18032022 first india ahmedabad (1)

CRUCIAL READ
HOLI CELEBRATIONS BEGIN ON DALAL
STREET AS MARKET GAINS 2%
New Delhi: Indian indices rallied on Thursday
for the second consecutive day as Sensex added
over 1047 points to close at 57,863.93, while
Nifty ended at 17,287.05, up 311 points. The
indices surged despite the hike in interest rate
announced by the US Federal Reserve.
SOME SURVIVORS EMERGE FROM
UKRAINE THEATER HIT BY STRIKE
Kyiv (Agencies): Sur-
vivors began to emerge
on Thursday as authori-
ties worked to rescue
hundreds of civilians
trapped in the basement
of a theater blasted by
Russian airstrikes in
the besieged city of
Mariupol, while fero-
cious Russian bombard-
ment killed dozens in a
northern city over the
past day
, the local gover-
nor said.
The strikes the previ-
ous evening had left a
large section of the
grand, 3-three story
theater building in the
center of Mariupol col-
lapsed in a smoking
ruin, according to pho-
tos released by the city
council. Inside, hun-
dreds of men, women
and children — up to
1,000 according to some
officials — had taken
shelter in the basement,
seeking safety amid
Russia’s strangulating
3-week siege of the stra-
tegic southern port city
.
Rescuers worked to
clearing rubble that
had blocked the en-
trance to the basement,
despite new strikes re-
ported elsewhere in the
city Thursday. Miracu-
lously, the shelter stood
firm, officials said.
“The building with-
stood the impact of a
high-powered air bomb
and protected the lives
of people hiding in the
bomb shelter,”
Ukraine’s ombuds-
woman Ludmyla Den-
isova said on the Tele-
gram messaging app
Thursday.
‘Reform, perform,
transform’, says
PM to IAS trainees
New Delhi (ANI): Bu-
reaucrats need to learn
everything about data
governance and artifi-
cial intelligence, Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi said on Thursday
at the valedictory func-
tion of the common
foundation course of
the LBSNAA in Mus-
soorie, Uttarakhand,
which he addressed
through a video link
from New Delhi.
“I request the direc-
tor of the academy: let
there be a lab on artifi-
cial intelligence where
civil servants can
learn. Also, data is go-
ing to be a big power in
the future. It already is.
We need to learn and
understand everything
about data governance
and also implement
them wherever we go,”
he said.
Modi said the cur-
rent batch was special
because it was getting
inducted during Azadi
ka Amrit Mahotsav in
the 75th year of Inde-
pendence.
Modi asked the new
crop of civil servants,
about to be posted
across India’s various
districts in their first
assignments, to write a
long essay on why they
joined the civil service
and what they hoped to
achieve.
New Delhi: Just days
after senior Congress
leader Kapil Sibal
called for ‘Sabki Con-
gress’, his colleague
Manish Tewari, once
a powerful figure in
Congress, has claimed
that the party may be
looking down the bar-
rel. While speaking to
media, Tewari
stressed that ‘Con-
gress-mukt Bharat’, a
call given by PM Nar-
endra Modi, may just
become a reality.
“It cannot be over-
emphasised that the
Congress faces an exis-
tential crisis. It per-
haps could be looking
at the spectre of a Con-
gress-mukt Bharat. We
lost in 2014 and 2019…
Since 2014, out of 49
Assembly elections, we
have lost 39 polls. We
have only won four
elections…So, there-
fore we are really look-
ing at an extremely
grim situation. And
under those circum-
stances, the situation
does not call for intro-
spection alone. It calls
for a very deep and im-
mediate surgery to ar-
rest this portentous
drift into oblivion,”
Tewari told media.
Congress-mukt
Bharat may be
a possibility:
Manish Tewari
New anti-Mafia era:
Sidhu praises Mann
New Delhi (PTI): A day
after resigning as Pun-
jab Congress Chief, Nav-
jot Singh Sidhu hailed
Punjab’snewChief Min-
ister Bhagwant Mann,
stating that he would
unfurl“anewanti-Mafia
era” in the state.
Mann took oath as the
18th CM of Punjab on
Wednesday at the native
village of freedom fight-
er Bhagat Singh.
“The happiest man is
the one from whom no
one expects…Bhagwant
Mann unfurls a new
anti–Mafia era in Pun-
jab with a mountain of
expectations,” Sidhu
tweeted on Thursday
.
RAHUL TALKS TO
HOODA AFTER
G-23 MEETING
New Delhi: A day after
the crucial meeting of
G-23 leaders, former
Congress president Ra-
hul Gandhi on Thursday
met Bhupinder Singh
Hooda and is learnt to
have discussed revamp-
ing the party and the
way forward following
its loss in five Assembly
elections.
Cyclone Asani, first of 2022,
set to brew in Bay of Bengal
Pune (PTI): This
year’s first cyclone is
set to develop in the
Bay of Bengal around
March 21, said the
IMD on Thursday.
Once it intensifies
into a storm, the cy-
clone will be called
Asani, a name given
by Sri Lanka.
Over the North In-
dian Ocean region,
covering the Bay of
Bengal and the Arabi-
an Sea, the pre-mon-
soon months of March
to May remain an ac-
tive cyclone season.
The department has
said the cyclone will
not affect mainland In-
dia as the likely cy-
clone track is headed
towards Bangladesh
and north Myanmar.
The cyclone will move
past the Andaman and
NicobarIslands,bring-
ing heavy rainfall on
March 20 and 21.
PM Narendra Modi addresses
the valedictory function of
the 96th Common Foundation
Course at Lal Bahadur
Shastri National Academy
of Administration (LBSNAA),
through video conferencing, in
New Delhi on Thursday.
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows burning buildings in a residential area in
northeast Chernihiv, Ukraine on Wednesday.
When you go in the field you should
not hesitate in taking a decision
that you think might make a
difference in the life of the man on the
lowermost rung of the social ladder.
—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
AHMEDABAD l FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2022 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/79050 l Vol 3 l Issue No. 112
OUR EDITIONS:
JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD,
LUCKNOW & NEW DELHI
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HOLIDAY NOTICE
The press and offices of First
India will remain closed on
March 18, 2022, on account of
Holi. Therefore, there will be no
edition of the paper on March 19,
2022. Wishing all our readers a
very happy & safe Holi. —Editor
HOLI HAI...!!!
Devotees take part in devout celebrations on the eve of Holi at
Govind Dev Ji Temple in Jaipur, as they immerse themselves in the
spiritual bliss of love for Lord Krishna. —PHOTOS BY SUNIL SHARMA
The theater was
targeted on
Wednesday by
Russian airstrike;
Moscow denied
responsibility
COAL SCAM CASE: ED NOTICE TO
TMC’S ABHISHEK BANERJEE, WIFE
Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has is-
sued fresh summons to TMC MP Abhishek Baner-
jee and his wife for question-
ing in a money laundering case
linked to an alleged coal scam
in West Bengal, officials said
on Thursday. Banerjee, nephew
of West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee have been
asked to depose before the investigation officer.
GUJ OWED `7K CR FOR NARMADA PROJECT
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: Partici-
pating states of the
Sardar Sarovar Narma-
da project owe Gujarat
more than Rs7,000
crore, the state govern-
ment informed the leg-
islative Assembly on
Thursday
.
The three participat-
ing states apart from
Gujarat--where the dam
is located--are Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra
and Rajasthan.
Responding to a que-
ry by senior Congress
MLA Niranjan Patel
during Question Hour,
Chief Minister Bhupen-
dra Patel told the House
that the state is yet to
recover Rs7,225.10 crore
from the three other
participating states to-
wards capital share
cost, operations and
maintenance cost.
Madhya Pradesh’s
dues stand at Rs4,953.42
crore, followed by Ma-
harashtra’satRs1,715.67
crore and Rs556.01 crore
of Rajasthan, the chief
minister, who handles
the Narmada portfolio,
said in a written reply
.
In the last two years,
MaharashtrapaidRs38.16
crore, while Rs12.41 crore
were given by Rajasthan,
Patelsaid,addingthatthe
Madhya Pradesh govern-
ment had not paid any-
thing during that period.
To recover the dues
fromthethreestates,the
state government had
maderepresentationsin
the meetings of the Nar-
mada Control Authority
in October 2021 and Jan-
uary 2022, Patel said.
Turn to P2
Narmada damn. —FILE PHOTO
`4.953K crore pending from MP, `1.7K cr from Maharashtra, and `556 crore from Rajasthan
BHAGAVAD GITA TO BE PART OF SCHOOL

NEWS
AHMEDABAD | FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2022
02
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First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: Com-
ing down heavily on
auto major Tata Motor
Corp., the Congress on
Thursday accused the
company of violating
its agreement with the
Gujarat government
and breaking the trust
of people in the state.
The opposition party
also called out the gov-
ernment for continu-
ing to support the
company instead of
taking action against
it, even though it
failed to manufacture
the number of Nano
cars it was supposed
to, according to the
firm’s agreement with
the state, for its plant
in Sanand.
Replying to a ques-
tion from the Congress
legislator from Anand,
Kanti Sodha Parmar,
Chief Minister Bhu-
pendra Patel, who also
holds the industries
portfolio, said that Tata
had been granted a
loan of Rs587.08 crore
for 20 years at an inter-
est rate of 0.1 % of its
VAT and CGST.
The company was
provided with a Stand-
ard Operating Proce-
dure (SOP) and the Gu-
jarat government had
carried out a State Sup-
port Agreement on Oc-
tober 7th 2008 and a
Loan Agreement on
March 3rd 2013.
Taking the issue fur-
ther, Una MLA Punja
Vansh said, “The gov-
ernment had specified
that Tata would set up
a plant with a capacity
to manufacture ap-
proximately 2.5 lakh
Nano cars per annum,
expandable to 3.5 lakh
to 5 lakh Nano cars per
annum. How many
Nano cars were made
at the Sanand plant?
And what would the
government do if the
company failed to
manufacture the stipu-
lated number of cars?”
Patel replied, “To
date, the company has
manufactured a total of
2.60 lakh Nano cars.”
To this, the Congress
whip and legislator
from Gandhinagar, CJ
Chavda, said: “Tata has
violated the agreement
with the government.
This means that they
have breached the trust
of the people of Gujarat.
If the company has vio-
lated the conditions of
the agreement it should
be punished and loans
should be recovered.”
Tata Motors had ini-
tially launched the
plant in question in
Chharodi village of
Sanand taluka in
Ahmedabad district, to
manufacture the Tata
Nano. However, with
the automaker com-
pletely halting produc-
tion of the compact Tata
Nano in 2018, the plant
is now used to manufac-
ture popular hatch-
backs like the Tata Tia-
go and Tata Tigor.
