First india jaipur edition-18 march 2021

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JAIPUR l THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 281
OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD & LUCKNOW
PM’s VC WARNS CMs ON CORONA ‘SECOND WAVE’
EMERGING
SECOND WAVE
OF CORONA
INVESTOR
WEALTH
TUMBLES
New Delhi: Investors have
lost over Rs 5.55 lakh crore
in four days of declines
in the domestic equity
markets. Rising domes-
tic COVID-19 cases and
selling in RIL and bank-
ing stocks dragged down
the 30-share BSE Sensex
by 562.34 points or 1.12
per cent to 49,801.62
on Wednesday. In four
days, the benchamark has
fallen by 1,477.89 points
or 2.88 per cent. The
market capitalisation of
BSE-listed companies has
tanked by Rs 5,55,400.52
crore in four days to reach
Rs 2,03,71,252.94 crore.
“News of rising COVID
cases in India and caution
ahead of the US Fed meet
were weighing on inves-
tors’’ sentiment,” said Ajit
Mishra, VP - Research,
Religare Broking Ltd.
New Delhi: Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi on
Wednesday urged Chief
Ministers of all States
to increase the number
of vaccination centres
and the RT-PCR tests to
curb the ‘emerging sec-
ond wave’ of the coronavi-
rus. The Prime Minister
urged to increase testing
and to pay special atten-
tion to the “referral sys-
tem” and “ambulance net-
work” in small cities.
“It is very important to
track every infected per-
son’s contacts in the
shortest time and keep the
RT-PCR test rate above 70
percent,” PM Modi
said while ad-
dressing the meet-
ing held with
Chief Ministers
of States. “The
whole country has
opened up for trav-
el and the number of peo-
ple travelling has also in-
creased. There is a need
for a new mechanism for
sharing information
among themselves. Simi-
larly, the responsibility of
following the SOP for sur-
veillance of the contacts
of the travellers coming
from abroad has also in-
creased,” he said.
“It has now become
necessary for us to be-
come pro-active. Making
micro-containment zones,
wherever necessary,
is very important if
we want to limit the
spread of the COV-
ID-19 wave. We must
not put our guards
downatthiscrucialhour,”
he added
The PM also expressed
concern over the rise in
cases of infection in tier-2
and tier-3 cities.
“Significant increase is
being seen in many dis-
tricts that had protected
themselves so far and
were kind of safe-zones.
70 districts of the country
have seen an increase of
more than 150% in the last
few weeks. If we don’t
stop it here, a situation of
the nationwide outbreak
can come up,” he added.
Along with these, one
of the points that he laid
special importance is the
wastage of vaccine doses.
Turn to P6
150%
More than 150% rise in
Covid cases in 70 districts,
says govt
400 CASES
In the last 24 hours, more
than 400 cases have been
reported in Delhi. Positiv-
ity rate is less than 1%,
however, it has increased
from 0.4% to 0.6%.
23,179
Maharashtra reported
23,179 new Covid-19
cases, 9,138 discharges
and 84 deaths in the
last 24 hours.
1,275
Karnataka re-
ported 1,275 new
Covid-19 cases,
479 recoveries, and 4
deaths in the last 24 hours.
30 TRIBAL
Students test positive for
Covid-19, all hostels in
Palghar district to be shut
from next week
8.34 MILLION
On 15th March, 8.34
million Covid-19
vaccine doses were
administered world-
wide, of which India
alone administered
36% of doses: Health
ministry
Mosque buries Azaan
hatchet after VC’s plea
Vishal Srivastav
Prayagraj: Allahabad
University Vice Chan-
cellor Sangita Srivasta-
va’s apprehensiveness
abouttheearly-morning
‘Azaan’ disturbing her
sleep, has yet again dug
out the buried devil fea-
turing renowned singer
Sonu Nigam. In 2017,
Nigamhadsoundedsim-
ilar concerns in Mum-
bai stating the sound
coming from the dawn
Azaan, breaks his peace.
However, the recent
issue was buried under
the hatchet on Wednes-
day with the Prayagraj
Mosque administration
doing the needful and
cooperating with the
administration.
VC Srivastava had
written to the Prayagraj
administration about
the loud sound of Azaan
breaching her early
morning sleep. After
this,theadministration,
led by district magis-
trate Chandra Goswa-
mi, flung into action.
Without any delay
, a sen-
ior police officer was
sent to the Mosque, situ-
ated in Civil Lines area,
where Mohommad Kal-
eem, who takes care of
the Mosque administra-
tion, was contacted.
Kaleem told media
persons that a police-
man came to the
mosque and he told
about the Turn to P6
Mumbai top
cop shunted,
Nagrale is the
new CP
Mumbai: Under flak
for ‘mishandling’ of the
bomb scare outside in-
dustrialist Mukesh Am-
bani’s house in Mum-
bai, Maharashtra Gov-
ernment on Wednesday
transferred city Police
Commissioner Param
Bir Singh to the low-key
Home Guard.
Senior IPS officer He-
mant Nagrale, holding
additional charge of the
state Director General
of Police (DGP) post,
will be the new Mumbai
Police Commissioner,
Home Minister Anil
Deshmukh said.
Singh’s transfer
came even as the case
of recovery of gelatin
sticks near Ambani’s
residence turned
murkier with the Na-
tional Investigation
Agency (NIA) claim-
ing there were “other
players” who had been
allegedly instructing
arrested policeman
Sachin Waze.
Turn to P6
Woman gives birth to girl
onboard IndiGo flight!
Jaipur: A woman gave
birth to a girl mid-air in
a flight from Bengaluru
to Jaipur on Wednes-
day with the help of
cabin crew and a doc-
tor, officials said. The
pregnant woman went
into labour pain mid-air
on the IndiGo flight 6E-
469, according to the
airline statement. The
flight staff announced
for help if any doctor
was travelling onboard.
Subhana Nazir, posted
at NWR, came forward
Turn to P6
New Delhi: The
Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) MP
from Mandi, Ram
Swaroop Sharma
died allegedly by
suicide in the na-
tional capital on
Wednesday
. Accord-
ing to Delhi Police
sources, “No sui-
cide note has been
found yet.” PM
Modi, Amit Shah
condoled the de-
mise. BJP cancelled
its scheduled par-
liamentary party
meeting in the wake
of Sharma’s death.
Turn to P6
PM VC: ‘Statesman’ Gehlot lays down
Raj’s Covid management before states
Naresh Sharma
Jaipur: With a recent
spurt in Covid cases in
several states, Prime
MinisterNarendraModi
chaired a meeting with
Chief Ministerof states.
The meeting was also at-
tended by Rajasthan
Chief Minister Ashok
Gehlot who provided
feedback regarding Ra-
jasthan. Along with the
chief minister, health
minister Dr Raghu
Sharma, Secretary med-
ical education Vaibhav
Galriya and Secretary
Health department Sid-
dharth Mahajan took
part in the meeting.
Informing the PM
about the prevailing
situation of Corona
pandemic in Rajasthan,
Gehlot also highlighted
the works done by the
state government to
keep a tab on the spread
of infection, so as to
help other state govern-
ments draw ideas from
Rajasthan’s own learn-
ings and cull the spread
of virus.
Meanwhile, on
Thursday, chief minis-
ter will give his reply on
Budget grants in the As-
sembly. Prior to the
chief minister, leader
of opposition Gulab
Chand Kataria will
speak on the Budget af-
ter which at around 5.30
pm, CM Gehlot will give
his reply
.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot
TEST, TRACK & TREAT
MODI URGES CMs TO TAKE DECISIVE STEPS
The woman and new born pose with the IndiGo flight 6E-469
cabin crew upon landing in Jaipur Airport on Wednesday.
Shah briefs Bengal leaders to
quell unrest within party
Kolkata: Bharatiya
JanataParty(BJP)on
Wednesday intensi-
fied its battle to win
‘Sonar Bangla’ after
UnionHomeMinister
Amit Shah asked the
local leaders in the
poll-bound state to
put their act together
in a meeting on the
intervening night of
March 15 and 16.
The former BJP
President is learnt to
have instructed the
party leaders to start
working on quelling
the unrest within par-
ty cadre, genuine or
sponsored. “Part of
these protests are be-
ing sponsored by Tri-
namool Congress
(TMC). We are trying
to talk to the workers
and these are small is-
sues which will be
sorted out soon,” stat-
ed a senior party lead-
er.Soonafterthemeet-
ing, the party jumped
into action. Turn to P6
TMC MANIFESTO PROMISES
STUDENT CREDIT CARD & MORE
EC TO DIDI:
REFRAIN
FROM
ACCUSATIONS
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee Wednesday released the manifesto of
the Trinamool Congress for the assembly elec-
tions, promising a minimum basic income every
month if voted to power. Every family in Bengal
will now be provided a minimum basic income
under which general category families will get
a monthly cash transfer of Rs 500 while SC/
ST category family will get a cash amount of Rs
1,000 monthly. Trinamool manifesto promised to
introduce a Student Credit Card which will have
a Rs 10 lakh credit limit. Students will be able to
borrow the amount at the rate of 4% interest. P5
Soon after West Bengal
Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee on Tuesday
alleged that the Elec-
tion Commission (EC)
is working for Amit
Shah, Deputy Election
Commissioner Sudeep
Jain wrote to the TMC
supremo asking her to
refrain from making
accusations against ECI.
“Commission maintains
the position that they
would not to like keep
on being put in the dock
for alleged proximity to
any political entity. How-
ever, if the Hon’ble CM
persists in creating and
attempting to perpetuate
this myth fo rreasons
best know to her, it is
singularly unfortunte,
and it is only for Hon’ble
CM to adjudge as to
why is she doing so,”
Jain said in the letter
clarifying ECI’s position. Mandi BJP
MP Sharma
found dead
in house
PM Narendra Modi interacting with
CMs on Covid-19 situation, via video
conferencing on Wednesday. —ANI
CM will give his
reply on Budget
grants today
VACCINE WASTAGE MUST BE STOPPED, HE SAID

RAJASTHAN
JAIPUR | THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021
02
Aishwary Pradhan
Jaipur: The issue of
phone tapping was
raised by the BJP
through social media
on Wednesday
.
Throughout the day,
the campaign was car-
ried out by the BJP IT
cell with a hashtag #Ge-
hlot_CallGate. The ef-
forts were made to bring
the issue in trend across
the country. The
hashtag fiercely at-
tacked the Congress
governmentof thestate.
The BJP claims that
the public campaign has
been a huge success and
has also gained wide-
spread support from the
public. On the other
hand, BJP state presi-
dent, Satish Poonia said
in the Assembly that
phone tapping indicates
the 1975 Emergency pe-
riod in the country in
which there were talks
of bringing down the
governments. Congress
governments have mis-
used Article 356 more
than 100 times.
BJPgoesonlinewith#Gehlot_CallGate
PHONE TAPPING
Phone tapping
matter sent to
Home ministry
Electronic shooting
range at Jagatpura
soon: Chandna First India Bureau
Jaipur: The phone tap-
ping incident of Ra-
jasthanwasraisedinthe
Parliament.Chittorgarh
MP CP Joshi raised the
issue in the Lok Sabha
onTuesdayanddemand-
ed a CBI investigation
into the matter. After
Joshi raised the issue,
Parliamentary Affairs
minister Prahlad Joshi
assured of forwarding
the matter to the con-
cerned ministry to hold
properenquiry
.Themat-
ter has now reached Un-
ion Home Ministry
.
