18012022 first india jaipur

JAIPUR l TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764 l Vol 3 l Issue No. 223
New Delhi: Election
Commission of India
on Monday rescheduled
Assembly polls in Pun-
jab to February 20 after
political parties re-
quested the poll panel to
slot it until after festival
of Guru Ravidas Jay-
anti, which will be cel-
ebrated on February 16.
Polling in Punjab was
earlier scheduled for
February 14.
“They have brought
to notice that a large
number of devotees
start moving for Vara-
nasi around a week be-
fore the day of the cele-
bration, and keeping
the poll day on Febru-
ary 14 will deprive a
large number of elec-
tors from voting,” the
EC said in a statement.
“Following inputs
from state govt and
chief electoral officer,
past precedence, the
commission has decid-
ed to reschedule [the
polls],” ECI said. —PTI
2 INDIANS, 1 PAKISTANI KILLED
in blast from ‘drone attack’ in Abu Dhabi
Dubai: Two Indians
and a Pakistani nation-
al were killed on Mon-
day after a fire caused
by “small flying ob-
jects”, possibly drones,
triggered an explosion
that hit 3 petroleum
tankers in the UAE’s
capital Abu Dhabi, po-
lice said.
Another minor fire
broke out in the new
construction area of
Abu Dhabi Interna-
tional Airport. “Pre-
liminary probe suggest
that cause of the fires
are small flying ob-
jects, possibly belong-
ing to drones, that fell
in the two areas. Teams
were dispatched for
rescue operation. Abu
Dhabi police identified
the dead as two Indian
nationals and 1 Paki-
stani. At least six per-
sons were injured, po-
lice said, without dis-
closing their identity
.
—Agencies
YEMEN HOUTHIS CLAIM ATTACK
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed that they
have targeted the United Arab Emirates,
without giving details. Yemen’s Houthi group
has taken responsibility for several attacks on
Saudi oil facilities in the past. Abu Dhabi is
the UAE’s seat of government and steers the
country’s foreign policy. The UAE has been at
war in Yemen since early 2015, and was a key
member of the Saudi-led coalition that launched
attacks against the Iranian-backed Houthis after
the group overran the capital of Yemen and
ousted the internationally backed government
there.
UAE authorities have informed that the
explosion at Mussafah, near ADNOC’s
storage tanks, has led to 3 casualties,
which includes 2 Indian nationals. The
Mission @IndembAbuDhabi is in close
touch with concerned UAE authorities
for further details.
India in UAE
@IndembAbuDhabi
6 others were injured as 3
tanker trucks carrying fuel
exploded after catching fire
Gehlot lends a helping hand for minority upliftment!
`98 crore will be spent in various devp schemes
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Chief Minis-
ter Ashok Gehlot has
approved a revised
proposal to spend
`98.55 crore in various
schemes from the de-
velopment fund of `100
crore set up for the in-
clusive development
of the minority com-
munity.
According to the pro-
posal, `50 lakh for the
development of tradi-
tional skills of the peo-
ple of minority commu-
nity
, `1.25 crore for mar-
keting promotion and
assistance to minority
craftsmen, `21.80 crore
for the construction of
English medium resi-
dential school in Jaipur,
`2 crore for training in
internationallanguages
to make minorities em-
ployable, `5 crore will
be spent for construc-
tion of boundary walls
in Waqf land or grave-
yards, madrasas and
schools on public land.
Similarly
, `58 lakh for
developing e-study
rooms in 15 government
minority hostels, `44
crore for infrastructure
development in minori-
ty-dominated settle-
ments, `5 crore for in-
terest subsidy on loans
under Indira Gandhi
Urban Credit Card
Scheme, Maulana Azad
University
, Jodhpur. Ap-
proval has also been
given to spend `2 crore
for establishment of
‘Shodh Peeth’ for the up-
liftment of minorities,
`15.42 crore for solar
pump grant scheme to
minority farmers and
`1 crore for minority
meritorious youth pro-
motion scheme, as per
an official statement.
With this approval,
the minority commu-
nity will get better op-
portunities for skill de-
velopment, educational
activities and employ-
ment. Also, the overall
development of these
communities will be fa-
cilitated, the govt said.
CM APPROVES REVISED PROPOSAL
CM Ashok Gehlot
Abu Dhabi Airport
CRUCIAL READ
SUPREME COURT CLEARS AGENCY FOR
DEMOLISHING SUPERTECH TWIN TOWERS
40 NEW INDIANS
ENTER BILLIONAIRE
CLUB IN 2021: OXFAM
New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday approved the
proposition for demolition agency finalised by Noida
Authority to raze the twin towers of Supertech’s Emerald
Court housing project. SC directed Supertech to sign a
contract with demolition agency “Edifice” within a week,
after the developer informed that it has agreed to the
agency finalised by Noida Authority. On Jan 12, SC had
asked Authority to finalise name of agency for demolition.
New Delhi: During 2021,
40 new Indians became
billionaires, taking the
total count to 142, while
84 % of households in
India suffered a decline
in their income in a year
marked by tremendous
loss of life and liveli-
hoods, according to an
Oxfam report released on
Monday.In India, during
the pandemic (since
March 2020, through
to November 30, 2021)
the wealth of billionaires
increased from Rs 23.14
lakh crore ($313 billion)
to Rs 53.16 lakh crore
($719 billion), the report
titled ‘Inequality Kills’
briefing said. —ANI
SENSEX GAINS 86 PTS;
NIFTY ABOVE 18K
12 DEAD AS QUAKE
HITS WEST AFGHAN
Mumbai: BSE Sensex os-
cillated in a narrow range
of 277 points intra-day on
Monday, and eventually
ended at 61,309 levels, up
86 points or 0.14%. On
NSE, the Nifty 50 closed
at 18,309, up 53 points or
0.29 per cent. Among
sectors, the Nifty Auto
index was the top gainer,
up 2 per cent. —PTI
Herat: At least 12 people
were killed after an
earthquake hit western
Afghanistan on Monday.
Victims died when roofs
of their residential houses
collapsed in Qadis district
in the western province
of Badghis. The shallow
quake was magnitude 5.3,
according to US Geologi-
cal Survey. —ANI
OUR EDITIONS:
JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD,
LUCKNOW & NEW DELHI
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Now on Feb 20 after
appeal by CM, parties
IN THE COURTYARD
SC TO HEAR MAHA’S
OBC POLL QUOTA
PLEA ON JAN 19
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court on Monday said that
it will hear the Maharash-
tra Government’s plea on
Wednesday (January 19),
seeking to recall its order
to notify 27 per cent of
OBC seats as general seats
for local body elections. A
Bench headed by Justice
AM Khanwilkar posted the
hearing for Wednesday
after the counsel appearing
for Maharashtra said that
the government has filed
a petition urging the apex
court to recall its Decem-
ber 15 order. “We have
filed an application seek-
ing a recall of the order
dated December 15. Can
it be taken up on Friday or
Wednesday? The applica-
tion has been filed today,”
Maharashtra’s counsel told
the Supreme Court bench
on Monday.
SECURITY BREACH:
SC LAWYERS GET
THREAT CALLS AGAIN
New Delhi: Several
Supreme Court lawyers
on Monday said they had
received threatening phone
calls from international
numbers, allegedly from
pro-Khalistan group Sikhs
for Justice for the second
time in seven days, over
PM Modi security breach
during his visit to Punjab
on January 5. Advocate
Vishnu Shankar Jain,
Apoorv Shukla and Nishant
Katneshwarkar are among
those who received the
numbers with pre recorded
audio, threatening them
for lodging complaints
against SFJ. Last week, a
single caller urged judges
hearing the case that they
“must not assist PM Modi”
in punishing Sikh farmers.
The caller then brought up
the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
“WE ARE SHOUTING”: SUPREME COURT ON
DISRUPTIONS DURING ONLINE HEARINGS
New Delhi: A SC bench headed by CJI NV Ramana has
expressed unhappiness over repeated disruptions dur-
ing virtual hearings due to
the use of mobile phones by
several advocates, and said
it may have to ban participa-
tion through mobiles. Bench
comprising CJI and justices
Bopanna and Hima Kohli was
unhappy over fact that it had to
adjourn hearings in as many as 10 cases listed on Monday
due to disruptions from advocates’ end during proceedings.
4 COPS GET SHOW-CAUSE NOTICE FOR SECRET
MEETING BETWEEN PARAM BIR, SACHIN WAZE
Mumbai: A show-cause notice has been issued to four
police personnel on Monday in connection with the alleged
secret meeting between ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner
Param Bir Singh and dismissed Mumbai Police officer
Sachin Waze after hearing before Chandiwal Commission
in November 2021. As per the Navi Mumbai Police, the
alleged secret meeting continued for two and a half hours,
following which, charges of ignoring protocols and rules
were levelled against Waze’s escort. An enquiry of the
same was conducted against a sub-inspector and three
constables of Waze’s escort.
HC TO HEAR ALAPAN BANDYOPADHYAY’S
PLEA ON CAT ORDER TRANSFER ON JAN 24
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday said it would
continue hearing on January 24 the plea filed by former
West Bengal Chief Secretary
Alapan Bandyopadhyay
challenging the Central
Administrative Tribunal (CAT)
Principal Bench order which
transferred his case concern-
ing disciplinary proceedings
initiated by Centre from WB
to national capital. A bench of Justice Yogesh Khanna on
Monday listed the matter for January 24 for next hearing.
SC RAPS STATES OVER SLOW IDENTIFICATION
OF STREET KIDS, SEEKS REPORT IN 3 WEEKS
New Delhi: The SC has pulled up states for the delay in
the identification and rehabilitation of street children. Court
observed that the special
juvenile police units (SJPUs)
that were supposed to be
created in each district have
not been set up properly.
The SC directed the NCPCR
to conduct a meeting with
all states over their policies
on the rehabilitation of children living on the streets. “File
status report within three weeks,” the court said.
PLEA IN SC SEEKS DIRECTION TO PARTIES TO
DISCLOSE CRIMINAL RECORD OF CANDIDATES
New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls, a plea
has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to
political parties to disclose the criminal history of its can-
didates. The petition filed by SC lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay
also demands ensuring all contesting candidates have a
clean background. The plea filed before the apex court
seeks direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI)
to ensure that the political party explains why it preferred a
candidate with a criminal case over someone without any
criminal antecedents. Furthermore, all parties must explain
the decision to choose a particular candidate with a case
within 48 hours of disclosing the same.
SC DEFERS HEARING ON BENGAL GOVT’S SUIT
AGAINST CBI PROBE IN POST-POLL VIOLENCE
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the
hearing on the lawsuit filed by the West Bengal govern-
ment which alleged that the
CBI is going ahead with the
investigation in post-poll vio-
lence cases without securing
the prerequisite nod from the
state under the law. A bench
of Justices L. Nageswara Rao
and B.V. Nagarathna noted
that the pleadings in the matter are complete and deferred
the suit for hearing in the third week of February.
HC REFUSES ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO NITESH RANE
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday rejected an anticipatory
bail plea of BJP MLA Nitesh Rane in an alleged attempt to murder
case. The anticipatory bail application of co-accused in the case
Manish Dalvi was, however, granted. Earlier, a sessions court in
Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district had rejected his anticipatory
bail plea. Nitesh, the son of Union minister Narayan Rane, had
filed a pre-arrest bail application in connection with an
alleged attack on one Santosh Parab.
FRESH CHARGES SLAPPED ON YATI NARSINGHANAND
Dehradun: Fresh charges have been slapped on Yati Narsing-
hanand for abusing a journalist and photographer after being
offended by a question they had asked during an interview.
The Dasna temple priest has already been sent to 14 days’
judicial custody in the Dharma Sansad hate speech case. The
fresh charges were slapped on the Dasna temple head priest
on the basis of a complaint filed by a journalist, Haridwar
city police station SHO Rakinder Singh Kathait said.
