First India-Mumbai Edition-31st January 2023

Jaipur: There is change in PM Narendra Modi’s Dausa tour. PM Modi will now visit Dausa on February 12 instead of February 4 to inaugurate Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted info about the revised schedule on Monday.

59 KILLED, OVER 100 INJURED IN PESHAWAR MOSQUE BLAST

Peshawar: An explosion in a mosque killed at least 59 worshippers and wounded over 150 in Pakistan’s Peshawar, a hospital official said. Many of casualties were police officers who had gathered for the daily prayers, agency reported, citing city police chief.

G’NATH TEMPLE

Lucknow: A special NIA court on Monday awarded death sentence to Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, arrested in connection with an attack on security personnel stationed at UP’s Gorakhnath temple in April last year. Prashan Kumar, ADG (Law and Order), said that the accused was handed the death penalty.

ASARAM BAPU

CONVICTED OF 1

MORE RAPE BY GUJARAT COURT

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday reserved its order on the bail plea of Shankar Mishra, who is accused of urinating on an elderly female co-passenger in a drunken state on a New York-Delhi Air India flight last November, until Tuesday.

Gandhinagar: Court in Guj’s Gandhinagar on Monday convicted Asaram in a woman disciple rape case registered against him in 2013. Court reserved order on quantum of sentence for today, acquitted 6 other accused, including Asaram’s wife, due to lack of proof.

MAHATMA GANDHI’S LEGACY HONOURED ON MARTYRS’ DAY!

CULMINATION OF THE 136-DAY BHARAT JODO YATRA OF CONGRESS

SNOW FALLS, RAHUL RISES, YATRA ENDS

Moni Sharma

Srinagar: Congress on Monday took out a rally to mark the culmination of its Bharat Jodo Yatra in J&K amid heavy snowfall. The rally began from the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium and was joined by representatives from DMK, NC, PDP, CPI, RSP and IUML.

Speaking at the rally, Rahul said he was warned that he might be attacked in Kashmir but, “people here did not give me hand grenades but hearts full of love”.

He spoke about pain of losing someone while remembering his father Rajiv’s assassination, saying that he understood the pain of those who lost their kin in Pulwama attack. Gandhi also said the RSS and BJP were targeting the liberal and secular ethos of country by inciting violence.

More on P5

I have not done this (Bharat Jodo Yatra) for myself or for the Congress Party but for the people of the country. Our aim is to stand against the ideology that wants to destroy the foundation of this country.

—Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader

AMID FEUD WITH US SHORT-SELLER

A SNOWBALL FIGHT BETWEEN BRO-SIS DUO

Budget session from today

l Prez Murmu to address joint sitting of Houses l Economic Survey 2023 to be tabled in Parl today l FinMin to present the Union Budget tomorrow

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra broke into an impromptu snowball fight during the last leg of the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Srinagar on Monday.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

l Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled India’s tricolor during the BJP’s Ekta March led by Murali Manohar Joshi in 1992 at Lal Chowk in Srinagar l BJP leaders said Rahul could unfurl the tricolour at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk only because PM Modi

‘Didn’t wear sweater because ...’: Rahul

A mid talks raging about his wearing a T-shirt despite the winter chill during Yatra, Rahul on Monday narrated a story of 4 kids whom he met during BJY, they were beggars who did not wear sweaters, shivering in winters, which inspired him not to do same during the yatra.

Adani firms lose $65 bn in value

l Adani Enterprises FPO garners 3% on Day-2 l IHC throws `3,200 crore lifeline

New Delhi (FIB): Most

Adani group shares extended their sharp falls on Monday as Indian conglomerate’s rebuttal of a US short-seller’s criticism failed to pacify investors, driving stock market losses for the companies to $66 billion over 3 days.

Adani, led by Asia’s richest man Gautam Adani, has locked horns with Hindenburg Research and on Sunday it had hit back at the US short-seller’s report.

REJECTS ADANI CHARGE, SAYS FRAUD CAN’T BE OBFUSCATED BY NATIONALISM

US short seller Hindenburg Research has dismissed charge that its report on Adani Group’s malfeasance was a “calculated attack” on India, saying a “fraud” cannot be obfuscated by nationalism or a bloated response that ignored key allegations.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

l LIC said it will talk to management of Adani Group within days after US short-seller Hindenburg Research accused the conglomerate of high debt levels, use of tax havens

l IHC, the diversified Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate, said it would invest $400 mn into Adani firms

FROM 5-20 PERCENT

revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and abrogated Article 370

l After PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi became second leader to unfurl Tricolour at Lal Chowk. 75 yrs ago, India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru also unfurled India’s flag at Lal Chowk

Ashok Gehlot @ashokgehlot51

Due to getting infected with pneumonia on January 26, I am not able to attend any public event. I had a heartfelt desire to attend the concluding program of #BharatJodoYatra in Srinagar today but could not go there due to doctors’ advice. I congratulate Mr. Rahul Gandhi and all the Yatris for the successful organization of #BharatJodoYatra again. This visit is a new beginning in the politics of India which will lead to major changes in the country.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal at all-party meeting in New Delhi on Monday.

First India Bureau New Delhi: The Budget session of Parliament begins on Tuesday with the maiden address of President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both Houses.

While the government’s priority will be to seek approval on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address and the Finance Bill, the Opposition is raring to corner it on a range of issues, including the Adani-Hindenburg row, a nationwide castebased economic census and the women’s reservation bill.

The Economic Survey will be tabled on Tuesday after the Presi-

MLC polls: With voting done, Satyajeet Tambe breaks silence

First India Bureau Mumbai: With the term of five Maharashtra Legislative Council members--two from graduates’ and three from teachers’ constituencies--expiring on February 07, voting for the five seats concluded on on Monday.

Suspended Congress leader Satyajeet Tambe, who contested as an independent from the Nashik graduates’ constituency, finally broke his silence on the political drama of the past few

weeks amid rumours that he was set to join the BJP. “I am an independent candidate and will remain an independent,” he said. Votes will be counted on February 02.

ALL-PARTY MEET HELD IN PARL, CONG MISSES IT

Ahead of Budget Session, an all-party meeting was called by government on Monday. Deputy Leader of House Rajnath Singh, Parl Affairs min Pralhad Joshi, Leader of House Piyush Goyal, MoS Parl Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Muraleedharan were present in meet. However, Congress leaders were absent in the meeting.

dent’s address. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the last full-fledged Union Budget of the Modi govt before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on Wednesday.

Waste of time: Rijiju on BBC docu ban cases

I am an independent candidate and will remain independent. Over the past 10-15 days, my family has been portrayed as villains by presenting only half-truths. I have been silent until now to refrain from adding unwarranted fuel to the fire. However, I must now say that the allegations against us are not from the party but only some people within the Congress.

—Satjayeet Tambe, Independent candidate

First India Bureau New Delhi: Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday described as “waste of the Supreme Court’s precious time” petitions challenging the ban on a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 2002 Gujarat riots. SC hearing next week

The SC will hear pleas challenging the Centre’s decision to block a BBC documentary on the 2002 Gujarat riots on Monday next week.

Satyajeet Tambe

(From Left) President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Hardeep Singh Puri and other dignitaries at Gandhi Smriti to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, in New Delhi on Monday. President Droupadi Murmu pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by saluting him at the Rajghat. LS Speaker Om Birla pays floral tributes to ‘Father of Nation’ at Rajghat. PM Narendra Modi performs parikrama on Monday. Martyrs’ Day, also known as Shaheed Diwas, is observed in India on January 30 to commemorate assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.

ATTACK: DEATH SENTENCE TO ABBASI

Was warned, I might be attacked in Kashmir, but people here gave me love, not hand grenades, says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti at the concluding event of the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra amid heavy snowfall, in Srinagar on Monday.

After BMC, allegations of nCoV irregularities in Shinde bastion

GLASS HOUSES?

First India Bureau

Aurangabad: Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction leader Ambadas Danve on Monday urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to look into issues plaguing Marathwada whenever he visits the region. He was referring to the latter’s presence at a religious gathering there.

The CM was in Aurangabad on Sunday to attend a religious event.

AADITYA THACKERAY TO TOUR THREE MARATHWADA DISTRICTS

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Weeks after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation received a clean chit in the alleged Remdesivir scam of 2020-21, there are rumours alleging irregularities in pandemic-relief work carried out by the Ambernath Municipal Council and the KalyanDombivli Municipal Corporation.

Notably, the ruling coalition of the Shiv Sena faction led by CM Eknath Shinde and the

Bharatiya Janata Party led by Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has been loudest in alleging scams in the BMC, which was led by Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Ambernath and the KDMC both fall in areas considered to be bastions of CM Shinde for the

CRUCIAL READ

COBBLERS, STALL OWNERS PROTEST EVICTION THREAT NEAR THANE RLY STN

Thane: AHundreds of cobblers and their relatives held a protest near Thane railway station on Monday claiming they were being harassed due to an eviction drive allegedly being carried out at the behest of a local leader. Around 430 stalls are permitted legally by the Maharashtra social welfare department and the Thane Municipal Corporation but officials were threatening them with eviction, claimed Cobblers’ Association president Rajabhau Chavan. The protest dispersed after officials promised to pass on their demands to higher-ups.

FIRE AT MUMBAI RESIDENTIAL BLDG; NO CASUALTIES

Mumbai: A flat in a 19-storey residential building in Mumbai caught fire on Monday, a fire official said. No casualties were reported in the incident. The fire brigade received a call at around 12.30 pm about a fire on the seventh floor of Om Shiv Shakti housing society on M A Road in Sion Koliwada area, the official said. Four fire engines, a water tanker and other assistance were rushed to the spot and the blaze was put out by 1.30 pm, he said.

past decade or so.

According to a report in the Indian Express, the Maharashtra government had announced a ‘seva fortnight’ for a period between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday and Gandhi Jayanti last year. It was further extended as the government claimed that it had got

a massive response, and all the pending applications were to be cleared during the period. Despite several promises by the state ministers that its report would be made public after state cabinet meetings, no details of the actual work done within the campaign has come to light so far, the report states.

IN REMEMBRANCE

Meanwhile, BMC administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal continued to be under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate as recently as early this month, for alleged irregularities in contracts awarded for the setting up of jumbo COVID-19 care centres in Mumbai at the peak of the pandemic.

“There is nothing wrong in attending religious meetings and coming to Marathwada for the same. But the chief minister should also look into issues and ensure that they are resolved. Does he (Shinde) feel that the problems in the region have been solved?” said the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council.

Matters pertaining to irrigation and Marathwada Development Board are not on the agenda of the state government since its for-

There is nothing wrong in attending religious meetings and coming to Marathwada for the same. But the chief minister should also look into issues and ensure that they are resolved.

—Ambadas Danve, Shiv Sena - UBT leader

mation, he claimed.

The case is not limited to Marathwada alone, it is happening with Vidarbha and the state capital Mumbai, Danve alleged. The state keeps talking about what it did six months ago, but is not looking into issues of the public, he said.

