21122022_First India_Mumbai.pdf

Kartikey Dev Singh
Mumbai: Uproar en-
gulfed Maharashtra as-
sembly on the second
day of the ongoing win-
tersessionastheopposi-
tion demanded Chief
Minister Eknath Shin-
de’s resignation with
serious allegations re-
garding the Nagpur Im-
provement Trust (NIT).
The opposition accused
the Chief Minister of
misleading the House
and the people of Maha-
rashtra and made a seri-
ousallegationthatwhen
the Chief Minister was
the Urban Development
Minister, he gave the
trust land worth Rs 86
crore to the builders for
just Rs 2 crore.
However, when CM
Shinde clarified on the
issue, the opposition be-
came more aggressive
and staged a walkout.
Prior to this, the opposi-
tion demanded that
Shindeshouldresignfor
misusing his ministeri-
al position and commit-
ting irregularities.
On the other hand,
Eknath Shinde said that
the land transaction
was done according to
the rules and the court
did not interfere. “I have
not misused my author-
ity
. There was no mal-
practice in the NIT plot
case,” he said.
Notably, deputy CM
Devendra Fadnavis also
came to Shinde’s aid in
taking on the opposition
and clarified that the
governmenthasalready
put the stay over the al-
locations of the land to
the developers. He said
thatthegovernmenthas
also cancelled the allo-
cations of these plots.
However, Shiv Sena
(UBT) Chief Uddhav
Thackeray interjected
and said, “If all is well,
then why did the gov-
ernment cancel the al-
locations of this plot to
developers? There must
be something fishy and
the incumbent gov-
ernment is trying to
cover it up. But we
will continue to
fight and demand
the resignation of Shin-
de.”
Leaders, in both
the Houses, came at
loggerheads and the
opposition walked
out of the Upper
House of the
Maharashtra
Assem-
bly af-
t e r
this.
WINTER SESSION OF MAHARASHTRA ASSEMBLY
NIT LAND CASE ROCKS HOUSE, OPPOSITION
DEMANDS CM’S RESIGNATION, STAGES WALKOUT!
Mumbai: CM Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said the
Opposition was seeking his resignation over the
land allotment issue as it wants to mask its failure
to win the Gram Panchayat polls. "They have no
right to ask for my resignation. They did not ask
for resignation from those who went to jail. This
is an attempt to mask their failure in the gram
panchayat polls," Shinde told reporters.
Addressing reporters along with Shinde, Deputy
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the "re-
sounding victory" in recently-held gram panchayat
polls is the vindication of decisions taken by the
Shinde-BJP government. "The Opposition want-
ed to hit and run by making allegations against
Shinde but the government gave them a befitting
reply," he added.
‘OPPOSITION SEEKING MY RESIGNATION TO
MASK ITS FAILURE IN PANCHAYAT POLLS’
“I have not misused my authority.
There was no malpractice,” Chief
Minister Eknath Shinde said
Studying 'Love-Jihad' law, if needed
will bring it in Maha too: Fadnavis
First India Bureau
Nagpur: On the second
day of Winter session
of Maharashtra Assem-
bly, Deputy
C h i e f
Minister
Devendra
Fadnavis
told in the
L e g i s l a -
tive Assem-
bly that the
Love Ji-
had
Act will be implement-
ed in the state soon and
a detailed study is being
done by the Maharash-
tra government. BJP
MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar
suggested to take the
issue of love jihad se-
riously while de-
manding a thorough
probe into the
Shraddha Walker
case. Responding to
this, Fadnavis clari-
fied that love
jihad is not
about ha-
tred to-
wards any particular
religion or person.
Fadnavis said, ‘The
topic of love jihad first
surfaced in Communist
Kerala. This word was
given by the police
there. The name was
given when a Commu-
nist Chief Minister was
at helm. Therefore, the
purpose of this law is
not to be against any
person or religion.
Such cases are happen-
ing today
. We are study-
ing the laws made by
various states in this
regard. If there is a
need to make such a
special law, then we will
make it.”
MUMBAI lWEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNITITLE NO.MAHENG/2022/14652 lVol 1 l Issue No.224
OUR EDITIONS:
JAIPUR,
NEW DELHI & MUMBAI
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Nagpur: Shraddha Walker murder case resonated
in the Assembly on Tuesday with NCP leader and
Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar appearing most
agitated over the murder case. In what could be
termed as a comment made out of anguish, Pawar
said that Aftab should be chopped in not 35, but
70 pieces! During the debate on the issue, Pawar
said, “This is such an incident which casts black
light on humanity. Even if a chicken is cut into 35
pieces it is considered gruesome. But here a girl
was cut into 35 pieces, which is extremely pain-
ful. I request that a fast track court be appointed
and see how Aaftab can be given death sentence
immediately. If the Home Minister himself pays
attention, then message will go in country that
there will be severe punishment. Aaftab should be
given death sentence,” he said. Pawar then backed
bringing a law where such henious acts can be
punished with double ferocity. “If a law can be
brought and the man should be cut in 70 pieces,
perhaps then the people would be satisfied,”
Pawar said, hinting at the anger and resentment
amongst the general public over the incident.
“PERHAPS IF AFTAB IS CUT IN 70
PIECES...”: SAYS ANGUISHED AJIT
GRAM PANCHAYAT ELECTION RESULTS
People have shown opposition, its
place: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
First India Bureau
Nagpur: The results of
the elections of 7 thou-
sand 135 gram panchay-
ats of the state were an-
nounced on Tuesday and
BJPandShindecoalition
had reached up till the
half way mark. In fact,
BJP won the maximum
number of seats in the
election and was the
number one party in the
state with Shinde faction
garnering more seats
than Thackeray faction.
“Thistimethealliance
has got double the votes.
This win will show oppo-
nents their place. Also,
this result is an acknowl-
edgment of work done
by alliance in the last few
months”, said Shinde. “I
heartilycongratulatethe
voters. Devendra Fad-
navis, Chandrashekhar
Bawankule and all our
MLAs and workers
worked hard in this elec-
tion. So we thank them”,
Shinde said.
CM Shinde offers a sweet to Dy CM Fadnavis during a press meet
outside the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur on Tuesday. —ANI PHOTO
UPROAR IN PARL OVER KHARGE’S ‘CHUHA’ TAUNT
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS
‘Gaali’ politics hits sansad!
Moni Sharma
New Delhi: The row
over Cong chief Mall-
ikarjun Kharge intensi-
fied on Tuesday as the
BJP demanded an apol-
ogy from the grand old
party over indecent re-
marks made by its pres-
ident against the BJP.
Meanwhile, Kharge on
other hand refused to is-
sue an apology
. Further
maintaining his stand,
he reiterated that BJP
had no role in freedom
struggle. He hailed his
party leaders like Indira
Gandhi for sacrificing
themselves for nation &
questioned saffron par-
ty again over their role
in the freedom struggle.
l BJP ASKS KHARGE TO APOLOGISE FOR HIS REMARKS l CONGRESS
CHIEF MAINTAINS HIS STAND l DISRUPTION MARS DEBATE AGAIN
What I said during
Bharat Jodo Yatra in
Alwar was politically
outside the House, not
inside. There is no need to discuss
that here. Secondly, I can still say
that they had no role in the freedom
struggle. They are ‘maafi maangne
waale log’...What role did you play.
—Mallikarjun Kharge, LoP
LoP Mallikarjun
Kharge gave an inde-
cent speech in Alwar.
The language used is
unfortunate. I condemn the manner
in which he used indecent language,
said baseless things and attempted
to present lies before the nation. I
demand an apology from him.
—Piyush Goyal, Union minister
KHARGE’S MOUSE REMARK PM MODI, CONG BOSS KHARGE ALL
SMILES OVER MILLET LUNCHEON!
Kharge on Monday during Bharat
Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan’s Alwar
alleged that the BJP government “talks
like a lion outside the country, but is
acting like a mouse within” as it is
unable to take on China for indulging in
incursions along border and is running
away from a debate on the issue in Parl.
‘WE ARE NOT KIDS’
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday stood up in the Rajya
Sabha to remind the members that “we are not children” as there was
chaos again in Parliament, this time over Congress Chief Mallikarjun
Kharge’s recent comment on the BJP and RSS’s “total lack of contribu-
tion” to the Independence struggle. “This kind of display of conduct
and behaviour gives us a very, very bad name,” Dhankhar said, “We are
setting a very bad example. People outside are disillusioned.”
z Winter Session
of the Parliament
likely to conclude
on December 23,
a week ahead of
schedule, sources
said on Tuesday
z FIR lodged
against UP Cong
leader Ajay Rai Rai
for his remarks
against Union min-
ister for women
and child develop-
ment Smriti Irani
z PT Usha is
named a new vice-
chairperson of RS,
this is first time a
nominated MP has
been designated
for this post
VP Jagdeep Dhankhar, PM Narendra Modi, LS Speaker Om Birla, Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh and LoP in RS Mallikarjun Kharge laugh & enjoy millet luncheon at the
Parliament House, in Delhi on Tuesday. Also seen here is Kailash Choudhary. More on P5
IN VIEW OF RISING COVID CASES ACROSS THE GLOBE...
Gear up genome sequencing:
Centre’s notice to States, UTs
First India Bureau
New Delhi: The Centre
on Tuesday directed
statestorampupgenome
sequencing as the sud-
den surge in Covid cases
in China, Japan, US, Ko-
rea and Brazil pose a
threat of looming fourth
wave of the pandemic.
Union health minister
Mansukh Mandaviya
willreviewthepandemic
situation on Wednesday
,
said official sources.
“Covid-19 still per-
sists around the world
with around 35 lakh
cases reported weekly”
Union Secretary for
Health Rajesh Bhushan
sounded alarm on the
surging cases of Covid
-19 globally. He reiter-
ated that all responsible
authorities contribute
in gearing up genome
sequencing process of
all Covid +ve samples.
Mandaviya to review
the situation today
60% OF CHINA MAY
GET INFECTED IN 3
MONTHS: EXPERT
Beijing: A top infec-
tious disease expert has
projected that more than
60% of China’s population
is likely to be infected by
the coronavirus in next 3
months & witness millions
of Covid-related deaths.
“Thermonuclear bad -
Hospitals completely over-
whelmed in China ever
since restrictions dropped.
Epidemiologist estimate
>60% of China and 10%
of Earth’s population
likely infected over next 90
days,” said epidemiologist
and health economist Eric
Feigl-Ding on Tuesday.
Bhutto slams `2
crore bounty on
his head for anti
Modi remark
YouTube channels busted
in fake news crackdown
New Delhi (FIB): Paki-
stan foreign minister Bil-
awal Bhutto Zardari on
Tuesday lashed out at
BJP after its party leader
allegedly announced
`2-crore bounty on his
head over objectionable
remarksherecentlymade
against PM Narendra
Modi. Zardari doubled
down on his “butcher of
Gujarat” comment
againstPMModiandsaid
his remarks were based
on “historical fact”, but
the BJP was interpreting
it as a “personal insult”.
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Three You-
Tube channels with a to-
talof 33lakhsubscribers
have been busted for
spreading fake news
about Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, Chief
Justice of India DY
Chandrachud and key
institutions, the centre
said on Tuesday
.
The YouTube chan-
nels are News Head-
lines, Sarkari Update
and Aaj Tak Live. A gov-
ernment statement said
that the probe against
these three channels
was conducted by the
fact-check unit of PIB,
the government’s nodal
agency to disseminate
information.
PIB’s Fact-check
unit found several
videos spreading
misinfo about PM
Modi and the CJI

NEWS
MUMBAI | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2022
02
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First India Bureau
Nagpur: Opposition
parties in Maharashtra
targeted the Karnataka
government in the state
Assembly on Tuesday
over alleged ill-treat-
ment of Marathi-speak-
ing people in the neigh-
boring southern state.
Raising the issue in
the Lower House, Na-
tionalist Congress Par-
ty (NCP) MLA Jayant
Patil said a lathi was
raised at his party col-
league and legislator
Hasan Mushrif on Mon-
day who had gone to Be-
lagavi to meet the Mar-
athi-speaking people.
Leader of Opposition
Ajit Pawar said the is-
sue is very sensitive to
everyone.
