29042024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdf

hough it’s
been years
of enmity
between Is-
rael and
Iran, but both the countries
have been on a continuous
collision path since erup-
tion of war between Israel
and Hamas militants in the
Gaza Strip in Oct 2023.
The current escalation in
hostilities between Israel
and Iran are result of Is-
raeli strike on an Iranian
consular building in Syr-
ia’s Damascus on 01 April
2024 that killed 12 people,
including a senior general
and in retaliation to this
Iran fired scores of drones,
cruise missiles and ballis-
tic missiles in Israeli terri-
tory. Countries across the
world have taken sides of
either party with the US
and allies on Israeli side
and many Arab countries
and Russia on Iranian side.
The terror outfits like the
Hamas, Hezbollah have
been jubilant over Iranian
attack on Israel. However,
a potential response by Is-
rael threatens to escalate
the situation and expand
the conflict, a point of big
worry for everyone includ-
ing India. Most countries
favour restraint from both
sides and maximising ef-
forts for avoiding any fur-
ther escalation, yet the sit-
uation remains fragile and
uncertain in the region.
Iran has never recog-
nized Israel and the Quds
Force of Islamic Revolu-
tionary Guards Council
(IRGC) supports the Shiite
Lebanese militant group
Hezbollah militarily and
financially, and has used it
to carry out attacks against
Israeli and US interests in
the region. Iran has also
been strongly critical of
Israeli actions against the
Palestinians and Hezbollah
fighters have engaged the
Israel Defence Forces on
the Lebanon-Israel border
ever since the October 7,
2023 attacks by Hamas in
southern Israel. Israel sees
Iran as an existential threat
accusing its regime of har-
boring genocidal inten-
tions. Consequently, Israel
has sought sanctions and
military action against Iran
to stop it from acquiring
nuclear weapons. Israel
and the US have targeted
the IRGC and the Quds
personnel and Headquar-
ters based in Syria. The lat-
est Israeli attack killed the
Quds senior general Israel
carried out a strike on
Iran’s consulate in Damas-
cus on April 1, killing sev-
en Revolutionary Guards
including two generals and
prompting warnings from
Tehran that it would re-
spond.
India is friendly with
both, Israel and Iran, and
maintains a balanced rela-
tionship with both. A
potential escalation of di-
rect hostilities between Is-
rael and Iran could ad-
versely impact India.As an
immediate and most appro-
priate response to the esca-
lation of hostilities in the
region, India has expressed
its serious concerns and
called for an “immediate
de-escalation.”
India has a very deep
strategic relationship with
Israel, especially in the
context of defence and se-
curity partnership. In the
last decade or so, it has
grown and has been made
public - unlike in the past.
This has led to India lend-
ing support to Israel in the
first few hours of the last
year October terrorist at-
tacks by Hamas. The two
sides have strong concerns
about extremism and ter-
rorism, as both have suf-
fered during the 26 /11
Mumbai terror attacks. Is-
rael has also emerged as a
major defence supplier
along with the US, France
and Russia, and has been a
reliable support during
times of crisis including
the Kargil war in 1999.
India also has main-
tained strategic and friend-
ly relationship with Iran, as
Tehran has been one of the
major suppliers of crude -
which has suffered set-
backs due to sanctions.
Besides both countries
have shared concerns on
terrorism emanating from
Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The two countries have
similar concerns on Tali-
ban’s treatment of minori-
ties and the lack of an in-
clusive and representative
government in Kabul.
Chabahar Port is another
strategic economic project,
which acts as a gateway to
Afghanistan and Central
Asia and European nations
- since Pakistan denies
land transit to Indian
goods.
IMPACT ON INDIA
In recent years, there have
been diplomatic verbal
face-offs between the Is-
raeli ambassador and the
Iranian embassy in Delhi,
but India has been able to
convince both sides to
calm down and maintain
restraint in a friendly third
country. The possibility of
escalation of direct hostili-
ties between Israel and
Iran has some direct conse-
quences for India like there
are about 15,000- 20,000
Indians in Israel and about
8,000 -10,000 Indians in
Iran and about 90 lakh peo-
ple are living and working
in the Gulf and West Asia
region whose work and life
will be at risk. Secondly,
India’s economic interests
are tied to energy security
and the West Asia region
contributes to India’s 80
per cent of oil supplies any
escalation of conflict in the
region will adversely im-
pact energy prices. India
has friendly ties with al-
most all Arab countries
and treats the middle east
region as its extended
neighbourhood, and it has
been working with all
sides in the turbulent re-
gion to push for the India-
Middle-East-Europe Eco-
nomic corridor which has
strategic and economic
benefits for India. A con-
flict has the potential to
unravel the consensus that
has been built around the
peace in the otherwise
combustible region.
WAY FORWARD
India has very difficult
choices at the moment as
both Iran-Israel are impor-
tant to India for its national
interests. The issue will get
further compounded if the
conflict escalates inviting
a direct entry of the US
with its allies and Russia
with its allies. India can
initiate dialogue with the
US expanding the band-
width to the Russia-
Ukraine War, Israel-Ha-
mas War, Houthis interfer-
ence in the Red Sea and
finally situation where
China escalates conflict in
the South China Sea for
integration of Taiwan or
other such claims to obvi-
ate another potential Iran-
Israel conflict.
India needs to engage
with Israel for restraint as
Iranianactionswereadirect
consequence of Israeli at-
tack on an Iranian complex
in Damascus. Now that Is-
rael has averted any casual-
tiesfromIranianattackwith
the help of US and the US
has distanced from Israel in
any direct counter attack on
Iran, India must proactively
engage with the USA, Iran,
Russia and Israel to ensure
that this conflict is con-
tained. India must fast-
track the completion of
Chabahar Port in Iran and
persuade Israel to establish
defence manufacturing
facilities in India to gain
additional leverage with
both Iran and Israel.
India has to maintain
momentum gained post
G-20 Summit where it
emerged as voice of global
South, exhibit neutral
stance when it comes to the
US and China - Russia al-
liance and follow assertive
diplomacy to fulfil its ob-
ligations in the new emerg-
ing world order.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
TOP
TWEETS
SPIRITUAL SPEAK
As a strong wind sweeps away a
boat on the water, even one of the
roaming world of the senses on which
the mind focuses can carry away a
man’s intellect.
BHAGAVAD GITA
DIPLOMATIC
INTERVENTION
India needs to engage
with Israel for restraint
as Iranian actions were
a direct consequence
of the Israeli attack on
an Iranian complex in
Damascus. Now that Israel
has averted any casual-
ties from Iranian attack
with the help of US and
the US has distanced from
Israel in any direct counter
attack on Iran, India must
proactively engage with
the USA, Iran, Russia and
Israel to ensure that this
conflict is contained.India
must fast-track the com-
pletion of Chabahar Port in
Iran and persuade Israel to
establish defence manu-
facturing facilities in India
to gain additional leverage
with both Iran and Israel.
ESCALATIONINIRAN-ISRAEL
HOSTILITIES:INDIANPERSPECTIVE
India is friendly with both, Israel and Iran, and
maintains a balanced relationship with both.A
potential escalation of direct hostilities between
Israel and Iran could adversely impact India. As an
immediate and most appropriate response to the
escalation of hostilities in the region, India has
expressed its serious concerns and called for an
“immediate de-escalation.” India has a very deep
strategic relationship with Israel, especially in the
context of defence and security partnership. In the
last decade or so, it has grown and has been made
public -unlike in the past
IN-DEPTH
COUNTRIES WHERE WOMEN
FACE MORE VIOLENCE
WESTERN MEDIA’S
BIAS AGAINST INDIA
re women safe anywhere in the world? Yes,
in nine countries. Among them are Iceland,
Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria
but not Australia and the US. The situation is so bad
in Australia that the country has declared violence
against women a national crisis and Prime Minister
AnthonyAlbanese has called an urgent cabinet meet-
ing to discuss the problem and tougher laws to deal
with crime against women. Australia, which saw big
rallies in major cities being held on Saturday, sees a
woman murdered every four hours.
On rape and sexual assault in the US, the New
York City’s National Organization for Women said
“sexual assault is epidemic”. With a sexual assault
every 98 seconds in the US, it indeed is. While 91
percent of sexual assault victims are women, 9 per-
cent are men.
In India crime against women is worrisome as 51
cases of crime against women were registered in In-
dia in 2022. In 2023, crime against women was up
by 4 percent.
A
n democratic societies, protests are regard-
ed as fundamental expressions of citizens’
rights. However, safeguarding these rights
doesn’t entail permitting protests to escalate beyond
control, whether in India or in other democratic na-
tions such as the United States and Germany. And
the media should not use different yardsticks to
judge a country from the manner it deals with dem-
ocratic protests.
India’s management of protests at Jawaharlal
Nehru University and by farmers drew sharp criti-
cism. An American newspaper opined, labelling it
as a threat to democ-
racy. However, in
the US, arrests of
students and faculty
members for protest-
ing the Israeli offen-
sive in Gaza has not
been found to be a
threat to democracy.
On the contrary, a
headline in The New
York Times high-
lighted, “...Protests
on my campus lack
justice.”
Faculty members
from several protest-
affected universities
have supported the
students, only to face
arrest. Among those
detained were Emil’
Keme, an English
professor at Emory
University, and Noelle McAfee, chair of the Phi-
losophy Department at the same institution.
Farmers’ protest, India alleged, was hijacked by
pro-Khalistan separatists. Yet it was projected as if
the voice of farmers was being muzzled. The pro-
Palestine protests are causing concern in Germany,
Israel and the US for taking an anti-Semitic and
anti-Jew turn. As the protests turn aggressive in
Germany there are calls for tougher measures to
stop them. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netan-
yahu has labelled the protests on US campuses as
anti-Semitic. Netanyahu was countered by Bernie
Sanders, a high-profile Jewish Senator, who said that
Netanyahu was trying to distract attention from the
Gaza war.
I
Faculty members
from several
protest-affected
universities have
supported the
students, only to
face arrest. Among
those detained were
Emil’ Keme, an
English professor at
Emory University,
and Noelle McAfee,
chair of Philosophy
Department at the
same institution
T
Rahul Gandhi and Congress are misleading
the people regarding reservation. Congress
has attempted to end reservation by providing
reservation to minorities in Karnataka and
Andhra Pradesh for appeasement, and by neglecting
SC-ST and OBC in institutions like Jamia and AMU. But
it is Modi’s guarantee that as long as BJP is there,
Congress won’t be able to touch reservation.
Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar)
@AmitShah
We believe in ‘Majboot Sarkar’
, but
Mamata wants ‘Majboor Sarkar’!
TMC government is an example of
a weak government that prioritizes
appeasement, corruption, and discrimination.
On the other hand, Hon. PM Shri narendramodi
ji prioritizes the security, development and
prosperity of the nation.
Jagat Prakash Nadda
(Modi Ka Parivar)@JPNadda
l Vol 5 l Issue No. 322 l RNI NO. RAJENG/2019/77764. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Press, D.B. Corp Limited, Shivdaspura, Tonk Road, Jaipur. Published at 304, 3rd Floor,
City Mall, Bhagwan Das Road, C-Scheme, Jaipur-302001, Rajasthan. Phone 0141-4920504. l Editor-In-Chief: Dr Jagdeesh Chandra l Managing Editor: Pawan Arora l Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
PERSPECT VE 02
Jaipur, Monday | April 29, 2024 www.firstindia.co.in firstindia.co.in/epapers/jaipur thefirstindia thefirstindia thefirstindia
Col Rajesh
Bhukar
The writer is a Post
Graduate in International
Studies, Alumni of Defence
Services Staff College,
Wellington and College
of Combat, Mhow

CM ON POLL CAMPAIGN IN OTHER STATES
CM to lend a
helping hand to
BJP candidates in
WB & Jharkhand
CM BHAJAN LAL SHARMA WILL
VISIT KOLKATA TODAY, AND ON
TUESDAY HE WILL BE IN
JHARKHAND TO CAMPAIGN FOR
THE PARTY CANDIDATES
Aishwary Pradhan
Jaipur
fter conducting
massive cam-
paigning in the
State and taking organisa-
tional meetings to ensure
the success of the BJP in
Rajasthan during both
phasesofLokSabhapolls,
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma
willbevisitingotherstates
to campaign for the BJP.
