15032022 first india ahmedabad

CLINICAL TRIAL OF CDV VACCINE
FOR LIONS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY
SAVING MAJESTIC CREATURES
Gargi Raval Patel
Gandhinagar: After 85
lions succumbed to the
canine distemper virus
(CDV) in 2018, the state
government had com-
missioned development
of a vaccine to protect
the big cats. In a ques-
tion posed by Sayaji-
ganj MLA Jitendra
Sukhadia at the ongo-
ing assembly session on
Monday, state Forest &
Environment Minister
Kiritsinh Rana replied
that the clinical trial of
the vaccine was cur-
rently underway
.
“The project was
awarded to the Gujarat
Biotechnology Re-
search Centre, which
has prepared a vaccine
formula. Currently, the
clinical trial of the vac-
cine is being conduct-
ed,” stated Rana.
The state govern-
ment also informed the
legislative Turn to P2
Gir National Park is the only abode of Asiatic lions in the world.
State govt
informs the
House that 283
big cats died of
various causes in
last two years
—FILE PHOTO
New Delhi: (Agen-
cies): India will start
vaccinating children
aged 12 to 14 years from
March 16 as it expands
its COVID-19 vaccina-
tion coverage, Union
Health Minister Man-
sukh Mandaviya an-
nounced on Monday.
The condition of co-
morbidity for people
aged 60 and above to get
a precautionary dose
will also be removed.
Everyone in that age
category can now take
booster shots.
The COVID-19 vac-
cine to be administered
would be Corbevax
manufactured by Bio-
logical Evans, Hy-
derabad.
Making the an-
nouncement in Hindi
on social media plat-
form Koo, the minister
said, “If the children
are safe then the coun-
try is safe! I am happy to
inform you that the
COVID-19 vaccination
of children in the age
group of 12 to 13 and 13
to 14 is starting from
March 16. Also, every-
one aged 60+ will now
be able to get precau-
tion doses.”
He also urged the
families of children
and people in the age
group of 60+ to get vac-
cinated. All those above
14 years of age are al-
ready being vaccinated.
VACCINES FOR AGE GROUP
12-14 FROM TOMORROW
Boosters for all above 60 as condition of comorbidity gone
AHMEDABAD l TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/79050 l Vol 3 l Issue No. 109
OUR EDITIONS:
JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD,
LUCKNOW & NEW DELHI
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AFTERPOLL
FEVER,IT’S
HOLIFLAVOUR
INPMMODI’S
VARANASI
Artists perform at Dashash-
wamedh Ghat on the
banks of Ganga, ahead of Holi
festival, in Varanasi.
—PHOTO BY PTI
Union Government after due
deliberations with scientific bodies has
decided to start COVID19 vaccination
for 12-13 yr and 13-14 yr age groups (those born
in 2008, 2009 and 2010. i.e those who are
already above 12 years of age) of the population
from 16th March 2022
—Statement by the health ministry
WHO ALL ARE ELIGIBLE AND WHEN
WILL THEY GET THEIR SHOTS?
The Health Ministry an-
nounced that those born in
2008, 2009, and 2010, i.e,
those who are above the
age of 12, will be eligible
for their Covid-19 vaccines
from March 16. Currently,
the population above 14
years of age are being ad-
ministered Covid-19 vac-
cines under the ongoing
inoculation programme.
WHICH VACCINES
WILL BE USED FOR
THIS AGE GROUP?
WHAT TECHNOLOGY
THAT CORBEVAX
HAS BEEN BUILT ON?
According to the Health
Ministry, Corbevax,
that is manufactured by
the Hyderabad-based
Biological-E, will be used
to inoculate kids in this
age group. Corbevax is
India’s first indigenously
developed Receptor Bind-
ing Domain (RBD) protein
sub-unit vaccine. On
February 21, India’s drug
approval agency granted
emergency use authoriza-
tion to Corbevax.
Corbevax, a protein sub-
unit Covid-19 vaccine,
is one that is built on
the traditional sub-unit
vaccine platform. Instead
of the whole virus, the
platform triggers an im-
mune response by using
fragments of it, like the
spike protein. The sub-
unit vaccine contains the
harmless S-protein, and it
produces antibodies, such
as white blood cells, that
fight the infection.
Russia asks China for weapons
for Ukraine, creating new row
Washington (Agen-
cies): Russia has asked
China for military and
economic aid for its war
in Ukraine, US media on
Sunday
. Beijing refused
to directly address the
reports, instead accused
the US of maliciously
spreading “disinforma-
tion”overChina’srolein
the Ukraine war.
A Chinese spokesper-
son said, “The US has
been spreading disin-
formation targeting
China on Ukraine, with
malicious intentions.”
The request for
equipment is not new
and was made soon af-
ter Russia launched an
offensive in Ukraine,
US official said.
Centre seeks Parl nod for additional
gross spending of `1.58 lakh crore
Tata Sons Chief
Chandrasekaran
new Air India
chairman
Court sends
ex-NSE chief
to two-week
judicial custody
New Delhi (Agencies):
Tata Group has an-
nounced Natrajan
Chandrasekarana will
be the chairman of Air
India, with his appoint-
ment confirmed by the
board on Monday
.
Earlier in the month,
Tata group had an-
nounced Turkey’s Ilker
Ayci as the chief execu-
tive of Air India, but
that appointment was
met with a lot of opposi-
tion in India.
Ayci had later de-
clined the offer.
New Delhi: Former Na-
tional Stock Exchange
(NSE) chief Chitra
Ramkrishna, accused
of being involved in
grave lapses at India’s
largest stock market --
including sharing con-
fidential information
with an individual she
dubbed a “Himalayan
yogi” -- has been sent to
jail for 14 days. “Every
prisoner is the same.
She can’t be a VIP pris-
oner. Rules can’t be
changed,” judge San-
jeev Aggarwal said.
New Delhi (PTI): The
government on Mon-
day sought approval
from Parliament to
spend an extra Rs 1.07
lakh crore in the cur-
rent fiscal.
Meanwhile, Fi-
nance Minister Nir-
mala Sitharaman pre-
sented a Rs 1.42 lakh
crore budget for the
union territory of
Jammu and Kashmir
for the year 2022-23 in
the Lok Sabha. The
Minister also pre-
sented the supple-
mentary demands for
the year 2021-22 total-
ling Rs 18,860.32
crore for the Union
Territory.
China rubbishes
US claim, calls it
‘disinformation’
FM presents
J&K Budget
Fire at a residential building in Kyiv caused by Russian strike.
RUSSIA DAMAGES
NUKE POWER LINE
A high-voltage power line
to Ukraine’s Chernobyl
nuclear plant was dam-
aged by Russian forces
not long after electricity
supplies were restored.
BUDGET SESSION PART-2
India hammered Sri Lanka by 238 runs in second
and final Test in Bengaluru on Monday to complete
a 2-0 series whitewash. Resuming the third day at
28 for one, Sri Lanka ended their second innings at
208 all out after captain Dimuth Karunaratne scored
a fine 107. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah (3/23) and spinner
R Ashwin (4/55) shared seven wickets among
themselves for India.
INDIA CLEAN SWEEP SL
BRIEF SCORE
INDIA: 252 and
303 for 9 declared.
SRI LANKA: 109; 208
all out in 59.3 overs
HIJAB BAN: K’TAKA
HC VERDICT TODAY
The Karnataka High Court
three-judge bench of Chief
Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and
Justices Krishna S Dixit and
JM Khazi will deliver judgment
at 10:30 am on hijab ban case.

First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: During
the Question Hour at
the legislative assem-
bly session on Mon-
day, the state admit-
ted to having only one
teacher each in over
700 government
schools in Gujarat.
Roughly 10 days ago,
in their last budget be-
fore the polls, the Guja-
rat government allocat-
ed the highest amount
of Rs34,884 crore to the
education sector. The
Budget had also pro-
posed an allocation of
Rs937 crore for con-
struction of 10,000 new
classrooms in the exist-
ing government-run
primary and secondary
schools.
However, the state
government confessed
to the alarming figure
in response to several
questions related to ed-
ucation raised by Con-
gress MLAs.
According to the
written reply given by
state Education Minis-
ter Jitu Vaghani, “The
highest number of
schools with one teach-
er on staff are in the
Kutch district (100). A
disturbing figure, espe-
cially when considering
that primary school
comprises Class I to
VIII. How is the one
teacher teaching all the
subjects to the stu-
dents?”
Further statistics of
government-aided pri-
mary schools run by a
single teacher only
screams the state’s apa-
thy towards education.
After Kutch, the Mahis-
agar district (74) has
highest number of
schools run by one
teacher on staff each,
followed by Tapi dis-
trict (59), Surat district
(43), Vadodara (38),
Chhota Udepur (34) and
Sabarkantha (32).
Out of the total 33 dis-
tricts, only Bhavnagar
and Kheda districts
have more than one
teacher in all govern-
ment schools.
Meanwhile, in re-
sponse to another
question from a Con-
gress MLA, 86 gov-
ernment schools have
been closed, and 491
merged in the state in
the last two years.
Jamnagar district
tops the list of merg-
ers with 144 schools.
According to the op-
position bench, the
government is grant-
ing new approvals to
private schools while
state-run schools are
either closing down
or being merged.
First India Bureau
Surat: Ward number
05 councillor Mani-
sha Kukadiya, who
defected to the
Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) last
month, returned to
the Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) on Monday.
She had been elected
to the Surat Munici-
pal Corporation
(SMC) in February
2021 civic body elec-
tions, along with 27
other councillors. She
had joined the ruling
party on February 15
with four other AAP
councillors.
According to sourc-
es, Kukadiya’s decision
to return to AAP within
a month came after the
party swept the Punjab
assembly elections by
winning 92 seats.
Underplaying the
event, AAP Gujarat
Chief Gopal Italia told
media persons, “If a
member of the family
is misguided and wants
to return home after re-
alizing their mistake,
they should be wel-
comed with a warm
heart. Manisha has
been inducted back into
the party fold.”
The ward number 05
councillor is one of the
‘aayaram gayaram’
leaders who have
switched their alle-
giances from one party
to another. Following
her footsteps, if the
other seven AAP coun-
cillors who defected
also return, then it will
be a setback for the BJP.
To avoid action under
the anti-defection law, a
minimum of nine coun-
cillors should have
crossed over to the BJP.
So far, only seven had
joined, and with Ku-
kadiya’s return, the
tally is now down to six.
If BJP cannot con-
vince four more coun-
cillors to change
their allegiance,
those who have
switched over to it
will face action. As
per the rumour mill,
at least seven Con-
gress MLAs and three
senior leaders are
likely to join the BJP
soon.
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: On a
visit to Gujarat, Con-
gress state in-charge
Dr Raghu Sharma on
Monday firmly stated
that the party will
not tolerate indisci-
pline. His statement
comes in the wake of
a few youth leaders
leaving the Youth
Congress convention
held on March 13,
when Gujarat Con-
gress working presi-
dent Hardik Patel be-
gan speaking at the
event.
The youth wing had
organized a three-day
shibir (convention) to
guide young workers
and inform them about
the party plans for
them. Dr Sharma ad-
dressed the gathering
on Monday
.
Earlier in the day, the
state in-charge had a
one-on-one meeting
with Gujarat Pradesh
Congress Committee
(GPCC) Leader of Op-
position Sukhram
Rathva. They discussed
the mail written by
MLAs to national party
leader & Wayanad MP
Rahul Gandhi seeking
his appointment. MLAs
feel that the ruling par-
ty may aim to go for
early elections, and so,
the opposition party
must start preparing
for it, said sources.
Though the party ap-
pointed Jagdish Tha-
kor as the GPCC presi-
dent in December, he
has not been able to
constitute the state ex-
ecutive committee and
election campaign com-
mittee yet. Many dis-
trict and city commit-
tee president posts are
still lying vacant, added
sources.
On the other hand,
the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) is storm-
ing ahead in the state
general election cam-
paign. Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi
addressed two mega
events and participat-
ed in two roadshows
over the last few days
and two more events
are planned by the
ruling party for this
month.
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: The Gu-
jarat legislative assem-
bly was adjourned for
the day on Monday due
to the death of Con-
gress MLA Dr Anil
Joshiyara from COV-
ID-19.
Joshiyara, who was
69, was a five-time MLA
from Bhiloda (ST) seat
in Aravalli district. As
per Congress leaders,
he died of COVID-19 in-
fection in a Chennai
hospital on Monday af-
ternoon.
During the discus-
sion on an appropria-
tion bill, Deputy Leader
of Opposition Shailesh
Parmar informed about
Joshiyara’s death. State
Revenue Minister Ra-
jendra Trivedi, said,
“We also heard about
the legislator’s death
and we are deeply ag-
grieved by the loss. We
support Parmar’s pro-
posal and request the
speaker to adjourn the
House.”
It resulted in all leg-
islators observing two-
minute silence as trib-
ute, after which Speak-
er Nimaben Acharya
adjourned the House
for the day
.
Joshiyara had con-
tracted novel coronavi-
rus in January and was
shifted from a private
hospital in Ahmedabad
to Chennai a month ago
for advanced treatment
of the lungs.
A surgeon, Joshiyara
was first elected as an
MLA from Bhiloda seat
in 1995 on a Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) tick-
et and had served as
health minister be-
tween 1996 and 1997 in a
government headed by
former Chief Minister
Shankersinh Vaghela.
Later, the leader
joined Congress after
Vaghela merged his
Rashtriya Janata Party
in the Congress in 1998.
He has been winning
from Bhiloda on a Con-
gress ticket since then.
Five-time Cong MLA succumbs to COVID-19
REST IN PEACE
Monday
session of
Gujarat
legislative
assembly
was
adjourned
for the day
by Speaker
Nimaben
Acharya
Anil Joshiyara.
Clinical trial...
assembly that a total of
283 lions, lionesses and
cubs have died in the
last two years. It is to be
noted that Gir is the
only abode of the Asi-
atic lions in the world.
Responding to a set
of questions from Con-
gress legislators, Rana
said that 159 deaths
took place in 2020 and
124 in 2021. These com-
prised 68 lions, 73 lion-
esses and 142 cubs.
“Of the 283 deaths, 29
were due to unnatural
causes, like falling in
open wells or getting hit
by vehicles or trains.
There were no deaths
due to poaching,” the
minister said, adding
that conservation and
protection steps were
being taken, including
starting a ‘lion ambu-
lance’ and appointing
vets in forest areas.
Replying to a ques-
tion by Lathi MLA Vir-
ji Thummar, Rana in-
formed the House,
“During the same pe-
riod, Gujarat saw
deaths of 333 leopards,
including 242 adults
and 91 cubs. Of these,
over 27% (90 deaths)
were due to unnatural
causes.”
According to the lion
census of 2020, there
were 674 Asiatic lions in
Gujarat, which was in-
dicative of a 29% rise in
their population as
compared to the 2015
census.
FROM PG 1
Over 100 schools in Kutch district have only one teacher on staff each. —FILE PHOTO
‘Only 1 teacher on staff
in 700 govt schools’
Out of 33 districts, only
Bhavnagar and Kheda
districts have more
than one teacher in
all govt schools
Manisha Kukadiya (in lilac) received a tear-stained welcome from
AAP workers.
Sharma addressing the Youth Congress Shibir at Mahudi in G’ngar.
Surat councillor does ‘ghar
wapsi’ to AAP in a month
INDISCIPLINE WILL NOT BE
TOLERATED: DR RAGHU SHARMA
NEWS
AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022
02
GOOD RIDDANCE!
Following through on its promise to clean up the Pirana landfill
located on the outskirts of the city, Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation (AMC) has successfully emptied a part of the site
in 10 months. First India photojournalist Hanif Sindhi
captures the before (left) and after (right)
pictures of the landfill.
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