‘DECIDE ON MUKUL’S DISQUALIFICATION IN 2 WKS’
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said that it expects
the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Speaker to take a call
on the disqualification plea against Trinamool Congress
MP Mukul Roy by the second week of February. A bench
comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and BV Nagarathna
on Monday heard a SLP moved by Speaker against a Calcutta
High Court order, which had told Speaker to consider Roy’s
disqualification under tenth Schedule of Constitution.
INDIA
JAIPUR | TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022
05
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
INDIA
05
SP taking ‘money under
table’ for tickets: Yogi
Ghaziabad: UP CM
Yogi Adityanath on
Monday
slammed
the SP for not an-
nouncing its
candidate list
publicly and al-
leged that the
party is “taking
money under the ta-
ble” for giving tickets
for the UP polls.
Speaking with the
media here, Yogi Adi-
tyanath said, “The
habit does not im-
prove very quickly
and that’s why in a
hurry to hide faces,
SP has avoided mak-
ing the list of candi-
dates public and is
silently alloting the
party symbol under
the table and is tak-
ing money for it.”
Further, the CM al-
leged that SP” has
onceagainrevealedits
true character by giv-
ing election tickets to
criminals.” “When
BJP comes to power
again,wewillbringall
these criminals to jus-
tice,” said Yogi. —ANI
CM Yogi Adityanath speaks to the media in Ghaziabad on Monday. Also seen here is VK Singh.
BJP LEADERS VIOLATING MODEL CODE
OF CONDUCT, SAYS AKHILESH YADAV
Lucknow: SP president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday ac-
cused the BJP and its leaders of violating the model code
of conduct and said that his party will lodge a written
complaint with the Election Commission. At a press
conference held at the party headquarters, Akhilesh said,
“BJP, its leaders are continuously violating the model code
of conduct. The SP will lodge a complaint with the ECI in
this regard and we hope that the commission will order
the BJP to follow the code of conduct properly.”
Akhilesh Yadav takes an oath “Ann Sankalp” with farmer
leader Tajinder Singh Virk (R) in Lucknow on Monday.
SP OFFERS TICKET
TO SITTING BJP MLA
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav
Monday tried to woo sitting
BJP MLA Radha Mohan
Aggarwal by offering him
an SP ticket for the seat. “If
you (reporters) can estab-
lish contact with him and
speak to him, ticket will be
announced and he will get
the ticket,” he said when
asked about Aggarwal.
BJP’S SANJEEV
MEETS BKU CHIEF
BJP LS MP Sanjeev Balyan
met BKU president Naresh
Tikait in Sisauli village of
Muzaffarnagar on Monday,
ahead of UP Assembly
elections. Sanjeev said on
Monday after his meet, “We
are like a family. We keep
meeting often.” This meet
holds importance as it is
being linked with UP polls.
Monday
slammed
the SP for not an-
nouncing its
leged that the
party is “taking
UP
UP
HIGH
LIGH
TS
 'Getting rid' of BJP
in UP will be 'greater
azadi' than in 1947,
says Mehbooba Mufti
 BJP leaders booked for
violating Model Code of
Conduct, Covid norms
in Muzaffarnagar
 Akhilesh has not al-
loted me a ticket, says
sitting Cong MLA
Masood Akhtar who
had decided to join SP
 PM Modi to virtually
interact with BJP work-
ers in Varanasi today
 Slain Journalist Ra-
man Kashyap’s Broth-
er Joins Congress, to
Contest Polls
 Mamata Banerjee like-
ly to extend support
to Akhilesh Yadav, to
visit Lucknow
BAGHEL: EC MUST GIVE
CAMPAIGNING DEMO
Day after an FIR was
registered against Chhat-
tisgarh CM Bhupesh
Baghel for flouting norms
during his recent visit to
poll-bound UP, he asked
EC to give a demo on
campaigning. He alleged
that “EC’s bias is visible
at beginning” of the polls.
CONG TO PAY ATTENTION
TO WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN
After allotting 40% tickets
to women candidates for
UP polls, Congress will
now pay special atten-
tion to campaigning for
them. Women candidates
informed that Priyanka
Gandhi has decided to
make efforts for ictory of
more women candidates.
Bhupesh Baghel talks
about progress of UP with
women during door-to-
door campaign in Dadri.
Chandigarh: AAP’s
Punjab Chief Ministe-
rial candidate’s name
will be announced on
Tuesday at noon, party’s
national convenor
Arvind Kejriwal
said on Monday
.
“AAP’s Punjab
CM face will be an-
nounced tomorrow
at noon,” Kejriwal
said to re-
p o r t e r s .
This announce-
ment holds im-
p o r t a n c e
ahead of
Punjab
Assembly Elections.
Punjab will go to the
polls in a single phase
on February 20, count-
ing on March 10. —ANI
ASSEMBLY POLLS 2022
EC HAS HEARD VOICE OF PEOPLE
BY DEFERRING POLLS: SIDHU
Amritsar: Punjab Con-
gress Chief Navjot Sin-
gh Sidhu on Monday
welcomed the Election
Commission of India
(ECI)'s decision to post-
pone the Punjab Assem-
bly elections and said
that the poll panel has
respected the voice of
the people of the state.
Addressing a press
conference in Am-
ritsar on Monday,
Sidhu
said,
"When a huge
number of people
make a demand
which is related to their
religion and the Elec-
tion Commission of In-
dia listens to them, it
becomes a decision that
respects and honours
the voice of the people."
Earlier Monday, the
ECI decided to postpone
the voting dates for the
Punjab Assembly elec-
tion to February 20.
Earlier, the State was
scheduled to go for polls
on February 14.
Sources said that the
request was made as
many people from the
Scheduled Caste com-
munity in view of Guru
Ravidas Jayanti. —ANI
Addressing a press
conference in Am-
ritsar on Monday,
"When a huge
number of people
make a demand
PUNJAB
PUNJAB POLITICIANS
HAIL EC'S DECISION
Chandigarh: Punjab politi-
cians including CM Charanjit
Singh Channi, Sukhbir
Singh Badal on Monday have
welcomed the EC’s decision
to postpone the assembly
elections in the state by six
days on account of Guru
Ravidas Jayanti on February
16. Voting in the state will
now be held on February 20.
Punjab Congress Chief Navjot
Singh Sidhu welcomes Patiala
former mayor Vishnu Sharma
after he joins Congress, in
Patiala on Monday.
AAP to announce Punjab CM
candidate today, says Kejriwal
AAP HAD RELEASED A PHONE NUMBERS, ASKING
THE PEOPLE OF PUNJAB TO TELL THEM WHO
SHOULD BE THE PARTY’S CHIEF MINISTERIAL FACE.
THE ELECTIONS IN PUNJAB WILL BE HELD IN A
SINGLE PHASE ON FEBRUARY 14 AND THE
COUNTING OF VOTES WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 10
HIGHLIGHTS
l Two-time Congress
MLA Luv Kumar
Goldy joins Capt
Amarinder’s Punjab
Lok Congress
l After CM Channi’s
brother, Rana Inder
Pratap, son of Punjab
Cabinet minister
Rana Gurjeet fight
polls against party
l AAP nominee from
Firozpur Rural
constituency quits party
l Congress leader
Sarwan Singh
Phillaur joins SAD
U’khand Assembly polls:
Harak Singh may join Cong
Dehradun: As the Con-
gress leaders are tight-
lipped on the issue of
Harak Singh Rawat, the
sacked BJP
M i n i s t e r
in Uttara-
k h a n d ,
joining the
party, Rawat
himself has opened up
that he will work for
Cong. He said, “The
wind is blowing in fa-
vour of Congress and I
will work for party that
comes to power.” —ANI
DHAMI: RAWAT MOUNTED
PRESSURE FOR TICKETS
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar
Singh Dhami on Monday
said Cabinet minister Harak
Singh Rawat was expelled
from the BJP as he was
“mounting pressure” for
party tickets to his family
members ahead of polls.
CONGRESS WILL WIN U’KHAND POLLS: HARAK
The Congress party will form a government in Uttarakhand,
expelled BJP Minister Harak Singh Rawat asserted on Mon-
day, ahead of assembly elections in the state. In a statement,
Rawat on Monday said he will work for the Congress party.
“BJP will never understand the problems of the common
man. I know that party very well. I understand their approach.
I will continue to work for the welfare of people,” he said.
sacked BJP
M i n i s t e r
in Uttara-
k h a n d ,
joining the
party, Rawat
U’KHAND
U’KHAND
After Kejri, now Shiv Sena makes
overtures to Parrikar's son in Goa
Panaji: A day after Del-
hi CM Arvind Kejriwal
opened the doors of the
AAP for ex-CM late
M a n o h a r
Parrikar’s
son Utpal
to join his
party, San-
jay Raut on
Monday urged non-BJP
parties to support Ut-
pal. “If #UtpalParrikar
contests Independent
from Panaji, I propose
all non-BJP parties in-
cluding @AAP @INCIn-
dia @AITCofficial @
Goaforwardparty to
support & not field a
candidate against him.
This will be tribute to
ManoharBhai!” Raut
tweeted.
—ANI
M a n o h a r
Parrikar’s
son Utpal
to join his
party, San-
jay Raut on
GOA
GOA
AAP WILL ‘SPLIT’ NON-BJP VOTES: CHIDAMBARAM
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on
Monday claimed Kejriwal has “confirmed”
that parties like AAP & TMC will only
“split” non-BJP vote in Goa. He as-
serted that actual contest in the state
will be between Cong & BJP. Cong
senior observer for Goa polls,
said “Those who want a regime
change (after 10 yrs of misrule)
will vote for Cong.”
KEJRI HITS BACK AT
CHIDAMBARAM
Hitting back at Chidam-
baram, Kejriwal said Goans
will vote where they see
hope and “Congress is
hope for BJP, not Goans”.
He also asked Chidambar-
am to “stop crying” about
votes being split. “15 of ur
17 MLAs switched to BJP,”
Kejriwal tweeted, tagging
Chidambaram’s tweets.
CONGRESS CEC TO
MEET FOR POLLS
The Central Election
Committee (CEC) of the
Congress will meet for the
selection of candidates for
the Goa assembly polls.
The first list of candidates
for the Goa Assembly
elections was released on
December 16 in which the
party had announced eight
candidates.
Pushkar S Dhami welcomes
ex-Nainital MLA Sarita to BJP.
ECI ISSUES LIST OF THOSE WHO
CAN VOTE VIA POSTAL BALLOT
New Delhi: ECI has issued a list of those persons
working in essential services who can cast vote
in upcoming Assembly elections through postal
ballot in 5 states. ECI allowed media persons
authorised by it to exercise their franchise using
postal ballot in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and
Goa. Apart from this Information & Public Rela-
tion Dept, Health & Family Welfare, Post Depart-
ment, Traffic Department, Railways, Electricity
Dept, Civil Aviation Department, Metro Rail Cor-
poration of UP, Doordarshan, AIR, BSNL, Medical
services, Goa Medical colleges, Police, Prisons,
Excise, Water Authority, Treasury Service, Forest,
Ambulance staff can vote via postal ballot. —PTI
MHA TO PROVIDE SECURITY COVER
TO MORE BJP LEADERS IN PUNJAB
New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
is to provide central security cover to important
BJP leaders in Punjab after reviewing the security
situation in the state in view of the forthcoming
assembly election, sources in the security set up
said. The sources also said that the security cover
of some union ministers and BJP leadership will
also be enhanced during the election campaign,
though they did not disclose the names of the
protectees due to security reasons. —Agencies
New Delhi: Condolence
messages poured in from
all quarters for legendary
Kathak dancer Birju Maharaj,
with President Ram Nath
Kovind and PM Narendra
Modi leading tributes
as political leaders,
the film fraternity
and people from
performing
arts world
remembered Kathak’s great-
est ambassador. Maharaj ji,
as he was popularly known,
died at his home in Delhi on
early Monday morning. He
would have been 84 next
month. According to his
granddaughter, Ragini, the
maestro died surrounded by
his family & disciples. Presi-
dent Kovind said his demise
marked the “end of an era”.