TATA MOTORS VIOLATED AGREEMENT WITH
GOVT AND BROKE PEOPLE’S TRUST: CONGRESS
SANAND
PLANT WAS
SUPPOSED
TO MAKE 2.5
LAKH TATA
NANO CARS
PER YEAR
Tata made a total of 2.6 lakh Nano cars before stopping production in 2018. —FILE PHOTO
YOUTH CONG PROTESTS ALLEGED SBI RECRUITMENT SCAM
The city Youth Congress has alleged that the State Bank of India’s recruitment process of clerical cadre had irregularities. They said that candidates
recruited are not proficient in the local language—a mandatory selection criterion. The Youth Congress has also submitted a memorandum to the
collector on Thursday demanding an investigation into the matter. "The recruitment was not based on the clause mentioned in the application form, and
we feel there are massive irregularities in the language test. We demand an investigation in the whole process and want authorities to take appropriate
action against those responsible," said President Vadodara City Youth Congress Kuldipsinh Vaghela.
Will Naresh Patel really
listen to the community?
First India Bureau
Rajkot: Patidar leader
Naresh Patel has osten-
sibly left the question
of whether he will join
politics to the commu-
nity. However, he has
also displayed an inter-
est in taking up a politi-
cal mantle in recent
times. Now, with senior
community leaders ex-
pressing their dissent,
it will be interesting to
see if Patel actually
heeds their voices, or if
he will jump into poli-
tics anyway
.
Patel’s colleagues on
the Shri Khodaldham
Trust have already the
local media that the he
should not join politics
sincethe“Trustismuch
biggerthananypolitical
party”. Now, on Thurs-
day, BJP Leuva Patel
leader Dilip Sanghani
sparked a new debate
when he stated, “Com-
munity groups just an
excuse so that one can
fulfil one’s dream.”
“Naresh Patel said he
will take the sense of
the community before
making a decision. Will
he pay heed to my opin-
ion?” Sanghani asked,
addingthatPatel“needs
to define what the com-
munity means to him”.
He further added:
“BJP (Bharatiya Janata
Party) leaders who want
him to join politics in
the name of community
should not forget the ex-
ample of Hardik Patel.
He too had joined the
politics in the name of
community, and now
look where he stands.”
Sanghani’s outburst is
interesting as Naresh
Patel seems to have al-
ready polarized political
parties even before pick-
ing a side. The BJP is
trying to underplay him
and his decision of join-
ing politics, while the
Congress and Aam Aad-
mi Party have been ac-
tively wooing him.
Criticising Sangha-
ni’s statement, Patidar
leader and Congress
MLA Lalit Vasoya said,
“Sanghani fears that
his political career will
end if Naresh Patel-
-who is from the same
Leuva Patel subcaste-
-will join politics, be-
cause leaders like Sang-
hani have never served
society or done any-
thing to uplift it.”
AAP’s Gujarat presi-
dent Gopal Italia had a
similar response.
“I believe society and
politicsneedgoodpeople
like Naresh Patel. When
such people want to join
active politics, leaders
like Sanghani try to cre-
ate obstacles, because
they don't want clean
politics, as they love
dirty politics,” he said.
Other Patidar
leaders do not
seem keen on the
Khodaldham
trustee’s entry
into politics
Naresh Patel. —FILE PHOTO
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: Veteran
political leader Shan-
kersinh Vaghela has
claimed that the Con-
gress party is facing a
leadership crisis as it
has struggled to find a
replacement for senior
leader and strategist
late Ahmed Patel. Ac-
cording to him, dissatis-
fied leaders have creat-
ed the ‘G-23’ group, who
have high hopes from
the party leadership.
Speaking to First
India, Vaghela
praised Congress
national leader
Rahul Gandhi
but also ques-
tioned his
prepar-
e d -
ness for politics. “Ra-
hul and Priyanka are
not politically
groomed, and launch-
ing her in Uttar
Pradesh has backfired.
It was the wrong deci-
sion,” he said. Vaghela,
who quit the Congress
party, tried his best to
ensure Ahmed Patel’s
defeat in the Rajya Sab-
ha elections but
praised his skills and
role of advisor.
He added, “In the
fight against commu-
nal forces, a strong
Congress party with
dynamic leadership is
the need of the hour.
Unfortunately, the par-
ty lacks it. Had it not
changed the leader-
ship in Punjab in the
final overs of the
match it may not have
faced the worst defeat.
If the party had lis-
tened to old guards
and/or senior leaders,
this situation would
have not arisen.”
Political experts
feel that by expressing
concern for the G-23
members, Vaghela is
trying to make a come-
back into Congress.
Over the past five
years, the senior lead-
er has tried to make
‘ghar wapsi’ in both
the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) and Con-
gress. However, he has
not been successful
which is why he is try-
ing to influence the
Gandhi family by lob-
bying G-23 members.
Leadership crisis in Cong; RaGa, Priyanka not groomed’
STRONG OPINION
First India Bureau
Surat: As a reply to an
RTI (right to informa-
tion) filed by farmer
leader Darshan Naik,
the state employment
exchange denied having
any information about
the local people em-
ployed in industries of
Hazira. He wanted in-
formation on the num-
ber of locals employed
in private and public
sector industries from
SuratandHazirainHaz-
ira. As per the govern-
ment resolution, at least
60% of the posts should
be filled by residents.
Naik said, “It is a pity
on the part of the em-
ployment office of the
State Government for
not having this informa-
tion. The information
was sought to under-
stand the implementa-
tion of Gujarat govern-
ment's resolution of
1995 for recruiting resi-
dents in the industries.”
“It seems there is no
control of the govern-
mentofficersonthemul-
ti-national companies
operating from Hazira.
The educated youth in
Hazira are failing to se-
cure jobs in these indus-
tries.Theyenduptaking
pettyjobsinprivatecom-
panies. My humble re-
quest to the State Gov-
ernment, to strictly im-
plement its resolution
passedin1995,”headded.
No data on Hazira employees: Employment ex
Farmer leader Darshan Naik had filed
an RTI to know the number of locals
employed in public and private
industries in Hazira
Senior leader
Shankersinh Vaghela
claims the party
needs its old guards;
experts
feel he is trying
to re-enter
politics
Guj owed `7K...
For speedy resolution
of the issue, a commit-
tee and a sub-group
committee, compris-
ing representatives of
all the four participat-
ing states, have been
formed after a repre-
sentation was made by
Gujarat in this regard,
the chief minister
said.
The Sardar Sarovar
NarmadaNigamLtdhas
been writing to different
concerned authorities
of the three other states
every month, asking
them to clear the dues,
he added.
FROM PG 1

GUJARAT
03
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: Guja-
rat on Thursday add-
ed two dozen fresh
COVID-19 cases in
the 24-hour period
ended 5 pm, taking
the total tally to
12,23,710, the state
health department
said in a release.
The COVID-19 death
toll in the state re-
mained unchanged at
10,939 as no fresh fatal-
ity was reported, it
said. With 53 people
discharged after COV-
ID-19 treatment during
the day, the number of
recoveries in Gujarat
rose to 12,12,358, leav-
ing the state with 414
active cases, including
six patients on ventila-
tor support, the de-
partment said.
On the second day of
the vaccination drive
for kids in the age
group of 12-14 years,
the state inoculated 1
11,205 beneficiaries in
this group, taking
their total number to
3,26,413 since Wednes-
day, the health depart-
ment said in its daily
bulletin.
A total of 1,59,743
beneficiaries were in-
oculated during the
day, taking the total
number of vaccine dos-
es administered to 10.45
crore so far.
Ahmedabad district
accounted for more
than half the total cases
in the state, with 14 ad-
ditions on Thursday.
This was the highest in
the district-wise list.
Meanwhile, Vadodara
witnessed five new cas-
es, Gandhinagar and
Surat each had two new
casee, and Patan had
one new case, bringing
the total up to 24 in as
many hours.
The state’s recovery
rate is now 99.07%.
12,12,358
TOTAL RECOVERED
53
RECOVERED
IN A DAY
12,23,710
TOTAL CASES
24 CASES
IN A DAY
10,939
TOTAL DEATHS
00 DEATHS
IN A DAY
414
14 MAX
CASES IN
A’BAD
ACTIVE CASES
COVID-19
UPDATE
12,12,358
A’bad accounts for 14 cases as state logs 24
6 BOOKED FOR ABETTING
SUICIDE OF 18-YEAR-OLD
First India Bureau
Ahmedabad: Nikol
police have booked
six women for abet-
ment to suicide and
criminal intimida-
tion of 18-year-old
Dharti Jesar.
Dharti’s mother Dim-
ple Jesar told the police
that her daughter Dhar-
ti committed suicide af-
ter getting harassed by
Priyanka Sheladiya,
Zarna, Puja and Neeta
and two other unidenti-
fied women over miss-
ing gold ornaments
from the salon at which
she worked alongside
Dharmishtha, Puja and
Purvisha.
A month and a half
ago, Zarna’s gold neck-
lace went missing from
the parlour. When she
told Sheladiya, who
ownsthesalonaboutthe
loss, the two suspected
that Dharmistha had
stolen it. After Dharm-
ishta resigned, Priyan-
ka and the others then
began taunting Dharti.
They said Dharmish-
tha left because she
(Dharti) spread the ru-
mour about their sus-
picions. The victim
could not bear the har-
assment and on March
10, she left work and
never came home. Her
body was found the
next day from the Nar-
mada canal.
The case is being in-
vestigated by Police In-
spector SR Muchala.
They’d been
harassing
her over a
customer’s
stolen gold
necklace
DOCTOR ENDS HER OWN LIFE IN RAJKOT
36% imported
exotic species
died at Kevadia
Trans powerlifter
from Surat eyes
spot in nat’l event
Gargi Raval Patel
Gandhinagar: The
state government on
Thursday admitted
that a total of 49 ex-
otic animals and
birds have died at
Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi’s ambi-
tious Jungle Safari
Project near the Stat-
ue of Unity at Keva-
dia. The information
was revealed in the
ongoing budget ses-
sion of the state legis-
lative assembly in re-
sponse to a question
asked by Congress
MLA Shailesh Par-
mar of Danilimda
constituency
. Moreo-
ver, around 24% of
the exotic animals
from other Indian
zoos also failed to sur-
vive, while a whop-
ping 36% of animals
brought in from over-
seas have died.
Officially
, the gov-
ernment admitted
that eight of the 22 ex-
otic animals brought
from overseas have
lost their lives. Of the
five alpacas, four lla-
mas, five wallabies,
giraffes, three zebras,
three wildebeest and
twooryxesbroughtin,
only thee alpacas, two
llamas, two wallabies,
a lone giraffe, a lone
zebra, all three wilde-
beest and both oryxes
have survived, offi-
cials said.
However, Ram Ra-
tan Nala, director of
theJungleSafari,had
confirmed the loss of
a giraffe due to dia-
phragmatic hernia in
March 2020. Prior six
months to that, the
Safari had lost one
Giraffe a few days af-
ter the first died upon
landing at an airport.
In all, according to
the available infor-
mation, four giraffes
have been brought
in, out of that three
had died but the gov-
ernment’s reply on
Thursday in the state
assembly only men-
tions a single giraffe
as having survived.
Most of the exotic
animals and birds
brought in from over-
seas and other states
have suffered from
respiratoryandcircu-
latory failures. Other
reasons for their
deaths included hypo-
volemic shock, as-
phyxia, multi-organ
failure,severeabdom-
inalcolic,pneumonia,
and cardiac failure.
