First India-Mumbai Edition-16th February 2023 by firstindia

NIKKI HALEY ANNOUNCES BID FOR WHITE HOUSE

Washington: Nikki Haley formally launched her 2024 presidential bid on Wednesday, casting herself as a younger, fresher alternative to her one-time boss and former US President Donald Trump.

INDIA

Dubai: India’s triumph against Australia in the opening Test in Nagpur has taken them to the top of the ICC’s Test rankings table, making them the No. 1 ranked team in all three formats.

New Delhi: Ahead of his 100th Test match, Indian middle-order batter Cheteshwar Pujara met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence. The meeting happened on Wednesday.

MAHA POLITICAL CRISIS

SC

Five-judge

constitution

bench headed by Chief Justice DY

Chandrachud said the issue is not merely an academic exercise

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the issues related to the Maharashtra political crisis, triggered by the differences in the Shiv Sena, are “tough” constitutional questions to decide, as they have “very serious” ramifications for the polity.

Expressing disagreement with the submission of senior advocate Harish Salve who appeared for the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY

READ Crucial

TRIPURA READY FOR HOLDING ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS TODAY

Chandrachud said the issue is not merely an academic exercise.

“It’s a tough constitutional issue to answer because the consequences of both positions have serious ramifications on the polity. If you take Nabam Rebia (2016 SC judgement) position, as we have seen in Maharashtra, it allows the free flow of human capital from one political party to other. On the other

hand, even if the leader of the political party has lost his flock, he can hold it down. So, adopting it would mean ensuring a political status quo though the leader has effectively lost his or her leadership over a group of legislators.

“Whichever way you accept, both ends of the spectrum have very serious consequences. Both are not desirable,” the court observed.

In 2016, a five-judge constitution bench, while deciding the Nabam Rebia case of Arunachal Pradesh, had held that the assembly speaker cannot proceed with a plea for disqualification of MLAs if a prior notice seeking removal of the speaker is pending decision in the House.

At the outset, Salve opposed the reference of the cases related to the

It’s not academic. If there was no communication from Governor (for floor test), then Uddhav Thackeray wouldn’t have resigned. If he had to face the assembly, he didn’t have the numbers.

—Supreme Court

Maharashtra political crisis to a seven-judge bench for reconsideration of the 2016 judgment on powers of assembly speakers to deal with disqualification pleas. Salve submitted before the bench that the issues which have now transpired are such that there is no need for reference. He said the issues for consideration in this case are an “academic exercise”, especially after the resignation of Uddhav Thackeray as the chief minister following the realization that he would not pass the floor test.

CAMILLA CHOOSES CROWN SANS KOHINOOR

London: Britain’s Queen Consort, Camilla, has chosen a crown without the controversial colonial-era Kohinoor diamond claimed by India for her Coronation ceremony with husband King Charles III on May 6.

Union I&B Minister Anurag Thakur holding a press conference on Cabinet Decisions, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Also seen are MoS L Murugan (L) and PIB Principal Director General Satyendra

`4,800 crore for Vibrant Villages Prog

First India Bureau

New Delhi: In a bid to improve security in border areas and ensure development, the Union cabinet approved a centrally sponsored scheme, Vibrant Villages Programme, for three years with a financial allocation of Rs 4,800 crore.

The scheme aims to comprehensive development of identified villages on the northern border thus improving quality of people’s life.

“This will help in encouraging people to stay in their native locations in border areas and reversing the outmigration from these villages, adding to improved security of the

I-T SURVEYS AT BBC OFFICES

On 2nd day, I-T officials collect financial data from BBC offices

Agartala: All preparations for conducting free, fair and peaceful elections to the 60-member Tripura Assembly on Thursday have been completed. The voting will be held under tight security from 7 am at 3,337 polling stations, out of which 1,100 are sensitive.

NIA RAIDS AT ISIS SYMPATHISERS IN TN, KERALA, KARNATAKA

New Delhi: In a major crackdown against ISIS sympathisers, the National Investigation Agency early Wednesday morning started raids at multiple locations across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in two separate blast cases under investigation, sources said.

INDIA CONDEMNS DEFACING OF RAM MANDIR IN CANADA

Ontario: Consulate General of India in Toronto has condemned the defacing of Ram Mandir in Mississauga with anti-India graffiti. It requested Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action against the perpetrators.

CHINA SHUTS DOWN CONSULAR OFFICE IN PAK TEMPORARILY

Islamabad: China has temporarily closed down the consular section of its embassy in Pakistan due to “technical issues”, days after advising Chinese citizens in this country to be cautious due to the deteriorating security situation.

Rajnath gives mantra for defence start-ups

Bengaluru: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said from now on the country should move forward.

“After 75 years of independence, we have got an opportunity to move forward on the path of ‘Design our Destiny’.

From now on, our mantra should be ‘Design our Destiny’, that is, we move forward towards with our efforts, abilities and resolve; Build it,” Rajnath said. P6

75% OF DEFENCE OUTLAY DOMESTIC

Bengaluru: India will spend 75 per cent of the total defence capital outlay for procurement from domestic defence manufacturers in 2023-24, Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday.

MQ-9B ENGINES WITH HAL’S MRO SUPPORT

Bengaluru: State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will provide maintenance support services for engines of American MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft System.

New Delhi (PTI): The Income Tax officials carried out survey operation against the BBC India for a second day on Wednesday, clocking over 34 hours in total, with the sleuths seeking explanations from select staffers and collecting electronic and paperbased financial data.

The taxman launched the action on Tuesday at the BBC’s Delhi and Mumbai offices along with at least two linked premises as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion by the British broadcaster in India. The survey began around 11:30 AM on Tuesday and they were in process till late evening on Wednesday.

WE SUPPORT FREE PRESS GLOBALLY: US “NO MEDIA WILL BE LEFT IN INDIA”: DIDI

Washington: The US said it supports the importance of a free press, freedom of expression and freedom of religion as universal rights which are the “bedrock of democracies” around the world, including in India. The remarks came a day after the Income Tax department carried out a survey operation at the BBC India offices.

SWEARING-IN OF 2019 BJP-NCP GOVT

Kolkata: West Bengal

CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday termed the Income Tax survey at the BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai as “very unfortunate” and slammed the BJP government for “running a political vendetta” stating that the action against the broadcaster has affected the freedom of the press.

When time comes, will reveal all the facts: Fadnavis

He recently said that he took oath with Ajit Pawar’s “breakaway” faction only after discussions with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar.

First India Bureau

Pune: More than three years after he became Chief Minister in an early morning swearing-in ceremony, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and current Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has stirred up a ruckus in the state’s political circles.

Now, in the face of the inevitable backlash from the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies—the NCP, Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s faction of the Shiv Sena— Fadnavis has made another explosive statement on the issue.

Speaking to reporters in Pune, Fadnavis said, “I have only spo -

ken of half of what happened. When a suitable time comes, I will tell you what is left.”

He added: “I will say this much: Whatever I have said, was the truth. You people have taken

different meanings out of it. But what did I say? Just go through my press conference at that time, and see what I said at that time. If you see all those things, you don’t even need any other proof. Whatever the remaining half of the story is, it will be revealed when the time is right.”

Fadnavis had met with MP Girish Bapat on Wednesday to enquire about the latter’s health. He addressed the press after his visit to the senior BJP leader.

NEW BATTALIONS; 9,400 PERSONNEL FOR SINO-INDIA LAC GUARDING ITBP

New Delhi (PTI): The Union Cabinet on Wednesday sanctioned seven new battalions and an operational border base with a fresh strength of 9,400 personnel for the India-China LAC guarding force Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), officials said. The proposal was cleared after the meeting of the cabinet that was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the government sanction, the fresh manpower will be utilised for manning 47 new border posts and a dozen ‘staging camps’ or troops bases along this frontier. The armies of India and China are engaged in a standoff in Ladakh since 2020.

border. The scheme will provide funds for development of essential infrastructure and creation of livelihood opportunities in 19 districts and 46 border blocks in four states and one Union Territory along the northern

land border of the country. It will help in achieving inclusive growth and retaining the population in the border areas. In the first phase, 663 villages will be taken up in the programme,” I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said.

G Club firing: Jpr cops grill Lawrence Bishnoi

Satyanarayan Sharma

Jaipur: Dreaded gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was brought here on Wednesday on a production warrant for interrogation in connection with firing at G Club on January 2 night, police said. The gangster was brought here from Bathinda of Punjab and taken to Jawahar Circle police station here where the case was registered. A team of Jaipur Police had gone to Bathinda on Tuesday late evening and at around 10 am on Wednesday, the gangster was detained on a production warrant from Bathinda Central Jail and left for Jaipur.

Nearly 100 policemen are deployed around

who was brought to Jaipur on production warrant.

the police station for security reasons. He will be interrogated in connection with the case. Recently, six people who are associates of a member of Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang were arrested for firing outside a club in Jaipur on January 29. A hotel manager was among those arrested who was also involved.

CRUCIAL READ

AGRICULTURE DEPT STAFFER HELD FOR SEEKING BRIBE

Thane: The Anti-Corruption Bureau has detained an inspector at the agriculture office in Thane district for allegedly demanding a bribe to restore the suspended license of a fertilizer dealer, officials said on Wednesday. The accused, who worked as the district standard control officer, had allegedly demanded Rs25,000 but “settled” for Rs20,000, the ACB said. The fertiliser dealer lodged a complaint with the Thane ACB which apprehended the accused on Tuesday and registered a case against him under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

AUTO DRIVER BOOKED FOR PLYING IN SOBO

IS BMC CAMPAIGNING FOR BJP? ASKS NCP

Claims saffron party-dominated civic wards to get maximum funds in budget of richest civic body

First India Bureau Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday questioned the allocation of funds in the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budget. It claimed that, as per reports, Mumbai civic wards held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will get most of the funds allotted.

Pune Cong unit holds ‘silent’ protest against I-T surveys

an emphasis on health, education and infrastructure and the budgetary estimates crossed the Rs50,000 crore mark for the first time.

Mumbai: The police have filed a case against the driver and owner of an autorickshaw after a video of the vehicle outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus was shared on social media. An official from Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Marg police station said a case for rash and negligent driving, and disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, has been registered against the driver. Auto rickshaws are not permitted in the South Bombay area.

C-60 COMMANDO KILLED OVER LAND DISPUTE IN GONDIA

Gondia: Six persons, including a 72-year-old man, have been arrested for allegedly killing a commando from the C-60, the specialized combat unit engaged in tackling the Naxal menace, over a land dispute over a piece of land belonging to the forest department in Gondia district, an official said on Wednesday. Vilas Ramdas Mhaske (41) was posted at Navegaonbandh and on leave at the time of the fatal attack with sharp weapons and iron rods, on Tuesday, said the official.

VALENTINE’S DAY TRIP TO GOA TURNS FATAL FOR MUM MAN, GIRLFRIEND

Mumbai: A Mumbai man and his girlfriend who went to Goa to celebrate Valentine’s Day drowned in the Arabian Sea near a beach, police said. The deceased have been identified as Vibhu Sharma (27), who worked with a private firm in Mumbai and Supriya Dubey (26), who worked in Bengaluru. After dinner, they had ventured in the sea for a swim. Her body was found at the Ourem Beach stretch near Palolem in the morning, while his was found a short distance away in the afternoon.

UNTAPPED SOURCE

Significantly, the BMC would tap into some of its fixed deposits (FDs) worth more than Rs88,000 crore for developmental projects. The move came weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken here about “funds being locked in banks”.

“This is the first time in the history of the country’s richest civic body that the budgetary estimates for FY 2023-24 have crossed the Rs50,000 crore-mark and the capital expenditure is more than 50%,” BMC Administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal had said.

This could possibly be “three times more than other wards” which had councillors from other political parties, NCP National Spokesperson Clyde Crasto said in a statement. “This move by the BMC commissioner raises a question, is the BMC campaigning for BJP?” he asked.

The obvious answer seems ‘yes’ because the allocation of most funds to these specific BJPdominated wards will help the party to impress upon the voters and gain their votes in the forthcoming municipal elections, Crasto claimed.

On February 04, the BMC presented a Rs52,619.07 crore budget for the year 2023-24 with

Crasto claimed the BJP, which is in power in the state, is making sure the BMC is under its thumb and is smartly using its leaders to speak against the corporation’s workings. This is to show the people that they are keeping a watch but the truth is it is just a “ploy to divert the attention from favouritism behind the scenes.”

