11042023_First India Jaipur.pdf

JAIPUR l TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2023 l Pages 16 l 3.00 l RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 4 l Issue No. 303

JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2023 02
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JAIPUR l TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2023 l Pages 16 l 3.00 l RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 4 l Issue No. 303
MUSK STARTS
FOLLOWING PM
NARENDRA MODI
ON TWITTER
MODI’S POLICY
OF DEMOCRACY,
DIALOGUE IMP FOR
UKRAINE: EMINE
New Delhi: Gautam Adani’s group on Monday listed out details of $2.87
bn stake sales in group firms since 2019 and how $2.55 bn of this was
ploughed back into business, as it looked to counter Rahul Gandhi’s claim
of `20,000 crore coming in to conglomerate through ‘shell companies’. P8
New Delhi: Twitter chief, billionaire Elon Musk has
started following PM Narendra Modi. A screenshot
of a list of 195 people he follows showed PM
Modi’s name on Monday, screenshot soon started
gaining traction on the microblogging platform.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
policy of democracy, dialogue and diversification
and strategic application is very important for
Ukraine, first deputy foreign minister Emine
Dzhaparova said on Monday. P8
ON RAHUL’S ‘`20K CR’ CHARGE, ADANI GROUP’S COUNTER
‘BELOW NORMAL’ RAINS IN 2023
El-Nino likely to spoil ‘monsoon’ sport!
First India Bureau
New Delhi: India is
likely to receive below-
normal monsoon rains
in 2023 as the climate
phenomenon El Nino
takes over. Private
weather agency Skymet
has predicted that there
is an increasing likeli-
hood of El-Nino in Asia,
which could become a
dominant category dur-
ing the monsoon.
The weather agency
predicted that the
monsoon in 2023 will
be below normal at
868.6 mm for the four-
month-long period
from June to Septem-
ber. “Skymet expects
the upcoming mon-
soon to be ‘below nor-
mal to the tune of 94
per cent of the long
period average,” the
agency said. More on P5
Boys enjoy the splash of water from the sprinklers to beat heat on a
hot summer day in Jaipur on Monday. —PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA
OTHER TOP
RAJ STORIES
Former Deputy CM
Sachin Pilot along with
his supporters to observe
a day-long fast in Jaipur
today on the issue of not
taking action on scams
when Raje was CM. P10
Four people were
arrested and nine
kilogram of heroin
smuggled from Pakistan
and worth around `35
crore was seized in the
Jaisalmer district,
police said on Monday. P4
PM Narendra Modi will
flag off Rajasthan’s first
Vande Bharat train on
April 12 at 11 am virtually.
The programme will take
place on platform No. 1 of
the Jaipur Junction. P10
Over 20,000 criminals
arrested in March: DGP
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Rajasthan Po-
lice have arrested over
20,000 offenders includ-
ing hardcore criminals
last month under a cam-
paign against mafia and
gangsters in state, DGP
Umesh Mishra said on
Monday. Calling it a re-
cord action against
criminals in Rajasthan,
Mishra said campaign
against hardcore crimi-
nals, mafia and gang-
sters who operate their
gangs from jails or for-
eign will continue. He
said campaign against
hardcore criminals,
mafia and gangsters
who operate their gangs
from jails or foreign
will continue. More on P4
WHAT IS EL-NINO?
El Nino or El Niño-
Southern Oscillation is
characterized by a warm-
ing of the sea surface
temperature in the equa-
torial Pacific Ocean. It
occurs every 2 to 7 years,
and it has the potential to
disrupt weather patterns
around the world, includ-
ing in India.
FACTORS THAT MAY
AFFECT THE INDIAN
MONSOON THIS YR
 IOD is neutral now and
is leaning to turn moder-
ately positive at the start of
monsoon
 El Nino may be ‘out of
phase’, lead to extreme
variability in monthly rain
distribution
“NOBODY CAN TAKE OUR LAND...”
‘TROUBLESHOOTER’
SHAH’S DARE TO CHINA
The land on which first ray of Sun falls in India was named
Arunachal Pradesh by Lord Parshuram, says Amit Shah
Moni Sharma
Kibithoo: Arunachal
Pradesh finds mention
in our oldest sacred
books and no one has
the power to cast an evil
eye on our territory,
said Union HM Amit
Shah on Monday in a
clear swipe at China af-
ter it recently published
new names for 11 towns
located in the eastern
region of the state.
“The land on which
the first ray of the Sun
fallsinIndiawasnamed
AP by Lord Parshuram.
Since then this earth is
known as the Land of
Rising Sun,” said Shah
said during launch of
VVP from Kibithoo in
Anjaw district, border
village of Arunachal
Pradesh which is about
11 km from LAC with
China and about 40 km
from the India, China
and Myanmar tri-junc-
tion. “Nobody can take
even a pin’s tip worth of
our land,” he said.
Shah said Modi govt
has changed image of
region in 9 years from
“disturbed region” to
an area contributing to
nation’s progress.
Amit Shah inspecting Border Outpost of ITBP, took stock of ITBP’s preparedness after launching the
‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in presence of CM Pema Khandu in Kibithoo, Arunachal on Monday.
CHINA CRITICISES UNION HOME MINISTER
SHAH’S VISIT TO ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Beijing: China firmly opposes a visit by Union HM Amit
Shah to Arunachal and views his activities in the area as
violating Beijing’s territorial sovereignty, a foreign ministry
spokesperson told on Monday. China has renamed some
places in Arunachal, which China claims as part of its ter-
ritory. “Zangnan is China’s territory,” spokesperson Wang
Wenbin said in response to a question on visit by Shah.
Due to the bravery of
our army and ITBP
soldiers, no one can
see the border of our
country by raising
their eyes. Now those
times are gone when
anyone could en-
croach on the land of
India. Today no one
can encroach even
on land equal to the
point of a needle.
—Amit Shah,
Union Home Minister
ABOUT CENTRE’S
‘VIBRANT VILLAGES
PROGRAMME’
The Centre has approved the
‘Vibrant Villages Programme’
with central components
of `4,800 crore including
2,500 crore exclusively
for road connectivity for fin
years 2022-23 to 2025-26.
2,967 villages in 46 blocks of
19 districts abutting northern
border in Arunachal, Sikkim,
Uttarakhand and Himachal
and UT of
Ladakh have
been identified
for com-
prehensive
development
under ‘Vibrant
Villages Pro-
gramme’.
Union HM Amit Shah being received by Assam CM Himanta Biswa
Sarma, BJP MLA Prasanta Phukon and others at Dibrugarh airport
on Monday. (R) Amit Shah launches ‘VVP’ at Kibithoo on Monday.
Covovax booster jab to be
on CoWIN for `225/dose
Dalai Lama
apologises to
boy, his family
AI takes ‘u turn’!
First India Bureau
New Delhi: In view of
rising cases of COV-
ID-19 in various parts
of the country, Union
Health Minister Man-
sukh Mandaviya is
learnt to have approved
the inclusion of Serum
Institute’s Covovax on
the CoWIN portal as a
heterologous booster
dose for adults, official
sources said on Monday
.
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Dalai Lama
has apologised after
outrage over a video of
him kissing a child on
the lips and asking him
to “suck my tongue” at
a public event.
The 87-year-old spir-
itual leader and his
team said, he “often
teases people he meets
in an innocent and play-
ful way”. “A video clip
has been circulating
that shows a recent
meeting when a young
boy asked His Holiness
the Dalai Lama if he
could give him a hug.
His Holiness wishes to
apologise to the boy and
his family, as well as his
many friends across the
world, for the hurt his
wordsmayhavecaused,”
official statement said.
 Air India to London
returns to New Delhi after
unruly flyer hits 2 crew
 Boeing 787 (AI 111)
took off from Delhi at 6.52
am & returned at 9.36 am
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Air India
Delhi-London flight (AI-
111) on Monday had to
return to the origin as
unruly passenger had
hit 2 cabin crew mem-
bers. AI said, ‘Not heed-
ingtoverbalandwritten
warnings, man contin-
ued with unruly behav-
iour including causing
physical harm to two of
the cabin crew mem-
bers. Pilot in command
decided to return to Del-
hi, passenger was hand-
ed over to the security
personneluponlanding.
The flier was later
deboarded, police
case registered,
investigation on
Passenger had hit two of our crew mem-
bers. The flight could not have continued
to the destination and returned to Delhi.
The passenger has been handed over to the police
and a complaint has been filed. —AI sources
PASSENGER WHO ATTACKED CREW
MENTALLY UNSTABLE, CLAIMS FAMILY
The father of a passenger, who was deboarded from
an Air India (AI 111) flight for allegedly attacking the
crew, has claimed that his son is mentally unstable. The
family had boarded the flight from New Delhi to attend
a wedding in London, but an hour after the take-off
Jaskirat said he wanted to get down, his father claimed,
adding that his son had first attacked him.
Raj govt to appoint 2k tax mitras for collection of GST,VAT
First India Bureau
Jaipur: The Rajasthan
government will ap-
point 2,000 ‘Tax Mitra’
to facilitate the collec-
tion of Goods and Ser-
vices Tax (GST) and
Value Added Tax (VAT).
The ‘Tax Mitra’ will fa-
cilitate the applicants in
the application process
of GST and VAT and
this will make it easier
to deposit the tax.
Chief MinisterAshok
Gehlot has approved a
proposal in this regard.
Gehlot also gave approv-
al to develop ‘Artificial
Intelligence’ based e-tax
officer software plat-
form to provide facility
of ‘self tax check’ to the
dealers.
The minimum educa-
tional qualification for
Tax Mitra is graduation
in commerce. Prefer-
ence will be given to ex-
perienced applicants
including Chartered
Accountants (CA) and
Company Secretaries
(CS) and the age limit
has been fixed from 21
to 40 years.
Tax Mitra will charge
a fee for various tax-re-
lated application pro-
cesses, for which a fee
structure has also been
decided. A fee of Rs 50 to
Rs 400 has been kept for
works including GST,
VATapplication,amend-
ment, ITC, e-way bill,
subsidy application,
MSME application.
Gehlot also approves ‘AI’ based e-tax
officer software platform to provide
facility of ‘self tax check’ to the dealers
CRUCIAL READ
RADICAL PREACHER AMRITPAL’S CLOSE
AIDE PAPALPREET HELD IN AMRITSAR
Chandigarh: Radical preacher Amritpal Singh’s close
aide Papalpreet Singh was
nabbed in Amritsar district and
detained under the National
Security Act, police said on
Monday. Addressing media, Pb
Police IG (HQ) Sukhchain Singh
Gill said, ‘Papalpreet is the main associate of Amritpal.
He has been arrested from Kathunangal area in Amritsar.’
NAT’L PARTY TAG TO
AAP; TMC, NCP MISS
AGNIPATH SCHEME: SC
DISMISSES TWO PLEAS
New Delhi: The Election Com-
mission of India (ECI) Monday
granted national party status
to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),
revoked status of Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP), All
India Trinamool Congress
(AITC), and Communist Party
of India (CPI). P9
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court’s bench of Chief
Justice DY Chandrachud
on Monday dismissed two
pleas challenging a Delhi
HC judgment that upheld
the Centre’s Agnipath
scheme for recruitment
into the armed forces.
Mansukh Mandaviya speaks to
media at Delhi on Monday.
India recorded 5,880
new Covid-19 cases on
Monday. A nationwide
2-day mock drill in all
hospitals in India begin.
VIRAL VIDEO ROW
After recovering from
Covid-19, CM Ashok Ge-
hlot is likely to conduct a
press conference at the
PCC in Jaipur today
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot
DGP Umesh Mishra

RAJASTHAN
JAIPUR | TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2023
04
First India Bureau
Udaipur: The footfall
of tourists in Udaipur
this summer season has
broken the record of
last 12 years. According
to the data released by
the Tourism Depart-
ment, 1 lakh 38 thou-
sand domestic tourists
arrived in the month of
March. In the last 12
years, this never hap-
pened in March.
