17022022 first india lucknow

Sitapur: On the birth
anniversary of Sant
Guru Ravidas, Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi addressed a rally
in Sitapur where he
said that the BJP gov-
ernment in Uttar
Pradesh runs on the
principles of the saint,
whereas the previous
governments led by the
Opposition parties “did
not like” Sant Ravidas.
“It is a matter of hap-
piness for me that I am
the MP of Kashi where
Sant Ravidas ji was
born. I am fortunate
that God has made me
a medium for the sa-
cred work of beautifi-
cation of his temple
complex in Varanasi. I
got a chance to deco-
rate that campus,” he
said refereeing to the
redeveloped Kashi
Vishwanath Dham cor-
ridor. “With the inspi-
ration of Sant Ravidas
ji, our government is
running on the mantra
of Sabka Saath, Sabka
Vikas, Sabka Vishwas
and Sabka Prayas. Our
schemes are focused on
the welfare of the poor,
downtrodden, exploit-
ed, backward, and de-
prived. Those who ran
the govt in UP before
2017 did not like Sant
Ravidas ji,” said Modi.
Attacking the Oppo-
sition parties, Prime
Minister said, “I come
from a poor family.
When there is no rule
of law, the poor suffer
the most. The poor are
not heard under mafi-
araj. The government
of ‘Parivaarvadis’ in
Uttar Pradesh had
maintained such an at-
mosphere.”
“For so many years,
these ‘Parivaarvadis’
ignored the skills of lo-
cal artisans and crafts-
men and insisted on
imports from abroad.
Opposition leaders feel
sad about speaking on
‘vocal for local’. —ANI
Previous govts in UP didn’t like Sant Ravidas: Modi
PM IN SITAPUR
‘OBJECTIONABLE PICS OF PM’: HC GRANTS BAIL
PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday
granted bail to a man been accused of posting objection-
able pictures of PM Narendra Modi on Facebook and
Whatsapp. Allowing the bail of the applicant, Chhangur
Yadav of Varanasi, Justice Krishan Pahal observed, “Keep-
ing in view the nature of the offence, evidence on record,
larger mandate of Article 21, and without expressing any
opinion on the merits of the case, the court is of the view
that the applicant has made out a case for bail.”
PM Modi being felicitated at Sitapur on Wednesday.
LUCKNOW l THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2022 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. UPENG/2020/80229 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 97
OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD, LUCKNOW & NEW DELHI www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
Sensex fell 145.37 points or 0.25% to end the day at 57,996.68, while Nifty was down
30.30 points at 17,322.20. About 1958 shares advanced, 1309 declined, and 99 were
unchanged. Power Grid Corporation, UltraTech Cement, NTPC, ICICI Bank and SBI were
the worst hit on Nifty, while Divis Labs, Adani Ports, ONGC, IOC and HDFC Life rose.
Banks, financials, auto, metal stocks fell, while pharma and realty shares advanced.
SENSEX ENDS
SHY OF 58K,
NIFTY HOLDS
17,300-MARK
A Mumbai sessions court today granted bail to former MD and CEO of YES Bank, Rana
Kapoor, in a money laundering case related to the wrongful loss of over Rs 300 crore to
the bank. A special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) granted
Mr Kapoor bail on certain standard conditions. Businessman Gautam Thapar and 7 oth-
ers in case also got bail pertaining to the sale of a property at a prime location in Delhi.
YES BANK FOUNDER
RANA KAPOOR
GETS BAIL IN `300
CRORE FRAUD CASE
Centre asks states to end
additional Covid-19 norms
New Delhi: The Centre
on Wednesday asked
states and union territo-
ries to review, amend or
do away with additional
COVID-19 restrictions
after considering the
trend of new cases and
positivity rate in their
regions, stating sus-
tained downward trend
in the nationwide case
trajectory
.
In a letter sent to
chief secretaries and
chief administrators of
all states and UTs on
Tuesday, Union Health
Secretary Rajesh
Bhushan said the coro-
navirus pandemic in
India is showing a sus-
tained declining trend
since January 21.
The daily case posi-
tivity rate had declined
to 3.63 per cent on
Tuesday
.
Don’t panic, more flights planned: Centre to Indians in Ukraine
Mohd Fahad
New Delhi: India has
asked its citizens living
in Ukraine not to panic
over reports of people
not getting flight tick-
ets amid rising ten-
sions between the for-
mer Soviet state and its
neighbour Russia,
which has deployed
troops, tanks and war-
planes along the bor-
der, leading to fears of
an invasion.
India’s embassy in
Ukraine, in a tweet,
said it is aware of re-
ports of people not get-
ting flights; however, it
asked Indians living in
Ukraine not to panic as
more flights are being
planned. A 24-hour hel-
pline has been set up for
Indians. The embassy
did not specify by when
exactly the additional
flights would be opera-
tional. It said details
would be shared by the
embassy “as and when
confirmed”.
“Embassy of India
has been receiving sev-
eral appeals about non-
availability of flights
from Ukraine to India.
In this regard, students
are advised not to re-
sort to panic, but book
the earliest available
and convenient flights
to travel to India,” the
embassy tweeted.
l THE RUSSIAN
DEFENCE MINISTRY
ON WEDNESDAY
PUBLISHED A VIDEO
SHOWING TROOPS
WITHDRAWING
FROM CRIMEA. THIS
CAME A DAY AFTER
PRESIDENT
VLADIMIR PUTIN
SAID RUSSIA HAD
DECIDED “TO
PARTIALLY PULL
BACK TROOPS”
FROM THE BORDERS
OF UKRAINE
l NATO DOUBTS
CLAIMS OF FORCES
DRAWDOWN
Russian tanks moving back to permanent base after drills in pic released by Defence Ministry.
YOU READ IT FIRST
IN FIRST INDIA
FEBRUARY 14, 2022
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the United
States is yet to see any evidence of a significant Russian
withdrawal of its military forces from near Ukraine’s
frontiers, despite claims from Moscow that a pullback is
under way. Blinken said “critical units” were in fact con-
tinuing to move “toward the border, not away from the
border”. US President Joe Biden will conduct telephone
talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
WASHINGTON CASTS DOUBT ON RUSSIA’S
CLAIMS OF PULLING BACK FORCES
Indians in Ukraine who
need information and
assistance can contact
the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, or MEA, which has
set up a dedicated control
room. Toll free number
is 1800118797. Mean-
while, 24x7 emergency
helpline in Ukraine is
+380 997300428, +380
997300483.
24X7 HELPLINE FOR
INDIANS IN UKRAINE
PETITIONERS QUESTION IN HC
Why not hijabs when
ghoongat, turban permitted?
Bengaluru: Petitioners
challenging the hijab
ban in educational insti-
tutions made their sub-
missions in the Karna-
taka High Court saying
that hijab was being
singled out and Muslim
studentsarebeingasked
to choose between faith
and education.
Senior Advocate Ravi
Varma Kumar appear-
ing for petitioners said,
A bindi wearing girl is
not sent out. A bangle
wearing girl is not. A
Christian wearing a
cross is not touched.
Why only these girls?
This is a violation of
Article 15 of the Consti-
tution,” Advocate Ku-
mar said.
Ghoongats are per-
mitted, bangles are per-
mitted. Why only hijab?
Why not the turban of a
sikh, cross of the Chris-
tians? he added.
FIR AGAINST 20
WOMEN FOR HIJAB
PROTEST
Ghaziabad: Twenty
women were booked
here for holding a public
protest in favour of hijab
without permission, po-
lice said on Wednesday.
The protest was held on
Sunday and a video of
it was found circulating
on social media which
showed a few cops,
male and female, using
batons to disperse the
protesting women. Plice
said the women were
also in violation of Sec-
tion 144.
First India Bureau
Lucknow: Ahead of the
Assembly elections in
UP and Punjab, the
birthplace of Sant Ravi-
das, “Seer Goverdhan”
temple in Varanasi, on
Wednesday turned out
to be a major centre of
political pilgrimage
with leaders making
beeline to the shrine on
the occasion of Ravi Das
Jayanti. The organisers
of the function had also
sent invitation to Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi, but he participat-
ed in a function in Del-
hi’s Karol Bagh Guru
Ravidas Dham temple
before flying to UP for
campaigning. Punjab
CM Charantjit Singh
Channi was the first to
reach the temple early
morning. Thereafter,
Congress leaders Rahul
Gandhi and Priyanka
Gandhi arrived and
both also served langer
to devotees. UP Chief
MinisterYogiAditynath
also landed to partici-
pate in the prayers.
CM Yogi reached Ravidas Janmasthan temple in Varanasi on the occasion of the saint’s
jayanti on Magh Purnima. (Inset) Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi also reached the temple
on Wednesday and both served langar to devotees in the afternoon.
PM Narendra Modi greets supporters during an election
campaign rally in Pathankot on Wednesday. —PHOTOS BT PTI
BJP LEADER
VISITS OWAISI’S
ATTACKER’S HOME
On Wednesday, BJP’s
Sunil Bharala, who
is the chair-
person of
the state
labour wel-
fare board,
visited the
family of
Sachin Sharma, a resi-
dent of Dadri, who is in
jail for allegedly shoot-
ing at Owaisi. Bharala
during visit to Sharma’s
home declared him to
be innocent.
‘AKHILESH BEGAN
SWEATING OVER
KARHAL ATTACK’
Union ministers
Piyush Goyal and Anu-
rag Thakur
slammed
SP supremo
Akhilesh
Yadav over
the attack
on the BJP
Karhal candidate SP
Singh Baghel’s convoy
late Tuesday evening.
Thakur has lodged
a complaint to the
Election Commission
demanding strict action.
EITHER PUNJAB CM
OR KHALISTAN PM:
OLD VIDEO EMERGES
The BJP on on Wednes-
day shared a video of
poet and
ex-AAP
leader
Kumar
Vishwas
alleging
that Delhi
CM Arvind Kejriwal
wanted to be “either the
Punjab CM or the PM of
Khalistan”. In the
video, however, Vish-
was didn’t mention
Kejriwal’s name.
ON SANT RAVIDAS JAYANTI
Templebecomespoliticalhub
CORONA
CATASTROPHE
UP
923
NEW
CASES
138
NEW CASES
IN LUCKNOW
10
NEW DEATHS
NOV 27, 1952 - FEB 15, 2022
DISCO KING OF BOLLYWOOD
BAPPI LAHIRI PASSES AWAY
usic composer and singer Bappi Lahiri has
passed away at the age of 69 in Mumbai. He
died at around 11.40 – 11.45 on Tuesday night.
The composer has been ailing for many weeks and was
suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Lahiri was
primarily known for his contribution in popularising the
sound of disco music in India. Known for his success
with Bengali films like Amar Prem, Mandira, Badnam,
Aamar Tumi among others, Lahiri also contributed sig-
nificantly to the soundtrack of Bollywood movies in the
80s and 90s like Disco Dancer, Namak Halaal, Dance
Dance and Sharaabi among others.
M