GUJARAT
03
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: After
nearly two weeks,
one death due to
COVID-19 has been
reported in
Ahmedabad city, tak-
ing the death tally to
10,939. Gujarat re-
ported 33 new cases
of novel coronavirus
on the day, informed
the state health &
family welfare de-
partment on Monday
.
The new cases were
reported in only six
districts and four met-
ro cities of the state,
while no cases were re-
corded in 26 districts.
As on Monday, the
number of active cas-
es include 506 patients,
of which, six patients
are on ventilator sup-
port and 500 patients
are in stable condi-
tion. A total of
12,12,187 patients have
been discharged from
the state so far.
Meanwhile, as per a
government notifica-
tion, COVID-19 vacci-
nation for children in
the age group of 12 to
14 years will begin
from March 16. Addi-
tionally, citizens over
the age of 60 years will
now be eligible for the
booster dose of the
COVID-19 vaccine. Ear-
lier, the vaccine was
only being adminis-
tered to senior citizens
suffering from a seri-
ous illness.
One COVID-19 casualty in Ahmedabad
city as Gujarat records 33 new cases
Gargi Raval Patel
Gandhinagar: Ac-
cording to the seventh
report of the Sched-
uled Tribe Welfare
Committee, the Juna-
gadh Municipal Corpo-
r a t i o n
( J M C )
does not
have re-
cruitment guidelines
in place ever since it
came into existence in
2002.
The committee had
inquired about the per-
centage of Scheduled
Tribe (ST) community
members on staff of
various civic bodies
across the state. Stat-
ing its findings in the
report, the committee
observed, “Not a single
direct recruitment has
occurred at Junagadh
Munici-
pal Cor-
poration
since its
inception 19 years ago.
It is an unforgivable
negligence.”
Remedying the over-
sight, new recruitment
rules are being final-
ized, following which,
proper recruitment
procedure will be fol-
lowed.
For the Ahmedabad
Municipal Corpora-
tion (AMC), the com-
mittee recommended
that ST candidates be
recruited by decreas-
ing the cut-off mark.
It also insisted on re-
cruitment of Class IV
employees for health
departments of all
eight municipal corpo-
rations in the state, on
a permanent basis.
Putting in a provision,
the committee also rec-
ommended that semi-
literate people be al-
lowed to apply for the
vacancy on humani-
tarian grounds.
In Rajkot Municipal
Corporation (RMC),
the report recommend-
ed filling 13 junior
clerk posts in the next
one to two months. It
also put in a contin-
gency to recruit sanita-
tion staff directly
.
The committee’s rec-
ommendation for Su-
rat Municipal Corpo-
ration (SMC) was pro-
motion of employees
to fill a total of 87 va-
cant posts. “In case
suitable candidates are
not available, then
these posts should be
filled by relaxing work
experience criteria
needed for the job,”
stated the report.
‘NO RECRUITMENT RULES IN
PLACE AT JUNAGADH CIVIC BODY’
Scheduled Tribe Welfare Committee called out authorities for oversight in its 7th annual report
Junagadh Municipal Corporation.
12,12,187
TOTALRECOVERED
63 MORE
IN A DAY
12,23,632
TOTAL CASES
33 CASES
IN A DAY
19 MAX
CASES IN
A’BAD
ACTIVE CASES
10,939
TOTAL DEATHS
506
01 DEATH
IN A DAY
COVID-19 UPDATE
33 CASES
First India Bureau
Ahmedabad: Govern-
ment employees have
taken to protesting on
digital platforms to
draw attention of the
state government to
their demands. In a
tweet, the Gujarat Ra-
jya Adhyapak Maha-
mandal has demanded
that their salaries for
the month of February
be released.
Taking to Twitter, the
Adhyapak Mahaman-
dal stated, “Today it is
March 14, and yet, pro-
fessors have not re-
ceived salaries. They
are finding it difficult to
make two ends meet
and for the last few
months their salaries
are being paid irregu-
larly. Many had to take
out loans to meet their
family’s needs and
those who had bor-
rowed money to pur-
chase homes are find-
ing it difficult to repay
their installments.”
The organization
also tagged the Chief
Minister’s Office (CMO)
Gujarat, Education
Minister Jitu Vaghani
and senior officers of
the education depart-
ment in the tweet.
On February 28, pro-
fessors across the state
had worn black ribbons
and boycotted their
teaching duties to at-
tract the government’s
attention towards their
problems. Another
grievance put forth by
them was that around
1,500 promotions of pro-
fessors have been put on
hold under the Univer-
sityGrantsCommission
(UGC) Career Advance
Scheme (CAS). As a re-
sult, the academicians
have been deprived of
the Seventh Pay Com-
mission benefits.
The government has
introducedacontractsys-
tem under which teach-
ing staffers are hired on
fixed pay
. Even after con-
firmingtheirservicesfor
full-payscale,theyarenot
entitled to promotions
under the CAS.
TheMahamandalalso
demanded scrapping of
mandatory clearance of
Hindi and triple A sub-
jects in the state for pro-
fessors. It also demand-
ed that the state reintro-
duce the old pension
scheme like the Ra-
jasthan government.
10-year-old boy winning
acclaim for artistic paintings
First India Bureau
Vadodara: Gautam Su-
thar, a 10-year-old child
artist from Vadodara’s
Pratapganj area, has
achieved national and
worldwide acclaim in
the art world. He has
received widespread
recognition, including
medals, at painting
competitions held in
Japan, the United
States, and India.
A Class IV at Kend-
riya Vidyalaya EME
School in the city, Gau-
tam began painting at a
very young age, after
receiving encourage-
ment from his grand-
mother. His father,
Arvind Suthar, who is a
professor of fine arts at
Maharaja Sayajirao
University of Baroda
(MSU), told First India,
“As part of Gautam’s
initiation into educa-
tion, his grandmother
put a brush in his hand
when he was only two-
years-old. I think that is
when his enthusiasm
for art blossomed.”
He added, “Gautam
has so far produced al-
most 150 paintings. His
work is distinct, in that,
unlike other young art-
ists, he does not paint
peacocks, parrots, or
cartoons, but rather ex-
amines things and situ-
ations in his surround-
ings and presents them
in the form of art.”
According to Arvind,
the COVID-19 lockdown
enabledGautamtopush
his art and creativity to
new heights. “He used
to paint before the pan-
demic too but with the
shutdownof school,tui-
tion and other activi-
ties, he got more time to
workon his art. Instead
of watching television
or playing games on
the mobile, he focused
on his hobby. And that
is the reason his paint-
ings were the talk of
every virtual art con-
test he participated
in,” he said.
YOUNG ARTIST
Screenshot of the tweet by Guj
Rajya Adhyapak Mahamandal.
Professors demand
‘delayed’ salaries
from govt on Twitter
NSUI wants ex gratia for girl crushed under bus
First India Bureau
Vadodara: Members
of the National Stu-
dents’ Union of India
(NSUI) in Vadodara
continued their agita-
tion to demand com-
pensation for family
members of Surat girl
Shivani Solanki, who
was crushed to death
by a city bus on March
08 (International
Women’s Day). On
Monday, they submit-
ted a memorandum to
Vadodara Municipal
Commissioner Shalini
Agarwal demanding
cancellation of the
city’s public transpor-
tation bus contract
with Vinayak Logis-
tics.
NSUI members led by
city president Vraj Patel
reached the Vadodara
Municipal Corporation
(VMC) office at Khand-
erao Market and de-
manded strict action
against the company
operating city buses.
They also asked for com-
pensation for Shivani’s
familyandthreatenedto
continue their agitation
till the civic body takes
steps.
“On two previous oc-
casions, we met the ad-
ministration of Vinay-
ak Logistics demand-
ing compensation for
Shivani Solanki. We
also stopped city buses
from operating after
the company failed to
declare any compensa-
tion for the victim. We
have submitted a mem-
orandum to the com-
missioner with three
demands –blacklisting
the company
, cancella-
tion of their contract
and Rs25 lakh compen-
sation for Shivani
Solanki’s family
. We
will continue our agi-
tation till our demands
are met,” reiterated
Patel.
NSUI members outside VMC office on Monday.
EXCLUSIVE
Gautam with his accolades.

