First India-Mumbai Edition-22nd January 2023

There exists a faction in BJP that defames Pankaja Munde: Bawankule

Sandeep Shukla

Mumbai: Amid reports of BJP national secretary Pankaja Munde’s displeasure with the party, the party’s state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has made a surprising comment and said that there is a faction in the BJP that defames Pankaja Munde and the party. He was talking to reporters in Beed on Saturday after a

video went viral.

Bawankule said, “There is a faction in the BJP that defames Pankaja Munde and the party. Pankaja Munde spoke only with me during the entire journey with me yesterday. I gave first rank to Pankaja Munde, it is my responsibility, I have not done any favour. Pankaja Munde is our leader, she is our national secretary, so the idea was to let her speak later.”

On the question related to Pankaja Munde’s displeasure, Bawankule said that he regularly talks with Pankaja. “We had a discussion the day before yesterday when her health was not good. Sometimes personal problems come up. No leader can be present

in every programme. Today Devendra Fadnavis has gone to Beed as Deputy Chief Minister. If an MLA could not reach that program, should it be taken to mean that he was absent? After the departure of one leader, what is the need for the other leader to be present?

Why should four-five leaders get trapped in the same programme? It is always better to have separate programs. No other meaning should be taken from it. Pankaja Munde is a leader and she also has different programmes,” the BJP state chief said.

Bawankule stressed that Pankaja Munde has BJP in her blood. “She can never go to the other party. All such words floating around are just

rumours. The opposition should handle their parties. Rumors should not be spread about Pankaja Munde. She is in national politics. No one can mislead Pankaja Munde,” he said. Even though the BJP state president has said that Pankaja Munde is not angry, but every now and then her displeasure appears. Expressing displeasure in front of Bawankule, she said that outsiders should not interfere in Beed district and we should be allowed to handle our district. Pankaja spoke her mind in front of state president Bawankule in a program organized for the campaign of BJP candidate Kiran Patil for Marathwada teacher’s seat.

There is a faction in the BJP that defames Pankaja Munde and the party. Pankaja Munde spoke only with me during the entire journey with me yesterday. I gave first rank to Pankaja Munde, it is my responsibility, I have not done any favour. Pankaja Munde is our leader, she is our national secretary, so the idea was to let her speak later.

BJP ATTACKS BBC

New Delhi: The Centre has directed YouTube and Twitter to take down multiple videos of the first episode of the BBC documentary titled “India: The Modi Question” and tweets containing the web links, according to sources. Both YouTube and Twitter have complied with direction, sources added. Over 50 tweets have been blocked.

Multiple Ministries said the documentary is “an attempt to cast aspersions on authority and credibility of SC, sow divisions among various Indian communities, and make unsubstantiated allegations regarding actions of foreign GoI.

Moscow-Goa

flight diverted after bomb mail

First India Bureau

Panaji: A Goa-bound flight from Moscow with 240 passengers on board was diverted to Uzbekistan in the early hours on Saturday, after authorities at the Dabolim airport in State received an email, which claimed that there was a bomb on plane, police said. This is the second such incident on the Moscow-Goa route involving the same airline in less than two weeks when they received bomb threat.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

9 hurt in twin blasts amid high security in Jammu

Thakur comes to rescue of wrestlers

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Jammu: Just two days before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra is scheduled to reach Jammu, two back-to-back explosions rocked a busy locality on the outskirts of the city on Saturday, leaving nine people injured, officials said. Police suspect that IEDs were used to carry out explosions. J&K LG Manoj Sinha strongly condemned incident and called for strict action.

WFI Prez to step aside, Secy of WFI suspended; wrestlers call off stir

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Protesting wrestlers decided to call off their three-dayold protest at Jantar Mantar against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh following marathon talks with

MINS’ COMMITTEE TO PROBE ALLEGATIONS

Sports Ministry will announce the names of its oversight committee members, who will probe the allegations of sexual harassment and corruption against WFI Prez Brij Bhushan Singh today.

sports minister Anurag Thakur that ended postmidnight on Sat, with Singh being asked to step aside for 4 wks. P5

Have full faith in EC, says Sanjay Raut

sue is still lingering.

First India Bureau

Jammu: Shiv Sena (Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said their faction has presented its case for control of the party’s poll symbol “bow and arrow” before the Election Commission and it is confident that “pressure politics” will have no impact on the independent institution.

“This question should not have arisen at first-hand because the party and its symbol and flag belong to

Thackeray. Where there is Udhav, there is real Shiv Sena,” Raut, who was flanked by J-K party unit president Manish Sahni, told reporters here.

Responding to a question on the fight in the EC over the poll symbol, the Member of Parliament said it is unfortunate that five months have passed but the is-

“We have presented our case forcefully and I am hopeful that the pressure politics will have no impact on the EC. We have full faith and trust in this institution and there will be only one Shiv Sena, the real one which is led by Thackeray,” he said.

Without naming the Shinde-led faction, he said they are openly saying that they are Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s men and it is questionable how they can claim to be the real Shiv Sainiks.

“Let the polls come, they will come to know which is the real Shiv Sena. All those going to the temples are not there to pray but some have intentions to steal the idol. The people still visit the temples for prayers,” he said, adding “some people are trying to steal the Idol of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.”

To a question about Uddhav Thackeray’s term as party chief ending on January 23, Raut said he is the chief of the party and will remain so.

Triveni:

A gang rape survivor in Odisha’s Keonjhar district alleged that she had to wait in a police van for 12 hours for her medical examination. 37-year-old woman had to wait as there was no lady doctor at Salania CHC to examine her.

Keonjhar

—Chandrashekhar Bawankule, BJP state president

Sanjay Raut

Even though the BJP state president has said that Pankaja Munde is not angry, but every now and then, her displeasure can be observed. Pankaja spoke her mind before Bawankule in a program organized for BJP candidate Kiran Patil’s campaign for Marathwada teacher’s seat.

Kids carrying Indian flags run across a mustard field ahead of the Republic Day 2023 celebrations, at a village near Balurghat in South Dinajpur district of West Bengal on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

New Zealand’s minister Chris Hipkins will replace Jacinda Ardern as PM after emerging as the only candidate nominated to lead ruling the Labour Party.

The ED has arrested TMC youth wing member Kuntal Ghosh on Saturday in WB teachers recruitment scam after being questioned for two consecutive days.

The office of Nizams, Chowmahalla Palace on Saturday announced that Mir Mohammad Azmat Ali Khan Azmat Jah has been declared as 9th Nizam of Hyderabad.

Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Saturday approved the appt of Vikram Dev Dutt as next DG in DGCA. He will take over as head on February 28.

First India Bureau

Anurag Thakur with Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia & Babita Phogat addresses media at his residence, in New Delhi on late Saturday.

Video of BBC propaganda against Prime Minister Narendra Modi blocked by Govt of India on Saturday.

MODI TO NAME 21 ISLANDS AFTER PARAM VIR CHAKRA AWARDEES

CENTRE’S STRONG STAND: ALL INDIAN NEWS PUBLISHERS NEED TO BE PAID FOR CONTENT

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually participate in a programme tomorrow to name 21 of the largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees.

New Delhi: Big tech companies that profit by funnelling news into their search results and feeds must give a “fair share of revenues” to publishers, Indian govt has said, citing a need to address “imbalance” in the relationship between the two. MoS Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasised importance of this issue for future of journalism and financial health of news industries.

Moni Sharma

Centre asks Twitter, YouTube to block BBC documentary critical of PM Modi

The BBC documentary questions ‘integrity’ of India’s institutions

A bus with Indian pilgrims returning from Nepal’s Triveni spun out of control and overturned in a pit, injuring at least 60 passengers on Saturday. There were 70 devotees on the bus who were returning from the Triveni Dham in Nepal.

MVA leaders considering contesting Pune Assembly bypolls: Ajit Pawar

Peth assembly seats in Pune, which fell vacant recently after the death of sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs.

First India Bureau

Pune: Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday said the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies are of the view to contest the upcoming bypolls to the Chinchwad and Kasba

The leader of the opposition in the state Assembly, Pawar said Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, his NCP counterpart Jayant Patil, and other senior leaders will meet in Mumbai on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

“Many NCP functionaries from Chinchwad told me we need to contest the by-polls,” he said.

Chinchwad and Kas-

ba Peth seats were represented by BJP MLAs Laxman Jagtap and Mukta Tilak, respectively. Tilak died last December and Jagtap, earlier this month.

The bypolls will be held on February 27 and the results will be announced on March 02, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission.

“MVA leaders think we should contest bypolls for Kasba Peth and Chinchwad Vidhan Sabha constituencies,” the former Deputy Chief Minister told reporters.

Maha Vikas Aghadi, formed after the 2019

Maharashtra assembly elections, comprises the Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction, Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress.

Pawar said the ruling BJP might give a ticket to the late Jagtap's wife or his brother Shankar Jagtap for the Chinchwad by-election.

“I have heard that the names of Shankar Jagtap and the wife of the late MLA have been sent to the BJP high command,” he said.

For the Kasba Peth bypoll, several names including that of Ganesh Bidkar are on the BJP's list, he said.

CRICKETER DUPED OF `44 L BY EX-MANAGER

Nagpur: Ace Indian pacer Umesh Yadav has been allegedly cheated of Rs44 lakh by his friend-turned-manager Shailesh Thakre (37), under the pretext of purchasing a plot in the former’s name in Nagpur, police said on Saturday. While the police have registered a case, no arrest has been made. Yadav had asked Thakre to look for a piece of land, and Thakre located a plot in a barren area. “He told Yadav he would get it for Rs 44 lakh. Yadav deposited Rs44 lakh in Thakre’s bank account. However, Thakre purchased the plot in his name,” an official said.

MAN HELD FOR MOLESTING, HARASSING MODEL

Mumbai: Police have arrested Surjeet Singh Rathore, the national vice-president of the Rajput Karni Sena, for allegedly molesting, abusing, harassing and defaming a 27-year-old model and actress on social media. Rathore was produced before the Borivli Metropolitan Magistrate court. The woman said Rathore created a fake Instagram account in her name.

SPL SQUAD TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL BLDGS

Mumbai: The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has formed a team to act against illegal constructions, based on a draft by civic chief Abhijit Bangar. Aassistant municipal commissioners (AMCs) will be responsible for these. “A special team under the AMC will have the authority to collect information about and act against encroachments in their wards, with help from the police,” said Bangar.

`1.28L GANJA SEIZED IN LATUR; 1 ARRESTED

—Ajit Pawar, NCP leader

I have heard that the names of Shankar Jagtap and the wife of the late MLA have been sent to the BJP high command (for the Chinchwad seat). Several names including that of Ganesh Bidkar are on the BJP’s list for Kasba Peth. I also heard that members of the late Mukta Tilak’s family are also interested. The BJP decides the final names. We should not poke our nose into BJP’s business.