UTTAR PRADESH
LUCKNOW | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2022
02
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BUNDELKHAND E-WAY WILL PAVE
WAY FOR NEW POSSIBILITIES: CM
First India Bureau
Hamirpur: Chief Min-
ister Yogi Adityanath
on Wednesday accused
the previous state gov-
ernments of devastat-
ing the Bundelkhand
region by handing over
its resources and for-
ests to mafia elements
who “looted” them.
Lashing out at his
predecessors for failing
to resolve the water cri-
sis in Bundelkhand and
develop the region, Yogi
Adityanath while ad-
dressing a public meet-
ing in Hamirpur said,
“It is not hidden from
anyone that this re-
source-rich region was
handed over to the ma-
fia. The manner in
which these people be-
haved with Bun-
delkhand will not be
forgotten by people.”
“A lot was said and
done in the name of
‘nalkoop’ and hand
pumps but earlier gov-
ernments did not tell
how water could be
made available in ab-
sence of groundwater,”
the CM pointed out,
adding that, “Projects
like Arjun-Sahayak and
Ken-Betwa taken for-
ward by BJP will pro-
vide relief to people.”
Sharpening his at-
tack at the opposition
,Yogi said, “When bull-
dozers are used against
mafia (elements), Akh-
ilesh Ji is hurt the most.
But whatever they may
try to do, the develop-
ment of UP and Bun-
delkhand will not stop.”
“BJP’s bulldozer sig-
nifies both development
and triumph of good
over evil by putting an
end to malpractices,”
remarked the CM.
He also greeted the peo-
ple on the auspicious
occasion of Sant Ravi-
das Jayanti and Maghi
Purnima.
Continuing his at-
tack at the opposition
parties the CM said,
“The question is how
this area, which was an
example for water con-
servation in the past,
turned into a centre of
exodus and water-relat-
ed problems. While the
previous governments
did not do anything we
provided piped drink-
ing water to over 27,700
households.”
The previous SP laid
illegal weapon manu-
facturing units in parts
of Bundelkhand and
played with the future
of the Youth, Yogi said.
First India Bureau
Varanasi: Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi on
Wednesday offered
prayers to Guru Ravidas
at a temple in the nation-
al capital on his birth an-
niversary
, while several
bigwigs of the BJP
, Con-
gress and the Aam Aad-
miPartyvisitedtheDalit
icon’sbirthplaceinVara-
nasi to pay obeisance.
In a gesture replete with
political symbolism, UP
Chief Minister Yogi Adi-
tyanath, Congress lead-
ers Rahul Gandhi, Pri-
yankaGandhiVadraand
Charanjit Singh Channi,
the first Dalit chief min-
ister of Punjab, and
AAP’s Sanjay Singh took
partintheannualgather-
ing of the saint’s follow-
ers amid the heat of as-
sembly elections.
Notably, the mystic
poet-reformer who
preached against social
prejudices enjoys a na-
tionwide following, es-
pecially among the Dal-
its, and the community
members are present in
large numbers in Pun-
jab and Uttar Pradesh
where election cam-
paigningisinfullswing.
Channi was the first
among political leaders
toarriveattheGuruRav-
idas temple in Seer Gov-
ardhan locality of the
Lanka area. Adityanath
was next in the VIP visi-
tors to the temple fol-
lowed by the Gandhi sib-
lings, who even per-
formed a ‘langar seva’
during the visit, while
Rajya Sabha MP and
AAP’s UP in-charge San-
jay Singh too paid his re-
spects to Guru Ravidas.
The chief minister
also shared on Twitter
videos of his visit to the
temple where he had a
langar meal.
Rahul Gandhi also
shared on social media a
video of him and his sis-
ter performing the ‘lan-
gar seva’. Priyanka said
shehasbeenvisitingthe
Guru Ravidas temple in
Varanasi every year but
was happier this time
because her brother Ra-
hul was joining her too.
Political tugfest: CM Yogi, Gandhis, Channi visit Sant Ravidas’ birthplace
RAVIDAS JAYANTI SPECIAL

Sant Ravi Das
Jayanti got off
to a colourful
start at Seer
Goverdhan in
Varanasi with a
throng of
devotees as
well as
politicians
MAYA TAKES
TWITTER MODE
While leaders from
different political
parties including CM
Yogi from BJP, Ex-
President of Congress
Rahul Gandhi, party’s
General Secretary Pri-
yanka Gandhi Vadra,
Punjab CM Channi,
visited the temple,
BSP chief Mayawati
offered her reverence
to the Guru through
her twitter handle.
Devotees gather at Shri Guru Ravidass JanamAsthan Mandir to
pay obeisance to Guru Ravidas on his 645th birth anniversary,Sir
GoverdhanVillage,inVaranasi onWednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI
CMsaysAkhileshYadavwasmosthurtwhenactionwastakenagainstmafiainUP
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses a political rally in Hamirpur on Wednesday.
“A lot was said in
the name of ‘nalkoop’
and hand pumps but
earlier governments
did not tell how water
could be made avail-
able in the absence
of groundwater,”
the CM pointed out,
adding that, “Projects
like Arjun-Sahayak
and Ken-Betwa taken
forward by BJP will
provide relief to the
people.”
‘PREV GOVT’S
FAILED TO SOLVE
WATER ISSUES’
PM's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' policy inspired
by Guru Ravidas's teachings: CM Adityanath
Lucknow: PM Naren-
dra Modi’s ‘Sabka
Saath, Sabka Vikas’
policy is inspired by
the teachings of Guru
Ravidas, Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minis-
ter Yogi Adityanath
said on Wednesday as
he paid obeisance at
the revered icon’s
birthplace here.
Adityanath reached
the Ravidas temple at
the Seer Govardhan
premises in the morn-
ing, paid his respects
to the 15th-16th centu-
ry poet and also had
‘prasad’ at the ‘langar’
served.
“It’s maghi poorni-
ma today and also the
birth anniversary of
Guru Ravidas, who
was born in the holy
land of Kashi at Seer
Govardhan. Today,
lakhs of people are ex-
pressing their respects
towards the sadhgu-
ru,” he told reporters
here.
“Under PM Modi’s
leadership, we are tak-
ing forward to all the
‘Sabka Saath, Sabka
Vikas’ policy which is
also inspired by Saint
Ravidas’s teachings,”
Adityanath added.
The chief minister
also shared a short
video clip on social
media of himself at
the langar.
“Got the privilege of
receiving prasad at
the langar at ‘Seer Go-
vardhan’, the birth-
place of Saint Shiro-
mani Guru Ravidas ji,
who illuminated hu-
man society in the
light of human values
and thoughts like love,
unity, and social har-
mony,” he tweeted in
Hindi.
In another tweet,
Chief Minister Yogi
shared one more video
of his visit to the tem-
ple along with a cou-
plet of the mystic poet
from Varanasi who
enjoys a nationwide
following, especially
among a section of the
Dalits. —PTI
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pays obeisance to Guru Ravidas
on his 645th birth anniversary at Sant Ravidas temple, Seer
Govardhanpur, in Varanasi on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI
POSTAL BALLOT!
Government employees who are engaged in poll duty cast their votes through postal
ballots at the facilitation centres set up by the Election Commision at Jai Narayan PG
college in Lucknow on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY SUMIT KUMAR
‘Khaki’ to ‘Khadi’ contest in
Kannauj crosses UP borders
M Tariq Khan
Lucknow: After hitting
the headlines for IT
raids, Kannauj, better
known as the perfume
city, is making wave in
UP polls for a different
reason across the
state-borders.
The contest on the
Kannauj (sadar) seat in
is being discussed in
the political and admin-
istrative circles of Mad-
hya Pradesh, probably
more than any other.
There are two rea-
sons for it: First Asim
Arun is the brother of a
senior IAS officer in MP
and second BJP has en-
trusted MP coopera-
tives minister Arvind
Singh Bhadoria the re-
sponsibility to ensure
BJP wins the seat.
Bhadoria happened
to be the first MP minis-
ter to visit Uttar
Pradesh after getting
the responsibility
.
The minister had
made visits to the con-
stituency and set the
strategy after mobiliz-
ing his loyalist party
workers. He is known as
a poll strategist.
Asim Arun’s sister is
a principal secretary
rank official in the MP
government, while his
brother-in-law is a MP
cadre IPS officer due to
which the seat is in fo-
cus both in IAS and IPS
circles of UP. BJP lead-
ers in UP say that the
former cop enjoys a
clean image and it will
help him winning the
seat.
Kannauj Sadar seat is
one of the toughest re-
served constituencies
and a SPstronghold.
Apart from Bhadoria,
farmer leader and MP
farmer welfare and ag-
riculture minister Ka-
mal Patel has been as-
signed the responsibili-
ty for the Aligarh re-
gion and he has con-
ducted Kisan Chaupals
to convince people to
vote for the BJP.
Ex-IPS Asim Arun addresses a political conference in Kannauj.
Asim Arun’s
sister is a
Principal Secy
in MP govt,
while his
brother is an IPS
in the state
BJP govt means end of mafia raj, gunda raj: Modi
First India Bureau
Sitapur: Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi on
Wednesday said that
the BJP Government
meant end of mafia raj
and gunda raj, freedom
to celebrate festivals,
safety and honour of
girls and women, as
well as continuous
work with double speed
for the poor and the
needy
.
Urging voters to
break their own record
in terms of votes to give
BJP landslide victory
in the state assembly
elections, PM Modi said
that the double engine
government is working
with double force to
make Uttar Pradesh, Ut-
tam Pradesh.
“Our mantra is ‘Sab-
ka saath, sabka vikas,
sabka vishwas and sab-
ka prayas’. That’s why
we gave top priority to
saving lives of people
during the cornavirus
pandemic. Modi added
that Dalits, OBCs and
poor among upper
castes also were getting
free ration under the
double engine govern-
ment.
Modi said that the
Chief Minister of UP
Yogi Adityanath has
worked tirelessly in the
last five years to pro-
mote the cotton and
woollen industry of Si-
tapur, which were ne-
glected by the previous
governments” through
One District One Prod-
uct (ODOP) scheme.
He also said that trad-
ers are much safer un-
der the BJP regime
than during the SP rule.
A supporter at PM Modi’s rally in Sitapur on Wednesday.
DOUBLE ENGINE
SP used to make Kattas, BJP govt will
manufacture Brahmos in Lko: Rajnath
Lucknow: Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh
on Wednesday attacked
SP saying “kattas (local-
ly-made pistols) were
commonly made during
its rule, but in BJP they
will be replaced by
Brahmos missiles.
Addressing election
rallies in Malihabad
(Lucknow) and Babu-
purva (Kanpur), Singh
said such a missile is
now going to be made in
Lucknow, as can be
fired at the enemy from
400-600 kms away
.
Praising Jai Devi, the
BJP candidate from Ma-
lihabad seat, and her
husband Union Minis-
ter Kaushal Kishor, Ra-
jnath said Lucknow will
witness manufacture
of big guns now.
“BJP fufills promis-
es. We had said that Ar-
ticle 370 will be abol-
ished, and when we got
a majority in Parlia-
ment, it was done, he
said.In Kanpur, Singh
attacked SP saying that
socialism has not
touched it in any way
.
“A socialist is one
who can provide solu-
tions for hunger and
fear of the common peo-
ple. There is only one
person who is doing
such work in politics
and that is our PM Nar-
endra Modi. —PTI
Rajnath being feted at a
political rally in Malihabad on
Wednesday.