Aurangabad (PTI): Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Aaditya Thackeray will tour Aurangabad and two other districts of central Maharashtra on February 01. He will interact with party-supported village representatives elected recently and also local residents, said a functionary of the Opposition outfit on Monday. During the visit, the former minister will tour nearly 15 villages of Aurangabad, Jalna and Beed districts in the Marathwada region, said Shiv Sena -UBT leader Ambadas Danve. The MLA from Worli in Mumbai will also interact with villagers during the visit, Danve added.

BJP leader Chitra

Wagh likens Maha min to Jyotiba Phule

2 MORE HELD FOR MURDER OF HISTORY-SHEETER

Navi Mumbai: The Panvel Taluka police have arrested two more persons for the murder of a history-sheeter from Pune, identified as Sanjay Karla, whose body was found in November. The suspects—identified as Sushil Dharma Yadav (38) and Rohit Bharat Kanitkar (36)—were arrested from Karanjade in Panvel. So far, four persons have already been arrested in the case. The crime branch had arrested two persons in the case on January 05.

MAN BOOKED FOR SUBMITTING FORGED DOCUMENTS IN FRIEND’S BAIL PROCEDURE

Thane: A man was booked for allegedly submitting fake documents in the bail process of a friend in Kalyan railway court, a police official said. The accused had submitted fake tax receipts, Aadhaar and ration card photocopies and a false affidavit as part of his personal details in the court while standing surety for a person accused of robbery by railway police, he said. The man has been booked for cheating, forgery and other offences at MFC police station on the complaint of a court official, he added.

3 OF A FAMILY END

LIVES, BLAME MONEYLENDER

Nashik: A 55-year-old man and his two sons ended their lives by hanging in the Radha Krishna Nagar area of Satpur Sunday. As per the suicide note left behind, they had ended their lives due to harassment by a moneylender.

The deceased have been identified as Deepak Supdu Shirode(55), Prasad(25) and Rakesh(23). Deepak Shirode’s wife had gone to the temple with their youngest son, 19-year-old Harshal when the three men took the extreme step in three different rooms of their house, the police said.

7 jobseekers lose nearly `19L in online fraud

Thane (PTI): Seven jobseekers were allegedly cheated of nearly Rs19 lakh by an unidentified person on the pretext of providing them part-time employment in Thane, police said on Monday.

An offence under the Information Technology

ILLEGAL GAS REFILL CENTRE BUSTED, 2 HELD

Mumbai: The officers of crime branch Unit 2 arrested two persons for illegally filling domestic gas into vehicles in the Satpur area. The police also confiscated 21 LPG cylinders, electric motor, weighing machine and cash collectively worth Rs91,000 from the two accused, identified as Mahesh Gangurde and Nilesh Ingle. On Saturday, constable Rajendra Ghumre of the crime branch received information about the illegal business, and a raid was carried out following the same, the officials said.

First India Bureau Mumbai: The Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Monday took a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over right-wing groups taking out a march against “Love Jihad” in Mumbai on Sunday.

An editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana

Act was registered on Sunday based on a complaint lodged by one of the victims who lost Rs2.82 lakh to fraudsters, an official said. According to the complainant, she had received a message from an unknown number on an app about the availa-

bility of part-time jobs last month, he said. The victim was asked to carry out some activities on the app and on YouTube, after which some money was credited to her account. However, after more such activities, she found that Rs2.82 lakh had been si-

phoned from her account. On realizing that she had been cheated, the woman approached the police and found that six others had been duped in the same manner, he said, adding that the seven victims have lost nearly Rs19 lakh in the fraud.

Patil —FILE

Chandrakant

First India Bureau

Pune: Bharatiya Janata

Party leader Chitra

Wagh has compared Maharashtra cabinet minister and her senior party colleague Chandrakant Patil with social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.

Notably, state Higher and Technical Education Minister Patil, who is an MLA from Pune, had kicked up a row by commenting that BR Ambedkar and Jyotiba Phule did not seek government grants for running educational institutions, but “begged” people to gather funds needed to start schools and colleges.

We can see Savitribai (wife of Phule and pioneer of women’s education in Maharashtra in the 19th century) in households, but a search is on for a Jyotiba (Phule) like Chandrakant Patil and BJP leader Hemant Rasne.

The use of the word “begged” had stirred up a controversy, resulting in an ink attack on Patil. Wagh, who heads the state BJP women’s wing, made the comments on Sunday at a programme organized here by local party leader Hemant Rasne which was also attended by Patil.

Love Jihad morcha needed when BJP at helm’

questioned the need for such a protest, when the “so-called Hindutvavadi government” is in power at the Centre and Maharashtra. The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena said the BJP plays its “trump card” whenever it feels jolts of defeat. Now they have begun the game of playing the Hindu-Muslim card, it said. The ‘Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha’ against “Love Jihad” demanded anti-conversion laws in Maharashtra. They also asked for a crackdown on land grabs in the name of religion.

“There is a so-called fierce Hindutvavadi government in the state as well at the Centre. Then

how come your (the ones who took out the rally) Hindutva is in danger?” questioned the editorial.

“With Modi-Shah at the Centre, there is a Ramrajya and this state is a heaven for Hindus this is what their (supporters of the BJP) people say. So it is surprising that there was still the ‘Aakrosh’ morcha (rally),” it said.

The Saamana further said taking out such a march would have been logical had the Muslim League been (ruling) the Centre and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) government in Maharashtra.

“If there is a question of Love Jihad or forced conversion then

there should be a strong law. But whenever elections are around the corner there is a talk of ‘Hindutva being in danger’ in BJP-ruled states,” it said. If the ‘Aakrosh’ morcha was just for elections, then it is dishonesty towards Hindutva, it said. It also took a dig at the BJP-led Centre, saying conferring Padma Vibhushan on “Maulana” Mulayam Singh, the late Samajwadi Party patriarch, is an “insult to sacrifices of thousands of karsevaks of the Ram Mandir movement”.

‘Surprised

SHIV SENA’S DIG AT BJP

Would have made sense if Muslim league had been at Centre or AIMIM had been ruling in Maha: Saamana

Right-wing outfits took out a ‘Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha’ against anticonversion in Mumbai on Sunday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE

The current ruling regime had alleged irregularities in contracts awarded for the setting up of jumbo COVID-19 care centres in Mumbai.

Rumours rife that relief work carried out in Ambernath, KDMC during the pandemic may not have been entirely above-board

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Amit Thackeray pays floral tribute to former Maha CM Yashwantrao Chavan, in Karad on Monday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Devnagari signage: HC orders `1L deposit as condition for PIL

Court asks trust to deposit the amount to prove bonafides in petition on Hindi, Marathi signboards

at Mumbai airport

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday asked a petitioner to deposit Rs 1 lakh as a “precondition” to prove its bonafides in public interest litigation seeking the use of Devnagari text in signage at the Mumbai airport.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Sandeep Marne said it would hear the petition only if the ‘Gujarati

Vichar Manch’ (GVM) trust deposited the amount.

GVM’s PIL seeks the implementation of two circulars issued by the Union Home Ministry’s Department of Official Language in 2008, directing that Hindi and regional language be used

Dabholkar murder: Probe completed, CBI tells HC

Displaying English language sign boards prominently at the airport in Mumbai is nothing but an act to foist the language on the indigenous people. Having Marathi signage at par with English ones would lead to greater convenience to the indigenous people of Maharashtra and Indian residents who are not well acquainted with English.

—GVM petition in HC

at par with English on sign boards and indicators at public places. The PIL alleges that the authorities have failed to implement the circulars despite multiple reminders and requests from the petitioner trust.

“The petitioner merely seeks recognition to-

No parole for TADA convicts as per Maha rules: Bom HC

First India Bureau

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has refused to grant parole to a prisoner convicted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. It noted that convicts of “terrorist crimes” are not eligible for parole, as per rules in Maharashtra.

A division bench comprising Justice SB Shukre and MW Chandwani on December 02, 2022 dismissed a petition filed by convict Hasan Mehndi Sheikh, serving life imprisonment in the Amravati Central Prison. He was seeking regular parole to see his ailing wife.

Sheikh was convicted for various offences including under stringent provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). He approached the HC after the jail authorities rejected his application on the ground

that he was not eligible for grant of parole under provisions of the Prisons (Bombay Furlough and Parole) Rules.

In its order, the HC noted that there was a specific provision in the Rules which disqualifies a convict under TADA from getting benefit of regular parole.

“It is clear that there

Mumbaikars complain of BMC negligence during concretization

is a bar placed upon prisoners who are convicted for terrorist crimes, TADA is about terrorist crime, from being released on regular parole,” the court said.

“The petitioner is convicted under TADA and therefore he would not be eligible for grant of regular parole,” the HC added.

wards the official and regional language of the state of Maharashtra as language is a highly emotional issue for the people of any nation. It has a great unifying force and is a powerful instrument for national integration,” the petition said.

SantacruzChembur Link Road ext to open soon

First India Bureau Mumbai: A part of the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) extension project will be open for vehicular movement by the end of February, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) said in response to a petition filed in the Bombay High Court. The MMRDA has assured the bench that part of the flyover from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg junction and Hans Bhugra Junction to Ahmed Raza Chowk would be opened by the end of next month.

Interestingly, the Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition from the Federation of Retail Traders’ Welfare Association, against the BMC on the latter’s decision to fine shopkeepers Rs1 lakh for failing to put up Marathi signboards.

First India Bureau Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday told the Bombay High Court that it had completed the investigation into the 2013 killing of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.

The investigating officer has submitted a closure report to the competent authority, the agency said.

However, a lawyer representing Dabholkar’s daughter claimed before the court that the CBI has not investigated the case properly and there are still many loopholes that are yet to be looked into.

Dabholkar (67), founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, was shot dead by two persons, allegedly linked to the radi -

cal outfit Sanatan Sanstha, while he was on a morning walk in Pune on August 20, 2013.

The CBI has so far filed a charge sheet against five accused in the case.

Earlier this month, the HC sought to know from the CBI the status of its probe into the case.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, appearing for the CBI, told a division bench of Justice AS

AI app to manage attendance, leave for NMMT employees

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) has launched an artificial intelligence-based automated leave and attendance management app for its employees. The application will help the civic body to manage leave and attendance smoothly and track the strength of employees on duty at any time.

Developed by a Punebased IT firm, the app will keep a record, manage and track of leaves and attendance of over 3,000 employees employed at NMMT. The new app was launched by Sujata Dhole, Additional Municipal Commissioner of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) on the 27th Foundation Day of the NMMT. The app enables leave-related statutory compliances for employers, payroll pro -

cessing and provides information on leave policies to employees.

“There will be an automatic alert regarding the renewal of conductor license, thus, promoting more efficiency. Any important message from the department to their staff will show up as a notification and hence, important communication will be delivered to everyone,” Sunil Salunkhe, Head of ITMS Integrated Transportation Management System, NMMT, said.