According to the tour-
ismdept,atotalof 1lakh
52 thousand 26 tourists
visited Udaipur in
March, of domestic
tourists were 1 lakh 38
thousand, and 14 thou-
sand 26 were foreigners.
This time it rained in
March and this brought
down the temperature &
increased tourists here.
EarlierinJanuary
,the
Lake City had surpassed
the record of last 14
years. As many as 1.94 L
tourists visited Udaipur,
surpassing the record of
the last 14 years, accord-
ingtofiguresreleasedby
tourism officials.
Off-season tourists footfall breaks record of 12 yrs in Udaipur
PADHARO MHARE ‘LAKE’
TOURISTS THIS YEAR
12 YEAR TOURISTS’ DATA FOR MARCH
Month Domestic Foreign
March 138000 14026
February 140400 15378
January 180000 14215
Year Domestic Foreign
2022 111250 2022
2021 50687 449
2020 33210 341
2019 67625 24878
2018 64284 26630
2017 49847 23559
Year Domestic Foreign
2016 45971 23516
2015 45109 19631
2014 44136 20809
2013 40520 21246
2012 39551 21147
2011 37996 19390
Shivendra Parmar and
Satyanarayan Sharma
Jaipur: Following in-
structions of Chief
Minister Ashok Gehlot,
5,137 teams of police
raided around 13,600
hideouts of criminals
and arrested 20,542 mis-
creants in a compre-
hensive campaign
against hardened crim-
inals, mafia and crimi-
nal gangs in the state.
This has lessened crime
by 9% until March as
compared to last year.
Director General of Po-
lice, Rajasthan Umesh
Mishra, senior officers,
including DGP Cyber-
crime Ravi Mehrada,
ADG Crime Dinesh MN
and ADG Law and Or-
der Hava Singh Ghuma-
ria held a press confer-
ence on Monday re-
garding this.
Director General of
Police, Rajasthan
Umesh Mishra said
that according to the
motto of Rajasthan Po-
lice, “Trust in common
people and fear in
criminals”, homework
was done in depth by
all the districts and
ranges before starting
the state level ‘Area
Domination and Raid
and Search Campaign’.
The Range Inspector
General worked in the
control room and the
Superintendents of Po-
lice worked in the
fields in a coordinated
manner to make the
campaign a success.
Tourists enjoy the sunset at the Fateh Sagar Lake in Udaipur on Monday.
DGP Umesh Mishra briefing the media in Jaipur on Monday. ADG (Crime) Dinesh MN, DGP (Cyber Crime) Ravi Prakash Mehrada, and
ADG (Law and Order) Hawa Singh Ghumaria also seen. —PHOTO BY MUKESH KIRADOO
5,137 TEAMS RAID AT 13,600 HIDEOUTS AND NAB 20,542 MISCREANTS IN STATE
‘Vajraprahar’ damages backbone
of miscreants, crime dips by 9%
We’ve tightened noose on miscreants
who are operating from abroad: DGP
1,411 history-sheeter, 5,833 wanted
criminals arrested in special drive
SPs were on field while range IGs
monitored from control room: DGP
The Director General said that some criminals were
committing crimes from outside the country. An
investigation is being done against them through Inter-
pol. A red corner notice has been issued against Rohit
Godara and action is under process to issue notices
against Anmol Vishnoi and Goldie Brar.
Action against criminals trying to escape custody
Mishra said that strict action is being taken by the
police against those who attack the police and those
who try to escape police custody. In 2023, 21 criminals
were shot in police encounters and 25 criminals were
injured while trying to escape.
DGP Mishra said that
action has been
taken against those
who praise, follow and
patronize criminals. The
campaign specifically
targeted gangs involving
firearms displays and fir-
ing incidents. Along with
this, the gangs involved
in threatening business-
men and elite citizens
for recovery were also
targeted by the police.
In order to root out the
criminals, the police
started Op Vajraprahar,
under which the criminals
were arrested searches
were being conducted
for action against their
properties and vehicles,
etc. acquired illegally.
Out of 11,512 history-
sheeters, records of 2,471
properties have been
maintained and I-T dept
were informed for action.
By registering a
total of 36 cases
against those who
follow criminals on
social media, 56 peo-
ple were arrested and
1,027 people were
arrested in preventive
sections. As a result
of effective action
against social media
followers and gang-
sters, youths have
been disillusioned
with these criminals.
Monu Group had a
total of 36,537 follow-
ers in Bikaner before
the campaign, which
has now reduced to
9,189. Similarly, Rohit
Godara’s followers
have decreased from
38,862 to 6,558.
20,542 MISCREANTS
ARRESTED: Additional
Director General of
Police Crime Dinesh
MN said that in March
2023, as a result of
the special campaign
being run by the police
for area domination,
12,895 criminals want-
ed in various crimes,
including 433 wanted
in heinous crimes,
have been arrested.
TAB ON CRIMINALS OPERATING FROM ABROAD
ACTION ON CRIMINALS WHO TRIED TO ESCAPE
COPS TARGET FIRING
EXTORTION GANGS
THE OPERATION
VAJRAPRAHAR!
ACTION AGAINST
GANGSTERS’
SOCIAL MEDIA
FOLLOWERS
Overall, 20,542 people have been arrested under the
campaign, including 7,683 arrests in 151 CrPC. About
13,600 places were raided by 5137 police teams across
the state and 535 people were arrested. Of the arrests
made in the campaign, 1,411 are history-sheeters, hard-
ened criminals with rewards on head, while 5,833 are per-
manent warrant, proclaimed offenders and 299 are wanted
criminals under CrPC. A total of 649 cases of illegal use
of firearms were registered and 677 miscreants were ar-
rested, from whom 690 firearms and 1062 cartridges were
recovered. By registering 342 cases in NDPS Act, 375
miscreants and by registering 1088 cases of illegal liquor,
1085 people were arrested and 649 cases of illegal mining
were registered. Thus, compared to February 2022, there
was an increase of about 55% in Arms Act cases, 90% in
NDPS cases and 8% in illegal liquor cases in March 2023.
Ajmer and Jaipur ranges topped in the arrest of want-
ed criminals. More than 7 thousand were arrested
by Ajmer, Alwar and Bhilwara districts and 4 thousand
to 7 thousand by Tonk, Chittorgarh and Jodhpur West
districts. ADG Dinesh MN said that in 2023, until the
month of March, a total of 31 cases of illegal recovery
were registered and 68 people were arrested and 355
people were arrested by registering 150 cases for use of
firearms. Before the campaign, 15 cases of phone calls
for illegal recovery were registered in the month of Janu-
ary 2023, 12 in the month of February, which as a result
of the campaign reduced to four cases in March 2023.
About 13000 wanted criminals were arrested in a month.
Bandit Keshav Gurjar was eliminated along with his
gang. Most of the members of Lawrence Bishnoi gang
were also arrested. Their weapons were also seized.
1,411 HISTORY-SHEETERS AND 5,833 WANTED
CRIMINALS ARRESTED UNDER VARIOUS ACTS
AJMER, JAIPUR TOP IN ARRESTING WANTED
CRIMINALS; OVER 7,000 FROM AJMER ALONE
Jaipur (PTI): The Ra-
jasthan Police will con-
duct an internal audit
and analyse the High
Court order that acquit-
ted four people in the
2008 Jaipur serial blasts
while terming the in-
vestigation “shoddy”.
Director General of Po-
lice Umesh Mishra
said they have taken
comments of the “court
seriously and are exam-
ining the files in detail”.
Jaipur was rocked by
a series of blasts on May
13, 2008 when bombs
went off one after an-
other at Manak Chawk
Khanda, Chandpole
Gate, Badi Chaupad,
Chhoti Chaupad, Tripo-
liaGate,JohriBazarand
Sanganeri Gate. The
blasts claimed 71 lives
and left 185 injured.
The Rajasthan High
Court last month ac-
quitted four men who
were given death sen-
tence by a lower court.
The HC slammed the
probe agencies over
their “shoddy investiga-
tion”. It also affirmed
the acquittal of a fifth
accused by trial court.
Days after the HC’s ad-
verse comments, DGP
said an internal audit
will be conducted and
the court’s observations
will be analysed. The
DGP said he himself is
overseeing it.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: The Gehlot gov-
ernment transferred 124
Rajasthan Police Ser-
vice officers on Monday
.
The transfers are be-
ing seen as a fielding
before the elections.
According to the or-
der issued by Group-1 of
the Home department,
PreetiKankanihasbeen
made ASP Crime and
Vigilance Ajmer, Akh-
ilesh Sharma ASP
Kekri, Piyush Dixit ASP
Principal Police Train-
ing Center Alwar, Ram-
swaroop Sharma Com-
mandant MBC Ban-
swara, Satyendra Pal
Singh ASP Barmer, Sub-
hash Chandra ASP Ba-
lotra. Faulal Meena has
been posted in Women
and Crime Investigation
Cell, Barmer, Deepak
Kumar Sharma was
made ASP Bikaner Ru-
ral, Devanand ASP Ab-
hay Command and Con-
trol Center Bikaner,
Dharamveer Janu has
also been posted on the
same post.
Buglal Meena has
been posted as ASP
Headquarters, Chittor-
garh and Subhash
Chandra Mishra was
made ASP Rawatbhata.
It is believed that the
transfers were made on
the desire of ministers
and MLAs.
Acquittal of 2008
Jpr blasts accused to
be analysed: DGP
124 RPS shifted in
State by Home dept
Nirmal Tiwari
Forest Department has
exhibited the history of
tigers of Ranthambore
National Park in the
three-day mega event in
Mysuru (K’taka), being
held to commemorate 50
yrs of Project Tiger.
The forest depart-
ment has put up a stall
wherein information
about the history of ti-
gers in Rajasthan and
the increase in their
number in last 50 years
are being shared. R’bore
Field Director Seduram
Yadav and DCF Manas
Singh are sharing infor-
mation with the people
visiting the stall. Nota-
bly
, more than 200 tigers
were born in Rajasthan
during these 50 years.
The number of tigers is
75inRanthambore,28in
Sariska, 4 in Karauli, 3
in Dholpur and two each
in MTR and RVTR.
Bharat Dixit
Jaipur: Angry over not
getting two temporary
employees, BJP coun-
cilors on Monday cre-
ated a ruckus at the
JMCG Headquarters.
They created uproar
outside commissioner
Mahendra Soni’s cham-
ber, raised slogans and
sat on a dharna. Later,
they held a meeting
with the commissioner
in the EC hall in which
the councilors were as-
sured that two tempo-
rary employees will be
made available soon.
Mayor Dr Somya and
Deputy Mayor Puneet
Karnawat were also
present in the meeting.
However, they kept dis-
tance from the protest.
Karnawat even said
that his opinion is not
sought in any matter so
why should he lead the
demonstration, which
indicated rift among
the councilors.
Heroin worth `35 crore seized,
four held by Crime Branch HQ
Satyanarayan Sharma
Jaipur: CID (Crime
Branch) Jaipur team
arrested four smug-
glers and recovered
nine kg high quality
heroin worth Rs 35
crore in the interna-
tional market brought
from Pakistan to Jais-
almer district. A Bolero
was also seized.
ADG (Crime) Dinesh
MN said that the team
of Crime Branch Police
HQs Jaipur was taking
action against illegal
drug peddlers. He said
that the police were
keeping an eye on smug-
glers for about a month.