On Monday, CM Shar-
ma will visit Kolkata and
will leave from Jaipur at
07:15 AM. He will con-
duct a roadshow in sup-
port of party’s candidate
in Srerampur, Kabir
Shankar Bose. Later, CM
Sharma will participate
in a convention organ-
ised by the Marwari com-
munity and industrialists
in Srerampur.
Meanwhile, on Tues-
day, CM Sharma will
leave for Jharkhand from
Kolkata and take part in
the nomination pro-
gramme in Dhanbad
where he will hold a pub-
lic meeting in support of
the BJP’s Lok Sabha can-
didate, Dhulu Mahato.
CM BL Sharma participates in a programme at Khole ke Hanuman
ji temple in Jaipur on Sunday. It was organised by public relations
officer Narbada Indoria. Information commissioner of Haryana
Pradeep Shekhawat and MLA Gopal Sharma were also present.
A
RSS NEVER OPPOSED
RESERVATIONS: BHAGWAT
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday
declared that the Sangh Parivar had
“never opposed reservations extended
to certain groups.”
AUSSIE PM JOINS MASS PROTESTS
AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE
Australian PM Anthony Albanese has
joined nationwide protests calling for an
end to violence against women as 26
women have been violently recently.
TALKS ON WITH CHINA, INDIA
WILLNEVERBOWDOWN:RAJNATH
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on
Sunday said talks with China are go-
ing smoothly and in a good environ-
ment, and India will never bow down.
TIBETANGOVT-IN-EXILEFORA
MIDDLEPATHTORESOLVEISSUE
The Central Tibetan Administration
has stressed on the “Middle Way”
path propounded by the Dalai Lama to
resolve the Tibet issue with China.
First India Bureau
Sirsi (Karnataka)
PM Narendra Modi said
on Sunday that those who
declined the invite to at-
tend the consecration of
the Ram Temple inAyod-
hya will face rejection
from the voters in the on-
going Lok Sabha polls.
Without naming the Con-
gress party, his remarks
appeared directed at their
absence from the event.
Speaking at a rally, PM
Modi said the decision to
construct the Ram temple
should have been made
immediately following
country’s independence.
HecriticisedCongress,ac-
cusing them of being ob-
structive towards the tem-
ple’s construction, alleg-
ing that “similar forces”
persistently attempted to
block the project, even re-
sorting to legal measures
until the eleventh hour.
Highlighting the ef-
forts made by the trustees
of the Ram temple, PM
Modi lauded their perse-
verance in overcoming
obstacles imposed by the
Opposition parties. P6
PM Narendra Modi being felicitated during an election rally for Lok Sabha polls, in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, on Sunday. PTI
Union Home Minister Amit
Shah addresses a rally in
Etawah, on Sunday. PTI
Security personnel on
alert after a Village
Defence Guard Mohd
Sharif was killed fighting
terrorists in Basantgarh,
J&K, on Sunday. PTI
IN BRIEF
Israeli forces strike
dozens Hamas targets
Gaza: The Israeli air
force attacked dozens of
facilities, including
rocket launchers, of the
Palestinian movement
Hamas in the Gaza Strip
over the past day, and
eliminated an unspeci-
fied number of radicals
in the Palestinian en-
clave, the Israel Defense
Forces said on Sunday.
Gun battle breaks out
among Manipur groups
Imphal: Exchange of
fire between village vol-
unteers of the two rival
communities was report-
ed in Manipur’s Imphal
West district on Sunday.
Police said that several
armed cadres of village
volunteers opened indis-
criminate fire on
Koutruk village in pe-
riphery of Imphal Valley.
Women in Bengal are
most unsafe: Nadda
Kolkata: BJP national
president JP Nadda on
Sunday launched a blis-
tering attack on the Tri-
namool Congress gov-
ernment in West Bengal,
saying that despite hav-
ing a woman chief min-
ister, females in the state
are most unsafe. He was
addressing a rally in
Behrampur. P6
SmritiIraniinAyodhya
beforenominationfiling
Ayodhya: Union Minis-
ter Smriti Irani on Sun-
day worshipped Ram
Lalla in Ayodhya and
later paid obeisance at
the Hanuman Garhi
temple. The Amethi MP
is likely to file her nom-
ination on Monday. She
said, “Felt blessed for
good fortune to be able
to come to the land of
religion and patience.”
TIMEPIECE
FROM TITANIC
fetches whopping amount
gold watch worn
by John Jacob As-
tor IV, a member
of the wealthy
Astor family and
the richest man
aboard the
Titanic, sold
for a record-
breaking
£1.175 mil-
lion ($1.485
million)
at auction
on Saturday
(local time). The
timepiece sold for ten
times its expected auc-
tion price of between
£100,000 and £150,000.
Its high selling point has
set a “new world record
for Titanic memorabilia,”
Andrew Aldridge, the
managing director of
auction house Henry
Aldridge and
Son, told a
section of
media on
Sunday.
Astor was
one of
around 1,500
people who
died when the
Titanic sank on April 15,
1912 after hitting an ice-
berg. His pregnant wife,
Madeleine, survived.
A
OTHER ITEMS PREVIOUSLY AUCTIONED
A valise, that held the violin famously
played by the band leader as the ship
sank, was
sold for £360,000,
while the violin itself
was sold for £1.1
million (nearly $1.7
million at the time) via
the same auction house in 2013.
In November 2023, a
pocket watch recov-
ered from the body
of passenger Sinai Kantor,
34, a Russian immigrant who
died in the catastrophe, was
also sold by the same auction
house in the UK for 97,000
pounds ($118,700).
A rare menu from the
ill-fated liner’s first-
class restaurant that
showed what the most well-to-
do passengers ate for dinner
on April 11, 1912 – three
days before the ship struck the
iceberg that caused it to sink
in the Atlantic Ocean – sold for
83,000 pounds ($101,600).
1
2
3
PTI
Mainpuri (Uttar Pradesh)
Union Home Minister
Amit Shah said on Sun-
day that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi had al-
ready scored a century of
seats in the first two phas-
es of Lok Sabha polls.
Polling in the first two
of the seven-phase Lok
Sabha elections was held
on April 19 and April 26.
At a rally in Mainpuri,
Shah said that the BJP
will win all 80 Lok Sabha
seats in Uttar Pradesh.
“The accounts of both
the princes have not been
opened. It is a choice to
develop and prosper the
country. Ram Mandir was
constructed in five years.
The Congress, Samajwa-
di Party and the BSP de-
layed Ram temple,” he
said. Shah said that Sa-
majwadi Party chiefAkh-
ilesh Yadav and his wife
Dimple Yadav did not go
to Ram temple due to fear
of the vote bank.
“This election is be-
tween those who opened
fire on Ram devotees and
those who built Ram tem-
ple,” he said. MORE ON P6
PM has scored
a century in 1st
two phases of
LS polls: Shah
I.N.D.I.A. BLOC’S FORMULA IS TO GIVE PM’S
POST TO ALLIES FOR ONE YEAR EACH: MODI
PM Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that the
I.N.D.I.A. bloc has come up with a “formula”
whereby the parties in the opposition alliance
will get the PM’s post for one year each if they come to
power. “With such a system, the good of the country can-
not be expected,” he said at an election rally here, as he
urged the people not to waste their vote. FULL REPORT P6
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI HOLDS
ROADSHOW IN KARNATAKA’S BELGAVI
Belgavi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday
held a roadshow in Karnataka’s Belgavi. PM Modi
was seen waving at people lined up on both sides
of the road and showed the BJP’s ‘lotus’ poll symbol to
canvass support for the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
Visuals showed people in huge numbers cheering the
Prime Minister’s convoy from behind the barricades.
Rahul Gandhi kicks-off Cong’s
election campaign in Odisha
Protesters hang huge Palestinian flag
at venue of Biden’s White House event
Agencies
Washington
Security was tight Satur-
day (local time) as the an-
nual White House Corre-
spondents’ Association
dinner kicked off, with
President Joe Biden to
make what is a tradition-
ally lighthearted address
amid protests and boycott
calls over Gaza conflict.
A long list of VIP
guests, including journal-
ists and celebrities from
Chris Pine to Molly Ring-
wald, arrived in black-tie
attire as more than 100
protesters outside the
Washington Hilton hotel
chanted “shame on you”
and other slogans while
confronting attendees.
At the banquet, in
keeping with longstand-
ing tradition – interrupt-
ed during the Donald
Trump years – Biden was
seated on the dais ahead
of the evening’s comedy
roast, this year to be de-
livered by Colin Jost of
“Saturday Night Live.”
Agencies
Bhubaneswar
Former Congress chief
Rahul Gandhi on Sun-
day launched the election
campaign for the Con-
gress party in Odisha by
making a scathing attack
on both Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and the
Naveen Patnaik govern-
ment in Odisha at an elec-
tion meeting at Salepur.
Addressing the gather-
ing that arrived from
Jajpur, Kendrapara Cut-
tack, and other nearby
places braving severe
heatwave conditions, Ra-
hul took a dig at CM Pat-
naik saying Pandian (VK
Pandian,) the bureaucrat-
turned-politician is run-
ning the govt in Odisha.
Rahul promised to
launch ‘Pahli Naukari Pa-
kki ‘ scheme to give jobs
to one lakh educated
youths in public sector,
private sector and govern-
ment offices, besides dou-
bling the wages ofASHA
and Anganwadi workers.
First India Bureau
New Delhi
In a big setback to the
Congress, its Delhi chief
Arvinder Singh Lovely
resigned from the party
post. It comes amid the
ongoing Lok
Sabha polls
and Delhi is
scheduled to
go to polls
on May 25.
In a four-page letter to
party president Mallikar-
jun Kharge, Lovely ex-
pressed anguish over the
functioning of the Con-
gress general secretary.
Delhi Congress
prez Arvinder
Lovely resigns
Drugs worth `600 cr
seized from Pak boat
PTI
Ahmedabad
The Indian Coast Guard
(ICG) has seized 86 kg of
drugs worth Rs 600 crore
from a Pakistani boat and
arrested 14 persons on
board the vessel off the
Gujarat coast, the ICG
said on Sunday.
The overnight opera-
tion in the Arabian Sea
was carried out in coordi-
nation with the Gujarat
Anti-terrorism Squad
and the Narcotics Con-
trol Bureau, it said.
“In a breathtaking over-
night operation, Indian
Coast Guard undertook an
intelligence-based anti-
narcotics operation at sea
on 28 Apr 24. Approx 86
kg of narcotics worth Rs
600 crore has been appre-
hendedalongwith14crew
from the Pakistani boat,”
ICG said in a release.
US PREZ JOE BIDEN
POKES FUN AT TRUMP
Washington: US
President Joe Biden
roasted his prede-
cessor and political rival,
Donald Trump and poked
fun at his age at the annual
White House Correspon-
dents’ Association (WHCA)
dinner, on Saturday (local
time), for Washington’s polit-
ical and media elites, saying
“I am a grown man running
against a six-year-old”.
RNI NUMBER: RAJENG/2019/77764 | VOL 5 | ISSUE NO. 322 | PAGES 12 | `3.00 Rajasthan’s Own English Newspaper
firstindia.co.in firstindia.co.in/epapers/jaipur thefirstindia thefirstindia thefirstindia INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY
Rajasthan’s Own English Newspaper
3.00
PM MODI IN KARNATAKA...
“VOTERSWILLREJECTWHO
REJECTEDTEMPLEINVITE”

ON VAISAKH POORNIMA...