The NCP leader accused the BJP of “hitting two birds with one stone”--trying to gain votes, while also cutting to size former councillors of the Eknath Shinde-led Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena. This is because all the wards which had councillors from this group are being given much lesser funds than the BJP wards, despite being allies in the state government.

“A move that the Eknath Shinde faction must look at seriously,” he said.

IIT-B suicide: Min seeks probe, students want director to resign

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Union Minister of State for Social

Justice Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday demanded a thorough inquiry into the death of a “Dalit” student at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) amid allegations that he was facing discrimination due to his caste.

Darshan Solanki (18), a first-year student of the BTech (Chemical) course, died after allegedly jumping off the seventh floor of a hostel building on the Powai campus of the institute on Sunday.

Athwale, who was on a visit to IIT-B on Wednesday, said, “I have demanded a thorough investigation into the matter. There are allegations of the BTech student facing caste discrimination. I have

We demand resignation of the institute director (Prof Subhasis Chaudhuri)... and hope the administration will start the much-needed learning process. Data from the SC/ST Cell points to a lack of institutional support for SC/ST students at IIT-B.

—APPSC, Student body

asked the authorities to look into this angle as well,” adding, “Action should be taken if required.”

IIT-B on Tuesday rejected charges of caste

bias in the institute and said initial inputs from Solanki’s friends suggested there was no discrimination after a student group—the Ambedkar Periyar

Phule Study Circle (APPSC)—called Solanki’s death an “institutional murder”. The institute urged students to wait until the police and internal inquiries were completed.

Athawale said Solanki, who hailed from Ahmedabad, called his father on Sunday and informed him that except for one paper, his other first semester exams had gone well. His father had assured him not to worry and told him he would visit Mumbai soon. However, half-an-hour later, Solanki jumped from his hostel and died, he said.

Athawale also said he will make efforts to facilitate some financial aid to Solanki's family members from Maharashtra and Gujarat governments.

Meanwhile, the APPSC has called for the director’s resignation.

COUNTER ATTACK

First India Bureau

Pune: Even as the Income Tax (I-T) department’s “survey” at the Delhi and Mumbai offices of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) continued for the second day on Wednesday, the Pune unit of the Congress staged a “silent” protest against the action. Protesters also claimed media houses and journalists have been under pressure since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014.

The I-T department’s survey comes weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary “India: The Modi Question” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots. Unsurprisingly, this has led to a sharp political debate with the BJP accus-

NCP funtionary arrested for assault on woman lawyer

Pune (PTI): Police have arrested a Nationalist Congress Party functionary and three others from Pune city for allegedly assaulting a 25-year-old woman lawyer after an altercation, officials said.

The alleged incident took place on Monday night near SB Road following which the woman filed a complaint at Chhatushrungi police station, they said.

The woman honked the horn of her twowheeler to overtake a car in which NCP Pune city vice-president Dayanand Irkal was travelling. An angry Irkal came out of the car and allegedly started abusing the lawyer and also hit her, leaving her injured, an official said.

A woman travelling in Irkal’s car also allegedly hit the lawyer and threatened her, he said.

‘DEMOCRACY IN INDIA FACING TROUBLE’

ing the British broadcaster of “venomous reporting” and the opposition questioning the timing of the move.

Pune unit president Arvind Shinde and other Congress workers covered their mouths with black bands during the protest held outside the Patrakar Bhavan here.

Shinde said the Congress condemns the I-T department’s action and blamed the central government for it. “We feel

that the (I-T department action) is connected to BBC documentary on the Gujarat riots, which came out just two weeks back” he said.

The survey is part of an inquiry related to international taxation and transfer pricing of BBC subsidiary companies, officials said on Tuesday. While there has been no statement from the I-T department, the BBC has said it was cooperating with the authorities.

MLA Naik urges state to not collect toll on Airoli-Katai road

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: Ganesh

Naik, the MLA of Airoli, has urged the state government to not collect any tolls on the AiroliKatai elevated road due to its significant contribution to reducing travel time between Dombivli-Thane and Mumbai.

On Tuesday, during his inspection of the project, Naik also required entry and exit points for residents from Navi

Airoli MLA inspected the project, said he would discuss issues with MMRDA chief

Mumbai to help unclog their commute from Navi Mumbai to KalyanDombivali and its surrounding areas.

MLA Naik said he is going to discuss with the MMRDA Commissioner the route to ascend towards Mumbai. He was accompanied by the former MLA of Airoli assembly constituency Sandeep Naik, former mayor Sagar Naik, people's representatives, office bearers, municipal corporation and senior officials. Fortunately, Navi Mumbai authorities were able to accommodate his demand.

In which case were you fearing arrest? Sena camp asks Dy CM

Uddhav Balasaheb

Thackeray faction pulls up Fadnavis for ‘blatant

First India Bureau Mumbai: The Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Wednesday took a dim view of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s claim that the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had tried to put him in jail. It asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in which case he was

“fearing” arrest. An editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana claimed that IPS officers had threatened MVA legislators to support Fadnavis and spied on them by tapping their phones.

Fadnavis should explain if such “illegal” phone tapping is a crime or not, it said.

Fadnavis recently said the MVA government

INVESTIGATIONS

had given a target to then Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey to jail him, but the officer failed as he had done nothing wrong.

Reacting to it, the Saamana editorial on Wednesday asked, “Why was Fadnavis scared that he may be arrested? In which case was he fearing arrest?...Fadnavis should have clarified,” it said.

“In the last few days, Fadnavis has been speaking blatant lies,” it claimed, adding this is not the “sanskar” of the (Rashtriya Swayamsevak) Sangh.

The daily said the MVA had filed cases against IPS officer Rashmi Shukla in connection with the alleged phone tapping. The phones of MVA leaders were illegally tapped when Fad-

navis was the chief minister, it said. The phone numbers of MVA leaders were tapped under different names said to be of drug peddlers and terrorists, it claimed.

The investigating officers in the case visited Fadnavis when he was the leader of opposition and took his statement respectfully. There was no need to make an issue out of it, Saamana said.

NEWS MUMBAI | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 02 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

lll

tapping case

lies’, seeks clarification on phone

Media and private security personnel are seen milling around outside the Mumbai office of the BBC on Tuesday. —FILE PHOTO Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation —FILE PHOTO

‘He tried to sell household goods with body in bed ’

CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN

in the 21st century, girls still commodities for financial benefits’

Mumbai (PTI): Even in this 21st century, there are still incidents of girls being treated as a commodity and used as a medium for financial benefits, the Bombay High Court has said while granting bail to a woman for “purchasing” a one-yearold child.

27-year-old

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The day after he allegedly killed his wife and hid her body in the compartment of their bed, 27-year-old Palghar resident Hardik Shah attempted to sell household goods in an attempt to raise funds for a getaway, police said on Wednesday. Since he had invited buyers to the house, he burnt incense sticks to hide the odour emanating from the corpse of Megha Thorvi (40), they added.

Shah was arrested by the Mira-Bhayander-Va-

sai-Virar police with the help of Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials from Nagda in Madhya Pradesh en route to Haridwar.

During questioning, not only did Shah admit to killing his wife during a spat over money on February 11, but he also told the police that he had messaged her wife’s sister about the murder, and had been thinking of taking his own life, an official stated.

The couple had met on a dating app three years ago and married last year in August, after hav-

ing lived together for some time, police said.

Both Shah and Megha were unemployed, and relied on the Rs20,000 her diamond merchant father sent them each month. However, recently, Megha’s father cut them off.

At the start of February, the couple rented a flat in Nallasopara’s Vijay Nagar, but quarrelled frequently, the police official said.

On Feburary 11, Shah allegedly strangled Megha to death during one such quarrel, police said.

It is highly objectionable in terms of the “principles of morality and human rights” that a oneyear girl was sold by her mother, a single bench of Justice SM Modak said on February 08 in its order passed on a bail plea filed by 45-year-old Ashwini Babar, arrested last year by the Satara police in Maharashtra. The court granted Babar bail on a surety of Rs25,000, saying

there was no need to keep her in jail as the trial in the case would not begin soon and she herself had two minor children and their welfare also needs to be considered.

The prosecution case is that Babar and her husband—also an accused in the case— had bought the oneyear-old girl in return of loan advanced to the child’s mother who was in dire need of money.

When the accused couple refused to return the child after her mother repaid the loan, the latter filed a police complaint. The girl child was later returned to her mother.

The court said while it was at “great pains not to use the word sale, but the hard reality of life was that the mother

MAN GIVEN 20 YEARS’ RI FOR REPEATEDLY RAPING MINOR GIRL

Jalna: Ambad Sessions court judge Prahlad Bhagure has sentenced Yogesh Saste (21) to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for repeatedly raping a schoolgirl, who eventually had his baby. He also fined Saste Rs2,500, after holding him guilty under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution said Saste sexually assaulted the girl on multiple occasions over the course of a year, after promising to marry her. The teen’s mother filed a police complaint after her daughter delivered a baby girl in April 2021.

Artists highlight the rising cases of rape, abuse, and violence against women, and seek better safety norms. —FILE PHOTO

The Bombay High Court said that while it was at ‘great pains’ not to use the word sale, but the hard reality of life was that baby girl’s mother had sold her as she was in need of money

of the baby girl had sold her as she was in need of money”. The accused per-

sons advanced money without a money lending licence, it also noted.

MAN GETS 10 IN JAIL YEARS FOR ASSAULTING WIFE FOR NOT COOKING

Thane: A Thane court has sentenced a man to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for seriously injuring his wife after she refused to cook for him 10 years ago. In her order on Tuesday, Sessions Judge Dr Rachna R Tehra held the 39-year-old man guilty under Indian Penal Code section 307 (attempt to murder) and also fined him Rs5,000. As per the prosecution, convict Vanya Jagan Korde and his wife Laxmibai frequently fought as he was unemployed. On September 22, 2013, amid a fight, Laxmibai refused to cook. So, in a fit of rage, Korde picked up a log and attacked her, leaving her grievously injured, the court was told.

Blaze in multi-storey building claims 70-year-old woman’s life

First India Bureau Mumbai: A 70-year-old woman, identified as Shakuntala Ramani, died after being injured in a fire that erupted in a 13-storey residential building in Mumbai’s Kurla area

Multi-level cycling race ‘Hind Ayaan’ to enter Thane today

First India Bureau

Thane: An annual multi-level cycling race “Hind Ayaan” has been organized under the aegis of Aatmanirbhar Bharat to promote cycling culture in India.

The first multistage cycling race is being touted to be on the lines of the Tour de France. It started from the National War Memorial in Delhi on February 05 and is set to reach Thane on February 16 via Agra, Jaipur, Bhilwara, Udaipur and Gandhinagar.

On February 18, the race will continue on to Mumbai from Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) headquarters. Cyclists from Thane, Mumbai will be able to participate in the race from TMC to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corpo-

ration (BMC) headquarters in Mumbai.

The first Indian cyclist to circumnavigate the world by visiting 35 countries across five continents, Vishnudas Chapke, who is also the organizer of the race, said, “To promote the cycling culture and give the country’s cycling teams an opportunity to practice, the annual multi-level cycling race “Hind Ayaan” has been organized. After travelling from Thane to Mumbai, the

TOUR DE INDIA?

race will conclude in Pune on February 19, the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.”

on Wednesday, officials said.

The fire was confined to between the fourth and tenth floors of the building located in Premier compound, Kohinoor City, a civic official said, adding that people who had

VASHI TEMPLE TO CELEBRATE MAHA SHIVARATRI FOR FIVE DAYS

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: The famous Sri Shiva Vishnu Mandir at Sector 9A in Vashi is celebrating the Maha Shivaratri festival for five days, beginning Tuesday. On February 14, the celebrations started with Sri Ganapathy Pooja, followed by Abhangs and Bhakti Geet performed by Anuradha Deshpande.

Uma Gajanan Tendolkar will give a Pravachan on the next day.

On February 16, Thursday from 6pm, Deepak Chabukaswar will render Bhakti Sangeet in Marathi and Hindi.

On the same note, on February 17, Friday from 6pm, Uma Gajanan Tendolkar will narrate Shivratri Katha. On the final day February 18, from 7am Abhishekam will be held and in the evening at 7pm Rudra Yagya Maha-aarti will conclude the event.

been stranded due to smoke in the premises all were taken to the building’s terrace and rescued from there.

