23032023_First India Mumbai.pdf

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MUMBAI l THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI TITLE NO. MAHENG/2022/14652 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 313
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OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & MUMBAI
MUKESH AMBANI
ONLY INDIAN IN
TOP 10 HURUN
GLOBAL RICH LIST
New Delhi: Railways Ministry has issued an order to reduce price of AC-3
tier economy class ticket with effect from Wednesday, bedding will be made
available as before. Fare for a 3-tier economy class ticket, which had been made
equal to fare of AC-3 tier ticket through a circular issued last year, is reduced.
New Delhi: RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani was the
only Indian to make it to top 10 billionaires on the
2023 M3M Hurun Global Rich List, with a net worth of
$82 billion. 65-year-old industrialist has retained his
title as Asia’s richest man for 3rd consecutive year.
ADANI GROUP
SEEKS TO TAKE
CONTROL OF
MORE AIRPORTS
New Delhi: Adani Airports, part of billionaire
Gautam Adani’s conglomerate, will bid for more
airports across India in its ambition to become
the leading airport operator, Chief Executive Arun
Bansal said on Wednesday.
GOOD NEWS! RLY LOWERS FARE OF AC-3 TIER ECO TICKET
INDIA EYES 6G!
PM unveils Bharat 6G Vision Document, launches research & devp test bed
Moni Sharma
New Delhi: Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi on
Wednesday unveiled
Bharat’s 6G Vision Doc-
ument and inaugurated
the new International
Telecommunication
Union (ITU) Area office
and Innovation Centre.
At the event, PM also
launched the 6G R&D
Test Bed and the ‘Call
before u dig’ App.
PM Narendra Modi
also assertained in the
event that “telecom
technology is empower-
ing our citizens in In-
dia”. Noting that India
has seen a rapid surge
in the number of inter-
net users in rural areas
in recent years, he said
“it shows the power of
Digital India.”
ITU is the United Na-
tions’ specialised agen-
cy for information and
communication tech-
nologies (ICTs). Head-
quartered in Geneva, it
has a network of field
offices, regional Offices
and area offices.
Today, when
India is
presiding over
the G-20, reducing the
regional divide is one of
its priorities. When we
talk about bridging the
technological divide, it
is very natural to expect
from India.
—Narendra Modi, PM
ABOUT CALL BEFORE
YOU DIG (CBuD) APP
The Call Before You Dig
(CBuD) app is a tool
envisaged for preventing
damage to underlying
assets like optical fibre ca-
bles, that occurs because
of uncoordinated digging
and excavation, leading to
loss of thousands of crore
every year.
TALKING 6G SOON AFTER 5G ROLLOUT
l 6G test bed launched to
provide industry, academ-
ic institutions and others a
platform to test & validate
evolving technologies
l 6G testbed is be-
ing co-developed by a
consortium of various
IITs, including those in
Guwahati and Madras
lIndia is the second
largest telecom market
globally, with 1.2 billion
digital subscribers
PM Narendra Modi, Ashwini Vaishnaw & Doreen Bogdan unveiling
Bharat 6G Vision Document at the inauguration of the ITU Area
Office and Innovation Centre, in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Residence of ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief Amritpal Singh, at Jallupur
Khera village in Amritsar district on Wednesday.
Police issues lookout
circular, non-bailable
warrant against Singh
First India Bureau
Chandigarh: Punjab
Police on Wednesday is-
sued a lookout circular
(LOC) and non-bailable
warrant against Waris
de Punjab chief and
KhalistanileaderAmrit-
pal Singh, claimed re-
ports. Sukhchain Singh
Gill, IGP (HQ), Punjab,
informed during a press
conferencethattheKhal-
istani leader has not yet
been apprehended.
The IGP said, “We are
puttingforthallattempts
to capture him. It is dif-
ficult to say that we are
optimistic that we will
arrest him soon. Other
states and central agen-
cies are fully cooperat-
ing with Pb Police.” P6
POLICE QUESTION
AMRITPAL SINGH’S
WIFE AND MOTHER
Jallupur Khera: Police on
Wednesday questioned
absconding Amritpal’s
wife Kirandeep and mother
Balwinder at his native village
Jallupur Khera. SSP Satinder
Singh, however, denied
questioning them but main-
tained that “it was a routine
matter.”Cops remained at the
house of Amritpal for an hour,
didn’t speak to media later.
TREMORS FELT IN
DELHI-NCR, DAY
AFTER MAJOR JOLTS
New Delhi: A day after a
powerful earthquake jolted
Delhi and neighbouring
cities, mild tremors were
felt in national capital
and adjoining areas. The
quake of 2.7 magnitude
occurred around 4:42 pm
on Wednesday.
PROTESTORS THROW INK
AS SECURITY KEEPS THEM
AWAY FROM IHC IN UK
London: Pro-Khalistan
protesters shouted slogans,
threw water bottles and
ink at London Metropolitan
police, who were on other
side of road from Indian High
Commission. For protesters,
immediate provocation was
bigger Indian flag draped
over walls of India House.
READ
Crucial
Crucial
PEACE IN KASHMIR
AFTER SCRAPPING OF
ART 370 : AMIT SHAH
Kupwara: Union Home
Minister Amit
Shah said on
Wednesday
that peace
is being
established
in JK after abrogation
of Article 370. He
was speaking after
inaugurating Maa Sharda
Devi Temple in JK’s
Kupwara through VC. P5
P
resident Droupadi Murmu with Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, MoS Nisith Pramanik and Padma
awardees in a group picture at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Right) PM Narendra Modi being greeted by
Pandwani singer Usha Barle prior to receiving the Padma Shri award in presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Smriti Irani and others.
Of the 106 Padma awards that were announced, 6 are Padma Vibhushan, 9 are Padma Bhushan and 91 are Padma Shri. Former Union Minister SM Krishna, Aditya Birla
Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, Singer Suman Kalyanpur, Kantha embroidery artist Pritikana Goswami are among those who have been honoured at the ceremony.
Of these, over 50 people were awarded on Wednesday. Rest of the awardees would be conferred the honour in another ceremony later. Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi, Dr Dilip
Mahalanabis, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Narendra Chandra Debbarma, Areez Khambatta and Karma Wangchu were honoured posthumously. P5
PM MODI’S MANN KI BAAT
COME APRIL 30, 100TH
EPISODE
TO BROADCAST WORLDWIDE
This time not only India but even other countries would
listen to PM Narendra Modi’s 100th episode of the
radio programme Mann Ki Baat. For the same, BJP is pre-
paring in full swing. In every LS, in 100 places, 100 peo-
ple will sit and listen to Mann Ki Baat, in which different
groups of doctors, engineers, teachers, and
social workers will listen to this program
and all other sections of the society.
Apart from this, those who are hon-
oured with Padma Bhushan or Padma
Vibhushan will also be honoured and
will be heard. BJP’s national gen secy
Dushyant Gautam and Vinod Tawde
are in charge of program, under their
leadership, this programme is
being conducted across dif-
ferent states on April 30.
Padma
Glory
4 dist judges to be elevated
as Madras HC judges: SC
First India Bureau
New Delhi: The SC Col-
legium headed by CJI
DY Chandrachud has
recommended names
of 4 district judges for
appointment as judges
of the Madras HC. The
collegium, which com-
prises Justices Sanjay
Kishan Kaul and KM
Joseph, recommended
the names of R Sak-
thivel, P Dhana-
bal, Chinnasamy
Kumarappan,
and K Ra-
jasekar. Colle-
gium reiter-
ated its earli-
er recommendation
dated July 25, 2022,
for appt of Senior
Advocate Har-
preet Singh
Brar as a
judge of Pun-
jab, Haryana
High Court.
SC: CENTRE DISTURBING
SENIORITY OF JUDGES
BY DELAYING DECISIONS
The Supreme Court
collegium has asked
the Centre to expedite the
pending appointments of
judges, pointing out that
withholding names of
judges disturbs the sen-
iority of the candidates.
Purpose of broadcasting the programme
across the world is because PM Modi is a
global leader. All the countries appreciate
the work of the PM. People want to hear him. Our
aim is that we broadcast PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat
to as many countries as possible.—BJP SOURCES
OVER 100 FIRs, 6 ARRESTED FOR PASTING
POSTERS AGAINST MODI ACROSS DELHI
Over 100 FIRs have been registered and 6 people have
been arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with
objectionable posters, including those with derogatory
remarks against PM Modi, across the national capital.
Raj Thackeray strikes again against Uddhav CM Shinde!
First India Bureau
Mumbai: On the occa-
sion of Gudi Padwa, Ma-
harashtra Navnirman
Sena (MNS) chief Ud-
dhav Thackeray held a
rally at Mumbai’s Shiva-
ji Park. The political
leader spoke about Hin-
dutva and the current
political scenario in Ma-
harashtra.
In a surprise attack,
the MNS chief slammed
Chief Minister Eknath
Shinde for cosying up
too much to the Centre
and snatching jobs from
the state.
“Our Chattrapati
Shivaji Maharaj used to
loot from Surat and
bring it to Maharash-
tra... Shinde is looting
from Maharashtra and
taking it to Surat. I want
to tell Eknath Shinde,
work for the people of
Maharashtra; don’t fol-
low Uddhav Thackeray
,”
he said.
Not one to tread light-
ly, the MNS leader fur-
ther turned his attention
to cousin Uddhav.
“Uddhav and his peo-
ple always conspired to
remove good leaders
from the party and now
the end result is this (the
split in the Shiv Sena).
Ali Baba and his 40 peo-
ple left the Shiv Sena...I
won’t call them chor be-
cause they are not
thieves.” he said.
He also expressed ap-
preciation for lyricist
and writer Javed Akhtar
for his remarks on the
26/11 Mumbai terror at-
tacks during an event in
Pakistan.
Notably, while attend-
ing a festival honouring
writer Faiz Ahmed Faiz
in Lahore, Akhtar was
told that Indians think
all Pakistani are terror-
ists. He gave a stern re-
ply and said the perpe-
trators of the 26/11
Mumbai terror attacks
continue to roam freely
in Pakistan. Raj Thack-
eray also highlighted the
fact that 17,000 cases
were filed against his
party workers over their
campaign to take down
speakers from masjids.
Raj Thackeray addresses the rally at Dadar’s Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj Park on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE
Work for the
people of
Maharashtra;
don’t follow
Uddhav
Thackeray, MNS
chief tells CM
Till now, no
one has gone to
Pakistan and
shown them the mirror.
Javed Akhtar did that.
Every Muslim in Maha-
rashtra should be like
Javed Akhtar… I want
people like Javed Akhtar
and many more. I want
Indian Muslims who
speak against Pakistan
and tell them our power.
—Raj Thackeray, MNS chief

NEWS
MUMBAI | THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023
02
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CRUCIAL READ
TWO HELD FOR
CHAIN SNATCHING
IN NAVI MUMBAI
MAR 21: HIGHEST
SINGLE-DAY
RAINFALL IN 17 YRS
MAN ABSONDING
FOR 28 YRS,
ARRESTED IN MUM
Thane: With the arrest of
two men, Navi Mumbai Po-
lice on Wednesday claimed
to have solved 12 cases of
chain snatching reported
in the limits of Kharghar,
Nerul, and Vashi police
stations. Deputy Commis-
sioner of Police Pankaj
Dahane said there were two
incidents last month where
motorbike-borne persons
snatched a chain. A total of
81.45 gm of chains includ-
ing a few mangalsutras,
altogether valued at Rs6.04
lakh, were seized from their
possession. A motorbike
used for chain snatching
was also recovered. Further
probe is on, the DCP said.
Mumbai: Mumbai wit-
nessed the highest amount
of rainfall in a single day in
March since 2006, as per
the India Meteorological
Department (IMD). On
Tuesday, the city recorded
16.6 mm of rainfall, which
was last seen on March 10,
2006, when 11.9 mm was
recorded at the Santacruz
observatory. IMD Mum-
bai’s scientist, Sushma
Nair, confirmed that this
was the highest single-day
rainfall in the last 17 years.
The Colaba observatory
recorded the highest-ever
single-day rainfall in March
in Mumbai in 1918, mea-
suring 34.3 mm.
Aurangabad: The Indian
Association of Tour
Operators (IATO) will hold
its 38th annual convention
in Chhatrapati Sambhaji
Nagar, formerly known
as Aurangabad, Maha-
rashtra later this year. The
agreement was signed
between the Maharashtra
government and IATO
on Monday in Mumbai.