Water hole census of wildlife on May 23, 24
Nirmal Tiwari
Jaipur
wildlife popula-
tion census will
be done on
Vaishakh Purnima
through the water hole
method on May 23 and
24. Counting will start at
8 am on May 23 and will
continue till 8 am on May
24. Order will be issued
at the level of ChiefWild-
life Warden PK Upad-
hyay. The number of ti-
gers and other wild ani-
mals will be assessed.
Last year, due to unsea-
sonal rain, the wildlife
census could not be done
through the water hole
method. So, this time the
census of wildlife is im-
portant. The actual fig-
ures of the number of
wildlife will be available
only through wildlife
census using the method.
A training program will
start after the order for
wildlife census is issued.
Wildlife census could not be done last year due to unseasonal rain. FILE
A
RAJASTHAN 04
www.firstindia.co.in firstindia.co.in/epapers/jaipur thefirstindia thefirstindia thefirstindia
Nailpaintremoverwere
beingusedtomakedrugs
NCB busts drug syndicate worth crores in Jodhpur
Rajeev Gaur
Jodhopur
Narcotics Bureau of In-
dia (NCB) and ATS- Ra-
jasthan have caught drug
dealers who revealed
that some got into the il-
legal drug trade while
selling tea leaves where-
as others were into the
medical business.
These people were
connected to the same
chain and used to buy
raw material for making
MD from Vapi in Guja-
rat. Drugs would be pre-
pared and sold in the
market within a month.
The chemical these peo-
ple were using for this is
used as nail polish and
paint remover, which
has potential to damage
kidneys and liver. A per-
son consuming this drug
can also become blind or
go into coma.
NCB Jaipur-Jodhpur’s
Joint Director Ghanshy-
am Soni said that under
‘Operation Laboratory’,
goods worth Rs 45 crore
have been seized from a
factory in Sirohi.
At the same time, the
teams of Osian FSL
and Gandhinagar FSL
are investigating the
goods seized from Os-
ian in Jodhpur, after
which the total amount
will be revealed.
Raids have been con-
ducted at many places in
Gujarat in which a total
of drugs worth Rs 300
crore have been seized so
far. Jodhpur Rural SP
Dharmendra Singh Ya-
dav said one accused Jag-
dish Vishnoi from Osian
is absconding and efforts
are on to nab him.
Auction process
of rare earth,
metal potash
cancelled in Raj
Krida Bharti Raj
Chapter hosts
discussion on
‘Doping in Sports’
Probeintensifiesas
accusedGauravSingh
broughttoSMShosp
Fake NOC for organ transplant case
Nirmal Tiwari
Jaipur
Auction process of rare
earth, metal and potash
exploration blocks has
been cancelled in REE
Block of Barmer and
Jodhpur district, Chhaba,
Navatala, Pataudi, Ren-
wal, Rathal, Kaldera
block of Jaipur, Sikar, and
Nagaur districts.
The auction of Sarasar-
Pallu-Dhandhusar-Har-
daswali block of Hanu-
mangarh, Ganganagar,
Churu, and Bikaner has
also been cancelled. Ear-
lier,Rajasthanbecamethe
leading state with NIT for
exploration licence of
three blocks of rare min-
eral ore and potash. On
March 6, in just five days,
the Mines Department
completedthe formalities
of EL auction and issued
NIT. Perhaps this haste
cost them. EL’s auction
for two blocks of rare
earth elements and one
block of potash is in
trouble. The department
cancelled the auction cit-
ing rule 19E (11).
First India Bureau
Jaipur
Inabidtopromotecharac-
terbuildingthroughsports
and contribute to nation-
building, the Rajasthan
chapter of the sports or-
ganization “Krida Bharti”
organized an annual dis-
cussion on the topic of
“Doping in Sports: Prob-
lems and Solutions” at
Maharshi Narad Sabha
Ghar, Pathey Bhawan,
Malviya Nagar, Jaipur.
Regional Coordinator
of Krida Bharti, Megh
SinghChauhan,highlight-
ed the widespread influ-
ence of doping in district-
level competitions. De-
spitethecontinuousefforts
of agencies like NADA
and WADA, instances of
doping persist, emphasiz-
ing the need to prioritize
fair play and merit-based
competition. The event’s
chief guest, Prof. Arjun
Singh Rana, announced
that students coming to
study at the Swarnim Gu-
jarat Sports University on
behalfofKridaBhartiwill
not be charged any fees.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
In a significant develop-
ment related to investiga-
tion in the fake NOC for
organ transplant case,
Assistant Administrative
Officer Gaurav Singh
was brought to the SMS
Hospital on Sunday
evening for carrying out
further inquiry.
Police team conducted
thorough verification of
various locations, includ-
ing the organ transplant
record room, associated
with Gaurav Singh’s ac-
tivities. The movement
of Gaurav Singh, in con-
nection with his official
duties, has been meticu-
lously tracked at all rele-
vant places.
During this operation,
detailed mapping and
verification have been
carried out by the team at
every location linked to
accused.NotablyJawahar
CirclePolicehadobtained
production warrants for
three accused individuals
involved in organ trans-
plant fake NOC case from
the court on Friday.
ACMM-8, Amit Kumar
Sharma, had issued war-
rants for the arrest of
Sawai Man Singh Hospi-
tal’s Gaurav Singh and
Fortis Hospital’s organ
coordinators Vinod Singh
and Giriraj Sharma after
which,onSunday,Gaurav
Singh was brought to the
SMS hospital.
Injured woman is a doctor who works in Gujarat, she had filed dowry harassment case
Husband injures wife with an axe in Sirohi
Ashok Kumawat
Sirohi
Awoman was on her way
from the hospital to Rail-
way Colony in Sirohi dis-
trict when her husband
suddenly assaulted her
with an axe. The woman
sustained injuries to her
head, shoulders, and
other areas. She was ad-
mitted to a government
hospital. There is a
schism between the
woman and her hus-
band, which has result-
ed in the couple living
apart for almost 7 years.
He chased her till he
reached the train station’s
overbridge and suddenly
hit her. The injured wom-
an is a doctor who works
at a private hospital in
Gujarat. Dr. Lajwanti
Mahawar had already
filed dowry harassment
and assault charges
against her husband.
Chandra Prakash, her
husband, threatened her
in Abu Road court last
Wednesday.A report has
been lodged in the GRP
police station regarding
the matter.
Transport commissioner instructs
officials to clear HSRP pendency
Shivendra Singh Parmar
Jaipur
Transport Commissioner
Manisha Arora chaired a
meeting via VC to review
all RTOs. She expressed
dissatisfaction over pend-
ing installations of High
Security Registration
Plates (HSRP) directed
for their swift completion.
It’s noteworthy that in
Rajasthan, it has become
mandatory to install
HSRP on vehicles pur-
chased before April 1,
2019. Prior toApril 2019,
tampering with the num-
ber plates was relatively
easy. However, after the
installation of High Secu-
rity Number Plates, such
tampering would become
nearly impossible.
Feedback was also
sought regarding the im-
plementation of the E-DL
(Electronic Driving Li-
cense) and E-RC (Elec-
tronic Registration Cer-
tificate) schemes.
The number of tigers
and other wild
animals will be
calculated using the
water pit method by
forest dept officials
Action on drugs
Operation against
illegal drugs lab
in Jodhpur’s Osian
The lab was on
radar of NCB since
last three months
The house in Osian, where the drug lab was built. A medical store was being operated outside this.
13 PEOPLE WERE HELD
ON SATURDAY
Notably, the raids
were conducted by
the Gujarat ATS and
Narcotics Control Bureau
jointly on Friday after ATS
received a tip-off that Ahmed-
abad resident Manoharlal
Enani Kuldeepsinh Rajpu-
rohit of Rajasthan had set up
mephedrone manufacturing
units, the official said. 13
persons have been arrested
after seizure of mephedrone
valued at Rs 230 crore.
Manisha Arora
CRIMEBRANCHIDHACKED
BYCLASS10PASSOUT
CYBERCRIMINALOFUP
Jaipur: Saurabh
Sahu, a 10th
pass person from
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh,
has caused uproar after
breaching Rajasthan Police’s
Crime Branch email system.
Exploiting the compromised
account, he resorted to
blackmail, using obtained Call
Detail Records (CDRs). The
fallout saw numerous indi-
viduals’ bank accounts frozen
following fraudulent emails
sent to banks under the guise
of police correspondence.
Numerous Bollywood actors
and politicians’ personal
information was also stolen.
Recently, a gentleman ap-
proached Jaipur Police and
stated that his bank account
was frozen. Rajasthan Police
have declared a reward of
Rs 50 thousand for his ap-
prehension. An investigation
also revealed that in order to
get people’s sensitive infor-
mation, illegal notices were
delivered using phony police
officer seals and signatures.
The Cyber Crime police
station in Jaipur is now
handling the case.
MAN HELD FOR GIVING
DEATH THREATS TO
TRADER, SEEKING `20L
Sadulpur: Police
have arrested a
man for demanding
a ransom of Rs 20 lakh
from a businessman and
threatening to murder a
family member and pay
double the ransom amount
if he informed the police.
Police registered the case
after the businessman
reported the matter on April
20. A team was formed un-
der the direction of District
Superintendent of Police
Jai Yadav and accused
Sikandar Khan (28) was
arrested. Police station
said that the accused used
Kuwait’s mobile number to
threaten a local business-
man. “Records of contacts
with different mobile com-
panies and data centres
were obtained by the team
and technical evidence was
collected. After connecting
the dots, it was revealed
that the said number is
hosted by an Internet Data
Server Company which
is based in Kolkata and
Ranchi and head office
in Dubai. Sanjay Prajapat
IN A TRAGIC INCIDENT A COACHING STUDENT FROM
HARYANA ENDS LIFE BY HANGING IN KOTA
Kota: The deceased student has been identified
as Sumit, a resident of Haryana. Sumit, who was
preparing for medical
exams, lived in Landmark City
area of Kota. The Kunhari
Police Station has launched
an investigation into matter to
ascertain circumstances lead-
ing to suicide. This unfortunate
incident once again sheds light on mental health challenges
faced by students in the competitive coaching hub of Kota.
ACTIONPLANNEDAGAINST
VEHICLESTRANSPORTING
SINGLEUSEPLASTIC
Jaipur: To discour-
age single-use
plastic the Transport
Department will now take
action against single-use
plastic. Transport Commis-
sioner Manisha Arora issued
directives during a meeting
conducted via video confer-
encing. Vehicles transporting
single-use plastic will now be
identified. Challans will be
issued strictly against such
vehicles. The Commissioner
issued directives to halt the
transportation of single-use
plastic. Such strict action will
help in less use of single use
plastic in the State.
MAN WHO KILLED OWN BROTHER, DUMPED BODY IN
A PROPERTY DISPUTE, HELD WITH HIS ACCOMPLICE
Todabhim: In Varti village, Police disclosed the
case of murder of a real brother over a property
dispute and detained two accused. The arrest of
Kamal, deceased’s brother and cousin Rajesh Kumar,
has been successful. Ac-
cording to DSP Murarilal
Meena, on April 15, the
dead Naval was carried
by his cousin Rajesh and
Kamal on motorcycle from
house to the tube well
established in the field. The
accused hit him with sticks
and stones. Following that,
both suspects carried the
injured Naval to Jaipur, where he died on route. Follow-
ing that, both accused escaped, leaving the dead body
in the car and dumping it in a valley near Balaji. The
police arrested the main accused, Rajesh and Kamal
and the motorcycle was seized.