First India Bureau
Surat: With the na-
tional powerlift-
ing competition
creating history
by adding a
transgender cater-
gory in the event
slated to be held
March 17-19 here
in Surat, the city’s
eyes will be on
35-year-old Anchal
Jariwala.
Anchal, a trans
woman, has been
practisinghardtorep-
resent the city in the
55kgdeadliftcategory
.
The deadlift is a
weight training exer-
cise in which a loaded
barbell or bar is lifted
off the ground to the
level of the hips, tor-
so perpendicular to
the floor, before being
placed back on the
ground. It is one of
thethreepowerlifting
exercises, along with
the squat and bench
press.
“I want to show
that even though my
community faces ma-
jor challenges, in-
cluding getting hous-
es on rent, we have a
lot to offer,” Anchal
said, adding that she
hopes she will set an
example for others in
the transgender com-
munity to take up
sports.
A resident of Var-
iyavi Bazar, Anchal
is also interested in
dancing, creating
videos and acting.
Of the four llamas brought in, only two have survived, the
government said. —FILE PHOTO
Anchal Jariwala. —FILE PHOTO
First India Bureau
Ahmedabad: Thurs-
day brought scorching
heat, with the heat-
wave continuing to en-
compass several parts
of Gujarat.
The Ahmedabad Cen-
tre of the India Meteoro-
logical Department on
Wednesday had predict-
ed that the Saurashtra
andKutchregionswould
experience a heatwave
for the next 24 hours and
Nothern state for 48
hours. However, even
partsof thestatenotcov-
ered in the bulletin saw
high temperatures.
For instance,
Ahmedabad had a maxi-
mum of 41.5 °C, a mas-
sive six degrees above
normal for this time of
year. The nighttime tem-
perature fell to a mini-
mum of 23 °C, but even
this was three degrees
above normal. Coastal
centres were slightly
better off. Surat saw a
maximum temperature
of 39 °C on Thursday,
four degrees above nor-
mal, and a minimum of
22.4 °C, a degree above
normal.Bharuch,which
saw a maximum of 40
°C, is likely to experi-
enceequallyhotdaysfor
the rest of the week.
Earlier on Monday,
theIndiaMeteorological
Department (IMD) is-
sued a “yellow”' alert to
Gujarat for the next two
days as the heatwave in-
tensifies in the country
.
Heatwave is consid-
ered if the maximum
temperature of a sta-
tion reaches at least 40
°C in the plains, 37 °C or
more for coastal sta-
tions and at least 30 °C
for hilly regions.
HEATWAVE CONTINUES
IN PARTS OF GUJARAT
People drink water from a free water station in Ahmedabad's
Vasna area. —FILE PHOTO
LET’S PLAY HOLI!
To mark Holi on Thursday,
people participated in
celebrations across
the state. Students
and teachers of Prince
Ashokraje Gaekwad
School and Devyani
Raje Gaekwad School
in Vadodara dressed
in traditional attire
conducted Holika Dahan
at the Jagannath and
Gangeshwar Mahadev
Temple. In Dakor, devotees
visited the Ranchhodji
Temple to seek Lord
Krishna’s blessings.
Students played Holi
with colours at Kum Kum
School in Maninagar area
of Ahmedabad city.Also, a
group of women marked
the festival by playing Holi
with flowers in Bopal area.
—PHOTOS BY
HANIF SINDHI

Vol 3 Issue No. 112
RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/79050.
Printed and published by
Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf
of First Express Publishers.
Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet
Survey No.148P, Changodar-
Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist.
Ahmedabad. Published at D/302
3rd Floor Plot No. 35 Titanium
Square, Scheme No. 2, Thaltej
Taluka, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad.
Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra.
Editor: Haresh Jhala
responsible for selection of news
under the PRB Act
SPIRITUAL SPEAK
All conditioned things are
impermanent—when one
sees this with wisdom, one
turns away from suffering.
—Buddha
IN-DEPTH
Narendra Modi
@narendramodi
It was a pleasure to speak with
President-elect @sukyeol__yoon.
Conveyed my congratulations on
his recent victory in the Presidential
elections in Republic of Korea. We
discussed the potential of further
deepening the India-Korea Special
Strategic Partnership in many areas.
Kiren Rijiju
@KirenRijiju
Fondly remembering Shri Manohar
Parrikar Ji, one of the finest leader
who was sincere, simple and able who
served the nation selflessly till his last
day in this world. He left us on this day
of 17th March 2019.
TOP TWEETS
LAW CAN’T PREVENT
BEGGARY BUT A
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
STANCE MAY HELP
egging on roads is
both a social and eco-
nomic problem. Re-
movingbeggarsfrom
roads, or “making
them invisible” at the time of
VVIP visits is no solution. Cor-
rective measures to rehabilitate
beggars by involving them in
constructive work have failed in
the past. So have laws prohibit-
ing beggary. At times beggars
are a nuisance but society has
learnt to live with them. The Su-
preme Court and the Delhi High
Court have struck down laws
banning begging on humanitar-
ian grounds taking a holistic
view of beggars’ rights and
their socio-economic problems.
A public interest petition has
beenfiledintheMadhyaPradesh
High Court challenging the con-
stitutional validity of the state’s
anti-beggary Act, the MP Bhik-
sha Vritti Nivaran Adhiniyam.
The petition argues that the pro-
visions of the Act violate the
right to equality and the right to
live with dignity. At the core of
the problem is extreme poverty
and unemployment and there’s
a need to focus on that. Anti-beg-
gary laws won’t help.
B
ongressdissenters
led by Kapil Sibal
have baulked at
the idea of split-
ting the grand old
party
. At the end of a long
meeting called by Sibal at
Ghulam Nabi Azad’s resi-
dence the dissenters, includ-
ing Shashi Tharoor and Mani
Shankar Aiyar, climbed down
a few notches from their ear-
lierdemandfortheGandhisto
relinquishleadership.Instead
of directly targeting Sonia
Gandhi,hersonRahulGandhi
and daughter Priyanka Gan-
dhi Vadra, the leaders de-
manded that the party should
get rid of Gandhi family loyal-
ists who were misguiding the
leadership. But they also
warned of “drastic next steps
and no one wants that” if the
party leadership fails to meet
the demand. In other words,
the dissenters want to weaken
the leadership by seeking the
removal of loyalists.
Butwhoamongthedissent-
ers has the leadership quali-
ties to guide the party for bet-
terelectoralresults.Isanyone
from among Sibal, Azad,
Manish Tiwari, Prithviraj
Chavan, Anand Sharma and
Shankar Sinh Vaghela has
the requisite leadership qual-
ity to hold together a national
party? Will any of them be
willing to accept Sachin Pilot
as leader? The warning
sounded by the dissenting
group seems like a threat to
split the party
. That move will
be helpful only if they can
mobilise majority support in
the party for their action
plan. State-wise, too, the dis-
senters will have the task of
revitalising the Congress to
prove that the Gandhis and
their loyalists lacked the com-
petence. That may not be easy
.
It will be in the interest of
both the sides to thrash out
their differences.
CONGRESS FACTIONS
MUST SINK DIFFERENCES
Congress dissenters led by Kapil Sibal have baulked at
the idea of splitting the grand old party. At the end of
a long meeting called by Sibal at Ghulam Nabi Azad’s
residence the dissenters, including Shashi Tharoor and
Mani Shankar Aiyar, climbed down a few notches from
their earlier demand for the Gandhis to relinquish leadership
C
PERSPECTIVE
04
artin Luther King Jr. had a
dream. Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
, invok-
ingKinginhisvirtualaddress
toCongressonMarch16,2022,
said he has a need. “We need
you right now,” Zelenskyy
told U.S. lawmakers.
Since November 2021, the
U.S. has provided three ship-
ments of military aid to
Ukraine,sendingweaponsand
equipmentfromitsownstocks
held at bases throughout Eu-
rope. The U.S. has provided
everything from rifles and
bodyarmortoStingermissiles
capable of shooting down heli-
copters or fighter jets, as well
asJavelins,anti-armorweapon
systems used to destroy tanks.
Once the U.S. approves a re-
quest for military aid, how do
the weapons get from the U.S.
storagesitesinEuropeintothe
hands of Ukrainian soldiers?
What steps are involved in the
logistics of moving US$350
million worth of weapons and
equipment from Europe into
an active combat zone?
SUPPLY CHAINS
As a logistics scholar who
also served in the Iraq War, I
see parallels between civilian
and military supply chains.
To help understand how mili-
tary goods, or materiel, as it
is known, move from storage
to soldiers, consider a generic
e-commercesupplychainlike
that of Amazon or Walmart.
First,asuppliersellsandde-
liversrawmaterialstoamanu-
facturer. The transportation
segment of that transaction is
known as the “first mile.”
Next, a manufacturer
transforms the raw materials
into finished goods. These
goods are then sold at whole-
sale to retail customers like
Amazon or Walmart and
then transported to an e-com-
merce distribution center
over a segment referred to as
the “middle mile.”
THE FIRST MILE
Materiel that Ukraine needs
isstoredatU.S.basesthrough-
out Europe. Once the weap-
ons and equipment are pulled
from these U.S. stocks, they’ll
be transported by air, truck
or rail across the “first mile.”
The length of the first mile in
this case could be up to 600 or
700 miles to a location or loca-
tions in a NATO territory
bordering western or south-
western Ukraine, including
Poland, Slovakia, Hungary
and Romania.
The movements along the
first mile within NATO terri-
tory will need to be concealed
to maximize security and pre-
vent Russia from predicting
thedestinationof themateriel.
In military jargon, the first
destination is known as a
“staging area.” To maintain
security of the materiel, the
staging area will likely be an
armory or ordnance depot
located on a NATO base be-
fore transporting it into
Ukraine. An important stra-
tegic decision for U.S., NATO
and Ukrainian leaders plan-
ning the mission is whether
to use a single staging area or
multiple staging areas.
THE MIDDLE MILE
Once the staging area deci-
sion is made, plans are devel-
oped to coordinate the trans-
fer of materiel to Ukraine’s
military. At that point,
Ukraine will be responsible
for transporting the materiel
from the NATO country
along the middle mile to the
next set of staging areas
within Ukraine. The impor-
tance of operational security
grows drastically in this seg-
ment, and complicates trans-
portation.
NATO’s refusal to estab-
lish a no-fly zone allows Rus-
sia to maintain air superior-
ity over Ukraine. This pre-
vents Ukraine from trans-
porting the supplies by air
and as a result, Ukrainians
are forced to use vehicle con-
voys to travel from the west-
ern border to the next loca-
tion in the supply chain. Rus-
sian air superiority also pre-
vents deploying one large
convoy to transport military
resupply because Russian at-
tack helicopters or fighter
jets could easily destroy such
a large target.
THE FINAL MILE
The final staging areas are
likely within major cities.
Once a convoy reaches these
ultimate staging areas, the
shipments will be broken
down from their bulk packag-
ing into smaller quantities
for further distribution to
soldiers fighting on the front
lines.
This “final mile” in a com-
bat zone is more precarious
because there are active Rus-
sian aerial and ground at-
tacks. As a result, the logis-
tics units traveling the final
mile also need protection,
including small arms, as well
as anti-tank weapons.
SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION
HOW WEAPONS GET TO UKRAINE
AND WHAT’S NEEDED TO PROTECT
VULNERABLE SUPPLY CHAINS
M
VINCENT E CASTILLO
The writer is assistant Professor
of Logistics, The Ohio State University
Ultimately, while the
materiel supply chain
required to fulfill the Biden
administration’s agreement
to support Ukraine with
military aid has some
conceptual similarities to
that of an e-commerce supply
chain in the US, the stakes in
Ukraine are obviously much
higher. A missed delivery in
this case doesn’t just mean a
dissatisfied customer. It
means that over time, a
sovereign nation may not be
able to defend itself against
an invading force
The Ukrainians are
fighting a war against
a larger invading force,
and military aid is needed
as soon as possible. What
differentiates the
military supply chain
from commercial supply
chains is the need for
speedy delivery while also
maximizing security

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Lucknow (Agencies):
Many factors like wom-
en, caste combination,
education qualification,
age and performance of
the MLAs will be taken
into consideration be-
fore the formation of
the Yogi government 2.0
in Uttar Pradesh (UP),
said sources on Thurs-
day. Several rounds of
meetings have taken
place within the Bhar-
tiya Janata Party (BJP)
after poll results on
March 10.
“Many new leaders
who joined the BJP
within months before
the election have also
come out victorious and
they are likely to be in-
ducted into the govern-
ment. However, what is
come out from the exer-
cise that has been car-
ried out so far is that
without a doubt the
caste combination of a
particular region and
the representation of
the elected MLA from
that area will be taken
into consideration
while announcing cabi-
net,” the sources said.
According to sources,
there was open public
displeasure against sev-
eral ministers and
MLAs of the last term
largely owing to the fact
that theseleaders would
hardly go and meet peo-
ple in the constituency.
“Like Bihar, this time in
Uttar Pradesh women
voters who stood up in
huge numbers to vote
for the party were in-
strumental to BJP win-
ning a majority in the
state. It is also given to
understand that the
women representation
in the Yogi Cabinet will
be a substantial one and
quite a few women
MLAs would be induct-
ed,” sources added.
In the next couple of
days, the BJP will also
be finalizing the candi-
dates for MLC elections
on 36 seats. A few min-
isters, who have also
been MLCs before, are
likely to get repeated.
Chief Minister Yogi
Adityanath has made at
least two visits to the na-
tional capital after the
election results to meet
top leaders of the party
.
INDIA
05
Need to expand trade with neighbours: HM
New Delhi (Agencies):
Union Home Minister
Amit Shah on Thursday
said India needed to ex-
pand trade with the
neighbouring coun-
tries, as in the next 10
years,itwouldbeamong
the top manufacturing
countries. Strong infra-
structure along the bor-
der would also help in
stopping the migration
of border population.
India shared bounda-
ry with Afghanistan,
Bhutan, China, Bangla-
desh, Myanmar, Nepal
and Pakistan and every
50 km there was a new
challenge for border se-
curity
. “I can see clearly
that in the next 10 years,
India will be among the
top manufacturing
countries. But what will
be do with the products?
Need to expand trade
with the seven neigh-
bouring countries,” he
emphasised. Recently,
India sent tonnes of
wheat to Afghanistan
via one of the land
ports, he pointed out.
Due to the past mis-
takes in drawing In-
dia’s boundary, Kartar-
pur, a revered Sikh pil-
grimage site barely six
km away, was left out-
side the Indian terri-
tory, he noted.
The Kartarpur corri-
dor links two impor-
tant Sikh shrines —
Dera Baba Nanak in
Gurdaspur district of
Punjab and Gurdwara
Darbar Sahib in Kartar-
pur, Pakistan, where
the Sikh founder
breathed his last. “Hin-
dus and Sikhs in India
and across the world ap-
preciate the corridor,”
Shah stated.
GOOD NEIGHBOUR DIPLOMACY
 UP govt
formation: Nadda
meets Anupriya Patel
and Sanjay Nishad
 Priyanka
meets UP leaders
individually to
discuss poll debacle
WOMEN, CASTE COMBINATION, AGE, PERFORMANCE
KEY FACTORS IN YOGI 2.0 GOVERNMENT: SOURCES
Chandigarh (PTI):
Punjab Chief Minister
Bhagwant Mann and
other newly elected
MLAs were adminis-
tered oath as members
of the 16th Punjab Vid-
han Sabha here on
Thursday
.
The first session of
the 16th Punjab Assem-
bly began on Thursday
.
Protem Speaker In-
derbir Singh Nijjar ad-
ministered oath to the
newly elected legisla-
tors, most of them the
first-time MLAs.
Mann, who was
sworn-in as Punjab
Chief Minister on
Wednesday at Khatkar
Kalan village was the
first to take oath as a
member of the House.
He ended his oath with
‘Inqilab Zindabad’
(long live revolution)
slogan.
Several MLAs of the
Aam Aadmi Party had
come with their family
members for the oath-
taking ceremony
.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Aditiyanath greets party workers during celebrations following their win in the Assembly polls, at the BJP office
in Lucknow. —FILE PHOTO
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann looking on as MLAs were administered the oath by protem speaker Dr
Inderbir Singh Nijjar at the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday.
Home Minister Shah addressing at the 10th Foundation Day of
Land Ports Authority of India, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
Newly-elected MLAs take
oath in Punjab Assembly
Leadership
crisis not yet
resolved, says
Manipur Min
Islamic body
asks mosques
to change
prayer timings
G-23 meet for
second time
in 24 hours
New Delhi (Agencies):
The core group of Con-
gress’s G-23 dissidents
metagainatthehomeof
senior leader Ghulam
Nabi Azad this evening
-- their second gathering
in 24 hours. Among
thoseattendingwereKa-
pilSibal,AnandSharma
and Bhupinder Hooda.
The meet is expected to
be a feedback session,
with Hooda meeting Ra-
hul earlier on Thursday
.
Imphal: T Bishwajit,
senior Minister in the
previous BJP-led gov-
ernment, on Thursday
told reporters at the Im-
phal international air-
port that the leadership
crisis in Manipur ahead
of the formation of the
new Min-
istry was
not yet
resolved.
Hesaid
that dur-
ing a two-
day stay in Delhi, no
national BJP leader dis-
cussed the matter with
him or caretaker Chief
Minister N Biren Singh.
On Biren Singh’s re-
selection as the next
CM again, Bishwajit
said “it is mere specula-
tion”.
He further said that
observer Nirmala Sita-
raman and co-observer
Kiren Rijiju may visit
soon to resolve the im-
passe. On the basis of
their report, the higher
authority would take a
decision on the issue.
The directive from the
high command would
be final and binding.
Lucknow (PTI): To
maintain peace and or-
der, the Islamic Centre
of India has urged
mosques to change the
timings of Friday
prayers given that Holi
will be celebrated the
same day. Since Holi,
Shab-e-Barat and Fri-
day prayers are on the
same day, all efforts
should be made to en-
sure peace and order in
keeping with the com-
posite culture of the
country, appealed the
chairman of the Islam-
ic Centre of India Far-
angi Mahal and Luc-
know Idgah Imam
Maulana Khalid
Rasheed appealed on
Wednesday
. Apart from
seeking change in the
timings of Friday
prayers, he urged Mus-
lims to offer prayers in
local mosques.
New post-pandemic world order shaping
up, India needs to grow fast: PM Modi
Venkaiah Naidu greets
people on eve of Holi
`3 crore demand made
to free Malik from jail
New Delhi (ANI):
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi on Thursday
said that India needs to
develop at a faster pace
to find its role while
the new world order
shapes up in the back-
drop of the COVID-19
pandemic.
The Prime Minister
said that the whole
world is looking at In-
dia. “In the circum-
stances created by COV-
ID-19, new world order
is emerging. In this new
order, India has to de-
velop itself at a faster
pace,” he added.
The Prime Minister
was addressing a vale-
dictory function of the
96th Common Founda-
tion Course at Lal Baha-
dur Shastri National
Academy of Adminis-
tration (LBSNAA),
Mussoorie via video
conferencing.
New Delhi (PTI): Ex-
tending greetings on the
eve of Holi, Vice Presi-
dent M Venkaiah Naidu
on Thursday said
on the occasion
of the festival of
colours people
should strive to
strengthen the
bonds of friend-
ship and amity that hold
the society together.
Celebrated with tradi-
tional fervour and en-
thusiasm throughout
the country, Holi is the
time for family and
friends to come together
and rejoice in the
spirit of the spon-
taneous, joyful
celebration of
life, he said in his
message. The
vice president
hoped the festival
brings peace, harmony,
prosperity and happi-
ness to people’s lives.
Mumbai (PTI): Maha-
rashtraministerNawab
Malik’s son has lodged
an FIR after a person al-
legedly demand-
ed Rs 3 crore
from him to get
his father out on
bail, a police of-
ficial said on
Thursday. Na-
tionalist Congress Party
(NCP) leader Malik was
arrested by the Enforce-
ment Directorate (ED)
last month in a money
laundering case.
Following a com-
plaint filed by the min-
ister’s son Amir Malik,
the VB Nagar police
registered the FIR
against the uni-
dentified person
late Wednesday
night, he said.
According to
the complainant,
he received an
email in which the
sender, who identified
himself as Imtiyaaz, al-
legedly said he will try
to get Malik out on bail
and demanded Rs 3
crore in Bitcoins.
HARBHAJAN MAY BE NAMED
FOR RS FROM PUNJAB BY AAP
New Delhi: Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh
will be the Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab candidate for
the Rajya Sabha elections this year, the party has an-
nounced. The AAP is going to get
five seats in the Rajya Sabha, by
the end of this month. According
to the sources, the newly-formed
state government of Punjab,
led by Chief Minister Bhagwant
Mann, may also give command of
a sports university to Harbhajan
Singh. Right before the Punjab election, specula-
tions of ‘Turbanator’ Singh joining the BJP were rife.
Many media outlets reported claimed that a senior
BJP leader had said, “We have them [Harbhajan and
former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh] on the radar.
Let us see.” ‘Bhajji’ later dismissed the rumours.
You always
have to keep
the goals of
21st century India in
mind. The goal of
building an
Aatmanirbhar
Bharat, the goal of
laying the foundation
of New, Modern India.
—PM Narendra Modi
Tainted leaders to
be excluded from
new UP Cabinet
New Delhi: The
Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP)iskeepingthe2024
Lok Sabha elections in
mind while deciding on
the Cabinet formation
in Uttar Pradesh.
A detailed exercise is,
therefore, on and every
effort is being made to
balance the regional,
caste and geographical
issues.
The BJP has also de-
cided not to induct
tainted faces in the Ut-
tar Pradesh Cabinet.
There will be two
ministers from the
Apna Dal, including
Ashish Patel, in Chief
Minister Yogi Adity-
anath-led Cabinet.
A leader of the Ni-
shad Party will also be
included in the Uttar
Pradesh Cabinet.
