First India-Mumbai Edition-14th February 2023

PREMI ‘HER’ DAY!

l The inaugural Women’s Premier League will be held from March 4 to 26 in Mumbai

l 409 players up for grabs and out of which 246 are Indian players

l A total of 24 players, including 10 Indian players were listed for the WPL at the maximum base price of `50 lakh

l Total 87 players sold for over `59.5 crore. RCB made some smart buys in the final part

l 5 franchises in WPL 2023 — Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Giants (GG), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and UP Warriorz (UPW) — picked their best for WPL

AERO INDIA 2023: ASIA’S LARGEST SHOW TAKES OFF SC backs J&K delimitation move, decks for poll cleared

INDIA’S ‘EYES IN THE SKIES’

India of ‘Amritkal’ is moving forward like a fighter pilot, who is not afraid of touching heights. Who is excited to fly high? Today’s India thinks fast, thinks far and takes quick decisions.

—Narendra Modi, PM

Moni Sharma

Bengaluru: Underlining the potential of India’s defence sector

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the country which was the biggest defence importer for decades now exports defence equipment to 75 countries.

“New India of the 21st century will now neither lose any opportunity nor lag behind in hard work. We’re ready. On the path to reforms, we’re bringing a revolution in every sector. The country which was the biggest defence importer for decades now exports defence equipment to 75 countries,” said PM at 14th edition of Aero India 2023 event.

“Today, India is not just a market for defence companies in the world,” said Modi.

#AtmanirbharDefence

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday upheld central government’s power to hold Jammu and Kashmir delimitation by dismissing a plea challenging the Centre’s decision to constitute the delimitation commission for redrawing the legislative assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union Territory. The court has also observed that issue of validity of the exercise of power relating to Article 370 is subject matter of petitions pending before the apex court. A bench of Justices S K Kaul and AS Oka delivered the verdict on a plea filed by two Kashmir residents.

Nothing in this judgement shall be construed as giving an imprimatur to the exercise of power under clauses one and three of Article 370 of the Constitution.

—Justice AS Oka, Supreme Court Judge

‘TOP’ COURT NEWS OF THE DAY

l The Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre to make sure that “most of what is expected is done” on issues concerning appointment and transfer of judges as recommended by the apex court collegium.

A bench headed by Justice SK Kaul observed that it is “concerned with some issues” regarding judges’ appointment.

l The Supreme Court on Monday postponed the Municipal Corporation of

Delhi (MCD) mayoral elections, which were previously scheduled for February 16. The decision was made in response to a petition filed by AAP, calling for the prohibition of nominated members from voting in the polls.

l CJI DY Chandrachud on Monday administered oath of office to 2 new judges of the Supreme Court, Justices Rajesh Bindal and Aravind Kumar, taking number of judges in the SC to its full sanctioned strength of 34.

ADANI-HINDENBURG ROW Rajya Sabha, LS adjourned; to meet again on March 13

Form panel on investors’ safety: SC; Centre agrees

First India Bureau

PM’S SHOUT-OUT TO MADE-IN-INDIA TEJAS

“Tejas fighter planes, indigenously developed INS Vikrant as well as the Helicopter factory in Tumakuru are examples of Make In India’s strength,” PM Modi said during the exhibition of five-day show in Bengaluru.

PM Modi symbolizes height of integrity and commitment for India. The speed could be seen in decision making and delivery of results.

In World, India is emerging as a shining star and it is also taking many countries along.

2 F-35s DEBUT AT THE AERO INDIA 2023 SHOW GEN PANDE FLIES IN LIGHT COMBAT COPTER

US Air Force’s (USAF) newest 5th-gen fighters — the stealthy, supersonic, multirole F-35A Lightning II and F-35A Joint Strike Fighter — made their debut at Aero India 2023, with a swift flypast before landing.

I was offered a deal in jail, claims Anil Deshmukh

First India Bureau

Wardha: NCP leader and former Maharashtra Home minister Anil Deshmukh alleged that when he was in jail, he was offered a “deal” for getting out, and had he accepted it, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government could not have lasted even 2.5 years.

Addressing an event in Wardha, Deshmukh said, “You all know I was kept in jail for 14 months under false al-

legations. I had received an offer for a deal. Had I accepted, I wouldn’t have been in jail. The MVA government would have got

toppled even before 2.5 years, if I had accepted the offer, but I didn’t go for settlement.”

“Param Bir Singh (then Mumbai Police commissioner), in an affidavit submitted in court, stated that the accusations against me were based on hearsay and that he had no evidence against me,” Deshmukh said earlier.

He said, “Param Bir Singh and Sachin Vaze (Mumbai Ex-cop) made false allegations and I had to stay in jail.”

COAS General Manoj Pande’s sortie in Light Combat Helicopter during the Aero India 2023. He discussed how Indian forces would be ready to fight future wars with Made-in-India weapon systems in next 8-10 years.

l The five-day event will showcase India’s growth in aerospace and defence capabilities

l Nearly 809 companies from across 98 countries are taking part in the Aero India 2023

l The Made-in-India Tejas aircraft and the INS Vikrant as examples of the India’s defence potential

lOver 251 MoU worth `75,000 crore likely to be signed between the Indian and foreign defence firms

First India Bureau New Delhi: The budget session of Parliament resumed at 11 am on Monday, and the opposition again tried to corner govt over the AdaniHindenburg issue. Today was also final day of the 1st part of session, which began on Jan 31; second and final part will begin on March 13, and is scheduled to conclude on April 6. P6

New Delhi: The Centre on Monday agreed to the Supreme Court’s proposal to set up a panel of experts to look into strengthening the regulatory mechanisms for the stock market in the wake of the recent Adani group shares crash triggered by Hindenburg Research’s fraud allegations.

Saying it has no objection to constituting the panel, the Centre, at the same time, stressed that market regulator SEBI and other statutory bodies are “fully equipped”, not only regime wise, but otherwise also to deal with the situation.

INDIA RECOUPS 5TH IN WORLD STOCKS AS

ADANI CLAWS BACK

India has reclaimed fifth place among the world’s top equity markets by value after being briefly usurped by France during a selloff of Adani Group shares. India’s market capitalization stood at $3.15 trillion on Friday, inching back above France with the UK retaining seventh place, according to data that shows the combined value of companies with a primary listing in each country.

Time to teach ‘traitors’ a lesson: Ajit Pawar

First India Bureau

Pune: NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Monday said it was time to teach a lesson to the “traitors” who halted the good work being done by the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra.

Pawar, who was speaking at a rally for the Chinchwad bypoll, was referring to the June 2022 rebellion of

Ekanth Shinde, which brought down the Uddhav Thackeray government. Shinde became CM with the support of BJP.

Pawar was campaigning for NCP colleague and MVA candidate Nana Kate.

“By winning these two seats, we have to show everybody the MVA government under

Uddhav Thackeray was doing good work before traitors put a halt to it. The time has come to teach them a lesson.

That is why these bypolls are so important for us,” Pawar said. “This exertion was

unbearable for them but they remained silent for the party. The BJP should have understood health is more important than polls but these selfish people (BJP leaders) did not pay heed,” Pawar alleged.

Addressing the gathering, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the MVA will win these two bypolls in the same way it defeated the BJP-Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena combine in the recent MLC polls.

“According to surveys, if Lok Sabha polls are held today, the MVA will will 34 to 36 seats and the BJP-Shinde faction 12,” he claimed. He also criticised the Shinde government for “allowing industries to move to other states”. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole was also present at the rally.

‘The runway to a billion opportunities’

PM Narendra Modi revealed Aero India Stamp in Bengaluru on Monday. Rajnath Singh, Thaawarchand Gehlot, Basavaraj Bommai and Jyotiraditya Scindia are also seen.

—Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister

LS Speaker Om Birla, RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar during House proceedings of the Parl on Monday.

Nita Ambani with Head Coach Charlotte Edwards and Team Mentor and Bowling Coach Jhulan Goswami of Mumbai Indians, at WPL auctions at Jio World Convention Centre, in Mumbai on Monday.

Pawar referring to the June 2022 rebellion of Shinde, which brought down the Uddhav Thackeray govt

Anil Deshmukh

Ajit Pawar

Union min Thakur to focus on Mumbai South Central seat

LONG GAME

Lok Sabha Pravas outreach campaign could help the Shinde faction as well, given that the BJP-Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena combine is eyeing 200 of the 288 seats in the next Assembly election

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Sports Anurag Thakur on Monday convened a series of district core meetings to consolidate the organizational base in the Mumbai South Central parliamentary constituency as part of the party’s Lok Sabha Pravas Yojana (LSPY) outreach campaign.

The BJP’s central leadership had shortlisted 160 “tough seats” from the total 545 constituencies, which were to receive special focus as part of preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elec-

tions. Eighteen of Maharashtra’s 48 constituencies are on the list of tough seats.

The BJP is also looking to use LSPY to deepen inroads into Mumbai ahead of the polls to the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), slated to be held this year.

In the meantime, the party is deploying Union ministers to maximize

Cops hit brakes on ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ protest in Nagpur

Nagpur (PTI): The police on Monday stopped members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) on their way to the office of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, where they had planned to chant the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ to draw his attention to their demands, an official said.

For the past week, women from Wardha who are part of SHGs have been demonstrating in Nagpur, the hometown of Dy CM Fadnavis, demanding the release of honorariums due to them, which they say have been withheld by the state government.

After they gave the protest call on Sunday, the city police beefed up security at the office of Fadnavis, who represents the Nagpur southwest Assembly constituency and is also the guardian minister of the Wardha district.

‘No MRI machine in Gadchiroli’s biggest hosp’

First India Bureau Gadchiroli: A senior health official flagged the lack of an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine in the general hospital in Gadchiroli district, which has also been hit by Maoist violence, during the visit of Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray MLC Ambadas Danve on Monday.

public outreach.

With that in mind, Thakur has been tasked with ensuring a solid foundation for the BJP in the crucial constituencies of Mumbai South Central and Kalyan— both of which are represented by the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. CM Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde holds the Kalyan seat, while

BSS leader Rahul Shewale represents the Mumbai South Central Lok Sabha constituency.

“We had made the list of 18 seats before the split in the Shiv Sena. Our objective is to leave no stone unturned in constituencies where the BJP may be seen as weak,” a senior BJP functionary told First India.

During his visit,

Thakur will review all these six Assembly constituencies—Sion Koliwada, Wadala, Chembur, Anushakti Nagar, Dharavi, and Mahim—which come under Mumbai South Central. Apart from the core committee meeting interaction with the party’s social media cell, its legal team will also be a part of the visit.

Senior Surgeon Anil Rudey told Danve the general hospital—the biggest health facility in the backward district— treats patients of trauma as well as those injured in mananimal conflicts. The hospital does not have an MRI facility despite sending a proposal for two machines two years ago, the official told Danve. As a result, patients need to be referred to Nagpur and Chandrapur, which is a drain on resources.