Replying on the issue,
Chief Minister Eknath
Shinde said it is for the
firsttimethattheCentre
has intervened, which is
a positive step.
Speaker Rahul
Narvekar mentioned it
hasalreadybeendecided
the matter will be dis-
cussed in detail and
agreedtobythetreasury
andOppositionbenches.
The long-pending
border dispute between
the two states flared up
again on Monday when
members of Opposition
parties - Shiv Sena (Ud-
dhav Balasaheb Thack-
eray), Congress, and
Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP) - from Ma-
harashtra were stopped
from entering Karna-
taka by the police.
They were scheduled
to attend a gathering
organised by the pro-
Marathi group Maha-
rashtra Ekikaran Sami-
ti (MES), an Opposition
leader had said.
Leaders alleged they
were lathi-charged by
the Karnataka police at
the border, while state
police detained them
and later released them.
However, the Kolhapur
district police refuted
the claim of detention.
First India Bureau
Nagpur: After the sus-
pension of development
works issue came up in
the House on Tuesday,
Leader of Opposition in
the Assembly Ajit Pa-
war alleged that after
the Ekanth Shinde-BJP
government came to
power, the development
works in the Maha Vi-
kas Aghadi government
were put on hold.
While responding to
Pawar acquisitions,
Deputy Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis
said, “You have been
elected seven times,
and I have learned
some things from you.
Ajit Pawar became the
Deputy CM when the
Maha Vikas Aghadi
government came to
power under the lead-
ership of (former chief
minister) Uddhav
Thackeray. You blocked
the work in my constit-
uency at that time.
Everyone’s work was
stopped.”
Fadnavis added,
“You have not given
money to the people of
the BJP for two and a
half years. But we will
not hold the feeling of
revenge. Out of all sus-
pensions issued on de-
velopmental projects
across the state, 70%
have been cancelled. A
moratorium has been
kept on the reamining
30% for the reason that
no rule of provision
has been followed while
disbursing the funds.
Where there is a provi-
sion of Rs2,000 crore,
Rs6,000 crore has been
allocated. therefore,
the budget will be ap-
proved after consider-
ing the calculations.”
“Necessary provi-
sions have been made.
We will definitely make
the right decision in
that regard as well
without any discrimi-
nation,” assured the
deputy chief minister.
First India Bureau
Gadchiroli: Before
GramPanchayatpolling,
Naxalites in Gadchiroli
had threatened the local
MLA and the adminis-
tration to close the Sur-
jagad iron ore project
and challenged the vot-
ing in the Gram Pan-
chayat elections as well.
Despite this, the vot-
ing and counting pro-
cess of 27 Gram Pan-
chayats in Gadchiroli
district was conducted
peacefully
.
A local MLA was
threatened directly by
Naxalites a few days
ago. And yet, district
citizens voted in polls
undaunted by threats.
Nagpur (PTI): Maha-
rashtra Legislative
Council proceedings
were adjourned for the
day on Tuesday after
arguments between
members of the opposi-
tion and ruling parties
over a decision taken by
Shinde, when he was a
minister in the previ-
ous Maha Vikas Aghadi
(MVA) government.
Shinde had allegedly
allotted land meant for
slum dwellers to private
persons.
In response to allega-
tions, Deputy Chief
Minister Devendra Fad-
navis said in the House
that their government
does not give costly
plots at lower rates to
anyone.
When Leader of Op-
positionAmbadasDanve
was making a statement
over the issue, ruling
Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) leaders including
state Parliamentary Af-
fairs Minister Chandra-
kant Patil objected to it
andaskedCouncilDepu-
ty Chairperson Neelam
Gorhe to give another
time slot to the LoP to
raise the issue.
When the Upper
House proceedings be-
gan on Tuesday
, Gorhe
asked for questions to be
taken up, but Danve, un-
derthePointof Informa-
tion (PoI), stood up and
raised the issue of land
allotment by Shinde.
“It is a very serious
matter. The Nagpur
benchof theBombayHC
hadalreadyputastayon
the handover of the land
and the case was still go-
ing on. Despite that,
Shinde as the urban de-
velopmentministertook
thedecisiontohandover
the land, which is a seri-
ous interference in the
court’s work,” said
Danve.
As both the sides ar-
gued, Gorhe adjourned
Houseproceedingstwice
for 15 minutes each.
When the House reas-
sembled, Fadnavis said,
“The NIT should have
informed Shinde that
the Justice Gilani com-
mittee has been formed
(to conduct an inquiry
into the allotment of the
NIT land) and as the
matter is sub-judice, he
(Shinde)shouldnottake
any decision over it.”
Nagpur (PTI): The
Bombay High Court has
ordered status quo on a
land allotment decision
taken by Chief Minister
Eknath Shinde, when
he was a minister in the
previous Uddhav
Thackeray-led Maha Vi-
kas Aghadi (MVA) gov-
ernment. He had alleg-
edly allocated land
meant for slum dwell-
ers to private persons.
A division bench
comprising Justice
Sunil Shukre and Jus-
tice MW Chandwani of
the high court’s Nagpur
bench, in its order
passed on December 14,
noted that the court
since 2004 has been
monitoring the land al-
lotments made by the
Nagpur Improvement
Trust (NIT) to politi-
cians and other influen-
tial individuals.
This was after a peti-
tion was filed by Nag-
pur-based social activ-
ist Anil Wadpalliwar,
alleging the NIT gave
away land to politicians
and others at meagre
rates.
On December 14, the
bench was informed by
amicus curiae (appoint-
ed by court to assist)
advocate Anand Par-
chure that Shinde dur-
ing his tenure as the
urban development
minister of the MVA
government directed
the NIT to give away
land acquired for hous-
ing scheme for slum
dwellers to 16 private
persons.
“If any such order as
claimed is really passed
then we would direct
the authorities to main-
tain the status quo till
the next date,” said the
court.
The matter would be
heard again on January
04, 2023.
DAY 02 OF MAHARASHTRA LEGISLATURE WINTER SESSION IN NAGPUR
First India Bureau
Nagpur: Deputy Chief
Minister Devendra Fad-
navis said that a probe
will be undertaken as to
what police action was
taken into a complaint
filed by Shraddha
Walkar against Aaftab
PoonawalainNovember,
2020.
Aaftab murdered
Shraddha in May this
year and chopped her
body into multiple piec-
es. The brutal murder
shocked the nation
when it was unearthed
last month.
Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) MLA Atul
Bhatkhalkar had raised
question whether there
was pressure from po-
litical systems behind
this. He demanded that
‘Love Jihad’ cases
should be considered
seriously
.
Bhatkhalkar had also
mentioned that Shrad-
dha had lodged a com-
plaint against Aftab
and his family at the
Vasai police station a
month before her death.
But for some reason,
she withdrew the com-
plaint. But why?
To this, Fadnavis
said, “It does not appear
that there was any pres-
sure from the then gov-
ernment agencies as
well as political parties
in this matter.”
However, the deputy
CM informed that po-
lice are investigating
about the exact reason
for which Shraddha
Walkar withdrew her
complaint.
Nagpur (PTI): Shiv
Sena – Uddhav Balasa-
heb Thackeray leader
Aaditya Thackeray on
Tuesday demanded an
inquiry into Chief Min-
ister Eknath Shinde’s
decision of allotment of
land meant for slum
dwellers to private per-
sons when he was a
minister in the previ-
ous Maha Vikas Aghadi
(MVA) government.
Talking to reporters
in the state legislature
complex here, Thack-
eray also claimed the
“unconstitutional” Ma-
harashtra government
was not willing to lis-
ten and discuss the im-
portant Karnataka-Ma-
harashtra boundary
dispute issue.
The Bombay High
Court recently ordered
status quo on a decision
takenbyShindewhenhe
wasaministerintheUd-
dhav Thackeray-led
MVA government of al-
lotment of land meant
for slum dwellers to pri-
vate persons.
Deputy Chief Minis-
ter Devendra Fadnavis
said in the state Legisla-
tive Council on Tuesday
that the government
does not give costly plots
at lower rates to anyone.
Aaditya Thackeray,
however, demanded an
inquiry into the matter.
He also claimed that
while Karnataka Chief
Minister Basavaraj
Bommai has an aggres-
sive stand on the Karna-
taka-Maharashtra bor-
der issue, the Maha-
rashtra CM and state
ministers are scared to
talk about it.
He said the opposi-
tion wanted to discuss
the issue in the House,
but the government was
not listening.
‘Why did Shraddha take back her complaint?’ Fadnavis clarifies
WINTER SESSION
Deputy CM said that an investigation
will be conducted into what action
was taken into the police complaint
filed by Shraddha Walkar against
Aaftab Poonawala back in 2020
SHINDE WILL REMAIN CM: FADNAVIS It does not
appear
that there
was any pressure
from the then gov-
ernment agencies
as well as political
parties in this
matter. However,
police are investi-
gating about the
exact reason for
which Shraddha
withdrew her com-
plaint .
—Devendra Fadnavis,
Maha Deputy CM
HC orders
status quo on
Shinde land
allocation to
pvt persons
Court has been
monitoring NIT land
allotments to
politicians, others
since 2004
OPPNRAISESCMLANDALLOTMENTISSUE
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde arrives at Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur
on Day 02 of the Winter Session. —PHOTO BY ANI
Maha Legislative Council adjourned
over decision taken by Eknath Shinde
as minister in previous MVA govt
IN DEFENCE
Shinde gave his order
(of land allotment)
in April 2021 saying
all the 16 persons
should be treated at
par with the other
parties whose plots
have been approved.
They should pay the
same amount and
development charges
as paid by the earlier
parties and should be
given the possession
after completion of
lease agreement of
the plots immedi-
ately, Fadnavis said.
Surprisingly, the
decision was out on
April 20, 2021 and
nobody objected to it
for next few months,
he added. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray stages a protest with Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) MLAs
outside the state Assembly in Nagpur on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY ANI
Aaditya seeks probe into land
allotment decision by Shinde
Gadchiroli
locals ‘vote’
for democracy
Opposition targets K’taka
govt in state Assembly
Have learnt some things from
you: Fadnavis tells Ajit Pawar
NCP’s Jayant Patil
said a lathi was raised
at his legislator Hasan
Mushrif on Monday
A plot of
4.5 acres
was for
the construction of
houses for rehabil-
itation of slum
dwellers. Howev-
er, ex-Urban De-
velopment Minis-
ter Eknath Shinde
had issued an or-
der to hand over
the land parcel to
16 persons at the
cost of Rs1.5 crore.
—Ambadas Danve,
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader
Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis
at the inaugural function
of the 49th Parliamentary
Class of the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Board (CPA) in
the Legislative Council Hall on
Tuesday.

MAHARASHTRA
03
Ex-DCP's son in police custody
for abetting city woman's suicide
Mumbai: A retired
DCP’s son has been de-
tained on the charges of
abetting suicide and ex-
tortion. Recently
, the ac-
cused Atish Katakd-
hond’s police custody
was increased by a day
on Monday after his fi-
ance Sonali Sadafule
(28) died by suicide few
days ago. The same
night, Atish got married
to another woman.
According to reports,
Atish’s police custody
was extended since he
could influence the case.
The prosecutor had told
the court that since his
father is a retired senior
police official, granting
judicial custody or bail
could dampen the inves-
tigation and also added
thattheaccusedmayflee
or try to influence the
proceedings.
The report quoted po-
lice official saying that
the accused’s phone has
beenrecoveredclaiming
it could be an essential
piece of evidence.
Sonali died by suicide
on December 14 after At-
ish got married to some-
one else. In her suicide
note, she had written
that he “ruined” her life
and had sexual relations
with her under the pre-
text of marrying her.
Won’t reverse delimitation
order yet: Govt to High Court
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The state
government on Tues-
day assured the Bom-
bay High Court by stat-
ing that it would not
proceed with the de-
limitation process for
the Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corpora-
tion (BMC) elections
till January 05.
The court will hear
on January 03 a plea
filed by former council-
lor Raju Pednekar chal-
lenging the current
government’s order to
reverse the BMC wards’
delimitation decision
taken by previous
Maha Vikas Aghadi
(MVA) government.
On Tuesday, the gov-
ernment told a division
bench comprising Jus-
tice Nitin Jamdar and
Gauri Godse that it was
extending its assur-
ance till January 05.