Ramani, who had been injured in the fire, was rushed to the nearby Rajawadi Hospital where doctors de-

CRUCIAL READ NIGERIAN HELD WITH DRUGS WORTH ` 16L NEAR MUMBAI SCHOOL

Mumbai: A 40-year-old Nigerian man has been arrested with cocaine and mephedrone worth nearly Rs16 lakh in suburban Borivali, an official said on Wednesday. Working off specific information, the anti-narcotics cell (ANC) of Mumbai Crime Branch spotted the man near an international school on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. They took him into custody and recovered 55g mephedrone and 12g cocaine from his possession, the official said, adding that a case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

2 HELD FOR ROBBING SENIOR CITIZENS; 13 CASES SOLVED

Thane: The Navi Mumbai police claims to have solved 13 cases of robbery targetting senior citizens with the arrest of Naresh Jaiswal (42) from Kalyan and Babu Manchekar (60) from Taloja, on Monday night. As the victims often had difficulty describing the robbers—who posed as policemen or influential persons—the cops studied the modus operandi and checked for similar crimes in the limits of Navi Mumbai, Thane and Mumbai police commissionerates, officials said. The police recovered stolen items including gold chains and other valuables worth Rs5.30 lakh from the two.

CHHATTISGARH MAN ‘WHO WISHED TO SEE PLANE’ HANGS HIMSELF

clared her “brought dead, the official said.

After the Mumbai police room received the blaze alert, four fire engines and several other fire-fighting vehicles were rushed to the spot.

NAVI MUMBAI ROUND-UP

PANVEL MUNICIPAL CORPORATION HOLDS SEMINAR ON WASTE MANAGEMENT AT KHARGHAR COLLEGE

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: The Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) organized a seminar and quiz on ‘Waste Segregation and Single Use Plastic’ at Saraswati College in Kharghar as part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The event was aimed at raising awareness on the importance of waste segregation and the dangers of single-use plastics.

During the seminar, Sachin Pawar, Deputy Commissioner, urged students to become good citizens and take social responsibility.

Vaibhav Vidhate, Assistant Commissioner of Kharghar ward, while speaking on the topic of ‘Waste segregation and Single Use Plastic’ said, “The participation of youths in Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is important and they should take initia-

tive in the society and create awareness about waste segregation”.

Anil Kokre, the Head of the Solid Waste and Sanitation Department told students about the classification of wet waste and dry waste and about making fertilizer from wet waste.

A quiz competition was conducted for the students on topics such as waste classification, composting, and ewaste management.

LOK ADALAT SETTLES 3,000 PENDING CASES IN BELAPUR

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: According to the official data, a total of 3,132 cases were settled at Lok Adalat held at the CBD Belapur court on Saturday. All these cases were settled with the collection of fines or other forms of payment of Rs₹11,30,26,000 in total. Out of these, 759 cases were settled by mutual understanding.

There are 21,980 cases pending in civil and criminal courts at Belapur. To combat this, the Lok Adalat was or-

ganized in Belapur on Saturday to dispose of the pending cases as per the government’s instructions.

Mumbai: Chhattisgarhresident Laxmi Chaitram Yadav (25) allegedly hanged himself using a scarf from the side of a bridge outside the Kurla railway station in Mumbai on Tuesday morning, a police official said here on Wednesday. The suicide note found in his hand said his last wish was to see an aeroplane, which was why he landed in Mumbai on Sunday. It was his first visit to the metropolis, it said. Police are investigating Yadav’s death, and are also looking into why he committed suicide, the Chunabhatti police station official said.

SANSKAR BHARTI TO HOLD ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION

First India Bureau Navi Mumbai: Sanskar Bharti, a cultural organization, district committee is holding an essay competition for youth living in Panvel, Uran, Pen, Alibag, Khalapur, Karjat, and Sudhagad-Pali.

Participants have to write an essay on the topics: ‘Your definition of Patriotism’, ‘Your understanding of India’s Pledge’, and ‘True Story of a freedom fighter from my taluka’. The body has called for youth to participate in large numbers. The prize ceremony of the competition will be held on February 25.

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Four fire engines were pressed into service. —FILE PHOTO

‘Even

The race is being held on the lines of Tour De France. —FILE PHOTO

SEQUENCE

Palghar resident allegedly burnt incense to hide stench from decomposing body of murdered wife The fire was confined to between the 4th and 10th floors of the 13-storey building

DIPLOMACY’ OF INDIA:

A BOON FOR TROUBLED NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

investment in the Greater Male project. Such initiative of India, an unprecedented confidence and relationship has been built. Maldives has made a announcement of supporting India for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council in 2027. Similarly Sri Lanka has recently announced to implement the 1987 Indo-Lanka agreement (The Constitutional Amendment 13A) soon. Undoubtedly this is a huge diplomatic success of India.

IN-DEPTH HATE SPEECHES GO UNCHECKED IN POLL-BOUND KARNATAKA

It is the result of India’s cooperative-diplomacy that there has been such a big change in China’s attitude and has taken steps for financial assistance, keeping a soft attitude towards the debtor countries, otherwise in the critical phase of the crisis last year, Sri Lanka had to pay $ 6.8 million under the pressure of the Chinese govt

John Adams (Former President of USA) had said- “There are two ways to conquer and enslave a country: One is by the sword; the other is by debt.” China, choosing the second path, has embraced colonial-era practices and rapidly emerged as the world’s biggest official creditor. In the last decade, China has badly trapped the poor and developing countries of the world. By choosing the second path, China has adopted the practices of the colonial era and in the last decade has badly trapped in its debttrap by giving huge loans to the poor and developing countries of the world.

China’s debt-trap policy has affected India’s neighbouring countries the most. Stuck in the vicious cycle of Chinese debt, the economies of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and Maldives have reached the brink of destruction. Sri Lanka and Pakistan are going through the worst economic and food crisis ever. In Sri Lanka last year, the people had uprooted the government by adopting the internal rebellion. The country is still on the verge of bankruptcy.

According to a recent statement by Finance Minister Ali

A WIN-WIN DEAL TAKES WINGS

Sabri in the Parliament the usable FOREX are just $50 million. Similarly Pakistan’s FOREX are also only $ 4.5 billion, which can pay only three weeks of import bills. China has flatly refused to re-structure its loans to provide further financial assistance to these countries facing severe economic and food crisis. In such unprecedented crisis India has written a new chapter of deepening relations by support and huge financial assistance to Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Significantly, in the past years with the help of its conspiratorial economic policies, China has been successful in creating an unexpectedly anti-India aura in neighbouring countries. Nepal, which is considered to be an integral friend of India but in the KP Oli regime the baseless issue of border dispute raised and the long –term ‘ROTI-BETI’ relationship were badly affected. The then President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, preferred China by forgetting India and pushed the country into severe economic- food crisis. Similarly, former President of Maldives, Abdulla Yameen, openly opposed and launched the ‘INDIA OUT CAMPAIGN’. But the current scenario has changed the attitude of the people and rulers of these neighbouring countries. China has left these countries in the lurch in the midst of a difficult period of severe crisis.

In such a situation, India

In the world’s biggest single multinational deal for 470 aircraft, Air India has not only made history but has also helped the United States face its huge unemployment problem. President Joe Biden admitted this in as many words, Air India’s “purchase of 200 planes through a historic agreement” with Boeing “will support over one million American jobs across 44 states”. The purchase of Airbus aircraft from France is expected to silence the West which was critical of India’s dependence on Russian supplies.

The massive deal for planes manufactured by two giant business rivals Boeing and Airbus was reached with

China’s debt-trap has affected India’s neighbours and China has flatly refused to re-structure its loans to provide further financial assistance to these countries facing economic and food crisis. In such unprecedented crisis India has written a new chapter of deepening relations by support and huge financial assistance to Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

has given financial assistance and support to these countries by moving on its unique ‘SUPPORTIVE DIPLOMACY’. External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar recently introduced India’s ‘NEIGHBOURHOOD FIRST POLICY’ to both the countries on his Maldives and Sri Lanka visit. During Sri Lanka visit by announced $ 2.4 billion help and make a renewable energy hub in Trincomalee. Along with this a proposal to provide oil credit of 500 million dollars. India provided more than $4 billion in aid by way of loans, grants, loans and extension of old debt last year.

Similarly with Maldives, India recently signed bilateral agreements in the ScienceTechnology as well as housing projects and assured more

Air India has not only made history but has also helped the United States solve its huge unemployment problem. This massive deal for planes, manufactured by two giant business rivals Boeing and Airbus was possible with PM Narendra Modi’s blessings

the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was deservedly thanked by President Emmanuel Macron of France and Joe Biden of the US. With Airbus A350s being powered by the British-made Rolls Royce engines, Prime

To counter India’s growing influence in neighboring countries, China has also given financial assurance to Sri Lanka not only to continue the $2.9 billion bailout package given by the IMF and started sending high level delegations to provide economic assistance. So influence can be restored. Notably that the general elections are also to be held in these countries this year, in such a situation, India tried its best that major political parties and people in favour, those who had started speaking Chinese language under the influence of China in the past. It is the result of India’s cooperativediplomacy that there has been such a big change in China’s attitude and has taken steps for financial assistance, keeping a soft attitude towards the debtor countries, otherwise in the critical phase of the crisis last year, Sri Lanka had to pay $ 6.8 million under the pressure of the Chinese government in lieu of the cancelled deal of the Chinese firm Qingdao Shirin Biotech. While, India had helped Sri Lanka in a big way during that crisis. Anyway, India’s Supportive - Diplomacy has been of double benefit to these neighbouring countries. On the other hand, these countries bound in the Chinese love-loop, even under compulsion, have made a radical change in their attitude towards India, which will write a new chapter in the changing geo-political scenario.

It should be hoped that Pakistan, which is on the verge of bankruptcy after taking lessons from neighboring countries, will soon understand the reality of China and abandoning its policy of violence and terror towards India.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Minister Rishi Sunak is no less happy. The Boeing 777s and 787s will be equipped with engines from GE Aerospace of the US.

For the Tata Group, the owners of Air India, the acquisition of the new aircraft will make them proud owners of the biggest fleet in the country where the civil aviation sector is expanding rapidly. It is also expected to revive the fortunes of an airline which reported a net loss of Rs 9556.5 crore on a revenue of Rs 19,815.9 crore as on March 31, 2022. The net loss in 2021 was 7,017.4 crore. The aircraft purchase has made Air India the biggest airline in terms of numbers and will decidedly help it to augment its fleets on international and domestic routes.

When it comes to hate speech, Karnataka BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel seems unstoppable. Kateel famously said that “small issues” like roads and drains were not priority issues in elections. Instead, he appealed to the people to give priority to love jihad in the coming assembly elections. His statements strengthened the opposition’s charge that the BJP was resorting to communal politics to win the election.

Kateel made a more outrageous statement on Wednesday when he reportedly said that “all ardent” followers of Tipu Sultan should be “sent back home”. He is reported to have said further that “those who are ardent followers should not remain alive on this soil”.

In an already divided society

Kateel’s provocative speeches would deepen the communal divide. Kateel has repeatedly thrown Supreme Court’s warnings to the wind. In a recent observation the SC said that hate speech was a “complete menace” that, if left unchecked, could become a monster. Government’s inaction in these cases continues.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

No one who does good work will ever come to a bad end, either here or in the world to come.

Bhagavad Gita

TOP TWEETS

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Hon. PM @narendramodi Ji, has approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme- “Vibrant Villages Programme” (VVP) for the FY 2022-23 to 2025-26. This’ll help encourage people to stay in their native locations in border areas & improve their quality of life.

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal

Historic Moment! Team India is at the top in all formats in #ICCRankings. My heartfelt congratulations to the players, @BCCI and supporters who have motivated the team to get better with every game. Keep going.

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l Vol 1 l Issue No. 280 l RNI TITLE NO. MAHENG/2022/14652 Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No.22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai-400701. Published at Plot No. 3 Scheme C of Manglorean Garden Home, CHS Limited, Survey No. 5, 6C (Part) Ville Parle East, Mumbai 400057. Phone 022-46031417. Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra Editor: Kartikey Dev Singh responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act Jagat

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DR. SURESH YADAV The writer is Freelancer and Commentator on International Affairs

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Man held on Valentine’s Day for murdering ‘love’

First India Bureau

New Delhi/Mumbai:

There are several striking similarities in both these cases. In both incidents, two men were arrested on Valentine’s Day on the charges of killing their beloveds. Both have been accused of hiding victims’ bodies after killing them.

MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING PARTNER SENT TO 5-DAY POLICE CUSTODY

New Delhi: A local court on Wednesday sent a man accused of killing his live-in partner and stuffing her body into a fridge in southwest Delhi to five-day police custody for interrogation. Sahil Gehlot, 24, a resident of Mitraon village in southwest Delhi, killed his partner, stuffed her body inside a refrigerator at his dhaba, and went off to marry another woman on the same day. Court granted the police his custody for five days to interrogate him and ascertain the exact scene of the murder.

