the money is alarming

the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) by special judge SP Naik Nimbalkar on Tuesday. A detailed order was made

River conservation rally held in Latur

First India Bureau

Latur: Noted water conservationist Rajendra Singh attended the Chala Januya Nadila (let’s know our rivers) rally held on Thursday in Latur between the district stadium and the Mahatma Basweshwar College.

School and college students were holding placards exhorting people to keep water bodies clean and to reduce pollution. Speaking at the end of the river conservation rally, Singh said protecting rivers would be a true celebration of 75 years of the country’s Independence.

“Everyone must work together for conservation and cleanliness of rivers,” the Magsaysay Award and Stockholm

Water Prize winner said.

Addressing the gathering, Padma Bhushan awardee and eminent surgeon and author Ashok Kukade said conservation of water was essential for survival of humans.

The rally was held by the Maharashtra department of tourism and cultural affairs, the collectorate and outfits like Manavlok Sanstha and Manjra Nadi Jal Sanvad Yatra, officials said.

available on Wednesday.

The court, in its order, held, “Undoubtedly, the nature of the offence is grave and serious. The dishonest intention and abuse of

official position to grab money as gratification is alarming. It needs to be checked.” As per the prosecution, the complainants are partners in a firm.

In December 2008, Bhatia, then an Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax posted in Mumbai, through his colleague Khetan, called one of the complainants to his office, it said. The accused asked him to produce tax papers of their firm and the latter complied. Later, Bhatia demanded Rs2 lakh from the duo and threatened to conduct search operations at their offices and residences if the money was not paid, the prosecution said.

3 BOOKED FOR FRAUD ON PRETEXT OF MEDICAL SERVICES

Thane (PTI): Police have registered a case against two men and a woman for allegedly cheating some people of Rs56 lakh after approaching them to set up a pharmacy and a lab at a hospital which they planned to start in Thane district, an official said on Thursday.

One of the victims told the police that the accused approached him saying they were launching a hospital in Kalyan town and asked him to set up a pharmacy

INCREASED AWARENESS

at the facility.

The accused allegedly asked the victim for a sum of Rs32 lakh as a deposit, which he and his partner paid to them, an official from Manpada police station in Dombivli said, quoting the complaint.

The accused also approached a woman and her partners in a healthcare company and offered them to set up a lab in the hospital for which they took an amount of Rs24 lakh from them as a deposit, the official said.

Real estate agents will now need to get certification: MahaRERA

MahaRERA, which has developed a curriculum over the past two years, will now impart online, offline and hybrid training, culminating in an online exam

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The 37,746 real estate agents registered with the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) will soon have to sit for exams and get certified in order to do their jobs.

According to a new circular issued by the

PROPOSAL FOR IMPROVEMENT

them with the knowledge of regulatory framework.

regulatory body, only agents with a valid Competency Certificate will be allowed to work as authorized real estate agents beginning May 01.

MahaRERA, enacted in 2017, has announced plans to provide training to real estate agents to further improve professionalism, accountability and competence in the highly un-organ-

ized sector. The authority, which has developed a basic curriculum over the past two years, will now impart training in online, offline and hybrid form.

The circular said real estate agents are the public face and intermediary between promoters and home buyers and therefore it is essential to provide them training to equip

“MahaRERA proposes to introduce a basic real-estate agent training and certification course for real estate agents across Maharashtra,” the circular said. This is expected to enhance knowledge and awareness of the regulatory and legal framework and practices and enforcement of code of conduct, so that real estate agents are professionally qualified to help assist home buyers.

The agents presently registered with MahaRERA have to obtain the competency certificate by September 01.

CM

Davos visit to attend PM’s events staring Jan 19, Dy CM cancels

Elections for BMC, the country’s richest civic body with an annual budget of `40,000 crore, have been due since last year. —FILE PHOTO

They are not at all serious about it (bringing in vestment to the state). Almost all chief ministers and their delegations are going to Davos… but the CM and Dy CM are more concerned about BMC elections than about investments.

—Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT)

AUTO-RICKSHAW DRIVER HELD FOR STEALING PASSENGER’S JEWELLERY

Thane: A 37-year-old auto-rickshaw driver Shivprasad Banvarilal Gupta was arrested for allegedly stealing jewellery worth Rs8.08 lakh in Thane, an official said. A couple was travelling in the auto-rickshaw to keep their jewellery in a bank locker, they got down from the auto-rickshaw and the woman was about to pick up the bag containing the jewellery, but the driver sped away with the bag. He was caught within 2 hours of the crime, Senior Inspector Sanjay Dhumal said.

‘BJP

Rajendra Singh

HC stays transfer of adoption cases to district magistrates

Missing toddler traced 3 months after kidnapping

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed a single bench judge of the HC to continue with adjudication in pending adoption matters till February 14, the next date of hearing in the case, while ordering an interim stay on the transfer of such cases to district magistrates.

A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and SG Dige passed the order on Tuesday while hearing two petitions filed by couples challenging the validity of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment

Act of 2021, in which the word “court” was replaced with “district magistrate”.

The effect of this amendment would mean all adoption cases, including foreign adoption cases, would be placed for final approval order before the district magistrate instead of the high court. The HC also issued a

Cops’ special drive against vehicles parked on highway

First India Bureau

Mumbai: In a special drive, the Traffic Department will act against private vehicles and buses which are parked on the Western Express Highway near the airport, which leads to traffic congestion.

According to the cops, to avoid high parking charges, many motorists have been parking their cars on the highway at the Terminal 2 parking lot while private buses wait to pick up passengers. Actions against nearly 75 and 1015 buses taken daily.

