27022023_First India Mumbai.pdf

41.1% voter turnout in Chinchwad,
45.25% in Kasba assembly seat
Pune: A voter turnout
of 41.1% was recorded
until 5 pm on Sunday in
Chinchwad Assembly
seat and 45.25% in Kas-
ba Assembly seat in Ma-
harashtra, with several
of those standing in the
voting queue speaking
about better roads,
proper waste manage-
ment and adequate wa-
ter supply being the is-
sues they want ad-
dressed.
There are 510 polling
centres and 5,68,954 reg-
istered voters in
Chinchwad and 215
polling centres and
2,75,428 registered vot-
ers in Kasba constitu-
ency
. Counting will take
place on March 02.
Political analysts say
the results of these by-
polls will set the tone
for the forthcoming
elections in the state,
including of the cash-
rich Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation
and other civic bodies.
The bypolls in Kasba
and Chinchwad were
necessitated due to the
death of their respec-
tive Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) MLAs Muk-
ta Tilak and Laxman
Jagtap.
Results of these
bypolls, for which
counting will take
place on March 02,
will set the tone for the
forthcoming elections
in the state, including
of the cash-rich BMC
CBI ARRESTS SISODIA
AFTER 8-HOUR GRILLING
Delhi Excise
POLICY
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Delhi Dep-
uty CM and Education
Minister Manish Siso-
dia has been arrested
after eight hours of
questioning by the
CBI. He was taken for
questioning on Sunday
over the alleged liquor
scam which took place
under the Delhi Excise
Policy.
This comes after
Sisodia, during a show
of strength organised
by AAP asked his party
members to take care of
his family if he is jailed.
AAP leaders said that
the BJP is 'scared' of
AAP which is why they
are using Central agen-
cies like CBI and ED to
attack 'innocent' people
like Sisodia. P6
NON-COOPERATION BY DELHI
DEPUTY CM IN INVESTIGATION
CBI arrested Sisodia for not cooperating dur-
ing the investigation despite AAP claiming
that it was an honest party and that the Deputy
CM will fully cooperate with the agency. Sisodia
was booked under IPC Sections 120-B (punish-
ment of criminal conspiracy) and 477A (falsi-
fication of accounts) and provisions of the
Prevention Of Corruption Act including
Section 7 (taking undue advantage to
influence a public servant by corrupt
or illegal means or by the exercise
of personal influence).
Assembly elections: Stage set for
polls in Meghalaya, Nagaland today
Shillong (FIB): The
countdown has begun
for Meghalaya Assem-
bly polls, which will see
over 21 lakh electorates
will decide fate of 369
candidates on Monday.
The polling is set to be-
gin at 7 am and last till
4pm. It will be held at
3,419 polling stations
across 59 Assembly con-
stituencies. However,
polling for the Sohiong
constituency was post-
poned following the de-
mise of the state’s for-
mer Home minister and
UDP candidate from the
seat, HDR Lyngdoh.
NAGALAND BRACES
FOR TOUGH CONTEST
Kohima: Nagaland will elect
a new govt on Monday amid
tight security. The election
would seal fates of 183 can-
didates. The voting will take
place in 59 out of 60 seats
as BJP’s Kazheto Kinimi was
declared winner uncontested
after his opponent pulled out.
Women polling teams head to
their assigned polling stations
in Nagaland on Sunday.
‘Leader’ Rahul,‘Target’
Modi; wraps up meet
Raipur (FIB): Former
Congress president Ra-
hul Gandhi addressed
party delegates on 3rd
final day of party’s ple-
nary session in Raipur
on Sunday. He shared
memories that he cher-
ished during Yatra. He
also lambasted BJP-led
govt and claimed that it
destroyed country with
a hate campaign and
questioned relations be-
tween Adani Modi. P6
Will raise the questions about Adani till truth
comes out: Rahul at last day of Cong plenary
EAST TO WEST: CONG
PLANS NEW MARCH
The Congress is considering
a Pasighat-to-Porbandar
yatra, party general secretary
Jairam Ramesh said on Sun-
day after Rahul Gandhi called
for taking the tapasya of the
Bharat Jodo Yatra forward.
OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR MUMBAI www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
MUMBAI l MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2023 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI TITLE NO. MAHENG/2022/14652 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 291
l ‘Mann Ki Baat’
has become a
wonderful medium
for expression of
public participation.
l A few days ago, ‘Ustad Bismillah
Khan Yuva Puraskar’ was conferred.
These awards were given away to
emerging, talented artists in the
field of music and performing arts.
l Nowadays Indian
toys have become such
craze that their demand
has increased even in
foreign countries.
l Tele-consultants
using e-San-
jeevani app has
crossed the figure
of 10 crores.
l Many countries of the world
are drawn towards India’s UPI.
Just a few days ago, UPI-
PayNow Link has been launched
between India and Singapore.
l ‘Tribeni Kumbho
Mohotshav’ was or-
ganized in Bansberia
of Hooghly district
in West Bengal.
l Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan has changed
meaning of public
participation in our
country. MORE ON P5
MANN
KI BAAT
98TH
EDITION OF
PM MODI’S
MONTHLY RADIO
PROGRAMME
ANOTHER TARGETED KILLING IN JK'S PULWAMA
KASHMIRI
PANDIT
SHOT DEAD
SANJAY SHARMA, BANK SECURITY
GUARD WAS FIRED UPON BY
TERRORISTS WHILE HE WAS ON
HIS WAY TO A LOCAL MARKET
Moni Sharma
Pulwama: A 40-year-
old man belonging to
the Kashmiri Pandit
community died after
being shot at allegedly
by terrorists in Jammu
and Kashmir's Pulwa-
ma on Sunday
, in the lat-
est targeted killing in
the Valley
.
“Terroristsfiredupon
one civilian from minor-
ity namely Sanjay Shar-
maS/OKashinathShar-
maR/OAchanPulwama
while on way to local
market. He was shifted
to hospital however, he
succumbed to injuries.
There was armed guard
in his village. Area cor-
doned off,” Jammu and
Kashmir Police said in a
tweet.
According to DIG
Rayees Mohammad,
“Terrorists fired upon a
member of a minority
community when he
was outside along with
her wife. We are search-
ing for the terrorist and
we will neutralise them
as soon as possible.” P5
Relatives trying to console the
wife of Sanjay Sharma as they
mourn his demise, at Achan, in
Pulwama district on Sunday.
Sanjay Sharma’s 5-year-old
daughter Diksha Sharma.
My heartfelt
condolences to the
bereaved family. The
administration has given a free
hand to the security forces to deal
with the terrorists and we will
continue to combat such acts of
terrorism firmly and decisively.
—Manoj Sinha, Jammu and Kashmir
Lieutenant Governor
KASHMIRI
PANDIT
SHOT DEAD
2 ACCUSED IN SIDHU
MOOSEWALA DEATH
CASE KILLED IN JAIL
Chandigarh: 2 gangsters,
who were held in the
connection with singer
Sidhu Moosewala murder
case and lodged in Goindwal
Sahib Central Jail in
Punjab’s Tarn Taran district,
were killed in a clash among
inmates on Sunday. They
were facing other charges
as well, SP said. P6
READ
Crucial
Crucial
MUSLIM MEN KILLING:
INTERNET SNAPPED IN
NUH AFTER PROTEST
Chandigarh: Haryana
Govt on Sunday ordered
suspension of mobile
internet and SMS services
in Nuh district for 3 days
over apprehensions of
communal tension and
breach of peace following
a call for more protests
over abduction-murder of
two men from Rajasthan.
CAF JAWAN KILLED
IN IED BLAST IN
CHHATTISGARH
Raipur: A 43-year-old
security personnel from
Chhattisgarh Armed
Force (CAF) was killed in
an IED blast in Orchha
devp block of Narayanpur
district on Sunday. This
was the seventh killing
of security personnel
allegedly by Naxalites in
last six days in the State.
AUSSIES LIFT RECORD 6TH TITLE
Australia made it a hat-trick of women’s T20 WC
titles with a 19-run victory over South Africa
as Beth Mooney’s 74-run knock proved pivotal to
their record sixth trophy win here Sunday. Set a
target of 157 for victory, SA were restricted to 137
for six as their hopes of lifting the trophy on their
maiden appearance in the final went up in smoke.
All the allegations of the opposition are baseless: Shinde
Sandeep Shukla
Mumbai: “We have not
left Shiv Sena, I am the
real Shiv Sena. Those
who have repeatedly ac-
cused us of breaking
Shiv Sena should un-
derstand this. All the
allegations of the oppo-
sition are baseless,”
Chief Minister Eknath
Shinde said on Sunday
He was addressing
the press at the Sahy-
adri Guesthouse on the
eve of the budget ses-
sion.
CM Shinde slammed
Ajit Pawar as being
“mentally unwell” after
the latter raised objec-
tions to a food bill of
“Rs2.38 crore” at the
CM’s official bungalow
Varsha Bungalow.
“It is our culture to
give tea and water to
any visitor who comes
to Varsha Bungalow,”
he said. On the allega-
tion of law and order
and action being taken
against the leaders of
the opposition, Shinde
said that false action is
never being taken
against anyone in this
government.
Targetting the erst-
while Maha Vikas
Aghadi government, he
added: “The people of
the state have seen the
kind of misuse of pow-
er in the previous MVA
government. Apart
from the action taken
against Union Minister
Narayan Rane, women
MP Navneet Rana and
Ketki Chitale, the peo-
ple of the state and the
whole country have
seen how actress Kan-
gana Ranaut’s house
was demolished.”
Meanwhile, Deputy
Chief Minister Deven-
dra Fadnavis stressed
the importance of “pos-
itive issues” being dis-
cussed in the House.
“Efforts will be made to
get the Lokayukta Bill
passed in this session
itself. I appeal to the op-
position that all parties
should support the im-
plementation of the Lo-
kayukta Act. In the ses-
sion, we will focus on
issues related to public
interest. We have re-
started the stalled
schemes. Many projects
have been started. The
work on the projects in
Mumbai is going on at a
fast pace. Policy deci-
sions will be taken in
the session. The opposi-
tion is furious at losing
power, which is why
they boycotted the tra-
ditional tea party we
hosted. We understand
that, but the majority is
important in a democ-
racy and our govern-
ment is the government
of the majority,” he
said.
CM Shinde and Dy CM Fadnavis addressed the press at Sahyadri Guest house on the eve of the
Budget Session of Maharashtra Assembly, in Mumbai on Sunday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE
‘I witnessed MVA conspiracy
to arrest Fadnavis,Mahajan’
Sandeep Shukla
Mumbai: In a sensa-
tional claim, Chief
Minister Eknath
Shinde on Sunday
said he was a wit-
ness to the conspira-
cy by the MVA gov-
ernment to arrest
then leader of oppo-
sition and current
deputy CM Deven-
dra Fadnavis and his
BJP colleague Girish
Mahajan.
“I was a witness to
the MVA govern-
ment’s plan to put
the Bharatiya Janata
Party on the back-
foot (by arresting)
then leader of oppo-
sition Devendra Fad-
navis and Girish Ma-
hajan. That govern-
ment had even
planned to invoke
the Maharashtra
Control of Organ-
ised Crime Act 1999
against Mahajan. I
cannot repeat what I
had said that time to
stop them,” Shinde
said, adding, “In-
stead of changing
the decision, I later
toppled the whole
government and
made them (MVA) sit
at home.”
When asked why
his government was
not taking action
against those in-
volved in this con-
spiracy, the CM said,
“Dethroning is
enough for them. I
am well aware of
who was indulging
in such practices. If
required, we will ini-
tiate an inquiry into
the matter.”
