17122022_First India_Mumbai.pdf

BJP TO HOLD
ITS OWN PROTEST
TODAY
Mumbai: The ruling BJP
would organize its own
protest in Mumbai on Sat-
urday demanding apology
from the Maha Vikas Aghadi
(MVA) for `insulting’ Dr B
R Ambedkar and Hindu dei-
ties, it announced. Mumbai
BJP president Ashish Shelar
told reporters on Friday that
Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay
Raut tried to create a con-
troversy over Ambedkar’s
birthplace, while another
leader Sushma Andhare
`insulted’ Lord Ram, Lord
Krishna, saint Dynaneshwar
and saint Eknath as well as
the Warkari community. “Is
this not anti-Maharashtra?”
he asked.
MVA’s ‘Maha-Morcha’ for ‘political relevance’ in state today!
Sandeep Shukla
Mumbai: The ‘Halla
Bol Morcha’ will be
taken out on behalf of
Mahavikas Aghadi on
Saturday to protest
against the insult of
Chhatrapati Shivaji
and other great men,
inflation and unem-
ployment. Mahavikas
Aghadi will demon-
strate its strength
through this front just
before the winter ses-
sion of Maharashtra
Legislature which is go-
ing to start from 19th
December in Nagpur.
The Mumbai Police has
given permission to
take out the morcha
with certain condi-
tions. The police have
instructed the leaders
to maintain peace and
follow the rules during
the morcha. All the
three parties included
in the Mahavikas Agha-
di - Shiv Sena, Congress
and NCP - along with
other smaller parties
and some NGOs will
also join the front. Ef-
forts are being made by
the Aghadi to gather a
huge crowd in the front.
Till Thursday even-
ing, the police had not
given permission to
take out the morcha.
However, Leader of Op-
position in the Assem-
bly Ajit Pawar had ex-
pressed confidence that
permission would be
given for the march.
This morcha will be
taken out from Jijama-
ta Udyan in Byculla to
Azad Maidan at 11 am
on Saturday
.
Deputy Chief Minis-
ter and Home Minister
Devendra Fadnavis
said on Friday that
there was no problem
in giving permission to
the morcha. The march
should be taken out
peacefully through the
prescribed route.
While giving permis-
sion, the police put a
condition that no lead-
er would give such a
speech during the mor-
cha, which would cre-
ate tension between the
two communities. No
objectionable state-
ment should be made
during the speech. Ac-
cording to the Arms
Act, knife, sword and
any other deadly weap-
on should not be used
in the march. No one
will be allowed to burst
crackers.
Sharad Pawar Uddhav Thackeray Nana Patole
BJP LOST
SLEEP: PATOLE
State Congress Presi-
dent Nana Patole - “BJP
has lost sleep over the
December 17 morcha.
In such a situation, to
divert the attention of the
people, the BJP is doing
gimmick by announcing
its movement. BJP has
used Hindu sentiments
only for its political inter-
ests. BJP should not talk
about Hindu Gods and
Goddesses.
RS ADJOURNED AMID
UPROAR BY OPPOSITION
Chhapra: As toll rises to 65, now
Hooch kills 5 in Siwan, 1 in Begusarai
Siwan: Days after the
hoochtragedyinBihar’s
Chhapraclaimedover65
lives, at least 5 people
died after allegedly con-
suming spurious liquor
in the adjoining Siwan
district in the state.
All five deceased are
residents of Brahsthan
and Sondhani villages
of Bhagwanpur Police
Station area. According
to sources, the death
toll is expected to rise.
Angry family members
of the deceased ob-
structed the Siwan-
Chapra Malmalia main
road and undertook a
protest. Meanwhile, in
the Begusarai district,
administration swung
into action after one
person reportedly died
allegedly after consum-
ing liquor. P5
INDIA-CHINA BORDER ROW
JUDICIARY
HOOCH DEATHS
New Delhi: Rajya Sab-
ha was adjourned till
12 noon on Friday
amid uproar as the Op-
position’s request to
hold a discussion on
the India-China border
situation was disal-
lowed by the chair.
Rajya Sabha Deputy
Chairman Harivansh
repeatedly urged
House members to al-
low the proceedings,
citing rules. Congress
MP Randeep Singh
Surjewala earlier gave
a Suspension of Busi-
ness Notice under Rule
267 in Rajya Sabha to
discuss the border sit-
uation with China.
He also asked the
Chairman to ask the
Prime Minister and
the Government to
make a statement on
the issue.
Congress President
and Leader of Opposi-
tion in Rajya Sabha
Mallikarjun Kharge
also sought to raise the
issue in the House.
More on P6
PLA PATROL
WAS ‘FIRMLY
CONTESTED’
BHUTTO’ PAKISTAN’S ‘PAPPU’: BJP
COURT TO HEAR AAFTAB’S
BAIL PLEA ON DECEMBER 17
SC RELEASES MAN SENTENCED
TO 18 YRS FOR POWER THEFT
MLAs CREATE
RUCKUS IN HOUSE
PIL IN SC SEEKS SIT
PROBE IN BIHAR
Kolkata: GOC-in-C
Eastern Command, Lt
Gen Rana Pratap Kalita on
Friday said that the trans-
gression by the People’s
Liberation Army (PLA)
patrol was “contested
firmly”. He also informed
that a flag meeting at the
delegation level at Bumla
has helped in further
resolving the matter. “The
PLA patrol transgressed
and which was contested
very firmly,” he said.
New Delhi: The BJP on Friday slammed Pakistan’s Bilawal
Bhutto for his objectionable comments against Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he represents a “mor-
ally, intellectually and financially bankrupt” nation which
has no credibility due to its support to terrorism. Union
minister Anurag Thakur said Bhutto’s comments might be
an outcome of the pain in Pakistan of its loss to India.
New Delhi: Shraddha Walkar murder case
accused Aaftab Poonawala on Friday moved
an application in Delhi’s Saket Court seeking
bail, which the
court is likely to
hear on Saturday.
Poonawala, who
has been arrested
based on his con-
fession of killing
Walkar and chop-
ping her body into
35 pieces to dispose it of, was arrested last
month and is currently lodged in Tihar jail.
On December 9, he was produced before a
court via video conferencing and his judicial
custody was further extended by 14 days.
New Delhi: The SC on Friday said if it were
not to interfere in matters of personal liberty,
then “what are we here for”, as it ordered
the release of a
man sentenced
to 18 years in jail
for electricity theft
in nine separate
cases.During
the hearing, a
bench headed by
Chief Justice D.Y.
Chandrachud said, “No case is too small for
the Supreme Court and no case is too big
because we have to answer the call of con-
science and the cry of liberty of our citizens,
that is why we are here.”
Patna: Opposition MLAs
created ruckus in the
Bihar Assembly on Friday
as Deputy Chief Minister
Tejashwi Yadav was speaking
in the House on Friday. One
of the Legislators could be
seen carrying a chair.
New Delhi: A petition has
been filed in the Supreme
Court, seeking an inde-
pendent probe by a special
investigation team (SIT) into
a recent hooch tragedy in
Bihar, in which at least 30
people have lost their lives.
Modi Cabinet
approves bill to
decriminalise
minor offences
New Delhi: The Union
Cabinet has approved a
bill to decriminalise mi-
nor offences by ration-
alising related provi-
sions under different
ministries to ensure
ease of doing business,
sources said on Friday
.
Sources said that the
Cabinet discussed the
Ease of Doing Business
and Ease of Living
(Amendment of Provi-
sions)Bill,2022inameet-
ing and has approved it.
The bill proposes to ra-
tionaliseabout110provi-
sions across 35 Acts ad-
ministered by 16 minis-
tries/departments.
One of the sources
said that taking the re-
form agenda to the next
level, the government is
focussing on reducing
the overall compliance
burden for businesses
and citizens.
BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha with legislators shouts slogans
during a protest against Bihar government over the Chhapra
Hooch tragedy, in Patna on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI
Congress members protest in the well of the Rajya Sabha during Winter Session of Parliament, in
New Delhi on Friday. —PHOTO BY PTI
BSE SENSEX
61337.81 461.22
NSE NIFTY
18269.00 145.90
CENTURIAN:
100 DAYS OF
‘UNITING
INDIA’
I was also a little distant from public,
I personally benefited a lot from the Yatra: RaGa
Our Yatra is
another way of
doing politics.
This is
Gandhiji’s way,
and we have
had the best
response in
Rajasthan, he
said.
Kartikey Dev Singh
Jaipur: Walking his
wayfromKanyakumari
to Kashmir, Rahul Gan-
dhi and his ‘brain-
chaild’ -the Bharat Jodo
Yatra- has completed a
milestone of 100 days
crossing the length of
the nation. During this,
the yatra, which was
launched on September
7 in Kanyakumari, and
its ‘yatri’ Rahul, have
traversed eight states
Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Karnataka, Telangana,
AndhraPradesh,Maha-
rashtra, Madhya
Pradesh and now, Ra-
jasthan. With over 2,800
kilometres under his
belt, Gandhi has man-
aged to catch the atten-
tion of his supporters
as well as detractors.
On completion of 100
days of Bharat Jodo
Yatra, the Gandhi scion
addressed a presser in
Jaipur gave advice to
the Foreign Minister on
the issue of China. He
asserted that Foreign
Minister Jaishankar
should broaden his
thinking and under-
standing. “China is pre-
paring for war. The gov-
ernment is ignoring
this issue and trying to
hide information relat-
edtoit,”hesaid,adding,
“Our government hides
thepreparationsof Chi-
na. The Government of
India does not work
strategically
,itworkson
an event basis. When it
comes to geo politics,
events do not work
there, strength does.”
Rahul said that no
one is asking questions
on China. “China occu-
pied 2 thousand square
kilometersof land.Mar-
tyred 20 soldiers of In-
dia. They are beating
ourjawansinArunachal
Pradesh,” he said.
“The day Congress
understands itself,
it will win every
election”
Rahul Gandhi said that
there are many reasons
for BJP winning the
elections. “They have
huge money, they
threaten people. We do
not do this and we do
not have these resourc-
es. We don’t have that
much money
. Turn to P8
OUR EDITIONS:
JAIPUR, NEW DELHI
MUMBAI
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MUMBAI l SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNITITLE NO.MAHENG/2022/14652 lVol 1 l Issue No.220
Bharat Jodo Yatra is getting
strong support in Rajasthan
as lakhs of people from all over
the state are reaching for the
yatra. Rahul Gandhi wants to remove fear
and hatred from the country. This is not a
political yatra
—Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister
Rahul Gandhi walks during the yatra’s leg in Rajasthan
as CM Ashok Gehlot, Govind Singh Dotasra, Sachin Pilot,
Pratap Singh and Danish Abrar accompany him.
EASE OF DOING
BUSINESS
On this day in 1971, India defeated
Pakistan’s army and after that crushing
defeat, his (Bilawal) maternal grandfather
wept bitterly. It seems that Bilawal Bhutto is
probably still in his pain.Such a statement does not
suit the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. The world has
seen the real face of Pakistan
—Anurag Thakur, Union Minister

NEWS
MUMBAI | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022
02
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Raj Thackeray meets
Dy CM in Mumbai
after Konkan tour
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Maharashtra
NavnirmanSena(MNS)
President Raj Thacker-
ay met Deputy Chief
Minister Devendra Fad-
navis at the latter’s of-
ficial residence after
returning from his Kon-
kan tour on Friday
.
The meeting has giv-
en way to various dis-
cussions in political
circles by linking it
with the upcoming Bri-
hanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC)
elections. Afterwards,
during an interaction
with the media, Fad-
navis cleared the air
about the reasons be-
hind the meeting.
Talking to mediaper-
sons, Fadnavis said,
“Raj Thackeray had
met me regarding the
incomplete work on
Konkan Highway. He
just came from there
and met me to appeal
that the work be done
quickly
. I informed him
that Union minister
(Road Transport
Highways) Nitin Gad-
kari has taken the ini-
tiative in this regard.”
While on the Konkan
tour, Thackeray had spo-
kenaboutthestalledmu-
nicipal elections in the
state, and said, “The
pipeline of elections has
been broken for the last
2.5 years.” Thackeray
alsopromisedtovisitthe
Konkan region again in
January
, which is inter-
estingaselectionswould
be held in February and
March next year.