Uttar Pradesh BJP
chief Swatantra Dev
Singh will be the new
face in the Cabinet. Sin-
gh, who will be reward-
ed for the BJP’s splen-
did performance in Ut-
tar Pradesh, was a part
of the Cabinet prior to
his appointment as the
party’s state chief.
Keshav Prasad Mau-
rya, Shrikant Sharma,
Siddharth Nath Singh,
Nand Gopal Nandi,
Brajesh Pathak, Ram-
pal Verma, Surya
Pratap Shahi, Ashutosh
Tandon, Mohsin Raza,
Anil Rajbhar and Sand-
eep Singh will be in-
cluded in the Cabinet.
BJP MLA Brijesh Sin-
gh, who retained the
Deoband Assembly seat
for another term, will
alsobeapartof Cabinet.
BJP leader Rajeev
Singh alias Babbu Bhai-
ya, who won from the
Dataganj Assembly
seat, too will be a part of
the Cabinet this time.
POLITICAL BUZZ

INDIA
06
SL SIGNS USD
1 BILLION CREDIT
LINE WITH INDIA
JAPANESE PM TO
VISIT INDIA ON
MARCH 19-20
New Delhi: Sri Lanka on
Thursday signed USD
1 billion credit line with
India for procurement
of food, medicines and
other essential items,
amid the island nation’s
worsening economic
crisis. The agreement
was signed between the
State Bank of India (SBI)
and the Government of
Sri Lanka, during Sri
Lankan Finance Minis-
ter Basil Rajapaksha’s
two-day visit to India.
This agreement was
signed after Rajapaksa
held a meeting with
Union Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman and
External Affairs Minister
S Jaishankar in New
Delhi on Thursday.
New Delhi: Japanese
PM Fumio Kishida is set
to pay a two-day visit to
New Delhi from March
19 for the 14th India-
Japan Annual Summit.
Speaking at a weekly
media briefing, the MEA
spokesperson Arindam
Bagchi informed that
this will be the first
meeting between PM
Narendra Modi and the
Japanese PM Kishida.
“India-Japan Summit
will be held on March
19th. At the invitation of
PM Modi, PM of Japan
Fumio Kishida will be
undertaking an official
visit to Delhi from 19-20
March for 14th India-
Japan Annual Summit,”
said Arindam Bagchi.
CRUCIAL READ
Bengaluru (ANI): De-
fence Minister Rajnath
Singh on Thursday said
the defence needs of In-
dia have increased and
the country is constant-
ly working to enhance
its strategic capabili-
ties. He said economic,
political and strategic
equations are changing
all over world and major
world powers are in tus-
sle.
“Our defence needs
have also increased and
constant modernisation
of the Armed Forces is
the need of the hour.
Keeping ourselves ready
is our top priority and
we are constantly work-
ing to enhance our stra-
tegic capabilities,” Sin-
gh said. He was speak-
ing after inaugurating
complex in 45 days.
7-storey RD facility built by DRDO in record 45 days
DEFENCE NEEDS OF INDIA

DRDO has built
a Flight Control
System
Integration
complex in
record 45 days
to be used as
Research and
Devp facility in
Bengaluru
Our defence
needs have
also in-
creased and
constant modernisa-
tion of the Armed
Forces is the need of
the hour. Keeping
ourselves ready is our
top priority and we
are constantly work-
ing to enhance our
strategic capabilities.
Rajnath Singh,
Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh unveils Flight Control System Integration facility in Bengaluru. Also seen Basavaraj Bommai.
WAR-HIT UKRAINE
TECHNICAL FAULT HALTS POLAND’S RAILWAYS
SLAWOMIR CYZA, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ALSTOM IN POLAND SAID
THAT THE OUTAGE HAD RESULTED FROM THE DATA CODING FLAW
BAGCHI SAID THAT INDIA AT UN HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTING NEED TO
RESPECT UN CHARTER AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF COUNTRIES
RUSSIA CALLS ITS ASSAULT ON UKRAINE A “SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION”
TO PROTECT BREAKAWAY UKRAINIAN REGIONS FROM FASCIST REGIME IN KYIV
Warsaw (Agencies):
Railways ground to a
halt in many places
across Poland on Thurs-
day, disrupting an im-
portant means of trans-
port for Ukrainian refu-
gees after what the
transport minister said
was a traffic control
system outage impact-
ing several countries.
Infrastructure Minis-
ter Andrzej Adamczyk
said that identical
faults in the traffic con-
trol systems, which are
produced by a unit of
French train maker Al-
stom, had also appeared
in India, Singapore and
possibly Pakistan.
“The cause is still be-
ing determined,” Ad-
amczyk wrote on Twit-
ter. “(Railway operator)
PKP PLK is working
non-stop to minimise
the effects of the out-
age, which has affected
about 80% of rail traffic
in Poland.”
Slawomir Cyza, the
chief executive of Al-
stom in Poland, told me-
dia agencies that the
outage had resulted
from a data coding flaw
they are looking in it.
A man walks near railway track after crossing the border between Poland and Ukraine in Kroscienko. Almost two million people have fled to Poland from Ukraine.
Regarding
transport of
the refugees,
which has been
key task of Rail-
way over the past
few days, we are
in full coordina-
tion of the process
together with min-
istry of infrastruc-
ture, so that pro-
cess is not halted
can be carried out
to extent possible.
Miroslaw Skubiszynski,
PKP PLK Dy Chief Exe
COUNTER-TERRORISM TALK!
India and Indonesia on Thursday carried out talks over
cooperation in counter terrorism, maritime, defence, and
cyber security and also signed MoU for a Security Dialogue, a
statement said. India’s National Security Ajit Doval co-chaired
the second India-Indonesia Security Dialogue.
Abu Dhabi: CJI NV Ramana on Thursday said the
strong relationship between India and UAE will only
grow in the times to come
and the strong bonds of
friendship are bound to flour-
ish and achieve new heights.
Speaking at a felicitation
function organised by the
Indian community in UAE at
the India Social and Cultural Centre, Abu Dhabi, Jus-
tice Ramana said major reasons for the strong ties
between 2 nations is that Indians constitute one of
largest ethnic groups in UAE and they have signifi-
cantly contributed to devp of the UAE over the years.
STRONG BOND OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN
INDIA, UAE BOUND TO FLOURISH, SAYS CJI
KREMLIN REJECTS
TOP COURT ORDER
UK TO DEPLOY AIR
DEFENSE SYSTEM
INDIAN JUDGE VOTES
AGAINST RUSSIA
IN A CHILLING THREAT,
PUTIN’S BIG WARNING
VOLUNTEER FIGHTER:
STAKHOVSKY, ROGER
MEA: INDIA CALLS FOR
DIPLOMACY, DIALOGUE
Kremlin on Thursday rejected
an order by UN’s top court
for Russia to
suspend mili-
tary offensive
in Ukraine, a
day after judg-
es in Hague
announced
their ruling. “We cannot take
this decision into account,”
Peskov said, adding that Rus-
siaa and Ukraine had to agree
for ruling to be implemented.
UK Defense Secretary Ben
Wallace said on Thursday
that the UK
will send
its most
advanced
air defence
system and
100 troops
to Poland to bolsters NATO’s
eastern flank amid Russia’s
ongoing military operation in
Ukraine. Lorry-mounted weap-
on consists of radar units.
In 2013 he achieved one of
the great shocks in tennis
history, knock-
ing defending
champion
Roger Federer
out of Wim-
bledon. Today,
the Ukranian
player Sergiy Stakhovsky is a
volunteer fighter on a military
patrol in Kyiv, which he vows
to defend “to the end” against
Russian forces.
The Russian Federation
shall immediately suspend
military
operations that
it commenced
on 24 Feb on
the territory
of Ukraine,”
pending final
decision in case, presiding
judge Joan Donoghue told Int’l
Court of Justice. India’s judge
at ICJ, Justice Dalveer Bhan-
dari, also voted against Russia.
Putin warned he would
cleanse Russia of “scum
and traitors”
he accuses of
working co-
vertly for US
and its allies.
Facing eco-
nomic melt-
down 3 weeks, Russian leader
lashed out at domestic critics.
He accused West of wanting to
destroy Russia in televised VC
with dark undertones.
India has called for diploma-
cy and dialogue to address
the ongoing
Ukraine-Rus-
sia conflict,
said MEA
spokesper-
son Arindam
Bagchi. “We
have been clear and consis-
tent, we feel that only way out
is through dialogue which has
been emphasised by PM Modi
in his conversation,” he stated.
Over 2.6 lakh Covid vaccine doses
administered to kids aged 12-14 yrs
New Delhi (ANI): The
government said that
more than 2.60 lakh
Corbevax vaccine doses
were administered on
the first day of the Cov-
id-19 vaccination drive
for the children in the
12-14 years age group.
Besides, more than
52,000 ‘precaution dos-
es’ were administered
on Wednesday to those
above 60 years of age.
Vaccination for chil-
dren in the 12-14 years
age group commenced
on Wednesday with
the Corbevax vaccine,
which is manufac-
tured by Hyderabad-
based Biological E.
The second dose to the
vaccinated children
will be given after a
gap of 28 days.
The co-morbidity
clause for administer-
ing precaution doses to
those aged 60 years and
abovehasbeenremoved.
The eligible people are
being administered the
‘precaution dose’, which
will be the same vaccine
as given earlier.
OUCH! A child reacts as a medic inoculates with a vax dose of
Covid vaccine during a vaccination drive in Mumbai on Thursday.
HIGHLIGHTS
INDIA MANAGED THE
OMICRON CASES BETTER
THAN OTHERS: CENTRE
New Delhi (ANI): The
proactive measures in
India’s Covid vaccination
drive helped
country
control the
spread of
Omicron,
which was
globally 6 times higher
than previous wave,
informed MoHFW on
Thursday. During a
webinar, Lav Agarwal, Jt
Secy, Ministry of Health
speaks in webinar.
BARC India resumes
ratings for individual
news channels
NewDelhi(ANI):Broad-
cast Audience Research
Council(BARC)Indiahas
resumed ratings for indi-
vidual news channels,
with the release of data
forWeek10of 2022.BARC
India temporarily sus-
pended the viewership
ratings of news channels
in Oct 2020 amid allega-
tions of a TRP scam.
“Sensitivetotheindus-
try’sneedforpastdatafor
informed and equitable
decision making, and as
advised, BARC India will
also release data for the
previous13weeks,i.e.,for
the period of Week 49,
2021 to Week 9, 2022, only
forthechannelsthathave
notchosentooptoutfrom
receivingthisdata,which
will also be based on a
four-week rolling aver-
age. This data will be re-
leasedoverthenextthree
working days,” it said.
Body releases data for Week 10 of 2022.
BARC IND STATES
SURGE IN COVID CASES GLOBALLY: WHO CHIEF
Geneva (PTI): Fresh cases of Covid-19 are again spik-
ing globally, especially in parts of Asia, af-
ter several weeks of decline and this rise is
“just the tip of the iceberg”, WHO Director-
General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has
warned. ‘We call on all countries to remain
vigilant, continue to vaccinate,’ he said.