The convention will be
attended by 1,500 tour
operators from across the
country after the mon-
soon season. The meeting
was by The State Tourism
Minister Mangal Prabhat
Lodha was also present in
the meeting.
Mumbai: An accused in
a cheating case who was
on the run for 28 years
has been arrested here,
police said on Tuesday.
Police officials posed as
employees of the civic body
BEST in order to trap him.
Recently, police got a tip-off
that he was living in a flat in
the Dana Bandar area, the
official said. Virendra Sang-
hvi alias Mahesh Shah was
named as an accused in a
cheating case registered
at D B Marg police station
in 1995. He was accused
of selling bogus shares of
Rs20 lakh, said a police
official.
ANNUAL MEET OF
TOUR OPERATORS
LATER THIS YEAR
GUDIPADWACELEBRATIONSINMAHA
Enthusiasm and pomp mark
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The Gudi
Padwa festival is being
celebrated with enthu-
siasm and pomp in Ma-
harashtra on Wednes-
day with people hoist-
ing gudis at their
houses and processions
were taken out to wel-
come the beginning of
the traditional Marathi
new year.
The day is marked by
people cleaning their
houses, decorating
them with colourful
rangolis and hoisting
the gudi--a bamboo
stick decorated with a
colourful cloth tied to a
“kalash” at the top and
a garland of flowers at-
tached to it along with
mango leaves and neem
leaves.
The word “Gudi” or
“Gudhi” means a flag
and “Padwa” or Prati-
pada is the first day of
the new moon phase.
Hoisting the “gudis” is
considered auspicious
and believed to bring
good luck and fortune.
Farmers celebrate
'Gudi Padwa' festival to
mark the beginning of
the new harvest season.
In Mumbai city and
elsewhere, colourful
processions are being
taken out joined by
men, women, and chil-
dren in traditional at-
tire.
Music performances,
playing of traditional
dhols and lezim dances
are the major attrac-
tions of these proces-
sions or shobhayatras.
Women dressed in
traditional 'navvari' or
nine-yard sarees rode
bikes, while horses took
part in the processions
taken out at Girgaum,
Dadar, Vile Parle and
other areas in the mega-
polis.
Women performed
the traditional lezim
dance and played dhols
in the processions, tra-
ditionally known as
shobhayatras which
were taken out in
Thane, Dombivali and
other satellite towns in
the Mumbai Metropoli-
tan Region (MMR) in
the morning.
Marathi new year welcomed with
colourful processions, traditional
attire, camaraderie
Marathi outreach: Ahead of BMC polls, BJP’s festive fervour
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The Mum-
bai BJP has announced
plans to celebrate Gudi
Padwa, the Maharash-
trian New Year, with
greater enthusiasm
this year. Nearly one
lakh karyakartas, or
party workers, will
hoist gudis, on their
houses across the city,
while booth chiefs and
activists will carry out
Shobha yatras, or pro-
cessions, in various
parts of Mumbai.
Ashish Shelar, Mum-
baiBJPPresident,said,
“Wehavedecidedtocel-
ebrateGudiPadwa.Itis
one of the three-and-a-
half auspiciousmuhur-
tas as per the Hindu
calendar. To welcome
the New Year, BJP ac-
tivists have hoisted
gudis on their houses”.
The BJP is hoping to
make deeper inroads
amongst Marathi vot-
ers in the city, particu-
larly as they account
for up to 30% of the
population and have
traditionally been the
Shiv Sena’s main
strength. The BJP won
82 seats in the 2017 Bri-
hanmumbai Municipal
Corporation elections,
just two less than the
Shiv Sena’s total.
To win control of the
BMC, the BJP will
need 114 seats out of
227. Shelar said that
cultural nationalism
was integral to the par-
ty’s ideology and that
“every Hindu house-
hold must celebrate
Gudi Padwa with great
enthusiasm”.
Dy CM Fadnavis participated in the Swagat Yatra which started in
Nagpur on Wednesday. —PHOTOS BY PTI
z
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z
z
z
z
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z
CM JOINS IN
Women in traditional attire participate in a procession to celebrate the Marathi New Year, ‘Gudi
Padwa’, in Mumbai. —PHOTOS BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE AND PTI
2nd e-double decker bus hits Mumbai roads
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Within a
month of introducing
the first air-conditioned
electric double decker
bus (e-bus), the civic-
run Brihanmumbai
Electric Supply and
Transport (BEST) has
started plying second
such vehicle in the city,
but the passengers, en-
thusiasts and staffers
said they were left dis-
appointed as the issues
they had flagged in the
first bus remained un-
addressed in the latest
service.
The first electric dou-
ble decker bus was in-
troduced in the city on
February 21.
The second such bus,
registered at the Vashi
Regional Transport Of-
fice (RTO) on March 17,
is being operated on
route no 138 between
Chhatrapati Shivaji
Maharaj Terminus
(CSMT) and Backbay
Depot in south Mum-
bai, besides being used
for heritage tours, a
BEST spokesperson
said.
A few minor internal
changes have been done
in this bus based on the
passengers feedback
given after the bus first
was introduced, he said.
The second electric
double decker bus has
been hired on wet lease
from a private operator.
The BEST staffers,
passengers and bus en-
thusiasts said that they
had pointed out some
flaws in the first double
decker e-bus and they
were expecting those to
be rectified in the next
bus. But several of their
concerns related to
safety and comfort re-
mained unaddressed in
the second double deck-
er e-bus as well, they
said.
Currently, the BEST
has only 50 diesel-run
double decker buses.
Passengers say
issues faced in
first one remain
largely unresolved
INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRIC BUS
75-ft ‘STATUE OF KNOWLEDGE’
dedicated to Ambedkar on cards
Latur (PTI): The Ma-
harashtra government
has given approval for a
75-foot‘Statueof Knowl-
edge’ dedicated to Dr
BR Ambedkar in Latur
city, local MP Sudhakar
Shrangare said on
Wednesday
.
He had submitted a
proposal in this regard,
he said.
On Tuesday, the state
government issued an
order regarding the
statue and also the
beautification of the
Ambedkar Park in the
city, the BJP MP said,
adding that Rs10 crore
has been sanctioned for
the entire project.
Shrangare had last
year installed a 75-foot
replica of Ambedkar’s
statue and there was a
demand from some or-
ganizations that a per-
manent statue should be
installed in the city
.
The ground-breaking
ceremonyfortheproject
will be performed on Dr
Ambedkar’s birth anni-
versary
, the MP said.
A temporary version
of the statue was
installed last year.
—FILE PHOTO
CM Shinde participates in the 'Swagat Yatra' in Thane on
Wednesday. —PHOTO BY PTI

MAHARASHTRA
03
First India Bureau
Thane/Palghar: A vid-
eo surfaced on social
mediaonTuesdayshow-
ing a group of women
ransacking what they
claimed were gambling
dens and liquor joints in
Ulhasnagar town of
Thane district.
The women, said to
be members of a politi-
cal party, told the media
the police had not acted
on their complaints
against these gambling
dens and liquor joints
so they decided to them-
selves take action on
these outlets.
The Ulhasnagar po-
lice said no offence has
been registered in con-
nection with the inci-
dent. Meanwhile, a man
was arrested in Vasai
city in Palghar district
for stocking foreign liq-
uor worth Rs7.50 lakh at
a private premises
without the requisite
permissions. The alco-
hol, comprising differ-
ent brands of foreign
liquor, has been seized.
The accused hails
from Kutch in Gujarat,
the official said, adding
that a case has been reg-
istered under the Prohi-
bition Act.
First India Bureau
Thane: The Thane Mu-
nicipal Corporation
plans to replace its en-
tire fleet of more than
300 public transport
buses with those pow-
ered by electricity in a
phased manner, an offi-
cial said on Wednesday
.
To that end, the civic
body has so far intro-
duced 11 e-buses, in-
cluding a few air-condi-
tioned ones.
Vilas Joshi, chair-
man of the Thane Mu-
nicipal Corporation
Transport Services,
said all its buses run-
ning on diesel or com-
pressed natural gas
will be gradually re-
placed with eco-friend-
ly electric buses.
The civic body also
plans to introduce dou-
ble-decker e-buses,
which can be operated
along the Ghodbunder
Road route, which has
seen rapid development
over the past few years,
he said. Municipal
Commissioner Abhijit
Bangar said electric
buses require less main-
tenance and it is cheap-
er to operate such vehi-
cles than the ones run-
ning on fossil fuels.
If properly managed,
the transport services
can be self-sustainable
and even generate rev-
enue for the civic body,
he said.
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The union of
hawkers in Mumbai has
urged the Brihanmum-
bai Municipal Corpora-
tion (BMC) to redo its
survey on the number
of hawkers in the city
.
The survey was done
in 2014, and the union
said that as per the
Street Vendors’ (Protec-
tion of Livelihood and
Regulation of Street
Vending) Act, the sur-
vey needs to be done
every five years.
Shashank Rao, Union
President, said the
BMC’s numbers were
flawed.
“As per our under-
standing, the civic
body has accounted for
32,000 hawkers but any
common citizen can
point out how there are
over two lakh hawkers
in the city. If the BMC
is not accounting for
the right number of
hawkers, it is present-
ing a wrong picture to
hawkers and citizens,”
said Rao. Five years
ago, BMC authorities
had distributed more
than 1.25 lakh forms to
hawkers.
Mumbai (PTI): The
Maharashtra Goods
and Services Tax de-
partment in a rare move
issued a newspaper ad-
vertisement announc-
ing the dismissal of
three GST inspectors
from service for their
involvement in a fake
raid on a trader, an of-
ficial has said.
“It was the first time
in the history of the
GST administration in
the state that an adver-
tisement was issued to
announce the dismissal
of errant officials, he
said.
He said the motive
behind making the ac-
tion public was to pro-
tect the image of the
GST department.
According to the of-
ficial, three inspectors
participated in a fraud-
ulent raid and ab-
sconded with Rs11
lakh from a prominent
trader. Once their in-
volvement was veri-
fied, they were subject-
ed to disciplinary
measures.
The ongoing in-
quiry which the state
police department is
conducting against the
three inspectors will
continue. After hearing
them, we decided to dis-
miss them from service
to protect the image of
the department, the
official added.
Alumni, students’ groups
write to Dy CM, seek FIR
IIT BOMBAY STUDENT’S DEATH
First India Bureau
Mumbai: At least two
students' collectives of
the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Bom-
bay have requested
Home Minister Deven-
dra Fadnavis to direct
the police to register an
FIR in the death of the
first-year student, Dar-
shan Solanki, who al-
legedly committed sui-
cide in February
.
The state govern-
ment has already
formed a Special Inves-
tigation Team (SIT)
headed by a senior po-
lice officer to probe the
death.
In an e-mail-cum-let-
ter written to Fadnavis
on Tuesday, the stu-
dents' groups claimed
the SIT investigation is
based on the Accidental
Death Report (ADR)
filed by the police, and
the refusal of the SIT
to base their investiga-
tion on FIR is a failure
to recognize the rights
of the family.
This letter is written
by Ambedkar Periyar
Phule Study Circle
(APPSC), Ambedkarite
Students Collective
(ASC) and a concerned
alumni group of IIT
Bombay
.
The APPSC also
tweeted a photograph
of Solanki with a cap-
tion that he would have
turned 19 on Tuesday.
Solanki, who hailed
from Ahmedabad in
Gujarat and was a first-
year student of the B
Tech (Chemical)
course, allegedly com-
mitted suicide by jump-
ing off the seventh floor
of a hostel building lo-
cated on the campus on
February 12.
His family had
claimed he faced dis-
crimination at the IITB
for belonging to a
Scheduled Caste com-
munity and suspected
foul play in his death.
However, the inquiry
committee set up by the
IITB has ruled out
caste-based discrimina-
tion and hinted at dete-
riorating academic per-
formance as a possible
cause of suicide.
Darshan would have
turned 19 today, if the
institute had imple-
mented all the policies
mandated by law, reser-
vation in faculty, men-
tal health support, sen-
tisation for savarnas,
proper grievance re-
dressal mechanism, etc.
@iitbombay has failed
you. #justicefordar-
shansolanki, (sic) the
APPSC tweeted.