Initiated in 2021
during the MVA gov-
ernment’s regime, the
delimitation exercise
increased the number
of electoral wards in
the BMC from 227 to
236. However, an ordi-
nance issued by the
Eknath Shinde gov-
ernment on August 08
reinstated these wards
to 227. On September
08, the ordinance was
replaced by an Act.
On November 30,
the state government
assured that it would
not proceed with the
delimitation process
for the BMC till the
court hears a plea filed
by former councillors
on December 20.
Pednekar, a former
councillor belonging to
Shiv Sena - Uddhav
Balasaheb Thackeray
faction, had ap-
proached the court af-
ter the Supreme Court
granted him the liberty
to withdraw his plea
and move the Bombay
High Court regarding
the issue.
He had urged the
high court to declare
the government’s deci-
sion as being against
the Constitution, and
null and void. Pending
the hearing of his plea,
he also sought a stay on
the decision.
The ex-councillor
had even urged the
state election commis-
sion (SEC) to conduct
BMC elections based
on delimitation done
earlier, as per the Su-
preme Court’s orders
on May 04 and July 20.
The high court dis-
missed pleas against
the delimitation initi-
ated by the MVA gov-
ernment considering
236 wards in February.
Court is hearing plea opposing roll
back of MVA order to increase
electoral wards from 227 to 236
NO ACTION YET
Bombay HC to hear the matter on January 05. —FILE PHOTO
HC reserves verdict
in BDD chawls
rehabilitation case
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The Bombay
high court on Monday
reserved its order on a
plea filed by two Mum-
baikars who alleged
that structures built for
rehabilitation of those
living in Bombay Devel-
opment Directorate
(BDD) chawls lacked
ventilation, potentially
endangering their
health.
Shirish Patel and Su-
lakshana Mahajan,
through their lawyer,
had argued that the
buildings’ construction
violates the occupants’
right to health since
there is a shortage of
air, light and ventila-
tion in the repaired
area.
More than 15,000 peo-
ple living in BDD
chawls are to be reha-
bilitated as part of the
BDD chawl reconstruc-
tion project.
Advocate Ashutosh
Kumbhakoni appearing
for the house board of
the state, said that no
occupant has raised
this issue and that eve-
rything has been done
in a transparent way
.
The HC has asked Yes
Bank founder Rana Ka-
poor and DHFL promot-
er Kapil Wadhawan to
explain their locus as
accused in seeking or-
ders that their trial be
conducted in separate
cases of alleged corrup-
tion and money-laun-
dering be held before
one court.
The two are facing
separate cases filed by
the CBI and the En-
forcement Directorate.
More than 15,000
people living in BDD
chawls are to be
rehabilitated as part
of the BDD chawl
reconstruction
project
CBI ARRESTS
NAVI MUMBAI
CGST OFFICIAL
Navi Mumbai: The Central
Bureau of Investigation has
arrested a superintendent
of CGST (Anti-Evasion
Unit) from Vashi, for
demanding a bribe of Rs20
lakh. It was alleged that the
accused demanded money
for closing an investiga-
tion and not arresting the
accused in a GST evasion
case. He later agreed to
take Rs10 lakh. Searches
were conducted at the
premises of the accused
which led to the recovery
of incriminating documents
and the seizure of various
movable as well as immov-
able assets on the basis of
which, he was held.
MAN DUPED OF
`37 LAKH BY CYBER
FRAUDSTERS
Mumbai: A 40-year-old IT
professional from Mumbai
was duped of Rs37.80
lakh by cyber fraudsters
on the pretext of earning
a good commission. The
victim was reportedly
contacted by an unknown
woman on November
22, who lured him into
investing Rs37.80 lakh
by December 03 for a
total return of Rs41.50
lakh. He was asked to
rate travel properties
on a website and pay a
premium amount. When
he requested to withdraw
his earnings, he did not
receive a response from
the woman.
SR CITIZEN HELD
FOR MOLESTING
GRANDDAUGHTER
Thane: A 73-year-old man
was arrested for alleg-
edly molesting his minor
granddaughter, police
said. The 12-year-old girl
had been living with her
father and grandfather
and the incident happened
at their residence. The
victim’s neighbours lodged
a complaint, based on
which, police registered
a case under Section 354
(assault or criminal force
to a woman with intent to
outrage her modesty) and
other relevant provisions
of the Indian Penal Code
and Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences
(POCSO) Act.
HUBBY PUSHES
WIFE OUT FROM
MOVING AUTO
Thane: A 32-year-old
woman suffered seri-
ous injuries as she was
pushed out of a speeding
autorickshaw in Thane,
police said on Tuesday.
The woman was pushed
out of a moving autorick-
shaw on December 17, an
official said. According to
the hospital authorities,
where the victim was
undergoing treatment,
she sustained severe
head injuries. Kopri
police have recorded a
medico-legal case and are
investigating the matter, a
police official said, adding
that no offence has been
registered so far.
MAN KILLED, TWO SONS INJURED AFTER
ATTACK WITH SHARP WEAPONS, IRON RODS
Mumbai: A 49-year-old man died and his two sons were
injured in a fight that took place between two groups
over harassment of a woman in the Trombay area, police
said. The incident happened on December 14, when two
groups got into a fight because the prime accused had
been harassing the deceased man’s 22-year-old daughter.
The victim and his sons were attacked with iron rods and
sharp weapons. They were recovering at a hospital, where
the father died on Monday night, said an official. The police
have arrested four of the 15 accused in connection with
the incident.
ACB NABS POLICE CONSTABLE RED-
HANDED WHILE ACCEPTING `3,000 BRIBE
Palghar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB ) arrested a
police constable from Palghar
district for allegedly accepting a
bribe of Rs3,000 in exchange for
not executing a court warrant is-
sued against a man’s father, said
an ACB official. The complain-
ant said that the constable had
initially demanded a bribe of Rs15,000, but the amount was
negotiated to Rs10,000. The arrest was made when the
constable was accepting Rs3,000 as an initial payment in
front of the Arnala police station, he added.
CRUCIAL READ
Ninth accused
arrested in
Palghar gang-
rape case
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Police made
the ninth arrest, in con-
nection with the alleged
gang rape of a 16-year-
old girl from Satpati vil-
lage in Palghar district,
on Sunday night.
Speaking to the me-
dia Superintendent of
Police Balasaheb Patil,
Palghar said, “We re-
corded a supplementa-
ry statement from the
victim on Sunday, dur-
ing which she told us
that one more accused
was involved in the
crime. He was picked
up from his residence
on Sunday night.”
According to the in-
vestigation, the ninth
accused was present at
the scene of the crime
when the offence was
being committed. The
police are still verifying
if he had any direct in-
volvement in the crime.
The victim has been
in contact with at least
three of them. While a
few of them have pan-
dal decoration busi-
nesses, the others do
odd jobs for a living, of-
ficials said.
“We are probing if
they have targeted the
complainant or any
other victim in the past.
We have examined
their phones and have
not found any video of
the incident,” said a po-
lice officer.
‘BMC officers, staffers not to speak to media’
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The Brihan-
mumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) has
issued a circular that
only the civic chief and
additional municipal
commissioner will be
authorized to speak to
the media henceforth.
In a circular issued
on Monday, Municipal
Commissioner Iqbal
Chahal has instructed
all other officers and
staffers not to speak to
the media.
Only the municipal
commissioner and con-
cerned additional mu-
nicipal commissioners
will be the “competent
authority” and they
will be authorized to
speak to the media, the
circular said.
The circular was is-
sued after it was found
that the department
heads often shared in-
formation, including
policy matters, with the
media without the mu-
nicipal commissioner’s
order, it said. Contradic-
tory information was
getting disseminated
most of the time, which
affected the civic body’s
image among the pub-
lic, the circular said.
Interestingly, an
‘SOS’ call was sent out
by several former coun-
cillors of the civic body,
in a letter to Chief Min-
ister Eknath Shinde,
last week. They alleged
lack of transparency,
financial mismanage-
ment, policy paralysis
and arbitrary transfers
under the rule of state-
appointed administra-
tor and civic chief Iqbal
Singh Chahal.
Circular issued
amid‘dissemination
of contradictory info
affecting the civic
body’s image’
BULLET TRAIN PROJECT
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The Man-
grove Foundation has
signed a Memorandum
of Understanding
(MoU) with the Bombay
Natural History Society
(BNHS India) to under-
standthemovementpat-
tern and habitat use by
birds wintering in the
Thane Creek through
telemetry studies.
According to the
sources, the study will
be carried out as part of
the mitigation plan for
the Bullet Train pro-
ject. The total cost of
the project is expected
to be Rs5.29 crore.
In view of the Mum-
bai-Ahmedabad High-
Speed Rail (MAHSR) or
the Bullet Train project,
the Ministry of Envi-
ronment, Forest and Cli-
mate Change
(MoEFCC) had direct-
edforthepreparationof
a mitigation plan for the
Thane Creek Flamingo
Sanctuary (TCFS).
In this regard, the
Mangrove Cell had pre-
pared a mitigation plan
which was approved by
thePrincipalChief Con-
servatorof Forest(Wild-
life) and Chief Wildlife
Warden in May 2021.
The funds to imple-
ment the activities un-
der the mitigation plan
have been provided to
the Mangrove Founda-
tion by the National
High Speed Rail Corpo-
ration Ltd. (NHSRCL).
Among the various
activities planned un-
der the mitigation plan,
Rs5.29 crore is allocat-
ed to this large scale
satellite/radio tagging
study of migratory
birds in TCFS as pro-
posed by BNHS.
According to Dr Bi-
vash Pandav, Director,
BNHS, this project will
significantly enhance
our understanding of
the use of area by mi-
gratory waterbirds
thereby, helping us to
plan linear infrastruc-
ture projects without
compromising the con-
servation significance
of the region.
“Telemetry gener-
ates useful data to de-
termine migratory
routes, critical stopo-
ver sites, and anthropo-
genic barriers to migra-
tion,” he said.
Intertidal mudflats
in the Thane Creek
provide essential feed-
ing grounds for thou-
sands of migratory
birds. This habitat is a
productive system
that supports impor-
tant species with valu-
able ecosystem
functions and pro-
vides food resources
for bird assemblages.
Soon, study to read movement pattern, habitat used by birds
This project will
significantly en-
hance our un-
derstanding of the use of
area by migratory water-
birds thereby, helping us
to plan linear infrastruc-
ture projects without com-
promising the conserva-
tion significance of the re-
gion. Telemetry generates
useful data to determine
migratory routes, critical
stopover sites, and an-
thropogenic barriers to
migration.
—Dr Bivash Pandav,
Director, BNHS
The study will be carried out as part
of the mitigation plan for the Bullet
Train project. The total cost of the
project is expected to be Rs5.29 cr
3-yr-old slips out of railing gap,
dies after falling from 5th floor
Mumbai (PTI): A
three-year-old boy died
after he fell from the
fifth floor of a club in
south Mumbai where
his family had gone to
watch the FIFA World
Cup final, a police offi-
cial said on Tuesday
.
He slipped out of a
gap in the railing of the
floor on Sunday even-
ing when he was re-
turning from a wash-
room, the official said.
The child, Hrudyan-
shu Rathod, along with
his family members
had gone to the Gar-
ware Club, located at
Churchgate in south
Mumbai, to watch the
FIFAWorldCupmatch,
the official from Ma-
rine Drive police sta-
tion said.
Whilehewasreturn-
ing from the wash-
room, he fell from the
fifth floor.
An 11 year-old boy
,
whowaswalkingahead
of the victim, heard
some noise. When he
turned around, he
found the younger boy
hadfallenintothestair-
case pit, official said.
The boy’s family
had gone to watch
the FIFAWorld Cup
final on Dec 18

PERSPECTIVE
04
l Vol 1 l Issue No. 224
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: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra
Editor: Kartikey Dev Singh
responsible for selection of news
under the PRB Act
Amit Shah
@AmitShah
Best wishes to all the jawans on the
foundation day of Sashastra Seema
Bal. To keep the borders of the country
intact, there has been a golden history of
courage, bravery and supreme sacrifice of
the soldiers of @SSB_INDIA. The bravery,
passion and dedication of the soldiers
of Sashastra Seema Bal is a source of
inspiration for the whole country.