MANDAVIYA LAUDS NGOS, HEALTH WORKERS
New Delhi (ANI): Union Health Min Dr Mansukh Man-
daviya on Thursday appreciated NGOs,
stakeholders and healthcare workers for
working tirelessly among communities dur-
ing pandemic. “I seek your continued part-
nership for connecting with communities to
take healthcare services to them,” he said.
 Israel claims new
variant detected
 UP withdraws
Covid curbs; pools
to reopen, allows
100% capacity at
weddings
 5k kids aged 12-14
jabbed in Odisha
 Mizoram allows
schools, colleges
to reopen

BIZ BUZZ
07
New Delhi (PTI): In-
dia’s oil demand is pro-
jected to jump 8.2% to
5.15 million barrels per
day in 2022 as the econ-
omy continues to re-
bound from the devas-
tation caused by the
pandemic.
The Organisation of
Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) in
its latest monthly oil
market report project-
ed the world’s third-
biggest energy con-
sumer to add 0.39 mil-
lion barrels per day
(bpd) of crude oil de-
mand in 2022.
India’s oil demand
rose from 4.51 million
barrels per day in 2020
to 4.76 million bpd in
2021, recording a 5.61%
growth.
But, this was below
pre-pandemic levels.
Oil demand in 2018 was
4.98 million bpd, which
rose to 4.99 million bpd
in the following year
before the pandemic
struck.
“With expected
strong economic
growth of 7.2% in 2022
and expected rapid
containment of Omi-
cron in the near future,
oil demand is expected
to recover,” the OPEC
report said.
Mobility has contin-
ued to improve, as av-
erage driving activity
in India increased. Oil
demand this year has
increased as states re-
laxed COVID-19 re-
strictions in line with
declines in new infec-
tions.
“Gasoline (petrol)
and diesel are likely to
be particularly fa-
voured by the expected
rise in GDP and the al-
ready recovering mo-
bility and consequent-
ly driving activity,” it
said. Similarly, in line
with a forecast for a ro-
bust economy in 2022,
the industrial sector
will provide support
for diesel, LPG and
naphtha requirements.
Jet kerosene de-
m a n d
improvement is ex-
pected to be slower in
2022 because of travel
challenges, particular-
ly business-related, it
said. “Nevertheless,
India is projected to
grow by 0.4 million bpd
year-on-year in 2022.”
India's oil demand may jump 8% in 2022
AFTER IOC, HPCL BUYS 2 MN
BBL RUSSIAN CRUDE, MRPL
SEEKS 1 MN BBL
New Delhi (PTI): After Indian Oil Corporation,
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd has bought
two million barrels of Russian crude oil as Indian
refiners stepped up efforts to secure Russian oil
available at deep discounts. Just like IOC, HPCL
also bought Russian Urals crude through Euro-
pean trader Vitol, sources with knowledge of the
development said. Separately, Mangalore Refin-
ery and Petrochemicals Ltd has floated a tender
seeking one million barrels of similar crude oil.
Western sanctions on Russia has prompted
many companies and countries to shun its oil.
This has led to Russian crude being available
in the market at deep discounts. To capture the
opportunity, Indian refiners are floating tenders
to buy such discounted oil. The tenders are
mostly won by traders, who would have stocked
inventories of the cheap Russian oil. The sources
said IOC, the nation's top oil firm, late last week
bought three million barrels of Urals through
Vitol for May delivery at a discount of $20-25
a barrel to dated Brent. HPCL this week made
the rare purchase of two million barrels of Urals
crude for loading in May, they said.
RELIANCE MAY AVOID RUSSIAN FUEL AFTER SANCTIONS
New Delhi (Agencies): Reliance Industries Ltd, operator of the world's biggest refining
complex, may avoid buying Russian fuels for its plants following Western sanctions
on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, a senior company official said. Even if we
can source some of the feeds (from Russia), probably we will be out of it because of
the sanctions, Rajesh Rawat, senior vice president and business head cracker, told
an industry event. Reliance buys Urals crude and straight run fuel oil for its refiner-
ies from Russia. The private refiner mostly buys its petrochemical feedstock from
the Middle East and the United States. Rawat said in India most of the oil supplies
from Russia are going to the state-run companies.
Moody’s slashes
2022 India
forecast to 9.1%
New Delhi (PTI):
Moody’s on Thursday
slashed India’s growth
estimate for the cur-
rent year to 9.1%, from
9.5% earlier, saying
high fuel and fertilizer
import bill could limit
the government’s capi-
tal expenditure.
In its ‘Global Macro
Outlook 2022-23
(March 2022 Update):
Economic Growth will
suffer as fallout from
Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine builds’ re-
port, the rating agency
said Russia’s invasion
of Ukraine has signifi-
cantly altered the
global economic back-
drop through three
main channels -- spike
in commodities pric-
es, risks to global
economy from finan-
cial and business dis-
ruption and dent in
sentiment due to
heightened geopoliti-
cal risks.
It said Russia is the
only G-20 economy
that will contract this
year and forecast that
its economy will
shrink 7% in 2022, and
3% in 2023, down from
projected growth of
2% and 1.5% respec-
tively, before the inva-
sion of Ukraine.
With regard to In-
dia, it said the country
is particularly vulner-
able to high oil prices,
given that it is a large
importer of crude oil.
Because India is a sur-
plus producer of
grain, agricultural ex-
ports will benefit in
the short-term from
high prevailing prices.
“High fuel and po-
tentially fertilizer
costs would weigh on
government finances
down the road, poten-
tially limiting planned
capital spending.
Direct tax collection soars 48% in
FY22,advance tax payment up 41%
New Delhi (PTI): In-
dia’s collection from tax
on personal and corpo-
rate income jumped
over 48% in the current
fiscal after a 41% surge
in advance tax pay-
ments, mirroring sus-
tained economic recov-
ery in a year that wit-
nessed two waves of
coronavirus infections.
Net collections of di-
rect taxes until March
16, 2022, in the fiscal
year that started on
April 1, 2021, stood at
`13.63 trillion compared
to `9.18 trillion in the
same period a year
back, an official state-
ment said.
The net collections in
direct taxes, which is
made up of income tax
on individual income,
corporation tax on prof-
its of companies, prop-
erty tax, inheritance
tax and gift tax, in the
current fiscal is 35%
higher than the collec-
tion of `9.56 trillion in
the pre-pandemic year
of 2019-20 (April 2019 to
March 2020).
Advance tax collec-
tions, the fourth install-
ment of which was due
on March 15, rose to
`6.62 trillion, up 40.75%,
the statement said, add-
ing refunds aggregat-
ing to `1.87 trillion have
been issued in the cur-
rent fiscal. Almost 53%
of all direct tax collec-
tion was from corporate
tax, while 47% came
from personal income
tax, including securi-
ties transaction tax on
shares.
Britannia aims 50% women staff by 2024
Kolkata (PTI): FMCG
major Britannia Indus-
tries said it aims to
achieve a diversity ra-
tio of 50% by 2024 by
increasing the partici-
pation of women in its
workforce.
Britannia Industries
Chief Marketing Of-
ficer (CMO) Amit
Doshi said that at pre-
sent 38% of the com-
pany’s workforce is
women.
“We want to promote
gender equality in the
company,” he said.
AtBritannia’sGuwa-
hati factory
, the propor-
tion of women in the
workforce is 60% and it
will be increased to
65%, he said.
For empowering
women, the company
has already launched a
start-up challenge
among woman entre-
preneurs, Doshi said.
So far, the company
has provided seed capi-
tal of Rs 10 lakh each to
30 woman entrepre-
neurs for start-ups in
areas like e-commerce,
digital services, oph-
thalmological care
through mobile vans
and child education,
among others, he said.
The company has
also tied up with Goog-
le for providing skill
training to women
across the country, he
added.
Export reaches $390 bn as of March 14
New Delhi (PTI):
Commerce and Indus-
try Minister Piyush
Goyal has said India’s
merchandise exports
have reached almost
$390billionasof March
14 and will cross $400
billion in the current
financial year.
He also said the auto
components industry
has, for the first time,
recorded a trade sur-
plus of $600 million.
The minister urged
automakers to buy lo-
cal products and sub-
stitute imports.
Goyal pointed out
that India could no
longer afford to be
closed and protective
but will have to open
up domestic markets.
Further, he asked the
auto industry to invest
more in RD (research
and development), es-
pecially e-mobility, set
higher benchmarks for
performance and as-
pire to take five Indian
companies in top-50
global automotive sup-
pliers club.
“India’s merchan-
dise exports have
reached almost $390
billion as of March 14
and will certainly cross
$400 billion in the cur-
rent fiscal,” the com-
merce ministry said on
Thursday quoting the
minister.
Many GI-tagged products hold potential
to boost exports: Comm Ministry
New Delhi (PTI): There are several GI-tagged
products in different states that need proper
marketing to reach more potential buyers in the
international markets, the commerce ministry said
on Thursday. The ministry said that to promote
exports of locally Geographical Indications (GI)
tagged agricultural products, the government is
identifying new products and export destinations.
SUGAR EXPORTS JUMP OVER 2.5-FOLD TO
47 LAKH TONNES IN OCT 21-FEB 22: ISMA
New Delhi (PTI): Sugar exports have jumped over
2.5 fold between October 2021 and February this
year to 47 lakh tonnes on higher production and
better demand of the Indian sweetener in the glob-
al market, according to industry body ISMA. Sugar
marketing year runs from October to September.
Sugar exports stood at 17.75 lakh tonnes in the
year-ago period.
Sensex surges 1,047 points as
Realty, Financial shares shine
Mumbai (PTI): The
BSE Sensex vaulted
over 1,000 points for
the second straight ses-
sion on Thursday,
tracking an overall
bullish trend in global
equities despite the US
Federal Reserve hik-
ing rates and signal-
ling further policy
tightening to tame in-
flation.
The 30-share BSE
benchmark rallied
1,047.28 points or 1.84%
to finish at 57,863.93.
Likewise, the broader
NSE Nifty surged
311.70 points or 1.84%
to 17,287.05.
HDFC was the top
gainer in the Sensex
pack, spurting 5.50%.
`JUMPS 41 PAISE TO CLOSE AT 75.80
AGAINST US DOLLAR
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee spurted by 41 paise to
close at 75.80 against the US dollar on Thurs-
day. At the interbank forex market, the local unit
opened at 75.96 against the greenback and wit-
nessed an intra-day high of 75.77 and a low of
75.97. The rupee settled at 75.80, registering a
rise of 41 paise over its previous close of 76.21.
GOLD OUTPUT COULD
RISE MULTIFOLD IF
HURDLES REMOVED: WGC
Mumbai (Agencies): India’s
annual gold production could
surge to 20 tonnes from a mere
1.6 tonnes if the government
removes bureaucratic hurdles
and encourages investment in the sector, the
World Gold Council (WGC) said in a report. The
South Asian country is the world’s second-big-
gest consumer of the metal and fulfils most of
its demand through imports. Higher local output
could help New Delhi in capping imports. India
splurged a record $55.7 billion on gold imports in
2021, buying 1,050 tonnes - the most in a decade,
and far more than the 430 tonnes imported in
2020. “It makes sense for India to develop mining
capacity. But change is needed for this to happen,
legacy hurdles must be reduced considerably,
and investments encouraged,” said Somasunda-
ram PR, regional chief executive officer of WGC’s
Indian operations.