CM Shinde
slammed Ajit
Pawar as being
“mentally
unwell” after the
latter raised
objections to a
food bill of
“Rs2.38 crore” at
the CM’s official
bungalow Varsha
Bungalow
z All parties should support our efforts to pass the Lokayukta bill: Dy CM
z People of have seen misuse of power in the previous MVA govt, Shinde said

NEWS
MUMBAI | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2023
02
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Nashik to get VD Savarkar
theme park, museum soon
Nashik (PTI): A
grand theme park and
museum dedicated to
Hindutva ideologue
Vinayak Damodar Sa-
varkar will come up in
his native Bhagur vil-
lage in Nashik district
along with a circuit
encompassing areas
that are connected to
his life, Tourism Min-
ister Mangal Prabhat
Lodha said on Sunday
.
He was speaking at
an event in Bhagur to
mark the death anni-
versary of Savarkar.
“The life and
thoughts of Veer Sa-
varkar are an inspira-
tion to all. The Maha-
rashtra government is
taking efforts to en-
sure the entire world
knows about his life
and works. We will
build a grand theme
park and museum of
international stand-
ard dedicated to Veer
Savarkar,” Lodha said.
The theme park will
be managed by Maha-
rashtra Tourism De-
velopment Corpora-
tion and work on it will
be completed quickly,
the minister said.
“We will create Veer
Savarkar Tourism Cir-
cuit, which will cover
Bhagur, Abhinav
Bharat Mandir in Na-
shik, Savarkar Chair
Centre at Pune, Fer-
gusson College hostel,
the Babarao Savarkar
memorial in Sangli,
Patitpavan Mandir
(temple) in Ratnagiri
and Savarkar Sadan,
Savarkar Memorial
in Mumbai,” Lodha
announced.
‘GIVE SAVARKAR BHARAT RATNA’
First India Bureau
Thane: All India Maj-
lis-e-Ittehadul Musli-
meen (AIMIM) chief
Asaddudin Owaisi tar-
geted leaders like Shiv
Sena’s Uddhav Thack-
eray and Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP)
President, Sharad Pa-
war, claiming they did
not support the commu-
nity members in their
time of need.
He also asked the
Muslim youth to be-
come a strong force in
the country to fight for
their rights.
Owaisi was address-
ing a rally in Mumbra
areaof Thanedistricton
Saturday during his par-
ty’snationalconvention.
“If Ajit Pawar, Supri-
ya Sule, Sharad Pawar,
Uddhav Thackeray,
Eknath Shinde and De-
vendra Fadnavis can
become leaders, why
can’t you?” he asked the
Muslim youth.
The AIMIM was
formed 65 years back
and just a handful of
people used to attend its
meetings, but the num-
ber has now gone up to
thousands, he said.
“We also have pres-
enceinParliament,state
Assemblies and local
bodies and this growth
should continue unabat-
ed and the youth should
try to get into the admin-
istrationaswellthrough
election,” he said.
He asked the youth to
come forward, make the
AIMIM strong and fight
fortherightsof Muslims
and Dalits.
Owaisi targeted Shiv
Sena – Uddhav Balasa-
heb Thackeray leader
Uddhav Thackerary
and sought to know why
he kept silent when
“our community mem-
bersfacedharassment”.
He further said NCP
supremo Sharad Pawar
wants to defeat Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi, and wants sup-
port from the AIMIM.
“But he forgets that
when it comes to sup-
porting Muslims at the
time of their crisis, he
never bothered to come
forwardandleftustoour
fate. What kind of secu-
larismisthis?”heasked.
He also hit out at the
Congress, saying its
leaders had time for the
Bharat Jodo Yatra and
other activities but did
not turn up to console
the families of those
killed in mob lynching
and other incidents.
‘Uddhav, Pawar didn’t support Muslims in their time of need’
CRITICISM
lll
AIMIM chief
Owaisi hits out
at Sena, NCP
Congress
leaders over
‘harassment’
faced by
community
members Asaduddin Owasi —FILE PHOTO
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Union Road
Transport and High-
ways Minister, Nitin
Gadkari, inaugurated
and laid foundation
stones for various pro-
jects in Maharashtra on
Saturday
.
Theseprojectsinclude
five National Highway
projects of 212km length
at Nanded worth Rs1,575
crore, three National
Highway projects of
75km length at Parbhani
worth Rs1,058 crore and
a National Highway pro-
ject of Rs1,037.4 crore at
Hingoli.
The projects are ex-
pected to improve the
connectivity between
Marathwada region of
Maharashtra and its
neighbouring states of
Telangana and Karna-
taka. “The projects will
help in improving in-
dustrial and agricul-
tural development
along with connecting
religious places and
promoting tourism, an
official release said.
Earlier, Nitin Gadkari
had expressed his belief
that the BJP and NDA
would remain in power
both at the national and
state level in the upcom-
ing polls due to the pro-
gress made since 2014.
“We will win and
once again the BJP and
NDA will form the gov-
ernment in both Maha-
rashtra and at the Cen-
tre. The good work done
by Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi will yield
good results,” Gadkari
had said.
Gadkari launches highway works worth `3,670 crore in Maha
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari at the inauguration of a highway
developmental project in Mumbai.
First India Bureau
Mumbra: Following
the Central govern-
ment’s decision to ap-
prove the Maharashtra
government’s renam-
ing of Aurangabad as
Chhatrapati Sambhaji
Nagar, All India Majlis-
e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
Maharashtra Chief Im-
tiaz Jaleel on Saturday
said that he was born in
Aurangabad and will
die in Aurangabad.
“Imtiaz Jaleel was an
MP of Aurangabad and
will remain an MP of
Aurangabad. Some are
jumping and dancing
saying that they have
changed the name of
Aurangabad. But I was
born in Aurangabad
and I will die in Au-
rangabad only,” Jaleel
said.
On Friday, the Cen-
tre approved the re-
naming of Aurangabad
and Osmanabad as
Nagar and Dharashiv,
respectively.
The Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA)
approved the proposal
and said the central
government had “no ob-
jection” to new names.
Deputy Chief Minis-
ter Devendra Fadnavis
welcomed the decision
and said that the state
government under the
leadership of Chief
Minister Eknath Shin-
de has “demonstrated”
its resolve.
‘Was born in
Aurangabad, will
die in Aurangabad’
Osmanabad and
Aurangabad districts
to be renamed too:
Deputy CM Fadnavis
Govt spending extravagantly,
ignoring key issues: Ajit Pawar
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Senior Na-
tionalist Congress Par-
ty (NCP) leader Ajit Pa-
war on Sunday accused
the Eknath Shinde-led
state government of
spending money in an
“extravagant” manner
while ignoring the key
issues being faced by
common people and
farmers.
The Leader of Oppo-
sition in the Legislative
Assembly addressed
the media at Vidhan
Bhavan, while CM
Shinde hosted a tea par-
ty at the Sahyadri Guest
House ahead of the
Budget Session, which
begins on Monday
.
“The state govern-
ment is extravagantly
spending crores of ru-
pees to show their smil-
ing faces, instead of
solving the woes of the
common man. We have
decided to boycott the
invitation for high tea.
Instead, we will meet
Governor Ramesh Bais,
and share our concerns
with him,” the former
deputy chief minister
said.
“None of the aid an-
nounced by the state
government in the past
few months, has
reached the affected
people or intended
beneficiaries of
schemes. I have no-
ticed this during my
recent visits to differ-
ent places across Ma-
harashtra,” he said.
Inflation is going up,
due to which the cost of
production has in-
creased for farmers.
However, the agricul-
tural produce is not get-
ting a good price in the
market, Pawar said.
He announced that
the opposition parties
were boycotting the
customary tea party
hosted by the Shinde
government on the eve
of the session.
Meanwhile, Leader
of Opposition in the
Legislative Council
Ambadas Danve, who
belongs to the Shiv Sena
- Uddhav Balasaheb
Thackeray, addressed
the issue of the change
in name of Aurangabad
and Osmanabad. “The
state government has
changed the name of
Aurangabad and Os-
manabad cities to
Nagar and Dharashiv.
The Union govern-
ment’s communication
to the state govern-
ment clearly says that
the names of those two
districts can also be
changed, but the state
has not done that,” he
said.
(L to R) Shiv Sena - UBT MLC Ambadas Danve, Leader of Oppn in Assembly Ajit Pawar and NCP leader
Chhagan Bhujbal addresss the media at Vidhan Bhavan on Sunday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE
LOP announced
that the
Opposition was
boycotting the
customary tea
party hosted by
the CM on the
eve of the Budget
Session
None of the aid
announced by
the state gov-
ernment in the past few
months, has reached the
affected people or in-
tended beneficiaries of
schemes. I have noticed
this during my recent
visits to different places
across Maharashtra. In-
flation has led to rising
costs of production but
farmers are not getting a
good price for their agri-
cultural produce.
—Ajit Pawar,
Senior NCP leader
My party will
put up sher
(strong) can-
didates against those
who claim to be hold-
ing on to their bas-
tions. You cannot
purchase everyone
with money and pow-
er. We still have some
people who are loyal
to us and with them
we will defeat you.
—Asaduddin Owaisi,
AIMIM chief
Volunteers of the Sant Nirankari Mission participate in a cleanliness drive along the banks of the Krishna river, in Karad on
Sunday. —PHOTO BY PTI
CLEANING UP
CLEANING UP
Gangster Arun Gulab Gawli’s fam
members join Shinde’s Sena
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Two mem-
bers of gangster Arun
Gulab Gawli’s family
joined Chief Minister
Eknath Shinde-led Shiv
Sena faction on Satur-
day night.
Members of Gawli’s
political party Akhil
Bhartiya Sena (ABS)
Vandanatai Pradip
Gawli and youth leader
Pradip Gulab Gawli
have joined the Balasa-
hebanchi Shiv Sena.
According to sources,
other members of Gaw-
li’s family are in talks to
join the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP).
In jail since his 2008
arrest, Arun Gawli was
convicted by the Bom-
bay High Court in De-
cember 2019 under the
Maharashtra Control
of Organized Crime Act
(MCOCA).
The court also upheld
his life sentence for the
2007 murder of Shiv
Sena councillor Ka-
malakarJamshandekar.
The court found Gaw-
li had received Rs30
lakh as payment to car-
ry out the hit on Jam-
sandekar by his rivals.

MAHARASHTRA
03
9 months after woman’s death,
police register case of murder
First India Bureau
Thane: Nine months af-
ter a 75-year-old widow
was found dead in her
Kalyan home, Thane po-
lice have registered a
case of murder and de-
struction of evidence
againstherlandlord,his
wife and son, an official
said on Sunday
.
According to a com-
plaint filed by the neph-
ew of Waheedabi Noor-
mohammad Shaikh, his
deceasedaunt’slandlord
had been attempting to
gethertoleavethehouse
she had occupied since
1990, as he wanted to re-
develop the property
.
The woman, however,
had refused to vacate
the house, the official
from Bazarpeth police
station said.
The woman had com-
plained to her nephew
several times that the
landlord was troubling
her, the official said, cit-
ing the complaint.
The complainant said
his aunt was fine when
he visited her on May 13.
However, a few days lat-
er,hereceivedamessage
that she died on May 16.
After the woman’s
death, the landlord took
away the house keys
from the complainant.
When he went there,
the complainant found
the body had turned
black and there were
blood stains around.
Following his request,
the police sent the body
for post-mortem, the of-
ficial said.
As the complainant
suspected foul play in
his aunt’s death, he ap-
proached a court which
in January this year di-
rected the police to reg-
ister an offence against
the landlord and his two
family members and
launch an investigation
into the case.
The Bazarpeth police
on Saturday lodged a
case against the three
underIndianPenalCode
Sections 302 (murder),
201 (causing disappear-
ance of evidence of of-
fence), 120B (criminal
conspiracy) and 34 (com-
mon intention), the offi-
cial said, adding no ar-
rest has been made yet.
The FIR also said that
the police, after register-
ing a case of accidental
death in May last year,
have been carrying out
an investigation into the
woman’s death.
FOUL PLAY?