The Vakola traffic division has also put up banners near the road that connects Mumbai airport terminal-2

and vehicles are not allowed to be parked here. Private buses and passengers waiting for the buses lead to traffic congestion at this spot.”- the notice reads Sunil Yadav, Senior Inspector of Vakola traffic division said, “We started the drive three days ago. On the first day of the drive, we took action against 75 cars and 15 luxury buses parked at the spot. This is a no-parking zone. But the buses and cars that are parked here add to traffic congestion on this busy road, especially during peak hours. So far, we have taken action against around 300 vehicles.” The traffic cops are levying a fine of Rs500 on any vehicle found parked at

notice to the Attorney General of India seeking the Union government’s response to the petitions.

The bench in its order noted that until now adoption cases were being handled by judges of the high court.

“It has not been shown to us that there has been any complaint about the handling of

these cases. We have yet to see the justification for the amendment,” the court said in its order.

The HC said it has been handling such adoption cases for a very long period of time.

“Nothing is shown to us to indicate why for a limited period of time of about four weeks this should not be continued until we finally hear the

We are not impressed by the arguments of delays for disposals because at least in this high court, the adoptions jurisdiction is one in which there is no backlog at all. Adjournments are almost never requested or ordered, and disposals take place on a weekly basis.

—Justices Gautam Patel and SG Dige, Bombay High Court

challenge. No prejudice will be caused to any party if the existing system continues. On the contrary, the primary interest would be protected,” the bench said.

It also refused to accept the contention put forth by the government that there has been a delay in the disposal of adoption cases by HC.

Mumbai: The Mumbai police have rescued a two-year-old girl almost three months after she was allegedly kidnapped from a skywalk near the Bandra railway station, and arrested the kidnapper, in West Bengal’s Siliguri.

“The accused, identified as Asif Ali Shaik, was known to the child’s parents as they lived next to each other on the skywalk. He considered her a good luck

Navi Mumbai police to collaborate with civic body to issue e-challans

Thane/Palghar (PTI):

The Navi Mumbai police will collaborate with the local civic body to introduce echallans for the violation of traffic rules in the city, Milind Bharambe, Police Commissioner, Navi Mumbai said.

He was speaking at an event organized in the Vashi area to mark the commencement of road safety week. On the occasion, a boy, dressed up as 'Chhota Police', gave a presentation before the gathering on traffic discipline.

Bharambe said the Navi Mumbai police will make efforts to educate children about traffic discipline so that the habit of following road rules gets inculcated in them from a young age.

"The Navi Mumbai police will collaborate with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and make use of footage of the CCTVs installed in the city to introduce e-challans for traffic norms violations. This is likely to happen from March/ April," he said.

The official also said he wants to make Navi Mumbai a trafficfriendly city and for this, he will seek the support of all developmental agencies including the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), NMMC, Regional Transport Office (RTO) and citizens. The Navi Mumbai police's traffic department will act as a catalyst towards the same and make the city accident-free, he added.

charm, because he started earning more money than usual; so he decided to kidnap her.

On October 19, Shaikh told her mother he was taking her to get her a chocolate,” an official said on Thursday.

When he failed to return with her daughter, the mother filed a complaint at the Bandra police station, and a case of kidnapping was registered.

The police officials had been trying to trace the girl since then. The

Accused took the child away from her parents on October 19 under the pretext of giving her chocolate and kidnapped her as he considered her a ‘good luck charm’

police even had CCTV footage of the girl with the kidnapper but could not trace them.

“We acted on every tip-off we got. The investigation took us to Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haridwar in Uttarakhand, and eventually to Malda and Howrah in West Bengal. While we were in West Bengal, we developed some human sources, who then tipped us off about the kidnapper.”

Shaikh was then located at his house in Siliguri and arrested. The child has been reunited with her parents.

Prison overcrowding: Yerawada jail to get additional barracks?

First India Bureau

Pune: A proposal has been sent to the state government to set up additional barracks in Pune’s Yerawada Central Jail to tackle the issue of overcrowding in the facility, where the number of inmates is 200% more than its capacity, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Amitabh Gupta has said.

There are a total of 60 jails in the state, including nine central prisons.

As of November 2022, these jails housed a total of 40,718 inmates, against a cumulative capacity of 24,722, according to data from the prisons department. Yerawada jail had 6,854 inmates against its capacity of 2,449.

As of November 2022, the Yerawada jail in Pune had 6,854 inmates against its capacity of 2,449, according to data from prisons dept

Gupta said, “A proposal to construct additional barracks in the Yerawada jail was sent to the state government a few days back. Besides this, there is a need for more prisons (in the state) and the government is also serious about it.”

All these are long drawn out processes and the government and the jail administration are already working on them, he said.

Mum civic body plans `4 cr makeover for Juhu Chowpatty

The prominent landmark, a favourite haunt among locals and tourists alike sees 8K every weekend

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Soon, Juhu Beach will have a makeover as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to undertake a beautification project, for which K

West Ward has allotted Rs4 crore. The work will be done keeping in focus the idea of a ‘Plastic-free Ocean’.

As part of the project, the civic body will install lights at the entrance of the beach and artwork will be put up for children’s entertainment. New bins will be placed and the entrance pillar will be adorned with hanging plants. Arches, seats, pavements, graffiti and new public toilets will also be a part of the programme.

Notably, Juhu Chowpatty is a major landmark frequented by locals and domestic and foreign tourists. Apart from this, many Bollywood celebrities also live in the area. On the weekends, as many as 8,000 people visit the Chowpatty.