Student groups
claim the SIT
investigation
based on ADR,
instead of FIR
is a ‘failure to
recognize the
rights of the
victim’s family”
A student named Darshan Solanki allegedly killed self in February. —FILE PHOTO
T
T
THE GROUPS
Ruckus at Osho ashram in Pune as
disciples with malas enter forcefully
First India Bureau
Pune: Several disciples
of late spiritual guru
Osho Rajneesh wearing
“sanyas malas” on
Wednesday forced their
way into the Osho Inter-
national Meditation
Centre (OIMC) to pro-
test the management’s
purported plans to sell
the Ashram land.
Tension has been
brewing between a
group of disciples and
the OSHO International
Foundation (OIF) man-
agement which manag-
es the affairs of the
Ashram for some time.
On Wednesday, after
more than 250 followers
forced their way into
OIMC. Police detained a
man after he became
“violent” and tried to at-
tack police personnel
outside the ashram. He
was not a part of the
group of protesters but
he became aggressive
after the followers force-
fully entered Ashram
premises, police said.
Followers of Osho
have not been permitted
to the mala--a string of
beads with a locket--in-
side the ashram estab-
lishedbythegodmanfor
23 years, according to a
Newslaundry report.
OIF management
claims that Osho had
dropped the mala “long
beforeleavingthebody”.
On March 21, marked
as Osho’s “enlighten-
ment day” by his follow-
ers, when protesters
sought police protec-
tion to enter the ash-
ram--and permission
that they be allowed to
wear the mala while do-
ing so, the report added.
“After our interven-
tion on Tuesday, the fol-
lowers were allowed to
enter Ashram campus
with ‘malas’ but today
(Wednesday) these fol-
lowers entered force-
fully
. A man, who is not
a part of followers’
group, became unruly
and violent and tried to
manhandle police, forc-
ing police to use force to
evict him from spot,”
said Smartana Patil,
Deputy Commissioner
of Police (Zone II).
Disciples of late godman Osho Rajneesh protesting outside the
gate of his Ashram in Pune on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY PTI
GST dept announces dismissal
of officials through newspaper ad
WOMEN
RANSACK
GAMBLING
DENS, LIQUOR
JOINTS
E-buses to replace
current fleet in Thane
The alcohol
comprising different
brands of foreign
liquor has been seized
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The tally of
H1N1 (swine flu) and
H3N2 influenza infec-
tions reported in Maha-
rashtra this year stands
at 417 and 249, respec-
tively, the state health
department has said. A
majority of these were
detected in March.
There are currently 160
patients infected with
flu viruses being treat-
ed at various hospitals
across the state, it said.
In response to the ris-
ingnumberof H1N1and
H3N2 influenza cases
and potential public de-
mand, state has provid-
ed Rs70 lakh to districts
to acquire flu shots, of-
ficials said on Tuesday
.
Notably, while pri-
vate physicians have
been making a case for
the flu vaccine, and are
also witnessing a de-
mand among those who
can afford them, the
government is yet to is-
sue any official adviso-
ry on the issue.
This comes at a time
when Maharashtra has
witnessed three deaths
due to H1N1 and one
death due to H3N2 virus
infection, according to
health department
data. Three more sus-
pected deaths including
one in Pune city and
another in Khadki can-
tonment area were re-
ported due to the virus,
but those are yet to be
confirmed, it added.
Since 2015, state has
been giving free influ-
enza vaccines to people
from high risk catego-
ries and pregnant wom-
en as well as healthcare
workers. However, the
demand has been negli-
gible, officials claim.
For 2022-2023, the
state had procured one
lakh doses which were
distributed to six divi-
sions across Maharash-
tra, excluding Mumbai.
According to state offi-
cials, 99,778 doses have
already been used up.
Flu on the rise: 249 H3N2 infections recorded in Maha since Jan 01
HEALTH WATCH
The state has provided districts Rs70 lakh to acquire flu shots. —FILE PHOTO
The civic body usually uses cold-mix technology to fill potholes. —FILE PHOTO
State has
witnessed 3
deaths due to
H1N1 and 1
death due to
H3N2 virus
infection so far
this year
Influenza vaccines are designed to pro-
tect against the four main groups of type
A and B flu viruses and are updated
every year to cover the strains that are most like-
ly to circulate during the upcoming flu season.
—Dr Lancelot Pinto, pulmonologist, at Hinduja Hospital
This monsoon, BMC to use concrete to fill potholes
First India Bureau
Mumbai: To fill pot-
holes during the mon-
soon this year, the Bri-
hanmumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) will
implement a new meth-
od to fill the potholes.
Thecivicbodyusually
uses cold-mix technolo-
gy to fill potholes on
Mumbairoads.However,
this year it is set to im-
plement a new method
that involves usage of
rapidconcrete.Lastyear,
BMC had carried out a
pilot analysis of tech-
nique during monsoon.
Officials said that
now, pothole pits will be
cut in a particular
shape, following which
concrete will be poured
into the pits and left to
harden. It will take six
hours for the surface of
the road to become uni-
form, said officials.
Meanwhile, in a state-
ment, the civic body on
Tuesday said they have
asked contractors to
present offers and de-
sign specifications, fol-
lowing which work or-
ders will be issued via
tenders.
Redo survey of hawkers:
Union urges civic body
The survey was
done in 2014,
and needs to be
done in every
five years, as per
street vendors

PERSPECTIVE
04
l Vol 1 l Issue No. 313
l RNI TITLE NO.
MAHENG/2022/14652
Printed and published by
Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of
First Express Publishers. Printed at
Dangat Media Pvt Ltd, No.22, Dighe
MIDC, Vishnu Nagar, TTC Industrial
Area, Dighe, Navi Mumbai-400701.
Published at Plot No. 3 Scheme C
of Manglorean Garden Home, CHS
Limited, Survey No. 5, 6C (Part) Ville
Parle East, Mumbai 400057.
Phone 022-46031417.
Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra
Editor: Kartikey Dev Singh
responsible for selection of news
under the PRB Act
Jagat Prakash Nadda
@JPNadda
On ‘World Water Day’, let’s join together
in the efforts of respected Prime Minister
for water harvesting and availability
of clean drinking water. It is our
commitment to solve the water crisis
through ‘Amrit Sarovar’ and ‘Jal Jeevan
Mission’. Water is the basis of life of all
living beings. ‘If water is there, there is
future’. #WorldWaterDay
SPIRITUAL SPEAK
We must pay the most
careful attention, therefore,
to what we have heard, so
that we do not drift away.
—Bible
IN-DEPTH
Anurag Thakur
@ianuragthakur
Since ancient times, the holy land of
Bihar has made its indelible mark as
a land of religion, culture, education
and innovation. Greetings to all the
people of the state on the occasion
of Bihar Day. I wish for restoration of
the glorious glory of Bihar under the
leadership of Modi ji and continued
progress and prosperity of the state.
TOP TWEETS
A BIG REBUFF
TO KEJRIWAL’S
ATTEMPT TO FORM
THIRD FRONT
am Aadmi Party
chief Arvind Kejri-
wal’s attempt to forge
opposition unity be-
fore the Lok Sabha
elections suffered a massive set-
backwhenthesevenchief minis-
ters of non-Congress and non-
BJP ruled states did not turn up
for dinner for which they were
invited to Delhi recently
. Kejri-
wal’sdinnerwasnotfoundtempt-
ing enough by Kerala Chief Min-
ister Pinarayi Vijayan, West Ben-
gal’s Mamata Banerjee, Tamil
Nadu’sMKStalin,Telangana’sK.
Chandrasekhar Rao, Bihar’s Nit-
ish Kumar and Jharkhand’s He-
mant Soren. Named ‘Progressive
Chief Ministers’ Group of India
as ‘G 8’, the alliance was being
formed as a third front which
would take on the BJP
.
Kejriwal’s attempt to be a lead-
er of the proposed third front
met a sad end after the rebuff.
Mamata also harbours ambition
to be a national leader. So do Ni-
tish Kumar and KCR. Stalin also
would rather go with Congress
than with AAP. Kejriwal may
have to assure fellow CMs that
he won’t insist on leadership.
A
unjab govern-
ment will have no
answer to the sim-
ple question
posed by the Pun-
jab and Haryana High Court
on the escape of Khalistan
sympathiser Amritpal Singh
despite the presence of 80,000
policemen on the alert after
the fugitive gave his chasers
a slip on the first day of
crackdown. Punjab Police
were upbeat about the arrest
of some of Amritpal’s sup-
porters and kin but the big
fish clearly caught them nap-
ping and made his escape.
“How did he manage to flee
despite you having all the in-
formation about him and
such a heavy deployment of
forces,” the court asked.
This was in response to a
petition filed by Imaan Singh
Khara, the legal adviser of
Amritpal’s Waris Punjab De.
Khara’s petition suggested
that Amritpal is in illegal de-
tention at an undisclosed des-
tination. Newspaper reports,
however, indicate exactly how
meticulously Amritpal
plannedhisescapeusingagur-
dwara.ATVnewsclipshowed
Amritpalswitchingtoamotor-
cycleafterchanginghisclothes
in a village gurdwara.
Punjab Police’s defence
was that Amritpal is an ab-
sconder and a hunt was on to
nab him. An order to appre-
hend him under the National
Security Act has already
been issued. Amritpal is a
proponent of radical ideolo-
gy for the secession of Pun-
jab from India using all
means, including violence, to
create Khalistan, said the
Punjab Police in its affidavit.
By escaping from the police
dragnet, Amritpal has left the
cops on tenterhooks. Until he
is arrested there will be ap-
prehension of trouble in the
state. Chief Minister Bhag-
want Mann has, however, as-
sured that he won’t spare any-
one fomenting trouble.
AMRITPAL ESCAPE
A CAUSE OF WORRY
Punjab government will have
no answer to the simple
question posed by the Punjab
and Haryana High Court on
the escape of Khalistan
sympathiser. Amritpal
Singh despite the
presence of 80,000
policemen on the alert,
gave his chasers a slip on
the first day of crackdown
P
ven as the Russia-Ukraine
conflict garners majority of
global attention, the standoff
on the Line of Actual Control
(LAC) in Eastern Ladakh
does not show any signs of
abatement or resolution. Sev-
enteen rounds of Senior
Commanders Meetings have
taken place between the In-
dian and Chinese forces at
the border. At several patrol-
ling points and contested ar-
eas the armies have disen-
gaged, but at two points of
contention namely Demchok
andtheDepsangPlainsheavy
deployment remains. Over
the last three years develop-
ments, at the border and at
the policy level from both
sides have led to further dete-
rioration of relations be-
tween New Delhi and Beijing.
Recurring incidents at the
border, most recent being the
9th December 2022 skirmish
between soldiers of the Indi-
an Army and the People’s Lib-
eration Army in Arunachal
Pradesh have led both sides to
issue statements in support
of their respective stance and
territorial claims. Such inci-
dents combined with the em-
phasis on building infrastruc-
ture at the border has created
a race to achieve better mobil-
ity of troops and equipment
at the border. India and China
are also however, aware of the
importance of the border
residents in the larger exer-
cise of border management.
The Chinese have taken to
naming and re-naming places
since 2017, an exercise remi-
niscent of European imperi-
alism and their obsession
with place names. These ac-
tions were formalized
through a law which came
into effect on 1 January 2022.
The law lists various respon-
sibilities for civilian and mili-
tary authorities in China to
“safeguard national sover-
eignty”. The law covers de-
lineation and border defence
to immigration, border man-
agement and trade. India has
repeatedly refuted such at-
tempts and maintained that
such efforts do not alter facts
on the ground.
India’s approach, on the
other hand, focuses on wel-
fare of the border residents
and seeks to integrate them
into the larger ideas of devel-
opment, which is a major goal
and slogan of the Modi gov-
ernment. For several years,
the Ministry of Home Af-
fairs, Government of India
undertook the Border Area
Development Programme
(BADP) to provide better civ-
ic amenities and facilities in
the border zones. Its purpose
was to cater to the basic needs
of residents of the peripheral
zones and perhaps to involve
them into the bordering prac-
tices carried out by the state.
The BADP, since February
2023 has been replaced with
the Vibrant Villages Pro-
gramme (VVP) on the north-
er border. VVP emphasizes
on “comprehensive develop-
ment of villages of blocks on
the northern border thus im-
proving the quality of people
living in identified border
villages. This will help in en-
couraging people to stay in
their native locations in bor-
der areas and reversing the
outmigration from these vil-
lages adding to improved se-
curity of the border” (MHA
2023). The idea is to provide
for sources of livelihood and
employment in the villages
itself and involving the bor-
derlanders in border work.