CRIME
ROUNDUP
Bharat Gaurav train to connect
Raj with major religious sites
First India Bureau
Jaipur
Indian Railway Cater-
ing andTourism Corpo-
ration (IRCTC) will run
trains for Puri, Gan-
gasagar and Ayodhya
Dham Yatra. The train
will depart from
Udaipur on May 17 and
take passengers from
Chittorgarh, Bhilwara,
Ajmer and Jaipur. The
duration of yatra is 12
days, which includes
JagannathDhaminPuri,
Sun Temple of Konark,
Gangasagar Tirtha, Kali
GhatTempleofKolkata,
BaidhnathDhaminJasi-
dih, Mahabodhi Temple
Vishnupad Temple in
Gaya, Kashi Vishwa-
nathTempleinVaranasi.
Ganga Aarti event and
other local temples and
various important Sana-
tani religious places like
the newly constructed
Ramlala Temple and
HanumangarhiTirtha in
Ayodhya will also be
covered in the yatra.
IRCTC Joint General
ManagerYogendra Sin-
gh Gurjar said that the
Bharat Gaurav Tourist
Train is fully equipped
with class III air-condi-
tioned passenger bo-
gies. The journey is di-
vided into two catego-
ries ‘Standard Catego-
ry’ ‘Comfort Catego-
ry’. The price of stand-
ard category has been
kept at Rs 26, 660 in
which covers AC train,
non-AC accommoda-
tion and non-AC buses.
The price of comfort
category is Rs 31,975,
under which facility of
AC will be available.
14TRAINSCANCELLEDAMIDFARMERS’STIR
Due to the ongoing farmers’ protest in Pun-
jab, North Western Railways has changed
the routes of many trains and 14 trains
were cancelled on Sunday. Of these, four are from
Rajasthan. Besides, routes of 10 trains have been
changed. Chief Public Relations Officer of North
Western Railway, Captain Shashi Kiran said that the
train from Sriganganagar to Rishikesh will remain
cancelled on Sunday. “The decision to cancel the
trains has been taken for the safety of passengers,”
he said. According to the railways, the longer the
movement continues, problems for the passengers
are likely to increase. Due to farmers’ movement,
passengers are not getting the full benefit of summer
special trains and the passenger load in trains will
reduce only after the movement ends.
MAN'S BODY FOUND
NEAR POLICE STATION
IN JAIPUR, PROBE ON
Jaipur: The body of a man bearing multiple injury marks was found on a hand cart near
a police station in Jaipur on Sunday morning, officials said. The body was spotted by
morning walkers near the Kanota trijunction here, close to the Kanota police junction,
they said. The deceased has been identified as Brijmohan, according to police. The
body has been shifted to mortuary and the matter is being probed, the official said.

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RAJASTHAN 05
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ARTISTIC DEVOTION
18-ft-tall Kali idol to be sent from Jaipur to Kerala
PTI
Jaipur
he famed Ra-
jasthan marbles
are all set to go
into the history books as
an 18.5-feet-tall Kali idol
carved out of a single
marble stone is all set to
be sent from Jaipur to
Pournamikavu Temple in
Thiruvananthapuram.
Carved by famous
Jaipur-based sculptor
Mukesh Bhardwaj, a sin-
gle marble stone 30x20
feet weighing 45-50
tonnes from Bhainslana
in Rajasthan, was turned
into the exquisite idol
that will be installed be-
side 12-ft-tall idols of
goddesses Durga and
Raja Madhanghi Devi at
the temple in Kerala.
The Kali idol stood at
23 feet after including the
‘peedam’.
“The installation cere-
mony of Goddess Kali
idol and that of goddesses
Durga and Lakshmi will
be akin to the Ram temple
pran prathishtha ceremo-
ny, albeit it will be the
abode of powerful and
revered Hindu goddess-
es,” said temple chief cu-
rator M S Bhuvanachan-
dran, claiming it was the
tallest idol carved out of
a single marble stone.
The Pournamikavu
Temple, dedicated to
Goddess Bala Thripura
Sundari Devi, is re-
nowned for housing the
world’s largest panch-
mukhi Ganesha idol and
51 ‘Akshara Devathas’.
Workers load an 18.5-feet-tall Goddess Kali idol, carved by sculptor Mukesh Bhardwaj, into a trailer
for its transportation to Thiruvananthapuram’s Pournamikavu Temple, in Jaipur, on Sunday.
Idols are also being
sent from Jaipur to
temples in Chavadi
Nada, Venganur,
Thiruvananthapuram,
in Kerala
T
NGTallegesmisuseofDMFTfund,
seeksresponsefromMineraldept
It is alleged that only 55% of DMFT fund was utilised
Environmental Concerns
Nirmal Tiwari
Bhilwara
National Green Tribunal
Central Zonal Bench
Bhopal has taken a strict
stance on the issue of
District Mineral Fund not
being utilized properly in
mining affected areas as
per rules.
While registering a PIL
filed by Bhilwara based
environmentalist Babulal
Jaju through advocate
Deeksha Chaturvedi, the
bench of Justice Shivku-
mar Singh and expert
memberDr.AfrozAhmed
issued notices to Chief
Secy, Principal Secy
Mineral Resources De-
partment, Member Secre-
tary Rajasthan State Pol-
lution Control Mandal
and other officers and
sought response.
Jaju said in the petition
that the objective of the
DMFT fund is to address
the socio-economic chal-
lengesfacedbycommuni-
ties living in mining-af-
fected areas. A sum of Rs
19,000 crore has been col-
lected nationally through
the DMF scheme since
2015 and only 55% of it
has been utilised.
Petitionerinformed that
Rs 6,000 cr in Rajasthan
are deposited in the
DMFT fund. He said that
in Bhilwara every year,
about Rs 300 cr comes
into fund from mining
royalty, which is being
spent against the rules
due to political reasons.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
Women forest guards
would play a significant
role in promoting tour-
ism in Ranthambore.
Anup KR, Field Direc-
tor, has taken a novel ini-
tiative of patrolling the
tourist sector of Tiger
Park using female forest
guards.
These female guards
would keep an eye on
tourist vehicles and
whether or not the drivers
and guides are wearing
uniforms. Whether they
are driving on the desig-
nated path, whether the
tourist vehicle is keeping
a safe distance from the
wildlife, and whether any
noise or non-environ-
mental items are being
used inside the park
among other rules to be
followed.
These female guards
will also verify whether
the vehicles have the re-
quired zone number
plates and whether the
tourists have valid tick-
ets. Based on the feed-
back given by the female
guards, tourism manage-
ment will also be planned
and tracking monitoring
will also be better.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
Amber Fort, a prominent
tourist destination in Jai-
pur, is renowned for its
majestic elephant rides,
offering visitors an en-
chanting experience.
However, with the onset
of summer, there’s a
change in the schedule
for these rides.
Starting May 1, the el-
ephant rides will be
available from 7 AM to
10 AM, catering to early
morning enthusiasts
seeking to explore the
fort in the pleasant
weather.
During the months of
May and June, the tim-
ings will remain the
same, providing ample
opportunity for tourists
to enjoy the ride during
the cooler hours of the
morning. From July to
September, amidst the
monsoon season, the tim-
ings will be extended un-
til 11 AM. Dr. Rakesh
Cholak, the Superinten-
dent of Amber Fort, en-
sured visitors are well-
informed about the re-
vised schedule.
Puneet Chaturvedi
Dungarpur
Rajasthan Assembly
Speaker Vasudev Dev-
nani has said that Bharat
Vikas Parishad is the
bearer of ideological rev-
olution. It is also a major
centre that inspires to
serve the society, prov-
ince and country. Dev-
nani was addressing the
assuming charge cere-
mony of Bharat Vikas
Parishad held at Vijaya-
raje Scindia Auditorium
in Dungarpur on Sunday.
He congratulated the of-
ficials who took charge
in the new executive.
Devnani said that
Bharat Vikas Parishad,
made up of three words,
is a completely inclusive
organization.
“This organization in-
culcates humanity and
also promotes Indian
values and traditions.
This centre is also a
major centre that in-
spires the expression of
Indian energy and the
protection of the dignity
of the individual and the
unity of the country,”
Speaker Devnani said.
Naresh Sharma
Dungarpur
Notice has been issued to
Congress MLA Ganesh
Ghoghra from Dungar-
pur by Congress state in-
charge Sukhjinder Singh
Randhawa citing non-
compliance of party in-
structions in Lok Sabha
elections. An ultimatum
has also been given that
strict action would be
taken against him if no
response is received
within seven days.
After fielding Con-
gress candidate from
Banswara Lok Sabha
seat, the party agreed to
support BAP. But he did
not withdraw his nomi-
nation. Ghoghra did not
attend any rally of the
BAP candidate under the
alliance. On April 24,
Randhawa and state pres-
ident Dotasra also held a
public meeting in Kuna
but Ghoghra did not
reach there as well.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
Hundreds of Haj pilgrims
from Rajasthan will go to
Mecca and Medina in
Saudi Arabia this year.
Under this, the Haj pil-
grims are also being vac-
cinated before their con-
voy departs.
A Haj training and
vaccination camp was
organized today at Kay-
amkhani Hostel in Did-
wana district in which
male and female Haj pil-
grims from many villag-
es of Didwana took part.
State Haj Committee
member Abdul Hakeem
Khan, District coordina-
tor of Haj Committee
Mainuddin Shaikh, Sha-
keel Ahmed Kuchaman,
Syed Naeemuddin, Ab-
dul Hameed Samnigar,
Manwar Usmani gave
detailed information
about the essential rituals
to be followed for the Haj
pilgrimage.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
After a bout of rain and
hailstorms in Rajasthan,
the weather has cleared
up. Except for Jaipur, Bi-
kaner, Sriganganagar,
and Hanumangarh, the
sky is presently clear in
the remaining cities. The
temperature is still vari-
able, but the heat will
increase beginning in the
first week of May.
On Sunday, light
clouds were observed in
several districts of the
state, resulting in a de-
crease in temperature. It
is worth noting that the
highest temperature was
recorded in Alwar-Dhol-
pur district, where the
maximum temperature
during the day was noted
at 40.2 degrees Celsius.
In Jalore, Barmer, Karau-
li, and Kota, the tempera-
ture was recorded at 39
degrees Celsius.
Radheshyam Sharma,
Director of the Meteoro-
logical Center in Jaipur,
predicted that a minor
western disturbance
would be active in west-
ern Rajasthan. This sys-
tem will not bring rain.
Representational
Ganesh Ghoghra
Tourists cover themselves in the scorching heat at old city area in Jaipur on Sunday. NAIM KHAN
Vasudev Devnani speaking during the event at Vijayaraje
Scindia Auditorium in Dungarpur on Sunday.
Women gurads to patrol
Ranthambore Tiger Park
Summer timing: Elephant rides
at Amber Fort from 7 to 10 am
Devnani hails BVP as vanguard
of ideological revolution in India
Clearskiesacrossmostcities,heatwaveexpectedinMay CongressnoticetoMLA
foranti-partyactivities
Cow trafficking:
19 found dead,
cops rescue rest
Closed Cambay
resort becomes
‘home’ for wildlife
First India Bureau
Jhalawar
In a significant crack-
down against cow smug-
glers, theAsnawar police
station in Jhalawar dis-
trict took action by inter-
cepting a container in-
volved in cattle traffick-
ing. The container was
carrying 56 cows, out of
which 19 had already
died due to suffocation.
During the operation,
both the driver and his ac-
complice fled the scene.
The police have seized
the container, while the
rescued cows have been
handed over to cow shel-
ter. Asnawar police had
set up a checkpoint on
NH-52 near Akatsa.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
The closed Cambay Golf
Resort has become home
of black panthers and
leopards. Earlier, leop-
ards had been rescued
from here in September
2020 and April 2023.
Now, once again leop-
ards have been spotted in
the resort. Wildlife from
Silvian park forest block
often strays into this
abandoned resort. Dinesh
Chaudhary, Yashpal
Sharma, Shubham Saini,
Dayal Gurjar saw the
leopard and Shubham
shared the video of the
leopard with First India.
The resort has become
home to wildlife.