Tripura women’s panel chief alleges attack by BJP workers

Agartala: Tripura

Women's Commission chairperson Barnali

Goswami was allegedly assaulted by BJP workers at Dhamnagar. Some of the attackers allegedly include elected BJP councillors.

Goswami, herself a senior BJP leader, said around 200 women and men attacked her when she went to meet a neighbour. “I was injured in the attack. The

attackers tore my saree and other clothing. The police also did not help me despite several phone calls,” she said.

IN THE COURTYARD

SUPREME COURT TO HEAR PIL FOR FRAMING MENSTRUAL LEAVES RULE ON FEBRUARY 24

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to all the state governments to frame rules for menstrual pain leaves to female students and working-class women at their respective workplaces and the compliance of section 14 of the Maternity Benefit Act 1961. A bench posted the matter for hearing on February 24 after advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi mentioned the matter and sought an early hearing of the case.

ADANI ROW: SC TO HEAR FRESH PIL ON FEBRUARY 17

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on February 17 a fresh plea of a Congress leader seeking investigation under the supervision of a sitting apex court judge against the Adani Group of companies in light of the allegations made by the US-based Hindenburg Research. A bench took note of the submissions of a lawyer, representing Congress leader Jaya Thakur, that the plea needed urgent hearing.

Arvind Kejriwal slams Centre over BBC tax survey

Probe allegations against ‘PM-blessed’ Adani Group

CHILD MARRIAGE ARRESTS CAUSING

HAVOC IN LIVES: HC

Guwahati: Assam’s massive crackdown on child marriages has invited piercing questions from the Gauhati High Court, which has red-flagged the inclusion of charges under the tough law to protect children from sexual crimes. Over 3,000 people allegedly linked with child marriages have been taken into custody, and lodged in temporary jails, sparking protests by women who decried the arrest of sole breadwinners of their families.

EXCISE POLICY CASE: BUSINESSMAN SENT TO JUDICIAL CUSTODY FOR 14 DAYS

New Delhi (ANI): The Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday sent businessman Gautam Malhotra, son of former Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Deep Malhotra, to judicial custody for 14 days in the Delhi Excise Policy case. Special Judge MK Nagpal decided to send Gautam Malhotra to Judicial Custody till March 1. The court also sought ED reply on a plea moved by Gautam Malhotra seeking ‘grounds of arrest’. ED also moved an application in Court seeking the expunging of certain remarks made by the court while granting interim bail to businessman Sharath P Reddy.

CCTV SHOWS NIKKI OUTSIDE HOME HOURS BEFORE SAHIL PICKED HER UP

New Delhi: As police continues to unearth shocking details in Najafgarh murder case, a CCTV footage has emerged of victim Nikki Yadav hours before she was killed by her live-in partner and her body was stuffed into a refrigerator. Nikki was reportedly captured for the last time on a CCTV camera installed in her building where she can be seen taking the stairs to her home where she used to live with the accused Sahil Gehlot. Gehlot, a resident of Mitraon village in Delhi, allegedly killed Nikki and stuffed her body in a refrigerator at his dhaba.

New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said media is the fourth pillar of democracy and suppressing its voice is akin to suppressing the voice of the public. His comments came a day after the Income Tax department carried out a survey operation at British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) offices in Delhi and Mumbai. The operation was conducted as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, according to officials.

“Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and an attack on its freedom is similar to suppressing the voice of public. Whosoever speaks against the BJP, these people deploy CBI, ED & I-T behind him,” Kejriwal tweeted. “Does BJP want to crush the country’s democratic system and institutions & turn the entire country into its slave?” he added.

Uttarakhand Assembly session to be held from March 13 to 18

Dehradun (ANI): Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, chaired a cabinet meeting with ministers, wherein it was decided that the session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly will be held from March 13-18. It was decided that the Assembly session will be held in Bharadisain in Gairsain, informed a government statement.

UTTARAKHAND CM DHAMI ATTENDS STATE CABINET MEETING IN DEHRADUN

Dehradun (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday attended the state cabinet meeting in Dehradun. Earlier on February 14, Chief Minister Dhami reviewed the development works and programmes of all the departments at the Vikas Bhavan Auditorium of Pauri district. He instructed officials to complete the work keeping in mind transparency, speed and foresight. He directed the forest department to pay compensation to humans and livestock in case of wildlife attack through the suo moto process so that the affected people do not have to run unnecessarily.

Delhi Excise Policy Scam: CBI questions Jain in Tihar

New Delhi: Delhi excise policy scam case: The CBI interrogated Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in Tihar Jail in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam, his lawyer said today (February 15). The counsel said the investigation agency had moved an application before Special Judge MK Nagpal on February 10 in this regard, and the same was allowed.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) quizzed the politician on Monday (February 13) following the court order, advocate Mohd

Irshad said. Jain is currently lodged in Tihar jail in connection with a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). He, however, is not an accused in the excise scam case.

New Delhi (PTI): Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has written to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Governor Shaktikanta Das and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and sought an investigation into allegations of financial irregularities and stock manipulation against the Adani Group. In his letter to Das posted on Twitter on Wednesday, Ramesh urged the central bank to ensure that the Adani Group’s “excessive debt exposure” does not destabilise the coun-

Indian visa centre in Sri Lanka closes after security incident

Colombo: The visa processing centre of the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has been closed temporarily due to a security incident reported, the mission saidon Wednesday.

As per source, an alleged break-in took place at the visa centre, prompting the Indian High Commission to close the visa processing operation. “Due to a security incident reported last night, visa application centre, in Colombo would remain closed until further notice,” as per statement.

“All applicants are requested to reschedule their appointments with IVS Pvt. Ltd accordingly,” it said.

try’s banking system. He also alleged in a tweet that the conglomerate has the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ramesh called on the RBI to look into two aspects – what is the true Adani Group

exposure of the Indian banking system and what are the explicit and implicit guarantees that the Adani Group has been given that it will be bailed out by Indian banks if foreign funding dries up.

India-SA ink MoU for ‘disability sector’ co-op

New Delhi (ANI): The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the India and Republic of South Africa for cooperation in the ‘disability sector’.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment said that the bilateral MoU would encourage cooperation between the Depart-

ment of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the Government of India and South Africa through joint initiatives in the disability sector. “Specific proposals for cooperation between the two countries, as mutually agreed upon, will be taken up for implementation during the period of validity of the Memorandum of Understanding,” the ministry said.

Meghalaya polls: Income for women, increased pension in BJP manifesto

Shillong (ANI): BJP national president JP Nadda on Wednesday released the manifesto for the upcoming Meghalaya Assembly polls in state capital Shillong.

Elaborating on the manifesto titled 'eMpowered Meghalaya', Nadda said the 'M' in its name signifies “Modi for Meghalaya”. Speaking at the unveiling of the party's poll pledges, the BJP national president said the potential of the Northeast state, which is rich in culture and tradition, hasn't been suitably harnessed and

utilised till date.

“Corruption is also a major issue, which has posed a hindrance to the development of Meghalaya,” Nadda said. He added that the BJP wants to work to-

ADVANCING INDIA-FIJI TIES

wards a corruption-free Meghalaya by delivering strong governance. He also added that a strong Meghalaya could only be created by a strong BJP government.

SENIOR CITIZENS EXERCISE VOTING FROM HOME

Shillong (ANI): In a bid to facilitate senior citizens and people with disabilities to exercise their franchise, the Election Commission on Wednesday arranged the facility of voting at home through postal ballot. As per the option exercised under Form 12 D, District teams were deployed to arrange home voting for senior citizens above 80 and people with disabilities through postal ballots. Election Commission teams undertook arduous treks to reach the most far-flung areas of East Khasi Hills District to ensure no voter is left behind.

EAM inaugurates 12th Vishwa Hindi Sammelan

Languages and traditions that were suppressed raising voice globally: EAM

Nadi (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad on Wednesday discussed further advancing India-Fiji ties through developmental cooperation.

“Great to meet @FijiGovernment DPM @ bimanprasad in Nadi

shortly after our meeting in New Delhi. Discussed further advancing our longstanding ties through our development cooperation,” Jaishankar tweeted on Wednesday. Jaishankar on Wednesday inaugurated the 12th Vishwa Hindi Sammelan in Nadi.

Fiji’s President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere was also present at the event. Jaishankar arrived in Nadi on Tuesday and was

welcomed by Fiji Education Minister Aseri Radrodro. “Bula and

Namaste Fiji. The 12th #VishwaHindiSammelan will begin tomor-

row in Nadi. Thank Minister of Education

Aseri Radrodro for the warm welcome.

Look forward to meeting Hindi enthusiasts from all over the world,” Jaishankar had tweeted.

At the 12th Vishwa Hindi Sammelan, Jaishankar emphasized promoting the Hindi language across the world.

“In events like World Hindi Conference, it is natural that our focus

should be on various aspects of the Hindi language, its global use, and its dissemination. We will discuss issues like the status of Hindi in Fiji, the Pacific region and indentured countries,” said Jaishankar.

He said that the era of aping western languages and traditions is over. He said that it is necessary that the world should know about all cultures and societies.

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Jairam Ramesh Gautam Adani

BITTER IRONY

CONGRESS URGES RBI, SEBI Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur in a press conference on Cabinet Decisions, in New Delhi on Wednesday. —PHOITO BY ANI

a postal

6 books at 12th World Hindi Conference, in Nadi on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

EAM Jaishankar along with President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere released

stamp and launched

Tripura Women’s Commission chairperson Barnali Goswami Satyendar Jain

—PHOITO BY ANI

BJP President JP Nadda releases the party’s election manifesto for the Meghalaya Assembly elections, in Shillong on Wednesday. A grab of the CCTV footage shows victim Nikki Yadav taking stairs to her home where she used to live with accused Sahil Gehlot.

AERO INDIA 2023 ‘

Design our Destiny’ should be our new mantra: Def min

Rajnath said that India should move forward and expressed confidence that country would emerge as light house for world

Bengaluru (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday expressed confidence that India will soon be among the leading countries in the field of innovation and emerge as the “light house” to the entire world.

Speaking at an event ‘Manthan’ during the Aero India here, he said, if we want to bring the next generation industrial revolution, then we should either do new things, or try to do the existing things in a new way.

“If we have to develop, then we have to re-define the competition. If we think of moving ahead with old technologies and old systems, then we will always be two centuries behind those countries (developed). That’s why today it is necessary that we think in new ways and move forward accordingly,” he said. Suggesting that we should try to do something new with the traditional things that are going on, he said, a great example of this is the UPI payment method developed in the country.

“Moral of the story is that we should innovate. Innovation means thinking in a new way, which youth like you can do well,” he added.

CBSE warns

use of ChatGPT during board exams

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the annual start-up event ‘Manthan’ on the sidelines of Aero India 2023, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday. —PHOTOS BY PTI

Army Chief Gen reviews innovative projects undertaken by personnel

Bengaluru (ANI): Army Chief General Manoj Pande reviewed innovative projects undertaken by Indian Army personnel including Lt Colonel S Chauhan & Sub Sapre PS at India pavilion of Aero India in Bengaluru. He was briefed on different products and their operational usage.

Army Chief Gen was also briefed by Colonel Vijay & Colonel Kumar on their innovations including an external fixator for treating hand fractures and Trishul link device which can help in avoiding fratricides during air-to-ground ops by own track helicopters.

—PHOTO

Defence Min Rajnath Singh with Chief of Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande & others at an event ‘Manthan’ in Bengaluru, Wednesday.

INDIAN ARMY TEAM DELIVERS RELIEF MATERIAL TO ALEPPO, SYRIA

Aleppo (ANI): An Indian Army team deployed as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on Wednesday delivered relief material to Aleppo, Syria. The material included rations and medicine from the government of India as well as contributions from the international community. Under ‘Operation Dost’, Union Health Ministry provided life-saving humanitarian medical Assistance to quake-hit Turkey and Syria. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “India is helping Syria and Turkey with the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

ARMY OFFICER DEVELOPS TOOL TO TRACK TROOPS

Ankara (ANI): Indian Army’s ‘SANCHAR’, a network-independent, real time tracking and messaging module is being used in Turkey where Indian Army teams have been deployed to provide relief to the local population. The system, which can be used by all defence and paramilitary forces in operation to track team members and assets in battlefield areas, officials said has been developed by an Army team including Captain Karan Singh and Sub PG Sapre. Captain Singh is deployed in Turkey for disaster relief operations. SANCHAR is compatible with all map formats and GPS constellations. It has a compact size and is lightweight. The system has a communication range of 1.5-2 km and a battery life of 6 to 7 hours.