Case against her
landlord, his wife
and son also
includes charge
of destroying
evidence
CRUCIAL READ
WOMAN, LOVER
HELD FOR STEALING
`15.46L GOLD, CASH
MMRDA TO HIRE
CONSULTANT FOR
`25,000 CR DREAM
Thane: A woman and
her neighbour have been
arrested for allegedly steal-
ing gold and cash worth
Rs15.46 lakh from her
husband’s family before
eloping in 2017, police said
on Sunday. “The duo evad-
ed arrest all this time by
getting new identities and
frequently moving from
one place in the Konkan re-
gion,” Property Cell senior
inspector Anand Ravrane
said, adding that they were
nabbed on a tip-off. The
woman’s mother-in-law
had filed a complaint in
December 2017.
DEMOLITION WORK
ON GOKHALE
BRIDGE RESUMES
Mumbai: The work on
breaking the slabs of
Gokhale bridge in Andheri
resumed on Saturday after
a three-day break due to
noise pollution complaints
from residents. The West-
ern Railway had stopped
work on the bridge follow-
ing instructions from the
Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation. Authorities,
however, restarted work
on the bridge after being
unable to find a feasible
solution. Abhijeet Samant,
a former local council-
lor, said, “We are not
opposing the dismantling
work, but are requesting
authorities to take the
slabs to other sites and
break them at isolated
areas. There is no need to
break them on the spot.”
Mumbai: The Mumbai
Metropolitan Region
Development Authority
(MMRDA) has embarked
on an ambitious project
to transform the Mumbai
Metropolitan Region
(MMR) as a growth
engine and make it a
Rs25,000 crore economy
or $0.25 trillion in the
next five years. The
Development Authority
has requested an agency
to create a plan and
provide examples from
around the world of cities
that have become major
economic drivers for their
countries. Currently, the
GDP of the MMR stands
at Rs14,000 crore.
‘Versova-Madh bridge will
destroy locals’ livelihoods’
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Activistshave
written to Chief Minis-
ter Eknath Shinde op-
posing the construction
of a bridge connecting
VersovaandMadhciting
harm to livelihoods of
local residents. The dis-
sent memo comes after
theMaharashtraCoastal
Zone Management Au-
thority (MCZMA) gave
clearance to the project.
In the letter, activists
Godfrey Pimenta and
Nicholas Almeida have
claimed that the project
willdestroythetranquil-
ity of the sparsely popu-
lated Madh Island.
Pimenta, who is one
of the trustees of the
NGO Watchdog Founda-
tion, also said that the
proposed construction
of the bridge would in-
crease the population in
the region to 10 lakh in a
few years.
The letter has also
been sent to Deputy
Chief Minister Deven-
dra Fadnavis, Chief Sec-
retary of Maharashtra,
Urban Development De-
partment (UDD) Manu
Kumar Srivastava and
the Brihanmumbai Mu-
nicipal Corporation
(BMC) Administrator
Iqbal Singh Chahal.
“The area commands
a high premium due to
proximity to the sea...
the developers’ greed is
leadingtoinfrastructure
boom,” the letter stated.
The activists also
claimed that the bridge
would rob the locals of
their fishing activities.
“The existing ferry ser-
vice would be rendered
non-operational there-
by leading to loss of em-
ployment. We, there-
fore, demand that the
Mumbai Development
Control and Promo-
tions regulation 2034
(DCPR), which has pro-
posed affordable homes
in the Madh region
should be exclusively
reserved only and only
for the sons of the soil
viz. East Indians, Kolis,
Agris, Bhandaris and
local Adivasis.”
Fishing activities on Madh Island will be disrupted, say activists.
—FILE PHOTO
Toleadbyexample,
Mumdocnotarizes
shares‘livingwill’
First India Bureau
Mumbai: A city-based
gynaecologist has nota-
rized a ‘living will’ and
put it on social media in
a bid to inspire others to
do the same.
Dr Nikhil Datar’s will
states that treatments to
artificially prolong dy-
ing should be withheld
or discontinued if the
patient has an “incura-
ble, irreversible illness”
orif theybecomeuncon-
sciousandthereisahigh
likelihood that recovery
is not possible.
On his decision, Dr
Datar said, “The advo-
cate was surprised to
hearIwantedtonotarize
a living will. Many are
still unaware of it.” He
also sent a copy to the
municipal commission-
er. “I wanted to ensure
that others too followed
suit and the ‘movement’
to seek dignified death
gathers momentum,” he
added. Backing up his
decision, Dr Datar said.
“Dying has become
difficult, to some extent,
due to progress in medi-
cal science. However, if I
am diagnosed with a dis-
ease that causes severe
impairment of physical
and mental functions
such as dementia, I
wouldn’t like to undergo
meaningless treat-
ments,” he added.
“Living will is about
giving citizens control
over their last days. Our
Supreme Court has ena-
bled this, and the re-
maining progress de-
pends on people exer-
cising their right,” he
also said.
32 trafficked children
rescued in two months
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The Special
Juvenile Protection
Unit (SJPU) of the
Mumbai Police has res-
cued 32 minor children
who were trafficked
from other states, in-
cluding six from Nepal
over the past two
months, an oficial said.
During this time, SJ-
PU--which operates un-
der the Crime Branch--
has also arrested 16
people for their alleged
involvement in traffick-
ing, with nine FIRs be-
ing registered at vari-
ous police stations in
Mumbai. The police
said the children were
trafficked for cheap la-
bour work or prostitu-
tion, mostly without
their parents’ knowl-
edge.
“Every child has a
different story when it
comes to trafficking. In
some cases, they are
kidnapped by agents.
There are also times
when the children do
not have guardians or
parents, so these agents
pick them up under the
guise of getting them
jobs for money and
shelter. We have also
seen cases where chil-
dren are sold by the par-
ents owing to poor fi-
nancial conditions,”
the Free Press Journal
quoted a senior official
as saying.
Most of the rescued
children were found to
be working in small-
scale industries in are-
as such as Agripada,
Govandi, Mankhurd,
Nagpada, Oshiwara,
Saki Naka, Shivaji Na-
gar and Worli. In other
cases, they were found
to be washing utensils,
cleaning the tables,
kitchen, etc., in small
hotels, without any pro-
tection, proper wages
or break hours, the FPJ
report stated, adding
that the rescued chil-
dren are usually sent to
children’s homes in
Dongri and Mankhurd,
after coordinating with
the Child Welfare Com-
mission. Children old
enough to share their
parents’ identities were
reunited with their
families, officials said.
Forced marriages,
child labour, domestic
help and sexual
exploitation are
common reasons for
trafficking, National
Crime Record
Bureau data shows
Thanedrugmenace:
Officialstogettough
Thane (PTI): The An-
ti-Narcotics Committee
here has directed local
authorities inspect
closed chemical compa-
nies and take action
against the unauthor-
ized cultivation of gan-
ja and poppy, officials
said on Sunday.
Additional Commis-
sioner of Police (Crime)
Ashok Morale held a
meeting with senior of-
ficials of various de-
partments on Friday to
discuss steps to check
the cultivation of nar-
cotics and drug traffick-
ing in the district, an
official release said.
Morale also directed
the district agriculture
officer to coordinate
with the anti-narcotics
cell and local police to
take action against the
cultivation of ganja
and ‘khus khus’ (poppy
seeds), the release said.
The official also di-
rected the authorities
to hold training ses-
sions on various as-
pects of the Narcotics
Drugs and Psychotrop-
ic Substances (NDPS).
He also directed postal
department officials
and courier companies
to report to local police
about any suspicious
parcels and initiate ac-
tion in coordination
with the police.
The official also di-
rected the police to ini-
tiate action against
those facing two or
more cases under the
NDPS Act, the release
also stated.
HI-TECH
Test kit by IITB alumni ‘checks’ health in 30 seconds
First India Bureau
Nagpur: Three alumni
of the Indian Institute
of Technology Bombay
(IIT-B) have come up
with a smartphone-
based health test kit that
uses urine samples to
check for health issues.
Some public health
centres (PHCs) in Na-
shik district have been
using these kits for
health tests, said a Zilla
Parishad official.
As part of the test, a
person has to dip a card
(part of the test kit) in
urine for a second, click
a photo of it on a phone
using the ‘Neodocs’ app.
“The photo gets up-
loaded on our cloud
server, where an algo-
rithm uses computer
vision to scan the card
and gives results with-
in 30 seconds,” claims
Manasvi Shah, the
firm’s strategic part-
nerships manager.
The start-up, found-
ed by Anurag Meena,
Nikunj Malpani and
Pratik Lodha, present-
ed the urine test kit
during an exhibition
at the recently held In-
dian Science Congress
in Nagpur.
Malpani said they re-
alized the importance
of the quantification of
health and the value of
diagnostics during the
pandemic-induced lock-
down. These kits will
help bring healthcare to
every doorstep and re-
duce the overall cost for
testing significantly
Meena said.
According to Lodha,
they are currently
working on research-
ing and developing in-
stant test kits for vari-
ous bio-fluids such as
blood, vaginal dis-
charge and semen.
They began their ven-
ture with five basic in-
stant urine test kits ca-
tering to their custom-
ers in a personalized
manner, Nikunj said.
Apart from the well-
ness kit, the company
also makes test kits for
chronic kidney disease
and age-related issues.
There is also a mater-
nity care kit, which al-
lows women to screen
for even the slightest
risk factors throughout
pregnancy, he said.
Phone app uses
image of urine-
dipped samples
to screen for
health issues
HEALTHY COLLAB
Founders of the Neodocs app (left); the wellness care kit offered by the start-up.
ANC directs them to
inspect closed chem
plants, be on lookout
for ganja, poppy
cultivation

PERSPECTIVE
04
l Vol 1 l Issue No. 291
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
SPIRITUAL SPEAK
A cheerful heart is good
medicine, but a crushed
spirit dries up the bones.
—Bible
IN-DEPTH
Amit Shah
@AmitShah
Every moment of Veer Savarkar’s
life was devoted to the motherland.
Many tortures of the British and
punishment of black water could not
deter his resolve to make the country
independent. Be it his struggle against
untouchability or his thoughts of
patriotism, Veer Savarkar will always be
the center of inspiration for the country.
Anurag Thakur
@ianuragthakur
Seeing the usefulness of Shree Anna
in the economic empowerment of the
farmers, under the leadership of the
Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi
ji, the Government of India is working
towards making the country a global hub
of millet food. Your valuable suggestions
will be welcome in Millet Awareness
Programs of @prasarbharati.
TOP TWEETS
SISODIA’S ARREST
AIMED AT REINING
KEJRIWAL AND
DERAILING AAP
n a big blow to the
Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) and Delhi
Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal,
Deputy Chief Minister Manish
Sisodia has been arrested on al-
leged charges of corruption in
liquor policy. The arrest was
made by the CBI after several
hours of interrogation. In an
speech earlier, Sisodia asked Ke-
jriwal to keep fighting for the
people as Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi is scared of only one
party which is AAP. Sisodia is
the second high-profile AAP
minister after Satyender Jain to
be arrested by the CBI.
Sisodia’s arrest will leave
Arvind Kejriwal in a spot as the
former has been his trusted lieu-
tenant. He is in charge of 18 de-
partments, a crucial fact when
the party’s Budget Session is due
to be tabled in March. The arrest
is clearly aimed to weaken the
AAP which defeated the BJP in
AssemblyandMCDelections.As
Sisodia is also alleged to be in-
volved in collection of political
intelligence about AAP’s rivals,
his road ahead is tough.
I
onia Gandhi’s
statement at the
Congress plenary
that “her innings
could conclude
with Bharat Jodo Yatra” in
Raipur on Saturday has set
off speculation about her re-
tirement from active politics.
The Congress party’s clarifi-
cation that what she meant
was her tenure as party pres-
ident was not of much help
in the context of the tenor of
her speech. Sonia said she
had the honour of taking
over as party president in
1998 and “over these 25 years”
the “support, goodwill and
understanding of each one
of you and all the Congress
party workers throughout
the country have given us
strength. Our victories in
2004 and 2009 along with the
able leadership of Manmo-
han Singhji gave me personal
satisfaction, but what grati-
fies me most is that my in-
nings could conclude with
Bharat Jodo Yatra”.
