First India-Mumbai Edition-14th January 2023

WOMAN URINATED ON HER OWN SEAT, ACCUSED TELLS COURT

India can’t be defined in words, but experienced from heart: PM

New Delhi: Highlighting country’s development strides and cultural heritage, PM Narendra Modi on Friday said India cannot be defined in words and can only be experienced from heart.

PM Modi flagged off the world’s longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas in Varanasi via video conferencing on Friday.

He also inaugurated Tent City at Varanasi and laid foundation stones for several other inland waterways projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore.

Modi said, “This is the decade of transforming India’s infrastructure. India has everything that one can imagine. It also has a lot beyond your imagination.

India cannot be defined in words but can only be experienced from the heart because India it always opened her heart for everyone, irrespective of region or religion, creed or country.”

MODI HOLDS MEETING WITH ECONOMISTS AT NITI AAYOG

New Delhi: PM Modi on Friday attended a meeting at NITI Aayog with eminent economists to assess the state of the Indian economy ahead of the Union Budget. PM Modi held this meeting to seek opinions and suggestions of the economists for the Union Budget. According to sources, PM also assessed the state of the Indian economy and its challenges, ahead of the Union Budget. It has been learnt that the economists present told the ministers that they were confident that a global recession is unlikely to have a major impact on the Indian economy. Meanwhile the PM also sought suggestions on how to increase farm income, tackle global uncertainty and ensure a continuous impetus toward growth.

Amit Shah holds high-level meet over security in Jammu & Kashmir

NEW TOURISM ERA FOR KASHI AHEAD WITH GANGA VILAS CRUISE, SAYS YOGI

JOSHIMATH

LAND SUBSIDENCE

Demolition of damaged Hotel Malari Inn starts

First India Bureau

Joshimath: In the wake of the land subsidence crisis in the Joshimath area of Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, the dismantling of Hotel Malari Inn went underway on Friday.

Varanasi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday referred to the Ganga Vilas Cruise launch as the beginning of a “new era of tourism” for Kashi. The Chief Minister attended the launch of the cruise he started his address with the chant of Har Har Mahadev, and pointed out, “Kashi, the oldest city, is world-famous as the spiritual and cultural capital of India. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Kashi has presented itself on the global stage in a new form while maintaining its ancient soul.”

CBRI chief scientist DP Kanungo said that prior training has been given to people and the demolition work will be done as quickly as possible. “We will do the work of dismantling hotel as soon as possible. We have properly trained people and are using mechanical dismantling techniques here,” Kanungo said. Prior to preparation of demolition of Inn on Thursday, the road near hotel Malari Inn was blocked and police and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) officials were deployed.

Kanungo also denied the usage of any type of heavy vibrating machine for the dismantling procedure as they are planning to “save the land”.

Mumbai: Investigation has been started in purchase of

equipment and Covid centre scam during Corona period. In this regard, ED has issued a notice to Bombay Municipal Corporation Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal and he has been summoned on Monday. The notice has been issued in connection with purchase of medical equipment during the Corona period. The investigation in the matter will begin from Monday.

KANJHAWALA DEATH

CASE: 11 PERSONNEL

SUSPENDED

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday suspended 11 police personnel for their alleged negligence while being on duty, when the gruesome accident occurred in the city’s Kanjhawala on January 1. “As approved by the competent authority, a total of 11 Policemen of Rohini District deployed enroute at PCRs and pickets have been suspended,” the Delhi Police said.

Jammu: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday chaired a highlevel meeting with officials in Jammu, over security-related issues in the Union Territory. Shah arrived in Jammu to meet the families of those killed in the twin terror attacks in Rajouri’s Dhangri village.

“I have spoken to all

SLOW SUBSIDENCE UP TO 9 CM RECORDED IN JOSHIMATH IN

MONTHS: ISRO REPORT

`1.5 LAKH EX-GRATIA GIVEN TO AFFECTED FAMILIES, SAYS PUSHKAR SINGH DHAMI

area have been dislocated so far and Rs 1.5 lakh ex gratia is being provided to affected families. Moreover on Friday, Dhami held a cabinet meeting in Dehradun in which key decisions for the area were discussed.

Prez, Shah, Rahul, Nadda others pay last respects to Sharad Yadav at his residence

New

10 dead, 22 injured as Shirdi-bound bus rams into truck

Survivor says driver was overspeeding, PM, CM announce ex-gratia

First India Bureau

Mumbai/Nashik: Ten persons were killed and at least 22 others injured--most of them staffers at a packaging firm and their families-after a private bus on way to the temple town of Shirdi collided with a truck in Nashik district

on Friday morning.

Both vehicles were totalled in the crash.

The administration gave the names of the deceased as Naresh Manohar Ubale, 38, Vaishali Naresh Ubale, 32 (couple), Shravani Suhas Baraskar, 30, Shraddha Suhas Baraskar, 4 (mother-daughter duo), Pramila Prakash Gondhali, 45, Balaji Krishna Mohati, 25, Diksha Santosh Gondhali, 18, Ayushaman alias Sai Prashant Mohati, 5 and Roshni Rajesh Wadekar, 30. A 15-year-old girl is yet to

be identified. The injured were taken to the Government Rural Hos-

announced ex-gratia of Rs2 lakh from the PM National Relief Fund to the next-of-kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs50,000 each, the PMO tweeted.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also announced financial help of Rs5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased while ordering an inquiry into the cause of the accident. He added that the state will bear expenses of the treatment of the injured persons.

Sajid Khan, a survivor, said the bus was

over-speeding and the driver fled the spot after the accident.

More than 50 passengers, including workers of the private company and their family members, were travelling in the bus, said Khan, who was sitting on the last row. “The bus driver was driving at a very high speed and lost control over the wheels, leading to the collision with the truck,” he said.

At least six of the deceased were from Morivali village in Ambernath tehsil, said a local official. More on P3

pital and Yashwant Hospital in Sinnar.

Prime Minister Nar-

endra Modi expressed grief over the loss of life in the incident and

ED SUMMONS BMC COMMISSIONER IQBAL

SINGH CHAHAL

medical

First India Bureau

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags-off world’s longest river cruise - MV Ganga Vilas in Varanasi via a video conference on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI

MV GANGA VILAS

MV Ganga Vilas will begin its journey from Varanasi, PM Modi’s constituency, and sail around 3,200 km in 51 days to reach Dibrugarh in Assam via Bangladesh, traversing across 27 river systems in the two countries.

PM

Staff engaged in shifting of goods from the Malari Inn, ahead of its demolition, in Joshimath of Chamoli on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI

7

Joshimath: Slow subsidence up to 9cm is recorded in Joshimath town over a period of seven months, between April and November 2022, according to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) satellite-based report. “Between 27 December, 2022 and 8 January, 2023, a rapid subsidence event was triggered”, the reports states. The region subsided around 5cm within a span of few days. It is confined to the central part of Joshimath town, says ISRO.

Dehradun: In the wake of a land-subsidence crisis in Joshimath, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said that 99 families from the

seven families of deceased over the phone. I have listened to their words very carefully. The courage of those who lost their lives is an example for country,” Shah said. More on P5

Delhi: Cutting across party lines, top political leaders gathered at Sharad Yadav’s residence in Delhi’s Chhatarpur on Friday to pay their last respect to the socialist stalwart who passed away a day earlier. President Droupadi Murmu, Home

Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and ex-CM of Bihar Rabri Devi were among the leaders who paid tributes to Yadav at his residence.

Last rites to be held at ancestral village in MP

Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays his last respects to former union minister Sharad Yadav, at Chhatarpur in New Delhi on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah with J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha chairs a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, weeks after twin militant attacks in Rajouri, at Raj Bhavan in Jammu on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI

New Delhi: In a fresh twist to the Air-India urination incident, the accused, 34-year-old Shankar Mishra, said on Friday that his co-passenger urinated on her own. Shankar Mishra’s counsel told a Delhi sessions court: “The complainant’s seat was blocked. It wasn’t possible for him (Mishra) to go there. The woman has a problem of incontinence. She urinated on herself. She is a Kathak dancer, 80% of Kathak dancers have this issue.”

TUNISHA SHARMA DEATH CASE: VASAI COURT REJECTS SHEEZAN’S BAIL PLEA

Mumbai: The Vasai Court in Maharashtra on Friday rejected bail plea of TV actor Sheezan Khan, accused in the death case of his co-star and former girlfriend Tunisha Sharma. The court observed, “Sheezan and Tunisha broke their relationship on December 15 after which she died of a panic attack. “After the two parted ways, Tunisha got stressed and depressed,” the Court noted.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar called Yadav’s death “an irreparable loss to Indian politics”.

RENAME PUNE AS JIJAU NAGAR, SAYS NCP LEADER

First India Bureau

Mumbai: In yet another political controversy, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Amol Mitkari on Friday demanded that Pune be renamed as “Jijau Nagar” to honour the memory and contribution of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s mother Jijabai Bhosale.

However, the Hindu Mahasabha pushed back against the demand and said a monument should be built for Jijabai instead.

Incidentally, it is not the first time that the demand has been voiced. Maratha outfit Sambhaji Brigade had put forth the request in the past, but it had found no takers. This time, however, the demand has come from a mainstream political

party.

“It is the wish of all Shiv Bhakts of Maharashtra to name Pune City as Jijau Nagar. In the upcoming Assembly session I will raise

ALWAYS AT ODDS

The Sambhaji Brigade and Hindu Mahasabha often take diametrically opposite positions on various issues. In the past, they have been involved in controversies involving a book written on Chhatrapati Shivaji by James W Laine, playwright Ram Ganesh Gadkari’s bust at Sambhaji Garden and in connection with the removal of a bust of Dadoji Konddev from the Lal Mahal.

against it. Sabha leader Anand Dave said Chhatrapati Shivaji himself never changed Pune’s name. “Instead of this, a big monument dedicated to Rajmata Jijau should be constructed at Lal Mahal. The Hindu Mahasangh has been demanding this for long but it is not happening for some reason,” he said.