The beach is among the most popular sites in the city for the annual Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations where thousands of devotees arrive in grand processions, carrying idols of Lord Ganesh, to be immersed in the sea.

BMC FLOATS TENDER FOR MITHI RIVER DESILTING

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has floated a tender worth Rs87 crore, with a period of two years (from 2023 to 2025) for desilting the Mithi river as in April 2022, the previous contract expired. The civic body cleans the 17.8-km river, starting at Vihar lake and flowing into the Arabian Sea at Mahim Causeway, to prevent flooding during the monsoon. From March onwards, the desilting will be carried out in three phases; 70% before monsoon, 20% during rains and 10% later. “The tender will be opened by January end and will be sent for approval of the civic administrator. The actual desilting work will start from March,” an official said.

Issues notice to AGI seeking the Union govt response to the petitions

Bombay High Court

First India Bureau

The new move is likely to begin from March.

—FILE PHOTO

The Navi Mumbai police will collaborate with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and make use of footage of the CCTVs installed in the city to introduce e-challans for traffic norms violations. This is likely to happen from March/ April.

—Milind Bharambe, Police Commissioner, Navi Mumbai

The Navi Mumbai police will make efforts to educate children about traffic discipline so that the habit of following road rules gets inculcated in them from a young age

—FILE PHOTO

BREAKING THE ICE: INDIA AND RESURGENT TALIBAN

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

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

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

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

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

ACCIDENT PRONE OR CARELESSNESS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

its inauguration highlighting the corruption in construction projects. The latest accidents involving the Metro project which was started in 2007 aren’t the only ones. In 2013 a 47-year-old worker died after being hit by a sixtonne iron frame. In 2020 a labourer died after a cable pierced his head. In 2021 a worker fell into a utility shaft and died. As there were no signages the man mistook the utility shaft as a toilet.

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

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

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

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Singh

Amit Shah @AmitShah

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

Anurag Thakur @ianuragthakur

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

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

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

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The author is a Post Graduate in International Studies, Alumni of Defense Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Combat, Mhow

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

First India Bureau

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

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

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

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

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

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

and “your priorities are India’s priorities”.

Noting that 5Rs need to recalibrate the relationship between the

JOSHIMATH LAND SUBSIDENCE

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

KARNAPRAYAG, LANDOUR TOO STARING AT DISASTER

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

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

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

geo-political tensions; rising food, fertiliser and fuel prices; climate change-driven natural disasters, and the lasting economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is difficult to predict how long this state of instability will last”.

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

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

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

BHARAT JODO YATRA

“Ludhiana has potential to compete with China”

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

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

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

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

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

—Chamoli DM

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

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

Ludhiana (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said Ludhiana’s small and medium businesses can compete with China if they are given adequate support even as he accused the Punjab govt and the Centre of not supporting them. He is undertaking the Punjab leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Targeting Modi govt over the issue of demonetisation, he alleged that it has hit the small and medium enterprises. “But how and who hit Ludhiana? Pradhan Mantri ji implemented demonetisation and ‘wrong’ GST,” he said. “Somebody told me today that Ludhiana is like Manchester. I thought it was wrongly said. Manchester is like Ludhiana.

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

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

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

New Delhi: The Uttarakhand govt on Thursday told Delhi High Court that authorities are rehabilitating families affected due to land subsidence in Joshimath, and that the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the area. The state govt said a rehabilitation package is also being prepared and a lot of relief work is going on. The submission was made before a bench which was hearing a petition seeking to direct the Centre to constitute a committee headed by a retired judge to look into the issue.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

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

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

is supporting developing nations”

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

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

that they accept responsibility for past actions.

The development of a country and conserva-

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

YADAV HOLDS MEET WITH JAPANESE COUNTERPART AKIHIRO NISHIMURA

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

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

PRIYANKA TURNS 51

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

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

“India

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

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

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

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

GOVT TELLS DELHI HC THAT AFFECTED FAMILIES ARE BEING REHABILITATED

BJP IN SLUMBER DESPITE JOSHIMATH TRAGEDY, SAYS AKHILESH YADAV

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

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

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

—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

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

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

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

SACK BIHAR MINISTER FOR COMMENTS ON HINDU EPIC: BJP

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

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

New Delhi (Agencies):

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

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

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

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

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

A separate but relatively smaller ava-

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

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

COLD WAVE: 15% SURGE IN HEART ATTACKS, HIGH BP & BRAIN STROKES

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

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

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

According to a tweet

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

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

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

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

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

FIRs filed by the Karnataka Police against Oza and others on the complaint of an investor who put money in his projects.

`1,688 CR LOAN FRAUD CASE AGAINST ABG SHIPYARD OWNER RISHI AGARWAL

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

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

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

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

India beat SL, lead ODI series 2-0

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

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

CRUCIAL READ

TRINAMOOL CONGRESS LEADER SHOT DEAD IN WEST BENGAL’S BURDWAN

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

neand

were off to a quick with openers Shubhman Gill and Rohit Sharma smashing five fours and a six inside the first four overs.

The batting duo looked in sublime touch and fed on the over-pitched bowling by the Sri Lankan pace attack.

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

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

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

PANIPAT

KERALA FARMER DIES AFTER TIGER ATTACKS HIM

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

DAMAN: 2 BROTHERS ARRESTED IN EXTORTION CASE

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

MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT DENIES BAIL TO CONG LEADER RAJA PATERIA

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

CYLINDER BLAST

Six members of family killed in house fire

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

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

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

room which had a bed and a kitchen.”