Kumari Selja, a senior
leader, said Sonia spoke in
the context of her tenure as
party president. Another
party member Alka Lamba
said she was able to speak
with Sonia on this, who told
her that “she has never re-
tired, nor she will do so”. The
party may have played down
any talk of Sonia retiring
from politics but the refer-
ence to her statement coin-
ciding with Bharat Jodo
Yatra suggests that she is not
giving up her faith in her son
Rahul Gandhi. One must also
not forget that she stepped
down as party president in
October 2022, when Mallikar-
jun Kharge was elected party
chief. Party may have down-
played the import of her
statement as that would have
again triggered pro and anti-
Rahul faction war within.
IS SONIA RETIRING
FROM POLITICS?
Sonia Gandhi’s statement
at the Congress plenary
that “her innings
could conclude with
Bharat Jodo Yatra” in
Raipur on Saturday has
set off speculation about
her retirement from
active politics
S
atural calamities are inevita-
ble, and at times they show-
case mother nature’s fury
side. From massive earth-
quakes that rocked Turkey
and Syria to the devastating
forest fires that ravaged
Chile and flash floods in the
Southern Hemisphere, Feb-
ruary has been a month of
deadly natural calamities.
During any calamities,
where we all return to our ba-
sics, i.e ‘humanity’ irrespec-
tive of class, creed, religion,
gender,socioeconomicquo,or
any other parameter of per-
petual social differences that
we all sadly follow, knowingly
or unknowingly
. While calam-
ities are destructive and tax-
ing, all they occasionally do to
us - is knock our conscience.
And at this juncture, a mili-
tary drill comes to the fore is
– HADR (Humanitarian As-
sistance Disaster Relief)
It is when we have seen the
world to stand – secular in all
truthfulness. Each time
HADR support is extended
for any victim nation, it is
delivered through the Armed
Forces being functional on-
ground, reverberating to
their call of duty. Be it the
combat ready, Army – an ag-
ile Air Force, the silent and
cohesive Navy
, or any special-
ized task force like – NDRF.
All stand one, with a common
objective to their super vigi-
lant senses, i.e, to appease
humanity and save lives.
Recently, HADR was ex-
tended to the quake-hit na-
tions of Syria and Turkiye.
Union Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, Govern-
ment of India, was instru-
mental in sending the prompt
HADR for both the victim na-
tions. India has aided the vic-
tim countries in the spirit of
its age-old tradition of –
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”
India has provided life-
saving emergency medicines,
protective items, medical
equipment, critical care
drugs, etc, as part of India’s
HADR plan, calling it – Op-
eration Dost this time.
On 6th February 2023,
when two powerful earth-
quakes hit Syria and Turkey,
three truckloads of relief
materials were mobilized at
Hindon airbase consisting of
life-saving emergency medi-
cines and protective items
within 12 hours. Trucks
started reaching by 10:00 am
on 7th Feb, 2023, and handing
over of the relief items to the
Indian Air Force (IAF) began
by 04:00 pm. The last truck-
load reached by 09:30 pm, and
the flight departed to Syria
with emergency relief mate-
rial on the same day by 10:00
pm for the relief operation.
The consignment consist-
ed of 5,945-ton emergency
relief material, including 27
life-saving medicines, two
kinds of protective items,
and three categories of criti-
cal care equipment, valued at
approximately `2 crore. On
10th February 2023, addition-
al relief materials were ar-
ranged for Turkiye and Syr-
ia. The consignment for Syr-
ia consisted of 72 critical
care drugs, consumables, and
protective items of 7.3 tons,
valued at `1.4 crore. Relief
materials sent for Turkiye
included 14 types of medical
and critical care equipment
valued at `4 crore.
It is learned that the medi-
cal corps of our Indian Army
,
with their Field Hospital,
treated over 3,600 earthquake
victims in Hatya Province of
Turkiye. Furthermore, the
Indian disaster relief team,
comprising 99 personnel of
the Indian Army Field Hospi-
tal and National Disaster Re-
sponse Force (NDRF) re-
turned to India on February
20, 2023, after putting in a
stupendous effort to provide
medical relief to disaster vic-
tims in Hatya Province of
Turkey hit by the earth-
quake. The effort has been
applauded both at the Nation-
al and International levels.
The Indian Army Field Hos-
pital has treated 3604 casual-
ties, provided emergency
medical care, and performed
04 x significant surgeries, 63
x minor surgeries, 343 minor
procedures, including 87 x
POP applications for fixing
fractures.
TheIndianArmyFieldHos-
pital comprising of 99 person-
nel,includingvariousSpecial-
ist Medical Officers and Para-
medics, established their Hos-
pital at Iskenderun, Hatay
Province, Turkey on 08 Feb
2023, which included a fully
functional OT and Trauma
Care Centre. The Specialists
haveMedical,Surgical,Anaes-
thetists, Orthopaedicians,
Maxillofacial surgeons, and
CommunityMedicinespecial-
ists to assist earthquake vic-
tims. Besides this, a Lady
Medical Officer has also been
sent to render medical care to
female patients/casualties.
In addition, the Indian
Army Field Hospital provid-
ed Dental treatment to 242
patients, carrying out 283 pre-
cautionary X-rays on trauma
victims. 14 x patients were
admitted, and 97 x patients
were detained and treated.
1159 Lab investigations were
carried out on the cases re-
ported for treatment. Indian
Army has replenished the
Field Hospital through Medi-
cal and Surgical bricks and
Orthopaedic equipment.
On the administrative
front, the team had also set
up a reception desk for re-
ceiving donations and dis-
tributing them to the needy.
Later, Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi interacted with and
lauded the National Disaster
Response Force members, In-
dian Army, and Indian Air
Force, who were deployed on
Operation Dost on Monday,
February 20, 2023.
NDRF and the army final-
izeditsteam,andofficialscon-
cerned at the ministry of ex-
ternal affairs worked till late
on February 6, the day earth-
quakes hit Turkey and Syria,
to issue a passport to every-
one. Most of the team mem-
bers needed passports. The
rescuers had to be flown im-
mediately
, so MEA opened
their offices and printed the
passports. Separately
, the
TurkishembassyinDelhialso
ensuredvisasonarrivalforall
the rescuers, as reported.
Reminiscing the totality of
Operation Dost, I would like to
quote Mahatma Gandhi here,
“Strength does not come from
physical capacity
. It comes
from an indomitable will” –
Yes,awilltosafeguardhuman-
ity and do whatever it takes.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
HADR: A CALL TO
OUR CONSCIENCE
N
SAYAN CHATTERJEE
The writer is a Delhi-based, DCC-qualified
defence beat writer and independent
contributor to print and online publications
Reminiscing the totality of
Operation Dost, I would like
to quote Mahatma Gandhi
here, “Strength does not
come from physical
capacity. It comes from an
indomitable will” – Yes, a
will to safeguard humanity
and do whatever it takes
Recently, HADR was
extended to the quake-hit
nations of Syria and
Turkiye. Union Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare,
Government of India, was
instrumental in sending the
prompt HADR for both the
victim nations. India has
aided the victim countries
in the spirit of its age-old
tradition of – “Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam”

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05
INDIA
Siliguri (ANI): Lok
Sabha Speaker Om Bir-
la on Saturday ad-
dressed more than a
thousand students from
around 80 schools in 9
districts of North Ben-
gal under India@G20 in
Siliguri.
On this occasion, Bir-
la said that it has al-
ways been his endeav-
our to meet young
friends as much as pos-
sible, talk to them and
listen to their experi-
ences. “Young children
have the potential,
hopes, dreams, and de-
termination to make
them come true,” he
said. “I am feeling more
energetic among the
children. The country’s
education policy is not
only developing the in-
tellectual potential of
the youth but also show-
ing the path of their
multi-dimensional pro-
gress,” he said.
Speaking on “Theme
Tourism”, Birla said
that India is known all
over the world for its
cultural and geographi-
cal features. “From lan-
guage to dress, from
culture to food, diversi-
ty exists here in differ-
ent forms. That is why
tourism is important
for India,” he added.
First India Bureau
Hyderabad: Heartful-
ness International
Sports Centre was inau-
gurated by Union IB
Minister Anurag
Thakur, Telangana Ex-
cise Minister Srinivas
Goud, Indian Badmin-
ton Coach Pullela Gop-
ichand on Sunday
.
The inauguration of
the sports centre locat-
ed at the world’s largest
meditation centre, Kan-
ha Shanti Vanam in
Mallapur was done in
the presence of Kam-
lesh Patel ‘Daaji’, Presi-
dent of Shri Ram Chan-
dra Mission, a press
note informed.
The sports centre is a
facility spanning 54,680
sq feet with modern in-
frastructure that in-
cludes 14 badminton
courts, 3 squash courts,
a 30-metre swimming
pool and a gym.
The facility is open
on a pay-and-play mod-
el. Coaches are availa-
ble for the respective
sports for those who
wish to learn from ex-
perts, said a release.
Speaking at the inau-
guration Thakur said,
“I applaud Pujya Daaji’s
vision to develop this
Center at Kanha as a
hub of Sporting Excel-
lence which shall in-
spire future develop-
ment of sporting talent
for our nation.
“In Daajis’ words,
when Sport is imbued
with the Heart, it takes
Sports and the Sport-
sperson to the next level
of his /her growth and
evolution. It offers a
pathway for holistic de-
velopment for our soci-
ety– one that inspires
nourishment of individ-
ual body
, mind and soul
and development of our
consciousness,” he said.
Anurag Thakur launches sports centre in Hyderabad
BOOSTING SPORTING EXCELLENCE
Raipur: Union Information
Broadcasting Minister
Anurag Thakur has said
the recent raids by the ED
on the ruling Congress in
Chhattisgarh should not be
given political colour. Asked
about the Congress accusing
the Union govt of misusing
probe agencies against its
political opponents, Thakur
said, “The probe agencies
take action against those
who indulge in corruption,
and those who have not
done corruption should not
be scared of them.”
NOTHING POLITICAL IN
ED RAIDS ON CONGRESS
LEADERS, SAYS THAKUR
98TH EDITION OF ‘MANN KI BAAT’
e-Sanjeevani’s reach reflects power
of India’s digital revolution: PM Modi
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi
said on Sunday that e-
Sanjeevani app, which
facilitates online medi-
cal consultations, re-
flects the power of In-
dia’s digital revolution,
noting that over 10
crore people have bene-
fitted from it so far.
In his monthly ‘Mann
ki Baat’ broadcast,
Modi said the app is be-
coming a life protection
app for the common
man, middle class or
those living in remote
areas.
“This is the power of
India’s digital revolu-
tion,” he said.
He also referred to
the recent agreement
between India’s Unified
Payments Interface
(UPI) and Singapore’s
PayNow so as to allow
easy money transfer be-
tween people of the two
countries to underscore
the boost in ease of liv-
ing brought by the
country’s adoption of
digital technologies.
The prime minister
spoke to a doctor and a
patient to highlight how
helpful the app has
proved in providing
medical consultations.
“This is a big achieve-
ment. This is a living
example of how the peo-
ple of India have made
technology a part of
their lives. We have
seen that in the time of
Corona, E-Sanjeevani
App has proved to be a
great boon for the peo-
ple,” he said.
In his address, Modi
also highlighted the
cleanliness exercises
adopted by people in
different parts of the
country to say that
“Swachh Bharat” has
become a mass move-
ment.
“If we resolve, we can
make a huge contribu-
tion towards a clean In-
dia,” he said.
Various efforts being
made to preserve and
promote India’s cultur-
al heritage also featured
in his address.
Modi said the might
of a country increases
with the strength of so-
ciety, adding interest in
Indian sports and toys
saw a big increase after
they were mentioned by
in the broadcast.
New Delhi: Describing
‘waste to wealth’ as an im-
portant dimension of the
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,
PM Narendra Modi in his
monthly radio programme
‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday,
called on fellow citizens
to take a pledge to replace
plastic bags with cloth
bags. In his ‘Mann Ki Baat’
address, PM Modi said
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
has changed the meaning
of public participation (jan
bhagidaari) in the country.