PM said his death is an “ir-
reparable loss” to entire art
world. Congress leader Ra-
hul Gandhi too tweeted his
c o n - dolence message.
Kathak‘giant’,Birju
Maharaj dies at 83
Govt to SC: No forced
jabs,certs not must
New Delhi: Days before
India completed a year
of its Covid inoculation
programme, govern-
ment told Supreme
Court that it has not is-
sued any guideline that
envisages vaccination
without consent, or
makes a vax certificate
mandatory for any pur-
pose. In an affidavit filed
on January 13, Union
Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare said “no
person can be forced to
be vaccinated against
their wishes”. It also
said “GoI has not issued
any SOPs which make
carrying of vaccination
certificate mandatory
for any purpose.”
Meanwhile, India
may begin inoculating
children in 12-14 age
group in March as 15-18
population is likely to
get fully vaccinated by
then, Dr NK Arora,
chairman NTAGI, said
on Monday
. —ANI
New Delhi: This is the
best time to invest in In-
dia, PM Narendra Modi
said in a special address
to world leaders, while
detailing various steps
country has taken to
make it “most attrac-
tive” investment desti-
nation in the world.
“India is celebrating
its 75th year of Inde-
pendence and also the
administration of 156
crore vaccine doses in
the country. India has
gifted the world a bou-
quet of hope,” said PM.
“In this bouquet, we In-
dians have an unwaver-
ing trust in our Democ-
racy
, we have technology
to empower 21st century
with temperament & tal-
ent of Indians,” he said.
“Indian youth are
ready to take your busi-
nesses & ideas to new
heights,” PM said at ‘Da-
vos Agenda’ summit.
India has saved crores
of livesduringpandemic
by supplying vaccines
and essential medicines
to many countries under
One Earth One Health
vision, said Modi while
emphasising India is
now pharmacy to world
and is third-largest phar-
ma-producer in world.
India has 3rd-largest
number of Unicorns in
world & over 10,000 start-
ups have been registered
in last 6 months. WEF’s
Davos Agenda is being
held from Jan 17-21. —ANI
India offers ‘bouquet of hope’
to world: PM at Davos summit CORONA
CATASTROPHE
RAJASTHAN
9,236
NEW
CASES
2,327
NEW CASES
IN JAIPUR
05
NEW DEATHS
My heartfelt
condolences at the
passing away of
legendary Kathak
dancer, Padma
Vibhushan Pandit
Birju Maharaj ji. It’s
the end of an era and
an irreparable loss
to Indian performing
arts. May God give
strength to his
family, admirers and
students. May his
soul rest in peace.
Ashok Gehlot
@ashokgehlot51
PUNJAB ASSEMBLY POLLS...
CONG TWEETS VIDEO HINTING
AT CHANNI AS PB CM FACE
A 36-second video posted by the Con-
gress party on Twitter has set tongues
wagging. Speculation is rife that the
party may have just unofficially declared
Charanjit Singh Channi as its chief
ministerial candidate in Punjab. The video
is titled: “Punjab is speaking, now with
hand (symbol of the Congress) - will
strengthen every hand”.
More on P11
P5

BJP’S PRESSURE
COULD NOT MOVE
ALWAR
COLLECTOR!
The BJP is against
Alwar Collector and
SP after the incident
of alleged rape and
torture with a minor girl.
The BJP workers had
demanded removal of
SP and Collector. BJP’s
pressure did not make
any difference and the
name of Alwar collector
Nannumal Pahadia did
not figure in the transfer
list of IAS. However,
now the same is expect-
ed in the IPS transfer
list. It is difficult that
SP Tejaswini Gautam is
transferred from Alwar.
—Aishwary Pradhan
FAREWELL OF
‘POWERLESS’
PRITHVI FROM JAL
JEEVAN MISSION!
Prithviraj was made
the director of Jal
Jeevan Mission (JJM).
But there is already
ACS Sudhansh Pant
in the water supply
department. The post
of director was not
important during the
existence of ACS. Prithvi
remained the director
for mere formality and
was not even much in-
terested in work. JJM is
an important scheme of
the central and the state
governments. In such a
situation, the command
was completely handed
over to Sudhansh Pant.
Now, there will be speed
in JJM’s work.
—Naresh Sharma
WHAT GAME IS
GOING ON IN THE
SPORTS DEPT?
First Vikas Sitaram
Bhale and now
Rajesh Yadav. Both
could not last long in
the sports department.
Bhale and Minister
Ashok Chandna had
a tussle recently. At
the same time, Rajesh
Yadav has also de-
parted from the sports
department. Yadav and
Chandna were also not
getting along smoothly
because ‘no-nonsense’
Chandna wants only
results. Now Naresh
Thakral has been given
the additional charge of
the sports department
along with finance. It is
to be seen how long an
innings Thakral plays.
—Naresh Sharma
RAJASTHAN
02
ATM SAVED FROM BEING ROBBED IN
JHOTWARA AREA OF JAIPUR
Jaipur: Prompt action by the bank’s control
room and the police saved an ATM machine from
being looted late on Sunday in the Jhotwara
police station area of the capital. Jhotwara police
officer Ghanshyam Singh said that the incident
happened around 11:30 pm. The miscreants tried
to break into the Union Bank and Andhra Bank
ATMs on Niwaru Road here. But the timely arrival
of police foiled their plan.
Udaipur: The Special Operations Group (SOG) of
Ajmer has arrested two sharp shooters while they
were looking for a chance to eliminate an undertrial
Faizal. During interrogation, they revealed that one
businessman, who trades in glass between Mumbai
and Dubai, had given them the contract to kill his
estranged son-in-law Faizal, who is in jail now for
murdering the nephew of his father-in-law.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP OF AJMER
ARRESTS TWO SHARP SHOOTERS
Jaipur: As many as five players from Rajasthan have
been selected to participate in the 20th Senior Asian
Handball Championship to be held in Dammam of
Saudi Arabia between 18th and 31st January. They
are Ramesh Godara, Shankar Singh Bhati, Ravindra
Pal Singh Saini, Vijay, and Sumeet. The HAI declared
the team on Monday. Rajasthan State Handball
Association patron Dr Ruparam Dhandev, president
Harish Dhandev, honorary secretary Yash Pratap
Singh have congratulated the five players.
5 STATE BOYS TO REPRESENT HANDBALL
NATIONAL TEAM IN SAUDI ARABIA
ALWAR ‘RAPE’ CASE
STATE GOVT LOBS ALWAR
BALL IN CENTRE’S COURT
Shivendra Parmar
Jaipur: In the Alwar
‘rape’ case, the Ra-
jasthan government has
sent a recommendation
to the Central Govern-
ment for a CBI inquiry.
The Home Department
has sent the notification
of handing over the Al-
war case to the CBI and
the documents of the
case to the Union Per-
sonnel Ministry
.
Chief MinisterAshok
Gehlot had announced
this on Sunday itself
andnowtheballisinthe
center’s court. The cen-
tral government now
has to decide whether it
considers this case wor-
thy of a CBI inquiry or
not.Thehandingoverof
the Alwar case to the
CBIhassloweddownthe
pace of investigation by
the state police.
As of now, the stand
of the Center is awaited
in the Alwar case. It is
set to take one to two
weeks for the CBI to go
through the file of the
entire case and decide
from the central level.
Till then the investiga-
tion of this case will be
almost stalled.
Meanwhile, ABVP
workers came out on the
road on Monday in pro-
test. They called out slo-
gans fiercely against
CollectorandSP
.Instead
of giving justice to the
minor, who are trying to
defend themselves by
taking a U-turn.
‘IS GOVT TRYING TO
SHEILD CULPRITS?’
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members stage a protest in Alwar on Monday.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Reacting sharp-
ly to the Alwar ‘rape’
case, the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad (VHP) asked
the State Government
that “whether it has ad-
mitted within 6 days of
the incident that the
State Police machinery
isnotcompetentenough
to nab the culprits or it
is trying to shield the
culprits?” Neither our
doubt is baseless nor
malicious, the saffron
outfit sought to clarify
.
“What is the mystery
behind the police
changing its statement
while ministers and of-
ficials are giving public
statements on the is-
sue?” it wondered.
Satish Poonia@DrSatishPoonia
The role of the police and the state government
in the Alwar Nirbhaya case is questionable,
repeatedly statements being changed and the
criminals still out of reach due to lack of weak research
and efforts for so many days, raises questions!! The
State Govt will cooperate with CBI in investigation?
Naresh Sharma
Jaipur: Under the Pub-
lic Health Engineering
Department (PHED),
the work of National
Accreditation Board for
Testing and Calibration
Laboratories ‘NABL
Accreditation’ of drink-
ing water quality test-
ing laboratories operat-
ing in all the districts.
State level drinking
water quality testing
laboratory is at PHED
headquarters in Jaipur.
Apart from this, there
are district level labora-
tories in 32 districts.
Now all these 33 labora-
tories have got NABL
certification.
Water Resources
Minister Mahesh Joshi
said that following or-
ders of CM the PHED is
constantly expanding
facilities to check the
quality of drinking wa-
ter. Joshi congratulat-
ed all the officers, espe-
cially the chief chemist
and the team working
in the districts.
Mahesh Joshi and Sudhansh Pant at State level drinking water
quality testing laboratory headquarter in Jaipur.
33 dists’ water testing labs
get NABL accreditation
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Cold condi-
tions prevailed in parts
of Rajasthan where
Fatehpur recorded the
lowest minimum tem-
perature of 1.8 degrees
Celsius on Sunday
night. A slight increase
in minimum tempera-
ture was recorded.
The minimum tem-
perature was 3.2 de-
grees Celsius in Karau-
li, 4.6 in Ajmer, 4.7 in
Nagaur, 5 in Sikar, 5.2 in
Pilani, 5.5 in Bundi, 5.6
in Eranpura road, 5.7 in
Churu, 5.8 in Alwar, 5.9
in Sangaria, 6.1 in Dhol-
pur, 6.4 each in Srigan-
ganagar and Jaipur, and
6.7 in Banasthali. The
maximum temperature
between 10 and 25 de-
grees Celsius at most
places in the State.
Raj continues to reel under cold wave
A boy selling ballon covers himself with a blanket amid bone-numbing cold winter in Jaipur on Monday.
Councillor withdraws support to Congress
Birth anniv of Mirdha
celebrated in Nagaur Ziyauddin Khan
Jaipur: In the Jaipur
Heritage Municipal
Corporation, displeas-
ure among the inde-
pendent councillors
does not seem to let up.
Independent council-
lor Ehsan Qureshi with-
drew his support by go-
ing to the state Con-
gress office on Monday
.
He alleged the cricket
competition held at
Karbala ground in the
past as the reason for
his withdrawal.
Accusing a minister
in the state govern-
ment, Qureshi said that
his younger brother,
Pappu Qureshi, was
publicly humiliated by
the police and this
pained him. He said he
had written to the Chief
Minister a week ago,
seeking action against
the police officials.
Yunus Gesawat
Nagaur: On the 134th
birth anniversary of
Kisan Kesari
Baldevram Mirdha var-
ious programmes were
organised at many plac-
es including the district
headquarters. Tributes
were paid with wreaths
and flowers on the idol
at Delhi Darwaza of Na-
gaur. On this occasion,
many farmer leaders
paid their respects by
garlanding the statue of
Mirdha. Along with
this, a calendar was re-
leased by many public
representatives includ-
ing grandson Raghuv-
endra Mirdha, Vijendra
Chaudhary and Harish
Mirdha.
In the hostel of Shri
Nathuram Mirdha Gra-
motthan Charitable
Trust, tributes were
paid. A speech competi-
tion was organised on
work of Mirdha.
Farmer leaders pay tribute to Baldev Ram Mirdha on his 134th
birth anniversary in Nagaur on Monday.