No Cong support to MLC Tambe’s son in polls: Patole

Aurangabad/Nagpur: Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Friday said the party will not support independent candidate Satyajit Tambe in the biennial Legislative Council polls, a day after the latter filed nomination when his father and MLC Sudhir Tambe opted out of fray, leaving the party red-faced.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids at 12 different locations on the offices and premises of PSL Ltd, including eight in Mumbai.

The bureau has registered four cases as several banks have charged PSL of defrauding them of Rs217.37 crore.

According to the CBI, the cases were registered based on complaints by Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB), IDBI Bank and ExportImport Bank of India (EXIM Bank).

On Thursday, searches were conducted in Mumbai, Daman, Kutch, Noida and Delhi. “Dur-

ing the searches at the Andheri office of the whole time director of PSL Ltd, Devki Nandan Sehgal, US dollars 90,413 and Rs1.99 crore (approximately) in Indian currency were seized,” said CBI officer.

The first case was registered against PSL by e-Syndicate Bank. The bank has alleged that fraud of Rs30.49 crore.

Oriental Bank of Commerce alleged that the company defrauded it of Rs51.90 crore.

IDBI Bank alleged that PSL defrauded it of Rs29.06 crore.

The fourth complaint is by EXIM Bank, which was allegedly duped of Rs105.92 crore by the company.

this issue,” Mitkari, a member of the state Legislative Council, posted on Twitter.

Jijabai Bhosale is credited with redeveloping a small hamlet

into Pune after making it her home.

The rechristening demand has not gone down well with the Hindu Mahasabha Mitkari’s, which pushed back

IN PEAK FORM

The Sambhaji Brigade and Hindu Mahasabha often take diametrically opposite positions on various issues. In the past, they have been involved in controversies involving a book written on Chhatrapati Shivaji by James W Laine, playwright Ram Ganesh Gadkari’s bust at Sambhaji Garden and in connection with the removal of a bust of Dadoji Konddev from the Lal Mahal.

Patole told in Nagpur that Sudhir Tambe, the outgoing MLC from the Nashik division graduates constituency, “cheated” the Congress by not filing nomination from the seat as he was the party's official candidate. “The Congress will not support Satyajit Tambe’s candidature and the future course of action will be decided after discussion with the leadership,” he said. The Congress was left red-faced on Thursday, the last day for filing nominations for the January 30 MLC polls, when Sudhir Tambe, the party’s official candidate

and a three-time MLC, withdrew from the fray and announced his son would fight the polls.

Thereafter, Satyajit Tambe, a Youth Congress leader, filed nomination as an independent candidate from the constituency and immediately sought support from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Senior Congress lead-

With top international athletes arriving in the city ahead of Sunday’s Tata Mumbai Marathon, (from left) Lemi Berhanu Hayle (Ethiopia), Worknesh Alemu (Ethiopia), defending champion Derara Hurisa (Ethiopia), Philemon Rono (Kenya), Sharon Cherop (Kenya) and Rodah Tanui (Kenya) were seen taking in the sights on Friday.

—PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

ers and former CMs Prithviraj Chavan and Ashok Chavan said the party is left with no candidate in the Nashik division graduates seat after the political somersault by senior Tambe.

Ashok Chavan said the last minute twist in candidature involving the father-son duo was a serious issue and a loss to the party. More on P8

Uorfi Javed files complaint against Wagh with MSCW

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Bigg Boss OTT fame Uorfi Javed has filed a complaint against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Chitra Wagh for her alleged remarks on the actor’s ‘immodest’ dressing sense.

Uorfi’s lawyer Nitin Satpute said that the actor has complained to the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW).

Nagpur (Agencies): A court in Nagpur on Friday sentenced Congress MLA and former minister Sunil Kedar and three others to one-year imprisonment for assaulting power company officials in 2017. A fine of Rs14,000 was also imposed on the accused.

As per the case details, in 2017, there was a dispute between farmers and officials of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co.

Ltd (MSEDCL) overlaying a transmission line in a village in the Nagpur district.

Sunil Kedar —FILE PHOTO

MLA Kedar had reached the village with his supporters to settle the dispute but instead

POLITICAL OUTREACH

ended up assaulting the officials of MSEDCL. A case was registered at Kelwad police station following the scuffle.

Additional Sessions Judge Mangala Mote found the accused guilty of charges under Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and gave a verdict in favour of the prosecution MSEDCL.

A complaint has been filed against Wagh for making threats and criminal intimidation to harm the actor in the public domain. Satpute has also requested preventive action under the relevant section of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

“I have lodged complaint for the offence U/S 153(A)(B), 504, 506, 506(II) of IPC Against BJP party worker Smt Chitra Kishor Wagh for threatening, and criminal intimidation to cause harm to model/actress Uorfi Javed on public domain,” read a message.

QUICK RECAP OF ROW

z Wagh files complaint against Uorfi on January 01 for her ‘indecent’ attires, shares image on social media

z On January 02, Uorfi hits back at the BJP leader, seeks police action against Wagh

z In Instagram post, the “Bepanaah” actor shares an image of Chitra posing with a copy of her complaint with the caption “I’m so proud of myself.”

z Uorfi also takes to Twitter and posts, “Chitra tai Meri Khaas Hai, Future Me Hone Wali Saas Hai.” (Chitra tai is special to me, she is my future mother-in-law)

z Uorfi posts picture of boils on her legs, claims she is “allergic to clothes”

Saffron flag is symbol of RSS’s principles, ideals: Bhagwat

Chhatrapati Shivaji from the historical era.

First India Bureau

Nagpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said Lord Hanuman is the role model from the ancient period for the organization’s volunteers and 17th century Maratha warrior king

He said RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hegdewar and its top leaders MS Golwalkar and Balasaheb Deoras (all three served as Sarsanghchalak) have unequivocally said that the saffron flag, not an individual, is the role model for the Nagpur-based Hindutva organization and its swayamsevaks.

“It (saffron flag) is the symbol of our principles. Our ideals are in tatva (element) form

and the saffron flag is the symbol of that tatva,” the RSS leader said. Bhagwat was addressing a gathering of

‘TO SERVE COUNTRY’

el is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he added.

The RSS chief further said swayamsevaks do not come to Sangh’s shakhas (regular meetings) for their personal fulfilment, but to serve the country.

ing the country makes swayamsevaks very capable human beings and aim for a higher cause in life, said the RSS leader. He asked RSS volunteers to inculcate the values and qualities of Lord Hanuman.

ground Nagpur. “If you want a person as a role model, the three (RSS chiefs) have said from the ancient (puran

kaal) period, our role model is Ram bhakt Lord Hanuman and from the historical period (itihaas kaal), our role mod-

Bhagwat said in the early years of their childhood, swayamsevaks get attracted to programmes at shakhas. But, in their teen years, they realize they have come to the Sangh to serve the country. The thought of serv-

Bhagwat called for working towards making India a ‘Vishwa Guru’ (teacher or knowledge-giver of the world).

“If we work towards this larger cause, coming generations will take India to much greater heights,” he added.

MLA

First India Bureau

Actor and model Uorfi Javed, best known for Big Boss OTT.

LEFT EMBARRASSED…

—FILE PHOTO

Maharashtra Congress unit chief Nana Patole —FILE PHOTO

Bal Swayamsevaks and others on the 160th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand at Yeshwant Stadium

If we work towards larger cause, coming generations will take India to much greater heights, says Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

—FILE PHOTO

HINDU MAHASABHA OBJECTS TO DEMAND BY MLC AMOL MITKARI WHICH SAMBHAJI BRIGADE HAD VOICED PREVIOUSLY

NCP MLC Amol Mitkari

—FILE PHOTO

It is the wish of all Shiv Bhakts of Maharashtra to name Pune City as Jijau Nagar. In the upcoming Assembly session I will raise this issue.

—Amol Mitkari, Nationalist Congress Party MLC

BRAVE PASSENGER’S ACTION SAVES 40 ON MSRTC BUS

L&T cuts 50 trees for Bandra STP; activists outraged

India Bureau

Nashik: A young man’s bravery saved the lives of 40 passengers aboard a Pune-bound Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus on the Solapur-Pune national highway late on Thursday night.

After the bus driver Govind Suryavanshi suffered a heart attack, a man named Sudhir Rane took the wheel and halted the vehicle in the nick of time. According to reports, the incident happened on Solapur-Pune National Highway between 10.30 pm and 11 pm. The bus collided with a metal safety girder after the driver fell unconscious due to the heart attack.

The passengers were alerted after they heard a loud noise.

With the vehicle headed for the backwaters of the Ujani river, Rane took control of the wheel and used the handbrake to halt the bus. He relied on his past experience as a driver to avert a major accident. The bus driver, Govind Suryavanshi, fell unconscious

IN THE NICK OF TIME

After the bus driver Govind Suryavanshi suffered a heart attack, a man named Sudhir

after suffering a heart attack. The vehicle’s control was lost which resulted in it hitting a metal girder on the highway.

Had the bus not been stopped by Rane, it would have fallen into the backwaters of the

Ujani reservoir, stated an official. After the incident, passengers and Rane took the unconscious bus driver to a nearby hospital. He is currently undergoing treatment.

Accidents on highways have become in-

creasingly frequent. As per official records, a total of 139 persons died and 264 were injured in road accidents in Raigad district in 2022. The number has increased from the 124 deaths and 184 injuries reported in 2021, said an official. Almost 80% of the accidents took place on the three arterial routes, namely Mumbai-Goa National Highway 66, Mumbai-Pune Expressway and Mumbai-Pune national highway 04, that pass through the district.

Minister Bhuse meets Nashik accident injured

First India Bureau

Nashik: State minister Dada Bhuse on Friday met the 22 people injured in the collision between a bus and a truck that also left 10 people dead in Nashik district.

Officials said that the 45 passengers of the private tourist bus, which rammed into a truck around 6 am on the NashikAhmednagar road, were employees of a company located in Thane’s Ambernath, and had been heading for the temple town of Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.

Bhuse, who is the district guardian minister, met the injured victims undergoing treatment at various private hospitals in Sinnar taluka and also spoke to their relatives.