New Delhi: BJP chief JP
Nadda alongwith general
secretaries, office-bearers
and security staff listened
‘Mann ki Baat’ at party
headquarters in Delhi. Na-
tional general secretary BL
Santosh (Organisation),
general secretaries Tarun
Chugh, Dushyant Gautam,
Arun Singh, CT Ravi and
others were also there.
BJP chief spokesperson
Anil Baluni along with
security staff listened 98th
episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday ad-
dressed the Rozgar Mela of Uttar Pradesh Government via a
video message. In the Mela, appointment letters were pro-
vided to direct recruits for Sub Inspectors in UP Police and
equivalent posts in Nagrik Police, Platoon Commanders and
Fire Department Second Officers. Addressing the occasion,
the Prime Minister expressed happiness that he is getting
an opportunity to address a Rozgar Mela almost every week
in BJP ruled states and the country is continuously getting
many talented youth who bring new thinking and efficiency in
the government system. Highlighting the special importance
of the UP Rozgar Mela today, the Prime Minister said that this
will bring happiness to 9 thousand families and will enhance
the sense of security in Uttar Pradesh as the new recruit-
ments will strengthen the Police force in the state.
New Delhi: Remembering
late melody Queen Lata
Mangeshkar, Modi said,
“Today on this occasion
it is very natural for me to
remember Lata Mangeshkar
ji, Lata Didi. Because on this
day ‘Unity Day’ competition
started. Lata Didi had urged
the countrymen that they
must join in this endeav-
our.” He also invoked Ustad
Bismillah Khan talking about
how the popularity of some
classical music instruments
has decreased with time.
New Delhi: PM Modi will
release the 13th instalment
of financial benefits worth
Rs 16,800 crore to over
eight crore eligible farmers
under the flagship PM-
KISAN scheme on Monday
ahead of Holi and rabi
harvesting. Under the Prad-
han Mantri Kisan Samman
Nidhi (PM-KISAN), eligible
farmers are provided with a
financial benefit of Rs 6,000
per year in three equal in-
stalments of Rs 2,000 each
every four months.
REPLACE PLASTIC
BAGS WITH CLOTH
ONES: PM TO CITIZENS
NADDA CO. LISTEN
‘MANN KI BAAT’ AT
BJP HEADQUARTERS
PM NARENDRA MODI ADDRESSES UP ROZGAR MELA
MODI REMEMBERS
‘LATA DIDI’, USTAD
BISMILLAH KHAN
PM MODI TO RELEASE
`16,800CR UNDER
PM-KISAN TODAY
New Delhi: The revival of ‘Tribeni Kumbho Mohot-
shav’ at Bansberia in West Bengal found a mention
in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio
programme Mann Ki Baat, in its 98th episode, on
Sunday. A section of his 32-odd-minute Mann Ki
Baat address was dedicated to Bansberia’s ‘Tribeni
Kumbho Mohotshav’. The age-old festival, celebrat-
ed on the banks of Ganga, dates back thousands of
years but was stopped 700 years ago to be revived
just two years ago. Tribeni in West Bengal has been
known as a holy place for centuries.
REVIVAL OF ‘TRIBENI KUMBHO MOHOTSHAV’
IN WB FINDS MENTION IN PM’S ADDRESS
New Delhi: BJP Presi-
dent JP Nadda chaired
a meeting with general
secretaries at party
headquarters in Delhi.
General secretaries
Arun Singh, Dushyant
Kumar Gautam, D
Purandeswari, CT Ravi,
Tarun Chugh, Dilip Sai-
kia, Vinod Tawde, Sunil
Bansal along with na-
tional general secretary
(org) BL Santosh were
present in the meeting.
According to party
sources, there will be a
presentation about the
position of the BJP in
Tripura where elec-
tions have been held,
apart from this the
prospects of BJP will
also be discussed in Na-
galand and Meghalaya,
where voting is on Feb-
ruary 27. The leaders
will also discuss G20.
India is presiding over
the G20 this year.
PM Modi had in-
structed party to ensure
maximum participa-
tion of common people
in the G20 programme,
so the BJP is trying to
increase the participa-
tion of more and more
people in the events to
promote the display In-
dia’s art and culture.
Along with this, Na-
dda will also review the
preparations of the
party for the Lok Sabha
elections across the
country
.
In the meeting, the
leaders will also discuss
the steps which have
been taken by the party
so far to strengthen the
160 Lok Sabha seats that
the BJP lost in 2019 gen-
eral elections.
JP Nadda chairs
meeting with BJP
general secretaries
Medical consultation app is becoming a life protection app for the
common man, middle class or those living in remote areas, says PM
DPAP chief Azad condemns killing
of Kashmiri Pandit in Pulwama
“Centre must intercede...” Capt on
Punjab’s law and order situation
BJP chief JP Nadda holds a meeting with the National General
Secretaries of the party, in New Delhi on Sunday. —PHOTO BY ANI
BJP chief JP Nadda with party National General Secretary BL Santhosh and party leaders
listens to PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’, in New Delhi on Sunday. —PHOTO BY ANI
PM Modi addressing UP Rozgar Mela.
New Delhi (PTI): Rahul
Gandhi acknowledged for the
first time what the Naren-
dra Modi government has
achieved in Kashmir, BJP
spokesperson Sambit Patra
said on Sunday, reacting
to the Congress leader’s
remarks about people in the
region hoisting the national
tricolour. Addressing a press
conference at the BJP
headquarters, Patra hit out
at the Congress and said the
party was practising “nega-
tive” politics by portraying a
picture of India as a country
that is destroyed and where
every individual is unhappy.
RaGa ACKNOWLEDGED
WHAT MODI GOVT HAS
ACHIEVED IN JK: BJP
Srinagar (PTI): Demo-
cratic Progressive Azad
Party (DPAP) chairman
Ghulam Nabi Azad con-
demned the killing of a
KashmiriPanditinJam-
mu and Kashmir’s Pul-
wama district on Sun-
day
, saying it was a mat-
ter of grave concern.
“Any killing, especial-
ly a targeted killing, is a
matter of grave concern
and condemnable. We
condemn it,” he said.
The former JK CM
said every targeted kill-
ing is condemnable, be
that of a Kashmiri Pan-
dit or a Muslim or a
Sikh and whether the
victim is from Jammu
or Kashmir.
However, he said the
most unfortunate part
is that while many peo-
ple were arrested in
connection with such
incidents over the last
30 years, “not one killer
has been arrested for
these targeted killings
in the last two years”.
Sanjay Sharma (40),
who worked as an ATM
guard, was shot in the
chest at point-blank
range by terrorists in
the Achan area of the
south Kashmir district
around 11 am on Sun-
day, police said.
Pulwama (ANI): Slamming
the BJP over the killing of a
Kashmiri Pandit in Pulwama
district on Sunday, PDP chief
Mehbooba Mufti said “BJP
has failed in protecting the
lives of minorities.” “These
incidents only benefit BJP
whether it is in Haryana or
Kashmir. BJP has failed in
protecting the lives of mi-
norities here. They only use
minorities to show normalcy
in the valley,” Mufti tweeted.
MUFTI SLAMS BJP
OVER KASHMIRI PANDIT
KILLING IN PULWAMA
Ghulam Nabi Azad during at an event in Srinagar, on Sunday.
Anurag Thakur participates in the GreenKanhaRun-23 at Kanha
Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad on Sunday. —PHOTO BY ANI
Chandigarh (ANI):
With reference to the
Ajnala incident, former
Punjab CM Capt Ama-
rinder Singh on Sun-
day said if the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) gov-
ernment cannot handle
law and order, the Cen-
tre should intervene to
deal with the situation.
On Sunday, the for-
mer Punjab CM said,
“He (CM Bhagwant
Mann) is not interested
on what is going on in
Punjab. He is afraid of
taking any step. Police
officials may have got
orders not to take any
step during the Ajnala
incident. The law and
order has deteriorated
in Punjab.” “No govern-
ment can run like this,
the way this govern-
ment is running. The
day when Ajnala inci-
dent took place, Bhag-
want Mann was sitting
in Mumbai with Arvind
Kejriwal,” he added.
Notably, Delhi CM
Arvind Kejriwal and
Punjab CM Bhagwant
Mann on Friday called
on former Maharashtra
chief minister Uddhav
Thackeray at his Mum-
bai residence.
Captain Amarinder
Singh raised concerns
about the internal secu-
rity of the country
.
Thousands of sup-
porters of Amritpal
Singh, a Khalistan sym-
pathizer, had on Thurs-
day staged a massive
demonstration in Am-
ritsar to protest against
the arrest of his aide
LovepreetSinghToofan.
New Delhi (PTI):Home
Minister Amit Shah
will attend on Monday
an event marking the
284th birth anniversary
of Sant Sevalal Maha-
raj, the spiritual and
religious leader of the
Banjara community
.
The Union Culture
ministry said the year-
long celebrations to
mark his birth anniver-
sary began on Sunday
.
“For the first time
ever, the yearlong com-
memoration of birth
anniversary of Santh
Sevalal Maharaj, spir-
itual and religious lead-
er of the Banjara com-
munity, is being cele-
brated by the Ministry
of Culture.”
“The yearlong com-
memoration under the
aegis of Azadi ka Amrit
Mahotsav begins from
February 26,” the min-
istry said on Sunday
.
HM to attend birth anniv
of Sant Sevalal today
Youngsters can give new
direction to society: Birla
The law and or-
der situation in
Punjab is hor-
rible. The law and order
is not the Centre’s sub-
ject. If they (Punjab
govt) are not able to han-
dle it then the central
govt will have to take
charge.
—Captain Amarinder,
Former Punjab CM

06
INDIA
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Union Min-
isterof StateDrJitendra
Singh said on Sunday
that the Government
will promote Industry-
driven Start-Ups to cre-
ate wealth and jobs.
Addressing the 37th
Foundation day of De-
partment of Biotechnol-
ogy (DBT) as Chief
Guest at National Insti-
tute of Immunology,
NII, Delhi, Dr Jitendra
Singh called for equal
stake with equal part-
nershipandresponsibil-
ity by Industry to sus-
tain the Start-Ups boom.
The Minister said,
Start-Ups will become
sustainable, if Industry
from the very begin-
ning will identify the
theme/subject/product
and invest matching eq-
uity with the Govern-
ment. The Minister as-
sured that funds will
not be a constraint un-
der Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s Gov-
ernment to promote the
“Innovation Eco-Sys-
tem” in the country
.
Giving the example
of PM Narendra Modi’s
idea of an Atma Nirb-
har Bharat, where In-
dia’s vaccine strategy
brought together phar-
ma, industry and aca-
demia in a partnership
with an eye on meeting
the current as well as
possible future chal-
lenges, Dr Jitendra Sin-
gh said, the idea behind
initiatives like this is to
have a sustainable part-
nership in the long run
and provide a sustaina-
ble source of livelihood
to India’s youth. He
added that the Govern-
ment of India, led by
Prime Minister Modi, is
encouraging industrial
outreach by extending
all possible support.
The Minister also
pointed out that last
year he had launched
Single National Portal
“BioRRAP” for Biotech
researchers and Start-
Ups and also to cater to
all those seeking regula-
tory approval for bio-
logical research devel-
opment activity in the
country and thus offer a
huge relief for “Ease of
Science as well as Ease
of Business”. He assert-
ed that India is poised to
become a Global Bio-
manufacturingHuband
will figure among the
top 5 countries of the
world by 2025.
Dr Jitendra Singh
pitched for development
of India’s own Molecule
and said for Indian
Problems, Indian Rem-
edies must be devised.
He said, Biotechnology
is the technology of to-
morrow as IT has al-
ready reaching its satu-
ration point. The Minis-
ter emphasized that Bio-
tech will be the key to
Amrit Kaal Economy
and also for making In-
dia a frontline nation in
the world.