Raj Haj pilgrims prep
for journey to Mecca
There is a chance of
dusty wind in Bikaner
division during next 2
days, rest of the areas
are set to see rise in
temperatures
FILE
FILE
FILE

INDIA 06
MASSIVE FINANCING BOOST
AdaniConneX raises $1.44bn from 8 banks
PTI
New Delhi
daniConneX, a
joint venture
equally owned
byAdani Enterprises and
EdgeConneX that is
building data centres, se-
cured India’s largest sus-
tainability-linked financ-
ing arrangement, raising
up to USD 1.44 billion
(around Rs 11,520 crore),
the company said on
Sunday.
Adani Enterprises Ltd,
the flagship of billionaire
Gautam Adani-run con-
glomerate, is investing
around USD 1.5 billion
on its fledgling data cen-
tre business in the next
three years. Its joint ven-
ture with EdgeConnex
plans to build nine data
centres with a total ca-
pacity of 1 gigawatt by
2030 to provide infra-
structure for the booming
digital services demand.
In a statement, the firm
said the “financing has an
initial commitment of
USD 875 million, with
an accordion feature to
extend commitment up to
USD 1.44 billion.”
“The transaction ele-
vates AdaniConneX’s
construction financing
pool to USD 1.65 billion,
building on the maiden
construction facility of
USD 213 million execut-
ed in June 2023,” it said.
AdaniConnex, which
has only one operational
data centre in Chennai so
far, has completed almost
two-thirds of the con-
struction in the Noida
and Hyderabad facilities.
“The sustainability-
linked financing rein-
forces AdaniConneX’s
commitment towards
driving a safety-first cul-
ture, delivering world-
class Power Usage Effec-
tiveness (PUE) by adopt-
ing global best practices,
and leveraging renewa-
ble energy resources,” it
added.
AdaniConnex, which
has only one
operational data
centre in Chennai, has
completed two-thirds
of the construction in
the Noida
A
INDIAblochas‘inventednew
formula’forgovtformation:PM
PTI
Davangere (Karnataka)
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Sunday claimed
that the INDIA bloc has
come up with a “formu-
la” under which the par-
ties in the opposition al-
liance will get the PM’s
post for one year each, in
case they come to power.
“With such a system,
the good of the country
cannot be expected,” PM
Modi said at an election
rally here, as he urged
the people not to waste
their vote.
“I have heard that the
INDI Alliance has in-
vented a new formula...
if the country has to be
given into someone’s
hands, we will think be-
fore giving it or not?
Will you give it to any-
one? We will think
whether the person is
able to handle the coun-
try or not, the track re-
cord will be analysed or
not?” Modi asked the
people.
Questioning the IN-
DIA bloc on which per-
son or leader among
them the people could
hand over the country’s
responsibilities to, he
asked, “Is there any
name? Will you accept
without any name, keep-
ing you in the darkness?
Will the country accept
it?”
He claimed, “So they
(INDIAbloc) have come
up with a formula, to
make everyone happy.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP leaders B.S. Yediyurappa and Jagadish Shettar during a
public meeting for Lok Sabha elections, in Belagavi, Sunday.
7 AMONG 12 SITTING
MLAS TO CONTEST LS
POLLS FROM JHARKHAND
Ranchi: Intrigu-
ing dynamics in
Jharkhand’s political
landscape has come to the
fore in the wake of the can-
didate lists that have been
finalised by the state’s ruling
INDIA bloc and its prime
opposition, the BJP. While
the INDIA alliance has opted
for continuity by nominating
seven sitting legislators, the
BJP has chosen three MLAs
as candidates across the
state’s 14 Lok Sabha con-
stituencies. These decisions
underscore a combination
of factors, including trust in
incumbent representatives
and a perceived shortage of
viable contenders. Interest-
ingly, two sitting legislators
from the Jharkhand Mukti
Morcha (JMM) have decided
to contest independently,
reflecting potential internal
discord within the party.
Shah:Choicebtw‘thosewhoshotat
karsevakswhobuiltRamtemple’
PTI
Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh)
Union Home Minister
Amit Shah on Sunday hit
out at the opposition for
keeping the Ram temple
issue “hanging” and said
the public has to choose
between “those who
opened fire at karsevaks
and those who built the
Ram temple.”
Shah made these re-
marks at a public rally in
support of Rajveer Singh,
the BJP candidate from
Etah-Kasganj in Uttar
Pradesh.
Attacking opposition
party leaders for not at-
tending the Ram temple
consecration ceremony,
Shah said, “The people
who did not go to the
consecration ceremony,
they know that they are
the people who shot at
karsevaks.”
He asserted that there
are two groups to choose
from, “one that fired
shots at Ram bhakts and
one that built the Ram
temple”.
“The Congress, Rahul
‘baba’ and the party of
Akhilesh Yadav (Sama-
jwadi Party) kept the
Ram temple issue
hanging for more than 70
years. You made Modi ji
the PM for a second time
and he did ‘Jai Shri Ram’
by doing the consecra-
tion ceremony on
January 22,” Amit Shah
said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a public meeting for Lok Sabha elections, in Etah, Sunday.
Mamata Banerjee’s
govt has sympathy
for terrorists: Nadda
‘India unstoppable under ‘visionary’ PM Modi’
Agencies
Ahmedabad
Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh on Sun-
day said that with a vi-
sionary leader like PM
Narendra Modi, India is
unstoppable on its path to
becoming the third larg-
est economy. “What does
Congress have? They
lack a leader, policy, and
intent,” he remarked.
In contrast, the defence
minister cited data from
the IMF indicating a re-
duction in poverty rates
under PM Modi’s leader-
ship, with a promise to
eradicate poverty within
the next 5-10 years.
In Surat, the BJP’s
candidate won
unop’posed, according to
the minister, a testament
to the party’s strength.
Singh also accused Con-
gress of undermining fun-
damentalrightsduringthe
Emergency and of fre-
quently misusing Article
356 to dismiss state govts.
PTI
Baharampur/Ranaghat
BJP president J P Nadda
on Sunday alleged that
Trinamool Congress su-
premo Mamata Banerjee
desires a central govern-
ment that is “soft on ter-
rorism” and believes in
appeasement.
“We want a ‘Majboot
Sarkar’ (strong govern-
ment), but Mamata Ba-
nerjee desires a ‘Majboor
Sarkar’ (weak govern-
ment). She aims for a
government in Delhi that
condones appeasement,
corruption, discrimina-
tion, and sympathises
with terrorists,” he al-
leged.
“On the contrary, Modi
ji’s ‘Majboot Sarkar’ be-
lieves in development,
prosperity, national secu-
rity, and responds to ter-
rorism with surgical
strikes,” Nadda asserted.
J.P. Nadda during a public meeting for Lok Sabha elections, at
Ranaghat in Nadia district, Sunday.
‘BJP GOVT POLITICISING
PROBE AGENCIES JUST
LIKE CONG EARLIER’
Morena: Bahujan
Samaj Party chief
Mayawati on Sunday
claimed the BJP was
politicising probe agen-
cies just like the Congress
earlier and asserted poverty
and unemployment had in-
creased in the country in the
last two years. Addressing
a LS poll rally, the former
Uttar Pradesh chief minister
claimed it would not be easy
for the Bharatiya Janata
Party to win if “free and fair”
elections are held and there
is no “tampering” of EVMs.
“It seems the BJP has politi-
cised investigation agencies
just like the Congress earlier.
The BJP govt has also failed
to check poverty, unemploy-
ment and prices, all of which
have risen in the past two
years The Centre is giving
rations to the extremely poor
but the solution is creating
employment,” she said.
‘BJP’S MANIFESTO GUARANTEES DEVELOPED INDIA’
Ahmedabad: The BJP’s ‘sankalp patra’ (manifesto) for
the 2024 LS polls is a concrete guarantee of a new,
capable and developed India whereas the one issued by
the Congress is divisive and is inspired by appeasement politics,
Rajnath Singh said on Sunday. The Congress failed to eradicate
poverty during its long rule, while the Narendra Modi govt man-
aged to get 25 crore citizens out of poverty in the past 8-9 years,
Singh said. “The Congress lacks leadership, policy and intention
to take the country forward. The BJP govt is committed to bring
India among the top three economies by 2027,” he claimed.
K’takagovtsetsupSIT
toprobe‘sexscandal
Bengaluru: The
Congress-led
Karnataka govt has formed
a (SIT) to probe a sex
scandal allegedly involving
sitting Hassan MP and JD-S
candidate from the seat,
Prajwal Revanna. The
polling for the Hassan
parliamentary seat was held
on April 26. The develop-
ment is likely to stir a huge
controversy in the state.
8pcwomencontested
first2phasesofLSpolls
New Delhi: Women
constituted only eight
per cent of the total 2,823
candidates in the first two
phases of the LS elections,
with political activists saying
it reflects a deeper issue of
gender bias and that talk of
women’s empowerment
rings hollow.There were 135
women candidates in the
first phase of the elections
100 in the 2nd phase.
‘BJPaimsfor400seats
toalterconstitution’
Mumbai: Nationalist
Congress Party (SP)
chief Sharad Pawar on
Sunday said the BJP wants
to win 400-plus seats in the
2024 LS polls in order to
make changes in the
Constitution. Pawar said
this year’s general election
is different from earlier ones
since it will decide “by which
method the country will
work”.
TMCworkerkilledin
‘factionalfighting’
Kolkata, Apr 28 (PTI)
A Trinamool Congress
worker has been killed,
while a local BJP leader has
been seriously injured in
separate incidents in
Kolkata, police said on
Sunday. TMC worker
Sanjeev Das, who was also
known as Potla, was killed
in Baguiati area allegedly in
a clash between two
factions of the party, a
police officer said.
CRUCIAL READ
Modi runs govt for billionaires,
Patnaik for select few: RaGa
PTI
Cuttack
Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi on Sunday al-
leged that while PM Nar-
endra Modi runs a gov-
ernment for billionaires
from Delhi, CM Naveen
Patnaik leads a dispensa-
tion that works for “se-
lect people” in Odisha.
Addressing an election
rally in Cuttack’s Sa-
lepur, Gandhi claimed
that though the BJD and
BJP were fighting the
electoral battle against
each other, in reality, they
were working together.
Taking a dig at Pat-
naik, Gandhi said that
though he was the chief
minister, the BJD gov-
ernment in the state was
being run by his aide VK
Pandian.
In an apparent refer-
ence to PM Modi, Gan-
dhi said, “Uncle-ji and
Naveen-babu have given
Odisha PAANN, mean-
ing Pandian, Amit Shah,
Narendra Modi, Naveen
Patnaik. They have loot-
ed your wealth.”
Rahul Gandhi during a public meeting for Lok Sabha elections,
in Cuttack district, Sunday.
‘Using fake surname for votes’:
MP CM targets Priyanka Gandhi
PTI
Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Mohan Yadav
has hit out at Congress
general secretary Priyan-
ka Gandhi Vadra, claim-
ing “fake” Gandhis were
using their surname for
votes. Yadav was speak-
ing at a public rally in
Myana town of Madhya
Pradesh’s Guna Lok Sab-
ha seat on Saturday.
During a campaign
speech in Rajasthan on
April 22, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said the
Congress plans to give
people’s hard-earned
money and valuables to
“infiltrators” and “those
who have more children’’
-- alluding to Muslims --
and would steal the “gold
of mothers and sisters” if
voted to power.
Priyanka Gandhi later
lashed out at Modi over
his “gold and man-
galsutra” remarks, saying
her mother Sonia Gandhi
sacrificed her ‘man-
galsutra’ for the country.
Taking a dig at the
Congress general secre-
tary, Yadav said former
prime minister Jawahar-
lal Nehru’s soul must be
“shedding tears” over a
(great) granddaughter
born in the family who
does not even wear ‘man-
galsutra’.
