First India-Mumbai Edition-26th February 2023

NITISH JOINED HANDS WITH CONG, RJD FOR PM AMBITIONS: SHAH

OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR

Patna: Union HM Amit Shah on Saturday lashed out at Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, by whom BJP was dumped last year. Shah said JD(U) leader joined hands with former adversaries Congress and RJD and “betrayed” BJP because of his “Prime Ministerial ambitions”. P5

BHAGWANT MANN SPEAKS ON AMRITSAR RAMPAGE

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said those who took the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib to a police station as a shield cannot be called the ‘waris’ (heir) of Punjab. P5

❍ DAY 2: 85TH PLENARY SESSION OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

Amid speculations over Sonia’s retirement...

KHARGE EMERGES AS ‘NEW CONGRESS BOSS’

Happy my innings could conclude with the Bharat Jodo

Yatra: Sonia Gandhi Congress calls for national election fund, says electoral bonds ‘fully corrupt’ Congress will provide 50% reservation to SCs, STs, OBCs, women in CWC

Raipur: On the first day of the session, the Congress Steering Committee decided not to hold elections to the party’s top council, the Working Committee, and authorised the new party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to nominate its members. The decision was taken

at a meeting of the party’s Steering Committee which was not attended by the members of Gandhi family.

Sparking speculations about her retirement from politics, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said she was happy that her innings

could conclude with the Bharat Jodo Yatra. She was addressing 15,000 delegates on 2nd day of party’s three-day 85th plenary session in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur. She also launched an all-out attack on the ruling BJP, accusing it of “fuelling

SONIA GANDHI SPEAKS DURING SESSION

l The victory of the party will be the victory of the country and we will be successful under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge.

l BJY has been successful under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. It has renewed the rich legacy of dialogue between our party and the people through a mass contact programme.

l Congress has made up its mind that it will fight to save the country.

READ Crucial

BHAGWAT IN D’PUR: REGULARISE WORK OF VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

We need to work with discipline. We have to convey our message to the public.

l Congress is not just a political party but it reflects the voices of people of all religions, castes and genders. We will fulfil the dreams of all of them.

l This is a particularly challenging time for the Congress and the country. PM Narendra Modi and the BJP have captured every institution.

No consensus in G20 meet on Ukraine war

Dungarpur: On Saturday, RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat attended inauguration of All India

Gram Vikas and Prabhat Gram Sammelan organised by RSS at Bhemai village and said that by regularizing work of village devp, good results will be obtained.

3 JAWANS KILLED IN ENCOUNTER WITH NAXALS IN SUKMA

Sukma: 3 DRG security personnel, including an ASI, were killed in action in an encounter with Naxals on Saturday in Chhattisgarh’s insurgencyhit Sukma district. CM Bhupesh Baghel expressed grief over the martyrdom of the three soldiers.

IN A FIRST, INDIA’S LCA TEJAS TO FLY OVER FOREIGN SKIES OF UAE

New Delhi: The India’s indigenously developed

Tejas aircraft will make its debut at a foreign military wargame during Exercise Desert Flag, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between February 27 and March 17, officials said.

Bengaluru (FIB): Finance chiefs from the world’s 20 largest economies “strongly condemned” Moscow for waging war in Ukraine, with only China and Russia itself declining to sign a joint statement on Saturday. 2-day G20 Finance Ministers, Central bank Guvs meeting held in Bengaluru ended on Saturday without a joint communique after differences over how

the fire of hatred” and “viciously targeting minorities, women, Dalits and tribals”.

Arguing that funding through electoral bonds was “fatally flawed” and “fully corrupt”, Cong called for a contributory national election fund at AICC plenary.

Sonia was talking in context of tenure as Cong Prez, not retiring from politics: Congress Sonia said she was glad that her innings could conclude with the BJY, with Congress clarifying that she was talking in the context of her tenure as the party president and was not talking about retiring from politics.

Our victories in 2004 and 2009 under the able leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh gave me personal satisfaction, but what makes me happy is that my innings ended with the Yatra, a turning point for the Congress. It has proved that the people of India overwhelmingly want harmony, tolerance and equality.

—Sonia Gandhi, Senior Congress leader

SC CANCELS ANTICIPATORY BAIL OF FORMER MP CHIEF SECY

Bhopal: The Supreme Court has cancelled anticipatory bail granted by the Telangana High Court to former Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh M Gopal Reddy while hearing on appeal made by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged money laundering case.

MODI-SCHOLZ HOLD ‘FRUITFUL’ TALKS

India ready to contribute to end Ukraine war: Modi

after talks with Scholz

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India and Germany have strong ties based on shared democratic values and a deep understanding of each other’s interests. Speaking at a joint press meet along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, PM Modi noted that both nations have a long history of cultural and economic exchange. India has been advocating for resolution of Ukraine-Russia “dispute” through diplomacy and dialogue ever since the start of conflict last year, PM Modi said country was ready to contribute to any peace process.

Germany’s Scholz says want to deepen relations with India, meets PM Modi

GERMANY’S SCHOLZ TO GET ‘PERSONALLY INVOLVED’ IN INDIA TRADE AGREEMENT

German chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is on a twoday visit to India said that India has undertaken an enormous leap which is very good for the relations between 2 countries. Scholz said that he and Modi were committed to making a free trade deal between India and the European Union finally happen. Scholz described Russian “aggression” against Ukraine as a “major catastrophe” that has negatively impacted globe and said it is important to state “very clearly where we stand on this subject”, including at UN. We expressed our shared concern about the ongoing developments in Ukraine. We agree that these problems can only be solved through joint efforts. We are stressing on this even during India’s presidency of the G20.

—Narendra Modi, PM

Nirmala Sitharaman addresses media on FMCBG meet under chairmanship of G20India, in Bengaluru on Saturday.

to describe Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could not be bridged. P6

FOR AAP Delhi HC stays mayor’s notice for re-election

SETBACK

BJP does not distribute money to win: Fadnavis

New Delhi: Delhi HC on Saturday stayed reelection of 6 members of Standing Committee of MCD. Bench of Justice Gaurang Kanth issued a stay on the notice issued by Mayor Shelly Oberoi. ‘The court finds that an election has been conducted though result has not been declared yet. No purpose will be served by fresh election,’ bench said.

First India Bureau Nagpur: Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday refuted allegations the Bharatiya Janata Party was distributing money to win the bypoll in Kasba in Pune district.

Earlier in the day, the Maha Vikas Aghadi candidate from Kasba, Ravindra Dhangekar went on a hunger strike claiming the BJP distributed money to voters. He ended the strike after police assured

they would investigate the matter.

Hitting back, Fadnavis said, “BJP does not have culture of distributing money. Whether we win or lose,

VOTING FOR KASBA AND CHINCHWAD ASSEMBLY BYPOLLS TODAY

Pune: Voting for the Kasba and Chinchwad Assembly by-poll will be held on Sunday. Voting will start at 7 in the morning. The bypolls in Kasba and Chinchwad were necessitated due to the death of Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs Mukta Tilak and Laxman Jagtap, respectively. There are 2,75,428 registered voters in Kasba constituency. Chinchwad constituency has 5,68,954 registered voters.

we never distribute money. When someone is losing ground they make such allegations. We are winning in Kasba and Chinchwad.”

These allegations are

not against the BJP but are aimed at insulting the voters of Kasba. The Congress and NCP do not have right to speak about voters like this,” Fadnavis said.

To achieve growth, get on-field, not online: Shinde tells Uddhav

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Maharashtra

CM Eknath Shinde on Saturday took a swipe at his former leader Uddhav Thackeray by stating good relations have to be maintained with the Centre to get development funds, and work gets done on the ground and not online or from home.

Speaking at the ABP conclave, Shinde said one needed to keep ego

aside for the state, a swipe at Thackeray, who as chief minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi dispensation between 2019 and 2022, often sparred with the Narendra Modi govt.

Stressing it is important to have good working relations with the Centre to fuel growth in the state, Shinde said, “To achieve growth, one needs to get on the field. You can’t get things done online or through Facebook. A chief minister has to keep ego aside when dealing with the Centre to get funds for development.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party would routinely accuse Thackeray of ruling from his private residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra in the metropolis and not undertaking tours to the districts, despite the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020.

Queried on the Election Commission choosing his faction as the real Shiv Sena and giving it the bow and arrow symbol, Shinde said, “The Shiv Sena is founded by Balasaheb Thackeray. Most of the Shiv Sena MLAs, MPs, (for-

mer) corporators are with me.” Without naming Uddhav Thackeray, the CM said the former ditched the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray in the lust for power.

Uddhav Thackeray had broken his alliance

with the Bharatiya Janata Party after the 2019 Assembly poll results claiming the latter had broken its promise of sharing the chief ministerial tenure. He formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi with the Nationalist

Congress Party and the Congress and ruled till June 2022, when a rebellion by Shinde brought down the state govt.

“The Shiv Sena ideology faced betrayal when you (Uddhav) formed government with Congress and NCP, which Balasaheb had told you to keep at arm’s length,” Shinde said.

Shinde also said he will not claim properties of the Shiv Sena (after recognition of his faction by the EC) and said the legacy and ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray are what he and his supporters treasure.

The Shiv Sena ideology faced betrayal when you (Uddhav) formed government with Congress and NCP, which Balasaheb had told you to keep at arm’s length,” Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra CM

One needs to keep ego aside for the state, Shinde said

CM Eknath Shinde Former CM Uddhav Thackeray

Moni Sharma

Aditi Nagar, Amit Mishra & Yogesh Sharma

Mallikarjun Kharge & Sonia Gandhi share a light moment on 2nd day of session in Raipur on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during their joint statement to the press personnel at the Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Street paved with flower petals to welcome Priyanka Gandhi in Raipur. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel is also seen.

President Droupadi Murmu with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a meet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

CRUCIAL

Nashik: One person was killed and three others were injured as a private passenger bus collided with a pick-up van in Nashik district on early Saturday morning, police said. The accident took place near Shirwade Phata on Mumbai-Agra highway at around 5.30 am.The bus was on its way to Nashik from Malegaon while the van was crossing the highway when the collision took place.

Rajaram Laxman Chothva (45), resident of Banpada in Surgana tehsil, lost his life, police said.

FIRE BREAKS OUT IN ST BUS IN NASHIK, NONE HURT

Nashik: A fire broke out in a state transport bus in Nashik in Maharashtra on Saturday, though passengers managed to alight safely in time, an official said. The incident took place in Upnagar area on Nashik-Pune highway when the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus was on its way to Shirdi from Nashik, he said. “The driver of the bus noticed smoke emanating from the underbody of the bus. He alerted all the passengers, who alighted in time. The driver, conductor, passengers doused the fire in some time after a Nashik Municipal Corporation water tanker arrived at the site,” he said.

Nagpur: City police is set to spend two crore rupees to conduct a camp to mitigate post-COVID health issues among its 7,357 personnel, an official said on Saturday. Health issues have been on the rise in the force after the pandemic and the health camp will undertake several tests, including of the eye and for cancer, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said. The fund of Rs2 crore for the camp will be provided by the District Planning Committee, he added. Some 50 police personnel have died of COVID-19 in Nagpur commissionerate since March 2020, officials said.