Pawar’s contribution can’t be ignored, CM affirms

First India Bureau

Pune: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday praised Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, saying his contribution to the cooperative sector cannot be ignored.

Shinde was speaking at the 46th annual general meeting of the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI) in Pune, where Pawar shared the dais with him in his capacity as VSI chairman.

“Pawar is an experienced leader at the state and national level. His contribution to the cooperative sector is huge

Sharad Pawar is an experienced leader…. He often calls me to make suggestions and advise.

—Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister

and cannot be ignored,” Shinde said.

In the interest of the people and welfare of the state, Pawar is always available for guidance and suggestions to whoever is in power, he said.

“He often calls me over the telephone to make suggestions and give advice,” Shinde said.

CM Shinde said his government was committed to protecting the

interests of the cooperative sector. A total of 2.5 lakh hectares will be brought under irrigation in the next few years, he said.

The NCP chief introduced several reforms when he was union agriculture minister, and his contribution in the cooperative sector is immense, he said, adding, “I spoke what is true.”

Notably, party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s decision to join hands with the NCP and Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, was a core reason for Shinde’s rebellion last year.

“I also heard that members of the late Mukta Tilak’s family are also interested. The BJP decides the final names. We should not poke our nose into BJP’s business,” he added.

Ex-NCP councillor to join Shinde faction? Hoarding sparks rumours

First India Bureau

Thane: A hoarding greeting former Thane councillor of the Nationalist Congress Party Najeeb Mulla on his birthday has sparked rumours that he may soon switch sides, since it features photographs of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske.

However, Mulla has downplayed the speculation, saying most leaders in the Thane region

The hoarding is believed to have been put up by six former councillors of the NCP.

were friends despite political differences among parties.

According to persons close to the development, the hoarding was put up by six former NCP councillors.

councillors greeting

Mulla, who is one of the party’s leading figures in the district’s Mumbra region.

“It is welcome if the hoarding put up by former NCP councillors has our photographs. Mulla is a popular and experienced leader. If he joins us, it will be good but we don’t have information on any such move,” Mhaske said.

Former Thane mayor Mhaske, aligned with Shinde—the region’s strongman—following the split in the Shiv Sena last year.

Latur: Police have seized 3.6kg of ganja worth Rs1.28 lakh and arrested a 60-year-old man following a raid at a farm in Latur district on Thursday, police said on Saturday. The contraband had been stored in a sack concealed under a pile of grass, inspector Gajanan Bhatlawande said. A case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 has been registered against three persons.

MAN HELD WITH HEROIN WORTH

`1.3

CR IN MUMBAI

Mumbai: The anti-narcotics cell of the Mumbai police has arrested a 27-year-old man who was found in possession of heroin worth Rs1.3 crore, an official said on Saturday. ANC officials detained the man who was seen roaming suspiciously near Vakola bridge on Friday evening. A search of his bag yielded 325g heroin. The accused had come to Santacruz to deliver the contraband to his clients, he said.

AURANGZEB ROW: SP MLA GETS DEATH THREAT

Mumbai: Samajwadi Party’s Maharashtra chief, Abu Asim Azmi, received death threats for his statements supporting Aurangazeb. His personal assistant received the call. The person who made the call allegedly hurled abuses on the call and threatened to kill Abu Asim Azmi. An FIR was registered at Mumbai’s Colaba Police Station and a case has been filed against the unknown person under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

DRIVE AGAINST ILLEGAL SAND DREDGING

Thane: Maharashtra revenue department officials on Friday raided a creek in Kalyan town of Thane district as part of a drive against illegal dredging, the local administration said on Saturday. During the drive, the officials destroyed two barges and an equal number of suction pumps—cumulatively worth about Rs50 lakh—which were illegally dredging sand in the creek. At Retibunder in the Ghodbunder area, the officials threw 130 brass of sand again in the creek and seized 97 brass of sand (1 brass is equivalent to 4,528 kg), the official added.

RaGa capable of becoming ‘miracle’ PM: Raut

First India Bureau

Jammu: Shiv SenaUddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra is capable enough to be India's prime minister and that no third front can succeed sans the grand old party.

Raut, who walked for nearly 13km alongside Gandhi amid rain

‘Ideological & political differences aside, Gandhi will show his leadership qualities’

on Friday, said the BJP has spread a wrong notion about the Congress leader but this Yatra has busted all their myths about him.

“Why not?” he said when asked whether Gandhi is capable of

HINDAYAN

becoming the PM. “Ideological and political differences apart, he (Gandhi) will show his leadership qualities and will be a big challenge (for the ruling BJP in 2024 general elections). He will make a miracle,” the MP said.

Raut said the purpose of Gandhi's Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir is to remove ‘hatred and fear’ and not to unite the opposition under the Congress banner.

CM Shinde launches registration website for 1,600km cycle race

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administrations.

Mumbai (PTI): HindAyan, a multi-stage cycle race along the lines of the famed Tour De France, has begun participation registrations, an organizer said on Saturday.

ruary 19 to coincide with the birth anniversary of warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde launched the website of the event at his official residence Varsha earlier this week, organizer Vishnudas Chapke informed.

The race will be flagged off from New Delhi’s National War Memorial on February 05 and culminate 1,600km away at Sinhagad near Pune on Feb-

At present, India does not have a long distance cycling race, which results in professional cyclists, members of the Olympics and national teams as well as adventure cells of the armed forces traveling to the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France to participate in long distance cycling races, Chapke said.

Race will start at New Delhi’s National War Memorial on Feb 05 and end at Sinhagad on Feb 19 to coincide with the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj In

“In order to promote the culture of cycling and give an opportunity

to our teams to practice outdoors, we have organized HindAyan. Apart from the multistage race for professional racers, there will also be joyrides in the country’s financial capital where the common public can participate,” he said.

Chapke said the National Highways Authority of India has given “in principle approval” to organize the event on express and national highways, while the road route will be finalized with the help of local police and district

The route will be Delhi-Agra-JaipurBhilwara-UdaipurAhmedabad-SuratThane-Mumbai and Pune, he added.

The race is limited to the countryside, while in urban areas, the event will be designated as an expedition and not a race, he informed.

“The full race will have 60 participants.

Shortlisted teams will cycle 250km per day. Besides the full race, cyclists can also take part in one-day pro inter-city race and one-day 30km joyride,” Chapke said.

Chinchwad, Kasba Peth seats vacant after deaths of sitting BJP MLAs, Laxman Jagtap, Mukta Tilak, respectively

Sena MP Raut walked with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the latter’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu on Friday. —FILE PHOTO

VSI chairman Sharad Pawar shared the dais with CM Shinde and LOP Ajit Pawar on Saturday.

Thane police: Detection rate improved in 2022

ALLEGATIONS

First India Bureau

Thane: In an improvement, the crime detection rate of the Thane police Commissionerate went up from 67% in 2021 to 70% in 2022. Over 8,383 of the 11,961 crimes registered were solved by cops, a senior official said on Saturday.

However, the number of rapes, molestation, murders, chain snatching, extortion as well as incidents of offenders posing as policemen to dupe citizens saw a rise, revealed the Commissionerate data.

In 2021, Thane police had detected 7,298 of the 10,869 cases registered, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ashok Morale said.

“This is a rise from

67% in 2021 to 70% in 2022. While 89 murders were registered in 2021, it increased to 93 in 2022, with the detection rate remaining 97% in both years. Chain snatching cases increased by 81% in 2022 but we managed to solve 52% cases against 43% in 2021,” said the Additional CP.

Football turf on playgrounds draw ire from CIDCO

Navi Mumbai: Notices have been issued to several educational institutions by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) for the alleged misuse of playground given on lease for development of sports culture.

According to officials, the facility is being used for commercial purposes by many who have installed a football turf and are charging rent.

Sandesh Dongre, City President of Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena, raised issue before Social Service Department of CIDCO and also submitted a complaint last year. Based on complaint, CIDCO carried out a ground inspection and found violation by lessee.

The education institu-

Local edu institutions have been giving out the facility on rent for `700 to `2,000 per hour

tions issued notices include Shikshan Prasarka Mandal, Nerul, The Bombay Salesian Society, Nerul, Aatpadi Education Society, Nerul, Ramrao Adik Rao Education Society, Belapur, Delhi Public School Society, Nerul, Terna Public Charitable Trust, Nerul among others.

“The educational institutions have installed a football turf and are using them for commercial purposes. They give it on rent for Rs700 to Rs2000 per hour,” said Dongre.

A total of 755 house breaking thefts were registered in 2022, though the detection rate fell marginally by 1% when compared to 2021, he said. “Motor vehicle thefts dropped by 66% in 2022 when compared to 2021 and stood at 1917, and police managed to increase the detection rate from 35% in

The detection rate of kidnapping cases was 90%. The number of cases of assault on public servants dropped from 94 in 2021 to 91 in 2022. We managed to solve 98% of these incidents.

—Ashok Morale, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime)

2021 to 37% in 2022.

Rape cases increased from 340 in 2021 to 432 in 2022, while its detection rate was constant at 97%,” said Morale.

“The 432 rapes comprise 261 on girls below the age of 18 and 171 on those in the 18 plus segment. Molestation cases increased from 520, in-

Pune cops seized 79 pistols, held 90 in ’22

First India Bureau

Pune: The Pune police have seized 79 pistols in connection with 68 criminal cases and arrested 90 persons in 2022. Whereas they had recovered 92 pistols in connection with 83 criminal cases, arrested 111 persons, and confiscated 554 cartridges during searches and anticrime operations car-

ried out by the crime branch in 2021.

According to crime branch officials, the decline in the recovery of firearms in 2022 is due to various factors such as persistent crackdown on gangs, invocation of the amended Arms Act, and a rise in MCOCA cases enabling the police to keep such criminals in jails for longer terms.

cluding 435 where the victims were above 18 years of age, in 2021 to 620 in 2022.The detection rate was 90%,” informed the senior official.

‘Police least bothered to take action against Sherlyn Chopra’

First India Bureau

Mumbai: After Rakhi Sawant’s interrogation by Amboli Police on Thursday, actor Sherlyn Chopra is also likely to be summoned by the Oshiwara police for questioning. Both actors have filed FIRs against each other in the respective police stations.

PMC to arrange free skill training for its residents

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: The Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) will now provide skill training to its residents under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).

Ganesh Deshmukh, Chief of PMC has appealed to the citizens to take full advantage of the programme.

The citizens from lower income groups, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, minorities, widows, and disabled among others living under the PMC area can get skill trained to become account executives, graphic designers

and multi-skill technicians (electrical), among others.