PERSPECTIVE
04
lVol3lIssueNo.109
l RNINO.GUJENG/2019/79050.
Printed and published by Anita
Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Ex-
press Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar
Printing Planet Survey No.148P,
Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. San-
and, Dist. Ahmedabad. Publishedat
D/3023rdFloorPlotNo.35Titanium
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Ghatlodiya,Ahmedabad.
Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra.
Editor: Haresh Jhala
responsible for selection of news
under the PRB Act
SPIRITUAL SPEAK
Be strong and courageous. Do
not be afraid or terrified
because of them, for the LORD
your God goes with you; he will
never leave you nor forsake you.
—Bible
IN-DEPTH
Narendra Modi
@narendramodi
My best wishes @BarackObama
for your quick recovery from
COVID-19, and for your family’s
good health and wellbeing.
Piyush Goyal
@PiyushGoyal
Expanding India’s Vaccine
Access. From March 16 onwards,
COVID-19 vaccines will cover those
in the age groups of: 12-13 yrs,
13-14 yrs. People above the age 60
can get a precautionary dose. Modi
Govt continues its relentless efforts
to protect life of every Indian.
TOP TWEETS
LAW NEEDED TO
GOVERN LIVE-IN
RELATIONSHIP FOR
SOCIETY’S GOOD
s the society grapples
with the issue of live-
in relationships and
the weakening of the
institution of mar-
riage, the Punjab and Haryana
High Court has voiced concern
over the increasing number of
adolescents between the age
group of 18 and 21 entering into
live-in relationships and then
approaching courts to seek “pro-
tection for life and liberty”. Jus-
tice Amol Rattan Singh pointed
to the need for legislation to pre-
vent impressionable minds from
starting living together only to
later regret their decision. The
judge pointed out that the conse-
quences of such fragile ties are
traumatic both for the couple
and their parents.
It is often the woman who is
the victim of live-in as they are
the ones who get physically and
emotionally exploited. In an im-
portantordertheSupremeCourt
had said, “The legislature must
consider this issue and enact
separate legislation so that pro-
tection for women and children
born out of live-in relationships
can be provided”. It’s time to en-
act a law on this complex issue.
A
ven after the party
is in a tailspin af-
ter a humiliating
rout in five states
where Assembly
elections were recently held,
Congress Party can’t imagine
a life without the Gandhis-
--Sonia, Priyanka and Rahul.
At the Congress Working
Committee meeting on Sun-
day Sonia Gandhi offered to
“stepback”alongwithdaugh-
ter Priyanka and son Rahul,
but CWC members rejected
her offer. In shocking elector-
al setbacks the party was re-
duced to two MLAs in Uttar
Pradesh where Priyanka
Gandhi Vadra was in-charge,
in Punjab it was down from 59
to 18 as Rahul Gandhi allowed
Navjot Singh Sidhu to turn
the party into a circus. In Goa
the party’s tally went down
too. It was only Uttarakhand
where reposing trust in Har-
ish Rawat helped the Con-
gress increase its seats and
vote share but not enough to
form a government.
The Group of 23, compris-
ing discontented senior lead-
ers, feels that Rahul does not
have the political acumen to
lead the party against the BJP
.
These leaders want Sonia to
take the helm. Others want to
see Rahul in the lead role.
Come August and the party
may get a new president but
chancesof anon-Gandhimak-
ing it to the top is unlikely
. Dif-
ferences between regional
leaders of the party don’t help
matters.AnupbeatBJPiscon-
fidentof winningthe2024Lok
Sabha elections and remain-
ing in power till 2029.
After a string of losses, the
party has to face elections in
GujaratandHimachalPradesh
laterthisyear.Thedespondent
mood in the Congress camp
does not augur well.
CONGRESS STARES
AT BLEAK FUTURE
At the Congress Working Committee meeting on
Sunday Sonia Gandhi offered to “step back” along
with daughter Priyanka and son Rahul, but CWC
members rejected her offer. In shocking electoral
setbacks the party was reduced to two MLAs in UP
where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was in-charge, in Punjab
it was down from 59 to 18 as Rahul Gandhi allowed
Navjot Singh Sidhu to turn the party into a circus
E
he two-week-old Ukrainian
war enters into a crucial
phase if the pathogens in the
laboratories were released
causing a much bigger trail
of death unleashed by the
manmade Corona Virus in
2019, which was leaked from
a Chinese facility in Wuhan.
The issue was brought before
the UN Security Council dur-
ingthesecondweekof March
when the Russian represent-
atives raised the issue before
the UN Security Council. The
US Ambassador to the United
Nations, Linda Thomas-
Greenfield, however, has
countered the Russian alle-
gations that the US-Ukraine
collaboration has been for
the past several years for de-
veloping the bio-weapons.
The big powers did not
agree to set up an interna-
tional team for conducting an
enquiry about the allega-
tions. During the Covid-19,
which was leaked from a
similar facility from a Chi-
nese facility in Wuhan could
never be probed. It may be
recalled that the laboratory
in China was set up with
French collaboration. It had
received liberal funding from
various American proxies,
including the Bill Gates
Foundation. Instead of tak-
ing the allegations seriously,
the UN officials stated that
“They do not have any evi-
dence of the existence of any
such facilities.” However, the
Chinese Ambassador, Zhang
Jun, supported the Russian
statement and asked that it
should be properly ad-
dressed. He not only rejected
the US charges that “Beijing
spreads disinformation.”,
and stated that the US main-
tains or supports biological
research institutions around
the world. And he called for
diplomatic efforts between
Moscow and Kyiv to acceler-
ate the peace negotiations.
Thomas-Greenfield
counters the Chinese
Thomas-Greenfield coun-
tered the Chinese allegations
by stating that the US has
long supported legitimate
medical research to help of-
ficials counter disease
outbreaks.“These facilities
make it possible to detect and
diagnose diseases like Cov-
id-19, which benefit us all.
She further claimed that
“The United States has as-
sisted Ukraine to do this
safely and securely. This is
work that has been done
proudly, clearly, and out in
the open.”
The Growing
Apprehension
With the Russian-Ukrainian
War entering into the third
week, the use of biological
weapons could not be ruled
out. During the past few days,
this apprehension is being
repeatedly stated in various
forums in the UN as well as in
the American state depart-
ment. The Russian allegation
has triggered off worldwide
attention towards the allega-
tion that the bio-weapons that
the USA and Ukraine were
being secretly developed.
The US-led western powers
do not subscribe to these al-
legations, but it is being
pointed out that the US rep-
resentatives, however, have
vehemently denied. However,
it is being stated that the
United States has helped
Ukraine in converting its sev-
eral laboratories that had
been involved in the former
Soviet Union’s biological
weapons program into public
health facilities.
Earlier, the issue came up
before the international me-
dia when a Russian spokes-
person, Zakharova, stated
that Russia had documents
showing the Ukrainian
health ministry had ordered
the destruction of samples of
plague, cholera, anthrax and
other pathogens before Feb
24, when Russian forces
moved into Ukraine. Earlier
in 2020 in similar bio-warfare
accusations, the U.S. embas-
sy in Kyiv had issued a state-
ment saying its involvement
was to ensure “dangerous
pathogens do not fall into the
wrong hands.” On March 6,
Moscow’s foreign ministry
had tweeted that Russian
forces found evidence that
Kyiv was “Eradicating traces
of the military-biological
programme in Ukraine,” fi-
nanced by the Pentagon.
The issue of bio-warfare
has been dominating since
the spread of Covid-19,
which is believed by a section
of people that it was being
developed as a part of some
bio-warfare, but this man-
made virus suddenly leaked
from a Chinese facility liber-
ally funded by the Western
powers. It is also quite
known that the classical bio-
warfare agents could be
made much more efficiently
than their natural counter-
parts, with even the simplest
genetic techniques; thus,
with modern biotechnology,
it becomes possible to create
completely a new range of
biological weapons.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
THE USE OF BIO-WEAPONS
EUROPE UNDER THE THREAT OF
PANDEMICS, IF UKRAINIAN BIO-LABS
RELEASE THE DEADLY VIRUSES
T
GOPAL MISRA
The writer is accredited as a journalist
of long and distinguished service with
the Press Information Bureau of the
Information and Broadcasting Ministry
She further cautioned the
world that accused, Russia
was using the UN Security
Council meeting to spread
‘disinformation’ about its
conduct in the ongoing war in
Ukraine and said Moscow may
be planning to use chemical or
biological weapons as the
conflict continues into its third
week. She further stated, “We
believe Russia could use
chemical or biological agents
for assassinations, as part
of a staged or false flag
incident, or to support tactical
military operations.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield,
US Ambassador to UN
We have sought an emergency
meeting to discuss the Ukraine-
US joint venture which has
enabled Ukraine to obtain bio
weapons and chemical
weapons. They could be
triggered off any moment.
Western colleagues are going to
be saying now that all of this
information is fake and
Russian propaganda. But this
is self-delusion.
Vassily Nebenzia,
Russia’s UN Ambassador
Two-week-old Ukrainian war enters into a crucial
phase if pathogens in laboratories were released
causing a much bigger trail of death unleashed by
manmade Corona Virus in 2019, which was
leaked from a Chinese facility in Wuhan. The issue was
brought before UN Security Council during the 2nd
week of March when Russian representatives
raised the issue before UN Security Council