“A packaging company based in Am -

‘Facebook friend’ cons woman of `22 lakh

BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

Thane (PTI): A 36-yearold woman from Thane was allegedly cheated of `22.67 lakh by a person who had befriended her on Facebook, police said on Friday. The woman, who works as an online executive, got a friend request from a man in Feb 2022, she told police. After they started chatting regularly, the man told her that he needed money urgently for his mother’s treat-

ment which the woman agreed to. On multiple occasions, she paid him `7,25,000 and allegedly also gave him jewellery worth `15,42,688. When asked to pay her back, he began to avoid her, following which the woman approached the police. A case under Indian Penal Code section 406 (criminal breach of trust) was registered at Vartak Nagar police station. No arrest has been made so far.

JOB SCAM: WOMAN LOSES `5 LAKH

Thane (PTI): A 26-year-old woman was duped of Rs5 lakh by an online fraudster on the pretext of a job, police said on Friday. The victim had seen an advertisement for a job on Instagram which led her to the site demanding some initial payments. A total payment of Rs5,38,173 was made by her over the next six days. But when she contacted the numbers provided to her, there was no response. Suspecting fraud, she approached Chitalsar police station with a complaint.

INSOLVENCY RESOLUTION

bernath had organized the Shirdi trip for its employees and had arranged 15 buses for the trip,” he told reporters later, adding that the state government will bear all medical expenses of the injured victims.

After the recent accident on NashikAurangabad highway, which had claimed 13 lives and injured many, the authorities are working to identify accident-prone areas (black spots) in the city and district, the minister said.

Mumbai: Activists have alleged that Larsen & Toubro, which has been awarded the contract for a large Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Bandra Reclamation by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), has illegally cut as many as 50 fullgrown trees at the site.

The project is one of the seven STP plants for which work will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the city on January 19. The plants are being set up as a part of the MCGM’s ambitious Rs26,000crore Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project.

Cutting trees without the MCGM’s permission is a serious offence.

Neela Shinde, a local resident who lives in the last building at the Reclamation, said, “I had recently gone to Pune. When I returned, I could see that much of

the area had been cleared of trees.”

On condition of anonymity, another resident stated, “Work on the plant is to be inaugurated by the PM in a few days and it is shocking that L&T has chopped off the trees without sanction from the MCGM.”

A local NGO named Mazi Mumbai has lodged a complaint in this regard with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal. It has also submitted evidence of the trees being chopped to set up a project office. Members have asked for filing of a police complaint and action against L&T and MCGM officials for allowing “this illegality”.

MMRDA gets safety certification for Phase II of Metro Line 2A & 7

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The testing of rolling stock, signalling system, civil works, track and speed trials of Phase-ll of Metro Line 2A and 7 was completed by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Thursday, received the safety certificate, which are mandatory for public use of metro rail system.

After a thorough inspection, the CMRS granted the certificates.

“MMRDA has received the safety certificate for the commercial operations today. We are ready to provide world-

class service to the Mumbaikars. The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister inspected Gundavali Metro station in view of Commissioning of Phase II,” said SVR Srinivas, Commissioner, MMRDA.

Notably, Andheri west station on Line 2A of Mumbai Metro is the last station of Phase 2 section, which consists of a Property Development Level, Concourse

Level and Platform Level, the MMRDA said on Friday. It said that the Andheri west station has three dedicated entry and exits, connecting both sides and footpaths of Link Road.

Andheri west station of Metro Line-2A is connected with DN Nagar station on Line1 at two levels for seamless passenger movement between the two Metro lines.

NCLT green signal for Jet Airways ownership transfer to Jalan-Kalrock

bidder more time to pay the dues to the creditors.

Mumbai (PTI): The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Friday approved the transfer of ownership of bankrupt Jet Airways to the Jalan Kalrock consortium and gave the winning

The latest rulings have come on two petitions filed by the consortium. One plea pertained to approval of transfer of ownership and the second one related to extension of time for the payment of dues to the creditors.

Earlier, the tribunal had given time till November 16, 2022 for the consortium to clear the airline’s debts. The lat-

est orders also come against the backdrop of differences between the consortium and the lenders of the airline, which has been grounded for nearly four years now.

On Friday, the tribunal allowed JalanKalrock consortium’s plea to transfer the ownership of the airline.

A two-member NCLT Mumbai bench of Pradeep Narhari Deshmukh and Shyam Babu

Gautam said as the effective date of the resolution plan has been taken as November 16,

the consortium will get six months from the said date to make the payments to the

CUTS BOTH WAYS

The counsel for the lenders Rohan Rajadhyaksha had sought a two-week stay on the order but the plea was rejected by the tribunal.

creditors.

Now, the consortium will have time until mid-May this year to

make the payments to all the creditors, including workmen and employees.

The consortium comprises UAE-based nonresident Indian Murari Lal Jalan, who will hold shares in Jet Airways in his personal capacity, and Florian Fritsch who will own the stake through his investment holding company Kalrock Capital Partners, Cayman.

Hand transplant recipients Monika More and Prathmesh Tawde fly a kite to celebrate Makar Sankranti, while also raising awareness about organ donation, in Mumbai on Friday.

—PHOTO

Jet Airways has been grounded for four years now, for lack of funds. —FILE PHOTO

New owners have until mid-May to clear dues to creditors, including staff

First

Vehicle hit a metal girder after the driver fell unconscious following a heart attack

Sudhir Rane pulled the handbrake, halting the speeding bus before it fell into the Ujani river

Incident occurred on Solapur-Pune National Highway late on Thursday night. —FILE PHOTO

Rane took the wheel and halted the vehicle in the nick of time. According to reports, the incident happened on Solapur-Pune National Highway between 10.30 pm and 11 pm. The bus collided with a metal safety girder after the driver fell unconscious due to the heart attack. The passengers were alerted after they heard a loud noise.

Dada Bhuse, guardian minister, Nashik district.

—FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau

As per locals, the trees have been axed without Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai’s permission. —FILE PHOTO

PM Modi to launch sewage treatment plant on Jan 19 during Mumbai visit

INDIAN ARMY

EPITOME OF VALOUR AND VALUES

the country unmindful of own feelings, emotions and hardships.

l Exemplary personal conduct.

The Army Values. The defining character of Armed Forces; entrusted with the security of our nation, is built upon an intrinsic value-based system. Essential qualities of professional commitment, loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honour, integrity and personal courage emanate from this ecosystem and ethical conduct of soldiers is driven by this value system. Soldiers learn these values during training and then live with them, every day.

CHALLENGES OF 21ST CENTURY

GANGA VILAS GIVES RIVER TOURISM AN IMPRESSIVE START FROM VNS

ndia is entering a historic phase with the Varanasi to Dibrugarh luxury cruise on the Ganga launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 3,200 km, 51-day cruise is the longest river cruise in the world for those who can afford Rs 25,000 per person per day or Rs 20 lakh per person for the entire luxury trip. With 35 Swiss tourists aboard Ganga Vilas is making an impressive beginning.

As India emerges to find its rightful place in the world, the Indian Army will continue to be pivotal towards building a strong, modern & resurgent India.

Its ‘Nation First’ ecosystem built upon the ethos of a secular, motivated, a political & professional force remain the pedestal of national security, growth and prosperity

Leadership is an art and not a science because leaders convert defeat into victory. Military Leadership is at the highest pedestal of leadership because leading men into battle is a privilege given to a select few. From times immemorial, Indian Armed Forces have had a saga of finest military ethos and values, so essential for victory in battle. It’s an awesome responsibility to train, motivate and lead your men to victory.

Military service to the nation is, therefore, a tradition of bravest of brave. The country, proud of it’s soldiers, certainly appreciates their basic values like discipline, integrity, loyalty, patriotism, selfless service and courage.

UNCHANGED ETHOS OF SOLDIERING

Ethics, Values and Moral are the binding force of a soldier. The best example of leadership values comes from the great epic ‘Mahabharata’.

Great warrior ‘Bhishma Pitamah’, lying on a bed of arrows, gave these three lessons in ‘Rashtra Dharma’ and ’Principles of Leader-

ship’ to victorious pandavasl “First, the conduct of a leader at all times must act in a righteous manner to perform ‘Rashtra Dharma’.

l Second, a leader must subordinate his own interest to the cause and to the welfare of the men, he is leading.

l Third, a leader must not be too indulgent and harsh. Fast forward, 5000 years to Indian Military Academy where the Gentlemen cadets complete their training and take the oath as Officers. The Chetwode motto which remains the guiding principle throughout their military career is as under-

“The safety, honour and welfare of your country come first, always and every time.

The honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command come next.

Your own ease, comfort and safety come last, always and every time.”

There are striking similarities between what ‘Bhisma Pitamah’ said and what ‘General Phillips Chetwode’ has laid down. The ethos and value system of military leadership remains same from Mahabharat till date.

THE MILITARY ECOSYSTEM

The Army reflects the character of the nation’s

heritage, values and culture. The army ecosystem has to be in harmony with the society to co-exist and yet be the beacon of hope for all. The concept of duty, service, and self-sacrifice has always been associated with military leadership. Three golden words - Ethics, Moral and Values are the binding force of a military man. Over the years, the Army has repeatedly examined and articulated institutional values and working ethos in the rapidly changing socioeconomic environment of the country.

The Warrior Ethos. The Indian soldier is amongst the best in the world because he is imbued with the qualities of ‘Nation First’. The warrior ethos form the heart of the military profession inspires them to carry out extraordinary acts of courage. There are certain qualities of head and heart that separate the man in ‘Olive Greens’ from the rest of the world. Some of these are flagged as underl ‘Nation First’ attitude l Last hope of the nation therefore have to win all the time l Follow Rastra Dharm overcoming own affiliations. l Secular Credentials l Apolitical Nature. l Role Model for the Society l Passion to do and die for

The 21st century, is being labeled as the information age. The changing nature of warfare, equipped with ‘Robots’, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning have placed fresh challenges on soldiering. The recent killing of Al-Qaeda Chief Ayman alJawahiri by a drone fired missile, is a technology demonstrator. The strategic aim in future conflicts will be to subdue the enemy without fighting. Thus, the context of Ethics, Morale, and Values of military leaders and soldiers will be defined in a new dimension.