ADITYANATH HAILS GIS & G20 MEETS SUCCESS IN UP

‘GIS and G20 meets gave recognition’

LUH STEALS SHOW; ARMY, IAF TO GET 12 UNITS THIS YEAR

is projected to supplant the existing Cheetah and Chetak Helicopters.The Indian Army and Indian Air Force are getting six units each, amounting to 12 helicopters this year. The production unit of the helicopter is placed at the HAL hall, where the chief

test pilot and the project leader are stationed to receive delegates from various nations and showcase the epitome of utility helicopters. The helicopter can be utilized for transportation, troop movement, and civil operations.

NIA

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka on Wednesday in connection with two cases of blasts in Coimbatore and Mangaluru, its spokesperson said.

The searches led to the seizure of a large number of digital devices and Rs 4 lakh in cash, the spokesperson

said, adding further investigations in these two cases are on. The searches were carried out at 40 places -- 32 in connection with the Coimbatore car bomb blast and eight linked to the Mangaluru blast.

One of the cases relates to a bomb blast in a car laden with explosives in front of a Temple in Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu.

The viral chatbot lets students and other users get answers to complex queries in seconds. The AI-powered ChatGPT is also capable of solving math problems. The CBSE board exams for Class 12 and 10 students already. The board already prohibits the use of electronic gadgets inside the exam hall. However, it is now specifically prohibiting the use of ChatGPT inside board exam halls.

“The use of Artificial Intelligence-based ChatGPT has been prohibited in the upcoming Class 10, 12 board exams by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE),” officials said. Mobile, ChatGPT and other electronic items will not be allowed in the examination hall,” according to instructions issued by the board ahead of the papers. The central education board warns students against the use of unfair means to pass exams.

NIA conducts raids in Coimbatore in connection with Coimbatore car cylinder blast case, on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

in the G-20, stated an official release.

“Our ministers and administrative officers played a big role in organizing both programmes. Everyone

Magisterial inquiry ordered into death of mother-daughter

Kanpur: A Magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the death of a mother-daughter duo after a fire broke out during an anti-encroachment drive.

UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya assured that the accused would be arrested and the culprits won't be spared. Meanwhile, the mother-daughter killed in a fire during the demolition drive were cremated today.

"Govt has assured us that our demands will be met. He said Rs 1cr, govt job, residential quarter and a land strip would be given to each of us (2 brothers) and lifetime pension for my father," said the woman's son.

MAYAWATI SLAMS UP GOVERNMENT UP CM YOGI ORDERS MAGISTERIAL PROBE

Lucknow: Taking a dig at the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, BSP chief Mayawati said the death of a motherdaughter duo in Kanpur Dehat had garnered more attention than the recent UP Global Investors Summit-2023. “The ‘bulldozer politics’ of the BJP government is taking the lives of innocent poor people which is very tragic. The government should change its anti-people approach,” she said in a tweet in Hindi.

FOR ‘SINKING’ JOSHIMATH RESIDENTS

Uttarakhand approves compensation

Financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to people who were running shops

Dehradun (PTI): The Uttarakhand Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to a policy for compensation and permanent rehabilitation of the affected families and people in land subsidence-hit Joshimath.

It approved a onetime financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to people who were running shops or business-

es in rented accommodations rendered unsafe by the disaster.

The approval to the proposed policy was given at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Secretary S S Sandhu told reporters.

Dismantle work is underway as cracks were noticed in the area due to land subsidence, in Joshimath. —FILE PHOTO

cilitate

distribution of one

A total of 52 decisions were taken by the cabinet including approval to a strict anticopying law brought through an ordinance, increasing the retirement age for Ayurvedic college principals from 60 to 65 years and appointment of 285 special teachers for children with special needs, he said at the cabinet briefing.

worked with better teamwork. The local public cooperated with a positive spirit. Both programmes have become an example of good governance,” it read.

Lucknow: This is the first time in the history of Uttar Pradesh that investment proposals to the tune of Rs 33.52 lakh crore have come to all the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh through the recently concluded Global Investors Summit (GIS), Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Wednesday. Yogi said the GIS has given just a glimpse of the potential that the state has always had and that prior to 2017, this could not be achieved because the “governments were mortgaged due to casteism, communalism and family politics.”

CRUCIAL READ

New Delhi (PTI): A seven-year-old girl was allegedly burnt with tongs and beaten up by her adoptive mother and her son in Delhi’s RK Puram, police said on Wednesday. The 50-year-accused woman works as a nurse at a central government hospital here and is currently on the run. Her son was arrested and sent to judicial custody, police said. The girl’s biological parents are relatives of the accused, police said. The girl has been sent to a child welfare facility. There were scars and injuries on her body, a police officer said.

2 GROUPS CLASH IN PALAMU; SECTION 144 IMPOSED Palamu: A clash erupted between two groups of people over installation of a ‘Toran gate’ (entry gate) in a market in Jharkhand’s Palamu district on Wednesday, police said. The incident took place in Panki village of the district. Section 144 has been imposed in Panki and more than 100 personnel have been deployed to maintain peace. “The clash erupted between two groups in Palamu’s Panki. Section 144 has been imposed. The situation is under control with the presence of teams from three police stations.

ODISHA IS INVESTING MORE THAN `2500 CRORES IN SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE

Bhubaneswar (ANI): Focusing on the development of Sports infrastructure at the elite and grassroots level, the Odisha Government is investing over Rs 2500 crores as its one of the priority sectors, said R Vineel Krishna, Secretary of Sports & Youth Services Department. “The CM desires that Odisha should become a health, fitness and sports-oriented society. And therefore, in the last few years the state government has been investing in creating massive infrastructure, organising national and international sports championships,” he said.

6 DEAD, 8 INJURED AS JEEP CRASHES INTO TRUCK IN GUJ

Patan (PTI): Six people including four women were killed and eight injured after a jeep rammed into a stationary truck from behind in Gujarat’s Patan district today afternoon, police said. The incident took place near Radhanpur when the driver of the Mahindra Jeep, which was carrying some 15 passengers, lost control after a tyre burst, said Deputy Superintendent of Police K K Pandya. The jeep was heading for Varahi village, he said.

THREE DEATHS AND 102 NEW COVID-19 CASES IN 24 HOURS

New Delhi (PTI): India saw a single-day rise of 102 fresh COVID-19 cases as the active caseload increased to 1,823, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Wednesday. The country’s Covid death toll stands at 5,30,756 with three latest fatalities -- two reported by Uttar Pradesh in the last 24 hours and one reconciled by Kerala -- the data updated at 8 am stated. The total tally of coronavirus cases was recorded at 4.46 crore (4,46,84,376).

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kilogram of millet

The cabinet also approved the State Millet Mission, which will fafamily

to each

through the Public Distribution

System under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana and serving of Jhangora and Manduwa (a

type of millet) in midday meal at schools, Mr Sandhu said. MINOR GIRL BURNT, BEATEN UP BY ADOPTIVE MOTHER

New Delhi (Agencies): CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) has announced that the use of AI-powered ChatGPT during the ongoing board exams is strictly prohibited and if students are caught using the platform, they will have to bear the consequences.

conducts searches in 40 places, seizes cash

Mother-daughter died during an anti-encroachment drive in Kanpur Dehat. —FILE PHOTO

Lucknow: UP CM Yogi Adityanath today ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of a mother-daughter duo. It will be in addition to the probe by a Special Investigation Team which is already on, he said, adding the truth of the incident will come before the people in a transparent manner. “The Kanpur incident is tragic. An SIT team is already looking into it. I have also ordered a magisterial probe into it,” the CM tweeted.

Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty visits the third day of Aero India 2023, at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, on Wednesday. Bengaluru (Agencies): The Light Utility Helicopter’s (LUH) production unit has grabbed the attention of aviation aficionados at the 14th edition of Aero India that is underway in Bengaluru. The helicopter is deemed highly sophisticated in its systems and

Lucknow (ANI): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the successful events of the Global Investor Summit (GIS) and G20 meetings have given recognition to a new Uttar Pradesh across the world and that will pave the way for making the state the biggest economy in the country, Guests from 40 countries arrived at the Global Investors Summit, while representatives of 36 countries, including friendly nations, are participating

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath —FILE PHOTO

BY PTI ‘GOVTS WERE 'MORTGAGED' DUE TO CASTEISM’

business BRIEFS

INDIA’S IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA RISE 384% IN APRIL-JAN

ONCE STATES AGREE

PETROLEUM PRODUCTS CAN BE BROUGHT UNDER GST: FM

ing it,” she said.

Sensex, Nifty rise for second straight day

New Delhi: India’s imports from Russia has jumped about five times to $37.31 billion during April-January this fiscal on account of increasing inbound shipments of crude oil from that country, according to the commerce ministry data. Russia has become India’s fourth largest import source during the 10-month period of the current fiscal. Russia’s share of India’s imports rose to 1.27 million barrels per day in January, taking a 28% share, according to Vortexa. —PTI

CENTRE AIMS AT ALMOST DOUBLING SEAFOOD EXPORTS

TOP TALKING POINTS

New Delhi (PTI): Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said that petroleum products can be included in the GST framework once an agreement in this regard is reached among states.

Sitharaman also said that the effort of the government over the years has been to increase public expenditure with a view to promote growth.

The 49th meeting of the GST Council is scheduled to be held in New Delhi on February 18, 2023.

“It is the entire (GST) council saying yes, and saying yes, not just yes, because it’s already in there.

“What they have to do is to determine a rate and once they tell me the rate, we get it into the GST,” the finance minister said.

Mumbai (PTI): Benchmark Sensex pared early losses to close 242 points higher while Nifty settled above the 18,000-mark on Wednesday following gains in IT, oil and select banking stocks amid mixed global trends.

of 61,352.55 in day trade.

The broader Nifty of NSE rose by 86 points or 0.48% to settle above the 18,000-mark at 18,015.85, following gains in RIL, Tech Mahindra and Adani Enterprises.

Kolkata: The Centre is aiming at nearly doubling seafood exports to $14 billion by 2025, a Union minister said on Wednesday. Seafood exports are showing a positive trend this fiscal with 3% growth in volume, she said. “In 2021-22, the (seafood) exports figure was worth $7.76 billion, which was 17% of our agriculture shipments. We have a target to achieve $14 billion by 2025,” Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Anupriya Patel said. —PTI

AIR INDIA BEGINS NEW SERVICE IN TRV-DEL SECTOR

z Finance minister Nirmala

Sitharaman on Wednesday said that petroleum products can be included in the GST framework once an agreement in this regard is reached among states

Decision to raise sugar export quota in March

New Delhi (PTI): The government will take a call next month on increasing the sugar export quota from the present 60 lakh tonnes for the current marketing year after assessing the domestic production, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Wednesday.

The minister said that the government in the 202324 budget increased the capital expenditure by 33 per cent to `10 lakh crore.

“Consistently for the last three-four years, the emphasis has been given on public capital expenditure. We have kept that up in this budget...Capital expenditure, clearly can be said as a real focus of this budget,” she said. “This is the first time in many years that the capital expenditure has reached a double-digit amount, making it the clear focus of this budget,” Sitharaman added.

Sitharaman said that she was advised by the prime minister that momentum on growth should not be relaxed or diluted.

Extending gains for a second day, the 30-share BSE Sensex advanced 242.83 points or 0.40% to close at 61,275.09 with 20 of its constituents ending in the green.

The index opened lower at 60,990.05 but later regained foot to touch a high

Among Sensex stocks, Tech Mahindra rose the most by 5.79%.

Index major Reliance Industries spurted 2.22%, while Bajaj Finserv, Bharti Airtel, Tata Steel, M&M, Nestle Industries, HCL Tech, Kotak Bank, Tata Motors, ICICI Bank and Titan also advanced.

RUPEE FALLS BY 4 PAISE TO CLOSE AT 82.82 AGAINST AMERICAN CURRENCY

Mumbai (PTI): The rupee pared most of its initial losses to close down by 4 paise at 82.82 (provisional) against the US currency on Wednesday. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened lower at 82.90 against the greenback. The local unit recovered some ground later in the day in line with equities to close at 82.82 (provisional), down 4 paise over its previous close of 82.78. During the session the domestic unit witnessed an intra-day high of 82.79 and a low of 82.90 against the American dollar.