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Samyukta Kisan Mor-
cha (SKM) will hold a
nationwide protest on
March 21 to protest
against the Centre for
not fulfilling its prom-
ises, including setting
up of a panel on MSP
and withdrawal of cas-
es against farmers, its
functionaries said on
Monday
.
It was decided after a
day-long closed
door meeting
was held at
the Gan-
d h i
P e a c e
F o u n -
d at i o n
at Deen Dayal Upad-
hyay Marg here.
SKM leaders and
members reviewed the
progress made so far by
the Centre on the prom-
ises made to farmers,
including setting up a
panel on MSP.
“There has been no
progress in fulfilling
the promises made by
the Centre to farmers
on the issue of forming
a panel on MSP to make
legislation on it, with-
drawal of cases against
farmers and expulsion
of Union minister Ajay
Mishra Teni from the
Cabinet.
“So the SKM has de-
cided to hold a nation-
wide protest at district
and block level on
March 21 against the
central government for
non fulfilling promis-
es,” senior SKM mem-
ber Abhimanyu Kohar
told PTI.
The SKM, an umbrel-
la body of 40 farm un-
ions, had spearheaded a
year-long agitation
against the Centre’s
three farm laws.
It had suspended the
stir on December 9 last
year after the govern-
ment revoked the con-
tentious laws and
agreed to consider its
six other demands, in-
cluding withdrawal of
cases registered against
farmers during the agi-
tation, a legal guaran-
tee on MSP and com-
pensation for kin of
farmers who died dur-
ing the protest.
NON-FULFILMENT OF PROMISES TO FARMERS
SKM to hold nationwide protest
on Mar 21 against Central Govt
SKM members with others farm leaders, in New Delhi on Monday.
Farmer unions had
called off their
demonstrations on
December 9, 2021
INDIA
05
J&K: Commission finalises delimitation
draft, invites suggestions till March 21
Srinagar (PTI): The
Jammu & Kashmir De-
limitation Commission
on Monday placed a
draft with the proposed
changestoassemblyand
parliamentarysegments
in the Union territory in
the public domain and
invited suggestions till 5
pm on March 21.
The most recent draft
includes small changes
that were made to the
earlier drafts after ob-
jections raised by Na-
tional Conference (NC)
MPs and suggestions by
Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) MPs.
The commission is
tasked with redrawing
boundaries of assembly
constituencies post the
splitting of the state
into two Union territo-
ries — Jammu & Kash-
mir and Ladakh — on
August 5, 2019.
While the National
Conference (NC) has
termed these changes
largely “cosmetic”, the
state unit of the BJP had
earlier stated that the ex-
ercise is a “logical move”
to ensure political em-
powermentof theregion.
The changes include
the renaming of cer-
tain constituencies.
However, suggestions
on redrawing of con-
stituencies have not
been accepted by the
commission.
This includes the re-
naming of the Habba
Kadal assembly constit-
uency
,whichwasearlier
included in Srinagar
South. The Larnoo con-
stituency will now be
called Kokernag, to rep-
resent the larger area.
Likewise, the Anantnag
East seat will hence-
forth be Shangus-
Anantnag East. The
Mughalmaidan seat in
Kishtwar has been re-
named Inderwal. The
BJP MPs had also sug-
gested renaming the
Anantnag-Rajouri par-
liamentary seat and
Anantnag-Poonch but
that has not been accept-
ed by the commission.
In a public notice, the
commission said: “The
Delimitation Commis-
sion has published in
the Gazette of India,
Extraordinary and in
the Union Territory of
Jammu & Kashmir Ga-
zette, both dated 14th
March, 2022 its propos-
als for the delimitation
of Parliamentary and
Assembly Constituen-
cies in the UT of Jam-
mu & Kashmir for the
purpose of elections to
the House of People and
the Legislative Assem-
bly for the Union Terri-
tory. The Commission
invites objections and
suggestions in relation
to the same.”
The commission has
provided only a week
for the general public to
provide their feedback
on the proposals in the
draft that it will take up
in public sittings in Sri-
nagar and Jammu on
March 28 and 29.
The location and tim-
ings of the hearings will
be notified separately,
the commission said.
Members of the Jammu & Kashmir Delimitation Commission. —FILE PHOTO
Punjab CM-designate Bhagwant Mann tenders his resignation
from Lok Sabha membership to Speaker Om Birla.
Mann resigns as
MP day before
oath ceremony
New Delhi (ANI): Pun-
jab Chief Minister-des-
ignate Bhagwant Mann
on Monday resigned
from the Lok Sabha, a
day before his swear-
ing-in ceremony
.
An MP from the San-
grurconstituencyinPun-
jab since 2014, the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) lead-
erhandedhisresignation
to Speaker Om Birla.
“The people of San-
grur have showered me
with so much love for
many years, many
thanks for this. Now I
have got an opportuni-
ty to serve the whole of
Punjab. I promise to the
people of Sangrur that
in a few months, their
voice will be heard
again in the Lok Sab-
ha,” he had said in Koo.
On his last day in the
House as an MP, Mann
told media, “I will miss
this House. Punjab has
given me a huge respon-
sibility
. I promise to the
people of Sangrur that
a bold voice for them
will echo soon in this
House.”
The AAP scored a
landslide victory in the
Punjab Assembly elec-
tionswith92seatsoutof
117 seats that saw many
giants like former Chief
Minister Amarinder
Singh, incumbent Chief
Minister Charanjit Sin-
ghChanniandCongress
state chief Navjot Singh
Sidhu lose.
Mann, 48, who was
the party’s Chief Minis-
terial candidate, will
taketheoathonWednes-
day at the freedom fight-
er Bhagat Singh’s vil-
lage, Khatkar Kalan.
Chandigarh: At least
40 acres of wheat crop
is being ploughed for
swearing-in ceremony of
AAP’s Chief Minister-des-
ignate Bhagwant Mann,
who sports a yellow
turban for his reverence
to legendary freedom
fighter Bhagat Singh to
whom he calls his ‘only
idol, only mentor and
only hero’, to be held in
the icon’s ancestral ma-
ternal village in Khatkar
Kalan on March 16, it is
learnt on Monday.
40 ACRES OF WHEAT
FIELDS BEING
CLEARED FOR EVENT
Gogoi suspended from Assy
for disturbing Guv’s Speech
Guwahati: Independ-
ent MLA Akhil Gogoi
was on Monday sus-
pended from Assam As-
sembly for repeatedly
raising the issue of em-
ployment to one lakh
youths as promised by
the BJP government
during the address of
Governor Jagdish
Mukhi on the first day
of the Budget session.
Speaker Biswajit
Daimary asked Gogoi
to leave the House for
the duration of the
Governor’s speech.
Akhil Gogoi didn’t
leave the House and
showed a placard, fol-
lowing which Mar-
shals dragged him out-
side. The Governor
continued to read his
38-page speech.
Mukhi said, “To fulfil
oneof thekeypollprom-
ises,thegovernmenthas
setinmotiontheprocess
to provide one lakh jobs
to our youth.”
Akhil Gogoi
RLD dissolves party units
in UP after poll debacle
Lucknow (PTI) : Rash-
triya Lok Dal (RLD)
chief Jayant Chaud-
hary on Monday dis-
solved all units and
fronts of the party in
Uttar Pradesh after the
defeat in the recently
held Assembly polls.
“As per the orders
passed by RLD chief
Jayant Chaudhary, par-
ty’s state, regional, and
districts units and fron-
tals in Uttar Pradesh
have been dissolved ef-
fective immediately,”
reads the RLD tweet.
The RLD which con-
tested Assembly polls in
alliance with the Sama-
jwadi Party won only
eight out of 33 seats on
which the party had
fielded candidates.
The Samajwadi Party
bagged 111 seats, a sig-
nificant improvement
from its 2017 tally when
it secured only 47 seats.
The BJP has re-
tained power in Uttar
Pradesh by winning
255 out of 403 constitu-
encies, securing a 41.29
per cent vote share.
Yogi Adityanath will
be the first Chief Min-
ister in the last 37 years
to return to power after
completing a full term
in the state.
Jayant Chaudhary
Gangster
Chhota Rajan's
aide arrested
Mumbai (PTI): The
Anti-Extortion Cell of
Mumbai Crime Branch
arrested an aid of gang-
ster Chhota Rajan on
Sunday. The gangster
was identified as Arafat
Arif Lokhandwala.
A country-made re-
volver and 28 rounds of
live bullets were also
seized from the posses-
sion of the gangster.
Earlier, the Mumbai
Crime Branch had got
information that Arif
was about to come to the
Byculla area. As soon as
the accused reached the
place, he was arrested.
Chandigarh (PTI): Am-
arinder Singh on Mon-
day held the Gandhis
totally responsible for
the rout of the Congress
in the Assembly polls,
claiming that the party
was “comfortably
placed”inPunjabbefore
he was unseated as
Chief Minister.
In a statement a day
aftertheCongressWork-
ing Committee (CWC)
took stock of the drub-
bing received by the
party in five states, Mr
Singh took digs at the
“pompous” state Con-
gress president Navjot
Singh Sidhu and the
“corrupt”CharanjitSin-
ghChanni,whoreplaced
him as Chief Minister.
After his ouster as
Chief Minister last
year, Amarinder Singh
left the Congress and
floated his own Punjab
Lok Congress.
He slammed the CWC
for trying to put the
blame for the Congress
defeat in Punjab on him
instead of “gracefully
admitting” their “own
blunders”.
“The Congress has
not only lost in Punjab
but also in UP, Uttara-
khand, Goa and Ma-
nipur and the Gandhis
are entirely to blame
for the party’s shameful
defeat,” he said.
People across India
had lost faith in Gan-
dhis,” he said, refer-
ring to Congress presi-
dent Sonia Gandhi, Ra-
hul Gandhi and Priyan-
ka Gandhi Vadra.
New Delhi: Congress
leader Sunil Jakhar said
today that the party's dis-
astrous Punjab campaign
was a combination of
compounding one mis-
take after another and
bad choices driven by
senior leaders mislead-
ing the Gandhis. Reeling
off a long list of problems
that he said could have
been handled otherwise,
Mr Jakhar said the defeat
was scripted by Harish
Rawat; the former Ut-
tarakhand Chief Minister
was Punjab in-charge.
SENIOR LEADERS
MISLEAD GANDHIS:
CONG’S JAKHAR
Gandhis entirely to
blame for Congress
rout in Punjab: Capt New Delhi (ANI): The
BJP on Monday named
party’s central observ-
ers and co-observers
for the election of the
leaders of the party
legislature parties in
Uttar Pradesh, Uttara-
khand, Manipur and
Goa where the saffron
party retained power
in the recent Assembly
elections.
Union Home Minister
Amit Shah and party’s
national vice-president
and former Jharkhand
Chief Minister Raghu-
var Das were named ob-
servers for Uttar
Pradesh. Defence Minis-
ter Rajnath Singh and
Minister of State for Ex-
ternal affairs Meenak-
shi Lekhi will be the ob-
serversforUttarakhand.
Finance Minister Nir-
mala Sitharaman and
lawandJusticeMinister
Kiren Rijiju will be the
observers for Manipur
while Agriculture Min-
ister Narendra Singh
Tomar and Animal Hus-
bandry Minister L Mu-
ruganwillbetheobserv-
ers for Goa, a party re-
lease said on Monday
.
Amit Shah BJP observer for UP, Rajnath for Uttarakhand
Rajnath Singh
Amit Shah
New Delhi (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party's Parlia-
mentary Party meeting will be held on Tuesday,
sources said on Monday. The party has asked all its
Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs to be present at the
meeting. The second half of the Budget session that
began on Monday will conclude on April 8. The first
half of the Budget session began on January 31 and
concluded on February 11.
BJP PARLIAMENTARY PARTY
MEETING LIKELY TODAY: SOURCES
UNION HOME
MINISTER IN
LUCKNOW TODAY
Deshmukh's bail
rejected in money
laundering case
Mumbai (PTI): A spe-
cial court on Monday
rejected Maharashtra
ex-Home Minister Anil
Deshmukh’s bail in a
money laundering case.
The Nationalist Con-
gress Party leader will
continue to be lodged at
the Arthur Road Jail.
Deshmukh was ar-
rested by the ED on Nov
1 after being questioned
for 12 hours. He was
sent to its custody till
November 6. On Decem-
ber 29, the Central agen-
cy filed a supplementa-
ry charge sheet before
court against Desh-
mukh and his two sons.
His plea mentions,
“He is a victim of gross
persecution and harass-
ment meted out to him
at the hands of certain
unscrupulous vested in-
terests for blatantly
malafide considera-
tions.” He has listed
medical ailments and
stated that trial is un-
likely soon.
On January 18, the
special Prevention of
Money Laundering Act
courtrejectedhisdefault
bail.Hehadfiledforstat-
utorybailonthegrounds
that no cognisance was
taken by the court of the
charge sheet by the ED.
Anil Deshmukh