“In our case, as soon as
the daughter gets mar-
ried, she is given the sur-
name which is applicable
there (at in-laws’house),”
he said. But these “vote-
hungry people” are for-
getting their surname for
the sake of votes and us-
ing Gandhi surname even
today, the CM said.
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav addressing a pubic rally in
Myana town of Madhya Pradesh’s Guna LS seat on Sunday.
Yogi Adityanath criticises
SP’s candidate changes
Agencies
Budaun (UP)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Min-
ister Yogi Adityanath
said on Sunday that the
Samajwadi Party (SP)
has become a joke of the
Lok Sabha elections by
changing its candidates
again and again which
proves that they have ac-
cepted defeat even before
the battle is over.
He said that those who
challenge the power of
God are certain to fall.
He said that Congress
is working on a hidden
agenda against the coun-
try.
“The previous Prime
Minister used to hesitate
in going to Ayodhya.
Modi ji is the first Prime
Minister who visited
Ram Janmabhoomi in
Ayodhya and also in-
stalled Ram Lalla in the
grand temple after 500
years,” he said.
Yogi Adityanath during a public
meeting in Etah district, Sunday.

www.firstindia.co.in firstindia.co.in/epapers/jaipur thefirstindia thefirstindia thefirstindia
07
ISRO CHIEF INTERACTS VIA INSTA
Pvt players will make space more accessible
PTI
Bengaluru
rivate players in
space technolo-
gy will certain-
ly help speed up the re-
search in the field, Indian
Space Research Organi-
sation chairman S Som-
anath has said while in-
teracting with space en-
thusiasts, through the
official Instagram page
of ISRO.
Replying to an obser-
vation that SpaceX, a pri-
vate entity, has contrib-
uted more to space tech-
nology than most coun-
tries, Somanath on Satur-
day said America’s tradi-
tion of encouraging pri-
vate companies to in-
volve themselves in
building rocket engines
and, in the case of
SpaceX, to explore hu-
man flight vehicles can
be replicated by India.
He said these compa-
nies are playing a crucial
role in advancing tech-
nology, reducing costs
and making space more
accessible.
It is possible for even
private companies in In-
dia to develop these
kinds of capabilities, he
added. However, he said
this is only possible if the
government supports the
private entity, “For in-
stance, some of the tech-
nology that is owned by
NASA is transferred to
Space X so that they
could develop faster.
This is why SpaceX has
made such strides, it had
nearly 45 launches this
year,” said Somanath.
He said already there
are two companies work-
ing in India – Skyroot
Aerospace and Agnikul
Cosmos. “We are all ex-
cited to see India going
this way. These compa-
nies have already tested
launch vehicles. It is an
interesting develop-
ment,” said the ISRO
chairman.Answering a
question on Chan-
drayaan-4, Somanath
also shared an update on
India’s next moon mis-
sion. According to him,
Chandrayaan-4 mission
is being developed as a
continuation of the Chan-
drayaan series.
“PM Modi has an-
nounced that India in-
tends to land on the moon
in 2040. To achieve this
goal, continuous moon
exploration is necessary.
Chandrayaan-4 will be
the first step towards this
objective. The mission
aims to send a craft to the
moon, collect samples,
and bring them back to
Earth,” he added.
ISRO chairman S Somanath
P
First India Bureau
Ahmedabad
Will Jacks slammed a
sensational hundred
while Virat Kohli upped
his game in the middle
overs as Royal Challeng-
ers Bengaluru outplayed
Gujarat Titans by nine
wickets in the IPL here
on Sunday.
Kohli (70 not out of
44), whose approach in
the middle overs was
questioned in the previ-
ous game, employed
the sweep shot
against the spin-
ners to make a
statement before
Jacks (100 not
out off 41) cut loose to
gun down the 201-run
target with as many 24
balls to spare.
Jacks went berserk in
what turned out be the
final over of the game,
hammering as many as
four sixes and four off
Rashid Khan to close out
the game much sooner
than expected. The Eng-
lishman plundered as
many as 10 sixes in his
breathtaking effort.
Put in to bat, Shah-
rukh Khan (58 off 30)
had made full use of his
promotion in the batting
order while Sai Sudhar-
san (84 not out off 49)
stayed till the end to
guide Gujarat Titans to
200 for three.
Kohli,JackspowerRCBtocomfortablewin
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Mohammed Siraj celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket
of Gujarat Titans’ M Shahrukh Khan during the IPL match in Ahmedabad, Sunday. PTI
Though RCB remain alive in playoff race, they are still at bottom of the points table with just 3 victories in 10 matches
WILL JACKS
HAMMERS SECOND-
FASTEST IPL
HUNDRED FOR RCB
New Delhi: Will
Jacks starred
with a historic
hundred in Match 45
of the IPL on Sun-
day. He scored an
unbeaten 100 off 41
balls as RCB chased
down 201 in just 16
overs. Will Jacks, who
hammered five bound-
aries and 10 sixes,
slammed the second-
fastest ton for RCB.
Jacks joined opener
Virat Kohli (70*) in the
middle after Faf du
Plessis (24) departed
early. The English-
man played the
second-fiddle in the
partnership early on
before going absolutely
berserk. While Will
Jacks took 30 deliver-
ies to complete his fifty,
his next 50 runs came
off just 10 balls.
Gaikwad guides CSK to easy
78-run win against Hyderabad
Agencies
Chennai
Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad
missed his second suc-
cessive IPL century by a
whisker, while pacers
Tushar Deshpande and
Matheesha Pathirana dec-
imated the Sunrisers Hy-
derabad batting as Chen-
nai Super Kings won
their IPL home game by
78 runs here on Sunday.
AfterGaikwadscoreda
54-ball 98 and shared a
107-run partnership with
Daryl Mitchell (52) to
giveCSKahealthy212/3,
Deshpande (4/27) and Sri
Lankan (2/17) came up
with match-winning
bowlingfigurestodismiss
SRHfor134in18.5overs.
US urge non-violence in
pro-Palestinian protests
The protests, which originated in New York, have quickly spread to other universities nationwide.
Agencies
New Delhi
TheWhite House on Sun-
day emphasized that pro-
Palestinian demonstra-
tions that have swept
across US universities in
recent weeks must re-
main non-violent, follow-
ing the arrest of approxi-
mately 275 individuals
on four different cam-
puses over the weekend.
National Security
Council spokesman John
Kirby,speakingonABC’s
ThisWeek, said, “We cer-
tainly respect the right of
peaceful protests.” How-
ever, he also added, “We
absolutely condemn the
anti-Semitism language
that we’ve heard of late
and certainly condemn all
the hate speech and the
threats of violence out
there.” The protests,
which originated at Co-
lumbia University in
New York, have quickly
spread to other universi-
ties nationwide.
Protests continue at colleges across the US Can't become
CEO in America if
you aren't Indian,
says US Envoy
Agencies
New Delhi
US Ambassador to India
Eric Garcetti heaped
praise on In-
dian IT and
other profes-
sionals, as-
pirants land-
ing dream
jobs in top US compa-
nies. He said that today
there is a situation where-
in one in 10 CEOs of For-
tune 500 companies now
is an Indian immigrant
who studied in the US.
“The old joke was you
could not become a CEO
in the US if you are Indi-
an, now the joke is you
cannot become a CEO in
America if you are not In-
dian,whetheritisGoogle,
Microsoft or Starbucks,
people have come and
made a big difference,” he
joked. Invariably, the sit-
uation that Eric talked
about finds ground in the
large number of aspirants
and students pursuing all
kinds of studies at Amer-
ican universities.
Russia threatens West with severe response
Agencies
Kyiv
Russian officials threat-
ened the West on Sunday
with a “severe” response
in the event that frozen
Russian assets are confis-
cated, promising “end-
less” legal challenges
and tit-for-tat measures.
Russian Foreign Min-
istry spokeswoman Ma-
ria Zakharova said Rus-
sia would never cede
territories seized from
Ukraine in exchange for
the return of frozen as-
sets. “Our motherland is
not for sale,” Zakharova
wrote on the Telegram
messaging app. “An
Russian assets must re-
main untouched because
otherwise there will be a
severe response to West-
ern thievery. Many in the
West have already un-
derstood this. Alas, not
everyone.”
In response to Russia’s
war in Ukraine, the Unit-
ed States and its allies
prohibited transactions
with Russia’s central
bank and finance minis-
try and blocked about
$300 billion of sovereign
Russian assets in the
West, most of which are
in European not Ameri-
can financial institutions.
Dubai may move its busy international
airportto$35bnnewfacilityin10years
Agencies
Dubai
Dubai International Air-
port, the world’s busiest
for international travel,
will move its operations
to the city-state’s second,
sprawling airfield in its
southern desert reaches
“within the next 10
years” in a project worth
nearly $35 billion, its
ruler said Sunday.
Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Mak-
toum’s announcement
marks the latest chapter
in the rebound of its
long-haul carrier Emir-
ates after the coronavirus
pandemic grounded in-
ternational travel. Plans
have been on the books
to move the operations of
the airport known as
DXB to Al Maktoum In-
ternational Airport at
Dubai World Central.
23 civilian force
members killed in
northern Nigeria
Agencies
Nigeria
At least 23 members of
Nigeria’s civilian joint
task force were killed on
Saturday in separate at-
tacks by militants and an
armed kidnapping gang
in the north, two officials
said on Sunday. The
heartland of an Islamist
insurgency, suspected Is-
lamic State West Africa
Province fighters used an
IED to blow up a vehicle.
Musk meets Chinese Premier Li
Qiang after skipping India visit
Agencies
Shanghai
TeslaInc.ChiefExecutive
OfficerElonMusksaidon
Sunday he was “honored
to meet with [China’s]
Premier Li Qiang”. Musk
made a surprise visit to
China on Sunday.
OnSunday, Musk post-
ed a picture with Qiang
and said, “We have
known each other now
for many years, since
early Shanghai days.”
Chinese state media
reported that the Tesla
CEO met Premier Li
Qiang in Beijing, during
which Li told Musk that
Tesla’s development in
China could be regarded
as a successful example
of US-China economic
and trade cooperation,
Reuters reported.
During his tour, Musk
was expected to discuss
the rollout of Full Self-
Driving software and
permission to transfer
data overseas.
The US electric vehi-
cle maker rolled out Full
Self-Driving, or FSD, the
most autonomous ver-
sion of its Autopilot soft-
ware, four years ago.
But Tesla is yet to
make it available in
China, its second-larg-
est market globally, de-
spite customers urging
it to do so.
The company had
reached an accord with
Chinese authorities for a
plant in Shanghai, its first
outside the US, in 2018.
IPL Match 45
The arrests include 100 at Northeastern Univ, 80 at Washington
Univ, 72 at Arizona State Univ, and 23 at Indiana University.
Russian drones set hotel ablaze in Ukrainian city on Sunday.
Chennai Super Kings’s bowler Tushar Deshpande celebrates with
teammates after taking the wicket of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s
Abhishek Sharma during the IPL match in Chennai, Sunday.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk

08
The only reality that exists or has ever existed is
the present- ‘the Now’, and somehow, we devote
the least time to it and worry more about the
elusive past and the unseen future.
Dr Jagdeesh Chandra, CMD Editor-in-Chief
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Postal Reg No. JPC/004/2022-24
IN POWER CORRIDORS
DUDU COLLECTOR DHAKA’S ACTIONS HAVE
TARNISHED RAJ BUREAUCRACY’S IMAGE
Rajendra Chhabra
Jaipur
herecentactions
involving Dudu
C o l l e c t o r
Hanuman Mal Dhaka (a
2014batchIASofficer)by
theACB have sent shock-
waves through entire bu-
reaucracy in Rajasthan.
Notably, Dhaka was
promoted from RAS to
IAS and became the Col-
lector for the first time.