MUMBAI CIVIC UPDATE

BMC 45% short of annual `7K cr property tax target

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The property tax collections in Mumbai by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation currently stand at Rs3,859 crore. This is around 45% less than Rs7,000 crore, the targeted property tax collection as announced in the civic budget by the BMC chief. However, with the pandemic now having eased, and two months still left in the financial calendar, the officials are confident of meeting the collection target, and even surpassing it. This year’s collection is also slightly higher than last time when at the same time the collections stood at Rs3,738 crore. In 2021-22, the total collection stood Rs5,792 crore.

SoBo-Navi Mumbai water taxi service to start this Saturday

First India Bureau Mumbai: The BMC is revamping the footpaths at the cost of concretizing the roots of decades-old trees, residents from Dadar Parsi Colony have alleged. Over the weekend, residents said that the footpath improvement work is being carried out in an ‘insensitive’ manner around the trees of Five Gardens, in the name of beautification. The BMC faced similar allegations back in December 2021, when it was carrying out work on the footpath between Ruia College and St Joseph’s High School. Local resident Burgis Bulsara called for heavy penalties on contractors if this trend continued.

Gadkari and Justice PD Naik on Monday that the agency has completed its investigation in the case.

“As far as the CBI is concerned, the investigation was carried out and is now complete...15 out of 32 witnesses have already been examined in the trial,” Singh said, and sought three weeks’ time for a decision on the closure report. The matter will next be heard after three weeks.

POCSO case filed against 32-year-old mother of 3

Thane (PTI): Police on Monday registered a case against a 32-yearold woman on charges of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy from Thane, an official said.

The boy’s mother filed a police complaint, saying that the accused-a mother of three who lived next door to a relative in Nashik--befriended the teen during her frequent visits to Mumbai. She allegedly made him consume liquor and had sexual relations with him, the official from Kolsewadi police station at Kalyan in Thane said.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered against the woman under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, he said. No arrest has been made so far, he added.

4 years on, 97% of Mumbai’s streetlights converted to LED

First India Bureau

Mumbai: The BMC has completed around 97% work of changing sodium vapour lights to LED lights in the Mumbai suburban section, four years after the work began. For this, Rs55 crore was paid to Adani Electricity. To implement the project, the BMC appointed a committee headed by additional commissioner (eastern suburbs) in 2018, comprising the BEST general manager, chief engineers of Reliance Energy and Mahavitaran, and the deputy chief engineer (traffic). Currently, 84,754 street lights in the western and eastern suburbs have been changed to LED lights.

First India Bureau Navi Mumbai: Nayan XI, a luxury vessel belonging to Nayantara Shipping, has been permitted to operate services between Belapur in Navi Mumbai and Gateway of India. The Mumbai Port Authority gave its approval to the passenger service which will be inaugurated by State ports minister Dadaji Bhuse on February 04. The vessel will sail from Belapur at 8.30 am and reach Gateway of India at 9.30 am. The return trip from Gateway of India will depart at 6.30 pm and arrive at Belapur at 7.30 pm.

Currently, Devnagari signage at the Mumbai airport appears in a smaller font than that in English.

Activist Narendra Dabholkar was gunned down by two in 2013. —FILE PHOTO

ACCORDING TO THE RULES...

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF C hat GPT ude

THE PROFOUND BANALITY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TRIES TO CONQUER THE MAGICAL REALISM OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE IN THE FORM OF Chat GPT

IN-DEPTH

POLITICAL PARTIES THROW CAUTION TO WIND ON OLD PENSION SCHEME

Despite warnings of disastrous financial consequences, restoring the old pension scheme has become the favourite of political parties in election-bound states. The promise did not work for the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party in Gujarat elections, but it is credited for Congress win in Himachal Pradesh. Congress is repeating the promise in Rajasthan and Karnataka. More interesting is the case of Maharashtra where Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in December 2022 that “the government will not revive the old pension scheme” as it will put an additional burden of Rs 1.10 lakh crore on the state. One month later Fadnavis said that the “government is positive about the old pension scheme for teachers and government employees…” Fadnavis changing his stand on the old pension is significant as the Central government has repeatedly pointed to the acute financial challenge it will pose for the exchequer. If the states want to bet on the old pension scheme despite their weak financial position they are in for trouble.

On another level, as the euphoria subsides and people at large start searching for the next supposedly game-changing invention, ChatGPT will certainly creep into our daily lives. It will make some jobs redundant and be a godsend for those who dread the thought of writing a story. Even those who struggle with a writer’s block or small businesses with no marketing budgets will benefit from it. At the same time, it will supercharge the deadly social media driven propaganda machines, which we have accepted as a part of life, with little accountability

Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice,” Gabriel Garcia Marquez used this iconic line to embark on a tour-de-force on human nature in his literary masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude. Had Gabo, as his adoring fans call him, been alive today, he would have begun with ‘A few days later, as he put a gun to his head, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember his lonely midnight doomscrolling that introduced him to ChatGPT.’

The famous opening line, juxtaposing the macabre realities of life with the sense of wonder that comes with appreciating human ingenuity, draws readers into a wild journey of exploration. Not just of human existence and their place in it, but also the

YATRA ENDS, GOAL UNACHIEVED

fertile nature of the human mind that can conjure up imaginary worlds to convey profound insights. And then, there is ChatGPT. No matter which line one prompts the machine with, it spits out a few paragraphs mimicking the human mind.

Magical Realism and AI Gabo makes us marvel at the human ability to understand our origins, internalize our journey through civilizations, observe the mundane, day-to-day life, and convey a deeper sense of meaning and belonging that fills our hearts with contentment when we turn the last page. Ironically, ChatGPT uses similar means to achieve fairly pedestrian ends. The Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT) – built on something called a large language model – takes in everything ever written in a particular language, calculates the probability of any word following a given word, and strings together humansounding sentences. Gabo playfully mocks the cyclical nature of human endeavors in the hope of liberating our souls. ChatGPT exploits the cyclical math of words to

Rahul Gandhi’s long march concluded in Jammu and Kashmir amidst heavy snow blizzard in Srinagar. The end of Bharat Jodo Yatra on January 30 coincided with Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on this day 75 years ago.

Was it Rahul’s coming of age moment? The Mahatma laid down his life for the country’s unity and Rahul’s march was also undertaken to unite the nation. How far he will be successful in achieving that goal only time will tell, but the Congress scion must gear up for a long and tougher journey that lies ahead along with mountain high challenges.

The challenge is to unite the opposition parties to put up a joint front against the BJP in

keep us trapped in a linguistic status quo.

Where will it take us?

ChatGPT evokes fatalism of a completely different kind. At one level, it is just another, and utterly predictable, step in the long march of technological progress. The geek in me asks: If an assembly line can automate and obviate physical labor, what is wrong in ChatGPT automating the mental labor of stringing together words? Who are we, if not elitists, to benefit from the efficiencies assembly lines bring and lament the banality of the language ChatGPT

The end of Bharat Jodo Yatra on January 30 coincided with Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination on this day 75 years ago. Was it Rahul’s coming of age moment?

The Mahatma laid down his life for the country’s unity and Rahul’s march was also undertaken to unite the nation

2024. That being the probable purpose of the Yatra, he would be embarking on that journey with a handicap. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee and Delhi’s

spits out without even a moment’s worth of ‘thought’?

While the world is still in thrall of the capabilities of the latest version of ChatGPT, the perils of using such AI for automating writing are already staring at us. A recent report in the Washington Post summarizes how AI created a journalistic disaster for a media outlet, forcing it to issue countless corrections. Soon enough, pitfalls of such advances will sow socio-political divisions, prompting ethicists and politicians to call for meaningful regulations. As this author has argued before, AI engineers will have to grapple with issues of technology for its own sake vs. the democratic systems that enable free inquiry, challenging authority, and maximizing human capital.

Whatever the future holds, it will certainly chip away at our sense of what it means to be human. The fatalist in me even wants to believe that one hundred years of ChatGPTude will produce a masterpiece like Gabo’s. The radical and romantic in me is screaming inside, begging me not to bet on it!

SOURCE: FAIR OBSERVER

Arvind Kejriwal have expressly distanced themselves from the Yatra and the Congress. How will Rahul reach out to these leaders and convince them that joining ranks is the only way out and that also will decide the success or failure of Yatra. That will require making Congress acceptable to all, which is another challenge.

As for the Yatra’s stated objective of ending hate between people of different faiths there is no scope for disagreement. But it is easier said than done. It is undoubtedly the most desperately needed medicine for the country at this hour and it is also difficult to administer because of rabid elements’ constant attempts to subvert all attempts at harmonious co-existence.

SPIRITUAL SPEAK

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. Buddha

TOP TWEETS

Jagat Prakash Nadda @JPNadda

Had an insightful interaction with Hon.@Kinana_Abdul Vice Chairperson of @ccm_tanzania along with his colleagues today at the BJP HQ. We had detailed discussions, which spanned different topics, from enhancing party-to-party cooperation to the BJP’s role in India’s success story.

Nitin Gadkari @nitin_gadkari

Going to be inaugurated by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji on 4th Feb, the Sohna-Dausa stretch of the #Delhi_ Mumbai_Expressway will facilitate commuters to reach Jaipur from Delhi in two hours. Covering a distance of 1,450 km, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is a true example of worldclass highway construction.

MAUKTIK KULKARNI

The

writer is

a

neuroscientist,

backpacker, author, entrepreneur, public speaker and a film maker

Had Gabo, as his adoring fans call him, been alive today, he would have begun with ‘A few days later, as he put a gun to his head, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember his lonely midnight doomscrolling that introduced him to ChatGPT’

BHARAT JODO YATRA

Tricolour hoisted at Cong office in Srinagar, Yatra culminates

Srinagar (ANI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday hoisted the National flag at the party office in Srinagar. The Tricolour was hoisted in the presence of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi as the Bharat Jodo Yatra ended.

Srinagar had received heavy rain and snowfall on Sunday night and photographs from this morning showed the Gandhi siblings playing with snow at the Congress party headquarters.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh shared a photograph of himself with party colleague Digvijay Singh. Ramesh tweeted, “The Do Bechare... residents of Container #12 and #14 saying farewell at the end of #BharatJodoYatra in a snowy Srinagar to their abodes for the last 135 days.”

Rahul Gandhi during the flag hoisting ceremony at the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ camp site in Srinagar, on Monday. —PHOTO BY PTI

....it happened just as I expected, the people of J&K didn’t

give me a grenade but only love.

—Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader

DK Shivakumar plotted sex CD case against me: Jarkiholi

Belagavi (ANI): Karnataka BJP leader and former state minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who resigned from the Cabinet after a sex video of him surfaced in the state two years ago, attacked state Congress president DK Shivakumar on Monday and accused the latter of hatching a conspiracy against him in the sex CD case.