Pawar welcomes Udayanraje’s stand
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP)
chief Sharad Pawar on
Friday praised Bharati-
ya Janata Party (BJP)
MP Udayanraje Bhosale
for taking an aggressive
stance on the controver-
sy over ‘insults’ against
Chhatrapati Shivaji Ma-
haraj, Mahatma Phule.
Talking to media per-
sons, the NCP supremo
said, “Udayanraje has
taken a good stand. But
the role of the state and
the Central government
remains to be seen. Peo-
ple are expressing their
anger because of this
(the remarks). The
statement made by the
governor (Bhagat Singh
Koshyari) about
Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj was wrong. I
am sure, sooner or later,
the Central government
will have to take a deci-
sion on the same. We
will see that change
soon.”
Sources say, Pawar
may be referring to the
rumours of Governor
Koshyari’s removal
from his position.
Incidentally, Udayan-
raje is a direct descend-
ent of the 17th century
warrior king Chhatra-
pati Shivaji Maharaj.
After Koshyari’s state-
ment, Bhosale organ-
ized a programme
‘Nirdhar Shivsanmana-
cha’ at Raigad. He also
met Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and ex-
pressed his feelings on
the matter.
14 DISPUTED VILLAGES REMAIN
UNMOVED BY BORDER DEBATE
Residents say they enjoy benefits from both Maharashtra and Telangana
Chandrapur (PTI):
The ongoing Maharash-
tra-Karnataka row may
have brought the border
dispute between states
under focus, but people
living in 14 disputed vil-
lages along the Maha-
rashtra-Telangana bor-
der appear to be un-
moved by this debate.
This is because they are
enjoying the benefits of
schemes implemented
by both neighbouring
states.
The residents of
these villages say that
they have no problem in
going with any of the
two states if the local
government awards
ownership of their
farmlands to them.
All these 14 villages—
located in Jiwati taluka
of Chandrapur district
(according to Maharash-
tra map)—figure in the
voters list of both the
states and people there
enjoy dual identity
, enti-
tling them to take bene-
fits of all the basic facili-
ties including political
status from both Telan-
gana and Maharashtra.
Earlier Andhra
Pradesh, and now Tel-
angana (after division)
claimed that these vil-
lages fall under their
territory. However, the
issue has remained un-
resolved so far.
Waman Pawar, for-
mer sarpanch of Para-
mdoli gram panchayat
said, “The dispute be-
tween the two states
(Maharashtra and Tel-
angana) has remained
unsettled since my
childhood.”
“But we are utilizing
the schemes of both
states. There are 300-400
farmers in the 14 dis-
puted villages and they
are ready to go with any
government that pro-
vides permanent pattas
to farmlands,” he said.
Patta is a legal docu-
ment that includes the
details of the legal own-
er of the land property
.
Chandrapur Guardi-
an Minister Sudhir
Mungantiwar said the
villagers have been en-
joying benefits offered
by governments from
both sides since many
years.
“Nobody is interested
in settling the issue and
no correspondence (for
merger into any state)
has been made by the
villagers. The issue of
these 14 disputed vil-
lages is still unsettled,”
he said.
Congress MLA Sub-
hash Dhote from Rajura
constituency in Chan-
drapur said, “Over 80%
of residents from these
villages are Marathi-
speaking,mostlyhailing
from Nanded, Latur and
Parbhani districts (in
Maharashtra). But once
their Aadhaar is linked
to their mobile phones,
these people cannot cast
their votes in both states
and can exercise their
franchise in any one of
them only
.”
Dhote said the local
population does not ex-
ceed 3,000 and people
have been availing ben-
efits from both states
since 1970.
MAHARASHTRA BORDER ROW
Security beefed up at the Karnataka-Maharashtra border amid protests over the border dispute at
Chikodi in Belagavi. —PHOTO BY ANI
IN A STRADDLE
AfterBuldhanamerger
bid,govtstartsroadworks
First India Bureau
Buldhana: Days af-
ter residents of four
villages in Buldhana
district demanded
merger of these plac-
es into the neighbour-
ing Madhya Pradesh
alleging lack of facili-
ties at the local level,
the state government
has initiated the pro-
cess to build new
roads there.
In a letter, written
to the district admin-
istration last week,
people residing in the
four villages - Bhin-
gara, Gomal-1,
Gomal-2 and Chal-
istapari - in Jalgaon
Jamod taluka of
Buldhana, had made
the demand for merg-
er, in which they also
claimed that they
have been struggling
to get their rights
since the last 75 years.
Their demand
came against the
backdrop of Karna-
taka Chief Minister
recently claiming,
amid tension over a
border dispute, that
some villages in San-
gli district once want-
ed to be part of Kar-
nataka because of
their acute water
problem.
The letter, written
on December 06 by
Bhingara sarpanch
Rajesh Mohan, said
among other things,
that the residents of
these villages find it
difficult to get the
Scheduled Tribes cer-
tificate even though
they are tribals.
According to one
of the signatories of
the letter and resi-
dent of Bhingara vil-
lage Sardar Awase,
soon after the letter,
Jalgaon Jamod MLA
Sanjay Kunte initiat-
ed the road construc-
tion work from Teen
Kothi to Bhingara vil-
lage on December 12.
Similarly, the dis-
trict administration
also started distribut-
ing caste certificates
and so far given these
documents to a few
villagers, he said.
“This is a good
step, but the caste cer-
tificates should be is-
sued to all the tribal
residents which is a
long-pending and im-
portant demand,”
Awase said.
In a letter, written to the district
administration last week, villagers
had made the demand for merger;
they also claimed that they have been
struggling to secure their rights for
the past 75 years
First India Bureau
Pune: The Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP)
has claimed that de-
spite all approvals the
central government is
simply delaying the
Pune-Nashik semi high-
speed railway project.
Maharashtra Opposi-
tion leader Ajit Pawar
said that the Pune-Na-
shik high-speed railway
project is important
and received 200 per-
missions, technical
clearance.
“When I was the fi-
nance minister, I had
approved all funds. The
only permissions re-
mained were that from
the railway ministry
and cabinet minister,
however, the central
government is simply
delaying the
project,”Pawar said.
He further added,
“Chief minister Eknath
Shinde and deputy
chief minister Deven-
dra Fadnavis need to
meet with the railway
minister and seek ap-
proval.”
Earlier, when Fad-
navis met Union Rail-
way Minister Ashwini
Vaishnav during his
Delhi visit in October,
questions were raised
about the feasibility of
the high-speed ‘at-
grade’ track between
Pune and Nashik.
“We do not want to
bring politics in devel-
opment projects. Not
just NCP, but many
other parties, includ-
ing the Bharatiya Ja-
nata Party (BJP) MPs
have given letters to
approve the project,
but it is being delayed,”
added Pawar.
Shirur MP Amol Kol-
he who is representing
these areas said, “The
project has been ap-
proved at all levels ex-
cept the railway minis-
try. For the last six
months, the ministry is
just sitting on it and
raising various doubts
that are invalid.”
Rly Min delaying Pune-Nashik semi high-speed rail project: Pawar
NEED ANSWERS
Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar —FILE PHOTO
Once completed, the
project will provide
connectivity to
industrial zones such
as Hadapsar, Wagholi,
Alandi, Chakan, Khed,
Manchar,
Narayangaon, Sinnar
and Satpur
11 EX-SENA (UBT)
COUNCILLORS JOIN
SHINDE REBEL CAMP
‘WARKARIS’ PROTEST
AGAINST SENA (UBT)
LEADER’S REMARKS
Nashik: As many as 11
former councillors of
the Shiv Sena (UBT) in
Nashik city have joined
the Eknath Shinde faction
(Balasahebanchi Shiv
Sena). Former leader of
opposition Ajay Boraste,
Suryakant Lavte, Suvarna
Matale, RD Dhongde, Jy-
oti Khole, Sudam Demse,
Jayashree Kharjul, Pratap
Meheroliya, Chandrakant
Khade, Poonam Mogre
and Raju Lavte joined the
Shinde faction, sources
said. Along with them,
Sachin Bhosale of the
Maharashtra Navnirman
Sena (MNS) also joined
the Shinde faction.
IAS PRASHANT
GOYAL APPOINTED
TO BOM BOARD
BMC APPROVES
GOKHALE BRIDGE
CONTRACTOR
Mumbai: Indian Adminis-
trative Service (IAS) officer
Prashant Kumar Goyal, has
been appointed as a director
on the Bank of Maharash-
tra’s board. Among other
state-owned entities, Goyal
is also a board director
of United India Insurance
Company. Goyal also holds
the position of, the Director
of the government’s Depart-
ment of Financial Services.
SHRADDHA WALKAR’S FATHER MEETS
NEW MBVV POLICE COMMISSIONER
Thane: Vikas Walkar, father of Shraddha Walkar, who
was murdered allegedly by her live-in partner Aaftab
Poonawala in Delhi, on Friday met Madhukar Pandey,
the new Police Commissioner of Mira Bhayandar-Vasai
Virar (MBVV) to discuss the case with him. Walkar
raised the issue of delay in action by the local police, he
said. MBVV police chief Pandey assured the delegation
that the police will not spare anyone and appropriate
action would be taken against the guilty, he added. The
meeting between Walkar and Pandey lasted 40 minutes.
CRUCIAL READ
Mumbai: The Brihanmum-
bai Municipal Corporation
(BMC) has approved the
contractor finalized to build
the Gokhale Road bridge
above the railway tracks in
Andheri, a top BMC official
said on Friday. A tender of
Rs84 crore for the recon-
struction of the bridge was
floated on November 12
and A B Infrabuild Limited,
which submitted the lowest
bid of Rs74.5 crore, was
selected for the project. The
BMC appointed a contractor
three years ago to build
slopes on either side. How-
ever, it eventually decided
to demolish and reconstruct
the entire bridge.
Nashik: ‘Warkaris’ (fol-
lowers of Lord Vithoba)
in Nashik held a ‘dindi’
(religious procession)
protest on Friday against
the objectionable remarks
made about them and var-
ious Hindu deities by Shiv
Sena (UBT) leader Sushma
Andhare. Though she has
reportedly apologized for
the remarks, the protest-
ers demanded Uddhav
Thackeray remove her
from the party. The protest
march began at Lord
Kalaram Temple and ended
at Ramkund on the banks
of the Godavari river. with
participants singing hymns
and reciting ‘mantras’.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar
‘We may have 180 MLAs in new year’
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Hinting at
defection of MLAs,
state Industries Minis-
ter Uday Samant said
the number of MLAs
in the Maha Yuti alli-
ance of Balasahe-
banchi Shiv Sena and
Bharatiya Janata Par-
ty (BJP) “may go up to
182 in the new year.”
Speaking to the re-
porters in Ratnagiri,
Samant responded to
the government’s criti-
cism by the Opposition
and said, “Around 10 to
12 MLAs are in touch
with us. Another 10 to
12 people are in touch
with Eknath Shinde
(chief minister) and
Devendra Fadnavis
(deputy CM). There-
fore, our majority fig-
ure can go to 180. You
will know what the
new developments are
in the new year.”
Although, Samant
did not mention any
party in his statement,
sources believe that it
is directed at the Shiv
Sena Udhhav Balasa-
heb Thackeray group.
He further stated, “The
real explosion hap-
pened five months ago
and its impact will be
felt in the new year.”
Uday Samant —FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau
Jalna: In a spine-chill-
ing incident of honour
killing, a young girl was
reportedly killed by her
family members in
Pirpimpalgaon village
of Jalna district in the
state on Tuesday
. Police
have detained the vic-
tim’s father and brother
for questioning after
finding them at a funer-
al ghat. They suspect
the crime to be an hon-
our killing.
Prima facie, 17-year-
old Surekha aka
Suryakala Santosh Sa-
rode, 17, eloped with her
lover, who was her dis-
tant relative, last week.
Her father asked her to
come back home prom-
ising that the family
would get her married
to her boyfriend.
The returned home
after three days and
found that all the wed-
ding preparations had
been done with limited
relatives around. How-
ever, just before her
marriage rituals were
about to commence,
her father Santosh,
and uncle, Namdev Sa-
rode, dragged her away
from the wedding man-
dap to a tree near their
house. They then pro-
ceeded to tie a knot to
her neck and hung her
from the tree.