Hear us on dyeing factories: RSPCB to HC KIN OF MAN WHO
DIED IN RUSSIA
STAGE PROTEST
First India Bureau
Jaipur: In the matter
of shifting dyeing fac-
tories from Sanganer
to Chhitrauli, the Ra-
jasthan State Pollution
Control Board (RSP-
CB) has appealed to the
High Court that it be
given a hearing before
pronouncing any order
on the rulings of the
lower court. Taking
cognisance of the ap-
peal, the court on Mon-
day listed it for hearing
after two weeks.
The board submit-
ted that due to a stay
from a lower court, the
Jaipur discom is not
able to disconnect pow-
er supply to units
spreading pollution.
Handing out a list of
such cases, the board
requested the High
Court to take its own
judgements of 2003,
2015 and 2019 into con-
sideration before pass-
ing any interim order.
First India Bureau
Udaipur: The family of
Hitendra Garasiya, a resi-
dent of Godwa of Udaipur
district who died in Russia
6 months ago, started pro-
test at New Delhi on Mon-
day seeking to bring back
his dead body
. Hitendra’s
family along with Con-
gress leader Charmesh
Sharma started satyagra-
haatRajghatinNewDelhi.
Charmesh is on fast-
unto-death while the fam-
ily members are on a chain
hunger strike. Hitendra
died in Russia on July 17,
2021 but his body has not
yet arrived. The move-
ment will continue till
body comes to India.
Independent councillor Ehsan Qureshi (in check jacket) after
withdrawing his support to Congress on Monday.
Laxman Raghav
Bikaner:Gangasha-
har SHO Ranidan
Ujjwal has been sus-
pended as he has
been missing with a
recording device
since the action of
Jaipur ACB. SP Yo-
gesh Yadav took
strictactiononMon-
day
.SPYogeshYadav
had shifted SI Jag-
dish & constable Ra-
jaram to the police
lines. An accused as-
sociated who cheat-
edintheREETexam
had given a com-
plainttoACBJaipur.
Gangashahar
SHO suspended,
2 cops shifted
NEWS DIGEST
TIMELINE
ä JAN 11: Incident
happend
ä JAN 12: Survivor was
operated at JK Lon
ä JAN12: SIT formed
ä JAN 13: Protest out-
side Priyanka’s hotel
in Sawai Madhopur
ä JAN 14: Police ruled
out rape
ä JAN 15: BJP demanded
CBI probe, National
Commission for Mi-
norities sought a report
ä JAN 16: CBI probe
announced
ä JAN 17: Stand of
Center awaited —PHOTO
BY
SUNIL
SHARMA

RAJASTHAN
03
9,236 CASES, 5 DEATHS IN STATE
RECOVERY RATE INCREASES TO 47%
ADGP Gupta meets cops
on night duty, offers tea
25 flights
cancelled from
Jaipur airport
SALASAR BALAJI
TEMPLE CLOSED
FROM JAN 19-31
200 GIRLS ILL IN
UDAIPUR HOSTEL,
SAMPLES SENT
Governor Kalraj Mishra appeals
people to get vaccinated soon
DR SUDHIR BHANDARI ASSUMES
CHARGE AS ACTING VC OF RUHS
First India Bureau
Jaipur: A total of five
people died of COVID-19
in the state and 9,236
tested positive for the
infection in the last 24
hours, the official data
said on Monday
.
According to the
Health Department fig-
ures, 9,236 new cases of
coronavirus were re-
ported in the state till
Monday evening. The
fresh infections include
2,327 in Jaipur, 970 in Al-
war, 701 in Jodhpur, 447
in Udaipur, 385 in Pali,
362 in Bhilwara, 356 in
Kota, 347 in Hanuman-
garh, 330 in Barmer and
326 in Bikaner.
According to the data,
5,894 people were cured
of in state on Monday &
at present 66,742 infect-
ed people are treated.
However, now pa-
tients are recovering
fast. In the last 5 days,
recovery percentage has
increased from 17 to
47%. A total of 16,186 pa-
tients recovered from
Jan 12 to 16.
Vikas Sharma
Jaipur: Dr. Sudhir
Bhandari, principal of
SMS Medical College,
on Monday took charge
as acting VC of the Ra-
jasthan University of
Health Sciences.
Dr. Bhandari has
been given additional
charge of VC till the
permanent appoint-
ment is made.
Heexpressedhisgrat-
itude to the state gov-
ernment. RUHS VC has
changed after 11 years.
Dr. Rajababu Panwar
was holding the post of
VC since 2010. However,
in Jan 2017, Rajeshwar
Singh remained in
charge for seven days.
Dr. Rajababu Panwar’s
term ended on Jan 15.
From 2006 till now, 5
people have taken com-
mand. Dr. PPS Mathur
was first to become VC .
This was followed by
Padmashree Dr. Ashok
Panagariya, Dr. Shashi
Singhvi, Dr Rajababu
Panwar, & Rajeshwar
Singh. Senior doctors
Manoj Sharma, Dr Sud
hanshu Kakkar, Dr Ajit
Singh,DrJagdishModi,
Dr. Rakesh Hirawat, Dr.
PraveenMangalooniya,
Satyendra Chaudhary
congratulated Dr. Su-
dhir Bhandari.
Jaipur: With the increas-
ing number of corona
cases, a decrease in the
number of air travelers
is being recorded. Due
to this, airlines are being
forced to cancel flights.
On Monday, 31 flights op-
erated from Jaipur airport
while 25 flights were can-
celled. Till the end of Dec,
an average of 58 flights
were operating daily from
Jaipur airport. By the end
of January, there may be
a cloud of crisis on air
travel. Flight cancellations
cause trouble.
— Kashiram Choudhary
The doors of Salasar
Balaji temple of Churu
will remain closed from
January 19 to 31 in view
of the increasing case.
The Balaji temple man-
ager committee took this
decision in view of the
increasing cases.
Udaipur: 200 girls resid-
ing in hostel of Model
Public Residential School
were reported to be sick
on Monday. Tribal Re-
gional Development Min-
ister Arjun Singh Bamnia
& Collector Tarachand
Meena visited. Influenza-
like symptoms found in
17. Their samples sent for
COVID test.
Bhanwar S Charan
Kota: Additional Direc-
tor General of police
(ADG) Govind Gupta
took stock of the night
curfew and interacted
with the police person-
nel on duty who stood
there braving the cold
by offering them re-
freshment after tea.
He held a review
meeting with the ad-
ministrative and police
officers regarding the
management of Covid.
IG Ravidutt Gaur,
District Collector Ujjw-
al Rathod, Superinten-
dent of Police City Ke-
sar Singh Shekhawat,
SP Rural Kavendra Sa-
gar, CMHO Bhupendra
Tanwar and top officers
of police-administra-
tion were present in the
meeting.
First India Bureau
Jaipur: Guv Kalraj
Mishra appealed to the
people of the state that
everyone must get Cov-
id vaccination as per
prescribed eligibility
.
He has also called for
vaccination of children
in age group of 15 to 18.
The Governor, in his
message issued on Mon-
day, said that all senior
citizens, health workers
and corona warriors
must also get prepara-
tion dose. Along with
vaccination, he has
called for following the
Covid protocol at all lev-
els. He said that caution
& vigilance necessary
.
He has requested citi-
zens to avoid unneces-
sary travel. Follow the
instructions issued by
the government.
Make sure to wear a
mask, maintain a dis-
tance of two yards. He
said that prevention
from Corona is the big-
gestsolution.Hewished
for a happy and healthy
life of the people.
10,46,895
TOTAL CASES
9,236 IN A DAY
9, 71, 143
TOTAL
RECOVERED
9,010
TOTAL DEATHS
5 IN A DAY
66,742
ACTIVE CASES
20,076 IN JAIPUR
COVID-19
UPDATE
Redressing common
people’s problems is
priority: Rajan Vishal
Shivendra Parmar
Jaipur: IAS officer
Rajan Vishal took
charge as the 50th
Dis-
trict Collector here
on Monday
.
Speaking on the
occasion, Vishal said
that speedy redressal
of problems of com-
mon man with com-
plete transparency
would be his priority
.
He vouched to im-
plement schemes of
the state government
even at grassroots.
He said that every-
one will work as
team for Jaipur.
Vishal held a meet-
ing with officers of
the district & in-
quired about pro-
gress of various
schemes.
Outgoing District
Collector Antar Sin-
gh Nehra also
thanked all employ-
ees. On the occasion
present were Iqbal
Khan, Rajendra Sin-
gh Charan, Ashok
Sharma, Shankar
Lal Saini, Rajiv Pan-
dey, Birbal Singh,
Amit Jaimon,
Pradeep S Rathore.
Outgoing DC Antar Singh
Nehra welcoming new DC
Rajan Vishal (inset) Rajan
Vishal signing papers.
ADG Govind Gupta interacting
with police personnel.
A boy gets jabbed at JK Lon hospital on Monday. —PHOTO BY SUMAN SARKAR
Shubham Jain
Ajmer: Education Min
BD Kalla was on a one-
day visit here to inau-
gurate a private school
on Monday
. In an inter-
action with media, he
said that recruitment
of teachin REET would
be completed in Feb.
About Covid-19 he said
that one need to be cau-
tious.
On the division of
the Board of Second-
ary Education, the
Minister said that the
Board of Secondary
Education belongs to
Ajmer and will remain
here. “Coordination
centers are being set
up at divisional head-
quarters for jobs not
related to Board.
He said that due to
pandemic, studies will
be pursued according
to Corona guidelines.
He added, Mahatma
Gandhi English Medi-
um Schools are being
opened rapidly
.
BD Kalla inaugurating a private school in Ajmer.
REET recruitment till
February: BD Kalla
APPLICATIONS
FOR VC TILL
JANUARY 27
Meanwhile, process
for permanent VC is
also on for which a high
level search committee
has been constituted
from Raj Bhavan Secre-
tariat under chairmanship
of Dr. Virendra Singh of
PGIMER Chandigarh. The
committee has sought
applications till Jan 27.
Jaipur: Ajay Phatak started functioning from Monday
as the new head of Drug Controller Organization. He
has got the responsibility of DC I (HQ). Phatak held
informal talks with the departmental officers. “We will
try our best to work with teamwork, “ he said.
Drug Controller Organization
gets new head, Ajay Phatak
Dr Sudhir Bhandari welcomed by senior doctors.
Budhwali
elected Waqf
Board chief
Ziyauddin Khan
Jaipur: Khanu Khan
Budhwali has been
elected uncontested as
the chair-
man of Ra-
j a s t h a n
M u s l i m
Waqf Board
here on
M o n d a y.
DistrictCollectorAntar
Singh Nehra, who is
also the returning of-
ficer for the election,
declared the result offi-
cially
. It was a foregone
conclusion as a consen-
susonBudhwali’sname
had already been
reachedinacommunity
meetingearlier.Though
a few Muslim organisa-
tions were not in his fa-
vour, Budhwali man-
aged to placate them.
3 killed in
Dungarpur
mishap
Dungarpur: A luxury
car driven at an uncon-
trolled spread claimed
lives of a man and a
father-daughter duo
riding a bike while
grievously injuring the
wife & sister-in-law of
the biker near Odaba-
da village in the dis-
trict. According to po-
lice, biker Rakesh Par-
mar, was working in
Ahmedabad, was trav-
elling from his in-laws
place Dolwar back to
his workplace with
wife Jija, year-old
daughter Janhavi &
sister-in-law Dhapu
riding pillion. The car
coming from opposite
direction hit walker
Veerji Patel & then
bike with full force,
killing Patel, Parmar
and Janhavi on spot.
—PHOTOS
BY
SUMAN
SARKAR

PERSPECTIVE
04
Vol 3 Issue No. 223
RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764.
Printed and published by
Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of
First Express Publishers. Printed
at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B.
Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk
Road, Jaipur. Published at 304,
3rd Floor, City Mall, Bhagwan Das
Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001,
Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504.
Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra.
Editor: Kavita Pant
responsible for selection of news
under the PRB Act
SPIRITUAL SPEAK
Elevate yourself through
your own efforts, and not
degrade yourself. For, the
mind can be the friend and
also the enemy of the self.