CONCLUSION

As India emerges to find its rightful place in the world, the Indian Army will continue to be pivotal towards building a strong, modern and resurgent India. Its ‘Nation First’ ecosystem built upon the ethos of a secular, motivated, apolitical and professional force remain the pedestal of national security, growth and prosperity. The Indian Army has a long and illustrious record; it has excelled both in war and peace. The future will demand increasingly higher levels of professionalism. Human resource is precious in Army because it’s the man behind the machine that wins war. The respect, dignity, wellbeing and stature of its soldier in turn must, thus, be preserved and garnered by the nation. The nation salutes the Valour and Values of Indian Army on 75th Army Day.

SAVING JOSHIMATH IS CRITICAL

Joshimath, now famous for its land subsidence due to man’s rapacity in the name of development, faces an uncertain future but Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is optimistic about the start of Chardham yatra in May followed by pilgrims thronging the Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines without giving any firm assurance on relief to be provided to hundreds of people who are in the process of losing their homes and livelihoods in the town.

Displaced families have been given shelter in a Gurdwara and other places and so far a compensation of only Rs 1.5 lakh has been promised, while Dhami asked the media not to spread panic by

saying that the entire Joshimath was sinking. The state government must not delay payment of adequate compensation, proper rehabilitation and shifting of schools so that children do not lose out on their studies.

The traumatised families

have to come to terms with this natural calamity, forget about Joshimath and think of ways to make a fresh beginning. The state govt must ponder over their plight and look at Joshimath’s future more seriously after the warning by ISRO which, based on satellite images, has said that the entire town in Chamoli district was rapidly sinking. To give an idea, the satellite images indicate that the town sank 5.4 cm in just 12 days.

The challenge is now for geologists to salvage the situation and prevent further sinking of Joshimath, which is important not only for religious and tourism purposes but also for strategic reasons as it borders China and road construction is crucial.

Inland waterways have been a neglected area of tourism and travel. One would occasionally come across incidents of a boat, overloaded with villagers either headed for or returning from a fair or a temple, capsizing resulting in deaths. Cruise is a new element introduced by the government to increase passenger traffic and make inland waterways a profitable business. The objective is to increase passenger traffic from the present 0.4 million to 4 million. That will result in pushing up revenue from $110 million to $ 5.5 billion. All this while keeping the rivers clean!

Perform

on the Supreme Lord. Renounce attachment to the fruits. Be even-tempered in success and failure: for it is this evenness of temper which is meant by yoga.

As India begin their campaign from the #BirsaMundaStadium, I wish them well. May they win hearts with their performances. I also extend my best wishes to all the participating teams at the #HWC2023. Odisha, as the cynosure of international hockey is a proud moment for all.

MAHENG/2022/14652

Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No.22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai-400701.

Published at Plot No. 3 Scheme C of Manglorean Garden Home, CHS Limited, Survey No. 5, 6C (Part) Ville Parle East, Mumbai 400057. Phone 022-46031417.

Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra

Editor: Kartikey Dev Singh responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal

Cruising through the richness & diversity of India’s timeless heritage! Heralding a new age of tourism with MV Ganga Vilas & the grand Tent City on the banks of Ganga ji.

#LongestRiverCruise

Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

every action with you heart fixed

Bhagavad Gita

The challenge is now for geologists to salvage the situation and prevent further sinking of Joshimath, which is important not only for religious and tourism purposes but also for strategic reasons as it borders China

(Some Goals are so Worthy, it’s Glorious even to Fail)

MAJ GEN

CP SINGH (RETD) The writer is a scholar soldier accredited with MA, MSc, LLB, MBA, M Phil (Def Mgt) and M Phil (International Strategic Affairs)

RAJOURI TERROR ATTACKS PROBE GIVEN TO NIA: SHAH

Union Home Minister says the J&K Police will actively assist NIA in investigation

Jammu (PTI): Union

Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the probe into the recent terror attacks in Rajouri in J&K has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

At a press conference after a day-long visit here, Shah said all terror incidents in Jammu in the past one-and-ahalf years will also be probed by the NIA and the J&K Police will actively assist in the investigation.

“We have yesterday handed over the probe into the Rajouri incident to the NIA,” he said.

The twin terrorist attacks on January 1 and 2 in Rajouri had claimed seven lives while 14 people were injured.

Shah also had a security review meeting with security agencies and top J&K officials.

“We have discussed how to further strength-

en the security grid. The security agencies conveyed to me that they are 100 per cent prepared to deal with any situation and stop such incident in future,” he said.

Shah said the meeting had a 360-degree view of the prevailing situation and threadbare discussion on the terror support system. A time-bound action

IN THE COURTYARD

ACTOR NORA FATEHI RECORDS STATEMENT BEFORE DELHI COURT IN EXTORTION CASE

Akriti Mahendru in the case, also involving alleged fraudster Sukesh Chandrashekhar and actor Jacqueline Fernandez, being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing of the Delhi Police. Fatehi had earlier also appeared before the EOW.

SC: CAN MUSLIM GIRL MARRY PERSON OF HER CHOICE POST-PUBERTY?

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights’ plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order that a Muslim girl can marry a person of her choice after attaining puberty. The top court held that the High Court judgment should not be relied on as a precedent in any other case.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to a medical practitioner, who also claimed to be a whistleblower in the Vyapam scam, in a case of alleged violence during a protest in Madhya Pradesh. A bench took note of the submissions made by advocates that accused Anand Rai, an ophthalmologist, is in jail for last 60 days in connection with a criminal case.

SADHVI PRACHI SURRENDERS IN COURT IN 2013 MUZAFFARNAGAR RIOT CASE

Muzaffarnagar: VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi on Friday surrendered in a special MP/MLA court here following the non-bailable warrants issued against her for failing to appear in connection with a case of violation of prohibitory orders and inciting communal tension during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. Special judge Mayank Jaiswal recalled the warrants and fixed January 20 for next hearing in the matter.

plan has been drawn up, which envisages tightening of security grid across all areas of Jammu division, within three months, he said.

Shah said the security agencies have assured him that there will be foolproof security in the Union territory.

He said he had come to Jammu region with the objective of visiting

the affected families of the terror attacks in Rajouri but could not go there due to bad weather.

“However, I have spoken to the family members of each of the seven victims by over phone. The families said that they are ready to fight back the terrorists. It is really heartening to hear such things from the them,” he said.

AT HIGH-LEVEL MEET, AMIT SHAH TAKES

STOCK OF SECURITY

Jammu: Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Jammu on Friday to meet the families of those killed in the terror attack in Rajouri. He was received at Jammu Airport by LG Manoj Sinha. He held a high-level meeting with officials in Jammu over security-related issues in the Union Territory. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also attended the meeting. The visit comes in the wake of twin terror attacks in Rajouri.

UNION HM ARRIVES IN JAMMU, REVIEWS SECURITY SITUATION

Jammu: Amid tight security arrangements, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday arrived here on a day-long visit to Jammu region and reviewed security situation of J&K. Shah’s visit came days after twin terrorist attacks in which 7 minority community persons were killed and 14 others injured in Dhangri hamlet. Earlier on January 9, Shah had held a crucial meeting with top leaders of the J&K unit of the BJP.

BHARAT JODO YATRA

“Plurality under threat, India will reject hatred”

New Delhi (PTI): Divisive forces are attempting to turn our diversity against us but India will reject hatred and vicious agenda cannot go on any longer, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said in a letter that will be distributed among people as part of the party’s follow-up campaign to the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Along with Gandhi’s letter, party workers will also distribute a charge sheet against the Narendra Modi government as part of ‘Haath se Haath Jodo Abhiyan’ that will be run from January 26 to March 26 at block, district and state levels, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told a press conference at AICC headquarters.

“As part of this campaign, 2.5 lakh gram panchayats, six lakh villages and about 10 lakh election booths will be covered,” he said, adding the Congress has never undertaken such a programme at this scale.

WHY NO COVID PROTOCOL ISSUED AFTER

RaGa VOWS JOBS

& CHEAPER FUEL

New Delhi: In his letter, Rahul Gandhi has promised cheaper petrol and diesel, gas cylinder at Rs 500, jobs and harmony.

The letter is signed off as “aapka apna Rahul (your own Rahul)”. The letter is written in all the regional languages of country.

RAHUL’S LETTER TO REACH EACH HOUSE

Himachal restores Old Pension Scheme for 1.36L employees

Shimla (Agencies):

The just over a month old Congress government in Himachal Pradesh on Friday fulfilled a key poll promise, with the Cabinet, at its first meeting, deciding to provide the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to all government employees, covered under the defined contributory pension scheme or National Pension System (NPS), on the pattern of partyruled Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

This will benefit about 1.36 lakh NPS employees, an official statement said.

The Cabinet also decided to constitute a Cabinet sub-committee for finalising the roadmap for implementation of its poll promises — creating one lakh employment opportunities and granting Rs 1,500 to all women in the age group of 18 to 60 years.

Presided over by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu,

Parliament’s Budget Session from Jan 31

New Delhi (PTI): Parliament’s Budget Session will begin from January 31 with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The Session will have 27 sittings and will continue till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Friday.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will

HOCKEY WORLD CUP

present the Union Budget on February one.

The first part of the Budget Session will conclude on February 14, he said.

Parliament will reconvene on March 12 for the second part of the Budget Session.

CM SUKHU TO CHAIR MLAs’ MEET ON 30-31

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will preside over the meeting with MLAs to map out priorities in the annual budget for the year 2023-24 on January 30-31 at HP Secretariat, said Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday.

The meeting with MLAs of Chamba, Shimla and LahaulSpiti districts will be held from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

grams

PM to flag-off Vande Bharat train from Secunderabad

New Delhi (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag-off the Vande Bharat Express train connecting Secunderabad with Visakhapatnam on Sunday at 10:30 AM via video conferencing, an official statement from the PMO said on Friday.

This will be the eighth Vande Bharat Express train introduced by Indian Railways.

It will be the first one connecting the Telugu-

Odisha to give `10L each to Rohidas, Xess

Rourkela (ANI):

Patnaik on Friday announced a Rs 10 lakh reward each for Amit Rohidas and Nilam Sanjeep Xess - both players are from Odisha - and are a part of the India squad for FIH Odisha Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023.