IN THE UNITED STATES ‘AI-Boeing deal to create 1 million jobs’

Washington (PTI): The landmark Air India-Boeing deal will create up to 1 million jobs across 44 states in the US and will further deepen bilateral ties, President Joe Biden has told PM Narendra Modi.

Wheat prices fall by about `5/kg after OMSS

Thiruvananthapuram: Air India has started new service to New Delhi from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. The ‘Capital to Capital’ flight is Air India’s second daily service in this sector. The Thiruvananthapuram-Delhi service (AI 829) departs at 6.40 AM and reaches at 9.25 AM, an airport statement said adding that the return flight (AI830) starts from Delhi at 9 PM and reaches Thiruvananthapuram at 12.20 AM. The fully economy class service flight will have 180 seats. This is the fourth daily service in the TRVDEL sector. —PTI

GOLD TUMBLES BY `475 AMID WEAK GLOBAL TRENDS

DoT ASKS TRAI TO ADD STRICTER BENCHMARK IN QUALITY NORMS

New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked sector regulator Trai to make quality of service norms stricter in order to curb call drops and improve call quality, an official source said. The move comes after DoT collected feedback from the public through an IVRS (interactive voice response system) call around call drop, quality of calls etc. The source said DoT also observed few key performance indicators while broadly studying global best practices on QoS. —PTI

New Delhi: Gold price tumbled `475 to `56,345 per 10 gram in the national capital on Wednesday amid a decline in rate of the precious metal globally, according to HDFC Securities. The yellow metal had ended at `56,820 per 10 gram in the previous trade. Silver also fell by `195 to `65,925 per kilogram. In the overseas market, both gold and silver were quoting lower at $1,834 per ounce and $21.58 per ounce, respectively. —PTI

PLAN

APPROVED TO SET UP 2 LAKH PACS, DAIRY, FISHERY COOPERATIVES

New Delhi: Seeking to strengthen the cooperative movement in the country, the union Cabinet on Wednesday approved setting up of 2 lakh Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) and dairy-fishery cooperatives in uncovered villages and panchayats over the next five years. At present, there are around 63,000 functional PACS in the country. The Cabinet approved steps to strengthen the cooperative movement in the country and deepen its reach up to the grassroots. —PTI

The food ministry has allowed 60 lakh tonnes of sugar exports for the current 2022-23 marketing year. “We have not yet taken a call. We are closely monitoring the production and we would take a call may be in March depending on what the final figures of anticipated production are,” Chopra said.

TRADE DEFICIT LOWEST IN 12-MONTHS

Boeing and Air India announced a mega deal on Tuesday under which the Tata Group-owned airline will purchase 190 B737 MAX, 20 B787, and 10 B777X for a total of 220 firm orders valued at $34 billion at list price.

The deal will also include customer options for an additional 50 Boeing 737 MAX and 20 Boeing 787, totalling 290 airplanes for a total of $45.9 billion at the list price.

While discussing the landmark deal with Prime Minister Modi, Biden said, he was looking forward to

India’s exports and imports in January dip

New Delhi (PTI): Contracting for the second month in a row, India’s exports dipped by 6.58% to $32.91 billion in January due to slowdown in global demand, even as the trade deficit touched a 12-month low of $17.75 billion during the month, according to official data released.

Imports in January too contracted by 3.63%, the second consecutive month, to $50.66 billion.

Cumulatively, however, during April-January 202223, the country’s merchandise exports rose 8.51% to $369.25 billion, while im-

ports increased 21.89% to $602.20 billion, the data showed. The merchandise trade deficit for the April-

January this fiscal stood at about $233 billion. The country’s exports had contracted by 12.2% to

DATA IN NUMBERS

z India’s exports dipped by 6.58% to $32.91 billion in January due to slowdown in global demand

z Imports in January too contracted by 3.63%, the second consecutive month, to $50.66 billion

z The merchandise trade deficit stood at $233 bn

$34.48 billion in Dec 2022.

Last time, it was in Jan 2022, when the trade deficit touched $17.42 billion.

deepening the ties between India and the US.

This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree, Biden said in the call. The Air India order is Boeing’s third biggest sale ever in dollar value and second in terms of the number of planes.

During the call, the two leaders also reaffirmed the strength of the US-India relationship.

New Delhi (PTI): Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra on Wednesday said the prices of wheat in wholesale and retail markets have come down by about ` 5/kg after the Centre’s decision to sell 3 million tonnes of the grain in the open market, and asserted that more steps will be taken if required to ease rates. The government is closely monitoring the prices of wheat and atta (wheat flour) and, if needed, will take more steps, including offering more wheat under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS), to bring down the prices and provide relief to consumers, Chopra told reporters. He said the government is not considering any proposal as of now to lift the ban on wheat exports, which was imposed in May last year after a sharp fall in its procurement.

Volatility in steel prices new normal: Narendran

New Delhi (PTI): The volatility in steel prices is expected to continue and the industry must learn to live with the “new normal”, T V Narendran the global CEO and MD of Tata Steel has suggested. Replying to a question on the continuous fluctuations in prices of steel, he said industry members, both producers and consumers, can not wish away the price volatility and instead should look at how it can be managed.

“I have never seen the type of volatility we have seen in the last 8 to 9 months in my 34 years of

association with the industry. It’s a new normal we need to learn to live with it,” Narendran said.

When asked about the reason for the price volatility, the industry veteran said the steel industry is a geo-political relevant industry with long supply chains. The input materials are very volatile.

MUMBAI | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 07 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia Commodity Price Change % Chg GOLD 56,345.00 475.00 0.84 (Per 10g) SILVER 65,925.00 195.00 0.29 (Per 1kg) COMMODITIES Currency Price Change % Chg USDINR 82.82 0.04 0.04 GBPINR 100.16 0.70 0.70 CURRENCIES

*Rates till the edition went to print.

All the riches cannot buy the happiness of time spent with loved ones, breeze in your hair, smell of soil after the first rain… these are priceless!

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

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Sharad Pawar’s politics not without betrayal: BJP leader

BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar’s ‘slip of tongue’ after Fadnavis’s revelations on Assembly polls

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Amid revelations made by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Gopichand Padalkar had a slip of tongue during a march organized to address issues of the Koli community in Dhula on Wednesday.

Criticizing Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar, Padalkar accused him of playing dirty politics on various issues of tribes in the state.

Padalkar also targeted Tribal Development Minister Vijaykumar Gavit and alleged that

“he is playing tricks on the issues of the tribal community.” People who opposed the reservation for the Dhangar community, were close to Sharad Pawar. All these (people) have one master, he added. Padalkar also criticized his opponents who had ‘predicted’ the fall of the Shinde-Fadnavis government.

“Sharad Pawar and Sanjay Raut are wornout and torn notes. So don’t pay attention to them. The Shinde-Fadnavis government is very strong,” said the BJP leader.

Commenting on Fadnavis’ secret revelation

Kesarkar calls out Raut over his test tube baby remark

First India Bureau

Mumbai: In response to Shiv Sena – Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray

MP Sanjay Raut termed the Shinde group of the party a ‘test tube baby’, its spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar on Wednesday criticized the rival faction for “defaming” them.

Raut had also chastened Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for placing “the test tube baby on his lap”. During an interaction with the media in Mumbai on Wednesday, Kesarkar said that the “chief minister (Eknath Shinde) is not a test tube baby, but your father.”

Criticizing the Thackeray group, Kesarkar said it was currently working to defame the Shinde faction by raising the issue.

“The opposition has no remaining issues at present. They cannot say

Fadnavis does not practise falsehood politics: Bawankule

First India Bureau

Pune: State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

POLITICAL GAME

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also a BJP leader, recently revealed that the early morning oath-taking ceremony with Ajit Pawar was held after discussion with NCP President Sharad Pawar. However, the newly-formed government collapsed after being in power for only 72 hours, as the Shiv Sena aligned with the NCP and Congress.

on the early morning swearing-in ceremony after 2019 polls, Padalkar remarked, “Sharad Pawar’s face was already blackened by betrayal, treachery, and backstabbing.”

He further stated, “Now that Fadnavis has said a single sentence,

Pawar’s face has turned black like tar. He is unresponsive to Fadnavis’s secret blast. His state president had said in the last fifteen days that this (Ajit Pawar’s oath ceremony) was done at Sharad Pawar’s request. It has been proved once again that

his (Sharad Pawar’s) politics is not complete without betrayal and backstabbing.” Fadnavis recently revealed that the early morning oath-taking ceremony with Ajit Pawar was held after discussion with NCP President Sharad Pawar.

President Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday said his party colleague and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has never indulged in politics of falsehood or lied to remain in power.

Like Abhimanyu in the Mahabharat, opponents sought to trap and corner Fadnavis, but the latter eventually won the political battle and joined the Eknath Shinde-led government in June last year, he said.

Addressing a press meet in Pune, Bawankule also exuded confidence that the BJP will win the upcoming bypolls to Kasba and Chinchwad Assembly constituencies in Pune district.

Fadnavis on Monday claimed Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar

had backed his plan to form a government with his nephew Ajit Pawar that eventually collapsed just after three days in November 2019.

However, Sharad Pawar quickly rejected Fadnavis’ claim and said his assertion was based on “falsehood”.

Asked about the NCP chief’s reaction to the 2019 episode, Bawankule said he knows Fandavis for the last 29 years and can vouch for his political integrity.

“As far as I know, Fad-

navis ji is not a person who will make false statements to retain power. Given his background and values he has inculcated, he will never ever make any false statement. It is not in his blood,” Bawankule said, defending his party colleague.

“If you compare the history of the person he was talking about (apparently referring to Sharad Pawar) and Fadnavis’ history, you will know he is speaking the truth,” said Bawankule.

Warishe’s murder will be probed systematically: Maha DGP

First India Bureau

Pune: Maharashtra Director General of Police Rajnish Seth on Wednesday said probe into the alleged murder of journalist Shashikant Warishe in Ratnagiri district will take place in a systematic way. He was speaking to

reporters on the sidelines of the distribution ceremony of Union Home Minister's Medals for Excellence in Investigation at the Centre for Police Research (CPR).

A total of 43 medals were conferred upon police officers at the ceremony.

Journalist Warishe was mowed down by a SUV in Ratnagiri district last week

“We have already formed an SIT and the Superintendent of Police, Ratnagiri is moni-

Shiv Jayanti to be celebrated at Agra Fort; Dept of Archaeology grants permission

First India Bureau Mumbai: After multiple attempts to secure permission for Shiv Jayanti celebration at the Agra Fort, the Maharashtra government has been allowed by the Department of Archaeology to hold an event there.

what they did in two and a half years (that they were in power). Now, people are being misled. Sanjay Raut called our chief minister (Shinde) a test tube baby. But, he is not a baby, but your father,” said Kesarkar.

Officials have designated the ‘Diwan-eAam’ area of the Agra Fort for the programme.

The state government and Ajinkya Devagiri Foundation had sought permission

for Shiv Jayanti celebrations at the fort earlier as well. However, they were repeatedly turned down by the Department of Archaeology.

After approaching the court, they suc-

ceeded in getting a permit to hold an event at the fort.

According to reports, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde will also attend the event.

AN ODE TO MARATHA KING

Shivaji Maharaj managed to escape his confinement at the Agra Fort safely. Therefore, many Maharashtrians demanded that Shiv Jayanti be celebrated at the fort.

Interestingly, the Agra Fort has prominent historical importance. Around 350 years ago, Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had imprisoned Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj there.

toring the probe which will take place in a systematic way,” Seth said.

“We have arrested the accused and we are sure that we will take the case to conviction,” the top police official added while replying to a question about Warishe’s alleged murder and concerns about the

law and order situation. At the function, Seth congratulated all medal winners and said it was not easy to arrest an accused, investigate the case and secure a conviction. The public’s faith in the police force increases when the conviction rate goes up, he said.

Patil for CM? Workers of NCP put up banners

First India Bureau Mumbai: To commemorate the birthday of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state President Jayant Patil, several banners proclaiming him to be next chief minister of Maharashtra were put up at various places in Mumbai city. This move by party workers has sparked discussion in the state’s political circle.

Commenting on the banners, NCP MLA Rohit Pawar said, “I think he (Patil) has the potential to become the chief minister.”

Jayant Patil has also reacted to the banners and attributed them to enthusiasm on part of the workers. “It is my birthday. After I arrived at the party office, enthusiastic workers kicked off the celebration today. Some activists do things out of enthusiasm. There is nothing wrong in that and no attention should be paid to the banners everywhere. I would never tell anyone to put up a banner. I have not seen those banners either. I came to know about them through the media,” explained Patil.