Later, they brought
down her body and cre-
mated her on a pyre in
order to destroy the
evidence, said police.
The victim’s brother
Namdev Sarode also al-
legedly helped his fa-
ther dispose of his sis-
ter’s body.
After receiving a tip-
off from a neighbour, a
patrol team comprising
Jhalwar Deshmukh, Ji-
tendra Tagwale and
other personnel of
Chandanzia police sta-
tion were sent to the vil-
lage. That is when the
team spotted the men at
the cremation site.
“When confronted by
the team, Santosh and
Namdev spilled the
beans. A case has been
registered against them
under relevant sections
of the Indian Penal
Code (IPC), including
Section 302 (murder),”
said an official.
According to a
neighbour, the girl’s
father and uncle killed
her to avoid being dis-
graced in society. All
this was done to show
that the girl had com-
mitted suicide.
MAHARASHTRA
03
TWO COPS HELD
FOR ACCEPTING
`37,000 BRIBE
Mumbai: Two police
personnel have been ar-
rested by the Maharashtra
Anti-Corruption Bureau
for allegedly demanding
and accepting a bribe, an
official said. The complain-
ant, who is an accused
in a case registered with
Colaba police station,
approached the ACB with
a complaint said that two
police personnel, including
an assistant inspector, had
demanded a bribe of Rs1
lakh to help with his case.
“We verified the claims
and laid a trap for the two
accused and arrested them
while accepting Rs37,000,”
said an ACB official.
THREE FRIENDS GO
MISSING, CASE OF
KIDNAPPING FILED
Thane: Three teenage
boys from Uttan in Thane
district went miss-
ing from their locality,
after which, the police
have registered a case
of kidnapping against
unidentified persons, an
official said. The boys,
who are aged around 16
years, have been missing
since Wednesday evening,
he said. “The children had
gone out to play but did
not return home. Their
family members carried
out a search but failed to
find them. After that, they
approached the police and
lodged a missing person’s
report,” said an official.
MAN GETS 10
YEARS IN JAIL FOR
RAPING TEEN GIRL
Mumbai: A man has been
sentenced to 10 years’
imprisonment by a Thane
court for rape of a teen
girl. Special Judge MP
Patwari convicted Ashwin
Tarpe (28) under various
sections of the Indian
Penal Code (IPC) and the
Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences
(POCSO) Act for the crime.
A fine of Rs5,000 was also
levied on the accused.
After considering all the
facts and circumstances
of the case, as well as, the
nature of the offence and
age of the accused, the
court sentenced the man
to 10 years in prison.
SIX HELD FOR
CHEATING TOP RBI
OFFICIAL OF `65 L
Navi Mumbai: Sanpada
police have arrested six
persons for cheating a
high-ranking RBI official of
Rs65 lakh over a two-year
period by offering him
good returns in online
trading. The 57-year-old
complainant, posted at
RBI’s Fort branch first got a
call on December 18, 2020,
from a woman who identi-
fied herself as Shashi Jain
and asked him to invest
in trading. “The accused
kept assuring that more the
investment, greater the re-
turns. She kept asking him
to transfer more money
in order to purchase more
shares,” said police official.
40-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM MADHYA PRADESH
RAPES STRAY DOG IN NAGPUR, ARRESTED
Nagpur: A 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly com-
mitting a sexual crime on a stray dog in Nagpur’s Hudkesh-
war area, a police official said. A video
of the man committing the horrifying
act had been doing rounds on social
media. Inspector Lalit Vartikar of Hud-
keshwar police station said that the
accused belongs to Madhya Pradesh
and works as a labourer here. He has
been charged under Section 377 (carnal against the order
of nature), 294 (obscenity) and other offences, he added.
37-YEAR-OLD MAN SWINDLED OF `44 LAKH
BY CYBER FRAUDSTER FOR ‘CASHBACK’
Thane: A 37-year-old man from Kalyan allegedly lost nearly
Rs44 lakh after an unidentified person lured him into paying
money by promising commission for
using a gaming application, police
said. The accused forwarded a link to
a gaming portal to the victim and told
him that he would get good cash-
back and returns on the game. After
depositing an amount to the tune of
Rs43,76,254 on different occasions, the victim realised that
he has been duped and approached the police, he added.
HOUSE BREAK-IN: MAN HELD FOR STEALING
`20.57 LAKH IN CASH AND VALUABLES
Thane: A man was arrested for alleged involvement in a
house-breaking theft incident in which gold, silver and cash
totalling Rs20.57 lakh were stolen, a
police official said. A senior police offi-
cial said that incident took place on the
intervening night of November 26-27 in
Oak Baug area of Kalyan. “We caught
accused from Moholi Road. The entire
loot was recovered from him, including
46 tolas of gold. He is also involved in eight other crimes,
six of which now stand solved with his arrest,” he said.
CRUCIAL READ
First India Bureau
Aurangabad: The All
India Majalis-E-Itte-
hadul Muslimeen
(AIMIM) will take out a
march during the up-
coming winter session
of the Maharashtra leg-
islature in Nagpur to
demand 5% reservation
for Muslims in the state.
The Asaduddin Owai-
si-led party’s MP from
Aurangabadanditsstate
unit president Imtiaz
Jaleel gave this informa-
tion by tweeting a poster
of the planned march.
“The AIMIM will take
out march on December
21 from Indora Ground
in Nagpur to Vidhan
Bhawan during session
of the Maharashtra leg-
islature,” it said.
Apart from seeking
5% reservation to Mus-
lims, AIMIM will also
highlight the demand of
removal of encroach-
ments from the Waqf
land, the tweet said. Pro-
vision of Rs 1,000 crore
subsidy to Maulana
Azad Minorities Finan-
cialDevelopmentCorpo-
ration Limited; award-
ing ownership of slum
land to residents are
some other demands the
partywillraise,itadded.
First India Bureau
Pune: A portrait of last
Mughal emperor Baha-
dur Shah Zafar hung on
thewallof abiryaniout-
let in Kolhapur city was
smashed up by a group
of young men belonging
to a right-wing outfit.
They termed him a “de-
scendant of Aurang-
zeb”, police have said.
No complaint was
filed against anyone re-
garding the incident
that occurred on
Wednesday night, an of-
ficer of Rajarampuri
police station in Kol-
hapur said on Thursday
.
“Some young men,
who belong to a right-
wingorganization,were
visiting the biryani out-
let where they saw Ba-
hadur Shah Zafar’s por-
trait. They objected to
it, saying why the pic-
ture of a ‘descendant of
Aurangzeb’ had been
hung on the wall and
asked the eatery staff to
remove it,” he said.
“The staff agreed,
but the portrait was not
removed. On Wednes-
day night, the group
visited the eatery again,
took down the portrait
and smashed it up,”
said the officer.
Bahadur Shah Zafar
was the 20th and the last
Mughal emperor and
also an Urdu poet. He
died at age 87 in 1862 in
Rangoon in Burma (pre-
sent-day Myanmar),
wherehehadbeenexiled
after the 1857 rebellion.
Mumbai (PTI): Dr Ana-
hita Pandole had not
properly worn the seat
beltof thecar,whichshe
was driving at the time
of the accident that
claimedthelifeof indus-
trialist Cyrus Mistry
earlierthisyear,Palghar
police said on Friday
.
Former Tata Sons
chairman Mistry (54)
and his friend Jehangir
Pandole were killed af-
ter the Mercedes-Benz
car hit the railing of
the Surya river bridge
in Palghar district on
September 4. Dr Anahi-
ta, who was at the
wheel, and her husband
Darius suffered serious
injuries in the accident.
All of them were re-
turning to Mumbai
from Ahmedabad.
“Dr Anahita, who
was driving her Mer-
cedes-Benz car, had not
worn the seat belt
properly as the pelvic
belt was not fastened,”
Palghar Superinten-
dent of Police Balasa-
heb Patil said. “She
had only worn the
shoulder harness from
the back and had not
adjusted the lap belt,”
he added.
These findings are
partof thechargesheet,
which the police will
file before the court, he
said, adding the police
were waiting for Anah-
ita, a gynaecologist, to
get discharged from a
Mumbai-based hospi-
tal. Dr Anahita, who
escaped with injuries in
the accident, has been
undergoing treatment
at a private hospital in
south Mumbai and is
likely to be discharged
in the next couple of
days, he said. The Pal-
ghar Police had regis-
tered a case against her
in November.
17-yr-old killed by fam members; 2 detained
CRIMES AGAINST GIRLS
z Girl hanged from
tree, body cremated to
destroy evidence
z Victim was asked to
come home for wedding
after eloping with lover
HEINOUS CRIME
The returned home
after three days and
found that all the wed-
ding preparations had
been done with limited
relatives around. How-
ever, just before her
marriage rituals were
about to commence,
her father Santosh,
and uncle, Namdev
Sarode, dragged
her away from the
wedding mandap to a
tree near their house.
They then proceeded
to tie a knot to her
neck and hung her
from the tree. Later,
they brought down her
body and cremated
her on a pyre in order
to destroy the evi-
dence, said police.
First India Bureau
Thane: The Mahatma
Phule Chowk police
have arrested suspect-
ed of raping and killing
a nine-year-old girl
on December 01. The
child’s body was found
in a Kalyan railway
station building. The
suspect, identified as
Suraj Shankar Singh
alias Virendra Shankar
Mishra, was ear-
lier convicted of child
sexual assault child
sex abuse and served
10 years in prison. He
was released on bail
on November 14. The
police said the victim
was sleeping with
her parents and two
siblings on the footpath
near Abha building.
After picking her up,
he raped her and slit
her throat. The police
arrested the suspect,
a native of Madhya
Pradesh, from Bhi-
wandi area in Thane.
He was produced in
the Kalyan court and
has been remanded
in police custody till
December 23. Police
said that we are trying
to fast-track this case.
KALYAN COPS ARREST SUSPECT FOR
RAPE AND MURDER OF 9-YEAR-OLD
Mistry car crash: ‘Dr Anahita had not worn seat belt properly’
The findings are part
of charge sheet, which
police will file before
the court
UNDER DISCUSSION
Women of the Muslim community gathered at Azad Maidan in Mumbai for the annual ‘Sunni
Ijtema’, a religious meet, on Friday. At the public event, community leaders address social
issues such as the role of women in society, poverty, ignorance and obscenity in public.
—PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE
Bahadur Shah Zafar’s portrait
destroyed by right-wing group
AIMIM seeks 5% quota
for Muslims in Maha
The party will take out
a march during the
upcoming winter
session of the
Maha legislature
They smashed it after
eatery staff did not
remove the art on
their request
Clean-up ‘marshals’ will be back
on Mum roads soon, says BMC
CIVIC POLICING
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Clean-up
marshals may soon re-
turn to Mumbai streets
with the Brihanmum-
bai Municipal Corpora-
tion (BMC) considering
a proposal for the same.
If appointed, these
marshals will be in
charge of keeping the
city clean and beautiful
by slapping fines on
citizens for littering,
spitting, etc.
However, a senior of-
ficial from the solid
waste management de-
partment said there is a
proposal but nothing
has been finalized yet.
The civic body has
beenreceivinganumber
of complaints over
clean-up marshals, espe-
cially during the COV-
ID-19 pandemic. Accord-
ing to a senior official,
“The new marshals, if
appointed, will have the
power to penalize peo-
ple.”Anotherofficialsaid
that as per the proposal,
thecivicbodyisconsider-
ingappointing24contrac-
tors in 24 wards for 30
marshals in each ward.
However, in view of
complaints from citi-
zens about clean-up
marshals, the BMC is
considering checking
the educational qualifi-
cation of the marshals
and may put Std
X or XII pass as an eligi-
bility criteria.
These workers
will be in charge
of keeping the
city clean by
slapping fines
on litterers
DRAWING FLAK
After the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the
marshals were given the task to enforce the manda-
tory mask rule and to penalize those not wearing
masks with R200. Their services were discontinued
in March 2022 after masks were not mandatory.
During these two years, the marshals had penalized
more than 35 lakh Mumbaikars and collected over
Rs80 crore as penalty. The marshals have faced
heavy criticism over alleged extortion.
CCTV still of the accused.