Furthermore, India’s quest
to achieve better transport
and communications infra-
structure at the northern bor-
der is complimented with the
induction of more battalions
in the Indo-Tibetan Border
Police Force (ITBP). Cabinet
Committee on Security (CCS)
recently announced 7 more
battalions for the ITBP there-
byenhancingtheforceby9400
personnel. It adds to the re-
centlyraisedMountainCorps
of the Indian Army special-
ized in high altitude warfare.
The issues related to the
border have taken centre-
stage in the diplomatic rela-
tions between two countries
with Minister of External Af-
fairs S. Jaishankar repeated-
ly emphasizing that problems
at the LAC are results of Chi-
na’s actions during the sum-
merof 2020.Beijinghavebeen
refuting these statements. In
multilateral fora like the
Shanghai Cooperation Or-
ganization (SCO) and the
G-20, Indian and Chinese del-
egates have met only to disa-
gree on the issue. Conversely
,
the 26th Meeting of Working
Mechanism for Consultation
and Coordination on India-
China Border Affairs was
held on 22nd February 2023 in
Beijing in person, a first since
the 14th Meeting in 2019. Sim-
ilarly
, Chinese Foreign Minis-
ter Wang Yi, attended the G 20
Foreign Minister’s meet in
New Delhi on March 1-2, 2023.
These perhaps are the only
signs of gradual thaw in the
cold relations.
With Xi Jinping, securing
an unprecedented third term
andunrelentingaggressionin
Chinese foreign policy, it is
difficult to imagine an early
resolution of the standoff.
Chinese tactics in the South
China Sea are maritime pre-
cursors to its actions at the
LAC. India has done well to
thwart the pressure while si-
multaneously engaging in
diplomatic and military nego-
tiations.Intermsof itsimpact
on India’s relations with Chi-
na,theGalwanvalleyincident
will remain a landmark. With
an array of diplomatic and
policy responses, New Delhi
has sent clear and strong mes-
sage that its territorial sover-
eignty is paramount. India’s
actions to a certain extent en-
hance its regional stature and
perhaps assure its neigh-
bours, many of which share
borders with China.
Lately, the standoff at the
border has repeatedly fig-
ured in global geopolitical
discussion as the United
States of America has en-
dorsed Indian stance that
China has caused problems
at the LAC. A recent Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Report lists the issue as one
of the flashpoints with pos-
sibility of escalation into a
large scale war between In-
dia and China. Chinese, natu-
rally, have strongly objected
to such analysis and has ar-
gued that it is a matter of bi-
lateral concern between New
Delhi and Beijing and third
parties should not meddle.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
HUMAN AND LOGISTICS
COSTS OF LAC DEPLOYMENTS
E
DR KRISHNENDRA MEENA
The writer is Associate Professor at
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
On the ground, however, at
the LAC and at the India-
China border in general, a
huge number of military
forces stand in readiness,
suspicious of each other’s
movements and intentions. It
remains to be seen, for what
duration, two of the largest
economies in the world can
sustain such high altitude
manoeuvres. Perhaps, the
Siachen Glacier may serve as
an example on the human
and logistics costs of massive
deployments at one of the
highest battlegrounds in the
world. Even for the economic
strength of the Chinese, global
power status will come with
enormous expense
Even as the Russia-Ukraine
conflict garners majority of
global attention, the standoff
on the Line of Actual Control
(LAC) in Eastern Ladakh does
not show any signs of
abatement or resolution.
Seventeen rounds of
Senior Commanders
Meetings have taken place
between the Indian and Chinese
forces at the border

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05
INDIA
Mahesh Sharma
New Delhi: Rahul Gan-
dhi and his team should
explain to Jairam
Ramesh that he is not
doing Rahul any good
by publicly stopping
him in a press confer-
ence. His job is not to
prompt Rahul in the
press conference.
If Rahul does some-
thing wrong then
Ramesh’s job is to cover
upthatmistakelater.Ra-
hulsaidinthepresscon-
ference ‘Unfortunately I
am MP’, but Ramesh
stopped him and began
to murmur in his ear. If
Ramesh hadn’t stopped
him and murmured in
his ear, perhaps no heed
would have been paid to
Rahul’s word, but
Ramesh turned every-
one’s attention to Ra-
hul’s statement. In fact,
Ramesh is so anxious to
showhisknowledgethat
he does not understand
that he is giving an op-
portunity in the hands
of BJP to prove Rahul
Gandhi as ‘Pappu’.
When Rahul Gandhi
was in London for two
weeks, he participated
in five public events.
Sam Pitroda was pre-
sent with him every-
where. But nowhere did
he stop Rahul from say-
ing anything. Rahul was
giving a speeches like a
boss and kept on pre-
senting his ideas.
Jairam’s interjection of Rahul points to immaturity?
BJP MOCKS RAGA AFTER RAMESH’S INTERVENTION
New Delhi (ANI):Amid
the spike in influenza
cases in the country and
the rise of Covid-19 cas-
es in the past 2 weeks,
Prime Minister Naren-
draModichairedahigh-
level meeting to assess
in terms of prepared-
ness of health infra-
structure and logistics,
the status of the vacci-
nation campaign.
A comprehensive
presentation was made
covering the global Cov-
id-19 situation includ-
ing the rising cases in
India by the Secretary,
of Health, MoHFW. PM
Modi was briefed that
India has been witness-
ing a slight rise in new
cases with average daily
cases reported as 888
and weekly positivity
reported as 0.98 percent
in the week ending
March 22, 2023.
“The action taken on
the directions given by
Prime Minister during
the last Covid-19 review
held on December 22,
2022, was also briefed.
He was informed that
the availability and
prices of 20 main Covid
Drugs, 12 other drugs, 8
buffer drugs, and 1 in-
fluenza drug are being
monitored.
PM Modi directed of-
ficials to enhance the
WholeGenomeSequenc-
ing of Positive Samples
with the designated IN-
SACOG Genome Se-
quencing Laboratories
said that effective
monitoring of IRI/SARI
cases, testing for influ-
enza, SARS-CoV-2 and
Adenovirus be followed
up with States.
PMholdsmeetasCovidcasesrise
PM Modi chairs a high-level meeting to review the preparedness of health infrastructure
INDIA BECOMING BIG EXPORTER OF
TELECOM TECHNOLOGY: PM MODI
PM TO ADDRESS ‘ONE
WORLD TB SUMMIT’
AT VARANASI New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday
said India is moving fast to become a big exporter of telecom
technology from being only a user few years ago. Addressing
a gathering after inaugu-
rating the International
Telecommunication Union
(ITU) Area Office and In-
novation Centre here, Modi
said India is one of countries
to have rolled out 5G mobile
technology at the fastest
pace. He said the services
have been expanded to 125
cities within 120 days of the
launch of 5G. ''Within 6 months of the rollout of 5G technol-
ogy we are talking about 6G,'' Modi said. This, he said shows
the confidence of the country. ''Before 4G, India was only a
user of telecom technology, but now India is moving fast to
become a big exporter of telecom technology,'' he said.
New Delhi (PTI): Prime
Minister Narendra Modi will
address the ‘One World TB
Summit’ in Varanasi on March
24 and launch projects worth
over Rs 1,780 crore during
the visit to his parliamentary
constituency. On the occasion
of World Tuberculosis Day, he
will address the One World
TB Summit being organised
by the Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare and Stop TB
Partnership, a United Nations-
hosted organisation that
amplifies the voices of people,
communities and countries
affected by the disease.
INDIA REPORTS
1,134 FRESH
COVID CASES
New Delhi: India
recorded 1,134 new
coronavirus cases,
while the active cases
increased to 7,026,
according to the Union
Health Ministry data
updated on Wednesday.
The death toll climbed to
5,30,813 with five deaths
with one each reported
by Chhattisgarh, Delhi,
Gujarat and Maharashtra
and one reconciled by
Kerala, the data updated
at 8am stated.
KERALA ON
ALERT, USE OF
MASKS URGED
Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala Health Minister
Veena George, chairing
a meeting to review the
increase of Covid cases
in the state on Wednes-
day, said it would be
better if the aged,
children and those with
ailments use masks in
public places. The Kerala
Health Minister also said
that the use of masks
when visiting hospitals
should be a must.
New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate
the Assam Rifles complex and lay foundation stone
for Laldenga Cultural Centre in Mizoram on April 1,
officials said here on Wednesday. According to officials
of the Aizawl Smart City Project, the proposed Rs 1.93
crore centre would be built on the northern side of
Assam Rifles ground in the heart of the state capital.
Officials said that the Union Home Minister would
inaugurate Assam Rifles headquarters complex at
Zokhawsang, about 15 km east of Aizawl.
AMIT SHAH TO INAUGURATE ASSAM
RIFLES COMPLEX IN MIZORAM
New Delhi (Agencies):
The Congress on
Wednesday said that
therecouldnotbebarter
on the demand for a JPC
(Joint parliamentary
committee)inlieuof Ra-
hul Gandhi's apology
.
While addressing a
press conference, party
spokesperson Jairam
Ramesh, said, There
could be no middle
path. The opposition
will not back down from
the demand of a JPC in
Adani Group. There
cannot be a barter on
the JPC as Rahul Gan-
dhi's case is a matter of
distortion. He said Ra-
hul Gandhi has already
writtentotheLokSabha
Speaker to allow him to
speak in the Parliament
under rule 357. The
spokesperson said the
JPC was formed in 1992
when the Congress gov-
ernment was in power,
in 2001 during the Vaj-
payeegovernmentitwas
formed,bothwereonthe
stock market scams.
No barter on JPC,Rahul’s case is a
matter of distortion: Jairam Ramesh
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a high-level meeting to review the COVID situation amid rise in cases in the country and to take
stock of the public health preparedness, in New Delhi, on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY PTI
THE FRACAS OF CONGRESS-BJP
OVER RAHUL GANDHI CONTINUES
New Delhi: The big problem with Congress is that
many leaders of Congress, like BJP leaders, think
that Rahul Gandhi needs an understanding. This
situation is not good for Rahul. Later, to give the
incident a twist, the Congress leaders started a nar-
rative questioning if someone in the BJP can do the
same to Modi as Ramesh did with Rahul? Howev-
er, the truth is, in no political party whatsoever, no
one can stop or interject a supreme leader and that
is why the said leader is the supreme leader.
CRUDE OIL PRICES DECLINE, PETROL
PRICES SHOULD COME DOWN: CONG
New Delhi: The Congress has demanded that the Centre
transfer the benefits of declining crude oil prices to
the consumers. In a press conference on Wednesday,
Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said that in
March last year the price of crude oil was higher than
what it is now, and the difference is Rs 16.75 per litre.He
said, The cost of crude oil for India is Rs 36.68 per litre
this month and the prices were Rs 53.45 last year. So
the benefit should pass on to the consumers. But, the
government is profiteering at the cost of the consumers.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday listed the
pleas concerning the constitutional validity of the Marital
Rape exception on May 9, 2023.
The batch of petitions, which
was listed before a bench for
21st March 2023, could not be
heard then owing to Justice Par-
diwala’s absence. Accordingly,
the matter was mentioned again today before the bench
by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising and Advocate Karuna
Nundy seeking a specific posting.
SUPREME COURT TO HEAR PLEAS SEEKING
TO CRIMINALIZE MARITAL RAPE ON MAY 9
SISODIA SENT TO
JUDICIAL CUSTODY
TILL APRIL 5
CLARIFY ON CARBON
DATING OF SHIVLING
BY APRIL 15: COURT
New Delhi (ANI): The
Rouse Avenue Court
on Wednesday sent
Delhi’s former Deputy CM
Manish Sisodia till April 5,
2023, in a money launder-
ing case pertaining to al-
leged irregularities in the
framing and implementa-
tion of the excise policy of
GNCTD. The ED produced
Sisodia before the Court
at the end of the custodial
remand period granted
earlier. The ED didn’t
seek further remand and
moved an application for
judicial custody.
Prayagraj (PTI): Allahabad
HC has granted the Ar-
chaeological Survey of In-
dia (ASI) the last opportu-
nity to file its response by
April 5 clarifying whether
the process of carbon dat-
ing will damage an object,
claimed to be a “Shivling”,
found inside the Gyanvapi
mosque or safe evaluation
of its age can be done.
The Hindu petitioners have
claimed the object to be a
“Shivling”. The claim was
disputed by Muslim side,
which said the object was
part of a “fountain”.