Dy IGP of CID (CB)
Rahul Prakash said that
action was taken follow-
ing a tip-off. According
to information, heroin
was being smuggled
from Pakistan and sup-
plied through Jaisalmer
in Rajasthan and also to
Punjab, HP
, New Delhi.
Accordingtoinforma-
tion in Mohangarh po-
lice station area of Jais-
almer district, Surat-
garh resident Amar Lal
Bhadu was arrested
with 500 grams of hero-
in,RamchandraVishnoi
with 500 grams, Jogend-
ra Singh with 8 kg of
heroin smuggler Mad-
ho Singh were held.
(L-R )Ramchandra Vishnoi, Amar Lal Bhadu, Madho Singh, and
Jogendra Singh in police custody on Monday.
Manas Singh, Rahul Bhatnagar,
SR Yadav and other officials in
Mysuru on Monday.
Councilors staging protest at
the JMCG HQs on Monday.
State forest dept exhibits
history of tigers in Mysuru
Ruckus in JMCG HQs
over 2 temporary staff
MAGRA DEVP
BOARD MEETING
HELD IN JAIPUR
SECOND BAIL PLEA
OF RAPE ACCUSED
REJECTED IN HC
Jaipur: The meeting of the
Magra Regional Develop-
ment Board was organized
on Monday. The meeting
was chaired by the Chair-
man of the Magra Regional
Development Board, Dr Lax-
man Singh Rawat, wherein
Revenue Minister Ram Lal
Jat was also present. The
physical and financial prog-
ress of the scheme was
discussed in the meeting
and the annual work plan
for the financial year 2023-
24 was also approved. Dr
Rawat directed all the CEOs
and District Collectors that
the works approved in
the FY 2022-23 should be
completed soon. Min Jat
said that permission
should be taken from com-
petent level by proposing
approval of work.
Jaipur: The Raj HC on Mon-
day rejected the second bail
application on an accused
facing charges of rape of
a colleague. The accused,
Rahul Kumar (25), a former
employee of a luxury hotel
in Sawai Madhopur, was
arrested on charges of rap-
ing a female colleague on
June 30, 2022. The victim’s
counsel AK Jain opposed
the bail plea and said that
there have been no changes
in the circumstances. “The
victim recorded her state-
ment in court and there is
solid evidence of gang rape.
The accused was working
as a senior in the hotel and
called the victim repeatedly
during the night. The ac-
cused is influential and the
bail application should be
rejected,” said AK Jain.
NEWS DIGEST
—PHOTO
BY
MUKESH
KIRADOO

RAJASTHAN
05
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Mercury has
started soaring in vari-
ous places in Rajasthan
with Banswara being
recorded as the hottest
district with a maxi-
mum temperature of
40.3 degrees Celsius in
the last 24 hours, a
spokesperson from the
meteorological depart-
ment said.
According to the de-
partment, an increase
of 2 to 3 degrees in the
maximum tempera-
ture has been recorded
in the state in the last
48 hours.
The maximum tem-
perature is likely to in-
crease by a degree or
two in the next two-
three days, according to
the department. Partly
cloudy weather is ex-
pected in some parts of
the Jodhpur division on
Monday with a possibil-
ity of thunderstorms
and drizzles at isolated
places, the spokesper-
son said.
The weather will re-
main mainly dry for the
next two-three days in
partsof Jaipur,Udaipur,
Bharatpur, Ajmer and
Kota divisions, the
spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, Ra-
jasthan, Punjab, Hary-
ana, and Uttar
Pradesh, known as the
agricultural bowl of
North India, are likely
to observe less than
normal rains during
the 2nd half of the sea-
son, the weather fore-
caster said. Unseason-
al rains and hailstorms
have already damaged
the ripening, winter-
planted crops such as
wheat in India’s fertile
northern, central, and
western plains, expos-
ing thousands of farm-
ers to losses.
Mercury hovers above 40°C in Banswara
TEMPERATURE SOARS IN STATE
Four awarded honorary
doctorate by Guv Mishra
CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF JAGADGURU RAMANANDACHARYA RAJASTHAN SANSKRIT UNIVERSITY
Guv Mishra also felicitated 16 students, 14 scholars with gold medals
Pooja Dubey
Jaipur: Rajasthan Gov-
ernor Kalraj Mishra on
Monday awarded hon-
orary degree of PhD to
international shooter
Apurvi Chandela, ar-
chitect Anoop Bartaria,
founder editor of Ma-
hanagar Times Gopal
Sharma and Muralim-
nohar Pathak at a func-
tion on Monday
.
Mishra also gave gold
medals to 16 students
and 14 research schol-
ars who have done re-
search in ancient texts
in the convocation cer-
emony of Jagadguru
Ramanandacharya Ra-
jasthan Sanskrit Uni-
versity, Jaipur.
8,842 degrees of the
academic session 2021
were distributed in the
ceremony. Addressing
the function, the Gover-
nor said that Sanskrit
language has played an
important role in keep-
ing the country’s unity
and integrity intact.
He emphasised on
promoting Sanskrit by
giving a new context
for connecting new
generations with an-
cient Indian literature
and culture.
Mishra said that ini-
tiative should be taken
to translate the litera-
ture, books related to
knowledge and science
composed in Sanskrit
into other Indian lan-
guages along with Hin-
di so that the ancient
knowledge of Sanskrit
could be available to the
new generation.
Governor Kalraj Mishra presents honorary doctorate to Anoop
Bartaria. BD Kalla, Dr Ramsevak Dubey and others look on.
Police personnel try to stop BJP workers from entering
Collectorate building in Rajsamand on Monday.
Tourists visiting Amer Fort use umbrella as a sunshade as
temperature rises in the State. —PHOTO BY SUNIL SHARMA
Governor Kalraj Mishra presents honorary doctorate to Gopal Sharma. BD Kalla, Dr Ramsevak Dubey
and others look on. —PHOTOS BY MUKESH KIRADOO
Kashiram Choudhary
Jaipur: Governor
Kalraj Mishra on
Monday inaugurated
Aravali Homeopathy
Hospital and Research
Centre in Jagatpura
on World Homeopath-
ic Day.
First India Channel
Head Dr Jagdeesh
Chandra also attended
the programme.
Jaipur MP Ram-
charan Bohra, Moti
Dungri Ganesh tem-
ple’s mahant Pandit
Kailash Sharma, Pan-
dit Rajkumar Sharma
from Tonk and others
were also present.
Governor Kalraj
Mishra, Dr Jagdeesh
Chandra, and Mahant
Kailash Sharma ob-
served the facilities
available for the treat-
ment of patients in the
hospital and congratu-
lated the director of the
hospital, Dr Ashok Sin-
gh Solanki.
GuvMishrainauguratesAravali
Homeopathy Hosp in Jagatpura
Governor Kalraj Mishra inaugurating Aravali Homeopathy Hospital and Research Centre in Jagatpura
as Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, Dr Dr Ashok Singh Solanki and others look on.
Governor Kalraj Mishra, Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, Dr Ashok
Singh Solanki, and Mahant Pandit Kailash Sharma during the
inauguration of Aravali Homeopathy Hospital on Monday.
Suspended
AdSP Divya
Mittal gets bail
in graft case
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Suspended
AdSP Divya Mit-
tal, facing charges
of corruption to the
tune of Rs 2 crore,
was granted bail
by the NDPS court
on Monday
.
Judge Khushal
Singh made an ob-
servation and said
that the SOG did
not present any
written complaint
and prior permis-
sion from the state
government was
also not taken,
hence, she should
be released on bail.
Petitioner’s coun-
sel Bhagwan Singh
Chauhan said that
Divya Mittal has
also been booked
under NDPS Act,
but the investiga-
tion officer ASP Ka-
mal Tanwar did not
follow the proce-
dure laid down un-
der the NDPS Act.
Rajsamand BJP workers attempt to
gherao collectorate, clash with police
Ashish Choudhary
Rajsamand: Police re-
sorted to water cannon
and cane-charging
against the BJP work-
ers who took out a pro-
test rally against the
State Government over
various issues, includ-
ing deteriorating law
and order, in Rajsa-
mand on Monday
.
A large number of
BJP workers led by the
party’s state president
CP Joshi and MP Diya
Kumari took out Jan
Aakrosh Mahagherao
in Rajsamand city to
submit a memorandum
to the district collector.
The workers holding
placardsraisedanti-gov-
ernment slogans and
marched towards the
districtcollector’soffice,
however, they were
stopped by the police.
“Farm loans were
not waived, youths did
not get unemployment
allowance and their fu-
ture was put into dark
as paper leaks oc-
curred,” CP Joshi told
reporters.
CONGRESS GOVT RESPONSIBLE FOR
ATROCITIES AGAINST WOMEN: CP JOSHI
WAS NEVER A
CONTENDER FOR
POST OF CHIEF
MINISTER: POONIA
Udaipur: State BJP President CP Joshi visited Udaipur
on Monday. He was welcomed by party leaders and
workers at Udaipur airport. While speaking to media per-
sons, CP Joshi attacked the Congress Government and
said that the police should be blamed for
the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl
in the Mavli area of Udaipur. “The situation
has become such that every morning in
Rajasthan when up wake up, you see a girl
being raped. The state government have
been irresponsible in handling such issues. In Balotra
too, a woman was burnt with acid, despite not having a
burn unit there, she was not referred and she died. The
government is responsible for this,” said CP Joshi.
Jaisalmer: Deputy Lead-
er of Opposition Satish
Poonia during his visit
to Jaisalmer on Monday
said he was never a
contender for the post
of Chief Minister. “I was
never a
contender
for the Chief
Minister
post, neither
am I today
nor will I be a contender
in future. Even if the
party offers CM’s post,
I will politely decline it.
Our only aim is that the
party should come back
to power and Narendra
Modi should again be-
come the Prime Minister
in 2024,” added Satish
Poonia. During his visit,
he met the family mem-
bers of the Dalit woman
who was recently killed
in Balotra. Poonia
also met Nimb Singh
of Seema Jan Kalyan
Samiti and gave condo-
lence on the demise of
her mother.
Min Joshi inaugurates
several facilities at
Gangori Hospital
Dinesh Tiwari
Jaipur: PHED Minis-
ter Mahesh Joshi on
Monday inaugurated
several services and fa-
cilities in Gangori
Bazar hospital in Ha-
wamahal constituency.
He said that the num-
ber of patients has been
constantly increasing in
the hospitals and look-
ing to that, a new build-
ing of the hospital is be-
ing constructed and the
number of beds will be
doubled from 300 to 600.
The minister was
talking to reporters af-
ter inaugurating eco
cardiology machine,
hall for patients and at-
tendants, an ambulance
with advanced equip-
ment and facilities.
Statewide mock drills held
to keep coronavirus at bay
Vikas Sharma
Jaipur: With rising
Covid cases across the
country, including Ra-
jasthan, preparations
are afoot to prevent re-
infectioningovernment
hospitals and deal with
any disaster. In compli-
ance with the instruc-
tions of the Central
Government, prepara-
tions were reviewed on
Monday through mock
drillsinhospitalsacross
the State. Sampling,
medicines, ICU, oxygen
plant and ventilator
were tested in hospitals.
Mock drill was also
conducted at the SMS
Hospital here. Of the
total 2,570 beds in the
hospital, 1751 oxygen
beds are working, while
there are 381 ICU beds
and 371 ventilators.
Medical Education Secretary T Ravikanth, Med Secretary Dr Prithvi
and other officials during the review meeting in Jaipur on Monday.