INDIA
06
dissolved oxygen level
of River Ganga, which
is a parameter to assess
the health of the water
body, has been found to
be within acceptable
limits of the bathing
criteria, the govern-
ment said on Monday
.
Minister of State for
Jal Shakti Bishweswar
Tudu said none of the
Ganga stretches are in
priority category I to IV
and only two stretches
are in category V with
Biological Oxygen De-
mand (BOD) ranging
between 3 and 6 mg/l as
per CPCB categorisa-
tion of polluted stretch.
Category I is consid-
ered to be the most pol-
luted with high amount
of BOD while category
V is considered to be the
least polluted.
According to the
CPCB data for 2021, the
water quality of Ganga
indicates that dissolved
oxygen (DO) has been
found to be within ac-
ceptable limits.
“The comparison of
median data of water
quality parameters viz.,
DO, BOD and Faecal
coliforms (FC) of year
2014 and 2021 shows
that DO has improved
at 31 locations BOD at
46 locations and FC at 23
locations, respectively,”
he said.
GANGA RIVER WATER FIT FOR BATHING
FLOWING CLEAN
lll
Category I is
considered to be
the most
polluted with
high amount of
BOD while
category V is
considered to
be the least
polluted
3 WAVES OF COVID LEFT 21.5M
IN TOURISM INDUSTRY JOBLESS
New Delhi (PTI):
Around 21.5 million
people, involved in the
tourism industry, have
lost their jobs due to the
three waves of Covid-19
that first hit the coun-
try in early 2020, Union
Tourism Minister G
Kishan Reddy said on
Monday
.
Reddy said tourist ar-
rivals in the country
were down by 93 percent
during the first wave of
Covid-19 outbreak, 79
percent in the second
wave and 64 percent
during the third wave.
“We have conducted a
study on the impact of
the pandemic on tour-
ism. As per the study,
there were 14.5 million
job losses during the
firstwave,5.2millionjob
losses in the second
wave and 1.8 million job
lossesinthethirdwave,”
he said in Lok Sabha
during Question Hour.
Reddy said 38 million
people were involved
with the tourism indus-
try before the pandemic
hit the country. The
minister said the tour-
ism economy was down
significantly during the
three waves of corona-
virus, which hit this
sector badly not only in
India but across globe.
He, however, said
with the administering
of 180 crore doses of
Covid-19 vaccines, the
government was hope-
ful that there would be
improvements in the
tourism sector.
To help this sector,
Reddy said, an interest-
free loan of Rs 10 lakh is
given to travel and tour-
ism stakeholders and
up to Rs 1 lakh to tourist
guides.
“I appeal to all state
governments to help
the tourism sector in
whatever way they
can,” he said.
INT’L FLIGHTS TO
OPERATE WITH
100% CAPACITY
FROM MARCH 27
New Delhi (ANI): The
services of all interna-
tional passenger flights
will resume by March
27, Union Civil Aviation
Minister Jyotiraditya
Scindia informed Rajya
Sabha on Monday.
The minister made the
announcement during
Question Hour as the
Upper House assembled
for its second part of the
Budget Session after one
month’s break. “All regu-
lar international flights
will operate in 100 per
cent capacity by March
27 as the coronavirus
situation in India has
improved now,” Scindia
said. The government
had banned all interna-
tional scheduled flights
for a week starting
March 23, 2020. The ban
stretched for nearly two
years in the midst of a
raging pandemic.
Nine States
didn’t reduce
VAT on petrol,
diesel: Puri
Birla hopes for result-oriented
discussion by MPs in House
Indian music in airlines not must: Centre
New Delhi (PTI): Un-
ion minister Hardeep
Singh Puri on Monday
informed the Rajya Sab-
ha that nine States, in-
cluding Maharashtra
and Kerala, have not
reduced VAT on petrol
and diesel.
The Petroleum and
Natural Gas Minister
also informed the house
that fuel prices have
gone up by over 50 per
cent in many countries
but have remained sta-
ble and risen by a mere
5 per cent in India.
“All elected repre-
sentatives should be re-
joicing at the fact that
the prices of petrol paid
by the consumer have
remained steady during
the period from April 1,
2020 to March 31, 2021,”
he told the house.
Replying to supple-
mentaries during Ques-
tion Hour, he said levy-
ing of taxes is done go-
ing by the situation at
that point of time and
were raised at the time
of the pandemic.
New Delhi (PTI):
Ahead of the com-
mencement of the sec-
ond half of Budget Ses-
sion, Lok Sabha Speak-
er Om Birla on Monday
expressed hope for a
healthy and result-ori-
ented discussion.
“The second half of
the Budget Session of
Parliamentiscommenc-
ing today. I hope with
the active participation
and positive contribu-
tion of the members of
the House, healthy and
result-oriented discus-
sion for the welfare of
people will take place,”
Birla tweeted.
Amid declining Cov-
id-19 cases in the coun-
try
, the Rajya Sabha and
Lok Sabha are set to re-
sume their normal sit-
tings for the second part
of the Budget Session.
However, the two
Houses will continue
with most of the restric-
tions, following the Cov-
id-19 protocol.
Centre is not planning
to make it mandatory
for airlines and airports
to play Indian music in
their flights and termi-
nal premises, Minister
of State for Civil Avia-
tion VK Singh said on
Monday
.
The Ministry of Civil
Aviation (MoCA) had
on December 27 asked
all airlines and airports
to consider playing In-
dian music in their
flights and terminals.
The Indian Council
of Cultural Relations
(ICCR) had on Decem-
ber 23 requested Minis-
ter Jyotiraditya Scindia
to promote Indian mu-
sic in flights operated
by Indian carriers.
During the current
Parliament session,
when Congress Rajya
Sabha MP Ambika Soni
asked “whether govern-
ment proposes to make
it mandatory for Indian
airlines and airports to
play Indian classical or
light vocal and instru-
mental music”, Singh
replied in the negative
in his written reply
.
HIGHLIGHTS

z India sees lowest daily
Covid cases (2,503) since
beginning of pandemic

z PM Modi wishes former
US President Barack Obama
quick recovery from Covid

z Ultraviolet radiation
equipment installed in Rajya
Sabha to curb Covid spread
Every Cong leader
responsible for loss
in 5 States: Kharge
New Delhi (ANI): Sen-
ior Congress leader
Mallikarjun Kharge on
Monday said that the
Gandhi family alone is
not responsible for the
recent drubbing of the
party in the five Assem-
bly States and there was
no need for Sonia Gan-
dhi to resign as party
president.
Kharge said that dur-
ing the meeting of the
Congress Working
Committee, the mem-
bers told Sonia Gandhi
that the Gandhi family
alone could not be held
responsible for the loss
in Uttar Pradesh, Utta-
rakhand, Punjab, Ma-
nipur and Goa.
Rajya Sabha Leader
of Opposition Mallikar-
jun Kharge said, “We all
told Sonia Gandhi that
she alone is not respon-
sible for the defeat in
five States, every State
leader and MP is re-
sponsible, not Gandhi
family
.”
RAWAT TAKES
ONUS FOR U’KHAND
POLL DRUBBING
New Delhi (ANI): Former
Uttarakhand CM and senior
Congress leader Harish
Rawat on Monday took
responsibility for the defeat
of the party in Uttarakhand
Assembly elections. As the
chairman of the Congress
party’s campaign commit-
tee, Rawat apologised to
every member and leader-
ship in the working com-
mittee. Rawat said, “All of
us thought that we were
winning in Uttarakhand...
being the chairman of the
Campaign Committee, I take
responsibility for the defeat. I
apologized to every member
and leadership in the working
committee. I have also apolo-
gised to public before.”
Post Assembly polls win: BJP MPs
give rousing welcome to PM in LS
New Delhi (PTI):
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi was given a
rousing welcome by
BJP members in the
Lok Sabha on Monday,
the first day of the sec-
ond part of the Budget
Session that began days
after his party’s impres-
sive performance in the
assembly polls.
The Prime Minister
entered the House min-
utes after the proceed-
ings began and immedi-
ately all MPs belonging
to the BJP gave him a
standing ovation and
thumped desks while
chanting “Modi, Modi”.
All Union ministers,
including Amit Shah
and Rajnath Singh,
joined the ruling party
MPs in welcoming the
Prime Minister to the
House.
This is the first time
that the House is meet-
ing after the BJP’s over-
whelming victory in the
recent series of assem-
bly elections held in
February-March.
PM Narendra Modi being welcomed by the BJP MPs in Lok Sabha in New Delhi on Monday.
Govt: `418.70 cr spent so far on
redevelopment of Central Vista
government has so far
spent Rs 418.70 crore on
the redevelopment of
Central Vista Avenue
along Rajpath stretch-
ing from Vijay Chowk to
India Gate, and the first
phase of the project is
targeted to be complet-
ed by May this year, the
Rajya Sabha was in-
formed on Monday
.
On December 2, 2021,
the Union ministry of
housing and urban af-
fairs had informed the
Lok Sabha in a written
reply that the redevel-
opment work was ex-
pected to be completed
by December 2021 and
the estimated cost was
Rs 608 crore.
The Republic Day pa-
rade this year was held
on the redeveloped Ra-
jpath as the stretch re-
quired for the same
was completed first un-
der the Central Vista
Avenue redevelopment
project.
IN THE COURTYARD
CRUCIAL READ
New Delhi: A woman has been asked
by the Supreme Court to respond to
her husband’s plea seeking divorce on
the grounds that she is “not a female”
according to medical reports and he
feels cheated.
Justices Sanjay
Kishan Kaul and
MM Sundresh
on Friday asked
the woman to
file a reply to
her husband’s
petition challenging a Madhya Pradesh
HC order of July 29, last year.The medi-
cal history of the woman shows “penis
+ imperforate hymen”, so she is not a
female, the Supreme Court said.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on
Monday said its earlier order regarding
ex-gratia of Rs 50,000 to the family
members of those who lost their lives
due to Covid-19 pandemic is “very
clear” and the payment is to be made
for each death.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on
Monday issued notice to Centre on a
plea challenging the Ayush Ministry’s
Advisories and Guidelines which em-
powered the State Government in the
prescription of Arsenic Album 30 as a
homeopathic immune booster.
WIFE IS NOT FEMALE: HUSBAND
APPROACHES SC FOR DIVORCE
COVID: ORDER OVER EX-GRATIA
PAYMENT ‘VERY CLEAR’, SAYS SC
SC ISSUES NOTICE TO CENTRE
OVER HOMEOPATHIC BOOSTER
CANADA: 5 INDIAN
STUDENTS KILLED
IN ROAD ACCIDENT
OMAXE LIMITED:
INCOME TAX DEPT
CONDUCTS RAIDS
50% OF MLAs IN
UP HAVE CRIMINAL
CASES, SAYS ADR
Toronto: Five Indian
students were killed in a
road accident in Canada
after the passenger van
they were travelling
in collided with a
tractor-trailer on the
Ontario highway on
Saturday, Indian High
Commissioner to
Canada Ajay Bisaria
said on Monday.
New Delhi: The
Income-Tax Department
conducts searches on
45 premises of Omaxe
group in Delhi-NCR,
Chandigarh, Ludhiana,
Lucknow and Indore
and Rs 12 crores
recovered in cash. The
search began at 7 am
on Monday at various
office locations.
Lucknow: Every second
MLA elected to the 18th
UP Assembly has a
criminal record, accord-
ing to data released by
Association for Demo-
cratic Reforms, reports
Arvind Chauhan. Of 403
candidates, 205 have
declared criminal cases
against them, the ADR
data showed.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chairs the meeting of the Business
Advisory Committee in New Delhi on Monday. —PHOTO BY ANI
SIKH PASSENGERS NOW ALLOWED TO
CARRY KIRPANS WITHIN AIRPORTS
New Delhi (PTI): Aviation security regulator Bureau of
Civil Aviation Security has permitted Sikh aviation sector
employees to carry kirpan on person within the airport
premises, a document stated. The BCAS order on March
4, banning Sikh aviation sector
employees from carrying kirpan
on person within any Indian
airport premises, was criticised
by leading Sikh body Shiromani
Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
(SGPC). Subsequently, on March
12, the BCAS removed the ban. In
the March 4 order, the BCAS said, “Kirpan may be carried
only by a Sikh passenger, on his person, provided the
length of the blade does not exceed six inches and the
total length does not exceed nine inches”.
—PHOTO BY ANI