UTTAR PRADESH
03
This SP candidate has been to jail 251 times but is not a criminal
First India Bureau
Lucknow: He is one of
the oldest student lead-
ers contesting the polls.
He is better known
for making a record of
sorts by going to jail
more than 251 times in
his 40-year-long career.
MeetRavidasMehrotra,
the Samajwadi Party
(SP) candidate from
Lucknow Central. Meh-
rotra, 66, an alumnus of
Lucknow University
,
has had a chequered ca-
reer with more downs
than ups but that has
not lessened his zeal for
social work.
About his jail record,
Mehrotra says, “All the
cases against me are re-
lated to demonstrations
and protests held by me
during my university
days and after that,
when I joined politics. It
speaks for the fact that I
have been a fighter all
along.Thereisnotasin-
gle ‘criminal case
against me.”
“The SP government
willbeagovernmentfor
the downtrodden and
those denied justice, be
it Muslims, Dalits,
Christiansandespecial-
ly Brahmins, who have
been persecuted under
the BJP government.
We will make sure we
bring ‘vikas’ to all, irre-
spective of caste, com-
munity and religion,”
Mehrotrasaysandadds,
“We are standing by the
claim that “roti, kapda
sasta ho, dava padhai
muft ho.”
He claims the Covid
oxygencrisishashitthe
people badly and that is
why the sitting MLA
from here, a minister, is
contesting from the
neighbouring constitu-
ency this time. “Why
did he have to run away
if not for SP’s apparent
victory?” he asks.
Mehrotra feels the
promise of restoration
of the pension scheme
if SP comes to power is
his biggest advantage
since his constituency
comprises mainly the
salaried class.
He says, “BJP has not
done anything for the
state’s development.
The law-and-order situ-
ation is bad and women
and children are not
safe.”
Lucknow: BSP supre-
mo Mayawati appealed
to voters on Wednesday
to extend their full sup-
port to her party in the
ongoing Uttar Pradesh
Assemblypolls,sayingit
is the only well-wisher
of thepeopleof thestate.
Addressing a public
meeting in favour of the
party nominees on Ravi-
das Jayanti here, the Ba-
hujanSamajParty(BSP)
chief paid glowing trib-
utes to Sant Ravidas.
She said the mystic
poet-reformer wanted a
government under
which everyone got
“roti, kapda aur
makan”, but those who
tried to gain political
mileage on his birth an-
niversary every year by
visiting his birth place
never took his message
seriously
.
Claiming that her
party has always fol-
lowed the path shown by
Sant Ravidas, Mayawati
recalled the steps taken
bythepreviousBSPgov-
ernments in the state as
well as many historical
projectsforpeopleinthe
poet-reformer’s name.
“Torealisethedreams
of Sant Ravidas, it is
very important to form
the government of the
BSP again. This will be
your true tribute to
him,” she said while ap-
pealing to the voters
that, “in this election,
instead of giving your
votetootherparties,you
have to give it to your
onlywell-wisher--BSP”.
“The BSP is contest-
ing all Assembly seats
alone to form a govern-
ment with full majority
,
like in 2007, to free the
state from the BJP’s
casteist, narrow and dic-
tatorial rule,” Mayawati
said, assuring the voters
thatallof theirproblems
will be resolved once her
party comes to power.
Those disturbing law
and order will be sent to
jail, false cases regis-
tered against those
staging protests will be
removed and the old
pension scheme for gov-
ernment employees
will be implemented,
she said. —PTI
First India Bureau
Lucknow: Manjit
Singh (30) who taught
sculpture at the Arts
and Crafts College,
Lucknow passed away
on Wednesday after he
lost his battle to physi-
cal illness.
Alok Kushwaha,
Dean of Arts and Crafts
College, Faculty of Fine
Arts, LU said Manjit
Singh had began teach-
ing in the Arts and
Crafts College, Luc-
know as a subject spe-
cialistsincelastyear.He
had completed his BFA
in 2016 and MFA (Sculp-
ture) in 2016 and since
his stint as a teacher in
the college was loved
both by students and
colleagues alike. The
Dean added that when
online classes began
due to Covid pandemic,
he worked hard to teach
his students about the
subject which made
him become popular
among the students. He
further added that his
wayof teachingencour-
aged the students to at-
tend his classes every
single day
.
Alok Kushwaha
heaped praise on the
late Manjit Singh by
saying that it was rare
to find a young sculptor
and artist with such a
keen interest in art his-
tory and understanding
of the subject. He added
that Manjit Singh was
selected for a govern-
ment job a few months
back but it was his love
and affection towards
Lucknow Arts College
and students that made
himstayandteachhere.
Dean Alok Kushwa-
ha, teachers, students
of the Arts and Crafts
College and painter
Bhupendra Kumar
Asthana paid heartfelt
tribute to Singh on his
untimely demise.
First India Bureau
Bahraich: Seven per-
sons including four
women were injured af-
ter political workers
opened firing following
heated arguments
during election cam-
paigning in Fultekra
village in Nawabganj
area here.
Police said Guru
Prasad of Fultekra vil-
lage was discussing pol-
lical scenario when
Rakesh Verma and his
supporters initiated ar-
guments. Rakesh and
his assciates were advo-
cating Samajwadi Party
(SP) while Guru Prasad
and other villagers were
praising BJP
.
Whenthematteresca-
lated Rakesh and his
supporters opened fire
on the villagers. It was
reported that Nirmala,
Ghanshyam, Savitri,
Subedar, Mamta and
Mahesh were injured in
the attack.
Police rushed to the
spot and registered
case against seven
miscreants.
CRUCIAL READ
KANPUR IRS OFFICER RAGHAV GUPTA
INVITED TO ACADEMY TO TRAIN OFFICERS
Kanpur: The Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy
of Administration conducts its flagship training pro-
gramme, the Foundation Course each year for the
young civil servants to enhance their pesonal and
leadership skills. This year 489 Officers who have
cleared the Civil Services Exam 2020 are undergoing
training. The Academy has identified Raghav Gupta,
IRS (2012 batch) as one of the experts in the field
of oral communication for delivering this module.
Gupta, an income tax officer from Kanpur, has been
invited for the module ending February 18.
5 MEMBERS OF
FAMILY KILLED
Barabanki: Five mem-
bers of a family were
among six killed when a
car rammed a stationary
truck on the Ayodhya-
Lucknow highway early
Wednesday, police said.
The family was returning
after attending a wed-
ding in Surat when the
accident took place near
village Narayanpur. Addi-
tional Superintendent of
Police, Purnendu Singh,
said the driver of the car
was among those killed.
RUCKUS OVER DEATH
OF YOUNGSTER
Pilibhit: Ruckus was
created after death of a
youngster in a de-addic-
tion centre in Ghajraula
area here. Family mem-
bers protested against
administration with
dead body and blocked
national highway for
hours. Police said Arun
Kumar of Naranpur
colony in Puranpur Na-
gar area, was shifted to
de-addiction centre on
September 24. He died
on Tuesday night.
‘BSPonlywell-wisherofpeople’
On Sant Ravidas jayanti, Maya
says her party always followed
pathshownbythepoet-reformer
7 ppl injured
in firing over
minor tiff
BSP supremo Mayawati addressing a rally at Smriti Upvan in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Those who try to gain
political mileage on
his (Ravidas’) birth
anniversary every
year by visiting his
birth place never take
his message seriously.
Mayawati
BSP Supremo
BSP president Mayawati on Wednesday paid trib-
utes to Guru Ravidas on his birth anniversary, and
cautioned against lead-
ers paying obeisance at
his birthplace in “Seer
Govardhan” for selfish mo-
tives. The party supremo
extended tributes to crores
of followers of Ravidas
living in the country and
the world, and referred
to the work done by her
government in honour of
the saint. Alleging that the Samajwadi Party renamed
Sant Ravidas Nagar as Bhadohi due to its casteist
mentality and political hatred, Mayawati said the BJP
government too did not restore the name.
MAYAWATI PAYS TRIBUTES TO
SANT RAVIDAS ON BIRTH ANNIV
Young Lucknow Arts College
teacherManjitSinghisnomore
Student union support to BJP
candidate Suresh Awasthi
First India Bureau
Lucknow: The for-
mer office bearers of
student union on
Wednesday met at Ca-
nal Road to extend
support to Suresh
Awasthi, BJPcandi-
date from Arya Nagar
constituency
.
All the leaders stat-
ed that Suresh Awas-
thi started his journey
into politics while be-
ing a student and was
even elected as Gener-
al Secretary and Presi-
dent of DAV College.
They added it was a
matter of great pride
that BJP had fielded
him from Arya Nagar
assembly constituen-
cy
. In the meeting, all
the student’s unions
office bearers of Arya
Nagar Vidhan Sabha
seat unanimously de-
cided to extend their
support to Suresh
Awasthi on February
20, so that he and BJP
win from the seat with
a huge majority
.
The meeting was
attended by Om
Prakash Tiwari,
Manoj Singh, Chhotu
Tripathi, Piyush
Singh, Santosh Shuk-
la and many other for-
mer office bearers of
the student union.
Ravidas Mehrotra during door to door campaigning in Lucknow.
—PHOTO BY ASHOK DUTTA

PERSPECTIVE
04
mid the reported rift at the
top order and dissolving
all national posts on Sun-
day… there was good news
for the Trinamool Con-
gress on Monday when it
made a clean sweep in the
civic polls to four munici-
pal corporations in West
Bengal that is Bidhanna-
gar, Siliguri, Chanderna-
gore and Asansol. TMC
retained Bidhannagar by
winning 39 out of 41 seats
while the Opposition BJP
and the CPI(M) failed to
open their account. The
Congress managed to bag
one seat, and an Independ-
ent candidate secured vic-
tory in a ward. In Chand-
ernagore, the TMC bagged
31 of the 32 seats, while the
CPI(M) won in one.
In fact, the epicentre of
theverdictepisodeisTMC’s
winning the prestigious
Siliguri Municipal Corpo-
ration (SMC) by defeating
the CPI(M)-led Left Front,
wheretheTMCpocketed37
out of 47 seats. The BJP
,
however, managed to get
the status of opposition by
clinching only five seats,
whiletheLeftwasrelegated
to the third position as it
managed to win four seats
and the Congress only one!
But we shall concentrate
later in this article on how
the Left is still managing to
retain its relevance albeit
not in a great way and in
politics every move counts
as they say
.
A look at the vote share
may be bewildering. The
TMC’s (vote) share in
Siliguri was 78.72 per cent,
while the BJP and CPI(M)
managed to bag 10.64 per
cent and 8.5 per cent of the
votes polled respectively
.
West Bengal Chief Min-
ister Mamata Banerjee
wasted no time to an-
nounce that party leader
Gautam Deb, who won by
a margin of 3,000 votes,
would be the next mayor
of SMC. It may be recalled
that it was at the Siliguri
Municipal Corporation…
The Left and Congress
came together in 2015 to
keep the TMC out of pow-
er and had made an elec-
toral arrangement called
the ‘Siliguri Model’. Sen-
ior CPI (M) leader and for-
mer Mayor of the Corpo-
ration Asok Bhattacharya
who had brought the Left
and Congress together,
lost from Ward Number 6.
The results and the pat-
tern of TMC’s win indicate
the highest ever support
for a ruling party in West
Bengal and political ob-
servers very rightly have
raised questions of the ex-
istence and relevance of
Opposition parties. In at
least 17 wards of the Bid-
hannagar Municipal Cor-
poration, TMC candidates
mustered more than 80%
votes and in a particular
ward the percentage of
votes polled in the favour
of TMC was 95%.
Polls to another 108 civic
bodies across 20 districts
are scheduled on February
27. TMC has won three of
thelocalbodiesunopposed.
A look back would reveal
that TMC had also won the
Kolkata Municipal Corpo-
ration election held in De-
cember 2021. The TMC had
bagged134outof 144wards.
The BJP finished second
with just three seats.
In the Assembly general
election results while the
Left – the CPM, CPI, Revo-
lutionary Socialist Party
(RSP) and Forward Bloc –
secured only 5.87% of the
polledvotes…inthestate…
in south Bengal’s urban
pockets, especially in the
areas which fall inside 100
km from Kolkata, Left can-
didates bagged 10-20% of
the polled votes. This was
in sharp difference to their
show especially in the ru-
ral areas, mainly in dis-
tricts away from the city of
Kolkata, like north Bengal
and southwestern Bengal,
where Left candidates got
2-4% votes.
In the urban areas of
Hooghly, Howrah, North
24 Parganas, Bardhaman
and even in Nadia, Left
candidates (especially
those of CPM), secured 12-
15% votes. However, Left-
backed Congress candi-
dates did not get that much
votes even in urban areas.
Meanwhile, interesting-
ly… as soon as the results
were out, Jayaprakash Ma-
jumder once again blamed
the state leadership of the
BJP
. It may be recalled that
he was expelled from BJP
a few days ago. He blamed
them for the current situa-
tion of the Saffron camp in
the state. He attacked state
president Sukant Majum-
der, general secretary (or-
ganization) Amitabh
Chakraborty and Amit
Malviya. He claimed that
the new leadership wanted
to usurp power by elimi-
nating the old party. He
further added that a con-
spiracy is being hatched
within the party to bring
40 per cent of the vote back
to 4 per cent.
Jayprakash also said
just going to the court and
the Raj Bhavan won’t help.
The state leadership has to
stand by its committed
workers who had worked
overtime to help the party
win 18 Lok Sabha seats in
West Bengal in 2019. On the
other hand, Dilip Ghosh
said, “Votes have been loot-
ed. Nominations have been
blocked by using gangster
police to nullify the Oppo-
sition. Attempts have been
made everywhere to block
the election, to zero in on
the Opposition. The vote
did not go well and the re-
sults reveal the same. The
court will decide.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
A
ROBIN ROY
The writer is Senior Associate Editor,
Free Press Journal, Mumbai and
former Managing Editor, First India
CIVIC POLLS: RIFT OR NO RIFT,
TMC DOESN’T DRIFT FROM WINNING SPREE
INTERESTINGLY, IN
ALL FOUR CIVIC BODIES

z Asansol, Biddhannagar, Chandannagar and
Siliguri – put together, TMC received 61%
vote share while the BJP managed 14.5%

z The Left Front, which failed to win even a
single seat in the Assembly polls last year,
fared better by getting 16.75% vote share

z The Congress managed to get only 3.5% of
the vote share. Although it failed to make
much headway in the civic polls to the four
municipal corporations

z The Left Front’s 16.75% vote share ahead
of the Saffron party’s 14.5% may boost its
workers morale for another fight for 108
local bodies on February 27
IN THE BIDHANNAGAR
CIVIC ELECTIONS

z The Left Front bagged 10.7% of the polled
votes against TMC’s whopping 73.95%,
BJP’s 8.37% and Congress’s 3.42%

z In Chandannagar, the party’s vote share
increased to 26.40% from 18.5% in the last
Assembly polls. The BJP came third with a
9.80% vote share

z In Siliguri too, the Left Front with a 17.39%
vote share trailed TMC (47.14%) and the BJP
(23.24%), but ahead of the Congress (5.32%)