PERSPECTIVE
04
SPIRITUAL SPEAK
One who sees inaction in action, and
action in inaction, is intelligent
among men. —Bhagavad Gita
Rajnath Singh@rajnathsingh
Visited the War Memorial on Vijay
Diwas today. Paid homage to
Indian Armed Forces personnel
who courageously fought in the
1971 War and laid down their lives
in service to the nation.
TOP TWEETS
Nitin Gadkari@nitin_gadkari
Congratulations to Team @
DRDO_India for successfully
carrying out the night trials of
nuclear-capable ballistic missile
#Agni5. This is another important
step in the direction of Prime
Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji’s
clarion call for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
Will 2023 Be a Year of Economic Crisis?
ar in Ukraine.
Protests in Chi-
na and Iran. En-
ergy shortages
in Europe. Pro-
tectionism in the United
States. Skyrocketing debt
in developing countries.
And soaring inflation and
slowing growth almost eve-
rywhere. The last 12
months have piled one
challenge for the global
economy on top of another.
Multiple plausible sce-
narios may trigger what
would qualify as an “eco-
nomic crisis” in 2023. If the
war in Ukraine escalates
further, or tensions with
China – for example, over
Taiwan – intensify, supply
chains may be affected,
causing shortages and
price increases. Cyberat-
tacks can disrupt key infra-
structure at any time and
anywhere, with potentially
significant repercussions.
And since the financial sys-
temisasfragile,dangerous,
and distorted as it has ever
been (perhaps even more
so), a crisis there is certain-
lypossible.Regulatorshave
repeatedly missed opportu-
nities to reform the system
since the 2007-2009 crisis,
making it clear that “fur-
ther crises will come.”
An enormous buildup of
risks across the financial
system – often ignored by
regulators and investors,
onlytoemergesuddenly–is
concerning. Many Europe-
an banks already appear
quite weak. According to a
2018 study, “off-balance-
sheet” debt levels have
grown since 2007. A recent
report shows that there is
$65 trillion in hidden US-
dollar debt in foreign-ex-
change markets – a much
larger sum than prior to
2008 – and points to other
risks. According to the
World Bank, since 2000, the
world’s poorest countries
have been spending the
highest share of their ex-
port revenues on debt-ser-
vice payments to rich coun-
tries, and debt-related risks
are rising in low- and mid-
dle-income economies as
well. Central banks rou-
tinely intervene to calm
turbulent markets, as the
Bank of England recently
did to prop up the govern-
ment-bond (gilt) market
and protect pension funds.
But a crisis involving mul-
tiple jurisdictions and key
institutions with unsus-
tainablecommitmentsmay
not be easily contained.
SOURCE: PROJECT SYNDICATE
W
A recent report shows that there is $65 trillion in
hidden US-dollar debt in foreign-exchange markets
– a much larger sum than prior to 2008 – and points
to other risks. According to the World Bank, since 2000,
the world’s poorest countries have been spending the
highest share of their export revenues on debt-service
payments to rich countries
l Vol 1 l Issue No. 220 l RNI TITLE NO. MAHENG/2022/14652 Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No.22, Dighe MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai-400701.
Published at Plot No. 3 Scheme C of Manglorean Garden Home, CHS Limited, Survey No. 5, 6C (Part) Ville Parle East, Mumbai 400057. Phone 022-46031417. Editor-In-Chief:DrJagdeeshChandra Editor: Kartikey Dev Singh responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
CHINA’S NEW SPACE STATION
OPENS FOR BUSINESS
The International Space Station is no longer the only place where humans can live in orbit
n Nov. 29, 2022, the Shen-
zhou 15 mission launched
from China’s Gobi Desert
carrying three taikonauts
– the Chinese word for as-
tronauts. Six hours later,
they reached their desti-
nation, China’s recently
completed space station,
called Tiangong, which
means “heavenly palace”
in Mandarin. The three
taikonauts replaced the
existing crew that helped
wrap up construction.
With this successful mis-
sion, China has become
just the third nation to op-
erate a permanent space
station.
China’s space station is
an achievement that so-
lidifies the country’s posi-
tion alongside the U.S. and
Russia as one of the
world’s top three space
powers. As scholars of
space law and space policy
who lead the Indiana Uni-
versity Ostrom Work-
shop’s Space Governance
Program, we have been
following the develop-
ment of the Chinese space
station with interest.
Unlike the collabora-
tive, U.S.-led International
Space Station, Tiangong
is entirely built and run
by China. The successful
opening of the station is
the beginning of some ex-
citing science. But the sta-
tion also highlights the
country’s policy of self-
reliance and is an impor-
tant step for China toward
achieving larger space
ambitions among a chang-
ing landscape of power
dynamics in space.
CAPABILITIES OF A
CHINESE STATION
The Tiangong space sta-
tion is the culmination of
three decades of work on
theChinesemannedspace
program. The station is
180 feet (55 meters) long
and is comprised of three
modules that were
launched separately and
connected in space. These
include one core module
where a maximum of six
taikonauts can live and
two experiment modules
for a total of 3,884 cubic
feet (110 cubic meters) of
space, about one-fifth the
size of the International
Space Station. The station
also has an external ro-
botic arm, which can sup-
port activities and experi-
ments outside the station,
and three docking ports
for resupply vehicles and
manned spacecraft.
Like China’s aircraft
carriers and other space-
craft, Tiangong is based
on a Soviet-era design – it
is pretty much a copy of
the Soviet Mir space sta-
tion from the 1980s. But
the Tiangong station has
been heavily modernized
and improved.
The Chinese space sta-
tion is slated to stay in
orbit for 15 years, with
plans to send two six-
month crewed missions
and two cargo missions to
it annually. The science
experiments have already
begun, with a planned
study involving monkey
reproduction commenc-
ing in the station’s bio-
logical test cabinets.
Whether the monkeys
will cooperate is an en-
tirely different matter.
SCIENCE AND A
STEPPINGSTONE
The main function of the
Tiangong station is to per-
form research on life in
space. There is a particu-
lar focus on learning
about the growth and de-
velopment of different
types of plants, animals
and microorganisms, and
there are more than 1,000
experiments planned for
the next 10 years.
Tiangong is strictly
Chinese made and man-
aged, but China has an
open invitation for other
nations to collaborate on
experiments aboard Tian-
gong. So far, nine projects
from 17 countries have
been selected.
Although the new sta-
tion is small compared to
the 16 modules of the In-
ternational Space Station,
Tiangong and the science
done aboard will help sup-
port China’s future space
missions. In December
2023, China is planning to
launch a new space tele-
scope called Xuntian. This
telescope will map stars
and supermassive black
holes among other pro-
jects with a resolution
about the same as the
Hubble Space Telescope
but with a wider view. The
telescope will periodically
dock with the station for
maintenance.
China also has plans to
launch multiple missions
to Mars and nearby com-
ets and asteroids with the
goal of bringing samples
back to Earth. And per-
haps most notably, China
has announced plans to
build a joint Moon base
with Russia – though no
timeline for this mission
has been set.
ASTROPOLITICS
A new era in space is un-
folding. The Tiangong sta-
tion is beginning its life
just as the International
Space Station, after more
than 30 years in orbit, is
set to be decommissioned
by 2030.
The International
Space Station is the clas-
sic example of collabora-
tive ideals in space – even
at the height of the Cold
War, the U.S. and the So-
viet Union came together
to develop and launch the
beginnings of the space
station in the early 1990s.
By comparison, China
and the U.S. have not been
so jovial in their orbital
dealings.
In the 1990s, when Chi-
na was still launching U.S.
satellites into orbit, con-
cerns emerged that China
was accidentally acquir-
ing – or stealing – U.S.
technology. These con-
cern in part led to the
Wolf Amendment, passed
by Congress in 2011,
which prohibits NASA
from collaborating with
China in any capacity.
China’s space program
was not mature enough to
be part of the construc-
tion of the International
Space Station in the 1990s
and early 2000s. By the
time China had the ability
to contribute to the Inter-
national Space Station,
the Wolf Amendment pre-
vented it from doing so.
It remains to be seen
how the map of space col-
laboration will change in
the coming years. The
U.S.-led Artemis Program
that aims to build a self-
sustaining habitat on the
Moon is open to all na-
tions, and 19 countries
have joined as partners so
far. China has also recent-
ly opened its joint Moon
mission with Russia to
other nations. This was
partly driven by cooling
Chinese-Russian relations
but also due to the fact that
because of the war in
Ukraine, Sweden, France
and the European Space
Agency canceled planned
missions with Russia.
As tensions on Earth
rise between China, Rus-
sia and the West, and
some of that jockeying
spills over into space, it
remains to be seen how
the decommissioning of
the International Space
Station and operation of
the Tiangong station will
influence the China-U.S.
relationship.
An event like the fa-
mous handshake between
U.S. astronauts and Rus-
sian cosmonauts while
orbiting Earth in 1975 is a
long way off, but collabo-
ration between the U.S.
and China could do much
to cool tensions on and
above the Earth.

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION
China’s space station is an
achievement that solidifies
the country’s position
alongside the U.S. and
Russia as one of the world’s
top three space powers. As
scholars of space law and
space policy who lead the
Indiana University Ostrom
Workshop’s Space
Governance Program, we
have been following the
development of the Chinese
space station with interest.
Unlike the collaborative,
U.S.-led International Space
Station, Tiangong is
entirely built and run by
Chinahe successful opening
of the station is the
beginning of some exciting
science But the station also
highlights the country’s
policy of self-reliance
O

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05
INDIA
Chhapra (ANI): The
toll of dead in Bihar’s
Chhapra Hooch tragedy
has soared to 65, with
more people succumb-
ing after consuming
spurious liquor in Sa-
ran district.
Masrakh Station
House Officer (SHO)
Ritesh Mishra and Con-
stable Vikesh Tiwari
were suspended imme-
diately after the Tues-
day night tragedy on
the recommendation of
Marhaura Sub-Divi-
sional Police Officer,
Yogendra Kumar. Most
deaths have occurred
over Wednesday and
Thursday creating an
uproar both at the state
and national level as
sale and consumption
of alcohol have been
banned in Bihar by the
Nitish Kumar govern-
ment since April 2016.
Nitish Kumar’s for-
mer ally
, BJP
, have come
down heavily on him
with MPs of the
Bharatiya Janata Party
from the state raising
the issue in the Rajya
Sabha on Thursday.
Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar, when ques-
tioned regarding the
Chhapra Hooch tragedy
,
on Thursday told media
that “if someone con-
sumes liquor, they will
die”, that has not gone
down well with victim
families among others.
“The liquor ban has
benefitted several peo-
ple. A large number of
people have given up al-
cohol...This is good.
Several people have
happily accepted this.
But there are some trou-
blemakers. I have told
officers to identify the
actual troublemakers
and nab them,” Kumar
told the media in Patna.
Bihar Excise Minis-
ter Sunil Kumar have
also promised stringent
action against the cul-
prits responsible for the
deaths. “Process of fill-
ing an FIR is underway
.
I have spoken over the
phone with SP,” Sunil
Kumar had said on
Wednesday
.
Hours after the first
few deaths were report-
ed from Chhapra, the
opposition had on
Wednesday attacked the
Bihar Chief Minister in
the state assembly lead-
ing Kumar to lose his
cool and scream back at
the BJP leaders.
The Chhapra Hooch
tragedy was one of the
issues raised in the Ra-
jya Sabha on Thursday,
leading to the adjourn-
ment of the House
thrice within a short
span of 40 minutes as
both the Treasury
benches and the opposi-
tion raised their issues
together with the com-
mencement of the Zero
Hour.
Leader of Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha and BJP leaders march to Raj Bhawan to protest over the Bihar
hooch tragedy during the Winter Session of the State Assembly, in Patna on Friday. —PHOTO BY ANI
DEATH TOLL RISES TO 65
BIHAR HOOCH TRAGEDY
Most deaths occurred on Wednesday Thursday
creating an uproar at the state and national level
In similar incident, 6 people died due to hooch
in Siwan and Begusarai districts of Bihar
Now, spurious
liquor kills 5 in
Siwan, 1 in
Begusarai
Siwan (ANI): Days af-
ter the hooch tragedy in
Bihar’s Chhapra
claimed over 50 lives, at
least 5 people died after
allegedly consuming
spurious liquor in the
adjoining Siwan dis-
trict in the state.