13 women felicitated for grassroots work

Mumbai (PTI): Thirteen women leaders of Maharashtra’s Marathwada were felicitated by Pune-based Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) for transformational work on the birth anniversary of founder Prema Gopalan, a functionary of the NGO said on Sunday.

The women were giv-

Women SHG members have been protesting in Dy CM’s hometown for the past week

The protesters were stopped when they started marching towards the deputy chief minister's office, an official from Sitabuldi police station said.

"It has become difficult for these women to survive without an honorarium. Fadnavis has not met the protesters despite their protest for a week," Nihal Pande, a representative of the protestors claimed.

en the Prema Gopalan Sakhi Prerana Award for transformational grassroots work in Organic Farming, Microentrepreneurship, Environment Protection to Counter Climate Change, Skill Development and solving issues related to Water, Health, Community Sanitation, Education, he said.

The women were lauded for their transformational work in various fields

These women are Naushad Shaikh (Anala), Pallavi Mane (Ghatnandur), Sharifa Sayyed (Lohara), Su -

mitra Shiral (Ter), Lakshmi Kale (Wagholi), Manisha Swamy (Kasegaon), Savitri Patil (Dongaon), Mangal Waghmare (Latur), Malan Raut (Nagarsoga), Meena Waghmare (Harangul), Santoshi Suravse (Latur ), Payal Kokate (Bamani ) and Archana Mane (Ansurda).

Beds in Tata Cancer centre to be increased: MLA Prashant Thakur

First India Bureau Navi Mumbai: The Union government has decided to increase the number of beds and manpower at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) of Tata Memorial Centre in Kharghar. Making the announcement, Panvel MLA Prashant Thakur said that the move is a means to of-

fer support to the increasing number of cancer patients coming to the city for treatment.

Patients from all over the nation have long waiting periods to receive treatment, leading to delays in urgent care. With this new decision, the wait times for treatment will be drastically reduced, resulting in many lives being saved through timely medical attention.

Two MRI machines cost Rs10 crore. This should not take two years. One machine must be bought at the local level and the state government must sanction the second one.

—Ambadas Danve, LOP, Maha Legislative Council

Expressing concern, Danve—the leader of opposition (LOP) in the Legislative Council—said, “Two MRI machines cost Rs10 crore. This should not take two years. One machine must be bought at the local level and the state government must sanction the second one.”

After his review of the district, Danve also said 55 gram panchayats in Gadchiroli do not have their own administrative building, while 212 villages do not have any connectivity. Youth of the area should be given skill

training, while boys lodged in state-run Adivasi hostels must be given their stipend for food, which comes to Rs3,000 per month, every month rather than once in three months, Danve said.

Incidentally, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was the guardian minister of Gadchiroli during the Maha Vikas Aghadi government under Uddhav Thackeray.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is currently the guardian minister of the district.

CRUCIAL READ

NOTICE TO DY ENGINEER AFTER TREES ILLEGALLY CUT FOR A CYCLE TRACK

Navi Mumbai: The Belapur Assistant Commissioner of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) issued a notice to a deputy engineer seeking clarification regarding trees being cut without permission for a cycling track along Palm Beach Road. The deputy engineer has been given seven days to reply to the notice. Green activists raised the issue with Mithali Sancheti, Assistant Commissioner of Belapur ward, she issued a notice to the official. The Shiv Sena Thackeray group has demanded legal action against the deputy engineer.

STRIKE BY TANKER BODY HITS WATER IN MUMBAI

Mumbai: A strike organized by the Mumbai Water Tanker Association (MWTA) on Sunday resulted in the water supply to several commercial establishments, including major private hotels and two posh South Mumbai clubs to be adversely affected. The indefinite strike has been on since February 09. Various infrastructure projects including Metro works have also been affected. The MWTA is an umbrella body of private water tanker owners and drivers in Mumbai.

DIAL 112 PROJECT TO BE LAUNCHED IN NAVI MUMBAI

Navi Mumbai: On Monday, February 13th, 2023, the Dial 112 project will be officially launched in Navi Mumbai at the CIDCO Exhibition Centre in Vashi. If people find themselves in an emergency situation, they can call the police for help as the Dial 112 programme will be connected to central control rooms in Navi Mumbai and Nagpur. The control rooms will then make contact with 44 district control rooms and an Emergency Response Vehicle will be sent to the scene.

TAKING MY LIFE BECAUSE OF COPS’ GREED: MULUND CA IN FOUR-PAGE SUICIDE NOTE

Mumbai: A chartered accountant from Mulund committed suicide and left a four-page suicide note which the media was able to access on Monday. In it, he claimed he was forced to take the action due to police harassment and false accusations from a former colleague and her husband. He wrote that at least 500 people including his family and clients depended on him and he had to cut his life short because of the police’s wrong and greedy actions.

Karanjwan-Manmad water supply project to be completed soon:

First India Bureau

Nashik: The Karanjwan Dam-Manmad water supply project in Nashik district will be completed on war-footing to give relief to people of the region, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said.

He was in Nandgaon taluka here on Sunday to lay the foundation stone of the Rs311-crore project, which entails getting water from the Karanjwan Dam on Kadwa river in Dindori to Manmad, the district’s third largest town.

CM FOR THE PEOPLE

“Water concerns every citizen. This project will be completed on war-footing. The state government will immediately provide 15% of the funds needed for the work,” said Shinde, who also laid the foundation stone for two other works, including a sub-district hospital. He said funds will be disbursed for road works in Manmad, an important railway junction in the state, and Rs10 crore will be allotted to set up an MIDC enclave here.

State govt approves `172 crore spend for construction of new Thane court building

Thane: The state government has approved Rs172.13 crore for the construction of a court building here in Thane, an official said on Monday. While the initial estimated cost of construction of the basement-plusstilt-plus-10 floor structure was Rs74.79 crore, the revised estimate approved by the state government for an eight-storey building is Rs172.13 crore, he said. A government resolution in this connection was issued last week, he added. “While Rs84.35 crore will be spent to construct

the building, Rs18.22 crore will be spent on furniture. The building will have a rainwater harvesting facility, ramps for persons with disabilities and hydraulic stilt parking,” he said. This comes a day after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said his government would spend Rs593 crore to develop Shri Kshetra Poharadevi in Washim district. Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis during the day unveiled a statue of Sant Sevalal Maharaj and inaugurated a 134-foot high flag there.

CM Shinde addresses a gathering during the Bhoomi Poojan of Karanjwan water supply scheme, in Nashik district on Monday. —PHOTO BY PTI

‘Bulldozers not enough to tackle encroachment’

Bombay HC stays removal of unauthorized structures on Railway land in Mumbai

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Calling for encroachment to be addressed in a more considered fashion than by just deploying bulldozers, the Bombay High Court has asked the Western Railway, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation if they had any policies on the rehabilitation of encroachers.

The court said that simply labelling persons as encroachers and displacing them could not be termed a viable solution to the issue.

A division bench of Justice Gautam Patel and Neela Gokhale on February 08 heard a petition filed by Mumbaibased Ekta Welfare Society, challenging the eviction and demolition notices issued to its

residents by railway authorities as they were encroaching on its property.

As per the Western Railway, 101 unauthorized structures have already been demolished till February 07.

The high court said the demolition report submitted by the Western Railway does not indicate whether any survey was done of the 101 structures before demolition, which was against the directions given by the Supreme Court in December 2021.

The bench said no further demolition is to be carried out in contravention of the SC order anywhere on Western Railway lands in Mum-

4 railway staff killed by rogue tower wagon in Nashik

First India Bureau

Nashik: Four railway trackmen—identified as Santosh Bhaurao Kedare (38), Dinesh Sahadu Darade (35), Krishna Atmaram Ahire (40) and Santosh Sukhdev Shirsath (38) —were killed after a tower wagon, which is used for maintenance of overhead equipment in electrified sections, hit them in Nashik district on Monday, officials said.

Throughout, we bear in mind that merely labelling these persons as ‘encroachers’ is not going to answer the problem. This is a serious problem in the city and it is a problem of human displacement. Sometimes, the scale of the displacement is beyond imagination. It has to be addressed in a more considered fashion than by merely deploying bulldozers on the site.

bai, and posted the matter for further hearing on March 01.

As per the SC order, before commencing the process of eviction and removal of structures, the authorities concerned should record the identity of the occupants of the structure for consideration of rehabilitation.

The apex court had said if the local govern-

Mumbai airport’s passenger movement up 150% y-o-y

Mumbai (ANI): Mumbai’s Chhatrapati

Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), the second busiest airport in India, recorded nearly 4.5 million passenger movements in January 2023, an increase of 149% on a yearly basis.

“CSMIA, in January 2023, has played host to approximately 4.5 million passengers across 27,331 flights, which is 149% higher than the number in January 2022 movement,” an official release said on Monday.

Of the total, it witnessed about 1.2 million international passengers, and around 3.2 million domestic passengers.

This rise in travellers, the release said, was driven by positive sentiments among air travellers and a strong surge due to the festive holiday season.

12-year-old killed as fire engulfs Malad shanties

“Dubai, London, and Abu Dhabi emerged as the top three international destinations from Mumbai while New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Goa retained their positions as the top three domestic destinations. CSMIA currently acts as a gateway to 65 domestic and 47 international destinations for passengers from Mumbai and its surrounding areas,” it further added.

ment has any rehabilitation scheme, then the affected persons should be permitted to apply for the same if eligible.

It also said that the notices issued to the occupants of the petitioner society’s structures do not point out any rehabilitation scheme or any requirements of eligibility or how these are to be met or within what time.

The trackmen were working between Lasalgaon and Ugaon stations of the Central Railway, around 5.45 am, when the tower wagon came from the wrong side and crushed them to death, an official said.

Once informed of the incident, a team of Lasalgaon police arrived on the scene and took the wagon driver into custody. The four employees were rushed to Lasalgaon rural hospital where doctors declared them dead, the police said.

Mumbai: A 12-year-old boy was killed after a fire broke out in a structure and engulfed several shanties in Kurar village in Malad suburb of Mumbai on Monday, a fire brigade official said.

The blaze erupted on the first floor of the ground-plus-one-storey structure in a 1,200 sq feet area at around 11.15 am and soon spread to “50 to 100 hutments,” the official said, adding it was doused after almost three hours with assistance from eight fire engines, four jumbo tankers and an ambulance.

Man held in Hyd for bomb hoax at Google’s Pune office

Pune (PTI): The Google office in Pune was briefly put on alert after a call was received about a bomb in the premises which later turned out to be a hoax, police said on Monday.

A man, who allegedly made the call in an inebriated state, has been traced to Hyderabad and apprehended from there, they said.