Patole, Thorat attend party meet together; say ‘all is well’

Mumbai (PTI): Amid the ongoing tussle between Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole and party veteran Balasaheb Thorat in the wake of recent Legislative Council elections, both the leaders came face to face at the party’s state executive committee meeting here on Wednesday. Both of them later claimed that everything was fine between them.

The Congress was left high and dry after its official candidate for the Nashik division graduates seat Sudhir

Tambe refused to contest the MLC elections held last month. His son Satyajit Tambe fought as an independent from that seat and won the election.

In the wake of these developments, Thorat wrote a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge against the working style of Patole and also offered to resign as the legislature party (CLP) leader.

Talking to reporters after the meeting on Wednesday, Patole, who was flanked by Thorat and former state chief

ONGOING FEUD?

ministers Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan, said there were no differences in the state unit.

“An attempt was made to create differences among us after Congress’s victory in Amravati and Nagpur

teachers’ constituencies in the Legislative Council elections...

There are no differences among us,” Patole alleged. He refused to answer questions on whether Thorat resigned as CLP leader. Asked about AICC in-

charge HK Patil’s visit to Thorat on Sunday, he said Patil visited Thorat to inquire about his health after a shoulder surgery.

When asked whether he was sulking, Thorat shot back saying, “Who told you that I am upset?’” To a question on the letter sent by Thorat to the party leadership against him, Patole said, “Show me the copy of the letter.”

Thorat said, “Writing letters to the leadership is a norm followed by all parties and there is nothing wrong in it.”

MUMBAI | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 08 2ND FRONT

MAHA CONG TUSSLE

lll

Alleged tiff ensued after the former suspended the latter’s brother-in-law

Sudhir Tambe and nephew

Satyajit Tambe

Maha Cong chief Nana Patole and party leader Ashok Chavan attend the Bharat Jodo Padyatri’s pride ceremony at Tilak Bhavan in Mumbai on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

from the party recently

Sharad Pawar Gopichand Padalkar Maha BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule —FILE PHOTO

Deepak Kesarkar Shinde faction leader did not take kindly to Thackeray camp MP Sanjay Raut’s dig at CM Eknath Shinde

Journalist Shashikant Warishe

T-shirts are a go-to outfit for every individual. They represent individual personalities and are trendy, distinctive, fashionable and stylish. City First brings to you the significance of cool t-shirts in the fashion world...

SHUBHANSHI PATHAK cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

t’s hard to keep track of the many evolutions fashion undergoes, especially when it comes to the fashion trends of teenagers. One fashion trend, however, seems to outlast all the others. This trend is the customized t-shirt. These fashion trends are hugely popular among adolescents at school and among Hollywood celebrities, and since

teens frequently look to these celebrities for fashion inspiration, these shirts are truly keeping a firm hold on the young fashion world. The popularity of personalised tee shirts among young people can be attributed to a variety of factors. One is that each teenager’s inner creative spirit is awakened

our, pattern, style, text or picture that will be put on it, and more. As a result, people are free to use their imagination to design a shirt that reflects their attitude, sense of style, and individuality. Another factor that draws the younger generation to this specific design trend is the diversity that bespoke t-

www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/ thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09 MUMBAI | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023

SUCCESS AND FAILURE THE DRIVEWAY OF AN EXEMPLARY!

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20

You care about you lover but somehow hesitate in expressing that care. Don’t make friends for money and status rather make friends who will stick with you forever. On social front, you may have to spend some extra money in buying gifts for someone for some specific occasion.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20

You love to live close to your family. Best day to buy gold and silver or any precious metal for investment sake. You are a child at heart and never let this child die. You have a big heart and you always help someone if you can. Video gathering is possible as you miss your social circle like anything.

GEMINI

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

Scrumptious food is what you are craving for today. You always maintain cordial relationship with everyone. You workout daily to keep yourself fit. You may start a side business to earn extra money. You are not a jealous kind and you feel happy for others. You are a very grounded person.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

You will feel amorous towards your wife. This is the best time try something new with life give yourself a new purpose. Work on your limitations, there can be no better time than this. You have more opposite sex friends than the same and you may be judged sometimes but don’t care.

SAGITTARIUS

Your home. It’s the place, it’s feeling, which you love more than you love your breath.

Every individual who seeks liberation through various channels for discovering their self-worth needs to answer these two questions time and again to themselves, “Why do we want to achieve what we want to achieve and How badly do we want to achieve it”. The driveway of an example has both, success and failure, ups and downs, focus and distractions but a well-defined why and a how of an individual helps them achieve what they want to achieve.

Why do business houses, corporates, and relationships of various kinds of collapse? What is the reason that they face failure? The answer is all those relations which collapse are dealt with in a finite frame of mind in a play field of an infinite game. Being exemplary and remaining successful is all about getting in an infinite mindset where an individual, relationship or business for reference does not lose the very purpose and the resources to remain in that position.

For instance, the Americans withdrew from the Vietnamese war even after being much more powerful.

What made them withdraw was that they were playing to win, and the Vietnamese were in the war to save their lives. Finally, the Americans had to withdraw.

Our only competitors for being exemplary and playing this infinite game called Life are ourselves. We just need to keep evolving day after day and make our systems at business, our relationships in personal life, and our resources better than yesterday, consistently. We must understand that the mindset of an exem-

plary clearly describes that the goal is not to win BUT TO OUT LAST.

So, to become an iconic example we need to learn to change the way we lead so that we can lead the game called life which we are gifted to play, daily. The following set of principles which builds success and helps us remain successful consistently.

Purpose: intersection where we un derstand what we are great at and the role in the world we play is described as our

purpose, OUR WHY. It comes with a clear understanding of why we do what we do. This kind of ethos which gets us wrapped in our aspirations is what builds a purpose in our lives. It all starts with a well thought strategy. An authentic why gives the strength and builds a culture in our organisation to add value to the lives of our colleagues, stakeholders and customers. Organisations and relationships become outlasting with a well embedded

Visualisation: The one who can visualise, can make it happen. The greatest and highest possible vision for ourselves is possible to be created when we learn how to visualise it because we become what we believe. Neta ji Subhash Chandra Bose believed in and visualised an Independent India. With his visualisation, the Azad Hind Fauj was founded and from this visualisation, a dream of a free India was born, which became a purpose for every Indian.

Resilience and Perseverance: It’s the firm belief that failure is not permanent. The significant protector of success which builds the pathway of an outlasting exemplary is not about social intelligence, good looks, good product, good technology, sop’s but it is more about the synchronisation of our purpose with the art of refusal to lose, commonly known as perseverance. Good companies struggle for making good products and win over their competitors. Great companies strive to enhance their great products with daily small steps of excellence. Their vision of perseverance and resilience to become better than themselves every day is what makes them outlast.

Viktor Frankl in his book “Man’s search for meaning” said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing. The last of human freedoms - to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstances”.

Success in achieving what we want gets us to an altitude where we become happy and confident. Whereas on the other side failure in achieving a target sets us to lose momentum. But the fact is, life is not only about achieving the desired success or failing to achieve the same, it’s more about how much time we take for coming back to normal after tasting that sweet success or a devastating failure. The one who can control the emotion of success and failure with the same ease is said to be The Karma-yogi, The Exemplary!

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

You are a pro in your field and none can beat you. You give tough competition to people. Many people get inspired by you. You will get special treatment from your dear ones. Take stand where you need to, don’t run in the same direction where everybody else is going.

CANCER

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

Visit a doctor if you have any doubts about your health. Don’t attack stress even if you don’t have any. Let go of things that are not in your control. You want to have your own house and you will work hard to make your dream come true. Overall a good day.

LEO

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

You make sure to make things work your way. Never demotivate someone even if someone is not capable of doing something. You are most wanted by your friends. You can have romantic affair in office and a serious one. You will invest money in clothes and accessories today. You are a God fearing person.

VIRGO

AUG 24 - SEP 23

Your spouse is someone who can do anything for your happiness. You are opportunist and this will make you successful one day. There may be delays in property possession and it won’t effect you. You are happy spending whole day at home. Help your mothers at home today.

YOUR DAY

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

NOV 23 - DEC 22

Spend time talking with likeminded people as it will make you feel good for now. Boisterous behaviour is what everyone needs right now, do whatever you can do to cheer everyone up. You will feel financially comfortable and infact you are in position to invest money.

CAPRICORN

DEC 23 - JAN 20

You are very generous by nature and also you are the backbone of your family. Today is a favourable day for business. You may postpone your study plans. You are very fortunate to have a great friend circle. Be careful of the words that come out of your mouth. Your lover may finally say yes.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19

You need a break from day to tensions and the way to cope up with stress is to meditate. You must create an environment of understanding at home. You will succeed in any sort of examination if you put your heart and soul to it. Promotion can be expected even if other are not.

PISCES

FEB20 - MARCH 20

Your spouse may make you spend more than you expected. Fantastic day for investing money in stock market as you can make fortune. You need help on academic front and you should not shy away from asking. You miss your parents a lot and somewhere fear to loose them. Admit your faults in relationship.

10 ETC MUMBAI | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023

I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia FACEOFTHEDAY MONA GAUTAM,

www.firstindia.co.in

Model

YASH KALRA yash@thekalragroup.in

VALENTINE’S DAY EVENING

AMY PENS A HEARTFELT NOTE

his ladylove, as Priyanka blushed and smiled while enjoying the beautiful evening. Priyanka is seen wearing a black and white striped sweater. They seem to have celebrated the day at a

A

my Jackson, the popular actress who is best known for her performances in Indian films, recently made her relationship with actor Ed Westwick official. She confirmed their relationship in July 2022, by sharing a picture with him on her official social media handles. Later, Amy Jackson and Ed West-

wick made their first public appearance together as a couple at the Red Sea International Film Festival on December 07, 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and attended the event walking hand in hand.

On the special occasion of Valentine’s Day, Amy Jackson took her official Instagram handle and shared some lovely, candid pictures with

her boyfriend Ed Westwick, to the surprise of her fans and followers, In the picture, the actor couple is seen having so much fun, and look madly in love with each other. “Life with you Happy Valentines Baby - forever grateful for the endless belly laughs and ultimate love,” wrote Amy Jackson on her official Instagram handle.

Sara Ali Khan’s desi avatar

Sara Ali Khan is one of the most loved actresses in Bollywood. The actress makes sure to share every update on her social media and treat her fans with her stunning pictures. Well, the gen Z star is currently in Australia with her team and can be seen having a gala time there. Recently, she shared a couple of pictures on her social media from Australia and yet again she shared pictures looking gorgeous and we bet you would not be able to take your eyes off her. In the pictures, we can see Sara Ali Khan looks gorgeous in a traditional avatar. She is wearing a white short kurta over her sharara. Her attire has mirror work and black embroidery. She has left her hair open and completed her look with a pair of mojris, bangles and jhumkas. She has shared pictures of her posing in front of several famous spots in Australia and we have to admit that she looks nothing less than a true Indian beauty.

Selena REACTS to Hailey’s video

elena and Hailey’s social media posts are always under scrutiny by fans due to the history between the Rare singer and her ex-flame Justin Bie-

ber, who is now married to Hailey. Recently, Hailey Bieber shared a video on TikTok, where she was seen enjoying a drink with her friends. In the now-deleted video, Hailey was seen lip-synching to audio, that said, “I am not saying she deserved it, but God’s timing is always right.”

This video came after Gomez was bodyshamed for gaining weight after her appearance at the 2023

Golden Globe Awards.

Soon, fans started to call Hailey out for the video. The 26-year-old then allegedly commented that the video was just for fun and not

a reference to Selena.

A TikTok user reposted Hailey’s video and wrote in the caption, “I’m not really an avid follower of the situation but isn’t Hailey the one that like, begged Selena to tell off her fans for bullying her? I mean, Hailey’s a b—-h.”

Selena soon gave her statement on the situation and said, “It’s ok! I don’t let these things get me down! Be nice to everyone! x”.

Natasa and Hardik renewed vows!

ardik Pandya and Natasa Stankovic are one of the most loved couples in town. The duo got married in a hush-hush ceremony in 2020. Soon after their court marriage, the couple welcomed their first baby boy Agastya. They decided to marry again this year on Valentine’s Day. On Tuesday, Natasa and Hardik renewed their vows in

Udaipur in the presence of their close friends and family members. Their white wedding looked nothing less than a dream! Natasa wore a gorgeous custom-made white gown by Shantanu and Nikhil. Natasa and Hardik made for a perfect couple. They

shared the pictures on social media and in no time they went viral on the Internet. Hardik looked handsome in a black suit while Natasa looked like a dream in her white gown. She wore a fitted gown featuring a corseted bodice embroidered in natural pearls. Shantanu and Nikhil took to Instagram and shared more details about the gown. In the post, they revealed that the gown was embellished with precious stones.