—Bhagavad Gita
IN-DEPTH
Bhupender Yadav
@byadavbjp
There is a tendency in some sections
to brand the BJP as communal. We
have been accused of it since the Jana
Sangh days. The same sections don’t
tell you Jana Sangh and BJP govts
worked for all sections.
Piyush Goyal
@PiyushGoyal
There is a steady increase in paddy
procurement at MSP, Farmers are
happy, prosperity is coming in life.
TOP TWEETS
BIRJU MAHARAJ
DIES, INDIA LOSES
A CULTURAL
ICON, A LEGEND
n the passing away
of Pandit Birju Ma-
haraj, a Kathak danc-
er par excellence, In-
dia has lost a doyen,
a legend. The vacuum created
by the death of Birju Maharaj,
who was as accomplished a per-
cussionist and singer as he was
a dancer, cannot be filled. He
was 83.
Belonging to a family of emi-
nent gurus, he had performing
art flowing in his veins. The son
of Achhan Maharaj, a promi-
nent exponent of the Lucknow
gharana and Pandit Bindadin’s
grandnephew, Birju Maharaj
imbibed the best of both and
took the story-telling in the clas-
sical dance form to dizzying
heights. His two uncles, Shamb-
hu and Lachhu Maharaj, both
equally famous proponents of
Kathak, contributed in honing
his skills. Indeed, Birju Maharaj
was trained to a standard not
seen any longer.
Pandit Birju Maharaj re-
turned to his ancestral home in
Lucknow in 2014 to perform at
an event at the age of 76. By then
the city had shrunk culturally
for the maestro’s stature.
I
urope is closer to
war than any
time in the last 30
years, warned Po-
land’s foreign
minister Zbigniew Rau as
Russia’s talks with the US in
Geneva and with NATO in
Brussels failed to resolve the
stalemate over inclusion of
Ukraine into the Western al-
liance. The crisis has been
building up ever since
Ukraine’s parliament re-
nounced its non-aligned sta-
tus in 2014. The decision was
strongly condemned by Rus-
sia. Russia has warned Eu-
rope against eyeing not just
Ukraine but also countries
like Moldova, Georgia and
Armenia. In 2014 Russia an-
nexed Crimea, which is a
part of Ukraine, even as the
West raised a hue and cry
.
With the West taking a
tougher stand this time,
there were hints that Mos-
cow could deploy nuclear
weapons close to US coastline
in a reminder of the Cuban
crisis. Russia, it is reported,
planned to invade Ukraine to
stop it from falling into NA-
TO’s fold. An estimated force
of around 100,000 has sur-
rounded Ukraine from three
sides and Moscow’s next
move could be to send agent
provocateurs to prepare
ground for Russian invasion.
Russia has adopted a more
aggressive posture by refus-
ing to pull back its troops.
With diplomatic efforts hav-
ingfailedsofar,theoldrivalry
between Russia and the West
seems to have been renewed
even as one part of Ukraine
(western) favours closer inte-
grationwithEurope,whileits
eastern part roots for Russia.
A war will not only be disas-
trous for Ukraine but also for
the world and must be avoid-
ed. The West must exercise
restraint and Moscow should
guarantee it won’t gobble up
Ukraine like Crimea.
UKRAINE: A FLASHPOINT
AT EUROPE’S DOOR
With West taking tougher
stand this time, there were
hints that Moscow
could deploy nuclear
weapons close to US
coastline in a reminder of
Cuban crisis. Russia
planned to invade
Ukraine to stop it from
falling into NATO’s fold
E
THE CIVIL WAR SPREADS,
VIOLENCE MAY ENGULF THE REGION
BIG POWERS’ STAKES IN KAZAKHSTAN
he meddling of big powers in
the civil protests of Kazakh-
stan, if not controlled imme-
diately
, massive violence may
soon engulf the Central Asia.
The stakes of three coun-
tries, China, Russia and the
USA, are quite high for end-
ing the turmoil, but peace
may not be possible without
their joint efforts.
The Russian military in-
tervention in Kazakhstan’s
ongoing civil protests has re-
ceived worldwide criticism.
It has also exposed the coun-
try’s exploitation by succes-
sive governments during the
past three decades, since its
emergence as a sovereign na-
tion following the fragmenta-
tion of the USSR in nineties.
Kazakhstanexpectedthatit
would get huge investments
from the western powers. Ini-
tially
, the American compa-
nies such as Exxonmobil and
Chevron were in the forefront
of oil exploration in the coun-
try’snorthernCaspianregion.
However,inlateryears,China,
with its huge investments to
the tune of USD 280 billion be-
came the leading player in the
country’s economy
.
The international observ-
ers were not surprised by the
criticism of the Russian in-
tervention in the official dai-
ly of China, Global Times,on
January 11, though next day,
it was promptly withdrawn
accompanied by an explana-
tion and an apology
. However,
it reflected the Chinese appre-
hensions about the Russian
intentions.
The Russian investment in
the country is much lower
than the financial stakes of
China and western powers. It,
however, is believed that the
interventionhasbeendonefor
astrategicpurpose,especially
amidst the reports that the
Chinese funded Islamic radi-
calsmightbeintouchwiththe
Chechen Islamists. The deci-
sion of the present ruler,
Kassym-Jomart Tokayen, to
sek Russian military help
might have also surprised
China. Tokayen, though edu-
cated in China, was alarmed
by the sudden rise of the radi-
cal Islamists in the country
.
The Pandora Papers impli-
cating the powerful oligarchy
of Kazakhstan in rampant
corruption have exposed the
connivance of the people
holding highest positions in
the land.The country’s first
president, Nursultan Naz-
arvayev, 81,had enriched his
unofficial wife, Kurmanbaye-
va,aformerMissKazakhstan,
now 40, with USD 30 million
through shell companies, is
just a tip of an iceberg of the
money laundering in the
country
.Earlier,hisgrandson,
Nurali Aliyev, had obtained a
yacht from the funds received
from shell companies.
The growing rivalry in the
Central Asian region be-
tween Russia and China may
spread to other neighbouring
countries, including Afghan-
istan. The US-led western
powers are apprehensive that
Russia under the President
Vladmir Putin, may regain
all the territories fir aug-
menting Russia’s strategic
power by bringing them un-
der the Russian umbrella,
though they are now inde-
pendent countries.They are
also not sure whether China
would be able to resist the
Russian offensive.
AWAITING A NEW DEAL
The brave people of Kazakh-
stan, a land of mighty rivers
and lakes, have been suffer-
ing unprecedented problems
caused by radiation and pol-
lution. The radiation has
been caused by the nuclear
detonations. The pollution is
due to the excessive unre-
stricted minning.
The river,Ural, separates it
fromEurope,andhasbeenthe
abode of the warriors, includ-
ing Genghis Khan,and a large
number of powerful chief-
tains. The word Genghis
means Temusjin or black-
smithintheKazakhlanguage.
The people of this vast land-
locked country were used to
leading a harsh life of no-
mads. Due to gegraphicai rea-
sons, they had remained insu-
lated from the rapid industri-
alization and colonialism in
the 20th century
. Only after
the World War- I, the country
became a part of the USSR,
whichexposedthemtothenu-
clear tests conducted at Semi-
palatinsk. A biological weap-
ons site too was developed
nearby
. Apart from these ex-
periments,theminingandthe
development of the oil fields
have also polluted its rivers,
especially Ural, Irtyash and
even Lake Balkyldak. These
activities have also polluted
the ground water.
Since Russia and Kazakh-
stanaresignatoriesof theCol-
lective Security Treaty Organ-
ization (CSTO), it enabled the
Russian President, Vladimir
Putin, to rush troops to the
country facing an uprising
from the Islamists. The situa-
tion is still grave.
During the Communist re-
gime, Kazakhstan, one of the
world’s biggest landlocked
countries with its 2.7 million
square kilometres, was used
for the development of strate-
gic weapons. The findings of
mineral and oil wealth have
made it a destination of in-
tense rivalries among world
powers.
The West’s defense outfit,
NATO’spartnershipforpeace,
European Economic Union
and intra-regional coopera-
tion organization had signed
many agreements with its
government. However, most
of these efforts have failed to
percolate down to redress the
grievances of the common
people. The trade unions, po-
litical parties and media free-
domisunderthestrictcontrol
of the government. The social
and political activists are im-
plicatedinfalsecasesandcon-
victed by docile judiciary
.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
T
Since Russia and
Kazakhstan are signatories
of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization
(CSTO), it enabled the
Russian President, Vladimir
Putin, to rush troops to the
country facing an uprising
from the Islamists. The
situation is still grave.
During the Communist
regime, Kazakhstan, one of
the world’s biggest
landlocked countries with its
2.7 million square
kilometres, was used for the
development of strategic
weapons. The findings of
mineral and oil wealth have
made it a destination of
intense rivalries among
world powers
The Russian military
intervention in
Kazakhstan’s ongoing
civil protests has
received worldwide
criticism. It has also
exposed the country’s
exploitation by successive
governments during the
past three decades, since
its emergence as a
sovereign nation
following the
fragmentation of the
USSR in nineties
GOPAL MISRA
The writer is accredited as a journalist
of long and distinguished service with
the Press Information Bureau of the
Information and Broadcasting Ministry

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IN THE COURTYARD
SC TO HEAR MAHA’S
OBC POLL QUOTA
PLEA ON JAN 19
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court on Monday said that
it will hear the Maharash-
tra Government’s plea on
Wednesday (January 19),
seeking to recall its order
to notify 27 per cent of
OBC seats as general seats
for local body elections. A
Bench headed by Justice
AM Khanwilkar posted the
hearing for Wednesday
after the counsel appearing
for Maharashtra said that
the government has filed
a petition urging the apex
court to recall its Decem-
ber 15 order. “We have
filed an application seek-
ing a recall of the order
dated December 15. Can
it be taken up on Friday or
Wednesday? The applica-
tion has been filed today,”
Maharashtra’s counsel told
the Supreme Court bench
on Monday.
SECURITY BREACH:
SC LAWYERS GET
THREAT CALLS AGAIN
New Delhi: Several
Supreme Court lawyers
on Monday said they had
received threatening phone
numbers, allegedly from
pro-Khalistan group Sikhs
for Justice for the second
time in seven days, over
PM Modi security breach
during his visit to Punjab
on January 5. Advocate
Vishnu Shankar Jain,
Apoorv Shukla and Nishant
Katneshwarkar are among
those who received the
numbers with pre recorded
audio, threatening them
for lodging complaints
against SFJ. Last week, a
single caller urged judges
hearing the case that they
“must not assist PM Modi”
in punishing Sikh farmers.
The caller then brought up
the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
“WE ARE SHOUTING”: SUPREME COURT ON
DISRUPTIONS DURING ONLINE HEARINGS
New Delhi: A SC bench headed by CJI NV Ramana has
expressed unhappiness over repeated disruptions dur-
ing virtual hearings due to
the use of mobile phones by
several advocates, and said
it may have to ban participa-
tion through mobiles. Bench
comprising CJI and justices
Bopanna and Hima Kohli was
unhappy over fact that it had to
adjourn hearings in as many as 10 cases listed on Monday
due to disruptions from advocates’ end during proceedings.
4 COPS GET SHOW-CAUSE NOTICE FOR SECRET
MEETING BETWEEN PARAM BIR, SACHIN WAZE
Mumbai: A show-cause notice has been issued to four
police personnel on Monday in connection with the alleged
secret meeting between ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner
Param Bir Singh and dismissed Mumbai Police officer
Sachin Waze after hearing before Chandiwal Commission
in November 2021. As per the Navi Mumbai Police, the
alleged secret meeting continued for two and a half hours,
following which, charges of ignoring protocols and rules
were levelled against Waze’s escort. An enquiry of the
same was conducted against a sub-inspector and three
constables of Waze’s escort.