Joshi said, “It is for
the first time that such
an example has come
forward wherein the
Chief minister’s OSD
released an audio tape
wherein claim has been
made of horsetrading.
No one’s phone can be
tapped without consent
from Home secretary
and Chief secretary.
Phones of legislators,
of the Congress party
and opposition, are be-
ing tapped in Rajasthan
to save the government
from falling whereas
phone tapping is done
mainly in emergency
like situation,” he said.
“CM Gehlot had said
that he will retire from
politics if it can be
proved that his govt had
got the phones tapped.
The Union government
should get a CBI en-
quiry done of the entire
matter,” he said.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Minister of
state for youth af-
fairs and sports
Ashok Chandna on
Wednesday said that
the shooters of the
state will soon get a
chance to practice on
the electronic target
at the shooting range
in Jagatpura, Jaipur.
Tender will be is-
sued for their pur-
chase soon, he said
while replying to the
supplementary ques-
tion of MLA Sanyam
Lodha during the
Question Hour.
He said that due to
positive atmosphere
created in sports dur-
ing the tenure of the
present government,
shooters have re-
duced going out of
the state.
In the year 2020-21,
only 6 shooters have
gone out of the state,
including one each
of CISF and CRPF.
While 16 shooters in
the year 2019-20 and
12 in 2018-19 had left
the state.
The Minister of
State for Youth Af-
fairs and Sports said
that the office of Ra-
jasthan Rifle Asso-
ciation also operates
from the state and
no shooter has been
prevented from
practicing.
He said that the
Rajasthan Rifle As-
sociation started its
process even before
the present govern-
ment came to power,
but the current gov-
ernment made
changes in the oper-
ating conditions af-
ter it came in power.
This has resulted
to savings and asso-
ciation and depart-
ment both are shar-
ing the funds.
Road grants of `77.83 billion passed
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Parliamentary
Affairs Minister Shanti
Kumar Dhariwal on
Wednesday said road in-
frastructure is a param-
eter of economic devel-
opment of the state
and the government is
working strengthen
road network.
Dhariwal was reply-
ing to the discussion on
demand for grants for
roads and bridges fol-
lowing which the
House passed the grant
of Rs 77.83 billion by
voice vote.
Dhariwal said that in
the last 2 years and 2
months, 26,530 km
length roads have been
completed. Of these,
243 villages have been
benefited by construct-
ing 4480 km of new ru-
ral roads.He informed
that at present, more
than 5900 road works
costing more than Rs
10,000 thousand crore
are in progress.
Work costing Rs 83.67
crore through Disaster
Relief Fund is in pro-
gress for the repair of
3374 roads of the de-
partment in 15 districts
of the state.
Dhariwal informed
that the construction of
ROB at 6 railway gates
of the state was com-
pleted in this financial
year and work of 34
ROBs is in progress. In
the next budget, con-
struction work of 8
ROBs will be started.
During the discus-
sion, Congress legisla-
tors Brijendra Ola and
Hemaram Chaudhary
targeted the state gov-
ernment accusing it of
discrimination in road
construction work in
their areas.
Chaudhary said that
if the government has
any enmity with him
then punish him. He
said that people should
not suffer. Ola also
raised similar issues of
his area.
Ashok Chandna
Dhariwal’s comment on PM leads to uproar
First India Bureau
Jaipur: While conclud-
ing his reply on phone
tapping row, parliamen-
tary affairs minister
Shanti Dhariwal made a
comment on Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi
which invited sharp re-
action by the BJP MLAs
who stormed to the Well
and created ruckus fol-
lowing which Speaker
Dr CP Joshi concluded
the debate and ad-
journed the House for
half an hour. The House
was adjourned for a sec-
ond time for another
half an hour.
Priortotheminister’s
reply
, Leader of Opposi-
tion Gulab Chand Ka-
taria, deputy LoP Rajen-
dra Rathore and BJP
MLAandstatepresident
Satish Poonia spoke on
the matter. Kataria said
that when the phones
were not tapped then
why chief whip Mahesh
Joshi had lodged three
FIRs last year.
When the House re-
assembled, the Speak-
er said that it is the
responsibility of eve-
ryone to respect the
President, Vice Presi-
dent, Prime Minister,
Chief Minister etc. in
democracy.
Saying that no such
comment should be
made which may weak-
en the parliamentary
democracy, the Speaker
directed to expunge the
comments of Dhariwal
against the PM. On re-
quest by the Speaker,
the BJP MLAs, who
were protesting in the
Well, returned to their
seats and the debate on
grants started.
BJP MLAs protested against Shanti Dhariwal’s comments on PM
Narendra Modi on Wednesday.
DILAWAR’S SUSPENSION REVOKED
BUDGET
SESSION
DHARIWAL SAID AFTER THE FIRs WERE REGISTERED, SOG OFFICERS HAD GONE TO RESIDENCE
AND OFFICE OF GS SHEKHAWAT IN DELHI TO COLLECT HIS VOICE SAMPLE BUT FAILED TO GET IT
TellShekhawattogivehisvoicesample:Dhariwal
Yogesh Sharma/
Naresh Sharma
Jaipur: Parliamentary
affairs minister Shanti
Dhariwal on Wednes-
day rejected allegations
of BJP that phone tap-
ping of any public rep-
resentative was done by
Rajasthan police and
challenged the opposi-
tion BJP to prove their
allegations.
At the same time, the
BJP demanded CBI in-
quiry in the matter and
created ruckus which
led to adjournment of
the House twice.
Replying to a debate
on the phone tapping is-
sue, Dhariwal said to-
day during the Zero
Hour that BJP was
making this an issue in
order to protect Union
minister Gajendra Sin-
gh Shekhawat.
On the basis of three
audio clips purportedly
having conversation be-
tween Shekhawat and
Congress leaders about
the conspiracy to topple
the Ashok Gehlot gov-
ernment, chief whip
Mahesh Joshi had regis-
tered FIRs with special
operations group (SOG)
and anti-corruption bu-
reau (ACB) last year.
Dhariwal said that af-
ter the FIRs were regis-
tered, SOG officers had
gone to the residence
and office of the minis-
ter in Delhi to collect
the voice sample of Ga-
jendra Singh Shekha-
wat but failed to get it.
He demanded from
the BJP to get the voice
test of Shekhawat done
to prove whether the
voice in the audio clips
was his or not.
“BJP leaders should
tell Shekhawat that the
party is facing embar-
rassment because of
him and therefore he
should give the voice
sample,” said Dhariwal.
Shanti Dhariwal told the House on Wednesday that BJP was making phone tapping an issue to
protect Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
On the allegations of BJP that the voice clips
were prepared and circulated by the OSD to CM,
Lokesh Sharma at CM’s residence, Shanti Dhari-
wal said that Sharma received the audio clips on
WhatsApp and he forwarded them. He said such
forwarding normally happens and asserted that
it was not a crime. The minister said that CM and
he will resign if the allegations, that the phones
of MLAs, MPs were tapped, are proved. “Not only
the chief minister, all of us will resign,” he said.
‘NOT ONLY CM,ALL OF US WILL RESIGN IF
PHONE TAPPING CHARGES ARE PROVEN’
Dhariwal informed
the House that the
SOGof Rajasthanpolice
had intercepted phones
of two persons Ashok
Singh and Bharat Ma-
lani last year after get-
ting permission from
the home department
after information of il-
legal arms smuggling
and movement of explo-
sives. He said both of
themwereneitherMLA,
MP nor any political
persons but during the
interception, conspira-
cy to topple the govt
came to light on the ba-
sis of their conversa-
tion. Looking at this, the
SOG inspector lodged
an FIR for the conspira-
cy of topping the demo-
cratically elected govt.
Dhariwal informed
that on July 17, 2020, the
SOG filed a case for the
conspiracy to topple the
democratically elected
government. While re-
ferring to the case, he
said that a person
named Gajendra Singh
is also talking to Sanjay
Jain who is plotting to
topple the government.
“Who is Gajendra
Singh? Why is he not co-
operating in investiga-
tion?,” he asked. He said
that opposition should
apologise & union min-
ister should resign.
Calls of two persons
were intercepted
Dhariwal said that it was Ashok Gehlot who
had met then prime minister P V Narasimha
Rao and then governor of Rajasthan
Baliram Bhagat when efforts were
being made to topple Bhairon
Singh Shekhawat led BJP gov-
ernment in the state during 90s
and had said that elected govern-
ment should not be toppled.
GEHLOT WAS AGAINST TOPPLING
BHAIRON GOVT DURING 90s
Promoted by
Shree Cement Limited
SESSION TILL MARCH 19
Satish Poonia
Now Chaudhary,Ola corner own govt
First India Bureau
Jaipur:CongressMLAs
Hemaram Chaudhary
and Brijendra Ola, who
are considered close to
former deputy chief
minister Sachin Pilot,
cornered the state gov-
ernment during the de-
bate on grants for roads
and bridges. Both of
them accused the gov-
ernmentof discriminat-
ing with them on road
development works.
Chaudhary said he
has a lot of things to
speak but he knows he
will not be allowed to
speak. “You can sup-
press my voice here…
you will not let met
speak here…I will
speak elsewhere. I am
ready to pay a price for
speaking and I am
ready to bear the pun-
ishment,” he said.
“But what is the fault
of the people of Gudha-
malani?” he asked. He
alleged that roads of
poor quality were con-
structed in his constitu-
ency and demanded a
CBI inquiry in the mat-
ter.
Chaudhary said that
the state government
cancelled SC hostel
building in Gudhama-
lani. “You repeated the
same misdeed which
the BJP government
had done,” he said.
Brijendra Ola said
that the road from Jhun-
jhunu to Pacheri would
have been converted to
NH but the government
did not transfer the
money to NHAI. He said
that there was nothing
for Jhunjhunu in the
state budget.
Ola also alleged that
the government was not
constructing Chirawa-
Sultana road only be-
cause his village falls
on this road. He said
that Jhunjhunu district
headquarters has not
yet connected with the
national highway
.
Hemaram Chaudhary Brijendra Ola
Noone’sprivacy
was breached:
Mahesh Joshi
Jaipur: Chief whip
Mahesh Joshi said
on phone tapping is-
suethatnoone’spri-
vacy was breached.
He said that BJP did
not move a motion
for debate and yet
created ruckus on
Tuesday
. “CM’s OSD
Lokesh Sharma did
not commit any
crime by forwarding
voice clippings. Un-
ion minister Gajen-
draSinghShekhawat
shouldcomeforward
to give a voice sam-
ple,” said Joshi.

RAJASTHAN
03
NIGHT CURFEW
MAY BE IMPOSED
First India Bureau
Jaipur: As the number
of fresh corona cases is
on a constant rise, the
state government may
consider to impose the
nightcurfewonceagain.
The state on Wednes-
day reported 313 new
coronavirus cases, while
there was no fresh death.
Expressing concern on
the rising number of cas-
es, health minister Dr
Raghu Sharma on
Wednesday said that if
the situation continues
like this, then the option
of night curfew is availa-
ble with the government.
While talking to re-
porters,theministersaid
coronarelatedguidelines
were recently violated in
Nathdwara temple, reli-
giousfunctioninDungar-
pur, annual functions of
schools and hostels. He
saidthatcoronainfection
in other states has in-
creased and its impact is
visible in Rajasthan also.
Sharma said that two
stateshaveimposednight
curfew and the state gov-
ernment will also review
the corona situation. Of
the new cases include 67
in Jaipur, 56 in Dungar-
pur, 36 in Udaipur, 28 in
Kota,18inRajsamand,16
in Jodhpur, 15 each in
Ajmer and Bhilwara.