z BJP’s sitting MLA Shankar Ghosh also lost
and ranked third. In the last Assembly polls,
the saffron party had bagged the Siliguri
seat with more than a 50% vote share
LEFT STILL RELEVANT?
AFTER MASSIVE WIN ON
FEBRUARY 14, 2022
Mamata Banerjee @MamataOfficial
It is once again an overwhelming victory
of Ma, Mati, Manush. My heartiest
congratulations to the people of Asansol,
Bidhannagar, Siliguri Chandanagore for having put their
faith and confidence on All India Trinamool Congress
candidates in the Municipal Corporation elections.
West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata
Banerjee shows
victory sign as she
celebrates TMC win in
Kolkata on Monday.
Smriti Z Irani@smritiirani
Deeply saddened by the demise
of musical maestro Bappi Lahiri.
His timeless music will continue
to enthral generations to come.
My heartfelt condolences to Bappi
Da’s family, friends and millions of
admirers across the globe. Om Shanti!
Kiren Rijiju@KirenRijiju
Commitment of @narendramodi
Ji’ Govt for Judicial infrastructure
is so apparent. In the last 7
years Government has released
more funds under the Centrally
Sponsored Scheme for Judicial
Infrastructure in District and Subordinate Courts.
TOP TWEETS
SPIRITUAL SPEAK
Thousands of candles can be lighted
from a single candle, and the life of the
candle will not be shortened. Happiness never
decreases by being shared.
—Buddha
alu Prasad Ya-
dav, the former
Bihar Chief
Minister and
Rashtriya Ja-
nata Dal chief, is headed
back to prison in the fa-
mous Rs 950-crore fodder
scam. A CBI court in
Ranchi convicted him in
the fifth case pertaining to
the scam in which Rs 139.5
crores were fraudulently
withdrawn from Doran-
da’s treasury in Ranchi.
Giving Lalu (73) company
in the case are 74 other ac-
cused. Their sentencing is
due on February 21. The
case dates back to 1995-96
and Lalu has already
spent time in jail but not
the entire cumulative pe-
riod of about 20 years of
his sentence. Most of the
time he has been in a hos-
pital because of uncon-
trolled diabetes and other
health issues.
That nemesis has caught
up with Lalu, a Bihar
strongman for whom was
coined the popular slogan
“jab tak samose me aaloo,
tab tak rahega bihar me
Lalu”. Lalu is there in Bi-
har but is now a pale shad-
ow of his once towering
figure. Should a prison
term alone be enough for
high-profile public figures
who defalcate public mon-
ey? If Lalu has been con-
victed in cases involving
crores of rupees, shouldn’t
he and the other accused
be ordered to cough up the
amount? In 1998 the In-
come-Tax department did
file a disproportionate as-
sets case against Lalu,
claiming that the former
CM had amassed Rs 46
lakh from government
treasury
. Lalu’s wife Rabri
Devi was also charge-
sheeted in the case. How-
ever, a special CBI court
acquitted the two in 2006.
After a long legal battle,
Lalu’s challenge to his ac-
quittal in the case was up-
heldbytheSupremeCourt.
FODDER SCAM STILL
HAUNTS LALU YADAV
A CBI court in Ranchi convicted him in the fifth
case pertaining to the scam in which `139.5 crores
were fraudulently withdrawn from Doranda’s
treasury in Ranchi. Giving Lalu (73) company in
the case are 74 other accused
L
l Vol 2 l Issue No. 97 l RNI NO. UPENG/2020/80229. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Amar Ujala Ltd. B-5 Amausi Industrial Area Kanpur Road Lucknow.
Published at 98, Friend’’s Colony, Raheem Nagar, Dudouli Road, Madiyaon, Lucknow (UP). Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra. Editor: Vishal Srivastav responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act

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New Delhi: Union
Home Minister Amit
Shah on Wednesday
lauded the Delhi Police
for its “strict” and “fair”
investigation in the
northeast Delhi riots
andsaidtheforceshould
layoutaroadmapforthe
next five years and also
for 25 years.
Shah, who was ad-
dressing the 75th Rais-
ing Day parade of Delhi
Police said, the force not
only did an “exceptional
job” during the COV-
ID-19 pandemic but also
thwarted several terror
attempts during the pe-
riod.
“The Delhi Police has
worked hard during the
northeast Delhi riots
andthecoronaviruspan-
demic. For the way the
DelhiPoliceinvestigated
the riot cases in a strict
andfairmannerandpre-
sented the rioters in
court, I congratulate
them,” Shah said.
The minister said the
DelhiPolicefacesseveral
difficultiesandbeingthe
police force of the na-
tional capital, it has sev-
eral duties that include
providingsecuritytodig-
nitaries, ensuring that
various programmes
happen without glitches
and other law and order
related matters.
“Whenever any event
happens at an interna-
tional level, its repercus-
sions are also felt in
Delhi. The police also
has the job of monitor-
ing the situation here,”
he said.
Shah said the 75th
birthdayof theDelhiPo-
lice coincides with the
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahot-
sav celebrations and
stressed that the force
should prepare a road
map for the next five
years.
“The Delhi Police has
changed with the times.
I urge the Delhi Police
commissioner and the
Unionhomesecretaryto
prepare a road map for
thenextfiveyearsand25
years with well-defined
goals,” he said. Paying
tribute to the 79 police
personnel who lost their
livesduringthepandem-
ic, he praised the efforts
of the force by battling
the pandemic by stand-
ing in front row. —PTI
INDIA
05
Mahesh Sharma
New Delhi: Arvind Ke-
jriwal, the Chief Minis-
ter of Delhi and Nation-
al Convener of Aam
Aadmi Party, gets vari-
ous surveys done on
smallest of issues. He
has such a technique to
get these surveys con-
ducted that they issue a
normal mobile number
instead of toll free and
in two-four days the re-
sponse of lakhs of peo-
ple comes on the same.
At present, surveys are
conducted in states,
where the population is
less, otherwise the re-
sponse would have been
in crores. He conducted
a survey to decide the
chief ministerial candi-
date in Punjab, in which
more than 23 lakh re-
sponses were received
on a mobile number in
four days and 93 percent
liked Bhagwant Mann.
Similarly, it has been
two weeks since Punjab
Chief Minister Charan-
jitSinghChannibecame
the candidate from Bha-
daur seat of Malwa re-
gion and Arvind Kejri-
wal got the survey done
thrice there. Kejriwal
also got the survey done
thrice on Chamkaur Sa-
hib, the traditional seat
of Channi. Now the
question arises if he is
runningapoliticalparty
or a survey agency?
Channi is losing in both
his surveys. In Delhi
also, he has been con-
ducting surveys and
many times he has has
got posters and hoard-
ingsputupof theresults
of that alleged survey
.
Once he had put up a
poster of AAP’s win-
ning survey in the Delhi
University Students’
Union elections as well.
It is a different matter
that his party could not
win even a single seat. A
special feature of his
survey is that every
time it is his party that
wins and the Opposition
parties lose and even
where there is no win-
win case, he get the de-
sired results on the sur-
vey at least!
Kejriwal and his survey propoganda machine!
Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma discusses HNLC peace talk issue
with MHA Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Wednesday.
AAP SURVEYS!
Channi is losing in both
his surveys. In Delhi also,
he has been conducting
surveys and many times
he has has got posters
and hoardings put up of
the results of that alleged
survey.
MAMATA ANGRY OVER
‘STUCK’ RAJYA SABHA SEAT
Hijab row: Rana
Ayyub booked over
‘terrorists’ remark
Sangma meets Home
Secy over peace talks
with militant outfit
WB: Counting of votes for
108 local bodies on Mar 2
Moni Sharma
New Delhi: West Ben-
gal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee is
upset with the party’s
political campaign in
Goa since the ‘rosy
picture’ drawn before
her regarding her par-
ty’s electoral chances
and the assurance
given to her, have
turned to be nought.
She is said to be most
upset that a Trina-
mool Congress Rajya
Sabha seat got stuck in
the affair of Luizinho
Flario. According to
informed sources,
Flario had joined Tri-
namool cracking a
major deal. It was
then said that he
would contest the as-
sembly elections and
would vacate the Ra-
jya Sabha seat after
winning. It is being
told that Mamta Ba-
nerjee was going to
give that Rajya Sabha
seat to Yashwant
Sinha. But at
the last mo-
ment, Flario
has refused to
contest the as-
sembly elec-
tion.
The term of
the Rajya
S a b h a
seat of Luizinho Fler-
io is till April 2026. He
is 70 years old and
even if he doesn’t do
anything, then too he
will remain a member
of upper house till
2026. He will be of no
use to the Trinamool
Congress after the Goa
assembly elections are
over. Mamata also
feels that she will
hardly contest
the Lok Sabha
elections in
2024. That’s
why she is angry
with the
leaders
a n d
elec-
tion strategist
Prashant Kishor who
has pitched Trinamool
in Goa. After the Rajya
Sabha seat was not va-
cated, Mamata has
made Yashwant Sinha
a member of the par-
ty’s National Working
Committee. Now keep
in mind that no seat is
being vacant in West
Bengal in the biennial
elections to the Rajya
Sabha this year. In
Bengal, six seats will
be vacant in August
next year and five in
April of 2024. There-
fore, all Trinamool
leaders will have to
wait till then.
New Delhi:Anadvocate
has filed a complaint
with the Mumbai Police
against journalist Rana
Ayyub over ‘derogatory
remarks’ against stu-
dents holding saffron
flags while protesting
againstwearinghijabby
Muslim girl students in-
side educational institu-
tions. The complainant,
advocate Ashutosh,
claimed that in an inter-
view with BBC World
News, Rana Ayyub said
that “students with saf-
fron flags in Karnataka
are terrorists”. —PTI
New Delhi: Meghalaya
Chief Minister Conrad
Sangma on Wednesday
held a discussion with
Union Home Secretary
Ajay Kumar Bhalla over
the issue of peace talks
with the banned mili-
tant outfit Hynniewtrep
National Liberation
Council (HNLC).
“Following the re-
quired process to take
forward the peace talks
with HNLC, met the
Home Secretary of the
Ministry of Home Af-
fairstodiscussthesame.
The Government of
Meghalayaiscommitted
to see this through,”
Sangma tweeted after
the meeting.
The move comes days
after the HNLC offered
to sit down for peace
talks with the Central
and the Meghalaya state
governments without
any pre-conditions. The
outlawed militant made
the announcement
through a press release.
On Feb 8, in a state-
ment issued by HNLC
general secy-cum-pub-
licity secretary Sainku-
par Nongtraw said that
the organisation has de-
cided to give peace a
chance after receiving a
lot of requests from el-
dersandsocialorganisa-
tions over past few days.
“After consultations
with elders recently
, we
have decided to come to
a peaceful pact with the
GOM (Govt of Megha-
laya) and the GOI (Govt
of India),” the militant
group had said, adding,
“
As of now we are ready
to talk within the ambit
of the Indian constitu-
tion and we are ready to
have talks without any
pre-conditions.” —ANI
Kolkata: The counting
of votes for 108 munici-
palities going to polls
on February 27 will be
held on March 2, an-
nounced West Bengal
state election commis-
sion on Wednesday
.
“On being satisfied
that in the Municipal
General Elections to the
108 Municipalities, 2022
the Counting of Votes
cannot conveniently be
done immediately after
thecloseof thepollatthe
polling stations as pro-
vided under Section 12
of the West Bengal Mu-
nicipal Elections Act,
1994 for the said Constit-
uenciesundertheabove-
noted Municipalities,
the West Bengal State
Election Commission
hereby directs that the
MunicipalReturningOf-
ficers concerned shall
arrange strong rooms
for storing of polled
EVMs and counting of
votes on 02.03.2022 at a
central place of the re-
spectiveMunicipalareas
to be fixed and notified
bythemintermsof Rule
61B of the said Rules,”
the Election Commis-
sion said. The elections
to 108 municipalities in
the state will be held on
27 February. —PTI
75TH RAISING DAY PARADE
Shah lauds Delhi Police for
fair probe in N-E Delhi riots
Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Delhi Commissioner
of Police Rakesh Asthana releases a special postage stamp
commemorating Delhi Police platinum jubilee following the 75th
Raising Day parade of Delhi Police at Police Lines, in Delhi on
Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI
HOME MINISTER AMIT
SHAH INSPECTS PARADE
As a Chief guest, Union Home Minister
Amit Shah was also present who took the
salute and inspected the parade and also re-
leased ‘Delhi Police Commemoration Stamp’
along with MoS (Communications) De-
vusinh J. Chauhan and Rakesh Asthana, in
recognition of 75 years of glorious services
rendered by Delhi Police to its citizenry. In
his welcome address, the Commissioner of
Police while greeting the guests, presented a
brief on evolution of Delhi Police in inde-
pendent India under guidance of visionary
Home Minister Sardar Patel.
Modi takes part in ‘Shabad
Kirtan’ in Karol Bagh
New Delhi: On the oc-
casion of Sant Ravidas’
birth anniversary,
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi on Wednesday
(February 16, 2022) of-
fered prayers at the
‘Shri Guru Ravidas
Vishram Dham Man-
dir’ in Delhi’s Karol
Bagh. The Prime Minis-
ter visited Shri Guru
Ravidas Vishram Dham
Mandir in the national
capital and took part in
‘Shabad Kirtan’, and
interacted with the dev-
otees. The Prime Minis-
ter also shared a video
clip of him taking part
in the ‘Shabad Kirtan’
at the Temple and
called it ‘very special’.
Earlier on Tuesday, PM
Modi had hailed the
mystic poet and said
that he dedicated his
life to eliminating evil
practices such as
casteism and untouch-
ability
. —PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Shri Guru Ravidas Vishram
Dham Mandir at Karol Bagh in Delhi. —PHOTO BY ANI
PM Modi: Cong failed to merge
Kartarpur Sahib within India
Pathankot: Launching
a scathing attack at
Nehru-Gandhi dynasty,
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi on Wednesday
slammed the Congress
Government for failing
to merge Kartarpur Sa-
hib, the final resting
place of Guru Nanak
Dev, within India’s terri-
tory during partition in
1947, or after wins in
subsequent wars.
“Even during the 1965
war, Congress did not
bother to take back the
land. During the 1971
war, Then the govern-
ment sitting in Delhi
would have returned
90,000 Pakistani soldiers
on the condition that it
returned the Tapobhu-
mi of Guru Nanak Dev
Ji Kartarpur Sahib Gur-
dwara.”
“When the country
waspartitioned,thepeo-
ple of Congress were
there, did they not un-
derstand enough that
Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s
Tapobhoomi should be
kept in India at a dis-
tance of 6 km from the
border. Congress people
havecommittedacrime,
crushed our senti-
ments,” he added.
He further said that
the BJP gave recogniza-
tion to this heritage of
India all over the world.
“We are a dedicated
people,wearealsoproud
of our heritage, the re-
sponsibility of develop-
ment is also in front of
us.WecelebratePrakash
Parv of Gurus with full
faith not only in the
country but all over the
world. Recognize this
heritageof Indiaallover
the world,” he added.
The Prime Minister
accused Congress of be-
littlingandinsultingthe
sacrificesof thesoldiers
whodiedduringthe2016
Pathankot attack. He
praised Captain Ama-
rinder Singh, saying
that he was in Congress
earlierandstoppedsuch
intentions of the party
.
“But now, he has also
left,” Modi said.
He also attacked dy-
nasty politics. “Wher-
ever we win, we oust
remote-control govern-
ment and appeasement
and dynasty politics,”
he said. —ANI
PM PROMISES
PUNJAB DEVP
When the country was partitioned, the people of Congress were there, did they not under-
stand enough that Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Tapobhoomi should be kept in India at a distance
of 6 km from the border. Congress people have committed a crime, crushed our sentiments.
—Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