Govt will promote Industry-driven Start-Ups: Dr Jitendra Singh
FOUNDATION DAY OF DBT
lll
MoS says
Start-Ups will
become
sustainable, if
industry
identifies the
subject/product
and invest
matching equity
with the Govt
CONGRESS MEET IN RAIPUR
We are open for tie-ups,
want caste census: Cong
The Congress leaders at the 85th Plenary Session of Congress, in Raipur, Chhattisgarh on Sunday. —PHOTO BY ANI
Party’s 85th plenary session ends with ‘Raipur Declaration’
Raipur (Agencies):
Congress’ 85th plena-
ry session ended on
Sunday with ‘Raipur
Declaration’ assert-
ing never to compro-
mise with the politics
of BJP-RSS,andmen-
tioning its openness
for alliances, caste
census in the country
and also called upon
the party workers to
ensure poll wins.
The declaration
said, “The Congress
party is the only par-
ty that has never
compromised with
the BJP/RSS and its
despicable politics.
We will always fight
to protect our politi-
cal values against the
BJP’s authoritarian,
communal and crony
capitalistonslaught.”
Giving a big mes-
sage on alliance, the
declaration said,
“We are prepared to
work with like-mind-
ed political parties
on the basis of a com-
mon, constructive
programme to pre-
serve and protect the
Constitution in letter
and spirit and to ad-
dress the three main
challenges facing the
country: growing
economic inequality,
intensifying social
polarisation and
deepening political
dictatorship.”
The same was re-
flected upon in the
party chief Mallikar-
jun Kharge’s speech
on Saturday where
he said the party was
open up for alliance.
The plenary gave
full credit to Rahul
Gandhi, common
people and the work-
ers of the Indian
National Congress,
who walked 4,000
kms from Kanyaku-
mari to Kashmir
during the Bharat
Jodo Yatra.
Nava Raipur (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun
Kharge on Sunday said the party is facing several chal-
lenges, which it can meet but what is needed is unity,
discipline and determination. In his concluding remarks
at the party’s 85th plenary session here, he said the
session may be ending but it heralds the beginning of
a “new Congress”. “Today, we have many challenges
before us, but none that the Congress cannot deal with.
What is needed is unity, discipline and determination.
Our strength lies in the strength of the party,” he said.
“Our conduct at the national level will have an impact on
crores of party colleagues at every level,” he added. He
said people’s aspirations and expectations change, new
challenges emerge, but new ways are also found out.
BEGINNING OF NEW CONGRESS:
KHARGE AT PLENARY SESSION
CONG WORKERS
HAVE COURAGE TO
FIGHT BJP: PGV AT
PARTY’S PLENARY
Raipur: Congress
leader Priyanka Gandhi
Vadra on Sunday said
ahead of Lok Sabha
polls, there are expecta-
tions from Opposition
parties to unite but
most expectations are
from the Congress.
She exhorted Congress
workers to take the
message of the party
and the “failures” of the
govt to public. “Now
only one year is left for
us, there are expecta-
tions from us, that
we will unite. All the
Opposition parties and
people whose ideology
is opposed to them
(BJP), must fight unit-
edly. There are expecta-
tions from everyone but
the most expectations
are from the Congress,”
she said.
New Delhi (ANI): Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP)
workers were heard
raising slogans against
Modi government out-
side Fatehpur Beri Po-
lice Station in support
of Delhi Deputy Chief
Minister Manish Siso-
dia, who appeared be-
fore the CBI for interro-
gation in connection
with alleged excise pol-
icy scam on Sunday
.
Later after Sisodia’s
arrest, Delhi chief min-
ister Arvind Kejriwal
said Sisodia is innocent
and that his arrest was
part of “dirty politics”.
“Manish is innocent.
His arrest is dirty poli-
tics. There is a lot of an-
ger among the people
due to the arrest of of
Manish. Everyone is
watching ... our struggle
will get stronger,” Kejri-
wal tweeted in Hindi.
Sisodia was sum-
moned to CBI headquar-
ters. “As per SB input
and local intelligence,
there was an apprehen-
sionof alargegathering
of supporters, voters
and leaders of AAP at
CGO. All arrangements,
including deployment
of personnel, had been
in place since Saturday
,”
an official said.
AAP rank file protests
against Modi government
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia with AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bhardwaj comes out of
Rajghat after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi before his questioning by CBI in the liquor policy case.
Dr Ahtesham Siddiqui
Lucknow: Former UP
Chief Secretary IAS Ra-
jendra Tiwari Chair-
man UPSRTC, IAS
Arvind Kumar ACS In-
frastructure and Indus-
trial Development IT
Electronics IAS Arad-
hana Shukla ACS
Ayush, IAS Shakuntala
Gautam Commissioner
Labour will retire on
February 28. With this,
important departments
like Transport, Indus-
trial Development, IT,
Labour, AYUSH will
have vacant positions.
The Uttar Pradesh
government will have
to deploy new officers
as soon as possible.
Many officers are
lobbying for these de-
partments.
On the other hand,
while transferring two
IAS officers, the UP gov-
ernment has given IAS
Prabhu Narayan Singh,
Secretary, Revenue Re-
lief, additional charge
of Commissioner Con-
solidation, while IAS
Uday Bhan Tripathi has
been made Special Sec-
retary, Urban Develop-
ment, while IAS Sunil
Chowdhary, posted in
Urban Development,
has been asked to wait.
4seniorIASofficersin
UPretiringonFeb28;
hunton fornewones
Govt will have to
deploy new officers
Rahul Gandhi shows affection to his mother Sonia Gandhi as party leaders look on in Raipur.
Rajendra
Kumar
Arvind
Kumar
Aradhana
Shukla
Shakuntala
Gautam
Raipur: The Congress on Sunday gave a call to par-
ty leaders in poll-bound states, including Rajasthan,
Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, to work with discipline
and complete unity to ensure victory that will “set
the tone” for 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In its five-point
Raipur Declaration adopted at the party’s 85th
plenary session here, the Congress declared that it
is ready to work with like minded political parties on
the basis of a common, constructive programme to
preserve and protect the Constitution and address
the challenges. “The coming year will see important
state elections in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya
Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana. Party
workers and leaders must work with discipline,
solidarity and complete unity to ensure our victory.
CONG: WORK UNITEDLY TO ENSURE
VICTORY IN POLL-BOUND STATES
Chandigarh: Two gangsters lodged in Goindwal Sahib
Central Jail in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district were killed in
a fight among inmates on Sunday,
police said. Both were connected
with singer Sidhu Moosewala’s kill-
ing last year, they said. They were
facing other cases as well, Senior
Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurmeet Singh Chauhan
said. One inmate was injured in the fight, he said.
Mahoba: In a shocking incident of another hit-and-drag
case, a man and his grandson were killed after their scooty
was hit by a truck that kept on
speeding with the two-wheeler stuck
under it for a distance. The incident is
said to have taken place on Saturday
on Kanpur-Sagar Highway. Both the
man, and his six-year-old grandson died in the incident. A
video of the incident went viral on social media.
TWO GANGSTERS KILLED IN FIGHT AMONG
INMATES IN PUNJAB’S GOINDWAL SAHIB JAIL
MAN, GRANDSON KILLED AS TRUCK HITS
AND DRAGS SCOOTY IN UP’S MAHOBA
CRUCIAL READ
WB: DECOMPOSED
BODIES OF COUPLE,
DAUGHTER FOUND
BODY OF UP DALIT
TEEN GIRL FOUND
HANGING IN HOUSE
Kolkata: Decomposed
bodies of a couple and
their daughter were
found hanging in their
accommodation in south
Kolkata on Sunday,
police said. The couple’s
neighbours at Regent
Park housing society had
been complaining of a
foul smell emitting from
the residence locked from
inside for couple of days.
Aligarh: The body of
a 15-year-old Dalit girl
was found hanging
inside her house here.
A case of suicide has
been registered and
further action will be
taken on the basis of the
post-mortem examina-
tion, they said. The body
was discovered by the
girl’s family members
when they returned.
Triple murder
in Gorakhpur,
woman held
after probe
Gorakhpur(Agencies):
A woman killed her hus-
band and two step-sons
by slitting their throat
in her house in Sahab-
ganj in Uttar Pradesh’s
Gorakhpur district
on Sunday
.
The accused woman
has been arrested and
the knife used in
the crime has also
been seized.
According to reports,
Avadhesh Gupta, 40,
had remarried after the
death of his first wife
from whom he had two
sons Aryan and Pihu.
His second wife
Neelam hails from Sant
Kabir Nagar and has a
daughter from her first
marriage.
According to sources,
Neelam had relations
with another man and
wanted to get rid of her
husband and step-sons.
After committing the
crime, Neelam in-
formed the police that
some people were at-
tacking her husband
and step-sons.
The police reached
her house and saw
Avadhesh and the two
sons lying in a pool of
blood. The police
rushed the three to the
hospital where the doc-
tors declared Avadhesh
dead. The two children
died during treatment.
New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Sunday detained around 50
AAP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and
MLAs Saurabh Bharadwaj and Gopal Rai, who were staging
a protest near the CBI Headquarters here. They were taken
to the Fatehpur Beri Police Station. The Delhi Police had
imposed section 144 CrPC near the CBI’s headquarters to
avoid unwanted gathering. The AAP workers had gathered
outside Sisodia’s house and CBI’s headquarters to show
their strength ahead of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish
Sisodia’s questioning in the Delhi excise policy scam.
SANJAY SINGH, GOPAL RAI BHARADWAJ
AMONG 50 AAP LEADERS DETAINED IN DELHI

Gautam Adani slips to No. 30 in rich list
New Delhi (PTI): Gautam
Adani was the world’s third
and Asia’s richest man a
month back but a damning
report by a US firm trig-
gered a massive sell-off in
shares of his apples-to-air-
port group, plunging his
own wealth by $80 billion
and the tycoon slipping
to No 30 on the world
billionaire index.
Adani’s sprawling con-
glomerate, which spans
from sea ports to airports,
edible oil and commodities,
energy, cement and data
centres, is under attack by
US short-seller Hinden-
burg Research.
Since the Hindenburg
report, the group’s 10 list-
ed companies have lost Rs
12.06 lakh crore, nearly
equivalent to the market
capitalisation of Tata
Consultancy Services
(TCS) - India’s second most
valuable company.
Group’s founder chair-
man Gautam Adani, 60, a
first-generation entrepre-
neur, has lost $80.6 billion
in wealth, which was pri-
marily based on valuation
of his holding in group
companies.
He was worth $120 bil-
lion before Hindenburg re-
port but now is ranked
No.30 on the world billion-
aire index with about $40
billion networth.
Rival Mukesh Ambani,
whom he had overtaken
last year to become Asia’s
richest is now ranked No.10
with $81.7 billion wealth.
INDIA’S ENRON MOMENT?
SHARP FALL IN
LAST 1 MONTH
z Gautam Adani, 60, a first-
generation entrepreneur, has
lost $80.6 billion in wealth,
which was primarily based
on valuation of his holding in
group companies
z He was worth $120 billion
before Hindenburg report
but now is ranked No.30 on
the world
business
BRIEFS
New Delhi: Nine of the 10
most valued firms faced a
combined erosion of
`1,87,808.26 crore in
market valuation last
week, with HDFC Bank
and Reliance Industries
taking the biggest hit
amid an overall weak
trend in equities. Last
week, the BSE benchmark
tumbled 1,538.64 points
or 2.52% amid concerns
that the US Federal Re-
serve might raise interest
rates further to curb infla-
tion. Fresh foreign fund
outflows also dented in-
vestor sentiments. —PTI
9 OF TOP 10 FIRMS
LOSE `1.87 LAKH
CRORE IN MCAP
New Delhi: As many as
335 infrastructure pro-
jects, each entailing an in-
vestment of `150 crore or
more, have been hit by
cost overruns of more
than `4.46 lakh crore. Ac-
cording to the Ministry of
Statistics and Programme
Implementation, out of
1,454 projects, 335 re-
ported cost overruns and
as many as 871 projects
were delayed. “Total origi-
nal cost of implementa-
tion of the 1,454 projects
was `20,59,065.57 crore
and their anticipated com-
pletion cost is likely to be
`25,05,248.43 crore,
which reflects overall cost
overruns of `4,46,182.86
crore.” —PTI
335 INFRA PROJECTS
SHOW COST OVERRUN
OF `4.46 LAKH CRORE
New Delhi: Services ex-
ports are recording a
healthy growth rate and
going by this trend, the
outbound shipments will
cross $300 billion in
2022-23, and tapping
global opportunities
would help achieve $1
trillion target by 2030,
SEPC said on Sunday.