SPIKE OF 72 CASES IN STATE IN A DAY,
MAXIMUM 67 REPORTED FROM JAIPUR
CONCERN OVER RISING CASES!
KHATU SHYAM MELA BEGINS
AMID CORONA SCARE IN RAJ
Phalgun Mela of Baba Shyam in Khatu has
started on Wednesday. This time due to corona
infection, the administration is strict and has
prepared a guideline to control the pilgrims visiting
here. Every year lakhs of devotees from all over
the country visit Mela. The main fair of Khatu
will begin on March 25. This will be the first time
in 244 years when only registered devotees will
be able to have darshan from 8 am onwards. To
maintain security vigil in fair, district administration
has deployed 2,980 constables including one
SP, 3 ASPs, 24 DYSPs, and 47 CSs. One Covid
Investigation Center has also been set up in the
Reengus, while three centres are in Khatu.
1,99,440 vaccination in Rajasthan
1,99,440 people above 60 years got jab while 25,119
people with comorbidity were vaccinated at 2,956
session sites in the state on Wednesday. The target
was of vaccinating 2,81,987 people.
No exam for students up to class 5
The Department of Education has decided not to
conduct exams for children up to class 5 and to
promote them to the next class based on the
assessment made under the Smile-1, Smile-2 and
Aao Ghar Se Seekhen program. The exams of
classes 6 and 7 will be held from April 15-22 and for
classes 9 and 11 from 6 to 22 April.
AN APPALLING INCIDENT
Woman on oxygen support ‘raped’
by hospital staffer in ICU, arrested
Shivendra Pramar
Jaipur: In a shocking
incident, a female pa-
tient admitted to ICU
of a private hospital in
Jaipur was sexually
assaulted by a male
nursing staff on Mon-
day night.
The accused Khushi
Ram Gurjar was ar-
rested on rape charges
on Tuesday evening
on complaint by the
victim’s husband, po-
lice said.
“The woman was ad-
mittedtotheICUwhere
the accused committed
the crime. She was in a
semi-conscious state
and the victim resisted
as much she could,”
DCP West Pradeep Mo-
han Sharma said.
Nextmorning,when
her husband met her,
she narrated the inci-
dent to him by writing
on a paper following
which he informed the
policeaboutthematter.
Since she was on
oxygen support and
unable to speak, she
wrote her ordeal on
the paper. The accused
had also threatened
her to not disclose the
incident to anyone.
Minister Gajendra
Singh Shekhawat said
that neither the police
station nor the farm
nor the hospital is safe
in the society for wom-
en in Rajasthan.
Kota Rape: 2 ASIs suspended,
SHO sent to police lines
Kota: Two senior po-
licemen have been sus-
pended and a SHO
sent to police lines for
negligence of duty in
connection with the
rape of a minor girl in
Jhalawar, officials
said on Wednesday.
The 15-year-old girl
was allegedly raped at
separate places by at
least 20 people, includ-
ing four minors, over
eight days, they said.
Fourteen people have
been arrested besides
four minors have been
detained in the case,
Kota (Rural) SP
Sharad Choudhary
said. “Suket Police
Station, SHO, Narayan
Singh was sent to po-
lice lines on Tuesday.
Assistant sub inspec-
torsBabulalandTejraj
Singh from Suket and
Jhalawar police sta-
tions, respectively
were also suspended.
Child Welfare Com-
mittee chairman
Kaniz Fatima visited
survivor’s house on
Tuesday, recorded the
statements of the girl
and her mother. —PTI
SHRC issues notice to Home
Secy, DGP over rape cases
First India Bureau
Jaipur: State Human
Rights Commission on
Wednesday took cogni-
zance of rent incidents
of rape and sexual as-
sault against women
and sought reply from
the state government.
Chairperson of the
commission justice
GK Vyas issued notice
to principal secretary-
home and Director
General of Police
seeking factual report
about the rape cases
of Kota, Pushkar and
Jaipur. The commis-
sion will hear the mat-
ter on April 1.
The commission
also directed the Di-
rector General of Poli-
ceto submit a report in
the case of atrocities
on three minor boys by
police in Phalodi of
Jodhpur.
Accused Khushi Ram Gurjar
Missing minor’s
body found
stuffed in sack
Jodhpur: The decom-
posed body of a 7-year-
old boy was found stuffed
in a sack near the polo
ground here on Wednes-
day, two days after he
went missing, with po-
lice suspecting the mi-
nor was strangled. Body
with a rope tied around
neck was found in Ra-
tanada area, police said.
DCP (East) Dharmendra
Singh Yadav said a pas-
serby spotted the body
and informed the police.
It was learnt that kid-
nappers may have de-
manded a ransom of Rs
10 lakh from victim’s fa-
ther, threatened to kill
boy if he went to police.
Gajendra Singh Shekha-
wat expressed outrage
over the brutal killing.
Police have arrested two
accused in the case in-
cluding a neighbour. —PTI
RAS 2018: HC
notice to RPSC,
DoP secretaries
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Rajasthan
high court has issued
contempt notices to
RPSC secretary and De-
partment of Personnel
secretary for not ex-
cluding ineligible can-
didates from the RAS-
2018 recruitment pro-
cess.
The notices were is-
sued by the single judge
bench of justice Ashok
Kumar Gaur on the pe-
tition filed by Balram
Yadav.
The petitioner’s
counsel Ram Pratap
Saini said that the high
court had on December
16, 2020 directed to ex-
clude 97 ineligible can-
didates from the re-
cruitment process but
the RPSC has excluded
only 57 candidates.
Jobner murder: ADG
to suspend SHO
First India Bureau
Jaipur: After locals
from Bandya Ka Bass
village held day long
protest in connection
with murder of Gautam
Verma on March 13 af-
ter being run over by a
camper, ADG Crime
Raviprakash Meharda
reached the Jobner po-
lice station where he
interacted with the fam-
ily and villagers sitting
on a dharna for the past
24 hours. The villagers
demanded that the ac-
cused be arrested and
the guilty policemen
should be suspended.
On this, Meharda an-
nounced to suspend
SHO Hitesh Sharma
with immediate effect
and also assured the im-
mediate arrest of the
absconding accused.
Robbers loot 1kg
gold at gunpoint
On the Sojat road in
Pali district late Tuesday
night, three bike-ridden
miscreants escaped
after robbing a bag with
one kilogram of gold
jewellery. The miscreants
looted the young man at
gunpoint while he was re-
turning from his jewellery
shop. On receiving the
information, the police
carried out Naka Bandi
at many places in the
city. However, received
no clue of the robbers.
Mohanlal Saran (35) runs
a jewellery mortgage
shop on Sojat Road and
was returning home.
Publisher’s office ransacked over
controversial content on Islam
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Members of
National Muslim Coun-
cil allegedly ransacked
the office of Sanjeev
Prakashan at Dhamani
Market, Chaura Rasta
in Jaipur on Wednesday
.
Angry members
broke into the office
and created a huge up-
roar while vandalizing
the office over some
content in an article on
Islam in the Class 12
political science pass-
book. There was a lot
of resentment among
the traders due to the
day-long vandalism in
the market.
Traders closed their
shops after the inci-
dent. Several BJP and
vyapar mandal leaders
reached the spot after
receiving information
of sabotage in the pub-
lisher’s office. They
started demanding ac-
tion against those who
sabotaged the office
and disturbing reli-
gious harmony. On the
information, the police
reached the spot with a
heavy police force.
Based on the CCTV
footage, the police start-
ed identifying the ac-
cused in the complaint
given by the operators
of Sanjeev Prakashan.
The Class 12 political
science passbook pub-
lished by Sanjeev
Prakashan had a con-
troversial comment
about a particular com-
munity. National Mus-
lim Council filed a re-
port regarding this at
Kotwali police station.
Sanjeev Prakashan’s office was vandalised in Jaipur
on Wednesday; (Inset) the controversial content.
—PHOTOS BY SUMAN SARKAR
BJP’S ‘HALLA BOL’
3
2
1
ABVP students against whom the case was filed hanged symbolically at the RU.
—PHOTOS BY SUMAN SARKAR
(1, 2 & 3) BJP workers staged a protest against the policies
of the Rajasthan government in city under the “Halla Bol”
campaign of the party on Wednesday.
eaders and workers of the saffron party held
a demonstration in front of the collectorate
and handed over a representation to the
district collector Antar Singh Nehra addressed to
Governor Kalraj Mishra. Targeting the Congress
government over law and order, crime against
women, farm loan waiver and other issues, former
state BJP chief Ashok Parnami said the ruling party
had made several promises, including a complete
farm loan waiver, but failed to fulfill those. Ex-
minister Arun Chaturvedi, BJP national secretary
Alka Gurjar, JMC Greater Mayor Dr Somya and other
leaders of the party took part in the protest.
L

PERSPECTIVE
04
Vol 2 Issue No. 281 RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B. Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk Road, Jaipur.
Published at 304, 3rd Floor, City Mall, Bhagwan Das Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001, Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504. Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra. Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
hanks to the
rapid deploy-
ment of vac-
cines, COVID-19
infections, hos-
pitalizations, and deaths in
the United States are de-
clining, and pandemic re-
strictions on economic ac-
tivity are being eased. But
even with labor markets
gradually improving, the
economic recovery has
been slow and uneven, and
there is a long way to go.
According to the latest
official figures, overall US
employment is still down
by about 9.5 million jobs
from when the recession
hit, and by nearly 12 mil-
lion from its pre-pandemic
trend. Unemployment, ad-
justed for the sharp drop in
labor-force participation,
is around 10%, and the rate
is even higher for African-
Americans, Hispanics,
women, and the less edu-
cated, reflecting both the
dual nature of the pandem-
ic and longer-running la-
bor-market disparities.
Another trend that pre-
dates COVID-19 is the
transformation of work
through automation and
digitalization – processes
accelerated by how busi-
nesses and consumers have
responded to the pandemic.
This trend, too, threatens
to deepen pre-existing ine-
qualities, because black
and Hispanic workers are
overrepresented in the jobs
that are at the greatest risk
from automation.
A sustained recovery to
an economy with full em-
ployment and ample “good
jobs” will require a signifi-
cant reallocation of work-
ers from the low-wage, low-
skill positions that have
disappeared as a result of
the pandemic to new ones
requiring higher skills and
more training. A recent
study by the McKinsey
Global Institute (MGI)
finds that up to 25% “more
workers than previously
estimated” may need “to
switch occupations.”
The pandemic has had a
particularly severe impact
on jobs requiring high lev-
els of physical proximity
and face-to-face contact,
including waiters, shop
clerks, hotel receptionists,
stadium workers, stylists,
and other low-wage posi-
tions. Again, women, mi-
norities, and the less edu-
cated are overrepresented
among these frontline
workers.
Many of the physical-
distancing practices adopt-
ed by consumers and busi-
nesses during the pandem-
ic will likely persist. In
2020, e-commerce sales in-
creased more than 32%,
growing 2-5 times faster
than their average rate
over the previous five
years. And now, many con-
sumers say they will con-
tinue to shop online even
after the pandemic is over.
Likewise, many compa-
nies’ survival now depends
on their ability to shift to
remote work, a practice
theyhadlongresisted.With
emerging evidence indicat-
ing that remote-working
employees are sometimes
working longer hours and
are more productive, many
businesses are planning to
allow for various types of
hybrid arrangements after
the pandemic.