After his initial posting
for four months in
Khairthal-Tijara, only
two months ago, in Feb-
ruary 2024, the govern-
ment gave him the re-
sponsibility of Dudu Col-
lector, and as soon as he
sat on the chair, he got
involved in bribery. As
his image was that of a
sober officer, his action
shocked all.
The conduct, behav-
iour, and work of the Col-
lector can either enhance
or diminish the govern-
ment’s image in a dis-
trict. However, Hanuman
Mal Dhaka’s swift de-
scent into bribery shortly
after assuming the pres-
tigious role has tarnished
not only the image of the
IAS cadre but also that of
the government through
his actions and conduct.
Generally, the govern-
ment appoints promotee
IAS officers as collectors
only in the last years of
their service. There are
still ten years left for
Dhaka’s service (August
2034), but it was his good
fortune that he got the
post of Collector so soon
as the number of districts
increased to 50. But after
getting the chair, he got
involved in the game of
bribery and was caught.
Before Dudu, he was
theCollectorofKhairthal-
Tijara for four months,
and complaints about his
actions there are also be-
ing exposed now. It may
be noted that Dhaka has
been the Deputy Com-
missioner of Jodhpur De-
velopment Authority and
SA of Revenue Minister;
therefore, he has enough
experience in work relat-
ed to revenue and land.
The incident involving
Dhakaunderscorestheur-
gent need for heightened
vigilance over land-relat-
edaffairsinnewlyformed
districts to prevent such
abuses of power.
Hanuman Mal Dhaka
T
Yogesh Sharma
Jaipur
After the LS elections
concluded in two phases
in Rajasthan, BJP leaders
from the state will engage
inelectionsinotherstates.
The task has been as-
signed to Team Bhajan
Lal by the central leader-
ship of the party.
Union Minister Gajen-
dra Singh Shekhawat will
be in Punjab while Raj
Ministers Rajyavardhan
Rathore, Kanhaiya Lal
Chaudhary, Avinash Ge-
hlot, and Jogaram Patel,
along with Union minis-
tersBhupenderYadavand
Kailash Choudhary, were
alsogiventheresponsibil-
ity for Odisha.
Rajendra Rathore has
been assigned Telangana,
along with Arun Chatur-
vedi. Telangana task has
been assigned toTeam CP
Joshi members, including
Narayan Panchariya,
Prabhu Lal Saini, Da-
modar Agarwal, Jitendra
Gothwal, Vijendra Punia,
Aai Daan Singh Bhati.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
About 60 per cent of vot-
ers aged 18-19 have ex-
ercised their franchise in
the recently held Lok
Sabha elections in Ra-
jasthan.
A total of 9,91,505 out
of the total registered
16,64,845 new voters
aged 18-19 years have
voted in the election.
More than 70% voting
took place in 4 LS con-
stituencies. At the same
time, there are 10 LS
constituencies where
voting was more than the
average voting of this
category.
Gupta said that during
the 2019 LS elections,
out of the total 13,82,834
registered new voters
aged 18-19 years, a total
of 10,60,637 had voted.
Compared to the year
2019, this year the voting
in Kota L S constituency
has increased from
67.95% to 73.39 %, in
Alwar from 54.41% to
55.08 % and in Gangana-
gar LS constituency from
61.48 % to 62.01 percent.
Barmer saw the high-
est increase of 8.16%.
Kota saw a 5.44% in-
crease in LS voting.
Super Singer+auditions in Jaipur
In the vibrant tapestry of Rajasthan’s musical heritage, ‘Super Singer+ Rajasthan’ auditions in Jaipur symbolise
the enduring passion for music. Spanning 10 cities, the initiative by First India+ OTT uncovers hidden
talents and showcases the state’s remarkable musical prowess. With auditions from April 27 to 30 in Jaipur,
contestants from diverse backgrounds are welcomed with the traditional warmth of Rajasthan. Esteemed
judges select outstanding voices amidst exceptional performances, while special guests add to the event’s
charm. Supported by dedicated teams and generous sponsors, the auditions promise an unforgettable musical
journey, continuing in Bharatpur and Dubai, with future plans for USA and Canada. More on P11
NAIM KHAN
Election campaigning:
Priyanka held most
rallies for Congress
BJP MLA Saraf seeks
judicial probe into
phone tapping case
CS to attend
NAFED meeting
in Delhi today
Dy CM Bairwa to
visit Delhi today
First India Bureau
Jaipur
CS Sudhansh Pant will
be on a visit to Delhi to-
day. According to the
sources, he will be tak-
ing part in a meeting at
NAFED. The Board of
Directors of National
Agricultural Coopera-
tive Marketing Federa-
tion of India Ltd
(NAFED) will be meet-
ing at about 3 pm in
which, Pant will also
participate as the mem-
ber of the Board.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
Deputy Chief Minister
Dr Premchand Bairwa
will be on a visit to New
Delhi today. He will be
attending the nomination
rally of BJP candidate
Yogendra Chandolia who
is contesting from North
West Delhi.After partici-
pating in the nomination
rally, the Deputy CM will
return to Jaipur from
Delhi in the evening.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
After polling concluded
across all 25 seats in the
state, attention turns to
the level of public en-
gagement and campaign-
ing by the top leadership
of the Congress party in
Rajasthan.
Rahul Gandhi made a
single-day appearance,
addressing two public
meetings. Notably, he did
not campaign on any seat
during the second phase.
Sonia Gandhi held a rally
in Jaipur’s Vidyadhar
Nagar Stadium.
Meanwhile, Congress
President Mallikarjun
Kharge conducted rallies
in Chittorgarh and Jaipur.
Priyanka Gandhi led
with the highest number
of rallies in Rajasthan,
holding meetings in
Jalore, Jaipur, and Baran,
in addition to a roadshow
in Alwar.
Youth leaders includ-
ing Imran Pratapgarhi
and Deepender Hooda,
were actively involved in
campaigning, each con-
ducting several public
meetings. Jignesh Mev-
ani focused his efforts on
four constituencies, ral-
lying support for the
party’s candidates.
First India Bureau
Jaipur
In Jaipur, days after
Ashok Gehlot’s former
OSD Lokesh Sharma
held the former CM re-
sponsible for the phone
tapping matter, Malviya
Nagar MLA Kalicharan
Saraf has demanded that
the government form a
judicial commission to
investigate the case.
The BJP MLA stated
that the OSD alleged that
the government tapped
the phones of then MLAs
to safeguard the CM’s
position.
“He also claims to
have evidence. Former
Chief Minister, cabinet
colleagues, and numer-
ous IAS and IPS officers
were allegedly involved
in the phone tapping
case. With so many indi-
viduals implicated, im-
partial investigation can-
not be expected from any
agency,” he stated.
Saraf insisted on form-
ing a one-member In-
quiry Commission under
the ‘Inquiry Commission
Act’ to probe the matter
and reveal all facts.
“Government must act
decisively on Commis-
sion’s findings, punish-
ing culprits,” he urged.
Rahul Gandhi
GS Shekhawat Bhupender Yadav Rajyavardhan Rathore
Kalicharan Saraf PriyankaGandhi
Polls over: Raj BJP leaders
shift focus to other states
MP and Union Minister of Law, Arjun Ram
Meghwal, will oversee the most sensitive
electoral states of Uttar Pradesh and West
Bengal, in addition to engaging in electoral
campaigns in Punjab and Karnataka
Deputy CM Diya Kumari attends
the 'Student Conference' held to
mark the Golden Jubilee Year
2024 of Saraswati Balika Higher
Secondary School in Jaipur on
Sunday. The Kshetra Pracharak
of RSS, Nimbaram along with
the Managing Trustee of SK
Foundation, Shalini Setia, Director
of Modi Infra, Gaurav Modi, State
President of Vidya Bharati Jaipur,
Dr Vijay Goyal, President of Vidya
Bharati Jaipur Mahanagar Samiti,
Dr Muralidhar Sharma, Patron
of the institution, Radheshyam
Agarwal, IAS and former student
of the school, Dr Madhu Sharma,
BJP's State V-P Ajay Pal Singh and
students, teachers and parents
were also present.
Golden Jubilee celebrations
MORE THAN 70% VOTING TOOK PLACE IN 4 LS CONSTITUENCIES
60%youthgetinkedinLSpolls
Out of a total of 16,64,845 newly registered
voters aged 18-19 years, 9,91,505 exercised
their right to vote in the state elections
The highest turnout at 77.93% in Banswara
and the lowest at 47.44% in Karauli Dholpur
was reported, says CEO Praveen Gupta
RURAL WOMEN LEAD
VOTING TRENDS IN
PHASE II OF LS POLLS
68.63% DISABLED
VOTERS CAST VOTES
In the second
phase of the
Lok Sabha
General Election in 13
constituencies, female
voters in rural areas
outpaced their urban
counterparts in vot-
ing. Meanwhile, male
voters in urban areas
surpassed those in
rural areas. The voting
percentage was 65.69
in urban areas and
64.86 in rural areas.
A total of 68.63
percent of
disabled voters
cast their votes in 25
Lok Sabha constituen-
cies. In the first phase,
62 percent of disabled
voters participated in
voting across 12 con-
stituencies, while in the
second phase, 72.94
percent of voters in
this category exercised
their franchise in 13
Lok Sabha constituen-
cies. The highest voter
turnout in this category
was in Banswara, at
84.93 percent, and the
lowest was in Bharat-
pur, at 44.37 percent.
LS CONSTITUENCY-WISE VOTING % OF VOTERS AGED 18-19
55.15
%
77.93
%
55.08
%
74.59
%
54.97
%
73.39
%
54.8
%
72.25
%
54.18
%
67.39
%
54.11
%
63.44
%
54
%
62.43
%
53.83
%
62.01
%
53.27
%
61.63
%
51.66
%
61.2
%
50.5
%
58.35
%
47.44
%
57.74
%
57.2
%
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Pawan Arora with (L-R) Shruti Anandita Verma, Meha Jha
Kasliwal, MLA Gopal Sharma, MLA Rafeek Khan Sarita Dwivedi
during the ‘Super Singer+ Rajasthan’ auditions in Jaipur.
Celebrating Traditions
GS Shekhawat participated
in the famous Dhinga Gavar
Fair in Jodhpur and sought
the blessings of Gavar Mata.
Before this, the Union Minister
also met senior BJP leader
and former MLA Suryakanta
Vyas, fondly known as ‘Jiji’,
sought her blessings too. Also
seen here is Naunand Kanwar
and others.

JAIPUR, MONDAY | APRIL 29, 2024
Glamour | Fashion | Bollywood | Hollywood | Lifestyle
GULABI NAGRI’S VOCAL.....
n the colourful tapestry of Rajasthan’s
musical legacy, the auditions in Jaipur
served as a testament to the enduring
spirit of its people and their unwavering
passion for music. P11
I
09
firstindia.co.in
firstindia.co.in/epapers/jaipur thefirstindia thefirstindia thefirstindia
Miss Teen Earth India Tanishqa Sharma’s journey is not merely
about accolades and titles; it’s a testament to the transformative
power of passion, perseverance and the unwavering pursuit of one’s dreams!
t just 15 years
old, Tanishqa
Sharma, hail-
ing from the
vibrant city
of Patna, Bihar, has
already left an indel-
ible mark on the
world of fashion
and advocacy.
Born and raised in
the historical back-
drop of Patna, her
childhood was
adorned with a pro-
found love for dance and a
fervent passion for champion-
ing animal welfare causes.
Her journey into the realms
of fashion and modelling
began as a mere pas-
time but swiftly
evolved into a pro-
found calling. Tan-
ishqa finds solace in
the artistic expression that
fashion offers and revels in
the opportunity to breathe life
into designs as a model.
Amidst her pursuits,Tanishqa
acknowledges the unwaver-
ing support of her family, who
have stood by her through
every endeavour. Their en-
couragement has been the cor-
nerstone of her success, pro-
pelling her towards triumph
despite facing challenges like
overcoming obesity by losing
a massive unhealthy 21 kgs,
reaching 65 kgs from 86 kgs.
and navigating the delicate
balance between academics
and her passions.