For this training, the beneficiary should have a minimum qualification of passing the Grade 12 with the age limit between 18 to 45 years. Kailas Gawde, Deputy Commissioner, has said that government certificates will be given to those who com-

plete the training.

Interested residents can get more details from Vinaya Mhatre, DAY-NULM administrator and Wipra Skill India Pvt Ltd. The documents required to register for the programme are a xerox copy of the Aadhaar Card, Ration Card, Photo, Education Certificate, Caste Record, and Income Proof.

UNACCEPTABLE

Sawant, who was grilled for 5 long hours recently at Amboli police station, refused to talk about the case and remained subdued.

Speaking on the issue, her lawyer Falguni Bhrahmbhatt stated that all the charges against her client are bailable offences.

She added why Oshi-

wara police did not call Chopra for questioning, “The Oshiwara police are least bothered about taking action on the FIR against Sherlyn filed by Rakhi but the Amboli police were quick to detain Rakhi,” alleged Brahmbhatt.

According to senior police officials, Sawant was brought to Amboli

Police station after her anticipatory bail was rejected by the Dindoshi Sessions Court on Wednesday and allowed to return home in the evening as her mother was in ICU while the Oshiwara case against Sherlyn was still under investigation and she would be called to join the probe soon.

Now, elevated road proposed from highway to Grant Road

First India Bureau

Mumbai: To reduce the travel time between South Mumbai and Eastern Highway from 30-50 minutes to five to seven minutes, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is finalizing an elevated road from the highway to Grant Road.

With the dispersal arm of the Mumbai Trans Harbour link (MTHL) also merging with the highway at Sewri, areas such as Grant Road, Malabar Hill, Tardeo will get quick access to this link and thus, to the

Generally, the route takes 35-40 minutes to commute but once the project is complete, it is likely to take 5-7 min

Navi Mumbai Airport. The civic body plan follows the decision by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to build a tunnel connecting the highway and Marine Drive.

P Velarasu, Additional Municipal Commissioner, BMC said,

“This new bridge is important to connect the northern area of South Mumbai for quick disbursal to Grant Road, Malabar Hill and Tardeo.

“While MMRDA is planning a tunnel from the highway, our elevated road is useful for other south Mumbai residents. I have cleared this on technical and financial aspects. This will now go to the municipal commissioner for final approval,” he said. Once the plan is approved by Commissioner IS Chahal, a tender will be issued by BMC in 10 days, said officials.

Cop ‘spits’ on Dalit man, forces him to ‘lick’ shoes; booked

The accused is said to have held a grudge against the 28-year-old for complaining to senior officers

Mumbai: A cop posted at Kalamboli police station in Navi Mumbai was booked for assaulting a 28-year-old Dalit

man inside the station premises on Thursday.

Assistant Police Inspector, Dinesh Patil, has also been booked under the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly hurling casteist abuses against the victim, Vikas Ujgare.

Patil is alleged to have spat on Ujgare’s face and forced him to lick his shoes at the police station.

According to reports,

the cop is said to have held a grudge against Ujgare, who had complained to senior police officers about the hesitancy shown by officers of Kalamboli police station to register his complaint, after he was duped in a cyber scam.

Ujgare was allegedly identified as the person who had complained against the cops after Kalamboli police officers showed up at a Chinese restaurant on January 06. The

28-year-old and his friend were assaulted by the owner. Instead of a hospital, the duo was taken to Kalamboli police station.

“Holding a grudge, Patil started beating me on my face and neck. He then dragged me towards a room, where I was brutally assaulted. The officer then asked me about my caste… when I said I am a Dalit, he abused my caste and spat on me for belonging to a lower caste,”

Ujgare said, adding that Patil forced him to lick his shoes.

He claimed that at around 3 am on January 07, the cops took him to MGM hospital in Kamothe, dropped him there and left. “Once I was discharged, I hired an advocate and lodged a complaint. My statement was recorded on January 14 by the zonal deputy commissioner and the assistant police commissioner,” Ujgare said.

Of the 11,961 crimes reported in 2022, 8,383 were solved by Thane cops. —FILE PHOTO

However, as per latest report, rape, molestation and murder cases saw a rise last year

First India Bureau

Agency has given 15 days for removal of turf from playground.

Rakhi Sawant (seen here) and Sherlyn Chopra have filed FIRs against each other. —FILE PHOTO

JACINDA ARDERN’S SHOCK RESIGNATION AS NZ PM

Heads of State and government seldom voluntarily retire. Most hold on to the job even if they are in poor health or too old. Jawaharlal Nehru should have retired after he had a stroke on 6th January 1964, at the AICC session at Bhubaneswar. He neglected his deteriorating health and died on 27th May 1964 in his 75th year.

I could give several other examples of leaders convincing themselves of their morality. Joseph Stalin was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR from 1922 to 1953 when he died in mysterious circumstances. For the last few years of his life he was a stricken man, if not a semi-invelia. Neither his doctors, nor any member of the Politburo had the courage to approach him during his illness.

ber 2020. Of her resignation she said, “She had no more in the tank”. She added, “… Politicians are human. We give all that we can, for as long as we can, and then it is time. And for me it is time.” She is in her early forties.

WRESTLERS PROTEST

India’s top wrestlers-30 of them, young girls and youthful men, have been protesting in bitter cold against the unacceptable conduct of the President of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, a sitting Member of Parliament. He has held the post for 13 years. His TV performance on Thursday must have done him much harm. He was seen twice slapping a young man. He also said he would not resign.

The lady Wrestlers have complained of “sexual harassment”. The well-being of the Wrestlers is of paramount importance. “Wrestling is India’s most successful individual Olympic sport. It deserves better”, wrote a leading newspaper in its centre page.

PRIME MINISTER ARDERN BECAME A WORLD FIGURE. A GUNMAN TARGETED A MOSQUE, 51 PEOPLE KILLED AND 40 INJURED IN 2019 IN CHRISTCHURCH. SHE SWIFTLY CHANGED THE GUN LAWS. SHE WON A SECOND TERM IN OCTOBER 2020

became a Republic. Few outside India gave India a chance for Democracy surviving more than a few years. Winston Churchill was one of them. He called Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Rajaji and other Congress leaders “men of straw”.

BRITISH ISSUES

The British Monarchy is confronted with a strange problem. One of its members, the erratic and unpredictable, Prince Harry has written a book (it has sold 3.2 million copies in a month) which is highly critical of the Monarchy. He may have made a lot of money, but he is in the Royal dog house. He has let the Firm down. The British Royal Family is privately called the Firm.

THE TWIST IN SC COLLEGIUM, GOVT FACEOFF OVER APPOINTMENTS

In 1950, King Tribhuvan of Nepal came to Delhi, Nehru invited the King for Lunch. The first three courses were without any conversation. Finally the King asked Prime Minister Nehru if he played golf. “Not yet your Majesty. I am only 62 years old”, was Nehru’s witty reply. In those days golf was considered a game for old men

New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern shocked her country and the World by her decision to resign. Had she not she would have been re-elected in October. Prime Minister Ardern became a world figure. A gunman targeted a Mosque, 51 people killed and 40 injured in 2019 in Christchurch. She swiftly changed the gun laws. She won a second term in Octo-

ROUND-1 GOES TO PROTESTERS

The energetic Sports Minister should act soon to address the grievances of the Wrestlers. It will take some doing as Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is an influential Member of Parliament and a wellknown UP politician.

R-DAY CELEBRATIONS

Republic Day is round the corner. The day has a special significance. On this day seventy three years ago India

Wrestlers have won Round One against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Gonda district of UP.

The protesting wrestlers are yet to win the battle which may still go in favour of the WFI chief. He has been asked to step aside for four weeks.

The allegations of sexual harassment will now be investigated by a seven-member committee which does not include Singh. In a letter to the Union Sports Ministry, the WFI has refuted all the allegations against Singh and coaches saying that the protesters have a hidden agenda.

The investigation will be carried out by the Indian

In 1942 President Roosevelt asked Churchill to make meaningful steps to accept India’s demands for ending British Raj in the country. Churchill told the US President that he would resign if pushed further by the US President. “I have not become the First Minister of the King to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire.” Five years later the British Indian Empire was indeed liquidated.

The splendour of the Republic Day parade cannot be exaggerated. The setting is breath-taking. This year’s Guest of Honour is President Sisi of Egypt. The Rashtra-

Wrestlers have won Round One against WFI and its boss Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Gonda of UP. Protesting wrestlers are yet to win the battle which may still go in favour of the WFI chief

Olympic Association-appointed committee which has boxing Olympian Mary Kom as chairperson. Others on the panel include IOA joint secretary Alaknanda Ashok, former wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, archer Dola Banerjee, IOA treasurer Sahdev Yadav and one male and one female lawyer. In the meantime an

On Friday evening nearly one hundred former Stephanians met for dinner at the Taj Palace hotel. I was the Chief Guest, being the senior most ex-Stephanian. Almost all had taken to Golf. The annual golf tournament was over. I was asked to speak first. I related this story.

In 1950, King Tribhuvan of Nepal came to Delhi, Nehru invited the King for Lunch. The first three courses were without any conversation. Finally the King asked Prime Minister Nehru if he played golf. “Not yet your Majesty. I am only 62 years old”, was Nehru’s witty reply. In those days golf was considered a game for old men.

n a first, the Supreme Court revealed the Union Law Ministry’s reasons for rejecting advocates Saurabh Kirpal and Somasekhar Sundaram--- recommended by the collegium for appointment as high court judges--- and its own reasons for overruling those objections. Led by India’s Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, the collegium has again sent these two names, along with three others which were returned by the ministry, for reconsideration.

In the case of Kirpal the Centre’s objection was that he is an openly gay advocate with a Swiss national as his partner, a no-no for those holding constitutional positions. The collegium said that there are others holding constitutional offices with a foreign spouse. On Kirpal being gay, the collegium stated that his conduct and behaviour have been above board. The arguments hold water.

It also defended Sundaram who, in the government’s view, is “highly biased and opinionated.” Expressing views does not disentitle him to hold a constitutional post, the collegium said. Neither side seems willing to blink.

oversight committee is being formed to address the issue.

The WFI being dismissive of the allegations by women wrestlers cannot be taken seriously. Those who have taken up cudgels against the powerful Kaiserganj MP must have been pushed to desperation. The wrestlers also face action for not attending national wrestling camp in Gonda where only Singh’s writ runs.

The problem for wrestlers lies with the political clout which Singh enjoys due to his winnability, an important criteria for getting a ticket. A seven-time MP from Kaiserganj, Singh wields considerable influence in adjoining areas and the BJP will not ignore the aspect before 2024.