STABS WOMAN TO DEATH OVER DISPUTE

Nagpur: A 35-year-old woman was stabbed to death in front of her mother allegedly by her neighbour in Nagpur city on Saturday, a police official said. The incident took place in Rambagh area and may be the fallout of a property dispute, the Imambada police station official said.

“The victim, identified as Aarti Nicholas, and the 25-year-old accused are neighbours. The accused was building a house and wanted Nocholas to give up her land,” he said. During an argument, he stabbed Nicholas, who died in a nearby hospital.

‘CM Shinde puppet of BJP’s Amit Shah, DCM Fadnavis’

POLITICAL TAKE

First India Bureau

Thane: Maharashtra chief of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) party, Imtiaz Jaleel, on Saturday sought to know whether renaming of Aurangabad city as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar will end the problems faced by people residing there.

He also accused Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of being a “puppet” in the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said the split in the Shiv Sena has adversely affected the people of the state.

The Aurangabad MP was speaking to reporters in Navi Mumbai on the first day of his party’s two-day national convention.

Sena founder Bal Thackeray protected the interests of people, which Uddhav Thackeray and CM Shinde have failed to do, said Jaleel.

“CM Shinde is a puppet in the hands of BJP leaders Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis,” he alleged.

The Union government has approved the renaming of Aurangabad city as “Chhatra-

pati Sambhajinagar” and that of Osmanabad city as “Dharashiv”.

Chhatrapati Sambhaji, the eldest son of warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was the second ruler of the Maratha state founded by his father. Sambhaji Maharaj was executed

on Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s orders in 1689.

“Will changing the name of Aurangabad resolve the problems faced by citizens? Now that its name has been changed, the government should tell me if the people residing in Aurangabad will get

Talking about the split in Shiv Sena, Jaleel said, “I pray that it splits further into four groups so that we benefit from it. Not only this, but there should be a split in the BJP.” The fight between the two Shiv Sena factions has adversely affected the people of Maharashtra, he said. Sena founder Bal Thackeray had protected the interests of the people of the state, which Uddhav Thackeray and CM Shinde have failed to do, Jaleel said.

water two times daily. Even today, the water is supplied every eight days,” he said.

Will the unemployed youths get jobs after the change in name and will there be a positive change in the lives of the farmers who commit suicide as they do

The BJP and Shiv Sena have been doing this for years and they continue to do so now. We have opposed them and will keep opposing them. But it does not mean that we don’t respect Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. These parties play dirty politics, which we have never done.

—Imtiaz Jaleel, AIMIM

not get good price for their crop? Jaleel asked.

“Instead of resolving these real issues or talking about them, they (BJP) are raking up emotive issues like changing names of roads, buildings, railway stations, airports or cities,” he alleged.

Entire dist of Aurangabad to be renamed, Fadnavis responds to Opposition’s backlash

First India Bureau Mumbai: The rechristening of Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar is not limited to the city but the entire district, said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Saturday. His clarification came after Shiv Sena – Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Ambadas Danve raised question about the renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad.

Fadnavis also said that the process for renaming Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad to Dharashiv is underway after the Centre gave nod for the same.

“The renaming of Chhatrapati Samb haji Nagar is for the entire Au rangabad dis trict. We don’t do anything halfheartedly. We don’t leave an

‘Help farmers protect soybean produce from diseases, pests’

Latur (PTI): Soybean farmers should be given training in proper fertilizer use and cultivation techniques as it is a major crop of Maharashtra’s Latur district and was routinely getting afflicted by diseases and attacked by pests, a senior official said on Saturday.

Latur Collector Prithviraj BP was speaking at the inauguration event of the Shri Siddheshwar Krishi Mahotsav 2023.

Crops prone to attacks from pests, getting afflicted with diseases in district

“The Agriculture Department should take the initiative in developing various varieties of soybean to help farmers. They are facing distress due to soybean crop getting afflicted by

AIMIM to focus on upcoming BMC elections: Owaisi

First India Bureau

Mumbai: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said that the party will focus on the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and other elections in Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra for national party convention, AIMIM chief rules out plans of any alliance ahead of polls

diseases like yellow mosaic, conch slug, among others,” he said. He also pitched for a ‘Latur brand’ soybean seed as the price of the crop in the country is determined by rates in the district.

ything incomplete,” Fadnavis said. Danve, who is the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council, had sought to know whether the renaming was only for Aurangabad city. Responding to apprehensions raised by the Opposition, Fadnavis retort -

ed, “First of all, they should understand the process. The Centre has issued a notification on renaming of Aurangabad and Osmanabad. Now, the state’s General Administration Department will issue the notification. It will be followed by the Revenue and Forest departments notifying it to ensure that it is implemented in talukas, corporations and councils. The renaming is for the entire district,” he said.

First India Bureau

Navi Mumbai: As part of safety measures and crime detection, a total of 36 CCTV cameras will be installed in sectors 22 and 24 of Turbhe Gaon in Navi Mumbai soon. The project, which is estimated to cost ` 50 lakh, will be funded by amount allocated to MLAs.

During the inauguration function of Ramatanu Mata Maidan, Belapur MLA Manda Mhatre said, “Apart from installing CCTV cameras in every section of Belapur, they will also be installed in Turbhe division.”

However, he did not disclose if his party will contest polls in alliance with any regional party. The Lok Sabha MP from Telangana said alliances for the upcoming civic polls, as well as Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Maharashtra next year will be decided in due course.

Owaisi was speaking to mediapersons prior to the first two-day national convention of the party, that began on February 25 in Navi Mumbai.

The second day of the convention will be held in Chembur. More than

1,300 office bearers, MLAs, MPs, MLCs, councillors and state president will attend the gathering. Meanwhile, Owaisi also refused any possibility of meeting Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray.

Referring to the killings of two men from Rajasthan in Haryana on February 16, Owaisi said the Modi government had given a long rope to such ‘gau rakshaks’ (cow protectors). Nasir and Junaid were murdered on suspicion of cow killings.

NCP leader named in FIR over money collection at Kolhapur

First India Bureau

Mumbai: An FIR has been registered against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra Rual Development and Labour Minister Hasan Mushrif in connection with money collection from members of a sugar factory in Kolhapur, a police official said on Saturday.

However, only a case has been registered and probe into the allegations is underway, the official clarified.

As per the complaint filed by a member of Kolhapur’s Santani Ghorpade sugar factory

W20 inception meet to be held in Aurangabad

First India Bureau Mumbai: As part of India’s presidency of the G20 forum, the W20 (Women 20) inception meeting is set to take place in Aurangabad of Maharashtra on February 27-28.

The W20 is an official engagement group under G20 and was established during the Turkish G20 presidency in 2015.

The group’s primary objective is to ensure gender considerations are mainstreamed into discussions of G20 and get translated into the G20 Leaders’ Declaration as policies and commitments that foster gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, a release said.

W20 India took over the presidency from W20 Indonesia on

at Murgud police station, the NCP leader had allegedly asked members to deposit Rs10,000 each, though they later did not get sugar for this amount.

“As per the complaint, the sugar factory has 40,000 mem -

bers and this collection of Rs10,000 each would create a cumulative corpus of Rs40 crore. However, we have just registered a case and further probe into the allegations is underway," said the official.

on February 27-28

December 12, 2022. W20, under India’s presidency, is focused on actualizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Women-Led Development’ to create a world of equality and equity where every woman lives with dignity and gets the opportunity to thrive, transcend and transform their lives and those of others, it said.

The goal of W20, 2023 is to ensure continuity of the W20 agenda from the past presidencies while establishing a stronger W20 global and national network through inclusive consultations and actions that will feed into the ‘W20 Communique and G20 Leaders’ Declaration’, the release said.

“W20, 2023 aims to ensure the W20 communique is representative

and comprehensive and will provide solutions to enhance the status of women across the globe. The five priority areas of W20 under India’s presidency are ‘Women in Entrepreneurship’, ‘Women Leadership at Grassroots’, ‘Bridging the Gender Digital Divide’, ‘Education & Skill Development’ and ‘Women & Girls as Change Makers,” it added.

lll

Main objective of the group is to ensure gender equality, women’s eco empowerment are prioritized by G20 leaders

READ ONE KILLED, THREE INJURED AS BUS COLLIDES WITH VAN

NAGPUR POLICE TO SPEND `2 CR ON HEALTH CAMP

35-YR-OLD

Remote areas of Navi Mum to have CCTV

Will changing names of places resolve people’s issues, asks AIMIM chief after Maha cities’ renaming asssent

Imtiaz Jaleel —FILE PHOTO

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi —FILE PHOTO

DOCTOR, 3 OTHERS DUPED OF `1 CRORE BY FIRM

Thane: A doctor and his three associates from a village in Thane district were allegedly duped of more than one crore rupees by a Chennai-based company on the promise of giving a loan of Rs10 crore, police said. The victims are from Sonarpada village near Dombivli, they said. Based on the complaint lodged by Dr Harshavardhan Thakur, a case was registered, a police official said.

MAN HELD FOR STABBING 60-YO MOTHER-IN-LAW

Palghar (PTI): Police have arrested a man from Virar for allegedly stabbing his 60-year-old mother-in-law to death, an official said. The murder incident occurred on Friday, he said. “The accused was not on good terms with his wife and her family member and frequently quarrelled. On Friday, during a heated argument at their house, the man’s mother-in-law got stabbed while saving her daughter,” police said.

DUO HURT AFTER CEILING PLASTER FALLS ON THEM

Thane: Minor brother-sister duo was injured after some plaster of the ceiling of their house at Kalwa on Saturday fell on them, civic official said. The incident occurred at around 11.45 am in their first floor flat in a four-storey building, he said. “Plaster of ceiling fell on two siblings, in which they suffered injuries. While the boy is four-year-old, his sister is aged seven,” said the official.

116 HELD, 129 CASES FILED IN COMBING OP

Thane: A total of 116 persons were arrested and 129 cases were registered in Thane city after an “all out” anti-crime combing operation was carried out, an official said on Saturday. The drive, which started late Friday night, saw the deployment of 223 officials and 1,054 constables, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ashok Morale said. “We seized property worth Rs1,13,070 during all night operation,” he said.

Elderly man collapses at police station, dies; son accuses cops

there,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III- Kalyan) Sachin Gunjal said in a release.

Man held for hoax call about drug, explosives landing at port for blasts

First India Bureau

Thane: A 63-year-old man died after collapsing at a police station in Kalyan town in Thane, where his son was brought by the police for questioning following a combing operation. The incident occurred late on Friday night at the Kolsewadi police station, he said.

The police said that the man collapsed following a seizure attack and the incident was captured on the CCTV cameras installed at the

police station.

However, the local court has ordered that an inquest panchnama of the incident and post-mortem of the deceased be carried out. An inquest panchnama is conducted after a person dies as a result of crime or under suspicious circumstances.

Seven students in distress saved from losing academic yr

First India Bureau Mumbai: Seven HSC students, who were in distress, get a sigh of relief as the Mumbai division of the state board saved the academic year of these children. While three diabetic students and two with neurological ailments were worried that they won’t be able to give the exam, the forms of two others were withdrawn by the school for low attendance.

Seeing their 16-yearold child anxious a day before the first paper, the parents approached the Mumbai division of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) and sought help.