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

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

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

EC team lands in Tripura to ensure free and fair polls

New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) held a meeting on Thursday with the leaders and representatives of all political parties to ensure free and fair assembly elections in Tripura. The meeting was headed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Pandey and Arun Goel. At a presser, Kumar said special arrangements were being made for an “all-inclusive election”. He said that efforts are afoot to make the voting process transparent, while security has been tightened to ensure the safety of candidates. He EC said that voter cards have been issued for first-time voters and the enrolment of women and transgenders is on.

Pandemic provided chance to strengthen healthcare infrastructure: Mandaviya

New Delhi (Agencies):

The pandemic period provided an opportunity to strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure and delivery systems, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said here, on Thursday. He made the observation while chairing the eighth meeting of Mission Steering Group (MSG) of National Health Mission (NHM).

The MSG is the apex decision-making body

of NHM that takes decisions on policies and program implementation under the Mission. For the first-time,

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

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

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

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

—PHOTO BY ANI

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

HEAD OF KARAN GROUP BUILDERS

ARRESTED IN `500 CRORE FRAUD CASE

—Representational image

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

Chamika Karunarat-

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

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

New Delhi: India’s imports of vegetable oils, comprising edible and non-edible oils, rose 28% to 15.66 lakh tonnes in December. In a statement, the SEA said the import of vegetable oils during December 2022 stood at 15,66,129 tonnes compared to 12,26,686 tonnes a year ago. As per the data, the import of edible or cooking oils increased to 15,55,780 tonnes from 12,16,863 tonnes, while the shipments of non-edible oils rose to 10,349 tonnes from 9,832 tonnes. —PTI

Retail inflation eases to 5.7% in December

New Delhi (PTI): Retail inflation declined to a oneyear low of 5.72 per cent in December 2022, mainly due to softening prices of food items, according to official data released on Thursday.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation was at 5.88 per cent in November 2022 and 5.66 per cent in December 2021.

As per the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), inflation in the food basket was at 4.19 per cent in December as against 4.67 per cent in November.

After remaining above the Reserve Bank of India’s upper tolerance threshold of 6 per cent since January 2022, retail inflation declined in November to 5.88 per cent and further in December to 5.72 per cent -- its lowest level in one year.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION EXPANDS AT 5-MONTH HIGH OF 7.1% IN NOV: GOVT DATA

New

India to become $7 tn economy in 7 years: CEA

New Delhi: The country’s wheat production is likely to set a new record of more than 112 million tonnes (MT) in the 202223 crop year. Wheat production had declined to 106.84 million tonnes due to heat wave in key growing states in 2021-22 crop year. “The crop prospect of wheat crop is better due to current weather conditions and slightly higher acreage.

The total production is estimated to be more than 112 MT this year,” sources said. —PTI

ALIBABA SELLS ITS STAKE IN PAYTM

WORTH $125 MILLION

Kolkata (PTI): Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran said that the Indian economy will be $3.5 trillion at current prices by the end of the 2022-23 fiscal and is expected to be $7 trillion in the next seven years.

The government had previously said India would become a $5 trillion economy by 2025. He mentioned that India’s GDP will be

during the month under review.

$3.5 trillion at current prices at the end of 2022-23.

“Indian economy will be $7 trillion in the next seven years, which is not impossible,” Nageswaran said.

The CEA also said the most important issue is that the US is expected to lower its interest rates in 2024 or 2025, which will have an impact on the Indian rupee.

FIRST INDIA @ AUTO EXPO 2023

New Delhi: Alibaba is learnt to have sold a 3.1% stake - nearly half of its direct shareholding - in digital financial services firm One97 Communications in an indication of exiting the Indian market, sources said on Wednesday. However, Alibaba group firm Ant Financial has not diluted its stake in Paytm and continues to hold 25% of the company. The development follows Alibaba’s stake sale in BigBasket and Zomato.

“Alibaba seems to be making an exit from India as it has sold shares in other investments,” the source said. —PTI

ETHANOL FROM INDIA

New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that Sri Lanka and B’desh have shown their keenness to import ethanol from India. He discussed about ethanol with the government of both the countries. “I was able to discuss this matter with PM of Bangladesh and even the Sri Lankan minister.

Both are keenly interested about import of ethanol from India for adding ethanol into petrol in Bangladesh & Sri Lanka.” —PTI

Central govt’s borrowings may

touch `14.8 lakh crore in FY24

Mumbai (PTI): The Centre as well as state governments are likely to budget for higher market borrowings next fiscal even though the Union Budget may peg a lower-than-expected fiscal deficit at 5.8% of GDP, a report said.

Icra Ratings anticipated that higher redemptions will lead to gross market borrowings of the Centre and states to rise to ` 14.8 lakh crore and ` 24.4 lakh crore, respectively, in FY24 from `14.1 L cr and `22.1 L cr, respectively, in FY2023.

The agency also said the Centre is expected to peg its FY24 fiscal deficit at 5.8% of the GDP, a healthy moderation from 6.4% of GDP projected for FY23.

Despite this, higher redemptions will enlarge the Centre’s gross market borrowings to `14.8 lakh crore in FY24 from ` 14.1 lakh crore in FY23.

India & United States ‘thinking big’: Goyal

Washington (PTI): The Modi government and the Biden administration are “thinking big” in terms of their trade and commerce relationship, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday as he ruled out the previously talked about mini trade deal or a free trade agreement and noted that restoration of GSP is not a priority for New Delhi.