All five deceased are
residents of Brahsthan
and Sondhani villages
of Bhagwanpur Police
Station area. According
to sources, the death
toll is expected to rise.
Angry family members
of the deceased ob-
structed the Siwan-
Chapra Malmalia main
road and undertook a
protest. The distance
between Siwan and
Chhapra is around 10
kilometers. The de-
ceased have been identi-
fied as Mahesh Rai (40),
Sambhu Yadav (36),
Amir Manjhi (45), and
Awadh Manjhi (36) of
Brahmasthan Village
while Ramendra Pandit
hailed from Sondhani
village. According to lo-
cals, the death toll is
expected to go up and
the condition of some
people are stated to be
serious.
The bodies of the de-
ceased are being trans-
ported to Sadar Hospi-
tal in Siwan. Police Cir-
cle Inspector reached
the Sadar Hospital with
a large police posse. He,
however, refused to
comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, in the Be-
gusarai district, admin-
istration swung into
action after one person
reportedly died alleg-
edly after consuming
liquor. Two persons
identified as Deepak
Kumar and Shivam Ku-
mar- who consumed al-
coholwiththedeceased,
are being interrogated
by police.
BIHAR IS UNDER ‘POLICE RAJ’,
FAMILIES ARE HIDING BODIES: SKM
New Delhi: Former Deputy CM and BJP MP Sushil
Kumar Modi lashed out at Nitish Kumar-led Bihar govt
over the hooch tragedy in Chapra, and said the state
was under ‘police raj’ and the number
of deaths in the recent hooch tragedy
was much higher. While speaking to a
section of media, Modi said, “More than
100 people died after drinking spurious,
illicit liquor. But, the numbers are being
hidden. Even in Bihar, the media has
put the death toll at around 50. The people are hiding
the bodies of their kins fearing police inquiry. There is
police raj in Bihar. This is not the first tragedy in Bihar.”
MP RUDY HOLDS BIHAR
GOVT RESPONSIBLE
FOR HOOCH TRAGEDY
Chhapra: Bharatiya Janata
Party MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy
visited the village in his
parliamentary constitu-
ency of Chhapra in Bihar and
met with family members
of those who died in the
hooch tragedy that has so
far taken at least 50 lives, as
he accused the Nitish Kumar
government’s policy for the
lives lost.
NHRC NOTICE TO BIHAR
GOVT, STATE POLICE
New Delhi: The National Hu-
man Rights Commission has
issued notices to Bihar govt
and state’s police chief over
the Saran hooch tragedy in
which at least 30 people have
died, officials said on Friday.
The sale and consumption
of alcohol was completely
banned in Bihar in April 2016.
NO COMPENSATION TO THOSE WHO DIE AFTER
CONSUMING LIQUOR: BIHAR CM NITISH IN ASSEMBLY
Patna: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Friday said no com-
pensation will be given if a person dies after consuming
spurious liquor. The CM’s remark comes amid severe
criticism from the Opposition, led by the BJP, in the
wake of the rising hooch deaths in the Chhapra district.
“No compensation will be provided to people who die
after consuming spurious liquor. We have been appeal-
ing to you not to drink. If you drink, you will die. Those
who speak against prohibition will not bring any good
to the people,” the CM said in the Assembly on Friday.
PLEA SEEKS SIT PROBE INTO HOOCH
TRAGEDY, COMPENSATION FOR KIN
New Delhi: A petition has been filed in the Supreme
Court, seeking an independent probe by a special
investigation team (SIT) into a recent hooch tragedy in
Bihar, in which several people have lost their lives. The
Saran hooch tragedy toll climbed to 60 on Friday, the
highest since Bihar went dry more than six years ago.
However, about the death toll, Saran District Magis-
trate Rajesh Meena told PTI over the phone that the
number of people who have died in the tragedy since
Tuesday night has gone up to 30.
Liquor ban has
benefitted several.
A large number of
people have given up
alcohol... Several people have
happily accepted this. There
are some troublemakers. I
have told officers to identify
the actual troublemakers
and nab them.
—Nitish Kumar,
Bihar chief minister
IN THE COURTYARD
PETITION IN SC OVER
MARRIAGE UNDER
SPL MARRIAGE ACT
New Delhi: A lawyer on
Friday mentioned a plea
seeking equality of mar-
riage under the Special
Marriage Act before the
Supreme Court. Advocate
Shadan Farasat men-
tioned in his plea before
a bench led by Apex
Court Chief Justice DY
Chandrachud.
PILs USED TO TARGET
INFRASTRUCTURE
PROJECTS: SC
New Delhi: Public
interest litigation (PIL)
matters are being in-
creasingly used to target
infrastructure projects,
the Supreme Court
observed on Friday while
refusing to entertain a
plea challenging the re-
development of a plot of
land in Mumbai.
HC REFUSES TO STAY ADHIKARI’S
PROTECTION AGAINST FIRs
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday refused to
stay the immunity of the Leader of Opposition in West
Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari against future FIRs
granted earlier by a single-judge bench of the same
court. On Thursday, the West Bengal government first
approached the Supreme Court with the plea to vacate
the immunity granted to Adhikari on December 8, by
Calcutta High Court’s single-judge bench of Justice
Rajasekhar Mantha.
Women at top positions will boost
India’s resolve for development: Prez
First India Bureau
New Delhi: President
Droupadi Murmu on
Friday said more wom-
en at senior positions
and in leadership roles
will strengthen India’s
resolve for inclusive de-
velopment.
She was addressing
the probationers of the
Indian Statistical Ser-
vice who had called on
the president at Rash-
trapati Bhavan here.
She asked them to do
their duty with sinceri-
ty and commitment.
“Your contribution in
steering India towards
greater progress and de-
velopment is going to be
huge. The information
and data analysis that
you provide will be in-
strumental in making
and implementing poli-
cies which ensure that
no one is left behind in
the journey of develop-
ment,” the president
said.
Murmu said she was
also delighted to know
that lady officers com-
prise over 40 per cent of
the officers present at
the ceremony
.
“More women at sen-
ior positions and in
leadership roles will
definitely strengthen
India’s resolve for in-
clusive development,”
the president added.
Murmu said India is
at the cusp of a new
phase of socio-econom-
ic transformation.
“Increased penetra-
tion of digital technolo-
gies has brought trans-
parency and efficiency
in the government func-
tioning and has trans-
formed the e-govern-
ment landscape. The
flow of data through
these initiatives pro-
vides support to the gov-
ernment in taking effec-
tive decisions,” she said.
Addressing the offic-
ers, the president said
policy formulation and
execution cannot be ef-
fective without the right
statistical analysis.
—With PTI inputs
President Droupadi Murmu meets with probationers of Indian Railways, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in
New Delhi on Friday. —PHOTO BY ANI
Now, Mizoram
Dy Speaker
Lairinawma
resigns too
Aizawl (Agencies):
FourdaysafterMizoram
Social Welfare and Trib-
al Affairs
Minister K
B e i ch h u a
re s i g n e d ,
Assembly
D e p u t y
Speaker Lairinawma
also quit his post on Fri-
day
. Though officially
no reason was cited
about the resignations,
sources in the CM’s of-
fice said that Mizoram
cabinet is likely to be
reshuffled soon.
Beichhua, who was
also holding Excise and
Narcotics, Sericulture,
Animal Husbandry and
Veterinary Depart-
ments, had said that he
was told by Chief Min-
ister Zoramthanga, who
is also the ruling Mizo
National Front (MNF)
President, to resign as
he wanted to reshuffle
the cabinet.
Newly elected HP MLAs to
take oath on December 22
Shimla (PTI): The
newly elected Himachal
Pradesh MLAs will take
oath on December 22
when the three-day win-
ter session of the state
assembly begins, a noti-
fication issued here on
Friday said.
This would be the
first session of the 14th
Vidhan Sabha.
According to the no-
tice, the Speaker will be
elected on December 23,
which will be followed
by the Governor’s ad-
dress, a debate on which
wouldbeheldonDecem-
ber 24 and it would be
passed on the same day
.
Senior most member
of the newly-elected as-
sembly Chander Ku-
mar, who is a six-time
MLA and former Lok
Sabha member, was ap-
pointed as pro-tem
Speaker on Wednesday
.
He would administer
the oath to the newly
elected MLAs and func-
tion as the chairman of
Vidhan Sabha till the
new speaker is elected.
Himachal Pradesh
Governor Rajendra
Vishwanath Arlekar
had allocated portfolios
to the newly-elected
Chief Minister Sukh-
vinder Singh Sukhu
and his deputy Mukesh
Agnihotri. Meanwhile,
the cabinet expansion
is awaited.
In the November 12
elections, the Congress
wrested the hill state
from the Bharatiya Ja-
nata Party (BJP) by
winning 40 seats in the
68-member assembly,
whereas the Bharatiya
Janata Party won 25
seats with three inde-
pendent candidates also
emerging victorious.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu being
welcomed during his visit to Himachal Sadan, in New Delhi on
Wednseday. —FILE PHOTO
Shah to chair
EZC meet in
Kolkata today
New Delhi (PTI): Un-
ionHomeMinisterAmit
Shah will chair a meet-
ing of the Eastern Zonal
Council (EZC) in Kolka-
ta on Saturday where is-
sues like security along
the inter-state borders,
smuggling along the In-
dia-Bangladesh border,
and connectivity will be
discussed, officials said.
The EZC comprises
West Bengal, Bihar,
Jharkhand, and Odis-
ha. It will be attended by
CMs, ministers, chief
secretaries, principal
secretaries, and senior
officers of the member
states and senior offic-
ers of central govern-
ment, a home ministry
official said.
The meeting of the
council is also expected
todiscusspowerandoth-
er issues of common in-
terests, the official said.
As per the established
procedure and practice,
the zonal council meet-
ing is preceded by a
standing committee of
the council, in which the
agenda items to be
placedbeforethecouncil
are scrutinised and list-
ed in order of priority
.
SHAH REVIEWS GUJ’S
PREPAREDNESS FOR
2036 OLYMPICS
Ahmedabad: Union
Home Minister Amit
Shah on Friday held a
meeting with Gujarat
Chief Minister Bhu-
pendra Patel and top
government officials
to review the state’s
preparedness to host the
2036 Summer Olympic
Games. Notably, the BJP
government in Gujarat
had earlier announced it
was aiming to bag host-
ing rights for the 2036
Olympic Games.
Amit Shah

06
INDIA
PM holds telephonic conversation with Russian Prez
New Delhi: Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi on Friday had a
telephonic conversa-
tion with Russian Pres-
ident Vladimir Putin,
where he reiterated
that dialogue and diplo-
macy is the only way
forward to resolve the
ongoing conflict with
Ukraine. Theconversa-
tion between the two
leaders was a follow-up
to their meeting in Uz-
bekistan’s Samarkand,
on the sidelines of the
Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO)
Summit, in Sept this
year. Both the leaders
reviewed several areas
of bilateral coopera-
tion like energy coop-
eration, trade and in-
vestments, defence and
security cooperation.
Modi also briefed Pu-
tin about the key focus
areas of India’s ongo-
ing G20 presidency,
sources said. The PM
also looked forward to
both countries working
together during India’s
chairship of the SCO.
New York: India looks
forward to being back
in the UN Security
Council, External Af-
fairs S Jaishankar said
here on Thursday as he
declared the country’s
candidature as non-
permanent member for
the 2028-29 term.
Jaishankar arrived
here on Tuesday to pre-
side over two signature
events on counter-ter-
rorism and reformed
multilateralism held
under India’s current
Presidency of the UN
Security Council, be-
fore the curtains come
down this month on the
country’s two-year ten-
ure as elected member
of the 15-nation top or-
gan of the world body
.
“I’m glad to inform
you that we have de-
clared our candidature
for our next tenure at
the Council for 2028-29
and we look forward to
being back, he said as
India prepares to wrap
up its 2021-22 tenure as
elected Council mem-
ber on December 31.
Jaishankar said that
December is the last
month of India’s cur-
rent membership of
the Security Council,
the eighth time that In-
dia sat at the powerful
horse-shoe table.
“During this eighth
innings of ours, we
have attempted to bring
many themes of con-
temporary relevance
like maritime security,
technologyinUNpeace-
keeping, reforms of the
UN and counterterror-
ism to the center of the
agenda and of the de-
bate in the UN, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Vladimir Putin. —FILE PHOTO
India announces candidature for UNSC membership for 2028-29
United Nations Security Council.