Dharmendra Pradhan
@dpradhanbjp
Magical #Millets for lunch at the
Parliament. Tiny in size but ‘Mighty’ in
nutrients and health. I appeal to everyone
to include the goodness of millets in
their daily diet. Let us also take every
opportunity to enhance awareness about
this magical super food. #IYM2023
SPIRITUAL SPEAK
Being deeply learned and
skilled, being well trained
and using well-spoken
words: this is good luck.
—Buddha
IN-DEPTH
BILAWAL, MARRI
SHOWED THE
TRUE CHARACTER
OF PAKISTAN
akistan won’t change
its stripes was made
clear by its Foreign
Minister Bilawal
Bhutto Zardari with
his harsh, unwarranted and
“uncivilised” comments against
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
at a UN meeting. The External
Affairs Ministry said that Bhut-
to’s comments “mark a new low
even for Pakistan”. After India’s
strong retaliation, Pakistan Peo-
ple’s Party leader Shazia Marri
threatened, “India should not
forget that Pakistan has an atom
bomb. Our nuclear status is not
meant to remain silent. We will
not back down if the need aris-
es.” This war-mongering was
totally unexpected but is in tune
with Pakistan’s true character.
Before pointing at India, Paki-
stan should recall its own record
in East Pakistan (now Bangla-
desh) which seceded after years
of atrocities and human rights
violations. As for Marri’s threat
of a nuclear war it is her naivety
that has been exposed. Marri
forgot the historic surrender by
the Pakistan army in Dhaka and
former Prime Minister Zulfiqar
Ali Bhutto promised to fight a
1000-year war with India.
TOP TWEETS
P
ihar Chief Minis-
ter Nitish Ku-
mar’s prohibition
policy is far from
successful but he
is not the one to backtrack.
With a thriving black-market
his social reform idea is get-
ting defeated. The demand of
alcohol lovers is being clan-
destinely met, albeit at a
price. Those who do not have
access to proper liquor go in
for its spurious version,
which is easily available but
has more often turned out to
be a lethal potion. According
to a report, the state wit-
nessed over 200 hooch deaths
between 2016 and 2021 and
there is a rise in prohibition-
linked corruption. At the
same time the prohibition
policy has led to a sharp fall
in the state’s revenue.
Nitish Kumar would do
well to take a lesson from his
counterpart in Uttar Pradesh
- Yogi Adityanath. The reve-
nue from excise in UP has
been constantly rising over
the years. In 2019 the excise
revenue jumped 38 percent to
Rs 24,000 crore under a new
excise policy which made on-
line bidding mandatory to
get rid of cartels. Its excise
policy for 2021-22 envisages
making safe country-liquor
available to those who love it.
The government expects a
jump of Rs 6,000 crore in ex-
cise revenue, a significant
amount for the state.
It is not that hooch deaths
have not taken place in UP
under BJP rule but the gov-
ernment has taken swift and
effective action to keep hooch
makers in check. With coun-
try-made and foreign-made
liquor easily available there
is no corruption, which also
does a lot of good. Bihar
should persist with prohibi-
tion only if it has other reve-
nue-generating sources.
PROHIBITION PAIN
IN NITISH’S BIHAR
Bihar CM Nitish
Kumar’s prohibition
policy is far from
successful but he is
not the one to
backtrack. With a
thriving black-market his
social reform idea is
getting defeated. The
demand of alcohol lovers
is being clandestinely
met, albeit at a price
B
AMID CHILL, POLITICAL
‘BONFIRES’ KEEP HEAT ON…
inter has finally set in with all
the festivals and fairs being
inaugurated. But amid the
goodwill gestures and the
comfortable settings, politics
is continuing unabated albeit
in a veiled manner. While we
look back to see what all hap-
pened in the political arena, it
isnowallquietontherajneeti
front… as 2022 almost comes
to an end. This year ended on
apoliticalhighwiththreema-
jor elections being held… the
Gujarat and Himachal
Pradesh Assembly elections
and the Delhi MCD polls.
THE OUTCOME IS
KNOWN TO ONE AND
ALL. NOW IT’S ALP-
VIRAM AS THEY SAY…
In 2023, five states will go to
polls and before that the po-
litical lull is much-required.
We take a look at how despite
the festive season and chill
around, the embers of the po-
litical yagna keep ticking…
In the past one week, the
28th edition of Kolkata Inter-
national Film Festival was
inauguratedinKolkatawhere
inaverygenericway
,dignitar-
iesexpressedthemselves.Also
in Parliament, the Mahua
Moitra and Nirmala Sithara-
man verbal chit-chat generat-
ed some heat in this winter.
WE SHALL FOLLOW THE
BYTES AT BOTH THE
OCCASIONS…
Speaking during the inaugu-
ration of the Kolkata Interna-
tional Film Festival at the
Netaji indoor Stadium, West
Bengal Chief Minister,
Mamata Banerjee, on Decem-
ber 15 asserted that the state
always fights for humanity,
unity and integrity and does
not bow down to anyone on
these issues. She went on to
say
, “Bengal has been fighting
for unity
, humanity
, diversity
and integrity. This struggle
will go on,” she said.
What was indirectly seen
as a precursor to the pre-re-
leasebashof hisfilmPathaan,
Shah Rukh Khan was also
present at the Kolkata Inter-
national Film Festival. Dur-
ing his speech at the event,
SRK, who is eagerly anticipat-
ing the release of Pathaan,
touched upon the negative
impacts of social media and
the negative energy that
spreads in society through
social media platforms. Since
the release of Pathaan’s song
“Besharam Rang,” the
hashtag “Boycott Pathaan”
has been trending on Twitter.
People on social media are
criticising SRK and Deepika
Padukone’s green and saffron
costumes in the song.
Without referencing
Pathaan, Shah Rukh talked
about the “narrowness of
view” on social media and
even questioned those with a
pessimistic outlook. “Cinema
and advent of articulation
through social media plat-
forms have now become the
foremost expression of hu-
man emotions and experi-
ence. The collective narrative
of our times is shaped by so-
cial media and contrary to the
belief thatthespreadof social
media will affect the cinema
negatively, I believe cinema
has an even more important
role to play now.” SRK said.
Moreover, while respond-
ing to the ‘#BoycottPathaan’
trend against his film, SRK
said, “I have no objection in
saying that whatever the
world says, I, you and all pos-
itive people are (Zinda Hai)
alive.” His final ‘zinda hain,’
conveyed in the style of his
Pathaan character, drew ap-
plause from the huge crowd
gathered there.
HEAT ON IN
PARLIAMENT
To keep the Winter session of
Parliament warm and politi-
cally relevant, Union Fi-
nance Minister Nirmala Si-
tharaman had Wednesday
slammed the Trinamool Con-
gress (TMC) led West Bengal
government and said that it
is not about whose hands the
‘matchbox’ is but how it is
used. While hitting back at
TMC’s Mahua Moitra’s re-
marks in Parliament, Sithar-
aman said that the central
government used ‘matchbox’
to bring light to the lives of
people, whereas in Bengal, it
was used for arson.
Smarting under Mahua
Moitra’s attack on the Cen-
tre, Sitharaman hit back, say-
ing “maachis” of people’s
mandate given to Mamata
Banerjee’s party led to arson
and loot in the state post elec-
tion victory
.
“Recently, the BJP had a
fantastic victory in Gujarat.
Post-election, the elected gov-
ernment came to power
peacefully and was sworn-in.
Now, compare it with what
happened in West Bengal,
post-elections. Now, who used
the matchbox and how, is the
question,” Sitharaman said.
“Whenwehadtheso-called
matchbox, we gave Ujjwala
Yojana, Ujala, PM Kisan,
launched Swachh Bharat Ab-
hiyan, but when you (TMC)
got the matchbox, there was
arson, rape, violence in Ben-
gal post elections. Houses of
BJP workers were set ablaze.
A central minister was at-
tacked,” she added.
Earlier, known for her fiery
speeches, Moitra had heavily
criticised the government for
its assertions of economic
progress. The choice of her
words, jibe and the scathing
attack was backed by data
and included the taunt “Who
is Pappu now”. The counter-
point by the Finance Minister
was equably loquacious, hit-
ting back to “Search Pappu in
her backyard”.
The Opposition lashed out
at the government pointing
to its effort to obtain gross
supplementary expenditure
for the 2022-23 grants worth
around Rs 4.36 lakh crores
for the current fiscal. The ad-
ditional requirements in-
clude net cash outgo aggre-
gating to over Rs 3.25 lakh
crores and gross additional
expenditure, matched by en-
hanced receipts aggregating
to over Rs 1.10 lakh crores.
However, before the action
starts in 2023, politicians
seemingly will all take a
break as we all hope that San-
ta Claus will have enough
gifts for all… especially for
the ones who remained de-
prived in 2022 and for those
who were robbed of their
rights in 2022.
Merry Christmas to All!
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
W
The Opposition lashed out
at the government pointing
to its effort to obtain gross
supplementary expenditure
for the 2022-23 grants
worth around `4.36 lakh
crores for the current fiscal.
The additional requirements
include net cash outgo
aggregating to over `3.25
lakh crores and gross
additional expenditure,
matched by enhanced
receipts aggregating to
over `1.10 lakh crores
To keep the Winter session of Parl warm and
politically relevant, Union Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman had on Wednesday slammed
TMC led WB govt and said that it is not about whose
hands the ‘matchbox’ is but how it is used. While hitting
back at TMC’s Mahua Moitra’s remarks in Parl, Sitharaman
said that Centre used ‘matchbox’ to bring light to the lives
of people, whereas in Bengal, it was used for arson
ROBIN ROY
The writer is Senior Journalist and
former Managing Editor, First India

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05
INDIA
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Jio starts its
True 5G services in Ker-
ala by launching its 5G
services in Kochi City
and Guruvayur Temple
premises. The Honour-
able Chief Minister of
Kerala, Pinarayi Vijay-
an launched Jio True 5G
and Jio True 5G Pow-
ered Wi-Fi services to-
day, digitally from
Trivandrum, for an
event organised in
Kochi.Jiodemonstrated
the immersive benefits
of 5G in the field of
healthcare, through Jio
Community Clinic med-
ical kit, and the revolu-
tionary AR-VR device,
JioGlass.Thesebenefits
will bring transforma-
tional changes in the
livesof peopleinKerala.
Speaking at the event,
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vi-
jayansaid“Iamhappyto
launch Jio’s True 5G ser-
vices in Kerala. 5G ser-
vices in the long run will
bring transformational
benefits for people of
Kerala. Jio has invested
over Rs.6000 crores for
deploying the 5G net-
work in Kerala and this
showstheircommitment
towards our State. They
will be launching 5G ser-
vices in Trivandrum by
this month end.”
CM Vijayan inaugurates Jio True 5G
JIO TRUE 5G IN KERALA
lll
Trivandrum will
be followed by
Thrissur,
Kozhikode and
Malappuram by
Jan 2023. By
Dec 2023 every
tehsil and taluk of
Kerala will have
Jio’s 5G services
Make popularising millets ‘Jan
Andolan’: PM Modi to BJP MPs
New Delhi (PTI): Good
health associated with
millets and sports took
centre stage in Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi’s address at the
BJP parliamentary par-
tymeetinghereonTues-
day as he asked MPs to
promote them and even
joined lawmakers for a
special millet lunch.
Making millets,
grown by most small
farmers in the country,
popular amounts to
serving the country,
Modi told BJP MPs, ac-
cording to Union minis-
ter Pralhad Joshi who
briefed reporters.
This should be made
a “jan andolan” (peo-
ple’s movement), Joshi
said while quoting the
prime minister.
PM Modi noted that
the UN has declared
2023 as the Internation-
al Year of Millets on his
government’s request
as he called for making
the bouquet of grains
high on nutrition a pop-
ular choice of food for
people.
With tens of thou-
sands of foreign dele-
gates expected to attend
a large number of meet-
ings associated with the
G-20, now being chaired
by India, Modi said mil-
lets will be on the menu.