Responding to a question on the mini trade deal, Goyal said “it was too mini” to really merit any great effort on both sides. “We have even forgotten most of those issues. We are looking at much, much bigger ambitions in our trade with the US.”

“The United States is currently not looking at any free trade deals with any country whatsoever, as a matter of their political policy,” the minister said

when asked about the prospects of a free trade deal.

“The FTA is not on the table,” he asserted.

“Rather than that, we are focusing on greater market access. We are focusing on ease of doing business between the two countries, you’re looking at, bilaterally, a much larger footprint between the two countries, for trade, investment and business. And therefore, the small mini trade deals have lost relevance today,” Goyal said.

Mkts close lower as oil, banking stocks dip

Mumbai (PTI): Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty closed with losses in a choppy trade on Thursday as investors preferred a cautious approach ahead of inflation and industrial production data.

Unabated foreign fund outflows also hit the investor sentiment.

The 30-share BSE Sensex declined by 147.47 points or 0.25% to settle at 59,958.03.

During the day, it declined 473.18 points or 0.78% to 59,632.32. The broader NSE Nifty fell 37.50 points or

0.21% to close at 17,858.20.

From the Sensex pack, Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, Tata Motors, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finserv, Asian Paints, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel and ITC were among the major laggards.

UltraTech Cement, Larsen & Toubro, HCL Technologies, Maruti, Nestle and HDFC were among the major winners.

RUPEE GAINS 11 PAISE TO CLOSE AT 81.57

AGAINST US DOLLAR

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee gained 11 paise to close at 81.57 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, tracking the overall weakness in the American currency. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened strong at 81.54, but lost ground to quote an intraday low of 81.74 against the greenback. It finally ended at 81.57, registering a rise of 11 paise.

EVs take centre stage this year

Greater Noida: Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show, taking place from January 11 to 18 at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, is a highly anticipated event showcasing some of the topmost vehicles from leading automotive brands in India. The 16th edition of the biennial fest for petrolheads will be open to the general public from Friday onwards from 11 am to 7 pm.

Moving forward with the ‘Go Green’ initiative, the main focus of the expo is on electric vehicles. A total of 70+ manufacturers, including over 30 pure EV manufacturers, launched and unveiled their vehicles during the two-day media preview, i.e., January 11 and 12.

ern marvel Harrier in the all-wheel drive variant in its EV avatar. Tata Altroz is equipped with a more powerful engine in its Racer edition, in addition to a CNG variant. The Curvv Concept ICE version, based on the Gen2 platform of Tata, also captured eyeballs at the event.

room), and Hector Plus. It has also taken covers off a new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, Euniq 7 MPV, besides the MG4 EV hatchback and eHS PHEV SUV. BYD, a new entrant in the Indian automotive sector, unveiled its luxury electric sedan BYD Seal, which is expected to be available for sale by the end of 2023.

The 16th Edition Auto Expo – The Motor Show 2023, was officially inaugurated on Thursday by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Government of India and Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister for

Maruti Suzuki is also making headlines with the launch of its SUVs, the 5-door Jimny and Fronx (Baleno-based platform), adding to its SUV lineup consisting of Brezza and Grand Vitara.

The company has also opened bookings for the newly launched Jimny and Fronx at their NEXA dealerships. Another highlight at the Maruti Suzuki arena was their Concept Electric SUV eVX.

Another marquee car manufacturer in India, Toyota, welcomed the visitors with its new generation Land Cruiser (LC300), alongside a red-colored Hilux Concept kitted out with specialist off-roading modifications.

While Hyundai unveiled its all-electric SUV, Ioniq 5 (priced at `44.95 lakhs), Kia Motors came up with the SUV Concept, Kia Concept EV9, along with its fourth-gen Carnival (KA4).

Apart from the boom in

EVs in cars, two-wheelers, and even the three-wheeler market, commercial sector led by Ashok Leyland, JBM Auto, and VE Commercial Vehicles (a Volvo-Eicher joint venture) showcased various advanced mobility solutions, including Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) technology.

SRI LANKA & B’DESH KEEN TO IMPORT

VEGETABLE OILS IMPORT RISES TO 15.66 LAKH TONNES

Garvit Narang

Delhi (PTI): India’s industrial production rose by 7.1% in November 2022 after contracting in October, according to official data released on Thursday. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew by 1% in November 2021. As per the IIP data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), the manufacturing sector’s output grew by 6.1% in November 2022. The mining output rose by 9.7% and power generation increased by 12.7%

Blow to Cong as nominee opts out of Council race

2ND FRONT

Junior-most Thackeray, Tejas, gearing up for political debut?

First India Bureau

Mumbai (PTI): In an embarrassment for the Congress ahead of polls to the Maharashtra Legislative Council, official party candidate Sudhir Tambe on Thursday announced his withdrawal from the race and said his son will contest from the constituency he currently represents.

Elections to graduates and teachers constituencies of the Council will be held on January 30 and Thursday was the last day for filing nominations.

Sudhir Tambe has been representing the Nashik Division Graduates’ constituency in the Upper House of the legislature for the last three terms (18 years) and was renominated by the party from the seat for a fresh term.

Announcing the withdrawal, the senior Tambe said his son Satyajit will contest the polls as the party has decided to promote youths in politics.