First India Bureau
New Delhi: The clash
along the Line of Actual
Control (LAC) in
ArunachalPradesh’sTa-
wang between Indian
and Chinese troops has
yet again trigger more
disruptions in Parlia-
ment on Friday after
both houses saw several
adjournmentsthisweek.
The opposition has been
accusing the govern-
ment of refusing a dis-
cussion on the matter.
On Thursday
, Opposi-
tionpartiesinLokSabha
had staged a walkout fol-
lowing Union minister
Hardeep Puri’s response
tothequestionsonpetrol
price rise. Discussions
on women’s safety
, petrol
price hike are among the
otherissuesthatarelike-
ly to take place on the
eighthdayof thesession.
The winter session
that began on Decem-
ber 7 will continue till
December 29, with a to-
tal of 17 working days.
Sixteen new bills have
on the Centre’s agenda
in this session.
Earlier on Friday, Ra-
jya Sabha was ad-
journed till 12 noon on
Friday amid uproar as
the Opposition’s re-
quest to hold a discus-
sion on the India-China
border situation was
disallowed by the chair.
Rajya Sabha Deputy
ChairmanHarivanshre-
peatedly urged House
members to allow the
proceedings,citingrules.
Congress MP Ran-
deep Surjewala earlier
today gave a Suspen-
sion of Business Notice
under Rule 267 in Rajya
Sabha to discuss the
border situation with
China. He also asked
the Chairman to ask the
Prime Minister and the
Government to make a
statement on the issue.
Congress President
and Leader of Opposi-
tion in Rajya Sabha
Mallikarjun Kharge
also sought to raise the
issue in the House.
Earlier on Tuesday,
Defence Minister Ra-
jnath Singh informed
both Houses that Chi-
na’s People’s Libera-
tion Army (PLA) troops
tried to transgress the
Line of Actual Control
in Yangtse area of
Arunachal Pradesh Ta-
wang Sector and unilat-
erally change the status
quo but they went back
to their locations due to
timely intervention of
Indian military com-
manders.He assured
that “our forces are
committed to protect-
ing our territorial in-
tegrity and will contin-
ue to thwart any at-
tempt made on it”.
VIJAY DIWAS
VicePrezDhankhar
remembersbravery
New Delhi (ANI): Vice
President Jagdeep
Dhankhar on Friday
paid tributes to those
who lost their lives in
the service of the na-
tion on the occasion of
Vijay Diwas.
“On Vijay Diwas, I
join the nation in re-
membering the bravery
and sacrifice of our
armed forces, who led
to our triumph in the
1971 war.
I pay my tributes to
the martyrs, who lost
their lives in the ser-
vice of our nation.
#VijayDiwas2022,”
Vice President
Jagdeep Dhankhar
tweeted on Friday.
JK DGP LAYS
WREATH AT
BALIDAN STAMBHA
Jammu: Director Gen-
eral of JK Police (DGP)
Dilbag Singh on Friday
laid wreath at the Balidan
Stambha in Jammu on the
occasion of Vijay Diwas,
commemorating India’s
victory over Pakistan in
the 1971 Bangladesh
Liberation War. The Union
Territory’s top cop was
accompanied by the ADGP
Mukesh Singh during the
wreath-laying ceremony.
Mahesh Sharma
Contrary to the popular
belief that Priyanka
Gandhi did not have say
in selection of HP
Chief Minister Sukh-
vinder Singh Sukhu,
the informed sources
now reveal that Sukhu
was actually Priyanka’s
candidate.
“Sukhu has been
very close to the Gandhi
family and Priyanka.
IN fact, Sukhu has the
power of attorney of
Priyanka’s five-acre
house in Shimla. Not
only this, Sukhu has
been involved in the
purchase of this land
from the beginning,”
said sources.
This five acre land
was in the name of 42
people belonging to one
or two families. Some
of them were in Shimla,
some in Mumbai and
some abroad. It was al-
most impossible to
gather all these people
at one place and get the
registry done but
Sukhu completed this
work with great hard
work and honesty
.
This story is 10-12
years old and thus
Sukhu has been close to
the Gandhi family ever
since. The 5-acre land
was close to the Presi-
dent’s residence, where
the President stays dur-
ing summer. As such,
this land could not be
sold to Priyanka due to
the security reasons.
The then President
Pratibha Patil gave
NOC for this endorse-
ment and Sukhu was
always involved in this
whole work. This loy-
alty and hard work de-
livered and the son of
a bus driver and grass-
root worker Sukhu be-
came the new Chief
Minister of Himachal
Pradesh.
Sukhu had full backing of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra!
SELECTION OF HIMACHAL CM
Insiders say that
Sukhu is very
close to Gandhis
and Priyanka
NPCL’s weapon to check
power theft in Noida
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Noida Pow-
er Company Ltd has
found a unique weapon
to check power theft in
Greater Noida. Now
NPCL will know imme-
diately when and how
much power is being
stolen from which
transformer in which
area. NPCL has in-
stalled smart devices on
all power distribution
equipment and trans-
formers in Greater Noi-
da, make it possible to
determine how much
power is being stolen.
Under this special cam-
paign, NPCL has identi-
fied about 300 such
transformers in differ-
ent villages, from which
more than 50 percent of
the power is being sto-
len. Besides, in those
areas where power theft
is more prevalent at
night, it is also being as-
certained which con-
sumer is stealing power.
Rajnath Singh, Anil Chauhan, Manoj Pande, VR Chaudhari and
SN Ghormade pay tribute to the Armed Forces personnel in New
Delhi on Friday. —PHOTO BY ANI
CRUCIAL
READ
KOCHI CUSTOMS
SEIZES GOLD
WORTH `46 LAKH
TEACHER THROWS
CLASS 5 GIRL OFF
BALCONY
RAKUL PREET
SUMMONED BY ED
IN DRUG CASE
FRESH FIRs
AGAINST MEHUL
CHOKSI, OTHERS
Kochi: The Customs
Department on Friday
seized over 1000 gram of
gold worth Rs 46.50 lakh
from a passenger at the
Kochi airport. As per offic-
ers of the Kochi Customs
Air Intelligence Unit (AIU)
batch, the passenger was
intercepted at the green
channel with gold capsules
concealed in his body.
New Delhi: A school
teacher in Delhi’s Karol
Bagh flung a class 5 girl
from the first floor of
the school building on
Friday, according to Delhi
police. The injured girl
identified as Vandana
was immediately rushed
to hospital. The injured
girl is now out of danger
(stated by a doctor).
New Delhi: The ED
on Friday summoned
actress Rakul Preet
Singh in connection with
a four-year-old drug traf-
ficking and consumption
case.Her statement was
recorded by the ED in
this connection last year
too. “The actress has
been asked to appear
before the investigating
agency on December 19.
New Delhi: The Central
Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) on Friday registered
two fresh FIRs against fu-
gitive businessman Mehul
Choksi, Gitanjali Gems
and Nakshatra Brands
for allegedly defrauding
a consortium of banks to
the tune of Rs 6,300 crore.
The FIRs have been lodged
by Mumbai branch.
WINTER SESSION OF PARLIAMENT
BOTH HOUSES ADJOURNED TILL
MONDAY AMID OPPN’S UPROAR
‘RULES IN
PLACE’, SAYS
CENTRE ON
ONLINE GAMING
NO PLAN FOR
SEPARATE LAW
TO REGULATE
DIGITAL MEDIA
New Delhi: Union
MoS for Electron-
ics and Information
Technology, Rajeev
Chandrasekhar in
a written reply to
a question in the
RS said rules on
the regulation of
online gaming were
in place. “These
rules cast specific
obligation on inter-
mediaries, including
intermediaries offer-
ing online games,”
the reply said.
New Delhi: Union
Minister of State
for Electronics
and Information
Technology Rajeev
Chandrasekhar in
a written reply to
a question in the
Rajya Sabha on
Friday said there
was no proposal
to enact a separate
law to regulate the
digital media.“No
proposal to enact
a separate law to
regulate the digital
media is currently
under consideration
of the government,”
said the minister
Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha adjourned due to a ruckus created by the Opposition MPs in the
Wall of House during the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Friday. —PHOTO BY ANI
IRANI, CHOWDHURY SPAR IN LS
OVER ‘GENTLEMAN’ REMARK
New Delhi: Women
and Child Develop-
ment Minister Smriti
Irani and Congress
leader Adhir Ranjan
Chowdhury indulged
in a spat in Lok Sabha
on Friday over the use
of the word ‘gentle-
man’.
Irani said Chowd-
hury was interrupt-
ing her reply to im-
press his ‘’political
masters’’. Chowdhury
was supported by an-
other Congress mem-
ber, K Suresh. Con-
gress leader Sonia
Gandhi was also pre-
sent in the House.
‘’I would...request
the member who
stands here trying to
ensure that I do not
speak to score politi-
cal brownie points....
For him to presume
that the gentleman is
not a gentleman is an
issue to deal (with) be-
tween the gentleman
and the so-called
member,’’ Irani said.
Priyanka Gandhi with Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. —FILE PHOTO
VIJAY DIWAS CELEBRATIONS
Students perform a dance during the Vijay Diwas celebrations, in Prayagraj, on Friday.
—PHOTO
BY
PTI

07
Commodity Price Change % Chg
GOLD 54,222.00 107.00 0.19 (Per 10g)
SILVER 68,001.00 120.00 0.17 (Per 1kg)
COMMODITIES
Currency Price Change % Chg
USDINR 82.85 0.09 0.04
GBPINR 100.77 1.34 1.31
CURRENCIES
business
BRIEFS
New Delhi: Japanese car
maker Honda on Friday
said it is planning to in-
crease prices of its entire
model range by up to
`30,000 from January to
partially offset the impact
of rising input costs and
prepare products in com-
pliance with upcoming
stricter emission norms.
The company joins the
likes of market leader
Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai,
Tata Motors, Mercedes-
Benz, Audi, Renault, Kia
India and MG Motor, who
have also announced to
hike prices. —PTI
HONDA TO HIKE
PRICES BY UP TO
`30K FROM JAN
Mumbai: Hong Kong-
based airline Cathay Pa-
cific on Friday said it will
scale up its flight services
to and from India, includ-
ing on Delhi and Mumbai
routes, to 14 services per
week, starting Jan 2023.
From Feb, the number of
per week flights to and
from India will go up to
15 from nine at present.
The full service carrier
also announced it will op-
erate an Airbus A350-900
aircraft on its B’lore-Hong
Kong route, first time by
the airline in the country,
offering 280 seats, com-
prising 38 in business, 28
in premium economy and
the remaining 214 in
economy class. —PTI
CATHAY PACIFIC TO
SCALE UP INDIA
FLIGHT SERVICES
New Delhi: Gold prices
rose `107 to `54,222 per
10 grams in the national
capital on Friday amid
gains in prices of pre-
cious metal in overseas
markets, according to
HDFC Securities. In the
previous trade, the yellow
metal had settled at
`54,115/10 grams. Silver,
however, declined `120
to `68,001/kg. In the in-
ternational market, gold
was trading in green at
$1,783.80 per ounce
while silver was down at
$23.07 per ounce. —PTI
GOLD PRICES SEE A
RISE OF `107; SILVER
DECLINES BY `120
Mumbai: Investments by
private equity and venture
capital funds have de-
clined by 42% year-on-
year to $4 billion in No-
vember, a report said on
Friday. By the number of
deals, November’s 88
transactions were 15%
lower than the year-ago
period and 13% higher
than the preceding Octo-
ber. From a sectoral per-
spective, infrastructure
was at the top in Novem-
ber 2022, driven by in-
vestments in clean ener-
gy, with $1.6 billion in PE/
VC investments across
six deals, it said. —PTI
PE/VC INVESTMENTS
DROP 42% TO FOUR
BN DOLLARS IN NOV
*Rates till the edition went to print.
FOREX RESERVES
SWELL BY $2.91 BN TO
$564.06 BN AS OF DEC 9
Mumbai: India’s forex re-
serves rose by $2.908 billion
to $564.06 billion for the week
ended on
December 9,
according to
the Reserve
Bank data
released on Friday. In the
previous reporting week, the
overall reserves had soared by
$11 billion to $561.16 billion.