HC TO HEAR ALAPAN BANDYOPADHYAY’S
PLEA ON CAT ORDER TRANSFER ON JAN 24
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday said it would
continue hearing on January 24 the plea filed by former
West Bengal Chief Secretary
Alapan Bandyopadhyay
challenging the Central
Administrative Tribunal (CAT)
Principal Bench order which
transferred his case concern-
ing disciplinary proceedings
initiated by Centre from WB
to national capital. A bench of Justice Yogesh Khanna on
Monday listed the matter for January 24 for next hearing.
SC RAPS STATES OVER SLOW IDENTIFICATION
OF STREET KIDS, SEEKS REPORT IN 3 WEEKS
New Delhi: The SC has pulled up states for the delay in
the identification and rehabilitation of street children. Court
observed that the special
juvenile police units (SJPUs)
that were supposed to be
created in each district have
not been set up properly.
The SC directed the NCPCR
to conduct a meeting with
all states over their policies
on the rehabilitation of children living on the streets. “File
status report within three weeks,” the court said.
PLEA IN SC SEEKS DIRECTION TO PARTIES TO
DISCLOSE CRIMINAL RECORD OF CANDIDATES
New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls, a plea
has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to
political parties to disclose the criminal history of its can-
didates. The petition filed by SC lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay
also demands ensuring all contesting candidates have a
clean background. The plea filed before the apex court
seeks direction to the Election Commission of India (ECI)
to ensure that the political party explains why it preferred a
candidate with a criminal case over someone without any
criminal antecedents. Furthermore, all parties must explain
the decision to choose a particular candidate with a case
within 48 hours of disclosing the same.
SC DEFERS HEARING ON BENGAL GOVT’S SUIT
AGAINST CBI PROBE IN POST-POLL VIOLENCE
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the
hearing on the lawsuit filed by the West Bengal govern-
ment which alleged that the
CBI is going ahead with the
investigation in post-poll vio-
lence cases without securing
the prerequisite nod from the
state under the law. A bench
of Justices L. Nageswara Rao
and B.V. Nagarathna noted
that the pleadings in the matter are complete and deferred
the suit for hearing in the third week of February.
HC REFUSES ANTICIPATORY BAIL TO NITESH RANE
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday rejected an anticipatory
bail plea of BJP MLA Nitesh Rane in an alleged attempt to murder
case. The anticipatory bail application of co-accused in the case
Manish Dalvi was, however, granted. Earlier, a sessions court in
Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district had rejected his anticipatory
bail plea. Nitesh, the son of Union minister Narayan Rane, had
filed a pre-arrest bail application in connection with an
alleged attack on one Santosh Parab.
FRESH CHARGES SLAPPED ON YATI NARSINGHANAND
Dehradun: Fresh charges have been slapped on Yati Narsing-
hanand for abusing a journalist and photographer after being
offended by a question they had asked during an interview.
The Dasna temple priest has already been sent to 14 days’
judicial custody in the Dharma Sansad hate speech case. The
fresh charges were slapped on the Dasna temple head priest
on the basis of a complaint filed by a journalist, Haridwar
city police station SHO Rakinder Singh Kathait said.
‘DECIDE ON MUKUL’S DISQUALIFICATION IN 2 WKS’
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said that it expects
the West Bengal Legislative Assembly Speaker to take a call
on the disqualification plea against Trinamool Congress
MP Mukul Roy by the second week of February. A bench
comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and BV Nagarathna
on Monday heard a SLP moved by Speaker against a Calcutta
High Court order, which had told Speaker to consider Roy’s
disqualification under tenth Schedule of Constitution.
INDIA
05
INDIA
05
SP taking ‘money under
table’ for tickets: Yogi
Ghaziabad: UP CM
Yogi Adityanath on
Monday slammed
the SP for not an-
nouncing its
candidate list
publicly and al-
leged that the
party is “taking
money under the ta-
ble” for giving tickets
for the UP polls.
Speaking with the
media here, Yogi Adi-
tyanath said, “The
habit does not im-
prove very quickly
and that’s why in a
hurry to hide faces,
SP has avoided mak-
ing the list of candi-
dates public and is
silently alloting the
party symbol under
the table and is tak-
ing money for it.”
Further, the CM al-
leged that SP” has
onceagainrevealedits
true character by giv-
ing election tickets to
criminals.” “When
BJP comes to power
again,wewillbringall
these criminals to jus-
tice,” said Yogi. —ANI
CM Yogi Adityanath speaks to the media in Ghaziabad on Monday. Also seen here is VK Singh.
BJP LEADERS VIOLATING MODEL CODE
OF CONDUCT, SAYS AKHILESH YADAV
Lucknow: SP president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday ac-
cused the BJP and its leaders of violating the model code
of conduct and said that his party will lodge a written
complaint with the Election Commission. At a press
conference held at the party headquarters, Akhilesh said,
“BJP, its leaders are continuously violating the model code
of conduct. The SP will lodge a complaint with the ECI in
this regard and we hope that the commission will order
the BJP to follow the code of conduct properly.”
Akhilesh Yadav takes an oath “Ann Sankalp” with farmer
leader Tajinder Singh Virk (R) in Lucknow on Monday.
SP OFFERS TICKET
TO SITTING BJP MLA
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav
Monday tried to woo sitting
BJP MLA Radha Mohan
Aggarwal by offering him
an SP ticket for the seat. “If
you (reporters) can estab-
lish contact with him and
speak to him, ticket will be
announced and he will get
the ticket,” he said when
asked about Aggarwal.
BJP’S SANJEEV
MEETS BKU CHIEF
BJP LS MP Sanjeev Balyan
met BKU president Naresh
Tikait in Sisauli village of
Muzaffarnagar on Monday,
ahead of UP Assembly
elections. Sanjeev said on
Monday after his meet, “We
are like a family. We keep
meeting often.” This meet
holds importance as it is
being linked with UP polls.
Monday slammed
the SP for not an-
nouncing its
leged that the
party is “taking
UP
UP
HIGHLIGHTS
 'Getting rid' of BJP
in UP will be 'greater
azadi' than in 1947,
says Mehbooba Mufti
 BJP leaders booked for
violating Model Code of
Conduct, Covid norms
in Muzaffarnagar
 Akhilesh has not al-
loted me a ticket, says
sitting Cong MLA
Masood Akhtar who
had decided to join SP
 PM Modi to virtually
interact with BJP work-
ers in Varanasi today
 Slain Journalist Ra-
man Kashyap’s Broth-
er Joins Congress, to
Contest Polls
 Mamata Banerjee like-
ly to extend support
to Akhilesh Yadav, to
visit Lucknow
BAGHEL: EC MUST GIVE
CAMPAIGNING DEMO
Day after an FIR was
registered against Chhat-
tisgarh CM Bhupesh
Baghel for flouting norms
during his recent visit to
poll-bound UP, he asked
EC to give a demo on
campaigning. He alleged
that “EC’s bias is visible
at beginning” of the polls.
CONG TO PAY ATTENTION
TO WOMEN’S CAMPAIGN
After allotting 40% tickets
to women candidates for
UP polls, Congress will
now pay special atten-
tion to campaigning for
them. Women candidates
informed that Priyanka
Gandhi has decided to
make efforts for ictory of
more women candidates.
Bhupesh Baghel talks
about progress of UP with
women during door-to-
door campaign in Dadri.
Chandigarh: AAP’s
Punjab Chief Ministe-
rial candidate’s name
will be announced on
Tuesday at noon, party’s
national convenor
Arvind Kejriwal
said on Monday
.
“AAP’s Punjab
CM face will be an-
nounced tomorrow
at noon,” Kejriwal
said to re-
p o r t e r s .
This announce-
ment holds im-
p o r t a n c e
ahead of
Punjab
Assembly Elections.
Punjab will go to the
polls in a single phase
on February 20, count-
ing on March 10. —ANI
ASSEMBLY POLLS 2022
EC HAS HEARD VOICE OF PEOPLE
BY DEFERRING POLLS: SIDHU
Amritsar: Punjab Con-
gress Chief Navjot Sin-
gh Sidhu on Monday
welcomed the Election
Commission of India
(ECI)'s decision to post-
pone the Punjab Assem-
bly elections and said
that the poll panel has
respected the voice of
the people of the state.
Addressing a press
conference in Am-
ritsar on Monday,
Sidhu said,
When a huge
number of people
make a demand
which is related to their
religion and the Elec-
tion Commission of In-
dia listens to them, it
becomes a decision that
respects and honours
the voice of the people.
Earlier Monday, the
ECI decided to postpone
the voting dates for the
Punjab Assembly elec-
tion to February 20.
Earlier, the State was
scheduled to go for polls
on February 14.
Sources said that the
request was made as
many people from the
Scheduled Caste com-
munity in view of Guru
Ravidas Jayanti. —ANI
Addressing a press
conference in Am-
ritsar on Monday,
When a huge
number of people
make a demand
PUNJAB
PUNJAB POLITICIANS
HAIL EC'S DECISION
Chandigarh: Punjab politi-
cians including CM Charanjit
Singh Channi, Sukhbir
Singh Badal on Monday have
welcomed the EC’s decision
to postpone the assembly
elections in the state by six
days on account of Guru
Ravidas Jayanti on February
16. Voting in the state will
now be held on February 20.
Punjab Congress Chief Navjot
Singh Sidhu welcomes Patiala
former mayor Vishnu Sharma
after he joins Congress, in
Patiala on Monday.
AAP to announce Punjab CM
candidate today, says Kejriwal
AAP HAD RELEASED A PHONE NUMBERS, ASKING
THE PEOPLE OF PUNJAB TO TELL THEM WHO
SHOULD BE THE PARTY’S CHIEF MINISTERIAL FACE.
THE ELECTIONS IN PUNJAB WILL BE HELD IN A
SINGLE PHASE ON FEBRUARY 14 AND THE
COUNTING OF VOTES WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 10
HIGHLIGHTS
l Two-time Congress
MLA Luv Kumar
Goldy joins Capt
Amarinder’s Punjab
Lok Congress
l After CM Channi’s
brother, Rana Inder
Pratap, son of Punjab
Cabinet minister
Rana Gurjeet fight
polls against party
l AAP nominee from
Firozpur Rural
constituency quits party
l Congress leader
Sarwan Singh
Phillaur joins SAD
U’khand Assembly polls:
Harak Singh may join Cong
Dehradun: As the Con-
gress leaders are tight-
lipped on the issue of
Harak Singh Rawat, the
sacked BJP
M i n i s t e r
in Uttara-
k h a n d ,
joining the
party, Rawat
himself has opened up
that he will work for
Cong. He said, “The
wind is blowing in fa-
vour of Congress and I
will work for party that
comes to power.” —ANI
DHAMI: RAWAT MOUNTED
PRESSURE FOR TICKETS
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar
Singh Dhami on Monday
said Cabinet minister Harak
Singh Rawat was expelled
from the BJP as he was
“mounting pressure” for
party tickets to his family
members ahead of polls.
CONGRESS WILL WIN U’KHAND POLLS: HARAK
The Congress party will form a government in Uttarakhand,
expelled BJP Minister Harak Singh Rawat asserted on Mon-
day, ahead of assembly elections in the state. In a statement,
Rawat on Monday said he will work for the Congress party.
“BJP will never understand the problems of the common
man. I know that party very well. I understand their approach.
I will continue to work for the welfare of people,” he said.
sacked BJP
M i n i s t e r
in Uttara-
k h a n d ,
joining the
party, Rawat
U’KHAND
U’KHAND
After Kejri, now Shiv Sena makes
overtures to Parrikar's son in Goa
Panaji: A day after Del-
hi CM Arvind Kejriwal
opened the doors of the
AAP for ex-CM late
M a n o h a r
Parrikar’s
son Utpal
to join his
party, San-
jay Raut on
Monday urged non-BJP
parties to support Ut-
pal. “If #UtpalParrikar
contests Independent
from Panaji, I propose
all non-BJP parties in-
cluding @AAP @INCIn-
dia @AITCofficial @
Goaforwardparty to
support not field a
candidate against him.