“The boy, who needed to use an insulin pump

during the exam, was worried that he wouldn’t be able to finish in time. The counsellors and officials encouraged him to appear in the exam and allowed an additional 30 minutes,” said Nitin Upasani, Chairman, Mumbai division, MSBSHSE. Two other students were helped similarly. All three of them were allowed to give their papers from a separate room at their respective centres, Upasani told mid-day.

The principals and parents had approached MSBSHSE, requesting help for two students with neurological ailments. The board allowed them, too.

The board helped two other students, whose forms were withdrawn by their schools as they had low attendance.

“During an ‘all-out operation’ conducted last night, the police picked up a 24-year-old man, who is a local resident, and took him to Kolsewadi police station for inquiry. His father Deepak Bhingardive, 63, followed him to the police station to know why his son was brought

While police was interrogating man, his father videographed it on his mobile phone. As he was arguing with police, he was made to sit behind station house officer’s block at the police station, he said.

“However, there he suffered a seizure attack and collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead,” he added.

Later, Chief Judicial Magistrate ordered Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) to arrange inquest panchnama and post-mortem reports of the deceased, he said. Another son of the deceased accused the police of beating his father to death.

THE KING OF FRUITS!

First India Bureau Mumbai: A man was arrested for allegedly making a hoax call to the police control room about 90 kilograms of “MD”, apparently a reference to mephedrone drug, and explosives landing at a port to carry out blasts in JJ Hospital, Bhendi Bazaar and Nal Bazaar areas of south Mumbai, an official said on Saturday.

The call was received at the South Region police control room on Friday afternoon and the accused had said the contraband and explosives had reached the port here on Thursday, the official informed.

“Following the call, the port area, its landing points and sensitive locations in the vicinity were combed and search operations were held, but nothing suspicious was found. We tracked

BMC to begin 320 beautification works, road concretization, upgrading of sewer

First India Bureau Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will undertake 320 beautification works, cement concretization of 52 km of roads as well as upgrading of sewage lines in several parts of Mumbai, an official said on Saturday. The foundation

stones of these projects will be laid at an event in Tilak Nagar in the eastern part of the city by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday, a civic release said.

The work includes cement concretization of 111 roads with a cumulative length of 52 km, of which 24 roads are in the

BAD LIFE CHOICES

eastern suburbs, 61 in the western part and 26 in the island city, it said.

The sewage lines of Sahakar Nagar, Nehru Nagar and Tilaknagar will be upgraded as well, the release said.

In December, the BMC undertook 500 beautification works, of which 121 have been completed, the release added.

Accused called South Region police control room, said blasts to be carried out at JJ Hosp, Bhendi and Nal bazaar

the call to a mobile phone number in Dahanu in the neighbouring Palghar district,” he said. A team left for Palghar and nabbed the accused, who is a resident of Nagpur, within nine hours of the call being made, he added.

The man has confessed to the act and has been arrested under Indian Penal Code sections 506 (3), 505 (1), 182, 179 for providing false information, criminal intimidation and other offences, the official said.

Citizens asked to join drive for birds

First India Bureau Navi Mumbai: A citybased environmentalist Subhajit Mukherjee has now urged people of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to join the Water for Birds campaign. The initiative aims to inform residents of the importance of keeping water bowls for birds as heatwaves have hit the city, causing temperature to rise high. Mukherjee said that water bowls made under this initiative would be distributed for free to educational institutions.

While talking to the media, he said, “#WaterForBirds is an initiative to ensure that no living organism suffers during heatwaves. Under this campaign, we are making water bowls that can be placed in various locations away from direct sunlight and water bodies. These bowls are priced at ₹200.” “We urge schools to come forward and take these bowls to help save birds and also educate students on how to help other organisms,” he added.

Four out of 10 Mumbaikars at high risk of heart diseases

CVD is affecting people with a laidback lifestyle, increases chance of fatality with high risk factors

First India Bureau

Mumbai: A World Health Organisation STEPS survey done by the Health department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

(BMC) reveals that four out of 10 adults in the city are at a higher risk of contracting cardio vascular disease (CVD).

The people reportedly had three or more risk factors namely regular smoking, no proper in take of fruits and vege tables, lesser physical activity, being over weight, and high BP and blood sugar levels.

Not living an active lifestyle is taking a toll on the people of Mum bai. CVD is affecting

people with a laidback lifestyle and also increases

The WHO survey sesses individual health status

Risk factors are smoking, less intake of fruits & vegetables, less physical activity, extra weight, high BP & blood sugar levels

and behaviours in a population. It helps countries, states, and cities build and

strengthen data on risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCD).

Currently, data on these risk factors are available at the national level, but there is no data related to a specific city.

The BMC undertook the assessment for citylevel risk factors to help make informed datadriven policy changes and formulate effective strategies aligned with the city-specific data.

It partnered with WHO-India, and pro-

vided support through STEPS. A total of 5,199 adults participated in survey—2,601 men and 2,598 women. Study reveals that around 37% of respondents (almost four out of 10 Mumbaikars) aged 18-69 years reported having three or more risk factors out of the six risk factors.

WHO recommends that eating at least 400 g or five portions/servings of fruits and vegetables per day reduces the risk of NCDs.

He had arrived at Kolsewadi chowky after police picked up his son for questioning; probe ordered

A wholesale dealer segregates his mango produce at Crawford Market in Mumbai on Saturday. With the summer season beckoning, fresh mango harvest from the Konkan region has already arrived in the city. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

YEAR 2022: ANNUS HORRIBILIS

PUNJAB CAN’T WASTE TIME TO DEVISE STRATEGY AGAINST RADICALS

In India we are indifferent to poverty, dirt, unrighteousness and unpunctuality. If a man or woman is hit by a car, falls down, with blood pouring from various parts of his/her body, no cycle wallah, no motor cycle rider or car driver will stop to help the injured lady, fearing that the police might implicate them.

Such, I gather are our laws!

K NATWAR SINGH

The year 2022, should be termed Annus Horribilis – a year of disaster and misfortune incidents e.g. The earthquake in Turkey. Where do I begin. Corona of course. Where did it first appear?

Truly in laboratory in Wuhan in China. For months China vigorously denied that the disease had started in Wuhan. The doctor who found it was hounded got Corona and died. The WHO which gets huge donations from China was equivocal in its answers. The killer disease spread like a global fire. For almost 2 years the World almost came to a halt. To this day a cure for the disease has not been discovered.

CLIMATE CHANGE

This has finally caught up with us. Many attempts have been made to take worthwhile decisions. The industrialized countries have their own agenda. The almost non-functioning of United Nation resolutions are blatantly ignored.

CASTE FAULT LINES MOVE TO SEATTLE

Floods in the USA, Germany, Chile, Pakistan, China, New Zealand, Indonesia and India have destroyed crops, homes, hospitals and universities. Large parts of Africa have had no rain for several rainy seasons. The canals in Venice have dried up, while the river PO is not short of water.

Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic and Antarctic, the Himalayas, all are getting less and less of snow, while America, Europe and Canada are getting excess. Lakes and river are drying up in America. Temperatures are in some parts rising-in Rajasthan’s Shekhawati the mercury goes over 50 degree centigrade. In Delhi it appears that the middle of March has arrived. The weather pattern in America is changing. Do something about this not about jaunts to the moon.

UKRAINE WAR

Who started the war? Russia of course. Why? Because Ukraine wants to become a member of NATO, which so far has not given the green signal. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, men, women and children have died. Who will take care of the orphans - no mother to embrace, father killed on the bat-

Kshama Sawant achieved something that was hard to imagine in the US city of Seattle by getting an ordinance banning caste discrimination passed by the City Council. Sawant, who originally hails from Mumbai, is a member of the City Council and had been waging a struggle against the prevailing anti-Dalit bias in the US. Sawant said she felt “proud to bring forward first-in-the-nation legislation to ban caste-based discrimination”.

Ambedkarites consider this ban as a major victory which came amidst stiff opposition from the high caste Hindus who called the ordinance “anti Hindu”. Opposing the ordinance the Coalition of Hindus of North

Who started the war? Russia of course. Why? Because Ukraine wants to become a member of NATO, which so far has not been given the green signal. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers, men, women and children have died

tle field. A posthumous medal is awardee. Who will receive it? This is war, this is war they say. We know. But here M/s Putin and Zelenskyy learnt no lessons from 1939-1945. Obviously not. But we have. For me it is a matter of immense pride that India has, never started a war. Skirmishes are not war. The other night the President of Ukraine said at a press conference that Ukraine will win the war against Russia in 2023. Are you being facetious or serious?

AFGHANISTAN

Brutality comes with ease to Taliban, not the Afghans. One Taliban leader told a world famous lady correspondent, “Educating girls is not in our culture.” Some cul-

Sawant, who originally hails from Mumbai, is a member of the City Council and had been waging a struggle against the prevailing anti-Dalit bias in the US. Sawant said she felt “proud to bring forward first-in-the-nation legislation to ban castebased discrimination”

America urged the Council to say “NO” on council member Kshama’s legislation. The Hindu American Foundation which was opposed to the ordinance said “the law singles out Hindu Americans for additional legal scrutiny”. Dalit groups in America welcomed the legislation. Seattle is home to several big

ture. In which chapter of the Holy Quran is this to be found. I am sure there exist good and compassionate Taliban. Why do they wish to live in the 17th century. Afghanistan is geographically so strategically located that the people should made aware of the geography of the country.

For the past two or three years there has been an increase on demolition of Temples, Churches, Mosques and other religious places. These barbarous acts are now being committed from Australia to America. A man wearing a turban is beaten up. By whom, unfortunately by hoodlums and a whole people are condemned for the crime.

The increase in shooting school children and university students is frequent in the USA so is police’s brutal misconduct on the rise. In India we are indifferent to poverty, dirt, unrighteousness and unpunctuality. If a man or woman is hit by a car, falls down, with blood pouring from various parts of his/ her body, no cycle wallah, no motor cycle rider or car driver will stop to help the injured lady, fearing that the police might implicate them.

Such, I gather are our laws!

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

corporate houses like Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks, Costco et cetera who may now be required to sensitize their staff against caste-based discrimination.

The Seattle law may see other states enacting a similar law.

It is unfortunate that Indians carry their social prejudices to far away countries only to torment their fellow countrymen instead of supporting them. Until the Seattle City Council’s legislation caste was not recognised by law as a category of discrimination as it did not exist in that society. Dalit groups have however been complaining of caste discrimination by high caste Hindus in several tech companies. Two years ago, the Swaminarayan temple in New Jersey was raided by police for exploiting Dalit workers.

Punjab, which has had a troubled past, once again saw pro-Khalistan forces raising their heads. In a brazen act, hundreds of armed supporters of a 29-year-old radical leader Amritpal Singh stormed the Ajnala police station and forced the cops to free his aide who was an accused in a kidnapping case. Amritpal is the chief of Waris Punjab De outfit and is a self-styled preacher. Amritpal dresses like Bhindranwale who masterminded the Khalistan movement in the Eighties which led to the Operation Blue Star and the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The open display of force by Amritpal’s followers and meek surrender by the police has raised questions about Bhagwant Mann’s administration. For some reason the police offered no resistance and there’s no assurance that they would in future. So no attacker has been arrested even after injuries to several policemen. To prevent the border state from slipping into violence and lawlessness, the Mann government must not waste time in devising an effective strategy.