Google’s office located at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai received a call at 7.54 pm on Sunday that a bomb was kept at the company’s Pune office, located on the 11th floor of a multi-storey commercial building in Mundhwa area here, an official said. Company officials lodged a complaint

with the BKC police who registered an FIR against the then unidentified person Indian Penal Code Sections 505(1)(B) (intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to public) and 506 (criminal intimidation), he said.

The Mumbai Police subsequently shared the information with their Pune counterparts, and the Pune police and the Bomb

EMOTIONAL MOMENT

Detection and Disposal Squad reached the spot and carried out extensive searches, Pune Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V) Vikrant Deshmukh said, adding, “The call later turned out to be a hoax. The caller has been traced to Hyderabad and apprehended. He allegedly made the call in an inebriated condition.”

The investigation is ongoing, he also said.

After the incident, a boy was rushed to Shatabdi hospital where he was declared brought dead, the official said.

Initially, it was declared as a “level-two” (major) fire but was later scaled down to “level 1”, he said.

Electric wiring and other equipment, household furniture, LPG cylinders and thermocol material were gutted, the official said.

Area residents used three DCP (Dry Chemical Powder) fire extinguishers while fire personnel used two small hose lines to put out the flames.

NARROW ESCAPE FOR 3 AFTER CAR CATCHES FIRE

Thane: Three persons going from Mumbai towards Nashik had a lucky escape after the car they were travelling in caught fire near Kharegaon toll plaza in Thane district in the wee hours of Monday, civic officials said. Traffic movement on the road was affected for some time due to the incident, which left the car gutted, but no one was injured. It took emergency personnel about 45 minutes to put out the fire, Thane Municipal Corporation’s regional disaster management cell chief Avinash Sawant said, adding that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

Man held for strangling pregnant wife to death

First India Bureau Mumbai: A 24-year-old woman in her seventh month of pregnancy was allegedly killed by her husband and his parents in Mumbai’s Dharavi area after a scuffle over dowry, police said on Monday.

“Roshni Saroj was found dead in her home around 5.30 on Saturday. Her husband and his family had allegedly sought Rs5 lakh and an Enfield Bullet as dowry when they got married a year ago,” he said.

“Her parents, who were not well off, gave a gold chain, a ring and Rs50,000 at the time of the wedding. They said Roshni was being harassed in her marital home. After Friday night’s row, Roshni called home to inform her father about the scuffle,” he added.

“Her husband and in-laws said she had

Dharmalingam Pillai (69) went missing from Mumbai airport hours before returning to Durban after birthday trip to India

Mumbai (PTI): A 69-year-old non-resident Indian, who went missing from Mumbai international airport, has been traced to a suburb and reunited with his daughter after 12 days with the help of two alert citizens, police said on Monday.

The NRI, Dharmalingam Pillai, who lives in South Africa and has been suffering from memory loss, went missing on January 30 a few hours before he and his daughter were scheduled to take a flight from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

International Airport here to Durban, they said.

Pillai, who is a retired clerk, and his daughter had come to India to visit their roots on the occasion of his birthday. His grandfather had gone to South Africa and since then the family was settled in Durban, an official said.

A missing person’s report was registered at Sahar police station on January 31 following which around 7,000

handbills and posters carrying Pillai’s picture and other information were printed and circulated in the city

with the help of his daughter and the office of the South African Consulate General in Mumbai, he said.

A missing person’s report was registered on Jan 31, and 7,000 handbills and posters carrying Pillai’s picture and other information were printed and circulated in the city

The city police also shared information about Pillai on social media platforms, he said.

MAN,

FATHER HELD AFTER WIFE KILLS HERSELF

Mumbai (PTI): A 34-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide in her home in Bandra in Mumbai over dowry harassment, after which her husband and his father were arrested, a police official said on Monday. Pinky Chawla ended her life in her Khatik Wadi locality last week by consuming poison, after which her father filed a complaint alleging his daughter was being harassed for dowry, the Nirmal Nagar police station official said.

hanged herself, but her father claims she was strangled and then hanged to pass off the murder as suicide,” he further said.

Missing NRI traced to Mumbai suburb, reunited with kin after 12 days

Two citizens, who were aware about the missing NRI through social media and news articles, on Sunday spotted Pillai wandering in suburban Khar. They enquired with him and then informed the police control room, he said.

A team was rushed there and the information was also shared with Pillai’s daughter.

Pillai was then brought to the Sahar police station and reunit-

ed with his daughter on Sunday evening, the official said.

“It was an emotional moment for everyone,” he said.

“The awareness among Mumbaikars helped in tracing Pillai and this is an example of police and citizens working together,” the official said, adding it was a challenging task to search for a person, who has memory loss issue, amid the city’s massive population.

—Justices Gautam Patel & Neela Gokhale, Bombay High Court

First India Bureau

The fire quickly spread to 50-100 hutnents and gutted household furniture, LPG cylinders, electric wiring and other equipment. —PHOTO BY ANI

INDIAN WOMEN WIN HEARTS

AND BIG PAY CHEQUES AT WPL AFTER TROUNCING PAKISTAN IN T20 WORLD CUP

IN-DEPTH GOVERNORSHIP FOR FORMER SC JUDGE: RIJIJU HITS OUT AT CONG

With their on-field exploits being rewarded with big bucks, the morale in the Indian camp is bound to be sky-high. If the momentum from their victory over Pakistan can be maintained, Harmanpreet & Co could well seal ultimate glory in the T20 World Cup. With the victory over Pakistan being followed by a massive pay day at the inaugural WPL auction, Indian women’s cricket is clearly moving to an unprecedented high!!

The Women in Blue got off to a flying start in the Women’s T20 World Cup by scoring a convincing victory over arch rivals Pakistan on Sunday night. Despite a lot of hype surrounding the match, Indian eves held their nerve all through the tense clash. Though Pakistan got to their highest-ever score against India, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side clinched a decisive win with their highest successful chase in Women’s T20 World Cup history. What made the victory more memorable was that it came in the absence of India’s star batter, Smriti Mandhana. Young guns Jemima Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh took India to a famous win and helped the team to register the second highest chase in T20 World Cup history.

It was a typical India-Pakistan encounter that ebbed and flowed with lots of dramatic twists and turns. Pak won the toss and chose to bat but were rocked by initial shocks. After stuttering to 68-4 in 10 overs, Pak were in trouble. Thereafter, a terrific captain’s knock by Bismah Maroof and her partnership with the aggressive teenager, Ayesha Naseem, turned the game. All of 18, Naseem is rated highly for her penchant to hit the long ball. She played a knock that gave India the jitters. She threw Renuka Singh off guard with 18 runs

NOW TO START POLL PROCESS IN J&K

off the 16th over and changed the complexion of the Pakistan innings as they reached their highest ever total of 149 in a T20 international.

With prolific opener and Vice-Captain, Smriti Mandhana missing due to injury, it was a tough task for India.

Shafali Varma’s aggressive knock though took India to a brisk start. With Shafali and then Harmanpreet falling in the space of a few overs of each other ,India need ed 55 in the last 6 overs, which was a tricky task. Then came the matchwinning partnership as wicketkeeper- bat ter, Richa Ghosh, joined forces with Jemima Rodri gues. The duo steadied the In dian ship. Ghosh began firing almost instantly and Jemi ma soon joined

The path for elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been cleared with the Supreme Court rejecting a petition against the proposed delimitation of constitution which, the state parties alleged, was done keeping the BJP’s interests in mind. The petitioners had argued that the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, empowers only the Election Commission of India to conduct the delimitation exercise. Refuting the point, the Centre said that the Act does not preclude the setting up of a Delimitation Commission by the government.

Two main political parties of State — National Conference and the People’s Demo-

The match-winning partnership as wicketkeeper- batter, Richa Ghosh, joined forces with Jemima Rodrigues. The duo steadied the Indian ship. Ghosh began firing almost instantly and Jemima soon joined the fun. Pakistan fielding wilted and there were many misfielding efforts

the fun. Pakistan fielding wilted and there were many misfielding efforts. In contrast, the Indian girls put up an unbroken 58run stand in a perfect combo of aggression and elegance. Richa Ghosh, the gum-chewing, big-hitting teenager who won the Under-19 World Cup

fours in the 18th over to bring the target down to 14 off 12 balls. At the other end, Rodrigues, who held the batting line-up together, found her range. She pulled, swept and then most fittingly hit the winning runs by carving a boundary through extra cover which also brought up her half-century. The victory has put the Indian campaign to win an elusive ICC tournament on track. India next plays West Indies on February 15, while Pakistan will face Ireland on the same day. Beyond the victory, the auction for Women’s Premier League (WPL) added to the jubilation in the Indian contingent. Though she missed the vital game with Pakistan, Smriti Mandhana created history by being the first player to be picked for WPL. The Indian Vice Captain netted a whopping 3.4 Crores Rupees from RCB – a testimony to her own skill and the big bucks now available for women cricketers.

In contrast, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur was picked up for a modest 1.8 crores Rupees by Mumbai Indians. Significantly, a number of other members of the team netted higher amounts than Captain Kaur. While allrounder Deepti Sharma got an impressive purse of 2.6 Crores Rupees, the U-19 Captain and powerful stroke-maker Shafali Verma was picked up for 2 Crores. The matchwinning duo in the Pakistan game also netted impressive amounts – while Jemimah got 2.2 Crores, Richa Ghosh also netted 1.9 Crores in the highstakes auction. Among players from outside India, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt and Aussie all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner fetched the highest price with both netting 3.2 crores.

With their on-field exploits being rewarded with big bucks, the morale in the Indian camp is bound to be skyhigh. If the momentum from their victory over Pakistan can be maintained, Harmanpreet & Co could well seal ultimate glory in the T20 World Cup. With the victory over Pakistan being followed by a massive pay day at the inaugural WPL auction, Indian women’s cricket is clearly moving to an unprecedented high!!

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

The path for elections in the UT of J&K has been cleared with the SC rejecting a petition against the proposed delimitation of constitution which, the state parties alleged, was done keeping the BJP’s interests in mind

cratic Party (PDP) — were opposed to the delimitation exercise as assembly constituencies in the Jammu region will increase from the existing 37 to 43 and from 45 to 47 in the Kashmir region. The delimitation panel has recommended four additional

In major gubernatorial changes the Central government appointed Justice SA Nazeer, a retired judge of the Supreme Court and two army officers among others as governors. If the appointment of Justice Nazeer, who was part of the five-judge SC bench which delivered the Ayodhya verdict in 2019 and later on demonetisation, has raised the hackles of the opposition, shifting Ramesh Bais from Jharkhand to Maharashtra is no less significant. After the former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi being rewarded with membership of the Rajya Sabha, governorship of Andhra Pradesh for Justice Nazeer has naturally raised questions of judicial independence and the irrelevance of cooling off period for judges before they are given other assignments. Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju hit back at the Congress which quoted late Arun Jaitley’s remark that “pre-retirement judgments are influenced post retirement jobs” to criticise Justice Nazeer’s appointment. “The Whole Ecosystem is once again in full swing on the appointment of a governor,” Rijiju said.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

All suffering is caused by ignorance. People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or satisfaction. Buddha

TOP TWEETS

Best wishes to all on the establishment day of @APEDADOC dedicated to the export of agricultural products. Under the leadership of PM @NarendraModi ji, emphasis is being given on exports, due to which the demand for Indian food products is increasing in the world and farmers are getting more profit.

seats for Kashmiri migrants. For the first time nine seats have been reserved for Scheduled Tribes. The redrawn assembly seats in favour of Jammu region are likely to have a significant political impact as it may tilt the balance of power against the Muslim voters.