This will be tribute to
ManoharBhai!” Raut
tweeted. —ANI
M a n o h a r
Parrikar’s
son Utpal
to join his
party, San-
jay Raut on
GOA
GOA
AAP WILL ‘SPLIT’ NON-BJP VOTES: CHIDAMBARAM
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on
Monday claimed Kejriwal has “confirmed”
that parties like AAP TMC will only
“split” non-BJP vote in Goa. He as-
serted that actual contest in the state
will be between Cong BJP. Cong
senior observer for Goa polls,
said “Those who want a regime
change (after 10 yrs of misrule)
will vote for Cong.”
KEJRI HITS BACK AT
CHIDAMBARAM
Hitting back at Chidam-
baram, Kejriwal said Goans
will vote where they see
hope and “Congress is
hope for BJP, not Goans”.
He also asked Chidambar-
am to “stop crying” about
votes being split. “15 of ur
17 MLAs switched to BJP,”
Kejriwal tweeted, tagging
Chidambaram’s tweets.
CONGRESS CEC TO
MEET FOR POLLS
The Central Election
Committee (CEC) of the
Congress will meet for the
selection of candidates for
the Goa assembly polls.
The first list of candidates
for the Goa Assembly
elections was released on
December 16 in which the
party had announced eight
candidates.
Pushkar S Dhami welcomes
ex-Nainital MLA Sarita to BJP.

INDIA
06
Rakesh Ranjan
New Delhi: Good gov-
ernance doesn’t need
the approval of the Su-
preme Court, does it?
But a pending case relat-
ing to Central Secretari-
at Service (CSS) cadre
promotion has appar-
ently deterred the
DoPT, which is the
cadre controlling au-
thority of CSS, from fol-
lowing a fair just poli-
cy on promotions of CSS
officers. Or, is there
something else?
This has come at a
time when almost two
batches of IAS officers
have been getting pro-
moted at Joint Secre-
tary, Additional Secre-
tary and Secretary level
every year. In contrast,
even though CSS is con-
sidered the backbone of
bureaucracy being the
institution that carries
institutional memory as
well as being the instru-
ment that drafts and ex-
ecutes govt policies, its
officers have been feel-
ing neglected as their
several batches have
been awaiting promo-
tions for last 6-8 years.
Hit by disappoint-
ment and frustration,
CSS officers recently
started a relay Twitter
campaign with the
hashtag #SaveCSS to
raise issue of their long-
pending promotion.
According to CSS Fo-
rum (the umbrella Asso-
ciation of CSS officers)
General Secretary Man-
mohan Verma, even
though DoPT has in-
structed all Depart-
ments/Ministries to car-
ry out promotions for
other services/posts,
subject to the outcome of
SC decision in an SLP ti-
tled‘JarnailSinghOth-
ers Vs Lachmi Narayan
Gupta Others’ (where-
in a verdict is being
awaitedsinceApril2019).
Sources in CSS Forum
claim that in accordance
with DoPT instruc-
tions, ministries and de-
partments are carrying
out promotions in all
grades. However, CS Di-
vision under DoPT
hasn’t been processing
the due promotion of
CSS/CSSS/CSCS offic-
ers. It is pointed out that
there are multiple litiga-
tions pending in SC for
last 7 years. And this is
cited by CS Division as
reason for its inability to
initiate any step in the
direction of the promo-
tion of the CSS Cadre.
CSS officers have
been at pains to explain
how in some cases, offic-
ers have been denied
their due promotion
against available vacan-
cies even after becoming
eligible for promotion 5
to 6 years ago.
In 2021, after much
agitation by CSS Offic-
ers, DoPT decided to
grant ad-hoc promo-
tions in Cadre pending
judgment of Court case.
It may be noted that for
CSS Cadre officers Au-
gust 2021 was marked by
a rare development as
Union Government on
August 23 28 posted 9
CSS cadre officers in the
rank of Joint Secretary
.
However, after that,
DoPT has again stopped
further ad-hoc promo-
tions citing pending
judgment in cases relat-
ed to reservation in pro-
motion. The last Order
for ad-hoc promotions in
CSSwasissuedabout258
days ago and ironically
eligible officers are retir-
ing every month without
getting their rightful
promotions causing fi-
nancial loss affecting
even their pension.
Further, the Apex
Court reserved its judg-
ment in the Jarnail Sin-
gh case on October 25,
2021, adding to complex-
ity of the situation.
CSS Officers are post-
ed in all ministries and
departments of Central
Government at ‘Middle’
to ‘Senior Management’
levelposts.Onseveraloc-
casions, Prime Minister
andotherMinistershave
praised CSS Officers for
their hard work and per-
severance but their ser-
vice issues continue to
fester their careers.
Good governance be-
gins with the govern-
ment putting its own
house in order before
doing anything else. It
may be pointed out that
no court in the world
can prevent the govern-
ment from doing what it
knows to be right and
fair. So what’s the gov-
ernment waiting for?
CSS cadre distressed over protracted denial of promotion
Sharat K Verma
New Delhi: The Sama-
jwadi Party’s tactics of
releasing the first list of
just 10 candidates has
perplexed political ob-
servers and questions
are being raised as to
what was the compul-
sion that the party had
to release such a short
list? Voting is to be held
in 58 seats in the first
phase and nominations
for that have not yet
started, yet on January
13, SP announced candi-
dates for 10 seats and
Rashtriya Lok Dal an-
nounced its for 19 seats.
Of the 10 SP candi-
dates, seven are Mus-
lims, but the candida-
tures have been an-
nounced according to
the local equations and
dominating communi-
ties of a particular As-
sembly constituency
.
But would it not have
been better had the Sa-
majwadi Party an-
nounced these names
with the complete list?
SP was attacked by BJP
straight away on giving
tickets to 7 Muslim can-
didates and social media
was abuzz that if SP’s
rulecomesthenMuslims
will be most important.
SP’s first list was
soon used for commu-
nal polarization. After
that BJP started profil-
ing these Muslim candi-
dates. Old cases are be-
ing taken out wherein
the previous record of
these Muslim candi-
dates standing against
other communities
were made viral.
Inthisway
,alongwith
communal polarization,
BJP is telling that Mus-
lims are criminals and
theBJPgovernmenthas
‘straightened’ everyone
out and as a result of
this, BJP’s favorite issue
of law and order comes
in discussion.
INSP’SFIRSTLIST,
LIES BJP’S UP
‘POLL TACTIC’!
Mahesh Sharma
New Delhi: It is a mil-
lion dollar question
whether there is any
synergy between the
Congress and the Sa-
majwadi Party? Seeing
the first list of 125 can-
didates released by
Congress General Sec-
retary and in-charge of
Uttar Pradesh Priyan-
ka Gandhi Vadra, ob-
servers are engaged in
the math of who bene-
fits and who is harmed
by this list.
Priyanka has an-
nounced Dalit candi-
dates for 32 seats.
There is nothing new
in this because only
Dalit candidates can
contest from seats re-
served for Scheduled
Castes. But the real
thing is that Priyanka
has fielded 20 Brahmin
candidates. If we talk
about the total upper
caste candidates, there
are 47 upper castes in
the list. Apart from
Brahmins, Thakurs,
Vaishyas and Sikhs,
there is one Bhumihar
and Kayastha each.
This is the core vote
of the BJP, in which, if
the Congress makes
even a small dent, it
will directly benefit the
Samajwadi Party.
Apart from this, 40%
tickets have been given
to women. Middle class
women will be affected
more by this than the
women of core vote of
SP and RLD and if
their vote is lost then
too the BJP will suffer.
Although it is not
that the Congress has
not fielded candidates
belonging to SP’s core
vote, but on one hand
their numbers are less
and on the other their
candidates are weak.
The Congress has given
tickets to 20 Muslims in
the first list, but bar-
ring a few, there is no
candidate who can en-
sure victory. Similarly,
there are only five Ya-
dav candidates in first
list. Obviously the core
vote of SP has been tak-
en care of. The leaders
of other backward
castes are going to the
SP, so Congress list has
only 18 candidates from
other backward castes.
It is being said that SP
has also decided not to
fieldacandidateagainst
the mother of the rape
victim in Unnao, as a
show of goodwill to-
wards the Congress.
But perhaps the million
dollar question is, will
the SP help Congress in
this fashion in Uttara-
khand also?
Cong’sUPlist:Istheresome
internalcoordinationwithSP?
In its first list Congress has tried not to harm SP’s core vote bank.
New Delhi: The coun-
try’s first messenger
mRNA vaccine is ex-
pected to begin trials on
humans in February
.
The Pune-based Gen-
nova Biopharmaceuti-
cals has submitted
phase 2 data of mRNA
vaccine and has also
completed the recruit-
ment of phase 3 data.
Drugs Controller Gen-
eral of India’s (DCGI)
Subject Expert Commit-
tee (SEC) is expected to
review the data soon,
the official sources said.
Gennova Biopharma-
ceuticals has also devel-
oped the mRNA vaccine
for the Omicron variant
that will be tested on hu-
mans for efficacy and
immunogenicity soon,
the official sources said.
Earlier in the month
of September 2021, the
Gennova issued a press
statement and updated
about the vaccines tri-
als, “The Drug Control-
ler General of India,
had approved Phase II
and Phase III study pro-
tocols for HGCO19, In-
dia’s first mRNA-based
COVID-19 vaccine, de-
veloped by Gennova Bi-
opharmaceuticals Lim-
ited (“Gennova”) back
in August.” —ANI
INDIA’S FIRST HOMEGROWN
MRNA VACCINE TO BE TESTED
Officials said the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the DCGI is likely to review data soon
New Delhi: A minor
urged Delhi HC on Mon-
day to direct the Centre
and authorities con-
cerned to give a road
map for COVID-19 vac-
cination for children
below 12 years of age.
Senior Advocate
Kailash Vasudev, ap-
pearing for a minor peti-
tioner on Monday, sub-
mitted that no road
map has been given by
the government for
vaccinating children
aged 12 and below. The
road map is only pro-
vided for those who are
15-18 years old. The di-
vision bench of Chief
Justice D N Patel and
Justice Jyoti Singh on
the submission said it
would hear the plea on
March 21, 2022.
The submission came
during the hearing of a
plea filed by a minor, Tia
Gupta seeking immedi-
ate vaccination of mi-
nors between 12 to 17
years. The Delhi HC
earlier had said that if
COVID-19 vaccines are
administered to chil-
dren without proper
research, then it may be
a disaster while object-
ing to the submission of
the petitioners seeking
research on vaccines
for children in a time-
bound manner.
Thepetitioners,inthe
PIL filed by advocates
Bihu Sharma and Abhi-
nav Mukerji, had urged
the court to put in place
appropriate vaccine
protocol for children re-
siding in Delhi.
HC urged to direct govt
to give road map to
vax kids below 12 years
New Dehli: As a part of
the Azadi Ka Amrit Ma-
hotsav commemorating
75 years of India’s inde-
pendence, the “grand-
est flypast ever” with 75
aircraft will take place
over Rajpath in Delhi
during Republic Day
celebrations, said Air
Force PRO Wing Com-
mander Indranil Nandi
on Monday
.
“The grandest fly-
past ever to take place
over Rajpath during the
Republic Day parade
with 75 aircraft includ-
ing the planes from IAF,
Army, and the Navy.
This is in line with the
Azadi ka Amrit Mahot-
sav celebrations,” the
IAF PRO said.
“Five Rafale to fly
over the Rajpath in the
Vinaash formation,” he
added. 17 Jaguar fighter
aircraft will fly in the
shape of ‘75’ to cele-
brate Azadi ka Amrit
Mahotsav.
5 RAFALE,75 AIRCRAFT
TO FEATURE ON R-DAY
Mumbai: Union minis-
ter for road transport
and highways Nitin
Gadkari on Monday
said that state govts will
have to cooperate, coor-
dinate and communi-
cate with the Center to
fast-track the imple-
mentation of the ambi-
tious PM Gati Shakti
National Mission Plan
to achieve the USD 5
trillion target by 2025.