To

TOP TWEETS

God grant speedy recovery to the injured.

Anurag Thakur @ianuragthakur

PM @narendramodi had launched - a global initiative called ‘Lifestyle for the Environment - LiFE Movement’. Such initiatives encourage a lifestyle called “Pro-Planet People” & will further the efforts towards #FitIndia and a healthy nation.

The author is Former Minister of External Affairs of India

NEP has reoriented education system for future demands: PM

PM Narendra Modi says govt focused on providing outside-the-classroom exposure to youth

New Delhi (PTI):The new National Education Policy (NEP) has reoriented education and skilling according to the aptitude of youngsters and demands of the future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.

Lamenting the lack of flexibility in the education system over the years, the prime minister said the sector has been “rigid”.

“Education and skilling have been reoriented according to the aptitude of the youngsters and demands of the future. Equal emphasis is being given to both education and skilling as part of the NEP. The move encourages the government to undertake further re -

BJP has closed its door for Nitish Kumar:

Amit Shah

MY HUNCH MODI WILL BAIL OUT PAKISTAN, SAYS EX-RAW CHIEF AMARJIT SINGH DULAT

Kolkata: Former RAW chief Amarjit Singh Dulat feels that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may at some stage later this year hold out the olive branch towards Pakistan and even “bail out” the neighbouring state which has been experiencing a political and economic crisis for the last few months. Dulat also warned of a “formidable” Iran-Russia-China axis coming into being while stating that India’s newfound ally USA “is far away, our neighbours are nearer.” In an interview to PTI video, the former RAW

forms in the education and skilling sectors while unburdening our students from the regulations of the past,” he said while addressing a post-budget webinar on “Harnessing Youth Power — Skilling and Education”.

The webinar was the third in a series of 12 post-budget webinars organised by the government to seek ideas and suggestions for the effective implementation of the initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.

director said, “Every time is the best time to talk to Pakistan. We need to keep our neighbours engaged.” He added that it was imperative to keep talks open with “a little more public engagement.” “In this year, my hunch is Modi ji will bail out Pakistan. No inside information, but it is my hunch,”

PM MODI TO INAUGURATE SHIVAMOGGA

AIRPORT

IN KARNATAKA ON MONDAY

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka on Monday and inaugurate an airport in Shivamogga and several other development projects, according to an official statement. The prime minister will take a walk-through and inspect the newly built airport, after which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation of multiple projects in Shivamogga, according to the statement issued on Saturday.

Ready to align

Chandigarh (PTI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said those who took the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib to a police station as a shield cannot be called the ‘waris’ (heir) of Punjab. His remarks came days after self-styled Sikh preacher and Khalistani sympathiser

Amritpal Singh and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into a police sta-

tion in Ajnala on the outskirts of the Amritsar city on Thursday, extracting an assurance from the police that his aide and kidnapping case accused Lovepreet Singh would be released.

CALLING ME TERRORIST IS TERRORISM: AMRITPAL DON’T CONSIDER MYSELF INDIAN CITIZEN: AMRITPAL

Amritsar (ANI): Amritpal Singh, who is considered to be a radical preacher and sympathizer of Khalistan separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, on Saturday said that calling him a “terrorist is terrorism” itself and said that he works for the people of Punjab and has an influence on the youth “not for wrong, but for right reasons”.

Amritsar (ANI): ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh on Saturday denounced that he does “not” consider himself a citizen of India calling the passport merely a “travel document” and said that it does not make him an Indian. He said that his remarks against Amit Shah were “not a threat” to the Union Home Minister, but rather a threat to them.

Patna (Agencies): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday asserted that BJP has shut its door forever for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

“Kumar is a person who dreams about the prime minister’s chair every three years and resorts to ‘paltimar’ tactics. He did the same in August last year and went to those whom our NDA was opposed to right from the start. We have now decided never to open our doors for Nitish Kumar in BJP,” Shah said while addressing the media here.

“During the 2020 Assembly elections, the people of the state had made BJP a single largest party in the state. But we honoured our promise and gave the chief minister’s chair to Nitish Kumar but he has the habit of changing the goal post,” he said.

Nitish Kumar, always vocal against Jungle Raj, is now sitting in the lap of its progenitor.

parties

defeat BJP in 2024 LS polls: Kharge

Raipur (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun

Kharge on Saturday said his party is willing to forge a viable alternative by aligning with like-minded parties in order to get rid of the “anti-people” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and is ready to make any sacrifice required to achieve the goal.

In his address at the Congress’ 85th plenary session, Kharge also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the

“pradhan sevak of Delhi, who gets advertisements printed every day, is serving his own friend”.

The Congress chief

launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre, alleging that “the DNA of those sitting in Delhi is anti-poor” and

AAP’s ‘villain’ Atishi orchestrated violence in MCD House, says BJP

New Delhi (PTI): The BJP took a dig at AAP MLA Atishi on Saturday, calling her a “villain” and accusing her of orchestrating a ruckus during elections for 6-member standing committee in MCD House.

Sharing a mock-up film poster with morphed pictures of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs Atishi and Durgesh Pathak alongside Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi, the Delhi BJP

tweeted in Hindi, “AAP’s ‘khalnayika’ who orchestrated violence and dictatorship in the House.” There was no immediate reaction from the MLA or the AAP.

PROJECT CARBON SHUNYA

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House witnessed high-decibel protests by the BJP councillors after Oberoi declared that a vote cast during the election was “invalid”.

they are attempting to “destroy” democracy. He also called for a people’s movement against the prevailing situation in the country.

MP: Death toll in Siddhi accident rises to 14

Sidhi: The death toll in Friday night’s accident in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district has risen to 14 people, while the count of injured has gone to 56, the police said. “A total of 14 deaths have been confirmed in the accident so far and 56 people injured. Of these injured, 39 people are undergoing treatment at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Rewa district,” Rewa SP Mukesh Srivastava said.

Cycle to re-cycle environment, says Anurag Thakur

New Delhi (ANI): Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Saturday said that the bicycle rally conducted as a part of ‘Project Carbon Shunya’ shows the power of “Individual agency, Public Accountability, and Affirmative Action” towards environment conservation and sustainability.

Thakur flagged off and participated in a Cyclathon at Shangrila Hotel in Delhi’s Janpath on Saturday morning.

While addressing the gathering, the Union Minister said, “Today’s bicycle rally shows the power of Individual agency, Public Accountability, and Affirmative Action towards environment conservation and sustainability.”

“As coastlines increasingly disappear, resources become rare, geographical territories are obliterated and large human populations are brutally displaced; there is no deny-

ing that Climate Change is the single most defining issue of our time. The problem is global in

scope and unprecedented in scale,” he added. He said, “It is our seemingly small actions

MENTALITY

Raipur (PTI): Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday said that “mentality of western countries” was imposed on India for 70 years but the way of thinking is changing now. He also cautioned the youth to remain alert against the forces trying to break up the country using “a report, billionaire and other means.” Thakur was speaking at Yuva Samvaad India @2047 organized by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangthan Chhattisgarh unit at Rawatpura Sarkar University in Dhaneli village. “We should be proud of our heritage, history, art, culture and tradition. The mentality of western countries was imposed on our country for 70 years. The work of changing this thinking has been done in the last eight years,” the BJP leader said.

that will unknowingly impact both our present and future generations. This is why it is impor-

tant to lend a voice and effort towards mitigating the impact our choices have on the planet.”

WILL WIPE OUT BJP IN 2024 LOK SABHA AND 2025 BIHAR ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS, SAYS LALU YADAV

Purnea (PTI): In his first major speech after recovering from a kidney transplant operation, RJD Supremo Lalu Prasad on Saturday launched a frontal attack on his old rival the BJP, alleging the right-wing party was trying to divide the country on caste and religious lines. The BJP and RSS are against the country’s minorities, the former chief minister of Bihar claimed in a virtual speech relayed from his Delhi residence to the rally of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ or Grand Alliance of which RJD in a constituent.

BJP will form a full majority govt in Bihar in 2025 and the process will start in 2024. I urge the people of the state to bring in BJP and throw out those who brought Jungle Raj,” Shah said.

“Nitish promised Lalu to make his son

Tejashwi the CM but is not specifying the date. If he has promised it, then he should reveal the date of offering the CM post to Tejashwi. If Tejashwi Yadav becomes the chief minister, there would be complete Jungle Raj,” he said.

Lucknow (ANI): Training his guns on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that the previous government was skilled at playing ‘games’ of scams which include laptop scam ‘game’, Gomti riverfront scam ‘game’ among others. While addressing the UP Assembly during the ongoing Budget Session, he said: “The CAG report, which was recently released, cited Rs 97,00,000 crore scam during his tenure. Muzaffarnagar riots, the Ramvriksha scandal in Mathura, burning the journalist alive, the Bundelkhand Crisis, the land ma -

The CAG report, which was recently released, cited Rs 97,00,000 crore scam during his (former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s) tenure. —Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh

fia, and the recruitment scam were all such ‘games’ that occurred in the state during their tenure.” Yogi continued:

“In addition to this, there was also a “game” being played to have the terrorists’ cases withdrawn. How far are these players going to take these “games”? Nothing like that is played by me. I am a normal person.”

Bengaluru: BJP Central Parliamentary Board member and former CM BS Yediyurappa on Saturday told the influential Lingayat community that he is retiring from electoral politics on his own and urged them not to have any hard feelings about it.

Speaking to reporters, he stated, “I appeal with folded hands to the Veerashaiva-Linagayat community. I am retiring on my own as I am completing 80-years on February 27. My brothers of the community

should not misunderstand this.”

“The leadership of PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has given us strength. PM Modi is arriving in Shivamogga on February 27,” Yediyurappa stated.

with like-minded

to

Mallikarjun Kharge at the INC’s Plenary Session, in Raipur. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi greets Avinash Pande.

PM Narendra Modi addresses a post-budget webinar via video conferencing, in New Delhi, on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Lovepreet Toofan (C) and Amritpal Singh at Golden Temple (R).

“Those who used Guru Granth Sahib as shield can’t be Punjab’s waris”

Previous UP govt was only skilled at playing ‘game’ of scams: Yogi

I am retiring from the electoral politics on my own: Yediyurappa

UP CM Yogi Adityanath speaks during the Budget Session.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur flags off cyclothon event, in New Delhi.

Delhi BJP working chief Virendra Sachdeva (C) addresses media.

OF WESTERN COUNTRIES WAS IMPOSED ON INDIA FOR 70 YEARS: THAKUR

President Murmu graces 99th annual convocation of Delhi University

New Delhi (Agencies):

The President, Droupadi Murmu addressed the 99th annual convocation of the University of Delhi today on Saturday in Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that it can be said that Delhi University reflects India in all its richness and diversity.

It can also be said that there is a bit of Delhi University in every area of excellence in India and abroad. However no institution can rest on

its laurels. In today’s world of rapid changes, an institution has to continuously reinvent itself. The Delhi University community should feel duty-bound to lead other Universities in the country on parameters of excellence, and thereby, earn a place among globally comparable institutions of higher learning.

The President said that we should respect and welcome all languages and cultures, but always stay con-

nected to our roots. Rejuvenation and creativity come from the roots.