Services Export Promo-
tion Council Director Gen-
eral Abhay Sinha said
support measures in the
forthcoming FTP would
help further boost the ex-
ports. —PTI
SERVICES EXPORTS
TO CROSS $300
BILLION THIS FISCAL
New Delhi: Foreign inves-
tors have turned cautious
and pulled out `2,313
crore from Indian equities
so far this month ahead
of the release of Federal
Reserve’s latest meeting
minutes. However, the
pace of selling has come
down compared to Janu-
ary, when Foreign Portfo-
lio Investors (FPIs) took
out `28,852 crore. This
was also the worst out-
flow in the last seven
months, data with the de-
positories showed. Prior
to that, they made a net
investment of `11,119
crore in December. —PTI
FPIs WITHDRAW
`2,300-CRORE FROM
EQUITIES IN FEB 2023
07
Commodity Price Change % Chg
GOLD 56,330.00 00.00 0.00 (Per 10g)
SILVER 67,500.00 00.00 0.00 (Per 1kg)
COMMODITIES
Currency Price Change % Chg
USDINR 82.75 0.00 0.00
GBPINR 99.45 0.00 0.00
CURRENCIES
*Rates till the edition went to print.
=
=
=
=
VECV EXPECTS UP TO
5% RISE IN VEHICLE
PRICES FROM APRIL
New Delhi: VE Commercial
Vehicles (VECV), a joint ven-
ture between Volvo Group and
Eicher Motors,
expects prices
of its models
to rise by
up to 5%
with stricter emission norms
coming into force from April
this year. “As far as the cost
increase is concerned, it is
not going to be like the earlier
BS IV to BS VI (transition), it
will be much lower than that,
which should be within, I think
3 to 5%,” VECV MD said.—PTI
NO BAN ON EXPORTS
OF ONION, SAY
COMMERCE MINISTRY
New Delhi: There is no ban on
exports of onion and India has
shipped the commodity worth
$523.8 million
during April-
December
2022, the
commerce
ministry said on Sunday. It
said that only the export of
onion seed is restricted. “Gov-
ernment has not restricted
or prohibited the export of
onions,” the ministry said in a
statement. In December 2022,
onion exports rose by about
50% to $52.1 million. —PTI
IOC TO SET UP GREEN HYDROGEN PLANTS AT ALL
REFINERIES; LINES UP `2 LAKH CR FOR NET ZERO
New Delhi: India’s top oil firm IOC will set up green hydrogen
plants at all its refineries as it pivots a `2-lakh crore green
transition plan to achieve net-zero
emissions from its operations by 2046,
its chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya
said. IOC is remodelling business with
an increased focus on petrochemicals
to hedge volatility in the fuel business,
while at the same time turning petrol
pumps into energy outlets that offer EV
charging points and battery swapping options besides conven-
tional fuels as it looks to make itself future-ready, he said. —PTI
WITH EARLY SUMMER HOPES OF ELONGATED
SEASON, AC MAKERS EXPECT 20% VOL GROWTH
New Delhi: Early onset of summer along with predictions
indicating harsh temperature and an elongated season is making
residential airconditioner manufactur-
ers grin from ear to ear, expecting
15-20% volume growth this year. AC
makers are expanding their portfolio by
adding products in their lineup based
on energy-efficient inverter technology
and smart features such as IoT and air
purifiers. They have also ramped up
production to fill the stocks with their channel partners. —PTI
OTHER STORIES
‘DIGITAL ECONOMY CAN
CONTRIBUTE 25% GDP’
New Delhi (PTI): Noted
banker KV Kamath, who
now chairs the National
Bank for Financing Infra-
structure and Development
(NaBFID), expects the digi-
tal sector to contribute a
quarter of the incremental
GDP by the time the econo-
my becomes a $ 7 trillion
giant by FY29. Currently,
the contribution of the
digital economy is a low
4%, whereas it is as much
as 40% in China.
The government and
planners see the economy
becoming the third largest
in the world by FY29, over-
taking Japan, with a GDP
of $7 trillion from the pre-
sent $3.3 trillion.
The digital economy --
the digital infrastructure,
e-commerce and other digi-
tal payments and services
segments--can be the coun-
try’s biggest growth-driver
and can contribute as
much as 25% of the incre-
mental GDP by the time
India becomes a $7-trillion
economy by FY29. Current-
ly, the share is a low 4%,
Kamath said.
“As much as 40% of the
Chinese economy come
from the digital sector to-
day, and I don’t see any rea-
son why we can’t achieve
this,” the former ICICI
Bank chairman quipped.
Kamath said, the NaB-
FID is actively looking to
fund key areas in this space
such as data centres.
DGCA plans to hire 400 tech staff in 1-2 yrs
New Delhi (PTI): The Di-
rectorate General of Civil
Aviation (DGCA) plans to
ramp up its technical staff
to 1,100 by hiring another
400 people in the next one to
two years as well as in-
crease the number of offic-
es to 19 as the watchdog
strengthens the safety over-
sight capabilities, accord-
ingtoitschief ArunKumar.
Kumar, who will be su-
perannuating on February
28 after being at the helm
for nearly four years, de-
scribed his tenure as a
“roller coaster ride” on
Sunday.
Currently, the Directo-
rate General of Civil Avia-
tion (DGCA) has around
1,300 employees, including
about 700 technical staff.
“The number of techni-
cal staff is expected to in-
crease by 400 in the next
one to two years... also, the
number of offices of the
DGCA in different parts of
the country will increase to
19 from the current 14 in
the near term,” he said.
PRESENT
STATUS OF DGCA
z Currently, the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation
(DGCA) has around 1,300
employees, including about
700 technical staff and it is
expected to increase by 400
INDIGO, GO FIRST FACE PW ENGINE HEADWINDS
New Delhi (PTI): More than 50 planes of IndiGo and Go First are on
the ground due to Pratt Whitney engine woes amid persisting sup-
ply chain headwinds, forcing airlines to explore wet leasing of aircraft
and other options to minimise disruptions, according to officials. The
country’s largest airline IndiGo is looking at various options, includ-
ing slowing down redeliveries through lease extensions, exploring
the re-induction of aircraft into the fleet, and evaluating the wet lease
options within the regulatory guidelines.
‘MAY FALL SHORT OF TARGET’
India’s economic growth fragile
New Delhi (PTI): India’s
economic growth appears
to be ‘very fragile’ and it
may fall short of what the
country needs to meet the
aspirations of its growing
workforce, RBI Monetary
Policy Committee (MPC)
member Jayanth R Varma
said on Sunday
.
In India, Varma said he
expects inflation to remain
high in 2022-23 but come
down significantly in 2023-
24. “However, growth ap-
pears to be very fragile,
and monetary tightening
is compressing demand,”
he said.
Explaining further, he
said rising EMI payments
increases the pressure on
household budgets and
dampens spending, and ex-
ports are struggling in the
face of global factors.
While noting that high
interest rates make private
capital investment more
difficult, Varma said the
government is in fiscal con-
solidation mode, thus re-
ducing the support to the
economy from this source.
“Because of all these fac-
tors, I fear that growth may
fall short of what we need
to meet the aspirations of
our growing workforce
given our demographic
context and income level,”
he said.
The Reserve Bank of In-
dia (RBI) has projected In-
dia’s economic growth at
6.4% for 2023- 24. Gross Do-
mestic Product (GDP)
growth is estimated at 7%
in 2022-23, according to the
first advance estimate of
the NSO.
The Economic Survey
2022-23 projected a baseline
GDP growth of 6.5% in real
terms for the next fiscal.
Varma, currently a pro-
fessor at the Indian Insti-
tute of Management,
Ahmedabad said he sees
global inflationary pres-
sures dissipating in the
months ahead as the sup-
ply shocks from the pan-
demic and from the
Ukraine war gradually re-
solve themselves.
“The world is learning to
live with the war,” he said,
adding that at the same
time monetary tightening
is putting growth at risk
across the world.
ACC TO MPC
MEMBER VARMA
z India’s economic growth
appears to be ‘very fragile’
and it may fall short of what
the country needs to meet
the aspirations of its growing
workforce
z In India, Varma said he
expects inflation to remain
high in 2022-23 but come
down significantly in
2023-24
India, UK Fin Ministers agree to
make further progress on FTA
London (PTI): India and
the UK have agreed to make
further progress on the on-
going negotiations for a
free trade agreement (FTA)
and also to swiftly organise
the next bilateral Econom-
ic and Financial Dialogue
soon, the British govern-
ment has said.
India has recently con-
cluded the seventh round
of talks with the UK.
At the conclusion of UK
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s
India visit for the G20 Fi-
nance Ministers and Cen-
tral Bank Governors meet-
ing, held under India’s
2023 Presidency, the UK’s
Treasury department said
the finance minister held
talks with Indian counter-
part Nirmala Sitharaman
with a focus on deepening
bilateral economic and
financial ties.
“At a meeting with Indi-
an Finance Minister Si-
tharaman, both sides
agreed to make further pro-
gress on the UK-India Free
Trade Agreement and
deepen bilateral economic
and financial ties,” the
Treasury department said
in a statement on Saturday
.
“They agreed to make
swift progress on setting
up the next UK-India Eco-
nomic and Financial Dia-
logue,” it said.
Hunt, on his visit as UK
Chancellor, also met with
business leaders in Ben-
galuru and visited the of-
fices of tech multinational
Wipro which employs over
4,000 people in the UK.
MAJOR
HIGHLIGHTS
z India and the UK have
agreed to make further
progress on the ongoing
negotiations for a FTA and
also to swiftly organise the
next bilateral Economic and
Financial Dialogue soon
z UK’s Treasury department
said the finance minister held
talks with Indian counterpart
with a focus on deepening
bilateral eco and financial ties
z Hunt, on his first
international visit as UK
Chancellor, also met with
business leaders in Bengaluru
Nokia changes
its iconic logo
for the first time
in 60 years
Barcelona (Agencies):
Nokia announced plans on
Sunday to change its brand
identity for the first time in
nearly 60 years, complete
with a new logo, as the tel-
ecom equipment maker fo-
cuses on aggressive
growth.
The new logo comprises
five different shapes form-
ing the word NOKIA. The
iconic blue color of the old
logo has been dropped for a
range of colours depend-
ing on the use.
“There was the associa-
tion to smartphones and
nowadays we are a busi-
ness technology company,”
Chief Executive Pekka
Lundmark said.
He was speaking ahead
of a business update by the
company on the eve of the
annual Mobile World Con-
gress (MWC) which opens
in Barcelona on Monday
and runs until March 2. Af-
ter taking over the top job
at the struggling Finnish
company in 2020, Lund-
mark set out a strategy
with three stages: reset, ac-
celerate and scale. With the
reset stage now complete,
Lundmark said the second
stage is beginning.

2NDFRONT
One of the greatest acts of persona
responsibility is focused planning-
both short-term and long-term.
— Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO Editor-in-Chief, First India
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Emphasizing
on the need to focus on
making Mumbai a city
of international stand-
ard, Chief Minister
Eknath Shinde on Sun-
day said there is no need
to dream of making
Mumbai like Shanghai.
With polls due at the
Brihanmumbai Munici-
pal Corporation (BMC),
Shindevowedtowinand
remove the “clout of cer-
tain contractors” and
provide better roads and
services to the people.
He was speaking at a
public function where
he launched works on
320 different projects in
Mumbai.