BIZ BUZZ
07
Promoted by
AU Small Finance Bank
WPI inflation rises to 13.11% in Feb
wholesale price-based
inflation in February
rose to 13.11% on hard-
ening of prices of
crude oil and non-food
items, even though food
articles softened.
After two months of
mild easing, WPI infla-
tion accelerated in Feb
and remained in dou-
ble digits for the 11th
consecutive month, be-
ginning April 2021.
The rise in crude oil
and natural gas prices
after the Russian inva-
sion of Ukraine, begin-
ning Feb 24, has put
pressure on the whole-
sale price index, even
though food articles
saw softening across
categories of vegeta-
bles to pulses to pro-
tein-rich items.
Inflation in crude pe-
troleum spiked to
55.17% during Feb,
against 39.41% in Jan
on rising prices of
crude oil globally
.
Inflation in food arti-
cles, however, eased to
8.19% in Feb from
10.33%. The rate of
price rise in vegetables
was lower at 26.93% in
Feb, against 38.45% in
the previous month.
In egg, meat and fish,
inflation was 8.14%,
while in onion, it was
(-) 26.37%. Inflation in
potatoes saw a sudden
spike at 14.78% in Feb
against (-)14.45% in
Jan. “The high rate of
inflation in February
2022, is primarily due
to rise in prices of min-
eral oils, basic metals,
chemicals and chemi-
cal products, crude pe-
troleum natural gas,
food articles and non-
food articles etc as com-
pared to the corre-
sponding month of the
previous year,” the
Commerce and Indus-
try Ministry said.
Inflation in manufac-
tured items was 9.84%
in Feb against 9.42% in
Jan. In the fuel and
power basket, the rate
of pricerisewas31.50%
during the month.
CPI INFLATION AT 8-MONTH
HIGH OF 6.07 PER CENT
New Delhi
(PTI): The
retail infla-
tion rate
in India -
measured
by the
Consumer
Price Index
(CPI)- came
in at 6.07%
in February
2022, as
per data released by the National Statistical Office
(NSO) on Friday. A Reuters poll of 36 economists
had forecast that the reading had likely slipped
to 5.93% in February on an annual basis. The
retail inflation reading has once again breached
the upper limit of the Reserve Bank of India’s
(RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), the
second time since June 2021. In January 2022,
the reading had risen to 6.01%. Urban inflation in
February moderated to 5.75%, down from 5.91%
in January while rural inflation came in 6.38%, as
against 6.12% seen in January. Month-on-month,
the combined retail inflation rose 0.24%, rural
urban inflation grew 0.18% 0.30% each.
Domestic aviation close
to reaching 2019 level
New Delhi (PTI): Air-
line industry that suf-
fered heavy losses dur-
ing the Covid pandem-
ic is returning to pre-
Covid levels, and has
recorded a traffic of
3.8 lakh passengers
per day, Civil Aviation
Minister Jyotiraditya
Scindia informed said-
on Monday
.
Replying to supple-
mentaries during
Question hour, the
minister said the civil
aviation sector is on
its way back to recov-
ery and is roughly
about 5-6% off from
pre-Covid levels.
“I am pleased to re-
port to the house that
pre-Covid our maxi-
mum number of pas-
sengers in India per
day was about four
lakh and we reached a
level of 3.83 lakh per
day in the month of
Dec,” Scindia said.
“We are looking at
resuscitation and with
that we are hopeful
that we will see a re-
bound in terms of em-
ployment levels,” he
said.
For domestic sector,
the minister said, the
government has insti-
tuted airfare caps to
ensure there is no
predatory pricing.
Retail business grows
10% in Feb: RAI
New Delhi (PTI): Re-
tail business in India
grew 10% in February
this year compared to
the sales level in the
same month last year,
signalling that the sec-
tor is inching towards
normalcy, RAI said on
Monday
.
According to the lat-
est business survey by
the industry body Re-
tailers Association of
India (RAI), the rise
witnessed last month
marks a growth of 6%
compared to February
2020.
Retail businesses
across regions have
indicated growth in
February 2022, with
sales in West India
growing 16% against
the same month last
year, RAI said in a
statement.
East India saw a
growth of 4% against
the year-ago month,
while North India
grew 17% as compared
to February last year.
Similarly, South In-
dia also witnessed a
growth of 4% against
February last year, it
added.
RAI said most cate-
gories are now indicat-
ing growth in business
generated in February
2022 as compared to
the previous two
years.
GROWTH
Trade deficit widens to $20.88 bn
New Delhi (PTI): In-
dia’s exports rose
25.1% to $34.57 billion
in Feb on account of
healthy growth in sec-
tors like engineering,
petroleum and chemi-
cals, even as the trade
deficit widened to
$20.88 billion, accord-
ing to data released by
the commerce minis-
try on Monday
.
Imports during the
month too jumped 36%
to $55.45 billion, with
inbound shipments of
petroleum and crude
oil surging 69% to
$15.28 billion.
Trade deficit -- the
difference between im-
ports and exports --
stood at $13.12 billion
in Feb 2021.
Imports during the
11-month period rose
59.33% to $550.56 bil-
lion. Trade deficit dur-
ing this period wid-
ened to $175.75 billion
as against $88.99 bil-
lion during April-Feb
2020-21. Gold imports
in February dipped by
9.65% to $4.8 billion.
New Delhi (PTI): India’s
edible oil imports rose
23% to 9,83,608 tonnes
in February mainly
due to a sharp rise in
shipments of refined palm
oil, industry body SEA said
on Monday. Edible oil imports stood at 7,96,568
tonnes in the same month last year. Total import
of vegetable oils (edible and non-edible) in-
creased to 10,19,997 tonnes as compared to
8,38,607 tonnes in February 2021, SEA said in a
statement. Out of the total vegetable oils imports,
the edible oils import rose to 9,83,608 tonnes
from 7,96,568 tonnes in February 2021. Imports
of refined palm oil increased to 3,02,928 tonnes
from 6,000 tonnes. Non-edible oil imports last
month fell to 36,389 tonnes from 42,039 tonnes
in the year-ago period.
Bank frauds fall drastically over last 5 years
New Delhi (PTI):
Bank frauds over the
last five years have
come down drastically
to `648 crore in first
nine months of 2021-22,
on the back of struc-
tural procedural re-
forms to check such
incidents, Parliament
was informed on Mon-
day. In 2016-17, bank
frauds stood at `61,229
crore, which declined
to `11,583 crore in 2020-
21 and then to `648
crore during April-De-
cember 2021-22, Minis-
ter of State for Finance
Bhagwat Karad said in
a written reply to the
Lok Sabha.
Improved detection
and reporting along
with comprehensive
steps resulted in sharp
decline of such frauds,
he said.
The Reserve Bank of
India had issued mas-
ter directions on frauds
in 2016, he said, adding
the government has in-
stituted wide-ranging
structural and proce-
dural reforms to check
frauds in banks.
“Such systematic
and comprehensive
checking of frauds, in-
cluding of the legacy
stock of non-perform-
ing assets (NPAs), led to
unearthing of frauds
perpetuated over the
years,” Karad said.
New Delhi (PTI): Kotak Mahindra Bank has
been hit by the highest number of frauds at 642,
involving `1 lakh and above, in first nine months
of 2021-22. It was followed by ICICI Bank and
IndusInd Bank at 518 and 377, respectively.
Presenting data of number of frauds in banks,
involving amount of `1 lakh and above in last five
financial years and the current one, Minister of
State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said the number
of frauds at Kotak has been on a rise from 135 in
FY17 to 289 in FY18; 383 in FY19; 652 in FY20
and 826 in FY21. During April-December 2021-
22, the number of frauds at Kotak reached 642,
Karad said citing data from RBI.
AT 642, KOTAK HIT BY HIGHEST
NUMBER OF BANK FRAUDS
BIZZ BRIEFS
SPICEJET TO LAUNCH 60 NEW
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS THIS SUMMER
MCL BECOMES THE LARGEST COAL
PRODUCING COMPANY IN INDIA
DEBASISH PANDA TAKES CHARGE AS
IRDAI CHIEF
New Delhi (PTI): SpiceJet on Monday said it will
launch 60 new domestic flights this summer.
The summer schedule starts from March 27 and
ends on October 29. In a statement, the airline
said it will launch eight industry-first flights,
which will operate on the Gorakhpur-Kanpur,
Gorakhpur Varanasi, Jaipur-Dharamshala and
Tirupati-Shirdi sectors, in the summer schedule.
New Delhi (PTI): The Mahanadi Coalfields
Limited (MCL), a unit of the CIL, has crossed
157 million tonne (MT) in coal production in
the financial year of 2021-22, to become the
leading coal producing company in the country,
a release said. On March 12, 2022, the company
produced 7.62 lakh tonne of dry fuel which is
the highest in a day during the current financial
year reaching 157.7 MT.
New Delhi (PTI): Former finance
secretary Debasish Panda on
Monday took charge as the new
chairman of the Irdai. The ap-
pointment of the Irdai chairman
comes nearly nine months after
the vacancy was created follow-
ing Subhash Chandra Khuntia
completing his term in May last year. “Debasish
Panda, IAS (Retd), has taken charge as chair-
man of IRDAI today, the March 14, 2022,” Irdai
said in a statement.
Mumbai (PTI):
Microfinance lenders
cannot charge usurious
rate of interest from
borrowers, the Reserve
Bank said on Monday,
and also asked them to put in place a
ceiling on pricing of loans and related
fees. A microfinance loan is defined
as a collateral-free loan given to a
household having an annual income of
up to `3 lakh. Issuing ‘Master Direc-
tion – RBI (Regulatory Framework for
Microfinance Loans) Directions, 2022’,
RBI said all regulated entities (REs)
should put in place a board-approved
policy regarding pricing of microfi-
nance loans, covering, a ceiling on
the interest rate and all other charges
applicable to microfinance loans.
“Interest rates and other charges/ fees
on microfinance loans should not be
usurious. These shall be subjected to
supervisory scrutiny by the Reserve
Bank,” the framework said.
New Delhi (PTI): Priva-
tisation-bound BPCL’s
plan to amalgamate its
wholly-owned subsid-
iaries, Bharat Oman
Refineries and Bharat
Gas Resources, into the company
will result in greater synergies, Fitch
Ratings said on Monday. Bharat Oman
Refineries Ltd (BORL) owns and oper-
ates a 7.8 million tonne a year refinery
at Binar in Madhya Pradesh. Bharat
Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL)
operates oil refineries at Mumbai, and
Kochi in Kerala. “All three of BPCL’s
refineries will be under one entity after
the amalgamation, which we expect
will improve efficiency in terms of
crude procurement, inventory man-
agement and hedging mechanisms,”
Fitch said in a statement. Bharat Gas
Resources Ltd (BGRL), formed in June
2018, holds BPCL’s interests in the
areas where it intends to build city-gas
distribution (CGD) networks.
RBI REMOVES LENDING RATE
CAP ON NBFC-MFIS
BPCL’S AMALGAMATION TO
IMPROVE SYNERGIES: FITCH
GOVT PLANS TO FLOAT EOI FOR ITS STAKE SALE IN IDBI BANK
New Delhi (PTI): The government plans to invite expression of interest to sell
its stake in LIC-controlled IDBI Bank by the next month-end, a senior official
has said. As part of the divestment, the government plans to sell its entire
45.48% stake eventually. The government may look to sell around a 26% stake
in the bank, along with management control to attract investors, the official
said. IDBI Bank became a subsidiary of LIC with effect from January 21, 2019,
following the acquisition of an additional 8,27,590,885 equity shares.
Sensex surges 936 pts to reclaim 56K-mark
Mumbai (PTI): Equi-
ty indices marched
higher for the fifth ses-
sion on the trot on
Monday, propelled by
robust buying in bank-
ing and IT counters.
After a cautious
start, the 30-share BSE
Sensex gained momen-
tum as the session pro-
gressed to close 935.72
points or 1.68% higher
at 56,486.02.
Similarly, the broad-
er NSE Nifty vaulted
240.85 points or 1.45%
to settle at 16,871.30.
Infosys topped the
Sensex gainers’ chart,
spurting 3.76%, while
HDFC Bank climbed
3.25% after the RBI on
Saturday lifted all re-
strictions.
` SLIPS 11 PAISE TO
CLOSE AT 76.55/$
Mumbai (PTI): The
rupee declined by
11 paise to close at
76.55 against the US
dollar on Monday.At
the interbank foreign
exchange market, the
rupee opened at 76.63
against the American
dollar and during the
day, it swung between
a high of 76.52 and a
low of 76.69.
Many states for GST relief extension: FM
New Delhi (PTI):
Many states have re-
quested extension of
the compensation
mechanism under the
GST beyond June 2022,
Finance Minister Nir-
mala Sitharaman said
on Monday
.
Under the Goods
and Services Tax law,
states were guaran-
teed to be compensat-
ed bi-monthly for any
loss of revenue in the
first five years of GST
implementation from
July 1, 2017.
The shortfall is cal-
culated assuming a
14% annual growth in
GST collections by
states over the base
year of 2015-16. The
5-year period ends in
June 2022. The com-
pensation amount to
be paid from the com-
pensation fund is ar-
rived at by levying
cess on top of the high-
est tax slab on luxury,
demerit and sin goods.
Nirmala Sitharaman
Debasish Panda
EDIBLE OIL IMPORT UP BY 23% TO
9.84 LT IN FEBRUARY