At a presser here, former minister Jarkiholi said that DK Shivakumar and Congress leaders including Belagavi

Rural MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar are behind the video. “They are hatching a conspiracy to discredit me,” he said. He also demanded an inquiry by the CBI into the matter. The case had come to light on March 2, 2021, when Kallahalli, a social activist, lodged

IN THE COURTYARD

GODHRA CASE: SC SEEKS GUJARAT GOVT’S

REPLY ON SOME CONVICTS’ BAIL PLEAS

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Gujarat government’s response on the bail pleas of some convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2002 Godhra train coach-burning case. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared in the matter on behalf of the Gujarat government, that it was not “merely a stone-pelting” case as the convicts had bolted a bogey of the Sabarmati Express, leading to the death of several passengers on the train.

SC JUDGE RECUSES

FROM PLEA AGAINST

BAIL TO MAJITHIA

New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant on Monday recused himself from hearing an appeal filed by the Punjab government against the high court order granting bail to SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a drug case. As a bench took up the appeal of the Punjab govt, Justice Kant said he was part of the high court bench which had directed the setting up of a special task force to probe the case.

a complaint with the police and demanded a probe into a sex scandal against Jarkiholi, while he was Karnataka’s Major and Medium Water Resources Minister.

“The victim woman was offered a job in the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd. Upon reaching the pre-decided location, the woman was sexually assaulted and now is being threatened by the minister and his people,” Kallahalli had stated earlier.

NO OPPN UNITY AS KEY LEADERS SKIP BJY’S CONCLUDING EVENT IN SRINAGAR

Srinagar: As Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra officially came to a conclusion here on Monday, absence of several top Opposition leaders from its closing event raised eyebrows on the Opposition unity. The top leaders of political parties including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), TMC, and JD(U) did not turn up at final event of Rahul Gandhi-led the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar on Monday.

SEE A RAY OF HOPE IN RAHUL, SAY FORMER J&K CMs

Srinagar: Former chief ministers of J&K Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah said here on Monday that they see a ray of hope in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The two leaders also invoked Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary.

BUDGET SESSION

“WHAT GODSE IDEOLOGY SNATCHED FROM J&K...” MUFTI

Srinagar: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday hailed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. “I hope what the Godse ideology snatched from J&K and from this nation, Rahul Gandhi will restore it,” Mufti said in her brief speech at the Yatra.

UNION MINISTER THRASHES RAHUL FOR “VIOLATING” FLAG CODE IN SRINAGAR

New Delhi: Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday lambasted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “violating” the Flag Code by putting his own cutout overwhelming the Tricolour while unfurling the flag at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on Sunday, and said that the move demonstrates the “psychology of a dynast”. Rahul had unfurled the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Sunday.

IN PARLIAMENT

New Delhi (ANI): An all-party meeting called by the govt brought up issues like Adani stocks, BBC documentary ban and governors’ interference in states ruled by Opposition parties, ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament that commenced on Monday morning. Several opposition parties raised critical issues, including the recent stock market matter concerning Adani Group stocks. MPs asked the government to hold a discussion on the matter as it concerns the economy of the country, and therefore concerns the people at large.

SOME MATTERS CAN’T BE DISCUSSED, GOVT SAYS AT MEET

New Delhi: The govt on Monday said that matters regarding Chinese intrusion can’t be discussed in Parliament as it concerns the security of the country. According to the sources, in the all-party meeting held on Monday, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party raised the issue of the Chinese intrusion and asked for a discussion in the Parliament. “To this, the Government responded by saying that some matters can’t be discussed on the floor of the house as it concerns security,” the source said.

Land issue: Didi stands by Amartya

Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday stood by Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen after Visva Bharati University Vice Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty accused him of unauthorised possession of university land at Bolpur-Santiniketan in Birbhum.

Chakraborty alleged that Sen is in possession of 1.38 acres of land which is excess of his legal entitlement of 1.25 acres. The Nobel laureate, however, has denied the charges. On Monday afternoon, the CM, after reaching Bolpur-San-

Mamata Banerjee at International Kolkata Book fair, in Kolkata.

tiniketan, went to the residence of Sen. There she handed over the land holding records of the state Land & Land Reforms Department, which shows his legal entitlement over the en-

U’Khand CM Dhami attends BJP state working committee meeting

Dehradun (ANI): Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the BJP’s State Working Committee meeting, here on Monday.

ing committee.

In the meeting, discussions will also be held on the formation of Shashakta Mandal, active booth and Panna Committee.

tire 1.38 acres of land that he is occupying.

“Allegations made by the university of illegally occupying 13 decimals of land was totally false and meant to malign the image of the

MAMATA TO LEAVE FOR 3-DAY TOUR TO WEST BENGAL DISTS

Kolkata: West Bengal CM

YSR CONG CALLS FOR CASTE-BASED ECO CENSUS

New Delhi: The YSR Congress demanded a nationwide caste-based economic census at the meet. It is necessary to know the economic status of backward castes who are “lagging behind” on social and development indicators, it said. YSR Congress leader Vijaysai Reddy said backward castes are over 50% of total population and census will help find their economic status. The ruling party in Andhra has joined the JD(U) and the RJD, both of which have demanded a caste census.

Odisha Guv, CM pay last respects to minister Das shot dead by cop

Bhubaneswar (ANI): Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday paid his last respects to the state Health Minister Naba Kishore Das at the minister’s residence here.

great educationist. We will take whatever legal action required in this regard also which I will not disclose now. But I will not tolerate insult of the Nobel laureate at any cost,” Banerjee said.

“Paroles to Ram Rahim spreading disharmony”

The mortal remains of the senior BJD leader were brought to his official residence in the early hours today.

Das succumbed to bullet injuries hours after he was shot at by a policeman at pointblank range in broad daylight in Jharsugud district.

HC QUASHES SEXUAL HARASSMENT FIR AGAINST

2 PERSONS

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has quashed an FIR against two employees of a leading automobile company on allegations of sexually harassing an intern working with the firm, noting that the duo was exonerated by an Internal Complaints Committee. The court said if the consequential proceedings arising out of the FIR are allowed to be continued, it will be a “misuse of power and an exercise in futility”.

INTERFAITH MARRIAGES: SUPREME COURT TO HEAR BATCH OF PLEAS ON FEBRUARY 3

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said it would hear on February 3 a batch of pleas challenging controversial state laws regulating religious conversions due to interfaith marriages. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala noted that a transfer plea was mentioned in the morning. “We can list it, issue notice and hear it together. The transfer petition will also be numbered by then. The attorney general can also examine. We will hear all on Friday,” the bench said.

The two-day meeting which started on Sunday has been called for brainstorming on the strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha and the local body polls in Uttarakhand. BJP’s State in-charge Dushyant Gautam, co-in-charge

Rekha Verma along with state president Mahendra Bhatt and all the prominent leaders of the party are present in this meeting of the two-day state work-

State President Mahendra Bhatt had told ANI on Sunday that the strategy for the Lok Sabha and local body elections to be held this year will be discussed in the working committee meeting.

New Delhi (Agencies): Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday said repeated paroles to convicted rapist Gurmeet Ram Rahim by the ruling dispensation were spreading communal disharmony in the region. Harsimra Kaur, while giving her views at the all-party meeting on the eve of the budget session of Parliament, said

A team of doctors led by Dr Debashish Nayak immediately attended to and operated on him. It was found that a single bullet had entered and exited the body, injuring the heart and left lung and causing massive internal bleeding and injury, officials said.

They added that steps were taken to improve the heart pumping and he was provided urgent ICU care. However, despite their best efforts the minister succumbed to his injuries.

PM Modi, Amit Shah pay tributes to Mahatma

New Delhi (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary and also remembered those who sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation.

VP Dhankhar & PM Modi after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

“BAPU TAUGHT THE COUNTRY TO LIVE WITH LOVE...” RAHUL GANDHI

YOGI ADITYANATH PAYS TRIBUTE TO GANDHI ON HIS DEATH ANNIVERSARY Srinagar (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary and said that ‘Bapu’ taught the nation the equality of all religions and to fight for the truth. “Bapu taught the whole country to live with love, equality of all religions and to fight for the truth. I salute the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi on his martyrdom day,” Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.

ening

our resolve

work for a developed

tion. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten and will keep strengthsaid that he inspired the country to make it Atmanirbhar.

“there should be one law for all”. She said the select manner in which paroles and remissions were being granted to rapists and murderers was disturbing.

Mamata Banerjee will leave for a three-day tour of Birbhum, Malda and Purba Bardhaman districts on Monday to review the administrative works there, an official said. She will also speak to Trinamool Congress workers during her tour, he said.

ALL-PARTY MEETING

Lucknow (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi as the nation remembered him on his death anniversary. The Chief Minister offered floral tributes at the statue of Bapu at GPO in presence of school children who also paid their respects to the Mahatma through recitation of bhajans. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak was also present at the event.

WINTRY WEATHER TRIPURA ELECTIONS

Snow covers Kedarnath Temple

Dehradun (ANI): Kedarnath Dham got wrapped in a blanket of snow after receiving snowfall, officials informed on Monday.

Snow has accumulated up to 4 feet. There has been continuous snowfall in the Kedarnath region since Sunday night.

Heavy snow can be witnessed on the premises of the Dham and on the surrounding hills, they said. Meanwhile, the Uttarkashi Police in the state issued an advisory for the citizens, alerting them to travel with caution through the various highways.

The Uttarkashi Police in a tweet said, “Due to rain and snowfall, the Gangotri National Highway is obstructed above Sukki Top due to debris coming near Dharasu band and Bandarkot.

The Yamunotri National Highway is blocked above Jankichatti and Radi Top. Roads are

Top BJP, Congress leaders file papers

Agartala (Agencies):

Top BJP, Congress, CPIM leaders including Tripura Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, state Congress President submitted their nomination papers on Monday, the last day of filling candidatures.

AVALANCHE WARNING ISSUED FOR DIFFERENT AREAS IN JAMMU & KASHMIR

Srinagar: The authorities on Monday issued avalanche warning for different areas of the UT and advised people in these areas not to venture out unnecessarily.“High danger level avalanche is likely to occur 2,500 metres above sea level over Doda, Kishtwar and Poonch districts in next 24 hours,” it warned, adding a “medium danger level avalanche is likely to occur above 1,500 to 2,500 metres over Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kulgam & Ramban in next 24 hours”.

blocked in other places as well. Please travel with caution.”

CRUCIAL READ

TAMIL NADU: 10 PASSENGERS SUSTAIN BURNS AS BUS CATCHES FIRE IN SALEM

Coimbatore: The passengers of a Bengaluru-bound private bus had a miraculous escape, as many of them managed to jump out of the vehicle that caught fire near Mettur in Salem district of Tamil Nadu in the early hours of Monday, police said. However, 10 passengers, including a few women, sustained burn injuries while jumping out from the window to save their lives, police said. They have been rushed to the government hospital in Mettur where they are being treated.

MAN ENDS LIFE WHILE ON VIDEO CALL WITH WIFE

Kolkata: In a shocking incident, a middle-aged man committed suicide on Monday while he was on a video call with his wife, who is currently staying in Ahmedabad.