New Delhi (ANI): The SC on Wednesday said that it will
constitute a bench to hear a plea challenging the pre-mature
release of 11 convicts who had
gang-raped Bilkis and murdered
her family members during the
2002 Godhra riots. A bench said,
“I will have a bench constituted.
Need to break two benches for it.
Will look at it this evening.” The CJI said this after advocate
appearing for Bano, mentioned the plea seeking listing of
the case and said that the matter is not getting listed.
BILKIS BANO CASE: SC AGREES TO
CONSTITUTE NEW BENCH TO HEAR PLEA
New Delhi (ANI):
Union Home Minis-
ter Amit Shah said
on Wednesday said
that peace is being
established in Jam-
mu and Kashmir and
the Union Territory
is once again return-
ing to the old civiliza-
tion and traditions
after the abrogation
of Article 370.
Shah was speak-
ing after inaugurat-
ing Maa Sharda Devi
Temple in JK's
Kupwara district
through video con-
ferencing. The Cen-
tre abrogated Article
370 and 35(A) from
the erstwhile state
on August 5, 2019.
Jammu and Kashmir
was bifurcated into
two Union territo-
riesof JKLadakh
on the same day
.
Peace established
after abrogation of
Article 370: HM
❍ AMIT SHAH E-INAUGURATES
MATA SHARDA DEVI TEMPLE IN J-K
Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates Maa Sharda Devi
temple at Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir, via video
conferencing, on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY PTI
Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga called on Union
Home Minister Amit Shah at his office, on Tuesday.
AMIT SHAH TO VISIT
KARNATAKA TWICE
IN NEXT 5 DAYS
New Delhi: Home Minis-
ter Amit Shah has lined
up fresh visits to poll-
bound Karnataka. Accord-
ing to sources, Shah will
visit Karnataka twice in
the next five days. He will
visit the state on March
24 and 26, ahead of
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's visit to the state,
a source said.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala; Kumar Mangalam Birla honoured
New Delhi (ANI): Late
billionaire investor
Rakesh Jhunjhunwa-
la’s wife, Rekha, on
Wednesday received the
Padma Shri from Presi-
dent Droupadi Murmu
during an investiture
ceremony at the Rash-
trapati Bhavan.
Jhunjhunwala, the
founder of Akasa Air
often referred to as In-
dia’s own Warren Buf-
fet, passed away on Au-
gust 14, last year. He
was born on July 5, 1960
and grew up in Mum-
bai. After graduating
from Sydenham College
in 1985, he enrolled at
the Institute of Char-
tered Accountants of
India and married Re-
kha Jhunjunwala, also
a stock market investor.
The chairman of Adi-
tya Birla Group, Kumar
Mangalam Birla, was
conferred with the
country’s second-high-
est civilian honour,
Padma Bhushan.
President Droupadi
Murmu on Wednesday
conferred Padma
awards to distinguished
honorees across diverse
fields, including former
Union Minister SM
Krishna and Narendra
Chandra Debbarma,
the late president of the
Indigenous Peoples
Front of Tripura.
Krishna received the
Padma Vibhushan
from President Murmu
at a grand presentation
ceremony on Wednes-
day, Debbarma, the
late president of the
Indigenous Peoples
Front of Tripura, re-
ceived the Padma Shri
(posthumously).
PM Narendra Modi
and Union Home Minis-
ter Amit Shah were in
attendance during the
presentation ceremony
.
Six distinguished per-
sons this year were con-
ferred with the Padma
Vibhushan while 9 were
conferred with Padma
Bhushan. Another 91
persons were conferred
with Padma Shri.
PM Narendra Modi greets Hirbai Ibrahim during the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I, at Rashtrapati Bhavan,
in New Delhi. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Amit Shah and Smriti Irani also seen.
President Murmu confers the Padma Bhushan award to Aditya
Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla (top left), Padma
Vibhushan to S.M. Krishna (top right), Padma Shri award to
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala (Posthumous) in New Delhi on Wednesday.
—PHOTOS
BY
ANI
IN THE COURTYARD

06
INDIA
Gandhinagar (PTI):
Gujarat will host the
next round of G20 meet-
ings from March 27 to
April 4, during which
three conclaves will be
held in the state on a
range of issues, where
delegates from different
countries will converge
for participation, an of-
ficial said.
India currently holds
the year-long presiden-
cy of the Group of 20
(G20), which comprises
19 countries across con-
tinents and the Euro-
pean Union (EU).
Of these three up-
coming events in the
state, the first meeting
on “Environment and
Climate Sustainability
Working Group (EC-
SWG)” will take place
between March 27 and
29 in Gandhinagar, a
senior IAS officer, who
is coordinating G20
events in Gujarat, said
on Tuesday
.
“This is the second
meeting of ECSWG. It
will be inaugurated by
G20 Sherpa Amitabh
Kant in the presence of
several senior Central
government officials
and subject experts,”
said Mona Khandhar,
Principal Secretary
(Economic Affairs),
state finance depart-
ment.
Some of these digni-
taries include Leena
Nandan, Secretary,
Ministry of Environ-
ment, Forests Climate
Change, Debashree
Mukherjee, Additional
Secretary - Water Re-
sources, Ministry of Jal
Shakti and G Ashok Ku-
mar, Director General,
Mission for Clean Gan-
ga, she told reporters.
On the first day, dis-
cussions will be held on
the subject “Best Prac-
tises on Water Resourc-
es” and other related
topics. Later, guests will
be taken to the famous
Adalaj Stepwell, Nar-
mada canal syphon on
the Sabarmati river and
the Sabarmati River-
front.
G20 meetings to be held in Guj from March 27
NEXT ROUND OF G20 MEETINGS
PMModiandPresidentMurmu
greetpeopleonHinduNewYear
Is there a conspiracy
against Fadnavis?
Sonu Nigam’s
father robbed of
`72 lakh, ex
driver arrested
Mumbai (PTI): A for-
mer driver of singer
Sonu Nigam’s 76-year-
old father has been
booked for allegedly
stealing Rs 72 lakh from
theseniorcitizen’shome
in Mumbai, an official
said on Wednesday
. The
singer’s father Agamku-
mar Nigam lives in Os-
hiwara, Andheri west,
and alleged theft took
place between March 19
and March 20, he said.
Nigam’s younger sis-
ter Nikita approached
the Oshiwara police sta-
tion on Wednesday with
a complaint about the
alleged theft, he said. As
per the complaint, Ag-
amkumar Nigam had a
driver named Rehan for
nearly 8 months but re-
moved him recently as
his performance was
not satisfactory
.
Sharat K Verma
Mumbai: There is no
doubt that there was a
conspiracy against Ma-
harashtra Deputy CM
Devendra Fadnavis. As
part of the conspiracy
, a
bookie’s daughter ap-
proached Fadnavis’s
wife, told her about her
grief andmadeherwear
clothes designed by her-
self (bookie’s daughter).
Later, she tried to make
amoney-makingscheme
and give an advance of
one crore rupees.
The question is
whether Aniksha Jais-
inghani wanted to get
some benefit or did she
conspire at her level? It
can not be digested that
the daughter of a book-
ie conspired on her own
against the former
Chief Minister and now
the defacto CM of the
state. Two days after the
arrest, the police have
also alleged that she
tried to blackmail Fad-
navis’ wife Amrita and
demanded Rs 10 crore.
This allegation is also
notacceptable.Averyvi-
cious thug may try to
blackmail a business-
man or an official but
cannot try to blackmail
one of the biggest lead-
ers of the region. So this
matter is not very
straightforward. It has
many layers and if ex-
aminedobjectivelyitcan
be quite revealing. It
looks like a conspiracy
of governments. Just
think,thiscasewasopen
in February and an FIR
wasregisteredonFebru-
ary 20. Why did the po-
lice take a month to take
action? An English
newspaper published
the news on March 15
and the next day the ac-
cused girl was arrested.
New Delhi (PTI):
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi on Wednesday
greeted people on the
occasion of various fes-
tivals that mark the be-
ginning of the tradi-
tional new year and
wished people happi-
ness and prosperity
.
In tweets, Modi also
wished people on the
start of Navratri. With
the day marking the
start of the ancient
‘Vikram Samvat’, a tra-
ditional Hindi new year,
the prime minister
hoped that the country
will reach new heights
of progress.
He extended Cheti
Chand greetings to the
Sindhi community and
wished people on Sajibu
Cheiraoba, which is
specially celebrated in
Manipur.
President Droupadi
Murmu on Tuesday
greeted citizens on the
eve of different festivals
marking the arrival of
Indian new year and
hoped that they bind dif-
ferent communities of
India in bonds of love,
harmony and affection.
Gudi Padwa is a Hin-
du festival that marks
the beginning of the tra-
ditional new year in Ma-
harashtra. It is celebrat-
ed on the first day of the
Hindumonthof Chaitra,
which corresponds to
March and April on the
Gregorian calendar.
This year, as per the
Marathipanchang,Gudi
Padwawillbecelebrated
on March 22.
Navratri, the nine-
day festival dedicated to
Goddess Durga, is wide-
ly celebrated across In-
dia twice a year. As per
the Hindu calendar,
Sharad Navratri is cel-
ebrated in the Hindu
month of Ashwin (Sep-
tember-October) while
Vasant Navratri or
Chaitra Navratri is cel-
ebrated in the month of
Chaitra (March-April).
MAN HELD FOR SENDING THREAT MESSAGE
TO BIHAR CM NITISH KUMAR, SAYS POLICE
Patna (Bihar): A 28-year-old man was arrested jointly by
the Gujarat and Bihar police from Surat, for allegedly mak-
ing threatening phone calls to the Bihar chief Minister’s
official residence at 1 Anne Marg, Patna. The accused was
identified as Ankit Kumar, son of Vinay Kumar Mishra,
resident of Madhusudan Etwarpur in Vaishali district. The
police officials said the man will be produced before Surat
court and brought on the transit remand. “A police team
from Patna has also reached Surat for questioning the ac-
cused in connection with this case and the motive behind
making threat calls on the official number of CM’s house.
He reportedly obtained the phone numbers from Google
and proceeded to make threat calls,” the officers said.
GOVT EXTENDS
AADHAAR-VOTER
ID LINKING DATE
ISRO DISCUSSING
MISSION TO MOON
WITH JAPAN
New Delhi: The Union
Law and Justice Ministry
has extended the deadline
for voluntary linking of
Aadhaar and Voter ID
from April 1 this year to
March 31, 2024, as per
a notification issued on
Tuesday. The Ministry had
on June 17, 2022, notified
April 1, 2023, as the “date
on or before which every
person whose name is in-
cluded in the electoral roll
may intimate his Aadhaar
number in accordance
with the said section”.
Tuesday’s notification
replaced the date with
“31st March, 2024”.
Ahmedabad: Indi-
an Space Research
Organisation chairman S
Somanath on Wednesday
said ISRO has success-
fully done significant col-
laborations on its space
missions and is also
discussing a possible
mission to the moon with
Japan Aerospace Explo-
ration Agency. Somanath
also said there is a good
opportunity to launch a
mission to explore planet
Venus by 2028. He was
delivering the inaugural
talk on “Indian Capabili-
ties for Space and Plane-
tary Exploration” here.
EIGHT KILLED IN
EXPLOSION AT TN
FIRECRACKER UNIT
Chennai: Eight people
were killed and 13 injured
in an explosion at a
firecracker unit in Tamil
Nadu’s Kancheepuram on
Wednesday, said police.
The injured have been
admitted to the Kancheep-
uram district hospital. The
reason for the explosion
is not yet known. Police
said 25 people were
working in the unit when
the explosion took place
on Wednesday afternoon.
Four units of fire force
reached the unit and
doused the fire.
ENGINEER SACKED
FOR EULOGISING
OSAMA BIN LADEN
Farrukhabad: The UP
Power Corporation Ltd
(UPPCL) has terminated
the services of an engineer
for praising the slain Al
Qaeda leader Osama Bin
Laden. Ravindra Prakash
Gautam, a Sub-Divisional
Officer (SDO), had been
suspended in June 2022
after he put a picture of
Laden at his Kayamganj
sub-division-II office in
Farrukhabad district. A vid-
eo of Gautam’s Kayamganj
office with Osama’s picture
hanging in it, had gone
viral last year.
CRUCIAL READ
DelhiBudget:Infra,
Edu,healthinfocus
New Delhi (ANI):
The Delhi adminis-
tration finally pre-
sented its budget
document on
Wednesday, a day af-
ter it was initially
supposed to be tabled
in the Assembly
.