COVID-19
UPDATE
WORLD
60,67,404
TOTAL DEATHS
39,21,81,409
TOTAL RECOVERED
6,05,49,545
ACTIVE CASES
45,87,98,358
TOTAL CASES
INDIA
5,15,907
TOTAL DEATHS
4,24,41,449
TOTAL RECOVERED
36,138
ACTIVE CASES
4,29,93,494
TOTAL CASES
08
2NDFRONT
First India Bureau
Ahmedabad: In his
new avatar as the Gu-
jarat Titans skipper, a
fit-again Hardik Pan-
dya on Sunday
claimed his bowling
would be a “surprise”
element in the up-
coming Indian Pre-
mier League (IPL).
The ace Indian pace
bowling all-rounder,
who struggled to man-
age his bowling work-
load post his back sur-
gery, will return to ac-
tion in the IPL after his
last appearance for In-
dia against Namibia in
the T20 World Cup at
Dubai in November 08
last year.
Asked whether he
would bowl again,
Hardik said it would be
a surprise. “Sir, it would
be a surprise, so let it be
a surprise,” the 28-year-
old said.
Hardik was picked by
Gujarat Titans for Rs15
crore in the pre-auction
draftandwasnamedthe
captain as the former
Mumbai Indians star
will be seen as a new
role of leading the side.
Hardik said captain-
cy is about man man-
agement.
“Success is theirs,
failure is mine. Our role
will be to make sure the
players are comfortable
in whatever capacity we
can help them out. Clar-
ity, honesty has to be
there. We want to create
a culture where all the
players feel at home, we
want to give them a
sense of security then
only we can get the best
out of them,” he said.
The Ahmedabad-
based franchise will
make its IPL debut
alongside Lucknow Su-
per Giants to make it a
10-team IPL 2022 and
they will take on the
Lucknow franchise in
their opening match on
March 28.
The Gujarat Titans
squad also includes In-
dia opener Shubman
Gill, Afghanistan spin-
ner Rashid Khan, Aus-
tralia’s Matthew Wade,
senior India pacer Mo-
hammad Shami and
New Zealand quick
Lockie Ferguson.
My bowling will be a ‘surprise’: Hardik Pandya
FIGHTING FIT
Hardik Pandya in action.
PICKED UP BY THE
PICKED UP BY THE
NEW FRANCHISE
NEW FRANCHISE
FOR RS15 CRORE,
FOR RS15 CRORE,
HE WILL TAKE THE
HE WILL TAKE THE
FIELD IN THE IPL
FIELD IN THE IPL
AFTER HIS BACK
AFTER HIS BACK
SURGERY LAST
SURGERY LAST
YEAR
YEAR
Lay down new pipeline in Kalol: Shah
AS SECOND BREAKOUT OF CHOLERA EPIDEMIC HAS HIT THE TOWN IN 8 MONTHS, GANDHINAGAR
DISTRICT HEALTH PERSONNEL ARE SCRAMBLING TO BRING IT UNDER CONTROL
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: In less
than eight months,
cholera has resurfaced
in Kalol town again
with more than 500 per-
sons affected with con-
taminated water in the
area. While some of
them were hospitalized,
others received medical
assistance at home. Af-
ter learning about an-
other breakout during
his visit, Gandhinagar
Lok Sabha MP and Un-
ion Home and Coopera-
tion Minister Amit
Shah instructed district
authorities to lay down
a new water pipeline
and ensure that the ill-
ness was brought under
control, at the earliest.
For the past two to
three weeks, cholera
cases have been report-
ed in different parts of
the town. News of the
case surge reached Dis-
trict Collector Kuldeep
Arya, who instructed
Kalol nagarpalika and
its health teams to con-
duct door-to-door sur-
veys and increase medi-
cine distribution in the
town.
As of now, there are
30 medical and para-
medical teams carrying
out surveys of over
2,921 homes. Eight doc-
tors and 92 para-medi-
cal personnel are close-
ly monitoring the situa-
tion, and have so far,
covered around 59 resi-
dential societies that
have been affected with
contaminated water.
The nagarpalika has
disconnected water
supply to these socie-
ties and a control room
has been set up to help
residents.
Last month, the Na-
tional Human Rights
Commission (NHRC)
had issued notices to
the state principal sec-
retary (health and fam-
ily welfare) as well as
the Gandhinagar dis-
trict magistrate asking
them to appear before
the commission on
April 28. The commis-
sion is hearing com-
plaints filed regarding
the cholera breakout in
July 2021.
In its notice to them,
the commission had
noted, “Facts of the
case are disturbing.
The allegations made in
the complaint are seri-
ous in nature, involving
rising numbers of
deaths and the cholera
epidemic on account of
lack of medical facili-
ties and shortage of
staff. The case, there-
fore, involves grave vio-
lation of human rights
of the patients at large.
Such types of cases are
viewed very seriously
by the commission.”
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: The Gu-
jarat government’s
Minister of State for
Home Harsh Sanghavi
informed the house on
Monday that Gujarat
was still awaiting the
return of the 1,145 of
the missing women re-
ported in 2020.
In 2020, the state po-
lice reported 7,673 wom-
en as missing. They
found 6,528 women, but
1,145 women are still
missing.
Of the 7,673, maxi-
mum females were re-
ported missing from
Ahmedabad, 1,870, fol-
lowed by Surat, 1,216
and then Vadodara, 327.
Out of the women
found 1,674 returned to
Ahmedabad, 988 to Su-
rat and 291 to Va-
dodara, as disclosed by
MOS home in his reply
to an Unstarred Ques-
tion by Congress MLA
from Viramgam Lakha
Bharwad.
In reply to a question
asked by the Radhan-
pur legislator Raghu
Desai, the MOS home
said there was a re-
quirement of three new
women police stations,
one each in Ahmedabad
rural, Banaskantha
and Surat. It was listed
based on a proposal re-
ceived only now by the
Directorate General of
Police.
First India Bureau
Rajkot: Two kids,
14-years old daughter
and 12-years old son of
a lady living in Jetpur,
have demanded the
death penalty for their
father, who killed their
mother on Monday
morning. The Jetpur
police have invoked the
IPC section of murder
on the husband and his
nephew, who fled after
committing the offence.
Shantu Kahor and
his nephew Shivraj en-
tered Prasannben’s
house in Bhaviknagar,
Jetpur, attacked her
with a sharp weapon
several times and then
fled from the town.
Neighbours rushed the
victim to a nearby hos-
pital, where the doctor
on duty declared her
dead.
In her statement,
Prayesha (name
changed) told the police
that her parents had got
a divorce a few years
ago, and since then, her
mother had moved to
Jetpur with her young-
er brother Pratham
(name changed) and
her.
Prayesha also added
that her mother was the
second wife of her fa-
ther. Her father had
killed his first wife, too,
by setting her on fire.
Recently, her father had
made two attempts to
attack her mother.
Prayesha and Pratham
have demanded that
their father be arrested
soon, and the court
award him a severe
punishment like the
death penalty
.
Kalol town resident showing evidence of contaminated water. Union Home Minister Amit Shah. —FILE PHOTO
Neighbours outside the house where the crime took place.
CELEBRATING PI!
Students of the Indian Institute of Teachers’ Education (IITE), Gandhinagar, created a human
formation of the crucial mathematical constant, Pi (Greek letter π), at their college campus
to mark World Pi Day on March 14. The term Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its
diameter. —PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI
Gujarat still searching for
15% of its missing women
Kids demand death penalty for father
HUSBANDS ATTEND DIST PANCHAYAT
MEETING INSTEAD OF ELECTED WIVES
First India Bureau
Rajkot: Three days
ago, during his road-
show in Ahmedabad,
Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi had
stressed that a Mahila
sarpanch was capable
of performing her du-
ties, just like women
in other fields. The
practice of “Sarpanch
Pati” must come to an
end.
The Sankalan meet-
ing of BJP Rajkot dis-
trict Panchayat, held
on Monday, clearly
give this diktat a deaf
ear! Of the 14 elected
women representa-
tives, only three were
present for the meet-
ing. The remaining
members had their
husbands present for
the meeting.
The Sankalan meet-
ing of BJP comprised
of elected members in
district panchayat
and the Sangathan.
“Husbands attending
the meeting on behalf
of their wives is a
common tradition
and practice going on
for years,” said a sen-
ior BJP leader.
Speaking to First In-
dia district panchayat
president, Bhupat
Bodar said, “Only
three of 14 elected
women representa-
tives were present in
today’s Sankalan
Samiti meeting. In-
stead of women mem-
bers, their husbands
were present. But it
was only a party meet-
ing for members and
the Sangathan, so we
allowed them. Howev-
er, the same is not per-
mitted during an offi-
cial meeting of the
district panchayat.”
Circumstances are seldom
perfect, you will often be ill-
equipped but continue to work
towards your aim.
—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO Editor-in-Chief, First India

DUBAI: The First In-
dia Fashion Connect
Season 11 held at Oaks
Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel
on March 12, Saturday
was anunprecedented
success with the best
of fashion, culture
and heritage celebrat-
ed on the First India
Ramp.
The show began
with Jagdeesh Chan-
dra welcoming the VIP
guests who had come to
watch the amazing show
and be a part of the First In-
dia initiative. Jagdeesh
Chandra welcomed the audi-
enceandsaidthatfashionand
glamour provide a glimpse
into the age-old culture and
heritage of a nation and at
the same time give employ-
ment to a huge number of
people. It is a major industry
today in every country
. He also
appreciated the efforts of
brand ambassador Rishee
Miglani, show director Lokesh
Sharma and the First India
team.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Makioum Al Maktoum of the
royal family of Dubai
graced the occasion as
the chief guest. He was
accompanied by
Yaqoob Al Ali, execu-
tivedirectorandprivate
advisor in his Highness of-
fice Sheikh Juma Bin Mak-
toum Al Maktoum.
It was a matter of privilege
that the renowned cricketer
and former captain of the In-
dian cricket team Mohammad
Azharuddin was also one of
the esteemed guests for the
evening as was Ashley Rebello,
Costume designer, who dresses
none other than the superstar
Salman Khan.
The Sheikh appreciated the
efforts of Jagdeesh Chandra
and First India in bringing
such amazing events to Dubai.
The master of ceremonies
Rupa Khurana welcomed all
the guests and dignitaries to
the amazing season 11 of one
of India’s best single-day fash-
ionshows,theFirstIndiaFash-
ion Connect. The first design-
ers to showcase the
event was Mohit
Falod. Followed by
an amazing collection
of Wrickie Angrish
as the models walked
in the creations of
Jaipur Dori next, it
drew appreciation
from the audience.
The next design-
er to showcase
amazing design on
the ramp was Shiv-
ayu and Karigiri
Studio. And the
grand finale by
Suneet Varma
was surreal and
breathtaking.
Entire collec-
tions showcased
in the Fashion Con-
nect were complete
with bridal wear,
holiday mood, sem-
iformal, formal
and each aspect of
fashion covered
during the one
and half hour
glitzy show on
the ramp.
AHMEDABAD, TUESDAY,
MARCH 15, 2022
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia
facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09
THE FIRST INDIA FASHION CONNECT SEASON 11 HELD AT OAKS
IBN BATUTTA GATE HOTEL, DUBAI ON SATURDAY WAS A
UNIQUE FUSION OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN
COLLECTIONS THAT CELEBRATED INDIA’S HERITAGE.
BESIDES THIS, A BEAUTIFUL MERGING OF THE CULTURES
OF UAE AND INDIA WAS ALSO SEEN ON THE RAMP!
ANITA HADA
anita.hada@firstindianews.com
Jagdeesh Chandra with (L-R) Ayan Chugh, Lokesh Sharma, Rishee Miglani, Akansha Bakshi,
Yaqoob Al Ali, Rupa Khurana, Mohd. Azharuddin, Ashley Rebello, Anita Hada and Fadi Sallit
Jagdeesh Chandra extends a warm floral welcome to HH Sheikh Mohammed
Bin Makioum Al Maktoum, as Rupa Khurana and Rishee Miglani look on
Jagdeesh Chandra extends a warm floral welcome
to Yaqoob Al Ali, also seen are Rishee and Rupa
Jagdeesh Chandra accords a welcome to Mohd. Azharuddin,
also seen are Rishee and Rupa
Jagdeesh Chandra welcomes Ashley Rebello,
also seen are Rishee and Rupa
Suneet Varma with his models as the finale
designer of Fashion Connect Season 11
—PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA
Connexions
Connexions du cœur
du cœur