According to MGI’s anal-
ysis of more than 2,000 ac-
tivities across some 800 oc-
cupations, as many as one-
quarter of workers in ad-
vanced economies could
perform their jobs remote-
ly 3-5 days per week with-
out losing effectiveness.
That would translate into
4-5 times more people regu-
larly working from home.
Remote work, however,
is concentrated in higher-
wage jobs. According to a
survey conducted in the US
last April, approximately
60% of high-earning work-
ers could do their jobs ef-
fectively from home, com-
pared to 34% of low-earn-
ing workers. Not surpris-
ingly, high-wage occupa-
tions in the US have suf-
fered much smaller de-
clines in employment than
low-wage categories.
SOURCE: PROJECT SYNDICATE
The post-pandemic labor market’s long-term scars
T
ree services are considered
inefficient and untenable in
modern policy planning. But
sometimes, they can lead to
productivity gains that can
more than offset their costs.
Travel and traffic within cit-
ies is often considered a sig-
nificant source of pollution of
the air. More the vehicles on
the road, be they four, three, or
two-wheelers, more is the con-
gestion. The congestion leads
to slow speeds, excess utilisa-
tion of fuel due to waiting time,
frequent use of brakes, and
more than that, causes outrage,
fights, noise caused by honking
horns, and, unfortunately, ac-
cidents.
Sometimes providing free
services is considered an in-
efficient way of utilisation
of resources by many think-
ers and analysts and is
against the very principle of
each one paying for goods
and services. However, while
understanding these argu-
ments fully well, realising
the problems of present-day
city traffic, a few sugges-
tions are being made for con-
sideration.
First of all, the Municipal
authority in charge of the city
or town should consider pro-
viding free and safe bus ser-
vice, of a certain minimum
level, to all the residents and
visitors to the jurisdiction.
Such a service may at first
seem utopian. There will be
questions as to where the budg-
et would come from. Still, the
idea needs to be thought over
seriously because of its im-
mense benefits, which will ul-
timately help the finances of
the authorities and the indi-
viduals.
A well-oiled free service
providing connectivity to in-
ner and outer areas would
significantly enhance public
transport and lead to lesser
use of private cars and mo-
torcycles. Such a service
would reduce air pollution
and traffic congestion and
facilitate women, children,
and senior citizens. Some of
the busses could be ear-
marked for women and sen-
ior citizens. It would make
for cleaner and better cities
and add to the ease of living
index. A massive number of
vehicles on the road and the
snarling traffic is anyone’s
nightmare and even reduces
visitors and tourists, there-
by adversely affecting the
overall economy.
Such bus service could con-
stitute buses of different sizes
and seating capacities, depend-
ing on the area in which it is
running. The buses’ entry
could be through Aadhar or
any other reliable identity card
so that there is an element of
safety and security. This pro-
cess would necessarily involve
coordination of routes, fre-
quency, and the designated
stops and stands. Still, it is not
difficult with a little planning
as the existing city bus services
have already shown.
It’s an idea whose time has
come.
Some citizens could even be
asked to travel and guide the
travelers as they pass through
various colonies, markets, and
other important landmark
buildings. Such a participatory
system would strengthen the
participatory aspect of the con-
cept and increase the people’s
faith and confidence in the
Government system.
Apart from this free travel
service, there could also be a
paid bus service as is the cur-
rent position in most cities.
Travelers would have the op-
tion to use that if they so
wish to do so. A free-paid co-
existence can be a successful
experiment, as we have seen
in the vaccination system
against COVID19. The people
can go to a free hospital facil-
ity of Government or go to a
private hospital on a very
reasonable payment basis.
The Municipal authorities
don’t need to run the services
themselves. They can out-
source to private players
through a robust tendering
process but with strict enforce-
ment of terms and conditions.
The citizens and visitors could
also utilise the paid services by
purchasing annual or six-
monthly passes. The pass sys-
tem dispenses with the need to
spend every time and the labor
cost of such transactions. Reg-
ular travelers would use this
service most happily, while the
service provided would get a
pre-paid interest-free deposit.
I was there in Oxford on a
Visiting fellowship in 1999-
2000 and found that there
were two bus services in the
city for which you could,
apart from paying on every
trip basis, buy monthly, six-
monthly or annual passes.
Both the services had even
agreed to issue a common
pass valid for either service,
anytime, or destination. The
shared pass system was a
huge convenience and added
to traveling within the city
area.
It is quite likely that with the
increase of public transport
facility of buses, the produc-
tion and sale of cars and motor-
cycles and even auto-rickshaws
would come down. This would
be greatly outweighed by the
facility of safe and reliable
travel, healthier air for breath-
ing, less congestion, and better
environment, and reduced traf-
fic hazards and accidents. It is
important to begin this on a
small scale and have a pilot and
cautionary experiment in some
pockets, and watch the initial
phases’ performance. That
said, free public transport is an
idea whose time has come!
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
FACILITATING TRAVEL
WITHIN CITIES
F
The Municipal
authorities
don’t need to
run the services
themselves.
They can
outsource to
private players
through a
robust
tendering
process but
with strict
enforcement of
terms and
conditions. The
citizens and
visitors could
also utilise the
paid services by
purchasing
annual or six-
monthly passes
SOMETIMES PROVIDING
FREE SERVICES IS
CONSIDERED AN
INEFFICIENT WAY OF
UTILISATION OF
RESOURCES BY MANY
THINKERS AND ANALYSTS
AND IS AGAINST THE
VERY PRINCIPLE OF EACH
ONE PAYING FOR GOODS
AND SERVICES
MEENAKSHI
HOOJA
The writer is a Retd IAS officer
and former Member, Central
Administrative Tribunal
UP CITIES AMONG
MOST POLLUTED
ir pollution has been an issue that comes
up for heated debate every winter be-
tween the Centre, Delhi and Punjab. The
dispute has also seen the Supreme Court
issue orders directing governments to
clean up the air. Most of the allegations have cen-
tered on burning of stubble by farmers which leave
Delhi’s air unbreathable in the months of October-
November. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
has always been held responsible for the poor qual-
ity of Delhi air. When he experimented with an odd-
even number of cars on Delhi’s roads he was lam-
pooned. Centre has also been given its due share of
flak for not caring much about the environment.
Hopefully
, by the time winter approaches a solution
would be found to keep the air pollution-free.
But why are 10 cities in Uttar Pradesh among
the world’s 20 most polluted places. Ghaziabad,
which is part of the National Capital Region, has
the dubious distinction of being the world’s second
most polluted city
. Bulandshahr was placed third.
Kanpur and Lucknow occupy the eighth and ninth
places, respectively. These are the findings of
IQAir, a Swiss air quality solution company. The
findings are based on an assessment of average air
quality parameters of 7,700 cities across 106 coun-
tries in 2020. Lucknow’s average particulate mat-
ter (PM) was recorded at 2.5. According to the
World Health Organisation all PM 2.5 exposure has
an adverse effect on health.
Sadly
, despite its poor air quality Lucknow does
not have enough air quality monitoring stations.
While the clean air action plan needs to be fully
implemented, it is time to bring in electric vehicles.
A
IN-DEPTH
RAMP UP RT-PCR
TESTS, SAYS PM
or the first time in his video conference
with chief ministers of states, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi mentioned Ut-
tar Pradesh along with some other states
which depended heavily on antigen tests
for Covid-19. He said that States like Uttar Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Kerala, and Odisha “have been large-
ly dependent on antigen tests” and advised that the
RT-PCR tests should form at least 70 percent of the
total coronavirus tests. At the daily health ministry
briefing, the Union Health secretary said that the
percentage can even be ramped up to 90 percent.
Antigen tests, though quicker, are considered less
reliable than the laboratory-based RT-PCR test. Be-
ing busy electioneering in Assam, Chief Minister
Yogi Adityanath could not attend the meeting.
As the pace of testing and tracking has slackened
across most of the States and people also have dis-
carded behaviour appropriate during the pandem-
ic, Modi said that the three ‘Ts’---Testing, Tracking
and Treating---should be carried out with as much
seriousness as was being done until last year.
The prime minister’s word of advice came on a
day when the daily coronavirus cases rose by 28,903
in the country on Wednesday. This is the highest
increase since December 2013. Five states---Maha-
rashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Tamil
Nadu - accounted for over 71 percent of these cases.
Modi warned, “70 districts in 16 states have seen an
increase in the positivity rate by 150 percent in last
15 days. If we do not stop it here then a condition
for a nationwide outbreak may emerge.” Time to
stop the second wave from engulfing us.
F
And above all things have
fervent love for one another,
for love will cover a multitude
of sins. —1 Peter 4:8
Spiritual
SPEAK
Top
TWEET
Dharmendra Pradhan
@dpradhanbjp
Congratulate @IndianOilcl and
Phinergy for this new journey
towards enhancing availability
of clean, sustainable, affordable
and safe energy solution. This
collaboration paves the way for
making energy a new frontier of
India-Israel strategic cooperation.
Prakash Javadekar
@PrakashJavdekar
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says
that the Congress party can’t be
trusted in Kerala, but his party
CPM has an alliance with the
same Congress in West Bengal.
There’s no sanity left with both
Left and Congress.
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INDIA
05
NO PROPERTY TAX IN HARYANA ON
AGRI LAND IN URBAN AREA
Haryana: The Manohar
Lal Khattar- led Haryana
government has de-
cided not to levy any
property tax on the land
used for agriculture in
urban areas. For this, the
Haryana government on
Monday passed a Bill in
the Assembly during the
ongoing budget session.
With this, Haryana has
become the first state in
the country to exclude
land used for agriculture
only from the purview of
tax by making amend-
ments in the section of
the property tax itself,
spokesperson said. Giving
details in this regard, the
spokesperson said that
according to the provi-
sions, state governments
have the right to levy
property tax on lands.
DELHI GETS ITS OWN
EDUCATION BOARD ‘DBSE’
New Delhi: Delhi
Board of School
Education, DBSE was
formally registered
yesterday. With this,
Delhi now officially
has its own education
board. About 20-25
schools would be
moved under the new
board for 2021-22
session.The Kejriwal
government on Tues-
day has announced
the setting up of the
Delhi Board of School
Education (DBSE).
Taking to Twitter,
Delhi’s Directorate of
Education announced,
“Now Delhi has its own
education board.”
OBJECTIVE OF CHANDRAYAAN-2
MISSION ATTAINED’: JITENDRA
New Delhi: The objec-
tives of Chandrayaan-2
have been significantly
attained, said Union
Minister of State
(Atomic Energy and
Space) Jitendra Singh
on Wednesday, adding
that detailed study of
topography, mineralo-
gy, among others had
led to a better under-
standing of the origin
and evolution of the
moon. “Objectives of
the mission have been
significantly attained.
Against an initially
envisaged one-year life
of orbiter, we expect it
to be serving for seven
years,” Singh said.
TWO CHINESE NATIONALS WITH
FORGED AADHAAR CARDS HELD
New Delhi: The Central
Industrial Security Force
(CISF) held two Chinese
nationals with forged
Aadhaar cards at Silig-
uri’s Bagdogra Airport.
The CISF informed that
while checking tickets
and identity documents
at the departure gate of
the Bagdogra airport on
Tuesday, a CISF consta-
ble noticed two pas-
sengers who appeared
to be Chinese nationals.
They came at departure
gate and produced their
tickets and identification
document to gain access
into the terminal build-
ing. “During checking
of travelling documents
of both the passengers,
Aadhaar cards appeared
to be forged,” CISF said in
an official statement.