The theme of the
Delhi budget largely
revolved around
‘Clean, Beautiful, and
Modern Delhi’. The
budget proposed for
theyear2023-24worth
Rs 78,800 crore, was
presented by Delhi
Finance Minister
Kailash Gahlot,
which is almost two
and a half times the
expenditure of Rs
30,940 crore in the
year 2014-15, and
8.69%higherthanthe
revised estimates for
2022-23. Of the budg-
eted estimate of Rs
78,800 crore for 2023-
24, Rs 56,983 crore is
for the purpose of
revenue expenditure
and an outlay of Rs
21,817 crore under
capital expenditure.
Notably, the share
of capital expendi-
ture as part of the
overall budget has
been raised 27.68% in
this year’s budget.
The proposed capital
expenditure of Rs
21,817 crore is almost
three times the capi-
tal outlay of Rs 7,430
crore in 2014-15.
7 NON BJP CM’S
SKIP KEJRIWAL’S
G-8 MEETING
New Delhi(ANI): The
meeting of the Chief
Ministers of 8 non-
BJP-ruled states was
cancelled due to the un-
availability of the Chief
Ministers. Apart from
Punjab CM Bhagwant
Mann, no one con-
firmed their presence at
the event. The meeting
was to be convened at
the invitation of Delhi
CM Arvind Kejriwal.
HARYANA
REINTRODUCES
CRIME BILL
Chandigarh: After
withdrawing it twice,
the Haryana govern-
ment has again rein-
troduced the Haryana
Control of Organised
Crime Bill of 2023 in
the state Assembly.
The first version of
the Bill was passed
by the Assembly in
August 2019, but
withdrawn in Novem-
ber 2020.
Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot with Delhi Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal shows the tablet containing the Delhi Budget, at
Vidhan Sabha, in New Delhi on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI
DMRC TO INCREASE OPERATIONAL
SPEED OF AIRPORT LINE TO 100 KMPH
New Delhi (Agencies): The Delhi Metro Railway
Corporation (DMRC) will increase the operational
speed of the Airport Express Line from 80 kmph to
100 kmph from Wednes-
day. Media persons are
also invited to the test.
According to officials,
the move to increase the
speed will bring down the
travel time between the
New Delhi and IGI Airport stations from 19 minutes
by around a couple of minutes.
Devotees offer prayers on the first day of the ‘Chaitra Navratri’
festival at Sheetla Mata Temple, in Gurugram on Wednesday.
AMRITPAL FALLOUT
India currently holds the year-long
presidency of Group of 20, which comprises
19 countries across continents and EU
Chandigarh (ANI):
Shiromani Akali Dal
President Sukhbir Sin-
gh Badal said that the
party is ready to pro-
vide legal assistance to
all the Sikh youth who
are arrested by Punjab
Police in their ongoing
search hunt for fugitive
Khalistani leader Am-
ritpal Singh.
Akali Dal leader
Sukhbir Singh Badal
took to Twitter and said,
“Shiromani Akali Dal
has decided to provide
complete legal assis-
tance to all Sikh youth
arrested in the ongoing
extra-constitutional
crackdown in Punjab
and ensure their rights
are not trampled upon
by AAP Punjab”.
Shiromani Akali Dal
has released the list of
legal team helpline
numbers: Arshdeep S
Kler 8054200007, Harish
Rai Dhanda 9814220300,
Gurmeet S Maan
9815533999, Bhagwant S
Siyalaka 9815250589,
Amardeep S Dharni
9815000026, Jaspreet S
Brar 8054800034, Param-
preet S Bajwa
7814400060, Parambir S
Sunny 9872360026, Zu-
bin 9855572302, Ravin-
derSSampla9814474445,
SHIROMANI AKALI
DAL OFFICE 0172-
2639256.
AkaliDalreadytoofferlegal
assistancetothosedetained
DELHI POLICE
REMOVE EXTRA
BARRICADES
New Delhi (PTI): Days
after pro-Khalistan
activists took down the
tricolour at the Indian
high commission in UK,
the Delhi Police today
removed barricades
outside the British
mission in the national
capital. The police said
that the barricades “were
creating hurdles” for
commuters and the se-
curity of the British high
commission is intact.
AMRITPAL AIDE’S
KIN FILES HABEAS
CORPUS PLEA
Actor Sarabjit Singh
alias Daljit Kalsi’s wife
has filed a habeas
corpus petition at the
Punjab and Haryana HC
seeking his release from
alleged illegal custody
in Assam. Kalsi is one
of the 5 associates of
Amritpal Singh held
as part of the Punjab
Police’s crackdown on
Waris Punjab De.
‘WE DO NOT
COMMENT ON
SECURITY CASES’
New Delhi (ANI): After
removing the barri-
cades, they are now
nowhere to be seen
outside the British
High Commission and
outside the residence of
British High Commis-
sioner Alex Ellis at 2,
Rajaji Marg in New Del-
hi. When asked about
the same, a British
official said, “We do not
comment on security
matters,”
AMRITPAL SINGH
SNEAKED INTO
GURDWARA
Fugitive Khalistani
leader Amritpal Singh
demanded food and
clothes from people at a
gurdwara near Jhaland-
har at gunpoint after
escaping on March 18.
Amritpal Singh is still
on the run even as the
massive manhunt by
the Punjab Police to nab
him entered the fifth
day on Wednesday.
Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal.
AKALI DAL TAKES ON AAP; SLAMS
AMRITPAL SINGH CRACKDOWN
Chandigarh (ANI): Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “Shiro-
mani Akali Dal strongly condemns the indiscriminate
arrests of innocent Sikh youth. We demand the imme-
diate release of all innocents arrested in the ongoing
crackdown”. He stated that by making these arrests,
AAP government is trying to defame the Sikh commu-
nity for communal polarization electoral gains.
INTEL: BID TO RADICALISE INMATES OF DE-
ADDICTION CENTRES BY WARIS PUNJAB DE
New Delhi (PTI): While Amritpal Singh continues to elude the
Punjab Police, Waris Punjab De (WPD), the organisation he
heads, has also come under the scanner of the intelligence
agencies with reports pointing to attempts by WPD associates
to inculcate a radical and violent way of thinking in inmates of
the drug de-addiction centres run by the outfit. “If the inmates
do not subscribe to the radical views, they are physically beaten
up till they start toeing the line of WPD,” a source said claiming
that WPD uses inmates of drug de-addiction centres to stage
violent protests. “Amritpal is involved in nexus of drugs and
procures low quality cheap antidotes of drugs,” an officer said.
“SENSATIONALIST LIES”: INDIA’S HIGH
COMMISSIONER TO UK ON PUNJAB SITUATION
New Delhi (Agencies): In-
dia’s High Commissioner to
the UK, Vikram Doraiswami
said that “there is no
truth to sensationalist
lies being circulated
on social media”,
while giving details
of the situation in
Punjab post the
police crackdown on
‘Waris Punjab De’ and efforts
to arrest Amritpal Singh. In a
video address, he said, “The
situation for travel is normal
and visitors, including from
the UK, are safe. Let
me assure all our
friends here in the
UK, especially broth-
ers and sisters with
relatives in Punjab
that there is no truth
to sensationalist lies
being circulated on social
media.”

business
BRIEFS
New Delhi: Gold price
tumbled `480 to `58,770
per 10 gram in the na-
tional capital on Wednes-
day amid a fall in rates of
the precious metal inter-
nationally, according to
HDFC Securities. The yel-
low metal had settled at
`59,250 per 10 gram in
the previous trade. Silver
also declined `345 to
`68,850 per kilogram. In
the overseas market, both
gold and silver were quot-
ing lower at $1,939 per
ounce and $22.34 per
ounce, respectively.
—PTI
GOLD TUMBLES `480
PER 10 GM; SILVER
DECLINES `345/KG
New Delhi: Reliance Jio
on Tuesday said it has
now rolledout 5G network
in more than 400 cities.
The company has rolled
out 5G in the nine cities
of Andhra Pradesh, six in
Tamil Nadu, five each in
Haryana and Kerala,
three in Madhya Pradesh,
two each in Odisha and
Maharashtra and one
each in Goa, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu and
Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kar-
nataka, Mizoram, Punjab,
Rajasthan and Tripura.
“Jio True 5G will now be
available across 41 addi-
tional cities in 16 states/
union territories,” the
company said in a state-
ment. —PTI
JIO 5G NETWORK
ROLLOUT CROSSES
400 CITIES IN INDIA
New Delhi: Hero Moto-
Corp on Wednesday said
it will increase prices of
its model range by
around 2% from next
month in order to offset
the impact of rise in pro-
duction cost in order to
conform to stricter emis-
sion norms. The company
will make an upward revi-
sion in the ex-showroom
prices of its select motor-
cycles and scooters, ef-
fective from April 1, 2023,
the country’s leading two-
wheeler maker said in a
statement. —PTI
HERO MOTOCORP TO
HIKE PRICES BY UP
TO 2% FROM APRIL
Bengaluru: E-vehicle
manufacturer Ola Electric
is close to raising funds
of around $300 million
for its expansion plans
and to meet other corpo-
rate needs, sources close
to the company said. The
fresh round of fundraising
comes amid expectations
that Ola Electric would
break even soon and
achieve profitability. The
fundraising would be
managed by investment
bank Goldman Sachs, and
the funds would be raised
from existing and mar-
quee global investors and
sovereign funds. —PTI
‘OLA ELECTRIC TO
RAISE FUNDS OF
AROUND $300 MN’
07
Commodity Price Change % Chg
GOLD 58,770.00 480.00 0.81 (Per 10g)
SILVER 68,850.00 345.00 0.50 (Per 1kg)
COMMODITIES
Currency Price Change % Chg
USDINR 82.66 0.00 0.00
GBPINR 101.28 0.00 0.00
CURRENCIES
*Rates till the edition went to print.
=
=
ICRA REVISES DOMESTIC
STEEL DEMAND OUTLOOK
TO 7-8% FOR NEXT FISCAL
New Delhi: Icra on Wednesday
revised its outlook for domestic
steel demand to 7-8% for the
next fiscal.
Earlier, the
ratings agency
had estimated
the demand
to grow in the range of 6-7%.
“With the central government’s
capex outlay in FY2024, Icra has
revised upwards its steel con-
sumption growth estimate for
FY2024 to 7-8% from 6-7%,” it
said in a report. In 2023-24, the
capital expenditure is budgeted
at `10 lakh crore. —PTI
POWER FINANCE CORP
PLANS TO RAISE
`80,000 CRORE IN FY24
New Delhi: State-owned Power
Finance Corporation (PFC)
said its board has approved
raising up to
`80,000 crore
through vari-
ous financial
instruments.
An amount of `40,000 crore
will be raised through long-
term domestic borrowings, and
another `20,000 crore by way
of long-term foreign currency
borrowing. Besides, proposals
have been approved for raising
up to `20,000 crore through
short-term borrowings. —PTI
OTHER STORIES
AXIS MUTUAL FUND AIMS TO RAISE `50 CRORE
FROM NEW ETF FUND OF FUNDS
Mumbai: Axis Mutual Fund, the seventh largest fund house, is
looking to raise at least `50 crore from a new fund offer during the
primary subscription period of March 22-April 5. The open-ended
SP 500 ETF fund of funds will invest
in exchange-traded funds replicating the
SP 500 index. Vinayak Jayanath will be
managing the fund, which will carry an
exit load of 25 bps if redeemed/switched
out within 30 days from the date of
allotment, and no exit load if redeemed/
switched out within 30 days of allotment, Raghav Iyengar, who is the
chief business development officer at the fund house said. —PTI
20 WOMEN-LED INDIAN START-UP IN PIPELINE TO
BECOME UNICORN, REVEALS STUDY
New Delhi: Around 18% of India’s unicorn start-up are founded or
co-founded by women and 20 other firms are in pipeline to become
unicorn. The study conducted by TiE Delhi NCR, research firm Zin-
nov, Google, NetApp and venture capital firm Indian Angel Network
found that despite comparable metrics,
success, and high entrepreneurial intent,
socio-cultural barriers hinder women
founders’ growth. “Approximately 18%
of India’s total unicorns are founded by
women, with 20 Potential Unicorns in the
pipeline,” the study said. —PTI
India to have a billion air travellers by 2040
New Delhi (FIB): The Ada-
ni Group — India’s largest
private airport operator (in
terms of number of air-
ports in its portfolio) that
currently manages seven
operational airports in-
cluding Mumbai’s CSMIA
and is building the upcom-
ing hub at Navi Mumbai
— expects India to have a
billion air travellers by
2040, with passenger traffic
growing by an average 8.5%
over the next 20 years.