She urged youth to follow Gandhiji's advice of getting the excellent

India asks IMF to make tech paper on regulating crypto

There is no global policy framework for crypto assets, Finance Minister Sitharaman said

Bengaluru (PTI): India, which is holding G20 Presidency, has asked the IMF and Financial Stability Board (FSB) to jointly prepare a technical paper on crypto assets, which could be used in formulating a coordinated and comprehensive policy to regulate them.

The international organisations are expected to present their joint paper during the 4th Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in October 2023, said a finance ministry release.

“To complement the ongoing dialogue on the need for a policy framework, the Indian Presidency has proposed a joint technical paper by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the FSB, which would synthe-

country: L-G Sinha

Jammu (PTI): Amid

outrage over the imposition of property tax, Jammu and Kashmir

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday defended the move and said it will be implemented in consultation with the general public.

Property tax will ensure financial self-sustainability of cities and improvement of public amenities, he said. The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday ordered the imposition of property tax in municipal areas from April 1, drawing strong protests from people from almost all walks of life. Political parties are demanding an immediate rollback of the order.

KASHMIRI

WIFE EMPLOYED

Jammu (PTI):

sise the macroeconomic and regulatory perspectives of crypto-assets. This would help in the formulation of a coordinated and comprehensive policy approach to crypto assets,” it said. Given the concerns

‘Balloon-type’ flying object spotted over Andaman

New Delhi (ANI): The Indian defence forces had witnessed, over a year ago, objects similar to the alleged Chinese spy balloon busted by the American Air Force in the skies over the Andaman & Nicobar Islands territories. However, unlike the Americans, no action was taken as the origin and the intent or origin of the balloon-type object were not clear. The Americans spotted many of these balloons over their skies which had come there evading multiple American chains of radars.

an official spokesperson said.

42

over greater interconnectedness between crypto assets and the traditional financial sector as well as the complexity and volatility around crypto assets, policymakers are calling for tighter regulation.

knowledge available in the world, while staying connected to the In-

IAS officer Ravindra Pal Singh seeks VRS

Dr Ahtesham Siddiqui

Lucknow: IAS officer Ravindra Pal Singh, a 2015 batch Director at Hindi Institute and Special Secretary Language demanded VRS. Earlier, he was Special Secretary Home. He will retire in 2035. IAS Singh’s wife, IAS Nidhi Srivastava, who is currently Special Secretary Infrastructure and Industries, has now become an IAS officer from PCS. As per sources, IAS Singh has mentioned personal reasons for this. He might agree and take back his VRS in the future because recently he has been promoted from PCS to IAS and technically, it is difficult to accept his VRS.

Temple, mosque structures demolished by PWD in ITO

dian soil.

Addressing the students, the President said that she was the first girl from her village to go to town for study. Among their classmates too, there may be many such students from whose family or village no one would have been able to get university level education before them.

Such students are very talented and hardworking. They come to the University with great enthusiasm to fulfill

their dreams. Sometimes they become victims of 'inferiority complex'. This should not happen in any sensitive society. It is the responsibility of teachers and other students to encourage such first-generation university students.

The President said that we should pay attention to some basic issues such as need for clean toilets for girl students, world-class laboratories, real quality education and

needs of persons with disabilities.

The President said that due to the consumerist concept of development and civilization, the challenges of pollution, climate change and lifestyle diseases are taking a more formidable form. Our past generations have done many good things but they also made some mistakes. She urged the young generation to carry forward the good things and do away with the mistakes.

Campaigning for Meghalaya ends; voting on February 27

New Delhi (Agencies):

The hustle and bustle of over a month-long election campaign for the February 27 Meghalaya Assembly poll ended at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Voting would be held in 59 of the 60 Assembly constituencies in 12 districts under a heavy security cover on Monday.

The polling would not be held in Sohiong Assembly Constituency in East Khasi Hills district following the death of United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate H. Donkupar Roy Lyngdoh, who died on February 20 due to illness.

Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)

F.R. Kharkongor said that movement of polling parties to the 3419 polling stations across 59 Assembly constituencies started on Saturday.

Man kills friend for messaging girlfriend, later surrenders

New Delhi(Agencies):

A temple and a mosque in the national capital’s ITO area were demolished by the Public Works Department (PWD) as a part of its anti-encroachment drive. A large number of police personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order situation.

Saturday’s development comes after the Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the PWD to carry out work

TOURISM IN STATE THAT WAS ONCE HIT BY TERRORISM

to make a pedestrian pathway at “Jheel ka Piao” on Mathura Road, ITO, even if it called for demolishing a portion of the temple and the mosque. The single judge bench of Justice Prathiba Singh observed that the issue was concerning the development of a pathway on an extremely busy road wherein documents and other photographs show that the temple and the mosque are abutting the pedestrian pathway.

J&K: G20 meeting preparations in full swing

New Delhi (ANI): The government of Jammu and Kashmir is making all the necessary arrangements for the upcoming G20 summit, which will take place in May this year.

In such a situation, the meeting is considered to be very important from the point of view of tourism and the tourism department is taking various measures in this regard.

Along with the publicity campaign, various tour-

ist places are being made attractive. According to the Director of Tourism

Fazl Al-Huseeb, efforts are being made to promote Kashmir better

GOVT WORKING TO HARDSELL INDIAN TOURISM TO WORLD

Over one lakh tourists are likely to come from G20 countries. The govt is making such arrangements that tourists will talk about the whole world as brand ambassadors of Indian tourism on their return. During the discussion, the director of tourism said that in this way, the G20 meeting is restoring the glory and splendour of the historical places.

with such measures, as this meeting is very important for promoting

the tourism sector. He said, “The facilities are being further improved at the important tourist places here and much work has been taken up to make them more attractive. Under this link, 75 new places in Jammu and Kashmir to develop the tourism sector. are being brought on the tourist map and all possible basic facilities are being provided for the tourists to access these new places.”

Hyderabad (ANI): A 22-year-old man allegedly killed his friend for texting and making calls to his girlfriend, who was previously in a relationship with the victim, police said on Saturday. The accused later beheaded the deceased, removed his heart and private parts, chopped his fingers, and later walked to the police station to surrender himself. Police launched a detailed investigation after registering a case on the accused’s statement and recovered the body and sent to a local govt hospital.

H D R Lyngdoh, a former state home minister and candidate of United Democratic Party, had died of cardiac arrest on February 20.

ASSAM TO REMAIN CLOSED TILL MARCH 2

Shillong (Agencies): in view of the upcoming Assembly polls on February 27, the state's borders with Bangladesh and Assam will remain sealed until March 2, the counting day. Meghalaya shares a 885 km-long border with Assam and 443 km with Bangladesh. Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya, F.R. Kharkongor said: "To ensure a free and fair poll, we have taken preventive measures to ensure a free and fair election in the State.

New Delhi (Agencies):

Talismanic India batter

Virat Kohli has said that he was considered a ‘failed captain’ for India due to not winning any ICC trophy during his leadership tenure. But at the same time, he stated that he will not judge himself from that point of view.

Kohli is India’s most successful Test captain, leading the side to 40 victories, including holding on to the topranked spot in the rankings for 42 months.

Apart from winning 65 ODIs and 30 T20Is as captain, what has been absent from Kohli’s achievement as an Indian skipper has been a global trophy.

CRUCIAL READ

WANTED SHARPSHOOTER OF GOGI-DEEPAK

GANG NABBED AFTER EXCHANGE OF FIRE

New Delhi: After brief exchange of fire, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested a sharpshooter of the infamous Gogi-Deepak Boxer gang who was wanted in nine heinous crimes, including murder, registered in Delhi and Haryana, an officer said on Saturday. The accused was identified as Ankit Gulia alias Ankit Pistoli (26), a resident of district Sonepat, Haryana.

‘GET NO-DRUG DECLARATION’ NAME OF SUSPECT’S WIFE SURFACES

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Police have directed courier companies across the state to get no-drug declaration from customers before accepting the couriers to be delivered. The decision came after when several instances were reported.

POLLING IN SOHIONG ADJOURNED AS EX HOME MIN DIES

Shillong (PTI): The EC has adjourned February 27 poll in Sohiong assembly constituency of Meghalaya after the demise of one of the candidates, an EC official said. H D R Lyngdoh, former state home minister and a candidate of the United Democratic Party for the constituency, had died of cardiac arrest on February 20. “The poll is hereby adjourned until the poll date is notified by the ECI,” an official said in an order.

Kolkata: The name of the wife of an absconding suspect of CBI sleuths probing the teachers’ recruitment scam in West Bengal has surfaced. The name came up after the arrested youth said that one Haimanti Ganguly is aware of where the main proceeds of the scam had gone.

Under his leadership, India became runnersup in the 2017 Champions Trophy, and the 2021 World Test Championship final, apart from reaching the semifinals of the 2019 ODI World Cup, and not reaching the last four stages in the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup.

WOMAN SMUGGLER HELD WITH 252 GM SMACK WORTH RS 20L

Gwalior: A woman smuggler was arrested along with around 252 grams of smack (kind of drug) worth Rs 20 lakhs in MP’s Gwalior district, a police official said on Saturday. He added that two more accused with seven illegal weapons were also arrested in another case in the district. The smuggler brought the smack from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman addresses a press conference after the G20 Finance meetings under India’s G20 Presidency, in Bengaluru, on Saturday.

Property tax in J&K will be one of lowest in

I was considered failed captain: Kohli on not winning ICC trophy

PANDIT’S

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday handed over a government job appointment letter to Suneeta Pandith, wife of Suneel Pandith, a Kashmiri Pandit who was shot dead by terrorists in Shopian last year. The LG handed over the appointment letter to Suneeta at Raj Bhavan in the presence of her family members,

Prez Droupadi Murmu presents a gold medal certificate to a student during the 99th annual convocation of the University of Delhi, in New Delhi on Saturday. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also present.

INDIA RANKS

ON INT’L IP INDEX

Boundary walls of temple, mosque brought down by bulldozers.

Kohli while speaking at the Season 2 of the RCB Podcast.

business BRIEFS

INDIA SHOULD LEAD IN ADOPTING AI

TECH: OLA CEO

Mumbai: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a massive technology tool for increasing productivity and India should take a lead in adopting it, Bhavish Aggarwal, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ola Cabs, said. Aggarwal also discounted the notion that embracing such technology would result in job losses. Technology trends like AI are so disruptive. While one can think that it (the adoption of AI) threatens jobs, “I see it as a massive technology tool for increasing productivity”, he said. —PTI

‘NO STEP BACK FROM BALI AGREEMENT ON UKRAINE CRISIS’

Batteries play a critical role in this transition, but a relatively new type of battery i.e. the lithium batteries will dominate in both personal electronics, as well as in transportation and heavy industrial applications.

INDIA STRIKES WHITE GOLD

WILL LITHIUM DISCOVERY be a game changer in India’s EV adoption story?

Bengaluru: Spain Minister of Economy Nadia Maria Calvino Santamaria on Saturday said G20 finance ministers should not “go back” on the language agreed by leaders in Bali Summit on the Ukraine crisis continuing over a year. At the last G20 Summit in Bali in November 2022, the declaration read: “Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine.” However, some member countries held “other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions”. —PTI

NEW TEA AUCTION PROCESS TO BEGIN IN MARCH IN N INDIA

The Geological Survey of India discovered 5.9 million tonnes of inferred lithium reserves in the Reasi district of the Jammu region of very high quality with an estimated concentration of 550 ppm (parts per million) as opposed to 220 ppm found elsewhere. With this discovery alone, India now has the fifth-largest lithium reserves in the world, marginally lower than China and just ahead of the US. Lithium is often referred to as ‘white gold’ due to the increasing value of lithium batteries in manufacturing items like phones, laptops, and electric vehicles.