However, on Thursday Satyajit Tambe filed his nomination as an independent and asserted he was still associated with the Congress even as he sought support from the Bharatiya Janata Party

—Sayajit

Aurangabad (FIB): Lauding the policies of the current Maharashtra government, the state unit chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party said many leaders and workers of opposition outfits are ready to join his party. He was speaking to reporters while his colleague Kiran Patil filed a nomination for the teachers’ constituency. “The BJP is in talks with many leaders. Due to the policies of the current (Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis) government, many persons from opposition parties want to join the BJP. Some of the names will shock the people of the state,” he claimed. About 1,500 Congress workers joined the BJP amid the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra as there is a lack of leadership in the opposition party, he also said, adding that Uddhav Thackeray was “comprising” to partner with Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi as he was “unable to handle his own party”.

(BJP), which is part of the Eknath Shinde-led coalition government in the state.

“Youths have been leading in various sectors and hence the party has decided to field a youth like Satyajit from the Nashik Graduates’ constituency.

Technical problem is that the party had given the ‘AB’ (nomination) form in my name, but we had already communicated to the leadership that Satyajit would be contesting the polls,” said the outgoing legislator.

The AB form indi -

(Satyajit Tambe) will contest as a candidate of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

—Sudhir

cates a party’s official nominee in an election.

“(Satyajit Tambe) will contest as a candidate of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA),” Sudhir Tambe had said.

The MVA is the Opposition alliance consisting of the Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

However, Satyajit Tambe told reporters: “You all know that deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has a lot of affection for me.

I wish the BJP votes for me in the elections.”

The state BJP said it may consider supporting the junior Tambe.

“If Tambe approaches us and seeks our support, we can consider it,” state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule shared.

Mumbai: Ever since Chief Minister Eknath Shinde broke away from the Shiv Sena with 40 MLAs in June, former CM Uddhav Thackeray and his family have been battling to hold on to the legacy of Sena founder, the late Balasaheb Thackeray. During this time, Uddhav’s younger son Tejas, has been firmly out of the political arena, focusing on his endavours as a wildlife photographer.

Now, all that might be set to change, with posters bearing Tejas’s image and the caption “Today’s calm, tomorrow’s storm!” have come up in Mumbai’s Girgaon area, sparking rumours of an iminent debut.

Girgaon branch chief Nilesh (Bala) Ahirekar

and sub-divisional convenor Vishal Sagvekar are credited with putting up the posters.

“We see Balasaheb in Tejas Thackeray. Balasaheb had said that Tejas is like me. Youngsters are also inclined towards Tejas. Therefore, we feel that Tejas

NO POLITICS SANS COMPROMISE, SHIRSAT ADVISES AMBEDKAR

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Following Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar’s announcement that he would not ally with the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde since the latter was in a partnership with the Bharatiya Janata Party, MLA Sanjay Shirsat had some advice for Ambedkar.

“In politics, compromises have to be made

should enter politics soon,” Ahirkar said.

Ahirkar also lauded Tejas’s older brother and former environment minister Aaditya Thackeray.

“Aditya’s vision is tremendous. His style of administrative work and his skill in manag-

ing public affairs are completely different. We appreciate Aditya’s leadership but everyone’s way of working is different. If Tejas becomes active in Shiv Sena, his pure presence will inspire us and boost the enthusiasm of young Shiv Sainiks,” he added.

Sambhaji: Once & future Dharamveer, says Nitesh Rane

First India Bureau

somewhere,” Shirsat, who is part of the Shinde-led group, said, adding that alliances cannot be formed without compromise.

Anushka moves Bombay HC against Sales Tax dept orders

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Actor Anushka Sharma has moved the Bombay High Court challenging two orders passed by the deputy commissioner of Sales Tax raising dues for 201213 and 2013-14 assessment years under the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act.

A division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Abhay Ahuja on Thursday directed the Sales Tax Department to respond to her pleas and posted the matter for further hearing on February 6. Sharma has sought

that the court quash and set aside the orders passed by the Sales Tax department.

She has filed four petitions for the assessment years 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16. The actor filed the petitions last week after the HC in December 2022 refused to entertain a petition filed by Sharma’s taxation consultant Shrikant Velekar challenging the Sales Tax department orders.

According to Sharma’s petitions, she performed in films and at award ceremonies as a performer as part of a

tri-party agreement with her agent, Yashraj Films Pvt Ltd and producers/ event organizers. The assessing officer levied Sales Tax not on film

consideration but on product endorsements and anchoring at award functions holding that Sharma had transferred her performer’s rights,

PLEA SAYS

Sharma’s petitions say she performed in films and at award ceremonies as part of a tri-party agreement. However, the assessing officer levied Sales Tax on product endorsements and anchoring at award functions holding that Sharma had transferred her performer’s rights

the pleas said.

For 2012-13, the Sales Tax demand inclusive of interest was Rs1.2 crore on Rs12.3 crore consideration and for the year

SMOOTH RIDE

2013-14, it was Rs1.6 crore on nearly Rs17 crore consideration.

The pleas contended that the copyrights of videos always remain with the producer who is the owner of the same.

“Unless it is established that there is sale of goods (tangible or intangible), sales tax cannot be levied,” the plea said.

“The petitioner submits that as an actor does not possess any copyright in the film, the question of transferring/selling the same to any other person or producer does not arise,” the petitions said.

Mumbai: Even as the controversy over Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar’s comment that Sambhaji Maharaj was not a religious hero continues to simmer, BJP leader Nitesh Rane continued his attack on the former leader of opposition.

Following Pawar’s comments, Rane had launched a campaign to put up 'Dharamveer Maharaj' stickers on vehicles in Kankavali and also criticized NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad and MP Amol Kolhe over the issue in Wardha on Wednesday.

Earlier, Rane had claimed that the controversy on whether Sambhaji Maharaj was Dharamveer or Swarajya Rakshak was caused by Kolhe’s serial Challa.