Addressing a virtual
conference of state min-
isters of the southern
India Gadkari said,
“We are committed for
the progress and devel-
opment of the country.
Being a nation of a dem-
ocratic and federal
character, without the
support from the state
governments, the Un-
ion government alone
cannot make efforts to
develop our country
.”
Gadkari seeks
states coop
to fast track
Gati Shakti
New Delhi: Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi
paid tributes to former
Tamil Nadu CM M G Ra-
machandran on
his 105th
birth anni-
v e r s a r y
on Mon-
day
, saying
he was widely admired
as an effective adminis-
trator who placed top
priority on social justice
and empowerment. Ra-
machandran, also a Ta-
mil film actor, was the
founder of the AIADMK
and remained the state’s
chief ministerfrom1977
till his death in 1987.
Modi tweeted, “Re-
membering Bharat Rat-
na MGR on his birth an-
niversary
. He is widely
admired as an effective
administrator who
placed top priority on
social justice and em-
powerment.” —PTI
PM Modi pays tributes to MGR on birth anniv
HIGHLIGHTS
 ISL: Match between Hyderabad, Jamshedpur
postponed
 Nepal’s month-long Swosthani Bratakatha
starts amid COVID pandemic
 Bihar man who was booked for taking 11 doses
COVID-19 vaccine gets relief from arrest
 Tamil Nadu: All school students between 15 to
18 years vaccinated with first COVID-19 dose
 Over 13.79 cr unutilized COVID-19 vaccine
doses still available with States, UTs: Centre
A
A
A
PM CONDOLES SHANTI DEVI’S DEATH
CRUCIAL READ
INJURED SIKH DEVOTEES SEEK ‘DONATION’
IIT-BOMBAY STUDENT JUMPS TO DEATH
Arrah: A group of Sikh devotees, on way to their home in Pun-
jab’s Mohali, suffered injuries when their vehicle was pelted
with stones by a mob in Bihar’s Bhojpur district on Sunday,
informed SDPO Rahul Singh. “Six Sikh devotees, on way to
their home in Mohali from Patna, suffered injuries when their
vehicle was pelted with stones by a mob ” the SDPO said.
Mumbai: A 26-year-old man, who was studying in the
Indian Institute of Technology in Powai, died by suicide
after jumping from the terrace of the hostel, the police
said. Deputy Commissioner of police Maheshwar Reddy
said, “The incident took place at around 4 am on Mon-
day, when he jumped from the terrace of the building.”
LeM ACCEPTS BLAME
OF PULWAMA ATTACK
PARL INVITES VIEWS
ON BIODIVERSITY BILL
New Delhi: The NIA has
found during a probe that
the Lashkar-e-Mustafa
terrorist outfit was formed
by Pakistani’s ISI to divert
the international pressure
and to take responsibility
of the Pulwama Attack.
New Delhi: T Joint
Committee of Parlia-
mentarians has invited
suggestions from people
on the Biological Diversity
(Amendment) Bill, 2021
that was introduced in the
Lok Sabha last month.
New Delhi: Con-
gress leader Rahul
Gandhi on Monday
paid tributes to Ro-
hith Vemula on his
death anniversary,
and said he remains
a symbol of resist-
ance and his hero.
“Rohith Vemula
was murdered by
discrimination and
indignities against
his Dalit identity,”
he said on Twitter.
“Even as years go
by, he remains a
symbol of resist-
ance and his brave
mother a symbol of
hope. For fighting
till the very end, Ro-
hith is my hero,”
Gandhi also said.
His death trig-
gered a nationwide
agitation against
casteism in institu-
tions of higher
learn-
ing.
Rohith
Vemula
remains my
hero: RaGa
CSS is considered the backbone of bureaucracy;
an Cadre that carries institutional memory and
expertise in drafting and crafting of policies
Akhilesh Yadav

NEWS
07
PSKS: Teams formed to settle
pending lease cases in State
Abhishek Srivastava
Jaipur: The Ashok Ge-
hlot government is
making continuous ef-
forts so that none of the
plot holders are unnec-
essarily deprived of the
lease under the Pra-
shasan Shehron Ke
Sang abhiyan. The gov-
ernment will soon take
steps to settle the cases
of leases pending in the
local bodies due to vari-
ous reasons.
Workshops were or-
ganised at the district
level from January 1.
For this, separate teams
of officers of Jaipur
Headquarters were
formed. The objective
of these workshops was
to review the function-
ing of the campaign
and to know about the
problems being faced in
granting leases. It was
revealed in these work-
shops that due to vari-
ous reasons, a large
number of cases of
grant of lease are pend-
ing in the local bodies.
The main reasons
were that documents
before 31 December
2018 are valid as pos-
session of property for
grant of lease in old
abadi area of cities. If
any property is sold af-
ter this date, the entity
is not issuing the lease
of such property. Many
civic officials argue
that the registration of
purchase and sale is
done after December
31, 2018.
Agriculture land
which was later regis-
tered in Sivachak due
to being populated
land, its regulation has
been stuck by many
bodies who argue that
the land cannot be
leased due to being left-
over. The lands for
which notification was
issued under section 32
of the Town Improve-
ment Trust Act but lat-
er the bodies did not
take any further action,
the bodies are reluctant
to regulate such lands
by telling their plans.
Woman crushed to
death, two arrested
Lunaram Darji
Jalore: Two young men
have been arrested for
killing an old woman by
crushingherundertheir
pickup vehicle for not
givingintotheirdemand
of allowing a girl to go
along with them under
the Sanchore police sta-
tion area in Jalore.
Sanchore Dy SP Roop
Singh said that the ac-
cusedDineshandBhaga-
ram, residents of Daval
village, went to a hut in
the vicinity of the Na-
tional Highway on the
outskirts of Karola at
nightandaskedforagirl.
But 60-year-old Raji Devi
resisted. Irate over not
beingabletogetagirl,the
accusedrantheirvehicle
over the woman.
Sanchorepoliceseized
the mobile phone of the
accused from the spot
and traced the two.
First India Bureau
Kota: Urban Develop-
ment and Housing Min-
ister Shanti Dhariwal
has instructed the civic
authorities to keep both
the temporary and per-
manent “rain baseras”
(shelters) run by them
open for 24 hours a day
to provide relief to the
labourers and people
staying under naked
sky from the cold wave
conditions in the state.
He also asked the au-
thorities to put up at
least temporary shel-
ters wherever it is need-
ed at the earliest. In re-
sponse, Kota Municipal
Commission has start-
ed two more temporary
shelters in Kunhadi and
Mala Phatak areas of
the city
. Presently, there
are 5 temporary and 5
permanent shelters
running in the city
.
In addition, instruc-
tions have been given to
the UIT officials and
contractors to set up
shelters for the workers
working in various pro-
jects going on in and
around the city
.
CIC DB Gupta’s father’s condolence
meet held with coronavirus SOPs
Kamal Kant Vyas
Jaipur: Chief Informa-
tion Commissioner DB
Gupta’s father Subodh
Bhushan Gupta passed
away on January 14 at
the age of 84. Laxman
SinghRathod,Rajendra
Prasad, Shweta
Dhankhar along with
IAS Kunjalilal Meena,
Dr Samit Sharma,
NaveenJain,PSMehra,
and Pawan Arora paid
tribute to the departed
soul by reaching the
condolence meeting
held at the children’s
park at MNIT campus.
The officers and em-
ployees of the Secretar-
iat also paid homage
while following all
COVID guidelines.
Subodh Bhushan
Gupta has left behind
two sons and three
daughters. His son De-
vendra Bhushan Gupta
is currently the Chief
Information Commis-
sioner and his wife
Vinu Gupta an IAS of-
ficer. His other son Dr
Akhilendra Bhushan
Gupta is a senior pro-
fessor at MNIT.
Hit by vehicle,sloth bear dies in Chittorgarh
First India Bureau
Kota: A two-year-old
sloth bear was killed
after being hit by a ve-
hicle near the Mukun-
dra Hill Tiger Reserve
in Rajasthan’s Chittor-
garh district, an official
said on Monday
.
The incident took
place on the Rawatb-
hatta Ramganj Mandi
link road near Deepura
village under the Raw-
atbhatta forest range in
the district on late Sun-
day night.
Blood-stained body of
the animal with head in-
jury and lower jaw frac-
ture was recovered and
disposed of as per proto-
col after a post-mortem
by a team of veterinary
doctors at Rawatbhatta.
Chief Conservator of
Forests S R Yadav said
the body was recovered
on Monday morning.
It was a two-year-old
female sloth bear with
fatal head injury and
lower jaw fracture, said
Dr Sunil Shabde of the
medical team that car-
ried out the autopsy
upon the animal.
It was an accident
and the animal likely
died on the spot after be-
ing hit by an unidenti-
fied vehicle, he said. A
wildlife enthusiast said
wild animals are often
killed in road mishaps
as the boundary wall of
the tiger reserve has not
been fully erected.
There are huge gaps in
the boundary wall and
animals often escape
and get killed, Brijesh
Vijayvergiya said.
Tearful adieu to martyr
Anil as mortal remains
consigned to flames
Jhunjhunu: The mor-
tal remains of the mar-
tyred Indian Navy of-
ficer Anil Kumar were
consigned to flame
with full honours in
his native village No-
rangpura in Khetri of
the district on Monday
.
The martyr’s younger
brother Ashok Kumar,
who is in ITBP, per-
formed the last rites.
Governor Kalraj
Mishra, CM Ashok
Gehlot, former CM
Vasundhara Raje and
other leaders paid
their tributes.
Thousands of
youth followed the fu-
neral procession in a
15-km long bike rally
that was taken out
from Babai village in
honour of their hero.
The departed was giv-
en a guard of honour
by INSAS jawans.
Prominent among
thosewhowerepresent
there to express their
condolences are MP
NarendraKhichadand
former legislators Dat-
aram Gurjar, Hazarilal
Gurjar and Puran Mal
Saini. —FIB
BODIES OF MAN, WOMAN FOUND AT
RAILWAY TRACK IN BHIMGANJ AREA
MINISTER UDAI LAL ANJANA VISITS
BEREAVED INDUSTRIALIST MADAN
Kota: Mutilated bodies of a man and a woman
were recovered from a railway track in the
Bhimganj Mandi area
here, police said on
Monday. It is sus-
pected that the two
jumped before a train
to end their lives,
they said. However,
no note confirming
that the man and the
woman died by suicide was found at the spot,
police said. Ajay Singh Meena (22) and Archana
Meena (22), who were cousins, were going to
Kota to collect educational documents from the
University of Kota, they said.
Rajsamand: Minister of
Cooperation Udai Lal Anjana
on Monday paid a visit to
the home of Madan Paliwal,
the chairman cum managing
director of Mirage group of
industries, who lost his mother
Geeta Devi recently. Anjana,
who is also the minister in
charge of the district, went to Paliwal’s house at
Sukhadia Nagar in Nathdwar and expressed his
condolences to the bereaved family.
NEWS DIGEST
Functioning of
campaign
reviewed in dist-
level workshops
CIC DB Gupta along with his wife Veenu Gupta pay tribute to
father Subodh Bhushan Gupta on Monday.
HC STAYS MALICIOUS ACTION
AGAINST GROCER BY SDM
Jaipur: The High Court has put a stay on the
order of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM)
of Gangapur City to cancel the license of a
grocery shop again, with malicious intent,
despite an earlier
stay on it imposed
by the court. Justice
Indrajit Singh served
notices on Monday
to the Principal Food
Supplies Secretary,
Sawai Madhopur
District Collector,
DSO and the SDM asking them to submit their
explanation within 8 weeks’ time. The court
held the primary hearing of the petition filed by
Shambhu Dayal Gupta, the owner of the gro-
cery shop in Kunkata Kalan in Gangapur City.
COLD WAVE
Both the accused in police custody.
Make shelter
homes 24X7
functional, says
Shanti Dhariwal

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