Didi’s manifesto eyes youth, farmers more
Kolkata: West Bengal
Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee on Wednesday
released her party’s poll
manifesto for the up-
coming Assembly elec-
tions. Among some
prominent promises,
Banerjee said that the
manifesto was meant
for ‘all religions’.
From doorstep deliv-
ery of ration, Ma, Mati,
Manush to financial as-
sistance to poor and
widows are some of the
other focus areas.
“This is not a politi-
cal manifesto, it is a de-
velopment-oriented
manifesto. This a mani-
festo of the people, for
the people, and by the
people,” Banerjee said
while releasing the
manifesto. Elaborating
upon the achievements
of her gov, Banerjee
said that when the TMC
came to power, the state
revenue was about Rs
25,000 crores. “It is now
over Rs 75,000 crores,”
she said.
Addresing the media,
Banerjeesaid,“Ourwork
has caught the attention
of the world. For Kan-
yashree, we were award-
ed the first position by
UNESCO.”
The release date of
the manifesto was post-
poned after Banerjee
was injured. —ANI
TMC RELEASES POLL MANIFESTO
Tit for tat in Nandigram: TMC demands
EC to delete Suvendu’s electoral roll
Kolkata: In a tit for tat
attempt, the All India
Trinamool Congress
(AITC) wrote to the
Chief Electoral Officer
on Wednesday demand-
ing to delete Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP)
leader Suvendu Adhi-
kari’s electoral roll
from Nandigram seat
claiming the latter had
filed false residence de-
tails in the nomination
for the upcoming West
Bengal assembly polls.
The AITC’s move
comes days after the
BJP delegation visited
the office of the Chief
Electoral Officer in Kol-
kata demanding the
cancellation of Mamata
Banerjee’s nomination
from Nandigram.
“We demanded EC to
cancel the Banerjee’s
nomination as she has
six cases but her affida-
vit does not mention
them.” Bajoria said.
NDA DID NOT GIVE A SINGLE
SEAT: PC THOMAS ON EXIT
BJP RELEASES LIST OF
REMAINING 4 CANDIDATES
Kochi: Chief of the Kerala Congress, PC
Thomas on Wednesday said that his
decision to quit NDA was because it did
not give a single seat to his party for the
ensuing Assembly
polls. He said that
NDA was adamant
in only giving Pala
seat to PC Thomas
led Kerala Congress
and that too on
the condition that
Thomas himself
should contest
from the constituency. Thomas said,
“We have been working with NDA as a
partner for quite some years, but the
NDA has denied seats for us. We are not
given even a single seat.”
Kerala: The BJP’s Central Election Com-
mittee released a fresh list of candidates
for Kerala Assembly Election 2021.
Mukundan Palliyara will contest from
Mananthavady Assembly constituency,
Bitty Sudheer will contest from Karuna-
gappally, M Sunil will contest from
Kollam Assembly, and Sobha Surendran
will contest from Kazhakoottam.
ECI reveals record
`331 cr seizure from
POLL-BOUNDSTATES
Kolkata: The Elec-
tion Commission of
India (ECI) has re-
vealed a record sei-
zure worth Rs 331
crores during the Ex-
penditure Monitor-
ing Process ahead of
the Assembly Elec-
tions in four states
and five Union Terri-
tory in 2021.
The Commission’s
release informed that
record seiures have
been made even
though polling is yet
to start. Data shows
that in 2016 record
seizures were worth
Rs 225.77 crores. As-
sam’s total seizure is
Rs 63.75 crores with
Rs 27.09 crores of
drugs. In West Bengal
drugs worth Rs 47.70
crores have been
seized in a total sei-
zure of Rs 112.59
crores. In TN, Kerala
and Puducherry most
seizures were done in
the form of precious
metal worth Rs 61.04
crores, Rs 15.23
crores, and Rs 2.85
crores. It is to be not-
ed that there is elec-
tioninallthesestates.
BIENNIAL POLLS
FOR 3 KERALA
SEATS: EC
The Election Com-
mission said that the
biennial elections are
being held as the term
of three members of
the Rajya Sabha elected
from Kerala is due to
end in April because of
their retirement. Indian
Union Muslim League
(IUML) leader Abdul
Wahab, Communist
Party of India (Marx-
ist) leader K.K. Ragesh
and Congress’s Vayalar
Ravi are due to retire
on April 21.
BJP running ‘factory of
Dushasans’: Mamata
Jhargarm: Continuing her attack at the Centre,
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on
Wednesday accused the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)
of repeatedly targeting her by hurting her physically.
Addressing a public meeting in the Gopiballavpur,
Jhargram, Mamata -- while sitting on a wheelchair
-- said the BJP is running a “factory of Dushasans”
in the country, deceiving the common people with
false promises and bribery. “Today they (BJP) have
injured me, my head has been hurt, my hands
were broken, I had to undergo an operation in the
abdomen,” she said. “CPM used to hit me before,
now it’s BJP,” she added. The Chief Minister further
alleged that the BJP had rigged two voting booths in
the Goaltore area in the last Lok Sabha elections and
won. She further requested the people of Jhargram
to vote for her party as TMC would bring develop-
ment to the district. She also recalled the develop-
ment schemes and programs.
Dilip Gandhi
dies at 70
due to Covid
Situation much worse: Rahul
on NGOs criticism of FOE
Insult to 80 cr voters:
Min on RaGa remarks
RS passes MTP Bill! To
ensure wellbeing, dignity
of women: Vardhan
New Delhi: After two
foreign organisations
criticised India on free-
dom and democracy,
Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi on Tuesday said
the “situation is much
worse than they have
imagined”. He also said
he was protecting a cer-
tain ideology in the
Congress party and
would not step aside
just because someone
else does not like it and
continue to fight the
RSS.
He also said he fa-
voured internal democ-
racy in the Congress
and has promoted many
leaders within the par-
ty
. In an online interac-
tion with Professor
Ashutosh Varshney of
the Brown University
in the US, Gandhi said
electoral democracy
can be “destroyed” in
the 21st century if one
can control the social
media and institutions
and has financial domi-
nance, while citing the
examples of Saddam
Hussain and Muammar
Gaddafi.
Asked about Swe-
den’s V-Dem Institute’s
democracy report that
has downgraded India
from the “world’s larg-
est democracy” to an
“electoral autocracy”
and the US government-
funded NGO, Freedom
House, downgrading
the country’s status
from “free” to “partly
free”, he said these for-
eign institutions have
their view, but “frankly,
we do not need a stamp
from them”. —ANI
New Delhi: Congress
leader Rahul Gandhi’s
comments comparing
India’s democracy with
Iraq under dictator
Saddam Hussein and
Libya’s Muammar
Gaddafi is an insult to
the 80 crore voters in
the country, Union
Minister Prakash
Javadekar said.
The only time the coun-
try faced such a situa-
tion was during the
Emergency, said Mr Ja-
vadekar, without nam-
ing Mr Gandhi’s grand-
mother and former
Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi who had im-
posed it.
“Giving comment on
Rahul Gandhi’s opinion
is worthless. Compar-
ing India’s democracy
with Gaddafi and
Saddam Hussein is an
insult to the 80 crore
voters. Only during the
year of emergency, we
witnessed a time like
that of Gaddafi and
Saddam,”MrJavadekar
said, reacting to Mr
Gandhi’s comments
made during an online
interaction with faculty
members and students
of Brown University in
the US.
During the Emergen-
cy from 1975 to ‘77, con-
stitutional rights awere
suspended, he added.
New Delhi: Union
Health Minister Harsh
Vardhan has termed as
“historic” the Medical
Termination of Preg-
nancy (Amendment)
Bill, recently passed by
Rajya Sabha.
“A historic bill ensur-
ing dignity, safety and
wellbeing of women!
The Medical Termina-
tion of Pregnancy
(Amendment) Bill 2020
passed in Rajya Sabha
yesterday will enhance
access to comprehen-
sive abortion care for
women in need and
strengthen confidenti-
ality clause as well,”
Minister tweeted.
On Tuesday, Rajya
Sabha passed the bill
that seeks to allow spe-
cial categories of wom-
en to undergo abortion
up to 24 weeks. It earlier
mandated an upper ges-
tation limit of 20 weeks.
The special categories
include rape survivors,
victims of incest, differ-
ently-abled, and mi-
nors. The bill also re-
moves the upper gesta-
tion limit in cases of
substantial foetal ab-
normalities diagnosed
by the Medical Board.
The Medical Termi-
nation of Pregnancy
(Amendment) Bill, 2020
was passed in the Upper
House by a voice vote.
New Delhi: Former Un-
ion minister and BJP
leader Dilip Gandhi
passed away at a private
hospital in Delhi on
Wednesday
. The 70-year-
old had tested positive
for Covid-19 on Tuesday
.
He was admitted to a
private hospital in the
national capital where
he was put on a ventila-
tor. He breathed his last
around 3 am on Wednes-
day morning.
Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi extended
his condolences. “He’ll
be remembered for his
rich contributions to
community service.”
Banerjee calls
the manifesto
‘development-
oriented’

INDIA
06
New Delhi: Dropping
for the fourth session,
equity benchmark
Sensex tumbled 562.34
points on Wednesday
following losses in in-
dex majors Reliance In-
dustries, HDFC Bank
and ICICI Bank amid a
weak trend in global
markets ahead of US
Federal Reserve’s policy
outcome. The 30-share
BSE index tanked 562.34
points or 1.12 per cent to
close at 49,801.62.
Sensex tanks 562 pts; Nifty
cracks below 14,800
CHAILVILLAS
C H A I L
Promoted by
Test, track...
He said more than 10
per cent of vaccine is
being wasted in Telan-
gana and vaccine wast-
age has also been seen
in UP.
“Over 10 per cent vac-
cine wastage has been
seen in Telangana and
AP. Vaccine wastage in
UP is almost the same.
It should be reviewed in
states that why’s vac-
cine wastage happen-
ing? Monitoring must
be done every evening
and pro-active people
should be contacted so
that there’s no wast-
age,” he added.
Giving the mantra of
‘Dawai bhi, Kadai bhi’,
he said we must not put
the people in panic
mode while combatting
the virus.
Shah briefs...
The leaders have been
asked to hold meetings
with the dissidents and
pacify them.
“As the party has giv-
en tickets on the param-
eter of win ability
, there
are quite a few who
joined BJP just days or
months before the tick-
ets were announced.
The workers have been
fighting against them
forlong.Butsuchthings
happen in every elec-
tion. We will work this
out among ourselves,”
stated the source.
Mumbai top...
NIA sources said the
case had virtually been
cracked and soon the
“entire conspiracy” be-
hind would be unrav-
elled.
The MVA govern-
ments move follows a
series of meetings
among the ruling Shiv
Sena-NCP-Congress al-
liance leaders. Waze is
at the focus of NIA’s
probe in the recovery of
an SUV with explosives
near Ambani’s house.
Arrested in the case
on March 13 for his al-
leged role in the crime,
Waze was attached to
the CIU till recently
. He
was suspended after
NIA arrested him.
Woman gives...
and assisted in delivery
using medical aid avail-
able with the flight
staff, NWR spokesper-
son Gaurav Gaur said.
Medical care of the
newborn was also taken
by the doctor, the
spokesperson said.
Jaipur airport was im-
mediately informed to
arrange for a doctor
and an ambulance. The
two were taken to a hos-
pital after arrival and
both are healthy, the of-
ficials said. The flight
departed from Bengalu-
ru around 5.45 am and
landedinJaipuraround
8 am, the airline said.