10
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/
twitter.com/thefirstindia
facebook.com/thefirstindia
instagram.com/thefirstindia
ETC
he curtains
for the 15th
edition of the
Jaipur Litera-
ture Festival
dropped on
Monday. This
year, the event hosted
around 600 speakers,
artists and performers
from all across the In-
dian subcontinent and
the world. Teamwork
Arts the producer of
the ‘greatest literary
show on earth’ has
launched a new NFT
collection on the con-
c l u d i n g
day of the Festival.
The collection in-
cludes fifteen stun-
ning moments to
celebrate the land-
mark 15th edition
of the Festival.
The moments
have Amitabh
Bachchan, Dalai
Lama, Aamir Khan,
Honourable Former
President of India
Late APJ Abdul Kal-
am, Late Rishi Kapoor,
Shatrughan Sinha and
many other notable
names.
Tourism Minister
of Rajasthan, Vishv-
endra Singh said, “I
am delighted that the
Jaipur Literature Fes-
tival is returning on-
ground in the Pink
City.” The Festival
launched a curated
NFT drop on abris.io.
In another session
on a concluding day,
‘The Camel with a
Japi’ was launched
with the author Ur-
vashi Warman, Prin-
cipal of the Palace
School in conversa-
tion with Apra Kuch-
hal. The book has been
brought out by the Pal-
ace School, Jaipur
and is written under
Narendra Modi’s vi-
sion of Ek Bharat
Shreshth Bharat.
This unique tale
chronicles the journey
of four friends who,
along with their teach-
ers and guest faculty
from France, under-
take an exciting expe-
dition that takes the
reader from the dry,
barren desert of Ra-
jasthan to the lush
green forests of As-
sam.
From debates rang-
ing from language,
war, politics, envi-
ronment to cli-
mate change, gender
issues, business, sci-
ence and technology,
history, cinema, art
and travel, the Festi-
val featured conversa-
tions on a wide variety
of topics. Also, it had
numerous events
namely A Majestic
Heritage Evening at
Amer Fort and The
Jaipur Music Stage
among others in the
Pink City
.
Luminaries from
Luminaries from
THE OLD AND NEW
THE OLD AND NEW
Each year literary
festivals take place in
many parts of the
country to draw large
numbers of readers,
writers, playwrights,
and editors, who gather
to exchange ideas with
like-minded people.
Most festivals feature
opportunities to meet
and polish your skills
with your favourite
authors and include
extensive storytelling
sessions and other
engaging activities for
children and young
adults, to encourage a
true love of reading.
Jaipur Literature
Festival 2022 is a
magnificent festival of
ideas which
concluded on
Monday at Hotel
Clarks Amer.
MITALI DUSAD
mitalidusad01@gmail.com
T
Apra Kuchchal in conversation with Urvashi Warman
Simon Mundy addressing the crowd
on the topic ‘Climate Conservation’ Suraj Dhingra, Ajay Pal Lamba and Satish Mehta
Auloopi Tambi
Saanvi Agarwal
Monica
and
Kavya
Karuna Parikh
(L-R) Shobhaa De, Sapna, Nikita and Poorvi Singhal
—PHOTOS
BY
MUKESH
KIRADOO

SUNIL
SHARMA

ETC
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2022
11
THE DOG FEST:
THE DOG FEST:
A PAW-FECT DAY!
A PAW-FECT DAY!
ajority of dog lovers are very
clear regarding the delight
that comes with sharing their
lives with their canines. The
pleasure of snuggling up to a
furry friend cannot be traded
for anything else. They add
real joy and unconditional love to your life.
In order to celebrate such great bond be-
tween people and their pets, First India and
International Dog Bazaar organised a Mega
Dog show on Sunday where more than 500
dogs of over 60 breeds participated in the
competition and 120 pups were adopted.
Jagdeesh Chandra welcomed the dog lov-
ers from across the city and motivated them
to care for the pets as members of their own
family.
Director, First India News Virendra Choud-
hary also greeted all the dog owners and
congratulatedViren Sharma for the wonder-
ful show. Addl Police Commissioner, Jaipur
Haider Ali Zaidi, IG Sandeep Chauhan and
DIG Rahul Kotaki, Elite Miss Rajasthan Di-
rector Gaurav Gaur and Ashok Singh from
Big Boss Studio were also present for the
event. The show was followed by a dance
performance and a dog fashion show, a
drawing competition spreading the mes-
sage of anti-cruelty was also organised.
—PHOTOS
BY
MUKESH
KIRADOO

RISHABH
SAINI
Jagdeesh Chandra with (L-R) Gaurav Gaur, Ashok Singh Srishti Khatri,
Akanksha Bhalla, Lakshay Choudhary, Virendra Choudhary, and Viren Sharma
Jagdeesh Chandra congratulate the winning dog, ‘Mr K’ and his owner
Dron Parikh. Also seen are Virendra Choudhary, Lakshay Choudhary,
Viren Sharma, Swati Tandon and Rajiv Sachdeva
Akanksha Bhalla with Chow Chow
Jagdeesh Chandra with Palak
During the ramp walk
Jagdeesh Chandra with Parul Kathuria and coco and Richa Juneja
Komal and Nitu Khanchandani with Joulin
Jagdeesh Chandra
walks the ramp holding
the cute Apso
Jagdeesh Chandra greeted by Viren and Isha
Sharma. Also seen is Ashok Singh
The handsome Rottweiler
with his owner
Jagdeesh Chandra with Viren Sharma, Isha Sharma, Ashi,
Kaustubhi, Paridhi, Ishita, Vinnie, Ashwina and Team Paws
During the mega dog show
KAVITA CHAUHAN
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
M
Somya Goyal
Khushi Ajwani with Jerry
Aanchal

12
CITY BUZZ
GET VACCINATED
STAY MASKED
City First
uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in
A strong man is not
afraid of failures and
keeps trying until he
reaches where he wish-
es to be. Aman Dheer, a
27-year-old boy from
Delhi not only worked
hard but has re-estab-
lished the word of inde-
pendence. The guy is
currently running a
Shoe Startup, namely
BOOTS PRIDE. Aman
is not only an entrepre-
neur but an actor and
model as well.
Q Where do you see
yourself after the
next 20 years?
My goal is to become
carefree mentally emo-
tionally economically
physically and main-
tain a healthy lifestyle
by doing what I love to
do. And feels good and
makes everyone proud
about it.
Q How did your
journey begin?
My journey was very
interesting in 2016
when I won the title for
Mr India runner up. I
practised a lot of chal-
lenges stage fear, public
fear under confidence
and more. But some-
thing about the acting
world woke the actor
inside me and I ended
up doing Tvc ads and
commercial shoots.
Q What were some
of the battles you
fought and are still
fighting in your
journey?
Acting and Model-
ling were not my
forte, I used to be
very shy and less
confident but desti-
ny pulled me in and
I worked hard for my
dreams. I have given
so many auditions
andafteralotof hard
work,Igotachanceto
be a part of the MTV
Splitsvilla x2 journey
. I
am very thankful that I
got a golden chance to be
onTVwithRanvijaySin-
gha and Sunny Leone.
Q Talk to us about
your achievements?
WhenIbaggedthetitle
Mr India 2016 Manhunt,
that was like a 'dream
come true moment'.
G
lobal Excellence
Awards were giv-
en honouring
Global Ambassadors of
Peace Humanity by
Dr Bobby Kalotee,
Chairman Friends for
Good Health USA. Ka-
lotee’s esteemed global
panel of dignitaries
had chosen a group
of humanitarians to
honour them as part
of Women's Day Cele-
bration. Dr Sanjana Jon
also felicitated women
achievers in associa-
tion with Style n Spir-
ituality, PACT Ret-
ropop Magazine at
The Junkyard Cafe
in New Delhi on
March 9.
Dr Jon said, This
event aims to lift peo-
ple's spirit after the
pandemic g l o o m .
Wom-
e n are
enter-
i n g
every
field and contributing
at every level. Our coun-
try has a long history of
women's emancipation.
Let’s make sure to ex-
press ourselves and
have our voices
heard. Claim what
is rightfully yours. I
wish my fellow sis-
ters more strength not
just today but in every
day of your lives. Dr
Jon also facilitated men
behind the women
achievers. The pro-
gram also includ-
ed a fashion show.
Ambassadors
of different coun-
tries honorary
consuls and ce-
l e b r i t i e s
graced the
occasion.
UTTKARSHA SHEKHAR
uttkarsha.shekhar@firstindia.co.in
n opening
of an exhi-
bition ti-
tled, ‘My-
thos and the
Historian’ of
artist Ravin-
der Dutt was organ-
ised at Hotel Ambas-
sador, New Delhi by
Nidhi Jain of Gallery
Ragini on March 12.
The exhibition was at-
tended by eminent
personalities includ-
ing Ram Rahman,
Kanchan Chander,
Sangita Gupta, Mani-
sha Gawade, Suchit
Sahni, Ayesha Seth,
Rahul Sen, Sunayana
Malhotra and Sau-
rabh Wasson among
others.
The Mughal Period
has a large influence
on his creations. The
art, objects and archi-
tecture of the Mughal
era is the manifesta-
tion of great knowl-
edge and technology.
In the Mughal Fables,
the artist reimagines
their rule as one sup-
ported by the super-
natural that exists on
the planet.
—PHOTOS BY MANOJ KESHARWANI
A
THE ART SAYS IT ALL!
THE ART SAYS IT ALL! SAY IT WITH YOUR
HARDWORK!
Achievers honored on
Women's Day
DHANUSHREE VYAS
cityfirst@gmail.com
The Kashmir Files press
conference with Director
Vivek Agnihotri, Anupam Khar,
Pallavi Joshi and Dr Surinder
Kaul (Founder of GKPD) was
held at Imperial Hotel, CP, on
Monday. The event started
at 11 am and during the
conference, Vivek Agnihotri
and Anupam Khar talked
about the citation from US
senator speaker.
—PHOTOS BY SHAZID CHAUHAN
KASHMIR FILES
Ragini Jain with Rajnish channesh and Suchit Sahni
Manisha Gawade with Nidhi Jain
Ayesha seth and Rahul Sen
Sunayana Malhotra and Shobha Jolly
Ram Rahman
Rajnish and Nidhi jain
Ravinder
Dutt
with
Saurabh
Wasson
Kanchan Chander
HOLI MILAN SAMAROH! Hemant Sharma,
TV9 News
Director hosted
a ‘Fagotsav’
pre-holi party
at his residence
in Noida on
Monday. It was
an evening of
togetherness
and bonhomie
as everyone
enjoyed in
true holi
spirit, leading
politicians,
bureaucrats
and journalists
attended the
get-together.
More in City First
Tomorrow.
—PHOTOS BY
SHAZID CHAUHAN
Jagdeesh Chandra with Ram Gopal Yadav and Hemant Sharma Hemant Sharma, Rajiv Shukla, Anuradha Prasad and Veena Sharma
Isha Sharma, Rubika Liyaquat,
Hemant Sharma and Atul Agrawal
Navneet Sehgal and Vandana Sehgal

15032022 first india ahmedabad

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