WHY INFERRED?

The reserves found are called “inferred” as more levels of verification will be carried out to assess the grade and viability of the resource. A 1,600-tonne deposit was earlier found in Karnataka but was commercially unviable. GSI has taken up projects on lithium and associated elements discovery across India, this being the first success.

WHY IS IT A HUGE

DEAL?

Kolkata: The Bharat Auction model for tea, which is already functional in south India, will be introduced in north India from end of March, an official in the industry said on Saturday. The pilot project will be conducted on March one so that all the features get tested by the stakeholders, following which the Bharat Auction model will be introduced in Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri from March 22, 2023.

KalyanaSundaram said owing to the implementation of the new auction system, CTTA had postponed Sale 8 by a week, while Sales 9, 10 and 11 have been dropped. —PTI

‘CIVIL AVIATION SHOULD AIM FOR ‘UNDER-20’ RANKING’

The importance of lithium is being widely felt and this discovery has definitely put India on the global map. India till now was completely dependent on imports for this shiny gray metal. This discovery may likely help the Indian government deliver on a recent promise to increase the number of private electric cars by 30% before 2030. India imported ₹173 crore worth of lithium and ₹8,811 crore worth of lithium ions in 2021 and the requirements will only go up.

CHINA’S LION SHARE

Despite Latin America holding the world’s largest Lithium reserves China is

the largest producer of Liion batteries with 73% of the global capacity, followed by the USA which is home to about 12% of global capacity. Six of the 10 biggest EV battery producers are based in China— one of them, CATL, makes three out of every ten EV batteries globally. While companies like Tesla and OneCharge are trying very hard to find US suppliers, China’s cost advantage seems unbeatable. China controls at least two-thirds of the world’s lithium processing capacity, and this ensures its stranglehold on the battery market for years to come.

HOW DOES CHINA PRODUCE SO CHEAPLY?

The simple answer to this question is cheap labour which it has in abundance followed by the cost advantage in green tech like solar panels of which it is the largest producer worldwide. China also has a definite cost advantage since it holds Lithium re -

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT LITHIUM?

Lithium is one of the lightest elements, and it has the strongest electrochemical potential of any element. This enables a lithium-based battery to pack a lot of energy storage in a small, light battery. As a result, lithium-ion batteries have become the battery of choice in many consumer electronics such as laptops and cell phones. Infact, the price of Lithium has shot up by 90% since COVID-19.

serves of its own and has seized the momentum in the market by signing preferential deals with lithium-rich nations and huge government investment in the complex steps between mining and manufacturing.

BUT THE CATCH IS…

While Lithium is a relatively abundant metal, viable reserves are rare and there’s an important piece missing between mining and manufacturing. Turning lithium ore into lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide needed for batteries is an expensive and complex process and factories have long gestation periods. Impact of lithium mining and refining also has a huge environmental impact.

India has initiated a battery production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme worth ₹18,100 crore for five years to set up battery cell manufacturing. The refining capability is still at a very nascent stage. China is way ahead and enjoys the first

mover advantage. Also, the ecological effects of the mining activity need to be considered specifically in the wake of the Joshimath issue which reminded us about the need to respect the ecosensitivity of the Himalayas. The deposits are after all located at the foothills of the Vaishno hills which is a heavily populated and religiously important area.

OUR TAKE

For India to achieve its EV Vision 2030, it needs to work on securing its lithium reserves at the earliest as the race to be the “li-ion king” is intense and the pressure on the world’s scarce lithium reserves keeps mounting. It currently imports 95% of its requirements from China and Hong Kong and just the PLI scheme and duty exemptions are not enough, a partnership between the government and private sectors is required to have a firm footing on the global map.

New Delhi: India needs to strengthen its Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and overcome the shortage of technical personnel to get into the top 20 ranking of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Arun Kumar, Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said on Saturday. Kumar added that Indian civil aviation system was rapidly growing and in the next few years, airlines would be adding more aircraft. —ANI

The world is increasingly turning electrified. Electrification of cars is one prominent phenomenon. By 2040, over half of the cars on the roads are projected to be powered by electricity

Mirch Masala

FIRST INDIA SUNDAY SPECIAL

BY TRIDIB RAMAN

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

DID THE TOP BJP LEADERSHIP REALLY ‘MANAGE’ MADAM? IT SURELY DOESN’T APPEAR SO

The political circles are speculating whether the checkmate game between Vasundhara Raje Scindia and the BJP Delhi top brass has come to an end? It was being alleged that a ‘pact’, of sorts, has been reached between Vasundhara Raje Scindia and the Satish Poonia camp on the lines of ‘Na Tum Haare, Na Hum Jeete’ and that the Rajasthan BJP has also heaved a sigh of relief after a long gap. This was being said since, Madam, who was absent from the BJP’s flag-poster till now, has now started registering her presence in BJP’s official programs as well. Sources reveal that BJP’s seat-by-seat survey work was going on in Rajasthan for some time, and the results of this survey informed the party top that ‘without taking Vasund hara along, it will not be easy to overcome the Gehlot factor in Rajasthan’.

Less than ten months are left for the assembly elections in Rajasthan. Till now, separate programs of Vasundhara and the state

Give us fair price or nod to commit SUICIDE’

First India Bureau

BJP were going on in the state. However, there was a grapevine in the ‘relevant political circles’ that the state unit will also be seen with Raje in the grand program organized at Salasar in Churu on the occasion of Vasundhara’s birthday.

Although Raje’s birthday falls on March 8, and since this time Holi festival is on March 8, Vasundhara has shifted her birthday program by 4 days.

However, it now seems that all is still not well between Raje and Poonia camp since on March 4, the youth wing of state BJP - BJYM - has organized a program to gherao the state assembly and state president Satish Poonia himself will be present and spearhead the rally. Other organizations of the state BJP will also take part in the protest and Poonia, on Saturday, made strategy regarding the protest. Therefore, although on the surface it appeared that the concerned parties had made amends, but, a political observer has pointed, that, all is not what it may seem!

OMAR’S ‘NO’ TO RAHUL’S PROPOSAL

Recently, when Rahul & Priyanka Gandhi were skiing in the snow in Gulmarg, they had also sent an invitation to National Conference leader Omar Abdullah to go skiing with them. Omar had readily agreed to this, but his father, Farooq Abdullah, rejected the idea outright, and is said to have told Omar in an almost reprimanding manner - ‘Do you have the slightest presumption that you can ski like this? What would the Kashmiri people of the state think? What political message would be conveyed by this? Umar could not resist his father’s words and refused to accompany Rahul. After this Rahul’s dinner was fixed with PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti. But when Rahul’s skiing photo became viral on the social media, Mehbooba also cancelled the dinner on the pretext that she was going to attend the Jammu session of the party, so she could not attend the dinner. Interestingly, like always, Rahul seems to be taking some time to read the political signals.

AKHILESH KEEPING DISTANCE FROM ELDERS

Akhilesh’s close friends also now feel that SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav couldn’t handle the Ramcharit Manas case with ‘maturity.’ In this matter, showing haste, Akhilesh has unnecessarily decided to fight with the State’s forward castes. SP spokesperson Richa Singh and Roli Tiwari Mishra, who lodged a quick protest against Swami Prasad Maurya’s controversial remarks on Ramcharit Manas, were expelled from the party by Akhilesh saying that ‘both these leaders are involved in antiparty activities’. In fact, Akhilesh was in London when Maurya made the remark & couldn’t be contacted. Exhausted, Richa Singh wrote a long message to Akhilesh’s wife Dimple Yadav & told her that ‘you are also the daughter of a Kshatriya, how are you tolerating all this?’ Dimple called up Akhilesh and said, ‘What is all this going on in the party?’ After talking to Dimple, Akhilesh called up Richa and Roli, ‘who were adamant about protest.’ Akhilesh got angry and at the same time showed both of them the door.

Nashik: In the face of financial difficulties, farmers in the state’s Nashik district have asked the Central government to grant them ‘permission’ to commit suicide. Agricultural workers are in dire straits as onion prices have dipped recently.

Farmers have alleged that it has become difficult for them to even recover the amount of money they use to grow their crop.

While talking to ANI, a farmer said, “The onions are being sold at Rs300-400 per kg in the mandi (vegetable market). I have already spent

BJP CONTINUES TO ALIGN WITH CHAUTALAS

Rs3.5 lakh but I will not be able to make even Rs1 lakh now. I do not know how to deal with this issue. The Modi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) government should look after farmers’ issues. But he is least bothered about us.” We deserve to get fair prices for our crops, or else, the government should give us permission to commit suicide.

We can’t even think of buying a Rs10 chocolate for our children,” the farmer added.

Echoing a similar sentiment, a female farmer also expressed disappointment over low onion prices. “We have onions in a one-acre area. I

SAME STORY

Last week, 63-year-old farmer Rajendra Chavan, who resides in Barshi tehsil of Solapur, was compensated `2.49 for 512kg of onion at a rate of `100 per quintal. After deduction of transportation, weighing, labour and other costs, he received the paltry sum for his crop.

The onions are being sold at `300-400 per kg in the mandi (vegetable market). I have already spent `3.5 lakh but I will not be able to make even `1 lakh now. I do not know how to deal with this issue. We deserve to get fair prices for our crops, or else, the government should give us permission to commit suicide. —A farmer

have grown onions after mortgaging my gold. My total expense was Rs50,000 but when I went to the market to sell my produce, I could not even get Rs20,000-25,000. The

First India Bureau

A high-level meeting of BJP leaders was held in Delhi recently regarding Haryana. If sources are to be believed, in this meet it has been decided by consensus that ‘BJP will fight the 2024 polls with JJP. BJP’s focus is on non-Jat voters.

The party knows that Chautala’s JJP has the potential to make a big dent in Jat vote bank and party strategists are confident that the Jannayak Janta Party can garner at least 30% of the Jat votes. BJP strategists know that if Dushyant succeeds in making a dent in the Jat vote bank in upcoming polls, then the saffron party can cross the electoral battle by betting big on its non-Jat vote bank. Sources reveal that in this important meeting in Delhi, it has also been decided that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will not be replaced till 2024. Moreover, in the 24 elections, the BJP will cancel the tickets of its existing MPs in bulk, replacing them with new ones as it wants to bet on the faces.

TELANGANA ELECTIONS MAY BE HELD AHEAD OF TIME

Telangana CM KCR wants to expand his party at the national level; He is visiting different states & is also in constant contact with nonBJP satraps as he wants to ‘be a part of opposition unity’ and emerged as a major pivot.’ Sources reveal that KCR’s personal astrologer has advised

him that ‘if he conducts early polls, he can regain power ‘with a bang’. Sept 2023 is said to be the most favourable time for elections, while the tenure of current assembly is till Jan 16, 2024. Following the advice, KCR told loyalists, ‘You people should start preparing for the elections ahead of time.’