Kashmir region has a little over 96% of Muslim population and a mere 2.5% of Hindus, whereas Hindus account for 62.6% and Muslims 33.5% in Jammu. Compared to its population Jammu region will have a disproportionate number of assembly constituencies. And that is what State parties were not ready to accept. Following these major changes the BJP can now look forward to being part of UT’s power structure.

Happy #WorldRadioDay to all. Greetings to all listeners and appreciation to those who are creating good radio programmes. A special thanks to PM @narendramodi ji for making radio more popular across India through his monthly #MannKiBaat programme.

SIDDHAARTH MAHAN

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

& MEGHALAYA ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

BJP left no stone unturned to develop Tripura, says PM Modi

Agartala (PTI): PM

Narendra Modi on Monday asserted that there is no family in Tripura that has not received the benefits of BJP’s policies. Modi, addressing a rally here on the last day of electioneering in the state, said that the BJP, as a “faithful servant” (sevak), left no stone unturned to develop the place.

“Agartala has become the gateway for international trade in the Northeast, the state capital will soon become a business hub,” he noted.

The BJP believes in “politics of change (badlao), not of revenge (badla)”, he maintained.

Lashing out at the Left Front and the Congress, he said that the two parties just want to fill their coffers without caring for people’s welfare. “The Leftists and the Congress can do anything to satiate their hunger for power. They wrestle in Kerala and forge friendly relations in Tripura,” he said.

Under the BJP regime, people got free ration, healthcare assistance, houses and other facilities, Modi said.

“I want to assure all those who are yet to get pucca houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana that they will get one after the BJP government takes oath in the state,” he added.

IN THE COURTYARD

ED OPPOSES MINISTER SATYENDAR JAIN’S BAIL PLEA IN MONEY LAUNDERING CASE

New Delhi: The ED on Monday opposed before the Delhi High Court the bail plea of jailed AAP minister Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case being probed by it. Jain, arrested on May 30 last year, is accused of having laundered money through four companies allegedly linked to him. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing ED, argued in the court that Jain’s stand that there are no proceeds of crime can be “demolished” by the material on record which also shows that he was “in the thick of things”.

“BJP WILL GET OVER 36 SEATS”, TRIPURA

CM MANIK SAHA CONFIDENT OF VICTORY

Agartala: Expressing confidence that BJP will improve its performance compared to the last assembly polls, Tripura CM Dr Manik Saha has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the definition of politics and no arithmetic works in front of trust of people. In an exclusive interview with the ANI, the Chief Minister said that BJP has improved law and order situation in the state and there has been been a lot of improvement in railways, airways, national highways and internet connectivity.

Goa Speaker gives 6 weeks’ time to defected MLAs to file reply

MP Rahul Gandhi in his Wayanad constituency

Wayanad (PTI): Senior Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited the house of a tribal man who was found dead near Kozhikode medical college recently.

MEGHALAYA WOMEN

YEARN FOR CONTROL

Shillong: Children get their mother’s last name, husbands move into their wives homes and youngest daughters inherit family property. But with only four women legislators in a house of 60, the empowerment promised by Meghalaya’s matrilineal society is only half done. The state goes to polls on February 27.

UP: Natural Farming Kisan Jagran Abhiyan to begin next week

Vishwanathan (46) was found hanging near Kozhikode medical college hospital on Saturday, where his wife was admitted for delivery.

Gandhi, who reached the Kozhikode airport on Sunday night, visited the house of Vishwanathan in Wayanad district this morning along with party leaders after the family suspected

Karnataka polls: AAP to kick off campaign with Yatra on Feb 15

DON’T CRUSH J&K PEOPLE’S RIGHTS UNDER BULLDOZER, SAYS PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA

New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday attacked the Central government over the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), saying that for peace and trust it is necessary to listen to the common people and not “crush their rights under the bulldozer”. Major political parties including the Congress, the National Conference (NC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have voiced their concerns against the drive and demanded an immediate end to it.

foul play behind the tribal man’s death.

Rahul Gandhi, who represents the Wayanad constituency in the Lok Sabha, spent some time with the family at Paravayal Colony, listening to their woes and

complaints and consoled them. After visiting the family, Gandhi alleged that Vishwanathan was the victim of a mob trial and a comprehensive probe should be carried out into the incident.

Will Aero India 2023 eradicate poverty? Kumaraswamy to BJP

EXCISE CASE: DELHI COURT EXTENDS REMAND

OF CHARIOT MEDIA OWNER

New Delhi: A local court on Monday extended the Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand of Rajesh Joshi, owner of Chariot Production Media Pvt Ltd till February 20 in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 money laundering case. Joshi was arrested by the ED last week following questioning and evidence against him showing his involvement in the case. Special Judge MK Nagpal on Monday extended the period of his remand to confront some witnesses and documents.

SHRADDHA MURDER: POONAWALA FILES

APPLICATIONS FOR RELEASE OF CERTIFICATES

New Delhi: Mehrauli murder accused Aaftab Amin Poonawala on Monday filed applications for release of his educational certificates to pursue higher studies and for a “proper” digital copy of the chargesheet. He is accused of killing his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar and disposing her body after cutting it into several pieces. Poonawala’s applications alleged that he was “falsely implicated” in the case and that the prosecution “intentionally” provided a digital copy of the chargesheet “which cannot be read”.

Ayodhya verdict was given under Centre’s pressure: Rashid Alvi

New Delhi (ANI): Congress leader Rashid Alvi hit out at the BJP-led Union govt over the appointment of Justice (retd.) S Abdul Nazeer as the Andhra Pradesh governor, alleging that the Supreme Court delivered its verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case under pressure from the Centre.

Justice Nazeer was part of the five-judge Constitution bench which delivered the final verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, in 2019. “People are questioning Supreme Court’s decision on the

Rashid Alvi

Ram JanmabhoomiBabri Masjid case. People are saying the verdict was delivered under pressure from the central government. The judiciary should be independent of the executive under Article 50 of our Constitution,” Alvi said.

Panaji: Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Monday granted six weeks’ time to eight defected MLAs to file a reply on the disqualification petition filed against them. On November 11, Dominic Noronha had submitted the disqualification petition against eight Congress MLAs, who had joined the BJP.

On Monday Speaker Tawadkar heard the petitioner and respondents in this matter and granted six weeks time to the eight MLAs to file a reply. “Voters vote for a particular party and then they (MLAs) change sides. In view of this I had filed this petition. I hope justice will prevail,” Dominic Noronha told media after the hearing.

New Delhi (Agencies):

BJP National President JP Nadda and Agricultural Minister Narender Singh will launch “Natural Farming Kisan Jagran Abhiyan”

-- a mission to reach out to 1 lakh villages and inform the people about organic farming in Uttar Pradesh’s Shukratal village next week.

The initiative is being launched on the instruction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

For the same mission, BJP Kisan morcha organised a workshop

at BJP central Office earlier in the day. Minister Nadda lit the lamp and addressed the morcha members.

National President of BJP Kissan Morcha Rajkumar Chahar tweeted, “Today, the national training workshop of BJP Kisan Morcha ‘Natural Farming Kisan Jagran Abhiyan’ was inaugurated by Agriculture

Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at BJP Headquarters and along with him addressed all the state office-bearers present in the workshop.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka unit of AAP will kick-start its campaigning for the Assembly election with a yatra called ‘Broom is the solution’, on February 15, party state working president Mohan Dasari said here on Monday. At a press conference here, Dasari said, “The yatra will start in the front of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna railway station in Bengaluru. “We will reach Freedom Park via Sangolli Rayanna Circle, Anand Rao Circle and hold a meeting there. The Aam Aadmi Party is the only solution to the problems related to basic amenities like cleanliness, education, health, electricity etc. The yatra has been organised in the name of ‘Broom is the solution’ with the aim of making people aware of this,” he said.

OM BIRLA TO INAUGURATE...

Huballi: Janata DalSecular (S) leader and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy on Monday taking a dig at the Aero India Show 2023, questioned the ruling BJP that ‘will the event eradicate poverty by any means?’

At an election campaign here, he said, “Is the Air Show a programme to remove poverty? Will poverty be ended by participating in the Aero India Show? The attempt is being made to misguide people at the time of elections.”

He said that this is the 14th edition of the Aero India Show. Has it been started by PM Narendra Modi?

Kumaraswamy said, “Which political party has done injustice to the north Karnataka region? I had advised to rectify the legal and

HD Kumaraswamy

WOULD NEVER HAVE BECOME MLA: CT RAVI Bengaluru: BJP National General Secretary and Chikkamagaluru MLA CT Ravi on Monday said had he obeyed the advice of his father, who was the fan of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, he would have ended up chanting slogans praising the JD(S) patriarch and his sons and would never have become an MLA or a Minister.

technical issues regarding Mahadayi River water dispute. But, the BJP just wanted publicity. This is what BJP is continuing to do.”

Orientation programme for Guj MLAs from Wed

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Lok Sabha

Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate Orientation Programme for Members of Gujarat Legislative Assembly at Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel; Speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly Shankar Chaudhary and several other dignitaries will grace the event.

The Orientation Programme will focus primarily on promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of the constitutional role and position of the Parlia-

ment as the supreme representative institution, familiarizing the Members more closely with the operational mechanisms, parliamentary traditions, conventions, and etiquette.

As part of the orientation programme, the Members of Gujarat Legislative Assembly will be given training on ‘How to be an Effective Legislator?’; ‘Committee System and Parliamentary Questions’ ; ‘Budgetary Process’; ‘Legislative Process’; ‘India’s Presidency in G-20’; ‘Procedural Devices to Raise Matters of Urgent Public Importance in the House’; ‘Functioning

of a Legislature: Do’s and Don’ts ; ‘Parliamentary Privileges and Ethics’; and ‘Importance of Constitutional Bodies in a Democracy’.

The two-day Orientation programme will conclude on February 16 with Valedictory Address by Governor of Gujarat Acharya Devvrat.