At a special millet lunch, PM asks the Parliamentarians to promote these foodgrains
VP Jagdeep Dhankhar with PM Narendra Modi, LS Speaker Om Birla, Oppn leader in Rajya Sabha
Mallikarjun Kharge and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar (back) during the millet
luncheon, at Parliament House, in New Delhi on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY ANI
Modi, fellow MPs
enjoy millet lunch
in Parliament
New Delhi (ANI): PM
NarendraModionTues-
day, along with fellow
Membersof Parliament,
enjoyed a lunch hosted
by agriculture minister
Narendra Tomar to
mark Millet Year 2023.
The PM was present
at the event for nearly
40 minutes. Sitting
alongside PM Narendra
Modi while having the
meal were agriculture
minister Narendra
Tomar, defence Minis-
ter Rajnath Singh, Ra-
jya Sabha Chairman
Jagdeep Dhankar and
ex-PM HD Devegowda.
“We prepared delica-
cies including Roti and
sweetsmadeoutof Jwar
bajra and ragi. I was de-
lighted that the Prime
Minister really enjoyed
his meal here,” Minister
of State for agriculture
ShobhaKarandlajesaid.
PM MODI, NADDA ATTEND BJP PARLIAMENTARY PARTY MEET
New Delhi: The BJP par-
liamentary party meeting
began with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, other top
BJP leaders and party
MPs participating, in the
national capital. Prominent
party leaders included
national president JP
Nadda, Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh, External Af-
fairs Minister S Jaishankar,
Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Pralhad Joshi,
Union Minister Arjun Ram
Meghwal and V Muraleed-
haran. Gujarat BJP chief CR
Paatil organised a dinner to
celebrate the party’s biggest
victory in the recently held
assembly polls in the state.
BJPParliamentarians
seekPrezruleinBihar
New Delhi (Agen-
cies): BJP MPs from
Bihar on Tuesday
raised the issue of
deaths due to con-
sumption of spurious
liquor in the state in
Lok Sabha, seeking
imposition of Presi-
dent’s rule there.
BJP MP and former
Union minister Ravi
Shankar Prasad
claimed during Zero
Hour that post-mor-
tem of those who have
died after consuming
spurious liquor in Bi-
har’s Chhapra, has
not been done.
This, the lawmaker
from Patna Sahib
said, was a violation
of human rights.
Prasad demanded
that the teams of Na-
tional Human Rights
Commission and Na-
tional Commission
for Protection of
Child Rights should
visit Chhapra as
many of the dead are
minors.
Amid protests by
JDU members, BJP
MP from Maharajganj
Janardan Singh Sigri-
wal and LJP MP from
Jamui Chirag Paswan
alleged that the Bihar
government is trying
to hide facts about the
tragedy
.
Paswan said that
the tally of Chhapra
hooch tragedy has
been rising on a daily
basis and the state
governmenthasfailed
to take action against
the perpetrators. He
demanded imposition
of President’s rule in
the state.
Both Bihar BJP
MPs and JDU mem-
bers raised slogans
against each other in
Lok Sabha.
More than 70 per-
sons have died in
Chhapra hooch trag-
edy. The JDU-RJD-
Congress Grand Alli-
ance government is in
power in Bihar.
Bihar Assembly Oppn leader Vijay Kumar Sinha with Leader
of the Opposition in Legislative Council Samrat Chaudhary at
a presser, in Patna on Tuesday. —PHOTO BY ANI
HOOCH TRAGEDY
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan at the launch of Jio True 5G services.
Mizoram CM expands his
Cabinet, inducts 1 new face
Aizawl: Mizoram CM
Zoramthanga on Tues-
day expanded his cabi-
net by inducting a fresh
face and elevating three
ministers to the Cabi-
net rank.
Governor Hari Babu
Kambhampati adminis-
tered the oaths of office
and secrecy to K. Lal-
rinliana, Lalchhan-
dama Ralte, Lalruatki-
ma and Lalrinawma.
Lalrinawma, who re-
signed as Deputy Speak-
er of Mizoram Assem-
bly last week, is the new
inductee while the
three other ministers
were Ministers of State
earlier. Chief Minister,
Deputy Chief Minister
Tawnluia, their cabinet
colleagues, Mizoram
Assembly Speaker Lal-
rinliana Sailo, a host of
dignitaries and senior
officials were present.
Mizoram CM Zoramthanga with the ministers on Tuesday.
IN THE COURTYARD
PARSA COAL BLOCK: SC REFUSES TO STAY
MINING PROJECT IN HASDEO ARANYA
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to stay a coal
mining project operated by the Adani Group and owned
by Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited, in the
biodiversity-rich Hasdeo forests in Chhattisgarh, saying
it will not come in the way of development. The area has
witnessed protracted protests by the native tribal commu-
nities over environmental concerns and the impact mining
activities could have on tribal rights. A bench made it clear
that pending petitions challenging land acquisition for Parsa
coal block in Hasdeo Aranya forest area shall not be treated
as any kind of restriction against coal mining activities.
UTTAR PRADESH COURT ACQUITS BJP MP IN
29-YEAR-OLD ATTEMPT TO MURDER CASE
Gonda: A local MP-MLA court here has acquitted BJP
MP from Kaiserganj Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and
three others in a 29-year-old case in which they were
accused of attempting to murder former Uttar Pradesh
minister Vinod Kumar Singh. According to the prosecu-
tion, four assailants opened fire on Vinod Kumar Singh,
also known as Pandit Singh, on December 24, 1993
outside his house in the Nawabganj area here. The police
filed a charge sheet after registering a case against the
BJP MP, and his associates Gyan Singh, Deep Narayan
Yadav and Devdutt Singh.
SC REJECTS UP’S
PLEA WITH `1L COST
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court has rebuked the UP
govt over an inordinate
delay of 1,173 days in filing
a petition against a judge-
ment of the Allahabad High
Court and that too with “in-
correct particulars”, saying
a State litigation cannot be
taken “so casually”. While
rejecting the plea with a
cost of Rs 1 lakh, the apex
court said it has no doubt
that such matters are filed
in a “cursory manner” so
the petitions are dismissed.
“COPS NOT NEEDED TO
DO MORAL POLICING”
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court has upheld the
CISF’s decision to remove
a constable from service
after he was found guilty
of demanding physical
favour from a couple.
The SC order came in
an appeal filed by the
CISF against a Gujarat
High Court order that a
constable named Santosh
Kumar Pandey, who was
dismissed from service
for misconduct, should be
reinstated.
It’s not same Cong, now
it is Italian Cong: BJP
New Delhi (PTI): The
BJP claimed on Tuesday
that the current Con-
gress is not the “origi-
nal” one but “Italian
Congress” as it hit back
at the opposition party
on its president Mall-
ikarjun Kharge’s jibe
that while his party
helped the country get
independence,theruling
party did not lose even a
“dog” for the nation.
ParliamentaryAffairs
Minister Pralhad Joshi
expressed his party’s
strong condemnation of
Kharge’s comments and
claimed that the opposi-
tion party was wrong in
claiming the legacy of
the freedom movement
asMahatmaGandhihad
said after independence
thattheCongressshould
be disbanded.
Pressure mounts
on BJP to expand
K’taka cabinet
Bengaluru (Agencies):
The pressure is mount-
ing on the ruling BJP in
Karnataka to expand
the cabinet ahead of the
Assembly elections
which is less than four
months away. Senior
leaders, Ramesh Jarki-
holi and K.S. Eshwarap-
pa, have stayed away
from the ongoing 10-day
winter session being
held in Belagavi Suvar-
na Vidhana Soudha.
MP Minister
retaliates to
Congress MLA
Gwalior (ANI): MP
Minister Usha Thakur
has retaliated to Con-
gress MLA Arif Masood
forhisSaraswatiShishu
Mandir remark. Late
Monday, Thakur said,
“There is no objection,
get the Shishu Mandir
checked. Shishu Man-
dir gives an intense ini-
tiation to patriotism
and Sanatan culture. It
was hours after, Masood
said that the govt should
clarify “which litera-
ture had been found
wrong and where” fol-
lowing order of scruti-
ny of madrasas.
Not aware if Cong rebels were
promised positions: CT Ravi
Panaji: Stating that he
is not aware whether
any posts were prom-
ised to eight rebel Con-
gress MLAs, BJP’s Goa
desk in-charge CT Ravi
on Tuesday said that the
CM, not him, has the
power to reshuffle cabi-
net. He was addressing
the media after attend-
ing the core committee
meeting of the BJP,
here. “You are asking
the right question to the
wrong person about re-
shuffle. I am not aware
if they (8 MLAs who
joined BJP) were prom-
ised any post while join-
ing BJP
,” Ravi said.
OPPOSITION IN GOA DEMANDS
RELAXATION IN BAN ON LOUD MUSIC
Panaji: Goa’s Leader of
Opposition Yuri Alemao
on Tuesday demanded
relaxation in the ban on
loud music during festi-
vals in the coastal state.
“Authorities harass our
local traditional organisers
but give full liberty to for-
eigners for rave parties,”
Alemao alleged. Obeying
the High Court’s direction,
Goa police have started to
act against those playing
loud music after 10 p.m.
Thus the weddings and
other cultural programs
are stopped after 10 p.m.
Cong stages walkout
in Gujarat Assembly
Gandhinagar (Agen-
cies): Congress MLAs
staged walkout from the
Gujarat Assembly in
protest on Tuesday.
They alleged that the
ruling party was abus-
ing power, not following
the procedures and
snatching away the
rights of the opposition
members. Senior Con-
gress leader Arjun
Modhwadia while ad-
dressing the media
said, “It is unfortunate
that on the first day of
the Assembly session,
we have to stage a walk-
out in protest.”
The Congress MLAs staging a
walkout on Tuesday.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Pralhad Joshi speaks to media.
Rahul Gandhi to interact with farmers in
Haryana today, says Jairam Ramesh
Alwar (FIB): The Con-
gress general secretary,
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s
Jairam Ramesh on
Tuesday said that Rahul
Gandhi will have inter-
actions with ex-service-
men in Haryana on
Wednesday and with
farmers and farmers’
organisations on Friday
.
Gandhi, with other
leaders and party sup-
porters, will reach Del-
hi on December 24 for a
nine-day break.
During this, ‘Bharat
Yatris’ will go home in
their respective states,
including Kerala, Kar-
nataka, Andhra, Assam
and Manipur, and near-
ly 70 containers that are
moving with the yatra
will go for maintenance
and for making neces-
sary arrangements in
theminviewof thecold.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. —FILE PHOTO

06
INDIA
New Delhi (ANI): The
Home Affairs Ministry
(MHA) on Tuesday said
the Govt of India has
not enumerated the
caste-wise population
other than Scheduled
Caste (SC) and Sched-
uled Tribes (ST) in Cen-
sus since independence.
Members of Parlia-
ment have asked ques-
tions on the present
status of the proposed
2021 Census and asked
whether the Govt is
considering to conduct
caste and sub-caste in-
cluding the synonyms-
based census in the pro-
posed census.
Responding to the
questions, Minister of
State (Home Affairs)
Nityanand Rai said that
the intent of the Gov-
ernment to conduct
Census 2021 was noti-
fied in the Gazette of
India on March 28, 2019.
“Due to the outbreak
of the COVID-19 pan-
demic, the Census 2021
and the related field ac-
tivities have been post-
poned until further or-
ders,” he said.
On being asked the
details of the funds like-
ly to be spent on the pro-
posed census, he said
that the Government
has approved Rs 8754.23
crore for the exercise of
Census of India 2021.
Mumbai (Agencies):
In a major boost to the
defence capabilities of
India, the fifth subma-
rine of Project – 75,
INS Vagir, was deliv-
ered to the Indian Navy
on Tuesday. It is a
Kalvari class subma-
rine of Project 75, Yard
11879. Project 75 in-
cludes the indigenous
construction of six
submarines of Scor-
pene design. INS Vagir
will be soon commis-
sioned into the Indian
Navy. It was launched
in November 2020 from
MDL. Sea trials were
commenced in Febru-
ary this year. Before,
INS Vagir, four subma-
rines constructed un-
der Project-75 awre al-
ready in service.
Guwahati (ANI): The
All India United Demo-
cratic Front (AIUDF) on
Tuesday walked out
from the Assam assem-
bly on the first day of its
winter session. As per
AIUDF MLA Aminul Is-
lam, the Opposition AI-
UDF staged a walkout
after the Speaker of the
assembly refused to al-
low their demands seek-
ing discussion on the
eviction drive in vari-
ous places in the state.