Mumbai: There are 11 hotspots where maximum deaths from crossing tracks take place, reveals an analysis conducted by the Central Railway (CR). Between January and September 2022, 113 casualties were reported from these hotspots, stated a report.

A recent media report stated that CR proposed placing new boundary walls, fencing and foot-over-bridges (FOBs).

The study, as to the report, pointed out that in spite of infrastructure being available at some locations, people do not use it or the public has broken down walls to use gaps and access railway tracks. Track crossing or trespassing, as officially called, is a leading cause of casualties on the suburban railway

network. Nearly 1, 585 casualties were reported in the Mumbai division of the CR last year.

The experts spotted two spots between Kurla and Vidyavihar stations, one between Tilak Nagar and Chembur, Chembur and Govandi, Mankhurd and Vashi, Wadala and King's Circle, Wadala and Ravli cabin, Kalyan and Thakurli, Ghat-

kopar and Vikhroli and besides one each at Kopar and Thakurli.

The analysis showed that despite having a foot overbridge between Kurla and Vidyavihar, commuters don't use it. A similar pattern is observed in Kopar and Thakurli as well but these areas also need a boundary wall to prevent casualties, the experts noted.

Central government should do something about it.”

“Centre must increase prices or we won’t be able to pay the school fees of our chil-

dren. We work hard to grow the onions, but unfortunately, we are getting the right price for it. We want permission to just end our lives,” the woman rued.

Warning of a movement against the Centre if no action is taken, a farmer explained farmers’ situation. “We begin the preparations three to four months in advance, but when we go to the market with our produce, we end up getting Rs300-Rs400 per kg. Farmers spend almost Rs50,000 to Rs60,000 on the land but get only Rs10,000 to Rs11,000 for one tractor-full crop. There is no profit, we are suffering only loss.”

173kg silver anklets seized; three arrested

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Three residents of Maharashtra, including two jewellers, were detained by the Gujarat police at Valsad and around 173 kilograms of silver anklets worth Rs1.10 crore were seized from them, said the officials. They were on their way to sell the ornaments at Udaipur in Rajasthan.

Police have identified detained as Vijay Patil (car driver), Santosh Odkey and Satish Odkey, all residents of Kolhapur in Maharashtra.

After receiving a tipoff, the police kept a watch on NH-48 near the sugar factory at Valsad and tried to stop a speeding car at Atul village, coming from Mumbai direction.

“Our teams were under watch to intercept the vehicles carrying liquor bottles and

ARTISTIC ENDEAVOUR

caught three people in a car with seizure of silver payals (anklets). The two jewellers told us that they had purchased jewellery from Kolhapur in Maharashtra and were on their way to sell it to jewellers in Udaipur,” said AK Verma, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Valsad district. As per police, driver tried to escape but the police chased car and intercepted the vehicle. On questioning, the driver failed to give satisfactory answers, and hence the police checked the vehicle, and found the silver anklets hidden, they said.

Palghar artists create large Warli painting

First India Bureau

Palghar: As part of a beautification plan to welcome delegates attending the G20 meeting in Aurangabad, a 456 feet long Warli wall painting was drawn by six artists from Palghar.

The G20 inception meeting is scheduled to be held at Aurangabad on February 27 and 28.

The group named Warli Mahila- The

Dhavaleri Group along with 120 local artists painted wall from Central bus stand to Mahavir Chowk in Aurangabad. While Adivasi Yuva Seva Sangh (AYSS) obtained geographical indications for Warli painting, artist group, which is associated with AYSS, offered their services free of cost.

Touted to be the biggest Warli painting in Aurangabad city, it was

The six artists pose in

completed on February 17 and took only six hours. The theme of the wall painting was ‘Indigenous Women Traditional Rights’, where the life cycle of Adivasi (tribal) women was de-

picted in the painting from birth to death.

Notably, a group of six renowned Adivasi artists from Palghar district supervised the paintings, corrected the mistakes of local artists, and also

helped paint a few crucial parts. Incidentally, the Adivasi and Warli communities do not have priests to perform rituals from birth to death. The women perform all the rituals and both communities have given due respect to women from the ancient period.

The team, which made painting a reality, included Kirti Nilesh Vartha from Mahim, Poonam Koal from Waki, Rajeshree Golim from Nihe, Tara Bombade from Palghar, Tanaya Urade from Rothe and Shalini Kasat from Palghar.

Nashik dist farmers decry low prices for their onion produce; Ask Centre ‘to do something about it’ ‘

Onion prices have dipped in the state recently.

Now, Central Railway survey recognizes 11 ‘deadly’ spots

Nearly 1, 585 casualties were reported in the Mumbai division of the Central Railway last year. —FILE PHOTO

front of the painting.

‘Warli Mahila-The Dhavaleri Group’ contributed to the beautification of Aurangabad city, ahead of G20 meet

CREATION: REBELLION OF

CITY FIRST BRINGS TO YOU GLIMPSES FROM CREATIONS 2023, A GRAND FASHION SHOW ORGANISED AT IIS DEEMED TO BE A UNIVERSITY, THE MEGA FASHION SHOW SHOWCASED 43 BUDDING DESIGNERS & A GRAND LAUNCH OF IISU DESIGNER STUDIO ‘AAKAAR’ ON FRIDAY

Garments themed and designed on Azure Hues, Oceanic Splendor, Beatnik Brilliance, Divine Chronicles, Stippled Visions, Retro Revival, Svelte Silhouettes, Sylvan Bellissima, and Folk Couture captivated entire crowd of spectators as 44 beautiful and stunning models step up on the beautifully decorated ramp with mesmerizing backdrops at Creations 2023. The 12th Fashion show of IIS (deemed to be University) - CREATIONS 2023 was held on February 24 at IISU back lawns by the Department of Fashion and Textiles of IIS University.

Jagdeesh Chandra along with Rajiv Arora, Chairman of Raj Small Industries Corporation graced the occasion and motivated the participants with their encouraging words. Municipal commissioner Surat, Shalini Agarwal also graced the occasion and motivated her with her valuable words. Dr Raakhi Gupta, Registrar of the IIS University was also present as the special guest. Around 43 talented young designers from the Department displayed their bright, entertaining and well-crafted work that depicts the

fashion and culture of our society. Creation 2023 has always been a platform to not only boost the morale of young designers but also prepare them to showcase their talent on bigger platforms in future endeavours.

In the same episode, Creations 2023 also announced the IISU’s design studio. The young and talented designers of IIS University showcased their astonishing collections depicting Indian art and culture through Indo-Westerns casuals, Street Wear and Formal Western outfits in their finest form.

The judges Kshipra Goyal (Founder Chrysalis, Jaipur) and Sadhna Garg (Founder Raasika, Jaipur) appreciated the work of the designers and blessed them to be a part of the mainstream fashion industry. Creations 2023 was choreographed by David. The best collections were rewarded with awards including Azure Hues bagged the title whereas Retro Revival and Beatnik Brilliance were awarded second and special jury awards respectively.

KAVITA CHAUHAN cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Gorgeous divas flaunting the astonishing outfits

—PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA

Jagdeesh Chandra with Sadhna Garg, Shalini Agarwal, Dr Ashok Gupta and Dr Radha Kashyap along with the students

This time when you say there are certain life changes for the better, it will not just mean new year resolutions.

The same goes for simple hacks of nourishment that pomegranate brings to you. Relishing this fruit in the winter sun is a must, especially when it has so many benefits to offer.

The name pomegranate is derived from a medieval Latin term, “pōmum (appl) and gr n tum (seeded).” Ratzz and I have our ways, just like she loves those juicy arils with vanilla ice cream, and I am a fan of the pomegranate and papaya combo. Even though this seedy apple is known for its deep red colored juice, did you know that the peel is also edible?

In the kitchen of CauldronSisterss, you will find pomegranate seeds for all sorts of garnishing, molasses of the same to use in sauces/dressings, and dried skin for tea. Yes, you may dehydrate the peel, grind it into powder and use it in your tea. What does it do, you may ask?

POMEGRANATE SEED & PEEL BENEFITS

The goodness of this juicy fruit is so easy to reap that Ritzzy al-

most kicked herself (a long time ago, I must add) when she first heard of it. Pomegranate is rich in antioxidants and this property improves blood pressure, cholesterol, haemoglobin, diabetes, heart health, and skin conditions.

It is also said to have UV damage healing and cognitive-function-enhancing effects. Many substances in the pomegranate and its peel are known to show anti proliferative effects and hence are great as anti-cancerous agents.

To sum it up, a small seedy fruit that is delicious and provides a rather vast range of advantages. To add the same to your daily fare with no extra effort is no big deal. All you need for glowing skin and a healthy body is some pomegranate seed and peel!!!

When we think of using fresh fruits in meals for better nourishment, we always, and rather inevitably, think of the raw form. Have you ever wished to use the same boring elements in different ways?

Ratzz and I have seldom suf fered from the inability to lure the children into eating healthy. Won’t it be a tad easier on the adults of the family if we can convince the kids to intake the required nutrition?

The best part about these modern times is the non-tradi tional mix-matches we all ac cept in our daily lives. Be it a blend of ethnic with contempo rary outfits or the seem ingly odd complement ing tastes in the food.

Of course, the sweet and sour taste of the pomegranate must not remain in the traditional mixfruit kind of dishes. To exper iment with the flavour pallets may sometime misfire but nev er a failure, “What doesn’t kill us, makes us strong” isn’t it?

These humble reci pes could help you put more goodness and love into the food you make. The following are the easiest to pre pare and most exotic to offer.

Wait, there is anoth er twist! Ritzzy and I have a special treat to day, we want to cover a

THEME dinner for you. There will be more than cheer when you wish to invite your friends and family over this new year. Let us give you an entire meal with several courses of pomegranate goodness.

POMEGRANATE DISHES!

Pomegranate Juice/Martini: Which party begins without a welcome drink, be it adults or kids; these drinks with bring out a juicy side of our guests. Just crush the pomegranate seeds and release the juice,

strain it. Mix with some sparkling water, and add mint and a dash of lime juice. To serve top it off with crushed ice/pomegranate seeds for kids; and a little strong mix of vodka for adults.

Pomegranate Dip: Every evening begins with some light snacking and dipping. Some tarty pomegranate mix is needed for your regular dip. When you make the efficient salsa dip, add a hand full of pomegranate to the mix. Remember, lightly pulse the mixture of tomato,

ate in the blender. You need your chunks visible, garnish with a few more pomegranate seeds; remember we are not trying to overpower the taste.

Pomegranate Salad: From adding some pomegranate arils to using pomegranate molasses in the salad dressing, the sky is the limit. You need only imagine your way around. Molasses is the thick extract of pomegranate when the seeds are crushed and boiled (after adding sugar and lime juice in it). This is a good way to coat your greens and fruits in the salad, (also a good pancake syrup). For the easiest salad, you need greens (spinach), cucumber, cheese (feta), tomato, onion, mustard sauce, lime juice, lemon zest (optional), sautéed cottage cheese (optional), olive oil and pomegranate. Mix it all, Ritzzy likes to make the dressing separately, so mix the wet ingredients on the side if you like. It is best to assemble the salad just before eating so the crunch is as real as it comes.