“For many generations, we have been calling Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Dharamveer. Our previous generation also called him Dharamveer. Sambhaji Maharaj will be known as Dharamveer for the

coming generation too. Now someone wakes up and comes up with new things to keep their serial running. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was a hero of religion,” he added.

“Someone writes something on the paper, and Ajit Pawar reads it out. Do you want to erase the title that Sambhaji Maharaj has held for years because of Amol Kolhe?” Rane asked.

“He plays Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with Amol Kolhe’s money. He is elected for namesake only. We will defeat him in 2024. No one will recognize him after removing his beard. It is only for serials,” remarked Rane.

Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link to open for traffic in Nov: CM Shinde

Of the total 22km length of ‘the longest sea bridge in the country’, a 16.5km stretch is above the sea.

Mumbai (PTI): Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said 90% civil work of the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) has been completed and the bridge will be open for traffic in November this year.

According to an official release, Shinde said once the bridge opens for traffic, it will be possible to travel from Sewri in central Mumbai to Chirle in Navi Mumbai in 15-20 minutes. The Open Road Tolling System would mean vehicles do not have to stop on the bridge to pay tolls, he said.

MTHL will be the first in India to use the ORT system, which is currently used in Singapore, officials said.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a Maharashtra government agency, is the implementing authority for the six-lane MTHL project, which is being financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The MMRDA on Wednesday successfully launched the first

longest Orthotropic Steel Deck (OSD) in package-2 of MTHL in the presence of CM Shinde, the authority said in a press release.

The first longest OSD of package-2 of about 22km long Trans-Harbour link between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai is 180m long and weighs 2,300 tonnes.

MTHL’s package-2 has 32 OSD spans and of these 15 spans have already been launched, the release said.

THE

Of the total 22km length of ‘the longest sea bridge in the country’, a 16.5km stretch is above the sea

His son joins fray as independent, BJP drops hints of extending support

If Tambe approaches us and seeks our support, we can consider it.

—Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Maha BJP chief

Dy CM Devendra

Fadnavis has a lot of affection for me. I wish the BJP votes for me in the elections.

Tambe, candidate

Tambe, outgoing legislator

‘OPPN LEADERS WANT TO JOIN BJP DUE TO CURRENT GOVT’

Tejas Thackeray (left) with his father Uddhav and elder brother Aaditya. —FILE PHOTO

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane. —FILE PHOTO

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

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

SARSON KA SAAG

This is one of the most famous Punjabi winter recipes.

Sarson ka saag topped with handmade butter and served with makki di roti not only warms the tongue but also the body.

MAKKI DI ROTI

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

FLAVOURS OF THE LOHRI FESTIVAL!

saag topped with white butter is unbeatable.

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

PINDI CHOLE

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

ATTA LADOO

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

BESAN LADOO

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

MOOLI PARATHA

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

Paratha, Paneer Paratha & Aloo Paratha.

GOBI PAKORA

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

PEANUT CHIKKI OR GAJAK

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

MATAR PANEER

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

CHOLE MASALA DISH

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

DAL MAKHANI

This is a classic Punjabi len til-based dish. Dal makhani is a dish prepared with whole black gramme and kidney beans. Dal makhani is com monly offered during wed dings, engagements, and other social gatherings in

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

PALAK PANEER

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

di lakh lakh vadhaiyan! Lohri

MITALI DUSAD mitalidusad01@gmail.com

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

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

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

VEER ZAARA - LOHRI:

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

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

MAACHISCHAPPA CHAPPA:

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

TANU WEDS MANUSAADI GALI:

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

DIL DHADAKNE DOGALLAN GOODIYAN: Gaallan Goodiyan is a popular Lohri song which celebrates fami ly get together. It fea tures Anil Kapoor, Pri yanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Farhan Akhtar and Shefali Shah.

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

SHEHZADA ARRIVES IN STYLE!

taken up the role of an action hero in the trailer while maintaining his hilarious comic timing. The action-packed trailer video begins with Aaryan beating up villains in back-toback action sequences.

The trailer of

in an event held in Mumbai on January 12, 2023. The film is scheduled to have a the atrical release on Febru ary 10, 2023. The grand event was held at Bandra’s Gaiety Galaxy. It was graced by the me dia and fans.

Aary an has successfully

The trailer gradually introduces the other characters in the trailer video. In the trailer, Aaryan seems to have his eyes on a mansion that Rawal doesn’t let him enter. But, following a

tragic incident, Aaryan gets to know that he is actually the son of the owner of the same mansion and he goes forward protecting his family and property.

Sanon plays the role of his love inter -

The duo arrived at the event in their fashion best while Kirti Opted for a Red Thigh Length Checkered One Piece, and Kartik kept it casual in all-black attire.

Producer Bhushan Kumar was also seen at the launch as the team unveiled the trailer.

Kartik hopes that Shehzada becomes a bigger hit than Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. He said, “I hope Shehzada is a bigger hit than Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. I hope it entertains the audience. I

want more and more people to watch Shehzada.”

He added, “Fingers crossed. I hope Shehzada does well. Our industry needs it. The film is a messy family entertainer, which audience see in huge numbers.”

When a journalist asked Kriti about her experience working with Kartik, she had a hilarious response. She began with a question, “Kartik Aaryan and I look pretty good together, don’t we?” As the

PRIYANKA CHOPRA SHIMMERS IN GOLD

CITY FIRST

Global icon Priyanka Chopra, who is in London to promote a beauty brand, looked simply stunning in a golden tube gown with a plunging neckline as she stepped out for an appearance. PeeCee wore a glittering evening red carpet thigh-high slit gown with a white trenchcoat complement-

Kangana is astounded by SS Rajamouli!