Minorities, or for that matter every community in India is moving ahead positively. India’s image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India. PM @ narendramodi Ji’s voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians.

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

Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal

Warm greetings to the people of Manipur, Meghalaya & Tripura on their Statehood Day. These culturally rich & vibrant states are contributing invaluably to our nation’s economy & growth story. Praying for their continued progress & development.

Kiren Rijiju @KirenRijiju

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

Because an original is always better than a copy!

Bhagavad Gita

pati Bhavan, North and South Block, Parliament House and India Gate were built between 1920 and 1930. Mercifully, Shastri and Vigyan Bhawans are to be pulled down, so also the hideous Ministry of Defence, built in the 1950’s.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

K NATWAR SINGH

The author is Former Minister of External Affairs of India

WFI CLAIMS PROTEST IS MOTIVATED

In its reply to the Government, Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) rejects all the allegations

New Delhi (PTI): The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has rejected all the allegations, including that of sexual harassment against its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and claimed that the wrestlers’ protest was motivated by a “hidden agenda to dislodge the current management”.

The WFI denied all the charges in its response to the government’s notice and asserted that “there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement “ in the federation.

The Sports Ministry had sought an explanation from WFI after the country’s top wrestlers sat on a dharna and alleged that the federation chief sexually harassed women wrestlers and acts like a “dictator”.

The WFI sent its reply on Friday evening and, few hours later, the

wrestlers called off their protest after the government announced that it will form an oversight committee to probe the charges. It also said the WFI chief will step aside till the investigation is over.

“The WFI is managed by an elected body as per its constitution, and

therefore, there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement in WFI by any one individually, including the president,” the WFI said in its response to the Sports Ministry.

“The WFI, in particular, under the sitting president has always acted keeping the

Who is Shahrukh? asks Assam CM Himanta Sarma

best interests of wrestlers in mind.

“The WFI has enhanced the image of wrestling sport nationally as well as internationally and for the record of this ministry, it is not possible without fair, supportive, clean and strict management of WFI,” it added.

WFI rejects wrestlers’ allegations against its prez BB Sharan Singh

New Delhi: The WFI has rejected all the allegations, including that of sexual harassment against its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, saying “there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement “ in the sports body.

“The WFI is managed by an elected body as per its constitution, and therefore, there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement in WFI by any one individually, including the president,” the WFI said in its response to sports ministry.

“The WFI, in particular, under the sitting president has

always acted keeping the best interests of wrestlers in mind.

“The WFI has enhanced the image of wrestling sport nationally as well as internationally and for the record of this ministry, it is not possible without fair, supportive, clean and strict management of WFI,” it added.

Cong’s ‘charge sheet’ against Modi govt

New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Saturday released a “charge sheet” against the Narendra Modi govt alleging that its mantra was ‘kuch ka saath, khud ka vikas, sabke saath vishwasghaat’ (for the benefit of few, development for self and betrayal of everyone)”. The Opposition party also said that Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the Bharat Jodo Yatra, will hoist the national flag at the Pradesh Congress Committee office in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk area followed by a public meeting at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium which will mark the culmination of the Kanyakumari to Kashmir march.

LAUDS WAYANAD ON RARE ACHIEVEMENT

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday congratulated Kerala’s Wayanad on becoming India’s first district to digitise basic documents of all tribals. “An empowered tribal community is the cornerstone of a strong India,” Rahul, Wayanad MP, tweeted. “Proud that Wayanad is India’s 1st district to provide & digitise basic documents for all Tribals,” he said. He lauded the collective efforts of district admin, local bodies, and people’s representatives for the initiative.

New Delhi: A Delhi court is likely to hear on March 25 a criminal complaint filed by actor Nora Fatehi against Jacqueline Fernandez for allegedly defaming her by “unfairly dragging” her name into a Rs 200 crore money laundering case. Fatehi, a Canadian citizen, has also arrayed 15 media organisations as accused in her complaint. The matter, which was scheduled to come up for hearing on Saturday, was adjourned since the judge was on leave, Fatehi’s lawyer said.

NGO OPPOSES CRIMINALISATION OF MARITAL RAPE

New Delhi: An NGO has moved the Supreme Court opposing the criminalisation of marital rape, saying it would destabilise the institution of marriage. The petition filed by NGO Purush Aayog Trust through its president Barkha Trehan has sought the court’s intervention in a batch of petitions pertaining to criminalisation of marital rape.

17 HELD AFTER TMC, ISF WORKERS CLASH IN KOLKATA

Kolkata: Workers of the Indian Secular Front, or ISF, were lathicharged by the police in Kolkata’s Esplanade area this evening as they blocked roads in the area. ISF claimed they were attacked by the TMC workers on their way to a rally in the area and demanded the arrest of Trinamool leader Arabul Islam for orchestrating an earlier attack on them this morning.

MORBI: HEARING ON OREVA GROUP MD’S PRE-ARREST BAIL ADJOURNED TILL FEB 1

Morbi: A sessions court here on Saturday adjourned till February 1 the hearing in the anticipatory bail application filed by Ajanta Manufacturing Limited’s managing director in connection with the collapse of the suspension bridge here on October 30 that killed 135 persons. The court of principal district and sessions judge P C Joshi deferred the hearing of the anticipatory bail plea moved by Jaysukh Patel to February 1 as the public prosecutor was not present.

Guwahati (PTI): “Who is Shahrukh Khan? I don’t know anything about him or his film Pathaan”, was Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s curt answer to queries by reporters here on Saturday. Mediapersons had raised questions on the violent protest by Bajrang Dal activists, who stormed a theatre at Narengi in the city on Friday where the film is slated to be screened.

The far right wing group’s volunteers tore down the film’s posters and burnt them.

Yogi flags off ‘Run for G20 Walkathon’ to spread awareness about summit

Lucknow (PTI): UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Saturday flagged off the ‘Run for G20 Walkathon’ organised simultaneously in four cities to spread awareness about the summit. Adityanath flagged off the walkathons in Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi and Gautam Buddh Nagar from his residence.

Uttar Pradesh will host 11 meetings during the G20 conference, through which it has got the opportunity to promote its image, culture and food, Adityanath said. He also praised PM Narendra Modi and

will keep fighting till am alive”, Maliwal reacts to ‘fake sting’ claims

New Delhi (Agencies): Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal, who was allegedly molested and dragged for 10-15 meters by a drunk driver after her hand got stuck in his car’s window around 3 am on Thursday, reacted sharply to the allegations that the whole incident was fake.

Swati Maliwal, on

Saturday, called the allegations “dirty lies” and that she would fight till her last breath. She tweeted, “Let me

TRIPURA, MEGHALAYA & MANIPUR’S STATEHOOD DAY

tell those who think that they will scare me by telling dirty lies about me. I have done many big things in this short life by tying a shroud on my head. I was attacked many times but I did not stop. With every atrocity, the fire inside me grew stronger. No one can suppress my voice. I will keep fighting as long as I am alive!”

President, PM Modi, Shah send greetings

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders on Saturday extended greetings on the statehood day of Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya.

Appreciating the natural beauty, rich traditions, and culture of these northeastern states, the President wrote on Twitter, “Greetings on the statehood day of Manipur, Megha-

laya, and Tripura. The rich culture, natural beauty and abiding traditions of these states enrich our diversity. The people of these states are known for their talent and spontaneity. I

wish a very bright future to all of them.”

PM Modi, in three separate tweets, wished the people of these states. “Statehood Day greetings to the people of Manipur. The state

has been progressing on several counts during the last few years. I pray that the aspirations of the people of this state are fulfilled and Manipur keeps strengthening India’s

growth trajectory,” he wrote, wishing Manipur on the occasion.

Admiring Meghalaya’s culture, music and art, he wrote, “Greetings to the people of Meghalaya on their Statehood Day. This state is known for its vibrant culture, particularly music, art and passion towards sports. People from Meghalaya have excelled in diverse fields. I pray for Meghalaya’s continuous progress in the years to come. (sic)”

‘MISBEHAVING’ UP POLICEMAN

SUSPENDED Shahjahanpur: The inspector in-charge of the cyber cell in UP’s Shahjahanpur district has been suspended for allegedly misbehaving with a BJP leader and a probe has been ordered in the matter, a senior police officer said on Saturday. It has been alleged that Neeraj Kumar, the inspector-in-charge of the cyber cell, went to the residence of BJP leader and former district panchayat chairman Virendra Pal Singh Yadav on Thursday night and misbehaved with him.

CBI recovers `94.37L in several raids at 18 places

New Delhi (ANI): The CBI has recovered Rs 94.37 lakh in cash after conducting several raids at 18 places in Mumbai and Bhopal in three cases connected with illegal forex remittances during 2014-2016. Several incriminating documents and electronic gadgets were also recovered. As per statement, CBI registered three separate cases against the accused which included private

persons, unknown officials of multi-state cooperative societies and unknown public servants.

It was alleged that during 2014-2016, a huge amount was remitted in foreign exchange (Forex) abroad from the accounts of nine entities through eight nationalised banks by submitting fake import documents such as bills of entry, bills of lading, among others, without any actual trade.

Siddaramaiah claims he will win Kolar seat despite all odds

Mysuru (PTI): Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah , who has decided to contest the upcoming assembly election in Karnataka from Kolar segment, asserted on Saturday that he will surely win even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were to campaign against him.

The former Chief Minister decided to shift his constituency from Badami in Bagalkote district in North Karnataka to Kolar citing age factor and the distance.

“Let (BJP national general secretary) B L Santhosh come, BJP national president J P Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah and campaign against me. I will surely win from Kolar,” he told reporters.

Siddaramaiah was reacting to a query that a negative campaign has begun ever since he expressed his desire to contest from Kolar.

Plan of RSS to “partially exploit” Netaji’s legacy, says his daughter

Kolkata (PTI): Amidst the fanfare over Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) plans to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary in the city on January 23, his daughter Anita Bose-Pfaff has said that it is being done to “partially exploit” her father’s legacy.

RSS’s ideology and the nationalist leader’s ideas of securlarism and inclusiveness are “poles apart and do not coincide”, she said.

As far as ideology is concerned, the Congress has lot more in common with Netaji than any other party in the country, BosePfaff said.

RSS chief Mohan

Bhagwat will address a public programme at Shahid Minar ground in the city to commemorate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary.

Bose-Pfaff said the BJP and RSS do not reflect the idea of respecting all religions as preached by Netaji, who was a devout Hindu but believed in respecting other faiths. He was in favour of a productive cooperation between members of different religions, she said.

WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh speaks with the media regarding recent allegations of sexual harassment against him, in Gonda district, on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Jairam Ramesh and KC Venugopal at a press conference on a campaign launch ‘Hath Se Hath Jodo’, in New Delhi on Saturday.