Nazir was awarded
with an orange card by
the airline management
for charity work for pro-
viding services. —PTI
Mandi BJP...
Lok Sabha Speaker Om
Birla informed the
House about the demise
of Sharma. Making the
announcement, a grim
Birla made obituary ref-
erence and adjourned
the House till 1 pm.
“Police received a
call from a staffer. He
was found hanging and
the door was closed
from inside,” said Delhi
Police. The police recov-
ered his body from his
residence at Gomti
Apartments and have
started an investigation
into the case. Born at
Jalpehar village in the
Mandi district on June
10, 1958, Sharma was a
two-time MP. —ANI
Mosque buries...
issue of high volume of
speakers from the
mosque, disturbing
peace of people. “When
the officer told us about
the issue, we took cogni-
sance of it and immedi-
ately lowered the vol-
ume and now the loud-
speakers do not even
face the VC’s house,”
Kaleem said.
VC Sangita Srivasta-
va had on Tuesday writ-
ten to the district mag-
istrate urging for a ban
on the using loudspeak-
ers for ‘Azaan’, citing a
high court order in this
regard, and stating that
it disturbs her sleep and
affects her work effi-
ciency
.
Srivastava had men-
tioned that the call for
morning prayers from
the nearby mosque dis-
turbed her sleep around
5: 30 am every morning,
adding that she is not
able to sleep after that
and subsequently suf-
fer from a headache
throughout the day
which affects her work.
“An old adage says
‘your freedom ends
where my nose begins’
this holds true here. I
am not against any reli-
gion, caste or creed.
They may perform the
Azaan without the mike
so that others are not
disturbed. Even before
Eid, they announce
Sehri on the mike at
4:00 am. This practice
also creates a distur-
bance to other people.
Constitution of India
envisages a secular and
peaceful co-existence of
all communities, which
needs to be practised in
letter and spirit,” Sriv-
astava had mentioned.
FROM PG 1
ANANT MITTAL SHIFTED TO
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Anant Mittal has been shifted from Andaman and
Nicobar Islands to Arunachal Pradesh. He is a
2015 batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.
THREE EX-IPS OFFICERS APPOINTED
AS SPECIAL OBSERVERS
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has
appointed three retired IPS officers of 1984 batch
as Special Observers for assembly elections.
Accordingly, Deepak Mishra has been appointed
as Special Observer for Kerala assembly
elections, while Dharmendra Kumar for Tamil
Nadu and Ramesh Sharma is being deputed as
Special Observer for Kolkata.
2017 BATCH OFFICERS OF UP
CADRE CONFIRMED IN IAS
As many as 17 officers of 2017 batch of Uttar
Pradesh cadre have been confirmed in Indian
Administrative Service (IAS). The officers
are: Akansha Rana, Akshat Verma, Anand
Vardhan, Ankit Khandelwal, Anuj Malik, Ekta
Singh, Gaurav Singh Sogarwal, Eshan Pratap
Singh, Manicnanadan A, ,Prabhash kumar,
Praveen Verma, Prerna Singh, Soumya Pandey,
Shashank Chaudhay, Shipu Giri, Srilakshami V S
and Riya Kejariwal.
ADDITIONAL CHARGE FOR
IRS OFFICER IN JK
IRS officer Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary,
Youth Services and Sports, will also hold the
charge of PS, Science and Technology and Chief
Executive Officer, Jammu and Kashmir Energy
Development Agency (JAKEDA).
RAJNISH KUMAR TO LOOK AFTER
AS CONTROLLER GENERAL OF
DEFENCE ACCOUNTS
Rajnish Kumar, ACG, Defence Accounts, has been
assigned an additional charge of Controller General
of Defence Accounts till the appointment of a
regular incumbent. He is a 1984 batch IDAS officer.
LT. GEN. D P PANDEY TO HOLD
COMMAND OF 15 CORPS
Lt. General B S Raju has handed over the
command of the strategic Kashmir-based 15
Corps to Lt. General D P Pandey.
LT. GEN. B S RAJU IS NEW DG OF DGMO
Lt. General B S Raju will be the new Director General
of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army.
TENURE OF RAJEEV YADAV AS
FINANCE EXPERT, UN PANEL OF
EXPERTS EXTENDED
The tenure of Rajeev Yadav as Finance Expert on
the UN Panel of Experts has been extended for
a further period of one year beyond March 12,
2021. He is a 1994 batch IRS-CIT officer.
RAJNEESH SETH IS ALSO DGP,
MAHARASHTRA
Rajneesh Seth has been assigned an additional
charge of Director General of Police (DGP),
Maharashtra. He is a 1988 batch IPS officer of
Maharashtra cadre.
POWERGallery
By arrangement with: http://
whispersinthecorridors.com
New Delhi: The Union
health ministry has
asked all states and Un-
ion territories to step
up their tracking and
testing mechanism and
said at least 30 close
contacts of a Covid-19
infected person should
be tested, isolated with-
in 72 hours. This is
nothing new, but states
have been lagging in
contact tracing, health
secretary Rajesh
Bhushan said on
Wednesday
. Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi on
Wednesday held a video
conference with the
heads of states and Un-
ion territories and
urged the authorities
that this second peak
needs to be stopped.
“Close contacts do
not mean only family
members. Close con-
tacts are people with
whom we are counter-
acting daily. They may
be our officer workers,
our newspaper vendor,
our vegetable vendor.
This was done last year.
But now district admin-
istrations have become
lax and are only testing
family members just for
the sake of it. As a re-
sult, other close con-
tacts are moving freely
spreading the infection
to more people,” Rajesh
Bhushan said.
“We are also asking
states if the number of
cases is on the rise, then
why the number of con-
tainment zones is not
going up,” the secretary
said. Urging states to
minimise reliance on
antigen test and in-
crease RT-PCR tests, the
secretary said at least
70% of tests should be
RT-PCR, but states have
even less than 40 per
cent of RT-PCR share.
PM too emphasised
the point of increasing
RT-PCR tests said
states like Kerala, Odi-
sha are largely depend-
ent on rapid antigen
tests, but it is not the
ideal scenario, as the
country has adequate
infrastructure for RT-
PCR tests. —Agencies
Within3days:Centre’sorderto
trackcontactsofCovidpatients
Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said states have become lax in tracking cases
Mumbai: NIA con-
firmed that the person,
seen in a CCTV grab
walking near Mukesh
Ambani's residence on
the night of February
25 when an explosive-
laden vehicle was
found, was Sachin Vaze.
In the CCTV footage,
Sachin Vaze could be
seen with his head cov-
ered with a large hand-
kerchief so that no one
could identify him. He
was wearing an over-
sized kurta-pajama,
and not PPE coverall, in
an attempt to mask his
body language and
face, NIA added.
A laptop was seized
from the cabin of
Sachin Waze in a raid
day before yesterday
but all the data in it was
already deleted. He was
asked for his cellphone
and he had said that he
had dropped it some-
where. But the fact is
that he had intention-
ally thrown it away,
NIA said. NIA was in-
vestigating a CCTV
visual showing a per-
son walking near Am-
bani's residence on the
night an explosive-lad-
en vehicle was found
wearing PPE like thing.
NIAconfirmsmanin
CCTVwasSachinVaze
New Delhi: The Su-
preme Court on
Wednesday dismissed
a petition filed by
BharatBhoomiBachao
Sangharsh Samiti
(BBBSS), seeking di-
rections to the authori-
ties concerned to en-
sure equal opportunity
of dialogue and of be-
ing heard in connec-
tion with farmers' is-
sues relating to forci-
ble land acquisition.
A three-judge bench
of the Apex Court,
headed by the Chief
Justice of India (CJI)
Sharad Arvind Bobde,
and comprising justic-
es A S Bopanna and V
Ramasubramanian,
refused to entertain
the petition.
We are dismissing
the petition, we are not
casting any aspersions
on you, Bench said.
The plea also sought
the formation of a
high-powered Commit-
tee in the matter.
SCdismissespleaonfarmers’issues
Mumbai: The Narcot-
ics Control Bureau
(NCB) has approached
theBombayHighCourt
seeking cancellation of
bail granted to Showik
Chakraborty
, brother
of actor Rhea
Chakraborty
, in a drugs
caseprobedbytheagen-
cy following the death
of Bollywood actor Su-
shant Singh Rajput. In
its plea filed in the
high court last month,
the NCB said the spe-
cial court hearing cas-
es related to the Nar-
cotic Drugs and Psy-
chotropic Substances
(NDPS) Act had ig-
nored previous obser-
vations made by the
HC and erred in grant-
ing bail to Showik
Chakraborty and other
accused in the case.
Anti-Drugs agency asks High Court
to cancel Showik Chakraborty’s bail
New Delhi: TDP Na-
tional president N
Chandrababu Naidu
is likely to file a petition
in Andhra Pradesh
High Court seeking
scrapping of cases filed
by AP CID in connec-
tion with the Amarava-
ti land scam. It may be
mentioned that the CID
officials served notices
to Chandrababu re-
questing him to attend
CID office in Vijayawa-
da on March 23. After
consulting his lawyers
Chandrababu Naidu is
likely to file a petition
in AP High Court.
CHANDRABABU
LIKELY TO MOVE
AP HC AGAINST
CID NOTICES
New Delhi: The SC
termed the cancellation
of around three crore
ration cards by the Cen-
tre due to non-linking
with Aadhaar card as
too serious, and
sought response from
the Central government
and all states on the is-
sue. A bench of Chief
Justice SA Bobde and
justices AS Bopanna
and V Ramasubrama-
nian said this matter
should not be treated as
adversarial as it is too
serious a matter.
CANCELLING3CRORERATION
CARDS IS TOO SERIOUS: SC
Varanasi: Dismissing
all news reports of the
appointment of Reli-
ance chairperson Nita
Ambani as visiting pro-
fessorinBanarasHindu
University (BHU), the
university administra-
tion clarified that no
such decision or pro-
posal has been taken by
the latter. No such offi-
cial decision has been
taken by the University
to appoint Nita Ambani
as a visiting professor
in any faculty/class/
centre of University.
Neither any such order
has been issued. —ANI
Nita Ambani not
made visiting
professor,
clarifies BHU
M
M
M
‘SENT VACCINES TO 150 NATIONS’
IN THE COURTYARD
New Delhi: One
Group Captain has
lost his life after a
MiG-21 Bison air-
craft of the Indian
Air Force was in-
volved in a fatal ac-
cident on Wednesday
,
said the Indian Air
Force. “A MiG-21 Bi-
son aircraft of IAF
was involved in a fa-
tal accident this
morning, while tak-
ing off for a combat
training mission at
an airbase in central
India. The IAF ex-
presses deep condo-
lences and stands
firmly with the fam-
ily members,” Indian
Air Force said. —ANI
IAF Group commander
killed in MiG-21 crash
New Delhi: The SC
agreed to hear a PIL
seeking directions
for mandatory provi-
sion for construction
of a common utility
duct in the construc-
tion plan of National
Highways and roads
to avoid re-digging
for large infrastruc-
ture projects. A
bench of Chief Jus-
tice SA Bobde and
Justices AS Bopanna
V Ramasubrama-
nian issued notice to
Centre, National
Highway Authority
of India others
sought response.