BIZZ BRIEFS
MERCEDES TO HIKE PRICES FROM APRIL 1
OYO REJIGS TOP BRASS AHEAD OF IPO
SEBI AMENDS RULES GOVERNING AIFS
New Delhi (PTI): Mercedes-Benz India on Thurs-
day said it will increase prices of entire model
range by up to 3% from April 1 in order to par-
tially offset the impact of increase in input costs.
The prices of the cars retailed by the Pune-based
firm would go up in the range of `50,000-`5 lakh
from next month onwards.
Bengaluru (Agencies): Travel tech major Oyo on
Thursday announced that Ankit Gupta, currently
the CEO of its Hotels and Homes vertical, will
now be heading its India business as CEO. The
company said it is elevating Rohit Kapoor to a
global role as the company’s marketing head,
from his current position of CEO – India South-
east Asia.
New Delhi (PTI): Capital markets regulator Sebi
has amended the rules pertaining to investment
aspects of certain category of alternative invest-
ment funds (AIFs). Under the rules, Category
III AIFs can invest not more than 10% of the
investable funds in an investee company, directly
or through investment in units of other AIFs, Sebi
said in a notification.
VULNERABLE
The OPEC in its latest
monthly oil market
report projected the
world’s third-biggest
energy consumer to
add 0.39 million bpd
of crude oil demand
in 2022
Promoted by
AU Small Finance Bank

COVID-19
UPDATE
WORLD
60,83,323
TOTAL DEATHS
39,70,49,482
TOTAL RECOVERED
6,17,93,995
ACTIVE CASES
46,49,26,800
TOTAL CASES
INDIA
5,16,162
TOTAL DEATHS
4,24,54,546
TOTAL RECOVERED
30,769
ACTIVE CASES
4,30,01,477
TOTAL CASES
Greetings on the occasion of Holi!
I wish you the best of colours and
joy in your life!
—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO Editor-in-Chief, First India
08
2NDFRONT
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: A to-
tal of 188 custodial
deaths have been re-
ported in the state
just in the last two
years, according to
government data ta-
bled in the Assembly
on Thursday. In even
worse news, there
has been a 43% rise
in such cases during
this period.
In response to que-
ries from Amreli
MLA Paresh Dhana-
ni, the state govern-
ment said a total of 88
incidents of custodial
death were reported
in 2020 and 100 such
incidents reported in
2021. Given that 70
such deaths were re-
ported in 2019, this is
a 42.85% rise in a span
of two years.
In response to Dha-
nani’s question re-
garding compensa-
tion provided to the
families of the vic-
tims, Minister of
State for Home, Harsh
Sanghavi informed
the House that one
victim’s family was
provided Rs6,00,000 in
Surat city and that no
dues are left to be
paid.
When asked about
the case of the 17-year
old boy who died at
the Khanpur observa-
tion home in
Ahmedabad in Octo-
ber 2020, the minister
said that an assistant
sub-inspector has
been suspended. In
addition, an offence
has been registered
against four officers/
staffers and a police
constable under vari-
ous sections of the
Indian Penal Code,
the General Police
Act, Atrocity Act, and
the Juvenile Justice
Act, he added.
43% RISE IN CUSTODIAL
DEATHS IN GUJ IN 2 YRS
TOTAL OF 88 SUCH INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED
IN 2020 AND 100 IN 2021, UP FROM 70 IN 2019
First India Bureau
New Delhi: The Fo-
rensic Science Labo-
ratory in Delhi’s Ro-
hini on Wednesday
signed an MoU with
the National Forensic
Science University
(NFSU) in Gandhina-
gar to promote aca-
demic research and
training cooperation,
a statement said.
According to the
statement released by
the Forensic Science
Laboratory (FSL), the
memorandum of un-
derstanding was signed
to promote mutual co-
operation in education-
al and forensic re-
search activities and
establish a framework
for programmes of ex-
changes and collabora-
tion in areas of foren-
sic for the needs of
criminal justice sys-
tem.
The key areas are
the joint research pro-
gramme, joint holding
of conferences, semi-
nars, workshops. train-
ing, symposia, etc., ex-
change of knowledge
resource, teaching,
training, research, ex-
change of research ma-
terials, publications,
library, scientific
equipment, software
and guidance and co-
guidance facility for
scientists and research
students, it said.
Director, FSL, Deepa
Verma said, “The MoU
envisages scientific
and academic person-
nel exchanges and vis-
its, and research in ar-
eas of academic and
scientific interest. The
MoU will support well-
integrated collabora-
tive forensic focused
research through the
development of specif-
ic projects and pro-
grammes.”
National Forensic
Science University
(NFSU) Vice-Chancel-
lor J M Vyas said the
MoU mutually bene-
fits both organisa-
tions. This close co-
operation would be
of major benefit to
the student commu-
nity to enhance their
skill and knowledge
to play a key role in
technological up-gra-
dation, innovation,
and competitiveness
in forensic science,
he said.
DELHI FSL TIES UP WITH NFSU GANDHINAGAR
CLOSE COLLAB
MOU AIMS TO PROMOTE
MUTUAL COOPERATION IN
EDUCATIONAL AND FORENSIC
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
The National Forensic Science University in Gandhinagar. —FILE PHOTO
BSF seizes 2 Pak fishing
boats in Bhuj creek area
First India Bureau
Bhuj: The Border Se-
curity Force (BSF)
seized two Pakistani
boats in the Sir Creek
area in Bhuj on
Wednesday.
The BSF in an official
statement issued on
Thursday said, “The
movement of two Paki-
stani fishing boats and
four-five Pakistani fish-
ermen was observed by
the troops of BSF Bhuj
while patrolling in the
Sir Creek area.”
The troops immedi-
ately rushed to the spot
after crossing swamps
and brooks on foot, the
statement added.
“The Pakistani fish-
ermen on observing the
BSF troops coming to-
wards them fled into
the Pakistani territory
taking advantage of
marshy terrain. The
BSF troops chased them
and seized two Paki-
stani fishing boats,
1.5km inside Indian ter-
ritory,” said the BSF.
“The seized boats
were thoroughly
searched but nothing
suspicious has been re-
covered from the boat
except for fishing nets
and fishing equipment.
A thorough search of
the area has been
launched and nothing
suspicious recovered
from the area as yet,” it
added.
The seizure came on
the same day that the
Gujarat government
said that 519 fishermen
from the state are lan-
guishing in Pakistani
jails.
The Pakistan Mari-
time Security Agency
keeps taking in custody
fishermen from Gujarat
at regular intervals ac-
cusing them of entering
the Pakistani waters by
crossing the notional In-
ternational Maritime
Border Line (IMBL) in
the Arabian sea.
Of the 358 fishermen
who were arrested in
the last two years, 163
were apprehended in
2020 and 195 in 2021,
Fisheries Minister Jitu
Chaudhary said. As
many as 247 of the total
519 fishermen have
been stuck in Pakistani
jails for a year, 76 for the
last three years and one
has been in jail for over
five years.
First India Bureau
Rajkot: A demand to
fill 1,000 vacant assis-
tant professor posi-
tions at non-govern-
ment aided colleges
across Gujarat has
been put forth to Chief
Minister Bhupendra
Patel by Rajkot Con-
gress on Thursday
.
In the letter, Dr Nidatt
Barot, the Saurashtra-
Kutch spokesperson of
Gujarat Pradesh Con-
gress Committee
(GPCC), stated, “It has
been around three years
since the advertisement
was placed and eight
months since the merit
list of selected candi-
dates was officially an-
nounced. But, no re-
cruitment procedure
has been initiated for
appointments of the
candidates.”
Speaking to First In-
dia, Barot said, “There
are around 250 non-gov-
ernment grant-in-aid
colleges across Gujarat.
Which model state is
the Gujarat govern-
ment talking about
when this is the state of
higher education here?
Vacancy ad of 1,000 as-
sistant professor posts
was placed three years
ago and considering re-
tirement figures, the
vacancy numbers have
gone up to 1,500 now.”
He also alleged that
not a single recruit-
ment of librarian or
Physical Training In-
structors (PTIs) in col-
leges has been conduct-
ed in the past 25 years.
“Our prime minister
announced Khel Maha-
kumbh and wants Guja-
rat to produce sport-
spersons, but when will
the government recruit
PTIs? The High Court
had ordered all Bache-
lor of Education (BEd)
colleges to recruit arts
and sports teachers.
However, that has not
happened,” Barot said.
The Congress spokes-
person also questioned
the highly promoted
concept of ‘Vaanche Gu-
jarat, Bhane Gujarat’.
“Filling librarian posts
is a must. I request the
CM to think carefully
about these issues and
ensure that the vacan-
cies are filled for the bet-
terment of students.”
BSF also found an abandoned Pakistani fishing boat in the same
area just a few days ago. —FILE PHOTO
Nidatt Barot. —FILE PHOTO
First India Bureau
Surat: Police have
lodged a case of cul-
pable homicide
amounting to mur-
der against one Akh-
ilesh Singh, after his
wife succumbed to a
bullet injury sus-
tained 21 days ago.
Around 21 days ago,
accusedSingh,entered
his estranged wife Ti-
na's house in Surat,
fired three bullets at
her and fled. Neigh-
bours, on hearing the
noise rushed Tina to
theNewCivilHospital,
where she died on
Thursday
.
Police inspector Ka-
targam BD Gohil said,
The couple were mar-
ried 16 years ago. But
for seven years, the
lady was living sepa-
rately with her two
daughters in Surat.
She was a resident of
Rajasthan, while Akh-
ilesh is from Karnata-
ka. The accused sus-
pected his wife of an
extra-marital affair.
He came to Surat from
Karnataka to kill his
wife. said Gohil.
Gohil added, “The
Bihar police have ar-
rested the accused,
and they will bring
him to Surat after
Holi. A transfer letter
by the Surat police is
also sent to the Bihar
police.”
Man arrested as wife dies of
bullet wound amid treatment
Rajkot Congress demands that 1K vacant
assistant professor posts be filled across Guj

AHMEDABAD, FRIDAY,
MARCH 18, 2022
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia
facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09
estivals are
special an-
y w h e r e
and every-
where but
there is
something
so essentially beau-
tiful about Holi at
Vrindavan that if
you can head there
for this festival of
colours, then do it.
Peacefully nest-
ling on the banks of
the river Yamuna,
Vrindavan, where
Lord Krishna spent
his childhood is
otherwise also a
must destination
for the religious
and the spiritual
and one of the most
important pilgrim-
ages for devotees of
Lord Krishna.
The events dur-
ing this festival are
one of a kind and
you cannot help be
immersed in the
colours of Radhe!
The unique Lath-
mar Holi celebra-
tion where women
beat the men play-
fully with sticks
and men trying to
protect themselves
with shields amid
waves of colours is
super exciting to
watch and partici-
pate in! This Lath-
mar Holi has been a
proud ritual of Bar-
sana and Nand-
gaon. It is said
Krishna and his
friends went to Bar-
sana to play Holi
with Radha and go-
pis but ended up
with playful beat-
ings with sticks
from the gopis.