This is the fifth consecutive
week of an increase in the
reserves. In October 2021, the
country’s foreign exchange
kitty had reached an all-time
high of $645 billion. —PTI
INDIGO SEEKS DGCA
NOD FOR WET LEASING
BOEING 777 AIRCRAFT
New Delhi: IndiGo on Friday
said it has sought aviation
regulator
DGCA’s ap-
proval to wet
lease Boeing
777 aircraft,
which will be utilised for
operating flights on the Delhi-
Istanbul route. This will be the
first time that the carrier will
be inducting wide-body planes
into its fleet and the move also
comes against the backdrop
of global supply chain issues
impacting aircraft deliveries.
The airline will wet-lease two
aircraft. —PTI
NON-FOSSIL SOURCES
TO MEET 62% OF IND
TOTAL ENERGY DEMAND
New Delhi: India is expected
to source about 62% of its en-
ergy require-
ments from
non-fossil
sources by
2030, about
12% more than the target,
according to a senior power
ministry official. “Going by the
current pace and trajectory,
India is likely to source about
62% of its energy require-
ments from non-fossil sources
by 2030, exceeding the target
it has set for itself for sourcing
about 50% of energy require-
ments,” Tiwari said. —PTI
WHEAT SOWING UP BY
THREE PER CENT SO
FAR THIS RABI SEASON
New Delhi: Wheat acreage
has increased 3% so far in the
ongoing rabi season at 286.5
lakh hectare
mainly on
higher sowing
area in MP
and UP, the
government data showed. The
area under coverage for wheat,
which is the major crop in rabi
(winter-sown) season, stood
at 278.25 lakh hectare in the
same period last year. Sowing
of rabi crops starts from Octo-
ber. Higher area under wheat
has been reported mainly from
MP, UP, Rajasthan. —PTI
WINDFALL PROFIT TAX ON CRUDE SLASHED; TAX
ON DIESEL, ATF EXPORT CUT
New Delhi: The government has slashed the windfall profit tax
levied on domestically-produced crude oil as well as on export of
diesel and ATF following a decline in global oil prices, according to
an official order. The levy on crude
oil produced by companies such
as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC) has been cut steeply to
`1,700 per tonne from `4,900, the
order dated December 15 said.Crude
oil pumped out of the ground and
from below seabed is refined and
converted into fuel like petrol, diesel and ATF. The government has
also cut the tax on export of diesel to `5 per litre from `8 and the
same on overseas shipments of ATF to `1.5 a litre from `5. The
new tax rates are effective from December 16. —PTI
OTHER STORIES
Budgettofollowspiritofearlierones:FM
New Delhi (PTI): Finance
Minister Nirmala Sithata-
man on Friday indicated
that her forthcoming Budg-
et will continue to push
growth on the back of pub-
lic spending as she said it
will “follow the spirit” of
earlier Budgets.
Sitharaman, scheduled
to present her fifth straight
Budget on February 1 for
the fiscal starting April,
had unveiled a massive
public spending pro-
gramme to support the
economy, emerging out of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the Budget, the fi-
nance minister had raised
capital expenditure by
35.4% for the financial year
2022-23 to Rs 7.5 lakh crore
to boost demand, while the
capex last year stood at Rs
5.5 lakh crore.
“It is very inspiring and
motivating for me, espe-
cially at a time when we are
readying the next budget
for the country, a budget
which will follow the spirit
of the earlier Budgets. We
are going to set the tem-
plate, which was set to ear-
lier but follow it and take it
further for India’s next 25
years...,” she said.
The GDP growth has
slowed in recent months
due to global headwinds
and rising interest rates
globally to control spiral-
ling inflation. This has
prompted some to seek a
further government push
to revive the growth rate.
The Budget 2023-24 will
be presented in the back-
drop of many institutions,
including the Reserve
Bank, slashing India’s
growth forecast to 6.8% or
so for the current fiscal.
The RBI projected the
real GDP growth for 2022-23
at 6.8%, with the third
quarter at 4.4% and the
fourth at 4.2%.
Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) growth is projected
at 7.1% for the April-June
period of 2023-24 and at
5.9% for the following quar-
ter. The budget for the next
year will have to address
critical issues of elevated
levels of inflation, boosting
demand, job creation and
putting the economy on a
sustained 8% plus growth
path. It will be the fifth
budget of the Modi 2.0 gov-
ernment and Sitharaman,
and the last full budget be-
fore the general elections.
WORK OUT STRATEGIES TO DRAW GLOBAL
MANUFACTURERS TO INDIA: SITHARAMAN
New Delhi (PTI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday
asked Indian industry to work out strategies as to how busi-
nesses operating in developed countries can look at India as a
production or sourcing hub amid recession fears in the western
countries. India has brought in a lot of facilitation and tweak-
ing of rules to attract foreign investment into India and is also
engaging with industries who want to co-locate in the country,
the minister said.“As much you are preparing yourself for a long-
drawn recession in the Western world, in the developed world,
I think it is also the best time for you to work out strategies for
drawing those manufacturers from there to India. “Even as they
are headquartered there, it might be useful for them to think of
sourcing many things from here and producing from here at
least for markets in this part of the globe,” Sitharaman said.
Countries eager to sign free
trade pacts with India: Goyal
New Delhi (PTI): Coun-
tries across the world are
looking at India as a trust-
ed partner and want to sign
free trade agreements with
it after its emergence as a
strong force in the world,
Textile Minister Piyush
Goyal said on Friday
.
He said talks are under-
way with the European Un-
ion, Gulf countries, Cana-
da and the United Kingdom
for FTA and the FTAs with
two developed economies
of the UAE and Australia
will be enforced in this
year alone.
Goyal said after the
prime minister’s efforts, In-
dia is emerging as a strong
force across the world and
once again the world is
keen to increase trade with
India and sign FTAs.
“Iamhappytosharewith
you that in one year alone,
FTA with two developed
countries - UAE and Aus-
tralia will be enforced. With
the UAE, the FTA has come
into force from May 1 this
year, which is a record time,
and the FTA with Australia
will enter into force from
December 29 this year,” the
minister said.
“There are six Gulf Co-
operation Council nations
with which FTAs are being
discussed. Besides there
are talks going on with the
European Union, Canada
and United Kingdom for
FTA agreements. This
shows that the entire world
is looking towards India
and they are seeing that In-
dia will be a trusted part-
ner in the coming times.”
India to become
$5 tn economy
by FY25: Gadkari
New Delhi (PTI): India is
the fastest growing major
economy in the world and
is all set to achieve $5 tril-
lion GDP by 2024-25, Union
Minister Nitin Gadkari
said on Friday
.
Gadkari said the central
government is aiming to
boost growth and employ-
ment to achieve sustaina-
ble development.
The road transport and
highways minister said In-
dia will play a key role in
achieving global Sustaina-
ble Development Goals
(SDGs) 2030. Gadkari noted
that India needs to increase
its exports and reduce im-
ports. “We are also working
on developing alternative,
clean and green fuel like
bio ethanol, bio-CNG, bio-
LNG and green hydrogen,”
he said.
Mkts fall for 2nd day amid weak global trends
Mumbai (PTI): Equity
benchmarks Sensex and
Nifty declined nearly 1%
on Friday
, in tandem with a
weak trend in overseas
markets amid hawkish
tone of global central
banks.
The 30-share BSE Sensex
fell 461.22 points or 0.75% to
settle at 61,337.81. During
the day, it tumbled 506.5
points or 0.81% to 61,292.53.
The broader NSE Nifty
declined 145.90 points or
0.79% to end at 18,269.
From the Sensex pack,
Mahindra Mahindra,
Asian Paints, Dr Reddy’s,
Tata Consultancy Services,
State Bank of India, Wipro,
PowerGrid and Titan were
the major laggards.
Hindustan Unilever,
HDFC Bank and Nestle
were among the winners.
Elsewhere in Asia, equi-
ty markets in Seoul, Tokyo
and Shanghai ended lower,
while Hong Kong settled in
the green.
Equity exchanges in Eu-
rope were trading in the
red in mid-session deals.
The US markets had ended
sharply lower on Thursday
.
International oil bench-
mark Brent crude dipped
2.25 per cent to $79.38 per
barrel.
RUPEE FALLS 9 PAISE
TO SETTLE AT 82.85
AGAINST US DOLLAR
Mumbai (PTI): The value of
Indian rupee dropped 9 paise
to close at 82.85 (provisional)
against the United States dollar
on Friday amid heavy selling
pressure in domestic equities
and a strong greenback over-
seas. However, receding crude
oil prices capped the rupee’s
loss, forex traders said. At the
interbank foreign exchange mar-
ket, the rupee opened sharply
lower at 82.84 against the
greenback and witnessed a high
of 82.73 and a low of 82.89. It
finally settled at 82.85 against
the greenback, down 9 paise
over its previous close
of 82.76.
SENSEX AND
NIFTY ON FRIDAY
z The 30-share BSE Sensex
fell 461.22 points or 0.75%
to settle at 61,337.81.
During the day, it tumbled
506.5 points or 0.81% to
61,292.53
z The broader NSE Nifty
declined 145.90 points or
0.79% to end at 18,269
Vehicle registrations: Govt
tweaks BH series rules
New Delhi (PTI): The
Ministry of Road Trans-
port and Highways
(MoRTH) has allowed the
conversion of regular vehi-
cle registrations into
Bharat Series (BH) num-
bers as part of measures to
widen the scope of the BH
series ecosystem.
Earlier, only new vehi-
cles could opt for the BH
series mark.
In an official statement,
the MoRTH said over the
course of the implementa-
tion of BH series registra-
tion mark rules, several
representations have been
received towards strength-
ening the BH series ecosys-
tem. “Vehicles currently
having regular registration
mark can also be converted
to BH series registration
mark, subject to payment
of requisite tax, to facili-
tate persons who subse-
quently become eligible for
BH series registration
mark,” the statement said
released on Friday
.
India’s textile industry faces tough times
First India Bureau
New Delhi: India’s $200
billion textile and apparel
industry is facing a crisis
as consumers in the United
States, Europe and other
big markets have cut spend-
ing on clothing following a
surge in inflation after the
war in Ukraine, industry
officials said.
While the overall econo-
my is relatively strong and
is outperforming major
economies, the textile sec-
tor is a notable exception
and orders suggest the
downturn will continue
well into 2023, raising the
risk of layoffs.
Exports, which consti-
tute about 22% of the in-
dustry, have fallen for five
months in a row - declining
over 15% year-on-year in
November to $3.1 billion.
Domestic sales are slug-
gish despite strong growth
in the overall economy be-
cause of high costs and
cheap imported garments,
manufacturers say
.
After bumper sales ear-
lier this year, local textile
factories are now cutting
production - contributing
to a 4.3% contraction in
manufacturing output in
July-September quarter
that has raised concerns.
AS CONSUMERS CUT SPENDING
NOTABLE
EXCEPTION
z While the overall economy
of the country is relatively
strong and is outperforming
major economies, the textile
sector is a notable
exception and orders
suggest the downturn
will continue well into 2023

Mumbai (PTI): The op-
position Maha Vikas
Aghadi (MVA) coalition
will hold its ‘Halla Bol’
protest march against
Chief Minister Eknath
Shinde-led government
in Maharashtra on Sat-
urday. The rally is also
a counter-move by the
opposition to the ruling
Bharatiya Janata Par-
ty’s (BJP) ‘Maafi Maan-
go’ protest.
The MVA allies Shiv
Sena – Uddhav Balasa-
heb Thackeray, Nation-
alist Congress Party
(NCP) and Congress
would be taking out the
“morcha” (protest
march) against the “in-
justice” meted out to
Maharashtra, “insults
to the state’s icons like
Shivaji Maharaj and
Mahatma Phule,” and
“atrocities” against
Marathi-speakers in
border areas of Karna-
taka as well as indus-
trial projects being tak-
en out of the state.
State Congress Presi-
dent Nana Patole said
people’s anger against
the government of the
Eknath Shinde-led Shiv
Sena faction and BJP
will be expressed
through the morcha.
The march will start
near JJ Hospital and
end at the Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj Termi-
nus in south Mumbai.
The MVA protest is
being seen as an at-
tempt to rally the allies
after the Uddhav Thack-
eray-led alliance gov-
ernment was toppled in
June this year.