The police later recovered the hanging body from his rented accommodation at Garfa in South Kolkata. The deceased has been identified as Prasun Bandopadhyay (47), who worked as an officer with a private sector bank.

POLICE, MAOISTS EXCHANGE FIRE IN RANCHI DISTRICT

Ranchi: A gunfight broke out between the police and Maoists belonging to the banned Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) on Sunday night in the Budhmu police station area of Ranchi. During the encounter, more than 100 rounds were fired by both sides. Police said that four extremists were injured in the gunfight, but they managed to escape into the thick forest.

CENTRAL TEAM VISITS SCHOOLS IN WEST BENGAL TO REVIEW MIDDAY MEAL SCHEME

Kolkata: A 13-member central team on Monday started a review of the midday meal scheme in schools in West Bengal, a senior official said. The joint review mission consisting of Union education ministry officials, one nutritionist, and a representative of Unicef along with the director of PM Poshan Scheme, V Bhaskar, also held a meeting with state education department officials. The officials, who are scheduled to conduct their review till February 6, visited several schools in North and South 24 Parganas districts on Monday.

Notably, the doors of Kedarnath Dham will open on April 26 and

UTTARAKHAND’S GANGOTRI TEMPLE ENVELOPED IN THICK BLANKET OF SNOW

Uttarakhand: Gangotri Temple premises were covered in a thick blanket of snow on Monday amid fresh snowfall in the region. The Gangotri Dham, part of the ‘Char Dham’ pilgrimage yatra located along the river Bhagirathi was seen enveloped in snow. The idols in the temple premises, the entrance and the pathway leading to the temple have been completely covered in white snow as the mercury dropped to -14.8 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department said.

those of Gangotri and Yamunotri will open on April 22, after winter

Leprosy rate down since 2014: Minister

New Delhi (PTI): The prevalence rate of leprosy in the country has come down from 0.69 per 10,000 population in 2014-15 to 0.45 in 2021-22, Union (MoS) Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said on Monday. Further, the annual new case detection rate per 1,00,000 population has come down from 9.73 in 2014-15 to 5.52 in 2021-22, Pawar said at an event to observe National Anti-Leprosy Day here. The theme of this year was “let us

Protest against eviction drive rocks Jammu

Jammu (PTI): Scores of people staged a protest in Sunjwan-Bathindi on city’s outskirts against J&K administration’s ongoing anti-encroachment drive to retrieve “illegally occupied” land. The authorities have served notices to violators and ordered them to remove illegal constructions within seven days. The protesters, including women and children, poured onto the main road in driving rain and tried to march towards the Civil Secretariat against the eviction order, the officials said.

fight leprosy and make leprosy a history”.

“India is making progress and new leprosy cases are declining year after year. With the whole of government, whole of society support, synergy and cooperation, we can achieve the target of ‘Leprosy Mukt Bharat’ by 2027, three years ahead of the SDG (Sustainable Development Goal),” Union Minister for Health Mansukh Mandaviya during his video address at the event.

break, informed the temple committee. The doors of Shri Badrinath

Dham will open the following day, on April 27.

Preparations for the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ also started as soon as the date of opening of the doors of Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri was fixed.

The shrine is one of the four ancient pilgrimage sites referred to as ‘Char Dham’ which also includes Yamunotri, Gangotri and Badrinath.

Chief Minister Manik Saha, who was elected to the state assembly in the June 2022 by-elections after former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb was removed from the top post in May last year, submitted his nomination paper in the Bordowali constituency here.

Manik Saha would take on Congress candidate Ashish Kumar Saha, who was elected to the assembly as BJP nominee in 2018 assembly elections. Ashish Kumar Saha quit BJP in January last year and joined Congress next month.

EXCISE RAIDS TO CURB ILLICIT LIQUOR AHEAD OF POLLS

Agartala: Ahead of Assembly polls in Tripura, the State Excise Organization has been conducting raids to curb illicit liquor selling, manufacturing and transportation on daily basis. The raids are conducted as per the direction of the Election Commission of India (ECI). As per the report, the Excise Organization seized 225.705 litres of illicit liquor on Sunday throughout the State whose value stands at Rs 83,338. Two cases have been registered for violation of Excise law.After the date of announcement of the poll ie on January 18, the State Excise Organization seized a total of 6446.175 litres of illicit liquor so far the value of which stands to total Rs 13,98,600.

HM inaugurates eye hospital in Ujjain

Poor eye patients will be able to get affordable treatment at this 50-bedded hospital built at a cost of ` 15 crore, says Union Home Minister Amit Shah

First India Bureau

Ujjain: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated SGML Eye Hospital built by Shri Swaminarayan Sansthan Vadtal in Ujjain, through video conferencing. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also present.

Shah said that Ujjain Dham has always been the centre of faith for crores of devotees of the country and the temple of Lord Mahakal has

COURTESY MEET!

been very important in the history of our country since the time of the Vedas. He said that many temples in Ujjain have become the centre of attraction for the whole

world and recently PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated the grand corridor of ‘Mahakal Lok’ to restore the grandeur of Ujjain and its faith. With the construction of

Mahakal Lok, the centre of devotion of crores of people across India.

He said an eye hospital is being inaugurated here today. He said that Bhagwan Swaminarayan came from Uttar Pradesh to Gujarat and resided there permanently and by roaming all over the country, he gained knowledge and propagated among people through ‘Vachanamrit’ and he did a lot of work for the welfare of the whole world.

EC withholds Lakshadweep LS bypoll after HC order on MP

New Delhi (PTI): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday withheld the Lakshadweep Lok Sabha bypoll after the Kerala High Court suspended the conviction and sentence of Mohammed Faizal, the MP representing the constituency who later stood disqualified, in an attemptto-murder case.

The poll panel had announced the bypoll recently and it was to be held on February 27. The gazette notification, kicking off the nomination process, was to be issued on

NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON LiFE

Tuesday. The bypoll was announced following Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Faizal’s disqualification on the ground of his conviction by a sessions court in Kavaratti.

Mohammed Faizal had approached the high court against the order. The high court has suspended the conviction and sentence imposed on him.

Need to shift from spreading information to awareness: Yadav

lll

Union Minister Releases new logo of EIACP and an Infographic Booklet ‘Lexicon of LiFE: A-Z of Sustainable Lifestyle’

Climate

Ya-

said that we now need to shift gears from spreading information to spreading awareness.

While addressing the ‘National workshop on LiFE’ Yadav said everyone has to introspect on whether his/her actions are LiFE-conscious. He highlighted

the need for environmental sense on the lines of civic sense and moral sense. He said

there is imminent necessity of social consciousness around LiFe actions. The workshop

saw participation of about 60 ‘Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP) Centres across the country. The Minister acknowledged the work done by the Centres for promotion of Mission LiFE.

The new logo of EIACP as well as an Infographic Booklet ‘Lexicon of LiFE: A-Z of Sustainable Lifestyle’ was also released by the Union Minister.

YADAV MEETS GERMAN DELEGATION TO EXPLORE PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

New Delhi: A bilateral meeting was held between the Indian delegation headed by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and the German Delegation headed by Ralph Brinkhaus for the German-Indian Parliamentary Group of the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) here on Monday. Yadav said our conversation focused on exploring pathways to sustainable development,

particularly focusing on circular economy, tackling single-use plastic, forest management and climate resilience. The German delegation raised issues

relating to impact of climate change on forests, trilateral cooperation in Africa on environment and climate, circular economy, alternatives for plastics.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav speaking on the occasion.

Kedarnath Dham is covered in snow after heavy snowfall, in Rudraprayag on Monday. —PHOTO BY ANI Snow-clad Gangotri Temple after heavy snowfall on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Csaba Korosi during a meeting, in New Delhi, on Monday. —PHOTO BY PTI

Union HM Amit Shah virtually inaugurating the hospital on Monday.

PNB THIRD QUARTER NET PROFIT SLIPS

44% TO `629 CRORE

India undeniably a global powerhouse: S Korea

New Delhi (PTI): Punjab National Bank (PNB) on Monday reported a 44% decline in standalone net profit at `629 crore in the third quarter ended December. The state-owned bank had earned a net profit of `1,127 crore in the year-ago period. However, total income during October-December 2022 increased to `25,722 crore as against `22,026 crore in the year-ago period. On the asset quality front, the bank recorded an improvement with gross NPAs declining to 9.76%.

GAIL Q3 PROFIT DROPS 90% ON

MARKETING WOES

Chandigarh (PTI): South Korea on Monday said India is undeniably a global powerhouse and that the Indian presidency of G20 will unleash its potential and pay heed to insights and feedback from members and contribute to the international community.

“The impression of this country is that India is undeniably a global powerhouse that not only is a hard power evidenced by economic scales and population but also a soft power equipped with well-known films, cuisines, history and renowned figures,” Byungsik Jung, the representative of South Korea said at the inauguration.

He also exuded confidence about the success of the G20 presidency this year.

OTHER STORIES

Budget should focus on falling imports, says PC

INDIA’S G20 PRESIDENCY

z South Korea said India is undeniably a global powerhouse and that the Indian presidency of G20 will unleash its potential and pay heed to insights and feedback from members

“I am sure that the Indian presidency will unleash its potential and charm and pay heed to insights

FIRMS TO PRINT MANDATORY DECLARATIONS ON OUTER PACK

CONTAINING MULTI-PACKS

z G20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies. It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, EU, Indonesia, Japan, S Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK.

and feedback from members and contribute to the international community,” he said.

5G services rollout on in select pockets: ICRA

New Delhi (FIB): Senior Congress leader and former Finance minister P Chidambaram said that the BJP-led central government in its upcoming budget should focus on addressing issues like the impact of the global slowdown on economic growth, falling exports, increase in the current account deficit and mounting total government debt. He said that the Union Budget should also focus on the danger of falling consumption leading to lower standards of living due to high unemployment rate, layoffs and inflation.

The Union budget is scheduled to be tabled on February 1.

India plans measures to curb imports from Chinese firms: Sources

New Delhi (FIB): India is considering a number of tariffs and non-tariff steps to cut imports of non-essential consumer and electronic goods, including from China, as trade imbalances concern policymakers, two govt officials & an industry source said.

As many as 18 key government ministries met last week to firm up steps first aimed at cutting imports from China, which

New Delhi (PTI): State gas utility GAIL (India) Ltd on Monday reported 90% drop in December quarter net profit after it suffered losses in petrochemical and natural gas marketing business. Consolidated net profit of `397.59 crore in October-Dec 2022 is compared with `3,800.09 crore earning in the same period a year back. The company booked `349 crore loss in petrochemical business after it had to cut run rate due to curtailment in supply of cheaper domestic gas.

GOLD FALLS `80, SILVER DIP `180 ON WEAK DEMAND

New Delhi (PTI): Retail commodity packages containing more than one pack, including gift and multi-piece packs, are required to mention all mandatory declarations including price, on the outer pack, according to the Consumer Affairs Ministry. In the latest directive, the ministry said, “It is observed that the mandatory information is not declared on a retail package containing more than one retail package.” It is mandatory that all the necessary declarations should also be made on all retail packages inside a group/ combination/ multi-piece/gift package, it said.