RAHUL

said, “The world is accepting the fact that in this era of global crisis, India and PM Narendra Modi are the only ones

who can save the world and realise the sacred spirit of India towards the welfare of the common man.”

Yogi Adityanath flags off G-20 Walkathon, in Lucknow on Saturday.

“I

COURT ADJOURNS ACTOR NORA FATEHI’S DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST JACQUELINE

DCW chief Swati Maliwal.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s daughter Anita Bose-Pfaff.

Prez Droupadi Murmu PM Narendra Modi HM Amit Shah

END USE & THROW FOR SOCIETY’S

BETTERMENT: RAJNATH SINGH

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday called upon the youth to eliminate the concept of ‘use and throw’, pointing out that the society and environment suffer the most due to this malpractice.

He said that no stone is left unturned by the government to equip the nation to deal with challenges that may arise due to the fastevolving global security scenario.

Saying that destruction of the environment means destruction of life, he appealed to the youth and the nation at large to reuse goods as far as possible and work for the conservation of nature. He also encouraged the youth to not let the ‘use and throw’ con-

cept enter their personal lives, urging them to respect the elders, family and friends. He stated that while knowledge and education are important, values hold equal relevance.

This year, the Raksha Mantri Padak was awarded to Under Of -

Mizoram forms group to collect info on border row

ficer Tinggeuchile Nriame of North Eastern Region Directorate and Cadet Avinash Jangir of Rajasthan Directorate. The Raksha Mantri Commendation Cards were awarded to Captain Pratap Keshari Harichandan of Odisha Directorate, Cadet

Under Officer Jenny Francina Victor Anand of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Andaman & Nicobar Directorate, Cadet Fiza Shafi of Jammu & Kashmir & Ladakh Directorate and Cadet Sehwag Rana of Uttarakhand Directorate.

DEFENCE MINISTER GIVES AWAY RAKSHA MANTRI PADAK & CARDS TO NCC

ECI reminds parties of law, poll code provisions

New Delhi (PTI): Ahead of assembly polls in three northeastern states and various byelections, the Election Commission has reminded its field machinery and political parties of a law and provisions of the model code which prohibit the use of places of worship as a forum for election propaganda “in any manner”.

New Delhi (FIB): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday visited the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day Camp at Delhi Cantt and gave away Raksha Mantri Padak & Commendation Cards to cadets for their exemplary performance and devotion to duty. This year, the Raksha Mantri Padak was awarded to Under Officer Tinggeuchile Nriame of North Eastern Region Directorate and Cadet Avinash Jangir of Rajasthan Directorate.

JOSHIMATH LAND SUBSIDENCE

In a letter to its chief electoral officers in all states and union territories on January 19, the poll panel reminded them of its 2012 instructions on the issue which had noted that the existing provisions of the model code of conduct prohibit the use of “places of worship as a forum for election propaganda in any manner”.

“Further, Sections 3, 5 and 6 of The Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988, prohibit the use of religious institutions or funds of religious institutions for the promotion or propa-

Demolition of unsafe buildings resumes in ‘sinking’ Joshimath

Dehradun (PTI): Demolition of ‘unsafe’ buildings in subsidence-hit Joshimath in Uttarakhand resumed on Saturday as the weather improved. Snowfall and rain in various parts of Uttarakhand on Friday had intensified the cold, adding to the woes of people living in temporary relief camps.

Aizawl (PTI): The Mizoram government has formed a study group headed by an expert from Mizoram University (MZU) to study and collect relevant information on its claimed border areas to be furnished to Assam government, an official statement said.

The group was the follow-up of a decision made during the border talks between Mizoram and Assam held at Guwahati in November.

The meeting of a boundary committee chaired by Mizoram minister Lalchamliana on Friday appointed Prof J Doun-

gel, a political science teacher from MZU as the study group’s convener, while joint secretary in the Home department Lalthiamsanga was appointed as member secretary.

The study group will study and collect the list of villages, their areas, geo-spatial extent, and ethnicity of the people and other relevant information to support its claim on the state’s boundary.

During the border talks held on November 17 last year, both states had decided that Mizoram will furnish the list of villages and their areas.

“Dismantling of unsafe hotels and houses in Joshimath has been temporarily halted due to bad weather,” Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana had said.

According to officials, 849 houses in Joshimath have developed cracks following land subsidence and 269 families have been moved to temporary relief centres.

On Saturday, drilling machines and bulldozers were back to dismantle hotels — Malari Inn and Mount View — and the PWD’s inspection bungalow as weather cleared in the morning.

“Providing relief to affected people in Joshimath is among the top priorities of CM Pushkar Singh Dhami at present,” a release said.

RESPONSIBILITY OFTEN COMES TO PEOPLE NOT IN POSITION TO HANDLE IT: RAWAT

TRIPURA:

ALL STEPS

Agartala (PTI):

PEACEFUL

CONGRESS

Officer (CEO), Gitte Kirankumar Dinakarrao. Elections to the 60-member Assembly will be held on February 16.

gation of any political ideas or political activity or for the benefit of any political party,” letter read. Contravention of the provisions of any of these sections is pun-

ishable by imprisonment up to five years and with a fine, it pointed out. A copy of the letter has been sent to leaders of all national and state parties.

CRUCIAL READ

Kolkata: The CISF on Saturday arrested a US citizen with a Chinese satellite phone while he was attempting to board a Delhi-bound flight at the Bagdogra airport near Siliguri in West Bengal. The arrested person has been identified Thomas Esroh Seitz (45). According to Bagdogra airport sources, three US citizens, including Seitz, arrived at the airport on Saturday afternoon to board a Delhi-bound flight. However, CISF jawans, while checking the luggage of Seitz, detected a Chinese satellite phone.

NGT PANEL CHALKS OUT YAMUNA ACTION PLAN

PETS AND CATTLE DISPLACED AS OWNERS NAVIGATE SUBSIDENCE FALLOUT

Joshimath (PTI): As land sinks in Joshimath, buildings are razed and hundreds of families forced out of their homes, there is another tragedy playing out in this Himalayan town many dogs, cattle and other domestic animals left untended as their owners navigate the life-changing crisis. Some animals have been left behind in houses, desolate and deserted as the cracks on their walls deepen, and some smaller pets have been crammed into shelter homes along with families forced into one room. The snow and the dipping temperatures have exacerbated the many woes. The displacement is at many levels, say animal rights activists who have rushed to the once bustling town of Joshimath to keep the voiceless safe.

PALEONTOLOGISTS’ DISCOVERY

Rare dinosaur nests found in Narmada valley

Bhopal (PTI): Paleontologists have reported a rare discovery of closely located dinosaur nests and 256 eggs of the herbivorous titanosaurs in the Narmada valley in Madhya Pradesh. Researchers from the Delhi University and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Mohanpur-Kolkata and Bhopal have also reported discovery of ovum-inovo or multi-shell eggs in Bagh and Kukshi areas in Dhar district of

Madhya Pradesh.

The findings were published in PLoS One research journal this week by Harsha Dhiman, Vishal Verma, and Guntupalli Prasad, among others. A study of the nests and eggs has revealed intimate details about the lives of the long-necked sauropods that walked the region more than 66 million years ago.

“The eggs were found from the estuary formed at a place where

the Tethys Sea merged with the Narmada when Seychelles had broken away from the

Indian plate. The separation of Seychelles had led to the incursion of the Tethys Sea 400

During the field investigations carried out between 2017 and 2020, we found extensive hatcheries of dinosaurs in Bagh and Kukshi areas in Dhar District, MP.

—Vishal Verma, A Researcher

kms inside the Narmada Valley,” Verma, who works in the Higher Secondary School, Ba-

kaner, Dhar, said.

He said the nests found in the Narmada valley were close to each other. Generally the nests are located at some distance from each other. Verma, considered the driving force behind a series of discoveries of dinosaur fossils in Narmada, said the reason behind multi-shell eggs could be the inability of the mother to find favourable conditions for laying eggs.

New Delhi: The high level panel formed by NGT for rejuvenation of Yamuna has chalked out a six month action plan till June, with monthly targets, and the same will be monitored on weekly basis. After taking stock of the prevalent situation of water quality in river Yamuna and the various drains in the city, along with the status of Sewage Treatment Plants & Common Effluent Treatment Plants.

SKELETON FOUND FROM BUILDING GUTTED IN FIRE

Hyderabad: Making a breakthrough, rescue workers on Saturday found a human skeleton in a six-storeyed commercial building which was gutted in a massive fire on Thursday. The rescue teams, which continued their efforts to collect clues of three missing persons, found the skeleton on the first floor of the building at Nallagutta on Ministers Road in Secunderabad.

Bhubaneswar:

at a cost of Rs 1,287 crore in next two years. This was decided at the state cabinet chaired by CM Naveen Patnaik

Jajpur

Saturday. The Cabinet approved three tenders worth Rs 1,287 crore for execution of these projects. Giving details about the cabinet decisions, Development Commissioner PK Jena said supply of safe drinking water to the people living in the rural areas is one of the priority areas of the state govt.

India beat NZ in 2nd ODI; take over series

Nine mega piped water supply projects will be implemented in Odisha’s Malkangiri, Nayagarh and

districts

on

ODISHA CABINET APPROVES DRINKING WATER PROJECTS WORTH `1,287 CR

US CITIZEN WITH CHINESE SATELLITE PHONE HELD AT BAGDOGRA AIRPORT

Says Govt is leaving no stone unturned to equip nation to meet new challenges

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visits NCC Republic Day Camp at Delhi Cantt on Saturday.

CADETS

Raipur (ANI): India secured a comprehensive eight-wicket win against New Zealand in the second ODI on Saturday to clinch their seventh consecutive One Day International (ODI) series at home.

Rohit Sharma’s fifty coupled with a fiery performance from the Indian bowlers made sure that the hosts cruised to victory, chasing a paltry 109 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, here.

The group was formed to study Mizoram-Assam border areas.

Workers demolish a house that got damaged due to land subsidence, at Joshimath, on Saturday.

Dehradun (PTI): BJP leader and former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has said that in a democracy, responsibility often comes to people who are not in a position to handle it. In a video that has gone viral on social media, Rawat purportedly says in reply to a question on the land-subsidence crisis in Joshimath that “the onus rests on everyone in a democracy, some of them are wise, some less wise and some still less wise”. “It is an irony and even beauty of a democracy that people in this system elect their representatives. So, sometimes the onus or the responsibility comes to people who cannot handle it. That leads to problems,” Rawat said.