SC NOTICE
OVER COMMON
UTILITY DUCTS
ON HIGHWAYS
Violation of social distancing norms is being committed before
taking a State Transport Bus amid the city reported a surge in
COVID-19 cases, in Nagpur on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

NEWS
07
Byelections:SECseekscentral
forcesfor3Assemblyseats
Chief electoral officer said number of polling booths has been increased by 45 percent
Dr Rituraj Sharma
Jaipur: The State Elec-
tion Commission has
demanded 16 compa-
nies of central paramil-
itary forces for smooth
conduct of byelections
on 3 Assembly seats in
Rajasthan.
Chief electoral offic-
er Praveen Gupta said
that the number of poll-
ing booths has been in-
creased by 45 percent
and the number of per-
sonnel has increased by
50-60 percent this time
in order to make ar-
rangements as per the
Covid guidelines.
Gupta, while review-
ing the preparations for
bypolls with divisional
commissioners, IGs of
Udaipur, Ajmer and Bi-
kaner and SPs of
Bhilwara, Churu and
Rajsamand through
video conference, is-
sued instructions for
compliance of all guide-
lines during the bypolls.
He said that expendi-
ture observers will visit
districts on 23 March
and general and police
observers will visit dis-
tricts on 30 March.
Gupta also asked
them to prepare a secu-
rity deployment plan on
the basis of which sen-
sitive and extremely
sensitive polling booths
will be determined.
The Chief electoral
officer said that candi-
dates can book time
slots online for filing
nomination papers.
Other permissions will
have to be obtained on-
line, he added.
For the registration
of postal ballots, BLOs
will fill forms in door to
door survey
.
He said that expendi-
ture of election has
been increased by 10
percent to Rs. 30.80
lakh.
First India Bureau
Jhunjhunu: Megha-
laya Governor Satya
Pal Malik on Wednes-
day said that 250 farm-
ers have died in the
farmers’ agitation but
no one has spoken for
them, which is heart-
lessness.
He said it is not in the
interest of anyone if
the agitation lasted
long. Malik had halted
at Jhunjhunu briefly
while going to Delhi
from Deedwana (Na-
gaur).
During this, he inter-
acted with reporters
and said that farmers
had gone to the agita-
tion while leaving be-
hind their families.
Condolences messag-
es are given on the
death of people who die
in accidents but the
deaths of farmers are
not being condoled, he
rued.
While saying that
farmers are united on
the issue of farm laws,
Malik asserted that the
issue between the agi-
tating farmers and the
government can be re-
solved through dia-
logue.
He insisted that agi-
tation should not run
for such a long time.
First India Bureau
Kota: Anti-Corrup-
tion Bureau on
Wednesday arrested
woman Sarpanch Nir-
mala Bai (38) and her
husband Mahaveer
Meena (43) for taking
bribe of Rs 10,000 in
Kota.
The accused Sar-
panch of Gandifali
gram panchayat of
Ladpura panchayat
samiti had demanded
the bribe for approv-
ing map of site plan
of a gas agency.
After verification
of the complaint, a
trap was laid and the
sarpanch and her hus-
band were arrested
while taking the
bribe.
The bribe amount
was recovered from
the husband Ma-
haveer Meena, an
ACB official said.
Jaipur: Protesting against
privatisation, offices of all
the four government gen-
eral insurance companies
remainedclosedinthestate
onWednesday
.About200of-
fices of the National Insur-
ance,NewIndiaAssurance,
Oriental Insurance and
United India Insurance Ltd
were closed yesterday
. A
widespread impact of the
strikewasseenwitharound
2500 employees/officers be-
ing on strike in the state.
Chief electoral officer Praveen Gupta reviewing the preparations for bypolls virtually in Jaipur.
250 farmers have died
but no one spoken for
them: Satya Pal Malik
Woman sarpanch and
husband held for bribe
Insurance cos
protest against
privatisation
No differences
among party
leaders:Khanna
First India Bureau
Alwar: Bharatiya Ja-
nata Party national
vice-president Avinash
Rai Khanna on Wednes-
day advised party
workers to avoid rais-
ing slogans against the
BJP and such practise
will be tolerated in the
party.
He also said that it is
not wrong to raise slo-
gans in the name of a
leader. “Workers in BJP
shout slogans for lead-
ers as a mark of re-
spect,” he said, adding
that there are no differ-
ences among the party
leaders. “The party is
one,” he said.
It may be recalled
that supporters of for-
mer CM Vasundhara
Raje have raised slo-
gans in her support on
different occasions.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: The 13th na-
tional session of ‘All
India Marwari Yuva
Manch’ will be held in
Puri in Odisha from
March 19 to 21. On this
occasion, a special is-
sue of the organisa-
tion’s mouthpiece -
Manchika, will be re-
leased.
For the session, Dhi-
raj Shrivastava - Com-
missioner, Rajasthan
Foundation, will reach
Bhubaneswar on 18
March where he will
communicate with the
expatriate Rajasthanis
at Terapant Bhawan at
4.30 pm.
Moreover, while giv-
ing a presentation in
Puri on March 19, The
Commissioner will
also make the expatri-
ate Rajasthanis aware
of the activities related
to the Rajasthan Foun-
dation.
After this, on 20
March, Dhiraj Srivas-
tava will attend the
opening ceremony of
the 13th National Ses-
sion of All India Mar-
wadi Yuva Manch and
leave for Delhi in the
evening. All India
Marwari Yuva Manch
is engaged in social for
society, said an offical
of the Raj foundation.
13th session of Marwari Yuva
Manch from March 19 in Puri
Satya Pal Malik
First India Bureau
Jaipur. Mayor of
Jaipur Greater Munici-
pal Corporation Dr
Somya filed her reply
in the districts and ses-
sions court on the peti-
tions filed against her
election as councillor
and Mayor, on Wednes-
day
.
Advocate Sandeep
Luhadia has said in re-
sponse that both the
petitions have been
filed wdue to political
malfeasance. “Dr.
Somya was named in
the voter list of Jaipur
as per rules and she ex-
ercised her franchise.
The petitioner had not
raised any objection
before the Returning
Officer and therefore,
both the petitions
should be dismissed,”
he said.
It is worth noting
that Pinky Yadav, a
councilor candidate
from Ward-87 from the
Congress party, has
challenged the coun-
cilor election. In the
election for the post of
Mayor, Congress Party
candidate Divya Singh
has also filed an elec-
tion petition demand-
ing the cancellation of
the election. Petition-
ers’ Advocate A.K. Jain
has made allegations
against the opposition
mayor, Returning Of-
ficer and DEO.
Sangeeta Sharma
Jodhpur: The Central
government has to pur-
chasecrudeoilfromthe
international market at
a high price, while do-
mestically, Rajasthan’s
Barmer basin has
about five and a half
billion barrels of oil re-
serves.
Despite this underly-
ing potential, the cen-
tral government has
not shown interest in
supporting an increase
in domestic crude pro-
duction or in new ex-
ploration of oil and gas.
On the contrary, the
government is delaying
the extension of the
production sharing
contract, due to which
exploration in new
fields and incremental
productionfrom the
Barmer oil fields is ad-
versely impacted.
With about twenty
five percent of the cur-
rent total oil produc-
tion in the country
coming from Barmer
Basin and the potential
to increase this contri-
bution to almost 50%,
this could help India
moveclosertowardsen-
ergy self sufficiency
, if
the government shows
intent and provides the
necessary incentives.
This not only helps
us reduce our import
dependency, which is
currently at 85%, but at
the same time in-
creased production will
result in more revenue
to both the Central gov-
ernment and the state
Government of Ra-
jasthan.
The Rajasthan fields
were the largest on-
shore discovery in In-
dia for more than 25
years with the potential
to provide more than
30% of India’s daily
crude oil production
and have contributed
more than Rs. 1 Lac
Crores in revenues to
GOI and GOR till date.
While there were
plans to produce 3 lakh
barrels per day by 2015,
a dispute with the then
government led to
Cairn Energy PLC sell-
ing its stake to Cairn
India Ltd, which later
merged with the Vedan-
ta group.
In addition, the pro-
duction sharing con-
tract (PSC) for twenty
years between the Gov-
ernment of India,
ONGC and Cairn Oil
Gas also expired in
2019. The PSC was sup-
posed to be extended for
ten more years on the
same terms as earlier
but the government im-
posed a condition to in-
crease Profit Petroleum
by 10% in the new con-
tract. This would be
severely detrimental to
enhanced production
from the Rajasthan
fields and will hamper
Cairn’s ability to invest
further.
The dispute is ongo-
ing in the courts. In the
last two and half years,
the government has ex-
tended the contract for
two to three months on
an ad-hoc basis but this
has had detrimental ef-
fect on Cairn’s plans to
invest in new projects,
explore in newer areas
and increase oil pro-
duction.
Petition against election: Dr Somya
files reply in district sessions court
Centre indifferent to Barmer basin
Promoted by Nangal Pharma

Give it your ALL! Everything,
from the smallest thing that you
do to the largest project you
undertake, make it a habit to sign it with
excellence!
—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO Editor-in-Chief, First India
08
2NDFRONT
POSTAL REG NO. JPC/010/2019-21
Rajendra Chhabra
Jaipur: It is considered
a normal development if
politicians or general
public holds agitation
against a district collec-
tor, however, the situa-
tion turns serious and
worrysome when staff
of collector’s office rebel
against the top babu and
this is exactly what is
transpiring in Churu
where staff under Col-
lector Sanwarmal Ver-
ma and SDM Abhishek
Khanna have gone to the
length of holding sit-in
and agitation.
The employees union
has appealed to Chief
Minister and Chief Sec-
retary to remove the top
officials of Churu Col-
lectorate as soon as pos-
sible. It is important to
note here that since pro-
moting from RAS to IAS
in 2007, it is for the first
time that Verma has
been given charge of a
district as Collector and
it has merely been two
months since he has tak-
en over the position. It is
being said that several
months back, former
minister late Master
Bhanwarlal had given a
desire to appoint Verma
as Churu Collector and
after his demise, state
government honored his
wish by appointing Ver-
ma to the post in Janu-
ary 2021. The other offi-
cial that the employees
are demanding to be re-
moved is a 2018 batch
IAS, Abhishek Khanna
the SDM in Churu,
which is his first post-
ing. It is therefore clear
that not only are these
men new to Churu, but it
is their first in handling
affairs of a district and
both these IAS are ‘nov-
ices’ when it comes to
district management,
therefore mistakes are
plenty and they have
come under fire from
several sections.
Employees allege har-
assment at the duo’s
hands saying that 8 em-
ployeesincluding2wom-
en employees have been
given fake chargesheets.
Similarlytheyalsoclaim
mental harassment
through regular threats
of chargesheets and sus-
pension. It is further
said that Khanna asks
employees to stay back
in office till 7 pm and
those employees on
emergency leaves are
marked absent. Employ-
ee Union, in its memo-
randum to government,
has issued a warning
that if both officials are
not removed from the
district,thentheywillgo
on mass leave.
Churu goes to Assem-
bly by-polls next month
and union has written to
Raj Chief Eelection of-
ficer demanding their
transfer. It has also come
to light that CS Niranjan
Arya has sought factual
information on the en-
tire episode from Divi-
sional Commissioner
and DOP and soon an ac-
tion will be taken.
United Churu Collectorate staff wants its ‘head’ out!
Imtiyaz Ali
Jhunjhunu: A POCSO
court in Jhunjhunu dis-
trict completed trial in a
rape case involving a
five-year-old in 16 days
and awarded death pen-
alty to the 21-year-old ac-
cused on Wednesday
. He
was held guilty a day
ago. The entire process
was completed in 26
days, the police said.