AIR INDIA TO USE NEW SOFTWARE TO BOOST

ITS ECOSYSTEM

SENIOR EXECUTIVES TO SEE AVERAGE PAY HIKE OF 9.1% IN 2023

Mumbai (PTI): Telecom players have started rolling out 5G services in select pockets but backhaul infrastructure will cost `3 lakh crore over the next 4-5 years, according to ICRA.

ICRA noted consistent “healthy improvement” in operating metrics of telcos but added that debt levels continue to remain high & seen at around ` 6.3 lakh crore as on March 31, 2023.

New Delhi (PTI): Gold prices fell by `80 to `56,880 per 10 grams in the national capital on Monday due to weak local demand, according to HDFC Securities. In the previous trade, the precious metal closed at `56,960 per 10 grams. Silver also declined by `180 to `68,795 per kg from `68,975 per kg.

“Spot gold prices in Delhi markets traded at `56,880 per 10 grams, down `80 per 10 grams,” said an analyst at HDFC Securities. In the overseas market, gold was quoting lower at $1,923 per ounce and silver was down at $23.66 per ounce.

UNSOLD HOUSING STOCKS FALL 10% TO OVER 4.61 L UNITS

New Delhi (PTI): Air India on Monday said it will use UK-headquartered Ideagen’s enterprise cloud software application Coruson to help enhance safety management and facilitate real-time reporting of in-flight incidents. The airline’s announcement also comes against the backdrop of at least three incidents of unruly passenger behaviour. Coruson, the safety data software application, will be online with effect from May 1, 2023 and will facilitate real-time reporting of in-flight incidents.

New Delhi (PTI): Senior executives in India are expected to receive an average 9.1% increase in their salaries this year, up from 8.9% in 2022.

According to Aon plc, the average CEO compensation was `8.4 crore, and it has increased 21% in the last four years, as there is an emphasis on rewarding executives for the value they bring to the organisation. According to Aon’s survey, for board and senior managerial positions, one in three organisations are focusing on improving diversity levels.

EDIBLE OIL MAKERS GET ADDITIONAL 6 MONTHS TO REMOVE PACKING TEMPERATURE DETAILS

New Delhi (PTI): The government has given six months more time till July 15 to edible oil makers, packers and importers to mention net quantity in terms of volume and weight on the labels instead of temperature at the time of packing, as part of efforts to curb unfair business practices. “The timeline for declaring the net quantity of edible oils etc. Without mentioning temperature is extended for six months, considering the request of the industries to exhaust the un-utilized packaging material,” according to the latest order issued by the ministry.

ANOTHER LAYOFF

New Delhi (PTI): Unsold housing stocks dropped 10% to 4,61,600 units across nine major cities at the end of the December on better sales, PropEquity said on Monday. “Despite many challenges ... Home sales strongly recovered this year. It is worth noting that the demand in the industry and the positive sentiment is growing,” said Founder and MD of PropEquity.

Unsold residential stocks in Delhi-NCR fell 10% to 41,693 units.

accounts for nearly a third of India’s trade deficit, said the three sources as per ET. India has been trying to reduce its trade deficit with China since 2020, when border tensions flared along a contested frontier, but with little success as the country is a key and cheap supplier of goods including active pharmaceutical ingredients, electrical equipment and several chemicals.

Market close higher in volatile trade as IT, oil shares recover

Mumbai (PTI): Benchmark BSE Sensex and Nifty closed higher in a highly volatile trade on Monday, riding on the back of a recovery in IT, oil and financial stocks after a two-day fall. The 30-share Sensex recovered 169.51 points or 0.29% to settle at 59,500.41.

“India currently has around 35% of its towers fiberised and the rating agency expects that the capex required to fiberise the adequate number of towers to provide a sturdy network base would be close to `3 lakh crore.”

During the day, it rose by 313.34 points or 0.52% to 59,644.24.

The broader NSE Nifty gained 44.60 points or 0.25% to end at 17,648.95 as 29 of its stocks advanced.

From the Sensex pack, Bajaj Finance, UltraTech Cement, Bajaj Finserv, HCL Technologies, NTPC,

Asian Paints, Infosys, Wipro, Maruti, Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Consultancy Services were among the major winners.

Power Grid, IndusInd Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Tata Steel, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Motors, State Bank of India and HDFC were among the laggards.

Rupee gains 9 paise to close at 81.50 against US dollar New Delhi (PTI): The rupee rose by 9 paise to close at 81.50 (provisional) against the US currency in a restricted trade on Monday, supported by a weak greenback in the overseas markets. At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened lower at 81.69 and touched a low of 81.72 against the US dollar. Later, it recovered ground and touched a high of 81.49 before settling at 81.50, shoing gains of nine paise over the previous close of 81.59 on Friday.

Luxury car sales may hit record high this yr

New Delhi (FIB): After a robust year of sales in 2022, luxury car sales in India are expected to reach a record high of 42,000-45,000 units in 2023, riding on a strong order book, pent-up demand, and new model launches, industry estimates show.

The segment, which accounts for less than 1% of the broader passenger vehicle market in the country, ended last year with sales of an estimated 37,00038,000 units. The best year for the segment was in 2018

when sales touched 40,863.

Strong corporate earnings and steady economic growth are driving demand for luxury vehicles despite global uncertainties, San-

Philips to cut 6,000 jobs worldwide

The Hague (Agencies):

Dutch consumer electronics and medical equipment maker Philips on Monday said it is cutting 6,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years as it revealed a net loss of 1.6 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in 2022, down from a net profit of 3.3 billion euros last year.

The job losses come on top of a reduction of 4,000 staff the company announced in October.

The company, which has its headquarters in Amsterdam, is reeling from a worldwide recall of sleep apnea machines and

economic headwinds including COVID-related issues in China and the war in Ukraine.

CEO Roy Jakobs said 2022 was “a very difficult year for Philips and our stakeholders, and we are

OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS

z Dutch consumer electronics and medical equipment maker Philips on Monday said it is cutting 6,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years as it revealed a net loss of 1.6 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in 2022, down from a net profit of 3.3 billion euros last year

taking firm actions to improve our execution and step up performance with urgency.”

tosh Iyer, managing director of Mercedes Benz India, told ET.

“The momentum remains strong,” he said.

“The industry should grow

in double-digits this year. We aim to outperform the market.”

Mercedes-Benz currently has pending orders for 6,000 vehicles in India, with a waiting period of four to nine months.

Most other luxury car companies including BMW India, Audi India and Lexus India - the latest entrant in the space with a relatively smaller footprint - expect 2023 to be their best yet in terms of volumes with sales increasing in high double digits.

CSR spend may cover skilling individuals

New Delhi (FIB): The government is considering widening the scope of corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending to enable the corporates and institutions to fund skills training of individuals.

The Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship has proposed the ‘Gift a Skill’ concept to be linked with either the Reserve Bank of India’s digital currency e-Rupi or ‘skill voucher’ wherein individuals, corporate and institutions can sponsor skill development of an-

other individual through skill vouchers, a senior government official said on Monday.

The enterprises will be incentivised to take up skills training of individuals as the government aims to scale up training of candidates to cater to the growing demand.

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

COURT DECLARES MP NAVNEET RANA’S FATHER ‘ABSCONDER’

Fines Rana, her father for seeking adjournment in hearing of fake certificate case

First India Bureau

Mumbai: A local court here on Monday imposed a fine of Rs1,000 each against Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Navneet Rana and her father for seeking adjournment in the hearing of a fake caste certificate case against them.

The court also issued a proclamation order against the Amravati MP’s father, declaring him an “absconder”, for not appearing before the court despite being summoned several times.

Rana and her father are accused of forging documents to obtain a caste certificate, as the Amravati seat is reserved for ScheduledCaste candidates.

The matter was listed for hearing before the additional chief metropolitan magis -

trate PI Mokashi on Monday. However, one of Rana’s lawyer’s junior colleagues sought an adjournment, citing

that his senior was unavailable.

The court then reprimanded the lawyer and imposed a fine of Rs1,000

HC slams petition on Martyrs’ Day sirens

Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday pulled up a man who filed a petition claiming that the Maharashtra government did not properly implement the Centre’s circular regarding ringing of sirens at 11 am on January 30 to mark Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary observed as Martyrs’ Day.

The Centre, in its circular, had directed the state governments and Union Territories to observe two-minute silence at 11 am on January 30 in the memory of those who sacrificed their lives during the Indian freedom struggle.

All work and movement should be stopped throughout the country, and the two minute silence would be indicated by the sound of sirens, it stated.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and

Sandeep Marne was hearing a public interest litigation filed by activist Feroz Mithiborwala that alleged that the state circular had failed to include the main reason for issuing the circular for the day, which was to give trib-

ute, respect and honour Gandhi’s sacrifices and to create awareness among the people with respect to the same. The bench, however, asked the petitioner to point out specific instances where the siren rule was not followed.

on each of the accused.

The magistrate also issued a proclamation against Rana's father, who has never appeared

before the court, despite a non-bailable warrant issued against him.

As per the provisions of the Criminal Proce-

dure Code (CrPC), a proclamation order is issued if any court has reason to believe (whether after taking evidence or not) that any person against whom a warrant has been issued by it has absconded or is concealing himself so that such warrant cannot be executed.

The court may publish a written proclamation requiring him to appear at a specified place and at a specified time not less than 30 days from the date of publishing such proclamation.

The Bombay High Court in 2021 cancelled the caste certificate issued to Rana, after observing that it was obtained fraudulently using fabricated documents. The fatherdaughter duo challenged the high court's order in the apex court.

Blames ‘unjust’ incidents for Sena split that led to MVA govt’s collapse

First India Bureau Mumbai: Defending the rebellion of 40 Shiv Sena MLAs which led to the collapse of the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government last June, Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale on Monday said that they did not revolt, but rose against former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Speaking to reporters here, Shewale said, “We are working in accordance with the Constitution and following (Sena founder) Balasaheb Thackeray’s thoughts.”

“We have not revolted. No uprising happens overnight. Various incidents occurred which led to us staging an uprising. We have told the Election Commission that Eknath Shinde’s

post as chief minister is constitutional. We have presented the legal side before the commission as well,” said the MP. On the party’s missteps after coming into power in 2019, Shewale said, “Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena is on the right track. Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had contested the (2019) election together, and got elected. But after Maha Vikas Aghadi was formed, MLAs and MPs from Shiv Sena were dropped (from important positions). Many things happened that were unjust, so we staged an uprising.”

15-16 ex-NCP councillors set to join Shinde faction?

First India Bureau

Thane: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya on Monday predicted the “worst defeat” for Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, “if elections are to be held in Maharashtra.”

Notably, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray had dared the BJPEknath Shinde government to hold elections in the state.

“If elections are held any time, the MVA will lose like the Panipat battle (fought in 1761) was lost. In that case, Uddhav Thackeray will have to permanently sit at his home,” the former BJP MP from Mumbai told reporters in Thane.