ETC MUMBAI | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 11 www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/ thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

Amy Jackson Her post... Sara Ali Khan Nick’s post... Priyanka Chopra Selena Gomez Hailey’s post... Natasa’s post...

‘

Voicing Black Widow has piqued my Interest in doing Action’

Action is one genre that Kareena Kapoor Khan has not tried in her over a 20-year-old career in Bollywood, but the actor recently revealed that voicing Black Widow in the Hindi adaptation of Marvel Wastelanders has piqued her interest in it. She hopes directors will explore female action-oriented movies given the inter-

Love Again Trailer Review

Love Again, the eagerly anticipated romantic comedy starring Priyanka Chopra has a mushy tale promised in the teaser. A grieving Priyanka who gives love another chance after a loss will be the focus of the movie, which also stars Sam Heughan. The singer-actor Nick Jonas, who is Priyanka’s real-life husband, surprisingly makes a cameo appearance in the movie as well.

As Mira, played by Priyanka, attempts to move on with her life after the death of her boyfriend, the teaser opens with a glimpse of her. Sam, a.k.a. Rob Burns, is still using his old work phone at that old number, so she keeps texting him

there. The trailer also features Priyanka and Sam Heughan sharing a passionate kiss.

The synopsis of Love Again read, “What if a random text message led to the love of your life?”

est of many heroines in this space.

“There have been so many actors here doing action-packed roles. Maybe now people will explore female-action oriented (films). But I, personally, haven’t done something like that, like a cool assassin or spy, because I am always shying away from the action. Somehow, I don’t know if I would be able to do action, but

I know I will be good at it. You never know, now I am giving my voice, next maybe, you don’t know,” the actress said in an interview. Kareena also revealed that she used to be scared of doing action stunts, which is why she had made it clear that she would not be a part of any action film. “I made it so clear that I am not open to action that people are now scared to offer

an action movie. I have been scared to do stunts, and harnesses, I don’t know (why). Now, everything is done so amazingly well,” she said. Both Kareena and Saif Ali Khan will voice iconic Marvel characters Black Widow and Peter Quill, respectively, in two separate shows for the Hindi adaptation of Marvel’s audio series Wastelanders.

GURMEET’S LOOK AS MAHARANA PRATAP

Amonth ago Disney+ Hotstar posted a thrilling video announcing their upcoming series Maharana, directed by Nitin Chandrakant Desai. Recently they took to their Instagram to announce that Gurmeet Choudhary will be playing the titular role of Maharana Pratap in the upcoming series “Maharana”. The fans cannot contain their excitement after seeing Gurmeet Choudhary’s look in this historic period drama which looks

absolutely intense and intriguing.

Talking about the collaboration, Gurmeet Choudhary said, “ It’s an honour to work on a project that is connected to the roots of India. Maharana Pratap was known for his courage and bravery, I am very happy to get a chance to know more about his life. It is also a challenge to portray a strong char-

DHARMENDRA LOOKS UNRECOGNISABLE

eteran actor Dharmendra is all set for his next project at the ripe age of 87.

The superstar took to Twitter to reveal his first look as Shaikh Salim Chishti, a Sufi saint, in the upcoming ZEE5 series Taj – Divided by Blood. Dharmendra has shared his first look at his upcoming project, Taj-Royal Blood. The actor looks almost unrecognisable as Sheikh Salim Chisti in a long robe, turban and long white beard. The show stars Naseeruddin Shah as Akbar.

Sharing a picture of him in makeup, Dharmendra wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, “Friends, I am playing Shaikh Salim Chishti ….a sufi saint, in film Taaj. A small but important role………need your good wishes.” He shared an-

other picture of him in a sitting posture. In the pictures, Dharmendra is unrecognisable in black and brown robes, a turban, and long grey hair and beard. The actor also shared pictures of his look on Instagram.

Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia trolled

Farah Khan, whose brother Sajid Khan was a competitor on Bigg Boss 16 last night, hosted a magnificent celebration at her home. Shiv Thakare, the first runner-up, and nearly all the other candidates in the competition arrived in the wee

hours of the night. He was also accompanied by Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, a fellow candidate and member of the Mandali team, which apparently did not sit well with many online users.

Speaking of the same, Shiv Thakare was seen driving up to the event in his automobile and appearing dressed sharply in a white tee and light pink blazer

and pants. Nimrit, who was seen exiting the same vehicle as his, wore a shimmering, one-shoulder bronze dress. When the two posed together for the photographers, their images and videos from the occasion were all over the Internet. However, Shiv’s fans weren’t that impressed and started trolling Nimrit for the same. One of the

netizens stated, “Bhoot pisach nikat nahi aave, mahavir jab naam sunave . Dur reh behen.” Another user said, “Kahan mai abdu ke sath entry soch rhi thi or kahan ye.” A netizen went on to say, “Ye kb peecha choregi hmare Shiv ka?” A user took a dig at Nimrit by saying, “Nimmo party mein tou akeli aaja ..yahan bhi support chahye aunty ko.”

acter like Maharana Pratap himself. I am thankful to Disney+ Hotstar and Nitin Chandrakant Desai for giving me this project.”

The netizens are highly eager to see their favourite actor play the lead role in such a historic series. We too can’t wait to watch Gurmeet Choudhary play the role of the legendary warrior Maharana Pratap!

Vinod & Raaj to produce films together

With Janhit Mein Jaari starring Nushrratt Bharuccha, producer Vinod Bhanushali and producer-director Raaj Shaandilyaa told a riveting story in the most light-hearted manner. To take ahead the family comedy genre, the producers have collaborated to create several films under the same genre under their banners

Bhanushali Studios Limited and ThinkInk

Picturez Ltd.

While details are under wraps, the makers Vinod Bhanushali & Kamlesh Bhanushali of Bhanushali Studios Limited and Raaj

Shaandilyaa & Vimal

Lahoti of ThinkInk

Picturez Ltd will announce the slate of

films made under this multi-film deal. Confirming this development says Vinod Bhanushali, “We have seen quite a few romantic comedies targeted at a young audience, but very rarely do we get to enjoy an entertainer with the entire family. We hope to bridge that gap, and with Raaj Shaandilyaa as my partner, I’m confident we can weave stories that will make families laugh, cry and dance together.”

Adds Raaj Shaandilyaa, “I enjoy comedies that have a story to tell, and Vinod Bhanushali supports that vision to the T. Together, we hope to bring audiences family-comedies that they will enjoy and remember.”

12 MUMBAI | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/thefirstindia facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

GET VACCINATED STAY MASKED GREETINGS!

CITY BUZZ

Jagdeesh Chandra greeted Bob Blackman, MP, Harrow East, United Kingdom and Kuldeep Shekhawat, President, Overseas Friends of BJP, United Kingdom on Wednesday evening at Jaipur. They are on a visit to India and also visited Pink City for a day. Anita Hada was also present. Gurmeet’s first look from the series Maharana Rob Burns and Priyanka Chopra Gurmeet Choudhary Dharmendra’s look as Shaikh Salim Chishti Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia Kareena Kapoor Khan Vinod Bhanushali and Raaj Shaandilyaa Jagdeesh Chandra greet Bob Blackman and Kuldeep Shekhawat. Also seen is Anita Hada.

First India-Mumbai Edition-16th February 2023

NIKKI HALEY ANNOUNCES BID FOR WHITE HOUSE

MAHA POLITICAL CRISIS

SC

Five-judge

READ Crucial

CAMILLA CHOOSES CROWN SANS KOHINOOR

`4,800 crore for Vibrant Villages Prog

I-T SURVEYS AT BBC OFFICES

On 2nd day, I-T officials collect financial data from BBC offices

NIA RAIDS AT ISIS SYMPATHISERS IN TN, KERALA, KARNATAKA

INDIA CONDEMNS DEFACING OF RAM MANDIR IN CANADA

Rajnath gives mantra for defence start-ups

When time comes, will reveal all the facts: Fadnavis

NEW BATTALIONS; 9,400 PERSONNEL FOR SINO-INDIA LAC GUARDING ITBP

G Club firing: Jpr cops grill Lawrence Bishnoi

OTHER TOP STORIES

CRUCIAL READ

IS BMC CAMPAIGNING FOR BJP? ASKS NCP

Claims saffron party-dominated civic wards to get maximum funds in budget of richest civic body

Pune Cong unit holds ‘silent’ protest against I-T surveys

IIT-B suicide: Min seeks probe, students want director to resign

NCP funtionary arrested for assault on woman lawyer

‘DEMOCRACY IN INDIA FACING TROUBLE’

MLA Naik urges state to not collect toll on Airoli-Katai road

In which case were you fearing arrest? Sena camp asks Dy CM

INVESTIGATIONS

‘He tried to sell household goods with body in bed ’

CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN

in the 21st century, girls still commodities for financial benefits’

MAN GIVEN 20 YEARS’ RI FOR REPEATEDLY RAPING MINOR GIRL

MAN GETS 10 IN JAIL YEARS FOR ASSAULTING WIFE FOR NOT COOKING

Blaze in multi-storey building claims 70-year-old woman’s life

Multi-level cycling race ‘Hind Ayaan’ to enter Thane today

VASHI TEMPLE TO CELEBRATE MAHA SHIVARATRI FOR FIVE DAYS

CRUCIAL READ NIGERIAN HELD WITH DRUGS WORTH ` 16L NEAR MUMBAI SCHOOL

2 HELD FOR ROBBING SENIOR CITIZENS; 13 CASES SOLVED

CHHATTISGARH MAN ‘WHO WISHED TO SEE PLANE’ HANGS HIMSELF

NAVI MUMBAI ROUND-UP

PANVEL MUNICIPAL CORPORATION HOLDS SEMINAR ON WASTE MANAGEMENT AT KHARGHAR COLLEGE

LOK ADALAT SETTLES 3,000 PENDING CASES IN BELAPUR

SANSKAR BHARTI TO HOLD ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION

DIPLOMACY’ OF INDIA:

A BOON FOR TROUBLED NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

IN-DEPTH HATE SPEECHES GO UNCHECKED IN POLL-BOUND KARNATAKA

A WIN-WIN DEAL TAKES WINGS

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Bhagavad Gita

TOP TWEETS

Man held on Valentine’s Day for murdering ‘love’

MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING PARTNER SENT TO 5-DAY POLICE CUSTODY

Tripura women’s panel chief alleges attack by BJP workers

IN THE COURTYARD

Arvind Kejriwal slams Centre over BBC tax survey

Probe allegations against ‘PM-blessed’ Adani Group

HAVOC IN LIVES: HC

CCTV SHOWS NIKKI OUTSIDE HOME HOURS BEFORE SAHIL PICKED HER UP

Uttarakhand Assembly session to be held from March 13 to 18

UTTARAKHAND CM DHAMI ATTENDS STATE CABINET MEETING IN DEHRADUN

Delhi Excise Policy Scam: CBI questions Jain in Tihar

Indian visa centre in Sri Lanka closes after security incident

India-SA ink MoU for ‘disability sector’ co-op

Meghalaya polls: Income for women, increased pension in BJP manifesto

ADVANCING INDIA-FIJI TIES

EAM inaugurates 12th Vishwa Hindi Sammelan

Rajnath said that India should move forward and expressed confidence that country would emerge as light house for world

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the annual start-up event ‘Manthan’ on the sidelines of Aero India 2023, in Bengaluru, on Wednesday. —PHOTOS BY PTI

Army Chief Gen reviews innovative projects undertaken by personnel

—PHOTO

INDIAN ARMY TEAM DELIVERS RELIEF MATERIAL TO ALEPPO, SYRIA

ARMY OFFICER DEVELOPS TOOL TO TRACK TROOPS

NIA

NIA conducts raids in Coimbatore in connection with Coimbatore car cylinder blast case, on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

Kanpur: A Magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the death of a mother-daughter duo after a fire broke out during an anti-encroachment drive.

MAYAWATI SLAMS UP GOVERNMENT UP CM YOGI ORDERS MAGISTERIAL PROBE

FOR ‘SINKING’ JOSHIMATH RESIDENTS

Financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to people who were running shops

CRUCIAL READ

business BRIEFS

INDIA’S IMPORTS FROM RUSSIA RISE 384% IN APRIL-JAN