“AIUDF walked out
from the Assam assem-
bly after the Speaker did
not allow our demand to
discuss on the issue of
eviction drive by the
state government in var-
ious places of the state,”
Aminul Islam said.
Notably, the winter
session of the Assam
Legislative Assembly
began on Tuesday for
five days. In the session,
more than 20 bills are
likely to be presented.
“It will be a session of 5
days. More than 20 bills
are going to be present-
ed in the Assembly,”
State Minister Pijush
Hazarika said.
Agra: In a first, the
Agra Municipal Corpo-
ration has slapped a no-
tice on the Archeologi-
cal Survey of India
(ASI) asking it to pay Rs
1.9 crore as water tax
and Rs 1.5 lakh as prop-
erty tax on the Taj Ma-
hal, a protected monu-
ment, famous all over
the world. The bills are
for the financial year
2021-22 and 2022-23. ASI
has been asked to clear
the outstanding dues
within 15 days, failing
which the property (Taj
Mahal) would be “at-
tached” if the tax was
not cleared within the
stipulated time. ASI su-
perintendent archaeolo-
gist Raj Kumar Patel
said, “property tax is
not applicable on monu-
ments. We are also not
liable to pay taxes for
waterasthereisnocom-
mercial use of it. Water
is used to maintain
greenery within the
premises. Notices relat-
ed to water and property
tax for Taj Mahal have
been received for the
first time. It could have
been sent by mistake.”
980 dancers selected for Grand Finale of Nat’l competition
New Delhi: Ministry
of Culture organised
two-day National Level
Competition (Grand Fi-
nale) of the Vande
Bharatam Nritya Utsav
2023. The first day of
the competition was
held at Jawahar Lal
Nehru Stadium, here
on Monday
. The compe-
tition was organised on
Tuesday and 980 danc-
ers have been selected
for taking part in the
National Level Compe-
tition (Grand Finale).
The Grand Finale
also featured a special
function in the evening
which was graced by the
august presence of
Speaker, Lok Sabha Om
Birla; Union Minister
for Culture, Tourism
and North Eastern Re-
gion GK Reddy; Minis-
ter of State for Culture
and Parliamentary af-
fairs Arjun Ram Megh-
wal; Minister of state
for Culture and Exter-
nal Affairs Meenakashi
Lekhi and Minister of
state for Defence Ajay
Bhatt.
500 dancers chosen
from the finalists would
perform a grand cultur-
al show during the Re-
public Day 2023 on the
theme of ‘Nari Shakti’.
For this purpose a crea-
tive team of renowned
choreographers, com-
posers, writers and cre-
ative designers have
been engaged to concep-
tualise a seamless cul-
tural show. Vande
Bharatam Nritya Utsav
is the dance competi-
tion event being organ-
ised by the Ministry of
Culture and Ministry of
Defence.
VANDE BHARATAM NRITYA UTSAV 2023
500 dancers out
of the finalists
would perform a
grand cultural
show during the
Republic Day
2023 on the
theme of ‘Nari
Shakti’ Two dancers Shradha and Aditi during a performance.
CRUCIAL READ
TELANGANA GIRL
MARRIES HER
‘KIDNAPPER’
PROBE ON AS BRIDGE
BUILT OVER RIVER IN
BIHAR COLLAPSES
BRS MLA APPEARS
BEFORE ED FOR
SECOND DAY
Hyderabad: The kidnap-
ping of a 18-year-old girl
from Telangana’s Rajan-
na Sircilla district took
a twist with the girl now
releasing a video of her
marriage with the boy-
friend who “kidnapped”
her. Shamili stated that
she was not kidnapped
but at her request, her
boyfriend Gnaneswar
took her from home as
her parents were trying
to marry her off to some
other man.
Begusarai: An inqui-
ry has been ordered
into the collapse of a
yet-to-be-inaugurated
bridge in Begusarai
district of Bihar, an
official said on Tuesday.
The bridge built over the
Burhi Gandak river col-
lapsed in the early hours
of Sunday bringing the
spotlight on sub-stan-
dard construction works
in the state, he said. The
bridge had developed
cracks a few days earlier.
Hyderabad: BRS MLA
Pilot Rohith Reddy ap-
peared before the En-
forcement Directorate
(ED) for a second day
on Tuesday. The MLA,
who was questioned
for about six hours on
Monday in connection
with the alleged mon-
ey laundering probe,
told reporters, After
coming out of ED
office, that there was
still no clarity about
the case in which he
was summoned.
COURTESY MEET!
Google CEO Sundar Pichai calls on EAM Jaishankar on courtesy call. They discussed India’s
digital transformation and global strategic developments.
Eviction issue: Assam
Opposition stages
walkout from Assembly
In a first, ASI gets
water, property tax
notices for Taj Mahal
Assam State Assembly in Guwahati. —FILE PHOTO
INS Vagir submarine delivered to Navy
It is a Kalvari class submarine
of Project 75, Yard 11879.
New Delhi (ANI): The
NIA has filed a charge
sheet against five per-
sons in a case linked to
radicalization and re-
cruitment of youth into
the Communist Party
of India (Maoist).
The NIA filed
chargesheet before a spe-
cial court at Vijayawada
in Andhra Pradesh
against the five accused
— Dongari Devendra,
Dubasi Swapna and
ChukkaShilpa-formoti-
vating Radha to join the
Chaitanya Mahila Sang-
ham (CMS) and subse-
quently radicalized and
recruited her to the pro-
scribedorganization,CPI
(Maoist), under the lead-
ership of underground
Maoists, RK (since de-
ceased)UdayandAruna.
The probe so far re-
vealed that the accused
had indeed attracted
gullible young girls to
the organization, CMS,
undertheguiseof social
work and depending on
their dedication to the
organization, such girls
would be identified and
sent to the proscribed
organization, CPI (Mao-
ist), the NIA said.
Recruitment of
Maoist cadres:
Chargesheet
filed against 5
GoI has not enumerated caste-wise population other than
SCs and STs in Census since Independence: Ministry in Parl
People confident that Modi govt will recover land lost
to China in 1962 war: BJP MP Prataprao Patil in LS
WINTER SESSION OF PARLIAMENT
HAVEN’TENUMERATEDCASTECENSUS:MHA
BJP MP BRIJ LAL MOVES ZERO-HOUR NOTICE IN
RAJYA SABHA TO DISCUSS RPG ATTACK IN PUNJAB
New Delhi (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP
Brij Lal gave Zero Hour notice in the Upper House
of Parliament to discuss the Rocket-Propelled
Grenade (RPG) attack in Punjab. A low-intensity
blast was reported at the Tarn Taran Police Sanjha
Kendra in Punjab on December 9, which the police
said was a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) attack.
It also said that they have registered a case under
the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. In the
case, the Punjab Police on December 16 informed
that they have arrested six persons, including two
juveniles, for RPG attack at Police Station Sarhali
building in Tarn Taran.
OUT OF OVER 18 LAKH GRIEVANCES, AS MANY AS
15,68,097 REDRESSED IN 2022: CENTRE TO PARLIAMENT
ED PROBING 87 MONEY LAUNDERING CASES AGAINST
MPs, MLAs MLCs IN LAST 5 YEARS: MoS CHAUDHARY
New Delhi: A total of 18,19,104 grievances were received by
all Ministries and Departments of which 15,68,097 PG cases
were redressed in 2022, Ministry of Personnel, Public Griev-
ances Pensions stated on Tuesday. Of these 11,29,642 cases
were disposed of by the Central Ministries and 4,38,455 cases
were disposed by the States and UTs, the ministry said in a
statement. According to the ministry, the average disposal time
of Central Ministries and Departments has improved from 32
days in 2021 to 27 days in 2022. As many as 1,71,509 appeals
were received of which over 80 per cent were disposed of.
Over 57,000 grievances have received the rating of “excellent
and very good” from the citizens in the feedback conducted by
the BSNL call centre during July-November.
New Delhi: During the last five years, the Enforcement
Directorate (ED) has taken up investigation in around 87
cases under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laun-
dering Act, 2002 (PMLA) against MPs, MLAs and MLCs
(both former and sitting). Minister of State (MoS), Finance,
Pankaj Chaudhary on Tuesday in a written reply in the Rajya
Sabha said that during the last five years 59 Prosecution
Complaints (PCs) have been filed before the Special Court
(PMLA) which are at various stages of trial. The provisions
of PMLA came into force with effect from July 1, 2005 and
till date trial has been completed only in 36 cases by the
Special Court, PMLA and the remaining 1,082 cases are at
various stages of trial.
864 IPS OFFICERS’
POSTS VACANT
ACROSS INDIA: MHA
A total of 864 posts of
Indian Police Service
(IPS) officers are cur-
rently vacant across the
country, the Ministry
of Home Affairs (MHA)
informed the Lok Sabha
on Tuesday. The vacan-
cies in the service are
caused due to factors
such as retirement, res-
ignation, death, removal
of service, MoS (Home)
Nityanand Rai said in a
written reply.
NAXAL VIOLENCE
REDUCED BY 77% IN
LAST 11 YEARS: GOVT
TELLS LOK SABHA
The incidents of Naxal
violence have reduced by
77 percent from the high
of 2,213 in 2010 to 509 in
2021, Union Minister of
State for Home Nityanand
Rai said in Lok Sabha on
Tuesday. Similarly, resultant
deaths (civilians and secu-
rity forces) have reduced
by 85 percent from the high
of 1,005 in 2010 to 147
in 2021, Rai said, adding
that the declining trend
continues in 2022. “Stead-
fast implementation of the
national policy has resulted
in consistent decline in vio-
lence in Left Wing Extrem-
ism (LWE) affected areas by
77%,” he said.
NIA INVESTIGATING 11
CASES OF GANGSTER-
TERROR NEXUS: HOME
MINISTRY TELLS LS
The National Investigation
Agency (NIA) is investigat-
ing eleven cases in which
nexus between terrorists,
drug smugglers and traf-
fickers based in India and
abroad have been found,
Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA) told the Lok Sabha
on Tuesday. Asked whether
the government is aware of
the increase in the number
of cases of nexus between
terrorists, drug smugglers
and traffickers based in India
and abroad Rai said, “NIA
is investigating 11 cases in
which nexus between ter-
rorists, drug smugglers and
traffickers based in India and
abroad have been found.”
—PIC FOR REPRESENTATIONAL PURPOSE

07
Commodity Price Change % Chg
GOLD 54,740.00 38.00 0.06 (Per 10g)
SILVER 67,984.00 328.00 0.48 (Per 1kg)
COMMODITIES
Currency Price Change % Chg
USDINR 82.75 0.13 0.15
GBPINR 100.54 0.47 0.46
CURRENCIES
GSF to invest $550m in India’s edu sector
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Singapore-
based Indian-origin Global
Schools Foundation (GSF)
announced on Tuesday
plans to invest over $550
million in India’s school
education sector by 2026.
GSF has seen a massive
post-Covid increase in de-
mand for admission from
domestic communities
moving across cities with-
in India.
“It is imperative that
GSF takes necessary steps
in investing to provide
guaranteed admissions to
such relocating students
across its networks with
zero disruptions,” Atul Te-
murnikar, Executive
Chairman and Co-founder
of GSF, said.
“The GSF global expan-
sion plans to have India as
one of its strategic growth
markets, and plans to in-
vest over $550 mn in India’s
school education sector by
year 2026,” he added.
BY 2026
SEEN A RISE
IN DEMAND
z GSF, which already has
a presence in Bangalore,
Pune, Ahmedabad
and Noida, has seen
a massive post-Covid
increase in demand for
admission from domestic
communities moving
across cities within India
as from families relocating
from foreign shores to
India and vice-versa.
business
BRIEFS
New Delhi (PTI): India
has exported 5.62 lakh
tonne of sugar so far in
the current 2022-23 mar-
keting year that began in
October, trade body AIS-
TA said on Tuesday. In
November, the govern-
ment allowed the export
of 60 lakh tonne of sugar
in the current (2022-23)
marketing year (October-
September). According
to the All India Sugar
Trade Association (AIS-
TA), the dispatches for
exports from sugar mills
were at 12.19 lakh tonne,
out of which physical
shipment completed
stood at 5.62 lakh tonne
till December 9 of the
current marketing year.