Both Rohidas and Xess made it to the Indian team that will begin its campaign against Spain on Friday. Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Rohidas is also dep-

uty to Indian team captain Harmanpreet Singh. He has 125 international caps to his name, but the defender is always used as an alternative during penalty corners and has scored 18 international goals.

From being an inand-out player to becoming the vice-captain of the Indian hockey team, Amit Rohidas has quietly risen up the ranks with some outstanding performances in recent years. Amit Rohidas made his sen-

ior India debut in 2013 but it took him a while to become the team’s mainstay in defence.

Guarding the goal in defence with Rohidas is

local lad Sanjeep Xess. With 30 international caps and five goals Sanjeep Xess, who hails from Kadobahal village, a few kilometres away

from the World Cup venue, will look to enthuse the home crowd with his presence at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.

It will be a proud moment for Sundargarh, ‘the Cradle of Hockey’, when the two players will go to the middle of the pitch donning Indian jerseys. The crowd at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela is surely going to get behind Rohidas and Sanjeep Xess every time they receive the ball.

speaking states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, covering a distance of around 700 km, added the statement.

The train will have stoppages at Visakhapa-

tnam, Rajahmundry and Vijayawada stations in Andhra Pradesh and at Khammam, Warangal and Secunderabad stations in Telangana.

The indigenously designed train set of Vande Bharat Express is equipped with state-ofthe-art passenger amenities. The statement added that it will provide rail users with a faster, more comfortable, and more convenient travel experience.

Sisodia raps Delhi L-G for sending back files

New

30

“We

be done,” Sisodia said.

“L-G

You

Every time with new objections,” Sisodia had earlier tweeted.

Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi for their dynamic leadership that resulted in the victory of the party in the recent Assembly elections.

The Cabinet decided to

IT Department summons TMC MLA, councillor with documents

Kolkata (Agencies):

The Income Tax Department has summoned Trinamool Congress’ Jangipur legislator Jakir Hossain, from whose residence and factories it had recovered Rs 11 crore on Thursday, to its Kolkata office, along with the documents related to the sources of the recovered cash next week.

Hossain, a two-time party MLA from Jangipur in West Bengal’s Murshidabad and also a former minister, has also been asked to submit his detailed income tax returns, and income and expenditure documents to the department by next week.

The Income Tax Department has also summoned Trinamool councillor and the Member, Market, of Mayor-inCouncil of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Amiruddin Bobby to be present at the office of the department next week with similar tax related documents.

Incidentally, from Wednesday till Thursday morning, the Income Tax Department also raided a hotel owned by Bobby at central Kolkata.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah with J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and others chairs a high-level meeting to review the security situation in J&K at Raj Bhavan in Jammu on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the party’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, in Ludhiana on Thursday. —PHOTO BY PTI

LETTER TO RAHUL GANDHI: JAIRAM RAMESH

New Delhi: The Congress on Friday accused the Modi govt of “politicising” Covid and asked why it had not come out with a Covid protocol weeks after it wrote to Rahul Gandhi expressing concern over the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this at a presser on Friday.

New Delhi: The Congress announced on Friday that it will deliver a letter written by Rahul Gandhi to each house along with a charge sheet against the central government starting on January 26. The programme will last for two months.

the Cabinet unanimously passed a resolution thanking the people of

the state for reposing faith and confidence in the policies and pro-

of the party. It expressed gratitude to Congress President

adopt an election manifesto of the party as a policy document of the government and all ministers, secretaries and heads of the departments will implement it, said the statement.

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu being garlanded after OPS implementation, in Shimla on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Delhi (Agencies): Criticising Lt Governor VK Saxena, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Friday said the latter has sent back the files pertaining to sending govt school teachers to Finland twice, citing different grounds.

had to send

teachers to Finland in March, but the L-G sent its file back with objections. Again, we submitted our reply to the objections but the L-G has again sent the file back with a remark that a cost benefit analysis should

sir! 30 teachers of Delhi government were to go for training in Finland in December.

have rejected the file twice and sent it back.

Chief Minister Naveen

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik exchanges greetings with players before India-Spain match, in Rourkela on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI

New Delhi: Actor Nora Fatehi on Friday recorded her statement before a Delhi court as a witness in the Rs 200 crore extortion case. The actor recorded her statement before Metropolitan Magistrate

SC GRANTS BAIL TO VYAPAM SCAM ‘WHISTLEBLOWER’

India striving to provide high-quality, cost-effective healthcare: Min

New Delhi (Agencies): Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said India endeavours to imbibe the requirements and need of Global South in its G20 health priorities.

"Our Prime Minister has said that our G20 priorities will be shaped in consultation with not just our G20 partners, but also our fellow-travellers in the global South", Man -

daviya said while chairing Health Ministers' virtual session of 'Voice of Global South Summit - 2023' titled 'Cooperation to build resilient healthcare systems'.

"Hence, we will take the voice of the global South to G-20 and other international forums as partners in our development journey. Amalgamation of these efforts will ensure health equity at global

level and particularly to Global South", Mandaviya said.

The session served as

a platform to generate ideas from the developing world for holistic healthcare.

New Delhi: Welcoming participants, Mandaviya said, "It is need of the hour to focus on long-term measures to build stronger, more resilient health systems that can prevent, prepare for and respond to future health related challenges, while maintaining essential health services." Highlighting India’s journey of managing COVID-19 pandemic, he added, "we have administered over 2.2 billion vaccines with 90% 2nd dose coverage of 12+ population and 220 million precautionary doses.

"India believes in value-based healthcare and is continuously striving to provide high

AUTHORITIES ISSUE AVALANCHE WARNING IN 10 DISTS OF VALLEY

‘High danger’ warning issued for Bandipora & Kupwara districts of north Kashmir

(PTI): Au-

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) issued a ‘high danger’ avalanche warning for Bandipora and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir and a ‘medium danger’ warning for Baramulla and Ganderbal districts.

“Avalanche with high danger level is likely to occur above 2,000 metres of Bandipora and Kupwara districts in the next 24 hours.

“Avalanche with medium danger level is likely to occur above 2,000 metres of Baram-

Workshop for all States, UTs’ Commissioner and Directors held in Delhi

New Delhi: Department of Fisheries , Government of India organised a two-day ‘Annual Plan Preparation’ workshop from 4th to 5th January 2023 to brainstorm, share information and resolve on-ground challenges through effective and efficient planning by fisheries’ officials of all

States/UTs. The workshop was chaired by Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary, DoF (GoI) in presence of senior officials of Department of Fisheries (GoI), NFDB and states’ fisheries department. A total of 47 officials from 26 States/ UTs attended the workshop and made it a grand success.

ban.

FOG ENGULFS DELHI, FLIGHTS DELAYED DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY

quality & cost-effective healthcare to everyone.

Aligned with its philosophy of Vasudhaiva

Kutumbakam and our philosophy of perceiving health as a service, India has offered CoWIN platform as a digital public good to any interested country. India has offered Co-WIN as a digital public health good to WHO through WHO's CTAP initiative", said Mandaviya.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also commended India's efforts in provid-

ing training to support countries in terms of capacity building of their healthcare professionals. The training included COVID-19 testing, clinical practices, case management, vaccine development & delivery for participants from Asian, South-East Asian, & African countries. India also shared its medical expertise by dispatching Rapid Response Teams to Kuwait and the Maldives.

Mukul Rohatgi ‘rubbishes’ Instagram threat by Modi

New Delhi (Agencies): Former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi took to Instagram and wrote a detailed note apparently threatening senior advocate and former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi by asking him not to call him a fugitive. The Instagram post went viral on social media, but surprisingly, it is not available now.

New Delhi (ANI): Six flights, scheduled to depart from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, were delayed due to dense fog, informed airport authority. Among the flight routes affected by the severe fog were Delhi-San Francisco/Kathmandu, Delhi-Chandigarh-Kullu, Delhi-Jaipur, Delhi-Dharamshala-Chandigarh, DelhiShimla- Dharamshala, DelhiDehradun. Already reeling under a cold wave since the beginning of the new year, residents in Delhi on Friday woke to a chilly morning with a thick layer of fog.

Talking to IANS on Modi's Instagram post, Rohatgi termed it "rubbish" and said he does not want to comment on it. In the post, Modi had written: "As a young fly by night lawyer who buys judges I can buy and sell you million times.....". Modi added that falling short, he will not ask politely again.

Addressing Rohatgi, the pose, which is not available now, read:

UTTAR PRADESH GOVT TRANSFERS 22 IPS OFFICERS INCLUDING 11 DISTRICT SPS

Dr Ahtesham Siddiqui

Lucknow: In a major reshuffle, the Uttar Pradesh government has transferred 22 IPS officers including the 11 district SPs. The impact of BJP’s defeat in the Khatauli assembly constituency of Muzaffarnagar district and Lok Sabha bypolls in Mainpuri was also visible in the transfers. SPs of both the districts were removed and put on the waiting list.

The SPs of Etawah and Kanpur rural have also been removed and put on waiting list.

Apart from this, changes have been made in the work area of DCP level officers

posted in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Prayagraj, Agra Commissionerates. This time, 2017batch IPS officers have also been given postings in districts. The officers include Prachi Singh, daughter of PCS officer Ram Singh Gautam who is ADM FR Pilibhit. Muzaffarnagar SP Vinit Kumar Jaiswal,

Mainpuri SP Kamlesh Kumar Dixit, Etawah Senior Superintendent of Police Jai Prakash Singh and Kanpur Rural SP Suniti have been removed and put on waiting list.

Abhishek Verma has been transferred from Gautam Buddha Nagar to Hapur. He has also been the ADC of Governor Anandi Ben

WOMEN SCRIPTING SUCCESS STORIES

Patel. His father is also an IPS officer. IPS Sanjay Kumar has been made the new Superintendent of Police of Etawah. Satyajit Kumar Gupta posted as DCP in Agra Commissionerate has been made SP Sant Kabir Nagar, Prachi Singh has been made SP Shravasti.

Hemant Kutiyal was transferred from police headquarters to UP Special Range Security Battalion as SP, Arvind Kumar Maurya from Shravasti to Traffic Directorate Lucknow, Anirudh Kumar from Fatehpur to Meerut Rural and Jalaun SP Ravi Kumar was transferred to Ghaziabad Commissionerate as DCP.