COVID-19 UPDATE
804
197
ACTIVE
CASES
NEW
CASES
03
NEW
DEATHS
2 deaths in Jhalawar
1 death in Bikaner
55 cases in Jaipur
35 cases in Rajsamand
22 cases in Jhalawar
COVID-19 REVIEW
MEET ORGANISED
Jaipur: The officials of the
Medical and Health Depart-
ment on Monday reviewed
the situation of the corona-
virus in the State. A mock
drill was held in government
hospitals to assess the
preparedness to handle the
cases of Covid-19. Medical
Education Secretary T Ravi-
kant and Medical Secretary
Dr Prithvi inquired about the
preparations for the control
and management of the
coronavirus.
Army jawan
shoots himself
dead in Bikaner
Finance Dept
approves 203
new sub-health
centres in State
First India Bureau
Bikaner: An Army
jawan allegedly shot
himself dead with his
service rifle in Ra-
j a s t h a n’s
B i k a n e r
district on
Monday, po-
lice said.
Laxman
Singh Rawat (43),
posted at Army’s arms
depot, committed sui-
cide at around 4 am,
they said.
The body was hand-
ed over to the army af-
ter post-mortem, police
said, adding that the
matter has been regis-
tered under CrPC sec-
tion 174. Laxman Singh
Rawat was a resident
of Pauri Garhwal in
Uttarakhand.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: The Finance
Department has given
approval for opening
203 new sub-health cen-
tres in the State on
Monday. Health Minis-
ter Parsadi Lal Meena
said that approval has
been issued to open 203
new sub-health centres
along with posts.
He informed that
apart from sanctioning
Rs30 lakh each for
the construction work
of sub-health centre,
new posts of female
health worker (one at
each sub centre) have
also been approved.
The Minister said
that with the opening
of new sub-health cen-
tres, the nearby citi-
zens will be able to get
the benefit of medical
facilities near their
homes. The minister
said that the expansion
of medical facilities in
remote and rural areas
of the state has been
the priority of the state
government.
Minister Mahesh Joshi during the inauguration ceremony at
Gangori Hospital in Jaipur on Monday.

he all-India tiger estimation con-
ducted in 2022 stands out as the
most extensive wildlife survey to
date, encompassing 20 states and
entailing an impressive foot sur-
vey of 6,41,449 kilometres, ac-
cording to data released by the
National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA).
The study team involved offi-
cials and experts from the NTCA
and the states, research biolo-
gists, scientists, coordinators,
interns and volunteers. As part
of the exercise, the team sam-
pled 3,24,003 habitat plots to
gather data on vegetation, hu-
man impacts and ungulate dung.
The study required an im-
mense amount of effort, with the
teaminvestingmorethan6,41,102
man-days to complete it. “We be-
lieve that this is the world’s larg-
est effort invested in any wildlife
survey till date, on all of the
above counts,” the report read.
The camera traps captured
the images of a total of 3,080 ti-
gers (aged above one year). The
number represents an increase
compared to the figures (2,697)
of 2018. “Based on the findings,
the minimum population esti-
mate of tigers in India is 3,167
individuals, reflecting an en-
couraging upward trend in the
tiger population,” a senior envi-
ronment ministry official said.
In 2006, the country estab-
lished a 100-square kilometre
grid as the standard sampling
space for monitoring tiger popu-
lations. This remains constant
to date, with each grid assigned
a unique code for subsequent
analysis and comparison.
The effort invested in the data
collection and collation was
more than 6,41,102 man-days,
making this the largest survey
conducted ever, officials said.
The 2022 all-India tiger estima-
tion revealed a notable increase
in tiger occupancy
. It identified
and photographed 3,080 unique
tigers, representing an increase
from the 2,461 tigers captured in
2018.
According to the report, the
minimum estimated population
of tigersinIndiais3,167,upfrom
2,697 in 2018. Tiger popula-
tions have increased sig-
nificantly in the Shivalik
and Gangetic floodplains
as well as in central India,
the Northeastern Hills-
Brahmaputrafloodplains
and Sundarbans.
However, the West-
ern Ghats, recog-
nised as one of
the most nota-
ble biodiver-
sity hot-
spots in In-
dia, showed
a decline. The
region recorded 824
“unique tigers” in
2022, as compared to
981 in 2018. According
to the study team, align-
ing the aspirations of
large-scale economic devel-
opment while safeguarding for-
ests and wildlife and mitigating
human-tiger conflict is one of
the major challenges.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
Vol 4 Issue No. 303
RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764.
Printed and published by Anita Hada
Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers.
Printed at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B. Corp
Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk Road, Jaipur.
Published at 304, 3rd Floor, City Mall, Bhagwan
Das Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001,
Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504.
Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra
Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for
selection of news under the PRB Act
India is the only
country where tiger
population is
growing as opposed
to other nations,
where it has either
stagnated or is
declining. So, only
natural for ‘hate-
driven, propaganda
media’ Al Jazeera to
experience heartburn.
Bhupender Yadav
@byadavbjp
SC dismissing 2 pleas
challenging Delhi HC
judgment to allow
recruitment of Agniveer
in armed forces exposed
opposition its conspiracy
to trigger nationwide violence
by misguiding youth.
Agnipath is a game changer
to bolster armed forces,
giving youth an opportunity
to serve India.
Anurag Thakur
@ianuragthakur SPIRITUAL SPEAK
But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength. They
will soar on wings like eagles; they
will run and not grow weary; they
will walk and not be faint.
—Bible
TOP
TWEETS
The camera traps
installed at 32,588
locations resulted in an
impressive 4,70,81,881
photographs, including
97,399 captures of tigers,
according to the “Status
of Tigers 2022” report
released by PM Narendra
Modi at an event in
Mysuru on Sunday
MONI SHARMA
The writer is Editor (News)
in First India, Jaipur
T
PERSPECTIVE 06
BIG CAT COUNT
GETS BIGGER
2022 DATA
COLLECTION
EXERCISE
THE FIRST PHASE
The exercise involved data
collection across the coun-
try, covering 10,146 grids
of 100 square km each. The
entire phase-1 data was col-
lected using the MSTrIPES
android application
THE SECOND PHASE
It was conducted at the
Wildlife Institute of India,
Dehradun, entailed generat-
ing landscape-level data
using remote sensing and
secondary data sources
THE SECOND PHASE
It involved sampling at 174
sites, encompassing 32,588
locations, which yielded
4,70,81,881 photographs,
including 97,399 pictures
of tigers.
MODI: “AMAZING
EXPERIENCE” AT
TIGER RESERVES
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Sunday released
the Tiger Census while inaugu-
rating the International Big Cat
Alliance in Karnataka’s Mysuru,
the first of its kind in the coun-
try, organised to mark 50 years
of Project Tiger. The figures of
the 5th cycle of India’s Tiger
Census revealing that tiger
numbers have once again
increased in the country and
now stands at 3,167 in the wild
as of 2022, said PM Modi. PM
Narendra Modi posted some
more pictures from what he
described as an “amazing ex-
perience.” “Yes, here are some
more pictures from Sunday.
Was an amazing experience,”
PM wrote on his Twitter handle.
The prime minister’s visits to
the wildlife sanctuaries com-
memorated 50th anniversary of
“Project Tiger”.
2022 DATA
TIGER CENSUS 2022 WORLD’S MOST EXTENSIVE WILDLIFE SURVEY: REPORT
TIGER NUMBERS NOW STANDS AT 3,167 IN THE WILD AS OF 2022, SAYS PM MODI
APRIL 10, 2023
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
visits Bandipur Tiger
Reserves, on Sunday.

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INDIA
07
New Delhi (PTI): All
women use creativity
daily in household
chores and in other ar-
eas, and it is time to en-
courage them to come
up with innovative so-
lutions and products
that India needs, Presi-
dent Droupadi Murmu
said on Monday
.
Addressinganaward
function here, Murmu
said once the families
start supporting the
women, they will be
able to contribute more
in this area too as they
are already doing in
other fields.
“I have noted that
there is only one wom-
an recipient among
the 13 national awar-
dees honoured here.
All women use crea-
tivity daily in their
household chores and
in other areas also. It
is time to encourage
women to come up
with innovative solu-
tions and products
that the country
needs” she said at the
11th Biennial Nation-
al Grassroots Innova-
tion and Outstanding
Traditional Knowl-
edge Awards of the
National Innovation
Foundation.
Time to encourage women to come
up with innovative solutions: Prez
REWARD SPIRIT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
President Droupadi Murmu interacting with the students at the
11th Biennial National Grassroots Innovation and Outstanding
Traditional Knowledge Awards of NIF in New Delhi on Monday.
Visual of the violence in Chhattisgarh’s Bemetara district.
3 KILLED AFTER
BEING RUN OVER
BY BUS IN UP
1 HELD FOR KILLING
MAN TIFF OVER
POLITICAL ISSUE
MUSLIMS OFFERING
NAMAZ THRASHED,
10 HELD IN SONIPAT
5-YEAR-OLD GIRL
MOLESTED BY
MAN IN DELHI
Sitapur: Two men and
a woman were killed
after being run over by
a roadways bus here on
Monday, police said. The
speeding bus, which was
going towards Lucknow,
crashed into a service
road after hitting a divider
in Kamalapur police sta-
tion area, they said. Paras
Kumar, Raju and an un-
known woman died on the
spot while three injured
persons were rushed to
a CHC in Kasmanda and
their condition is stated to
be critical, they said.
New Delhi: A 45-year-
old man was killed in
Southeast Delhi’s Okhla
area following a quarrel
with another man over
some political issue on
Monday. The deceased
was identified as Prabhu
Nath. According to police,
a PCR call regarding a
quarrel in Okhla Phase-II
was received at Okhla In-
dustrial Area police station
on Sunday. “Head Consta-
ble Vinod reached the spot
and enquired about the
matter,” said Rajesh Deo,
DCP (Southeast).
Chandigarh: A group of
men armed with lathis
allegedly barged into
a mosque in a village
in Haryana’s Sonipat,
attacked people offering
namaz and vandalised
the place, police said
on Monday. At least
six people were injured
in the Sunday evening
attack in the mosque
in Sandal Kalan village,
they said. Police have
arrested 10 people for
the “unprovoked attack”.
They beat up those
offering prayers.
New Delhi: A five-year-
old girl was sexually
harassed by a 42-year-
old man in South Delhi’s
Vasant Kunj area, an
official said on Monday,
adding that the accused
has been arrested.
According to police, the
matter came to light
on Sunday when an
information was received
at Vasant Kunj South
police station regard-
ing sexual harassment
with a minor, following
which, a police team was
dispatched to the spot.
New Delhi: The NIA on Monday said that they conduct-
ed raids at nine locations in Lohardaga in CPI (Maoist)
case and arrested a man along with illegal arms. The
accused was identified as Sajan Kumar, a resident of
Jharkhand. The raids were conducted on Sunday. The
NIA had taken up the case of conspiracy by active
cadres of CPI (Maoist) to attack security forces in June
2022. A joint operation was launched in February last
year by local police and CRPF when cadres of CPI (Mao-
ist) fired indiscriminately upon them at Harkatta Toli.
NIA RAIDS NINE LOCATIONS IN CPI
(MAOIST) CASE, 1 HELD WITH WEAPONS
CRUCIAL READ
New Delhi (PTI):
Amid a spike in COV-
ID-19 cases, mock drills
to take stock of hospi-
tal preparedness were
held in several public
and private facilities
across the country on
Monday.
Union Health Minis-
ter Mansukh Mandavi-
ya visited the Ram
Manohar Lohia Hospi-
tal in the city to review
the mock drill there.
India logged 5,880
new coronavirus cases,
while the active cases
have increased to
35,199. The death toll
has increased to
5,30,979 with 14 deaths,
according to the health
ministry data updated
on Monday.
In a review meeting
held on April 7, Man-
daviya had urged state
health ministers to visit
hospitals and oversee
the mock drills on April
10 and 11.