AccusedSunilKumar
abducted the minor girl
who was playing in an
agriculture farm near
her house in the even-
ing of February 19 and
her on his scooty
. Other
children informed the
minor’s parents follow-
ing which the police
were informed and all
the police stations were
alerted.
The girl was later re-
covered in injured con-
dition in an isolated
area. The police identi-
fied and arrested Sunil
after five hours.
Investigating officer
Suresh Sharma, Chi-
rawa CO, said that the
court convicted Sunil on
Tuesday and awarded
death penalty on
Wednesday under the
POCSO Act.
“Swift action was tak-
en in the case and all the
evidence was collected.
The charge sheet was
filed within 10 days of
the incident and the
court pronounced the
judgment today,” he
said.
The court also appre-
ciated the investigation
conducted by the police
saying it was the exam-
pleof idealinvestigation
which contained direct
evidence,scientific,elec-
tronic and circumstan-
tial evidences.
Judge Sukesh Kumar
Jain observed that cir-
cumstantial evidence
collected by the police
was enough to prove
the case. Special PP Lo-
kendra Singh Skekha-
wat appeared in the
case on behalf of the
government.
SP Jhunjhunu Man-
ish Tripathi said that
the judgment will give
a strong message in the
society.
The victims’ father
also welcomed the deci-
sion of the court and
said that justice was
done today with his
daughter who is not nor-
mal ever since the inci-
dent occurred.
While hailing the
judgment, chairperson
of the Rajasthan State
Commission for Protec-
tionof ChildRightsSan-
geeta Beniwal said that
police took prompt ac-
tion in the case and sub-
mitted the chargesheet
in 10 days.
Welcoming the judg-
ment, Chief minister
Ashok Gehlot said that
the police filed charge
sheet within 9 days and
the POCSO court deliv-
ered judgment within 26
days (of the incident).
In its judgement, the
court commented that
no animal does such an
act like the accused did.
At the same time, con-
sidering drug and por-
nography as the reason
behind these incidents,
the court also decided to
write to the government
to take steps in this di-
rection. The accused
had admitted that he
used to watch porn vid-
eos while drinking.
The court also asked
the jail authorities to
provide religious and
motivational books to
Sunil to help him in im-
proving his behaviour
and conduct.
The man had told the
court that the cause of
the crime was intoxica-
tion but this plea of the
accused was not enter-
tained by the court be-
cause he had driven his
two-wheeler for about 40
km and had bought
chocolate and chips for
the victim, which
showed that he was in
his senses.
The POCSO court
judge Jain, while pro-
nouncing the sentence,
said, “During hearing,
court didn’t see repent-
ance even once in your
eyes. If there had been
repentance in your eyes,
your punishment could
have been different.”
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Preparations
for procurement of
pulses and oilseeds at
MSP during Rabi sea-
son 2021-22 were re-
viewed in a meeting
chaired by chief secre-
tary Niranjan Arya on
Wednesday. Principal
Secretary agriculture
Kunjilal Meena said the
purchase of gram and
mustard is limited to
25% according to guide-
line and it should be in-
creased. He said that the
process of purchasing
gram and mustard is be-
ing done online through
e-Mitra, in which the
registration fee has
been fixed at Rs31 per
registration.
Rajfad MD Sushma
Arora said that in Rabi
2021-22, on the basis of
25% of the potential
purchase production of
pulses and oilseeds on
the support price, Rs
1025 crores for pulses
and Rs2,675 crore re-
volving fund has been
assessed.
Meanwhile, state gov-
ernment has issued a
circular directing to en-
sure compliance of
Right of Persons with
Disabilities Act-2016 for
empowering specially
abled people and provid-
ing them equal opportu-
nities.
The circular was is-
sued by the CS who said
state government is
committed to building
equal society for the ad-
vancement and develop-
ment of specially abled
people. Different provi-
sions have been made in
the Act for 21 types of
persons with disabili-
ties. He asked the offi-
cials to ensure compli-
ance of these provisions
and to inform the Direc-
torate of Specially
Abled Persons.
CS also chaired a
meeting of steering
committee for Ra-
jasthan agricultural
competitiveness project
in secretariat.
Quickjustice:Deathpenaltytorapistin26days
Jhunjhunu POCSO Court completed
trial of rape of minor in 16 days
Accused Sunil Kumar.
Niranjan Arya, Kunji Lal Meena Sushma Arora during RAJFED meeting on Wednesday.
Sawarmal Verma Abhishek Khanna
Jaipur: In what could be
termed as a fast tracked
approach to catching
miscreants and provid-
ing justice to a rape vic-
tim, Raj police arrested
the rape accused, pre-
pared the evidence and
report which ultimately
led to the accused being
awarded a death penalty,
all within one month
of the commission of
crime. Jhunjhunu Police
has achieved the amaz-
ing feat under DGP ML
Lather’s direction. After
the matter came to light,
DGP Lather had directed
of swift action and
though the accused was
unidentified the cops
zeroed in on him within
5 hours and merely
after 9 days the police
presented a challan and
after 15 days of challan
the court awarded death
penalty to the accused.
UNDER DGP LATHER, RAJ COPS ACT SWIFTLY TO NAB ACCUSED
Vimal Kothari
Jaipur: Under direc-
tions of Chief Commis-
sioner Abhishek
Bhagotia, the State
GST Anti-Evasion III,
Rajasthan has exposed
the fake bills of about
Rs51 crore of two firms
based in Jaipur.
Special Commission-
er Shakti Singh Rathore
informed that depart-
ment had received in-
formation about the is-
suance of fake bills by
these firms located in
Mansarovar in Jaipur.
The data of both the
above firms were ana-
lyzed by the officials of
Anti-Evasion Rajasthan
III. During investiga-
tion, it was found that
addresses declared as
the place of business of
these firms do not exist.
Sale purchase of
goods were being shown
only on papers by the
firmoperatorsandtheir
residence address was
also found to be incor-
rect. Rathore said sale
of Rs51 crore has been
shown by these firms
and it has been found
prima facie that ITC of
about Rs5 crore is mis-
used. The amount of
Rs1.06 crore available in
their credit ledger has
been blocked by dept.
First India Bureau
Bhilwara: A young
woman, who went to
graze goats, was gang-
raped and bullied by
three young men in
Raipur police station
area of Bhilwara dis-
trict. These miscreants
also made the woman’s
pornographic video.
The 25-day-old inci-
dent was revealed when
accused started harass-
ing woman and black-
mailed her of making
the video viral on social
media if she failed to
give Rs2.5 lakh. Gan-
gapur DSP Gopichand
Meena is probing.
Raipur police station
in-charge Premsingh
Khangareet said on Feb
26 Shaitan, Ramsingh
and Raju came on a bike
from Palra village and
took the woman who
was grazing goats in the
area to a secluded place.
They gagged her and
threatened her with a
knife while raping her
one by one. They also
made a video. After vid-
eo went viral, woman
lodged gang-rape report.
Shivendra Parmar
Jaipur: State police is
once again going to
start a special campaign
against anti-social ele-
ments and for this pur-
pose PHQ has directed
all range Inspector Gen-
erals and district Super-
intendent of Police to
make a list of top 25
criminals at each police
station level and the list
of top ten miscreants at
each district level.
In 2019, the PHQ initi-
ated a drive to nab most
hardcore criminals,
however, owing to Co-
rona pandemic, the
drive could not be initi-
ated. “A special cam-
paign is being run to
nab criminals wherein
separate teams are
working right from po-
lice station level to state
level,” said ADG Crime
Ravi Prakash Meharda.
According to offi-
cials, once a criminal,
whose name features in
the list, is caught, his
name will be removed
from the list and the
name of another crimi-
nal will be added in its
place. The drive is being
monitored by DGP ML
Lather and ADG Ravi
Prakash Meharda.
Ashok Gehlot@ashokgehlot51
In the case of rape of a 5-year-old girl in Jhunj-
hunun on 19 February 2021, the police presented the
challan in 9 days and the Posco court sentenced the
convict to death in 26 days. This is an example of the
efficiency of the police, judiciary and the government’s
commitment to bring justice to the victim.
Steps taken to curb mobile recovery in jails
Rajfed prepares for Rabi to
procure oilseeds pulses
CS TAKES REVIEW MEETINGS ON WEDNESDAY
Lather seeks district wise list of top criminals
SGST finds tax evasion
of `51 cr by Jaipur firm
Woman gang-raped,
incident videographed
COMING CLOSER!
There is a growing concern in Congress circles about former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot’s
growing proximity with NCP leaders, mainly Praful Patel and others. The meetings may
be only a social connect but they also herald some speculations for Pilot’s future plans.
This picture is from a dinner party hosted by Praful Patel where Congress spokesperson
Jaiveer Shergil, NCP leader Supriya Sule, Sachin Pilot, Rajya Sabha MP from NCP Priyanka
Chaturvedi. Jaya Bacchan also attended the dinner party.
Rajiv Gaur
Jodhpur: ADG (Jail)
Malini Agarwal said
on Wednesday efforts
are being made to stop
cases of recovering
mobiles in Jodhpur Jail.
She said, “We are focus-
ing on how to prevent
it. To curb the same,
Operation Wash Out
has been started from
November 1 last year. A
large number of mobiles
are being recovered
after frequent investiga-
tions. Besides, taking
action on guilty police
and jail personnel, strict
steps are being taken
against the prisoners.
ML Lather

t was one of those days
when she travelled to In-
dia for the very first time
after she was born and
had a quest in herself to
make a change. Born in
India and hailing from
Dubai, the journey of Rehaa
Khann is one of the most aspir-
ing. Talking about her journey
Rehaa mentioned, “Unlike most
families, it wasn’t in our tradi-
tion to step into the world of
glamour. I belong to a fairly con-
servative family. My father is a
pathan from Dubai and my
mother is from India, but I want-
ed to break the stereotype and
explore myself as an artist.”
It was back in the year 2013,
when Rehaa visited the city of
dreams, Mumbai, where she
was born. The city of dreams
brought forward challenges, a
struggle that made her decide
that she will push her limits
and establish a name of herself
in this very own city. She fur-
ther stepped into the world of
modelling, she coveted the title
of Miss Mermaid International
Asia (2019) in Egypt. She has
represented India in Top model
Asia 2018 in Korea. Apart from
her modelling ventures, Rehaa
has also been a part of some
well renowned Hindi, Punjabi
and Telugu blockbusters. Re-
haa will be next seen in an up-
coming web series, titled, In-
spector Avinash. With her
NGO, Farishta Social Foun-
dation, Rehaa also advo-
cates charity by distribut-
ing food to the less priv-
iledged.
Rehaa Khann further
comments, “I have enjoyed
exploring cultures and my
varied roles. As I move for-
ward in the world of act-
ing, I realize that the best
thing about acting is
that it allows you to
express your-
self.”
JAIPUR, THURSDAY
MARCH 18, 2021
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia
facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09
SUSHMITA AIND
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
I
CITY FIRST IN AN EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION WITH
REHAA KHANN, A MODEL, A STYLE ICON, AN ACTOR, A
DREAMER AND AN EXPLORER. A MODEL TURNED SOCIAL
WORKER WHOSE MOTTO OF LIFE IS LIVE AND LET LIVE!
CITY FIRST IN AN EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION WITH
THE ARAB

First india jaipur edition-18 march 2021

First india jaipur edition-18 march 2021

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