The Orientation Programme for the Members of Gujarat Legislature is being organised by Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat in coordination with Gujarat Legislative Assembly Secretariat.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attends the Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting at the Wayanad Collectorate, at Kalpetta, in Wayanad on Monday. —PHOTO BY ANI

TRIPURA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public meeting ahead of the Tripura Assembly elections, in Agartala on Monday. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and other dignitaries also seen. —PHOTO BY ANI

Action will be taken against RaGa: Joshi

Union Minister Prahlad Joshi says this time action would be taken against Congress MP for making an ‘unparliamentary remark’ about PM

BUDGET SESSION

New Delhi (ANI): Union Minister Prahlad

Joshi on Monday said action would be taken this time on the notice sent to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for making an ‘unparliamentary remark’ about PM Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha.

Joshi said, “(BJP leader) Nishikant

Dubey issued a notice to Gandhi for making baseless allegations (against PM). What they say has to be supported with evidence but they haven’t produced any. We all are answerable to the people of this country. This time action will be taken on this notice.” On February 8, Dubey sent a letter to LS Speaker Om Birla, saying that Rahul’s statements were misleading, derogatory, indecent, unparliamentary, undignified and incriminatory in nature to the dignity of the House and the PM.

PM’S HANDS WERE SHAKING AS I WAS TALKING ABOUT ADANI IN LS: RAHUL

MEETING OF LIKE-MINDED OPPOSITION PARTIES HELD AT KHARGE’S CHAMBER

New Delhi (ANI): Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge chaired a meeting of like-minded Opposition parties to devise a joint strategy for the day’s proceedings. Earlier in day, Kharge said, “Since today is the last day (of first part of Budget session) in Parliament, we will discuss how we can resolve this Adani issue and what will our Chairman be doing. We will also seek the opinion of other parties.” The Upper House witnessed ruckus after parts of Kharge’s speech claiming that the House was acting under pressure from the govt were expunged.

BJP MP DEMANDS SEPARATE STATE OF BUNDELKHAND IN LOK SABHA

New Delhi (Agencies): It is important for everyone in this country to see Parliament proceedings and understand the nexus between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and businessman Gautam Adani, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Monday. Speaking at a public gathering in Kerala’s Wayanad, Gandhi alleged that when he was talking about Adani in Parliament, PM Modi’s hands were shaking.

Demolition drive in Mehrauli continues

New Delhi (PTI): An “anti-encroachment drive” in the Mehrauli Archaeological Park area went on for the fourth consecutive day on Monday, with Delhi Development Authority and police personnel facing protests from many local residents during the exercise. The drive started on Friday and comes a month ahead of a

proposed G20 meeting at the park in South Delhi that, according to the DDA, has about 55 monuments under the protection of the archaeological Survey of India, state archeological department and the authority. The demolition drive continued today and action was taken in the area located near the Bhool Bhulaiyaa monument.

New Delhi: The demand for the creation of Bundelkhand state by separating its districts from Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh is decades old. BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency, Kunwar Pushpendra Singh Chandel again demanded the formation of a separate Bundelkhand state in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

OPPN PROTESTS IN LS AFTER SEVERAL ADJOURNMENT MOTIONS REJECTED

New Delhi: Opposition members on Monday objected before Speaker Om Birla in Lok Sabha, after their adjournment motions on the appointment of former Supreme Court judge S Abdul Nazeer as Governor and Chinese incursions in Indian territory were rejected. As soon as Question Hour ended, Trinamool Congress member Sougata Ray got up to say that he had given an adjournment motion on Justice Nazeer’s appointment as Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

BSF airlifts three patients and four bodies from J&K’s Tanghdhar

Dhankhar warns MPs, adjourns RS till March 13

New Delhi (ANI): The Rajya Sabha was on Monday adjourned till the beginning of the next part of the Budget Session on March 13 amid pandemonium created by a joint Opposition led by Congress, as the Chair declined the notices of several members on various issues.

New Delhi: BSF personnel airlifted three patients for treatment from Tangdhar sector in J&K. Along with this, the mortal remains of four people were also airlifted and sent for last rites. This area of Kashmir gets cut off from the main road due to heavy snowfall. A BSF spokesperson said that on the request of Kupwara administration, personnel from Tangdhar sector airlifted three patients in a BSF helicopter for treatment at medical centre on Monday.

New Delhi (ANI): There was nothing unparliamentary in what Rahul Gandhi said in the Parliament, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Monday, reacting to the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s notice. Talking to the media, here in the national capital, Kharge said, “Whatever Rahul Gandhi had mentioned in the Parliament was already in the public domain and there is nothing unparliamentary about this.”

The RS saw two adjournments — first till 11.50 am and the second till 11 am on March 13— as the Opposition leaders continued their protest sloganeering in the House demanding Joint Parliamentary Committee on Adani row. Before the first adjournment, RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar named several MPs and warned them for not to indulge in such acts that disrupt the proceedings of the House as many Opposition parties’ MPs trooped into the well of the House sloganeering, the Chairman named a few of them including Raghav Chaddha, Imran Pratapgarhi, Shakti Sinh Gohil, Kumar Ketkar and Sandeep Pathak.

DRI seizes 24.4 kg of gold smuggled from Bangladesh

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Under its ‘Operation Eastern Gateway’, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has arrested eight persons for allegedly smuggling gold from the Bangladesh border and seized 24.4 kg gold worth Rs 14 crore. A syndicate based in Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal was smuggling huge quantities of gold from the neighbouring country to India through the Indo-Bangla border in the state of Tripura, an official release said on Monday. The DRI has launched an operation codenamed ‘Operation Eastern Gateway’, which involved developing the intelligence over a substantial period of time to bust the smuggling modus operandi, the release said.

FARD FOR FARMERS

In the operation, the revenue intelligence agency teams were strategically placed at different locations in the states of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura including at the IndoBangladesh border so that the modus operandi used by the smuggling syndicate could be unearthed, it said.

Based on intelligence inputs, eight persons of the syndicate were apprehended.

Minister’s absence draws ire of Chairman Dhankhar in RS

New Delhi (Agencies):

Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel was absent from the Rajya Sabha proceedings on Monday, which invited the ire of Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Patel is Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti. He was to lay on table important papers. But when his name was called by the chair, he was not in the House. The chair-

man said that the concerned minister has to be present in the House for the proceedings. Earlier, the chairman rejected the suspension of business notice moved by AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Opposition MPs resorted to sloganeering. The representatives of 14 opposition met at the chamber of Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament on Monday and decided to raise the issue.

HIMACHAL PRADESH: FIRE BREAKS OUT IN KULLU

SHED, ONE KILLED

Shimla: A man of Nepali origin was killed after a fire broke out in a shed in Kullu, officials informed on Monday. The incident happened at a shed near the LIC Complex in Sarwari, Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. The deceased has been identified as Jeet Ram (85 years), who got burnt alive in the fire. The fire department reached the spot and brought the fire under control. The officials have taken the deceased’s body into possession, and the cause of the fire is being ascertained.

RAKHI’S HUBBY BOOKED FOR RAPING IRANIAN STUDENT

MP SCHOOL TEACHER HELD FOR RAPING CLASS 4 STUDENT

“The team at Siliguri apprehended four persons, while they were travelling in a train from Badarpur Junction in Assam to Sealdah, at Dalkhola Railway Station in West Bengal and recovered 90 gold strips from their possession, collectively weighing 18.66 kg, valued at Rs 10.66 crores. These strips were hidden in specially-tailored waist belts worn by each of them.”

Livelihood schemes for Odisha’s marginal farmers

First India Bureau

Bhubaneswar: The Fisheries & Animal Resource Development (FARD) Department, Odisha will soon roll out major livestock-based livelihood schemes focusing on small ruminants like Goat/Sheep for small and marginal farmers in the state.

The FARD recently invited leading NGOs for an exploratory meeting to share their expertise, experience in livestock-

based value chains, especially small ruminants.

The meeting was chaired by Animal Husbandry Department

Commissioner-cumSecretary Suresh Kumar Vashishth and Director Dr Yeddula Vijayalong.

A team from Heifer India —an international NGO engaged in Agriculture, Food Security, Gender, Social Development sectors- attended this meeting. The team presented Heifer’s inno-

vative community development model supporting small and marginal farmers especially fo-

cusing on women households. In addition, the team sensitized the government officials on

Value Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD), Cornerstones, goat value chain model and Community Agro Vet Entrepreneurs.

In the meeting, two other agencies (Goat Trust and BAIF) also presented their work on goat/sheep value chains.

Acknowledging Heifer’s work, Animal Husbandry Commissionercum-Secretary Vashishth was keen to learn more about the Heifer POG community en-

gagement approach. He advised the Heifer team to provide consulting support to the Animal Husbandry department on community accepted models on goat value chain in Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts and the same can be replicated in other districts.

Meanwhile, Heifer’s Odisha programme director Prabaharan Rajarathinam will be guest speaker in ‘Krushi Odisha-2023’ being held from February 16.

Mysuru: Actor Rakhi Sawant’s husband Adil Durrani has landed in another problem after an FIR was filed against him in Mysuru on Monday after an Iranian student accused him of rape.

Rakhi Sawant’s husband Adil Durrani has been accused of raping, cheating, threatening, and blackmailing a female student who came to Mysuru from Iran to study.

Rewa: A govt school teacher was held for raping a 10-year-old girl, studying in Class 4 in the same school in Rewa district. The incident occurred under Sohagi police station limits of the district on Saturday. When the minor girl reached her school, the accused teacher took her to a corner of the school and violated her.

FROM WELL, RELEASED INTO WILD IN KARNATAKA

LEOPARD RESCUED

Mangaluru: A leopard, which fell into a well at Niddodin near here, was rescued and later released into the wild, forest officials said. The officials initially tried luring the animal inside a cage on Sunday by lowering it down the well and were unsuccessful, a release said. A rescue team led by wild life specialist Dr Yashasvi Naravi with Dr Meghana, Dr Prithvi and Dr Nafisa then decided to immobilise the leopard and bring it up from the well which was too deep and had a small cave inside where the animal was hiding.

YOUTH HACKED TO DEATH NEAR COURT COMPLEX IN TN

Chennai: A 24-year-old youth, Gokul was hacked to death by a four-member gang wearing masks near the Coimbatore court complex. The deceased, according to the police, was part of a gang that had killed a youth V. Sriram alias Kurangu Sriram (22) in December 2021. Sriram was killed by the rival gang for area dominance.

DAUGHTER SPENDS

2 DAYS WITH MOM’S BODY IN KOLKATA

Kolkata: The Kolkata Police on Monday found a 64-year-old widow living with the body of her deceased mother in the bedroom of their house in north Kolkata. The deceased, Namita Ghosal (90), used to stay with her 64-year-old daughter, who became a widow just a couple of years after her marriage.