In the meeting with
state health ministers,
and principal and addi-
tional chief secretaries
held virtually
, Mandavi-
ya had stressed the need
to identify emergency
hotspots by monitoring
trends of influenza-like
illness (ILI) and severe
acute respiratory infec-
tion (SARI) cases, ramp-
ing up testing and vac-
cination, and ensuring
readiness of hospital
infrastructure.
Besides enhancing
genome sequencing and
ramping up whole ge-
nome sequencing of
positive samples, he
had laid stress on creat-
ing awareness about fol-
lowing Covid-appropri-
ate behaviour.
During the meeting,
states and union terri-
tories were informed
that currently the
World Health Organisa-
tion (WHO) is closely
tracking a variant of
interest (VOI), XBB.1.5,
and six other variants
(BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1,
XBB, XBF and
XBB.1.16).
It was highlighted
that while Omicron and
its sub-lineages contin-
ue to be the predomi-
nant variants, most of
the assigned variants
have little or no signifi-
cant transmissibility,
disease severity or im-
mune escape.
The prevalence of
XBB.1.16 increased
from 21.6 per cent in
February to 35.8 per
cent in March. Howev-
er, no evidence of an
increase in hospitalisa-
tion or mortality has
been reported, the min-
istry had said in a
statement.
During the meeting,
it was observed that 23
states and union terri-
tories have testing rates
that are lower than the
current national aver-
age of 100 tests per mil-
lion people.
Nationwide mock drill to take
stock of preparedness on Covid
India logs 5,880 new coronavirus cases, active cases increase to 35,199 during last 24 hours
A healthcare worker collects a nasal swab sample of a woman for
COVID-19 test during a mock drill for Coronavirus preparedness,
at JLNM hospital, in Srinagar on Monday. —PHOTO BY ANI
COVID-19 TREATMENT: SC JUNKS PLEA ON
EFFICACY OF REMDESIVIR, FAVIPIRAVIR
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed
a plea alleging use of drugs Remdesivir and Favipiravir,
without approval, for treatment of Covid-19 and also
seeking CBI probe against ten Indian pharmaceutical
firms for selling these medicines allegedly in the absence
of valid licenses. A bench, headed by Chief Justice of
India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S.
Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala said these issues cannot
be examined by the court and dismissed the plea filed by
advocate M.L. Sharma. In October 2020, the Supreme
Court had sought Centre’s reply on the plea alleging that
Remdesivir and Favipiravir are being used for treatment
of Covid-19 without approval. A bench headed by then
Chief Justice S.A. Bobde had issued notice to the Centre
on the plea and sought its response in four weeks.
COVID-19 SURGE: MAHA HOLDS
MOCK DRILLS IN GOVT HOSPITALS
Mumbai (PTI): Mock drills to assess the COVID
preparedness of government-run hospitals across
Maharashtra were carried out on Monday, officials said
here. The mock drills, which will also continue on Tues-
day, were being conducted after the Union government
recently asked states to review the preparedness of the
health infrastructure amid a rise in COVID-19 cases
across the country over the past few days. At Mumbai’s
JJ Hospital, among the biggest medical facilities in the
state, one mock drill was held at the OPD and another
in the wards, during which medicine stock, X-ray ma-
chinery, oxygen supply and personnel deployment etc
were checked, an official said. Incidentally, at COVID-19
review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister
Mansukh Mandaviya on April 7, it was observed that
Maharashtra was among the three states with 10 or
more districts having positivity rate (cases per 100
tests) of more than 10 per cent. On April 7, the addition
to the tally was 926, the highest for the state in 2023.
New Delhi (ANI): Del-
hi’s Saket court on Mon-
day passed an order on a
plea moved by Delhi Po-
lice against a channel
andotherchannelsseek-
ing an order restraining
them from disseminat-
ing content of charge
sheet including digital
evidence in the Shrad-
dha murder case stating
that it is not a public
document.
Additional Sessions
Judge (ASJ) Rakesh Ku-
mar Singh passed a re-
straining order against
the channel and list the
matter on April 17 for
further hearing. The
court said that a de-
tailed hearing will be
given to both the par-
ties. Special public pros-
ecutor (SPP) Amit Pras-
ad said that the Delhi
Police earlier ap-
proached the court on
credible information
that one of the media
houses has accessed the
audio-video evidence
related to the Narco test
and the Practo app.
This matter is related
to the alleged murder of
Shraddha Walkar by his
live-in partner Aftab
Amin Poonawala.
New Delhi (ANI): Un-
ion Minister Jitendra
Singh while address-
ing the National Inno-
vation Awards on
Monday said that num-
ber of StartUps in In-
dia grew by whopping
300 times in the last
nine years.
Jitendra Singh said
there were just around
350 StartUps before
2014, but after Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi gave a clarion
call in 2016, there has
been a quantum jump
in their numbers to
more than 90,000 with
more than 100 Uni-
corns.
Bengaluru: Amid
calls to boycott dairy
giant Amul’s products
in Karnataka, Gujarat
Cooperative Milk Mar-
keting Federation
Managing Director
Jayen Mehta said the
company’s entry into
the state’s dairy mar-
ket is not to compete
but to coexist with the
local Nandini brand.
The Bruhat Bengal-
uru Hotel Association
has called upon all ho-
tel owners to boycott
Amul products and
use the ‘state’s pride’
Nandini to support
dairy farmers of Kar-
nataka.
Shraddha Murder
Court restrains
media from
publishing charge
sheet content
StartUps grew
300 times under
PM Modi: Singh
Amul vs Nandini
in poll-bound
Karnataka
Raipur (ANI): In
view of a Statewide
‘bandh’ call by Vishwa
Hindu Parishad (VHP)
and other organisa-
tions over violence in
Chhattisgarh’s Bem-
etara district, workers
of the outfit and those
of BJP, which has lent
support to the protest,
have urged people to
close their businesses
on Monday.
On Saturday
, 22-year-
old, Bhuneswar Sahu,
was killed in a clash
between two groups in
the Biranpur village.
Three police personnel
were also injured in the
incident. Raipur Addi-
tional Superintendent
of Police Abhishek
Maheshwari said, To-
day a bandh has been
called by Vishwa Hin-
du Parishad and the
Bajrang Dal. An addi-
tional police force has
also been deployed in
all police stations.
VHP calls State bandh,
urge shutting of shops
Chhattisgarh’s Bemetara violence

Srinagar (ANI): Fol-
lowing the inspection of
the ongoing work on the
Zojila Tunnel, Union
Minister Nitin Gadkari
on Monday said that
tourism will increase by
2-3 times with the con-
struction of the tunnel.
Union Minister Nitin
Gadkari and Jammu
and Kashmir Lieuten-
ant Governor Manoj
Sinha visited Zojila
Tunnel to inspect the
ongoing work. “With
the construction of this
tunnel, tourism will in-
crease by 2-3 times and
employment opportuni-
ties will also grow in
Jammu and Kashmir,”
said Gadkari.
“We will achieve con-
nectivity between Kash-
mir to Kanniyakumari
in the true sense,” he
added.
Gadkari in a tweet
said that as many as 19
tunnels are being con-
structed in Jammu and
Kashmir at a cost of Rs
25 thousand crore.
“19 tunnels are being
constructed in Jammu
and Kashmir at a cost
of Rs 25 thousand crore.
Under this, construc-
tion work of 13.14 km
long tunnel and ap-
proach road is in pro-
gress at Zojila at a cost
of Rs 6800 crore. It is a
7.57 meter high horse-
shoe-shaped single
tube, 2-lane tunnel,
which will pass under
the Zojila Pass in the
Himalayas between
Ganderbal in Kashmir
and Drass town in Kar-
gil district of Ladakh.
The project includes a
Smart Tunnel (SCADA)
system, constructed us-
ing the New Austrian
Tunneling Method. It is
equipped with facilities
like CCTV
, radio con-
trol, uninterrupted
power supply, ventila-
tion. The Government
of India has also saved
Rs 5000 crore by the use
of modern technology
in this project,” tweeted
Gadkari in Hindi.
The transport minis-
ter further said that
with the construction
of this tunnel, there
will be all-weather con-
nectivity for Ladakh.
INDIA
08
New Delhi (PTI): Bil-
lionaire Gautam Ada-
ni’s group on Monday
listed out details of the
USD 2.87 billion stake
sales in group firms
since 2019 and how USD
2.55 billion of this was
ploughed back into
business, as it looked to
counter Congress lead-
er Rahul Gandhi’s
claim of Rs 20,000 crore
coming in to the con-
glomerate through
‘shell companies’.
While investors such
as Abu Dhabi-based
global strategic invest-
ment company
, Interna-
tional Holding Compa-
ny PJSC (IHC) invested
USD 2.593 billion in
group firms such as
Adani Enterprise Ltd
and Adani Green En-
ergy Ltd (AGEL), pro-
moters sold stake in
Adani Total Gas Ltd
and AGEL to raise USD
2.783 billion.
“These funds were
reinvested by promoter
entities to support the
growth of new business
and in portfolio compa-
nies such as Adani En-
terprises Ltd, Adani
Ports and Special Eco-
nomic Zone Ltd, Adani
Transmission Ltd and
Adani Power Ltd,” the
group said in an official
statement.
The statement was
issued rebutting re-
ports in an internation-
al publication, which
apparently was the ba-
sis of Gandhi’s state-
ment late last month
questioning how “Rs
20,000 crore suddenly
arrived in Adani’s shell
companies.”
“We understand the
competitive race to tear
down Adani can be al-
luring. But we are fully
compliant with securi-
ties laws and are not
obscuring promoter
ownership and financ-
ing,” it said.
The Group said that
promoters in January
2021 raised USD 2 bil-
lion through the sale of
20 per cent stake in re-
newable energy firm,
AGEL to French giant
TotalEnergies. Prior to
that, they had sold a 37.4
per cent stake in city
gas arm, Adani Total
Gas Ltd to the same
French firm for USD
783 million.
Adani says USD 2.6 billion stake sale money came in group firms
COUNTER TO RaGa’S `20,000 CR CLAIM
lll
Group issues
rebuts reports in
an international
publication,
which
apparently was
basis of Rahul
Gandhi’s
statement late
last month
Kashmir’s tourism will increase
once Zojila Tunnel is built: Gadkari
Union Minister and JK Lt Guv Sinha visit Zojila Tunnel to inspect ongoing work
Emine Dzhaparova lauds
Modi’spolicyofdemocracy
New Delhi (ANI): PM
Narendra Modi’s poli-
cy of democracy
, dia-
logue and diversifica-
tion and strategic ap-
plicationisveryimpor-
tant for Ukraine, First
Deputy Foreign Minis-
ter Emine Dzhaparova
said on Monday
.
Dzhaparova, who
arrived at the Minis-
try of External Af-
fairs, said, “I think
that India should be
pragmatic in diversi-
fying its energy re-
sources, diversifying
military contracts, in
diversifying political
interaction. And we
feel that there is an ex-
traordinary time that
we live in. And as my
President Philip Mer-
zelinski says, extraor-
dinary times need ex-
traordinarydecisions.
So of course, Prime
Minister Modi with
his 3D policy of de-
mocracy dialogue and
to my knowledge its
diversity. I think that
this no-era of war and
strategic application
is really
, really impor-
tant.” “So we hope
thatIndiaandUkraine
will be even though
we are distant geo-
graphically, but we
will become closer
physically and politi-
cally and in many
other ways.”
❍ DIPLOMATIC DIALOGUE
MEA Secretary Sanjay Verma (R) meets with Emine Dzhaparova in New Delhi on Monday.