Adani Airport Holdings
Limited (AAHL) CEO Arun
Bansal made this forecast
on Wednesday, while add-
ing the group will bid for
more airports in the future.
The focus is also on city-
side development because
India an average three peo-
ple come to recover or see
off every passenger.
The existing Mumbai
Airport is running to ca-
pacity and all eyes are on
the upcoming Navi Mum-
bai International Airport
(NMIA) to cater to the meg-
apolis’ growing air connec-
tivity requirement.
Bansal says NMIA is be-
ing developed with an ulti-
mate capacity to handle 9
crore passengers and 2.5
million MT of cargo per an-
num. While air travel is
almost back to pre-Covid
levels, new airports getting
operational and over 30 cit-
ies getting dual hubs will
see the billion mark by 2040
— up from current 20 crore.
SAYS ADANI AIRPORTS CEO BANSAL
AMBITIOUS
PLANS AHEAD
z Adani Airport
Holdings Limited
(AAHL) CEO Arun
Bansal made this
forecast at a CAPA summit,
while adding the group will
bid for more airports in the
future. The focus is also
on city-side development
because India an average
three people come to
recover or see off every
passenger
India will not slow
down: RBI article
Mumbai (PTI): Unlike the
global economy which is
risk of recession, India
would not slow down and
maintain the pace of ex-
pansion achieved in 2022-
23, said the RBI bulletin.
Even as global growth is
set to slow down or even en-
ter a recession in 2023 as
global financial markets
wager, India has emerged
from the pandemic years
stronger than initially
thought, with a steady gath-
ering of momentum since
the second quarter of the
current financial year, said
an article in the March bul-
letin of the Reserve Bank.
Year-on-year growth
rates do not reflect this
pick-up of pace because by
construction they are sad-
dled with statistical base
effects, and instead suggest
a sequential slowing down
through successive quar-
ters of 2022-23 to an unsus-
pecting reader, it said.
...Unlike the global
economy, India would not
slow down – it would main-
tain the pace of expansion
achieved in 2022-23. We re-
main optimistic about In-
dia, whatever the odds,
said the article authored by
a team led by RBI Deputy
Governor Michael
Debabrata Patra.
They said the NSO's end-
February data release indi-
cates that the Indian econ-
omy is intrinsically better
positioned than many
parts of the world to head
into a challenging year
ahead, mainly because of
its demonstrated resil-
ience and its reliance on
domestic drivers.
Currently available fore-
casts of India's real GDP
growth for 2023-24, includ-
ing those of the RBI, settle
between 6.0 and 6.5%.
‘Govt sees no shortage
of fertilizers in Kharif’
New Delhi (PTI): Chemi-
cals and Fertilizers Minis-
ter Mansukh Mandaviya
on Wednesday asserted
that there will be no short-
age of fertilisers in the up-
coming kharif sowing sea-
son as the domestic produc-
tion and stocks-in-hand
will be sufficient to meet
the local demand for soil
nutrients.
The minister said the
country might not require
to import urea from the
spot market to meet Kharif
(summer-sown) demand.
Urea being imported under
long-term supply agree-
ments will come.
However, he said, there
will be some import of
DAP (Di-Ammonium Phos-
phate) to meet the local
demand.
“There will be no short-
age of fertilizers in the up-
coming kharif season. The
stocks that we will have at
the start of next month and
estimated domestic pro-
duction between April and
September of next fiscal
will be sufficient to meet
the projected requirement
during Kharif season,”
Mandaviya said.
He said the country will
not need to import
urea and NPK from spot
markets.
MAJOR
HIGHLIGHTS
z Chemicals and Fertilizers
Minister Mansukh
Mandaviya said the country
might not require to import
urea from the spot market to
meet Kharif (summer-sown)
demand
z However, he said, there will
be some import of DAP (Di-
Ammonium Phosphate) to
meet the local demand
DoT seeks
`33,111 crore for
BSNL AGR dues
New Delhi (PTI): The De-
partment of Telecom has
sought `33,111 crore for
payment of adjusted gross
revenue dues of state-run
BSNL which is likely to be
made in the upcoming
April-June quarter, accord-
ing to a Parliamentary
panel report.
In a submission to the
Standing Committee of
Communications and In-
formation Technology, the
DoT shared that against
the proposal of `39,725.07
crore for 2023-24, `66,691.82
crore has been allocated to
it in the budget.
The increased amount
is towards the payment of
AGR Dues to BSNL, which
is a part of its revival pack-
age. The Department had
proposed an amount of
`33,111.00 crore for the AGR
Dues. The payment will be
made once BSNL claims
the amount and is most
likely to happen in the first
quarter of FY 2023-24, the
DoT informed.
‘India may require 31K
pilots in next 20 years’
Mumbai (PTI): US air-
craft maker Boeing has
said India may require
31,000 pilots and some
26,000 mechanics over the
next 20 years amid the
growing order book of the
aircraft original equip-
ment manufacturers.
Boeing India President
Salil Gupte also said the
South Asian region is ex-
pected to remain the fast-
est-growing market glob-
ally over the next several
years.
India is going to need
over 31,000 pilots and
26,000 mechanics over the
next 20 years to take care
of the aircraft coming in.
This is as important a part
of the Indian growth story
as the aircraft (orders),
Gupte said. He said consid-
ering India's air traffic
growth, a lot of focus has
to be on making infra-
structure robust, both
hard infrastructure which
includes airports as well
as critical infrastructure,
which includes pilots,
among others.
INDIAN AIRPORTS’
REVENUES TO RISE TO
$3.9 BILLION NEXT
FISCAL YEAR
New Delhi (PTI): Indian airport
operators are projected to report
26% rise in revenues at $3.9
billion in the next financial year,
aviation consultancy CAPA India
said on Wednesday. For 2023-
24, air passenger traffic, includ-
ing domestic and international,
is expected to be 395 million,
it said while presenting the
outlook for the airports. Out of
the total, domestic air passen-
gers will rise to 320 million from
275 million this fiscal. During
this period, the international air
passenger count will increase to
75 million from 58 million.
Mumbai (PTI): Equity
benchmark Sensex and
Nifty ended on a positive
note on Wednesday, mainly
due to buying in health-
care, financial and com-
modity stocks amid a firm
trend in global equities.
Continuing its previous
day's rally, the 30-share
BSE Sensex advanced
139.91 points to settle at
58,214.59. The broader NSE
Nifty climbed 44.40 points
to end at 17,151.90.
Among the Sensex
stocks, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj
Finserv, Sun Pharma, In-
dusInd Bank, Tata Motors,
ICICI Bank, TCS, Hindu-
stan Unilever and Power
Grid were major gainers.
NTPC, Axis Bank, Nes-
tle, HCL Technologies were
the major laggards.
Sensex and Nifty
end higher for
2nd straight day
DOWNFALL
GautamAdani's
wealth dips by 60%
Mumbai (PTI): Gautam
Adani's fortunes have suf-
fered a severe setback on
concerns over corporate
governance and accounting
fraud, leading to Reliance
Industries' Mukesh Amba-
nireplacingtheAhmedabad
-based industrialist as the
richest Indian.
Adani lost `3,000 crore of
wealth every week over the
last year and his overall
networth is down 60% from
its peak, as per the M3M
Hurun Global Rich List,
which pegged Adani's over-
all fortune at $53 billion as
of mid-March.
Ambani also suffered a
decline in his fortune but
could displace Adani as the
richest Indian as his net-
worth declined by 20% to
$82 billion.
Both Adani and Ambani
have slipped down the glob-
al billionaires rankings
because of the decline in
wealth.
Average salary likely to rise
10.2% on ecomm, infotech
Mumbai (PTI): Average
salary in India is expected
to increase by 10.2% in
2023, mainly driven by e-
commerce, professional
services and information
technology, a report said.
The average salaries in
India will increase by
10.2% in 2023, lower in com-
parison to 10.4% (actuals)
in 2022, but still in double
digits, according to a 'Fu-
ture of Pay' 2023 report.
The projected salary in-
creases for 2023 are slightly
lower than the actual in-
creases for 2022 across all
job levels, except for blue-
collar workers, who are
projected to have a slightly
larger decrease in compen-
sation in 2023, it stated.
The top three sectors
with the biggest projected
salary increases are tied to
technology, said the report.
E-commerce has the
highest projected salary
growth at 12.5%, followed
by professional services.

08
2NDFRONT
Once we develop an emotional connect
to a project, the energy is just amazing
leading to success and achievement.
— Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO Editor-in-Chief, First India
Cops investigate after Gadkari’s office received threatening calls,
in Nagpur on Saturday. —PHOTO BY PTI
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Former MLA
Bala Nandgaonkar has
accused Shiv Sena
Thackeray group chief
Uddhav Thackeray of
never having felt affec-
tion for his cousin, Ma-
harashtra Navnirman
Sena chief Raj Thack-
eray. This was why Ud-
dhav rejected an alli-
ance with the MNS, he
said, while addressing
the the latter’s Gudi
Padwa rally in Mumbai
on Wednesday evening.
“We had wanted the
two brothers to come
together. So, in 2017, we
went to Matoshree and
proposed an alliance.
Subhash Desai, Anil
Parab, Anil Desai, Ra-
hul Shewale and Milind
Narvekar were also
were present at the
time. However, Uddhav
Thackeray rejected the
alliance,” Nand-
gaonkar said.
“You had no affection
for your younger broth-
er, you felt enmity,” he
added, directing his
comments to Uddhav
Thackeray
.
“After the MNS came
to power in Nashik, we
made a change under
the leadership of Raj
Thackeray,” Nand-
gaonkar also said.
Nandgaonkar also at-
tacked Uddhav for his
leadership in the Bri-
hanmumbai Municipal
Corporation. “If you
didn’t give anything to
BMC despite having a
budgetof Rs45,000crore,
it means that your lead-
ership was ineffective,”
he said, further claim-
ing that the Shiv Sena
would not have split un-
der Raj Thackeray
.
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Chief Minis-
ter Eknath Shinde will
visit Ayodhya on April
06, according to those fa-
miliar with the issue.
In a bid to show that
he and the MLAs and
MPs that support him
are equals, Shinde is ex-
pected to take them
along on the trip, which
is being held at the be-
hest of the Mahant of
the Ayodhya temple.
“ThetruthisthatAyo-
dhya is a matter of our
faith and identity
. So we
will definitely go to Ayo-
dhya,” Shinde had said,
while accepting the Ma-
hant’s invitation.
While this is Shinde’s
first time to the temple
town since assuming
power, it is to be noted
that he and his support-
ers had visited the Kam-
akhyaDevitemplewhile
hunkering down in
Guwahati, following his
rebellion last June.
He also took a pledge
that if a new govern-
ment is formed, he will
come again for darshan.
Accordingly
, after the
transfer of power in Ma-
harashtra, the MLAs of
the Shinde group again
went to Guwahati and
visited Kamakhya Devi.
When Uddhav Thack-
eray toured Ayodhya af-
ter becoming chief min-
ister, he did so without
his entourage.
First India Bureau
Nagpur: In an impor-
tant development in the
threat against Union
Minister Nitin Gadkari,
a woman identified only
as Razia has been de-
tained by Karnataka po-
lice, with the Nagpur
police en route to arrest
her, officials said.
While she is not di-
rectly behind the three
threat calls that came in
to Gadkari’s Nagpur of-
fice on Tuesday
, the call-
er--who identified him-
self as Jayesh Pujari-
-gave the authorities Ra-
zia’s number when he
demanded Rs10 crore as
“protection”.
Police traced the call
to Belgaum, and de-
tainedRazia,whoisnow
undergoingtreatmentin
Belgaum, officials said.
During a primary in-
terrogation, Razia told
the Karnataka police
that Pujari, who is in the
same jail in Belgaum as
her boyfriend, had told
her he was sharing her
number to get her a job.
He had got in touch with
her after her boyfriend
used Pujari’s phone to
call her. Police are also
looking into how many
other people may have
been involved in the ex-
tortion call.
Notably
,thisisthesec-
ond such threatening
calltoGadkari’sofficein
the past 2.5 months.