Pomegranate Stew: All you need are, walnuts, pomegranate molasses (yes a useful pomegranate ingredient for many recipes), mushrooms, onion, salt, black pepper, turmeric, concentrated tomato paste and pomegranate seeds. Finely ground walnut is added to sautéed onions, followed by pomegranate molasses, tomato paste, salt and pepper and cold water. Simmer for over an hour (until thick). Sau-

tee the mushrooms with salt and pepper, add the thickened sauce and simmer for another half an hour and add sweetness as required. Garnish with pomegranate seeds to serve a sweet savoury Iranian dish.

Pomegranate Sorbet: Ratzz and I feel sweet dishes bring the entire meal together. A good homemade sorbet is a way to go, especially in winter. This easy healthy sweet is our forever favourite, just get yourself some pomegranate juice, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey/ sugar and mint leaves. Boil sugar in water until dissolved, let it cool a bit and add the rest of the ingredients. Freeze and bring it out to give a good mix every hour until firm. Give the mixture a good blend in the processor and cool for 4-6 hrs. Sorbet is ready to be scooped. Enjoy with some garnished mint leaves and pomegranate arils.

ABOUT CAULDRON SISTERS

Ratika & Richa Khetan, two Sisters, started Cauldron Sisters in 2015. It started as an exotic food gift hamper business, but their love for food encouraged them to start culinary workshops, food deliveries, and slowly and gradually it turned huge as restaurants and cafes started approaching them for consultancy.

One year of Gangu

Alia Bhatt is one of the most loved actresses in Bollywood. We do not need to speak about her talent at all, because her movies and her brilliant acting speak for itself. Talking about her blockbuster film Gangubai Kathiawadi, the film has clocked 1 year today. Celebrating the day, the actress shared a beautiful picture of herself with the film’s director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Taking to her Instagram handle.

blazer. She has left her hair open and accessorized her look with a white pearl earring. Sanjay on the other hand dons a white-coloured cotton kurta and stands beside the ac tress and holds her. Sharing this picture, Alia wrote, “One year of our Gangu #gangubaizindabad #ganguwalasafed.”

Perfect summer look

S

DIMPLED BEAUTY

D

eepika Padukone is currently enjoying the tremendous success of her recently released film, Pathaan. She was seen with Shah Rukh Khan and John Abraham in the Sid -

dharth Anand directorial. The film left cinema lovers mighty impressed with its high-octane action, gripping storyline and solid performances. Amid enjoying the love and praise, Deepika was seen making a chicest appearance at the airport a while ago. In the video, Deepika is seen sporting an oversized Ivy Park t-shirt with baggy

denim jeans. Be it casuals or red carpet gowns, the diva truly knows how to make heads turn. She completed her cool and classy look with oversized sunnies, soft curls, white sneakers, minimal makeup and her million-dollar smile. The dimpled beauty looked all things stylish. Soon after the video, her fans were seen gushing over her look.

‘THANKS TAMATAR’

Vijay Varma, Sonakshi Sinha and other members of team Dahaad attended the series premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. Vijay Varma took to his Insta gram account to share pictures from the film festival and wrote that the team is beaming with joy and excitement.

Tamannaah, who is rumoured to be dat ing Vijay Varma, took to her Instagram to congratulate team Dahaad.

Tamannaah took to her Instagram story to share a picture and wrote, “Congratulations to team #Dahaad.” Vijay Varma reposted the story, and wrote, “Thanks Tamatar,” along with a tomato and a flower emoji.

Deepika Padukone

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

Sonam Kapoor is the true fashionista of Bollywood and there is no denying this fact. After keeping away from the limelight for months, the actress has once again started stepping out for her work commitments and get-togethers. On Saturday, an unseen picture of the actress along with her girl gang cropped up and we cannot stop looking at her. Taking to her Instagram handle, Cookie Boolani shared a fun picture of what seems to be a house party. In the picture, we can see Sonam Kapoor dressed in a white shirt with a knot tied in front and a plunging neckline. She paired it with a silver pleated skirt. The actress tied her hair in a bun and accessorized her outfit with a choker neckpiece. In the picture, you can also spot Masaba Gupta who looks pretty in a white bodycon dress, and Rhea Kapoor who looks stunning in a red dress.

ara Ali Khan is one of the most-loved actress es in Bollywood. We all know that she loves travelling and is often spotted at the air port. On Saturday, the actress was snapped looking her casual best at the Mumbai airport as the actress seemed to head out of the city. Scroll down to check out her look and take cues from it for your next airport visit. In the video, we can see Sara Ali Khan wearing a white oversized shirt. She paired her shirt with blue coloured denim that was ripped on both her knees. She appeared to be in a good mood and stopped and posed for the paparazzi.Kareena Kapoor Khan was spotted with her cousin, celebrated actor Ranbir Kapoor and the duo shot for a new episode of Mirchi Plus’s highly popular show, What Women Want. Later, Kareena treated her fans by posting a mirror selfie with her little brother on Instagram. In the picture which is now winning the internet, Kareena Kapoor Khan has got her pout game on point, while Ranbir Kapoor looked intense in his ‘Animal’ look. “Waiting for this episode with a pout #DaburVitaWhatWomenWant,” the actress captioned her post. In the picture, the Laal Singh Chaddha actress looks simply gorgeous in a red halter-neck jumpsuit. Ranbir Kapoor, on the other, looks dapped in a blue denim shirt, which he paired with matching trousers.

Her post...

Cookie Boolani’s story...

Alia Bhatt

Poutlicious mirror selfieKareena Kapoor Khan

Her story...

Sara Ali Khan

Tamannaah’s story...

‘

I fulfilled my commitment even after the injury’

ASHISH TIWARI cityfirst.mumbai@firstindia.co.in

Shehzada hit the theatres on February 17. The film directed by Rohit Dhawan has received a lot of accolades from the audience. The film led by Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon had Ronit Roy, Manisha Koirala, Paresh Rawal and Sachin Khedekar as a part of the project. But the one takeaway from the film was undoubtedly Sangam Rai’s Performance as the parallel Negative lead. First India spoke to the actor exclusively. Sharing his journey he shared, “I have been

working in the Industry for a very long time now, doing theatres. I started with television and then went on to do good content shows on OTT. Post that I met Mukesh Chhabra for casting and since then has been giving auditions for roles. Rohit Dhawan sir then selected me for Shehzada. Speaking on his working experience he shared, “Rohit Dhawan has been very inspiring and on set. Every day was learning there. The entire cast and crew especially Kartik Aaryan was very kindhearted.” He further

added, “During our shoot in Mauritius I faced a severe accident and was hospitalised. I was under the doctor’s watch for the next few days. But as I had given my commitment to work and I had to full fill the same I completed the schedule in 10 days.”

Sharing his bond with lead Kartik he said, “Kartik Aaryan is indeed charming and has a very welcoming personality. He keeps himself and everyone around him happy. We bonded over friendship and it was overwhelming working with him.”

Remembering his favourite moment of the shoot he shared, “During the shoot Rohit sir said, Sangam people will remember you after the movie releases. That was a very emotional moment for me.”

Ram Charan wins hearts

per-looking star very excitedly spoke about how he accompanied his director onto the stage and also on how he is extremely grateful for the love and support pouring in for the film.

“I did not expect to come up on stage as my director just told me to accompany him.

Thank you so much for giving us all this love this is just a

great response, and we will come back with better films and entertain you more, thank you HCA, thank you so much, ” he passionately stated. The star’s short and crisp speech brought smiles to the audience’s faces! Ram has left everyone impressed with his sharp sense of style, humble attitude, folded hands and astute comments!

Celebrating Success!

Aanad L Rai and Colour Yellow Productions’ most iconic Tanu Weds Manu starring R Madhavan & Kangana Ranaut witnessed a theatrical release that roared loud with its box office success. Kangana delivered yet another impactful performance and was applauded by the audience. The lead duo’s on-screen chemistry was loved by the audience. Speaking about the film Aanand L Rai said, “The re-

sponse this beautiful story received is unmatched. The film is still relatable to a wide audience even today & that’s what a beautiful story does. It leaves an impact every time. I can’t believe the film has completed twelve years today. Gratitude only for all the love & support.”

‘ART IS NOT BIGGER THAN YOUR COUNTRY’

In order to promote his new romantic comedy movie Tu

Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Ranbir Kapoor is currently on the move. The movie, which will be released in theatres this Holi weekend, or on March 8, 2023, will star Shraddha Kapoor as the female lead.

Ranbir Kapoor was questioned about his statement that he was open to acting in Pakistani films during a press event that he recently had in Chandigarh to promote his upcoming Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar.

Responding to it the actor said, “I don’t think itni bhi badi controversy hui. But, for me, films are films, and art is art. I have known a lot of artists from Pakistan. Rahat (Fateh Ali Khan) & Atif Aslam are such great singers who used to con-

tribute to Hindi cinema. So, cinema is cinema. I don’t think cinema sees boundaries.” However, he concluded by saying, “But, of course, you have to respect art but at the same time art is not bigger than your country. So, anybody who is not on good terms with your country your first priority will always be your country.”

Arsheen Namdar won the youngest Teen Miss World Culture International title in Vietnam. To celebrate the success her parents Anuradha and Aliraza

Namdar threw a bash at a restaurant in Andheri. She is the youngest Indian to earn this honour and is super thrilled about it. She was sent to Vietnam to represent India through iconic productions and Mohammed Nagaman Lateef and Aditya Khurana. The actor wants to make the most of this honour and shares her future plans. Celebrities who were spotted included Alaya Furniturewala, Gautam Rode, Pankhuri Awasthi/ Rode, Homi Wadia, Kinshuk Mahajan, Ishita Gango padhyay, Vishal Koti an, Asit Modi, Barkha Bisht, Kunwar Amar, Naimish Taneja, Man ish Goel, Shahzada Dhami, and many more. A scrumptious cake was cut and all cheered for Arsheen. Her proud parents Anuradha and Aliraza Nam dar attended all guests per sonally. Ar sheen Namdar says, “I am overwhelmed with the re sponse and en couragement from everyone. It is a proud moment for India, me as well as my parents. I am surely blessed and ex pect more good things to happen in my ca reer.”

Babil Khan refuses family privileges

Babil Khan, the son of Irrfan Khan, is highly active on Instagram and frequently posts old photos of him and his late father, amusing anecdotes, and his cherished memories of Irrfan Khan. In the Netflix movie Qala, which was published on December 1st 2022, he made his acting debut. While people began to contrast Babil’s acting abilities with those of Irrfan, he insisted that he wasn’t attempting to emulate his father and that he wanted to keep his uniqueness as an artist.

Acknowledging his privilege, he said, “I have experienced privilege in my life, why must I hide from that truth? Instead, I try to stay true to my sense of morality and the values of my upbringing in the use of that privilege.”

According to him, using privilege as a quick route to success

is not his style; instead, he thinks that it should be used to advance one’s development. He continued by saying that instead of using his privilege to obtain employment, he makes use of his father Irrfan Khan’s contacts to pick the brains of industry experts.

BARSE!

Arsheen and Vishal

Gautam Rode, Arsheen Namdar and Pankuri Awasthi

Shehzada, Arsheen and Dhami

Arsheen with Asit Kumarr Modi Barkha Bisht Sengupta

Babil Khan

Ranbir Kapoor

Ram Charan

Sangam Rai

Poster of the movie

Poster