“There is no need to
dream of making Mum-
bai like Shanghai. We
need to make the city of
international standard.
We are also setting up
several sewage treat-
ment plants which
would treat the used wa-
ter and release only
clean water into the
sea,” he said.
Shinde further said
he will not to respond to
criticism as he prefers
to work rather than
talk. “If you level one
allegation against me, I
will carry out 10 good
works in Mumbai city
in response,” he said.
The chief minister
also took a dig at Shiv
Sena - Uddhav Balasa-
heb Thackeray leader
Sanjay Raut’s daily
morning media interac-
tion, comparing it to a
“mill siren”.
“Earlier, Mumbai
used to have mill sirens
to which everyone used
to pay attention. Now,
there is only one siren
and nobody needs to
pay any attention to it,”
he quipped without tak-
ing Raut’s name.
Warning Mumbai-
kars of inconvenience
for next few months due
to ongoing works, Depu-
tyChief MinisterDeven-
dra Fadnavis said it is
because they were start-
ing work on a number of
projects in one go. “But
once all the roads are
properly constructed,
there will be no traffic
jams,” he said.
Sandeep Shukla
Mumbai: Heirs of sani-
tation workers in Maha-
rashtra can now suc-
ceed their kin in steady
government jobs, Depu-
ty Chief Minister Dev-
endra Fadnavis said on
Sunday
.
He also said that the
benefit will extend to the
“husband or wife, son or
daughter, daughter-in-
law or son-in-law, wid-
owed daughter, sister,
divorced daughter or
sister,abandoneddaugh-
ter or sister, unmarried
educated daughter or
unmarried educated sis-
ter, grandson or grand-
daughter” of sweepers
and manual scavengers.
In the case of an un-
married sweeper, his or
herbrotherorsistermay
also be considered. If an
heir is unavailable, the
job will then fall open to
any person who promis-
es in writing to take care
of thesanitationworker,
in keeping with the
Mang Lad Committee
recommendations.
However, the succes-
sor has to be aged be-
tween 18 and 45 years,
and will be appointed as
a Class III or Class IV
staffer based on their
qualifications.
Pune (PTI): Ailing Lok
Sabha member Girish
Bapat on Sunday cast
his vote in the by-elec-
tion to the Kasba Peth
Assembly constituency
in Pune.
Bapat, with his nasal
cannula on, came to the
polling station at Ahily-
abai Highschool in a car
to exercise his fran-
chise. He was later tak-
en inside the polling
booth in a wheelchair.
Before winning the
Lok Sabha election in
2019, Bapat had repre-
sented this Assembly
segment located in the
heartof Punefivetimes.
Bapat, who had earli-
er stated that he would
not be able to take part
intheelectioncampaign
due to his poor health,
had later addressed the
Bharatiya Janata Party
workers ahead of polls
and expressed confi-
dence that the party
would win comfortably
.
The Opposition, how-
ever, criticized the BJP,
saying that the party
remembered Bapat only
when it sensed that its
position in the Kasba
Peth constituency was
in trouble.
First India Bureau
Thane: The All India
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Mus-
limeen (AIMIM) on Sun-
day passed several reso-
lutions at the end of its
two-day national confer-
ence in Mumbra in
Thane district, includ-
ing on violence against
Muslims and Dalits and
demands from some
Sangh Parivar seg-
ments to make India a
“Hindu Rashtra”.
AIMIM chief Asadud-
din Owaisi, who chaired
the conference, said:
“One resolution une-
quivocally condemns
the continuing and in-
creasing attacks against
Muslims, other minori-
ties and Dalits. It is the
duty of the Centre and
state governments to
ban illegal and criminal
organisations that have
undertaken a systemat-
ic campaign of terror in
the garb of cow protec-
tion, anti-conversion,
Love Jihad etc.”
He said his party
soughtadedicatedcellin
the Ministry of Home
Affairs to track and
counter “majoritarian
religious radicalisa-
tion”, while victims of
“majoritarian vio-
lence”—those who have
been lynched or killed in
the name of Hindutva—
must be compensated.
Other resolutions in-
clude one demanding
that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and
chief ministers speak
out against hate speech-
es, while another
sought reservations for
Muslims on the basis of
several commissions
that have termed the
community as socially,
economically and edu-
cationally backward,
Owaisi said.
“Moreover, Dalit
Muslims and Dalit
Christians must be clas-
sified as Scheduled
Castes and get bene-
fits,” he said.
Need to make Mumbai city of
international standard: Shinde
BSS chief vows to win BMC elections,
remove ‘clout of certain contractors’
provide better roads, services to people
Maha Chief Minister Eknath Shinde —FILE PHOTO
‘Maha government
will give job to the
heirs of scavengers’
Maha: BJP to
launch ‘one
crore selfies’
campaign
Aashique Hussain
New Delhi: The
Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) will
kick off the “one
crore selfies” cam-
paign on Monday,
said National Presi-
dent of Mahila Mor-
cha Vanathi Srini-
vasan on Sunday
.
The programme
will be launched by
Union Minister Sm-
riti Irani.
“The ‘one crore
selfies’ campaign
with women benefi-
ciaries of the wel-
fare schemes of our
beloved Prime Min-
isterNarendraModi
ji government will
be launched on Feb-
ruary 27, 2023,” she
said.
Uddhav Thackeray responsible for
problems in Shiv Sena: Athawale
First India Bureau
Kochi: Union minister
Ramdas Athawale
blamed former Maha-
rashtra Chief Minister,
Uddhav Thackeray, for
“problems in the Shiv
Sena”.
Addressing a press
meeting here on Satur-
day
, Athawale said, “For
the problems in Shiv
Sena, Uddhav Thacker-
ay is responsible. Be-
cause 2019’s mandate
was that the govern-
ment should be of
Bharatiya Janata Party
and Shiv Sena. But, Ud-
dhav Thackeray left the
alliance and joined
hands with Congress
and Nationalist Con-
gress Party. Therefore,
problems occurred.
Otherwise, if Uddhav
Thackeray could be
with the BJP, then there
could be no dispute be-
tween Thackeray and
Eknath Shinde.”
He further said that
incumbent CM Eknath
Shinde’s government
“is a very strong gov-
ernment and they
are taking important
decisions.”
Talking about the
Congress’ plenary ses-
sion, Athawale said, “I
respect Sonia Gandhi.
But Rahul Gandhi is
not a very strong man.
He can’t lead the party.
That’s why he resigned
from the Congress pres-
idency after the defeat.
Smriti Irani defeated
Rahul Gandhi in Ame-
thi. Comparing Rahul
Gandhi to Narendra
Modi, Rahul Gandhi
can’t defeat Narendra
Modi.”
Athawale exuded
confidence that the
BJP-led National Demo-
cratic Alliance (NDA)
will come to power
again.
“There is no opposi-
tion. On one side, there
is Narendra Modi and
on the other side lead-
ers of CPIM, CPI, Aam
Aadmi Party, Congress,
Mamata’s party (Trina-
mool Congress), Nitish
Kumar’s party (Janata
Dal United), and NCP.
There is no problem for
the BJP and the NDA
from coming into power
again,” he said.
Union min calls
out Sena leader
for abandoning
alliance with
BJP after 2019
Assembly polls
Ramdas Athwale—FILE PHOTO Asaduddin Owaisi
Ailing MP Girish Bapat
votes from wheelchair PM Modi must act against
hate speeches: AIMIM chief
There is no need to dream of making Mum-
bai like Shanghai. We need to make the city
of international standard. We are also set-
ting up several sewage treatment plants which
would treat the used water and release only clean
water into the sea.—Eknath Shinde, Maha CM
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Passes resolution
on violence against
Dalits, Muslims,
seeks dedicated
MHA cell to
counter
‘majoritarian
religious
radicalization’
Union Home Minister Amit Shah met ailing Lok Sabha MP Bapat
earlier this month in Pune. —FILE PHOTO
08
ACTORS GOVINDA, MANOJ TIWARI GRACED ‘SUPER INDIANS’ EVENT
RAJASTHANI BHOJPURI TO
BE IN 8TH SCHEDULE: TIWARI
Dr Jagdeesh Chandra speaking during the event on Sunday.
Govinda addressing the event at hotel Radisson in Jodhpur.
Manoj Tiwari interacting with the audience during the event.
Badri Ram Jakhar addressing the audience on Sunday.
Rajeev Gaur
Jodhpur: Film actors
Govinda and Manoj Ti-
wari graced the Super
Indians event organised
by Bharat24 and First
India news channel and
newspaper at hotel
Radisson on Sunday
.
The event was held
under the aegis of Dr
Jagdeesh Chandra,
CEO and Editor-in-
Chief, Bharat24-Vision
of New India and First
India CMD, First In-
dia News in which erst-
while Sirohi royal fam-
ily scion Padma Shri
Raghuveer Singh, Jodh-
pur divisional commis-
sioner KC Meena, IG Jai
Narayan Sher, collector
Himanshu Gupta, for-
mer MP Badri Ram
Jakhar, Chairman of
Rajasthan State Human
Rights CommissionJus-
tice Gopal Krishna Vyas
and chairperson of the
Rajasthan State Com-
mission for Protection
of Child Rights Sangee-
ta Beniwal were also
present as special guest.
After this, BJP MP
Manoj Tiwari, remem-
bering the early days of
his career, said that Dr
Jagdeesh Chandra gave
him first opportunity
in the music show on
Bihar’s channel and did
286 episodes of it. Ti-
wari said that his mu-
sic career started after
this show.
Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, KC Meena, Sangeeta Beniwal, Govinda, Justice Gopal Krishan Vyas, Badri Ram
Jakhar, Jai Narayan Sher, Himanshu Gupta, Manoj Jagyasi, Jinendra Shekhawat and Jawed Siddiqui
during lighting of lamp at hotel Radisson in Jodhpur on Sunday. —PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA
Actors Govinda, Manoj
Tiwari described Dr
Jagdeesh Chandra as
a person who gives
opportunities to talents

www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/
thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09
MUMBAI | MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 27, 2023
Feel the
blossom
Floral skirts are flirty, fabulous
and enjoyable. City First brings to
you the significance of floral
skirts in the fashion world
retty floral
skirts lead the
list of women’s
skirt trends due
to their femi-
nine allure. Flo-
ral skirt ensem-
bles can appear beauti-
ful if they are worn with
the correct approach.
These dresses are eye
candy thanks to the love-
ly floral pattern. While
the wide selection ena-
bles every lady to select
the ideal one for her
unique style. Floral
skirts give an otherwise
plain closet a celebrato-
ry vibe. They could be
classified as a summer
or spring essential. But
the truth is that if you
know the dos and don’ts
of wearing them with
other clothes, you can
wear them all year
round. Floral dresses
come in a variety
, just
like actual flowers. They
can be long skirts, mini
pencil skirts, or short,
stylish tennis skirts.
They could also be bub-
bleskirts,circularskirts
with flares, or high-
waisted skirts with
pleats. In conclusion,
you can order floral
dresses in any length
and shape. The sort of
floral skirt you choose
will determine how you
should arrange it. These
gorgeous skirts can have
a large-scale pattern
with vibrant, evenly
placed flowers. Alter-
nately
, they could be mi-
nuscule, grouped mini
florals, which might be a
good choice for under-
stated designs. Darker
designs appear more
subtle, while vibrant
flower prints are expres-
sive and upbeat. The
best method to dress a
floral skirt is to give
close attention to the flo-
ral pattern. The flowery
design ought to be the
focal point of your en-
semble. To do credit to
this fashionable item of
clothing, it is essential to
understand what top to
pair with a flowery skirt
and what layering choic-
es can go with it. The
measurements and hues
of the staples you use to
complement it must be
accurate. This will help
you put together an en-
semble that is both cohe-
sive and attractive to the
eye. At times, striking
contrasts in the form
of colours and
patterns also
work for
women who
love an ec-
c e n t r i c
style. Make
sure that the
scale of both
prints is the
same to create
a balanced
look.
SHUBHANSHI PATHAK
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
P

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