Mumbai (PTI): Maha-
rashtra on Wednesday
recorded 334 fresh COV-
ID-19 cases, 54 more
than a day before, and
one fatality, the health
department said in a
bulletin.
With the new cases,
the state’s COVID-19
tally rose to 81,40,479
and the death toll to
1,48,430. On Tuesday,
the state had recorded
280 cases and one fatal-
ity. One patient died of
the viral disease in
Solapur. The case fatal-
ity rate in the state is
1.82%. The active cases
stand at 1,648.
The bulletin said 174
people recovered in the
last 24 hours, taking the
cumulative recoveries
to 79,90,401. The recov-
ery rate in the state is
98.16%. The health de-
partment said 6,440
tests were conducted in
the last 24 hours, taking
the overall number of
tests conducted in the
state to 8,65,63,502.
In New Delhi, Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi held a high-level
meeting on Wednesday
to review the situation.
Woman held in
K’taka in Gadkari
extortion threat
Maha records
334 fresh
nCoV cases,
one fatality
‘Raj Thackeray’s achievements
are all won on his own steam’
First India Bureau
Mumbai: The Gudi
Padwa Melava organ-
ized by the Maharash-
tra Navnirman Sena
(MNS) on Wednesday
has been the cynosure
of all eyes for weeks-
-especially since party
chief Raj Thackeray
has remained unusual-
ly tight-lipped on the
current political scenar-
io in the state, Tuesday’s
call to action notwith-
standing. So it was no
surprise that the rally
saw a massive turnout.
Equally massive was
the show of strength
from Thackeray’s sup-
porters, who took the
opportunity to knock
Uddhav Thackeray and
his son Aaditya, while
also questioning the lat-
ters’ treatment of MNS
councillors in the Mum-
bai civic body
.
During his speech,
Sandeep Deshpande
highlighted the strug-
gles and dedication of
MNS workers and criti-
cized other political
parties for not making
similar efforts. He also
questioned Aaditya
Thackeray's conduct,
asking if he felt no
shame while berating
MNS councillors.
Deshpandestatedthat
the MNS's success was
achieved through the
hard work of Raj Thack-
eray in 2009 and 2012,
back while Balasaheb
Thackeray was alive. He
also called for a fresh
look at the definition of
success and failure, cit-
ing the example of Shiv
Sena's split in 2014.
Moreover, Deshpande
criticized Aaditya
Thackeray's conduct in
switching political alli-
ances and challenged
his courage to speak up
against injustice. He
further accused Aaditya
of hypocrisy in his ac-
tions towards the BJP
and Sharad Pawar’s Na-
tionalistCongressParty
.
Interestingly, Raj
Thackeray’s much-
awaited comments on
the political scenario
did not materialize.
However, the vocal
show of strength from
his party leaders is sure
to fuel further specula-
tion and debate in po-
litical circles, and it re-
mains to be seen how
the Thackeray family
and Shiv Sena will re-
spond to the criticism.
Gudi Padwa
Melava sees
massive crowds
as MNS
functionaries
target Uddhav,
Aaditya
Expecting a massive turnout, police had issued diversions and increased security ahead of the
event. —PHOTO BY BHUSHAN KOYANDE
‘UDDAV CONSPIRED AGAINST RAJ’
Ahead of polls, NCP
chief Pawar calls
Opposition meeting
New Delhi (PTI):
Amid talks of opposi-
tion unity in the run-
up to the 2024 Lok
Sabha elections, NCP
supremo Sharad Pa-
war has invited lead-
ers of various opposi-
tion parties here on
Thursday to discuss
issues of common in-
terest and efficacy of
electronic voting ma-
chines (EVMs).
Sources said the
meeting will take
place at 6 pm.
Pawar has held
that in the interest of
free and fair elec-
tions, EVMs need to
be accurate and any
doubts over their ef-
ficacy must be ad-
dressed by the Chief
Election Commis-
sioner.
Experts have said
that any machine
with a chip inside can
be hacked and we can-
not allow democracy
to be hijacked by un-
scrupulous elements.
Therefore, in the in-
terest of free and fair
elections, we must sit
together and listen to
the views expressed
by eminent IT profes-
sionals and cryptog-
raphers, Pawar said
in his letter to the op-
position leaders.
Leaders of several
opposition parties are
likely to attend the
meeting keeping in
view Pawar’s stature.
The meeting comes
in the wake of several
efforts being made to
bring unity in opposi-
tion ranks to help
take on the BJP to-
gether.
West Bengal Chief
Minister and TMC su-
premo Mamata Ba-
nerjee and Telangana
Chief minister K
Chandrasekhar Rao
have made some ef-
forts in this direction
in the recent past.
The Congress has
been maintaining
that there can be no
opposition alliance
without it as the par-
ty has a national
spread.
Sharad Pawar —FILE PHOTO
Nandgaonkar in conversation with Raj Thackeray. —FILE PHOTO
You had no affection for cousin Raj:
Nandgaonkar points finger at Uddhav
‘We had wanted the
two brothers to come
together. but Uddhav
rejected the alliance’
CM Shinde to visit
Ayodhya on Apr 06
Thackeray group workers become aggressive against
Agri minister Sattar during his assessment tour
FARMERS’ WOES
First India Bureau
Mumbai: Jalgaon dis-
trict witnessed a high
voltage incident on
WednesdayastheThack-
eray group attempted to
blocktheconvoyof Agri-
culture Minister Abdul
Sattar in Dharangaon.
Theincidentoccurredin
the constituency of
Guardian Minister Gu-
labrao Patil. However,
the police intervened to
bring the situation un-
der control, and the Ag-
riculture Minister com-
pleted his inspection of
unseasonal damage
within ten minutes.
On Wednesday, the
Thackeray group made
an attempt to obstruct
the convoy of Agricul-
ture Minister Abdul
Sattar in Dharangaon.
The high voltage inci-
dent took place in the
constituency of Guard-
ian Minister Gulabrao
Patil. However, the po-
lice intervened prompt-
ly to bring the situation
under control. Despite
the chaos, the Agricul-
ture Minister managed
to complete his inspec-
tion of unseasonal dam-
age within 10 minutes.
The Thackeray
group's Gulabrao Wagh,
former mayor Nilesh
Chaudhary
,andactivists
tried to block the convoy
on the issue of farmers.
The police administra-
tion detained them, and
the Thackeray group
workers protested at the
sightof theconvoy
.They
also chanted slogans
condemning Agricul-
ture Minister Sattar and
the Shinde government.
The ongoing conflict
between Shiv Sena and
Thackeray Group is in-
tensifying with direct
conflicts between the
twogroups.Wednesday’s
incident has raised con-
cerns on the safety of
political leaders.
Abdul Sattar —FILE PHOTO
Several districts in
the state have been
hit by unseasonal
weather and
hailstorms, causing
significant damage
to farmers’ crops
They should at least wipe farmers’
tears, NCP leader targets Maha govt
Mumbai (FIB): National-
ist Congress Party (NCP)
MLA Eknath Khadse
has specifically targeted
Jalgaon Guardian Minister
Gulabrao Patil for his
alleged disregard for the
suffering of the farmers.
Khadse has accused the
Patil of failing to provide
support to farmers in
his district, despite their
cries for help. The criti-
cism comes as farmers
in Jalgaon face financial
difficulties due to the dam-
age caused by unseasonal
rain. Despite the impact
on farmers, the govern-
ment has not taken any
definitive action to address
compensation, causing
worry and dissatisfaction
among the affected com-
munity. Moreover, ruling
party members have alleg-
edly disregarded the farm-
ers’ situation, resulting in
harsh criticism from oppo-
sition leaders. Khadse has
also called out Agriculture
Minister Abdul Sattar for
not doing enough to help
farmers affected by the
unseasonal weather. Sattar
reportedly inspected the
damaged crops in the
Nashik district during the
night the constituency
of the Guardian Minister,
where significant damage
had also occurred, was
not paid attention to.
Khadse has argued that
Sattar should have at least
taken the time to console
and listen to the plight of
affected farmers.

aks Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel,
thecrownedjewelof Dubai,
hosted one of India’s pre-
mier single-day fashion
events called Fashion Con-
nect, season 14, Presented
by First India News and
Bharat24-Vision of New India on
Sunday
, March 19. Jagdeesh Chan-
dra graced the evening and appreci-
ated the designer, Arpita Sulaksha-
na for her artistic collection de-
signed with perfection and tailored
to last. His Highness Sheikh Juma
Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum was pre-
sent as the Chief Guest and Yakoob
Al Ali, Executive Director and Pri-
vate Advisor in His Highness Office
attended the show as the special
guest. Designer Arpita Sulakshana,
showcased her scintillating couture
collection ‘Rang Raas’. While de-
scribingherstunningcollection,the
mythicaldesignersaid,“Mycouture
collection offers bespoke pieces for
thosewhoappreciatethefinerthings
in life. At the heart of our brand is
the unique art of hand painting,
which elevates each garment to
a masterpiece. We are proud to
present our latest collection,
Rang Raas, inspired by the di-
vine forest of God Krishna,
also known as Nidhivan.”
“We believe that luxury
should not only be about
material possessions, but
alsoabouttheexperienceof
owning something truly
unique and special. Our brand
is built on the values of au-
thenticity
, creativity
, and
craftsmanship. We are com-
mitted to preserving the tradi-
tional art of hand painting
and bringing it to a global au-
dience. Our team of skilled
artisans works tirelessly to
create garments that are not
just beautiful, but also ethi-
cally made. We love to create
outfits for those who appreci-
ate the beauty of art and the
elegance of luxury and who
seek something exceptional,
a statement piece that will
stand the test of time,” she
added. The Rang Raas collec-
tion is an ode to the eternal
love of Radha Krishna,
depicted through intricate
hand paintings that capture
the essence of the forest.
www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/
thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09
MUMBAI | THURSDAY,
MARCH 23, 2023
RANG RAAS
KAVITA CHAUHAN
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
WHEREARTMEETSLUXURY
The exquisite Fashion Connect presented by First India
and Bharat24- Vision of New India held at Oaks Ibn
Battuta Gate Hotel Dubai on March 19. City First
highlights the unique collection of the highly acclaimed
Arpita Sulakshana showcased at the mega show!
O
Desingers Arpita and Sulakshana with showstopper Alina showcasing their collection
Anticlockwise: Eva, Daria, Alina T and Irene
—PHOTOS
BY
SANTOSH
SHARMA
International models: Sophie, Daria, Alina, Irene and Natalia
showcasing designer collection by Arpita Sulakshana

The First India Fashion Connect
Season 14, presented by First
India and Bharat24- Vision of New
India, held at Oaks Ibn Battuta
Gate Hotel, Dubai on Sunday was
a unique fusion of traditional and
modern collections which
celebrated the heritage of India.
Besides this, a ravishing merging
of the cultures of UAE and India
was also seen on the ramp. During
the show, Luxury Lifestyle Awards
2023 were also held, wherein the
who's who of the creative
industries were felicitated. City
First highlights some more
glimpses captured by our senior
photojournalist Santosh Sharma!
10-11
ETC
www.firstindia.co.in I https://firstindia.co.in/epapers/mumbai I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
GLITZ AND GLAMOUR PERSONIFIED
Jagdeesh Chandra with Sheikh Yaqoob Al Ali felicitating
Akanksha Bakshi for Best Luxury, Fashion and Lifestyle Influencer
Ishita Gupta for Most Promising, Upcoming, Fashion Designer
Jagdeesh Chandra with Sheikh Yaqoob Al Ali
felicitating Jassi Chhabra for Best Bridal Makeup-Artist
National Asian Wedding show for Most Popular Wedding Show
Soundkraft LLC for Best Electronic Equipment Rental
Dayadev Tak, Kanirams Sweet for Most Promising Sweet Shop
Rishee Miglani
Sonal Sharma Lokesh Sharma
Nancy
(L-R) Girish, Mahendra, Manju, Nikita and Kamla
Vriti and Tamanna (L-R) Claudia and Lisa
Jagdeesh Chandra with HH Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum
felicitating Pahal Samyani for Most Promising Theater Artist
felicitating Nandita Shekhawat for Best Jewellry Designer
felicitating Scoop Cones for Most Loved Gelato Brand
Jagdeesh Chandra with Sheikh Yaqoob Al Ali
felicitating Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate, Dubai for Best Hotel
—PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA

23032023_First India Mumbai.pdf

23032023_First India Mumbai.pdf

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