INDIA
06
Sharat K Verma
New Delhi: The Chief
Ministers of the states
ruledbyanti-BJPparties
have once again started
acampaignof solidarity
.
Usually this work is
done during Lok Sabha
elections but in the last
few days, one after the
other, decisions of the
central government
have been such, due to
whichthestatesruledby
theoppositionhavebeen
troubled. Whether it is
the matter of increasing
the scope of the BSF’s
jurisdiction or changing
the rules of deputation
of All India Services of-
ficers to the Center or
the matter of reducing
the share of states in
central taxes, all have
raisedtheconcernof the
state governments.
That is when Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister
MK Stalin, West Bengal
Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee and Telanga-
na Chief Minister K
Chandrasekhar Rao
have taken the initiative
of solidarity. All three
have talked to each oth-
er and it is learnt that
Chandrashekhar Rao
has said that he will
soon head to Mumbai
and talk to Maharash-
tra Chief Minister Ud-
dhav Thackeray
. He also
told that Mamata Ba-
nerjee is going to come
to Hyderabad. Mean-
while, MK Stalin said
that a meeting of Chief
Ministers of anti-BJP
parties will be held in
Delhi soon.
Now the question is
whether the Congress
party will attend this
meeting or not? So far,
noneof thethreeopposi-
tion chief ministers
have spoken to the Con-
gress. The Congress has
three chief ministers
and all three have op-
posed the central gov-
ernment’s decision af-
fectingCentre-staterela-
tions. In Punjab, due to
the increase in the juris-
diction of BSF, almost
theentirestatehascome
under the ambit of this
central force. But like
the chief ministers of
other states, the chief
ministers of these three
Congress-ruled states
cannot decide on their
own. If Stalin, Mamata
and Rao take any initia-
tive then one has to talk
to Rahul Gandhi about
it. Stalin and Rao can
hold talks but both have
to take Mamata Baner-
jee’s consent as well.
As far as Congress-
backed governments are
concerned, the Chief
Minister can decide in-
dependently
. Mamata
Banerjee went to Mum-
baitomeetMaharashtra
Chief Minister Uddhav
Thackeray and met Adi-
tya Thackeray and San-
jay Raut. Similarly
,
Jharkhand Chief Minis-
ter Hemant Soren can
also do politics separate-
ly from Congress. Only
then it will be interest-
ing to see what the Chief
Ministers of the Con-
gress and the govern-
ments running with its
support,dointhis initia-
tive of the opposition
Chief Ministers? The
Tamil Nadu govern-
ment also has the sup-
port of the Congress,
but there Stalin’s party
DMK enjoys an absolute
majority on its own.
WHAT WILL THE CONGRESS CHIEF MINISTER DO?
SHOWCASING SOLIDARITY
New Delhi: The exit
of senior leader
Ashwani Kumar from
the Congress has once
again brought to the
fore simmering ten-
sion in the party.
While the party main-
tained a silence, lead-
ers of the ‘G-23’ group-
ing in the party said
his exit shows all is
not well in the party.
Senior party leader
Ghulam Nabi Azad
said exit of “leader af-
ter leader” from the
party is a “matter of
serious concern”.
Azad, Congress depu-
ty leader in Rajya Sabha
Anand Sharma and Lok
Sabha MP Manish
Tewari said it is time the
partyholdsaseriousand
sincere introspection.
Allthreeof themaresig-
natories to the letter 23
senior leaders — or G-23
—had written to Con-
gress president Sonia
Gandhi in August 2020,
calling for sweeping
changes in the party
.
Several leaders on
the condition of an-
onymity said they
would not be
s u r-
prised
if the
party
faces an implosion after
March 10 if the Assem-
bly election results are
not in its favour.
“It is a matter of great
concernthatleaderafter
leader are leaving the
party
. (Ashwani) Kumar,
I think, is the fourth or
fifth former Union min-
ister who has left, be-
sides a large number of
leaders and workers at
various levels across the
country
,” Azad said.
Azad, a member of
Congress Working
Committee and former
Leader of Opposition
in Rajya Sabha, said
this shows the Con-
gress needs to do a lot
of introspection to find
the cause of these exits.
It is not right to say
these leaders are going
at the behest of any in-
dividual, or (any) party
.
There must be some
disquiet within the
party (that) makes even
hardcore Congress
leaders uncomforta-
ble.” Tewari and Vivek
Tankha called Kumar’s
exit “sad” and
“unfortunate.”
Bhupinder Singh
Hooda, former Haryana
chief minister and an-
other G-23 leader, tweet-
ed, “The news of Sh
Ashwani Kumar leav-
ing Congress is sad and
unfortunate. He is an
old dear friend and one
belonging to a freedom
fighter’s family
.”
Tewari said, Ashwani
Kumar and I worked to-
gether in Dr Manmohan
Singh’s government. He
and I have had civilised
differences on a number
of issues. However, even
if a small worker leaves
the party, it calls for in-
trospection.”
AFTERASHWANIKUMAR’SEXIT,CONG
G-23 LEADERS CALL FOR INTROSPECTION
While the party leadership has remained silent on Kumar’s exit, the G-23 have called a review
Mumbai: Maharashtra
chief minister Uddhav
Thackeray has extend-
ed support to his Telan-
gana counterpart K
Chandrasekhar Rao for
the latter’s efforts to
unite political organisa-
tions against the BJP
and the NDA.
Thackeray’s tele-
phonic conversation
with KCR is seen as a
statement amid its on-
going tussle with the
BJP-led central gov-
ernment. Earlier this
week, the Telangana
chief minister said he
would visit Mumbai to
meet his Maharashtra
counterpart. A Shiv
Sena leader informed
that Rao is expected to
visit Mumbai around
February-end to meet
Thackeray
.
“Uddhav ji, in his
brief conversation, ex-
tended support to the
Telangana CM’s efforts
to unite regional parties
to join forces against the
Centre. This is in line
with what Uddhav ji has
been saying in the over-
reach of the Centre.
Thackeray dials
KCR, extends support
in fight against BJP
New Delhi: Tax offi-
cials on Wednesday
conducted searches at
the offices of Chinese
tech giant Huawei, the
firm said, days after
New Delhi banned a
host of Chinese apps
over national security
concerns.
Tensions between
New Delhi and Beijing
have been running high
since a deadly 2020
clash in Ladakh. The
latest volley from India
saw officials from its in-
come tax department
search Huawei's prem-
ises in Gurgaon, on the
outskirts of capital
New Delhi, and in Ban-
galore, according to the
company
.
We have been in-
formed of the visit of
income tax team to our
office and also of their
meeting with some per-
sonnel, Huawei India
said in a statement
emailed to AFP
.
Huawei was confi-
dent their operations in
India were firmly com-
pliant to local laws and
they would fully cooper-
ate with the authorities,
the statement added.
The government au-
thorities were not im-
mediately available for
comment.
Local media reports
said the officials were
looking at the financial
documents, account
books, and Huawei's In-
dian businesses as well
as overseas transac-
tions. Earlier this week,
the home ministry
banned 54 mobile appli-
cations of Chinese ori-
gin, including the popu-
lar game Garena Free
Fire, several news out-
lets reported.
India is the world's
second-biggest market
by number of phone us-
ers, and the government
has justified the bans on
the apps, saying they
threatened its sover-
eignty and integrity
.
Tax searches on Chinese
telecom giant Huawei Haryana: Bharatiya
Kisan Union national
spokesperson Rakesh
Tikait on Wednesday
condoled the death of
actor and farm activist
Deep Sidhu in a car ac-
cident and ruled out
speculation that a con-
spiracy was at play.
Terming Deep Sid-
hu’s passing a “tragic
incident”, Tikait told,
“I don’t believe there
was a conspiracy be-
hind [his] death. He
was travelling on the
highway and it was re-
ported that his car
rammed [into a truck]
from behind. It seems
to be an accident, the
rest is a matter of in-
vestigation.”
Asked about Deep
Sidhu’s alleged involve-
ment in the violence
that erupted at the Red
Fort during the farm-
ers’ tractor march on
January 26 last year, Ti-
kait admitted that it
gave the farmers’ agita-
tion a bad rap. He, how-
ever, claimed that the
actor was taken to the
scene by authorities in
a bid to implicate the
protesting farmers.
“We did not tamper
with the tricolor, there
was a bare pole and a
religious flag was un-
furled from it. It was a
conspiracy by the
government to defame
the farmers’ union and
the entire movement.
Deep Sidhu got
caught up in this
chakravyuh [trap] of
the govt,” said Tikait.
Chaotic scenes were
witnessed at the Red
Fort in Delhi during the
farmers' tractor parade
onRepublicDayassome
miscreants clashed with
the police. Deep Sidhu
was arrested in Febru-
ary 2021 by the Delhi
Police in connection
with the violence.
Police claimed that
the actor-activist par-
ticipated in the protest
with the intentiontocre-
ate violence and that he
was the main instigator
of unlawful assembly
.
TikaitcallsSidhu’sdeath
‘tragic’,rulesoutconspiracy
SERIOUS CHARGES
MK Stalin, Mamata Banerjee and K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Punjab: A day after former Union Law Minis-
ter Ashwani Kumar quit Congress, party leader
Manish Tewari on Wednesday called the decision
unfortunate and said that the ambition for Rajya
Sabha seat makes people do many things.
Addressing a press conference in Ludhiana today,
Tewari said, Whenever a leader quit Congress
party, it's a loss for us. Ashwani Kumar who left
Congress yesterday was Rajya Sabha MP from
Punjab Congress. It's a very unfortunate deci-
sion for us. The ambition for a Rajya Sabha seat
makes people do many things, the Congress
leader added. Former Union Law Minister and Con-
gress leader Ashwani Kumar on Tuesday resigned
from Congress after a long association of 46 years
with the party. Ashwani Kumar was a part of the
UPA term two government's cabinet. Currently, he
was not holding any main profile in the Congress
party and did not have a post in the AICC.
‘LOSS FOR US’: TEWARI ON
ASHWANI’S RESIGNATION
COMING TOGETHER
DIG INTO FINANCIAL DOCS
Local media reports said the officials were
looking at the financial documents, account
books, and Huawei’s Indian businesses as well
as overseas transactions. Earlier this week, the
home ministry banned 54 mobile applications of
Chinese origin, including the popular game Garena
Free Fire, several news outlets reported. India is
the world’s second-biggest market by number of
phone users, and the government has justified
the bans on the apps, saying they threatened its
sovereignty and integrity.
LIQUOR BOTTLE RECOVERED
Haryana: A partially consumed bottle of liquor was
recovered from the ill-fated car of Punjabi actor
Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident on Tuesday
near Sonipat in Haryana. An FIR has been registered
for rash and negligent driving against the driver of
the truck with which the actor's car collided. Viscera
samples of the actor have been collected. We re-
trieved a partially consumed liquor bottle from Deep
Sidhu's car. It is a case of rash and negligent driv-
ing. An FIR has been registered. The driver has been
identified and police teams are trying to nab him.”
New Delhi: The
NIA on Wednesday
carried out a search
operation at three
places in Kashmir
Valley in the case of
“radicalising, moti-
vating and recruit-
ing” youth of Jam-
mu and Kashmir by
outlawed terrorist
organisation LeT.
The agency con-
ducted the search
operation in coordi-
nation with Jammu
and Kashmir Police
and CRPF person-
nel. The agency
said it seized in-
criminating mate-
rial and digital de-
vices during the
search operation.
The case pertains
to radicalisation
and recruitment
of youth in JK
for violent activi-
ties in the erst-
while state and
other parts of the
country by Sajjad
Gul, Salim Rehma-
ni alias Abu Saad
and Saifullah Sajid
Jutt, the command-
ers of LeT and The
Resistance Front.
New Delhi: Delhi
police have taken a
person into custody
after he tried to
drive into National
Security Adviser
Ajit Doval’s resi-
dence.
The incident oc-
cured today around
7.30 am when a per-
son tried to enter
Mr Doval’s resi-
dence in a car today
.
He was stopped and
taken into custody
by the Central In-
dustrial Security
Force (CISF) per-
sonnel who guard
Mr Doval’s resi-
dence. The NSA is
secured under the
top Z category of
CISF commandos.
Ajit Doval was
present at his resi-
dence when the in-
cident took place.
NIA raids
sites in JK in
terrorism
related cases
Man held for
attempting to
enter NSA’s
residence
Manish Tewari
K Chandrasekhar Rao
Ajit Doval
—FILE
PHOTO
Uddhav Thackeray
It is a matter of great concern that
It is a matter of great concern that
leader after leader are leaving the
leader after leader are leaving the
party. I think, is the fourth or fifth
party. I think, is the fourth or fifth
former Union minister who has left.
former Union minister who has left.
—Ghulam Nabi Azad, Senior Congress Leader
Anand Sharma
Rakesh Tikait
Will Congress CMs
attend the meeting
led by anti-BJP
CMs in New Delhi?