EC ASSURES CPI(M),

OF

FOR

POLLING

The Election Commission on Saturday assured a CPI(M)-Congress delegation that all possible steps will be taken for conducting free, fair and peaceful polling in Tripura. The assurance was given to a nine-member team of the CPI(M) and the Congress when the delegation met the state Chief Electoral

BRIEFS

Wish list of a common Indian Union Budget 2023-24

New Delhi : Yes Bank on Saturday posted a drop of 80 per cent in its net profit to Rs52 crore for the quarter ended December, against Rs266.43 crore in the corresponding quarter the previous year. The lender said it was largely impacted due to ageingrelated provisions. The bank said its operating profits grew 17 per cent year-on-year to Rs914 crore in Q3FY23 and the Mumbai-headquartered lender said it is the highest in the past seven quarters. The cost-to-income ratio improved to 70.7 per cent from 72.8 per cent in the third quarter (October-December), according to the bank statement released on Saturday. The bank said advances grew 10 per cent y-o-y, deposits’ growth was 16 per cent y-o-y and its balance sheet was up 13 per cent y-o-y.

INAUGURATES

MY BUDGET 2023-24

The Union Budget for the FY 2023-24 is all set to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the 1st of Feb. All eyes are on this space as this will be the last budget before the 2024 general elections. There is a lot of debate about whether this budget will have a flavour of populism to woo the Indian voters for one last time before the general Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

Let’s look at some key figures to keep our eyes on.

z The fiscal deficit figure

z The CAPEX planned and their sectoral allotments

z Money raised from divestment and privatization

z Tax reforms and revenue collections

z Subsidies and welfare schemes

z Healthcare, education, sustainability, and urban reform outlays

WHAT ABOUT THE COMMON INDIANS?

Chennai: The American India Foundation (AIF) in the august presence of Thiru Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Minister for School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu, inaugurated India’s first STEM Innovation and Learning Center (SILC) under the scheme of Vanavil Mandram at the Government Higher Secondary School, MMDA Colony, Chennai.

AIF’s award-winning flagship education ProgramDigital Equalizer has designed the Center to be a one-stop solution for STEM among students and teachers. Consisting of Innovation Corner for students, the Center will introduce students to a transdisciplinary learning approach through robotics, AI, Space technology, and Incubation workstation. —ANI

MIN

Clearly, budget discussions are full of hopes and big promises. It’s a complex document of even bigger numbers on how the government is likely to function for the forthcoming year. But when it comes to a common man, the demands are often very simple and basic.

MY BUDGET 2023

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently said, “I belong to a middle class, understand their pressures”. This has raised hopes among Indians that the Budget FY2024 might reward the middle class.

The past year has proven to be highly challenging for the middle class and expect the government to do something big to help ease some of their tensions. With purchasing power drying out

over COVID, doubled with soaring inflation and unemployment rates, the common man has been hit the hardest. Let’s look at some basic demands of a common Indian man from this year’s budget.

MORE MONEY IN MY WALLET

Any budget talk is incomplete without a demand for tax benefits. The salaried class seems to have hardly benefited from the New Taxation Regime of 2020, and they have big expectations from the budget. There are expectations that the highest tax rate of 30% to be reduced to 25% and the threshold limit for the highest tax rate increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

There is also an expected revision in the deductions offered under section 80C to somewhere between Rs22.5 lakhs, with medical insurance provisions being increased to cover the effect of inflation.

FOR CASH-STRAPPED PAKISTAN

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is witnessing an unprecedented investment boom in the industrial sector with over one lakh new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) opening units in the current fiscal, generating thousands of jobs in the southern state, Industries Minister P Rajeev said. Projecting Kerala as an investmentfriendly destination, the minister claimed that as part of the state government’s ‘Year of Enterprises’ initiative, more than 1.24 lakh new MSMEs were set up in Kerala so far in the current financial year, attracting an investment worth over Rs8,000 crore. “It is much higher than the target set by the Industries Department as part of its ‘Year of Enterprises’ initiative”, Rajeev told. PTI

However, with inflation concerns taking up much of FY 2023, the possibility of any change in income tax slabs looks unlikely.

BETTER HOUSES

Soaring inflation and rising interest rates have harmed the purchasing power of homebuyers. Experts in the real estate sector feel that the tax deduction limit on the interest

paid on home loans should be increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Another demand is for a separate section on principal repayment of housing loans other than Section 80 C to be introduced for Rs 4 lakh.

LOWER FUEL AND FOOD PRICES

Inflation was a trouble all common man faced last year. In 2022, food inflation,

‘Foreign shipping lines may stop services’

Islamabad (PTI): Shipping agents have warned the cash-strapped Pakistan government that all exports could come to a halt as foreign shipping lines are considering stopping their services for the country after banks stopped remitting freight charges to them due to a lack of dollar availability, according to a media report on Saturday.

Apart from bordering countries, almost all the international logistics from Pakistan are catered by sea and any disruption could create serious issues for the country’s international trade, Pakistan Ship’s Agents Association (PSAA) chairman Abdul Rauf warned Finance Minister Ishaq Dar through a letter.

“If international trade is

stopped, the economic situation will worsen,” the association warned, adding that the foreign shipping lines are already considering winding up their services in Pakistan due to reduced cargo volumes.

The PSAA chairman also wrote letters to State Bank

of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmed, Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Namar, and Maritime Affairs Minister Faisal Sabzwari, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Rauf requested ministries and departments concerned to intervene to en-

sure continuity in Pakistan’s seaborne trade by allowing outward remittance of surplus freight amounts to respective foreign shipping lines forthwith. “Due to discontinuation of outward remittance of surplus freight amounts to respective foreign shipping lines, was hampering Pakistan’s seaborne trade which is heavily dependent on foreign shipping lines,” letter added. However, crisis relates to export cargoes as all outward trade from Pakistan is container-based, as there are no liquid or grain exports from the country.

The state-owned Pakistan National Shipping Company (PNSC) only handles imports of crude oil and other petroleum fuel through its 12 vessels.

as measured by the CPI, averaged 6.8%, more than double the 3.1% it averaged in 2021. Inflation for basic products like milk products has averaged more than 8% since the middle of 2021. Domestic diesel prices have gone down by only 3% since June 2022, despite the price of India’s crude basket falling by a third during this time.

A relief to help cut down day-to-day living expenses for the common man is thus on the wishlist of most Indians.

POPULIST VS. PRUDENCE

All in all, the Indian consumer has had it tough these last few years. Given that the demand revival is crucial to boost the private investment cycle, measures to reduce the price burden or enhance disposable incomes can be beneficial for the individual and may have a multiplier effect on the economy.

It all looks so easy no?

But it ain’t so. Too many dole-outs and populist measures could fuel inflation again and that’s something which the government will dare not do this year. Plus government has been working on the path of fiscal prudence and has committed to a mediumterm target of 4.5% of GDP by FY 2026. Considering that the deficit was budgeted at 6.4% for FY 2023, there is an expectation of a staggered reduction of the deficit by around 0.50.75% of GDP in the next three years.

With covid and lockdowns concerns well behind us, and tax collections handsomely beating budget estimates, Budget FY24 is expected to make marked progress in improving its finances.

So the government will be walking on a very tightrope of populist vs. prudence and we shall soon find out whether it will maintain a balance or bend.

Norms eased for few sectors under EPCG

New Delhi (ANI): The government has announced a one-time relaxation from maintaining average export obligation and an option to extend export obligation period for certain sectors under the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme.

The sectors that are eligible for this relief are hotel, healthcare and educational. For the years 2020-21 and 2021-22, these sectors will not be required to maintain average export obligation for EPCG authorisations issued to them. These sectors will also have option to extend export obligation period for a longer duration, without having to pay any additional fees.

For EPCG authorisations issued for hotel, healthcare

and educational sectors, export obligation period would be extended from date of expiry for duration equivalent to number of days export obligation period falls between February 1, 2020, and March 31, 2022. This extension will be granted without payment of composition fees.

However, for EPCG authorisations issued for sectors other than hotel, healthcare and educational, the export obligation period may be extended.

AIF

INDIA’S FIRST STEM INNOVATION CENTER

KERALA WITNESSING INVESTMENT BOOM IN IND SECTOR:

Mirch Masala

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

The way has been paved for CPI (M)

Although many seats of Rajya Sabha are getting vacant in April and May and among these, 6 RS seats are getting vacant from Bihar. Out of these, 2 seats will come in the share of RJD, 2 in BJP, and 1 in JDU. RJD, JDU and Congress together want to crown Yechury on the remaining sixth seat.

These three parties believe that ‘Yechury can shine like a comet in the sky, much like the charisma that CPI(M) leader Harkishan Singh Surjit had once done.’ These three parties want Yechury to be the new leader of

the united opposition. To play a key role in setting the stage, JDU wants Yechury to ‘write a new script for Nitish Kumar’s Delhi politics.’ However, Yechury can also make it to the Rajya Sabha from Kerala, which has a Marxist government led by Penarayi Vijayan. But former CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat is said to be not ready for this. Anyway, it is an accepted tradition of CPI(M) that ‘no leader of the party can stay in Rajya Sabha for more than two terms’. Yechury has completed two terms in Rajya Sabha, i.e. if he reaches the Upper House once again this time, it will be a violation of the accepted tradition of the party.

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge is walking along with Rahul Gandhi in his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ everywhere. Whatever Rahul says to him during the journey, his neck just nods in ‘yes’. These days

Priyanka Gandhi is on a visit to Kharge’s home state Karnataka, but Kharge was seen with her during Rahul’s Yatra in Punjab.

Rahul Gandhi is adamant about the Congress Working Committee elections, so now there is an opinion in the party that ‘Rahul will contest the elections in the Working Committee,’ while Priyanka Gandhi will be nominated by Party President Mallikarjun Kharge for this.

PM’S PRESENCE OF MIND

Recently, a meeting of BJP’s National Executive was convened in Delhi. PM Narendra Modi was seated on the stage and all the senior leaders of the party were sitting in the front row. Then Karnataka BJP’s senior leader BS Yeddiyurappa entered the hall and realised that all the chairs were full, so where would he sit? Only then the PM saved him from this crisis and immediately called, “Piyush...” and Piyush Goyal left his front row chair for Yeddiyurappa and went to sit at the back.

The difficulties of SP Supremo Akhilesh Yadav are going to increase. Earlier, petitioner Vishwanath Chaturvedi had filed an application in CBI Court, stating that no ‘closure report’ has been filed by CBI in Mulayam family’s disproportionate assets case. In 2009, a section of media claimed that CBI had closed probe by filing its ‘closure report’ regarding the FIR filed against the family. Sources reveal that some TV personalities have also been questioned as to ‘from where did they get this fake report.’ So, journos told that ‘someone had sent them this report in a sealed envelope.’ Now, they may be asked about their source via inquiry.