Nitin Gadkari and Manoj Sinha inspect the work at Zojila Tunnel on Monday. —PHOTO BY ANI
Gorakhpur (ANI): Ut-
tar Pradesh CM Yogi
Adityanath has said
that triple engine gov-
ernment is a must for
uninterrupted, rapid
developmentof thestate
and prosperity of its
people, appealing to peo-
ple to start preparing
the strategy for making
lotus bloom in both mu-
nicipalpollsandtheLok
Sabha elections, which
will be held in 2024.
At a function, Yogi
said, “The country un-
der the leadership of
PM Narendra Modi is
scaling new heights and
has emerged as an ideal
nation for the world
where heritage is re-
spected, benefits of wel-
fare schemes reach
every poor and needy,
and farmers, youth and
women are all empow-
ered while there is fool-
proof internal and bor-
der security
.”
Make lotus bloom in civic body LS polls: Yogi
UP TO SPEND `150
CR ON MARRIAGES
OF OBC WOMEN
NOD TO ANTI-ONLINE
GAMBLING BILL
Lucknow: The Yogi govt
will spend Rs 150 crore
to conduct the marriages
of poor women belong-
ing to OBC category. A
govt spokesperson said
that the government has
issued instructions to
all districts, stating that
non-compliance with the
prescribed rules will be
treated as an irregularity.
He said the govt has been
allocating funds and pro-
viding grants for marriage
of ‘OBC’ daughters.
Chennai: Amid pressure
piling up, Governor RN
Ravi finally gave in and
accorded his assent to the
online gambling ban Bill.
The governor’s decision
came shortly after the
state assembly passed
a resolution demanding
Centre’s intervention over
the governor delaying giv-
ing his assent to the bills.
Chennai (PTI): The Ta-
mil Nadu Assembly on
Monday adopted a reso-
lution urging the Centre
and President to fix a
timeframeforStateGov-
ernors to approve Bills
adopted by the House,
indicating increasing
dissension between the
DMK government and
Governor R N Ravi.
Chief Minister MK
Stalin who piloted the
resolution fired sharp
barbs at Ravi accusing
him of being more
faithful to the BJP lead-
ership than the Consti-
tution of India.
TN resolution urges Prez Centre to
fix timeframe for Guv to approve bills
These funds were reinvested by
promoter entities to support the
growth of new business and in
portfolio companies such as Adani Enter-
prises Ltd, Adani Ports and Special Eco-
nomic Zone Ltd, Adani Transmission Ltd
and Adani Power Ltd.
—Adani Group’s statement
UKRAINE MINISTER INVITES INDIA TO
JOIN PREZ ZELENSKYY’S PEACE PLAN
New Delhi: A top Ukraine official invited India to join
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace
formula and grain initiative, saying
that New Delhi should diversify its
energy imports. Ukraine’s First Deputy
Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova
arrived in Delhi Monday on an official
visit, which was also her maiden trip
to India, and attended a meeting at
the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
“Pleased to have a meeting with Sec-
retary (West) MEA Sanjay Verma in New Delhi…Invited
India to join President Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula and
‘Grain From Ukraine’ initiative (sic),” she said in a tweet.
With the construction
of this tunnel, there
will be all-weather
connectivity for
Ladakh. Now average
travel time to cross the
Zojila Pass sometimes
takes three hours, after
the completion of this
tunnel the travel time
will come down to
20.0 minutes.
—Nitin Gadkari,
Union Minister
Zojila (PTI): Union Minister Nitin
Gadkari while terming the tunnel
historic, said the project is part of a
dream to connect Kashmir valley with
Kanyakumari. He also announced that
the Z-Morh tunnel, which connects
Gagangir with Sonamarg and provides
all-weather connectivity to the resort in
Ganderbal district of central Kashmir,
will be inaugurated in October this year.
HISTORIC LINK OF JK WITH
KANYAKUMARI: GADKARI
Yogi Adityanath and Bhupender Yadav at National Climate Conclave in Lucknow on Monday.
TN Guv RN Ravi CM MK Stalin
New Delhi (PTI): Vice
President Jagdeep
Dhankhar on Monday
said people should leave
their “political specta-
cles” behind while em-
barking on a foreign
visit, in an apparent
reference to a row over
Rahul Gandhi’s re-
marks made during a
recent visit to the UK.
Speaking at a World
Homeopathy Day func-
tion here, Dhankhar
said as India lays the
foundation for the cen-
tenary of its independ-
ence in 2047, every at-
tempt that seeks to at-
tack the country’s dig-
nity should be blunted.
“Have you ever no-
ticed a foreign dignitary
or foreign national on a
visit to this great democ-
racy decrying or criti-
cising his nation? The
answer is an obvious no.
Why cannot we take
pride in our scientists,
health warriors and
compliment our innova-
tion?” Dhankhar asked.
Whenever we travel
out of the country
, we
shouldleaveourpolitical
spectacles behind. This
will be beneficial for the
country as well as the in-
dividual,” he added.
His comments came
in wake of Rahul’s re-
marks made in the UK,
that democratic parts
of world, including the
US, have failed to notice
that a “large chunk of
democracy has come
undone” in India.
Leave political spectacles
behind while going abroad: VP
WORLD HOMOEOPATHY DAY: DHANKHAR
INAUGURATES SCIENTIFIC CONVENTION
New Delhi: Every citizen must dedicate one hour of the
day towards his/her own health, for healthy individu-
als are key to ensuring the progress of the nation. This
was highlighted by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar
during the inauguration of the Scientific Convention on
World Homoepathy Day here on Monday. He noted that
homoepathy, with its rich history spanning two centu-
ries, is being nurtured in our country. “Homoeopathy
is connected to nature, and the World Health Organisa-
tion has recognised it as the second largest and fastest
growing system of medicine in the world,” he added.
VP Jagdeep Dhankhar with Sarbananda Sonowal at inauguration
of the Scientific Convention in New Delhi, on Monday.
New Delhi (ANI):
Congress leader Ra-
hul Gandhi will visit
his former constitu-
ency Wayanad in Ker-
ala on
Tuesday,
for the
first time
after his
disqualifi-
cation as
a Mem-
ber of Parliament
(MP). During his visit,
he will address a pub-
lic rally and hold a
roadshow in Way-
anad. Rahul Gandhi
lost membership in
the Lower House of
Parliament after a Su-
rat court convicted
and sentenced him in
a 2019 criminal defa-
mation case.
RaGa to visit Wayanad, his
former constituency, today

UMESH MURDER:
AHMED MOVES SC
SEEKING SECURITY
COURT UPHOLDS
ACQUITTAL OF EX-
JAMIA REGISTRAR
New Delhi: Former
Samajwadi Party leader
Atiq Ahmed moved the
Supreme Court seeking its
protection, claiming that
he has been “roped in” as
an accused in the Umesh
Pal murder case and fears
threat to his life. Lodged
in the Central Jail, Ahmed
has also sought direc-
tions to ensure that no
physical or bodily injury
or harm is done to him.
New Delhi: A court has
upheld the order of a
magisterial court to acquit
a former registrar of Jamia
Hamdard University of
the charges of sexual
harassment, criminal
intimidation and assault or
criminal force to a woman
with intent to outrage her
modesty. The woman filed
an appeal in the superior
sessions court against pre-
vious order in Dec 2021.
New Delhi: Extra-judicial confession is a weak piece of
evidence which requires strong evidence to corroborate it,
the SC said while acquitting a man in a 2007 murder case.
“Extra-judicial confession is a weak piece of evidence
and especially when it has been retracted during trial. It
requires strong evidence to corroborate it and also it must
be established that it was completely voluntary and truth-
ful. In view of discussion, we do not find any corroborat-
ing evidence to support extra judicial confession,” it said.
New Delhi: Delhi police filed a status report in the High court
and said that they are working expeditiously on a tender
for the installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations. It
is also stated that the SC is monitoring this issue and has
called for a report from all the State governments on the
issue of the installation of CCTV cameras with a storage
capacity of 18 months in police Stations. The HC directed
Delhi police to comply with the order of the SC in relation to
the installation of CCTV cameras in Police stations.
NEED STRONG EVIDENCE TO CORROBORATE
EXTRA-JUDICIAL CONFESSION,SAYS SC
WORKING ON TENDER PROCESS TO SET
UP CCTV CAMERAS: DELHI POLICE TO HC
IN THE COURTYARD
Biden says he will run again in 2024
First India Bureau
Washington: US Presi-
dent Joe Biden said on
Monday he plans to run
for re-election in 2024
but was not prepared to
announce it yet. “I plan
on running ... but we’re
not prepared to an-
nounce it yet,” Biden
said in an interview
with NBC’s “Today”
show before the White
House Easter Egg Roll.
Biden has said he in-
tends to be the Demo-
cratic candidate in 2024
but has not made a for-
mal announcement.
Both Biden and Vice
President Kamala Har-
ris have said they will
run together.
Top White House ad-
visers are set to make
final decisions on
launching Biden’s re-
election campaign,
NBC News reported,
citing several unidenti-
fied sources.
“The decision part is
over, but he resents the
pressure to have to an-
nounce what he’s al-
ready decided,” one
source familiar with
the matter told NBC.
4 die, 8 hurt in Kentucky bank shooting: Police
First India Bureau
Kentucky: Four people
were killed and at least
eight others injured
Monday in a shooting
targeting a bank in
downtown Louisville,
Kentucky, according to
US police who said the
suspect — believed to be
an ex-employee — died
in the assault.
Police said calls had
come in around 8:30 am
(1230 GMT) for an “ac-
tive aggressor” at the
Old National Bank in
Louisville, the largest
city in the southern
state, and that officers
were on the scene with-
in “minutes.” Officers
“encountered the sus-
pect almost immediate-
ly
,stillfiringgunshots,”
police said.
The shooting occured at the Old National Bank in Louisville, US on Monday.
India denies reports of halting talks
with UK over High Comm. attack
New Delhi (ANI): In-
dia dismissed as “base-
less” reports in British
media stating that it
had halted talks for a
free trade agreement
with the United King-
dom over the attack on
the Indian high com-
mission in London last
month, government
sources said on Monday
.
London-based news-
paper in its April 10 edi-
tion citing senior Brit-
ish government sources
reported that the Indian
government has “disen-
gaged” from trade talks
and made it clear that
there would be no pro-
gress “without a public
condemnation of the
Khalistan movement.”
An Indian govt source
“denied” the UK publi-
cation’s report and
termed it as “baseless.”
Russia using ‘scorched
earth’ tactics in battle
Moscow: Russian
forces are pressing at-
tacks in Ukraine’s
eastern Donetsk re-
gion, focusing on two
cities and pounding
Ukrainian positions
with air strikes and
artillery barrages,
Kyiv said on Monday
.
The commander of
Ukraine’s ground forc-
es said the Russians
were destroying build-
ings and positions in
besieged Bakhmut in
what he called
“scorched earth” tac-
tics.
Russia’s assault on
Bakhmut, a small city
in Donetsk at the edge
of a chunk of Russian-
controlled territory,
has for months been
the focus of the big-
gest battle of the war,
now in its second year.
Joe Biden
NEWS
09
AAP gets national status; TMC, NCP lose tag
First India Bureau
New Delhi: The Elec-
tion Commission on
Monday recognised the
Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) as a national
party and withdrew the
national party status
of the All India Trina-
mul Congress, Nation-
alist Congress Party
(NCP) and the Commu-
nist Party of India
(CPI).
In an order issued on
Monday, the Commis-
sion also revoked the
state party status
granted to RLD in Uttar
Pradesh, BRS in
Andhra Pradesh, PDA
in Manipur, PMK in Pu-
ducherry, RSP in West
Bengal and MPC in Mi-
zoram.
The Commission
said the AAP has been
named as a national
party based on its elec-
toral performance in
four states -- Delhi,
Goa, Punjab and Guja-
rat. The Arvind Kejri-
wal-led party is in pow-
er in Delhi and Punjab.