NEWS
07
THIS TIME,
PUBLIC WANTS
CHANGE, SAYS
MADHU GAUTAM
In the third phase of elections
in UP, the candidates of every
party have put their full strength
in the election campaign, while
Bilhaur’s seat in the ten
assembly seats of Kanpur
remains in the headlines these
days. Today, people from all
sections of society participated
in BSP candidate Madhu
Gautam’s about 10 kilometers
padayatra. Talking to First India,
Gautam said that people were
upset with the neglect meted out
by sitting MLA and this time the
public wanted change. The way
enthusiasm of the public was
continuously increasing, what
was in the mind of the public
was evident. Thousands of
people gathered in her support
in today’s padayatra procession,
including Muslims, upper
castes, backward, etc. As a
matter of fact, in this Bilhaur
assembly, BSP was going to win
with a large number of votes on
March 10. —First India Bureau
ACTION AGAINST
THREE COPS FOR
MISBEHAVING
WITH BAJRANG
DAL WORKERS
Three police constables were
sent to police lines after
allegations of misbehaving with
Bajrang Dal workers during
arguments over a minor
dispute. Police sources said that
the bike collided with an
e-rickshaw in Haldaur police
station area on Tuesday night
where Bajrang Dal worker Ashish
Balyan was supporting an
e-rickshaw driver. The E-rickshaw
driver was asking compensation
for the damage caused while
policemen were trying to clear
traffic ignoring the matter. Ashish
had arguments with policemen
over the damage of the e-rickshaw
when police constables allegedly
misbehaved with him. Following
this, Bajrang Dal workers, Vishwa
Hindu Parishad officials protested
against the police department and
demanded actions against accused
policemen. After investigations,
Kuldeep Gupta, deputy
superintendent of police sent three
police constables Naresh Puniya,
Jubair, and Anuj to police lines and
a further probe was underway.
—Janaradan Misra
WILL SEND MINISTER’S SON TO
JAIL IN LAKHIMPUR CASE: YADAV
Auraiya: Samajwadi
Party president Akh-
ilesh Yadav on Wednes-
day condemned the
state government over
grant of bail to union
minister Ajay Mishra’s
son in Lakhimpur case,
saying he would ensure
that the culprit and his
protectors go to prison
when he comes to pow-
er. “The minister’s son
who trampled farmers
has got bail from court.
The government did not
pursue the case as it
should have been.
SP assures you all
that our government is
coming when it does,
the case will be pursued
in such a manner that
not only the one who
took the life of farmers
will go to jail but also
those patronizing
them,” Akhilesh said
addressing an election
meeting. Union Minis-
ter of State for Home
Ajay Mishra’s son Ash-
ish Mishra is an ac-
cused in the Lakhimpur
Kheri incident which
had left eight people, in-
cluding 4 farmers, dead.
Mishra was recently
granted bail and was re-
leased from Lakhimpur
Kheri jail after his ar-
rest in October last year.
Faced with continuous
attack on the law and
order situation during
his government, Akh-
ilesh said that those
who want to take law in
their hands need not
vote for his party in the
coming elections. He al-
leged that Yogi Aditya-
nath is the only CM in
the country who has
withdrawn cases lodged
himself. “’Babaji’ is lev-
elling allegations the
most but see the work of
their government too. Is
the IPS not absconding?
a trader was not beaten
in the name of extortion
by the police leaving
him dead?
There would not have
been a Lakhimpur-like
incident in a world
where a peaceful dhar-
na’ by farmers was go-
ing on and a Jeep comes
and tramples them,”
Akhilesh said. Seeking
votes from the elector-
ate for making a new
UP”, he said his party if
comes to power will fill
all vacant posts and will
announce some more in
police. The SP presi-
dent, who has already
promised implementa-
tion of the old pension
scheme for the govern-
ment employees as per
their long standing de-
mand, also tried to woo
the unemployed youth
with a promise to relax
the age limit to help
them get jobs. —PTI
AkhileshslamsUPgovtovergrantofbailtoMoSAjayMishra’ssoninLakhimpurcase
Akhilesh Yadav addressing at a public meeting in Kannauj on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI
—FILE PHOTO
Madhu Gautam during her padayatra with her supporters
‘PARTY DOESN’T BELIEVE IN DOUBLE TALK’
“Due to Corona, many people have crossed the
age limit for getting jobs. If we have to give age
relaxation, then Samajwadis will also work in this
direction,” he said. Akhilesh claimed that the voting
pattern so far has made the BJP workers gone
numb. He also reiterated his manifesto promises like
free electricity, free ration, restoration of old pension
to government employees, and the Samajwadi
pension. He said that both the SP patriarch Mulayam
Singh Yadav and the party is known for fulfilling all
their promises as they do not believe in double talk.
SP assures you all
that our govt is com-
ing and the case will
be pursued in such a
manner that not only
the one who took the
life of farmers will go
to jail but also those
protecting them.
—Akhilesh Yadav, SP Chief
Shahjahanpur: FIR
lodged against BJP
candidate, supporters
Shahjahanpur: Al-
leging that firing was
done at their resi-
dence by the BJP can-
didate and her sup-
porters after the poll-
ing on Monday, the
son of Samajwadi
Party candidate from
Tilhar assembly con-
stituency here has
lodged an FIR, police
said. Earlier on Mon-
day night, a report
was also filed by the
supportersof theBJP
candidate Salona
Kushwaha against
seven people includ-
ing SP candidate Ro-
shanlal Verma under
serious sections for
beating up a BJP
worker. Following a
ruckus between sup-
porters of the BJP
andtheSPcandidates
after the conclusion
of polling in Tilhar
assembly seat of
Shahjahanpur on
Monday
, Verma’s son
Manoj Kumar alleged
that firing was done
ontheirhouse,Super-
intendent of Police S
Anand said on
Wednesday
. Kumar
has lodged a case
against the BJP can-
didate Kushwaha and
her 26 named and
about 250 unnamed
supporters, the SP
said. BJP candidate
Salona Kushwaha in-
stigated her support-
ers and she along
with others opened
fire with their li-
censedweaponsatthe
SP candidate’s ‘kothi’
on Monday night and
also pelted stones, the
SP said. —PTI
Salona Kushwaha
A large number
of police and
PAC personnel
have been
deployed in the
area as a
precautionary
measure, SP
added
Accusing
young
woman,
constable
kills self
First India Bureau
Agra: The news of
thesuicideof acon-
stable in Agra has
stirred the entire
police department.
Jail police consta-
ble Jitendra Singh
(26) committed sui-
cide by hanging
himself on Tues-
dayinvillageNagla
Arjun under the
Khandauli police
station area. Jiten-
dra Singh, a resi-
dent of Rasgma
village of Saipau
police station in
Hathras, was ad-
mitted to the jail
police only five
months ago and
was presently post-
ed in Baghpat Dis-
trict Jail. Jitendra
was living with his
maternal uncle
Atar Singh in
Khandauliforafew
days. According to
the information,
before committing
suicide, Jitendra
hasmadeavideoof
himself viralonso-
cialmediainwhich
he is seen crying
and taking the
name of a young
woman and is also
accusing the girl
and her family
members.
The cop’s body was
found hanging from a
noose in the room.
BJP lodges complaint with EC over
attack on party leader SP Baghel
Lucknow: Union Min-
ister Anurag Thakur
and other BJP leaders
on Wednesday filed a
complaint with Election
Commission over an al-
leged attack against
Union Minister SP
Singh Baghel. Baghel is
the BJP candidate from
the Karhal Assembly
seat, from where Sama-
jwadi party president
Akhilesh Yadav is also
contesting the UP as-
sembly election.
The senior BJP lead-
er’sconvoywasattacked
with stones and sticks
near Attikullapur vil-
lageinManipuridistrict
of UP on Tuesday eve-
ning. As per reports, the
BJP leader escaped un-
hurt during the attack.
However, the window of
avehicleinBaghel’scon-
voy was hit by stones
and shattered. The BJP
hasstronglycondemned
the attack on Baghel. UP
Deputy CM KP Maurya
alleged that Samajwadi
Party “goons” were be-
hind the incident. The
incident took place in
Rahmatullahpur village
of Thana Karhal when
Baghel was out during
campaigning in the area
ahead of the second
phase of UP Assembly
polls and was on his way
to Atikullapur village
withotherpartyleaders.
There were some people
salreadypresentoutside
the village who began
pelting stone at Baghel’s
cavalcade.Avehiclewas
damaged in the attack,
though the people were
not hurt. The police
were informed but by
the time they reached
the spot, the stone
pelters had fled. —ANI
Union minister Anurag Thakur along with former state
president of BJP Lakshmikant Bajpai and other leaders giving
memorendum at state election commission office over the attack
on SP Baghel, in Lucknow on Wednesday.
‘Z’ CATEGORY SECURITY BY CISF, MHA
LAKHS OF DEVOTEES TAKE HOLY DIP IN GANGA
Prayagraj: Amid the
Covid pandemic, lakhs
of devoteestooktheholy
dip in the Ganga river
here on the auspicious
occasion of Magh Purn-
ima on Wednesday
. Dis-
trict’s Senior Superin-
tendent of Police Ajay
Kumar said that elabo-
rate security arrange-
ments have been made
for the Magh Purnima
more than 150 CCTV
cameras have also been
installed. An official of
Prayagraj Mela Authori-
ty said that since morn-
ing, around 7 lakh peo-
ple, including children,
elderly women, have
taken the holy dip in the
GangaSangam.People
are likely to take bath in
the Ganges till late eve-
ning, he added. The
crowd is being moni-
tored from the Integrat-
ed Command Control
Center,theSSPsaid.—PTI
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kushal Giri Maharaj performs aarti
in the Ganga river on the occasion of Magh Purnima during the
ongoing Magh Mela festival, at Sangam, in Prayagraj on Wednesday.
22%candidatesin3rdphasehavecriminalbackground
First India Bureau
Lucknow: As many as
135, or 22%, of the 623
candidatescontestingin
the third phase of As-
sembly elections in UP
have criminal cases
against them, non-profit
organisation the Associ-
ation for Democratic Re-
forms said on Tuesday
.
It also said that 103, or
17%, have serious crim-
inal cases like those of
murder, kidnapping
rape registered against
them. Cases have been
filed against 20 candi-
dates from BJP, 21 from
Samajwadi Party, 18
from BSP, 10 from Con-
gress and 11 from Aam
Aadmi Party. Each of
these parties has fielded
around or more than 50
candidates for the 3rd
phase of the UP Assem-
bly elections that will
take place on February
20. The ADR has catego-
rised 26 out of 59 con-
stituencies as “Red
Alert” since three or
more candidates from
there have declared
criminal cases against
themselves.
In 2020, the Supreme
Court had directed po-
litical parties to upload
details of criminal cas-
es against candidates
on their websites, news-
papers and social media
platforms. The court
had said that a party
must clarify the rea-
sons for fielding a can-
didate with criminal
antecedents. “The di-
rections of the Supreme
Court have had no ef-
fect on the political par-
ties in [the] selection of
candidates,” the report
said. “All major parties
contesting in UP phase
III elections have given
tickets to 22% to 52%
candidates who have de-
clared criminal cases
against themselves.”
ADR has suggested
that candidates that
have cases of murder,
rape, smuggling and
dacoity must be dis-
qualified permanently.
—REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE
TAINTED CANDIDATES