Skill is interpreting Constitution while keeping its soul intact: CJI

First India Bureau

Mumbai: A judge’s expertise lies in interpreting the text of the Constitution with the changing times while keeping its soul intact, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said while speaking at the Nani A Palkhivala Memorial Lecture here on Saturday.

“The identity of the Indian Constitution has evolved through the interaction of Indian citizens with the Constitution, and has been accompanied by judicial interpretation. The craftsmanship of a judge lies in interpreting the text of the Constitution with the changing times while keeping its soul intact,” he said.

“The basic structure of our Constitution, like

the north star, guides and gives certain direction to the interpreters and implementers of the Constitution when the path ahead is convoluted. The basic structure or the philosophy of our Constitution is

premised on the supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, separation of powers, judicial review, secularism, federalism, freedom and the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation,”

Clean chit for BMC in BJP leader Somaiya’s Remdesivir complaint

First India Bureau

New Delhi: The Maharashtra Lokayukta on Saturday exculpated the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) of any “irregularity” or “non-transparency” in a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya.

Earlier Somaiya alleged corruption in procuring Remdisivir injections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the occasion of BJP’s National Executive, PM Narendra Modi conducted his mega road show in Delhi. In this roadshow, a huge crowd had gathered and there was a scuffle that dozens of people’s pockets were cut, many mobiles were stolen, and an expensive lens of a photojournalist was stolen, the cost of which is said to be more than Rs two lakh. More than 18 FIRs have been registered with the police. This raised questions about the promptness of the Delhi Police. But what can anyone do in such a crowd?

The BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain has been accused of rape by a woman and the matter is going on in the Supreme Court. A long army of big lawyers is ready from Hussain’s side. When Shahnawaz’s lawyers said in the court that ‘this case is false’, the court said- ‘Let the investigation happen, the truth will come out.’ Then Sandeep Singh, the Sports Minister of Haryana’s BJP government, was accused of sexual harass-

Court has also asked CBI to find out ‘Those involved in theconspiracy to create fake documents & pass them on to media.’ CBI has been given time till March 24 & has to file a supplementary report. That means, the ‘genie’ of Mulayam family’s disproportionate assets case has come ‘out of the bottle,’ this is what is weighing on Akhilesh’s face.

ment by a female coach and Singh had to resign from his post. Now India’s wellknown women wrestlers have opened a front against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the ‘Bahubali’ of Kaiserganj. Singh is also the Chairman of the Indian Wrestling Federation and internationally renowned wrestlers are sitting on a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, accusing him of sexual harassment. This is a time of crisis for the BJP.

Gujarat BJP State President CR Patil is going to get something big amidst the rumblings of a reshuffle in the BJP organisation and the Union Cabinet. The PM, elated with the results of the Gujarat elections, patted Patil’s back, first in the Parliament House, then at the luncheon for MPs at the Gymkhana Club and then at the National Executive meeting and heaped praises upon him. So, now Patil can be given the charge of UP by making him the General Secretary in the organisation, or, he can be given the dual responsibility of UP in charge by making him a minister at the Centre. Dinesh Sharma, who has been on exile for a long time, can be sent back to Gujarat.

Lokayukta Justice VM Kanade passed the order.

The order stated, “It has not been established and proved by the complainant that there was any corruption in the purchase of injection Remdesivir by the respondents. It is also not proved that there was irregularity and non-transparency in the purchase of this injection by them.”

The order comes af-

ter the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently questioned BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal regarding allegations of malpractices in awarding COVID-19 care centre contracts.

The order said, “It is abundantly clear from the documents produced by the respondents, including the letter issued by the Central government, that there was a sharp variance in the purchase price of injection Remdesivir in a couple of weeks after March 2021.”

Taking to his Twitter handle, Somaiya tweet-

ed, “Lokayukta Observations on My Petition, Remdesivir, Black marketing during COVID. During this period, rumours were afloat that lifesaving drugs were sold on the black market. Effective machinery should have been prepared to tackle black marketing through Police and BMC officials.”

“Maharashtra Government ought to have brought an ordinance directing manufacturers to make the supply of lifesaving drugs available at a reasonable rate,” added the BJP leader.

he added.

The emerging world economy has erased national boundaries, and companies no longer stop at the border, the CJI said.

“In recent decades, India's legal landscape

has also undergone a significant change in favour of removing strangulating regulations, augmenting consumer welfare and supporting commercial transactions. Legislation, such as the Competition law and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, have been enacted to promote fair market competition. Similarly, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has sought to streamline indirect taxation on the supply of goods and services in India,” he said, adding, “If you look at the Constitution, it does not favour unbounded economic liberalism. Rather, our Constitution seeks to find the right balance.”

CJI Chandrachud said the Constitution allows the state to change and evolve its legal and economic policies to meet societal demands, adding that the doctrine of basic structure has shown that it might be beneficial for a judge to look at how other jurisdictions have dealt with similar problems for them.

Man held for forging NSG ID card to enter PM Modi’s rally venue

First India Bureau

Mumbai: A 35-yearold man, who allegedly tried to enter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally on Thursday using a forged identity card in the name of National Security Guard (NSG), has been arrested by the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).

The accused, Rameshwar Mishra, has worked with the NSG in the past, said an an official. He was intercepted by a team of personnel manning an entry point at the MMRDA grounds.

“Mishra was clad in a suit and had an ID card around his neck, which he showed us when he tried to enter. We examined it as per protocol and saw that it was valid from 2022

Dates written after scratching out content on identity card gave him away

to 2025. However, these dates looked like they had been added after scratching out some content that had been on the card earlier.

Further, the ribbon attached to the card said, ‘Delhi Police Security (PM)’, which raised our suspicions,” said an officer.

Mishra has been remanded in custody till January 24.

Dy CM’s wife recorded reel in official residence: NCP

Mumbai (PTI): The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday claimed Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has shot a reel of her new video at her residence, a government bungalow. It also sought to know if she had taken permission from authorities concerned for recording the clip inside official residential premises.

The bungalow, Sagar, situated in Malabar Hill in south Mumbai, is the

official residence of Deputy CM Fadnavis. NCP Spokesperson Hema Pimpale alleged

Amruta Fadnavis shot the reel of her new video on Instagram in the bungalow allotted to

Asks whether she was given permission by PWD or culture ministry for it

her husband.

“The video shooting took place in a government residential bungalow. Was permission taken from the state Public Work Department (PWD) or the culture ministry for it,” she asked.

“If permission was

not taken, then Devendra Fadnavis should take moral responsibility (for alleged lapse) and resign,” said Pimpale.

Amruta Fadnavis was not available for comment on the issue.

The NCP leader said Amruta Fadnavis, who has been given Y-grade security--which comes with an escort vehicle and five police personnel--also has a traffic clearance vehicle which is allotted only to persons holding constitutional posts.

Also observed that India’s legal landscape has undergone a significant change in the recent decades

CJI DY Chandrachud with Justice BR Gavai of the Supreme Court at a felicitation ceremony organized by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, in Mumbai on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

When individuals have the opportunity to exercise their liberties and to be fairly rewarded for their efforts, then economic justice becomes one of the many inter-related dimensions of life. Ultimately, we share common faiths and destinies to the point that development of each individual fosters social justice in the entire world..

—DY Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India

Maharashtra Lokayukta cites lack of evidence over alleged irregularities in purchase of injections

Kirit Somaiya —FILE PHOTO

Amruta Fadnavis —FILE PHOTO

The author is a journalist and political commentator and views expressed are his personal

General Secretary Sitaram Yechury to enter the Rajya Sabha from Bihar.

PICKPOCKETS HAVE A FIELD DAY DURING PM MODI’S ROADSHOW IN NEW DELHI

RAHUL GANDHI TO CONTEST CWC POLLS?

CAN SITARAM HEAD FOR A THIRD TERM IN THE UPPER HOUSE?

The

International

www.firstindia.co.in

IDEAS & STORIES

translator

‘purifying’ it.

a session on ‘A Nation To Protect’, talked vigorously about India, how the covid took a toll, and how we mastered it all and learnt some important lessons.

“But did we make a mistake be tween first wake and delta wave? Did we let our guard down soon?,” asked Naresh Tehran as the session started. An expert panel consisting of renowned journalists Praveen Swami, Manoj Joshi, tha Gautam were in conversation with author C Raja Mohan, to discuss In Hard Times, an important collec tion of essays edited by them, highlighting the significant challenges India faces today.

The Jaipur Music Stage is a 3-day pro gramme that runs paral lel to the lit fest will be

The third day of the multi-faceted and exuberant Jaipur Literature Festival began with a soulful performance by the Indian classical ensemble, The Anirudh Varma Collective. The Quintet performed Vansanthi raga, which was led by pianist, composer, and producer, Anirudh Varma.

festival on Saturday featured Booker Prize winning Srilankan author Shehan Karunatilaka in conversation with writer Nandini Nair.

Booker Prize winner Geetanjali Shree, wellknown Rajasthani and Hindi writer Nand Bhardwaj, Sahitya Akademi Award recipient and novelist Anamika, Managing Director and CEO of Bank of Baroda Sanjiv Chadha and author-

and columnist Pushpesh Pant focused on the diversity of Hindi and the difficulty of

focused on showcasing world music with a diverse mix of genres and artists. Living up to

its motto of variety & discovery, the music stage transcends borders, genres and geographies through electrifying performances that range from world music, ghazals and jazz to rock and the blues.

MITALI DUSAD mitalidusad01@gmail.com

—PHOTOS BY SUNIL SHARMA

As the Pink City, Jaipur geared up for Day 3 of the 16th edition of world’s grandest literary festival, the Jaipur Literature Festival, the directors and founders are keen on keeping up with its tradition of uncovering a gamut of ‘stories’ from not just in India but across the world. City First highlights some mind blowing glimpses!

CAUGHT IN A CANDID: Gourangi, Sifty Sandhu, Ayesha N Gupta, Chhavi, Astha and Vidhi

Yashasvi, Roshni and Aarti

JLF

ALERT: Literature enthusiast Runjhun captured reading City First’s

EMPHASISING WOMEN IN LITERATURE

THE MYSTERY OF FICTION!

The 16th Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), which will take place from January 19 to January 23 at the Hotel Clarks Amer in Jaipur, includes a variety of women writers and their outstanding

works. Authors Shaili Chopra, Minnie Vaid, and former IFS officer and Ambassador Lakshmi Puri spoke in a session titled “Women and Work” alongside Susan Ferguson, the UN Women Country Representative.