Bihar’s women farmers promoting organic farming

First India Bureau

Patna: Some smallholder women farmers in North Bihar are scripting success stories in organic farming. And these success stories prove that agroecology and dietary diversity can make us and our planet healthy, and resilient to climate catastrophe. Growing and eating diverse veggies is a climate action.

According to Government of India’s data,

roughly 85 percent of the farm households in India are small or marginal farmers, that is, they have less than 2 hectares of land, with 70 percent having less than 1 hectare of land. The average landholding is only 0.5 hectares per household.

Tapping into the potential of organic farming for smallholder farmers, the Heifer India team under its Bihar Sustainable Livelihood Development (BSLD) Signature Programme is propagat-

ing the adoption of organic farming among the project participants that

includes women-led selfhelp groups in the six project districts in North

Bihar: Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Sitamarhi, and Vaishali.

Heifer’s India agricultural experts are conducting awareness sessions on organic techniques such as crop rotation, green manuring, adoption of natural fertilizer through composting, benefits of multiple cropping (e.g., potatoes, lentils, tomatoes, and beans on the same farm), natural weed control strategies

and organic methods to improve soil quality.

Karunesh Shukla, BSLD Project OfficerAgriculture, explains how he collaborates with smallholder women farmers and offers training on the preparation of organic fertilizers, natural pesticides, natural growth stimulators, and organic manure through standardized organic techniques such as Jeevaamrit, Beejamrit, Amritpani, Panchagavya, and Neemastra.

"Lawyers can buy judges overnight and get justice for their clients, but I can buy and sell you a million times over. Fight as hard as you can

for your client, but when you refer to me, just call me Mr. Modi".

The post addressing Rohatgi had further added: "Take this as a very important piece of advice. There is no problem with making fun or complaining. You must know that your Congress boss cannot be brought in full force. You are like an ant to me. Also, you are lucky that I like ants. That's why I will not crush you...".

CRUCIAL READ

BOY INJURED IN MYSTERIOUS FIRING DIES

Kochi

During the investigation conducted by the police, the remains of the woman’s dead body were found near the sitting area of the house. Based on the evidence, Sajeev was arrested.

Jammu

SUSPECTED DACOIT INJURED IN POLICE FIRING WHILE TRYING TO FLEE

Assam (PTI): A suspected dacoit was injured when police fired at him as he allegedly tried to escape from custody in Assam’s Golaghat district on Friday. A police constable also suffered minor injuries, an official said. Golaghat ASP Anjan Pandit said the accused Druno Das alias Akoni was arrested with 3 others from a car that was intercepted by Dergaon Police. All the 4 were held on suspicion of involvement in a dacoity, to which they later confessed during interrogation, Pandit said. While they were being taken to the police station in a vehicle, Akoni said he had to relieve himself and upon alighting, he pushed away a constable & tried to flee, the ASP said.

HUSBAND HELD FOR KILLING WIFE AFTER 18 MONTHS MAN

Kolkata:

New

Srinagar

thorities in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday issued an avalanche warning for 10 districts which have witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall over the past 48 hours.

ulla and Ganderbal districts in next 24 hours,” SDMA officials said. They said avalanches with low danger level

are likely to occur in areas 2,000 metres above sea level in Anantnag, Doda, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Poonch and Ram-

People living in these areas are advised to take precautions and avoid avalanche-prone areas, the officials said.

A man walks holding an umbrella on a snow-covered area in Srinagar on Friday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya chairs Health Ministers’ virtual session of Voice of Global South Summit on Friday.

Agroecology and dietary diversity can make us and our planet healthy, and resilient to climate catastrophe. Growing and eating diverse veggies is a climate action.

A total of 47 officials from 26 States/UTs attended the workshop.

DENSE

Lalit Modi Mukul Rohatgi

(PTI): A man has been arrested for killing his wife and burying her inside the premises of his house over a year and a half ago.

Feeling betrayed, a 23-year-old youth hanged himself to death during a video call with his girlfriend in West Bengal's Nadia district. Sujal Saha took the extreme step at his ancestral residence in Shantinagar Colony on Thursday evening when he was alone at home, District police sources said.

(PTI): The 9-yearold boy, who was injured in mysterious firing in the J&K’s Poonch district, succumbed to his injuries on Friday in the government hospital .The boy identified as Irfan Ahmed of Sangla tehsil in the Surankote area was shifted to Jammu from Rajouri for specialised treatment.

Delhi: A labourer died while 3 others sustained injuries after a wall of an under-construction building at Balaji Action hospital in outer Delhi collapsed. The deceased was identified as Kamleshwari Yadav while the injured were identified as Mithun Yadav, Amit Yadav and Ajay Kumar Yadav, all natives of Jharkhand.

IPS Ravi Kumar, DCP Ghaziabad IPS Abhishek Verma, SP Hapur IPS Prachi Singh, SP Shravasti

‘IT IS NEED OF THE HOUR TO BUILD STRONGER HEALTH SYSTEMS’

WHEAT

SOWING RISES 1.40% TO 337.18 LAKH HECTARE SO FAR

WITH FOCUS ON GROWTH

New Delhi (FIB): India’s federal government is likely to increase capital expenditure by 30% to 9 trillion rupees ($110.59 billion) in the next fiscal year to fuel growth, Barclays said.

“In a pre-election year, we do not expect any material push to increase the pace of fiscal consolidation, and any extra fiscal room is likely to be spent in order to ensure economic growth remains robust,” economists Rahul Bajoria and Shreya Sodhani said.

The analysts expect capex to cross 19.5% of total govt spending for the first time ever. Barclays expects funds to be reallocated from programmes such

ACCORDING TO BARCLAYS

z India’s federal government is likely to increase capital expenditure by 30% to 9 trillion rupees ($110.59 billion) in the next fiscal year to fuel growth

z The analysts expect capital expenditure (capex) to cross 19.5% of total government spending for the first time ever

as last year’s vaccination drive to other expenditure, perhaps targeting the outlay for healthcare sector.

India will present its budget for 2023-24 on February 1, and this would be

its last full-year budget before the general elections of 2024. The government could continue to prioritise capex, as revenue expenditure looks set to be broadly steady, allowing for further fiscal consolidation.

Barclays expects the government to target a fiscal deficit of 5.8% of gross domestic product, down from 6.4% in this financial year, with total expenditure pegged at 46 trillion rupees.

“The government is also likely to continue to support its PLIs, which are starting to bear fruit with production and exports rising in several areas, including electronics,” the economists said.

India-China trade deficit crosses $100 billion mark for first time

Beijing (PTI): The trade between India and China has touched an all-time high of $135.98 billion in 2022 while New Delhi’s trade deficit with Beijing crossed for the first time a $100 billion mark despite frosty bilateral relations, according to data released by the Chinese customs.

The total India-China trade for 2022 has climbed to 135.98 billion, overtaking the $125 billion mark a year earlier by registering an 8.4% increase.

INDIA’S ETHANOL

CAPACITY TO JUMP

25% TO 1,250 CR LTR

New Delhi: The government on Friday said the overall ethanol production capacity in India is expected to go up by 25% to 1,250 crore litres by the end of this year, as proactive steps have been taken for faster clearance of projects. “As on today, more than `20,000 crore worth loans have been sanctioned by the banks for ethanol projects, Out of which `10,000 crore has already been disbursed under the interest subvention scheme,” said Sangeet Singla. —PTI

GOLD PRICES GO UP

BY `121, SILVER DECLINES BY `

Washington (PTI): The international community counts a lot on India’s leadership of the G-20 at a time when the world is faced with the continued economic slowdown and social distress, the chief of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva has said.

“India, which is the president of G-20 countries, remains among the countries that perform better than the

OTHER STORIES

145

New Delhi: Gold prices rose by `121 to `56,236 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday amid strong global trends, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the precious metal had closed at `56,115 per 10 grams. Silver, however, declined `145 to `68,729 per kg. “Gold prices edged higher and were on track for a fourth weekly gain, supported by a weaker dollar and expectations of slower interest rate hikes by the US Fed Reserve,” said Navneet Damani, Senior VP –Commodity Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services. —PTI

TO SET UP 25K

TATA

EV CHARGING POINTS ACROSS INDIA

Greater Noida: Leading EV charging solutions

provider Tata Power on Friday said it has started a nationwide plan of setting up 25,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points across the country to support faster adoption of emobility over the next five years. A first-hand experience of the technology that is driving Tata Power’s widespread EV charging network -- EZ Charge -- was provided to the visitors in the ongoing Auto Expo 2023. —ANI

global average and by a good percentage,” IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva said.

“We count a lot on India’s leadership of the

INDIA SETS HYDROGEN, AMMONIA CONSUMPTION TARGETS FOR SOME INDUSTRIES: GOVERNMENT

New Delhi: India has set green hydrogen consumption targets for some industries, so as to generate demand for cleaner fuel in its quest to reach net zero by 2070, the government said on Friday, as it unveiled its policy for green energy.

One of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, India approved a plan of incentives worth more than $2 billion last week to develop a green hydrogen production capacity of 5 million tonnes a year by 2030. Asia’s third-largest economy wants to use green hydrogen to replace grey hydrogen, produced using gas, as it moves to decarbonise sectors such as oil and fertilisers. FIB

WIPRO THIRD QUARTER

G-20. Because it is such a critical time for the world to protect its own well-being by protecting the integrated global economy. I hope that India will do that huge global service keeping us together,” she said.

Georgieva lauded India for embracing digitisation.

“What we see working extremely well for India is how the country has taken digitisation.”

Business leaders see extension of PLI scheme to other sectors

New Delhi (PTI): A vast majority of the business leaders believe that the PLI schemes have been beneficial and expect an extension to other sectors in the coming years, a Deloitte Survey said on Friday.

New Delhi: HCL Technologies has been selected by State Farm, a provider of auto, home, and commercial insurance, to modernise its IT service desk and infrastructure operations. Some State Farm employees supporting this work will transfer to HCL Tech to continue their key role in delivering technology services to State Farm, it said.