The poll panel said that
the status of NCP, CPI
and the Trinamul Con-
gress as national politi-
cal parties would be
withdrawn. The BJP,
Congress, CPI(M), Ba-
hujan Samaj Party
(BSP), National Peo-
ple’s Party (NPP) and
the AAP are now na-
tional parties.
The Commission
said that NCP and Tri-
namul Congress will be
recognised as state par-
ties in Nagaland and
Meghalaya respective-
ly based on their per-
formance in the recent-
ly concluded assembly
elections. It also grant-
ed “recognised state
political party” status
to the Lok Janshakti
Party (Ram Vilas) in
Nagaland, Voice of the
People Party in Megha-
laya and the Tipra Mo-
tha in Tripura.
ELECTION COMMISSION’S NEW ORDERS
Vidisha (PTI): Senior
Congress leader Digvi-
jaya Singh on Monday
claimed the grand old
party will form the next
government in Madhya
Pradesh by winning
more than 116 of 230
seats and Kamal Nath
will be the chief minis-
terial face.
The Assembly elec-
tions in MP are due lat-
er this year.
“We need 116 seats to
form a government. We
are going to get more
than 116 seats. The par-
ty face will be Kamal
Nath,” the Rajya Sabha
member told media.
Will form next govt in MP,
Kamal Nath to be CM: Singh
“AZAD FALLS TO NEW DEPTHS TO
DEMONSTRATE HIS TRUE CHARACTER”
PROUD OF BROTHER WHO FACES
INJUSTICE WITH DIGNITY: PRIYANKA
New Delhi (ANI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on
Monday slammed former Congress leader Ghulam
Nabi Azad and said that the latter falls to new depths
with each passing day to demon-
strate his true character and loyalty
to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a tweet, Jairam Ramesh said,
“With every passing day, Ghulam
Nabi Azad falls to new depths to
demonstrate his true character
and his loyalty to PM Modi. His
contemptible statements on the Congress leadership
reflect his desperation to remain relevant.”
New Delhi (ANI): In an affectionate social media post
for #RahulGandhi on #SiblingsDay, #PriyankaGandhi
on Monday said she is proud of her brother who faces
injustice with dignity. She wrote:
“So, there’s a Sibling’s Day too!
Well, to my only sibling, who has
the courage to stand for goodness
and compassion despite all sorts
of filth being thrown at him, who
faces injustice with dignity, who
won’t back down from speaking
the truth no matter how many de-
sert him or turn their knives in his back or how much
power is used to silence him.”
Priyanka Gandhi
Digvijaya Singh
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on Monday. This was the first meeting of the Governor with the
Prime Minister since assuming the charge of the post of Governor. —PHOTO BY ANI
RAMESH BAIS CALLS ON PM MODI
TRINAMOOL CONG EXPLORING LEGAL
OPTIONS TO CHALLENGE EC DECISION
WILL REACT AFTER READING EC
ORDER: NATIONALIST CONG PARTY
After losing the national
party status, the Trina-
mool Congress is exploring
legal options to challenge
the decision of the Election
Commission, a party source
said on Monday. The EC
withdrew the national
party status of the TMC,
Nationalist Congress Party
(NCP) and the Communist
Party of India (CPI) earlier
on Monday. The party is
exploring legal options to
challenge this decision by
EC, a TMC source said. The Mamata Banerjee-led party
did not issue any official reaction.
The Nationalist Congress
Party on Monday said it
would react to the Election
Commission stripping the
Sharad Pawar-led outfit of
its ‘national party’ status
after receiving the order in
written form. In separate
orders issued during the
day, the EC recognised Aam
Aadmi Party as a national
party while stripping NCP,
Trinamool Congress and
Communist Party of India of
the coveted status. The NCP
lost its state party status in Goa, Manipur and Megha-
laya, as per the EC order.
3 CONDITIONS NEED TO BE MET IF A PARTY IS TO BE CALLED A NATIONAL PARTY: EC
z A party’s candidates in a minimum of four states
must get at least 6 per cent of the total votes polled
in each of those states in the last national election. In
addition to this, it should have won four seats in the
Lok Sabha.
z A party should win a minimum of 2 per cent of the
total seats in the Lok Sabha. The party’s candidates
should have been elected from not less than 3 states.
z A political party is recognised as a “state party” in at
least four states.
Arvind Kejriwal Sharad Pawar
National party in such a short time? This is
nothing less than a miracle. Many congratu-
lations to all. Crores of people of the country
have taken us here. People expect a lot from
us. Today people have given us this huge responsibili-
ty. Lord, bless us to fulfill this responsibility well
—Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister, Delhi

First India Bureau
government has de-
clared April 11, the
birth anniversary of
social reformer Jyotiba
Phule, a public holiday.
With this, the state
has 30 public holidays
and 20 optional holi-
days. Till now, Mahat-
ma Jyotiba Phule Jay-
anti was an optional
holiday in the state.
According to an offi-
cial statement, Chief
Minister Ashok Gehlot
has approved a propos-
al in this regard. The
decision has been tak-
en keeping in mind the
common man’s feel-
ings and the demand of
people’s representa-
tives, it said.
Women and Child
Development Minister
Mamta Bhupesh, Rash-
triya Phule Brigade
Team Rajasthan and
various social organi-
zations and people’s
representatives had de-
manded that Mahatma
Jyotiba Phule Jayanti
be declared a public
holiday. Jyotiba Phule
played an important
role in eradicating un-
touchability and em-
powering society.
Earlier, the state gov-
ernment changed Lord
Shri Devnarayan Jay-
anti from optional to
public holiday.
In the meanwhile, a
seminar will be organ-
ised during the state
level felicitation cere-
mony at Vidhyadhar
Nagar Rashtriya San-
sthan in Jaipur today
wherein, CM Ashok
Gehlot will also be pre-
sent, informed District
President of Women’s
Wing of Mahatma Jy-
otiba Phule Sansthan,
Renu Saini.
NEWS
10
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi will flag off Ra-
jasthan’s first Vande
Bharat Express train on
12 April, 2023 at 11 AM
via video conferencing.
“The regular service
of this Vande Bharat
Express will start from
April 13, 2023 and will
operate between Ajmer
and Delhi Cantt., with
stops at Jaipur, Alwar
and Gurgaon,” it added.
The new Vande
Bharat Express will
cover the distance be-
tween Delhi Cantt. and
Ajmer in 5 hours 15
minutes. The present
fastest train in the same
route, Shatabdi Ex-
press, takes 6 hours 15
minutes from Delhi
Cantt. to Ajmer.
Thus, the new Vande
Bharat Express will be
faster by 60 minutes as
compared to the present
fastest train running on
the same route.
“Ajmer-Delhi Cantt.
Vande Bharat Express
will be the world’s first
semi high speed passen-
ger train on high rise
overheadelectric(OHE)
territory,” the PMO
said.
The train will im-
prove connectivity of
major tourist destina-
tions in Rajasthan in-
cluding Pushkar, Ajmer
Sharif Dargah etc. En-
hanced connectivity
will also provide a boost
to socio-economic de-
velopment in the re-
gion, it added.
Vande Bharat Train’s inaugural run
will be between Jaipur Delhi Cant
PM TO FLAG OFF VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS ON APRIL 12
PILOT’S ONE-DAY ANSHAN ON MAHATAMA JYOTIBA PHULE JAYANTI TODAY
KHERA: WRONG TO SAY GEHLOT GOVT
NOT ACTING AGAINST CORRUPTION
Aditi Nagar
New Delhi: Reacting to
Sachin Pilot’s allegation
of inaction by Gehlot
government over the
corruption of previous
BJP government, Con-
gress media cell head
Pawan Khera on Tues-
day said that it is wrong
to say that investigation
is not being done.
“It is wrong to say
that the investigation is
not going on. Investiga-
tion is going on in the
Sanjeevani scam
against the senior lead-
er of Rajasthan BJP Ga-
jendra Singh Shekha-
wat,” he said.
Hesaidthatinvestiga-
tion is also going on re-
garding the attempts to
topple the Congress gov-
ernment in the state
during the covid pan-
demic.
“Everyaspectisbeing
investigated. Which
BJP leaders were in-
volved in the conspiracy
to topple the govern-
ment, where are their
strings attached, it is be-
ing investigated. So it
would not be right to say
that investigation is not
being done,” he said.
Khera said that if an-
yone has any complaint,
then he should talk to
the general secretary in-
charge.
He said that in the
case of Rajasthan, a
statement has already
been released from
AICC and apart from
that, it would not be ap-
propriate to say any-
thing. “Our Gen Secy
in-charge is doing what-
ever discussion has to
be done is constantly
in touch with the lead-
ers of Rajasthan,”
Pawan Khera added.
If anyone has any complaint, then he should talk
to the General Secretary in-charge, Khera says
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Former Depu-
ty CM Sachin Pilot
along with his sup-
porters will observe a
day-long fast at
Shaheed Smarak today
on the issue of not tak-
ing action on scams
when Vasundhara
Raje was the CM. How-
ever, ministers and
MLAs will not be with
him in his fast.
Pilot’s supporters
from all over the state
will reach Jaipur to
join him. Pro-Pilot
leaders and MLAs had
given a message to the
supporters to reach
Jaipur.
Pilot, his supporters to hold
day-long hunger strike today
Sukjinder Randhawa:
Pilot’s day-long fast is
an anti-party activity
After the announcement of Pilot’s fast, politics is on the boil
in Congress. The Party’s State in-charge Sukhjinder Rand-
hawa will be in Jaipur today for damage control. Randhawa
will meet CM Ashok Gehlot and Congress State President
Govind Singh Dotasra during his visit.
RANDHAWA TO MEET CM GEHLOT TODAY
l The Congress MLA alleged that Chief Minister Gehlot
failed to take any action on complaints of corruption
against the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government
l Ministers and MLAs won’t join him in this move
Sachin Pilot took to Twitter sharing a picture of himself hugging
a local resident and saying, “Mann mein Khushi, Chehre par
muskaan, Har Dil mein basta yahan, Rajasthan ka swabhimaan,”
before addressing the press conference to announce his hunger
strike at his Civil Lines residence in Jaipur on Monday.
Every aspect is being investigated. Which
BJP leaders were involved in the conspiracy
to topple the government, where are their
strings attached, it is being investigated. So it would
not be right to say that investigation is not being done.
——Pawan Khera, Congress Media Cell Head
First India Bureau
Jaipur: AICC in-charge
of State Sukhjinder
Singh Randhawa late
on Monday night, is-
sued an statement say-
ing that Sachin Pilot’s
day-long fast today is
against the party inter-
ests and is anti-party
activity. If there is any
issue with his own gov-
ernment, it can be dis-
cussed in the party fo-
rums instead of in the
media and public . I
have been an AICC in-
charge for the last 5
months and Pilot-ji has
never discussed this is-
sue with me. I am in
touch with him and I
still appeal for calm dia-
logue since he is an in-
disputable asset to the
Congress party. Rand-
hawa said that it was
“not appropriate” for
Pilot to hold a press con-
ference in this manner
and that he should have
raised the issue with
him first.
In a statement given
to a newspaper, Rand-
hawa said- “Even I have
not become the Chief
Minister, it does not
mean that the party
should be left.”
He said that when Pi-
lot was the Deputy CM,
why did not he raise
this issue that time.
He said that when the
crisis is going on in the
Congress and Rahul
Gandhi is raising his
voice against the cor-
ruption of Centre, Pilot
shouldn’t have done
this at such a time be-
cause this would divert
attention from issues
raised by Gandhi.
Aditi Nagar
New Delhi: Is there
another aspect of the
Gehlot-Pilot episode?