COVID-19
UPDATE
WORLD
58,59,609
TOTAL DEATHS
33,94,74,044
TOTAL RECOVERED
7,12,79,963
ACTIVE CASES
41,66,13,616
TOTAL CASES
INDIA
5,09,903
TOTAL DEATHS
4,18,43,446
TOTAL RECOVERED
3,70,209
ACTIVE CASES
4,27,23,558
TOTAL CASES
08
2NDFRONT
T
he Election Com-
mission is carry-
ing out the most
important task of
democracy in a fair and
smooth manner. Addi-
tional Chief Electoral
Officer (ACEO) of UP
,
Brahm Dev Ram Ti-
wari, discussed in de-
tail several aspects of
the election with
Gyanendra Kumar
Shukla, Editor (News)
First India. Excerpts:
 The voting percent-
age in the first two
phases crossed the
figure of 60 per cent
but it was less as
compared to the last
elections.
More than 62 percent
voting took place in the
first phase and 64.43
percent in the second
phase. The turnout has
definitely been a little
less than last time. In
some districts, the en-
thusiasm of the voters
was definitely low, but
in many places the poll-
ing figures have been
encouraging. There has
been some adverse ef-
fect due to cold weather
and Covid factor, but in
the coming phases we
are expecting better
weather and better vot-
ing percentage.
 In many places, po-
litical parties are
complaining about
the officers posted in
the field. What effec-
tive action has been
taken so far?
Reports are taken on
all the complaints re-
ceived, as per rules. The
concerned report is
sent at the prescribed
levels. Every report is
duly tested. Then ap-
propriate action is tak-
en within the ambit of
the rules.
 What steps have
been taken to fulfil
the crucial responsi-
bility of conducting
fair and free elec-
tions?
Many measures have
been taken for the first
time in this election.
Special arrangements
have been made for the
elderly and specially-
abled persons. They
have been given the fa-
cility of voting through
postal ballots. To en-
sure transparency, mi-
cro observers keep a
close watch. Photogra-
phy of the entire pro-
cess of voting is being
done. Agents of the par-
ties are also given an
opportunity to be pre-
sent. AA new KYC
(know your candidate)
app has been launched.
Through this, the voter
can get complete infor-
mation about the candi-
dates, including details
of criminal record,
property, and educa-
tion. In this election,
the scheduled time of
voting has been extend-
ed by one hour. Follow-
ing the Covid protocol,
arrangements have
been made for masks
and sanitisers at the
polling stations. Taking
special care of trans-
parency, live webcast-
ing is being done in
more than fifty percent
booths. When questions
were raised on the
EVMs, the use of
VVPAT machines was
started to strengthen
the trust in this system.
Till date, no complaint
has been received from
across the country re-
garding this foolproof
system.
 The ideal condition
of democracy de-
mands that the vot-
ing percentage
should be more than
seventy percent, but
this seems to be not
happening. How will
this average in-
crease?
Efforts are being
made at every level to
increase the voting
turnout. However,
there are many so-
cio-economicreasons
for why people shy away
fromvoting.Anyway
,no
one can be forced to
vote; our job is to pro-
vide better facilities,
better environment, so
that there is no incon-
venience in voting and
everyone can exercise
their franchise.
 Instances of errors
in EVMs have also
come to the fore, and
political parties have
demanded to rectify
‘slowing of votes’ fol-
lowing EVM mal-
functioning.
It is natural that it
will take some time to
complete the voting
process on the machine.
Agents of all parties are
present at every booth.
I will not comment on
facts and allega-
tions of political
parties. The alle-
gation of slowing
down the pace of
voting has not
been estab-
lished anywhere.
 Some areas in
the eastern region
of UP are consid-
ered very
sensitive.
What ar-
range-
ments are being made
for such areas?
The sensitivity of an
assembly constituency
is decided on the basis
of several parameters.
Security arrangements
have been made more
effective in all such
identified areas. Cen-
tral and paramilitary
forces have been de-
ployed here as per the
requirement.
UPBEAT MOOD
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a roadshow for Congress candidates in Kanpur on
Wednesday. —PHOTO BY SUMIT KUMAR
‘EXPECTING BETTER WEATHER,
BETTER VOTING PERCENTAGE’
Q
A
‘AAP’sedumodelinspiredbyRavidas,Ambedkar’
First India Bureau
Varanasi: The educa-
tion model presented by
the Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP)inDelhiisderived
from the thoughts of
Guru Ravidas and B R
Ambedkar, party leader
Sanjay Singh said here
on Wednesday
.
Singh, AAP’s in-
charge for UP
, said this
afterpayingobeisanceat
Guru Ravidas temple at
Seer Govardhan, the
placeof birthof themys-
tic poet-reformer on the
occasion of his birth an-
niversary
. Singh said
GuruRavidasworkedall
his life against casteism
and discrimination in
the society and contin-
ued to inspire people
through his life lessons.
“The education model
presented in Delhi by
Arvind Kejriwal is de-
rived from Sant Ravidas
and Bhim Rao Ambed-
kar’s thoughts and
works towards making
India an educated na-
tion,” he told reporters.
“The AAP not only re-
spects Sant Ravidas but
tries to follow the path
shown by him and abide
by his thoughts. I have
come to express my re-
spects and on behalf of
Delhi CM Arvind Kejri-
wal, our Punjab leader
Bhagwant Mann and all
otherworkersof thepar-
ty
,” Singh said.
After his visit to the
temple, the AAP leader
took to social media to
saythatheprayedforthe
prosperity of the nation
and hoped that the in-
valuable thoughts of
Guru Ravidas on “love,
brotherhood and amity”
will continue to guide
everyone.BesidesSingh,
CMYogiAdityanathand
senior Congress leaders
Rahul Gandhi and Pri-
yanka Gandhi Vadra
also visited Varanasi on
Wednesday to pay re-
spects to Guru Ravidas. First India Bureau
Lucknow: Union
Minister Piyush Goy-
al on Wednesday hit
out at former Chief
MinisterAkhileshYa-
dav and Opposition
parties in Uttar
Pradesh, saying that
they had “created an
environment of fear”
in the state. Citing
Union Minister SP
SinghBaghel’sallega-
tions of an attack
against him by Sama-
jwadi Party workers,
the Minister of Com-
merce and Industry
also said the party
had “showed their re-
ality once again”.
Union Minister SP
SinghBaghel(Yadav’s
BJP rival in Karhal)
hadfiledanFIR,alleg-
ing a ‘violent’ attack
by Opposition work-
ers and supporters.
The incident had pur-
portedly taken place
on Tuesday night,
with the lawmaker
claiming that he had
sustained injuries as
his convoy was at-
tacked “with illegal
weapons” by around
20-25 people.
“I heard them say-
ing that Minister (Ba-
ghel himself) should
be killed here itself
and let’s get his elec-
tion done right now”,
the Union Minister
had said. The group,
he added, had raised
slogans of ‘
Akhilesh
Bhaiya Zindabad’.
“They showed
their reality once
again. I think Akh-
ilesh Yadav is per-
turbed after SP Singh
Baghel was fielded
against him. He (Ba-
ghel) was attacked.
Union Minister Anu-
rag Thakur has
lodged a complaint
with the Election
Commission about
it,” Goyal said in
Lucknow. Following
the incident, Baghel
has reportedly been
provided ‘Z’ category
security by CISF.
First India Bureau
Varanasi: Punjab
Chief Minister Cha-
ranjit Singh Channi on
Wednesday paid obei-
sance at the birthplace
of Guru Ravidas on the
occasion of his birth
anniversary
.
The mystic poet en-
joys a nationwide fol-
lowing, especially
among a section of the
Dalits. “On the occasion
of Sri Guru Ravidas
Jayanti, paid obeisance
at Sant Shiromani Guru
Ravidas Janam Asthan
mandir in Varanasi. Let
us imbibe his teachings
of love, compassion,
mutual tolerance and
oneness of mankind,”
Channi tweeted.
Channi reached the
Seer Govardhan prem-
ises here in the morn-
ing and took the bless-
ings of Sant Niranjan
Das. He then spent some
time there offering ‘Ar-
das’. Later, he was of-
fered a ‘Saropa’ by the
trustees and Sant
Niranjan Das.
Piyush Goel campaigns at Daliganj, in support of BJP
candidate from Lucknow North constituency Neeraj Bora.
Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi with pilgrims from Punjab
during his visit to the Ravidas temple on the occasion of Ravidas
Jayanti, in Varanasi, on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY PTI
Punjab CM pays obeisance at
Ravidas’sbirthplaceinVaranasi
CHANNI REMARK
SPARKS
CONTROVERSY
New Delhi: Days
before Punjab
votes, Chief Minis-
ter Charanjit Singh
Channi has provoked
a controversy with his
remarks on not letting
“Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
de bhaiye” enter the
state. Congress leader
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
was next to him at a
roadshow when he
made the comment.
“Priyanka Gandhi is
Punjab’s daughter-in-
law, she is the bahu
of Punjabis. Bhaiyas
from UP, Bihar, Delhi
cannot come here
and rule. We will not
allow UP bhaiyas to
stray into Punjab,”
Channi said in Punjab,
with Priyanka Gandhi
smiling and clapping.
Supporters cheered
and shouted “Bole so
nihal...”.
Piyush Goyal slams
Akhilesh Yadav
Goyal said
Baghel’s
attackers had
raised slogans
of ‘Akhilesh
Bhaiya
Zindabad’.
If you measure your success by
how society views you then it will
be forever a shifting benchmark.
—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO Editor-in-Chief, First India
First India Bureau
Lucknow: Hemant
Rao, a 1987 batch IAS
officer who is currently
posted as ACS, Empow-
erment of Persons with
Disabilities, as well as
Chief of Secretariat
Administration (SAD),
suffered a heart attack
on Wednesday follow-
ing which he has been
admitted to Medanta
hospital, Lucknow.
He is currently sta-
ble and out of danger
but he will undergo
surgery once all the
tests have been com-
pleted.
Rao has also served
as ACS to Uttar Pradesh
Governor Anandiben
Patel.
ACS Hemant Rao suffers
heart attack, hospitalised
Sanjay Singh in Varanasi on
Wednesday. —PHOTO BY PTI
—PHOTO
BY
SUMIT
KUMAR