“HCL Tech to modernise IT operations for State Farm,” the statement said. PTI

INDUSTRY LEADERS EXPECT

An overwhelming number of survey respondents hope the budget will fuel growth across industries by building strong domestic demand and focussing on capital expenditure and believe that it would define the ‘Amrit Kaal’.

“Critical to this growth will be the pace of capex, infrastructure development, and the need to boost infrastructure financing through private partnership. 60% of respondents suggested raising funds through Indian Government Bonds,” survey said.

CREDIT EXPANSION

WILL TAPER NEXT YEAR: AXIS MD

Mumbai (PTI): The handsome credit growth witnessed at present will taper down next year if deposit growth continues to lag behind, Axis Bank chief executive and MD Amitabh Chaudhry said.

Chaudhry also advised some caution to be exercised by the system as it witnesses a high growth at present, saying decisions made today should not haunt 5-7 years down the line. “… If the deposit growth does not continue, our projection says that credit growth can taper down in the next year,” Chaudhry said. The bank’s economists are projecting that credit growth will come down to somewhere around 12-13% unless something happens on the deposit side.

China’s exports to India climbed to $118.5 billion, a year-on-year increase of 21.7%. During 2022, China’s imports from India dwindled to $17.48 billion, a yearon-year decline of 37.9%.

The trade deficit for India stood at $101.02 billion, crossing the 2021 figure of $69.38 bn. This is the first time the trade deficit, a serious concern constantly expressed by India, has crossed the $100 bn mark. In 2021, the overall trade with China totaled $125.62 bn, an increase of 43.32% y-o-y crossing the 4100 bn mark for the first time.

Puri asks automakers to start introducing green vehicles

Greater Noida (PTI): Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday asked automobile manufacturers to move from the prototype stage and start introducing green vehicles in the market, saying the time has come for biofuels and other clean energy technologies.

Puri said India is a place where it’s not just economies of scale but where “when we do something hundreds and thousands of people will follow”.

“So, whether it’s electric vehicles, whether it’s hybrid models...I want to tell both the domestic manufacturers and (international) manufacturers, I think the time has come, please move from the stage of the prototypes and start introducing the models in the market,” he noted on Friday.

India’s GDP to grow at 6.5 per cent in FY24

New Delhi (FIB): About 60% of the business leaders surveyed were of the view that Indian GDP will grow at 6.5% during 202324, said Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP.

In a pre-budget survey by DTTILLP, industry leaders said amongst the industry sectors, chemicals, capital goods and energy would log high growth.

They also said government initiatives, such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, PLI, and favourable monetary policies by the RBI - to moderate retail inflation and maintain significant fo-

rex), increased spending on infrastructure, and research and innovation, will further this momentum.

According to the survey, the pace of capital expenditure, infrastructure development and the need to

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

z In a pre-budget survey by DTTILLP, industry leaders said amongst the industry sectors, chemicals, capital goods and energy would log high growth

z 58% respondents suggest that public-private partnership (PPP) should be encouraged to meet the funding gap

boost infrastructure financing through private partnership are important for economic growth.

$58 BN INVESTMENT IN E&P: HARDEEP PURI

New

Delhi (PTI): India will likely see an investment of $58 billion in finding and producing oil and gas resources by 2023, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, adding global energy majors Chevron Corp, ExxonMobil are keen to invest. India is looking to raise domestic output to help cut down reliance on costly imports. India imports 85% of its crude oil, which is converted into petrol and diesel, and roughly half of its natural gas is converted to CNG and used in industries. “We are expecting an investment of around $58 billion in exploration and production (of oil and gas) by 2023,” he said. “Several multinational corporations like Chevron, ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies are showing keen interest to invest in Indian E&P sector.”

The minister asserted that he is “100 per cent confident that they will succeed” not just as an economic proposition for

the manufacturers but for the green journey that India is undertaking in transitioning to total green sustainable fuel.

Sensex, Nifty rebound after three-day decline

Mumbai (PTI): Benchmark Sensex and Nifty bounced back on Friday after a three-day decline following buying in index major Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services amid a firm trend in global equities.

The 30-share BSE Sensex gained 303.15 points to settle at 60,261.18. The broader NSE Nifty rose by 98.40 points to end at 17,956.60.

From the Sensex pack, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, Infosys, UltraTech Cement, NTPC, Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever, TCS, ICICI Bank & Maruti were among the major winners.

RUPEE FALLS 4 PAISE TO CLOSE AT 81.34 AGAINST US DOLLAR Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated by 4 paise to close at 81.34 against the US dollar on Friday. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened on a weak note at 81.32 against the greenback, but lost ground and fell to an intra-day low of 81.45. The domestic currency finally settled at 81.34.

NET

New Delhi: Wipro Ltd on Friday posted 2.8% year-on-year rise in its consolidated net profit for December quarter, at about `3,053 crore. Revenue of the IT company came in at Rs 23,229 crore in Q3FY23, 14.3% higher than the same period of previous year. The company expects revenue from IT services business for the full year to be in the range of 11.5-12% in constant currency terms, according to a statement. PTI

WE COUNT A LOT ON INDIA’S G-20 LEADERSHIP: IMF MD GEORGIEVA

2ND FRONT

OF REBELLIONS AND U-TURNS AMONG THE THORATS & TAMBES

Nikhil Deshmukh

Mumbai: On Thursday, three-time Congress MLC Sudhir Tambe decided to pull out of the upcoming Legislative Council polls in favour of his son Satyajit, who then filed his nomination as an independent candidate. While this may have shocked some people, rebellions are par for the course in the Tambe family, and that of their close relative, staunch Congressman and former state minister Balasaheb Thorat.

Sudhir Tambe is married to the sister of Balasaheb Thorat, whose father, the late Bhausaheb Thorat, was a freedom fighter and a staunch Congress leader from Ahmednagar district. Both families have been loyal to the Congress for decades.

While building their political legacy in Ahmednagar, the Thorat family also set up several educational institutes, colleges, including one for engineering, sugar mills and other cooperative societies under the brand name “Amrutwahini”, to maintain their

dominance over the region.

However, in the 1985 state Assembly polls, the Congress nominated Shakuntala Thorat-originally from neighbouring Pune district-from Sangamner instead of Bhausaheb Thorat. Bhausaheb fielded his son Vijay alias Balasaheb Thorat as an independent and ensured he won, thus launching the latter’s long and successful career in politics.

In fact, Balasaheb Thorat--who later returned to the Congress-has remained undefeated in every election he has fought from the Sangamner Assembly constituency. Sudhir Tambe’s political career also started in a similar way, when he rebelled in 2007 against the then-Congress candidate Nitin Thakur in the bypoll to the Nashik division graduates’ constituency and won. —PTI

ICICI case: Videocon’s Dhoot terms arrest

‘unnecessary’, CBI alleges evasiveness

Mumbai (PTI): The lawyer of Videocon Group promoter Venugopal Dhoot on Friday argued before the Bombay High Court that the industrialist's arrest in the ICICI Bank loan fraud case was unwarranted as he was cooperating with the investigation.

However, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claimed that he was trying to evade being part of the inquiry.

Dhoot, arrested by the CBI on December 26, 2022, and currently in judicial custody, has sought that the high court quash the First Information Report, and

grant him interim bail.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and PK Chavan after hearing both Dhoot’s lawyer Sandeep Laddha and CBI's counsel Raja Thakare reserved its or-

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday came down heavily on the Maharashtra police for registering 11 FIRs against former MP and NCP leader Anand Paranjpe for protesting against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and PK Chavan noted that the police will learn a lesson only when a cost is imposed on them and they are directed to pay the same

Anand Paranjpe

from their own salaries.

Paranjpe's advocates, said the 11 FIRs arise from a single cause of action, which was a political agitation. Government pleader Prajakta Shinde said that Paranjpe could apply for bail in all the cases.

der on interim relief.

Laddha argued that Dhoot had appeared before the CBI “31 times” since a preliminary enquiry (PE) was registered in December 2017.

Dhoot had appeared

before the CBI twice last month, he said.

On two other dates (December 23 and 25) he could not appear as on December 23 he had been already summoned by the Enforcement Directorate, the lawyer said.

“There has been a systematic attempt by Dhoot and the Kochhars to evade the investigation. It is a conspiracy. When they are outside (not arrested) they decide the precise answers to give. But the moment one person is arrested, the blame game starts and they start pointing fingers at each other," Thakare said.

Dhoot was never arrested in the case. Even when the charge sheet was filed, Dhoot had appeared before the concerned court which granted him bail noting that he had been cooperating with the investigation…. The CBI is holding this non-appearance for two days as non-cooperation. On December 25, the CBI issued Dhoot a notice.…

He appeared on December 26 and was arrested.

—Sandeep Laddha, counsel for Venugopal Dhoot

City’s ‘young-preneurs’ to show off products this Makar Sankranti

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The one-of-akind, for children bychildren event, ‘Kidshibition 2.0’, will be organized by kids aged five years to 15 years, at The Palace Banquet Hall, NS Road, Mulund (West) on January 14, 2023, Saturday between 12-7 pm.

Like the kites soaring high in Mumbai on Makar Sankranti, the spirits of some children are aiming for the sky too, About 55 child entrepreneurs would be showcasing their products

Kidshibition 2.0 will be second iteration of event which focuses majorly on developing the entrepreneurial spirit

and services at the exhibition organised by 55-year-old K.D.O. Jain Sarvodaya Mandal based in Mulund. Child buyers could view and

buy art and craft products created by children. Several attractions like robotics innovations, rubic’s cube challenge, nail art and tattoo studios are planned for the event.

Another interesting attraction is a live Radio Show organised at the venue, where children would rap and interview their parents. In the food and drinks section, scrumptious sandwiches, Mexican cuisine, chocolate bombs, coolers and juices would be on the menu.

BHARAT24’S SHIKHAR SAMMAN IN LUCKNOW

UP Dy CMs Brajesh Pathak & Keshav P Maurya felicitate exemplary individuals

Awanish Vidyarthi

Lucknow: Shikhar Samman on Bharat24, is a successful initiative that recognises and encourages individuals, who are making extraordinary contribution towards the Vision of New India. After successful editions of Gujarat Shikhar Samman in Ahmedabad and Chhattisgarh Shikhar Samman in Raipur, Bharat24 organised Shikhar Samman in Uttar Pradesh to felicitate individuals, who continue to bring accolades to the state through their initiatives and actions.