According to political
observers, in the cur-
rent situation, there is
a high possibility of
Pilot leaving the party
eventually. On the oth-
er hand, Pilot has re-
peatedly denied the
possibility of joining
BJP. Howver, there is
talk of a possible alli-
ance. In such a situa-
tion, if Pilot really
leaves the party, then
only Gehlot will dis-
tribute all the 200 tick-
ets. According to
sources, a top leader
from Delhi can talk to
Pilot. But now after be-
ing fed up with new as-
surances from the high
command, Pilot has
‘gone a long way’ and
the pressure is increas-
ing on Pilot himself to
take a final decision.
According to a source,
the high command may
propose to Gehlot to
make Pilot the PCC
chief, but the Gehlot
camp is not ready to
agree to it.
Meanwhile, owing to
Sachin Pilot’s ‘anshan’,
the damage control ef-
forts in Congress have
intensified and a sec-
tion of Congress lead-
ers made efforts to per-
suade Pilot by holding
discussions. Organiza-
tion General Secretary
KC Venugopal may
play the role as the
high command’s focus
is Karnataka elections.
AICC Chief Mallikar-
jun Kharge himself is
from Karnataka and
the assembly election
is a litmus test for him
after becoming Con-
gress National Presi-
dent. However, to solve
Rajasthan issue, both
Rahul Gandhi and Pri-
yanka Gandhi Vadra
will have to interfere!
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Saying that
dragging the tenure of
former CM is politi-
cally motivated, LoP
Rajendra Rathore on
Monday asked why
Congress leader
Sachin Pilot did not
speak on the corrup-
tion of the present gov-
ernment.
He said that Sachin
Pilot broke silence af-
ter a long time but why
he did not speak on the
corruption of the Con-
gress government?
Rathore said that
questions have been
raised on the govern-
ment, from coal pur-
chase to scam in the
child development’ de-
partment but Pilot did
not speak on them.
“Why didn’t Sachin
speak at the assem-
bly?” he asked.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Minister Ram-
lal Jat attacked Con-
gress leader Sachin Pi-
lot over his hunger
strike saying that he
had spoken on issue of
discipline even before
those who contest elec-
tions as independents
speak against their gov-
ernment after winning
the elections. “It is the
job of the Anti-Corrup-
tion Bureau (ACB) to
investigate corruption
cases. Gehlot govt is
working with clean
hands and if there is
any matter, it will be
probed. The contenders
for CM’s post should
think that when Ashok
Gehlot has been chosen
by party high com-
mand, then where does
any question arise now.
Cong workers should
think not to support
such people. CM has
presented an outstand-
ing budget,” he said.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: State govt on
Monday issued a notifi-
cation for the 23rd con-
servation reserve of
Rajasthan. The govern-
ment notified Kharmor
(Arwad, Ajmer) as the
23rd Conservation Re-
serve of the state. Offi-
cials informed that six
more conservation re-
serves will be notified
soon. Forest Dept is-
sued a notification in
this regard and now
there are 23 conserva-
tion reserves in the
state. Pullhan (Jodh-
pur), Baleshwar (Si-
kar), Fatehpur (Sikar),
(Desuri Narlai) Rajsa-
mand, Banjh Amli
(Baran) Barmer will
be notified as conserva-
tion reserves soon.
Jaipur: State BJP President CP
Joshi on Monday, commented on the
issue of the hunger strike of Con-
gress leader
Sachin Pilot and
said that Pilot
should fast
against the deci-
sion of his gov-
ernment, which
banned the hoist-
ing of the saffron
flag in Udaipur.
“The voices of those who raise slo-
gans of Lord Shri Ram are being
suppressed. Sachin Pilot should also
fast against the mining mafia and
hooliganism flourishing during the
tenure of the Rajasthan govern-
ment,” said CP Joshi.
Jaipur: Malviya Nagar MLA Kali
Charan Saraf attacked Congress
leader Sachin Pilot saying that Con-
gress Govt isn’t
making Pilot the
CM of Raj so he is
levelling allega-
tions on Raje
govt. “In 2003,
Sachin’s mother
Rama Pilot was
badly defeated by
Vasundhara ji
from Jhalrapatan. The restlessness
of that defeat is reflected in his alle-
gations. CM Gehlot formed Mathur
Commission to probe cases against
Vasundhara ji. An inquiry was also
conducted by the Lok Ayukta, but
nothing came out of it,” Saraf said.
Rahul, Priyanka may intervene
to resolve the Rajasthan issue!
Ramlal Jat
attacks Pilot over
his hunger strike
23rd conservation
reserve in Raj
notified by govt
Raj govt declares birth anniv
of Jyotiba Phule public holiday
Rahul Gandhi
—FILE PHOTO
Priyanka Gandhi
Pilot should fast against
decision of Cong govt: Joshi
Saraf attacks Pilot over his
allegations against Raje govt
Why Pilot didn’t speak Cong govt’s corruption, asks Rathore
Sandeep Singh
Choudhary
@sandeepinc
Pilot should
have spoken
to Randhawa,
Kharge instead of
staging a Dharna.
Our leader Rahul
Gandhi’s cam-
paign against
the corruption
of the central
goverment
would have been
strengthened.
Pilot’s Dharna is
on the instigation
of Congress op-
ponents.
Owing to Pilot’s
‘anshan’, damage
control efforts have
intensified in Cong

NEWS
11
Birla distributes nutrition
kits to pregnant women
Bhawani S Hada
Bundi: Lok Sabha
Speaker Om Birla dur-
ing his tour in Bundi
on Monday distributed
nutrition kits to preg-
nant women under the
Suposhit Maa Abhiyan
campaign. Apart from
this, he said that their
health check-up was
also done.
MLA Ashok Dogra
and Chandrakanta
Meghwal were also pre-
sent at the occasion.
Birla was received by
BJP workers and ad-
ministrative officials
upon reaching the cir-
cuit house.
Birla also inspected
the ambulances pre-
sent there and in-
formed them about the
health check-up being
done from village to
village. He said that
people can avail the
treatment in Jaipur
and Delhi as well.
Dalit girl
allegedly
gang-raped
in Churu
First India Bureau
Churu: A Dalit girl
was allegedly gang
raped in the Churu
district of Ra-
jasthan. The victim
was returning from
a wedding function
when two accused
abducted her and
gang raped her.
After the inci-
dent, the victim
reached the local po-
lice station and reg-
istered a case
against Subhash
Jat, a resident of
Khariya village, and
another accused.
A medical exami-
nation of the victim
was done today and
it was informed that
Dy SP Himanshu
Sharma will investi-
gate the case.
OM BIRLA MEETS FAMILY MEMBERS
OF YOUTHS KILLED IN ELECTROCUTION
Kota: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday
reached Digod sub-division of Kota district to
express grief over the death of three youths,
who died of electrocution a few days back. The
speaker reached Barod village and consoled the
families of the deceased and inquire about the
well-being of the injured. Patan MLA Chandra-
kanta Meghwal, Etawah Nagar Palika Chairman
Rajni Soni, and other BJP leaders also accompa-
nied Om Birla during his visit. The speaker also
assured all possible help for the families of the
deceased.
Hindaun city: Markets
closed due to protest
CS takes meeting of officials
over implementation of schemes
Dr Rituraj Sharma
Jaipur: Chief Secre-
tary Usha Sharma on
Monday took a meeting
of all collectors and di-
visionalcommissioners
through video confer-
encing and directed to
add a maximum num-
ber of eligible persons
to the inflation relief
camp to be organized
fromApril24toJune30.
The state govern-
ment will organise
these camps along with
the Prashasan Gaon
and Shahron Ke Sang
Abhiyan to inform
about public welfare
schemes and then link
people to such schemes
as per their eligibility.
The CS also gave a slew
of directions to the IAS
officials during the
meeting. Matters like
land allocation cases
related to budget an-
nouncements, Udaan
scheme, the Amma pro-
gram, strengthening
and electrification of
Anganwadi centres,
andmanyotherscheme
were also discussed.
First India Bureau
Hindaun: The markets
of Hindaun city re-
mained closed on Mon-
day owing to a protest
of people demanding to
declare it a district.
The protestors de-
manded that Hindaun
should be made a dis-
trict, whereas Surauth,
Shri Mahavirji
should be given munici-
pal status and Mhow
should be made a tehsil.
People from various
social organisations, lo-
cal leaders, and officials
of trade unions partici-
pate in the protest. The
protesters also submit-
ted a memorandum to
Pradhan of Panchayat
Samiti Vinod Kumar
Jatav. The locals had to
faceproblemsduetothe
closure of the markets.
Chief Secretary Usha Sharma and Principal Secretary TAD
Alok Gupta during a meeting with collectors and divisional
commissioners via video conferencing on Monday.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with the family members of
the three youths, who died of electrocution in Digod, sub-
division of Kota district on Monday.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the Suposhit Maa Abhiyan campaign in Bundi on Monday.
MLA Ashok Dogra
and Chandrakanta
Meghwal were also
present at occasion
‘Rajasthanishouldbeofficiallanguageofstate’
First India Bureau
Jodhpur: RANA Pres-
ident Prem Bhandari
on Monday said that
the youth of the state
has woken up and
awareness has arisen
regarding Mayad lan-
guage. He said that the
Rajasthani language
should be given the sta-
tus of the official lan-
guage of Rajasthan.
Bhandari said that
centre and state gov-
ernments have only
worked to turn the ta-
bles and did not make
any efforts to get lan-
guage recognition but
now the youth has
woken up. “Till now,
the governments have
only given assurances
in the name of recog-
nition to the Rajastha-
ni language. Neither
Congress nor BJP took
the issue of honour of
this state seriously,”
he said.
Bhandari said that if
the governments did
not pay heed, then he,
Gaj Singh and Ravin-
dra Singh Bhati will go
to villages and will tell
the people of the state
that the governments
are doing injustice to
our young generation.
Gaj Singh, Prem Bhandari and Ravindra Singh Bhati at Umaid
Bhawan in Jodhpur on Monday.
Raj Domestic Travel Mart to
take place from Jul 14 to 16
Jaipur: The third edi-
tion of Rajasthan Do-
mestic Travel Mart
(RDTM) will be organ-
ized from 14 July to 16.
This year, the theme of
the travel mart is ‘Sus-
tainable Tourism’.
Principal Secretary
(Tourism) Gayatri
Rathore informed that
the roadshow for the
launch of RDTM will be
held in Jaipur on May 9.
The principal secretary
also met a delegation of
the Federation of Hos-
pitality and Tourism in
Rajasthan (FHTR) at
the Secretariat on Mon-
day
. FHTR President
Apoorva Kumar said
that considering the
success of the previous
travel marts, there is
huge enthusiasm in the
travel fraternity for the
upcoming tourist sea-
son. He also said that
the increase in the pro-
motional budget of 1500
crores and including
the recent budget an-
nouncements would
give a boost to the tour-
ism sector.
Shops
were seen
closed in
Hindaun
city on
Monday.
Bhupendra Saran arrested
in constable paper leak case
Jaipur: The SOG on
Monday arrested
BhupendraSaran,an
accused in Constable
Recruitment Exam
2022, on a production
warrant. Saran, who
is already facing
charges for leaking
the paper of a teach-
er recruitment exam,
was brought from
Ajmer high-security
jail and was pro-
duced in court on
Monday after he was
summoned on a pro-
duction warrant.
ADJ Satish Chand
Godara handed him
overtoSOGforinves-
tigation.
Now, the SOG will
take him on remand
on Tuesday
. Notably,
the constable recruit-
mentexampaperwas
leaked on May 14,
2022, from Diwakar
PublicSchoolinJhot-
wara. Nearly 23 peo-
ple have been arrest-
ed in the paper leak
case so far.

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