LUCKNOW, THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY 17, 2022
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia
facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09
ANITA HADA
anita.hada@firstindianews.com
eri neend ude te
ud jaaye…
Bindiya Cham-
kegi, Chudi
khankegi …
Lata Man-
g e s h k a r
crooned as
Mumtaz wooed the reticent
Rakesh Khanna, looking ab-
solutely stunning in an or-
ange saree, gajra, bindi, ban-
gles. Coupled with her imp-
ish sexiness the song has
become one of the biggest
hits and would not be fair to
say Mumtaz’s best. But Do
Raaste is actually not about
the love story of Khanna and
Mumtaz even though with
Chup Gaye Saare Nazaare
and Mere Naseeb Mein ae
dost, one might be misled
into thinking the same.
With the pandemic, many
have had a forced or chosen
‘homecoming’ and in a way,
the theme of Do Raaste is
relevant again as people
with different outlooks and
attitudes live together as a
family
. Once again, we are
close-knit as try to compro-
miseandadjusttoeachother
to keep a family together.
As a child, I would be an-
gry at Balraj Sahni for not
being harsh with Bindu as
sheselfishlyandwithschem-
ing breaks the ‘home’ built
so lovingly with sacrifice
and love but today I can un-
derstand the positives of the
stoic Balraj. Bindu as the
‘evil bahu’ gives a stellar per-
formance and much of the
film is enacted as Rajesh
Khanna and Bindu spar- she
for her own interests and he
for the ‘family’. Bindu had
no songs in Do Raaste but a
powerful ‘vamp’ role which
she did full justice to.
Thetrialsandtribulations
of middle-class India were
depicted with emphasis on
respect of elders, relations
are supreme, mother-power
and the sanctity of joint fam-
ily
. Raj Khosla hit upon a
‘winning formula’ and to
date, hundreds of directors
have followed suit.
Rajesh Khanna dominat-
ed the scenes as the angry
young man, upholding fam-
ily values with little care
of high-society- a man
who puts his elder step-
brotherandBhabhifirstand
foremost.Veenaasthemoth-
er and Kamini Kaushal as
the Bhabhi play supporting
roles though on reflection
one does wish they had han-
dled things better rather
thanbeingdoormatsinfront
of Bindu. K L Sigal’s Ek
Bangla bane nyara – the
song echoes as the family
disintegrates – is haunting
and a masterpiece.
Essentially, the lesson is
clear- as a family
, we all will
face problems sometimes in-
ternal and many times ex-
ternal. We all have Do
Raaste- two paths in front of
us- do we stay united as a
family and sort things out
with compromise and love
(not sacrifice) or do we allow
‘trials’ to break our family?
We all choose…daily…
BINDIYA
BINDIYA
CHAMKEGI
CHAMKEGI
T
THIS THROWBACK THURSDAY WE BRING YOU DO RAASTE, A 1969 FAMILY DRAMA
WHICH CELEBRATE THE AGE-OLD THEMES OF FAMILY, LOVE, SACRIFICE AND MORE.
POST PANDEMIC, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY HAS DEFINITELY BEEN
REINFORCED AND ‘TOGETHER WE CAN’ IS THE KEY PHRASE FOR THIS GEN TOO!

10
ETC
F
A
C
E
O
F
T
H
E
D
A
Y
AKSHARA KHANNA, Blogger
LEO
JULY 24 - AUGUST 23
Your depressing thoughts
vanish as a special friend or
relative arrives to lift up
your spirits. Those fed up
of frequent travelling will be able to
do something about it. Some major
changes may be initiated in a property
owned by you. You will need to
become proficient in everything.
LIBRA
SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22
Family will be loving and
supportive of your ideas. A
ride to the countryside will
help some unwind.
Property issues are likely to get
settled in your favour. Distractions
may find your focus wavering on the
academic front. Someone you hate is
likely to turn over a new leaf.
ARIES
MAR 21 - APR 20
Take up meditation or yoga
for achieving a fit body and
mind. You will manage to
tie up a lot of loose ends
on the domestic front. Your desire to
visit someplace out of town is likely
to get fulfilled. You will manage to
book property that you had been
wanting to for long.
SAGITTARIUS
NOV 23 - DEC 22
Enjoying extra time on your
hands on the academic front
may not be possible today.
You enjoy good health by
remaining regular in your exercise
regimen. A guest arriving at home will
prove quite entertaining and lighten the
domestic atmosphere. Gains from
rented out property are foreseen.
GEMINI
MAY 21 - JUNE 21
Setting out early on a
journey will be in your
favour. A property matter,
pending for long, will
proceed smoothly and get your
dream house registered in your
name. Excellent academic perfor-
mance will help you catch up with
the lead pack.
AQUARIUS
JAN 21 - FEB 19
A family youngster may
need to be dealt with firmly
in regards to spending
money. You will need to
define your career goals clearly before
deciding what to pursue on the
academic front. You will be able to
overcome the feeling that nobody loves
or cares for you.
TAURUS
APR 21 - MAY 20
Selective eating will keep
you fit as a fiddle. Taking
up meditation will prove
beneficial for both body
and mind. A family youngster may
require a push from your side to gain
confidence in something attempted.
Adopting a more convenient route for
workplace is possible.
CAPRICORN
DEC 23 - JAN 20
You will have a good time
in the company of friends
or cousins. Going on a
short vacation in future
after lockdown restrictions just for a
break is possible. A property is likely
to be yours soon. You will be able to
maintain the tempo on the academic
front and fare well.
VIRGO
AUG 24 - SEP 23
A family get together may
find you in your element.
Travelling to meet
someone close is
indicated. A house or an apartment is
likely to come in your name.
Competition on the academic front
may unsettle you, but not discourage
you to put your best foot forward.
CANCER
JUNE 22 - JULY 23
Planning something
together with family will be
fun. Good news on the
professional front can
prove highly motivating. A different
mode of conveyance will be better
suited to your needs. A good price
can be expected for a piece of
property being sold.
PISCES
FEB20 - MARCH 20
Coming back in shape can
prove an uphill task for
some. You will go out of
your way to extend a
helping hand to a family member. Be
careful of property dealers promising
you the moon. Doing exceptionally
well on the academic front will add to
your prestige.
SCORPIO
OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22
You may get involved in
arranging something on
the family front. A loan you
had applied for will be
sanctioned. Remaining regular in
workouts is the key to achieve total
health. You get a chance to visit your
favourite place. Settling a property
deal is on the cards for some.
YOUR
DAY
Horoscope by
Saurabbh Sachdeva
stablished in 1982
under Section 5 of
the Rajasthan
Wild Animals and
Birds Protection
Act, 1951, Ra-
jasthan’s Ram-
garh Vishdhari Wildlife
Sanctuary is expected to be
formally announced any-
time as a tiger reserve. The
Centre and technical com-
mittee of the National Ti-
ger Conservation Author-
ity (NTCA) have already
given their consent to
grant tiger reserve status
to Ramgarh Vishdhari
Wildlife Sanctuary. If it
happens then after Ranth-
ambore, Sariska, and
Mukundra tiger reserves
in Rajasthan, Ramgarh
Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctu-
ary would be Rajasthan’s
fourth and 52nd tiger re-
serve in the country. This
initiative will strengthen
tiger conservation and in-
crease the tiger population
in Eastern Rajasthan.
On February 9th, 2022 as
a recent development, the
first-time movement of
four tigers have seen. Near
Chakan Dam T129 and
near Kamleshwar T110
and T59 have been spotted.
In search of territory for
the last one-month T129 is
in Ramgarh sanctuary.
4-year-old male tiger T115
has already been in Ram-
garh for the last 18 months
and it is presumed that the
tiger has made its abode in
Ramgarh sanctuary. It is
believed that from the for-
est of Kamleshwar T115 in
search of food and water
reached to Sakhavada Mej
River. From there the tiger
crossed the Indragarh
Buffer zone and went to
Ramgarh sanctuary
.
According to the forest
officials, 5-year-old male
tiger T110 and female ti-
ger T59 (mother of T115)
come very frequently to
Ramgarh from Rantham-
bore Tiger Reserve. The
place where all these ti-
gers have been spotted is
a few kilometres away
from the Sakhavada Mej
river in Ramgarh.
“Biodiversityof Bundiis
suitable and rich for tigers.
Due to tiger clashes and
pressure tigers are coming
out of Ranthambore Tiger
Reserve and making Ram-
garh as their destination,”
stated A.N.Gupta, DFO
Wildlife, Kota.
Tarun Mehra, Assistant
Conservator of Forests,
Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanc-
tuary, Bundi district in an
exclusive interview stated,
“In Bundi district, this
would be the third tiger re-
serve. As a unique feature,
once the official announce-
ment of Ramgarh Sanctu-
ary as the Tiger Reserve
will be made Bundi would
be the first district in India
where three tiger reserves
will be found.”
Mehra further said,
“The North area of Bundi
is the part of Rantham-
bore Tiger Reserve and the
southern area of the dis-
trictisthepartof Mukund-
ara Tiger Reserve. As Ram-
garh becomes the tiger re-
serve, the portion of
Southern Eastern Ra-
jasthan from Karauli to
Jhalawar districts will be-
come a territory. From
Mukundara and Rantham-
bore tiger reserves move-
ment of tigers is very often
or frequent in Ramgarh
sanctuary
. To protect a cor-
ridor there is no provision
in the wildlife protection
act. And hence as a corri-
dor between Mukundara
and Ranthambore and also
to protect that area the
Ramgarh Wildlife century
is decided to be announced
as a tiger reserve.”
Ramgarh Tiger Reserve
will be spread across 1,501
sq km. of reserve area
comprising three forest
blocks of Bhilwara; a cor-
ridor and territorial for-
ests block of Bundi along
with a part of Nainwa,
Hindoli, and Dabi; from
Kota to Bundi, the Nation-
al Chambal Ghadiyal Cen-
tury of Rajasthan will be
included as the core area
of the tiger reserve. Simi-
larly, the area of Ramgarh
Century will also be the
core area, and the remain-
ing part would be the buff-
er zone of the sanctuary
.
In the proposed tiger re-
serve a 225.6 sq. km. would
be the Core-I area and 256
sq. km. will be the Core-II
area for Tigers and 1019 sq.
km. will be preserved as
the buffer area. The core
areas of the sanctuary
have 8 villages with a pop-
ulation of 5000 and are
home to large numbers of
wild animals like samb-
hars, caracals, wild boars,
nilgai, and striped hyenas.
There are around 35 vil-
lages in the zone of influ-
ence of the sanctuary area.
It is pertinent to men-
tion that the tigers were
disappeared from the sanc-
tuary in 1999. During the
budget session in the year
2019, the Chief Minister of
Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot
showed interest to exam-
ine the Ramgarh area to be
made as to the Tiger Re-
serve. Later, the expert
committee and then NTCA
found the area suitable for
the Tiger Reserve. The
State Government of Ra-
jasthan has given nod to
develop Ramgarh as the
Tiger Reserve but the offi-
cial announcement will
soon be made just after its
notice gets published in a
gazette or a public journal.
ANUBHA JAIN
Journalist writer
E
RAMGARHVISHDHARIWILDLIFE
RAMGARHVISHDHARIWILDLIFE
SANCTUARYGEAREDUPTOBE
SANCTUARYGEAREDUPTOBE
THE4THINRAJASTHANAND52ND
THE4THINRAJASTHANAND52ND
TIGERRESERVEINTHECOUNTRY.
TIGERRESERVEINTHECOUNTRY.
ANEXCLUSIVEINTERVIEWWITH
ANEXCLUSIVEINTERVIEWWITH
THEASSISTANTCONSERVATOROF
THEASSISTANTCONSERVATOROF
FORESTS,RVWS!
RAMGARH VISHDHARI
RAMGARH VISHDHARI
RAMGARH VISHDHARI
RAMGARH VISHDHARI
RAMGARH VISHDHARI
RAMGARH VISHDHARI
RAMGARH VISHDHARI
RAMGARH VISHDHARI
RAMGARH VISHDHARI
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

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