CITY FIRST

The 2023 Golden Globes were a huge success for the 80th time. The esteemed awards ceremony took place on January 11 in Beverly Hills, LA. The first Indian film to receive nominations in two categories was RRR, which was directed by SS Rajamouli, defeated Rihanna and Taylor Swift to win the best song award for Naatu Naatu. Ac tress Kangana Ranaut recent ly lauded SS Rajamouli’s fash ion taste at the Golden Globes 2023 in her Instagram stories.

Kangana, the actress who played Queen, proudly praised SS Rajamou li’s dhoti drape at the ceremony. She shared a picture of SS Rajamouli who posed with MM Keerwani at the Golden Globes Awards 2023. He was seen wearing a red kurta-dhoti paired with a red dupatta. She captioned the story as, ‘Apart from the Golden Globe trophy, the proud display of Indian aesthetics is eyecatching. Never thought the dhoti drape would ever make it to the interna tional red carpet.’

crowd erupted, Kartik interrupted by asking if they were happy or sad about this. He then said, “They are happy.” Kriti then continued, “It was lovely working with him. He is a friend and I am comfortable working with him. It was as entertaining an experience as the film was. Rohit [Dhawan] has worked extremely hard on this.” When Kriti was asked to define Kartik, she said, “I cannot call him lambi tango wala

toh I can call him Educated, talented, Tota Patola.. and cutetola.”

Kartik has reunited with Kriti after Luka Chuppi. The upcoming film is a Hindi remake of the 2020 Telugu action drama film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo starring Allu Arjun and Pooja Hegde. The film, which is bankrolled by Kartik Aaryan, Bhushan Kumar, Allu Arvind, and Aman Gill, has music by Pritam. cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

ing her beautiful look. Giving full boss lady vibes, Priyanka Chopra walked in with elan and met her fans too.

Many impressed fans took to social media to react to photos and videos of Priyanka’s latest look in London. “Pretty is a small word, compared with how gorgeous she is looking tonight,” wrote a fan page on Instagram along with Priyanka’s video from Lon-

don. “How pretty she is,” it added. A fan also praised Priyanka’s gilded look that showed off her curves beautifully and wrote, “Our desi Cleopatra.” Another one commented, “Ab solutely gorgeous and that pretty smile.”

King To Perform At Yas Island

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Arpan Kumar Chandel, better known by his stage name King, is scheduled to perform at the Wireless Festival on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi after making a name for himself with a popular rap song. This year, the Wireless Festival, a significant hip-hop and urban music festival in the UK, will hold its inaugural

event in Abu Dhabi. Alongside international luminaries like Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, Wegz, Black Sherif and Ali Gatie, the hip-hop superstar King, will rep-

resent the Indian subcontinent. King’s career trajectory has been on the rise ever since he took part in the first season of the rap-based reality series “Hustle” in 2019.

Talking about the upcoming festival, King said: “It’s going to be phenomenal to perform with such talented music icons and see India being recognised on the global urban music scene.”

RAKHI BREAKS DOWN!

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ue to her personal life, Rakhi Sawant is currently in the news once more.

The contentious queen, who previously made headlines for wedding businessman Ritesh Kumar, is currently the talk of the town when photos of her alleged nuptials to partner Adil Khan Durrani appeared online. A pic-

ture of Rakhi and Adil’s marriage certificate has been making the rounds on social media since yesterday, and the couple is said to have exchanged vows in a private ceremony.

When discussing Adil Khan Durrani’s denial of their marriage, Rakhi Sawant recently broke down while speaking to a major entertainment blog. The actress revealed some stunning details, including the fact that she changed her religion and wed her husband at her Mumbai home in May of last year. Although Adil had requested her to keep their marriage a secret for a while, she chose to go public with it after seven months.

Priyanka Chahar Choudhary wala

Biggboss : Gori

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Bigg Boss 16 has become a hit season as fans call it the best season of all time. Recently, Well known director and choreographer Farah Khan was also seen in the house saying that after Siddharth Shukla Bigg Boss 16 is the best season of all time.

Popular Haryanvi dancer and former contestant of Bigg Boss Gori Nagori compliments Priyanka Chahar Choudhary and compared Bigg Boss 13 to Bigg Boss 16. She took to Twitter and wrote, “#BB13 is known as #SidharthShukla wala season & #BB16 will always be known as #PriyankaChaharChoudhary wala BiggBoss.”

Actress Priyanka Chahar Choudhary has swayed the viewers of the show with her strong personality and

bold opinions. She has shown a journey of becoming a better version of herself and fans like to call her an inspiration. The actress took all the unfair bashing with a smile on her face and always bounced back stronger. Even after losing the emotional support in the house, the actress continued to play strong. Her fans were so impressed by her strength that they gave her the tag of ‘Sherni’.

The actress is currently trending on social media with the tag #PriyankaIsTheBoss as the actress has impressed her fans and viewers of the show by playing like a boss. Priyanka is considered the top contestant in the house and like the compliment of Gori Nagori, many fans believe that they will remember Bigg Boss 16 by the likes of Priyanka Chahar Choudhary.

the upcoming Hindi action film Shehzada starring Kartik Aaryan

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

Team of Shehzada

Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon

Kartik Aaryan

Priyanka Choudhary

Priyanka Chopra

Spotted

King

Travis Scott

Kangana Ranaut

Rakhi Sawant and Adil Khan Durrani