At the famous
Banke Bihari Tem-
ple for 20-minutes
flowers are show-
ered on the devo-
tees of Krishna
coming from all
over the country
and also the world.
The priests and oth-
er members of the
temple also take
part in this celebra-
tion along with the
visitors.
Another event
which is so special
is the Holi of the
Widows of Vrinda-
van, as it also
breaks the stereo-
type that widows
should embrace
white and give up
all other colours! It
was the Pagal Baba
Widow Ashram
that broke the ste-
reotype in 2013 and
asked all the resid-
ing widows to play
with colours.
Since then,
every year
on Holi,
w i d o w s
gather in
the Gopi-
nath Tem-
ple and cel-
e b r a t e
with col-
ours.
Of course
the Krish-
na’s Leela is
a must watch.
At Guland
Kund in Braj
(near Govardhan
Hills), stories of
Krishna’s child-
hood and Holi an-
tics are enacted.
The icing on the
cake, so as to speak
is the Holi proces-
sion takes place in
Mathura, from
Vishrama Ghat to
the Holi Gate. The
road between the
two destinations
stays filled with
people adorned
with multiple col-
ours and a festive
mood. Very charm-
ing are the vehicles
decorated with col-
ourful flowers and
children dressed as
Radha and Krish-
na. Do not forget to
partake Gujiyas
and bhang which
are common on the
menu. And re-
member , the cele-
brations last for 9
days.
MOHE
RANG DE…
ON HOLI OR DHULANDI, AS THIS DAY IS KNOWN,
THE DAY OF COLOURS AFTER HOLIKA DAHAN,
CITY FIRST BRINGS TO YOU THE EXTRA
SPECIAL HOLI AT VRINDAVAN! AND A VERY
HAPPY HOLI TO OUR READERS!
ANITA HADA
anita.hada@firstindianews.com
F

10-11
ETC
HOLI KHELO
MAGAR DHYAN SE!
ONTHE DAY OF HOLI IT IS NATURALTO FORGET EVERYTHING EXCEPTTHE ENJOYMENT OF PLAYINGWITH COLOURS
WITH OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BUTTHE NEXT DAY MAY BRING SKIN ALLERGIES AND OTHER ISSUES. CITY FIRST
BRINGSYOU SOMETIPSTO ENJOY HOLITOTHE FULLEST AND BE AS SHINING ONTHE NEXT DAY
he festival
of Holi has
convention-
ally been
played with
n a t u r a l ,
skin-friend-
ly and healthy col-
ours made from var-
ious flowers and
herbs. However,
times have changed
and natural colours
have been majorly
replaced by syn-
thetic tints made
up of several harm-
ful chemicals. The
trend has changed
tremendously be-
cause now all wish
and expect a safe
Holi over a happy
one. Therefore, to
avoid any allergies
or diseases one
should take all the
necessary precau-
tions.
Application of suf-
ficient mustard oil
or moisturizing
cream before play-
ing Holi prevents the
colour from sticking
to skin and facili-
tates easy removal.
A good sunscreen all
over the arms, legs
and face also dimin-
ishes the effect of
colour on the body.
There are several
simple home reme-
d i e s
such as the applica-
tion of gram flour
and fuller earth
paste to remove the
dark colours. This
paste should be
rubbed on areas
where the colour is
deepest to gently re-
move it. Application
of a soothing face
wash and a good
moisturizing lotion
after bath also helps
in restoring the radi-
ance and suppleness
of the skin.
Eyes should al-
ways be closed when-
ever someone is ap-
plying colour or a
pair of sunglasses
would help pro-
tect them. Eyes
should be
washed with
plain water if
colours get
into them. It
is always a
better
idea to cover as much
skin as possible
while playing Holi.
Scarfs to protect
hair, full-sleeved
clothing and long
pants significantly
reduce exposure.
Dental caps protect
teeth from getting
damaged hence
mouth should be
tightly shut when-
ever someone ap-
plies colour.
Apart from this
well oiled tresses are
less prone to danger.
Hence oiling makes
a protective shield
on hair and prevents
the colour from seep-
ing into the scalp.
Last but not least
nails are also equal-
ly important as they
bear the brunt of all
the colours. Nail
paint application is a
must to ensure the
protection of nails
from Holi colours.
DHANUSHREE VYAS
cityfirst@firtsindia.co.in
T

KEEP YOUR SKIN HAIR HEALTHY
To ensure your skin and hair remain in the best
of health, Natasha Singh Chauhan of Tangerine
Salon says: “Prepping your skin is a big must
before holi. Use sunscreen and oil your hair
before you step out to play Holi. Post holi,
shampoo and condition your hair thoroughly
to avoid dry and frizzy hair.”
12
CITY BUZZ
GET VACCINATED
STAY MASKED
t’s time to go all
out and enjoy
the festival of
colours but it is
always good to
be a little cau-
tious for your
health and the envi-
ronment. Experts and
influencers from the
Pink City share their
tips for a happy yet
eco-friendly, safe and
healthy holi.
CONSCIOUS FASHION
Fashion influencer,
Shreya Jain suggests
keeping it simple and
practical and making
conscious choices this
holi. “Instead of pur-
chasing something
new, simply reuse
whatever you’ve
stopped wearing from
your wardrobe. An old
kurta or a top with an
old pair of jeans is the
perfect pick”, says
Shreya.
OFCOLOURS!
W
ith the rise of
the Social
V i r t u a l
World, every-
thing becomes about
putting up the best ide-
as and being more
creative in our
fields. And the
most common way
to represent your
skill is by photogra-
phy. People or we can
say the bloggers/influ-
encers never miss a
chance to portray their
art and amaze people
with their creative pho-
tography ideas. They
start creating content
prior to 10 to 15 days of
the festival to give
you the best ideas
for your shoot. This
year also we have
witnessed a few very
creative ways to click
the Holi pictures.
Choosing the perfect
colours and playing
with them adroitly can
makeyourpicturestand
out. We hope you use
these ideas and click
some really good shots
with happy colours. But
do not forget to smile as
this festival is all about
love, fun and smiles. We
wish you a very Happy
and safe Holi.
CITY FIRST
A
colourful release for Kriti
Sanon with Bachchhan
Paandey, said, “I am so ex-
cited.” Kriti Sanon is one of
the leading names of Bollywood,
with a variety of massive films set to
release within this year alone and the
first one is all set to release on Holi
by bringing the theatre charm back
with a full-on masala entertainer.
Talking about Bachchhan Paandey
releasing on Holi, Kriti shared, “Cin-
emas are finally back after two years
of the pandemic, getting the same
butterflies in my stomach as always.
I am so excited for the release of
Bachchhan Paandey also because it’s
the first of my many releases to come
this year! It is a full-on massy enter-
tainer” cityfirstdel@gmail.co.in
FESTIVE EXCITEMENT!
ashion trends
are ubiquitous
and they
spread like
wildfire, par-
t i c u l a r l y
among young
men and women in
metropolitan areas.
Youth are increasing-
ly fashion-conscious,
and having access to
Social Media en-
sures that you are
always up to speed
on the current trends.
City First spoke to a Del-
hi based fashion designer,
Arohi Pareek, as she gives
us some valuable tips and
tricks to style the blazer.
They desire to appear so-
phisticated, up-to-date,
charming, and fresh in
their attire, etiquette, shoe
styles, and hairstyles,
among other things. Blaz-
ers are now worn by wom-
en with nearly every type
of outfit, and there’s no
doubt that they go with
everything. Women who
like a more basic and ele-
gant appearance would
lookstunningwearingthis
style. At the same time, it’s
totally stylish and trendy
.
Blazers are currently
considered as being in-
credibly lively and colour-
ful. They have evolved
into one of the most adapt-
able items of apparel, hav-
ing the ability to be worn
with casual, party, or pro-
fessional attire. And I be-
lieve that wearing a blazer
gives you a sense of confi-
dence and boldness.
STYLE YOUR BLAZER IN
DIFFERENT WAYS-
1
Wear it as a Dress- You
don’t always need a pair of
trousers to style a Blazer.
This incredibly elegant way of
arranging your blazer may not
be for everyone, but it is an
excellent way to add a touch of
class to your ensembles in a
very easy and classy manner
2
With cycling shorts- Cy-
cling shorts are really
popular these days, and
they’re usually worn with
oversized t-shirt or a crop top
and a classy handbag. Wearing
a jacket with the same clothing
offers it a polished look for a
midday look.
3
Houndstooth blazers-
This is another iconic
blazer style. This is such
a simple piece of outerwear to
dress and can be worn with
a casual or formal ensemble.
This is a terrific pattern for
those who don’t like plaid
and can be found in a range
of neutral colours, so pick one
that suits you best.
4
A brightly coloured
Blazer- Adding a bright
flash of colour to your
attire is a fashionable way
to elevate your outfir. Make
a monochromatic ensemble
based on the blazer if you
want to go for a strong
appearance. Wearing vivid
coloured pants may also
colour block.
5
With maxi dress-
When worn with
a maxi dress, the
blazer may be worn
open or closed, creat-
ing a sophisticated
effect. Wearing a lot of
junk jewellery or put-
ting on a good belt
would improve the
overall appearance.
BLAZER AND IT’S VERSATILITY
SHUBHANSHI PATHAK
cityfirstdel@gmail.com
F
BLAZER HAS BECOME THE LATEST
TREND AT THE MOMENT, AND IT’S NO
LONGER SOLELY CONSIDERED WORK
CLOTHING. CITY FIRST BRINGS TO YOU,
SIX WAYS YOU CAN STYLE BLAZERS TO
BRIGHTEN YOUR OUTFIT
A HAPPY, HEALTHY
AND SAFE HOLI!
TUSHARIKA SINGH
(Freelance Writer and City Blogger)
I LOOK YOUR BEST
A printed cotton
Dhoti Jumpsuit,
the classic white
suit or a white
kurta with jeans,
and a casual
printed shirt with
jeans are some of
the outfit recom-
mendations by
Fashion Designer
Dia Ajmera for a
chic and fashion-
able Holi look.
POST HOLI DETOX
For that post holi detox, nutritionist Nandini Agarwal suggests: “After in-
dulging in sweets and fried foods during the festival season, including a
green juice with amla, coriander, ginger, salt and lemon juice can be ben-
eficial to start the morning. Include some nuts and light-cooked meals.
Keep yourself hydrated while drinking alcohol and after that to curb hang-
overs. Sugar should be used sparingly and give yourself ample rest.”
Dr Maulik Shah
was felicitated
and conferred
the “Excellence
in Design
Journalism
Education”
award by
Bhaskar Group
during the
MFFM 93.3
Achiever’s
Awards - 2022.
The felicitation
was done by
Pujya Gyaan
Vàtsal Swamiji
recently.
FELICITATIONS!
YASHASVI SRIVASTAV
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
Natasha Singh Chauhan
Shreya Jain
Nutritionist Nandini Agarwal
A floral outfit by Pasha India Kriti Sanon
Arohi Pareek

18032022 first india ahmedabad (1)

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