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The Mumbai
Metropolitan Region
Development Authority
(MMRDA) will move on
to the last phase of safe-
ty trials to commission
a part of Metro 2A and
7 lines in the city’s west-
ern suburbs.
According to an
MMRDA official, a deci-
sion on the date from
which people can use
the transportation sys-
tem would be made
upon receipt of the final
safety certificate.
“We are working to-
wards starting the two
routes in late December
or in January,” the offi-
cial said.
This comes in the
wake of tests required
prior to commissioning
the Metro line.
BEML has supplied
the rolling stock for
these two Metro lines.
Once the rolling stock
and signalling certifi-
cate is received, the
Commissioner of Metro
Rail Safety will be in-
vited to inspect and pro-
vide remarks on techni-
cal corrections if any
.
The commissioner
will also give the
final go ahead for pas-
sengers to use the pub-
lic transport service,
which will run from
from DN Nagar in And-
heri West to Andheri
East via Dahisar.
Metro 2A between Da-
hanukarwadi and Da-
hisar East as well as a
portion of Metro 7
between Da hisar East
to Aarey has been oper-
ational since April 01
this year.
The distance between
DN Nagar to Dahisar
East is 18.6km whereas
that from Dahisar East
to Andheri East is
16.5km.
Once these lines are
open to the public, it is
expected to drastically
reduce vehicular traffic
on the Western Express
Highway between Da-
hisar and Andheri.
08
2NDFRONT
Mumbai (PTI): The
National Investigation
Agency (NIA) on Fri-
day filed a charge-sheet
against 11 persons in
the murder case of Am-
ravati-based pharma-
cist Umesh Kolhe who
had shared social me-
dia posts backing Nu-
pur Sharma.
The charge-sheet
was filed before the spe-
cial NIA court here.
The court had in Sep-
tember granted the
central agency 90 days'
extension to file the
charge-sheet. Kolhe
was killed in eastern
Maharashtra's Amra-
vati city on June 21,
2022, after sharing
on social media a
post supporting sus-
pended BJP leader
Nupur Sharma over
her controversial
remarks about Prophet
Mohammad.
The NIA registered a
case on July 2 on the
directions of the Minis-
try of Home Affairs
under Indian Penal
Code sections 120-B
(criminal conspiracy),
302 (murder), 153-A
(promoting enmity
between different
groups on grounds of
religion, race, place of
birth, residence, lan-
guage, etc) and 153-B
(imputations, asser-
tions prejudicial to na-
tional integration), and
provisions of the Un-
lawful Activities (Pre-
vention) Act.
Charge-sheet
filed by NIA in
pharmacist’s
murder case
Elgar case: Hany Babu
granted bail for cataract
surgery and check-up
Destroyer ‘Mormugao’
to be commissioned into
Indian Navy on Dec 18
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Former
Delhi University pro-
fessor Hany Babu, an
accused in the Elgar
Parishad-Maoist
links case, has been
granted a temporary
bail of four days by
the Bombay High
Court, to undergo
cataract surgery and
a medical check-up at
a city-based hospital.
Babu had moved
the high court earlier
this month seeking
temporary bail on
health grounds.
The activist, in his
petition,hadsaidthat
he needed bail for
three months for cat-
aractsurgeryandget-
ting treatment for up-
per abdominal pain
and osteoarthritis at
the private Breach
Candy Hospital.
A division bench
of Justices AS
Gadkari and PD
Naik, after hearing
the arguments of
both sides, allowed
Babu to undergo
treatment at the hos-
pital in Mumbai for
four days.
The court directed
that Babu be taken
to a hospital for the
surgery and health
check-up on Decem-
ber 20 and be brought
back to the prison
on December 24, his
lawyer Yug
Chaudhry said.
First India Bureau
New Delhi: ‘Mormu-
gao’, a P15B stealth
guided missile de-
stroyer, is scheduled
to be commissioned
into the Indian Navy
in the presence of
Defence Minister Ra-
jnath Singh on Fri-
day
.
The ship would be
inducted at the Naval
Dockyard, Mumbai
on December 18.
The event marks
the ceremonial in-
duction into the
Navy of the second
of four ‘Visakhapat-
nam’ class destroy-
ers, which were de-
signed in-house by
the Indian Navy’s
Warship Design Bu-
reau and built by
Mazagon Dock Ship-
builders Limited in
Mumbai.
Named after the
historic port city of
Goa on the West
coast, Mormugao
can rightfully be re-
garded as one of the
most potent war-
ships to have been
constructed in India.
The ship is pro-
pelled by four power-
ful Gas Turbines, in
a Combined Gas and
Gas (COGAG) con-
figuration, capable
of achieving speeds
in excess of 30 knots.
The ship has en-
hanced stealth fea-
tures resulting in a
reduced Radar Cross
Section (RCS).
The HC allowed
Babu to undergo
treatment in
Mumbai for 4 days
Metro 2A and 7 to enter
last phase of safety trials
Those residing in
Borivali-Dahisar
area are likely to
use the Metro lines
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP) state
President Jayant Patil on
Friday termed the Maha Vi-
kas Aghadi (MVA) protest
march to be held in Mum-
bai on Saturday, a threat
to incumbent government.
Talking to reporters in
Sangli, Patil said, “The
governor and Bharatiya
Janata Party leaders are
commenting about great
men. Ministers of the state
are insulting the great work
done by these men. On
the other hand, there is
massive unemployment in
Maharashtra.” The Shinde
group (Balasahebanchi
Shiv Sena) and the BJP
government in the state are
working towards increas-
ing unemployment. And
the MVA grand march will
be a lesson for the govern-
ment, warned Patil. On in-
sults hurled at 17th century
warrior king Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj, Patil said,
“There is 100% agenda
behind the statements
about great men. Chhatra-
pati Shivaji Maharaj is our
identity. These remarks
are an attack on our self-
respect. Such statements
are not being made by
mistake or in ignorance but
deliberately.”
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Criticizing the
government over Ma-
harashtra losing out on
mega projects to Gujarat,
Karnataka Chief Minis-
ter Bavasaraj Bommai’s
aggressive stance on
border row and ‘insults’
to Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj, Shiv Sena leader
Sanjay Raut on Friday
said “BJP has failed
and all these things are
happening because of
it.” Speaking to reporters
in Mumbai, Raut said,
“In the last two months,
industries worth Rs4 lakh
crore have moved out of
Maharashtra and 20-25
lakh Marathi ‘brothers’
are being oppressed
in Karnataka. Bommai
(Karnataka CM) has again
claimed the villages of
Maharashtra.” After in-
sulting Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj, why did the
BJP-sponsored workers
not make a statement till
now? Did BJP condemn
its governor? asked Raut.
There is no dictatorship in the Congress party, asserts Rahul
BHARAT JODO YATRA COMPLETES 100 DAYS
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Another rea-
son why BJP came to
power is that they
spread hatred, they di-
vide the country. BJP’s
fund is clear on this.
The day Congress un-
derstands what it is,
that day Congress will
win every election. The
regional party does not
have the vision of the
country. Regional par-
ties represent caste,
class, state.
Rahul said that he
has personally benefit-
ed a lot from the visit. “I
got to learn a lot. I also
had a little distance
from the public, that
has ended. When we
walk on the streets,
there is some fatigue
and pain, we meet and
talk to millions of peo-
ple. I thought that the
distance between the
public and the leader
has to end. The aim of
the yatra was also to un-
derstand the pain
among the public. Our
yatra is another way of
doing politics. This is
Gandhiji’s way, and we
have had the best re-
sponse in Rajasthan,”
he said.
He said that people
love Congress. On the
question of face in Ra-
jasthan, Rahul said the
strength of the workers
here is unmatched. If
the lower level leaders
are used well then the
elections will be won,
he said.
Interestingly, on
question of factional-
ism in party, he said
that it is a good thing to
have discussions, but
the party should not
suffer. He said that we
do not silence anyone
by intimidation.
“There is rhetoric
and little discussion in
Congress, which is a
good thing. Not only in
Rajasthan, it is prac-
ticed in other states as
well. We think that
there should not be
much loss to party, if
there is loss then we
take action.
Rahul Gandhi with Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Mukesh Agnihotri
Pratibha Singh, Vikramaditya Singh and others walk during the
‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Dausa on Friday.
the strength of the workers here is
unmatched. If the lower level leaders are
used well then the elections will be won,
the cong leader says about face in RAJ
P15B stealth guided missile
destroyer measures 163m in
length and 17m in breadth
with a displacement of 7,400
tonnes. —PHOTO BY ANI
Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray (centre) flanked by party leader
Sanjay Raut, Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan and Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar and
others at a press meet in Mumbai on Thursday. —PHOTO BY ANI
MUMBAI TO WAKE UP TO MVA’S ‘HALLA BOL’!
Oppn parties to
hit the streets in
protest over border
row, insults to
Maha icons and
mega projects
Chief
Minister
Eknath
Shinde had said
on Thursday that
everyone has the
right to hold a
march in a democ-
racy. He had giv-
en a clear indica-
tion about the per-
mission (to MVA).
There is anger
among people re-
garding offensive
statements made
about Chhatrapa-
ti Shivaji Ma-
haraj, Mahatma
Phule, and Dr Ba-
basaheb Ambed-
kar. These state-
ments made by re-
sponsible leaders
are disturbing to
the common peo-
ple. I believe their
reaction will be
seen in the march.
—Sharad Pawar,
NCP chief
There is no reason for the police to
have any problem in allowing the
Maha Vikas Aghadi to hold a march.
They should do it in accordance with the decid-
ed route and follow law and order.
—Devendra Fadnavis, Maha Deputy CM
MVA’s march threat to Shinde
faction-BJP govt: Jayant Patil
Shinde-led state govt has failed to
defend Maharashtra: Sanjay Raut
This generation has the most amazing
power to learn from and befriend the best
and wisest, who have ever walked the
earth-History is ours’ at a click!
—Dr Jagdeesh Chandra,
CEO Editor-in-Chief, First India

MUMBAI, SATURDAY,
DECEMBER 17, 2022
www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/
thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09
he bow is a
shape that
h o l d s
reams of
s i g n i f i -
cance and
consistent-
ly elicits a strong
response. Some
bows convey sweet
girlishness, while
others reflect prim
prep style.
A variety of de-
signers, including
Giambattista Valli,
M o s c h i n o ,
Rochas, Bat-
sheva, Comme
des Garçons,
R i c h a r d
Quinn, and
many more, de-
buted the bow
for the forth-
coming season.
Additionally,
rising compa-
nies have
embraced
the bow
with open
arms.
The novels
and movies
we have always
liked as a child
comes to our mind
when we see rib-
bons and bows.
Earlier also, a
hair ribbon
was al-
ways a
v e r y
unique and expen-
sive item, frequent-
ly made of the fin-
est silk and in the
most exquisite
hues, in tales like
Anne of Green Ga-
bles or Little House
on the Prairie. We
always adore the
way a bow can com-
plete an ensemble.
It seems to sense
that designers are
drawing influence
from the Marie An-
toinette style given
that the cottage
come subculture
took over TikTok
last year and that
royal care and love
core aesthetics are
currently popular.
Consider Instagram
star Selkie, who just
debuted her Petit
Trianon collection,
which features bows
all throughout, in-
cluding on the
sleeves of the cloth-
ing and in the mid-
dle of low-plunging
necklines that were
modelled after Ma-
rie Antoinette’s bil-
lowing dresses.
The bow as we
know it now gained
popularity in the
16th and 17th centu-
ries as a hair orna-
ment used by both
sexes. Wearing a
bow attached to a
long strand of hair
was termed a “love
lock”; the lock of
hair was often
grown out longer
than the rest of the
hair, then braided
and lay upon the
chest, and fastened
with a bow. Due to
its near proximity
to the heart, the bow
also stood for pas-
sion.
MRIDULA SHARMA
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
T
PERHAPS NO OTHER FASHION
ELEMENT IS AS CONTENTIOUS AS
THE BOW. THE BOW ITSELF IS A
RELIC FROM THE DISTANT PAST.
LET’S EXPLORE THE WORLD OF
BOW FASHION WITH CITY FIRST!
BOWS,
BLINGSPARKY
THINGS

17122022_First India_Mumbai.pdf

17122022_First India_Mumbai.pdf

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