New Delhi (PTI): Domes-
tic non-conventional ener-
gy sector has received
over $13 billion through
Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) route in the last 22
years, Parliament was in-
formed on Tuesday. FDI,
up to 100%, is permissi-
ble through automatic
route for the promotion of
solar power generation in
the country, Minister for
New and Renewable Ener-
gy (MNRE) R K Singh
said. Non-conventional
sources of energy in-
cludes solar, wind and
other renewable sources.
INDIA GOT $13 BN FDI
IN NON CONVENTIONAL
ENERGY SECTOR
INDIA EXPORTS
5.62L TONNE SUGAR
TILL DECEMBER 9
Mumbai (PTI): Singapore-
based Princeton Digital
Group (PDG)is exploring
opportunities to expand
its footprints to other In-
dian cities. “India is a key
market for us, and with
our Navi Mumbai data
centre becoming opera-
tional, we are exploring to
expand to (other) cities,
including Bangalore,
Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad
and Pune. Each of these
data centres will be of 48
MW capacity with over
$300 million investment,”
PDG MD, India said.
PDG PLANS TO
EXPAND TO OTHER
INDIAN CITIES
New Delhi (PTI): The
government has raised
over `4.04 lakh crore
through disinvestment
and strategic sale of
public sector enterprises
since the Modi govern-
ment came into power
in 2014, the Finance
Ministry said on Tues-
day. Of this, the largest
amount totalling over
`1.07 lakh crore
through offer for sale in
59 cases. This was fol-
lowed by a stake sale
through Exchange Trad-
ed Fund (ETF) in 10
tranches, aggregating to
`98,949 crore.
GOVT RAISES OVER
`4 LAKH CR VIA
DISINVESTMENT
*Rates till the edition went to print.
EPFO ADDS 12.94 LAKH
NET SUBSCRIBERS IN
OCTOBER 2022
New Delhi (PTI): Retire-
ment fund body EPFO added
12.94 lakh subscribers on a
net basis in
October 2022,
the labour
ministry said
on Tuesday.
Of the total 12.94 lakh
members added during the
month, around 7.28 lakh new
members have been covered
under the social security cover
of the EPFO for the first time,
the provisional payroll data of
Employees’ Provident Fund
Organisation (EPFO) showed.
DISCOMS' OUTSTANDING
DUES REDUCED BY
`29,857 CRORE
New Delhi (PTI): Power
distribution utilities or dis-
coms’ total outstanding dues
reduced by
`29,857 crore
to `1,08,092
crore,
which were
`1,37,949 crore on June 3,
2022, Parliament was in-
formed on Tuesday. One of the
key indicators of financial dis-
tress of discoms is mounting
power purchase dues towards
the generation companies
(gencos), Power minister R K
Singh in a written reply.
ADANI GREEN ENERGY’S ENTIRE OPERATING
CAPACITY NOW ZERO-WASTE-TO-LANDFILL
New Delhi (PTI): Renewable energy firm Adani Green Energy on
Tuesday said that its entire operating capacity is now zero-waste-
to-landfill certified. “Adani Green Energy
Ltd (AGEL), the renewable energy
arm of the diversified Adani portfolio
companies has received the Zero Waste
to Landfill (ZWL) certification for 100%
of its operating capacity,” a company
statement said. This assessment was
undertaken by Intertek, which deliv-
ers innovative and bespoke assurance, testing, inspection and
certification solutions.
FODDER PRICES SEE A RISE OF UP TO 28 PER
CENT IN NOVEMBER 2022, SAYS GOVERNMENT
New Delhi (PTI): Fodder prices have increased by 28% in No-
vember compared to the same month last year, the government
said on Tuesday. “Wholesale price index
(WPI) data released by the Commerce
and Industry Ministry, showed that the
index value for fodder has recorded at
225.7 in November 2022, registering
an increase of 27.66% over the same
month last year (176.8),” Fisheries,
Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister
Parshottam Rupala said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
OTHER STORIES
`17,176crGSTcompensationpending
First India Bureau
New Delhi: The govern-
ment on Tuesday informed
Rajya Sabha that GST com-
pensation of `17,176 crore
is pending to states as on
June 2022. Replying to sup-
plementaries during the
Question Hour, Minister of
State for Finance Pankaj
Chaudhary said the Centre
is giving GST compensa-
tion to states for five years.
He said even during Cov-
id times when no GST was
collected, the Government
of India had given compen-
sation to states after taking
loans of `1.1 lakh crore and
1.59 lakh crore during 2020-
21 and 2021-22.
“A total of only `17,176
crore GST compensation is
pending as on June 2022,”
the minister told the house.
Replying to other que-
ries, Finance Minister Nir-
mala Sitharaman said, “As
of now, since we have
somewhat cleared all the
dues up to June, and about
`17,000 crores pending is to
be given.”
“Details of GST com-
pensation pending for
June 2022 for Tamil Nadu
is `1200.6148 crores only.
Utilisation certificate
from a state has not been
reached, that cannot be
treated as pending one,”
she told the House.
She said in 2022-23, edu-
cation has received more
than one lakh crore, and
the sector has been given
higher priority
She also said that the
Centre collected 28.1% of
cess and surcharge in gross
tax revenue of `25.16 lakh
crore in 2021-22.
This was 25.1% of `20.27
lakh crore of gross tax rev-
enue in 2020-21 18.2% of
`20.10 lakh crore of gross
tax revenue in 2019-20.
CENTRE OWES TO STATES
New Delhi (PTI): Banks have written off `11.17 lakh crore bad
loans from their books in the last six years till financial year
2021-22, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. The non-
performing assets (NPAs), including those in respect of which
full provisioning has been made on completion of four years,
are removed from the balance sheet of the bank concerned by
way of write-off. “As per RBI data, public sector banks (PSBs)
and scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) wrote off an aggregate
amount of `8,16,421 crore and `11,17,883 crore respectively
during the last six financial years.”
BANKS WRITE OFF LOANS WORTH `11.17
LAKH CRORE IN LAST 6 YEARS
New Delhi (PTI): Puduch-
erry
, Lakshadweep and Goa
have emerged as best-per-
forming among all states
and Union Territories in
the Social Progress Index
(SPI), while Jharkhand and
Bihar as worst, according
to a report mandated by the
Economic Advisory Coun-
cil to the Prime Minister
(EAC-PM).
The report titled 'Social
Progress Index: States and
Districts of India' released
by EAC-PM Chairman
Bibek Debroy further said
that Aizawl (Mizoram),
Solan (Himachal Pradesh)
and Shimla (Himachal
Pradesh) have emerged as
the top 3 best-performing
districts.
According to the report,
Puducherry has the high-
est SPI score of 65.99 in the
country, attributable to its
remarkable performance
across components like
personal freedom and
choice, shelter, and water
and sanitation.
Lakshadweep and Goa
closely follow it with scores
of 65.89 and 65.53, respec-
tively, it added.
As per the report,
Jharkhand and Bihar
scored the lowest, 43.95 and
44.47, respectively
.
The report ranks 36
states/Union Territories
and 707 districts of India
based on their perfor-
mance across various so-
cial progress indicators.
Mumbai (PTI): Equity
benchmarks recovered
most of their intra-day
losses and ended margin-
ally lower on Tuesday amid
buying in index majors Re-
liance Industries and Tata
Consultancy Services.
Helped by last minute
buying activity in some of
the index heavyweights,
the 30-share BSE bench-
mark Sensex managed to
trim most of its early de-
clines and ended lower by
103.90 points or 0.17% at
61,702.29. During the day, it
had tumbled 703.51 points
or 1.13% to 61,102.68.
The broader NSE Nifty
dipped 35.15 points or
0.19% to end at 18,385.30.
From the Sensex pack,
Tata Motors, Hindustan
Unilever, Mahindra Ma-
hindra, Larsen Toubro,
Bharti Airtel, Maruti Su-
zuki, NTPC, Tech Mahin-
dra, Bajaj Finance and
Tata Steel were among the
major laggards.
Tata Consultancy Ser-
vices, Reliance Industries,
UltraTech Cement, In-
dusInd Bank, Axis Bank
and ICICI Bank ended in
the green from the pack.
New Delhi (PTI): The Cen-
tre on Tuesday informed
Parliament that it has
achieved integration of
1,260 wholesale mandis, lo-
cated in 22 states and three
union territories, with the
electronic-National Agri-
culture Market (e-NAM).
Right now, farmers auc-
tion their agricultural pro-
duce at 6,900-odd APMC
mandis spread across the
nation. Some of them are
also using online bidding
through e-NAM platform.
Agriculture Minister
Narendra Singh Tomar
said: “As on November 30,
2022, 1,260 mandis of 22
States and 3 UTs have been
integrated with e-NAM
platform.”
These states include
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh, Goa, Guja-
rat, Haryana, HP
Jharkhand, Karnataka,
Kerala, MP, Maharashtra,
Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,
Telangana, Tripura, UP
, Ut-
tarakhand, West Bengal,
Chandigarh, JK, and Pu-
ducherry, he said.
Further, based on the
proposals/Detailed Project
Reports (DPRs) received
from states/ UTs, the cen-
tral government is inte-
grating mandis with e-
NAM platform, Tomar
added.
Puducherry,Lakshadweep,
Goa best performers in SPI
Share mkt recover most of
losses,endmarginallylower
eNAM:1,260mandisonboarded
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 13 paise to settle at 82.75
(provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday as investors
turned cautious in view of a
negative trend in domestic
equities and rising crude
prices in the global mar-
kets. At the interbank forex
market, the local unit opened
weak at 82.69 against the
greenback and witnessed an
intra-day high of 82.69 and a
low of 82.88. It finally ended at 82.75 against the American cur-
rency, a decline of 13 paise over its previous close of 82.62.
` DECLINES 13 PAISE TO 82.75 AGAINST $
Domestic air
passenger traffic up
11% to 116 lakh
Airtel acquires nearly
8% stake in Lemnisk
First India Bureau
New Delhi: India’s domes-
tic passenger traffic rose
11.06% to 116 lakh in No-
vember over the year-ago
period, according to the lat-
est data from aviation regu-
lator DGCA.
In November 2021, the
air passenger traffic stood
at 105.16 lakh.
The data showed that do-
mestic carriers carried
116.79 lakh passengers in
November, higher than
114.07 lakh recorded in Oc-
tober.
After being severely hit
by the coronavirus pan-
demic, the country’s civil
aviation sector is on the
recovery path and in recent
days, daily domestic air
traffic on an average is
more than 4 lakh.
New Delhi (PTI): Telecom
operator Bharti Airtel has
acquired a strategic stake
of around 8% in Lemnisk
under its
startup ac-
c e l e r a t o r
programme
for an undis-
closed amount.
Bengaluru-based Lemni-
sk offers real-time market-
ing automation and secure
Customer Data Platform
(CDP) capable of orches-
trating one-to-one person-
alisation.

08
2NDFRONT
Congress workers stage protest
over rising fuel prices in Pune
First India Bureau
Pune: An agitation was
staged by workers and
leaders of the Congress
party in the city over
fuel prices on Tuesday.
They demanded that
the prices of petroleum
products be slashed in
light of the sharp de-
cline in the prices of
crude oil in the interna-
tional market.
The Congress’ Pune
city unit protested out-
side the regional office
of Hindustan Petrole-
um Corporation Ltd
(HPCL) and gave a
memorandum to offi-
cials, said party leader
Ramesh Bagwe.
“In March, when the
crude oil prices were
129 per barrel, the price
of petrol and diesel was
more than Rs100 per li-
tre. For the past several
months, the price of
crude oil in the interna-
tional market has
dropped drastically,”
said former MLC and
MPCC Vice President
Mohan Joshi.
Crude oil costs
around Rs76 to Rs80 per
barrel. Despite this, the
prices of petrol and die-
sel are around Rs106
and Rs94 per litre, he
said.
Uproar in House over devt
works suspension by govt
Sandeep Shukla
Mumbai: An uproar
was caused in the state
Assembly on Tuesday
over suspension of de-
velopment works in the
constituencies of oppo-
sition MLAs on the sec-
ond day of the Maha-
rashtra Legislature’s
Winter Session. Oppo-
sition bench raised slo-
gans in the House while
demanding the lifting
of ban on developmen-
tal projects.