This panel of female experts from various backgrounds talked about the reasons for and effects of the obstacles that have stood in the way of working women’s careers in the past, present, and future. Katy Hessel, an art historian and cura-

tor, is developing a remedy to end the lengthy dominance of males in the art world.

In combination with her blog, The Great Women Artists, The Story of Art Without Men revives the heritage of women artists from the 1500s to the 21st century, encompassing key moments in art history such as dadaism, civil rights, and antiracism. Hassel explored her efforts to end patriarchy in the art world in dialogue with art historian Xavier Bray.

Contemporary authors of Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia

Prof. Khalid Javed with Baran Farooqi reviewed the award-winning book ‘THE PARADISE OF FOOD’ written by Prof. Khalid on the magnificent third day of the JLF on Saturday.

Khalid Javed was in a conversation with Pragya Tiwari, a journalist who

has written extensively on politics, identity, policy, and culture. In conversation with Pragya Tiwari, Jawed and Farooqi dive into this saga of food, lust, loss, and vulnerabilities.

He described his love and hate relationship with food. He also forcefully drew our attention to what goes unnoticed, about which he said “No other rooms of the home contain as deadly doublefaced beings as those found in the kitchen, and no other room of the house do women look so out of their minds, broken and jealous, so full of furious energy and small-mindedness as they do in the kitchen. Two square meals every day and the hunger

of human intestines mask a strange sensual energy. This energy only goes in the direc tion of blood and dark ness. The result is ob scene and deceptive cov etousness.

He further added, “Rich people have royal food in their Neamat Kha na (Paradise of food) and in poor’s Neamat Khana, there is no sight of any roy alty, still even after not being blessed enough to have a paradise of food they still call it their Neamat khana. So, the value they are giving to the food is equal to both whether he is a beggar or a king.”

On the third day of the Jaipur Literature Festival, a very deep conversation took place between literature critics and authors, Amit Choudhary, Deepti Kapoor, Ruth Ozeki, and

Shehan Karunatilaka. When asked about why they all read fiction, everyone has varied answers.

Shehan said, “You always love inside your own head. To get out of your own head, you need to read fiction. And that’s why I read fiction.” On the other hand, Amit Choudhary had to say that he never read fiction, and that he was always inclined towards poetry.

“My tutor at UCLA questioned me, why don’t you read fiction. I

was drawn to the idea of narrative, a transformative account of poetry. But my tutor said if I wanted to Ace my course, I must read fiction, and that’s how it began.” Ruth said, “I was an only child and had no one to talk to. So I engaged in books to have conversations with characters. It was a way of living inside their skins for a while.” Talking of the writing process, Deepti said,” The process of writing a novel for me is a complete cut off from the world.

Gulzar is one of India’s most respected scriptwriters, directors, and leading poets, and has been one of the most popular lyricists in mainstream Hindi cinema for over five decades. In an amazing book

This panel of speakers discussed the making of the book and the limitations of using English as the sole language for writing it. The decision to write the book in Hindi and then translate it to English was also informed by the different readerships that both languages attract. Speaking about his interactions with Lata Mangeshkar, Gulzar Sahab said, “If there are two creative minds, they can’t be parallel lines, they have to cross each other”.

thor and screenwriter Anu Singh Choudhary which focused on Mishra’s new book, Lata Mangeshkar: A Life in Music.

MRIDULA SHARMA

Jaipur Literature Festival is the world’s largest gathering of literary writers

GREETINGS & CELEBRATIONS!

SUMEDH AND MALLIKA BID

ADIEU TO RADHA KRISHNA!

Deepika’s action sequence in Pathaan

The successful four-year run of Swastik Productions’ longest-running show on Star Bharat, “RadhaKrishn,” comes to an end. Sumedh Mudgalkar and Mallika Singh played Lord Krishna and Radha, respectively, in the legendary television series.

The mythical series received a lot of love and admiration since it conveyed important messages that touched viewers’ emotions and drew them closer to

God. The audience is going through a very emotional time as the show is concluding, yet every beginning also has an ending. The entire cast revealed their feelings at the show’s conclusion because it was so meaningful to them and the audience.

Recently in an exclusive conversation with our editor Ashish Tiwari, the cast opened up on the wrap of the show about which Sumedh Mudgalkar said, “Playing the role of Lord Krishna has been an honour because it has been played

Kartik Aaryan delivers trending dialogues

Touted to be one of the biggest film of 2023, Kartik Aaryan’s Shehzada’s anticipation is only increasing as the fans eagerly await to witness this mass entertainer on the big screen. The film not only ticks the checklist of a perfect entertainer with doses of action, comedy, romance, drama and music but the power-packed dialogues. Kartik Aaryan’s commendable dialogue delivery can be seen in the trailer itself and it’s safe to say that he has charmed the audience with some of the most impressive lines. Masses have loved the glimpses they have seen in the trailer, making it a trend on social media. Earlier too, Kartik delivered some memorable lines in his films which have gone down the history for cine lovers. Here are some of the dialogues which have gone super popular among the masses and netizens. “Yeh gaadi kaunsi hai?… RR… Lagta hai Rajamouli ki gaadi hai.”

by many well-known actors. At first, it seemed like an enormous challenge, but ultimately I recognised that I can do justice to it. The show has been in production for four years, and I’ve been involved with it for close to seven. Everything, from the set to the surroundings, is changing right now, including perceptions. You start to appreciate these things more when you suddenly understand that you won’t be able to see them again. You seem to become emotional out of nowhere; I genuinely can’t picture my life without the show.”

On the wrap of the show Mallika Singh said, “It was a beautiful experience to portray the character of Radha and I was pleased when I was offered the role in the tele-

vision series RadhaKrishn,”

At first, I struggled to keep up, but as we increasingly had to multitask while getting into character, I understood that this was my thing, one where I had learned a lot and had adapted to all the trials. After four years of filming and almost seven years of being involved with the programme, the lengthy trip has come to a close, and I am both sad and relieved that I have had so many wonderful memories and experiences along the way. Despite the difficulty, We will miss the set and staff members of the show because everyone on the team gave their all to make this show a success, even though it is difficult to accept that the performance has come to an end.

Deepika Padukone plays a spy in Pathaan and has been paired opposite Shah Rukh Khan, who also plays a spy with a license to kill, in the adrenalinepumping action entertainer. While Deepika looks drop-dead gorgeous in the songs of the film which have become instant chartbusters, she also looks incredibly sassy as a gun-toting spy in Pathaan. Director Siddharth Anand reveals that DP has pulled off a jaw-dropping solo action sequence in the film in which she has manoeuvred the notorious Gattling gun! Siddharth says, “There is nothing more cool or sexy than a woman wielding a powerful weapon on screen. As a film buff, I have always loved women doing sick action sequences and so, when we got Deepika Padukone in Pathaan,

we wanted to present her in her most badass self - a gorgeous, guntoting, femme fatale spy that people have never seen before!” He adds, “In one of the action sequences of Pathaan, Deepika wields the Gattling gun and you have to see the sequence to believe how legit she is as a bonafide action superstar! She steals the show in this scene and I’m sure people will cheer the loudest for her every time she does the action in Pathaan.” Pathaan is part of Aditya’s ambitious spy universe and

PRIYANKA TROLLED YET AGAIN!

It appeared as though Priyanka and her daughter Maltie Marie were in a dreamlike photo shoot. Priyanka posted pictures from her first-ever photo shoot with her daughter Maltie on her Instagram page because she was so thrilled about it. However, the desi girl is getting flak for hiding her daughter’s face, and online commenters are daring to brand it silly. Priyanka receives a lot of love from her fans and followers because she frequently posts photos of herself and her daughter Maltie. However, this photoshoot didn’t sit well with them because they questioned why she even chose to do a photoshoot with her daughter if she didn’t want to reveal her face. One user commented, “This photo is so awkward. I get not showing her face but stand up and hold her instead.” Another user said,” I don’t know why this picture creeps me out.”

mil and Telugu. The hype around Pathaan is unprecedented. All the assets of the film that YRF has released so far have turned out to be super-hits right from the teaser, the two songs - Besharam Rang & Jhoome Jo Pathaan - and the recently dropped trailer that has caused an internet meltdown!

Rhea remembers Sushant on his birth anniversary

Rhea Chakraborty has shared a birthday post remembering late actor and former boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput. Sushant would have turned 37 on January 21. The actor was found dead at his Bandra home in Mumbai on June 14, 2020. Rhea was accused of abetment of suicide by Sushant’s family and was lodged in jail for 28 days before getting bail. Her friends claimed she was wrongly framed in the case.

Talking about her post, Rhea shared a picture wherein the two can be seen hiding behind two cups of coffee while sporting mischievous expressions. She then shared another picture wherein she and Sushant can be seen posing for a selfie. Rhea can be seen wearing a blue tee while the late

black tee.

in

Ameer bacchon ka yahi problem hai...lekin teri galti nahi hain...tune khilaune maange tuje khilaune ki dukaan mili...

tune chutte maange tujhe credit card mila..tune doodh maanga tujhe kheer mili woh bhi almond milk wali... bhai isse kehte hain nepotism.” Directed by Rohit Dhawan, Shehzada stars Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon , Manisha Koirala, Paresh Rawal, Ronit Roy, Sachin Khedekar. The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Allu Arvind, Aman Gill and Kartik Aaryan.

actor can be seen

a

Rhea captioned the same giving the infinity emoji and adding a plus one to it.

Jagdeesh Chandra, during his visit to the Bharat24-Vision of New India, NOIDA channel office interacted with the entire team and also congratulated and awarded Anchors for excellent views on their videos on Social Media platforms - Shikha Thakur (1.03 Million +), Surbhi (1.1 Millions +) and Palak Prakash (1 million +).

Jagdeesh Chandra awards Surbhi, also seen are Syed Umar, Shashikesh Ranjan, Amit Ojha, Aditi Nagar, Rajkumar Pathak and Prasoon Sukla

Jagdeesh Chandra with Arif Khan, Neeraj Singh, Saurabh Upadhyay, Amit Mittal, Sandeep Mishra, Amit Ojha, Syed Umar, Prasoon Shukla, Rajkumar Pathak, Shazia Nisar, Shikha Thakur, Amit Baliyan and Pratham Soni

Jagdeesh Chandra awards Palak, also seen are Syed Umar, Shashikesh Ranjan, Amit Ojha, Aditi Nagar, Rajkumar Pathak and Prasoon Sukla

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

has the biggest superstars of the country Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in it. YRF’s adrenalinepumping film, Pathaan, is set to release on Jan 25, 2023, in Hindi, Ta-

Priyanka Chopra

Kartik Aaryan from a still of the movie

Rhea Chakraborty and late Sushant Singh Rajput

Deepika Padukone while performing action scene

Sumedh Mudgalkar and Mallika Singh