Both the Deputy Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya participated in the ceremony as Guests of Honour to celebrate the achievements of individuals from different sectors and felicitate them

with the coveted trophy of Shikhar Samman.

Both the Deputy Chief Ministers also spoke at leisure on host of topics, from current developmental work done by the government to hosting Global Investment Summit, law and order, and other beneficiary schemes of the UP government launched for the citizens of the state.

The

was host-

The 9th Pink Rally, organized by Kinnar Maa Ek Samajik Sanstha in Mumbai on Friday, saw massive participation from members of the transgender community.

—PHOTOS BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

Venugopal Dhoot —FILE PHOTO

The actions of MLC Sudhir Tambe and his son Satyajit may have shocked some, but shouldn’t have

Balasaheb Thorat Satyajit Tambe Sudhir Tambe MORE

OF THE SAME?

Shouldn’t have been so many cases: HC

event

ed by top leadership team of Bharat24 including Chief Executive Editor and Senior Anchor Mimansa Ma-

lik, Anchor Surabhi Tiwari, UP Bureau Chief Awanish Vidyarthi and Journalist Ahtesham Siddqui.

Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak participates in inaugural lamp lighting ceremony with (L to R) Awanish Vidyarthi, Manoj Jagyasi, Dr Piyush Dwivedi and Mukesh Singh.

Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya is felicitated by Manoj Jagyasi, Mimansa Malik and Dr Piyush Dwivedi.

Bharat24 ‘s Chief Executive Editor & Sr Anchor Mimansa Malik and Anchor Surabhi during the programme.

Advisor to CM Yogi, Awanish Awasthi addresses after being felicitated by Dy CM Brajesh Pathak. Also seen here are Bharat24’s Chief Business Officer & Strategic Advisor Manoj Jagyasi and UP Bureau Chief Awanish Vidyarthi.

Lohri is essentially a harvest festival celebrated with great fun, excitement, and enthusiasm. The North Indian people celebrate this festival to mark the end of winter solstice. The harvested fields and front yards are lit up with flames of bonfire and people sit around it and engage into singing, dancing, and merry-making.

A joyous Lohri and Makar Sakranti celebration was held at Hotel Rambagh Palace, Jaipur with Jagdeesh Chandra as the special guest of the evening. Various renowned glamourous faces of the city were present during the funfilled evening, which made it a lot more special.

Jagdeesh Chandra lit the holy fire flanked by Rambagh Palace GM Ashok Rathore and all the glam guests. The group went around the holy fire in the traditional manner gently tossing peanuts and popcorn in the fire even as everyone around sang the old Lohri songs. The beautiful and gorgeous supermodels carried the evening with their zest. The celebration was very unique

Lohri and Makar Sakranti are traditional festivals of the year, celebrated to dodge all the negativity and welcome positive vibes all around. A joyous Lohri and Makar Sakranti celebration was held in full swing at Hotel Rambagh Palace, Jaipur!

MITALI DUSAD mitalidusad01@gmail.com

Clockwise: Himakshi Choudhary, Rutvi Tiwari, Astha Khandelwal, Angel Sen and Riya Sen

—PHOTOS BY SUNIL SHARMA

FROM PG 09

He also added that people were celebrating different harvest festivals across the country, such as Pongal, Magh Bihu, Uttarayan, which signify India’s vibrant culture.

A community fire was lit to keep the evil away and the community sings and dances around the bonfire.

Pleasantries were exchanged and sweets like gur, gachak and revri were passed around.

The festival was made popular by legendary dacoit Dulla Bhatti, who robbed the rich and distributed the booty among the poor. He also start ed the practice of celebrating the first Lohri of every newborn and newly-wed, which has been followed

by generations. There were smiling faces all around, spreading the mes sage of unity and positivity which can help us fight with any difficulty of life. With this, City First also wishes

Jagdeesh Chandra with Ritu Sharma Jagdeesh Chandra and Ashok Rathore, GM, Rambagh Palace, Jaipur light the holy fire

Jagdeesh Chandra and Ashok Rathore with the Rambagh staff and guests

Jagdeesh

RANLIA'S FIRST APPEARANCE WITH RAHA

While fans are eagerly waiting to see Raha's first picture. On Friday morning, the new parents in town were seen taking their daughter for a walk

house. The trio was accompanied by Shaheen Bhatt.

The duo have decided to keep daughter Raha away from the media. Last week, the duo personally met photog-

them to not click pictures of their newborn. Days later, the family's photos surfaced online.

The new parents were spotted in Mumbai on Friday morning. They were seen wearing matching black outfits.

While RK picked a black polo t-shirt with sweatpants and a bucket hat, Alia was clad in an oversized hoodie and leggings. Meanwhile, the cutie that grabbed all the eyeballs was seen wearing a beige sweater with pink pants.

SAW MY FAMILY BREAK DOWN AROUND ME: SANJAY DUTT

going cancer treatment. He shot intense action scenes and continued to work out during that time.

Actor Sanjay Dutt recently opened up about his battle with cancer. Sanjay was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer back in August 2020, when the world had just been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, the actor along with his sister Priya Dutt attended an event at a hospital where he opened up about his cancer diagnosis and more. Sanjay emerged victorious after his cancer struggle and is currently making headlines for his ripped biceps and triceps in his workout pictures.

Sanjay Dutt was shooting for KGF 2 while under-

COLORFUL SERENITY!

AWAY AT 54

Lisa Marie Presley suffered cardiac arrest in her home in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas.

She was rushed to the hospital on Thursday but declared dead.

"It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us," her mother, Priscilla Presley, said in a statement.

"She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known. We ask for privacy as we try to deal with this profound loss," she added.

Just days after Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra quashed rumours about his wedding with alleged girl friend Kiara Advani, the Mission Maju star revealed that he has the actress on his speed dial.

The Shershaah actor has been con stantly staying in the limelight lately with reports regarding his ru moured wedding with alleged girl friend Kiara Advani. If the reports are to be believed, Sidharth and Ki ara, who have been in a serious relationship for the past cou ple of years, are reportedly set to tie the knot in Febru ary, this year. The actor is currently busy promot ing his upcoming movie Mission Majnu along side Radhika Madan.

During the promo tions, Sidharth spilt beans on his bond with Kiara Advani and confirmed that she is on his speed dial list. "Yes, I do. It comes in handy to call up your co-actor. A lot of other people are also in it,"

Sidharth and Kiara were seen together in the 2021 film Sher shaah, where he played Param Vir Chakra awardee Captain Vikram Batra and she was seen in the role of Dimple.

Talking about how he was told of his cancer diagnosis, he said, “I had a backache and was treated with a hot water bottle and painkillers until one day I couldn't breathe. I was taken to the hospital but the thing was that the cancer news was not broken to me properly. My wife, my family or my sisters, nobody was around me at that time. I was all alone and suddenly this guy came and told me 'you have cancer'.”

The actor further said that after learning about his condition, he preferred to die rather than take chemotherapy. He said, "My wife was in Dubai, so Priya (sister Priya Dutt) came to me. My first reaction was that, once you hear something like this, your whole life reflects on you. I saw my family break

down around me. I have a history of cancer in my family. My mom died of pancreatic cancer, and my wife (Richa Sharma) died of brain cancer. So, the first thing I said was that I don't want to take chemotherapy.

If I'm supposed to die, I will just die but I don't want any treatment."

At the event, San jay also shared that while he recovered, he did not want to keep the world in the dark about his cancer diagno sis. The actor said even though a lot of people hide it, he chose to speak about it, even at the cost of his career so that he could help people in need.

The art exhibition titled ‘Artifacts’ by Jaipur-based artist Shilpa Sharma will be displayed at the prestigious India Art Festival at Nehru Center in Worli, Mumbai from January 19 2023 to January 22, 2023. Jaipur’s daughter Shilpa Sharma is also participating in these prestigious artists. Shilpa’s paintings are made under a mix of modern art as well as western style. She is a selfmade contemporary artist a pure professional with roots in Mumbai and Jaipur. She uses a variety of techniques including bold strokes, abstract colors, graffiti, spray paint, and portraits to create her art. Shilpa’s art represents the pop culture and urban art and is characterized by her free-spirited approach.

Oscar Fever At Its Peak!

In yet another incredible honour, Pan Nalin’s Oscars-shortlisted Last Film Show (Chhello Show) has been invited to include its screenplay in the permanent Core Collection of the Oscar Library. The Gujarati-language coming-of-age

by becoming the first Indian film in 21 years to be short listed for the Best International Feature Film award at the 95th Academy Awards.

Delighted with the inclusion, director Pan Nalin said, “I have always believed in sharing what I do because I have nothing else to give except my love

for cinema and filmmaking. I have visited and enjoyed this amazing Oscar library where masterworks are being archived in its Core Collection. I am ecstatic and delighted that now between the scripts of Last Action Hero and Lawrence of Arabia, will live the script of Last Film Show.”

Raveena’s warning to all husbands

aveena Tandon has shared yet another hilarious video as a follow-up to her ‘khod ke dekhlo (dig it up and see for yourself)’ video in which she implied killing her husband and burying him in the garden. In the new video, she plays a woman who kills her husband for calling her by a different name.

Raveena, who is married to Anil Thadani, occasionally shares funny reels on Her fans were floored by her acting skills once again. A person commented, “One of the funniest memesdone with the best performance.” Another said, “hahahahaha too good”. One

more wrote, “kya expression hai Ranjana.” A fan called it a “First class” act while another wrote, “Superbbbbb.” One more fan commented, “Ohhhh wow.”

She had shared it with the caption, “Hahahha couldn’t resist doing this one! Husbands beware! This is a trending reel.”

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

LISA MARIE PRESLEY PASSES

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor

Ranlia papped with their daughter Raha

Shilpa Sharma

Late Lisa Marie Presley

Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra

Raveena Tandon

Her post...

Still from the movie

Sanjay Dutt