In July, the current
Shinde-led government
had suspended develop-
mental works across
the state initiated by its
predecessors (Maha Vi-
kas Aghadi govern-
ment) in office.
Raising the issue,
Leader of the Opposi-
tion in the Assembly,
Ajit Pawar, said that
developmental works
approved in the state
budget have been post-
poned by the govern-
ment. He further
claimed that several
meetings were held
with the chief minister
and his deputy in this
regard, but no solution
was found. “State gov-
ernments come and go,
but sanctioned works
of the government are
never stopped. These
developmental works
are of Maharashtra,
and not of Gujarat,
Karnataka and Telan-
gana,” he said.
In response, Deputy
Chief Minister Deven-
dra Fadnavis said that
the works were stopped
when Uddhav Thack-
eray became the chief
minister. “The works
of my Assembly con-
stituencies were
stopped (when Thack-
eray was CM). BJP
MLAs did not get a sin-
gle penny. However, we
are not vindictive peo-
ple. Our government
has lifted the ban on
70% of the works. The
remaining 30% are un-
der consideration since
provision rules were
not followed during ap-
proval.”
However, opposition
members were not sat-
isfied with Fadnavis’s
reply. They gathered at
the well of the House
and started sloganeer-
ing. Shiv Sena leader
After a chamber
meeting with Speaker
Rahul Narwekar, Chief
Minister Eknath Shin-
de assured opposition
leaders of a meeting for
a positive resolution of
the issue. It was only
after this that the oppo-
sition members calmed
down and the House
resumed the session.
Opposition bench
stalled proceedings
over issue, allowed
resumption after
assurance of meet
with the CM
THE ISSUE
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Chhota Ra-
jan has been discharged
by the sessions court in
a case related to the 1999
murder of an alleged
member of the Dawood
Ibrahim Gang. The
court allowed Rajan’s
discharge plea on De-
cember 17 and the de-
tailed order became
available on Tuesday
.
As per the prosecu-
tion, Anil Sharma, an
alleged member of the
Dawood gang, was shot
by Rajan’s men in sub-
urban Andheri on Sep-
tember 2, 1999. Sharma
was allegedly part of
the team that had car-
ried out a shoot out at
JJ hospital on Septem-
ber 12, 1992. The shoot-
ing had been allegedly
carried out by the Da-
wood gang to kill a rival
gang member.
Sharma was killed
due to the rivalry be-
tween Dawood and Ra-
jan gangs, the prosecu-
tion claimed. But the
judge, in his order, not-
ed that the prosecution
did not bring or collect
any incriminating evi-
dence against this ap-
plicant (Rajan) except
the words allegedly ut-
tered by the informant
(complainant).
“Upon perusal of the
charge-sheet, there is
no prima-facie evidence
available to prove con-
spiracy of this appli-
cant along with the
other accused to com-
mit the murder of Shar-
ma,” the court added.
Chhota Rajan
discharged in
murder case
CBI seeks extension of stay on
ordergrantingbailtoDeshmukh
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The Central
Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) approached the
Bombay high court on
Tuesday seeking exten-
sion till January 3 on the
stay on an order grant-
ing bail to former Maha-
rashtra home minister
Anil Deshmukh in a cor-
ruption case. The high
courtsaiditwillhearthe
CBI’s application on
Wednesday
.
A single bench of Jus-
tice MS Karnik on De-
cember12grantedbailto
the73-year-oldNCPlead-
er in the case, but said
theorderwillbeeffective
after 10 days, as the CBI
had sought time to chal-
lengeitintheapexcourt.
The probe agency on
Friday filed its appeal in
the Supreme Court, but
the plea would be heard
only in January 2023
since the court has
closed for vacation.
Appearing for the CBI
on Tuesday
, Additional
Solicitor General Anil
Singh sought Justice
Karniktoextendtheear-
lier stay till January 3.
“This court had granted
bail, but it was not to be
effected. The Supreme
Court doesn’t have a va-
cation bench unfortu-
nately
. So the order may
be extended till January
3,” Singh said.
Deshmukh’s lawyer
Aniket Nikam opposed
the same and said there
was a vacation registrar
available in the apex
court. Justice Karnik
then said the court
would hear the CBI’s ap-
plication (seeking exten-
sion of the stay) on
Wednesday
.
BAIL TO PRIVATE
SECRETARY OF
NCP LEADER
Mumbai (PTI): The
Bombay High Court on
Tuesday granted bail
to Sanjeev Palande,
former private secre-
tary of NCP leader Anil
Deshmukh, in a money
laundering case being
probed by the En-
forcement Directorate
(ED). A single bench
of Justice NJ Jama-
dar granted bail to
Palande, who has been
in jail since he was
arrested by the ED in
June 2021. A detailed
order on the same is
awaited. Palande, how-
ever, will not be able to
walk out of jail, as he
is also facing a case
of corruption being
probed by the Central
Bureau of Investigation
(CBI). The ED sought
the high court to stay
its order granting bail
which was refused.
Maha Gram Panchayat polls:
BJP’s dominance continues
First India Bureau
Kolhapur: TheBharati-
ya Janata Party (BJP)
continued its domi-
nance in the Maharash-
tra Gram Panchayat
elections. The saffron
party won in Kolhapur
district,includingChan-
dgad, Ajra, and Gadh-
inglaj talukas.
Although the Nation-
alist Congress Party
(NCP) was leading in
Chandgarh, Ajra, and
Gadhinglaj talukas, the
BJP won the maximum
seats. There was fierce
competition between
MLA Rajesh Patil and
BJP leader Shivajirao
Patil in the previous
elections. But in the
Gram Panchayat elec-
tions, the Shivajirao Pa-
til group has shown its
supremacy
.
In Chandgarh taluka,
29 Gram Panchayats out
of 40 have gone under
BJP’s control, while in
Ajra taluka, 8 out of 13,
and in Gadhinglaj talu-
ka, 14 out of 27 Gram
Panchayats have been
won by BJP. The party
leaders said that they
got resounding success
in the elections held un-
der the leadership of
Shivaji Patil in all three
talukas.
Since the BJP has
gained dominance in
the Gram Panchayat
elections, all eyes are
now on whether this
will be a good sign for
future assembly elec-
tions or if the result
would be different. How-
ever, the NCP has ex-
pressed shock as the
BJP dominated these
three talukas.
A war of words erupt-
ed between the BJP and
Congress over the re-
sults of the Gram Pan-
chayat elections on
Tuesday
.
Speakingtothemedia
outside the Vidhan
Bhavan complex,
Bawankule said as per
the latest trends, BJP-
backedGramPanchayat
candidates have won in
more than 3,500 seats,
and those supported by
Shinde-led Shiv Sena
faction were winning in
more than 1,000 seats.
Dismissing BJP’s
claim, the state unit of
Congress said that the
ruling party is doing
“false propaganda” and
claimed that the highest
number of more than
900 sarpanches (village
heads)wereelectedfrom
the Congress alone.
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
z
POLL RESULTS
Over 7,751 Gram Panchayat seats
across 34 districts in Maharashtra
went to elections on December 18
Demand prices of
petrol and diesel
be slashed to `70
per litre from the
current cost of `106
and `94 per litre
Multi-modal corridor’s land
acquisition cost up by `21K cr
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The 127km-
long multi-modal cor-
ridor from Alibaug to
Virar, which has been
under consideration
for over a decade, saw
its land acquisition
cost shoot to Rs21,000
crore in 2022. In 2012,
when the project was
initially conceived,
the proposed cost for
the same was Rs2,215
crore.
The total cost of the
project has also spi-
ralled over four-fold
from Rs12,554 crore in
2012 to Rs55,564 crore
in 2022.
Around 1,347.22 hec-
tareof landisrequired
for the project, of
which some of the ar-
eas are forests, while a
major section is owned
by private parties.
The project is to be
completed in two phas-
es with a stretch of
98km connecting
Navghar to Balavali
under alignment 1 and
29km-long connecting
Balavali to Alibaug
under alignment 2.
We are happy because we
laugh- try and start your
day with laughter and joy!
—Dr Jagdeesh Chandra,
CEO Editor-in-Chief, First India
—PHOTO
BY
PTI
New Delhi (PTI): Con-
gress leader Rahul Gan-
dhi on Tuesday asked
PM Narendra Modi to
stop favouring friends
and start serving people
reeling under high infla-
tion.Hehighlightedthat
the Cong government in
Rajasthan is providing
gas cylinders at less
than half the price pro-
vided by the Centre.
Rajasthan's Con-
gress government's big
announcement of pro-
viding gas cylinders for
Rs 500 -- less than half
the price of the Central
government. Mr PM,
stop favouring your
'friends' and serve the
people hit hard by high
inflation, Gandhi said.
Gandhi and his party
have been attacking the
PM and his government
over the rise in prices
of essential commodi-
ties, saying they are
hurting the poor.
‘Stop favouring friends,
start serving people’
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with supporters during the party’s
Bharat Jodo Yatra, in Alwar district on Tuesday.
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's
'Bharat Jodo Yatra' will enter the national capital
via the Badarpur border early on December 24
morning, the party's Delhi unit president Anil
Chaudhary said on Tuesday. He said over 25,000
people have signed up for the Delhi leg of the
march. Not just workers and party members,
there are several people who joined the Yatra for a
day or two to show their support for this initia-
tive. The manual registration process was on until
December 18 and we received an overwhelming
response from the public, Chaudhary said.
‘BHARAT JODO YATRA’ TO ENTER
DELHI ON DECEMBER 24 MORNING
RAHUL GANDHI JABS PM MODI ON INFLATION

MUMBAI, WEDNESDAY,
DECEMBER 21, 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
Forever Miss, Mrs and Teen
2022 witnessed a dazzling
night on Sunday at Hotel
Marriott, Jaipur, where
ravishing models walked the
ramp wearing exquisite
designer collection and the best
ones from each category were
crowned on the occasion!
beautiful crowning cere-
mony of National level
beauty pageant Forever
Miss, Mrs and Teen India 2022
Season 2 powered by Forever
Leaves and Forever Star India
was organised at Hotel Marri-
ott, Jaipur on Sunday
. The top finalists
of Miss, Mrs and Teen category from all
across the globe showcased their looks
and talent by walking the ramp in de-
signer evening gowns. Despite the chal-
lenges and tough competition, it was a
delight to see beautiful women come
together with one common intention,
“Beauty with a Purpose”. I personally
believe that, these pageants really help
voicing the glories and challenges of
various cities, states and cultures. The
self-assured responses and deeply held
convictions of the models ensured that
the crown belonged to them.
CEO and Founder Rajesh Aggarwal
and Show Directors Jaya Chauhan and
Khushi Sabu said that a total of 56 mod-
els of Miss, Mrs and Teen categories
have participated in the national level
crowning, which included 18 models in
Miss category
, 28 in Mrs and 10 in Teen.
The first crowning of this interna-
tional pageant is going to happen from
India. The passionate team plans to ex-
pand this pageant to 139 countries
through social media platforms.
Models’ attire was presented by For-
ever Fashion, jewelry collection by
Krishna Rawat with beautiful make-
over by Chinka, Mani Arora, Jyoti
Sharma, Tanya, Tanvi, Apoorva Na-
gar, Jaya Chopra and Reena Chowd-
hary. The official show choreogra-
pher of the pageant is Shailja Suri,
assistant choreographer Sakshi
Shekhar and ramp walk trainer
Saloni Gusain. In both these pag-
eants, the crowning of the par-
ticipants has been done by the
housewives of the Indian Army.
All the participants have been
provided with a gift hamper
from Forever Leaves.
MITALI DUSAD
mitalidusad01@gmail.com
A
CLOCKWISE: Jyoti Dubey, Manushi Parmar, Nicole Fernandez with
Saloni Ranjan as she flaunts herself in western and traditional gown
Sunidhi Shashikant Khare
—PHOTOS
BY
MUKESH
KIRADOO
(L-R) Jaya Chauhan,
Ishwari, Nicole Fernandez,
Manushi Parmar and
Shailza Suri during
the ceremony

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