The MVA comprises Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP),

Plan afoot to recruit NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad and his supporters: Sources

and Congress. The bloc led by Thackeray was in power from November 2019 to June 2022 before the collapse of the government due to the exit of Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde. He subsequently took oath as the chief minister with the support of the BJP. Somaiya also claimed the “illegal” office of former Shiv Sena minister Anil Parab in suburban Bandra was razed on Monday.

ROAD TO POWER

First India Bureau Mumbai: Ahead of municipal body elections in the state, speculations are rife that as many as 15-16 former councillors belonging to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) may switch sides and join the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (BSS). Out of these, five excouncillors belong to Kalwa-Mumbra area of Thane, which is a NCP stronghold. There are also rumours that the BSS is trying hard to woo over NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad, which may lead to a possible split in the party. According to sources, BSS may be planning to strangle the NCP’s chances in upcoming elections by recruiting Awhad and allowing his

MAHA WOMEN’S COMMISSION CHAIR TO SWITCH LOYALTIES TO BJP?

Mumbai: State Women’s Commission chairperson, Rupali Chakankar, who was also the president of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state wing, is likely to switch sides and join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to a source, Chakankar has taken two meetings with a BJP leader and a final meeting with top leadership is set to take place soon. If Chakankar leaves, she will be the second NCP state women’s wing president (after Chitra Wagh) to bid adieu to NCP and join BJP.

supporters to join its faction. Party leaders have been holding meetings with Shiv Sena office-bearers and former NCP councillors.

Meanwhile, Awhad recently posted a mes-

sage on social media commenting on ‘split’ within the party. There is strong speculation that few NCP leaders are preparing to rebel and that they have the support of BSS.

End caste, regional discrimination for India’s progress: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh CM hails state’s anticonversion law at ‘Banjara Kumbh 2023’ event in Jalgaon district on Monday

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday called for the end of discrimination on the basis of caste and region.

Speaking at the ‘Banjara Kumbh 2023’ event in Jamner in Jalgaon district, CM Adityanath said, “No power in the world can stop India’s progress if

we do away with caste and regional discrimination.”

A large number of leaders from the Banjara community as well as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionaries were in attendance at the event.

Touching upon the topic of religious conversions, the UP CM said his state had a stringent law against such activities with offenders liable to be jailed for as long as 10 years. The

PLANE CARRYING CM SHINDE, FADNAVIS RETURNS TO MUM DUE TO BAD WEATHER

Mumbai (PTI): A state government plane carrying Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to Jalgaon district returned to Mumbai on Monday after it encountered bad weather, an official from the CM’s office said. Shinde and Fadnavis were headed to Jamner in Jalgaon district, located around 415km from Mumbai, to attend the ‘Banjara Kumbh 2023’, where UP CM Yogi Adityanath was a key speaker. The flight took off from Mumbai, but had to return due to inclement weather, said the official. Shinde and Fadnavis later attended the programme via video-conferencing, he added.

most populous state in November 2020.

“There are some people with deceitful mindsets who carry out religious conversions, but we have to work together to stop them. With “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas” (prosperity for all with everyone’s efforts and trust), we can defeat their purpose,” said Adityanath.

“In Uttar Pradesh, nobody can carry out (fraudulent or unlawful) religious conver-

sion now. If found doing so, an offender will face jail for 10 years. However, if some convert wants to come back (ghar wapsi), the law is not applicable (will not penalize) on such persons. He or she can again become Hindu,” he claimed. He also claimed the country was blessed with ‘sanatan dharm’, which is the oldest religion in the world and paves the way for welfare of humanity.

‘Sanatan dharm’ means humanity, Adityanath asserted.

The Bombay High Court in 2021 cancelled the caste certificate issued to Rana, after observing that it was obtained fraudulently using fabricated documents. —FILE PHOTO

A ‘ABSCONDING’

We staged uprising not revolt, says BSS MP Rahul Shewale

MVA will lose badly if polls held in Maha, says Kirit Somaiya

Rahul Shewale —FILE PHOTO

Ex-BJP MP Kirit Somaiya

GUV OBSERVES 2 MINUTES’ SILENCE

Mumbai (PTI): Two-minute silence was observed by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Monday at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day as a mark of respect to those who laid down their lives for the country. It was on this day in 1948 that Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse. A documentary film titled “Mahatma Gandhi’s visits to Raj Bhavan” was shown on the occasion.

NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad —FILE PHOTO

East Asian dresses like Kimonos, Hanbok and Hanfu enjoy greater prominence and influence in the world of fashion than ever before.

There was a time, though, when the

ger of disappearing from the daily wardrobe of East Asian women, relegated to rare outings and special occasions for formal events such as weddings, comingof-age days, and tea ceremonies. However, in recent years these traditional dresses have enjoyed a renewal, gaining attention both in their respective countries and abroad as a sophisticated and elegant form of dress suitable for everyday and formal occasions.

These traditional dresses are colourful outfits which are now modernised to give a new touch. The kimono or Hanboksas of many designers,

tional garments have

inspired designers to the degree that the kimono and Hanbok have.

Many members of K-pop groups like BTS, SHINee, and Exo in recent years have donned many modern combinations of Hanbok and initiated the trend.

Despite the integration of Asian elements in current high fashion, there is still work to be done to ensure that kimono crafting traditions survive and even thrive.

On account of the growing Hanbok fashion, famous designer Leesle Hwang, the designer of the company Leesle, reported a surge in sales after BTS’s Jimin wore one of her hanbok ensembles at the 2018 Melon Music Awards in Seoul. “It’s astonishing how many people met Leesle because of that one performance,” she added. Another business, A Nothing, garnered 8,000 followers when another BTS member, Jungkook, donned its clothing. As European demand for these modified kimonos and Hanbok (also known as nightgowns, though they were not intended to be worn while sleeping) outpaced Japanese & Korean artisans’ production times, the Dutch turned to artisans in India and, later, European tailors to replicate the garments in textiles sourced from various countries.

CITY FIRST BRINGS TO YOU SOME ASTONISHING FASHION ITEMS INSPIRED BY EAST ASIAN CULTURE THAT GIVE OUTFITS A NEW AESTHETIC!

UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in

SUPERBIKE RALLY BY MOTO BRIDGE INDIA

ARIES

MAR 21 - APR 20

Happiness in the domestic sphere will only come with a changed mind set. Some of you are likely to become a part of an overseas official trip. Better to consult an expert in financial matters before making an investment. Harsh words may create a rift in your romantic relationship; be careful.

TAURUS

APR 21 - MAY 20

It’s a very good day to take calculated risks in financial matters. Your efforts on the professional front will be recognised. Opting for some healthy choices will ensure you remain in perfect health. You will feel much happy and contented on the family front. Today you will enjoy the trust of senior management.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

LIBRA

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

Despite hectic schedule you will manage to find time for family. Seek the opinion of your family before finalizing a property deal. Your bold initiatives on romantic front bring back passion and spark in romantic relationship with your lover. Overall health remains fine.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

Following a health diet will be a good idea. Luck favours you today on the professional front. Focussing on health now will help you in keeping physically fit. Clarity of mind and retentive power will help you forge ahead on the academic front. Frustration on the romantic front is possible.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 23 - DEC 22

CITY FIRST

ASuperbike rally is being organised by Moto Bridge India to promote tourism in Rajasthan and create awareness about road safety rules. The rally started from Amar Jawan Jyoti in which riders and bikers groups like Triumph, BMW, JSB and Suzuki from different states along with Rajasthan participated. Rally coordinators Abhishek Chaudhary, Raunaq Tank, Imran Khan, Nishant, Rakesh and Yash, the members of the organising committee informed the media that a distance of about 50 kilometres was covered by more than 125 bike riders. Then the super rally reached Daulatpura via Ambedkar Circle, Panchbatti, Sanganeri Gate, Ramgarh Mode, Kooks, Achrol, Chandwaji, Manpura, Macheri, Choup and ended at The 6th Farm. Bike riders were given a grand welcome on reaching. Where on one hand the bike riders visited tourist places, during this they gathered information about

ABOUT:

MOTOBRIDGE India is a community started to satisfy every rider's raving to socialise with fellow riders with a vision to gather them together on one platform to share their passion for riding and their unique experiences and knowledge. MOTO -

riding opportunities within the community. The event will feature multiple automotive brands at the venue to experience their products along with Test Drives, Riding Gears & Accessories accompanied by onstage entertainment, with Snacks & Refreshments.

Launching The Pilot Project in our pink city Jaipur will be followed by more destinations across India, from coastal regions to the plains to the mountains. Keeping it real and exclusive within the

You will succeed in resolving an issue with family members, normalizing ties. Despite your misgivings, you retain good health. You will do much to bring peace and harmony at home. You will remain much in demand on social front. Some of you can get romantically involved.

CANCER

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

A friend or colleague may motivate you to take up a healthy activity. Parents may appear more than happy with what you deliver. Plans for overseas travel are likely to materialise. You are likely to get clearance or approval for your construction plans. You find things moving in the way you want them.

LEO

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

Gifting something to your beloved is likely to make the day memorable. Matrimonial match for siblings will bring happiness for entire family. You will get a good price for your property. Those awaiting results are assured of succeeding with flying colours.

VIRGO

AUG 24 - SEP 23

Using your initiative at work will be much appreciated. You may get a chance to pursue old hobby. Health tips from an expert will enable you to get closer to your fitness goals. Your generous behavior would enable to enjoy some lovely moments with family. Day will favour your luck in love.

YOUR DAY

Your intuition will save you from a tricky spot today. Yoga would help in raising energy levels and improve your metabolism. You will manage to achieve your aim through travel at right time. This is a great time on the academic front, when you mange to render your best.

CAPRICORN

DEC 23 - JAN 20

Family will be most supportive, when it really matters for you. Some of you may add to your list of properties by booking a new one. It is good day to confess your love as stars appear favourable for positive reply. A long drive is likely to help you get over mental tiredness.

AQUARIUS

JAN 21 - FEB 19

Avoid raising controversial issues at home to maintain harmony. Successful implementation of new ideas and projects would add to your prestige on the professional front. It is a wonderful day to build new connections. Your relationship requires you to be tactful.

PISCES

FEB20 - MARCH 20 Distant relatives may drop in for a surprise visit. On professional front, recognition for good work would motivate you to work harder. Those awaiting an affirmation on romantic front are likely to get lucky today, as partner responds positively. You will get golden time to spend with your partner.