Recently, Tanishqa
achieved a significant mile-
stone by clinching the coveted
title of Miss Teen Earth India,
at the Miss Teen Diva grand
finale held at Zee Studios,
Jaipur on April 17, under the
guidance of Founder Chair-
man, Glamanand Group,
Nikhil Anand. This triumph
not only served as a testament
to her dedication but also
opened doors to a platform
where she could advocate for
environmental awareness and
effect positive change on a
global scale.
Beyond her pageant victo-
ries, Tanishqa’s commitment
to social causes shines bright-
ly. She actively engages in
initiatives aimed at animal
welfare and environmental
conservation, embodying the
belief that each individual
possesses the power to make
a difference. Looking ahead,
Tanishqa envisions herself as
a beacon of inspiration for as-
piring young minds, striving
to carve a path where her love
for fashion, modelling, and
advocacy converge harmoni-
ously. In five years, she sees
herself as a successful model
and fashion designer, continu-
ing her crusade for social
good while inspiring others to
pursue their dreams relent-
lessly. As she continues to
grace runways and champion
causes, she remains an em-
bodiment of elegance, grace
and purpose.
Mohit
Choudhary
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
A
DrJagdeeshChandracongratulatesTanishqaSharma,MissTeenEarthIndia2024
Tanishqa Sharma crowned Miss Teen Earth
India 2024 by Karemma Khan
(Miss Teen World India 2023)
SANTOSH
SHARMA

MUKESH
KIRADOO

10
firstindia.co.in
enowned designer
Manvendra Singh
Shekhawat, affec-
tionately known as
'Manven' in profes-
sional circles, is
making waves with his innovative
designs and commitment to cul-
tural preservation. A graduate of
NIFT, Manvendra's journey began
as a Graphic Artist in Mumbai,
where he collaborated with iconic
brands like Calvin Klein and
DKNY. His expertise further flour-
ished at Lifestyle, contributing to
the success of brands like Bossini
and Smiley World.
Venturing into e-commerce,
Manvendra honed his skills with
brands like Cult Sports and The In-
dian Garage Co., blending innova-
tion with craftsmanship. His tenure
at Raghavendra Rathore deepened
his understanding of haute couture,
paving the way for his entrepre-
neurial endeavour, Eakia, a distin-
guished women's couture brand
promoting indigenous materials
and the #VocalForLocal initiative.
In 2023, Manvendra expanded
his creative horizons with ORAB in
Jaipur, epitomizing innovation and
excellence in fashion. His latest
accolade stems from the Super
Singer + Rajasthan auditions, where
he designed Jaipur Safa Shirts for
host Manmeet Singh and renowned
artists Raja Hasan and Swaroop
Khan, who also graced the event as
jury members. Inspired by Ra-
jasthan's rich tradition of folk
music and dance, Manv-
endra crafted shirts us-
ing locally sourced cot-
ton safa fabrics, pay-
ing homage to cul-
tural heritage.
Manvendra's cre-
ative process in-
volves meticulous
attention to personal
style, cultural referenc-
es and local market re-
search. He seamlessly
incorporates traditional
elements into contemporary
designs, emphasizing the
significance of India's rich
fashion embroideries and sur-
face developments. Eakia and
ORAB Bespoke stand apart
through their unique blend of
tradition and innovation, re-
flecting Manvendra's distinct
personality and commitment
to excellence.
Manvendra Singh Shek-
hawat's journey exempli-
fies the fusion of tradi-
tion and innovation, el-
evating Indian fashion
onto the global stage
while honoring its rich
cultural heritage. As he
continues to push bound-
aries and redefine fash-
ion norms, his creations
serve as a testament to
India's enduring lega-
cy in the world of
couture.
IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, MANVENDRA SHARES INSIGHTS
INTO HIS CREATIVE JOURNEY AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND
HIS JAIPUR SAFA SHIRTS
What inspired your Jaipur Safa Shirts for the Super Singer + Rajasthan auditions?
For a man, the safa is more than just headwear; it's a symbol of honour,
tradition and cultural heritage. Rajasthan's rich tradition of folk music and
dance provided the perfect backdrop for this design. While creating for Super
Singer +, I aimed to honour Rajasthan's cultural heritage while respecting the
platform's significance to local musicians.
How do you incorporate traditional elements into your contemporary designs?
Traditional elements are integral to my designs, serving as a bridge between
the past and present. India's rich fashion embroideries and surface develop-
ments offer endless inspiration. I strive to incorporate local craft elements while
infusing international aesthetics through silhouettes, colours and design.
What sets Eakia and Orab Bespoke apart from other clothing brands?
Every brand carries its own aura, reflecting the designer's unique personal-
ity. Eakia and Orab Bespoke embody innovation, cultural preservation, and
a commitment to excellence. We believe in celebrating India's rich heritage
while embracing contemporary design sensibilities, creating timeless pieces
that resonate with our discerning clientele.
CRAFTING CULTURAL COUTURE FOR SUPER SINGER + AUDITIONS!
Mitali
Dusad
mitalidusad@firstindia.co.in
R
SwaroopKhan
ManmeetSingh
CreativeDirectorManvendraSinghShekhawat
RajaHasan

11
ﬁrstindia.co.in
PRANJAL JAIN
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
n the colourful
tapestry of Ra-
jasthan’s musical
legacy, the audi-
tions in Jaipur
served as a testa-
ment to the enduring spirit of its
people and their unwavering pas-
sion for music. Spanning across
themajesticlandscapesof10beau-
tiful cities “Super Singer+ Ra-
jasthan”, initiative by First India+
OTT, has traversed the length and
breadth of the state, uncovering
hidden gems and showcasing the
extraordinary talent that Rajasthan
proudly boasts. As the journey
continues,thestageissetforamu-
sical odyssey unlike any other,
where dreams take flight on the
wings of melody.
The Super Singer+ Rajasthan
auditions in Jaipur are currently
underway for four days, spanning
from April 27 to April 30, with
each day brimming with excite-
ment and exceptional performanc-
es. Embracing the spirit of Ra-
jasthan, the auditions resonated
with the warm hospitality and tra-
ditional charm encapsulated in the
phrase “Padharo Mhare Desh,”
welcoming contestants from all
cornersofthestatewithopenarms.
FromthebustlingstreetsofGulabi
Nagritotheserenevillagesofrural
Rajasthan, voices echoed with
tales of passion and dreams set to
music on Saturday, April 27 and
April 28. On the first day, the es-
teemed panel of judges, including
Dr. Neelam Sain, Jimmy Thomas,
and Dr. Sunita Sharma Srivastava,
undertook the challenging yet ex-
hilarating task of selecting the
most exceptional voices from a
pooloftalentedcontestants.Onthe
following day, the responsibility
fell upon Javed Hussain, Deepshi-
kha Jain, and Rohit Kataria to con-
tinue the task of identifying out-
standing talent amidst the di-
verse array of participants.
The energy and enthu-
siasm continued as the
auditions unfolded in Gu-
labiCity,markinganother
chapter in the musical jour-
ney of “Super Singer Plus Ra-
jasthan.” The event was graced by
thepresenceofPawanArora,CEO
Managing Editor of First India
News, who served as the chief
guest. On the day one, Dr. Somya,
Mayor of Nagar Nigam Greater
Jaipur,MohanSinghTada,Dr.RK
Arora (CEO Vice Chairman),
and his wife Dr. Rubilla Arora
(Dean, Vocational Development,
Nirwan University, Jaipur), the
Hospitality Partner, attended as
guests of honor. Furthermore,
MLAGopalSharma,MLARafeek
Khan, and Meha Jha Kasliwal
(Artist)honoreduswiththeirpres-
ence on the second day of audi-
tions. The winners of the Jaipur
auditions will be announced on
April 30, adding excitement to the
city’s vibrant vocal scene.
The seamless execution of the
event was attributed to the dedi-
cated efforts of the First India
OTT team, led by Hemant Shar-
ma (Programming Head), San-
jeev Kumar (Productions Head),
Shantnu Varshneya (IT Head),
Manmeet Singh (Anchor), Sarita
Dwivedi Alok Dwivedi (Show
Mentors), Shruti Anindita Verma
(Show Director), Shubhanshi
Pathak(ContentHead),Suraj
B Goswami (Reality Di-
rector), Maanya Varma
(Reality Producer), Indu
Rathore (Anchor), Va-
nia Singh (Snow Stylist),
Pranjal Jain, Vaibhav
Sharma, MiniArora, Manish
Beniwal, Pratiksha Kanwar
Arushi Bubber (ITTeam), Pankaj
Punjabi (Event Coordinator), Ra-
hul Meena, Hitesh Saini, Siyaram
Meena, Abhishek Inkia, Anil
Meena, Ajay Mahwar, Koshal
Meena, Yogendra Meena, He-
mandra Meena, Vishal Meena,
Manish Meena, Sahil Khan,
Monty Rajput Dheeresh Me-
wara (Team of V Production) and
Ram Chandra Singh, Kedar
Raghuveer Sharma, Om Prakash
Sharma, Rohtash Kumar, Ghan-
shyam Karol, Sandeep Rawat,
Ankit Singh Rathore, Ashmit
Yogi and Chittar Khan (Produc-
tions Team). The event was
made possible through the
generous support of spon-
sors including Wonder Ce-
ment (Powered by),AU Small
Finance Bank (Co-Powered
by), Jaipur National Univer-
sity (Associate Sponsor),
Spring Board Academy
(Associate Sponsor),
Competishun (Associate
Sponsor), JK Masale
(Associate Sponsor),
Shri Mahaveer Col-
lege, Jaipur (Associ-
ate Sponsor), Synthe-
sis Bikaner (Associ-
ate Sponsor), Seth
Tolaram Bafna
Academy Bikaner
(Associate Spon-
sor), Vrindavan
Regency (Hospi-
tality Partner), Dr
Kamdar Eye Hospi-
tal (Supported By), Eakia X Or-
ab-Couture House (Supported
By), Metta Yoga Music Cen-
tre (Supported By) and Devran-
jani Music School (Supported
By). As the event moves for-
ward to Bharatpur on May 2
and Dubai on May 11, audi-
ences can look forward to ex-
periencing more awe-inspir-
ingperformancesandcreating
unforgettable memories. Ad-
ditionally, stay tuned for the
release of dates for further
USA and Canada auditions,
coming soon.
I
GulabiNagri’s
VOCALSHOWCASE
Pawan Arora with (L-R) Vishal Mathur, Indu Rathore, Mohan Singh Tada, Dr Somya, Jinendra Singh Shekhawat, Dr RK Arora, Dr Rubilla Arora and Devendra Pathak
Deeksha Sharma
Ayusha Vyas
Aksha Srivastava
Kamal Singh
Rajshi Vangi
Pawan Arora with (L-R) Mini Arora, Manvendra Singh Shekhawat, Jayati Mishra, Indu Rathore, Raja Hasan, Swaroop Khan,
Manmeet Singh, Vijay Solomon, Dr Swati Malik, Vanya Choudhary, Shivangi Rao, Ankit Singh Rathore, Sanjeev Kumar and Pranjal Jain
The thrilled participants on Day 2 of the Jaipur auditions
Jury members on Day 2: (L-R) Javed Hussain,
Deepshika Jain and Rohit Kataria
Bhavesh Kumar
Jury members on Day 1: (L-R) Dr Neelam Sain, Jimmy Thomas and Dr Sunita Sharma Srivastava
Pappu Ram Meena
Pradeep Verma
Sunil Kumar
Participants eagerly wait in long queue
Jury members sing along with a visually
impaired contestant Sunil Sharma
NAIM KHAN RAJESH SADH

29042024_First India Newspaper Jaipur.pdf

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