4 HOUSES GUTTED AS LIVE WIRE FALLS ON THEM IN JHARKHAND’S PALAMU DISTRICT

Ranchi: Four houses were gutted after an 11,000 volt overhead live wire fell on their roofs in Sajwan village of Jharkhand’s Palamu district on Monday. The fire spread after a gas cylinder exploded. It caused loss of property, along with claiming the lives of a few cattle. All the residents of the houses were evacuated safely with the help of villagers. Four families lost their homes in the incident, the officials said.

Security tightens during a demolishing drive of illegal construction in the Mehrauli area, New Delhi on Monday.

(R) The seized gold and the impounded vehicle in which this gold was being carried. —PHOTO BY PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

BSF personnel airlift patients for treatment in Kupwara.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge chairs a meeting of like-minded Opposition parties to devise a joint strategy during the ongoing Budget Session, at his chambers in Parliament House, in New Delhi on Monday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asks Opposition MPs to calm down as they raise slogans in the House on Monday.

THERE IS NOTHING UNPARLIAMENTARY IN WHAT RAHUL SAID IN LS: KHARGE

business

AUDI EXPECTS HIGH DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH IN INDIA

THREE-MONTH HIGH IN JANUARY

India’s retail inflation surges to 6.52%

New Delhi (PTI): German luxury carmaker Audi on Monday said it expects to have a significant double digit growth in India in 2023 on the back of new products and full-year availability of its popular models. The company launched its Q3 Sportback model for `51.43 lakh (ex-showroom). “I am looking at a significant high double digit growth for this year as well. We grew 27% last year, but this year also we will continue to grow,” Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon said.

GOLD JUMPS BY

`114/10 GM; SILVER DECLINES BY `319

New Delhi (PTI): Retail inflation again breached the Reserve Bank’s upper tolerance limit and touched a three-month high of 6.52% in January, mainly due to higher prices in the food basket, including cereals and protein-rich items.

With the exception of November and December 2022, retail inflation has remained above the RBI’s upper tolerance level of 6% since January 2022.

The retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 5.7% in December and 6.01% in January 2022. The previous high was 6.77%in October.

Illegal subsidies hurt Indian trade, biz: Govt

New Delhi (PTI): The government on Monday said illegal subsidies by trade partners and other countries hurt Indian trade and business, and that corrective actions are taken in the form of invoking dispute settlement mechanisms.

Boeing launches global support centre in India

New Delhi (PTI): Boeing on Monday announced the launch of its Global Support Centre (GSC) in India and will also set up a new logistics centre in the country as the aircraft maker seeks to expand its presence in India.

New Delhi (PTI): Gold price jumped `114 to `56,982 per 10 gram in the national capital on Monday, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the precious metal had settled at `56,868/10 gram. Silver, however, declined `319 to `66,802/kg. Spot gold prices in the Delhi markets traded at `56,982 per 10 gram, up `114 per 10 gram. In the overseas market, gold was trading flat at $1,863.10/ounce and silver quoted lower at $21.97 per ounce.

GOLD ETFs REGISTER

`199-CR OUTFLOW IN JANUARY 2023

The Department of Commerce on February 9, 2023 had stated that illegal subsidies by trade partners and other countries hurt Indian trade and business, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Rao Inderjit Singh told the Lok Sabha.

“At a multilateral forum, the disciplines regulating the provision of subsidies and the use of countervailing measures to offset injury caused by subsidized imports are addressed in

the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures,” he said in a written reply.

According to him, the subsidies whether they are prohibited (illegal) or actionable are determined by three major steps within the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures agreement.

INFLATION DATA THEN & NOW

z Retail inflation again breached the RBI’s upper tolerance limit and touched a three-month high of 6.52% in January, mainly due to higher prices in the food basket, including cereals and protein-rich items.

z The retail inflation based on the CPI was 5.72% in Dec and 6.01% in January 2022.

While the prices of vegetable declined in Janu -

ary, most of the other items, including ‘fuel and light’ became dearer.

The rate of price rise in the food basket was 5.94% in January, up from 4.19% in the preceding month and 5.43% in the year-ago month, as per data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

The inflation in rural areas was higher at 6.85% as compared to 6% in the urban centres.

Last week, the RBI -which has been mandated to ensure inflation remains below 6%-- had

raised the key short-term rate (repo) by 25 basis points to 6.5% with an aim to check price rise.

The Reserve Bank has projected the retail inflation at 6.5% in 2022-23, with January-December quarter at 5.7%.

Headline CPI inflation moderated by 105 basis points during NovemberDecember 2022 from its level of 6.77% in October 2022.

This was due to a softening in food inflation on the back of a sharp deflation in vegetable prices.

Sensex extends losses for 2nd day; IT, bank stocks top drags

Mumbai (PTI): Equity benchmark Sensex declined around 251 points on Monday, pressured by heavy selling in IT and bank stocks amid a mixed trend overseas. A weak rupee further weighed on sentiment, traders said.

` FALLS 15 PAISE TO CLOSE AT 82.73/US DOLLAR

New Delhi (PTI): Gold exchange traded funds (ETFs) witnessed a net outflow of `199 crore in January, making it the third monthly withdrawal in a row, with investors preferring equities over other segments on buoyant record SIP flow. This was in comparison to a net outflow of `273 crore registered in the segment in December and `195 crore in November. Prior to that, Gold ETFs attracted `147 crore in October, data with Amfi showed. Despite the outflows, the category saw its net assets under management (AUM) rising to `21,836 crore at the end of Jan.

YAMAHA BIKES TO BE E20-COMPLIANT

BY DECEMBER END

New Delhi (PTI): Passenger vehicle wholesales rose 17% in January to 2,98,093 units driven by robust offtake of utility vehicles, including the fast-growing sports utility vehicles, industry body SIAM said on Monday.

The overall passenger vehicle dispatch from companies to dealers was 2,54,287 units in January 2022. Utility vehicle sales rose to 1,49,328 units last month from 1,16,962 units in January last year. Simi-

The company has launched its first GSC in India that will provide customised operational efficiency and safety improvement projects for its airline customers, civil aviation regulatory bodies and other industry stakeholders.

Besides, it will set up a new logistics centre which will cater to customers, according to two releases. Investment details were not disclosed.

Sliding for the second straight session, the 30-share BSE Sensex ended 250.86 points or 0.41% lower at 60,431.84. During the session, the index touched a high of 60,740.95 and a low of 60,245.05.

On similar lines, the broader NSE Nifty dropped 85.60 points or 0.48% to finish at 17,770.90.

SBI was the biggest loser in the Sensex pack, tumbling 2.83%, followed

by Infosys, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Tech Mahindra, Wipro and Axis Bank.

In contrast, Titan, L&T, NTPC, Power Grid, Sun Pharma, ITC and HDFC twins were among the prominent winners, rising as much as 1.97%.

In the broader market, the BSE midcap and smallcap indices dropped up to 1.25%.

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee fell by 15 paise to close at 82.73 (provisional) against the US currency on Monday, weighed down by gains in the greenback in the overseas markets and a muted trend in domestic equities. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 82.68 against the greenback, and fell to an intra-day low of 82.77. It finally settled at 82.73 (provisional), down 15 paise over its previous close.

New Delhi (PTI): Japanese two-wheeler major Yamaha on Monday said its entire motorcycle range in India would be compliant with E20 fuel by the end of this year. The company also announced that its 149cc155 cc bike range in the country would now come with Traction Control System (TCS) as a standard feature. Yamaha used to offer only R15M and R15V4 with the TCS and now FZS-Fi V4 Deluxe, FZ-X and MT-15 V2 Deluxe would also come with the technology.

larly, passenger car dispatches grew to 1,36,931 units from 1,16,962 units.

Wholesales of vans also increased to 11,834 units from 10,632 units in the year-ago period.

FINANCIAL TIMES MBA RANKINGS

Hyderabad (PTI): Indian School of Business (ISB) and Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore and Lucknow figure in the Financial Times (FT) Global MBA 2023 ranking.

While ISB slipped to 39th rank from 32nd in 2023, IIMs at Indore and Lucknow secured their place in the chart. IIM Ahmedabad improved its position to 51 from 62 in 2022.

However, ISB retained its No. 1 position when it comes to B-schools in India. The Post Graduate Programme (PGP) from ISB continues to be ranked No. 1 in India in the FT Global MBA Ranking 2023.

In keeping with its consistent performance over the years in these rankings, ISB is the only Indian Bschool in the top 50 worldwide. It has been ranked No. 6 in Asia.

The weighted salary of ISB graduates stood at

Renault-Nissan

to invest `5.3K cr, plans six new vehicles

RIL seeks $12.75 for CBM gas, ONGC wants $9.35

DOMESTIC CV SALES VOLUME MAY

GROW

9-11% IN FY24: REPORT

Mumbai (PTI): Domestic commercial vehicle sales volume is expected to grow 9-11% in FY24 driven by medium and heavy commercial vehicles and an estimated economic growth of around 6%, rating agency CRISIL said on Monday. Besides, an increased allocation to infrastructure spending in the Union Budget for next fiscal year will support demand, it said. This would be the third consecutive year of growth in the domestic CV industry, according to CRISIL.

Chennai (PTI): FrancoJapanese automotive alliance Renault-Nissan on Monday announced an investment of $600 million ( ` 5,300 crore) in India to bring six new products, including two small electric cars, and upgradation of their Chennai plant.

The new vehicles will also include four SUVs with conventional engines, the first of which will hit the market by 2025. Of the six vehicles, three each will be for Nissan and Renault.

ISB is once again India’s No. 1 B-School

ISB RANK IN INDIA & ABROAD

z Indian School of Business (ISB) and Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore and Lucknow figure in the Financial Times (FT) Global MBA 2023 ranking.

New Delhi (PTI): Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd and state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) are separately auctioning natural gas extracted from coal seams at prices linked to Brent crude oil price. Reliance is seeking a minimum $12.75 per million British thermal unit for coal bed methane (CBM) from a block in Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, while ONGC wants $9.35 for the same kind of fuel from North

OTHER STORIES

Karanpura in Jharkhand, according to tender documents. Reliance has sought bids for sale of 0.65 million standard cubic meters per day from CBM block SP(West)-CBM-2001/1 for one year beginning April 1, 2023, the company’s tender document showed.

GST COMPENSATION TO SOME STATES DELAYED

DUE TO LACK OF AG CERTIFICATE: SITHARAMAN

New Delhi (PTI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said GST compensation to some states is delayed due to non-availability of AG’s authenticated certificate. Replying to a supplementary question, she also said that `86,912 crore has been released for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation payable to all states up to May 31, 2022.