Horoscope by Saurabbh Sachdeva

Burhan and Abhishek Choudhary

Mudit Asthana

Jaipur Super Bikers

Jaipur Super Bikers

Lt Col. Sambhit Pattajoshi

Sonam drops a major throwback PIC

SHAHID GRACES SHEHNAAZ’S CHAT SHOW

BShehnaaz Gill is among the multi-talented actress and one of the most genuine personalities in the industry. Shehnaaz is riding high on success, and there is no doubt about it. Along with acting, Shehnaaz also turned into a host for her newly launched chat show named ‘Desi Vibes

With Shehnaaz Gill’ which streams on her YouTube channel. Shehnaaz took to her social media handle on Monday and shared a glimpse of the upcom ing episode of her chat show ‘Desi Vibes with Shehnaaz Gill’. In Shehnaaz’s Instagram post, we see the actress having a fun time with her special guest Sha hid Kapoor. For the un versed, Shahid will be gracing the show to pro mote his upcoming web

Kareena opens up about her character

Kareena Kapoor Khan is one of the most loved actresses in Bollywood. Fans love to see her on the silver screen and she is all geared up to thrill us in Hansal Mehta’s next. The actress had been shooting for this film in London a couple of months ago and kept sharing glimpses from the sets raising the excitement level of all the fans. Recently, she opened up about her character in the film which is inspired by Hollywood actress Kate Winslet.

Kareena plays a mother and a detective who has to look into a murder in a

GORGEOUS IN GREEN

Bhumi Pednekar is known for portraying powerful female roles from her very first movie, and she looks stunning in any type of attire. The celebrity has carved out a niche for herself in the fashion industry, wearing both ethnic and western clothing. Although fans have seen the 30-yearold actress on-

FLORAL CHARM!

managed to woo the fashion police with her stylish outfits whether she was on the red carpet or the ramp.

We’ve got a pocketful of sequin glamour and can’t wait for you to shine on. Priyanka Chopra’s latest selfie of her ‘fit’ is brighter than the sun and that is a clear trailer of a very fashionable 2023 to us.

small town in Bucking hamshire. The working title for the upcoming film is The Buckingham Murders. Talking about her role the ac tress further said, “I love Mare of Easttown and when Hansal came to me, I said this is something that I’ve re ally been dying to do. So we’ve molded a little bit on those lines, she plays a detective cop in that. It’s the first time that I’ve dabbled in that.”

BEACHWEAR GOALS!

Tara is a rising star who surely does make almost every man go weak on their knees with her stunning bikini pictures on Instagram and her recent picture is surely giving us beach wardrobe goals. Her most recent photo is giving us major beach outfit aspirations. Tara’s swim wear at the

beach is a perfect example of the monochrome trend. It features a tie-up back, a monochromatic twotone, and a severe plunging neckline.

She completed the perfect beach babe appearance by pairing it with silver hoops and a golden tan. Tara posed for the sun-kissed photo with her bare feet in the sand and gazed

out to the expansive blue waves of the sea.

“Summer sun, something’s begun. But oh! Oh, those summer nights,” the actor captioned her picture.

Tara kept her hair in place as she posed for the cameras while wearing her hair neatly bunned. Tara looked as stunning as ever with her natural makeup look.

Bhumi stands apart from other people in terms of her persona. Her acting prowess and superb sense of style have persuaded us. With her most recent appearance, the actress has since swept the Internet. She graced an awards ceremony in a gorgeous Gretelz Milano emerald cut-out gown. In a beautiful em erald hue, Bhumi’s backless satin gown has a cutout pattern, a halter neck, and a full-length wraparound skirt.

Priyanka’s sheer dress was a dazzling piece with long bishop sleeves and multicolored and floral sequin embroidery with deep green adding contrast so gorgeously. The compilation of a shirt and pleated skirt made from a triple team consisting of polyester, silk lining, and polyamide-nylon looks so effortless here. Her tulle dress worth Rs. 2,22,985.04 (approx.) is something you can consider with Rs. 1,36,768.78 bomber jacket.

Maeve Reilly gave a nice tip to top off with, that is, to style the dress with a raglan-sleeved jacket which was intricately embroidered and came with a zip. A few elements that got to work to curate this oversized jacket are polyester, cupro, virgin wool, and viscose rayon.

Priyanka’s OOTN was accessorized with mini drop earrings and pointedtoe monotone satin purple pumps. Also, too epic was her eyeliner that didn’t miss to compliment.

Apart from her astonishing outfit, her heavy mascara, eyebrow powder, a satin-ish pink lipstick and a side-part hairdo were served up.

Shehnaaz Gill

Sonam Kapoor

Tara Sutaria Priyanka Chopra

Bhumi Pednekar

Kareena Kapoor Khan

Shehnaaz with Shahid during the show

Behind the scene from the movie ‘The Buckingham Murders’

Her post...

Her post...

Her story...

Her posts...

Only wanted to spread Love with Pathaan: Shah Rukh & Deepika

crossed the Rs 500 crore mark internationally with its first-weekend collection. The team of Pathaan gathered together at an event in Mumbai to speak of the film’s stupendous success.

SALMAN EXTENDS HIS SUPPORT TO RAKHI

Shah Rukh

Khan’s Pathaan has been creating waves at the box office not only domestically, but globally as well. The YRF spy thriller, also starring Deepika Padukone and John Abraham has made a considerable dent at the ticket counters and has already

Shah Rukh Khan showered his gratitude and shared, “I am truly grateful for everyone who has been showering so much love on Pathaan. The entire team was busy putting together the movie for everyone. On behalf of the entire Bollywood Industry, I want to thank everyone for bringing life back to the theatres.”

King Khan who took a back sabbatical for the past 4 years shared his feeling he said, “The four years that I had no release had both and good phases for me, the good part was I could see my children grow up and could spend quality time with them. I learnt cooking as well during that time as I thought if not an actor I would end up owning a restaurant someday. My genuine desire when I work is that I want to make people happy

ANKIT GUPTA on TV Industry

After making an appearance on Bigg Boss season 16, actor Ankit Gupta became very wellknown. Well, his supporters had high expectations for him. But he has kicked off the contentious reality programme. The actor is expected to make a comeback with his programme Junooniyatt as Jahaan after his time on Bigg Boss.

Ankit, who became well-known after udaariyaan, is currently making headlines since he made some startling revelations about the casting couch. The actor recently disclosed how he was

and this time especially I could do that along with the people who are so close to me. Aditya Chopra and Siddharth Anand chose me during a phase when my films weren’t working at the box office they trusted me also working with Deepika Padukone has been spellbound. The 4 days of success have made me forget the 4 years.”

Deepika sharing her experiences mentioned, “We didn’t set out to break records we just wanted to make a good film. We had a splendid time shooting with this team, it’s such a lovely atmosphere to work in. The intention of making the movie was so pure and was only to spread the love” The actress recently visited

experience, ‘It felt amazing to experience this kind of world there was a feeling of a festive celebration in the air. When you work with honesty and integrity and you see so much love coming your way it all feels worth it.”

SRK added, “I was low on the confidence I was scared but I keep going because the weaker you are the stronger you become but every-

this film to work for me”

Opening up on doing Pathaan 2 Khan said, “ Whenever Siddharth Anand wants me to do Pathaan 2, I'll do it. If they want to make a sequel, it'll be my honour to do it,”

Pathaan, directed by Siddharth Anand, stars Shah Rukh Khan in the title role, a RAW agent who teams up with Deepika Padukone's character to tackle a terror threat from agent-gone-rogue Jim, played by John

Rakhi Sawant's life has been challenging since she quit Bigg Boss Marathi 4 in season four. The mother of the actress was being treated in the hospital for a brain tumour. According to a new revelation, Rakhi's mother recently passed away following a protracted struggle with cancer.

Several famous people, including Rashmi Desai and Farah Khan, attended her death rites. Rakesh, Rakhi's brother, revealed that Salman Khan spoke to the former after her mother passed away. Even then, three years prior, when their mother was ill, he remembered

how bhai had helped.

In an interview, Rakesh said "Everyone from the industry has been calling us and giving their condolences. Salman bhai also called and spoke to Rakhi and all the people who helped mom and Rakhi.

Especially, Salman sir thanks to bhai my mother lived for three years more because he got her operated on and took care of all the expenses. He got her back for us last time."

Avika Gor stuns in a saree!

ctress Avika Gor recently took to Instagram to post some pictures from the shoot of her upcoming film 1920 - Horrors Of The Heart and we are mesmerised. The actress is donning sarees in these pictures, and the snaps have quite a retro feel to them. From her hairdos to her sarees, makeup and expression, to the backdrop, everything is screaming vintage, and

Well, it seems like we are not the only ones who are digging this look. Her peers

took to Instagram to comment on how ethereal and beautiful she looked. Her fans, too, joined them in complimenting the actress. One wrote, “You look Gorgeous,” followed by three hearts, while another wrote, “So pretty eyes and sweet looks also cute smile and cool looks like a princess.” All we can say is that we agree with each and every compliment that is coming her way!

Ileana D'cruz gets hospitalised

ctress Ileana D'cruz took to social media and shared her health update with her fans. The actor dropped a photo of her from a hospital bed with IV fluids injected into her vein. She stated in the post that she needed to consume three bags of IV fluids, which are spe-

cifically prepared liquids to treat or prevent dehydration. The actress fell sick recently and had to be hospitalised. On Sunday, the Barfi actress took to her Instagram stories to share her pictures, lying on the bed. She wrote in the caption, "What a difference a day makes." She followed it up with, " Also some lovely doctors and 3

bags of IV fluids".

Earlier during an interview, Ileana had said that she suffers from body dysmorphic disorder and this issue has plagued her from the age of 12. This disorder is a mental condition in which the patient selfperceives defects in his/ her body and its appearance and it can lead to a lot of distress to that person.

MEET & GREET!

required to concede to obtain employment in the field.

Ankit Gupta revealed he was asked to compromise to get work in the industry and he went on to add people in positions who would claim that they have launched many biggies of the TV world.

The actor recalled the incident on the casting couch and said, “Yahan toh compromise karna padta hai. See Ankit aise toh kaam nhi milta hai na industry mai. We have launched several people. They used to take the name of biggies, stating that many celebs were launched by him.”

Aditya

is set to hit theatres on December 8 2023!

Bringing together heartwarming stories of contemporary couples, Producer Bhushan Kumar and the ace director Anurag Basu finally announce the release date of their most awaited production venture, ‘Metro…in dino'. The film depicts stories of bittersweet relationships with a modern day scenario will soon hit the floors! Exploring a diverse yet universal stories of different facets, shades and moods of love, this contemporary tale will have music score by Pritam.

Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for I&B and Youth Affairs & Sports, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Jal Shakti and Pankaj Chaudhary, Union Minister Of State For Finance were greeted by Upendra Rai, Chairman, MD and Editorin-Chief, Bharat Express News Network, as the latter reached their residence recently to invite them at the launching ceremony of the news channel on Feb 1.

tarring an ensemble of

Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkana Sensharma, Ali Fazal and Fatima Sana Shaikh, the chronicle

'Metro…in dino' gets a release date!

Avika Gor

Avika’s look from the movie Her story...

Ileana D’Cruz

Star cast of the film

Ankit Gupta

John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan and Siddharth Anand during the event

Shah Rukh and Deepika

Glimpse from the event

Rakhi with Salman

Upendra Rai with Anurag Thakur

Upendra Rai with Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Upendra Rai with Pankaj Chaudhary