M&A DEALS JUMP

40% TO $163 BILLION

IN 2022: REPORT

$161,331 while it was $186,420 per annum in case of IIM-A, FT said. Columbia Business School in the United States topped the global chart followed by Insead France and IESE Business School in Spain.

z While ISB slipped to 39th rank from 32nd in 2023, IIMs at Indore and Lucknow secured their place in the chart. IIM Ahmedabad improved its position to 51 from 62 in 2022.

z The Post Graduate Programme (PGP) from ISB continues to be ranked No. 1 in India.

Mumbai (PTI): The $57-billion HDFC-HDFC Bank deal helped the overall merger and acquisition activity in the country rise by 40% to reach $163 billion in 2022, a report said on Monday. Strategic deals like the one involving the HDFC twins accounted for a bulk $126 billion of the overall quantum, while transactions involving private equity funds stood at $37 billion, the report by Deloitte, a consultancy firm, said.

ROAD PROJECTS TO HIKE IN INFLATIONLINKED TOLL RATES

Mumbai (PTI): Inflation-linked toll rates of various road projects will see a moderate hike of 2-5% in the next fiscal year due to falling wholesale price index, a report said on Monday. Rating agency Icra has revised down the outlook on the toll road sector to stable from positive for FY24, citing the easing wholesale price inflation which fell to 4.95% in December 2022. The WPI based inflation is expected to fall further.

Passenger vehicle dispatches rise 17% to 2,98,093 units

The fact is that mediocre people only listen and pay attention when it personally matters to them; Reach for excellence by learning from all.

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

POWER DOES NOT REMAIN WITH ANYONE FOREVER, STRESSES NCP’S AJIT PAWAR

First India Bureau

Pune: National Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar has claimed that Maharashtra government could fall again as court verdicts on pleas with regard to the politcal crisis in the state last year were pending.

The deputy chief minister in the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Pawar said power has a way of changing hands as the status doesn’t remain the same forever.

Pawar made remarks while addressing a campaign event for the Kasba Assembly bye-election in Pune.

“Power does not remain with anyone forever. No one is born with a silver spoon. Power comes, power goes. The decision of the Supreme Court (on the pleas on Maharashtra political crisis) is yet to come. The decision of the Election Commission is yet

Qualified person can be given any post: Thakur

MAHA BYPOLL

BJP WAS WINNING IN KASBA DUE TO DIVISION OF VOTES, SAYS AJIT PAWAR

First India Bureau

“Power does not remain with anyone forever. No one is born with a silver spoon. Power comes, power goes. The decision of the Supreme Court (on the pleas on Maharashtra political crisis) is yet to come. The decision of the Election Commission is yet to come, anything can happen. If the MLAs get disqualified, then there may be a change (of government) again”

to come, anything can happen. If the MLAs get disqualified, then there may be a change (of government) again. Everyone should keep this in mind,” Pawar said on

— Ajit Pawar, NCP leader

Sunday.

A split in the Shiv Sena triggered the collapse of the MVA government last year, eventually resulting in Uddhav Thackeray stepping down as chief min-

ister on June 30, 2022.

Eknath Shinde, who led the dissident Sena MLAs, took oath as chief minister, with support of the BJP.

However, the battle for primacy between the rival Sena factions is far from over, with the Supreme Court posting for February 14 the hearing on a batch of petitions filed by Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in connection with last year’s political crisis.

PHARMACIST MURDER

Pune: Ajit Pawar said the electorate in Kasba Assembly seat in Pune, where bypolls are scheduled for February 26, was small and that Bharatiya Janata Party continued to win there due to division of opposition votes.

Campaigning for Ravindra Dhangekar, Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate for the Kasba bypoll, Pawar asked party workers to ensure BJP is defeated.

Apart from Kasba, the other Assembly seat where bypolls are scheduled is Chinchwad, also in Pune district. These bypolls have been necessitated due to the

Accused vet seeks bail, claims he is staunch Sunni Muslim, not Tablighi Jamaat member

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Yusuf Khan, an accused in the 2022 murder of Amravatibased pharmacist Umesh Kolhe, who had shared social media posts backing suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma over the latter’s alleged objectionable comments about Prophet Mohammad, on Monday moved a bail application before a special NIA court.

Khan, a veterinary doctor, in his plea claimed he was not a “Tablighi Jamaat” member as claimed by the NIA and that he was falsely arrayed as a coaccused despite not an “iota of evidence” against him for being part of the conspiracy

to kill Kolhe.

As per the NIA, Kolhe was killed by “radicalised Islamists of Tablighi Jamaat”.

In his bail plea filed through advocate Shehzad Naqvi, accused Khan said he was a staunch Sunni Muslim following the “Barelvi School of Thought”, which is based on “Sufi mystic teachings” and was not a member of

‘Broken exam system fuelled private coaching’

First India Bureau

Jalna: Defective examination system has given birth to private coaching classes and mass copying in exams, Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Managing Director Vivek Sawant said. He was speaking on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 at a programme held in a college in Jalna on Saturday. Lauding the NEP, Sawant said, “Examination system under it would be comprehensive and facilitate continuous assessment of a

child. The present examination system does not assess the overall quality of a child and called for overhauling it. How can a child be judged through an examination of two or three hours?”

The “defective examination system has given birth to private coaching classes” and they have a whopping turnover, he said and targeted teachers wasting their energy on forming associations, fighting for salary hike and other benefits, thereby degrading the quality of education.

the “Tablighi Jamaat” as claimed by the prosecution. “Nor has the prosecution produced any document to substantiate the said allegation in the entire chargesheet nor has any witness alleged the same against the present applicant,” his bail plea contended.

It further claimed the prosecution has not been able to establish

Khan had any intention to cause the murder (of Kolhe) in order to invoke UAPA or IPC provisions.

As per the NIA, Khan instigated the other accused by forwarding a message shared by Kolhe in support of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma on a Whatsapp group, of which the accused was also a member.

Even if the WhatsApp message allegedly forwarded on June, 15, 2022 by the present applicant is considered true for the sake of argument, even then it is merely a call for economic boycott of cattle owners (locally referred to as ‘goore wale’) and does not not tantamount to an intention

to kill, Khan’s application said.

Subsequent to the said alleged message, there is no allegation or prima-facie proof presented by the prosecution that Khan met the alleged mastermind or contacted any other accused in the case, the plea further contended.

The NIA has said alleged mastermind Irfan Khan led a “terrorist gang” to kill Kolhe and avenge the “insult” of Prophet Mohammad.

Yusuf Khan, in his bail plea, said this (formation of terrorist gang), prima facie, established the fact that the murder was not based on his Whatsapp message.

The NIA is expected to file its reply on February 18.

death of sitting BJP MLAs Mukta Tilak and Laxman Jagtap from Kasba and Chinchwad, respectively.

Pawar said the MVA won all seats, except one (Konkan), in the recently concluded Maharashtra Legislative Council polls and reiterated that everything was fine with the alliance.

“Kasba is the constituency with the lowest number of voters. We have thoughtfully nominated Ravindra Dhangekar. Till now, multiple people were contesting from this constituency, which helped BJP to win.

But, now we are fighting unitedly as MVA,” Pawar said.

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Union minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Monday defended the appointment of retired Supreme Court judge S Abdul Nazeer as the governor of Andhra Pradesh, saying a qualified person can be given any post and his ability should not be questioned.

The Congress had attacked the government over the appointment of Nazeer, who was part of the historic 2019 Ayodhya verdict, and called the move a “great threat” to the independence of the judiciary.

Responding to a query on the appointment of Nazeer, Thakur, who

holds Sports, and Information & Broadcasting portfolios, said, “Any ‘kabil’ (qualified) person can be given any post. That person’s ability should not be questioned”.

Thakur didn’t respond to queries on the Hindenburg Research report which had alleged stock manipulation by Adani Group, a charge denied by the Gautam Adani-led conglomerate.

Nazeer, who retired on January 4, was part of several path-breaking verdicts, including those on the politically sensitive Ayodhya land dispute, instant ‘triple talaq’ and the one that held the right to privacy to be a fundamental right.

Fadnavis hits back at Ajit Pawar’s ‘selfish BJP’ swipe

First India Bureau

Thane: Maharashtra

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday hit back at the Nationalist Congress Party’s Ajit Pawar for claiming “selfish” leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party got two terminally-ill MLAs in ambulances from Pune to Mumbai to vote in the MLC and Rajya Sabha polls.

Kasba MLA Mukta

“We haveleaders in our party who will give their blood and life for the party. We are proud of them. We do not have selfish leaders like the ones found in the NCP”

—Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM

the opposition.Speaking at a rally earlier in the day for the Chinchwad bypoll, necessitated by the death of Jagtap, senior NCP leader Pawar said, “This exertion was unbearable for them (Tilak and Jagtap) but they remained silent for the party. The BJP should have understood health is more important than polls but these selfish people (BJP leaders) did not pay heed.”

Hitting back, Fadnavis said, “We have leaders in our party who will give their blood and

life for the party. We are proud of them. We do not have selfish leaders like the ones found in the NCP”.

Fadnavis was in Dombivali here to attend a two-day conclave connected to the Brahmin community.

Bypolls to Chinchwad and Kasba in Pune district, necessitated by the deaths of Jagtap and Tilak, respectively, will be held on February 26.

Tilak died on December 22 last year, while Jagtap died on January 3 this year.

National Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Nita Ambani, owner of Mumbai Indians, with the team’s head coach Charlotte Edwards and bowling coach and team mentor Jhulan Goswami during the inaugural Women’s Premier League auctions, in Mumbai, Monday . —PHOTO BY PTI

COME FALL

LOVE

CITY FIRST BRINGS TO YOU SOME LOVELY STYLING TIPS THAT WILL MAKE VALENTINE’S EVER SO SPECIAL

a cherry on the cake.

EASY CHIC DRESS LOOK

UTTKARSHA

SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

Valentine’s Day is not only the day to express your love for someone, but also to look your stylish best. As special as it is to show your emotions, it’s also important for you to look dapper for your special one.

Whether you are planning a romantic dinner date, coffee date or setting up a lovely movie night at your terrace or garden area, just make sure to dress up well for your partner as it will surely create an everlasting impression and will be

If You’re a Shy Girl if you want to keep things simple and stylish during Valentine’s week. A shirt or a casual T-shirt dress are easy choices for this day, and you really can’t go wrong with either.

OG DENIM & TEE

KINDA OOTD

By adding a striking piece to your regular jeans and tee look, you may turn it into a fashion moment. This Valentine’s Day, you may keep it simple with a pair of denim and a shirt, but don’t forget to accessorise for a casual diva style.

PJ TOP AND BOTTOM FOR LOVE & LEMONS

Let’s continue with the girl who is always the best dressed in the bedroom with these silky smooth For Love

& Lemons pyjamas. These are playful, ro mantic, and most im portantly, comfortable in a flushing pink hue with a rose design.

DECONSTRUCTED

LACE SHORT SKIRT

Whoever says red and pink don’t go together has nev er seen this Valli ant Studios skirt. While the col ours are ideal for Valentine’s Day, this skirt would also look great on the beach in sum mer or with an allblack suit and boots in the winter.

RED CARDIGAN

From the contrast stitching to the ruf fle details through out, this cardigan is a true show-stop per. Add it to any ensemble for an added WOW impact.

LOVE PLANTED A ROSE & THE WORLD TURNED SWEET!

CITY FIRST

Valentine’s Day is a day that honours friendship, appreciation, and romantic love. People send messages of love and devotion to their lovers, families, and friends on February 14th to commemorate this special day. To celebrate their love for one another, couples exchange Valentine’s Day cards, flowers, and special times.

Many couples decide to set a romantic dinner date or prepare a special meal to commemorate Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day dinner specials are widely available at restaurants, and cuisine is frequently served with romantic symbols like hearts and flowers. A luxurious hotel stays in a stunning setting is another wellliked Valentine’s Day activity that enables the couple to unwind and spend some quality time together. Valentine’s Day is a common day for marriage proposals, and people frequently select it as the ideal occasion to declare their love and devotion. Some marriage proposals are made in quite original ways but some in a most distinctive way.

If you are in search of a quiet, historical location in Rajasthan for a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend, apart from the bustle of daily life and which also helps make your loved one feel more special and important there is one exquisite and luxurious property that can help you make a move toward your love, The Leela Palace. This luxury property was established as a significant landmark in the city and beyond, drawing inspiration from the regal Rajputana tradition. Its architectural philosophy honours the intricate details of

domes that have been painstakingly constructed with silver foiling. The property is situated on more than 8 acres of beautiful grounds and is situated in a serene setting next to the Amber fort on the Delhi-Jaipur route. It provides the ideal vantage point to discover Delhi in all its splendour, with historical sites of interest, bustling bazaars abounding with fabrics, art, and handicrafts, and the renowned silver and gemstone markets only a short distance away. It is easily accessible by car.

To celebrate the power of love an event is being organised at Sukh Mahal, Jharokha bar, and Preet Mahal in The Leela Palace to shower your significant others with love and tokens of our affection with cocktails you’ll fall in love with.

People can indulge in an evening of melodious, entertainment, exclusive cocktails, romantic dinners, and more. Couples can get the experience of beautiful Valentine’s day special decorations and Live music. So stop thinking and take your signifi-

The Leela Palace, Jaipur

SIDHARTH MALHOTRA-KIARA ADVANI

The cutest couple in Bollywood after being hitched on February 7, 2023, will celebrate their first special day. Siddharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani will now spend Valentine's Day as husband and wife

A NOTE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR

Valentine’s Day, on February 14, is a perfect opportunity to show your loved ones how much you care about them. February is renowned as the month of love & Bollywood stars have never been afraid to publicly declare their love and spend time with their partners. While some celebs took time off from filming, many others turned to social media to send their special someone warm greetings. Some of the most adorable Bollywood couples who got married recently will celebrate their first Valentine’s Day together their fans just can’t keep calm to know how

ALIA BHATT AND RANBIR KAPOOR

The biggest event of the year 2022 was undoubtedly the marriage of Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. Following a year of dating, they were united in marriage on April 14 and are now the parents of a girl named "Raha." This year's Valentine's day will be the most spe cial for this couple.

SOHAEL KHATURIYA AND HANSIKA MOTWANI

On December 4 in Jaipur, Hansika Motwani and Sohael Khaturiya exchanged vows. In a crimson lehenga with elaborate embroidery, Motwani looked gorgeous. Their pre-wedding events included a Sufi night, a theme party, and haldi. The couple will celebrate their first Valentine’s day this year.

SHIBANI DANDEKAR AND FARHAN AKHTAR

Shibani Dandekar and Farhan Akhtar, one of Bollywood's cutest cou ples, were married on February 19, 2022, in front of their nearest and dearest. Dan dekar's unconven tional wedding dress gained media attention. The cou ple will celebrate

ATHIYA SHETTY-KL RAHUL

Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul got married on, January 23, after dating for close to four years. At Suniel Shetty's Khandala property, the couple tied the knot. Through mutual acquaintances, Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul first connected in 2019. It is believed that they clicked right away and became buddies. Valentine's Day will be memorable for them this time.

ALI FAZAL AND RICHA CHADHA

When Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal exchanged wedding vows on October 4, 2022, their cute pictures were melting everyone’s hearts. The couple's wedding celebrations began on September 30 in New Delhi, continued in Lucknow, and culminated with throwing a star-studded reception in Mumbai. The couple, who have been together for over ten

MRIDULA SHARMA cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

I DIDN’T WIN THE GAME BUT I WON HEARTS”

While many Bigg Boss superfans wanted Priyanka Chahar Choudhary to win the show, the actress finished third. And rapper MC Stan was crowned as the winner. But Priyanka says she is happy, not just for herself, but for Stan, Even though

Shehnaaz Gill wows fans

Shehnaaz Gill is all set to make her Bollywood debut in Salman Khan’s Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. She recently stunned her fans with her scintillating photoshoot giving her fans a taste of summer heat before even the season arrived.

Shehnaaz was donning a pink saree with a unique blouse and a big bow and the fans on the inter-

net loved her unique look. One of the fans said, “Kya khoob lagti ho badi sundar dikhti ho.” Another said, “Wowwww beautiful.”

pearing in the popular reality show Bigg Boss 13. Recently, Shehnaaz Gill broke the internet with her photoshoot by celebrity photographer Daboo Ratnani, and it’s just a thing of inspiration on Valentine’s eve.

the Udaariyaan actress is content with being the second runner-up, her BFF and co-actor Ankit Gupta cried when she got evicted. When she was asked about it Priyanka said, "I was shocked when I saw Ankit cry, usko mere liye bura laga hoga. But we spoke after that, and he understood. He is okay now (laughs). Ankit is family to me. I adore him a lot."

Priyanka Chahar Chaudhary was one of the strongest contestants of Bigg Boss 16 , but what has caught everyone’s attention is what Bigg Boss 16 said host Salman Khan about Priyanka after she was evicted.

“Standing up against 15-16 people at all given time…Har cheez ke baad ye ladki smile karte hue

Rihanna announces second pregnancy!

ghar se nikli hai. Mere nazar mein winner ye hai (Standing up against 1516 people at all times is no easy feat, and even after all the things she endured in the Bigg Boss house, Priyanka is walking away from it all with a smile. She is the real winner, as far I am concerned),” Salman Khan had said post announcing Priyanka’s eviction from the house While Priyanka played the game solo majorly, she was also known to forge friendships with the underdogs or the loners in the house. She said, “I know I would have felt really bad if I was left alone or everyone was against me. This is who I am as a person and thus would be on good terms with them. Mahaan banne ke liye nahi kiya kuch.”

Rihanna is pregnant with her second child with rapper A$AP Rocky as her partner. In May of last year, the couple had a son.

During her performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, where the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs were squaring off, Rihanna dropped a clue that fans couldn't ignore. Oh, and her pregnancy bump dominated the social media discourse.

Earlier, in an interview with Apple Music, Rihanna said that she wasn't sure about the Super Bowl opportunity.

“I was like, ‘You sure? I'm three months postpartum. Should I be making major decisions like this right now? I might regret this,” she was quoted as saying.

"When you become a mom, there’s some -

Sidharth-Kiara dazzle at their wedding reception

Newlyweds Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani made a glamorous couple at their Mumbai reception on Sunday. Mr and Mrs Malhotra arrived in style and posed for the paparazzi stationed at the venue. The Malhotras and the Advanis came together and struck a pose for the perfect family picture.

The couple’s looks didn't verge on the traditional side which a few celebrities have opted for in the past as brides and grooms. They took a mighty turn from the run-ofthe-mill pattern and here are looks that came packed with talking points.

Kiara's mermaid gown has made us a sucker for classy. She oozed radiance dressed in a satin and velvet combined one-piece

outfit which had a square neckline, long sleeves, and an exagger ated spread of a train. Her jewellery col lection was formed with colour-con trasting emeralds and diamonds. While the Shershaah ac tor rocked a high-neck tee and winter fashion came alive here as well as a pocketed blazer chosen by Sidharth. It was sparkly, and black. He wore these toppers with velvet straight-fit pants and a pair of mojaris.

Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani tied the knot on February 7 in Jaisalmer, Ra jasthan. It was an inti mate ceremony attend ed by family members and close friends from the industry. The cou ple also hosted a re ception in Delhi on February 9.

TIMELESS ELEGANCE & CULTURAL FASHION

CITY FIRST

One of the mega fashion and glamour extravaganzas titled 'Indian Culture Week 2023' amazed every fashion lover with its timeless elegance and cultural fashion at Brookwood Garden 34 Silver Oak Farm, Ghitorni Delhi on Sunday. The event brought together a medley of fashion designers showcasing their vivacious and latest collections. Eminent fashion designers Javed Sheikh, Harish K Vashisht, Vipin Agrawal, Mukesh Dubey and Santanu Bose presented their astonishing collections. Parimal Mehhta beautifully choreographed the culture week.

The fashion extravaganza was organised by Kingshuk Baduri, celebrity designer & Founder of Indian culture week and Amit Chauhan, DG collection & CoFounder of Indian culture week. According to them, the main aim of the fashion week was to showcase the fusion of tradi-

tional Indian designs with con temporary fashion trends. While interacting with the me dia, the organisers said "In this creative journey, fashion has played a pivotal role, with Indi an Culture Week 2023 setting the tone and being an inspiration for a continually developing global Indian. We are excited to offer another juncture year of fusion fashion and look forward to presenting our designers’ viewpoint on both style and sustainability.” With fa mous designers and brands, Indian Culture Week estab lished itself as the hub for emerging talent, sustaina bility and the business of fashion.

Various page 3 personalities including Vishal Kotiyan, Bigg Boss, Gaurav Gautam, Hol iday Inn Mayur Vihar, Alok Purohit, CMDMSME and supermodel Kanggana Malik were present during the occasion. The media partner of the show is First India.

thing that just happens where you feel like you could take on the world you can do anything,” she added. “And the Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the world, so as scary as that was there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all,” she concluded. “It’s important for my son to see that.”

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

—PHOTOS BY SHAZID CHAUHAN

Priyanka Chahar Choudhary

Rihanna

Shehnaaz Gill

Gorgeous couple Sidharth and Kiara

Shehnaaz dons a unique blouse

Gajender Phogat felicitates Kingshuk Bhaduri. Also seen is Gaurav Gautam

Shikha and Viney

Kanggana Malik

Vishal Kotian Kanika and Ina

Nyashbhatt Nehul

Amit Chauhan felicitates Pradeep Kerala. Also seen is Gaurav Gautam